Chapter Fifteen: The Unforgettable Fire



The massive column of fire that consumed Dark Shadow Mars slowly faded away from and left those dark eyes to glare at the Omega Master, a fierce flame burning in them. Feeling a bit angry at him, Super Sailor Mars narrowed her eyes at him and growled out in a shaky voice, "Why didn't you decide to do this sooner? The others could still be okay if you would've helped!"

However, he didn't even look at her as the flames of his energy faded from around him, leaving only an angry Shadow senshi with considerable determination to stop this. It was the Omega Master that answered her though all while smiling confidently at them both, "That's very simple. The sphere that's keeping Sailor Moon protected from me consists of Shadow Mars's energy. He didn't fight in the hope that I would be defeated by the others. Isn't that right, Yamito?"

Although it didn't cool her down any she blinked and looked at Shadow Mars, "Is that why you didn't fight? Why didn't you just say so!?" He only glared at the Omega Master with emotionless eyes and almost didn't even seem to hear her. The Omega Master laughed loudly and returned the glare, shaking his head ever so lightly.

"Oh, my dearest Rei, how little you know him. He didn't want to tell you that the only way for me to get to her.....is for him to die."

Feeling her heart skip a beat she looked to him with a grimace and let out a sharp breath. Feeling that would be the last thing to happen she moved her hand through the air and spoke confidently, "Too bad neither is going to happen. You'll never get past me to touch him."

"Your confidence is admirable, if not amusing. You are powerful, but haven't I already proved that I'm invincible? Even him," The Omega Master's trailed over to Shadow Mars and he grinned wickedly, even more so at the burning hate that reflected in his eyes, "The strongest Shadow senshi and he's nothing compared to me. You'll both die.....and give me my path to Sailor Moon."

"Let me out! I want to help you fight him! I don't want you two to die too!" Eternal Sailor Moon finally joined in and pressed against the field. The last two standing were especially important to her and it showed in her eyes and the passionate voice she spoke with, "We can beat him together and save Mamoru at the same time! Let me out!"

Both the Omega Master and Sailor Mars looked to her, though Shadow Mars never took his eyes off his enemy. With a light laugh the Omega Master pushed his hand through his hair and tilted his head a bit, "Well, I had almost forgot you were in there. I suppose I was distracted by killing all of your friends."

Giving him a cold glare Sailor Moon let out a shaky breath and clenched her teeth, "I never would have believed that someone I love and someone I hate be confined in the same body." Her words just made him grin and renew her determination to beat him and save Mamoru, though she was still a bit trapped. The standoff was suddenly broken by words from the silent Shadow senshi, in a tone that made even the Omega Master look to him slowly.

"This will end now. As I am the last of the Shadow senshi, it will be my power that puts an end to your life. The circle will complete itself with your destruction."

Although a bit taken with his words, the Omega Master just smiled lightly and let a smug tone further his sins, "Where all others have failed.......Sentaku, Suteki, Makoto, Kurai, Minako, Fukai, Haruka, Setsuna......you think you will accomplish what all of them couldn't do? I'd like to see that." Shadow Mars's face never changed as a red aura washed over him, pulsing off him slightly as he gathered his energy. Concentrating his massive power together made his eyes flash with silver energy and the Omega Master blinked a few times in surprise. In all of his time of terror he had never seen a Shadow senshi tapping so deeply into his power as the one before him was and that made him eager to see the end product. Unfortunately, he never would as Sailor Mars decided to end this herself as she landed next to the Omega Master and began to use her Flame Sniper attack at point blank range.

"He won't have to because I will!"

Much to her shock his entire image blurred as he lunged forward and caught her arms, stopping her attack before she had a chance to perform it. Spinning her around and holding her arms to her sides he laughed and placed his hand around her throat, looking at Shadow Mars evilly.

"I'm curious, Yamito, for I have seen your heart and how you care about her. I have also seen how you care about Usagi. So tell me, which do you love more?"

Seeing her caught and held by his enemy, Shadow Mars stared with an open mouth and said nothing, shocked by the turn of events. In the light of her capture the aura around him started to fade away and his hands opened loosely, his energy starting to lower back down. His world began to collapse and he looked down a bit as a breeze of wind tossed his hair around his tired face, "You would make me choose between them?" With a dark laugh the Omega Master watched him in delight and held Sailor Mars's throat a bit tighter, making Shadow Mars turn his head away slightly, "As a leader, I have learned to make a choice and a single choice alone. The truth is....." Slowly looking up, reflections of fear appeared in those stoic eyes at the thought of losing either of them, "As I have already told Usako, Rei is who I have fallen in love with." Sailor Mars stared at him with wide eyes and nearly forgot she was at the mercy of the Omega Master. His eyes had fallen to her face and he looked at her with a terrified look gleaming in them, then he kept speaking, "She has given me power I never thought I could have, and saved me from myself when I needed it most. If I pledged myself to her for the rest of eternity, I still could never repay her for what she has given me. She truly is the better of anything I could be." Her eyes felt damp as she wished to smile at him but the hand around her neck soon brought her neck brought her to reality. It also brought Shadow Mars's attentions back to the frowning Omega Master and he regained his determination, "Whether I love one more than the other is simply inconsequential. All you need to understand, you pathetic waste of energy, is that I will protect both of them to the bitter end."

Both of the girls stared at him speechlessly, both feeling a different emotion from the same source. Sailor Moon couldn't help but look upon Shadow Mars as a path she had stepped across but never committed to walk down. She knew, even as he was someone destined for greatness just as she was, she would simply have to watch as her best friend took that path. She felt strange as happiness and envy existed in the same moment.

Sailor Mars just wished he had said all of this earlier and given her time to tell him some of the same things. She also knew of his destiny and had been taken by his spirit since the day they had met. Although she knew she was facing her own death, she imagined her future beside the most powerful Shadow senshi. However her dreams were all shattered as the Omega Master spoke with a flat voice.

"How touching. It's two girls who have finally taken the heart of the dark soldier of Mars. Very well, then I will make the same choice you have!"

With the idea of what he would do coming to him, Shadow Mars yelled out to him and sprinted forward, trying to stop it before it would happen. Almost playing with him the Omega Master watched him approaching quickly and chuckled, then suddenly threw the senshi he clutched forward towards him. The scene played out in those dark eyes as Shadow Mars watched the Omega Master throw his hand forward into her back, sending a pulsing energy into her body harshly.

A terrible scream filled the air as she felt the energy rip through her fuku and saturate her body, draining all of her own energy and making her feel suddenly weak all over. Though her vision was blurry she felt strong arms wrap around her and hold her moment and she knew that he had caught her. Shadow Mars came into focus as she looked up and the horrified look in his eyes made her gasp a few times weakly as he knelt down to set her down. Even as he held her closely and tried to talk her through it, she could feel her life draining away and spoke in a weak voice, "At least I finally got to hear you......tell me you loved me. As long as you keep him from getting to her, it'll make it all worth it, Yamito." She watched as his lips quivered, though no words came out in his shocked state. Trying to make him feel better she reached up and put her hand to his cheek, tears running down her own, "I love you too, Yamito. I have since the day we met at the shrine. You're the strongest spirit I've ever known, and I know you can beat him. Save her, okay?" Right there in his arms, she closed her eyes and died. It all made the Omega Master smile widely and almost, proudly. With the death of Rei, Sailor Moon screamed out from the sphere and started sobbing, pounding her hands against the side and pleading to be let out.

The Omega Master just watched Shadow Mars with a smile and brushed his hair back a bit, "Ah, I'm so close I can taste it. Only one more worthless senshi and I will be unstoppable." Then something caught him by surprise and made him blink, almost gasp. A slight shimmer reflected some light from under the long, white hair of the grieving Shadow senshi and soon a single tear rolled down his cheek and gathered at his chin. His eyes were hidden and his face was expressionless, but the tear gave away his feelings and that single pool of sorrow fell on Sailor Mars' serene face and caused him to stare breathlessly for a moment, "A tear? The cold-faced, stone-hearted Shadow senshi has shed a tear for the loss of a simple girl?"

Shadow Mars just softly let her body down onto the ground and slowly stood up, his face still hidden by his strands of white hair. Even Sailor Moon watched him in horror, the look on his face enough to make even her afraid of him. The Omega Master's smugness was soon to disappear as the red aura returned around the senshi but quickly flashed in a dark, blood color. All as if his body wasn't even straining for this power, Shadow Mars stared at him with nothing less than pure hatred in his eyes. It made the Omega Master rethink his level of superiority over the senshi. What scared him the most was his voice, which had a distinctive second tone to it, like someone was speaking right along with him.

"You've killed my beautiful Rei. The only light in my darkness. My friends......Sentaku, Kage, Kurai, Suteki.......all of them killed by your hand. That is the end. It stops now. I won't let you kill Sailor Moon. The next one to die......is you." Suddenly his eyes started to change as his pupils went pure black and empty as the darkness inside of him came right to the surface. Although Sailor Moon watched his physical changes, the Omega Master stepped back in fear as he felt the other changes in him, such as the level of energy present in his body rising. Those strands of white hair suddenly started to soak into a dark shade of red, like blood was running through them. Powerful flames ignited all around his body and his uniform burned away from him, leaving him bare in his rage. Then a ribbon of fire appeared around his waist and ran up over his right shoulder, then back down along his back and connecting below his waist. Under the ribbon a body-tight, black shirt pulled over his body. The arm and shoulder covered by the ribbon was left bare while the other side was covered in a long sleeve that ended at his new glove. A bottom much like his temple robes appeared over his legs and hid any separation of his legs. Soon the ribbon of energy solidified into a wrap of cloth that stuck off his right shoulder but left his left uncovered. All of this was tied around his waist by a blood-red belt that draped the ends down his back. His cold, dead eyes still stared at the Omega Master and his transformation finished, leaving something that no other Shadow senshi had ever achieved in all of existence.

The Omega Master seemed a bit shaken at the change and he stepped back slowly, not looking as confident as before, "What's this? I wasn't aware you Shadow senshi had another form."

"This is my destiny, to succeed where all others have failed. Mars has granted me my request, to bring my darkness to its fullest and give me my True Dark form." The senshi spoke in that ghastly voice, all fear and anger gone from his face, leaving only emptiness in his face. This power scared Sailor Moon more than anybody, but the Omega Master was certainly not as confident as the raging senshi continued to speak, "You've taken my life from me. I gave up my chance at having a normal life when I took the burdens of the leadership of my kind. And now, I've sacrificed all that I had, my friends, my family and even my love, so I could protect the only one who has a chance at truly stopping you. I thought I could have cheated.....that I could have still lead a somewhat normal life. I even had aspirations to marry that girl who lies at my feet now, but you took it all away. For all of this, Omega Master, I will watch you torn from that body and sent into oblivion."

"I would think you'd be tired of talking by now. I've heard it all from every senshi I've killed. Let your actions speak, Yamito." The Omega Master quipped and started walking towards him in a cool, casual stride. The senshi just stood there, watching him approach with that smug grin on his face. Eternal Sailor Moon was also watching as she wiped some tears away from her cheeks.

"Yamito?"

Then she winced in horror as the Omega Master's image blurred a bit as he lunged forward, raking his fist across that stoic face and causing him to jerk to the side and step back. The Omega Master laughed loudly and stood straight, watching the position he had put the senshi into, "There, you see? You couldn't even avoid that. I'm very disappointed."

That smile quickly disappeared as Shadow Mars straightened his body and turned back to the Omega Master, not as much as a bruise on him from the strike. The Omega Master blinked once but still wasn't too worried until he started to speak again, "You're pathetic."

The little remark made the Omega Master narrow his eyes and clench his fist in anger, "I bet you think that's funny? You'll pay for that." He didn't get any reaction and it proved to make him even angrier. A crackling aura surrounded Endymion's body and started to funnel down into his right hand, creating a massive blast of energy, "And with this, I will bid you good-bye!" Thrusting the massive energy into Shadow Mars, the Omega Master's mood suddenly changed from arrogant to utterly shocked. All the energy he had gathered simply stopped a few inches from his body, a swirling of flames keeping even the potent attack of the Omega Master from moving anywhere near his body. Even when he tried to push the energy through to him, the Omega Master was horrified to see that he couldn't even move his hand an inch closer to him. From inside the protective flames, the senshi watched coldly and started to speak in that same dark voice.

"This is my destiny. With two final deaths, I will end this once and for all. I pray that I will be with you again, Rei."

With his passionate words, the flames started to swirl around faster and suddenly surged out, sending the Omega Master skidding back and holding his singed hand. Eternal Sailor Moon was speechless as she watched, completely shocked that Yamito had reached this level. From inside of the sphere, she felt this feeling of dread coming over her as she watched the one she was destined to marry and the other she had grown to love as well battle it out. She realized that whoever was victorious, she would still lose in the long run and wished to cry out, but found her throat dry and empty.

The Omega Master shook his hand a bit and sneered, not liking this turn of events at all. The exerted out senshi then upped the stakes even more as his fists clenched at his sides. Fueled by the deaths of his friends, he let his energy expose the sorrow his face wouldn't reveal, and suddenly released a shockwave that lit the entire room and beyond into sweltering flames. The flames tickled around the sphere a bit and circled past the Omega Master, but left everything in a burning blaze that reflected his deepest emotions. The Omega Master winced a bit as he looked at him and felt the intense heat all around him, "You've definitely changed, Yamito. Do you think you can scare me by lighting a few little fires? I am the Omega Master......and I am invincible!" With a loud yell a gathering of energy swirled over him and suddenly rose up in a great form. The Omega Monster that rose from the evil around him was far more intense than either of the last two senshi had ever seen. The Omega Master suddenly felt more confident of his situation and laughed loudly, throwing his hand forward at Shadow Mars, "Destroy him! Kill him using the energies of all people around the world!"

The Omega Monster roared out and leaned forward, ready to rake its terrible hand across the senshi and end his life. As the fingers of the Omega Monster touched the ground on their way towards him it caused the ground to instantly cut away into oblivion and leave mighty trenches behind it. All of this didn't even seem to concern Shadow Mars. He just stood there and waited for the hand to near him. As it did the Omega Monster's hand caught the aura of flames around him and stopped, as if trying to push through them. The Omega Master's triumphant laugh was suddenly silenced as Shadow Mars widened his eyes and saturated them with a glow. Here merely flicked his hand through the air and the aura around him pushed through the massive hand of the Omega Monster, causing the very energy it consisted of to disperse. The beast suddenly roared and reeled back, the rest of its body being dispersed as the aura ran up along its arm. Soon the Omega Master stood alone once more and stared at the senshi with an open mouth. It was obvious this senshi was beyond what any of the others had been. Sailor Moon gasped as she looked at Shadow Mars as well, remembering how difficult it was for all of the senshi to destroy the other Omega Monster. She knew as well that he had become something greater than he expected.

Attempting to display his powers, the Omega Master grimaced generated a strong wind to extinguish the fires that burned around him. As the wind cut through True Dark Shadow Mars's hair, those black eyes watched his flames burning just as bright in defiance of the Omega Master's power. Astonished that he couldn't put out the fires, the Omega Master stared at the senshi with pure fear coming over and opened his mouth to say something. What came out of his mouth was not words, but a spurt of blood. He found his breath taken away by the fact Shadow Mars was standing next to him with his fist planted in his stomach.

Suddenly feeling weak, the Omega Master leaned against him and covered his stomach, wheezing from the blow. That expressionless face just stared forward as he let him lean on him, bringing this down to the last moments. Sailor Moon blinked in confusion as she watched him in one place, then suddenly in another with no effort. The reality of this was soon to hit her as she pressed against the sphere and found her voice again.

"It's over! You can't kill him, Yamito! Mamoru is still in there!" Shadow Mars didn't even look over at her, just stared forward and slowly reached up and grabbed the Omega Master by his shirt. Without even a strain, he held Endymion's body out as the Omega Master was so shocked by the attack that he barely even stood. Despite the pleas of Sailor Moon, Shadow Mars started channeling energy into the Omega Master, much as he did before he killed his clone, Kiga. The Omega Master screamed out and grabbed his arm, trying to fight the energy but was overwhelmed. All this struck a new fear in Sailor Moon, that one she loved would kill the other she loved dearly, "Yamito! Please stop! I know you want to avenge everyone but that's still my Mamo-chan! If you kill the Omega Master, you will kill Mamoru!" The look on his face was enough to let her know she wasn't making it through to him and she felt tears running down her cheeks, "I know you don't like Mamoru, Yamito, but I love him with all my heart. And.....you know how I feel about you too. Please don't kill Mamoru in the name of avenging Shadow Moon. I'm begging you, please don't. I couldn't bear it if you were to kill him." Shadow Mars started to loosen his grip on the Omega Master and the energy stopped flowing down his arm, though he didn't let go. Sailor Moon felt her chest lighten and she wiped a tear from her eye, "I love you both so much. Don't make me choose who I love more......either."

Those black eyes moved to the Omega Master and narrowed slightly, "I have avenged Sentaku. I have fulfilled my destiny and defeated you. The others may rest peacefully knowing you are no more. You will leave his body and accept your fate of roaming this universe as nothing more than a harmless mass of energy. All at the hands of a Shadow senshi." Almost spitting out the last words, Shadow Mars tossed the defeated Omega Master to the ground and looked down at him. The Omega Master looked up at him weakly, more angry at being defeated than physically hurt, but stayed down nonetheless. Sometimes opportunities present themselves when you least expect it. With a last look of disgust, Shadow Mars turned and walked back towards the sphere, though oddly, the fires around them didn't seem to be dying down, but growing. As he arrived at the sphere, those black eyes slowly returned to normal and he looked upon Eternal Sailor Moon with a tired expression, "As you wish, Sailor Moon. I know you hate to lose one that you love, but you will have to lose one more."

As he spoke, a bright shine appeared over his body and faded, but then flashed once more and began to come and go with the surging of the flames. Sailor Moon felt her heart stop as she pressed against the sphere once more, terrified that it too was started to fade in and out, "What do you mean? No one else has to die, Yamito! It's over!"

"My curse for taking my True Dark power." He admitted solemnly and looked to her with a surprisingly happy look in his eyes. She wished the field would weaken enough for her to get out and touch him one last time, but it retained enough energy to keep her in there. Then he did something that made her feel the reality of the situation, he smiled with a freed look on his face, "Don't cry, Usako. We'll always be around when you need us. You still have your Mamo-chan, and a great destiny ahead of you. When I see Rei, I'll tell her that......."

His word were cut off by a blade stabbing through his chest and pushing all the way through to touch the sphere in front of him. Sailor Moon jumped back in terror and watched as the Omega Master stood behind Shadow Mars with Endymion's sword pierced through his heart. She then slowly looked back up to Shadow Mars and he didn't seem to be in pain, but just looked back at her as she stuttered, "Y....Yamito?"

"I will never accept defeat by a Shadow senshi! With your last breath, your kind fades into extinction!"

With the Omega Master laughing wildly from behind, Shadow Mars suddenly closed his eyes as the glow started to overtake him. He looked up into Sailor Moon's eyes and spoke in a tone immersed in remorse, "Forgive me, Usako."

With those last words the light from his body saturated the air and consumed the two figures and the sphere, letting the fires around them burn through all that was left. With his own death, Shadow Mars's sphere finally gave in and left its occupant to whatever would lie ahead, void of all the she loved.


Next Chapter: A Finality to End All Sorrow