Shadows on the Wall

Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: I do not own the Sailor Scouts or the Ronin Warriors. The only thing that belongs to me is this story, which I really am proud of!

(A/N: Thank you, reviewers! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

HikariAme-

Thank you! That's the best review I've gotten yet! Ok, I admit, for a while there, I had a plot in mind, but my problem was getting to that particular point. It's hard to fill in the stuff between the beginning and the ending. This is the longest story I've ever done, and I'm so proud of myself! Usually, I lose interest after like the first two chapters or so, but not this one! Anyways, I meant cherry trees! .; I just hear so many different meanings for that word that I get confused! Lol!

Hopeless romantic

You're not the only one, believe me! But pairing Mina with Sage is hard work, considering Sage's nature, but I think I might have to go a little OOC for him. Getting him worked up is proving to be difficult.

Tyria-

bows Thank you! For a while there, I quit writing because I didn't think that anyone was actually reading my story. Very discouraging for a writer, but I finally decided to keep going anyways. It was well-worth the effort! . I'm really glad to see that I'm keeping people hooked!

Anyways, I was considering re-doing the last chapter. If you don't like how it turned out, let me know. I can always change it, especially considering I'm not quite sure if that's how I wanted it to turn out. Anyways, things are still up in the air between Mina, Rowen, and Sage. The only way to go is down, right? He he he…

If anyone has seen Artemis in his human form, then good for you! I've seen a picture of him, Luna, and Diana as humans once, but I never found it again after that. grin I just thought I'd throw that in to make the whole thing worse. Magic is at work here, and it's so exciting! Whoo!)

Mina couldn't quite read the expressions on Rowen and Sage's face, and something told her that she wouldn't want to have the ability to read their minds just then. It probably wouldn't be very pretty if she did.

Hearing Artemis snickering beside her, the Scout was again sorely tempted to throttle him. This whole situation was partly his fault, and he seemed to be taking great pride in that fact. The whole thing just wasn't fair, Mina decided. Artemis looked pleased with himself, and it made her see red. Taking a deep breath to steady her frazzled nerves, Mina turned to face Rowen, schooling her own expression so that her emotions could not be read. Three could play that game, she reasoned, but it would be harder for her than it would be for them.

"Mina, why must you insist on solving this problem all by yourself?"

That was Rowen, Mina begrudgingly admitted, always knowing what was going through her mind or what was going through her head.

"I don't need your help, Rowen," Mina replied nonchalantly with a shrug. "I have friends in very high places, and it's not like I'm incapable of handling the situation." She tried her hardest to control her emotions, tears threatening to spill at any moment. Now was certainly not the time to go all emotional, not when she needed to pull herself and her thoughts together.

"Damnit, Mina, I'm your brother!"

The sudden exclamation had both Mina and Sage glancing over at the blue-haired Ronin, Mina's jaw dropping. Unbidden, memories of the both of them ran through their heads unchecked, both of them shocked to the core by his words. The past was finally starting to unravel, and no one knew just how complicated this whole situation was exactly…

"Mina, come back!"

Mina turned back to see her blue-haired brother not too far behind her and tried to increase her pace, which wasn't easy. Her dress was heavy and her high-heeled shoes were difficult to run in, but she managed anyway, not wanting Rowen to catch her so easily. If he was going to catch her, he was going to have to stop her first.

Without warning, Rowen tackled his younger sister to the ground, both of them caught in layers of fabric. It took him a bit, but he finally uncovered Mina's face, only to discover that she was shaking with laughter, apparently unhurt by his tackling. Sitting her up, he glared at her mockingly, his long legs crossed on the ground and his stubborn strand of hair falling into his blue eyes.

"Now, why don't you tell me why you don't want to go to the dance?"

Mina sighed, obviously resigned to her fate. "We both know that Father would only start considering marriage offers," she replied uneasily. They both knew that Mina's future was resting on the man that she would marry, while their father cared nothing for love. He wanted Mina to marry for money, but she refused. It was a terribly tense situation, even though Mina was allowed to choose for herself, the King of Venus would pressure his daughter to go his way.

"You know that I don't want to end up marrying some obnoxious jerk with lots of money who will just go and find himself a mistress."

Mina's eyes were clouded with tears as she stumbled to her feet with Rowen's help, feeling frustrated. "I just can't do that. I don't want a man that will leave me for his mistress. I want someone who will stay with me always."

Rowen, who had been listening to his sister's complaints quietly, spoke up. "You know, there are plenty of young knights that would marry you in a heartbeat and do it for love. The only thing that I can promise you, dearest sister, is that I will not allow anyone who would break your heart near you," he promised, crossing an 'X' over his heart.

"As for right now, it's time to prepare for your birthday ball." Reaching out, Rowen took Mina's hand in his own. "And I will escort you, my dear lady."

Giggling through her tears, Mina quickly wiped them away. "All right, Rowen, I'll do it." She glared at him. "But only if you won't let Father even come near me." She smiled then, looking young again, unburdened by the life of royalty.

"I will not leave your side, unless you wish to dance with someone," Rowen vowed with a bow, smiling up at his sister…

As the prominent memory faded, Mina glanced up at Rowen, tears in her eyes. "Rowen, I'm so sorry!"

She leapt out of her seat and rushed over to where Rowen was sitting, still shocked by the memories that had been repressed when he'd been reborn, and hugged him fiercely. "You have always been my champion, Rowen Hashiba, and I understand that now. You only want to protect me, and I know that, but…"

Mina faltered, not quite sure how to say what she wanted to, but in the end, she didn't have to. Artemis opened his mouth and spoke the words that Mina had wanted to say.

"What my dear girl here is trying to say," he interrupted smoothly, "is that as a Sailor Scout, Mina cannot be safe all the time. Superheroes are always in the middle of the danger, and that has not changed much, except for the fact that the bad guy has targeted her instead of all of the superheroes."

Naturally, he left out the fact that Sage was included in there, but Mina knew that as well as Sage did. Until the enemy was discovered, Rowen would probably be targeted as well, probably as soon as the enemy found out that he was the reincarnated Prince of Venus. To Mina, it wasn't fair that he had to be dragged into the whole situation, but that was life for you. Things were never fair.

Rising from his seat with a graceful air, Sage glanced at Rowen, then Mina. "Perhaps I should go," he suggested softly, but Rowen was quick to stop that. "No way," he announced with a shake of his head. "You're a part of this too and besides, I could use some support."

Suddenly, it felt as though reality itself shifted, throwing the four into a completely different realm. Instead of being dressed in the clothes they had been, they were all in their superhero uniforms, armor for Sage and Rowen, and the Sailor Scout uniform for Mina.

"Welcome to my version of Hell."