All reading is non-refundable...

Yet another chapter! This story isn't that long so I don't think there are too many chapters left.

Moving onto the disclaimer...

All canon characters and Akira aren't mine, blah blah blah...

Previously on Eternal Senshi IV...

"KAI!" Suiren cried, bolting upright in bed. Cold sweat clung to her skin as she slowed her rapid breathing.

Haruka and Michiru came crashing into their daughter's room. "What's wrong?" they demanded.

Suiren looked at her parents, fear in her eyes. "Something's happen to Kai. I…I felt it…" she stammered. Haruka and Michiru looked at each other with worried eyes.

Taiki weakly opened his eyes and was greeted by Hikari looking down at him. "Are you all right?" the half vampire asked worriedly.

"What happened?" he asked.

"We don't know. You were found unconscious by the hospital," she replied.

Taiki sat up and rubbed his head. His brow furrowed as memories surfaced in his mind. He hung his head and sighed. "We have a big problem."

"What?" Hikari asked.

"Kai. He was taken."

Michiru stared at Taiki as he finished relating what he had seen. "He was taken?" Haruka demanded.

Taiki nodded. "I tried to reach him but it was too late."

They looked up as a doctor walked into the room. "I'm sorry, but Taiki-san needs to rest," the doctor said. The others nodded and rose to their feet. They began filing out, passing by the doctor.

Hikari brushed past the doctor and immediately stopped after taking two steps away. The half vampire turned and looked at the doctor with a cold, steady gaze. "Hikari, let's go," Haruka said.

Without warning the half vampire slammed the elderly doctor into the wall, baring her vampire fangs. "Hikari!" the others exclaimed.

"Where's the boy?" Hikari demanded.

"I…I don't…know what you're…talking about…" the doctor stammered.

"Did you really think I'd forget a scent like yours Naosu?" Hikari snarled.

Naosu stopped struggling and smiled at Hikari. The Senshi and Guardians stared in shock as the fake doctor's elderly appearance vanished. "You're too late in any case," Naosu smirked. "My Queen has what she wants."

"Where's my son?" Michiru demanded.

Naosu started laughing. "Your son is dead by now," she said. "As will you all be soon. You may as just as well give up. I won't tell you anything." Haruka held Michiru as they glared at the vampire.

Hikari pulled a knife out of her pocket and flipped out the blade. She suddenly slammed it into Naosu and twisted it violently. "You forget how good at persuasion I can be Naosu," she whispered, jerking the blade.

"Yamette Hikari," Usagi said. (Stop it)

Hikari turned to her friends. "I'm sorry, but this is my fight now." Before they could do anything she knocked the vampire out and leapt out of the window.

"Matte!" Haruka called after her but it was too late. Hikari was gone.

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Hikari sighed and stared at the unconscious Naosu. Three days had passed since she had left the others and she still hadn't found anything out. She rubbed her eyes and took a drink of water.

"You've grown soft," Naosu said, glaring at the half vampire.

Hikari looked at the vampire. "I have?"

"Ketsuki would have torn off a limb by now," Naosu laughed.

"Maybe I'm biding my time," Hikari said.

"You've become soft. You lost your bloodlust. You're just Hikari now, barely worth being part vampire," Naosu returned. "Sometimes you have to dirty your hands to save people."

"What do you mean?" Hikari asked.

"Your precious Moon Princess believes that everyone can be saved. She's wrong. Some people will never change."

"I have changed," Hikari said.

"I wasn't talking about you," Naosu said. "Kurai will never change."

Hikari spun around and looked at the vampire. "Ku…Kurai? She's…she's back?" the half vampire asked.

Naosu slowly nodded. "She'll burn this world down and give it to darkness."

"Where is she?" Hikari demanded.

"I'll never tell," Naosu said. "And no amount of torture you inflict on me will get me to talk either."

"I may be able to change who I am, but not what," Hikari said softly. She looked at Naosu, a strange look in her eyes. She bent down and pulled the vampire to her feet. Forgive me Haruka…Sky…Taiki… she thought. She bared her fangs and sank them into the vampire's neck. Blood memories flooded Hikari's mind.

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Taiki sighed as he stared out the window of his apartment. Yaten walked in, rubbing a towel over his wet silver hair. He noticed his friend staring dejectedly out of the window and immediately knew what Taiki was thinking about, or more accurately, who. Akira looked up from the book he was reading and followed Yaten's gaze.

"He hasn't moved since he got home two days ago," Akira said softly. "He only moves to do mandatory things."

"Anyone in?" a voice called. The two turned and saw Seiya walk in.

"What are you doing here?" Yaten asked.

"What are you talking about? You guys called me," Seiya said.

"No we didn't," Akira said.

"They didn't. I did," a cold voice stated.

The Starlights and the Starlight Guardian turned to the balcony door and saw a figure in black come forward. The figure reached up and lowered the black hood to the cloak. The four were met with blood red eyes and the three Starlights reached for their henshin brooches.

"Enough," a new voice said. Hikari came out from behind the figure. We don't have much time," she informed them.

"Um, who's tall, dark, and dangerous?" Seiya asked.

"Koroshi," Hikari answered.

"Doesn't that mean killer?" Yaten asked.

"Got a problem with my name little man?" Koroshi demanded.

"Knock it off!" Hikari snapped. "We don't have time for this. The world's in danger. Koroshi's a friend of mine. We can trust him."

"Where've you been?" Taiki asked.

"Getting information out of Naosu," Hikari replied softly.

Taiki noticed red flecks in Hikari's eyes. "I see," he said softly.

"I did what I had to do," Hikari said. "Will you still trust me knowing what I truly am now?"

"We've known you've been a half vampire," Yaten said in confusion.

"She still has some needs vampires do," Seiya said softly. "Odango was able to purge it though…didn't she?"

"She did…but I can't change what I am," Hikari whispered.

"You awoke the thirst," Taiki realized.

"To get Naosu's blood memories." She looked at them. "And I know where they are," she said.

"You know where Kai is?" Akira asked.

She nodded. "Do you trust me though?"

"I've learned to trust in people over the years," Seiya said. "I'll go with you."

"So will I," Taiki said. "Some things are worth risking a life for. Friends are one of those reasons."

"Hey, I gotta keep an eye on my twin. Last time I let Taiki out of my sight she decides to become a guy and gender-bend," Akira jibed.

Yaten sighed. "Might as well make it unanimous then," he said with a shrug.

"We need to tell the others," Seiya said.

"Have them meet at the Hikawa Shrine," Hikari said. She turned to the vampire. "Koroshi, go with them. There's something I need to get."

"I'll go with you," Taiki said. Hikari turned to protest but saw the determined look in his eyes. She knew that he would come with her no matter what she said. She nodded in agreement.

"Um…just to know, does your friend drink blood?" Seiya asked nervously.

"I use serum," Koroshi returned. "Not all vampires are bloodthirsty killers…not anymore…now that we have hope," he said, looking at Hikari meaningfully. She shifted uncomfortably under the Starlights' gaze.

"Let's go," Hikari said to Taiki. The two left and Hikari led the way up to the roof. Once there Hikari looked at Taiki.

"What are we doing here?" Taiki asked.

"Where we're going…you'll see things…about me and what I've done in the past…" she trailed off and stared at the ground. "Things that…things that not even Sky and Haruka know."

Taiki closed the distance between then and pulled her close. "I don't care about your past. I care about you, now in this time. You're not the same person you were then." He brushed away a few loose strands of her dark hair and gently held her face. She looked up at him and he smiled warmly at her. "I love you Hikari. Nothing in this world or any other world can change that."

The half vampire remained silent. She instead held on tightly to Taiki, drawing strength from him. "I love you too," she whispered. She lifted her head from his chest, a single tear escaping from her dark eyes.

Taiki tenderly brushed it away. He bent down as Hikari leaned up. Their lips met in a soft kiss, the wind picking up slightly around them. After several moments they broke apart. "We should go," Taiki whispered.

Hikari nodded. "Hold on to me," she said.

Taiki smiled. "I thought I was." She giggled a little and closed her eyes, focusing her energy. The Starlight gripped Hikari's hand as they were suddenly teleported to the entrance of a dark cave.

"Ready?" Hikari asked.

"Shouldn't we transform first?" he asked.

She shook her head. "If what's in the cave views you as a threat, you'll be attacked," she said.

"What is in the cave?" Taiki asked.

"A sword," she said. "It can only be pulled out by someone who proves his or her worth," she explained.

"So it has mystical powers then?" he asked for clarification.

Hikari nodded. "But only someone who has been touched by a vampire can pull the blade free."

"Meaning you," he said.

"Or any other vampire," she added.

"So…what'll attack us if we transform?" he asked.

"I don't know. But every vampire and Senshi who have gone into this cave have never come out," she said.

"So let's make sure we do," he said. Hikari nodded and the pair made their way inside the cave. Hikari looked around the walls as they treaded deeper and deeper inside. She was growing more and more nervous as they progressed further, wondering why they hadn't encountered anything but glad they hadn't.

After three hours of walking through the dark cave, they finally made it to a large cavern. A hole was in the ceiling and light beamed into the room. Hundreds of bones littered the floor. Some of the skeletons still had skin and the faces were twisted from some unknown horror that only the deceased saw.

In the middle of the room was a raised dais. A carved stone sat on the dais and a silver bladed jian (Tai Chi sword) rested in the stone. The duo studied the room carefully, looking for markings or anything that would give them some clue.

"So…what now?" Taiki asked quietly, his voice echoing.

"Wait here. I'll get the sword," she said. She slowly and carefully made her way into the cavern, her heightened senses on full alert for any attack. She stepped over a set of symbols carved into the stone floor and they began to glow.

"Hikari!" Taiki cried.

She whirled around as a barrier shot up, separating her from Taiki. She reached out and touched it, wincing as a shock raced through her nervous system. "Don't touch it," she said.

Taiki's eyes narrowed. "Behind you," he hissed.

She turned and saw a figure in a black cloak walking towards her. The figure stopped several feet away and watched her. "Dare?" Hikari demanded.

The figure reached up and lowered the hood. Taiki and Hikari's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way…" the Starlight whispered.

"It's…me…" Hikari whispered.

"No. I am the real you. Ketsuki," the other said, opening her eyes. They were blazing red and full of malevolence.

Hikari shook her head. "That's not me. I was never you. Not really."

"You can't change what you are," Ketsuki said.

"I know, but I've changed who I am," Hikari returned as the two began to circle.

"You can never change who you are," a new voice said. Hikari looked over as two figures came into view.

"Uranus? Neptune?" Taiki asked in confusion.

"You think you're worthy of removing the Ken no Kyuusai?" Uranus laughed. (Sword of Salvation) "You're nothing but a killer."

"You'll always be a killer," Neptune added. "Remember? You bit into our flesh and killed us," she said, tilting her neck so Hikari could see the bite mark. Uranus did the same and blood oozed out of the wounds.

"I wasn't myself," Hikari said.

"Oh yes you were," a new voice spoke up.

Hikari watched as a fourth person appeared. "K…Kaze…" she stammered.

"Remember? You made me think that the Senshi were my enemies and I nearly destroyed them. You are evil to the core. And now, like every vampire before you, you shall face justice," Kaze sneered.

Hikari didn't realize she was backing away until she hit the cavern wall. "I'm trying to make up for what I did," she told them. "I'm trying…"

Skeletal arms shot out and grabbed Hikari. "Trying is not good enough," Ketsuki laughed. "Give in to your dark side. You can hear it calling for you, can't you?" Ketsuki closed her eyes and smiled. "I can feel your resolve weaken. Give in!"

Hikari began breathing rapidly as she felt her darker side stir within her. She screwed her eyes shut, her body shaking. "No…stop it…stop it…" she begged.

"GIVE IN!" Ketsuki bellowed as she laughed maniacally. "You cannot change what you are! You are nothing as a powerless half-breed!"

Taiki cursed at the barrier as it shocked him. He watched as Hikari struggled with her dark half. "Fight it Hikari! You're stronger than her! You can beat her!" He blinked when the barrier suddenly dropped. He didn't have a chance to do anything due to Uranus grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall.

"You'll die too traitor," Uranus sneered.

Taiki struggled to remove Uranus' hand. "I'm…not…a…traitor!" Taiki choked out, glaring at the image of the Wind Senshi.

"Oh? Then why did you flee your home planet when Galaxia invaded? A true warrior would have stayed," Neptune laughed.

"I admit I've made mistakes, but I'm willing to do whatever I have to so as to make up for them!" Taiki snapped, his vision beginning to fade.

"This will make up for them," Kaze said. He pulled his sword free and pointed it at the Starlight.

Hikari heard Taiki speaking and turned her head. She saw Kaze advancing towards Taiki. "No…" Hikari whispered.

"You can't even save the one you love. How…pathetic," Ketsuki scoffed.

"That's IT!" Hikari bellowed. She broke free from the skeleton and pulled out her henshin pen. "Akari Crystal Power! Make UP!" Ketsuki screamed at the blinding light. Akari shot past the evil vampire and tackled Taiki to the ground just as Kaze swung the blade. The attack hit the Light Senshi directly and she screamed in pain.

"Hikari!" Taiki cried. He cradled her head in his lap as blood pooled around her. "Doushite?" he whispered. "Why did you jump in front of me?"

"Because…I'd…die for…you…" Akari whispered painfully.

Taiki stared at her, amazed at her selflessness. He blinked away his tears and pulled off his shirt. He tore it into strips and bandaged Akari's wound as best he could. He looked up as the four shades stood in front of him. He rose to his feet and stood protectively in front of Akari.

"Stand aside Starlight. She's the one we want, not you," Uranus said.

"You'll have to go through me first," he said.

"Taiki…no…" Akari whispered.

"I have to do this Hikari," he said.

"Doushite?" she asked.

"Because…" he said, a smile forming on his face. "I'd die for you…a thousand times over if need be."

"For her? Are you daft?" Ketsuki laughed.

"No. I love her. I don't care what's she's been in the past and neither do our friends or family. She's proven who she really is. What she is doesn't matter," Taiki said. He spread his arms out. "So if you're going to kill her start with me."

Tears streamed from Akari's eyes. The images faded away, leaving Taiki and Akari stunned. The Starlight turned and helped her up. "What happened?" she asked.

"I don't know. But let's get what we came for and get back to the others," Taiki said, looking around the cavern to make sure they were gone.

Akari limped to the dais and walked up the dozen steps. She carefully reached out and gripped the hilt of the weapon in her right hand. She released a slow breath and began to pull.

Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn! The plot is thickening. Unfortunately, I don't have anything for plot pudding. Next story I should have plot pudding! Until then, be kind to me and review. I like reviews. They make me happy:)