As Usagi and Mamoru are having lunch with her parents and as Ami, Makoto, Minako, Kun, Neph, Luna, and Artemis are going through the Moon Kingdom gathering information, Rei finally realizes what her heart already knows and accepts that decision. What is that decision?
(Sunday Evening)
Jadeite wore a disguise as he made his way toward Hikawa Shrine where he knew Sailor Mars lived with her grandfather. Per Queen Beryl's orders, he should have stayed away from the Sailor Guardians and just located the dark prince, Prince Endymion, and his fellow general, Kunzite, but he couldn't help himself. The Sailor Guardians have crossed him too many times, and he planned on giving it back to them three fold which included the two Sailor Guardians he had yet to meet. In his book, they were just as bad as the three he had already met.
Jadeite walked into the shrine and put his plan in motion.
xXx
With Yuuichirou's assistance, Rei had done their daily chores around Hikawa Shrine. It pushed the decision between Jadeite and Yuuichirou out of her head for a little while. She always had forgotten how hard of a worker Yuuichirou was until she worked with him.
When they were done, Rei turned to him. "Thank you for help," she told him.
Yuuichirou smiled at her. "It's my pleasure," he said. Then he remembered about Friday and her sitting in front of the Great Fire. "Have you come to a decision about what you were contemplating on Friday night?"
Rei shook her head, not surprised he would follow up with her about it. "I haven't," she told him. "Everytime I think I have made my decision, I backtrack every time."
"Rei, you're a very passionate person," Yuuichirou told her, "especially if it's with the people you love, which is why you buttheads with Usagi so often."
Rei sighed, actually not surprised he had noticed that about her. "You noticed that, did you?" she asked.
Yuuichirou laughed. "You're very protective over the ones you love," he said. "The more you love the more protective you are."
"I suppose I am," Rei agreed.
"But you're also very passionate about what you do," Yuuichirou said.
"Because I'm protective of the ones I love," Rei said, understanding his character analysis of her. She wasn't sure if she liked how easily he nailed her down.
"Exactly," Yuuichirou said. He understood he was dangerous territory, but he wanted her to know what he thought. He thought it was important for her to know.
Rei stopped and thought about what Yuuichirou was telling her. She doubted she could be more protective of anyone than Usagi, and she really makes one work for it. Rei knew Usagi believed everyone deserves her whole heart and still had so much to give which is why so many people were drawn to her. She sighed and wondered how she could be that open with anyone, to be that much in love with anyone.
Rei knew Usagi and Mamoru had that kind of love. They are that open with each other because they are that much in love with each other. Mamoru wouldn't open up to just anyone unless he knew his feelings were one hundred percent reciprocated. She smirked then. Even during their past lives, Princess Serenity did fall first, and Prince Endymion fell harder which would make him that much more determined to protect her.
Rei wondered if she could love Yuuichirou like that or if she could love Jadeite that much. It hurt her to think about such matters. However, her heart already knew the answer; it was just getting her head to agree with what her heart already knew. Her head has to get over the fact she's going to break one of their hearts.
Rei realized that was exactly it. She understood what the answer was and understood she was going to hurt this sweet man who had done nothing but who he was. She was going to have to tell him how she feels, and it was a conversation she didn't want to have with him.
xXx
Miles away, in a small apartment, Ryo was sitting at his desk going over his English notes when the vision hit him. He cried out in pain and closed his eyes as the vision continued.
When the vision was over, he said, "Rei. Rei needs help." He stumbled out of his room and down the hallway toward the phone in the living room. Without thinking, he dialed a phone number of someone who he knew would help and be able to get over to Hikawa Shrine quickly.
xXx
At the Tsukinos' residence, Ikuko and Kenji were eating lunch while Usagi and Mamoru went over the research Kenji had collected, not just of Jae Taitou and Zoi Saitou, but also of Kun Shin and Neph Sanjouin. They were both very impressed by the data Kenji had collected.
"Dad, you have made our lives so much easier," Usagi said. "I really appreciate you giving us a chance to look at this while you're eating."
"I still think you should at least let me tell Yoshi his son is alive if nothing else," Kenji said, referring to Kun's father, Detective Yoshi Shin. He was already on the verge of making the decision himself and informing him anyway.
"Dad, we talked about this," Usagi said before Mamoru could get his back up. She knew she was going to have to run interference here because she knew Mamoru or her father would not agree on this subject. It did not help that Mamoru had grown up as an orphan.
While Usagi and Kenji argued over letting Detective Shin know Kun is alive, the phone rang. Ikuko rolled her eyes and stood up to walk over to the phone to answer. "Tsukino residence," she said into the mouthpiece.
"Mrs. Tsukino, I am Ryo Urawa," Ryo said as a greeting. "I know you know, and I need to speak with Usagi immediately. It's important."
Ikuko swallowed the lump in her throat and looked into the dining room. "Usagi, phone," she said. "It's Ryo. He said it's important."
The minute Ikuko said Ryo's name, both Usagi and Mamoru were in front of Ikuko. As it was Usagi's house, Mamoru conceded to Usagi to let her take the phone from Ikuko.
"Ryo?" Usagi questioned. "What's up?"
"Rei's next," he said. "Usagi, there's more. Jadeite's alive."
"But I thought…"
"It hasn't all come to me," Ryo told her. "I just know he's after her."
"Right, where?" Usagi said.
"Hikawa Shrine," Ryo told her. "I'll meet you there." Then he hung up the phone.
Usagi put the phone in the receiver and looked up at Mamoru. "We need to get to Hikawa Shrine now," she told him. "Rei's next, and somehow Jadeite's alive."
For the second time that day, Usagi and Mamoru transformed in front of Usagi's parents.
"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"
Mamoru conjured the rose.
They transformed into Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, respectively.
While Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask jumped from light post to light post toward Hikawa Shrine, Sailor Moon let Tuxedo Mask take the lead as she contacted Minako on her communicator. She prayed they were back from the Moon Kingdom if they ever did find it.
xXx
One by one, Ami, Makoto, Neph, Luna, Artemis, Minako, and Kun, walked out of the ethereal door. The girls looked at the door, and they did feel a little bit melancholy about the fact they could no longer feel the pull. Everyone, the Sailor Guardians, the Shitennou Knights, and the cats, was still a little raw from the trip to the Moon Kingdom.
"It's gone, isn't it?" Minako finally managed to ask Makoto and Ami. "The pull? None of us are feeling it?"
"Yes," Makoto said.
"We should contact Usagi, Rei, Mamoru, and Ryo," Ami had informed the group. "And let them know what happened while we were at the Moon Kingdom." Her mind was back on Zoisite and Ryo, and wondering how she could pick between a true love from her past life and someone she had felt such a profound bond to in this life.
As Minako reached for her communicator to contact the others, her communicator went off. "This is Minako," she said automatically, into the communicator.
"Minako, get to Hikawa Shrine," she heard Usagi say. "According to Ryo, Rei's next. We're already on our way there."
"We're on our way, too," Minako said as she watched Neph and Kun walk over to the bus schedule where they needed to get off instead of where they had decided earlier.
Once when the bus was at their stop, they got off the bus and ran in the direction of Hikawa Shrine, which was just miles away from their bus stop.
Minako looked around to see if it was clear which it was, then looked over at her friends and the love of her life. She noticed they already had their transformation wands out and ready. With a nod, she said, "Venus Power, Make Up!"
"Mercury Power, Make Up!"
"Jupiter Power, Make Up!"
"Nephrite Power, Make Up!"
"Kunzite Power, Make Up!"
When they were all transformed, they, along with Luna and Artemis, continued to run in the direction of Hikawa Shrine, and they were all hoping they would make it in time.
xXx
Ten minutes after Usagi and Mamoru left the Tsukino Residence, Kenji made sure Ikuko was busy elsewhere in the house before he made a very important phone call on the downstairs phone. "I'm picking you up in ten minutes," he told the person on the other line. "I've got something to show you. Trust me, you're going to want to see this. I'll see you in ten minutes." Kenji placed the phone on the receiver, picked up his car keys, and walked out of the house. It was the first time, since they had married, he left the house without letting his wife know where he was going. If it panned out, then he would make it up to both Ikuko and Usagi.
xXx
Jadeite was walking around Hikawa Shrine; he didn't want to attack just anyone. He wanted Rei, specifically, and he couldn't find her which irritated him to no end. Months ago, he worked here before, so he knew his way around as well as every nook and cranny at the shrine. He really hoped she was still here and not out doing errands; Her grandfather was prone to sending her off.
Just as Jadeite's hopes were being dashed, he saw her talking with a scruffy looking priest in training. The best part to him was she wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into him.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Rei said, automatically, before looking up to see who she had bumped into. When she did finally look up at him, she recognized him instantly and stiffened.
"Rei, is everything alright?" Yuuichirou asked, noticing her reaction.
"Oh, everything is just perfect," Jadeite said as he took Rei into his arms.
"Yuuichirou, run!" Rei yelled. "Go find Grandpa! Go!"
"Oh, I don't think so, Sailor Mars," Jadeite said and then flicked his arm so ice blasted toward Yuuichirou's feet. "I'm going to make him watch."
Rei took his arm as she remembered the defensive attack Makoto taught her. She hit his solar plexus, did the instep, smashed his nose, and flung her arms against his groin. "I don't think so, Jadeite," she said when he had released her to double over in pain for a moment. She knew it would only give her a moment. She knew what she had to do, and it was either transform in front of Yuuichirou or both she and Yuuichirou would both die. She opted to transform. She had her wand in her hands before she realized she had it, raised it, and yelled, "Mars Power, Make Up!"
After she transformed, Yuuichirou couldn't help, but stare at Sailor Mars dumbfounded. "Rei, what?" he said with such confusion.
"I'm sorry, Yuuichirou; I couldn't tell you," Sailor Mars told him. She aimed toward his feet. "Fire Soul!"
The fire melted the ice, just leaving a puddle of water in its wake. "Thanks," Yuuichirou said.
"Go," Sailor Mars commanded him. "Find Grandpa and stay away from here until I or one of the others find you. I have to deal with Jadeite."
"Isn't he the same one who worked here months ago?" Yuuichirou said as he stared down at the man with curiosity.
"I promise I will explain everything to you and Grandpa later, Yuuichirou," Sailor Mars said, knowing he would tell her grandfather everything. She was getting increasingly desperate to get him out of the way, so she could deal with Jadeite herself. "Just go find Grandpa and stay away from here. This is my fight."
Yuuichirou was about to argue the point, but he saw the look in Sailor Mars's eyes. She was pleading with him to get out of the way. As much as he didn't want to leave, she knew exactly what she was asking him to do and how much it would cost him. "Take every care," he told her. He brushed her hair out of the way and kissed her temple. "I'll find your grandfather and keep him safe."
The gesture touched Sailor Mars's heart, but she knew her heart and her mind were already made up. "Thank you," she said. "If my friends come, point them in this direction."
Yuuichirou nodded and then left the area on a run. He knew automatically she would get him out in the open, so he used the covered areas to search for her grandfather.
"Okay, Jadeite," Sailor Mars said as she faced him. "It's just you and me now, and just remember everything that is ice, I can just melt."
"And don't forget it's not my only power," Jadeite fired back, recovering from her defensive attack. He got up, jumped back, kneeled, and laid his hands on the ground. From the granite they walked on, he used the clay to make several minions.
"You really think that scares me, Jadeite?" Sailor Mars asked him.
Jadeite looked up at her from where he kneeled. "Maybe not," he said, "but they certainly will."
The clay minions formed into samurai warriors wielding swords, lances, bows and arrows, or maces.
"That's cute, Jadeite," Sailor Mars said. "But it's going to take more than that to defeat me." She surveyed the warriors that had formed from clay. Even though she hadn't contacted them, she had this sense her friends were nearby. She hoped she could hold him off long enough until they could get here.
xXx
Ikuko finally came downstairs looking for Kenji. "Kenji, I need your help with…" When she saw his keys missing in the bowl near the phone, Ikuko rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what her husband was planning and hoped he would get an earful.
Ikuko went back upstairs to continue the rest of the chores around the house. As she did so, she just wished she could see the scene play out.
xXx
Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask had gotten to Hikawa Shrine before Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, Kunzite, Nephrite, Luna and Artemis, but only just barely.
They had climbed up the steps, and the first one to release an attack was Sailor Mercury. "Bubble Spray!"
It gave time for Sailor Mars to breathe as her friends ran to her and could also help her regroup. "Are you okay?" Sailor Moon asked her.
"I've been better," Sailor Mars said. She wasn't surprised her friends were able to find her through Sailor Mercury's mist.
"I thought Beryl had frozen him and placed him into an eternal sleep," Kunzite said from behind the girls.
"Well, she unfroze him and awake now," Sailor Mars said between her teeth, already annoyed enough she had to play defense against Jadeite. "What am I supposed to do here?" She looked over at Sailor Moon. "It's my turn, isn't it? Ryo's the one who told you I needed help. That's how you got here so fast even before I had a chance to contact you guys."
"Why didn't you contact us yourself?" Sailor Venus asked.
"Because I immediately got attacked by this idiot here," Sailor Mars said, referring to Jadeite, "and I also had to make sure that Yuuichirou got out of the way."
"You mean Yuuichirou saw you transform," Luna said, eyeing the Sailor Guardian of Passion.
"I had no choice, Luna," Sailor Mars said. "He's a civilian, and my priority was to keep Jadeite's focus on me. It was either both of our deaths or I transform. I took the lesser of two evils."
"And he's not the only civilian who knows someone's identity," Sailor Moon said. "My dad cornered both me and Tuxedo Mask during lunch."
"Great," Luna said sarcastically. "Anything else we need to clean up?"
"Luna, we don't have time for this," Artemis told her. "We have to deal with Jadeite now. Any idea how to deal with Jadeite?"
"I have an idea," Kunzite said. He looked over at Nephrite and Tuxedo Mask who knew exactly what he was talking about and nodded. He looked over at Sailor Mars. "I need your help too."
"Because I'm next right?" Sailor Mars asked him.
Kunzite only nodded. "Partially, but trust me, Mars," he said. "Can you do that? Do you trust me?"
Sailor Mars looked over at Sailor Venus who nodded. "I do because she does," she told him. "What do you need me to do?"
"Be yourself," Kunzite said. He looked over at Sailor Venus and thought about yesterday when he remembered her. All she did for him was be herself.
"Mercury, now!" Tuxedo Mask said.
After Sailor Mercury's Bubble Spray had dissipated on her command, Sailor Mars noticed the clay warriors who had been ping ponging her around like a ragdoll were no longer around. She didn't trust it and knew how sneaky Jadeite could be, so she kept her eyes peeled knowing her friends would do the same.
"I see you have reinforcements," Jadeite said. "And I see one has been resurrected and three of you have switched sides. Queen Beryl will be very disappointed."
"How about Prince Endymion?" Kunzite asked as he summoned his sword. It was the first part of his plan, and he knew Tuxedo Mask and Nephrite would understand and let him take the lead. "Don't you think he would be disappointed?"
"What about Queen Beryl?" Jadeite countered. "Doesn't she deserve our loyalty?"
Kunzite looked at him in disgust and incredulity. "Our loyalty!?" he couldn't help but spat out. "Jadeite, Beryl froze you and killed Zoisite. If I hadn't been healed and went back empty handed, she would've killed me too. Does that sound like someone who deserves our loyalty?"
"Prince Endymion had more love for us than she ever has," Nephrite confirmed. "Jadeite, she brainwashed us."
"I don't believe you," Jadeite said angrily.
"It's the truth," Kunzite said.
"And Jadeite," Tuxedo Mask said after he locked eyes with Sailor Moon who nodded, letting him know she was ready. "I am Prince Endymion if Beryl hadn't already told you."
"And I am Princess Serenity," Sailor Moon said.
With those introductions, both Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask turned into Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion. Princess Serenity held the Moon Stick while Prince Endymion held the Terrain Cane.
"Does Jae Taitou mean anything to you?" Prince Endymion asked Jadeite, hitting him with his identity in this life.
"What about Genko or Keiyuu?" Princess Serenity asked remembering those where his parents' names were in the file her father had shared with them. If it were her, she couldn't bear not remembering Ikuko or Kenji.
"You have been busy," Artemis commented.
"Where did you get this information from anyway?" Luna asked.
"Later," Princess Serenity promised her. However, she walked toward Prince Endymion, and when she got to him, she took his hand and held on. "Does any of that sound familiar?"
At that very moment, the clay warriors appeared and started attacking whoever was closest to them.
Princess Serenity took her Moon Stick and raised it above her head still holding on to Prince Endymion, borrowing some of his strength combining it with hers, and the clay warriors turned to dust in an instant. "You want to try that again, Jadeite?" Princess Serenity asked.
"When it was just me, Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars, you were a lot to handle," Sailor Mercury continued.
"Now with their love and combined power, Jadeite, you're just child's play," Sailor Mars finished.
Jadeite used the last resource he had. It was the last attack he had left, and he hit everyone with ice. He was starting to feel cornered, and he didn't like it and threw everything he had into this attack.
Sailor Mars was prepared for his attack and had already started her own attack and shouted, "Fire Soul!"
The ice melted again.
"We can keep going through this vicious circle, Jadeite, because we're both stubborn enough to keep going through it," Sailor Mars told him. "Or you can listen to what we have to say. Just hear us out."
Kunzite stared at Sailor Mars, realizing she was breaking down his defenses. This wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but if it worked, he wasn't going to complain at all. However, he did watch Jadeite carefully as he was making his decision. He knows his comrade and knows how stubborn he could be.
Sailor Mars watched Jadeite arguing with himself internally. "Please, Jadeite," she begged him. Normally, she wouldn't beg, not like this, but she knew, if this was ever the occasion to do so, it would be now. Her heart depended on the decision, and because it did, she found herself walking toward him. "Listen to us. Listen to what Prince Endymion and Princess Serenity have to say. Listen to what the other Shitennou Knights have to say. Please."
When she had reached him, Sailor Mars reached out and took Jadeite's hand with both of hers. "Please."
Jadeite was on the verge of resisting, but he looked into Sailor Mars's eyes. He saw the passion and the honesty in her violet eyes. It sparked something in him, something he was powerless to fight against. "Alright," he said. "I'll listen." He looked over at Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion. "You seem to have knowledge of my life here. What do you know?"
xXx
At the entrance of the Hikawa Shrine, Kenji and Detective Yoshi Shin stood at the base of the stairs.
Yoshi towered over Kenji in height in his athletic form packed in a suit. His white hair that he had passed on to his son was tied in a neat man bun. "I don't know why you brought me all the way out here, Kenji," Yoshi said. "I have better things to worry about than helping you get a scoop for your magazine." He sighed knowing that was a bit harsh.
Yoshi hated journalists with a passion, but Kenji had the utmost respect for law and order. Always coming to him with a lead for him to follow, and nine times out of ten, it panned out. Most of the time, he knew that was why he gave Kenji more than most journalists.
"Besides, aren't you an editor now?" Yoshi asked. "You don't need my help to get promotions anymore."
"Yoshi, I've appreciated everything you have done for me at the magazine," Kenji said. It was similar ground they have gone over before in the past, but most of it was just bluster. "You know how you asked me to look into the disappearance of your son?"
Yoshi stopped and looked at him. "Kenji, it's been months since Kun was last seen," he said. He already lost faith in the fact he would ever see his son alive, but he wouldn't want to see him dead either. The love of a father for his children is not to be trifled with, and he knew nobody understood that feeling more than another father like Kenji. "The trail has gone cold, and we both know it wasn't much of a trail. You know as well as I that it's crucial to find evidence within the first forty-eight hours. There wasn't any."
Even thinking about Nobuko, Kun's mother and his wife's reaction when K.O. University had told them their son had missed several classes. It broke both of their hearts. For months, she had gone to the university to question other students and his friends. The students and his friends didn't know where he could be, but they all had told her he was going to the library to study for an exam he had that had been a few days. Of course, they could tell her he already knew the material backward and forward, but he just wanted to brush up on it. Yoshi knew that was how Kun worked. It broke his wife's heart though she couldn't find any new information, and she was repeatedly told there wasn't any new information.
Then, Yoshi received a call from Kenji this afternoon telling him he was going to pick up because he needed to show him something. Now, he's talking about Kun. He wanted to have hope, but he was afraid to reach out for it. His first reaction was to just push it aside because he didn't want to have it and didn't want to give that burden of hope to Nobuko either. If he had known it was about Kun, he may have told Kenji that he didn't want to hear about it.
Kenji smirked. "Yoshi, I'm going to tell you that he and Mamoru Chiba are up these stairs," he told his friend.
"Hikawa Shrine?" Yoshi asked with a huff. "We're not religious." Then furrowed his eyebrows. "And didn't you say that one of Usagi's friends lives here and is training as a priestess?"
Kenji chuckled. "Not surprised you remembered all of that," he told him. "There's a lot of interconnecting things when I finally got the truth out of Usagi this afternoon."
Yoshi looked at his friend curiously. "Are you going to tell me that Usagi, your sweet natured daughter with so much love she doesn't know what to do with it, is somehow wrapped in this, Kenji?" he asked. The more Kenji spoke the more ridiculous everything had sounded.
"Did you say Mamoru Chiba?" Yoshi asked when the name clicked. "The boy you and Ikuko wanted to adopt? Usagi knows him?" He looked at Kenji. "Kenji, what the hell is going on? What does Usagi have to do with Kun's disappearance? What does Usagi's friend have to do with this? What does Mamoru have to do with this?"
Kenji resisted a grin knowing he had caught his friend's interest. "Once we go up these stairs, Yoshi, all of your questions will be answered," he said proudly. "I promise."
Yoshi narrowed his eyes down at him. They have known each other for too long, and he realized Kenji had spun him into his web. He hoped this lead would pan on. He couldn't deal with having his heart broken again, his hopes smashed again. "Damn you, Kenji Tsukino," he said.
Kenji did grin this time as their friendship allowed it. He considered it now more of a term of endearment. "It's going to pan out," he promised.
Together, the two of them walked up the stairs to Hikawa Shrine. Yoshi was surprised to see the Sailor Guardians and they were standing around three of Queen Beryl's generals. There was a female in a white dress and a man in armor; he thought, just by the way they held themselves, they looked like royalty. He was mildly confused at the sight.
Nobody noticed the two men coming up at first, but Kunzite, with his ears like a cat, turned to see his father and Kenji come up the stairs. He couldn't help it. "Dad!?" Kunzite uttered. His heart dropped to his stomach.
With that simple word uttered, the others turned.
Princess Serenity sighed when she saw the two men she had recognized. "Dad," she said. "We asked you to wait until we spoke to him."
Yoshi walked up to Kunzite. He couldn't help but walk toward him. His own heart in his throat. When he was in front of his son and stood in front of him, he surveyed this man. "Are you Kun?" Yoshi asked. "Are you really my son?"
"Detective Shin," Prince Endymion said, remembering his Shitennou Knight's last name and the fact his father was a police officer. "It's a little thing we like to call Glamour. When he de-transforms, you will recognize him."
However, Kunzite remembered what Minako said just this morning about recognizing his eyes. "My eyes, Dad," he said. "Look in my eyes."
When Yoshi looked into Kunzite's eyes, his throat felt thick as he recognized his son there. It felt like he couldn't speak; all he could do was gather him into his arms, not caring about what the other teenagers thought or said. "Thank God," Yoshi said. "I thought I would never see you again."
"I'm sorry," Kunzite said, returning the hug. "I'll tell you everything."
"What about this?" Sailor Venus asked, taking control of the situation. "I'll help you explain, Kunzite, Mr. Tsukino." She knew Kunzite and Kenji Tsukino would need assistance. "Jupiter, Nephrite, why don't you go find where Yuuichirou and Mars's grandfather is hiding." Someone had to go let them know it was safe. "Princess Serenity, Prince Endymion, Mars, why don't you start the ritual?"
"I guess I wasn't needed here, after all," Ryo said as he came up from the steps.