Chapter Seven: Evil Divided 


Time passed like it always would, with much of the same happening in between. The clones would attack and be defeated but still no sign of the Shadow senshi. It was starting to get on the Sailor senshi's nerves. Meanwhile, back at the Omega Master's castle the Sailor senshi's clones were coming into the temple from their latest defeat. They approached the Dark Prism and dropped to their knees in front of it, not looking so happy at the news they would have to give. The Prism merely floated above the alter in a grim tone, "Well?"

Sailor Mars' clone winced a bit and faced down as she spoke, obviously not too thrilled about what she had to say, "We did not destroy them as planned."

"Apparently."

Sailor Jupiter's clone looked up slowly and tried to defend them as best she could, "We could have won if we would have had more clones."

"Enough with your pathetic excuses! You are powerful enough to kill these senshi! You four are not taking this duty seriously!"

All four of them winced and stared at the ground, remaining silent in their place at the foot of the alter. As the Prism spun a bit faster in its anger, another figure stepped out of the darkness to the side of them all and grinned widely, "Well well, they didn't win? What a surprise! You four couldn't beat a drum with a stick." They all looked over quickly and narrowed their eyes as Dark Shadow Venus crossed his arms over his chest with a wink, "Guess you aren't as perfect as the ones you were cloned after, ya know?"

Sailor Venus's clone took exceptional insult to that and clenched her teeth, speaking angrily but still quietly in her place, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you still felt something for them".

"Ohhhh, did I touch a nerve? Jealous, are we?"

Finally the Prism cut the conversation and floated higher into the air, the voice inside roaring through the temple, "Silence! All of you!"

Though the clones were quick to look back down and be silent, Shadow Venus just slyly looked to the prism and smirked heavily, "Must suck to get all pissed but only show it by spinning and glowing. I'd be mad too if my clones were as worthless as these four."

Although the clones didn't respond, the Prism slowly floated back down and the voice became calm once more, "Tell Shadow Mars that you four will kill the Sailor senshi. You've healed and now serve your purpose." The clones went to object but one look at the Prism made them hold back as it finished, "Furthermore, I want you four to do it within the next two days. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yup." The news obviously made him happy because he smiled widely to the clones and ran his hand through his mop of hair, "Time for the second period. Goalie's been pulled and we have the ball now. We're gonna win this game. " With a playful wink he disappeared from the room and left the clones in a fit.

"Master! Why did you give them the assignment?"

"Are you questioning me?" The Prism started to glow dully and the four swallowed heavily at the thought of making their master angry. A soothed tone came out from the Prism and it began to lose its glow once more, "I gave the Shadow senshi the assignment because I want them all together. Then I can reveal my true plot."

"True plot?"

"I'm going to kill all of the senshi in one blow. The Shadow senshi and the Sailor senshi. They will all die together."

"You're going to kill the Shadow senshi?"

"I always planned on killing them, but lately they've been getting harder and harder to control." The whole idea made the four clones nervous and it didn't go unnoticed by the Prism. Suddenly a beam of light erupted out of the prism and dropped all four of them to their knees in pain, "I hope you four remember what happened to the Priests when they started to get too attached to the Sailor senshi." The four were quick to nod and swear they would never do the same thing, which certainly pleased the Omega Master, "Good, I don't want any surprises. Soon I will have killed Sailor Moon and her friends. And the Shadow senshi.....they will make good trophies in my temple. I want the advanced clones ready to fight by tomorrow. We'll also bring our two friends into this so we have a surprise for the Shadow senshi." With their obedience cemented to their master, the four clones bowed respectively and swore it would be done. As the end of the long war was coming for the Omega Master, he found himself eager to set his plan into motion, "Those arrogant fools being killed by those two will be the crowning point of the end. And after the Shadow senshi die......the Sailor senshi will shortly follow."


Back on Earth the day was coming into its ending stages with a warm breeze filling the afternoon with activity. Many people were out on the beautiful day and Usagi, Makoto, Minako, Ami and Rei were walking home accompanied by Luna and Artimus. The lapse in action dealing with the Omega Master had let them relax a bit and were resounding with the laughter of old times. While only Rei walked a little bit of the group and was silent in her thoughts, the rest of them talked and giggled as if they hadn't a care in the world.

"The chemistry exam coming up will be difficult. I hope you all are studying for it." Ami quipped as she held her bag in front of her. The rest of the girls sweatdropped a bit at the reminder and it was Usagi who spoke first with a sheepish stutter.

"Maybe you could help me study for it, Ami? I haven't even looked at the chapter yet."

The admission made Ami wince and she looked at them all as they basically had the same problem, "None f you have read any of the chapter? The exam is next week!"

Makoto dazed off into the sky and put her arms behind her head, "I was going to do my studying this weekend. I don't have anything better to do."

While the four girls discussed their homework problems Luna watched Rei quietly and blinked at her distance from the others. Before she had a chance to say something about it, Usagi nearly stepped on her tail and made her leap into the air before it was crushed. Hissing mad she clawed Usagi across the leg lightly and yelled at her in a stern voice, "Watch where you're going, Usagi! Don't you know how to talk and walk at the same time?"

"Ow! Me!? Why don't you learn to......" In the middle of her fit Usagi was cut short by someone stopped in the walkway ahead of them. With a blinking glance, she looked at Rei as she stood in the walkways motionlessly, staring forward with wide eyes. Everyone stopped and looked at her to question what was spooking her so badly. It came with a single word that she barely whispered out.

"Yami?"

The rest of them quickly followed her eyes to a figure standing just the opposite of them all. Dark Shadow Mars looked almost normal, dressed in his usual human fashion and only his white hair gave away the dark reality of it. Those dark eyes just stared back at them coldly from under his white strands of hair and he seemed almost as surprised to see them as they were. Standing behind him was Dark Shadow Jupiter, dressed like a human as well, and his arms crossed over his chest. Unlike Shadow Mars, he seemed more annoyed than surprised. The awkward silence filled the air between the two groups and it was Shadow Mars who finally broke the silence.

"Fate has a sick sense of humor. Of all the streets in this city, you had to be on this one."

The comment made Rei wince like it was meant for her, but Usagi took it a little bit more lightly and shook a fist at him, "Do you think you own this street? We can walk here too!"

With all of them there Rei and Shadow Mars still just exchanged a silent stare, picked up by only Shadow Jupiter. With an even more annoyed sigh, he stepped past Shadow Mars and uncrossed his arms, "Gimme a break. Get out of our way and you won't get hurt. We don't have time for you girls anymore."

Much to his surprise Makoto stepped forward and faced off against him like she was challenging him to just try it. He didn't know exactly how to take it and the two had a much different kind of staring link than the others. While the unusual standoff was going on Luna batted Usagi's leg and whispered something up to her. With a wide grin she nodded and started digging through her bag for the one thing she hoped would reunite the two senshi teams.

"I know it's in here somewhere. Where did I put it?" Usagi muttered as she tossed some things out of her bag. The others were too involved in the standoff and Luna waited patiently for the object. In the end, Usagi looked up from her bag and had a disappointed tone in her voice, "I...forgot it."

"You forgot the picture!? Didn't I tell you to keep it with you at all times?"

Luna roaring caught everyone's attention and they all looked to Usagi and the cat. The girls knew what they were talking about and looked at Usagi in disbelief, who tilted her head a bit and scratched her neck lightly. Not liking being left out of the loop, Shadow Mars brought all of their attentions back to them with his quiet voice, "What picture?"

"It was a picture of you! Both of you and your fa......"

Just as Usagi was going to explain the picture to them another figure burst onto the scene from a swirl of orange ribbons made of energy. Dark Shadow Venus made his grand entrance and walked up behind Shadow Mars, looking at the girls with a blink in his blue eyes, "Did I miss the memo about the meeting with the Sailor senshi?" The joke didn't amuse Shadow Mars and he turned his head slightly, waiting for what was so important that he had to come to the streets in daylight in his senshi uniform. Shadow Venus shook off the situation and ran his hand through his mop of hair, "Anyway, I got good news, boys. Guess who's back in the game?"

While the Shadow senshi conversed about their new mission, the girls were getting on Usagi's case about the picture, "I can't believe you forgot it!"

"I know, I'm sorry." It was all Usagi could do to defend herself. Although she was waiting for Rei to yell at her the most, she was surprised when Rei just kept watching Yamito with a distant look in her eyes. Even while the others berated Usagi, Rei stayed motionless as she watched him talk. Suddenly something in her just snapped and she stomped over towards the three of them. Flames were flashing in her eyes as Shadow Jupiter turned around just in time to be pushed out of the way. She went straight to Shadow Mars and stopped in front of him, staring up at him like she had something to say. The interruption had made Shadow Venus stop his report and soon enough, Shadow Mars slowly turned his head to her as well. The things he saw in her eyes made him tilt his head a bit while he waited for a word to leave her lips. Then, while everyone watched, she promptly reared back and slapped him across the face. The girls were sure they'd have to rush in to save her but oddly the others did nothing. The red burning across his cheek made Shadow Mars blink a few times and slowly look back to her, a speechless breath leaving his lips at what he saw next. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes and she lingered a moment longer to look at him. Then she just pushed past him and ran down the walkway, disappearing around the corner from sight.

"What was that all about?" Shadow Venus queried as he looked to Shadow Mars in shock. Shadow Mars just pushed his hand through his hair and rubbed his face a bit, shaking his head and remaining silent. Since the girls were watching as well, he dismissed the event with a wave and nodded his head towards the group of girls. The whole thing made Shadow Venus weary but he nodded and stepped forward, taking a place next to Shadow Jupiter, "Okay, listen up, ladies. I know you've missed us and all, so here's a chance for some make up."

"Last time you got lucky and we want a little rematch. These are the rules so listen carefully. You will fight us or we'll make Swiss cheese out of Tokyo. You know the Ginzuishou doesn't work on us so no more trying. This time, my unfortunate Sailor senshi, we won't be playing anymore." Shadow Jupiter growled and crossed his arms over his chest. Although those two were looking eager to fight again, Shadow Mars just stood behind them with his hand running over the reddened flesh of his cheek. The girls began to object to another fight with them and the argument began again. Only Usagi was quiet as she looked past the two to the silence Shadow Mars was basking in. She could see that Rei had done more to him than just bruise his cheek and somehow, that made her smile lightly.

In the end Shadow Venus waved his hands and started yelling loudly for them all to stop, "Gees, shut up! This isn't a vote! Tomorrow! Dusk! The park!" With that he and Shadow Jupiter turned away and walked past Shadow Mars, disappearing in bursts of energy of their respective power. Only Shadow Mars remained, looking quietly at Usagi with his fingers moving slowly across his cheek. The other girls fumed at the dismissal the others gave them but Usagi lightly stepped forward and placed her closed fist across her chest.

"Yamito.....I......"

He obviously didn't want to hear anything she had to say as he turned from her and followed the others, disappearing in a swirl of flames that died in the breeze. Usagi looked down as he left and sighed heavily with being pushed away once more. While she became lost in thoughts of what just happened between him and Rei, the others were consumed with the idea of fighting the Shadow senshi again.

With a deep sigh leaving her lips, Makoto leaned against a retaining wall along the sidewalk and looked to the ground, "Another fight with the Shadow senshi. I don't think I can face Kage again like that."

"They claimed they will be at full power as well. This doesn't look too good for us." Ami pointed out and clasped her hands on her bag in front of her. The others nodded in agreement and Luna looked over at Artimus blankly.

"The photograph will be our best shot. If it doesn't work, I don't know what we'll do."

"If Usagi doesn't forget it this time."

Minako was glaring at Usagi for a moment but was suddenly tuned in to her mood. Soon the rest of them looked to her as well and Luna strolled forward a bit to peek around her leg at her, "Usagi? What's wrong?"

She just stared forward with a concerned look on her face, "It's Rei. I've never seen her like this. I have to go see what's wrong."

With that she took off running after Rei, leaving the others to watch with a blink. The abrupt way she lashed out at Shadow Mars was what Usagi was worried about the most. She, more than the others, knew what was between them both. That very fact was the reason she felt she had to go find out why she risked pushing him further away that he already was.


Next Chapter: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words