Chapter 22

Usagi forced her lips to straighten into a serious expression as she turned from her discreet snooping on Touma and Mako-chan. Seeing the blue-haired warrior with such a doofy smile on his face made her heart feel happy.

Mako-chan might be down, but she wasn't out, and she had a champion now in Touma Hashiba. Usagi just needed the same thing to happen to the rest of her Senshi.

She surveyed the field. Seiji had finally given in to his impulse, and she was pleased to see him crouched next to Minako, hovering protectively as he scowled at the zombie Venus. Usagi avoided looking at the creature to keep her focus.

Ryo had shifted so he was back in front of Ami, who looked like she might be processing things better than the rest of them. Of course Ami would, she thought proudly. Ami was so smart. She was a million times smarter than anyone else Usagi knew, even Umino. Ami would help them figure this out.

Rei was still standing in front of Minako and now Seiji, protective even though she looked more thoughtful than anything else. Usagi wasn't sure what she was thinking about, but whatever it was, Rei didn't seem to feel especially threatened, and Usagi tried to take that to heart. Shin was right next to her, a little in front, watching carefully.

And Shuu…

Her kind, fun, friendly protector was heading her way, taking long determined strides to make it to her side of the cemetery. As he came nearer, she watched his face soften, his mouth curving into a smile as he approached.

"You ok Tsukino?" he queried in a low tone.

Man, he was such a nice guy. Always trying to keep her safe and cheer her up and make sure she was ok. She gave him a megawatt smile and flashed him the victory sign. "I'm totally fine!"

"The others are coming." The Venus zombie's voice filled her ears and she squeaked, hunching against the sound.

Ok. Maybe she wasn't fine. Others?

As if to answer her doubt, the sound of several pairs of shuffling feet reached her ears, and she couldn't stop herself from jumping onto Shuu's arm and clinging for dear life. More zombies? More Senshi zombies. Another squeal of terror escaped her throat and she couldn't stop herself from shaking.

"Oh man. Oh man. Why did it have to be zombies?" she muttered under her breath.

She felt a strong arm wrap around her, and then Shuu squeezed, mushing her up against his side. She immediately felt better.

"It's ok Tsukino. I promise, nothing's happening to you." The words sounded light but the tone was dead serious, and she cast a look up at his face. He had focused a hard stare off to the horizon where several Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury zombies were approaching. Usagi shrank into his side.

Even if they were going to help, she didn't want to see them. She didn't want the reminder of every time she'd lost her Senshi. Her friends. It hurt. It hurt badly and it made her feel afraid. It reminded her of all the times she'd been alone, standing up against the massive forces of evil, hoping that she'd be enough this time. It reminded her of the terrible, soul-crushing guilt that if she'd just been better, faster, stronger, braver, she could have prevented their suffering in the first place. It reminded her of praying she could defeat yet another monster, hoping their deaths hadn't been in vain. Hoping the Crystal could give her everything she needed.

She squeezed her eyes shut against the sight.

Were they angry she'd let them down? The living Senshi thought so little of their sacrifices, but if the dead were here, were they angry at her for leaving them behind?

She felt like a coward.

Why couldn't she just be brave?

She stared at her feet as the approaching footsteps got closer, but finally lifted her head when she felt Shuu tense, and straightened, trying to make herself ready for anything. As soon as she moved, he was in front of her, blocking her view. She stayed hidden behind him, out of sight, and bit her lip.

"Usagi."

Startled, she turned, looking at Makoto, who stared at her with a green gaze that held an intensity Usagi rarely saw from Jupiter.

"Cut it out. Everything is fine. Stop worrying so much." The Senshi of Jupiter closed her eyes, inhaling through her nose, and grimaced as she slowly got to her feet.

Touma made a noise of surprised protest, but struggled to his own feet before reaching for Makoto and helping to pull her up. The pain on her face made Usagi want to pull out the Crystal and just….go after everything in their path, even if she knew that wasn't a good idea.

Touma didn't look much better, but he dutifully pulled Makoto's arm around his neck and helped her take slow, measured steps towards Usagi and Shuu. Beside her, Shuu tensed, widening his stance, providing more cover, and in that moment, she kind of loved him for it.

He was so strong and loyal.

Makoto's hand landed heavily on her shoulder, getting her attention again.

"What're you so worried about girl? I thought the zombies were on our side," she said lightly. Usagi bit her lip again.

"They are, but…" She tried to figure out how to say what she wanted to say without burdening Makoto with her silly fears. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to voice her fears out loud. It felt selfish to want reassurance from Makoto – especially when her friend had suffered so much.

After a moment, she shook her head. "It's fine," she finished weakly.

She was going to be brave like Mako-chan. She owed it to her Senshi.

"Although-" Makoto added "Since my soul is currently in use by...hmm...me I guess, I'd kind of like to know who or what is in those." she pointed an elegant finger at a ring of Jupiters coming their way. Touma was watching them with an anxious expression on his face, waiting as they made their approach. Usagi looked up at Makoto, wondering how the girl felt about seeing all her dead selves, but Makoto just looked calm and determined.

The group of dead Senshi paused just behind the zombie Venus. The living Venus lost what little color she'd gained since she'd first met herself, and rocked back into Seiji, who immediately placed an arm around her, pivoting to shelter her and keep himself between her and the undead. He leveled a dark look over the newly assembled dead Senshi that Usagi had never seen him wear before.

Maybe things were already moving between Venus and Seiji. She'd never seen Minako lean on someone that way before. Grateful for the distraction, she studied them both carefully.

Yes. It was there. It was in the way Seiji had curled himself around Minako, eyes sharp as he swept his gaze over their surroundings. The hand that hadn't wrapped itself around her was clenched into a fist, his body at the read. It was there in the way Minako gave him her moment of vulnerability, however brief, as she tried to come to terms with what was happening. She trusted Seiji.

Hmmm.

Two Senshi down.

Usagi shook herself from her thoughts and refocused. Ryo took a menacing step towards the zombies, his fist clenched, but Mercury stayed his hand with a light touch on his arm and moved forward, approaching the silent and staring group of undead. Poor Ryo looked like he might have a corollary at the sight, but Ami didn't seem to notice.

Rei did the same so that Mars and Mercury were both standing in front of the envoy, grim looks on their faces. Even if they seemed brave, they were both pretty pale. Maybe a little green. Rei crossed her arms and thrust her chin up, her expression fierce as Shin and Ryo moved in to bracket them.

"You're all here to help us?" the priestess demanded of the silent crowd. A flurry of creaks went up as rotted heads nodded. Usagi felt a little more green herself now. Did they have to creak? Did they have to stare like that?

Ok. Maybe part of her problem was that zombies were pretty gross.

An undead, half-rotted Mercury stepped towards the living Ami, and Ryo tensed again, angling himself defensively between them. "Far enough," he growled menacingly. Ami put her hand on his arm again, fixing her dead counterpart with a steady stare that Usagi admired.

The zombie had stopped at Ryo's command, and now simply stared. Usagi was unable to help herself from shrinking against Shuu again. He patted her hand comfortingly, but didn't take his attention off their new visitors.

"We are here to offer aid to the Troopers in this vicious battle. Susano – O must not be permitted to invade the realm of Izanami and use the kingdom of the Underworld to best his opponents there," zombie Mercury rasped.

"Suzano – O is a coward and he must be made to respect the lands of the Blessed Izanami," a Mars zombie hissed, stepping up beside her Mercury counterpart.

Usagi's fingers dug into Shuu's arm so hard she'd probably leave bruises through his underarmor, but man. It was hard not to be freaked out right now. Living Rei tilted her head, studying the assembled undead.

"So this is about Suzano – O disrespecting the Underworld by using it as a place to take advantage of his conquests?" she asked flatly.

Several zombies nodded solemnly. More creaking. So gross. Rei seemed to mull their answer over for a moment in silence before finally shrugging her shoulders.

"I guess I'd rather have you all as allies than as enemies. And this way, we're all playing by the rules, such as they are. So what now?" the priestess folded her arms in her sleeves as she studied the group in front of her.

"Now is time for rest. We will keep watch over you," a Venus zombie whispered in its dry, leathery approximation of Minako's voice. Usagi jolted against Shuu.

"We're supposed to sleep while we're being watched by a bunch of zombies?" she yelped.

All the zombies turned to look at her at the same time then, some of their necks twisting much too far, their bodies remaining stationary. Usagi gulped and immediately shrank against Shuu, regretting the outburst. He growled low in his throat, clenching his hands into fists, his stance defensive.

Carefully, she put a hand on his shoulder to keep him with her.

"Princess, we are vowed to keep you safe, in life and death," the Venus hissed at her. Usagi tried to nod regally at them, but she was shaking a bit too much. Oh, good. Just what every girl wanted. An army of zombies duty bound to protect her.

She grit her teeth and tried to appear calm. If Shuu felt the trembling of her hands, his only indication was to clench his fists tighter as he fixed the zombies with a suspicious glare.

"Look. I, for one, am definitely happy to take a break." Minako surprised everyone with her agreement. Including Seiji, who blinked down at her. Minako kept a hard stare fixed on the undead Senshi.

"It's not my favorite time or place to get a nap, but if this enemy is so powerful we just got assigned a bunch of zombie us-es as a guard? It sounds like we need some time to re-group. Maybe build our powers back up. Or something," Venus continued.

A Mercury zombie nodded.

"While we can assist you here, we cannot aid you in your final battle. You must build your strength. Ressst. You cannot be harmed here now," she rasped.

Usagi squeaked and squeezed her eyes shut, her shaking intensifying. Why did that thing have to say 'rest' like it was planning to murder them in their sleep?!

Rei huffed out a breath, still looking tense, but resigned.

"Fine. Guess I'll get a fire going," she grumbled. "Who's coming with me to get some firewood?"

While Usagi was sure that Rei had meant she wanted company from their own group, two zombie Mars stepped forward expectantly, and Rei's eyes went wide. The priestess looked a little grey around the edges of her face, but Shin stepped forward, grasping her hand firmly.

"Let's go," he said warily. Rei looked up at him, her face softening momentarily into a sweet expression of gratitude and relief before they moved towards the surrounding trees, followed by three or four undead Mars.

"Sure hope they come back in once piece," Makoto muttered grimly under her breath, watching the departing group like a hawk. Beside her, Touma was looking ill as he eyed several nearby undead Jupiters who in turn seemed to be watching Makoto and Touma with an equally intent stare. Poor guy. He'd just gotten a new girlfriend and she'd come with a bunch of her own zombies.

Awkward.

"All right. I think this clearing right here should be relatively free of….graves and safe enough for sleep," Mercury intoned, sounding exhausted. She turned, surveying the immediate area with a heavy sigh. Rei and Shin appeared at the forest's edge with armloads of wood, followed by their zombie guards – also loaded down with wood. The priestess and bearer of Suiko dropped the wood in piles near Ami, Rei looking sweaty and irritated as she caught her breath. She knelt and began arranging wood for a bonfire, Shin dropping beside her to assist.

When it was ready, Rei leaned back and advised them all to give her assembled stack space, but a zombie Mars stepped forward.

"Allow me," she whispered, and gestured. A huge and merry bonfire burst from inside the wood. They all stared at her for a second, but she didn't react or do anything else.

"Um. Thanks," Rei murmured, looking uncertain.

The rotting Mars nodded, stepping back. The undead Senshi fanned out, making a wide ring around their fire, joining hands, facing outward at their surroundings. Usagi stared at the backs surrounding her uneasily, but Makoto groaned, moving towards the fire before sinking down stiffly with Touma's help. The archer collapsed next to her, his exhaustion evident in the slump of his shoulders.

Makoto laid down then, and Touma didn't seem to care who was watching, he curled on his side around her, positioning himself so that she was tucked safely in the protective curve of his body, putting them intimately close to each other as they prepared to sleep.

No one commented if they thought that was unusual.

Ami and Ryo sat down near the fire, Ryo solicitously waiting for Ami to sit before he dropped, cross-legged, beside her. Close enough for their shoulders to touch. Ami stared hard at the fire, seemingly lost for words.

Rei flopped down with a huff, tossing her hair as if she hadn't a care in the world, and Shin sank gracefully to the ground beside her. Usagi plopped down between Rei and Shin and Makoto and Touma, and without a word, Shuu sat just behind her, leaning over her and sheltering her from the feeling of being watched.

Hesitantly, Minako sat across from her, between Ami and Ryo and Rei and Shin. The Senshi of Venus was quiet and withdrawn, and Usagi worried about her. She liked bubbly happy Venus way more than she liked the Leader of the Senshi. Naturally she loved all of Minako, but the serious and duty-bound Senshi side of her sometimes made Usagi sad.

Seiji sat beside Venus, similarly quiet, though Usagi noticed his gaze kept straying to her discreetly, observing her for signs of distress. He didn't seem very comfortable with her mood either.

"Usagi. You should rest," Ami spoke softly, her face drawn, and as Usagi met her eyes, a protest ready, she let the argument die in her throat. She didn't have it in her to argue with Mercury. She could at least lie down and close her eyes. So she merely nodded, and curled up on her side in the prickly grass.

She didn't think she'd be able to sleep, but with Shuu sitting at her back, she felt surprisingly sheltered from all the awful things that had been on her mind. She promised herself that she'd deal with it all when she woke up. She promised herself that she would keep everyone safe.

She wasn't going to fall to the back of the line again.