Here we go, I know it's been awhile but, I'm back and I'm gettin this fic back on track. Damia shows up in this chapter and... uh, there's also gonna be some monsters that are quite large(well, one in this chapter). Loads of fighting in this part, some angst and even a death. Also, Shawn returns in this one and, of course, flashbacks of Raika's past. I also want to say that I went back and changed something in Part 14: The Future(having to do with the scars Rei has). Time to get started...
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Part 22: Beauty and the Beast...
~Naomi's hospital Room~

"What did you want to ask me?" questions Ryoma, sitting in her chair next to Naomi's bed.

"Well... um, according to Setsuna, Rei's only blood-relation is her father." Minako says. Ryoma nods and the blonde continues, "So, Where do you fit-in?"

Ryoma takes a deep breath and lets it out, "Well, It would be hard for anyone to know." she replies, "I'm very thinly related to Rei. Her great-uncle, her mother's uncle, was my grandmother's half-brother. I had to trace my family-history to find out. The truth is, We've called one-another *cousins* because we used to be pretty close. Anyway, That's probably why you didn't know, Setsuna." she looks over at the senshi of time.

"Are you sure?" asks Minako.

"Of course." Ryoma replies, brushing some strands of hair behind her right ear, "It's quite possible that even Setsuna, as the Guardian of Time she was, overlooked it... I mean, no one can see everything, even through the gates of time."

"Well, Setsuna?" Minako turns to the dark-green haired woman.

"It is possible." Setsuna responds, her arms folded, "There are many things that can appear foggy or fuzzy through the gates of time. That is why an exact-future could never be predicted, even when the gates were all in-tact."

"Things are changing..." Ryoma says, as she turns to the sleeping Naomi.

"What d'you mean?" asks Minako.

"Well..." Ryoma replies, "I was talking to Serena and Rei earlier, and I found out that Rei got in touch with her father recently, which is strange since the last time was when she was eight."

"Really?" Mina says, then puts her right index finger to her chin, "I wonder what they could've talked about after all those years."

Ryoma grins, "About Rei telling him about her relationship with Serena." she says, "First time they talked in thirteen years and it was to tell her father she's with another woman."

"But that's not the only change." the crimson-haired woman continues, "There's the two of you." she turns to the other two women, "Minako, I remember when you dated two men at one time and now... you're in a relationship with a fellow Senshi." she says, "And you, Setsuna, There was a time that you wouldn't do anything, or let anything happen, that opposed *fate* yet now... Rei and Serena are together, and you don't want to come between them, you even approve the relationship."

"You do have a point." Setsuna says, "Well, Minako, We should go."

Mina nods to the Time Senshi and starts to get up but, Ryoma stops her by asking, "Would... would the two of you, mind staying for awhile. I'd like to have someone to talk to." an unusual request from Ryoma, since she likes being alone. Minako and Setsuna agree.

"It seems, We are not the only ones to have changed." says Setsuna.

"You're right." agrees Ryoma.
~Hospital Room that Rei and Serena are in; Next Morning~

Rei and Serena are sleeping peacefully together. Suddenly, Rei's eyes open and she thinks 'There's an evil presence close-by.' She gently slides out of the bed, avoiding waking the sleeping princess. Serena pulls herself into a loose fetal ball, as if she felt a sudden coldness where Rei was.

Rei walks over toward the window and hears an explosion. She runs to the window and opens the curtain to see a battle happening outside... Sailor Pluto, Sailor Venus and Sailor Lightstar are fighting a huge monster... about 18-22 ft tall, a pair of horns(one on each side of its head) pointing forward, the rest of its head and face has the features of one of the large cat family, spiking bones sticking out of its back and curling under its arms, and a blade extending out of its left forearm. Rei goes back over to the bed and attempts to rouse Serena, "Serena. Wake up!" she gently shakes the princess.

"mmm." Serena responds as she groggily opens her eyes, "What is it, Rei?" she asks.

"Get dressed." Rei tells her, as she begins handing the girl her clothes, "We've got Senshi-work!"

Serena's eyes open wider and she says, "Really?" Rei nods and Serena starts getting dressed. Once done...
"Mars Crystal Power!!"

"Moon Eternal Power!!"
The two transform and head out of the room.
~Outside~
"Pluto Deadly Scream!"

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

"Lightstar Raging Flame!"
The three blasts hit the monster but, does nothing as the creature responds by swinging its right arm into them, knocking the three of them down. It draws its arm back to finish them off, however, a flaming tiara comes flying at it. The tiara hits the monster and bounces back. Eternal Moon catches the tiara and returns it to her head.

"Need a hand?" questions Mars, with a smirk.

"Not really." Lightstar responds, "This is nothing we couldn't handle."

"Could you two act tough some other time?" Venus asks, then says, "That thing's impervious to our powers!"

"We'll see about that." Mars says, materializing her fiery bow and arrow.
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
She releases the flaming arrow toward the large monster. The monster holds up its hand and crushes the arrow in its palm. "What the!?"

"Ha! You can't defeat Behemoth with your Senshi-powers!" a familiar male-voice says, then the Senshi see Mamoru, or rather Endymion, perched on the monster's shoulder.

"Mamoru..." Mars says, her eyes narrowing, "I should have known. You did allow yourself to be possessed."

Eternal Moon's eyes widen and she looks at Endymion, "Is that true?" she asks, "Then, You *knew* what was happening to Rei?!"

"Of course he did!" Lightstar states, "He never could be trusted!"

Endymion smirks.

"How could I have ever loved you, you... BASTARD!!" Eternal Moon shouts.

Mars eyes narrow further and her brow creases, "You just lost your last lifeline, Mamoru. Now, I'll have no regrets killing you for what you did to me!" she dashes toward Behemoth.

"Behemoth." says Endymion.

"Roooaarrrr!" responds the monster, punching downward toward the oncoming Mars.

However, Mars jumps the punch as it hits the ground, she lands on Behemoth's fist and runs up its arm. Unfortunately, a kick catches her in the abdomen, knocking her off Behemoth's arm and she lands hard on the ground. Behemoth lifts its foot and attempts to squash Mars but, she rolls out from under it to one side and back-rolls to a one-knee position. Standing on the Behemoth's arm, near its elbow, is a girl the same age as Raika, blonde hair and hazel eyes(the girl from Raika's dream in part 20... Damia), she then vanishes.

"I think, you'll be the one to die, Sailor Mars!" Endymion says, then throws a rose... if there's one thing the guy can do, it's throw those stupid roses quite fast. *-Black Screen, Red Streak-*(like in the show) however, there's also a silver streak that cuts through the red one and two items stick into the ground. The rose sticks in the ground infront of Mars and the other, a shuriken(throwing knife), sticks in the ground to Mars right side... the blossom of the rose falls to the ground, the knife having clearly cut it in half.

Off to the Senshi-groups' left, with his right arm extended out to the side, a man wearing a hooded-cloak. Endymion has Behemoth throw a blast at the man but, he forward-flips over it and lands on the ground, the hood having flown back revealing a masked face and a fairly long black ponytail. He reaches over his left shoulder with his right hand, grabbing the mask and the cloak, and jerks them off. He throws them to one side, showing the all-black outfit he's wearing and revealing who he is...

"Shawn!" Venus states.

"Not any longer." he replies, "I have re-taken my birth-name, Toramaru. I shall explain later."

"You!" Endymion says, "Who are you?"

"I am the person who assisted the Senshi in their battles, after you left for America." Toramaru replies, "And, Though you would not know, I helped them from the shadows for nearly three years before then."

"So, That's who." responds Endymion, as he jumps down from Behemoth's shoulder.

"You are not intending to fight me, are you?" questions Toramaru, with an un-concerned expression.

"Of course but..." replies Endymion, snapping his fingers. Four youma burst up from the ground, surrounding the black-clad Toramaru, "I didn't intend to fight fair."

"......" Toramaru lowers his head, closing his eyes, and folds his arms. He brings his feet close together and lifts the heel of his right foot up slightly off the ground.

"Youma! Attack!" Endymion orders.

The first youma to attack is the one to the right of Toramaru, attempting a claw-attack. Toramaru, however, opens his eyes toward it and ducks under the attack, moving behind the youma. He wraps his left arm around the youma's neck and curls his right arm up and behind its head. He tightens his hold and, with a swift upward jerk, he breaks its neck. He then hooks his right arm under the dead youma's right arm and hip-tosses it to his left, then he returns to his former stance.

The youma behind him advances next but, Toramaru hits it in the face with a right back-fist and grips the handle of the shinobigatana(a slightly shorter, straight-bladed version of a katana) on his back. Drawing the sword from its scabbard, He spins it in his hand and thrusts it back through the youma's stomach. He turns the blade counter-clockwise to the side and jerks it out, cutting through the youma's side. Fluidly following the jerk, Toramaru spins and slices the youma in half. He stands and turns to the youma infront of him, as it charges toward him and swings a curved-blade.

Toramaru dashes around behind the youma as it swings and slices diagonally down-left, cutting through the youma's back and severing its spine. It falls to the ground and Toramaru returns his shinobigatana to its scabbard with a *ching*. He reaches down with his left hand and sinks his claws(?) into its head, then lifts its head up and the fingernails on his right hand extend into claws. He reaches his right hand around the youma's neck and uses the claws to cut its throat. He then drops the youma to the ground and retracts the claws. As the youma lays there, bleeding, Toramaru steps over it and the final youma advances toward him.

The youma strikes at him with its left fist but Toramaru blocks with his right arm. He then circles his right arm around and under the youma's arm, wrapping his hand behind the creature's head and jerks it downward. Toramaru thrusts his right knee into its abdomen and un-wraps his arm from its and delivers a right elbow-strike into the center of the youma's back. The youma drops to its knees and Toramaru steps over its back with his right leg. He reaches down and wraps his right arm around the front of the youma's head, then jerks to the right. The action breaks the youma's neck and back, and Toramaru then releases his hold and shoves the youma's body to the ground. He again returns to his original stance, with his arms folded.

'He's using his demon powers.' thinks Kyoko, who's standing on the roof of the hospital 'But, He is not in his demon-form.'

Endymion throws a rose toward the black-clad warrior and, without raising his head or opening his eyes, Toramaru catches the rose by the stem between his right index and middle fingers. 'He caught it!?' thinks Endymion.

Toramaru opens his eyes and looks at the flower, "A rose?" he says, then raises his gaze to his opponent, "Thanks but, I'm not into men." the line receives a few giggles from the Senshi.

"Have you not figured it out yet?" Toramaru continues, "With your limited skill, you are no match for me." he throws the rose up into the air and draws his shinobigatana, he slices through the rose and returns the sword into its scabbard before it falls in-two, "Thus, There is no way you could defeat Mars, or any of the Senshi!"

Endymion takes a retreating step, "I needn't waste my time here." he says, "Behemoth! Damia! Finish them off, then return to base!" he retreats through a portal.

"COWARD!!" yells Mars, holding her left arm. Eternal Moon runs over to her.

"Are you hurt, Rei?" asks Moon.

"It's nothing." Mars replies, cocky as ever, "I just hurt my arm when I was knocked off, that's all." "Besides," she adds, "We've still got that thing to take care of."

Toramaru lands near the Senshi, having jumped back away from one of Behemoth's attacks, "I shall have to leave Behemoth's defeat up to you." he says.

"What about you, *Shawn*?" asks Lightstar, emphasizing the use of his other name.

Toramaru looks at her, "It seems... I have another challenge." he says, turning his head to his left. The Senshi look in the direction and see the girl that kicked Rei.

"Do you know her?" asks Venus. Toramaru nods and walks away from the Senshi.

"Well, We have got our work cut out for us." Pluto says, "Our attacks have literally no effect on Behemoth."

"That's because it is not a youma... it is a Hell-spawn demon, the same as Hariel." Mars says, with slightly different tone in her voice and an vacant expression.

'Not this!' thinks Eternal Moon 'She's changing again.'

"Mars?" Venus asks, "What are you talking about?" when the senshi of fire doesn't reply, Venus reaches out to tap her on the shoulder.

However, She feels an intense heat through her glove, almost burning her fingers. The senshi of love jerks her hand back and, for the first time, she and Pluto see the Ifrit-Gauntlets slowly materialize on Mars' hands and forearms in flames. Mars runs toward Behemoth.

*scene-switch*

"Why are you here, Damia?" questions Toramaru.

"Shawn... It was you who caused Raika to leave Korea, to leave me!" Damia responds, dashing at Toramaru. She kicks with her left leg but, Toramaru ducks and backflips out of the way of her follow-up roundhouse kick with her right leg.

"I merely told her that she did not belong in Korea." Toramaru says, missing with left sweep kick, "She chose to come here. If I am not mistaken, She wanted you to leave with her."

"Shut up!" Damia states, connecting a right toe kick to the side of Toramaru's head, "I will not be swayed! Hariel granted me the power to destroy you, and all he asked in return was the extermination of the Sailor Senshi!" she attempts a heel drop onto Toramaru, which he catches and kicks her other leg out from under her, then backrolls to his feet.

*scene-switch*

Mars jumps and delivers a right punch against Behemoth's massive torso. Behemoth is pushed back but, otherwise, unfazed by the attack. The monster knocks her to the ground and roars. Mars flips to her feet and jumps another punch, again running up the monster's arm. When she reaches Behemoth's head, She hits the beast with right kick to the side of its head. However, Behemoth grabs her and throws her into a wall. Mars falls to the ground and the gauntlets disappear in a flash of flame.

"Rei!" Eternal Moon shouts as she runs over to the unconscious Senshi.

"How is she?" asks Lightstar.

"Just unconscious." Eternal Moon replies, "Otherwise she's fine..." 'I hope.' she adds in her mind.

Behemoth prepares to attack again, however, there's a sudden electrified whirlwind. After the whirlwind dissipates, Sailor Storm is standing where it was.

Toramaru and Damia stop fighting, "Raika!?" Damia shouts, "What're you doing here?! I warned you to leave."

"Damia... I may not have wanted to become a Senshi." Storm says, without looking at the other girl, "But, Being a Senshi does mean something to me." She takes her fighting stance, facing Behemoth, "There's no way I would dessert my friends!"

And, for the time, Damia appears trapped between her mission and her feelings for Raika. Toramaru takes this time to disappear into the shadows.

Before Storm can attack the large monster, though, the Senshi hear...
"Uranus World Shaking!"

"Neptune Deep Submerge!"
The blasts hit Behemoth, one from each side, and Uranus and Neptune run up to the others. Again, though, Behemoth is un-scathed.

"So, Tell me," Uranus says, "How're we supposed to beat this thing?"

Storm speaks up, "Our best hope... is the Delta Attack." she says, "But, Titan would need to be here."
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

"Pluto Deadly Scream!"
Venus and Pluto hit Behemoth again with their attacks, then dodge out of the way of its counter-attack when they fail to hurt it.
"Lightstar Haze of Fire!"
A bright haze burns Behemoth's eyes, temporarily blinding it.

"Wait. The Delta Attack?" asks Uranus. Storm nods and Uranus says, "I'm familiar with that attack!"

"Really?" asks Storm, "Then all we need is--"

"I'm ready." Lightstar says.

"As am I." adds Darkstar, as she shows up on the scene.

"Let's do it, then." Storm says. Uranus nods.
"Uranus World Shaking!"
Uranus' attack is different than usual as it stays underground and, when it reaches Behemoth's legs, it explodes underground and causes the monster to lose its footing and trip. Storm runs toward Uranus as Darkstar and Lightstar each energize a ball of energy. Uranus turns and interlocks her hands together, she holds her hands down infront of her and Storm places her right foot in the other Senshi's interlocked hands. Uranus' hands act as a springboard and Storm is send into the air, as Darkstar and Lightstar throw their blasts up toward Storm. Storm turns in the air and flips backward appearing like in slow-motion, she kicks the two blasts with her legs, one at a time.

The two blasts hit Behemoth as Storm lands on the ground. She pulls her hands back to her sides...
"Twin Sonic Extreme!"
She shoots her hands forward and releases a sonic wind-blast from each one, also hitting Behemoth.

When the dust clears, Behemoth is down to one knee but not out of the fight. Suddenly, Toramaru drops down out of, seemingly, nowhere and drives his longsword into the monster's right shoulder(he's no longer dressed in the ninja outfit but, rather, in his knight outfit). The action does no more than irritate Behemoth, though, as it grabs Toramaru and throws him to the ground.

Storm, however, doesn't give Behemoth the chance to stand, as she runs toward it and launches a flurry of kicks into its other leg(the one that's not on its knee). After several moments, Storm jumps and kicks the monster in the head twice with a left-front and a right-back roundhouse. But, As she's dropping back to the ground, Behemoth catches her in its hands. The beast shakes its large head and stands up.

"Oh no! Raika!" Eternal Moon shouts, "We have to help her!" ... Damia is still frozen.

"On it!" states Venus, "Venus Love Chain, Encircle!"

The energy-chain wraps around Behemoth's left arm and, at the same time, Toramaru's chain(the one normally around his right arm) wraps around the beast's right arm. They try to pull Behemoth's arms apart to free Storm but, its grip on the senshi of wind and lightning just tightens. Storm screams out but it suddenly fades as her gaze shoots straight forward and her eyes(or rather tiny lights in her eyes) start blinking.
Flashback...
~Laboratory: Somewhere(time: Silver Millennium)~

"It is finished!" a female scientist states, as the other scientists around her look on at what she's referring to... an android.

"Are you sure, Professor Asatashi?" one of the other scientists asks, "I mean, It's so small... the size a small child."

"But of course it is! The spirit we transferred into the inanimate body was indeed that of a young princess." Asatashi replies, "And, The nanotechnology that she has been designed with will allow her to age just like any other girl."

There's a sudden explosion and a guard runs in, "Queen Beryl is attacking!!"

"What!? We have to escape!" a scientist says.

"No!" Asatahi says, "I will not leave her!" the others try to convince the female scientist to escape but, to no avail. As Asatashi continues working, the others decide to leave her. Professor Asatashi finishes her work on a capsule and places the young girl(android) into it. She walks over toward the launch button but, a rafter falls onto her and breaks her legs.

As more things fall, the woman pulls herself with her arms to the control panel and pulls herself up. She reaches toward the button, "I hope you will live well... my daughter." she says, as she manages to press the launch button and launches the capsule into space.

End Flashback...
~Outside the Hospital~

'... I... remember...' thinks Storm, 'I'm not... human, at all!' she then screams as Behemoth's grip tightens further.

"Pluto! Darkstar!..." Storm shouts, "Prepare a... a barrier around this beast!"

"Why?" questions Pluto.

Storm screams in pain again, "I... finally remember, who and what I am!" she responds, "Now, The barrier, Please!"

'Raika...' Toramaru thinks, then tilts his head forward and closes his eyes, 'So, You have decided your own fate. Very well.' he opens his hand from around the chain and holds his arm up toward Behemoth, the chain un-wraps from around Behemoth's arm and returns to its place around Toramaru's arm. "Ka'en! Return!" he says, and his sword begins to glow. The sword removes itself from Behemoth's shoulder and flies toward Toramaru. He catches his sword and spins it around his index-finger, then sheathes it. (I failed to mention, before, that Shawn's(Toramaru's) broadsword(or rather, longsword) is custom-crafted with a metallic ring set at the connecting point of the guard and handle).

"Alright then." Darkstar says, lifting her Death Scythe.

"Are you sure, Kyoko?" asks Pluto. Darkstar nods her head once and Pluto raises her Time Staff. The two weapons glow an ominous purple and create a dome-like barrier around the area Behemoth is standing in, severing the Venus Love Chain. But, It also traps Storm with the beast(still in its grip).

Mars' eyes finally flutter slowly open, "Wh... What's going on?" she asks, causing Eternal Moon to turn toward her.

"Rei! You're awake." the moon princess says, hugging her raven-haired love, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Mars replies, as she stands up with Eternal Moon's assistance, "What is Raika planning on doing?"

"None of us know." Eternal Moon says.

"Damia... I've never told you but, I love you!" Storm shouts.

"R-Raika......" Damia finally voices.

Storm raises her head and looks straight forward, then she closes her eyes, "Initializing Detonation sequence... Beginning countdown." her eyelids raise with what appears to be a number 5 in the pupil of each of her eyes. Her eyes close and open with 4, then it continues the same... 3... 2... 1... as her eyes close this time(it appears in slow motion), 'My friends... I care for all of you.' she thinks 'But, I can no longer live my life as a... a stupid doll!' her eyes open again with a... 0... and then her eyes glow brightly, an odd magenta. The same glow encircles her entire body, 'Goodbye, everyone...' she thinks, just as the explosion occurs, causing a vibration that shakes the ground for several blocks.
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To Be Continued...
Well, I told you you this chapter was going to be B.A.D.(Battle, Angst, Death). Well, Be sure to check back next part... Especially if you believe Behemoth is dead. Raika, however, is dead(Okay, I spoiled that). Anyway, If you want to know exactly what happened with Raika then tell me in your reviews and I'll post what happened in the 'Author's Notes' chapter(posted earlier in this story). Also, There'll be a bit more explanation in the next chapter. Plus, The 'shinobigatana', not the 'ninja-to' as some say, was the type of sword that ninja used in ancient Nippon(Japan). I also have something I want to say to some people who have requested I change this stories format to 'past tense' rather than 'present tense'... alas, I'm sorry, I understand that it can get confusing but, I like present tense. I want this fic to seem more like it's happening as the reader reads it, rather than like a story being told to the reader like it's already happened. So, If you dislike present tense then, you can stop reading the fic if you want... Eventually, I may write an alternate version of the story in past tense, where everything happens the same except it won't be written in present tense, it may also have a slight difference in the very end. If you want, You can read this version 'and' the alternate one that I'll be writing in the future. Those of you who do tune in next time, I'll see you then. Ja!