Heya, Morgan!
*ahem*
YAY!!! More DC! Finally -- it was about time, y'know. :-p
Well, I know I said I was going to get this done a day or two ago, but
there was a small problem concerning my life that wound up taking a bit
more time away from DC than I had thought it would. As always, C&C
would be greatly appreciated, and even responded to! My muse lives
on the stuff, as most of my long-time readers probably know by now. ^_~
Okay, here goes something for her; though tell her she'd better hurry, or I
may have to force-feed her. ^_^
Of course, Latin D would likely smack me in the head if I forgot to
mention that previous chapters of my fic can be found on my webpage,
http://dataraven_659.tripod.com/roninsummer.html
Yes, I would. I'd smack you as hard and brutally as I will any reader who
has just come across this wonderful series and doesn't visit your site right
away, to see all the good stuff he's missed. C'mon, people! It's long, but
it's worth it.
And if I didn't mention Joy Lyn's amazing webpage, Crossover Corner, found
at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Shores/5533/index.html
I'd probably feel really guilty about it later. ^_^
As guilty as I'd feel if I snipped this wonderful site's URL, almost a
temple for us crossovers freaks -- besides, Joy's wrath is legendary. ^_^
Oh, well. On with the fic!
Gee, this wasn't as long-winded as usual. Are you feeling well? You didn't
even beg as you used to for C&C! :-p
Disclaimer time. Every little piece of commentary that you may find in the
following C&C represents my and mine only opinion. As such, it's subjective,
imperfect, and ought to be taken with two or three grains of salt. If at any
give moment you fail to understand what the hell I'm talking about... just
be harsher whenever you C&C my stuff. That'll teach me. ^_~
OBLIGATORY LEGAL DISCLAIMER : Some of these guys aren't mine. The
Sailor Senshi belong to DIC and Kodansha, while the Yoroiden are owned
by Sunrise and Graz Entertainment. Okay? So don't bother suing me. I'm
a student.
MORGAN: And if I ever see Mother or the Siblings used without my
permission... yer arse is MINE! HAHAHA!
RONIN SUMMER VI : DARK CRUSADE
A Sailor Moon / Yoroiden Samurai Troopers cross-over
by Morgan Hudson (dataraven_659@excite.com)
Chapter Fifteen : Turning Point
Something really important must happen in this chapter for you to give it
such a title. After all, there have been so many fundamental moments in DC
so far -- like the first time we saw Tuls. :-p
Thunder boomed outside like a giant pounding on a bass drum,
and Hotaru Tomoe flinched instinctively. Shivering slightly, the
fragile raven-haired girl sank to the floor and hugged herself as the
Fragile? Well, I guess it depends on what you consider fragile... She may
tire easily, but you must agree with me in that she's no defenceless, weak
maiden. As K'thardin said, she sure has some silly phobias. Can you
imagine...
HOTARU: Aaaaay! A rat! Keep it away! Keep it away!
JUN: *sneaking behind her* Boo!
HOTARU: AAAAAAH! Deathrebornrevolution!
storm raged relentlessly beyond the thick double doors of the Keep.
There were no windows for the furious gale to rattle, and indeed, the
entire front hall had fallen eerily silent. The only sound was the
faint and distant growling of the storm, as the torches flickered
quietly in their rusted iron brackets. Dust muted the dark obsidian of
the bare stone floor, and the suits of samurai armour that stood
silent guard along the walls wore thick veils of cobwebs. Doors of
solid mahogany sat on either side of the massive staircase against the
far wall, with barred windows and massive iron locks. Hotaru craned
her neck and tried to look up, but the omnipresent gloom of the place
swallowed everything into nebulous shadows halfway up the stairs. The
wavering torchlight was unable to combat the darkness any further, as
their own smoke mixed with the swirling miasma of shadow, dust, and
gloom that choked the air. All told, it was one of the least friendly
places that young Hotaru had seen in a long time - although it did
vaguely remind her of a strange cross between her old home and one of
those haunted houses from the late night movies that she wasn't
supposed to watch. She hoped there weren't any bats; she didn't really
feel up to bats at the moment.
First of all, this is a very nice intro, and helped me remember why I always
praise your descriptions. It does a great job of letting us know WHY people
hate this place so much. However...
Not that I know how many years have passed since they were Arago's minions,
but I bet it couldn't be more than a few years. Was the Keep always so
aged-looking and run-down? The last scene suggest it wasn't (billiard
indeed)... I'm just curious -- I think the Keep is your creation (I know I
asked, but can't remember and am lazy to go through my mail), so it
shouldn't be a problem.
Accompanied by the squealing cry of badly oiled hinges, one of
Badly-oiled? These always confuse me.
the two gigantic doors leading outside slowly swung open a crack,
allowing a gust of rain-filled wind to howl into the hall and chase its
tail around the multitude of torches, ruffling Hotaru's fine black hair
spitefully before flying up into the shadows and finding something near
the ceiling disturbing enough to chase it back out. His long silver
hair swirling about his head in the gale, Jirougorou Kuroda slipped
through the small opening and leaned his shoulder against the heavy
oaken panelling, teeth grit as his feet slipped and skidded on the
slick obsidian floor. The door cracked open a bit further, with a loud
and painful shriek, and the wind roared lustily as it tugged and tore
at the tall, slender man with the long silver hair. Hotaru leapt to
her feet and raced over, placing her hands against the oak door and
helping the Spider Masho push.
RAJURA: You think you can help with that pitiful, weak body of yours?
HOTARU: Silence Glaive...
RAJURA: Crap. *ducks*
This may seem silly, but why wouldn't they open? After all, I'd expect Arago
to do better. Can you imagine if the Masho were able to escape his power
because the doors' hinges are rusty? :-p
Nasuti Yagyu, coated in black mud and looking rather like a
drowned mouse, struggled through the wider opening, straining and
groaning as she dragged the equally drenched and muddy form of
Naotoki Yamanouchi by the spiked shoulderplates of his emerald green
armour. The Snake Masho's eyes were rolled back, and his head lolled
from side to side as his body slid listlessly through the thick black
slime outside. With a final tug, the auburn-haired woman managed to
pull the green-haired man into the Keep. Jirougorou and Hotaru
immediately reversed direction, grasping the door's edge in their hands
and pulling it shut with a resounding thud.
RAJURA: Dammit. I think I left the keys on the outside.
Closing the only exit doesn't seem so clever to me... :j
Hotaru sagged to the floor, gasping for air, and Jirougorou
carefully readjusted the black patch he wore over his left eye before
idly tossing aside the battered bamboo umbrella he had tucked under
his arm. "As you no doubt noticed," he said breathlessly, "we have
guests."
So homely... I can already imagine Rajura arriving home after a long day of
work at the office, wearing a suit and a brand new grey eyepatch. Hotaru
waits for him, and the heady scent of homemade dinner...
Wait, it's too much. I can't really imagine it. Move on. :-p
Hotaru lifted her head and glanced over at the bedraggled pair.
Nasuti sat on the floor, bracing herself with one arm as she tucked
a long lock of mud-slicked hair behind one ear and tried to catch her
breath. Naotoki looked as though he had been killed, buried, dug up,
and beaten. His helmet was missing, and his face was already beginning
to bruise as blood seeped out from under his motionless body.
Well, except for the "killed" part, she got it right. ^_^
"Oh!" Hotaru clapped a hand over her mouth as she looked over
at Jirougorou Kuroda. "Is he going to be okay?"
"No," the Spider Masho replied, "I'M going to be okay. He, on
the other hand, is going to die. If you look very closely at us, you
might be able to tell the difference. Here's a hint - MY blood is on
the INSIDE."
Heheheh. Oh, I was missing these dialogues... Keep it up! ^_^
"Your sense of humour never ceases to disgust me, Rajura,"
Nasuti growled angrily at the silver-haired Masho as she struggled to
her feet. "Can't you find even a bit of sympathy for one of your own
team-mates?"
"Why bother?" Jirougorou asked rhetorically. "He's doomed.
Fortunately, he's also unimportant."
Um, I doubt it. The siblings represent a very powerful enemy, and I do
believe a Masho would make a big difference in the battles to come. Though
it's true Rajura is unfeeling enough to ignore his fallen comrade, it should
be also obvious to him that he still has uses for Naaza. And he did take
care of Anubis when he was injured... It's true that he might be trusting
Hotaru to heal him, but in this scene he looked angry to me -- so there must
be another reason, ne?
Maybe he's simply joking...? Nah. ^_^
Hotaru leaned over the unconscious Snake Masho, a faint purple
light glowing in her eyes as she placed her hands on either side of
his head. "He's badly injured," she said to herself as she slowly moved
her hands over his armoured chest. "Fractured skull, broken ribs,
ruptured spleen, internal bleeding, cracked vertebrae... and his hand
is so badly broken that the bones are practically powder." Raising one
eyebrow curiously, the small girl turned and looked at Rajura as he
stood nonchalantly in the corner. "What happened to him?"
I agree with K'thardin here. I've never seen Hotaru use her healing powers
without her hands glowing, though I guess we can give you some freedom here.
What amazes me is her ability to ascertain Naaza's injuries so precisely.
But I do believe that, being able to do this, her control over her power
should also allow her to heal his more serious wound first. Which she
probably did, considering the Nazza's condition. ^_^
I mentioned this before, but it probably won't hurt your ego if I do it
again. One of the things I like about Ronin Summer is how versatile the
Senshi's powers are in this story. Truth be told, the canon attacks get
boring after three or four seasons, and this is a refreshing change. Kudos!
"He bit off more than he could chew and nearly choked on it,"
the Spider Masho explained, "as usual. He's something of an imbecile."
Well, why didn't he help him then? IIRC, when Nasuti asked him why he hadn't
done something, he'd said he could've helped, but was sure Naaza didn't need
him.
"He saved my life," Nasuti translated, with a dirty look in
Rajura's direction. "Is there anything you can do to help him, Hotaru?"
HOTARU: I guess I can put him to sleep...
NASUTI: ...
<SNIPPY>
Halfway there, the hand resting on his face suddenly began
pushing him back the other way with surprising force. Vyne flopped
onto the ground and let out a muffled curse as he banged his head on
a tree root. Something squirmed against him in a delightfully
distracting manner and started breathing down his neck. Raising an
eyebrow, Vyne looked down and slowly unfolded his wings.
Funny that Holts is more restless while asleep than Vyne... :-p
Gimme some work over here! Or I'll SNIP you to death!
Lying curled on top of him, his sister Holts shivered slightly
and reached up, grabbing his right wing and tucking it back down around
her shoulders. The petite redhead had all four eyes closed and was
mumbling something incoherent as she shifted her position slightly and
began to nuzzle the side of his neck. Vyne scowled. He wasn't too sure
Sun Tzu had ever covered this particular situation in The Art of War.
Then again, Sun Tzu probably hadn't suffered from a narcoholic little
sister, either. Hesitantly, he tried prodding the girl, who merely
squirmed again and drowsily smacked him in the face.
"Ow!" Rubbing his sore jaw with one hand, he prodded her
again. "Come on," he pleaded, "wake up!"
"No," Holts mumbled, and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"M'comfy. Go 'way."
Um, having seen a pic of her, I'm not sure if I'd complain all that much. :j
"But it's morning!"
"Don't care."
Vyne scowled again. There was no point in trying to wait the
girl out; if she was comfortable, she could sleep for decades. "You
lazy little sot," he snarled under his breath, and began trying
fruitlessly to push or pull Holts from off his person. "We have a job
to do!"
...Holts off his...
Finally, a nitpick! Phew, I was getting worried... ^_^
<SNIP>
"Mr. Wimbles is not stupid! Stop making fun of him!" Holts
scowled sleepily and folded her arms across her chest as she turned her
head away from him and lifted her chin defiantly. This, of course,
almost made her able to look her much taller brother in the eye when
he leaned over and looked down at her.
"Honestly, Holts," he said, as he stuck his tongue out at her,
"you are SO immature at times."
"I am not," she argued with a grin.
"You are so," he retaliated with a grin of his own.
"Am not!"
"Are so!"
...
...
Okay, so the Masho still have a chance to win this. :-p
**********
Pedri's ebony cape flared behind him as he stormed along the
slick glass corridor, steel-toed boots clicking angrily with each step.
His body was as tense as the strings on a violin, with his fists
clenched so tightly his leather gloves creaked under the strain. His
face, however, was utterly composed, and it was this that somehow
managed to chill his sister's blood as she jogged a few strides behind
him.
"Uh... Where exactly are we going, Brother Pedri?"
"Where we need to be, Erdge," the raven-haired man replied
curtly, without so much as turning his head in her direction.
Erdge swallowed loudly and clasped one hand around her graceful
neck. Why hadn't he called her his sister, like he always did? Was she
in trouble?
"Not yet." The young man glanced over his shoulder and met her
gaze, his azure eyes flashing briefly. "Would you like to be?" Stopping
Erdge didn't seem to notice, for some weird reason, but I sure did. HE HAS
JUST READ HER THOUGHTS!!!! What the heck!
Now, this could explain many things. Mainly, how it is that he communicates
with Mother. If this is true, and she's still --somehow-- alive, then it's
possible that he's not crazy after all. Which makes me wonder what exactly
Erdge heard in chapter... 12? 13? Could it be that Mother is a telepathist?
I still think she's Serenity... ^_~
Um, so many questions...
his march, Pedri lifted one arm and thrust two fingers into the
seamless marble wall in front of him. After a brief pause, a circular
hole formed around his wrist, expanding like a drop of oil in a pool of
water until it stretched from floor to ceiling.
For once, the tall, leather-clad woman's eyes widened from
something other than avarice. "How did you-?"
Oh, sure, now _this_ surprises her. :-p
Pedri shrugged as he stepped through the portal he had created.
"I felt like a shortcut, so I put a door here." He met his sister's
gaze and blinked innocently. "What? We're in a rush, and you need a
door. It's not like there's one here usually." He beckoned with one
hand, and Erdge stepped through the hole to join him.
I notice the "you". Of course, he could simply melt the wall, the powerful
bastard.
The room beyond was something that she had never seen before,
in all the countless years she had lived within the fortress. Curved
walls and a circular floor gave the place a vaguely egg-like shape,
and everything was coated in either pure silver or polished ivory. The
floor had a narrow ridge running against the wall, then a sudden step
down into an almost channel-like groove that was at least as wide as
Erdge was tall. Long, ropy cables stretched across the channel to an
ivory pedestal in the precise centre of the room, with what appeared
to be some kind of symbol etched onto its surface. Looking up, she
saw countless grooves and symbols etched into the ceiling, looking
Why don't you use a synonym for "etched", perhaps? To avoid the repetition.
almost like an eldritch scrimshaw pattern.
Other than that, this entire scene has impressive description, almost gothic
in parts, and it was a pleasure to read. I truly felt I was in that room.
Like a lot!
BTW... if bringing back Tytoung took so much out of Pedri, one wonders what
would happen if two Siblings died at the same time. Would Pedri be able to
go through this twice? And you said that Tytoung looked smaller than
usually, which seems to indicate he isn't as powerful as before. How long
does it take them to regain their full strength? What happens if Pedri dies?
Even more important... will you ever answer all these questions? ^_^
<MINI-SNIP>
actually melted and fused into the glowing crystal orbs, which began
to glow even brighter as they strobed with a harsh white light. Looking
Um, I've never seen "strobe" used as a verb before... My colloquial
vocabulary isn't all that big, though, so I might be wrong.
<SNIP>
Pedri looked drained, his ageless features drawn and peaked.
His hair was mussed and wet, soaked with the perspiration that still
rolled down the sides of his jaw and dripped from the tip of his nose
as he gasped for air. Erdge stepped forward - timidly at first, but
with growing certainty. He was weak; she could take the initiative,
get him before he got her...
But she didn't. Not even sure why, she found herself reaching
for the fallen man, leaning his head on her shoulder as she peeled his
hands loose from the smoking crystal balls that they still clung to
stubbornly. The skin on his palms and fingers was gone, leaving only
raw, bloody flesh that made her wince to look at.
Perhaps because she finally found out what being a leader entailed? I'm not
much of a Pedri fan myself, but if every time one of his siblings dies he
has to undergo this torture, I cannot deny he deserves some respect. Though
I'm certain Vyne's reaction would've been different... ^_^
<SSSSNIP!>
"Don't call me that," Pedri mumbled, his eyes barely open as
his head lolled against her shoulder. "Use my name... it's why She
gave me one..."
I can imagine that moment...
PEDRI: Quiet, all! Mother will now name us!
MOTHER: *Her name'll be... Erdge!*
PEDRI: Mother has spoken. Sister, your name is now Erdge. Make Her proud.
ERDGE: Yes!
MOTHER: *It's your turn now, son. You shall be named... Rudolph!*
PEDRI: Mother has spoken. My new name is Pedri. I'll make Her proud.
MOTHER: *Hey, that's now what I said!*
PEDRI: Oh, and she says I'm your leader. Kneel before me!
Erdge blinked. "Whatever you say... Pedri." Carefully securing
her grip around his waist, she placed his one arm around her neck and
rose to her feet, supporting her brother. "You seem pretty tired. Do
you want me to take you to your quarters, or something?"
The question (yes, another one!) is, why did he show this to her? Why now?
Could it be that he's teaching a substitute, in case something happens to
him? If he really speaks with Mother, and knows that She thinks Erdge worthy
of Her voice (or something just as corny ^_^), perhaps he's decided to make
her his second?
Um, these are all mere speculations, but as I read this chapter many ideas
formed in my mind, and I thought I'd share them. Sorry. ^_^
"Yes," Pedri said absent-mindedly, "I suppose I should freshen
up a little. Wouldn't do to have our guests see me looking less than
my best, now, would it?"
Guests? Who's he talking about? Perhaps Neptune and Uranus were defeated?
<BIG SNIP>
"Maybe," Hotaru admitted as she swung the door shut, "but if
he's the Masho of Deception, wouldn't he just be telling you whatever
you wanted to hear? Why would you believe him?"
Nasuti blinked. "Uh..."
Exactly! Finally someone says what I've been thinking all along. I'm not
really able to judge, as I know nothing about "canon" Rajura, but in the
entire RS I haven't seen him turn once against his fellow Masho or his
Empress. In fact, back in Inner Battles (or was it Shell Games -- I hate my
memory), he seemed to be the one who tried _harder_ to be loyal.
I don't know why, but I like Rajura. ^_^
"Anyway, it was just a thought." Hotaru sighed softly as she
peered at Nasuti through the barred window of the door. "You better
get back to Naaza, Nasuti. I'll just lie down for a while."
Funny. Rajura told them that _that_ particular room was quiet and secure
("tenth door on your left"), but there had to be a reason he chose it over
the others... Is this the end of Hotaru? Might the author want Jun to be
free of his obligations towards the lovely Hotaru, and thus be able to enjoy
the charms of the Storm Senshi? ^_~
"Right," Nasuti mumbled, waving distractedly as she turned
and headed back the way she had come. Hands in her pockets, the young
woman wandered down the curving hallway, lost in thought. Poor Hotaru;
the girl seemed to be a bit confused. Of course Rajura couldn't be
trusted! He was Rajura! The only thing anybody could count on him for
was not to be counted on at all. Without a doubt, he was the most
cruel, despicable excuse for a...
Shutendoji. The stray thought stopped Nasuti in her tracks,
her eyes widening in shock. That was right - for everything that Rajura
was, Shutendoji had been even worse. The Masho of Cruelty's atrocities
were literally the stuff of legend, but when he had showed up on her
doorstep looking for a chance to redeem himself, she had accepted him
at face value. He had certainly more than repaid her trust, rest his
soul. Why was she suddenly so quick to condemn Jirougorou Kuroda, when
she had been so willing to forgive Toshitada Koma?
Masho of Cruelty? I had no idea. I'm betting he died right after he turned
against Arago, right? I'm curious about how he ended up marrying Setsuna, or
WHEN, as I don't think she'd fall in love with one of the "bad guys".
Because, she answered herself as she continued down the
hallway, Toshitada Koma had wanted to be forgiven. He had shown through
his words and actions that he was a changed man, and deserving of her
trust and respect. Jirougorou Kuroda, on the other hand, was almost
blatantly doing the opposite. With every deed the Spider Masho
committed, he only reinforced his own reputation for ruthlessness and
lethality. He couldn't be trusted, and took every opportunity to remind
people of that fact. Maybe Hotaru was right. Maybe he was doing it on
purpose. After all, there were times when it paid to be feared; Nasuti
supposed that a lot of would-be usurpers to Kayura's throne might think
twice about going up against someone as terrifying as the Spider Masho.
And if anybody could find a way to turn being hated to his advantage,
it was probably Jirougorou Kuroda.
Not that it mattered. It wasn't like knowing any of that was
going to help her if Rajura decided to do anything to her. He was a
four-hundred and fifty year-old samurai with magical powers, and she
was a fairly tall, slightly skinny, and depressingly average university
professor who was completely out of her league. Jun was right: it
sucked being helpless. Of course, Jun was a whole different group of
...Jun had a whole...
things to worry about, and she wasn't sure she had the energy for it.
Making the Samurai Troopers -particularly Ryo Sanada- his role models
had done a lot to help Jun develop self-confidence, courage, and
integrity. Of course, given Ryo's habit of leaping INSTEAD of looking,
emulating him hadn't done much for Jun's common sense. Nasuti sighed
expressively, her shoulders slumping as she placed her hand on the
door. Ryo had mystical armour to help him when he charged headfirst
into trouble. Jun didn't seem to realise that he needed help at all.
If he didn't start being more careful, he was going to get hurt...
Heh. I think Morgan just beat you to it, Nasuti. I'm betting he has a lot of
problems ahead, involving a corrupting, sentient sword, a bunch of
boisterous yet lovely young girls, a war, a youma, and the need to prove
himself worthy of a girlfriend who can silence the Earth...
Though I still bet he's going to end up with a different mindset and one
hell of a power-up. ^_^
The door creaked, and swung open a crack at Nasuti's touch.
Blinking in surprise, the auburn-haired woman looked down at the door
handle. Hadn't she pulled it shut when they left? Maybe it hadn't
caught, or something. With a curious frown, Nasuti pushed the door
open the rest of the way and entered the room beyond. An instant
later, she stepped back out into the hallway, a worried look in her
emerald eyes as she glanced first up, and then down the corridor.
Naaza was nowhere to be seen.
I've been thinking about this, and still don't know what happened. Even if
Naaza recovered enough to get up and wander off (which is doubtful, as I
think Hotaru would know immediately if his healing has advanced that much --
especially after you showed us exactly what she coul do)... why would he?
Isn't the Keep one big gloomy place? What difference does one room or the
other make?
**********
Kayura hated the rain. It lowered visibility, made footing
insecure, and -worst of all- had a bad habit of pooling on her
shoulderplates and sluicing down the back of her neck every time she
moved. At least she had the helmet of her Oni yoroi to keep her head
and face dry, loathe though she was to wear it. After all, it covered
her lovely features, and one of the perks of being an Empress was
being allowed to indulge in a bit of vanity every once in a while. With
her Masho and her Imperial Guard to protect her, it wasn't as though
she usually needed to wear the yoroi at all. She much preferred her
kimono - the silk was so smooth and comfortable against her skin, not
like the iron shell currently clamped around her.
I imagined she wouldn't worry about the rain and her clothing all that much,
considering her fiance is lying half-dead on the ground... Only later on
does she seem to remember Anubis is there. :-/
Her Masho. The petite empress scowled slightly, the dark cloud
passing over her face unnoticed behind the crimson enamel of her
mask. As if she knew where any of them were, now that she needed them.
Well, as she does know where Anubis is, I'd say: "... where they
were, now..."
<TINY SNIP -- REALLY!>
"The real problem," Setsuna Meioh muttered as she knelt down
nest to Kayura, "is Uncle Kujuurou. We ourselves do not appear to be
Typo: next
<SNIP>
"MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY!" A small, raven-haired girl bolted
down the staircase and brushed past Kayura and Anubis as she hurtled
towards Setsuna, arms held wide. "Oh, Mommy! I missed you so much!"
"Sure you did," Setsuna hissed, catching the frail girl by
her wrist and slamming her roughly against the wall. Hotaru gasped
and looked up at the older woman with tears glistening in her violet
eyes.
Heheheh. This was unexpected, but it's almost a classic. I always wondered
what would happen if they make a mistake...
SETSUNA: Take this, impostor! And this! And THIS!
HOTARU: B-but -- OUCH! -- Wait, Mo --!
SETSUNA: You won't fool me, bastard!
RAJURA: What's going on?
SETSUNA: I'm giving this asshole the beating he de... serves... ... ...
Oops.
"What's the matter, Mommy?" she whimpered, cowering slightly
as Setsuna loomed over her. "Did I make you mad? I just wanted you to
know how much I love you..."
"Right," the emerald-haired woman replied, as she reached into
the girl's glove to draw out a rather long and wicked-looking dagger.
"Golly," the girl said quietly, looking at the weapon as though
she had never seen it before in her life, "how did THAT get in there,
Mommy?"
Heheheh. This had me laughing out loud. Good dialogue!
<SNIP>
"Really, Setsuna. Where do you THINK I would put the little
moppet? She's where YOU belong, of course..."
SETSUNA: The Gates of Time?
RAJURA: ...She's hopeless.
Setsuna stepped back, her fingers suddenly going numb as the
small girl tumbled from her grasp and landed on the floor. Shaking her
head, the Senshi of Time looked down at the man who was wearing the
form of her daughter. "You son of a bitch," she whispered, "you didn't.
...whispered. "You...
You COULDN'T, not even you..." Without another word, the usually
graceful and elegant Sailor Pluto spun on one heel and raced up the
staircase as though the hounds of Hell were chasing after her.
"Interesting choice," Rajura mused, rubbing her throat with
one hand as she climbed back onto her feet. "I was actually referring
to her cell downstairs." Turning to Kayura, the small girl bowed and
Freud would have a field fay if he witnessed Setsuna's reaction, uh? ^_^
smiled. "Empress," she said by way of greeting, before her eyes turned
to the armoured figure floating next to the girl's shoulder.
"Gods," she muttered, "first Naaza and now Anubis, too. Am I
the only Masho who doesn't go out picking fights the second your back
is turned?"
"Beats me," Kayura answered with a shrug, "I make it a habit
to never turn my back on you."
Hmmmm....
I take it this is a joke, right? As I said before, Rajura, the only Masho
who isn't compelled by his Yoroi to be loyal (you said it yourself, some
time ago), is the one who puts more effort into being so. IIRC, he wrote a
diary to remind himself of what it was he was working for, even though he
admitted to himself it was a big risk. Kayura should know this...
Rajura is simply coherent with himself, IMO. He only cares for his Empress,
and makes damn sure everyone knows it. ^_^
The girl grinned wickedly. "My Empress is truly wise," she
said, nodding her head.
"Could you please turn back into one of my Masho? I find it a
bit unnerving to hear your words come out of that mouth."
"Certainly." As ordered, the fragile young girl's body shifted
and flowed like soft wax, becoming taller and more masculine as her
mane of raven hair grew shorter and turned green.
"Better?" he asked, in Naaza's voice.
Heh. I read this scene three times, but I still don't know what the heck
happened here. Was this Naaza from the very beginning? It'd be plausible,
but for two things. First, I doubt he's healed enough to let himself be
tossed against a wall. Second, even if Naaza agrees to this, I can't believe
he'd have that kind of conversation with Setsuna.
So it's not Naaza; Rajura is actually there, talking to his Empress. Then I
must admit I'm as confused as Setsuna is. How the heck did he get to the
room upstairs? It doesn't seem possible, unless he's able to project a a
solid image of himself at will, or better yet, split himself in two. Which
is both rather impressive, and unexpected. Either way... please explain. ^_^
I still like it, though. ^_^
<SNIP>
the wall. Torchlight gleamed wickedly on the steel blades of the
naginata and bisento, the pikes and halbreds, the spears... and the
Typo: halberds
pool cues. Turning, Setsuna glared at the billiard table sitting on a
platform at eye-level. It was probably still racked for a game, she
thought, hopping onto the wooden rostrum.
Wonder how a game between the Masho would end... Bloodily, probably. ^_^
There was no sign of Hotaru, but that didn't mean anything.
She could anywhere in this tangled maze of scaffolds and stages. With
She could be anywhere...
<THE LAST ONE>
"Aww," he crooned. "An end to our banter so soon? And just
when I was beginning to truly enjoy it." Scissoring his legs, Rajura
tumbled forward along the beam. He ended in a sitting position, hands
clasping his ankles as he looked up at Setsuna and smirked. "Your
beloved daughter is downstairs, Setsuna. I have not harmed a beloved
hair on her beloved little head. In fact, I have grown somewhat
fond of the little lady - we got along quite famously." He smiled, a
dangerous light gleaming in his icy blue eye. "You don't suppose you
could spare her for a year or two? After all, I seem to be in the
market for a new apprentice..."
Um, so she was his apprentice, uh? We learn more about her past every
chapter -- enough to make you want to read more, but never the entire story.
Good writing.
I'm not an expert in Sailor Moon, not even close, actually, but if I
remember correctly Setsuna in the anime had never died, whereas in the manga
it was quite the opposite -- she had been reborn much like the other Senshi.
As I doubt a Setsuna with perfect control of her powers would be forced to
do _anything_ against her will, you must be following the manga continuity,
am I right?
<OKAY, I LIED -- BUT IT'S REALLY SMALL>
"If anything," Setsuna argued, stepping onto the beam and
striding towards Rajura. "It should be me who is ashamed of YOU. I
still remember all of the lessons you taught me, Rajura, but that
does not mean I have to use your methods. At least I try to apply my
knowledge to helping people and creating a better future, not spreading
misery and suffering!"
"Yes," Rajura noted calmly, "and that is exactly why you will
always lose, my dear. You're just too soft. You care, I don't; I win."
With a shrug, the Spider Masho stepped off of the beam and plummeted
four stories down to the stone floor, landing in a crouch.
Um, I don't buy it. Rajura does care for something; in fact, every one of
his actions have an objective, an ultimate goal: the welfare of her Empress,
and, in consequence, her kingdoms. I don't get tired of saying this, but in
the entire RS Rajura has never done anything truly wrong. He simply knows
where his loyalties lie -- and I'm convinced he cares for his fellow Masho,
too. The scene in which plans for Kayura's rescue, and his response to
Anubis's desperate statement proves that in my mind. Setsuna is smart; she
should be able to see this, to detect Rajura's weak spot.
"That is far from true!" Setsuna cried, duplicating the Masho's
leap. She landed hard, and hissed as she felt her ankle bend the
wrong way. "You only succeed because you refuse to fight honourably!"
"Exactly," Rajura called over his shoulder as he walked deeper
into the room, opening a cabinet that rested against the wall and
rummaging through its contents. "Fighting fair is what stupid people
try to make you do so that they can have a chance. Anybody with a
modicum of intelligence knows enough to cheat. Results count, Setsuna,
not the path taken to get them. I could teach Miss Tomoe more in a
week than you could in a thousand years. I am, by far, a better teacher
than you. To be accurate; I am, by far, a better EVERYTHING than you."
Yeah, as if awakening Hotaru's dormant dark side is that clever a move. :-p
"Regardless, you shall not have Hotaru."
"I am a patient man. You can't guard her every second, Setsuna.
Not forever." Apparently finding what he had been looking for, the
Masho of Deception straightened his back, holding something in his
hands.
Well, she's the Senshi of Time. I'm pretty sure she can guard her very
effectively, should the need arise. How can you defeat an oponent who can
stop time? :-/
<snippity>
"Was I unclear?" Rajura spread his arms wide and looked up at
the woman. "You were just saying you wanted to kill me. This is your
chance. Draw my sword and cut off my head. There is nobody to stop
you, nobody to see what has transpired. I am unarmed, and defenceless.
One stroke, and you can be free of me forever."
RAJURA: But know this, Setsuna. I am your father.
SETSUNA: *gasp* R-Really?
RAJURA: Nah.
Sorry, just _had_ to. ^_^;;
<...SNIP>
"Strike me down in all your anger..."
...And her journey to the Dark Side would be complete. That
was it, wasn't it? If she destroyed Rajura, she would be doing exactly
what he would do in her place. Her body, her soul, his actions, his
sword. She would become him. Just like him. Where would Setsuna Meioh
end then, and Jirougorou Kuroda begin?
Okay, IIRC, you once corrected me because I used "Force" to refer to the
RDF, remember? You told me that most readers still associate the word with
the Jedi and Star Wars. I believe this is the same case. As I read this
scene, good as it is, my mind kept screaming "Star Wars" at me, making the
obvious comparison. However, it was still rather subtle -- until you went
and spelled it out. ^_^
Though it's rather humorous, I feel it might distract readers from which is,
beyond any doubt, a climax in Dark Crusade. Just my opinion.
Who would she be?
The katana clattered to the stone floor, undrawn. Rajura
tilted his head to one side and looked at the young woman curiously as
she placed one hand over the cameo pin hanging around her neck.
"No," she said, her voice ringing out in the still air of the
room. "I am not like you, Jirougorou Kuroda. I am Sailor Pluto, the
Guardian of Time. I do not kill in cold blood. I will not aid in the
spread of the very Darkness I fight. I may hate you, Rajura, I may
even wish you dead, but I will not murder you." Turning on her heel,
the emerald-haired Senshi marched out of the chamber. Silence reigned
for what seemed to be an eternity, until Rajura finally answered,
speaking into the empty room.
"Then," he said softly, his shoulders slumping as he lowered
his arms and looked down at the sword lying on the floor, "I fear you
have lost the only use I still had for you..."
Damn. What the HECK is this man talking about? And, furthermore... WHY DID
YOU FINISH THE CHAPTER RIGHT HERE?! ^_^;;
This was a powerful scene, though as K'thardin said, both lost the focus
somewhere along the way. It stopped being about Hotaru, and became something
else, perhaps a continuation of a past encounter. That's my take on the
scene, anyway, but I believe Rajura only used Hotaru as a way to make Sets
react. Nice.
**********
TO BE CONTINUED...
...Or else, pal, or else.
Um, what to say after fifteen chapter, Morgan? This is still among the best
fanfictions to reach the FFML, and has a harder time than most, too, as it's
based on series which aren't as popular as, say, Ranma. But the amazing
descriptions, the witty dialogue and the smooth prose attract the reader,
and the plot and the action do the rest. If you don't know what I'm talking
about, just go fetch the first chapter of ANY of the story arcs that form
RS, and see for yourself. You won't regret it.
Next chapter should show Jun and his army -- I can't wait to see them in
action one more time.
A must read, FFMLers.
Later!
Latin_D
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