-
Chapter 22
A faint trace of fear creased Dana's face. "What was that?"
My face grew hard, "I have no clue. But I think I ought to find out."
"Ryan, not again-"
I looked at Dana and flashed her a smile. "I'll be fine. Trust me."
I exited into the hall and began to walk towards the elevator. The ground rumbled slightly and my magical awareness began to bombard me with signals of imminent danger. I whispered an arcane spell and pulled a long black cloak and sword from a dimensional pocket. Swathing myself in the cloak, I pulled the sword out of its scabbard and the dagger from the bottom. I had the sneaking suspicion that I might need both in the coming fight.
As the elevator counted down the floors, I grew more and more apprehensive. I knew there was danger. I could feel it in my bones. But of what sort I could not fathom. The elevator door dinged open and I stepped out into the open lobby, a place familiar to me as a battleground. I could not see any bodies around, thankfully due to the early hour of the disturbance.
I did however, see my target. Three of those malevolent man-at-arms stood around, looking somewhat confused as to their next moves. The early hour meant that not many were in the building, not even the security team.
I grinned and called out, "Looking for someone?"
They turned, staring at me with glowing recessed eyes. "General?"
I was taken aback by the title, "And if I am?"
"We are here for you
I flipped the dagger around in a backhanded grip and smiled devilishly, "You will have to work at it, then."
The first came at me, swinging high with a massive war hammer. I ducked easily and moved on to engage the next. He dodged back, every bit as nimble as I was, trying to ward me off with an energy based polearm of some sort. I backstepped quickly, just in time to dodge the crashing sword of the third.
I smiled arrogantly and stabbed out quickly, catching the swordsman in the arm. As he howled in pain, I closed the distance and thrust my dagger as deeply as I could into the s lits of his helmet. The creature howled in pain, clutching at the gruesome implement that stuck out like some grotesque mechanical appendage. The other two backed away slightly, unwilling to test the skilled fighter in their midst.
I twirled the sword around my hand, matching their silence with a bloodthirsty grin. "Easy as sneezing."
They seemed reluctant, so I casually walked over to their fallen comrade and pulled the dagger from his head. I started to flick the greenish blood off the blade, then stopped as I saw it evaporate quickly. I pointed it at the hammer warrior. "You next."
He had the luxury of the first move, an arcing swing to bring a smashing and fight ending blow onto my vulnerable head.
I muttered softly, "Amateur."
I stepped out of range, letting the hammer spend its energy on the tiled floor. With all inertia gone in a jarring blow, I hacked at the attackers torso, feeling the blade cut through the plate mail easily. The armored warrior staggered back a step before collapsing from wounds that would have instantly killed any human.
The polearmist sensed a chance and lunged for the kill. I spun, batting away the outstretched blade then tossing my dagger at him in a vain attempt to end the fight once and for all.
However, he was too savvy for that and easily deflected it with the bottom of his polearm. But, I, too, realized the futility of the throw and moved accordingly. When his attention was focused onto the dagger, I closed the distance and buried my sword up to its hilt into his torso.
I trembled faintly from the exertion and to this day, swear that the youma was smiling at me.
It fell noiselessly to the ground, the blade freeing itself in the process. I half smiled then jogged over to retrieve my dagger. I was halfway there when a terrible feeling draped itself over me.
I leapt backwards just in time to see Sailor Mars lunge at me, her hand outstretched with one of those paralysis charms she always carried. I felt a trace of fear surge through me, but pushed it aside. For where there is one senshi, there are always more following.
When I landed, I blocked her outstretched arm, keeping it away from me at all costs. She grappled with me willingly, whispering underneath her breath, "In the name of Mars, I will stop you."
Not even bothering to reply, I trapped the hand carrying the ofuda and drove my finger into a pressure point. She shrieked in pain and dropped it to the ground. I shoved her back away as far as I could without hurting her, only to clash with another Sailor Senshi. This time, I was nearly driven into the floor.
She swung her blade expertly, hacking at my sword savagely, "In the name of Uranus, I will-"
I snarled at her, "Save it," I disengaged quickly scampering over to my dagger on the floor. I could sense other senshi around me, but little time to gain my hearings before.
"Venus Love Me Chain!" Without thinking, I hurled myself to the left, feeling the wind rush by me. A freight train missed, but not quite the end of my troubles.
He was fast. Too damned fast in her opinion. Rei felt her hand gingerly, then flexed it a couple of times.
Sailor Jupiter came over to apprise the situation, "No permanent disability?"
"No, though I don't doubt that he could have if he wanted to."
"Good for him. Luckily, we don't want to kill him, just disable him." Her voice scaled up into a thunderous yell, "Supreme Thunder Dragon!"
A bolt of lightning snaked out to touch the cloaked figure, but he managed to dodge the attack. Sailor Neptune tried her best, but she too managed to miss hitting him by a hair. Haruka took a far more direct method, clashing with the sword again and again, trying to wear him down.
Rei smirked and pulled another ofuda from the air. This time she wouldn't fail.
She was stronger, less inhibited, and just as fast as me. And now she had me trapped while trying to ward of her vigorous assaults. I think her name was Sailor Uranus.
I felt another stab of danger and knew that if I did not act in a second, I would have my back on the ground with a bunch of grim faced ladies surrounding me.
Instead of blocking her next attack, I deflected it to the side and kicked her as hard I could in the stomach. She went flying across the room and smashed into a pillar-
-she knew that she had him right where she wanted. He turned to block her again, but it was too late for anything fancy. The cloaked man fell back under her weight and they tumbled for a bit. His hand wrapped strongly around hers bearing the ofuda, while his other gripped the sword for dear life.
Rei lost track of the fight for a moment, trying to touch the paper to his body, if only for a moment.
Then all of sudden he was behind her. Her ofuda arm was pulled across her body where it could not touch him and his sword had found his way underneath her neck.
He breathed heavily. "Now, we talk."
I pulled Sailor Mars closer to me, to better use her to shield me from any overly ambitious senshi attacks. It served its purpose and the rest of them backed up slightly.
I spoke softly into Rei's ear, "I would be much obliged if you dropped the charm to the floor."
Given her situation, she showed admirable poise and control, "And if I do not?"
"Then I will be forced to separate your hand from your wrist. I am quite averse to being paralyzed. Does bad things for digestion, you see. You certainly understand that it's nothing personal."
She almost smiled and let the ofuda waft to the floor. "Now what?"
"Now we wait for Sailor Moon."
A minute passed before the senshi leader arrived with the rest of the warriors. Her eyes widened at the unsavory situation, then was calmed by an almost imperceptible nod of the head from Sailor Mars.
I counted silently, "There are seven of you." The one that had tried to smite me in the name of Uranus spat out, "There are only seven of us. Get to the point."
I gazed at her calmly, "I think not. There are eight, last I counted. Which means that one is sneaking up behind me right now." I turned my attention to Sailor Moon, "Call off the eighth, or I will slit this one's throat."
She hesitated for a moment too long, and I let my voice fall a decibel and essayed up a chilling smile, "Do you think I'm joking?"
I moved the blade an inch closer to Rei's neck. "Try me."
Usagi breathed in deeply and sighed, "Alright. You win."
The eighth senshi moved into my vision. She wielded a wicked looking glaive, complementing her aura of absolute calm. I was glad I did not have to tangle with her.
The leader looked at me calmly, "What do you want?"
I smiled slightly, "I could ask you the same thing. Your senshi attacked first."
Sailor Moon's eyes went wide, "Indeed? I remember ordering no attack."
"Then I suggest you remember quickly. Because one most certainly happened."
A senshi in orange, that I identified as Sailor Venus, "Princess, I ordered this attack. We did not mean to harm him, but I believe that we needed to find out his stance on us."
I glared at her, "You could have asked nicely."
"We tried to contact you. You certainly recall Tuxedo Mask following you?"
I let my gaze convey surprise, "Really now? I recall him chasing me through Tokyo."
Icily, "Enough." Sailor Moon assumed the authority of Serenity, "Do you mean us harm?"
Rei tensened, but I tightened my grip, "Princess, I mean no one harm save for those who would cause it themselves."
Usagi looked at me, "Then why have you taken her hostage?"
"Because, while I trust you personally, Princess Serenity, I have my doubts about the others."
She perked up at the careful enunciation of her name, "How do you know that name?"
I gazed at her, "Because I do. Please let me go, Princess."
"One more question. Who are you?"
I grimaced and I knew that she could tell despite the swathed clothes. "You don't want to know the answer to that question."
She inclined her head gracefully, "Then you have my promise that none of those assembled will fight or follow you when you leave."
I nodded, "Then that is assurance enough for me." I lifted the blade and spun a surprised Sailor Mars around in a semi-dance move. Leaning over her gloved hand, I brought it to my clothed mouth for a kiss. "My lady, it has been a pleasure."
She chuckled quietly, "A gentleman killer. How quaint."
"The best kind."
I jogged over to retrieve my fallen dagger, nearest to Sailor Uranus. That earned me a snarl and I grinned before disappearing into the nearest open elevator.
Chapter 22
A faint trace of fear creased Dana's face. "What was that?"
My face grew hard, "I have no clue. But I think I ought to find out."
"Ryan, not again-"
I looked at Dana and flashed her a smile. "I'll be fine. Trust me."
I exited into the hall and began to walk towards the elevator. The ground rumbled slightly and my magical awareness began to bombard me with signals of imminent danger. I whispered an arcane spell and pulled a long black cloak and sword from a dimensional pocket. Swathing myself in the cloak, I pulled the sword out of its scabbard and the dagger from the bottom. I had the sneaking suspicion that I might need both in the coming fight.
As the elevator counted down the floors, I grew more and more apprehensive. I knew there was danger. I could feel it in my bones. But of what sort I could not fathom. The elevator door dinged open and I stepped out into the open lobby, a place familiar to me as a battleground. I could not see any bodies around, thankfully due to the early hour of the disturbance.
I did however, see my target. Three of those malevolent man-at-arms stood around, looking somewhat confused as to their next moves. The early hour meant that not many were in the building, not even the security team.
I grinned and called out, "Looking for someone?"
They turned, staring at me with glowing recessed eyes. "General?"
I was taken aback by the title, "And if I am?"
"We are here for you
I flipped the dagger around in a backhanded grip and smiled devilishly, "You will have to work at it, then."
The first came at me, swinging high with a massive war hammer. I ducked easily and moved on to engage the next. He dodged back, every bit as nimble as I was, trying to ward me off with an energy based polearm of some sort. I backstepped quickly, just in time to dodge the crashing sword of the third.
I smiled arrogantly and stabbed out quickly, catching the swordsman in the arm. As he howled in pain, I closed the distance and thrust my dagger as deeply as I could into the s lits of his helmet. The creature howled in pain, clutching at the gruesome implement that stuck out like some grotesque mechanical appendage. The other two backed away slightly, unwilling to test the skilled fighter in their midst.
I twirled the sword around my hand, matching their silence with a bloodthirsty grin. "Easy as sneezing."
They seemed reluctant, so I casually walked over to their fallen comrade and pulled the dagger from his head. I started to flick the greenish blood off the blade, then stopped as I saw it evaporate quickly. I pointed it at the hammer warrior. "You next."
He had the luxury of the first move, an arcing swing to bring a smashing and fight ending blow onto my vulnerable head.
I muttered softly, "Amateur."
I stepped out of range, letting the hammer spend its energy on the tiled floor. With all inertia gone in a jarring blow, I hacked at the attackers torso, feeling the blade cut through the plate mail easily. The armored warrior staggered back a step before collapsing from wounds that would have instantly killed any human.
The polearmist sensed a chance and lunged for the kill. I spun, batting away the outstretched blade then tossing my dagger at him in a vain attempt to end the fight once and for all.
However, he was too savvy for that and easily deflected it with the bottom of his polearm. But, I, too, realized the futility of the throw and moved accordingly. When his attention was focused onto the dagger, I closed the distance and buried my sword up to its hilt into his torso.
I trembled faintly from the exertion and to this day, swear that the youma was smiling at me.
It fell noiselessly to the ground, the blade freeing itself in the process. I half smiled then jogged over to retrieve my dagger. I was halfway there when a terrible feeling draped itself over me.
I leapt backwards just in time to see Sailor Mars lunge at me, her hand outstretched with one of those paralysis charms she always carried. I felt a trace of fear surge through me, but pushed it aside. For where there is one senshi, there are always more following.
When I landed, I blocked her outstretched arm, keeping it away from me at all costs. She grappled with me willingly, whispering underneath her breath, "In the name of Mars, I will stop you."
Not even bothering to reply, I trapped the hand carrying the ofuda and drove my finger into a pressure point. She shrieked in pain and dropped it to the ground. I shoved her back away as far as I could without hurting her, only to clash with another Sailor Senshi. This time, I was nearly driven into the floor.
She swung her blade expertly, hacking at my sword savagely, "In the name of Uranus, I will-"
I snarled at her, "Save it," I disengaged quickly scampering over to my dagger on the floor. I could sense other senshi around me, but little time to gain my hearings before.
"Venus Love Me Chain!" Without thinking, I hurled myself to the left, feeling the wind rush by me. A freight train missed, but not quite the end of my troubles.
He was fast. Too damned fast in her opinion. Rei felt her hand gingerly, then flexed it a couple of times.
Sailor Jupiter came over to apprise the situation, "No permanent disability?"
"No, though I don't doubt that he could have if he wanted to."
"Good for him. Luckily, we don't want to kill him, just disable him." Her voice scaled up into a thunderous yell, "Supreme Thunder Dragon!"
A bolt of lightning snaked out to touch the cloaked figure, but he managed to dodge the attack. Sailor Neptune tried her best, but she too managed to miss hitting him by a hair. Haruka took a far more direct method, clashing with the sword again and again, trying to wear him down.
Rei smirked and pulled another ofuda from the air. This time she wouldn't fail.
She was stronger, less inhibited, and just as fast as me. And now she had me trapped while trying to ward of her vigorous assaults. I think her name was Sailor Uranus.
I felt another stab of danger and knew that if I did not act in a second, I would have my back on the ground with a bunch of grim faced ladies surrounding me.
Instead of blocking her next attack, I deflected it to the side and kicked her as hard I could in the stomach. She went flying across the room and smashed into a pillar-
-she knew that she had him right where she wanted. He turned to block her again, but it was too late for anything fancy. The cloaked man fell back under her weight and they tumbled for a bit. His hand wrapped strongly around hers bearing the ofuda, while his other gripped the sword for dear life.
Rei lost track of the fight for a moment, trying to touch the paper to his body, if only for a moment.
Then all of sudden he was behind her. Her ofuda arm was pulled across her body where it could not touch him and his sword had found his way underneath her neck.
He breathed heavily. "Now, we talk."
I pulled Sailor Mars closer to me, to better use her to shield me from any overly ambitious senshi attacks. It served its purpose and the rest of them backed up slightly.
I spoke softly into Rei's ear, "I would be much obliged if you dropped the charm to the floor."
Given her situation, she showed admirable poise and control, "And if I do not?"
"Then I will be forced to separate your hand from your wrist. I am quite averse to being paralyzed. Does bad things for digestion, you see. You certainly understand that it's nothing personal."
She almost smiled and let the ofuda waft to the floor. "Now what?"
"Now we wait for Sailor Moon."
A minute passed before the senshi leader arrived with the rest of the warriors. Her eyes widened at the unsavory situation, then was calmed by an almost imperceptible nod of the head from Sailor Mars.
I counted silently, "There are seven of you." The one that had tried to smite me in the name of Uranus spat out, "There are only seven of us. Get to the point."
I gazed at her calmly, "I think not. There are eight, last I counted. Which means that one is sneaking up behind me right now." I turned my attention to Sailor Moon, "Call off the eighth, or I will slit this one's throat."
She hesitated for a moment too long, and I let my voice fall a decibel and essayed up a chilling smile, "Do you think I'm joking?"
I moved the blade an inch closer to Rei's neck. "Try me."
Usagi breathed in deeply and sighed, "Alright. You win."
The eighth senshi moved into my vision. She wielded a wicked looking glaive, complementing her aura of absolute calm. I was glad I did not have to tangle with her.
The leader looked at me calmly, "What do you want?"
I smiled slightly, "I could ask you the same thing. Your senshi attacked first."
Sailor Moon's eyes went wide, "Indeed? I remember ordering no attack."
"Then I suggest you remember quickly. Because one most certainly happened."
A senshi in orange, that I identified as Sailor Venus, "Princess, I ordered this attack. We did not mean to harm him, but I believe that we needed to find out his stance on us."
I glared at her, "You could have asked nicely."
"We tried to contact you. You certainly recall Tuxedo Mask following you?"
I let my gaze convey surprise, "Really now? I recall him chasing me through Tokyo."
Icily, "Enough." Sailor Moon assumed the authority of Serenity, "Do you mean us harm?"
Rei tensened, but I tightened my grip, "Princess, I mean no one harm save for those who would cause it themselves."
Usagi looked at me, "Then why have you taken her hostage?"
"Because, while I trust you personally, Princess Serenity, I have my doubts about the others."
She perked up at the careful enunciation of her name, "How do you know that name?"
I gazed at her, "Because I do. Please let me go, Princess."
"One more question. Who are you?"
I grimaced and I knew that she could tell despite the swathed clothes. "You don't want to know the answer to that question."
She inclined her head gracefully, "Then you have my promise that none of those assembled will fight or follow you when you leave."
I nodded, "Then that is assurance enough for me." I lifted the blade and spun a surprised Sailor Mars around in a semi-dance move. Leaning over her gloved hand, I brought it to my clothed mouth for a kiss. "My lady, it has been a pleasure."
She chuckled quietly, "A gentleman killer. How quaint."
"The best kind."
I jogged over to retrieve my fallen dagger, nearest to Sailor Uranus. That earned me a snarl and I grinned before disappearing into the nearest open elevator.