Ch

Ch. 2

Shin looked up groggily as the soldiers came in. They threw a plate of food down in front of him and left. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it, then crawled over to the food and slowly began to eat. He didn't see any other alternative.

He'd transformed as soon as he'd arrived, but he was now dealing with Talpa directly. He knew it'd do him no good to keep wasting his energy.

He wondered, certainly not for the first time, how far away they were keeping his wife. Not terribly far, he knew, but far enough that they couldn't hear each other.

He also knew how absolutely stubborn his Ma-ko could be. If anything, she was probably in a worse state than he from her absolute refusal to let the situation play itself out. He knew his friends would come for him soon enough.

His only concern was that Ma-ko would be hurt by the time they reached them. Hurt beyond healing.

Rei's brow knitted in concentration as she tried harder to focus her readings. It was always difficult for the sacred fire to pinpoint anything or anyone in the Dark Kingdom, but she usually managed it.

She'd confirmed that Shin and Makoto were indeed in the Dark Kingdom but the information she was now getting was making no sense.

She turned to the assembled group just beyond the door.

"I don't think they're alone," she said softly. "I'm getting five life forces trapped in the Dark Kingdom."

"Five?" Mamoru asked. "You mean Talpa's taken three other people hostage?"

"It seems that way," Rei said softly. Rajura frowned.

"I wonder who the other three are," he speculated almost to himself.

Touma sighed. "It doesn't matter," he said softly. "We've got to go after them anyway, we can't just leave them there any more than we can leave Mako-chan and Shin."

"Then we prepare for a five-fold rescue?" Seiji asked softly. Ryo sighed deeply.

"There's no other way."

The sisters and Shogun exchanged looks.

"We can help," Anubis said simply.

Usagi blinked. "Nani?"

"We can help," Anubis repeated. "We know that castle better than any of you. And we know the secret passageways."

"In other words," Naaza said. "We know how to get in and out quickly."

"Yes, but after five people?" Touma asked softly. "Gomen nasai, but that's a difficult task."

"But there's many of us," Katzie said with a smile. "We'll go in and out."

"Not you," Prizma said. "Not with a newborn. You stay here."

Katzie sighed but smiled indulgently. Sh'ten frowned.

"My question," he said softly. "Is whether or not to bring the Senshi with us."

Minako frowned as well. "Turning into a bakan, are we? Of course we're coming!"

"Matte," Anubis said. "It's a valid question. We'll be able to move more quickly if we don't have you Senshi and Troopers with us. On the other hand, we may need the extra fighting power."

"So what it comes down to," Shou said after a moment. "Is which is more important: speed or power?"

"We're dealing with Talpa now, not with any middle men," Rajura said. "So I'd say power."

"You would," Rubbeus said with a slight smile. "But if we get in and out before Talpa really knows that we've been there, then there will be no need for us to do battle."

"And we can get in and out with five people?" Avery asked, a little uncertain. Ryo sighed.

"It looks as if you'll have to."

Usagi raised a brow. "'you'?"

"Hai, Usagi-chan," Ryo said. "They're right. We can't go, we'll be more of a hindrance than a help.

Usagi sighed. "I don't like this, Ryo. Something about it just stinks."

"I agree," Mamoru said. "But there's nothing we can do. It's up to the Shogun and the Ayakashi sisters now."

Benjamin couldn't help crying a very little as he watched his parents disappear into the Dark Kingdom. His mother and father had spent the entirety of the night before with him, and that had scared him. It had made him think that they may not be coming back. He stood at the edge of the wood, now, with the rest of h is friends and with his aunt at his side as three of the Ayakashi sisters and four samurai, plus one ventured alone and virtually unarmed into danger. Rei sighed and turned back in the direction of the house.

"There's nothing left for us to do now except wait for them to come back with the prisoners."

"I'll begin making out beds," Ami said, going with her. "For any who may be injured."

Touma nodded. "A good idea, I'll help."

As the others turned and began to walk away, Benjamin remained a few more moments, looking at the space where his parents had just been.

Somehow he knew that they all-including him-were going to have to help.

Makoto shuddered as she vomited again. This was beginning to become an ever-present problem with her. The Dynasty had even taken to providing a fresh towel for her every day, a luxury she could not now afford to spurn. She now used the towel to wipe her mouth and sighed bitterly. Not only taken hostage by the Dark Kingdom, but sick within their castle as well. This was getting to be a bit too much. She had begged and pleaded with the soldiers to let her be with her husband, but to no avail. They'd remained separated. She knew that relief was on its way, preferably with her henshin stick and her wand. The question was how soon would it arrive?

And would she be far too sick by then to be of any help?

Rubbeus was careful not to trip any of the many alarms he knew were hidden in the corridor as the group slunk down the dungeons. They had disposed of the watch guards very quickly: they'd gone down without a sound or alarm being given, thanks to Naaza's poison. they were now checking within each cell for any of the missing persons-a time consuming task. The Dark Kingdom had as many cells as it had rooms, dungeons extending nearly a fathom or so downward.

They moved in silence until they spotted two guards at the entrance to a dungeon. They made very short work of the two guards and peered into the cell. It was Makoto.

Prizma and Bertie made their way in and helped the apparently sick senshi out of her cell. She looked at them in surprise.

"Senshi wa?" (Where are the Senshi?)

Anubis shook his head. "We all decided they wouldn't come. It's easier for us this way."

Makoto nodded. "Have you found Shin?"

"Not yet," Avery said. "We found you first. Then there's still three others to worry about."

"Three others?" Makoto said, worried. "You don't think they could have gotten any of my friends from Hogwarts, do you?"

"It's a possibility," Rubbeus said grimly. "But we'll find them, whoever they are. In the mean time, I think we have some things I think you'll enjoy."

He nodded to Rajura, who handed her the henshin stick and, yes, her wand. She grinned when both were in her hands and in that second she was no longer a prisoner, but a soldier once more. Whispering her henshin phrase, she transformed into Sailorjupiter and grasped her wand tightly.

"Let's find my husband."