Chapter Three
A New Life! Kami's Second Chance for Love
Kami awoke with a start. Gasping, she sat up in her bed and looked around the room. She was alone, the curtains closed to block out the sun and the door to the small bedroom shut. Kami put her head in her hand and took a deep breath.
"Mako-chan, Sailor Odin," she whispered. "What have they done to you?"
Kami swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood shakily. She was still feeling the effects of her confrontation with Hodur and knew that with every senshi the dark god acquired, he grew stronger. Soon, Hodur would be more powerful than she and Ragnarok – the end of the universe – would begin.
She threw open the curtains, letting the sunlight pour into the room. Kami closed her eyes and allowed the warmth of the sun to seep into her skin. It refreshed and energized her enough to leave the small bedroom and head out into the apartment.
Eitai was in the kitchen, her back turned to the small hallway that lead to the bedrooms. Akumu was seated at the kitchen table and Kiki was standing on her head by the front door. Akumu looked up as her sister entered the room and smiled.
"Feeling better?" she asked.
Kami smiled. "The sunlight helps. I think I'll go for a walk and get some fresh air."
"Shall I go with you?" Akumu asked, her voice filled with worry.
Kami shook her head. "I'll be okay. Stay here and help Eitai-san with dinner."
"Could you please stop by the store and get some apples, Kami-san?" Eitai called from the kitchen. "I'm making a pie for dinner tonight, but someone ate the apples I set aside."
"I was hungry!" Kiki protested from the front door.
"Of course," Kami said with a smile.
As Kami approached the blond girl and bent to put on her shoes, Kiki flipped right side up and watched her curiously. The blond senshi of mischief started imitating Kami until both girls stood ready to go.
"Be back soon!" Kami called as she left the apartment.
"Be back soon!" Kiki echoed, following Kami out the door.
*******
Kami leaned against the rail of the lake in the park, finally alone. She had walked to the store with Kiki in tow and had sent the other girl home with the apples. Although she liked Kiki, Kami didn't have the strength to deal with her right now. The blond girl happily skipped home with the apples and Kami hoped that both would arrive at the apartment safely.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Kami gasped and turned. Standing beside her was a young man with reddish-brown hair and green eyes. He grinned at her and she felt herself blushing.
"Very nice," Kami replied, looking back out at the water.
"The breeze refreshes me," the man continued. "I always feel better after long day."
"Me, too," Kami said. "I enjoy the sunlight."
The man looked her up and down skeptically. "You don't look like a sun tanner to me."
Kami giggled. "I don't usually tan. I just like the light."
The man smiled. "I'm Sukaino Tansei."
"I'm Deruku Kami."
The man nodded. "An unusual name," he commented, "but it sounds familiar somehow."
"Yours is a puzzling name, man from the Sun," Kami laughed somewhat nervously, hoping the man didn't recognize her name.
"Handsome man from the Sun," Tansei corrected with a sly grin. "My mother knew exactly how I would turn out when she named me, right?"
Kami's blush returned and she planted her eyes firmly on the water. He also moved his gaze back to the lake, smiling at her obvious discomfort. The sun was starting to sink lower on the horizon and the couples gathered around the park were preparing to leave.
"It's getting late," Kami said after a few minutes of silence.
"Afraid of the dark?" Tansei teased.
Kami's face grew clouded as she thought back to her lives as the Dark Scout and Queen Olivine. "You could say that."
Tansei backed up. "I've offended you. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry," Kami waved the apology aside. "It was nice meeting you, Sukaino-san."
Tansei bit his lower lip. "Good night, Deruku-san."
Kami smiled. "Call me Kami."
He looked deeply into her eyes and she felt her heart skip a beat as he smiled. "Only if you call me Tansei."
"It's a deal," Kami managed to stammer.
"I hope to see you again, Kami-san," Tansei said.
Kami found she could not answer. She nodded quickly and ran down the path, turning once to wave to him before disappearing from view. Her heart was racing and she had a huge smile on her face. She sat down on a bench and took a few deep breaths. All she could think about was Tansei's deep eyes and scruffy hair. He had a nice laugh and a sense of humour. Kami found herself wondering if she would ever see him again.
"Won't work."
"Why not, Kiki?" Kami asked without moving. She had heard the blond girl sneaking around and hoped that she at least had made it home with the apples.
Kiki moved to sit next to Kami and the brown haired girl saw the bag was missing. The apples appeared to have made it home, or else another family would be enjoying them tonight.
"For one thing, the world is going to end soon," Kiki said conversationally. "That would put a cramp in the honeymoon."
"The world isn't going to end," Kami replied. "We'll stop it."
Kiki laughed and rolled her eyes. "Without Odin and Baldur, fat chance. I don't care if you're God Himself, you can't stop Ragnarok."
"And the other reason?" Kami asked icily. She was rapidly losing her patience.
"You're dead," Kiki said simply, rising from her seat.
The blond girl left Kami sitting on the bench in stupefied silence. Deruku Kami was dead on this world, had died by the hand of Kiki's double. Kami placed her head in her hands and sighed. Why did things always have to be so complicated?
*******
The city of Asgard lay in ruin. The sky overhead was a dismal gray, casting a blanket of depression and sorrow over the one pleasant city. The remaining citizens worked hard to rebuild Asgard in Hodur's image under the yoke of their monstrous masters. The creatures of darkness, set free after Hodur's triumph, watched their slaves work with malice filled eyes. Occasionally, a worker would fall and then the monsters would pounce. The screams of the dying became common place in Asgard, so much so that they people scarcely heard them anymore. Rising high over the devastation was the palace of the Immortal Senshi. Once a beacon of light and hope in the city, it was now the home of the god Hodur.
The god of Darkness sat on the Golden Throne, absently tossing a human skull up and down in one hand. He was lost in thought, thinking of how wonderful the universe would become once he unleashed the destructive Ragnarok. All that stood in his way were the senshi of Earth.
He snapped his fingers and a dark portal appeared. Hodur rose gracefully from the throne and stepped through the opening. The room in which he found himself was made of black stone, giving it a hollow appearance. Torches hung from the walls allowing a minimal amount of light to shine through the gloom. Rats squeaked from the dark corners – a nice touch, Hodur thought – but his favourite features were the wall hangings.
Straight ahead, suspended in a bluish sphere, floated Sailor Odin. Her head rested gently on her chest and her arms drifted at her sides as if she floated restfully on a lake. Her Star Seed floated in front of her; still enough a part of her to keep her alive, but separate enough for Hodur to keep Odin at bay. The Star Seed, which made her a senshi and gave her the power to protect Parallel Earth, glowed in the dim room an spun lazily on its axis.
To Hodur's right, suspended in a pinkish sphere, was his second wall hanging – a young woman from the 30th century with long pink hair in strange ponytails. Sailor Moon rested much like Sailor Odin and bore a remarkable resemblance to her as well. The future Queen Serenity the Second also had her Star Seed extracted and it added to the light of the room.
Across from Sailor Moon was an empty sphere of white. It lay in waiting for another senshi for Hodur's collection, the senshi who would finally release Ragnarok into the universe. Hodur smiled, forcing himself to be patient. His time would come. He could feel it.
"Master."
Hodur turned to see his three shadows bowing before him. Their features were completely obscured in the uneasy light, but Hodur knew each of them as if they were his own children.
"I told you never to come here," Hodur snapped.
Njord stepped forward into the light and bowed again. "Master, what is my next task?"
Hodur struck him full across the face. Njord was knocked back a step, but did not fall. His hands curled into fists and hung unused at his sides. Hodur smiled again.
"You know your task," he snarled.
"But Lucis – " Njord began.
Hodur nodded. "Something will have to be done about her. She is far too powerful to remain in this battle."
"Shall I kill her, Master?" Njord asked eagerly.
Hodur struck him again, this time knocking him back into his shadowed brethren. The other two pushed Njord back to his feet, snickering until Hodur silenced them with a look.
"You presume to kill her?" Hodur demanded. "Fool! She is immortal. She is Light. How will you destroy that?"
Njord recoiled. "Forgive me, Master, but how will we destroy the world while she opposes us?"
Hodur's grin turned feral. "She must be removed from the game, one way or another."
*******
Kami walked down the streets of Tokyo, not feeling like heading home just yet. Kiki's words weighed heavily on her mind and walking the streets helped her think. The wind pushed her hair back and its scent made Kami take a deep breath. True, her mortal self had died on this Earth, but she was alive now! She had missed this life terribly; the smell of the wind, the touch of rain on her skin. Closing her eyes, Kami inhaled deeply, savoring the sensation of being alive.
"Kami-chan!"
The brown haired girl opened her eyes and saw Chibiusa running towards her. The pink haired child was waving to get her attention and Kami waved back. Chibiusa stopped in front of Kami and paused to catch her breath.
"Good evening, Chibiusa-chan," Kami said.
"I saw you walking and thought I would say hello," Chibiusa said. "We didn't really get a chance to get to know each other before"
She trailed off and Kami nodded. In her mortal form, Kami had met Chibiusa briefly. They had become closer when Kami had moved into the Tsukino residence, but her untimely death had put a halt on their growing relationship.
Kami smiled brightly. "I would like to get to know you better as well, Chibiusa-chan, but don't you think you should be getting home for dinner?"
Chibiusa regarded her warily. "Shouldn't you be home too, then?"
Kami blinked, surprised by the question. "I don't really need to eat. Besides, Kiki and Akumu have probably eaten all of Eitai's pie by now."
"Pie?" Chibiusa repeated, her eyes lighting up.
Kami had to swallow her laugh as Chibiusa looked up at her longingly. When they had first met, the others had told her Chibiusa was Usagi's cousin. Later, when she had become Sailor Sun again, Kami had learned the truth and now could see resemblance's between mother and daughter.
"Do you like apple pie, Chibiusa?" Kami teased. "Maybe someone will have left some crumbs."
"Don't tease!" Chibiusa accused. She grabbed Kami's hand and started to pull her. "Come on, there may be some left!"
"Do you even know where you're going?" Kami asked as she allowed herself to be pulled along.
Chibiusa paused and laughed sheepishly. "I think you should lead, Kami-chan."
Kami shook her head and smiled. With Chibiusa at her side, the brown hair girl headed back down the street to the apartment, Chibiusa cheerfully talking the whole time.
*******
Eitai and Akumu were both relieved to see Kami home safely. They had been worried when Kiki had returned without her and the blond mischievous senshi had decided not to tell them where Kami had gone. Akumu had been about to go and search for her when she and Chibiusa had entered the apartment.
As they sat around the table watching Chibiusa eat Kami's piece of apple pie, Kiki wandered into the kitchen from the bedroom she shared with Eitai. She watched her friends in silence.
"Hey Kami," Kiki said suddenly, "where's your boyfriend?"
Kami blushed as all eyes turned to her. Kiki grinned and came closer to the table.
"You know, the guy from the lake? The one you were drooling over? The one who doesn't know you're dead?" Kiki pressed.
Kami turned to face the blond girl with malice in her brown eyes. Kiki realized she had overstepped her boundaries and quickly retreated back to the bedroom. The others, however, would not drop the topic so quickly.
"A boyfriend?" Chibiusa said. "Who is he?"
"Just a guy," Kami said, her blush deepening. "His name is Sukaino Tansei."
"Is he your boyfriend?" Akumu asked quietly.
Kami shook her head. "No, hopefully he will be my friend. He could never be anything more."
Chibiusa regarded Kami sadly as she rose to her feet and left the table. She moved to go after Kami, but Eitai stopped her with a slight head shake.
"Leave her be for a while," Eitai said. "This is difficult for her."
Chibiusa frowned. "I know it is," she said. "That's why I want to go after her."
Eitai smiled. "Your heart is too great, young Queen. You will learn that sometimes solitude is a better healer than companionship."
Chibiusa sat back and regarded the while haired woman who looked so much like Puu, yet was so different.
"What's it like where you're from?" Chibiusa asked.
Eitai seemed taken aback by the question. "You mean Parallel Earth? It is very similar to your Earth."
Chibiusa shook her head. "I mean where you stay when you're not awakened. What's it like living there?"
"Very lonely," Eitai said. "I can hear the thoughts of the senshi and I live through them, but they are my only friends."
"It must be awful," Chibiusa said without thinking. Her eyes widened as she realized what she said. "I mean, it sounds very restful and fulfilling!"
Eitai smiled sadly. "It's nice of you to say that, young Queen, but you are right. It is awful, but it is my destiny. Life isn't always what we wish it to be. Look at Kami-chan, for example."
Chibiusa's gaze drifted back to the family room where the brown haired girl sat alone. "But Kami is getting another chance."
Eitai shook her head. "There are no second chances in life. You will do well to remember that, Chibiusa."
Akumu listened to the conversation with a frown on her face. She dared not get too close to the Chibiusa of this time in case it affected their relationship in the future. She wanted to disagree with Eitai, to tell the Eternal Senshi of her second chance living in Crystal Tokyo. Instead, she cleared the dishes from the table and retired to her bedroom.
A few minutes later, Kami came back into the kitchen. Her eyes were red from crying, but she smiled bravely. Outside, the sun had already sunk below the horizon and the city was blanketed in the darkness of night.
"I'd better take you home now, Chibiusa-chan," Kami said. "Your family will be wondering where you are."
Chibiusa nodded. "Good idea, Kami-chan. Good night, Eitai-san."
"Good night, young Queen," Eitai replied.
*******
Chibiusa and Kami walked quietly down the darkened streets of Tokyo. The store windows were dark and lifeless, except for the few shining lights of late workers. The streets were empty as well, everyone having gone home for dinner. The apartment that had once belonged to Setsuna was not that far from the Tsukino residence, and Kami had discovered a short cut through the park which the two girls now took.
"Kami-chan," Chibiusa said, "do you believe in second chances?"
"At what?" Kami asked.
"Life," Chibiusa replied. "Eitai-san said there is no such thing as a second chance in life."
Kami was quiet for a moment as she pondered Chibiusa's question. "Well, I think that life is what you make it to be. If you provide yourself with a second chance, then you can take it."
"So, some people can make second chances for themselves?" Chibiusa said.
"I like to think so. I had my second chance when Usagi saved me from being Queen Olivine. It didn't last as long as I would have liked, but it was my chance," Kami told her.
"I guess I've already used my second chance," Chibiusa said somewhat sadly. "Usagi and Mamo-chan rescued me from the Wiseman."
Kami nodded wisely. "I don't know if that was your chance, Chibiusa-chan. Usagi told me she has rescued you many times, so don't discount your luck just yet."
Chibiusa looked at the older girl shrewdly. "Is that a prophecy from the future?"
Kami shook her head. "Just friendly advice."
The two girls walked in silence for a few more minutes until they passed the lake where Kami had met Tansei. Chibiusa glanced across the water and up at the moon and sighed.
"I wouldn't discount your luck yet either, Kami-chan," Chibiusa said suddenly. "You may have had a second chance at life, but I think you are being given a first chance for love."
Kami blinked, caught off guard by the younger girl's comment. She felt herself blush and turned her attention back to the water.
"You're too young to be speaking of such things," Kami said.
"Do you like Tansei?" Chibiusa asked.
"Well, I guess I do," Kami stammered. "I only met him for a moment."
"But was it love at first sight?" Chibiusa pressed. "Did your heart flitter and your breath stop? Did your eyes light up?"
Kami regarded the young girl carefully. "Have you been talking with Minako again?"
Chibiusa was about to reply when Kami suddenly looked up, her face paling. Her gaze went from the lake to the park behind them. Chibiusa followed the girl's look curiously.
"Hodur," Kami breathed. "He's close by."
"He must be up to something," Chibiusa mused. "Come on, let's go see."
"Chibiusa, I don't think we should," Kami remarked.
"We have to," Chibiusa said. "We're senshi. It's our duty to defend whoever Hodur is attacking. Come on!"
Reluctantly, Kami allowed herself to be led deeper into the park.
*******
"Here she comes," Njord remarked, "and she's bringing the little senshi with her."
"Excellent," Hodur replied, glancing over his shoulder at their bait. "You know what you must do."
"Of course, Master," Njord said. "I won't fail you."
"See that you don't," Hodur threatened, and disappeared into the night.
Njord stepped into the shadows to wait for his prey.
*******
Kami and Chibiusa crept along the tree line, keeping to the shadows as they surveyed the situation. They had already spotted Hodur's victim, although the young man's head was bent and his features hidden. He was chained to a post and was beaten and bruised, but he was alive. Kami wondered what Hodur was up to if he'd stoop so low as to maim a mortal.
"I don't see anything," Chibiusa whispered. "Do you think they went away?"
Kami shook her head, watching the prisoner. It could be a trap, with this mortal as the bait and another senshi for Hodur's collection as the catch. Kami crouched low and watched.
Nothing happened for quite some time, the man's ragged breathing coming in gasps. Chibiusa crouched beside Kami, itching to rescue the man and go home, but every time she rose to take action, Kami would motion her back down. Suddenly, as if sensing help was within reach, the man lifted his head and looked at them through pain filled eyes. Kami gasped.
"Tansei-san," she whispered.
"Now we have to save him," Chibiusa cried. "Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!"
"NeoSun Light Power, Make-Up!" Kami added.
Tansei managed a weak smile as the two senshi stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. They waited expectantly for Hodur to attack, but nothing moved in the shadows. While Chibimoon kept a watch, NeoSun rushed forward to free Tansei from his chains.
"So," Tansei whispered in her ear as she leaned close, "you are a senshi as well, Kami-san?"
Sailor NeoSun paused for a split second in shock.
"I won't tell anyone," Tansei promised. "I had no idea you would have so many secrets."
"More than you could possibly guess, Tansei-san," Sailor NeoSun replied with a tight smile. "Can you stand?"
Leaning on NeoSun for support, Tansei made it to his feet and the two of them began to walk out of the clearing when NeoSun suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"What is it?" Tansei asked.
"Chibimoon!" NeoSun called, spreading her wings and launching herself and Tansei into the air.
The pink senshi took her cue and sprinted out of the way as a sudden gust of wind show across the clearing. It knocked the pole that Tansei had been chained to out of the ground and tossed it into the surrounding forest. Sailor NeoSun landed in front of Chibimoon and gently passed Tansei to the smaller girl. From across the clearing came the sound of impressed applause.
"Very nice," Hodur said, stepping free of the shadows. "You took the bait as I expected."
NeoSun glared at the dark god. "You can't touch me. You know what will happen if I was to die."
"Yes, I do know," Hodur said. "Your death would bring me that much closer to what I'm trying to achieve. Ragnarok."
"Ragnarok," Chibimoon repeated softly.
"You wouldn't dare," NeoSun said. "I know what gives you power, Hodur, even if you're too blind to see it. Cause Ragnarok and you will destroy yourself."
Hodur shrugged. As the conversation between the god and Sailor NeoSun continued, Tansei saw some movement out of the corner of his eye, in the shadows across from where NeoSun stood. He gasped and Chibimoon followed his line of sight to the trees. A figure stood barely distinguishable in the darkness, watching them.
"Sailor NeoSun!" Chibimoon tried to warn.
The pink senshi was too late. The shadowed figure moved like the wind, throwing something at the senshi. As NeoSun realized Hodur's triumphant grin and turned to meet her doom, the dart caught her in the shoulder and forced her to the ground. Hodur laughed once and disappeared with his minion.
"NeoSun!" Chibimoon gasped.
"Kami-san!" Tansei cried.
The brown haired girl had fallen to the ground, her white angel wings curling around her uselessly. The dart still protruded from her shoulder, dark and menacing.
"Are you okay?" Chibimoon asked.
Sweat poured down NeoSun's forehead and she forced a smile on her pale face. "The dart," she whispered. "It's made of Hodur's evil power. I can feel it within me, slowly destroying me from the inside."
"We'll take you to a doctor," Tansei said.
NeoSun shook her head weakly. "Won't help, Tansei-san. I've been poisoned."
"Ami-chan can save you," Chibimoon cried desperately. "Please, we've got to try!"
NeoSun gasped and transformed back into her mortal disguise. She opened her eyes and looked up at Chibimoon. "Please, hurry."
"I'll stay with her until you get back," Tansei promised.
Chibimoon nodded once and ran off into the darkness.
*******
Usagi paced back and forth across the living room of her house. It was dark outside and her family had already gone to bed, but Chibiusa still had not returned home. She had phoned from Eitai's apartment, saying where she was, but that had been hours ago and Usagi was getting worried. From the couch, Luna watched her charge move.
"She'll be fine, Usagi-chan," Luna said to calm the girl down.
"She knows better than to be out this late," Usagi said.
"Kami-chan will watch out for her," Luna added. "Chibiusa couldn't ask for a better protector."
Usagi sighed. "Maybe I should go look for her. I may meet them walking home."
"Or you can go to bed and see Chibiusa in the morning," Luna suggested. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Suddenly, the front door flew open and urgent footsteps were heard. Usagi stuck her head out the living room door and saw Chibiusa wrestling to get her shoe off. The pink haired girl looked up and saw Usagi standing there.
"Where have you been?" Usagi demanded.
"Kami's been hurt!" Chibiusa blurted urgently. "Call Ami! Quickly!"
Startled, Usagi ran upstairs to get her communicator. Chibiusa managed at last to get her shoe off and followed the blond girl to her room.
*******
Kami lay in Tansei's embrace, gasping for breath as the darkness in her veins slowly crushed her life. Tansei had pulled the dart from the girl's shoulder and it lay on the grass by his knees. His own injuries forgotten, the green eyed man cradled Kami in his arms, speaking softly to her in a soothing voice. He only hoped that the pink senshi had found some help.
"Tansei," Kami said weakly, "why are you staying here with me?"
Tansei blinked, her comment hurting him as if he had been struck. "Do you want me to leave?"
Kami smiled. "Of course not. I was just wondering why you would stay with a total stranger in the dark when you could easily just go home."
"You need me," Tansei replied.
"There's nothing you can do," Kami whispered. "The poison will destroy me and I'll leave this life again. No more chances."
"If this is the only time I have left to be with you, then I'll gladly take it," Tansei said. "When I saw you by the lake, I thought you were a vision. When you spoke to me, I thought I was dreaming. I stayed in the park for the rest of the afternoon, hoping to see you again."
Kami stared up at him, her cheeks growing rosy and her eyes tearing up.
"I felt the same way," Kami told him, "but we can never be."
"Because you're a senshi?" Tansei asked. "That doesn't matter. I won't put myself in danger for you, and I won't be in any danger because of you."
"It's a little more complicated than that," Kami said, lowering her eyes.
Tansei waited expectantly for Kami to continue, but the girl fell silent. Her body shuddered in his arms as the dark poison continued its work and Tansei tightened his grip on her.
"Forget the complications," he said. "If all I have with you is a few short hours, the complications won't matter anyway."
Kami smiled and Tansei lowered his head for a kiss. As his lips touched hers, a tear slid from Kami's cheek, mourning the loss of her one and only chance.
Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibimoon, and Sailor Mercury found them together. Tansei holding the unconscious girl close to him, gently kissing her feverish face, and Kami lost in another world of toxic dreams.
*******
"Honey, I'm home!" Kiki laughed when she heard the door of the apartment open.
The blond senshi skipped into the front hall, expecting to see Kami standing there with an angry look on her face. Instead, she froze in her tracks, her eyes wide with shock. A tall man with reddish-brown hair held Kami in his arms, and Usagi, Ami, and Chibiusa stood with him. They all looked worried and Kami's skin had turned an ashen gray.
"Eitai!" Kiki yelled. "Akumu! Hurry!"
The white haired senshi stuck her head out of her bedroom door and gasped. Akumu stepped from her room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"This better be important, Kiki," Akumu threatened.
"Lucis," Eitai whispered sadly. "What happened?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Kiki snapped. "Hodur won. We're through."
"Who's that?" Akumu asked, pointing at Tansei.
"Kami's boyfriend," Kiki replied absently.
The group quickly herded Tansei and Kami down the hall and into the room Akumu and Kami shared. They lay the brown haired girl down on the bed gently.
"Sister," Akumu cried, her eyes filling with tears.
Tansei glanced up at her sharply, but turned his attention back to Kami as Chibiusa explained to everyone what had happened. Kami lay as if dead, her breath shallow and her skin gray. Beads of sweat trickled down her brow from the fever, but she did not move or cry out in her sleep.
"Do you have the dart?" Eitai asked.
Ami nodded and handed the woman a bundle wrapped in a handkerchief. Eitai took it and wordlessly passed it to Akumu.
"Should he be seeing all of this?" Kiki wondered.
Eitai smiled at their guest. "Thank you, Tansei, wasn't it? Could you please wait in the kitchen?"
"No," Tansei replied. "I promised I wouldn't leave her."
"She's among friends," Akumu said. "There's nothing else you can do."
"And it looks like you have your own injuries to deal with," Kiki added.
Hesitantly, Tansei released Kami's hand and kissed her forehead. He slowly headed out the door.
"You three go with him," Eitai told the senshi.
Ami nodded and followed Tansei to the kitchen. Usagi took a last look at Kami and allowed Chibiusa to pull her outside.
Akumu unwrapped the dart and held it in one hand. She gasped at the negative energy that radiated from it.
"This won't be easy," Akumu said.
"Nothing ever is," Kiki snorted.
"Please try," Eitai said, ignoring the blond girl.
Akumu nodded and placed both her hands on Kami's wound. Her hands glowed black and Kami gasped in pain. Akumu's eyes turned white as she concentrated, drawing the dark energy out of Kami's veins. Eitai and Kiki watched expectantly, their features illuminated by the glow of Akumu's hands. Slowly, the puncture in Kami's shoulder began to close, the skin resealing itself as if nothing had happened. Akumu's eyes narrowed in concentration and Kami arched her back, crying out in pain. Finally, the blue haired girl sat back and Kami returned to her dreamless sleep.
"It's strong," Akumu gasped, her white eyes returning to their original brown. "I don't think I can do much more."
"Did you save her?" Kiki demanded.
Akumu shook her head sadly. "We won't know until she wakes up. I can try again tomorrow, but Hodur's power is far greater than mine right now."
Eitai nodded and led an angry Kiki out of the room. As they emerged into the kitchen, they saw Tansei, Usagi, Ami, and Chibiusa standing by the door. Eitai bowed to them.
"Thank you for bringing her back," Eitai said. "We are doing all we can for her now."
"Can I come back and see her?" Tansei asked.
Eitai bit her lower lip. "Not for some time, I'm afraid."
Tansei's face fell, but he nodded. Chibiusa looked up at him sadly and the four of them left the apartment.
*******
They took a short cut through the park, Chibiusa leading the way with Ami and Usagi following a few steps behind with Tansei. The green eyed man was staring at his feet in silence as they walked, not caring where he was going.
"Are you from Tokyo?" Usagi asked conversationally.
Tansei raised his head slightly and smiled at the blond girl. "Yes. I go to school here."
"What are you studying?" Usagi pressed.
"History," Tansei replied. "Sorry, Usagi-san, but I'm really not in the mood to talk."
The blond girl fell silent and they walked like that for some time until they passed the lake where Tansei and Kami had met. The man paused and the three girls turned to stare at him.
"Is it strange," he began, "that I would care this deeply for a woman I don't even know?"
Ami, Usagi, and Chibiusa exchanged a three-way glance. Tansei leaned against the rail that surrounded the lake and stared down into the water.
"It's not strange," Ami said finally. "Love has ways of making strangers into companions with a glance."
"But she might die," Tansei said. "Why would love find me, only to leave me alone again in less than a day?"
"Be thankful for that love," Usagi said, moving to stand next to Tansei by the lake.
"It is better to have love and lost, than never to have loved at all," Chibiusa quoted, causing Ami to smile at her.
"If only I could be with her," Tansei wished.
"That can be arranged," a menacing voice said.
The four friends spun around to see a man with blue skin and spiky white hair. He hovered above the ground, staring down at them. Usagi pushed Tansei behind her and glared up at him.
"Well, well," Njord said. "Three senshi to chose from. Master Hodur will be pleased with any of you."
"Senshi?" Tansei whispered.
Usagi looked at him over her shoulder and winked. "Head for cover. We'll draw his attack."
She held up her locket. "Moon Cosmic Power, Make-Up!"
"Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!"
"Mercury Star Power, Make-Up!"
Tansei dashed for the cover of the trees as his three companions transformed into the sailor senshi. Njord floated to the ground before them, smirking.
"Three weak senshi," he commented. "You won't have anyone to come to your rescue now. Might as well surrender."
"We will never surrender to you!" Mercury cried. "Shabon Spray!"
Njord calmly held up one hand and a gust of wind scattered Mercury's bubbles before they could materialize into a fog. Mercury gasped and pushed her earring, causing her visor to appear.
"I don't think you'll find any weak points," Njord told her.
He drew back his arm and thrust it forward in a pushing motion. The wind picked up Sailor Mercury and tossed her over the railing into the lake. She cried out once before going under the water.
"Mercury!" Sailor Moon gasped.
From the cover of the trees, Tansei dove into the lake after the senshi. A few seconds later, they both surfaced and swam to shore, much to the annoyance of Njord.
"Quick, Sailor Moon!" Chibimoon said.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" Sailor Moon yelled.
The attack struck Njord and he winced in pain. Sailor Moon kept up the attack as long as she could, but Njord was uninjured. As she lowered her scepter, the wind-god blasted both her and Chibimoon with a gust of air that threw them against the rail of the lake.
"Strong," Sailor Moon gasped. "How will we defeat him?"
Njord advanced on the two girls when suddenly, a red rose appeared in his path. He glanced at it, then up at the trees where a figure in a cape stood watching.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" Sailor Moon and Chibimoon said at the same time.
"You again," Njord laughed.
"I cannot stand by while you destroy true love," Tuxedo Kamen said.
"Then come down here and join your friends," Njord called, sending a sharp breeze to rattle the tree he stood in.
Tuxedo Kamen jumped and landed between Njord and Sailor Moon. He held his cane at the ready, and Njord laughed.
"You're no match for me," he said.
"He's right," a new voice replied.
All eyes turned to the stranger who stood silhouetted in shadows. It was Sailor Loki.
"You can't beat him," Loki continued as she walked towards them. "He's too strong."
She stopped a few feet away from Njord and the senshi and raised her hand above her head. "Power of the Beast!" she called.
Loki began to run. As she ran, her shape blurred and she descended to her four feet. She rematerialized as a grayish black wolf and launched herself at Njord. The wind-god was too stunned to take action and fell under Loki's powerful claws.
From the lake shore, Mercury and Tansei watched in stupefied silence. At the railing, Sailor Moon, Chibimoon, and Tuxedo Kamen stared at the giant wolf as it savagely attacked its prey. Finally, Njord gathered the strength to toss the wolf aside and he disappeared through a dark portal. The wolf watched him go and blurred back into Sailor Loki.
"All okay?" Loki asked.
They nodded in shocked silence.
"Good," she said. "See you around!"
The strange senshi disappeared into the night, leaving the others alone.
*******
The next day, Usagi and Chibiusa met everyone at Crown's for a soda. Minako was telling Makoto and Rei about the hottest star on a new television show, while Ami sat with Luna and Artemis quietly listening. As Usagi ran to join them, Chibiusa noticed a figure sitting alone in a booth on the other side of the restaurant.
"Tansei-san," Chibiusa whispered.
The man sat staring out the window at the park, lost in thought. He still looked beat up from the recent battle, but Chibiusa knew his mind was far from his own injuries.
"Chibiusa-chan," Luna said from the girl's feet. "What are you looking at?"
Chibiusa smiled at the cat. "A second chance."
Luna blinked in confusion as Chibiusa ran to join the others at the table.