Sailor Moon: Dark Rage
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Chapter 5
Usagi's Tragedy
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It was a beautiful day in Tokyo. The sun was high in the sky, birds were chirping, and the flowers were in bloom. It had been three months since the senshi had killed Risune. It seems to them that it was perfect. But nothing perfect ever lasts.
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She had light green hair that stopped just short of her nose. Her skin was sickly white, and she wore a black robe that hid the most dangerous thing about her.
It was a sword that had a golden blade. The hilt was designed in such a way that it could be effortlessly wielded by even the clumsiest of hands. The top of the hilt had a reddish-yellow jewel that seemed to glow in a very eerie color.
The woman leaped from roof to roof, her robe blowing back in the breeze. Her bony hand grasped the sword's hilt, as though she was preparing to run someone through.
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Meanwhile, in the Tsukino residence, everything was normal. Usagi had gotten on the bus for college, Shingo had gone to his high school, and Chibi-Usa had gone to her junior high school.
The adult Tsukinos, Ikuko and Kenji were home. Ikuko was washing the dishes, while Kenji was busy talking on the telephone.
Suddenly, the door fell into pieces, revealing the robed woman. Her sword was drawn. "Show me where Princess Serenity is, and I may spare you."
"Wh – Who?" Kenji asked, dropping the telephone.
"You mean you don't know her? I was informed that she lived here… Anyway, you already saw me, so I have no choice but to kill you." The woman said, and she grinned evilly, removing the hood.
She pulled the sword out, and charged at Ikuko, judging her to be easier to get from her angle. Suddenly, Kenji ran in front of the woman's path, and a trail of blood appeared on his neck. He dropped to the ground, blood covering his shirt.
"Kenji, no!" Ikuko yelled, rushing at the woman, in her hand a fillet knife. She slashed, cutting the woman in the arm. However, no blood left the rather deep cut.
"Foolish woman." The robed woman snarled, and stabbed Ikuko in the stomach. Blood flew out of the wound, and she fell to the ground. "I have completed my mission, Ryuuji-sama." Then, the unknown woman vanished.
"Usagi... chan…" Ikuko said, and fell unconscious.
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"Misari-sensei, will you please send Tsukino Usagi to the main office?" the intercom in Usagi's science class blared.
"So, the humans have discovered Oranji's handiwork." Misari thought, before answering yes. He gestured for Usagi to head to the office.
As Usagi walked down the hall, she wondered what could have caused her to get called down. She wasn't failing any classes, and was even meeting Tokyo University's academic minimums. She hadn't been late to any class since the day that Risune had attacked Hotaru. In fact, on the whole, the worst she did was snap angrily at Osaka Naru.
When she reached the office, she learned what had happened.
"Usagi, your mother and father have been attacked. Your father's dead, and your mother's clinging to life by a thread." The principal said.
This news caused Usagi to cry. Although she sometimes hadn't agreed with her parents, especially concerning her grades and her romantic relationship with Chiba Mamoru, she cared for them. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, and her chest heaved violently. Then she fainted.
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Usagi woke up in the hospital, surrounded by her friends. Most of them were asleep, as it was midnight. Rei and Ami, however, were wide awake. Rei was pacing around the hospital room, driving Ami frantic as she tried to figure out what had happened earlier that day. Upon seeing that Usagi had awaken, however, they turned to face her.
"What happened?" Usagi asked, as though trying to find out that the news about her father's death had been a practical joke.
"Usagi-chan… I'm sorry." Ami said, tears pouring out of her eyes. "Your father's… gone… and so is your mother…"
"No!" Usagi yelled, a scream that lasted for almost a minute. Tears leaked out of her eyes. Upon ending her scream, she sat there, sobbing quietly.
Rei hugged the blonde-haired girl, trying to convince her that everything would be okay. That she would let her stay that the shrine. But nothing calmed Usagi, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Is… Is Shingo-chan okay?" Usagi asked timidly, afraid of the answer.
"Yes, as is Chibi-Usa-chan." Ami replied.
"What happened?" asked Hotaru, who had just woken up in response to Usagi's scream.
"Usagi-chan's just found out." Ami said to the black-haired girl, barely audibly, not wanting to upset Usagi any more than necessary. Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say.
"And just what are you whispering about, Ami-chan!?" Usagi shouted angrily.
"N – Nothing…" Ami muttered timidly.
"I will claim revenge on my father's murderer." Usagi said, as though no one were around.
"We'll help, Usagi-chan." The other senshi said in unison. "But, for now, you have to rest. You were rather injured when you collapsed."
"Everyone…" Usagi said, tears in her eyes.
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"Ryuuji, you have failed. Princess Serenity is still alive, as I'm sure you figured out. Worse, you have made her angry. This will complicate things greatly. You must be punished." Okari said menacingly.
Okari and Ryuuji were back at their hideout, discussing the day's incidents.
"Okari-sama, it was a case of corruption in the intelligence network. The corrupted spy has been disposed of." Ryuuji replied.
"It doesn't matter. You have always been too trusting of your lackeys, Ryuuji. I will see if this will rectify your character flaw. Dark Flame!" Okari said, and a huge fire surrounded Ryuuji, tearing at his skin.
"Ah!" Ryuuji screamed in pain.
"I think that is enough. Just remember that next time it will be your death, Ryuuji. Proceed with caution."
"Yes, Okari-sama. I understand." Ryuuji replied, bowing deeply.
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"Usagi-chan, if you need anything, ask." Rei replied. It was a week after Ikuko and Kenji's murders, and Usagi had finally been judged ready to return into the outside world.
After much deliberation, her college had decided to let her stay in Ami and Hotaru's room, as they still had an open spot and were close friends of Usagi, which would be the ideal atmosphere for her to recover from her parents' deaths.
"I understand, Rei-chan. I want to thank everyone for being such good friends…" Usagi said, breaking into tears.
"There, there, Usagi-chan. We'll get you through this." Makoto said. She knew what it was like losing family members, since her parents had died in a plane crash.
Suddenly, the senshi heard the scream of someone in distress.
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"Help me, someone!" shouted a girl of about twelve. Her black hair framed her sickly face. She wore a red sweater and blue jeans. Her shout had good reason; a snake-like youma named Orochina had her pinned to a wall.
Suddenly, a light shaped like a ray appeared on her forehead. The light rapidly consumed her, replacing her clothes with a sailor fuku. Her half was attired similar to Sailor Saturn, with the black skirt, choker, and neck, as well as the pink bow. However, she wore long, yellow boots.
"Im… Impossible!" Orochina exclaimed, and charged the girl, who quickly jumped over the snake.
"Australius Flash!" the girl shouted. Immediately, the entire area was engulfed in white light. When it died down, the girl was laying on the ground, unconscious, and the monster was gone.
"Stop right… Huh?" Sailor Moon asked, having just arrived.
"It appears that our opponent had already fled… Or is already dead?" Sailor Mars said, and then added the question.
"All the evidence points to it being killed by someone… But who?" Mercury said thoughtfully.
"Well, only a sailor senshi could have done this…" Mars said.
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A/N: Well, that rounds off another chapter. Who exactly is the hooded woman? And who was the girl who turned into the unknown senshi? All this will be revealed in time, but I assure you that no detail will be wasted.