Sailor Moon - Rise of the Exalted Knights

by Lisseas

Chapter Eighteen - Rescued! Old Friends Return!

Posted: 12/10/2017

"We messed up, Usagi. We messed up bad!"

Empty streets flew by as the Senshi ran, fleeing the shrine and the shame it represented. Somehow, Mars' words hung heavy in the air around them…and heavier still on Sailor Moon's shoulders. There was more to it than simply 'messing up', and she knew it. The truth was far more damning.

Not we, she confessed silently. Me. I messed up.

There was little time to for self-pity, though. Their head start was up; the Black Death would be coming for them all over again, and they were hardly at full strength. Saturn was hobbled by her gunshot wound, and Uranus by her burns. Not that she'd ever admit it.

"Our enemy set a trap," Pluto countered, uncharacteristically harsh. "Yes, we fell for his tricks, but that says more about his devious nature than us, I assure you."

"No!"

Moon nearly tripped, surprised by Mercury's abrupt shout. She'd regained some colour in her face, but she was still a far cry from her usual self.

"Don't you see, Setsuna? We're supposed to be better than this, but we failed! We just…we rushed in and made a mess of things! We didn't think, and it cost those people their lives!" A clump of blue hair fell across her face, obscuring her eyes. "Are our friends more important to us than everyone else? Is that what we believe now?"

The silence that answered her was telling. Saturn grew paler, if that were possible. Even Uranus seemed troubled. Sailor Moon found herself reflecting on the dead they'd left behind them, most of them innocent…and it hurt to admit she had an answer.

"It isn't that simple."

Mars drifted closer, her expression now one of sympathy. "Usagi…"

"I can't just handwave everyone back to life anymore, Ami! Maybe...maybe I never could." She found herself slowing, unable to keep up her frenetic pace while she spoke. "Like it or not, we are more important than anyone else. Not because we're friends, but because we're the only people left in Tokyo with a chance of stopping Chaos!"

Mercury stared back at her in disbelief. "You're serious?"

"She's right." Mars sounded like she'd just been sick, but she spoke with a purpose. "I hate it, Ami, I do, but we're stretched thin as it is! We can't afford to lose another Sailor Senshi, even if…"

Moon swallowed past the lump in her throat and finished. "Even if it means losing someone else."

"So…"

She was startled by Uranus' interjection, so quiet had she been so far. Bow tattered, fuku ripped and torn, she still managed to look pleased in a bizarre sort of way.

"You finally get it, huh? Everything you condemned Michiru and I for when we first met." Her initial enthusiasm faded quickly, though, expelled with a heavy sign. "I thought it'd be nice to finally get a little recognition from the high and mighty Sailor Moon, but…nah. It just feels...disappointing."

Once again, the ponytailed Senshi's throat closed up. It isn't the same, she wanted to say. The stakes were never this high with you! Nothing came out though, try as she might, and she settled for a brief, albeit reluctant nod.

"I refuse to accept this!" Mercury snapped, grinding to a halt. "Minako was right, you know. We lost our way somewhere. Love and justice, Usagi! When did we lose sight of what we're fighting for? When did we become the Order of Black?!"

"Now isn't the time, Ami!" Mars seized her arm, but the blue-haired Senshi wouldn't budge. "They'll be on us anytime now. We have to get to Justice and the others!"

"He was right too, and we turned on him in an instant." The bitterness behind Mercury's words was palpable, something rarely seen from her. "How could we? After everything we've been through…"

"Ami, please!" Moon joined them, the ever-mounting anxiety now working her stomach into knots. "I know you're hurting, I do, but we have to keep moving. Standing here in the middle of the street is only going to-"

A brief orange flash in the distance was her only warning before Mercury shrieked in pain, a fireball tearing into her unprotected back. Moon caught her as she was driven forward, instinctively turning to shield her as a Hunter lunged out of the darkness. Moonlight gleamed off their sword as it swung for Mars with cruel intentions…

"Space Sword Blaster!"

The twin red streaks of Uranus' attack slashed through the assassin's robes, sending her tumbling to the ground. She – with the robes sundered, it was now obvious – rose quickly, though, even as the blood dribbled from her side.

"Come on!" Mars kicked her in the face, breaking the mask into several jagged pieces. The Huntress dropped, a flash of dark hair and brown eyes all Moon saw before her face hit the street. "Move!" A second passed as the miko ducked under Mercury's arm and began dragging her away. "We have to get out of here before more show up!"

Moon had to agree. They were in no shape for a prolonged fight, not with three of their group now badly wounded. And I'm not feeling so hot myself, she remembered, masking a grimace as the bullet wound in her back flared painfully. Saturn, Uranus, now Mercury. We have to get away, take care of our injured and come up with a new plan. We…

"Ah…"

It was him. She'd never be able to forget that odd, melodic lilt. It set her on edge immediately, his voice seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. It was omnipresent, all surrounding…and she did not like it one bit.

"There you are..." The building to their left exploded in a hail of concrete, glass, and steel as a Chaos Paladin tore through its façade. There, atop its shoulders, stood the Black Death, robes fluttering in the breeze. "I'm disappointed, Sailor Moon. Even after my gracious head start, you still fail to make this interesting."

Just like that, she was back at the shrine, watching impotently as he ordered the deaths of everyone left standing. He doesn't want anything except suffering and death. How do you defeat someone like that?!

Even carrying Mercury, Mars couldn't help but come to her defence. "Shut it, jerk!"

Moon glanced over her shoulder at the open street behind them. We don't defeat him. Not now. We run, like I thought. We come back for him when we're at full strength. A moment passed, her feet shifting slowly, imperceptibly in the beginnings of retreat…

"Look out!"

Another building began to shake, behind them this time. A second Chaos Paladin burst through what remained of its outer wall, eyes flaring red with evil intent. Moon clutched at her head as it let loose an ear-piercing screech and hurled a massive chunk of masonry at them. Uranus pulled Saturn aside, shielding her with her own body as they were peppered with concrete shards. She turned, fresh dots of crimson marring her fuku, and slammed her fist into the ground.

"World Shaking!"

The roiling amber orb tore through the building's upper levels, demolishing any remaining supports. A strange moment of peace passed before the whole structure came tumbling down, sliding towards the Paladin in an avalanche of steel and glass.

"Take that, you mangy, overgrown pigeon!" she crowed, before turning to level a finger at the Black Death. "You're next, you bastard!"

He laughed in response. "Oh, how I shall enjoy educating you on just how wrong you are."

Somehow, amidst the quite literal chaos, Sailor Moon saw an opening…and she took it. "Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" Her Tiare erupted, sending a wave of pure, unbridled Silver Crystal energy right at him. It tore into the Chaos Paladin beneath him, melting armoured flesh and evaporating feathers as it howled in pain and rage.

"I'm so proud of you!"

She whirled about, caught off-guard at the impossibly close whisper, and doubled over in pain as he drove a fist into her stomach.

"You actually did it. You really tried to kill me!" He punched her a second time, then drove his elbow into the back of her head. "As impossible as it seems, my Lady Chaos may have underestimated you. She was certain my little display at the shrine would break you, at least temporarily."

He can…teleport? Moon drew a raspy, shuddering breath, struggling in vain to meet her lungs' need for oxygen. The world span around her in a nauseating display, her head pounding as she craned her neck to stare up into his mask.

Mars' panicked voice tore through the air. "Get off her you-"

"Now, now…" There was a meaty 'thwack' as he backhanded her, sending the miko and Mercury to the street. "Can't you see Sailor Moon and I are talking?" He dropped slowly into a crouch, reaching out to grasp her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "It's hopeless. Tokyo is Hers, and the world will soon follow. You and your friends have failed. You're nothing. Playthings for Her amusement." A low chuckle fluttered from beneath his mask, cold blue eyes visible behind it. "Now you begin to see there is a price for your arrogance."

Moon pulled away from his grip, fingers searching blindly for her Tiare. Where is it? Where is it?!

"I'm going to kill two of your friends tonight." His calm, even tone only fuelled her panic. There was no anger, no threat to his voice. No, this was someone making a promise, utterly assured of its truth. "I'll let you choose who it will be, of course. Let it not be said I am unkind." His mask loomed closer, those same eyes narrowing as his fingers lowered towards the broach on her chest. "To think this all started over such a tiny trinket…"

His gloves brushed across its surface, and Moon felt it. Familiar but foreign, all at once. Power from the Silver Crystal surged through her body, reacting in defence as it had so many times before, only something felt…wrong. Beyond the power was a darkness, a loathing for the man above her. In that moment, she hated the Black Death…and the Silver Crystal hated him too.

A brilliant, silver sphere of light erupted from the broach. It picked the Hunter up and tossed him like a twig but, too her horror, it didn't stopthere: Mars and Mercury were thrown as well! The silver light was wrong. Corrupted! Mottled with black and red and violet, almost screaming as it continued outward…and Sailor Moon was afraid.

Had she really fallen so far? The Silver Crystal was a source of light and healing, drawing its strength from her love and sense of good…but tonight she held hatred in her heart. Hatred for Chaos, for the Black Death, for the traitorous people intent on hurting her friends.

In a flash, however, Luna's old warning echoed through her mind. In the wrong hands, it could tear apart an entire solar system. With that realisation came disgust, disgust for herself, and the energy faded as quickly as it appeared. Are my hands even the right ones anymore?!

"Mars? Mercury?!" She began crawling across the street, desperate to find her friends. There they were, perhaps twenty feet away, only now beginning to stir.

"Ancestors, Usagi!" Mars sat up first, her eyes wide in shock. "What the hell did you do?!"

"I…" Moon reached for Mercury and pulled her upright, unsure how to answer. "It doesn't matter. We need to get out of here now!"

The roar of a large engine cut across the street. An armoured military vehicle skidded to a halt, the back already opening up to reveal more soldiers in unmarked black uniforms. They turned, scanned the street…and opened fire on the scattered Senshi.

"Move!" Moon scrabbled across the asphalt in a panic, dragging Mercury into cover beside Uranus. The Chaos Paladin lay unmoving amongst the rubble, ruby eyes dull and lifeless within its misshapen skull. The Sky Senshi had stopped it from flanking them, but at a cost; they were still trapped. "Where do we go?!"

Uranus flung a World Shaking at the approaching soldiers before whipping around, her back pressed against her makeshift cover. "If you can keep those guys off me for a few seconds, I can make a hole with a few more World Shakings!"

"I can…do it." Saturn rose on unsteady feet and raised her Glaive. "Silence Wall!"

With the threat of gunfire abated, at least temporarily, Uranus squared up to the building and flexed her arms. "World-"

Yet another bone-chilling screech cut her off as a third Chaos Paladin appeared atop the rubble. The creature reached down and pulled out a massive steel girder, nodding its satisfaction before hurling its makeshift weapon at them. Uranus dove to tackle Saturn, narrowly averting disaster as the metal beam crashed into the street behind them.

Moon leapt out of its path, landing awkwardly out in the open. The bullets began flying immediately, dust and other shrapnel kicking up in a path towards her only to stop at the Black Death's cry:

"Sailor Moon's life belongs to your Mistress! Kill her and suffer a fate worse than death!" His harsh bark lasted only a moment as his men adjusted their aim. "Take her friends from her instead."

Scurrying back into cover, Moon realised she'd left the barely conscious Mercury behind. Cursing her own lack of awareness, and convinced her friend was sufficiently out of the firing line, she scrambled over to Mars' side. The miko flinched noticeably, glancing at her almost cautiously, as if afraid; Moon was hurt more by that single act than any punishment inflicted by the Black Death. Casting her fears aside for the moment, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"We might be in trouble."

"Oh, really?!"

Somehow, Mars' sarcastic retort actually helped. She never fails to disappoint.

Fifteen minutes earlier…

Justice exhaled as the somewhat familiar streets of Azabu-Juuban flashed into existence around him. Usagi's house seemed as good a place to leave Venus and Jupiter as any, at least for now. Until I can get back out there and find the others, anyway.

"Not as bad as I remember," Venus murmured, her first real words since leaving the subway tunnel.

"I know," Chibi Moon agreed, pressing a finger to her cheek. "They're less…jerky somehow."

"Jerky?" Upon reflection, he could understand her meaning. I guess Selene's upgrade wasn't just about raw power, but finesse as well. Interesting.

His girlfriend pressed a hand to her stomach. "They still suck."

Jupiter nodded solemnly. "Yep."

Ignoring their discomfort, Chibi Moon practically skipped up to the Tsukino's front door. After a brisk knock, her good cheer faded quickly. "Huh. Someone should be home." She knocked again with the same result. "We sent Usagi here, so why no answer?"

Gently guiding her back from the door, Justice gave the knob an experimental twist. When it turned, he nodded slowly. "I'll go in first."

"Why?" she asked irritably.

"Because I'm bulletproof. You're not." He peered inside carefully, taking one step, then another. "Is anyone here? We're-"

Whack! Something struck the back of his head with enough force to send him staggering forward. He swung in retaliation with a closed fist and connected, drawing Justiciar as he turned to see… "Oh."

"What are you doing?!" Chibi Moon pushed past him and rushed to the man now sitting up against the wall; Kenji Tsukino. "Grandpa?!"

"He hit me with a…" Justice spotted the weapon in question and sighed. "A bat." He sheathed Justiciar again, shaking his head at his own overreaction. "Nice swing, sir."

"Er, thank you…?" Kenji managed to stand...with just a little help from his granddaughter. "I'm sorry. I'm a little on edge with everything going on. You just can't be too careful lately."

"I can respect that." There was a dull thud from the doorway. Justice turned to find Jupiter and Venus standing shoulder-to-shoulder, both apparently trying to enter the house at the same time. "Problem?"

Venus flashed a particularly unconvincing smile and stepped back, waving Jupiter forward graciously. "Please, go ahead."

"Oh, no," the brunette replied, mimicking her smile. "After you."

"After you," Venus growled, her wave quickly becoming a clenched fist. "I insist."

"No, I insist!"

"Will you two just cut it out already?!" Chibi Moon's shrill voice cut through the air like a knife. She stamped her foot for emphasis and pointed to the living room. "Just get inside already! Honestly!"

Both girls slipped inside meekly, momentarily cowed by her display, and Justice couldn't resist a chuckle. "The future Sailor Moon, huh?"

Chibi Moon blushed just a little. "Yeah…?"

Heavy footsteps came from further inside the house, and Ikuko Tsukino appeared on the staircase. Her face brightened quickly at the sight of Chibi Moon, and she barrelled her way across the room for a warm hug. "Chibiusa, you're safe!"

"Of course I am," the girl whispered, returning the embrace with equal force.

Ikuko seemed to relax for just a moment before pulling back, her concern returning. "Wait, Usagi isn't with you?"

"What? No, we thought she'd be here."

The older woman's eyes darted to the door as Kenji closed it. "She left with Rei and the others-"

"They went to the shrine!" Luna bounded down the stairs, followed closely by Artemis. "Uranus and Neptune! That's where they were!"

A cold ball of dread settled in the pit of Justice's stomach. "Well, that's a trap."

"Exactly!" Artemis agreed, making a beeline for Venus. He leapt into her outstretched arms, nuzzling her cheek repeatedly. "I was so worried about you. Er, both of you!"

Jupiter rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Artemis."

Venus simply hugged him tight, leaving Justice more than a little jealous of the attention. Again, she said nothing…which was strange for her.

The cat glanced over to Justice and offered a curt nod. "It's good to see you back again too, Corey."

"Thanks." He returned it automatically, momentarily lost in his feelings. What I wouldn't give to have Titus here with me now…

A near-feral hiss made everyone jump. Luna leapt onto the arm of the couch, her fur bristling. "This is no time for pleasant reunions! Corey, you have to go after them! They're no doubt in terrible danger!"

He nodded again. "Yeah. I met this 'Black Death' earlier and he came across like a colossal douche." His tone sharpened as Venus and Jupiter began moving for the door. "Oh, no, you don't! You're both staying here!"

"But-" Both girls spoke in unison, with a brief glare at one another for emphasis.

"Justice is right!" Chibi Moon growled, folding her arms across her chest. "You need to heal up first."

"I…" Ikuko spoke first, seemingly torn between the urge to be useful, and motherly concern. "I'll get some bandages and the iodine. Sit down, girls." She headed up the stairs again, albeit slowly.

"Damn it…" Jupiter sighed dejectedly and hobbled towards the couch. "Thank you."

"Yeah," Venus said softly, sinking down reluctantly beside her with Artemis in her lap. "Thanks."

Having retrieved his bat by this point, Kenji placed a gentle hand on his granddaughter's shoulder. "I know what you're going to say, Chibiusa, but do you really have to go back out there?"

"I do," she said firmly, as she backed towards Justice. "I'm Sailor Moon, Grandpa. Er, Chibi Moon for now, I guess…and it's my duty as much as anyone's to save this city." She gave the Guardian Knight a quick nudge and took hold of his arm. "Let's go."

Another nod. You're becoming practically monosyllabic, McCleod. With the briefest of hesitations, he turned to Venus. "I will be back this time. I promise."

"I know."

Taking her quiet reply as the best he'd get for now, Justice turned his thoughts to the shrine, focused his power…and blinked.

"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"

Sailor Moon looked on as her attack struck the Huntress dead-on, obliterating her in an instant. Despite the events at the shrine, she felt little remorse. They'd offered the Order of Black peace, and they had turned it down. These Hunters had made their motives clear, and her conscience was clean.

"Get her!"

She ducked back behind cover as a pair of soldiers followed the dead assassin into view, firing on her without hesitation. One blast would likely finish both…but it was now that she hesitated.

..."Usagi…" Mars' quiet call sent a chill down her spine. "The gun, it…it's cable-tied to his hands. His finger is nowhere near the trigger…"

It wasn't the same. They had fired at her…but why? Where they genuine followers, or had Chaos and the Black Death lied? Had they promised safety, for them and their families, if they served? A hiss of frustration slipped from between her lips as she hunkered down. If I freeze when one of my friends is in danger…what then?

It was a valid question. They were trapped, a collapsed building at their backs and a swarm of enemy soldiers before them, Hunters scattered among them. Her fellow Senshi were huddled behind cover, anything they could find. Abandoned cars, fallen pieces of buildings; slim pickings indeed. The bullets just kept flying, making retaliation difficult. Uranus and Pluto threw attacks at anyone who got too close, but Mercury was practically still...and even Mars seemed hesitant.

How can they serve Chaos like this? Her anger only grew. Anger towards Chaos, but also towards the people opposing them now. How can they turn against their own people? Is fear really so powerful? Are these really the people we've been protecting all this time? Cowards who turned on us the moment things get tough?

Once again, her thoughts returned to the shrine…and her anger faded away, replaced with guilt and shame. No. These are the people we've been protecting…and we've failed. We couldn't protect them, and fear drove them into the arms of Chaos. The same fear that left us able to justify killing. How can I condemn them for doing exactly the same thing?

She glanced up at a strange sound, deep and rhythmic and growing in strength. "What…?"

"Oh, great!" Mars muttered. "Now they have a helicopter!"

Moon saw straight through her sarcasm to the fear hiding beneath. Things were certainly dire. They were boxed in and rapidly losing ground. Uranus' collapsing building trick had stopped one Paladin, but a second was now stomping over the ruins towards Mercury. She dove aside as it swung, tearing through her makeshift cover with ease and peppering her with shrapnel. It tossed a car aside almost effortlessly and loomed over her, beak sparking as it snapped open and shut.

"Mercury!" Moon leapt from cover, raising her Tiare even as she realised she was too far away. "Just hold-"

The colossal beast reared back, howling in pain as an intense, crescent-shaped energy blast tore into its chest, nearly cutting it in half. Another more subdued flash of light marked the arrival of Justice, a welcome sight indeed. His armoured form slammed into the Paladin, his mass enough to knock it off its feet and drive it into the street. His sword plunged into its chest once, twice, three times, a shriek of pain following every thrust. Moon let out the breath she hadn't realised she was holding, relieved to see Mercury free and clear.

"Celestial Tide!"

Sailor Chibi Moon followed the Guardian Knight's entrance, unleashing a torrent of blinding, white energy at the monster. Justice blinked away at the last second as it was enveloped, howling angrily as her attack quite literally smashed it into paste.

Reappearing beside her, Justice extended his hand towards the oncoming soldiers and the faint disc of his shield shimmered into being. The near-constant hail of bullets and fireballs stopped instantly, with no sign of strain on his part this time.

"Gather up," he called, tossing a fireball of his own at an overly-inquisitive Hunter. "We're leaving!"

Moon straightened up, ignoring the pain from her back. For the first time since that evening, things were looking up. We might actually get out of…

The deep thrum of the helicopter returned, dashing her newfound hope. The large, jet-black aircraft settled overhead, dropping ropes and a trio of small canisters that burst upon landing. Thick plumes of smoke rose up around the Senshi, obscuring the battlefield with a similar effect to Mercury's own Sabao Spray. Moon swallowed nervously and raised her Tiare, ready to defend her friends from this new threat…only to pause at a both familiar and perplexing sight.

"…Mamo-chan?"

Tuxedo Kamen leapt from the helicopter gracefully, swinging down one of the ropes one-handed. He hurled a fistful of roses as he fell, driving back a trio of soldiers with a cloud of exploding petals. In an instant, Moon felt like she was fourteen again, seeing him for the first time. Weeks of fear and doubt and concern bled off at the mere sight of him here, alive and well. His cape fluttered in the breeze as he landed, tackling another soldier to the ground, and she almost swooned until she remembered their situation.

More figures followed him down. Her frazzled mind identified them first as Black Paladins, but as the first emerged from the smoke she saw the differences. Black, streamlined modern armour of similar design, yes, but with polished golden plates affixed over the chest, shoulders and forearms. More armour covered their hips, knees and boots, with full helms obscuring their faces. They carried a sword on their hip, and modern firearms in their hands…but who were they?

A fifth soldier joined them. His armour was noticeably bulkier, almost to the point of comedy, but he was clearly very much in charge. "Go!" he cried, flicking two fingers towards the enemy. "Take down anyone in your way not wearing a short skirt or full plate!"

Lost in the display, confused by what she was seeing, Sailor Moon didn't see the Hunter coming. The flash of steel was her only warning, and she barely caught his first strike on her Tiare. His second and third swings left her reeling, and he dropped with a leg sweep.

"The Mistress may not wish you dead," he hissed, "But I can make you wish for its embrace!"

His threat ended abruptly in a strange gurgle as a thin red beam of light sliced through his chest. She let out an involuntary shriek as a fine, bloody mist sprayed across her face...and he collapsed.

"Come on, Moonbeam, on your feet!"

The frazzled Senshi froze, recognising the voice even if she couldn't comprehend its existence. There before her stood a familiar woman with long blonde hair, clad in black. With edged shoulder-guards with a pleated leather skirt and knee-high boots, she could be only one person. "…Fury?!"

The Sailor Marauder practically beamed. "Aw, you remember me!"

Accepting her offered hand, Moon was pulled to unsteady feet. "But…you're dead."

"Nah, not quite. Thanks to you!" Almost casually, she turned to point at one of Chaos' soldiers with a giggle. "Vengeful Caress!" Another red bolt tore through his knee, dropping him with a pained cry. "I would love to stay and chat, but there are bad guys afoot. Talk later!" She lunged into the fray with an unsettling cackle, hacking away at another soldier with her trademark katana. "C'mere, Shootie!"

Mars joined Moon a moment later, eyes wide. "Isn't she dead?"

"Not quite, apparently," Moon replied, with a confused shrug.

"And what's she doing here with Tuxedo Kamen?" Mercury asked, limping up to her other side.

Moon neglected to answer as the battle raged on. One of the new arrivals fell to a Hunter fireball, an act quickly avenged with a rose and Fury's katana. The remaining gold soldiers focused their fire on a squad of Chaos' regular troops, keeping them pinned down and unable to advance. Safe now behind Justice's shield, the weary Senshi just watched as, slowly but surely, the Black Death's forces were routed.

He leapt up onto the remaining Paladin's shoulders, unreadable as ever behind his bloody mask. "So, the day is yours, Sailor Moon. Enjoy your victory, but be wary; the hunt, as always, continues!"

The Paladin stomped away, with the remaining Hunters in its wake. The remaining troops seemed to lose their resolve immediately, tossing their weapons to the ground and running for their lives. Chills ran down Moon's spine despite their apparent victory, for she knew it was only the beginning. But it's a start all the same.

The gold-armoured leader clomped towards them, congratulating his soldiers along the way. "I think we showed them the new Exalted Knights of the Undying Sun mean business!"

Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Fury fell in beside him as he approached, scattered cheers rising up among their apparent comrades…before they fell silent, apparently wary of the Sailor Senshi now assembling before them.

"It's been three weeks," the leader said gruffly, "And Tokyo still isn't free?"

"Wait a minute…" Mars stepped forward, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "I know that voice. That's you under there, isn't it?!"

The leader of these 'Exalted Knights' removed his helmet and swept aside a mess of sweat-drenched black hair to reveal the scowling face of Rinjirou Payne. He stared right past Mars, straight at Moon, and shook his head in. "What the hell have you been doing all this time?!"

"Oh, good," she murmured, her elation at Mamoru's return quickly evaporating. "You're back."

Mars was a little less subdued. "Idiot!"

AN: Hey, it's not two weeks but I managed to beat the month. And, what do you know? Rinjirou's back, and Mamoru and Fury are with him! Should make for an interesting conversations in the coming chapters!

I would normally toss out some more, but it's late and I am TIRED! So, as always, thank you so much to all my wonderful readers and reviewers. I hope you enjoyed this latest instalment, and I look forward to your feedback. Cheers!

Lisseas