Sailor Moon - The Order of Black

Chapter Ten: A Difference of Opinion

Originally published 08/06/2015

The sun shone down on Elysion, capital city of the Golden Kingdom, offering a perfect welcome for the first day of the Summer Fair. It was Endymion's first such event; the fifteen-year-old prince risked his father's wrath just being there, but he was tired of Castle Terra's walls. A true ruler walks among his people, he thought proudly. He witnesses their plight with his own eyes. He doesn't hide in his throne room, living a life of luxury while they starve. Not like my father. Never like my father.

He found himself almost overwhelmed by the sheer number of people around him. Merchants and farmers, publicans, jugglers and acrobats…even an acting troupe; the market was filled to the brim with folk from all corners of the kingdom. This is so different from life in the palace. Even with all the hardships these people face, they seem content. Even happy. Two men in golden plate armour moved through the crowd ahead, their faces obscured behind their helmets. He'd seen them in his father's court many times before; the Exalted Knights of the Undying Sun, more commonly known as the Golden Paladins. They were an order of noble knights who served the kingdom as both protectors and mediators, solving disputes with sword and diplomacy alike. It was rumoured they even ranged out beyond Elysion and the reach of his father's soldiers, and the people loved them for it. Things will be different when I'm king, he thought determinedly. I'll make many changes, and right my father's wrongs.

For the moment, though, Endymion was content to move through the market with the anonymity his father had unwittingly provided. Living behind the castle walls with rare trips outside had left him largely unrecognisable to the common man. Without his crown or more formal armour, he was able to move about freely, just another well-dressed merchant or noble. There were enough of them out and about to allow him to blend in. That left him free to enjoy the fair and interact with people without any preconceptions or expectations on their part. Which is exactly what I wanted.

There was a sudden crash behind him, followed by a panicked neigh. A horse broke free of its harness and bolted, overturning the cart behind it and knocking a merchant to the ground – likely its owner. He was trapped beneath the heavy cart, his legs pinned to the ground. Endymion thought to go to his aid, but the two Paladins from earlier were already moving towards him. They'll handle the situation.

A frightened shriek drew his attention to the crowd to his left, where the horse had run. He ran over to find a small girl lying prone in the animal's wake; she'd obviously been trampled under its hooves. A distraught women knelt over her, frantically shaking her shoulders. Her mother? Before he knew it, Endymion was kneeling over the girl as well, using what he'd learned of medicine from the castle's healers to assess her injuries. She was barely breathing, a struggled, laborious rasp coming from her chest. He prodded her gently and winced at her quiet cry of pain. Broken ribs. Could it have pierced her lung? One thing was clear – she likely wouldn't make it to a healer. Not in this area of the city. Endymion knew what he had to do next, but it meant revealing himself to the crowd and his father. He'll be furious…but it can't be helped. I can't let this girl die to spare myself pain. That's not the way a good ruler thinks. It's not right!

His bloodline were caretakers of the Golden Crystal of Earth, a magical gem of great power and - if the stories were true - companion gem to the Silver Crystal of the Moon. Endymion had trained with Elysion's priests in its use, and he knew he would need its power now. He raised his hands over the girl's chest, palms down, and closed his eyes as he focused on creating a link to the crystal, back in the castle. A faint, golden light began shining down on her as he channelled the crystal's power through himself. The priests' words echoed through his head as he began the process. The smallest spark of life is all that's needed.

"Wha...what are you doing?" her mother stammered.

An unfamiliar voice answered her. "Hush, my lady. He must have peace."

Endymion fought the urge to open his eyes as a second power source joined him in mending the girl's broken body. It felt warm somehow, and familiar…yet completely foreign at the same time. It was no Golden Crystal, though; that much was certain. At long last, she gasped beneath him as she began to breathe in earnest and he allowed his link to the Golden Crystal to fade. Endymion opened his eyes to a heart-warming sight; a mother reunited with her child. A crowd had formed around them, looking on with wide eyes.

"You did well…Your Highness."

He turned to find one of the Paladins kneeling beside him. His was the power he'd felt; though rare, there were reports of some among the Exalted Knights with the ability to heal wounds. "You know me?"

"The Exalted Knights of the Undying Sun know your face well, Prince Endymion." A hush fell over the crowd as they realised who he was. "We long for the day you rule in your father's stead, so the Earth might begin to heal once more."

A cheer went up in the crowd and then, with a sudden whinny and the flutter of wings, Mamoru woke up. He glanced around his darkened bedroom in confusion. "I was…no. That was…a dream. Memories. It wasn't real. This is real. I'm Mamoru now. Mamoru Chiba. Not Endymion."

It was becoming an all-too-common occurrence. He would wake from a dream completely confused by his own identity. They were so vivid, so real that he sometimes had difficulty waking at all. It was a memory, he recalled. The first Summer Fair I ever attended. The first time I used the Golden Crystal to heal someone. That girl. His hand came up slowly, and he studied it intently. But I've never had that power in this life.

He turned to see if Usagi was awake, but found the bed empty. Right. She never came over…she said she was busy with an assignment. Mamoru missed her; he hadn't seen her since he'd patched up the stranger at the shrine three days earlier. Every time we speak, she seems busy or distracted. It's like she's mad at me for something, but every time I bring it up on the phone she says she's fine.

He rubbed his tired eyes blearily and glanced at his alarm clock. Close enough to five AM. I might as well get up and go for a run. Anything to take my mind off these dreams…and Usako.

"And when I cancelled last night's dinner date at the last minute, he just said 'okay'. Like it wasn't even that big of a deal!" Usagi made what Minako assumed was a 'stupid' face and raised her fingers for use as faux quotation marks. "Is everything alright, Usako? No, Mamo-chan, it's not…and you should know that already!"

Minako stared back down at her hot chocolate, distracted by her own relationship issues. I know we talked yesterday, but even after knowing how much it annoys me Corey drank out of his old mug this morning! I did as I promised, though, and I held back all the crazy I could. I mean, what's there to be upset about, really? He already explained his reasoning. Corey likes coffee, and his mug holds more of it. It isn't that he doesn't like the mug I bought for him. Right? The blonde was indulging all the crazy talk she'd denied herself that morning. I mean, I can hardly expect him to drink two coffees out of mine just to make me happy…can I? She tapped a finger against her cheek thoughtfully. Although, now that I think about…

"Hey!" A sudden poke in the ribs snapped her out of it; Mako shot her a dirty look. "You still with us?!"

She sighed and nodded as she focused on Usagi again; she was still ranting. Let's see…something about games? Oh, Mamoru keeps on playing with her heart. Right. Minako cleared her throat and waited for Usagi to finish. "Um, I realise I have a bit of a reputation for crazy plans myself, but why don't you just…you know…talk to Mamoru, and tell him how you feel?"

"I just said that," Makoto muttered.

Usagi shook her head emphatically. "I've tried all that, Minako! He just brushed me off and told me we weren't ready. We weren't ready, guys! He's still treating me like some annoying little kid who's not mature enough to make her own decisions!" Her eyes blazed defiantly. "Oh, no, the time for talk is long over! Now, it's time for action!"

Makoto leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "And, just so we're clear, the action you're planning is breaking up with Mamoru…the way he once broke up with you?"

Usagi laughed airily and waved her hand. "Oh, Mako, don't be silly! Of course not!"

Minako shared a look of relief with the brunette beside her. Thank god!

"I'm only pretending to think about breaking up with him, so he realises what he's missing out on!"

Mako groaned loudly as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Minako, you speak crazy. Can you get through to her?"

The blonde glared darkly at her friend but spoke anyway. "Usagi, this is all…I mean, when you first pitched Operation Proposal to us I figured we'd be drawing Mamoru in by highlighting your motherly instincts, or your maturity." She glanced at Mako and shrugged. "Worst case, I thought we'd throw a sexy outfit on you and have you seduce him into a proposal."

Makoto's forehead hit the table as she groaned a second time.

"Anyway," Minako grumbled, "my point is we should be highlighting the fact that you're ready to get married. Not trying to…well, out-Mamoru Mamoru!"

The brunette beside her snapped back up in her seat, looking confused but pleased. "Exactly! That's just the kind of crazy person sense I was hoping for, Minako!"

"Don't you see, guys?" Usagi asked, as she shook her head. "Mamo-chan's gotten lazy. He's content to wait for the future to happen on its own. He takes me and my love for granted because he's seen our future, and he's convinced I'll just wait around forever. There's no incentive for him to propose." She sank back in her seat just a little, a look of annoyance on her face. "Well, I'm sick of waiting. It's been almost six years. I just want some kind of sign our relationship is actually going somewhere." Her voice softened a little. "I don't want to wake up some day a thousand years in the future and realise I'm stuck in some sort of loveless sham marriage!"

"Loveless sham marriage?" Mako repeated incredulously.

Is this what talking to me is like when I'm a little nuts, Minako wondered silently, with a sigh. No wonder Corey was going insane…

Usagi coughed politely into her hand. "That's not important. Now, I asked you two here to go over strategy. I've got a couple of options moving forward, but I'm not sure which is better. I'm already giving him the silent treatment and I've cancelled a bunch of plans. In fact, we haven't even seen each other in three days! I miss him, don't get me wrong, but sacrifices have to be made for the greater good, so...do I continue as I have been and…"

Minako let Usagi fade out as she continued to babble, well aware of her own hypocrisy. And people call me crazy! She reached for her mug of hot chocolate; if she looked hard enough, she could almost see Corey's winking face in the foam, taunting her with his mug. Jerk. Can't you just drink out of the one I bought you to make me feel better?!

Megumi followed 'High Seeker Thorn' – if that was his real name – down a dimly lit corridor. They'd stepped through a hidden doorway in the library and into a virtual maze of darkened hallways and rooms; she had no idea where he was leading her. At long last, he pushed open another door to reveal their apparent destination. A large chamber, lit by candles and an ornamental chandelier overhead. There were strange murals on the walls, depicting what looked like the founding of the Order. A single man in armour stood before a shadow; the aspect of Chaos that had given them the Oathstone.

"Why should I believe you?" she asked, as she followed him inside. Our Chaos Slivers cause madness and death, and the Order knew it all along? How was she supposed to believe such utter nonsense?

"Belief is not required," Thorn replied, in his grating, mechanical tone. "You felt the rage; I know you did. It bubbled up from deep within your heart, far darker and stronger than anything you've felt in your life."

"I was upset," she countered. "I'd just learned my best friend was dead."

"There's more to it than that and you know it." The masked man stopped before a large banner - the insignia of the Order - and cocked his head to the side. "Open your mind to the truth, Paladin Shoto. I know you're not stupid."

She ground her teeth together at his insult, but remained silent.

"How much do you even know about the Chaos Sliver you carry inside you? Do you understand what it really is, what it represents?"

Megumi was growing steadily concerned by the empty room they stood in; it had the feel of a shrine about it. What was its true purpose? "It's a tiny piece of Chaos itself, taken from the Oathstone-"

"Yes," he whispered. "Think about that for a moment. A piece of Chaos itself. The Order struck a deal with the source of all evil in the galaxy…and turned its essence to good. Isn't the irony…delicious?" It didn't seem possible, but his voice grew even colder. "Do you really find it so difficult to believe such an essence might corrupt the ones who carry it?"

She was forced to concede his point. The rage she'd felt earlier in her room had terrified her. I've never felt anything like it, she admitted silently. I wanted to tear apart the Sailor Senshi with my bare hands. I wanted it more than I've ever wanted anything in my life! Was that really my Chaos Sliver?

"More than that, the Chaos Slivers are a gift. They hold great power indeed. The power to shape the very world itself!"

That finally snapped Megumi out of her shock. "But at what cost? If what you say is true, then every Paladin who ever served the Order went mad and died!"

"Not every Paladin," Thorn said, his grating voice softening. "A rare few are able to resist the effects of the Slivers. They're able to control the rage and the madness."

She felt a terrible cold spreading out from her chest as his masked gaze came to rest on her.

"You are one such Paladin."

The slender Paladin took a step back towards the door, suddenly wary. "Why bring me here? Why tell me any of this? What makes you think I won't go straight to Knight-Captain Harcourt and-"

His laughter cut her off. "Don't be so naïve, girl! Do you really believe the commander of the Black Paladins himself doesn't know the truth? It has always been this way, and it always will. As it must."

If that's true, Megumi thought, then it goes all the way to the top. Elder Haim. The Council. They all know. They always have! The room was spinning around her, the sudden revelation almost too much for her. Are we just tools to be discarded when our usefulness is at an end?!

"You're a rational woman, and a dedicated one. You truly believe in the Order's mission; I can see it in your eyes. You understand, don't you?"

"I…I don't understand anything," she stammered. The lie almost stuck in her throat with her breath. Everything was becoming clear, no matter how hard she wished it wasn't.

Thorn continued to stare at her impassively from behind his mask. "The Order must have soldiers. If the truth were revealed, what do you think would happen? Perhaps some would choose to remain. Some might even continue to give their lives freely…but not enough. Many Paladins would rebel and our recruitment numbers would plummet. The Order of Black would crumble from within…leaving Earth vulnerable to the machinations of the Moon Princess."

Megumi's back hit the door behind her, setting off alarm bells. When had it closed? "What are you to the Order, Thorn? Who are you under that mask?"

"I am High Seeker of the Vigilo Oculus…the Watchful Eye."

Her eyes widened as another cold ball of dread formed in her stomach. "The Watchful Eye?"

"Yes," he growled, "though some detractors call us Hunters behind our backs."

Megumi's hand came up, searching for a door handle, but there was none. It was flush beneath her touch; she couldn't even feel a seam. 'Hunters' implied the presence of prey…and she had a terrible idea of exactly who that was. "Paladins…"

Thorn's voice was maddeningly calm. "We carry out the grimmest of tasks with the knowledge that it must be done."

They hunt Black Paladins, she thought frantically, and the only reason he has to tell me any of this is if I'm not going to be a threat much longer. Her hand reached for her hip instinctively but she found only air; her sword was out of reach, back in her room.

"We silence those on the brink of madness. Those who might harm others…or reveal the truth of the Chaos Slivers."

"Y-You kill your fellow Paladins?!" she demanded, a familiar anger beginning to burn in her chest. If I'm going to die, I'll be damned if I go out without a fight!

"Of course," Thorn agreed. "The mission is everything. The Order must survive, no matter the cost."

Everything began to add up for Megumi. "That's why the Order treats us so well. The first-class plane tickets, the classy hotel rooms. Even the facilities here. It's all some sick sort of payment for our lives, isn't it?!"

"Black Paladins make the ultimate sacrifice, whether they are aware of it or not. Isn't that worthy of whatever small comfort we can provide?"

She felt like she was going to be sick; it all seemed so hypocritical. They comfort us with one hand...only to murder us with the other? "Why tell me this? If you plan to kill me-"

Another laugh followed. "You misunderstand entirely." Thorn began to pace, his hands clasped behind his back. "I felt your rage today, and then I felt you push it back down. You have a level of control few Paladins ever demonstrate, and it proved your worth to me."

"My worth?" she snapped, with a suspicious glare. "My worth for what?"

Thorn's brevity vanished. "I am extending you a prestigious invitation, Paladin Shoto." He paused, for apparent effect. "Become one of the Watchful Eye."

Her anger exploded. "What would make you think I would ever join you?!"

He showed little reaction to her outburst. "You understand honour, duty and sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" Megumi couldn't hide her scorn. "What you do is murder!"

"And what do you propose?" Thorn asked, almost curiously. "Allow events to unfold to their inevitable end? Are we to let mad Paladins out into the world? Would their victims not then count you and I among their killers? And what of the Order? Would you allow it to fall apart so easily?"

Confusion was beginning to overtake her anger. "But-"

"I will ask you one question, Paladin Shoto. One, simple question…and if you still wish to walk away after answering it honestly, I will allow it."

She folded her arms across her chest. "Ask your question…and let me leave."

"What is the more difficult choice? The greater sacrifice for duty? Giving your own life for the Order of Black…or taking the lives of your friends when they inevitably succumb to madness?"

Megumi froze mid-retort, caught off-guard. Impossibly, Thorn actually made a twisted kind of sense; one her sense of duty and honour could almost appreciate. That particular admission shamed her. "No. No, it's not as simple as that! My father, he raised me to-"

"Your father understood such a duty all too well."

"What?! My father was a Black Paladin! A noble and honourable warrior-"

"Yes," Thorn agreed. "Your father was all of those things. That's why my predecessor recruited him."

The room began spinning again; Megumi couldn't believe it. "That…it's not possible! He would never-"

"Oh, Megumi…" The High Seeker pushed back his hood and removed his mask…revealing the face of her father. "Anything is possible."

Hotaru held her hands over Michiru's shoulder, watching the faint purple glow of her healing ability work over the ragged tear in her skin. The dart-like weapon crumbled into dust as soon as it was removed, making any study impossible, but it didn't seem to have done any serious damage. Flesh and skin alike regenerated beneath her fingers, and soon there'd be no trace of injury left at all.

"We should track these 'Paladins' down and teach them a thing or two about manners." Haruka was pacing back and forth across the hotel room, railing at their mystery opponents. "Hell, I'll settle for giving them the beating of their lives. At least it'll make me feel better!"

Hotaru looked up from her work on Michiru's arm, concerned but for different reasons. They called attacks like Senshi, but absorbed ours. Their auras were strange, too. Dark and cold. Not to mention the hooded man they seemed to be allied with. The one channelling the Revenant Knight's power…

"Perhaps," Michiru agreed hesitantly. "If only to ensure they're not actively looking for us." Her eyes locked on Hotaru, though, giving the younger girl hope. "But we might be playing right into their hands by doing so. Maybe we should see what Usagi thinks-"

"What for?" Haruka muttered. "We're here now. We were attacked, not her. If we-"

Hotaru had heard enough. "You promised," she said quietly.

The taller woman frowned. "What?"

"You promised," she repeated, more confidently. "After the last time. You promised me you'd stop making decisions that affect the rest of us. All of us!" A hint of anger crept into her voice. "Don't you ever stop to think that you need an outside perspective because you're no good at making decisions like this for yourselves? You just rush in and act without thinking things through, and it usually ends badly…for the rest of us." Bitterness replaced Hotaru's anger as she shook her head. "Just ask Rei…or Setsuna and I."

Haruka's face fell immediately. "Hotaru…"

"I'm sorry, I…I didn't mean that." It was a lie; she had meant every word. No matter how hard she tried to forgive them, there was still some lingering resentment towards Michiru and Haruka. They'd tried over the past six months to regain her trust, but two betrayals were difficult for anyone to excuse...even the normally trusting Hotaru.

"I'm just angry," the taller woman said, with a heavy sigh. "They attacked us without cause, like we were criminals!"

Hotaru locked eyes with her unwaveringly. "Like we attacked Corey in the beginning?" Both of them went silent at that particular reminder. "We were all prepared to kill him, with no evidence of guilt." Even me, she admitted silently.

Michiru managed a slow nod. "We don't really know enough about these Paladins to make any kind of decision." She looked up at her lover. "Haruka…Hotaru's right. We need to be smart about this."

The short-haired blonde remained quiet, but Hotaru could see her conflict. "You promised, Haruka. You swore I could trust you." Sounding hurt wasn't very difficult at all. "Was that just another lie?"

"No." At long last, Haruka shook her head. "No, it wasn't a lie." She dropped to her knees before her. "I meant what I said after the last time, Hotaru. We both did. We can't change what happened in the past, but we can try harder to ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes. Please, believe that we want to do better, and we are trying."

"I do," Hotaru said softly, "but it's hard sometimes after everything that's happened." She pulled her hands away from Michiru's shoulder carefully; the skin beneath was pristine. "There. All done."

The aqua-haired Senshi reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "You've put a lot of faith in us over the last six months, Hotaru, and I promise you it wasn't in vain." She looked up at Haruka. "We'll contact Usagi and see what she wants us to do. If these Paladins are hostile to Senshi like they appear to be, we don't want to risk escalating the situation and exposing the other Senshi to attack."

Haruka still seemed reluctant but she nodded all the same. "Right. Getting a second opinion couldn't hurt."

Hotaru breathed a sigh of relief. They have changed, she told herself. Enough to listen, at least. Truth be told, she couldn't blame them entirely. They've always been on their own, going all the way back to the Silver Millennium. They were alone out on the edges of the Solar System, just the two of them, and they learned to trust their own judgement above all else. Her expression hardened as she looked them over. But things are different now, and as hard as it might be…we all have to learn to adjust.

Rinjirou moved his queen into position and smirked across the chess board at Hino. "Checkmate."

The old man studied the board in disbelief from several angles, but finally let out a resigned sigh. "I give up. Three losses in a row is more than enough for me."

"You boasted earlier that you were a master strategist." The Paladin winced as he adjusted his position, running a hand over his abdomen as it ached in protest at his movements. "What happened?"

"Never mind that. How are you feeling?"

Rinjirou shrugged. "Fine. It's healing well." Just not quickly enough for my liking, he added silently.

"And the rest?" Hino asked, with a frown. "We haven't really discussed everything else that you've gone though. It's a lot to take in at once, I know."

It was a good question, one he hadn't really given much thought. "It's still difficult for me to believe the Hunters you told me about are real, or that the Order's been lying to its Paladins all this time." A bitter laugh slipped from his lips. "Still, after you've been shot by one of them it becomes a bit harder to ignore the facts." It was strange, but if he raised his fingertips to his chest he could almost feel the presence of his Chaos Sliver. "This thing's going to kill me someday, isn't it?"

"Not necessarily," the priest replied. "Hunters are chosen for their ability to resist the more harmful effects of the Slivers, and-"

"So I may yet survive with my mind intact?" Rinjirou scoffed. "No offense, Hino-sama, but please don't coddle me. I can handle the truth."

A long sigh slipped from the old man's lips. "In all likelihood? Yes, it will kill you someday. Unless you can find a way to remove it."

"And leave myself powerless, unable to protect anyone or anything?" He shook his head quickly. "I can't do that."

"You're no longer part of the Order of Black, whether you like it or not."

"And that means I can't defend the world anymore?" Rinjirou retorted. "No, Hino-sama, my mission hasn't changed." He thought of Megumi and the other friends he'd left behind. "You were right the other night, when I had my little…crisis of faith. The Order of Black isn't inherently evil, but those in charge have led it down a dark path. Lies, murder…those are not the principles I recognise from the Order I joined, and I won't be alone." He leaned forward, ignoring the pain in his stomach as he reset the board. "There are many within its ranks who still believe in the original purpose it was founded on, and I want to help them."

Hino raised an eyebrow. "You want to reveal the truth to the Black Paladins, even knowing it would likely destroy the Order?"

He nodded emphatically. "They deserve to know. Had I known when joining up, I probably would have chosen to serve anyway." What else was I doing with my life, he thought bitterly. "Lying to them and murdering them when they start going mad is wrong. There has to be another way!"

"There may well be," the old man agreed, "But that's a conversation for another time." He gave him a gentle tap on the shoulder. "We're about to have company."

Rinjirou glanced up and spotted Rei heading their way, a blue-haired girl in tow. The miko seemed to be in a good mood for once; she was actually smiling.

The new arrival bowed slightly towards the priest. "Hello again, Grandpa. It's been quite some time, hasn't it?"

Grandpa, the Paladin thought, surprised. That's a little informal, isn't it? She must know him well.

"Hello, Ami," the old man said, with a smile. "You're looking as lovely as ever-"

"None of that," Rei snapped, with a pointed glare.

"I was just being polite!" The priest turned back to Ami, smiling again. "Rei tells me you're studying medicine in Germany. I hope you're finding the course to your liking?"

"Oh, yes, very much so. It's been a very rewarding opportunity so far." She turned towards Rinjirou and smiled. "And who's this?"

Rei waved him off dismissively. "Oh, that's Rinjirou, my Grandpa's new student."

"Ah."

Rinjirou held back a frown. For just a moment, he was sure the new girl hesitated when Rei gave her his name…but that was madness. I'm just paranoid after everything that's happened, he told himself. She isn't a threat.

The miko gestured to her friend. "Rinjirou, this is Ami, one of my best friends."

He bowed politely. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Ami replied, with a hint of a smile. "You're very formal."

"Too formal," Rei muttered.

"I…my Japanese is a little rusty," Rinjirou admitted. Since when do people not bow anymore?

"It's refreshing," Ami said, with a smile. "I like it." Her eyes dropped to the chessboard. "You play?"

"A little."

Hino snorted loudly. "A little? You took me apart in minutes, young man. You'd have to be a prodigy if you've only played a little."

He shrugged. "More than a little, then."

Ami's eyes sparkled. "Perhaps you and I could have a match sometime? It's been a long time since I got a chance to play. Nobody I know will even try anymore."

Rinjirou nodded. Anyone else would sound arrogant saying that, but I'm not getting that from her. Is she really that good? "It'd be nice to face someone who's actually a challenge." He delivered his final taunt with a triumphant smirk towards Hino.

"You're as bad as my granddaughter," the old man said, with a heavy sigh. "The youth of today are so disrespectful…" He clasped his hands behind his back and wandered off, whistling quietly.

Rei turned to Ami. "Anyway, forget the student here. When do you have to-"

A sudden beep came from Ami's handbag, and she retrieved her phone quickly. "Sorry, that's Ryo. I said I'd meet him for lunch after visiting my mother."

"No need to apologise," Rei said, with a laugh. "Go see him already! Isn't that the whole reason you popped back?"

"Yeah." Ami blushed suddenly. "Oh, uh…and to see the rest of you, of course!"

"Sure." The miko giggled in a decidedly un-Rei manner – in Rinjirou's experience. "I'm just teasing, Ami. Go on, have fun. Say hi for me!"

"I will." The blue-haired girl began backing away, but not without a quick wave to him. "It was nice to meet you, Rinjirou."

He bowed again without thinking. "Likewise." He watched her disappear down the steps, before a sudden poke to his ribs prompted a frown at Rei. "What?"

"What's your game?" she demanded.

"Game?"

"Being so nice to Ami. Why weren't you that nice to me when we first met?"

"Me?!" he said indignantly. "It was you who started us off on the wrong foot with your suspicious attitude!"

Rei's nostrils flared angrily as she poked him again. "Suspicious attitude?! I was only suspicious after sensing that…whatever Grandpa said you're carrying around inside you!"

"Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated, Rei," he said, effecting an air of hurt pride. "It's only common courtesy."

"What?!" she sputtered. "Don't try and turn this around on me!" She sighed irritably as she glared at him through narrow eyes. "Gods, you're infuriating. I'm going to meditate!"

He watched her stomp off, forced to admit that she was fun to annoy. She's cute when she's mad. He immediately cut his thought process off there. She's cute?! Where the hell did I get an idea like that from? She's a frustrating, angry woman who annoys me to no end. She's not cute! He sighed as he headed for the shrine itself to begin his afternoon duties. The schedule he'd worked out with Rei – still not cute! – had him responsible for cleaning it today. Getting her to give up her broom at all was difficult, he recalled. It was good of Hino-sama to mediate for us, though in truth I think he was probably just sick of hearing us argue!

As he approached the large doors, a familiar voice called out from above. "So, you're still alive."

Rinjirou looked about, startled, but found no trace of anyone.

"I'm glad to see my efforts back at the hotel weren't wasted."

He looked up to find the same black cat from his hotel room staring down at him from the roof, the crescent moon on its forehead shining in the sunlight. "You."

"Yes," it replied coolly. "Me."

"What do you want?" Rinjirou asked, wary of its sudden appearance. Three days have passed. Why show up now?

The cat actually appeared to shrug. "Information."

"And you came to me."

"Naturally. You're the most likely source, after all."

Rinjirou folded his arms across his chest. "What makes you think I'll tell you anything?"

"Because I overheard your little chat with the priest." The cat tilted his head – it was definitely male - and smiled. "If you're going to help the friends you left behind, you're going to need answers about your former employers. Answers I want as well."

"I don't appreciate being spied on."

"Well, that's unfortunate," the cat retorted, "Because I am a spy. It's what I do." He sighed sharply. "Look, you're no fan of my Princess. That much is clear-"

"I won't serve her-"

"And no-one's asking you to!" The cat dropped to a fence post beside him to look him in the eyes. "But one thing is clear to me, Rinjirou; you're a good person at heart. You care about the future of this world as much as she does. That's why I'm asking you to hear me out."

Rinjirou didn't trust the cat in the slightest. His sudden appearance at the Order's safe house, then the hotel room, and finally his reappearance now? It was all far too convenient. But, he told himself grudgingly, he did save my life…and like it or not, I owe him. He glanced about for any sign of Hino or Rei and, finding none, nodded reluctantly. "What do you propose?"

AN: Another week between updates. I managed to squeak in on my absolute latest deadline but the real world's been making that quite difficult lately. I'm also realising there are a LOT of different plots going on right now, and finding space for all of them is proving tricky. Hopefully you're satisfied with everyone who made the cut this chapter; it'll be a balancing act moving forward.

With that said, the main plot continues to move along with Titus' little talk with Rinjirou. Those two are an odd pairing, but there's something about Rin that really lets Titus' arrogant, snarky side come out. Hopefully it was entertaining, even if it ends on a VERY mild cliffhanger (sorry, UH-60, but keep the awesome feedback coming!)

Mamoru also got some face time this chapter. I want to try and expand him beyond his role in the anime – AND Last Guardian Knight – and get a little closer to his manga iteration. Considering what a key role the Golden Kingdom plays in the origins of the Order of Black, it made sense to tie Mamoru into that arc AND give him some much-needed character development at the same time. Usagi is focused on his lack of proposal, and it's given me some ideas on exactly why HE is hesitating.

Anyway, that's more than enough rambling from me. Thanks as always for reading, and please continue to review or PM. I got some great feedback around the last chapter on a couple of key points, which is ALWAYS useful. Stay tuned for another chapter soon!

Lisseas