Eternal gratitude to my followers and anonymous readers!
There will be some homophobic slurs in the middle. Remember: Depictions are not condoning.
The Men that Must Die, Part 2: But The Fighter Still Remains
For the first time in quite a while, the Inner Guardians reunited over at Fruit Parlor Crown for idle chat. The mood, however, was rather somber. Ami in particular was rather taciturn, mulling over Ryo somehow still being alive, about the appearance of the Heavenly Kings, and about the surge of her emotions that made her acquire a new level in her Sailor Guardian powers, enough to completely annihilate the newly-reborn Zoisite.
"Are you okay, Ami?" Makoto asked her. It was her free weekend, so she was free to join her friends by the table.
"Oh, sorry... I'm fine," she turned around with the faintest smile. "Just worried about the new enemy."
"More like old enemy," Minako spoke after sipping some of her swiss lemonade. "Who the hell brought back those jerks, the Heavenly Kings?"
"Bet it has to do with that masked creep," Usagi affirmed. "He's been trying to mess with us with creatures from the Makai, remember?"
"I thought Astar managed to kill him, before dying himself," Makoto commented while remembering with certain melancholy of her would-be friend with whom he had a perspective-changing conversation there at the restaurant.
"It was a humanoid effigy," Ami added while she gazed at the window. "And it keeps coming back, again and again. Whatever it is, it's not human, and it is summoning demons and monsters of all sorts from the depths of Hell. Including the Heavenly Kings, due to their past with us in the Silver Millenium."
"I still find it hard to believe we had something with those guys," Rei added, remembering the strange image she saw in her divination - The Kings with Yuuichirou and three others in some kind of ritual. Was there any reason they were aiming them, and not the heroines themselves?
"But don't sweat it. We dealt with them before, we can do it again. Oh yeah, before I forget..." Rei then handed one special paper talisman to each of her friends. "Setsuna told us about incubi on the loose, so I mounted these to ward them off. You bet those aren't Angels in disguise like the late Astar. Put them in your bedrooms, or wherever else you intend to sleep at, and you'll be fine."
"Scary... I hope these work," Usagi said as she admired the talisman she got.
"Of course, they will!" Rei boasted. "Those were molded, written and blessed by yours truly, so they're guaranteed to work."
"In the meantime, the Outer Guardians will be busy warding off the visible monsters," Minako reminded.
"Good afternoon, girls!" A familiar man effusively greeted the Guardians, who all greeted him back in equal fashion. It was none other than Motoki Furuhata, making his first appearance to them since being discharged from the hospital after the attack he and Reika suffered in the Juuban Junior High. He was wearing some Bermuda shorts that showed his brand-new prosthetic leg, and he walked with a cane as he still accustomed his body with the makeshift limb.
"Hey, Motoki! Mamo-chan sent his regards to you," Usagi told him.
"Cool! Can't wait to see him again, we got a lot to catch up on," he replied while briefly beating his prosthetic leg with his cane. "Now if you excuse me, I gotta speak to my dear sister in the backroom. Enjoy yourselves!"
As Motoki left, Makoto accompanied him with her look as he tried some limping steps without the cane as a support.
"Earth to Makoto!" Minako called her out. "That boat moved on long ago, remember?"
"No, no, I know," Makoto excused herself with a wave of her hand. "It's just that... He lost his freaking leg because of me. Besides... I have a date with a certain someone later."
Upon hearing this, the heroines got wide-eyed in amazement and directed their gaze at the Guardian of Thunder - Including Ami, in her own shy way.
"You better tell us everything!" Usagi bellowed out with the largest grin she could muster. The news was enough to lighten the mood of the Guardians a little bit.
(xx)
Meanwhile, Shinozaki and Hideki Tajiri were coming back from the gym after their daily workout session. They hadn't met since the attack at Juuban Junior High, when Hideki suffered the effects of gazing upon the hellish Shoggoth, and his left eye was semi-closed, still suffering the aftermath.
"They had to draw clogged blood off my retina. With a syringe and a needle straight into the eyeball, you know?" He spoke while both winced. "That's why I had to take it easy back in the gym. But I won't go blind and that's what matters."
"Well, I'm glad you're fine now," Shinozaki told his friend. "Your eye is gonna be fine soon enough, I'm sure of it."
"I sure am glad to be alive, and in good terms with you after our, ahem... Mutual affair. I hope you and Makoto hit it off great!"
"Well, well, well," uttered the raspy voice of a street punk. "The fag is on the loose again!"
"Who is this Makoto you gonna hit it off with?" Another one spoke. "Bet it's a guy. You guys gonna meet up in the Shinjuku Ni-chome?"
"Uh... This is not a good idea," Hideki warned as Shinozaki seethed beside him.
"Up yours, gaylord!" the second one insulted them.
"Yeah! Now that your cop daddy is dead and rotten, who's gonna back up your ass now!?"
"I mean... Not a good idea for you two."
Almost immediately upon hearing this, Shinozaki furiously charged at them - One got a devastating Dempsey Roll in the face, the other got hit by a roundhouse kick. Both fell to the ground, too stunned to mount a counter-strike.
"Told you," Hideki commented while shaking his head at the two delinquents' recklessness.
"None of you homophobic twats are going to ruin my day," Shinozaki told the two punks as they got up and ran away. Different from the expected, he was smiling and feeling good from the adrenaline surge in his organism. "Now come on, Hideki. We got dates to tend to, so let's haste it!"
And his friend couldn't be more relieved. "They don't call you the Bully Buster for nothing. One more thing you and Mako have in common." To that comment, Shinozaki gave a short, satisfied chortle.
As both turned the street, a certain long-haired figure observed them from afar, having seen the brief altercation. He had a particular interest in Shinozaki. It appears he's easily provoked. It will be easy. I hope...
(xx)
When Shizune was just coming back from work and climbing out of the staircase, she saw her niece Makoto locking the front door of her apartment. She wore a wonderful deep-blue dress that slightly highlighted her cleavage and accentuated her curves, and she exhaled the sweet smell of her favorite rose-and-vanilla perfume.
"What's the big hurry?" Shizune asked. "Wow, you're dressed to kill and you smell so nice... Could it be what I am thinking of?"
"Sort of," her niece answered. "I totally forgot to tell you about this. Shinozaki and I, well... We are going on a date at the Tokyo Dome World."
"What."
"Yes. We are taking it to the next level."
Her aunt's eyes widened in the same proportion Makoto blushed. She was even locked in place in her excitement.
"Umm, something the matter, auntie?" Makoto shyly asked.
Shizune shook a bit, grinned proudly and released a squee as she briefly grabbed her niece's shoulders. "KYAAAAAAAA! About damn time!"
"Hah hah, yeah, I thought so too," the Guardian replied while bashfully scratching the back of her head.
"I mean, you two were always so close ever since you were kids. I even grew tired of hearing from neighbors, college classmates and passers-by about if and when you two would start dating. Well, there you have it! Best of luck to you two!"
"Ah, thanks a lot! Say, auntie... Don't you have someone in mind? I mean... You're young and good-looking and all that, but maybe it doesn't bother you that you're approaching the Christmas Cake status?"
"Ah, you know I don't play by those sexist conventions," she said with a wave of her hand. "But still, I do have someone in mind. He usually passes by the office to get some files and we always strike up some friendly chatter. But whether it will go somewhere, it remains to be seen. What matters now is your own date with little Miyage. I stalled too much with you, go and take care, and try not to come home too late, okay?" She gave her traditional kiss on her niece's cheek, followed by a good-luck wink. She then leaned in to whisper in Makoto's ear: "Don't forget to use condoms."
"It's just a date!" She replied nervously while sweatdropping. "But thanks, auntie, see you!"
(xx)
Makoto waited on the corner of the street of the Juuban Police Headquarters, where some kind of protest was taking place. The wave of destructive occurrences was starting to take its toll on the population, and they were making themselves heard to the few patrollers that still remained stationed.
"We are trying to solve these strange cases, but we are as overwhelmed and puzzled as you are!" Chief Superintendent Natsuna Sakurada tried to calm the crowd. Not that it did her any good.
"Trying is not enough! We want action!"
"People are getting hurt and even dying!"
"Our taxes pay for your wages, you useless pigs!"
"It appears our actions are leaving repercussions," a familiar male voice spoke to Makoto, who up until that point was distracted with the fuss. When she turned around, the Guardian of Thunder saw her date, and she felt the flush of love take over her face and her bosom almost immediately. "Oh, you kid! You look gorgeous!" She commented. Shinozaki was also wearing some of his best clothes and footwear, and smelled wonderful of mahogany perfume. On his arm hung a big black umbrella, and on his face laid a proud smile.
"Now come on, the last thing I want to worry about is of my Sailor Guardian duty," Makoto spoke, refraining from pulling Shinozaki.
"Does it bother you that we need to take the public transportation to go on our date?" Shinozaki asked while they walked to the nearest train station. "It might take a while until I'm able to purchase my own car."
"I don't mind at all," she answered. "What matters is... I'm with you now." At that moment, the grey sky started to pour down some droplets. "Well, what do you know, it's raining."
"Care to snuggle with me under my umbrella?" The young man asked while opening it.
"With pleasure!" Makoto answered as she clung to his arm. Deep inside, she always wanted to share a moment like this with someone, and there she was fulfilling her desire, feeling warm even with the cold winds and rains of winter touching her body. "You're my rainy day man, you know that?" Makoto lovingly told him in his ear. Even after reaching the station, they did not release each other until they boarded the train.
(xx)
It didn't take long until they reached their destination: the brand-new Tokyo Dome World, a music venue built right next to the famous baseball stadium, where a highly-sought techno music festival was taking place. The idea was just to unwind a bit during the first few attractions, down some snacks then go back home. The loud pumps of the bass, the colorful lights, and the many people already dancing were already quite inviting to the young couple.
"Let's dance like there's no tomorrow!" Shinozaki spoke as he grabbed Makoto by the waist and both started dancing without a care in the world. The girl couldn't be happier if she tried. Her sense of time and energy got lost as she danced in a frenzy, their movements somehow in perfect sync, drawing forth the admired sights of a good portion of the attendees.
Just as they were about to share their first kiss on each other's lips, the place's lights went out, substituted by small flickering strobe lights. For all people knew, it was all part of the show, since the music was still blaring on over the sound system. However, Makoto no longer felt the arms of Shinozaki around her body. Instead, all of a sudden, she felt a warm splash hit her on the right side of her face, as well as over her breasts.
"Shinozaki!? Where are you?" Makoto frantically called for her sweetheart. "SHINOZAKI!" The little lighting the place gave out made it hard to seek for him, so she bumped through the crowd until she found herself in the first properly-lit place she could find, the venue's restroom. Only then did she see what splashed on her skin and stained her dress: It was blood. Shinozaki's blood.
She hurried herself to the outside without bothering to clean the bloodstains. Right at the entrance gate, however, a huge graffiti seemingly written in blood spelled: Jupiter - Meet me at the Hamarikyu Gardens. 10 o'clock. ALONE.
Makoto's thoughts raced around. It was clear it was a message for her, but could she really trust she could find Shinozaki there as well? Who could have done such a thing, and why? She instinctively reached for her communicator, but the perp's message made it clear she had to go at it alone. The Guardian couldn't risk it. She then took a deep breath, wiped off her face and hurried her pace towards the nearest bus stop.
(xx)
Shinozaki felt that breathing made him feel excruciating pain in his chest. He noticed he had a gaping skewering wound that came in on his upper left chest, just below his collarbone, and came out of his upper back. When he noticed his situation, he saw the dark grey sky of a night ready to pour cats and dogs down, and he was at what seemed to be a park by a river.
"Hamarikyu... Why am I here... Mako! Ugh..."
"Makoto is fine, and I trust he is coming for your rescue," a man in pastel-toned dapper clothes with long, wavy locks of auburn hair spoke while sitting on a nearby rock. "All according to plan."
"You again..." Shinozaki spoke while grasping for his open wound and starting to feel a taste of blood in his mouth. He recognized Nephrite from their combat at Juuban Junior High. "What... Do you want..."
"To kill you, of course," he nonchalantly answered. "We still have time until your lover comes, so for now, I wish to draw forth your latent combat abilities. Those only truly come out when you are at the brink of collapse."
"All this for a fight... What kind of freak are you?"
"I'm the one who asks the questions here," Nephrite curtly interrupted. "I wonder... What would your father think of this?"
Shinozaki felt his blood boil at the mention of his late father. It made him cough some blood droplets. "Don't... Put... My father into this..."
"Oh, I will. Not only him, but all of your forebears."
"You know what? Fuck it... You annoyed me enough. You want a fight? Agh..." He got up and felt more pain and another spit out of blood. "Then put 'em on!"
Shinozaki roared out as he went toward the Heavenly King in rushed but tentative steps. Nephrite had no difficulty in evading his push at first, but as it turned out, it was a feint - He got hit with a mean elbow hook that floored him right away. But that wasn't the end of his: he tackled his foe and, positioning himself above him, flurried his face with a series of punches. "If you talk about my father again, or do anything against Mako, I'm going to flay you alive!"
Soon after, the taller man got up, making Shinozaki fall right at his feet. "Just as I thought. You really become an entirely different person when engaging in combat," Nephrite spoke while wiping out his mouth. "Couldn't expect less of the man that once was the Berserker King."
"I'm... What now?"
"Ellerick, Third of His Name. King of Jupiter, known as the Berserker King for being relentless in battle, striking fear upon anybody none the wiser to your capabilities. But don't let it go to your head now. You are yourself now."
"I am more than enough against you!" Shinozaki spat out as he once more engaged in a catch-as-catch-can with the Heavenly King. Whatever pain he felt on his upper left chest and back did not set back his flaring fighting impetus. However, Nephrite managed to shove him backwards and gain some upper hand, hammering down his wound with and making Shinozaki cough more blood.
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" The familiar voice of Sailor Jupiter called for her compressed attack from afar. It hit the Heavenly King just as he was ready to bash Shinozaki further in the head, making him roll for a few feet on the green, stopping short of falling into the river. Both turned around to see the Guardian atop a nearby tree.
"Mako!" Shinozaki gladly recognized her.
"Advirga," spoke Nephrite, calling her by her Silver Millenium identity.
"Alright, I came here right on time," Jupiter spoke in a displeased tone. "Some sack you've got to ruin my first date in ages. In the name of Jupiter, I'm gonna shock and awe you 'til you get numb!"
"Very well then," Nephrite calmly stated as he got up and dusted himself off. "You two, hit me with your best shots."
In a single bound, Sailor Jupiter managed to reach the King's side, clashing with him right away with a wristlock. After wrestling with him for a few moments, Jupiter managed to outweigh him and perform a judo flip on him towards Shinozaki.
"Get him while you can!" Jupiter shouted out.
Shinozaki quickly caught the idea. He picked Nephrite in the air, then put him on his back in a fireman's carry position, ready to deliver an otherwise impossible pro wrestling move. "BURNING HAMMER!" he called out as he slammed Nephrite neck-first to the floor with all his might. The taller man felt something rupturing through his spine as he struck the floor. "How do you like that!?"
"Excellent strike," Nephrite commented as he got up. "You leave me no other choice."
(xx)
Quite a number of imps of all sizes started to run amok through Tokyo that night, and the Outer Guardians, feeling overwhelmed, called for the Inners for help - Minus Sailor Jupiter, whom they did not wish to bother during her date with Shinozaki. Sailor Pluto advised that, while she, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn scouted Azabu-Juuban, they move up towards the rest of Minato and northward.
Waves upon waves of weak imps that got blasted and burned with relative ease by the Inner Guardians. Sailor Mercury's power was equiparable to Sailor Moon's by then, enough to freeze dozens to death and oblivion in the same proportion that her leader pulverized them by larger numbers. Eternal Sailor Moon then stopped on her tracks all of a sudden, as they were advancing through the empty streets of the prefecture.
"What's the matter, Sailor Moon?" asked Sailor Mars.
"It's Sailor Jupiter!" she answered. "She activated her emergency call. She's not far from here, the signal indicates."
"Go to her aid, you three," Sailor Venus told them. "Let me handle these freaks."
The other Guardians silently nodded and went northward as quickly as they could, while Sailor Venus stood behind. "Love and Beauty Shock!" The attack managed to destroy about three lesser demons and back off several of them. But those that survived surrounded the heroine.
"It's never a sound idea to release your most powerful tricks right away, you know," spoke a soft but firm voice from atop a light post. When she turned around, she recognized the one and only Phantom Ace. The imps seemed to flinch at his sight for some reason. "Need some help, girl?"
"All help is welcome, loverboy," the Guardian of Love gladly answered.
Following this quick exchange, they turned to face the monsters once more. Sailor Venus managed to quick-scope through the imps with her basic Crescent Beams to conserve as much energy as possible, whereas Phantom Ace tossed his cards and punched his way through the demonic horde. Fifteen minutes were enough to do away with the menace, at least for the moment.
With danger properly dealt with, Phantom Ace could turn to his beloved for a light comment: "Strange night this is. Starless and obscured by clouds. It's a bad omen, like my prediction stated."
"What prediction?" Sailor Venus asked.
He drew one card of his deck and showed it to Sailor Venus. "Jack of Clubs. One man will die tonight. It is inevitable... and necessary."
"Why are your predictions always so glum?" the Guardian asked in a slightly nervous tone.
"I don't know... It may be the deck. Next time, I'm bringing Hanafuda cards." Both had a short but relieved laugh at the white-clad hero's quip.
(xx)
"Stop right there!" the distinct voice of Sailor Moon called, alongside Mercury and Mars. They had arrived just as Nephrite managed to toss Sailor Jupiter aside, and prepared to stab a fallen Shinozaki.
"We won't let you do anything else against nobody else," Sailor Mercury affirmed.
"Nephrite... Why are you doing this!?" Inquired Sailor Moon.
"That's right! We thought you were repenting," added Sailor Mars.
"I thought I had made it clear to you to come alone," Nephrite addressed Sailor Jupiter as he got up with difficulty. "But I guess it makes no difference. I am a creature of Hell now, beyond any redemption. I will carry on my mission... Hell or high water!"
"It doesn't have to be this way," Sailor Moon cried out. "What would Naru think of this!?"
The thought of her inundated his mind, paralyzing his entire body like a spell. "Don't put her in this!"
"Who is this Naru she spoke of?" Another male voice was heard. It was none other than Fréamund, who casually strolled by Nephrite's side. "What's the matter with you, Ayawatha? Why haven't you slain him yet?"
"They are... Far stronger than I thought," he answered half-heartedly.
"Do not justify yourself," the cloaked servant spoke. "I see you still have moral and ethical conflicts within your mind. Shouldn't have expected less from someone who used to be human."
He drew forth a blade and slashed him through Shinozaki's torso once more, taking care not to hit anything vital just yet.
"SHINOZAKI!" Sailor Jupiter cried out. She then called for her power once more. "Supreme Thunder!" The attack seemingly did not affect Fréamund.
"Now, finish him off... Or I will do the same to whoever this Naru woman is."
"NEPHRITE!" Sailor Jupiter screamed out on the verge of desperation. "Don't do this!"
"You don't understand... I have to take him to the Underworld!" Nephrite muttered.
"But why!? Tell us, why?" Sailor Moon pleaded once more. The tall man said nothing more as he got up, picked up the sword and went to where Shinozaki was barely being able to get up.
"No! Stay away from him!" The more she screamed, the more Nephrite approached, sword in hand. Shinozaki trembled in a mix of fear, pain and anger.
"How easy it is to goad people into servitude," boasted Fréamund.
"GO!" Nephrite screamed at Shinozaki, and immediately jumped up and teleported away. Shinozaki then tackled Fréamund, who was right behind the Heavenly King, with total violence, striking his face with furious blows.
"Strange subject..." Fréamund commented in between punches. "The more wounded you are, the stronger you become!"
"RAAAAGH!" The young man was at a boiling point where he could no longer form intelligible phrases.
Fréamund eventually paralyzed the young man with some sort of shocking spell. His limping body floated in front of the heroines, who tried to rescue him - Only to be stopped by an unholy barrier that caused them pain as they approached the men. "I no longer have doubt of your status as a traitor, Ayawatha, and I shall deal with you accordingly when the right time comes. As for you, child, you have no idea what you are dealing with. Contemplate this in Hell."
With one clean swipe of his dagger, Fréamund cut off Shinozaki's head. His body dropped on his knees, while his head still floated, expressionless and oozing blood from his neck. The cloaked servant showed great pleasure in showing the decapitated head to the Sailor Guardians, who were paralyzed in shock.
Sailor Jupiter let out a primal scream upon seeing the gruesome execution.
"The king is dead once more," mocked Fréamund. "Long live the king!"
Sailor Jupiter could not believe the man with whom she shared a good portion of her lifetime, and eventually gave her love to, was dead and thrown into the running river like it was nothing. She was a living force of nature, and at that moment, she felt as impotent as she could be. But still...
"I'm... going... to kill you..." Jupiter spoke in a raucous, bereaved voice.
"Jupiter..." Sailor Moon tried to approach her, but backed off when she felt pure static shocking her entire arm.
"I'm going to KILL YOU! I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!" Another ray of light seemed to strike the Guardian. All the others cowered in fear. When everyone turned back their gazes at her, she was completely covered in an aura that mixed the pleasant smell of plants and flowers with the furious static of natural electricity. She had then acquired the visible features of her Eternal form.
"Mjolnir Thunderclap!" She screamed to the heavens. Right at that moment, the small hail became a thunderous storm, to which Sailor Moon reacted by cowering in panic. One such lightning strike went towards the Guardian's raised right hand, and the raw energy upon it took the shape of a giant mallet.
"I'm starting to see why Ayawatha aimed this boy," the cloaked man mused. "The emotion surge made you acquire a stronger level of power. The same happened between Aeneas and Sailor Mercury. I do wonder how Dis Pater will react to this double-crossing..."
"Blizzard Symphony," Eternal Sailor Mercury called for her own power. The rain around the villain became stinging icicles. Coupled with Jupiter's hammer-shaped power, both beat fiercely on the villain... But to no avail.
"Spare your powers for those who need it," Fréamund spoke as he defended himself with some sort of magic shield around him. With a strong flash, he undid his own shield, floored the Guardians, and promptly disappeared to a safe place.
Sailor Moon, Mercury and Mars rose up, but Eternal Sailor Jupiter remained on her knees, completely exhausted of her strength and resolve. "You promised me, Shinozaki... You promised you'd be there for me when no one else would want me..." Her wailing made the storm grow stronger.
Eternal Sailor Mercury couldn't help but shed her own tears, sharing Jupiter's own pain with hers. The Guardian of Waters went to where her sister-in-arms fell, and embraced her, resisting the static shocks that still afflicted her. She, too, had suffered the apparent death of the man she loved. "Be strong, Jupiter... For the love of everything you hold dear, be strong!"
"How... How can you say something like that to me!?" Jupiter cried out, her belligerent tone being a product of her shock and her grief. "I'm not strong at all... I just... I just wanted... him... How am I going to... To explain this... To his mother?"
All Eternal Sailor Mercury could do was to keep embracing her and Jupiter released her pained sobs. She did not know how to explain that, in her own case, Ryo somehow survived the attack but was in a coma. How could the same happen to Shinozaki, considering not only his own body was lost, he was decapitated in plain sight of all the Guardians?
Not a single one of the remaining heroines remained unshaken. They all shed tears of commiseration for their sister-in-arms, but they were lost on the rain water that washed their faces. And they all felt a deep fear that the same thing may happen to the men they loved...
From afar, a man of the law observed the action that had just transcurred, too awestruck to properly react. Not only because of the decidedly supernatural powers being released but also because he recognized the cloaked man somehow.
"Is that who I think it was?" Inspector Toshio Wagaki asked himself in complete astonishment.
(xx)
Makoto could only recover her composure enough to return home. But with what face would she tell her aunt Shizune that her first date with Shinozaki ended with him killed in brutal fashion and his remains unceremoniously tossed into the river, all because he dared to love her, a Sailor Guardian?
Her deepest fear concretized when, upon reaching her apartment block, Shinozaki's mother Hiroko was there at the door of Shizune's apartment.
"Mako? Thank goodness you're here!" Shizune went to greet her niece. She promptly noticed her shocked expression and her bloodstained dress. "But... Oh my, you look worse for wear. Did something happen?"
"Mako... Where is Miyage?" Hiroko asked, slightly worried.
The explanation would prove harder than any battle she has ever been.
(xx)
Despite the heavy rain that fell that morning, an industrial fishing boat kept carrying its daily work just outside Tokyo Bay.
"'Aight, pull up th' crane," the rugged captain ordered from his cabin. Slowly and steadily, the large crane pulled out an enormous school of fish in its net. But what really struck them was what seemed to be a person's leg sticking out of it.
"Holy fuck!" One of the carriers shouted. "It's a corpse!"
"Lower th' crane over th' deck," the captain ordered. Before it could land entirely, the boatmen were able to pull out the corpse out of the mass of fishes inside the bundled net.
It was the body of Miyage Shinozaki that had fallen into the Sumida river the night before. Even his head was in its usual place. The boatmen gathered around after one of them carried the body and put it on the other side of the deck while the crane operator unloaded the fishes inside the compartment.
But to the amazement of everybody, as soon as the body was pulled, he coughed all the accumulated seawater out of his lungs. Water came out of his ears and nostrils as well. All the men stood by in shock and awe. After a while, the body stopped coughing, and simply started breathing again... But he did not wake up or do anything else.
"He... Is he alive?" One of them asked.
Another fisherman checked for pulse on his neck. "It seems so. He's breathing just fine. Blood running slow and cold, but running."
"Well, what're ya waitin' for?" The boat captain asked nervously. "Take 'im inside, tuck 'im inna bed or sumthin'. Check fer documents and see who's it."
litakino1987: Una vez mas te agradezco por todo lo que has hecho por mi este tiempo entero. A seguir así!
Don't be afraid to leave comments, everyone. Just don't start drama over petty reasons or insult me, and we'll be fine. :)
Next chapter: Fréamund makes Jadeite prove himself against Rei. And Dis Pater returns with a new human body.
Best regards from the Hospitaller Knight.