Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Her Battle ❯ Locked in a Duel to the Death ( Chapter 9 )

I didn't mean to take this long in updating, but stuff kept getting in the way. Plus, I don't think I said this before, but chapters with a lot of fighting take me a little longer that ones that don't. It takes so long because it takes a long time to describe what's going on. I think it will get easier though, at least I hope.

fan-rei - Those are all very good questions, but I can't really answer them without giving too much away. I will say this, what Setsuna said is to adhere to the timeline not interfere with it, in her opinion. Also the leader of the enemy knows who Sailor Mars is, that doesn't mean everyone knows -_^. Everything will make sense later, I promise.

As I said at the end of the last chapter there will be a lot of fighting in this chapter. Expect to see almost all the senshi fighting, so I'll be jumping from fight to fight. I don't really have much else to say so, here is chapter 9.

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Chapter 9 - Locked in a Duel to the Death

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"Burning Mandala!"

Mars quickly sent rings of fire at the youma, after conjuring her attack she darted forward towards the youma. Kyoji reacted by creating the same invisible shield as before to deflect the fire away, "Pathetic." Kyoji muttered under his breath and let his shield fade away once the fire was gone.

When he dropped his shield Mars was only an arm's length away and with his shield gone the youma was open to attack. Mars jumped into the air making herself known through the smoke, "Nani!?" was all Kyoji could get out before…

Mars preformed a spinning kick to the side the youma's head sending him hard to the ground; his momentum caused him to skid across the ground for few seconds. Once he stopped the youma pulled himself up so he was on all fours, "I've already seen that trick before. I hope you can do better than that." Mars said as she smirked at the youma.

Kyoji stood up and faced Mars. Once he was facing her he licked the blood off the corner of his mouth and said, "Oh I'll do better, I'll do better."

~~~~******~~~~

"Are you sure she just went for a walk, Minako?" Usagi asked, she getting more concerned by the minute. `Rei's been gone too long if she was just going for a walk.'

"I'm sure she'll be back any minute now, Usagi." Minako said trying to convince herself as well as Usagi.

"HELP!" a scream came from outside.

"What was that?" Usagi asked.

"That sounded like Yuuichirou. We'd better go check it out." Minako said and Usagi nodded her head in agreement.

The two girls went outside and looked down the stairs to where they knew Yuuichirou was. At the bottom of the steps was something that neither of the girls expect nor wanted to see, about two dozen youma were entering the shrine from its main entrance. Yuuichirou was running up the steps towards the shrine, but youma were chasing him. Minako and Usagi knew they had to do something quick or Yuuichirou was going to be hurt or worse killed.

MOON CRISIS, MAKE UP

VENUS CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP

"Venus, go help Yuuichirou. I'm going to call the others and tell them to get here now." Moon said to Sailor Venus and she pulled out her communicator while Venus went to Yuuichirou. "Emergency! The Hikawa Jinja is under attack! I repeat, the Hikawa Jinja is under attack, everyone get down here immediately!" Moon quickly put her communicator away, not waiting for a response and went to help Venus.

"Crescent Beam!"

Venus' attack collided with youma closest to Yuuichirou sending it backwards and down the steps, knocking over a few youma behind him as well. Most youma continued their ascent however, "Get inside! You'll be safer there! I'll give the time to get there!" Venus called to Yuuichirou; he just nodded his head in response but did as he was told.

"Crescent Beam Shower!"

Venus sent multiple beams of energy at the oncoming youma, slowing their progress again, but they still continued coming. One youma finally got close enough to her and tried to punch her in the face, but Minako was too quick for him and dodged. She followed up by performing an upper cut to the youma's jaw with her palm, snapping the youma's head back making sickening creaking sound and like previous youma he was sent backwards. Minako smiled inwardly, `That one has to be dead.' She had hit some of the youma multiple times with her attacks, but they just kept getting back up. The next thing Venus knew she was hit on the side of her face knocking her to the ground, the youma must have realized a frontal assault was not going to work and now they were coming from all sides. Venus tried to get up, but a youma stood over her. The youma looked like a mutated alligator that could stand up like a human. It extended his `hand' and began forming energy there and just as he brought his `hand' back…

"Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"

Sailor Moon's attack hit the youma and he was instantly turned into dust. Sailor Moon ran over to Venus and gave her a hand to help her off the ground, "Are you ok?" Sailor Moon asked.

"Yeah, but here come more youma." Venus said as she entered her fighting stance again.

"We can't hold them off forever; I really hope the other Senshi get here soon, we could use their help." Moon said, `Why hasn't Rei come back yet? She should have been the closest to the shrine, where are you?'

~~~~******~~~~

"I have to say you did surprise me with that kick." Kyoji said and snapped his neck to the left. "But…that won't happen again."

"Shut up! You do more talking than fighting; you will not survive this fight. I won't let you survive this, you've already hurt my friends and I won't let you hurt anyone else! So just shut your mouth and fight!" Mars yelled.

"My, My...you are eager aren't you, but I must confess I am eager too so let's get on with it." Kyoji said and pointed his finger at Mars.

"Darkness Beam!"

A black energy beam shot out of his finger at Mars. She saw it coming however and darted to her right and allowed the energy beam to hit ground, leaving a hole in its wake. The youma followed up with the same attack, forcing Mars to leap backwards to avoid the blast. Again once she landed another beam came at her, `He's trying to keep his distance from me.' Mars thought as she jumped to her left. `I won't let him decide how this battle is fought.' Mars thought and another energy beam came at her. Mars leapt into the air and landed gracefully on top of a nearby streetlight; the youma reacted by sending another black energy beam at Mars. Mars anticipated it, but waited until the beam was about to strike her before jumping high into the air; the black energy collided with the streetlight destroying it. While in the air Mars spun 360 degrees so she could land behind the youma. Once she land she ran up behind him and put him in a choke-hold, Mars' right arm under his chin and her left arm was holding the youma's left arm to his back.

"Not so good in close combat, are you?" Mars said smugly.

"You think so." Kyoji remarked casually.

The sorcerer reached up with his right hand a grabbed Mars' right forearm. Under his breath he muttered, "Black Lightning." He squeezed her arm tighter then and a black light came from his hand, Mars let go the youma and took two steps backwards. The black light enveloped her entire body; Mars felt stinging sensations all over her that were becoming increasingly more painful.

"AAAAHHHHH!" Mars yelled as electricity coursed through her. Mars fell to her knees, still screaming, hunched over and pounded her fist into the pavement. Slowly the black light that had surrounded her faded and she stopped hitting the ground, but she stayed in that position breathing heavily and sweating.

The sorcerer leaned down to Mars' ear, "Did you like that? It's actually a different version of the attack I used on Neptune. This one is not as deadly, but still quiet painfully, ssssshocking wouldn't you say?" the youma said and stood up laughing.

"Kuso." Mars cursed as she forced herself to breathe normally, `My body is all numb.' Mars slowly gazed down at her right arm and cursed again when she saw rather nasty looking burn on her arm, "That bastard."

"What was that? I can't hear you if you mumble." Kyoji said and crouched down in front of Sailor Mars again. The sorcerer forcefully grabbed Mars' throat and pulled her up into a standing position. Kyoji tightened his grip on her throat and lifted her off the ground. Mars struggled to breathe as he pulled closer to his face, "Now, what was it you were saying before?"

Mars glared angrily at the youma, `You are going to burn for this.' Mars thought and just as finished her thought she finally began getting feeling back in her arms. After her arms regained feeling the rest of her body soon followed, `I can move again' Mars thought thankfully.

"Well Sailor Bitch!" Kyoji yelled in Mars' face as he shook her.

"Kutabare!" Mars yelled and kicked the youma in the crotch forcing him to let her go and drop to his knees.

Mars landed unsteadily on her feet, taking deep breaths to recover her lost oxygen. Mars looked over and saw the youma was still reeling from her kick and decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

"Fire Soul!"

Mars' fire ball flew on an unstoppable path towards the youma. The sorcerer looked up just in time to see fire ball, without enough time to create a shield he raised his arms to offer himself some sort of protection from the fire. Just as soon as he raised his arms the fire collided with him propelling him backwards through a wooden fence and burning everything in its path.

`That should be enough.' Mars thought hopefully. Mars stood and watched the fire burn out and when the smoke cleared she saw the youma on the ground with burnt arm over his face. Mars shifted out of her battle stance and dropped her arms to her side, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted something shiny on the ground.

"My communicator." Mars said when she saw the circular object on the pavement. Mars began walking slowly towards it; her feet still weren't steady enough for her to move at a faster pace. Mars prepared to lean down and pick the device up when she felt something pierce her left side and fell to her knees.

"AAARRGGG!" Mars screamed. Her right hand went to where she felt the stabbing sensation and pulled out a golden throwing knife. Once she removed the knife blood flowed steadily from the wound, soaking her fuku with the red substance. Mars threw the knife to the ground and quickly covered the wound with her left hand to slow the blood flow. Mars got up, still holding her side, and turned around, knowing exactly where the projectile had come from.

Once Mars turned around she saw the sorcerer lowering his hand, "You didn't…think…you could…kill me…that easily…did you?" the sorcerer asked between labored breaths.

~~~~******~~~~

"Do you think we can lure them away from the jinja? I could use my Moon Kaleidoscope more effectively if I didn't have to worry about damaging anything" Moon asked.

Venus shook her head, "No, they seem hell bent on reaching the shrine. If we were move from our positions I think they ignore us and continue attacking the shrine." `Why are they so set on destroying the jinja? Do they know who Rei is?' Minako thought.

"Minako, behind you!" Sailor Moon yelled. Venus turned around saw a large humanoid snake youma darting towards her with its sharp claws extended and aiming for her neck.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

Electrically charged leaves pierced the youma turning him into dust, "Jeez Minako, where's your mind letting a youma sneak up on you like that?" Jupiter said running up to her friends.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

A wave of water struck a youma that was approaching Jupiter. Venus gave Jupiter a look, "You were saying?"

"Heh…heh…heh. Thanks for the help Mercury." Jupiter said avoiding Venus' question, Mercury smiled and opened her mouth to say something.

"Umm, guys the next wave of youma is coming this way." Moon interrupted.

"Right!" the girls responded in unison.

"Moon Tiara Action!"

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

All of the attacks hit the first line of youma that were charging forward and destroyed them. The second line continued their blind charge towards the Sailor Senshi and the shrine, crushing the bones the fallen youma beneath their feet. One youma broke free of the group and grabbed Sailor Jupiter's fuku.

"Venus Love-Me Chain!"

Venus used her attack like a wipe and hit the youma that had a hold of Jupiter, "Thanks" Jupiter mouthed

"How many of these things are there? They just seem to keep coming." Jupiter said punching the youma that had grabbed her.

Mercury lower her visor looked over the area, "There appears to be close to fifteen youma that are still alive."

"Why haven't you just used your Moon Kaleidoscope? At full power it should be able to take all of them out." Jupiter asked as she punched another youma.

"I can't. If I were to use it at full power even though it would destroy most the youma, it would also do serious damage to the jinja." Moon answered.

"We need to divide their force. Mercury, Jupiter move to the left and protect that side; Moon and I will remain here and protect this area." Venus commanded.

"What if some get past us?" Mercury asked.

"They won't, now just do it!" Venus said then Mercury and Jupiter nodded and did what Venus said and ran over to the left, drawing some of the youma in their direction, the majority of the youma continued heading towards Moon and Venus however.

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Shining Aqua Illusion!"

Both attacks hit the first youma, dusting him, but the second and third youma dodged and spilt off into different directions, each targeting one of the senshi. A lizard type youma reached Makoto first and she began exchanging punches with the youma. The other youma that looked like a mutated humanoid dog attacked Mercury. He swiped his claws at her stomach, but Mercury sucked her stomach in and barely avoided being cut open. Mercury continued swiftly dodging the youma's attempted strikes while looking for an opening to use one of her attacks; Mercury didn't want to engage the youma like this because she knew that she's not the best fighter in hand to hand combat.

"Moon Tiara Action!"

"Crescent Beam!"

Both attacks hit their targets, but the youma that followed the two continued charging forward. Two youma headed to Venus, one opened its mouth and shot a yellow energy ball at her while the other continued its charge towards her. Venus jumped into the air easily avoiding the energy ball, but when she landed she saw the two youma were now at her right and left, `They used the energy attack to surround me.' Venus thought. As Venus faced down the two youma Sailor Moon continued using her tiara to keep the enemies at bay. The numbers would be overwhelming if she wasn't so determined, `I won't let them reach the jinja.' Moon said to herself.

"So it's two on one, is it?" Venus said as she looked at both of the youma; they merely growled in response. *sigh* "I can see you two aren't the talkative types, but you must have some brains to try and double-team me, but it won't work!"

"Crescent Beam!"

Venus shot a yellow energy beam from her right *and* left hand; she hit the youma to the left, but the youma to the right was able to dodge the attack and shot off another one of his energy attacks, which was the same one he used minutes earlier. Venus easily dodged it and ran at him, hoping to catch him off guard. As soon as Venus reached him she punched him on the side of his face, knocking him off balance and performed a leg swipe, taking his legs out from underneath him. Venus stood over him and pointed her right hand at him and waved bye to him with her left. As Venus prepared to fire her attack the second youma ran at her and drove his shoulder into her, knocking her away from the other youma and onto the ground.

Venus got up and dusted herself off, "I almost forgot about you." Venus stated to the second youma.

Moon jumped away from some of the youma to give herself room. `I have to diminish their numbers, even if it does do damage to the jinja.' Moon thought and pulled out her Moon Kaleidoscope.

"Moon Gorg…"

Moon's attack phrase was cut short by punch to her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and causing her to drop the Moon Kaleidoscope. Moon fell to the ground holding her stomach and trying to regain her breath. Soon she noticed someone was blocking the sun by standing over her, slowly she looked up and her suspicions were confirmed; a large grey youma with one hand shaped like a bear's claw and the other had a sword in place of were the hand should have been. Sailor Moon reached for her Moon Kaleidoscope, but the youma kicked it away before she could grab it. The youma then raised his sword hand and pointed it at Sailor Moon.

"Sailor Moon!" Mercury yelled when she saw the trouble Moon was in. Seeing and opening the youma she was fighting took advantage of Mercury's loss of concentration and swiped at her arm cutting it with its razor sharp nails; leaving four long gashes on her arm.

"AAAHH" Mercury yelled and grabbed her arm to stop the bleeding.

"Mercury!" Jupiter said after she heard her friend scream. Jupiter took a sideways glance at the girl and saw her holding her bleeding arm, "Damn it, I've had enough of this!" Jupiter yelled.

Jupiter punched the youma she was fighting in the stomach, cause him to lean over. She followed up with an elbow to the back of his head, causing him to slam into the ground.

"Supreme Thunder!"

Jupiter's attack hit the youma in its back, killing him after a few painful seconds. Once she knew the youma was dead she ran over to Mercury. As Jupiter reached her she saw the youma was preparing to strike her again.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

Electrified leaves flew at the unsuspecting youma's back. When the attack hit the youma and it howled in pain as he fell to the ground; he was silenced when death took him. Jupiter continued to Mercury and kneeled down to look at her arm, "Are you ok?" Jupiter asked uneasily.

"I'm fine but Usagi, she's in trouble!" Mercury said worriedly.

Jupiter turned and saw that Sailor Moon was in serious trouble, "Stay save, ok." Jupiter said and ran off to Sailor Moon. As she ran to Sailor Moon she noticed that Venus was in a tough battle as well, but Usagi was in more immediate danger so she decided to make her way around where Venus was fighting and hoped she could handle herself until she could get back. Jupiter was only about five steps away from Usagi when a youma jumped into her way.

"You youma are really becoming a annoying!" Jupiter yelled and threw a punch at the youma's chest, however the youma side-stepped the punch and grabbed her arm.

"You Senshi are the real nuisances." the youma whispered into Jupiter's ear. The youma then pulled her arm and drove his knee into her stomach causing her to fall to her knees clutching her stomach with her right arm, "Usagi." Jupiter said quietly and as she extends her other arm toward her friend as she watches the youma's blade head for the blond girl.

"Sailor Moon!"

~~~~******~~~~

Mars eyed the youma, `I guess that last attack didn't kill him, but at least it looks like it took a lot of him. He's not in much of a condition to fight.' Mars winced and look down at her side, `Not that I'm in much better condition though.' Mars thought after she saw all the blood that covered her side. `I can't think about my injuries." Mars thought, `I need to block out the pain' Mars told herself. Mars slowly began walking up to the youma, still holding her side the whole time, but she refused to let the sorcerer see the pain on her face, instead she glared at him with utter hatred in her eyes.

"Let's finish this!" Kyoji said angrily.

"Agreed." Mars responded simply. She didn't want to waste anymore energy than she need to; she also removed her hand that was covering her wound and entered her battle stance. Rei knew that she would lose more blood without applying pressure to her wound, but she also knew that she wouldn't be able to fight this guy one handed. In her present condition she knew that she may still pass out from the loss of blood, but she reasoned with herself, `If I can finish this quickly enough, hopefully the blood loss won't be a factor.'

Kyoji watched Mars before taking a few steps forward himself, `I will not lose here. I haven't come this far to be killed by one lowly senshi!' The sorcerer saw Mars' fuku was soaked through with blood and that as she moved that she left a trail of blood, a good sign that she was losing a lot blood, `Her wounded side should be enough to give the advantage this time around. This will be quick.' Kyoji thought and took his fighting stance, knowing this would be the end of one of the two fighters, a duel to the death.

Mars remained like a statue watching the sorcerer, all of her senses were still sharp, but she didn't move because she wanted the sorcerer to make the first move. The pair stared each other down for a few minutes, but soon the sorcerer realized he would have to be the one to start this time and even though the longer this fight took the more it benefited him, he also had a girl in front of him that promised to kill and he wouldn't waste this opportunity. If worse came to worse he had knowledge of her home being attacked, that would likely freeze her in her tracks.

"Time to die!" the sorcerer shouted and charged Mars.

Kyoji swung his right hand at Mars' wounded side, but Mars blocked his attempt with her left arm. Mars countered by throwing a punch at the side of the youma's face, but the youma anticipated it and dodged to her right and kicked her in the back before she could move out of the way. The kick sent Mars forward and towards the ground, but she stuck her right arm out in front of herself which prevented her from hitting the ground head-first. Mars quickly performed a leg-sweep, to bring the youma to the ground as well. Mars pushed herself off the ground and turned to the grounded youma.

"Mars Flame Sniper!"

The youma's eyes widened when he saw the fire arrow approaching him, `It's not over yet.' Kyoji said to himself. As quickly as he could the youma rolled to right to avoid the projectile, but as quick as he moved the scorching fire still grazed his back as he rolled away. The fire burned through his leather clothing, which offered little protection, as well as burning away numerous layers of flesh on his back, causing him to howl in pain.

Mars watched the youma, but cursed inwardly when her attack didn't finish the youma off. Mars went down to one knee as she continued watching the youma roll around in pain, `This isn't good; I'm starting to get a little light headed.' Mars thought and putting her hand over the stab wound on her side again. `I need to end this soon, but I need to make sure he can't dodge my next attack.' Mars thought and just as soon as she finished that thought an idea struck her. `I just need to draw him closer to me.' Just then the sorcerer slowly rose off the ground and lightly touched his charred back, but he pulled his hand away quickly and turned to face Sailor Mars, "You are going to pay for that!" he snarled and started walking towards Mars.

Mars smiled inwardly since he was playing right into her hands, `Just a little further…' she thought. Mars reached into her fuku and pulled out a small piece of paper.

"Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin…" Mars started chanting

"What the hell are you mumbling over there!?" Kyoji yelled angrily and walking faster over the kneeling senshi.

"Retsu, sai, zen. Akuryou taisan!" Mars finished her chant and threw her ofuda at the youma. The ofuda connected with his thigh and stuck there. The sorcerer attempted to continue moving, but he found that his body was not reacting to what his mind was telling it to; instead he remained rooted in the same spot and position he was in when the ofuda attached its self to him.

"What the hell have you done!?" Kyoji yelled.

Mars stood up, still holding her side, and took a few steps towards the youma, "There's no use trying to move. I've put an anti-evil scroll on you and now this is your end." Mars stated calmly. Mars lifted her arms and prepared to fire an arrow from an invisible bow.

"Mars Flame…"

Mars starts but stops when she hears the youma laughing, "What's so funny?" Mars asks.

"Go ahead, kill me! Death is evitable, maybe I'll meet your two blood friends wherever I go." Kyoji said and started laughing again. Mars dropped her arms to her sides and walked up to the youma and grabbed him by his leather shoulder guards.

"What the hell are talking about!?" Mars demanded.

"You obviously don't listen very well. I watched that shrine of yours for a long time, I saw an old man there, I saw scruffy looking younger man there, I saw you speaking with a young blond haired girl, and I saw another young blond girl with a weird hair style arrive just before you left." Mars let go of the sorcerer's clothing and looked at him with a shocked look on her face. "You didn't really think I was alone this time, did you? You abandoned your home and I merely took advantage of it. As we speak the shrine should going up in flames along with those four pathetic humans!" Kyoji said laughing hysterically.

Mars backed away, `No, no, no…that can't be true; in order for that to be true he would have to know who I am.' Mars thought, but she remember when she encountered him he *did* know she was Sailor Mars. `I need to get back home' Mars thought but heard the youma continuing laughter, "But first…"

"Mars Flame Sniper!"

Mars' fire arrow hit the youma and erupted in a flurry fire that turned the youma to ash. Mars walked back a little ways and picked up her communicator before turning back around and detransforming and heading back to the shrine, leaving a trail of blood along the way.

~~~~******~~~~

With her Moon Kaleidoscope out of reach, Sailor Moon frantically searched the ground something to block the oncoming sword, but she found nothing.

"Sailor Moon!" Jupiter yelled causing Moon stop her searching and look up and see blade coming down at her. The whole scene felt like it was in slow motion; Sailor Moon shut her eyes as the blade descended. Suddenly Moon felt a strong wind gust and hear the clang of metal, neither were what she expected. Moon slowly opened her eyes and saw a tall woman with short blond hair, wearing a dark blue sailor fuku.

"Sailor Uranus!" Moon exclaimed once she realized who had just saved her. Uranus stood in front of Sailor Moon with her talisman in her hand holding off the youma's blade.

"Sorry I'm late Princess." Uranus said without turning her head away from the youma. She pushed her talisman harder against the youma's sword, cracking it slightly, and then with a flick of her wrist she broke the sword in two. The youma shocked at what just happened, "You can't beat me with that piece of scrap metal you call a sword!" Uranus said and kicked the youma in his stomach, driving him backwards.

"Space Sword Blaster!"

The energy blades from Uranus' Space Sword sliced through the prone youma, killing him quickly. With the youma disposed of Uranus offered Sailor Moon her hand and helped her back to her feet. "Arigato." Moon said and turns to pick up her Moon Kaleidoscope. Then she notices that her friends are all still in trouble, "Help Jupiter, while I help Venus." Moon ordered and Uranus turned her attention to Jupiter.

"World Shaking!"

Uranus' attack hit the youma standing over Jupiter sending him forward and towards Jupiter and as he heads towards her, Jupiter punches him in the face, "That's for that knee to my stomach. And this…"

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

Her attack is right on and the electrified leaves end the youma's life, "This is for preventing me from aiding the Princess." Jupiter turns to Uranus and gives her, her thanks for the help.

"Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"

Moon's attack sailed toward the two youma that were engaged with Venus. The two youma stop what they're doing and turn to see a bright pink energy coming towards them, but it's too late to do anything about it and they engulfed by the energy and are vaporized. "Are you ok, Minako?" Moon asks.

"Yeah, was that all of them?" Venus questions

"My computer doesn't pick anymore evil energy, so yeah that was the last of them." Mercury says as she walks up to the two blonds, holding her arm.

"What happened to your arm Ami!?" Usagi asks with concern in her voice.

"It's nothing really, just a few scratches from a youma. Are you guys ok?" Mercury asks and they both shake their heads.

"Good, we should detransform before Yuuichirou or Grandpa Hino come out and asks questions." Mercury said.

"She's right, it's bad enough we'll have to explain why we're hurt" Jupiter said as she and Uranus walked up to the group. All them shook their heads and detransformed.

"I'll go get some bandages for you, Ami." Minako turned and went into the shrine.

Haruka looked around and for the first time realized that a member of the group was missing, not just any member, and the one who actually lived at the shrine. "Where's Rei?" she asked to anyone in the group that would know.

"I don't know. When I got here Minako was already here and she told me that Rei had gone out for walk before the meeting." Usagi spoke up.

"What could be so important about a walk that she could answer your distress call!?" Haruka asked.

"I'm sure she had her reasons, we don't know what happened yet." Minako said when heard Haruka's raised voice. "Here." Minako said as she held out the bandages she'd brought back.

"I just hope she's ok. I know she would have answered me if she could have." Usagi said worried about what may have happened to her friend.

~~~~******~~~~

`Just a little further, I have to make sure everyone is alright. Kami let everyone be safe, Grandpa…Usagi.' Rei thought as she rounded that last corner that would lead her to the jinja. The adrenalin rush she had to get this far had worn off and as she gripping her side tightly, she silently hoped that her friends had disposed of the youma, but if need be she would fight to defend those that she loved. Rei finally reached the torri that signified the entrance to the shrine, she looked up to see the place was quiet and looked like it was still intact, but she was having trouble seeing so she couldn't be sure. Rei began her ascent of the stairs of the shrine, `did we always have this many steps?' Rei ideally thought before stumbling a little and almost falling, but she was able to right herself in time.

"Rei!"

Rei looked up to see who had called her name and saw all of her friends running up to her. She looked over all of her friends and smiled, "Thank God we're all ok." Rei said before collapsing. Luckily Haruka was quick enough to catch her before she could hit the ground. Once Haruka touched her she felt wetness on her left side, so she removed her hand and saw that it was covered in blood causing her eyes to widen, as well as everyone else's.

"God Rei, you're bleeding!" Usagi cried.

Rei looks up at her and merely shook her head confirming what all them already knew, "I'm so…tired." Rei said absently before closing her eyes. Distantly she could hear her friends call her name, but she was too tired to respond and let herself fall in to darkness.

End ch.9

~~~~******~~~~

I really didn't expect this one to take me this long, hopefully this one being the longest, so far, makes up for that a little. I worked on this nearly everyday since I completed the last chapter, though I did write more some nights than I did others. And I did cheapen the ending of Mars' fight, but I thought it went on long enough. If anyone is wondering why I had Rei detransform, it's because she thought it would be better, if she was seen, to be a normal person rather than Sailor Mars; plus if she need to she could always transform again. Oh and everyone didn't notice Rei right away because there are so many steps that you can't really see the bottom unless looking from the top step, which the other senshi weren't doing.

Don't expect fighting in the next chapter, I think people will agree that there was enough in this one. Also don't expect many answers to any questions in the next chapter either. With that said, thanks for the reviews everyone and thank you for being patient with me and I hope this chapter didn't disappoint.

Here are a couple translations (in case you haven't noticed most Japanese words I use will be swear words)

Japanese English

Kutabare! Fuck you!

Kuso Shit