Disclaimer: I do not own either "Sailor Moon" or "Fist of the North Star."
Author's Note: Well here is the next arc for those who are wondering. It's been a while since I have updated so I'm going to try to make this chapter as beefy as possible. Anyway enjoy the next chapter.
Toki's Arc
In the bowels of the Dark Kingdom Queen Beryl sat upon her throne with a scowl on her face.
Prince Endymion had failed in killing that blond haired harlot. What was worse was that despite the assistance from the demon they summoned and Mimus still they were over matched.
As she peered out into the gloom she felt the tendrils of worry start to wrap around her.
No matter what they did it was like those vigilantes were constantly thwarting their plans at every turn. What had first been a nuisance was now a very big problem. However there was some good progress being made.
Zoicite had managed to extract a crystal from a man who owned many cats while Malachite was able to secure one from an artist. That meant that now the Dark Kingdom had two Rainbow Crystals in their possession while their enemies had two of their own. That still left three out in the open for them to take.
The idea of confronting these vigilantes had filled Queen Beryl with worry. They seemed to be able to fight with their best warriors and the queen knew that she did not have the resources to send youma after youma to die at their hands. If she were to lose either Zoicite, Endymion or Malachite then their position would perilous indeed. She still had her elite, the DD Girls, as an ace in the hole but she would rather not use them unless she absolutely had to.
So now was the problem of going out and attempting to get the Rainbow Crystals while still avoiding conflict at the same time. How could they attempt to do this? At some point a confrontation was going to happen and, as it stood, the only ones among her ranks that had been able to do battle against these vigilantes were Nephrite, Malachite and Endymion and even then it was questionable. From Endymion's report the blond haired girl had survived a direct hit from his strongest Nether Blast and was still able to continue fighting and kill Mimus.
Nephrite had nearly killed the blond from his previous encounter with her but found that his power wasn't sufficient to fight all the girls at once and succumbed to their combined power. Malachite was still able to fight them without too much harm to his person but had expressed a deep worry over a new girl that had appeared out of nowhere and whose power was so overwhelming that Malachite felt like he was being pressed into the ground by her mere aura.
None of these reports did anything to comfort Queen Beryl.
Our situation is getting desperate. While we have managed to secure two Rainbow Crystals without arousing any actions from those vigilantes we cannot hope to keep going like this. Eventually there will come a time when we will have to do battle with them and I fear that our power may not be sufficient.
We lose precious youma after youma. Already I have lost two of my elite, Titus and Mimus. That only leaves the DD Girls as the only youma with the power to combat these vigilantes. Zoicite isn't strong enough to confront them on his own and while both Endymion and Malachite have shown admirable combat prowress against them that still doesn't make them immune to death. It could very well be that the only reason why Endymion and Malachite survived their battles was because they caught the vigilantes off guard with their powers. I doubt our enemies will be caught by surprise again.
What we need is more POWER.
The answer is simple yet impossible at the same time.
With our energy as low as it is right now the risk of augmentation can back fire drastically. Even if I were to concentrate our scant resources to my generals still I don't think the power would be sufficient enough to swing the balance to our favor.
What are we to do?
As if in answer the throne room soon reverberated with a low hum. The queen was startled by the sudden noise but then calmed as she realized the source of the disturbance.
Queen Beryl. You desire more power don't you?
The queen's eyes widened as she heard Metallia's voice speaking telepathically to her.
Y-Yes my liege.
Good. Bring whatever warriors you deem worthy in my presence and I will give them the gift of power that is so coveted by your kind.
B-But your condition! If you were to expend more of your power then-
Queen Beryl never finished as she felt like the world was suddenly shaking in fear. The tremors were so great that she nearly fell out of her throne and even so had to hold on tightly so that she would not fall.
I have not grown so weak as to warrant your petty concern! Long before your existence was even a thought already I had conquered vast tracks of the cosmos! My power great! I was beautiful and yet terrifying. All loved me and yet despaired! Even now, a mere wraith of my former self, I have the power needed to crush your enemies.
So what say you Queen Beryl? What are you prepared to do in order to see victory? How far are you willing to go see a future for your people, for your Dark Kingdom? Will you give your life for it?
It was then that Queen Beryl was silent. She knew what it was that Metallia was asking for. If Queen Beryl consented then their victory was assured. However it came at a very heavy price.
A price Queen Beryl was hesitant to pay.
Metallia seemed to notice this hesitation and at once roared out her indignation.
I see. So you would put your entire kingdom at jeopardy just so that you can fulfill such a useless fancy? Useless. Perhaps the Prince will reciprocate your affections this time and yet your Dark Kingdom will be defeated anyway if this keeps continues.
How ironic.
Imagine seeing Prince Endymion going out into battle against your enemies while you sit here like a caged bird hoping beyond hope that you will see him again and yet knowing in your heart that he will never come back alive. You would have suffered the same pain that Princess Serenity felt when you had taken the life of her most beloved.
Just desserts for the woman who had betrayed everyone because she couldn't get the man she loved.
So let me ask you again Queen Beryl.
Will you guarantee the victory of your Dark Kingdom and see them flourish beyond your wildest dreams? That your people will be rulers of galaxies? That your precious Prince, by devotion to YOUR cause, will be the ruler of a million planets?
As Metallia spoke these words Queen Beryl found herself suddenly immersed in a living, dream like world where she saw her Dark Kingdom stretch across the cosmos. There she saw her people crushing any and all opposition. Even the mighty Sailor Galaxia would succumb to their power. And her people would be as numerous as the stars before her with a future that would last into eternity.
You see it now don't you? What is in store for your people if only you accept my terms? However it is your choice. You can either see your people prosper or you can be selfish and keep tethering yourself to Endymion and bring ruin to not only him but your entire kingdom.
So what will it be Queen Beryl?
Queen Beryl hung her head down in despair as she knew that there was really only one answer to all their problems. She did not want to do this but, in the end, it was only a matter of time. She had known all along that she was just a tool and she was nearing her lifetime already. With that she soon made her choice.
Standing defiantly Queen Beryl soon stood up, straight and proud, as she gazed across the hall of her throne room. The ground trembled again but this time Queen Beryl stood fast and did not budge an inch. She glowed a deep, meancing purple almost as if challenging Metallia.
I have made my decision.
Good! I knew that you would make the right choice in the end.
However I will not concede unless I have one more day.
...Very well.
With that the ground soon stopped shaking and all was quiet once more.
Even so Queen Beryl could not stop the trembling that was now rampant all over her body.
Prince Endymion was laying on the bed of his chambers nursing the wounds he had suffered to the best of his ability. He scowled as he thought of that blond haired girl. She had made a fool out of him. Even so he could not help but feel somewhat concerned.
He looked over at his sword as he eyed a small crack forming in the middle. That sword had been forged by Malachite himself back when the Earth Kingdom was strong ten thousand years ago. It was a beautifully crafted and yet powerful. It resonated with his own inner power and allowed him to channel it more effectively. It was custom made just for him.
Yet despite that he could only watch in utter shock as he saw the girl withstand his strongest attack and still continue to fight. There was something not normal about her. No human could hope to survive that attack.
The prince frowned.
It could not be denied that he was dedicated to this cause. He still had memories of his time as a normal human and was glad that he was freed out of that horrible shell. Now he had the chance to further his own ambition. His heart still stung with pain at the thoughts of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in a dress of pure silver but never could he make out her face or remember her name.
It was then that Endymion heard a knock on his door. Even from where he was he could sense it was the Queen and at once leaped up and opened the door for her.
She soon entered walking with the sort of regal power that Endymion respected. Her entire presence reeked of power and even now the Prince could not help but feel a bit small when in her presence.
At once he bowed in order to show his deference.
"Raise your head Prince Endymion. There is no need to be formal right now."
The Prince soon stood up as he stared deep into those magenta eyes. For some reason Endymion had the feeling that the Queen was troubled. She looked oddly...vulnerable despite her power and stature.
"What is your wish my Queen?" asked Endymion.
"Let me ask you something Prince Endymion. If I were to pass would you mourn my death?"
The question came out of nowhere and the force of it was so great that Endymion nearly choked on his own breath.
"W-Why would ask so morbid a question my Queen? Have you no faith in our ability to carry out your wishes?" asked Endmyion softly.
"I have all the confidence in the world in you my dear Prince as I do with both Zoicite and Malachite. Even now when we are in such dire straits still you continue to be faithful to me. Unlike my youma, who are expressly under my will and command, you three have wills of your own. At any time you could have abandoned me and fulfilled your own desires. Sometimes I wonder if I was ever a good ruler to begin with." said Queen Beryl sadly.
It was then that Prince Endymion swiftly knelt down and took Queen Beryl's hand and kissed it. The Queen felt her heart beating furiously and could even feel her face heating up.
"I would stay with you to the very end my Queen. My loyalty to you knows no bounds."
Queen Beryl smiled sadly as she placed her hand on Endymion's shoulder and gripped it tightly.
"How ironic. You said those very same words to me ten thousand years ago and yet...you still left me."
The Prince looked puzzled when he heard those words and soon looked up with determination etched onto his features.
"I am not the same man I was then." declared Prince Endymion bravely.
"No...perhaps you're not but I have to be sure. I have done you a grave injustice hiding this portion of your memory but now I find it necessary to release my grasp on you. I want your affections toward me to be real...genuine and not just a product of my power. So behold Prince Endymion I now will release you from my grasp once and for all."
With that the Queen glowed a deep purple as she placed a soft hand on Endymion's head and then suddenly yanked her hand out. Prince Endymion shouted as she felt like something was yanked from his skull and was blinded momentiarly from the intrusion. Shaking his head he recovered his bearings and soon saw the Queen before him once more.
He knew who she was and yet what had been total devotion had now turned to anger.
Even hate.
"So now tell me Prince. Are you still devoted to me? What do your true feelings tell you now that I have unlocked the entirety of your memory."
Prince Endymion felt like he could relive those last days on the Moon Kingdom where he found a source of joy and happiness so great that he could not describe it. Like a waking dream where everyday was the best day he had ever had.
That was when he remembered her name.
"Princess Serenity...you killed her and yet you ask that I am devoted to you? That you took the one person that I gave the entirety of my joy and love and you have the gall to ask for my loyalty? I would strike you where you stand if I dared! Begone from me!"
"Very well Prince Endymion. You have said the words that your heart had wished to speak for so long. Now I know. I bid you farwell my dear Prince and that the future treats you more kindly than I have."
With that the Queen soon teleported away and was out of sight. Even so Prince Endymion could not help but feel somewhat guilty for the harsh words he had spoken to his Queen with.
I am still devoted to her cause.
Perhaps my words were too harsh. She has done me wrong in the far past but I have done just as much wrong as well. Had I not fallen for Princess Serenity then the war on the moon would never have happened. I let my feelings get the better of my sense of duty and now I have allowed myself to suffer that same foolishness.
Tomorrow I will apologize to my Queen and renew my vow to her!
This time I swear I will keep it!
The next day came as Queen Beryl had summoned Malachite, Endymion and Zoicite to Metallia's chamber for a meeting.
The two generals and the Prince were aware of Metallia's existence and yet nothing could prepare them for the raw power they felt once entering the chamber. It was like they were swimming in Metallia's very essence. That with a simple command she could drown all of them in the miasma of her might.
Some fear was felt amongst the three men but they held fast as the Queen stood before them, tall and proud as she spoke.
"My friends. I have summoned you here today because the time is near. Our enemy has shown itself to be formidable and time and time again we find ourselves thwarted. The future of the Dark Kingdom is now at jeopardy and for that extreme measures need to be taken. For that I am willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to insure that our people prosper!"
"We will become great and our people will spread out into the stars. No longer will we be confined here barely surving off the meager energies of humans always fearful of their discovery of us, always fearful of enemies out beyond. Now is the time that our Dark Kingdom grasp victory! Carry on my legacy! I now entrust the future of our people to you. May you reap the rewards that you so deserve my most faithful!"
It was then that Queen Beryl's body soon started to get engulfed by a torrent of Metallia's energy. Prince Endymion's eyes widened at once as he realized what was going to happen. He immediately ran forward as he knelt down and took the Queen's hand and held fast even though Metallia's energy scorched him.
"My Queen! Do not do this! Don't feel like you have to sacrifice your life to see us prosper! You are our Queen! We would be lost without you! Please stop this! We will redouble our efforts, nay triple our efforts!"
It was at this point that both Zoicite and Malachite came forward and placed their hands on Endymion too as they spoke.
"We have failed many times my Queen but I guarantee that you will not see failure again. I will die before I come back empty handed. Give us one more chance to prove our worth and we will show you the fruits of your faith!" declared Malachite.
"I have acted as a coward and now I am shamed to see my Queen bear the cross for my mistakes. But no longer! No longer will I run or beg for help! I will face down my enemies with renewed vigor and cut them down! I will retrieve all the Rainbow Crystals even if I have to search every continent on this planet! Give us more chance my Queen! Do not feel that you have to offer your life force for our cause!"
Queen Beryl was so sure that she had come to accept her Fate. She told herself that after Prince Endymion's harsh words there was no reason to live any longer. Her part was done and it was time for her Dark Kingdom to take the next important step in their evolution.
For so long she had grown used to her generals cowering from her, fearing her and she grown to enjoy feeding on that fear. But now her generals and Prince were begging her to stop. Despite her harsh treatment of them they still cared for her, were still willing to prove their worth despite their dire situation.
If only I had treated them better. If only I had cultivated their loyalty towards me instead of using it as a means to control them then perhaps Nephrite would never have betrayed me and Jadeite would have not been so ineffective due to his fear of me.
And you my Prince.
I have loved you for so long.
Twice you have now cut me down and yet here you are begging me to spare my own life. I don't know whether you are that kind or that cruel. I guess I'll never know.
It was then that the Queen felt a small stream travel from both her eyes down her cheeks. Her vision was suddenly blurred as she realized what was happening.
A-Am I actually...
As for the Prince and the two generals they were stunned to see the Queen standing there her eyes streaming tears. The powerful, stern expression on her face looked like it had visible cracks on them.
"I'm so grateful...to have been in your company. Malachite, Zoicite and Prince Endymion. I bless you now and I hope beyond hope that you and your descendants prosper beyond your wildest dreams. Even if I become nothing more than a memory and forgotten over the course of time still I would be happy knowing that my most faithful were able to transcend their destiny further than what I could offer them."
It was then that Endymion stood up harshly as he took his sword out and slammed it on the ground embedding it into the harsh stone. With a determined expression the Prince slid his right hand over his sword causing a gash that bled heavily. However the pain was nothing to the Prince as she then took that hand and placed it on his heart as he knelt down before the Queen once more.
"I have sworn upon my very life blood that I will never forget you my Queen. My descendents will never forget who it was that brought them into greatness, the sacrifice she made to insure THEIR prosperity and power! Among my descendents you will become a legend and become greater as time passes."
It was then that Prince Endymion gave a wry smile.
"And my descendents will also realize the stupidity of their ancestor for having, twice, refused the hand of the great Queen Beryl. So I will be vilified and even despised by my descendents but so be it! It will be my amends for the pain I have caused all this time for something has become very clear to me."
"I love you."
With that the Queen smiled mournfully as she bent down and placed a chaste kiss on Endymion's lips causing the Prince to blush deeply.
"Thank you...for telling me the one thing I have always wanted to hear from you. Even after ten thousand years of waiting...it was worth it."
With that the Queen's body soon dissipated as she was absorbed into Metallia's being. The Prince could only grasp out feebly at thin air realizing that he would never be able to cultivate the love that he now felt toward Queen Beryl. Twice the loves of his life had been taken from him.
Both times from Metallia.
Already the Prince harbored resentment toward that mass of dark energy as it started to converge itself. The seal that had held the creature bound now broke and there was cackling in the air as the dark energy converged at one point and soon exploded in a radiant display of power. Both Zoicite and Endymion had to be shielded from the debris by Malachite, who had them under his barrier.
Soon the dust cleared and there stood a woman. Her hair was as black as the pit and fell to her feet, her skin pale but still alluring like the sheen of a pearl. The eyes were a dark amethyst that glowed like rubies. The woman stood tall, proud and reeking of power. She was naked but only momentarily as she summoned her power to cloth herself in a gown similar to that of Beryl's only that it's color was black that shimmered a deadly claret.
This was Metallia and at once she cackled loudly as she expanded the use of her powers.
Dark electricity covered the entire chamber and it felt like the earth was going to split from beneath. Endymion and the two generals could hardly stand from the power that was being emitted by the wicked woman.
Seeing that her display could potentially kill useful servants she soon ceased and walked toward the three men with a confident grin on her face.
The power was overwhelming. Already Zoicite had passed out as both Endymion and Malachite struggled to stay conscious in the face of this demon that was now their new Queen.
"Do not fear me yet my children. That was only a trifle compared to my full power. Once I get hold of the Imperium Crystal the entire galaxy will be at my beck and call!"
It was the last thing either Malachite or Prince Endymion heard as the new Queen's immense power soon caused them to black out.
The very first thing Toki noticed when she woke up was that her head was aching and that her body felt stiff and sore. However it wasn't something that was debilitating and soon willed herself to get up.
As she padded about the apartment she noticed that she was alone. There was a note on the table with some fast food left over. This didn't come as a surprise to Toki. The mother of Ami Mizuno was a very busy woman and while Toki commended her for being in such a honorable profession she couldn't help but feel some sort of pity towards Ami. It seemed like the girl spent most of her days alone like this.
Not that it bothered Toki. If anything she felt that this arrangement was for the best. Without having to put up with nosy family members she could spend the entirety of her free time planning their next move against the Dark Kingdom.
Thinking about that evil organization had brought a frown to Toki's face. She knew that they were quite vulnerable right now. Kenshiro was forced to go along with her family and was thus out of town. That only left herself and Rei to defend the city from the agents of the Dark Kingdom. What made things worse was that she still had no idea as to why the Dark Kingdom were after these Rainbow Crystals only that it seemed to be a primary objective of theirs.
From the little that she gathered she knew that these strange crystals resided inside of select human beings and when extracted reverted them into demons. There was a way to turn the demons back to normal but only Kenshiro had that power at the moment. This meant that if either she or Rei were forced into a confrontation then they would have no choice but to kill an innocent person.
The idea of spilling innocent blood made the headache worse for the blue haired girl as Toki shook her head to get rid of the pain.
Then there was Raoh who was, at best, a wild card that could turn on them at any time. It was frightening just how powerful the overlord was at the moment. She wasn't surprised that her sibling had managed to master her powers so quickly but Toki did not believe just how destructive Sailor Jupiter's powers were until she saw it first hand. This combined with Raoh's mastery of Gou-Ken made the overlord just as dangerous as their Dark Kingdom enemies.
Toki sighed as she tried to think of something that could give them the edge. Even now they still did not know the true strength of the Dark Kingdom nor the full extent of their respective abilities. While Toki had taken up the task to become the leader of the group and guide both Kenshiro and Rei she could not help but feel just a bit overwhelmed.
Even now Toki was feeling a bit fatigued but again had shook herself. While she did not enjoy going to cram school on Saturdays she knew that she had to go lest the mother get suspicious.
I can only pray that Kenshiro returns before the enemy strikes again. We cannot afford to be caught by surprise. Any mistake now can cost us our lives now that the enemy is focused on its objectives.
The school day had passed quickly and Toki was glad that she was able to get out of cram school. Apparently there was a commotion going on as the most recent exam scores had just been posted.
Strange as it sounded Toki seemed to inherent much of Ami Mizuno's innate knowledge and it was a very simple matter for the Hokuto Shin Ken master to re-learn the majority of the material and retain the former girl's standing at the cram school. However what was strange was that she wasn't number one this time around.
At the top of the list was a name that she had seen from time to time in the top five students. His name was Ryo Urawa. A shy, reclusive boy who seemed to shy away from all contact with others but it couldn't be denied that he was extremely intelligent. It seemed that now he had now achieved the top spot at the school.
Toki didn't really care and soon started to head outside the building. She was going to concentrate on her training. In the distance she could feel Raoh's aura burning intensely. She was sure that Raoh was pushing herself to the limits finding out every little facet of her new found powers while training relentlessly to get her physical body up to shape to bear the rigors of the Gou-Ken style.
As Toki continued to walk she thought vaguely of having a spar with Rei. The Nanto Suichoken master was perhaps the fastest out of all of them and it would help fighting against an opponent that didn't rely on Hokuto Shin Ken.
However Toki's plans were interrupted as she felt someone's presence from behind her. She turned to find Ryo Urawa breathing heavily as if he had been running to catch up to her.
"Yes what is it?" asked Toki kindly.
"A-Ami Mizuno! I told myself that the day that I finally surpassed you using my own abilities that I would be worthy to finally ask you out. So I ask you! Will you go out with me and become my girlfriend?"
Toki was taken aback. This was the last thing to happen to her today. Then again she was a rather attractive for a fourteen year old. Even she had trouble not looking at herself too intently from time to time. She did not blame Ryo for having an attraction toward her.
It would have been a simple matter to simply ignore the boy and just continue on her way but Toki decided to play around with the young man. For the moment it would take her mind off of her labors.
The blue haired girl smiled as she placed her hands behind her back and bent down looking at Ryo inquisitively.
"Why do you believe that surpassing me in our exams would make you worthy of me?"
"B-Because you are intelligent and yet beautiful as well. I have always admired you for how hard you worked. Sometimes I would eat lunch at our normal middle school and find you all by yourself. Often you looked so sad and alone. Many times I wished that I could go up and sit with you and give you company but I was too afraid. I'm not good looking nor am I suave. So I figured that the only way that I could be worthy if I was at least as smart as you. So I put everything into my studies and told myself that if I ever surpassed you in our exams then I would ask you out."
Toki couldn't help but giggle to herself. This was the sort of young love that children should be experiencing. In her dimension children often were working. Everyday was survival and if their thoughts were not concentrated in gathering necessary resources for their villages then it was spent fearing for their lives. It was nice to experience this change of pace.
Truth be told it was something that was denied even in her childhood. The majority of her life had been spent under the harsh training of Master Ryuken. In fact one of the very first memories Toki had was when she had beaten a giant of a man to death for killing her best friend...a parrot that wanted nothing more than to enjoy its life. She had taken her first life then and it wasn't something she was proud of.
Right now she could indulge in the childhood that had been denied her even if she was a girl at the moment. If she were in a teenager's body then why not play along?
"There was no reason to set such lofty goals for yourself Urawa-san. If you really wanted my companionship then all you had to do was ask. Never assume that you are unworthy of anyone. That implies that you never held yourself with worth to begin with and that is not a mindset you should have."
"I-I see. Then I suppose you won't go out with me huh. Now that I think about it I guess it was kinda silly to think that I could win you over with just-"
Toki placed a finger on the boy's lips causing him to blush deeply. The reaction was fascinating and Toki could now understand why Rei enjoyed playing around with men's emotions. It was quite frightening just how powerful of an effect a woman could have on a man.
"Now there is no reason to rush Urawa-san. Let's take this slowly. You want to enter a committed relationship with me even though we hardly know each other. How about we just settle for a date for today and then take it from there?"
Ryo nodded feverishly in agreement.
"So then Urawa-san what do we do for today's date?"
It wasn't Toki's intention to spend the entire day with Ryo Urawa. In fact she had planned to get something to eat and then bid him farewell before letting him down gently come Monday. However, to her surprise, she had found herself really enjoying Ryo's company.
The boy, who seemed so withdrawn and shy, suddenly opened up to her and Toki couldn't help but feel somewhat flattered that Ryo was willing to show this side of himself to her. Toki had learned to not get too attached with those around her. In her old dimension she was in the company of death and despite her best efforts she couldn't save every life.
Today she decided to throw caution to the wind as she let herself enjoy today. The Dark Kingdom had been quiet lately and it didn't seem that they would attack today. So be it. She would redouble her efforts tomorrow.
After having eaten they then watched a movie and then proceeded to the arcade where Ryo attempted to impress her by challenging someone to the newest Sailor V fighting game and ended up getting thrashed.
The end of their day was spent at a park where they sat on a bench watching a nearby pond watching the sun set as the golden rays splashed across the water like the beacons of Heaven. It was quite the sight and overall a good end to the day for Toki.
"Mizuno-san I just want to say that this was perhaps the best day of my life. If everyday of my life is like this then I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Without meaning to Toki felt a bit of heat flush on her face.
Damn these female emotions.
"What makes you believe that I am the one? We are young with our entire lives ahead of us. Why makes such a rash decision?" asked Toki as she did her best to control the teenage hormones.
It was then that Ryo placed his hands on Toki's shoulders and stared at her intently with his eyes. The hormones were overpowering the martial artist and it was becoming difficult to control her own actions. It was like she was mesmerized by a spell Ryo was placing her and it was difficult to move.
"I love you Ami Mizuno and nothing will ever change that. I'm sure that you are the one because I know that I do not have much longer to live. You may not believe me but I have the ability to see the future. It was something that frightened me. To think that I could see someone's very life flash before my eyes. I would see a girl in class and know the exact time she would die down to the very minute. No matter who I looked to all I could see was their death."
"It's frightening to know just how many days a person has in their lifetime and that everyday that passes they are one step closer to their inevitable doom. And to be able to count it, like a prisoner counts the days to his freedom. It's maddening. I can't look at my mother. She's so beautiful and kind and yet I know exactly how she is going to die. I have seen her old, decrypt corpse as she wasted away from a disease no one knows how to cure. Not know not ever."
"Yet with you Ami I cannot see your future. For a time I could sneak a peak here and there but even then you were an anomaly. But now I am completely in the dark. I do not know your future or what it holds. To me to know a person that I don't know the exact time of their death was a blessing. Yet even if I COULD see your future still I would love you. I do not need to see the future to know that you are the one. Unfortunately my time is near. I will die tonight and nothing will avert it. But if I can die knowing that I spent my last day with Ami Mizuno, to know that I finally reached my goal and had you within my grasp then I can die happy. Thank you Ami...for everything."
Toki didn't know what to say. She still sat there mesmerized by his words, binding her to his being alone. She had no will in the matter. It was infuriating and yet it was also pleasant. Her stomach felt like it was doing back flips. The fact that the boy admitted to seeing the future didn't seem preposterous. She couldn't help but believe every word the boy said.
I have never experienced anything like this in my entire life. Is this what a woman goes through when she is smitten with a man? Why is it so difficult to break from his gaze?
Enough!
With all the strength she could muster Toki managed to break free from the boy's gaze. As she did that every encompassing warm feeling soon dissipated and Toki realized just how chilly it was. She sneezed before feeling her nose run. At the same time the headache that she had from that morning came back with a vengeance and there was a nasty pain that suddenly came out of nowhere from the bottom of her throat.
She felt a hand on her forehead.
"M-Mizuno-san! Why didn't you tell me that you were sick? If you were feeling ill then you didn't have to push yourself for my sake! You're burning up!"
Toki drew herself back as she felt aches and pains all over body and soon frowned.
This could explain my lack of discipline today. How foolish to be getting myself enamored by a boy like this. I must take care to not let something like this happen to me again. The consequences if an enemy could do this to me would be disastrous. Perhaps I need to take the time to meditate so that I can curtail these female hormones.
With that Toki stood up and found herself a bit light headed. She wobbled a bit but soon regained her balance.
It looks like I'm more ill than I thought. It seems my body has exhausted its source of adrenaline and now I'm feeling the effects of the day's activities on me. Perhaps it was a good thing that I didn't train. If I did then I could have done this girl's body serious harm.
Even so I'm in worse shape than I realized. All these constant battles and the stresses of dealing with them have seriously started to take a toll on this girl's body. Hers is the least capable of exerting itself physically and I have been pushing it pretty hard lately. I'm not surprised that I have become ill after all this time. Even so it has come at a bad time. Kenshiro still hasn't come back from her trip. I can only pray that the enemy doesn't strike now.
Putting on a brave face Toki soon turned to Ryo and spoke.
"For what it's worth I had a good time Urawa-san. I'm happy that you believe that my company was so enjoyable. However you shouldn't believe that your death would come today. Your future is your own. Do with it as you wish."
Ryo Urawa smiled sadly.
"I wish that was true Mizuno-san. I really do. If I had that opportunity I would grab it instantly. If only I could see a future with the two of us together. I would love to have a big family, at least four children. You would never have to work if you didn't want to. I would provide for all of us and I would do it gladly if only to see you in my life everyday. Unfortunately that is only a dream and nothing more. Now go Ami Mizuno. Leave me be. My time has come and you staying here will bring you danger. Go...now!"
Toki could see that the boy was serious. He was utterly convinced that he was going to die today. However something in the martial artist's mind prevented her from leaving. Too many times had she been unable to save a life.
Could she stay and prevent the death of this boy? To have him live out his life?
"I won't go. Let me face what it is that will bring you your demise. Perhaps I can curtail it." replied Toki seriously as she stepped forward.
The change in the girl's demeanor was instant and it caught Ryo by surprise. The sound of the girl's voice sounded like that of iron. It was filled with a resolve that he didn't believe Ami possessed.
Even so that didn't change his concern for her and soon he narrowed his eyes in anger.
"Didn't you hear me? You might think I'm crazy but I'm telling the truth! You're in great danger! The one coming after me is far beyond anyone's ability to thwart! Go now! If you die because of me then I'll never forgive myself!" cried out Ryo.
It was then that Toki stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy's cheek.
"And I wouldn't forgive myself if I let you die without trying to stop it myself."
Ryo could only laugh bitterly as he heard those words. He didn't know whether to be touched that Ami was willing to stay by his side or beyond furious that she was putting herself in danger.
"I'm not worth dying for. Surely you must be smart enough to see that."
It was then that Toki had had enough and immediately gave the boy a blow to the cheek. It wasn't anywhere strong enough to be lethal but it got the point across as Ryo was knocked down with a swollen cheek. He stared in disbelief that Ami had struck him, or that she had struck him with enough force that she actually knocked him down.
"Never say that you aren't worth saving. I have learned over the course of my life that life is precious. Have you ever seen someone hanging on to life so desperately and yet know that there is nothing you can do to save them. To see them look at you with utter faith and confidence, placing their lives into your hands and yet you can't stop yourself from trembling. Knowing that you hold the entirety of their hopes and dreams and, with one careless mistake, they will be gone forever. You may believe that your life is expendable but I don't. I will never abandon a life in need. It is my life's creed. My honor demands that I uphold it."
It was then that Ryo Urawa got the feeling that the person talking to him couldn't really be Ami Mizuno, could it?
"Y-You speak as if you have lived longer than you really are Mizuno-san." smiled Ryo in disbelief but somewhat happy that Ami was still staying by him.
"There are facets to my character that you wouldn't believe if I told you. That being said if we live through today then you will buy me another one of those parfaits." said Toki with a cute smile as she reverted back to the Ami Mizuno character.
"And empty my wallet? You ate like five of those. You must really like parfaits."
Both Toki and Ryo laughed for a moment at the memory before Ryo's face turned grim with determination.
"I can't stop you from deciding your own fate. But if you insist then I will no longer insult you by spurning you. Still I would rather you went home. You look like you can hardly stand."
Toki couldn't argue with Ryo there. She felt like her body was going to collapse. Her head was throbbing and the pain in the back of her throat had gotten worse. Her nose didn't seem to stop running and the air felt so chilly that she was shivering. Even so she would face down whatever threat that came to Ryo and save him if she could.
"You're the one that's going to die. Why waste your worries on me?" asked Toki playfully.
"Touche."
It was then that Toki felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Something was near and it was very powerful. In fact it was easily the most powerful entity she had felt as of yet.
The wind seemed to stir up violently as rose sakura petals soon whipped up out of nowhere before converging into a form. There before them was an effiminate man.
At once Ryo stood up as he spoke.
"Zoicite! I was wondering when you were going to show your ugly mug!" said Ryo challengingly.
"You brat! How dare you insult me in such a manner? Be glad that you harbor a Rainbow Crystal otherwise I would have yanked your tongue out for your impudence!"
Toki recognized the man before them. She had seen him briefly as Raoh had done battle with him sometime back.
However something was different about the general. He seemed almost like a different person. His body was compact and muscular and it cackled a black electricity around him.
It seems that our enemy has gotten stronger to prepare for their battles against us.
How unfortunate.
Our enemy is stronger than before and I am in a compromised state. This could get dangerous.
Without wasting anytime Toki flared her body at one hundred percent of her power and leaped up toward the Dark Kingdom general so that she could finish him off quickly.
For a moment it seemed that Zoicite didn't notice the attack but soon turned in an instant and caught the strike that was aimed at Zoicite's temple.
"Did you honestly think I didn't notice you damn bitch? It's because of you and your band of meddlers that our ascent to power has stalled. Now taste the true power of the Dark Kingdom!"
With that Zoicite threw Toki down harshly on the cement where the girl landed with a harsh thud. If that was not enough Zoicite then gathered a dark energy from his hands and threw it down at Toki's prone form.
Before Toki could recover from the surprise attack she felt herself being weighed down by a terrific force. It was like the weight of a thousand Earths was suddenly pushing her to the ground. She managed to get herself into a kneeling position but she couldn't stand.
"You see! Bow before the awesome power of the Dark Kingdom!" cackled Zoicite before he turned his attention to Ryo.
"Monster! Leave her alone!" roared Ryo.
"Her? Kid you don't realize just how much of a hindrance that little bitch has been. Killing our best youma and in the most gruesome of manners too! However that isn't important. What IS important is that your Rainbow Crystal is mine and once I have extracted it you will kill your beloved with your own hands!"
With that Zoicite brought out the Dark Crystal and held it out to Ryo. The boy screamed in pain as he felt like his body was going to tear apart. A hole opened in his chest where a yellow Rainbow Crystal emerged. Zoicite smiled as he pocketed the crystal.
"Now Bunbo arise. Join the fold once more and kill your enemy! Slaughter her! Defile her! Do whatever you want with her! Sate your most innate desires! No one can stop you now!"
From the kind boy came a monster that was both primal and hideous. His face had now morphed to something that was saurion with cold, reptile like eyes that held no emotion whatsoever. It's arms were muscled and tipped with lethal claws. At the end of the creature's forearms were spiked bone protruding. The creature had a muscled torso as the tail landed heavily on the ground below causing the cement to crack from the weight.
"Such is the power of Metallia! Behold Bunbo your new power! Far greater than what it was before! Now go and show us your worth! Destroy her!"
With that the creature known as Bunbo roared out its fury as it started to run toward Toki.
Toki knew that she was in great danger. The power emanating from both the general and the monster before her was the strongest she had ever felt. What was worse was that neither Rei nor Kenshiro were here and it was doubtful that Raoh would come to her aid.
No one will come to my aide.
I'm completely alone this time.
Both of my opponents are the strongest I have ever faced and I am nowhere near full strength due to my illness.
Now comes my greatest challenge. Will I overcome the odds and come out triumphant or will I die trying?
I suppose there is no way to know unless I try.
With that Toki summoned every reserve of power that she had in her disposal and slammed her fist against the force field that was pinning her down. Roaring out her indignation a bright light of ki blasted through it freeing her for the moment.
Immediately jumped and rolled to the side as the monster Bunbo missed her by an inch. Turning to face her opponent she saw the monster look at her with an utter intent to kill. It charged once more.
Judging by this creature's body shape it seems that it can gain acceleration really quickly and maintain its speed. However the tail is dragging with means that it doesn't have a good counter balance. This means that it won't be able to turn on the fly and it also means that it will be easy to tip it off balance.
However I have to practice caution. If I were in my old body I could perhaps fight it in a contest of strength but in this girl's body, ill and weak as it is now, I can only hope to dodge until I can strike at the right moment.
Once Bunbo was near Toki leapt aside and managed to strike a pressure point just above the creature deltoids. For a moment the creature stared at her as if her mocking her until it roared in pain as the arm bulged dangerously and soon exploded.
Seeing that her target was incapacitated at the moment Toki focused her attention on Zoicite, who strangely enough, didn't seem all that concerned at all.
Going at the general once again Toki was ready when Zoicite released another one of those gravity balls. This time Toki gathered a bit of her ki and then forced them to her legs so that she could gain a quick spurt of speed. It was enough to dodge the attack and this time Toki was face to face with Zoicite.
"Your end is here."
Zoicite only smiled evilly.
"I think not."
Not wasting another moment Toki aimed two fingers to Zoicite's forehead and felt the blow connect solidly! In only three seconds time the man's head would explode and then she could concentrate her energies on destroying that monster before it could hurt anyone else.
Unfortunately for Toki things didn't go as planned.
Zoicite seemed to remain in a stunned, pained expression before his body dissipated into a mass of pink petals. The pink petals suddenly launched themselves at Toki.
Unprepared for this counter attack Toki felt like her insides were going to burst as the full mass of the petals slammed into her causing her go flying until she landed in the water with a great splash. The water was incredibly cold and already Toki knew that in her ill state that staying in the water would cause hypothermia if she stayed too long.
However her body was beginning to give out from the abuse and the thought of having to swim to shore now seemed like a greater task then it should. Toki's situation grew worse as she felt an arm suddenly grasp itself around her holding her in a choke hold that nearly crushed her throat.
From her fading peripheral vision Toki could see that Bunbo had her gripped tightly with one arm. There was a blood stump from where the creature's other arm had exploded earlier but it didn't seem to bother it too much. It was at this point that Toki knew that her situation was critical.
As if to further mock her Zoicite appeared before her with a sphere of dark energy that protected him from the water.
"Bunbo can hold his breath for over four hours. I told him to keep you down here for that entire time to make sure that you're good and dead. We'll take your carcass to the Dark Kingdom and present to the great Metallia as an offering. Your death will be the beginning of the end for your comrades. They will suffer an even worse fate than you. So die knowing that you utterly failed!"
Toki could feel her vision blacking out. Her illness, her physical weakness and the ambush by two of the fiercest enemies she had yet to face all contributed to her current situation.
I-I can't...
My body...so weak...feeble...
Is this it?
Even with the knowledge of Hokuto Shin Ken at my disposal still I have been bested.
I was careless. I let myself relax when I should have been preparing for the worst.
I have no one else to blame but myself.
Kenshiro...you will have to bear the burden now. You...heir of Houkto Shin Ken.
She could no longer keep conscious as darkness obscured her vision.
Toki felt herself waking up to what looked like watery void. At once she recognized where she was at. This was where she had first come in order to obtain her senshi powers.
But why am I here? Did I die already?
It was then that a voice resounded over in the distance.
Child of circumstance come to me.
Toki's eyes widened as she realized who it was that was calling out to her. Not wasting any time Toki quickly made her way over to a bright patch in this watery prison. There, on a hill, was the soul of Ami Mizuno. She was bound in what looked like reeds but were stronger than iron. Toki had tried to free her to no avail before.
"I see that you have come at last."
Toki frowned as she saw the soul of Ami Mizuno.
"I have failed in the mission that was tasked to me. My carelessness has doomed us all." said Toki sadly.
Ami shook her head softly in disagreement.
"Having resided in this prison for so long I have grown accustomed to seeing facets of your previous life. Even now you still harbor that same self-hatred that you hold for having taken that man's life. He was cruel and he killed your friend without thought or remorse even though he was only a bird. But that bird was precious to you and you acted out your rage by beating the man to death. Since then I have sensed that you never use the entirety of your powers. You always restrain yourself for fear of going too far."
"I understand why you have gone through the pains of holding yourself back. However having seen more facets of your character the one person that has defeated you the most is yourself. You may have had the most talent out of all the practitioners of your art but the reason why your master never selected you as his honored heir is because he realized that you did not have the confidence in yourself to handle such a burden. It's a shame because I feel that you would have been a great heir and would have been able to take that lethal art and turn it into something more."
"What Kenshiro and Raoh have over you is that they don't doubt themselves. Kenshiro may lack resolve and Raoh may be arrogant but they always have had confidence in their own abilities. That is what makes them strong. They do not hesitate to use the entirety of their powers. So let me ask you Toki? Why, even now, do you insist on holding back?"
It was frightening how accurate Ami was about her character. Truth be told Toki knew that was her biggest weakness. She could not bear to hurt anyone if she could help it and always restrained herself. It was for this reason that she never killed Raoh when she had the chance. Had she taken the opportunity to do so then perhaps many lives would have been saved. But there was always the same self-doubt about her ability to defeat someone of Raoh's strength that prevented her from doing so.
In some ways she was somewhat envious of them especially Kenshiro. While Kenshiro wavered from time to time regarding her resolve once she made up her mind about something she was unstoppable. She never held back when the situation called for it. Or perhaps that was because Kenshiro didn't know how to hold back.
Even so Toki still couldn't help but make her own rebuttal.
"You would be so willing for me to end the life of Ryo Urawa? Have you considered that the monster is still human?"
It was then that Ami screamed out with tears in her eyes.
"Of course I know! Do you think I want him to die? But we can't help it. The only one that can turn him back to normal is Kenshiro and she is not with us right now. Will you die and fail in your mission or will you make the difficult choice and kill him? Would you want him to continue to live as he is now? You may not hear it but I do! His heart is screaming out at you to fight back! To end his suffering. You have the power to overcome this trial. The only person stopping you is yourself. Make your choice! Our very Fate now lies in your hands."
Toki could only look down at her hands and still she could see the blood stains of the man that she had killed when she was a child. Were such bloodstained hands worthy of bringing hope to others?
It was then that Toki thought of all the lives she had saved for making the hard decisions. For killing the mooks and preventing them from causing anymore damage. For saving the lives of those in need. She did not save everyone but that only gave her more resolve to better herself. If she could save one more life it would be worth it.
A fire seemed to have burst from deep within Toki as she felt her resolve harden like steel. There was no second guessing now. She knew what she needed to do.
"I have made my choice. I will do what I must do to see this mission to its end."
Ami smiled as she heard this.
"I never had any doubt in you. Now go forth and complete your mission as it was tasked to you so that you can pursue your own justice when the time comes. Go...and liberate me!"
Toki's eyes snapped open as she realized that she had blacked out for only a second in the real world. She realized that her lungs were burning and that the iron grip was still locked tight on her neck.
Without wasting anymore time Toki took her free hand and glowed brightly as she pressed it against Bunbo's chest. The beam of light passed right through him causing the creature to grunt in shock as it let go of her.
Seeing this Zoicite wasted no time as he went forward his fist cackling with black energy and prepared to run his hand through Toki's body. The girl saw this and at once caught the blow with her own hands. She winced from the black electricity cackling through her body but she pushed her body further and she unlocked all one hundred percent of its potential.
Glowing a bright white against the dark aura of the general Toki pulled her elbow up and rammed it as hard as she could on Zoicite's forearm. The general screamed in pain as he soon dissipated into a flurry of pink petals and flew out of the water. Knowing that she didn't have much time Toki leapt out of the water and landed on shore nearby.
Her body felt like it was going to fall apart. The wind tore into her wet body freezing her to the core while her headache was so severe that it felt like something was getting stabbed into her very brain. Every bone and muscle in her body was begging her to stop but she could not stop now. Not until her task was finished.
Bunbo soon leapt out of the water it's body disfigured and grotesque but still enraged and ready to fight. It slammed it's tail in indignation.
It seems that Hokuto Shin Ken has little effect on this creature. I cannot afford to use the Humane Fist technique again. It will drain too much at my limited resources.
How is it that I can dispose of this creature if I can't use Hokuto Shin Ken?
Noting how cold the air was around Toki soon came up with an idea.
I can transform and then use a Bubble Spray to lower the temperature around us considerably. Judging by how cold it is right now if I used Bubble Spray then the temperature will fall below freezing.
Seeing that the monster is reptilian in apperance it may be that it's power may be compromised in a colder environment. However this is a dangerous endeavor. My body is stressed as it is. A temperature drop can be lethal to me as well considering my illness.
...I have no choice. I do not have the strength to fight that creature in protracted combat.
It was then that Toki took her Heinshen wand out and soon spoke forth.
"Mercury Power Make Up!"
She instantly transformed and at that moment the monster Bunbo charged after her. It's gait was clumsy due to its disfigured form but still it charged after her with no regard to it's own safety.
Immediately leapt to the side and knew that she had to be quick. She couldn't rely on her Hokuto Shin Ken or ki while transformed. She didn't know where Zoicite was at the moment. All she knew is if the general were to catch her in this transformed state then it was over. She couldn't fight the general without access to her ki and unfortunately the senshi transformation prevented her from tapping into that valuable resource.
However her body did not feel quite as ill probably due to the magical properties of the transformation itself. Still she didn't waste time as she gathered her magical power and soon commanded her attack.
"Bubble Spray!"
A deep fog soon came over the park as the monster soon halted its advance. It's breath came out in deep puffs of vapor while it's eyes gleamed in the gloom. It started to use its nose so that it could sniff out Sailor Mercury.
Meanwhile Sailor Mercury knew that she could no longer fight in this form. Having already used the Bubble Spray she soon reverted back to her normal form and it was then that she realized just how cold it was. Her body felt like it was going to freeze right then and there. However she refused to yield and flared her body's aura as she tried to search out the monster.
It was then that she spotted the monster and at once leapt forward and, taking a page from Raoh's book, rose her fist up and then roared:
"Hokuto! Ensho-Ha!"
From Toki's fist there blasted a wave of air pressure that hit the monster dead on. The creature turned and roared out it's indignation and tried to charge but found that the highly pressurized winds along side the freezing temperature was actually freezing it solid. Bunbo attempted to trash against the ice that was building around it but it couldn't as its body, being reptilian in nature, was unable to cope with the freezing temperature. Soon the creature was covered entirely in ice.
It was then that Toki gathered all the strength she had left as her fist glowed a deep white, pulled back and then proceeded to slam her fist right at the center of the ice covered monster. Bunbo's body instantly exploded into thousands of ice crystals.
From the distance Zoicite, whose forearm was broken, could only curse. However he did manage a victory overall as he held the yellow Rainbow Crystal in his possession. Seeing that this was enough the general soon disappeared vowing that he would get his revenge another day.
Toki stood there with her fist trembling and bleeding from the impact. It was over. She could not feel the presence of Zoicite anywhere. With that Toki felt her body suddenly collapse as she fell to the ground.
Before loosing consciousnesses she could vaguely see the shape of a brown haired young woman stand over her.
"Well done brother."
"R-Raoh..."
To say anything else seemed too great a task as Toki felt her body give out and soon succumbed to darkness.
Author's Note: So how did you guys like Toki's trial? I know that Zoicite and Bunbo are overpowered but it's obvious that Metallia is now suping them up. I have to make this challenging for our heroes otherwise this would be a very boring story lol. Speaking of which I don't even know if Metallia even has a human form. I just gave her one. Hope it works out fine lol. Anyway hope you liked the changes I made to Bunbo. He looked stupid in the anime so I changed his appearance to be way more fearsome. Hope you all enjoyed.