DISCLAIMERS:
All canon characters are (C) 1992 - whatever year it is Naoko Takeuchi and all other related parties. The Shadow senshi are (C) Wild Nature 2006 - 2007. This is a fanfic based upon the anime version and all written work that this consists of is (C) 2006 - 2007 Wild Nature.

Chapter Seven: Fighting Back

Eizou ruffled up her hair, humming absently.

“Are you almost done?” Hanshou asked from outside the bathroom door. Eizou was fiddling with her bangs, studying her skin in between puffs of breath as she shook her head. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and urged a smile on her face.

“Sorry, Mom!” Eizou ducked around the woman who smiled. “I’m off to practice now!”

She was dressed in her sports uniform. A set of dark blue shirt and shorts, the edge turned in at the neck, folded and colored black. The hems of the short sleeves and shirt as well as short pant legs were black as well. She wore black, clunky sneakers, her socks folded over twice.

She picked up her bag that had miscellaneous things, most importantly her keys. Her outfit had no pockets and she had thought to bring a notebook for any chances of having a lengthy discussion.

She took off at a fast walk, evening her breathe to save her energy. She felt the familiar press, press, press of her necklace gently bouncing against and away from her. It’s warmth was throbbing as she looked up, the light momentarily blinding her before she looked away, watching the street and houses.

It took her twenty minutes to get to her school, seeing fellow teammates waving to her. She placed her bag down, taking a deep breath.

“Time to get in some good practice,” she straightened. “Let’s go!”

Kaiki stared at the waves, enticing her as they swum back and forth, hypnotizing her as she took a deep breath, the air seeping into her lungs. “Wow...”

She grasped her board, intent on heading out.

“I can’t do this!” Nigori fiddled with the bathing suit, a simple one piece, solid color in navy blue, looking uncomfortable. “I mean, I need layers!”

“You said you’d try!” Kaiki said pointedly. She handed her the other board nearby. “Come on! It’ll be fun!”

Kaiki took off, lifting the board with a wild cry of glee. She hit the water and began to swim out. Nigori followed, less willing but she copied the other girl.

“You do know what you’re doing, right?” Nigori shouted.

“Nigori, I’ve been doing this my entire life!” Kaiki laughed. A swell was coming as she aimed and pressed forward. “Just do what I do!”

She caught it with precision, her body keeping herself balanced as she shouted again. “This is so grand!”

And she swooped down, riding the wave perfectly.

Nigori wasn’t so lucky. She temporarily caught the wave but her balance was shot as she fell backwards, the water capturing her. She sputtered to the surface, grasping the board as a secondary wave pushed her forward.

She climbed out, glaring at Kaiki. “I told you...”

“You claim to ride the best snow cliffs. This isn’t that different!” Kaiki told her with a wide grin. “More practice!”

Nigori made an intelligible sound in the back of her throat, as she watched Kaiki run back out into the water.

“This is so...” But she watched the water and had to admit, it looked like fun. Even if she did wipe out all the time.

“Cowabunga!” She shouted, running back into the water.

Kaki sat with Rei, behind her and the blazing fire. She looked over to see Pomona watching forward, her face more blank then Rei.

“She fell asleep again,” Kaki said finally.

“That was ten minutes ago,” Rei said with a frown. “I think this isn’t going to help her.”

“She wants to find more peace. That and help out anyway she can.”

“Then we should look for something else.”

“How can she sleep sitting up?”

“I don’t know! She’s a performer. I’m surprised her eyes aren’t open,” Rei waved her hand in front of Pomona. “You like her new hairstyle?”

“That last one was bizarre,” Kaki agreed.

“I have seen worse,” Rei nodded.

“And I can hear every word,” Pomona said loudly. The two jumped. “When did you wake up?” Rei demanded.

“I didn’t fall asleep! I was just resting and kind of lost my train of thought.”

“And you went chasing it?”

“No, I didn’t. I was staying still but everything was still moving. It was almost suffocating.”

“Huh..” Kaki stood up. “I don’t think this is my forte either. I thought I’d give it a try, since we’re similar and all..”

“But she has ESPN..” Pomona began.

“ESP,” Rei corrected.

“What’d I say?”

Kakure walked with Makoto, the two of them carrying groceries. “So what’s it like being on your own?” Kakure asked brightly.

“It’s all right. I get by. I’m actually looking for a part-time job. I saw this really cute bakery and I tried there. I’m hoping they’ll call me back.”

“That’s great!”

“How’s you and your boyfriend?”

“Wonderful! We just celebrated three months!”

Makoto grinned. “And how does your dad think about this?”

“He doesn’t know.”

“What?” Makoto stopped. “Are you kidding me?”

“He doesn’t care what I do as long as I don’t dishonor him. I’m not sure he’ll take to having a twenty-something dating me.”

“WOW! He’s over twenty!”

“What about Mamoru!”

“Well, he’s... well, never mind, I see your point,” Makoto pressed the com button, the door swinging open. “We just take the elevator to go up the floors.”

“What do you think about what we’ve gone through?” Kakure asked lightly. “We’ve all, well, powered up but we haven’t done anything in at least a month!”

“Every time Luna and Artemis get a hold of any strange signals, it’s gone. I don’t know where Sigel is. I mean, she’s around here but she’s hiding, it seems.”

“Why?”

“She’s looking for the Triad Moon Piece,” Makoto said finally. “It’s hidden from her, in a sense, and so she’s waiting.”

“Until Eizou activates it?” Kakure snorted. “She doesn’t have to, does she?”

“Well, it’s a type of crystal, isn’t it?”

“It’s a form of power source... I don’t know if it’s a crystal. It’s three pieces so can it be considered whole?”

Makoto stilled. “What if it had to meld together to be whole?”

“Meh. I tried to talk to Eizou but she’s not willing to talk about it right now.”

“She still upset?”

“I thought she found peace.”

“Peace is overrated,” Makoto pointed out.

“Well, she better get into action soon or else Sigel will find her,” Kakure looked nervous.

“She’s stronger than you think. We all are. We just need to be pushed far enough.”

Sora, Toki, and Haimutsu sat outside in the summer breeze, laying on a large blanket strewn across the ground. They were playing cards, all looking serious.

“I wish we could bet,” Haimutsu said finally.

“What?” Sora’s head shot up. “That’s illegal!”

“Well, not when we’re older. If we’re responsible enough...”

“Haimutsu, we’re not betting. Sora, calm down, it’s just a game,” Toki said pointedly.

“But I’m losing! Again!” Sora stared at her hand. “I fold!”

“What about you?” Toki asked to Haimutsu.

“How do I know you’re not cheating?” Haimutsu scrutinized the other girl. She had a passive face but a twinkle in her eyes.

“I’ll take you on,” Haimutsu said smugly.

“Here ya go!” Toki tossed her cards down.

“NO WAY! You were cheating!” Haimutsu cried out indignantly.

“Actually, I love playing cards. My grandpa taught me all my tricks,” Toki smirked.

“Hey... does my cards mean anything?” Sora asked finally. Toki looked at them and glared at her.

“If you had taken a chance, you’d have beaten both of us!” Toki said pointedly.

“Well, better to be safe than sorry! Besides, I didn’t lose anything, now did I?”

Eizou watched the others leave. She had lost track of time, seeing now that the sun was low in the skies. She wondered what she was doing.

“I should be out somewhere finding her. She’s dangerous.. I mean, what good is it that I’m.. I’m.. augh, not doing anything!”

She heard barking and saw Apple come bounding to her. “You little minx! You shouldn’t be on your own! The dog catcher would have a field day!”

Apple only barked more. “Oh shush! There’s no one here, Apple!”

She turned away only to frown, something clicking. “Apple, why don’t you have the marking on your forehead?”

She turned and saw a sheen of silvery white before immense pain.

She fell backwards, screaming as the dog bit her arm, digging its canines deep into her flesh.

She continued to scream, her feet kicking but the creature squeezed her down, a maniacal glint in its eyes. ‘I always get what I want..’ A voice whispered in her mind before she felt herself suddenly exposed.

It was an invasion of power, darkness bleeding into her as she screamed louder. The beast was seen thrown back, Jaro’s hands glowing before it lunged for him.

Eizou couldn’t move, her limbs trapped, her body feeling as if she were turning to stone. ‘Jaro..’ She thought weakly, seeing him conjuring up a large, metal staff, using it to protect him and her. ‘I have to.. fight..’

But the poison had found what it wanted, her heart ached, her chest set into flames as the Moon Triad Piece was forced out. She watched the outside edges turning to black.

“No..” The words came from crackled lips, her body freezing. “N..no...no, no... NO!” She managed to scream and it responded, the blackness shedding like skin before it molded together and then formed into a staff.

It had a set of three white pointed diamonds, one facing east, north, and west, another smaller set facing northeast and northwest, with the three yellow crescent moons on its front. It was attached to a black, long handle, with a violet diamond end.

She grasped it and felt herself change, the energy brimming in her. She was dressed, wordlessly in her fuku.

The dog jumped high in the air, landing with a sickening thud. Light brown hair flitted in the wind, violet eyes blazed out, as the now human woman stood slowly. Dressed in a bizarre twist of a sailor fuku, she carried a heavy looking violet and gold hammer in her clenched hand, a glare evident on her facial features.

She was drawn out, thin, and weak looking but to hold a hammer as such belied all of the above. “I am the solitary soldier of the fiery end of suns, I am Sailor Sigel! Graced by the powers that be, I am the heir of the Dead Moon Realm and I lay claim to this Earth.”

She leaned ever so slightly forward. “Either you follow me or die fighting. It’s all your choice.”

Shadow Moon was quiet before a frown spread across her lips. “I will not let you do this.” She stated simply.

“Fine. You’ve already killed one innocent, why not the whole Earth?” Sailor Sigel said coldly. “I will show you who the true Princess is, your Majesty!” Her voice dripped in sarcasm before she was gone in a sudden twist of fire. The only mark of her being there was the ground she had been on. It was scorched beyond anything, the ground turned to brittle stone.

“Jaro..” Shadow Moon nearly collapsed, her hand clasping her wounded one. She untransformed, watching the black marks worrisome.

“Let me see,” Jaro gently pulled the arm to him, avoiding her eyes for the moment. It was sudden, he had knelt down and there was a soft kiss before pulling away.

And as if by magic, the wounds closed themselves slowly. She winced as stings and shocks of pain still responded to the healing.

“I’m sorry. I’m not that good of a healer.”

“Thank you.. Jaro,” Eizou gave him a warm smile. “But..”

“That wasn’t her.”

“What?”

“I don’t know how I knew it but that wasn’t really her. She was working through something.”

“Wonderful! She knows who I am now!”

“Yes but she can’t get near you,” Jaro moved his head slightly toward her, a smile tugging his lips.

“Oh?” She tilted her head.

“I kind of placed barriers over you..”

“WHAT?”

“Several, in fact..”

“JARO!”

“First one lets me know if you’re in trouble..”

“I’m going to kill you!”

“Last one repels the enemy...”

“I hope you have barriers!”

“Oh, trust me, I can be read like a picture book!”

“Oh, I bet you can!” She kicked him and hit at him furiously. “The least you could’ve done is told me!”

“But you would’ve protested!”

“JARO!”

The only sound left was laughter as he chuckled, watching her flit around him in rage and embarrassment.