Disclamer: I am in no way responsible for the ownership of said Moon, or any of her friends. I am a starving college student, so even if you wanted to sue me, you wouldn't get jack!

Italics: Thoughts

Chapter 5 "Seek Me Out, this Diamond in the Rough"

Far from this cheerful setting, a dark and ominous figure sat on a pillar of red hot rock in the shape of a demonic throne. There was nothing to be seen of him except his outline, and even that image brought him fear and respect throughout his realm. With a satisfied smirk, he beckoned his right hand man forward.

"Give me a status report." The low voice was almost as smooth as silk. He often would talk to himself for hours just to hear himself. He liked how it was so easy to make someone trust you just by having a really good voice.

The lesser figure stood before his master, visibly scared stiff.

"My lord, the Hell Knight has failed to return. We do not know the current status of our exit. It might be sealed." The figure had the appearance of a man, with a long purple robe and bright red hair that stood straight up, as if he had lost a fight with an electric eel. He recoiled at the coming assault.

To his surprise, he never received it.

The dark one just shifted a bit in his rocky throne before saying, "Perhaps another try is in order?" With a wave of his hand, the ground in front of his throne quaked and split like a ripe banana peal. Out from the fiery depths came a cry of shear terror, and eight creatures leapt out and lined up in front of their master. They walked on all fours, had lanky bodies, obviously built for speed, and two heads. The heads had two glowing red eyes and long tongues emerging from their mouths. Their bluish skin only enhanced their dead and gruesome appearance. The dark figure addressed them, "Go, and find out what happened to our exit." With a wave of his hand, the Maggots were off, traveling to the tunnels that would lead them to another realm.

Meanwhile, back in car-Tokyo…

Jonathan was enjoying himself immensely, knowing full well that the cat-host that was occupying the couch royally hated him by now. He was finishing the last lines of "Crazy Train" by Ozzie Osborne on an electric guitar that he found leaning against the glass entertainment center. If this guy starts another song, I don't care if I am the King's own Father, I will tell this guy to stop! Artemis was growing more and more annoyed by the hour. It wasn't that the guy couldn't sing or play, it was the exact opposite. It was as if he had a pretty good grasp of music and was purposely trying to make his life hell. First, it was the crackling fake-falsetto during the "Warrior", then it was the obnoxious tunes of pre-pubescence, topped off with the sounds of the "prince of darkness" himself. What was with this guy?

"Hi Guys! I hope that you haven't caused too much trouble in my absence?" The voice came from the open hallway door. Both Jonathan and Artemis turned to see the goddess of love standing in the light from the hall. She had on her light blue jacket and pink T-shirt, and slim blue jeans that showed off her very mature figure. Artemis had to suppress his delight in seeing his savior, so he jumped from his perch on the couch and ran to her, circling her legs and purring with all his might. Jonathan was too stunned with the vision to respond.

"Well," Mina said with surprise, "You never missed me that much! What happened?"

Artemis looked up at her and willed his thoughts into her head. The horror! The HORROR! Don't you EVER do that to me AGAIN! As usual, she didn't follow his horrified gaze.

Luckily, Jonathan broke the silence, "We were jamming. Well, sorta."

Mina looked at him with the guitar and suddenly came alive, "Oh!" she said with a far away look in her eyes, "Are you a musician?" the last words seemed to flow out of her mouth like an uncontrollable flood. Hey. What could she say? She had a soft spot for rockers.

He noticed the all too failed attempt at subtlety and visibly puffed up a bit.

"Well, I have been known to dabble a bit. I only started to play the guitar again last year."

He suddenly was consumed by the memories of his real life, back home where he had responsibilities and a future to plan. Well, he really needed help in the latter department.

Mina caught the change in his face immediately. She was tempted to rush up and hug him, and comfort this complete stranger. Well, she felt like she could trust him. Why not? She moved quickly over to his location on the couch and sat next to him. She reached up slightly and rubbed his shoulder with one hand, "Hey, are you ok? You look like something bad happened. Did I say something?" Her touch was something that he had always dreamed of, and the effect it had on him sent his mind into overdrive. He suddenly forgot all about his home, college and his responsibilities and his face brightened.

He turned to her and said, "I'm sorry! I was just thinking about things in the past. I think that I need some fresh air." This seemed to satisfy Mina for a moment, and she suggested that they take a walk. "Sure! Oh, but did the scouts bring back my stuff?" He suddenly asked. "Sure. They left a big bag here and a large gun. It was really heavy!" she feigned fatigue and they both laughed. It was good for them to break the awkward silence of new acquaintances. He ventured back into his borrowed room and found his duffel. It was placed just under the chair where his clothes had been. He reached in and found his two .45's. He stuck one under his coat at the small of his back in the top of his trousers, and the other he put in the left pocket of his leather jacket. Finally ready, the two of them ventured out into the midday foot-traffic of downtown Tokyo.

They engaged in small talk until they arrived at the location of the shootout last night. Jonathan was edging the conversation to more pertinent matters. She finally asked him what had troubled him in her apartment.

"Well, Mina, actually, it's about what happened last night. You see, I…"

He never had the chance to finish his thought. From a roped off area in the middle of the street, there came a rumbling sound the same as the previous night. The familiar red glow surrounded the pile of rubble thrown haphazardly over the site, and a cry of shear terror erupted from the depths under it.

Mina and Jonathan were on the opposite side of the street from the commotion, and it gave him time to think. Realizing that his aim would be spoiled with both hands full, he pulled the first pistol out from his jacket pocket and handed it to the startled Mina.

She just stared at it for a second, and he said, "Only seven shots until empty. Don't miss." With that, he forced the gun into her hands and pulled his other from his back. Bring it on. he thought. And bring it they did. The Maggots swarmed out from the hole in the ground and chased after a few startled pedestrians. Jonathan decided to take action before anyone was hurt. He drew a bead on the lead demon and squeezed the trigger. The round struck the ugly, two-headed monstrosity just in front of it's fore leg, piercing the artery that traveled there. The beast ran a few more steps before coming to a messy, gurgling stop.

He looked at Mina and said, "Well, SHOOT em!" That seemed to bring her out of the stupor she was in, and she placed the gun in her right hand and pointed at the mass of demons who changed directions and were now headed toward her. She closed her eyes and fired. The recoil was almost too much for her to take, sending the gun and her forearm sailing above her head. She caught the motion and forced her muscles to obey and bring the gun back down to level on the creatures. She looked at Jonathan a second as he fired two more times into the mass. She could faintly see a glow from the barrel of his pistol as he felled two more, both with shots between the two blue heads.

Mina turned back to her own attackers to face a horrifying sight. For starters, she actually hit one of them. This sight was not what she was prepared for. The Maggot had taken the round just above one of the heads two eyes, and the ugly, bluish liquid that was assumed to be blood was pouring from the wound. The most horrifying thing was that the monster seemed to not even take notice of the damage. It kept on coming, and it almost reached her position, until a sudden blast from the right sent it flying. Mina stared straight forward for a moment, trying to make sense of the hysteria they had just witnessed. When she collected herself enough to look around, she instinctively turned to the right and saw her savior. Jonathan still wore his leather jacket and the outfit that she bought the previous day. He had a smoking, empty pistol in his right hand and was twirling it around his index finger. He finished his show of blowing the smoke off of the barrel, looked up at her and smiled.

"Nice shot! Too bad they have two heads." He looked like he didn't feel so well.