Standard disclaimer - I don't own Sailor Moon. OCs are mine.
Minako sighed contentedly, letting the hot water cascade down over her. The fight at the arcade had been wild, even discounting the beating she took beforehand. It really doesn't matter whether you're transformed or not, she decided. Landing hard on concrete really hurts. She turned, letting the stream of hot water soothe her aching shoulders. Oooh, yes…just what the doctor ordered. The blonde felt for Usagi; having her head bashed against the table must have hurt quite a bit too. Not sure I'd trade that for my trip through the window, though. After a few more minutes of much-needed comfort, she reluctantly reached for the taps. If I stay in here much longer, mom will be storming upstairs screaming about me wasting water, I'm sure.
She stepped gingerly out of the shower and reached for her towel, grimacing as the movement tugged at the skin on her side. As she moved, she caught sight of herself in the mirror; her eyes were immediately drawn to the ugly cut in her side. The little black lines of her stitches stood out against her pale skin, and she absently ran a fingertip over the wound. I really hope my Senshi healing stops this from scarring. That would suck! Her golden blonde hair hung lower than usual, free of her trademark red bow, clinging to her back in wet clumps. Today was one of those rare days she just couldn't be bothered drying it, instead choosing to wrap it up in a towel.
As Minako began drying off, she couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. Our enemy finally has a name…even if it is completely unimaginative! Shadow-Knight Terror! She stifled a dismissive sigh. There's no way that's his real name. Why do villains always insist on giving themselves 'scary' sounding names? I never met a bad guy named 'Hideki' before. Or 'Arata'. What about 'John Smith'? That would be fun. Nope, always with the grand, evil sounding names. They must be insecure. She wrapped the towel securely around herself and stepped out into the hall, heading for her bedroom.
As she entered, she saw Artemis sitting on the windowsill, looking out at the city.
"Don't even think about turning around, Arty," she warned him. "I haven't forgotten about the last time!"
"Sure thing, Mina." There was no trace of his usual sarcasm in his voice. In fact, he sounded tired.
"Well…okay. Good. I just need a minute." She dropped the towel and hurriedly changed into a t-shirt and a pair of sweats. Comfort over style, for now I think. The blonde dropped onto the bed, letting herself sink into blankets. "You seem kinda distant."
"Hmmm? Oh, no…just thinking. It was quite a day, huh?"
"It sure was." She couldn't help prodding him, just a little. "Guardian Knight got you down?"
He sighed. "Mina, I'm just looking out for you and the rest of the Senshi."
"Sure. By being rude to our new arrival."
"From the sound of things, you disagree with my assessment of the situation?"
"I just don't think he's the threat you're making him out to be," she said with a shrug. "If he's got some kind of secret master plan we don't know about, then he's a really good actor. Like…Oscar-nominated good!" A faint smile appeared on her lips. "You haven't even taken the time to just sit down and talk to him, Arty. He hardly comes across as some scheming mastermind. I mean, the poor guy couldn't even handle a little flirting without getting all shy. It was kinda cute."
Artemis spun around, fixing her with a determined stare. "No, Mina."
"No, what?"
"You know what. No!"
She returned the stare. "Artemis…"
"Mina, I forbid it! It's too dangerous!"
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "What did you just say?"
He looked somewhat panicked. "Mina…"
"I could have sworn you just tried to forbid me…but I must have misheard you." She fixed him with a pointed stare. "After all, your little 'forbid' routine worked out so well the last time…I'm sure you wouldn't be silly enough to try it again."
"Alright, I'm sorry. You're right…you're an adult. You can make your own decisions."
She smiled victoriously. "Darn right I can. You're lucky, Arty. If you'd kept going like that I would have had no choice but to lock you in the laundry hamper again."
The cat shivered. "You can be so cruel, Mina."
"Nonsense. I think it was a fitting punishment, after what you did!"
"I said I was sorry!" he muttered. "It's not like I saw anything."
"Sorry doesn't cut it when I've told you a thousand times to knock first!" she growled. "I mean, we've been together for five years. When will you learn?"
"How was I supposed to know you were changing?" he demanded.
"You weren't! Hence the 'knock first' rule!"
"Alright, alright…" Artemis trailed off, becoming serious again. "Mina, just please consider what I've said. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"I've already considered it, Arty and I'm sorry, but you're wrong." She gestured to herself. "He was alone for three years, fighting the Dark Kingdom just like I was. I only had to handle one year, and it nearly destroyed me; I can't imagine what it would be like to do it for three." She sighed. "I really don't feel like isolating Corey is the way to go. I mean, don't you remember how happy I was when I got to join up with the rest of the Senshi? What do you think would have happened to me if everyone had treated me like we're treating Corey? Would I have turned out the same way I did?"
"What, borderline insane?" he teased, groaning as her pillow hit him in the face.
"Be nice," she said, glaring daggers at him. "My point is…everyone's concerned that Corey will turn out to be an enemy at some point, right? What if treating him with suspicion and mistrust is exactly the thing that drives him to turn on us?"
Artemis looked at her, a cross between surprise and pride on his face. "Mina…that's surprisingly deep."
"I see him as a kindred spirit, Arty," she sighed, folding her fingers together. "Someone worn down by years of forced self-sufficiency, of fighting alone without friends to help him through. I had the girls to bring me back from all that. Now Corey needs the same help, and I won't turn him away."
Artemis nodded, smiling faintly. "Alright, Mina…you've convinced me. I won't try to stop you, on two conditions. One; you promise me you'll be careful."
"Okay…that's easy. What's condition two?"
His smile faded. "No flirting."
She tossed a second pillow his way. "No deal!"
Corey was headed back to the shrine, almost exactly twenty-four hours after leaving it. Usagi had sent him a simple text, 'Shrine, 6pm'. No further details. He really wasn't looking forward to a second round of 'treat Corey like the enemy'. No, he'd had plenty of that on his last visit. There was just one problem; his sole purpose for coming to Japan was to team up with the Senshi and protect Princess Serenity. Since Usagi and Princess Serenity were one and the same, that meant that where she went, he went too.
"Besides," he muttered, "I can take a little hostility. It's really not so bad. They just think I'm some kind of untrustworthy creep. I know that's not true, so what's to worry about?" He received an odd look from two high school students passing by, and realised he'd thought aloud yet again. "Damn. I'm really making a habit of that." A frustrated groan followed. "And again."
He slowly climbed the steps up to the courtyard, stopping at the top. It occurred to him that he had no idea where to go. That, and he still didn't want to do this. What was the point? There'd just be more questions and accusations. I don't even remember this thing I'm supposed to have done in the past. How long will I be punished for a crime I don't remember committing? Are they ever going to accept me? He sighed long and hard, resting against a convenient railing. Maybe coming to Japan was a colossal mistake?
"Pen for your thoughts?"
He spun around, startled. Minako was standing behind him, hands clasped behind her back. That was English…I didn't realise she spoke it so well. She cocked her head to the side, obviously waiting for an answer. What did she just say? Pen…for your thoughts?
"I'm sorry...what was that?" Speaking English after more than a week of nothing but Japanese felt surprisingly odd.
She frowned, causing the bridge of her nose to wrinkle in the cutest way. "Oh. Did I mess that up?"
"Uh...a little, yeah. It's 'penny for your thoughts'. You know...like the coin?"
The blonde shrugged and waved a hand at him dismissively. "Close enough." Back to Japanese, it seemed.
"Why English?"
"No reason. I just felt like it." She looked him over. "Why are you standing around out here all alone?"
He considered the question carefully. "No reason. I just felt like it," he replied, winking.
"Oh, a comedian!" She rolled her eyes, before nodding towards the shrine itself. "You don't want to go inside, do you?"
He chuckled. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"My incredible sense of intuition," she giggled. "That, or maybe the sarcasm literally dripping off your last sentence?"
"Well, there's no fooling you, Minako." He glanced over at the waiting door. "I'll admit it. No, I'm not exactly anxious to get in there."
She nodded. "I understand. It can't be easy dealing with a room full of people who constantly remind you they don't trust you."
"Not particularly, no."
"Well, look…try not to take it personally," she offered. "The girls care a lot about Usagi, Luna and Artemis too. They're just trying to look out for her...keep her safe."
"I know," he said, letting out a long sigh. "It's just...I've been anticipating this moment for three years. I thought I'd finally feel like I belong somewhere…like a valued member of the team." He looked down, suddenly embarrassed. "It's stupid, never mind."
"It's not stupid, trust me." She leaned on the railing beside him. "I've been there. I spent a year on my own, fighting the Dark Kingdom in London before meeting up with the rest of the Senshi."
He mulled over her words for a few seconds before his eyes popped wide open. London…Sailor Venus…Venus…V? "You were Sailor V?"
She struck a heroic pose, fingers thrust towards him in the 'victory' sign. "Yep. That feels like a lifetime ago now, though."
His respect for her, already quite high, increased just that little bit more. "Titus used you as a measuring stick for me all the time!"
"Oh, go on," she laughed, actually blushing.
"No, I'm serious! It was always 'I bet Sailor V' this, and 'do you think Sailor V' that!"
She burst out laughing. He found it almost melodic. "I'm so sorry! That sounds awful!"
"Well…it wasn't so bad. Titus' little "if that girl can do it, what's your excuse" pep talks did help me get my butt in gear."
She winked. "I'm glad I could make a positive impact on your training, however small and indirect."
"It all helps."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence for several seconds.
"Hey, Minako?"
"Yeah?"
"What is it about me that has everyone scared? What is it you all think I did in the past?"
She stared down at the ground, fidgeting nervously. "Well…"
"Please. I want to know. Hell, I feel like I need to know."
She nodded slowly. "Luna and Artemis told us that the Guardian Knights turned on Queen Serenity during the fall of the Moon Kingdom. That you sided with Metalia and Beryl, and tried to kill her. They…saw your bodies, and the queen herself told them what happened."
He was silent. Could that be true? I don't remember a thing about my previous life but…I can't have been that different. I would never side with the enemy!
"...Thanks. It's at least nice to know why I'm feared, I suppose. Not that it makes it any easier."
"That's it?"
"What else should I say?"
"You're not going to protest that you're innocent, or remind me that you don't remember any of that?"
He shook his head. "Nope."
She nodded thoughtfully, arms folded across her chest. "Well, in that case...my mind's made up."
"About?"
The blonde's cheery smile returned. "You. I don't know what you did or didn't do a thousand years ago, and I don't really care. Right now...I trust you."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." She shrugged.
"Well…thanks. I appreciate it." He gestured towards the shrine. "I just wish the others could see me the way you and Usagi do."
"You'll win them over. I'm sure of it."
"Yeah. Maybe. I just wish we had some common ground to start with."
Minako hummed thoughtfully for a few seconds. "Okay. You care about Usagi, right?"
"Of course I do. She was the first friend I made here in Japan...and she accepted me even after all this."
"Well then, silly, there's your common ground." Her blue eyes twinkled in the fading sunlight, and her smile grew wider. "I happen to know for a fact that we Sailor Senshi care a great deal about Usagi too. What do you say we get inside and figure out what else we have in common?"
Just like that, Minako had managed to turn his mood around completely. She's incredible. "Has anyone ever told you that you have an amazing ability to cheer people up?"
She shrugged again. "Yes, but nowhere near as often as they should." She took hold of his arm and started pulling him towards the shrine. "Come on, you! Let's go!"
"Alright, alright!" He followed along, and she relaxed her grip, but didn't let go. Her hands felt warm on his skin. It felt…nice. "Hey, Minako?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. Really."
"Anytime, Corey. Anytime."
"So," Luna began. "Shadow-Knight Terror. What do we know about him?"
"He's got a stupid name?" Minako offered.
Corey actually snickered.
"Mina," Artemis groaned, shaking his head.
"He appears to have the ability to generate energy attacks," Ami observed. "Back at the arcade, he threatened Corey with that ball of energy."
"Alright…good. What else?"
Usagi raised her hand. "He summons or creates those construct things."
"Great, Usagi, but this isn't school and you're our leader. You don't have to raise your hand."
"Oh, yeah."
"What else?"
"He claims to know me," Corey volunteered. "Or, at least, my previous self. The Guardian Knight of Justice."
"Yeah…" Makoto answered, eyeing him suspiciously. "And you still claim that you have no idea how or why?"
He met her gaze unflinchingly. "None."
"Right." The tall brunette shook her head. "Guess that's about it, then."
"He's working for someone else," Rei said, staring out the window at the night sky.
"Lord Revenant," Usagi added. "He made it sound like he's on his way here, too."
"That's right," Artemis agreed. "You mentioned that yesterday, after the battle." He looked around the group. "What about these constructs? What's the verdict?"
"They're pretty flimsy by our usual standards," Minako shrugged. "The big one we fought at the arcade was much tougher, but the smaller ones don't take much effort to destroy. My Love Me Chain cut right through one in our first encounter. It's just hitting them that's difficult – they're really fast."
"They aren't particularly bright, either," Corey added. "They're clearly smart enough to follow orders and accomplish basic tasks, but not by much. They had numbers on us yesterday, before the rest of you arrived. They squandered their advantage by being drawn off and distracted. That works in our favour – unless they get smarter in a hurry, that is."
Luna glanced at him, and nodded approvingly. "A good observation." She turned to the girls. "They do seem susceptible enough to your attacks as well."
"Indeed," Titus said. "Perhaps Terror wasn't anticipating the Sailor Senshi, or Justice, being present here on Earth. These constructs may not have been designed with you in mind."
"That may well be it," Ami said, nodding thoughtfully. "He was surprised to see us, now that you mention it."
"The big one with swords for arms managed to survive a direct hit from me, though," Usagi pouted. "I might have to step it all the way up to a Crystal Power Kiss next time."
"You'll get it, Usagi, I know it," Luna reassured her. She turned her attention back to Corey. "Now…Corey. What specific abilities do you have as…I'm sorry, what do you prefer to be called when transformed?"
"Guardian Knight of Justice is a bit long," Minako pointed out.
"Justice works fine," he shrugged.
"Alright. What can you do as Justice? Do you have any special abilities that may be useful?
"Not really. I have my sword, and my armour, of course. I can perform a 'sword slash', I don't know if the technique has a real name."
"The energy attack you used against the first construct?" Luna asked.
"Yes." He thought for a moment. "Oh. And I can teleport over short distances, but it takes a lot of energy. It's more useful for getting around quickly than in a battle."
"I thought you'd be…I dunno…tougher," Rei admitted. "When Artemis was telling us about the Guardian Knights, and what they could do, I imagined someone a lot more…powerful, I guess. No offense."
"No, it's a fair point," he agreed. "I got the feeling after my little chat with Terror that I'm quite a bit weaker than the original Justice. He seemed to think I'd be a lot stronger." He glanced around the room at the others. "If I can make a suggestion, I'll be most useful right up front. I'm really most effective in melee combat. Maybe I can take some of the attention off of you, give you all more room to move and get off your attacks?"
"How strong is your armour?" Artemis asked, curious. "I'm wondering how much damage you can take if Terror starts throwing around attacks? You don't seem to be particularly good at avoiding them, from what I've seen so far."
Corey ignored the thinly veiled barb. "I've never really had to deal with high level energy attacks before. Most of the opponents I faced in America were melee fighters, like me."
"Perhaps we could run some tests?" Mercury suggested.
"What sort of tests?" Usagi asked.
"Well…we fire magical attacks at Corey and see how his armour handles it. In a controlled, safe environment, of course."
All eyes focused on Corey.
"What?"
Why the hell did I agree to this, again? Justice was standing in a clearing, in the wooded area that circled the shrine. The half-moon above cast a dull light over them. Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars stood opposite him. In a few moments, they were going to start taking pot-shots at him while Sailor Mercury ran scans. For science…or something like that.
"Well…might as well get started," he sighed, setting his feet. It'll be nice to know how much I can take, at least.
Usagi looked at him with concern. "Are you sure about this?"
"Kind of?"
"Don't go too hard on him," Minako called out, echoing Usagi's feelings.
"We won't," Jupiter replied, waving her off.
"Yeah, don't worry about it," Mars agreed.
"Ready whenever you are," Mercury announced, looking down at her computer through her visor.
Here goes, he thought sourly.
Jupiter was the first to attack. "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" The glowing disc sped from her hand and slammed into his chest with enough force to wind him. He glanced down and saw nothing but some black scoring.
"I'm okay!" he coughed. "Just…felt the impact. No shock."
"Alright, then, try this one. Burning Mandala!" Mars called, firing off her second weakest attack. Multiple rings of fire slammed into his chestplate, knocking him back a few steps but leaving him otherwise unharmed.
"That was…a little hot, but I'm good."
"Well…it seems that you can take more punishment than I gave you credit for," Artemis remarked.
"Sorry you're disappointed," Justice muttered.
"Corey…" Minako began.
"Step away from him!"
The shout came from the treeline. Justice reflexively drew his sword about halfway from its sheath, searching for the source of the shout. Three silhouettes appeared.
Mars peered into the darkness. "Is that…?"
Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Saturn emerged from the shadows, glaring right at Justice through narrowed eyes.
"Step back from that traitor!" Uranus repeated, her hand on her sword.
"He's not to be trusted!" Neptune agreed. Sailor Saturn nodded wordlessly in agreement.
"Not this shit again," Justice sighed. His head was starting to hurt.
"Uranus…Neptune, Saturn!" Usagi called, relief setting in. "It's okay, he's on our-"
"No, he's not," Uranus interrupted. "He's a traitor to the Moon Kingdom."
"And we're here to carry out his sentence," Neptune finished.
"Death," Saturn whispered, raising her Glaive.
"Whoa, whoa!" Usagi called, running forward to place herself between Justice and the newly arrived Senshi. "No! Corey's on our side, and you will not hurt him!"
"Usagi, this is for your own good," Uranus said firmly. "Even if he claims to be on your side now, his crimes aren't excused. Justice must be served."
"Justice," he laughed. "You mean vengeance." Something inside him snapped. He'd tried playing nice, and still he got taunts, insults and suspicion. Now, these new arrivals wanted to kill him? No more.
"No, we-"
"Show me the proof!" he demanded angrily. "Show me I'm guilty and I'll own up to it." He spun, glaring at Artemis next. "Only there isn't any real proof, is there?" His gaze turned to Jupiter, then Mars. "Only half-truths and barely remembered conversations from a thousand years ago!" He ignored Minako's frantic 'stop' gestures. "The fact is, I've done nothing but try and help since I arrived here, and so far, with a few exceptions, I've been treated like the enemy! Frankly, I'm sick of it!" He turned back to the Outers and drew his sword. "If you want to act as judge, jury and executioner, you're welcome to try! But I warn you…I won't make it easy!"
AN: Thanks to everyone for the reviews and feedback on the last chapter. It really helps keep me on track.
The Outer Senshi finally make an appearance! They seem gruff, but they mean well, as always. Yes, another chapter without any real action scenes but I felt like the story needed a little break from all the heavy plot elements and reveals over the last couple of chapters - hopefully it wasn't too fluffy. Things will start heating up again next chapter as Justice faces off against the Outers!