Sailormoon Neo: #15 - Ai ni Kawatte no Gisei! Seishi wa Tasukatta...Shikashi Sono Daishou wa? - A Sacrifice in the Name of Love! Seishi is Saved...But...At What Price? - By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] "Sei-chan...what's wrong with you?" Jupiter Kamen whispered, his green eyes stared at her in horror and disbelief. Seishi shifted her violet eyes to Jupiter Kamen coldly and turned away from him. "She was the enemy. We had to defeat her." Seishi replied blankly, her eyes locked onto the Opaque Prism which Neo Sailormercury was holding. Neo Mercury's eyes narrowed as she gazed back at Seishi. The dark look on Neo Mercury's face gave the impression that she knew exactly what had come over Seishi..or better yet, who. "Who is 'we', Seishi?" she asked coldly. Seishi's lips twisted into a small, tight smile. There came a laughing, a beautiful feminine ringing. An inhuman laughter which was clear and crisp. It wasn't coming from Seishi, it was coming from within Seishi. "The Messiah is awaking." Seishi whispered, breaking her laughter. But it wasn't Seishi's voice. Neo Sailormoon, who had awakened just moments earlier, stared in horror at Seishi, "It's Lord 9 and Lady 9..." she gasped, "They've finally latched onto their host." "The time has come for the New Silent Messiah to awaken, Shino Seishi...our Silent Angel." said Lady 9. Seishi's beautiful violet eyes turned white as two jets of air rose up from her body. Lord 9 and Lady 9 partially materialized, hovering above her protectedly. Lady 9's ethereal arms wrapped around Seishi motherly and lovingly, "Look upon your former comrade for she is no longer Shino Seishi. She is our slave and also our master..." Lord 9 said with a smirk. "You bastard! Get away from her!" Jupiter Kamen shouted, he unsheathed his sword and dove towards Lord 9. The sword went right through the apparition. Lady 9's beautiful laughter resonated throughout the room. "Morino Ryuu...You gave her to us, yet you act valiant in trying to save her. It was you who forced her to run to us. It was you who pushed her to her destiny." Jupiter Kamen's eyes widened as he stared helplessly at Seishi and Lady 9. "Don't tell me this...shut up.." he whispered, his hands shook and his sword fell to the ground making a loud clanging noise. Jupiter Kamen covered his ears with his hands and started to shake, "You're lying, I didn't do it. Shut up.." Lady 9 laughed louder, "Are you afraid to face the truth, little one?" she asked. Her hand gently stroked Seishi's face, "She's beautiful is she not? One of the finest of the human species. Her features are small, like her mothers. Delicate. Don't worry, Morino Ryuu, her beauty will only increase during her posession." Lady 9 smirked. "Much like Tomoe Hotaru only became more beautiful during the posession of Mistress 9." Lord 9 added. "SHUT UP!" Jupiter Kamen screamed. His eyes clouded with tears of anger and frustration. The eyes of the Neo Senshi were locked onto him, as if every pair was asking the same thing. What they say is true, isn't it Ryuu? You pushed Seishi into a pact with the Devils. You made her do it. "Ryuu...don't cry.." said a tiny voice. Jupiter Kamen looked up with a start and gazed at the origin of the voice. Seishi. Her eyes were a normal violet, but held a look of absolute terror in them, "Help me, Ryuu." she pleaded. The image of Lady 9 instantly dematerialized and an angry wind blew violently around the room, "I thought she was completely posessed!" screamed the beautiful voice, it was obvious she was screaming at Lord 9. Neo Sailormoon glanced over to Jupiter Kamen, "If she isn't completely posessed...then she can fight them.." she whispered. The Heaven Wand appeared in Neo Sailormoon's hands which she held onto tightly, "Urge the real Seishi out, Ryuu.." she ordered. Jupiter Kamen nodded, swallowing his tears away. "Seishi..please, fight them. I know you can hear me..please." he pleaded. Seishi's took a frightened step towards his outstretched arms. Her face suddenly distorted with a wild look of anger. Her eyes flashed red, then back to violet. Seishi grabbed her head with her hands, "Stop!" she cried. Unlike Queen Rage, who obviously suffered through intense pain during fluxuations of control, pain was not visible in Seishi's face. Only frustration each time there was a change in posession. "Oh what a horrible nightmare! This isn't really happening, right?!" Neo Sailorneptune wailed, burying her face into her hands. Neo Sailormercury shot her sister a hard look, "This isn't that ridiculous rainbow colored fantasy you created for yourself, Megami. In this world there is evil, there is pain, and there ARE problems. This is not a nightmare, it's reality." she replied. She took a step forward and gently placed her hand on Seishi's shoulder, "Come back to us, Seishi-san." she whispered. Seishi's frightened eyes looked up at Neo Mercury, darkness washed over them and she violently shoved her away. Seishi began to laugh insanely as she stood up, "Now it's time...we have her!" Lady 9 shouted from within Seishi. Seishi outstretched her hands and a burst of lightning crashed in the domed ceiling. The bolts flew down to the Neo Sailor Senshi in long ribbons and tied them to the walls, restraining them from moving without being electrocuted. "SEISHI!" Jupiter Kamen screamed, "FIGHT THEM!" Seishi turned to him with a cold smile, "Morino Ryuu, you should have told Shino Seishi you loved her sooner. Your love could have saved her. It was the love of you, Chibiusa, who saved Tomoe Hotaru." Seishi/Lady 9 said looking at Neo Sailormoon. "And now the ceremony will commence. The crowning of the Silent Angel, your new Goddess of Silence." As Lady 9 finished her speech, Seishi began to levitate. Her clothes melted away and was replaced by a black dress made of shadows, made of evil. Her hair grew until it brushed the ground, the Silence Glaive appeared in her hands, as did a black star on her forehead. "Why didn't I ever tell you the truth...Oh God...SEISHI!" Jupiter Kamen screamed, he tried to move forward, only to be pushed back by the electrical current from the belts of lightning surrounding him. Tears ran down his cheeks as he began to weep, if the end of the world comes...it'll be my fault. "Seishi...please..please fight." Neo Sailormoon whispered through her tears. How could Seishi win? Hotaru had the love of her best friend and her father to fight Mistress 9. But what did Seishi have? Hotaru had Usa's friendship. Seishi had Ryuu's betrayal, even if he actually loved her...she didn't know. Hotaru had Tomoe Souichi's love. Seishi had...Shino Masaya a man who wished his daughter had never been born. The hopelessness of the situation made Neo Sailormoon cry even harder. I must be strong, I must save her. I didn't even remember my friendship to Hotaru until it was much to late. I owe it to Hotaru to save her daughter, she thought. Neo Sailormoon closed her eyes and moved forward, a surge of electrictity hit her. The pain filled every section of her body, but she continued onwards. "I owe this to you..I owe this to Hotaru..SEISHI..HANG ON!" Neo Sailormoon cried and continued to move forward. Seishi, who was possessed by both Lord 9 and Lady 9, stared blankly at Neo Sailormoon as she tried to break from the grasp of the electricity. "USA-CHAN! Stop! You'll die!" Neo Sailorneptune shouted, "No! You've got to do it! If you don't do it, the world will be destroyed! Break through EVEN if it kills you!" Neo Sailormercury cried, countering her sister's cowardly words. "She won't make it..." Neo Sailoruranus whispered and turned her head away. "Believe in her!" Neo Sailormercury shouted in exasperation, "We must believe!" Lady 9's laughter began to fill the room, "Stupid, mortal fool!" she boomed, "Don't you know that no matter how many times you try and destroy evil, it always returns?" Neo Sailormoon shook her head violently, she had her eyes squeezed tightly as she continued to fight against the belts of electricity. "Silver..Crystal..please..help.." she whispered, her locket suddenly opened and light poured forth. Neo Sailormoon broke free from the restraints and fell to the floor in an energyless heap. Seishi's eyes darkened, but then a small smirk played upon her lips. "There is only one more thing Shino Seishi needs to become to Silent Angel...a pure heart..." she began. With extraordinary grace, Seishi twirled the Silence Glaive and laid it to rest against Neo Sailormoon's throat, "Princess Usagi Lady Serenity, isn't it funny how history repeats itself?" Seishi asked. Neo Sailormoon looked up at the girl, now filled with evil. She was still weak from her battle with the electrical belts, "Seishi...listen to me, don't do this. Your mother loved you too much..." Neo Moon whispered. "Loved..me..?" Seishi whispered, her eyes took on a frightened look. "Yes, she loved you dearly. I loved Hotaru very much, she was my best friend when neither of us had friends...Seishi, I'm also your friend. I love you too.." Neo Sailormoon said. Tears filled Seishi's violent eyes, but then she cringed and turned away, shivering. Moments later she spun back around and faced Neo Sailormoon, once again her eyes were filled with evil. A dark hand materialized from her body and grabbed Neo Sailormoon's throat, "Pure..Heart.." Seishi croaked, another hand appeared and reached into Neo Sailormoon's chest. Neo Moon began to scream in pain as her Heart Crystal was ripped out. Her eyes went blank and her head fell back as Seishi sucessfully detached it from her body. "Seishi..oh god..please..no.." Jupiter Kamen whispered, "PLEASE NO!" "Now, the crowning of the Neo Silent Messiah, the Angel of Silence." said Lady 9 with an evil laugh. Jupiter Kamen gritted his teeth and charged forward, enduring the extreme pain from the electric belts holding him to the walls of the room. The dark hand brought Neo Moon's Pure Heart closer to Seishi's lips. Just at that moment Jupiter Kamen broke free, his body ravaged by the electricity. He weakly picked up his sword and watched in horror as the Pure Heart touched her lips, "NO SEISHI!" he screamed, running forward with all his love and remaining strength. He closed his eyes and held out his sword, stopping only when he heard a scream and felt his sword stab flesh. He opened his eyes just in time to hear a male voice screaming in agony. Lord 9. The Pure Heart had fallen from Seishi's fingertips and landed near Neo Sailormoon. The belts of electricity disappeared and the Neo Senshi fell to the ground. Seishi gazed up at Jupiter Kamen...with her own eyes. "Arigatou...Ryuu..." she whispered. Jupiter Kamen closed his eyes and turned away. His lips trembled as he pulled the sword out and let it fall to the cold floor with a clatter. The sword had punctured her heart, blood soaking her black dress. Jupiter Kamen carefully picked her up and held her tenderly in his arms, "Sei-chan, please don't die...don't die...if you die, I'll die...I swear will." Jupiter Kamen whispered, burying his face into her hair. "Why?" Seishi asked, Jupiter Kamen raised his head and looked directly into her eyes, tears fell onto her pale face. "Because...I lo-" "Shh.." Seishi murmured, pushing her finger to his lips. She shook her head gently and closed her eyes. Seconds later, her body fell limp in Jupiter Kamen's arms. "Sei..Sei-chan..." he whispered. He gently shook her, her head fell to one side. His lips trembled and his body began to shake. For one of the very first times, he wept openly. It was the death of his best friend, of the one girl he loved. The one girl who needed to know that he loved her, the one girl who never got to hear those words. "Oh god..Ryuu.." Neo Neptune whispered, holding her hand over her mouth. Neo Sailormars looked down, "But now Lord 9 and Lady 9 are dead, Ryuu. You saved the world. I'm sure Seishi would have given her life in a second to save just you." she said quietly. "What about Neo Sailormoon?" Neo Sailor V asked, she walked over to the body and looked down upon it, "Is..she..is she dead also?" "No, just give her back her Heart Crystal." Neo Sailormercury answered. Neo Sailor V sighed with relief and looked down at the lifeless body and shuddered slightly. It looked so cold and dead...but...somehow very alive. She reached downwards for the Heart Crystal. A cold hand fell upon hers and squeezed it with such strength and force that Neo V screamed in agony. She writhed away from the hand and looked in terror at it's owner. "Usa..chan..?" Neo V whispered. Neo Sailormoon's began to laugh...a beautiful, inhuman feminine ringing which resounded around the room. Her body began to levitate, her pink hair darkening to a brilliant shade of red. She reached down and picked up the Crystal Heart, and quickly swallowed it. Neo Sailormoon's closed eyes snapped open, a black star appeared on her forehead. Her lips formed a twisted smile, "I am the Silent Angel, Queen Rage."