Sailor Moon - The Order of Black

Chapter Two: First Encounters

Originally published 03/05/2015

AN: Rinjirou's using some mild honourifics, at least at this stage - it's my way of showing he has a very formal way of speaking Japanese.

Luna watched Usagi work with no small amount of pride. It had taken her many long years of careful guidance, but her charge was finally living up to her true potential. Here she was, awake before eight and working on a paper. The days of mad dashes to school were over - Usagi had grown up at last.

"I'm so proud of you, Usagi! Such dedication. If only your fourteen-year-old self could see you now."

"Mmhmm."

She's so focused on her work that she barely heard me, Luna thought, as she rose from the bed and stretched lazily. "It truly is a pleasure to see you working so hard on your-" She finally got a decent look at the screen. "Wait a minute! That isn't your paper!"

"Oh, that? I finished that stupid thing an hour ago. Now I'm working on something way more important!"

"That's a…chat window?" The orange lettering and excessive use of love hearts could mean only one person; the self-styled Goddess of Love. Minako...of course. The cat stared up at Usagi, feeling a sudden, crushing disappointment as her hopes were dashed. "What could possibly be more important than a good education?!"

Usagi flashed her a brilliant smile. "Operation Proposal!"

Luna barely managed a sigh. "I'm almost afraid to ask…"

"Minako and Mako are helping me come up with a plan to, um…encourage Mamo-chan to propose!"

The cat fell flat on her face. "That's what you've been doing for the last hour?!"

"Of course!" Usagi replied. "I'm nearly twenty-years-old, Luna, and we've been dating for five years! It's time for Mamo-chan and I to move forward with our lives together…he just doesn't know it yet."

Luna watched in stunned silence as Usagi returned her focus to the screen. I know it would be disastrous for the future of Earth...but run, Mamoru. Run while you still can!

The view from Castle Terra really was incredible. Rolling green hills covered in lush trees…and flowers as far as the eye could see. The only thing missing was her. His love. His Serenity…

Mamoru awoke with a low groan, momentarily unable to remember where he was. The surrounds of Castle Terra had seemed so real…just like always. But he was in the hospital - the break room, specifically; he'd fallen asleep on the couch yet again. Another groan followed as he rubbed at his neck. I should have known better than to lie down on this thing. He pushed himself to his feet, and his thoughts returned to the dream as he headed for the small basin in the corner.

It was the same as always. They'd come almost every night for the last six months – ever since Usagi brought him back from death with the others. Mamoru knew they weren't really dreams, either – he was reliving little snippets of Endymion's life at random. There's no perceivable order, he thought, as he splashed some water on his face. No rhyme or reason to what I see. Sometimes, the dreams were pleasant, almost real; those involving Serenity were especially vivid. But they could also be dark and unsettling, causing him to wake up in a cold sweat.

Mamoru was beginning to remember the Earth of the past…and it wasn't good. I knew the Golden Kingdom wasn't perfect, but things were far worse than I realised. The timing was surely no coincidence, either. Usagi learned some unpleasant truths about the Moon Kingdom...and now it seems it's my turn.

His little reverie ended as the door opened and a nurse poked her head into the room. "Doctor Chiba? I'm sorry but we need you."

He nodded wearily as he dried his face and followed after her. Back to work.

"Tea?" Corey called, as he ran a hand through his scruffy hair.

"Yes, please!"

The hair dryer switched back on immediately after in her usual pattern. Six months had passed since they'd defeated the Revenant Knight- seven months since he and Minako had officially started dating - and she was now spending most of her nights at his place.

The new kitchen was certainly nice. He didn't cook much – or at all, in fact – but Minako liked to give it a go every now and then so it was worth it. The previous kitchen had barely qualified as such, despite the landlord's rather creative protests to the contrary. Corey got his way in the end, though – the key was constantly pressing the stingy old man until he gave in. And it certainly doesn't hurt to be six-foot-five and about two-hundred pounds, he thought, with a chuckle.

He glanced cautiously towards the bathroom as he dropped a tea bag into her cup and filled it with hot water. They'd been fighting a lot lately, over the most insignificant little things…and he had no idea why. First, there were his sheets. Out of the blue, Minako decided she didn't like them and demanded he buy new ones that she'd picked out. And then there was his wardrobe. Theoretically, he lived alone…but his allotment of space kept shrinking as she added to her own. Corey was finally beginning to realise just how trying Minako could actually be.

She breezed into the kitchen right on cue, her normal, cheerful self, and pushed herself up on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Thanks, cutie." She sank into a chair at the table and took a sip of her tea as she tapped away idly at her phone.

He managed a faint smile in return. Seeing her nearly every morning does go a long way to making up for the fights, I suppose.

"So," she said abruptly. "I've been thinking…maybe I could start bringing a few of my stuffed animals over?"

Corey held back a heavy sigh; he saw another fight brewing. And it was such a pleasant morning, too…

Rinjirou glanced down at his phone, then back at the stone steps across the road. Sendai Hill. This is the place. He could see the torii at the top of the steps, marking Hikawa Shrine itself. His memory of it was a little fuzzy but his mother had brought him to a place like this when he was just a boy. The torii, he recalled, marks the point of transition from the profane to the sacred. That was a somewhat sobering thought. Can I really kill a priest at his own shrine…on sacred ground? What kind of man would that make me?

He shook his head in an attempt to clear it as he set out across the road - his feelings were unimportant. The Order of Black has spoken. Katsuo Hino is a traitor…and he must be punished. The Order does what must be done so it can continue to carry out its duty...just as I must carry out mine.

Rei smiled up at the sky above as she swept the courtyard, lost in thought. Today was the day. She would be getting feedback on her first paper, turned in the week before. It was all such a new and exciting experience after delaying her dreams unnecessarily for a year. Going to class, writing papers…reading all those great old books. This is so amazing! The miko suddenly realised she was grinning like some kind of idiot and glanced around awkwardly. To her immense relief, though, she saw nobody…which meant nobody had seen her. Gods. If Usagi had caught me just now she'd never let me live it down!

"Excuse me."

She jumped, startled by the stranger's sudden appearance. He had messy black hair, an angular face, and cold blue eyes…and he hadn't been there a moment ago, she was sure of it. His Japanese had a slight foreign accent to it, as well – it almost reminded her of Corey. He's definitely a native English speaker, she thought. But not American...

His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared back at her. "I wonder if you might direct me to the head priest."

That immediately made Rei uneasy. What could this guy possibly want with Grandpa? There was something off-putting about him, too, when she opened herself to it; an odd sense of danger that seemed to flow out from him in waves. There was a darkness to him, something that just didn't feel right, and Rei knew in that moment that she didn't want him talking to her grandfather. Still, she thought irritably, I did promise Grandpa I'd try and keep my temper in check when I'm working…so I'll have to do this politely.

She swallowed back a sudden bout of nausea and met his gaze head-on. "May I ask what you want with him?"

He didn't even blink. "We have important business to discuss."

Her stomach lurched again. What's causing this feeling?! Her fingers tightened around the broom in her hands as she steadied herself. "Then he must be expecting you. If I could have your name-"

"My name is unimportant." There was just the slightest hint of irritation in his voice now. "If you'll just tell me where to find him I'll leave you to your work-"

Her own irritation was beginning to grow. "I'll tell you where to find him as soon as you tell me what you want with him!"

"I don't have time for this."

"Well, make time, because I'm not-"

"Rei!" Her grandfather emerged from the main building behind her and stood on its porch. "I think the courtyard is clean enough. Don't you have classes shortly?"

She frowned. "Yes, Grandpa, but this man-"

"You should get ready to go." He stepped off the porch slowly. "I'll see to our guest."

Why this sudden dismissal, she wondered. "But-"

"Go," he said, with a reassuring smile. "I'll handle this."

Rei shot the stranger one last dirty look and suppressed a shudder as he met her gaze with narrowed eyes. She felt faint, like she could collapse at any moment. I'm not sure who or what you are, or what you want with Grandpa, but I'll be damned if I'm going to just leave you alone with him!

Rinjirou watched the miko leave with some relief. He recalled some shrine maidens were rumoured to be so attuned to the world that they could detect spiritual imbalances and other such things. Has she sensed my Chaos Sliver? For all her tough talk, she looked quite pale in the end. What else could have caused such a reaction?

That was nonsense, of course. She's nothing but a simple shrine maiden doing her job. An annoying one, at that…but nothing special. The Black Paladin turned his attention to the stout old man in robes before him. He was definitely Katsuo Hino…but he was shorter than expected. Far shorter.

Hino clasped his hands behind his back as he turned and wandered back into the shrine…the very picture of calm. "I had wondered when the Order would finally send someone."

Rinjirou blinked in surprise. "You know who I am?"

"I know what you are," the old man replied, "and why you're here…Black Paladin."

The priest's flippant attitude caught him off-guard. He'd expected surprise, or confusion…even fear; not this calm, measured response. He's made of sterner stuff, it seems. "Very well, Hino-sama…I'll get right to the point. I'm here for the Chaos Sliver."

"Chaos Sliver?" Hino turned to face him slowly. "What Chaos Sliver?"

Rinjirou took a step towards him as he set his own face in a scowl; intimidation was to be the order of the day, it seemed. "I'm not here to play games. You were entrusted with the care of a Chaos Sliver when you were still a Cleric of the Order. A Chaos Sliver you neglected to return upon your retirement."

"Oh, that Chaos Sliver!" An odd little smile came to the old man's face. "It's been such a long time, and my memory isn't quite what it used to be, I'm afraid..."

The Paladin waited a few seconds, but Hino didn't say more. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Where's the Chaos Sliver?!" Rinjirou snapped, aware he was letting himself get frustrated. The old man was either a brilliant actor…or completely senile.

"Ah." The squat priest glanced around in apparent confusion…and began to laugh. "You know, I just can't seem to recall!"

"Well, think harder." He projected what he hoped was an air of confident malice into his voice, but in truth none of this felt right to him. Strong-arming old men wasn't something he'd tried before, and now that he was here it left a sour taste in his mouth. Above all else, Rinjirou considered himself a warrior - an honourable one. And this isn't very honourable. Nor is my second task…once I retrieve the Chaos Sliver.

"Tell me…" Hino said, almost casually. "Is Elder Haim still in charge?"

The question caught Rinjirou by surprise once again. He was quickly losing control of the situation. His training hadn't prepared him for this. Perhaps it would have been easier to just sneak in, locate Hino and kill him without anyone noticing. It certainly would have been faster, but as he'd told the Elder…he was no assassin. I can't let this continue, though. I need to regain control. I need to make him listen to me. "That's irrelevant-"

"Oh, but it is. It's very relevant indeed, young man. There is much about the Order you don't know-"

Rinjirou hated what he was about to do, but he just needed to scare Hino…force him into compliance. His hands disappeared under his coat and he drew his daggers with practiced ease. This wasn't what he'd signed up for when he joined the Order, but a mission had been assigned to him and he was honour-bound to complete it. "This is not a joke, old man! Surrender the Chaos Sliver to me, now!"

His unspoken threat didn't provoke the expected reaction at all; the priest actually seemed more disappointed than anything. "You're very quick to anger, you man...but are you really so eager to kill?"

Rei watched their exchange with a growing sense of unease. She'd only been able to catch snippets of their conversation but this 'Order' they spoke of made her wary. What is it, and how is Grandpa involved? It made no sense to her - her grandfather was harmless. Perhaps a little perverted…but in an almost endearing way. How can he be mixed up with something like this?

She gasped involuntarily as the stranger suddenly drew two knives from under his coat. She couldn't help but remember his last encounter with such an enemy...when Sailor Pain cut his throat. The miko reached into her robe and pulled out her transformation wand. "Mars Crystal Power, Make-Up!" The familiar strength of her guardian planet surged through her body as she ran towards the shrine and dove through the doorway.

"Mars…" She extended her right arm before her, and a flaming bow appeared in her grip. She aimed instinctively at the stranger's back as she drew back her other hand, summoning a fiery, red arrow. "Flame…"

The stranger was somehow already responding to her presence, turning to face her. She thought she saw a hint of surprise behind his neutral expression.

"Sniper!" She unleashed her attack and sent the burning arrow straight at his chest. He dove to the side at the last minute, rolling under it and immediately back to his feet. His eyes remained locked on her face as he straightened up again and span his knives in his hands. She watched his lips move; it was too quiet to hear but she was sure he'd said 'Sailor Senshi'.

"No!" Grandpa called, as he waved his arms frantically. "Stop!"

Mars ignored him as she fired a second attack. "Mars Flame Sniper!" This time, her opponent made no move to get out of its path. Instead, he raised his forearms before him in an X…and it dissipated against an invisible shield of some sort. A moment later, he vanished as well. Mars' head snapped around in confusion as she searched for him. There was no flash of light or energy, not like Corey with his 'blink' – the stranger was just gone.

"Behind you!"

She span around at her grandfather's warning, largely by reflex, and caught the stranger's strike on her forearm. The tip of his dagger nicked her skin and drew blood as it flashed by. Mars took a few cautious steps back as he advanced, caught off-guard by his speed. How the hell did he manage that, she wondered, as he disappeared again.

"Please, stop this!" Grandpa cried. "Both of you! It's not necessary!"

"What's going on?" Mars demanded, as she searched for her attacker again. "Who is this guy? How is he invisible?!"

"He's not," he said, as he sighed in resignation. "Not really. You just have to want to see him!"

I have to want to see him? That sounds like complete nonsense, she thought irritably. What does that even mean?!

"Focus on him!" Grandpa called.

She turned slowly on the spot as she tried to picture the stranger in her mind. The same sensation of unease began to fill her stomach and she followed it back to its source. There, she thought. A barely perceptible shadow flickered across the periphery of her vision; the Senshi of Fire turned quickly and saw…something.

It was like the silhouette of a man, moving around her cautiously, almost studying her. "So, you've figured out how to see me." It clearly wasn't meant as a question. "I didn't come here to fight you, Senshi…but I can't allow your attack to go unanswered. Honour demands we fight!" It shimmered as the stranger reappeared in its place and lunged at her with his daggers held high.

Mars ducked around his thrusts and landed a blow to the back of his head. He hit the ground rolling and was back on his feet again almost immediately. She was forced to retreat as he advanced again, his daggers in constant motion. His technique is all offense. He's not giving me any room to breathe!

"Try this!" she snapped. "Fire Soul!" A small ball of flame flew at him but he repeated his trick from earlier and blocked it on his forearms. Mars took another step back as she considered her options. I don't have any weapons, or the training to use them. Going up against him in melee combat isn't the smartest idea…but I did it with Pain and Fury and I can do it again. She knew she wasn't going to just quit. There's no telling what he plans to do to Grandpa. I need to take him down! That necessitated a change in tactics. He likes to attack; let's see if I can get him on the defensive instead.

She feinted another retreat then abruptly lunged forward, changing her momentum in a heartbeat. He was caught by surprise, just as she planned, and she landed a kick on his forearm. One of his knives skittered along the stone beneath them, knocked from his hand. She seized the moment and span in a roundhouse kick that knocked him flat on his back.

Her grandfather tried to stop them again. "This isn't the way!"

Why is he so intent on stopping this fight, she wondered. This guy was about to attack him! She fell to her knees as she aimed a double axe-handle at his face, but he rolled aside with surprising speed and lashed out with a kick to her face. Mars rolled through her fall, over her shoulders and back to her feet, but he was already upright and on the attack again.

She found herself on the defensive, dodging furiously as he cut at her over and over again with his remaining dagger. He never let up, never gave her a chance to recover, and his stamina seemed almost limitless. She lashed out with her leg and tried another kick at his chest but all that got her was another nasty cut. I may have underestimated him, she thought, angry at having to admit it. But he seems to have a pretty grounded fighting style. Maybe I can use my agility to get above him and confuse him!

The Senshi of Fire spotted her opening; the stranger lunged forward with his knife and she managed to counter it with a quick strike to his face. She leapt into the air, intending to come down with a kick to his head, but he snagged her ankle mid-leap and slammed her head first into the ground instead. Mars was left dazed by the impact...and vulnerable.

He came to a halt above her and stared down at her with that same blank expression. "You fought well. I take no pleasure in this, Senshi, but you're my sworn enemy…as are all who serve the Moon Princess." The blade span slowly in his hand and began to descend. "I live to serve the-"

"Rinjirou!" her grandfather called firmly. "Stop!"

The stranger froze, the tip of his dagger only halfway to her chest. Mars stared up at it in relief, even as her mind tried to process what had just happened. Grandpa called him 'Rinjirou'…and he stopped. Is that…his name? How does he know that?

The old man took another step towards them. "Is this what your mother would have wanted?"

Her eyes remained locked on the tip of the dagger as it began to shake…and finally withdrew.

"I knew her well," her grandfather continued. "She used to show me pictures of you when you were just a boy. You've changed a lot since then, of course…grown up. But your eyes? I still see that same little boy behind them. Behind the pain."

Mars readied herself, drawing power to her hand. Now, while he's distracted! The Senshi flipped to her feet and thrust her hand towards him, only to find herself back on the ground with a sore rear end; Grandpa had knocked her down. "What the hell-"

"Enough!" he snapped, in as firm a tone as she'd heard from him in a long time. "You're not helping!"

"But-"

"Don't you have some reading to do, Sailor Mars?"

That stunned her into silence. She swallowed awkwardly around the sudden lump in her throat as her mind raced. He knows! But, how?! "I…I don't think-"

"You can go," he said, gentler this time. "I assure you I'll be fine. Won't I, Rinjirou?"

The stranger nodded faintly; he seemed as surprised as she did.

Mars managed a nod of her own as she rose carefully to her feet and began to run. I'll fake leaving the shrine and circle back through the trees. It was all for the stranger's benefit, of course. Grandpa knows my secret. Somehow...he knows.

She allowed her transformation to fade as soon as she was back in her room. A wince followed as the pain from her cuts increased, no longer dulled by her Senshi magic. At least they don't look too bad, she thought, as she studied them in the mirror. The cut on my thigh is the worst by far, but even it should close up on its own. Just a little disinfectant and I'll be fine.

With her own health taken care of, Rei's thoughts turned to that of her friends. The stranger - this 'Rinjirou' as her Grandpa had called him - had made himself known as their enemy. The enemy of all who serve the Moon Princess, she recalled.

"That doesn't sound good for any of us." Rei flipped her communicator open and brought it up to her lips. "We need to talk, everyone. As soon as possible."

Rinjirou bent to retrieve his second dagger and sheathed them hesitantly. The lone Sailor Senshi was gone for now but there was no telling when she might return, or how many of her friends she might bring with her. His mind whirled in confusion, however - the priest definitely had his attention. "You really knew my mother?"

"Indeed I did," Hino agreed. "You fight like her, you know. Your drive, your focus…your unrelenting attack. You even use a similar two-bladed technique."

I watched her train many times, Rinjirou thought sadly. "I chose it…to honour her memory."

"Of course." The priest glanced at the ground briefly. "She was a good woman, Rinjirou. You have my sympathies…as late as they are."

He suddenly remembered where he was, and why he was here. He's trying to manipulate me. He's using her memory against me. Just like the Elder. Even knowing what was happening did little to diminish the impact, though. "That…is irrelevant. I'm here for the Chaos Sliver-"

"She used to train here occasionally, at the shrine," Hino continued, with a smile. "Back in my younger days, of course, when I wasn't quite so-"

"Short?" Rinjirou asked wearily.

"I was going to say tired," Hino retorted grumpily. "You were right, earlier. I was a Cleric back then, a proud member of the Order of Black. Sawako…I mean your mother…had a keen interest in the core tenets of Shinto, and we became friends over time. It was through her I began to question what I thought I knew about the Order-"

"Stop," Rinjirou whispered, unwilling to hear anymore. The Order is home. The Order is family…

Hino sighed heavily as he went silent, deep in thought. "Alright, Rinjirou. Your mission is clearly very important to you, so I'll make you a deal. I'll ask you just one more question, and if you still want the Chaos Sliver after your answer…I'll give it to you."

The Paladin hesitated, wary of yet more games, but finally gave a slow nod in reply. "Ask it."

"Why are you so hell-bent on retrieving the very thing that killed your mother?"

AN: The plot thickens, and after the experimental prologue I got to write a little of the more familiar characters I remember! I decided to focus on Usagi first and foremost – Operation Proposal should hopefully allow for some funny situations in future chapters and it's a way to get Makoto involved in something meaningful. I also wanted to ensure I gave Mamoru more to do this time around – he does factor in to the Order of Black's history, but exactly how...you'll have to wait and see ;-)

Already, Rinjirou is very different to write than Corey. I hadn't planned on making him so conflicted in the beginning, but as his first interaction with Grandpa unfolded – including him 'playing dumb' as the final scene revealed – it just felt natural that he'd question his mission. He sees himself as a noble warrior, not an assassin...and as shown in the prologue it doesn't sit well with him that he was effectively ordered to become one. The next chapter will reveal a little more about the mysterious 'Order of Black' and some more familiar faces will make an appearance.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or favourited already, too – I think it took a good month for the first act of Last Guardian Knight to get that kind of attention. It's definitely an encouraging sign for me, at any rate, and it's very much appreciated. Back with more soon!