Chapter 20: Bugendai revealed

*Serenity*

She heard Haruka's scream of rage at the same time she saw Michiru's starseed rise…. Two people lost already? No… Six with the loss of the Asteroids…. Serenity saw her best friend, Hotaru run over to where Haruka cradled her lover's lifeless body…. She whispered, "No mama…. No…." Tears trickling down the reserved Senshi's face.

Thinking quickly, Serenity shouted, "Hotaru! Grab that starseed and take it to Helios! Now!" Hotaru nodded. Then Serenity looked upon Botan and this creature, addressing him, "Who are you and how dare you invade our Kingdom! We will not allow this! I, as Queen of this world, will not allow it!"

The creature smiled maliciously, focusing his gaze on her forehead, "I am Bugendai and I will snuff out all of the vexing moon children that stand in my way!" He sent out another dark energy blast at Serenity. But it was deflected with a blast of World Shaking from Haruka, who was obviously honoring Michiru's last words. The energy was sent back and pierced Vesta through the chest, her body dropping to the ground next.

Just then she heard a voice from behind her, It was Kiyoko's. She called out Smoking Bomber and the energy flew through the air, grazing Ceres arm. Looking over she saw Kiyoko and was filled with tears of bitter sweet joy.

*Kiyoko*

Kiyoko ran up to Usa-chan and smiled at the young princess, "You did well. I'll take that box. Go and grab her starseed and take it to the others. She can be saved." Usa-chan nodded with determination and did as she was told.

Endo looked back at his mother and smiled, "Mother!" But then he faced forward again, not forgetting the threat. She couldn't help but be proud of him.

Looking at Botan now, she saw the truth…. Something had blinded her before, probably Bugendai, but regardless…. Botan wasn't unredeemable…. She was damaged…. Life was not so black and white…. Kiyoko understood that. She saw Seiya running to her and quickly hid the ring she'd given her. Then she opened the box and released the golden crystal. Staring up at Bugendai, "I have what you want! Come and get it!" However, when Kiyoko touched the golden crystal she felt something…. Something miraculous and dangerous…. Something she would have to deal with later…. Now was about survival.

In a second Seiya was at her side, taking up her defense! In a flash Kiyoko was taken back to the part of her nightmare where her mother was killed. As much as it hurt her, Kiyoko said, "Seiya, go and stick close to my mother." Seiya looked at her in shock, she finally had her back and she expected her to leave her side? Kiyoko knew what she was feeling, "Please trust me." With a twinge of pain, Seiya did as her wife said. Leaving Kiyoko and Endo standing together. Kiyoko watched as everyone continued battling the endless phages, Haruka cutting them down like butter! She was filled with grief and rage and taking it out on anything that got in her way.

Bugendai looked down and then at Botan, "Get me that crystal Botan! Or pay the consequences!" His face so hard, Botan had no doubt he'd kill her.

She had no choice. Botan flew down, aiming straight for Kiyoko. Kiyoko waited, wanting her to come. Kiyoko had planned to try and help Botan with the power of the crystal. However, before Botan reached her, she was struck by a blinded Haruka with a World Shaking…. Botan dropped to the ground, not dead… but severely injured.

Haruka continued to charge toward Botan. Kiyoko knew what she intended to do. She had to stop her. Kiyoko shouted, "Haruka, No!"

"Anyone who threatens those I have sworn to protect will be eliminated," Haruka growled back, though she had stopped her charge.

Bugendai laughed again, "You forget that it was I who killed your lover. And it is I who will kill your charges!" That was when he made his move for Usagi, sending another spear at her, but thankfully Seiya was able to disintegrate it with a counter attack.

Haruka looked at the creature and then down at Botan, "How can you protect her? She tried to trap you in the twentieth century!"

As Seiya and Usagi ran towards Kiyoko and Endo, Haruka and Botan, Seiya's face took on a stark white shock, having to have overheard Haruka. She demanded, "What's she talking about Kiyo-chan?"

Kiyoko chastised herself for making the mistake of believing that no one besides Seiya and Setsuna would remember. But she was also relieved to know that her spell had worked. Seiya obviously didn't remember. However, it was Bugendai who responded to Seiya's question, "That idiot Botan thought that trapping your golden queen in the past would keep her away for good… Feeling as alone as she did. I should've known better than to listen to a pawn…" He narrowed his eyes, preparing to launch an attack at his own partner… No his pawn who'd failed him…..

Looking around Kiyoko saw that the phages hadn't stopped, but the Senshi were losing ground, wearing out… As she looked up and looked more closely at the three Asteroids that remain she realized that they were under some sort of spell too…. Damnit! Haruka was still looking at Botan like she might murder her, but she looked at Bugendai the same way… Seiya and Usagi had reached her and Seiya looked at Kiyoko, more pleading in her voice this time, "What happened?"

She shook her head, "Now isn't the time. Stay by Endo. I am going to end this." She took off toward Serenity, who luckily had her best friend back from the temple. Hotaru would always protect her. Kiyoko reached her sister and looked at her squarely, "It's time to bring this to a close Serenity. The Asteroids and even Botan can be saved… However, that creature is nothing but darkness….."

Serenity nodded, "Yes, we have a world to protect." And with that she called upon the silver crystal. The two sisters turned toward the darkness that was Bugendai and Serenity called out, "In the name of the moon!"

And Kiyoko continued, "We shall punish you!" Allowing their powers to grow the two daughters of Crystal Tokyo and the Silver Millennium sent a wave of light and energy out. It knock Bugendai backwards and the three Asteroids all fell from the sky, unconscious.

Bugendai stared at the two of them, rage overtaking his reason… He'd been a calculating and manipulating being for eons… But that vexing moon… It made him irrational! He wanted that power… And he wanted to possess them… If that couldn't be, then he wanted to destroy them….

He concentrated and the circle on his forehead began to glow once again. Kiyoko knew they had to act NOW! She closed her eyes and forced the wings that had been ripped from her on her spiral back in time to reappear. She and Serenity exchanged a glance and the two of them rose into the air… Bugendai sent of the strongest wave yet… It was pure darkness and it was meant to kill Kiyoko and Serenity in one blow… The two of them called on the power of their crystals, wishing for nothing more than to save what was precious to them. As the wave of darkness collided with their energy of light it was like a storm. There was nothing but clashing of light and dark everywhere….

Kiyoko felt a heart wrenching pain and then a warmth in her heart… It was like something was trying to protect her, to protect her heart… What was happening?

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