Celestial Warrior Moon:
Disclaimer: I do not own any Sailor Moon related properties. Sailor Moon is the property of Toei Animation and Naoko Takeuchi. This is a fan work created to celebrate the work. It is not intended to infringe on any copyrights.
Drew L: That was the general idea. Thank you. I'm considering whether or not to cameo any Outer Senshi. I haven't come to a decision yet, but you'll them if I put them in.
TsukiyoTenshi: Heheh, that was the intended reaction. Yeah, there's still a whole lot of room for everything to go south.
LoveInTheBattlefield: I plan to! :D
Chapter 6
Bejeweled
"Are you leaving for school yet, Naru?" a voice called from the kitchen.
"Huh? …Oh, yes," Naru replied dumbly.
Her aunt Miku came into the living room of her apartment to see her niece off. Naru had just finished tying her shoes. Miku looked much like Naru's mother, but younger.
"Well, have a good day," Miku said pleasantly.
Naru gave a little nod without really looking at her. She opened the door to leave.
"Naru."
"Yes, Aunt Miku."
"Are you going to go see your mom again after school?"
"Oh yeah. I don't want her to be left alone there all day, Auntie."
Miku gave her niece a long worried stare.
"Are you sure you're up for school today? You could just take it easy in front of the TV."
"I guess I am," Naru said quietly, hardly more than a whisper.
"You guess? Are you?" Miku asked, putting more stress in her voice.
"I'm sure, Aunt Miku," Naru replied.
Miku sighed at her niece.
"Well, take it easy."
"I will. Oh, and thanks for taking care of the shop while mom's away, but are you sure it isn't too much trouble? Don't you have your own job?"
"Yeah, but I'm taking a few days off. That old store means a lot to me. Mom started Osaka Jewelry before it belonged to sis."
"I see. Sorry," Naru said sincerely. "Thank you, Aunt Miku."
"Think nothing of it. I just don't want it to go under," Miku replied.
"Me neither. See you later, Aunt Miku."
"Have a good day, Naru. If you can't handle it just come back to the apartment and rest, please."
"Okay, by-by."
"Bye."
When Naru left, Miku stood there by the day debating if it was a good idea to let her go back to school yet. Standing out in the hallway, just on the other side of the door, Naru paused for a brief second and let out a big sigh. She herself wasn't sure she was up to facing school yet, but she thought it better than just sitting around moping all day. It was strange. Ever since the incident everything just seemed so unreal, and she just hadn't been sleeping well.
"What am I even doing," she thought.
She walked over to the elevator and pushed the 'Down' bottom and waited for it to come.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" a shriek emitted from the Tsukino residence.
Usagi shot down the street into the distance. Kenji leaned out the open kitchen window.
"Say what you will about her morning routine, she at least gets a good morning exercise out of it," he said.
Meanwhile, in her bedroom, a pile of blankets and sheets squirmed and a muffled voice shouted:
"Ack! Usagi, help me! You trapped me in your bed cloths! Wait, did you leave already? I have something very important to tell you!"
Later…
"Ms. Tsukino, you're late for class again!" Haruna shouted. "Go stand out in the hall!"
"Oh, this sucks!" Usagi pouted.
"Thank you for coming," Miku called after a man she'd just sold an engagement ring to.
"Open only fifteen minutes and that was my fifth sale so far. I must still have the hang of this," she said happily.
She glanced around the shop at all the displays and spotted an almost empty case.
"Whoop. Looks like the necklace display can use some restocking," she said, thumbing herself lightly on the head.
She went into the back looked for them as quick as she could.
"Let's see. Necklaces, necklaces, necklaces…ah, necklaces," she whispered.
She picked up the cardboard box containing the desired goods. When she turned to go back to the front, she was suddenly faced with a strange man maybe a foot away from her. She dropped the box and opened her mouth to scream for help, but he was quick and covered her mouth in a grip so tight it hurt. She struggled against him, kicking and punching at him, though it did her no good. She managed to twist herself around to try to run away, but he never lost grip of her. He wrapped his free hand around her midsection, keeping her arms pinned at her side. He shoved into her a wall holding her there with his weight. He laughed at her futile attempts to struggle, smiling cruelly all the time.
"Are you afraid, woman? Good. You should be."
By now, tears were streaming down Miku's face. What did this man want with her?
"Be still!" he hissed.
He began muttering something in a dialect she couldn't distinguish. Her face went blank and comprehension left her eyes as she became entranced. He took his hand away from her mouth and backed away.
"Turn around. Good. You are in the power of Zoicite of the Four Heavenly Kings. Take this."
He held out what looked like a normal handheld price tag scanner. She gripped it in hand.
"Good girl. Now use that to scan every item you sell. It will enchant your stock to suck the energy right out of your customers and it collect in the scanner. I will return this evening for it. You will not consciously remember anything I've just said to you when I snap my fingers," he instructed.
Zoicite retrieved the box she dropped and handed it to her. Then he moved away from her line of vision and he snapped his fingers. She blinked and he vanished.
"Now why am I just standing here…?" she asked, haltingly.
She looked around trying to piece together her sudden change in location. She put a hand to her cheek and then immediately withdrew it with a startled gasp. Then she pressed a finger to her cheek again.
"Was I…crying just now?" she asked herself.
She took her hand from her face and looked at the glistening liquid on in utter bewilderment. She eyes happened to roam away from the year-stained hand to the box on the floor.
"Oh, right necklaces."
She grabbed the box and hurried back to the front.
"Sorry, everyone, I just had to go into the back real quick. Can I help anyone? Oh yes, lovely choice, ma'am. I'll just scan this…"
"CSSSHHH," static from the stereo speaker behind the counter suddenly crackled when she used the scanner. She glanced back, giving the thing a peculiar look, but the device had returned to playing the usual low, orchestral music.
"That's strange. Why'd it do that?" Miku wondered.
She scanned another item, provoking more static.
"Well, at least that's over," Usagi whispered dully.
She was so glad Ms. Haruna had let her back in before class was over. Usagi glanced over at Naru who just looked exhausted and troubled. Her eyes were far off, but nowhere good. Usagi became very worried for her friend.
"I'm going to have to try to cheer her up. I'll find out what she's up to after school," she decided.
After class ended, Usagi tried to catch up with her friend, but she was stopped by Ami.
"Um, excuse me, Usagi."
"Oh, hi!" Usagi replied back enthusiastically.
The blue head didn't meet her gaze at first. When she did speak, it sounded like it was taking a lot to muster up the words.
"Usagi…I…uh…I'm sorry I was so distant yesterday. I just couldn't face anyone. Uh, want to hang out again sometime?"
"Sure, why don't you come with me to hang with Naru later?"
"Not today, I have cram school, but I'm free on Sunday. Do you think you could make it then?"
"Sure thing! I wouldn't miss it! I'll see you then. Just go to the arcade around One o'clock and I'll find you there!" Usagi replied excitedly.
She looked past Ami over to her best friend, and then back.
"Excuse me. I have to talk to Naru for a minute."
"Oh, sure," Ami smiled, relieved.
She stepped aside and let Usagi pass. Then she watched the odango head skip over to the brunette. She could scarcely believe that she hadn't lost her first friend despite how off-putting she must have been yesterday.
"Hey, Narrruuu!" Usagi called.
The other girl didn't respond, instead opting to pick up her books almost robotically.
"Naru," Usagi said more loudly this time.
"Wha-Yeah, Usagi," Naru replied hazily.
"Hey, Naru!" Umino shouted, coming out of nowhere.
Usagi jumped in surprise, but Naru just looked at him.
"Oh, hi, Umino," Naru said dully.
"Is it true that you were really badly hurt by that leopard? How did you make it out, and…?"
Before Usagi could drive the nosy busy body away, he was already assaulting her with questions.
"Did you get a good look at it?"; "It is true that over fifteen people were died?"; more questions were piled at her rapidly.
"Hey, back off!" Usagi ordered.
She grabbed Umino and turned him around to face her, giving him a good death glare, which shut him up immediately. When the school crybaby started throwing those around, it was definitely time to just back off. Umino looked away from Usagi, at Naru.
She stood there looking very uncomfortable at him.
"…and, huh…" Umino mumbled. "Sorry about that. Are you alright?"
"It's okay. I was…was just a little surprised. That's all," Naru said, making a forced smile.
"Excuse me," Naru added, and headed to their next class.
Usagi and Umino exchanged looks and followed after her, with Ami bringing up the rear. On their way down the hall to their next class, the three struck up conversation trying to talk about anything other than that night or what had just happened. Throughout it all, Naru was silent, looking out the windows.
"…and then the guy said, 'hey, that's not a drumstick, that's my leg'," Umino said.
"Ha," Usagi faked a laugh at the frankly confusing joke.
"I don't get it," Ami said.
"Neither do I," Usagi replied.
"Aw…" Umino said, disappointed.
"Maybe you get it, Naru," Usagi suggested.
Expectant eyes turned to her. Still she blankly stared ahead.
"Oh man. How did she get worse since yesterday?" Usagi mind's worked frantically.
"So, have you been staying in that house by yourself," Usagi asked.
"No. I'm with Aunt Miku right now," Naru replied.
"Oh, good, she is hearing us," Usagi thought.
"So… Wanna do something later?" Usagi then asked.
"Can't. Going to see mom at the hospital. Then I'm heading back to Aunt Miku's apartment," Naru said.
"Oh, where is it? Maybe I can come over later," Usagi suggested.
Naru smiled faintly, and opened her notebook to write down the address.
"I'll have to ask Auntie first. I'll stop off at the shop on my way home, 'kay?" Naru said, handing the torn out page to her friend.
When they came to the classroom, Naru went right in while the trio remained out in the hall a while longer.
"She's definitely still coming out of the shock," Ami explained.
"But how? She was fine at the hospital. Shaken, but at least she was talking like Naru. I don't get it. We're fine, so how come it's just Naru that's so shaken?" Usagi said desperately.
"It's worse for her," Ami pointed out. "It's her mother that was almost killed, it was her home that that thing attacked us in, and it was her neighbors that were all… ahem."
Ami decided how to finish that sentence.
"Anyway, it probably just hadn't sunk in totally yesterday," Ami concluded.
"So are you saying that we're handling it better because it wasn't our homes that were broken into?" Usagi asked.
"I know I'd still be out of it if I didn't think I was even safe at home anymore. I go gaming with the neighbor kid on weekends. I'd hate to see anything bad happen to him," Umino said.
Usagi gave Naru another worried look.
"You have the right idea, Umino," Ami replied.
"How do you know so much about this?" Usagi asked her.
"I read a lot," Ami replied simply.
After school, Usagi bid her friends goodbye for the day and headed home.
"See you later, Naru. Make sure you call me," Usagi said exuberantly.
"I will," Naru replied.
"Will you be okay coming to school tomorrow?" Usagi asked uneasily.
"Oh yeah, if I could handle today, then tomorrow should be no problem," Naru said.
"Alright, see you in a bit," Usagi spoke. "Oh, bye, Ami. Good luck at cram school!"
"Thank you. Make sure you study tonight," Ami replied.
"Bleh!" Usagi cried as she took off towards home.
"Thank you, and come again," Rei said to other teens that were leaving.
"We will, Ms. Hino," they giggled.
She smiled as they left.
"Now then, to get some meditation in," she said.
She headed back inside. Her crows came down and landed on her shoulders.
"Oh, Phobos, Deimos, did you guys miss me while I was busy?" she asked, patting them both on the head.
Suddenly, they began cawing like crazy at something behind her.
"Hmm? What is it, girls?" she asked.
She looked around just in time to see a young man come up the stairwell to the shrine. He wore a casual suit and sunglasses, and had long hair that was tied back in a ponytail. His features were so feminine that she almost mistook him for a woman. He took the glasses off and flashed a smile at her. The two crows took off again and circled overhead.
"Oh, hello, sir, welcome to Hikawa Shrine. How can I help you?"
"Thank you, Ms. Hino, or do I call you Rei. I'm Sigmund Zois. Pleased to meet you."
"Oh, you're the new apprentice, right? I'm very pleased to meet you," she greeted and gave a slight bow. "We're always happy to help anyone on their spiritual journey."
He returned the gesture.
"I'm very grateful," he replied.
"And Rei's fine, Mr. Zois."
"Siggie, please, it's what all my friends call me," Siggie answered.
"Okay, Siggie."
And through the pleasant formalities, Rei couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this man, however affable he seemed.
Usagi paused at a street corner that took her right past Osaka Jewelry, thinking about the last few days. While getting lost in her thoughts, she spotted a familiar face standing outside of the store looking in.
"Hey, isn't that that jerk from Game Crown," she thought.
Without even thinking about it, she was walking over to him as if drawn to him. Yep, it was him, Mamoru Chiba. He just stood there perfectly still staring intently at the shop dressed in a tuxedo and mirror shades. She tried to repress a laugh. He must have heard her, because gave her an annoyed sideways look.
"Oh, you," he said flatly. "Hello, Dumpling Head."
"It's Usagi! U-SA-GI! Get it right, Jerkface!"
"So what brings you here, Dumpling Head? Did you miss me?"
"What? Hell no! Uh, what's with the tux in the middle of the day, anyhow? You got a date or something? Ooh, is that it, Mamo? Shopping for your girlfriend?"
"Maybe," Mamoru replied, flirtatiously.
He lowered the shades flashing a seductive look.
"Jealous?" he asked. "Did you come here to confess to me, perhaps?"
"You are so full of it, like I'd ever date a snobby jerk like you in a thousand years!" Usagi said huffily.
Despite herself, she found herself noting his handsome face, which made her face flush. She turned around quickly and left grumbling. He laughed quietly at her reaction, which made her turn even redder. She looked back at him and blew him a raspberry.
He turned back to the store.
"This place is loaded. If any place has it, it'll be here," he thought.
"I'm home," Usagi announced.
She pushed open the door.
"We're in here, Usagi," her mother called from the living.
"Oh, is that Usagi," she heard a woman's voice ask. It sounded familiar, but Usagi wasn't close enough to place it yet.
"Yes, it is," she heard her father say. "Come on in, Usagi, and meet Megumi."
"Coming, dad," Usagi replied.
She slipped off her shoes and headed over to them.
"Hi, I'm Usagi…and you must be…Meg…u…mi," Usagi trailed.
"Yep, that's me," Luna in human form replied smiling broadly. "And you must be Usagi! Pleased to meet you!"
There her family sat chatting with Luna, completely oblivious to the fact that she was charming her way into their home like a psycho in a horror movie.
"Yeah…" Usagi replied. "So you're the girl that's going to be staying with us?"
"Uh-huh. This house is lovely. I can already tell I'd love it here if you'll let me."
"So what are you studying at Temple?" Usagi asked.
"Anthropology: the study of humankind."
"Hey, Megumi, what's it take to get into Temple University, anyway?" Shingo asked.
"Lots of hard work and 90 percent grades, bare minimum," Luna replied.
He looked over at Usagi with a mocking grin.
"Hey, I'll bet you can teach big sis a thing or two. She's always home with thi…"
"Hey, who asked you, ya little brat!" Usagi yelled.
Luna giggled.
"Kids," Ikuko said, sternly.
The effect shut both Usagi and Shingo up immediately. Ikuko then turned back to Luna, her pleasant smile returning.
"Anyway, how about we show you the room she'll be staying in," Ikuko suggested.
"I'd like that," "Megumi" replied.
"Alright, then," Kenji said, getting up.
The Tsukinos went upstairs, followed by Luna. Usagi cast Luna a look that clearly expressed that Luna had explaining to do later. The cat girl nodded in response. Usagi turned to her brother.
"You were about to tell mom what my last test score was, weren't you?" she accused.
He shrugged as he walked past.
"Oh hush, stupid Usagi. It's not my fault you're always getting kicked out of the house. Man, of all the sisters in the universe, I get stuck with a real dummy."
"Grr! Shingo! You might be my little brother, but even so… SAILOR V KICK!"
Shingo dodged the blow meant his dumb and Usagi ended up kicked the wall. Pain shot through her toes and she hopped around on one foot clutching her hurt one tightly.
"Owie! Owie! Owie! Owie! Shingo! Ooh, is he going to hold that last failed test over my head forever?"
"What failed test?" she heard her mother's voice ask behind her.
Usagi squeaked and jumped, but slowly and reluctantly turning to face the matriarch.
"Uh, well…" Usagi began.
A couple of minutes later, the door to Usagi's room burst open and its usual occupant was shoved inside hard enough that she fell onto her knees in front of her desk. Then her mother stepped up beside it and emptied the contents her daughter's book bag out onto it.
"In all the excitement in the last couple days I completely forgot about that last report card. Now, Usagi, you are going to study for the rest of the night or just don't bother coming into the house anymore. Understand?"
"Yes, mother," Usagi said in quietly.
"Good. Now study and study hard. I'll be watching you. If it isn't done by dinner: no seconds; no dessert!" Ikuko said threateningly.
When she left she slammed the door in her wake, leaving Usagi alone.
"Sccccarrrrry," Usagi whined.
Naru entered Osaka Jewelry, pausing for a second upon getting a look inside. There was a man sitting on the counter and Miku was just letting him. The store was also filled with customers unlike she'd ever seen before, but something wasn't right. They were all perfectly quiet, standing still with their heads tilted to the side at unnatural angles, and just staring at whatever display they were in front of. Naru slowly walked past them, getting a very bad vibe off this.
"Auntie, I'm back. Is everything alright?" Naru asked.
Her slow pace ceased altogether when she saw Miku's state up close, and she nearly screamed. Her aunt's face was empty of expression and her head tilted the same way as the customers.
"Auntie?" Naru said loudly, but there was no reaction.
It was like Miku's mind was blank. There was nothing human left in those eyes, or in any eyes Naru looked into around the store. She glared at the man at the counter with suspicion and fear. He either hadn't noticed her yet, or was ignoring her. Instead, he seemed intent on fiddling around with the device he held. It looked like a price scanner.
"What have you done?!" Naru demanded trying to sound firm but her voice just came out as a frightening and shrill little sound.
He looked at her for the first time now with a smirk. The look alone was enough to make her take a step back. She turned to flee the store, but a rather portly man locked the front door while other customers pulled the drapes down. Naru skidded to a stop, opting escape out the back. As Naru made a run for the back, Miku unexpectedly suddenly sprang into action, intercepting her fleeing niece when she came around behind the counter. She grabbed her by the arms tightly enough that he fingernails punctured the skin.
"No! Let me go! Auntie, stop it! You're hurting me!" Naru screamed.
Her pleas fell on ears that could no longer register them. She was dragged back towards the man. Miku twisted an arm behind Naru's back and gripped her hair, forcing her to look him in the face.
"Who are you? What have you done to my aunt?!" Naru's managed to yell through the sobs.
Around them, the other patrons closed in silently while he smiled wickedly.
"Naru Osaka," the man spoke at last. "No, you need not bother remembering my name, peasant."
He leaned in and took a good sniff of the girl, tilting his back as he did it.
"Oh, so full of life energy can I practically taste it. That clever devil Jedeite, I could kiss that man if he was here now and if my heart didn't already belong to another. He selected a ripe one."
Naru stopped struggling as she listened to him.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Zoicite laughed aloud.
"Oh, yes, I had almost forgotten! The Keepers and their adorable little memory rewrites!"
He reached out and touched his thumb to her forehead and his index and middle fingers to the top of her head. Naru's began to thrash and kick around, knowing that he had nothing good planned for her.
"Now, now, little one, this is just a little reminder."
The numbers in her math homework might as well have been in a foreign language to Usagi for all the sense they made. There was a knock at her door.
"Come on," Usagi answered bored.
She turned to look at who had come. It was Luna.
"Luna. You have some explaining to do," Usagi said, a touch miffed at her.
"I know," she replied.
She went in and made sure to close the door behind her.
"But I did try to tell you last night. You fell asleep as soon as your head hit the pillow. And again this morning, but you were in too much of a hurry."
"Oh, right, yeah. Oops," Usagi said, sheepishly. "Well, since you're living here, anyway, I guess it's alright, and at least you'll be paying rent now. I'm still pissed you lied your way into my house, though."
"I'm sorry," Luna begged. "It's just that I think this arrangement will be better."
"Probably, but still… Eh, at least I won't be tiptoeing around anymore to avoid looking like a loon for talking to a cat."
Luna chuckled.
"Too true. So you're fine with this?"
"I guess…" Usagi replied uncertainly. "Just don't bring your war into my house, okay?"
"I promise. Oh yes, and I have something to show you."
Luna went over to Usagi's stereo.
"What're you doing?"
"This," Luna replied
She turned it on and switched it over to a station with Muzak playing.
"Here we go. This should do nicely."
Luna held out her hand flat. Energy conducted between her fingers. When she did, static buzzed loudly in the speakers.
"What'd you just do?" Usagi asked curiously.
"Nothing, I just conjured some magic. That caused an electromagnetic pulse, a magnetic field fluctuating in abrupt bursts. Supernatural energy is one of many causes of it. As the result, anything supernatural will bring on the static in anything with a speaker or video."
"Oh, I got it," Usagi said happily. "Static in my radio or TV: bad."
"Precisely," Luna answered. "Well, sometimes. Either way, just be careful if it happens when there's no discernible reason for it."
Luna then pulled a small box out of her pocket and handed it to Usagi. The blonde opened it. Inside were a small cordless phone, a pair of headphones with a speaker attached that could plug into it, and a charger.
"What's this?"
"A Cellular Phone, like the one I had yesterday."
Luna pulled her own out of her pocket.
"Oh yeah, that thingy," Usagi remembered. "So why are you giving this to me?"
"Go to Contacts."
"What now?"
Luna sighed.
"Here, let me show you," she said, and reached over to guide Usagi's fingers through the menu.
"Eh, oh, I see now!" Usagi exclaimed. "This has everyone who was at that meeting. You're here, too."
"You can call any of us in case of emergency, and vice versa."
"Gotcha," Usagi replied.
Then both their cell phones began ringing. They exchanged a surprised look and answered.
"Hello," they spoke into the mouthpieces.
"This is Pious. There's trouble at Osaka Jewelry. Dispatch immediately. Pious out."
Usagi's eyes widened as fear set in.
"Naru!" she cried.
Naru lie curled up in the corner clutching the sides of her head. The real memories of that night flooded back into her mind. She'd been left there doing just that for several minutes now. She hadn't the slightest clue why or how she could ever have forgotten something like that. Her tearful eyes turned back to Zoicite. This man had been wondering around the store looking at the inventory muttering while the empty patrons stood over her.
"Alas, it isn't here, either," he said.
"What… are you?" Naru whispered to him.
He looked at her and began approaching.
"I am a remnant of a golden age, before humanity was the useless chaff it is now," Zoicite replied. "You people. So afraid of what lies in shadows that you forsake the world around you. Pathetic."
He reached down to grab her and haul her to her feet. She recoiled from his grip and tried to run, but the Empty Ones barred the way. Miku held her by an arm.
"Auntie, why are you doing this? What have you done to my aunt Miku?"
"Those drained of most of their life are so easy to control. I doubt there's anything left of your aunt at all, really," Zoicite said. "Now stop fussing. You'll be an honored guest in our court!"
Naru continued to struggle and flail around wildly, but they just wouldn't let go.
"I don't think she wants to go with you."
The empty ones began to fall all around Zoicite. He looked around surprised, but did not spot the interloper. He saw a flash of black dart between them once, but that was it.
"Slaves! Get them, whoever they are," he roared.
As one, the Empty Ones moved to find they who interrupted their master's fun.
"We have confirmation. Zoicite is controlling drained civilians to fight for him. I repeat, we have Zoicite controlling drained civilians," Luna and Usagi listened to Pious report through their headsets. "Phantom Mask is already engaging them."
They were riding Luna's bike to the scene and Usagi was already in warrior gear.
"Phantom Mask?" Usagi asked. "Luna, I can't fight ordinary people like I usually do."
"Your weapon has a non-lethal mode. Try it," Luna replied.
Usagi took it off her belt and concentrated on invoking something other than her blades. From both ends came a wooden staff.
"Okay, I think I can work with this," she said.
"Looking for me?"
Zoicite spun around and just barely avoided getting smacked in the head by Mask's cane. He could hear its whoosh right past his face mere inches away.
"Ah, the infamous Phantom Mask," Zoicite identified him.
"The one and only," Mask replied.
The Empty Ones swarmed him, and he evaded them by way of either nimbly working his way through or by non-lethal takedown. He jabbed one in a pressure point in the middle of the torso, and he went unconscious. He threw another off his shoulders, and then ducked between the legs of another before having to jump over the back of another charged at him headfirst.
Two more grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to hold him, but he tripped up the one to his left and threw the one to his right over his shoulders two into others.
"Very good," Zoicite congratulated him. "Such self-control and skill to avoid killing them, unfortunately, that's also your weakness."
Zoicite held out an open hand where magical energy collecting as a green glowing ball in his palm. He could hear Mask growling at him upon realizing what he was about to do. He stopped all the victims still where they were.
"You don't have enough room to dodge this," Zoicite bragged.
He released it right into the fray. It'd take out some innocents, he was sure, but it didn't matter. He just wanted Mask good and angry, and ready to do something stupid.
In the few seconds he had before the orb hurt someone Mask surged forward through the tightly packed crowd with both hands gripping his cane. He swung at the orb like it was a baseball. The resulting blast sent him crashing into the crowd. His clothes were smoldering and all he had left of his cane was the handle. He tossed the useless object aside and picked himself up painfully. No one was fatally harmed, thankfully. He and his cane had taken the main brunt of it.
"Foolish boy," Zoicite commented. "Now you're wounded and have no weapon."
"Then I guess it's a good thing I have backup and a spare," Mask replied.
In from the back flew his hawk holding another cane. It dropped when it passed over him. He caught it.
"Impressive," Zoicite said, though he sounded unimpressed.
He pocketed the scanner so he'd have both hands free to fight with. The hawk dived at him with its talons out. He swept his arm across in front sending a wave of energy which forced it retreat. He looked back to where Mask had just been, but he had disappeared into the crowd.
"Typical," Zoicite muttered, growing very annoyed.
Mask sprang from the side with a horizontal strike. Zoicite barely had enough time to block with psychic energy. He grabbed the cane before Mask could withdraw it to try again. The two struggled to get possession of the weapon, but Mask wasn't out of maneuvers yet. Zoicite heard something in the cane click and suddenly Mask pulled the handle away revealing a blade it hidden inside it.
It slashed the palm and fingers of his left hand which had been partially gripping the handle, causing Zoicite to cry out. Before Zoicite could retaliate, he was tackled from the right and nearly knocked him over. Mask took advantage of the opening and struck him in the side of the head with the sheath. Zoicite slammed into the wall. It was Naru that had helped Mask. She'd broken free of her aunt's grip and grabbed the scanner.
"ROTTEN CHILD!" Zoicite roared.
Phantom Mask stepped in between them. Zoicite drew both hands to his side gathering power between them. The hawk and Mask tried to intervene, but it was an illusion. Naru gasped when it vanished as the hawk and cane passed through it. They heard him laughing at them overhead. They spotted their enemy floating in the air with a wave of powerful psychic energy ready.
"Farewell," he growled.
Mask launched himself forward and threw himself over Naru. He heard Zoicite unleash it. He shut his eyes tightly and waited for the end, which never came. After a second, he dared a glance up and saw Zoicite still floating there with a surprised look on his face.
Someone had extinguished his death stroke before it could kill.
"That wasn't very nice, you know?" someone asked.
Everyone who still retained their mind turned and looked towards the source of the voice. Standing at the back door were Pious, Luna, and the Celestial Warrior. The former had been the ones to counter him. Luna released Usagi's hand.
"Thanks for the boost," she mumbled.
"No problem," Usagi replied.
Zoicite just looked annoyed at them.
"Took you long enough. Slaves, kill them all!" he bellowed.
The Empty Ones came to life again, this time with lethal intent.
"Oh, no! Naru!" Usagi cried.
She leapt over the counter and began fight her way through the people in a desperate attempt to reach her friend. Naru's head whipped around at the mention of her name. How did that masked girl in armor know her? She sure did seem familiar. But Naru had no time to think about it, because the empty ones shuffled closer with their arms out-stretched. Above, Zoicite summoned a sword which materialized in his hand. He swooped down at Mask and engaged him.
Now Naru was alone and surrounded by the incoming arms that threatened to tear her apart. She squatted down with her hands covering her head, helplessly awaiting the end. She squeaked when something landed with a loud 'clank' next to her. Then someone grabbed her and pulled her to her feet.
"No!" she screamed and tried to struggle out of their grip.
"Hold still! And hold on tight!" it was that masked girl.
"Huh?" Naru muttered, confused, but complied.
The masked girl grabbed her tightly and launched into the air over the heads of the empty ones. Naru screamed. The world around her spun around before coming to an abrupt stop behind the counter. The black haired woman took the scanner from her.
"Let me see that," Luna ordered and began fiddling with it.
"Hey!" Naru exclaimed.
She tried to get loose from Usagi's grip to get it back.
"Moon, get her out of here!"
"Roger!" Usagi complied. "Let's go!"
She picked up Naru bridle-style and carried her out the back despite her kicking and screaming.
"Luna, we should take this fight outside," Pious said.
"I couldn't agree more!" Phantom Mask shouted.
He pushed through the Empty Ones to the back and jumped over the counter to their side. They followed after Usagi and Naru out with the hawk coming in last and they were followed closely by Zoicite.
"Get back here," he ordered.
"No, stop! My aunt's still in there!" Naru screamed. "The monster will kill her!"
"I won't let that happen," Usagi replied firmly.
They exited out the back into the alley behind.
"Why should I believe y-OOOOOOOOUUUUU," Naru started to yell right before Usagi jumped straight up onto the roof.
Mask stopped and faced Zoicite, meeting his attack with the cane and counterattacking with the blade. Zoicite floated back and then came in for another attack.
Pious stood by the back door and raised his arms, chanting. A force field shimmered in the dark over the back of the building. When the victims tried to exit through to get at them, they would be blocked. Pious turned to Luna while she fiddled with the price scanner.
"Luna, revert them to normal," he ordered.
"I'm trying!" Luna replied.
She pressed the innumerable buttons on the device trying to get it to do something. She had sensed the human energy inside it the instant Usagi retrieved it along with her friend.
"You can trust me because I'm Celestial Warrior Moon, defender of justice and love," Usagi replied proudly.
Naru pushed away from her, giving her a good look. Usagi glanced over the side of the building. She put a good up on the parapet of the roof, as she was about to jump down to join the fray. She was stopped by Naru grabbing her hand.
"Who are you really?" Naru asked distrustfully.
"Huh?!" Usagi gasped, turned back to face her.
"You're not normal, and maybe not even human! Are you really here to help or you just competition for them, whoever they are, and just putting on a friendlier face? My mother, friends, neighbors, and I were all attacked by a monster two nights ago! Somehow I forgot! That man made me remember. How could I forget something like that? Tell me, are things like that just going to keep coming now? What I am supposed to do?" Naru cried as the emotions gushed forth.
She completely broke down, falling on her knees. Her sobs were uncontrollable. Usagi looked back down over the side of the building and then back at Naru with tears of her own threatening to flow out. It broke her heart to see Naru like this. What could she do to bring her friend a little peace of mind? She bit her lip, her mind reeling to find an answer. She could only think of one thing. Luna wasn't going to like it, but oh well. She got down on one knee and reached out taking her friends hands away from her eyes. She wiped away her years and put a finger under Naru's chin to raise her head up towards her own.
"You want to know if you can trust me?" Usagi said. "Is this reason enough?"
She pulled up her mask, revealing her face. Naru just sat there staring. She was so shocked she couldn't do anything.
"U-Usa-?"
"Yeah, it's me," Usagi replied, smiling warmly. "That's why you can trust me. I'm Usagi Tsukino, the Celestial Warrior of the Moon. This power awakened that night, for one very good reason: to protect everyone from monsters like that and him."
She looked over her shoulder, indicating she was speaking of Zoicite. She turned to Naru with a sympathetic look.
"Yes, Naru, more monsters are coming, and that's why I wear this and carry this."
To accentuate her point, she morphed her weapon back into its double-bladed form. Naru looked her over in wonderment.
"I'm the designated protector of this world from the forces of evil, and I promise you, Naru, I will always, always protect you and everyone else until the threat is gone. I want you to always remember that, even when things get scary. Now, there are some other people down there that need my help. I'll explain everything later, I promise, oh, and…"
Usagi held a finger to her lip and winked.
"This is our little secret, okay?"
Naru managed a little nod. Usagi smiled and pulled the mask back down. She back flipped off the building down into the alley. Naru crawled over to the edge and watched from above.
Zoicite stabbed at Mask, who blocked and countered. Zoicite jumped up and came down with his sword slicing downwards. Mask dove to the side and narrowly avoided it. Zoicite vanished again.
"Behind you!" Luna called.
Mask ducked down and to the side. Zoicite's sword cut his shoulder, but otherwise Mask had evaded the worse of it. Zoicite vanished again. Mask spotted him coming out of the corner of his eye and parried with his blade. Gone again. There! No, an illusion. That one, too. There!
Zoicite and Mask exchanged blows briefly. Mask disengaged and lunged in low with wielding both weapons for a nasty strike. Zoicite jumped back, but Mask unexpectedly dropped both weapons and landed on his hands. He somersaulted into his enemy. Zoicite grunted in pain when Mask's boots smashed into him, sending him tumbling violently to the ground. Mask landed on his feet and retrieved his weapons for another round.
Zoicite flipped up to his feet, and charged Mask poised to inflict a real killing blow. He heard something coming from above. He looked up see the Celestial Warrior bearing down at him with one of her blades pointed straight down. He teleported away and she struck pavement. He reappeared right behind her with his blade poised to plunge right into her.
"Warrior, watch out!" Mask shouted.
She brought the other blade up in a high guard, stopping the strike. She whipped the blades around, forcing him away. She turned partially towards him and threw her weapon like a spear. Zoicite levitated to the side. He wasn't quite quick enough and got nicked in the side. The blades returned to Usagi.
He teleported again, fading back in again at the end of the alley on the sidewalk. He beckoned for them to follow him and backed out into the middle of the street. Moon and Mask exchanged a look and gave a nod. A wordless understanding passed, and they quickly followed after him.
"You want to hurry with that, Luna?" Pious asked. "I'm not the magic expert Jocelyn is."
He was under pressure keeping the field up containing the victims inside as they continued to crowd around pushing on the invisible obstruction at the door.
"You try figuring out a modified price scanner!"
"Well, what have you tried?" Pious asked irritated.
"Everything!"
"Break it!"
"Eh?"
"Just try breaking it."
After a second, Luna threw it against the pavement as hard as she could. The threads of glowing life force burst out and surged back into the victims, restoring them. The victims stumbled around in a daze, slowing coming back to. Pious dispelled the field.
"How'd you know that would work?" Luna asked in astonishment.
"I…didn't."
Moon and Mask exited the alley. Zoicite awaited them with crossed arms and small grin. They began to circle around him. People crowded around, but kept a safe distance as they were utterly unsure of what to make of this whole.
"You don't see any movie cameras around, do you?" one woman asked her boyfriend.
Mask glanced around at the people.
"We better make this quick, Warrior," he said.
"You're with me on this, right?" Moon asked.
"Oh, yeah, but first…"
The thin blade of his hidden sword glowed and changed shape. When the brightness dimmed he was holding a proper sword, a one-and-a-half grip long sword.
"Whoa. Hey, that power's a lot like mine. Are you…" Moon started to ask.
"Questions later. Kill him now," Mask replied.
They started towards Zoicite. He didn't move. Not one inch, even when they charged. He just stood there, smiling at them. They both thought this very odd. Right when they reached him, Mask stopped and looked behind while Moon rushed on ahead and was cut nothing but air as the illusion dissipated. Zoicite reappeared on the roof of a car, laughing. Then they heard his laughter come from everywhere as more and more of him appeared all around in a circle. They each began casting.
"MOON BLADE BOOMERANG!" Warrior Moon shouted.
She threw the blades and they circled all around, exposing each illusion in seconds. It still wasn't quick enough to discover the true Zoicite, and the blasts were fired. Mask wrapped an arm and his cape around Moon and his body shined in the dark, indicative of a protective barrier. They were bombarded by several blasts, one of which was real, but Masks' barrier protected them from the worse of it, though some did get through. They gritted their teeth to work through the pain. They were very much still alive. Above, Zoicite was suspended, positioned like she was lying on a couch.
"Well, that was fun, children," he said jovially.
Then he yawned and stretched as if working out some kinks in the joints.
"But, even men need their beauty sleep sometimes, so I've prepared some evening entertainment in my absence. I hope you like it."
He snapped his fingers. A patch of concrete began to swirl not far away. It churned as if it were some kind of gelatinous goo. It stretched upwards until it was about human height and took human shape. The colors changed until it was a grisly-looking woman with dirt-colored skin in a black dress and wild, unkempt hair. She had her back to them present, looking up to Zoicite.
"Ah, there you are," Zoicite said as if greeting a guest over for tea. "Warrior Moon, Phantom Mask, I'd like you both to meet Morga. She'll be filling in for me tonight. Now take good care of them. If I find out you were rude, Morga, I'll have to scold you. Goodbye, one and all. Try not to have too much fun."
"I obey, Master Zoicite," she rasped.
"Hey, wait you- !" Moon yelled.
Morga's neck rotated all the way around to look at them. Moon let a short scream. They could see her face now. She had pointed ears, a huge grin that stretched up to the sides of her face far too wide for her to be human, revealing two rows of sharp teeth. She had black eyes with yellow irises. A large pink mass of scar tissue adorned her forehead. She had two holes in her face where a normal nose would go.
She turned her body around and raised both arms in the air, revealing that each finger ended in a short but deadly claw. She opened her mouth widely, much too widely, and it looked something akin to a snake unhinging its jaw at its prey.
"It-It's a monster!" someone yelled.
The crowd fled the scene, scattering in all directions.
Moon and Mask went on the offensive, rushing in with their weapons at the ready, but she was ready for them. With a sickly crunching sound, her arms became as boneless lumps of flesh. She flicked them back like whips. Then she cracked both limps forward and they stretched. She punched Moon and Mask in the chest, and they crashed into the sidewalk.
Luna and Pious stepped out of the alley, observing the scene. Luna summoned her spear ready to get a hid in from behind. Pious grabbed her hand to stop her. She looked at him questioningly.
"Wait. I want to see how that girl does with just the boy's help."
Morga attacked with just one now. It lashed across the side of the buildings leaving deep scratch marks in them. Moon scrambled to her feet and blocked the attack with the flat of her blade. It sent the girl sliding several feet. The hand whipped back and the other came at her. Moon ducked under the swipe and then Morga used the other.
Mask got back up and charged. He held the sword in both hands. He ducked the oncoming blow by throwing his body back almost vertically with one hand and leg supporting his weight underneath and the other leg outstretched. He pushed himself back up without missing a stride.
Moon back-flipped over the attack and followed Mask's charge. Morga lashed out again. It came right at Warrior Moon, who simply dodged it by taking a low running step to the side without slowing down one bit. Morga retreated back a step. She whipped at them again to try to hit them before they could get to her. They were practically on top of her now!
Moon simply somersaulted over Morga's head, landing behind her while Mask dropped down low and it sailed right over his head again. Moon faced one of the blades towards her and stabbed under her shoulder at the beast behind her. Mask aimed for Morga's neck.
Morga's body twisted out of the way of Moon's stab while her head turned itself upside down 'til it was resting on her own bosoms going right under Mask's attack. Her fists came right at the two again, but they were quick to parry the attack. Her limbs recoiled and tried again, pounding at the two again and again and again.
Morga jumped out from between the two of them, returning her body to its original form. They attempted to charge her again, but she unleashed a flurry of intense blows. The first strike came down at an angle forcing the girl to drop almost to a split. The arm bounced off the ground coming back upwards between them, but Mask anticipated her move rolled out of the way.
Morga slammed a fist onto cement next to Mask ricocheting it right up at his face. He leaned back away from the attack just in time. It snapped past him right at Warrior Moon, who parried it with her blade. She kept this up, but didn't manage to get a good hit in on either one, as they'd caught onto her pattern. So this time she swept both arms across, one low and one high. Mask successfully dove right between the sweeping branch-like arms. Moon tried to jump over again, but got clotheslined and smacked onto the cement flat on her back.
Mask knelt down by her and shook her while whispering something in her ear. Morga grinned and closed in on them. Mask faced her and stood. He stepped in between Morga and Warrior Moon. He gritted his sword tightly.
"How sweet," Morga mocked. "But all for naught. Farewell, human, you'll make a tasty treat."
Her claws grew out three sizes their original length. In response, Mask closed his eyes and focused. The blade of his sword began to glow with a strange light. She hissed at him and attacked quickly to stop whatever he was doing. This time, when he swung his sword at the oncoming arm-whip, it wasn't to block. Morga shrieked in agony as half her arm fell harmlessly to the ground.
"Wicked, wicked man!" she screamed.
"Impossible!" Pious muttered.
In rage and fear, she lashed out with the other. Oddly, Mask chose to drop flat against the ground instead. Morga breath caught short and she gagged on nothing but air. There Warrior Moon stood, unharmed. She was already throwing her sword like a javelin at her. Morga had no time to dodge. The first blade impaled her through the stomach stopping at the hilt.
Morga made a sick gargling sound as drool rolled down her chin. She was then dragged across the pavement. Moon was beckoning her weapon back to her and bringing the beast with. Mask stood again raising his sword high. Morga tried to pull herself loose or resist, but she was stuck good and the pull had her. Panicking, she punched straight at Mask. He simply held his sword out in front. Morga hit the sword with all everything she had, which was a mistake. The blade sliced right between his middle knuckles carving her hand in half down the middle and going on up the arm. The halved strands of flesh piled on either side of Mask.
At last, Morga was in range. Mask brought over one powerful stroke. Morga's head rolled away. Her lifeless form was dragged the rest of the way over to Moon.
"Ew! Gross!" Moon said, disgusted.
She willed the blades to retract, dislodging them from the felled creature. Morga's knees buckled and the body fell into a heap on the ground. She tentatively held her gore-covered hilt.
Mask looked around.
"That was way too easy," he said.
"What are you talking about?" Moon asked.
"She was just a small fry. Of all things Zoicite would have sicced on us, why her?"
"Maybe because I'm not so small fry after all," Morga's garbled voice shouted.
The headless, armless body got back up. Out popped more tendrils. Moon sprang away higher than she had ever gone before out of pure fright. Mask tried to put some distance between himself and the creature himself, but the tendrils came at him too fast. He sliced and cut many away, but a few grabbed hold of his leg keeping him in place while he desperately fought against them.
"MOON BLADE BOOMERANG!" Moon shouted.
Both halves of Morga's body fell away from each other into a stinking, burned mess. The tendrils released Mask. Warrior Moon landed beside him. They watched the body for a while before deciding it was dead for good.
Then they heard scratching sound behind them. They looked at each other, and then behind. Morga's head had sprouted spider-like legs and it was walking away.
"I swear that thing just gets grosser by the minute!" Moon whined.
Morga stopped when a pair of feet, each one from a different person, suddenly stepped down in her way. She looked up at the Celestial Warrior Moon and Phantom Mask standing over her side-by-side. They stared down at her without pity.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Phantom Mask asked firmly.
Without another word, they plunged their blades into the head. It cried out, once, and then was silenced. Morga's empty stare looked up at them. They stepped away from the remains and walked over to Luna and Pious who came out of the alley.
"You did well, Warrior Moon," Luna congratulated.
"Thanks," she replied.
"Indeed. Not bad," Pious said. "But you still need to improve your skills greatly."
Moon ignored, in favor of turning to Mask.
"Who are you, really? You always seem to pop up whenever you're needed, so I know you can't be an enemy."
"Heh. I'm Phantom Mask, Master Thief. That's all. Don't get the wrong idea, princess. I didn't come here to help you, those people, or that girl. I was looking for something."
"Oh," Moon said disappointed.
"I didn't find it, though," Mask finished. "Though you are certainly an interesting little gem."
He then leaned in gave her a kiss on a cheek. She froze up flushed.
"Until next time, my pretty little soldier."
He retreated into the shadows.
"Yeah, didn't come here to save anyone, indeed. Which is exactly why he was about to sacrifice himself for the Osaka girl when we came in," Luna deadpanned.
"I hear sirens. Let's get going, Usagi," Luna said. "Usagi?"
"It appears her mind has gone elsewhere," Pious said, observing the swooning girl.
"You're implying it was ever here to begin with?"
Hey, that's mean!" Moon cried indignantly.
"Tee," Luna chimed.
She looked away from the two Keepers over at the Osaka Jewelry one last time. A recovered Miku was poking her head out of the front. She turned back to those inside the store and confirmed it was safe to come out now. Naru emerged from the alleyway.
She looked over at her friend, the celestial warrior. Usagi nodded over to her and held a finger to her lips to remind her. Naru returned the gesture, before turning to her aunt.
"Oh, Naru, thank goodness!" Miku cried.
She hugged her niece tightly to her.
"You are alright? I don't remember a thing after a certain point. What happened?"
"We were saved," Naru whispered.
"Saved? By who, and from what?" Miku asked. "Oh, none of this makes any sense!"
"From what? Not a clue," Naru murmured. "But the who is the bravest person I know."
"My Queen," Jadeite bowed.
He held up a black orb containing the energy of the human they had robbed it from at her height.
"So much energy!" Beryl mused. "And all just from one human?"
"It is," Nephrite asserted. "Like I said to Jadeite, it's all about timing."
"Oh, good, so you succeeded," Zoicite said.
He gave a bow to his matriarch before taking his place next to his peers. They watched the encased mass fed again. The entity was growing stronger thanks to its "meals".
"I certainly hope it was worth it. The warrior's resolve strengthens," Zoicite reported.
Beryl chuckled smugly.
"It matters not, Zoicite. Her heart can become as firm as the mountains and it still won't do her a single bit of fun when our great leader awakens," she replied.
"Yes, my Queen," Zoicite answered.
"With enough pushing, our leader may never awaken at all," he thought.
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. I had another fight scene worked out, but it was too big for this early in the story. Don't worry, though, I saved it and will be using it at a later time.