Sailor Moon - The Order of Black

Chapter Thirty Three: Hang in there, Chibiusa; Thorn's Face Revealed

Originally published 01/12/2015

AN: This is Part Two. If you somehow got here first accidentally, go back a chapter and read "Perspective" first. It's pretty crucial.

Corey glanced across the rooftop after another melancholic sigh from Rinjirou. "Do you have to keep doing that?"

"She wouldn't listen," he muttered, as he stared out over London's skyline. "She rejected me again." He sat cross legged, tossing and catching his tantōs in a never-ending cycle of blade then hilt.

Oh, hell, the Guardian Knight thought irritably. Why can't I just ignore him? They weren't friends but he couldn't stop himself from wandering over. It was the right thing to do, just like the photo frame earlier."I get the idea you knew her for a long time?"

"On and off since childhood," Rinjirou answered, drawing his knees up into his chest. "We both grew up in Osako, children of Black Paladins. I've known her as long as I can remember."

What else could Corey say but the obvious? "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well…" The former Paladin abruptly straightened and rose to his feet. "Where is that damned cat?"

"Just relax. We did our part, now he's doing his." He recognised Rinjirou's attempt to instigate a fight but ignored it. Jesus, he's a perfect fit for Rei after all! "If you know Megumi as well as you think, we'll hear from him soon enough."

Rinjirou deflated slightly. "You're right. I'm sorry, I guess I'm just…looking for a fight." He took a deep breath and let it out again slowly. "But you don't deserve that. You could have killed Megumi if you wanted to, but you didn't. I don't think I thanked you for that."

It was Corey's turn to snort. "I don't kill people, or youma…or even giant death clouds. Not unless I absolutely have to. And neither do the Sailor Senshi."

"You're not what I expected," Rinjirou admitted, scratching at his shoulder. "None of you are. The Order teaches us you're scheming manipulators. Power-mad tyrants masquerading as heroes, only saving the world so you can claim it for yourselves later. But, so far, I've seen no signs of that."

"Because the Order is wrong." Corey leaned forward on the parapet, looking down at the city below them. "I may not be perfect, and god knows the Senshi aren't either, but they save this world for the same reasons the Order does; because they live here and they love it as much as anyone. They don't do a very good job of looking at other points of view, and they're prone to hubris at times...but aren't we all?"

"I suppose we are, yes."

Corey held up a hand as his communicator beeped. The girls had tried him several times already but the identifier confirmed it was Titus. "We may have our lead." He pressed a button on his watch and brought it to his lips. "Yeah, buddy?"

"Rinjirou was right," the cat said, the whistle of wind coming through behind his voice. "Our target is on her way out of the Order's compound and in quite a hurry. Sending you the coordinates now."

"Alright, we'll meet you there." Corey cut the link and nodded to Rinjirou. "We're on."

"I knew she'd lead us to him," Rinjirou murmured, sheathing his blades quickly. "You take point."

Traversing the rooftops proved simple enough. Corey was as mobile without his armour as he was in it – more so, in fact – and Rinjirou was no slouch either. He kept up effortlessly without Corey going easy on him and they quickly reached Titus' position overlooking a rather dilapidated industrial park. The cat raised a paw as they arrived, pointing out an old warehouse across the street marked with a condemned sign.

"There. Megumi went inside a few minutes ago and hasn't emerged." His cold blue eyes narrowed. "Are we still operating on the assumption Chibiusa is with Thorn?"

"We've got no reason not to." Corey noted the cat's purple light-visor, something he hadn't seen in quite some time. "What do you say we get in there and find out?"

"Sounds good to me," Rinjirou growled. "I'd like a word with the High Seeker myself."

They descended to street level and made their way inside. Titus led the way, scanning for traps and other hazards. "Recent footprints. From the size, I'd say they're our target. This way, the freezer."

Rinjirou drew his tantōs again as they neared the door but Corey felt no such need for weapons yet. "A little jumpy, aren't you?"

"Not having magic armour or weapons will do that to you," he countered wryly, spinning the blades in his hands.

"Fair point." Corey pushed the door open, revealing the interior of a rusted old industrial freezer. It had long since lost power, leaving it a comfortable room temperature, and there was little evidence of anything of note. "It's a dead end."

"Look for hidden panels," Rinjirou suggested, inspecting the walls closely. "They're quite common in Order facilities."

It was impossible for Titus to sound anymore smug. "I'm one step ahead of you." He gestured to one portion of rusted-over wall in particular. "While it matches the rest of the wall cosmetically, there's a suspicious lack of dust or other build up on that panel. If you would be so kind, Justice?"

Corey reached out and cautiously brushed his gloved hand over the wall. Sure enough, it slid open to reveal a thoroughly modern touchpad with glowing controls. "I feel like I'm in a James Bond movie."

"Just…a…moment." The cat's ears pricked up as he studied the wall carefully, visor flashing briefly as he cocked his head to the side. "Oh-seven-four-one-eight-oh."

"Just like that?" Rinjirou asked, clearly surprised.

"Just like that. Someone was sloppy, probably several people in fact. They left fingerprints behind on the pad and the decay in the oils revealed the order of-"

"Forget I said anything, you smug little bastard."

Corey ignored their back and forth, punching in the code as provided. He stepped back warily as the entire wall slid apart silently to reveal a dimly lit staircase. "That's not ominous at all."

Rinjirou stepped forward and peered down into the darkness with him. "It has occurred to you that this is probably a trap for the Senshi, right?"

"No shit." The Guardian Knight locked eyes with him and motioned forward. "You told me you want to save lives? This is how we do it, by getting that girl out of here without killing anyone. If we can do that, the Senshi will have no reason to storm Order HQ and we hold off the war for another day."

"I'm with you on that. Let's go."

Titus leapt onto Corey's shoulders as he made his way down the stairs, riding atop his pauldrons as he had so many times before. It's just the two of us, now, I guess. Just like those early days in Iowa. For the most past, anyway. "Any signs of life, buddy?"

"Nothing. If Megumi and Thorn are down there they must be shielded somehow…or out of range. I fear there's no telling how deep this particular facility runs."

They reached the base of the stairs without incident, finding themselves in another narrow corridor. If there is a trap planned, Corey decided, I'd put it here. Surprisingly, though, nothing happened and they stepped into a wider room. Doors and thin, narrow windows were placed on three of its walls, and an archway on the fourth presumably led deeper into the facility.

"Cells," Rinjirou remarked, moving towards it. "You look for the girl, I'll keep an eye out for Thorn or Megumi."

Corey was already doing just that. The windows all but confirmed these small rooms were cells of a sort, likely mirrored from the inside. He dashed from window to window, inspecting the rooms, and he finally found a familiar pink-haired girl in the third. "Titus! She's in this one!"

The cat peered through the window briefly before focusing on the door. "Interesting. I had expected more security than this. We've seen no patrols or cameras of any sort. Just a few simple keypads."

"There's no Order insignia at all," Rinjirou reported, returning from the other corridor. "But Megumi must have come this way.? We didn't miss any other doors on the way down, did we?"

"Agreed," Titus murmured, as he focused on the lock. "I'm beginning to get a very bad feeling about all of this. We should retrieve Chibiusa and leave, quickly."

Corey nodded unconsciously. "No arguments there, buddy. How's that door coming?"

"Just a moment." The cat's tail twitched randomly, striking the back of Corey's head, before the lock turned green. "Done."

The Guardian Knight pulled the door open and stepped inside. Sure enough, it was her; Chibiusa had as distinctive a hairstyle as her mother. She lay on her stomach with her face buried in her arms, and she was bigger than he expected. Older.

"Go away…"

He allowed himself a smile as he tore off his mask. "Are you sure that's what you want, Chibiusa?"

She flipped over and sat up like a rocket. "Cor-" Quick as a flash, she had her arms wrapped around him. "Justice!"

"Clever girl," Titus said approvingly, indulging her with a rare smile of his own.

"And Titus!" Chibiusa reached up to scratch him behind the ear. "I've never been so happy to see the two of you in my life!"

Corey still couldn't get past the apparent aging; she looked fourteen, a big jump forward. "What have they been feeding you in Crystal Tokyo? You've grown up a lot!"

"And you shaved again," she countered, poking his cheek playfully.

He allowed himself a brief chuckle. "Well, who am I to argue with time, huh?"

"Why were you wearing a mask? And those clothes?" Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she spotted Rinjirou. "And who's that?"

"This is Rinjirou," he said, settling on the truth, "And he helped me find you."

The former Paladin bowed stiffly, obviously a little uncomfortable. "Nice to meet you."

"Now, come on." Corey began tugging her towards the door, all too aware they were on the clock. "Let's get you out of here before Thorn shows up."

Her eyes widened in fear. "Thorn! Justice, you don't understand. He's not what you think! Thorn is-"

"Now, now…"

Corey came to a stop as a masked figure faded in from the darkness ahead, cutting off access to the staircase. His voice was a grating, near-mechanical monotone the Guardian Knight recognised from Usagi's phone call. Thorn…

"How they hell did he get behind us?" Rinjirou wondered, spinning his tantōs in his hands. "It makes no sense!"

"Spreading unsubstantiated rumours is unbecoming of one so refined, Small Lady." The mask was just as Corey remembered from previous Hunters he'd met, matte black with narrow white triangles cutting in from the forehead and jaw. If there were any eyes under it he couldn't see them, only darkness.

Another robed figure stepped into the light beside him, shaking her head; Megumi. "I told you to go, Rin. I warned you."

"I never was all that good at listening to you, was I?"

Corey stepped forward. "High Seeker Thorn." He felt no fear, only a quiet calm he recognised as the touch of justice itself. I'm finally doing what's right, living up to my responsibilities, and it feels right. He was in his element here, right where he was supposed to be.

"Indeed," the masked man agreed amiably, "But you are no Paladin, despite your appearance."

"No, I'm not." Corey summoned Justiciar to his hand and willed his armour into existence, minus the helmet. He gently guided Chibiusa in behind him as he did so. "I'm the Guardian Knight of Justice."

"Intriguing…" Thorn's hood moved slightly, giving the appearance of someone tilting their head.

"Be careful," Chibiusa hissed, tugging on his arm. "He's-"

"I was expecting your Princess…but here you are instead."

"Here I am." It was the strangest thing but there was a growing sense of nausea in Justice's stomach. A familiar feeling, albeit one he hadn't experienced since the Revenant Knight; a response to a great evil. "All I want is the girl-"

Chibiusa huffed indignantly and slapped his forearm. "Jerk!"

"Er, the young lady," he finished awkwardly. Time and a place, Chibiusa! "Not a fight."

A trace of amusement slipped into Thorn's monotonic voice. "Oh?"

"We don't have to go to war," Justice continued, taking a cautious step forward. "We don't have to kill one another. We can talk things through, figure out another way. A better way that won't leave dozens dead on both sides."

A cold, mocking laugh fluttered through the room. It was almost cruel. "Oh, but that's where you're so very wrong, Justice. The Order of Black must battle the Sailor Senshi. The more deaths the better!"

The disgust rose up like bile in the back of Justice's throat. "What kind of sick, twisted logic is that?!"

Megumi was clearly caught off-guard as well, her head snapping around to Thorn. "Father?!"

"Father?!" Rinjirou was equally surprised by her sudden outburst. "What?!"

The masked man ignored Megumi's cry, turning his head mechanically towards Rinjirou. "And you. The infamous Paladin Payne returns home at last." A tinge of cruel mockery coloured his words. "So much wasted potential…just like your mother."

His tantōs snapped up immediately. "Don't you dare speak about her!"

"You had a taste of it, didn't you?" Thorn continued, taking an ominous step forward. "The power, the possibilities. You reached out and touched the face of a god…but shrank away in fear, choosing your precious morals over the gift I offered!"

"The gift you offered?" Rinjirou took a quick step back. "How could you…" His aggressive tone gave way to fear underneath. "Be wary, Justice, Thorn is no mere Hunter. I think he's-"

"Wiseman!" Chibiusa cried, peering out around the Guardian Knight's back. "Or Chaos, whatever it's calling itself now!"

Justice matched Rinjirou's movements, retreating another step from the masked man before him. Oh, hell.

Megumi was obviously more confused than anything at this point. "Father, I don't understand. We all carry a piece of Chaos within us, but-"

"Quickly," Justice called, waving her over. "I think you should move away from him. Now!"

Thorn laughed again and the room's temperature seemed to dip along with it. "Your father has been gone for some time, Megumi. His body has sustained me for many years, but it's finally succumbing to the decay."

"Decay…?" She looked stunned more than anything. "I don't…"

"I sought a replacement," he continued, almost drifting along the floor. "A new vessel…and Rinjirou here showed the most promise. The child of a Black Paladin, born of one who carried my gift, who'd been exposed to my essence from conception." Clear disdain filtered into his voice. "But it seems he holds the same pitiful scruples as his mother."

Corey couldn't help but feel sorry for Megumi as she finally began to understand. The evil bastard's just taunting her now.

"But…you said-"

Thorn's eyes flashed red beneath his mask. "Your father is dead, you foolish girl! He has been for the better part of a decade!"

She drew her broken katana as rage clouded her features. "You…you lied to me! Tricked me!"

"And you made it so simple," he said, taunting her again. "You were so eager to believe he was alive. All it took to turn you was a vague promise of daddy's love. You wanted this, Megumi. You wanted it all! There's darkness in your heart, a sliver as real as that one of mine you bear, and that makes you mine!"

"You're a monster," she growled, as her shattered blade began to shimmer. "You must be mad if you think I'd serve you after this!"

"You're not worthy to serve," Thorn sneered, his tone growing colder. "You got lazy. Sloppy. Weak. You let Rinjirou live, as I knew you would…and you led him here." He thrust his hand forward, hurling an incandescent blast of purplish-black lightning into her chest that slammed her against the far wall.

Megumi, barely able to maintain her footing, glared back at him in defiance. "You're no friend of the Order!"

He laughed maniacally, opening his arms wide as the spectral image of a hideous bird-like creature surrounded him. "I am the Order!"

Justice began moving to defend her as 'Thorn' blasted her again. Like it or not, she was now his best chance at opening a dialogue and defusing the current conflict between the Order of Black and the Sailor Senshi. He just had to keep her alive! The masked man was having none of it, though; with an angry snarl he span about and unleashed another torrent of negative energy right at him. His shield did absolutely nothing, collapsing before Thorn's onslaught immediately and allowing raw, unfettered energy to ripple over his armour. It skittered across the surface and through any gaps it could find to strike him directly, searing nerves, skin and flesh alike.

"Where do you think you're going?" The monster turned, the same birdlike entity coalescing around him for a moment as another blast tore into the air towards Rinjirou. The former Paladin dove aside, an impressive display of agility, but it left Chibiusa directly in its path.

Justice summoned his power and blinked in at the last second, his momentum carrying him forward in a near tackle of the girl. He wrapped her up in a bear hug - not trusting his shield after his earlier experience - and span around, hoping against hope his armour would cover her. The magical plate took the brunt of Thorn's attack but he could still feel the pain through the metal as it penetrated any joints or gaps it could find. A small amount skittered around to the front and struck Chibiusa, prompting a startled shriek, but she seemed shocked more than hurt.

He crumpled to one knee, seeing smoke rising from his arms. "Chibiusa, run!"

"No!" she cried, planting her feet defiantly. "I won't leave you here by yourself!"

"You've got no powers, no defences, and I can't afford to watch you the whole time!" Justice locked eyes with her, remembering something he'd seen Sailor Moon do previously. He reached out to grip her shoulders and set his jaw. "Now, Small Lady! That's an order!"

Chibiusa stiffened, hesitating a moment before finally nodding. "Fine, but you'd better stay safe, or I'll never forgive you!"

Justice watched her run for the exit as Thorn pursued Rinjirou, relieved immeasurably. Now he could focus on getting the other two out. It occurred to him as he stood that Titus has disappeared, but he couldn't really blame the cat for getting the hell out of dodge. Better that he's safe, he decided, now focused on Thorn.

Megumi was rising to her feet again, brandishing her broken katana with a look of sheer, unbridled fury. It began to shimmer with violet energy as she advanced on the masked man and finally swung it with reckless abandon. "Bureido Storm!"

The attack tore through the air, a jagged ribbon of energy that ripped through one of the cell walls in an instant. Thorn's mask turned to face it…and he stepped forward, into the blast to emerge entirely unscathed. Another mocking laugh echoed around them, seemingly coming from everywhere at once. "Poor, simple Megumi, attacking me with my own power. What did you think would happen?"

"Bureido Storm!" Megumi struck him a second time, watching in disbelief as he absorbed the bolt of energy into his robe this time. "Damn you, why won't you die?!"

"You still don't comprehend the situation you find yourself in, do you?" Thorn reached out to grab her in an invisible hold, fingers outstretched as if clutched around her throat. "I am the darkness in the hearts of all men. I existed before all and will outlast time itself. I am Chaos, little girl…and you are nothing!" His fingers began to close, squeezing into a fist, and Megumi screamed in utter agony.

"Megumi!" Rinjirou stopped evading and lunged forward with both tantōs held high. He was batted away immediately by a large, smoky tendril that resembled a decayed bird's wing, tumbling into the ground hard before rolling back to his feet. "Let her go!"

"Face me!" Justice called, blinking in close to bring Justiciar down on Thorn's neck. Another tendril materialised, taking the hit meant for its master. It felt as if he'd struck solid steel.

Megumi strained, barely able to lift her head. Blood dribbled from her lips, more of the crimson liquid spotting the floor as she coughed painfully. "Rin…"

He stared at her helplessly, daggers limp in his hands as their eyes met. "Megumi…"

She drew a ragged breath, an act made difficult by the unseen force clamping down around her. A tear slid down her cheek as she struggled to speak. "I'm so sorry…for all of it...and…I still love-"

Justice looked away as a wet squelch echoed across the room from within her chest. Goddammit, it didn't have to end like this! She stiffened, every muscle in her body contracting then going limp, her head lolling to the side. Her body hit the floor, eyes open but unseeing. Dead.

Rinjirou stared at her in silence for a few seconds, hands trembling around his blades. Finally, a long and terrible roar of uncontained rage burst from his throat and he charged Thorn again, only to be caught in mid-air and held just like Megumi.

"I am disappointed, Rinjirou. Very disappointed!" Thorn gestured casually, sending him careening up into the ceiling. "All of that potential squandered!" With another motion, Rinjirou hit the floor hard enough to crack the tiles. "You could have been the perfect vessel…but instead you chose to waste your life on this pointless display."

Once again, Justice tried to blink in close but found his attack blocked. A black mass stretched out of Thorn's body like a twisted shadow given physical form, far more ethereal than any Construct they'd encountered. Chaos in its purest form.

Infuriatingly, Thorn ignored him completely as he focused on the man in his grip. "You still don't get it, do you? You're nothing without that piece of me inside you, just a sad little boy still sobbing over his long-dead mother!" This time, he sent Rinjirou hurtling into one of the walls. "Desperate for any purpose at all, and so deathly afraid of being alone!"

"You sick son of a bitch!" Justice swore, unleashing a blast of golden light from his sword. "Leave him alone!" The evil entity's response was almost modest by comparison, as Justice found himself staring down Thorn's right index finger. "Oh, hell-"

A bolt of pure negative energy burst forth, punching straight through his shield, armour and chest. It slowly dawned on him that he was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling as a warm, almost sticky fluid seeped down his side. A series of painful coughs wracked his body, revealing an odd tightness in his chest that he finally placed as a collapsed lung. Through and through…shit.

To his right, Thorn continued torturing Rinjirou. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, should I?" With another casual flick of his wrist he slammed the near-motionless man into the floor again. "You always were a failure. You couldn't keep your precious mother alive, or your father." Finally, he let him go, tossing him into the far wall to slump to the ground. "And now you've let Megumi die too."

"No…" Rinjirou rasped, barely conscious. "You…murdered her…"

"And you…" Justice was certain Thorn glided across the floor towards him. "The Revenant Knight had such plans for you, saw such darkness within…"

"How…" Justice coughed, dismayed to feel more blood spill down his chin. "How could you possibly know what the hell he thought?"

"Because I am him." Thorn's eyes flashed red for a moment, reminding him of the demonic knight. "I am a piece of the whole…just as the Revenant Knight stole another piece millennia ago. Following his death, I reclaimed that piece…just as I have reclaimed every piece of every aspect to come here over the years. Only one remains, and it will not elude me for long."

"You-" Any rebuttal Justice had plan broke down into another painful coughing fit. Every breath was a struggle, even the most basic movement a challenge. He couldn't even drag himself to his feet. All he could do was lie there…and die. I'm sorry, Minako…but it looks like I won't make it back after all.

As the evil creature reached down for him, though, a coffee mug struck the side of his head. A loud, defiant voice cried out from the doorway. "Leave him alone, you creep!"

The Guardian Knight turned slowly to see Chibiusa brandishing a fluorescent light bulb of all things. "No, Chibiusa…" He could barely draw enough breath to speak. "You can't…"

Thorn closed in on her slowly, fingers outstretched. "Brave, little one, but ultimately fruitless. You're all going to die here. It's just a matter of time." He reached for her, hand crackling with energy…

…only to recoil in surprise as a black-and-purple blur dove on him from above. Titus raked both of his climbing claws across Thorn's mask before dropping to bury them to the paws in his chest, provoking a roar of pain and rage.

"Go, Justice!" the cat called. "Get Chibiusa out of here!"

Chibiusa, freed by his distraction, ducked under Thorn's outstretched arm and around him, landing a kick to his shin for good measure. She hurried over to the downed knight. "Come on!" She got under his arm and lifted with all her might, struggling to get him back on his feet. "We have to go!"

Somehow – it seemed impossible – Justice lurched to his feet, narrowly avoiding another tumble as she steadied him. "Not without you, Titus. Come on!" He summoned Justiciar again and span about in a near-disastrous Sword Slash, the golden energy crescent barely missing Titus as it crashed into Thorn's chest. The cat leapt towards the wall, abandoning his claws as he sprang off it and towards Justice.

"Come on!" He reached out desperately for the cat, but felt his heart leap into his throat as Thorn snatched him out of the air with an impossibly quick recovery. Titus howled in agony as even more negative energy surrounded him in an electric cocoon, smoking curling into the air from burnt and blackened fur.

Justice readied his sword for another swing. "Let him go!"

Chibiusa brought her light bulb up like a sword of her own. "Now!"

"Oh, I think not." Thorn brandished the cat like a prize, holding him between them like a tiny shield as arc after arc of crippling energy rippled across his body.

"I'm coming, Titus!" Justice leapt forward, ignoring the danger to himself, only to hit the floor as he was blasted yet again . Have to…get to him. Have to save him!

The cat twitched in Thorn's hand, acrid smoke rising around him. His normally cold, blue eyes were barely open and filled with tears of pain as his head craned around, searching for him. "This…this is not your fault. Don't…blame yourself..."

"Titus…" Corey – he didn't feel much like Justice right now – swallowed past an uncomfortable lump in his throat, his voice hoarse and full of fear.

"You made…the right choice…" Titus said, managing a faint smile, "and…I'm so very proud of-"

There was a wet snap as Thorn wrung his neck…and tossed his limp form at Corey's feet. Chibiusa gasped in fright, hands flying to her mouth as a choked sob slipped out. The Guardian Knight stared at his friend's body in shock, scarcely able to believe it, before a sudden and blinding rage exploded in his chest. It didn't matter that he was hurt. It didn't matter that he could barely breathe. All Corey wanted to do in that moment was kill Thorn.

The roar was deafening, barely recognisable as his own voice as he launched himself forward with all his remaining strength. Flames burst from Justiciar, licking up his forearms to surround him in an all-encompassing inferno as he struck at the evil bastard again and again. The flames continued to rage until they enveloped his opponent as well, wrapping them both in a firestorm. Nothing mattered more to him than striking Thorn down. He had to die! He had to pay! Maybe he did want vengeance but he didn't care; in that moment he had no qualms about destroying this monster forever.

At long last, after a futile effort, they broke apart. Thorn clearly wanted a respite, his robes in tatters and the armour beneath charred and smouldering. Even his mask was singed; it made for an inviting target.

"This is for Titus, you son of a bitch!" Corey brought Justiciar down with all his might, just as his eyes caught a familiar flash of light to his left; the Sailor Senshi teleporting in. It didn't matter; the shining blade struck Thorn's mask, and cleaved it in two…but the man himself was suddenly gone. "What?!" Another agonising blast struck him in the back, driving him into the floor and knocking the wind from his already tortured lungs.

"Back off, jerk!" He could hear Venus as if from a distance, a strange, rhythmic roaring filling his ears. "Love and Beauty Shock!"

Corey tried to roll to his back but was only partially successful. His vision was blurry, but he watched as Thorn recoiled, clutching at his smouldering face. That's my girl. Finish what I started. His head fell to one side, striking the floor and leaving him staring yet again at the body of his best friend. The pain in his chest was nothing compared to what his heart felt in that moment.

"Damn you…" Thorn's face was barely recognisable as human, a mass of burned flesh and twisted skin. "I wasn't prepared. The decay is accelerated!" He turned slowly towards Rinjirou. "A moment…"

Sailor Moon herself stepped forward, Eternal Tiare at the ready, but there was a sliver of fear behind her eyes. "I destroyed you…"

Mars slid in front of Rinjirou, Flame Sniper at the ready. "Oh, no, you don't!"

Before she could fire, Thorn's head snapped back and a mass of thick, black ash burst from his mouth. It formed a birdlike monster, bipedal with wings and a wicked beak reminiscent of the masks Thorn's Hunters wore. He toppled beneath it, just a shell now, as the creature collapsed into a cloud just as the Revenant Knight had...and streamed along the floor towards Megumi's corpse.

The dead Paladin twitched a few times, then blinked. Her glassy eyes turned red a moment as a cold smirk formed on her lips…and she sat up. "Much better."

Rinjirou, even barely conscious as he was, reached out in vain, nowhere near her. "No…"

'Megumi' reached out and pulled the shattered pieces of Thorn's mask towards her. They shimmered a purplish-black and mended in an instant as she slipped it over her face. She reached back to pull her hood up over her head before finally turning to face Sailor Moon. "My apologies, Princess…but it is not yet time for us to face one another again." Her form seemed to glide back across the floor with an otherworldly quality. "There is one more piece to the puzzle. Soon, though. Very soon." With one, final glance towards Rinjirou, she cocked her head to the side and vanished in a muted flash of light.

Corey couldn't care less. He was dragging himself along the floor with everything he had left, rage a distant memory that had long given way to a dark, crippling sorrow. He could barely breathe, and it had nothing to do with the state of his lungs. Titus, his best friend, was dead. Killed in an instant, almost as an afterthought. He reached out, his fingertips trembling hesitantly as he stroked his singed fur. "Goddammit, Titus...why did you have to do that? Why couldn't you just run?" It took him a moment, but he was able to pick his limp form up and cradle him to his chest. There should have been tears. He wanted to cry, he knew he did...but they wouldn't come. Only a choked, rasping sob.

Chibiusa joined him rather than Venus, her own eyes full of tears. "I never knew why he wasn't with us in my time…until now."

A shrill whine came from Mercury's computer, persisting for a few seconds before she could bring herself to close it. She too was having difficulty speaking. "He's…Corey, I'm so sorry, but he's…" All she managed was a sniffle of her own, bowing her head as she was comforted by Sailor Jupiter.

Corey closed his eyes, struggling to bring himself under control as he finally felt Venus' presence. She wrapped her arms around his neck as best she could, mercifully bereft of chidings or concerns. Her comforting embrace was all he wanted right now.

Sailor Moon was left standing with Tuxedo Kamen her only companion, examining the carnage. She couldn't believe it was really happening. Chaos was back…and Titus was dead. They'd arrived only a moment too late to save him. Too late to really help anyone. Her only relief came from knowing her future daughter was safe…but with Corey barely hanging on, Rinjirou practically unconscious, and Titus…it hurt too much to finish that thought. This is my fault, isn't it? I caused this…

Venus stood, briefly wiping at her own eyes. "We can't stay here. Form up…" There was a brief but noticeable waver to her voice, one she quickly banished with a cough. "Form up for Sailor Teleport. We'll take Justice with us." Her eyes fell on Rinjirou as Mars tried to help him up. "Him too."

Sailor Moon glanced down as Chibiusa pressed against her in a tight hug, eyes wet with tears as she began to sob. She brought her arms up around her back, just holding her in return.

"He saved me. Titus, he saved me from that thing!" The tears began to fall in earnest as she buried her head in Moon's chest. "He saved me…"

The blonde Senshi swallowed tightly as she lingered on the burned, matted ball of fur Corey held in his arms. Guilt began to well up in her chest as she guided Chibiusa into position. I'd do it again, he said, if I knew it would keep you all safe. Tears of her own began to fill her eyes as she took hold of Mercury's hand, feeling the magic building. He was our friend...and I was going to banish him for caring. Moon felt a single tear make its way down her cheek as the teleport commenced.

I think that realisation hurts most of all...

AN: So...perhaps my biggest chapter ever is complete, and I feel lousy about it. Maybe it sounds strange but Titus was one of my favourite characters despite the fact I created him, and making the decision to kill him was tough. But, I think it was the right thing for the narrative and it let him go out as a hero. Ironically, he'd probably snort and go into a lecture on how heroics and a misplaced sense of honour will get you killed...but I liked the symmetry. I'm not sure how many of you will remember Ch. 20 of LGK Act II, but one of his first actions after meeting Corey was jumping into a fight with him when he got knocked down. We saw Luna and Artemis do the same in the anime and it was always strange that they were never seriously hurt after doing so. Well, Titus was...but I don't think he'd regret it. I think his death, and the WAY he died, will shock the Senshi into maybe recognising their black-and-white approach is flawed...and hopefully take a little of the edge off when they confront Corey over his actions.

There were two other "deaths" as well, Thorn and Megumi. Of course, it's revealed now that Thorn was a puppet all along for a much greater threat and Megumi...I struggled with her death as well. She was originally a basic supporting character, there to show Rinjirou DID have friends in his previous life, but she turned into a mirror for him, showing how someone COULD see what the Order of Black was doing from the other side. Her scenes were some of my personal favourites and choosing to kill her off too wasn't easy. But, it made the most sense. With events heading where they are, her role in the story was largely done anyway...and a couple of reviews made me wonder if I was becoming predictable. So, rather than have her team up with the Senshi, or walk off on her own at the end (the former was extremely unlikely, I assure you), she becomes the face of the villain. It made the most sense to me given I'd made a point of mentioning her and Rinjirou were second-generation Paladins and their resistance to Chaos Slivers was quite high. If Chaos itself sets up shop inside you, you'd WANT to be resistant, so...there you have it.

Lastly, Chibiusa is safe and successfully back with the rest of the team, so...yay? One bright spot in an otherwise depressing two-parter for me. She has no broach, though, which may mean the reappearance of another supporting character. Who that is remains to be seen. As always, thanks to everyone for continuing to read and support me with reviews, PMs and follows/favs. I've struggled finding time to write lately but knowing there are people waiting to read my next effort keeps me going. Here's hoping with the really difficult stuff out of the way I can hammer these next few chapters out with less difficulty. Back with more soon(ish), everyone!

Lisseas