*****This story is rated “R” for sexual situations and violence. *** Very short author’s notes this week. I hope to be able to post the last chapter of this story in two weeks, if my innards cooperate, that is. Whoever said that women are the “weaker” sex never had to deal with cysts. It’s like having a small, crazed man armed with a pitchfork running rampant inside your abdomen. Many thanks to Masked Maiden and Donnar-I for looking this chapter over for me. I’d love to hear what you think about this story. All mail is answered, even flames. Once I’ve been pumped full of #3 Tylenol with codeine, I can’t guarantee that I’ll make a whole lot of sense, but I will answer! :) Standard Disclaimer – I don’t own Sailor Moon or the attendant characters to which valid copyright laws apply. While Okibi Souji is not the real name of Rei’s grandfather, I gave it to him because I was very tired of having to dance around the fact that he has no name. I hope this doesn’t offend Naoko Takeuchi. ****************************** “Seduction” By Meara Chapter Four – “Shattered Illusions” ***************************** The heavy morning air was filled with the sound of the insects that lived in the relative wilderness of the Shrine grounds. Their pleasant song predicted another hot and humid day in this long summer. It was best to do anything that required physical activity as early as possible. Rei was finishing the last of her sweeping as Okibi Souji came from the prayer room. He slide the paper door closed behind him and simply stood and watched his beautiful grand- daughter. The day had begun before dawn when he was awakened by the sound of Rei cursing. He poked his head out his bedroom window to see his granddaughter, long, loose hair flowing behind her, stomping across the courtyard towards a trash can. Still mumbling darkly she ripped the lid open and shoved a single, white rose into it. If the flower was some kind of peace offering it hadn’t worked, Souji mused. The bad temper the gift had roused in Rei was worked off as she threw herself into her chores. It was more than just the unwanted gift that had her upset. Souji knew Rei well enough to see that she was trying to run from emotions she didn’t want to deal with. Spending time with her father tended to leave her this way. The old man some- times wondered if his son-in-law ever realized what he was doing to his daughter. He doubted it. From one of the largest of the ancient trees came two large, black crows, calling out in their cacophonous way. The sound broke into the old man’s thoughts and he looked up to see Rei put down the broom. With a delighted laugh, she let one of them come to rest on her out stretched arm. The bird settled and turned its head from side to side making little noises as it did so. She stroked the ebony feathers gently, whispering words of affection to her avian friend. The other crow, not to be outdone, landed on Rei’s shoulder and used its large beak to tug playfully at her hair. It was an enchanting scene and one that brought back memories of the first time Rei had claimed the two crows as her own. That had been such a sad day, but one that gave him a reason for living again after the death of his beloved wife and daughter. Okibi Souji closed his eyes and remembered. <<<>>> The sound of Rei cursing again brought the old man back to the here and now. He snapped out of his memories to see his granddaughter staring into a long, ornate, box. The delivery man in the brown uniform was scampering away from Rei as fast as he could. Phobos and Demos launched themselves from her, heading for the relative safety of the tree while Rei stomped to the nearest trashcan and ripped the lid off. Carefully removing the single, white, long stemmed rose she shoved in it. “What part of ‘leave me alone’ don’t understand?!” Rei shouted at the receptacle. The box and card quickly followed before she slammed the lid back on. “Has the trashcan somehow offended you, little girl?” Souji asked, smiling at her. She looked so much like his Yuriko when she got angry – full of life and fire. The remark seemed to bank the fires that burned in the young Miko. “There’s this guy, Kudoko Akuma,” Rei growled as she said the name, “and he’s trying to get me to like him. I’ve told him to drop dead, but he just won’t take the hint. This is the third white rose just this morning.” Somehow Souji knew that Rei wasn’t kidding about her conversation with the young man in question. He had little doubt that she’d used those exact words, too. Either the boy was hopelessly in love with Rei or he had a death wish. “Well, try not to be too hard on the boy, Rei. After all, if he likes you then he must have good taste, ne?” Souji chuckled. Rei rolled her eyes, but he could see a smile tugging at her mouth. “Are you still planning to go shopping with your friends this afternoon?” “Yep,” Rei answered happily. “Daddy put some extra money in my account before he left. I think this is his way of apologizing to me for losing his temper. At any rate, I’m going to do my part to help the economy by getting out there and spending it. We’re planning on having dinner out at one of the cyber-café’s so we can IM Ami in the US.” The old man’s gaze flitted briefly on the bruises on Rei’s arm. They were staring to heal a little now after two days, ugly yellows at the edges of the deep purple fingerprints. When Souji had first seen them his heart burned with anger. Hino Rokojou hadn’t changed at all. In keeping with his well established pattern her father had left the city without so much as a goodbye the very next morning. “I don’t suppose Daddy told you when he might be back?” Rei asked tentatively. She was still angry at her father but thought that she was at least partially to blame for what had happened. She knew her father had a bad temper, she’d inherited it after all. How could she have been so stupid as to provoke him like that? In the eyes of her grandfather Rei was suddenly a little girl again. “No, he didn’t little girl,” he patted her arm gently. Souji knew the moment he’d seen the bruises on Rei’s arm that he had run out of options. There was nothing left but the truth. A truth he feared that would hurt Rei more than the lie she’d been living for almost fifteen years. When Hino Rokojou came back, this time there would a reckoning. “But not for a long while, I hope.” *************************************** There were very few sights that could transfix Chiba Mamoru so thoroughly. He stood, his arms folded loosely over his chest and leaned against the door frame to his very small kitchen. Usagi had yet to notice that he’d returned from his errand, so intent was she on her task. She had her portable CD player on and was humming happily as she tipped the measuring cup of batter carefully, pouring small dollops of it into the all ready hot pan. Her back to Mamoru, Usagi broke into song and danced in place. It was an English tune, Mamoru realized, at least it was supposed to be. Usagi’s grasp of the language was not very good, but she didn’t let that stop her as she reached for the spatula. The pancakes had risen nicely and were ready to be turned. Slipping the Teflon coated instrument under one, she belted out her tune. ”There will come a day, somewhere far away. In my arms you’ll stay,” lost in the music, Usagi gave a small spin. “My only…” and saw Mamoru watching her, “L…aaarrgghh! Mamo-chan, how long have you been there?!” Breaking into delighted laughter the dark haired prince of Earth tilted his head to one side. “When you offered to come over and make me breakfast I didn’t know that a floor show was included.” He walked into the small kitchen in his apartment. Shaking the carton of orange juice Usagi had sent him out for, he set it on the table. “So to what do I owe the honor of having you cook for me?” “Mom went with Dad on business trip for the weekend and Shingo is off at baseball camp. Luna is with Artemis doing some research,” she replied taking off the discman. Usagi grabbed a plate and started to put the golden brown pancakes on it. She handed it to Mamoru. “I just thought we could spend some time together and this was a good way to do that.” “You’re in a good mood this morning, Usako.” He sat down in one of the chairs around the small table. It did his heart good to see her like this, so happy and full of life. Popping a bottle of syrup in the middle of the round table Usagi motioned for Mamoru to take some of the pancakes. “Well, I’ve been sleeping a lot better the past couple of nights.” “No nightmares?” Mamoru asked carefully. He wanted to know but didn’t want to push Usagi too hard. “Hey, these are really good. Did your mother make the batter?” “No, I haven’t had any of the dreams and no,” she looked slightly annoyed, “I made the batter. It’s a recipe that Mako-chan gave me. The trick is to put in a tablespoon of brown sugar and a little vanilla.” Mamoru long ago discovered that if he smiled at Usagi in the right way she’d tell him just about anything. He gave her that charming smile, seeing the way she melted at it with relief. “So what brought about this change?” “I’ve been helping out a friend with a problem.” She glanced at Mamoru, wanting to tell him about Kudoko Akuma but still strangely hesitant. A little voice inside Usagi said that Mamo-chan wouldn’t understand about the “help” she was giving him. “It feels good to be able to make a difference in someone’s life.” To be honest, she’d been more than a little nervous about the idea of letting Kudoko Akuma take her blood when it had been proposed to her. If Motoki hadn’t been there to vouch for Akuma then she’d more than likely have pulled out her power teir and dusted the poor man on the spot. Considering her first reaction to Akuma’s “condition”, Usagi decided that telling Mamo-chan and the others wasn’t such a good idea, after all. They wouldn’t understand. She could just hear how that conversation would go. ~Yes, Akuma is a vampire, and yes I am letting him use me for a light snack, but it’s not what you think, guys. Granted, he doesn’t have a pulse right now but that doesn’t make the man a monster. He wants to be human again and I’m helping to cleanse him of the curse of vampirism.~ Considering how Rei felt about Kudoko Akuma, she’d probably reduce him to ashes after the first sentence. Then again, Usagi doubted that she’d even get past the “light snack” part of her explanation with the Soldiers of the Outer planets. Usagi knew that the she could sum up Haruka’s solution to Akuma’s problem in two words – World Shaking. Tonight would be the third time she’d let Akuma take a little of her blood. She had to admit that it wasn’t at all unpleasant – just the opposite. In fact, it felt so very good and effected her in such a sensual way that Usagi was a little guilty about it all. Akuma had explained that it was just a side effect of his taking her blood, but it still made her blush to think about it. “You’ve always made a difference in my life, Usako,” Mamoru said, giving her that smile again as he finished up the last of his break- fast. He was amazingly handsome, Usagi thought. That brought her back to the real reason she’d come here this morning. She let her foot move under the table and find his leg. “That’s me, bringing joy and happiness where ever I go.” She started to run her foot up and down his calf. “Did I mention that my folks are out of town and I have no where I have to be for several hours?” “Ummm, really?” Mamoru asked, swallowing a mouthful of juice. Usagi rose from her chair and took the glass from his hand, placing it on the table and herself in his lap. Letting one arm curl around his shoulder, the other hand then slipped under his shirt. The look on her face was unmistakable. Her fingers danced nimbly down his body and the knowledge what was happening here filtered through the hormones that were racing to take control of his brain. “Usako, are you trying to seduce me?” he asked with delight. She blushed a bright red. “Well, yes… Am I doing it right?” It took all of Mamoru’s control not to melt into a small puddle as her hands continued their sensual dance. “Oh yes, you’re doing just great.” “You’ll tell me if I do anything wrong?” she asked in a teasing voice. This was more fun than she’d imagined it would be! Mamoru’s started to place passionate kisses down the length of her neck. Two could play at this game. “You’ll be the first to know.” The scoop necked shirt Usagi was wearing was no impediment to his demanding lips and he didn’t pause in his sweet explorations of her very willing body. It was just as Mamoru reached the hollow where her shoulder and neck met that it happened. His lips brushed Usagi’s skin and a strange tingling filled him. Mamoru opened his eyes and for a fraction of a second he thought he saw two bleeding wounds at the base of her neck. He blinked and they gone, the skin once more smooth. But as he looked closer, Mamoru could have sworn he saw the faintest hint of discoloration, as if a bruise was in the last stages of healing. (What the hell was that?) Mamoru’s wondered. The answer to his question would have to wait. Usagi’s clever hands reached their ultimate destination and every other thought seeped out of his brain like wine through a cheesecloth. He swept her up in his arms, capturing her lips for a lingering kiss that left her breathless. They headed for the bedroom. “Breakfast was wonderful. Let me show you how grateful I can be for home cooking,” he laughed and closed the door behind him with his foot. “Oh Mamo-chan,” came Usagi’s decadent sigh as they fell together to the bed. “If this is how you react to pancakes, I can’t wait to make you an omelet.” ************************************** The call came at four in the afternoon, well after Rei had left. It was pure luck (if you could call it that, Souji grumbled) that he was in Rei’s room dropping off clean laundry when the telephone rang. When the answering machine picked up, he was on his way out the door. What he heard made the old man stop in his tracks. “Hello Princess, it’s Daddy,” came the bland baritone of Hino Rokojou. “I’m back and I just wanted to call and let you know that what happened the other night was a fluke. I’ve been under a lot of stress and I guess it got the better of me for a minute. Why don’t you let me take you out to dinner tonight? Oh, and don’t tell your Grandfather about this, ne?” The old pattern hadn’t changed, Souji thought with a mixture of anger and disgust. The outburst of violence was followed by an apology, a gift and then the promise that this would never happen again. It always did, of course, because the underlying problem was never addressed, only temporarily assuaged. “No more,” Souji mumbled, reaching over to erase the message from Rei’s machine. “I’m putting a stop top this once and for all.” *************************************** Kudoko Akuma woke from the sleep that was not truly sleep with a start. He was confused and frightened for an instant and, looking around the dark bedroom, almost expecting to see the Master standing there. Throwing the covers away from his body, Kudoko rose and stumbled out the room he “slept” in. The movement seemed to clear the nightmare images from his mind and he remembered at last that the Master gone; burned to dust by the sun. There was a single, dim light on in the living room and it cast its paltry glow on the large ink on silk painting that dominated one wall. Akuma was, as always, drawn to it. He ran a hand over the cool, smooth glass that covered his treasure. It had been the better part of a hundred years since Kudoko had managed to arrange a painful demise for the Master. But the monster that made him what he was continued to have a hold on him that Kudoko was unable to shake. Even now dreams of the days when he was enslaved to the Master were able to invoke a primal and unrelenting terror in him. “My pretty toy,” came the Master’s voice in his memory, “my beautiful pet. You know you can’t fight me. I own you, toy, body and soul.” Akuma closed his eyes and shuddered. He could still feel the cold touch the vampire’s hand on him, the despair that filled his life as he was forced yet again to do what his Master wanted. Akuma had fought back in a battle that lasted years and that, in the end, he had lost. The power the Master had was too great for any mortal to break. For seven long years that Akuma had been seduced, tortured and humiliated by turns, all at the ancient vampire’s whim. But Kudoko Akuma learned the brutal lessons his Master taught him all too well. Power was all that truly mattered because power could keep you safe. Unless you were the one in control, you would soon become a victim again and that fate must be avoided at all costs. That was the one, driving compulsion that set Kudoko on the path he now walked. With a final glance at his childhood home, Kudoko Akuma moved on. Motoki had been here and a bottle was on the coffee table, a delicate crystal wine glass next to it. Pouring himself a generous dram, Kudoko Akuma sat back and considered his plans. It was quite possible that the power of the Ginzuishou could tear a small rip in the fabric of the great Seal of Light that held the demon he was dealing with trapped. That which can make a Seal can break a Seal, Kudoko knew. The attempt, whether or not it was successful would kill Usagi and that was something of a pity, he mused. The small bits of information he’d gleaned about the Silver Crystal all said that it was a mystic tool of unimaginable potential. The idea of having a toy with that kind of power was tempting but, Kudoko knew, much too dangerous. No, it was much better to try and free the demon. If the Seal was broken, he’d have dominion over the Earth in the demon’s name. That would mean he’d never have to fear being used or abused by anyone ever again. If the attempt to break the Seal failed then he’d lost nothing. For all the demon’s threats Kudoko didn’t believe for a minute that he was in any danger. If the Seal was unbroken then the demon was still trapped and, therefore, no threat to him. That didn’t, however, mean that Kudoko planned on coming away from this whole affair without a suitable reward. Leaning forward to refill his glass one more time, Kudoko picked up a picture of Sailor Mars from the top of the coffee table. A single finger traced the curves of her body. His original intent had been to seduce and enthrall the one who held the Ginzuishou. Years of careful planning had gone out the window the moment he first laid eyes on Hino Rei. From her flowing midnight tresses to her porcelain skin, she was everything he’d ever found desirable in a woman and he intended to claim as his own. Kudoko Akuma knew that he was very handsome. Every woman he’d every wanted had easily fallen to his physical charms. That Rei continued to resist his advances only made the need to have her all the more intense. Kudoko’s experiences with the Master had left him with both the compulsive need to be in control and the uncanny ability to spot others who had been abused. Rei had been abused, that he was sure of. There was such anger in her, such wonderful passion that burned in her exquisite violet eyes. He would show her how to mold that rage, to embrace it and let it give her the power to become like the phoenix of legend. Rei would rise from the ashes of her present life to take her revenge on the one who had hurt her. Once he’d freed that inferno of darkness Rei would be ready to take her place as his eternal companion. A smile came to his lips and he paused before taking another sip from the wine glass. He closed green eyes as he imagined Rei’s blood flowing into his mouth. Kudoko knew that she’d taste like fire, hot and savory. It took a great deal of self discipline to have to wait. Patience was a virtue, he told himself. One that would make her eventual surrender to him all that much sweeter. *************************************** Okibi Souji felt out place among the lavish, western trappings of the apartment he stood in and he thanked the Kami for small favors. His traditional dress was in stark contrast to the reproduction Louis XIV chairs and the rococo wall hangings. Souji sniffed distastefully, adjusting the manila envelope he carried under one arm. From the furniture to the paintings to the grossly out of place crystal chandelier, the décor was an exercise in conspicuous consumption. “This visit is a surprise, Souji,” Hino Rokojou commented as he entered the living room. “Rei is busy this evening so I thought you and I could have a long overdue chat,” the elderly priest replied evenly. “I thought our deal was quite clear. You stay away from Rei and I stay away from the press.” Hino settled into a large cherry wood chair. He leaned over to pour himself a drink from the ceramic carafe on the nearby table. He had the look of a man of who felt he held all the cards. “That was your deal, old man. I’ve allowed your delusions to rule my life too long. I’ve got a real chance to make something of myself here and I’m not about to let you screw it up for me.” For a long moment Souji studied the large folder in his hands. “The only delusional person here is you. I will not let you do to Rei what you did to my daughter. This is the only warning I will give you. Go back to America and stay out of Rei’s life or face the consequences.” Taking a long sip of the coffee Hino studied his father-in-law. “My wife died on wet road on a night she never should have been driving on in the first place. What happened to Miya was a terrible accident but that was over a dozen years ago. It’s old news.” “I think the press would be very interested to hear about what you did to my daughter, even today,” the tiny frame shook with contained anger. “And the people in the Liberal Democratic party even more so. We both know why she was driving out in that storm the night she died.” The cup came down sharply on the table top, splashing some of the contents. “Miya died because she wouldn’t listen to me; because she went crying to you over a stupid misunderstanding. For God’s sake it’s not like what I did was so shocking. Miya was the hysterical type and occasionally needed a slap or two to bring her back to her senses.” “A slap or two?” the diminutive man repeated softly. “Just like your own father used to do to your mother, to you? Is that why you felt it was alright to beat your wife and your child?” Hino Rokojou snarled, his face turning a dark red with rage. “That’s slander. If you try to go to the press I’ll have you in court for everything you own. Cross me and I’ll make sure that old temple of yours is sold for land it’s on. Do you have any idea how many developers want that parcel – what they’d pay me for it?” There was no fear in the old priest’s eyes. “Believe or not, money isn’t everything to some people. If it would save Rei from you I’d burn the place to the ground myself.” Hino got out of the chair, stalking to look down at the much smaller man. “You don’t get it do you? You can’t win here. If you go to the press with your wild, unsubstantiated stories, I’ll ruin you. For a dozen years you’ve bullied me with threats but have never once shown me any kind of proof. You know why? Because you don’t have any proof. I didn’t beat Miya or Rei!” While Hino spoke Souji reached under his arm and opened the manila envelope he carried. Rokojou hadn’t finished ranting when he pulled out the first item. It was a large, black and white grainy picture. He turned it over so that Hino could see what he held. The woman in the picture may have been young, it was hard to tell. Her face was bruised and swollen, one eye so puffy it was shut. She didn’t look at the camera but down at the floor instead, shame in every line of her body. All of the fight seemed to flow out Hino like water from a broken glass. “Oh Kami,” he whispered, “Miya.” Anger quickly returned and he ripped the photograph out of the old man’s hands. “Go ahead,” Okibi Souji said with a hint of disgust in voice that was hard to control. “Rip it up if you want. It’s only a copy and I’ve got lots of more where that came from.” Tipping the envelope a half a dozen more pictures fell out. All of them of the same young woman and her bruised and battered body. A study of horror in black and white floated slowly down onto the expensive wooden flooring. Hino Rokojou’s face went gray at the very sight of them. “Oh Miya, why did you make me do that?” he asked in hushed tone. Hino’s black eyes narrowed, his mind turning over fast and furious. “You want something, don’t you old man? All right then, how much money will it take to make sure these pictures go back into whatever dark place you pulled them out of?” Tossing the now empty envelope away in a careless fashion, Okibi Souji turned to walk away without a word. His son-in-law lived was world where everything had a price and he couldn’t seem to grasp the simple concept that money couldn’t solve all his problems. Okibi Souji knew that he should have pity for a man who would sell even his soul for the right price. Hino Rokojou was more alone in this well furnished hell than anyone else he knew of. “Every one had a price, Souji,” Hino called after him. “Answer me, damn you. What do you want?!” The priest paused and glanced over his shoulder. “What I want is for you to feel the pain you’ve caused both my daughter and granddaughter. What I’ll settle for is to have you leave Tokyo and never see Rei again. I was too late to save my sweet daughter from you, but I will not let you have a chance to destroy Rei.” The elderly priest left the door open behind him, not caring what other people may think of his abrupt exit. Hino Rokojou stood with his hands balled into fists at his side. Okibi Souji was simply being vindictive. Everyone knew that Rokojou had loved Miya. He’d worked hard to give both his wife and daughter the finer things in life. They would have been so happy if not for in-laws. They filled Miya’s head with non-sense to the point where she had never truly understood her proper place in life. It was his right, no his duty, as Miya’s husband to chastise her when it was necessary. What he had done wasn’t so shocking. It went on in countless homes not only across Japan, but across the world. Fear faded before the intense anger that filled him. Hino Rokojou had spent over a dozen years working in places that no one else would. With a nod of his head and the appropriate bow he’d let himself be assigned to one small diplomatic mission after the other in order to pay his dues. Now he was about to reap the rewards of faithful service to his party and Okibi Souji was trying to ruin it for him. He was not going to let that happen. *************************************** Rei let the telephone ring for a good five minutes before finally giving up. She placed it back on the hook with a sigh. It was more than a little strange that there was no one at the Shrine. But then again, way her life had been going lately, strange had become the order of the day. A shadow caught her attention and she looked quickly out of the corner of her eye. She knew without fully seeing him that it was Kudoko Akuma. “I have no interest in anything you could possibly want to say. Go away and leave me alone,” she waved him off without even looking at him. A snort of amusement came to her ears. “I haven’t said anything yet. How can you know that you’re not interested?” Knowing it was a mistake, but unable to resist the impulse, Rei turned to face Kudoko. He was good looking, she had to admit. Not too tall with an athletic build, he had a face like an angel. But there was something about those green eyes that Minako was so fond of that made her shiver whenever she looked into them. “That’s easy,” she replied in a deceptively light voice. “I have absolutely no interest in anything you can say, because I have absolutely no interest in you – and I never will. Now be a good boy and take the hint and go away.” Stepping in front of Rei, Kudoko looked into her exquisite violet eyes, trying ever so subtly to influence her. “Why won’t you give me a chance, beautiful Rei? You might find I’m not the guy you think I am.” Rei’s eyes narrowed. There was something simultaneously alluring yet eminently creepy about the incredibly handsome young man. “Really? I think I know exactly who and what you are, Kudoko Akuma,” she said softly. Whether it was her words or the way Rei managed to shut out his mental probes, Kudoko was brought up short. If his heart had still been capable of beating, it would have been racing in his chest. “And what am I?” he asked, suddenly serious. “Let’s see,” Rei began to tick off points on her fingers. “You’re arrogant, annoying and pig-headed. Oh, and let’s not forget my very favorite thing about you! You can’t seem to understand that ‘no’, doesn’t mean ‘maybe’ or ‘try again later’.” She leaned closer to him. “Now pay very close attention to me and see if you can manage to grasp this simple concept. I don’t like you. I have never liked you and I will never like you. My fondest wish is for the Earth to open up and swallow you whole. Leave me alone, you moron!” Turning on her heel, Rei walked away from Kudoko. He watched her head back to the table where her friends waited for her. A sour feeling roiled in the pit of his stomach and it took Kudoko a moment to identify it – frustration. This was not the way the game of seduction he was so good at was usually played. He’d pursue a woman; she’d make a token protest, then give in to his irresistible charms. The idea that Rei might not be playing a game, that she truly wanted nothing to do with him, flickered across his mind . It didn’t matter what Rei thought she wanted, Kudoko decided. She couldn’t know what he was offering her as his consort – eternal youth and power beyond anything she’d ever imagined. She could lead him as merry a chase as she wanted to. The outcome was all ready predetermined. He would have Hino Rei. Willingly if possible, unwillingly if he had to, but he would have her. *************************************** Rei was in rare form by the time she got back to the table that she and her friends always sat at when they came to the Crown. Mumbling darkly and letting increasingly violent fantasies about toasting her unwanted suitor fill her head, Rei didn’t notice that it wasn’t Minako and Makoto that she was sitting next to when she slid onto the bench. Giving her best growl of annoyance she let her head flop down onto her arms. “That man is a total ass!” she snarled. Without looking she reached out and grabbed what she thought was Minako’s arm, giving it a squeeze. “I don’t know why you like him, but you can have Kudoko Akuma and his wonderful, green eyes with my blessing!” “Do you really think he’s my type?” Michiru replied stifling a giggle. That voice made Rei’s head snap back up. Her hand was still on Michiru’s arm and she snatched it back in an instant. “Mich… Michiru?” she stumbled over the name, turning a brighter shade of red with each passing second. “Oh Kami-sama…” The aqua haired Senshi of Neptune craned her head in order to get a good look at Kudoko Akuma. “Well, he is good looking, but a little too short for my tastes.” “Where did Minako and Makoto go, Usagi?” Rei demanded, out-raged. It didn’t help matter any for Rei to see that Usagi was laughing so hard that she was about to pass the last of her drink through her nose. “Home,” she managed to squeak out. Haruka arched an eyebrow at her lifemate. “Please remember that you’re all ready spoken for, Michiru.” She barely glanced at the shadowy corner that Kudoko liked to lurk in while he watched Rei. “Don’t make me go over there and fight that guy for your favor, ne?” Tears were now running from Usagi’s eyes and she stuffed a napkin over her face making small gasping sounds of amusement. Rei grimaced and flicked a finger on the blonde’s forehead. “I’m so glad you’re enjoying this.” I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Usagi gasped, finally getting her mirth under control. “Both Minako and Makoto have been trying to get Akuma to notice them all summer but he only seems to have eyes for Rei.” “He’s an arrogant jerk,” Rei repeated, refusing to turn and look at Kudoko. She could feel his eyes on her and gave an involuntary shiver. If you’re going to beat him up Haruka-san, can I watch?” “Oh come on, Rei-chan,” Usagi wheedled. “Give the guy a break. He’s really very nice when you get to know him.” “I don’t want to get to know him and neither should you. You can’t save every lost soul that crosses your path Usagi,” Rei snapped back harsher than she’d meant to. “When are you going to grow up and realize that?” “I just want you to find a prince of your own, Rei-chan,” Usagi knew she shouldn’t have teased Rei, but her friend’s word stung. There was regret in the violet eyes. “I know, but it’s not going to be Kudoko Akuma. There’s something about the guy that gives me the creeps.” She glanced at her watch, tired. “Look it’s been a long day, so I’m going to follow Mako and Minako’s example and go home.” “We’re heading in that direction if you’d like a ride,” Michiru offered. “How about you, Neko-chan?” Haruka asked. “Need a ride home?” Usagi shook her head, “No thanks. I’ve got to talk to Motoki about something. You guys go ahead.” Rei felt badly about snapping at Usagi. “Usagi, I’ve got some new manga you haven’t read. Do you want to come over tomorrow and look at them? If it’s hot we can call Minako and Mako and hit the baths.” Usagi knew that this was Rei’s way of apologizing. “Sounds like a plan to me.” “The baths?” Haruka asked as they slid out of the booth. Michiru placed a gentle hand on Usagi’s arm while Rei was explaining about the joys of cold water and six foot wooden tubs. “You know, Usagi, you should listen to Rei if she feels strongly about something,” she said softly. Michiru’s face was serious as she glanced at the corner where she’d seen Kudoko. “Rei’s intuition is usually right on target.” *************************************** There was only one light on at the Hikawa Shrine when Hino Rokojou got there. His anger had done nothing but grow as he’d driven across the city, fighting the traffic every inch of the way. His plan had been to wait for his father-in-law to arrive and make him surrender both the pictures and the negatives. That Souji had somehow managed to beat him here only fueled the rage building inside Hino. He’d worked too long and too hard to let his ambitions come to ruin because of the grudge held by one old man. He didn’t bother to remove his shoes as he charged into the rooms that served as home for those living at the temple. The paper door to the prayer room was light, and he nearly ripped it in shoving it open. Souji was kneeling and turned with a start to see the much larger man framed in the doorway. “I’ve put up with you interfering in my life for too long, old man,” Rokojou’s face was scarlet with rage. “Give me the pictures, now.” “You are such a fool, boy” Souji replied, much calmer than Rokojou thought he’d be. “You seem intent on doing something that can only hurt everyone. Go back to your life in America before it’s too late.” Not bothering to close the paper door behind him, Rokojou advanced on the old man. “Oh no, you are not going to frighten me into silence any more.” Closing his eyes, Souji sighed. This was a confrontation he’d been trying to avoid for a dozen years. He clapped his hands together three times to mutely pray for the help of his wife’s spirit. “You’re always so angry Rokojou, so defensive,” Souji stood up, not intimidated by the younger and larger man. “Then again, I suppose you have cause to be defensive. After all, it mustn’t be easy to live with the knowledge that you killed your wife.” ************************************** “You seem a little anxious tonight, Usagi.” Kudoko tilted his head to one side, looking concerned. “Is everything all right?” “Well, no.” Usagi rubbed her hands together nervously. She glanced at where Motoki sat quietly on the couch. “I’ve been thinking about my ‘helping’ you.” (All right, Usagi!) Motoki cheered in his mind. (I knew you’d figure this out! Do your Sailor Moon thing and dust this guy!) Kudoko could feel Motoki chafing at his control. Usagi had sought him out earlier than he’d expected and he hadn’t had the opportunity this evening to feed from his toy. He spared Motoki a glance, suddenly worried that the stubborn but clever boy would find a way around the compulsion he’d placed on him. “I’ve decided that I need to tell Mamo-chan about this before we go any further,” Usagi said slowly, fighting the voice in her mind that said that she didn’t want to tell Mamoru about this. Trying to appear casual, Akuma tilted his head in a show of sympathy. “You aren’t having the nightmares again are you, Usagi? I thought I was helping to suppress them for you.” The subtle threat that the dreams were being kept at bay only so long as Usagi let him feed on her hung in the air. It took all the strength he had left, but Motoki managed to find a way to get around the spell that Kudoko had on him. He couldn’t come out and speak the truth, but he could and did find a way to thwart his much hated “Master”. “People who love each don’t keep secrets, Usagi,” he said. “You should tell Mamoru about the dreams and anything else you feel you need to, right Akuma?” Motoki looked Kudoko Akuma and a smile of satisfaction broke across his face. The defiance and triumph was more than evident in the young man’s expression. (Sucks to be you, doesn’t it, fang-boy? Go ahead, try and force Usagi like you did me. That’ll bring Mamoru running and he’ll send you to hell via the rose express!) “Of course, Motoki. May I ask what brought this about?” Kudoko asked in soft voice. He lowered his head to look at the floor, trying to hide the anger filling him. This should not be happening! How had Usagi managed to come to this conclusion? The suggestion he’d planted in her mind the first night should have prevented this. “I’ve been talking to Rei-chan,” Usagi started. “And she has some reservations about me?” Managing to get control of his frustration, Kudoko gave her a look that said he was not at all surprised by this turn of events. His voice was even and soothing. A long sigh turned into a regretful laugh. “She’s a clever girl, Rei. No matter how hard I try to hide my curse, she still senses what I am at some level. She thinks I’m lying to you, using you for my own ends.” “Well, something like that,” Usagi blurted out. “I’ll still do all I can to help lift this curse from you, Akuma, but I don’t want to keep secrets from Mamo-chan.” Motoki tensed, half expecting that Kudoko would attack Usagi, but was more than a little surprised when all he did was slowly nod his head in agreement. “I understand, Usagi,” he said in a reasonable tone. “Would you like me to walk you home?” Usagi shook her head, a relived smile coming to her face. “No, thank you. I’ll be fine. I’m so glad you’re not upset about this.” “Not all,” Kudoko replied opening the door for her. “You tell Mamoru about this in the morning. The three of us can discuss it tomorrow night if you’d like.” Usagi was all ready moving down the hall and away. “That sounds like a good idea, Akuma. I’ll see you tomorrow night then.” Quietly closing the door, Kudoko leaned against it, his hands balling into fists at his side. “You…” Green eyes shifted to red, fangs sliding into place. He crossed the room in two strides and using both hands, grabbed Motoki by the collar, lifting him off the couch. “You tried to warn her,” Kudoko snarled. It seemed, Motoki was able to note with satisfaction, that Kudoko was rattled by what had just happened. “And I did, too,” it felt good for Motoki to be able to say the words, but even better to know that he’d saved Usagi from this monster. “Whatever game you’re playing is now over. Usagi won’t let you do what you want until she tells Mamoru about you. Once he knows what you are, you’ll never get within a mile of her again. Oh, and if you plan on surviving to the weekend may I suggest that you start running right now?” With a bitter laugh Kudoko pulled Motoki close. “Oh no,” he hissed “It’s much too late for that. I’ve all ready been inside Usagi’s mind. She’ll hear my call. And when she comes to me, she’ll see only what I want her to. You, toy, are going to do me one, last service. Do you remember why I chose you? It’s because you’re close to both Tsukino Usagi and Chiba Mamoru. You carry so many memories of him in your mind – memories that I can use to my advantage.” Red eyes bore into Motoki’s and he stiffened in pain. He tried to close his eyes, to look away but couldn’t. There was the sensation of something slithering into his mind, seeking, probing. The vampire gave a snarl, “And while it’s true that Usagi may not trust Kudoko Akuma right now,” his body shimmered and shifted shape. He smiled as Motoki gasped at the form Akuma now wore. “She’ll fly into the arms of her beloved Chiba Mamoru, won’t she?” the monster with Mamoru’s face asked. A flick of the wrists sent Motoki flying. He crashed against the wall and slid to the floor, stunned. Still wearing Mamoru’s form, Kudoko walked up to the young blond and knelt down beside him. An iron hand reached out and took Motoki by the jaw, forcing him to look into the red eyes. “Toy,” the vampire said, his voice soft but full of menace, “You have just out lived your usefulness to me. I was going to let you die while I drank you dry. It would have been a quick and pleasant end for you, but not now.” Motoki couldn’t answer, couldn’t move or even protest as the vampire held in a mental grip of stone. All he could do was glare at the monster, his hate burning in his eyes. (Then kill me and get it over with. At least I won’t have to listen to your insane and, quite frankly, boring plans anymore.) It was as if Kudoko could hear Motoki’s thoughts. “You are going to die by inches, little man. What I do now is just the down payment on a long and painful death. By the time I’m finished with you, you will beg me to kill you.” Kudoko raised his hand and closed it into a fist. Unable to move, Motoki could only watch as it raced towards him. He had a moment of terrible pain and the urge to cry out, then everything went black. *************************************** It was a short ride back to the temple and Haruka had the top down on her car. The wind through her hair felt good and gave her a chance to calm down. The single light on in the prayer room caught Rei’s attention as she came to the top of the long, stone stairs. Her heart began to beat faster as she got closer to the open paper door. Voices could heard – angry voices that she recognized as her father and grandfather. “Oh no, you’re not going to frighten me into silence anymore,” she heard her father say, as mad as she’d ever heard him. Creeping closer to the open door, Rei wasn’t sure if she should interrupt the two men, or if her presence would only make things worse. Indecision made her pause. Horror rooted her to the spot where she stood when her grandfather spoke again. “You’re always so angry Rokojou, so defensive,” Souji said. “Then again, I suppose you have cause to be defensive. After all, it mustn’t be easy to live with the knowledge that you killed your wife.” Rei blinked owlishly form where she stood in the shadows. She wanted to believe that she’d misheard the words. It couldn’t be true – could it? “Oh no,” Rokojou snarled back, “I am not going to take the blame for this. Don’t you think I would have stopped Miya if I knew what she was going to do? How was I to know that she’d do something as insane as driving in a hurricane?” Souji gave a bark of bitter laughter. “Did you ever consider the idea that you’re the one made Miya frightened and desperate enough to risk getting in a car that night?” “I loved Miya!” Rokojou shouted back. There was pain in his voice, a longing to have something he never could again. “Everything I did was for her!” “Love?” Souji spat the word at Rokojou. “You don’t beat people you love. What did you do to her that night, boy? Did it make you feel like a big man to keep hitting her until she begged you to stop?” “It wasn’t like that! Miya was the hysterical type and that’s your fault, old man. You filled her head with this nonsense about visions and seeing the future. I had to slap her every now and then to bring her back to reality.” “But you didn’t stop with just a slap that night did you?” Souji pushed at the larger man. “Did you?” he demanded. “Did you?!” Unable to stay in the shadows any longer, Rei stumbled into the door way. Her grandfather heard her first, his head snapping around to see Rei, the horror on her face breaking his heart. He took a step towards her. “Oh no, Rei…” “What did you do?” Rei asked in a dangerous whisper, her eyes riveted on her father. “What did you do, Daddy?” “I didn’t mean to…” Rokojou stumbled over the words. The look in those violet eyes cutting him to the bone. “I was so angry that night. I was so angry and I just lost control. You now what it’s like, princess. You get angry, too, I’ve seen it.” “Shut up! You’ve done enough damage!” Souji roared. Couldn’t the fool see what he was doing to Rei? “I didn’t kill Miya!” There was desperation creeping into Rokojou’s voice, a need to believe his own words. He started to walk towards Rei and she stepped back and away from her father. Her actions hurt him and he shouted, throwing up his hands. “I didn’t kill her! Yes, I hurt her some, but she was the one who drove into the storm. I didn’t kill her, princess. You’re my daughter, damn it all. You have to believe me!” “No,” Rei whispered. She reeled, her face gray and her eyes wide. “No, don’t say that. I’m not like you!” “It’ll be all right, little girl,” the look on Rei’s face frightened Souji. “Come with me. It’ll be all right.” He gently extended a hand in her direction. With a sob, she jerked away from him and looked at her father for an instant. “Don’t say that,” she cried out, shaking her head. “It’s not true. I’m not like you!” Stumbling, Rei turned and ran off into the night. The sound of her anguish filled denial only fueled the need to run. “I’m not like you!” *************************************** Next – Usagi’s life is on the line and only Rei can save her. Can the Solider of Fire break the cycle of violence or will she be seduced by Kudoko Akuma and what he promises her? It’s justice versus vengeance in chapter five!