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 4 : Webs

	Haruka Ten'ou woke up without a headache for the first time in 
days. As she sat up, she felt something pulling across her shoulder 
blades. A poultice of some kind, by the smell of it. 

	A strange blue-haired man with a cross-shaped scar was sitting 
with his back to her, stirring something in a pot over a small pile 
of glowing coals. He didn't look up right away : maybe she could 
transform and...

	A quartet of wolves standing at least as tall as Haruka's 
stomach came gliding out of the sparse brush of the bog, fur bristling.
Their eyes glowed a baleful red, and foaming drool splattered from 
their snarling fangs. 

	"I see you've met my pack, Uranus. I don't suggest you go 
through with your plan : Fenris Wulves don't like magic much." The man 
looked over his shoulder at her. "You got them this pissed off just by 
THINKING about transforming. They'd rip you to shreds if you actually 
TRIED it. And don't expect me to stop them."

	"What did you do to me, you... you..."

	Ruujurou Sasaki snorted. "I saved your life, Uranus. When I 
grabbed you, you barely had the strength to stand on your own. Naaza's 
poison would have killed you in hours." 

	"So what are you, my guardian angel?" Haruka didn't buy that 
for a second. 

	"No... I'm the guy who's going to kill your little friend. YOU,
however, I have no quarrel with." Anubis stood and stretched. "Want 
some stew? It's not that bad..."

**********

	"Ami? WAKE UP!" Someone was shaking her, and when Ami Mizuno 
finally opened her eyes, she noticed it was Rei Hino, Sailor Mars. Her 
long black hair was a mess, and she looked like she hadn't slept all 
night. She must be taking Usagi's disappearance harder than she wants 
to admit, Ami thought, we all are.

	"Rei? Why are you shaking me? It's Sunday... let me sleep a 
little bit, first..." Ami let her eyes close again. 

	"Ami, you've been asleep ever since our fight with the 
Yoroiden Samurai. You asked to me wake you at dawn, and it's dawn." Rei
shrugged. "Hey, we need your help, Mercury! Haruka is still missing, 
and now Sailor Saturn's gone too. Michiru has a twisted ankle, and 
Setsuna got her jaw dislocated fighting one of the Masho."  

	Ami finally forced the last remnants of her dream out of her 
head and sat up. "All right, Rei. I'm awake. Get the first aid kit out 
of my bag and I'll see what I can do for Michiru and Setsuna. I'm not 
a miracle worker : I'm not even a doctor, yet."

	Rei shrugged. "Maybe, but without Hotaru, you're the best we 
can get, so we'll have to make do." 

**********

	Usagi Tsukino woke up in trouble. First of all, she was lying 
in a strange bed that was at least as big as her entire room back 
home, and covered in white silk sheets. There were four bedposts of 
gold holding a thick canopy of navy silk over her head. All of these 
things concerned her, but none so much as the other girl in bed with 
her. 

	She was about as tall as Usagi, and rather young, about twelve 
if Usagi was one to guess. She had long black hair and fine, lively 
features, including a pair of big blue eyes that burned with an inner 
fire. She was dressed in something that would make Usagi blush, and 
seemed to consist mainly of a series of silk scarves. 

	The strange girl smiled gently. "I see you are finally awake, 
Princess. I must ask you to forgive my familiarity, but human females 
are few and far between here in the Dynasty. The Empress thought that 
perhaps you would appreciate a less... imposing gaurd. My name is 
Koma."

	Usagi sat up. Someone had dressed her in a long white gown 
while she slept, and the hem brushed the floor as she got out of 
the bed. "Am I... a prisoner?" She reached up and felt a familiar gold 
locket resting on her chest. Probably not, if they had left her the 
power to become Sailor Moon. 

	"No," Koma explained patiently, "you are the Princess of the 
Moon Kingdom. Royalty is NEVER prisoner, my dear. The Empress has 
arranged for you to stay in her quarters until this unpleasantness is 
over. I shall be with you, if you require anything." 

	Well, that was a bit of relief, Usagi guessed. If this Kayura 
creature didn't believe in torturing royalty, then maybe Princess 
Serenity could make an escape. As for Koma... well, the girl seemed 
nice enough, but something about the look in her eyes told Usagi not 
to assume she would be a pushover. The paired sai daggers hooked at 
her waist were another good hint, as was the fact she moved more like 
a cat than a normal person. 

	"I don't suppose I'm free to go?"

	Koma shook her head. "The Dynasty can be a very dangerous 
place. It wouldn't be very considerate of the Empress to let you wander
it alone. You can have free reign of the castle, as long as I am with 
you, but I'm afraid you aren't leaving anytime soon."

**********

	Far away from the castle of Kayura, a large and angry youma 
lord known as Saranbo was brooding on his throne. His massive body was 
crammed into a huge suit of black and red armour, with a bone white 
face mask from which red eyes gleamed angrily. He was having dinner 
with his guest, and it was this that angered him. 

	The guest was a tall, thin, and unassuming man wearing the 
tattered robes of a Shinto priest. His eyes glowed a vacant green, and 
his voice possessed an eerie echo when he spoke. His name was Badamon, 
and he was only slightly more at ease than his host. 

	"The time is not yet ripe for our assault, Saranbo." Badamon 
said calmly, as a knife floated off of the table and began carving from
the main course, which wriggled and squealed in distress. 

	"The time could not be riper, Badamon! Your Ankoku Priests have
grown dissatisfied with the rule of that bitch Kayura, and my youja 
forces grow stronger every day. With the bulk of her army battling
the Dark Kingdom in the farthest provinces, we could storm the castle 
and take the throne unopposed!"

	Badamon shook his head. "You discount the Masho, Saranbo. As 
long as Kayura has the support of Naaza, Anubis, and Rajura, any 
attempt to defeat her is to fight the Masho. And THAT, is but a slow 
and painful form of suicide." 
	
	"I have NOT forgotten the Masho, Badamon!" Saranbo slowly rose 
to his feet, tentacles writhing from the eyeholes of his mask. "Now 
and now only do you see the brilliance of my plan : first, to lure the 
Sailor Senshi here, by causing them to believe the Earth realm was in 
danger from Kayura's army. Then, to allow that fool Rajura to see 
Sailor Saturn battling a group of our troops, knowing he would leap to 
the wrong conclusions." 

	Badamon muttered something softly under his breath about wishes
and fishes and drank from the goblet in his hand. 

	"Then," Saranbo continued, "my brilliance culminates! Setsuna 
Meioh, Sailor Pluto, meets the Masho in battle! She, more than any 
other mortal on Earth, would want them dead! Thus, have we brought in 
the Sailor Senshi and Yoroiden Samurai Troopers to destroy each other, 
and leave US the victors!"

	"You should not speak so proudly, Saranbo. Rajura, alone, would
surely find a way to strike at us from beyond his grave. If he dies, 
I doubt we would be much longer for this world."

	Saranbo snorted. "You fear the Spider too much, Badamon."

	"AND YOU DO NOT FEAR HIM ENOUGH!" Standing, Badamon threw his 
goblet to the floor. "The Spider spins his webs both wide and deep, 
Saranbo, and we would never know we were in one until it closed over 
our heads..."

	Lurking in the shadows of the doorway, Rajura smiled. 
Personally, he agreed with the spirit. It was always nice to know you 
were appreciated...

**********

	Setsuna Meioh remembered cockroaches. They had always been his 
favorite punishment, when he caught her misbehaving, to make her think 
cockroaches were scuttling all over her body, into her ears, her mouth,
her nose... to this day she HATED cockroaches. Even the idea of them 
made her shudder. 

	Setsuna tried not to flinch as Ami gently brushed her long 
green hair behind her back and got a better look at her jaw. "Hmmm... 
yes," the blue-haired girl said, "it's definitely dislocated. I 
suppose the best thing we can do now is pop it back into place and just
be glad it's not broken." 

	Michiru Kaioh limped over, leaning heavily on Minako Aino's
shoulder. "Ami, what about those Yoroiden Samurai we fought last 
night? I thought they were on our side!" Her expression said quite 
clearly what she thought of them now : they had taken her Haruka. They 
had taken her Hotaru. They were monsters. And Sailor Neptune knew 
exactly what to do with monsters. 

	Ami looked distressed. "So did I, Michiru. I guess... I guess 
maybe we were ALL wrong about them..." Things had been going wrong 
ever since they arrived in this dimension, it seemed : Haruka gone, 
Usagi gone, Hotaru gone... 

	Setsuna remembered cockroaches. 

**********

	Shin winced as he wrapped a bandage around his chest. There 
were a series of smoking marks there, which almost would have looked 
like bitemarks, if not for their size. "Touma," he said, "remind me to 
never get in a fight with your girlfriend again." 

	"Hey, I've ALWAYS known better than that!" Touma chuckled 
briefly, then sighed. "Not that it matters, now. I just got back 
together with Makoto Kino, and now the whole relationship's been shot 
to hell." He made a sour face, and rubbed the back of his head. 

	"Anybody seen Seiji or Ryo?" Shin finished tying off the 
wrappings around his torso and winced again as he pulled on a sweater. 

	Touma shook his head and ran one hand through his short blue 
hair. "Nope. Not since last night. As far as we can guess, Ryo got 
knocked out of the fight... probably kidnapped by the Senshi. Seiji's 
out leading the search party for Saturn and the rest of the Senshi : 
from the look on his face this morning, I'd say he's out for blood."

	Shuu looked up from where he sat in the corner with his back 
against the wall. "This sucks. I mean, I don't know about the rest of 
you guys, but doesn't it seem odd to be helping the DYNASTY fight the 
SENSHI?"

	"The Dynasty isn't that bad anymore, Shuu." Touma paused and 
considered his words. "At the very least, they're willing to leave us 
alone," he conceded. "If Kayura thinks that Sailor Saturn is really a 
threat, then we have to help her protect her people."

	Shin shrugged. "And as for the Senshi... well, I suppose it's 
possible that Rajura and Kayura might be right. They COULD just have 
been tricked, or manipulated into serving Saturn. The Masho were once 
brainwashed into serving Arago, remember. In which case taking care of 
Saturn might be just what we have to do to free them..."

	"Yeah, right. I'll play along. I'll kill Sailor Saturn." Shuu 
stood. "But first, I want ONE of you to tell me you feel good about 
doing this." 

	There was no answer, as Shin and Touma had the good grace to 
look a bit guilty. 

**********

	Usagi sat and listened in rapt attention as Koma continued her 
story. The two girls were sitting cross-legged on the bed and facing 
each other, and Koma's face seemed to come alive as she gestured 
emphatically with her hands. 

	"He was alone. He knew the fate of both worlds depended on him,
as well as the lives of his friends, the Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. 
With a great cry of rage, he broke free from the tower in which he 
had been imprisoned, and, armed with the shakujo staff of Kauso, he 
prepared to face his former master, the foul demon lord, Arago."

	"Wow..." Usagi was gripping one of her long pigtails on her 
hands, twisting it anxiously. "Then what happened?"

	Koma leaned in closer. "Then, did the mighty Shutendoji clash 
in battle with Arago, and it is said their power was such that worlds 
shuddered at their wrath. Shuten did match his former master blow 
for blow, but knew he could not win. With his final breath, he did send
his yoroi to Kayura, with the wish that she be healed of Badamon's evil
influence, and then succumbed to his many wounds... and was no more." 
A tear trickled from Koma's eye. "The Yoroiden did then break free, 
and defeated Arago on that day, though it is said he still waits in
the Underworld, and would return... but for Shuten's hands around his 
throat." 

	"And that," she sighed, "is who the man in the painting was." 

	Usgagi used the pigtail in her hands to dry her eyes. "That's 
such a sad story... I feel so bad for Shuten. He had to die before 
anybody was willing to believe he was on their side..." And, she almost
hated to admit, it sounded far too much like something that could 
have happened to Tuxedo Kamen. Or WAS happening to Hotaru, even as they
spoke.

	On the other side of the room a man dressed in black armour 
with a green overcoat was painted with his hands around the neck of 
another, much larger creature in black armour. The man had long red 
hair and, oddly, a serene smile. The painting was clearly visible from 
the bed as Koma pointed to it.

	"It is the first thing Kayura sees when she wakes in the 
morning, and the last before she goes to sleep. It is a constant 
warning that evil must be forever guarded against, and a constant 
reminder that it is the duty of her clan to be those guardians."

	Usagi nodded. "I see... but if Kayura is a champion of good, 
why does she want to kill Sailor Saturn?"

	Koma shrugged. "Sailor Saturn appears at the moment of 
destruction. She takes all to nothing. She is the guide to death. When 
the three talismans are together, they will invoke the key that will 
call Sailor Saturn. The three talismans must not be able to be brought 
together. The time when Sailor Saturn awakens... Is the time of the 
death of this world. The time of the ruin of this world."

	"How can you believe such horrible things?" Still, those 
words DID sound familiar...

	"It has been written in our scrolls for thousands of years, 
even those which date before Arago. The Senshi of Silence will bring 
the destruction of our world. How can you serve such an evil creature?"

	"She's not evil! She's nice, and sweet, and my friend!" Usagi 
bellowed, beginning to cry.

	"Really?" Koma began to look interested. "Tell me about her..."

**********

	Haruka Ten'ou folded her arms and glared at Ruujurou Sasaki. 
If he thought she was going to let her guard down for one second, he 
had clearly been dropped as a child. Still, the stew DID smell good, 
and she WAS hungry... 

	Anubis looked over at her. "Eat the stew, or starve. It really 
makes no difference to me." Picking up a wooden spoon, he began to 
shovel the steaming meat and sauce into his mouth. He had actually 
carved both spoons and bowls from some nearby wood while Haruka 
watched : he was almost TOO good with those claws of his. 

	After a moment, she picked up her spoon and carefully scraped 
up a small amount of stew. She popped the spoon in her mouth and 
swallowed. It wasn't exactly like anything Makoto would make, but it 
was hot and nicely seasoned. She smiled. She had never thought a youma 
would be a good cook.

	The two ate in silence as the wolves watched lazily. Chewing 
thoughtfully, Anubis pointed at her with his spoon. "So... there's 
something about you that's been bothering me, Senshi."

	The short-haired blonde looked up from her stew. "What?"

	"Well, when I was following you, you looked a lot like a guy. 
You and Sailor Neptune seemed to be... rather close. And I'm pretty 
sure I heard Sailor Saturn call you her father. But you look a lot 
like a girl when you're transformed. So which are you?"

	Haruka grinned a little. "I'm a girl. I just dress like a guy."

	Anubis raised an eyebrow. "Okay," he said, and went back to 
eating. "I assume Saturn is adopted then." Jeez, the things that happen
when a guy leaves his home dimension for a century or five...

	"I have a question for you. First," Haruka blushed a little. 
"what's your name?"

	"Anubis. Rujuurou Sasaki. The Black Jackal. The Masho of 
Darkness... take your pick." Anubis grinned wolfishly. "But don't call 
me Anu-kun. Only one person gets to do that and live."

	"That person," Setsuna said as she walked into camp, "being 
your new Empress?"

	Rujuurou didn't even flinch. "You're slipping, Setsuna. I heard
you coming miles back."

	Sailor Pluto shrugged. "No matter. I've come for my friend, and
I've come for my daughter." 

	"No matter? You wound me to the quick, Setsuna. I taught you 
better than that... and as for the friend, feel free. She'd just slow 
me down anyway. Stew?" 

	It was now Setsuna's turn to lift an eyebrow. Her red eyes 
glittered strangely. "You seem calmer than I remember, Sasaki. The 
Anubis of old would have gutted me by now. Have you mellowed in your 
old age?"

	Anubis pointed at his new visitor with his spoon. "You, girl, 
are being impertinent. If we didn't have a guest, I would take you 
over my knee. I think it's been too long since someone did."

	"You're the only one who's ever tried, Anubis..." 

**********

	Ryo hopped over a pile of fallen rocks and drew his blades. 
Nothing seemed to have noiced them yet, but he wasn't taking any 
chances with an innocent girl like Hotaru in his care. Speaking of
whom... he reached out and offered her a hand up. "Are you okay, 
Hotaru? You seem a little out of breath..."

	"Domo, Ryo-san. I'm fine, really." Hotaru smiled bravely. 

	"Are you sure? I mean, we've been climbing these mountains 
since we woke up, and it's not like there's any hurry." He smiled at 
her. "I don't think we're going to get to Kayura's castle for a few 
days, no matter what, so if you need to, we can take a break now."

	Hotaru sat on a nearby boulder and grinned weakly. "I suppose 
it IS a good time for lunch..."

	"Now THAT," chuckled Ryo, "is the best idea I've heard in a 
while." With a groan, he sat next to her and set his katana aside. 
"You know who you remind me of, Hotaru?"

	"No... who?"

	"Kayura. She's about your age, she even looks kind of like you 
too, but she's the Empress of this whole Dynasty, so she's usually too 
busy to have friends. I think you'll like her."

	Hotaru thought about that. "I'm glad I'm not Kayura. She 
doesn't sound very happy."

	"No... I suppose she doesn't." Ryo looked over at the dark-
haired girl beside him. "What about you, Hotaru? Do you have any 
friends?"

	"Sure! You're my friend, and Chibi..." Hotaru's voice trailed 
off. "Chibi-Usa! Ryo, I remember Chibi-Usa! She's a little younger 
than me, and she has pink hair, and she carries a big black ball that 
looks like... like..." Hotaru looked at her shoes. "Well, like somebody
I used to know..."

	Ryo put his arm around her, and Hotaru leaned against him as he
hugged her again. He'd been doing that a lot lately, he noticed, and 
he usually wasn't a touchy-feely type of guy. She was just so sweet...
"Hey, don't worry. You'll get your memory back soon enough, Hotaru. In 
fact, I can guarantee that... that..." He looked up at the large 
creature which had just emerged from the rockslide. It blinked at them 
with eyes the size of dinner plates and hissed angrily, the seething 
mass of tentacles around its mouth parting to reveal a mouth filled 
with more teeth than any living creature could ever need. A strange 
liquid oozed off of its scaly skin, and smoked as it hit the rocks. A 
massive pair of leathery wings beat once and lifted its bulk into the 
air.

	"That... is the BIGGEST... one of those... I've ever seen..." 
Ryo muttered as he reached for his swords. "Hotaru, could you do me a 
favour and stay behind that rock for a bit? Thanks..." 

**********

	Seiji Date was wandering aimlessly. This was his usual way of 
working out a problem, and as things stood, he even had an excuse : if 
anybody asked, he was hunting for Sailor Saturn. 

	He kicked a pebble, and watched as it bounced away. The harsh 
wind ruffled his blond hair, and he put his hands in his pockets. He 
knew it was foolish to be out without his armour, but he almost dared 
anything to mess with him. A good fight might improve his mood a 
little. 

	Last night, he reflected, the Senshi had fought the Yoroiden 
for the first time. But not, he sighed, the last, very likely. Now, he 
was trying to figure out what the hell to do. Kayura was an old and 
reliable friend of the Yoroiden, and they owed her their assistance, 
even if just as repayment for the sacrifice of Shutendoji, her 
ancestor. On the other hand, Usagi Tsukino was also Queen Serenity, and
the Yoroiden had sworn to serve her. True, Sailor Saturn SEEMED to be 
dangerous, but there was no real proof of that. Kayura said she was a 
threat, and Usagi said she wasn't. If he decided to support Usagi, he 
might have to fight against the other Yoroiden. Not to mention that 
if he was wrong, the whole world would go plooey, and it would be HIS 
fault. 

	If he didn't, he would have to keep hunting Sailor Saturn. He 
would keep fighting the Senshi. And eventually, he might end up hurting
or killing Minako Aino, who, he had to admit, he was devoted to above 
even his Queen and teammates. It kept coming around to the same issue. 
Was Sailor Saturn good, or evil? Were the Senshi right, or Kayura? Who 
was wrong, and why? No matter what he did, he would wind up hurting 
people he cared about. 

	He heard a strange roaring sound, and his head snapped up. He 
had been walking since nearly dawn, and he now realised he had no real 
idea where he was anymore. Somewhere in the mountains, sure, but from 
what he remembered from the map Kayura showed them, that left about 
six hundred miles of places he could be. 

	A girl screamed, and he knew where he was. Right where he was 
needed. 

	"BUSSO, KORIN!"

**********

	Ryo hissed as the monster swiped at him with its tail. Ducking,
he slashed upwards with his katana and was rewarded by a roar of 
pain as his blade slashed along its rock like skin. 

	The rock slide must have been its nest, Ryo realised. We woke 
it up when we climbed over. Man, this thing's even crankier than 
Touma in the morning! He dodged another tail swipe, while Hotaru 
shrieked. Although he had the sinking feeling he didn't want to, he 
turned around and stared as two more of the flying creatures rose 
from the rock slide and began closing in on him. 

	A burning sensation across his spine told him why this had been
such a bad decision as the first creature caught him with its barbed 
tail and sent him flying over to its brothers, one of whom latched onto
him with its tentacles and began sawing at his armour with its teeth. 

	Hotaru was still crouching behind the boulder and screaming, 
a long and constant wail now. Ryo was in trouble. The monsters had him.
He needed help... NOW!

	When her eyes opened again, they were glowing purple. 

	"SATURN... CRYSTAL POWER... MAKE UP!"

**********

	Rei Hino and Makoto Kino sat out under the stars as Ami 
finished treating Michiru. Setsuna had stormed off talking about 
Rajura, and cockroaches, and Haruka, and a lot of other things that 
just hadn't made much sense. 

	Makoto looked over at her friend. "So, Rei... what's wrong? 
You've been running yourself ragged all day. Are you worried about 
Usagi?"

	"No..." Rei hung her head, hiding her features behind a curtain
of raven black hair. "Usagi's tougher than she lets on, you know. 
Besides, Shi- I mean, the Yoroiden won't let anyone hurt her."

	"So THAT'S how it is..." Makoto nodded wisely and put one arm 
around the shorter girl. "You're worried about the Yoroiden. Maybe one 
Yoroiden in particular, hmmmm?"

	"It's not like that," Rei mumbled from somewhere in Makoto's 
hug. "We're just friends, really... but I don't understand! Why are 
they fighting us? I thought they were our friends... I thought they 
liked us!"

	"Speak for yourself, Rei. I was pretty sure Touma didn't just 
'like' me." Makoto shook her head, ponytail swinging from side to side 
as she did so. "It's not the first time we've had to deal with this, 
right? Remember when Tuxedo Kamen was being controlled by Beryl? 
Remember when Sailor Saturn was controlled by Mistress 9? We have to 
trust that our friends will come through this in one piece."

	"Right..." Sailor Mars whispered to the taller brunette hugging
her, as the stars reflected the face of Shin Mouri. "Our... 'friends'."

**********

	The monster glomping onto Ryo had its breakfast rather rudely 
interrupted when a large glaive chopped its head off. Sailor Saturn 
leapt back and flipped, landing on her feet and spinning the Silence 
Glaive back into a ready position. Ryo lay on the ground for a minute, 
struggling with the tentacles still wrapped around him, and looked up 
in time to see Hotaru kick another creature, shattering a large number 
of its teeth. 

	Well, said a small voice in the back of his head, looks like 
she got her memory back. I guess that means she's Sailor Saturn. It 
then proceeded to scream hysterically, so Ryo ignored it and grabbed 
his swords.  Survive first, he figured, and we'll sort this all out 
later. 

	Seiji crested the hill and looked down. There, Ryo Sanada was 
struggling with three flying monsters of some kind... and SAILOR 
SATURN! She must be leading those things in attacking him! Drawing his 
massive Korin Ken, the green armoured samurai charged down the hill. 
Well, he admitted, so much for his questions. Saturn MUST be evil.  

	"Don't worry, Ryo! Help's at hand!" Landing heavily, Seiji 
swung his sword and chopped one of the three in half as if it was made 
of little more than tissue paper. He saw Ryo pinning one to the ground 
by its tail and leaping up, skewering it with his katana. 

	"All right, Seiji! About time one of you dolts came looking 
for me!" 

	"Looking for you? ME?" Seiji laughed. "If it weren't for all 
the silence, I never would have noticed you were gone!" Rolling 
across the ground, he thrust with his sword at the Senshi of Silence, 
and there was a resounding CLANG as his blade was knocked aside... by 
Ryo's katana.

	"What the hell are you doing, Seiji?"

	Seiji blinked and looked at his leader curiously. "Our duty? I 
vaguely remember someone who looked a lot like you telling us that we 
were supposed to stop Sailor Saturn." 

	Ryo shook his head. "No." He wasn't sure why, but he started to
remember things, little things : Hotaru hugging him and crying in the 
alley, Hotaru helping him fall asleep by listening to him talk about 
Ami, Hotaru always trying to keep up with him, no matter how tired she 
was, never complaining... "Hotaru's my FRIEND, Seiji. YOU DON'T HURT 
HER. Get it?" 

	The Yoroiden of Korin stepped back warily. "Yeah, I get it. 
Kayura warned us about this last night... she said that Saturn might 
try to manipulate us. You're under her control, Ryo." 

	"No, I'm not, you bloody IDIOT!" Ryo placed himself between 
his two friends and Hotaru lowered her Silence Glaive. 

	Seiji sighed. "Just like the Senshi last night... she's got you
under some kind of spell! You have to fight this, Ryo. Let me do it." 

	"You're not going to kill her, Seiji." Ryo slowly lifted his 
swords. "I won't let you."

	"Ryo, I HAVE to! You heard Kayura : countless innocent lives 
are at stake!"

	"NOBODY IS INNOCENT!" Ryo screamed as Hotaru watched with 
widening eyes. "She's innocent..."

	"I have to kill her, Ryo."

	Ryo took a deep breath. "Then... it looks like you're going to 
have to go through me first, old friend."

	Seiji nodded slightly and lifted his sword. "Looks like."

	"Good-bye, Seiji Date."

	"Good-bye, Ryo Sanada."

	Their swords clashed.

TO BE CONTINUED...