DISCLAIMERS:
All canon characters are (C) 1992 - whatever year it is Naoko Takeuchi and all other related parties. The Shadow senshi are (C) Wild Nature 2006. This is a fanfic based upon the anime version and all written work that this consists of is (C) 2006 Wild Nature.
Eizou's beginning to feel things a lot more. It's as if her senses are sharpening day by day. And sooner or later, she'll have to look completely at Henshou to see him for what he is. Not necessarily a bad thing, after all, we must clear our minds to envision each other, right? But she first must discover her own self before she can look at anyone else.
But time is quickening as a new Shadow appears. And Void seems to be getting stronger. Who is he and where is he?
Episode Seven: A Third Shadow Moves; Kick It Up a Notch
Eizou was hurrying down the street, her necklace grasped in her fingers. "Don't have much of a choice!" She swore as she turned around a corner and reappeared as Shadow Moon.
She found the next street bombarded in craven holes, the debris still floating in the air.
"Oh shit..." She moaned. A monster, yet another faceless creature only humongous and very, very ugly turned toward her. "What the hell are you doing to the street?"
"Help me!" A female voice cried out. It was unmistakable young as Shadow Moon spied a very little girl, curled up against a section of the wall.
"You fucking bastard! Attacking a little girl! Not on my turf! I am the figment cast by the Moon and you're going to be very sorry for messing with these innocent people!"
It loomed over her as she flushed. "I just wish you weren't so big.."
It's foot came down, hitting the ground with a echoing thud. The resonating vibrations sent her a few feet back with a grimace.
"Shadow Moon!" A voice howled as Apple landed by her side. "Get up!"
"I'm TRYING to!" Eizou snapped. "Aye, that hurt my back..."
She nearly screamed as the foot planted just a few feet from her. The dirt hit her in the face as she began to swear darkly.
She pushed up and tried to jump back. She nearly lost her balance. "Moonlight Casting!" The beams shot out wildly as she struggled to stay on her feet. Some of the beams struck but most went to disappear into the air. "Oh no..."
"Hee..." The monster was laughing at her and she gritted her teeth. "MOONLIGHT CASTING!"
All of them hit full on but it cleared, the monster still laughing.
"APPLE! My attacks aren't working!" Shadow Moon rasped. She watched it near her and her eyes sought out anything to help her.
And she latched onto the little child, her eyes wide with fright. "I have to help her. I just have to!"
She pressed her hands to her forehead, trying to check a sob. She felt it, the impact of the kick and she was sent flying backwards with a scream. She could feel the solid splat as she dragged down the wall, her vision becoming hazy.
"Eizou! Eizou!" A voice echoed in the wall, her eyes slowly drifting closed. But she could see the monster, turning around to go back to the child.
'I can't.. let.. him hurt...she's.. just.. a kid...' Her mind cried out. She felt the wet tears fall down her face. 'I need.. something more... please...'
"MOONLIGHT CASTING!" She screamed with all of her might as the attack ripped out of her and into the monster's back. This time, it screamed in pain and turned in rage. Shadow Moon had struggled to her feet.
"Ap..Apple.. get her outta here..." She gasped.
"Eizou.."
"DO IT!" She pressed her finger to her forehead to attack but the world wavered as she fell to her knees. "I hope death comes quickly..."
She watched its wide and fisted grubby hands high above the head preparing to smash her own body to pieces.
"Wild Thorn Slash!" Shadow Jupiter landed, pulling the vines tightly in her grip as it wrapped around the beast. "Get moving!"
But the monster pulled the vine apart and sent Shadow Jupiter to fly across the street into a neighboring yard.
"Kakure!" Shadow Moon shouted wildly. Her eyes closed tightly. She had never felt this tired or this angry. "You! You monster! I won't let you hurt my friend or anyone else!" She screamed. She gripped her hands into tight fists, her body shaking. "Please.. I need something more! PLEASE HELP ME!"
And her gem pushed out of her brooch, shining like the sun. It morphed into a strange looking staff. Its violet diamond was encrusted with three crescent moons, shaped loosely on a upside down diamond. The top and sides were rolled into gold beads and the bottom had a miniature gold diamond that attached it's bottom and top part. The bottom was a black arm length staff, the end in a violet diamond point.
'Eizou...' A familiar voice spoke to her. 'Use this. It is the Triad Moon Staff..'
Her eyes glinted as she grasped it. "Shadowed Illumination!" She held it up, the sunlight striking it brightly. The violet diamond sent out light that grew stronger as it hit the three crescent moons, sending out three separate beams of dangerous power.
Each hit the monster. The hits all turned their targeted areas into spreading stone as it howled and crumbled. Shadow Moon turned and ran to find Shadow Jupiter.
"Owie..." Shadow Jupiter blinked up groggily at her partner. "You said.. I was your friend?"
"Of course you're my friend! We're allies!" She tugged the other girl up and nearly collapsed herself. "I hope Apple's all right."
Apple gently guided the little girl. She was a very slight girl, with dark auburn hair that was cut short and her nearly black eyes squinted as she leaned onto the large dog.
"Kashuryoku!" A tall, pale skinned girl appeared. Her thick magenta hair was pulled back into a French braid, her bangs wavy and parted in the middle of her forehead.
Right away, Apple felt the familiarity and he stared at her. She stared back and this time, was able to catch the diamond flying out. And she held it in her hands, very quiet. "Thank you," She told the dog before gently picking up her sister. "I'll see you later, okay?" And she disappeared down the street. Apple waited a moment before he, too, turned around to return to his mistress.
Eizou was struggling to walk. She was exhausted. Kakure wasn't so bad, she just couldn't see straight.
"I think I hit some rock," Kakure's voice was slurred. "You know, if it's like this EVERY time..."
Eizou fell back to her knees. "I'm so freaking tired.."
"You're also bleeding!" Kakure's eyes widened. "Your whole back!" Her eyes turned dull as she fainted.
"I guess she can't handle blood," Eizou muttered darkly. "Aye! I can't carry her!" She tried to move but her legs were plastered to the ground. "I can't move either! HELP!"
"Eizou!" Henshou came running down the street, his eyes big. "What the hell happened to you?"
"I got into a fight," Eizou answered darkly. "You think this is bad, you should see the other guy! I turned him to dust!"
He bent down and spotted Kakure. "What the...?"
"Oh, she said my back was bloody and she fainted cause of it. Weak constitution or something.. HEY!"
He was gently lifting the shirt. "STOP THAT!"
She felt a gentle press and a soothing sensation filled her. "Oh..."
"Feel better?" He smiled as he tried to pick her up.
"Let me walk. Carry Kakure."
"I want to carry you."
"No."
"YES!" He frowned. "Damnit woman, let me help you!"
Eizou looked up into his eyes and remembered quite well what Apple said. But she saw only him.
Until she looked into his eyes and she saw herself in their reflection. She was in her senshi form though and she pulled back.
"You know who I am," She said accusingly.
"Listen to me," Henshou began.
"NO! Stay away from me!" She tried to walk but her legs gave out. "From the beginning! RIGHT! You never liked me!"
"Eizou!" His voice was full of hurt but so was she as she sobbed.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME! I HATE YOU!" She cupped her face in sobs. Henshou moved toward her weakly but Apple lunged suddenly, landing in front of Eizou.
"Get away," His voice was dark. "She's hurting right now."
"I just want to make her better," Henshou's eyes were expressive.
Apple wasn't going to be won over so easily. "Get away," He breathed, his head moving down as his teeth flashed dangerously.
"You can't get both of them," Henshou started as he moved forward. Apple jumped, biting the air and Henshou moved backwards. "I'm not the one who's doing this!"
"No, but you know who is and that makes you an accessory," Apple growled.
"HEY!" Kakushi was running down the street, heaving. "What happened!"
Apple was quiet for a moment. "They were hurt," He answered haltingly.
Kakushi was quiet. "Why aren't you letting Henshou helping?" But before he got an answer, he heard a sob and pushed between the two to get to his sister. "Eizou! What's wrong? Anything hurt?"
She stood up with his help and Kakure was coming to as well. Eizou looked up into Henshou's eyes and her eyes welled up. "You never.. cared for me.." Anger flared. "BUT I LOVED YOU!" And with the last bit of strength, she fled down the street, sobbing.
Her mother was just going back inside. She was nearly thrown to the side as her daughter entered, sobbing still.
Her younger brothers saw her run up the stairs and turned to find their father. They thought she was hurt badly. And in truth, she was.
Morning came but her mother or her father could persuade her to leave her room. She never knew it would hurt like this.
Apple never left her side. Her parents seemed to know instinctively that Apple felt the same as Eizou so they let them both be.
"Eizou..." It was past midday as Apple rested his head on the bed covers. "Come on, honey. You need to get up."
"I don't want to."
"Henshou may be something more than what you thought but that doesn't mean he's bad."
"He lied to me! He knew who I was. That proves he had a secret agenda!"
"But you don't even know what he planned."
Eizou wiped her nose. "You didn't trust him, either you know," She pointed out coldly.
"Eizou.." He pulled back. "When you gave me the ability of speech, you also bound me to you. Whatever you go through, I go as well."
"Then how do you take the pain away?" She asked, curled tightly, her back toward him.
"Talk to him," Apple stressed thickly. "You were angry yes but he was hurting too. Listen to him."
"NO!"
"Eizou.."
"GET OUT! JUST GET OUT!" She screamed and he fled. "How can I trust him? I can't trust anyone!"
Kakushi ran from work to home, heaving as he fumbled with the door. "Zou-chan, you all right?"
"NO!"
He sighed as he stood at the base of the stairs. He saw Apple looking at him with wide, sad eyes. "Did you tell her to talk to Henshou. You said he wasn't bad."
"She won't listen to me," Apple sighed, his eyes closing. "She just won't listen to anyone."
Kakushi stared up at the stairs. "Who is Henshou?"
"I don't know. His heart is good but he.. holds dark powers."
"So he can turn evil."
"No, he won't let himself do so," Apple continued to sigh sadly.
"I'm dragging her out," Kakushi's lips thinned as he jumped up the stairs. He found her in the same position and glared. "GET UP!"
"NO!" He saw her fingers dig into the blankets.
It was a tug of war. He grabbed her legs and she grabbed the bedposts. He pulled as hard as possible and he was rewarded as she lost her grip. He dragged her, yelling down the stairs before he shoved her outside, coming along with her.
She took to beating her fists against him but he ignored her as she yelled incoherently.
She realized a fact too late as he turned the hose on her, the freezing cold biting into her skin like glue. She screamed as he waited a moment before turning it off. She was sopping wet, shivering, and sulking, glaring at him with red rimmed eyes.
"Get up! Get dressed! Find Henshou!" Kakushi ordered. She opened her mouth. "God damn it! Stop thinking that everyone's going to be against you! Where'd you get such ideas!"
He rubbed his head. "Henshou is a good person. Whatever he is shouldn't matter, just like it doesn't matter to me that you're some senshi."
"But he lied.." She began tearfully.
"Yes but he must have had a good reason. You can't be pessimistic all the time. Have some faith and trust in your heart, not whatever notion is in that airhead of yours!"
He went to the door, holding it open. "Well?"
She trudged up slowly, tiredly. She disappeared upstairs as Kakushi made a phone call.
"Are you sure?" Henshou asked quietly.
"I'm sure but first," he leaned over to Henshou. "Hurt her and I'll break your neck. She's not used to any of this!"
"You shouldn't."
Kakushi blinked. "I can't help it. I always felt something different about Eizou. This just seemed so natural. But enough about me! Remember!" He glared at Henshou before leaving to return inside.
Henshou sat down on the stairs and that's how she found him, like the first time. He turned around slower this time, his eyes hesitant. She noticed suddenly how pale he was and that his hands were shaking.
She opened the door. She meant to yell at him, get it all out. But one look and all the anger was gone and she ran to him, hugging him, sobbing.
He smiled as he held her gently. The same warmth filled her and she buried her face into his shoulder.
"You can't be a bad person," She whispered thickly. "You're warm!"
"I never wanted to be a bad person," Henshou stroked her hair lovingly. "I just.. want to be with you, that's all."
She looked up. "You know... who the enemy is, don't you?"
"Yes..." He looked away. "But..."
"Don't have to tell me right away if it's too much. Just..." She brushed his shirt carefully. "Just talk with me?"
It was over two hours that passed. Her brothers came home to see her talking softly with the man and they initially meant to crash them. But a certain older brother whisked them away with a promise of going out to the arcade for a boys-only night.
"So you don't remember much of your mother?"
"No.. But that's when my father began to change. He.. lost the one person that loved him, no matter what and his heart was broken. I wasn't enough to help him."
Henshou smiled sadly. "In fact, it was because I looked so much like my mother, he was almost obsessed with me."
"I'm sorry. I'm sure that your mother was a lovely woman."
Henshou smiled as he pulled out a locket. "This is her, actually."
She was beautiful. She was young, with pale delicate skin. She had the same hair and eyes as Henshou, only hers fell down in waves over her face and shoulders. Her eyes were just as expressive though.
Eizou gently traced the photo, her eyes sad. "She is so.. beautiful."
"I only remember her singing. She had a wonderful voice. I always hear a lullaby when I think of her."
"Sing it for me?"
"What, really? I'm not that good.." He began but she looked up at him with a puppy face. "All right..."
"Sleep well tonight, my little one."
"I will still be here when the light of the sun arises."
"My love in my heart beats within your own."
"Hold fast to the light, and embrace the shadows."
"Someday, we will all be one and the same."
"Someday we will all love each other."
"And someday, we will not be apart because of the night."
His voice had come out softly, but it strengthened as emotions fed into it, creating a powerful sensation.
"Did she.. make that up?"
"Yea, she did. I don't understand it. I asked my father about it and he said it had powers to soothe a savage demon."
"So where is your dad?"
"I wish I knew. He's kind of disappeared. After I left, he just went.. into nothing, I guess."
"Do you think you two could reconcile?" Eizou looked so thoughtful as she asked this.
"No," his voice came out flatly. "I have done everything in my power to help him. But I can't reach him. No one can except my mother.. and she's gone."
She sat down quietly. "So, um... are you a superhero?" She asked shyly.
"What?"
"You.. well, healed my back."
"That's just something I picked up along the way. Nifty, huh?"
"You should be a doctor or something," Eizou suggested.
Henshou shrugged. "I actually just want to be around.. well, you."
"Don't go making me your future!" Eizou snickered. "I'm still trying to get on with my life."
"Do you know what you want to be?" He asked her. It was only fair that he could.
But she couldn't answer it. "I don't know either. I like things but there's just nothing for me to grasp right now. I'm sampling, I guess you could call it."
"Hee." And they sat there in silence for a long time. Henshou eventually left and she returned to bed. She felt emotionally drained and nighttime sucked her up into nothingness.
Only she wasn't alone as a single tune, a single voice sang that song to her, Henshou's Lullaby she had named it. It echoed in that single, indescribable voice, laden with sorrow and angry.
Kakure stared out at the window, trying to think straight but she hadn't quite gotten back to par. Which was why, when the bell rang, she staggered out the door and into a body.
She grasped the poor person and felt a shock of something almost too hot to handle. "Shadow.. Mars?" Her voice cracked as she fainted.
She awoke in the nurse's office. A young girl, the same from before, sat down reading some book. She squinted and realized it was in English. "Hey, what happened?"
"Eh? Oh, you passed out," She turned a page. "Nearly took me down with you."
"Thank you."
She looked up. She didn't smile but her eyes were soft. "Name's Seino Kaki."
"Morino Kakure. So.. was I right?"
Kaki pulled the gem from her skirt pocket. "I guess. I have one like yours. How'd you make it into a necklace?"
"I had a uncle do it for me. My other friend..."
"Another one of us?"
"Yea, she's Ginbano Eizou. We've just become friends, you see and.."
"Okay, okay. I didn't ask for the whole story," Kaki closed the book. "She's the one that saved my sister, huh?"
"Yea. That monster was a bitch though. She nearly broke her back."
"So, who are we exactly?"
Kakure slowly and carefully tilted her head. "I grabbed you and I felt fire. But talking to you, you're like.. ice."
Kaki frowned. "I'm just very conservative."
"Ever express your emotions before?" Kakure smiled, trying to lighten up the other girl.
"No, I don't. Emotions are just a waste of time."
"Your name, it sounds familiar but I can't quite place it down," Kakure stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Aye, my poor head."
"The nurse said you were suffering from a concussion. You should have been resting."
"Yea, I should've but couldn't."
"And why is that?"
"Ah... I would've been home alone. I don't like to be alone."
Kaki frowned. "Sometimes being by ourselves gives us time to reflect upon our own selves."
"Not for me."
"Why?"
"Just because."
"Just because is not a answer."
"It's none of your business!"
"You don't have to get angry."
"I'M NOT ANGRY! YOU ARE!"
They glared at each other. "WELL?" Kakure stated.
"I won't interfere with whatever memory you're hiding," Kaki got up to leave and was almost out the door.
"My mom... I was six and she shot herself.. in front of me. I was alone.. for three hours, holding her."
Kaki didn't turn.
"I can't be alone. I'm afraid, I'll just do the same thing." Kakure looked away, out into the open world. "I love to live but sometimes, if I'm alone, I feel so empty, so lost. It's so much more powerful than when I'm with others. It..."
She felt it then, a soft touch. Kaki was stroking Kakure's hair almost lovingly. "Sometimes we all feel like that. Put me in a crowd and I'm still cold. I don't really feel things anymore."
"Why?"
"I just stopped caring. Well, except for my family. My mom works her ass off and I take care of my sister. We're close. They're the only ones I ever show emotion too."
She smiled then, startling Kakure. Her smile was bright and warm as well as contagious. "But then, there's just something about you that makes me want to be happy."
"Eizou said that to be allies, we have to be friends. Maybe we're already there but we don't know it yet."
"That's something," She moved toward the door. "Want to head home now?"
"Sure."
"I'm going to walk you."
"You don't have to."
"I know but you haven't fully recovered and someone should be by your side."
They started to walk step in step. Kakure grinned. "I think this is a start of a beautiful friendship."
"You and me both," She smiled at Kakure. "Want to stop by to get some treat to eat?"
"I'd LOVE that!"
Pom-Pom was watching the darkness slowly creep in. She enjoyed the sunlight but the dark was comforting to her. She hoped her father and mother were all right. She held up the orb, watching it glitter slightly.
"They're all gathering here. They're drawn to each other. Soon, they're all awaken," She turned her attention to the moon. "And I'll see my sister. My little sister.." Her eyes filled with tears. "All of your cries, I still hear them in my dreams. I wish I could've done something. But what could I DO?"
"Pomona?" Rei called out softly. "It's getting late and you haven't eaten."
"I'm sorry. Was I bothering anyone?" She hurriedly wiped her face on her sleeve.
"No. Wanna talk?"
"I'm just... anxious, that's all."
"Pomona. You saw Void before, right?"
"Uh huh. He was young, in his twenties. He was beautiful too. And he was kind."
"He wasn't there when the babies were sacrificed, was he?"
"No. He had since disappeared," Pom-Pom frowned. "What's with the questions?"
"Well, do we know for certain he's the enemy."
"OF COURSE HE IS!" Pom-Pom's eyes flashed dangerously, hurt welling up. "He was the one to start the whole problem!"
"I was just.."
"I don't care what you were 'just' doing!" Pom-Pom turned away indignantly.
"I'm sorry. I was trying to think out loud, that's all."
"If we all did that, maybe there wouldn't be so many questions, so many riddles. But then, where's the fun in that? Life is a chance and only ourselves can make that roll."
"I'll agree with you on that," Rei smiled. "Come on it and eat, okay?"
"Yea," She followed the other girl, her face washed clean. 'Maybe then, we'll find our answers there, deep within ourselves. Void was once one of us and he still is. I only hope there's something there left to save.'