SailorStar9: Chapter 3 goes up and no review. You guys don't love me anymore. *Wails*
Disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon and Flame of Recca since if I did own them both, the Planetary Senshi will have equal footing as Sailor Moon and the Domon/Fuuko pairing would be canon. But you don't see that happening do you? However, I do own the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 4: Blazing Judgement. Setsuna Shun En
On the ring side...
"One more to go for Recca." Yanagi noted.
"Yes. The winner of this match will advance to the third round." Kagerō replied.
In the ring...
"Now get up here, old man!" Recca barked.
"Your confidence alone is formidable." Genjuro chuckled
"And now for the final match." Nemi declared when Recca took her microphone.
"Before we fight, there's just one thing." the flame wielder added. "If I win, you take the madōgu Shikigami out of Meno."
"As you wish." Genjuro replied. "But if you lose, Meno will be killed for betraying me."
On the ring side...
"What a horrid man." Mikagami remarked.
"That's..." Meno gasped.
"It's okay, Meno-chan." Yanagi assured her. "Believe in Recca-kun. I'm sure he will win and protect the two of you."
"Damn straight!" Domon agreed. "Hanabishi won't lose to an old man like that."
"He's right." Fuuko added. "The old man has already lost his madōgu."
"I'll assume this match is ours." Mikagami noted.
"We don't know that." Koganei protested. "Genjuro is one of the Uruha Jyushinshu."
"Jyushinshu?" Yanagi echoed.
"They are the ten leaders that are treated with the most respect in Kurei's Uruha." Anhara supplied.
"The Jyushinshu have proved their power to Kurei. From a regular soldier's point of view, they're godly." Koganei added. "Mokuren and Shiju are dropouts compared to them. Ganko and I are too young, so we belonged to the Uruha reserves."
"So, you're saying that he's stronger than anyone we've fought before, right?" Fuuko inquired.
"What do we do now?" Domon panicked. "We've just barely been getting by..."
"Hey, Domon!" Recca hollered. "Stop getting scared all the time. Who cares anyway! The Jyushinshu are still weaker than Kurei... and Kurei's the one we're after!"
"Occasionally, his stupidity makes sense." Mikagami remarked.
In the ring...
And now, the second round of Block A..." Nemi announced. "The final match between the Hokage and Uruha Maboroshi, Genjuro versus Hanabishi Recca. Begin!"
"Instead of a madōgu, you bring a can sword?" Recca inquired after Genjuro unscathed his blade. "You won't beat me with something like that!"
With that, he rushed to punch the aged man who leapt to dodge the attack. Recca turned around, firing numerous punches at Genjuro behind him.
"With that little show, I've read all your moves." Genjuro chuckled, avoiding Recca's punches and appearing behind the teen ninja. "You may have improved from before, but you're still far from besting me."
"What?" Recca growled.
"Let me tell you something." Genjuro added. "I have no need for madōgu. It's time you see the difference between us."
"What the...?" Recca blinked as the old man divided himself.
"Genjutsu, Wakemi." Genjuro chanted.
On the ring side...
"That old man is..." Domon blinked as Genjuro split himself into numerous images of himself.
"Dividing?" Fuuko gasped.
"That technique... I've seen it somewhere before." Kagerō remarked.
"It was Kurei." Mikagami replied. "In our battle at the mansion he used that technique." "Manipulating illusions, making it look as if he's divided."
"I knew you were strong, Genjuro..." Koganei remarked.
"Kaoru." Anhara looked at the younger teen.
"Huh?" Koganei blinked.
"Genjuro's physic surgery doesn't just stop at implanting madōgu, does it?" Anhara asked.
"Er..." Koganei blinked. "I'm not too sure..."
"What do you mean?" Kagerō looked at the Assassin.
"I really hope I'm wrong..." Anhara looked at the warring two in the ring.
In the ring...
"They're just illusions." Recca remarked. "This'll be a warm up before Kurei."
"Nadare, Dan En!" he fired his flame balls at the Genjuros attacking him.
"What?" he exclaimed when the fireballs dispelled the Genjuro illusions, none of them hitting its mark.
In the ring...
"They disappeared?" Yanagi gasped.
"Then where did the real one go?" Kagerō asked.
"Up there." Anhara pointed to the descending Genjuro in the air.
In the ring...
Recca jumped to avoid Genjuro's punch.
Landing on his feet, the flame caster looked as Genjuro's illusions surrounded him.
"It's easy to tell that you're one of Kurei's dogs." Recca remarked. "Your dirty tricks even your techniques, are the same."
"That's where you are wrong." the Genjuros surrounding him chorused. "Kurei can surely use Wakemi, but it's not his own. It was a technique that I mastered and Kurei stole from me."
"What?" Recca growled.
"Try this on for size." Genjuro challenged, pointing the tip of his sword at Recca. "The power of m illusion."
"I admit your technique isn't bad..." Recca remarked as the Genjuros charged at him. "But I can still tell which one is the real you. No matter how many you make, you can't give all of them swords. That's the weakness of your technique."
"You're the one holding a sword." he declared. "The rest are only illusions!"
That decided, he leapt to attack the one wielding the blade, only to be attacked by the one of the Genjuros who had punched him in the stomach; while another knocked the flame caster down with an elbow knock to the shoulder.
On the ring side...
"Illusions... that are able to attack?" Kagerō was stunned as Genjuro's illusions continued attacking Recca in mid-air.
"Unbelievable..." Mikagami admitted.
In the ring...
"I'm sure even Kurei cannot do this; giving strength to his illusions..." Genjuro chuckled, landing on his feet after knocking Recca to the ground.
"Do you want to know why I wanted to be the winner to continue fighting?" he added, replicating himself again. "Because I can defeat you all alone! Shiju, Mokuren, and Meno... those whom you struggled against. But they are nothing! You Hokage were just a testing stage for my battle guinea pigs. The true Uruha Maboroshi, is only ME! Or should I say all ten of me?"
"Old man!" Recca growled. "Don't get cocky."
"Saiha! En Jin!" he activated his flame blade, cutting through the illusions.
"How was that?" he smirked.
"What a beautiful flame." Genjuro chuckled, his blade pointing on Recca's back.
"When could he have...?" Recca hissed.
"At your level, it's a complete waste of such a treasure." Genjuro remarked as he replicated himself.
"What the?" Recca demanded when two of the Genjuros held on to him fast.
On the ring side...
"Shit!" Domon cursed.
"This is not good... he can't move." Mikagami remarked.
"If Genjuro attacks him as he is now..." Kagerō noted.
"This is pretty... dangerous." Fuuko commented.
"Yeah." Domon agreed.
"Recca-kun..." Yanagi prayed.
"I guess that kid is finished." Neon chuckled. "Go ahead and kill him. The idiot who bared his fangs against us, the Uruha."
In the ring...
"Your only chance of winning has passed." Genjuro chuckled.
"Shit." Recca cursed.
With a way cry, Genjuro pierced his blade through Recca's side.
On the ring side...
"Hanabishi!" Mikagami exclaimed.
"That can't be!" Kagerō gasped.
"Genjuro won't kill him." Anhara assured the worried Kagerō.
"What?" everyone else looked at her.
"Genjuro won't kill him." Anhara repeated.
"What?" Neon gasped when Recca moved his arm.
In the ring...
"Why?" Recca asked, Genjuro's blade giving him a flesh wound. "You could have killed me if you wanted to."
On the ring side...
"What do you think you're doing, Genjuro?" Neon demanded. "Why didn't you kill him? For Kurei-sama, finish him now!"
In the ring...
"Shut up, Neon." Genjuro barked. "Kurei this... Kurei that... you're so irritating. I'm not fighting for his sake."
On the ring side...
"Genjuro..." Neon demanded. "Do you realize what you're saying? Those are traitorous words you speak against Kurei-sama."
In the ring...
"That's fine with me." Genjuro replied.
"What?" Recca mumbled.
"Let me make one thing clear." Genjuro added. "I've never fought for Kurei. I entered this tournament to defeat Kurei."
"You want to... beat Kurei?" Recca demanded.
"That's right." Genjuro replied. "I lost to him many years ago. And then again, a few years later. His power was demonic. No, he truly is a devil. He killed all of my synthetic creatures. My illusion technique was powerless."
"Sir... would you lend me your service?" Kurei told him. "I'd like to make use of your powers."
"It was said so nonchalantly..." Genjuro continued. "But his eyes told me that I would die if I refused. So I became one of the Jyushinshu and resigned myself to being his slave. But I was unable to forget the embarrassment of that day. I'll have my revenge for that humiliation. I want to defeat Kurei with my own hands and make the Uruha mine."
"So that's what you're after." Recca realized.
On the ring side...
"Shut up, Genjuro!" Neon hollered. "You forget your place!"
In the ring...
"I admit that I cannot overthrow Kurei at my current level." Genjuro replied. "But what if I were to take control of the Flame Dragons that this one holds? And thereafter, the last Celestial Star."
"What then?" he turned to Neon.
On the ring side...
"What?" Neon gasped.
"Steal Hanabishi's Flame Dragons.." Domon echoed.
"What's he talking about?" Fuuko gaped.
In the ring...
"I shall begin my psychic surgery." Genjuro turned to the flame caster. "The surgery to extract the eight Dragons."
"What?" Recca demanded.
On the ring side...
"Surgery to remove the eight Dragons?" Kagerō gasped.
"Is that what you were talking about?" Mikagami turned to the female ice wielder.
"Yes." Anhara replied.
"Is that even possible?" Mikagami turned to the ring.
"It is." Anhara answered.
"How could I forget...." she hissed, clutching her hands into fists. "How could I...."
"Kimura..." Fuuko looked at the female fighter.
"Hara-nee..." Koganei mumbled.
"Could it be...!" his eyes widened.
"Hara-nee!" he exclaimed. "Could Genjuro be the one..."
"Yes Kaoru." Anhara replied. "Even though it was Koran's orders, but it was Genjuro who slaughtered the rest of my Celestial Sisters, unawakened as they are."
"Kasei, Mokusei, Kinsei, Ten'ōsei, Kaiōsei..." she muttered. "Even little Dosei wasn't spared. She was only eight!"
"Six planets." Fuuko counted. "Including you, seven."
"Meiōsei doesn't fight." Anhara replied. "If Genjuro had killed her like he did to the others, we can very well kiss time goodbye."
"Okay, adding Meiōsei, eight." Fuuko noted.
"Earth's guardian is a male." Anhara added. "He was killed along with Serenity; the Princess I guard."
In the ring...
"I have removed countless diseases without form." Genjuro raised his palm at Recca. "To remove Flame Dragons without substance is not impossible."
"You... you're completely crazy." Recca hissed. "They are my Flame... Let me go! Let go of me, you bastard!"
"Your eight Dragons will be..." Genjuro continued.
"MINE!" He declared, sinking his hand into Recca's chest.
In the VIP stands...
"Kurei-sama! Do you approve of this?" Raiha demanded. "Genjuro intends to take all eight of his Dragons and betray you."
"That'll make things all the more interesting." Kurei replied. "The purpose of separating the Jyushinshu was to test their loyalty to me. I expected someone like Genjuro to betray me."
On the ring side...
"This is so horrible. Recca..." Kagerō gasped.
"Fuuko..." Domon turned to the wind wielder.
"You're right. Now's our only chance to stop it." Fuuko agreed.
"Don't." Mikagami stopped them. "They're still fighting. Have you forgotten? Any interference will disqualify Hanabishi."
"But if we don't, Recca might die." Fuuko protested.
"This is not the time to be talking about winning or losing!" Domon agreed.
"If we lose, Koran gets Yanagi-san and Genjuro will kill Meno-san." Mikagami reminded them. "He's fighting to stop that from happening. He's even stabbed himself with Saiha to stay on his feet when he's about to lose consciousness."
True to the ice wielder's words, Recca had pierced Saiha's blade into his thigh.
In the ring...
"Where?" Genjuro inquired, his hand searching for a flame. "Where are you? Is this it?"
"There's no mistake. I've found a Dragon." he noted, his hand glowing a fiery red when he found what he was looking for.
"What'd you say?" Recca demanded as Genjuro withdrew his arm.
"My body is burning." Genjuro remarked, his aura turning red. "This proves that your Dragon has chosen me as its new owner. Finally, I have a Dragon of my own."
"It can't be. My flame is..." Recca said, the two fakes releasing him.
"How about it, Recca?" Genjuro mocked. "Would you like to burn to death from your very Flame?"
"Burn! This is MY Flame Dragon!" he declared, releasing the stolen Dragon.
"Damnit! Homura!" Recca cursed, countering with a Flame Dragon of his own. After a while, the stolen Dragon's power won and Recca was thrown back.
On the ring side...
"That Flame Dragon is..." Fuuko blinked at the revealed Dragon. "I've never seen one so clearly."
"That's nii-chan's Flame?" Koganei was stunned. "And he has eight of those inside of him?"
"Of all the Dragons, why the hell did he have to pick that one?" Anhara inquired.
In the ring...
"You did well to use the offensive Homura for defense." Genjuro remarked.
"Well thank you, but this match has just started." Recca stood back up.
"Big words, boy." Genjuro mocked. "You can barely keep yourself upright."
What he's saying is right. Recca admitted mentally. I've got to do something before that Dragon hits me again.
"I'm counting on you, Saiha." he told his second Flame Dragon.
"Wait, this is not the time." Saiha told him.
"What?" Recca's eyes widened.
"The Dragon he has summoned is named Setsuna." Saiha replied. "Amongst the eight Dragons, he is the most cruel and quick tempered. Genjuro has already triggered his monstrous rage. Setsuna's Flame is an instantaneous flame, Shun En. When his single hidden eye opens, those who look into it..."
"Close your eyes!" Recca shouted to his team, realizing what Saiha meant. "Quickly! If you don't want to die, shut your eyes!"
In the stands...
"What is he talking about?" a spectator asked.
In the ring...
"That's Setsuna." Recca replied. "He'll burn anyone who looks into his eye."
Everyone panicked and shut their eyes.
Anhara blinked as a beam of red light emerged from her Celestial madōgu, before shooting outwards, forming a barrier of flames around the Hokage team.
"Oi Kimura, what is this?" Mikagami demanded.
"Kasei..." the avatar of Sui-sei gasped.
Reiko, thank you. She passed her mental thanks to the deceased Mars Senshi.
In the ring...
"You summoned a deranged Dragon." Recca informed Genjuro. "Shouldn't you close your eyes as well?"
"Once my eyes are closed, are you planning on attacking me?" Genjuro chuckled. "I am not one to be so easily fooled."
"Setsuna! Attack Recca once more!" he ordered.
"What's wrong?" he demanded when the Flame Dragon ignored him. "Did you not hear my command? I said attack Recca this instant."
"Who is the one who dares gives me orders?" Setsuna barked.
"I am." Genjuro took a step back. "I'm your master!"
"Preposterous!" Setsuna hollered.
"Setsuna?" Genjuro looked at the enraged Flame Dragon. "I'm your master... would you dare attack me?"
"Die!" Setsuna declared, opening his single eye as Genjuro's eyes widened in shock when Setsuna's flames engulfed him in an instant.
"Flame Dragon!" Genjuro reached his hand out in the midst of the fire tornado. "My plans, my ambitions... are crumbling."
Then, he collapsed to the ground, Setsuna having returned to Recca's body.
"I guess it's all over." Recca remarked to the shivering Nemi.
"Since Genjuro can no longer continue fighting, this match's winner is Hanabishi Recca." Nemi declared. "In the match between the Hokage and the Uruha Maboroshi, the Hokage are victorious. They will advance to the third round!"
"We did it!" Ganko beamed.
"We passed the second round!" Domon whooped, just as Kasei's power returned to Anhara's madōgu.
In the VIP stands...
"So, he already defeated Genjuro as well." Kurei remarked. "He was a useless man anyway. He shouldn't have underestimated the power of the Dragon. A Flame Dragon cannot be controlled by just anyone. That Dragon... has chosen Recca."
On the ring side...
"Setsuna?" Recca blinked when the fourth Dragon's mark burnt on his arm.
"I'm guessing he chose you." Anhara remarked.
"I think he likes you." Fuuko teased.
"I guess he decided it's better to be with you." Mikagami remarked.
"I don't need a dangerous Dragon like that!" Recca protested, trying to shake the word off.
"Genjuro!" he growled when the old man approached Meno. With a hand thrust, Genjuro pierced his hand into Meno's chest.
"Meno!" Kazuo gasped.
With a nod, Genjuro withdrew the madōgu he implanted within Meno.
"Genjuro, you..." Recca muttered.
"With that, Meno is a normal girl again." Genjuro told him, tossing the retrieved madōgu to the flame wielder. "Any complaints?"
"Because this thing existed..." Recca muttered, catching the madōgu.
Tossing the madōgu into the air, he sliced it apart with Saiha's blade when it came down.
"Recca-san..." Meno started. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
"No problem. It was nothing." Recca waved her thanks aside.
"Are you alright?" Yanagi knelt beside the burnt Genjuro. "Don't move. I can heal you now."
"She even shows compassion to me?" Genjuro was surprised.
"No." he objected, standing back up. "I will soon fall into Hell."
"Thank you, young lady." he told the healer.
"I don't want to hear any excuses." Neon told the defeated man. "You made a foolish mistake."
"Tell Kurei... I'll be waiting for him in Hell." Genjuro told Neon who was about to play her flute.
Neon started the first notes of her music, imploding Genjuro with the sound.
"Remember what I say." Neon told the Hokage team after administering the punishment. "In the upcoming third round, you'll be the ones to end up like this."
"I look forward to it." she chuckled, disappearing into the darkened corridor.
SailorStar9: Now that's done. Read and review.