The late afternoon sun cast long, dappled shadows across Azabu-Juban Central Park, but Mamoru's gaze remained fixed on the sky above. Clutched in his hand was a book on crystals, forgotten. The waning crescent moon, just a faint sliver of white against the deep blue, tugged at his thoughts. There was something unsettling about the moonlight, a feeling like the tension before a storm. It carried an eerie weight, as if the light itself had been tarnished, more stone than crystal.
Bone weary, he leaned against the bench, letting his thoughts drift with the breeze that rustled the leaves overhead. His mind wandered, as it often did these days, to the princess in his dreams—her silvery hair, her haunting blue eyes, the way she called out to him across an endless void.
Her ethereal form, shrouded in a soft glow, was a constant in his restless nights. The desperation in her voice, the way her eyes seemed to hold the weight of an unnamed burden, haunted him.
He could never quite reach her, never quite save her, and the frustration gnawed at him.
But now another image kept intruding: a pair of bright blue eyes framed by long blonde hair tied up in distinctive buns. Mamoru shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
How could he be so captivated by someone whose name he didn't even know?
That wasn't even the biggest problem. Sailor Moon lurked there as well. Now guilt flooded his body. Not only was he betraying the princess once, but twice.
"The demon bus…" A nearby voice caught his attention.
Mamoru perked up, listening intently as two high school girls gossiped on a nearby bench.
"It's so freaky, I almost don't want to get on a bus anymore!"
"I know! There are even a ton of missing students."
"They're even elementary students missing."
"No! Those poor kids."
"They're going to need years and years of therapy."
Mamoru frowned, his chest tightening, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The reports of missing students had been all over the news lately. If the authorities didn't solve it, then Sailor Moon would become involved.
And that terrified him.
The thought of her in danger made every muscle in his body tense. All he wanted to do was protect her, to keep her safe from whatever evil lurked in the shadows. Unconsciously, he squeezed the book until the spine cracked.
But that desire felt like a betrayal—to the princess in his dreams, to the mysterious girl who had captured his attention. With a start, Mamoru relaxed his grip on the book, sliding it into his bag. There was only one way to ease his troubled mind.
He'd spend the afternoon riding the so-called "demon bus," hoping to solve this mystery before Sailor Moon had to put herself in harm's way.
Mamoru stood at the stop, watching with a mixture of dread and anticipation as the 666 bus approached. It loomed over the street, casting shadows that seemed too dark across the sidewalk. The familiarity of the driver struck him again as he stepped onto the bus. But he hadn't been able to remember.
The sun dipped lower on the horizon, hues of orange and pink splashed over the sky, highlighting the clouds in a stunning display of color. He settled into a seat near the back, his eyes scanning each passenger, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
The bus jolted forward, its engine humming a low, monotonous tone.
Lost in thought, Mamoru almost missed the whirlwind of blonde hair and energy that plopped down in the seat next to him. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the girl with the distinctive odango hairstyle. She let out a dramatic sigh, seemingly oblivious to his presence.
"If anything happens to us, it's totally your fault," the girl said. "You're the one who pressured me to get on this cursed bus, Luna. I'll be so mad if I miss dinner."
"It's all right," someone said.
He looked about, trying to determine where the other voice came from. With a start, his eyes settled on the black cat in her lap. Mamoru blinked in surprise. Was she talking to her cat?
"It's only 5:00 pm. We've got a full hour before the indicated time."
"Hrump. It's still scary!"
"And if something does happen, you have the communicator."
"Yeah, yeah, Ami will come. She always comes, right? Reassure me."
Now he believed. The cat was talking back.
Meow! Meow!
"What is it, Luna? You're being annoying, just talk already. You know I hate it when I have to translate cat. It hurts my brain."
Mamoru couldn't help but smile at her animated expressions and the carefree way she conversed with Luna. There was something refreshingly genuine about her, a stark contrast to his somewhat brooding thoughts. Almost like she was light to his dark… No, he couldn't think that way.
"That's right, Luna," he said. "Go ahead and talk some more."
Slowly, the girl turned to face him. And he almost burst out laughing. Her eyes were wide, mouth gaped open, red creeping up her cheeks. Mamoru found her flustered state oddly endearing. There was an innocence and purity to her reactions that he found captivating.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The sound smashed into him like a brick wall, and he took off his glasses to make sure the lenses weren't cracked. "Well, bun-head, that's a sound. But I don't know why you have to shriek. We meet each other a lot."
Her face shifted through several emotions, all clearly visible, before settling into an expression of shock.
"WHAT! Are you doing here?" she screeched.
"I'm taking the bus from school."
"No way! I can't believe you're in middle school. Honestly, I would have pegged you a little older. Then again, you have the sophisticated bone structure going on."
He puffed, a little proud she thought he looked so good. "Almost, I'm a high-school student."
For some reason, he wasn't exactly sure why. He pulled out his student ID and showed her.
"Mamoru Chiba."
A surge of heat rushed through him as she spoke his name, the sound of it igniting something deep inside. He couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to hold her close, to feel her breath on his skin, to lose himself in the softness of her lips. But just as quickly, the thought filled him with guilt. There would be no giving in—not when his heart was still bound to the princess who haunted his dreams.
Her eyes lit up. "Mamoru Chiba? Great name, your name means protector of earth. That's so cool! You could be a dashing hero in a manga!"
Everything about her seemed to be made of sparkles and enthusiasm. What would it be like to be with her forever? Would everything remain bright and new? Was the princess in his dreams like her? There was no way to know. No way he'd ever know.
When he realized she was still looking at him, with those wide, perfect eyes, he cleared his throat. "It does. Though I'm not sure I live up to it."
"Psh! I bet you do!" she exclaimed. "You've already protected earth twice." She giggled. "Whenever I throw paper, you make me pick it up."
Somehow, he was smiling more in these last few minutes than the entire previous year. "I guess you're right."
A troubled expression clouded her face, and he desperately wanted to keep that burden from her. There was a courage in her, he realized, not the brash kind, but a gentle bravery that faced fear with hope. And he wanted to know her more.
"Do you know about the demon bus?"
He frowned and took off his glasses. "I've heard the rumors. It's this line, right?"
"Yes."
"There have been a lot of strange instances lately."
He glanced over at her, and she was staring at him. There was a strange introspective tightness around her eyes, like she was trying to decide something. Time passed as they stared into each other's eyes. There was something… something about them.
They seemed to sparkle, an alluring blue, as vibrant as the summer sky. There was no fear, nothing but an electric spark of excitement.
As if realizing something, her cheeks burst into vibrant red before she turned away. The last rays of sunlight dipped lower, casting a radiant glow across her profile, and for a moment, she looked strikingly like Sailor Moon. The resemblance was uncanny.
"Guardian of justice," he muttered under his breath, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
"Ehh?!"
Mamoru backpedaled quickly, realizing his mistake. "Nothing, nothing at all."
"Next, Sendaizakaue. Exit here for Hikawa Shrine," the recorded voice announced.
Without waiting another instant, the girl leaped to her feet, clutching her cat. He held out his hands, unwilling to see her topple to the floor if the bus lurched unpredictably.
"Well, this is my stop! Gotta go!" her words came out in a rush, and she darted towards a door.
Mamoru stared after her, more intrigued than ever. As the bus pulled away, he watched her get further away. With each second that passed, the ache behind his left ribs pulsed just a little stronger, a little fiercer. The girl's laughter, her boundless energy, the way she wore her heart on her sleeve—it all left him with a warmth he couldn't quite explain.
With a start, he realized that he still didn't know her name. Yet somehow she continued to leave indelible marks on his heart.
The soft chime of the shrine bells did little to soothe Rei's troubled mind. The familiar scent of incense and aged wood that usually brought her comfort now felt cloying, almost suffocating. She stood at the top of the steps, her miko robes billowing gently in the evening breeze, watching as the police officer approached.
"Good evening, Miss Hino."
"Officer," she bowed slightly.
"We'll be installing the surveillance cameras in two days. They'll go in around the perimeter, mostly facing the street and bus stop."
Rei's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. The idea of cold, unfeeling cameras invading this sacred space felt like a violation. But with the growing number of missing, she had no choice but to cooperate.
"Your grandfather has already given permission."
"You won't damage the trees, correct?" she asked.
"No, we have special straps that won't damage them."
"Thank you, officer."
He tipped his head and turned away. Rei stayed still, watching twilight deepen, watching the shadows crawl across the shrine grounds. When did this happen? When had this sacred space been so tainted by the evil of the world?
Would it ever end? Would it ever end, or would stone slowly devour them until nothing remained?
A commotion snapped her out of her thoughts. A group of women approached with worry and barely concealed suspicion etched on their faces. Desperation lingered along the edges, and Rei wanted to erase it all. But that was beyond her.
Leading the pack, Rei recognized Mii's mother. "We're hoping that you can use your psychic powers."
"Divine, where our children have gone."
"My daughter's been missing for three days!"
"My poor little boy, he can't sleep without his stuffy. What's happened to him?"
"You have spiritual powers, Rei-san. Please!"
The weight of their expectations pressed down on her like a physical force. She wanted to help, desperately wanted to ease their pain, but the visions that had been plaguing her were fragmented, confusing. The more she tried to focus on them, to find the children, the more elusive they'd become.
Now the visions were always of the man, fleeting glimpses of the bus. Nothing more.
"I can't use my spiritual sense to pinpoint locations. It will be better to rely on the police."
"Isn't this what you're supposed to help with?" Mii's mother almost shouted. "You're supposed to be friendly and helpful. We are patrons of this shrine."
"I haven't seen your grandfather in ages!"
"And what about those exorcisms rites you practice?"
"Isn't it because of you that my daughter was spirited away?"
Rei flinched back as if struck. The accusation stung, not because it was true, but because she feared it might be. She regularly channeled powerful spiritual forces. Had she somehow offended the kami? Was this the result of impurity in her own heart?
Was all this her fault? No, it couldn't be. She'd always worked so hard to remain pure, to appease the gods while staying faithful. Were they punishing her for some transgression?
"P—please, just go home!"
As the confrontation escalated, Rei's grandfather appeared, his small frame radiating a calming presence. With great skill, he gently dispersed the group of mothers, and when they were gone, he turned to Rei. Concern creased his weathered face.
"Rei, are you alright?"
The simple question was enough to crack her carefully maintained composure. Tears welled up in her eyes as she shook her head. "Grandfather, I'm… I'm haunted. The visions, the dreams… they won't leave me alone. And now, with all these missing children… I'm helpless."
Her grandfather nodded, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "The kami speaks to you for a reason, Rei. Go to the sacred fire. Let it guide you. Trust that connection, it's never lead you astray before."
Rei nodded but found herself strangely reluctant. Since the fire burned her, she'd been almost afraid of it. But she knew that she'd need to face it sooner or later. Casting a quick glance up at the moon, she turned and made her way to the fire room.
The familiar space, with its ancient wood and the ever-present scent of burned wood and smoke, usually brought her peace. But tonight, an undercurrent of foreboding tinged the air.
Kneeling before the sacred fire, she let its warmth embrace her. Rei took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She'd barely begun to focus when the flames roared to life, higher and more intense than she'd ever seen before.
The world dissolved, replaced by a hellish landscape of darkness and stone. Through the shadow, Rei saw her. A girl with long blonde hair tied up in distinctive buns, dressed in a sailor uniform. Sailor Moon. But this wasn't the confident guardian Rei had seen before. This Sailor Moon was battered, her uniform torn and singed, blood etched across her face, fear pulling her features tight.
Opposing her stood a man Rei knew. The man from her dreams, his hair gleaming like polished gold in the firelight. His eyes were cold, devoid of mercy, reflecting the flames like pools of molten lava.
"You're here, Princess."
The air crackled with dark energy, making her skin crawl. The metallic taste of blood and fear coated her tongue, and the only sound was the labored breathing of Sailor Moon.
With inhuman speed, the man moved, his hands shooting out like viper strikes. Fingers closed around Sailor Moon's throat, and somehow, Rei felt the pressure around her own neck. Choking. Suffocating. Draining her life.
Sailor Moon's eyes widened, filled with a primal terror that shook Rei's core. Desperately, the gloved hands clawed at his grip, her legs kicking frantically. Each gasp of breath was a knife in Rei's heart.
His face twisted into a cruel smile, his grip tightening. Rei wanted to scream, to look away, but she couldn't. Instead, she remained frozen, forced to watch as the life drained from Sailor Moon's eyes.
With a sickening finality, Sailor Moon's body went limp. He released her, and she crumpled to the ground like a broken doll. Now, her once vibrant eyes were dull and lifeless.
The vision shattered like glass, leaving her gasping and trembling before the sacred fire. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it would break bone. A cold sweat drenched her body, and she tasted bile in the back of her throat.
Unable to bear it any longer, she scrambled to her feet and fled. Running blindly, desperate to escape the horror. Bursting out of the doors, she didn't stop. Couldn't stop. Her ravens cawed, a frantic sound that only fueled her flight.
She had to prevent Sailor Moon's death, why she didn't know. All she knew was that she had to do everything in her power to see that Sailor Moon survived.
In the gathering darkness, the image of Sailor Moon's lifeless body haunted every shadow. The heat of the fire guided her down the stairs, around the corner, down the street. Somehow, she found herself at the bus stop, gulping in the air, her entire body shaking.
Shadow passed over her, and she looked up.
He sat behind the wheel. The man from her dreams was there.
"I wish you'd never come," he said.
But before she could react, a wave of dizziness washed over her. One step. The fire dimmed. Two steps. The flames extinguished.
"Now board my bus." The voice was distant.
"Board the 'Via Alternate Dimension' bus that will bring you to our castle." The voice was cold.
Behind her, the doors slid shut with a hiss of finality. The fog conquered her at last, leaving nothing but icy darkness.