Never Gone R

By: Jecir

Chapter Four: A Battle of Fire

"Who would do this?"

Rei stood with her grandfather in the room of the sacred fire. She was doing her best to stand strong for him. Her grandfather loved the Hikawa Shrine more than anything; she being the exception. When they awoke that morning to find it so vandalized, he had fallen to his knees in shock and nearly cried. Rei knew his heart was soft and compassionate. He did not believe in violence, and he did not understand when violence was dealt. Now someone had been violent to his temple. Rei clenched her fist and bit back her anger. If she ever found out who did this, she would make them pay.

She placed her hand on her grandfather's shoulder. "At least no one was hurt," she said. "And we can easily fix the walls. No one will see the damage."

Her grandfather nodded solemnly and patted her hand. His tears continued to fall down his cheeks as he looked out over the damage. "He would not do this, surely," he whispered. "Not after finally returning."

"What was that?" Rei asked softly.

Her grandfather waved her away. "I am just concerned about Jed-san. I have not seen him all morning. I hope this violence did not scare him off."

"I hope it did," Rei snorted. It was no secret how little she liked that Jed guy. His absence was a blessing as far as she was concerned.

"But without him, who will sell the new love charms?"

Rei rolled her eyes. Of course, she thought. In the end, her grandfather was still thinking about cute girls.

On the other side of the room of the sacred fire, hiding behind the double doors, Seiya listened to the conversation with a mix of relief and concern. After Jadeite's threat last night, Seiya had wanted to make sure the priest and priestess were really safe. He had snuck back in at first light and was gratified to find them well.

Now, he needed to leave before they saw him and began to ask questions. He followed the familiar hallway back to the front entrance. Sunlight greeted him as he stepped out onto the cobblestone courtyard. There was no sign of their struggle last night, not from the front, and Seiya was happy for that. He did not want anyone to know what had happened. Seiya placed an envelope on the bamboo floor behind him. It contained more than enough money to fix the walls, as well as a note expressing his apologies for the damages caused. He did not know how to sign it, so, on a whim, he signed it The Scientist. It was what Jadeite and his clock monster had called him. It seemed fitting.

Mamoru was waiting for him at the top of the stairs. Fresh bandages bound his torso underneath his school uniform. "Are they alright?" he asked.

Seiya nodded. "He let them go, just like he said."

"Hn," Mamoru acknowledged. He had a grave expression on his face. They both did. After the fight, they had retreated to Seiya's apartment, but neither of them had slept. They patched each other up, and Seiya cleaned Mamoru's shirt. He even attempted some humor by pointing out again the inconvenience of silk in battle, but the air in the apartment was too heavy. They both knew the truth. They had beaten Jadeite but only just barely. Had Seiya not blanked, Jadeite would have killed them. He was far stronger than they had ever imaged. They were two teenage boys trying to be heroes, and they were very ill equipped.

"The fire would have stopped him," Seiya said after a few moments of silence. He had not brought up the fire last night, but it had been fresh on his mind alongside the new vision he had had. That request—it haunted him. He did not want to think about who was asking him or why it had been in his vision, thus he focused upon what he was certain: the sacred fire's connection to Jadeite.

"How do you know that?" Mamoru asked. They stepped out of the quite seclusion of the Hikawa Shrine and into Tokyo life. The streets were beginning to fill with people hurrying off to school or work or wherever else normal people went. The two monster hunters felt strangely detached from the masses. They had declared war on the Dark Kingdom. They were no longer normal.

"He was scared of it," Seiya replied. "Didn't you see him cowering around it? He tried to cover it, but I saw it. He slinked around it when he first came in, and after I...uh...blanked, he practically melted into the wall trying to get away from it. I know that that fire is his weakness. I'm sure of it."

"One of your hunches?" Mamoru asked.

"Something like that," Seiya said. He had not told Mamoru about the visions. He did not want to tell him. Seiya did not understand them himself. How could he explain it to his friend?

They continued to walk in silence. Both were lost in their own heads; thinking about the same thing. It was Mamoru who broached the topic. "We can't keep going on like this," he said. "We need a plan, something we can rely on more than just dreams and hunches."

Seiya nodded. "What are you thinking?"

Mamoru shrugged. "Not sure," he said. "Jadeite said he was working for a dark kingdom. That must mean there are more than just him; more monsters, more strategies, and more opportunity for people to get hurt. We are barely making it out alive as it is. We have got to figure out...something! Anything that will give us another edge over them."

"We were able to stop him last night," Seiya said. "Before he set up shop, so to speak."

"If only it could be that easy each time," Mamoru replied.

Seiya furrowed his brow in thought. "It could be," he theorized, his brain engaging. This was his strong suit. He was a scientist, and working out theories was what he did. "What are the facts?" he asked. "We know Jadeite is targeting the city specifically. He said as much last night; we know he is sucking the life out of people for some reason; and we know that he summons monsters to infiltrate the city as humans and collect. Correct so far?" Mamoru nodded. "Good," Seiya continued. "Now, each time he attacks, he sets up a sort of base. Last night was the Temple; before that, a clock store."

"The cram school, a recording studio, pet store, that gym they tried to open, uh..." Mamoru paused to think back over his solo battles. "He was a DJ and there was the future teller."

"And the jewelry store," Seiya finished. "Where we met and this whole thing started."

"Not a bad beginning," Mamoru said.

Seiya grinned. "No, indeed not." They shared a moment, and then Seiya was back to it. Clapping his hands once, he said, "Now, why these specific locations? What is the connection? Is there a connection at all?"

They stopped at a crosswalk. The city was fully awake. Men, women, and children milled about; people chatted in clusters or on phones. Advertisements displayed the latest products on animated billboards and large television screens. New energy drinks, best restaurants in town, latest fashions from all around the world, and even Sailor V's newest video game was coming soon. It assaulted the senses with the command to buy, buy, buy!

Mamoru watched it all with widening eyes. "That's it," he whispered.

"What?" Seiya asked.

The light opposite had turned, and they were pushed forward into the crosswalk.

Mamoru pointed to the billboards. "Consumerism," he said. "Jadeite is utilizing people's needs to have things and using it to suck their lives away!" The second half of that sentence came out louder than he had intended, drawing stared from those around him.

Seiya smiled politely and pushed Mamoru forward. They got to the other side of the street and hurried on until they saw a familiar video game and food café. They walked in, took a seat in the corner, and continued their conversation. "That has to be it," Mamoru said. "Think about it. He is selling things people think they need, things that are popular. I mean, why else sell a pet? Or a clock? And everybody goes to Temple for prayer and guidance."

"And love charms," Seiya added. "I overheard the priest talking about it this morning. Jadeite was going to sell love charms."

"Exactly!" Mamoru said. "Love! Who wouldn't do anything for love? People are flocking to him in droves, and he is draining them dry."

"Wow," Seiya muttered. "That's genius."

"And easily monitored," Mamoru said. "We just need to keep our ears open to new trends. Whatever new product is flooding the market, we investigate it. We stopped Jadeite from setting up at the Temple. If we find out where his base is, we can root him out."

Seiya nodded. "Yes, and maybe find a weakness."

"Or just tie him up, drag him back to the temple, and throw him into the fire," Mamoru commented with a grin.

"It would work," Seiya countered. The dark mood of the night was finally lifting. They had a plan; they had a potential advantage; and, if it panned out, they were going to exploit it.

And exploit it, they did! Their plan worked like a charm. The moment they heard of a new fad, they struck. It led them to Jadeite in an amusement park. They battled his monster and drove him out before the scheming soldier could hurt anyone. It led them again to a cruise ship promising adventure and romance but would have delivered fear, pain, and death had the two not sunk it before its maiden voyage. Jadeite had raged at them, but they did not care. They were victorious.

For a moment, it looked like the war was turning around, but then, Jadeite played a desperate hand.

Mamoru and Seiya had just gotten back to Seiya's apartment. They were soaking wet, but they were laughing and relishing their triumph. "Did you see his face when the ship began to sink?" Mamoru asked.

Seiya handed Mamoru a towel. "Yes," he said with a laugh. "Quite the expression. According to my professional opinion, it was a cross between shock, horror, and an indignant little girl."

"I concur," Mamoru said. "I believe we should hereby deem it 'The Jadeite'."

The boys laughed. It felt good to be winning.

The lights went out.

"What the?" Seiya flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. "That's weird," he said, trying the switch again. "I know I paid my power bill."

A voiced boomed out from the darkness, "HEAR ME, HEROES!"

Mamoru and Seiya froze.

"I know you are out there," their enemy said. "I know you can hear me, so heed my words well!"

The duo hurried to the window. Below them, stretching as far as the eye could see, was darkness. The city of Tokyo was blacked out.

And, hovering above it all, was Jadeite; a specter of death looming overhead.

Seiya and Mamoru locked eyes, both feeling a deep sinking sensation. This would not be good.

Jadeite spread his arms wide over the city. "This city and all its inhabitants belong to the Dark Kingdom! We will do with it what we will!" As if to prove his point, he snapped his fingers, and fire began to rain down on the defenseless city.

"No!"Seiya yelled as the first fireballs collided with the buildings. He and Mamoru watched in horror as the fire spread unnaturally fast. Within seconds, every building was burning.

Then, suddenly and inexplicably, the fire disappeared. The city was unharmed.

Jadeite cackled in the sky. "If you do not wish for this vision to become reality, you will meet me tomorrow night at midnight at the Tokyo Airport. There, we will battle for the fate of this city. If you do not appear, I will burn every building to the ground until I find you!" He laughed again. His specter faded into the night sky, the city lights burst back into life, but Jadeite's evil laughter remained, echoing like a death toll in the hearts of the two young teenagers.

"Did..." Seiya began after a long and tense silence. He swallowed back the fear that was rising in his throat. "Did that just happen?"

"Yeah," Mamoru answered.

"Oh damn."

"My thoughts exactly."

"What are we going to do?" Seiya asked.

"The only thing we can do," Mamoru said as he turned away from the window. "We are going to face him."

"Are you sure?" Seiya followed his friend back into the safety of their hideout. "This is not going to be like before."

"I know," Mamoru said.

Seiya stepped in front of Mamoru, forcing him to stop and look him in the eye. "We could die," the professor said.

Mamoru smiled a hollow smile. "No, we are most certainly going to die."

"Oh." Seiya sank onto one of his plush couches, his face paling and his wide eyes staring into space as his mind shifted into his default mode. It was a mode that had gotten him through the toughest times of his life—when people were cruel and his consciousness was his only companion. It forced his emotions down into the depths of his heart and allowed for his logic to reign.

Mamoru sat next to him, pressing his elbows against his knees and slumping forward. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed heavily. He was not so lucky to have a mental coping mechanism. While Seiya shut himself from reality, Mamoru stared into the void of his fears and wondered, What have we done?

They had walked into this. They had chosen to stand up to this evil, and now it was pushing back. Memories of all the battles he had fought—alone and with Seiya—played through his mind; every desperate, fear-ridden moment where he had faced death and barely escaped. And what for? A dream? A foolish dream, a familiar voice whispered in his mind. Mamoru closed his eyes and turned away, as if to physically deny that thought. It was not a foolish dream, but he could not help but wonder...was it worth dying for?

"What if we didn't have to?"

"What?" Mamoru looked up, surprised at the question that was so perfectly timed with his own thoughts.

Seiya had stood up at one point and was pacing. "What if we didn't have to die?" Seiya repeated.

"What do you mean?" Mamoru asked.

Seiya was still scared, but, beneath it, there was hope—a singular desperate hope—and it seeped into his voice as he said, "I have an idea."

Seiya crouched behind the wheel of the Boeing 747 parked in the Tokyo Airport. His heart was pounding in his ears. He took slow, deep breaths and focused on the moment. Everything was riding on this. If he missed his cue, Mamoru would be trapped, they would be killed, and the city would burn; no pressure.

When he had proposed his plan to Mamoru, his friend had reacted accordingly.

"You're insane," he had said.

"But it's our only chance," Seiya had insisted.

"And if it fails? What then?"

"It won't fail," Seiya assured him, ignoring his own doubts and clinging to his hunch.

"How do you know that?" Mamoru asked. It was the question Seiya hoped not to have to answer; because, the truth of the matter was this: he did not know.

Seiya shrugged and answered honestly. "I have a hunch."

"A hunch," Mamoru scoffed. He shook his head and gave an empty chuckle. "The fate of the city relies on your hunch."

Seiya did not fault his friend his doubts. It was a desperate play; their only advantage and it was a slim one at best. Still, Seiya forced himself to smile as he said, "Since when have my hunches been wrong?"

Never, that was the answer. His hunches were never wrong. He hoped beyond hope that his track record would remain intact.

It was nearing midnight. He and Mamoru had snuck into the airport early to set their trap. Police were standing guard on the perimeter. The airport had been evacuated. It was just them now waiting for Jadeite.

Seiya glanced around the massive wheel. Mamoru was standing a few yards out. His job was to distract Jadeite while Seiya sprung the trap. It was risky and would need to be done quickly. Seiya ducked back behind the wheel. "Please," he prayed. "Don't let me be wrong." His fingers stroked the five vials he had strapped to his belt. "Not this time."

A wave of evil energy swept the airport. Seiya shivered as it crawled up his skin. Jadeite was here. It was time to begin.

The Dark General appeared out of the shadows across from Mamoru. He stalked forward, his eyes fixed on the Hero. He stopped a few feet away and sneered, "Is it just you, Hero? That's disappointing. You're little scientist friend left you to die alone. Pity. Now I'll have to hunt him down after I'm done with you."

Mamoru stood his ground. Yes, he was scared; yes, he did not want to die; and yes, he did not believe they could beat Jadeite; but, he believed in Seiya. If his friend said this plan would work, it would work. He pulled tight his courage and stood tall before his enemy. "You should know by now that we will not be so easily defeated," he said. "No matter how much you talk, the result will be the same."

"Cocky," Jadeite observed. He chuckled. "Too bad your bravado does not translate into strength. I have not forgotten our little duel at the temple; how you both ran like children before my power."

"I do not recall running," Mamoru taunted back. He knew enough about his enemy at this point to target his pride. If he could press hard enough on the General's pride, the focus would remain on him. "I recall you cowering on the ground and begging us not to kill you."

That comment hit its mark. Jadeite's eyes flashed dangerously. "Be careful what you say, boy," he snarled. "You will regret it."

"I regret nothing," Mamoru said. It was a statement that came deep from his heart, and the truth of it shocked him. Despite everything that had happened, Mamoru knew without a shadow of a doubt that he did not regret any of it. Suddenly, the thought of dying today was not so frightening. He and Seiya had defended the city. They had stood up when no one else could. That was worth something. He pointed his cane at his adversary and spoke boldly. "Today, you will die and the city will be safe."

"Oh?" Jadeite mocked. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"With a little sacred fire!"

Seiya leapt out from behind the large airplane wheel and pulled four of the five vials he had from his belt. He had thought it a great line in the moment, but, as he prepared to throw, he could not help thinking that announcing himself had been a foolish move. Jadeite was turning toward him. Sieya tightened his grip on the vials, prayed that they would work better tonight than they had that night at the Crystal Seminary, and threw them.

The glass vials hit home. One shattered in Jadeite's face; the other three hit the concrete at his feet. The air filled with the pungent smell of vapors. Jadeite scrubbed furiously at his face. The chemicals were burning his eyes.

Seiya used the distraction to his advantage. He ran toward the struggling general; a final vial in his hands. This one was different. It was the most important. He would only have on shot at getting this right. He needed to be sure. He ran as fast as he could, holding the precious final vial close to his chest. When Seiya reached the edge of the chemical pool, he raised the vial up and, with a defiant yell, slammed it into the ground.

The vial broke upon impact.

The tiny flame inside of the vial was freed. It touched the chemicals, igniting the concoction and spreading. Within seconds, Jadeite was consumed by the flames of the sacred fire.

Jadeite screamed.

"Yes!" Mamoru cried out in triumph.

Seiya jumped back. The fire roared high and powerful. It nearly drowned out Jadeite's cries. He could not believe it. It had worked. They had actually done it!

"You bastard!"

Seiya's eyes widened in shock.

Jadeite dove out of the fire. His hands were outstretched; his face was contorted with rage; and his body was unharmed.

No! Seiya thought in shock. Why isn't he burning?

"Seiya!" Mamoru screamed from the other side of the fire.

Jadeite wrapped his hands around Seiya's throat. He slammed the young warrior to the ground, pinning him down, and squeezed. "You think you're so clever!" he growled. "Using that pathetic Temple flame against me! Ha! Fire will never defeat me!"

Seiya couldn't move; he couldn't breathe; he couldn't think. Everything was frozen. His eyes stared at the fires still blazing hot behind them. Why hadn't it worked? The vision showed him...Jadeite was scared of the flame. Why hadn't it worked?!

"Look at me, boy!" Jadeite bellowed. "I want to see the life leave your eyes!"

Slowly, Seiya looked up at Jadeite. Those blue eyes blazed with darkness. Hatred, evil, a desire to kill—it was all bearing down on him. Cold fingers were crushing his throat. Seiya's ears were ringing; his body was convulsing; and he just stared into those angry eyes...

...and blanked.

Darkness washed away reality, and in its wake came a rush of sights, sounds, and feelings. He saw Mamoru charge Jadeite; he saw them battle. He saw Jadeite flee to a dark throne room. He saw a woman with red hair and a black heart trap Jadeite in an inescapable tomb. He saw three more generals and so many battles. Then, came a stab of the deepest pain; it drowned his mind, tore his heart, and trapped his body. It ate away at his future and consumed his past. This unnatural pain was centered on one final image: Mamoru dead, pinned to the ground by the blade of a silver-haired warrior—the final general. Seiya wanted to scream, but his voice was stolen away by the blanking.

Another voice screamed for him. It was the same voice from that night; when he had blanked in the Temple. That night, all had gone black and he had heard that scream—that desperate plea that haunted him even now. The screams from that night merged with the screams filling his soul now, and just like that, the darkness of the blanking rolled back, revealing the evil general once more. This time, though, when Seiya looked into those blue eyes bearing down on him, he did not see hatred or rage; he saw desperation and fear and so much pain. In the clarity of incoming death, Seiya realized...the screams of pain were coming from him! The Dark General was calling out to him. "Please!" Seiya heard in his mind. "Kill me!"

Reality washed back over him.

Mamoru tackled Jadeite. He threw the Dark General off of his friend. The two landed hard on the concrete, rolling to their feet to face off once more. Mamoru charged and, with an enraged yell, swung his cane. It struck Jadeite's skull with a resounding crack! The General stumbled back as green blood began to flow from the wound. Mamoru pressed his advantage. He reached into his jacket and withdrew six rose-darts, throwing them at the General's feet. Jadeite leapt back to a safe distance and knelt, his hand pressed to his head.

"Seiya!" Mamoru knelt next to his friend. "Seiya! Seiya!"

Seiya's head was spinning. He gasped for air; spots danced in front of his eyes. Breathing hurt! His throat was swelling, blocking his already limited breaths. He fought through it. He needed to tell Mamoru before it was too late. Seiya grabbed Mamoru's shirt, pulled him down, and wheezed urgently, "Kill him!"

"What?" Mamoru asked.

Jadeite had gotten back onto his feet. His face was twisted with unnatural hate.

"You have to!" Seiya coughed violently and pulled in as much air as he could. "Please!"

Jadeite raised his hand, preparing a fresh attack. Black energy gathered in his outstretched palm. He was going to kill them with one blow.

Seiya looked at the energy ball. If that thing hit them...

The world was going black again. No! Seiya thought. No, not now!

Jadeite yelled a curse and threw the dark energy bomb.

Energy surged through Seiya's body. It pulsed painfully, urgently, seeking escape. Seiya clenched his eyes shut, knowing there was nothing he could do and hating it. He focused on the feel of Mamoru's shirt gripped in his hands. It anchored him to reality and kept the blanking from dragging him away. The energy accumulated in his chest and, with one final pulse, rushed out of him.

Mamoru watched it all happen in slow motion. The dark energy bomb flew at them, bringing their inevitable death with it; then, something whooshed past him, and, just like that night at the Crystal Seminar, the invisible energy collided with the dark energy. The resulting shockwave threw Mamoru to the ground. "Wha...how..." he breathed.

Seiya pulled Mamoru's focus back to him. "Listen to me, Mamoru," he said desperately. "You have to kill him. Do not let him leave this battle alive. Please!"

Mamoru looked into his friend's eyes.

"Please!" Seiya said again. Tears blurred his returning vision. The images of death were still rushing through his mind; the pain was still too fresh. "Everything relies on this!"

Mamoru gripped Seiya's fists. "Is that your hunch?" he asked.

Seiya nodded. "Yes."

Across the tarmac, Jadeite yelled his renewed battle cry and charged.

Mamoru nodded. "Alright." He stood up, and the world around him slowed down.

Jadeite was coming for him. The Dark General's hands were surrounded with dark energy. If the attack landed, it would punch a fatal hole in Mamoru's chest.

Mamoru faced it. It was what he had decided. He was the one who had stood up against the Dark Kingdom. He had told himself time and again that it had not been his choice. He had convinced himself that these attacks were random, unguided flukes that would soon stop if he simple preserved. Then, he had met Seiya and together, they had chosen to be the ones to stop the madness. They had chosen to be heroes.

No, Mamoru corrected himself. Seiya is a Scientist. I am the Hero.

A strange peace settled over Mamoru at that declaration. It was as if a piece of himself had locked into place. That declaration solidified his destiny. This was the path he would walk now and forever.

Unbeknownst to him, his clothing changed. The tuxedo faded into black armor. The top hat flew away; freeing an unruly mop of black hair. Boots replaced his shoes, and his cane transformed into a noble sword.

Jadeite was closing in on him.

Closing his eyes, Mamoru took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He would win this battle.

Time sped back up around him.

Jadeite's deadly fingers neared Mamoru's heart.

Mamoru raised his blade and struck.

It was fast and final. Mamoru twisted to the right; knocking away Jadeite's outstretched hand. He spun, and as he did, he brought his blade down. Power built behind his swing, and, as his spin brought him back around, he thrust his blade into Jadeite's unprotected stomach.

The Dark General jolted to a stop. Green blood bubbled up in his throat and split over his lips. His arms dropped, limp, to his sides, and he slumped against Mamoru. They stood like that for an eternal moment; neither moving nor knowing what to do next. Then, suddenly, Jadeite gripped Mamoru's arms. The gasping General pulled himself up on the blade, his body trembling as he did so, and looked Mamoru in the eyes. Teeth grit and stained green, Jadeite spat out, "Make...sure...I...burn."

It was not a threat. It was a plea.

Mamoru narrowed his eyes. "Gladly," he said. With strength he did not know he possessed, Mamoru pivoted on his heel and threw his enemy from his blade into the fire that still raged on the runway.

He did not see the relieved smile on Jadeite's face nor did he hear the whispered, "Thank you" as the Dark general landed in the flames.

The fire leapt high to greet him. Jadeite's body was consumed in an instant.

Purple lightening streaked across the sky, and in a dark throne room hidden from the world, a woman with red hair screamed in rage.

On the battlefield, two teenage boys lay sprawled on the cold concrete, neither believing what they had just done.

"We did it," Mamoru whispered. He had slumped to the ground, his clothes changing back to normal, and he was now leaning his head against his cane. Laughter mixed with tears as he reached over to Seiya and grabbed a fistful of his lab coat. "We did it!"

"We did," Seiya wheezed out, a laugh following close behind. Somehow, they had beaten the odds. Seiya continued to laugh, and Mamoru joined him.

Later, Seiya would reflect on his new vision; on how their enemy was far from finished with the city; on how the Dark Kingdom would retaliate after losing one of their Generals; on how this war was far from over. Later, he would process the altered timeline and what it meant for Mamoru's safety, but for now, he did not care. Right here, right now, he and Mamoru were alive. They had done it. They had won!

Rei sat before the sacred fire. She had stayed up all night praying for the two strangers who had snuck into her Temple and asked her for help. She prayed for their safety. She prayed for their victory. She prayed they would return.

She had been drawn to the room of the sacred fire hours earlier. She could not explain why. Something was calling to her—an urgency in her spirit. Rei followed the urging to the heart of the Temple, and there, she had found them: the two young men who would change everything.

Everyone in the city had been talking about them. Two vigilantes sneaking about the city; no one knew why, though the girls in her class enjoyed romanticizing them. Rei had paid no heed to the rumors, but now she was faced with the truth; what's more, she knew why they were there. Stepping into the room of the sacred fire, she had demanded, "You are going, aren't you?"

One of the teens—the one wearing the tuxedo—nodded. "We have to. It's our duty."

"And that night?" she asked. She looked at the other one—the one in the lab coat. "The damage to the Temple. Was that you as well?"

The lab coat warrior averted his eyes. "He was here. We needed to stop him. We are sorry about the damage we caused."

Rei shook her head. "No, don't be. You stopped him and saved my home. I cannot thank you enough."

The two exchanged a look before the tuxedo one spoke. "We know a way you could thank us," he said.

"We need some of the sacred fire," the lab coat one said. "It is his weakness. It is the only thing that can defeat him."

"Take it," Rei had said without a thought. "Take whatever you need, just stop that monster from destroying our home."

That encounter felt like an eternity ago. Rei hoped that, since the city was still intact, the two strangers had won. She continued to pray; she would not move until she knew for sure.

The sacred fire leapt high in its grate. Rei opened her eyes and stumbled back. The fire had never before acted this way.

A loud scream—a mix between a human's and a bird's—echoed through the room. Rei covered her ears. It hurt to hear.

Someone grabbed her arm. She looked up at her grandfather. His lips were moving, but Rei could not hear what he was saying. He pulled her arm. Rei followed him out of the room. Once they reached the safety of the hallway, she turned on her grandfather, ready to ask the questions bubbling in her hear; however, her grandfather stepped back into the room and shut the door in her face. "Hey!" she cried. She grabbed the handle and pulled, but the door would not move. "Jii-chan!" she cried. "Jii-chan!"

Inside the room, Hino-san stood back from the fire and waited. His heart swelled with an ancient hope. He did not dare to believe that it was true.

The cry continued to echo throughout the room. The fire leapt, danced, churned, and twisted through the air.

Something was being formed in the heart of the flame.

The cry changed. The shriek of the bird died away, and the cry of a struggling human continued. The heart of the fires form into arms and legs; a torso and shoulders; and, finally, a head; it was the head broke free of the flames first. It was topped with wild blond hair. The body followed the head. The power in the room snapped like a rubber band, and all was silent.

The body tumbled out of the flames onto the bamboo floor. There, he curled in on himself and let out a desperate sob. Words tumbled from his mouth between tears, and he shook with the depth of his pain.

Hino-san removed his robe and draped it over the boy.

The young man jerked. Wide blue eyes looked up at him in fear. He tried to scramble away from Hino-san, but he fell forward, weak and trembling. Tears were pouring from his eyes, and he continued to speak those desperate words.

Hino-san raised his hands to show he was no threat. "Peace, Master," he said in a language that was long since dead. "Peace. You are safe."

"Safe?" the young man sobbed.

Hino-san nodded. "Yes, you are free now, Master. I promise." Gently, as not to startle him, Hino-san placed his hands on the boy's trembling shoulders.

The boy jerked back out of the old man's grip. "No!" he gasped.

"It is alright," Hino-san said softly. "It is I, Kuzon, your humble servant."

The boy shook his head in disbelief. "No," he said again. "No!"

The vortex of emotion in his eyes threatened to drown Hino-san. Eons of pain, terror, and guilt swirled in that gaze. It was not hard to see why his Master was so fearful. "I know, Master, it is hard to believe, but I promise you. It is I." The old priest knelt in front of the struggling young man. "You are safe now." He reached forward. His Master did not flinch away this time. Hino-san took that as a good sign. Slowly, he pulled his Master against him. The boy pressed his face into Hino-san's shoulder and let out a heart-breaking cry. "It will be alright now, Master Jadeite," Hino-san whispered. "You are free now. You are free."

Across the world, in an airport waiting room, a young man dozed against a wall. His arms were crossed, and his chin rested against his chest. Two suitcases sat next to him.

A distinguished old gentleman walked up to the young man. He smiled as he watched the boy sleep. Pulling two plane tickets from his pocket, he used them to tap the boy on the head.

The young man stirred. Silver eyes peered blearily up at the old man.

"Wake up, my boy," the gentleman said. "Seems whatever trouble was happening at the Tokyo airport has been resolved. We'll be boarding soon."

The young man yawned and stretched. "Finally," he said.

The old man reached down and helped the young lad up. "Yes, it will be good to be home."