Part Eleven : Hidden Plan; An Appearance by the Great Enemy
Listen to The Memory of Trees
Kerai stared passively at Kyuuteki as he raised his head to speak, and then he lowered it again. Finally, after a few minutes of thought, Kyuuteki raised his head up completely. Although Kyuuteki did not look sad, happy, angry, or any other emotion, Kerai could tell that he felt one of these emotions very strongly. Kyuuteki looked in the direction where Kaboku stood, and he beckoned Kaboku over with a motion of his hand. Kaboku took a few steps foreword, although he remained farther away from Kyuuteki than Kerai was.
"I am beginning to wonder if you and Kerai are failing too often," Kyuuteki said slowly, with a hint of regret in his voice. "I should have thought that my expectations would have been low enough that even a yajuu would be able to fulfill them, but even that has been unsuccessful. I think that it's about time that I take matters into my own hands."
Kaboku looked up at Kyuuteki with a wide-eyed look. For Kaboku this could mean two things: Kyuuteki would do away with Kerai and he, or Kyuuteki would send out a large attack on the senshi, and he might end up causing more damage than was necessary. Although Kaboku wouldn't mind getting a good blow at the earth, which was not what the original intentions were.
"What do you mean?" Kerai finally spoke the question that had been resting on Kaboku's tongue.
"There is no use in sending Kaboku and you if the results are not what we are looking for," Kyuuteki responded. Kerai and Kaboku both nodded slowly in agreement when Kyuuteki looked at them for an answer. "This is not to say that you are not valuable to the operation," Kyuuteki continued, "however, perhaps this part requires me to get my hands dirty as well."
"Maybe I have been too lenient on the senshi," Kaboku suggested. "Send me, master, and I will get rid of them for good."
"No, I have made up my mind. I will go to earth and attack Gemini and Virgas. I don't want either of you following me, you understand?" Kyuuteki spoke, his voice carried a tone of authority that was unmatched by the other two.
"At the same time?" Kerai asked as she tried to warn Kyuuteki that two senshi at once might not be such a good idea.
"I know perfectly well what I will be up against," Kyuuteki replied flatly to Kerai. Kyuuteki did not like when someone, especially a girl, warned him about something.
"Kerai's right, master. Perhaps it would be better if you attacked one of them at a time, or perhaps one of us should accompany you," Kaboku spoke up, although he knew instantly that Kyuuteki would punish him for saying that.
"If either of you comment on this situation one more time I will make sure that you have no part in this operation because you are too busy playing dead," Kyuuteki growled fiercely. Kyuuteki stood up from his chair and he walked past the two who had to move aside in order to avoid being knocked over.
"Sometimes his pride overtakes him," Kerai said a few moments after Kyuuteki had left the room. "You know, ever since the senshi have been winning, I've been wondering what he might do to correct this. It just doesn't seem right; I have a feeling that Kyuuteki is forming a plan and he's not telling us about it."
"Although I usually don't agree with you, I think this time I am going to have to," Kaboku said. "Kyuuteki himself said that he knows what he is up against, yet he still wants to go against the senshi. I used to think that the senshi were very weak, but after a few times of fighting them, I can see that my thoughts were entirely wrong. Now that you mention it, I've also been getting the feeling that Kyuuteki is forming some sort of plan behind our backs, and he's not going to let us in on it until he's ready."
Kerai turned her head in amazement at Kaboku. As he just said, Kaboku never agreed with Kerai on anything, so this was a rare occasion.
"Maybe he thinks we can't handle the new plan that he might have forming in his head?" Kerai suggested with a tone of question in her voice.
"You might be on to something there," Kaboku said. Kaboku, uncomfortable about saying anything, left the room shortly after. Kerai stayed in the room for a few more minutes. Lately, she observed, Kaboku and she had been working together a lot more, so now she was feeling as though they were growing closer. Kerai smiled to herself as she left the room.
"Why can't you ever play soccer or something other than volleyball?" Kaichuu asked with a moan as she and Shakaku stepped outside for a round of volleyball.
"Because volleyball is the only sport that I play," Shakaku said with a proud smile.
"You need a new hobby," Kaichuu stated flatly.
"You need a new weapon of choice," Shakaku said as she walked over to the other side of the volleyball court.
"EXCUSE ME!?" Kaichuu screamed a few seconds later, after she had taken in just what Shakaku had said. "What's wrong with duct tape?"
"Everything."
"Curse you!"
"Oh stop whining about how Lysol is better than duct tape and play," Shakaku said with a straight and serious face.
"You little..." Kaichuu began, but she couldn't finish because Shakaku had set the ball over the net. Lucky for Kaichuu she was a decent setter, so she set it right back to Shakaku.
"I don't understand why you didn't try out for the volleyball team. You would have made a decent setter," Shakaku asked, striking up conversation.
"Yeah, on what team?" Kaichuu asked sarcastically.
"No, I'm serious. Everyone knows we need some permanent setters," Shakaku said.
"What happened with Meticka and Gwen, the other two setters?" Kaichuu asked as she received the ball with another set.
"Gwen moved to defense and is only a back-up setter, and Meticka moved to front row. I swear, half the team is front row. We had enough blockers before they moved one of them up from Junior Varsity," Shakaku said with an angered frown.
"I wouldn't make a good front row person-" Kaichuu began although she stopped as she looked up in the sky. Above them, the largest flock of birds either of them had ever seen flew above them, circled, and finally left.
Shakaku dropped the ball and narrowed her eyes. Kaichuu turned to look at her. "What's wrong? Those birds were really pretty!"
Shakaku frowned as if she thought that the birds meant something bad. "I don't like the idea that those birds are black," Shakaku said slowly.
"I thought you liked black," Kaichuu said with a confused tone.
"You don't get it. Black birds never fly together. If I'm not mistaken, black birds flying together usually means that something bad is going to happen. Taking in the fact that we are senshi, I wouldn't be surprised if something bad did happen," Shakaku explained to Kaichuu who still had a confused look on her face.
"What if they all just decided to get together and have a drink?" Kaichuu asked. "Why do you have to get all scared because they're black?"
"Think what you want, but I'm going to tell the others," Shakaku said as she picked up her things and walked inside the apartment.
Kaichuu stood alone for a few minutes, but she got the feeling that she was being watched, so she left. Stupid birds, Kaichuu thought as she ran inside.
Rays of light poured into the room as Dorei, Enzeru, Hoshi, Shakaku, and Kaichuu walked into the Crown. The girls waited a few moments until a waitress walked up to them and seated them in a booth that was in the far corner of the room.
"I'm surprised that Usagi and the others aren't here," Hoshi said as she took a drink of her soda.
"That's true, considering that this is their hangout," Dorei agreed.
"Maybe they knew that we were coming, and they got scared," Kaichuu said with an evil smile. "They must have known that I would bring a roll of duct tape." Kaichuu took out a travel size roll of duct tape, and she stroked it.
"Funny, isn't it? The one time we come as a group they're not here. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?" Shakaku said from her corner of the booth.
Kaichuu kicked Shakaku from under the table, "You're not supposed to ruin our fun. We're supposed to be having a good time."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was under the impression that we were here to make sure nothing bad happened. I'm so sorry for assuming so much when you yourself said that we should come for that very reason," Shakaku retorted.
"Why is it that every time something bad is going to happen, Shakaku gets in a bad mood?" Enzeru asked Dorei.
"Maybe it's because she's so dark inside that she can feel it coming," Kaichuu joked.
"Because Kaichuu takes it too lightly. Although she is right," Shakaku told Enzeru with a grin. "I'm just that evil."
Dorei looked out the window and took in the beautiful rays of the sun, and she noticed the way that the clouds just flew in the sky so effortlessly. It seemed strange to Dorei that Shakaku had sensed something bad when everything about the atmosphere seemed so perfect. A few birds, which were perched on a tree outside the window, were singing to each other, the sun was shining without any clouds in its way, and all of the girls except Shakaku seemed so relaxed. If Shakaku hadn't reminded them why they were at the Crown to begin with, Dorei would have been enjoying herself just as much as Kaichuu.
Dorei looked up with a start as she saw Kaichuu pull out her travel duct tape again, and Shakaku was shooting glances at her from across the table. However, their moment of laughter and fun was interrupted when a baby's shriek was heard from the other side of the room. All of the girls looked to see why the baby had shrieked, but it was only because its mother had bought it an ice cream.
Suddenly, a real yell followed the baby's cry, and the five girls looked up to see a sight that made their stomachs turn. At the entrance of the Crown stood a yajuu, although that was not made the senshi uneasy. Next to the yajuu was none other than Kyuuteki, and he stood there with a grin across his face. All of the people got up from their tables, and even the workers left their positions and everyone except the five girls ran out toward the exit.
The yajuu fixed its glossy black eyes on the table that the senshi were at, and it approached them, turning every table that was in its way. When the creature reached their table, all of the senshi managed to get out of its reach, although it managed to get Dorei, and it grabbed her around the neck. Dorei struggled to get free, and she tried to dig her nails into its oily skin, but the yajuu felt nothing. The creature walked back to its master slowly, unable to walk while dragging such a load.
"Dorei!" Hoshi called out from where she stood, but when Kyuuteki shot her a warning glance, she became silent once again.
"The wall," Kyuuteki instructed the yajuu. The yajuu's laugh was like a hiss as it walked over to the nearest wall, and it used some of its oily, adhesive skin to pin Dorei to the wall.
"Run!" Dorei yelled at the others as the yajuu turned to look for a new target. Hoshi jumped from the booth and she tried to attack the creature, although the creature did the same with Hoshi as it had done with Dorei.
"Kaboku and Kerai doubted that I could take two of you. However, right now I'm certain I could take all of you," Kyuuteki said casually.
"Phoenix Constellation Power, Make Up!" Shakaku screamed as she held up her left wrist when she saw Kyuuteki walk over to the two girls with a new grin on his face.
"Shakaku, NO!" Kaichuu and Enzeru screamed together as they saw Sailor Phoenix run at Kyuuteki. Although Kyuuteki only saw the senshi as she was getting close, with a swoop of his arm he was able to throw her to the ground, and with such a blow he sent her so hard to the ground that she laid motionless.
Kaichuu stood frozen at the sight of seeing her partner on the ground and not moving. Although Enzeru could not see it, she knew just what had happened to her friend.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" A loud voice was heard from behind the yajuu. Although the creature tried to avoid the familiar attack, it was too late, and the creature began to lose its shape. Kyuuteki whirled around to see Sailor Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, standing behind him.
"Clever," Kyuuteki hissed. "I'm surprised that you showed up at all," Kyuuteki said with a smile. Although the inner senshi had never met Kyuuteki face-to-face, they could all sense that his power was far beyond theirs, and that it might not have been a good idea to arrive without a plan.
"Look," Sailor Mercury pointed for the others to see Sailor Phoenix at Kyuuteki's feet, and she was not moving. They also turned their heads to see Hoshi and Dorei trying hard to free themselves from something that looked like it might have been part of the yajuu's skin.
Kyuuteki interrupted their moments of silence, "Although I can clearly see that you outnumber me tremendously, I also know that I could take all of you out quickly. However, I have done the damage that I came here to do," Kyuuteki said, his deep voice making the walls of the building almost tremble as though they knew the kind of strength that was within them.
"It is to my great sadness that I will leave you senshi hurt the way you are instead of dead. I made a promise to my followers, and I intend to keep it," Kyuuteki added as he narrowed his eyes. "A simple cut can turn into a fatal injury," Kyuuteki whispered as he stepped over the puddle of oil that the yajuu had left, and he sneered at the inner senshi who moved aside to let him pass without hesitation.
No one moved for a few moments after Kyuuteki had left. The inner senshi could not bring themselves to say anything because they didn't know where to begin.
"Let's take those two down," that was one of the rare serious statements that Kaichuu had ever said. She helped Enzeru walk over the booth and through the scattered tables to where Dorei and Hoshi were still at the wall. The inner senshi slowly began to walk toward the others and they helped take down Dorei and Hoshi. Sailor Mercury stayed with Sailor Phoenix, and she tried to wake her up. Sailor Phoenix raised her face, and she looked around herself, taking in what had happened. When Sailor Phoenix finally realized what had happened, she rose from the floor, and the look on her face showed pure disgust.
"Kaichuu, what's wrong with her?" Sailor Moon inquired about Phoenix as she removed the last piece of skin that bound Dorei to the wall.
"She'll be fine," Kaichuu said quietly. Even though she said this, Kaichuu knew that Phoenix would not be her old self for a few days. Sailor Phoenix hated being taken out by anyone, even if it was Kyuuteki, and that was exactly what had happened.
"Kaichuu?" Enzeru said, turning in Kaichuu's direction as if questioning what Kaichuu had just said.
"The whole encounter with Kyuuteki had left everyone without words. Even though Sailor Jupiter or Sailor Mars always had something bad to say about the Constellations, they couldn't help but aid them with Hoshi, who was still stuck to the wall.
"I cannot believe we just survived that," Hoshi said after she had been taken down.
"No kidding," Dorei agreed.
"That was him, wasn't it?" Sailor Mars asked, "The guy that you guys were always talking about. That was Kyuuteki?"
"Of course that was Kyuuteki. No one else could leave an impression like that," Sailor Phoenix said. Although she looked unhurt, Sailor Phoenix's voice was softer than it usually was, and she said very little as she helped Hoshi off of the wall.
Even though Kaichuu wanted to talk to her friend, she knew that staying silent might be better for her. When Hoshi was taken down from the wall, Sailor Phoenix detransformed into Shakaku, and she excused herself from the room. As Shakaku walked toward the door, she could feel everyone's gaze on her.
"Shakaku," Sailor Moon said before Shakaku could exit. Shakaku turned around slowly to face the senshi, although she did not look at the others, and she kept her eyes fixed on Sailor Moon. "Are you going to be alright?" Sailor Moon asked. Shakaku smiled politely and nodded, but she knew that she was going to be anything but all right. It hurt Shakaku that her weakness had been pointed out when Sailor Moon asked that question. Everyone looked at Shakaku for the few moments before she walked out the door.
When Shakaku walked outside, a black bird's cry and the sun setting slowly against a beautiful red and orange sunset greeted her. Although the senshi might think that Shakaku would get better in time, Shakaku herself knew that being taken down so easily would haunt her for a while.
Back to Part Ten ~
On to Part Twelve