Flying at streetlight height and ignoring the commotion they were creating below, Nanoha and Fate looked to one another and then ahead as they approached their destination, nearby Chiyoda City. In their hands, their staves Raising Heart Excelion and Bardiche Assault were tightly held and ready for what awaited them... and any diversion along the way.
“Protection,†Raising Heart suddenly spoke.
“Defenser!†Bardiche shouted simultaneously.
Both girls stopped as Nanoha’s pink and Fate’s yellow barrier stopped Tuxedo Kamen and Moonlight Knight’s respective roses from striking the girls directly. Fate looked up to the her right, and spotted Moonlight Knight standing on the edge of a tall building’s roof, while Tuxedo Kamen stood on the cellphone tower of another building to Nanoha’s left.
“I wish this was some kind of joke.†Tuxedo Kamen was not happy about this. Under any other circumstances, his favorite fictional magical girls running around in real life would normally have him acting like a the biggest fanboy. But after this morning...
“Why did you attack us?†Nanoha asked.
Fate glowered cooly at Moonlight Knight as she moved a bit closer to Nanoha.
Hearing Nanoha’s voice, Tuxedo Kamen hesitated slightly.
“Don’t get suckered, they’re golems!†Moonlight Knight warned.
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. “I know that... it just pisses me off more that someone would create golems out of these two!â€
Nanoha looked confused. “Golems?â€
Tuxedo Kamen took advantage of Nanoha’s hesitation, quickly closing the distance between himself and the girl and quickly drawing his cane sword to slash her. At the last moment, Fate rounded Nanoha and blocked the slash with Bardiche before swinging back against the sword and shoviing Tuxedo Kamen back.
“Nanoha-chan, I’ll hold them off, we can’t waste time here!†Fate advised.
Nanoha looked to her friend and nodded. “Right, be careful Fate-chan!â€
“Accel Shooter,†Raising Heart spoke.
“Plasma Lancer,†Bardiche toned.
Orbs of light appeared around Nanoha as several arrow-shaped bolts materialized in front of Fate, aimed at Moonlight Knight. Both girls then called out their commands.
“Shoot!â€
“Fire!â€
Tuxedo Kamen took off, shooting upward like a rocket to avoid the homing energy beams. Moonlight Knight shot left, avoiding the Plasma Lancers at first.
Hefting Bardiche in her tightened grip, Fate shot off after him. “Turn!â€
The Lancers stopped and reacquired Moonlight Knight, before accelerating towards him. At the last second, he dove beneath them and looped upward towards the sky as the bolts changed direction again at her command to turn.
“I don’t believe this...!†Moonlight Knight growled as he suddenly produced his white cane, spun it, and pointed its end down at the approaching projectiles. Gunfire erupted from the end of the cane, sending rounds into the bolts and causing them to explode. Spinning the cane again, he blocked Bardiche as Fate swung it like an axe for his chest.
Tuxedo Kamen was equally unnerved by these two, as he threw several roses to counter the Accel Shooter bolts. “These things even have their powers!â€
As the bolts dispersed, he spotted that Nanoha rushing away as fast as she could. “Oh no you don’t!â€
Breaking Fate’s block, Moonlight Knight fired his cane twice more at the girl, her Defenser barrier blocking both shots. As he withdrew from her, a cylinder in the cane swung out and ejected six spent cartridges, before Moonlight Knight produced a speed-loader with six more rounds ready and loaded them in.
“Who would've thought of this? The first monster I fight and it's a copy of the same thing that inspired my cane.â€
As he snapped the cylinder back inside the cane, Fate swung at him and forced him to block again. The force of the blow caused him to grit his teeth, but he endured it. “Who sent you, what are you after?!â€
Fate frowned. “If you don't know that, why are you attacking us?!â€
Breaking away from one another, Moonlight Knight and Fate spiraled around one another higher into the sky, passing close enough for one another to cross cane and staff before breaking off to attack at range.
Defenser blocked Moonlight Knight's cane gunfire as Fate repressed her frustration. “Load cartridge!â€
“Load cartridge,†Bardiche repeated before a piston on the staff fired twice and the yellow gem at the end of it began to glow. “Halberd.â€
Raising the weapon above her head Fate charged Moonlight Knight as Bardiche changed configuration and ignited a bright yellow energy blade, evoking the image of a pole axe.
Letting out a “Tch†Moonlight Knight narrowly avoided a slash and put distance between himself and Fate. He had to end this fast, he wasn't too keen to find out how accurate these recreations were.
Of course, with a fight this crazy it's only a matter of time...
Only just barely crossing from Minato into Chiyoda, Nanoha stopped and used Raising Heart’s Protector spell to block a powerful blow from Tuxedo Kamen’s cane, the force of the strike knocking her into a billboard atop one of the buildings that flanked the thoroughfare below. Dazed by the force of the blow momentarily, Nanoha looked up at Tuxedo Kamen.
“Why are you attacking us? I don’t understand!†she pleaded with Tuxedo Kamen.
Tuxedo Kamen scowled at her, suppressing everything that even remotely hinted at trying to convince or hear her out. He only wanted answers. “Who sent you and what is your reason for being here?â€
Luckily he was dealing with Nanoha, who was never above talking out a conflict. “We were sent by the Time-Space Administration Bureau, to apprehend a powerful rogue Mage, Kenji Tsukino. Please try to understand we’re not your enemy, and we’re not trying to hurt anyone!â€
Tuxedo Kamen glanced back towards the flashes of light where Moonlight Knight was dueling Fate, and then returned his gaze to Nanoha. Well, that dismissed any remote possibility that these weren’t golems. Gripping his cane in both hands, he shot straight for Nanoha, who grew wide-eyed with surprise at the speed of his closure.
On the street below, pedestrians and police who quickly joined the chase stared up at the explosion that erupted from the building’s rooftop, and the beams of light that shot from the smoke. Ascending from the top of the smoke cloud, Tuxedo Kamen resheathed his cane sword as Nanoha ascended with him.
She again tried to reason with him. “I don’t want to fight you if we don’t have a reason to!â€
“You really ought to shut up.†Tuxedo Kamen drew from inside his suit jacket five roses and then tossed them out into the air. The five roses oriented themselves in the air and aimed stem first at Nanoha, before becoming red rays of light that shot at her at high speed.
“Protection,†Raising Heart spoke before the roses impacted with its barrier, each hit knocking Nanoha further back across the sky.
“I don’t understand.†Nanoha wished she could decipher this man’s hostility.
“Behind you, my Master!†Raising Heart warned.
Quickly Nanoha raised her fist behind her, and sparks flew as Tuxedo Kamen’s sword struck against it. “Please...!â€
“Load Cartridge.â€
A burst of magic buffeted and threw Tuxedo Kamen backward and into the sky. As he recovered, he saw Nanoha standing atop a platform of magical symbols and aiming Raising Heart at him.
“Oh fuck.â€
“At least just tell me...!†Nanoha called out.
“Divine.â€
“... Why we have to fight!â€
“Buster.â€
Landing on a broad rooftop, Moonlight Knight looked at the cuts and scorch marks on the sleeves and shoulders of his white suit and sighed in annoyance. He looked up at Fate, who landed and extinguished Bardiche's energy blade.
“For people who ask a lot of questions, you don't seem to care about any answers you get,†Fate said as she kept her distance and stayed on her guard.
Moonlight Knight opened his cane's cylinder, ejected the cartridges, and produced another speed-loader to reload it. “Because you won't tell us the truth. That all is irrelevant though, you're here to hurt someone, maybe even kill them, and I'm going to stop you.â€
He gave the cane a quick twist, snapping the cylinder back into position, and spun it quickly to aim at Fate. “So dispense with the talking, unless you're going to tell us who really sent you.â€
Fate narrowed her eyes and similarly reloaded Bardiche, complete with twisting the staff to replace the cylinder.
“Load cartridge.â€
She broke into a run for Moonlight Knight, the cartridge system firing three times as she closed in.
Moonlight Knight aimed and fired several times at Fate's face, the rounds blocked by blur-like swings of Bardiche.
“Zanber.â€
Swinging the transforming Bardiche to block another round, Fate swung once more as the fully transformed staff ignited a blade taller than two of her.
Moonlight Knight did not hesitate, and jumped over her horizontal slash. As she raised and swung down a vertical blow, he got in close and blocked the energy blade by stopping the hilt of Bardiche.
She was much stronger with more magic flowing through her, but Moonlight Knight held his ground as their weapons scraped and sparked against one another.
“You're strong,†Fate admitted as she tried to push the masked boy in white to his knee, and met only immovable resistance. When he tried to push back, she dug in and felt her footing slip slightly.
“If there is one thing I can do right...†Moonlight Knight growled back as he felt Fate slide back further. “It's be strong!â€
Before he could force Fate to her knee, the flash of Nanoha's Divine Buster distracted him just long enough for Fate to lift up her foot and kick him as hard as she could, launching him off the edge of the roof and towards another building.
As he went backward, he smirked. “But what I do best is be sneaky.â€
Fate went wide eyed before she noticed white roses blooming in the sides of Bardiche, where all the bullets she deflected had hit the weapon. When the last rose opened, all of them gave off a bright glow and exploded, the concussive force throwing Fate off the opposite edge.
Turning over, Moonlight Knight let the wind catch in his cape and soared off straight for the beam that flickered into the evening sky. “You had better be alive. Getting killed by Chinese Bootleg Magical Girls is not the way I want to remember you!â€
Tuxedo Kamen was in fact very much alive, intact, and angry as he knelt on a roof clutching his cane. His cape and top hat had not survived the Divine Buster blast he had narrowly avoided, however.
“So, this is Vita's anger,†he muttered. He liked his hat and cape, and regenerating both would take a while.
Seeing him hatless and capeless, Nanoha immediately recalled the very same anger. “I'm sorry about your hat!â€
Tuxedo Kamen was not made of stone, try as he might. From the very first episode he was a big fan of the girl the golem was based, and it being completely identical to her in even her gentle and compassionate personality was breaking his heart and making him want to especially kill her creator.
I cannot let this distract me, I have to end it now before I start trying to convince myself that she can be made real.
He stood up, as a smoky golden light began to appear around his right hand. I guess I’ll have to win by brute force.
Nanoha blinked when Tuxedo Kamen gripped his right forearm as the glow began to intensify. “What?â€
“Master, there is a powerful magic!†Raising Heart warned.
Before she could respond to that threat, another fell upon her from above, and she narrowly blocked Moonlight Knight’s cane as he swung it down upon her head. Two more strikes shoved her downward before she broke away from him.
Tuxedo Kamen swore as his partner suddenly fell into his shot, and banished the glow around his hand. As he jumped to join into the fight, a yellow-trailing blur shot past him and straight for Moonlight Knight. “Moonlight Knight, look out!â€
Spotting Fate approach, Moonlight Knight aimed and fired his cane at her, only to miss as she rolled out out the path of the bullets.
“Load cartridge. Sonic Form.†With Bardiche’s words, Fate’s outfit transformed, the skirt and stockings vanishing as her top transformed into an athletic track suit and shorts combination. When Moonlight Knight swung at her, his cane went through a trail of afterimages as Fate swiftly circled around to his back.
“Crap!†Moonlight Knight said as he looked back at Fate, who raised and swung down Bardiche to club him atop his head.
A great torrent of flames that shot down between Fate and Moonlight Knight put an end right to that. Pushed forward by their heat and intensity, Moonlight Knight looked up and towards the source of the flames with a smile on his face.
“A wise man once taught,†Sailor Mars said from where she stood, in front of a flashing billboard surrounded by her cawing and flapping crows, “That the only way to defeat a Golem... is to burn it!â€
“Sailor Mars!†Moonlight Knight and Tuxedo Kamen both exclaimed.
“S-Sir...â€
Moonlight Knight looked back, and recoiled in fright when he saw what the flames had done to Fate. Bardiche was badly melted and bubbling, as were Fate’s arms from the elbows down as she stared in horror at the damage done to her body.
Her eyes wide, she shook her head as she watched Bardiche fall apart into a rapidly cooling, warped pieces of modeler’s plastic. “W-what is this...?â€
Moonlight Knight stared at Fate, and the look of fright and disbelief across her face, before he realized just how exact these golems were.
Sailor Mars jumped from the rooftop, spun through the air, and brought her hands together. “Mars Fire Soul!â€
Paralyzed as she was, Fate stood no chance as the flames engulfed and rapidly consumed her, melting her down before evaporating the liquefied plastic away.
Sailor Mars fell to the rooftop Tuxedo Kamen stood upon, landing neatly in a crouch. She looked over to him. “I made it in time! Are you guys okay?â€
Tuxedo Kamen was staring at the sky. “Not for long.â€
Sailor Mars blinked. “Not for long, why?â€
The sky lit up into a very bright shade of pink. Jumping at the sudden change in the sky, Sailor Mars looked over towards the light and blinked. “... What’s happening now?â€
The glow was coming from Nanoha and the large orb of energy hovering in front of her. The golem’s eyes were blank and pouring tears as she looked at the bits of ash and dust that were all that’s left of Fate. “Fate-chan...â€
Even as she was grieving, she was loading cartridge after cartridge into Raising Heart, changing magazines to continue raising her magical output.
Sailor Mars gulped. “I... I never watched this show... what’s she about to do and how do I stop it?!â€
Tuxedo Kamen looked to her. “Attack her, full power!
Sailor Mars complied, and put her hands together. “Mars Fire Soul!â€
The torrent of fire surged out at Nanoha much like it did Fate, but before it could reach her it dissipated against the barrier around her, and the ball of light grew brighter. Around them and in the streets below, streetlights and even the headlights of cars began to shut off.
Tuxedo Kamen grimaced. “It’s that attack... it’s just going to absorb energy in the surrounding area before she fires it!â€
He, Sailor Mars, and Moonlight Knight attempted to move back, but found themselves held in place by rings of light around their wrists and ankles. Tuxedo Kamen swore. “A bind spell... she’s going to make sure we don’t get away!â€
Raising Heart announced her successful mode change. “Starlight Breaker.â€
Nanoha lowered the weapon, aiming it at Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars. “I won’t let you... I won’t let you get away for killing Fate-chan! STARLIGHT... BREA-!â€
Her voice caught in her throat, and the bright glow became unstable before it suddenly dispersed harmlessly. Stock still, Nanoha tried to move, but her body felt like it was stiff, frozen. “... K... kkeh...â€
The bonds seizing the three suddenly faded. Directly behind her, Sailor Mercury had both her hands jammed into Nanoha’s back, as her ice cold mist began to swirl around the golem, freezing her solid from head to toe. Her eyes closed behind the Mercury computer’s visor, Sailor Mercury took no joy in what she was about to do.
“I’m so sorry, Nanoha-chan,†she said softly to the frozen golem, before she wrenched her in half down the middle. Holding the two halves of frozen plastic shaped like Nanoha apart at arm’s length, Sailor Mercury quickly brought them back together with tremendous force, shattering Nanoha and Raising Heart into hundreds of pieces.
Seeing Nanoha break and Sailor Mercury fall away, Sailor Mars wasted no time and unleashed another Fire Soul, incinerating the chunks of plastic into harmless ash that blew away with the wind.
Moonlight Knight, still shaken by what happened up there landed along with Sailor Mercury. “Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury... thanks...â€
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. “Your timing is always fantastic.â€
“I’m just glad we got here in time,†Sailor Mars said before she looked to Sailor Mercury, who was analyzing a piece of plastic she had recovered from Nanoha.
Tuxedo Kamen looked to Moonlight Knight. “You were amazing up there as well, Moonlight Knight.â€
“Y-yeah thanks,†he replied rigidly.
Tuxedo Kamen frowned a bit, before he looked over to Sailor Mercury. “Any clues?â€
“Well it’s weird,†Sailor Mercury said. “This is plastic, like Jadeite said.â€
Sailor Mars was surprised. “Really?â€
“A specific type, too. It’s the stuff used to make Gunpla and action figures.â€
“It’s like that then, golem maker is making action figures and model kits come to life, and gives them their abilities, too,†Tuxedo Kamen said.
At the very idea, Sailor Mars grew horrified. “This could get bad very fast! What if they make a Goku golem, or a Sagittarius Seiya golem, or a Kamina golem?!â€
Sailor Mercury huffed. “Kamina sucks, we’d kill him in a second.â€
“Did you find out why they were here? I got nothing from Fate,†Moonlight Knight asked Tuxedo Kamen.
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. “She said the TSAB assigned them to apprehend someone named Kenji Tsukino, a rogue wizard.â€
It took everything Moonlight Knight had to not react to that name. Sailor Mercury was as cool as Tuxedo Kamen, while Sailor Mars bit her lower lip as she quietly looked back and forth nervously.
Already, Sailor Mercury was gathering information on the man. “He’s a journalist at the Daily News, which isn’t far from here. He’s got no criminal record or has been involved in any unlawful activities... aside from some citations from over ten years ago...†Sailor Mercury scrolled through the list of citations. “... A lot of citations...†Her eyes grew wide and a blush covered her face as the list kept going. “... Oh w-wow.â€
“Is there any connection to the first victim?†Moonlight Knight snapped at her.
She quickly compared the names of the two would-be victims and found a connection. “He’s the father of one of Tenzo Ito’s classmates, and that’s about the only tenuous connection between them.â€
She clapped her hands together. “Well! We have a lead at least, right?â€
“That’s right,†Tuxedo Kamen replied.
Why does this feel so awkward? both wondered.
A spotlight illuminated the roof and the four looked up at the police helicopter now circling overhead. Tuxedo Kamen shook his head. “You know, the longer we stay here…â€
“Yes, we should be going,†Sailor Mercury said, “Contact Luna if you can find anything new, I’ll be working on our end!â€
“It pains me that we have to constantly part ways under these circumstances,†Tuxedo Kamen said before the two teams of heroes quickly vacated the roof and escaped the oncoming police presence.
It didn’t take long for Tuxedo Kamen and Moonlight Knight to evade their pursuers and return to the car. Dismissing their fashionable attire, Mamoru leaned against his car and shook his head. “Before anything else I want to say that I don’t think you’re responsible for this.â€
Shingo nodded. “That’s good, because I’d have to kick your ass if you did.â€
“Someone has a very warped idea of helping you with your issues,†Mamoru said as they climbed back into the car. “Is there anyone you know who could possibly be doing this?â€
Shingo mulled it over, and shook his head. “There would be no one who would know. I mean, yeah they’d know about the bullying thing... but I love my Dad and I never told anyone aside from you about all of that.â€
“If they’re after you then they’re going to go after people close to you. We’ll help keep an eye on them but for now, I think you should start looking for the leads at your school.â€
Shingo nodded and leaned back in his seat. “You think Motoki and Reika can handle the patrol for the rest of the night? Fighting those golems...â€
Mamoru nodded. “Yeah, they won’t mind.â€
“It’s okay? You’re sure?†Shingo stopped when Mamoru focused on the road and resumed driving. His mentor and boss looked pretty bummed out too.
“They had no idea they were golems, did they?†Mamoru asked Shingo.
Shingo looked down at his lap, and shook his head. “They didn’t realize it until the end. In that sense... they were victims too.â€
Mamoru nodded. “When we run into whoever’s behind this, I’m hitting them extra hard... for them.â€
Shingo wholeheartedly agreed with that.
Walking from the alleyway where they had transformed back, Ami and Rei headed for the nearest bus stop that would take them to the Hikawa Shrine. Rei slid her hands into the heavy coat she wore, while Ami looked at her supercomputer’s screen.
“How are we going to break this to Usagi-chan?†Rei asked as Phobos landed on her shoulder and Deimos perched herself atop her head.
“We’ll call her when we get back to the Shrine, but for now we have to figure out the connection.â€
Reaching a crosswalk, they began to cross when the car at the very front of the queue honked its horn. Looking over, both girls saw Mamoru and Shingo, the former brightening up and waving to them as the latter rolled his eyes.
“Huh, what a helpful coincidence,†Ami said as Rei let out a happy squeal and ran over to Mamoru’s side of the car.
Later that evening, in the Kayama household, Yoshiko was on the phone as she headed up the stairs to her bedroom. “I saw it on the news yes, it’s a good thing the Sailor Senshi were there this time before anyone could get hurt, Mika-chan is still shaken by what happened at school.â€
Reaching the top of the stairs, she turned out the lights downstairs and made her way to her daughter’s bedroom as she listened to her friend on the phone. “Really right by there?â€
Yoshiko stopped at Mika’s door. “I’m glad no one was hurt, bad enough after what happened at school.†Yoshiko reached the door. “Just a moment.â€
She opened the door and peered inside. “Mika-chan, it’s time for…â€
Stopping, she stared at Mika as she set down a completed Kamen Raider model on dresser next to her desk. The little girl looked back at her mother. “I will go to bed soon, Mom.â€
“Ah right…†Yoshiko looked to the model. “You’ve been building a lot of gunpla, what about the doll you made for the competition? I want that to be part of my exhibition, you know.â€
“I gave it away.â€
Yoshiko raised her eyebrows in surprise. “What?â€
Mika did not look back at her. “It’s okay, I made a lot of dolls over the last few days. That old doll was trash compared to them.â€
When did Mika start thinking like that? “Trash? Mika-chan what are you talking about? That doll was a work of art!â€
“It was trash, Shingo-kun didn’t like it.â€
Yoshiko lifted her phone to her ear. “I’m sorry, I’ll call you back.†Ending the call, she walked over and took her by the shoulders. “Mika-chan, we talked about this, you promised you’d stay away from that boy so I wouldn’t change you out of that class, and now you gave him that doll you poured your heart into?â€
Mika lowered her head. “I made it for him.â€
She reached up and removed her mother’s hands from her shoulders. “But that doll was trash, so I made even better dolls, dolls that he will love when he sees them, and they will give him the love he deserves.â€
Yoshiko took a step back from her daughter. “Give him love? Mika...?â€
Mika turned away from her mother and walked over to the desk. “I just need to make a few more dolls, I should be done by the exhibition. I’m about to finish one right now.â€
As Yoshiko paused and began to retreat towards the door, Mika turned her head to look back at her, revealing a bright red glow in her eyes. A pair of wooden doll’s hands hands materialized out of thin air emerging from Mika’s back before they shot forward and grabbed Yoshiko around her neck, causing her phone to fall to the floor with a clatter and dial the number she had just been speaking with.
“Yoshi-chan? Hello?†Ikuko’s voice called from the phone. “Yoshi? Are you there?â€
As Yoshiko was lifted off her feet, Mika reached down and picked up the phone. “I’m sorry, but Mom can’t talk, she’s helping me make a doll.â€
“Oh, okay then. Good bye, Mika-chan.â€
“Bye.â€
Mika ended the call by crushing the phone in her grip. The Sailor Senshi foiled the second part or her plan, she would just have to add Shingo's parents to her collection later than sooner.
Looking back at her desk, she smiled at the parts laid out for another figure.
It would be worth the wait.
Shingo-kun was worth it all.
Ignoring the emotional trauma of a human-sized mecha marching into class to try to kill people, most kids in Shingo’s class were actually pretty happy to have a few days off from school as the damages were repaired. However, those scant few days flew by quickly, and soon Shingo was again at his locker, putting away his jacket and getting ready for another long day of social ostracization.
Oh well, at least he had a mystery to take his mind off it; a few mysteries, in fact. In addition to people going after his bullies and his family, there was the sudden silence from his phone. The messages and calls of harassment had stopped.
Shingo seriously wasn’t complaining. He looked forward to a day of sitting down without being harrassed. It would let him think at least, even if he had already been doing a lot of it.
This is beginning to drive me bored. No Dark Kingdom, no golems, even the crime rate’s gone down.
To be fair, it was hard to be a petty crook in Minato these days, seemed like one couldn’t even litter without being kicked in the face and left for the cops to arrest with irrefutable evidence indicating them of their crime.
Bored is bad though because if there’s nothing going on then there’s something going on and you don’t know what it is.
As he reached his classroom and placed his hand on the handle, he sighed. No wonder Usagi insists on living such an exciting life.
She’d probably wouldn’t have joined that Kamen Raider fan club if she was a little less spastic, which meant that she wouldn’t have found out about-
“Mika?†Shingo asked after he opened the door and found her standing on the other side dressed elegantly in a white 19th century style dress not unlike those of her dolls.
“Hello, Shingo-kun!†Mika said happily as she took his hand. “Come in, come in, we’ve been waiting for you!â€
Shingo blinked. “We?â€
He looked over and found the entire class lined up by the chalkboard with their backs to the wall and their heads bowed. Everyone was elegantly dressed, the girls in dresses like Mika’s except all black and the boy’s in handsome black tailed suits. On seeing Shingo, all of them properly bowed reverently to him.
Mika eagerly led him over to the students. “After what happened, Tenzo-kun gathered us all together and we talked about how you saved everyone by standing up to that monster. We all owe you our thanks for being so brave... and they all owe you an apology for being so mean to you.â€
Honestly, Shingo could not believe this was happening. After putting up with their crap, they had finally seen the kind of person he really was, and they were owning up to their bullying?
Mika looked over to Tenzo, who rose from his bow and nodded before he smiled and reached up to scratch the back of his head bashfully. “Well, yeah... I mean even after we all... er... I treated you like shit... you could’ve run away or let that monster kill me, but you didn’t. I don’t even understand why.â€
A bad side of Shingo wanted to rub it in his face, but he simply shrugged his shoulders. He was better than that. “Well, bad as you were, you don’t deserve to die so I couldn’t let that happen.â€
Tenzo looked aside, his face flushing in embarrassment. “Jeez, even after all I said and did... you’d think that?â€
Shingo folded his arms. “Sure, it’s what any good person would do!â€
Tenzo nodded and returned his gaze to him. “Well, as class representative I speak for the class, when I say that we all want to be good people too... and we’re sorry for everything.â€
The other kids looked up, all adding their own apologies anyway.
Shingo hesitantly took this, before he smiled back to Tenzo. “I forgive you guys!â€
Tenzo laughed before he put an arm around Shingo’s shoulders. “Come on, have you had breakfast yet? I had my Dad cater some for everyone, but Mika helped me pick out stuff you might like...â€
As Shingo was led away from her, Mika smiled pleasantly after him and looked to the other students. Her eyes flashed red and they all turned their own wide, fearful eyes to her. Her smile broadened and grew wicked, as the red glow faded and the fearful gazes of the students vanished.
Today was going to be a wonderful day. No one was going to pick on or be mean to her Shingo.
And by the end of it, no one was going to ever hate Shingo again.
Raider Rabbit: Has there been any break in the case?
Mifune0538: This is the eighth time you asked and the answer is still no. Are you that bored? Also. Raider Rabbit? You keep changing your screen name. lol
Raider Rabbit: I haven’t even gotten there yet and I am that bored.
Usagi stared at the screen of her supercomputer as she rode in the backseat of the family’s car. It had been almost a week, and out of the goodness of her mother’s heart Usagi could be taken out of the dog house... if she could be perfectly behaved while taking part in a family function. Given that Usagi could be good if she applied herself, it was no Sisyphean task. However, the family function was going to Yoshiko Kayama’s Bisque Doll Exhibition and Auction, which promised to be as entertaining as watching paint dry in Shibuya.
Mifune0538: Besides, nothing happening is a good thing. It means that no one’s attacking you or your family.
Raider Rabbit: It also means that they haven’t attacked yet.
Mifune0538: Well don’t worry if they do, I’m here.
Raider Rabbit: You’re the best.
Mifune0538: I know. ~_^
Sailor Jupiter was waiting on the roof of the Art Deco-styled Teien Art Museum. Between her chat messages, she was watching out for anything unusual. Aside from the wealthy guests waiting in the museum’s garden for the exhibition, there wasn’t anything going on.
Mifune0538: So how was Shingo-kun’s first day back to school?
Usagi looked up from her phone and over to Shingo, who was trying not to fidget too much in his excitement. She smiled some, seeing him in high spirits, and went right to typing.
Raider Rabbit: He’s been on cloud nine since Mika and he made up. Turns out selflessly saving the biggest bully in class made him everybody’s hero, and she and all the kids got together to throw a big thank you party for him.
Sailor Jupiter smiled herself, when she got Usagi’s message.
Mifune0538: Good! More than anything he needs people who can see him for who he is as a person, and not who his family is.
Raider Rabbit: It’s so cute that you’re holding this torch for him, but if you keep it up, you’ll give people the wrong idea, especially him~
Sailor Jupiter chuckled.
Mifune0538: Usagi-chan, that’s too much!
Raider Rabbit: Keep an eye out for trouble, we’ve arrived.
“Usagi-chan, could you put away your phone? We’re here,†Ikuko asked as Kenji parked the car.
Nodding, Usagi did as commanded as Shingo quickly got out of the car. She climbed out the other side, and watched him wait impatiently for their parents to get out. “I’ve never seen anyone so excited to attend a boring bourgeois bash like this.â€
Shingo turned his nose up a bit. “Well Mika said she had made some dolls for me, and she was going to show them off at the exhibition.â€
Usagi raised her eyebrows. “Eh? Mika’s here too?â€
“Yeah, she makes dolls too.â€
“I... did not know that.†Why did Usagi not know that?
“Aren’t you two part of the same club?â€
“I know that Mika is a big fan and scratch-builds sweet-ass Kamen Raider figures, but I didn’t know she did the doll thing.â€
Ikuko looked over to Usagi as they walked along towards the entrance of the museum. “Yoshi-chan taught her everything she knows about doll making. She’s already better than Yoshi-chan though, and has won a lot of awards.â€
“Yoshi-chan?†Usagi asked.
“Her mother,†Shingo replied.
“Ah, the bitch who threw you out when you went to visit Mika.â€
Ikuko gave Usagi a more pointed look. “Bitchy as she is, Yoshi-chan is an old friend of mine so be nice, Usagi-chan.â€
“I’m going to.†Usagi frowned. Suddenly she felt as if she had missed something big, like a soldier looking for a sniper who had somehow missed the tank sneaking up on him.
Let’s review, shall we? Usagi thought to herself as they walked through the doors of the museum and down the main hall. Mika Kayama is Shingo’s classmate, tries to give him a gift but he breaks it when other kids pick on him. Mika is the daughter of one of Mom’s friends from her older, wilder days...
Usagi eyes grew, as it all began to fall into place. The Tsukino family were met by the curator of the museum, who bowed politely to Kenji and Ikuko before leading them to the auction hall, where Yoshiko was expecting them.
Mika is the only person in Shingo’s class who tries to reach out to him and be friendly. Thanks to being Mom’s friend, Mika would probably know a lot about us... maybe too much.
“Is this right?†Ikuko said when they saw that the doors to the auction hall were locked with no signage denoting it as the auction site, and with all the other guests waiting outside in the garden, it was eerily empty in the museum.
“The Curator said that this was the right room...†Kenji quietly said.
Mika makes dolls and scratch-builds models and action figures.
Usagi stopped as Kenji grabbed the door handles.
And she’s famous... oh son of a bitch.
The doors opened, revealing every student in Shingo’s class, two lines of children facing each other flanked either side of the aisle between the rows of chairs set up for the auction. When the doors opened fully, the elegantly dressed, dolled up students all turned their heads in unison to stare at the Tsukino family with glazed, empty eyes.
Son of a bitch! Usagi thought again when she saw Mika and her mother standing on the stage, behind them was another Gundam Golem, this one the successor to the Exia, a fully equipped 00 Raiser Gundam. Like the students and Mika, Yoshiko was dressed like a doll, and had the same doll-like gaze as the former.
Shingo was white as a sheet. Oh no...
“Welcome Shingo-kun,†Mika said as she left her mother and the golem on the stage and stepped off it. She walked down the aisle and stopped midway to them before holding her arms out in a gesture to the other students. “Do you like them?â€
Ikuko and Kenji looked from Mika and the surreal scene before them to their son, who was trying to maintain his composure even as his thought process was “Oh Shit†being repeated over and over. “Mika-chan,†he asked, “what did you do?â€
“I made you these dolls, do you like them? They took a lot of work, but I’m very proud of them.†She walked over to Tenzo, and patted him on his shoulder. “They took a lot of time and effort, but they are almost perfect... if only they weren’t made from trash.â€
She tightly gripped the rotund boy’s shoulder until Shingo could see wet, dark red stains spread in the fabric around her dug-in fingers. Tenzo didn’t even flinch, but Shingo could see his eyes twitch as if he wanted to scream in pain.
It dawned upon Shingo. He’s still conscious, he’s trapped inside his own body!
“This is twisted as fuck,†Usagi whispered before she looked back and noticed that all the guests for the exhibition, and the museum's elderly curator were standing by the doorway, blocking the exit. Much to her chagrin, they all had the same glassy-eyed expression.
“It’s not quite done yet though,†Mika admitted. “I still have more dolls to make before everything is ready, but it shouldn’t take too long.â€
“Mika-chan what are you talking about?†Shingo demanded.
“These are only the start. The collection isn’t done yet.†Mika let go of Tenzo and bowed politely to Shingo. “Please bear with me, when it’s done it will be the most magnificent doll collection ever made. You’ll love it, and it will love you.â€
Usagi moved partly behind her parents, and pulled out her Supercomputer as Shingo shook his head. “But I’m already loved-â€
Like a switch had been flipped, Mika’s expression flipped from unnerving serenity to bestial anger. “You are not loved! These people do not love you, Shingo-kun! Not this trash and certainly not them!†She pointed at Kenji and Ikuko.
Ikuko immediately took offense to that. “Shingo is our son, of course we love him!â€
Mika responded to that with a piercing, hysterical laugh that echoed in the room. “What do disgusting perverts like you know about love?!†She pointed at Usagi. “And you! You’re a monster and everyone hates Shingo-kun like he is a monster! What kind of love is that?!â€
Usagi finished her message, and then pocketed her phone. “Oh hell no.â€
She rounded her parents and pushed past Shingo to march towards Mika. “This is your only warning, you yandere little shit. Let my family and these people go or I will hurt you in creative ways.â€
Usagi folded her arms and glowered down at Mika, while Shingo became reasonably alarmed. “Usagi, don’t provoke her!â€
Mika smirked. “Your parents are disgusting, but they can be fixed. I’m fixing them right now.â€
Usagi raised an eyebrow. “What?â€
“I’ve been making them my newest dolls since they walked into the room.â€
Shingo looked back at his parents, wide eyed. “What?!â€
“Do you remember the first golem?†Mika asked, reclaiming his attention. “Exia... thanks to it I was able to make that trash into proper dolls... and now this golem will do the same to the entire city.â€
Shingo grew wide-eyed as he remembered the realistic GN Particles that poured out of Exia, and how 00 Raiser was putting out so much more just standing there. “The particles!â€
Mika nodded. “Thanks to Exia and I was able to transform that trash into perfect dolls, and with Raiser, I’ll change everyone. They will be able to understand how wonderful you are, and you'll never get picked on again!â€
Usagi grabbed Mika by her collar and lifted her off her feet. “Creativity’s wasted on you, I’m just going to punch you in your sick little head until it starts working again.â€
“You’re worse than trash, though. I don’t want to make you into a doll. I just want you to die.†She looked back at 00 Raiser.
At her unspoken command, 00 Raiser unfolded its GN Sword III and leaped for Usagi. “Eliminating the target!â€
Wide-eyed, she let go of Mika and ducked under the slash that would’ve decapitated her, and then scrambled away from the Gundam. Turning to follow her, it raised its sword again and lunged this time to stab her as she tried to crawl back. It came to a complete stop when Shingo imposed himself between the golem and his sister, however.
“Shingo-kun, get out of the way,†Mika advised.
Shingo shook his head. “No, I’m not going to just let you kill my sister!â€
Mika shook her head. “Just like with all of the other trash, you’re defending them like they’ll appreciate you for it, but they won’t!â€
“You’re wrong!†Usagi shouted as she got back up on her feet, but a pair of arms grabbed Usagi’s from behind and quickly held her back. Looking to her new assailants, she found they were her parents. “Eh?â€
Ikuko was straining as she tightly held onto Usagi. “Mika-chan... stop this...!â€
“I’m not doing this, Usagi... my body is moving on its own...†Kenji whispered to her through clenched teeth.
Mika laughed. “You know what, Shingo-kun? I’ll give you a much better family, a perfect one! This trash can all die!â€
Grabbing Shingo and throwing him into the arms of two other students, 00 Raiser raised its sword and walked towards Usagi, Ikuko and Kenji as it raised its sword to cut through all three. Held back by the other kids, Shingo tried to break free but their grips were like iron. He couldn’t even break free enough reach into the nice jacket he wore to get to the white rose hidden inside.
No-no-no-no-no-!
Electricity whipped through the students, who all went stiff and then collapsed unconscious, before Sailor Jupiter kicked 00 Raiser back to the stage and through the curtains draped over it.
“Ah, Sailor Jupiter! Hello!†Usagi said cheerfully.
Sailor Jupiter nodded and then fired another bolt of electricity from the antenna extending from her tiara, this time for Mika. The girl however raised her hand and a ghostly doll’s hand materialized in front of it, blocking the bolt.
Mika looked to see 00 Raiser getting back up and then back to Sailor Jupiter. “I won’t let you stop me!â€
She reached pulled from a pocket of her dress the Kamen Raider figure, a man in a black and green bodysuit with, and wearing a grasshopper-like motorcycle helmet. Holding the doll out in her hand, Mika’s eyes begin to glow as the wooden hands appeared once more and circled around the figure, which soon was enveloped in the same glow.
The hands then clapped together, smashing the doll between them, and in a flash of light, Kamen Raider 1 stood in front of Mika, his helmet’s normally red eyes glowing yellow.
Usagi was livid. “You’re just going to keep crossing lines with me, aren’t you?!â€
“Someone like you, who terrorizes people for fun and causes Shingo-kun to suffer... and you call yourself a fan of Kamen Raider? An ‘Ally of Justice’?! You disgust me most of all!†Mika shot back.
Mika pointed at Sailor Jupiter and Usagi. “Kamen Raider-san, please help me! These enemies of justice are tormenting someone precious to me!â€
Kamen Raider nodded and leaped into action, rushing straight to attack Sailor Jupiter. Behind Kamen Raider, Mika smirked as her eyes flashed red again.
“Oh no you don’t!†Sailor Jupiter replied as she parried his punches and then knocked him back with a quick backhand to the face. As she prepared to unleash the thunder of her counterattack, however, Yoshiko jumped between the two, forcing the Senshi to pull back. “Ah!â€
Yoshiko dove to the side, allowing Kamen Raider to kick Sailor Jupiter in the chest and send her flying through the wall to her side and to the gardens outside. In the chaos, Mika turned and ran out another door, her Gundam Golem quickly following her.
“Mom, Dad, I’m sorry,†Usagi lamented before she broke free of her parents and knocked them both out with elbows to their faces. “It’s better than being trapped in your own bodies as puppets, I guess.â€
She looked for Shingo, but he was already out the door after Mika. She was about to go after him, when she stopped and realized that she finally had some alone time. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this.â€
Usagi then lifted her hand to the ceiling. “Moon Prism Power, Make Up!â€
Sailor Jupiter rolled along the ground after smashing through several statues, hedges and only stopped before she could go through the wall surrounding the garden. Getting up on her feet quickly, she slapped away several quick punches from Kamen Raider and slammed a palm thrust into his face, knocking him back.
Electricity flaring from her tiara and across her body, Sailor Jupiter went on the offensive, lashing out with several kicks that the golem barely avoided with quick ducking and weaving before he finally caught the third and flipped her into the air. As Sailor Jupiter went up, Kamen Raider jumped as well.
“Raider Jump!†he shouted before he flipped and dove towards the Senshi with his kick. “Raider Ki-!â€
Sailor Jupiter caught the golem’s foot, and used the momentum of his kick to swing him into the ground with tremendous force. Holding onto his leg, Sailor Jupiter glowered down at the golem before she unleashed her Supreme Thunder on it at point blank range. As the electricity crackled around both, however, Kamen Raider swiftly kicked her in the chin with his other foot.
Thrown onto her back, Sailor Jupiter curled up and sprang back up to her feet in time to stop a diving punch from Kamen Raider. Deflecting a cross from his other fist, she took his arms and swung him around to toss him up against the wall.
My Supreme Thunder didn’t work like before! she thought as Kamen Raider leaped off the wall and fell towards her with a flying kick. When she raised her hands to block, the golem suddenly twisted himself in midair and kicked her in the side, sending her into a roll across the garden.
As she got up, Kamen Raider fell on her to club her on the back with a hammer blow. When Sailor Jupiter went into the grass, he raised his foot to bring down onto her back, but Sailor Moon connected a kick with the golem that launched him like a missile into another statue, smashing it into pieces.
“You okay?†Sailor Moon asked as she took Jupiter’s hand and pulled her to her feet.
Sailor Jupiter nodded. “Yeah, the golem wasn’t affected by my Lightning, and it’s very strong.â€
“Ah, this one must have some rubber in it.â€
Sailor Jupiter groaned as the golem got up. “Of course.â€
She then looked around. “Where’s Shingo?!â€
“He went after Mika, I was on my way but you looked like you needed a hand.†Sailor Moon pointed in the direction she saw Mika leave when she ran out the emergency exit. “Be careful, this is definitely Nephrite’s work.â€
Sailor Jupiter gasped. “What? A youma possession can do all of this?!â€
Sailor Moon nodded. “It’s just like with Kijin and his camera, and Jun going crazy with her racquet. Get going, I need some words with ‘Kamen Raider’ here.†Sailor Moon glared at the golem. “Go save your man, Jupiter-chan.â€
Sailor Jupiter rolled her eyes and broke into a run, only to have her path blocked by Kamen Raider. Before he could attack, there was Sailor Moon, tackling him to the ground and both rolling clear of Sailor Jupiter, who charged ahead.
Tumbling along the ground, Sailor Moon and Kamen Raider broke off and both jumped onto their feet to face one another. Staring at the golem, Sailor Moon assumed a fighting stance as he did the same. “Okay, Kamen Raider... let’s talk.â€
Further into the garden, Mika stopped and looked back at her Gundam Golem. “Go, before they can stop you!â€
The golem nodded. “Setsuna F. Seiei, 00 Raiser, commencing final mission.â€
Particles pouring from its large shoulder equipment, 00 Raiser lifted off into the sky and accelerated upwards at incredible speed. As it ascended, it turned and narrowly dodged a lightning bolt before a green field appeared around it and blocked another bolt. Gasping, Mika whirled around to see Sailor Jupiter turning her attention from the Golem to her. “Y-you!â€
Without a witty retort, Sailor Jupiter unleashed another bolt of lightning, weak enough to again stun her. But like before it was immediately stopped by one of Mika’s wooden hands. Clicking her teeth, Sailor Jupiter unleashed even more, that converged and struck the girl. This time nothing emerged to protect her, but the lightning did no harm whatsoever to her.
As the attack stopped, Mika let out a laugh as the red glow in her eyes intensified. The senshi, she realized, was still trying to stun her, and it wasn’t working! “What’s wrong, Sailor Senshi? Are you afraid to hurt me?!â€
Sailor Jupiter gave Mika a deadly serious look that froze the girl like a deer in the headlights. “Nope.â€
“Huh?†Was all she managed to get out before Sailor Jupiter’s fist was inches from her face and closing in. There was a loud crack and the sound of splintering wood, and Mika was thrown backward from Sailor Jupiter, still wide eyed as the wooden hand disintegrated between them. As she watched the splinters fade away, Mika blinked and Sailor Jupiter was gone.
Her eyes darted around, and finally she spotted Sailor Jupiter as she swung down the heel of her boot straight for the top of her head. Another wooden hand appeared to catch the axe kick, but it quickly shattered and Mika was again propelled backward from her attacker. Stumbling to a stop, Mika stared in disbelief at Sailor Jupiter.
“You... you’re just bluffing!†she gasped.
Standing to full height Sailor Jupiter charged up and began generating a tremendous amount of electricity. “Nope.â€
The next blast of her Supreme Thunder went straight for Mika as the forearms the wooden hands were connected to emerged to defend. As they began to splinter, the upper arms appeared behind them and Mika placed her hands against them to brace herself. When the forearms disintegrated and the upper arms took the hit, Mika was pushed backward, her feet stripping the grass and leaving two trails of mud all the way until she hit a statue.
As the remains of the upper arms vanished, Mika looked at the steam rising from her hands and then at Sailor Jupiter. “Y-y-you...!â€
Sailor Jupiter glared darkly at the girl. “Do you really think that because you’re a little kid that I’m going to excuse what you’ve done, what you’re trying to do?!â€
“You... you wouldn’t...!â€
Sailor Jupiter held out her arm, and electricity traveled down it until her entire forearm was covered in a shimmering, crackling sheath of electricity. “I will.â€
She charged forward, a trail of light coming off her arm as she closed in on Mika. When she swung her arm to impale the girl on her hand, her attack was stopped again by another pair of wooden hands. Even as the electricity coating her hand began to burn away the wooden limbs, they pushed back, repelling Sailor Jupiter further and further as the forearms materialized behind the hands and then the upper arms. Then, like a spirit rising from her body, the head and shoulders of a doll-like woman with short dark hair emerged from Mika.
Sailor Jupiter smirked. “There... you... are!â€
The Senshi of Thunder kicked the youma Jumeau in the face, knocking her head off her shoulders and straight up into the sky. As the youma’s head went hurtling up like a football, Sailor Jupiter aimed and snapped off a burst of electricity, vaporizing it.
As the youma’s head burned away to stray ions, Sailor Jupiter looked back at Mika, who was gasping for breath as she stared at her. “Mika...â€
Mika fell to her knees and lowered her head as she struggled to catch her breath. Sailor Jupiter took a step forward to check on her, but instinct took over immediately and the Senshi of Thunder jumped straight back, avoiding a projectile that had been aiming for her neck from her left. She hadn’t even stopped when she ducked her head to avoid another of the bullet fast projectiles.
Spinning around, Sailor Jupiter’s eyes rapidly searched the area for the attackers or their projectiles. Another came at her from head on, and she narrowly twisted herself away from it before dodging another by ducking. From her bow, she jumped into a backflip that became an axle to avoid three more of the projectiles.
“So fast...!†she hissed before she fired a bolt of lightning at one of the near-missing projectiles. When it exploded, she went wide eyed as she caught a glimpse of one of Jumeau’s wooden hands disintegrating in the blast.
A beam of red energy struck Sailor Jupiter in her back, knocking her down to her hands and knees with a yelp. As she quickly got up to look back, she was forced to roll out of the way out of a cascade of beams that rained down her from different directions and angles, tearing up the ground where she had laid until a burning, jagged crater was left.
Getting up, Sailor Jupiter blinked when she felt an odd draft on her back. “W-what the...?†She reached back to where the beams had struck her, and grew-wide eyed when she realized the beam had burned a hole right into her Senshi Uniform. Not even that Lightning Youma’s attacks did this...!
She heard Mika laughing hysterically, and looked to the young girl as the arms, hands, and upper torso of Jumeau gathered to her, hovering just above her head. To Sailor Jupiter’s dismay, the youma’s head finally materialized and floated into place, before her eyes opened and her lips turned up into a small, dainty smile.
Sailor Jupiter clenched her fists as electricity once more arced across her. “So this is your game, youma.â€
Hidden behind a nearby statue, Shingo pocketed his phone before he peered back around at Mika and the youma that possessed her. He was barely able to contain his anger. “Mika-chan...!â€
While lightning flashed and thunder rolled, Sailor Moon and Kamen Raider ran towards one another at full sprint, before leaping at one another with flying kicks. As another bolt of Jupiter’s lightning flashed from behind the building, the two landed and turned quickly to face one another. Kamen Raider, eyes glowing red, assumed a fighting stance once again, until his left shoulder’s armor cracked. He quickly reached up to grip it.
“Impossible!†Kamen Raider spoke in disbelief, before looking at Sailor Moon. “Even though you’re just a young girl, you have a dangerous strength!â€
Sailor Moon huffed. “I never wanted to be acknowledged by you like this...â€
Kamen Raider attacked again, running close and opening with a kick Sailor Moon quickly ducked under. As she came back up, she parried his punches before catching one of his fists and throwing him to the ground. Kamen Raider landed on his feet, and quickly swept Sailor Moon off hers before kicking her into the air. Crouching he jumped up after her and performed a front flip, landing on the roof of the Art Deco museum as Sailor Moon hit it in a tumble.
Getting up, she quickly rushed him low to the ground and dove past him into a tumble, before jumping and launching several kicks to his face and neck. With a cyborg’s precision, the golem avoided every kick before he lunged to strike her in the throat with a chop. Sailor Moon avoided it at the last second and the two began circling one another, parrying or dodging one another’s fists even as their fists became so fast that to normal eyes they were merely white and green blurs.
Sailor Moon broke the stalemate first, catching Kamen Raider’s fist in her crossed hands, before somersault kicking him onto his back. When she followed up with an axe kick, Kamen Raider rolled out of the way and onto his feet.
She didn’t let up, reengaging him with a spinning backhand he blocked. He brought his leg up, kicking her in the lower back and then across the shoulders, sending her stumbling forward. As she regained her footing she used a roundhouse kick to hit him in the chest as he came after her, launching him off the roof and to the ground in front of the museum just as the first police unit arrived on the scene.
As Kamen Raider got up and saw the police officers emerge from their vehicle, he held his open hand to them. “Get back, it’s dangerous!â€
Up above, Sailor Moon stopped just as she was about to jump off the roof and continue the engagement. “Huh?â€
The two officers looked to one another, the driver of the car in disbelief. “Rider 1?â€
His partner shook his head. “No, it’s from the TV show, see? The outfit’s all wrong...â€
Sailor Moon dropped down from the roof and Kamen Raider immediately turned his attention back to her. Seeing her, the two officers didn’t think twice and quickly got back into their car, the driver flooring it in reverse to put some good distance between them as his partner radioed it in. “All units, this is Car 16, we have confirmed that there is a Sailor Senshi engaged in a battle at the Teien Art Museum and we are pulling back to a safe distance.â€
As the patrol car retreated, Kamen Raider prepared to attack again, but his his opponent was acting strangely. She stood before him, with her arms spread out wide. “What are you doing?â€
If what Ami and Rei said is right, I can talk to this guy, Sailor Moon thought. “Kamen Raider, my name is Sailor Moon and you are not my enemy.â€
Kamen Raider didn’t buy it and attacked, leaping for Sailor Moon and swinging a punch straight for her face. To the golem’s surprise, not only did his blow connect, but his target made no effort to defend herself and went tumbling backward into lefthand base of the arch of the museum’s entrance. As Sailor Moon got back up, Kamen Raider hesitated.
“... You didn’t defend yourself.â€
Sailor Moon nodded as she stood upright. “Because I saw when you told those police to flee, when you could’ve attacked them. You are not my enemy.â€
“You are mine. Even if you claim to battle on the side of the innocent, you protect those who cause suffering to them. That girl you protected is making a young boy suffer-â€
Sailor Moon shook her head. “That girl I protected is my comrade and she would die for that young boy, as would I!â€
Kamen Raider stopped at her sharp retort, and allowed her to continue with a curt nod.
“Even now, she is trying to save him and the little girl who called on you to attack us. She is possessed by an agent of the Great Enemy, and the Enemy plans to bring suffering to this entire city!†Sailor Moon pointed up at the green, sparkling light in the sky. “Up there, that monster intends to turn the entire city’s population into dolls, trapped inside their bodies as playthings for the Enemy!â€
Kamen Raider looked up quickly at 00 Raiser, and then back at Sailor Moon, who once again held her arms out. “Kamen Raider, I am pleading with you to beli-â€
Kamen Raider immediately attacked once more, closing in faster than before. This time however his punch came to a perfect stop against her nose, the displaced air of his punch blowing her hair back. Still, she did not budge from where she stood.
“-eve me,†she finished.
For several moments Kamen Raider stood there, his fist against her face, before he nodded again. “If what you say is true, how do we stop it?â€
Sailor Moon sighed in relief. “First thing’s first, we kill the monster possessing that girl.â€
= = =
I'm definitely going to look into increasing the post limits.
“Protection,†Raising Heart suddenly spoke.
“Defenser!†Bardiche shouted simultaneously.
Both girls stopped as Nanoha’s pink and Fate’s yellow barrier stopped Tuxedo Kamen and Moonlight Knight’s respective roses from striking the girls directly. Fate looked up to the her right, and spotted Moonlight Knight standing on the edge of a tall building’s roof, while Tuxedo Kamen stood on the cellphone tower of another building to Nanoha’s left.
“I wish this was some kind of joke.†Tuxedo Kamen was not happy about this. Under any other circumstances, his favorite fictional magical girls running around in real life would normally have him acting like a the biggest fanboy. But after this morning...
“Why did you attack us?†Nanoha asked.
Fate glowered cooly at Moonlight Knight as she moved a bit closer to Nanoha.
Hearing Nanoha’s voice, Tuxedo Kamen hesitated slightly.
“Don’t get suckered, they’re golems!†Moonlight Knight warned.
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. “I know that... it just pisses me off more that someone would create golems out of these two!â€
Nanoha looked confused. “Golems?â€
Tuxedo Kamen took advantage of Nanoha’s hesitation, quickly closing the distance between himself and the girl and quickly drawing his cane sword to slash her. At the last moment, Fate rounded Nanoha and blocked the slash with Bardiche before swinging back against the sword and shoviing Tuxedo Kamen back.
“Nanoha-chan, I’ll hold them off, we can’t waste time here!†Fate advised.
Nanoha looked to her friend and nodded. “Right, be careful Fate-chan!â€
“Accel Shooter,†Raising Heart spoke.
“Plasma Lancer,†Bardiche toned.
Orbs of light appeared around Nanoha as several arrow-shaped bolts materialized in front of Fate, aimed at Moonlight Knight. Both girls then called out their commands.
“Shoot!â€
“Fire!â€
Tuxedo Kamen took off, shooting upward like a rocket to avoid the homing energy beams. Moonlight Knight shot left, avoiding the Plasma Lancers at first.
Hefting Bardiche in her tightened grip, Fate shot off after him. “Turn!â€
The Lancers stopped and reacquired Moonlight Knight, before accelerating towards him. At the last second, he dove beneath them and looped upward towards the sky as the bolts changed direction again at her command to turn.
“I don’t believe this...!†Moonlight Knight growled as he suddenly produced his white cane, spun it, and pointed its end down at the approaching projectiles. Gunfire erupted from the end of the cane, sending rounds into the bolts and causing them to explode. Spinning the cane again, he blocked Bardiche as Fate swung it like an axe for his chest.
Tuxedo Kamen was equally unnerved by these two, as he threw several roses to counter the Accel Shooter bolts. “These things even have their powers!â€
As the bolts dispersed, he spotted that Nanoha rushing away as fast as she could. “Oh no you don’t!â€
Breaking Fate’s block, Moonlight Knight fired his cane twice more at the girl, her Defenser barrier blocking both shots. As he withdrew from her, a cylinder in the cane swung out and ejected six spent cartridges, before Moonlight Knight produced a speed-loader with six more rounds ready and loaded them in.
“Who would've thought of this? The first monster I fight and it's a copy of the same thing that inspired my cane.â€
As he snapped the cylinder back inside the cane, Fate swung at him and forced him to block again. The force of the blow caused him to grit his teeth, but he endured it. “Who sent you, what are you after?!â€
Fate frowned. “If you don't know that, why are you attacking us?!â€
Breaking away from one another, Moonlight Knight and Fate spiraled around one another higher into the sky, passing close enough for one another to cross cane and staff before breaking off to attack at range.
Defenser blocked Moonlight Knight's cane gunfire as Fate repressed her frustration. “Load cartridge!â€
“Load cartridge,†Bardiche repeated before a piston on the staff fired twice and the yellow gem at the end of it began to glow. “Halberd.â€
Raising the weapon above her head Fate charged Moonlight Knight as Bardiche changed configuration and ignited a bright yellow energy blade, evoking the image of a pole axe.
Letting out a “Tch†Moonlight Knight narrowly avoided a slash and put distance between himself and Fate. He had to end this fast, he wasn't too keen to find out how accurate these recreations were.
Of course, with a fight this crazy it's only a matter of time...
Only just barely crossing from Minato into Chiyoda, Nanoha stopped and used Raising Heart’s Protector spell to block a powerful blow from Tuxedo Kamen’s cane, the force of the strike knocking her into a billboard atop one of the buildings that flanked the thoroughfare below. Dazed by the force of the blow momentarily, Nanoha looked up at Tuxedo Kamen.
“Why are you attacking us? I don’t understand!†she pleaded with Tuxedo Kamen.
Tuxedo Kamen scowled at her, suppressing everything that even remotely hinted at trying to convince or hear her out. He only wanted answers. “Who sent you and what is your reason for being here?â€
Luckily he was dealing with Nanoha, who was never above talking out a conflict. “We were sent by the Time-Space Administration Bureau, to apprehend a powerful rogue Mage, Kenji Tsukino. Please try to understand we’re not your enemy, and we’re not trying to hurt anyone!â€
Tuxedo Kamen glanced back towards the flashes of light where Moonlight Knight was dueling Fate, and then returned his gaze to Nanoha. Well, that dismissed any remote possibility that these weren’t golems. Gripping his cane in both hands, he shot straight for Nanoha, who grew wide-eyed with surprise at the speed of his closure.
On the street below, pedestrians and police who quickly joined the chase stared up at the explosion that erupted from the building’s rooftop, and the beams of light that shot from the smoke. Ascending from the top of the smoke cloud, Tuxedo Kamen resheathed his cane sword as Nanoha ascended with him.
She again tried to reason with him. “I don’t want to fight you if we don’t have a reason to!â€
“You really ought to shut up.†Tuxedo Kamen drew from inside his suit jacket five roses and then tossed them out into the air. The five roses oriented themselves in the air and aimed stem first at Nanoha, before becoming red rays of light that shot at her at high speed.
“Protection,†Raising Heart spoke before the roses impacted with its barrier, each hit knocking Nanoha further back across the sky.
“I don’t understand.†Nanoha wished she could decipher this man’s hostility.
“Behind you, my Master!†Raising Heart warned.
Quickly Nanoha raised her fist behind her, and sparks flew as Tuxedo Kamen’s sword struck against it. “Please...!â€
“Load Cartridge.â€
A burst of magic buffeted and threw Tuxedo Kamen backward and into the sky. As he recovered, he saw Nanoha standing atop a platform of magical symbols and aiming Raising Heart at him.
“Oh fuck.â€
“At least just tell me...!†Nanoha called out.
“Divine.â€
“... Why we have to fight!â€
“Buster.â€
Landing on a broad rooftop, Moonlight Knight looked at the cuts and scorch marks on the sleeves and shoulders of his white suit and sighed in annoyance. He looked up at Fate, who landed and extinguished Bardiche's energy blade.
“For people who ask a lot of questions, you don't seem to care about any answers you get,†Fate said as she kept her distance and stayed on her guard.
Moonlight Knight opened his cane's cylinder, ejected the cartridges, and produced another speed-loader to reload it. “Because you won't tell us the truth. That all is irrelevant though, you're here to hurt someone, maybe even kill them, and I'm going to stop you.â€
He gave the cane a quick twist, snapping the cylinder back into position, and spun it quickly to aim at Fate. “So dispense with the talking, unless you're going to tell us who really sent you.â€
Fate narrowed her eyes and similarly reloaded Bardiche, complete with twisting the staff to replace the cylinder.
“Load cartridge.â€
She broke into a run for Moonlight Knight, the cartridge system firing three times as she closed in.
Moonlight Knight aimed and fired several times at Fate's face, the rounds blocked by blur-like swings of Bardiche.
“Zanber.â€
Swinging the transforming Bardiche to block another round, Fate swung once more as the fully transformed staff ignited a blade taller than two of her.
Moonlight Knight did not hesitate, and jumped over her horizontal slash. As she raised and swung down a vertical blow, he got in close and blocked the energy blade by stopping the hilt of Bardiche.
She was much stronger with more magic flowing through her, but Moonlight Knight held his ground as their weapons scraped and sparked against one another.
“You're strong,†Fate admitted as she tried to push the masked boy in white to his knee, and met only immovable resistance. When he tried to push back, she dug in and felt her footing slip slightly.
“If there is one thing I can do right...†Moonlight Knight growled back as he felt Fate slide back further. “It's be strong!â€
Before he could force Fate to her knee, the flash of Nanoha's Divine Buster distracted him just long enough for Fate to lift up her foot and kick him as hard as she could, launching him off the edge of the roof and towards another building.
As he went backward, he smirked. “But what I do best is be sneaky.â€
Fate went wide eyed before she noticed white roses blooming in the sides of Bardiche, where all the bullets she deflected had hit the weapon. When the last rose opened, all of them gave off a bright glow and exploded, the concussive force throwing Fate off the opposite edge.
Turning over, Moonlight Knight let the wind catch in his cape and soared off straight for the beam that flickered into the evening sky. “You had better be alive. Getting killed by Chinese Bootleg Magical Girls is not the way I want to remember you!â€
Tuxedo Kamen was in fact very much alive, intact, and angry as he knelt on a roof clutching his cane. His cape and top hat had not survived the Divine Buster blast he had narrowly avoided, however.
“So, this is Vita's anger,†he muttered. He liked his hat and cape, and regenerating both would take a while.
Seeing him hatless and capeless, Nanoha immediately recalled the very same anger. “I'm sorry about your hat!â€
Tuxedo Kamen was not made of stone, try as he might. From the very first episode he was a big fan of the girl the golem was based, and it being completely identical to her in even her gentle and compassionate personality was breaking his heart and making him want to especially kill her creator.
I cannot let this distract me, I have to end it now before I start trying to convince myself that she can be made real.
He stood up, as a smoky golden light began to appear around his right hand. I guess I’ll have to win by brute force.
Nanoha blinked when Tuxedo Kamen gripped his right forearm as the glow began to intensify. “What?â€
“Master, there is a powerful magic!†Raising Heart warned.
Before she could respond to that threat, another fell upon her from above, and she narrowly blocked Moonlight Knight’s cane as he swung it down upon her head. Two more strikes shoved her downward before she broke away from him.
Tuxedo Kamen swore as his partner suddenly fell into his shot, and banished the glow around his hand. As he jumped to join into the fight, a yellow-trailing blur shot past him and straight for Moonlight Knight. “Moonlight Knight, look out!â€
Spotting Fate approach, Moonlight Knight aimed and fired his cane at her, only to miss as she rolled out out the path of the bullets.
“Load cartridge. Sonic Form.†With Bardiche’s words, Fate’s outfit transformed, the skirt and stockings vanishing as her top transformed into an athletic track suit and shorts combination. When Moonlight Knight swung at her, his cane went through a trail of afterimages as Fate swiftly circled around to his back.
“Crap!†Moonlight Knight said as he looked back at Fate, who raised and swung down Bardiche to club him atop his head.
A great torrent of flames that shot down between Fate and Moonlight Knight put an end right to that. Pushed forward by their heat and intensity, Moonlight Knight looked up and towards the source of the flames with a smile on his face.
“A wise man once taught,†Sailor Mars said from where she stood, in front of a flashing billboard surrounded by her cawing and flapping crows, “That the only way to defeat a Golem... is to burn it!â€
“Sailor Mars!†Moonlight Knight and Tuxedo Kamen both exclaimed.
“S-Sir...â€
Moonlight Knight looked back, and recoiled in fright when he saw what the flames had done to Fate. Bardiche was badly melted and bubbling, as were Fate’s arms from the elbows down as she stared in horror at the damage done to her body.
Her eyes wide, she shook her head as she watched Bardiche fall apart into a rapidly cooling, warped pieces of modeler’s plastic. “W-what is this...?â€
Moonlight Knight stared at Fate, and the look of fright and disbelief across her face, before he realized just how exact these golems were.
Sailor Mars jumped from the rooftop, spun through the air, and brought her hands together. “Mars Fire Soul!â€
Paralyzed as she was, Fate stood no chance as the flames engulfed and rapidly consumed her, melting her down before evaporating the liquefied plastic away.
Sailor Mars fell to the rooftop Tuxedo Kamen stood upon, landing neatly in a crouch. She looked over to him. “I made it in time! Are you guys okay?â€
Tuxedo Kamen was staring at the sky. “Not for long.â€
Sailor Mars blinked. “Not for long, why?â€
The sky lit up into a very bright shade of pink. Jumping at the sudden change in the sky, Sailor Mars looked over towards the light and blinked. “... What’s happening now?â€
The glow was coming from Nanoha and the large orb of energy hovering in front of her. The golem’s eyes were blank and pouring tears as she looked at the bits of ash and dust that were all that’s left of Fate. “Fate-chan...â€
Even as she was grieving, she was loading cartridge after cartridge into Raising Heart, changing magazines to continue raising her magical output.
Sailor Mars gulped. “I... I never watched this show... what’s she about to do and how do I stop it?!â€
Tuxedo Kamen looked to her. “Attack her, full power!
Sailor Mars complied, and put her hands together. “Mars Fire Soul!â€
The torrent of fire surged out at Nanoha much like it did Fate, but before it could reach her it dissipated against the barrier around her, and the ball of light grew brighter. Around them and in the streets below, streetlights and even the headlights of cars began to shut off.
Tuxedo Kamen grimaced. “It’s that attack... it’s just going to absorb energy in the surrounding area before she fires it!â€
He, Sailor Mars, and Moonlight Knight attempted to move back, but found themselves held in place by rings of light around their wrists and ankles. Tuxedo Kamen swore. “A bind spell... she’s going to make sure we don’t get away!â€
Raising Heart announced her successful mode change. “Starlight Breaker.â€
Nanoha lowered the weapon, aiming it at Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars. “I won’t let you... I won’t let you get away for killing Fate-chan! STARLIGHT... BREA-!â€
Her voice caught in her throat, and the bright glow became unstable before it suddenly dispersed harmlessly. Stock still, Nanoha tried to move, but her body felt like it was stiff, frozen. “... K... kkeh...â€
The bonds seizing the three suddenly faded. Directly behind her, Sailor Mercury had both her hands jammed into Nanoha’s back, as her ice cold mist began to swirl around the golem, freezing her solid from head to toe. Her eyes closed behind the Mercury computer’s visor, Sailor Mercury took no joy in what she was about to do.
“I’m so sorry, Nanoha-chan,†she said softly to the frozen golem, before she wrenched her in half down the middle. Holding the two halves of frozen plastic shaped like Nanoha apart at arm’s length, Sailor Mercury quickly brought them back together with tremendous force, shattering Nanoha and Raising Heart into hundreds of pieces.
Seeing Nanoha break and Sailor Mercury fall away, Sailor Mars wasted no time and unleashed another Fire Soul, incinerating the chunks of plastic into harmless ash that blew away with the wind.
Moonlight Knight, still shaken by what happened up there landed along with Sailor Mercury. “Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury... thanks...â€
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. “Your timing is always fantastic.â€
“I’m just glad we got here in time,†Sailor Mars said before she looked to Sailor Mercury, who was analyzing a piece of plastic she had recovered from Nanoha.
Tuxedo Kamen looked to Moonlight Knight. “You were amazing up there as well, Moonlight Knight.â€
“Y-yeah thanks,†he replied rigidly.
Tuxedo Kamen frowned a bit, before he looked over to Sailor Mercury. “Any clues?â€
“Well it’s weird,†Sailor Mercury said. “This is plastic, like Jadeite said.â€
Sailor Mars was surprised. “Really?â€
“A specific type, too. It’s the stuff used to make Gunpla and action figures.â€
“It’s like that then, golem maker is making action figures and model kits come to life, and gives them their abilities, too,†Tuxedo Kamen said.
At the very idea, Sailor Mars grew horrified. “This could get bad very fast! What if they make a Goku golem, or a Sagittarius Seiya golem, or a Kamina golem?!â€
Sailor Mercury huffed. “Kamina sucks, we’d kill him in a second.â€
“Did you find out why they were here? I got nothing from Fate,†Moonlight Knight asked Tuxedo Kamen.
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. “She said the TSAB assigned them to apprehend someone named Kenji Tsukino, a rogue wizard.â€
It took everything Moonlight Knight had to not react to that name. Sailor Mercury was as cool as Tuxedo Kamen, while Sailor Mars bit her lower lip as she quietly looked back and forth nervously.
Already, Sailor Mercury was gathering information on the man. “He’s a journalist at the Daily News, which isn’t far from here. He’s got no criminal record or has been involved in any unlawful activities... aside from some citations from over ten years ago...†Sailor Mercury scrolled through the list of citations. “... A lot of citations...†Her eyes grew wide and a blush covered her face as the list kept going. “... Oh w-wow.â€
“Is there any connection to the first victim?†Moonlight Knight snapped at her.
She quickly compared the names of the two would-be victims and found a connection. “He’s the father of one of Tenzo Ito’s classmates, and that’s about the only tenuous connection between them.â€
She clapped her hands together. “Well! We have a lead at least, right?â€
“That’s right,†Tuxedo Kamen replied.
Why does this feel so awkward? both wondered.
A spotlight illuminated the roof and the four looked up at the police helicopter now circling overhead. Tuxedo Kamen shook his head. “You know, the longer we stay here…â€
“Yes, we should be going,†Sailor Mercury said, “Contact Luna if you can find anything new, I’ll be working on our end!â€
“It pains me that we have to constantly part ways under these circumstances,†Tuxedo Kamen said before the two teams of heroes quickly vacated the roof and escaped the oncoming police presence.
It didn’t take long for Tuxedo Kamen and Moonlight Knight to evade their pursuers and return to the car. Dismissing their fashionable attire, Mamoru leaned against his car and shook his head. “Before anything else I want to say that I don’t think you’re responsible for this.â€
Shingo nodded. “That’s good, because I’d have to kick your ass if you did.â€
“Someone has a very warped idea of helping you with your issues,†Mamoru said as they climbed back into the car. “Is there anyone you know who could possibly be doing this?â€
Shingo mulled it over, and shook his head. “There would be no one who would know. I mean, yeah they’d know about the bullying thing... but I love my Dad and I never told anyone aside from you about all of that.â€
“If they’re after you then they’re going to go after people close to you. We’ll help keep an eye on them but for now, I think you should start looking for the leads at your school.â€
Shingo nodded and leaned back in his seat. “You think Motoki and Reika can handle the patrol for the rest of the night? Fighting those golems...â€
Mamoru nodded. “Yeah, they won’t mind.â€
“It’s okay? You’re sure?†Shingo stopped when Mamoru focused on the road and resumed driving. His mentor and boss looked pretty bummed out too.
“They had no idea they were golems, did they?†Mamoru asked Shingo.
Shingo looked down at his lap, and shook his head. “They didn’t realize it until the end. In that sense... they were victims too.â€
Mamoru nodded. “When we run into whoever’s behind this, I’m hitting them extra hard... for them.â€
Shingo wholeheartedly agreed with that.
Walking from the alleyway where they had transformed back, Ami and Rei headed for the nearest bus stop that would take them to the Hikawa Shrine. Rei slid her hands into the heavy coat she wore, while Ami looked at her supercomputer’s screen.
“How are we going to break this to Usagi-chan?†Rei asked as Phobos landed on her shoulder and Deimos perched herself atop her head.
“We’ll call her when we get back to the Shrine, but for now we have to figure out the connection.â€
Reaching a crosswalk, they began to cross when the car at the very front of the queue honked its horn. Looking over, both girls saw Mamoru and Shingo, the former brightening up and waving to them as the latter rolled his eyes.
“Huh, what a helpful coincidence,†Ami said as Rei let out a happy squeal and ran over to Mamoru’s side of the car.
Later that evening, in the Kayama household, Yoshiko was on the phone as she headed up the stairs to her bedroom. “I saw it on the news yes, it’s a good thing the Sailor Senshi were there this time before anyone could get hurt, Mika-chan is still shaken by what happened at school.â€
Reaching the top of the stairs, she turned out the lights downstairs and made her way to her daughter’s bedroom as she listened to her friend on the phone. “Really right by there?â€
Yoshiko stopped at Mika’s door. “I’m glad no one was hurt, bad enough after what happened at school.†Yoshiko reached the door. “Just a moment.â€
She opened the door and peered inside. “Mika-chan, it’s time for…â€
Stopping, she stared at Mika as she set down a completed Kamen Raider model on dresser next to her desk. The little girl looked back at her mother. “I will go to bed soon, Mom.â€
“Ah right…†Yoshiko looked to the model. “You’ve been building a lot of gunpla, what about the doll you made for the competition? I want that to be part of my exhibition, you know.â€
“I gave it away.â€
Yoshiko raised her eyebrows in surprise. “What?â€
Mika did not look back at her. “It’s okay, I made a lot of dolls over the last few days. That old doll was trash compared to them.â€
When did Mika start thinking like that? “Trash? Mika-chan what are you talking about? That doll was a work of art!â€
“It was trash, Shingo-kun didn’t like it.â€
Yoshiko lifted her phone to her ear. “I’m sorry, I’ll call you back.†Ending the call, she walked over and took her by the shoulders. “Mika-chan, we talked about this, you promised you’d stay away from that boy so I wouldn’t change you out of that class, and now you gave him that doll you poured your heart into?â€
Mika lowered her head. “I made it for him.â€
She reached up and removed her mother’s hands from her shoulders. “But that doll was trash, so I made even better dolls, dolls that he will love when he sees them, and they will give him the love he deserves.â€
Yoshiko took a step back from her daughter. “Give him love? Mika...?â€
Mika turned away from her mother and walked over to the desk. “I just need to make a few more dolls, I should be done by the exhibition. I’m about to finish one right now.â€
As Yoshiko paused and began to retreat towards the door, Mika turned her head to look back at her, revealing a bright red glow in her eyes. A pair of wooden doll’s hands hands materialized out of thin air emerging from Mika’s back before they shot forward and grabbed Yoshiko around her neck, causing her phone to fall to the floor with a clatter and dial the number she had just been speaking with.
“Yoshi-chan? Hello?†Ikuko’s voice called from the phone. “Yoshi? Are you there?â€
As Yoshiko was lifted off her feet, Mika reached down and picked up the phone. “I’m sorry, but Mom can’t talk, she’s helping me make a doll.â€
“Oh, okay then. Good bye, Mika-chan.â€
“Bye.â€
Mika ended the call by crushing the phone in her grip. The Sailor Senshi foiled the second part or her plan, she would just have to add Shingo's parents to her collection later than sooner.
Looking back at her desk, she smiled at the parts laid out for another figure.
It would be worth the wait.
Shingo-kun was worth it all.
Ignoring the emotional trauma of a human-sized mecha marching into class to try to kill people, most kids in Shingo’s class were actually pretty happy to have a few days off from school as the damages were repaired. However, those scant few days flew by quickly, and soon Shingo was again at his locker, putting away his jacket and getting ready for another long day of social ostracization.
Oh well, at least he had a mystery to take his mind off it; a few mysteries, in fact. In addition to people going after his bullies and his family, there was the sudden silence from his phone. The messages and calls of harassment had stopped.
Shingo seriously wasn’t complaining. He looked forward to a day of sitting down without being harrassed. It would let him think at least, even if he had already been doing a lot of it.
This is beginning to drive me bored. No Dark Kingdom, no golems, even the crime rate’s gone down.
To be fair, it was hard to be a petty crook in Minato these days, seemed like one couldn’t even litter without being kicked in the face and left for the cops to arrest with irrefutable evidence indicating them of their crime.
Bored is bad though because if there’s nothing going on then there’s something going on and you don’t know what it is.
As he reached his classroom and placed his hand on the handle, he sighed. No wonder Usagi insists on living such an exciting life.
She’d probably wouldn’t have joined that Kamen Raider fan club if she was a little less spastic, which meant that she wouldn’t have found out about-
“Mika?†Shingo asked after he opened the door and found her standing on the other side dressed elegantly in a white 19th century style dress not unlike those of her dolls.
“Hello, Shingo-kun!†Mika said happily as she took his hand. “Come in, come in, we’ve been waiting for you!â€
Shingo blinked. “We?â€
He looked over and found the entire class lined up by the chalkboard with their backs to the wall and their heads bowed. Everyone was elegantly dressed, the girls in dresses like Mika’s except all black and the boy’s in handsome black tailed suits. On seeing Shingo, all of them properly bowed reverently to him.
Mika eagerly led him over to the students. “After what happened, Tenzo-kun gathered us all together and we talked about how you saved everyone by standing up to that monster. We all owe you our thanks for being so brave... and they all owe you an apology for being so mean to you.â€
Honestly, Shingo could not believe this was happening. After putting up with their crap, they had finally seen the kind of person he really was, and they were owning up to their bullying?
Mika looked over to Tenzo, who rose from his bow and nodded before he smiled and reached up to scratch the back of his head bashfully. “Well, yeah... I mean even after we all... er... I treated you like shit... you could’ve run away or let that monster kill me, but you didn’t. I don’t even understand why.â€
A bad side of Shingo wanted to rub it in his face, but he simply shrugged his shoulders. He was better than that. “Well, bad as you were, you don’t deserve to die so I couldn’t let that happen.â€
Tenzo looked aside, his face flushing in embarrassment. “Jeez, even after all I said and did... you’d think that?â€
Shingo folded his arms. “Sure, it’s what any good person would do!â€
Tenzo nodded and returned his gaze to him. “Well, as class representative I speak for the class, when I say that we all want to be good people too... and we’re sorry for everything.â€
The other kids looked up, all adding their own apologies anyway.
Shingo hesitantly took this, before he smiled back to Tenzo. “I forgive you guys!â€
Tenzo laughed before he put an arm around Shingo’s shoulders. “Come on, have you had breakfast yet? I had my Dad cater some for everyone, but Mika helped me pick out stuff you might like...â€
As Shingo was led away from her, Mika smiled pleasantly after him and looked to the other students. Her eyes flashed red and they all turned their own wide, fearful eyes to her. Her smile broadened and grew wicked, as the red glow faded and the fearful gazes of the students vanished.
Today was going to be a wonderful day. No one was going to pick on or be mean to her Shingo.
And by the end of it, no one was going to ever hate Shingo again.
Raider Rabbit: Has there been any break in the case?
Mifune0538: This is the eighth time you asked and the answer is still no. Are you that bored? Also. Raider Rabbit? You keep changing your screen name. lol
Raider Rabbit: I haven’t even gotten there yet and I am that bored.
Usagi stared at the screen of her supercomputer as she rode in the backseat of the family’s car. It had been almost a week, and out of the goodness of her mother’s heart Usagi could be taken out of the dog house... if she could be perfectly behaved while taking part in a family function. Given that Usagi could be good if she applied herself, it was no Sisyphean task. However, the family function was going to Yoshiko Kayama’s Bisque Doll Exhibition and Auction, which promised to be as entertaining as watching paint dry in Shibuya.
Mifune0538: Besides, nothing happening is a good thing. It means that no one’s attacking you or your family.
Raider Rabbit: It also means that they haven’t attacked yet.
Mifune0538: Well don’t worry if they do, I’m here.
Raider Rabbit: You’re the best.
Mifune0538: I know. ~_^
Sailor Jupiter was waiting on the roof of the Art Deco-styled Teien Art Museum. Between her chat messages, she was watching out for anything unusual. Aside from the wealthy guests waiting in the museum’s garden for the exhibition, there wasn’t anything going on.
Mifune0538: So how was Shingo-kun’s first day back to school?
Usagi looked up from her phone and over to Shingo, who was trying not to fidget too much in his excitement. She smiled some, seeing him in high spirits, and went right to typing.
Raider Rabbit: He’s been on cloud nine since Mika and he made up. Turns out selflessly saving the biggest bully in class made him everybody’s hero, and she and all the kids got together to throw a big thank you party for him.
Sailor Jupiter smiled herself, when she got Usagi’s message.
Mifune0538: Good! More than anything he needs people who can see him for who he is as a person, and not who his family is.
Raider Rabbit: It’s so cute that you’re holding this torch for him, but if you keep it up, you’ll give people the wrong idea, especially him~
Sailor Jupiter chuckled.
Mifune0538: Usagi-chan, that’s too much!
Raider Rabbit: Keep an eye out for trouble, we’ve arrived.
“Usagi-chan, could you put away your phone? We’re here,†Ikuko asked as Kenji parked the car.
Nodding, Usagi did as commanded as Shingo quickly got out of the car. She climbed out the other side, and watched him wait impatiently for their parents to get out. “I’ve never seen anyone so excited to attend a boring bourgeois bash like this.â€
Shingo turned his nose up a bit. “Well Mika said she had made some dolls for me, and she was going to show them off at the exhibition.â€
Usagi raised her eyebrows. “Eh? Mika’s here too?â€
“Yeah, she makes dolls too.â€
“I... did not know that.†Why did Usagi not know that?
“Aren’t you two part of the same club?â€
“I know that Mika is a big fan and scratch-builds sweet-ass Kamen Raider figures, but I didn’t know she did the doll thing.â€
Ikuko looked over to Usagi as they walked along towards the entrance of the museum. “Yoshi-chan taught her everything she knows about doll making. She’s already better than Yoshi-chan though, and has won a lot of awards.â€
“Yoshi-chan?†Usagi asked.
“Her mother,†Shingo replied.
“Ah, the bitch who threw you out when you went to visit Mika.â€
Ikuko gave Usagi a more pointed look. “Bitchy as she is, Yoshi-chan is an old friend of mine so be nice, Usagi-chan.â€
“I’m going to.†Usagi frowned. Suddenly she felt as if she had missed something big, like a soldier looking for a sniper who had somehow missed the tank sneaking up on him.
Let’s review, shall we? Usagi thought to herself as they walked through the doors of the museum and down the main hall. Mika Kayama is Shingo’s classmate, tries to give him a gift but he breaks it when other kids pick on him. Mika is the daughter of one of Mom’s friends from her older, wilder days...
Usagi eyes grew, as it all began to fall into place. The Tsukino family were met by the curator of the museum, who bowed politely to Kenji and Ikuko before leading them to the auction hall, where Yoshiko was expecting them.
Mika is the only person in Shingo’s class who tries to reach out to him and be friendly. Thanks to being Mom’s friend, Mika would probably know a lot about us... maybe too much.
“Is this right?†Ikuko said when they saw that the doors to the auction hall were locked with no signage denoting it as the auction site, and with all the other guests waiting outside in the garden, it was eerily empty in the museum.
“The Curator said that this was the right room...†Kenji quietly said.
Mika makes dolls and scratch-builds models and action figures.
Usagi stopped as Kenji grabbed the door handles.
And she’s famous... oh son of a bitch.
The doors opened, revealing every student in Shingo’s class, two lines of children facing each other flanked either side of the aisle between the rows of chairs set up for the auction. When the doors opened fully, the elegantly dressed, dolled up students all turned their heads in unison to stare at the Tsukino family with glazed, empty eyes.
Son of a bitch! Usagi thought again when she saw Mika and her mother standing on the stage, behind them was another Gundam Golem, this one the successor to the Exia, a fully equipped 00 Raiser Gundam. Like the students and Mika, Yoshiko was dressed like a doll, and had the same doll-like gaze as the former.
Shingo was white as a sheet. Oh no...
“Welcome Shingo-kun,†Mika said as she left her mother and the golem on the stage and stepped off it. She walked down the aisle and stopped midway to them before holding her arms out in a gesture to the other students. “Do you like them?â€
Ikuko and Kenji looked from Mika and the surreal scene before them to their son, who was trying to maintain his composure even as his thought process was “Oh Shit†being repeated over and over. “Mika-chan,†he asked, “what did you do?â€
“I made you these dolls, do you like them? They took a lot of work, but I’m very proud of them.†She walked over to Tenzo, and patted him on his shoulder. “They took a lot of time and effort, but they are almost perfect... if only they weren’t made from trash.â€
She tightly gripped the rotund boy’s shoulder until Shingo could see wet, dark red stains spread in the fabric around her dug-in fingers. Tenzo didn’t even flinch, but Shingo could see his eyes twitch as if he wanted to scream in pain.
It dawned upon Shingo. He’s still conscious, he’s trapped inside his own body!
“This is twisted as fuck,†Usagi whispered before she looked back and noticed that all the guests for the exhibition, and the museum's elderly curator were standing by the doorway, blocking the exit. Much to her chagrin, they all had the same glassy-eyed expression.
“It’s not quite done yet though,†Mika admitted. “I still have more dolls to make before everything is ready, but it shouldn’t take too long.â€
“Mika-chan what are you talking about?†Shingo demanded.
“These are only the start. The collection isn’t done yet.†Mika let go of Tenzo and bowed politely to Shingo. “Please bear with me, when it’s done it will be the most magnificent doll collection ever made. You’ll love it, and it will love you.â€
Usagi moved partly behind her parents, and pulled out her Supercomputer as Shingo shook his head. “But I’m already loved-â€
Like a switch had been flipped, Mika’s expression flipped from unnerving serenity to bestial anger. “You are not loved! These people do not love you, Shingo-kun! Not this trash and certainly not them!†She pointed at Kenji and Ikuko.
Ikuko immediately took offense to that. “Shingo is our son, of course we love him!â€
Mika responded to that with a piercing, hysterical laugh that echoed in the room. “What do disgusting perverts like you know about love?!†She pointed at Usagi. “And you! You’re a monster and everyone hates Shingo-kun like he is a monster! What kind of love is that?!â€
Usagi finished her message, and then pocketed her phone. “Oh hell no.â€
She rounded her parents and pushed past Shingo to march towards Mika. “This is your only warning, you yandere little shit. Let my family and these people go or I will hurt you in creative ways.â€
Usagi folded her arms and glowered down at Mika, while Shingo became reasonably alarmed. “Usagi, don’t provoke her!â€
Mika smirked. “Your parents are disgusting, but they can be fixed. I’m fixing them right now.â€
Usagi raised an eyebrow. “What?â€
“I’ve been making them my newest dolls since they walked into the room.â€
Shingo looked back at his parents, wide eyed. “What?!â€
“Do you remember the first golem?†Mika asked, reclaiming his attention. “Exia... thanks to it I was able to make that trash into proper dolls... and now this golem will do the same to the entire city.â€
Shingo grew wide-eyed as he remembered the realistic GN Particles that poured out of Exia, and how 00 Raiser was putting out so much more just standing there. “The particles!â€
Mika nodded. “Thanks to Exia and I was able to transform that trash into perfect dolls, and with Raiser, I’ll change everyone. They will be able to understand how wonderful you are, and you'll never get picked on again!â€
Usagi grabbed Mika by her collar and lifted her off her feet. “Creativity’s wasted on you, I’m just going to punch you in your sick little head until it starts working again.â€
“You’re worse than trash, though. I don’t want to make you into a doll. I just want you to die.†She looked back at 00 Raiser.
At her unspoken command, 00 Raiser unfolded its GN Sword III and leaped for Usagi. “Eliminating the target!â€
Wide-eyed, she let go of Mika and ducked under the slash that would’ve decapitated her, and then scrambled away from the Gundam. Turning to follow her, it raised its sword again and lunged this time to stab her as she tried to crawl back. It came to a complete stop when Shingo imposed himself between the golem and his sister, however.
“Shingo-kun, get out of the way,†Mika advised.
Shingo shook his head. “No, I’m not going to just let you kill my sister!â€
Mika shook her head. “Just like with all of the other trash, you’re defending them like they’ll appreciate you for it, but they won’t!â€
“You’re wrong!†Usagi shouted as she got back up on her feet, but a pair of arms grabbed Usagi’s from behind and quickly held her back. Looking to her new assailants, she found they were her parents. “Eh?â€
Ikuko was straining as she tightly held onto Usagi. “Mika-chan... stop this...!â€
“I’m not doing this, Usagi... my body is moving on its own...†Kenji whispered to her through clenched teeth.
Mika laughed. “You know what, Shingo-kun? I’ll give you a much better family, a perfect one! This trash can all die!â€
Grabbing Shingo and throwing him into the arms of two other students, 00 Raiser raised its sword and walked towards Usagi, Ikuko and Kenji as it raised its sword to cut through all three. Held back by the other kids, Shingo tried to break free but their grips were like iron. He couldn’t even break free enough reach into the nice jacket he wore to get to the white rose hidden inside.
No-no-no-no-no-!
Electricity whipped through the students, who all went stiff and then collapsed unconscious, before Sailor Jupiter kicked 00 Raiser back to the stage and through the curtains draped over it.
“Ah, Sailor Jupiter! Hello!†Usagi said cheerfully.
Sailor Jupiter nodded and then fired another bolt of electricity from the antenna extending from her tiara, this time for Mika. The girl however raised her hand and a ghostly doll’s hand materialized in front of it, blocking the bolt.
Mika looked to see 00 Raiser getting back up and then back to Sailor Jupiter. “I won’t let you stop me!â€
She reached pulled from a pocket of her dress the Kamen Raider figure, a man in a black and green bodysuit with, and wearing a grasshopper-like motorcycle helmet. Holding the doll out in her hand, Mika’s eyes begin to glow as the wooden hands appeared once more and circled around the figure, which soon was enveloped in the same glow.
The hands then clapped together, smashing the doll between them, and in a flash of light, Kamen Raider 1 stood in front of Mika, his helmet’s normally red eyes glowing yellow.
Usagi was livid. “You’re just going to keep crossing lines with me, aren’t you?!â€
“Someone like you, who terrorizes people for fun and causes Shingo-kun to suffer... and you call yourself a fan of Kamen Raider? An ‘Ally of Justice’?! You disgust me most of all!†Mika shot back.
Mika pointed at Sailor Jupiter and Usagi. “Kamen Raider-san, please help me! These enemies of justice are tormenting someone precious to me!â€
Kamen Raider nodded and leaped into action, rushing straight to attack Sailor Jupiter. Behind Kamen Raider, Mika smirked as her eyes flashed red again.
“Oh no you don’t!†Sailor Jupiter replied as she parried his punches and then knocked him back with a quick backhand to the face. As she prepared to unleash the thunder of her counterattack, however, Yoshiko jumped between the two, forcing the Senshi to pull back. “Ah!â€
Yoshiko dove to the side, allowing Kamen Raider to kick Sailor Jupiter in the chest and send her flying through the wall to her side and to the gardens outside. In the chaos, Mika turned and ran out another door, her Gundam Golem quickly following her.
“Mom, Dad, I’m sorry,†Usagi lamented before she broke free of her parents and knocked them both out with elbows to their faces. “It’s better than being trapped in your own bodies as puppets, I guess.â€
She looked for Shingo, but he was already out the door after Mika. She was about to go after him, when she stopped and realized that she finally had some alone time. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this.â€
Usagi then lifted her hand to the ceiling. “Moon Prism Power, Make Up!â€
Sailor Jupiter rolled along the ground after smashing through several statues, hedges and only stopped before she could go through the wall surrounding the garden. Getting up on her feet quickly, she slapped away several quick punches from Kamen Raider and slammed a palm thrust into his face, knocking him back.
Electricity flaring from her tiara and across her body, Sailor Jupiter went on the offensive, lashing out with several kicks that the golem barely avoided with quick ducking and weaving before he finally caught the third and flipped her into the air. As Sailor Jupiter went up, Kamen Raider jumped as well.
“Raider Jump!†he shouted before he flipped and dove towards the Senshi with his kick. “Raider Ki-!â€
Sailor Jupiter caught the golem’s foot, and used the momentum of his kick to swing him into the ground with tremendous force. Holding onto his leg, Sailor Jupiter glowered down at the golem before she unleashed her Supreme Thunder on it at point blank range. As the electricity crackled around both, however, Kamen Raider swiftly kicked her in the chin with his other foot.
Thrown onto her back, Sailor Jupiter curled up and sprang back up to her feet in time to stop a diving punch from Kamen Raider. Deflecting a cross from his other fist, she took his arms and swung him around to toss him up against the wall.
My Supreme Thunder didn’t work like before! she thought as Kamen Raider leaped off the wall and fell towards her with a flying kick. When she raised her hands to block, the golem suddenly twisted himself in midair and kicked her in the side, sending her into a roll across the garden.
As she got up, Kamen Raider fell on her to club her on the back with a hammer blow. When Sailor Jupiter went into the grass, he raised his foot to bring down onto her back, but Sailor Moon connected a kick with the golem that launched him like a missile into another statue, smashing it into pieces.
“You okay?†Sailor Moon asked as she took Jupiter’s hand and pulled her to her feet.
Sailor Jupiter nodded. “Yeah, the golem wasn’t affected by my Lightning, and it’s very strong.â€
“Ah, this one must have some rubber in it.â€
Sailor Jupiter groaned as the golem got up. “Of course.â€
She then looked around. “Where’s Shingo?!â€
“He went after Mika, I was on my way but you looked like you needed a hand.†Sailor Moon pointed in the direction she saw Mika leave when she ran out the emergency exit. “Be careful, this is definitely Nephrite’s work.â€
Sailor Jupiter gasped. “What? A youma possession can do all of this?!â€
Sailor Moon nodded. “It’s just like with Kijin and his camera, and Jun going crazy with her racquet. Get going, I need some words with ‘Kamen Raider’ here.†Sailor Moon glared at the golem. “Go save your man, Jupiter-chan.â€
Sailor Jupiter rolled her eyes and broke into a run, only to have her path blocked by Kamen Raider. Before he could attack, there was Sailor Moon, tackling him to the ground and both rolling clear of Sailor Jupiter, who charged ahead.
Tumbling along the ground, Sailor Moon and Kamen Raider broke off and both jumped onto their feet to face one another. Staring at the golem, Sailor Moon assumed a fighting stance as he did the same. “Okay, Kamen Raider... let’s talk.â€
Further into the garden, Mika stopped and looked back at her Gundam Golem. “Go, before they can stop you!â€
The golem nodded. “Setsuna F. Seiei, 00 Raiser, commencing final mission.â€
Particles pouring from its large shoulder equipment, 00 Raiser lifted off into the sky and accelerated upwards at incredible speed. As it ascended, it turned and narrowly dodged a lightning bolt before a green field appeared around it and blocked another bolt. Gasping, Mika whirled around to see Sailor Jupiter turning her attention from the Golem to her. “Y-you!â€
Without a witty retort, Sailor Jupiter unleashed another bolt of lightning, weak enough to again stun her. But like before it was immediately stopped by one of Mika’s wooden hands. Clicking her teeth, Sailor Jupiter unleashed even more, that converged and struck the girl. This time nothing emerged to protect her, but the lightning did no harm whatsoever to her.
As the attack stopped, Mika let out a laugh as the red glow in her eyes intensified. The senshi, she realized, was still trying to stun her, and it wasn’t working! “What’s wrong, Sailor Senshi? Are you afraid to hurt me?!â€
Sailor Jupiter gave Mika a deadly serious look that froze the girl like a deer in the headlights. “Nope.â€
“Huh?†Was all she managed to get out before Sailor Jupiter’s fist was inches from her face and closing in. There was a loud crack and the sound of splintering wood, and Mika was thrown backward from Sailor Jupiter, still wide eyed as the wooden hand disintegrated between them. As she watched the splinters fade away, Mika blinked and Sailor Jupiter was gone.
Her eyes darted around, and finally she spotted Sailor Jupiter as she swung down the heel of her boot straight for the top of her head. Another wooden hand appeared to catch the axe kick, but it quickly shattered and Mika was again propelled backward from her attacker. Stumbling to a stop, Mika stared in disbelief at Sailor Jupiter.
“You... you’re just bluffing!†she gasped.
Standing to full height Sailor Jupiter charged up and began generating a tremendous amount of electricity. “Nope.â€
The next blast of her Supreme Thunder went straight for Mika as the forearms the wooden hands were connected to emerged to defend. As they began to splinter, the upper arms appeared behind them and Mika placed her hands against them to brace herself. When the forearms disintegrated and the upper arms took the hit, Mika was pushed backward, her feet stripping the grass and leaving two trails of mud all the way until she hit a statue.
As the remains of the upper arms vanished, Mika looked at the steam rising from her hands and then at Sailor Jupiter. “Y-y-you...!â€
Sailor Jupiter glared darkly at the girl. “Do you really think that because you’re a little kid that I’m going to excuse what you’ve done, what you’re trying to do?!â€
“You... you wouldn’t...!â€
Sailor Jupiter held out her arm, and electricity traveled down it until her entire forearm was covered in a shimmering, crackling sheath of electricity. “I will.â€
She charged forward, a trail of light coming off her arm as she closed in on Mika. When she swung her arm to impale the girl on her hand, her attack was stopped again by another pair of wooden hands. Even as the electricity coating her hand began to burn away the wooden limbs, they pushed back, repelling Sailor Jupiter further and further as the forearms materialized behind the hands and then the upper arms. Then, like a spirit rising from her body, the head and shoulders of a doll-like woman with short dark hair emerged from Mika.
Sailor Jupiter smirked. “There... you... are!â€
The Senshi of Thunder kicked the youma Jumeau in the face, knocking her head off her shoulders and straight up into the sky. As the youma’s head went hurtling up like a football, Sailor Jupiter aimed and snapped off a burst of electricity, vaporizing it.
As the youma’s head burned away to stray ions, Sailor Jupiter looked back at Mika, who was gasping for breath as she stared at her. “Mika...â€
Mika fell to her knees and lowered her head as she struggled to catch her breath. Sailor Jupiter took a step forward to check on her, but instinct took over immediately and the Senshi of Thunder jumped straight back, avoiding a projectile that had been aiming for her neck from her left. She hadn’t even stopped when she ducked her head to avoid another of the bullet fast projectiles.
Spinning around, Sailor Jupiter’s eyes rapidly searched the area for the attackers or their projectiles. Another came at her from head on, and she narrowly twisted herself away from it before dodging another by ducking. From her bow, she jumped into a backflip that became an axle to avoid three more of the projectiles.
“So fast...!†she hissed before she fired a bolt of lightning at one of the near-missing projectiles. When it exploded, she went wide eyed as she caught a glimpse of one of Jumeau’s wooden hands disintegrating in the blast.
A beam of red energy struck Sailor Jupiter in her back, knocking her down to her hands and knees with a yelp. As she quickly got up to look back, she was forced to roll out of the way out of a cascade of beams that rained down her from different directions and angles, tearing up the ground where she had laid until a burning, jagged crater was left.
Getting up, Sailor Jupiter blinked when she felt an odd draft on her back. “W-what the...?†She reached back to where the beams had struck her, and grew-wide eyed when she realized the beam had burned a hole right into her Senshi Uniform. Not even that Lightning Youma’s attacks did this...!
She heard Mika laughing hysterically, and looked to the young girl as the arms, hands, and upper torso of Jumeau gathered to her, hovering just above her head. To Sailor Jupiter’s dismay, the youma’s head finally materialized and floated into place, before her eyes opened and her lips turned up into a small, dainty smile.
Sailor Jupiter clenched her fists as electricity once more arced across her. “So this is your game, youma.â€
Hidden behind a nearby statue, Shingo pocketed his phone before he peered back around at Mika and the youma that possessed her. He was barely able to contain his anger. “Mika-chan...!â€
While lightning flashed and thunder rolled, Sailor Moon and Kamen Raider ran towards one another at full sprint, before leaping at one another with flying kicks. As another bolt of Jupiter’s lightning flashed from behind the building, the two landed and turned quickly to face one another. Kamen Raider, eyes glowing red, assumed a fighting stance once again, until his left shoulder’s armor cracked. He quickly reached up to grip it.
“Impossible!†Kamen Raider spoke in disbelief, before looking at Sailor Moon. “Even though you’re just a young girl, you have a dangerous strength!â€
Sailor Moon huffed. “I never wanted to be acknowledged by you like this...â€
Kamen Raider attacked again, running close and opening with a kick Sailor Moon quickly ducked under. As she came back up, she parried his punches before catching one of his fists and throwing him to the ground. Kamen Raider landed on his feet, and quickly swept Sailor Moon off hers before kicking her into the air. Crouching he jumped up after her and performed a front flip, landing on the roof of the Art Deco museum as Sailor Moon hit it in a tumble.
Getting up, she quickly rushed him low to the ground and dove past him into a tumble, before jumping and launching several kicks to his face and neck. With a cyborg’s precision, the golem avoided every kick before he lunged to strike her in the throat with a chop. Sailor Moon avoided it at the last second and the two began circling one another, parrying or dodging one another’s fists even as their fists became so fast that to normal eyes they were merely white and green blurs.
Sailor Moon broke the stalemate first, catching Kamen Raider’s fist in her crossed hands, before somersault kicking him onto his back. When she followed up with an axe kick, Kamen Raider rolled out of the way and onto his feet.
She didn’t let up, reengaging him with a spinning backhand he blocked. He brought his leg up, kicking her in the lower back and then across the shoulders, sending her stumbling forward. As she regained her footing she used a roundhouse kick to hit him in the chest as he came after her, launching him off the roof and to the ground in front of the museum just as the first police unit arrived on the scene.
As Kamen Raider got up and saw the police officers emerge from their vehicle, he held his open hand to them. “Get back, it’s dangerous!â€
Up above, Sailor Moon stopped just as she was about to jump off the roof and continue the engagement. “Huh?â€
The two officers looked to one another, the driver of the car in disbelief. “Rider 1?â€
His partner shook his head. “No, it’s from the TV show, see? The outfit’s all wrong...â€
Sailor Moon dropped down from the roof and Kamen Raider immediately turned his attention back to her. Seeing her, the two officers didn’t think twice and quickly got back into their car, the driver flooring it in reverse to put some good distance between them as his partner radioed it in. “All units, this is Car 16, we have confirmed that there is a Sailor Senshi engaged in a battle at the Teien Art Museum and we are pulling back to a safe distance.â€
As the patrol car retreated, Kamen Raider prepared to attack again, but his his opponent was acting strangely. She stood before him, with her arms spread out wide. “What are you doing?â€
If what Ami and Rei said is right, I can talk to this guy, Sailor Moon thought. “Kamen Raider, my name is Sailor Moon and you are not my enemy.â€
Kamen Raider didn’t buy it and attacked, leaping for Sailor Moon and swinging a punch straight for her face. To the golem’s surprise, not only did his blow connect, but his target made no effort to defend herself and went tumbling backward into lefthand base of the arch of the museum’s entrance. As Sailor Moon got back up, Kamen Raider hesitated.
“... You didn’t defend yourself.â€
Sailor Moon nodded as she stood upright. “Because I saw when you told those police to flee, when you could’ve attacked them. You are not my enemy.â€
“You are mine. Even if you claim to battle on the side of the innocent, you protect those who cause suffering to them. That girl you protected is making a young boy suffer-â€
Sailor Moon shook her head. “That girl I protected is my comrade and she would die for that young boy, as would I!â€
Kamen Raider stopped at her sharp retort, and allowed her to continue with a curt nod.
“Even now, she is trying to save him and the little girl who called on you to attack us. She is possessed by an agent of the Great Enemy, and the Enemy plans to bring suffering to this entire city!†Sailor Moon pointed up at the green, sparkling light in the sky. “Up there, that monster intends to turn the entire city’s population into dolls, trapped inside their bodies as playthings for the Enemy!â€
Kamen Raider looked up quickly at 00 Raiser, and then back at Sailor Moon, who once again held her arms out. “Kamen Raider, I am pleading with you to beli-â€
Kamen Raider immediately attacked once more, closing in faster than before. This time however his punch came to a perfect stop against her nose, the displaced air of his punch blowing her hair back. Still, she did not budge from where she stood.
“-eve me,†she finished.
For several moments Kamen Raider stood there, his fist against her face, before he nodded again. “If what you say is true, how do we stop it?â€
Sailor Moon sighed in relief. “First thing’s first, we kill the monster possessing that girl.â€
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I'm definitely going to look into increasing the post limits.