When Shadows Rise
Chapter 4
Two out of Three ain't bad
Ari leaned his shoulder casually on a wall that wasn't there. The game was shaping up interestingly. The human that had become the Shadow Master was a fool. Instead of focusing on the current guardian of the Gate of Shadows, he was focusing on the woman. She, while powerful, was not the one keeping the gate from opening. Ari could not understand what the allure of the warrior of Light had for the Shadow Master.
Yes she was a striking creature with her pale skin and ink black hair. The large green eyes and generous curves would definitely attract the attention of any fleshy man but the Shadow Master was no longer fleshy. Though he did have a point. The warrior had nearly destroyed him when she tried the suicide ploy and from reviewing the intel on the woman he knew she would protect her brother the guardian even more fiercely then she had the Prince that was her leader.
Calling to one of his own cadre of lieutenants he set them about looking for other chinks in the Star Knights armor. That the Moon Princess and Earth's last prince were now part of the battle just made him smile. They may have defeated the Dark Kingdom and all those who followed but those were outsiders. They were not the other half of the human heart. In the end shadows would rule as they always did. The difference being this time the Chi Masters of Light would not be there to pull the bacon out of the fire for the Silver Moon Kingdom.
Pluto and Time materialized in the clouds above Star Ocean. They listened to the offer given to the Kouhei and waited for him to make his decision. They knew how it would go but there was always a chance that he would not betray his friends and comrades. When the pact was made they faded from the skies and headed back.
Hana was silent as they reappeared in her current apartment. Matten was not there and she was glad. She turned to her mentor with a troubled look. "I had thought he was the least touched by darkness of the team. That he would have made it past those days."
Setsuna took pity on her young student. "Each of us, no matter which team we belong to, has to fight the battle with our inner darkness. Star Ocean never fought his. This is his challenge. He will have to fight this battle alone as each of you has."
"This will shake Rage to the core, Pluto. He and Star Ocean go way back."
"Rage is stronger than you give him credit for my student. He fought and won his battle, as you did. He will deal with Star Ocean when the time comes. For now we need to gather about us those allies that will be needed." Setsuna then took her to the pool and gave her the back history of the battle that they had now entered.
In another part of the mega city a young man with large blue eyes and his black hair pulled back into a tight braid fought and laughed with his wife. Their battles had brought them together finally and all was good for them. There had been no attempts on the gate in a month. No new women claiming to be his bride, no men trying to take his wife. Life was good. As he snuggled down with his bride he tried to grasp something that his mind kept telling him was important. Something that was missing. Something he had for only a short time. With a sigh he gave up and closed his eyes. He was sure he would remember if it was important.
In the place outside of time and space Setsuna appeared. "Your majesty, things are flowing as expected. Soon we will need to send them back."
Queen Serenity stepped out of the mists, her eyes sad. "Yet another battle for the children. I am not certain that returning them all to the battle is wise."
"It is necessary Serenity. This enemy is from the Earth and will need Earth's protectors to defeat. They will each be tested once again. Those that make it through the test will have a long period of peace before they will be needed again."
"The question is will those Kouhei pass the test this time?"
Pluto smiled her enigmatic smile, "only the future will show."
The former queen gave her friend an annoyed look. "Do you have to be that way even with me Setsuna? I can't change the future any longer. I just want to know that my daughter will make it to her future."
Pluto chuckled as the two old friends walked into the mist toward the floating figures. "The future is about more than your daughter majesty. There are others who need to be preserved and in place for the Silver Millennium to happen."
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Matten came back from his patrol on edge. He could feel the disturbance on the aura of the city but things were quiet. The streets held the usual mix of people out on a Saturday night looking for a good time. He stayed on alert but outwardly he looked like any Anglo in this quiet Japanese neighborhood. He towered over most of the people in this country, never mind this neighborhood. His jeans, t-shirt and plaid shirt tied about his waist just about to the over all picture of the Anglo on vacation. It was a well crafted disguise.
In the past he had found a place where he fit in. A school and a dojo where he could spar an even teach a little. Finding yet another creature wishing to destroy the peace was enough to bring back a lot of the rage he thought he had under control. The focus of this threat made him confused. While the Star Knight was interesting he couldn't wrap his mind about why she was so special. What made the small woman a Knight instead of a Kouhei or Senshi. He needed to talk to Hana, see if she could shed light on the difference. He understood the difference between the Kouhei and the Scouts. After all it was as simple as light and dark. But this Star Knight, a wielder of Light powers fighting an ancient enemy of shadows. One who didn't care yet about the Moon princess. Turning he headed back to the doss they set up.
He ran up the stairs to the third floor flat, taking them three at a time. Using the key to unlock the door, he tapped the code to let Hana know it was him entering. Slipping inside he headed directly to the kitchen. If Hana was here she would be making tea. He paused at the doorway and smiled. Hana turned and held out his cup.
He took the cup and took a sip. One advantage of partnering with Time was she always had the tea just perfect when it was needed. With a nod of thanks he pulled out the nearest chair and settled down. Together they sipped tea in silence. These peaceful moments had come to mean more to Matten than he would let on. After the loss of his first love, he had closed his heart and let the rage that always bubbled under his skin loose.
His lack of control nearly cost him more than his life. He had given into the dark part of his soul and would have gladly become another Youma but he was offered a small hand. Hana had managed to pull the rage out of Sailor Rage. It wasn't her powers that did this, it was who she was. They worked well together. She helped him to control his rages and he helped her to stay focused on the now.
"Greg," Hana landed forward on her elbows, clasping her gloved hands. "Things are going to start moving faster. We have to get ready."
He put down his cup and focused on the slender woman in front of him. "Can you tell me more? What will be happening?"
Hana signed before speaking. "I can't tell you much." She held up a hand before he did more than draw a breath in. "You know I cant effect the future but I can tell you that in the next few days old friends will return and the Shadows will make move to isolate Unicorn from everyone and then capture her."
"Tell me, my friend, why should we help this woman. Fighting the evil I can understand but what is it about this Unicorn that we should help her?" Greg was more musing than actually asking the question.
Time let her partner ruminate for a few moments. She knew why Unicorn was important but she couldn't say it aloud. There were shadows everywhere and she couldn't let word of who she really was get out. She let Greg think for a bit longer and then tapped the back of his hand lightly.
Greg sighed and picked his cup up again. "I know. It is the 'right thing to do', Don't mean I have to like it. Or that I wont keep asking questions."
At that she nodded. "I wouldn't expect you to but you know I wouldn't have brought you with me if it wasn't important. And this woman is very important to the future. She just doesn't know it yet." The two Kouhei moved on to other things.
Hana sat looking off into some inner distance communing with something Matten could not recognize. The peaceful moments were coming more often between them. Them. Now that Hana was no longer afraid of him and her past had come to light they found themselves spending a lot of time together.
After a pleasant interlude Hana looked over to Greg. "You need a work out Greg=san." She smiled a bit and stood up to take their cups to the sink to be washed out. When he didn't' move she shook her head and moved to his room, snagging his duffle bag "Come on," heading to the door not waiting on Matten. "If we leave now you can get a good challenging work out without the added danger."
Slightly confused Greg shook his head and followed his partner. Any time Hana got talkative something was up. Though by his understanding of Hana speak it wasn't something to worry about. When they hit the street he spotted her by one of the cars across the street. It was one of the new mini cars'
"Oh geez, did you have to get one of these?"
Hana looked up at her partner, her hidden grin peeking out once more. Greg was glad that she smiled more now than in years past but he hated tiny cars.
He climbed in and Hana took them across town. Somehow all the traffic that should have slowed them down was on other streets. Lights all turned green as they approached. Greg looked over to Hana with a lifted brow. Hana just shrugged.
After a half hour she pulled the mini into a small parking lot and got out Greg pried his too tall self out of the car and looked about. There was a small sign outside a wooden door painted red. The sign was of a stylized dragon with a dark crystal in its claws. Something about the sign brought to mind a day many years before. Greg pulled his bag from the backseat and followed Hana.
The doll like woman tapped a pattern on the door. It opened just as Greg stopped behind her. His eyes widened when he saw the man at the door.
Like a ghost from the past Jai smiled at Hana, giving her a brief one armed hug. He stepped back and looked Greg over. With a short nod he gestured for the two Kouhei to enter. Hana stepped past Jai and headed to the Dojo. Greg stood in place for a long moment then waked past Jai, with a nod. He looked about and found his muscles relaxing. Behind the plain door was a dojo. It was clean and simple with weapons mounted on the walls and the usual mirrored wall to the left. At the moment the room was empty. Greg could see a few doors at the back of the room and hear quiet music piped through speakers near the ceiling. The music was soothing, not something Greg remembered Jai liking. Dropping his bag he planted his feet and waited. He had thought his leader was gone, deep into the mountains, never to return. To find him in a small dojo, was confusing.
Jai hid his smile well and lifted a brow, signaling Hana who snagged Greg's bag and took it out of the way. He then bowed to the mat and stepped into the practice space, turning he bowed to Greg, this time not hiding a smile that said "Prove to me you are still worthy."
Greg snorted and kicked off his boots. He then bowed to the mat an his former leader. He waited a few breaths, centering himself before exploding forward. As Rage, Greg could very well defeat any opponent he faced. The added power and focus made him a killing machine. As the human Greg Matten he was tall, strong and fast. Jai was a smaller man but sleekly muscled. In the years since he had lost his powers he had focused on martial arts, gaining perspective and calm an ease of presence that he did not have as a Kouhei He used the years away to conquer the demons he had fought so hard. The ones brought to light by little Hana and then by the Princes of the Moon's healing energy.
He met each punch and kick with power and style. Once Matten would have been able to bloody him but after years of students, Jai could evade and parry each movement. The men flowed from Karate, to Kung Fu to Savate and o to other more exotic styles. Neither had the upper edge over each other.
Hana watched quietly, curled up in a corner. He large dark eyes hooded but not afraid as she once was. If someone looked closely they would have seen her fingers tapping a beat, like she was keeping time of the mock battle. After 5 long minutes she cleared her throat. It was obvious to her that the two where testing each other. Matten needing to see if his once leader could still be a leader.
Jai settled back away from Greg and bowed. It took a moment for Greg to pull back but he too bowed. He then looked over to Hana who was looking intently at something out of sight. "So, Greg, do I pass?" Jai smiled as he grabbed u pa towel an swiped his face. He had a better workout in the last 15 minutes than I the past three months. Rage was till a formidable fighter.
Greg snorted and nodded. "When did you come back?"
Jai shrugged. "A while back. Been running this place for over a year."
Hana got up, taking Greg's bag with her through one of the near doors. Jai shook he head, taking the hint. He gestured for Greg to follow.
The door lead to a hall that opened out to a small kitchen area. As always Hana had started tea, which the men could smell steeping. Jai took his accustomed seat at the head of the table and Greg sat to his right hand. The men waited patiently for Hana to place the tea cups and some biscuits on the table before them. She poured each a fragrant cup and took her set to Jai's left hand. After the first ritual sip, she nodded an smiled.
"I bet you are wondering why I brought you here?" She stifled a giggle at the old movie line.
Both Jai and Greg looked a bit startled. Hana never made jokes. The both nodded.
"It is time for the teams to train." She took another sip waiting for questions. Greg turned to Jai. "Do you know what has been going on lately:"
Jai nodded slowly, debating on what to reveal to his warrior. Hana and Shayla had both filled him in on the scrimmages with the shadows. He needed to get the team together. To help them train but more to observe Unicorn. After watching her battles in the Crystal, she was intriguing to Jai. The purity of her focus stirred something in him. "This Shadow Master is playing with all of you at the moment."
Greg nodded his agreement. "We know he can throw armies of creatures after us but he hasn't since that running battle with Unicorn."
Hana spoke softly. "The Shadow Master used too much energy when he did that. Between the losses defeating Dragon and Phoenix and Unicorn's suicide ploy, he was low on power and troops. He is still gathering power. " she went back to her quiet tapping fingers. "This time is important. We need to get the teams trained to work together.."
Greg drew breath to make a comment but stopped when Jai held up his hand. "I agree,. They need a place to test each other's nonpowered skills. This dojo is small enough that the Shadow Master is ignoring me."
Greg drew breath again, 'Has he tested you?"
Jai nodded with a shrug. "He finds me toothless and recommended I stay out of this fight." Greg could tell that Jai was insulted by the way the Shadows treated him. A touch of his old arrogance showing through the new more mature face he showed the world.
The three worked out a schedule for bringing in the senshi to train with the Kouhei. Hana volunteered to bring in Iriko and Suteko the next day. She smiled as Jai hid a gleam of interest at Suteko's name. "Unicorn need a place to relieve her stress. Staying with Minerva is starting to make her feel boxed in. She is sued to moving about freely and exercising daily. There is not enough room for her to do more than stretches at Iriko's"
Jai asked question about the Minervan, the wild card it seemed in the group. "So she is more spy than warrior?"
Hana and Greg nodded. What little Greg knew was that Iriko was the Senshi of Secrets. "I think maybe I shouldn't spar with Unicorn just yet."
His team mates blinked and nodded. It was important that the Star Knight back to healthy before fighting some on like Rage.
The three plotted out pairings to test strengths and weaknesses of the various people. There wasn't an immediate sense of danger but there was an urgency to the situation.
The next morning Hana called on Iriko and Suteko and brought them to the Dojo. Suteko was glad to find a place to work out. It was a part of her daily life to practice all she learned. IT also gave her a way to thank Iriko for the place to stay. The gentle gardener was not up to her more intense forms but the simple Tai chi forms were perfect. The Senshi of Time stayed to learn and the three women had a pleasant time. Suteko was a natural teacher.
Days flowed by slowly as the Star Knight tested and worked with the Senshi and Kouhei. Each person had their strengths and their weaknesses and she gently found them and helped the holder to over come them.
Mamaru watched as Suteko patiently taught Usagi, Hana, Iriko and Ami Tai chi. The deceptively slow and simple art was a good warm up for the four women in the room. Though well used to their Senshi attacks. The women were not warriors. Little Hana was the more deadly of the four in her powered up mode but she tended to hand back. Knowing a bit of Time's personal history explained why. The loss of her family to black robed killers had scarred her young.
He smiled as he watched the Star Knight patiently and gently correct Usagi's feet and arms again. His love pretended so often that she was a klutz that sometimes she was. In part Usagi was trying to make the Lone Knight feel a part of something and she was also unsure how to deal with Suteko. The woman had been though a lot and as part of Usagi's cousin's team she would not have spent much time with the Princess.
"Okay, time to cool down." Suteko settled her class on the mats, leading them through a quiet meditation. The women were coming along well. Even bubbly Usagi was a natural for this art. She could soon move them to the dual forms. She kept the meditation going as long as she thought Usagi could stand. Suteko had spotted Mamaru watching his princess and knew that the girl could feel him. She wound up the mediation and released her class. She watched as the young couple embraced, ignoring the pang of loneliness as she had for years. Once the couple parted and the rest cleared out of the room Suteko started a quick clean up. The difference between the average student and these magical warrior was that clean up was a breeze. It took only a few minutes to replace the mat's and wipe them down. As she finished she paused. It seemed that Mamaru had not left with Usagi and the girls. Turning, Suteko lifted a brow and then bowed. Mamaru took it as an invitation and stepped onto the mat and returned the bow.
"Do you have time, Sensei, for some sparring?" He asked politely.
Suteko wasn't sure what to make of this prince. She knew from conversations with Iriko that he had fought in his past life and that as Tuxedo Make and Prince Edymoin he knew sword but nothing had been mentioned about his hand to hand skills.
She waited for him to start but as he stood loose limbed she came up on her toes and sent a series of kicks and punches at a tenth of her usual speed. Mamaru easily kept up blocking and even trading blows. They were using straight forward Karate and Suteko slowly bought up the speed of her blows. At half speed he was missing a few blows, but he somehow managed to slip a blow here and there past her guard. He landed a solid kick to her thigh. With a small smile she sped up again. At three quarter speed she found he could block only part of her blows. She had held back the strength of her blows out of natural caution. The Prince was good but he wasn't a full time warrior. While he protected his Princess he wasn't battlefield ready.
Switch from Karate to Kung fu, Suteko dropped the speed and tested his ability to think ahead. Here he excelled. She knew once he controlled his generals and it seemed he had kept that ability now. She continued to test Mamaru carefully. After 30 minutes she could see he was starting to flag. She slowed and then stepped back bowing. "Your stamina is better than expected Highness." She used her best polite voice, not exactly sure how to speak to him. Even after days of being grilled she was still a bit reserved around people other than Iriko, Ami and Hana.
Panting, Mamaru gratefully accepted a towel to wipe his face "Stamina?" He chuckled. "You barely break a sweat running me about this place and you comment on my stamina? Suteko-san you are too polite."
Suteko shrugged a bit. "I have trained daily since infancy. This is my life." She took a breath and then visibly relaxed. "You should see my brother. He is a true master." Sadness briefly touched her face before she wiped it clean of emotion.,
Mamaru gently changed subjects. "You are a very good teacher. Have you found the Senshi easy to work with."
Suteko snorted then caught herself. It was rude to snort. "Some of them, ye are easy and willing to learn." She turned and removed a bo from the wall. Gesturing for Mamaru to step back she started a simple pattern. "The class you watched before? They are willing to work together. Though the moves are basic," she twisted and turned then leapt still speaking easily. "They all wish to learn and don't' have to fight ego." She somersaulted over the bo snapping it out and to the side. "Venus, Mars and Jupiter work well together but are struggling when we add in Rage." She ran up the wall, returning the bo to it's place and flipped lightly back to her feet. "But the others, they do not come together. It is hard to judge those who will not work together." she bowed to Mamaru again and then to the mat. "I am willing to try them separately but to work together is the goal, is it not?"
"Very true. I will have Usagi talk to them." He stepped back as Suteko moved toward the doorway. "Have you worked with Matten on how best to combine our teams?"
Suteko stopped for a long moment, growing still. "I haven't had much contact with Matten-san. He is busy running sweeps." She gathered her gear, readying for the next class.
Mamaru was surprised. He knew that the big Kouhei wanted to test the Star Knight, what was keeping him back. "After you finish here tonight why don't you come to dinner with us. Maybe the two of you can work out a better schedule.
Suteko kept focused on her hands as she packed her bag but she nodded. "It would be best, yes, I should be done around seven, if Setsuna brings Hotaru. Where should I meet you?"
They set up a meeting and Mamaru left as the Senshi of Pluto and Saturn arrived. He nodded to them and headed to the men's bathing room. He spotted Matten and the owner of the Dojo talking. He didn't know Jai but he remembered the once leader of the Kouhei. The fact that he hadn't introduced himself puzzled Mamaru. It looked like the two men were in an intense debate, so he continued past them.
Greg and Jai continued to argue. Rage did not understand why Draco was holding back. This leader was still a skilled finger. Their spars had shown that. Being set with the practice sessions with the inner Senshi were more of a stretch then the group who just left Unicorns training room but not enough. He wanted to test Unicorn along with the outer scouts. "Come on, enough baby classes. Give me some time with the true fighters."
Jai took a breath and held it. He understood Greg's need to test himself. Luckily he had convinced Michuru and Haruka to come in and work out with Greg. Use the room out front, you'll need the space with those two. They should give you a workout."
Greg nodded with a grin. Definitely should get a solid work out with the two warriors. He still wanted to spar with Unicorn but it could wait. She was scheduled with Pluto and Saturn. "Hey think we could go watch Unicorn take on Her royal Timeness and scary spice?"
Jai chuckled and shook his head. "Your spar should be in about a half hour. If you wish we can look in on Setsuna Hotaru and Suteko." Jai didn't want to admit he had watched Suteko's classes over the past week. She was a very patient teacher but he could see she wasn't stretching herself much working with the inner Senshi. Hopefully Hotaru and Setsuna would be more of a workout.
Together then men wet into Jai's office. The room had one way glass looking into the sparring room. Pluto and Saturn had changed into simple gis. Suteko was still in her oddly embroidered gi. The diamond backs that slide down the front were not commonly found in any traditional school. She was facing of, waiting for the two women to decide to act. These two women both knew staff work and it was obvious they wanted to try out their skills against Suteko's Bowing to each other the two held their staves in ready. Suteko was barehanded, her face betraying just a tiny smile. "Start!" she commanded.
Hotaru looked to Setsuna then lunged forward snapping her staff at Suteko, or more at where she was. The Star Knight dodged to the left, then to the right as Setsuna engaged. For five minutes she allowed the two stave fighters attempt to touch her. With a series of back flips and jumps she avoided each attack the two made. When in a rush Hotaru's staff cracked into Setsuna's. Suteko leapt up onto the crossed weapons balancing on one foot. She spoke softly to her students.
"Now you see the drawback of two staves in a room." Smiling she back flipped away landing lightly on her toes. "While the staff is a formidable weapon, it has drawbacks. You need to recognize and deal with them." She turned to Hotaru. "If you had short gripped your staff it would have not tangled with your taller ally. Now I know you both can wield your weapon well. Lets try something else." She had them lean their staves by the door and handed them bokken. Each hefted the wooden blade and smiled. IT wasn't often they got to use swords. Suteko pulled a shorter bokken from behind her back when she through no one was looking and saluted her students. Once more the sound of wood on wood filled the room.
Jai kept his eyes on Suteko as she taught. She was a natural with students. Testing them but not in a way that belittled. She challenged her students but he could see she held back. Either Greg or himself could probably give her a good work out but he wasn't sure.
In the conversations he had with Hana he was interested in the brother who didn't remember her. As good a Unicorn was, her brother was rumored to be better. The best of this generation. That said a lot.
Glancing over he saw that Greg was watching the two outer Senshi, paying attention to how well they worked together versus watching the Star Knight. "These two have potential. We should pair them with Venus and Jupiter.
Jai agreed. It would be interesting. "But we need to see their hand to hand first." As if she heard, Suteko disengaged her bokken, when seemed to then disappear. With a flip she disarmed her opponents.
"Now what do you do?" Setsuna and Hotaru dropped into Tae bo stances and nodded to each other before leaping forward. The next 15 minutes was filled with kicks and punches. Most of which Suteko simply dodge. A few she let land and then flipped her student to the floor. At the end of this session her students were sweating and panting and she did show a fine sheen of moisture. "All right, I think you two work well together. Tomorrow lets bring in Iriko and see how you work around a weaker team mate" She then bowed to her students and sent them off to shower. She walked to her bag and pulled out a watch, wincing at the time.
"Greg you need to go work out with Neptune and Uranus now." Nodding he left the office and after a brief comment to Suteko headed into the front practice room. Suteko dropped into a lotus and obviously cleared her mind. Looked like she planned to mediate for a bit. Jai left his office, closing the door quietly.