Cosmic Warriors

Disclaimer: All non-original characters in this story are copyrighted to Naoko Takeuchi and Toei respectively. I also do not own the mythological beings you'll read about throughout the story.

Thank you WeirdRaptor, ericaphoenix16, boagarota, and catcutie015 for reviewing. Thank you Julia Lucrezia Hanazono for adding the story to your favorites. Thank you Annunminuialiel, Nana von Bloedsinn, and boagarota for following the story

Note: Been about a month since the last chapter, for which I apologize. The good news is that the next 10 chapters are all completed. I also apologize for this lengthy note which you may ignore as it directed to a certain few reviewers.

Boagarota: Thank you again for your review. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts all about everything done so far and I enjoyed sharing my thoughts back with you.

Eriraphoenix16: Thank you! I've done so much excess writing for this fiction that goes into the backstory of my original characters or the Silver Millennium, much of it will probably never make it into the story. My plan is after the story is done to finish adding info to my Wiki site so that I have an organized layout of all the stuff I've done, but I'm glad you commented on that, it meant a lot. Lol Chira was a special individual, but we won't be seeing anymore of her kind for a while, kind of foreshadowing to something bigger, but I had a lot of fun writing the bar scene.

Nick: I can't really send you a response considering you're a guest, but here are the answers:

1. The true plot for the story is wrapped up in the line "An AU retelling of the Sailor Moon series", this single story is a retelling of season one of the anime. It doesn't follow the canon precisely, changes made include villains, plot flow, characters, and other things that are mentioned in my opening note. However the basis of the story follows the original storyline, the Dark Kingdom works to gather energy in order to wake Metalia and the Sailors (Warriors) work to stop them. From that there are sub-plots that revolve some minor characters like Naru, Gurio, and original characters of my creation.

2. In each chapter there are location markers found at the start of new sections, marked by line breaks. The story is centered in Japan and that is the most commonly used location, as that's where the main characters live. Within Japan everything has happened within various locations in Tokyo, mostly in Minato City. Other places that have been used are the North Pole. Rome, Italy. Rhode Island, New York, and Washington D.C., North America. Chile, South America. The Moon will also serve as a backdrop in several upcoming chapters.

3. The very first chapter tells you when the story takes place; September 7th, 1992. In each chapter, unless chapters occur over the course of the same day, it tells you the date, or the date changing is mentioned within the chapter (two days later, a week has passed, etc.) As of this chapter the date is Saturday December 5th, 1992. If you're wanting to know when it takes place as far as the series timeline goes it follows the canon meaning the story starts just before Usagi is awakened as Moon.

4. All main and supporting characters from the series, including villains. In addition several original characters are present throughout the story, again including villains.

5. Relevant birthdays and ages in descending order, pulled from my story work file. Not all birth years/ages follow the canon.

Chiba Mamoru – August 3 1974 (18 at introduction)

Kino Makoto – December 5 1977 (14 at introduction, turns 15 during Cosmic Warriors)

Hino Rei – April 17 1978 (14 at introduction)

Tsukino Usagi – June 30 1978 (14 at introduction)

Mizuno Ami – September 10 1978 (13 at introduction, turns 14 during Cosmic Warriors)

Aino Minako – October 22 1978 (13 at introduction, turns 14 during Cosmic Warriors)

6. I don't have numerical values placed on their strengths, as that sounds tedious and less than fun, but I gauge their strengths based off their performance in the anime. The girls are capable of handling themselves when it comes to Youma, but could they take down a Shitennou or a stronger Youma on their own? No. They don't handle each enemy they come across with ease and it's often a struggle to win and occasionally their victory isn't by their own doing.

I take it you haven't started reading the story yet, as a majority of your questions are answered within the preamble, but I did appreciate your interest in their ages. I hope you physically find these answers with ease and that they sufficiently answer your questions. Anyway, onto the story!


Chapter Fifty Four - Taken


Saturday December 5, 6:12 AM – Hikawa Shrine, Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Rei's brilliantly dark hair flew up when a gust of wind hit her as she reached the bottom of the Shrine's steps. She stopped to finger comb it back into place when she noticed a dark car sitting across the street with its window rolling down. She checked the street for other cars before she crossed and stopped beside the car. "Mom?"

"Hi honey!" Hino Risa sang from the passenger seat. "On your way to school?"

"Yes, I had to stop and grab a few things. Grandpa and I are staying elsewhere while the police investigate." Rei glanced back to the Shrine steps. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"Can't I just want to see my daughter?" Risa asked, sounding wounded. "Also, your father wants to speak with you."

"I can tell." Rei said as she leaned over and peered inside the car, her father was behind the wheel with a mobile phone to his ear. She stood up straight and stretched while she monitored the street. Another car was parked at the end of the street, no doubt a security team from the Guard. Her attention shifted back to her father's car as the driver door opened and her father stepped out.

Takashi glared into the sky as he buttoned a single button on his suit jacket before he moved around to the front of the car and beckoned Rei. "Have you spoken to Saburo?" Takashi asked.

"I speak to grandpa everyday." Rei reminded as she came to the front and leaned against the hood. "What's this about?"

"Have you spoken to him about my letter?" he asked.

"What letter?"

Takashi smiled and reached inside his suit pocket. He looked over a white envelope, pulled from his inside pocket, before he handed it off to Rei. "Of course he would neglect to mention it. Your mother and I are filing for custody. When it goes through you will move back home with us."

Rei's eyes went wide in alarm as she grabbed the envelope and tore it open. "We don't have a home." she said as she unfolded the papers and found files for a custody hearing. "I don't want to leave grandpa anyway." she said and glanced back into the car at her mother who seemed to be trying to look everywhere, but at her daughter.

"It's not safe for you here." Takashi said. "We saw the report about your grandfather's disappearance, why didn't you tell us? And the murder investigation?"

Rei stuffed the files back into the envelope. "It's not that serious. Everything was handled, we're staying somewhere else as a precaution."

"The Guard's idea I'm sure." Takashi said and ran his tongue around the inside of his lower lip. "Your involvement with them will stop when you're with us. You'll intern in the Emperor's office and get a head start."

"You're delusional." she said and slapped him in the chest with the envelope.

Takashi grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "Listen to me, Rei. I'm not trying to pull you away from your life here, but I am doing what I think is best for you. Tokyo isn't safe and it's not going to be safe for a while."

"What does that mean?" Rei asked. "If it's about Youma attacks the Guard has it handled."

"You seem sure about that." Takashi said warily. "Don't tell me you're working with them, Rei, I will take you out of this city this instant if I find out you're involved with that gathering of fools."

Rei shrugged out of her father's grasp and looked to the car at the end of the street. "I'm not. I hear things from grandpa."

"More crackpot theories from that old nut." Takashi scoffed. "The Youma problem is being dealt with the proper way. A task force is being gathered to eliminate the threat at its source." he said and pulled a collection of photographs from inside his suit jacket. He pulled a rubber band from around the photos and handed them off.

"A government operation I'm guessing." Rei's brow furrowed as she flipped through them. All were taken in a lab of sorts, on an operating table, and showed different mangled and destroyed bodies of Youma. "Does the government even know what it's trying to deal with? How did you get these?"

"A colleague of mine in Rome. His office is investigating an earthquake that caused a cave-in under the Colosseum. They've been pulling bodies like these up for a week." Takashi said and held his hand out for them.

Rei looked between the photos and her father's hand before she went to hand them back and let the stack slip from her hands. The stack of polaroids fell to the street and scattered across the pavement. "Sorry, I'll get them." she said and quickly dropped down.

As she gathered the photos together she glanced to the Guard's car. Rei grabbed a photo at random and tossed it behind her as she gathered the rest and handed them to her father.

"I'm heading to the city to meet with the Emperor tomorrow, after that I've got a meeting with the Superintendent of police and then I'm leaving to meet with INTERPOL." he said as he wrapped the photos with the rubber band and slipped them back into his jacket pocket. "But your mother and I will be back, don't get settled in to wherever you're staying."

Takashi made the effort to kiss his daughter's forehead, but instead squeezed her shoulder before he retreated to the car. Rei stepped onto the sidewalk and waved to her mother as the car started and pulled away.

She waited on the curb until the car was out of sight before she darted into the street and grabbed the photo she singled out. It wasn't anything special, a Youma body was cut open on an operating table and various doctor hands were present in the picture holding tools.

Without having to signal to them the black car at the end of the street rolled up beside Rei. She moved to the driver side and hunched over as the window came down and Haruka appeared behind the wheel. "Who's the stiff in the suit?"

"My father." Rei said as she turned the photo around for Haruka to see. "He showed me a stack of these, said the government is preparing to deal with the Youma problem? Do you know anything about that?"

Haruka pulled off a pair of pilot shades and took the picture. "Where's this from?"

"Rome."

"I've been hearing things, but I wasn't aware the government knew anything. I'll take it to headquarters when I get back." Haruka said. "Get in, I'll give you a ride to school."

Rei obliged without a word and opened the backseat door.


Saturday December 5, 2:35 PM – Jūban Ice Arena, Azabu-Jūban, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

"We're here!" Usagi squealed with delight.

The overzealous blonde pushed through a pair of doors and stepped into a large oval sized room. Makoto, Minako, and Rei trailed after her, their eyes darting from side to side as they took in their surroundings. The far walls were white and held brown structures that curved up and across the ceiling to hold lighting fixtures in place.

The girls followed each other down a carpeted walkway between two sets of bleachers that rose five levels up. The path split as the girls reached a two-part wall that separated them from an oval of glassy white ice that reflected the lights above. The wall's lower half was white with fixtures on top that held thick sheets of plastic in place.

"Who's all supposed to be coming?" Makoto asked as she propped herself against the dividing wall and stared out across the ice.

"Us four." Usagi said as she started counting off on her fingers. "Naru and Umino. Ami and Ryo."

"That's it? Wasn't Rei supposed to invite Mamoru?" Makoto asked.

Minako's brow became heavy as she narrowed her eyes and slid to Makoto's side. "I don't think they're talking anymore." She said and held her hand up to block her mouth.

"Why not?"

"Because Usagi is the Moon Princess and Mamoru is her Prince." Minako said and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. "How could Rei hope to compete with that?"

"Usagi is still just Usagi and Mamoru is still just Mamoru, they don't have to be together." Makoto said.

"That's not what I hear." Minako replied. "Besides, could Rei live with herself knowing Usagi and Mamoru were in love in a past life?"

"Who says they were in love?" Makoto exclaimed.

"Artemis!" Minako said. "I've heard all the stories. Some tales say he was a farmer who took up astrology and became entranced by the Moon. Others say she visited the Earth and he fell in love. Either way it goes they're destined to be together."

"Ouch." Makoto winced. "That's gotta be tough on her."

"It is." Rei announced as she appeared at Minako's side. "And hearing you two gossiping about it doesn't help."

"We didn't mean anything by it." Minako gulped as she waved off Rei's aggression. "Just girl talk."

"If you don't mind me asking, what did Mamoru say about coming out with us?" Makoto asked as she glanced to Usagi who was testing the ice and nearly collapsed as soon as her foot touched down. "Did he think it'd be too weird?"

"I didn't ask him." Rei said coldly.

"You told Usagi you would." Minako reminded.

Rei cast her a pointed glare before she fingered back a strand of her hair. "He didn't pick up the phone when I called to ask."

"His loss, Rei." Makoto said as she nudged the girl's shoulder.

Rei responded with a slight nod of her head before she walked off towards the nearest set of bleachers.

"Help!" Usagi howled as she gripped onto the plastic wall, her feet pinwheeling behind her as they slipped on the ice.

"You're not supposed to go on the ice with tennis shoes." Rei said as she passed by. "It's called ice skating, not ice walking."

Usagi blubbered as Rei continued walking and took a seat on the first level of stand seats. "I don't want to fall!" she cried. "Help me!"

Minako sighed and headed over the opening in the barrier and grabbed Usagi's hands. "C'mon, I'll pull you back."

Makoto watched Usagi throw herself at Minako and collapse into the girl in a fit of crying as the doors to the rink opened and Naru entered with Gurio at her side.

"Did you know the world's first ice rink to be mechanically frozen was called the Glaciarium?" Gurio asked.

Naru smiled and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. "Only you would know that." she said sweetly. "Hi Mako, happy birthday!"

"Thanks Naru." Makoto gave them both a long wave. "It's weird seeing you two like this." She said and gestured to their arms, linked at the crook of their elbows and at Naru resting on his shoulder.

"Is it your really birthday Makoto? Happy birthday." Gurio said as he adjusted his glasses. "I don't understand how seeing us is odd, Naru and I are at a similar height and displays of affection like this shouldn't be an anomaly to see. Perhaps if Naru were a foot taller we'd—"

"She meant us, as a couple." Naru said as she squeezed his arm.

"Hi Naru." Usagi said as she rushed over. "Hi Umino."

"Hello Usagi." Gurio said. "Even though you didn't directly invite me, I'm still happy to be here."

"Hi Usagi, is this everyone?" Naru asked as she glanced down the walking area to see Rei slipping off her shoes.

"We're waiting on Ami and her date." Usagi said.

"I'm a little shocked, Usagi, normally you only want to hang out at the arcade." Naru said. "Why the change?"

"I wanted to do something that we could all do together for Mako's birthday." Usagi said.

"And she spent all her allowance money losing at the arcade." Makoto interjected.

Usagi's shoulders dropped in defeat. "The machine was rigged! Besides, when I saw the ad about a free lesson taught my two Olympic skaters I knew it would be perfect. This is my way of apologizing."

"Apologizing for what?" Gurio asked.

"I haven't been the best kind of friend lately, so I thought all of us coming together would be a great way to mend that!"

Gurio adjusted his glasses before he smirked. "Heh, well you've been mean to me for years and I don't understand how inviting us to skate is an apology, but I'll take it."

"I like to think of it as playful teasing." she said.

The doors to the rink opened again and Ami came through with Ryo walking a few steps behind her. "I'm not sure I fit in." Ryo said. "I don't know anyone else here." he said as he scanned the faces in the room.

Ami placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "I'll introduce you." she said as she moved behind him and walked towards the group.

Minako shuffled closer to Makoto as the last couple approached Naru. "Are we sure this was such a good idea?" she muttered. "What if Ryo loses control on the ice?"

Makoto raised a discerning brow at Ryo and hummed. "Well let's pray that doesn't happen, I don't want anything to ruin this day. I'm actually really good at ice skating."

"Oh? You wanna be Misha to my Janelyn?" Minako asked.

"Might as well. It doesn't look like Rei and Usagi are going to be talking to each other much." Makoto said.

Minako turned her attention to where Rei was sitting. "I wonder if they broke up, her and Mamoru." she said. "I couldn't do it, date a Prince if I knew who his destined Princess was."

"For the last time Mamoru's not a prince, he's allowed to date whoever he wants." Makoto reminded.

Their attention shifted from Rei as Ami and Ryo walked towards them. "Hi girls, this is Urawa Ryo, my..."

"Boyfriend." Ryo finished and held his hand out to the girls. "Nice to meet you."

"Aino Minako, pleasure's all mine." Minako said with a wink as she graciously took his hand.

"What's up? I'm Mako." Makoto said after a quick shake.

"Everyone's here, let's go get our skates!" Usagi sang.

As the group followed after Usagi to the opposite side of the rink Ami took a seat on the bottom of the stands and pulled her schoolbag into her lap.

"Don't you want to skate?" Ryo asked as he stopped walking.

Ami shook her head and pulled a large mathematics textbook out from her bag followed by a notebook and several pencils. "My ankle is a little sore, but you can skate if you want. I'll watch."

"It won't be much fun out there without you." Ryo laughed softly as he watched Ami flip open to a precise page and start taking notes. "Actually this works out because there's something I want to talk to you about." Ryo rubbed his palms on his pants and quickly took a seat beside her.

"Oh?"

"I think I owe you an explanation or a few explanations actually." Ryo said as he gently reached over and grabbed Ami's book. He took a moment to breathe as he closed the book on his lap and looked to Ami. "I've been keeping a lot of things from you since the day we met, but because of what you're about to go through I know can I trust you with my secret."

Ami looked forlornly at her textbook before her eyes traveled to meet Ryo's. "What I'm about to go through?"

"Your new life as a Cosmic Warrior." he replied softly.

Ami stiffened. Sound faded from her ears following Ryo's words and time seemed to drag on as her brain muddled to string together a reply. "I don't know what you're talking about." she stammered out.

Ryo smiled, an expected response. "Ami, what do you remember about Rome?"

Ami smiled and laughed nervously. "I've never been to Rome." she said as she went to grab her book.

Ryo sat back as he let Ami take her book, he sighed quietly as he rested his hands back into his lap. "Maybe not voluntarily, but you were there last week, as a worker for the Dark Kingdom."

Ami's hand tightened on the edges of her textbook and she turned to face Ryo. "How do you know that? Ryo, do you work for the Silver Guard? Did my mother put you up to this?"

"I don't work for the Silver Guard, but I'm not a regular human either. Ami, the reason I know about this is because I was in Rome too." he paused and shook his head. "I should start over from the beginning. Ami, for as long as I can remember I've been able to catch glimpses of the future. It probably sounds crazy and it's hard to explain, but they come to me at random. Sometimes the visions are about me, some are about my family or friends. Some are about people I've never met. That's how I met you, or saw you. I had a vision about you and then I started having more and then they came to me so frequently I was drawn here."

"You had visions about me?" she breathed, slightly flustered.

"Yes, some good, some not so good." Ryo said softly. "I wasn't able to understand why I had visions at all, but when I came here, met you, and spent time with you my visions started getting clearer and during my sleep I saw this monster, completely white, who was able to turn its body into any object. I saw myself turning into that monster and that was when I realized it was inside me. Now I know that thing is the reason I'm able to have visions. Ami, does any of that ring a bell?"

"Yes." Ami said as she clenched her eyes shut. "I've been trying to forget, but I remember everything so clearly. All the things I did for those people, I remember it all."

"Then you know what I'm telling you is true." Ryo said as he took her hand. "I wanted to get to know you, but once I realized what I was I knew I couldn't be around you. But then I started getting visions of you getting hurt and I couldn't help myself."

"Then, that day when the brick almost hit me."

"I didn't just happen to show up. I saw it, I saw the brick hit you." Ryo said, his expression hard and pained. "So I came to prevent it from happening."

Ami's hand turned over and Ryo's grasp as she held onto his hand. "Then you really did save my life." she flushed.

"Yeah, I guess I did." he replied, his eyes nervously darting elsewhere. "I'm sorry for telling you to forget about me and making you worry."

Ami's eyes softened and she looked down to their joined hands. "You said that and then you were gone. I thought something awful happened to you."

"I knew the Dark Kingdom was coming for me and I didn't want you to get hurt in the process." Ryo said. "I didn't know you were working with them against your will at the time. It wasn't until we were in Rome that I figured it out. I could see everything happening from inside that monster."

"I feel so bad." Ami said. "But everyone's been so nice, it's like they don't blame me." she said. "I tried to hurt Mako and fought against them and they're trying to be my friends."

"How could they blame you?" Ryo asked. "It wasn't your fault."

"I feel responsible." Ami said and fell quiet before her head shot up. "You said I was going to have a new life, as a Cosmic Warrior."

Ryo's mouth tilted into a lopsided smile as he nodded. "I had a vision."

"Then is what they're telling me true?" Ami asked, urgently. "My mom told me all this stuff and I kind of believe her, but is it all true? Am I a Cosmic Warrior?"

"Yes, I wish I could show you, but you'll just have to take my word." Ryo said.

Across the rink everyone had been fitted for skates and was beginning to get onto the ice.

"Wait for me!" Usagi called out as she jumped towards the ice, one foot covered by a white and red skate, while the other remained bare with the second skate clutched in the girl's hand.

"Usagi, you're going to fall." Makoto said as she came to a sideways stop and sprayed ice into the air.

"No I won't, I'm fine." Usagi said as her foot touched the ice and her body instantly tipped 90 degrees and she landed face first. "Owww, that hurt!" she blubbered.

"I'm embarrassed to be here with you." Rei quipped as she skated by.

"They're here!" Minako shouted and gained the attention of her friends. Her arm was thrust out towards a gap in the plastic wall that opened right onto the ice.

From the opening came two figures, a man and a woman. The woman skated out ahead in a blue and white dress that stopped above her knees, followed by her partner in black pants and a loose white top. The duo's legs pumped forward together as they crossed the rink to the group of teens.

"Hi everyone!" the woman said as she slowed to a stop. "I'm Janelyn and this is my partner Misha. Are you guys ready to learn a few things?"

"Yes!" Minako said with stars bursting in her eyes.

"Alright!" Janelyn said with a brilliant smile. "Well first things first, you have to get used to the ice. Why don't you all start by taking slow steps across the ice and then gliding for a bit?"

The group fell into a row and started to take slow steps across the rink, getting accustomed to the feel of their blades on the hard ice before they let themselves glide forward a few feet.

"Very nice!" Janelyn said. "It can be weird at first, but once you—"

Janelyn fell silent as a blur of green shot forward on the ice. Makoto glided ahead of her friends, backwards, as she skated towards the far wall.

"Whoa!" Janelyn said as she clapped her hands. "You're so good, how long have you been skating?"

Makoto grinned as she slowed and turned to move back towards the group. "I don't know. We had this pond that froze over in the winter in my old city, I used to skate on it. It's kind of something I've always known how to do I guess."

"No fair! That should be me." Usagi whined as she crawled onto the ice on her hands and knees. "Okay, I've got this." she muttered as she pushed herself up onto her feet, but as soon as she was up her legs started to wobble from side to side and her feet slipped out from under her. Her butt crashed on the ice and her legs went into the air as she cried out in pain. "Oww!"

"She's amazing." Rei said as Makoto attempted a jump and landed perfectly with a quick spin. "Unlike someone." she said as she glanced back to see Usagi peeling herself off the ice for another try at standing.

"Very nice." Janelyn said. "If you're comfortable with moving try just free skating."

"C'mon, don't think about it too much." Naru said as she glided backwards, holding onto Gurio's hands who was squatting like he was ready to pounce. "Just coast."

"Don't think too much?" Gurio squawked. "That's all I can do, the density of the ice, the degree to which my skates have been sharpened, the other grooves in the ice." he muttered as he stuck his butt out, trying to get even lower to the ice.

Misha skated towards Makoto and turned on his skates to face her as he made a circle. "You're very talented."

Makoto flushed and dropped her eyes to the ice. "Oh, thank you."

"A natural really." he said as he passed her back. "You'd make a better partner than Janelyn."

Makoto's head shot up at that as she eyed the man. "Oh, I could never. You two are professionals."

"Well, I am." Misha said with a smile. "I'm not so sure about her."

Before Makoto could reply the sound of Usagi's wailing caught her attention. She turned to see her friend careening towards the others from behind. Before she could utter a fair warning Rei and Minako were bowled over.

"Usagi!" Rei howled. "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

"I was watching, I just couldn't stop!" Usagi cried as she wiggled off of Rei's head.

Misha placed his hand on the small of Makoto's back. "What do you say, would you like to come with me and have a private lesson?" he asked and nodded to the opening gap in the plastic wall. "There's a smaller rink right through there. I'd like to see just how well you skate.

"Oh, coach. I love you." Makoto breathed before she coughed hard and stammered. "I—I mean, I'd love too!"

Misha brushed back his thick blonde hair and smiled. "Excellent."


Saturday December 5, 3:04 PM – Jūban Odyssey, Azabu-Jūban, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Luna and Artemis presented fake police badges to a pair of low-ranking officers as they entered a luxury hotel room. They followed a pathway, a path in the carpet flooring not covered with evidence markers as they walked to find Dewi standing in the center of the room.

"Is Kalla here?" Luna asked.

Dewi turned and shook his head. "We got the call and he said he still isn't feeling like himself yet, so I came instead."

"What happened here, besides the obvious." Artemis said as he observed the room.

The room's interior, white and yellow furniture with glass accents, was spotted with blood. Puddles and streaks of blood ran across the carpet in various directions, as if the killer couldn't decide which way to drag their victim. The walls were spattered with red and a shock of blood was sprayed across the yellow windows.

"Who's our victim?" Luna asked. She tipped her head back to observe a male's body impaled on the ceiling fan.

"Victims." Dewi corrected as he pulled a pad of paper from his pants pocket. "There's a woman she's in the bathroom. Both of their faces are too mangled to make an ID, but we checked with the front desk. The room was reserved by a Yenin Misha, which fits with the identification we found in the room. The woman's name is Belov Janelyn." Dewi motioned and led them towards the bathroom, the path to which was marked a blood trail.

Inside the small while tiled room was smeared on each wall with blood. The shower curtain was missing and the rod was impaled through the back of a woman's head who was bent over the sink.

"Why do they sound familiar?" Artemis asked.

"They're Olympic figure skaters from Russia." Dewi said. "They ran a news report on them last week, they're in town from Russia to teach at the ice skating rink."

"Doesn't look like they're going to make it." Artemis said.

"Were these Youma attacks?" Luna asked in a hushed tone.

Dewi scratched a bit of red stubble on his chin before he put his pad away. "Can't be sure until we get the bodies and do an autopsy. But the condition of the rooms, they way they were killed, this couldn't have been a human."

"The bodies, I don't think we've ever seen something so violent before, if their goal was to take energy from these two I don't see the point in a killing like this." Luna said. She glanced around the bathroom again before she turned to see Artemis on his phone. "Who're you calling?"

"Mina, she mentioned something about Usagi inviting her skating." Artemis said. "She might know something about these two, like why they were targeted."


Saturday December 5, 3:11PM – Jūban Ice Arena, Azabu-Jūban, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Minako coasted across the ice and stepped off onto the carpet walkway with her mobile phone in hand. She did a quick check to make sure no eyes were on her before she put the phone to her ear. "What's up alley cat?"

Artemis hummed his disapproval of her nickname through the line. "Tell me, what do you know about the skaters Yenin Misha and Belov Janelyn?"

"Um not too much. I've seen a few of their performances." Minako said. "But this is the first time I've met them."

"What?" Artemis asked sharply.

"The skating rink Usagi invited me too, Misha and Janelyn are the instructors." Minako said as she looked back to the ice.

"Are they there right now?"

"Of course they are." Minako laughed. "What's wrong Artemis? You sound worried."

"Luna and I are downtown at a crime scene, Misha and Janelyn's crime scene." Artemis said. "I'm looking at their dead bodies as we speak."

Heat rushed to Minako's head as she scanned the ice and found Janelyn twirling around Gurio. "That's impossible, they're right here." she said before her eyes darted across the ice, unable to find Misha anywhere.

"Now you sound worried. Is everything fine?"

"Yeah, it's fine, I just—I don't see Misha anymore. Or Mako." Minako said as she bit her lip.

"Mina." Artemis warned.

"There's a civilian here, Artemis, I can't confront them in the open." Minako said, hearing the underlying message in Artemis' tone.

"Who all is there with you?" Artemis asked.

"The girls, Ami, Ryo, Naru, and a boy from Usagi's school, Gurio."

"Ryo?" Artemis choked.

"He's fine. Mako and I have been watching him." she said. "He's been sitting with Ami the entire time."

"Get everyone to safety. Luna and I are on our way." Artemis said. "Don't lose sight of those two."

Minako closed the phone and slipped it back into her pocket as she looked across the ice again before her eyes fell on the opening that Misha and Janelyn arrived through. She gripped the barrier sides before she pushed herself out onto the ice and glided towards Rei.

"Rei, come here!" Minako hissed as she skidded to a stop before the girl. She cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned in to whisper.

Rei looked uneasy with Minako breath on her ear, but her expression turned to worry when she finished. "Are they dangerous?"

"No clue, Artemis said to get the others to safety." Minako said. "Can you get them out of here? I'll tell Usagi and we can look for Mako."

"Alright, sure." Rei said as she skated off towards Naru and Gurio.

Minako crossed the ice to where Usagi had relented on trying to skate and was blubbering on the ice. She slowed to a stop and bent over and held her hands out to Usagi. "Usagi, it's time to get to work."

"I give up, I can't skate!" Usagi whined and took Minako's hands.

Minako smiled as she slowly backed up and helped Usagi to her feet and supported her once she was up. "Artemis called, we've got Warrior business."

Usagi snapped her mouth shut around the urge to complain, remembering her promise to be a better Warrior. "So, what is it?" she asked dryly.

"The instructors, Artemis said they found them dead in a hotel." Minako said as she gestured to Janelyn who was waving bye to Naru and Gurio as Rei led them off the ice.

Usagi gasped. "What? How is that possible?"

"I don't know, but Rei is going to get everyone out, we need to find Misha and Mako." Minako said as she grabbed Usagi's hand. "Try not to move your legs too much, I'll pull you along." she said as she slowly skated forward and Usagi remained still as a statue.

The two girls passed through the opening on the ice and under a short tunnel that led to a much smaller ice rink. At least two times smaller than the oval rink, the secluded circle rink's room was the same, white walls with brown support beams that held overhead lights. Minako pulled Usagi up beside her as they stopped just short of the entrance at the sight of red dots on the ice.

Usagi gasped as she slowly crouched and ran her fingers through the nearest drip. "Is this blood?" she asked.

"Usagi." Minako muttered and held out a hand to help the girl stand. Her other hand pointed across the ice to the far dividing wall to Misha who was progressing on a someone crawling across the ice.

Makoto grunted as she cupped her hand to a wound on her midsection and she pulled herself forward with her other hand.

"Enough of your games." Misha slowly glided forward, his skates cutting through a line of blood, as Makoto dragged her body away from him. Misha coasted past Makoto and gripped her shoulders. "As much as I enjoy a good show it's time you surrendered to me." he said as he pulled her off the ice.

A surge of dark purple light erupted around Misha's body, swirling with streams of black and strips of electricity. Makoto tensed in his grasp and cried out as the energy enveloped her.

"Mako!" Usagi cried. "Let her go!"

Misha craned his head around to the entrance as the dark energy flow died down. "Oh, more victims?"

"Like hell we'll be the victims, but you'll become ours if you don't let her go!" Minako snapped, aiming a deadly gaze at Misha.

"Making threats are we?"

Usagi and Minako whipped around to see Janelyn emerging from the tunnel with Rei in her grasp. Rei's arm was twisted behind her back and her head was pulled back as Janelyn kept a firm hold on her. "I don't know who you girls think you are, but I do know it's not your lucky day."

"Just who are you two?" Minako asked as she turned to the side, turning her head left to right to keep both of the skaters in her view. "You aren't really be Janelyn and Misha."

"Why can't we be?" Misha asked snidely.

"The real Janelyn and Misha were found dead earlier." Minako said. "And since you're wearing their faces I'll bet you aren't humans either."

"This one is smart, far more brilliant than you, Janelyn." Misha said.

Janelyn snarled and twisted Rei's arm further back. Rei gasped in pain, arching her back as Janelyn pulled back harder on her hair. "Shut up, Misha!" A rush of energy and air whipped around Rei and Janelyn before the women were surrounded by the same kind of dark energy as Misha.

"AHHHH!" Rei screamed as the dark light covered her and dark streaks of electricity rippled over her body.

"Usagi, you take Janelyn." Minako said as she reached her hands up to touch her earrings.

Usagi glanced over her shoulder. "I want Misha, no one hurts Mako!" she said as she gripped her bracelet and exploded in a brilliant display of white light.

Moon held her lance down at her side and took a step forward, wary of the ice and expecting to fall, but the patterned rubber on the bottom of her suit kept her upright. "Alright!" she cheered as she started out taking slow, careful steps, before she hurried across the rink to Misha.

Misha glared at her before he swung Mako out of his grasp and sent her sliding into the dividing wall.

Janelyn hurled Rei down at Minako's feet before she erupted into another flare of dark energy.

Rei rolled over and quickly got to feet at Minako's side. The two exchanged glances before they erupted in flares of light. The girls vanished in the glow and standing in their stead were two Warriors.

"Oh? What do we have here?" Janelyn asked as the dark aura began to tear away at her clothing. Her blouse ripped into pieces and flitted away in the aura before being dissolved. What remained was a skintight blood red bodysuit that left her arms and legs exposed. "I'm feeling strong energy levels coming from you two, maybe I shouldn't have let you go."

"No, you shouldn't have." Mars said. "It was your second mistake. Your first was putting your hands on me!" she barked as she thrust her hands forward. "Cremazoine!" Flares of fire sparked before Mars' palms that she slapped together then held her palms to Janelyn with the tips of her thumb and forefingers touching. "Rin, Pyoh, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai!"

The fire coating Mars' hands was sucked into the gap between her fingers, gathering together with another flame that formed there. She thrust her hands forward and a cannon of fire exploded from her hands, engulfing a surprised Janelyn.

Venus shielded herself as the flames covered the gap in the dividing wall, completely blocking Janelyn from sight. But the woman appeared, darting out of range of the attack, while small burn marks marred her skin and suit.

The woman shot across the rink, her skates cutting through the ice with ease. "Dammit, that was hot!" she hissed as she made a turn and darted towards Venus.

The orange suited Warrior turned and held her disc up to the woman. "I think you'll find I can be hot too. Venus Shot of Love!"

A blinking flash of orange light erupted from the disc face and fired at Janelyn. The woman didn't stop her progress and instead pointed her hands together at the beam. As her fingers connected with the tip the beam split into halves, sheering off her hands and firing off into the distance.

Venus gaped in shock as Janelyn moved to close the distance between them, her arms pulled back to strike. Venus yanked her disc apart and thrust her hands through the holders on the back as she lunged forward at Janelyn, her arms bent back, mimicking the skater's pose.

Before they could reach other a hand wrapped around Venus' waist and pulled her back. Mars slid into her spot, one hand extended with her index out and thumb up, a small ball of fire concentrating before the tip of her forefinger.

Mars waited until the last possible second, as Janelyn's face registered the panic, before she released the ball of fire that exploded in the woman's face

"I had her!" Venus groaned.

Mars whipped around to the girl. "You were about to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a woman who cut a beam of energy in half."

"Yes and I was going to cut her in half." Venus said as she raised her hands. The jagged blades on the insides of her disc reflected the ceiling lights as Venus showcased them.

"Or get yourself killed." Mars corrected. "We need to see what she can do before we even think about engaging her in close combat. If your attacks can't reach her why don't you stay behind me and back me up?"

"Back you up?" Venus gasped. "I'm no one's second apple!"

"What does that mean? I'm just trying to do the smart thing."

"Well I know what I'm doing. I've been facing her kind for over a year."

"So have I, but if you want to compare resumes how about we do it after we finish up here."

Moon's knuckles burned with white-hot intensity as she gripped her lance. Keeping it aloft was quickly taking its toll on her aching biceps and Misha striking the lance face every few seconds didn't help. Each smite sent a thundering of vibrations rolling through her arms, threatening her hold on her only weapon.

Like Janelyn, Misha had undergone a change through the murky aura that he conjured. His skin turned dark and developed a sickly green tint to it. His blouse was blown away to reveal his chest riddled with marks and scars healed over into glossy green flesh. The most apposite of changes, and most lethal, were the blades that sprouted from his arms. Two shot through the flesh on his palms and two more sprouted from his elbows.

Moon turned her blade into slight angles to properly deflect the blows as Misha forced her back on the ice towards the dividing wall.

"Don't let him corner you!" Makoto warned, but then clenched her abdomen and groaned in pain.

As the idea of getting out of range crossed Moon's mind before her back bumped against the plaster wall. She spared a quick look to the side to realize they'd already crossed the rink. As Misha swung his fatal arms down at her Moon raised her lance and moved one hand up to press against the shaft.

Once the blades struck she shoved back against Misha, forcing him to slide back across the ice just enough to give her the needed space. Moon let her lance tip touch the ice and gave herself just one second of reprieve. She then plunged her cosmic energy into the lance and was rewarded as the tip changed shape and the blade itself became illuminated with her power.

"Moon Blade Slash!" she cried and swung her lance. A disc of brilliant white energy flew from the lance at Misha who crossed his hand blades over his body to deflect.

Without letting her energy leave the blade Moon raised it over her head. "Oh no you don't!" she said as she swung it back down, cracking the ice beneath her on impact as another wave of energy flew at Misha.

Misha snorted before the dark aura burst around him and caused the two waves to dissipate. "I was enjoying our struggle, but if you think you have what it takes to defeat me you're in for a surprise."

Moon's brow furrowed at Misha before a glint of light caught her attention. Across the ice Makoto vanished under the light and Warrior sat in her place against the wall. The green suited Warrior must have anticipated her reaction because she held a thumb up to Moon.

"What else can you do soldier?" Misha asked as his dark aura faded and he walked closer to her. "I've seen your move a few times now and I'll tell you it will never work on me."

Moon shuddered at his challenge and raised her lance to him. Misha lunged at her and jabbed with his left arm, the blade grazed the edge of the lance before it shot past Moon and embed itself into the plastic wall. Before Moon had a chance to consider dodging his right arm struck in a similar way and grazed the edge of her mask before it stuck into the wall.

Moon prepared to drop her lance and cut upwards when Misha's knee jolted up, a blade ripping through the fabric of his pants. Moon tilted the lance and allowed the newest blade to skate across the face of the lance.

"Quick thinker." Misha sneered.

Moon pushed down on his knee and moved her lance out from between them, giving her clear aim. She pulled back her arm and tightened her fist into the smallest ball possible before she punched him square in the nose.

The man staggered back, his blades ripping free from the wall, as he cupped his nose. "You brat!" he growled as a drop of blood fell from between his fingers. "I'll have your head!"

Misha lunged forward to strike when a blur of green crossed his path. Jupiter's fist connected with his jaw and was followed the howl of thunder that shattered his skull, spraying blood and bone across the ice before Misha went flying.

"Jupiter!" Moon cried. "Should you be up?"

Jupiter waved off the girl's concern, but held a hand tentatively at the location of her wound. "It's fine, it wasn't as bad as it looked. I remember something Luna said, that our cosmic energy is what helps us go beyond our limits when we're Warriors. I think the wound started to heal a little bit after I transformed."

"Misha!" Janelyn cried as she darted away from Mars and Venus to kneel at Misha's side.

Jupiter huffed as she slowly walked nearer. "I called the Guard, they're on their way. You might as well give it up. If you think you're outnumbered now wait until our friends get here."

Janelyn cradled Misha's shattered head in her lap and rocked back and forth, her weeping cries echoing in the rink.

"I'll finish this." Mars said as she approached from Janelyn's blind spot with an arrow notched.

Janelyn squeezed Misha's head tighter as she started to whisper. "Slava Ottsu, i Synu, i Svyatomu Dukhu. Kak eto bylo v nachale, teper, i vsegda budet, mir bez kontsa."

Moon watched in shock as Janelyn hunched over and pressed her lips to Misha's deformed mouth. "Amin." she muttered to his lips.

The Warriors were knocked off their feet and send sliding to the edge of the rink as a vortex of dark energy swirled around the bodies of their enemies. Their bodies became indistinguishable as the darkness shrouded them, but as abruptly as the aura had appeared it vanished again and a single being stood in the center of the rink.

They stood taller than Jupiter with broad shoulders, pale skin, and a buzz of blonde hair. They wore a white piece of fabric over their prominent chest which had a deep V cut in it that stopped near their navel. Their legs were wrapped in strands of black fabric that coated even their feet. Wide blades shot forth from the flesh on their wrists and extended a foot past the ends of their fingers. Their small honey coloured eyes flashed across the rink, surveying the Warriors as they got back to their feet.

"What the hell is that thing?" Jupiter asked as she used Moon as a crutch to stand on.

"There's just one," Moon said. "but it's neither Misha or Janelyn, what happened?"

"You may call us ZorinGellar." the being said as it turned its shoulders to Jupiter and Moon.

"Its voice." Moon whispered. She could distinctly make out both Misha and Janelyn's voices coming from the body of their new enemy, as if ZorinGellar were speaking at the same time for the two of them.

ZorinGellar titled forward slightly before it shot off across the ice at Moon. Its feet clicked against the ice with the help of small blades coating its instep.

Moon raised her lance just in time as ZorinGellar began to swung its arms at her. The blades coming from its wrists crashed down against her lance and Moon tilted the weapon from side to side to block each blow that came down where she predicted it would.

ZorinGellar leapt back and spun around, swinging its leg out as it did. Moon raised her lance and pressed her forearm to the back of it for support as the limb connected. The moment of impact Moon knew she'd underestimated their strength as she was knocked off her feet and sent tumbling across the ice.

ZorinGellar wasted no time and whipped around to Jupiter, jabbing at her with its blades. Jupiter raised her gauntlets before her face and allowed the two blades to scrape harmlessly off them.

"You won't overpower me that easily." Jupiter grunted.

ZorinGellar leapt back before it cocked back its leg and kicked at Jupiter. The Warrior dove to the side and watched in shock as the leg crashed through the plaster wall.

Jupiter's attention shifted to Venus and Mars who were charging over. Venus took the lead and neared ZorinGellar's back with her disc halves pulled apart and attached to her wrists. ZorinGellar's eyes never left Jupiter, but it whipped around and caught Venus in the midsection with its leg. The Warrior flew off course and rolled across the ice before she slammed into the far wall.

Mars skidded to a stop and raised her bow, quickly letting the notched arrow fly. ZorinGellar tipped its head to the side and let the arrow whiz by, landing somewhere in the stands beyond the ice. Mars' lowered her bow in surprise before she quickly aimed and notched another arrow.

"26." ZorinGellar said in its overlapping voice. "That is the degree to which I will tilt my head to avoid your arrow. It will fly into the seats and cause three chairs to ignite into flames."

Jupiter stared up at the giant with wide eyes and beyond it Mars lowered her bow in shock.

"There is nothing these eyes cannot see." ZorinGellar said as its eyes rolled back slightly to reveal another pupil and iris within the same socket.

"Seeing is one thing, dodging is another!" Venus shouted from across the rink as she hurled her disc out. "Venus Heart Attack!"

ZorinGellar turned to the oncoming disc and swung its arms down. The two blades connected with the halves of the disc and knocked it out of the air. They then moved their head back a few inches and let another red arrow fly past. ZorinGellar then reached over its shoulder and took hold of Jupiter's fist that was nearing their back. ZorinGellar pulled on Jupiter's fist, hoisting the Warrior over their shoulder, before they slammed her down onto the ice.

"Ahh!" Jupiter groaned as the impact rattled through her bones.

ZorinGellar raised their leg over Jupiter's masked face, prepared to stomp when they froze and leapt back. Just as they put enough distance between them and the Warrior, a wave of energy sliced by them.

Moon groaned in defeat from across the rink as her lance touched down onto the ice.

"In exactly two minutes reinforcements will arrive." ZorinGellar said as its dual eyes swiveled in their socket.

"How the hell do we beat someone that can predict our moves?" Mars asked.

Jupiter looked to the ceiling. "Do something unpredictable. If you guys can keep that thing busy I have an idea." she said as she rolled onto her front and then got to her feet. "Venus when I say so I need you to fire and bust a hole in the ceiling. As big as you can make it, okay?" Jupiter backed up on the ice, behind Mars as she clasped her hands together.

"Gotcha." Venus said.

"You think by concentrating your energy you can attack me with something I cannot overcome." ZorinGellar said.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just gathering my strength." Jupiter said, coyly.

ZorinGellar's dual eyes twitched at Jupiter, but then shifted to the sight of Venus charging in.

Venus jumped towards ZorinGellar and did a double kick, but ZorinGellar simply swayed to the right and let Venus' foot fly past. Venus landed and followed up with a roundhouse, but ZorinGellar dropped into a squat and let her leg swing by overhead. Venus whipped around and then turned back to bring her leg back around, but ZorinGellar ducked under it once again.

As the two righted themselves Venus jabbed forward, but ZorinGellar swerved to the side to avoid the thrust and in Venus' opening ZorinGellar rushed to them with their blades posed to strike.

Moon's lance swung down in front of ZorinGellar and caused them to leap back. Moon charged after ZorinGellar and swung her lance out in a wide arc. ZorinGellar ducked under the blade and slid into Moon's blind spot. ZorinGellar then shot up behind her and snaked their arms around Moon's neck, turning for the other Warriors to see.

All the Warriors tensed at the sight, Moon struggling to break free from the giant's grasp, but also at her legs kicking desperately in the air. "You in the green, stop, or else I will snap her neck. Or she will run out of air before that."

Venus and Mars whipped their heads back to Jupiter who still had her hands together. "What's wrong, can't you see what I'm planning?" Jupiter asked. "You can't can you?"

ZorinGellar's eyes twitched and it cocked its head to the side. "Stop or I will kill her."

"Jupiter you have to stop!" Venus said.

Jupiter pressed her hands together harder and stared on at Moon. "Hold on Moon, just a little longer."

Moon's kicking became less frantic, more laggard, as she scratched at the back of ZorinGellar's arm to be let go.

"Jupiter!" Mars snapped.

"Venus the ceiling, do it now." Jupiter said as she thrust her hands into the air.

"But—"

"Do it!"

Venus tensed as she recalled her disc and slapped the two halves together. She raised her arms into the air and hurled the disc into the air. "Venus Raining Shot of Love!" she cried. The disc exploded into streams of orange light and with Venus' command, all fired up into the ceiling.

The Warriors moved out of range as light fixtures and chunks of the ceiling fell onto the ice and as the light from Venus' attack dimmed the damage could be seen. Large holes had been blown into the ceiling that all overlapped creating one giant gap in the roof that allowed the girls to see into the sky. Although it was still early in the afternoon the clouds were dark and heavy hanging over the arena.

"Stop!" ZorinGellar demanded as its grip on Moon tightened.

"You can read our moves, but mother nature is unpredictable." Jupiter said. "My guardian Jupiter! Brew a storm! Call the clouds! Bring down the lightning!" Veins of lightning raced through the unlit clouds before several streaks ripped through the bottom and poured into the arena. The bolts of lightning struck Jupiter's gauntlets and circuited her body. "And Crash!" Jupiter said as she extended her limbs.

ZorinGellar tensed and released Moon as it lunged far back to the dividing wall, anticipating the wide spread attack it managed to foresee. But rather than a wave of lightning that covered most of the rink, nothing happened.

"Did I miss something?" Venus asked as Mars notched an arrow and scurried to Moon's side.

"I don't think it was able to see how the clouds would change or how the lightning would come down." Jupiter said. "But I knew he'd be able to read my attack, so I faked like I was going to strike, figuring that it would try and get out of the way."

Moon couched as she rubbed her neck. "That's great, but maybe don't use me as bait next time."

"Sorry." Jupiter said as Mars and Moon returned to their side. "But I knew you could hang on until I was ready."

"Well you figured out that he can't predict the weather, but he can still see our attacks coming. So how do we beat him?" Venus asked as her disc reformed in her hand.

"Could there be a limit?" Mars asked.

"What?"

"A limit to how many outcomes it can see." she added. "If we all attacked at once, could it see all of them?"

"Maybe not, but it might deflect them." Moon said. "Misha did that to me, he summoned the dark aura and it made my attacks vanish."

"We need something he can't dodge or protect against." Venus said. "Maybe if we combine our attacks."

"I just suggested that." Mars deadpanned.

"No, I mean we literally combine them." Venus said. "We mix our energies and attack in pairs."

"The last time we did that it left me drained." Jupiter said as she looked to Moon. "Besides the two of us are the only ones who've attempted it, we have no clue what will happen otherwise."

"Well then I'm out of ideas!" Venus shrieked.

"I'm not." Moon said as she raised her lance square to ZorinGellar. "Misha asked me if I had any other moves, and I do." Moon steadied her breathing and lined the tip of her lance up with ZorinGellar's head as a flash of golden light shined off the blade. Moon closed her eyes and focused her energy on the lance before she reopened them and gasped.

A dark aura was leaking off ZorinGellar and filling the arena, or had already filled it. She turned her head to see Venus who was completely enveloped by the darkness, as was she. She turned her eyes back to ZorinGellar to two black shadows twisting and wriggling at its feet. Moon lowered her lance until she was aiming directly at the shadows. "Moon Healing Escalation!"

A halo of golden light covered Moon as her lance burst with beams of light. The rays of light shot at random around the arena, producing ethereal flecks of white light in their wake. Moon gripped her lance tighter as a dome of light spread from the weapon and crossed the rink, dissipating the darkness. She watched ZorinGellar's expression turn to one of shock as it tried to turn and run, but the light encased the entire room and in a sweep blasted the shadows into nothing more than wisps. Once the darkness vanished the light shrunk back to Moon's lance, becoming sealed away inside one more.

"Look!" Venus said.

Moon watched as ZorinGellar fell to its knees and cupped its head. Sections of its body began to morph, one arm grew smaller than the other, its torso shrank while its legs enlarged around the kneecaps. The giant's body convulsed before it dropped its disproportionate hands to its side and a large fissure spread up its face. From the single crack came more, minute, cracks that spread over half of its face before ZorinGellar fell over onto the ice, still.

The Warriors watched in silence before the body began to emit steam and then break apart into crumbling pieces of dust.

"Did we do it?" Mars asked, an arrow notched and ready for anything.

The sound of applause coming from the entrance caused each of the Warriors to turn and ready themselves for another fight. Their guards dropped once they saw it was Artemis and Luna clapping for them.

"How long have you been there?" Venus fired.

"We walked in as the light show started." Luna said as she and Artemis crossed the ice. "Moon, I'm so proud of you using the Moon Healing Escalation."

Moon bobbed her head as her balance began to slip from her. A rash of cold sweat beads dotted her hairline and she stabbed her lance into the ice as she dropped to a knee.

"Moon!" the other shouted as they rushed to her side.

"She'll be alright." Luna said as she hurried to Moon and put her arms under the girl before she lifted her. "She's tired. Come on girls we'll take you home and call the Cleaners."


Saturday December 5, 10:16PM – Oakwood Apartments, Azabu-Jūban, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Mamoru's apartment was silent, even the wind blowing through his open window ghosted across the room without resonance. Mamoru was locked into a heavy sleep on his bed, covers kicked to the floor in a twist, as he sporadically tossed and turned. His bare chest heaved up and down with each lungful of air inspired. His face scrunched and knotted as his dreams brought forth unpleasant memories and tortured his subconscious.

As Mamoru was wrenched from his nightmare he shot up in bed, yelling at the top of his lungs to the vacant studio. His pulse quickened and his heart thumped away in his chest as he scanned his apartment, empty as always. He swung his legs out of bed and hung his head as he wiped a patch of sweat of his nape. He scratched at the back of his head, feeling somewhat foolish for still being afflicted by nightmares, before he rose and moved to his kitchen.

After fetching a glass and drinking down a cup, and then two, of water from the tap he dropped the cup into the sink and padded towards his bed. He paused as soon as he hit the living room area when he saw a figure standing in the room

Kunzite stood at his bedside, his hand dragging along the sheet, before he lifted his head to the moonlight breaking through the window. "Your dwellings are, insufficient, for a man of your degree." he said before he turned to face Mamoru. "Come with me, Endymion."

Mamoru's right eye snapped shut and as he shuddered away from Kunzite and the mere mention of his past life. "Ahh!" he hissed as he fell to the floor, cupping his head. "Who are you?" he grunted.

"Reach back into the reserves of your mind." Kunzite said as he stepped forward. "Pull forth the memories that have been so hidden away for so long. Stop repressing them, Endymion."

Mamoru cringed again as the name hit him like a sledgehammer against his skull. As Kunzite took another step forward Mamoru pushed himself up and staggered towards the door. With one hand clenched against his head he twisted the door knob and threw it open.

He fell against the opposite wall before he started to walk off down the hall, glancing back to see Kunzite stepping out in the hall. "Leave me alone!" he yelled.

Kunzite's brow furrowed before he held his palm up. "You will remember, one way or another." A string of chains flew from the glove on Kunzite's palm and shot to Mamoru. Two wrapped around his ankles and pulled him back, causing Mamoru to lose his balance and slam face first onto the floor.

"Stop! Help me!" Mamoru cried as the chains began to retract and pull him back. He struggled to keep still, attempting to push against the walls before two more chains looped around his shoulders and another around his neck. Mamoru gagged as the chains tightened and forced him back to Kunzite.

Kunzite threw his hand to the side and a large swirling black and blue vortex appeared in the hall and the chains from his palm connected into it. Kunzite stepped aside as the chains continued to retract and pulled Mamoru in through the vortex.


Saturday December 5, 210:38PM – Keio University, Mita, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Rei entered her shared bedroom with her grandfather and shut the door behind her as she watched her grandfather at work at their desk. "I'm home. I'm back." she corrected. Even though she'd spent many nights sleeping at headquarters it was far from the Shrine.

"Welcome back, Rei." Saburo said as he turned in the desk.

"I brought you some medicine." Rei said as she held up a white paper bag. "Losna said it'll help with the pain. I also stopped and got you some heating patches for your muscles and your back."

"How sweet." Saburo said. "I hear your day with your friends became a little complicated."

Rei shrugged out of her jacket and sighed. "Two Youma that turned into just one large one. Luckily they didn't know who they were messing with. Everyone's fine. I stopped and saw Yuichirou on the way back, he misses us." she said as she dropped the bag onto the desk and headed to her bed.

The room was shaped into a wide Z, with the beds at the far side giving each occupant privacy and their own workspace.

Saburo opened the bag and dug out a plastic container. He popped the top, shook out two small white pills and swallowed them down with water. "Do anything else today?"

"Spoke to my parents." Rei said as she came back around the buffer wall. "I stopped by the Shrine to get a few things and check on Phobos and Deimos. Mom and dad were parked on the street."

"How's your mother?"

"Good." Rei said with a nod as she propped herself on the wall. "Dad showed me the papers."

"Rei, I was going to tell you, eventually." Saburo said. "I just couldn't find the right time with everything that's been going on. I didn't want to upset you and it came right after you'd awakened as a Warrior."

"Grandpa." Rei said and held up a hand to silence him. "Don't worry about my dad. He can't scare us with his fancy legal papers or threaten me by telling me the city isn't safe. I'm not going to live with them, I never will. I love them, I love mom, but he dumped me at the Shrine because he was scared of what I was going to become. He threatened to move me away if he found out I worked for the Guard, I can't imagine his reaction to the news that I'm a Warrior."

Rei smiled and moved over to the desk where she hugged her grandfather around the shoulders. "My point is, he'll never accept what I am. A Miko, an Agent to the Guard, a Warrior, but you do. You never once made me feel ashamed for my premonitions, never discouraged me from reading the flames or telling fortunes. You support me no matter what." she said as she kissed the top of his head. "You're the only man in my life that seems to get me and I'll never leave your side because of that."

Rei wrapped her arms tighter around his shoulders and rested her head on top of his when she felt her grandfather's shoulders start to jump. "Don't cry, grandpa."


End of Chapter Fifty Four


Next, Usagi becomes distraught over Mamoru's sudden disappearance and Ami seeks out the answers she's been looking for from Meness. From him Ami learns about a story as old as the Moon itself. What will a history lesson from the oldest Lunarian reveal? Find out next time.

Chapter Fifty Five - Tsukuyomi no Kami