The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episodes 38-39 of the PGSM Live Action.
Chapter 19 – AGAINST ALL ODDS
"Kunzite! I know you're bent on revenge. I will give you the chance, but you'll have to give me time."
I concentrated on making my tone a commanding one. The more I had remembered, the more easily I had been able to slip into the role as their prince. I had not been lying either. I would give him the chance at the right moment.
"Time?" Kunzite had been incredulous.
"Yes. If I can defeat you with my sword, you'll have to work for me temporarily." I had been gambling. From what I could remember of our past lives and from our battles at that time, I had not once been able to win. But I had been learning from each duel, and I was determined. "What do you say?"
"Certainly," Kunzite had smirked, "But don't forget, you've always lost to me. Don't you remember?"
"No," I had been confident, "I only look to the future."
With that, I had shimmered into my armour and took on a combative stance.
"We'll finish this before Beryl can intervene again!" Kunzite had growled.
The fight that ensued had been fierce. Kunzite was a dangerously skilled swordsman and he seemed to know all my weak points. I was barely able to strike back at first, but with each stroke, my confidence had increased as I grew more and more comfortable with my own sword. He was more skilled and experienced than me, but I was swifter and using the cane during my days of being Tuxedo Mask had given me some unusual ideas in using the sword. Kunzite had been confused with my strange feints, which slowed down his own attacks. Making use of every advantage I had, I had been holding my own when a sudden sharp blow from his sword had sent me sprawling to the ground.
My shoulder throbbed as it hit the ground with great force. As I watched Kunzite move towards me for the final kill, I had despaired for a moment. But then I had been reminded of why I was doing that.
It will not end like this. I had thought grimly to myself. I will protect Usagi and the past will absolutely not repeat itself!
Twisting myself up from the ground, I had warded off Kunzite's sword with my own before giving him a shove with my foot.
As he stumbled back from my unexpected maneuver, I had taken advantage of the pause in his attacks and swiftly slashed at him with my sword. A gash appeared on his arm.
Kunzite had glared at me, incredulous at his own defeat.
I breathed hard as I looked back at him, scarcely believing my own victory as well.
But I had won, in a fair duel, and regardless of how much Kunzite had changed from his past life, he was essentially still a principled man. No matter how reluctant, he had given his word and he would keep it.
And so, I gave my first order.
"Kunzite. I want you to help me attack the princess."
He had been astounded.
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After Kunzite, the other two were not a problem. Zoisite was loyal to me while Jadeite would do anything that would achieve Beryl's aim. Summoning the rest of the Shitennou, we had shimmered to where Usagi was.
She had been surprised to see me and involuntarily stepped towards me.
I stopped her advance by pointing my sword at her direction.
"Usagi. From now on, I'm your enemy!"
Her eyes widened with shock. "Why...? What's this?" she had whispered, bewildered.
"The reason for the destruction of Earth in our past lives – do you already know the reason?"
Her face had lowered in guilt. "Yes, in my past life, I..." Sorrow laced her voice.
It had hurt to watch her distressed over something that was not her fault, but I had to push on, "The Ginzuishou will bring disaster to earth. We cannot let this planet be destroyed. This time is just to let you know that, the next time we meet, we'll be battling to our deaths."
Watching her flinch at my words had been worse than torture. But I had steeled myself. I had to do this if there was to be any hope of protecting this planet and her. Giving her a last look, we had shimmered out.
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When I got back to the Dark Kingdom, Mio had been waiting for me in my room.
Her smile had been gloating as she said, "So, you've declared battle against Usagi-chan after all. I wonder if she is crying?"
Her words had pierced my heart, but I knew Usagi better than her. She was strong, and had more courage than anyone I knew. She would be able to go through this. I believed that she could get past this obstacle. We would make it happen.
And the only way we could make it happen was if Usagi could control herself and not let the princess release the power of the Ginzuishou. I had to help her achieve that control. To do that, she would first need to conquer her weakness. Her weakness was me.
In the past life, it had been my death that had been the trigger for the princess to release the full power of the Ginzuishou. In this lifetime, I would have to make sure that no matter what happened to me, or to her, she would not do that again. Not under any circumstances.
I would need to attack Usagi relentlessly, so that she could learn to control herself under all sorts of conditions and for that, I had needed the Shitennou's help. That had been my plan. It was a plan that I had been determined would work.
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I did not know how much time I had and so I had to carry out my plan as soon as possible. Kunzite was sent out the next day to help me attack Usagi. It had been a success. The youma led Sailor Moon right to me while Kunzite had made sure she was isolated by distracting the other senshi.
"Mamoru!" She had been so excited, so joyful to see me that my willpower nearly reduced to frayed shreds. Only years of practice in keeping my true feelings and emotions in check had allowed me to keep my mask on.
"I've told you! Don't let down your guard with me!" My tone was strange, the cadence strained as I struggled to appear hostile.
She cringed noticeably at my words, yet she did not move. I could still see hope in her eyes. She still believed in me.
My heart had twisted as I gritted my teeth and abruptly, moved to attack Usagi. It had been one of the hardest thing I had to do. It felt wrong, sacrilegious even but I did not have a choice. It seemed the story of my life – being forced to do what I did not want to.
Out of reflex, she had dodged, disbelief written in her eyes. I did not give her time to react, but continued to assail her with blows. She evaded each of them, but refused to fight back, until a well-aimed slash threw her off her rhythm and she fell to the ground. She had recovered her balance immediately, landing lithely on her feet, but her features were twisted with shock and pain.
"Mamoru. Is this real? You're not really fighting me, are you? Mamoru?" Desperation coloured Usagi's tone, even as her eyes filled with doubt and her breath hitched in her throat.
I was not able to speak. I had feared that once I opened my mouth, my true feelings would pour out. My much battered heart throbbed painfully.
I clenched my hands even tighter around the sword pommel as I stared at Usagi. It was then a flash of light at her bodice had caught my attention. The pocket watch I gave her. She had it on with her.
It had taken every ounce of willpower I had to suppress the emotions I felt when I saw the watch, as memories of our perfect day together filled my mind. I had to stop the flood before I lost control totally and hence reaching blindly with my sword, I had struck at the watch in a swift movement.
As the watch fell, Usagi had gasped loudly and an expression of agony distorted her face.
The same agony had ripped through my chest even when I steeled myself to remark emotionlessly to her, "This is my answer."
At my words, Usagi had given me one pain-filled glance before suddenly, her whole face went blank. A strange golden light began to glow.
Usagi was once again using the powers of the Ginzuishou. Tremors in the ground started, becoming stronger and stronger with each minute.
Earthquake! She's causing an earthquake! I have to stop her! "Usagi!" I had tried to reach her side but the earthquake slowed me down.
"Shingo! Shingo's in danger! Someone, help him!" All of a sudden, Usagi's voice became panicked. She had seen her brother falling off a bridge.
This is it! I have to stop her now. This is why I'm doing this!
"Usagi! Calm down! Stop what you're doing! Usagi!" I had to believe she could stop it. She had to be able to stop the powers of the Ginzuishou. But I was not able to totally suppress the panic that had threaded its way into my voice.
"Stop! Please! Please..." Usagi's voice broke as she pleaded with the Ginzuishou.
Usagi. I'm here with you. You can do this.
I had desperately wanted my thoughts to reach her, to give her the support she needed.
All of a sudden, the tremors stopped and Usagi sighed, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.
She did it! I had exulted.
But it had not been the end. I had known there were more battles ahead and she needed to be prepared for such a situation again. Taking a deep breath, I walked slowly towards her.
"Usagi." She had looked up at me with such a defeated expression that I was almost not able to go on. "Maybe one day, we will really have to battle to our deaths. I have to take such extreme measures, perhaps even more drastic ones in the future... to ensure the safety of this planet."
Her dazed eyes had blinked several times.
"Usagi. The one you have to believe in is not me. It’s you yourself!"
My tone softened. After putting her through so much agony, I had to convey what I felt to her. Kneeling next to her, I lifted my hand to her cheek before lightly caressing the soft skin there with the back of my fingers. "I believe in you. I believe that we will be reunited one day."
Usagi's eyes had shimmered with tears as she held onto my hand with both of hers. We stayed there for one perfect moment before I pulled gently away. It had been time to leave.
As I walked away from her once again, I held on to that sliver of hope. It would be the only thing that would keep me going from then on.
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A/N:
I know, a few things here did not happen the way it did in the show... but I couldn’t help it! The characters in this fic just got away from me, I swear! Really! =P
In any case, how do you like this chapter? There might be a few more deviations from the original show in the later chapters, but probably not too much... mostly just minor changes in events that do not make much sense and a bit of adding of details in others. Hope you all still like it anyway. ^_^
