Author's note on Chapter Five: In keeping with the tradition of having a song that would sound cool in a certain part of the story, I have listed a song in this chapter. The title should tell you why it's in here.


                      Chapter Five: All's fair in love and war                             


"I've been looking forward to this." Dark Shadow Mars said with a cold tone as he faced off against Tuxedo Kamen. Holding his cane to defend himself, Tuxedo Kamen frowned a bit and slid his hand under his cape, hidden by his other arm. With a quick motion, he threw a rose right at his rival and hoped to get enough time to go over and help Sailor Moon, but was disappointed as the rose erupted into flames when it got near to him and burned away. The dark senshi smirked lightly and brushed his hair back from his face, not impressed by the tactic at all, "A rose against fire? A poor match." Grimacing at the matchup, Tuxedo Kamen held tightly to his cane and decided he would have to do this the hard way. He wouldn't get the chance, however, as Shadow Mars's eyes flared up a bit and he pulled his hand up through the air, sending a wave of fire speeding towards him quickly. Although he saw it coming, the sweltering heat made Tuxedo Kamen brace himself and cover his face, hoping it he could take the blast. As the energy ripped into his body, he grunted and was knocked back, hitting the ground and feeling the light burns up and down his arms. Then his rival walked up to him slowly and looked down on him, a cold stare in his eyes, "You're not even a challenge. All you can do is throw roses and spit out pretty speeches."

With a bit of effort, Tuxedo Kamen struggled to his feet and faced him once more, holding his cane at his side and letting his guard down, "Forget your vengeance for a moment and see what you are doing! You've turned against your friends and are willing to kill them? Just because you want to avenge Shadow Moon? That's no reason to hurt people!"

"Don't preach to me. You can't understand what I'm doing, so don't even try. Don't worry, I won't get ahead of myself. I'm going to kill you first, Mamo-chan." The look in his eyes made Tuxedo Kamen raise his cane up once more and waited for another attack, feeling he was not much of a match for his opponent. Suddenly, Shadow Mars was amused by something and his eyes wandered off to the side, "It looks like Jupiter might be doing something you may not like." Following his gaze, he was horrified to see Dark Shadow Jupiter holding Super Sailor Moon up by her fuku, with a wounded Super Sailor Uranus laying a few yards away and trying to get to her feet. Sailor Moon was obviously too weakened to get out of his grasp and fought to break free, but to no avail. Hearing a soft chuckle from behind him, Tuxedo Kamen ignored his battle and sped towards her, hoping he could get her free long enough for the others to help him. Shadow Mars watched idly and miffed a bit, his image starting to fade in some swirling flames, "You would think he would be thankful someone helped her up."

"Hang on, Sailor Moon!"

"You aren't going anywhere." In a swirl of flames, Shadow Mars appeared in front of Tuxedo Kamen and was actually taken off guard when he ran right into him, the two having a silent moment as neither moved. Suddenly, Shadow Mars felt something poking into his stomach and his eyes widened a bit, guessing on what it was, "This isn't......" Tuxedo Kamen's cane suddenly extended, cutting him off and sending him flying through the side of a building with a crash and out of the area.

Tuxedo Kamen pulled his cane to a normal length and waved off at him a bit, then ran towards the other once more, "Yes, it is."


"No more stupid cliches? How about lengthy speeches about being the fighter for truth and justice? Idle threats? Speak up!" Shadow Jupiter tilted his head as he held her in the air effortlessly, but Sailor Moon could only clench her teeth in response, which made him smirk a bit, "No? That's too bad." With a light shrug, he let out a light sigh and threw her to the ground in front of him. As she tried to sit up weakly, he raised up a single finger and winked at her, "I guess it's time to finish you off." Lightning started to spark all over his body, then jump to a swirling point in front of him, forming into his favorite attack, "Later, Sailor Moon. Jupiter Swirling Storm!" The point erupted into a huge column of energy and seared through the air at her, cracking the ground under it as it did. Much to his disappointment, Tuxedo Kamen jumped in from the side and grabbed her, taking her out of the path just before the blast hit where she was. As she blinked and looked back to where they were, the ground exploded into rubble and made her shriek loudly, her eyes filled with terror as she watched the cloud of dust rise into the air.

"Th-that could have been us!" They landed away from the settling dust and she looked at Tuxedo Kamen, thankful he was there to save her again. Shaking his head a bit, Shadow Jupiter smirked and looked to them, about to say something when a World Shaking attack came from the side and struck him, sending him skidding across the ground over by the field that held the other Sailor senshi. Limping up slightly, Sailor Uranus held her arm lightly and looked to the two, then slowly back to where he landed.

"We need to free the others. We won't win this fight without them."

They both nodded and looked to the field as well, the problem of how making them each sigh in silent thought. Out in front of the field Shadow Jupiter laid on his stomach and huffed, slowly doing a push-up and staring forward with an annoyed look, "That was a cheap shot. I'm gonna make her pay for that."

As he rose to his feet, a voice came from out of nowhere and caught his attention, "Kage! Let us out of here right now!" Looking up slowly to the field, he saw the other senshi gathered near the side he was at, with an angry Sailor Mars glaring at him intently, "If I get out of here, Kage, I'm going to kick your butt!"

"I'm shaking in my shoes, Sailor Mars. All of you put together couldn't touch me, and that includes Sailor Jupiter." Sailor Jupiter watched him silently, unable to say anything to him as her face was just tight with pain. It seemed to amuse him and he laughed, facing the field and causing his distant onlookers to become aware of his actions. With a wink, he got a demented idea in his head and decided it was time, "This is as good a time as any to get rid of four Sailor senshi with one blow. The others will be mad, but hey, I do what I want." Letting out a gruff laugh, lightning began to spark on his body once more and a focal point appeared in front of him, making Sailor Jupiter finally break her silence.

"You can't!"

"Watch me. Jupiter Swirling.........Storm."

His attack focused and sent out a massive beam towards them, threatening to destroy the entire field while they sat inside helplessly. Watching intently, he grinned when Sailor Moon suddenly appeared next to him, jumping at him with a passionate yell, "No!"

Looking to her quickly, he blinked in shock as she jumped into him, causing an intense burst of energy to appear between them and send him flying away from her at an incredible speed. He yelped in surprise and went flying towards the field spiraling, his balance knocked off for a moment and his orientation becoming loose. Before he reached the field, he flipped over and skidded to a stop on his feet, an angry look in his eyes as he stood straight. Though what he saw made his pupils shrink, and a quick breath leave his lips. Her impact on him sent him past his own attack and set him right between the field and it, the spiraling energy flowing right at him now. He only managed to words before it hit him, "Uh oh....." Although consisting of his own energy, the blast had enough motion to send him flying into the field harshly. As his body touched the field, the energy quickly zapped into his body and made the field disappear, freeing the senshi from inside. The massive energy made him yell out, however, and soon he fell to his knees, a weakened breath leaving his lips. His face was next to meet the ground as he collapsed in front of them all, his face becoming serene and relaxed.

The four Sailor senshi that were in the energy field rose to their feet and three of them ran over to Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars falling to her knees as she got next to her, "Sailor Moon, are you all right?"

Sailor Moon slowly opened her eyes and saw her friends, and a relieved smile came over her weak face, "Long time no see, everyone." The three helped her stand up and Sailor Uranus and Tuxedo Kamen joined them as well, walking up with a relieved look on their faces.

"Glad you four are here to help."

After nodding to Tuxedo Kamen, then to each other, they quickly transformed into Super Sailor senshi and turned to the fighting, "Let's go stop them." Super Sailor Venus said, looking towards one of the battles with a hesitant tone in her voice. The others were just as hesitant as the looked around to the different fighting.

"Let's go."

Sailor Moon agreed and tried to walk but weakly fell to her knees, making Tuxedo Kamen grab her and look at her in concern, "Sailor Moon, are you okay?"

"Guess that little collision took more out of me than I thought."

Super Sailor Mars looked at the two as the other senshi ran off to help save their friends, a light smile on her face, "You stay with her, Mamoru, we'll help the others."

"Okay, be careful. These aren't the same Shadow senshi." He warned and looked at her, his concern for her the greatest of them all, considering the opponent she would go off to face. Knowing her fate, she just smiled and nodded, then ran off to find her darkened lover.


PowerMan 5000 "When Worlds Collide"


"Hey, you don't look so good. If you hold still a sec, I can help you out with that." Dark Shadow Venus grinned widely as he looked at the wounded Super Sailor Pluto, his sadistic sense of humor still coming through strong. She was not as amused as she was before and held her staff tightly, her injuries making her slower and slower with each moment. Rolling his shoulders and shuffling his feet a bit, he winked at her and slowly raised up his hand, small points of orange light forming around his arm once more, "Ready for the end? You get to go out in a blaze of glory!"

Almost too weak to get out of the way, she grimaced as the impending attack would certainly end her, but her salvation came in the form of another voice coming from the side, "Suteki! Stop this right now!"

Both she and Shadow Venus looked to the side as a ruffled Super Sailor Venus ran up, her blue eyes locked on his figure the entire time. With a mild smile on his face, he lowered his hand down slowly and his attack faded, a newly devious look appearing in his eyes, "Have you come to play too? Our friend Pluto here was getting a bit run down. I can think of so many more fun things to do with you, Sailor Venus."

"You're a pervert now too? I've come to make you stop and come back to us, Suteki."

"You've never complained. Besides, I don't want to come back. I look so much better being evil, and it's a lot more fun, too!" Before she could get another word out to try and convince him, a purple blast of energy came from the side and focused down on him, making them both look to the side quickly. He was able to see it in time and disappeared, making the blast erupt the ground where he stood and him to appear above in the air, a smirk on his face, "Ohhh, double team! One girl distracts, the other one attacks! I love it!" With a giddy laugh, he suddenly threw his hand through the air and sent another whip of energy at the weakened Sailor Pluto, taking advantage of her last attack to slow her down. What he didn't expect was the Love and Beauty Shock to come in from the side and knock him out of the air, severing his attack at the same time and saving Sailor Pluto. She quickly looked over to Sailor Venus, and saw the pain her eyes as he hit the ground hard. She winced as he did and bit her lip, waiting to see if he would get up from that one. After a moment, he did indeed and rose to his feet, his happy smile gone from his face as he glared daggers at her, "You'd use your attack on me? I thought you loved me!"

"I do, but you left me no choice! I'm sorry, Suteki!"

"Psych! You're too easy! Between her soft nature and your illusions of love, this is cake for me! Honestly, you thought I was mad, didn't you?"

His laughing made her fume again and she huffed, reminding herself to hurt him the next time she got a chance. Making her way slowly over to Sailor Pluto, she made sure she was okay before they both faced him now, realizing that they couldn't just talk to him to make him change. This time, their attacks would do the talking.


"If I didn't know any better, I would say that is Sailor Mercury." Dark Shadow Mercury's voice was distant as he slowly looked up from his current engagement, hearing the footsteps behind him but not turning to look. Super Sailor Mercury stopped a few feet behind him and let out a quick breath, her hand coming up over her chest as she looked at him. Waves of emotion washed over her as she was unable to find any words for a moment, and he just stood there with his back to her, something in his hands in front of him. Finally she got her voice back and took another step towards him, wishing he would turn around and at the same time, afraid to see him again.

"Kurai, I want you to stop this. You know that it's not right to fight against us."

What she saw as she turned around horrified her. Turning to the side and looking at her with a vicious smile, he held Sailor Neptune by the top of her fuku as she was weakly looking up at him, still angry enough to sneer at him. Seeing the gasping look it brought on Sailor Mercury's face, he laughed lightly to himself and looked at her with his icy blue eyes, "I'm afraid it's a bit too late for that. And besides, who's to say what's right and wrong anymore?" His demeanor made her stare speechlessly and hesitate on what she should do next, wanting to go help her friend but afraid to face against him. Seeing this in her eyes, a dark laugh escaped his lips and he released Sailor Neptune to the ground, leaving her to weakly catch her breath as he faced Sailor Mercury fully, "Come now, Sailor Mercury, are we having concerns about facing me? Does the fact we were once close bother you?"

"Don't make me do this, Kurai, please. You know that I still love you dearly. I don't want us to fight."

A beautiful blue glow saturated his arms and started to move its way down to his hands, making a light smile cross his face once more, "You really have no choice. Fight or die, it's a simple choice. Here, let me help you a little." Two balls of energy formed in his hands and she watched as he breath left her, not ever seeing this attack from him before. His energies concentrating, he suddenly stuck his arms to the side, "Mercury Glacial Deception!" Firing out from his hands were two blasts of freezing energy, flying off and away from them both, confusing her greatly as she watched. Lowering his hands back down, a shimmered reflected in his eye and the two blasts suddenly came back, barreling down at her from two sides. She didn't even have time to see them, but they oddly impacted together in front of her instead of hitting her, though the blast did throw her to the ground harshly. With an oddly guilty smirk, Shadow Mercury twitched slightly and looked to the side, "There must be a headwind." As she struggled to her feet, he looked back at her and got a serious look on his face, "Do you think you can really beat me?" Waiting for an answer, his triad suddenly appeared in his hand and he extended the blades, his eyes never leaving her. She could barely keep from letting out a whimper from the pain she was enduring but she remained strong, hoping he would still have some reason left in him.

"Kurie, don't do this. I love you, and I know you love me."

"A broad assumption. Would I do this if that were true?" Flipping his hand through the air, he sent the triad spinning through the air at her, of which she quickly rolled out of the way to avoid it. The blur sped past her and hit a nearby tree, slicing the tree in half and then heading back to him. He held his hand out to catch it but something roused his attention, making him smile darkly, "Tsk tsk, Sailor Neptune." Stepping to the side quickly, the triad skimmed right past him and was a surprise waiting for Sailor Neptune, who was planning to attack him from behind. As a blade of the weapon plunged into her body, her face twisted in pain as she yelled out, clutching the weapon and falling forward slightly. In a cold gesture, Shadow Mercury reached out and caught her, keeping her from falling but no more expression on his face. Sailor Mercury watched it all in horror and cried out, disbelieving the entire thing.

"Sailor Neptune! No!"

Holding her weakening body in his arm, Shadow Mercury kept his icy stare on her and spoke a word that was so quiet, only he barely heard it, "Checkmate."


"How's he doing?"

Super Sailor Uranus walked up slowly on the two, giving them a little time but making sure Sailor Jupiter was safe. Still in the same place she was when the others went to help Sailor Moon, Sailor Jupiter hadn't even gone to her advanced form. As she knelt on the ground, she held Dark Shadow Jupiter's head in her lap and looked down at him with a distant smile on her face. She idly ran her fingers through his white hair and looked up to Sailor Uranus, "He's out. That shock took a lot out of him."

"He's a tough one. Hard to believe that he's the same Kage that we knew before, isn't it?" Sailor Uranus was looking at him with a smile as well, which testified to Sailor Jupiter how much she close she had become with him. Looking back to him as well, she was just happy to be this close to him without him trying to attack her or anybody else. It was a small oasis for her heart, which was beating faster as she could see his face starting to twitch. Sailor Uranus suddenly became serious again and set her hand on her shoulder lightly, "He'll be coming around any second. I don't think you want to be this close to him when he does."

"Haruka, do you think we'll be able to get them back?"

"I hope so, I really do. The dumb guy actually........he means a lot to me."

Hearing that made Sailor Jupiter smile widely and nod, taking her last moments with him to heart, "Me too. I love him with everything I have."

Like he heard her words, his eyes opened slowly and he blinked, looking up at the two with a disoriented look on his face. Although Sailor Jupiter smiled at him, he was quick to remember and scrambled away from her, hopping back to his feet and looking at them both with a wild look in his eyes, "Wh...what, you two think that just because I was down, I was out? Think again! What in the hell where you doing to me anyway!?"

"Calm down, Kage, we didn't do anything. We just want to help you remember who you are, that's all."

Sailor Jupiter slowly rose to her feet and nodded, still the light smile on her face, "We both care about you very much. I just wanted to be with you, if only a moment."

Scoffing at them both, he danced from foot to foot and sneered as a few sparks of electricity running through his spiky hair, "Liars! You were figuring out a way to beat me, weren't you? Well, you won't get the chance! Try this on for size!" Placing his hand in front of him, he concentrated a ball of lightning in his palm and four smaller ones appeared to circle it, "Jupiter Extreme Lightning!" Hurling the blast at them, the four smaller balls sailed forth and started striking the ground around them. Keeping them from jumping away, the four blasts lead to the large one hitting right in between them, sending them both sprawling away in pain. As Sailor Jupiter hit the ground, she struggled to get up on her elbows and was met by to someone standing over her. Looking up slowly, she saw Shadow Jupiter with his sword in hand, running the back of the blade along his hand slowly, "My dearest Makoto, are you ready to die?"

"Kage, please....."

His face turned cold again and he raised his sword up, the lightning flashing through his eyes as he yelled out, "Stop calling me that! I'm no longer Kage!" Waiting for the strike, she stared blankly at him until Sailor Uranus jumped in from the side, trying to knock his sword out of his hands. As she hit the sword, it flipped up into the air and he looked at her in surprise, but then was replaced by annoyance. Bringing his hand up across her face, he knocked her back slightly and reached out with his other hand, grasping the handle of his sword as it spun in the air and bringing the sword around, right into her chest. The sound she made startled both herself and Shadow Jupiter, who stared at her almost in shock. As she fell backwards, the sword slid from her body and she hit the ground hard, her face tight with pain. He simply looked down to his hand and sword, now covered in her blood. Sailor Jupiter rose to her feet and stared at them both, her voice almost gone from her as her wide, green eyes reflected the scene over and over.

"Sailor Uranus?"

"She....shouldn't have done that. Now look what happened." His momentary remorse soon faded as a flash of dark energy coursed through his eyes, making his shrug lightly and look to Sailor Jupiter with a smirk, "Oh well, life goes on. Time to join your idol, Sailor Jupiter."

Clenching her teeth in anger, Sailor Jupiter's fuku began to change as her Super form settled over her, despite the fact she didn't use her wand. As soon as it did, she looked up to him with flashing eyes and her tiara started to glow lightly, "No!" Gathering the energy around her, she quickly used her Oak Revolution attack on him and sent him sprawling back, the small blasts knocking the sword from his hand and sent him crashing onto the ground. Rubbing his head a bit, he got back to his feet and seethed, his face twisted with anger. However, the sight of her charging full speed at him made his anger disappear and a wave of nervousness wash over him as she came down on him.

"Oh crud."

In a flurry of kicks and punches, she began to beat on him severely and drove him backwards, not giving him any time to block or evade them. Even as she began to draw blood from his mouth, she kept her attack going and glared at him angrily, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she did. Soon he stumbled back a few steps and fell to a knee, breathing heavily as she finally let up on him. Glancing up slightly, he wiped some crimson blood from his lip and oddly smiled a bit, "Was it something I said?"

Even as the warm tears trailed down her cheeks, she held her hands ready to attack again and spoke in a wavering voice, mixed emotions running all through her chest, "How could you do that? She's your friend!"

"It was easy, as easy as it''ll be to kill you. Do you hate me now? "

As he rose to his feet and shook off the effects of her attacks, she stared at him coldly and couldn't believe she was doing this, "I love you, Kage, that will never change. Even if I have to hurt you to stop you, I'll do what it takes."

"That's what I want to hear. Come stop me, Sailor Jupiter."


In another part of the area, the side of a building erupted into flames and exploded out from the rest of it. As the smoke and dust filled the air, a single figure walked out of the destruction and looked around with a furious glare, "Now I'm a little bit mad." Shadow Mars idly brushed some hair from his face and glances around, hoping to fins the source of all of his anger. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Tuxedo Kamen holding the weakened Sailor Moon against him and closed his eyes slowly, "They will die together." The red aura that had been lingering over his figure started to brighten as his powers focused to fulfill that threat, and his eyes opened slowly. If not for a familiar voice calling out to him, he may have even done so.

"Yamito!"

Even as Super Sailor Mars came to a slow stop near him, his dark gaze never left his two targets, though he did stop his attack for the moment, "Rei."

"That's right, and you're going to stop this right now! You're darkness has overwhelmed you, but I know you're stronger! Please stop, Yamito."

"You don't like what I truly am, do you? All of my praying and meditating has led me to one conclusion. That this.....is the true potential for a Shadow senshi. Now I can achieve my revenge."

His cool candor made her wince but her look of determination never left her as she stepped a bit closer, calling out passionately to him, "You're wrong, you're not this monster you've become. I know the Yamito I love is still in you. Please tell the others to stop and come back to us."

By now she had came very close to him and reached out to touch him, but a dark, sideward glance from him made her stop where she stood, "You are the one who's wrong. Let me show just how wrong." That aura around him suddenly flared up into flames and made her wince, but oddly not move back from him. He quickly looked over to her and raised his hand right into her chest, but nothing happened as he did. The two stood for a moment, her blinking as she wondered why he didn't attack and him wondering much the same thing.

Seeing this as an opportunity she smiled lightly and, despite the immense heat he was putting off, reached out and took his hand, pressing it into her chest lightly, "You're not as evil as you believe. I know, deep down under that cold stare, you still love me, Yamito."

Her words had a reversed effect, however, as he suddenly thrusted that hand forward and a surge from his aura knocked her away, skidding on the ground a few feet away. As she struggled to get to her feet he slowly looked at his hand and a wave of confusion filled his eyes, "Why couldn't I finish her? I should have easily been able to, but I didn't." Looking away from her a moment, he witnessed a fierce Super Sailor Jupiter knocking back Dark Shadow Jupiter into a pile of construction materials. Wincing slightly, he then looked to the other side and saw Shadow Venus being held at bay by two Sailor senshi, which also made him disturbed.

In a flash of blue light, Shadow Mercury appeared next to him and seemed a bit on edge, "I think there is something wrong with me, Mars. I....can't seem to concentrate my powers. Is something wrong with our Darkened form?"

"Impossible, we should be able to beat these Sailor senshi easily. But.....I find myself with the same problems. I can't explain it."

"You know why you can't, Yamito. You're just too proud to admit it."

Shadow Mars slowly gazed at Sailor Mars, annoyed that she seemed to be right. Still gazing at her, he spoke to the side with an unusual tone in his voice, "Where is Sailor Mercury?"

"I.....left her. She was tending to Sailor Neptune, who I did manage to get rid of."

"Well, at least one of us managed to do it. It still bothers me that we cannot use our full power, however. Any theories?"


While the two Shadow senshi tried to figure this out, a wounded figure was being helped over to Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen, beaten physically as well as emotionally. Sailor Uranus's glove was stained red as she held it over her chest, those fierce eyes now weakly opened and distant. Sailor Jupiter, having dispatched Shadow Jupiter for the moment, carried her on her shoulder a bit and looked down at Tuxedo Kamen with a shaky voice, "Mamoru! You have to help her!"

Still a bit weak herself, Super Sailor Moon sat up slowly and clenched her teeth, looking at the two with mounting concern in her eyes, "What happened?"

"Kage....."

Sailor Uranus's voice was quiet as she barely whispered the name, but her face was tight with pain on a number of levels. Just then, Sailor Neptune stumbled onto the scene, holding where Shadow Mercury's triad stabbed her and falling to her knees weakly. All of them looked to her in terror and Tuxedo Kamen was quick to run over and help her, looking over her wound, "How do you feel? I don't know if I'll be much help, I've never done something this extreme before."

One of those beautiful eyes closed slowly and she let out a slow breath, her body feeling limp in his arms, "Anything will be appreciated." Nodding once, he placed his hand over her wound and tried to concentrate, hoping his gift would come through for all of them. Walking up at the same time as she was tapping on her computer, Sailor Mercury wasn't looking too encouraged by her data and stepped up next to Sailor Jupiter, who was fresh from laying the wounded Sailor Uranus down for help. Before Sailor Mercury could voice her findings, a sudden yelp was heard and the figure of Sailor Venus came crashing down on top of Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury. As the three made a groaning pile of Sailor senshi, Sailor Venus rubbed her head heavily and flinched a bit, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry guys, I guess I'm not doing all that well."

"You forgot one!" They looked over to see Shadow Venus holding his arm in the air and his Passion Link formed around it. High in the air, Sailor Pluto was wrapped in the energy and squirming, knowing he was in a position to end her life at that exact instant. Instead, he got a devious smile on his face and swung his arm down, sending her crashing into the ground in front of them all. The action left her weakened in the cracks she made and the energy slid from around her, returning to his arm and disappearing. Even though he seemed pleased by it he suddenly looked around slowly and blinked, an odd feeling creeping over him. Without a word, he disappeared from their sight and left the group of Sailor senshi to regroup.


"You two look like you're thinking. What's up?"

Shadow Venus appeared next to the other two Darkened senshi tilted his head a bit, watching them as they conversed. Shadow Mars slowly looked at him and quirked a brow, "Nothing. Did you take care of your business?"

"Yeah, I floored Setsuna and made the other think twice about me. All in all, a good job."

"You didn't finish them off?"

The subject made a wide and sheepish grin cross his face and he kicked the ground lightly, looking at Shadow Mars with a light chuckle, "Uhm, funny thing about that. After I put Pluto down, I suddenly felt something, but I dunno what. So I kinda.....came to hang out with you. Can't be too careful, eh boss?"

"Are you telling me you're afraid of that Time Mage nonsense you told me about?" Shadow Mercury blinked as he looked at them, obviously not let in on this little secret. Shadow Venus shrugged lightly and kicked the ground again, not really saying anything at the moment. Letting out a long sigh Shadow Mars shook his head and eyed him intently, "Very well, I'll humor you this once." With a sparkle in his eye Shadow Venus nodded and looked around, almost taunting the air around him with his smile. Dismissing it as usual, Shadow Mars glanced around as well and brushed some hair back from his face, "Where is Jupiter?"

As if being cued, Shadow Jupiter walked up to them with a little limp in his step and was brushing metal shards off him, not at all looking pleased, "Right here."

"What happened to you?"

"Sailor Jupiter took it a bit personal when I ran my sword through Sailor Uranus. She just took me by surprise, that's all."

Shadow Mars smirked lightly as he looked over him, guessing Sailor Jupiter did a number on him by all the cuts and tears on him, "You let that girl, who shouldn't even be able to keep up with you in a fight, do this to you?" The glare he received back made him want to smile, but he just listened to the snarl in Shadow Jupiter's voice instead.

"My master told me emotions can bring strength as well as weakness. If you think I'm losing my touch, why don't you step up and find out just how wrong you are."

The two had a silent glare between them and their comrades remained silent just watching with curious looks on their faces. After a moment, a surge of red flashed through Shadow Mars's eyes and he smiled lightly, placing his hand on Shadow Jupiter's shoulder, "Another time, perhaps. At the moment, we have a job to do, agreed?"

"Yeah, whatever. Let's just get this over with and....." Shadow Jupiter's voice trailed away as he turned his head and looked at the Sailor senshi now gathered once more to fight. What made him stop was the fact Sailor Uranus stood once more, a little beaten but the massive hole in her chest was healed, leaving only the stained hole in her fuku in its place. His staring made the others look and his peat green eyes twitched a bit, a bit curious about how all of the Sailor senshi were now up and ready once more, "Did I miss something? Why is Sailor Uranus still alive?"

His dark eyes set on the person who made it all possible, Shadow Mars brushed some hair from his face and almost spit the words out, "Tuxedo Kamen has a hidden ability that we must have missed. It may make things a little more interesting." As the others stared in silence, he turned to the side and approached the Sailor senshi, his eyes still set on his rival. Leaving a large gap between them, he came to a stop and was silent, the rest of the senshi looking right back at him in anger. After a moment, those dark eyes moved the weakened Sailor Moon and he spoke, though aimed towards his rival, "I see you have somewhat of a healing touch. I'd love to hear how you healed them all so quickly, Tuxedo Kamen."

"It was necessary because of you four. You're a traitor, Yamito."

"I'm hurt by your words. Do you think that you'll be able to heal yourself from the point of death as well?"

The threat didn't sit well with Sailor Moon and she quickly stepped out in front as well, facing Shadow Mars with a determined look on her beaten face, "Stop it, Yamito. Let me help you with the Ginzuishou."

For a moment, his eyes lingered on Tuxedo Kamen as he wanted him to challenge that threat. However, feeling she would undoubtedly hinder that, he slowly moved his eyes to Sailor Moon and gazed at her with a cold stare. His eyes made her resolve shake a bit, and her memories kicked back to when they had first met, how this same look made her weak in the knees. What hit her the hardest is that he seemed to even understand that, what she had and still felt towards him. Still, he simply let out a slow breath and shrugged lightly, "You may use your Ginzuishou."

Everyone looked to him quickly, even the Dark Shadow senshi, and couldn't believe he just agreed to it. The idea brought a happy smile on Sailor Moon's face and she quickly posed and winked at him, "I knew you'd come around! It must be my super conversation skills that convinced you."

"Something like that."

"This is not a good idea, Mars. We don't know what the Ginzuishou will....." Shadow Mercury started to say but Shadow Mars calmly raised his hand up, waving two fingers a bit to cut him off. Shadow Mercury blinked once and sighed, then looked to Sailor Moon with a concerned look in his eyes.

"What do you have up your sleeve, Yami?" Sailor Mars quipped as she stared at him sternly. Looking to her reluctantly, he said nothing for a moment, which made her blink in curiosity. After his silence he looked back to the proud Sailor Moon and whispered almost too quietly for them to hear.

"After you see that the Ginzuishou does nothing, maybe you'll understand that the only way you will stop us......is to stop us."

Instead of letting this chance get away Sailor Moon laughed a little wildly and presented the Ginzuishou, a giddy laugh still plaguing her voice, "No way! This will work! Just stand back and watch me make you guys okay again!" While the Sailor senshi watched intently, all but Shadow Mars seemed nervous about the outcome, but his dark eyes reflected a deep confidence about his claims. Soft glows from the Ginzuishou fell on the Shadow senshi and caused them to glow slightly, as if to battle with their darkness. While the Sailor senshi watched, the glow covered their entire bodies and made them wince, though soon the glow started to fade away as the task took it's toll on Sailor Moon. As she fell to her knees, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury rushed forward to help her, leaving the rest to look at the Shadow senshi as the light died off them. Hoping to see them returned to their former selves, they were all disappointed as they remained darkened, the white hair and the altered clothing testifying to that. Sailor Moon looked to the ground in a combination of defeat and exhaustion while Shadow Venus shivered a bit, grinning widely as he looking over his arms.

"That kinda tickled."

"It didn't work. How couldn't it, I mean, why didn't...."

Sailor Moon was delirious as the others helped her, but all were soon interrupted by a smirking Shadow Mars, "It's my curse to always be right. The Ginzuishou could not heal us because we are complete now. With your mightiest weapon failing, it seems you Sailor senshi are the next to fail."

The red aura around him started to circle faster as he concentrated, his power making all of the others feel a bit uneasy. Soon the aura spread through the air onto them all, making them squirm and struggle inside of an invisible prison.

"I can't move!" Sailor Uranus's cries were felt by all, but all found that it was the same for them as well. Even Tuxedo Kamen was frozen in his place by the immense power and stared at Shadow Mars, disbelieving that it was going to end this way. While the grinning Shadow senshi watched, Shadow Mars raised his hand up and caused his aura to disfigure, a cold look plastered on his face. While the Sailor senshi were all helpless to stop him, the aura erupted into intense flames and he titled his head a bit, speaking in a low and terrible voice.

"This is the end of the Sailor senshi."


Sitting on top of a building, two figures stood watching the entire thing, shrouded by the night and shadows as they did. Though out of earshot, they had seen all that had gone on and held wry smiles on their faces. A cool breeze ran over both of them and they seemed both amused at what they had seen, and content to just be where they were. After a moment, however, the Omega Master's presence became clear to them both and they both nodded, understanding their task clearly once more. The first of the two calmly held out his hand and snapped his fingers, making a slightly loud sound echo out into the air.


As hard as the Sailor senshi tried, none of them could move under the control of Shadow Mars. The other Dark Shadow senshi watched from behind him, eager to see the end of them, though they really didn't know why. All attentions were on Shadow Mars, who readied to use his attack to kill all of the Sailor senshi. A moment of reluctance made only a few of the senshi notice, as they blinked in curiosity to him. Sailor Mars was the most confused as she sensed something from him that took her words from her mouth. Suddenly something started to glow on his chest and startled everyone, even himself. Looking down slowly he watched his henshin ring dangle from the chain it was secured on and start to glow brightly, as if to warn him of a danger. As his lips parted to speak the ring suddenly sent bolts of energy into his chest and caused him to yell out, his attack quickly fading from use. All of the senshi looked to him in shock as he soon fell to his knees and then, to the ground face down.

"Uh......boss?" Shadow Venus queried as he stepped forward, looking at the motionless form with wild blue eyes. Suddenly Shadow Mercury was victim of the same thing, his henshin ring shocking him wickedly and causing him to hit the ground unconscious. By now whatever force that held the Sailor senshi disappeared and they stared in shock, not exactly knowing what was going on. Shadow Venus was quick to look to Shadow Jupiter, who was looking around with clenched teeth and trying to find the invisible offender. Before he could ask again a sudden blast of energy into his chest sent Shadow Venus down as well, his mop of hair covering his relaxed face. The last of them looked quickly to see his friends down, and quickly felt something on his own chest.

"Kage! Around your neck!"

Sailor Jupiter's cries came too late as his own ring started to illuminate as well, though he made an effort to stop it. Clutching the ring tightly he stared down at his fist and attempted to cancel out the shocks of energy with his own, but as the bolts became even more intense, even Shadow Jupiter fell to his knees under their power.

"What's going on? Pluto?" Sailor Uranus asked and looked quickly to Sailor Pluto, hoping for an answer. Sailor Pluto simply looked back and shook her head slightly, not at all clued in to what was happening.

Shadow Jupiter wasn't about to give up and slowly looked up to the Sailor senshi, his face tight with pain and his body all tensed up, "I don't know.....what you're doing, but you won't take us that easily."

Stepping forward quickly, Sailor Moon threw her hands out to plead their innocence, "We aren't doing anything! Maybe there's something wrong with your rings."

"You may be able to trip up Mars with your act, Sailor Moon, but not me. I won't it end like......."

Suddenly his face twisted in pain as he gripped his ring tighter, but still stayed on his knees. Not being able to take it anymore, Sailor Jupiter broke away from the rest, running towards him with a wild look in her eyes, "Kage! I'll help you, just hang on!"

"This isn't over." It was all he said back as he looked up to see her approaching. Behind his back, white energy barely formed in his hand and his eyes slowly closed, while the energy from his ring finally toppled the senshi of Jupiter. As his shoulder hit the ground, the energy from his hand flashed out and engulfed the Dark Shadow senshi. In an instant, the energy faded and they were gone. Coming to a quick stop, Sailor Jupiter put her fist across her chest and stared at the empty ground in front of her, her eyes dropping at their departure.

As the wind swept across the battlefield, the Sailor senshi stood victorious, though it hardly seemed satisfying to see the Shadow senshi in pain. Proving they could hold their own, even against the Darkened Shadow senshi, simply fell away in the light that their friends were gone once more. The reunited Sailor senshi team was able to let their guard down, wondering what had just happened.


High on that roof top, the two figures nodded to each other and stood against the moon for a moment, looking down at the Sailor senshi with distant thoughts in their heads. One of them finally spoke as they started to fade away, leaving only their words to float in the air, "It worked just as we predicted. The Omega Master will be pleased to see we were telling the truth."


  Next Chapter: How Could I?