Disclaimer: I do not own "Sailor Moon" or the Lunarock song," Soldier of Love." Since my Ray isn't going to be singing in this story ever, the song is needed for his replacement singer.
Chapter 14
Enter Miss Kitty
~ The Dark Universe Throne Room ~
"All right now, two down and two to go. The pitiful failures are out of the picture, but don't get any ideas that since so few of you are left that I'll be any easier on you, Princess Kitty. Your brother and sister were cut from the same cloth and centuries of training as you were, you're to be judged as they were if you fail me. Understood?" Specter said, the annoyance at Kitty's lateness still bothering him.
"Kitty understands perfectly. Kitty will make you proud, beloved Lord Specter." Kitty chirped happily, her child-like and bright lavender eyes and cute smile making Specter want to be sick. Kittiana was her true name, but she deemed it too hard to spell and say, so she shortened it to Kitty. As terribly adorable as she was for a Dark Universe princess and the bubble head that she was, she could be a vengeful little witch. Like all of his warriors, each had a sense of taste and style, and Kitty's was by far the most precious and cute, something Dark Universe people weren't supposed to practice.
Kitty did it anyway, saying that the best disguise is the exact opposite of what you are, and in the past it had proven very correct. Her cute act and idiotic ramblings proved to confuse opponents so well they never expected her to rip their hearts out and eat it, looking as cute as possible. Her giggle could peel paint, so saccharine and loud, but it didn't help opponents take her serious.
The odd little leotard of white she wore with it fluffy portions around her ankles, her wrists, her waist and down the rim of her low back and top of the top of the entire ensemble. Her white boots with little bells on the tips usually made people start laughing, for all of ten seconds before she gutted them humming a sweet tune or just looking very sweet about the whole thing.
Kitty was nothing short of a hilarity costume over a rabid dog ready to rip all the guts out of anything that laughed at her or got in her way, with the claws for fingernails and fangs to prove it. She was nearly as homicidal as Raven, but she had more patience than her older sister. She knew energy meant she'd be praised and would live longer. She never got greedy for just one particular target. She liked to go after anything and everything that was a good energy carrier.
Kitty did it with style and such sweetness that it was sickening. Her lack of brainpower was the only reason Specter saved her for third place, she only did what she was told and that was that. She was not great at thinking on her toes or making good decisions, especially when her beauty was challenged. In the past, Kitty always stuck around to watch her warriors in action, but if one was defeated, she would panic at the loss of whatever the monster stole and run. Xeno had been training her shortly after they were banished from Earth 10,000 years ago, and her thinking skills had improved, slightly.
"Good Kitty. Now remember, the energy is all that matters and if you see the Galaxy Knights or that tart Lady Glamour, kill them! I don't care if you or your warriors do it, just kill them. Raven broke their spirits well enough. Xeno told me what her plan had been after death….after some persuasion," Specter grinned, glimmering mentally as the memory of tortures," If it was done right, they should be broken down from what she did, confused and hurt. Take this to your advantage….but….and I stress this, in my rage of punishing her for wasting all of that delicious power on death she could have told me who the knights were. That is your second priority. Energy first, the knights' identities second. Is that understood?"
Kitty looked confused a moment with a pouty lip, then brightened up a second later and nodded. "Kitty understands, Kitty has to gather energy for Lord and Goddess and see what is behind the knight's helmets. Then kill, kill, kill them. Hee, hee, hee. Going to kill them, yes, yes, going to kill the Galaxy Knights." Kitty giggled childishly.
Specter held up one hand to stop her horrible giggles and she readily obeyed. "Yes, but when I say kill, what do I mean?" he asked, giving her a knowing look. "Kitty thinks you mean suck the life out of them for Goddess and Lord doesn't kill Kitty for Raven-like, screw-ups. Mmmkay?" she asked sweetly, and evil glimmering appearing in her lavender eyes.
"Good Kitty. Don't make me have to punish you like I punished her then. Go rape this world of its energy! NOW GO!" Specter boomed, standing up swiftly from his chair and pointed right at her with a long finger. It crackled with dark energy as he did so and Kitty promptly curtsied, as well as she could pull off with a leotard on. Then she vanished in a flash of white light that looked like the jaws of a tiger, making the sound of the wild cat before she was totally gone.
Specter walked out of the throne room after that, moving quietly to the chamber to his left, a door with skeletons letting out silent screams and reaching out for the help that would never come. Specter walked right through it, his body phasing darkly, as if he were a ghost, through it to the inner sanctum of the great and dark chamber. Within, he could see the Dark Goddess, what remained of her from 10,000 years ago. Now she was just a huge red ball of gelatinous energy within the web of obsidian. Specter came up before the glowing ball that was his goddess and knelt down.
"What have you to report, Lord Specter?" the goddess asked, her seductive tone still the same as it was so long ago. Specter kept his head down and aimed his eyes at the base of her obsidian throne as he spoke. "My Dark and Merciless Goddess, two of my subordinates have fallen….one by the hands of the Earth heroes, the Galaxy Knights. The other was by my own hand for wasting lives without taking their energy away for you to grow stronger upon. I have two subordinates left, Princess Kittiana and Knight Xeno of the Dark Moon family. We have collected a good amount of Earth life force for you, but their failures have cost us the early attack you and I both crave. I have sent Kittiana to gather more for you, your glory, and Xeno is searching for the Earth Princess and the Spectrum Crystals that contain our fallen allies from the attack 10,000 years ago." He replied, making sure to say it clearly and carefully.
The Dark Goddess was not at full strength, but she could easily kill him with a thought if she wanted to. Watching your mouth around her was very important to go on living. The silence was slowly killing him as he waited for her to answer, giving him time to consider slit his throat so he'd die quicker than she would allow.
"This disturbs me, Specter, but the energy your failures managed to provide was suitable enough for me to be allowed the power of telepathy to speak to you, you sorry excuse for a dark lord! Don't you dare come back to me until these Galaxy Knights are dead and you have gotten me all the energy I need to lay waste to the universe of light! Get out of my chambers before I make you get out." The goddess let out evenly, every syllable dripping with hate and malice.
Specter just nodded his head and left the chambers quickly. 'Kitty had better do her job correctly, or we're all done for.' He thought, sitting back upon his throne to think.
~ Cemetery Tokyo ~
Stephen Tsukikage stood with Mr. and Mrs. Tepes, his eyes dry and red from crying out every tear he had to offer over the past 35 days, each day he'd walked into the Tepes household to pay his respects to Mark's urn. Stephen hadn't flinched much when he got the call from a distraught Mrs. Tepes when he snuck back into the house hours after the battle with Raven.
He'd gone to the hospital to check on Gary and Alan first, trying to keep a brave face on about what he'd seen. Gary was all right, only a few cuts on his left arm remained and some bruises. He had refused medical attention, saying his brother was worse off, according to a few of the nurses, and he was right.
Alan had multiple stab wounds and a blow to the head. He'd also gotten a broken left arm and twisted ankle on his right leg. He was out cold for a few days, and he was probably recovering with Gary sitting at his bedside. The survivors, the only real survivors Stephen had seen, and he hadn't saved them, they had saved themselves, or more appropriately Gary saved his brother and Stephen's lives.
Stephen went home then, getting the call from Mark's wailing mother that he'd been found dead with broken neck near the docks. Stephen started weeping with her as the painful memory of Mark's murder came back to him over and over again, all because he took too long to stop Raven. He blamed himself for his friends death all through the phone call, waking up the entire house when he hung up and started screaming "Why!?"
He broke down in tears again, his entire body aching with regret and sorrow as his mother and father came down to his heaving body. Even his little sister came down looking fearful. When they all tried to comfort him, he snapped and screamed at all of them to leave him alone. He then blamed his parents for Mark's death as well as himself, saying that if Mom hadn't gotten drunk and his father wasn't a stubborn bastard, Mark would still be alive because Stephen would have been with him.
With that, he'd run up and locked himself in his room until a day later, when he got a funeral invitation. He'd eaten the first funeral meal by the side of Mrs. Tepes. As with most familiars he was used to, it was held in a crematorium. After Mark had been cremated, Stephen watched the Tepes and their relatives pick the bones out of the ashes with chopsticks and pass them from one person to the next.
The ceremony was held later on, Buddhist monks performing the funeral rights to the urn Mark's ashes were kept it, a precious oriental painted glass urn of fine porcelain. Then Stephen and all the other guests gave Mark's family $188.67 each to show their condolences to the deceased. All that paid tribute to Mark were given small gifts in Mr. and Mrs. Tepes in appreciation for their kindness. Most had gotten pretty little porcelain statues or music boxes, silver things and fancy stuff, but not Stephen.
They gave him what most thought upon first glance was a ratty baseball, a broken picture frame with two little boys in it, and what appeared to be a video tape. They were insulting gifts to all the other gifts until Stephen hugged Mark's parents, whispering tearful 'thanks you's' to them before the next meal started.
The baseball had been a signed on that Stephen caught at game, but gave it to Mark because he'd wanted one so badly and never had the luck to catch one. Stephen had taken the baseball in the head just to get it, and even in pain couldn't help but want to make him young friend happy. They weren't rich like Stephen's family was, yet what Stephen did was out of friendship, not pity. He couldn't stand to see his friend failing at something he really wanted to do, hurting himself in the process. It had made Mark the happiest little boy in all of Tokyo just to touch that ball.
Stephen wanted the ball very badly as well, and never got the chance to catch another one since the event occurred only a week or two before their parents fought drunkenly and stupidly. The video tape was of the karate classes he and Mark took at the urgings of their fathers, a very memorable occasion where Stephen and Mark had to fight and accidentally kicked the instructor in the nuts with high kicks aimed at each other. It was a total accident, but both boys had fallen over laughing as the instructor fell over cursing.
The Tepes family had taped the event and said they make a copy of the tape for the Tsukikage's so they could enjoy it, but they kept forgetting and eventually it was far too late. The last item, the picture frame, had been from a play fight accident at the Tepes house. Stephen and Mark had been practicing their moves for another tournament and did it far to close to one of the tables in the house, one that held a picture of Stephen and Mark as toddlers. They were standing in front of the tree in the back of Mark's yard, the weeping willow that was a silky pink above their little heads and bright smiles.
Stephen had kicked the picture off the table with one of his improved high kicks, earning him fives stitches from the glass that got embedded in his foot and lecture about practicing in the house. It held the first memory of the two boys together, the first of many, but just having the one picture was enough. Mark's parents had lost their only child so barely close to him growing up into a man, gone by murder, one that would go unsolved forever as would all those dead around him.
After the ceremony and suppers were all over, the urn was placed in the Tepes household for 35 days with constant incense burning day and night, and Stephen came in every day to catch up on what mark did after the drunk fight his mother started with them separated them. He lit a stick of sweet smelling incense each day he came, crying and remembering with the Tepes about how Mark had been doing and what his plans for the future had been.
Now here he was in the Cemetery Tokyo staring at the grave Mark's urn was buried in, standing there with dry, red eyes, matching the eyes of Mark's sniffling parents. They were praying for him through the sniffles, but Stephen did it in his head. Long after the burial had ended and the guests had left, he and Mark's parents remained behind to mourn. Lamont, Ray, and even Angela had come to the funeral to pay their respects to the dead, their friends and Stephen's.
Lamont was sullen for a few weeks, and stayed home for a while to mourn poor Cici and all the people he recognized as Raven's victims. Ray had to go to school to honor his departed friends with salutes and by talking to teachers and friends that had felt the pain of their deaths as well.
Angela did nothing but pray, not offering condolences or acting any differently in school or in public about anything. Stephen hated the way she was treating this tragedy, so many innocents were dead and she was too proud and cold hearted to even shed a damn tear. Not even for Alan or Gary, not for any of their pain and losses. She was just the same, the brutal girl who was always tough and correct, no matter how wrong she really was.
Stephen narrowed his eyes upon thinking about Angela, the hate welling up in his body. He forced it back down, knowing an outburst right now would be horrible for Mark's parents. They'd be a shambles if he disturbed their sacred prayer. After a few more hours passed and the sun began to set, the Tepes family started to leave. Stephen didn't budge, silent as death as he kept staring at his friend's grave.
"Stephen? Aren't you coming? Its getting so late….the curfew and all with the murderer still at large. Please, don't put your parents through pain by worrying them." Mrs. Tepes told him, but he shook his head. "I'll be fine….don't worry about me. My parents only worry when something makes them look bad. You go on home….I can call a taxi or go to my friend Ray's. He lives a block from here." Stephen replied evenly, almost in a whisper.
"Are you sure?" she asked. He gave a curt nod. "I'm sure. Go home and sleep….you've had a rough time already. Go home." He said quietly. He listened a moment, hearing both parents sigh, then the footsteps on the cobblestone path that led out of the cemetery. When the car engine sounded, Stephen let out a sigh of his own. The car noises soon ceased and all that came to Stephen's ears was the gentle blowing of the sunset wind, the land gone almost blood red before his ice blue eyes as they stared unwavering at the grave.
'The murderer will never hurt anyone again, Mark, she's dead. I'm just so sorry I took so long to do it. You suffered….through her because of my irresponsibility. Its all my fault that you and those people died.' He thought, closing his eyes gently to fight back a new wave of sorrow and tragic memories he would never be rid of.
He could still heard the sickening crack of Mark's neck as Raven snapped it with a swift twist, the look of evil pride she felt in the act. He still wanted to kill her, over and over again to take his anger and sadness out on her before turning the sword on himself for his crimes, the crime of doing nothing to stop it. He killed her, but far too late for all of the people she carved out and slaughtered. All he could do was watch and shatter within his heat, the innocence lost in the brief second it took Mark to die.
"All my fault, I wasn't….fast enough." Stephen whispered, tears finally forming in his eyes.
"I don't think so. What gave you that idea?" said a soft and low voice. 'Gary?' he thought, slowly turning his head to see Gary was standing just a few feet away from him, his sunglasses on and the same red suit jacket he always wore on, a new one opposed to the one that had been massacred in Raven's attack. The cuts that had once been on his hands and face were gone, he looked almost the same as he had the first day Stephen had met him, aside from the black eye he was still nursing and a few bruised knuckles.
"How long were you here? I didn't hear you come up." Stephen replied. Gary shrugged, not smiling at all. "I came to the burial because that's where your parents told me you were, paying your respects to Mark. I had wanted to talk to you privately, over the phone was my first choice, but your parents said you were very upset, so I waited till today so I could find out when the funeral would be. Mark was a nice guy….its no wonder you were such good friends. I'm sorry, Stephen, I know that doesn't count for much since I didn't know him as well as you did, but I am sorry he's dead. No….no one deserves what happened to him and those people." Gary replied, looking rather embarrassed about the whole thing.
Stephen offered a weak smile, which quickly faded before he extended his hand to Gary and gestured for him to come closer. Gary did so and stood beside Stephen to recite a whisper of prayers.
"I'm sorry too and you're wrong, Gary. This was all my fault. I should have known something was up when he didn't come to school for so long and when he said he was in trouble….the night…..before he died. I should have called the police….I should have been faster. He'd be alive if it wasn't for my irresponsibility." Stephen hissed out, interrupting Gary's prayers.
"You couldn't have known how much trouble he was in. You did what you thought was right….its not your fault, you didn't tell that lunatic woman to kill all of those people. She's probably the person who killed him, she kept him awful close when she was killing the arcade patrons. I know….something was wrong with him, that the woman with the black eyes had to have caused it, but it wasn't your fault. How could you have known?" his friend replied.
"It's something only I can understand, Gary. Only me. You'd never understand why I blame myself so much, not in a million years….but thanks anyway, for being here. I really appreciate your words too, its just Mark was my first and best friend that I ever had since I was a little kid. Now he's gone. I just need to deal with this in my own way, Gary, please, try to understand that. Please." Stephen replied, tears starting to fall from his eyes.
Gary just looked over at him, his glasses reflecting back Stephen's sniffling face in both lenses. Gary took a small breath and gave off a nod. "I know what it's like to lose someone important in my life. My parents died right in front of me when I was just a kid. I know what death can do to someone, and the pain it brings. I'm not asking you to feel sorry for me, Stephen, just to understand that I do know how you feel, maybe even more than you know. Don't sell me short on pain, I know what its like. You can always talk to me if you need someone to open up to. Keeping it inside….only makes the pain eat at you, it kills you slowly." He said quietly, his tone sincere and quiet.
Stephen just blinked, the sun setting in the west slowly, the light bleeding away over the horizon into darkness over the two young men. "I had no idea….I….I'm sorry, Gary. I'm just a really torn up inside over this….I didn't know," Stephen mumbled, but his friend just patted him on the shoulder and shook his head," Thanks, Gary."
"Its ok….dealing with our pain makes us stronger. I know my parents would be proud of me for going on for them, but I still hurt inside over the memories. Don't let them run your life, just deal with them as best you can in whatever manner helps. Just do what you feel is right. Not like me or anything, it's your life, Stephen. Your choice." Gary told him. He started to turn around, heading back for the cemetery gates.
"Gary!" Stephen called, and his friend stopped halfway to turn towards him. "How are you going to make rent now? With the arcade all boarded up and under police investigation for the murders? You can't give me lessons there until it's been fixed up. Can you make it?"
Gary shrugged. "I'll have to get another job at night to make my payments. I'm glad I don't have a car or I'd be living on the streets about now. I'll make it. Don't worry about me." Gary told him, but Stephen ran up to him and shook his head.
"No, you're my friend too, Gary. I can't let a friend down again, never again. We can just have the lessons at your apartment. My father still says I need a tutor. Come on, it'll be ok. You need the money." Stephen sped out. Gary looked a little paler than usual, but when Stephen repeated the proposal, he let out a forced "yes."
"I guess so, but I'm kind of a slob when it comes to housework because college takes up most of my time. You can't go in my bedroom. I have two bathrooms in my apartment, but you'll have to use the one by the washer and dryer. My room is a real pigsty. Deal?" Gary thrummed out, sounding nervous.
"If that's the only rule, sure, you've got a deal. I'll meet you at your apartment complex at the usual time then. I need to think about something other than all this hell that's hit Tokyo, even if just for a couples hours." Stephen breathed out, shaking Gary's gloved hand on the deal.
"Ok," Gary said," I'll give you the address once we get to your house."
"My house?" Stephen asked quizzically.
"Yeah, meathead, your house. This is curfew we've just violated. You need to be with an adult to be safe, so I'm the adult for now. I'll walk you home and give you the address, then I can call a taxi from your house. I don't want to get in trouble with the cops by being on the streets so late and alone either." Gary explained, understanding lighting up in Stephen's eyes.
"Then let's go. I've….mourned enough for today. I'll see my friend whenever can." Stephen replied and the two young men walked out of the silent place, unaware dark ravens circled overhead as they did.
~ Takozona Junior High ~
- Next Day -
"Sleep well, Stephen? Please answer me. You haven't spoken to me in weeks." Cyrus asked the young man quietly by the cherry tree. Recess was very quiet, most people sticking close to the building and eating area rather than being suicidal and going near the woods. Stephen was leaning again the cherry tree Cici had nearly been killed beneath. He was staring at the trees, or rather through them, as if he could see something no one else could.
"Stephen!" Cyrus tried again, but Stephen was still ignoring him. He was too busy staring and looking depressed. During the weeks of silence, Stephen took his free moments of the mourning for Mark to go to Ray's dojo and train with him. The results of the rigorous training were broken bokkens* holes littering most of the punching bags and one had been kicked to a sandy pulp.
Ray, even with enhanced healing, had been dealt bruised ribs and limbs in sparring with Stephen. The young white-haired knight had put all of his rage and anguish into his training, having to be dragged off Ray and whoever else happened to be unlucky enough to spar with him. He never shed a single tear while training. He saved that for what mattered, paying his respects to Mark's urn and parents.
Cyrus was forced to watch all of this from a window. Stephen had become totally unwilling to bring a "useless" cat around with him unless he had something of importance to share, like what the Dark Universe was up to. It had been very quiet, as it had been after Viper's death, since Raven had been vanquished. Stephen didn't like it, or at least he'd voiced it to Ray and Lamont whenever he went to talk with them. They agreed.
Angela was the only person that Stephen had avoided most often and if he saw her, he'd walk the other way. He never called her up on the phone to ask her things or return any of her phone calls. She'd come to his window a few times only to get the curtain shut on her and find the window was locked. Cyrus wondered if her persistence was going to make Stephen snap like he did at the dojo. He'd taken enough of his anger out on animate and inanimate objects for weeks already, so Cyrus doubted that Stephen had much hatred left. He hoped anyway.
"Well, I'm sorry there are no Dark Universe creeps for you to beat the hell out of. I have scoured the entire area ever since we stopped Raven, but no new business, no new anything's have sprouted up, no dark presences, nothing. At least say 'Dammit' or 'I wonder what they are waiting for?' or something, please Stephen. You're driving me crazy being so damn quiet and sullen." Cyrus hissed.
"Dammit, dammit, fuck, shit. There, satisfied?" Stephen drawled out, totally without emotion. Cyrus just sighed heavily, lowing his small dark and velvety head. Then he felt hands pick him up. He looked up at Stephen curiously. "I'm bored out here. I'm going to my next class early. I can't stand being where a Dark Universe slime ball was. I hate this tree now." Stephen mumbled, holding the cat close to him, a little too tightly as well.
That and Stephen was looking a bit to the left of where they were with an annoyed expression. Cyrus turned his head as Stephen headed for the eating area, his small eyes catching a glimpse of Angela Furosuto, her orchid hair in a neat ponytail for once. She looked terribly happy to see them, or rather Stephen and was quickly approaching them. Stephen was quickly heading for the school, obviously in a damn hurry to escape Angela, more than he usually did.
Still, he wasn't fast enough to weave past the table he was bumping into and the people that walked or ran in front of him. He stopped cold with a grumbling cringe when Angela grabbed him by the shoulder firmly. "What's your hurry?" she asked sweetly.
"Getting away from you. Leave me alone." Stephen said quietly, not bothering to turn, but he squeezed at Cyrus so hard the cat let out a choked meow.
"Still playing hard to get, Snowflake? Tsk, after such tragedy and you're not wanting to open up to your one and only love? I thought our relationship was much more trusting than that, darling. Stop sulking about the past and get on with life, like getting it on with me, sweetness." She sassed, sounding so superior and knowing.
Cyrus felt the squeezing coming again, but it stopped before the pressure could really hurt. Stephen actually straightened up and let go of him, letting him land safely at his feet. Cyrus looked up and balked. Stephen's face was bright red, with hate or embarrassment, Cyrus couldn't tell until he focused on those around them.
Most of the students were giggling, females were grumbling, and most of the males were saying comments about Stephen lacking the balls to stand up to his woman. The teasing and giggles and such went on for what seemed like an eternity, Stephen's face getting redder and redder before he grit his teeth and shut his eyes tightly, clenching his fists at his sides.
It all happened so fast, all Cyrus could recall was the loud smacking sound that killed all of the noise around them. Stephen had just slapped Angela in the face, hissing out heaving breaths at her. Cyrus could only see him from the back, but his hate filled voice told him it was not a happy one.
"What the hell do you know about true love, you stupid, conniving, egotistical, feminist bitch!? None of your friends died out there, none of them were gutted and plastered all over the place! YOU DIDN'T FUCKING SEE OR FEEL A GODDAMN THING! You're nothing but a snotty, brutish beast with delusions of grandeur! You have no idea what real pain is because all you ever cared about was your damn self! I do not love you!! I will never love you! We were never a couple! I never wanted to be anything to you but a stranger, but no! You're too big-headed to admit that you're over the top insane for anyone to love!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, shoving Angela extra hard. It was hard enough to knock her over when her haughty expression refused to fade. Cyrus could see she looked downright shocked now, almost scared.
Everyone was staring at them, the girls backing behind the boys as Stephen's rage only grew. "As I have been saying for months on end, and I want the whole damn school to hear this for the record! I never, and will never love you or be your boyfriend. I was willing to be your friend until you started this lie about us! I wouldn't be your boyfriend if you were the last damn woman on Earth! I'd sooner castrate and kill myself than ever touch your foul and spoiled rotten form! EVER! Go to hell, Angela, the Devil is more suited for beast like you!" Stephen spat out, slamming his hand on a nearby table.
He stayed in place, his icy eyes just about ready to scream for a bloodbath right here and now, but Angela just stared up at him, her eyes going watery. 'Damn, how long has he been bottling up tall that? Her lips are bleeding from him slapping her. Stephen, what's happened to you??' Cyrus thought, cringing in fear for Angela as she got up and walked right up to Stephen.
She stared at him for the longest time. "You….you….you…." she was saying, as if the words hurt.
"I what?" Stephen hissed, and got slapped across the face a second later. He looked startled for a moment, but just looked right back at Angela, stone cold and angry. Her lips upturned and she shoved past him, wailing loudly.
"Good riddance." Stephen muttered and walked towards the school for his next class.
Cyrus just watched him go, rather dully, his small face flooding with worry. 'Was it really? Was your pain worth giving us a new one?' he thought, the silence of the Stephen's schoolmates continuing, making his heart heavy with sadness.
~ Daiichi Heights ~**
- Top Floor, Apt. 717 -
"You told her off like that? Gary said, sounding a bit surprised and pleased at the same time.
Stephen thought about it for second, taking his time by doing another math problem, the looked back at Gary across the kitchen table. "Yes, just like that. I just couldn't stand how arrogant and unfeeling she was being, I just snapped. At least she's finally leaving me alone. She didn't bother me the rest of the day….she brought it on herself. Angie shouldn't have been so damned stubborn about a relationship that didn't exist. I don't feel sorry for her." Stephen spouted, doing another problem.
Gary hadn't been lying when he'd said his apartment was a mess, it really was. Mostly the living room was lined with paper filled boxes, some of his suit jackets and shirts draped clumsily over his only couch, a dark blue one that could very well fit at least four people. Gary had explained it was for company and folded out into a bed for such occasions, but his brother had been the only one to ever visit.
The bathroom was in total disarray, the medicine cabinet stuffed with antiseptics, bandages, ointments, cotton swabs, and many other injury remedies. Stephen supposed Gary was still suffering from his injuries, ones he concealed under his clothing, and suffering quite a bit from the amount of used goods that were practically overflowing in his wastebasket. The sink was nearly plastered to death with toothpaste and mouthwash stains. Stephen wondered if Gary had cleaned this place since he moved in.
Gary was still looking at him with uncertainty, as best Gary could manage with his sunglasses still on. Gary had never taken them off as long as Stephen had known him, and it bothered him. 'He's a bit morbid sometimes, more than me. Some people are like that when they don't like being around others, they use it to blot out their eyes so no can see their eyes….funny concept. But he's a good guy, for a loner.' He thought, completing his math problems with one last slash of his pencil.
"Not that I not happy you finally got her off your case, and probably mine, but the way you did it….sounds a bit cruel. Angela didn't make it easy for you, true enough, but don't you think it was a bit over the top harsh to hit." Gary said slowly, seeming to be thinking over his words as he said them.
Stephen sneered a bit at the implication, shutting his notebook rather roughly. "I don't think so….she gave me no choice. She's been hounding me for months and lying about us being a couple and God knows how many other things! I was sick and tired of it then and I still am now. I just didn't want it in my face anymore. She should have known better. Just cause I am a guy doesn't mean she can lie about something that has and will never happen. Girls don't like it when guys do it, why should a guy like it? Can we just get off the subject already, the last thing I want to talk about is Angie Furosuto." Stephen breathed out, his face growing annoyed.
Gary frowned at him and shrugged, leaning back slightly in his chair. "If that's how you want it, fine. I personally think you're taking your anger out on others. I saw Ray this afternoon on my way back from college and he looked like he'd been through a war. You give him all those bruises?" Gary replied, obviously not very keen on diverting from Stephen's apparent bad mood.
Stephen nodded slowly, rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully. "I got carried away….maybe you're right. I have been taking my anger over Mark's death pretty hard….harder than most, but I have my reasons. I didn't mean to hurt Ray, our sparring matches just got a bit out of hand, mostly for me. He's a quick healer anyway….he'll live."
"He might not let you live come tomorrow." Gary commented, smirking. "Why do you say that?" Stephen asked.
Gary shook his head then rapped his knuckles on Stephen's forehead. "Its pretty obvious why, meathead. Ray looks at Angela the way Angela looks at you. He's got a crush on her….the moment he hears about what you did today, you'll be the one with all the bruises. I've seen ray in some fights at the arcade, he can be just as much of a pain as Angela can be. Just watch yourself next time you two spar, he might have just as much hate in him as you do during that time. Just some advice from your poor old friend."
Stephen just eyed him a moment then looked thoughtfully at his books. "Sorry, man, I forget sometimes about what you said. It's just hard right now….it might take me a long time to get over this, as much as I can anyway," Stephen said softly, gathering up his books," I think we should consider this session over for now. I feel really tired all of a sudden."
Gary smiled warmly and patted Stephen's shoulder. "Sure, call your folks on the living room phone….," Gary began as Stephen got up, then suddenly gripped the white-haired student's arm," And Stephen, try and calm down a little. Some of us are trying to be helpful….don't abandon everyone over your pain or you'll wind up alone and hurting. Try to calm your anger, if not for yourself, then for me. Please, Stephen, Mark wouldn't want you to do this to yourself."
Stephen nodded with wide eyes, unsure of why Gary was being so personal. "Ok….I'll try my best, Gary. Now….I better call my parents before they leave and forget about me like last week. I was waiting on the sidewalk for two hours before I realized they weren't coming. Amazing how people forget you when they get invited to a charity auction with all the other rich people. It's infuriating, you know?"
Gary nodded and let go of his arm. Stephen gave a weak smile before turned around and walking out of the kitchen to make his call. 'At least Gary cares….at least someone cares….unlike my stubborn family. Thanks for the advice, Gary, but I need a little more time to work through this. Don't take offense to how I handle it, it's just me, it's not your fault." Stephen thought, picking up the receiver slowly and dialed home.
~ Shiba Park ~
Kitty lay in a rather sensual position in a lovely cherry tree her dark energy floating about her like evil tendrils of smoke and lightening. She was getting impatient. Xeno had said the keep of the red crystal of fire was due to be in the park, described as being a young man who came to the rose garden to sing. For as much talent as he had, the young man wouldn't show it off in public. Xeno had located in one of his sweeps of the city with his dark crystal, it had not been long before an image appeared above it, the red-haired youth with sparkling blue eyes and freckles.
He didn't look like much to Kitty when he showed her, but she's been very angry with him for holding her back when she wanted to swoop in and take the crystal away. He had told her leaping out in public would attract too much unwanted attention, and she'd need utmost privacy and space to drag the crystal out of the worthless human body and control the powers the crystal had leaked into it.
Xeno had stressed patience, something Kitty had, but waiting nearly a solid week to act upon this worthless sack of flesh was getting to her. Xeno had not reported back to her, saying when he'd left that he wanted to find every crystal before actually taking them out. "It will save us considerable time in going around frantically looking for these people randomly when we can do this in an orderly fashion, not something those wretched Galaxy Knights would expect." Xeno had said.
Kitty huffed at his superiority. He wasn't royalty he had no right to boss her around, only Specter did, and the Lord of Darkness had told her he wanted results. Kitty floated out of her tree, sick to death of waiting. She raised her sharp fingers up into the air and started a spell, only to get slapped in the back of the head.
"Xeno!! Kitty does not like to be kept in the dark. Kitty is annoyed with Knight Xeno ignoring Kitty!" she hissed, but the metallic-dressed Dark Knight just floated before her, indifferent with her ranting. "This crystal won't stop leading me back to the man with the red crystal inside him. This petty device is defective. Unless we gain his crystal, we won't find any others. I just came to give you permission to collect him yourself. But my way, your highness." Xeno said simply, the dark crystal held tightly between his fingers.
"Kitty can play with meat sacks now?" Kitty said sweetly, getting Xeno to grimace. "Yes, get to the brat with the crystal, he's by the lake right now singing. Use his powers to lure every male in Tokyo to this place…" Xeno told her.
"Kitty doesn't understand? Why lure in more male meat sacks when we only want one?" Kitty whined. Xeno sighed, tucking the dark crystal away in his pants. "You have two missions, to gather energy for the Dark Goddess and to kill the Galaxy Knights. If you lure in the males of this earthly area, Jupiter, Mars and Moon Knight will surely be among them. The crystal will definitely react to their unique auras, and when it does, you will drain them for all they are worth. The other males will be mere appetizers for our beloved Goddess. Do you understand now?" Xeno drawled out.
Kitty nodded and began to bounce around happily in mid-air, then teleported away in her usual fashion to where the singer was supposed to be. 'Finally, Kitty can play with meat sacks. Kitty can play with them to death.' She thought, laughing gleefully as she saw the man in question singing several feet below where she appeared.
~
Joseph Kanzaki sang his most serene to the only beings that didn't make him blush and sweat with fear, the animals of Shiba Park. He never could stand on a stage, as his parents wanted him to, to wow the crowds of adoring females with his voice. He got to flustered and light-headed with being stared at by so many wide and expectant eyes and would faint. His parents had been humiliated almost as much as he had with his fainting spells. His being so terribly shy ruined what his parents hoped to be a promising singing career.
The animals, the birds, the fish, the butterflies, and everything non-human of Shiba Park never made him feel that way, never expected anything from him. They didn't scream, their eyes weren't so demanding, they didn't treat him like something he had no desire to be, which was something more than he was. He just wanted to be a normal teenager with normal friends, to sing on his terms, not others.
Joe sighed, rubbing his chest gently as his song began to crescendo, making a few birds twitter furiously with him. Then he heard a high-pitched giggle, a female giggle. His singing instantly stopped and he turned bright red.
"Kitty loves your beauty-fuller voice. Yes, yes, Kitty does." The voice chirped. Joe looked around, but couldn't seem to locate it. It sounded like it was everywhere, the laugh so high and sugary it could shatter glass. It was already doing a number on his hearing.
"Who? Kitty who? Where are you?" Joe gasped, whirling around again and again to find the laughing girl. With his third turn, he felt something scratch his head, a flow of warmth dripping down his head.
'Blood? I'm bleeding….' His mind raced, his hand touching the warm flow gently, slicking his hand up with the sticky redness. He looked up towards the source of the attack, his eyes widening fearfully at the site of the pretty young lady floating in mid-air, all dressed in a fluff encrusted leotard. Blood was drizzling down one of her right fingers.
"Oooo, Kitty likes red as much as Kitty likes white. Oh sweet. Kitty is going to relieve meat sack of precious fire demon crystal, then you will become Kitty's slave. Isn't that nice?" the young woman chirped, tackling him suddenly with frightening force to the ground. He was too shocked at the fact that she was floating to even fight her off.
His last sensation was a surging pain in his stomach as the young woman rammed her dainty, yet clawed, fists through his gut.
~ Shinden Fenikkusu Doujou~
(Sacred Phoenix Dojo)
- Next Day -
Stephen huffed as ray through another fury filled attack at him, getting caught in the ear in a poor attempt to dodge. Ray was very angry today, enough to wait outside Stephen's school to punch him in the face. That hadn't annoyed Stephen, he was more annoyed to find out why from Lamont, the only person that helped pick him up. According to Lamont, after Stephen had left the dojo to go to Gary's apartment, a very tearful Angela came running into the dojo. She practically threw herself at a startled ray and told him what Stephen had done and said that day.
Stephen had been extremely ready to tell Angela off later, but he hadn't seen her since yesterday. Then his hopes went to kicking Ray's butt for attacking him and letting Angela use him to get back at Stephen. It wasn't working, not the way Stephen had hoped.
Ray was a man possessed, taking every opportunity to bash Stephen's bones and tender areas to a pulp. It wasn't exactly a fair fight, Ray had more experience in martial arts than Stephen or Lamont did, and Lamont had gotten punched and kicked each time he tried to interfere with the match. Stephen had to admire Lamont for being so gutsy, the guy was a powerhouse for the tall and lithe youth he was, a bit taller than Stephen and ray to top it off, but Ray had more skill. That was what was costing both young men a lot of pain and agony, mostly for Stephen who was on the receiving end.
"Ray, stop it! This is enough! You know Angela only whined to you to get even with Stephen. She knew you'd fly off the handle, now stop this." Stephen growled, sweeping ray off his feet and onto his rear in a desperate attempt to stop his rage. It was short lived, as Ray curled on his back a bit and flipped back up to his feet to deliver a punishing blow to Stephen's chest.
Stephen grunted in pain, falling backwards, smacking the side of his head on the wooden floor hard. He just lay there a moment, waiting for ray to take advantage of it, but all he heard was grumbling, then swearing from Lamont. Stephen looked up slightly, his eyes dully shining at Lamont holding a cursing Ray down, pressing his face down into the wooden floor.
"Stop this, you two. Stephen doesn't even love Angie, why are you two fighting like this. Ray. Where the honor in beating the crap out of your friend over a girl? Huh? She was just using you!! Stay still, Ray!" Lamont was yelling, nearly losing his hold on Ray's struggling form. Stephen got up quickly and aided his friend, the bruises and cuts on his own body healing slowly.
"He hit her, Lamont, that's where the honor is. She came to me, not you! He has to be taught some manners….all over mark, that's why the meathead is doing this. Hell, Gary calls you a meathead to be funny, but I mean it. You're dead from the neck up, you stupid, ditzy meathead! My friends died out there too, so did Lamont's, but how the hell do you know if Angie didn't see anyone she knew die? How do you know?" Ray spat, suddenly thrusting both young men off of him to tackled Stephen, holding him by his collar," You don't, meathead, but she told me she saw girls she knew since she was little die out there. But no, you only care about yourself and that Lady Glamour who you've never even been on a date with, let alone do you know who she is! No, all you cared about was yourself! You selfish bastard! She was hurt too, we all were, but only you mattered, you moron. You only cared about your damn self!"
Stephen just gaped at him, his mouth opening to say something, but nothing came out. 'Angela never said anything….how could I have known?….I didn't want to, did I? Damn you raven, why did you do this to us, why does the pain have to get worse?! Wh….' Stephen was thinking, then his thoughts started to muddle. He heard someone singing in his head, so sweet and serene that all of his thoughts left him at once. His eyes glazed, Ray's seemed to do the same. He got off him, but Stephen really didn't care or notice it much. He only wanted to reach the music he was hearing, at any cost.
Just as quickly as he'd heard it, Stephen walked out of the dojo, a dreamy look on his face, seeking out the singer as if nothing else mattered. Nothing did matter, did it? No, Stephen now knew nothing mattered but this voice, he had to reach it soon. He had to belong to it.
~ The Furosuto Condo ~
- Next Evening -
Angela was sleeping the moment she got home, she didn't bother heading for the dojo like she always did. She didn't want to see what Ray would do to her Stephen, even if she was to blame for it. Angela had seen Ray punch him when school let out, and felt a bit guilty about antagonizing ray so much with what Stephen did. He was hurting that much was true, they all were, but she wanted to get on with life so she wouldn't be driven insane with guilt. She felt guilty enough that her mother never married, no father in the house to help raise her or tell her what a good job she did with her weight training and martial arts. Her mother always had something feminist to say about it," That'll teach those bigots what we Furosuto women are made of. No man will ever touch my daughter. Ah hah hah!"
It had been a good way to live for a while, until she hit age thirteen and everything in and on her body began to change. Her period had nearly scared her to death during gym class and she was so embarrassed she ran home crying. Her mother then told her about "that time of the month" and then never repeated it again. It was as if she expected Angela to know all about this. Then she matured physically and all the boys started pawing at her, forgetting how brutal and fight crazy she'd been as a pre-pubescent girl, their hormones on the rampage for a date with her, but her mother's words ran thick inside her mind. She wasn't going to let any man have her, never. It wasn't as easy as it sounded after a year or two after she turned thirteen.
Boys were interesting, but the majority only wanted to paw at her and use her for sex, something she couldn't tolerate. However, she had sincerely wanted a boyfriend, even if her mother wanted her never to depend on men for anything and live her life as she did. Angela had not pleased her when she'd made her ultimatum to the entire student body that only the man that could defeat her in a fight could date her. The thought of her daughter taking a beating at a man's hand highly incensed Ms. Furosuto, though Angela kept winning the date fights. Her mother was pleased for a while.
Then along came the most unlikely suitor, Stephen Sho Tsukikage, the school ditz and dreamer, one who had never shown any skill in fighting or notice of any of the weak girls adoring him. Angela thought he was gorgeous, but too much of a weak airhead for her tastes, until he defeated her, not even trying for a date.
She'd found it romantic, in her own way, that he tried not to beat her bloody to win the fight and always went for the alternative of stunning her. He wasn't such an airhead after that and finding out he was some kind of super knight just iced her cake all the thicker. She fell madly in love with him, his skills, his looks, his voice, everything. He was so perfect.
Now he hated her, and had apparently never loved her the way she loved him all this time. Still, she wasn't going to give up. Deep down, she knew she had to have him, not just for his skills, but for him. He had a great body, she'd watched him sleep that one day he wouldn't answer her calls, one of many days. He was so solid and sleek, with a sexy slender build that looked terribly smooth and delicious. Watching Stephen train with the other boys was even better, him breaking a sweat, every single movement of his body, he was like a god to her, and he felt nothing for her but anger. She didn't understand, what was so wrong with her?
Ring! Ring!
She looked up from her bed to her phone, staring at it a while. Maybe it was Ray to tell her what he did to Stephen at practice yesterday, and she almost cringed at the thought. No one had called her at all since the last time she saw Ray. They were all fast healers, even for teenage dynamos saving the world, but still, it took time.
'Do I want to see my love ripped apart like that….over a slap? Snowflake is hurting…I didn't know Mark was that close to him….It's not my fault none of my friends weren't killed….I….don't have any but you guys.' She thought painfully. She had to face it sooner or later, so she grabbed up the phone and spoke. "Hello? Ray?"
A cough came, not Ray's voice at all. "No, it's Gary. Angela….I hope you're not doing anything today, but…."
'Gary? Is he asking me out? Oh, he's a hottie too….but he's so mysterious all the time. I can't even find out where he lives. Stephen wouldn't even share that hot stud's phone number….' She thought with starry eyes, then Gary's soft and nasally voice brought her out of her daydream.
"Angela? You there? I asked if you'd heard from Stephen today." He asked, breaking her dreams apart. "Damn, I mean….um, no, I haven't seen him since school yesterday."
"How about Ray or Lamont? Any of them seen him….I know bet you saw Ray yesterday, after what Stephen told me he did to you. Not like you didn't deserve it for being insensitive to him. He's still in mourning, you could have offered some condolences instead of drooling on him." He sassed, sounding a bit angry.
"Well, that's none of your business, but I haven't seen or heard from any one of them since yesterday. Ray was supposed to call me up last night about….some stuff, but he never did. Why?" she said, rather annoyed Gary was lecturing her.
"God, now I'm real worried. Stephen never showed up for his session today. I called his house and they told me he never came home last night from the dojo. I'm at the dojo right now and it seems Ray is gone too. His grandparents think they might have gone to a bar to get drunk, drown their sorrows, but I don't think so. Most of the guys in my classes were missing today too. I think something creepy is going on." Gary said, each word making Angela's heart sink.
"The guys are missing? I haven't kidnapped them, if that's what you are implying." She said defensively.
"No! I am not implying that, but I think I know where they are. I saw some guys wandering around Shiba Park on my way to the dojo, they looked really out of it, like zombies. I think the guys might be in there….oh, what's that sound?"
"Gary, hey Gary, what's wrong?" she asked, clutching onto the phone for dear life. Then her blood froze, a haunting melody reaching her ears. The phone on the other end clunked, then she heard nothing. "Gary? GARY!? Shit!" she swore, then hung the phone up.
"He said Shiba Park…I can get there if I run….Lady Mercury is going to teach those man stealers a lesson.!" She proclaimed and ran out of her room swiftly.
~ Shiba Park ~
Lady mercury arrived at the park in about a half-hour, as trying to find an alley to transform in privately was difficult with such busy streets. Near as she could recall, Shiba Park was off limits to the public until some kind of toxic spill was cleaned up, signs posted everywhere to ward people off, but it was probably another shoddy Dark Universe ploy.
She got in without anyone noticing her, as flashy as she felt her costume was, but she managed. She moved through the lush cherry trees like a spider monkey, swift, yet silent, her eyes searching frantically for any sign of life. She found it sooner than she thought.
Lady Mercury stopped in on tree as she saw a young man walk by, a familiar one. 'Ray? What's wrong with him?' she wondered. Ray had a very blank look on his face, more or less his pupils were whited out. Just like Gary had described, like zombies. She took to the ground and followed Ray to a larger group of males, one that nearly filled the entire picnic area of the park. They were squished together tighter than sardines in a can, and ray effortlessly went back with them, not even showing his discomfort or even pain at shoving himself between Lamont and another boy.
As her eyes trailed, her heart leapt into her throat, seeing Stephen's familiar and beautiful face at last. His eyes were white too and he stood there listlessly, pinned between two brunette boys.
"Oh, Kitty is in heaven!! Kitty loves lots of meat sacks to play with. Kitty is going to play a lot with you." an overly sugared-up voice chirped above, and lady mercury barely had enough time to duck when she saw the fashion disaster in white float down in front of the mass of boys. It was like looking an adult form of a bleached Casey, showing off way too much and looking like a cutely shaved cat with a human head.
'Tasteless….' She thought sourly as the sugary female bounced happily from male to male, shoving a little round crystal in their faces. It was dark and had an 'X' of red slashed into it. Whatever it meant was alien to Lady Mercury, but Kitty started to speak again and made her senses go crazy.
"No, you're not Moon Knight, but Kitty will play with you when Xeno Knight's crystal counterpart glow, glow, glow! Oh yes, then we feast on his power and then his guts. Yes, it'll be raining red, Kitty likes that, yes she does." Kitty chirped madly, going to the next youth, Stephen only a few boys away from where Kitty stood.
'NO! She'll discover his identity if I don't stop her….I have to save him and get that crystal away from that….cat bitch on Pixie Stix.' She thought hard and stood up. In a second, the plan was in her head, rush the little sugar bitch and cut off her hand and get that crystal away from her, then they could all go home. 'And Stephen and I can talk…I don't want him mad at me. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings….but he meant to do it to mine….we have to talk!' she thought and charged.
She nearly reached Kitty when a white-hot pain slammed into her side, sending her rolling across the grass and into a tree trunk. As she steadied herself, she saw a massive and muscular looking monster with flames for hair. Most of his body was on fire, his clothing, everything was amber-red and flaming, all but the eyes, which were as blank and heartless as the zombie boys, only these were slanted with hate.
"Mistress Kittiana, the Knight of Mercury is here." It said, sounding like its voice was made of shattering glass. Kittiana looked back at them with genuine child-like curiosity, then grinned like a greedy child, stuffing the crystal down, what Angela supposed was, her tight and tacky shirt.
"Oh, oh, oh, Kitty gets to play with a girl knight! Girl knights have more parts to rip off….yes, yes. Oh, you know what? You know what? Let's play a game, it's called "I'm going to pretend you Big Sister Raven and Kill You!' Doesn't that sound ever so wonderful? Kitty thinks you'll scream, scream for Kitty, please! Pretty please?" Kitty said, bouncing up and down.
Lady Mercury stood up weakly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. One of her ribs was broken from that thing's attack and she could feel a warm, yet slow, trickle of blood on her stomach. "Fine then, let's play, you walking fashion disaster! Hyah!" Mercury challenged, but Kitty just laughed, enough sugar in it to make her ears bleed.
"Oh, just die! Kitty wants you to die like Big Sister Raven! Splatter time!! Hee, hee, hee." Kitty giggled and lifted her hands up, claws bared.
Kitty charged her and took a few swiped, and got her nails nicked off. To Mercury's surprise, Kitty fell on her rump and wailed. "WAAAAAHHHH!! Infernos, burn that mean knight lady to a crisp, she broke my nails. WAAAHH!!" Kitty wailed.
Mercury was too dumbfounded by the evil brat's reaction to notice the monster was moving towards her. She barely had time to slice through another fireball attack and jump out of the way of his flaming fist. She landed behind Infernos as his massive flaming hand connected with the ground, melting through it for about a minute. Then his hand came out and backhanded her into another tree.
'I can't use my powers, not with all these people around….and my….my friends. I have to trust the sword….good always wins over evil, just think that. Good always wins over evil.' She thought, slashing the thing away with a few good strikes. No sooner had she stopped, it grabbed her by the front of her armor and threw her into the boys, right into Ray's chest. He just fell over, then didn't get up, staring blankly into the sky.
"Screw that, evil hurts like hell. Good's going to be tomato paste if someone doesn't help me!" she yelled, trying not to look at her friends, in fear she'd give them away.
Kitty was still wailing, so she doubted she saw anything, but Infernos was charging again, right for all of them. 'I can't protect them all….shit!' she thought, throwing herself over Ray to shield his trance-ridden body from the blow.
"ARGGGGHHH!!" the thing screamed, a slice of steel ringing in her ears, then a pair of hands yanked her off the ground.
"Do you always go in half-assed when you save the world, Lady Mercury?" a smooth and soft voice said.
Mercury's brow furrowed beneath her armored mask. 'Glamour, that upstaging bitch? Bring someone else in to help me, anyone but her!' she thought, and pulled violently out of Glamour's hold.
Glamour was frowning at her, not to normal haughty smile she had grown to loath the first time she saw Glamour. "Who asked your opinion of my methods? Go save a kitten from a tree or something, you'd be more suited to that sort of thing. Leave saving the universe to the experts." Mercury shot back, but Glamour merely frowned deeper.
~
Infernos' roaring stopped whatever she was going to say, the woman in black whirling about with a slash of her blade. "Crystal Cutter!" she shouted, the shards of energy crystals shooting into the monster's chest, sending him flying.
"We can't destroy him, he's a human being trapped inside his past form." Glamour stated,, holding her ground, sword held out for any new attacks.
"Past form? Where the hell do you get your info, lady?!" Mercury asked heatedly.
"I have dreams….a man telling me to find the Spectrum Crystals and they will lead me to the Soul Crystal that can banish Lord Specter from the Light Universe forever. There are seven crystals and that monster we were fighting has one of them inside him….or rather had it. If this bitch got to him for this long, she has the crystal of fire. I have to get those crystals, no matter what!" Glamour stated.
Mercury was ready to ask more, but the trees started to form a line of flames, Infernos charging out of the forest at full speed. "Oh shit! ICICLE DAGGERS!!" Mercury shouted, the ice shards racing towards Infernos' heated form. Only two made it to his body, stabbing into his red skin, while the others melted dead away.
Infernos stopped short, slapping at the ice daggers protruding from his chest. He pulled one out and threw it at Mercury, and her blade deflected it, but the second was yanked and tossed at Glamour, who stepped back to deflect it better.
Glamour tripped over her own feet in the action, and then stepped on Mercury's foot. The action itself made Mercury yell in her ear and yank her foot away, knocking Glamour even more off balance and she fell backwards, right into one of the young men.
"L-Lady Glamour?" the boy said, and she dared to look up into those haunting icy blue eyes. He looked at her as if in a daze, his eyes not cold at all, but soft. She felt a pinch in her mind, that face, his eyes, that downy, shock white hair like purest snow. He was familiar to her, but who he was just wasn't coming to her, but he knew who she was. 'Probably saw me on TV….but why do I feel as if I know him from somewhere?' she thought, then felt him grip her hand, leaning towards her face, like he was going to kiss her. He didn't get to, a soft glow of white light surrounding them.
~
Kitty stopped crying when she felt the crystal against her small breasts thumping like a heartbeat. She pulled it out and saw it was glowing a gentle purple. 'Does this mean….the Earth Princess is near?' she wondered, then noticed the light of the crystal wasn't alone, there was white light emanating from the group. She tried to look past it, but couldn't it was too bright.
Then the crystal in her hand silenced, the white light going with it too, only leaving a stunned Mercury and that bitch Glamour standing by the group of awakening boys in her startled sights. Infernos was staring numbly at the group, not moving, his flames dying down.
Then a figure walked through the group, all clad in white and silver armor, looking dead at Infernos weakened form. "I've mourned the dead too much. It's time to live." Moon Knight said in a soft voice, making Kitty's innards sick. 'Lousy goodie, goodie, bastard! Now how am I supposed to know who he is if he transformed so darn far away. Phooey.' She thought, and teleported away as Moon Knight raised his sword above his head by Infernos.
~
Moon Knight looked down, very sorry he let his own anguish nearly cost this young man his soul, and eventually what would have spelled his life's end. In fact, if he'd just tried to get on with life, if not for his own sake, but for those that died and survived, he might have seen this coming, he might have spared some families a lot of worry, but that chance was gone. At least he was awake now and could mend the wounds his sorrow had allowed to form.
'Cyrus, you were right. I really am an idiot sometimes….I hope they can forgive me for what I've done.' He thought, looking with a sad smile at the quivering beast. "Time to go home…. Celestial Healing Light….Wake up." He said gently, the pale light tendrils of his sword surrounding the monster, embracing him with their power.
As the light faded, Moon Knight saw a rather shaky, red-haired young man with sparkling blue eyes and freckles. He looked serene a moment later and sang. Moon Knight was a bit puzzled, but the song was quite nice, one that sounded like a love song, just like on TV, but better. It made Moon Knight's heart swell as the young man sang for him, probably not even knowing they were there.
When the melody ended, the youth opened his eyes and gasped. He blushed a bit, but Moon Knight smiled at him, bowing his head. "You've got a lot of talent. How come I've never seen you perform?" Moon Knight asked, ignoring a grumble from Mercury.
"I….you're the Moon Knight. The super hero….why are you….in the park with me?" he asked, still a little nervous.
"You were made to do bad things for our enemy, but….I helped you fight back. You can go home now….as long as you promise me something." Moon Knight said.
"Sure, anything for the guy that saved me." he said, his voice gaining strength. "Sing to people, show them your talent here….in the park. You just sang to a lot of people recently….I don't think you should hide your gift from people. You're denying the world….that beauty. Please….promise me that." Moon Knight said gently. He thought the youth would deny him that and run off, but the young man nodded, not a bit of hesitation in his body.
"Good, now go back to your family. We all have a lot of….healing to do." Moon Knight replied, and walked away, past Mercury, Lamont, and Ray. He stopped moment, looking at the spot he and Glamour had been in a few minutes ago. She wasn't there anymore, but he knew what she said. He knew what was happening to him the moment she arrived time, he was simply powerless to act to act before. "Who are you, Lady Glamour? Where are you?" he wondered aloud, then continued to walk out of the park, his friends following slowly at his heels.
~ Next Day ~
Stephen and Ray stood side by side, Angela on Ray's side and Lamont next to her, all watching that red-headed boy from yesterday standing on a wooden box with a microphone. Street performers came into the park to play for pay, but the nervous singer had explained this was a free concert, for the Galaxy Knights that saved his and many the boys' lives the night before. Many of the boys who had been lured to the park by Infernos and that weirdo Dark Universe princess Kitty were here today, probably for the same reason as the singer, to be sure everything was all right.
'Spectrum Crystals….why are you so hell bent on getting them, Lady Glamour? It can't just be for Specter's death, there has to be more too it. What is so special about them?' he thought faintly, biting his lip at what he'd been told on the way home.
Stephen didn't care his parents didn't believe he'd been kidnapped and grounded him for a week. He was just glad to be home and intact, and able to consider their next move for these crystals He'd called Gary up from school to come to the park after school, that there would be quite a show. Gary wasn't there yet, and the boy, Joseph, was about to start singing.
'Knowing Gary, he's watching from afar. He seems to do that best,' Stephen thought, still kicking himself for being as total ass to everyone," At least he's forgiven me. Lamont has too….but Ray might take longer. Maybe I'll try and set him up with Angie, he seems to like her more than I ever will….Angie….I was pretty lousy to her but….I can't ask to be forgiven, not now. I'll give it some time. I just need a little time.'
"Thank you all for coming. I wrote this song last night in a bit of a hurry, but after what the Moon Knight did for us….and that woman with him, Lady Glamour. He seemed to obviously be so….into her….it was like watching a fairytale romance when he looked for her. But the song is about that lady in blue, Lady Mercury, she looked very jealous of them….and I'm sorry such a beautiful woman like her has to feel that way. I'd gladly go out with her. So this is for her, my 'Soldier of Love.' For Lady Mercury, wherever you are."
"Rotten brat, how dare he call me jealous? I helped save his sorry ass too, dammit, of!" Angie growled softly, then yelped, Lamont elbowing her. "Oh jeez, Angie, stop it, he's got the hots for you. Kissy, kissy! Ow! Hey!" Lamont tried, but she started to hit him and he reacted by protecting himself as Joseph began to sing, all movement stopping at once.
Into the sky my hair bursts afire.
My body is just like a flame.
Oh no, why is it turning out like this?
Now I'm really burning up inside.
While I am in love, and feeling heartache,
Even though I want to have sweet dreams,
They will not allow it, this is their fault….
As I thought, it is I who must do this,
By my own hand I will crush evil into defeat!
That's right, until then, I must persevere!
Awaken now, soldier of blue!
No matter how bad a person you are
If I love you, I will believe in you
Trying to take advantage of that,
Is something that you must not do….
I always want to protect you,
For you I will go leaping forward,
Only love is unlimited energy!
Come on, it is we who must do this….
We will show them the pure hearts that girls have!
Whatever we do, in everything, we must persevere!
Vowing in our hearts, soldiers of love!!
Come on, it is we who must do this….
By our own hands we will crush evil into defeat!
That's right, until then, we must persevere!
Awaken now, soldiers of love!!!!
The park erupted with deafening clapping and cheers, encores galore ringing out from the crowd of people before him. Joseph blushed and took a bow, looking happier than he'd ever looked in a long time.
"That was….beautiful…." Angie said softly, and Stephen felt relieved she wasn't on him about it. He didn't think the guy would fall for Angie like he did, well, Lady Mercury to be specific, but it turned out well.
"Why can't you sing to me like that, Stephen-sama?" she asked sweetly, looking around a flustered Ray. Stephen looked away, putting his back to her. "Oh Angie, get your hands off Ray-san's belt. You're making him turn red." Lamont teased.
Angie's face went several shades of red before she tried to pounce on Lamont, who ran off laughing. "Oh come on now, are you going to throw yourself at all of us from now on, Angie? Or your singing boyfriend up there?" Lamont teased, Angie chasing him around a tree.
"Nothing lasts forever, does it?" Stephen sighed, more to himself than Ray, who grumbled at him. "I'm sorry for what I did to her, ray, I wasn't myself. I never should have hit her. I was too engrossed in self-pity and guilt to see I was angrier at myself than anyone else. I'm sorry, I know how you feel about her, as much as it makes me cringe, but….I should never have hit her." Stephen added gently, bracing himself for a beating.
Ray was looking at him oddly, then looked back at Angie as she nearly got Lamont by his collar. "It….thanks for the apology, but you should apologize to her too. She really loves you." Ray said, a bit sad.
"But I don't love her that way….you do. Personally, I don't think she's the one for either of us. The one that gets her….will either be very stupid or very patient. Sorry, but Angie has her quirks, only hers are more prominent than ours are. She's just not my type….but being her friend might not be so terrible. Can we just leave it at that, Ray?" Stephen asked, extending his hand. Ray looked at it, then smiled, reaching out and shaking Stephen's hand warmly.
As they did so, Gary stood within the first, leaning against a tree as he watched the concert and display from afar. He smiled.
Note: Described in this chapter was how some actual Japanese funerals are, not all, it varies. This is Buddhist style if anyone is wondering. With the current rate of exchange, I've found that $188.67 ($188.667) in American currency is 20,000 in Japanese yen, what guests at a funeral pay the family of the deceased in respect. I researched it, so no saying this is all lies. Cemetery Tokyo is also a real cemetery in Tokyo, for those that think its not.
** Inabikari means flash of lightning.
** = Daiichi-Keihin Ave is the street on which Gary lives, near Shiba Park, which Tokyo Tower overlooks.
bokken* = Japanese for 'wooden swords.'