SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 20 goes up and only one review!

Kakashi: You're just lazy (Gags as a garrote is wrapped around his throat, courtesy of Luca Brassi)

SailorStar9: I prefer mangled to dead, Luca, and give my regards to the Godfather.

Luca: I will do that, Don Corleone is glad to do grant favor for you.

SailorStar9: Seriously, did Luca talk like that? All 'Broken English'?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.

Chapter 21: Stand Up, Misugi Jun

"He's back." Ryo looked over at the returning Tsubasa. "Where did you go? I was worried."

On the field…

The whistle sounded and the second half started.

"Tsubasa, incoming." Misaki shouted, snapping Tsubasa out of his musings.

How could I fight? Tsubasa was conflicted.

Tsubasa, let's fight it out. Misugi dashed towards his opponent, having gotten the ball from his teammate. What happened to you, Tsubasa? He mused, passing the shell-shocked Tsubasa easily.

I can't fight. Tsubasa stood still.

Why did you let me pass you so easily? Misugi wondered.

How can I fight him, knowing he has a handicap? Tsubasa thought.

You know about… Misugi realized.

I can't fight. Tsubasa decided.

Tsubasa, you found out about my illness? Misugi apprehended.

I can't fight… Tsubasa was resigned.

"Tsubasa?" Misaki gaped.

"Tsubasa, what's wrong with you?" Ryo wondered.

Tsubasa, I decided that this would be my last game and you're my opponent. Misugi mused. So, please, show me your best.

Misugi, how can you play so calmly? Tsubasa was confused as the sky grew overcast and it started to rain.

Misugi passed the ball to the running forward, who then slid the ball into the net, scoring a goal.

I don't know how to fight. Tsubasa sank to his knees.

What's wrong, Tsubasa? Genzo's chiding voice entered his mind. Get up. Is this all you think of soccer? Are you going to let everyone's efforts go to waste?

"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa muttered.

You promised that you would fight in the Championships. Genzo reminded. The pitch is a fighting arena for players. If you pity him, he will feel humiliated. Stand up and fight him. Isn't that the way to show respect to Misugi, who plays with a handicap?

"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa murmured.

"Tsubasa." Misaki voiced, the team standing around their captain.

"What's wrong, Tsubasa?" Ryo inquired.

"Are you okay?" Misaki asked.

"Sorry." Tsubasa stood up, confidence restored. "I'm alright. I know I can do it. I will score a goal to make up for what we just lost. Let's go." He told his 'Golden Combo' partner after the match restarted. "Here it comes, Misaki." He passed the ball over.

"Let's go, Tsubasa." Misaki returned the ball.

"Alright." Tsubasa caught the ball.

"Bring it on, Tsubasa." Misugi grinned. "I won't let you score. I will stop you."

"Let's fight." Tsubasa declared, both captains facing off.

Misugi blocked Tsubasa's charge with a slide-tackle, the impact causing Tsubasa to trip over. Tsubasa then used his heel to send the ball into the air. Both captains jumped to reach for the air ball, Tsubasa winning the confrontation and sending the ball into the goal post, the Musashi team reclaiming the ball.

"Come on, Tsubasa." Misugi stated, as the two captains clashed once again.

"Misugi, let's do it." Tsubasa accepted. "Man, my shoes are getting wet." He muttered, having taken the ball from Misugi. "The ball is going to stop soon." And sent the ball into an empty spot via a long-distance shot. The ball in place, Tsubasa slid across the wet field, sending the ball into the net, pulling the equalizer.

"Captain, what's wrong?" Sanada pressed, the Musashi team clustered around their wincing captain.

"Wait, coach." Misugi voiced, hearing the coach call for a replacement. "You promised to let me play the full game. I'm sorry I kept it from you guys." He stood up. "I have a heart problem." He confessed. "That's why I haven't been showing up. But this game is different. I must be here. So I made a decision. If this is to be my last game, I will fight to the end. I don't want to be switched. Tsubasa, it's not over yet." He declared.

"Misugi's heart problem…" Urabe was stunned. "It's him."

"Just play like you usually do." Tsubasa assured. "In response to Misugi, we must fight our best.

Tsubasa, you knew about Misugi. Misaki realized the reason for Tsubasa's previous hesitation.

Bypassing the weakened Misugi, Tsubasa headed straight for the goal, the Musashi defenders blocking the assault, before passing the ball to Misugi, who then dashed towards the Nankatsu field.

"Misugi." Tsubasa was stunned at Misugi's determination.

"Fast." Misaki admitted. "I can't catch up."

Misugi jumped over Misaki's slide-tackled and heads straight for the goal. Tsubasa, I can't give it to you. It's my ball. He looked over at the incoming Tsubasa, having dodged Takasugi's defense. I'm going to make a goal with that ball.

Tsubasa closed in, Misugi blocking Tsubasa's attempt to steal the ball with his thigh, the impact sending the ball upwards.

"The ball." Misugi voiced. "Where's the ball? I see it." He spotted the falling ball.

"Clear it!" Tsubasa instructed.

"Here." Misugi stuck his foot out, sending the ball into the net.

"Misugi." Tsubasa looked over at the still Misugi.

"It's pounding." Misugi started. "My heart is still pounding. It's okay. My heart is still good. Tsubasa, we lead by one. We're gonna keep it that way."

"Let's go." Tsubasa told his team as the whistle sounded.

"Honma, Sano, surround Tsubasa." Misugi barked, resting against the goal post. "Ichinose, Godai, follow the two to your left. I order the fight. Go!"

All the moves are revealed. Tsubasa realized, finding himself and Taki marked.

No, I can't pass. Misaki mused.

"Misaki!" Ryo shouted.

"Ishizaki." Misaki blinked.

"Okay." Tsubasa moved to his new position.

"Tsubasa!" Ryo passed the incoming ball over via a header.

Alright. Misugi nodded, having four players surround Tsubasa.

The only way out is here. Tsubasa sent the ball upwards.

Okay. Misaki came forward just as Tsubasa sent the ball flying via an 'Overhead Kick'. Cutting in before Misugi, he sent the ball into the net via a diving header, pulling the equalizer.

"I didn't know that was Misaki's pass." Misugi admitted. "I thought he was going for the goal. I'm too simple. Tsubasa, you…" he gaped, seeing Tsubasa was still going strong after the whistle signaled match's restart.

Misugi knew about his condition, but still challenges his limit. Tsubasa headed straight for the goal. This is for Misugi. We can't waste any single moment. I'm going. I'll do my best until the last second.

"I'm going to stop the goal." Misugi promised, seeing Tsubasa about to fire his shot.

"Here goes, Misugi." Tsubasa sent the ball flying via a long-distance shot.

"Stop it." Misugi instructed the keeper as he too, reached to stop the ball. "Stop it." His warning came too late as the ball shot through the gap between his head and the keeper's hands; right into the net.

"We won." Tsubasa blinked after the final whistle sounded.

"Captain." Aoba walked over to the fallen Misugi.

"I'm okay." Misugi sat up with her aid. "Thank you, Manager."

"Misugi." Tsubasa came over.

"Congratulations, Tsubasa." Misugi noted. "You're good. You won the game."

"No, if you were the captain, you would have won." Tsubasa corrected.

"Thank you, Tsubasa." Misugi nodded. "But I don't need it anymore. I am satisfied."

"Misugi." Tsubasa smiled.

"I'm very happy to have played an exciting game with you." Misugi stood up, leaning against Aoba.

"Me too, Misugi." Tsubasa agreed.

"Tsubasa." Misugi voiced, as Aoba led him off. "I won't give up soccer. One day, when I conquer this illness, I'll come back and defeat you."

"I'll be waiting, Misugi." Tsubasa nodded. "I know you can do it."

"Here." Ami handed Aoba a name card as the pair walked past her.

"Ami…" Aoba blinked. "This…"

"My mother's mentor in Italy." Ami supplied. "He's one of the top heart specialists in the world. Overcome your heart illness; I'll see you then… in the Japan Junior Youth." She bade the pair farewell.

Back in the present…

Ami sank onto a bench in the park, her mind focused in the problem they were facing. The worst part: not knowing who the next one'd be. It could be any of them. It could be her. For a moment, the memories of the Moon Kingdom invasion flooded her mind, but she dismissed them. She was sure her friends would stop her before she went berserk.

"What's bothering you, angel?"

Ami jumped at that, then looked back to see Genzo hovering over behind her, "Oh, hi..."

"Is it about the dark mana?" Genzo guessed.

Ami nodded, "Yeah... I'm worried about it. I remember how the Silver Millennium fell. What if it happened here too?"

Genzo blinked, "I... don't know." He cracked a wry grin. "I think I could knock you out before that happens."

"And if you can't?" Ami pressed.

"You'll have to trust us." Genzo assured.

Ami sighed, "I guess so… wait, us?"

"I'm contemplating on awakening the rest of the Pantheon Knights." Genzo admitted. "If the dark mana is as dangerous as you say it is, we're going to need all the help we can get."

"So… you found who got reincarnated as whom?" Ami blinked.

"More or less." Genzo shrugged. "I've confirmed Pegasi, Andromedae and Cancri were reincarnated."

"The girls'…." Ami's eyes widened.

"Yup." Genzo smirked. "And in accordance, Misaki, Hyuuga and Wakashimazu. Too bad for Venus though, I still can't find who Gliese got reincarnated into."

Omake

You Put a Spell on Me

In all of his time studying with the great Toad Sage, Jiraiya, Naruto only managed to pick up one genjutsu technique. But it was enough.

It was difficult to classify, as far as jutsu go. It wasn't defensive in itself, though it could be used for defense; and although it was offensive, it wasn't really an attack.

Naruto simply called it, that technique.

(Or Ekorio, if he was filling out paperwork.)

Orochimaru, Sasuke, Madara, Pein, the other members of Akatsuki, and the Kages of Cloud and Stone were standing at the gates of Konohagakure no Sato, the Village Hidden in the Leaves - the so-called 'strongest' of the Great Five Hidden Villages. After suffering so many bitter (and humiliating!) defeats, they had resolved to set aside their petty differences and join together to form this unholy alliance of the world's most powerful shinobi... to finally bring those Konoha bastards down.

"It looks like the time has come at last," Naruto thought grimly, standing on the wall and staring down at the bowel-voiding sight of their deadliest adversaries. "Forgive me; in my heart, I know you are my brothers, and I feel your pain. But you leave me no choice: I will actually have to use that technique."

And so saying, he made the hand seals to cast his most widely rumored -yet never exhibited- jutsu.

The enemy was prepared, however. Recognizing the opening seals for a genjutsu, they braced themselves, ready to dispel any illusion that might be influencing them. Those with doujutsu fired them up, searching out the slightest deviation from reality.

But they couldn't detect a single fucking thing. They didn't seem to be affected at all.

Odd, that.

Zip. Nada. Nothing.

Maybe the Kyuubi brat really was as hopeless as they'd always heard?

The women of Konoha, on the other hand -kunoichi and civilian alike- absorbed the full force of the technique.

And saw Orochimaru, Sasuke, Madara, Pein, the other members of Akatsuki, and the Kages of Cloud and Stone, standing at the gates… waving their naughty bits and making smoochy-smoochy noises and catcalls.

"Gah! Perverts!" a thousand women cried simultaneously.

They tore into the enemy like a herd of rampaging elephants.

Menstruating, rampaging elephants.

They didn't leave enough behind to fill a shoebox.

Naruto didn't know how, but for some reason, whenever a woman he knew saw a pervert -Hell, if a guy just looked at her funny- she gained the strength of ten men.

If he could just harness that power for Good, he thought…

SailorStar9: Ekorio = Reversed Oiroke (Reversed Centerfold Technique)

(What the hell do you want from me? Do I look Japanese? The well is running dry here.)