Chapter 6

Protect the Melody of Love: Usagi plays Cupid.

In the lair of Queen Beryl, everyone was listening to the sound of music on a tape player intently and looking upon a vase of roses. Then the roses began to wilt and wither away into nothingness, making Beryl and the rest of her followers surprised, but Sephiroth chuckled darkly.

"So this music stole the energy of that plant," she said observantly.

"Exactly, Queen Beryl. The music contains subliminal ultrasonic waves that siphoned off its energy. The humans who listen to it will suffer the same fate as this plant," replied Jadeite, as the music stopped.

"Interesting. Proceed," said Queen Beryl, as she returned the tape to Jadeite.

"Yes, ma'am," replied the blond warlord, as a swarm of bats appeared behind him.

Then a woman appeared behind him as the bats vanished.

"Kyurene, go plant the ultrasonic waves from this tape into the music that humans listen to," he said to her.

"As you wish, sir," replied Kyurene.

In Naru's house, Sora, Usagi, Luna, and all of their friends were listening to the sound of music that was being played in Naru's boombox.

"Naru, this song's great, Wow," she said blissfully.

"I know, right? This one is my favorite," replied Naru.

"Me too. So this is jazz, huh? I never thought I'd like it. You're so mature, Naru," said Usagi, as Luna opened a sleepy eye.

"If there's anything you don't understand about it, just ask me," Naru said to her friends.

"Will do, Naru," said Sora.

The others nodded in agreement, except for Luna who yawned and went back to sleep. Then Usagi looked at the CD case of the one who wrote the album, and noticed the name Yusuke Amade.

"He's so cool, I bet he's a sophisticated old man. I'd sure love to date him one day," said Naru.

"But what are the chances of that?" replied Usagi.

And I'm not sure he'd say yes, thought Luna.

On the streets of Juban, Yusuke Amade stood before a tall building with a bouquet of roses in his hand.

"This is it, today is the day I tell her how I feel," he said as he looked up the studio building that had the word Jam on it's side.

What Yusuke didn't know was that Kyurene was now undertaking the mission that Jadeite had given her as she appeared in the recording studio.

"This tape will infect all the audio recorded here, just like a virus. All the music they record from now on will contain energy draining ultrasonic waves," she said.

Then she placed the tape into a player. Suddenly she heard the door opening, and a woman stepped in with a confused look on her face as Kyurene quickly took cover behind a plant.

"Ah, there it is. I can't believe that I almost forgot this. Yusuke would have been very upset," she said, picking up the tape that was infected with darkness, and placed it in its case.

Kyurene was preparing to strike her down by extending her fingernails into claws when one of the engineers arrived at the recording studio.

"Akiko, Mr. Amade's down stairs right now. He's in the lobby," he said to her.

"Okay, I'll head down. He didn't have to come down here in the rain," replied Akiko as she walked out.

Disappointed in not getting the chance to strike, Kyurene slowly retracted her claws, and scoffed in disappointment. In the lobby, Yusuke sat in his rain soaked clothes, when he heard Akiko call his name. He slowly looked up at her.

"Look at you, you're soaked. Didn't you bring an umbrella with you?" asked Akiko.

He removed his sunglasses, as she told him about how he was caught up in the moment dreaming up a new song he would write down, and record later on.

"Yeah, kinda," said Yusuke, as he looked embarrassed.

"Here's your demo. I think it's fantastic, we should meet next week to discuss recording it for release," said Akiko, handing him the cassette case.

"Sure, uh… Listen, today is your birthday, right?" asked Yusuke.

"It is!? I totally forgot!" replied Akiko.

The sound engineer ran over to them.

"Akiko, we've got a big problem with the mix," he said to her.

"What, again?" she asked in dismay.

Then she turned to face Yusuke.

"Uh, sorry, have to go take care of this. Sometimes they can't find the on switch," she said to him.

Then Akiko placed the case in Yusuke's hand.

"Here, and take my umbrella, it's the pink one, Okay? It's by the front door. Oh, and one more thing, see if you can come up with a great title by next week. Make me proud!" she added, as she darted off to the elevator, to find out what was going on with the equipment in the studio, only to blow a kiss at him.

"If you paid more attention, you would have noticed that it already has a title: 'A Waltz for Akiko,'" muttered Yusuke.

He didn't notice that Kyurene was behind him, watching with evil intent in her eyes.

"Ohh, all this rain is just so depressing," moaned Usagi, as she stood with her umbrella in hand, alongside Sora and his friends, while Naru stood safely under the awning.

"Well, 'April showers bring May flowers,' right?" replied Naru.

The Guardians of Kingdom Hearts nodded at her.

"Yeah, I'm sure the flowers will appreciate it," said Sora, as Luna meowed at Naru.

"All right, I'll see you at school tomorrow," said Naru.

"Yep, bye-bye," replied Usagi.

"See ya," added Sora.

Then they walked off down the rain soaked street. But as they were walking, they caught sight of the same poster Usagi saw from before.

"Oh, the new Sailor V game. Let's stop in for a bit," said Usagi.

"No way, you can't go into an arcade at this hour. You have school tomorrow," protested Luna.

"What's the big deal, I'll be quick," she said to her feline companion.

But she hadn't gone far, when Luna noticed Yusuke running towards them in the rain.

"Watch out!" called Sora and Luna.

Usagi glanced back, until Yusuke ran right into them. They both landed on the rain soaked ground, making Luna flinch.

"Ouch!" said Sora, as he heard Usagi moaning about her clothes being soaked.

Then they noticed Yusuke slowly getting back up, as Roxas slowly walked up to him with his Keyblade, Oathkeeper in hand, while Usagi glared at him.

"Hey! You!" she snapped at Yusuke.

"Who are you!?" demanded Roxas, holding his Keyblade near him.

Yusuke screamed in fear, and began calling for help making them snap out of their rage.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Mr. Amade! It's okay! No one's going to hurt you! It's okay! It's just us!" Sora said quickly to him.

"Uh… Okay…?" Usagi asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"Just what in the world are you saying? Why would you think that we'd wanna hurt someone like you?" Riku asked as well.

Yusuke turned to face them, and saw that the fourteen people before him were not really bad people at all as Roxas lowered his keyblade, and held it at his side.

"What, seriously? Someone is really after you?" asked Usagi, as they walked down the road.

"Yeah, and you probably won't believe this. I can barely believe it myself, but…" he said, but stopped.

"What is it?" Usagi and Sora asked him.

"The thing that's after me, it's a monster," replied Yusuke.

"That must mean, it's been summoned by the darkness," murmured Riku.

"Yeah," said Yusuke, as he remembered that horrible moment in the alleyway.

He remembered the sound of bats chittering behind him, and a woman's shadow upon the wall, and the dark creatures with beady yellow eyes as she changed into a gigantic batlike creature that made him run screaming into the distance as it screeched at him. He sighed deeply, making Sora glance up at him worriedly.

"It must have been a hallucination. It had to be. Sorry to bother you with it," said Yusuke.

"No big deal, you saw something that scared you and you wanted to find someone to help you. That's why you're afraid that someone is wanting to find a way to take your heart and transform you into a Heartless," Sora assured the jazz musician.

"Yeah, that's right. Anyway, I'll let you all go, I'm working a gig at the jazz club just down the street," replied Yusuke.

"What? a Jazz Club?" Sora and Usagi asked in wonderment.

"Oh, I almost forgot, for your drycleaning. Sorry, I don't have any money right now. But, here you guys can contact me at this number," he said quickly.

Then abruptly he pulled out a piece of paper, containing his name and the job he had.

"Okay, Yusuke Amad-" replied Usagi.

But she gasped in shock and realized that it was the same Yusuke that she met.

"Wait, you're that guy Sora referred to as Mr. Amade!" she said with a surprised look on her face.

"See ya!" he said, and darted off into the distance.

"That was him, the Yusuke Amade from the CD that Naru played for me," Usagi said to her friends.

"Yeah, it was. But now, it looks like we have a creature of darkness to take care of that's trying to turn him into a Heartless," replied Riku.

"Riku's right, Usagi, there's a monster that's after him. We have to help him," agreed Luna.

"Right, plus it's a great chance to take a peek into the grown up world. We can't leave him alone, come on," said Usagi.

"Right behind you, Usagi!" added Sora, and together they raced after him.

"Sometimes I wonder if she really gets it," mused Luna.

In the junkyard, Kyurene was speaking to Jadeite through an old television set.

"You fool, you still haven't gotten the tape back yet!?" demanded Jadeite.

"My humblest apologies. I was very close to retrieving it, but somehow he got away," replied Kyurene.

"Spare us your excuses, wretch. Or I will be forced to end you, the same way I ended that pathetic flower girl's life," Sephiroth said darkly to her as he held the Masamune near her throat.

"Sorry, sir," Kyurene said apologetically to the One-Winged Angel.

"Enough! Make sure the plan proceeds as scheduled, or else if you're unable to get the tape back, the next plan will be to deal with you!" snapped Jadeite.

"Yes sir," replied Kyurene, as Jadeite's image on the many television screens flickered off.

Then she transformed into a swarm of bats, and fluttered off into the dark cloudy sky above. At the same time, Usagi, Sora, Luna, and all of their friends arrived at a place called Thirties.

"So this is a jazz club, huh?" she said.

"I really doubt they'd let all of you go inside," remarked Luna.

"I wouldn't underestimate Usagi just yet, Luna," said Sora.

"Yeah, that's right Sora," agreed Usagi.

Then she pulled out her transformation wand.

"Moon Power, turn me into a hot musician!" she called out.

Then her clothes turned into that of a punk rocker, making Sora nod his approval.

You see Luna, even Sora agrees with my new outfit, and knows that I look like a grown-up now. But, I doubt they'd let an old cat like you go inside," she said, making Luna surprised as everyone laughed.

Soon they entered the building, and they heard Yusuke playing his song on the piano, as they sat down at a booth.

"Well, there he is," whispered Usagi.

"Yeah," agreed Sora.

Luna glanced at him, but Usagi told her to lie still and not make any sudden movements, when the waiter approached them.

"Have you decided what you'd like to order?" he asked them.

"Sorry, but, we're not interested," replied Sora.

"Okay, then, A soda float," said Usagi.

"I'm very sorry ma'am, but I'm afraid we don't serve that here," replied the waiter.

"Oh, Okay. then water's good," Usagi said.

Both Luna and the waiter gasped, but he slowly walked away.

"For an old guy, he really looks pretty good when he plays the piano," mused Usagi.

When Yusuke finished his song, everyone applauded him, when Luna glanced towards the stage, and noticed that he was gone.

"You guys, Look," she said to them.

"Ahh! He's gone!" cried Usagi.

"We should follow him!" added Sora.

The others nodded and hurried after him, unaware that he'd taken the elevator up to the fourth floor.

"Oh, hey Yusuke. Need a ride, my car is warming up in the garage, So meet me down there in a bit" said one of the bouncers.

Yusuke nodded and went to the garage.

"I wrote that song especially for her. Maybe she's a little slow on the uptake but still…" he said softly.

His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sound of chittering bats, making him worried. Then he turned slowly around as the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing an angry Kyurene. His scream echoed throughout the garage, making Usagi and her friends worried.

"Guys, did you hear that?" she asked.

"That was Mr. Amade!" Sora said to them.

"Let's go!" added Luna.

"Right!" said the heroes of light.

But Kyurene had already collected the tape from it's case, as she glared at the unconscious Yusuke.

"Ha, can't leave any witnesses. So I'll have the Heartless add your heart to their ranks," she said to him.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" shouted Sora and Usagi, who had just arrived.

Kyurene quickly darted away from them, then she rose up in her bat-like form, making everyone gasp in shock.

"I'll go after her! You guys help Yusuke!" Sora said as he chased after the demonic creature.

Usagi, and the Guardians of Kingdom Hearts nodded, and ran to Yusuke's side.

"She took it away. My tape," he groaned.

"You mean the tape that you made for Akiko?" asked Riku, as he glimpsed the case, and picture.

Usagi and the others noticed it too.

"You guys, the monster that Sora is chasing is going to use that tape for something evil! I'm sure of it!" Luna said to them.

"Let's go get 'em, everybody!" Donald said as he brandished his staff.

They raced after Sora, but Yusuke decided to take Usagi and most of her friends with him in his car, as she cried out in shock.

"You think you could maybe slow down a little?" asked Usagi, as was jostled about on her seat.

"I won't let anyone have that tape! No one! Even if it is a monster!" he said with determination.

"Boy you sure are worked up," remarked Usagi.

"That's because this isn't just any demo tape," said Yusuke.

"We know that, Mr. Amade. Because it contains that song you wrote for Akiko," replied Roxas.

"That's right, you were able to put your heart and soul into making that song for her," added Xion.

"Uh, how'd you know that?" asked Yusuke.

"You may not know it by looking at Usagi, Kairi, Namine, Aqua, or Xion, But they're more grown up than you could possibly imagine," said Axel, as he relaxed in the backseat with his hands behind his head.

"And we were able to figure it out on our own," added Usagi.

"It's just a crush. It's ridiculous at my age," replied Yusuke.

"Age doesn't have anything to do with it! Even old guys like you have a right to fall in love," protested Usagi.

"Thank you, I think," said Yusuke.

Then, the Riku and the others nodded in acknowledgement.

"Wait, why are you and your friends so eager to help me chase down the monster anyway?" he asked them.

"You may not know this, but Usagi's a hero of justice, especially for people who want to understand the meaning of love," replied Terra.

"Ah youth, it's wasted on the young," said Yusuke.

But then they saw Kyurene in the sky with Sora jumping from rooftop to rooftop to try and knock her out of the air with his keyblade.

"There! Right there! Now that the rain's stopped and the clouds are gone, we can see her! And she's being pursued by Sora!" said Usagi.

"That's good!" replied Yusuke.

He pressed on the accelerator, and held it down, racing down the streets at maximum speed. Then he quickly stopped and glanced upwards.

"Really? Are you sure it landed on that building?" he asked.

"Yes, we're positive," replied Usagi, as she got out of the car.

They could see that it was the Jam Records Studio building, because Yusuke was worried.

"This isn't good, that's the place where Akiko works," said Yusuke.

The others gasped in shock, but Mickey glanced up at his friends.

"Then we gotta help her! Come on!" he said to his friends.

In a rush they raced into the building to try and save Akiko. Meanwhile, everyone in the recording studio had been placed into a deep sleep, as the bats fluttered about in the room. Sora glared at her, as the heartless appeared before him, ready to strike him down.

"That's right, sleep now. And when you awaken and begin recording music once more, Every single track will contain ultrasonic subliminal waves!" Kyurene said with evil triumph, as Sora and the heartless lunged at each other.

Just as she was about to place the tape into the cassette player, Yusuke burst into the room calling out Akiko's name catching the batwoman by surprise. Taking advantage of the situation, Luna catapulted towards her, and knocked the tape out of Kyurene's hand, sending it towards Usagi who caught it in her own hands, just as her friends readied their weapons.

"Nice catch, Usagi!" Sora said, as he vanquished the Heartless that tried to slow him down.

"This stops now!" Usagi said to Kyurene.

"Curse you!" snapped Kyurene.

She glared furiously at them, as a swarm of bats fluttered behind her. Then they all merged with Kyurene, and her true form was revealed to them, as Sora glared furiously at her.

"Give me the tape!" she said to them.

"You want it that badly? Then go ahead and take it!" replied Sora, as he stood his ground.

"Hold on, young man! That tape! It can't be the demo I made!" interjected Kyusuke.

"Give it to me now!" shouted Kyurene.

Then she extended her claws, forcing Usagi to jump back and land unceremoniously to the ground.

"That's it!" roared Sora, as Luna came to check on her.

He lunged furiously at her, but Kyurene extended her claws towards Akiko, making her scream.

"If you value this woman's life then you must hand the tape over to me right now!" she said furiously to them.

"Okay! Okay! We'll give you the tape! Just don't hurt her!" replied Sora, as he didn't want to see an innocent life being lost before him.

"What are you saying Sora!?" cried Usagi.

"Hurry it up!" snapped the batwoman.

Akiko tried desperately to beg for Yusuke to forget about her, but Usagi knew that Sora was right.

"All right then, here!" she said, throwing the tape to Kyurene.

At the same time, Yusuke managed to wrench Akiko from her grip while Luna caught the tape in her mouth, and landed safely on the ground. Before Kyurene could attack her, Luna smashed the tap to pieces with her paw.

"It's over now! You lost!" Sora said to her.

But Kyurene screeched with fury and burst out of the window, sending glass flying everywhere.

"Get 'em, guys!" said Luna.

Usagi and her friends nodded. Then as she changed into Sailor Moon, Sora and the Guardians of Kingdom Hearts pursued the batwoman, to a stage that was near the studio building, where Sailor Moon and Luna stood waiting.

"I am the Pretty Guardian who fights for love and for justice! I am Sailor Moon! I won't let you use beautiful Music for your evil plot!" she said to Kyurene.

"That's right! All forms of Music should be viewed as a work of art!" added Sora, making Luna happy.

"And now, on behalf of the moon and Kingdom Hearts, We're ending you!" finished Sailor Moon.

"Got it memorized?" asked Axel.

Kyurene soon got herself ready for battle, as Kairi bravely stepped forward with her Keyblade held at the ready. Suddenly, ultrasonic sound waves surged towards them, forcing them to dodge and weave past them.

"This is bad, she's firing ultrasonic waves," said Luna.

"Then, we'll use that Microphone to create an even greater burst of soundwaves!" replied Sora.

Kyurene summoned the Heartless to her side and ordered them to attack Sailor Moon. But Sora and his friends struck them all down, making her angrily attack Sailor Moon with an even greater burst of ultrasonic sound waves as she activated the microphone, and threw it towards them. When it exploded, the speakers blasted her with a far more powerful burst of soundwaves that deafened her, just as Donald managed to use a sound dampening spell to protect their hearing.

"How does it feel having a taste of your own medicine!?" asked Sora, which made Sailor Moon giggle.

"Now finish her off, you guys!" added Luna.

Taking hold of her Tiara, she soon changed it into the golden discus.

"Moon Tiara Action!" she cried, sending it right at the batwoman.

At long last, Kyurene was no more.

"What were you thinking, Yusuke? What if you hurt your hand? You might not have been able to play the piano ever again," said Akiko, as she wrapped his knee up in a purple cloth.

"Yes, I know that. However, the truth is, if something bad were to ever happen to you, I would never be able to play the piano again either," replied Yusuke.

Akiko was surprised, but she knew that deep down, they both had something in common with each other. Unbeknownst to them, Luna, Sora, Usagi, and their friends all watched them from around the corner. Usagi now knew that Akiko was lucky to have someone like Yusuke, and soon understood that their hearts were meant for each other.

"You guys, did you hear what happened?" Naru asked them.

"Yeah, Yusuke Yamade got married. And now they can write down new music together," replied Sora.

"He sure did, Sora," said Usagi.

"Oh, it's so sad. And I had such a huge crush on him too," whined Naru.

"We know, he's such a sweet guy, and so brave too," replied Usagi, as she held the CD case in her hand.

"Wait, what? You talk like you know him, or something," gasped Naru.

The fourteen friends all chuckled together.

"That's because we do," said Usagi.

"And it's because he understands that love is something that can't be obtained by sheer force of will, it's earned by those who are willing to embrace the meaning of self-sacrifice," added Sora.

The others nodded in agreement, as Usagi looked at the new album called, Moonlight Lady: Dedicated to the young lady who fights for justice.