Sailormoon Neo: #20 - Yuuwaku no Ryuu...Soshite, Saranaru Senshi no Touchaku, Demo Hontou ni Teki? - Ryuu's Seduction...And Also the Appearance of More Senshi, But are they the Enemy? - By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] Note: The Shadow Star Ninja is mentioned in this episode, however, he isn't called The Shadow Star Ninja. As most of you know by now, I'm rewriting Sailormoon Zodiac, changing names, changes some personalities, etc. As a part of the change, the Shadow Star Ninja gets a Japanese-style name: Kageboshi Ninja, which of course means Shadow Star Ninja. Another note, just as in SMZ, I call Queen Serenity of the Silver Millennium Selenity to try and keep the story less confusing. Mother. Father. Daughter. Sorano Himeko said these words in her mind as she placed her finger over each person in the picture. Mother. Father. Daughter. Which one of these had the power before? Which one of these knew Haruka-san? Himeko sighed, she felt terribly alone. She knew that none of the other Neo Senshi probably thought about it, but she did. She didn't fit in. The other Senshi had inherited their powers from their mother, or it was transferred to another daughter of a Senshi, like in Megami's case. However, not with Himeko. Her mother wasn't Sailoruranus. They didn't even know who Tenou Haruka was, except as a famous racecar driver. So where did her powers come from? There had to be something-- Just then, Himeko's thoughts were rudely interrupted by two hands which were roughly placed on her shoulders. The frame fell to the floor as she turned around, face to face with Yoake. "Didn't you hear me knock, Hime-chan?" Yoake asked, removing her hands with a grin. "Did I scare you?" Himeko rolled her eyes and bent down to pick up the frame, replacing it on the bookshelf. "No, you just threw off my balance..." she murmured, hiding her surprise. She gave the picture one last glance before turning around, "I was just wondering where I inherited the...the power." "Oh, don't think about things like that," Yoake said absently as she diverted her attention to adjusting the ring of hair she wore on the side of her head, "You have it, and there's got to be a reason. Maybe someday you'll learn, maybe you won't, but you can't mope around thinking about it, I mean, none of us care." she added. Himeko was silent for a moment, Yoake rocked on her heels uncomfortably and stuck her hands into her pockets, "Umm, well anyway. I came over to see if you wanted to go visit Usa-chan with me." "Usa-chan?" Himeko repeated looking up, "Why?" "Well, I want to talk to Usa-chan...but also, my mother advised me to see Seishi. She would go herself, seeing how close she was to Hotaru-san, but she's afraid her prescence will trigger a memory. We're good people to check on her, because she just thinks to we're friends of Usa-chan." Yoake replied as she walked towards the door, "You know...we treat Seishi like she's stupid." Himeko commented as she opened the door, she squinted her eyes against the sunlight. "We don't...but...if we did, just a little, it's for her own good. Most people can't handle the pain and suffering she's been through. If she knew the truth, she might go insane. I don't think Neo-Queen Serenity erased her memory for the sole reason that she gets a second chance in life, I think she did it to protect Seishi from herself." Yoake said seriously as they headed towards the Palace, Himeko gave her a small glance, "I don't think Neo-Queen Serenity-sama was trying to protect her from herself, I think she was trying to protect us." * * * * Kasumi looked uncomfortably around her. Nothing but trees and empty park benches. She brushed a blue strand out of her eyes and sat down on the bench closest to her. Where was he? Her heart was beating rapidly with fear, that strange man she had met at the ball a few days ago told her to go to this park, on this day, at this place to talk to her about things. There was something dreadfully wrong about the meeting, but curiousity got the best of her. There was something strange about this man, strangely familiar. Somehow she knew him, and felt a connection with him...not to mention the fact he was amazingly handsome. Kasumi felt herself blush slightly, but I love Ryuu, don't I? "Kasumi, I'm so glad you could make it." said a voice above her, Kasumi jumped up in surprise, "Oh...I'm glad you could make it." she stammered, the man was even better looking in the daylight, his green eyes shone like emeralds and his long blonde hair was perfect, a gentle sunny color and not too thick. "Could you tell me your name? You asked me to come here and I can't say I even know who you are..." Kasumi began uncomfortably, the man reached out and pulled Kasumi towards him, stroking her hair gently, "There's no need to fear me, Kasumi, I'm only here to help you." he whispered. "If it eases your mind a little, my name is Kage Masaya." Kasumi looked up in surprise, where had she heard that name before? Her mind floated back to one night when she listened in as her mother told Megami about boys and dating. Kage Masaya...wasn't that the name of her mother's last major crush before she met her husband? That was impossible, but the similarities were so eerie. "How do you know me, Kage-san? I've never met you in my life...I--" "Shh, you talk so much. I know how you feel, the lack of love you feel towards your family...I also know that you love a boy that does not love you in return, but it can be changed, Kasumi, just let me change it so he does love you." he replied, pressing his cold fingers against her lips. Kasumi tried to stand back, but his powerful arms refused to let her move. "Kage-san, please let me go, you're making me feel uncomfortable." Kasumi whispered, with terror in her voice. She couldn't even reach her transformation wand if she needed it...But there wasn't a need, he released her and stared into her eyes, "Kasumi, you know you want this. You want her dead. I can see it in your eyes." he said as he stroked her cheek. Kasumi looked down, I don't want her dead, she thought, maybe to just go away. "I don't--" she began as she looked up, but to her surprise, he was gone. There was nothing in the park but trees and empty park benches. * * * * "Stella, why don't you play dolls with me!" Usako demanded, her voice was fierce, but her eyes looked hurt. Stella bent down to the level of the girl, and gazed into her eyes. Such eyes, Stella thought to herself, they look just like mother's. "Usako, there are more important things to my life than playing. I've got to find a way to protect Crystal Tokyo with just the power of the Opaque Prism and the Silver Crystal." Stella explained, she was trying to sound mature and wise, and it really wasn't too hard to be. She looked like she was fourteen, but she was almost 5000 years old. She was probably that old the day the Golden Millennium was destroyed, she never got a chance to be a real child. How could she be when she lived on Star for all those years with just Solana and Prince Trent. Then eventually, with the Solar Guardians and of course the Star Senshi. Usako stamped her feet and started to whine loudly, "WHY NOT!!! YOU NEVER--" "Usako, I can't play with you. I must talk to Neo-Queen Serenity." Stella said as she stood up and walked out the door of Usako's quarters. Usako ran behind her and screamed, "You always do things with Selenity, you never want to be with me!" Stella stopped in her tracks and turned around, "What?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise. That tone of voice was so familiar... "I hope you never find the Iridescent Jewel! Solana's too smart for you. She's probably destroyed it! I hope Crystal Tokyo falls!!" Usako shrieked, running into her bedroom and slamming the door. Stella was perplexed, Usako's words didn't make sense for someone born of the Tsukino line, why wish destruction upon the world you were born in? However, Stella shrugged it off. Afterall, Usako was only eight years old, she was allowed to say things she didn't mean in temper tantrums. She brushed her anxiety aside and walked towards Neo-Queen Serenity's quarters, when she reached them she knocked gently on the white door. Moments later, she heard Serenity's voice beckoning her to come in. "Ohaiyo Gozaimasu, Neo-Queen Serenity-sama." Stella said with a small curtsy, Serenity jumped up and laughed, "Oh goodness, Stella-san, you're not only older than me, but you're my aunt! You just LOOK younger, don't feel you need to be polite to someone 3000 years your junior." Stella smiled politely and nodded carefully, she took a seat across from Serenity and smoothed out her blue dress, "We must find the Iridescent Jewel, Serenity, it's of UTMOST importance. If it fell into the wrong hands...I hate to be cliche, but the Universe will be in serious jeopardy. There is nothing in the Universe which has been discovered that can match the combined power of the joined treasures of the Golden Millennium, not even the famed Golden Key." Stella replied. "What exactly does the joining of the treasures do? Does it make some sort of weapon?" Serenity asked, "I don't know. No one ever did, only mother and Solana did. Solana was the next ruler of the Golden Millennium, after mother...Mother never told me and Selenity anything. She really only loved Solana...You know that, you were there." Stella murmured looking dowm, "And I don't know where Solana is. She's been missing for 2000 years..." "Ara! I remember a long long time ago, during the Zodiac Wars. There was a man...the Kageboshi Ninja. He was looking for Solana, that was...well, actually, about 2000 years ago." Serenity recalled. "How long 2000 years ago sounds, but it doesn't seem that long ago does it?" Stella asked, swinging her legs in the air. Serenity shook her head, "You're right. It just seems like it was yesterday when I was Sailormoon..speaking of being Sailormoon, I wonder if Chibiusa-chan will go through as many stages I did before she gets to her highest. I had to have gone through five or six.." Serenity wondered aloud, smiling at the memory. Stella cocked her head to the side, her face serious, "It's unlikely. Your daughter is a much more effective and serious Senshi than you were." Stella replied. Serenity looked down, her eyes full of pain. "Oh no! That's not what I meant, Serenity. I mean, it's obvious that you sending her to the past to train was a great idea. Look at how dedicated she is now..." Stella added hastily. Serenity smiled again and opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped as she looked on Stella's face. "Stella? What's wrong?" Serenity asked worriedly, standing up and moving over to the girl. "There was just a massive surge of energy. Immense energy..." Stella murmured holding her hands to her head. Stella looked up with worry in her eyes, "The source is in the palace." she said jumping up, "We must investigate. This kind of power fluxuation isn't normal." "What kind of energy is it, Stella?" Neo-Queen Serenity asked, getting up quickly. Stella looked back, "The kind of energy only found in the stars." * * * * Ryuu looked around his room. Everything was in perfect order, there wasn't a thing left out in the open that Seishi would see that might trigger a memory. Ryuu's heart beat with excitement, finally he'd get to see Seishi, alone. He didn't care that it was against the rules, he had to be with her. He'd pretend to be someone who fell in love with the Princess at the ball, someone she had never met before, it was a perfect plan. Ryuu turned around the room once more, his eyes falling on a picture sitting on the dresser by the window. He reached out for it and looked at it--him and Kasumi at the Sakura Festival. She looked so happy in this picture...but...Ryuu hastily opened his drawer and shoved the picture inside. Nothing would ruin this night. His parents and Yoseiko were out of town, they had taken a transport to Neo Chicago to visit friends and wouldn't be back for days, and Seishi was going to sneak out of the Crystal Palace. He had told her in a letter that he was enchanted by her at the ball and had to meet her again, he hoped she'd come--he KNEW she'd come. The gentle rapping on the door downstairs confirmed his belief, not to mention startled him; he jumped up to answer the door. He took a deep breath before throwing it open--and there she was. The epitome in his mind of grace and beauty. To his disappointment, she wasn't wearing her black hair down as he liked it, but in a loose bun atop her head. She was dressed in a beautiful black dress, it was rare to see females in that color nowadays, most everyone wore pastels and light colors now that the earth was ten degrees warmer. Seishi stepped inside, a strangeness in her violet eyes that Ryuu couldn't figure out. Wordlessly, Ryuu walked up the stairs to his room, Seishi followed. This had to be taboo, what he was doing. His heart pounded rapidly, he hoped that she wouldn't be offended or get the wrong idea by being alone in his room--he just couldn't be comfortable elsewhere. However, as Seishi stepped into the room she closed the door and even went to the window to close the blinds. She sat down on his bed and gestured to Ryuu. Reluctantly, but not too reluctantly, he came forward and sat beside her. Seishi pushed a strand of hair away from his ear and bent her head close, "I know who you are, Morino Ryuu. Don't lie to me." she whispered, a shiver ran down Ryuu's spine. "Princess Seishi Tranquility-sama, you must be mistaken." he said carefully, but his heart was full of fear. But why? What kind of real man would be scared when having the most beautiful girl in the world, the girl that he loved with all his heart, in his room, in his bed, and so close to him that he could feel her breath on his skin? "I'm not wrong, Ryuu." she replied and filled his mouth with her kiss. * * * * "The energy is coming from that room." Sailorstar whispered pointing to the door, "That's where the Opaque Prism is kept.." Neo Sailormoon said back quietly, "Don't attack until you assess their ability level." Neo-Queen Serenity advised. Sailorstar nodded obediantly and threw open the door, her staff poised and ready for usage. Four figures stood in the darkness, their bodies turned towards the light pouring in from the opened door, each ready to attack, but something keeping them from doing so. Sailorstar stumbled towards the group, her eyes filling with tears. "Summerstar...?" she whispered, "PRINCESS!" one of the females cried, rushing over to Stella and sweeping her into a deep embrace. Neo-Queen Serenity switched on the lights in the room, there stood four figures. "Who.." Neo Sailormoon began, her voice in awe. These Sailors looked immensely powerful, but she didn't know how exactly. Each of them were dressed in uniforms different than she had ever seen in her life. The body suits were sleeveless and the bows which hung at the chest were nonexistant. In the place of bows were three stars made of metal, the one in the middle bigger than the rest. At their waists, where the bodysuit and skirt met was a belt, each belt on each of the four Senshi in a different pattern. Their skirts were double tiered, the first layer made of transparent matterial. All four of them wore white boots with different colored bands on top. As for their tiaras, those were also nonexistant, in it's place were tiny crowns which had the same pattern as what they had on their belts. "Who are you?" Neo Sailormoon repeated, finding her voice. Star turned to her and smiled brightly, "They're my guardians, the Star Senshi." she said, she buried her face in the orange-haired one's shoulder, "I've missed you so! It's been a millennia!" she cried. "We're so sorry, Princess, but we never knew. For some reason, we thought we were only gone for a week...not a thousand years." said the purple haired one, "You must have been SOOO lonely!" exclaimed the pink haired one. "Yes, you're the Star Senshi, but WHO are you?" Neo Sailormoon asked cocking her head to the side. "Excuse us for not introducing ourselves." said the orange haired Senshi, she gently pushed Sailorstar away from her, "I am the leader of the Star Senshi, Sailorsummerstar." She smiled slightly. She had short orange hair and orange eyes. She looked the oldest of the four. Her fuku was a golden color, halfway between orange and yellow, like the color of the sun. Her belt was made up of what appeared to be tiny suns alternating with tiny stars, same with her crown. "I'm next in line. I'm Sailorautumnstar." said the gentle voice of the purple haired soldier. She was a quiet looking girl with purple eyes that accented her long purple hair. On her head was a crown made of tiny leaves, her skirt and collar was colored maroon. She looks familiar, Neo Sailormoon commented, then again, they all look familiar for some reason. "I'm next in line, the Soldier of the bitter Cold, Sailorwinterstar!" exclaimed the girl with the messy short white hair [think Karin from DNA^2, without the braids] and silver eyes. Her skirt and collar were pale blue, and her crown was tiny silver snowflakes. "Last but not least, the Soldier of New Life, Sailorspringstar!" said the pink haired one, jumping into a quick pose. She was obviously the youngest, her hair was tied in two buns in the sides of her head with flowers sticking out of them. She also wore a crown of flowers, and her fuku was a pale pink color. Neo Sailormoon smiled slightly. Summerstar rolled her eyes gently at her sister's actions, "As you can see, she's very anxious for a fight, considering she's doing her attack pose." she commented shaking her head, she then looked up more seriously, "We've come to find you, Princess, but more importantly, to make sure that the Opaque Prism and Silver Crystal stay far away from each other." Neo Sailormoon's hand fluttered to her transformation brooch, covering it protectively. "Only the Opaque Prism will help us win the battle which inevitably coming." Neo-Queen Serenity replied, walking forward. "Your Majesty, it would be a greater travesty for the Three Treasures of the Golden Millennium to fall into the wrong hands. As of late, the Iridescent Jewel is missing, and we must assume the possessor is on their way to Earth to aquire the last two treasures." said Winterstar in a very seriously. "We will fight you, if it must come down to it." Autumnstar added quietly. "You would be foolish to attack the Neo Sailor Team. We are even more powerful than our predecessors." Neo Sailormoon replied icily. "Besides, you'd be grossly out numbered." "No! We must not talk about fighting one another! There have been enough Sailor Wars. Don't you see we have a common goal--" Stella, who had detransformed, exclaimed, only to be interrupted. "Ah, perhaps we'd be outnumbered, but you'd be outclassed. None of your Senshi are equal. We know all about you already. You're missing your strongest one, and the team is unbalanced because one refuses to take the rightful power of her planet." Winterstar snickered with a smirk. "Not to mention, each of us four has the power of three." Springstar chimed. Autumnstar nodded gently, gazing into Neo Moon's confused eyes. "You have heard of the legendary Zodiac Senshi, ne? We have their power. We were created from their ashes, they have been reborn into each of us." she answered. Neo-Queen Serenity's eyes widened, her lip trembling in horror and fear, she grasped the doorway with one of her hands. She walked towards Summerstar and rested her hands upon her shoulders, crying out in fear and recognition. She tore away from her and fell to the ground, "You cannot touch them! You will not touch them!" she cried, her face full of torment. Neo Sailormoon looked at her mother questioningly, "I let them die once...I won't let it happen again." she whispered, her blue eyes filling with tears, "I've spent the last two thousand years, begging, praying, wishing I'd never have to see her blue eyes again...even if they're a different color, they're still blue!" she shrieked. Summerstar looked at the Queen uncomfortably who was sobbing at her feet, begging for forgiveness. "I...I don't understand." Summerstar said, stepping away. "Do what they wish! Please do it!" Neo-Queen Serenity cried. Suddenly, in a whirlwind of capes, King Endymion appeared in the entrance of the room. He swept in and picked the shaken queen and looked coldly at the Star Senshi, but he was silent. Wordlessly, he carried his wife away. Neo Sailormoon followed her father, but stopped short of the door. She threw a glance over her shoulder, "My mother may trust you, but don't expect me to." * * * * And so it was done. Seishi sat up and gently got out of bed, quickly and silently putting her dress back on. She looked down at Ryuu, he was asleep. Like a sleeping knight, she thought. She didn't feel anything now, nothing at all. She didn't feel love, not even after what should have been the greatest declaration of it. She felt nothing, but inside her mind was a strange sense of accomplishment...like she had just fulfilled a promise she had made...or did a duty, but she didn't know. How could she know, she knew nothing. It was amazing how she convinced him she knew his true identity-- but she learned nothing from the act...except, that he really did know her from the past. She was obviously someone he loved and she was someone who loved him, but not now. Seishi buttoned the last button and tossed her hair out of her face, she gave the room a quick glance, trying to see if anything might bring back a memory. She walked over to the dresser in the corner and gently opened a drawer. She reached inside and pulled out a frame, it was a picture of Ryuu and that blue-haired girl from the ball. They looked so happy. Seishi smirked slightly, how happy could they be if he had done what he had just done with her? She replaced the picture in the drawer and closed it, just as her fingers were pushing the drawer back into it's slot, her eyes caught on something in the drawer. A necklace made of pink crystal. She reached down and picked it up, holding it by the chain. It was a beautiful thing, the crystal looked almost like a rose petal. Or maybe, it was once a part of an intricate crystal rose that had been shattered. When she touched it she felt a surge of energy that awakened her senses. Without thinking, she put on the necklace and smiled down at it. It looks like it belongs on me, she mused. When she was done with her tour around Ryuu's room, she walked towards the door, but stopped by the bed first. She looked down at him once more. "How like a sleeping knight you look, Morino Ryuu. An innocent, angelic man." she whispered, bringing her lips closer to his face. "Do I dare risk awaking him from his dreamlike rest? Can I do it without waking him?" she wondered quietly aloud. She smiled slightly, and leaned forward and kissed him. She then quickly moved towards the door, giving Ryuu once last look before she left his house, "Of course, the Dark Enchantress can do anything." ***Side Note:*** Don't kill me because of the pre-marital sex issue this episode just brought up. It isn't as big a deal in Japan, and it's been done in anime. I did the episode very tastefully, so you can't yell at me about that. And if you are still bothered, remember this: Haruka & Michiru ARE lovers in the manga and so are Usagi and Mamoru--they do more than just hold hands, if ya get my drift.