Sailor Moon X: Lunar Eclipse
a Sailor Moon/X-Men crossover
Chapter 33: A Look in the Mirror
8-12-2018
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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Clutching her sides, blood dribbling down her face, Erina Kizachi dropped down and shuffled away from the burning remains of Mastermold's escape pod. Her legs screamed in protest. Erina swore she could also feel some severe burns. Yet she found it easy to push all that aside and trudge on, as fury easily eclipsed any pain.
Not anger because the Sailor Senshi and the X-Men had defeated Mastermold. Oh no, Erina knew that was the likely outcome, no matter how much she tweaked her creation. Destroying the newest line of Sentinels? It's what the X-Men do. And the Sailor Senshi had trounced menaces far more dangerous than her Mastermold. Though it looked like her Mastermold had the upper hand for a stretch, it was no surprise Sailor Moon outfoxed her in the end.
No, what infuriated Erina was how the Sailor Senshi refused to finish the job. They could have aimed their attack so that the cockpit would be obliterated as it drilled through that gaping hole in Mastermold's armor. But they didn't. Despite the clear and present danger of her Mastermold and its Sentinels, they opted to try taking her alive.
And Erina refused to be taken alive. Win or lose, whether she crushed Usagi Tsukino's heart or her body, death was all that awaited her. All that should await her. If Mastermold was to go down, she should have gone down with it.
"What's wrong with you, Tsukino?" Erina grumbled as she shuffled through the trees. "I divide our country, plunge a knife in your heart and twist it... I've hurt you in ways no one else has. You've blown away your enemy's foot soldiers for far less. Yet I'm not dangerous enough to vaporize along with them?"
Erina took her glasses off to wipe blood out of her eyes. Thankfully, the forest's nighttime gloom was no hindrance, as it was bright light that repulsed her. If anything, the darkness made it easier to make her way through this forest. "Of course, Wolverine's probably picked up my scent by now. My nanomachines will screen out telepathic probes, but that nose of his is another story. And who knows just what Tsukino's new recruits can do? I better move..."
It was easier said than done, as the pain was catching up. Erina cried out as sharp pain shot up her legs, forcing her to lean on a tree to catch her breath. "Great, even if Wolverine's nose hasn't pinpointed me, he'll hear that," Erina muttered.
Fortunately, Erina had reached her destination. Her escape pod was preprogrammed to bring her here, where a van was hidden for contingencies such as this. She smiled to herself, her mind already working on new plans to frustrate the Sailor Senshi. They refused to see her as a threat equal to Beryl and the others? That would come back to bite them.
Erina slowly made her way around it, fumbling for the keys. But suddenly, she felt something yank her back. And some strange goo seep through the burn holes in her clothes.
She deduced who it was in an instant. The next thing that went through Erina's mind was throbbing pain as her head was smashed through one of the van's back windows, courtesy of Osaka's tendrils.
Osaka let her slide to the ground, Erina's voice merely a gurgle of blood. Then Osaka walked up and grabbed hold with her own two hands. With a shriek, she smashed Erina's face through the other window.
Everything was a hazy blur for a moment, but Erina was dimly aware of Osaka letting her drop down again. Then very aware of the foot sinking into her gut. It was a wonder that didn't snap her in half.
Instinctively, Erina reached into her coat. She had something for this eventuality, a spray that would put that oil slick into a deep freeze, long enough to let her slip away...
And as Erina reached up to aim it, Osaka slammed her foot down on her forearm, eliciting her loudest scream yet.
"I don't think so, Kizachi!" Osaka howled. She hoisted Erina back up and slammed her against the back of the van. Grinning evilly, Osaka let some dark energy flow, making Erina scream again. "Yeah, that's right! Scream! Beg for mercy! Feel the terror my mother must've felt as that poison did its job!"
Despite her hammering heart, Erina forced herself to remain calm. She looked Osaka in the eye, refusing to flinch from that look of venomous hate. If nothing else, it gave her an idea. If Tsukino refused to finish her, Osaka no doubt would. Which, to Erina's delight, would stab at Tsukino's heart one last time, seeing the friend she was desperate to 'save' kill in cold blood. But it would have to be done before a Sailor Senshi or X-Man could interfere.
"I-I-I... never wanted your mother to die, Osaka," Erina croaked through a mouthful of blood. "She was a treasure. A mother who refused to forsake her mutant daughter. She got to prove herself in a way I never could."
Osaka blinked in confusion. It was working. The more confused and worked up she made Osaka, the more likely she would give in to base instinct.
So Erina went on. "What, weren't you listening in before? The daughter I lost the day that tree grew out of control was also a mutant. But she couldn't control her power because she never had a chance to practice. Afraid of revealing them, thinking I would be ashamed when nothing could've been further from the truth."
For a moment, Osaka simply stared into her eyes. "So you were working with Magneto because you actually believe in his vision, despite being human yourself?" she asked at length.
Erina nodded. "After losing Erika, I devoted my life to making sure the world would become a place she could've thrived in."
"And making my life a living hell was all a part of the plan!?" Osaka snarled.
"You had to be made to see," said Erina. "I've watched you for a long time, Naru Osaka. All those monster attacks, Masato Sanjoin dying in your arms, that night you revealed your strength to Tsukino, I've seen all of it. You're possibly the greatest of this generation of Japan's mutants, Osaka. If anyone can help lead them into a better future, it's you. Who else? The once and future princess of the Moon, who left you by the wayside?" Erina forced herself not to grin as Osaka grit her teeth. That's it, hit every raw nerve, she told herself. It'll be a shame to let the world lose a brain like mine, but I have to see to it it's splattered NOW.
"Forget her, forget her new friend in the wheelchair, forget Magneto..." Osaka hissed. "I won't be ANYONE'S pawn!"
"Good girl," Erina said, smiling with bloodied lips. "I see now it was foolish to think you could be herded along any path. And what happened to your mother demands justice, even if you have to take that justice for yourself, correct? Mayumi Osaka's death was a tragedy, and I can never see those scales balanced. Balance them yourself. Do as you must."
Again, Osaka simply stared for a moment. She was close to doing the deed. Erina could practically feel her fist smashing through her skull. "I don't suppose you'll tell me where your nephew is before I rip your head off?" Osaka asked delicately.
Erina shook her head. "Wouldn't let him tell me where he scampered off to."
"Then I guess there's no reason to keep you alive," Osaka said coldly.
Finally, the girl was seeing sense. "Then as I said, balance the scales," Erina said with a tone of finality. It didn't matter if Tsukino or Osaka killed her. The damage was done, tensions in Japan would let Lehnsherr swoop in and persuade Japan's mutants to rise. Osaka wouldn't join them, but Lehnsherr could console himself with how the need to deal with a certain Homo sapien was at an end. He would see to it that Japan's mutants would rise up, and in doing so perhaps crush Tsukino's spirit for good. Nothing else mattered. Knowing this, Erina could die fulfilled.
"Oh I will," Osaka spat, tears streaming down her face. She pulled one hand back and clenched it into a fist. Erina refused to look away, or even close her eyes.
She only shut them when a pleading voice cried out, "Naru, don't do this!" Erina grit her teeth in frustration, wondering if Tsukino would ever stop screwing up her life, even when it was supposed to end.
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Naru slowly turned her head, her fist still raised, itching to smash it through Kizachi's ugly, bloody face. Sailor Moon and Wolverine were just emerging through the trees a good twenty meters away. More of the X-Men and Sailor Senshi would be right behind them. Cable could effortlessly stop her with telekinesis. Or Storm, Jupiter, Iceman or Mercury could cripple her with their elemental power. She had to act fast, or her one chance for revenge would slip away.
"Stay out of this, Sailor Moon! Kizachi is MINE!" Naru roared, lashing out with tendrils. Moving like liquid lightning, Wolverine slashed them apart.
"Can't do that, darlin'," said Wolverine. "Kizachi deserved the beating you no doubt gave her, but the line's gotta be drawn at murder."
"Says who!?" Naru demanded. "You're the GAIJIN! Who're YOU to tell me I can't take justice with my own two hands!?"
"He's someone who has lived many lifetimes, and has much wisdom to share, Naru," came Storm's voice from above. Naru turned, trembling as the X-Men's leader gently lowered herself down. One wrong move, one twitch, and a bolt of lightning would blast her away from Kizachi. Even worse, Iceman was closing in on an ice slide, and Gambit was with him. Then, more of the X-Men and Sailor Senshi emerged from the trees, though Cable was nowhere to be seen. Naru just stood there, frozen, still pinning Kizachi against the back of the van.
"This Cajun's seen quite a bit, too," Gambit chimed in. "I've been livin' with plenty o' guilt, knowin' I had a hand in mass murder. Killing with your bare hands... That ain't gonna be as easy to live with as you think, Naru. We all know that whole Eclipse thing was a façade. The girl behind the goop ain't what you made her out to be."
"I wasn't prepared to kill as Eclipse before, but I am now!" Naru cried. She looked back to Kizachi, who just smiled at her, as if to egg her on. It would be so easy. Just throw a punch before any of the Sailor Senshi or X-Men could blast her. Her mother was dead because of her, she was responsible for the Sentinels, all the anti-mutant hysteria. Kizachi didn't deserve mercy from anybody!
And yet, her fist trembled. Feeling all those eyes on her... Somehow, Naru couldn't throw that punch, end the threat forever.
Naru's head turned again when she heard footsteps draw near. Her heart leaped into her mouth when she saw Mercury approaching. Yet for some reason, she wasn't prepping an attack. "Naru, listen to me... Kill Kizachi, and you give her exactly what she wants."
"Oh shut up," Kizachi spat. "You're the teen genius, but what do you REALLY know about me, Mizuno?"
Mercury's gaze had been soft, but hardened as she looked to Kizachi. Naru could sense hesitation from Mercury, but at length she said, "That you're dying of cancer, and you no doubt want to go out in a blaze of glory."
Naru looked back to Kizachi in disbelief, then back at Mercury. "Y-Y-You're lying," she said weakly.
"No, Naru. We'll never keep anything from you again," said Mercury. "I... got hold of Erina Kizachi's medical records. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer over a year ago. It's terminal! She's only got about another year, if that. You only have to wait, and the world will be rid of her. Kill Kizachi now, and you become a murderer for nothing, Naru."
Naru looked back at Kizachi in disbelief, mouth agape, the tears still flowing. "It's true," Kizachi finally said. "How ironic. What gives you, and gave my daughter, such power is what's killing me..."
That mocking tone in her voice... Cancer or no, Naru was still ready to put her out of her misery. Still, all those eyes fixed on her stayed her hand. Why? She just did them all a favor, jumping into that battle with Mastermold! Without her, Kizachi might have won! But was Gambit right? Was killing someone who was defenseless not that easy, or was she just weak?
While she wrestled with these questions, some of the Sailor Senshi were getting restless. "That's it, I'm not taking chances," Naru heard Venus say. "Venus Love-Me..."
"No, Venus!" Mars cried. Naru heard someone being shoved to the ground hard. "This has got to end here. Naru has to choose her path."
Naru wasn't exactly humbled by Mars's trust in her. And it might have been misplaced. Even though it was dawning on Naru that Kizachi wanted to be pulped, a burning desire to do so still raged in Naru's heart. And yet, she still couldn't bash her face in and be done with it.
Worse, more interlopers arrived on the scene. Naru and Kizachi turned toward the sound of more people moving through the foliage, to the right of the van. That man who arrived with those troops, this 'Nick Fury', led a group of men, guns drawn. She-Hulk and Sunfire were with him as well.
Naru's English was good enough to discern most of what Fury was saying. "Walters, care to tell your client she'll make your job impossible if she splatters Kizachi's brains all over that van?"
"Please, Ms. Osaka, do not dirty your hands with the blood of one so dishonorable," Sunfire pleaded. "Did you not hear my plea to you? Don't let yourself be deceived as I once was."
"I heard it all, Sunfire! And I don't care!" Naru shrieked, more to herself than at Sunfire, privately cursing her weakness. Was it weakness? She looked back into Kizachi's mocking, chalky eyes. "You think she'll pay for her crimes? Half the people of Japan must look to her as a hero for building these Sentinels to round up our kind!"
"And if you remember what we showed you, Naru, killing Kizachi could make her a martyr and trigger something worse down the road," said Shadowcat.
"Furthermore, Fury has filled me in," said Sunfire. "Sailor Venus's old Interpol contacts have been working with S.H.I.E.L.D., building their case even as Jennifer Walters works on yours. They have compiled enough evidence against Kizachi to ensure she will not elude justice. She WILL face the consequences, her name WILL be shamed for generations! But only if you choose not to stoop to murder and make her a martyr!"
Naru kept her eyes locked on Kizachi's. She kept smiling the whole time, wanting her to do it. Naru's fist kept shaking, unable to throw that punch. Shouldn't she? Was this all a ruse? No, probably not. She knew nothing about Nick Fury or She-Hulk, but Sunfire was too honorable to lie like that, wasn't he?
More rustling, this time from the right of the van. Dozens of meters away, Sailor Moon's 'backup' emerged. The ones who had kept the Sentinels off the X-Men and Sailor Senshi's backs so they could topple Mastermold.
"Aw great, I don't like the looks of this!" that redheaded girl grumbled. There was also some black piglet clinging to her shoulder. She hurled herself at Naru with astonishing speed, some sort of energy building up in her hands. That little winged girl who fancied herself an X-Man flew at Naru as well.
And then, they were bounced back by some invisible barrier. That piglet squealed loudly in protest, and that little girl screamed, "HOE!?" Lum and the rest looked down at them in confusion.
Naru noticed some bright light permeating the forest's gloom. She turned in its direction, fearing she knew exactly who had showed up last. Indeed, Cable was just bodysliding in. To Naru's horror, Umino was materializing with him.
"I figured if you're all set to mete out justice for yourself, and you seem so proud of it, you'd want the man you love to see it," said Cable gruffly. "So go on, Naru, show your boyfriend how tough you are. Go on and kill a defenseless, normal human in cold blood."
Oh, you're a cruel one, Cable, Naru cursed silently. She turned away from Umino's horrified gaze in tears, but could still feel his eyes upon him, along with everyone else's. Her desire to see Kizachi pay here and now, not wait for cancer to eat her alive, was as strong as ever. Because of this woman, she had lost her mother, her old life, everything! Despite Sunfire's assurances about what Nick Fury was doing, could she really trust humans to punish one of their own?
"Naru," Sailor Moon said softly. Everyone else had such adamance in their voices, but Sailor Moon almost sounded conciliatory. "You've heard it all, why you shouldn't do this. There's nothing more anyone else can say to convince you. All this time, I've been dreading you becoming the bad guy, trying to figure out how to stop it. But at the end of the day, you have to choose for yourself. I won't ask you to forgive me for my mistakes, Naru, but please don't make another big mistake yourself."
Sailor Moon's hands were clasped together, pleading, as tears streamed down her face. More tears flowed down Naru's own. She looked back to Kizachi, fist still trembling. That smirking face, goading her into busting it up for good.
But she could also feel Umino's gaze upon her back, and the stares of Sailor Moon's recruits who chose to believe there was good in the dreaded Eclipse. Three of those girls even had black goop on their faces!
And then there was Sailor Moon herself. Just one last heartfelt plea, from someone who just wanted her friend back. After everything she had done, Sailor Moon was still willing to forgive. Naru had been convinced revenge was all she had left, that all her bridges were burned. Weren't they?
With a fearsome shriek, Naru drove her first forward, but not before she hurled Kizachi's battered, broken body back at the Sailor Senshi. Her fist smashed into the back end of the van. Shrieking and sobbing, Naru kept pounding on the van, reducing it to scrap. The sounds of its decimation ripped through the forest, along with wails of fury and sorrow. The tires popped off as glass shards sprayed everywhere. Once nothing was left but a pile of twisted metal, she kicked it away. It sailed through the trees as Naru fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
Naru could still feel all those eyes on her, but she didn't care. She thought she had cried herself silly back on top of Tokyo Tower, but no. There was still more to get out. Naru wasn't sure how long she knelt there on her knees, sobbing. And at first, she wasn't aware that Sailor Moon knelt beside her, cradling her.
"That's it, Naru. Just let it all out," Sailor Moon whispered softly.
Naru couldn't even muster the will to fling her away. If she was to be honest with herself, didn't exactly want to. Sailor Moon hugged her closer and Naru cried even more.
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The sun finally began to rise over the forest, casting a glow where darkness once again reigned after Storm's rain had extinguished all the fire. Though the fires had been put out, the charred and mangled remains of trees could be seen everywhere. Scattered throughout the forest were also the remains of Kizachi's Mastermold, along with whatever Sentinels were still standing after they were all shut down. Yet there was no sign of the X-Men, the Sailor Senshi, or their recruits. And most importantly, no sign of Naru Osaka.
S.H.I.E.L.D., however, was a different story. After their arrival, S.H.I.E.L.D. had toiled to clean up the mess and preserve the evidence to be used against Erina Kizachi. Instead of running off to find Naru, She-Hulk had elected to stay behind and help with that.
All to the chagrin of someone watching from behind the charred remains of a tall tree, staring at the downed Mastermold. "Ugh, there was no getting into whatever was under that mansion after it caved in," spat a high-pitched, feminine voice. She wore a black suit that covered her from the neck down, and the shadows hid her face quite well. But with dawn coming, it was getting riskier to linger there. "If what I'm looking for was in Mastermold, there's no way I'm getting past all these S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and She-Hulk unnoticed..."
As if to emphasize that point and mock her further, several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were sweeping the area, coming dangerously close to the tree. She ducked back behind it. When she peeked out again, the agents were gone, but she could still see Nick Fury lingering close to Mastermold.
She could cleave him in half easily, or at least she'd like to think so. Fury had quite a reputation for being difficult to sucker, and She-Hulk was currently inside Mastermold. She wasn't quite ready to pit her power against strength like She-Hulk's, at least not yet.
Suddenly, She-Hulk emerged from Mastermold and dropped down next to Fury. Her heart thundered in her chest when she saw what She-Hulk was holding. That's it! The Babylonian artifact! she thought angrily, longing to just reach out and grab it. But no, even if all these S.H.I.E.L.D. agents weren't around, Nick Fury and She-Hulk would be a difficult pair to fight past.
"Well, this certainly looks out of place," said She-Hulk. "Any idea what we should do with this, Fury?"
Fury stared at it for a moment. "If I had my way, Jen, ship it to the Baxter Building right away so Richards can lock it behind some forcefield. Or maybe have Strange bury it in some alternate dimension."
She-Hulk looked down at the artifact, puzzled. "Aren't we overreacting a wee bit? We're in the midst of a bunch of deactivated Sentinels, and you're worried about some dusty old artifact?"
"I talked to some of them Sailor Senshi before they took off with the X-Men," said Fury. "From what I gather, this must be what drew them to the forest. Some weird 'resonance' with that spooky old mansion. Something even Kizachi was unaware of. Whatever freaky-ass thing this artifact's supposed to do, I'd rather not find out."
One thing's for sure, Fury is nobody's fool. I'll remember that, she thought, frustrated beyond belief. The artifact was right there, but she didn't dare make a grab for it. Even if she was confident about overpowering those two, she couldn't risk discovery. I can't risk Essex knowing that I've stuck around in Japan this long, that I've got an agenda of my own, she thought bitterly, scowling. But then she reached into a backpack nestled against the base of the tree. She pulled out two glass jars, one with some writhing plant matter, the other with these buzzing, sparking nanomachines. But at least I've got a consolation prize, she thought with a grin.
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Down below, life went on as normal in Tokyo, almost as if the whole country hadn't just been upended. It was sickening, flabbergasting and somehow comforting all at once, seeing some sense of normalcy prevail. A normalcy that would now forever elude Naru.
Once again, Naru looked down from her perch atop Tokyo Tower. This was fast becoming her comfort zone, the place she teleported to when she wanted to clear her head.
The midday sun beat down on the city, all the people down there oblivious. She could never go through Tokyo as simply Naru Osaka again. She would forever be seen as Eclipse, feared and despised. Did she like coming up here because it put her so far above them? Or to stay a good distance away from the people who feared her?
So many questions she had been forced to confront, and so far, answers eluded her. Sighing, Naru sat back down, reaching into the topmost pizza box. She had just bought several, and had every intention of eating every single one. Naru was still dreadfully hungry after losing so much of her oil slick.
Naru looked down at Tokyo again, then at her slice. It was a rather large one, forcing Naru to fold it up before taking a bite. I remember hearing the pizza slices over in New York City are oversized like this one, Naru mused as her gaze drifted back over the buildings and traffic flowing between them. How different was that city from this one? How much were they alike? Xavier's school wasn't all that far from New York City, she recalled. She was given the chance to go there, see it herself, along with so much of the world. Was that offer still open to her?
Did part of her actually still want that? Days after helping to destroy Mastermold, Naru still wasn't quite sure what she wanted now. Did she still want revenge? No, that burning desire had faded, to a point. Sunfire and Nick Fury had spoken the truth. Erina Kizachi was arrested, and was being held in a prison infirmary on a litany of charges. At least, that was what the papers told her.
Next to the stack of pizza boxes was a stack of newspapers. Still scarfing down that huge slice, Naru reached for the topmost newspaper. For several days, the whole sordid affair had been plastered on the front pages. Erina Kizachi's scheming had been laid bare. Her yakuza connections, her suspected complicity with Magneto, everything.
Next came a foreign paper, which she could skim through since she wasn't too bad with English. Naru smiled at an editorial in this 'Daily Bugle.' "Wow, this Jameson guy doesn't mince words. You wanted Japan to face a reckoning, Kizachi? You got your wish. Now everyone has to own up to how they were duped by you," Naru muttered in between bites of pizza. "Of course, I guess I do too..."
She had finished that first pizza and went for the next box. Naru kept reading papers as she tore through another pizza. Occasionally, though, she would glance back down at the city below. The loss of her old life... So much of Kizachi's scheming was done to get her to lose control. Who was most at fault? Kizachi for baiting that trap, or her for eventually biting, again and again?
And more importantly, could there be anything done to make up for all that? Did she even want to?
Her heart still ached with grief. She had lost so much, and the wounds were still raw. Looking down at all the people below, Naru wondered just how many had been receptive to Sailor Moon's plea, and how many would refuse to give her a second chance. She thought of Sailor Moon, how she had just cradled her as she bawled and bawled. She had berated her old friend for being weak and useless, but she had weathered far worse trauma without losing hope. Usagi found it within her to forgive her, and went out of her way to convince many more to give her another chance.
And to hear Usagi tell it, by refusing to kill Kizachi, Naru proved worthy of that trust. But was that enough? Would Umino ever take her back? If she wanted it after all, would the X-Men take her in? According to Makoto, it was what her mother would've wanted.
Naru was so wrapped up in her doubts, she almost didn't notice a sudden intrusion. Sighing, she set down her pizza and her newspaper. "I though you and Xavier still couldn't track me with telepathy or Cerebro," Naru grumbled. She turned to Cable, who must have just used a bodyslide, and was hovering with his telekinesis.
"Professor Xavier had some theories as to why that is, thus we've gotten a bit better at it," said Cable gruffly.
"So, are you here to haul me in?" Naru asked directly. "Kizachi facing the music hasn't made the charges against me go away."
"No, they haven't," said Cable. "But Sailor Moon was willing to let you make the choice back there, just as the professor is now."
"After everything everyone told me, it was an easy choice to make," said Naru. "Kizachi having terminal cancer and WANTING to be put out of her misery, S.H.I.E.L.D. having a solid case against her... It would've been foolish to do her any favors. Oh, and that was a low blow by the way, teleporting Umino in like that."
"It worked, didn't it?" said Cable, without a hint of regret.
"I suppose it did," said Naru dryly, before looking back down at the city.
"Have you... spoken with him since that night?" Cable asked
Naru shook her head, the question stabbing at her heart. "I couldn't really look him in the eye after he saw what I was about to do," she admitted. "And I'm sure the feeling was mutual. I haven't spoken to any of the Sailor Senshi, either. What is there to say? They don't hate Eclipse anymore, but the things I've done to them, especially Usagi..."
"You're feeling remorse, though. That shows Usagi's hope wasn't misplaced," said Cable.
"Wasn't it?" Naru kept gazing down at Tokyo's streets. "I kept telling myself what I did was nothing like what those Acolytes did at that hospital, but now..."
"It sounds like you've slowly come to regret what you've done," said Cable. "The Acolytes? Don't really see that happening. Like I said, Usagi was right to believe there's hope for you yet."
"Hope," Naru repeated dubiously, still unable to look Cable in the eye again. Instead, she looked down at the newspapers. "Maybe her hope for the rest of Japan wasn't misplaced, either. Our entire government, all the people swept up in the paranoia... Kizachi got the reckoning she wanted. Her being exposed has done more to splash cold water in everyone's face than even Sailor Moon's broadcast did."
"It wasn't easy for her to hang on to hope, but it was important that she did," said Cable. "It helped rekindle the X-Men's own hopes in turn, and inspired people without a single strand of mutant DNA to fight with her."
"And me," Naru added, looking at the pictures on the front of one paper. Hundreds of people, all with black goop on their faces. Even with Kizachi exposed and her Sentinel program buried, they weren't staying silent. "Usagi accused me of seeing only the ugliness in humanity. She said I was ignoring the potential for good that remained. She was right all along. I thought she was being weak, naïve. And I thought I was weak back there, for not being able to bash Kizachi's face in. But now..."
"We helped make sure you didn't make the wrong choice, that's all," said Cable. "But now, I take it you're wondering how to go on and do the right thing."
"Helping the Sailor Senshi blow away Mastermold can't make up for everything I did to them, we both know that," said Naru. "And it doesn't exactly make me an X-Man either. So what now? Where do I go from here?"
"The choice of whether or not to pulp Erina Kizachi... That had to be yours," said Cable. "What comes next has to be your own as well. What I've just heard from you, though... I'm also guessing Usagi isn't as naïve as others think."
And with that, Naru heard Cable bodyslide away from Tokyo Tower. She didn't even turn to see him go. Instead, she looked back down at the city again, trying to decide her next move.
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Things hadn't returned to normal. By now, Ikuko was well aware things would never return to what she considered 'normal.' Yet somehow, over the last few days, Ikuko slowly realized she could live with the changes, as difficult as they were.
At the moment, her family was still living in the Hikawa Shrine. The X-Men requested they stay, until they could be certain Magneto and his forces had pulled out of Japan after Kizachi's capture and arrest. Her heart thundered every time she thought of how her little girl came face-to-face with that monster.
But she survived, Ikuko reminded herself. And then you told her to go face those Sentinels head-on, and she survived that too. After seeing for herself what Sailor Moon could do, so many times, Ikuko grudgingly admitted that her daughter could walk away from just about anything. It makes following Xavier's advice a lot easier, knowing that. Just be a mother to her...
Back at that protest march, she had only half-believed it would work. Ikuko only slathered that gunk on her face and went with it because she had no better option. And it tore at her to mouth to Usagi to go fight more of those mechanical monsters, to let Usagi know her mother stood behind her even then. But her daughter and her fellow Senshi and those X-Men all pulled through. They taught Erina Kizachi a lesson, forced all of Japan to face a hard truth, and her daughter was going back to being the sprightly, carefree girl she remembered.
It was enough to put Ikuko's mind at ease as she went about her business in the shrine that evening. It may not be their home, but Ikuko would make sure they left it in better condition than they found it. As she went on mopping the main hall, she suddenly heard shouting form Rei's room.
Ikuko set aside her mop and went over to investigate. As she suspected, her daughter and Rei were in the middle of an argument. All the while, Lockheed was perched at the foot of Rei's bed, watching them with what Ikuko assumed was amusement.
"No Usagi, I told you you don't get to read this new manga until I'm done with it!" Rei shouted, keeping it out of Usagi's reach.
"Aw, Rei, you big meanie!" Usagi protested as she tried to grab for it.
Usually, this sort of behavior would just make Ikuko sigh, and make her wonder if Usagi would ever grow up. But seeing Usagi so close to her old self made her chuckle instead, alerting the girls to her presence.
"Uh, Mama, I was just, that is..." Usagi began. Both she and Rei looked quite chastised.
"I just can't wrap my head around why you two would be fighting over a manga, when the stuff you just went through as Sailor Senshi is like something straight out one," said Ikuko, smirking. Lockheed suddenly snickered. "Or American comics, come to think of it," Ikuko added.
Usagi finally detangled herself from Rei. "Y'know, never thought of it that way..." Ikuko walked over and pulled Usagi close for a hug while she was distracted. "Uh, Mama, what's with..."
"What, still too soon after my daughter gets shot at by hordes of giant killer robots and survives?" Ikuko quipped. "Just promise me you can keep walking away from things like that, and I think I can handle all this Senshi craziness just fine."
"Oh don't worry, Ms. Tsukino. I've gotten quite adept at pulling Usagi's fat out of the fire. Over and over and over again," said Rei with a grin. Ikuko chuckled when she heard Usagi groan.
Thankfully, before it could escalate into an argument, they heard Kenji come through the shrine's front entrance. "Hello? Anyone home?"
The three of them walked back into the main hall to greet him, Lockheed fluttering close behind. "Papa! How was work today?" Usagi cried enthusiastically.
"It just keeps getting better and better, Usagi," said Kenji. "The more people I interview for our magazine's story, the more it's obvious just how much it's sunk in that Japan was taken for a ride."
"Wow, Mr. Tsukino. After waiting all this time for the chance to do articles about mutant relations, I bet it's like you don't know where to begin," said Rei. But suddenly, Rei tensed. Lockheed suddenly seemed more restless as well.
Ikuko was about to ask what the problem was, but then there was a voice that made her blood run cold. "If he's having trouble, I can probably help with that."
Ikuko slowly turned toward the voice. Standing at the far end was Naru, wearing her old school uniform. She stood in a corner, partially shrouded in darkness. She kept gazing at the floor, as if unable to look any of them in the eye. That day in the park, she seemed unstoppable. Now, Naru looked so small and vulnerable, standing there in shadow.
"Naru! You're... back!? Where've you been these last few days?" Usagi asked breathlessly. Ikuko wished she could share her daughter's joy, but she wouldn't soon forget how Naru had threatened to crush her arm. There were still dangerous mutants in the world who thought little of humanity. Where did Naru stand now?
Lockheed flew over, hovering in front of Naru. Naru briefly looked up to the little dragon, then her eyes went back to the floor, unwilling to meet even Lockheed's gaze. "I've been... thinking, Usagi. About where I go from here. Cable found me earlier today, and... Well, I've reached a decision."
"What... kind of decision?" Ikuko snapped dubiously.
"Mama, come on!" Usagi pleaded. "Naru obviously isn't here to pick another fight."
"But why are you here?" Rei asked. "You say you've made a decision? Does it involve us?"
"In a way, I guess it does." Naru willed herself to look Kenji in the eye. "Your wife's right to be suspicious after what I did. I'm... here to make it right. I'll start by giving you something, Mr. Tsukino."
"Give me something?" Kenji sounded dubious as well.
"An exclusive for your magazine, the story of the year." Ikuko wondered what the girl was getting at. At this point, Ikuko figured nothing could shock her, but Naru's next words almost floored her. "Eclipse turning herself in."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Night had finally fallen, and Naru knew that at the bottom of the steps leading up to the shrine, it was a media circus. Police, television reporters and huge crowds anxiously awaited. But for now, as she had promised Kenji Tsukino, she was all his for an interview. Usagi had told her he was the one who wrote the newspaper story telling all of Japan about the X-Men's first battle with Magneto. It seemed fitting to let him write this up.
"I still can't pin down one major reason I'm doing this. I guess it's mostly to make sure my mother's memory isn't tarnished forever. I let anger take control of me, and wouldn't listen to the people who last saw her and told me what she hoped I'd do." As Kenji wrote all that down, she looked up from the floor to the pair of brunettes with ponytails. She reached down to turn off the tape recorder Kenji was using. "Off the record, you two are serious? She was really hoping I'd become an X-Man?"
"I wouldn't lie about that, Naru," said Kitty. "I know I lost my head when it looked like you were about to join Magneto, but I just wanted to keep you from doing something I knew you'd regret later."
"But hey, if you're having doubts about that, the Sailor Senshi could still use you," Makoto said with a grin, earning an amused glare from Kitty. "I mean, there's no rule saying only I can be the muscle."
"There's no telling if you'll be able to join either team anytime soon," said Rei. "Naru, turning yourself in, even with She-Hulk as your defense lawyer... Are you sure this is the right choice?"
"No. But just about everyone in Japan is taking a good, long look in the mirror right now. Now, it's my turn," said Naru. "It's... the only way I'll be able to look the people I've hurt in the eye ever again."
"Methinks you're underestimatin' how forgiving the people in your life can be," came a voice from the front entrance.
"Remy? Where were you?" Usagi asked.
"Had to go fetch someone before the fuzz comes for Naru." Despite his carefree tone, there was no masking Remy's wariness of the authorities.
Still, Naru only half-heard Remy, gazing at the floor again. Her head jerked up when the one with Remy spoke. "Naru? Are you really doing this?"
Her jaw dropped as she looked to the front entrance. There, standing beside Remy, was Umino. He looked just as reluctant to meet her gaze as Naru was to meet his. "Umino!? You've... come back!?"
"Of... course I did, Naru," said Umino softly. "If you're going through with this, I'll stick by you. I mean, if you want me to..."
Naru said nothing, completely nonplussed. Even after coming to this decision, she had wondered if this would even begin to make a difference. Here, at least, was some proof it would.
Naru slowly rose from her chair and made tepid steps toward Umino. He finally looked up at her, and let her scoop him up in a hug. She tried to make sure it wasn't too tight, but seeing Umino again flooded her with joy. Tears of joy, in turn, streamed down her cheeks. "U-U-U-Umino, I'm sorry for what I put you through. I was just so afraid that... No, there's no justifying any of it."
Umino hugged her back. "You don't need to," was all he said.
"Hopefully the authorities'll let you ride with her, mon ami, 'cause it looks like Eclipse's ride is here," said Remy suddenly.
Naru looked up, blinking back tears. Several police officers had just stepped into the shrine, but they weren't alone. She felt a bit of relief seeing Jennifer Walters ducking through the entryway. She now wore professional attire befitting an attorney, instead of that leotard. Naru wondered how much it had cost to get a custom suit tailored for someone her size. And did she need heels when she was so ridiculously tall already?
Nick Fury was also there, also sporting a suit underneath that longcoat. Lastly, Sunfire stood among them, stoic as always, arms folded.
"Wait, what are you three doing here?" Naru asked.
"I've been asked to escort the convoy to its destination, to make sure there are no complications," said Sunfire gruffly. With the way Sunfire eyed the police, it was obvious he wasn't anticipating trouble from Naru.
"And I am your attorney after all," said Walters. "I'm hoping to discuss your case with you as soon as possible."
"And me? Just along for the ride," said Fury airily. The X-Men seemed a little wary of him, as if they were used to him being secretive.
Still, Naru felt a bit more at ease with these three and Umino sticking by her. "Well, thank you, Fury. By the way, your Japanese and Ms. Walters's sounds a lot better now."
"Well, we both knew a little before. But our mutual wheelchair-bound buddy gave us some pointers," said Fury.
Naru grinned, but then those police officers stepped closer. She shuddered, wondering if the ones she had put in the hospital were among their friends. One of them had this weird, bundled-up hazmat suit that looked to be composed of some metal mesh.
"Put this on," said the officer brusquely. He unfolded it and opening it up for her to step into.
Naru stared at it, guessing it was some means to contain her powers. He glanced over at her friends. Makoto and Remy, in particular, looked incensed. Given the trouble they had with the authorities, that was hardly a surprise. But it was her in the hot seat. She was willingly facing the consequences now.
Sighing, she stepped into the suit as other officers secured the headpiece over her and sealed it up. "This metal mesh is too strong for even you to break, Eclipse," said that officer matter-of-factly. "And if you try to squeeze that goo out from the air supply, or try to zap yourself somewhere else... You try ANYTHING, you get hit with an electric shock that could stop a wooly mammoth's heart. Understood?" Naru listened to the sound of her breath echoing in that headpiece for a moment, then nodded.
Another officer fastened metal shackles over her arms connected by a series of rods, going up past her elbows. She was directed to step into metal boots connected by short chains, which would make it tough to kick down anything. These restraints had to be made of titanium alloy or something, if they were confident they could hold the dreaded Eclipse.
The officers rattled off the list of crimes she was charged with. Dozens of cases of aggravated battery, assaulting police officers, resisting arrest, property damage, kidnapping... The X-Men must have a lot of faith in She-Hulk if they think she can get me off with a rap sheet like this, Naru thought as the officer droned on, tearing up again. But she also caught bits of a conversation between Remy and Fury.
"So, you talk to Nathan Summers yet?" Remy asked.
"Finally caught him yesterday. He was happy to offer some insight," Fury whispered back. "Hopefully, we can locate Wilson and bag Mr. Diamond-Forehead for you."
Naru had no idea what that was all about. She had more immediate concerns anyway. The officers ordered her to go down the steps, slowly. As if she could sprint with these shackles on.
She was ready to go, but typical of Usagi, she had to interject. "No! Why does she have to wear all that!? She's going willingly!"
Usagi threw herself past the officers, hugging Naru through the containment suit, crying. Naru wished she could hug her back one last time. "Usagi, please... I've got a good attorney and Sunfire looking out for me. I'll be fine." Usagi sniffed, then one of the officers pried her off. "Besides Usagi, it makes me feel better too, not just them. Keep my powers in check? Fine. Sometimes I'm still afraid I'll rip a door off its hinges again."
"Oh, I went through that too, Ms. Osaka," said Walters, looking down at Naru as she walked beside her. "You'll get the hang of it, eventually. When it comes to doors, all I still need to worry about is..."
Her voice trailed off just as she looked back up, but not in time to keep her forehead from smashing through the top part of the shrine's main entryway. Everyone paused for a moment, staring at her. Walters just froze, her face screwed up in annoyance. Finally, she said, "Someone tell that shrine maiden where she can send the repair bill."
They finally began the trek down the shrine's steps. Walters stayed beside her as the officers escorted her down. Fury, Sunfire and Umino were close behind. It wasn't long before Naru could see the massive crowd gathered on the street below. Police officers had to set up waist-high fences to keep people back. This ensured a clear path to the convoy meant to escort her to prison.
Naru just wanted to get into that armored car and go. This slow walk in the containment suit was humiliating. Even worse were the jeers from the crowd. Not everyone was taking the lesson of Kizachi's exposure to heart.
But as she got closer to the convoy, Naru saw that the people on the right side... Most had black goo on their faces, still showing their solidarity! And they had protest signs showing their support for her! There were just as many of them as the ones here to spew vitriol at her! Perhaps they outnumbered them!
Finally, they reached the bottom of the steps. Naru looked to the right side again. There was that old man from the monorail, and the woman who had emerged with him. And that little redhead with the braid who was among Sailor Moon's 'recruits'... She didn't have black gunk slathered on her face now, but Naru could tell it was her. And she could tell that little brown-haired girl was the one in that pink X-themed costume. A girl with long black hair beside her had a camcorder, recording everything. A guy with black hair stood over them, but his hair was done up in a pigtail similar to that redheaded girl from before. That boy with slicked-back hair stood with him. There was also a boy with brown hair, who Lum Invader was clinging to, looking on with a sad, bemused expression.
Most of them were there to see me nearly murder Kizachi, Naru thought. What are they thinking now?
Not everyone was held back behind those fences set up. The press was granted access. As Naru was escorted to her armored car, cameras and microphones were shoved in her face. Naru turned her head in tears and in shame. Giving Kenji Tsukino an exclusive interview was one thing, but this?
Thankfully, other officers pried them away to give her some breathing room. Disapproving glares from Walters and Yoshida no doubt helped as well.
At last, she climbed into the back of that armored car. Umino, Walters, Fury and two police officers got in with her. Sunfire took to the air, aiming to fly above the convoy on its way to prison.
Naru heard the engine start up, and the transport lurched ahead. They were on their way. For long moments, Naru just stared at the floor through her containment suit's visor. It took a while to realize Umino had sat next to her. His arm was around her shoulders, but she hadn't felt it.
Naru teared up a little more. Bad enough that physical sensation was dulled by her powers. Umino holding her didn't feel quite the same as before her mutant genes were triggered. Right now, she couldn't feel his touch at all. She wanted to right then, so badly. Naru had feared she lost him forever, and if Walters couldn't make her case, she could lose him again.
As these thoughts plagued Naru, she suddenly got a sense that things were not quite right. There was some strange tingling in the suit that made her uneasy. That sense of wrongness got worse when the transport swerved and lurched to a halt.
"What the hell is going on out there!?" Fury demanded. He pressed something nestled in his ear.
"Getting anything from your S.H.I.E.L.D. buddies?" Walters asked.
"I'm not getting anything," said Fury. "That's a good clue as to who's out there." Fury seemed unshakable before, but his voice was etched with worry now.
"You mean, the transmission is being jammed?" Umino asked fearfully. "But what's, who could... Oh no..."
Naru had only seen Umino scared like this once before, but at first, couldn't recall when. When it finally clicked, a shiver went up her spine as well.
Suddenly, the taser-rifles those two officers were wielding were yanked from their hands. They floated in the air, aimed at them.
At once, Walters sprang up to grab and crush them. Naru had instinctively stood up to do it herself, but of course, her restraints kept her from doing anything. But then, that containment suit was ripped off of her by some unseen force, along with the restraints on her arms and feet.
The two officers stared at her with a mix of fear and anger. "I'm not doing this!" she cried out in protest. But Naru shivered again, knowing who could.
Behind her, Naru heard the transport's rear doors being ripped clean off. Her breathing coming in ragged gasps, Naru slowly turned around. Now she had a good view of what was happening outside.
It was utter chaos. Not too far from the armored car, Sunfire was lying on the street. His costume was torn, and he was clearly injured, blooding dribbling down from the shoulder he was cradling. The other vehicles in the convoy were either on fire or ripped into slags of twisted metal. Or both.
Their occupants weren't much better off than Sunfire. Some officers were dragging their companions to safety. They did so just in time. The remains of the convoy were suddenly flung aside, revealing who had come for Naru again.
"Ah, motherfucker..." Fury grumbled.
Naru said nothing. Her throat closed up as she watched Magneto, flanked by his Acolytes and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, draw closer.