Sailor Moon X: Lunar Eclipse
a Sailor Moon/X-Men crossover
Chapter 20: Total Eclipse of the Heart
12-27-2017
by Grey-X
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the creation and property of Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation. X-Men is the creation and property of Stan Lee, Marvel Comics and Disney.
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Haruka shuffled through the papers Minako had just handed her as they all stood in her garage, Michiru looking over her shoulder. After taking a moment to skim over them, she looked up to Minako.
"So these are all the assets Nephrite had during his stint as Masato Sanjoin. Shell companies, investments, bought-up real estate, everything," said Haruka. "I don't get it. Surely all this stuff was liquidated after his death. Aside from his stake in Kizachi Technologies, none of it had any real significance for the Dark Kingdom's machinations. Why is it relevant now?"
Minako sighed. She had been sure Haruka would see the reasoning. It was easy to forget the Senshi of Wind was more about motion, about freedom, then stopping to ponder a mystery.
Ami chimed in for her. "The possibility occurred to me when Naru erupted in rage, blaming us for Nephrite's death after all this time…"
"As the old saying goes, the best place to hide something is in plain sight," said Artemis, who was in Minako's arms.
"The Dark Kingdom's long gone, so we hardly gave anything they left behind a second thought. Well, of course, except for Naru now…" Minako shut her eyes, nearly tearing up.
"But this whole mess started when Nephrite came to Kizachi," said Ami. "So perhaps the assembly site for the Sentinels he wanted is something that was connected to him. Kitty and I are still working on breaking into computer records at Kizachi Technologies, looking for any connection. Cross-reference that with Logan's monitoring of yakuza activity, Minako's inside information with Interpol and any odd deliveries coming out of Kizachi Technologies, and we find the Sentinels."
Michiru's expression brightened, and Haruka actually looked a bit hopeful. Still, pessimism tempered Haruka's hopes. "It's a good idea, but Kizachi's clever. She might figure we'd use Nephrite's assets to track her, and she's had time to find an alternate site by now."
"Still, it remains our best hope to find those monstrosities before they're unleashed," said Michiru. "And speaking of yakuza activity and Logan, how is he doing on that front?"
"On the warpath ever since Naru's mother died," Artemis grumbled darkly.
"Makoto, Mamoru and I offered to help, but he said this was something best left to him," said Minako with an acid bite. "So much for the Sailor Senshi and the X-Men working together."
"Most likely, this is part of the X-Men's wish for the Senshi to emerge from this without tarnished reputations," said Michiru.
"Worrying about keeping our reputations squeaky-clean hasn't done Naru any favors, or brought us closer to smashing Kizachi's toys," Haruka spat. "I'm close to saying the Senshi just bring Kizachi Technologies crumbling down, consequences be damned."
"Actually, I'm with Xavier on this," said Michiru. "It would barely slow Kizachi down."
"Besides, this mess with Sentinels started with Nephrite, but a building getting brought down is probably what truly made Kizachi our enemy," Ami added.
Haruka glanced back over to Ami, befuddled. "I don't get it. What building? What are you talking about?"
"She told you two to go digging into her past, didn't she?" Minako handed Haruka another batch of papers. "Another gift from my Interpol buddies."
Haruka and Michiru skimmed through the new papers. "Police reports on the Juban Odyssey building. Taken over by… some tree that grew from within and mysteriously vanished?"
"When you two began nipping at the heels of the Death Busters, the Inner Senshi had their own extraterrestrial threat to take down," said Artemis.
"The Makai Tree," said Ami. "We neutralized the threat, but not before the entire condominium was hollowed out and decimated. Keep reading…"
The two Outer Senshi read on in silence for a moment, but then their expressions darkened. "This was where the Kizachi family used to live," said Haruka.
"And their daughter, Erika Kizachi, was killed in the incident," said Michiru.
"This is it. Here's the reason Kizachi loathes Sailor Moon," said Minako. "She must blame Usagi for her daughter's death."
"And now her quest for vengeance has led to the death of another innocent," Haruka snarled, the papers crumpling in her fist.
"Speaking of which, just… how is Naru?" Minako asked delicately.
"Still completely clammed up," said Michiru. "She's barely said a sentence to us since we brought her here."
"She had good reason to detest us, given our utter failure to keep everything from collapsing all around her," grumbled Haruka. "Hence my impatience. If we don't get Naru results soon, I fear keeping her from joining Magneto will have made little difference."
Minako didn't know what to say. Right then, or to Naru. She hadn't been there when Nephrite or her mother died. How could she tell Naru it would be alright when the hits just kept coming? Perhaps it was best to stick to this investigation, work to get results for Naru, like Haruka said.
"She's hurting, but I still sense strength from her, and I'm not talking about bench pressing a bus," said Michiru. "I'd like to think Naru will come out of this in better shape than, oh I don't know, your dirtbike." Michiru glanced over to the corner of the garage, where the mangled remains of Haruka's dirtbike lay.
It had been an awkward start, for sure, having to bring that wreck back. "Oh yeah, funny story about that," Minako said innocently, rubbing the back of her head as she shut her eyes. "You see, Artemis kind of came out of nowhere, chasing Lockheed, and…"
"Oh DON'T blame this on me!" Artemis hissed in annoyance.
"Yes, Minako, don't," Haruka muttered, looking defeated. "Please, when it comes to the dirtbike, just don't ANYTHING."
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Naru kept the guest room dark on purpose, the lights off and the curtains closed, daylight barely seeping in. Right now, darkness suited her. After all, darkness was a permanent part of her arsenal. Every cell of her body able to harness its power, thanks to Nephrite. Naru thought she was over losing him, but realizing he transferred his power revealed just how raw that stab to her heart was. And now, losing her mother was like someone had ripped her beating heart out.
And still, Wolverine has no idea who did this to her, Naru thought acidly as she sat back down on the bed. Some gaijin he is. The X-Men are proving to be as disappointing as the Sailor Senshi!
Losing faith in the Sailor Senshi had been a long, painful road. How could they keep saving the world over and over, but let the people she cared about slip through their fingers? Even worse, they came after her when she took up the persona later dubbed Eclipse. The ones who had failed Nephrite and her mother, they turned their power on her when she took matters into her own hands! Did the dirty jobs that seemed beneath them!
Completely ignoring those thugs, and so many others... Fighting for love and justice, HAH! Where were the Sailor Senshi when the people I loved really needed them!? Naru thought bitterly. And not just that… What about all the other mutants here in Japan!? No doubt they're just as terrified as I was. And now Sentinels are being built, and the Senshi don't even know WHERE! Maybe I should give it a shot! I was smart enough to track yakuza activity all these months, and I've got power of my own! Power none of them can match!
Naru looked down at her arm. This morning, she changed into her fireproof, short-sleeved middle school uniform. She let dark energy crackle down her arm. With the room dark already, bringing that power to the surface was oddly… illuminating.
Then she willed some oily ooze to flow down her arm. It coalesced into her open palm. Obeying her thoughts, she made her oil slick assume a variety of shapes. One of the tricks Umino urged her to practice, to improve precise control. First Naru made it take the shape of Tokyo Tower, then a grizzly bear, then the dirtbike that she heard Minako wrecked. Finally, on a whim, she had her ooze assume the shape of a rabbit.
A rabbit… The animal tied to her old friend Usagi, what her name more or less meant. The Rabbit of the Moon. Even without considering that, Naru had suspected for some time who Usagi really was. Still, having the whole story behind Sailor Moon laid bare had been overwhelming. The conflict she and Nephrite were locked in had actually started many millennia ago? Her friend was a reincarnated princess from a fallen kingdom, destined to lead the whole world to a prosperous future as its queen!?
At first, it was simply astonishment. The girl who could barely get her homework done on time was going to reign as queen? Now, though, the thought threatened to make Naru's blood boil.
Naru closed her fist, squelching the ooze-rabbit within it. For a moment, Naru watched the oily goo dribble through her fingers. Even now, after working so long to master this power, Naru had to admit it still looked disgusting. Her, turning out to be a mutant with noxious-looking goop, a brute, now distrusted and feared just for doing what she felt was right. All while Sailor Moon, the one who had let her down twice in the worst way, still basked in the adoration of the Japanese, a paragon of beauty and grace. Well, sort of graceful…
It wasn't fair! Mystique had the right of it! And Usagi and her boyfriend would go on to become queen and king, their love to blossom forever? What about her? What about her future? What was so special about those two!? She had found love again, too! What made the love between them any more special than what she and Umino had? Why was theirs destined to bloom into a beacon for the entire world, when there was no guarantee she and Umino would even make it out of this mess together?
Umino… Xavier and Rei were right about one thing, at least. Joining the Acolytes wasn't the way to ensure Umino's safety. But if they were going to survive, if there was a chance for their love to last the way Usagi and Mamoru's was suppsed to… If they were to become something more, to ECLIPSE them…
Naru realized she had to do it herself. No X-Men. No Sailor Senshi. If all these had proven anything, there was no one to rely on but herself.
Thanks to Nephrite, her body had command over the darkness.
Now, Naru welcomed that same darkness into her heart and soul.
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Haruka sat in front of the new television she had to buy, her anger still simmering, not sure what to make of their current situation. She and Michiru had spent over a year investigating Death Buster activity, yet whenever they tried to replicate that same success alone, the two kept hitting a wall. How could the woman they had to SAVE from two Death Busters be better at covering her tracks than them!? At least Minako and Ami made it sound like it was no longer a question of if they found the heart of her operation, but when.
But Erina Kizachi and her Sentinels were only part of the problem. Haruka resented the idea of the Sailor Senshi needing any help. After getting a taste of what Magneto's power could do, however, any doubt Usagi made a bad call was erased. The Sailor Senshi were getting hit from all sides, by threats they didn't fully understand. No wonder Usagi figured she should bring in people who did.
It still tore at Usagi, though, that the X-Men had no easy answers for the rising tide of anti-mutant hysteria. For so long, Haruka had been so laser-focused on stopping the Silence, what might happen after she and Michiru achieved that wasn't given much thought. Usagi was different, though. She could spare a thought for what came after, and had such a big heart, there was ample room for empathy for those in the world she fought to save. Now, when it looked as if Sailor Moon had finally vanquished all their enemies, Japan was coming apart, and she was powerless to stop it.
A fact made terribly clear by what was on the television. Kizachi's wretched husband was on again for some mid-morning news show. This time, Haruka kept any heavy objects out of arm's reach. Watching him closely might give extra insight into his wife's plans, but it was the other guest speaker that intrigued Haruka more. He was out of the country, but could still be shown on another screen.
"So the mighty Sunfire steps into it at last," said Michiru. "If anything, he makes me glad we Senshi don't need masks. He looks like a big, red and white bug."
"Who might put Seto Kizachi in his place, or at least make him slip up," said Haruka. "The X-Men speak highly of this guy. Perhaps Xavier put him up to this."
Seto Kizachi certainly didn't need any urging to run his mouth. "And don't forget the girl calling herself Eclipse is no isolated incident!" he bellowed at Sunfire's screen. "Reports of assaults by mutants have jumped exponentially in the last month alone. This is a growing problem, and by making excuses you are complicit. Perhaps it is expected that you're reluctant to rein in fellow mutants. Too bad the Sailor Senshi have no such excuse. They've gone from actively fighting mutant perpetrators to actually showing sympathy for criminal scum like Eclipse!"
Shiro Yoshida didn't hesitate to fire back. "So simply stating fact is 'making excuses'?" he demanded hotly. "Much of what you call 'reports of assaults' are simply children with little or no control over their emerging powers. And let's not forget the rising number of assaults perpetrated against mutant citizens who have committed no crime. At the end of the day, rhetoric like this only makes things worse. Go on, Councillor, keep telling other mutants in our nation that they're all essentially guilty until proven innocent. Show them that they'll be looked down upon no matter what they do."
"Such as assaulting citizens simply for being suspected of yakuza ties!? Taking the law into their own hands!?" Seto fired back. "Acting like a vigilante that hides in the night… I thought you detested that sort of thing, Yoshida."
"I do. But do forgive me for thinking that rescuing complete strangers on a monorail car, at the expense of her secret identity, shows there's more to Naru Osaka," Sunfire spat.
"Again, it seems you are going to great lengths to defend this girl," said Seto.
"Perhaps you're right. Perhaps she reminds me of myself. Now she's lost her mother, most likely because of poison meant for her, or someone wanting to punish her mother for the terrible crime of having a mutant child," Sunfire shot back testily. "And the way so many, including you, just brush that aside, is very dangerous. Again, go on. Tell all the mutants of our country that their families mean nothing as well, guilt by association. Create fertile soil for madmen like Magneto to plant seeds of chaos. And you best hope that Eclipse herself isn't listening. I eventually saw the error of my ways. Saw that I brought shame to my homeland in a mad quest to avenge my dead mother. Osaka may see things differently…"
The back and forth continued, with Seto Kizachi's comebacks becoming more and more provocative. Not really trying to win an argument, just bullying and prodding. "I wonder how brave he'd be if Shiro Yoshida was there in person?" Michiru grumbled.
"Still, Sunfire has him pinned," said Haruka. "Yoshida commands flame, but Seto's the one trying to throw embers on dry brush. Yet somehow, I don't think he's got an agenda of his own. He may not even be aware of what his wife is up to. Merely a puppet, and he can't even see his strings. If only we could figure out…"
Haruka was interrupted by the phone ringing. After muting the television, Haruka put the phone on speaker. "Is that you, Minako? Please tell me you've got something good already…"
The voice that replied was… quite unwelcome. "Ooooh, almost forgot about the other Sailor Senshi I met in that arcade. How's she doin'?" came Gambit's quippy reply.
Haruka fought to keep her ire down. It hadn't exactly been heartbreaking when Gambit had returned to the United States. Thankfully, Michiru answered for her. "Do what do we owe this pleasure, Remy?"
"Thought I'd check in after windin' down from that tussle wit' Mojo in the Rockies. Dancing wit' Spiral… Six arms, all those swords, you'd have a ball tanglin' wit' her, Haruka." Haruka rolled her eyes, wishing the Cajun would get on with it. "Anyway, the Professor's brought me up to speed about what's been goin' down since I left. I hear Naru's stayin' at your place. How is she?"
"Completely shut herself off," said Haruka. "She said she won't join Magneto, but that's small comfort when seeing her like this."
"We just gotta give her time, then," said Remy. "If there's nothin' to report there, well, let's talk about you."
"Oh, don't start that again!" Haruka snapped.
"C'mon Haruka, I ain't makin' a call across the Pacific to take dirty. 'Specially with Rogue in earshot," Remy said with a laugh. "I was thinkin' more about how you ran into a few of our 'friends' the other night. Namely, the big, smelly sucker…"
"You mean Sabretooth?" Michiru asked.
"That be him," said Remy. There was a subtle, yet undeniable, edge to Remy's voice now. "Bad enough the buckethead is there to lead 'em all personally, but that big ugly kitty… There's things you gotta know about him, things Logan may not wanna talk about…"
"Oh, I held my own against him just fine," Haruka said dismissively. "What, were you going to insist that I let Wolverine handle him?"
"Logan's had the most experience with him, sure, but that's not what I be gettin' at," said Remy. "You held your own, and for that I commend thee. But against a monster like Victor Creed, you gotta be prepared to go in for the kill, end it as soon as you can. Permanently. Because you best believe Creed always will be."
"I thought the X-Men were against killing," said Michiru.
There was a long pause. "Sabretooth's… different. We X-Men only kill when absolutely necessary. When Creed's on the prowl, more often than not it'll be necessary. A throat shot wit' that sword, Haruka, will do a number. If you fight him again and you see an opening, I'm tellin' ya now to TAKE IT."
"Sounds like you've got a history with Creed along with Logan," said Haruka.
"That, unfortunately, I do," said Remy. Now there were subtle hints of… shame? "He's a constant reminder of… Well, just promise me that before he can do anythin' like that again in the Land of the Rising Sun, you'll be puttin' a stop to it."
This was a nice change of pace. An X-Man who didn't exactly disapprove of her and Michiru's tactics. Haruka was more interested in just what it was about Sabretooth that could get Gambit so worked up. Maybe the answer was in other files the X-Men had shared.
Before Haruka could press the issue, she noticed Naru had finally emerged from the guest room. "I'll get back to you on that, Remy," Haruka said, hastily pressing the button to hang up.
"Putting down dangerous mutants… Not as if the Sailor Senshi needed any encouragement for that before," said Naru coolly. She stood there in her old school uniform. On the outside, she still looked very much like the girl Usagi had introduced them to over a year ago. But something was different now. There was still sorrow over her mother's death, but it seemed masked by a subtle coolness in her stance, in her words…
"Oh Naru, it's good you've finally come out," said Michiru. Haruka could sense the care Michiru put into choosing her words. She also sensed something was terribly off. "Is there… anything we can do for you?"
"What I need… I don't need the Sailor Senshi for anything. Not anymore," said Naru darkly.
"Naru, what…" Michiru began.
"You're angry still, I get it. You have every right to be," said Haruka. "We're going to make it right."
"Yeah, everything's been looking up since the Sailor Senshi got on the case," Naru spat, glancing at the television. Seto Kizachi was still going on, despite Sunfire leaving the program. Even with it muted, the sheer vehemence of his vitriol bled through.
"Logan's been tearing through Japan's underworld ever since… you lost your mother, Naru," Michiru pleaded. "If anyone can get a whiff of her killer, quite literally, it's him. Once he does, we'll all pounce. We'll do whatever it takes to help."
"The way you two 'helped' Hotaru Tomoe?" Naru demanded. Haruka could see Naru clench her fists. Likewise, Naru could sense how they were taken aback by the subtle accusation. "Yeah, don't forget, Usagi told me EVERYTHING."
Nice going, Odango, Haruka thought bitterly. "Naru, you have to understand, that was entirely different…"
"Was it?" Naru challenged. "You rushed in, convinced you had to kill a fellow Senshi for the greater good, before bothering to learn the whole story. No surprise you jumped as soon as you got a whiff of the Dark Kingdom. Figuring out Eclipse was also a mutant didn't give the Sailoir Senshi any pause, either."
"We learned from our mistake, Naru!" Michiru protested. "That was why we, well…"
"Made a chemical weapon, just for me?" Naru finished, fixing Michiru with an icy glare. "And that failed. So if the X-Men hadn't arrived, what would've been the next step!?"
Naru had Michiru pinned, so Haruka stepped back in. "Naru, please, we realize how badly we misjudged! We're trying to make it right!"
"Not hard enough!" Naru roared. "While you two were getting your asses handed to you by Magneto, my mother lay dying of poison probably meant for me! What good are either of you!?"
"Naru, what's gotten into you!?" Michiru demanded. "We thought the X-Men got through to you!"
"The X-Men just showed me Magneto can't be trusted," said Naru coldly. "But now I see I can't trust them either. Or any of you!"
With that, Naru raised an outstretched hand and unleashed a blast of dark power. It was forceful enough to slam Michiru against the wall. This time, without the benefit of Sailor Neptune's endurance, she was out cold instantly.
"Michiru!" Haruka cried, fury swiftly overpowering her shame. On instinct, Haruka grabbed a nearby chair and charged, smashing it over Naru's head. Predictably, it shattered to splinters, and Naru didn't even flinch.
After shooting Haruka an amused look, her ooze flowed. The next thing Haruka knew, Naru had her ensnared in oily tendrils. She slammed Haruka up against the ceiling, then flung her at the entertainment center, almost knocking over the television.
"Oh come on, we just replaced that!" Haruka protested, right before Naru flung her across the house. She sailed through the kitchen and crashed through the door to the garage, stopping only when she collided against her Ferrari.
"Ugh, note to self… Don't ever do that again without transforming first," Haruka muttered weakly. She tried to pick herself up, every muscle screaming in protest. Barely able to get on her knees and one hand, her transformation stick slid down her sleeve. Haruka was about to raise it, but suddenly, she felt it yanked away.
"Oh no you don't," she heard Naru sneer. Glancing over her shoulder, Haruka saw a tendril holding her stick retracting toward Naru's hand. Naru stared at it for a moment, and Haruka could only guess what was going through the girl's head. No doubt it had to do with how she once wanted to be a Sailor Senshi. Seeing the cold contempt in Naru's eyes, Haruka knew those days were truly over.
A horrible possibility came to Haruka. Was she strong enough to crush it? Thankfully, Naru didn't bother trying. She simply threw it toward the back of the garage. It embedded itself in the wall with a spray of paint chips.
Haruka stared at that spot in the wall, crawling toward it. She didn't get very far before Naru's foot sank into her gut, flipping her over. Haruka screamed, and screamed again when Naru reached down and grabbed her wrist so hard, she almost broke it, but settled for hearing Haruka's communicator watch get ground into powder.
"Now that that's taken care of… Don't be getting all excited, Haruka." That was when Haruka felt Naru's hand reach into her pant pocket. She heard Naru pull out her car keys. "I still need to borrow some wheels. I'd use the dirtbike instead but, well, Minako…"
"Just add insult to injury, why don't you?" Haruka spat weakly, right before coughing up blood.
"Well, that and… this," said Naru. With an outstretched hand, Naru shot out globs of her ooze, pinning Haruka's hands and feet to the garage floor.
"Again with this, Naru?" Haruka demanded. "Why? We were willing to overlook all the other times you came after the Sailor Senshi, but this? People like Seto Kizachi want the world to think mutants are beyond redemption. You want to prove them right?"
"We're seen as pariahs no matter what we do," Naru said coldly as she stepped into the car. "Humans are determined to see us as monsters. Well, they'll get a monster now."
With that, Naru shut the door, just as the garage door slid up. The tires screeched as the Ferrari barreled out of the garage.
"Oh c'mon, don't leave me with another wreck!" Haruka shrieked as she craned her head up, watching her Ferrari careen down the road and out of sight, right before the garage door came back down.
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Naru knew that with her array of powers, stealing a car wasn't necessary. Still, there were plenty of reasons for jacking Haruka's wheels. One last way to antagonize her and Michiru, for instance. After this was all done, she wouldn't have a chance to do that, with any of the Sailor Senshi. It would finally be time to leave them all behind.
Another was just for the thrill. It wasn't every day one got to drive a muscle car like a Ferrari, especially when you didn't even have a license. Plus, there was knowing what she was doing was a flagrant violation of the law. Human laws.
Granted, her antics with the yakuza broke a whole litany of laws, but that was out of necessity. If she was doomed to be an outlaw now, might as well enjoy the freedom that offered, take whatever she wanted. Besides, it's not like laws had protected her family, so what good were they to her?
Still, there was a practical reason. By using Haruka's car, no one would see her closing in on her first target. There were still a few hours of sunlight. If she had chosen to travel across Tokyo via the rooftops, Naru ran the risk of being spotted.
Of course, someone on the road could also recognize her. Naru figured that the jacket and baseball cap she found in the car would keep her disguised. So far, her trek into Tokyo had been uneventful. Naru let herself be lost in the music blasting from the car as she stopped at a red light. But when another car pulled up at her right, Naru heard someone cry out.
"Hey, since when does someone who can use oil spills like slung webs need such a sweet ride!?" Naru slowly turned to see a man a few years older than her, grinning broadly like an idiot, driving a fancy red sports car. That car… It reminded her of what Masato Sanjoin used to drive, though this guy was nowhere near as charming. "So where's the love and justice freak and the big, blue baboon!?" he went on. Naru did her best to ignore him. Idiot humans like this were small potatoes, not worth getting worked up over. Still, he wouldn't stop pestering her. "Hey, let's see what ya got when it turns green, baby," he said before revving his engine. Actually, that could be fun. Naru allowed herself a small smile as she let her arm hang out of the car…
When the light finally turned green, the guy tried to take off. The operative word being 'tried'. He soon found that his fancy ride would get him nowhere. Leaning out the passenger side window, he saw the tires on the left side were melted onto the asphalt thanks to dark energy. Oily goo was clogging up a good deal as well. He saw Naru give him the finger before she drove off, still smiling.
"Well, that was an amusing distraction," Naru told herself as she sped off. "But the real fun's about to begin. The park where Usagi's father has that company party shouldn't be too far now…"
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Even Usagi had to admit something was seriously wrong with her. Normally, this company picnic being thrown by the magazine her father worked for would be a perfect way to forget her troubles. Just stuff her face. It had worked while undercover at Erina Kizachi's seminar. But now that she knew what ate away at Naru, and the heartache that she had suffered since, Usagi found she had almost no appetite.
Usagi sat alone at a park table, hardly noticing all the people around her. They all seemed to be having a good time, chatting among themselves, able to forget the troubles plaguing Tokyo for the time being. That sort of thing was to be expected, Usagi figured.
At least, it used to be. Japan's populace couldn't be expected to understand the full implications of what the Dark Kingdom was after, or what any of the Sailor Senshi's later enemies wanted. Things were a little different now. Mutants were something a little closer to home. Professor Xavier said that normal humans feared what they didn't understand. Well, the people of Japan seemed to be able to get on with their lives when Sailor Moon's old enemies were at large. Mutants were something people were more familiar with, yet fear over them was gripping Japan. Why? Why was it only mutants that seemed to spark this sort of fear?
Usagi caught snippets of gossip from the people around her, who paid the little blond girl no mind. Occasionally, it was something about Naru. Mostly astonishment at how such a sweet girl could go on a yakuza-busting rampage, or they knew someone who owed Naru their life after that monorail disaster. Something that would spark a little hope for these people.
But then there'd be some snide remark that it went to show that mutants were too dangerous. Usagi had to fight back tears. Too many people still couldn't see past their fear. Even her own father, the biggest X-Men fanboy in Japan, had been wary of Naru.
At least he was showing regret over that. "Usagi, dear, are you sure you don't want anything?" Usagi heard him say. She looked up to see him standing beside the table, offering her a drink.
Usagi shook her head. "I just still can't stop thinking about… her," she said meekly. "I know why she couldn't stay, Papa, but I still feel I need to do something for her. I just don't know what."
Kenji frowned, at a loss for an answer himself. He clearly empathized with Naru, but there was only so much he could do. "I understand, Usagi. When I heard about what… happened with her mother, I finally realized you had the right of it," said Kenji. "I… still think I can do something positive, at least. Provided my editors don't butcher the pieces I'm whipping up on what happened with Mayumi. And if you can get me that interview with Dr. McCoy before the next deadline…"
"There's something else, Papa," said Usagi. "You're an investigative reporter. Can you do some digging into… Kizachi Technologies and their founders?" Usagi didn't consider asking this of him before. Not when Erina Kizachi might expect something like this, and not when he couldn't possibly understand the risk. But the X-Men and Sailor Senshi were running out of time, Usagi could feel it.
Kenji shot her a quizzical look. "You mean Erina and Seto Kizachi? Well, given how that Councillor is… stirring up passions quite a bit, it could be worth a look. But his wife? Her tech company? I don't get it. Is this some tidbit Dr. McCoy and his friends shared with you?" Kenji asked hopefully.
He had pumped Usagi hard these last few days, trying to squeeze every drop of information regarding their mutant visitors. It was hard to keep so much from him. Then again, she had kept the truth about Sailor Moon from her whole family all this time.
"Can we please try to forget about McCoy and his friends for a little while?" came Ikuko's protest suddenly. Usagi turned to see her mother approaching, holding her brother and Chibiusa's hands. "I just want to have one day where we don't have to worry about this… weirdness."
"I think Naru would like that too, Ikuko-mama," Chibiusa snapped. "But, you know, she's going through some things…"
Yeah, way to keep the peace, you pink-haired demon, Usagi thought, seeing how Ikuko winced. Of course, Usagi knew she couldn't be too hard on her future daughter. She herself had unloaded on her mother days before.
"You're… right, Chibiusa. I… still can't believe Mayumi is gone," said Ikuko. There was no mistaking the sadness in her voice, the regret. "By the time I found out, Naru was gone. I wish I knew where she was, if only to apologize."
Usagi brightened a little. At least her mother was coming around. Now if only more people in Japan would.
Just as hope was nearly rekindled within Usagi, circumstances threatened to squelch it once more. It took a moment for her to notice the commotion. At first, it was startled gasps and worried ramblings, but eventually Usagi turned to its source. Many of the people attending the company picnic were staring at something, the anxiety radiating off them palpable.
Then there was an angry outburst from some man. "Hey you little freakshow, what are you…" He was cut off when some force flung him across the park, screaming, only to splash down in the lake. Usagi gulped. She had a nasty feeling she knew who was crashing the party.
The crowd soon parted. That was when Usagi saw Naru approaching, wearing her customized short-sleeved uniform, oily ooze cascading down her bare arms. Not only that, occasionally there was a crackle of dark energy about Naru. Ooze partially covered her face, as it had when she had ventured out as Eclipse. Naru made no effort to hide her powers anymore. Rather, she seemed to be flaunting them.
Naru's gaze soon locked with Usagi's. She turned to walk toward Usagi's family, never breaking stride. There was something else about Naru. All her self-doubt, all her anxiety over being a mutant, gone. It was as if Naru finally embraced who and what she was. But that icy gaze made Usagi feel a stab of dread, rather than relief.
Chibiusa pulled her hand free of Ikuko's as Naru stopped beside the park table, clearly getting the same bad vibes. Her grip tightened on Luna-P, wanting to be ready in case something happened.
Naru paid the little girl no mind, and ignored the bemused stares of everyone else, her gaze focused solely on Usagi. "Hello Usagi," Naru said coolly. "Normally, I'd be a bit insulted that I wasn't invited to a party along with you. But given certain circumstances, I think I can at least forgive that…"
"Naru, what are you doing here?" Usagi hissed, standing up. "You need to keep a low profile, remember? What about Haruka and Michiru? Where are they?"
"Back at their house. They're in a… better condition than my mother was," Naru said, softly but icily. Usagi's blood ran cold. No, that couldn't mean what she feared it did. Naru had been genuinely horrified by that footage the X-Men showed her! Wouldn't that keep her from being an evil mutant!? Or was her anger and heartbreak just too great?
"Naru, I'm… so sorry about what happened to Mayumi," said Ikuko, daring to take a step closer. "I still can't believe she's been taken from you."
"I can," said Naru. "After everything I've seen humans do these last few months, nothing about what your kind does can surprise me anymore."
"Naru, don't talk like that!" Usagi pleaded. "She's not like that! She doesn't hate you!"
"But she was certainly afraid of me, Usagi. Afraid of my kind. You told me what she said after seeing the X-Men and Sailor Senshi go at it on TV," said Naru. "She still doesn't trust me. No one in Japan does."
"Naru, what's gotten into you!?" Chibiusa demanded.
"Nothing. I've just had my eyes opened. Magneto showed me one thing, at least. There's just no way humanity will ever accept me," said Naru calmly, shrugging her shoulders. "I clean up the streets of yakuza thugs, I save a falling monorail car, and what do I get? A dead mother to bury, the authorities out for my head, everyone in Japan screaming for it to be put on a pike. Why wait for that lawyer from America, Usagi? Any trial I get would be a sham. I'm done pretending otherwise."
This was a living nightmare. Usagi had thought she would be spared this anguish. But here was her old friend, embracing being a mutant in the absolute worst way. Giving up on humanity, her friends, on any desire to use her power to help people. And doing it in such a cool, collected fashion, without a hint of regret.
"Naru, you can't mean that," Usagi pleaded softly. "And M-M-M-Magneto… You said you wouldn't join him!"
"And I won't," said Naru. "I don't need him or his cronies, just like I don't need the X-Men. Protecting the people that fear and hate me? I've already tried that, and it's cost me plenty!"
"So it's true. The X-Men really did make you an offer," said Kenji.
"And Usagi will tell them for me that they can go pound sand," Naru spat. "After all, she knows your heroes personally, Mr. Tsukino. For a very good reason." Naru turned back to Usagi. "You kept it from me for far too long, Usagi. I think it's time you let your family know, too."
Naru took a step closer, prompting Ikuko to grab Shingo and hold him close. Naru let out an amused snort.
"Oh, your mother wounds me, Usagi. Does she think I'm THAT far gone, that I'd hurt an innocent child?" Usagi was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but then Naru said, "Grown men and women, however…"
Naru's ooze bubbled forth, forming tendrils that ensnared Kenji and Ikuko, pulling them toward her. Usagi was about to dart after them, but Naru forced her parents down onto their knees, a hand over both their heads.
"Dr. McCoy measured the crushing force of my bare hands too, remember Usagi?" Naru taunted as her parents cried out in pain. "It's well above the maximum amount of pressure needed to crush a human skull. But controlling the amount of pressure… That's a tricky bit. Haven't quite mastered that aspect of my powers…" Someone in the crowd worked up the nerve to try tackling Naru from behind. She swatted him away with a tendril, without even looking. "Well, today's not his day to be a hero, Usagi. What about you? You want to save your family? You know how do to it."
"Naru, you can't do this! W-W-W-What did we do to deserve this!? I-I-I-I was trying to make it up to you!" Ikuko cried out in between yelps of pain.
"Can you undo what your kind did, killing one of your own just because she gave birth to me?" Naru spat. "Don't kid yourself, you were as scared as all the other Homo sapiens. And even your husband, ever the X-Men fanboy, needed to be bribed! You'll both thank me, though, once Usagi finally spills her secret."
"What secret!?" Kenji demanded. "Usagi, are you a mutant too!?"
"No way, Papa!" cried Shingo. "If she's a mutant, I would be too!"
"Sharp kid, your brother," said Naru, never taking her eyes off Usagi. "I still find it hard to believe he's related to you…"
"Enough, Naru," said Chibiusa sternly. "You're bluffing. We saw you lose your lunch after seeing what the Acolytes did in that hospital. There's no way you'd stoop to slaughter like that yourself."
Naru chuckled, shutting her eyes. "Again, what a smart kid. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that she's actually your future daughter, Usagi. She must get it from her father."
"Chibiusa… Future daughter!?" Ikuko demanded. "What's going on!? W-W-What are you blathering about!?"
"Well, your granddaughter has me pinned about not stooping to murder…" But just as Usagi hoped that Chibiusa had truly called a bluff, Naru let go of their heads and grabbed their arms instead. "I'll just settle for crushing a couple humerus bones so severely, the doctors in the emergency room will be forced to amputate!" she shrieked, hoisting her parents onto their feet. Usagi shuddered upon hearing them scream again. Her previous threat had been a bluff, but Usagi wasn't so sure about this one. "Unless Usagi finally comes clean about what she's been hiding! Let's see how everyone in Japan reacts when they find she's far from normal herself!"
Usagi could feel the confused, expectant stares of everyone in the park, but the cold, hurt look in Naru's eyes was still the most crushing of all. It was then Usagi was certain Naru wasn't bluffing. Everyone in Japan knew her secret now, and Naru was determined to see the scales balanced.
Kenji and Ikuko cried out in pain again as Naru squeezed their arms just a little tighter. There was no telling how much more pressure it would take to cause lasting damage. Naru smirked at Usagi, knowing she had no choice. To delay now would risk her parents losing an arm.
Usagi tried to tune out their screams, tears streaming out of eyes shut tightly. Unable to take it anymore, surrendering to the inevitable, Usagi raised a hand high and cried, "Moon Crisis Makeup!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ikuko futilely tried to wrench free of Naru's grip, but it was like her arm was caught in a vise. She still couldn't believe Naru was doing this. Usagi had tried to assure her that Naru nearly skewering her was an accident, that her fear of mutants was unfounded. It broke Ikuko's heart for Usagi to find out how wrong she was this way.
At the moment, though, Ikuko would settle for coming out of this without a severed arm. But Naru seemed determined to coax her daughter to cough up her 'secret' by any means short of murder.
What could this secret be? If Usagi wasn't a mutant too, what could have Naru so obsessed? As Ikuko kept struggling, tears streaming through eyes tightly shut, she heard a cry of "Moon Crisis Makeup!"
Ikuko's eyes snapped open. No, she couldn't have heard that right. That wasn't the secret. It COULDN'T be that! Not her daughter, not HER!
But light that would've easily burned through her eyelids greeted Ikuko, enveloping the spot where her daughter stood. Then she heard the same words, only coming from Chibiusa's mouth, and there was another explosion of light. Ikuko stood there in Naru's grip, mesmerized. Could this really mean… She turned to Naru, who was completely ignoring her now, focused solely on the spectacle with an expectant look.
At last, the light faded, and there stood Sailor Moon in all her splendor, alongside the younger, pink-haired Sailor Senshi. It was impossible, but her eyes told a different story. Her own daughter, the girl who couldn't even get to school fast enough half the time, was Japan's protector!?
Everyone else at the outdoor party was dumbstruck as well. But none more than Kenji and Shingo. "Oh man, how… My sister is SAILOR MOON!?" Shingo cried.
"Usagi, all this time… And you never told us!?" Kenji cried.
Ikuko had no words. All this time, just wishing Usagi would grow up and show some responsibility. And now here she stood, as Sailor Moon. But at the moment, she didn't look all that heroic. Tears still streamed down her daughter's cheeks, her eyes still pleading with Naru.
"There, it's done!" Sailor Moon shrieked. The voice, the face, it was clear to Ikuko now. It was as if now that she knew who Sailor Moon really was, whatever magical gimmicks that disguised them no longer worked. "Now let them go, Naru!"
Naru shrugged her shoulders again, then shoved Ikuko and Kenji aside. Tumbling to the ground, Ikuko looked back up at the mutant girl. That look in her eyes… She wasn't done. There was more Naru wanted from Usagi.
"What's this, Sailor Moon? No speech? No announcing you're the guardian of love and justice, that you're going to punish me?" Naru asked slyly. "I just threatened to rip your parents' arms off. Come on, after that, I think I at least deserve a little speech or something. Besides, give your adoring fans a show…"
"Naru, please, this is enough!" Sailor Moon implored. "You got what you wanted! Everyone knows! Just stop!"
"I… don't think so," said Naru. "Everyone needs to see this is for real, especially dear ol' Mom and Dad."
Naru raised a hand, and to Ikuko's horror, a blast of what could only be called black lightning shot out. Usagi and Chibiusa ducked aside, and it struck the park table, sending splinters flying everywhere. Usagi landed on a park path, but Naru made a huge leap toward her. Usagi leaped aside, and when Naru landed, the concrete underneath was smashed apart. That black ooze seeped out again, forming tendrils that snatched up the chunks of concrete, hurling them at Usagi.
Usagi shrieked in panicky terror as she ran and ducked and jumped to avoid the barrage. It looked quite silly, but Sailor Moon's speed and deftness… No normal person would be able to move like that. "Oh no, it's true… She really IS Sailor Moon," Ikuko muttered softly.
"Naru, stop! Someone in the park will get hurt!" Usagi pleaded, ducking under the last concrete chunk.
Thankfully, it looked like most of the partygoers had retreated to a safe distance, but they all hung around to watch. As Ikuko took in all their astonished faces, she spotted Chibiusa. That weird toy she called Luna-P… She threw it onto the ground, let it bounce up, and in midair it exploded with a puff of pink smoke. No, not exploded, just changed form. Ikuko's eyes widened when a rocket-propelled grenade launcher dropped into Chibiusa's waiting arms!
Before Ikuko could yell for her to stop, Chibiusa fired. Unfortunately, Naru saw it coming, and snatched it up with a tendril.
"Nice try, Chibi-Moon!" Naru roared before flinging the rocket back at Chibiusa. Chibiusa ducked aside, but was still caught in the blast. She was thrown back toward Ikuko, slamming into the tree behind her hard.
"Oh no, Chibiusa!" Ikuko cried as she darted to her side. Kenji and Shingo rushed over as well, astonishment still etched on their faces. As for Chibiusa, she was barely conscious. Ikuko felt for a pulse, and it felt surprisingly strong. Not to mention, it seemed no bones were broken. Taking that sort of abuse should've put the girl in the hospital for weeks! These two really WERE Sailor Senshi! "W-W-W-Why… Why did you never tell us?" Ikuko asked softly, tears falling again.
A wail from her daughter made Ikuko look back. Naru had closed in, black lightning crackling around her, trying to lay haymakers on Usagi. Luckily, her daughter was still staying one step ahead.
"Naru, come on, enough is enough!" Usagi cried out, ducking under another punch.
"It's enough when I say it's enough!" Naru snarled, twisting her hips to launch a kick into Sailor Moon's gut. Her daughter got the wind knocked out of her while getting knocked back several meters.
Ikuko wanted to rush over to her, but with Naru slowly advancing, a murderous look in her eyes, terror stopped her cold. Thankfully, Usagi was picking herself up, though she clutched her stomach. Usagi gazed tearfully at Naru as she advanced, cracking her knuckles. But then, Ikuko saw Usagi's gaze drift to something just beyond Naru. Ikuko followed it, and saw that the moon was low in the sky, barely visible. She looked back to Sailor Moon when she screamed, "Moon Twilight Flash!"
A huge beam of reflected light shot out of her tiara, swallowing up Naru. It forced her back over a dozen meters, eliciting a scream from her as she brought up crossed arms to block it.
While she was stunned, Usagi got back up, rushing toward Naru. She jumped and yelled, "Sailor Moon Kick!" She planted her foot square between Naru's eyes while she was off-balance, knocking her back against a tree. Naru slid down against the trunk, stuck in a sitting position. "Ow ow ow ow ow ow," Sailor Moon grumbled, hopping on her other foot for a moment. "Naru, I'm so sorry it has to be like this, but…" Usagi's hand went back to her tiara, taking it off. "Moon Tiara Action!" she shrieked as she threw it at Naru.
"Oh no, Usagi… Doesn't that…" Ikuko muttered, fearing the worst. To her relief, instead of cleaving Naru in half, the tiara expanded into a ring that trapped her against the base of the tree.
"Enough, Naru. It's over. Even you can't break free of that," said Usagi as she walked toward the tree. She was doing her best to ignore all the stares, but Ikuko could tell they were getting to her. But how did she never see it before, her own mother? How could she see Sailor Moon on television all this time, and never suspect?
"Urgh... Yeah, it's over. For you." Naru sat up, and to everyone's astonishment, uprooted the entire tree she was pinned against! Sailor Moon gasped in shock, right before Naru got on her knees and bent over, bringing the tree crashing down onto her!
"USAGI!" Ikuko shrieked, just as Naru lifted the tree off of Sailor Moon. Amazingly, her daughter got right back on her feet, though she was dazed. But that gave Naru the opening she needed. She got back on her feet, then bent over again This time, Naru twisted her body so that the tree was swung at Usagi like a giant baseball bat! Naru had swung the tree so hard, it snapped in half when it collided with Sailor Moon, sending her careening back Ikuko's way.
There were no words for the horror Ikuko felt as she, Kenji and Shingo knelt beside her daughter. Like Chibiusa, she barely clung to consciousness, and by some miracle, no bones were broken.
She may have taken all that abuse and survived, but that could easily change. A loud snap make Ikuko look back up. The part of the tree Naru was still trapped against had broken apart. Now she was slowly approaching them, a triumphant look on her face as that black lightning crackled. Usagi's tiara had reverted to its original shape, and Naru was twirling it around her finger.
With a self-satisfied grin, Naru flung it so it landed right in front of Ikuko. Terror gave way to anger. Ikuko scooped up her daughter, holding her close as she shot Naru a defiant look. Shingo and Kenji stood behind her, refusing to flee.
"H-H-How could you!?" Ikuko spat. "After all the time you've known each other, after everything she did as Sailor Moon… HOW!?"
"Balance," said Naru simply. "Usagi wanted to help me, know how I felt? Well, like Chibiusa said, I won't kill in cold blood. I won't make her feel the pain of losing family. But now, let's see how she deals with everyone knowing the truth." Ikuko glared up at Naru, holding Usagi tighter. "Oh, relax," said Naru dismissively, catching the gesture. "I'm done here. Now that everyone's seen how useless Sailor Moon really is, there's nothing left to prove. Worry about yourself, Tsukino."
Now Ikuko's glare was more dubious than enraged. "W-W-Worry about… W-W-What are…"
"My mother didn't care that I'm a mutant. That I'm… different," said Naru coolly. "Can you say the same? Let's see, now that you know the truth, if you're the same way. Considering your attitude toward mutants, I doubt it." Ikuko looked down to the girl in her arms, who was recovering already. But just as Naru said, things would never be the same.