Okay, I admit, not my best chapter written. At the moment, it feels like the worst I've written since I started this story. It feels like it just doesn't flow well and whatnot. But, as it is, it is an update, and I'm hoping there's something of use in it.

Also, no comment about the outcome of the story. My lips are sealed on that particular plot point. At this point it could easily be anything, Dark or not. Guess you guys will just have to hang around to find out.

Usual Disclaimer applies. I only own Scott/Courat


Chapter 10: Unsafe and Unsound

Usagi tossed and turned that night; unable to return to any semblance of sleep she may have had before. She could sense rather than was told that Minako and Makoto were keeping watch on her house. Seiya had driven them to her house stonily, refusing to answer the questions they asked him, and when he asked his, they refused their answers. She hated the silence that they had taken against each other. For the past weeks, Seiya had been there for her- but now, he was being dragged into her dangerous life. He wouldn't- he couldn't survive there.

The next few days passed silently and slowly. She visited Mamoru's apartment every day in hopes of his return- but he never came back. She worried constantly about him, worrying about what Scott might be doing to him. Her bond with Mamoru was weakening- it hadn't been this weak in so long- almost like she hadn't even met him yet. It had been like this when they had fought Beryl, but she couldn't understand why.

During the silence their lives had taken, the Senshi worked hard on whatever they could. Rei and Ami focused on locating Mamoru- and, at the same time, Scott. Minako was trying, uselessly, to contact the Outer Senshi. They had disappeared after their last fight, and hadn't returned still. Which Usagi thought extremely weird, they had to have felt the Crystal breaking. She had thought they would have come running- and they would have- but it was like they had dropped off the face of the Earth. She had the odd feeling that the new darkness had something to do with that.

Makoto focused on teaching Usagi everything she knew about self-protection. Usagi was now a pro at protecting herself from everything that moved- save for the ones with dark powers- for which she still needed her powers. She taught Usagi all she knew about fighting, desperate to find a way to protect Usagi.

She was on the roof at school, her mind elsewhere as she stared down at the distant children playing football.

"Mamo-chan…" she whispered into the air, wishing he could hear her

"He can't hear you," a falsely sweet voice said from behind her

She whirled around, anger present in her body. Who dared to say such as that?

There was a young girl about her age at the door, her body swamped in a trench coat, "He can't hear you anymore"

"Who are you?" Usagi asked, her eyebrows knotting in annoyance, "What do you know?"

The girl smiled innocently at Usagi, "I'm a friend of a friend, he sent me here to check up on you"

It didn't take longer than a second for Usagi to figure out that Scott had sent her, "You tell him to let Mamoru go!"

She laughed, stepping closer to Usagi, "Like he'd do that- if he had the choice"

Usagi tightened her fists, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Whatever you want it to mean," she said, shrugging, "I'm only here for one thing"

"And what's that?"

The girl smiled, her face was lengthening, her body bulging underneath the trench coat, which threatened to rip, "This!"

Usagi shot for the door, knowing she was in no shape to handle whatever the girl was- not a girl from the looks of it.

The trench coat was ripped off the girl- but she was far from a girl now. Her features had hardened disturbingly, her hair turned green and her body had a red tinge to it- definitely a monster.

"Scott sends his regards!" it cried as it ran at Usagi, a roar coming from it almost animally.

Usagi dodged it barely, running for the roof door- but a hand shot out and grabbed her by the hair, sending her careening backwards.

"He's strong," it growled, leaning threateningly over Usagi, "Much stronger than you've seen before"

"We'll deal!" Usagi spat, aiming a kick at the abdomen of the monster- who took the kick like a wall takes a punch. Usagi winced as her foot hit what felt like metal- a lance of pain shooting through her leg, "OW!"

The monster looked at her impatiently, "Just tell your friends what you've seen. He wants you all scared"

It heaved a kick at Usagi, who went sailing backwards, her back crashing against the edge of the roof painfully.

It made to come at Usagi again- when a rose suddenly pierced its skin on the way to the floor.

Usagi looked at the rose, her heart beating thunderously. He had come for her! She had known he would, he was always there when she needed him. He was perfect like that. Her Mamoru was amazing, and she loved him so much that she couldn't imagine life without him. With him back, everything would be fine.

She looked up, hoping to jump into Tuxedo Kamen's arms- but what she saw made her freeze, the hope falling from her.

Seiya stood on the top of the ledge, balancing precariously, "You stay away from her!"

The monster turned to leer at Seiya, "He told me you might come"

Annoyance flashed through Seiya's features, "Who?"

He cast a look at Usagi, ordering her to move with his eyes while he waited for the monster to answer.

"Oh, the girl knows," the monster said, aiming another kick at the slowly crawling away Usagi, sending her flying into the air. Her eyes widened in midair as she sailed over the ledge and grasped for it wildly- knowing she'd fall if she didn't.

"USAGI!" Seiya cried fearfully as he watched her grasp weakly at the edge of the roof, her hands threatening to slip. Making a split second decision, he cried, "Sailor Star Fighter, Make up!"

Transformed in the blink of an eye and rushing at the monster, Star Fighter cried, "Star Serious Laser!" and, hitting the monster with her attack, she grabbed Usagi from the ledge, catching her the instant her hands slipped from the edge.

"I got you!" Sailor Star Fighter said, hauling Usagi over the ledge easily, holding the girl protectively in her arms.

"Seiya…?" Usagi whispered, looking up at Sailor Star Fighter with confused eyes.

Fighter didn't get a chance to answer before she was thrown backward from an energy hit by the monster; her hands clutched Usagi to her protectively. They skidded a few feet, the monster cackling.

"Scott will be happy to know the Sailor Starlights are to join the fight," it called to Fighter and Usagi, "More to annihilate for him. Bye for now, Usagi, Scott sends his love!" and with that, it jumped off the roof, a thud heard distantly as it crashed on the ground.

"Seiya…is that you?" Usagi asked, her mind going a mile a minute as she stared up at the Senshi holding her. Her mind was still reeling from Scott's monster, trying to figure out how he had all this power- but came up black with pretty much anything that made any sense at all.

Fighter detransformed, looking crestfallen, "Yeah, it's me," Seiya said, sitting by Usagi with a huff, "I was coming to tell you when that stupid thing showed up."

Usagi gazed at the roof distantly, "Thanks for that"

"You seem disappointed…" Seiya said softly

"When I saw that rose," Usagi whispered, her hands grasped her body to herself tightly, "It reminded me of him, and how much I need him! I thought I'd be fine without him, but I can't! I can't stand being away from him!" she gave a sob, feeling the true helplessness of the situation. She was nothing without him.

"It's alright," Seiya pulled her to him comfortingly, "It'll be alright"

"How can it be?" Usagi sobbed, "You saw him! Scott's crazy!"

"I'll protect you," Seiya said, smoothing her hair soothingly, "It'll be okay," the hope and love in his voice surrounded her- but it only gave her a sense of fear. What was she doing with him? It didn't take a genius to figure out he was falling for her.

She nodded against his chest, but knew that he couldn't protect her like Mamoru could. Nobody was as good as Mamoru, ever.

"I will," Seiya said, obviously knowing what she was thinking.

She didn't respond. Seiya meant a lot to her, he was a dear friend- but that was all he was, a dear friend. He wasn't a replacement for Mamoru. Though that's what she was trying to get out of him.

(Okay, I admit that that part was a knockoff of a StarS episode. Don't kill me, I was an idiot when I first plotted all this out. It fits though...so, don't hate me?)

The Sailor Starlights- Sailor Star Healer, Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Fighter, or less accurately, Yaten, Taiki and Seiya were here to find their Princess. They had been on a trip off their planet when the planet had been attacked by a darkness- by the time they returned, their Princess was gone, and their planet destroyed. The Starlights followed the darkness to Earth in the hopes that their Princess was alive- and if not, then for revenge. They had used their covers as the Three Lights in an attempt to contact their Princess, but they had achieved nothing. They had hit no leads- till Scott had opened his big mouth.

Now, with their newly informed selves, the Starlights planned on helping Usagi and the Sailor Senshi in their fight against Scott in the hopes of finding out what he knew about their Princess.

Minako and Seiya forged a pact between the Starlights and the Senshi, each promising to help the other in whatever came their way- and thus, forever they were thrown together.

Seiya quickly took over helping Makoto with keeping an eye out on Usagi, teaching her all he knew as well. After Usagi had finally told him the whole truth of what had happened to her, he was all for protecting her- depriving himself of his own needs to satisfy hers.

She was very thankful for him, having no idea how it would have been without him around- she probably would have spiraled into insanity a long time.

Ami was still focusing on figuring out where Scott had taken Mamoru- and finally, almost three weeks after Mamoru had been taken, did she have some luck.

"I caught an unknown energy signature in the North," she said, hurriedly typing into the computer that had become her best friend, "It was really quick, like a cover slipped momentarily- but it was very dark and the location…highly suspicious"

"Why? Where is it?" Makoto asked, inspecting her fingernails, Ami had called many meetings to inform them of "new" information.

"The North Pole"

Four heads snapped up in unison, eyes widening.

"B-but it was destroyed!" Minako said fearfully, her mind obviously jumping to Beryl's lair, "In the fight, it collapsed!"

"Whatever is there, it looks like it's rebuilding the lair," Ami said slowly, as if weighing the words before they left her lips, "And it's bad"

"Is it Scott?" Usagi asked, asking the question she really needed to know the answer to

Ami sighed, "There's no way to be sure-"

"Oh, cut the crap," Rei said sourly, "We all know it's him, there's no use to even ask the question"

A tense silence met her words.

"It has to be him," Usagi muttered, "There's nothing else dark at work"

"And we know nothing!" Minako cried, standing up and starting to pace, "He has powers none of us know about, he's been around the galaxy from the sounds of it, he has Mamoru, and he knows everything about us!"

"You don't have to put it that way," Makoto mumbled, "That just makes it sound like we're useless"

"That's because we are!" Minako shouted, "The pieces are stacking up against us, and pretty soon the whole building's going to come tumbling down on top of us"

There was an ominous feeling to her words that everyone felt, as if the hope had been sucked out of the room.

"Then how about we do something about it," Makoto said, standing, gripping her henshin, "We're tired of sitting around and doing nothing, let's take the fight to him!"

"He has Mamoru…" Usagi whispered, "I want him back"

"Let's get him back then," Makoto said, pumping her fist, "We're not going to figure anything out by hiding out here"

There was a mumble of agreement from Rei and Ami, and Minako was looking thoughtfully at Minako.

In unison, the four girls looked at Usagi, who was gazing at the floor.

"Usagi?" Rei asked, taking the cue from the girls to ask her, "What do you think?"

"I think it's exactly what he wants- but I want Mamoru," there was hardness in her voice that said she was going to get him back if it was the last thing she did

Minako scowled, "I don't exactly want to walk right into a trap"

"We'll never know till we try," Makoto said emotionally.

"We'll have to contact the Starlights," Ami said, suddenly business-like, as if she knew the decision the girls had made, "And prepare for the fight."

"Prepare, how?" Makoto asked, her interest being peaked

"Learn to fight together," Minako answered for Ami, "Find out weaknesses and strengths"

"So…we're doing this?" Rei asked in a final tone.

"Looks like it, doesn't it?" Minako sighed, "We can't sit here on our asses waiting for them to come to us. We take the fight to them!"

*

"You're not coming with us," Minako said to Usagi about two days after they had made their decision and started preparing hardcore for their ambush.

"Of course I am," Usagi said, crossing her arms as she looked back at Minako defiantly, "I'm not leaving you guys"

"Leaving us?" Seiya said, leaning on the wall of the abandoned warehouse they used as their training headquarters, his eyes hard on Usagi, "That wouldn't exactly be the right definition of what would be happening, now, would it?"

Usagi scowled at him, "There's no knowing what Scott can do to you guys,"

"Exactly," Minako said, "We don't want to take you right into his arms." She frowned at her particular choice of words, the pain present in her eyes. She didn't want anything happening to Usagi, that much was obvious. Usagi knew the girls would do anything to protect her, but the fact was it didn't matter where she was.

"I'm a sitting duck as it is, what's the difference from here or there," Usagi said crossly, "It's all the same- but I am not missing my chance to help Mamoru"

Seiya continued to look at her, his violet eyes drinking her in, "The difference is you're safe here"

Usagi laughed coldly, "Safe? There isn't anywhere I'm safe with Scott out there- if he's as strong as it seems"

Seiya's heart thumped at his chest at her words, wanting to save the innocent girl from the fight that was coming.

And coming it was. He had always been able to sense fights, and his senses were going insane. In a way he was happy- but in another, he regretted it already.

The past weeks had been far from peaceful, but he had forged a relationship with Usagi- one that he would miss deeply if it ended. And getting Mamoru back- as it was just about the most important of their objectives- would definitely change their relationship.

But he'd have the chance to find out about his Princess. He missed Princess Kakyuu like a part of his body was missing- his heart almost. Maybe that was why he felt such a bond with Usagi. She reminded him so much of Princess Kakyuu. Her smile, the love in her eyes, her innocence, she was like a copy of Princess Kakyuu. And, in the end, that was the true reason he was drawn to her- and just in case their new lead ended up useless, he didn't want to lose her.

He wanted to be the one to protect her, he wanted to feel as if he was good for something in the galaxy.

Minako crossed her arms, "We don't want you going"

Usagi didn't bother to look at her, "I have the strongest bond with Mamoru- I can find him, I can get him back- and who knows, maybe my powers will magically reappear or something"

Taiki and Yaten walked in on the three of them, eating some of the food Makoto had cooked up for them, "What's going on?"

They had bonded greatly with the girls, finding someone who understood what they were going through- having just gone through the same thing recently- helped them in ways they hadn't even imagined.

But in the end, the reason they were there was to find out what they could about their Princess- but helping Usagi was a big plus. They felt the similarity between their Princess and Usagi, but they weren't confused of it as Seiya was.

They wouldn't let anything blind them from their goal.

"Usagi is being stupid and trying to get us to let her come with us," Minako said sourly, barely looking at the two of them. They could both sense the worry rolling off of her. Along with the worry on Seiya.

"She is your Princess," Yaten said, shrugging, "It's her choice"

"Hah," Usagi said to Minako, her arms crossed defiantly, and she had the air of not giving up any time soon.

"Can I talk to you guys?" Seiya asked them crossly, a frown on his face.

"Sure," Taiki said, glancing at Yaten. They knew they had to talk to him, and sooner rather than later was probably a good idea.

"We have to tell her not to come!" he whispered harshly to Yaten and Taiki, "It's too dangerous!"

Taiki sighed, "Seiya, she wants to come, it's her and her Senshi's choice. It has nothing to do with us"

"I say let her come! She knows the guy who did all of this, she can distract him enough so we can figure out what he knows about the Princess," Yaten said, his eyes distant, thinking about rescuing the Princess, "He did say something about Princess missing us, didn't he?"

Seiya looked at both of them with disbelief on his face.

"Look, Seiya. She's their Princess, not ours," Taiki said calmly, "We joined with them to find out what we can about Princess Kakyuu."

Yaten was less sympathetic, "She has powers, and they may be released in the fight. It'd be best to bring her along"

Seiya shook his head, "I just don't think this is what Princess Kakyuu would have wanted to hear from us," there was such disappointment in his voice that Yaten and Taiki bent their heads in disgrace, "She would have wanted us to love these people like our own- as she would have done!"

He walked away, his shoulders slightly hunched.

"I still say she should come with us," Yaten said to Taiki, "Despite the whole morality problem- she can help us"

"Maybe they'll figure that out- or maybe she'll manage to force them to let her come. She does seem to get what she wants from them," Taiki said wisely, his eyes on Usagi who was continuing to argue with Minako.

The day to go finally came after much training and waiting. Everyone was more than ready to attack the area where they had figured out Scott to be. Rei had been scoping the area out and had discovered a lot of dark energy brewing and they knew they had the right place. At every mention of the North Pole, Usagi felt Mamoru's presence for a millisecond, as if he was calling her to him. Out of all of them, she was the most eager.

They decided to leave on a Friday, saying that they were all sleeping over Rei's temple- so as to avoid suspicion if they disappeared in the middle of the night.

"Call your henshin," Minako ordered when they had all arrived at the temple, she looked immensely pale as if she could sense the despair they might end up in if they failed in this attack, "We have to teleport there"

"Mercury Crystal Power!"

"Mars Crystal Power!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

"Venus Crystal Power!"

"Fighter Star Power!"

"Healer Star Power!"

"Maker Star Power!"

"Moon Crisis!"

Seven voices in unison cried, "MAKE UP!"

Usagi watched in disappointment as her friends called upon their powers, energy wavering around them like water, like air.

"Okay, now join hands around Usagi!" Sailor Venus cried

They hurried to do so, and called out, "Sailor Senshi Starlight Teleport!"

Energy flowed around them, feeling like electricity as they were all lifted up- and in a bright flash of light, they teleported to the North Pole.

Instead of crashing onto the snow like the Senshi had done the first and last time they had teleported to the North Pole, they teleported directly into the lair they knew so well.

Usagi looked around, feeling apprehension flood her. This was the same room where she had fought Endymion- and lost him to Beryl. Similar feelings filled her.

"Okay, fan out," Sailor Venus whispered to the others, "Usagi with-"

"Welcome, welcome!" a loud familiar voice boomed from distantly in front of them, "We've been waiting for you!"

"Face us like a man!" Mars called, her body unconsciously pushing Usagi behind her- the other Senshi surrounded her, protecting her from all sides.

"As you wish," his voice called out and steps came to them. Usagi felt the girls push closer to her, forming an extremely close-knit circle around her. Sailor Star Maker and Healer were behind them, Sailor Star Fighter directly by her side.

The figure stepped into the light filtering through the room. It was Scott- but it wasn't. He was dressed in pitch-black armor, a black cape flowing from his shoulders. His dark brown hair hung limply over his hollowed face, his eyes glinting hardly on the girls. There was something in those eyes that was different- something dark and vengeful.

"Scott," Jupiter spoke from in front of her, her voice shaking as she looked upon their enemy. They all knew then that they had walked directly into a trap.

"The name is Courat," he said, his head tilted as he smiled emptily at the Senshi and Starlights, "Scott is no longer"

A shiver ran through the Senshi and Usagi at the same time. The hair on the back of their necks rose as they heard his name. The word was coated in darkness- a familiar darkness. There was something about the name- almost as if they dreaded hearing it.

"So nice of you to join us," he said, stepping a little closer. The girls immediately stepped back.

His smile grew, "Cat got your tongues, Senshi? Starlights?"

"Where is Mamoru!?" Usagi cried, pushing between Mars and Jupiter with difficulty, "We're here to get him back!"

"And what do you know of our Princess?" Fighter called, stepping beside Usagi. She cast an annoyed glance at Usagi, who ignored Fighter.

"Ah, yes, Mamoru," Courat laughed coldly, "Mamoru no longer exists"

Usagi didn't get a chance to cry out in fury before Courat snapped his fingers, "Come, Endymion."

Footsteps were heard from where Courat had emerged from, and Endymion stepped forward, his blue eyes staring emptily at the Senshi and Starlights, "Yes, brother"

A shocked silence rang through the room, before Usagi recovered and ran past Courat to Endymion, "Mamoru!" her arms twined themselves around Endymion, hugging him with all her life.

"Show her who you are, Endymion," Courat ordered without turning back.

Endymion nodded and heaved Usagi away from him with a shove, and as she was pushed away with him, he backhanded her- she went flying backwards, landing heavily at Courat's feet.

She looked up at him, hatred running through her, "What did you do to him?"

He looked down at her, a gleam in his eyes, "Now, that is where you belong," a kick was heaved at Usagi and she went flying backwards, landing painfully by Fighter's feet. She helped Usagi up as the other Senshi and Starlights stepped up and covered them from Courat's view.

"You sicken me!" Venus spat, and immediately shot out her attack, "Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

"Endymion, block me," Courat ordered and Endymion immediately stepped in front of the attack that was meant only for Courat.

"STOP!" Usagi cried, grasping Venus's arm, her heart crying at the image of Endymion taking the shots, "Don't hit him!"

The rest of the attack veered away from him, disappearing into the darkness behind them.

"Let him go!" Usagi cried, once more pulling herself from the other Senshi, "Give him back to us!"

Courat smiled, his smile full of malice as he looked at her, "No. You don't have a lover anymore. Mamoru is gone, Endymion is gone, and all that is left is mine

"You are mine alone," Courat spat, his tone turning hard as he kicked Endymion's legs, so he fell to his knees, Courat immediately pulled out his sword, holding it by Endymion's neck, "And no one else can have you"

"NO! PLEASE!" Usagi cried, trying to get to them, but Jupiter and Fighter held her back. "Senshi, Starlights," Venus said, her voice hard, "Attack!"

With roars, everyone but Fighter launched themselves at Courat in the blink of an eye.

Mercury grabbed Endymion out of the midst of the fight, pulling him by the hand away from Courat's flashing sword as he battled away the Senshi and Starlight attacks.

With difficulty, she pulled him to Usagi, who fell to her knees by him, holding his hands as she looked into his eyes, "Mamoru! Endymion! Come back to me!"

The blankness in his eyes scared Usagi deeply, "Please, Mamoru!"

"He can't hear you!" Courat spat as he battled the Senshi and Starlights away, "Monsters, attack!"

Roars came from the darkness surrounding them, and youma resembling the monster Usagi and Seiya had battled came at the Senshi, leaving Courat empty to approach Usagi and Endymion, whom Mercury and Fighter were fighting around, trying to keep the monsters back from the two of them.

Mercury stepped in front of him, but with one flick of his finger, she went flying away from them, her screams being drowned by the sounds of the fight.

Fighter didn't stop him; just stepped beside Usagi supportingly, "Leave her alone!"

"No," Courat spat at him, barely casting him a glance, his eyes gleamingly on Usagi, "I've waited too long to have her to myself"

"I'm never yours," Usagi spat, her hands holding Mamoru's tightly in front of her, who just stared back at her blankly. It occurred to her that he didn't do anything unless ordered directly by Courat. She looked back into his eyes, sensing the disturbance within him. He was fighting to come out. This wasn't like Beryl's brainwashing; it was more like a takeover. He wasn't controlling his actions- it was all Courat.

"And what of our Princess?" Fighter spat

"What of Kakyuu?" Courat said, his smile turning to Fighter, "There's not much left of her- not after what I've done to her"

"STAR SERIOUS LASER!" Fighter cried, lashing out at Courat's words, her heart crying out in pain at the horror of the words

Courat flinched as the attack hit him, being pushed back at the brunt of the attack, he pulled a dagger from his armor

"NO!" Usagi cried, "Don't hurt him!"

Courat sneered at Fighter, "How sweet, the same words she used for Endymion," he laughed, "Unfortunately for you, I don't like those words much," and the dagger shot from his hands, flying right at Fighter, who stared at it blankly, as if she couldn't believe what was happening.

"SEIYA!" Usagi cried, she saw the dagger coming at Fighter in an almost a snail speed. She couldn't imagine life without Seiya. He had taken care of her so much. He couldn't die. Not for her.

So she did the only thing that she could.

She pushed Fighter out of the way of the dagger, barely feeling the pain as she looked at Fighter with the look of surprise on her face as the dagger pierced her skin.


Dun dun dunnnnnnn. I couldn't resist this drama right here. It's such an Usagi thing to do, isn't it?

Okay, I'm going on vacation tomorrow (this was a hurried update so I could post it up before I left) and I'm not going to be back for a good long while. BUT I'm going to try my best to update while on vacation! Unlike my other story, Sorrow is pretty ready to be posted. So I'll hopefully (keep your fingers crossed!) continue updating weekly. If I'm late, I apologize beforehand, and you can check for any sort of updates on my profile page.

Thank you guys for reading and reviewing Sorrow (when it really feels like it sucks, having your reviews to check out really makes me feel better). So, show a committed writer some sympathy and REVIEW