Retaliation

By Daryll Pung

Wherein nothing is black and white; only Shades Of Gray...

Rated:  R

She awoke with a gasp.

She was soaked in sweat; it chilled her.  Her sheets were all twisted around her; her raven hair clinging to her in sticky, damp strands.  Around her, the room was silent; a gentle breeze carrying night scents wafted through the open window.  Her eyes slowly focused, as her racing pulse slowed slightly.

She was seized by a fit of irrational anger, struggling violently to free herself from her tangled web of bedding.  Uttering a muffled curse, she finally fought free, and staggered to her robes, neatly folded atop a chest along the far wall, shivering in her perspiration-soaked nudity.

There were times when she really hated this priestess kick.  This was one of them.  She highly doubted any sane, rational person would care to be woken in the middle of the night by vivid nightmares of death and destruction...  And her and a few other individuals dressed strangely, and lying dead in puddles of blood.

Except in her case, she knew damn well it hadn't been a dream.

It was a premonition, a possible future.

"Dammit," she snarled, running a hand through her hair.  She chastised herself.  It wouldn't do for anyone else to hear such vulgarity coming from her mouth, not for her, Rei Hino, a priestess of this shrine.

She angrily shook her head, and slid open her door, moving quietly down the hall to get some tea.  Hopefully it would settle her enough to perform a fire reading.  She needed answers.  Irrationally, one of the most important, in her mind, was why would she be dressed in that getup, and why would she be killed?  There was something strangely familiar about the vision she had seen.  She hoped a fire reading would help.

Even if it was the middle of the damn night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Several miles away, the windows hung open on a modest two-story house, on the second floor.  The drapes billowed slightly in the breeze; the sounds of the city were muted.

That didn't make the black cat sitting on the window ledge feel any better.  As she turned her head slightly, surveying the outdoors, the moonlight briefly caught and glistened on the golden, upturned crescent moon on her forehead.  She was taut; trying to stretch her senses beyond her normal limits and catch that hint of trouble she smelled on the night air.  With no success.

Luna, the black moon cat, didn't like it one bit.

She hopped down out of the windowsill, onto the pink bunny blanket covered bed.  She gazed for a while at her charge, Usagi Tsukino, for the moment again a normal teenage girl, but secretly the defender of love and justice, and leader of the Sailor Senshi- Sailor Moon.  Her hair was done in its traditional meatball style; she had rolled around, twisting the blankets, murmuring something as she slept.

Luna blinked away the moistness in her eyes.  The awful occurrences near the North Pole still wrenched her heart.  As much as the whiny, klutzy crybaby annoyed her, and how hard she drove her, Luna loved her dearly.  She was amazed that Usagi had done what she had done, amazed, and grateful.  She would let her have her normal life, for as long as she could.

For she felt certain that time as a normal teenager would shortly be up again.

"I'm sorry, Usagi," Luna murmured quietly, careful not to speak too loud, lest Usagi or a member of her family overhear.  "I am so sorry that your life will soon become complicated once again."

Luna gave another sigh, and curled up at the foot of the bed, attempting to sleep.

She had no idea how right she really was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In a seedier section of the district, behind a bustling nightclub, a group of man-shapes abruptly popped into being.  A closer examination would reveal only one actually looked human; he was tall, and imposing, a black cloak billowing back from his gleaming black battle armor.  His dark hair was tied tight, in a ponytail; his eyes gleamed like molten silver, slowly settling into pure blackness.  The other four had a bewildering assortment of claws, tentacles, and pointed teeth.

"We are here," said the armored figure, in a low, quiet voice.  "Remember your orders:  the object is to remain unseen and kill your targets when they're alone.  Sailor Moon will be the strongest; you'll have to team up on her after the other four are dead.  Try not to kill Sailor Moon until you have that damn Ginzuishou.  Remember, although at this point they look like normal humans, they do have that untapped potential in them; you may have fun at your discretion, but if they show signs of remembering who they are, finish the job.  We also don't want to leave too many clues as to what happened, so try to mangle the bodies beyond recognition.  Now, you have been specially bred and trained for this task.  Get to it.  When you are concluded, meet back here."

At that dismissal, the four shapes turned and split up, quickly vanishing from sight.

The armored figure remained, alone, and stood motionless for a minute.  Then, a small smile creased the face of Emperor Hyanda Tel'kotya'huine of the Kurai Empire.

It has begun, A'mael, he thought.  Soon our son will be avenged!

Excellent, he heard back.  Her mental tone was thick with satisfaction and anticipation.  Not that those assassins will actually be able to acquire the crystal. 

Indeed not, Hyanda agreed.  But it is more than enough that the Ginzuishou is removed from affecting our plans, and that the future of the Lunars is placed in great jeopardy.  Of course, Sailor Pluto will be getting together some sort of reply; we still should have a few years to run amok.  Our revenge is merely begun.  I am returning now.

Good, I will be waiting, came A'mael's reply, oozing with playful sensuality.

The armored shape vanished with the same abruptness that it had arrived in.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The sun rose, dawning on another sweltering day.  People went about their business; and four who did not belong located their targets, and waited for the right time.  As the four "targets" busied themselves with various tasks and activities, it never dawned on them that it might be their final day on Earth; even the one whose time had been spent in a trance, searching the fire, who had forewarning.  If only they had known who and what they truly were, the evening's surprises might have been mitigated.  But this was not to be.

And so the sun lowered on the horizon, drawing near dinnertime...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Minako Aino hit the "play" button on her CD player, connected via extension cord to the wall outlet and sitting near the tub, full of foamy bubbles.  She eyed it for a moment, hoping the CD player would function normally, as she did go through a lot of the darn things (not that she could figure out why); she was relieved to hear music abruptly blare forth.  She grinned in anticipation; a bubble bath would sure cap off the beautiful day, followed by dinner.  She began singing along, knowing her parents were out to dinner and she had the run of the house.  This knowledge prompted her to turn the volume up further, the sound rebounding off the walls of the upstairs bathroom.

She disrobed, hanging her robe up on the back of the bathroom door, and as she turned back around, nearly tripped over the cords of her hair curler and hair dryer, also plugged in to the extension cord.  She shook her head, and resumed her singing (albeit slightly off key).  She had no way of knowing Artemis, her white cat with an upturned, golden crescent moon on his forehead, was wincing, and burying his head under a pillow; for although the door was closed, the volume was more than enough to carry it to her room, where he was.

Which caused him to miss the threat sneaking in through a downstairs window.

Ignorant of any danger, Minako continued her singing, and relaxing in the bubbles and soothing water.  She had ducked under the water when a shiver ran down her spine; a breeze caressed her bare, wet skin.

She abruptly broke surface, and wiped the water out of her eyes.  She froze, and stared at the door, which was open a crack.  Hadn't she closed it?

"Artemis?" she called out, hesitantly.  "This isn't funny."

She was reaching for a towel when a slimy tentacle abruptly wrapped itself around her neck and mouth, killing what she was about to say in a choking, muffled gasp.  Her head was tilted back, forcefully, and the creature grabbing her dropped off the ceiling and onto the floor with a light thump.  It was vaguely humanoid, but with a thick, scaly hide, and eight limbs; four were tentacles, and the others ended in sharp claws.  The evil, red eyes bored in on hers.

"The Senshi of Love, huh?" it snarled.  "I'll show ya some love, honey... at least you'll die in pleasure!"

Minako tried to scream; but couldn't; as she tried to kick or punch the damn thing, the other tentacle wrapped around her arms and her waist, pulling her closer.  Her eyes widened in fear, as two clawed hands roughly grabbed and tightly clenched her bare breasts, hard enough so the claws bit in slightly, drawing blood.  Even more horrifying was both the two tentacles that were restraining her legs but were now forcing them open, and the hardness by her femininity. 

She tried to fight back, to no avail.  She was now nearly frantic, writhing, biting, trying to lash out it any way she could; but her efforts merely resulted in the restraining tentacles and limbs tightening further.  She closed her eyes, wishing this was just some crazed nightmare brought on by too much sun...

But this was frighteningly real.  Something stirred within her, some forgotten memory...  Her vision began to go black.  She could barely breathe.  The hardness she dreaded was right outside of the most private entrance into her body...

Abruptly, just as the real horror was to begin, the claws and tentacles slacked, accompanied by a loud snarl, and multiple screeches, hissing and the shredding of flesh.  She collapsed to the ground, air rushing into her lungs.  She glanced up to see a white bundle of fur raking the back of her assailant's head, nimbly dodging the creature's attempt to dislodge it.

"Artemis!" Minako managed to gasp, ignoring the hot blood running down her belly.

For his part, Artemis had never been so enraged.  He was doing his damndest to help Minako.  The creature was now bleeding a dark greenish-black blood from a multitude of vicious scratches.

A pair of tentacles abruptly latched onto him.  He was yanked up; his hissing became a yowl as he was suddenly thrown with incredible force towards the bathroom window.  A splintering crash followed, and as the glass shattered, rage burst through Minako's system.  She struggled to her feet, as her forehead grew hot.

The creature straightened, and a grin appeared on its face.  "Where were we?" it taunted, turning back to face its target.

The grin disappeared.  A golden, glowing symbol of Venus was now on her forehead; she held her CD player in her hands.  Her defiance seemed strangely out of place; she was shivering, naked, and wet with blood, water, and slime.  And yet...

"We were at the point where you get your freakish ass out of my house!" she snarled, her expression feral.  She dropped the still-running CD player in the water, yanking simultaneously.  The extension cord made contact with his ankle at the same moment the CD player hit the water; crackling electricity surged from the contact with water as he fell in; the end result was that the hunter became the prey and was thoroughly electrocuted.

Minako screamed and jumped back as the bathroom lights flashed from the surging electricity; there were pops as the bulbs blew, and all went dark and quiet, save for the hissing of the creature's body.

It didn't move.

Minako breathed a sigh of relief, before she remembered Artemis.  "Oh no!" she gasped, grabbing her bathrobe and tightening it about her body, and racing out of the bathroom.  She slowed down slightly as she realized it was fairly dark; she must have blown the breakers for the whole house.  If that were possible...  She hastily made her way down the stairs, and out the back door to the yard.  She spotted Artemis, lying unconscious near the back fence.  The white cat was bleeding all over from cuts; his coat was more crimson than cream.  She hurried over, ignoring the glass shards slashing her feet open, and crouched.

"Oh, Artemis," she whispered.  "You saved me.  You brave cat..."

Even as she watched, his eyelids flickered, and slowly opened, accompanied by a moan.  Artemis focused his bleary eyes on her.

"You're okay!  That's a relief.  Hang on!  I'll nurse you back to health; and don't you worry, that thing is dead.  Whatever it is.  First thing I'm going to do when we get back inside is call the cops.  They'll know what to do with it," Minako smiled at the cat, reaching down to him.

His eyes went wide, and he suddenly forgot she wasn't supposed to know he could talk.  "Minako, look-"

Minako was suddenly snapped backwards, and thrown to the ground; a tentacle wrapped around her foot.

"That was a very nasty trick," growled her assailant, dragging her off the ground by her ankle and whipping her into the back wall of her house.  "Now, play time's over."

Minako tried to scream from the pain of the impact, and the breaking of her ankle, but she couldn't, as the wind was knocked out of her.  A tentacle smacked her across her face; she fell forward, onto the sharp glass shards.  The tentacles wrapped around her throat and neck; and she was flung through the wall of her house; more bones breaking with the force of the impact, and her body being further ravaged by splinters of wood and slices from wrenched piping and sharp metal.  She could barely react as it approached; she was barely conscious.

Artemis struggled to his feet; he took a few steps forward, and looked up, to see through the hole in the back wall of the house, into the now thoroughly trashed kitchen, as the creature wrapped a tentacle around Minako's neck... and twisted.  The snap was clearly audible; Minako's body gave one spasm before going limp.

Artemis could only stare in abject horror; he sagged to the ground, unable to find strength in his body.  When he looked up, all was quiet; the creature was gone, and Minako lay amongst debris and shattered dishes.

Maybe, just maybe... was she still alive?  Was there hope?

He staggered to the house, and slowly approached Minako.

Her eyes were wide open, lifeless, gazing right back at him; her head at almost a right angle to her broken, beaten, bruising, and bloody body.

Minako Aino, a.k.a. Sailor Venus...

Slaughtered.

Artemis sank to the ground, emitting a sob.  "No..." 

He had failed.  His partner was dead.  The vibrant personality he had so carefully trained and cared about throughout the years in England was now extinguished.  He had failed her.  There was no further reason for him to live...

The Moon Princess!  The Ginzuishou!  She must be warned; and surely, she would bring Minako back!  Artemis seized upon this irrational hope, and it filled him with sudden energy.  He got to his feet, and as adrenaline surged through him, he was off in a bound.

He had to warn Luna and Usagi!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Makato Kino whistled happily to herself as the sizzle of cooking vegetables filled the air.  She had brought home a fresh batch of veggies and meats; and was happily at work, creating a tasty stir-fry for her dinner.

She was going after a carrot with a paring knife as she suddenly froze; what was that noise?  She set down her knife and padded her way to the front room to check it out.  She was dressed in a t-shirt and shorts; she hadn't planned to go anywhere.

As she entered her living room, she slowed, a look of puzzlement on her face.  Her patio door was open, the drapes billowing slightly in the breeze.

Hmph.  She didn't remember leaving it open.  She walked out onto the balcony, looking around, suddenly feeling uneasy, although she wasn't sure why.  Things were quiet.

Too quiet?

Makato frowned.  Something wasn't right; or was she just allowing her imagination to get the better of her?  She turned, and stepped back in her apartment.

"Geez, girl, you're awfully damn jumpy," she grumbled to herself, closing the patio door behind her.  She turned, and examined her apartment.

Everything seemed normal...

She shook her head angrily as she returned to the kitchen.  Her imagination was running away with her; she really ought to-

A sharp searing pain, accompanied by a hot sticky wetness, ripped through her body from her lower back; she gasped as she doubled over, grabbing at the area, head spinning.  Her hand came away coated in bright crimson blood.  Hers.  She looked up.

She was not alone.  The creature looked almost human; but for its gray skin and pure white eyes, it could have been one.  In its hand, it was holding a bloody butcher knife.  She stumbled back, to the stove, as the thing advanced on her, still holding the knife.

Makato realized she had just been stabbed.

"Who or what the fuck are you?" she shouted, angrily.  "If you come any closer I'll kill you!"

"Yeah, right," it grinned, with an oily voice.  "The Senshi of Thunder, eh?  Your death will be a thunderous event, indeed."

"Senshi?" muttered Makato, blankly.

The thing leapt for her, brandishing the knife; Makato's hand closed around the handle of the cast iron skillet her vegetables had been frying in.  She ignored the pain of the severe heat scalding her hand as she swung with all her might.  There was a satisfying whang, as hot oil and vegetable matter flew across her kitchen; the creature dropped the knife and staggered back, uttering a curse.  Makato hurriedly reached for her butcher block of knives; she grabbed two, one in each hand, and turned.  The thing had one hand on the fridge, steadying itself, and one on the impact point from the skillet.  It snarled at her; and she began flinging knives at it.  Three actually struck and inflicted vicious cuts; the thing began to ooze a green-black blood.

Glasses!  Makato reached up and opened the cabinet where she kept her drinking glasses; she had just grabbed one when the thing wrapped an arm around her neck.  Her vision dimmed slightly as her air was cut off; then her forehead grew warm, and she was filled with a surge of determination.  She snarled, and reached back, smashing the glass over its head.  Its grip slackened slightly; Makato grabbed the arm, spun, and threw the creep over her shoulder, onto the center island table.  It hit hard, and she snatched up the paring knife still there and jammed it in its eye socket.  It screeched in pain, black-green ichor flying as it flailed about and removed the knife; at the same time, through its good eye, it noted the glowing symbol of Jupiter on her forehead. 

She reached for another knife, and got kicked viciously into her refrigerator for her trouble.  She winced from the blow, struggling to regain her feet, when it grabbed her ponytail, dragging her up.  Ignoring the pain, she threw her elbow back, nailing it in the stomach; and brought her leg up in between its legs.

There was an audible gasp and a groan as she was released, and Makato grabbed the asshole by the neck and flung him on the still-on stove.  Its screams echoed through her apartment.  She spun, and raced for the front door, gasping as dizziness washed over her; the loss of blood was beginning to tell.  Almost there...

There was a sound of something ripping through the air, and then another strike of searing pain in her right shoulder.  She fell to her knees, and turned her head, to stare, dumbfounded, at a knife sticking out of her shoulder; gazing in horrified fascination at the blood spurting forth.  Another fit of dizziness seized her; she barely noted her assailant coming towards her.

"You really should have left the patio door open," it growled quietly.

She gazed up at it, blinking, fighting to stay conscious.  "Why?" she couldn't help but to ask.

"Because, this wouldn't be quite that painful, then," it sneered, moving in a sudden burst of speed, wrapping both hands around her waist, lifting her, and spinning.  She was suddenly aware of a sensation of brisk motion; and then she smashed into the glass, and through, screaming from both the pain of glass shards shredding her flesh, and the most hated sensation of all-

She was flying, uncontrolled, and going to crash.  And there wasn't a thing she could do about it.

The Kurai assassin grinned even more at the loud clang that was the result of the terminal final flight of his target; it made up for the pain in his eye, although his gifted rapid healing was already dealing with that.  He could hear sirens of the human law enforcement drawing close; he had to end this quick.  He deftly leapt from the balcony, lightly landing on a garage roof, and making another quick leap to the alley.

Makato was barely conscious, lying against the side of a metal trash dumpster; her blood was smeared all over its side.  He eyed the nearby electric pole, and grinned, slowly walking over.  He reached Makato, and yanked the knife from her shoulder.  She shuddered slightly as he did so.  He took careful aim at one of the power wires, and hurled the knife with all his considerable strength.

He nailed it dead on; lights in the area went out as the wire dropped, raining sparks, the end falling right into the dumpster.  A millisecond later, it touched the side, and with a loud crack and sizzle, Makato's body was viciously ravaged by the uncontained current arcing to ground.  As she was sparking, flashing, and twitching, he walked over to the pole, punched it, and ripped a chunk out, eyeing the jagged end of the wood speculatively.  He turned, and made his way back to the smoking Makato.

"Good bye, bitch," he whispered, before ramming the chunk of splintered wood into her chest.  Blood spurted violently forth as he nailed her heart; her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Only blood.

He waited a few seconds more to confirm she was dead, and then vanished, even as a cop car skidded around the corner and into the darkening alley, a spotlight highlighting the body of a formerly beautiful and strong teenage girl.

Makato Kino, a.k.a. Sailor Jupiter...

Eliminated.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ami sighed as she sat back, stretching slightly.  She reached down to pull on a shoe, knowing her mother would be arriving soon to pick her up.  She was glad of this idea of her mother's; swimming helped her to relieve stress. 

The membership-required pool was a nice place; it was located on the third floor of the building, with one wall being nothing but windows.  Chairs and tables surrounded it; and it had nice locker rooms and showers, as well as other facilities.

Even if she always waited until everyone else had left to shower and change.

She finished dressing in her blue skirt and white blouse; pushing back her damp bangs with her hand.  She closed the locker door, and turned to see a curious phenomenon.

The steam wafting from the hot water from the showers was abruptly turning into rain and splashing to the floor.

"What?" Ami murmured, drawing close.  "How can this be?"

"It's the spirits I command," came a deep voice behind her.  "I use their undying, violent emotions to freeze whatever I wish."

Ami whirled about, and stared in shock at a vaguely human creature glaring right back at her.  Its skin had a deep blue tone; its eyes were pure white.  It was bald; and it seemed to be covered in a sheen of frost.

"What... are you?" she managed.  Her curiosity was slowly being replaced by feelings of alarm; there was a palpable aura of menace about it.

"So, you are the Senshi of Ice," it said, replying in a slow, even tone.  "I guess it is now time for you to chill out- permanently."

Ami's eyes widened at the threat, even as she spoke.  "Senshi of Ice?  What are you talking about?"  She backpedaled a few steps, and turned to run, without waiting for an answer.

What she hadn't anticipated was that the water on the floor would abruptly change to ice; she slipped and fell, sliding out of the locker room and towards the pool; which was also iced over by a thin coating of frost.  She was stopped just before the pool by a table, knocking over a chair.  She cried out involuntarily from the pain of the impact, and tried to get up.

He took his time getting to her; she was on her feet, and grabbing a chair as he approached.  She circled around the table, keeping it between the two of them, and folding the chair.  "Why are you doing this?  Why me?  What exactly is a Senshi of Ice?"

Yet, it all suddenly sounded so familiar to her... like she already knew the answers.

"Oh, I'm afraid those questions are going to have to remain unanswered," he said suavely.  "You see, I must kill you now."  He abruptly grabbed the table between them and threw it aside.  As he reached for her, Ami swung the chair as hard as she could, with the result being a satisfying crack across his skull.  He recoiled, staggering back; she dropped the chair and ran.

"Sit down," he snarled; grabbing the folded chair he had just been hit with, and flinging it like a Frisbee.  Ami cried out as the chair nailed her in the small of her back; she fell, face first, to the ground.  She managed to roll over as he reached her; and brought up both knees to her chest.  As her assailant moved to grab her, she kicked with both legs, hard.  He sailed into the window from the force of the kick, the window spidered from the impact.

Down on the street below, Dr. Mizuno was waiting in her car.  She knew Ami was always the last out; she didn't mind, as she knew swimming was good for her well-being.

She had no idea how hazardous it was proving to Ami's health at the moment.

Ami regained her feet, warily glancing toward the slumped form of her attacker.  He wasn't moving; and after a few seconds, she turned to leave.  She was conscious that the surrounding air was now more like the air in a refrigerator.  This, too, seemed familiar to her.  Then she suddenly realized something.

She couldn't move her feet.

Ami glanced down; her shoes were frozen to the patch of ice that had been a puddle only a few moments ago.  She looked up, to see him rise.  Her eyes widened in panic. 

"Somebody help me!" she hollered.  Her panicked voice echoed; there was no response.

"The security guards are cooling off," he sneered, slowly moving towards her.  She shuddered from the chill in the air, and the chill in his voice.

She crouched, feeling very cold; her fingers were almost numb with the pervasive cold, and her shivering wasn't helping either, as she attempted to undo her shoes.  She was in a race against time.

A race she was losing. 

She managed to get one undone, and was working on a second, when she looked up again.

He was gone.

At the last second, she heard the swish of something being swung at her; she suddenly saw stars as the chair she had used against him was cracked over her skull.  She staggered, her ankle twisting as she fell, accompanied by a dazed moan escaping her lips; he dropped the chair and reached down to pull her up, breaking her other foot free, leaving her with only one shoe.

"You haven't felt cold yet," he grinned, holding her out over the pool.  He lightly threw her to the center of the pool; the icy layer scraped her flesh, followed by a plunge into nearly freezing water as she cracked through.  She was so shocked she forgot to draw breath and close her mouth; she sank down.

It was a few seconds in the bone-chillingly cold water before she recovered enough to close her mouth, and blow the water out of her lungs through her nose; she swam towards the surface.

Only to discover over an inch of thickening ice, sealing the top of the pool. 

She was being turned into a human ice cube, left to asphyxiate and freeze to death! 

She desperately pounded on the ice from the underside, to no avail.  The water was blurring everything now; her lungs burned from cold, moisture, and no air.  She had no idea how long she had been under, now; but it felt like ages.  Her vision began to go dim.  She was doomed.  It was hard to tell which way was up, except...

She was slowly drifting down, in the deep end of the pool.  She was so cold, now.  It would be so easy, just to open her mouth, and let it end...

NO!  The shout echoed through her mind; something inside of her refused to give up.  Her forehead suddenly felt extremely warm.  Hypothermia? she wondered.  She shook her head, and blinked, still desperately holding on.  Her system was entering severe oxygen debt.  She had enough for one last push...

She felt a wall, and pushed off in a swimmer's lunge, using a lazy backstroke to get her where she needed to go.  The water coloration lightened slightly; she moved to the shallow end of the pool.  She touched bottom, and grabbed hold of a water circulation vent under the water's surface to push down, and she gathered herself.  With all she could muster, she forced herself up.

The surface of the ice abruptly shattered; a soaking-wet, blue haired head burst through, gulping down mouthfuls of oxygen even before the cold water was done running down her face.  Her assailant's eyes widened in surprise; then he noted the glowing blue Mercury symbol on her forehead.

"Well, well," he grinned, watching her break a path through the ice to the side of the pool, and begin to climb out.  He knew he'd better finish it; this was the smart one.  She was probably close to remembering, anyway.  He reached down to the ice, smashing a hole in it, and placing his hand in the water.

He looked up; she was standing defiantly on the other side, her eyes narrowed.

"I've fought with something like you before," she murmured.  "Cold and ice.  I could scan with... my computer?"  She paused, her eyes widening; the symbol grew brighter on her forehead.

"Oh, my, God," she murmured.  "I'm... I'm Sailor Mercury."

"You are quick," he commented grudgingly, pulling his hand from the water with the prize he had been willing into being.  "Too damn smart for your own good.  Catch."

At that, Ami looked right at him, barely hearing the whistle of the thrown projectile, just in time for her eyes to widen, and her to gasp in shock and super-intense pain as an immense spear of pure ice impaled itself into her chest.  He still had his arm extended, having hurled it like a javelin. 

She staggered back, against the cracked windowpane, sinking to her knees.  Blood ran down the surface of the ice spear; a streak of crimson coated the window.  She couldn't speak; couldn't breathe; her own blood was now drowning her from the inside.  It ran out of her mouth and nose; her eyes were wide with shock.  She feebly tried to pull the spear out.

He took his time walking over to her; watched as she actually managed to budge the spear an inch or so.  He reached down, and looked into her eyes, which were glazing over.

"Don't worry," he began, placing both his hands on the blood-coated ice spear.  "You may be cold now, but you'll be warm soon.  Enjoy the afterlife."

With that, he forced the ice spear in further, prompting a gasp and a spray of blood from her mouth.  Still holding on, he straightened up, lifting the spear, and her jerking body; he swung, and hurled both at the fractured window.

It completely shattered, and Ami plummeted down.

Dr. Mizuno cocked her ear as she heard a loud crash; she was beginning to worry about Ami, being so late.  It wasn't like her.  She had just opened the door to go and check on her when glass rained down all around, and Ami slammed into the hood of the car, denting it, with a huge, jagged spear of ice through her body.  Her blood was splattering everywhere.

"AMIIII!" screamed her mother, darting out and racing to her daughter.  She got there just in time to see the life go out of Ami's eyes, and her body going slack.  Blood no longer spurted; it merely trickled, gravity being the only thing moving it now.

"NOOOOO!" screamed her mother to the heavens.  "SOMEBODY HELP!  MY DAUGHTER!"  But it was far too late.

Ami Mizuno, a.k.a. Sailor Mercury...

Deceased.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The crackling fire had all of Rei Hino's attention.  Especially as it was all beginning to become clearer.  She saw the other girls in closer detail; she blanched as the fire revealed the manner of their deaths.

Then hers came.  She gasped as she broke away from it, falling backwards, eyes wide, with a haunted look.

Burned to death?

No way she was going to die that horribly.

She frowned, her racing pulse slowing down.  She still couldn't glean why this was happening in the first place.  She knew she had some vague memories about this; but she couldn't seem to unlock them.

Still, perhaps it was time to notify the authorities.  It wouldn't be the first time they had arrested someone in the act because of her abilities, and she guessed the events would happen soon.  Even as she got to her feet, she froze.

A powerful sensation of an alien presence, of danger, blossomed to the fore in her senses.

Suddenly, she realized it was time.  The events she had seen were unfolding.  Anger burst to the forefront of her emotions.  No way was it going to happen like she had seen!  That was only a possible future!

She stood defiantly, her back to the flames, arms crossed over her chest, gazing steadily at the sliding door leading into this room.  It moved, nearly soundlessly, and a female stepped in.

It sure didn't look human, though.  Its skin was dark as the night; long fangs and glaring red eyes also caught her attention.  It was attired as a ninja, but carrying no weapons.

"Aah," it smiled toothily, showing rows of sharp teeth.  "The Senshi of Fire is expecting me.  I hope I am not late, and that you are not disappointed.  You see, the future of your death has arrived."

"Senshi of Fire?" asked Rei, uncrossing her arms.  "And why are you doing this?"

"Excellent questions.  Unfortunately, I have neither the time, nor the inclination, to answer them."  With that, the thing leapt at her; Rei sidestepped slightly, and grabbed its arm, helping it along.  It hit the wall with a loud thud, and gasped as it dropped to the floor.  Rei grabbed a nearby vase, grunting as she lifted it, and smashed it over the thing's head.  It collapsed to the floor; she turned to find a better weapon, heading for the door.

Something wrapped around her ankle.  She glanced down to see a line of inky blackness tethered there.  She glanced up to collect a kick to the side of her jaw, causing sparks to flash in her eyes as she cried out and staggered against the wall.  Another one nailed her right in the chest, dropping her to her knees; and a final kick to the back of her skull caused her to see stars as it leveled her.

Hands were suddenly around her throat, lifting her up; she couldn't breathe.  Her hands batted feebly at the ones around her neck; she tried to kick that which was holding her, choking her, but to no avail.

There was a sudden, vicious crack; Rei dropped free.  As she regained her senses and breath, she heard another crack, and another.  She looked up to see her grampa, wailing away on her assailant with a broomstick.  It was dazed, backing against the wall, arms raised to protect itself; he kept hitting it, backing it into the wall.  It looked surprised when it felt the wall behind it; its red eyes flashed.

"Back, you vile creature!  Get away from her!" her grampa shouted.

Abruptly, tons of inky black lines shot out from it; several wrapped around the broomstick, and the rest bound up her grampa tight.

"No!" shrieked Rei, galvanized into action; but she was too late.  It raised a clawed hand, and slashed right across his throat; it grabbed the broomstick, snapped it in two, and threw the pieces aside.

It dropped her grampa, and it stared at her handiwork:  the blood gushing forth, at him trying to speak, for several moments, before he died; then it turned.

And took an involuntary step back at the anger, hate, and fire in Rei's eyes, as well as the glowing symbol of Mars on her forehead.  In her hands she held both halves of the broomstick.  Rei gave an inarticulate cry of pure rage, and leapt, abruptly shifting her grip on one of the halves to stab with it.

The Kurai had never felt such agonizing pain as when the broken end of the stick was abruptly shoved through its midsection; black-green blood and ichor sprayed out.  Its hands went to the stick, trying to pull it out; and the other half was smashed upon its skull; it saw stars.  The other half of the stick repeatedly nailed it, causing it to flop away, and gasp in pain with each frenzied blow.  Something wet dropped onto its cheek; it licked, and tasted the salty taste of a human tear.  It looked up to see the descending blow; Rei's face was streaked with tears, even as her rage soared, and she swung harder.

Rei beat the thing until it stopped twitching, stopped moving.  She was dazed, her heart torn over her grampa's murder.  Had he died in her place?

She dropped the stick, and staggered over to his body, now surrounded in a pool of glistening crimson.  "Grampa," she gasped, fighting to maintain control of her emotions.  She kneeled next to him, ignoring the blood as she cradled his head in her lap, tears running down her cheeks and dripping onto his.  "Oh, Grampa..."

She abruptly saw stars, and doubled over from the sudden blow, accompanied by the sound of glass shattering, liquid splashing all over her, and a strong odor.  Small cuts now oozed blood from her head, matting her hair and running down her face; a strong-smelling fluid now thoroughly coated her.

She was abruptly yanked to her feet, and turned around.  The creature had removed the stick, and its wound seemed to be closing, although it still bled freely.

"Now you pay, you little fucking whore of a pyromaniac," snarled the Kurai.  "You love the fire so much; now these flasks of lamp oil will help you love it even more."

Even as it said that, it smashed another one on the side of her skull, dazing her fully.  It threw her into the wall, and then began chucking small vials of the lamp oil all around the room, including her grampa's body and all over the floor.  Rei caught her breath from the impact with the wall, shook her head, and leapt at her foe, grabbing the last vial from its hand and crunching it on her enemy's face.  Her hand was cut to ribbons from the glass shards; and so was her assailant's face, and her assailant was now also coated in the lamp oil.  It viciously backhanded her, sending blood from her now-split lip spraying out; it then grabbed her head in its hands and brought its own head forward, delivering a powerful head butt. A stunned Rei staggered backwards, and received a quick kidney punch, doubling her over.

The Kurai approached with a sneer, for Rei was now kneeling near the roaring fire.  She shook her head.

"A valiant fight for your life.  Very impressive.  Your temperament certainly matches your abilities.  But now, it is over.  Die well."

It shoved Rei, who flailed as she fell backwards, tripping up her assailant, who fell to the floor.  Rei tried to claw her way back out of the whooshing fire, grabbing her assailant's ankle as the flames consumed her.

There was a sudden whoosh as the fire spread to her assailant; and Rei screamed as she was consumed by fire, incinerated alive.  The pain from the searing, charring, hungry flames was indescribable, and lasted seemingly forever.

She wasn't the only one screaming, though, as the hungry flames quickly spread to consume the entire Hikawa shrine.  She still maintained a death grip on her assailant's ankle; due to the lamp oil it had also had all over, it, too, was burned alive.  A short while after the screaming ended, and its target stopped moving, the Kurai assassin lost its life, as well, crumbling into a pile of dust, rapidly dispersed by the ravaging fire, and the streams of water even now being sprayed over the area.

It was a little too late, however.  The firefighters managed to put out the blaze, whereupon they discovered the charred bodies of an elderly gentleman, and his young granddaughter priestess.

Rei Hino, a.k.a. Sailor Mars...

Terminated.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A'mael Valaen'huine, Empress of the Kurai people, abruptly shot bolt upright, gasping.  The black satin sheets spilled off of her slender, nude form, and she clutched the side of her skull.

"Let me guess," muttered Hyanda, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed next to her.  They were in their plushly decorated bedchamber.  "One of the assassins just died."

A'mael took a deep breath, to settle herself slightly.  The pain was already receding.  "Yes, the one that was supposed to kill Sailor Mars."

"Did it accomplish its task, first?" asked Hyanda, eyes narrowed.

"I do not know," murmured A'mael, glancing at him, admiring his chiseled chest.

Hyanda grunted.  He threw the sheet aside, and stretched; knowing the temptress that was the Empress was enjoying the view, indulged her for the moment.

"I must go," he said calmly.  "I must see it done."

A'mael nodded slowly, shivering slightly, drawing the sheet around her, covering her bare breasts against the chill.  She hated that he must leave, but it was a necessity; she knew that success in this area was vital to their plans.

"Do be careful," she spoke softly, seductively.  "I do want you back."

"Of course," grinned Hyanda, grabbing his gear, and dressing.  He strapped Nightwraith, in its ornate scabbard, around his waist.  That done, he concentrated briefly; the black wrappings of his cloak shot around him, and melted into his gleaming black battle armor, complete with silver trim and spiked shoulders.

He gave A'mael a final look; his pure-black irises and pupils became molten silver, and he abruptly vanished.

Make sure they pay for killing our son, my love, A'mael sent as she leaned back in the bed, pulling the silky sheets about her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Usagi was lounging on her bed, buried in a manga, when Luna abruptly sat bolt upright, her ears swiveling towards the window.  This sudden action caught Usagi's attention.

Then came a timid scratch at the window.

Luna bounded over, as Usagi reached it; Usagi's blue eyes widened in concern as she saw what was on her ledge.  She opened the window as fast as she could, almost clonking herself in the process.

"Omigosh! You poor kitty!" she gasped, grabbing for it.

Luna mewed suddenly, a piteous, heart-wrenching cry.

The white, blood-soaked cat with an upturned golden crescent moon on its forehead, now in Usagi's arms, wearily gazed at Luna.

"There's... no time, Luna...  Minako's dead...  Some youma jumped her..." Artemis managed to say, and then closed his eyes for a moment, opening them after he composed himself.  He almost hadn't been able to make it up the tree leading to Usagi's window.

Usagi's eyes widened, and she blinked.  "Did you... just talk?"

Luna gasped.  "Minako's dead?  What about the others?"

Artemis shook his head.  "Don't know.  But this youma seemed to be sent specifically to kill her; I think the others might be either dead or in danger, too."

Luna frowned.  "Did you...?"

"See any threat to Usagi on my way over here?  No.  But then, I never noticed the threat to Minako either," Artemis murmured.  "You've gotta do it quickly, Luna.  Minako never stood a chance, and we'll need Sailor Moon."

Luna nodded, resigned, and turned to Usagi, who was staring at the both of them.

"That's it," gasped Usagi.  "I've read too many manga.  I've lost it.  Talking cats... did you just say Sailor Moon?  As in Sailor V?"

"Sailor V, better known to you as Sailor Venus, is dead, Usagi," Luna said gently.  "If you would gently set Artemis there down on your bed, and face me, we can finish this."

Usagi looked startled, as she carefully set Artemis down.  She then turned for the door.  "I think I should go eat... hunger's making me see and hear things..."

Just as Luna was about to shout and Usagi was about to leave, she stopped, and turned, a look of confusion on her face.

"Umm..." she began, glancing at Luna.  "I can't, can I?  I'm needed... or something... right?"

Luna briefly looked surprised, and stared more intently at her.  "Are you remembering something?"

Usagi blinked.  "Umm... I don't know."

"Well, this will help," said Luna, concentrating.  The crescent on her forehead glowed brilliantly, and Usagi stared at it in shock.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Usagi, dinner!" came Usagi's mother's voice from the kitchen, surprised she even had to call.  Usually Usagi would have been hanging around, trying to snitch and generally badgering her until dinner was ready.

The familiar thunder of Usagi's feet on the stairs quickly resounded; then, to her intense surprise, her daughter burst into the kitchen wearing her shoes and carrying a wrapped bundle, and raced right by her.

"Can'trightnowMomgottagosmellsgoodsavemesomeseeyoulaterbye!" Usagi got out as she raced out of the kitchen and out of the front door.

Usagi's father and brother stared after her, before all three looked at each other.

"Well, this is unusual," her mother murmured, worried.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Usagi ran for what seemed like forever, eventually ducking into the schoolyard.  Her school was naturally closed at the moment; which made it deserted, and the perfect place to do what needed to be done.

She gave a quick glance around, and set down her bundle.  It was a white towel; now with huge blotches of red.  It opened to reveal Luna bathing Artemis, licking his wounds clean as he groaned.

"Oh, Artemis," she murmured.  She looked around one final time, and raised her hand to the sky.  "Moon Prism Power... MAKE UP!"

A bright white flash signaled Usagi's transformation; it faded moments later to reveal Sailor Moon.  She wasted no time in getting out her Moon Stick, and pointing it at Artemis.

"Moon Healing... ESCALATION!"  White energy circled around Artemis, closing in and healing his wounds.  As the energy faded, Artemis sighed in relief, and got to his feet.

"Thanks," he said quietly, not entirely sounding like he was grateful.  "Now, we don't have a lot of time."

"I kinda gathered that," murmured Moon.

"You are probably next," agreed Luna.  "I think you should check on the others, first; if that comes up dry..."

"Don't bother," interrupted Artemis.  "They knew exactly who Minako was; that thing was sent specifically to kill her.  I'll bet anything the others were targeted, too; whoever is doing this is systematically removing everyone that could help you, and once that is completed, they'll come after you."

"I can't just abandon my friends!" snapped Moon.  "I'm going to see what is going on with the others; I'll be back in about five to ten minutes."  With that, driven by intense worry, Moon raced out of the schoolyard, in the direction of Ami's house.

"No, you'll be back in five to ten pieces," muttered Artemis, sagging to the ground, fighting not to submit to the overwhelming hopelessness tearing at his heart, as the aching pain of loss and failure threatened to consume him.  Despair was the only emotion in his eyes.

"Artemis," Luna whispered sympathetically, all the while hoping that she would not soon feel the same way with Usagi.  Her heart was already pounding at the thought that Usagi was the only one left.

They settled down under a tree, anxiously awaiting Sailor Moon's return.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Confusion was quite evident in an alley not too far away, where three of the four Kurai assassins anxiously awaited the fourth, so they could go after the leader of the Senshi, Sailor Moon.

"Where is that bitch?" snarled the tentacled one.  The other two simply gazed at him; he resumed his steady, quiet monologue of curses.

There was a pop of air being displaced, and then a quiet voice shocked them all, causing them all to whirl and snap to attention.

"She is dead," Hyanda all but whispered.  "Killed while attacking to Senshi of Mars.  I only hope she succeeded in her mission, first.  I will go find out; in the meantime, go find and slaughter Sailor Moon.  Do not disappoint me."

"By your command, My Lord," bowed the gray-skinned brute.  "Let us go."

The three turned after saluting their emperor, and departed.

Hyanda gazed after them for a second, and then set off for the Hikawa Shrine.  Anticipation filled him; the plan was working beautifully!  They had expected to lose at least one; what fool didn't plan for the unknown and the losses due to it?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Luna saw her first; her heart thudding painfully as Sailor Moon slowly entered the schoolyard, her head down, sobbing quietly.

"Sailor Moon?" Luna asked softly.  Luna's voice trailed off when Sailor Moon looked up; her face was ashen, with a haunted look in her eyes.  Tears streaked down her cheeks.  She almost seemed as though she couldn't talk, but she cleared her throat.

"Y- you didn't tell me, Artemis, that Mina was naked, bloody, and had a broken neck," she managed.

Artemis wearily raised his head.  His morose expression matched Sailor Moon's.

"I might be able to help them all... after the current threat is dealt with," she continued.  "Makato was lying in a pool of her own blood; the officers on scene said she had been electrocuted, but with no clue how the wood shard managed to be rammed in her chest.  Did I mention her patio glass was shattered and she was lying in the alley?  I got to Rei too late, as well.  The Hikawa Shrine is now a burnt ruin.  But one of the paramedics said that Rei's grampa had his throat slashed, and that someone started the fire on purpose.  Proof that someone else attacked them, huh?"

Luna blinked.  "Don't tell me you actually walked up to-"

"Of course not, Luna," interrupted Sailor Moon quietly.  "I was not seen; I crouched, on rooftops, behind bushes and trees, what have you.  My sharper senses picked it all up."

"What about Ami?" asked Artemis slowly.

"Ami," sighed Sailor Moon, continuing in a monotone, "was lying amid pieces of glass from a window three stories up, buried in the hood of her mother's car, with a huge bloody hole in her chest.  I ran across that scene after I found no one at Ami's house, heading towards the library.  Her mother was hysterical; claiming a huge chunk of ice had been rammed through her.  Then... then she grabbed a bigger piece of the glass..."

"And?" asked Luna softly.  Her eyes were glistening; her appearance was one of utter dejection.

"She killed herself, right there," Sailor Moon finished in a horrified tone of voice.  "Slit her own wrists and her own throat."

"I don't see how this could be much worse," Luna murmured.

"I can," came a wicked voice; tentacles shot out of the shadows near Sailor Moon, and enveloped her.  The assailant stepped out, followed by two more; one, a gray-skinned brute, and the other a blue-skinned, frost-coated creature.  "And at least I'll be able to have some fun with this one!  There's no one left to defend her!"

He approached closer, licking his chops; the tentacles shifted position, restraining her and forcing her legs open, while covering her mouth.  Sailor Moon's eyes widened in horror, and Artemis rose, hissing and baring fangs, with Luna.  The other two interposed themselves, and stared menacingly at the cats.

Sailor Moon struggled with all her might; even as she did so, the tentacles tightened their slimy hold on her.  She twisted, writhed; she tried kicking and punching.  The creature slowly drew her closer, and she suddenly stopped, sagging in defeat.

Please make it quick; she thought to herself, screwing her eyes shut.  It's not like it matters; I am no one without my friends.

"No!" screamed Luna.  "Fight him, Sailor Moon!  You are the only hope; you are the only one who can undo this!  Don't let them have died in vain!  At least fight for them!  Sailor Moon!"

"Stuff it, kitty," smirked the gray one.  "No one can help her now."

"Wrong!" came a voice, followed by a snarl of pain from their tentacled companion; they spun to see a red rose sticking out of his back.  Sailor Moon dropped free, collapsing in a pile, making no move to resist.  Sobs could be heard.  The blue one took a half step towards Sailor Moon, before a black blur dropped down, in the form of a tall, dark-haired man in a tux, top hat, and cape, brandishing a cane.

"Perhaps you should mourn your friends later, Sailor Moon," said Tuxedo Kamen calmly.  "They would not want you to end up like they did.  It was their mission, their purpose, to defend you, to die for you, if necessary; whether they knew it or not.  Cherish their memories; and they shall not have died in vain, and will remain with you."

The blue one narrowed his eyes, as the gray one charged Tuxedo Kamen from the right.  Even as the gray brute swung his fist, Tuxedo Kamen ducked, and came up with a mighty punch to his foe's midsection.  The gray brute staggered back, to get cracked in the face by the cane, dropping it to the ground.

"Oh, please," the blue one said coldly.  "She's obviously given up; there's nothing you can do.  It will be our pleasure to kill you, as well.  And then we'll do the cats.  Then we'll have our way with her."

Tuxedo Kamen narrowed his eyes in the direction of the blue one, and spun just in time to be enveloped in tentacles.  His reply was cut off as the tentacles began strangling him.

There was an outraged cry.

"Moon Tiara... ACTION!"

A blazing white energy disk suddenly sliced right through the tentacles; severing them, with the ends abruptly cauterized.  Sailor Moon spiraled her fingers around; the tiara arced back, and sliced the tentacle one's head off.

There was silence.  The head hit the ground.

All of the tentacle assassin abruptly burst into ash, and blew away in the breeze.

Both cats, and Tuxedo Kamen, stared at something they had never seen.

Sailor Moon was livid.  She was pissed.  Rage was all that one could see, rage and determination.  Her features were flushed with a killing anger; her eyes narrowed, practically into slits.

She leapt.

In a single bound, she was behind the blue one.  A powerful kick nailed him in the small of his back, staggering him; her blows as a Senshi were far more powerful than that of a normal human.  He spun slightly, just in time to catch the forceful punch right between the eyes.

The blue one saw stars, even as the gray one finally reacted, and moved towards them; Tuxedo Kamen engaged him.

As the stars slowly faded, the blue one looked up to see a glowing disc forming in Sailor Moon's gloved hand.

Again came the cry of "Moon Tiara... ACTION!"

The disc slammed right into the blue one, right through his chest; as it ripped through him, his spirit went to be tortured by the spirits he had forced to do his bidding as his physical remains turned into ash.

Meanwhile, the gray one decked Tuxedo Kamen hard.  Tuxedo Kamen staggered back, wiping away blood from a now-split lip.  He saw the next punch coming, and blocked it with his cane, throwing his own punch at the same time.  Even as the gray one dropped back, recoiling from the blow, a pair of gloved arms wrapped around his neck and forehead, and abruptly twisted.

The gray one dropped like a sack of potatoes, with Sailor Moon glaring hatefully at it as it disintegrated.

"Are you... all right, Sailor Moon?" asked Tuxedo Kamen.

"Is that all of them?" she asked quietly.

"Well, there should have been four, right?" Artemis put in as he and Luna appeared near Tuxedo Kamen.  The three of them eyed Sailor Moon, as she glanced down, and made a face about her slime soaked fuku.

"Maybe the fourth one was gotten by one of the others," Luna suggested.  "Rei, perhaps?  Maybe it, too, perished in flames?"

"Maybe," allowed Artemis.  "How do you intend to fix things?"

Sailor Moon sighed.  "The Ginzuishou, of course."

"It'll kill you," Luna said softly.

"Not if I use it in the right way, Luna," Sailor Moon replied.  "I'll simply use it the way I did at... at the North Pole."

"We still do not know why assassins were sent after the others and you, or who's behind it," Tuxedo Kamen pointed out.

"We'll figure it out," replied Artemis wearily.

"I am afraid I cannot allow that," came a quiet voice, followed by a simultaneous gasp of pain, and the sound of metal cleaving flesh.  The three stared hard at Sailor Moon, eyes widening in shock as she clutched her lower midriff.  A bloody, black-edged sword could be seen protruding from her, and her slimed fuku was turning crimson.  The blade was abruptly withdrawn, and Sailor Moon twisted about and collapsed, eyes wide, staring at her attacker.

He was imposing, in glistening black armor with silver trim.  He was wearing a black cape; spikes protruded from his shoulders.  His dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, his black eyes slowly turning molten silver in color.  A sudden thought struck Sailor Moon.

"You... you're the leader," she gasped, fighting to stay conscious through the pain.

"That is correct; I am Emperor Hyanda Tel'kotya'huine of the Kurai people.  And if you would, please, hand over the Ginzuishou, I would greatly appreciate it.  I may even allow you to live," the armored figure said slowly, quietly.

"No," murmured Sailor Moon, crawling backwards away from him.

He raised Nightwraith, an impressive two-handed bastard sword with a huge black diamond in the pommel.  It descended.  Sailor Moon winced, waiting for the blow to strike.

It never hit, resounding with a clang as it struck Tuxedo Kamen's cane.  He shoved the armored man backwards, holding his cane in a ready position.

"Get out of here, Sailor Moon!" shouted Tuxedo Kamen.  "I'll protect you!"  He threw himself back as the sword whistled by, missing his chest by a millimeter.  As the sword came back around, he ducked inside, cracking his cane on his opponent's temple.

Hyanda snarled, and whirled the blade about, knocking the cane away, lunging forward.  Tuxedo Kamen managed to twist out of the way just in time to avoid being skewered.

Sailor Moon staggered to her feet, still clutching her midsection.  "Tuxedo Kamen..."

"Go!" shouted Tuxedo Kamen.  "Get out of here!  They want the Ginzuishou!  Don't let them get it!"  He jumped over a low swing, and ducked as the sword came back around at chest height.  He brandished a rose, and hurled it at point blank range, striking his opponent in the right shoulder.

Hyanda howled in rage and pain as the rose penetrated his armor, and at seeing the girl disappear around the school with both cats.

"Very well," he growled, "let's make this interesting!"  He raised his hand, his eyes swirling intensely silver.  Tuxedo Kamen held his cane warily, eyeing him.  A trash can abruptly nailed Tuxedo Kamen in the back, shoving him forward as it flew aside; Tuxedo Kamen's eyes widened as sharp, hot pain shot through him; he looked down to see Nightwraith, now coated in his blood, sticking out of his waist.  Hyanda narrowed his eyes, and leaned in.

"I am going to destroy you, now," he promised.

"Go ahead," smiled Tuxedo Kamen through the agony.  "If you do, she escapes."

Hyanda snarled at that thought, and raised both the sword and his hand.  His swirling eyes narrowed on Tuxedo Kamen, fighting to free himself as his feet dangled; he nodded.  "You are correct, of course."

The air around Hyanda's hand seemed to ripple; then Tuxedo Kamen was abruptly blasted off the sword and flying through the air.  He felt as if a giant sledgehammer had hit him; and he slammed hard into the wall of the school, smashing the bricks backwards a good ten centimeters.  He collapsed, and found himself in the most agonizingly intense pain he had ever felt.  His entire body felt as if it were on fire.  He looked up, to see Hyanda salute him with his sword and turn to go after Sailor Moon.

Tuxedo Kamen cursed loudly, and raised himself up, hurling his hand forwards, sending a rose flying through the air at Hyanda's back.

There was a pop, and Hyanda was suddenly several meters to the right of the rose, which imbedded itself harmlessly into a tree.  He gave Tuxedo Kamen a final feral grin, and strolled around the corner of the school.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sailor Moon staggered, and fell abruptly, against a tree.  They were in the park, out of the public eye.

"Sailor Moon!" gasped Luna.  Both cats circled back around to her.

She smiled sadly at Luna.  "I... I can't go any further, Luna," she managed to say.  "I'm dying."

"No!" Luna shouted.  "No, you're not!"

"Silly cat," Sailor Moon smiled dreamily.  "I love you, you know that?  Yes... I am.  I can feel my life force slowly leaving my body."  Her hands still clutched at her side; the crimson stain of her hot blood now covered most of her white fuku, and her skirt, and was running down her legs.  Her white gloves were thoroughly coated in her blood.

"But!" cried Luna, tears filling her eyes.

"Not much time," Sailor Moon murmured.  "He's coming; I hope he didn't kill Tuxedo Kamen.  I'm almost gone, and the Ginzuishou must be protected."  She closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree, barely breathing.

"Sailor Moon... Usagi..." sobbed Luna.  "Don't give up!"

Sailor Moon opened her eyes, which were rapidly losing the sheen of the living, loving Usagi.  "I have a new mission for you two.  I am going to break up the Ginzuishou, much like my mother did.  You must survive; you must guide those that follow to reassemble it, and correct the situation.  No arguments, you must.  Consider it my final order, as the princess."

Both cats regarded her mournfully, as she raised both trembling hands to her chest.  Moments later, a brilliant glow lit the area; the gleaming, pulsing silver crystal was in her hands.  It began to glow even brighter, pulsing rapidly as her bloodstained hands clutched it; her eyes were narrowed in concentration, she was barely breathing.

As the glow reached its impossibly bright climax, she suddenly sat straight up, and shouted.

"MOON PRISM POWER!"

There was an awesome blast of sound; a huge cracking noise rent the air.  The Ginzuishou abruptly burst into shards, each shard resolving itself into a distinct shape.  The shapes, glowing brightly, shot upwards into the heavens, and angled off at various points, disappearing from view.

With a sigh, Sailor Moon's fuku dissolved, and she was back as Usagi.  She slumped against the tree, and glanced up.  Black clouds were gathering in the sky, and obscuring the moon.

"I'm going to miss you," she murmured.

Breath rattled out of her, and none went in.

The life left those expressive, friendly, loving eyes.

The clouds completely covered the moon.

"NOOOOOOO!" cried Luna, her scream echoing for several city blocks, before she collapsed in abject misery.

Usagi Tsukino, a.k.a. Sailor Moon, a.k.a. Princess Serenity...

Was dead.

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