Just after the events of Makoto's Pure Soul being stolen by O'Chunkten, the group quickly made their way over to Usagi's house, as it was much closer than Hikawa Shrine. Usagi placed Mako to rest upstairs in her room as the rest of the group met in the living room. Rei crossed her arms, glaring at Anna, Kate, Grace, and Marcus, "So, why did you come to that building? Was it for Mako-chan's Pure Soul?" She asked, her tone curious, yet threatening if the answer the four gave happened to be yes.

"We didn't know she had a Pure Soul," Grace started, making direct eye contact with Rei, "We were hoping she didn't, as for the rest of you."

Luna, feeling that since the secrets were already coming out, decided she would talk, "Are you telling us the truth?"

Marcus blinked, looking down at Luna with the most shocked, yet confused face, "Before I answer that…did that cat just talk?"

"Yes, now answer the question," Minako demanded.

"What did you really come for?" Usagi asked, looking up at the four.

Kate coughed just faintly, her illness showing signs of recession, "We came to save you guys…" The group of Inner Senshi were clearly taken aback by this.

"Y-You came to save us?" Ami asked curiously, making sure, she heard that correctly.

Mamoru raised an eyebrow, eying the four curiously, doubtfully, "But why?" He asked, "We came to the conclusion that you couldn't be trusted, and I assume you all came up with that very same conclusion, did you not?"

"I still stand by that," Marcus replied, straight to the point.

"Then why did you save us?" Rei asked.

"Oh, trust me, I wasn't there to save you," Marcus replied, waving a hand dismissively at the black haired girl, "My job is to protect X Y and Z, so you should be redirecting your question to them."

Chibiusa looked over at the three girls; they looked oddly shy, out of their comfort zone, "Why did you save us…?" She asked curiously, knowing that both groups were skating on thin ice.

"I can speak for all of us when I say this…" Anna started, "But, we like you. We trusted you guys before we even found out your secret, and honestly, we still want to."

"What do you mean…?" Usagi asked, hoping that this was going in the direction she thought it was.

"We mean…" Anna started, but before she could continue, she stopped due to light footsteps coming from the stairs. "Hm?" Anna, and everyone else turned around, spotting Mako holding her head as she walked down the stairs, her hand on the railing for support.

"Mako-chan!" Usagi sprang up from the couch and hugged Mako tightly.

"U-Usagi-chan…h-hey…not so tight…" Mako groaned softly, her body still in an odd state of shock.

"Mako-chan, are you alright?" Rei asked worriedly.

"Are you sure you don't need more rest?" Artemis asked, tilting his head.

"…Did that cat just talk too?" Marcus blinked, his eyes widened slightly.

"Yes," Minako stated, "His name is Artemis, but that's beside the point. Mako-chan, how are you feeling?"

"Dizzy…lightheaded…" Mako replied. Usagi helped Mako into a seat.

"You might need some medicine for that," Ami nodded, "Luckily, I know a place!"

"Wait a minute," Kate interrupted.

"What?" Rei asked. Kate, along with Anna and Grace, stuck her hand out for a handshake. After a few minutes of silence, Usagi and her friends shook hands with Grace, Kate, and Anna, signifying a truce.

"Ah man, I guess that means I'm in too…" Marcus laughed slightly.

"Now that it's settled, who wants to go to the store and get some medicine for Mako-chan!" Ami nodded, smiling widely.

"Oh, oh, I do!" Usagi raised her hand, hopping up and down.

"I want to go too!" Kate smiled, holding her hands behind her back, "We gotta start somewhere, right?"

"I'll go with you guys," Minako nodded.

"I'll come too," Mako smiled weakly.

"I think you need rest more than anything right now, Makoto," Marcus said sternly.

"I'm fine," Mako replied as she stood up, a bit wobbly, but she didn't fall over, giving Marcus a smug smile.

"Fine, fine," Marcus put his hands up in surrender.

"Make sure to leave the door unlocked for when my mom and Shingo get home, okay?" Usagi looked over her shoulder, speaking to the ones who remained behind.

"I'll make sure of that," Grace replied, smiling at the fact she can be friends with the group once again, and that they were on the same side.

"Oh!" Usagi quickly ran back to Grace and whispered in her ear, "Don't let Chibiusa get too close to Mamo-chan, okay?" She nodded to herself and quickly exited her house alongside the others, leaving Grace in a confused state.

"O…Kay?" She could only scratch her blonde hair in confusion, just shrugging it off anyway.

The streets weren't as crowded as they normally were around this time of day; it was late afternoon, early night, however. It didn't seem as though word had traveled about the incident just a few hours before. Mako seemed to be fine, as she was walking straight without any sort of problems, but that didn't wash away the worry Usagi and the other girls had over her.

"The pharmacy is around here somewhere, right?" Kate asked while looking around.

"Mhm, just a few more blocks ahead," Ami replied, extending her arm as she pointed a finger forward. The group continued walking until a scream cut their concentration.

"W-What was that!?" Minako asked.

"It came from over there…!" Mako pointed into the alleyway; the girls quickly ran into the alley way, spotting O'Chunkten sticking his hand into a woman's chest, attempting to pry out another Pure Soul. "I-It's him…" Mako's eyes widened as her face went blue.

"We can't just stand here…!" Ami whispered to the girls, who all nodded, "Mercury Star Power…!"

Minako held her hand up, her orange transformation pen appearing in her hand. "Venus Star Power!"

"Jupiter Star Power…!" Mako held her hand up as her transformation pen appeared in her hand.

"Y Star Power!" Kate pulled out her transformation pen.

"Moon Cosmic Power…"

"Make-Up!"

O'Chunkten just finished prying only a pink sphere from the woman's chest, sighing out of disappointment. "Aye…nothin' like yesterday, eh?"

"Hold it right there!" Sailor Moon demanded. O'Chunkten didn't even drop the body, he just turned his head at the girls, laughing a little.

"Oh? Look who decided to show up, eh? I'm feelin' rather confident about things after yesterday!" O'Chunkten chortled, his deep voice filled with joy.

"You're going to pay for what you did yesterday!" Jupiter said with a scowl.

"Eh?" O'Chunkten eyed Jupiter curiously, "What are yeh gettin' so riled up about lass? You weren't even there yesterday! Ah well, I don't have time for ga-" before O'Chunkten could finish his sentence, it seemed as though time slowed down; a figure had blind-sided O'Chunkten, striking him square in the jaw, causing O'Chunkten to fly into the brick wall, dropping the pink sphere and causing a dent. The girls stood there in awe. The one who did this immediately picked up the soul without even glancing at it, then turned around. The figure was a male with orange hair, his facial features could not be seen as he was wearing a mask that covered his face, but had eye sockets so he could see; he was also wearing a short sleeved red shirt with a sword wrapped over his shoulder, and black pants and boots.

"W-Who are you…" Venus choked out quietly, still in shock at the little trouble this person had in knocking O'Chunkten out, even if it was a sneak attack.

"Akuro," he said quietly, "I've heard of you, Sailor Scouts. If you were wise, you wouldn't interfere," without another word, he leaped high into the air, and onto the roof of the building.

"W-Wait!" Sailor Moon attempted to call out to him, "He took the pink sphere!"

"How are we going to go after him!?" Mercury cried, looking for a way to ascend to the rooftops.

Sailor Y opened her hand, placing it on the ground, "Gravity, of course!" She lowered the gravity of her and the other four scouts, lifting them off into the air; she then returned the gravity to normal as the five reached the roof. Akuro turned around, surprised at their tenacity.

"I thought I told you not to interfere…" Akuro shook his head slowly, sighing deeply, "I don't wish to have conflict with you girls, but if you continue to chase me, I will attack."

"I'll get him…!" Jupiter clapped her hands together as electricity danced around her body; as she pulled her hands apart, electricity flowed seamlessly through the gap in her hands, "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" She brought her hand back, then hurled the energy disk at the masked Akuro; who glared at the incoming energy disk. But…the disk was way off target as it suddenly spiraled into the sky, "W-What…!?"

"What just happened…?" Sailor Moon's eyes widened.

"What did you do!?" Sailor Y shouted; but Akuro shook his head as if to say he didn't do anything.

"I'll get him this time…!" Jupiter gained a determined look in her eyes as she crossed her arms, the point of her tiara growing into a rod as it started to gather electricity.

"She seems serious this time…" Akuro thought to himself, readying himself for whatever attack she was planning.

"Supreme Thunder!" She released all the electricity that she gathered in her tiara, sending it all towards Akuro…but it suddenly spazzed and dispersed before it made contact with him, leaving the scouts in shock.

"Well this is clearly a waste of time…" Akuro sighed, but Jupiter had already run into close ran, deciding to go up close and personal with Akuro; no one knew of his abilities just yet, but the Scouts assumed he was the reason Jupiter's attacks missed. Much to everyone's surprise, Jupiter's punches weren't making contact, her fist whizzed past his head; and he wasn't even moving. "I've had enough of you…" Akuro quickly opened his palm, catching one of Jupiter's fist; he then proceeded to throw her onto the ground near the Scouts.

"Jupiter!" Venus sneered, a golden chain surrounding her body, "Venus Love Chain Encircle!" She pointed her finger, forward, sending the chain wrapping around Akuro's leg; she then attempted to pull him in, "Give that soul back!"

"Pest…" Akuro reach back, gripping the hilt of the sheathed sword; he slowly drew the blade out of its sheathe; the blade was, sharp, and its silver color would reflect off the sun if it was high broad daylight. Akuro raised his sword and slashed through the Venus Love Chain, causing Venus to fall back.

"Gah!" Venus winced, slowly standing up.

"I have an idea!" Mercury grinned, "Bubble Spray!" She twirled around and sent a flurry of bubbles towards Akuro.

"Pitiful…" Akuro held his hand out, an icy wind coming from the palm of his hand, "Icicle Crash," and with that, several ice spears shot out from his hands, popping the bubbles before they could be used for their intended purpose.

"Oh no way!" Mercury's mouth dropped at the sight of her attack being blocked so easily.

"I'll take care of him," Sailor Moon pulled out her Moon Spiral Heart Rod, which peaked Akuro's interest just slightly.

"That's an intriguing weapon she has there…" Akuro mumbled to himself, his blade at the ready.

"Moon…" Sailor Moon then began to twirl around, "Spiral…Heaaaaaaart…" As she spoke, she lowered onto her knees as she held the Spiral Heart Rod high, "ATTACK!" She stopped, resting her hand on her hip as a large pink heart shot out towards Akuro. However, to everyone's surprise, Akuro used his sword and slashed through the heart; cutting it in to before it could even reach him, causing Sailor Moon's face to turn blue as her eyes widened. Akuro has already shown that he wasn't normal, and there was no way that sword of his was normal. "!"

"That's the best you can muster? I fail to see how you saved the world…" Akuro glanced at his hand, noticing he was holding a pink sphere, "AH!" He shook his head, feeling like an idiot, "How could I make such a stupid mistake!?" He tossed the pink sphere over to the Scouts and quickly vanished from sight.

"…WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" Sailor Y blurted out, completely confused and in shock from the events that just took place. The Scouts returned the Pure Soul to the woman in their civilian form. O'Chunkten had left the scene while the Scouts were battling Akuro; the girls then proceeded to continue their way to the pharmacy, however, things were different.

"Who was that guy…?" Kate tapped her chin, "He was really strong…"

"We can't seem to catch a break, can we?" Minako sighed, then looked over at Mako as she sniffled once.

"Mako-chan…?" Ami eyed her friend curiously yet worriedly.

"I couldn't do anything…" Mako mumbled just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"W-What?! You did do something!" Usagi huffed, attempting to halt anymore bad thoughts from entering Mako's mind.

"What do nothing? He made me look like a joke…a failure…how can I be your guardian if that keeps happening…?"

"Mako-chan, we all have bad days…" Minako said reassuringly. "He was strong…none of our attacks really did anything…"

"No, save it," Mako objected, "I should've known after yesterday…this is a sign…"

"A sign?" Kate asked, her head tilting.

Tears started to well up in Mako's eyes, "If I continue to be a Sailor Scout...I'll only bring you guys down…" Her voice cracked slightly as she was uttering words she never thought she would.

"W-What!?" Usagi's eyes widened, as she shook her head no frantically.

"I'm sorry," Mako turned her head away as a tear fell from her eye, "I can't be with you guys…anymore…"

"That's crazy talk!" Ami objected, extremely out of character.

"I'm sorry…" Mako quickly ran off, despite her friend's call to get her back; was this really the end of her duty as a Sailor Scout?"

Akuro stood on a tall building, his arms crossed as he thought himself, "That Jupiter girl is rather strong…I don't understand why her attacks were acting like that. I know she would've been able to put up a decent fight had her attacks landed…I've always heard whenever a person's Pure Soul is taken away it takes an extended amount of time for their bodily functions to work properly…but I would've remembered if she was a target…Hm…I'll have to keep an eye on those Sailor Scouts now, it appears we have ourselves a three way battle…"