Sailormoon Zodiac: #18 - Tsumi to Batsu // The Crime and the Punishment By: Janelle J. (janelle@sailormoon-millennia.net) Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ Note: In this episode, Uranus refers to Sailorvirgo as 'Angel.' This is a reference to her name, Tenshi, which means 'Angel' in Japanese. Uranus is calling her Angel in English pronounced in Japanese ('enjeru'). Angel is one of those English words that all Japanese people know. Kind of like all Westerners know the word 'ninja.' Sailortaurus brought her hands to her lips and felt her fingers trembling slightly as she watched Sailorvenus pick up Sailorscorpio's discarded tiara and hand it to the Outer Senshi for further inspection. Although she would never publically admit it, she was terrified. 'What am I doing here? Have I gone crazy, *where* is *here*? If I die here, will anyone know? What will my parents think happened to me?' Sailortaurus had never been outside of Japan before, let alone planet Earth. Now they were on an alien world, their guide apparently kidnapped. "What are we going to do?" she whispered, valiantly trying to hide the fear in her voice. "We have to go forward," Leo said firmly, "We have to find Scorpio, and we have to stop the Black Star Galaxy from invading the Golden Millennium, it’s our duty." she finished. The other Senshi nodded in agreement, regardless if not everyone wanted to continue without Sailorscorpio. "I think we should split up." Uranus suggested. "No! That's not safe! How will we ever find each other again?" Aquarius exclaimed. "No, we have to. A group with over 20 people isn't going to be able to move around undetected." Leo replied, agreeing with Uranus. She paused for a moment with a troubled look on her face, "And also...splitting up means that if one group gets... disabled, the other groups can fulfill the mission." she added slowly. The Zodiac Senshi were silent as the implications of what she said settled in: We might die here. Uranus nodded and gestured to the Senshi, "Okay, the Sailor Senshi will go into the gate. The Zodiac--" "No." Aries interrupted, "The groups should be mixed. You are not powerful enough to handle this on your own." "I think we can handle ourselves just fine." Uranus retorted. "No, she's right..." Sailorsaturn said quietly, "It would be wiser for us to combine our talents. The Zodiac Senshi have powers we do not have, but we have experience that they do not have." she said. "Okay--Sailormoon, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Mars, Venus, and Pluto will be one group. Leo, Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer, Jupiter, Mercury, Neo Moon, and I will be group two. Uranus, Neptune, Gemini, Pisces, and Aries, Neo Moon, and Virgo will be the last group." she said as she grouped the Senshi together according to ability. "That seems fair..." Virgo said slowly as she looked at her new team-mates: the androgynous Uranus, the feminine and arrogant Neptune, and the mysterious pink-haired girl who had just appeared. "Scorpio said there was a labyrinth we had to go through, I think two of us should go into it and the other group should try and find an alternate way into the Palace..." Cancer suggested. "We'll find the alternate route." Uranus said, raising her hand as if she were in school. Though inside, part of her felt like it was picking teams for basketball all over again. She smiled and placed her hand atop Virgo's white-haired head, "With Angel's ability to levitate, maybe we could just fly to the top." * * * * Leadan looked down at the dagger in his hand as he sat down on Scorpia's bed. His grey eyes scanned the room for something, anything, he didn't know what. 'I'm here to kill you, brother...' Arseniru had been smiling when he said those words, his eyes wild as if her were drunk. Somehow those words just didn't bother him as much as he thought they should have. Arseniru had come into his laboratory and managed to push him into the contraption that Leadan had invented to erase emotions and memories. He was sure that he felt angry at Arseniru when it was happening, but now he wasn't sure. He saw some disturbing images, but he wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel about them. Arseniru was saying some really bizarre things about Scorpia too, asking him strange questions, Leadan could see himself trying to fight Arseniru off--but Arseniru had always been much more physically strong than he was. 'I'm here to kill you, brother...' He simply wasn't bothered by the fact that his brother had apparently erased his memory. 'Why didn't didn't you kill me then?' * * * * "Well, is there a way out of here or what?" Leo asked as she impatiently watched Sailormercury tap into her mini-computer. Just moments ago they had entered the labyrinth, the two groups deciding to go in different directions. Their group chose to go left, and as they did the ceiling collapsed blocking the way they came from. Seeing no other alternative, they moved forward only to encounter a solid wall. At the moment, they appeared to be trapped. "We should have gone right." Capricorn muttered as she kicked one of the pebbles on the ground, the only thing lighting the cavern was a small flame Leo was trying to maintain and the soft light from Mercury's computer. "It seems that all the walls around us are solid rock," Mercury sighed, "Mainly granite. Hmm...Except for the ground." "What should we do? Jump up and down really hard?" Taurus asked, she wasn't trying to be sarcastic, but the ground seemed fairly impenetrable and she didn't see any other way of collapsing it. "Sailorcapricorn, do you think you could manage to cause an earthquake powerful enough to crack the ground, but not enough to collapse the ceiling?" Saturn asked. "Well, I've never tried..." Capricorn began slowly. "If she fails, we'll all get crushed to death." Leo warned, Capricorn threw her a death glare which Leo couldn't see in the faint light. "And what would *you* do? Try and burn our way through the ground?" Capricorn asked sarcastically. Mercury sighed and pulled down her VR visor and looked for the weakest spot in the rock, "Well, she might as well try, Sailorleo. We only have about 20 minutes of air in here left to breathe, and draining fast since your burning it for our light." Mercury said softly, "So we might as well die trying because we're going to die waiting." --------------- Sailoruranus stared up at the castle sitting on the black rock cliffs. It was quite a way up, the closest window had to be at least 30 stories from where they were standing. Furthermore, it was all but impossible for them to get any higher. "Its going to be hard to scale that wall in heels." Uranus joked slightly as she gave Neptune and Neo Moon a half-hearted shrug. "Sailorvirgo, how much practice do you have levitating things?" Neptune asked. "I've practiced a lot, but I don't think my mind is strong enough to carry people up there..." Virgo said as she lowered her head slightly, embarassed by her lack of ability when everyone was counting on her. "What's your mind got to do with it?" Aries asked as she sat on a rock, she propped her chin up on her hands and her elbows on her knees. "Well, the power of the mind is very important with telekinesis..." Virgo began. "Telekinesis?" Pisces exclaimed before laughing loudly, "Oh, Lady Virgo, I'm not laughing at you. It’s just...have you really thought all this time that you could merely *move* objects with your mind?" "Well, yes, but I *can* move objects..." "Oh, how amusing." Pisces said as she grinned at Aries, "I guess she doesn't know, we should tell her shouldn't we?" "So tell her." Aries replied with a yawn. "My dear," Pisces said seriously, "You cannot move objects with your mind." Virgo looked surprised, but Pisces smiled gently. "No, not *move* objects with your mind. You control gravity. Thus you are not really moving the objects themselves..." "I can control gravity?" Virgo whispered, completely blown away by the realization she was far more powerful than she knew. The impossibility of hit her soon after--what about what she learned in science classes? "Heh, yeah. Funny isn't it? You never knew the true extent of what you could do." Aries said as she stretched her back, "Good thing *you* grew up like you did and not like Leo, god knows what the hell could have happened then." --------------- "Mars Flame Sniper!" cried Mars as she shot the mangy beast with yet another flame arrow. The beast groaned, but tried to snap at Venus' ankle one more time before slumping lifelessly. "Well, the new Death Toll is five rabid dogs." Sagittarius said as her silver bow disappeared from her hands. "How delightful." Aquarius said dryly, "How many points did we get for that?" "I'd say about 5000." Venus answered as Mars levitated a small ball of flame in front of them for light. "Shh, do you hear water?" Pluto asked as she hushed the girls. They silenced and listened carefully, sure enough they heard a dripping sound. "There seems to be a really tight tunnel ahead of us," Sailormoon said peering as best as she could through the faint light, "I think the water is coming through there. We should go that way, maybe it’s the sewer line of the castle?" she suggested, half hoping it wasn't true. Venus grimaced, "We should have picked left." "I don't think they're having a better time than we are," Mars commented as the group slowly crept through the tunnel. As the passage became narrower, the girls struggled to keep themselves as free from the muck lining the walls as much as possible. After a few more yards, they came across a dead-end--sort of. There was light shining from a round halo above them, and metal spikes driven into the wall ahead of them. "I hope that's the castle..." Venus whispered as Pluto took her role as the eldest and climbed up the makeshift ladder. Carefully, she pushed up the metal covering, prepared for the worst. Sailoraquarius held her breath, expecting shouting from guards when they were discovered. Actually, none of that happened. Instead, Pluto seemed perplexed. After a moment, she pushed the cover aside and lifted herself up. One by one, the Senshi followed each solemnly quiet as they reached the light above. "Where are we?" Sailormoon whispered as the Senshi beheld the sights around them. They were outdoors in the center of a small village...and in the distance loomed the great Black Castle. * * * * Leadan sat in his chair unmoving. In his hands were a small pair of pliers and a mechanical hand. He had been sitting there in almost the same position for almost an hour. He couldn't concentrate. More than that, he didn't *feel* like working. He had lost all passion, all drive for creating and building. He set down the pliers and glanced at the dagger sitting on his worktable. It gleamed at him menacingly. "Does something trouble you, My Lord?" asked Methania as she watched him from her chair. "No, nothing troubles me, that's the problem." Leadan answered, he knew he certainly should be troubled. Or at least, he should be feeling a little more something than he currently was. Princess Lithia had said that the Sailor Senshi had infiltrated the Castle, they had said that Scorpia had returned. He had been ordered to kill her. Yet, despite the fact that he had no qualms about killing her, something in the back of his mind kept reserved. All these memories of a happier life. 'Is this how you felt after I erased your emotions, My Love?' Leadan drew his hand over the cursed dagger and picked it up, careful not to touch the blade. There was something which unsettled Leadan. Earlier today, Arseniru had come to him looking proud and accomplished. 'I tasted her blood, brother. I wonder if it tasted as sweet as it did to you.' Leadan did not know who Arseniru was speaking of, and before he could question him, the red haired man had sauntered off. Arseniru often bragged about his various conquests to Leadan, but for some reason he was unsettled by those words. Strange, considering he could not feel much else. 'Don't worry, my Princess. I have captured Scorpia.' Without another second of hesitation, Leadan put on his cape and spun towards Methania. "Methania, I must find Lady Scorpia and bring her here." Leadan said as he held the dagger in his hand, "Don't forget what I told you: Lady Scorpia must not be harmed under any circumstances." * * * * "How is it possible?" Sailoraquarius whispered as she felt her knees go weak, they were so far from the castle now...and they were in the middle of some village on an alien planet. "We have to go back!" Venus exclaimed, "We can't go back, we took no turns and the entrance collapsed...if we went back, we'd be at a dead end again." Pluto said as she shook her head. "Nevertheless, it isn't safe for us to be here. We must return to the castle so we can--" Pluto's words were suddenly stopped short by a tapping on her shoulder. Reflexes kicked in and she immediately pushed her staff out against where the legs of a human might be, causing him to trip backwards. She then whirled around, the edge of her staff along the neck of the perpetrator. As she did so, her garnet eyes met a pair of amused green ones. Lying in the dirt was a black haired man so devilishly handsome a gasp escaped from Sailorvenus' lips. "I apologize, lady, for being so presumptuous." the male said with a smile, boldly pushing away the Time Staff and standing up. He brushed the dirt off the seat of his black pants. "However, I cannot help but notice that you and your group are...well, very oddly dressed." he said and gestured to the Senshi. "Why is it that we can understand him?" Aquarius whispered to Sagittarius, it had never occurred to her to wonder this before--what with talking cats and mysterious figures from the past, but now that she was on an alien planet with a red sky the question of language came to mind. "Ah, you must be from one of the newly acquired realms." the man said knowingly, "I've noticed you speak the Common Tongue with an accent. Please, tell me what I can do to help a group of beautiful, but obviously lost travelers?" he asked and dashed a handsome smile. "Well, actually..." Sailormoon began, and flashed Pluto a nervous look, "We were looking to go to the Black Castle..." "Oh, I see. So you're *important*, lost, travelers." the man said, "Well, if you follow this road it leads directly to the castle gates." he said as he gestured to the cobblestones they stood on. He hesitated for a moment and then smiled nervously, "Actually, I'm on my way to the Black Castle just now... I, er... work for the Princesses." he said with a slight smile, "As a servant to the Princesses, I could never allow a group of women to walk along the road unattended." "We can take care of ourselves, thank you for your help though." Pluto replied, which brought a round of disappointed looks amongst some of the Senshi. The male laughed, "Of course you will be safe, what on earth could harm you in the entire Black Star Galaxy?" he said, laughing at the absurdity, "I am sorry to laugh, I know you are from the New Realms were such horrors exist, but Kuroi is the safest place in the entire Galaxy. My offer to you, my ladies, was not to protect you--but because it would be rude of me to let a woman go unescorted." he said. But when no response came, his grins turned into a look of sincerity. "Please, my lady, humor our customs in Kuroi. It would be shameful of me to let you go alone." Pluto sighed with hesitation but finally relented, silently gesturing to the pathway and urging him to lead. "Thank you, my lady. Please, follow me." he said as he bent down and picked up a small leather bag and slung it over his shoulder. He gave them a small gesture and began walking towards the Castle. Sailorvenus immediately rushed to his side, Sagittarius and Mars followed, but lingered a bit away from him. Pluto and Moon stayed far behind the group, prepared for anything that the man might spring onto them. Pluto's garnet eyes watched Venus who had latched onto their handsome guide. "So, um, sir. You didn't tell us your name..." Sailorvenus said as she flashed a lovely smile. Aquarius felt a twinge of jealousy run through her spine, she wished she could be as charming, but she didn't know how. "Oh, my name is Tenjilan...But everyone calls me Tenji, so you can call me that." he said smiling at the golden haired beauty. "Tenji-kun...that's so cute!" she exclaimed, "My name is Sail--I mean, my name is Minako." she said with a slight blush. She couldn't believe how she was acting over him, okay, well, sure this is how she usually acted towards cute boys. But now? When they were trying to save Sailorscorpio? When he could very well be an enemy? It was inexplicable, but there was something about him that she couldn't put her finger on. Something that made her feel safe, secure, and well... warm inside. 'Tenjilan,' she liked the way that sounded. "Do you think we can trust him?" Sailormoon whispered to Sailorpluto when she was confident they were out of earshot, "No, but I suppose we don't have a choice. Just be prepared for anything..." * * * * Leadan closed the door quietly, consciously making himself deaf to the cries coming from his brother's room. That was not how he had wished to see her again. Slowly, he returned to his quarters. Methania rose to greet him, "What troubles you, master?" Leadan silently walked to his chair and removed his cape. He sat down heavily, his grey eyes fixed on the dagger in his hands. "Methania, I know now why my brother did not kill me. I see now that he is much more clever than I ever imagined. I see now why it is he erased my emotions." Leadan said grimly, unable to feel the vicious anger he so desired to feel. 'Do you hate me so much, my brother?' "What has happened, my lord?" Methania asked, rising from her chair defensively. Leadan watched her with low eyes before gazing down at the dagger in his trembling hands. "My brother has committed a great crime." That was not how he had wished to see her again. * * * * A gentle touch. A caress so lovingly delicate that it brought a smile to Shikami's lips. Only one person would touch her so gently, and the gentleness was greatly appreciated since she felt a strange pain all over her body. Had she been attacked before she was brought here? "Leadan..." she whispered, turning to towards the warm body that lay next to her in the bed, with her eyes closed she reached out and touched his bare chest. It had been so long that she barely recognized the feel of his skin, but as her fingers touched the pendant hanging from his neck; she knew it could only be Leadan. "My love...I'm so glad you are here." "As am I." said a hoarse, coy voice. It was not Leadan's. Shikami's eyes snapped open. "Arseniru!" she cried, she jumped out of the bed, grabbing the bed sheet and wrapping it around her body. The room, it was not Leadan's, not even hers, it was his. How did she get here? Her mind flashed to her last memory, showing the Senshi the gateway to the Black Castle when something struck against her head sharply. She could still feel the pain in her head, but she felt pain everywhere. "What have you done to me?" she whispered, tightening her grip around the blankets that covered her. She became distinctly aware of her nudity as she stared with bitter hatred at the man beside her. "Nothing which you didn't desire." Arseniru answered with a smirk. Shikami's eyes darkened with rage. "In fact, I believe you asked for it over and over again." he said with a wild look on his face. He watched with pleasure as Shikami's face twisted into a look of disgust and horror. "You should have seen the look on Leadan's face when he saw you again. It's such a shame that you were debasing yourself with such lewd acts. Needless to say, he was horrified. I guess he was jealous you never did it for him." Arseniru sneered. "Leadan?" Shikami repeated as the color drained from her face. A coldness entered her heart as she stared at Arseniru. Her heart turned to ice as every part of her soul filled with hatred for the man whose twisted lips mocked her. She didn't know whether if he was lying or not, but it was clear to Shikami from the feeling in her body that he had violated her. "He'll kill you for this..." she whispered. "I'm afaid he despises you for betraying him. I think I would too, the way you were crying out for me--" "Stop it!" she screamed as she covered her ears. "He got in the way of all the things I wanted...you, Scorpia--or should I say, Shikami? I've wanted you always, and now I can have you..." he whispered, "rather, now I've had you." he added with a smirk. "You are much more than even I imagined you to be..." "STOP IT!" she screamed loudly. "That's hardly what you were saying only hours ago, I believe it was only the opposite. Actually I had to stop you." "You are a LIAR!" she cried, but she knew he wasn't lying. She could feel his disgusting touches on her, even now. She couldn't remember everything, but fragments entered her head as her rage cooled to an icy hatred. She practically retched at the memories of her, unable to control her body, doing things she would rather die than do. 'It was someone else, this isn't me...' Scorpio thought to herself as her body turned cold. Rationale began to seep through her blind rage, 'He tried to destroy me, but he failed. He tried to break my body, but he did not break *me*...' Slowly, she brought a smile to her bruised lips. "I guess I can't try and deny it anymore. Yes, it is truly what my subconscious wanted. Leadan was simply too...gentle." Shikami murmured, her voice tinged with ice. She moved seductively towards the bed and kneeled above him, dropping the blanket to reveal herself to Arseniru. Arseniru could feel himself reacting to her. She really was a beautiful creature, despite how much he despised her. True that he had taken her a few hours ago, but the fact she was actually in control of her body this time made it far more appealing than it was before. "I've wanted to do this for so long." she whispered as she neared his body and pressed her lips onto Arseniru's mouth and ran her fingers along his muscular abdomen. Seconds later, she felt him cry out and writhe...in agony. Blood touched her lips. Not her own, this time. She pulled herself away and thrust her talons deeper into his body and twisted slowly. "Die slowly. Painfully." she whispered with a smile as she stared into his half-dead eyes. She pulled her claws out of his lifeless body and wiped the blood off on the bed sheets, leaving long red streaks on the white linen. She then ripped Leadan's ring off Arseniru's finger and placed it on her own and yanked the chain with Leadan's pendant off his neck. She looked around the room and found her transformation pen sitting on the desk, recklessly. She picked it up and transformed quickly. "See you in Hell." she muttered as she left the room and slammed the door behind her.