Chapter 21









Kuroshi stares in her vanity mirror with a sense of foreboding welling up in the pit of her stomach. Today was the Sakura Blossom festival and there was soon to be a parade where the royal family and guards will be apart of it.

Onyx and her were asked to be in it, but only he would be in it for he had to advertise his companies. She, on the other hand, declined, saying the she could watch out for trouble easier if she was somewhere in the crowd.

She smiles faintly as she thought of Onyx, her mate. Even thought it was not a mating of love, she could learn to love him.

*Mating was never really about love; it's an equal partnership. *



"Renity, it'd time to go!" Her mate called.



"Ok." She said, standing up and casting one more glance at her reflection in the mirror.



She had the same hairstyle, as always, with black berets and wore white low riders with a white short sleeve t-shirt and black tank top over it and black army boots tucked under the leggings.

With a sigh she left the room, going to her spot as planned.



***



"Wow!" Pallapalla exclaims at the cheering crowd, "This is soooo much fun!"



She and the others were tossing out candy and toys to the children in the crowds. Chibiusa also helped along with Hotaru and were having a blast.



"Lets see who can toss it the farthest!" Cerecere announces holding a plush toy.

"Ok!" the others agreed and takes aim.

They threw them out into the awaiting crowd of children.



"I got it! I got it!" A little girl exclaims.

"No! I got it!" A boy said and pushes the girl away from the toy and caught it.

The girl stares at him as tears began to well up in her eyes.

"Hey there," A voice says, "What's wrong?"

The little girl looks up at a young black woman. "He took my toy!"

Kuroshi smiles sadly, "Her you go, little one." She hands the girl a small plush Luna look alike doll.

The girl squeals and hugs the black lunarian. "That you!" And the runs off to tell her mother what happened.

Kuroshi watched the child go with a half longing and half wistful expression. She remembered that along time ago, she was once like that little girl and she had also, at one point and time, wanted to have a family of her own someday.

With a sigh, she leaves and fades into the crowd.



***



He grins as he watched the parade, "Perfect timing. " He turns and looks at the four kneeling before him.

"Sakeko," Sakeko was a ball headed, green skin with blue eyes youma that wore a two-piece bikini and had webbed feet and hands.

"Hebiko" Hebiko was like an ordinary looking woman with fiery red hair and long snakelike fangs and fork tongue. It also didn't help that she had a tail like a snake.

"Hane" Hane was a male with golden orange hair, golden eyes, with light yellow skin. He wore something akin to Roman or Greek clothes that end at his knees and from there, there was his laced up sandals. And as his namesake, he had long light blue wings on his back.

"And Akuki." Akuki was a young woman dressed in traditional green kimono with small branches of twigs sticking out of either side of her head. She had pale green hair and darker green eyes.

"Yes master?" They asked.



***



Neo-Queen Serenity smiles and waves at the crowds, occasionally tossing out candy or a doll out to the children, froze.

"Usako, what is the- " He too stopped and rose to look up as did the senshi and Onyx.

"Something's coming." Michiru says, standing closer to Haruka, "The Sea is roaring with warning."

"And the wind is whispering that trouble is a brew."

"Get ready guys!" Minako shouts.



Chibiusa stood near her parents, clutching her mother's hand. "Mama, what's going on?" The senshi took up their stations around the royal family.





"Wings of Death!" Came a screeching cry out of the blue.

The Senshi shielded themselves and try to shield the family as well.

That's when a shot went off, causing everyone to get down.

"What was that?!" Endymion asked looking around.

Onyx came up behind them with a pistol in his hand. "Are you guys ok?" He asked looking down at them.

"Yeah,-" Minako only got out before they were attacked again.

"Serpent's venom!"

" Deep Submerge!"

"Aqua Rhapsody!"

The two water attacks combined and attacked the poison that was heading their way.



They had gotten enough time to transform, all of them.

"Where's Kuroshi when you need her?" Mars mutters as she dodges Sakeko's attack.

"I don't know!" Vesta shouts, "Lion's Claw!"

Akuki dodges the attack. "Vines of Evil!"

"AAAHHH!!" The vines wrapped themselves around five of the senshi, squeezing them tightly.

"Pink Lady's Freezing Kiss!" Chibi moon shouts, freeing her friends.

"Celestial Bomb!" Endymion says, blasting Sakeko to the ground.

"Thanks!" Jupiter said, " Oak Evolution!"

"Gaahhh!" Sakeko disappears into nothingness.

"Vines of Evil!" Akuki yells again, this time trapping everyone. "Not so tough now, are you?"

"Wanna bet?" Onyx's eyes glowed red and begins to shred the vines with his claws.

"Don't you weeds ever go away?" A fireball floats in his hand as the corner of his mouth kicks up, showing a little fang, " Shinohi!" He throws it at the monster, as it expanded killing Akuki.



"Son of a bitch!" Hane scowls, "You aren't going to get me that easily!"

"Wanna bet?" Onyx jumps up " Claws of Steel!" And slashes downward, cutting off his wings.

"You have just gotten your wings clipped." Onyx turns, "Anyone for fried chicken, extra crispy?" He raises his hand once more, " Shinohi!"



"Gaaaahhh!" And that was the end of Hane.



Then Onyx finally turns towards Hebiko, who stood there shaking. "Wanna tango?" Onyx asked as he walked towards the youma with a purpose, "Where is she?"



"Who?!" Hebiko backs away. "Serpent's Venom!"



He dodges it, "Claws of Steel!" And slashes right through her, cutting the snake in half.



He turns towards the Senshi, "I have to find her!" Then bounds off onto the roofs following her scent.



***



Kuroshi glares at her opponent, readying herself for combat. "Who are you?" She asked him.

The dead blue eyed man with short white hair stood in front of her, with a blank look on his face.

"The name's" He got into a fighting stance, "Tora, Shirotora."

"Kuroshi! Now what is your business here?"

"None of yours!" He puts his hands together and thrust them out yelling, "Tiger Claw!"

"Shield!"

The attack hit Kuroshi's shield with surprising strength. She smirked, *I just might get a decent fight. * She thought letting the shield down, "Alright!" She concentrated on her power, "Star Beam Shower!"

A blinding light came out of her index finger and then spilt into mini beams, landing around or on her opponent.

But out of the smoke, he came running, straight at her with his light saber aimed straight for her heart.

She flips out of the way and jumps up into the air, "Angelic Arrows!"

The single silver arrow multiplied and showers down on him, piercing his arms and down his back.

"Alright, then, you halfling, " He pants, "Now it's time to show you my real power!" With that, he ran at her with inhumane speed and brought his dagger out. "Here we go!" and slashes her in the same spot where she had gotten her scar from her fight with the Black Phoenix.

"Mystery Mists!" She shouts and moved away from him. *Good thing for me that I have very good sense of hearing. *

She glanced at the blood in her side and sighs heavily, it was gonna scar again, even bigger than last time. She shook her head and stood up, that man is going down! With that she drew the sword that was in her subspace pocket and pulls it in front of herself.

The sword was, of course, old but fortunately it wasn't dull at all. It was the same sword she had worn since she was nine; her friends/family/ fellow spies had given it to her, as a gift and from then on she never let it out of her sight.



Now, she was going to kill the bastard. *Mist, separate! * She commanded mentally and the mists disappeared, revealing Shirotora standing, with his saber, facing her.



"Lets go" She whispers and attacks, "Aaahhh!"

"Bitch." He mutters and came at her.

Their sword clashed as they exchanged blows, neither one giving up on the other.



That was the scene Onyx and the senshi stumbled on. Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Uranus and the Quartet with Chibimoon were with him.



"Who's she fighting?" Chibimoon asked her elders, "I don't think we've seen him before."

But Onyx knew him; he walks towards the battle, with a purpose in mind.

***

Kuroshi landed again, breathing heavily, "He's strong, very strong, just like Ryuu was." She took a little time to breathe in some air. "Ok let's finish this!" She yells out and stood again. She had to do this quickly before her strength wanes out and she would be helpless.

She pointed her sword at him, "Hypermortis -" She began.

Shirotora smirked and raises his sword at her with one hand. "Earth Sphere..."

"STOP!" A voice commands, "Stop this right now!"

The two looks towards the source of the voice.

"Onyx.." Kuroshi says quietly, "It's.." She shook her head and put on and angry face, "Why are you here? Why are you stopping us?" She demanded.

Shirotora disengaged and kneels before Onyx, his sword before him, "Lord Onyx."

Everyone looked from Onyx to the man kneeling on the ground. Kuroshi puts up her sword and folds her arms over her chest, "Lord Onyx?" she raised an arched eyebrow, "You've got to be kidding me."

Onyx ignored the man strides over to her, taking her into his arms, "Well, what did you expect me to be?" He asked pulling her close, "And when I get you home..." He whispered in her ear exactly what he would do, making her blush o badly that the others noticed the slight red tinge to her face.

"Onyx!"

He chuckled at her embarrassment then turned toward Shirotora. "Why are you here? And where have you been, Shiro?"



Shiro rose, putting away his blade, "So, she is your mate?" He looked her over, "Should've known, you only pick the best, even if she is a halfling." He scratched his head a little, "Bah, there's nothing to do about." He looks over at the dumbfounded senshi, "Anyway, I've been sleeping for centuries, then I just wandered this planet."



Kuroshi shook her head, "I don't know whether to be pissed off or not." She mutters with a small smile on her face.



But then she felt a familiar pulse throughout her body, rocking her to the core. Her smile faltered as she went down on one knee, scowling a little. *Damn it! Not now! *



Onyx looks at here, a frown playing on his face as she winced again. He could smell it, what was happening to her and knew he would have to take her away for a day or so. With his mind made up, he picks her up into his arms, paying no heed to her protests.

"What's wrong with her?" Sailor Pallas asked. "Is she hurt?"

"Her pulse rate is abnormally fast and her body temperature has exceeded the normal degree." Mercury told them and looks up with her visor on, "We better get her to the hospital before she goes into a seizure fit."

"Shiro, delay them, just in case they are to fellow us." He commanded.

"Yes, sir." Shiro turns towards the Senshi, "I am sorry but I must do as my liege tells me."

"Where are you taking her?" Uranus demands.

"It is none of your business to know where I am taking my mate, Uranus." With that said, he left the senshi and his knight.

"Did he just say. 'My mate' or was that just me?" Vesta asks out loud.





AN: Hope you enjoy this, strandrad disclaimers. I do own Shirotora and his powers, I also own the whole Black lunarian theme and stuff like that.

Name Meanings:

Shirotora/ Shiro Tora = White Tiger.

Kuroshi= Black Death

Shikaze= Death wind or wind death, (which ever you want)

If I missed any please e-mail me. R&R