Subject: [FFML] Gaijin 24[Fanfic][SM/Spiderman][Dark]
From: Carrot Glace
Date: 3/12/2003, 3:26 AM
To: ffml@anifics.com


The rest of this can be found at:
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=17205

	Ah. I have returned yet again, however briefly. It's taking me much
longer to write things. It took almost two weeks for this chapter. ^_^;
I'm not giving up though! I continue onward!

	As to where I've been...um...well. Personal stuff mostly, nothing
particularly exciting or interesting. I've also become a slave to my
X-box. The near future does not look bright. The Legend of Zelda: Wind
Waker will probably consume a few weeks of my free time at least.
However, the next chapter of this will definitely be out before then.
^_^;


	Gaijin 

	Part 24

	Things get worse.

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Carrot was clinging to the side of a building ten stories above the
street. He was hidden away in a shadow as he looked down below him at
the bustle of the city. He found himself wondering if things were really
going to be as bad as he had thought. 

	It was around one now; the lunch rush had hit the street below,
stuffing even more people into the cramped walkways of the city. He was
still wearing the Spiderman costume and had no idea what he was going to
do over the next several hours. Hiding out in a bar seemed like a good
idea, but he really couldn't do that in his costume. He cursed himself
for leaving his street clothes behind for a moment. It would take him a
little time and he'd have to cover a lot of ground to go get them, and
it didn't really seem like it would be worth the effort. 

	With a heavy sigh his head sank as he tried to find some way to avoid
confrontation today. That crazy Chinese girl was enough for him to deal
with. He had no idea that no more than ten feet above him, something
watched him with a wicked looking grin on its nearly invisible maw. 

	"I can't just hang here all day...can I?" It was starting too look like
a good idea actually. He could see most anything that would be coming
for him in the position he was hanging. A clear view of the sky and the
street stretched out before him. "That's not a bad idea." He seemed
quite pleased with his idea now and nodded too himself. "Great. I'll
just hang out here for a while."

	"You know, you're incredibly boring today Spiderman."

	Carrot almost screamed. He jolted and spun around on the side of the
wall, looking up at the thing that was clinging to the wall just above
him. "Aw, man."

	Venom was leering at him as it chuckled at his predicament. "So,
Spiderman. What brings you here?"

	Carrot couldn't feel anything, there was no hint of danger in the
things tone as it glared down at him. It seemed almost amused in fact.
Venom had always set off his spider-sense before though. "What do you
want?"

	"We're keeping an eye on you Spiderman. We've been watching you for
some time now."

	"So?" grumbled Carrot as he shifted his position, ready to jump at the
slightest hint of danger from the thing. 

	"You're interesting," said the thing calmly. "We're starting to wonder
just what you're up too."

	"Up too?" grumbled Carrot.

	"Yes, you hate the Senshi, almost enough to want them dead. Yet you
still help them. Why?"

	Venom's voice was downright creepy. The thing seemed to speak with
several voices at once; it seemed almost childlike when it spoke to him. 

	"Who said I wanted them dead?"

	"Oh come now. We know better than that." Venom's eyes narrowed as it
spoke to him.

	"What do you want from me?"

	"To make sure you can't cause any more damage. Killing you would be
useless at the moment, it won't bring the Senshi back."

	"What do you care about the Senshi?" muttered Carrot as he set himself
a little more firmly onto the wall as he peered up at the thing. Venom
was simply squatting on the side of the building above him with its arms
crossed over its chest.

	Venom growled slightly at this. "You've got no idea who we are do you?"

	Carrot backed away slightly. "What?"

	The thing seemed amused by this. "I'll let you wonder for now."

	"Did you just come here to bug me?" grumbled Carrot as he started
backing away, putting a more comfortable distance between himself and
the creature.

	"We'd rather arrest you." Venom's maw curled back and almost split its
head in two as it grinned at him.

	Carrot shot off the wall like a bullet. "Gotta catch me first!" He
twisted in mid-air and sent out a web line as he went into free fall.

	"A game then? Sounds like fun." The dark creature pushed off the wall,
cracking the concrete as it did so. It flicked its wrist and mimicked
its prey's maneuver. 

	Carrot sailed through the air at speeds that his wires would never
allow. The web lines worked like rubber bands almost, propelling him
forward at impossible speeds. Unfortunately, Venom had no trouble
keeping up. He twisted as the thing released its line and made a grab
for him. Without thinking he pushed off Venom's chest with his feet and
changed his direction in an instant.

	The creature was thrown back and down by this and caught itself about
halfway down to the street. "Play nice!"

	"Are you insane?!" muttered Carrot as he looked back at the thing. 

	"Sooner or later we'll catch you!" snarled the beast.

	"Forget I asked," grumbled the boy as he turned a corner and shot
across the sky above another street.

	Venom was behind him by a good distance, and seemed hard-pressed to
catch up. Unfortunately, it was able to keep from falling too far
behind. He had to put some more distance between them before he could
escape and he knew it. Unfortunately he had no idea how.

	He turned to look back again and almost fell off his web line as he
realized that Venom was gone. "What the?"

	A hard blow slammed down between his shoulder blades and he lost his
grip. He plummeted down towards the busy street below. He could feel the
wind ripping at his limbs, as he grew ever closer to an incredibly
intimate relationship with the pavement.

	At the last possible moment he caught himself and twisted to avoid
slamming into traffic. He passed between two cars as he sailed upwards
and flipped through the air as he released his line. He landed on the
side of a two-story building and glanced around desperately for his
assailant. "Damn! Where is..."

	"Surprise!" Venom appeared directly behind him and punched him in the
back of his head. Carrot slammed into the ground hard enough to crack
the pavement. He slowly staggered to his feet and shook the blow off as
best he could. 

	"Damn it." The crowd on the street had parted as the two inhuman things
faced off.

	"Come on Spiderman, you can't win," growled the thing. "Just give up
and come along quietly."

	Carrot growled as he simply stared forward. "You're gonna have to beat
me first."

	"Heh. That shouldn't be too hard." Venom faded from view causing the
crowd to gasp.

	Carrot cursed as he twisted and turned searching for some sign of his
assailant. A blur of motion caught his attention to his right. It almost
looked like a man shaped blur of nothing as it moved.

	"That cloak only works when you stand still huh?" said the boy as he
jumped in the air and flipped over a punch.

	Venom roared angrily as its cloak faded away. "So it seems. Our optics
probably need an upgrade."
	
	"Right," muttered Carrot halfheartedly. 

	"Come now Spiderman, you know you can never win."

	"Come to think of it, I'm not so sure actually," replied Carrot as he
landed on the hood of a parked car on the edge of the road.

	Venom was simply standing there glaring at him. 

	"You're really creepy you know that?" said Carrot after a moment of
staring. "Maybe you should work on your look a little? Something a
little more people friendly maybe?"

	"You're not running. Perhaps you're not as cowardly as we'd thought?"
Venom's body seemed to writhe as tendrils of black ooze shifted around
across its massive frame. It was easily three times bigger than Carrot.

	The boy didn't waste a moment. "Actually, I'm just not sure how much I
can hurt you yet." His wrist shot forward and covered the creature's
face in webbing. Venom roared and tore at its face in anger. 

	"Why you!"

	Spiderman shot forward slamming his fist into the thing's gut at full
force. He followed quickly with an uppercut that set it flying into the
air. Venom came crashing down on the top of a car, crushing the roof and
shattering the windows.

	He stood watching the creature for a moment, as it did not move. After
a few seconds he spoke up. "I hope you don't think I'm stupid enough to
go over there and check on you."

	Carrot paused for a moment as Venom remained still. "Don't tell me it
was this easy."	

	The creature sat upright and put its hand against its head. "Ouch. Our
impact dampeners did not come on-line fast enough."

	"Huh?" said Carrot dumbly. "I guess it's not this easy."

	"We must remember to preset them before entering combat in the future.
Spiderman, you have made us very angry."

	"You mean you weren't upset before now?" asked Carrot as he crouched
low as the creature recovered.

	"No." replied Venom. He hunched down to match the boy's pose and
growled.

	"Fuck."

	The thing literally twisted the roof of the car and ripped holes in it
as it pushed off and charged.

	Carrot was almost frozen in horror. He hadn't felt a thing to warn him.
His instinct for survival kicked in and he rolled forward so that the
creature landed behind him. Venom turned instantly towards him.
Spiderman kicked himself to his feet and jumped into the air sending out
a line.

	"Not so fast!" snarled Venom as it simply shot a line into the boy's
back and slammed him back onto the pavement.

	Carrot was having trouble moving at this point. He simply groaned as he
tried to push himself into just a sitting position.

	Venom leered at him ghoulishly as it simply stood there and watched.
"Heh. It may not be right, but it's definitely fun."

	"Not having moral issues about this at all?" grumbled Carrot painfully
as he managed to pick himself up finally. He stood slowly and staggered
back a bit.

	"I'll bet you're wondering how you'll get out of this one Spiderman.
The answer is simple. You won't."

	Carrot was starting to realize why Peter Parker was so terrified of
Venom. In a way no other person on the planet could possibly understand.
He doubted if Stan Lee himself could convey Spiderman's feelings on the
matter better than he could at that moment. "Oh shit. I'm fucked."

	Unfortunately, it was only the start of what was to become the busiest
day of his life.

+++++++++++++++++++++

	In the sky above Tokyo, a billowing cloud of smoke began to form high
above the tall skyscrapers. The Goblin floated through the air on top of
his ghoulish glider as it flapped its wings slowly to keep him aloft. 

	"Where to begin?" he muttered to himself as he peered down into the
city below. "Ah, so much to destroy, so little time." He stopped and
hovered for a moment watching the street below. His dark smirk twisted
into an insane grin as he noticed the crowds in the street. Traffic was
particularly heavy on a section of street populated by small restaurants
and bars in the middle of town. 

	"Ding dong! It's one o'clock! Who can come out to play?" He laughed as
he swooped down into the street holding a glowing orb of pumpkin shaped
energy in his hand as he plummeted downward.

	The crowd seemed to freeze as he swooped down on them and pulled up at
the last moment. He launched the projectile into the air. The bomb
slammed into a parked car next to the sidewalk and exploded in a huge
ball of flames. Pedestrians were tossed in every direction in the wake
of the explosion.

	The creature turned back around in the air and began to swoop down for
yet another pass. "Heh. Pathetic fools."

	Someone in the crowd screamed. "He's coming back!" 

	The streets turned into a stampede of people in an instant. 

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Gia was standing in her office with a cup of coffee in her hands as she
stared at the television with an almost obsessive interest. Luna was
sitting on the counter right next to her watching the screen as well.

	"No! Don't do it!" cried Luna fearfully.

	"Shhhh!" snapped Gia.

	The animal quieted and both of them leaned towards the screen with
increasing interest.

	"Oh, Jiro..." said the woman on screen as her lips drew ever closer to
the handsome man who held her gently in his arms.

	"You know I love only you Suzuko!" exclaimed the man dramatically.

	"But what about Kai?" whispered the girl.

	"You're the only one who matters!" insisted the man.

	"I'm not sure...I just..."

	"No! Don't think! Just feel!" said the man as he gazed into her star
struck eyes.

	Both Luna and Gia's eyes were locked on screen as the pair's lips grew
even closer. Suzuko still looked uncertain, and she seemed to almost
pull away from him.

	"We interrupt this program to bring you an important news bulletin!"


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
cried Luna and Gia at the same time.

	"The creature known as "The Goblin" has appeared over the streets of
Tokyo. Reports are unclear at the moment, but sources tell us that he is
using some sort of explosives on the city. Viewers are advised to stay
away from the city if at all possible until this crisis has been
averted. Police are scrambling to deal with the threat. We take you live
to the scene..."

	Gia switched off the television and looked down at the animal on the
counter with a serious frown on her face. "I guess I should get some
bandages ready."

	"Huh?" said the animal in confusion. "What happened to the show?"

	"I doubt if it'll be back on again today Luna. Whoever that guy is,
he's making a real mess. I'm going to call Mei Lin and get some supplies
for when Carrot gets back."

	"Oh. Don't forget the burn cream. That guy has bombs or something. Are
you sure you'll need them? I mean, the news didn't say anything about
him being there."

	"What are you kidding?" said Gia as she stared at the animal.

	"Oh," said Luna with a heavy sigh. "He probably won't feel much like
petting me when he gets back either. The jerk."

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Venom snarled viciously as it jumped towards its prey.

	Carrot hopped out of the way and landed on the side of a wall just over
the thing's head. He flicked his wrists and shot two streams of web into
the thing's face. 

	Venom roared angrily as it tore at the goop that covered its face.
"You'll have to do better than that!"

	Venom was right and he knew it, the move barely slowed the creature
down at all, and it was only his second time using it. Carrot didn't
respond and flipped over the thing and onto the ground behind it. He
flicked both his wrists and set himself on the ground firmly. Five wires
shot from each wrist and impaled the creature in the back and arms. 

	"Ragh! That hurt!" snarled the larger creature as it flexed its back
and pulled the boy off his feet. 

Carrot landed face first on the pavement and cursed. "Shit. I should
have known better."

	"Maybe you should have," replied Venom as it calmly pulled the last of
the wires from its back as it stood over him.

	"Look. Maybe we can talk this out?" said Carrot as he was lifted by his
collar.

	"The time for talking is past Spiderman," replied Venom. "We'll avenge
ourselves now, and you won't ever bother us or our friends again."

	Carrot was clutching at the thing's arm uselessly. The creature's skin
felt like metal almost. "What the hell are you talking about? What
fr..." He paused for a moment as something sunk in finally. "Wait a
minute. How do you know the senshi anyway?"

	"You've caused us nothing but pain! You've tormented us far too much.
It's time we took extreme measures."

	"So, you're going to kill me? Is that it?" growled Carrot. He was
trying to keep the thing talking and buy some time.

	Venom chuckled. "Kill you? Don't be foolish Spiderman. We're going to
arrest you...after we've had our fun that is."

	Carrot wasn't sure what to say to that. "Arrest me?"

	"Yes. You'll be handed over to the police. First, I think I'll take
away your voice." The creature pointed its index at him. It grew into a
long sharp point.

	"Oh man," muttered Carrot as he swallowed. 

	"Don't worry, it'll hurt quite a bit, but you'll live."

	Something inside the boy's mind clicked into place once again. "Usagi?"

	"Finally figured it out?" replied the creature with a small chuckle.
The long sharp finger didn't waver as it pointed at the boy's neck.

	Carrot's mind worked fast. "Hey! What's that!?" He pointed off to their
right.

	"Eh?" said Venom as its attention moved to where he was pointing. "Say.
What is that?"

	Carrot was tossed aside almost casually. Venom obviously didn't think
she'd have much trouble catching him again. The boy blinked in surprise
as he found himself sitting on his rear on the pavement. "Huh?" He
quickly scrambled away from Venom, who was staring up and to the right.

	Carrot glanced back at her, the thing was obviously looking at
something, but that wasn't a real big concern for him. He had to get
away. He jumped into the air and sent out a web line. Venom didn't budge
from where it was standing.

	"Is it playing with me?" asked Carrot out loud as he peered back over
his shoulder at the thing. It was about this point that he noticed the
crowd was looking up in the same general direction. 

	"HA! HA! HAHAHAHAHA!"

	Carrot cursed as a familiar laugh sounded from behind him. "Oh shit.
You mean there really was something there?"

	Goblin swooped out of the sky and rammed him in the back with the
bottom of his glider. 

	Carrot was knocked off of his web line and plummeted towards the
street. He twisted instantly and sent out another line barely in time to
catch himself before he hit the pavement.

	"Just the insect I was looking for! Hello Spiderman! Want to help me
blow up the city? Ha ha ha! I'm sure we'll have a smashing time!"

	"What the hell did he just say?" muttered Carrot in a sort of stupefied
horror. That line was right out of a comic book. "I knew I shoulda just
stayed in the bathroom all day! Damn you Gia!"

	Goblin swooped back and fourth behind him as he swung away. He lobbed a
bomb into one of the buildings sending a shower of debris into the air
that almost knocked Spiderman out of the air.

	The boy landed on the pavement once again and cursed. "Oh man. How much
worse can this get?"

	"You should know better than to say that. It's bad luck," replied the
Goblin cheerfully as he hovered nearby.

	Carrot backed away from the thing slowly and tried to think of a way
out of his new problem.

	That was when his old problem decided to make sure he hadn't forgotten.

	"A friend of yours Spiderman? We'll arrest him too then. Plotting to
blow up the city..."

	"Oh man," grumbled the boy as he hung his head. 

	Venom landed between them cracking the pavement as he slammed into the
ground. "Who are you?"

	Goblin smirked. "Hmmm. You're an interesting one. Who are you? Another
like me, did they improve you too?""
	
	"We are Venom, and we're nothing like you monster."

	"Didn't know it was a soft spot," replied the thing. 

	Carrot cursed as he found himself standing directly between them.

	"I suppose we should get started!" snarled Goblin as he tossed one of
his pumpkin bombs at the boy.

	Carrot shot into the air and caught a street lamp. He flipped over it
and swung himself onto a third story wall. "Jeez. You could put
someone's eye out!"

	"That's an interesting idea!" snarled the creature as it readied
another bomb and tossed it where the boy had landed. Carrot pushed away
and swung to the other side of the street just before the impact.

	Venom blindsided him and punched him back down to the pavement. "You're
not going anywhere until we're finished with you!"

	Goblin snorted. "I'm afraid I need him for a few hours. You two can
play later. If he survives that is."

	"What the hell is going on?!" snapped Carrot.

	"We're arguing about who is going to kill you," replied Goblin calmly.

	"Spiderman is ours!" snarled Venom angrily.

	"I'll take him from you then!" cried the Goblin as he charged from the
air.

	Venom's hand shot out like a snake, the arm extended slightly and
snagged the thing's face. With a casual looking swipe of its arm, Venom
grabbed Goblin out of the sky and slammed him head first into the wall
behind it without looking back.

	"Now where were we?" said Venom as it turned towards Carrot again.

	The boy simply swallowed and backed away a little more. "You were just
about to let me go?"

	"No. I think I was going to put a hole in your throat to repay you for
the one you gave me. Remember?"

	"My god. It is Usagi..." muttered Carrot in horror. Somehow, some way,
he'd pissed off Sailor Moon so much that she'd told him that she was
going to cut his throat open. That shouldn't have been possible.

	"I hope you don't seriously think you've finished me off so easily. You
surprised me once, but now it ends."

	"Eh?" growled Venom as it peered back over its shoulder.

	Goblin lobbed a bomb directly into the creature's back. Venom was sent
flying as it exploded. The beast crushed a brick wall as it impacted and
sent people running from a small nearby business screaming.

	"Man. This is going to be a hell of a day," said Carrot as he turned to
look at Goblin again.

	"It will be your last. Enjoy it," said the thing.

	"No. Murder is wrong!" roared Venom as it smashed through the pile of
bricks and rushed out into the street again. "Maiming is okay, but
killing him is a bit too much."

	Carrot wanted to cry, he really did. So naturally he acted tough. "You
jerks think you can take Spiderman!? Come on then! I'll kick both your
asses!"

	Goblin and Venom both turned to face the boy in unison.

	Carrot stood his ground and waited.

	The two monsters began to laugh at him.

	"Fine be that way! Hey Goblin!"

	"Eh?" muttered the creature as it stopped laughing.

	"Catch." Carrot reared back his arm and smirked as he closed his fist
behind his back. An iron pole appeared in his palm and he threw it dead
into the thing's face. Goblin was knocked off his glider and bounced
twice when he hit the pavement. The pole clattered on the ground a few
yards away.

	"Guess that argument is over. We get to have him!" said Venom as it
turned its attention towards the boy again.

	"Back to square one," grumbled Carrot as he shifted back defensively.

	"Not so fast." Goblin raised his arm into the air and a pumpkin bomb
roughly five times larger than the ones he'd been using appeared. "We've
still got plenty to argue about."

	"Oh shit," said Carrot as he saw the bomb.

	"Heh. We haven't tried fighting a Youma as Venom before." Almost as an
afterthought the creature grabbed Carrot by the neck and tossed him
right into Goblin.

	"Asssshoooolllleee!" called Carrot as he sailed through the air.

	The explosion filled the street in a flash of light and knocked the
windows out of stores for four blocks. Concrete, asphalt, and pieces of
vehicles rained down from above in the wake of the explosion. Needless
to say, Carrot didn't feel good, he was alive though. Covered in ashes
and face down on the ground with the charred remains of a web line firm
in his grip still. Ground zero was about ten feet away from him and a
low chuckle from the still smoking crater told him he had to get up. 

	"Hmmmm. You're tougher than you look Spiderman. I expected you to be
dead."

	The boy staggered up and growled as he clutched his left arm. He'd been
cut pretty badly. 

	"This should do the job though," said the thing as it readied another
bomb.

	"I thought we told you that Spiderman was ours!" snarled Venom angrily.

	"You're still here?" snorted Goblin.

	Venom snarled as it readied itself to attack.

	"Now. Where is Spiderman?" He glanced around casually.

	"What?" growled Venom. "He ran away?"

	"He usually does," replied Goblin calmly. "He'll come back if I cause
enough damage though. Time to get started."

	"Spiderman may be gone, but We still have you monster."

	The Goblin frowned at this. "Who are you calling a monster?" 

	"You!" The thing jumped forward claws outstretched. 

	Goblin nimbly hopped out of the way and back onto his waiting glider.
"I can fly, can you?"

	"We don't need too!" snarled the creature as it jumped up after the
monster.

	"Heh. If Spiderman won't oblige you'll have to do," said the Goblin as
he noticed Venom keeping a steady pace behind him. He turned in the air
and flew full speed towards Venom.

	"What?" snarled the thing as it reached out to intercept.

	The Goblin curved around the extended arm and turned up sharply. He
nabbed the web line a few hundred yards up and laughed. "I just wanted
Spiderman to play wrecking ball with me! You'll fit in a pinch!"

	Venom snarled as Goblin twisted in the air and swung the line. It
slammed into the side of an office building and caved in the reinforced
glass of several of the windows. "That hurt!" It snarled as it stuck
there.

	The Goblin started to pull in the slack in order to dislodge his new
toy. "What's the matter, this web sticky? Can't let go?"

	Venom leered at him. "Web? What web?"

	"What?" cried Goblin as he looked at the line in his hand. It had
turned black and was starting to cover his hand.

	Venom jerked its arm back after planting itself firmly in place. Goblin
was tossed forward like a doll and made a similar impact on the
building. He didn't have the power to stick there and promptly plummeted
downward. Venom didn't really see any reason to save the creature. Usagi
had already dispatched a few of them before after all.

	"No! What are you doing!?" cried the girl inside suddenly. 

	"He is not human," replied the thing with mechanical calm. "His
existence threatens many lives. There is no reason we should save him.
It would be counter productive."

	"We can't just kill people!"

	"As I have already explained, he is not a 'person'. Data shows you have
dispatched several such creatures in the past. Why was this any
different?"

	"I killed them because I didn't have a choice! He was..."

	"He would have continued to attack us when he recovered."

	"Maybe he would have given up? Maybe we were too strong for him?"

	"Scenario does not compute."

	"What does that mean?"

	"That situation is extremely unlikely."

	"Well, maybe you're right."

	"Primary target lost."

	"We'll find him again. With you, I should have no trouble."

	Venom paused as something impacted between their legs inside the glass
crater. It looked down and noticed what was resting just behind them,
right between its legs.

	"Ummm."

	The pumpkin bomb exploded sending a shower of glass down on the street.
Venom was thrown from the building and went into free fall over the
street. The black mass seemed almost shredded as lightly burned human
skin could be seen for the briefest of moments. It took only a few
seconds for it to recover and it caught itself with a line of its
webbing. 

	"Surprised? Forgot I've got wings already?" called the Goblin with a
cackle from overhead. "My, you're a tough one too! We'll have lots of
fun today!" He was on his glider again and turned away to start the
chase up again.

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Meanwhile, in an alleyway near where the fight started...

	"Let those two duke it out for a bit," grumbled Carrot with a heavy
sigh. He knew he'd have to deal with the winner sooner or later. His
eyes shot open suddenly and he jerked upright.

	Goblin was fighting Usagi. If he killed her, there was a very good
chance Metallia would win. "Aw, man."

	As much as his life sucked now, it would suck a whole lot more if that
happened. Self-preservation is a powerful motivator, and now it was
attacking him on both fronts. Immediate safety, or safety from soul
sucking black death or something similar.

	Carrot grunted painfully as he forced himself to stand up. "I gotta go
back to work again."

	Every step he took towards the street felt heavier. His tasks just kept
mounting up. Now he had to fight Goblin, figure out a way to get Usagi
out of that thing, get the stupid bitch her powers back, avoid Kei, stay
out of the Yakuza's hair for a while and hope those other ninja didn't
get brave again, avoid Yakuza hitmen, get the cat's memories back, avoid
the violent Chinese National, find a way to get Kajura to leave him the
hell alone, find a way to get rid of his new and psychopathic
girlfriend, get rid of the freeloading Chinese National, find a new
apartment and get some damn solitude, and pick up Michiru by eight.

	Carrot noted that the last thing on his list was a date. "Oh god. I've
really become Spiderman. This sucks."

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Hisami frowned as he sat silently in the back of his limo. The old
ninja master sat with him at the moment on the opposite side of the
seat. They pulled up to the gates of the dock and passed through them
unobstructed. Everyone knew who was coming; most of them had no idea why
he was there either. It wasn't the sort of thing that filtered down
well. 

	The vehicle pulled up to the side of one of the larger buildings and
rolled slowly to a stop outside one of the smaller entrance doors. It
was a massive structure that probably housed entire cargo shipments.

	He remained seated with the windows rolled up as the other vehicles in
the convoy unloaded first.

	Kei was the first one to walk up beside his window. She was facing the
warehouse and leaning against the side of the car. He rolled down the
window very slightly and she spoke.

	"We are being watched."

	The old master spoke as Hisami remained silent. "How many?"

"Hakage is going to check on their equipment now. There are two men,
watching from a car parked outside the gate. The car is unmarked, but
I'm pretty sure those two idiots are cops."

	"Yoshida's obsessed brother no doubt. There is little cause for
concern."

	"He is becoming dangerous," said Hisami finally.

	"Don't be careless," cautioned the old man.

	"Hikyu is doing his job well. Perhaps he may still have his uses for
us?"

	The old man narrowed his eyes. "You're choosing a dangerous path."

	"They are still allies too us."

	"They don't care about us. We've served our purpose too them, and they
are keeping us around in case they might find a use for us. If that does
not destroy us, they will when this is over."

	Hisami frowned at the old man and turned his eyes towards the window.
"Leave the two men in the car be for now. Just make sure you kill them
before we go."

	"All right. Don't blame me when Yoshida hears about it."

	"I will tell him later."

	He turned his head away from the window and the girl vanished.

+++++++++++++++++++++

	"Kajura?"

	"What is it Saito?"

	"How much of a raise do we get when we get promoted for this?"

	"A big one, quit wasting film until he gets out."

	"Should I call this in now?"

	"Leave the radio off until he gets out. We don't want to tip him off,
he's got a scanner in that thing."

	"Oh, right..." muttered Saito dumbly as he pulled his hand back from
the radio.

	Kajura zoomed the lens of his camera in a bit more. "Come on you fat
bastard. Come out and smile."

	"Who was that girl he was talking too?"

	"Who cares? Probably a toy for later."

	"Eeeww."

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Kei smirked as she stood next to Hikyu in the blind spot of the vehicle
watching the two men stare forward with cameras ready.

	"Just a few cameras. The film will need to be destroyed."

	"I'll take care of them. Hisami gave me orders to deal with them some
time before we left. I'll let them enjoy their moment and then kill
them. 'A toy for later' indeed."

	"I shall return then."

	"You do that."

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Hisami stepped out of his vehicle and adjusted his suit for a moment as
he stared sternly forward. "Bring me Wo Hin Shu. I'll speak with him in
the main office. Then we'll inspect everything and see about disposing
of this mess quickly. The South Koreans will most likely be very happy
to take it off our hands."

	The men around him immediately started towards the door surrounding him
as he walked with them. "How did those two find out about this meeting?"

	Hikyu was waiting inside the door. Hisami had been awaiting his return
to exit his vehicle. "I do not yet know sir. Kei knows to check into
that after she kills them. We will probably not see her again until
later this evening. I'm sure she'll have a full report."

	"She'd better."

	"I will make sure of it when our business here is complete."

	"Very good." 

	The shinobi faded into the shadows as Hisami strolled across the
concrete in front of towering stacks of boxes with his entourage. 

+++++++++++++++++++++

	"Ah, the wind in my hair!" said Carrot as he swung over the street
towards the screaming and explosions. All he really wanted to do was go
home. Usagi could probably take the Goblin out without too much trouble.
Who knew? Maybe 'Venom' would disappear for a while afterwards. They
would definitely smack each other around quite a bit even if they both
survived.

	He hung a sharp right and barely missed the corner of a building. "Hey.
I'm getting pretty good at this." The distraction of pulling that off so
easily wore off rather quickly as his mind started wandering into his
problem again. Goblin's bombs effected whatever Venom was made of. That
meant that Goblin might win. 

	It also gave him a weapon to use against the monster. Magic or not,
Goblins bombs were little more than a little bang with a lot of heat in
them.

	The sounds of explosions grew ever closer as he sped towards the scene.
His head cocked as he realized he could hear something below him.

	People were looking up at him and cheering, while pointing in the
direction of the general destruction. The streets were a mess, and
debris covered the pavement almost completely in a few places.

	"Yeah. I'm going to get my ass kicked and these people are cheering and
telling me which way to go. Great. Thanks a lot frightened masses."

+++++++++++++++++++++

	It was going to be a busy day at the Emergency room at Tokyo General
Hospital. The news was on every television in the building almost.
Everyone was watching the terror unfold as the bomb-throwing madman
battled the inhuman monster. It was a plot worthy of a great film.
Explosions shattered buildings, raining debris into the crowded streets
below. Casualties were being reported. Police were unable to keep up
with the acrobatic battle, and choppers were still minutes away from the
scene.

	The hospital employees bustled about, caring for those already there,
and preparing for the worst. A woman in a white coat with a clip board
resting in her grip. She had shoulder length brown hair and a nice
figure. She looked to be in her late twenties and had a pair of glasses
resting on her nose as she peered down at the document on the clipboard.

	"Dr. Mizura, I think we've got the first one here!" 

	"Oh no," muttered the woman as she turned to look down at the gurney an
emergency medical team had rolled in. There were four men pushing a red
mess of a man blood covered the sheets he was on.

	"We haven't been able to stop the bleeding," muttered one of the men in
horror. "Nothing we've tried has worked."

	The man's face was covered in red, his hands were dripping with it.
There was no way he could be alive after losing that much blood. "Make
it stop. Please make it stop. Make the bleeding stop!"

	The woman jumped back and almost lost her glasses as she gasped. "Bring
him over here!" She started running into the hall along side the man
while the men rushed him towards an operating room.

	"Make it stop."

	"Don't worry, we'll make it stop," said the Doctor firmly as she
started putting on her protective clothing near to a sink by the door.

	"No. You don't understand. You've got to get it out of me."

	"Get what out of you?" asked one of the medical team. "We haven't found
anything. Where are you hurt?"

	"It's in my blood. See?" Two of the medical team were leaning over him
trying to figure out what he was talking about. A shower of gore
exploded from their back as a large sharp spike loomed into the air.

	The woman heard the sound of flesh tearing and froze, unable to look
and see what happened. Two muffled screams started from behind her and
she squeezed her eyes shut, afraid to turn around.

	"I was afraid you couldn't help me...no one can help me now. So I'll
just kill all of you."

	She slowly turned her head as a dark shadow loomed over her from
behind. "Oh god."

	Two of the emergency medical team were already dead. The remainder had
their faces wrapped up in its hands. The thing they had brought in had
actually formed a face out of its own blood and some sort of black oil
that seemed to ooze through it. It had a deformed hole of sharp teeth
for a mouth. She could still see the liquid surface of blood pulsing and
moving in the back of its throat. "I don't want to die. Let me try and
help...there's no need for this." She pleaded with the thing as she
stepped back away from it.

	"Oh, the carnage has only just begun." It lifted its arms up and hefted
both men into the air. Their muffled screams heightened as blood began
to drip from between its fingers. Finally both men fell to the floor as
their skulls finally caved in. 

	Dr. Mizura was backed against the wall with nowhere to run. She
screamed as the creature simply walked towards her.

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Rei Hino's back arched sharply as she sucked in a quick breath. Her
eyes were wide with horror at the vision she had just received.
Something terrible had happened, she wasn't sure what it was. She had
seen bodies, dead people. They were lying in pools of their own blood in
a strange room. A dark shadow loomed over them. 

	What scared her the most, is that she felt a connection. Usagi was
involved somehow. She wasn't sure why she knew that, or what it meant.
The girl wasn't hurt though, at least not yet.

	"Rei."

	"I cannot be disturbed now," she hissed as she glared at him. The look
on his face silenced any further protest.

	"Stay home. It is too much for you alone, even with the help of your
friend."

	"What? What are you talking about?"

	The old man sighed. "So. It appears I was mistaken. I thought you came
in here to meditate on what was going on now."

	"There's something going on?" muttered the girl dumbly.

	The man looked slightly annoyed. "Hmmm. Should have just kept my mouth
shut."

	"I've got to go then."

	"Come and see what you face then. It's all over the damn news."	

	The girl blinked and stood up to follow.

	The girl took one look at the screen on the television and gasped. She
was frozen in shock.

	Venom and the Goblin were swinging at each other in the street. The
beastly looking black creature was swinging a light pole around like a
baseball bat, and the Goblin was lobbing bombs at it occasionally. Venom
was getting pretty good at hitting them away, which was unfortunate for
the surrounding buildings. The streets around the scene were basically
vacant save for a few newscasters in the background. 

	"See what I mean? Stay home Rei. Let the police handle this."

	The girl was simply looking at the screen.

	"I've already called Makoto. She says she's remaining behind as well.
It is far too dangerous for a single girl to handle this alone."

	"I've seen that thing before. In a vision."

	"What?"

	"Sorry. I've got to go. Usagi needs my help." She started walking
towards the door. She pulled out a small compact and flipped it open as
she strolled out the door. "Makoto. I'm going. Are you in or out?"

	"You sure about this?" muttered the girl on the other side nervously. 

	"We have to help Usagi."

	"Usagi!? What's she got to do with this?"

	"I'll explain when we meet up." She tapped a button on the bottom half
and growled as the ring sounded several times. "Pick up!"

	"Huh? Oh, hey Rei. What's up?"

	"You were sleeping?"

	"Yeah. Can't do Sailor Venus anymore remember?"

	"Forget about your punishment. We need you."

	"Rei! You know I would..."

	"Minako. Usagi is in danger. We have to do something."

	"But..."

	"Minako. Your parents want to protect you, but we're all there is right
now. I just saw a newscast, Spiderman is gone."

	"Gone? Somebody killed him!??!" The girl looked completely shocked.

	"No. He ran away."

	"So you're on your way to fight something that guy ran away from?"

	"That's why we need you. Minako...please."

	The girl frowned deeply. "I'm gonna get so grounded for this."

	"You are grounded, remember?"

	"Oh. Right."

	With another tap Rei switched channels again. She waited for a few
moments and frowned. "Pick up Ami." The communicator continued to ring.	

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Ami Mizuno looked down into her hand at the small ringing compact. She
was sitting at a computer in a small room with lots of records placed on
bookshelves around her.

	"What is that ringing dear?" asked her mother as she stuck her head out
of her office. 

	"Just my communicator. We all got them when we became senshi. Mostly we
just use them like cell phones these days. I'll call Rei back later
tonight."

	Her mother gave her a small frown. "All right. You know I don't like
that senshi business though."

	"I'm sorry. It's harmless though. It seemed like such a waste to get
rid of it..."

	"It's all right. I suppose I can tolerate that as long as I don't hear
about any more of it."

	"Yes Ma'am."

	"How long is it going to ring?"

	"I'll switch it off. I don't have time to speak with her anyway. I've
still got a lot to do here."

	"All right. Just remember that we break at two for lunch. The cafeteria
isn't bad on this floor either. How is it coming?"

	I've almost got these sorted out. I don't see why you don't just do
this to begin with. It seems counterproductive to update the patient
files manually.	
	"Sorry dear. I can't perform examinations in here. The other room
doesn't have a terminal in it remember."

	"Laptops aren't that expensive you know. You should invest in one. It
will free up a lot of time for you."

	Her mother smiled. "Getting bored?"

	"I don't mind doing it at all. It does seem a bit silly to me though."
The girl giggled slightly and arched her back as she stretched her arms
up.

	"Well. If anything happens to the computer, I've still got the hard
copy. That's why we do it this way."

	The girl shrugged at this. "I guess that makes sense then."

	The pair quickly turned towards the door to the hallway as the sound of
rushing feet pounded past the door.

	"Security?" muttered Dr. Mizura as she poked her head out the door.
"Wonder where they're going in such a rush?"

	"Is something going on?" asked Ami curiously.

	"I'm not sure," replied her mother. "It's probably nothing."

+++++++++++++++++++++
	
	"You're beginning to annoy us," snarled Venom as it slammed into a wall
creating a large crater in its wake.

	"I'll do more than annoy you!" snarled Goblin as he tossed yet another
bomb.

	Venom jumped out of the way and a shower of concrete and brick shot
into the air as the projectile exploded.

	"Come down and fight us!"

	Goblin was still on his glider and circled above the thing at a fairly
good distance. "Why don't you come up here. It's so much more fun that
way."

	"We'll make you then!" roared the creature as it pointed its fist
towards the airborne monster.

	Goblin weaved in and out of the webs almost casually. "Come on. At
least make some sport of it!"

	"All right then!" snarled Venom as it jerked the still taught lines
back suddenly.

	"Eh?" said Goblin as he turned his head back. Two chunks of wall
slammed into it from behind and he jolted forward, knocked from his
glider again. 

	"Now you've come down to play some more."

	"I'm starting to like you," said the monster as he rose to his feet
again. "I should really look into some straps for my feet. This grows
irritating."

	"We don't like you much. Let us show you!" Venom roared and jumped
forward arms extended. 

	Goblin punched it in the face and sent it off course. The thing landed
on the pavement face down. It was on its feet again almost as soon as it
hit. "Ouch."

	Goblin used the opportunity to mount his glider again.

	"Next time, we break that thing first," growled Venom irritably.

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Carrot sighed as he landed on a rooftop overlooking the fight.

	Apparently Venom and Goblin were having a pissing contest to see who
could destroy more cars. They weren't paying much attention to what was
going on around them either. Small fires and piles of twisted metal and
rock littered the path of their battle. It had gone on for almost
fifteen blocks now. There were stretches of undamaged road as well, when
they paused to change scenery. "Guess they keep running out of stuff to
break and people to scare. Now what the hell do I do about it?" 

He cocked his head as he looked down at the small garden on the rooftop
beside him. There were a few garden tools strewn about and he shrugged
as he picked up a pair of shovels. 

	"How much longer can I put this off?"

	An explosion ripped through the air as a car's gas tank blew up.

	"Great. I miss dull moments. I guess we're just lucky these two
assholes haven't managed to bring down a building yet."

	He paused and watched the tiny monsters battle below him. "I think I've
got it." With a heavy sigh he raised his hand. "God I hope this works."

+++++++++++++++++++++

	Venom snarled as it climbed up the side of a building after the
annoying youma. 

	"Are you sure you don't want a hand? It's taking you an awfully long
time to climb this," taunted the Goblin as he hovered at about ten
stories, more or less halfway up the building.

	Venom jumped away as another bomb fell from above. It twisted in mid
air and swung across the street as the explosion shattered the building.

	"Hey assholes! Don't you know littering is a crime?!"

	Venom and Goblin turned their heads in unison. Goblin twisted in the
air with the strike and nearly spun out of control as a garden hoe
knocked him hard in the jaw. "Argh!"

	Venom received a shovel that merely bounced off it's skin. "Ah.
Spiderman!"

	"Look at the mess you two made. Well, it's time to start cleaning it
up."

	"You must be joking!" muttered Goblin as he shifted from side to side
in the air.

	"Not very funny."

	The boy didn't move and simply looked at Venom. "If that is you in
there Tsukino. I think it's time you made a decision."

	"What's that?" snarled the creature with a deep hiss.

	"Which of us, is the lesser evil?"

	"Eh?" muttered Goblin as he jerked his head towards Spiderman. "So
that's your game is it?"

	"You can try to take both of us, or we can get this jerk out of the way
so we can finish our fight later."

	Venom didn't move.

	"Well?" asked Goblin.

	"We're thinking," replied Venom. It turned towards Spiderman and
shrugged. "Very well. We'll dispose of this thing, and then we'll poke a
hole in your throat."

	"Not very inventive," commented Goblin.

	"Mind your own business!" hissed the thing.

	A dull thumping sounded above them and the trio looked skyward. 

	"Police? Again? Can't those idiots catch a clue?" grumbled Goblin.

	"Great. Helicopters," muttered Carrot as he saw three police choppers
emerge from behind several of the taller buildings.

	"This is the police! Stay where you are! You are under arrest!"

	"Well. I can tell this is going to turn into a big mess."

	"Best get started then!" cried Goblin as he shot into the air. He made
a bee's line straight for one of the choppers.

	"No! We have to stop him!" growled Venom as it followed.

	"Hey! Where the hell are you two going! Haven't we broken enough of the
city?!" Carrot kicked at the dirt and followed reluctantly. "I hate you
both!"

+++++++++++++++++++++++	
	
	TBC...

	Well, it's been a while hasn't it? ^_^; Anyway. The next chapter is
about half written. Lots of fun stuff next time. 

	The dark sword and the return of the Senshi. Ooh. Sounds ominous.

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