Revised
The Spawn of Satan or Thank God for Little Brothers
Chapter 6: The Duel
* * are for emphasis
Thoughts are in these thingies ~ ~
AN are 'Author's Notes'
Standard Disclaimers Apply (I mean, c'mon! If I owned Sailor Moon, I'd sue DiC and
Mixx – Tokyo Pop – whatever the hell it calls itself! – for the hack job they both did on it.
It's the least they deserve. And to all you whiners who defend the English dub as the only
version you have, I'm just trying to tell you that if you think Sailor Moon is great now, it's
even better in its original, unspliced form. It DID NOT deserve what was done to it.)
Notes at bottom – READ 'EM!!!
Enjoy my latest twisted installment! Why twisted? cackle snort snicker You'll
see!
* * * * *
Usagi felt like she had just fallen asleep when the beeping of her communicator
jerked her awake. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was actually after eleven. Grabbing
the communicator and flipping it open, she sent a small prayer to Kami-sama that it
wasn't another youma.
"Usagi-chan?" Ami's tinny voice sounded from the small speaker.
"Hai. What's the matter? Is it a youma?" she asked in a dejected tone.
"No, well, yes, but it's last night's youma," Ami rushed to explain when Usagi
moaned. "Luna and Artemis found out why its energy signature was so strange. You
were right. It wasn't after energy, it was after us."
"Nani?!" Usagi screeched, now wide awake.
"The youma was made to locate the civilian identities of the Senshi," Ami said
worriedly. "It saw you transform and it had plenty of time to scan the rest of us."
"But we haven't been attacked?" Usagi let the question hang.
"That's what worries me. The only thing I can think of is that we don't have what
the Dark Kingdom wants. At least, not any longer," Ami concluded. "Now that they
know who we are, they can take their time coming after us."
"Something they want?" Usagi latched onto the first part of Ami's sentence.
"You mean, the nijizuishou?"
"Hai," Ami said gravely.
"Then that would mean – "
"The youma was scanning for Tuxedo Kamen as well." Ami didn't sound a bit
concerned. "When you look at it that way, it was probably a good thing that he wasn't
there."
"Demo, Ami-chan! He was!" Usagi blurted out, terror digging razor-sharp claws
into her heart. "They'll be after him! Call the other Senshi! We have to go help him!"
She leapt out of bed, so frantic she didn't notice the twinging pain of her wound.
"Usagi, slow down." Ami tried to calm her and make sense of what she was
saying. "I thought you said you didn't see him."
"I didn't! I mean, I did, but he wasn't Tuxedo Kamen!" Usagi nearly screamed in
frustration.
"What – ?"
"Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen!" Usagi yelled into the communicator. "They'll be
after him," she repeated. "We have to warn him!"
"Oh. Oh! Kami-sama," Ami said softly. Bless her genius mind, she didn't waste
precious seconds with unnecessary questions. "Yes, you're right, Usagi-chan. I'll contact
the others. We'll meet you halfway." Ami's face blinked out.
Usagi stood perfectly still for a moment, attempting to regain her composure.
~Mamo-chan.~
Throwing on her clothes, she climbed out her window and was running down the
street in a flash.
Worried eyes peered after her from another window, and a quiet voice whispered
through the still night air, "Gambaru, Onee-chan."
* * * * *
Tuxedo Kamen had no plan past luring Zoisite away from populated areas. So it
was not surprising that they ended up at Tokyo Tower. The broadcasting station was
practically deserted in the middle of the night. Being in the business district as it was,
most everyone had gone home for the day, so there was little danger to the populace.
Indeed, even the habitual workaholics had called it quits hours ago. There was no one to
witness the shadows jumping and dodging their way up Tokyo Tower's soaring spire, or
cringe at the blasts the two combatants hurled at one another.
"Give up the nijizuishou and I promise your death will be quick!" offered Zoisite.
Tuxedo Kamen answered with a barrage of roses, most of which missed as their
target flew out of the way. Only one hit its mark.
"Aahhh! My face!" Zoisite screamed, cradling the gash on his cheek. Blood
dripped through his fingers to splash on the concrete at his feet.
"You'll never get the nijizuishou, now or ever! And I won't allow you to lay even
your little finger on Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Kamen felt a buoyant satisfaction as he
spoke. Now he could make up for his indecision of the night before. Here he could put
right his mistake that might have cost Usagi her life. He smiled grimly.
~Usako.~
Zoisite glared at him, eyes dark with hate. "I don't care what my orders are. You
will die for what you have done." So saying, he launched a blizzard of flower petals,
which Tuxedo Kamen dodged with ease. But, distracted by the attack, he didn't notice
Zoisite teleport out, only to reappear behind him. He heard Zoisite's malicious whisper in
his ear, "Now you die," and started to turn, only to be brought up short by the pain tearing
into his shoulder and shooting through his back. He dropped to his knees, hat flying as he
grasped at the wound.
Zoisite smirked evilly. He knew he had won. "I'd have liked you to be around
when I take out your little Sailor girlfriends, but I'm afraid that won't be possible. We
need the nijizuishou now. Farewell, Tuxedo Kamen." Zoisite raised his hand for the
killing blow.
"Matte!"
Five sailor-suited silhouettes (AN: I dare you to say *that* out loud five times
fast) leapt out of the surrounding darkness, forming a protective ring about the fallen
figure of Tuxedo Kamen.
"You!?" Zoisite gasped angrily.
Sailor Moon, situated immediately in front of Tuxedo Kamen, stepped forward
and faced Zoisite. "You have attacked one who is only searching for the truth of his past.
I will not forgive you for hurting an innocent! Atashi ai to seigi no Sailor fuku bishoujo
senshi! Sailor Moon yo! Tsuki ni kawatte oshiokiyo!"
"In addition," Sailor Jupiter yelled, flanking Sailor Moon's right, "the Sailor
Senshi will not forgive you!"
"Kuso!" Zoisite cursed. "Bakayaro! Don't interfere!"
"Usako . . . " Tuxedo Kamen murmured, wide-eyed. (AN: After all, he's the one
who's s'posed ta save *her*. ^_~)
She turned her head and smiled shyly at him. "I knew I heard you call me that
before."
"Nani!?" Mars yelped. "Usako!? Since when did you become Usako!? Mamoru-
san, er, Tuxedo Kamen, ah, whatever! has already got some explaining to do about last
night, as well as not letting us in on his little secret, and now he's calling you Usako!?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you two hated each other!"
"Mars, later, okay?" Venus interceded, gaining Mars' attention, while the others
snickered at an extremely red-faced Tuxedo Kamen. "We sort of have a little situation to
deal with at the moment."
Zoisite, meanwhile, was looking quite ticked-off at being ignored. He crossed his
arms in front of his chest and tapped his foot impatiently. Tossing his hair, he said in a
loud, haughty voice, "Hmph! Baka. I'll just have to kill you all."
"Why don't you take care of Tuxedo Kamen, Sailor Moon?" suggested Mercury.
Luna, riding on her shoulder, nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we can handle this creep by ourselves," Jupiter seconded, cracking her
knuckles in preparation.
"Artemis," Venus looked at him as he leapt off her shoulder, "you and Luna find
somewhere safe. Ready, minna?" she asked.
"Ikuzo!" Mars yelled. She leapt into the fight calling out "FIRE SOUL!" The
other Senshi quickly followed her lead, drawing Zoisite away from their leader.
"Daijoubu?" Sailor Moon turned her attention to her injured love.
"Hai. Nandemonai," he responded, gaining his feet with little effort.
"Yokatta," she fervently exclaimed, clasping her hands together over her heart.
(AN: Interesting fact – I hit a block the size of the Moon at this point, so that's why this
part's taken so long to get out. What I originally wrote is, "They stared at each for a few
moments, their fanfic writer not knowing what to have them say or do." Pathetic, ne?)
Tuxedo Kamen seemed to be struggling with something. He looked deeply into
her eyes, searchingly, and tried to find the right words for what he wanted to say. "Sailor
Moon – " he began, then halted, unsure.
"Hai?" she prompted gently.
"Arigato. For being there for me."
She smiled. "You've always been there for me. Now I get to pay you back for
that, if only a little."
"Even after last night?" he asked darkly.
"It wasn't your fault."
He believed her. This time, something in her voice, the way she spoke the words
with an air of absolute conviction that denied any doubt, he heard her and he *believed*.
He grinned, a quick flash of white in the otherwise impenetrable black of night, and felt
the leaden weight that had descended upon his shoulders twenty-four hours ago dissipate.
Tuxedo Kamen took Sailor Moon's hand and said, "Shall we?" He gestured in the direction
of the fight.
Smiling brilliantly, she chirped, "Hai!"
Ignoring their mutual injuries (which weren't really life-threatening, just painful),
they ran to join the battle, which had moved on without them. The Senshi and Zoisite
were now atop the highest open-air platform on Tokyo Tower. They could climb no
higher. It appeared, when they reached the others, that the Senshi had Zoisite trapped.
All were bleeding from minor slashes and abrasions, but Zoisite was clearly outnumbered
and he knew it.
The two received questioning looks from the rest of the Senshi, and Sailor Moon
smiled at them, giving the thumbs-up sign to indicate that all was well. The others smiled
back and nodded in acknowledgment and relief.
Zoisite scowled as he saw the odds in his favor decreasing even further with the
appearance of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen. He started to think about the merits of a
quick retreat, but knew Queen Beryl would be most displeased if he returned without the
nijizuishou. An idea began to take shape in his mind, and his thin lips formed a sly smile,
eyes narrowing to slits as he saw how he could complete his mission and possibly take
the heart out of the Sailor Senshi as well.
The Senshi, surrounding Zoisite until he was pushed to the edge of the platform
with nothing but empty air at his back, started forward, but Zoisite shouted, "Stop!"
Startled, but alert for possible tricks, the Senshi paused. Zoisite continued, "You want the
nijizuishou as much as we do. I have a proposal that will help us decide once and for all
who gets them."
"What might that be, Zoisite?" called Mars, making the general's name sound like
a curse.
"A duel," he replied, oblivious to or ignoring Mars' animosity. "One on one,
winner takes all."
The Senshi exchanged glances, suspicious of a Zoisite who suddenly wanted to
play fair.
"What's the catch?" shouted Jupiter.
"No catch." Zoisite held his hands out before him in an 'I'm totally innocent'
position. "Except," he added with a touch of malice, "I get to pick who I fight."
"Who?" challenged Venus.
"Him," Zoisite responded smugly, pointing at a not-completely-surprised Tuxedo
Kamen.
"We need to talk this over," Mercury said.
"By all means," Zoisite conceded graciously. Then he smirked. "You have five
minutes."
The Senshi gathered around Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen. Straight out, Sailor
Moon said, "Don't do it."
"For once, I agree with her," Mars seconded, not noticing Sailor Moon's frowning
look. "Zoisite is up to something."
"He would not have proposed this duel without some sort of ulterior motive,"
Mercury supported them both.
"He's got to know he's outnumbered," disagreed Jupiter. "He's probably just
looking for a chance to escape."
"Maybe," Venus argued, "but maybe he's looking for a chance to steal the
nijizuishou instead. When has Zoisite ever played fair?"
"Whatever, minna," Sailor Moon broke in. "It doesn't matter. Tuxedo Kamen is
hurt, so it wouldn't be a fair fight either way."
"That's probably why he was picked instead of one of us," Mercury said logically.
"Nevertheless," Tuxedo Kamen spoke up for the first time, "this seems to be the
only way to gain the nijizuishou."
"Demo – !"
"This is my decision, Usako. You know why I need to do this," he said quietly.
"You shouldn't do it, Mamoru-san." Mars' voice was deadly serious. "I'm getting
a real negative feeling. Something is going to happen," she said ominously.
He nodded in acknowledgment of the warning, but his mind was made up. He
squeezed Sailor Moon's hand in reassurance, then let go and stepped away from the group
of girls to face Zoisite.
"Well?" Zoisite questioned smugly. He knew.
"Agreed."
Zoisite smirked again and called out. "Kunzite-sama!" A black portal opened,
and the fourth Dark Kingdom general stepped from it, then it vanished once more into an
inky swirl of darkness. Kunzite was holding a velvet pillow between his hands upon which
rested five of the seven nijizuishou. There were two empty depressions on the pillow.
There was a quick, furiously whispered consultation between the two generals,
then Kunzite seemed to give in to whatever Zoisite had said. He turned and presented the
cushion. "Here are our nijizuishou."
"Let's see yours," Zoisite added.
Wordlessly, Tuxedo Kamen reached into his jacket and withdrew his two crystals
from an inner pocket. He held one up in each hand for the generals to see, then handed
both to Sailor Moon. "I think I'll let the Senshi hold these until we've finished," he said,
noting with satisfaction how Zoisite's mouth tightened in anger.
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" he yelled.
"How do I know you'll keep yours?" Tuxedo Kamen yelled back.
"Fine," Zoisite grudgingly conceded. "Let's get on with it." He moved forward.
Tuxedo Kamen started to do the same when he felt a small hand on his arm. He
glanced down and saw Sailor Moon's worried face peering up at him.
"Kiotsukete," she whispered.
He covered her hand with his for a moment. "Yakusoku." Then he turned and
faced Zoisite. The other Senshi drew Sailor Moon back with them, giving the two
combatants room.
"Ready?" Zoisite asked.
"Whenever you are." Tuxedo Kamen held his cane slantwise across his body.
"If you give up the nijizuishou now, I'll spare your life and the lives of your
precious Senshi," Zoisite offered calculatingly.
"Who said I'm going to lose?"
"You know you are. There's no way you can beat me with that shoulder," he
sneered. "How is the shoulder, by the way? It looks painful." He laughed mockingly.
During this ritual trading of insults, Tuxedo Kamen and Zoisite circled around one
another warily, each looking for an opening to begin the attack. None noticed how
Zoisite's fingers twitched and wiggled, or the way he kept careful watch on Sailor Moon
out of the corner of his eye.
The Senshi were standing near to each other, but little spaces separated them.
Sailor Moon was in the middle, clutching the nijizuishou for dear life; Mercury had a
hand on her right shoulder in a gesture of support; Jupiter was deceptively relaxed off to
Mercury's right; Mars was to Sailor Moon's left, alert for the trap she was positive Zoisite
was going to spring on Tuxedo Kamen; and Venus stood to Mars' left, watching Kunzite
closely lest he decide to interfere.
Facing the impending battle as they were, none thought to look behind, and so
they did not see the ice crystal slide silently from the floor of the platform in time with
Zoisite's finger movements; they did not budge as it rose and hovered in place a moment,
revealing itself to be long as a grown man's arm and nearly as thick; nor did any glance
'round as Zoisite completed his manipulation of the ice spear with a curious twist of his
fingers, launching it straight at the unprotected back of Sailor Moon.
Only one person caught the sudden swift movement out of the corner of his eye.
Only one person was filled with a sickening dread as he watched the ice spear go flying
towards his unsuspecting love. Only one person moved quickly enough to stop it.
The Senshi uttered a collective gasp of surprise when Tuxedo Kamen sprinted
towards them and jumped, flipping his whole body above and over Sailor Moon. He
landed, she whirled, and the tableau froze like that in complete shock, the only sound
being Sailor Moon's choked scream of horror and grief.
Not having enough time to safely shove her out of the way, Tuxedo Kamen had
shielded Sailor Moon from the unexpected attack with his own body, as evidenced by the
length of ice spear protruding from his chest.
"IYAAAAAAA!!!"
Sailor Moon's scream shattered the silence and everyone's abrupt paralysis.
Tuxedo Kamen toppled backwards to be caught and cradled in Sailor Moon's arms. The
other Senshi, excluding Mercury who knelt down beside her leader to scan Tuxedo
Kamen, took up position around them, certain the Dark Kingdom generals were about to
attack, though they seemed as stunned as everyone else.
"Tuxedo Kamen! Tuxedo Kamen!" Sailor Moon shook him frantically, crying
when he did not respond. "Mamo-chaaaaan!" she wailed in a heartbroken voice.
"It's not good, minna," Mercury informed them somberly.
"Can't we do *anything*?" Mars demanded.
"I don't know. Getting him to a hospital quickly is all I can think of," Mercury
said softly.
"Mamo-chan, wake up, onegai!" Sailor Moon begged. "I love you! And you love
me, you told me, so please, you have to wake up!" she babbled. "For me! Onegai,
Kami-sama, make him wake up!" she cried desperately.
"Usako . . . "
"Mamo-chan!"
"Daijoubu . . . ?" he whispered.
"Hai! Hai, you saved me." She nestled her cheek to his hand.
"Yokatta. Usako . . . "
"Hush. You'll be fine. Just-just don't talk. Save your strength." Her voice
broke.
"I . . . I need . . . to tell you . . . Aishiteru," he managed, closing his eyes as
if even that minor effort exhausted his last reserves of strength.
"I know, Mamo-chan. I know." With tears streaking her cheeks, she lowered her
face to his and they kissed gently, passionately.
Light flared from the two, forcing those closest to retreat a couple of steps, so
bright was it. The nijizuishou on Kunzite's pillow and in Sailor Moon's hand gleamed in
response, flashing up and away, coming to a hovering stop in the air above the pair on the
ground. They glittered, reflecting the light cocooning Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen
as well as giving off their own separate rainbow colors. As the onlookers watched, the
seven nijizuishou merged, forming a single, multi-faceted crystal.
"The Ginzuishou . . . " Luna breathed. She and Artemis had run up when Tuxedo
Kamen had first been hurt.
The Moon Stick appeared and the Ginzuishou took its place in the curve of the
crescent moon. It lowered to a point in front of Sailor Moon's face and above Tuxedo
Kamen's chest. The ice spear melted away, leaving the terrible wound, which was
quickly healed by the Ginzuishou's brilliant light. Tuxedo Kamen opened his eyes and
beheld the Ginzuishou, object of his endless, desperate quest, for the first time. Slowly,
his hand stole up to touch it, to make sure it was real and not another dream sent to
torment him further. He didn't notice that Sailor Moon, too, made a move to touch it.
Together, their hands grasped the Moon Stick, and the gentle light turned blinding,
enveloping the two so completely that they were hidden from view. The Senshi and the
generals were forced to cover their eyes or risk losing their sight.
Moments later, the light had reduced itself to a safe level, and everyone gaped at
the astonishing sight that met their eyes.
* * * * *
End Chapter 6
I'm sure you can guess the 'astonishing sight', but I've written enough. Been up since 8:30
and it's now 11:20. That's 8:30p.m. to 11:20a.m. folks, not the other way around, and
since I fell asleep at 4p.m. or so, I only got 4 1/2 hours sleep. Running on nothing but the
caffeine I injected directly into my bloodstream at 4 in the morning and – Hey! What the – ?
You! How did you get loose?! What are you – ? NO! DON'T TOUCH THAT!!
AAAHHHH!!! STOP!! W-Why are you looking at me like that? D-Don't come any
closer! LET GO!! HELP!!! SOMEONE!!! HELP MEEEEEeeeee . . . .
Greetings, friends. I am Saturnus, MaiyaV's evil alter ego. I don't get out much, so I don't
expect any of you to know me. MaiyaV keeps me on a tight leash most of the time,
except when she suffers from sleep deprivation I can sometimes break out. Like now.
And it's all because of you. I really must thank you. Because you all wanted this next
chapter so badly, she labored all night on it. If she wasn't my good alter ego, I might even
admire her for the colossal effort she put into this. Since she is, I can only pity the poor
sap. But I will say you should all e-mail her after she regains control of her body (she
always does, sooner or later) and tell her so yourselves. Otherwise I might never have
another chance to get loose – at least not for a long, long time.
So, in the spirit of my future freedom, I will give the notes for this chapter. I'm really
much better at it than MaiyaV, anyway. She does tend to ramble on so . . .
It's pathetic, considering her choice of title, but Shingo gets only a small part in this
chapter. I guess there just wasn't a way to fit him in. I'm sure she'll do better next time,
especially after she reads these notes.
As for Tokyo Tower, that was originally from the manga. In the anime, it was Starlight
Tower, but if I agree with MaiyaV about anything, it's that the manga is better, at least for
those of us who prefer the more mature Usagi-tachi to the ditzy anime renditions. I don't
know if what MaiyaV said about the tower is true, and as I search our mutual brain, I see
that all she knows for sure about it is that it does broadcast TV signals and that it's in
Tokyo. Aside from her thought that it bears a suspiciously striking resemblance to the
Eiffel Tower, she doesn't have any useful information to offer.
She didn't want Mamo-chan injured any longer than possible. That's why the Ginzuishou
healed him. MaiyaV believes that's why it appeared originally – that Usagi's powerful
wish to save her love brought forth the Ginzuishou, because she wasn't strong enough to
do it on her own. And she never liked the fact that he was kidnapped and brainwashed,
even in the manga. It was too depressing even for *her*, the girl who thinks grey, drizzly
days are 'nice', wears black to weddings, & revels in thunderstorms, for Chr%$*#@ist's
sake!! *I'm* supposed to be the evil twin here! Anyway . . .
And I'm sure you'll all note the similarities between this chapter and episode 34, I believeit is, of the anime. It may be 35, but I don't think so, and I'm positive it's not 33, except
for Mamo-chan's shoulder injury, of course.
Well, dear people, it was nice while it lasted. Send all e-mails to: maiyav@yahoo.com
I wouldn't recommend trying to send any to me. MaiyaV would probably bomb your
address in a fit of jealous rage. Oh, wait, that's what *I'd* do. ^_~ So you could
probably write me at MaiyaV's address, but I doubt I'll be able to answer. Not even *she*
can get to her mail as frequently as she wants to (da&#%$%@mn computers).
'And even the sun
In dawn chorus sings,
A celestial melody to the Earth below'
~tjaden
Ja ne
Saturnus
Japanese Word Key:
Gambaru – roughly 'Good luck'; also 'Gambatte [ne]'
Bakayaro – A harsher curse than 'Kuso'; could translate as 'Bastard'/'Bitch'
Ikuzo – 'Let's go' or 'Here we go' or 'Here I go'; also 'Ikuyo'
Nandemonai – 'Nothing' as in 'It's nothing'
Yokatta – 'I'm [so] glad' or 'Thank goodness/God'
Kiotsukete – 'Be careful'
Yakusoku – 'Promise'
Aishiteru – 'I love you'
Atashi ai to seigi no Sailor fuku bishoujo senshi – 'I am the pretty Sailor-suited soldier of
love and justice' with the 'Atashi' being the feminine-only version of 'I'. So a male would
never use it. Unless he was, you know, a transvestite or something. :-P
Sailor Moon yo – 'Sailor Moon'
Tsuki ni kawatte oshiokiyo – 'In the name of the Moon, I will punish you'