"No!!! Sister!!!"

Yuuwaku screams as she slumps into the Reverend's embrace, the image of Sailor Moon sending her Moon Lancer into Kokoro's back replaying on the scrying glass before them. The other Maidens and Galaxia, now in her armoured form, gape at the sight of someone rumoured to be a kind-hearted woman...meat on the table to a Shingi Maiden...ruthlessly cutting Yuuwaku's sister down like a cockroach being squashed. "Yes, it is tragic, Yuuwaku," Fushingi pats the Maiden's light chestnut hair. "We would have had to expect trouble from the Sailor Senshi sooner or later. Don't worry, the time will come when Sailor Moon pays for your sister's loss. It will come."

Yuuwaku blinks, then nods, glaring hotly at the woman in the scrying glass. "You will burn, Sailor Moon! You will burn!!"

The others grimly nod. Nearby, Galaxia bites her lips. She hadn't expected Sailor Moon to be THAT vicious. Where had the other Senshi come from? It was almost as if the Senshi she fought had gained twins. And there was a Sailor Terra? Galaxia knew that Earth's proper defender was Tuxedo Kamen, so who was that girl?!

* * *

"Faith No More"
a tale of the Sailor Senshi
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Edited by E.B. Kushnir
kush1@iaw.on.ca
**** **** ****
Based on "Sailor Moon," created by Naoko Takeuchi
**** **** ****

PART TWO - STAY OR WALK AWAY

"Hard, isn't it?"

Sailor Moon blinks as a paper cup of black coffee is handed to her. "Thanks," she nods, then stares at the police inspector now in charge of the crime scene. "You've seen this before?"

"Nothing as vicious as this. We've been getting reports from other countries on how bad this has been there," Inspector Shigeru Tsuruoka sighs. "The one thing they can never really teach you at the police academy is how to deal with death. How to deal with the fact that you can't be everywhere at once, that you can't save everyone, stop every crime from happening."

"It's sometimes as bad for us," Moon nods. "My sensei told me that there's nothing that can ever prepare you for this. This is the first time people've died in a fight we've been involved with."

"True," Tsuruoka nods, then stares at her. "Still, you limited the damage. Shrines can be rebuilt, people can maintain their faith. Pity they can't restore lost lives."

"Rule One of war," Moon grimaces. "People die. Rule Two: no one can change Rule One."

The police inspector nods as Moon finishes her coffee, then joins the other Senshi as the last of the corpses is carried out of Hikawa Jinja. "Will they close the shrine?" Aphrodite wonders.

"Maybe," Ares sighs. "They'll definitely have to rebuild it, make a memorial to those who fell here."

"That'll be a real pain," Moon shakes her head. "Rei's life is devoted to her faith. What happens to her and her grandfather?"

"Ojii-chan'll be fine," Ares muses. "He's seen too much to worry about it now. He knew this could've happened the instant these attacks began elsewhere. As for Rei-chan..."

"She needs friends and family with her now," Aphrodite sighs. "She'll heal...in time."

"Pity I can't accelerate healing," Chronos hums.

* * *

Inside the shrine, the recently arrived Sailor Gaia examines the unmoving Kokoro, Terra and Hades standing nearby with several police officers. "Can you tell what happened, ma'am?" one wonders as the healer draws her hand away from the Shingi Maiden's face.

"It appears that when Sailor Moon struck her with the Moon Lancer, it severed all the controls between this being and whoever is masterminding these attacks," Gaia sighs, then straightens. "All I can conclude is that she's a biodroid."

"Bio-wha...?" Terra blinks.

"Similar to a bioroid such as your teacher, sister," Gaia explains. "But is never given free will, the ability to think and conceive of her own thoughts. A very useful puppet, nothing more."

"Or maybe she's suffered her own loss of faith," Hades hums.

"Possibly. I need to examine her more. Officer, could I take custody of her? I'll ensure she stays out of trouble."

"Well, this is way beyond us, but I'll have to clear it with the Inspector," an officer sighs.

"It's already cleared," a voice declares from outside.

Tsuruoka walks up. "Thank you very much, Inspector," Hades nods. "With her in our sights all the time, we can try to control the flow of information to whoever used her to instigate this...IF he still has some links to her."

"None I can sense right now, but it would be a very smart precaution," Gaia muses.

"Alright, then," Tsuruoka waves the other officers away.

Once alone, Gaia exhales. "Thanks, Uncle. We'll tell you what we can when we learn more."

"My pleasure, Sakebu-chan," he kisses his niece's cheek, then gazes at Hades. "You watch over her, Yuki-san."

"Always," Hades nods as he departs.

A side door then opens to reveal an ashen-faced Rei. "You okay, Rei-chan?" Terra gazes at her.

"Shaken up," Rei quietly admits, then stares at the unmoving Kokoro, who gazes straight ahead, no movement save the subtle rise and fall of her chest. "What are these things?"

"We'll find out one way or another," Terra sighs. "You better get her to your house, Yuki-san."

"Alright," the guardian of Eternity draws her Styx Staff and warps her, her life-mate and the Shingi Maiden away.

Rei exhales, then blinks as Moon walks in. "Hey, where's the idiot that started this mess?"

"Gone to Sakebu's; her uncle's allowed her to take custody," Terra reports, then thumps her friend's shoulder. "We did great!"

"People died," Moon gazes resignedly at her. "I hardly call that 'great,' Naru-chan. You okay, Rei-chan?"

"I'm fine...but what's with you?!" Rei blinks.

"What?"

"The uniform!" Rei points.

"Oh!!" Moon nods, then smiles. "I just had some changes done to it," she shows the row of crescents on her gauntlets. "Whoever set this up never expected this. Nona-chan and I're working on a Moon Twin Energy Dart Attack for these," she taps the quills around her broach. "Didn't have the chance to use it here, but we might get the chance...unfortunately," she looks down.

Rei stares at her, then holds out her hand. "The Crystal."

"What about it," Moon places the staff in her friend's hand.

Rei draws the Lancer. "Kindly explain this!"

"Oh, that! Works great, huh?!"

The priestess shakes her head, surprised at the nonchalance her fellow Senshi was showing. "I don't believe you!" she gasps. "When were you going to tell us about what you've done?!"

"When we had a moment, but the dorks that started this came first!" Moon thumbs the pools of drying blood on the shrine's floor, then takes the Crystal and sheathes the Lancer before stowing it. "What's wrong?! We got rid of the monsters and even captured a prisoner! I'd say compared to the other times we fought daemons, even with people dying, we're getting somewhere!"

Rei feels uncertainty gripping her heart. Yes, she did applaud Usagi trying to improve herself, to make herself a better person and thus a better queen for Crystal Tokyo. But by turning a sweet, wonderful person into a ruthless fighter? That wasn't what Sailor Moon was meant to be. She was the Princess, the one the Senshi fought to defend. If...if Sailor Moon could fight...and WIN...on her own...

...what did that mean for the Senshi?

"Hey!" Moon taps Rei's forehead. "Earth to Rei! Come in, Rei! You still there or did you hit the silk?!"

The priestess sighs. "Sorry about that. I'll see you two later."

She heads back to her room. "What's with her?" Terra blinks.

"She's still pretty out of it, I guess," Moon shrugs. "C'mon, let's finish up and get out of here."

Terra nods as they head outside. In her bedroom, Rei sits on her bed, hugging a stuffed bear as she gazes at the picture of the Senshi in their civilian guises, looking like a happy group of close friends. All of them surround Usagi, always ready to protect her even when there wasn't a threat. Were...were those days gone?

Gone once and for all...?

* * *

"Well, well, well," Reverend Fushingi hums, gazing at the image of a morose Rei on her bed. "This is interesting."

* * *

Flashlights wink as Sailor Moon steps into the open, the reporters having swooped in like starved hawks when news of the attack had spread. "Sailor Moon, a few questions, please!!!" one calls out, pen and notepad in hand.

Sighing, knowing that the people deserved an explanation, some ray of hope, Moon nods, the other Senshi falling around her. Moon quickly explains what happened, the others diving in with their own details. "So you're saying that this incident...and this must then mean that all the other incidents around the world...are being instigated by aliens?!" another wonders.

"We're not sure," Moon sighs. "Sailor Gaia has taken the one we captured and is now examining her. I know you want answers to give your readers and listeners, but I can't provide them yet. I was appraised of the faithless plague just today. I've been out of touch with the news since before it began. I can say that now that we're aware of this, we," she indicates her fellow Senshi, "...will be ready to help whenever we can." Looking down, she wipes a tear from her eye. "The hardest thing we could ever learn, especially now...is how to deal with losing the lives of innocent bystanders even after we took an oath to protect you all. My heart, our hearts, go out to the bereaved and the relatives of the wounded."

"Is there anything more you can say?"

Moon sighs, then gazes assuredly at Diana before staring at the reporters. "This crisis that grips all of Earth...seems to be aimed at weakening our faith in ourselves and the world around us. Shrines like this one can be rebuilt and replaced. Lives can be rebuilt...but never replaced. We have to accept that. But what we also must accept...is that whoever is doing this is trying to make us shy away from accepting faith, one of the foundations of our society. We can't let them get away with it. Each of you...has to tell yourselves...that this is a lie. They're not the gods coming down and punishing us. These are daemons trying to make us believe the gods have turned their backs on us. This is not the time to throw faith away. It's the time to make it strong. Thank you."

With that, the Senshi draw back, then leap away...

* * *

"...and those were the words of the mysterious Sailor Moon, who was the hero of the hour responsible for keeping the riot at Hikawa Jinja from becoming a total catastrophe," the NHK reporter stares at her notes. "Police have confirmed that the alien woman responsible for the attack has been remanded into the custody of Sailor Gaia of the Senshi Twins until such time as more information can be gathered concerning Earth's latest group of invaders..."

"Man, Usagi was really busy today, wasn't she?" Shingo hums as he flips the channel, stroking Luna's neck fur.

"She was spectacular," Luna smiles at her ward's brother. "Much more than I'd ever suspect from your sister, Shingo."

"Oh, so *you* know now?!" a voice wonders from nearby.

"Yes, he figured it out sometime ago, Usagi," Luna sighs as Usagi sits beside her brother.

"Hard not to wonder what's going on, especially when you talk to your cat and she talks back," Shingo muses.

"Geez, it's a wonder everyone hasn't figured it out," Usagi shakes her head, then gazes at her brother. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm cool," Shingo sighs, then looks down. "Yuu-chan dumped me two days ago for the leader of the soccer team!"

"What?!" Usagi blinks, then shakes her head. "Oh, she was a ditz, anyway! You're better off without her!!"

"You've always said that," Shingo hums. "I guess we're going through pain right now. I've gotta deal with a lost girlfriend. You're dealing with lost lives. I guess I'm the lucky one."

"You are," Usagi shakes her head, then looks down. "It had to happen sooner or later, I guess. Doesn't make it any better."

The doorbell peals. "I'll get it," Shingo heads over to open the door, then backs off as the inner Senshi save Rei, Hotaru and the Twins save Yuki stream in. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Hi, Shingo," Makoto smiles, then stares at Usagi. "Hey, you did good work today, Usagi-chan! You're okay?!"

"Pretty okay, Mako-chan," Usagi rises, then notices the quiet girl beside Sakebu. "How is she?"

"Well, she's coming around," the Senshi healer hums as everyone sits in the living room, Kokoro sitting beside Sakebu. "I have been able to get some things out of her."

"Then, let's begin," Luna sits beside Usagi, gazing at the dazed Shingi Maiden. "Now, why won't you tell us who you are and where you're from."

"I am Kokoro," the woman responds in a robotic monotone. "I was a Shingi Maiden, a servant of the Reverend Fushingi."

"And what brought you to Earth?" Luna wonders.

"To foster Chaos, to destroy Earth in a Chaos Crusade and allow the Reverend to feed upon the energy of Chaos released when people die violently."

The Senshi feel a chill quake them. "Is this the first time you've done this?" Hotaru wonders.

"Negative. This is the fifteenth world we've visited since we entered this galaxy."

"And the others worlds you visited?" Minako asks.

"Destroyed."

Silence falls like a guillotine, the flatness of Kokoro's answer as chilling as what her words implied. "That is all we can get from her right now," Sakebu sighs. "When I asked her to tell me more of this sub-creature Fushingi or her fellow Maidens, she states that the information was deleted from her mind. She does confirm that she has a sister, a woman named Yuuwaku. Other than that, there's little more we can learn from her now."

"Tells us our doom but let's us guess as to what they're like to ensure we can't stop it," Matsuri hums. "Was there anything else you could learn, Sakebu-chan?"

"Well, deep in her psyche, there is something that has been growing within her since she was created," Sakebu sighs. "All of us, even Nendo-kata, possess a dark side to our nature. Since she was created to spread disUnity, Kokoro has developed the opposite. A part of her wants to serve Unity. If we can allow this to blossom forth, then she can have a normal life."

"As normal as it can be," Ayako hums, her eyes glowing. "I can tell she's been raped a few times."

"I have had fifty-three sexual encounters with the Reverend since I was created, Mistress," Kokoro reports.

Everyone is appalled at the lack of emotion the Maiden was showing towards her violation. "Atop that, she was sterilized shortly after her birth," Sakebu sighs. "I reversed it when I did her physical examination, so if she settles down with a mate, she can have a family."

Kokoro turns to Sakebu. "Mistress, it is forbidden for me to procreate."

"Who told you that?!" Usagi wonders.

"The Reverend did."

Ayako kneels beside her. "Is the Reverend your master now?"

"Negative. You are."

"Then we're telling you to get off this kick of being a sex slave and go find a boyfriend!" Ayako orders.

"Understood."

Kokoro rises, then walks over to where Shingo is preparing snacks. Taking him by the arm, she spins him around and swamps him with a kiss. Perspiration pops as Kokoro gazes at him. "You are now my boyfriend," she smiles.

Shingo moans, feeling his strength go as he slumps into the Maiden's embrace. Ayako watches this, then sighs. "I didn't mean THAT fast, dummy!!" she slaps her forehead.

The others sigh...

* * *

"Is that normal for you guys?!" Shingo wonders as he and Usagi ascend to her bedroom, relaxing on the bed.

"Not really," Usagi lays back, gazing at the ceiling. "I gotta admit, whoever this Fushingi is, he'll be no pushover. I doubt my words earlier would've changed a lot of people's minds. Only way this can stop is to find him and put him out of business."

"Yeah, this guy's gross!" Shingo sneers. "Jeez, fifty-three times?! No wonder she's screwed up!"

"Reminds me of some of the fringe evangelical cults I've heard about," Usagi sighs, laying on her side. "Guy comes out, promising to help people contact whatever deity they want, swipes all their money, then convinces people to give him personal favours like sex...and if they rebel, they dump them without a penny to their name out somewhere where their chances of survival are zero! Makes me wonder why people don't lose their faith more often these days!"

"All you need was a daemon to stoke it along," Shingo hums, then gazes out the window. "You think this'll be over soon, sis?"

"Maybe, hard to predict," Usagi rubs her forehead, then blinks as the door opens to reveal Kokoro, wearing a simple T-shirt and shorts taken from Usagi's clothes.

"What are you doing here?" Shingo wonders.

Kokoro sits beside him, gazing expectantly into his eyes. "You are my boyfriend, Master. I must be with you."

Shingo sweats. "Pity Ayako-chan couldn't do something about that when she upgraded her knowledge on caring for herself," Usagi smiles. "Temptation city, huh?"

"Thanks a lot, sis!" Shingo grunts as he leads Kokoro out of the bedroom into his room.

Sitting the Maiden down on the futon beside his bed, he then sits before her, staring into her blissful face. While he was as easily sexually aroused as most of his peers, Shingo did comport himself as a gentleman when dealing with girls. Whenever he dated Yuu Morii, his classmate since primary school, he always treated her with courtesy and kindness. It obviously wasn't enough; he knew the obnoxious jerk who had captured Yuu's heart and wondered what had possessed her to go with him.

"You are hurt," Kokoro blinks.

Shingo blinks, then sighs. "You can tell?"

"She betrayed you, Master. It is wrong. You gave her your loyalty. She failed to return it. It must be punished."

Shingo jerks, suddenly wondering if Kokoro still possessed her deadly powers as a Shingi Maiden, then gazes at her. "No, Kokoro-chan. Don't. She's not worth it."

"Not worth avenging your heart?" Kokoro hums. "She must be shown what a good person you are, shown the extent of her crime. You are my master and I do not like it when my master is hurt."

Shingo hums, realizing that must have been a carry-over from her time as a Shingi Maiden, vowing to protect and "serve" this Reverend Fushingi from those who might be strong enough to hurt him. If he didn't watch Kokoro, something ugly could happen to someone. Biting his lips, he stares at her...as an idea pops into his mind. "Hey, I've got it. Okay, from now on, your name will not be 'Kokoro.' Understand?"

"What will be my self-designator?"

"Yuu. Yuu...Nanase. Understand?"

The newly-named Yuu blinks, then nods. "Yes, Master. I am now Yuu Nanase."

Shingo winces. "Um, Yuu-chan?"

"Hai?"

"Don't call me 'Master' anymore. Call me 'Shingo-kun.'"

"Yes, Shingo-kun," Yuu smiles.

Shingo exhales. *Times are going to be strange around here from now on...* he muses, rising to undress...then senses Yuu's stare. "Um, could you turn around?!" he feels his cheeks flame.

"Why?" Yuu blinks.

"Um...I'd like to undress."

"Oh!" Yuu nods, rising. "I'll undress you."

Shingo faints! "No!!! I...oh, geez!!" he feels his head, sitting down on the bed.

Yuu hums, then reaches to her top. "What are you doing?!" Shingo grabs her hands.

Innocent naivete responds. "I am undressing. It is proper for lovers to sleep together, correct?" Yuu wonders.

Shingo plugs his nose, wondering what sleeping with such a beautiful woman would do to him, especially if his parents found out. "Um...could you undress in Usagi's room, please?! And make sure you wear pyjamas!"

"We will not sleep in the nude and have sex?" Yuu hums.

Shingo jerks, blood streaming from his nostrils. "Hey, we just met, huh!! Give us a bit!"

Yuu blinks, then nods, heading out of the room. Seconds later, Usagi peeks inside. "Having fun?" she smiles lecherously.

"I'm gonna kill Ayako for this!" Shingo hisses...

* * *

"So how were things last night?" Ikuko hums as she peeks into the bathroom next morning to see Shingo brushing his teeth.

"Terrible!" Shingo mutters after spitting out the suds. "Yuu-chan kept asking me to come into my bed and take her clothes off! I didn't get her to fall asleep until two!!"

His mother chuckles as she walks in, her hands playing with some unruly strands in his hair. "My, I never thought I had raised such a gentleman! I'm very proud of you, Shingo-chan."

"Thanks, Mom," Shingo gargles, then spits out the mouthwash.

Ikuko sighs. "You should know that sexual arousal is natural when you're dealing with a pretty girl like Yuu-chan. Minds and bodies mature at a different rate, which makes things pretty rough for people your age. I was the same way. So if you do feel yourself tempted, just make sure you take precautions, okay?"

"Mom!!" Shingo cries out. "What will the others think?!!"

"What do they care?! It's your relationship and Yuu-chan is your girlfriend! She does have shortcomings, but I admit that she's much better than the *other* girl you dealt with!!"

Shingo sighs. His parents had hit the roof when they heard of what Yuu Morii had done, not that they really liked the girl in the first place when they heard of her. Like caring parents elsewhere, the Tsukinos wanted to ensure that their son had a good, decent woman to perhaps become a future wife. Yuu Morii failed to pass muster in a dozen areas, which made Yuu Nanase all the more inviting, for them as well as their son. "You really want it to happen, do you?" he turns to wash his face.

"Of course," Ikuko smiles. "Shingo, the day you're in my position, you'll want the same thing for your children. It's part of being a parent. Breakfast'll be ready soon."

"Hai, hai," Shingo sighs...

* * *

"What is your plan, Galaxia?"

The Golden Senshi bows to the Reverend. "We must ascertain where Sailor Moon lives. At her point in life, she will be in a place of higher education; a university as it's called here. Once we know where she is...and if it's far from the other Senshi, we'll take her star seed, eliminating her. With that, the Senshi who are loyal to her will fall...and then we can deal with these others who've appeared since last I was in this solar system."

"And your Anima Mates? Are they ready?"

Galaxia turns to stare at Iron Mouse, Aluminum Siren, Lead Crow and Tin Nyanko. "They are."

"Good. Yuuwaku and Zentsubou will go with you."

"I can use them," Galaxia nods.

The two Maidens rise to follow the Golden Senshi and her four slave warriors out. Another, a statuesque woman with her straight black hair down to her short ribs, gazes at her leader. "Reverend, is it wise to send Yuuwaku out given what happened to Kokoro?"

"It'll be alright, Kurushimi," Fushingi hums, staring wantingly at his First Maiden. "Now, why won't you show me why I made you my first."

"Of course, Reverend," she reaches up to her top...

* * *

"So how's Shingo-kun dealing with his new love?" Naru hums as she and Usagi disembark the train at Sapporo station.

"Fairly well," Usagi snickers, remembering what her brother had said on his and Yuu's first "date" before leaving Tokyo. "He and Yuu-chan went out to Motoki-kun's arcade to play games. That's when that dork Morii showed up with her boyfriend and got a gander of Yuu-chan. When she heard the name, she freaked right out. Serves her right for breaking my brother's heart like that!"

"What did Morii-san's boyfriend do?"

"Tried to hit on Yuu-chan...and she broke his arm," Usagi grins, then blinks as the ground shakes. "What the...?!"

An explosion shoots a billow of energy into the heavens from the downtown square. "Uh-oh!!" Usagi shudders. "Looks like we're needed! Let's go!!"

"Hai!" Naru nods as they run out into the streets...

* * *

"There!!" Sailor Tetsuzo points at Hokkaido, the flash of energy emanating from downtown Sapporo winking like some dim firefly to the three Salvation Senshi arriving in orbit.

"Let's get down there!" Enko shoves the accelerator as their ship dives for the atmosphere...

* * *

"There were survivors from our three last crusades," Fushingi sneers as the image of the Salvation Senshi's ship appears in his scrying glass, then gazes at Kurushimi. "Kill the children."

"At once," the First Maiden bows, then leaves...

* * *

"Oh, no, you don't!" a man smiles as a black cape teleports him from the Rock of Infinity toward Japan...

* * *

"SAILOR MOON!!!!!!" Galaxia screams as she sends torrents of energy blazing forth to shatter windows and bring burning debris on passers by. "Where are you?!! Show yourself!!!"

"This is so much fun!!" Nyanko snickers as she aims a bazooka and demolishes the city hall.

"We aught to do this more often!!" Siren laughs as she fires her wrist-crystals to probe for people's star seeds.

Already, a storm of Haishin were on the loose, lashing out to strike down as many people as possible, Yuuwaku and Zentsubou stirring up their own trouble. Suddenly, the ground under their feet trembles as relentless force surges from deep within the crust. "H-hey, wh-what's that?!" Mouse stammers.

A lava vent explodes, scattering the attackers as four lithe figures leap out of the ground!! The crowds pause, then cheer as the Senshi now attending Sapporo University move to bracketing positions on all sides of Galaxia and her allies. "You bonged, Galaxia?!" Sailor Moon sighs, shaking her head. "I prayed I'd never see you again on this world!"

"You prayed wrong!!" Galaxia snarls, then lashes out with her wrist-bracelets.

The Crystal appears, the Lancer leaping out to shatter the energy balls before they get close! "Nice try," Moon stows the Crystal, then assumes a ready stance.

"Galaxia's mine!!" Terra barks out.

"GO!!!!" Moon snaps.

The Senshi lunge at their opponents, diving to everyone's surprise not on the Haishin, but the women who created them. Seeing her chance, Yuuwaku spins on Moon, her own hands blazing. "Murderer!!! Now you pay for what you did to my sister!!!"

"Then you can join her!!" Moon flings the Lancer.

The Maiden ducks as the blade flies over her head, then fires her own blast of energy. "***ENERGY MOON DARTS!!!!!!***" Diana winds up, sending a storm at the Maiden, who falters back...

...then jerks as the Lancer, which rebounded off a building, slams into her heart!! Gasping, she shudders as her mind overloads from the Lancer's power, then collapses to the ground as half the Haishin disappear, reverting to normal. "Someone get the other one!!" Moon barks as she leaps for her sword.

"I'm trying!!!" Chronos screams as she lunges after Zentsubou, the Time Reaper whirling for a clear shot.

Seeing a chance, Galaxia lunges for the Senshi leader...and is flung back when a foot draped in a mary jane smacks into her gut, doubling her over! Terra draws back, fists at the ready as she puts herself between her friend and the Golden Senshi. "You'll have to come through me first, bitch!!"

"My pleasure!" Galaxia growls, her wrist-bracelets firing.

The bolts slam into Terra, causing a flower to appear over her head as a star seed forms! "Terra!!!" Moon gasps.

Suddenly, the star seed turns black! "What...?!!" Galaxia gasps as black energy warps around the avatar of Life...

...then explodes as a soulsword slices through the bonds, revealing a VERY pissed off Sailor Terra!! "**Care to try that again?!**" her eyes glow as she lunges at Galaxia.

"How's that possible?" Moon gapes in disbelief.

Galaxia's own shock nearly dooms her as the soulsword lances at her face, then she is knocked aside by Zentsubou, who takes the energy blade in her own heart!! Screaming, the Maiden is flung away from the scene, her own mind shutting down as Terra disperses her sword, then with a howl, she leaps at Galaxia.

The other Haishin revert to normal as the Anima Mates, now facing Sailor Diana, watch their boss being tackled by the tenth Senshi. Nyanko breaks away as she tries to get into a position to aid, but is intercepted by Chronos, who telekinetically shoves the Anima Mate into a car, then dumps three more atop her!! "You'll keep," the time reaper moves to stand beside her life-mate.

The other Anima Mates brace themselves, realizing that they were in more trouble than they knew how to really deal with. "Um...wh-what do we do?!" Siren muses.

"You return to the Cosmic Chain of Life!" a voice replies.

The Anima Mates spin around and up to see three women standing on a nearby pillar, three wearing VERY familiar costumes...

...their own!

"Are we interrupting something?!" Sailor Enko grins.

"Hey!!!" Lead Crow screams. "You're us!!"

"Say that the other way!!" Tetsuzo smirks as they leap over their fellow Nendo-kata to form a line before the Anima Mates, then her eyes glow. "I'll take those!!!"

Iron Mouse screams as a telekinetic fist slams her hands together, shattering the bracelets keeping her alive. As she fades from existence, Aluminum Siren leaps at her look-alike, hands waving around in a circle. "***GALACTICA TSUNAMI!!!!!!***"

"***VENGEANCE SCREAM!!!!!!***" Ginkaibijou counters.

A blast of ear-splitting noise rips through the air, punching through the wall of cosmic energy Aluminum Siren raised, then slamming into the Anima Mate and propelling her into Sailor Moon's Moon Lancer!! "Gig's up!!" Moon grins as she disintegrates.

Enko and Lead Crow square off, the stars on their foreheads flashing. "***DESERT WIND!!!!!!***" the Anima Mate fores a blast of energy at her reborn look-alike.

Nothing happens, causing Lead Crow to fearfully back away. "Can't do that to a Nendo-kata!!" Enko laughs, then fires a beam of energy. "***DEATH HYPNOSIS PARALYSIS!!!!!!***"

The bolt slams into the Anima Mate, eliciting a terrifying scream as she imagines what being dead and buried for a year would be like! With that, Enko walks up, then shatters the wrist-bracelets to cause Lead Crow to disappear. Once that's done, the three Salvation Senshi relax. "Well, that was fun!" Tetsuzo hums.

An explosion of cars nearby reveals a very angry Tin Nyanko. "Not over yet, Nezu!" Enko hums, her eyes glowing.

"DIE!!!!!!" Tin Nyanko levels her bazooka...

...then blinks comically as her bracelets are shattered, causing her to fade out of existence!! "You always were a back-stabbing bitch, Nyanko!" Enko snarls, her eyes reverting to normal, then looks around. "Now, where's Galaxia?!!"

"Hey, check her out!!" Ginkaibijou points.

Everyone turns to see Galaxia staggering from Sailor Terra, who has hounded the Golden Senshi like a relentless bulldog, peppering her with punches and kicks to the face and chest to keep her off-balance. "Want some help, Terra?" Moon asks.

"No, just getting warmed up!!" Terra cracks her knuckles, then winds up. "***TYPHOON WIND-FIST!!!!!!***"

Galaxia is deluged, the blows' impact sending her flying into a parked van!! "There!!" Terra relaxes. "Now, Sailor Moon!!"

"Right!!!" Moon draws her Crystal...

...as another Shingi Maiden appears beside the Golden Senshi. "Nice try, Sailor Moon!" she smirks as she and Galaxia vanish.

"Aw, hell!!!" Moon snaps. "They got away!!"

"True, but we caught two more Shingi Maidens...and got three new friends out of it, too," Terra nods to the three alien Senshi who just arrived.

The Salvation Senshi blush, bowing. "Indeed, it is good that you came, sisters," Diana hums. "From what schools do you hail?"

"May we explain that later, sister?" Tetsuzo sighs. "We came here bearing orphaned children from our homeworlds, so we'd like to look in on them first."

"We'll come with you," Diana nods, waving to Moon. "Be back in a moment, sister."

"Right," Moon nods as the Nendo-kata leave, then stares at Terra. "I wonder what happened to them."

"I'm afraid to find out," Terra muses...

* * *

"There, you'll keep," the Forever Knight smiles.

The cape billows as he disappears...just as a teleport beam brings in the Salvation Senshi and their friends. "Something has happened..." Tetsuzo's eyes glow, then she turns, jolting on seeing the unconscious form of a Shingi Maiden on the deck. "Eh?!!"

"The children!!" Ginkaibijou snaps.

Enko races into the small dormitory next door to see the twelve children the Salvation Senshi were caring for playing among themselves. No one is harmed, nor does she sense any lingering traces of disUnity around them. Breathing out in relief, berating herself for not thinking about the children when a possible threat was in the area, she walks back into the teleporter room as Diana and Chronos sit the dazed Kurushimi up. "She must've been sent to hurt the children while we were trying to see you," she bites her lips, kicking herself for making such an idiotic mistake.

"But someone stopped her," Diana hums, her eyes glowing. "I can feel his presence here."

"It actually feels like..." Chronos muses, then grins.

"Yuki-chan's birthday present to Setsuna-chan!"

The Salvation Senshi blink confusedly. "A birthday present did this?!" Enko wonders.

"Hai," the two Twins nod...

* * *

"Reverend, we have lost Yuuwaku, Zentsubou and Kurushimi," a Maiden bows before the dark preacher. "What are we to do?!"

Fushingi trembles, his fists clenching uncontrollably. To lose his wonderful First Maiden...that was too much. Even more so because he didn't sense the one responsible for her fall. "We wait and we watch!" he hisses. "We wait and watch..."

* * *

"Gods!!" Usagi gasps.

Having transformed to civilian guises, the Salvation Senshi meet their new friends in Usagi's and Naru's dorm room later. The last survivors of Enko, Ginkai and Tetsuzo were being babysat by Chooko aboard their ship, she telepathically monitoring the conversation through Nona. The Salvation Senshi sadly nod. "That's what happened," Akane hisses. "Destruction as far as the eye could see, all over the planet. Only three survivors for my world, three for Reiko-chan's and six for Chuuko-chan's."

"And the dorks we're fighting now caused it?" Naru shudders.

"Hai," Chuuko snarls, her teeth grinding. "Their stench is the same here as back home. I'll never put it out of my mind."

Sympathetic looks respond. "Does anyone have any idea why these parasites exist?!" Usagi demands.

The Salvation Senshi shake their heads. Nona then bites her lips. "Wait a minute. Sakebu-chan said that there was a part of the first one we captured which was more inclined towards the cause of Unity, a part that needed the chance to come out..."

"Ayako!" Usagi's eyes widen understandingly. "Her Heart Passion Nova should do the trick!! Let's go see her!"

* * *

After a quick call home to get Shingo to bring Yuu to the large apartment building now used by Ayako, Matsuri and their eight guests, the four Shingi Maidens face the passion mistress in an empty room later. Matsuri was now helping the Salvation Senshi and their charges settle in, doing what came natural to a Nendo-kata when dealing with orphaned Wanderers. "How will this help us, Shingo-kun?" Yuu gazes at her boyfriend.

"Search me," he shrugs, staring at Aphrodite. "I sure hope you know what you're doing, Ayako-san."

"Of ye of so little faith!" she grins, taking the Imperium Silver Crystal from Usagi, then concentrates, a funnel of energy spiralling around her as she begins her twirling dance.

"Not so hard, Ayako!" Usagi warns.

"No problem!! ***HEART PASSION NOVA!!!!!!***"

The four biodroids are slammed by a storm of empathic energy. their eyes widening as a strangled scream escapes them. Psychic fire burns through them for a moment, then as the glow fades, they collapse on the sofa behind them. "Yuu-chan!!" Shingo cries, racing over to hold her up. "Are you okay?!"

Yuu blinks for a moment as strange thoughts, ideas, beliefs, race through her mind, then she gazes at him, smiling. "Hai, Shingo-kun, I'm fine now."

"Thank the gods," he draws her into his arms.

"How do you feel?" Aphrodite hands the Crystal back to Usagi.

Kurushimi blinks, then shudders, tears flowing down her cheeks as memories of her past Chaos Crusades storm into her mind. "Wh-why didn't y-you kill u-us...?!" she sobs, her strength fading as she collapses to the floor.

Yuuwaku and Zentsubou also weep. The door to their room opens to reveal Matsuri, Chuuko, Reiko and Akane. The Salvation Senshi kneel beside the three other Shingi Maidens, embracing them as they vent out their grief and sorrow. Matsuri kneels beside Yuu as her smile turns into a frown, her own tears flowing. "Why couldn't you make me forget...?" she wonders.

"You have to come to terms with it, Yuu-chan," Matsuri sighs. "To deny it or forget it would only make your past acts worse in the eyes of the Mother Ocean. I'm sure those Fushingi made you kill...would understand."

Hearing that quiet reassurance, Yuu smiles, then shifts herself to warmly kiss Shingo...

* * *

A Senshi meeting is quickly convened at Matsuri's home so the others could learn the nature of the Fushin and the faithless plague, not to mention hear the Salvation Senshi's stories. Atop that, Yuuwaku...now calling herself Asuka Nanase...got the chance to meet her future brother-in-law. Shingo and Gurio, who came with Setsuna, Yuki and Sakebu, are stuck doing snack duty with Ayako's and Matsuri's other guests. Rei, despite the others trying to keep her at home, came. "The first thing we should do is to find some way to allow you to integrate yourselves into society," Luna muses. "I'm sure Ataru Moroboshi's grandmother can assist in that matter."

"Even after what we've done?" Zentsubou...now calling herself Chie Ayasaki...wonders.

"We can...understand what you're going through right now," Usagi smiles. "Over the past while, we've been trying to move away from killing daemons to trying to help them. The eight women living here with Ayako-chan and Matsuri-chan were formerly monsters of the Black Moon Clan of Nemesis. Right, Nagisa-chan?"

"Hai," Nagisa Setsu (formerly Nipos) nods as she serves tea.

"I can sense that," Kurushimi...now Wakana Matsuoka...nods, gazing at Nagisa, then turns back to Usagi. "But their actions were easily repaired. Ours certainly won't."

Grim nods answer. "We'll have to accept that for now," Usagi sighs, allowing Mamoru's hand to rest on her shoulder. "People one way or another will want an accounting for this. Sakebu-chan, how can we get people to heal...?"

"You can't," Sakebu shakes her head. "Still, when the news of your fighting Galaxia hit the airwaves, it went around the world. Miracle of CNN, I suppose. All the major world religious leaders are praying for you, Usagi-chan. Most people're cheering you on."

"I never wanted this type of exposure," Usagi grimaces, then sighs. "Okay, so what can we do? Ideas, anyone?"

"Well, since we all hail from different parts of Japan...and if Fushingi is inclined to concentrate his attacks here to keep us busy, then we should spread out to cover the maximum amount of territory possible," Katsura purses her lips.

"Tsu-chan and I can cover Okinawa and Kyushu," Nareta hums.

"And we're up in Hokkaido," Nona stares at Usagi.

"Most of us live in the Tokyo area, so we've got the centre watched, too," Matsuri muses. "We can use Yuki-chan and Setsuna-chan to teleport us to aid each other in case things get too dicey, but after Naru-chan gave Galaxia a beating, I don't think we'll have to worry too much save for dealing with the Shingi Maidens."

Eyes lock on the avatar of Life, stunned that she could hammer the Golden Senshi down so easily when they nearly died at Galaxia's hand last time. Naru snorts, crossing her arms. "'Most powerful Senshi,' everyone says! Feh! She was a pushover!!"

"Remember what Teach says, Naru-chan," Usagi warns. "Don't get too overconfident or you're stabbing yourself."

"Right," Naru sighs.

The originals and Mamoru gazes at their leader. "'Teach?!' What teach?!" Minako blinks confusedly.

"My martial arts teacher," Usagi grins.

Shock responds. "Martial arts?!!" Mamoru blinks. "Since when did you decide to do something like that, Usako?!"

"Since I've grown sick and tired of allowing all of you to do the fighting and wanted to get in on it myself!" Usagi smiles, then stares at her fiance's neutral expression. "Are you okay?"

"I...I guess so," Mamoru looks away.

Usagi turns, noticing the Inner Senshi were all gazing at the floor, possessing downcast looks equal to Rei's when she first heard of the changes with their leader. Hotaru remains strangely passive, though her eyes also flash many questions. Setsuna was also impassive, but that was Setsuna for you. "Hey, stop that!" Usagi rises. "Look, isn't it too much to ask to be able to fight a little better, get the job done faster?! I'm tired of watching you taking the lumps for me! What's wrong?!"

"What's wrong...?!!" Makoto snaps, glaring at her.

"Makoto!!" Katsura and Junko bark.

She jolts, then looks down. "N-nothing's wrong, Usagi-chan," Makoto shakes her head. "Nothing at all..."

* * *

"So many questions they ask deep in their hearts," Fushingi snickers, gazing at the images of the Inner Senshi, Setsuna, Hotaru and Mamoru in his scrying glass. "Even the time dancer and the so-called Senshi of Silence are confused. How interesting..."

Monomaniacal laughter echoes through the Fushin's ship...

* * *

To be continued...