Hey everyone and welcome back to Trump of the Moon!

Now then, this chapter... well, I'm sure you know what happens in it, so I'll just leave you all to it.


"Think carefully before your next move, or it will quite literally be your last," Kujaku said in mild amusement as he leaned against a hallway as Jadeite passed by.

"I don't need you telling me that," Jadeite snapped. "If you're so worried, why don't you help?"

Kujaku seemed like he wanted to snort at that...before pausing. "Actually...I may just join in."

Jadeite blinked in surprise at that.

"Why so surprised? It's been a while since I've stretched my legs, and what better a target than a member of that clan?" Kujaku smirked, as for a moment, the image of something inhuman appeared over him, but quickly returned to his normal appearance.


"It's been quiet this week," Kensuke frowned. "Too quiet honestly," he said into the communicator.

"The worst part of that, I can't disagree," came Rei's voice.

"We haven't heard anything about the Dark Kingdom lately, and clearly Jadeite had been forced to retreat last time…" Ami mused.

"You think he's already on the 'you have failed me' territory?" Usagi asked.

"With how many times we've stopped him, I wouldn't be surprised," Luna nodded slightly.

"So, either our next enemy is his final attempt, or he's already been offed and we'll meet our next opponent." Kensuke mused "I honestly don't know which is better."

"Personally, I'd prefer the second one, especially if that means Naru stops being an accident victim." Usagi said in annoyance.

"Can't deny that. From the sound of things, your friend has really strange luck with getting into these messes." Rei added with a sigh.

"But, at least we don't slack off while waiting for new schemes." Ami said.

Kensuke chuckled "Yeah, you girls are taking to training pretty well. I'm glad to see you're all serious about it."

"Well, we kind of have to be at this point." Rei said with a huff.

"Yeah, plus working out is really good at tiring you out and making you want to sleep instead of staying up late." Usagi admitted with a sheepish laugh.

"Something I hear a certain someone was guilty off before we came along." Luna said in amusement.

"You'd be surprised how having to live a double life makes me get as much sleep as I can," Usagi said flatly. "Still...whatever the Dark Kingdom plan next, I hope we can find it quickly before they hurt more people…"

Then, out of nowhere, they all heard a laugh coming from the skies, peering out in alarm to see something appearing in the night sky, which gathered into…

"Jadeite!" they all gasped in shock as the man was actually bold enough to appear like this.

"To those whom it may concern, I am Jadeite. Listen well, Sailor Scouts, Kamen Rider! Be at Haneda Airport at 1AM tomorrow. We shall battle at runway F. However, know that if you don't…" the apparition of Jadeite grinned before spitting a fireball down on the city, covering it in flames, though they quickly realised it was just an illusion when they gave off no heat, Jadeite proving them right as he snapped his fingers and the flames disappeared "That was just a preview of what I'll do to this city should you decide not to come." the apparition said with a smirk, before fading away.

"Bastard, he's gotten bold." Kensuke frowned.

"Well...if there were any doubts this is his last chance, they're gone now…" Usagi chuckled weakly.

"Yeah, the bad guy who usually always runs away challenging us directly...definitely he's on his last chance," Rei nodded grimly.

"Its worse. The city's going into an uproar," Ami frowned, as true enough, several people had started to panic and chaos was spreading through the streets.

"Well, at least he was 'nice' enough to give us a full day," Kensuke frowned.

"War meeting at the shrine?" Rei deadpanned.

"War meeting at the shrine," everyone nodded.

Weirdly, getting there was actually easier with the city in a panic, as Usagi was able to sneak out without issue, the others… well, they didn't have to worry too much.


"Okay, so here's the deal," Kensuke said, before pinning a...crudely drawn picture of Jadeite...which for some reason had an obvious villain moustache on it to the board. "Jadeite is no doubt on thin ice, and thus is in a do or die situation, with him no doubt being VERY intent on making US do the dying," he frowned. "He called us to the airport, to a SPECIFIC runway while giving us 24 hours."

Usagi raised her arm at that. "Yes?"

"This is so obviously a trap that its just painful," Usagi said dryly, everyone nodding in agreement.

"My thoughts exactly," Kensuke nodded. "With that in mind, we CAN'T ignore it on the off chance he was bluffing, so like it or not we'll have to spring it. Now...we need a plan."

"First we need to consider what MIGHT be waiting for us at the airport," Rei frowned.

"Perhaps a squadron of Youma? Or some more Undead if they have anymore under their control?" Ami suggested.

"I certainly hope not," Luna shuddered a bit. "However, the Dark Kingdom has been trying to maintain some subtlety lately, so hopefully that means they won't deploy a large number of Youma."

"Undead would be a possibility, but with how rarely they use them, I think its a safe bet that they didn't have many to begin with, so that we'll have to wait and see," Kensuke frowned.

"Think he might do something to the airport itself?" Usagi wondered.

"That's...a possibility," Ami frowned. "If he is taking the time to take control of the airport, it wouldn't be outside of the possibility that he has something planned with the airport itself…"

"And considering the usual pattern so far, he might have something in store just in case Tuxedo Kamen shows up to give us a hand." Rei figured.

"In that case… we should definitely go in expecting him to have backup." Luna said with a frown.

"So basically we have no choice but to get in there fully suited, and be ready for just about anything, with the top of the list being Jadeite himself," Kensuke nodded.


"Did you see that guy in the sky last night?" one of the students asked another.

"Yeah, I honestly nearly wet myself when the city looked like it went up in flames," another nodded.

"No way that's real. Its probably for some movie."

"Wanna bet? Let's go to the airport and see if its real or not," another challenged.

"...what is wrong with some people?" Naru deadpanned. "Haven't the monster attacks happening taught them ANYTHING?"

"You'd be surprised how dumb people can be, and yes, I'm well aware how ironic that is coming from me," Umino nodded dryly. Seriously, even he wasn't crazy enough to go to a sight of a supposed battle after all the crazy stuff happening in the city lately.

"I'm surprised Ms. Haruna isn't doing something to stop them," Usagi mused.

"Oh I am," Ms. Haruna said simply, having been writing something down. "I'm just making a note of who's parents to call after school."

Usagi couldn't help but snort at that "Oh boy, I wish I could see all their faces when they get locked in their rooms." she couldn't help but snicker. Inwardly though she was glad to know nobody from her class would be nearby. That'd be just asking for a disaster to happen.

"Still though, it's a good thing the police are finally taking this seriously, those monsters have just been using the city as their playground, so it's time they got treated like the terrorists they are." Naru said with a firm nod.


Later, once school was finished…

"Huh, wonder how those kids will react to the hard no from their parents?" Kensuke chuckled after Usagi told him what happened at school.

"They'll probably be disappointed with some anger thrown in." Motoki added as he cleaned the counter.

"That or try to sneak out and get caught." Mamoru snickered as he sat on one of the stools, having arrived shortly after Usagi started telling her story.

"Honestly though, I hope they don't," Usagi sighed. "Seriously, hoax or not, there's gonna be trouble be it the police or a superhero/supervillain showdown. That's literally asking to be caught in the crossfire…"

"You'd be surprised how dumb some people can be," Kensuke sighed. "At any rate, I think we can all agree keeping our distance from the airport is a good idea tonight."

"Don't have to tell us twice," Motoki laughed.


"Feels a bit hypocritical after making sure everyone doesn't go out...we're sneaking out ourselves…" Usagi sighed.

"Can't be helped. We're the ones that message was calling to," Luna said. Currently the group were on their way to the airport, having snuck out of their homes (or just walked out in some cases) and had reached the train station.

"We'll need to use the Haneda Line monorail. That's the fastest way to the airport," Ami said as they went up the stairs and found a monorail in the station...apparently not working.

"Oh no, the train isn't working," Usagi frowned...right before it came on and opened its doors. "...or it is…" she blinked.

"Looks like we're getting an open invitation. Fine then, let's not disappoint," Rei smirked a bit.

"But first, let's suit up," Kensuke said, pulling out the Blay Buckle.

"Good idea," the others nodded, pulling out their own transformation items.

"Moon Prism Power, Make up!"

"Mercury Power, Make up!"

"Mars Power, Make up!"

"Henshin!" "Turn Up!"


"Foolish humans, they really don't know when to stop getting in the way." Jadeite said as he walked among the unconscious police officers.

"Maybe we should kill these ones to send a message." Kujaku said with a smirk.

"Perhaps, but for now we wait for our prey," Jadeite smirked. True enough, it wasn't long before the monorail arrived and the group entered the airport grounds.

"I do believe we should make this amusing at the very least." Kujaku suggested, holding up a piece of clay.

Jadeite smirked, grabbing the piece "I couldn't agree more." he said, before putting his power into it and throwing it, the large chunk breaking into smaller pieces which grew into the shape of police officers.


"Here we are, and it's quiet as the grave…" Blade frowned.

"Please don't say grave," Moon groaned, remembering how there were supposed to be police officers stationed here.

"Let's...try not to think about that…" Mars frowned.

"I see movement inside, but something is strange," Mercury frowned. The group cautiously entered...and found a row of police officers waiting.

"...okay...this is strange," Luna sweat dropped.

Blade looked at the police officers closely as they were looking from around a corner "They almost seem to be acting… lifeless. Either their being brainwashed, or those are fakes."

"Let's avoid doing any serious damage till we confirm which it is," the cat said flatly. Of course, the issue became more pressing when the officers suddenly started attacking them.

"Of course this happens," Blade groaned, blocking an attack from one of the officers. "Mercury, we'll hold them off. Analyze them so we can determine which it is!"

"Understood," Mercury nodded, activating her visor and analyzing with her computer.

The group held off the officers for a good 2 minutes before the analysis was done. "I've got it! They're all clay dolls that are animated with magic! Don't hold back!"

"Then that makes life very easy," Mars smirked, kicking the officer she was fighting back into a pile, something the others did as well. "Fire Soul!" she called out, burning the gathered clay dolls to cinders. "Next," she chuckled.

The group soon made their way to runway F, getting out into the airfield knowing that no doubt Jadeite wouldn't have been waiting indoors.

"Okay, we're here, so where's Jadeite?" Moon asked with a frown. As if to answer, a spotlight suddenly came on, revealing Jadeite standing on a nearby tower.

"So you've come at last. I almost thought you'd all run away by now," he said with a smirk.

"...extra kicks to the face for you," was the deadpan response the group had at that.

"Funny, we were thinking the same thing." a voice new to them said as Kujaku appeared on top of one of the planes, and Blade felt his necklace heat up beneath his armor, and it was a stronger reaction than anything he'd faced so far. In fact the only type of energy that should give...

"You… you're a Royal!" Blade gasped in shock, not expecting to encounter one so soon.

"A Royal?!" the scouts gasped. They knew they'd run into one eventually, but this...was sooner than expected.

"Okay...change of plans girls," Blade said with a low voice. "I'll draw the other guy away, you three focus on Jadeite."

"But we can't just…!" Moon started to protest but Blade cut her off.

"We've only fought the numbered suits, and even then we never even fought a Category 10, and the gap between those and a Jack alone is a large one," Blade said, his voice making it clear he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Don't die on us," Mars said simply after a moment.

"Wasn't planning to," Blade smirked under his helmet, before looking at Kujaku...and gesturing to the side with his head.

Kujaku grinned. "I'll leave the little girls to you. The warrior is mine," he said simply before walking in the direction Blade was gesturing, the two of them soon going to another spot in the runway.

"I hope he'll be ok." Mercury said with a frown.

"Well… he's strong, so I know that he'll fight hard." Moon reassured, though it felt like it was more for herself.

Blade was soon in an empty part of the runway, Kujaku floating down and landing before him. "I've been looking forward to this," he said with a smirk.

"You might just regret those words," Blade frowned.

"Well then… let's see," Kujaku laughed before his form started to shift, revealing his true Undead form. His body was mainly black and blue in color, his shoulder armor looking similar to the tail feathers of a peacock, his face having a vague bird shape to it, while his left hand looked rather out of place, sporting three long fingers with equally long claws, while his right hand was normal, and was holding a bladed fan.

"Peacock Undead, the Jack of Diamonds." Blade recognised "Well, at least you aren't a King."

"Perhaps, but I'm still more than a match for you," Kujaku, or rather the Peacock Undead said with a smirk, unfolding his fan. "Now then...let's see what you're made of!"

And the fight was on as Kujaku made the first move, surging forward with a strike, forcing Blade to block and counter, but Kujaku easily evaded back, floating in the air as he did with an amused chuckle. "Not even a flinch. I suppose that's the LEAST I could expect a member of HIS Clan," Kujaku chuckled.

"Expect a lot more," Blade frowned before charging forward, and jumping at Kujaku who blocked with his weapon, pushing Blade back, to which Blade had to quickly roll out of the way as several fireballs came his way.

"Come now, you're gonna need to do a LOT better than that!" Kujaku laughed as he fired a small barrage of feather shaped projectiles, Blade dodging and blocking most of them, but several went through, dealing damage, though he grit through the pain.

"How's this for better?!" Blade growled, scanning a card. "Screw!"

Kujaku took the attack head on, grunting as he was pushed back, before taking several sword strikes, pushing him back further. "Yes…! Yes, THIS is the feeling I've almost forgotten!" he laughed. "That's right! Dispense with the trappings of strategy and restraint! Fight me with everything you've got!" he roared, surging forward and landing several savage blows on Blade's armor, sending him tumbling back. Blade quickly got to his feet, but Kujaku was hot on the pursuit, weapon raised...before a familiar voice cut in.

"Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber!" Kujaku heard the voice and managed to block the attack, but it did throw him off course, allowing Blade to evade and regroup.

"A bit close there, but glad you could make it," Blade chuckled lightly as Tuxedo Kamen landed next to him.

"I wasn't about to let one of my friends just bite the dust now." Tuxedo Kamen said with a smirk "So, I'm assuming this is one of the stronger varieties of your enemies?"

"Right, I never told you. He's an Undead, category Jack, so he's extremely powerful." Blade warned.

"Then we'd best not let our guards down," Tuxedo Kamen said grimly as he pulled out his cane and wielded it like a sword/baton.

"Two against one? Fine by me," Kujaku smirked as the three charged forward, meeting each other in combat again.


While all that was happening, Jadeite had begun his assault on the girls too...of course by assault, we mean he'd taken control of several of the planes on the runway, and using telekinesis, pushed them in an effort to run the Scouts over.

"Oh come on! At least fight us face to face!" Moon complained as they ran. Fighting an opponent who they could see was way more preferable than having to deal with these things, not to mention they couldn't just destroy them considering how much one of they were worth.

"And you call yourself a General! You're nothing but a coward!" Mars added with a glare.

"I don't think he cares!" Mercury said, sounding quite annoyed too. "We're not going anywhere if we just keep running!"

"We gotta lose these things first if we want to start a counter attack!" Moon shouted.

"Something we can't do as long as he can see us!" Luna added as she ran alongside them.

"I can fix that!" Mercury nodded. "Shabon Spray!"

The area was soon covered in fog as they continued running, though while under the cover of the fog, the girls split up, Mercury making sure to maintain it while Mars hid in it, Moon keeping attention on herself and making the plane follow her "I don't like this plan!"

"Where did the others go?" Jadeite wondered as he set foot on the ground and trying to peer through the fog.

Thanks to the fog though, he never noticed Mars behind him as she uttered an incantation lowly while holding one of her tags, which she quietly stuck to his back before moving away from him.

Just as she did, the planes suddenly turned, and started moving towards Jadeite.

"Wait, what's going on?!" Jadeite gasped, before quickly running as the planes weren't responding to him at all when he tried to get them to stop.

"You shouldn't underestimate girls Jadeite!" Moon's voice called from within the fog.

"We're more resourceful than you give us credit for." Mercury added.

"You! You're the reason my thought are in such disarray!" Jadeite realised as he tried to think clearly.

"Bingo, now game over," Mars said. "Let's do this, Sailor Moon!"

"Right!" Moon nodded. "Moon Tiara Action!"

"Fire Soul!"

The two attacks mixed like they did in Dreamland, creating the flaming disc. Jadeite growled and put up a barrier, aiming to block the spinning disc of fire.

"Not going to let you! Shabon Spray!" Mercury added, using the blast of mist to propel the attack at a faster rate, increasing its speed and with it, striking power. The disc made contact with the barrier, and soon fought for dominance as Mercury and Mars kept up the pressure, Moon bracing them from behind, while at the same time the area was now getting covered in fog. Eventually their attack won out, as the barrier broke, and Jadeite was hit square in the chest, sending him tumbling back.

"Lucky shot!" he growled, moving to get back up...until he noticed something coming his way and realized he was right in the way of one of the incoming plane's wheels. A shout of fear, horror, and despair was the last thing the Scouts heard from Jadeite, as they'd already turned tail and ran. The last thing they heard was a sickening 'squish' and 'crunch'.


"Excellent! I'll savor this victory indeed!" Kujaku laughed as he fended off the attacks from both Blade and Tuxedo Kamen, the two men having managed to fight him to a relatively equal level. "But its not NEARLY enough!" he roared, before spinning around, while generating a ring of fireballs, catching both of them by surprise and sending them tumbling back, both quickly getting to their feet, ready to fend off the next attack.

If Kujaku could, he'd be grinning as he lunged forward, ready to strike them down...when he felt a certain someone's energy vanish from the area, while the fog slowly dissipated, revealing the Sailor Scouts...looking a little bit shaky...and a stationary plane...with a red smear on its wheel. He groaned in annoyance, breaking away from his assault, and reverting to his human form as he landed on the building. "Really? All that talk and THAT'S how he meets his end?" Kujaku said in a mix of annoyance and disgust. "Moron couldn't have lasted a few more seconds could he? Fine fine, guess this is as far as we go tonight," he sighed. "I'll come to play again another time. For now, I have to report to the boss lady." With that he soon vanished into a portal, as life soon returned to the airport judging by the lights coming back on as the people woke from the slumber Jadeite put them in.

"Okay, looks like we're done here. I say we get out of here before the cops see us...and we should stop by somewhere with comfort food before we get back…" Blade said, adding the last part when he noticed the girls looking a little shaken, no doubt from the 'incident' that caused that 'smear' on the runway.

"I do believe that's a sound idea." Tuxedo Kamen said "I had not expected this to happen tonight, but you girls should know that in the end, it was the right thing to do."

"Thanks… I just hope we don't have to do this too often." Moon said, for once forgetting her crush on Tuxedo Kamen as she was a bit too shaken up by the fact someone was dead because of them.


"So Jadeite is dead?" Queen Beryl mused, Kujaku kneeling before her.

"That's what it seems judging by the red smear I saw," Kujaku shrugged. "In the end I guess he was all bark no bite."

"He was a pawn who'd outlived his usefulness anyway," Queen Beryl said dismissively. "His passing simply means we shall select our next strategic commander. Don't disappoint me...Nephrite," she said, looking to the shadows where the next of the Shittenou stepped forward.

"Jadeite was a fool," the new Shittenou member, Nephrite spoke as the light hit him, revealing him to be wearing the same outfit as Jadeite, though his hair was long and brown, his skin a bit darker as well. "Leave everything to me. I will do what he could not. Why, I'll even manage to gather more energy from a single person then he could from a group."

"Make sure you live up to those words then," Queen Beryl nodded, before turning to Kujaku.

"I know, I know, I'll give support where its needed. But do try to go easy on using the Undead I've managed to control. We don't have THAT many under my control," Kujaku chuckled.

"Do make sure you aren't overconfident though." another voice said, Nephrite turning to look at an effeminate man with dirty blond hair in a ponytail "We wouldn't want you to end up like poor old Jadeite."

"I don't need your words Zoisite, after all, each human has a point in their life when their energy levels peak, I'll read the stars to tell me which human to focus on." Nephrite said, walking past Zoisite.

"You should probably wait before striking, the Scouts and Rider would be down on you in a heartbeat." Zoisite said half-heartedly.

Nephrite paused for a moment, looking back at Zoisite for a second "Then it seems we agree on that much."


A few weeks had passed since the last incident, and the warmer seasons were finally arriving.

The sound of cheers were heard as people were watching a tennis match. "Big Sis Rui, you're the best!" Naru cheered as the girl with long brown hair scored a point.

"Huh? I didn't know you were close to Rui Saionji," Usagi commented next to her.

"Her mom's a long time customer at our shop, so the two of us have known each other for years," Naru smiled. "She's only a year older than me but she's like my big sister. I really look up to her."

"So that's why," Usagi chuckled. "I know how that feels."

"Difference is Kensuke is a few years older than us." Naru said with a chuckle.

"He's still pretty much acting like a big brother now that I've gotten over my crush." Usagi said with a shrug.

Any further conversation was put on hold as a red sports car suddenly came to a halt nearby and a rather handsome man with long brown hair stepped out, looking at the match rather intensely.

"Wow! He's hot!" Naru gasped, hearts in her eyes.

"He is quite handsome," Usagi agreed. Of course, any further musing was cut short when the man suddenly grabbed the top of the chain-link fence and promptly pulled himself up and got over the fence, landing in the tennis court, before proceeding to borrow a racket...and beat Rui with just a serve which somehow shifted in a way that it hit her in the hand, causing her to drop the racket.

"A fly could land a serve like that." the man said as he went up to her.

"Who are you?" Rui asked, feeling a little insulted at that fly comment.

"Masato Sanjoin. Just an eccentric coach," he said as he walked towards her and moved to pick up the fallen racket. However, right before he touched it, he focused, sending something into it, not that anyone noticed, and soon picked it up and gave it back to Rui. "I apologize for the rough lesson," he said as he gave back the racket. "Just think of putting your weight behind the ball next time."

"O-okay," Rui said uncertainty as she took the racket...and suddenly she felt...strange, but the feeling soon passed, leaving her blinking in surprise.

"Someone come receive her serve!" Masato said, calling some attention as a volunteer stepped up. The match was soon on again...with Rui winning by a landslide, that simple tip apparently all she needed to improve by a large margin.

By the time it was over, Rui had a smile on her face. "Your advice was harsh, but it was really helpful. Thank...you?" she blinked when she turned and found that Masato had vanished.

"Huh...where did that Sanjoin guy go?" Naru asked, as she and Usagi were looking around. They could have sworn he'd been right there a minute ago.


Later, the group was gathered together in the Hikawa Shrine for a mix of studying and discussion. "Normally the reprieve we've been having would be good, but it's got me worried," Kensuke frowned.

"Other than the part where the Dark Kingdom might be biding their time, why do you say that?" Ami asked.

"Cause activity hasn't just slowed, its stopped," Kensuke frowned, pulling out his pendant. "Hasn't reacted at all, and that has me worried."

"You don't think the Dark Kingdom has control of all the Undead, do you?" Usagi gasped. THAT would be very bad for them.

"At the very least they probably have control of most in the area if not Japan," Kensuke frowned. "Not to mention not a hide or hair of any new plots. I somehow doubt they're taking their sweet time looking for a replacement."

"Hopefully they're just licking their wounds, but I can see what you mean," Rei sighed.

"At any rate, we all need to keep our guard up. There's no telling when the Dark Kingdom will choose to act," Luna said, getting nods of agreement from the group. Little did they know, one plot was already underway.


"W-what the what?!" the man gasped scaredly as he looked at the hole in the ground where the tennis ball had hit, the ball firmly inside the hole.

On the other side of the field was Rui, having a somewhat manic look in her eyes. "Next!" she grinned, wanting nothing more than to face and win against more opponents, improve her skill, and win and win again.

She just couldn't stop. She wanted more. She needed more. She had to get better, better! BETTER!

As this was happening, in an observatory-like building somewhere, Nephrite smiled as he watched the Youma take control, pushing Rui's energy to the maximum, and the best part was that nobody would be any wiser till it was too late.

Back near the court though, Naru was watching Rui with a concerned look "Is she… ok?"


"Rui's been acting strangely?" Kensuke blinked as Naru had come to him and Usagi for this.

"Yeah, she always was passionate in tennis...but not so passionate she's been beating professionals and literally putting holes in the court…" Naru frowned. She didn't need to tell them what she was worried was going on.

"That...sounds scarily like those monsters again…" Usagi frowned. "But...we haven't seen anyone else acting weirdly...right?"

"Don't forget. Remember the guy who challenged the Sailor Scouts and Kamen Rider? Assuming he was the boss of those monsters, or at least one of them…" Kensuke trailed off.

"Under new management…" Naru couldn't help but gulp, realizing the implications. If the monsters had a new boss, and this one was actually subtle...she was just glad that she noticed Rui's strange behavior. What they wanted with her big sis...she didn't want to know honestly.

"Guess we'd better tell the heroes," Usagi frowned.

"I hope they'll be able to help, Rui… it scares me what she's turning into." Naru said, thinking of some good memories she had with her sister figure.

"I'm sure they will, just to be sure we have all the info correct, why don't we go check on her?" Kensuke suggested.

"Good idea." Usagi agreed with a nod.


Later in the evening, they were at the tennis school Rui went to practice, Naru obviously having gone with them, but they also grabbed someone else.

"I seriously hope things don't get out of hand." Rei said with a worried look as they went towards the tennis courts.

When they got there… it was to the sight of a tennis ball landing in someone's gut and sending them flying back, with Rui standing on the other side of the court.

"I think it's too late for that…" Usagi said lamely...looking at the crowd of potential opponents who were scared shitless and looking like they wanted nothing more than to run for their lives as the now practically insane Rui was demanding for more opponents.

"Come on! You're all supposed to be pros! Show me what you're made of!" Rui tried to goad them, but they were all too afraid to challenge her.

Naru couldn't take it anymore. "Big Sis, stop it! This isn't you!" she shouted, running towards Rui.

"No Naru! Don't be a hero!" Kensuke shouted, trying to stop her but too late. She tried to stop Rui...but was knocked away for her trouble, falling on the ground and hitting her head, knocking her out cold.

"Naru!" the group shouted in alarm.

At that moment though, a rabid tennis player was the least of everyone's worries, for her energy had hit its peak, and in response to that, Nephrite knew it was time and invoked his Youma. The racket glowed with an eerie light as waves of malevolent energy were released, Rui gasping as they ran through her, causing her to drop the racket and fall to the ground. The racket continued to glow as the mark at its base glowed brightly, and a shadowy figure started to emerge from it, and soon solidified into the form of a Youma. This Youma's body was mostly black with gold bracelets on its wrists, some sort of red flared collar on its neck, the skin color on the head being a pale lavender color with glowing yellow eyes, pointed ears, and it's hair styled in a flat top. "Your energy is mine now!" the Youma laughed.

"That's...new…" Kensuke blinked. Normally Youma would disguise as humans, but this one was possessing an object. That was honestly more than a little scary.

"And I don't think we should let it run around for long," Rei frowned, looking at where Rui lay. The rest did the same...and gasped at what had happened to her. Put simply, she looked like she'd aged several decades in seconds judging by how her hair had turned white, and she looked thinner, weaker, and generally they had a feeling that they'd better work fast.

"You're right, let's hurry!" Usagi gulped. Fortunately by now everyone else had run away, leaving no witnesses.

"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"

"Mars Power, Make Up!"

"Henshin!" "Turn Up!"

"Let's hurry and beat this one!" Moon frowned.

"Don't think I'm gonna be THAT easy!" the Youma laughed, before a racket of energy appeared in her hand, followed by her launching tennis balls made of energy at the group. Naturally they quickly dodged...and saw what happened to anything that got hit.

"...so if we get hit, we're encased by giant tennis balls…" Mars blinked.

"...embarrassing, strange...but effective in removing you from the field…" Blade mused.

"Basically don't get hit," Moon nodded.

"That's not the only thing I can do!" the Youma smirked...before the objects covered in the tennis balls started floating...and were soon going after them.

"Look out for her balls!" Mars shouted as they dodged.

"That...probably could have come out better…" Blade sweat dropped at the accidental innuendo.

"We're not gonna be able to fight back if she keeps using these on us!" Moon said in alarm, as by now the Youma had created more tennis balls and the number of targets they were forced to dodge or block was increasing.

"Then let's stop dodging!" Blade growled, unfurling the cards in his Rouzer...before something flew through the air and grazed the Youma's face, leaving a cut on it.

"What the-?!" the Youma gasped, as the source was revealed to be Tuxedo Kamen.

"A game is supposed to be for the enjoyment of the players and the audience. To manipulate it for your evil designs is unforgivable," Tuxedo Kamen said with a confident smirk.

"I'd like to see you stop me!" the Youma glared.

"I would, but Blade has first dibs," Tuxedo Kamen chuckled. At that moment…

"Metal!" the Rouzer's voice called out, before the Youma was shoulder tackled by Blade who'd now gained a steel gray color, his entire body turning metal, the force sending her off her feet and into the netting nearby, while the balls vanished as her concentration was broken.

"Girls, now!" Blade said, Mars and Moon nodding.

"Fire Soul!"

"Moon Tiara Action!"

Just like the previous times they had done it, the two attacks combined together, and the flaming disc struck the Youma right as it untangled itself from the netting, the creature letting out one last shout of agony before disappearing into ashes.

"And that's that," Blade sighed. "Thanks again for the…and he's gone again."

"Well, he's still a reliable ally," Mars sighed. "Though I wonder what's up with him showing up and vanishing?"

Blade wondered if he should say what he knew when she asked that… and he thought he could say SOMETHING to help them get a better read on Tuxedo Kamen "Well, I managed to talk to him once, he said he's basically there specifically to help Sailor Moon."

"W-wait, me?!" Moon asked in surprise, blushing.

"Well looks like you've got your prince in shining armor," Mars laughed a bit at that.


The next day had the group gathered as they watched Rui play.

"So she doesn't remember anything?" Usagi asked Naru.

"Yeah, after she woke up, she didn't remember anything for the last couple of nights," Naru nodded.

"Well...at least she's back to normal," Usagi smiled, having told Naru a modified story of what happened last night.

"Yeah...though I can't believe those monsters are possessing items now…" Naru frowned. "I hope the Sailor Scouts and Blade can stop whoever is causing these monster soon…"

"I'm sure they will… eventually." Usagi said with a sweatdrop, herself hoping things would stop soon.


And there we go!

Yeah, Jadeite... he's straight up dead here.

And the girls were a bit shaken up by having to kill someone, which makes sense.

Other than that, yeah, the start of the Nephrite arc... things are going to get... interesting.

Also, something new starting this chapter.

Card Tally:

Blade:

Spade: Ace, 2, 5, 6, 7

Club: 3

Diamond: 2

Chalice:

Heart: Ace, 2

Spade: 10