AN: Yes this is a shorter chapter than my usual but I am flying out tomorrow for holiday so I won't be updating for a while really, so I thought I'd give this before I leave. Enjoy this! And how are you guys enjoying Crystal? I must say though I still hate Chibiusa, atleast Crystal Chibiusa is bearable. Though nothing can make me like her, 90s anime has really turned me into a super hater of her. I only hope that we get a season 2 so we can see S and Super S in Crystal.
Chapter 8
"Kuso" Mamoru muttered under his breath when he saw Zoicite floating above them. His eyes were solely on them. Instinctively, he shielding Usagi. He couldn't let anything happen to her. He didn't want her to get involved or become a victim of this. This wasn't a situation he ever had, usually he was by himself whenever there was an attack. He turned to look at Usagi whose eyes were wide with shock. He didn't want anything to happen to her. But he couldn't transform in front of her either.
"Usagi, run away from here" he commanded as he pushed her away from himself. She looked back at him, appearing confused.
"Wait what?" she looked at him, not seeming to comprehend what he was saying.
"Just go, I'll find you later. Find somewhere safe, definitely away from here" he pushed her even further away. She looked at him far longer than he liked it before she turned and ran away. Seeing her disappear, further away from danger made him feel better and he let out a sigh of relief. He turned back to observe the dragon youma and to his relief, he couldn't see Zoicite in sight. Thanking his lucky stars, he took out his rose and quickly transformed.
Not in the mood to give any lecture, he started to pommel the youma with never-ending roses, one after another. He didn't give it a chance to even respond or move. The onslaught of several roses, one after another was enough to keep it rooted in one place. Though even he knew realistically that his roses alone wouldn't be enough to kill it. He needed the senshis and he only hoped they'd show up soon. Not being able to keep the ongoing roses continuously flowing, he stopped half way and looked at the thing. It had knicks around it and it looked wounded but nowhere near dead.
It looked up at him and gave a sneer. Letting a growl out, he sprang to where he was located. He jumped up to avoid it but then a bolt of electricity came out of nowhere and attacked it. Surprised, he looked at his right and noticed that Sailor Jupiter, Mars and Mercury had arrived. Oddly enough, he couldn't see Sailor Moon. He frowned. He needed to speak with her, discuss her identity since he is sure she is his princess. But her absence worried him. Add in the fact that he hadn't felt her transform and he was concerned.
"Fire Soul!" Mars chanted as fire was directed towards the youma. But it dodged it with ease, causing her to curse. Mamoru jumped once again until he was standing right next to Mercury. Apart from Sailor Moon, Mercury was the only one who seemed to listen to him and hold no grudge against him. While she didn't trust him like Sailor Moon, she wasn't judgemental either. So he knew he would get answer from her.
"Where's Sailor Moon?" he asked while staring at the water senshi. Sailor Mercury appeared surprised by his question, not having to expect him but she gave him a sheepish smile.
"We-uh, we don't know. She hasn't answered our call, so we're not sure."
The words did nothing to calm him and instead he felt frightened. For he felt dread settling in the pit of his stomach but he had no idea what to do about it. Something was wrong. What it was, he didn't exactly know.
Usagi ran out until she finally came near an alley and leaned against it. She had been worried that she would have to transform in front of Mamoru when he gave her the free pass and literally pushed her away to run. She was thankful of the gesture and became worried for Mamoru who was caught in the youma incident. She needed to get back there and protect him. Resolve made, she touched the broach on her bow and was ready to call her transformation phrase when a voice interrupted her.
"Hmm, you're an interesting little thing aren't you" she froze up and turned around to see Zoicite floating above the pavement, staring solely at her. Her eyes went wide though she was grateful she hadn't transformed. If he had seen that then she would be in trouble. As off now she was simply a school girl and not a senshi, an imminent threat. She gulped and cowered, as that's how a normal civilian would react. Though under the circumstances she didn't have to act much. Without her henshin she really was vulnerable.
"Who are you? And what-what do you want?" she stuttered while staring at him fearfully.
"Who I am doesn't concern you. Though what I want, well, your energy. For reasons I don't know, you have phenomenal amount of energy. So you're going to be ours," his cold eyes were rooted on hers, while he wore the smirk.
Clenching her fists, she ran fast, going past his form. But he was fast. He didn't let her go too far though, he grabbed her by her shoulder and wrapped his hand around her neck. She gasped out-loud and tried to push his hand away but wasn't succeeding. He tightened his hold on her neck. Just then the communicator on her wrist started beeping. She looked at it helplessly, while it vibrated but she couldn't even touch it.
She noticed that Zoicite's glance immediately went to her communicator. He touched it. She stiffened, frightened that he would open it and her alter ego would be revealed. But he simply plucked it off her hand and threw it on the ground.
"There's more to you then meets the eye. But it's only in your energy which I'm interested in. Don't even bother trying to escape, you're strength is nothing compared to mine," he hissed those words on her ears. She shivered and rasped as pain started to register, with the lack of oxygen kicking in. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she collapsed in his hold, letting oblivion pull her in.
