OBLIGATORY LEGAL DISCLAIMER : None of these guys are mine. The Sailor Senshi belong to DIC and Kodansha, while the Yoroiden are owned by Sunrise and Graz Entertainment. Okay? So don't bother suing me. I'm a student. RONIN SUMMER 3 : SHELL GAME A Sailor Moon / Yoroiden Samurai Troopers cross-over by Morgan Hudson (dataraven_659@excite.com) "If only I had known then... that a shell of iron... is hollow." -Anthony Stark Part 2 : Friends and Enemies Seiji grinned as he walked back to the bus stop. Tonight had been just PERFECT : a nice, slow dance or two with Minako Aino, a chance to patch things up between his friend Touma and Makoto Kino, and best of all... Checking to make sure nobody was paying attention, he jumped up and grabbed onto a streetlamp, spinning around it as he laughed. Leaping off, he grabbed a passing stranger by the jacket lapels. "She KISSED me!" He cheered, and clicked his heels. Minako Aino had actually kissed HIM! He felt like... like... well, like SOMETHING good, that was for sure. He'd figure it out later. Right now he was busy floating home. "Seiji Date?" The voice was sickeningly familiar, as was the sensation of his yoroi. ** Obedience... ** "Naaza." Man, talk about a buzzkill. Every time one of the Mashos showed up, it usually meant something was going sour. "Can this little message of doom / murder attempt or whatever it is wait until tomorrow? I'm kind of trying to enjoy myself, here." The green haired man glided out of the shadows of the alley he had been standing in. "I fear not. The Empress Kayura has sent me on important business." "Why? No offense Naaza, but you're a total loon." Naaza made a sour face. "I suspect that talking to you was the worst punishment my Empress could imagine for my failure." "Well, if it helps you out any, I've ALWAYS thought of you as a failure. Also a psychopath and a really crappy dresser. Ja ne!" Seiji waved merrily and continued on his way. With any luck, he'd reach the bus before Naaza remembered he had a job to do... "WAIT!" Damn. Seiji muttered several nasty things under his breath and turned to face the Masho of Poison, who was now running down the street after him. "I just kissed Minako Aino, and you wrecked my mood." Seiji was fuming, now. "This had better be REALLY good, or I'm going to reintroduce you to the business end of my sword, pal." "The entire Dynasty is in peril. We face a threat that will destroy us all!" "Well, shit." Seiji sighed in defeat. "I'll call Ryo..." ********** Rujuurou Sasaki knelt by the campfire. It had been put out only a few hours ago. Hmmm... he had just barely missed them. He sank his gloved hand into the ashes and stirred them around, feeling through the charred remains. There were four depressions in the ground, places where the sparse grass of the area had been pressed flat and combed back up poorly. "So then," he murmured, adjusting his sword's position on his shoulder, "there are but the four. A good sign, indeed..." The camp had been taken down in a hurry : he could see where bags had spilled and tent poles had been torn out of the ground. Their haste was good for him ; it meant they were being sloppy. A smile tugged the edge of his mouth. "Fleeing our approach," he murmured. "A better sign by far. We may have hurt them worse than we thought." Something caught his eye, and the Masho of Darkness slowly rose and walked over to where a torn scrap of green cloth was dangling from a dead tree branch. From the colour and feel, he could tell that it had been torn from a larger piece of fabric : the Neptune Senshi's dress, if he was one to judge. There was a dark stain on it, and his keen nostrils detected the scent of perfume, blood, antiseptic, and sickly sweet venom. "Sailor Uranus!" The cloth must have been used to bind her wound. THAT was the best sign of the day! These strange Senshi who were protecting the foul Saturn, doubtless henchmen of some kind, were officially doomed. The Dynasty was NOT a good place to be sick, injured, and on the run. If the various natural and unnatural predators of the area didn't get to them, and if the terrain itself didn't destroy their will, there would still be him to consider. The Black Jackal had earned his name centuries ago : he could and would track a snowflake through a blizzard. They were in his own territory, now : there was no way they could evade him forever. "Soon, my Empress." Anubis snarled, and shredded the cloth with his gleaming razored claws. "Soon, your realm will be safe, and Sailor Saturn's blood shall stain the earth she sought to destroy!" ********** Hotaru Tomoe sneezed and brought a hand up to her mouth. "Gomen," she said softly. "I must be allergic to something here." "I'm not surprised : I hate this place." Michiru Kaiou looked down at the slumbering form of Haruka Ten'ou and shuddered. "The sky is red, the ground is grey, the water is yellow, and the whole place smells like rotten eggs. Do you know how many living plants I've seen since we came here? Three, and not one of them was healthy." Setsuna Meioh stood silently and gazed off into the distance as the sun began to set. Rajura was out there, somewhere... laughing at her. She held herself and suppressed a tremble. She'd show him, the monster. She'd have the last laugh when she rammed her Garnet Rod straight through his twisted, black heart. "Michi, I'm worried about Haruka. Will she all right?" Michiru smiled half-heartedly. "Sure thing, Hotaru-chan. Our Haruka is too tough for something like a little scratch to keep her down. I'm more worried about how we're going to beat these guys. Setsuna, do you have any ideas?" Setsuna Meioh looked over at her two friends and her adopted daughter, and wondered again if they were really there. "A few. First of all, there are certain pressure points that will slow the effects of Naaza's poisons." walking over, she pointed to Haruka's neck, elbow, heart, knee, and wrist. "Press here, here, here, and then here. At the very least she'll be able to get back to Earth and help us get the rest of the Inner Senshi." Michiru nodded trustfully and began applying pressure where Setsuna had indicated. ********** Ryo Sanada put the last touches on his present. This was VERY important : he had just found out from Minako last week that Ami Mizuno's birthday was tomorrow, and he wanted to surprise her. Of course, he had had to get Shin to lend a hand with picking it out, and Shuu had helped float him some extra cash... There was a hesitant knock at the door, and he stiffened. That was Seiji's "I have bad news, please don't be home" knock. He'd know it anywhere, considering some of the occasions he had heard it on before. With a muffled curse, he finished wrapping the crystal figurine in tissue paper and dumped it in its box. "I'm coming!" Ryo shouted, trying to tie a blue ribbon in record time, and succeeding only in tying the box to his finger. Cursing loudly, he ran down the hallway, banging into a table and nearly falling. "Don't get up, Dad! I got it!" The door swung open, and Seiji looked up guiltily. "Hi, Ryo. Do you remember how you were going to go to Ami's birthday party on September 10?" Ryo scowled. "You'd better not mean what I think you mean by 'remember' and 'going', or I'll introduce you to the business end of my sword, buddy." ********** Haruka groaned and put her hand to her head, where apparently a large and angry herd of elephants wanted OUT. "Uhhhh... what happened to me, Michiru?" Slowly, her vision cleared. The first thing she noticed was that she was definitely NOT still in the Dynasty, unless some part of the Dynasty looked a lot like Rei Hino's temple. Rei herself sat there, as did Hotaru and Michiru. Setsuna was still hovering over by the window, glaring out as if she expected those Masho creeps to come charging up the hill any second. "We're not safe here," Sailor Pluto was whispering to herself. "There are too many shadows. Anubis has been here : I can still smell him. He'll never stop coming after us, not him... not HIM..." Rei blinked. "Uhm... Hotaru? How long has Setsuna been so... uh... cuckoo?" Hotaru shrugged. "Ever since we fought those youma we told you about. One of them seemed to know her : he called her by name." Rei tried to think about that, but decided she didn't even WANT to know how a youma general could have anything to do with Sailor Pluto. "Well, I've called the other Inner Senshi, so you can give us all the full rundown when they get here." ********** Shin's apartment was packed, as five Yoroiden gathered around a lone table and prepared to hear from a man who less than a year ago had been trying to kill them all. Ryo Sanada was still fuming over the idea of missing Ami Mizuno's birthday for ANY reason, and his expression said as much as he found a place for himself on the arm of the already crowded couch. Shuu Rei Fuan, who was sprawled on the left side of the sofa, glared at Ryo for stealing his armrest. Seiji Date grumbled as Shuu inadvertantly elbowed him in the kidney while trying to get comfortable again. Shin Mouri was monopolizing on the fact that this was HIS apartment, and had stolen the only other seat, leaving Touma Hashiba to lie on the carpet and prop himself against the low coffee table. "Well? We're waiting. What's the big deal, Naaza?" Naotoki Yamanouchi took a deep breath and released it. His Empress had made it very clear how important this mission was : if he didn't come home with the Yoroiden, he may not have a home to go to anymore. Closing his eyes, Naotoki ran one hand through his green hair. This wasn't going to be easy... "A few weeks ago, Rajura discovered that a great threat faced our realm. A girl, a girl known as Sailor Saturn, has been seen in the Dynasty. This Senshi, the Senshi of Silence, is known to be the single most dangerous adversary we have ever faced. If she is not stopped, Empress Kayura is certain that she will destroy our entire world. She beseeches you to come with me to the Dynasty and aid us all in our time of need." That having been said, Naaza was quick to leave. If he remembered the Yoroiden right, then they would respect him for being so succinct and to the point. Now, the decision was theirs to make. "I don't know." Touma was the first to speak. "Can we really trust Naaza? I mean, the Masho don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to dealing with us." "Yeah... but if anything happens to Kayura, our truce with the Dynasty goes up in smoke." Seiji said, stroking his chin. "And then, it's open season on us as far as youja are concerned..." "And that would be bad." Ryo paused. "But still... Sailor Saturn? The Senshi of Silence? How can one of the Sailor Senshi be evil? Something about that seems wrong..." "Being a Senshi doesn't MAKE her good, any more than owning a yoroi. It's what's in our HEARTS that makes us heroes, not what's in our armour." Shuu nodded wisely. "And speaking of which, the Masho are Yoroiden, just like us..." Shin shrugged and nodded. "And they DID help us out when Tuxedo Kamen was in trouble, so we DO owe them a favour..." Ryo thought about it for a moment, and then sighed. "Very well, Naaza. We combine forces... for now." Naaza rubbed his hands together. "Excellent! Let us be off immediately!" Touma turned to Ryo and whispered. "Should we call the Sailor Senshi in on this? They might start to wonder if we all just disappear with no warning..." Ryo shook his head, trying to shake out images of Ami, or any of the other Senshi, hurt or dying at the hands of this 'Sailor Saturn' creature. "No... this is Yoroiden business. We don't need them getting hurt, here. There's no reason they need to know : we'll just make up some excuses..." ********** Usagi Tsukino's brow wrinkled as she tried to sort it all out. "So... you want US... to help YOU?" Setsuna nodded. "Yes, that would be the case." "US? To help... YOU?" Michiru's eyes narrowed. "She said yes, already." "US?" Rei Hino groaned and slapped one hand over Usagi's mouth. "We'll do it, Setsuna. After the way you helped us look out for the Yoroiden a few months ago, we owe you a favour or two." Usagi nodded, and turned to Rei. "If you don't let go," she mumbled calmly, "I'm going to lick your hand." Makoto Kino began to laugh as Rei quickly released Usagi's face. Ami Mizuno looked over from where she sat running a scan on Haruka with her palm computer, and tried to stifle a small smile. Luna and Artemis, the two cats, simply looked disgusted. Those two were NEVER going to grow up... Minako Aino nudged Usagi "Hey, Sailor Moon! Shouldn't we get the Yoroiden in on this? I mean, if these youmas are so bad and all..." Usagi shook her head vehemently. "NO! This is the first time the Outer Senshi have admitted that they need our help. OURS, not the Yoroiden's! If we call them, it would be like admitting I... er, WE, can't handle this ourselves! There's no reason they have to know : we'll just make up some excuses..." ********** Contrary to popular opinion, teleportation is NOT always instantaneous. Without a doubt, it is faster than walking, but even as energy, it can take time to pierce through one world and enter it from one's own. Time in which to meditate, relax, and discuss plans and strategies for the upcoming battle. Or, in the case of the Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, argue. "WHAT? How can you POSSIBLY say that? Everybody knows that Sailor Venus is the best Senshi ever, and that's that!" "Venus? Venus is a BUBBLEHEAD! Sailor Mercury is the only reason that team is even remotely successful! SHE is the best Senshi!" "Mercury is a NERD! She's a WUSS! She's..." "You keep talking like that, Seiji, and I'll introduce your face to your spleen!" "HAH! You and what OTHER army, Ryo?" Shin shrugged. "I always thought Sailor Moon was the most powerful of the Senshi..." "SHUT UP, BOY-CHAMA! NOBODY ASKED YOU!" The two Yoroiden chorused, before turning back to each other. "Admit it! You only like Ami because you think she's cute!" "Well, DUH! She's the cutest one on the whole team!" "She's not HALF as cute as Minako!" Seiji reached out and jabbed Ryo's shoulder. "You're right... she's TWICE as cute as Minako!" Ryo reached out and jabbed Seiji's shoulder. Seiji glowered for a second, and then grabbed Ryo's helmet by the horns and tried to twist it - and the head within - off. Ryo yelped in pain and rage, and began doing the same to Seiji. Soon, both were kneeling on the floor, and holding each other's heads at a very painful angle. "Take it BACK!" "NEVER!" "TAKE IT BACK!" "Uhm, guys?" Touma raised one hand in a vain attempt to get their attention. "I think we're here..." "TAKE IT BACK!" "NEVER!" "TAKE IT BACK!" Kayura sighed as she watched the debacle, and was very glad she had cleared the courtroom. With a very unladylike groan, she reached up and began massaging her temples. "These," she muttered, "are the champions who will save my world..." ********** Ami Mizuno sighed as she opened her computer and began to check the environment of the Dynasty. As far as she could tell, the air, although breathable, had a very high sulfur content. She gagged. Well, that explained the smell... The ground samples had revealed nothing special. Just mud, the ordinary everyday black muck one would get from mixing dirt and water. Although judging from the chemical composition, she would have to say that THIS mud wasn't mixed with water, but... hemoglobin? Ami made a mental note to have her clothes steam cleaned the second she got home, and decided not to tell the others. Minako stretched and shivered. Unlike Ami, who had thought ahead and worn a sweater, she was now learning that the Dynasty was a fair bit colder and damper than Jubaan at the moment. She leaned against a strange white tree or rock formation and tried to scout around. Artemis, who had decided right away that he wanted as little of the muck that passed for ground on his fur as possible, was wrapped around her neck like a living feline scarf. "Find anything, Mercury?" After hearing how poorly Hotaru had been recieved by the locals in her fuku, the entire Senshi team had decided to go in their civilian clothes. Makoto grimaced as she tried not to imagine what this goo was doing to her boots. "Nothing much, Makoto. The air is mainly oxegen, and I can find no reason why there is so little vegetation. There are DEFINITELY local animals, though : Minako's leaning against what's left of one." "EW!" Minako jumped back and took another look at the 'tree' she had been leaning on. Sure enough, it appeared to be a giant piece of something's ribcage. She shuddered, and it had nothing to do with the cold. "Any other little tips, Ami?" "Don't drink the water." "Why not?" Usagi asked. "It isn't." Ami calmly closed her computer and looked around. "Well, I can't get any more samples here. I suppose we'll have to find a place to ask directions, or something." "Yeah," Rei admitted, "we'd probably look pretty stupid storming the wrong castle." "Don't worry," Michiru said in an acidic tone. "If they start killing you, it's the right castle." *********** Touma Hashiba groaned and sank into the steaming water of the tub. Well, technically it was heated milk, of all things, but it was probably better than the polluted snake venom that passed for water here. Must be good for the skin, too : Kayura had never looked better. He closed his eyes. After Ryo and Seiji had stopped trying to use each other as Pez dispensers, the rest of the team had been shown their room. He had to admit that their new guest quarters were MUCH nicer than the dungeons they had been in last time. Shuu had immediately thrown himself into the large canopy bed and begun snoring, and Shin... well, Shin was still in his armour, standing by the window and glaring around suspiciously. He had never liked the Dynasty, and Touma couldn't blame him. He held his breath and sank under the surface of the liquid. It was soothing, he noticed, and wondered if Makoto would like it... he surfaced, and watched with interest as a small sandstorm entered under the door and formed into a vaguely humanoid shape. A sand ninja. Of course. "Touma Hashiba? Yoroiden of Tenku?" "Yes..." This better not be an assassin, Touma thought erratically. I really don't want to get killed in the bathtub. The youja grinned. "The Empress Kayura wished me to tell you that she is willing to provide for your needs... personally. If you should require anything from her, simply ask." Touma raised a blue eyebrow in question. "Okay... I'll be sure to tell the rest of the guys..." Shuu would probably want food, and maybe Shin would want bottled water : he smiled at the image of a youja army storming through the Ginza on a grocery shopping spree. "No." The youja shook its cloaked head emphatically. "Not your friends. Only you." Touma looked puzzled. "Huh?" ********** Anubis waded through the blood bogs and tried not to laugh maniacally. Not that he didn't want to, just that he was concerned it may alert his prey. He had discarded his fine silk cape, and mud coated most of his once gleaming yoroi. He had also paused in his pusuit just long enough to deliberately scuff his metal claws : no warning flashes in the sunlight THIS time... He had picked up the signs of teleportation easily as he followed Saturn's trail. He no doubt could have followed, but as long as they were away from the Dynasty, he didn't care what they did. There WAS still a war with the Dark Kingdom going on somewhere near here... But for some strange reason he had suspected they might come back. And he had been right, too : somehow they had even duped the Sailor Senshi into coming with them! He stifled a low snarl. No doubt this Sailor Saturn was using some form of mind control on the heroes. Well, he'd have to try not to kill anyone he recognised, then. With a satisfied smile, the Black Jackal shadowed his prey. One of the Senshi was wearing a pink sweater, and another had perfume. They may as well have sent him a signal flare : his own brown and black yoroi was practically invisible in the bog, especially with its extra coating of mud. Rei Hino walked past his hiding place and never even looked twice. If he had wanted, he could have given her a haircut. But that was not the style of the Black Jackal. He was a warrior, and a hunter. A predator, like his namesake. He could charge the camp now, and probably kill at least five before the others could even transform. But there was no guarante that Sailor Saturn would be one of those five, and he had sworn to kill her when they next met... and Anubis always kept his word... he would wait and watch a while longer. There was no WAY he was letting her out of his sight for long. And if the oppurtunity to... take care... of some of the other Senshi were to offer itself, who was he to frown on opportunity? ********** The ninja slunk along the passageway and paused as it felt the presence of its master. "Rajura?" The purple armoured Masho stepped out from one of the shadowed alcoves lining the hallway. "I am here, my servant. Speak quickly : I must return to our strategy meeting before I am missed." "I have propositioned the Yoroiden of Tenku, as you asked me." "Good." Rajura nodded. "The Empress has often demonstrated a strange... softness for Touma no Tenku. As her loyal servants, it is our duty to insure she recieves everything she desires, even those things she does not KNOW she desires, yet." "With all respect, he did not seem to understand me, master." "Yes, he is disgustingly naive, at times. Well, no matter : the seeds have been planted. We will push, gently, and in time he may approach her. If he approaches her, she will doubtless recieve him. And if she recieves him..." Rajura let his voice trail off, but his mind quickly finished that train of thought. If she recieved him... well, all sorts of things would happen, the least tasteful of which being that Touma Hashiba would doubtless become Emperor. Still, the Yoriden of Tenku would be a strong and reliable ally in defending the Empress Kayura, if that were to be the case. He was also honest enough that he would never attempt to usurp her throne, and THAT was something Rajura wanted in his Emperor. Another good outcome would be an heir to the throne. It would make any attempts to overthrow Kayura much harder, and also had the added benefit of continuing the line of Koda, which had raised such warriors as Kauso and Shutendoji, as well as Kayura herself. Of course, the child of two Yoroiden would be EXTREMELY poweful, and a strong ruler in their own right. Although if it was just a strong child he wanted for her, ANY of the Yoroiden or Masho would do as her mate... But it was also important that Kayura be happy. And, as she seemed to like Touma, for reasons unfathomable to Rajura himself, then by all the gods and demons of the realm, his Empress was going to GET Touma! ********** Haruka coughed into her hand and rubbed her neck. She felt like her body was burning, and every muscle seemed to be spasming in concert with every OTHER muscle. Sometimes, the entire world would start spinning, and she knew that Naaza's poison was still creeping through her system. She was putting on a brave face for the other Senshi, but she knew the time had come to admit it to herself. She was going to die. Stiffly, the Sailor Senshi of Uranus lowered herself onto a convienient rock jutting out of the omnipresent black mire. The sparse brush that had begun to cover the landscape would conceal her from the others for a second... let her catch her breath. Just walking was becoming more of a chore, but she had to push on, for Michiru. She barely even had time to gasp as an armoured gauntlet clamped over her mouth and dragged her back into the brush. Not a single leaf had so much as rustled. Moments later, Sailor Neptune walked around the scrawny trees, carrying a bowl of soup. "Haruka, Makoto wanted you to... Haruka?" The small island of bushes and trees was empty. It was as if Sailor Uranus had never even been there to begin with. ********** Shin Mouri leaned against the wall of the guest chambers and heaved a sigh as he stared moodily out the window. He hated the Dynasty. "The sky is red, the earth is grey, and the water's yellow," he grumbled under his breath, "and the whole place smells like rotten eggs." Someone's feet scuffed on the marble floor, and Shin turned to look at Ryo Sanada. "So, what's the word?" Ryo looked concerned. "Well, I've been talking to Rajura and Naaza for the past few hours. We've got a basic search pattern worked out, and starting tomorrow the Yoroiden will join the hunt for Sailor Saturn." "And will we kill her, Ryo?" The Yoroiden of Rekka shrugged. "If that is what we must do... then yes, Shin. Sailor Saturn may be too dangerous to let live." Shin gazed suspicously at his leader. "You know something you're not telling me, Ryo Sanada." Ryo shuddered as he looked out over the lands of the Dynasty. Some of things he had heard, the legends of this Saturn girl... they were enough to give even him the willies. "Death Ribbon Revolution," he admitted slowly. "If Sailor Saturn does it, we're ALL dead. She's that powerful. This whole world, poof, like THAT." He snapped his fingers. "Do you think we'll need the Kikouten yoroi?" "I hope not, Shin. I hope not." Ryo groaned and looked at his friend. "Ami's birthday is tomorrow. She's turning fifteen. I was planning to crash her party, surprise her with my gift... and instead, I'm going to be in an alien dimension, leading an army of youja on a worldwide manhunt for a twelve-year old girl who just might be out to destroy us all." Shin placed a sympathetic hand on the other boy's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ryo. I know you wanted to spend Ami's birthday with her." Ryo wasn't responding very well, so Shin changed the topic. "So, I guess we'd better call it a night, then. We start tomorrow?" Ryo nodded. "We start tomorrow." TO BE CONTINUED...