It was a highly sombre group of people that had gathered at the Hikawa Jinja. The all knew what was weighing so heavily on their minds, but as of yet no one had broached the subject that drew them all together. A tacit wordless agreement held them silent, waiting for the cats that would be arriving soon. Makoto massaged her throat, though Hotaru had used her rather limited healing ability to repair the damage, Makoto could still feel Mori's hand wrapped around it. Makoto looked on the group with concern, they hadn't taken a beating this bad since they first fought the Death Busters, Galaxia's attacks though more effective held little of the psychological impact of this new enemy. It was only a few minutes of group dread later that the cats arrived.

Luna and Artemis leapt through the open window into Rei's bedroom anxious to begin the Senshi meeting. The discouraged expressions on the faces of most of their charges only reinforced their need to know all of what had happened. Taking the lead on the meeting Luna began the interrogation.

"What happened," she asked. It wasn't much of a question but it opened the floodgates. Everyone started their explanations at different points of the story, all at once. The overlapping voices made any intelligent comprehension of the events impossible. "One at a time!" the cat shrieked in frustration. With a nod from her princess Luna started again, this time specifying to who she asked her questions. "Ami, you start. What happened?" Ami gave a brief timeline of what happened leaving much of the detail out for expediency sake. "Well," said Luna, "that was brief yet concise, very good Ami. Mamoru you seem to have had first contact with him, what can you tell us."

"My rose was able to hurt him," Mamoru stated thoughtfully, "and he hits like getting hit by a car only less nice." There was a noticeable shudder as Mamoru recalled Mori's backhand. "Oh he told us his name, if that's any help.

"Really," replied an immediately interested Luna, "do tell"

"He called himself Mordaki, and then some titles, sorry but my memory is a bit unclear after that," Mamoru quipped.

"Primarch of Form and Nature, Second born of the Ulterran," Usagi supplied. "He sounded like he thought we should know who he was."

"Primarch?, Ulterran?, those words sound vaguely familiar. Artemis, we must look all this up at central when the meeting ends," Luna replied thoughtfully. "Rei, Makoto you were next to encounter him, what happened."

Rei looked somewhat embarrassed as she began to speak. "Well, I noticed that my Flame Sniper hadn't done him any harm, so I tried to use a ward on him."

"Oh very good Rei," Luna replied happily. "Excellent thinking like that has always made you an asset."

"It didn't work," the Miko added flatly. "Not only didn't it work, he laughed at me and put me to sleep with a spell." Rei was nearly in tears of humiliation, she had spent long years training to be a Miko, and all her mental defences had meant nothing. It hadn't even appeared to strain him to overcome her will and put her to sleep.

"I showed up right as he got finished with Rei," Makoto took over. "I went hand to hand with him for the same reasons that Rei tried a ward. He can be hit, he can be stunned, but I don't think I ever hurt him. Oh and I'd like to second Mamoru on how strong this guy is. Hotaru's healing is the only reason I'm not drowning in my own blood."

"Usagi and I were able to hurt him with our attacks," Mina supplied next. "It seems kinetic based magic can hurt him, but not by much. He was kinda cut up when he pulled me into his shield, and."

"Wait," Luna asked, "when did that happen?"

"Umm, Right after he summoned the Elemental," Mina responded.

"I don't remember that," Ami commented as she began replaying the fight from the recorded information on her computer.

"Nor do I," replied Setsuna, staring at Minako.

"Well it was right before Haruka showed up, and anyway he has a bunch of little cuts on him from my Love and Beauty Shock, and a big bruise on his chest from Usagi," she added grinning at her princess.

"Back to you being pulled into the shield, what happened," Luna asked again.

"I. I don't remember," Mina whispered a tremor of fear in her voice.

Ami changed back into Sailor Mercury and began to scan Mina for any changes. The Senshi had run into possession and brainwashing a few times too many for them to trust it when enemies started giving them 'missing time'. Her scan quickly completed, she shook her head negatively, as far as she could tell Mina was ok.

Once Mina had been cleared and Ami had returned to normal Setsuna began her portion of the tale "Mordaki.," She spoke as if testing the name, "was in the process of strangling Makoto to death when I blindsided him with a Dead Scream. He dropped her and began a chant in a language that sounded vaguely familiar to me, though I can not recall ever hearing it before. He said some things that sounded like names. His chant repeated the word Maluu, and said in order Dallak, Enkil, Dahak, Rhendar, Chuthulu." Setsuna commented.

Her voice took on a lecturing tone as she continued. "Interestingly enough Enkil is a Sumerian earth deity, also somewhat connected to the underworld. His symbol was a serpent, and like many gods of old supposedly underwent a dismemberment and was put back together by his lover. His myth reads much like the Osiris legend. Dahak is the name of a Sumerian dark god of the underworld, he was the Sumerian equivalent of the Chinese deity Ma Yuan. His symbol was the dragon. Even the other gods feared him. Chuthulu is also Sumerian, he was the lord of corruption and decay, his was always a small sect of the Sumerian population, his worship was more to avoid his wrath than to gain his favour. Yet again he was often seen as a god of the underworld. That given the rest of his fellows forms a pattern. Three Sumerian gods of the underworld in one chant of five names, that narrows the probable search field on learning the meaning behind the other two." Pluto looked around at the astounded faces of her fellow Senshi and smiled, a real honest smile, much to the shock of everyone. "Just because I currently have no access to the Time Gates do not mean I have forgotten what I already personally know."

Her attention once again returned to her recitation of the battle. "Once his chant was completed a barrier of incredible power surrounded him. He then summoned a truly impressive Earth Elemental. It was approximately ten meters tall and denser than most. My attacks had predictably little effect on it, Haruka and Hotaru easily dispatched it after I was wounded." Her report finished Setsuna took a sip from a cup of coffee no one remembered her ever fixing.

"I showed up and saw a monster made of rock trying to kill Setsuna," Haruka began, "It seemed to be hurt badly by my World Shaking. Two of them just about cut it in half before it got Setsuna. Then Hotaru took it out with the Silence Glaive."

"." was all Hotaru added, though her attack had been the one to defeat the monster she had little or nothing to add to the conversation about their enemy.

"Ami and I rushed back after healing poor Mamo-chan from what that nasty Mordaki did to him and saw Setsuna hurt bad, I tried to heal her with the crystal, I really did," she said tears once again springing from her eyes, "but she was hurt too bad for the Moon Healing. I don't know why she got better but I'm really happy she did."

"The cat did it," Setsuna stated blithely. "There was a large black cat present when you were trying to heal me, it was responsible for my improvement."

"What do you mean by that Pluto," Artemis interrupted for the first time.

"I mean, that a large, ocelot sized, domestic cat appearing creature somehow healed me. Using a power so similar to that of the Silver Imperium Crystal that I expected to see the Princess when I awoke."

Silence filled the room at Setsuna's announcement. This was the second time the enemy or its cohorts had done something that reminded them of one of their crystals. Mordaki's power was nearly identical to the Golden Crystal that Elios guarded, and now the cat seemed to have a power like the Princess's. Things were getting more and more unnerving the more they learned of this mysterious enemy.

The Senshi rehashed their battles with the Mordaki again, seeking to draw every scrap of information they could from it. Hours passed and dinnertime approached, Usagi, and Mina checked in with their parents to let them know that their 'study session' was going on later than usual from the extra homework accumulated by the week off school. As Makoto, Rei and Michiru prepared dinner for the Senshi, Ami's computer again gave a beep, signalling that its analysis of the information gathered in the battle was complete. Ami quickly scanned the data, and confirmed what they had already feared to be true.

"Minna, we have a serious problem. It seems that almost none of us can harm Mordaki. He appears to be totally immune to elemental and plant based magic. Physical attacks could hurt him, as long as they were magically based," Ami completed dejectedly. "What I mean is this, Though Makoto could stun him for a second with her kicks, they really didn't hurt him. Only non-elemental based magic can do that. Usagi, Minako, Hotaru, Setsuna and Mamoru are the only Senshi that can affect him." For once it appeared that Mamoru made no objection to being called a Senshi. "Michiru might, and I stress might, be able to hurt him by reflecting something back with the Mirror, but I'm not sure that she would survive reflecting that kind of magical power back. I'm also unsure whether or not magical weapons can hurt him, but I doubt that anyone other than Haruka would survive testing that possibility, no offence intended to anyone else. "

Luna and Artemis left as soon as dinner was completed heading back to central to continue their research. The cats had never before so missed the know-it-all looks and non-responses of the enigmatic Setsuna, whether or not the enemy had intended it, blocking Pluto's access to the Time Gates, seriously undermined their information gathering ability.

In order to be honest to their parents the girls did take an hour to study and complete their homework before heading home. Setsuna may have been impossible to pry foreknowledge of the future from, but having live for ten thousand years at the time gates, she made an excellent history and sociology tutor.

The next day at school began far less happily than yesterday. Usagi and Minako both were late, not even the efforts of their cats had been enough to overcome the exhaustion the felt from their battle with Mori. Mina had found trouble sleeping, nightmares had kept her awake most of the night. Without the cheeriness provided by the usually happy girls, their friends also found overcoming the depression from yesterday's defeat. Their mood seemed to affect others as well. Toujin seemed to be in a surly mood all day, and even Konjou didn't seem quite as playful.

Rei's temper had been on a slow boil even since she had awoken from her magically induced nap the afternoon before. She didn't take well to humiliation, and failure on top of it was enough to have her looking for an excuse to vent. She found it in Toujin.

Toujin had been having a bad day, no It hadn't been as bad as yesterday, but considering the day wasn't quite half over there was still ample time for it to degenerate that far. He was obviously in a pessimistic mood as well. His premonition about his day getting worse was proved right however. It started so simple when the school broke for lunch the hallways were full of students rushing to their favourite places to enjoy their meal. As he waited in line at a water fountain the crush of students caused someone to bump into him knocking his books from his hands. As he bent to retrieve them, again someone in the crowd collided with him, this had the unfortunate side effect of sending him to the floor. Yet Murphy's Law had still not finished with him, as he looked up from where he lay Toujin noticed a very nice pair of legs, one on each side of his head.

Toujin was male, and breathing, his natural reaction to finding himself underneath and between a very nice pair of female legs was to follow them to their conclusion. Needless to say his sight was rewarded.

With a scream of feminine outrage Rei lashed out with her foot at the Hentai looking up her skirt. Her foot missed as he quickly rolled to his feet, a look of anger on his face.

"What in the hell did you do that for?" he yelled dodging her next attempt to hit him, this time with her bag.

"You were looking up my skirt hentai," she screamed at him as she continued her furious attempts to brain him.

"There wasn't much to see!" he yelled tauntingly as he danced out of reach of her swings. "I mean come on, I'd have expected a girl like you to wear something a little sexier than Minki-Momo underwear, what are you twelve?" He looked at her chest leeringly as he just managed to keep out of the way of her attacks. A space had cleared around the combatants amused looks passed between the boys as they imagined the aloof Rei wearing something so. Juvenile. As Toujin tore his gaze away from Rei's chest his face drew into an obviously false look of contemplation. "Nahh, I take that back, you chest is small but not that small. You must just have a manga fetish." Needless to say that was about the worst thing he could have possibly said. With a scream of rage Rei charged directly at him. Toujin took off running for the doors to the courtyard not more than a step ahead of her, smiling the entire time.

Mina sat down under their usual tree with her friends and Konjou. She wondered where Rei, and somewhat more importantly to her dating prospects, Toujin were. She watched the door anxiously for his arrival not wanting to start he lunch without him. It was quite surprising to her to see him sprint out the door laughing of all things, he had been quite sombre looking all day. A half step behind him a furious Rei ran swinging her bag at him screaming. It was so reminiscent of her actions towards Yuuchiro that Mina became immediately jealous. The two combatants were heading their way however and Mina had a plan to stop this little display. Just as Toujin began to pass her position she dived out from behind the tree intent on knocking him to the ground. The fun would be that it would serve two purposes, first it would stop Rei from chasing Mina's new crush, and second it would allow her to continue the game Toujin had started yesterday. Sure getting tackled would probably hurt him a little at the speed he was going, but all that would mean is she would have the chance to help make him feel better afterwards. As she came to the decision to act upon the thought, Mina collapsed to the ground in indescribable agony.

Toujin was having a blast now, his earlier anger at yesterdays problems had completely faded from his mind. Sure Rei wanted to pound him into something that resembled a wet prune, but as long as she didn't catch him until she was worn out he would be fine. Smiling he increased the pace a little more and began to pull just slightly away from her in their race. Mina's scream of pain brought him to an instant halt as he tried to find her. Rei crashed into him a half second later and they went down in a pile of arms and legs.

Usagi was at Mina's side instantly upon her scream and collapse, she didn't know what was wrong with her friend but whatever it was obviously needed help badly. Mina was retching and crying in agony, her entire body felt as if it were being pulled apart, her back bowed and arms and legs spasmed in her convulsions. Konjou knelt next to Ami who had arrived almost as quickly as Usagi and attempted to make sure Mina didn't injure herself in her seizures.

Toujin pulled himself out of the compromising position he found himself in with Rei, he didn't have time to appreciate just where his head had ended up after the collision. After he stood and absently helped Rei to her feet he ran to Mina and attempted to discern just what was wrong. Toujin took one look at the twitching and crying blonde and paled, there were few things that could cause an attack like this, and all of them were bad.

"Does she have her medicine on her?" Toujin asked as he and Konjou forcibly held her in place to prevent her from further injuring herself.

"She's not epileptic," Ami stated firmly. She desperately needed to scan her with the Mercury Computer to determine what was wrong with her, but with the boys here she couldn't do so without compromising their identities.

An inscrutable look passed between the boys as Ami wallowed in the anguish of being unable to assist one of her greatest friends. Toujin let go of her leg with his arm, as Konjou took over the monumental effort of holding both of them down. With his then free hand Toujin began to gently caress her forehead and whisper to her in a voice easily drowned out by Mina's pained wails. After a few moments Mina's thrashing subsided, and her crying took on a less urgent tone. Mina desperately drug Toujin into a hug and began to soak his shirt with tears. Usagi rubbed Mina's back and spoke words of comforting as Toujin enfolded Mina in his arms. Makoto watched Toujin with a mixture of caution and deep respect for the compassion he showed her friend, whom he had known for just over a day.

Rei on the other hand was not impressed. Though she knew in her heart that he was innocent of what had started the chase the had shared, and she was sure he didn't mean the taunts he'd thrown at her, he'd even been smiling during the time she was trying to kill him, she just couldn't let go of her anger. "Put her down you pervert, she doesn't need you pawing her while she can't defend herself. Even as she said it she knew it was a mistake, but she just couldn't seem to stop the words from coming out. Mina turned a tear filled gaze on her, and the look she received made he feel less than an inch tall. Usagi glared at her, her eyes almost blazing in outrage at what Rei had said. Ami just looked shocked, mortified that Rei would say something like that when anyone could see how Mina clung to him for comfort. Makoto ignored her and began to take up where Usagi had left off rubbing Mina's back.

It was Konjou that broke the tension with the obvious observation. "Um minna? We really should take Mina here to the Nurse's station. You just know they're gonna need to hear about this." With a nod of agreement the group stood and left for the building, Toujin still carrying Mina as he held her close, Usagi and Makoto stepping in to cut Rei off as she tried to walk behind the couple.

When they arrived at the Nurse's station the woman on staff took one look at the tear stained face of Mina and immediately ushered Toujin over to the bed where she had him try to lay her down. Mina steadfastly refused to let go of him though and they ended up sitting on it with her head firmly pressed into his shoulder. The nurse tried to chase the girls out of the room so she could examine Mina, but ran into a brick wall in the unyielding determination of Usagi. Konjou was chased from the room despite his protests and Makoto held her hands over Toujin's eyes when the nurse had Mina life her shirt to check her lung sounds. Mina giggled at the comically pained protests he gave at missing the show, and everyone knew she was one the road to recovery. When the nurse finally excused them to head back to class, after finding nothing wrong, Toujin rejoined his friend and the girls detoured to the bathroom for a private talk.

"Are you ok now Mina," Usagi asked as she gave her friend a hug.

"I think so," Mina replied, "but I'm still a little sore."

"Mina, I want to scan you with my computer. We don't know what caused this episode yet, and I suspect it was induced magically," Ami stated calmly.

"Ok," Mina agreed as she sat on the long counter holding the sinks.

Makoto and Rei took up positions guarding the door while Usagi worriedly shifted from foot to foot as Ami carefully scanned Mina for any residual traces of magic. Rei refused to meet Makoto's gaze while they made sure no one entered.

"So, Rei," Makoto began neutrally, "you want to explain to us why you were trying to kill Toujin?"

"And why you were so mean to him when he was being so sweet and helping poor Mina-chan?" Usagi interjected cuttingly.

"It's hard to explain," Rei began. "I mean it was an accident at first, I know that now, but at the time I was just so mad that when he fell down and was looking up my skirt."

"He was looking up your skirt!" Mina yelled indignantly.

"Like I said it was an accident." Rei hurriedly reiterated. "Someone knocked him down or something in the line at the drinking fountain outside the classroom, and he just kind of fell in between my legs," she finished in embarrassment. "That would have been bad enough, but then we got into an argument and he said some pretty rude things. After that, things just got out of hand," she said somewhat defensively.

"Well," Mina began, "I think you both need to apologise to each other. You know the old saying, 'Never go to bed with him angry'," she finished.

Ami froze as the unintentional sexual connotations of Mina's statement rolled over her. Usagi began to giggle, Makoto seemed quite interested in her toes and Rei looked to be having an apoplexy.

"Come on Rei," Mina pleaded. "You know you want to. Trust me he's not that bad, and I can guarantee you'll feel better afterward, I know I always do. It just seems to clear the air and make all that tension go away," she finished sweetly.

The girls were staring at Mina as if she had grown another head, and Rei was even more red than before sputtering in her inability to form coherent words. Finally Rei managed to get her point across "Hentai!" she screamed at Mina trying desperately to clear her mind of the visions Mina's statement had provoked.

"Anno, what's hentai about apologizing," Mina asked confused. Makoto, Usagi and even Ami fell to the floor laughing hysterically at the misunderstanding Mina's words had caused. Rei unable to take it anymore left the bathroom to guard the door from the outside. Ami pulled herself from the floor ignoring Mina's questions on what was so funny and concluded her scan as quickly as possible. Her computer would take a while to correlate the data but there did seem to be some traces of magic around Mina that couldn't be accounted for by her being a Senshi. Preliminary analysis suggested the magic was very similar to Endymion's.

The rest of the school day passed quickly, though Usagi complained bitterly about being unable to finish her lunch. Ami was anxious to see what her computer could tell her about the unknown magical traces within Mina. The Inners had agreed to go to the Jinja this afternoon. She was lucky that she had decided to forgo Juku this year. With the increased intensity of the attacks they had during the Galaxia crisis there would have been no real opportunity for her to have gained anything from it. The regular study sessions that she and the other girls had at the Jinja made her feel better though.

Usagi rushed out of the classroom as soon as school ended, somehow, Konjou had managed to talk the Sensei into not giving her and Mina detention for their tardiness. She waved bye to the boys as she gathered her pack and began to devour the rest of her lunch as she waited for the other girls to catch up with her. Makoto came out only a few moments later, her eyes straying back to Konjou as he smirked at Toujin's predicament. Ami stood just inside the door her eyes carefully taking stock of what was transpiring between Rei, Mina and Toujin.

Rei had been dreading this part of her day ever since lunch. She knew that she and Toujin owed each other an apology, and that Mina would make her life hell until one was given, but it went against her nature to do something like this, especially in public. When most of the rest of the class had already left, eager to get away from the school and on with their day, Rei made her way over to Toujin. "Toujin, we need to talk," she said in a small voice

"Hai, Rei," he said. "I need to apologize to you for earlier," he told her with an ashamed look on his face.

"No, no, its all my fault really, I knew you didn't do it on purpose, but I was already in a bad mood and like a baka I took it out on you," she said "Forgive me."

"It's really my fault, I could have just apologized then instead of insulting you in front of all those people. Can you forgive my childishness," he added with a smile

"Sure," she agreed she was only mildly surprised when he took her hand and shook it.

"Friends?" he asked.

"Friends," she agreed.

"Oh this is so wonderful!" Mina chirped as she pulled the two into a group hug. "My new boyfriend and one of my closest friends are getting along!"

Toujin seemed to flinch slightly as Mina called him her boyfriend, then an evil glint came into his eyes. He leaned into the group hug getting his mouth next to Rei's ear and whispered to her in a voice low enough that Mina was unable to hear. "Besides, we both know that Minki- Momo only wishes it could be on that sexy red silk you're almost wearing." Rei's scream of hentai echoed through the school.

"I don't see what you're mad about Rei," Mina said sulkily "He complimented your panties, but that's my boyfriend you're trying to steal."

"Trust me Mina, I'm not trying to steal him, I don't want anything to do with him. I'd rather go on a date with Mordaki than that Hentai Toujin." Rei snarled as the girls made their way through the city

"Rei, don't insult my Toujin like that, Mordaki is an evil, destructive, murderous creepaziod." Mina protested.

"True, but at least he isn't a Hentai." Rei snapped back .

"Girls although it's funny, this argument isn't going anywhere," Makoto said. "Why don't you to just agree to disagree about Toujin, so Rei can get back to drooling about Yuuchiro, and Mina and I can go on a double date with the cutest nicest boys in the world."

"Sure that's a great idea," Mina agreed instantly.

"Ok, fine whatever," Rei said peevishly. "But about Yuuchiro, Makoto. I'd rather swallow a roach."

Conversation turned lighter as the group approached the Jinja. Usagi complained that she was still hungry, and Mina and Makoto discussed the possibilities of getting the boys to ask them out on a double date. Makoto was for the strategy of simply asking them themselves, while Mina favoured convincing the boys to ask them. The only problem with Mina's idea is that it would probably take longer, and neither girl was very patient when it came to romance. The girls were at the bottom of the steps to the Jinja when Rei suddenly stopped.

"Girls I can sense a powerful presence nearby," Rei said quickly.

The Mercury computer began to beep furiously, and the air became thick with magic. Usagi nodded to her friends and ran up the steps to see what was going on. At the top of the steps, after making sure no one could see them the girls quickly and quietly assumed their Senshi forms. Ami called the Outers with news of the disturbance and quickly joined the rest of the Inners in determining the nature of the alarm.

In the middle of the courtyard of the Jinja a strange man stood. His manner of dress was quite similar to Mordaki's. His shirt was a metallic blue, and a silver vest-cloak covered his torso, dark sapphire pants and silver boots adorned his feet. Also like Mordaki his hair was very long, worn loose it dangled well down his back, its ebon locks moving slightly in the breeze. A silver aura surrounded him giving his skin an unearthly cast. Blue streams of misty light flowed across the ground, causing Rei to gasp in wonder. A long staff, seemingly carved of a single multi-facetted piece of sapphire shined brightly in his grasp.

"Be very careful," Rei said quietly as they moved stealthy towards the intruder. "Somehow he's made the ley lines in the area manifest. This Jinja was built on a conjunction of several smaller lines in the Juuban area. It looks like he's somehow tapping into them."

"Very good little sorceress," the man said still staring at the blue rivers of light. "Don't worry, I'm not going to damage the line or this lovely little Temple. On the contrary, this wonderful place is just what I need to fix a little problem you foolish humans seem to have created."

Usagi needed no further proof that this man was obviously working with Mordaki, and by hurting Endymion and Jupiter, Mordaki had guaranteed that he was in serious need of a beat down. It was perfectly obvious to her that Mordaki was responsible for all the strange stuff happening worldwide, and if this man was helping him there was only one thing to do. "Temples and other places of worship are made for people to remember their ancestors and to guide us in becoming closer to the Kami. We will not allow you to abuse them for you own evil ends. In the name of the moon, we will punish you!' Usagi screamed as she moved forward to attack.

The rest of the assembled Senshi ran to join her in combat, though Ami looked at her as if she had lost her mind. Usagi called out her attack and was rewarded with him being knocked back hard by the impact. Usagi was happy to note her attack had been even more effective on this new enemy that on Mordaki. Ami took a chance and fired her Aqua Rhapsody at the same time Rei launched a Flame Sniper. The converging magical attacks caused him to cry out in pain as they alternately froze and seared his flesh.

Makoto was ecstatic, this man wasn't immune to elemental attacks, sure she could already see evidence of him healing the wounds from Usagi's blast, but if he could be hurt enough she was sure they could keep him down. A very not nice smile adorned her face as she thought of the payback she was going to give this man for the way Mordaki had beaten her. She called out her Oak Evolution and fired the bladelike leaflets of energy at him. She didn't even have time to scream when they rebounded at her with more than twice their original power.

Makoto's scream of shock and pain cut through the battlefield disrupting Mina's attempt to tag him with her Love and Beauty Shock. The attack sailed wide striking the outer wall of the fire wood storage room punching through and doing massive damage. Mina looked quickly at her downed friend and gaped at the horrific lacerations her own attack had visited on her. The armour provided by the magic of the Senshi uniform and transformation had done little to protect her from the rebounded power. Mina knew that Makoto needed medical attention quickly or she might die of blood loss.

The decision of what to do was taken quickly from her as the unknown man brought the butt end of his staff down hard against the flagstones. A wave of irresistible force rolled over the Senshi knocking all of them save Makoto back off their feet. Rei and Ami, who still stood too near the stairs, were blown off the hilltop and down the steep incline the sound of their repeated impacts on the unyielding stone steps bringing tears to their princess's eyes. She hardened her heart against the sounds of her friend's pain as she rolled to her feat and fired her attack again, this time the swarm of small hearts connected bursting on contact with him and nearly bringing him to his knees. A massive thunderclap of sound crashed into her, its sheer volume making her head swim and her vision blur. Through her distorted sight she was able to see the ley lines curl around him, the pulsed briefly then faded to near invisibility. Holding his chest he hobbled over to Makoto, a moment later she screamed louder than ever, and then fell silent. Mina finally lost the battle for consciousness as he teleported out.

Rei awoke in mild discomfort, she was quite surprised to have awoken at all, and even happier that her pain was only mild. Hotaru's cautious smile explained how the severity of her wounds had changed. She got up and hugged the smaller girl in thanks and immediately went to check on the others. It took next to no time to do so as they were all lying in her bedroom. Mina seemed to be perfectly fine, Usagi had a few scrapes but nothing more serious than she use to have after a klutz attack. Ami looked to be in better shape the she herself was in, but that probably had something to do with the fact that Ami had landed on her at the end of their long fall. Makoto on the other hand was missing. As Rei started to ask Hotaru where Makoto was, the door to the bedroom opened and Haruka, Michiru, and Makoto came in carrying a tray of tea and snacks. It wasn't long before the rest of the girls awoke.

"He was the one who healed me," Makoto said a few minutes later as they discussed the battle. "I don't know why, other than he said something about not wanting pretty girls to have scars. Something else, he called himself Niccolai Bastian, Primarch of Will, Third born of the Ulterran. Makoto had little else to add to the conversation, but in truth the battle had been brief enough that the little they had learned seemed a near miracle.

Ami began an analysis of his blood, there was certainly enough of it on the stones outside to make that an easy task. His blood contained the same kind of configuration as Mordaki's. The computer plotted a less than one tenth of a percent difference, but given the sheer size and number of chromosomes that was still a considerable amount. Oddly enough his magical traces were the most confusing. At first the computer maintained that the only magical activity had been the scouts and princess. After realizing what that meant it became obvious, his power signature was so similar to the Silver Imperium Crystal that the Mercury computer simply couldn't tell them apart. The implications of that information was frightening, they currently had two known enemies operating, with strong evidence of the existence of a third, these enemies were fantastically magically capable, and had power signatures nearly identical to the golden and silver crystals. It was an almost worst case scenario come true.

An hour later the Mercury computer notified Ami that it had finally completed its analysis of the odd magical signature within Minako, the computer projected over a ninety nine percent chance that it was the residual traces of some kind of healing magic, very powerful healing magic. It also conjectured that Endymion was responsible. The Senshi knew only two people that the computer might theoretically mistake for Endymion with magical traces that faint, and no one present even made a joke about Elios coming for a visit. For some reason Mordaki had healed Mina.

The last two weeks had passed quickly for the Senshi, ever since their defeat at the hands of Niccolai they had spent much of their free time training in the use of their powers, not that they expected them to be of much good should the encounter Mordaki. Makoto had also suggested that they all join a local dojo for a bit of kempo training. Setsuna agreed and set it up with an old friend of hers, so for two hours twice a week the Senshi visited a local dojo. All this time spent preparing for an enemy that had not shown their faces in two weeks began to wear on Mina's nerves. It wasn't that she resented the time spent training, it was simply she had so much less time to spend with Toujin. He was frustratingly difficult to pin down for a date. It seemed that he was always out when she called. Sure he always called back, and was unfailingly polite, but despite the warm looks and the sweet way he treated her at school, actually seeing him after the final bell was nearly impossible.

She had heard from Makoto that her situation with Konjou was nearly identical, save for the lone exception that she had called and had actual gotten a real persons voice rather than a machine. Unfortunately for Makoto it was Toujin that answered. Toujin answered her probing questions at what he was doing answering Konjou's phone with a laugh. It seemed funny now that no one had realised that they were cousins, and lived in the same apartment. Despite repeated veiled questions and hints, neither of the boys had yet asked them over, or even mentioned yet where they lived.

Today Mina vowed to change all that. She had a plan and it was all systems go. Today was the day he would formally ask her out. She gave herself a final check in the mirror of the girl's room and marched out to meet her destiny. Seeing him sitting quietly at his desk a look of boredom on his face she made her move. "Oh Toujin, it's terrible, just terrible," she wailed throwing herself into his arms.

He quickly put his arms around her to keep her from falling as she layed bonelessly against his chest. "What's wrong Mina," he cooed softly trying to stifle her tears.

Mina sniffled pitifully and withdrew a test paper from within her bag. Marked on the front side was a large circled forty percent. Mina pushed it into his hands and continued to sob. Toujin looked at the physics exam he held and shook his head, he just couldn't understand how a smart girl like Mina had done this poorly. "It ok Mina, its only one test, you'll do better next time," he said trying to comfort her.

"But Toujin you don't understand," she said in a choked voice, "I'll be grounded forever and ever if I don't pass the next one, and I don't understand it at all!'

"Ok," he said as he patted the top of her head gently. "Why don't you ask your friend Ami to help you, she has some of the highest marks in the entire class."

"I've tried," Mina whispered in shame, her head ever closer to his so as not to need to talk any louder. "She's just so smart and good at it that she can't understand why I don't learn it as fast as she does. Please Toujin you have to help me, if I don't pass this class I wont ever get into a good college and without that I'll never get a good job and I'll end up out on the streets and starve to death!" she continued melodramatically.

Toujin was in a quandary, he really didn't have time to help her, but his conscience wouldn't let him just wallow in despair like this. Taking a deep breath he agreed. "Ok, Mina-chan," he said bringing a blush to her face, "I'll help you. I can come over and help you a little tonight if you want."

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," Mina said as she hugged him ever tighter. Enacting the next phase of her plan she stood on her toes and kissed him full on the lips. "Thank you for helping me out like this!" she said once again as she pressed herself fully against his front, so tightly the bow on her fuku had to be bruising his breastbone. She waited for just a second, allowing the feel of her to addle him just a bit. When she was positive that he was somewhat distracted she made her next move. "Toujin, can we please study at your house, if my parents see us studying at mine they'll want to know why I need help and I'll have to show them my test and I'll just die.

"Yeah, sure Mina, whatever you want," he replied distracted.

"Ok," she said giving him a brilliant smile she nuzzled his neck. "You're the sweetest boy in the whole world Tou-chan There's only one little problem. You need to give me your address."

"Umm, it's the penthouse of the Nobara apartment." He told her absently, his mind miles away.

"Really?" she said trying to contain her excitement

"Um hm," he mumbled completely unaware of what had just happened.

"Great!" she exclaimed one again brushing his lips with hers. "I know!" she said, "You can just walk me there after school so I don't get lost trying to find the place."

"Yea, sure Mina-chan." he said absently something warning him that he had made a mistake of some kind.

"Perfect!" she said happily. "I'll talk to you more at lunch." And with that Mina rushed to her seat before the first hour Sensei arrived.

Makoto leaned over to Mina as she sat down with a self satisfied smile. "I'll give that performance a nine point nine, you had him eating out of the palm of your hand."

Mina gave Makoto a smile as the final warning bell for the beginning of class went off. Mina wasn't about to tell Makoto all of her secrets at getting him to invite her over. After all if Makoto hadn't figured out that boys can't concentrate as well when their brains are oxygen starved from lack of blood it wasn't Mina's fault

"She played you bad you know that right Toujin?" Konjou said as Mina practically danced to her seat just before the bell.

"." Toujin replied as he shot Konjou a glare that would have killed anyone else.

The school day flew by for Toujin, it seemed that he blinked once and it was lunchtime. He looked on the upcoming study session with a mix of longing and dread. He wasn't a fool, Mina was probably one of the three most attractive girls in the school. Only her friends Rei and Usagi were even in the same league as her. The idea of spending time alone with her in his apartment appealed to him on several levels, which was precisely why he dreaded the idea. Toujin was many things, but totally heartless wasn't one of them. Mina had no idea what she was getting into involving herself in his life. He had powerful enemies, enemies that had already demonstrated their willingness to attack without warning or provocation. Worse, from what he had been able to learn about them, they had already killed several innocent bystanders in their desire to end other threats to their goals. Somehow he had to make Mina understand that he couldn't put her at risk by hanging around him, without giving away his secrets. His mind knew all of this quite well, buy convincing the rest of him was proving to be impossible.

During lunch Toujin kept himself sane by indulging in one of his favourite pastimes, arguing philosophy with Rei. Their codes of ethics were quite similar, but had enough differences to make for some truly enjoyable battles. Rei was a master tactician in trapping someone in the holes in their own logic being raised as a Miko made her quite knowledgeable in several areas, from spiritualism, to occult lore to something as basic herbal remedies. The Hino family had preserved its beliefs and culture quite well in the modern era.

Though Rei was undeniably beautiful, her obvious reluctance in any non pure friendship relationship was a godsend to Toujin, there was little fear of Rei trying to push her way into his private life and winding up in the line of fire of his foes. Mina was very conscious of where and with whom he spent his time, and though she would occasionally give other girls evil glares if he spent too much time with them, she never worried about him spending time with any of her friends. Mina spent the entire day that he saw working diligently in all her classes, he hoped that it was simply that she wanted to spend as little time after school studying at his house as possible. She seemed like the kind of girl that would spend her every waking minute with her friends. He hoped that once they were finished with tonight's tutoring session she would rush off to be with her friends. He wasn't making any bets however.

It had taken Mina all day to come to the decision to share her good fortune. Her plan had been successful and she was going to reap the rewards, but every time she thought about it she became more and more convinced that she needed something to keep Konjou from interfering in her plans, she had the perfect weapon. "Toujin," she started as she came up to him after class. "Can I ask another huge favour of you, pretty pretty please?" she asked he eyes big and soft as she stared at him.

Toujin knew he was going to regret this, he just knew it. "Sure Mina, what do you need?"

"Well, one of my friends is having trouble too, can she join our little study session?" she begged.

Toujin felt like jumping for joy, Mina was bringing one of her friends along, which meant they wouldn't ever be alone in the apartment. Konjou had a way of making himself scarce at times, and he just knew that Konjou would leave him to suffer in his own private hell today. "Sure!" he replied before he thought any further.

"Great, thanks again Toujin, just let me get my books and Makoto and I will be ready to leave." She smiled as she walked away.

As it sank in just who she was bringing along Toujin realised his mistake, she wasn't bringing a study partner, she was bringing alone something to distract Konjou. This confirmed it, he was officially in hell.

As Konjou ran on ahead to make sure the apartment was in top shape for company, Toujin took every side street he could, hoping to make the path to his apartment so confusing that the girls would never attempt to show up unannounced. For some reason though the two girls shared a smile the entire time, as if they were aware of his plan, and for some reason unconcerned. As the Nobara apartment came into view, he talked animatedly to them, trying to distract them away from anything that could be used as a landmark to its location. Strangely enough the girls never bothered to look around on their way inside. As they began their long walk up the stairs, the elevator being closed down from the reduced power load of the building, Makoto finally let them in on their little secret, and the reason they had been smiling the whole trip here.

"Hey Mina, isn't Usagi's boyfriend Mamoru's apartment on the fourteenth floor of this complex?" Makoto asked breezily

"Yep, Toujin only lives one floor above him," she turned to Toujin as she finished her statement, "small world isn't it?"

Konjou made it into the apartment a full ten minute's before the others. There was no way he was going to have the first girl in a very long time come to visit him with his apartment looking like he hadn't straitened it in weeks. He snapped his fingers and every candle in the front room lit. A glare directed at the coffee table caused the abandoned cups to float over to the sink and begin to rapidly clean themselves. A wave of his hand at the floor caused a very tiny tornado to move about it, sucking up all manner of dust and debris. Another glare caused every surface to shine as if polished, even the windows shown completely free of any dirt or streaks. Giving the apartment one last look he seemed to come to a decision, a bright silver glow surrounded him and several large leather bean bag style chairs appeared making the room look just that much more inviting. Satisfied now that the apartment was ready for company, Konjou dashed into the bathroom to ready himself.

Makoto was nervous, it wasn't very often that she went practically alone into a boy's house. She had no idea where their parents were, but in the last few weeks it had become readily obvious that the boys lived alone. She didn't know all that much about their pasts, for some reason any time a discussion about their families came up, the boys would respond that they and three other cousins were all that remained of their clan. Apparently their cousin Daiichi Koden was the head of their clan. He oversaw their educations and handled their accounts, but he allowed them to live on their own. Dragging her thoughts back to the point at hand Makoto told herself that it was ok. Mina was here with her so she wasn't alone, and Konjou was a nice boy, he was nothing like Kenji, she would be just fine.

This was it, the moment of truth, Mina thought to herself as Toujin unlocked the door in the foyer of the apartment. She was prepared for nearly anything, but still the first sight of his place was very nice. Everything was clean and orderly, but still managed to radiate a lived in feel. She supposed that they probably had a maid service, boys just weren't this neat naturally Though Konjou had gotten there before they did, she knew he hadn't had enough time to turn a normal bachelor pad into this that quickly. Sighing in contentment, Mina put her books on the coffee table near the very western style divan and took a closer look at the tastefully decorated apartment.

The walls were a pale blue that made one think of spring mornings. The carpet a plush off white, that was miraculously free of stains. Several beautiful paintings adorned the walls, one obviously done by Michiru. A couple of the paintings were done in an odd style, they were far more realistic than modern paintings, yet their subjects were obviously imaginary, an example was a truly gorgeous rendering of a winged unicorn. It looked so real that you expected to see it flick its tail when you turned your head slightly. Crystal vases held exotic flowers in nearly every corner of the room, their combined scents giving the room a truly unearthly aroma. Despite the hot summer and lack of air conditioning the room was cool, and the strategically situated mirrors reflected the candlelight, aiding the open blinds in making the room as bright as electric lights would have done. The overall effect was like stepping into a dream.

"It's beautiful," Minako whispered as she curled into a beanbag chair.

"Thanks," Toujin said as he stared accusingly at the beanbag chairs. "We try our best to keep it that way."

"Wow," Makoto added as she finished a small circle of the room to stand before a startlingly realistic painting of a dragon in flight.

"You like that painting Makoto?" Toujin asked as he looked absently at several glass globes sitting at intervals on shelves near the ceiling.

"Yes, that dragon almost looks real. I wonder who painted it." She remarked.

"I did." He answered.

"You have got to be kidding me, that's so beautiful." She said as she unconsciously drew closer to it.

"Unfortunately he isn't," Konjou said as he entered the room. "He's got a tiny bit of artistic talent, but if you compliment him like that he'll be impossible to live with for weeks."

Toujin made a rude gesture at Konjou behind the girls' backs as Konjou made his way closer to Makoto. Mina had yet to move since curling kitten like into the oversized cushion. Toujin found he rather liked seeing her looking so content. "Well, I hate to be the voice of reason here," he spoke. "But if you two are going to get any better at physics we'll have to get started." He finished with a grin.

"Yea, you three start," Konjou said "I'll just make some snacks and jump in later."

"How about I help you?" Makoto asked somewhat shyly. "I'm pretty handy in the kitchen."

"Oh, that's a wonderful Idea Makoto," Mina added. "You can show Konjou some of those wonderful treats you make."

"Well," Konjou said, "I don't want to detract from your studies."

"Oh that's ok," she retorted. "I don't need nearly as much help as Mina. I got an eighty seven on the last test."

Mina had the grace to look embarrassed as Toujin shook his head in wonder at just how badly she had manipulated him. Mina gave Makoto a V sign as Konjou turned laughing to lead the way into the kitchen.

Toujin believed he knew how a mouse felt. Konjou and Makoto had been gone for over an hour, and Mina had put that time to excellent use. She had either purposely failed the test or she simply hadn't been feeling well when she took it, because she was actually quite knowledgeable in practical physics. She was also stalking him. No less than three times he had looked up to find her and her books moved closer to him. How she moved the chair without it making any noise to tip him off was totally beyond him. He had scooted away every time but he had finally run out of table. Things were looking grim for him.

"Toujin," Mina spoke as she scooted their books out of the way and moved close enough that he could feel her breath on his face. "Why are you afraid of me?"

"I'm not afraid of you Mina, I'm afraid for you." He spoke softly refusing to face her for fear of what would happen if he saw her eyes. "You deserve a lot better than me."

"How can I deserve better than you? You're perfect for me." She spoke beginning to slide around his back and rest her head on his shoulder.

"Mina, you know almost nothing about me. Trust me, there are some things about me that would curl your hair, and besides there are people that don't like me, and they would hurt you it they saw you with me." He told her in a quiet voice.

"I can take better care of myself than you think." Mina whispered as she moved her mouth ever closer to his ear.

Toujin was paralyzed. His ability to resist Mina was almost gone. As a last ditch effort, it forged an agreement with the dissenting parts of his mind. He wouldn't move and she could make the choice. His heart came to a stop as he felt her warm lips close around his earlobe, her hot breath bringing a shiver to him as she began to nibble. A groan of surrender was torn from his throat as he turned and captured her lips with his.

Yes, Mina thought as his arms came around her and pulled her tight to him. His lips were driving her slowly insane with their teasing pressure against her own. She wanted a more intimate kiss, but now that he had finally started to participate she had lost the total control she had once had. She liked it better this way anyway. He lightly bit her bottom lip as he sucked on it gently. His hands were not content to simply hold her, they began a slow rhythmic stroking of her back and sides, his palms pressing firmly into her as he scratched her lightly with his fingernails. The contrasting feeling aroused by the dual caress made her feel light headed and slightly dizzy. After a moment his mouth abandoned her lips to track a path across her cheek and up her jawbone to her ear. She sucked in her breath sharply as he took her lobe into his hot mouth and nibbled firmly, just on the border between pleasure and pain.

Mina began to breathe erratically, she was lost from here on out. Despite her beauty she was remarkably low on practical relationship experience. The example set by her Princess's near perfect relationship had made her very careful on how she behaved with the few boys she had dated that and her own near total lack of free time due to Senshi business had conspired to assure that she had never gone beyond this point. Her train of thought was again derailed as his lips traced a path of fire down her neck until he reached a point just above her collarbone. He began to alternate between sucking firmly and lightly grazing her flesh with his teeth. She moaned his name as her arms contracted around him.

Mina pulled away from his mouth her heart beating rapidly in response to her rising emotions. Her eyes sought his out as she guided his head back with her fingers, his emerald eyes almost seemed to swirl as she brought her lips to his. His lips parted instinctively when he felt her tongue gently caress them. Her tongue slid past his parted lips and stroked his, sending a shiver up his spine. His hands involuntarily clenched in response to her welcome intrusion. He opened his mouth a little wider and curled his tongue against hers his hands moving down to clasp her tightly on her hips. Mina sighed in contentment as his tongue pushed past hers to rub against the back of her lips. The dizzy feeling grew ever stronger and she found herself trying to burrow even further into his embrace.

Toujin was lost, his ability to think gone as he tugged Mina onto his lap her legs falling to either side of him as she unintentionally straddled his hips. Mina gasped in surprise and pleasure as her hips rubbed against his, her weight pressing her down firmly against him. Toujin groaned at the feeling as Mina squirmed trying to relieve the tension in her own body.

"Oh Kami-sama Mina," he groaned as he tore his lips from hers for breath. "You're going to kill me."

"If I die like this I'll die happy." She whispered as she once again captured his lips with her own.

Toujin's hands drifted further back from the sides of her hips to grasp her behind and pull her back against him. She squeaked in surprise as the vague feeling that had been nagging her sharpened into laser tight focus. There was absolutely no question that Toujin was interested in her. Mina took a chance and rocked her hips backwards then forwards. The feelings intensified on the forward stroke to nearly the point of her passing out. Toujin uttered an oath and brought his hands up her back underneath her shirt. With a deft movement the clasp holding Mina's bra fell open. Mina gasped at the delicious sensation of freedom as he rubbed small circles over the expanse of her back.

With one hand she began to run her fingers through his hair, as the other mimicked the actions of his hands. Mina kissed down his jaw and began to nibble gently on his neck in between desperate gasps for air. Again she rocked her hips and felt Toujin's heart rate nearly double. He trailed one hand down her back over her rear and down the outside of her leg to her knee. Once there his hand moved over her knee to the inside of her leg and traced up he thigh to stop scant centimetres from the juncture of her thighs. Mina squeezed her legs tightly against Toujin's waist in unconscious response to the somewhat welcome intrusion.

Mina was somewhat frightened of the direction this had taken. She had intended to enjoy a few kisses and maybe some innocent caresses. This far exceeded even her most generous definition of innocent caresses, but she was unsure of how to, or even if she wanted to, stop this. The intruding hand moved further up to the top side of her leg and continued on its trek towards her waist. Once there it crossed over her hips just above the top of her panties and repeated its previous path down her other leg. All the while his mouth continued its hot wet assault on her neck and his other hand made tiny firm circular motions on her back.

Toujin wanted Mina, he craved her, and her continuous unconscious rolling of her hips was driving him insane. The smell of her obvious arousal overwhelmed his nose and the feel of her pressed against him had long since drowned out the protests of his conscience. His hand rolled to the back side of her leg and caressed its way up over her butt, only her underwear separating his hand from her flesh. His hand continued up briefly lifting the back of her skirt as it joined his other hand on her back. Pulling his head back to meet her gaze he brought his hands forward over her sides to her stomach. Her stomach muscles spasmed at the caress and her eyes grew huge and dark with desire. His gaze never leaving hers he slowly and deliberately caressed his way up her ribs to lightly clasp her breasts. Mina gasped in pleasure yet her eyes became wild and filled with fright. Toujin gave her a slow nod as he removed his hands. He kissed her lightly as he moved his hands once again back to the outside of her shirt. She calmed remarkably even remaining so when his hands once again took ahold of her breasts this time through her fuku top. His thumbs rolled her distended nipples through her shirt causing her to catch her breath once again.

Mina swallowed nervously as Toujin continued to caress her breasts through her top, she could literally feel her pulse throughout her entire body her heart was beating so hard. His gaze was mesmerizing as he continued to watch her eyes. Her body felt as if were on autopilot, it seemed to move of its own accord repeatedly pressing against the hardness covered by his thin school uniform pants. His thumbs rolled over her nipples again making her back bow in response, her body straining even with her top in the way for a more intimate touch. Toujin took the hint her body offered him and brought his index fingers in to pinch her hardened nipples through her top. Mina gave a squeal of pleasure and pulled his mouth against his to stifle her own moans. She whimpered when he removed his hands from her breasts, but quickly sighed when they found their way back down to her skirt.

Toujin watched her eyes as he slid his hands under her skirt, slowly caressing his way up the insides of her thighs until he was less than a centimetre from her most sacred of places. Mina was so confused, she was dizzy with desire yet terrified of what would happen if they didn't stop. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder breathing deeply. One of his hands slid around the top of her leg to her butt, his hand moving across her panties to caress her cheeks. Mina bit his shoulder to keep from crying out in surprise and pleasure. He turned his head and nudged hers until their eyes met. Looking deeply into her beautiful blue eyes Toujin moved the hand still resting on her thigh to brush her meike through her panties.

Mina clenched her eyes shut and trembled with the sensations assaulting her. She couldn't think, couldn't sort out her emotions on what was happening. Again his fingers brushed against her, this time though they traced up the crease of her body all the way up and past to the waistband of her skirt. A single motion of his fingers undid the large button holding her skirt tightly together. His fingers trailed down dragging the skirt with him as he went. He stopped to life her left leg over him rearranging their position so that she no longer straddled his hips, rather she now sat sideways on his lap. Once he had her rearranged he began once again to remove her skirt. The skirt hit the floor next to them with a swishing sound Mina was certain could be heard in Sapporo. Toujin kissed her gently as he put his hands at the bottom of her shirt and began to slowly life it. She raised her arms over her head and allowed him to completely remove it. Her bra, long since unfastened, fell down her arms to her wrists, as she dropped her arms back to her sides.

Mina couldn't look at him as he gazed for the first time at her nearly naked body. She was too nervous and afraid of disappointing him. She felt his hands on her sides as he kissed her closed eyes. His hands slid excruciatingly slowly up her sides to close fully over her arousal swollen breasts. She gasped when he resumed rolling her nipples between his thumb and forefingers, her head quickly jerked up and her eyes opened to see if her body pleased him. His head lowered towards her breasts, his hot breath causing her nipples to contract even further to diamond hard points. She could feel his lips just brushing her nipple when a shocked voice interrupted him.

"Oh Kami-sama!" Makoto's shocked voice cut into the lovers from the doorway to the kitchen. Toujin moved fast enough to make his performance on the track look like slow motion. He grabbed Mina and pulled her near naked form behind him, gathering her discarded clothing and setting them on her lap in the same movement. By the time Makoto's oath had died in the air of living room Toujin had Mina completely blocked from view and had turned and faced Makoto with an expression that failed miserably at being innocent.

"Um, g.gomen, for disturbing you," Makoto stuttered as she bolted down the hallway to the open bathroom door. Mina pulled her shirt on over her head and quickly followed her, casting reassuring glances over her shoulder at Toujin. He could just hear her voice as she knocked on the door to the bathroom asking Makoto to let her in.

"I am so sorry," Makoto began once Mina got into the bathroom. "I was just on my way to the bathroom and."

"It's ok Makoto," Mina said still shaking from the catastrophic crash of her arousal. "I know you didn't mean to walk in on that, I didn't even mean for it to happen." She said with not just a little bit of embarrassment. Mina turned on the cold water and began to wash her face and hands trying to cool down her flushed body. Oddly enough Makoto was doing much the same thing.

"Your clothes are a mess Mina. You look all wrinkled," Makoto said with a smile. "And unless I'm badly mistaken, that's gonna be a record breaking hickey."

Mina's eyes darted to the mirror to examine the area Makoto had pointed out, sure enough the beginnings of a massive extraordinarily dark hickey already shown back at her. Tears filled her eyes as she pictured the humiliation of facing her parents and friends with it showing so obviously on her neck. "Somebody just shoot me now," she wailed.

Makoto and Mina left quickly after getting out of the bathroom, declining the boys offer to walk them home. Mina did give Toujin a kiss goodbye, but it was more a brushing of lips than anything. She just didn't trust herself after experiencing the terrifyingly powerful feelings his kisses could invoke in her. They were no more than a block away from the apartment when their communicators began to beep. Mina whistled to herself as she imagined the reaction she would get if she were still at Toujin's. First she couldn't have guaranteed she would have even noticed or cared, and second the looks she would have gotten from whomever called when she answered topless, sweating and flushed would have been priceless.

"Everyone we need you at the shrine as soon as possible," the voice of Luna came through the communicator. "We finally found some information on the enemy." With that the message ended leaving Mina and Makoto to run to the Jinja.

The girls all sat gathered around the two cats as they waited for everyone to get comfortable. Luna and Artemis looked haggard, they hadn't been seen in nearly two weeks, since they left on their mission to learn from central the meanings of the incomprehensible words spoken by Mordaki, a short moment later Luna began her briefing.

"First some basic information, the word Primarch, it is related to Matriarch or Patriarch, meaning Female or Male leader respectively. Primarch would then mean First or great leader. The rest is anything but basic. The world Ulterran is older than the Moon Kingdom. You all know that the Moon Kingdom peacefully ruled the solar system for thousands of years, years with little in the way of war or conflict. Yes there was some crime but it was mostly crimes of need. Nothing in the modern world has even begun to achieve the level of peace and prosperity of the Moon Kingdom, but it wasn't the first civilization. The Moon Kingdom was built on the ashes of an even older society. The language of the Moon was a derivative of the language spoken in the previous society, and the language was called Aleph. Ulterran is the Aleph word for Master, the word is always capitalized. Not only does it mean Master though, the word had other connotations, it meant progenitor, and also creator, and even lord. The word Primarch would be almost unchanged in Aleph, and that word takes on a special meaning if you take into consideration the myths of the pre- Moon Kingdom people." Luna's gaze pressed itself into all of the assembled people.

At this point Artemis took over the meeting. "According to the legends, the universe wasn't created by a single Deity, but by a consortium of five beings. These beings each personified a force integral to the universe they had made. The first named Rhendar personified creation itself, it was energy without form, or a better description would be time. The second named Dallak personified form given to creation, or shape and order. The third, Enkil personified will given to form, or intelligence and spirit. The fourth was the personification of chaos and decay its name was Chuthulu. The last completed the cycle by returning all nothing ness or oblivion, its name was Dahak. But these creatures wanted their creation to continue without their interference. It was something like an experiment to them, what would the Universe do. If they interfered in the universe then they would never learn what universes did on their own, so the created avatars, living sentient motes of their power. These avatars were unique, they were the only creatures in the universe. A universe that was only minutes old. The avatars had free will therefore they were independent from their creators. The creators then withdrew from the universe to watch their experiment from afar. Over a billion years passed before the creators took another step with their experiment. They created beings to oversee a new addition to their creation. These beings then made the gods to aid them in their duties. The gods then created almost all the life in the universe, but they lacked the ability to impart sentience to their creations. Several billion years later the Universe itself finally took a hand. In a mindless mimicry of the only true sentient creatures in existence, as gods cannot be considered creatures, the Universe made more beings like the avatars. These lesser creatures called themselves Ulterran."

Luna once again took over the explanation with, "The Ulterran inhabited the recently cooled worlds and for eons uncounted lived content in their own existence. The first Ulterran, like the Avatars, were immortal or so they believed. The first generation of Ulterran came in many shapes and these different peoples had little in common other than ancestry. Their shapes had determined their needs, and those led to their wants. Where wants and needs collided there was conflict. The first deaths in the Universe came about from these. The Ulterran over time learned that their offspring were less than they themselves were. Something was going wrong, several of their children had been born without the powers that typified their race. The Avatars, or Primarchs as the Ulterran had come to call them, learned of a horrible truth. The power that the Ulterran possessed carried a flaw, for only a limited number of generations could the children be considered Ulterran. After thirteen generations their power would no longer be passed on, and nothing they could come up with would halt this tragedy. The Avatar of the fourth Creator Jander called the powerless offspring mortal, the Ulterran word for degenerate, and thus the mortal races came to be. The Ulterran were dying out, it seemed that even the first generation didn't live forever and the Primarchs depressed by the death of their race chose to pass into sleep, but the universe needed the Primarchs and without the emanations of energy they gave off, the forces they represented began to unravel. The Primarchs created gems to fill the universe with their energies while they slept, knowing that they would again awaken once the universe needed them."

"The Primarchs if the legends hold any truth at all are beings of incomprehensible power only moments younger than the Universe itself. They would be according to legend an integral part of how the Universe functions. If they are real and have woken up, they would be each several orders of magnitude more dangerous than anything you have ever faced. Thankfully I seriously doubt the myth holds any truth. If the Primarch Mordaki awoke, then the rest would have as well, and since no one has run into Lor, Niccolai, Jander or Mordred I'd say were safe." Artemis concluded with a smile.

Setsuna looked like she was going to cry, an expression guaranteed to make the other Senshi wonder when the apocalypse was going to get around to them. "I have seen evidence of this, Lor" Setsuna commented stiffly. "Yesterday I decided to try the Time Gates once again, this time the test pattern spelled out the word Lor."

"And we got in a fight with a person a lot like Mordaki, named Niccolai a few days after we fought Mordaki." Usagi informed the cats.

"You did what?" Luna screeched. "Why didn't anyone tell us these things?"

"You were looking things up at central, it was deemed unimportant compared to your already existent mission" Setsuna rationalized calmly.

"You're telling me that you encountered a hostile entity that is quite possibly actually a primal force of the universe, and you felt we didn't need to be disturbed in a library search with it?" Luna asked incredulously.

"Um, not really," Usagi said looking slightly embarrassed. "Actually I just kinda forgot to tell you. It's been a really really bad month."

"It gets worse," Ami said. "I have a bit of news about some more of their activities. It seems that the air pollution problem has been solved. Yesterday it hailed solidified bits of the toxins in the air down on the capital city of every industrialized nation in the world save Japan. Here the pollution rained down on Kyoto. Also yesterday over half a million barrels of radioactive waste washed ashore on the coasts of the countries that dumped them in the ocean in the first place. The number of people worldwide now suffering from radiation sickness is astounding. It has become obvious that these 'Primarchs' are very unhappy with the human race's treatment of this world."

"If it is indeed the Primarchs, and not some lesser Ulterran that has somehow managed to survive then we have a serious problem. It is simply impossible for you to force them to stop. They have survived since the instant time itself began. Their destruction would likely throw the balance of power between the forces they represent." Luna said with grim determination. "We absolutely must learn if these people are truly the Primarchs. We absolutely can not be sure of how to deal with them until we know."

"There is one other important thing," Artemis said refusing to look at Luna. "Luna didn't want to tell you this, but if the legends are true, and if these are the Primarchs, then these are the people that created the Silver Imperium Crystal. Think about it, they each made a gem to fill the universe with their power so they could rest. Five crystals of immense power, each one governing a force of the universe, one governing Time," Artemis stared hard at Setsuna, making her remember the Garnet Orb on her staff. "One Nature and Form." This time his gaze locked with Mamoru. Mamoru knew he meant the Golden Crystal, guarded by his servant Elios. "One governing Will and Spirit," his eyes trailed to his Princess, and she became uncomfortably aware of the weight of her Crystal. "One for Chaos." The gathered people shivered remembering the power of Galaxia, though they recalled no crystal that she possessed. "And one for Entropy," he finished.

"But Galaxia didn't have a crystal, and we've never seen an Entropy crystal," Usagi commented hopefully.

"Galaxia may not have had it, but she was defiantly under its influence." Artemis spoke with conviction. "And I hate to disagree with you Usagi, but you have seen an Entropy crystal. Its power was divided five ways at one point and it was still a match for the Silver Crystal. You do remember Nemesis don't you?"

The room fell silent as the implications of that settled in. Usagi appeared more composed than usual, the repeated shocks of the last several weeks had apparently brought out in her the emotional fortitude that had allowed someone as kind hearted as herself to remain sane through the deaths of her friends at D-point and at the hands of Galaxia. Her expression took on a regal cast as she once again addressed the cats.

"Does this mean then that the crystals are mere reflections of the beings that created them?"

"No, the crystals are more like, batteries. They hold and generate the same energy that the Primarchs do, but without having wills of their own. The Primarchs each made a gem to represent them. But they are not the gem, nor does the gem have their goals. Remember though that if you can do it with the Silver Crystal, Usagi, Niccolai could do it unaided, and probably with less difficulty."

"Well," Mamoru said. "That settles that question, I'm going to summon Elios and have him bring me the Golden Crystal. The next time we encounter Mordaki he'll get a taste of his own medicine."

"That is what I was afraid of" Luna whispered to Artemis as the Senshi and Mamoru began to plan for their next encounter with a Primarch.

Once the Senshi had gotten the plans for vengeance for their defeats out of the way the meeting turned to other matters they felt were important. "So girls," Makoto spoke with an evil grin. "Did any of you notice Mina's new 'birthmark'?"

The other girls turned almost as one to examine Mina closely. She did her best to cover the vivid evidence of her activities with her hand and by turning but to no avail. Once they were on the trail of amusement her friends were relentless. The giggles turned to gasps as the full glory of the hickey was revealed to them.

"So Mina," Haruka began. "Is your new boyfriend a vampire or something?" She teased.

"Ohh, that one looks like it would hurt a little." Usagi spoke with the voice of experience. "I know I've had a few that were sore in the morning." As she spoke, Mamoru tried his best to make himself invisible. "It's a good thing I have the disguise pen or my father would have killed amour by now."

At the thought of being able to hide her indiscretions from her parents Mina dived on her princess. "Usagi you absolutely have to let me borrow that pen. If my parents see this I'll be grounded until Crystal Tokyo."

"Absolutely not!" Luna responded scandalized. "The disguise pen is not intended to be used so frivolously!" she yelled casting a furious glare on her ward. "Besides."

"Oh hush Luna," Usagi chided her cat. "This is the first time Mina has ever asked, and she really needs it. That monster is way too bad for makeup to hide," she giggled. "Makoto's on the other hand isn't as bad." The girls stopped their teasing of Mina instantly to give Makoto a curious look. Makoto froze as they circled her searching for the mark Usagi was talking about. They found it, almost as dark as Mina's but nowhere near as large on the side of her neck, way up high, hidden by her ear from a frontal view. Makoto would have never seen it without being told it was there.

The girls smiled to each other and grinned evilly as they began their interrogation of the two embarrassed adolescents.