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.
Shadow Venus appears and she's more than distant. But at least there's the object of the first Triad Moon Piece. Now all the group needs to do is separate Void from Henshou's father but that may not be so easy.
Episode Twelve: Double Agendas; Shadow Venus Appears
Shadow Venus stood not too far away, her long orange hair falling down to her middle of her back, her mahogany eyes blazing through the darkness. She wore a black strand for a choker, at the center a orange orb with two small yellow gems at each side. Her collar was entirely orange and her bodice was different. She wore a orange sleeveless and shoulder-less dress but the top half was covered in a partial black corset, a huge gape down the front of her body to the waist. It was tied together by black string, making four x's along her breasts and stomach area. Her waistband started at the beginning of one end of the black corset at the front with a orange orb. It had two stripes, the top yellow and the bottom one white. It wrapped around her hips to the other side. The two orange orbs were connected by three loose black strands.
Her brooch was a orange crescent moon, each side adorned in two yellow gems and attached from side to the other were three loose black threads. She wore seemingly detachable black sleeves, that covered three fourths of her arm but cut off at the fingers. At the backs of her hands were a orange round gem outlined in yellow. She had a back bow, much like shoelace ribbon, that was a set of two bows, one white and the other yellow. She wore heavy ankle orange boots, the top edge a yellow ruffled fabric. Her tiara was a straight around yellow band, with a oversized orange gem in its center.
However, that orange gem in her tiara was cracked. Eizou blinked, straining to see if the others were like that. "Shadow.. Venus?" The familiarity of the voice hit her. "You're the one! Who was helping me!"
"Void, back off," Shadow Venus pulled from her a long blade. The blade itself was yellow and the handle was wrapped in orange tape-like substance. The part where the blade and handle connected, there was a yellow crescent moon, each side adorned with two white gems. Each side had a handlebar colored black. From the crescent moon sprouted two orange ribbons. The end of the handle was round and black.
"The Lovely Blade!" Pomona began to dance. "She's gotten that powerful already?"
"Are you going to listen to me?" Shadow Venus approached Void slowly. He stared back, unimpressed.
He turned to stare down at Eizou, a small and strange smile playing on his lips. "Have fun." He whispered before he disappeared, taking the darkness with him.
Eizou frowned, confused and a bit disturbed. Pomona instantly ran to Shadow Venus. She jumped, knocking the other to the floor.
"Oh! I missed you so much!" Her arms were creating a stranglehold on Shadow Venus. Yet the girl looked detached for some reason.
"Venus?" Pomona blinked. "Oh, I'm sorry! I'm so rude!" She blushed, smiling sheepishly at the other.
Shadow Venus untransformed, a eyebrow barely raised. "It's all right." Even her voice was monotone.
"Are you all right?" Pomona asked softly.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" She quipped before quietly walking over to Eizou. She gracefully picked up the Moon Nepheline stone and handed it to Eizou. "You'll still be needing this."
"Thank you," Eizou felt funny, her fingers lightly grazing against the other girl's hand. "I'm Ginbano Eizou."
"Hanareru Oke but call me Kira."
"Sure..." Eizou watched as Kira introduced herself to the others. She scratched her nose and turned to look the other way. She saw Pomona, her back nearly to her but her eyes were slightly visible and she picked up the traces of tears in the girl's eyes.
"Pom-Pom?" Eizou whispered.
"I guess.. it was wrong of me, to think she'd remember..." Pomona covered her face. "How stupid was I?" She laughed angrily. "I'm sorry.. I need to.. just.." She ran off, fading off into the air.
"Pomona..." Kaiki approached Eizou who looked dumbfounded.
"She probably went home. Something about Shadow Venus shook her up."
"I think I know why," But even though Eizou said so, she never went any further. The group soon parted yet again, agreeing to meet the next day, hopefully without distractions.
"Eizou!" Her father came prancing out. Kokei grinned. "Are you ready?"
"What?" Eizou frowned, trying to walk around her father.
"The game! Tomorrow morning?" Kokei's smile faded into a slow frown. "You forgot your game?"
Eizou stood next to her father before her eyes widened. "OH SHIT!"
"EIZOU!" Her father glared. "Go to your room."
"But!"
"NO! I do not allow swearing!"
"What do you know! I'm busting myself for you and you think I can remember everything?" Eizou screamed, feeling lost. She felt off, since meeting Kira. Something about her hurt her deeply and she couldn't figure it out.
"How dare you yell at your father!" He pointed to the door angrily. "Bed, now!"
Eizou stomped in, Apple following meekly. She slammed the door to her bedroom with a growl.
"Eizou, calm down," Apple said softly.
"How can I! Did you see her?"
"I know, she seems to be.. a bit off center. But she is a ally..." He trailed off as Eizou looked out the window.
"But I don't think that's true," Eizou whispered thickly.
Kira walked up the steps to the mansion. The butler instantly bowed and greeted her. "Lady Oke, so nice to welcome you home again."
Kira blinked, feeling the hollowness of those words. She moved, entering as she ignored the staff that passed by.
She found her room with ease, despite the long and winding hallways. She sat on her bed, staring forward before she slowly breathed deeply before she carefully released it, her head moving to rest her chin on her chest. And she cried silently, her shoulders barely quaking.
It had been a long time since she moved to lived here, since she learned to cut herself off to only what she knew. The day her life ended as just a mere mortal. She had been in a airplane crash and was the only one to survive. Her parents were well off but they had been her ground, her love. They had gone for a short trip but the engine failed. There was only one parachute and she was forced into it, despite protesting. Her parents words, "We love you, now and forever," echoed in her head as she was pushed out, the strap pulled and her life was sparred.
However, when she was nearing the ground, the parachute was ripped somehow and she crashed, hitting her head hard. It brought a lot more than a concussion; it brought back memories of a fire, of babies crying, and a searing pain that went deep into her soul, shredding what was left in her.
She became numb after that, the same memories returning, more vivid and painful. She was taken in by her aunt and uncle, who once tried to reach her and gave up too easily. She lived with strangers for all she knew, who wanted nothing to do with her but took the money that her parents left them. She was just glad her account couldn't be touched by her selfish relatives.
And so, for the last five years, she lived emotionlessly. But since realizing that the others were around, that they had also been reborn, she felt sparks welling within her. But it wasn't them that could truly awaken her heart, her spirit. Oh no, she gave herself up to Hell a long, long time ago.
"Go, go, Eizou, go, go!" Henshou cheered. He sat with her parents and brothers, grinning widely. Eizou stood idly in her soccer uniform, posed at the goal as the other girls ran around, getting prepared.
"I can't believe I forgot this," Eizou hissed to herself. "I haven't even practiced! I'm not going to do well!"
The referee whistled, starting the game. Eizou rushed and did her best as the game progressed.
She was encouraged easily by Henshou's loud shouts. Even over the others that had come, she heard him quite clearly. She sometimes wished he'd shut up but she managed to not pay attention, at least not completely. Her parents cheered along with him, although she currently wasn't talking to her father.
A ball came whizzing by and she performed a high kick. Pain wracked through her as it lunged too high and overstretched. She swore and flushed, glad she wasn't heard. After all, this had to be a clean game. She stuck her tongue out as she tried to block the next run with the ball. It was too soon and she struck out with the painful leg, seeing double as the ball sent her knee back.
And of course, she staggered back. She felt a pop and thought quite darkly, 'why didn't I practice?' She flew backwards as the whistle screeched in the air.
"Eizou!" Kakushi shouted. Kokei stood up instantly. Her mother, Hanshou whimpered.
"Oh god.." she heaved as one of her teammates leaned down. "I think I dislocated it," she stated as a obvious thing.
"We'll get you to the hospital," the coach said, after running up fast.
"Okay.." She felt herself get help up, leaning against one of the teammates before being passed over to Kakushi. "Try to win, okay guys?" She tried to smile but her face was pale.
"It certainly was dislocated," Her doctor, Sensei Yumeno, smiled warmly at the worried family. "But it's been placed back and wrapped. You just need to stay off it for a couple weeks." She ruffled through some folders. "Now, I noticed that Eizou is due for her yearly shots.."
Eizou groaned.
"And of course, we're more than willing to do this, if you'd like..."
Eizou groaned even more louder.
"You'll live," Hanshou smiled.
The shots soon were given and Eizou was wheeled out, pouting.
"Oh come on!" Kakushi grinned, poking her in her other shot-free arm.
"You try getting three shots!" Eizou glowered. "AND hurting your knee!"
"Wah, wah," Chuukou snickered.
"Yea! Wah, wah!" Boya giggled as the two twins clapped their hands.
"Hanshou, please?"
Hanshou whacked the two on their heads.
"Hey, behave," Kokei frowned. "We're in public!"
"Does that mean we can do it at home?" Kakushi grinned.
"No, that's not what I meant!"
"Oh, he's just teasing," Hanshou smiled. Eizou snorted, trying to hide it in her palm. "Eizou?"
"Huh? What? Nothing."
Hanshou raised her eyebrows to her husband before she signaled her head lightly to Eizou. He frowned, at first not getting it.
"Oh... Fine," He sounded quite agitated. He reached up and took over pushing the wheel chair from Kakushi, steering a bit from the group.
"Dad, can we just stick with the others?" Eizou asked crossly.
"Not yet, we need to talk."
"No, we don't. Not like you'd listen to me anyways.." Eizou folded her arms, glowering.
"Of course I listen!" Kokei sighed noisily. "Now, about your behavior the other day..."
"It was a slipup and you instantly punished me," Eizou pointed out coldly.
"I raised my children to keep their tongue," he began.
"You mean your daughter! I know you let Kakushi get away with a lot more!"
"You have to have..."
"Certain qualities fitting you to be a mother, wife, and woman," she quoted. "Why can't I be me? I don't mind doing what you want but I'm not going to be strict against myself. I'm sure Mom swears!"
"Only when she cleans," Kokei answered.
"And she doesn't get punished!"
"She's my wife!"
"She's equal then and I'm not?" Eizou grasped the wheels, trying to steer herself to face her father.
"You are still a child," he started but she glared at him. He faltered and became silent.
"Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore," Eizou said tiredly. "Right now I'm dealing with things that you can't comprehend.. not yet at least. And you can't keep holding me so tightly because how am I supposed to be on my own if you don't?"
Kokei sighed. "You are my only daughter. What'd you expect?"
"I should've expected what I saw from Kakushi. I have to earn the honor of being equal.."
"No, not at all!" Kokei protested.
"But you think women should be mothers! What if I had to be a hero?"
"Why would you be a hero?" Kokei smiled as he chuckled. Eizou looked away, sighing.
"You won't understand now but someday, I'm sure you'll see what I'm trying to say. But right now, I just want you to trust me. I may let my tongue slip but that's it!"
Kokei nodded. "I completely understand."
Eizou knew it wouldn't be that easy. It was always hard to connect with parents, especially those with ideals not the child's own.
Eizou lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling when she heard the phone ring throughout the house. It was cut off suddenly and she soon heard thumping steps as Boya came in. "It's for you! It's some girl called Kira!"
"Hey, Kira!" Eizou smiled despite the fact she couldn't see her.
"Hello, Eizou," Her voice came over nearly emotionless. "Are you busy?"
"Oh.. um, well, I was hoping the others had told you what happened?"
"Oh, the meeting. I couldn't go. I'm sorry."
"Oh.. well, why couldn't you go?" Eizou's interest was piqued but the other end was silent. "Um, Kira?"
"Oh, I had to do things with my relatives, some party and such. It was rather bland."
"Oh, so what did you need me for?" Eizou asked finally.
"I wanted to meet with you, alone."
"Really? Um, what about my house?"
"I'd rather it be the park we were at yesterday."
"Oh, but..." Eizou started, remembering her knee.
"I'll see you in a hour." The phone went dead as Eizou stared at it with puzzlement. Apple trotted in, sighing.
"Your brother is quite the talker. I'm glad I'm of SOME use to you people," Apple meant it as a joke despite that it was hard to tell when dogs couldn't smile.
"Kira wants to meet me at the park," Eizou said quietly.
Apple unintentionally let out a growl. "No, you shouldn't."
"Why not?" Eizou stared at Apple's eyes.
Apple shook his head. "Just a feeling. You shouldn't go alone."
"I'll bring you," Eizou said brightly, picking up her crutches.
"Hey!" Chuukou and Boya both entered, nearly getting stuck in the doorframe. Boya had a leash and Chuukou was trying to grab it as they nearly collapsed over Apple. "Dad wants to go for a walk and he's taking us AND Apple."
Apple blinked and stared pointedly at Eizou. Eizou just shrugged as Apple followed dejectedly.
It took a long while for Eizou to get to the park. She looked at her watch, grimacing. "Twenty minutes late? Aye, I hope she's still here."
"Eizou."
She turned and found Kira as Shadow Venus. Again, the gem caught her attention, the crack setting off a warning in her. "I... what, what are you doing?"
"Taking what I need," Shadow Venus said quite clearly. She pulled from her the same blade. "It'll only be a moment. I'm sorry."
And she struck out, Eizou staggering to get out of the way. She felt the wind cut past her by barely a inch. "What are you doing?"
"In order to save Void, I need the Triad Moon Piece," Shadow Venus stated. "I won't let him die!"
Anger flashed quickly in the other girl's eyes.
"But we're allies!" Eizou hurriedly protested.
"We would've been, in the past," She looked up as the blade struck the ground. Eizou tripped backwards, her eyes wide. "But now, there's only one person who can save him and it's not you. It's.." She lifted the blade, her eyes slowly beginning to shine with emotions. "ME!"
It came down, straight into Eizou's chest. Pain didn't come but a numbness spread. She felt something shatter in her and violet shards dropped from her pores. The Triad Moon Piece was forced out from her back and Eizou fell backwards, the sword pulling out. There was no blood but she felt a emptiness that shouldn't be.
"I'm sorry," Shadow Venus picked up the Triad Moon Piece. "But you aren't the Princess you were supposed to be."
"No.." Her lips felt like stone as her vision disappeared.
Henshou's head flew up and he stood up so fast, he knocked his books down. The professor opened her mouth to protest but he just ran, his eyes wide.
He didn't know where he was running. All he could see were Eizou's eyes, glittering in his mind. He prayed she was safe but he knew that was fruitless. Praying hadn't saved his mother and as he neared the park, seeing the fallen body that was Eizou, it wasn't going to work this time either.
"EIZOU!" He screamed finally, trying to lift her. He tried to find to sign of life; a breath, a heartbeat, anything. "Wake up! Please! Wake up!" He couldn't lift her. It was as if she had become stone. "Come on, please.." He fell to his knees in defeat. "No... I don't want to lose anyone.. not again."
His tears fell on her still face, paler than white. "Eizou, I'm sorry. If I knew how to do things alone, I wouldn't have involved anyone. I should be the one to die..." His tears fell down his face, streaking a line as he held her as tightly to him.
"No.." His eyes were turning darker, blacker. "I'll save you! I promise I will." He heard the sound of the ambulance and soon watched as the crew actually revive her. But she was stuck fast in a coma as the ambulance whizzed off.
He came with her, staying until she was settled in. Her family was there, scurrying back and forth. They asked him questions but he didn't say a word. Kakushi pushed him back, hard, against the stone wall.
"What did you do?" He hissed, his face close to the other. Henshou looked back, his eyes full of turmoil.
"What do you think?" He shoved Kakushi away. "I'm getting her back." And he faded from view. Kakushi just stood there, feeling as helpless as her family. Only he knew something different and what they perceived was another that wasn't true. He turned then, sighing. "I need to find Apple."