Ronins Interrupted
By: Ghost of the Dawn
Chapter Nine: Enter the Shadows
Ryo dipped the dirty grey mop into the bucket again before wringing it out. He sighed in boredom before continuing his mundane task of mopping the school cafeteria. Two hours. He had only two more hours and then he would be free. Free forever from this horrible slave driving place. This would be the last time he ever mopped this floor. Some other sucker could do it next year. A thought suddenly came to his head and Ryo wondered what Talpa's reaction would have been if he had caught him--the bearer of Wildfire and the one who would defeat him--mopping floors.
He would be so stunned I would take this mop and beat him down before he ever knew what hit him. Ryo thought with a silly grin plastered on his face.
"Mr. Sanada, what's so amusing," a gruff voice from the cafeteria door demanded.
"Uh, nothing sir." Ryo's smile instantly disappeared and he continued his task with renewed fervor.
Mr. Kamegaki continued to loom in the doorway. He was an old, bitter man; always stuck with the job of staying after school to supervise the detention. Needless to say, he wasn't too fond of the students. Especially this Sanada punk whom he saw just about every afternoon. What was wrong with kids these days? Always looking for trouble. And that hair! The length may have been all right for a girl but no self respecting young man would ever let it grow that long in his day.
Mr. Kamegaki didn't trust Ryo Sanada any further than he could spit on him. Also, he was quite skeptical of the friends he ran around with. Bad influences they were. Like that Hashiba. Everyone knew who he was, though no one ever saw him at the high school. Too smart for people not to be suspicious. Boys like that were always up to something to occupy their minds and testing limits. Rei Faun was too loud and Mouri had the kind of shifty eyes the aged teacher didn't trust. And Date--Date was just too blonde for his own damn good.
The ornery teacher went on through his usual mental grumbling until something at the window caught his eye. Ryo looked up from his work when he heard a strange, girlish screeching.
"Mr. Kamegaki?" he asked in wonderment.
The old man looked like he was having a panic attack. What was he pointing and screaming at? Over at the window was a huge, white tiger with his paws on the window sill.
"White Blaze!" Ryo dropped his mop and ran to his friend. "It's okay sir, he's mine. He won't hurt you."
But the old man wasn't about to calm down yet. Ryo decided to ignore him as he opened the window. "What is it boy?"
White Blaze let out a growl that sent Mr. Kamegaki into another panic induced frenzy. Ryo was far past caring at this point. White Blaze was telling him that something was wrong and his presence was needed right away.
"Okay, I'm coming," he said as he started crawling out the window.
"SANADA!" Mr. Kamegaki screeched. "Where do you think you're going??"
"I'm sorry sir, I have to go. It's very important!"
"You get back here or it's four more hours detention for you!"
This actually caused Ryo to stop and consider his options. Could he really handle six hours before graduation? He was going to have to. He could feel it now. His friends were in trouble and they needed him.
"Look sir," he said matter of factly. "I know you don't like me, so why would you want to see me four extra hours? I'll be back to finish up the last two, I promise."
Mr. Kamegaki, looking a bit shook up, ran to the window just in time to see the young man and his tiger race away.
"What is it Kento?" Robyn wondered when her companion suddenly jumped to his feet.
All his senses were on full alert as Kento searched his surroundings. Everything looked normal, but his instincts told him differently. He could feel something nearby that shouldn't be there. Then, from somewhere on the roof, a woman screamed. From out of nowhere dropped several dark figures like ninjas onto the roof top. Kento had never seen anything like them before. They looked like they were made out of shadows though it was broad daylight. As many of the tourists fled for the stairs, Kento wondered if he would be able to fight these things. They didn't even look solid. If he threw a punch would his fist connect?
"Holy crap," Robyn breathed as she stood slowly. What were these things and what did they want?
"Stay behind me, Robyn," Kento ordered as he tensed into a fighting stance.
The shadows just stood there momentarily. They seemed to be communicating to each other some how. Then suddenly, one of them rushed Kento and the bearer of Hardrock instantly found out just how solid they were. Robyn gasped when the dark creature charged her friend. The two connected heavily. Kento crossed his arms in front of him to cushion the hit, but the momentum of the collision was so strong it knocked both of them off the building.
"KENTO!" Robyn screamed as he was pushed over the railing.
While the bearer of Hardrock plummeted, the shadow merely dissipated and reappeared back on the roof top. Kento thought that was quite unfair. The fall caused enough shock to his system to call forth his sub armor. Now properly attired for the situation, he had about five seconds before he would have to change his name to Kento of Sidewalk. There were no poles sticking out he could catch onto like in the movies, so Kento had to settle for grabbing the next best thing. He punched forward and gritted his teeth as his metal fingers caught one of the cement ledges and jerked him to a stop.
"'Oh Kento, why don't you like heights?'," Kento mimicked past conversations in a sassy tone. "'There's nothing to worry about up here.' Buch of jerks!"
Unfortunately, he had little complaining time at the moment. Carefully he let himself drop down to the next window ledge below him and then started his way back up, springing off the sides of the buildings around him in the traditional ronin fashion. He reached the top again just in time to see Robyn cornered by the group of shadow creatures.
The young girl was once again thinking this was the end for her. They had killed Kento in front of her eyes and now they were going to splatter her on the sidewalks as well. At least she wasn't going alone this time.
"Hey boys, remember me?" Kento announced as he landed between her and their aggressors.
"Kento!" Robyn cried his name again, now happier than she could ever be that he was still in one piece.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Hardrock continued with a smirk. "Time for round two!"
He threw a punch at the closest shadow, but all his fist did was go through it like it was some harmless mist. A second creature shot at him like a streak of black lightning. This one was solid. And sharp. It left a deep cut across Kento's cheek. The dark haired young man growled as he wiped the blood away with the back of his armored hand. He was getting nowhere and as long as he was failing, Robyn was in danger. It was time to get out of there and meet up with the others. They could do a much better job together than ever he could by himself.
"Jump on my back," he told Robyn as he backed up towards her.
Robyn did what she was told, though hesitantly. "What do you think you're--" She was cut off violently as Kento suddenly jumped off the roof the second her arms were around his neck. All screams of terror were cut off in abject fear as Robyn watched the ground come screaming towards her. Kento was going to kill them both! Why did she always attract the kind of people that seemed to have a death wish?
But the messy end never came as Kento rebounded off the building sides and landed easily on the street several floors below. Robyn was still twitching and clutching onto him for dear life after the threat was over.
"You can let go now Robyn," he told her.
"Oye, between you and Sage I don't think I'll live to see graduation," Robyn whimpered as she slid off him and onto the ground. Her knees gave way and she merely sat on the pavement in a terrified stupor.
"Later Robyn," Kento ordered as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet. "We've got to get out of here."
The red haired girl followed him dumbly as she was led down the street. Some of the pedestrians paused to send the couple odd looks but then never gave them another thought. Inside, Kento's mind was reeling. He didn't know what was going on, but he needed the guys' help. He reached for his pocket to retrieve Sage's cell phone only to find he had no pocket. Robyn cried out in surprise when Kento suddenly yanked her around the corner into an alley way.
"Damn sub armor," he muttered as he willed it away. With his jeans returned to him, he could now fish out the desired appliance. He started to dial Cye's number when a dark force rushed into him again and knocked him over, causing the phone to fly out of his hand. Kento struggled underneath the shadowed form which had somehow gotten very heavy. In the corner of his vision he could see Robyn standing there, terrified and not knowing what to do.
"Robyn, go," Kento grunted as he struggled to get free. "Get out of here! I can fight them off!"
The young girl looked torn. She had gone through this before. That time it had almost cost Cye's life. She couldn't stand to go through the same thing with Kento. But on the other hand, how could she possibly help by staying there? Feeling utterly useless, Robyn turned and ran again. Life was so unfair. The only things in the world she had worth living for she couldn't protect.
Kento blinked in confusion when he was able to free a fist and all he managed to punch was air. The shadow on top of him was gone as well as the others. He rolled over and looked to see them all running away. No, not fleeing; pursuing. They were going after Robyn! Why were they after her?
"Shit!" Kento cursed as he jumped to his feet. Fully clad in sub armor again, he swept up Sage's dirty phone and raced after them. "Way to go Kento," he berated himself as he dialed. "Send the one thing they're after off by herself. I'm such an idiot! Why didn't I notice they were after her earlier?"
He continued to run in the direction he hoped Robyn had gone as he listened to the ringing on the phone.
"Kento, what happened?" Cye's voice asked the second he picked up.
"Wow, Cye, how did you know it was me?" Kento marveled.
"Never mind that, why are you calling?"
"See, we were on this roof top and then these shadow things appeared out of nowhere. They pushed me off but I made it back up, but now they're chasing Robyn down the street in broad daylight!"
There was a short pause on the other end.
"Kento, I know you guys are board, but do you really have to--"
"I'm not kidding Cye!!" Kento insisted. "There's like a million people giving me strange looks over here. I'm running down the street in my sub armor with a cell phone to my ear, okay?? Now you guys get your butts down here before something happens to Robyn and someone calls the psychiatric ward on me!"
"Okay Kento, we'll be there as fast as we can! Where are you?"
Kento blinked. "I don't know! I'm just trying to find these guys!"
On the other end, he could just picture Cye about ready to beat the phone over the counter until it shattered and it showed in his voice.
"How are we supposed to find you if you won't tell us where you are?!"
"Look Cye, do you want me to stop and find a street sign or find Robyn?" But before Torrent could release a string of insulting expletives at him: "The courthouse! I just passed the city courthouse; which reminds me, I still need to take care of that speeding ticket I got."
"Which way are you headed?" Now asked Rowen's voice who somehow managed to grab the phone away from Cye's fuming grip.
"Um....north, I think. Or maybe more west. I'm headed towards the middle of town, just come find me!" And with that, Kento hung up before he could be further yelled at for his horrible navigational skills.
He kept Sage's cell phone in his fist as he continued to run. He couldn't see where Robyn or those shadow things had gone at all, nor did he see any evidence they had gone this direction. But he could feel something pulling him this way. He was getting closer to something that was making his armor react. Hopefully, when the others arrived they would feel it and follow in the same direction. For now, that was all he had to go on and he hoped Robyn would stay safe until he could get there--where ever he was headed.
Robyn navigated through the sidewalk crowds as best she could. But it was difficult with so many people about right before rush hour. Even though she was running away from the fight scene, a horrible panicking in her chest kept growing. She took a second to glance behind her and that confirmed her fears. She was being chased. Robyn threw herself down a less used alley so there would be fewer obstacles to dodge. She fled with all the speed she could muster, but she could never loose her pursuers. The creatures followed with uncanny ease and speed. They could pass through anything and move like the air itself.
As Robyn turned down one corner, there were shadow creatures right there to meet her. She screamed and charged down another direction. As this went on a few more times, Robyn began to get a distinct feeling that they were herding her somewhere. Where, she didn't want to find out and purposefully started back tracking in attempts to foil their plans. The shadow monsters never let her get too far with that attempt, but at least she could stall for time. Where was Kento? What happened to him? Was he still fighting the monsters or had they done something to him? Was he looking for her now? The creatures wouldn't let her go back to find out. It was getting to the point where if she didn't go where they wanted her to they would solidify and push her in the desired direction.
Getting tired of this game now, Robyn was just going to walk for a while. She found as long as she was going in the right direction, the creatures would pretty much leave her alone. She couldn't see any at the moment, but she knew they were there. She wasgetting towards the middle of town and there weren't that many people around. The center of Toyama was quite old and run down, unlike the downtown part which was crowded and where all the skyscrapers and stores were. The only people around here were scrubby looking punks and crack heads. Hardly anyone worth asking for help.
In hopes of confusing the stalking creatures, Robyn suddenly started off in a dead run in a different direction. She could feel the surprise of the creatures as she raced away. There was nothing to get in front of her here. She just hoped she could keep up the speed. She ducked into the small, maze like back ways that snaked around the old buildings, hoping to loose them. Thinking she finally had a plan that was working, she glanced behind her to see if anyone was following. In that second, someone suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows. Robyn struggled as a strong arm held her firmly around the waist and a gloved hand covered her mouth.
"Keep quiet," a male voice whispered to her.
But Robyn was going to do far from that. She was captured by some psychotic pervert who was going to rape her in all kinds of horrible ways and leave her dead in the alley. Not this time! Her mind scrambled to recall the things she had learned during the few training sessions the guys had showed her. She slammed her heel hard on her aggressor's toe and then hammered her elbow into his gut as hard as she could. The attack had the desired affect and the hold on her was loosened. Robyn ripped herself free and prepared to flee again.
"Wait, come back. Robyn," a breathless voice choked after her.
The emotion in the voice caused her to stop. Curious as to who knew her name, she slowly turned around. There hunched on the ground was a figure dressed in a black suit and cape. A shiny top hat lay on the ground a few feet in front of him as he continued to cough and gasp for air. Robyn continued to watch him warily as she picked up the top hat. He had thick black hair falling over his face. When he lifted his head, his eyes were covered by a slanted white mask. The young man moved away slightly as Robyn snatched it off, but he was hardly in a position to fight back.
"Hey, I know you," Robyn accused. "You're that guy from the library. What are you doing out here? Are you lost or something? Why are you dressed like that?"
Tuxedo Mask looked less that satisfied as he painfully pulled himself to his feet and stole back his mask and hat. He indignantly replaced them on his person before speaking.
"I've been following you," he explained. "I've been sensing some dark force around this city the past few days. You seem to some how be connected to it. I was trying to remain in hiding until I figured out what was going on, but when those things were after you I had to show myself."
"Yeah, well I've got news for you, Cape Boy," Robyn responded. "They're STILL after me!"
She pointed behind him at the swarms of shadow creatures that were raining down on them from the roof tops. Tuxedo Mask wasted no time in grabbing Robyn's wrist and running away with her. Robyn only had time to yelp as she was jerked forward before she was off again. This tall young man with his stupid long legs could run quite a bit faster than her. As fast as she tried to make herself go, her arm still felt like it was being pulled out of its socket in order to keep up with her companion. This wasn't fair! If only all these dumb guys realized what a pain it was to be jerked around like this, maybe they would stop doing it to her.
Robyn could feel the angry shadows right on their heels. They had no hope of getting away from these creatures, they were just too fast. One of them solidified itself and, after ricocheting off the ground, bounced up and rammed itself between Tuxedo Mask's shoulder blades. The force of the blow was plenty strong enough to topple the tall young man over at the speed he was going. Robyn gasped when she saw him about to fall on his face. She grabbed his cape in vain attempts to hold him up, but that only succeeded in pulling her down with him. Both cried out in surprise as they were thrown towards the pavement head first.
As they fell, Tuxedo Mask somehow managed to maneuver himself sideways in order to catch his female companion. Robyn could feel strong arms around her beneath the young man's costume. They hit the street at the top of a very steep incline and, naturally, the two started to roll over each other down the hill. As they rolled, they continued to pick up speed until they were nothing but a flash of red and black and a collection of startled cries. The street eventually leveled out again and the rolling human log finally slowed to a stop with Tuxedo Mask on top of Robyn. His arms were still protectively around her and his cape was now tightly wound around them both.
Almost nose to nose, the two blinked at each other. Tuxedo Mask had again lost his mask and hat along the way and now Robyn could see clearly into the depths of his amazing blue eyes. He was as gorgeous as she remembered and she felt her face growing warm.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah," Robyn replied uncomfortably. He had to see that she was blushing now. Her face must have been bright red. He was right on top of her! Robyn struggled to pull out of his grip but she was tightly bound where she was.
"Oh no," she gasped as she happened to look up.
Tuxedo Mask followed her gaze and immediately wished he hadn't looked. A whole swarm of shadow creatures was raining down on them from above. There was no escaping these things; especially since they were currently tied down.
"We're screwed, aren't we?" Robyn asked, her large green eyes shining with fear.
"Yeah, pretty much," Tuxedo Mask had to admit.
The two closed their eyes and waited for the monsters to land and cut or beat or kill them or whatever else they were going to do.
"SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"
The sound of a roaring river reached Robyn's ears. Microseconds later she could feel a cold, fresh spray on her face as if she were standing next to a water fall.
"Mercury! You got them!" shouted a familiar feminine voice. Where had Robyn heard it before?
Tuxedo Mask allowed himself a small breath of relief. The cavalry had arrived. Somehow, his friends had found him.
"DARIAN!!!!!"
The young man instantly went stiff again. He recognized that voice completely. He could tell Sailor Moon was mad, not only by her tone of voice but by that fact that she used his real name instead of his alias. As Tuxedo Mask looked to his side, he found that he was wrong in assuming she was mad. Sailor Moon wasn't mad, she was flaming furious!
Robyn blinked at the sideways view she got of the girl in the sailor uniform. It was those long, blonde pig tails that looked familiar, though this costumed girl also looked like her head was about to explode into flames at any second.
"Serena?" Robyn asked, confused why the normally happy girl looked so hostile.
"S-Sailor Moon, I can explain," Tuxedo Mask fumbled.
"You had better! And you!" Sailor Moon pointed a finger at Robyn. "Get away from my man!"
"Your man?" Robyn wondered as she blinked at Tuxedo Mask.
Suddenly, the two both tried to fight their way out of the binding at the same time. But that mischievous cape was wrapped tight and made out of very sturdy material. All they succeeded in doing was end up resembling a spasmodic caterpillar. Sailor Moon had to turn her back as she sat and sizzled while the other Sailor Scouts finally took pity on the frazzled pair and tried to help them untangle themselves.
"Ack! Get off me!" Robyn cried as she squirmed and tried to kick her way free.
"I'm trying! This wasn't my fault!" Tuxedo Mask shot back, trying to protect himself from getting kicked in any sensitive spots.
"Both of you hold still, you're just making it worse," Sailor Venus ordered as she struggled to loosen the tangled up cape.
Sailor Jupiter was on the other side attempting to do the same thing. "Honestly, it's not a big deal. It just happened. Calm down."
The second Tuxedo Mask had his arms free he yanked his cape back to him and hugged it like it was his long lost friend. Robyn was thrown back when the cape was ripped out from under her and dove to hug Sailor Mercury's ankles as if her previous rolling partner was now going jump out and bite her.
"Are you okay?" she heard an unfamiliar male voice asked. Robyn looked around, but all she saw was Mina's white cat looking up at her. What was he doing here? The cat didn't just talk to her, did it? She was going crazy! She whimpered while Sailor Mercury sweat dropped. The water senshi was starting to loose circulation in her feet now.
Tuxedo Mask stood, dusted himself off, and then went to find the rest of his costume before he lost any more of his dignity.
"I'm still mad at you!" Sailor Moon reminded crossly as Tuxedo Mask returned looking more like himself. "We came like you asked, why didn't you try to contact us? And why wouldn't you ever tell us why you came here in the first place? I don't appreciate being left in the dark you know!" She turned her back and crossed her arms as only an irate woman can do.
"Sailor Moon--Serena," Tuxedo Mask said, his voice going quieter as he approached. "I didn't know what to tell you. I wasn't sure what it was or what I was following. All I knew was that I would have needed your help when the time came." He put a hand on her shoulder. "I knew that no matter what you knew or didn't know you would come to help me when I needed it. And you did. I can always trust you."
Sailor Moon grinded her teeth as her shoulders relaxed a little. Oh, he was good. At this rate she would be forgiving him all trespasses in no time. But she was determined not to let him off that easy.
"That's still no excuse! What you did was selfish and inconsiderate! Do you have any idea how much I worried about you!? Do you know how much sleep I lost over this because I thought you were out having an affair or something?! It's going to take a lot more than that to get me to forgive this, buster!"
Tuxedo Mask sighed. He had a feeling it was going to be difficult, but that didn't mean he was ready for it.
Meanwhile, Robyn had finally gathered her wits enough to pull herself to her feet. She looked around at the girls she had enjoyed a slumber party with a few nights ago. The girls she thought she knew. Now they had appeared out of nowhere wearing uniforms Robyn wouldn't be caught dead in. Who possessed her poor friends?
"Lita? Ami?" she asked the two closest scouts. "Why--why are you guys all dressed like that? And what are you doing out here and why do you keep calling yourselves by these weird names? What's going on?"
Sailor Jupiter drew a breath and was about to come up with an explanation when she was interrupted by Sailor Mars.
"Look! Here comes more of those shadow things!"
"Why not?" Robyn whimpered. "This is just icing on the cake that has been my day."
"Don't just stand there, here they come!" Sailor Jupiter ordered as she grabbed her wrist. Robyn mentally sighed as she resumed the roll of the one being dragged behind as the scouts began to flee.
"Sailor Moon, looks like further apologies are going to have to wait until later," Tuxedo Mask announced as he grabbed her hand and started running with the rest of them.
"Okay, but you owe me," the Moon Princess announced.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise," her prince replied with a smile.
"There's a lot more of them this time," Sailor Mercury worried as they ran. The shadow creatures loomed behind them like a thick swarm of angry hornets and were coming in fast.
"We can't run from them forever," said the purple cat racing next to her. Artemis was running by her side.
"I'll slow them down!" Sailor Venus announced. She stopped running and turned to face her opponents. "VENUS CRESCENT BEAM SMASH!"
Twin crests of light soared from her fingertips and screamed towards the living shadows. The attack exploded on contact but when the lights faded, the shadows remained; looking even more solid and stronger than before. Sailor Venus promptly wigged out in traditional anime style as she ran to catch up with the group.
"It didn't work!" she cried.
"WAH! Those things are getting closer!" Sailor Moon panicked. "Don't let them touch me!"
"They keep coming down off the roof tops," Sailor Mercury noted as she ran. "They somehow materialize up above us and then drop down to give them the advantage."
"Then we're going to have to take away that advantage," Sailor Mars announced. "To the roof tops everyone!" She led the way in a series of unnaturally high jumps up to the tops of the city buildings. Sailor Venus grabbed Artemis while Sailor Mercury picked up Luna and followed.
"That means you, too," Tuxedo Mask told Robyn as he suddenly hoisted her small body over his shoulder.
"Wuh?" Was the only reply she could come up with at the time.
"I'll give you time to get up there," Sailor Jupiter volunteered. She was the second scout to confront the swarm of shadows. "JUPITER THUNDER CLAP ZAP!"
Robyn watched with wide eyes as countless amounts of electricity shot forth from the tall brunette. She didn't get to see the results of the attack before the ground was suddenly dozens of feet below her as Tuxedo Mask followed the rest of the scouts upwards. Upon reaching their destination, Robyn suddenly realized the true unfairness of the world.
"AM I THE ONLY ONE IN JAPAN WITHOUT SUPER POWERS?!" she demanded.
But the others only ignored her as she continued to hang limply from Tuxedo Mask's shoulder. Everyone had their attention on Sailor Jupiter who was the last one up and seemed to be out of breath.
"It's no good," she said angrily. "My attack didn't work either! They're still coming!"
As if on cue, the shadows suddenly started to materialize on the roof top in front of them.
"Let me try again," Sailor Mercury said. Everyone stood back while Robyn finally managed to squirm away and get back on her own feet.
"SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"
The same rushing of water happened as before. And also as before, as soon as the water attack hit the shadow creatures, they dissolved.
"Wow Sailor Mercury, you're my hero!" Sailor Moon cheered.
"I don't get it," Sailor Jupiter argued. "Why does Mercury's attack work, but not Venus' or mine?"
"Good question," Luna piped up. "It might have something to with the elements of the attack. Sailor Mercury's is water while the other two have to do with light and electricity."
"Yes, that may be it," Sailor Mercury replied. "But why? Why doesn't the light hurt the shadows? It's doesn't make sense."
"I wonder if my attack would also have the same affect," Sailor Mars wondered out loud.
The group was so busy being perplexed, they hardly noticed that a thick mist was rising up as a direct result of Sailor Mercury's attack. Except Robyn of course; she was too dumbstruck and confused to be perplexed. The fog grew thicker and thicker until it was very much reminiscent of that encountered in Tokyo two weeks previous.
"What was that?" Sailor Venus suddenly spoke.
"What was what?" asked Sailor Mercury.
"I thought I heard something. Like an animal."
Everyone fell quiet as they searched the ever growing fog. A roar resounded in the distance.
"Ah! It's going to come get us!!" Sailor Moon cried as she and Sailor Venus hugged each other and started shaking in fear.
"Is it another monster?" Tuxedo Mask wondered.
"Don't worry guys, whatever it is, we can take it if we stick together," Sailor Jupiter encouraged.
"Right," Sailor Mars agreed as Mercury nodded. "There hasn't been a villain yet able to defeat us."
But that didn't mean that this one would be the same. That was what Sailor Moon and Venus thought as they continued to hug and tremble. The roar came again, only this time louder and closer. Robyn blinked as realization hit her.
"Wait, I know that sound," she announced. She ran towards it as far as the roof top permitted. "It's--"
A large, white beast flew out of the fog and landed next to her. Even the more courageous scouts cried out when the massive animal appeared.
"White Blaze!" Robyn squealed with elation. She knelt down and hugged the tiger around the neck, burying her face in his furry chest. "I'm so glad to see you, boy." White Blaze sniffed and nuzzled her back, making sure the young girl was not wounded and had been okay without his protection. "You're my hero, my handsome kitty."
"Hey, I came looking for you, too," insisted a male voice slightly laced with jealousy.
Robyn looked up at the young man fully clad in white and red sub armor.
"Ryo!" She jumped up and hugged the startled ronin around the neck. "Thank you for coming to find me."
Not used to such a greeting or so close physical contact, Ryo stumbled back a bit before catching himself. White Blaze looked on, almost amused as a pink hue burned its way on the young man's cheeks.
"Um....no problem." Ryo fumbled.
"Woa, that is a seriously big kitty," Sailor Moon commented.
"I just hope he doesn't have a taste for house cats," Artemis gulped as he hid behind Sailor Jupiter.
Robyn pulled back from the embrace though her hands still stayed on Ryo's shoulders.
"I can't believe this. How did you know to come looking for me?"
"White Blaze came and got me," Ryo smiled as he patted the large feline's head. "He knew something was wrong. It always takes me a little bit longer to realize things like that."
"Well your timing was perfect, as always," Robyn laughed back.
Across the way, the Sailor Scouts were looking on the scene; almost jealously.
"I wish I had a guy that would always come find me," Sailor Venus sighed. "It's not fair."
"Yeah," Sailor Jupiter lamented.
"I had to go hunt down mine myself," Sailor Moon humphed indignantly while Tuxedo Mask slumped his shoulders.
"Oh good grief," Luna sighed. It didn't take much to divert this group's attention.
A long, bright stream of lightning split the sky followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Then, the city fell dark as if it were the dead of night. Ryo instantly crouched in a ready position with a growling White Blaze at his side. This was no ordinary darkness; it didn't feel as merely an absence of light. It felt more like a thick, blanket of black choking out and smothering the light that used to be there.
"Oh my, it's so dark I can barely see," said Sailor Mercury. "How did this happen? And so quickly?"
"WAH! Where'd everyone go?" Sailor Moon wailed as she wandered around in the dark.
"Hey! Watch where you're putting your hands!" came Sailor Jupiter's reply.
Robyn could sense something to the darkness. A presence that felt familiar. But what? As she tried to assess it, a pair of hands extended from the shadows and clamped themselves over her mouth, pulling her in. Her cries came out as merely muffled sound as she was swallowed up in the darkness.
"Robyn?" Ryo wondered. When he heard nothing he spun around. "Robyn, where are you? Robyn!"
White Blaze roared his fury. Something wasn't right.
"What happened over there?" Sailor Venus wondered as she bumped into Sailor Mars.
"Hey, watch where you're going you--" the fire senshi was cut off as crimson lightning lit up the sky. From it descended a woman in an inky black dress. Her long, black hair matched the hue of her gown and both faded into the darkness of the false night. Her eyes as well were dark pools void of emotion while her skin was a pale, almost sickly, white as if it had never seen the sun. Her face was that of a woman, but it held a presence almost animalistic in nature that was unsettling. In her bony, long nailed clutches struggled a red haired young girl.
"Robyn!" Ryo cried again.
Two of the woman's hands were wrapped around Robyn's waist while a third held her shoulders and even a fourth covered her mouth. Still, another pair of hands were free to do other things as needed. That made three pairs of hands in all, giving this new foe an even more inhuman quality.
White Blaze roared and sprang after the floating figure, but he was met with an energy barrier that stopped the beast in mid air. The tiger fell back down to the roof looking a bit stunned.
"White Blaze!" Ryo cried as his blood boiled. "You let her go right now!"
The black clad woman-like creature looked less than pleased. "You pathetic insect! I have no more time to waist on any of you, so I come here myself! I am the Lady Ebony, Mistress of the Out World. Remember this name, all of you, for I will soon be ruler of this world as well! When I am finished, your planet will be plunged into this darkness forever and I will--AHHH!"
The Dark Mistress screamed a hideous sound as a golden arrow whizzed by and grazed her arm.
"That was a warning shot lady!" came a voice from above. Rowen stood atop a higher building, clad in full armor and poised with another arrow. "You let her go now or next time I won't miss!"
"Neither will the rest of us!" came another voice. On a different roof top about the same height as Ryo's were Kento, Cye, and Sage, also decked out completely for battle.
Lady Ebony just smiled as she turned to face the archer. "Go ahead, try and kill me--if you think you can do it without hurting your little friend."
Rowen gritted his teeth, holding the arrow tightly against the taunt string. He knew he couldn't miss if that six armed creature held still, but he had no guarantee she couldn't move Robyn in the way when he let the arrow fly.
The Mistress of her Out World chuckled deep in her throat. "What's the matter warrior? Why do you hesitate? Isn't this one important to you?"
Robyn helplessly watched with wide eyes as Lady Ebony slowly ran a long fingernail down the side of her neck to the collarbone, causing a small line of blood to appear. Robyn's cries were muffled by the hand covering her mouth as she struggled to break free. And even though one could hardly hear her protests, her disgust was clear as a toadish tongue snaked out of the woman's mouth to lap up the trail of blood.
"That bitch!" Kento spat, quivering with barely checked rage. He raised his staff, ready to strike. "I've seen just about enough of this! I'm gonna--"
"No Kento!" Cye warned, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You can't attack her like that while she's got Robyn. You'll hit her, too. We've got to find a way to get her away from that thing."
Kento lowered his weapon and clutched his trembling fists at his side. Just because Cye was right didn't mean that he liked it. Next to him he heard a snap and glanced over at Sage. The Warrior of Light had a hard look on his face but no other body language gave away what he was feeling. His no-datchi, however, was snapping and crackling with energy. That was all that was needed to say he didn't like the situation either.
"This is horrible! We have to do something!" Sailor Mars called to her friends. They, too were looking onto the terrible scene with a growing sense of anger and helplessness as Lady Ebony dug her nails further into her victim.
"WAIT!" Ryo's voice cut through the darkness. "Stop! We surrender, if that's what you want. We'll all give up if you'll let her go."
Ryo looked across the other rooftop for support. The three Ronins there nodded their agreement with his decision. Up above them all, Rowen slowly lowered his bow. Robyn shook her head vigorously and did her best to tell them not to do it, but they had all clearly made their choice. The team of scouts behind them just blinked in confusion. They were all giving themselves up to save her?
Lady Ebony just laughed at the submissive warriors. "You think it was you--any of you I was after? Oh please! Don't give yourselves so much credit! What I've come for I already have right here!"
Everyone was floored by that statement. She wanted Robyn? Just that one, young girl out of all the people on the planet? Why? What purpose could she possibly have for her?
Ryo gave out a growl similar to his furry companion. "Fine. Then prepare for a fight! ARMOR OF WILDFIRE! DAO JIN!"
The Sailor Scouts looked on in awe as light and cherry blossoms surrounded the fiery young man. When they had cleared, Ryo of the Wildfire was adorned in bright red armor. He expertly drew out his twin blades and brandished them before his enemy.
"Woo hoo!" Kento cheered. "Now get ready for a fight, lady!"
"From us as well!" hollered another voice from above.
From yet another roof top, the darkness moved away to reveal two more older female scouts standing back to back.
"You have finally chosen to show yourself, Mistress of the Darkness. But we will not allow you to do to our world what you have done to your own. I am Sailor Uranus and I will defend this planet in the name of Uranus."
"We know who you are and your plan and we have come to stop you. In the name of Neptune you will not win. I am Sailor Neptune."
Cye, Kento, and Sage all blinked in unison at the two women above them. Kento scratched the side of his helmet with the blade of his staff in confusion. "What is all this? When are we going to fight this witch?"
"If it's a battle you want," Lady Ebony boomed. "Than a battle you shall have!" Her free pair of hands rose above her head. "My shadow demons! Come forth and attack!"
On that command, hundreds of thousands of the same shadow creatures appeared in the sky. They filled and choked the air like a dark cloud or, even worse, an angry swarm.
"Oh great, these guys again," Kento moaned.
"THEY'RE MINE!" Sage suddenly screamed. Cye and Kento had to dive on their stomachs or risk being decapitated by the long sword he swung.
"AHHHH, THUNDER BOLT CUT!!!"
A great arc of intense light burned through the darkness. It slashed the sky and through the dark army in a wide radius over the city.
"Get down!" Tuxedo Mask ordered as he grabbed Sailor Moon and Venus, the two closest girls to him, and pulled them down with him. The rest of the team ducked as well and held onto the roof top as the back lash the of powerful attack washed over them.
"I don't believe it," Sailor Jupiter marveled as she got to her knees. "That lightning attack was far stronger than mine. How can these guys have so much power?"
Tuxedo Mask narrowed his eyes at the notion. That was a good question. Just who were these young men and where did they come from? What gave them the authority to be here and protect this world as well?
"Well it couldn't be that strong," Sailor Mars huffed as she fixed her hair. "Because all the shadow demons are still there."
"It--it's like he didn't even touch them!" Cye exclaimed as he looked around. The creatures now in fact looked stronger and more solid because of the attack.
Sage was frozen to his spot. With all the energy he had poured into his attack, how could it not have worked?
"Of course!" Rowen slapped a metal plated hand to the forehead of his helmet. He jumped down to the roof where Ryo and the Scouts were as he called to his friend. "Sage, it makes perfect sense! It's common science. Stronger light makes stronger shadows. They can't be beaten that way."
"Of course," Sailor Mercury echoed. "That does make sense."
"See? That's probably why he got the highest score on that test," Sailor Venus chided to which her friend glared.
"Enough of this!" Lady Ebony screeched. "ATTACK!"
The army of shadows instantly descended on their new targets and an all out war broke out. On the highest roof top, Sailor Uranus and Neptune were doing their best to fight off the few shadows attacking them though most had aimed for the largest group. Every time Sailor Uranus would throw a punch or a kick, it would just go through the creatures and she would suffer a solid hit in return. Her partner was doing even worse. There was no way they could fight them like this.
"It's like trying to fight air," Sage growled as he sliced again and again at his attackers without hitting any. His blade would always go right through. It was really throwing the warrior off; swinging forever without meeting any opposition. He wasn't used to this kind of situation and it made him wonder how long they could last.
"Tell me about it," Kento grunted. "I had to deal with these things earlier today, too!"
"Let's meet up with Ryo and Rowen and hopefully we can come up with a plan," Cye suggested. He swung his yari in a wide arc in front of him to clear a path. Then he dashed over to the edge of the building and jumped to the next roof.
Sage followed right after with Kento at his heels. But the bearer of Hardrock wasn't as lucky as his two friends. Before he could make it over to the other side, a shadow demon solidified and knocked into him, causing him to miss his target.
"Kento!" Cye and Sage cried together as they saw their comrade fall. They both ran to the edged of the building and looked down only to see Kento hanging from his staff which was stabbed stubbornly into the brick and cement.
"If I fall off one more building tonight, I swear..." Kento growled as his friends pulled him up.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Scouts were having a far worse time than the Ronins. Without any weapons of their own, they were left with no way to fight but hand to hand combat and it wasn't proving to be the best tactic for this situation. They all stood in a circle with their backs facing in to fend off the shadows. But it hardly worked. Any kick or punch thrown at the creatures merely passed right through while the shadows landed several blows of their own.
Sailor Mercury was considerably unlucky when one shadow demon ran into her, causing her to stumble backwards. The blue haired girl lost her footing and fell, hitting the back of her head on the edge of the roof top.
"Sailor Mercury!" Jupiter cried as she ran to her aid.
"Mercury!" Sailor Moon cried as well. But before she could do the same, another shadow monster came up fast and charged her tumbling and screaming form over the other side of the building.
"Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask called in horror.
"Sailor Moon!" the rest of the Scouts cried.
"Rowen!" Ryo ordered.
The bearer of Strata was already diving head first off the building after her. The ground rushed up to greet them both. Sailor Moon was still screaming and flailing around up to the last second when Rowen grabbed her before she smashed into the sidewalk. It took a few moments for the young Moon Princess to realize she wasn't going to die as she remained clinging and whimpering to Rowen's shoulders. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked around at her savior and the large bubble that encased them.
"Don't worry, I got you," Rowen smiled as he started floated back up to where the others were.
"Great," Sailor Moon muttered. "I've been saved by a Superman wanna be."
Rowen smirked at her. "I could let you go if you want."
To this, Sailor Moon immediately sweat dropped. "No! That's okay," she said sheepishly.
Upon their arrival back to the rooftop, their eyes met with the same battle scene they had left.
"Sailor Moon, you're okay," Sailor Venus managed to shout between attacks from the shadow demons.
"That's right!" Sailor Moon announced as she jumped out of Rowen's arms. Her usual enthusiasm had now recovered from the fall. "And now we're going to beat these creeps good!"
"I'd like to know how she plans on doing that," Sage muttered as he continued to slash around and hit nothing. "These things are practically invincible!"
Sailor Jupiter, who was near by still nursing a passed out Mercury, heard the complaint.
"Water!" she announced. "Their weakness is water!"
"A lot of good that's going to do us with Sailor Mercury out cold," Sailor Mars pointed out.
"If it's water you need," Cye announced as he marched to the middle off the roof. "Then I can handle it!"
"I'll help!" Sailor Neptune announced as she ran to join him. Cye nodded and smiled. He could sense similar elements within this young woman and he could use all the help he could get.
"Everyone, prepare to duck and cover!" Sailor Uranus ordered.
Simultaneously, the two water warriors stood back to back and began their attack.
"SUPER..."
"NEPTUNE..."
"WAVE..."
"DEEP..."
"SMASHER!!!!"
"SUBMERGE!!!"
Everyone on the roof fell flat on their stomachs and held on tight as the two sure kills surged over their heads. The water-type energy spread out in a wide circle, reaching to every dark foe. The army of shadows screamed inhuman sounds as they were dissolved on contact. The two warriors were panting as the energy cleared and not a demon was left in site.
Ryo was the first one to jump back to his feet.
"Now it's your turn!" he vowed, pointing one of his magical swords at Lady Ebony.
The six armed woman glared daggers at the defiant young man.
"You may have found a weakness to my shadow demons, but you will not reach me in time to stop me!" She stretched forth a clawed hand and circled it wide in front of her. As she did so, the wind began to pick up. Faster and faster, it gained in momentum and strength at an alarming rate.
"What is she trying to do?" Sailor Mars demanded.
"Stick together everyone," Tuxedo Mask ordered as Sailor Moon held onto him with one arm and Luna with the other. The wind was getting so strong, they all were having to fight just to stand.
"Uh oh, this feels familiar," Kento grunted.
"Looks like our new lady friend is going to take us all for a little ride," Rowen called over the wind.
Ryo just growled as he realized what was happening. This was not going very well.
The wind howled and swirled around until it was a dizzying, spinning funnel on the roof top. All those present cried out as they were swept up into the whirling mass and spun around until each didn't know what was right or left or up nor down. The different groups were swirled and mixed until there was nothing but a blur of colors in the middle of it all.
"Now, be gone from my site!" Lady Ebony ordered.
The wind funnel tightened with its victims still inside; then it suddenly exploded. Different bodies of light were hurled in all directions of the city. From her place in the evil woman's clutches, Robyn watched in silent horror as a tear fell down her cheek. She closed her eyes in defeat. What would become of her friends now? She would never see them again.
Lady Ebony chuckled to herself. That surely would keep them out of her hair long enough to complete her plan. She would have killed them all if she could, but her powers weren't strong enough--yet. With one last evil laugh, she and her captive disappeared into the darkness without a trace.