Chapter Three:
"A group of children were found dead this morning inside a tent beside one of the forest creeks," the newscaster intoned in a clipped voice.
It was the same case, Usagi thought in horror and she tried to hold her stomach together. Those children were also hacked to pieces with a chain saw.
When the names of the victims started to roll over the screen, Usagi managed to push some of the girls away and watched keenly for her brother's name. When his name didn't appear, she began to breathe deeply again.
Aya noticed the interest the girl was displaying over the information on the screen. What did she have to do with that? He thought as the brief cheerfulness in her eyes was replaced by fear and panic for a second, then registered relief.
Yohji was staring at the girl curiously also, intrigued by her expressions and the fact that she hadn't responded to his advances. His gawking was interrupted when a flurry of excited shrieks sounded from the doorway and he saw a crest fallen looking Ken walk in.
"Hey, Ken!" he hid his concerns in his usually cheery voice. "Where have you been? Aya's been eating me alive all afternoon!"
Aya turned, ready to cast a glare at his fellow assassin but he was cut short by the intense look of pain on Ken's face. He walked over to where the athlete was, his face seemingly carved in stone and pointedly ignoring everyone who was trying to get his attention, before glaring at the girls who were about to crowd them again until they turned their attentions back to the t.v. screen where the headlines changed suddenly for entertainment. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
The brown haired, brown eyed man heaved a great big sigh that seemed to have come from the very depths of his soul. "I was questioned by the police this afternoon while I was leaving the school where I coach soccer."
Yohji looked shocked but asked discreetly. "What for?! Do they suspect you of anything?!"
Ken shook his head. "One of my students were kidnapped yesterday after practice and since I was the last adult that was seen with him they naturally questioned me about it."
Yohji gave a sympathetic shrug that would have been called careless but it hid an anger of deeper depth which only himself knew. "Damn bastards."
Aya's face remained impassive. "Just hope that the group that kidnapped him isn't the same group that's been killing their victims lately. The only one that seemed to have seen daylight so far was that kid Omi found days ago."
Ken clutched the soccer ball in his palms and, the two other men knew that the ex pro soccer player would have thrown it at the walls if it weren't for the girls surrounding them currently busy with the headlines that kept popping off the screen about the latest showbiz talk. Yohji was grateful that Aya was sensible enough to increase the volume on the t.v.
"I would give anything right now to know where Tsukino is." Ken growled out loud.
"Did I hear you right? Did you just say Tsukino?"
All three turned as one to their blond customer's direction, varying looks of surprise, shock and warning in their expressions, but the girl only came closer, her eyes on Ken's face. A look of hope shimmered there and her face seemed to glow with an inner radiance.
Aya scowled. No girl had the right to look like that...That look can make a man say anything he didn't want said. Do what mustn't be done...
"N Nani? Who are you?" Ken stammered as he stared at her. He couldn't help but stare at her. She was different from the other attention hungry girls that kept crowding the flower shop everyday.
Usagi realized that she surprised him and smiled apologetically. "Gomen, I didn't mean to listen but I heard you use the name Tsukino. Are you Ken Hideka? The soccer coach?"
Yohji clamped a hand on Ken's shoulder. "You were extending your fan club outside the shop? I didn't know you had it in you, Ken!" he teased to cover up a tiny spark of jealousy he refused to acknowledge. He didn't want to acknowledge feelings as deep as that ever again!
Ken spared Yohji a glare before shrugging the older man's grip off and turning his attention on the strange girl before them. "Hai I am. Can I help you with something, Miss—?"
Hope shone in Usagi's eyes as she looked up at the handsome, well built, brown eyed athlete who was still wearing his soccer uniform. "Tsukino. Usagi Tsukino. Shingo is my brother."
Ken's eyes widened at her words and, without thinking, reached out and took her hand in his. "Oh God, I'm sorry... I swear to you, it's not my fault! I- I didn't know what happened!"
Usagi smiled sadly and slightly, totally won over by his sincerity and honest concern for her brother, but it couldn't do much for the heart sickening worry in her chest right now. "I know and I believe you, Hideka- san. I just wanted to ask you a few things about the time of my brother's disappearance. Where was he headed then? Was there anyone suspicious lurking around the day he disappeared?"
Ken looked at her strangely for a moment before straightening. "He- He was headed home. I heard that he told his teammates he was headed home and no, I didn't notice anyone strange hanging around."
Usagi remembered a part of the earlier conversation she overheard from them and decided to be bold. "Can you give me the address of that kid that escaped the kidnappers? The one you were talking about a while ago?"
"Nani? Doushite?" Ken asked, startled.
Before Usagi could probe further, Aya decided to intervene. He knew that look in her eyes all too well. It was a look he saw in his own eyes whenever the memories came to remind him of how much he hated Takatori Reiji.
"I suggest you forget trying to play detective and head for home. Let the police handle your brother's case. You can't do anything about it anyway."
"Yeah, angel." Yohji stated from behind Aya's shoulder. "Those kinds of things are too dangerous for someone as kawaii as you."
Usagi couldn't stop her cheeks from turning pink which made Aya's eyes narrow from a host of emotions he didn't know he still had. The feminine attribute didn't do anything to mar her decision however. "No. I can't trust the police fully in this. They could be working for—"
The red head's attention was jerked back to her prattle because of the hesitation in her speech. "Working for who? You think this was planned?"
Usagi dared to glare at him. "That's none of your business. Now are you telling me where the boy lives or what?"
Aya's jaw clenched at the girl's stubbornness. "Don't tell her, Ken, she'll only get in trouble."
"Why should you care anyway?!" Usagi finally snapped at him. Pure anger radiating from her sapphire blue eyes that were starting to brighten with her emotions. She already had enough of her Senshi, Luna and Mamoru dictating her life, she won't take any more from this- this- man! "This is my life and I decide how I want to live it!"
Deciding that it would be better to give the girl the address to the boy's house or face an all out brawl, Ken told Usagi everything. "A friend of ours came on this kid as he was jogging some distance away from here. We took him in for a while and told the police about him. That was when we discovered that he was one of those kidnap victims. He had another kid with him but that one was found dead. Anyway he's safe now and he lives here." He informed her earning glare after glare from Aya.
Usagi committed everything to memory. Somehow she had the feeling that she had to watch over that boy. Maybe he still remembered where the kidnappers kept him.
"Doomo ni arigato!" she told Ken with all her heart and her grin brought a scarlet tinge on the soccer player's cheeks. She then turned to Aya and flinched slightly at the hostile look on his face. "If you would give me my change, I'd be on my way now."
Aya handed her her money and placed it on her palm but instead of releasing it, he grasped it and pulled her a little closer so he can lean over and stare her down. "Don't try it. You'll only get yourself killed."
Usagi could only stare after the violet eyed man with wide eyes before she pulled away and stepped back.
"He's right, angel." The blond one put in making her look over at him. He caught her attention because of the serious expression on his face. Somehow she had the feeling that that kind of expression didn't show on his face too often. "We're not talking about high school bullies here. Those guys are hardened criminals and they won't hesitate to kill you or your brother if they catch you putting your nose into their business."
Usagi shook her head and stepped outside. She can see the wisdom of their words but could not make her heart come to terms with it. She started to turn away when she noticed a cluster of nicely arranged red roses beside her and thought of her Mamoru.
Oh, Mamo-chan, what will I do? I wish you were here so you can help me with this...Demo then again you'd only try to stop me like Luna and the others...
"Would you like one, sweetie?" Yohji asked when he saw her looking at Aya's prized roses.
Usagi smiled sadly, her eyes taking on a haunted look that took Yohji's breath away. "No. I just remembered someone associated with these roses. Maybe next time. Ja ne, Hideka-san."
"Ja. Please tell your parents that I'm very very sorry." Ken replied solemnly.
Usagi nodded and smiled faintly before she stepped outside.
The three men huddled close as they watched her walk away.
"I hope she takes our advice." Ken said softly.
"Same here. That kidnapping gangs' our next job. She might get caught in the crossfire." Yohji stated in a very discreet whisper around a newly lit stick of cigarette. His mind still seeing the haunted expression of her eyes.
"If she does get caught in the crossfires," muttered Aya as he turned away from his teammates. "Then we'll have no other choice but to kill her."
Aya ignored Yohji and Ken's gasps and remembered the look in the girl's eyes and the way she stared at the roses and scoffed at the innocence and the purity that seemed to wrap around her like a cloak. Those attributes have no place in his life. Now or ever again. Only one thing mattered in his life now. Well, maybe two.
"We strike as soon as Omi gets the information we need from the kid." He took the basket of flowers that Usagi chose and gave them to Ken along with the address she wrote down not even bothering to look at them. "You get to deliver these today."
Ken could only groan in dismay.
As the day progressed, none of them could forget the face of the blond girl and the determination in her eyes. Nor can they help but wonder if they'll ever see her again...
Usagi watched in horror as the couple wept and tried to comfort each other. She arrived too late. The boy had again been kidnapped and the kidnappers were still asking for ransom money but she knew that whether they give out the money or not, the kidnappers will still kill the boy. The kid was a material witness.
She stood there, paralyzed with fear and bitter memories of the night she found her parents in just the same position. Her legs were all rubbery from the fear she was trying so hard to keep at bay.
She barely noticed the handsome young man beside her never knowing he was dealing with his own demons and memories long forgotten.
As Omi stared at the weeping parents, bitter memories came rolling back to him making him loose whatever concentration he still had. It was the vision of his kidnappers as they conversed before a much younger version of himself. Bound hand and foot and frightened out of his mind.
"Poor kid. His own parents don't even want him back..."
"Hah! They refused to ransom you, boy. You're useless to us now..."
"Guess I'd better kill him then, huh?"
"I get to slash his chubby little cheeks open!"
Suddenly, gunshots echoed through the dark room and the next thing he knew he was being led out of there by a man's silhouette...
Omi suddenly couldn't take it anymore.
"Papa! Papa! Why?! Why didn't you come get me?! Why?! Don't you love me anymore?!" he cried out making the owners of the house along with the policemen stare at him in shock and surprise but he didn't have time to notice this because he immediately sprinted out of the house.
He had to get Aya and the others. They have to save that boy!
Usagi stared at his back for a few minutes before following. She didn't know why she was doing it but it was a as though she knew she'll get what she was looking for from that kid...
Aya and the others finally found out where the boy was taken through Omi's description of what the boy explained to him of the place where he was being kept. They crept through the harbor warehouses and crates as they neared the ship they suspected were hiding the children.
"We have to lure them out and make sure the children are out of their reach when we attack." Aya instructed and his teammates nodded their agreement, understanding before moving with the stalking qualities of a cat.
They were somehow found out however because they suddenly found themselves surrounded by their targets.
"H How did they know we were coming?!" Ken asked, stunned.
"Someone must have seen us or tipped us off." Yohji muttered as he stretched his piano string.
"Iie that's impossible." Omi exclaimed taking out a handful of darts out of his jacket.
"Well well well... I knew I smelled something out here." Hissed a strange guy with wild looking green hair. He was smirking horridly with his hands on his hips and leering at them.
"Who is this guy? He ain't one of our targets!" Omi exclaimed.
"Kuso." Aya muttered as he held his katana tighter. He didn't like this. Why did all the hairs on his arms suddenly stood up when he sensed the man's approach?
"Get them, boys." The man ordered followed by the mean laughter and advances of the other punks that surrounded them.
"Separate. Pick a target and finish him off." Aya ordered quietly before running for the tall crates listening behind him for a pursuer.
"Hai." The other three assassins obeyed following his lead though on different directions.
One by one they defeated their challengers and then went back to where the leader was patiently and smugly waiting.
"Hmm. I see you aren't ordinary pests." He said with a smirk.
"Where are the children?!" Omi asked threateningly as he aimed his crossbow at the man.
He only smiled. "What if I told you I already killed them all?"
Omi's anger got the best of him and he released the arrow from his bow. It hit the guy but everyone was shocked when the he didn't even bother to cry out. "That tickles."
"What the—"
"Foolish humans." They were suddenly struck speechless as the guy turned into a creature that seemed to be a cross between a human corpse and an octopus!
"What in the name of Kami is that?!" Yohji exclaimed as the creature flicked it's snake like tongue at them.
Ken backed up a step. "Its Its not h human!"
Aya didn't let himself be shocked. He ran up to the monster with his katana raised and attempted to run it through but the blade only stuck inside the creature's body without even a flinch. Aya backed away. 'What kind of sick maniac would do something like this?'
The creature attacked them and cornered Omi and none of their attacks worked on the hideously deformed monster. Omi stared at it wide eyed, awaiting his death as the memories of his long forgotten youth washed over him like a blanket of nails.
"Moon... Tiara... Action!"
A glowing discus was suddenly fired from nowhere and it hit one of the monster's tentacles and cut it off just as it was going for the young assassin's throat. It howled in pain and turned to see a dark clad stranger standing on top of a very large crate hand on hip with the moon behind her.
"Who was that?!" the creature cried in pain and fury.
The figure jumped closer, still silhouetted by darkness but they learned from the voice that it was definitely feminine. "An agent of love and justice! In place of the moon, I will punish you! You'll pay for kidnapping those children, youma!"
The four Weiss assassins watched awestruck as their newly arrived savior jumped and managed to kick the side of the monster's face. It was thrown back. The girl came to kneel beside Omi and, for the first time, the youngest Weiss assassin got a good look at their helper.
She wore a black wool sweater and leather pants with black half boots and a black woolen bonnet that hid most of her shining golden hair.
Usagi immediately transformed into Sailor Moon the moment she saw the youma and after she got over the shock of learning what the men were really doing there and was afraid to let the Weiss assassins know of Sailor Moon's existence not to mention kind of embarrassing to appear in front of a group of guys wearing a very short skirt, so she used the Disguise pen to cover her sailor outfit. She was thankful for her decision now as she saw the youth staring at her.
"Daijobou ka?" she asked him softly, her blue eyes filled with concern.
Omi could only nod and she smiled.
"Behind you!" They heard Yohji shout.
The youma used it's tentacles to stretch with amazing speed and aimed for her neck. It pushed her hard against a wall and held her there.
"No!" Omi cried and proceeded to throw darts wildly at the creature. Ken joined him as he proceeded to slash it down with his metal claws to no avail.
The creature started to smirk again while strangling its victim. "Now you'll die for interfering with my affairs!"
But the newcomer only raised her hand. "Tiara! Come to me!"
With a movement of her hand, the glowing disc returned to her by going through the monster's body first. It screamed before it turned into a pile of dust.
"A group of children were found dead this morning inside a tent beside one of the forest creeks," the newscaster intoned in a clipped voice.
It was the same case, Usagi thought in horror and she tried to hold her stomach together. Those children were also hacked to pieces with a chain saw.
When the names of the victims started to roll over the screen, Usagi managed to push some of the girls away and watched keenly for her brother's name. When his name didn't appear, she began to breathe deeply again.
Aya noticed the interest the girl was displaying over the information on the screen. What did she have to do with that? He thought as the brief cheerfulness in her eyes was replaced by fear and panic for a second, then registered relief.
Yohji was staring at the girl curiously also, intrigued by her expressions and the fact that she hadn't responded to his advances. His gawking was interrupted when a flurry of excited shrieks sounded from the doorway and he saw a crest fallen looking Ken walk in.
"Hey, Ken!" he hid his concerns in his usually cheery voice. "Where have you been? Aya's been eating me alive all afternoon!"
Aya turned, ready to cast a glare at his fellow assassin but he was cut short by the intense look of pain on Ken's face. He walked over to where the athlete was, his face seemingly carved in stone and pointedly ignoring everyone who was trying to get his attention, before glaring at the girls who were about to crowd them again until they turned their attentions back to the t.v. screen where the headlines changed suddenly for entertainment. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
The brown haired, brown eyed man heaved a great big sigh that seemed to have come from the very depths of his soul. "I was questioned by the police this afternoon while I was leaving the school where I coach soccer."
Yohji looked shocked but asked discreetly. "What for?! Do they suspect you of anything?!"
Ken shook his head. "One of my students were kidnapped yesterday after practice and since I was the last adult that was seen with him they naturally questioned me about it."
Yohji gave a sympathetic shrug that would have been called careless but it hid an anger of deeper depth which only himself knew. "Damn bastards."
Aya's face remained impassive. "Just hope that the group that kidnapped him isn't the same group that's been killing their victims lately. The only one that seemed to have seen daylight so far was that kid Omi found days ago."
Ken clutched the soccer ball in his palms and, the two other men knew that the ex pro soccer player would have thrown it at the walls if it weren't for the girls surrounding them currently busy with the headlines that kept popping off the screen about the latest showbiz talk. Yohji was grateful that Aya was sensible enough to increase the volume on the t.v.
"I would give anything right now to know where Tsukino is." Ken growled out loud.
"Did I hear you right? Did you just say Tsukino?"
All three turned as one to their blond customer's direction, varying looks of surprise, shock and warning in their expressions, but the girl only came closer, her eyes on Ken's face. A look of hope shimmered there and her face seemed to glow with an inner radiance.
Aya scowled. No girl had the right to look like that...That look can make a man say anything he didn't want said. Do what mustn't be done...
"N Nani? Who are you?" Ken stammered as he stared at her. He couldn't help but stare at her. She was different from the other attention hungry girls that kept crowding the flower shop everyday.
Usagi realized that she surprised him and smiled apologetically. "Gomen, I didn't mean to listen but I heard you use the name Tsukino. Are you Ken Hideka? The soccer coach?"
Yohji clamped a hand on Ken's shoulder. "You were extending your fan club outside the shop? I didn't know you had it in you, Ken!" he teased to cover up a tiny spark of jealousy he refused to acknowledge. He didn't want to acknowledge feelings as deep as that ever again!
Ken spared Yohji a glare before shrugging the older man's grip off and turning his attention on the strange girl before them. "Hai I am. Can I help you with something, Miss—?"
Hope shone in Usagi's eyes as she looked up at the handsome, well built, brown eyed athlete who was still wearing his soccer uniform. "Tsukino. Usagi Tsukino. Shingo is my brother."
Ken's eyes widened at her words and, without thinking, reached out and took her hand in his. "Oh God, I'm sorry... I swear to you, it's not my fault! I- I didn't know what happened!"
Usagi smiled sadly and slightly, totally won over by his sincerity and honest concern for her brother, but it couldn't do much for the heart sickening worry in her chest right now. "I know and I believe you, Hideka- san. I just wanted to ask you a few things about the time of my brother's disappearance. Where was he headed then? Was there anyone suspicious lurking around the day he disappeared?"
Ken looked at her strangely for a moment before straightening. "He- He was headed home. I heard that he told his teammates he was headed home and no, I didn't notice anyone strange hanging around."
Usagi remembered a part of the earlier conversation she overheard from them and decided to be bold. "Can you give me the address of that kid that escaped the kidnappers? The one you were talking about a while ago?"
"Nani? Doushite?" Ken asked, startled.
Before Usagi could probe further, Aya decided to intervene. He knew that look in her eyes all too well. It was a look he saw in his own eyes whenever the memories came to remind him of how much he hated Takatori Reiji.
"I suggest you forget trying to play detective and head for home. Let the police handle your brother's case. You can't do anything about it anyway."
"Yeah, angel." Yohji stated from behind Aya's shoulder. "Those kinds of things are too dangerous for someone as kawaii as you."
Usagi couldn't stop her cheeks from turning pink which made Aya's eyes narrow from a host of emotions he didn't know he still had. The feminine attribute didn't do anything to mar her decision however. "No. I can't trust the police fully in this. They could be working for—"
The red head's attention was jerked back to her prattle because of the hesitation in her speech. "Working for who? You think this was planned?"
Usagi dared to glare at him. "That's none of your business. Now are you telling me where the boy lives or what?"
Aya's jaw clenched at the girl's stubbornness. "Don't tell her, Ken, she'll only get in trouble."
"Why should you care anyway?!" Usagi finally snapped at him. Pure anger radiating from her sapphire blue eyes that were starting to brighten with her emotions. She already had enough of her Senshi, Luna and Mamoru dictating her life, she won't take any more from this- this- man! "This is my life and I decide how I want to live it!"
Deciding that it would be better to give the girl the address to the boy's house or face an all out brawl, Ken told Usagi everything. "A friend of ours came on this kid as he was jogging some distance away from here. We took him in for a while and told the police about him. That was when we discovered that he was one of those kidnap victims. He had another kid with him but that one was found dead. Anyway he's safe now and he lives here." He informed her earning glare after glare from Aya.
Usagi committed everything to memory. Somehow she had the feeling that she had to watch over that boy. Maybe he still remembered where the kidnappers kept him.
"Doomo ni arigato!" she told Ken with all her heart and her grin brought a scarlet tinge on the soccer player's cheeks. She then turned to Aya and flinched slightly at the hostile look on his face. "If you would give me my change, I'd be on my way now."
Aya handed her her money and placed it on her palm but instead of releasing it, he grasped it and pulled her a little closer so he can lean over and stare her down. "Don't try it. You'll only get yourself killed."
Usagi could only stare after the violet eyed man with wide eyes before she pulled away and stepped back.
"He's right, angel." The blond one put in making her look over at him. He caught her attention because of the serious expression on his face. Somehow she had the feeling that that kind of expression didn't show on his face too often. "We're not talking about high school bullies here. Those guys are hardened criminals and they won't hesitate to kill you or your brother if they catch you putting your nose into their business."
Usagi shook her head and stepped outside. She can see the wisdom of their words but could not make her heart come to terms with it. She started to turn away when she noticed a cluster of nicely arranged red roses beside her and thought of her Mamoru.
Oh, Mamo-chan, what will I do? I wish you were here so you can help me with this...Demo then again you'd only try to stop me like Luna and the others...
"Would you like one, sweetie?" Yohji asked when he saw her looking at Aya's prized roses.
Usagi smiled sadly, her eyes taking on a haunted look that took Yohji's breath away. "No. I just remembered someone associated with these roses. Maybe next time. Ja ne, Hideka-san."
"Ja. Please tell your parents that I'm very very sorry." Ken replied solemnly.
Usagi nodded and smiled faintly before she stepped outside.
The three men huddled close as they watched her walk away.
"I hope she takes our advice." Ken said softly.
"Same here. That kidnapping gangs' our next job. She might get caught in the crossfire." Yohji stated in a very discreet whisper around a newly lit stick of cigarette. His mind still seeing the haunted expression of her eyes.
"If she does get caught in the crossfires," muttered Aya as he turned away from his teammates. "Then we'll have no other choice but to kill her."
Aya ignored Yohji and Ken's gasps and remembered the look in the girl's eyes and the way she stared at the roses and scoffed at the innocence and the purity that seemed to wrap around her like a cloak. Those attributes have no place in his life. Now or ever again. Only one thing mattered in his life now. Well, maybe two.
"We strike as soon as Omi gets the information we need from the kid." He took the basket of flowers that Usagi chose and gave them to Ken along with the address she wrote down not even bothering to look at them. "You get to deliver these today."
Ken could only groan in dismay.
As the day progressed, none of them could forget the face of the blond girl and the determination in her eyes. Nor can they help but wonder if they'll ever see her again...
Usagi watched in horror as the couple wept and tried to comfort each other. She arrived too late. The boy had again been kidnapped and the kidnappers were still asking for ransom money but she knew that whether they give out the money or not, the kidnappers will still kill the boy. The kid was a material witness.
She stood there, paralyzed with fear and bitter memories of the night she found her parents in just the same position. Her legs were all rubbery from the fear she was trying so hard to keep at bay.
She barely noticed the handsome young man beside her never knowing he was dealing with his own demons and memories long forgotten.
As Omi stared at the weeping parents, bitter memories came rolling back to him making him loose whatever concentration he still had. It was the vision of his kidnappers as they conversed before a much younger version of himself. Bound hand and foot and frightened out of his mind.
"Poor kid. His own parents don't even want him back..."
"Hah! They refused to ransom you, boy. You're useless to us now..."
"Guess I'd better kill him then, huh?"
"I get to slash his chubby little cheeks open!"
Suddenly, gunshots echoed through the dark room and the next thing he knew he was being led out of there by a man's silhouette...
Omi suddenly couldn't take it anymore.
"Papa! Papa! Why?! Why didn't you come get me?! Why?! Don't you love me anymore?!" he cried out making the owners of the house along with the policemen stare at him in shock and surprise but he didn't have time to notice this because he immediately sprinted out of the house.
He had to get Aya and the others. They have to save that boy!
Usagi stared at his back for a few minutes before following. She didn't know why she was doing it but it was a as though she knew she'll get what she was looking for from that kid...
Aya and the others finally found out where the boy was taken through Omi's description of what the boy explained to him of the place where he was being kept. They crept through the harbor warehouses and crates as they neared the ship they suspected were hiding the children.
"We have to lure them out and make sure the children are out of their reach when we attack." Aya instructed and his teammates nodded their agreement, understanding before moving with the stalking qualities of a cat.
They were somehow found out however because they suddenly found themselves surrounded by their targets.
"H How did they know we were coming?!" Ken asked, stunned.
"Someone must have seen us or tipped us off." Yohji muttered as he stretched his piano string.
"Iie that's impossible." Omi exclaimed taking out a handful of darts out of his jacket.
"Well well well... I knew I smelled something out here." Hissed a strange guy with wild looking green hair. He was smirking horridly with his hands on his hips and leering at them.
"Who is this guy? He ain't one of our targets!" Omi exclaimed.
"Kuso." Aya muttered as he held his katana tighter. He didn't like this. Why did all the hairs on his arms suddenly stood up when he sensed the man's approach?
"Get them, boys." The man ordered followed by the mean laughter and advances of the other punks that surrounded them.
"Separate. Pick a target and finish him off." Aya ordered quietly before running for the tall crates listening behind him for a pursuer.
"Hai." The other three assassins obeyed following his lead though on different directions.
One by one they defeated their challengers and then went back to where the leader was patiently and smugly waiting.
"Hmm. I see you aren't ordinary pests." He said with a smirk.
"Where are the children?!" Omi asked threateningly as he aimed his crossbow at the man.
He only smiled. "What if I told you I already killed them all?"
Omi's anger got the best of him and he released the arrow from his bow. It hit the guy but everyone was shocked when the he didn't even bother to cry out. "That tickles."
"What the—"
"Foolish humans." They were suddenly struck speechless as the guy turned into a creature that seemed to be a cross between a human corpse and an octopus!
"What in the name of Kami is that?!" Yohji exclaimed as the creature flicked it's snake like tongue at them.
Ken backed up a step. "Its Its not h human!"
Aya didn't let himself be shocked. He ran up to the monster with his katana raised and attempted to run it through but the blade only stuck inside the creature's body without even a flinch. Aya backed away. 'What kind of sick maniac would do something like this?'
The creature attacked them and cornered Omi and none of their attacks worked on the hideously deformed monster. Omi stared at it wide eyed, awaiting his death as the memories of his long forgotten youth washed over him like a blanket of nails.
"Moon... Tiara... Action!"
A glowing discus was suddenly fired from nowhere and it hit one of the monster's tentacles and cut it off just as it was going for the young assassin's throat. It howled in pain and turned to see a dark clad stranger standing on top of a very large crate hand on hip with the moon behind her.
"Who was that?!" the creature cried in pain and fury.
The figure jumped closer, still silhouetted by darkness but they learned from the voice that it was definitely feminine. "An agent of love and justice! In place of the moon, I will punish you! You'll pay for kidnapping those children, youma!"
The four Weiss assassins watched awestruck as their newly arrived savior jumped and managed to kick the side of the monster's face. It was thrown back. The girl came to kneel beside Omi and, for the first time, the youngest Weiss assassin got a good look at their helper.
She wore a black wool sweater and leather pants with black half boots and a black woolen bonnet that hid most of her shining golden hair.
Usagi immediately transformed into Sailor Moon the moment she saw the youma and after she got over the shock of learning what the men were really doing there and was afraid to let the Weiss assassins know of Sailor Moon's existence not to mention kind of embarrassing to appear in front of a group of guys wearing a very short skirt, so she used the Disguise pen to cover her sailor outfit. She was thankful for her decision now as she saw the youth staring at her.
"Daijobou ka?" she asked him softly, her blue eyes filled with concern.
Omi could only nod and she smiled.
"Behind you!" They heard Yohji shout.
The youma used it's tentacles to stretch with amazing speed and aimed for her neck. It pushed her hard against a wall and held her there.
"No!" Omi cried and proceeded to throw darts wildly at the creature. Ken joined him as he proceeded to slash it down with his metal claws to no avail.
The creature started to smirk again while strangling its victim. "Now you'll die for interfering with my affairs!"
But the newcomer only raised her hand. "Tiara! Come to me!"
With a movement of her hand, the glowing disc returned to her by going through the monster's body first. It screamed before it turned into a pile of dust.