You ask me, Sainze went absolutely bonkers after what Nylaxteorep did to him. He had no choice but to push every thought out of his mind and every emotion out of his heart in order to master the Sword 21 Technique and beat that damn horror before it killed him. Problem was, it probably cost him his soul too.
-Damien St. Cloud
They came across a few dozen youma attacking another hill, kept back by a small group of youths both male and female wielding a variety of farming tools. Nearer the top of the hill were the refugees from the village, many of them fearfully watching the battle. And on top of the hill itself was a ramshackle hut.
The senshi did not hesitate. Neither did Minobu.
"Deep Submerge!"
"World Shaking!"
"Hysteresis Wave!" He called out without thinking, even though it was a new attack to him, one that he had never used before. A strange flood of energy slammed into the youma, their bodies torn apart as any mildly magnetic substance in their bodies were literally pushed away.
Minobu stared in fascination at the effects of his attack, which was the result of his powers being unlocked by Endymion. He could also recall now the training he had received in the Silver Millennium, and the power over magnetism that his family back then had possessed in their own blood, similar to how the line of the Senshi was continued through their families. Hmmm… this is a useful attack… wonder if I can combine it with the Nameless Skill…
Almost all the youma were wiped out in their powerful strike, and the few remaining youma were too close to the village youths for them to use their energy attacks. Minobu summoned up his katana and wakizashi, and prepared to advance to their aid.
Then, one of the youths suddenly seemed to slip, and a youma lunged forward. Minobu and Michiru charged forward, but the youth's arm spun up without warning, cutting off the youma's head.
A series of small stones all slapped into the youths, into their joints and muscles, jerking them this way and that. The Senshi stared in fascination as the youths' movements becoming crisp and precise, cutting into the youma with ease.
"What was that?" asked Michiru as they watched a few more stones slap into a youth, causing him to twirl and slice off the limbs of another youma in a pirouette that could only be done by an expert of the sword.
"Somebody's manipulating them." Minobu said, his voice grim. Damn, I still can't sense Sainze's ki, even at this distance. Has he truly become one with his blade? And the way he's pushing those folks around… He's improved yet again. Maybe he's discovered the 23rd stroke?
Then the last youma fell, and the youths, instead of looking to Minobu and the Senshi, turned towards the hill, and all of them bowed solemnly. "Thank you for your instruction, Master! Please accept us as your students!"
"No." The voice from the small hut was devoid of feeling, but Minobu recognised it immediately. After all, Sainze and him had gone through hell together. "None of you are ready yet."
"Then when will they be ready, Raylic Sainze?" Minobu shouted out. "When they're dead?"
Everybody, the Senshi, the villagers turned to look at him in surprise.
Minobu continued, "They're older than we were when we started learning to fight, and they'll need it."
"If you think so, you're welcome to teach them instead, Tetsuhara."
"Oh come on, Sainze," Minobu griped, "You ready to let these kids die without giving them the best possible chance of surviving? I thought we'd both had enough of sending under-trained soldiers out to die."
All the villagers were staring at him in awe, as none of them had ever dared to speak to the silent hermit on the hill this way before. Meanwhile, Michiru and Haruka had gone to the village elders to ask them on their situation, while keeping an ear out for the discussion between the two men.
Then the door of the hut creaked open. Minobu could feel the jaws of the villagers dropping. One of them exclaimed, "We've never seen him leave the hut before!"
Minobu wasn't sure what to expect, but even he didn't expect the gaunt robed figure that stepped out of the house. Sainze had shaved his black hair off completely, leaving a bald pate above deep set eyes. He was thin to the point of starvation, but Minobu had a very bad feeling about Sainze. Michi was right, Sainze is half insane. I hope he cuts me some slack. I still don't feel quite up to speed. He was recovering from the injuries sustained protecting the Crystal Palace.
Sainze stared down, his blue eyes searing down like lasers, "I suppose General Noketsuna had a good reason to give up my location?"
Minobu grunted, "We're getting invaded by aliens, in case you haven't noticed."
"So I have. What else is new? And what does it matter to me?"
"People dying enough for you? We need your help, Sainze."
"They have you. Get Akuma and Fuchida, and the three of you will be enough to whip their sorry butts."
"It's not so simple. These are powerful enemies. Hell, I nearly got killed by one of them." An idea struck Minobu. "Hey, think of it as good training! And perhaps ways to perfect your skill!"
"Now you're talking my language." Sainze grinned sardonically. "I might help you, but I'll like to arrange a test."
"Name it."
"Simple." His cold smile, however, suggested it would be anything but simple. "You and your two companions have to wound me once to draw blood. Then I'll go with you. Not before."
"Space Sword Blaster!" Haruka immediately summoned her space sword, and unleashed the tremendous energy from her weapon at Sainze.
The energy surged up the hill, seemingly impossible to stop. Then just as it was going to hit Sainze, he lifted up a hand towards the energy blade. Instead of hitting him in a tremendous explosion, it spun around his hand, a golden gleam flitting about and around his fingers. He stared at it as though studying it.
"Interesting energy flows, man-who-wears-a-dress. Is that a new fashion nowadays in Japan?" Sainze sneered. "Unfortunately, I'm not impressed." He flicked a finger contemptuously, and sent the blaster back at Haruka, much faster than when she had fired it.
"Get out of the way!" Minobu shouted at Uranus. The villagers had smartly put some distance between themselves and the field of battle, so at least she didn't have to worry about them. Haruka managed to leap out of the way, but the explosion still threw her to one side.
She couldn't believe it. She had put in a solid amount of energy, but it was like nothing to the man! That's at least three times more energy than I sent at him!
"Sainze, quit fooling around!" Minobu yelled, "Somebody will get hurt!"
"That's what this test is about." Sainze said, beckoning the Senshi forward. "Your ranged attacks will not work on me. Try to close."
Haruka looked at Michiru, and her best friend nodded. One of them would continue attacking with energy attacks, while the other sought to close.
"Aqua Mirror Reflection!" Michiru held up her mirror, and fired a bolt of energy at Sainze, which dissipated into nothing as it reached him. No blood.
Haruka used her impressive strength to leap up the hill, but suddenly there was a rattling sound from below her. The swords of the fallen youma who littered the base of the hill were flying at her!
Before they could reach her, the swords were shattered by Minobu's sword energy. He had his own weapon out, but she could see that he was still not fully recovered from the battle at the palace.
Haruka landed on the ground, but before she could jump again, the grass around her suddenly stirred, as if there was a wind.
"Uranus, watch out!" Michiru shouted as the grass came to life, the leaves suddenly breaking from the ground and heading towards Haruka.
What the… Haruka suppressed a wave of panic that came over her as the first passing leaf slashed her on her left arm. The grass leaves were also weapons!
Haruka raised her sword to defend herself, but there were too many of the leaves swirling around her. She found herself pushed back, and when the pressure became too much, she leapt back down to rejoin Minobu and Michiru.
"Not easy, is it?" Minobu added several curses, and Michiru blushed at his choice of epithets. "We'll need a plan, to coordinate our actions to get to Sainze. You might not have realised it, but he's set up the hill in a defensive formation. For example," Minobu pointed to some rocks, "Those rocks make it difficult for us to dodge."
"You know how to get to that bastard?" Haruka muttered, angry at having her attacks foiled so easily.
Magnetite raised an eyebrow at her tone, "Bastard's the correct term for him, but he doesn't care. Anyway, here's the thing…"
Moments later, the three of them faced Sainze again. He had remained motionless while waiting for them, and he said, "Do not keep me waiting. Come."
Minobu advanced first, both of his swords out and flashing quickly. Sainze sent rocks and blades of grass at him, but the samurai was able to deflect the projectiles.
Haruka stayed several steps behind him, fending off her own share of attacks, which was not as heavy as against Minobu. Neptune would use her Aquamirror Reflection now and again, serving to distract Sainze further. Now, she just had to wait for her chance…
"Nice tactic, Tetsuhara, but I can see it coming a mile away," taunted Sainze.
"Knowing the blow's falling doesn't really make it any easier to avoid," Minobu taunted back. Haruka realised that the two were just used to ribbing each other. Just a few more steps for Magnetite, and then he'll be able to fight to Sainze.
"I won't pull my blows," Sainze said as he produced a massive black blade that was almost 2 meters long. He held it easily in one emancipated hand, then waited for Minobu to reach him.
"Come on then!" Minobu moved in front of Sainze, and both his swords slashed at Sainze, who was also swinging that big sword. There was a tremendous clash of metal, so loud that Uranus thought it shattered her eardrums.
Minobu was flung away by the force of Sainze's blow, moving back down the hill, even as he tried to stop his backwards motion by digging into the ground with his swords. Then he finally halted after almost a hundred meters, leaning over his swords, and Haruka saw a thin line of blood trickling down his chin. Then he fell to his knees, and coughed out a burst of blood.
"Minobu!" Michiru was obviously concerned for him, but Haruka knew he had given her an opportunity. Sainze had also been pushed back by the impact, and was barely keeping his balance.
"Space Sword Blaster!" She noted with satisfaction that he had to dodge her attack this time. You can't dodge forever, baka!
Sainze lifted up his left hand, the one without the sword, and suddenly several more stones flew at her from his hand. Haruka acted on instinct, blocking the stones, well, most of them. The few that got past the sword slashed light wounds all over her limbs, and none on her torso.
Then he suddenly advanced, that huge blade descending on her with unbelievable speed. Haruka did not even bother to block. She fell backwards and rolled away, then came up with her sword at the ready, and sprang back in.
Sainze was also ready for her with yet more stones that he had somehow picked up. More of them got through this time, and Haruka realized that her wounds were affecting her concentration. She focused herself, I must hit him!
She could see from his eyes that he was no longer taking her easily, and the intense look on his face was strangely familiar. He said, "Give it up, mister, you're losing more and more blood, and your defences will drop soon. You can't hit me, so you might as well give it up now."
"In your dreams, sucker!" Haruka yelled as she pushed forward. She was also more than a bit infuriated that he thought she was a man, even though this had never even bothered her in the past! What's wrong with me?
She stabbed forward, and he parried easily, then swung her blade around with deceptive speed. Haruka managed to pull her blade back, then his left hand shot again with the stones. Unable to dodge them in time, Haruka twisted sideways to present the lowest target profile.
Unfortunately, it also meant the stones sliced through the front and back of her fuku. Especially the front.
Haruka felt a thin breeze over her chest, but she ignored it as she struck at Sainze yet again. And for some reason this time, he was not moving, but rather staring at her. At her chest, more exactly.
Haruka managed to remember that they needed this baka's help in time for her to change the blade's position from its edge to its flat as she hit him. There was ultimately a loud and very satisfying thunk on Sainze's bald head, and he fell back slowly, shock on his face.
What was he looking at? Thought Haruka, before she remembered the chill on her chest. She looked down. "Eeeek!" Her chest and her breasts were exposed by the torn fuku! She was practically topless!
"Hentai!" She immediately kicked the unconscious man on the ground, and was ready to use her sword on him for daring to expose her when Neptune and Magnetite straggled up the hill. Michiru was supporting Minobu, who was still coughing up some blood. They were followed by several of the village youths.
"Haruka-chan, stop!" Michiru shouted.
"Not that I feel this bastard deserves it, but we really cannot afford to have him permanently incapacitated now." Minobu added with a grin, trying to keep his eyes away from Haruka. He took off his own jacket and draped it around Haruka.
"Is he all right?" A young girl asked.
"Let's find out." Minobu leaned down and propped Sainze to a sitting position. Before Michiru could kneel down in front of him, Haruka did so first. Oh no, she was going to get her licks in first. The kick just wasn't enough revenge. She wanted satisfaction.
Uranus slapped Sainze across the face several times to try to wake him up, and the others winced at the strength she was putting into her blows.
"Are you trying to drive him further into unconsciousness?" Michiru asked after the sixth such slap.
"No, this isn't even a tenth as hard as I would like to actually hit him."
Minobu grimaced.
"Owwwie…" Raylic Sainze groaned, then opened his eyes to see the vengeful blonde woman in front of him, looking as though she still wanted a piece of him. Well, at least he knew now she was a woman. Hey, who knew what obscene fashions were in vogue, right? He had assumed she was just a man wearing the latest in fashion, until his stones had sliced open the front of her uniform and revealed, uhhhh, her assets.
And so he had committed the cardinal sin of staring for too long. And got himself knocked out. But he had to admit, her… assets were worth looking at. Enough to compensate for the pains on his body.
The top of his head hurt, his cheeks were swollen, and a place on his torso was really achy. He was just grateful she didn't kick him in the groin. And he couldn't figure out why he had lost his calm, the state of no emotion he had attained in the hut the moment he had seen Minobu and the blonde woman. Especially the blonde woman. And he just couldn't get it back, no matter how hard he tried to push his emotions away again.
"Well, looks like we passed your test, eh?" Minobu grinned.
"Yeah, well, if it wasn't for the fact that I got this bi…" Venomous glare from blondie. "Uhhh, lady here mistaken for a man, I would not be knocked out."
"What?! How dare you mistake me for a man! I am 100% woman, you baka!" Haruka suddenly exploded again, grabbing him by the throat and throttling him, before Michiru got her in an armlock and dragged her back, while speaking into her ear to calm her down before she inflicted any more bodily harm on him, coughing to get air back into his lungs.
"Excuses, schemuses." Minobu waved his hands. "You lost, so live up to the deal."
"Fine. Just get your hands off. I can get up myself." Sainze stood up. "Tetsuhara, I did not expect you to be wounded before the fight."
Minobu shrugged, "No big deal. I didn't expect you to hold back either."
Sainze smiled thinly. Minobu Tetsuhara was perceptive. One of the village youths came forward, "Sir, can we ask you again…"
"To teach you?"
They nodded.
He raised an eyebrow, "I just got my butt kicked, and you still want to ask me that?"
"By two Senshi," A boy, almost an adult, pointed out. "They are the protectors of Queen Serenity, and the most powerful beings on Earth. Being able to fight two of them is incredible."
What about Minobu? Doesn't he count? Sainze wanted to ask, but he realized that his old comrade would rather stay in the background. He thought about it, and made his decision.
"Very well then, since you are all insistent. Get your belongings together, and meet up here in 10 minutes."
"Yes sir!" They shouted with glee, and sprinted back down the hill.
He turned to Minobu, "I'll need to collect some of my stuff from the hut."
Minobu nodded, "Go on."
They followed him into the hut, and there was a gasp from the women. His hut was almost bare. Spartan would have been too weak a term to describe his home. There was only a small pot above an encircled fire area in one corner, a straw mat that was obviously his bed with some clothes on it, and a low stool that doubled as a writing table, with some books and journals beside it. Nothing else.
Tetsuhara shook his head, "Nothing beyond the blade is no way to live…"
"We're all dead men, sooner or later. Does it matter?" Somehow, being back in his hut, it was easier to push away his emotions, and he was falling back into that state…
"No, dammit, Sainze." Minobu suddenly grabbed him. "You're not cutting your emotions off again. You're not going to become a walking machine that only breathes and talks like a human being. Haruka, grab him and stay on him. We'll pack for you, Ray."
For some reason, there was a stab of joy at learning the name of the blond woman. Haruka… She walked up next to him, and suddenly he was unable to drop into the state of no emotion again.
They gathered outside the hut, along with about two dozen village youths. Sainze looked them over critically, and asked them again, "Are you sure you wish to follow me? You'll have to fight in the coming war, and it may cost you more than you will ever know."
Not a single one left.
"What about the rest of the villagers?" Sainze asked.
The turquoise haired woman who stayed close to Minobu answered in a melodious voice, "I've called for the local garrison to transport them to a safe location. They'll be here in a few minutes. We can wait until they're safely away, then we teleport to the Crystal Palace."
"What about these kids?"
"They'll be part of the Palace Guard, if they should accept. They've done well, holding off the youma without powers or real weapons. They'll be even better under your tutelage, I think."
Sainze nodded. Then he sneaked another look at Haruka, wondering what was it about her that made his heart beat that much faster whenever they were close together.
The man coughed hard several times, in the dark, damp dungeon. He wheezed a bit, trying to recover from the coughing fit.
He was in a room, a cell, actually, packed with people. Many of them were silent in their despair, awaiting some form of dire fate. He shook his head. He knew there was something he should know, but he just could not remember. He could not even remember his own name.
He only knew, from scattered conversations with the other prisoners, that they had been captured by the Dark Planet Kingdom in Europe, and that he had been brought into the cell with a serious head injury, which was almost healed now. Nobody knew what was going to happen to them, but it was obvious it wasn't going to be good.
"Slop for the day!" A guard in black garb announced as he walked by with a huge pot of plain gruel. Several monsters, youma they called them, stood by one side, ready for any signs of escape.
The man gulped down a mouthful of the gruel, a cup being the standard allotment for a prisoner, before turning the rest of the cup over to a young mother pregnant with child. He felt she needed the nourishment more than he did. She smiled gratefully at his gift, thanking him profusely.
He had a feeling that being hungry might actually help clear his mind, bring back his memories. This wasn't the first time he had gone hungry, he somehow knew. Then he laid down on the stone floor, trying hard to grasp the strange threads which would lead him to his memories…
One by one, the partners are revealed. Doesn't take much to guess who goes where!
Profile 1
Minobu Tetsuhara
Callsign: Iron Hunter
As Agenasi: Vortexreaper
As Endymion's General: Magnetite
Weapons:
Duty's Call (Katana)
Honour's Sorrow (Wakizashi)
Special Attacks:
Endless Pain(Not individualised yet; final move of the Nameless Skill)
Hysteresis Wave
Magnetic Storm
Polarising Current
