Sailor Moon - The Order of Black
Chapter Five: Hunted
Originally uploaded: 16/05/2015
AN: Sorry about the long wait between updates, everyone. Here's a nice, long chapter to make up for it - thanks for reading!
Titus peered around the corner again and down the alleyway; his target hadn't moved yet. He and Luna had followed this 'Rinjirou' from the shrine, hoping to uncover some more information about him. His affiliation, the reason for his visit…and his true intentions. Not only does he know that the Moon Princess is alive in this time…but he considers her an enemy. Titus found that worrying. He disliked not knowing things - it was a distinct disadvantage in his previous line of work as spymaster for Queen Serenity.
So far, 'Rinjirou' hadn't gone anywhere or done anything suspicious, but he was heading into a more isolated industrial area of the city now. He was at a stop for the moment, slowly turning on the spot as he studied the walls and rooftops around him. As if he's looking for someone. Titus considered the possibility that they'd been spotted, but dismissed it almost as quickly. Luna is actually quite stealthy and my own skills are, of course, beyond reproach. He studied the human's body language briefly; it looked like he was searching for someone…but someone he'd expected to see.
Titus ducked back around and held back a sigh. The footsteps above were quiet, but audible; he was about to make his presence known. "Brace yourself, Luna."
"Wha-" She let out a startled yowl and leapt back as a white mass dropped to the ground beside her.
Titus didn't even bat an eyelid. "Hello, Artemis."
"You left me behind! Didn't you hear me calling you?!"
He managed to avoid rolling his eyes. "Half the city heard you."
Luna glared daggers at the new arrival as the fur on her back slowly smoothed down again. "What are you doing here?!"
"I came to help!"
Titus stifled a laugh at the very notion. "I don't need your help, Artemis." Technically speaking I don't need Luna's help either…but she's far more fearsome than Artemis.
"But-"
Luna peered around the corner quickly. "He's moving again, Titus. We're going to lose him!"
"Yes, we are," Titus agreed. "I don't mean to be insensitive, Artemis, but you'll only get in the way!"
"But I'll just-"
"Shadowing someone requires patience and stealth. Now, you must have near-limitless patience after handling Minako for six years, but when I think of stealth you're the last cat on my mind!"
Artemis looked hurt. "It's because I'm white, isn't it?
Titus sighed irritably; he actually felt bad. I never would have felt guilty before meeting up with the rest of the team. I must get getting soft in my old age. They'd been semi-regular roommates for the past six months, and he really wasn't a bad sort when you got to know him. "Look, Artemis…stealth isn't really your thing. But that's okay; you have other skills."
The other cat was dubious. "Like what?"
"You're an amazing mentor, for one. You're so confident in your ability to reach Minako and the rest of the girls...and I truly admire you for it." His ears flattened in shame. "I was never really very good at the guidance side of things, and Corey suffered for it." He flashed a faint smile. "But what I am good at is this. Shadowing people, gathering intelligence...being a spy. So please, go home and let me get back to it."
Artemis still seemed reluctant. "But, Luna-"
"You know her better than I do," Titus said, with a chuckle. "Do you want to try telling her no?" His fur stood on end as he felt her glare on his back. I'll pay for that comment later.
"Uh...I'll pass."
"Wise choice," Luna muttered, as she peered around the corner again.
Artemis finally nodded. "Just be careful."
"I always am," Titus agreed. He turned away without another word and entered the alley. A quick wink of each eye summoned his visor and a wireframe image of their quarry appeared a little ways down the alley; he was heading away from them.
"You handled Artemis well," Luna observed. "Did you really mean what you said?"
"For the most part. He is an amazing mentor, just like you are…but I wasn't that bad at it. My more recent manipulations aside, I turned Corey from a mopey sixteen-year-old kid into a hardened warrior in just a couple of years. Frankly, I amaze even myself."
"I'm sorry I even asked," she muttered. "Just follow him, already."
Titus shrugged. "Very well. This way."
They followed 'Rinjirou' another few hundred meters to an unmarked door. Once again, Titus found his body language contradictory. He seems hesitant, apprehensive…just like earlier, at the shrine. After several seconds, the human brought his hand up and brushed his fingers over the stone beside the door, before trying the handle. Apparently, it was locked, and he began to fiddle with it. Finally, it opened, and 'Rinjirou' slipped inside.
"Titus!" Luna whispered. "The door!"
He was already in motion, sprinting across the alley. The cat leapt right at the door and pushed with all his might, his hind legs straining against the concrete. Luna joined him a moment later and they were able to keep it from closing.
She settled back on her haunches, breathing heavily as she glanced up at the wall. "Titus…look at this."
He dropped to all fours and joined her in staring up at it. "Curious." A faint symbol had been carved into the brick beside the door handle; an eye over a shield.
"What do you think it means?"
"I'm not sure," he admitted, something he hated saying. "I'll capture an image for future reference." That task complete, he stepped through the doorway and into a dark, nondescript corridor. The only object in sight was another open door at the far end. The two cats walked through and found a dimly-lit stairwell leading down into a large, open space. Rinjirou stood in its centre, staring at the far wall in silence.
"What do you think he's doing?" she asked quietly.
"Let's find out." He led her down the stairs and across the floor to a darkened corner. This place has some sort of significance to him, but what? Why come here at all?
The human produced his phone and stared down at it. "This is the place…but there's nothing here."
Titus studied him carefully; his body language hinted at defeat and confusion. He thought he'd find something else here…or someone. The cat remembered the symbol by the door above, marking this location as special. He touched it, brushed his fingers over it. It was familiar…a comfort, perhaps? It all began to make sense. The quiet location, the two-level construction. Rinjirou was confused before because he didn't see a sentry. This is some sort of safe-house…or, at least, it was. His visor indicated an object of interest surprisingly, given the empty state of the room. A low-level power emission; it was coming from the light above the stairs, the room's only source of illumination.
A hidden camera, he realised, as he studied it more closely. But who is it here to watch? Titus' mind began to work again as he analysed everything he'd seen so far. This 'Rinjirou' was reluctant to harm Rei's grandfather this morning…and he seemed conflicted earlier, unwilling to return to the shrine. Is it that simple? He's wavering, having doubts? Do his benefactors know that? Is that why this place is so clean? It was just a hypothesis, but it fit the facts so far, and certainly explained the camera. They were waiting for him to come here…but why? Confirmation of his conflicted state?
Titus leaned in closer to Luna. "I think we should talk to him."
"What?" she hissed. "He attacked Rei and told her the Moon Princess is his enemy. What makes you think he won't do the same thing to you?"
"Perhaps he will, but I need more information…and I suspect he's looking for answers himself." Titus turned to the human and took a deep breath. I hope my vocal projection skills are still sharp.
"Why would they lie?" Rinjirou muttered, as he dropped into a crouch.
The cat tried to make himself sound bigger…and further away. "Perhaps they don't trust you like you think they do?" He hesitated. "Of course, I don't know who they are…so that's only my gut feeling."
The human snapped upright in an instant and drew two knives from beneath his coat, exactly as Rei had described. "Who's there?"
He's well trained, Titus decided. He reacted instantly to my voice. "An interested party. You fought a friend of mine this morning."
"You serve the Moon Princess."
The vitriol in his voice caught Titus by surprise. It's enough of a surprise that he even knows about Usagi. My visor's scans say he's a normal human; why does he hate her so much? He settled on a mask of arrogance to cover his own surprise, as he had done so many times before. "I do…just as I served her mother, Queen Serenity."
If that impressed Rinjirou, he did a good job of hiding it. "How did you find me?"
"Ah, your little vanishing act. It is quite impressive, but I have other means of seeing you...Rinjirou."
"The priest," he muttered. "He called my name at the shrine and your Senshi friend heard him."
"Your name is unimportant," Titus retorted, deciding on the blunt approach. He's still confused by what he found, or didn't find here. I need to push him and try to get past his defences. "I care far more about your intentions. Why did you come to Tokyo?"
The human remained silent this time; he was moving carefully around the large space, searching for him. Fortunately, his search seemed restricted to shadows large enough to conceal a fellow human.
Being a cat isn't without its advantages. "Answer me," he growled. "You came to our city. You made threats to a priest of all people. You attacked one of my friends-"
"The Senshi attacked me first." Rinjirou's response was equally blunt, something Titus could always appreciate. "I simply defended myself."
Titus glanced at Luna and saw she was equally surprised. It seems that, for once, Usagi and the rest of the Senshi aren't the target.
"I have no quarrel with any of you. You're not my concern...and neither is your Princess."
"I'm glad to hear that." He frowned as Luna swatted his tail; she mouthed 'Rei's grandfather' silently. "Do you intend to harm the priest?"
Surprisingly, the human actually answered. "No. I see no reason for it."
"But you returned to the shrine earlier tonight. Why?"
For a second time, Rinjirou remained silent. He was still searching the room, but without success. Meanwhile, Titus was quickly formulating a new plan. He's nervous. Conflicted. Uncertain of his loyalties. He likely just needs a push…he already spared Rei's grandfather, despite his apparent willingness to kill her. It was decided, then, and his tactics changed accordingly. "I've run several outposts like this in my time, and I recognise a clean-up when I see one." Just a brief pause, he told himself. Enough to let that sink in. "I'm curious, however; have you noticed the camera yet?"
That got his attention. "What camera?"
"In the light fixture above the stairs," Titus called. He shrank back into the shadows as the human approached. "It's the only thing still connected in here."
Rinjirou headed up the bottom few stairs cautiously and climbed onto the railing. Titus could see the confusion in his eyes as he inspected the camera. "They're watching me?" His voice was quiet; it was clear he was speaking to himself.
"It would appear the people you work for are having doubts about you." If I can press him just a little more, get a name…something to work with.
"Perhaps…"
He seemed distracted, like he'd forgotten who he was speaking to; exactly the sort of response Titus was hoping for. "Tell me who they are, Rinjirou. Give me a name."
It didn't work. Rinjirou's eyes widened suddenly. "If they've been watching me, then…" He rushed up the stairs without another word, leaving the cats in silence.
Titus flinched despite himself as Luna smacked him across the back of the head. "You idiot! What if he'd spotted us!?"
He flexed his left paw and a set of purple hard-light claws flashed into existence. "I'm not completely defenceless, Luna."
Luna's eyes sprang wide open. "Why would you even have those?!"
"They're climbing claws…though they make handy weapons in a pinch." He rolled his eyes when she continued to stare blankly at him. "It's true! What, you think I'm some kind of...feline assassin?! That I used to sneak around murdering people for the queen?!"
"Well, of course not…but you're a very different Titus than the one I remember from the Silver Millennium. I still thought you were only a lowly foreign adviser until seven months ago!"
"True enough." He managed a faint smile for her and started up the stairs. "Come on, then. I want to see where he goes next." There were two burning questions on his mind now. Who do you work for, Rinjirou, and why are they watching you so carefully?
Rinjirou shifted impatiently on his feet and glared at the the elderly woman beside him again. She'd apparently managed to hit the button for every floor but her own. His mood was already sour after his visit to what was supposed to be the Order's safe-house; this was the last thing he needed. Who was watching the feed from that camera, he wondered. Elder Haim, perhaps? The council? He found himself placing more and more stock in Hino's words. More and more of it is starting to make sense. The Order is a force for good, I know that…but what of those who control its course? One thing was becoming very clear. I don't know as much as I thought. I need to return to the shrine and hear Hino-sama out. I owe Mother that, at least.
At long last, the elevator reached his floor and the doors opened with a soft chime. He stepped off and made a beeline for his door, but there was a problem; it was ajar. The doorframe was shattered around the lock, a clear sign it had been kicked in. If nobody had noticed yet, then it must have been a recent occurrence - his visitor could still be inside. Rinjirou drew his daggers and pressed one to the door, slowly pushing it open. When no attacker revealed themselves, he slipped inside and began to clear the room. It was dark – the only illumination came from the city itself – but there was enough light for him to see it had been ransacked.
His suitcase lay open on the bed; he made his way over to it carefully and peered inside. His armour and pistol were still there.
"Where is the Chaos Sliver?"
He span to find a robed woman standing behind him – he had no idea where she'd been hiding. She had a hood over her head, but he could see a strange mask beneath it; it was pointed, almost like a bird's beak.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"Where is the Chaos Sliver?"
Rinjirou found something unsettling about her. Who is she? Why is she here? What does she know about Chaos Slivers?
"If you will not talk," she said coldly, "you will die!" She lunged forward abruptly and swung a large broadsword right at him.
He brought his daggers up to deflect the blow and winced as a painful shock ran up his forearms. She certainly has training; that swing was perfect! He wasn't eager to take another hit like that – she had a lot of power behind her blows. It feels like fighting Megumi, he thought. She swings her sword with the same kind of intensity!
Rinjirou quickly found himself on the defensive, something he was unaccustomed to. She was strong and fast, a lethal combination. More frustrating still was her identity. Could the Moon Princess have sent an assassin after me, he wondered. Unlikely. She has her Sailor Senshi; she'd just send them. It has to be someone else.
He deflected her sword when he had no choice, but he focused on avoiding her strikes entirely. After several unsuccessful attempts, he managed to get in close enough to land a kick to her abdomen. It felt like he'd kicked a block of concrete – she had to be wearing some kind of armour under the robe. Her sword cut down instantly and he narrowly avoided losing his leg.
Their blades sparked as they met again and again. Rinjirou managed to circle around her enough so his back faced the kitchenette – he needed more room to move. Unfortunately, his assailant decided to change the rules; she raised her hand and a flickering ball of flame ignited over her palm.
"What the hell?!" He ducked as she hurled it at his face, feeling the heat as it flew over him and into the cabinets above the microwave. The mask, the robe…fireballs from her hand? Who the hell is this woman?! This was drastically different from his earlier fight with the Senshi; this woman was just as fast as he was and she had a weapon of her own. Getting close enough to strike was difficult because she had the advantage of reach and power behind her swings.
After several more frenetic exchanges, he caught a break. He blocked a brutal vertical cut on one of his daggers and deflected her sword aside, into the floor. His other blade lashed out and cut through her robe, tearing open a wide hole and nicking the armour beneath. Familiar armour, he thought, as he caught sight of it; it resembled his own, with just a few slight differences. His confusion was giving way to reluctant dread. Something is very wrong here. His heart continued to sink as her sword rose and he spotted a small insignia on the hilt; a ruby eye over a shield.
I have to…I have think, I have to breathe! Rinjirou willed Shadow Walker into effect and began a slow retreat towards the door…but it wasn't meant to be.
His attacker turned her head slowly and locked her eyes on him. "Shadow Walker is of no use to you here, Paladin. We are trained to see through such trickery."
Her armour, her training, the insignia of the Order on her sword…and her knowledge of the Chaos Slivers. It all led Rinjirou to one terrible conclusion. Hino-sama was right about everything. She's one of the Hunters he warned me about! He swallowed uncomfortably, his mouth suddenly dry. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"
"I am Black," she replied, in an icy tone, "and the Order has decreed your death…traitor."
Rei let out a soft sigh as she closed her eyes and sank back into the water. The bath was a wonderful idea, she decided. Floating there in the warm water was letting the stress of the day bleed off…and it was doing wonders for her back as well. It had been aching all day following her fight with 'Rinjirou', after he slammed her into the stone pavers of the courtyard. She could still hardly believe everything she'd learned. Her grandfather knew her secret – he had all along! – and he used to belong to some sort of secret society that was at odds with Usagi. A secret society that sent an agent to Tokyo to take back some artefact from the old man…and kill him!
Do they all feel like he did, she wondered. Cold, dark…and evil? She shivered, despite lying in water almost anyone else would find uncomfortably hot. It's almost like he's here again. Her eyes snapped open a split second later. I can feel the same presence again! He's come back to finish the job!
Rei rose from the water, ignoring the cold air on her skin as she stepped out of the bath and reached for her robe. I have to get to Grandpa…make sure he's safe! No sooner had she wrapped her familiar miko robes around her body than the door flew open to reveal a tall man in a hooded robe.
"Who are you?!"
He remained silent as he stepped towards her. Rei slapped his hand aside and struck at his face; pain blossomed in her hand as she hit some kind of mask – it was pointed, rising from his face like a bird's beak. This isn't the same guy! She reached back for her transformation wand, but her attacker struck at her again while she was vulnerable. She saw stars as he hit her right above her left eye and lost hold of her wand - it hit the floor and rolled under the bath.
The miko fought back as best she could but she was dazed, and he was fast. She swung for him once more but he seized her hand, pulled her in close, and slammed her head-first into the wall. The last thing Rei heard as she slipped into unconsciousness was a cold, male voice.
"The shrine is secure. I'm beginning my interrogation."
The Hunter lunged forward and cut at Rinjirou again; his dodge was a fraction too late and her blade cut into his chest. The sprinkler system went off, along with the fire alarm, dousing them both with freezing water. He used the distraction to make a move towards the bed, thinking to reach his pistol. Another fireball tore through his coat, however; it forced him towards the window and cut him off from his weapon. He snatched up the phone from the nightstand and hurled it at her face, but she cut it out of the air and blocked his follow-up attack effortlessly.
"Predictable offense from a predictable opponent," she murmured. "I have put down seven Paladins before you, Payne – you're only delaying the inevitable."
"Hello?!" The door flew open as a man in a hotel uniform rushed into the room. "Is there anyone-" He froze as he saw the Hunter. "Who-" A fireball burned through his chest in an instant. He was dead before he hit the floor.
"No!" Rinjirou cried. "You didn't have to kill him!"
Her cold reply send a chill down his spine. "No witnesses. That is the creed."
"The Order is supposed to defend innocents like him!" He leapt forward, furious with her near-casual disregard for the murder she'd just committed. She shrugged him off effortlessly and knocked him aside, sending him into the wall. He flipped back to his feet quickly but found her waiting with an extended hand.
"Crippling Veil." Her whispered words were accompanied by a strange flicker of black energy around her fingers…and then his eyes began to burn.
Rinjirou blinked rapidly as the pain intensified and finally exploded behind his eyes. He screamed as he staggered backwards; it felt like his skull was burning from the inside out. His vision went black a moment later and he found himself blind. Remember your training, he told himself desperately. She still makes noise, listen for it!
Unfortunately, she didn't seem to make a sound as she disarmed him and knocked him on his back. I can't see! I can't see anything! He blinked again as his vision began to return; the effects of her little trick were quick but potent. She loomed over him, staring down at him from behind her mask as the tip of her sword lowered to his throat.
"You have betrayed the Black, Paladin Payne, and the Order has decreed your death. I am their will, their instrument…here to carry out your sentence."
"Are you really here for the Order?" he spat. "Or Elder Haim?!"
She ignored him once again. "My brother shall soon dispatch the priest, and we shall return home victorious…with two Chaos Slivers." She brought her sword back, preparing to strike. "I live to serve the Black."
He looked around frantically for his daggers but they were out of reach...and he was out of options. Just as her sword began to descend, however, she screamed in pain as a black-and-purple blur flashed through the air behind her.
A black cat dropped to the floor behind her, large purple claws extending from his paws; there was a tell-tale crescent moon on its forehead. "Go! While you can!"
Rinjirou didn't have time to process the talking cat – he just acted on instinct. His feet came up and slammed into the Hunter's abdomen, knocking her off-balance as he used his momentum to flip up and pull her face-first into the ground beside him. He snatched up his daggers, and spotted another black cat in the doorway. What the hell is going on?!
The Hunter was already on her hands and knees again. She turned towards him as she reached for her sword and began to rise. "No matter how fast you run, traitor, no matter how far…we will find you!"
"Run!" the cat snapped, as he took a few cautious steps back.
Rinjirou grabbed his suitcase – almost an afterthought – and did as the cat suggested, stumbling his way down the corridor and into the emergency stairwell. The cat can talk! That was his voice back at the safe-house. Why would he come to my aid? He managed to zip up the suitcase as he ran, careful not to lose his armour in the process. Something tells me I'm going to need it. If she was telling the truth, another Hunter just like her is going after Hino-sama. I have to save him!
Rei came too slowly and winced immediately as she opened her eyes. Her left eye ached painfully, along with her skull around it. The main hall? How did I…
"Where is it?"
The voice was cold and emotionless. She turned her head slowly and realised she was lying on her side. The robed figure who'd attacked her was a few meters away, standing over the prone form of her grandfather.
He kicked the old man in the ribs as she watched. "Where is the Chaos Sliver?"
Despite her aching head, Rei forced herself to her knees as a familiar anger began to burn in her heart. "Leave him alone!"
Her attacker turned slowly and stared at her from under his mask. "You're awake? Excellent."
She felt decidedly uncomfortable; if anything, his presence was even more sickening than Rinjirou's had been. Or is that a concussion?
He nudged her grandfather with his boot. "Perhaps your granddaughter will feel more…talkative?"
Rei glared at him defiantly as he stepped closer and backhanded her across the face. She hit the floor again, dazed - she'd never been hit that hard before in her life, except as a Senshi, perhaps.
"Stop!" Grandpa called weakly. "She's innocent! The Order has never-"
Her attacker cut him off. "The Order does what it must, traitor. The Chaos Slivers are precious; they must be gathered up and preserved so the Oath can continue to be fulfilled!" He seized a handful of her hair and pulled her up again…only to punch her a second time. There was a brilliant flash of light behind her eyes and everything went blurry. He grabbed her throat and squeezed lightly, not so hard as to cut off her air. "What do you know, miko? Where is your grandfather hiding the Chaos Sliver?"
Her grandfather struggled to his knees. "She doesn't know anything!"
"That is unfortunate, then." He span her around, keeping his hand around her throat. "You will give me the Chaos Sliver, traitor…or I'll start removing her fingers."
Rei locked eyes with him and tried to shake her head. She reached up awkwardly, searching for the ward she knew she kept in her robe. If I can just...reach it…
"Please, don't do this." She'd never heard her grandfather so afraid; he'd always been so strong.
"Pathetic," her captor retorted. "To think you were once a brother of the Black…it sickens me!"
The miko took a ragged breath in, certain it was going to be her last, but suddenly she was falling to the floor. She managed to turn as she fell and landed on her side. The robed man was staring at the doorway…with a knife sticking out of his arm.
"So…you survived my sister. She must be losing her touch."
Rinjirou stood in the doorway, wearing a black chestpiece and shoulder guards over his clothes from that morning. "I won't let you harm anymore innocents!"
The hooded man drew a sword from beneath his robe, revealing similar armour. That only added to Rei's confusion. Aren't they on the same side? Rinjirou dashed forward with the same speed she had faced that morning, his remaining dagger slicing through the air impossibly quick. It clashed against the hooded man's sword repeatedly as they moved around the hall.
"Rei," her grandfather called, as he limped towards her. "You have to go…get your friends…"
"I won't leave you," she snapped, as she reached into her robe. "And I won't let that jerk be the one to save us!" The ward now in her hand, she struggled to her feet and began to focus. "Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen!" Her eyes snapped open again and she locked them on her attacker.
"No!"
Her grandfather reached for her hand but too late; she hurled the slip of paper forward. "Evil spirit, begone!"
The hooded man snagged Rinjirou's arm and pulled him into its path, using him as a shield. The ward straightened out and stuck to his chest, and he screamed – it was horrific. A jet black mass burst free from his armour; a vaguely-humanoid creature that uttered a high-pitched shriek as it writhed in his back. Its red eyes reminded her of the Revenant Knight…or another creature she'd seen before.
"Chaos…" she whispered, frozen on the spot at the sight of it.
The hooded man kicked Rinjirou in the face; he tumbled back and landed on his hands and knees, the creature still trying to tear free from him. The taller man drew a large revolver from beneath his robe and pointed it at him as he struggled to rise to his feet. "I live to serve the Black."
Rei acted without thinking and dove forward, reaching for the ward; she managed to tear it free just as her attacker fired – a deafening bang filled her ears as something tore into her side, spinning her around and dropping her to the floor. Rinjirou hit the ground beside her a second later. She glanced at him and saw a large, bloody hole in his abdomen; the bullet had torn right through whatever sort of armour he was wearing.
A click drew her attention back to the hooded man as he leveled the gun at her head. "No witnesses."
She heard her grandfather's panicked cry as if from a distance. "Rei!"
There was a sudden, familiar flash of light behind him, though…followed by an even more familiar voice that brought a smile to Rei's lips despite the pain she was in.
"Crescent Beam!"
He lurched forward following the blast and the miko snagged his robe, adding her own strength to pull him to the floor. The revolver hit the floor beside her as he toppled, but her sense of victory was short-lived; he rolled through the fall and back to his feet almost immediately.
"Back off!" Sailor Venus snapped. She brought her index finger to bear as Justice drew his own sword beside her. "I won't warn you again!"
Their assailant paused, as if considering his options, and glanced down at Rinjirou. Rei did the same and blanched; he was lying in a rapidly expanding puddle of his own blood. The bullet had punched right through his armour and made a mess of his stomach – he was pale and shivering. He's in shock, she realised, vaguely remembering one of Ami's brief training sessions. Her first instinct was to help him, but she hesitated when she remembered what had happened when her ward struck him. There really is a piece of Chaos inside him. He's…he's wrong…but he came back to help Grandpa. And me. I caused this with my ward, and I have to help him!
The hooded man appeared to reach a decision. He raised his hand and a strange, dark energy burst forth. "Shadow Barrage!"
Rei shrieked in pain as one of the beams struck her in the chest and knocked her back. Venus ducked around two of them with her usual impossible agility and retaliated. "Venus Love Me Chain!" Several links of her chain crashed into the attacker's head, staggering him before he was hit with an arc of golden light from Justice's sword; he hurled a small vial into the floor and vanished in a thick cloud of smoke. It began to clear quickly, but it was obvious he was gone.
Venus rushed over, a look of concern on her face. "Oh, god, Rei, you're bleeding!"
The miko groaned as she tried to sit up, still feeling the effects of the dark energy bolt. She found her robe stained red between two small holes in either side. "His…his bullet must have grazed me…" she managed, as she looked back at Rinjirou. "But it did a lot worse to him…"
The blonde paled as she looked him over. "The guy from this morning?"
Rei just nodded silently, suddenly exhausted. Her face ached, along with her side and now her chest - she had a sudden overwhelming urge to sleep.
Grandpa stumbled over to them and dropped to his knees beside her. "We have to help him. Please, help me get him up!"
Rinjirou had the strangest sensation of floating, despite being well aware he was lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Shock, the rational part of his mind said. You've lost a lot of blood, and your body's doing what it can to keep you alive. The miko was kneeling over him, saying something about a hospital. I'll never make it a hospital, you idiot. Strangely, he felt bad for his errant thought. He'd found her so annoying at first…but now he was glad she was alright. She's an innocent…and the Order protects the innocent. We don't…murder them. Never.
He blinked as he saw her; his mother. She was standing over the miko's shoulder, between Hino and the blonde Sailor Senshi…and she was smiling. Rinjirou coughed painfully as a man in silver armour grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him to his feet.
I'm coming, Mother. I'm coming…
AN: My first cliffhanger of Order of Black. I'm REALLY sorry and I hope you'll all forgive me - especially you, UH-60. It's the price we pay for such a long chapter - I didn't want to stop mid-action, but that unfortunately necessitated ending things here.
The Hunters make their first appearance. The general idea, as Grandpa said, is they're sort of fanatical doppelgangers to Black Paladins that hunt them down and do the Order's other dirty work. I didn't want to make Rinjirou or Rei look too weak by comparison, but he's exactly who the Hunters TRAIN to fight, and Rei was caught powerless and off-guard. She still got in her licks...or at least tried to. Hopefully they came across strong in their defeat, anyway.
Sailor Moon and the others will appear, too - after introducing Corey's 'blink' ability I realised it made little sense for them all to show up at the same time when he and Venus could just pop straight in from wherever they were. Oh, and hopefully Titus' more scheming side came across okay - it's been a little while since I wrote him like that.
This was a major effort to get finished - I just couldn't get the earlier stuff with Titus and Luna to flow right, and the combat with the Hunters was tricky to balance as well. I'm still not 100% confident with it, but hey...I just hope you all enjoyed it. Let me know how I did if you have any thoughts or feedback. Back with more soon (hopefully it won't be quite so long between updates next time!)