Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon" is property of Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, and Kodansha USA. I do not own any characters, save for the OC characters. Hopefully you'll find this story enjoyable, and have a good day.
Chapter 3
Minako is seen sitting down at her couch, watching television. On screen is a news anchor delivering news of the recent disappearances going on around Tokyo.
"As noted here, 10 percent of the city's population has disappeared over night. The cause of this is unknown, and no doubt, a cause of concern against family, friends and colleagues associated with the assorted cases. Police are constantly on the scene, searching every inch of the city to find the missing people. Mass kidnapping has been considered the possibility, and authorities are researching how such an act can be carried out as efficiently as it's theorized." Said the News Anchor.
"This isn't right." Thought Minako to herself. "I shouldn't be just sitting here and watching TV. I should be out there helping out my teammates...This whole vampire thing is beginning to become more dreadful by the second."
Minako proceeds to turn the television off, and takes a look outside.
"The freak that did this to me could be anywhere..." Said Minako to herself. All of a sudden, something catches her eye. She walks over to what appears to be a drawer, and sitting at the side is a photograph of Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako herself posing and smiling.
"Ah...What am I talking about? I need to stay faithful in my friends. If I don't believe they can help me out of this, I really deserve to be dead." Thought Minako to herself with a smile.
"Minako..." A voice calls out.
Minako lets out a small scream, as she proceeds to look around. As far as she's concerned, nobody else is in the house with her.
"Whose there?" Minako calls out. "Show yourself!"
All of a sudden, Minako proceeds to gain a strange feeling, it's as if it were some sort of bestial instinct. At that moment, her mouth proceeds to feel as dry as a desert, and her entire body goes into mass pain. Minako screams in pain and falls to the floor in weakness.
"The night has fallen. As a child of the night, you must feed if you are to live." The voice called out again.
"Listen...whoever you are..." Minako says in defiance. "I am not like you...nor am I going to reduce myself...to your monsters level."
"Oh?" Inquired the voice. "Tell me...how long do you think you can bear this pain? Because as long as a single drop doesn't meet your tongue...Well...let's just say that things are gonna get messy whether you want it to or not."
Minako growls, both anger and pain ever so apparent.
"Come on...the night is young." Said the voice.
Suddenly, the door proceeds to open by itself.
"One drop won't kill you." Said the voice again.
Minako proceeds to groan in pain, and proceeds to make her way to a wall.
"Never..." Minako defiantly states.
"Suit yourself." Said the voice. "I can't force you to do what's natural of you. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Minako howls again in pain, going into the fetal position on the floor. Her entire body vibrating with intense pain.
Meanwhile, out in the streets, the other four young women are seen prowling the streets, Luna and Artemis along with them.
"So...what else do we know about vampires?" Asked Usagi.
"Did you seriously just ask that question?" Asked Rei, a hint of annoyance ever apparent in her tone of voice.
"Well, we know that vampires can't stand sunlight or water." Began Ami. "They only come out at night."
"Also don't take garlic or holy water too well." Said Makoto simply.
"Oh yeah." Said Usagi. "I never got why vampires hated garlic, do they just not like the smell of it that much?"
"Some cultures believed that garlic holds incredible healing power." Said Luna.
"That would explain why Minako reacted the way she did when confronted with the Silver Crystal. Healing and holy power drives vampires nuts." Said Artemis.
"That's a shame, it would be much easier if we could use the Silver Crystal." Said Rei, sorrow ever present.
"Yeah...That poor girl...I hate to have had to see her like that." Said Usagi.
"I think we all do, Usagi-chan." Said Ami.
The girls continue to walk down the street, and soon some of the streets begin to become unfamiliar.
"Uh...anyone else getting the feeling we're lost?" Asked Makoto.
"Now that you mention it...these do seem a bit unfamiliar." Said Rei.
"Wait a minute, we're lost?" Asked Usagi. "At night, in the middle of a vampire hunt? For all we know the vampire could be right on top of us, and we'd all be caught unaware."
"Everybody stay calm, I'm sure we can find our ways home no problem." Said Artemis.
"What makes you so confident?" Asked Usagi.
"We're cats Usagi, we kinda have a knack for finding our ways back home." Said Luna.
"Oh, yeah. Cats can do that, can't they?" Asked Usagi rather sheepishly.
"Huh?" Asked Ami.
"What is it?" Rei asking Ami.
"You know, we've been walking the streets for about 2 hours now, it's almost 9:30." Said Ami.
"What's your point?" Asked Makoto.
"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't bistros or delis supposed to be closed at this hour?" Asked Ami, pointing to a nearby meat shop.
"Di-did you say deli?" Asked Usagi, a look of hunger encompassing her face.
"Yeah, there's a deli right over there, shouldn't it be closed right about now?" Asked Ami. She recieves no answer. "Usagi?"
"Uh...Ami..." Rei proceeds to point sheepishly. In the spot where Usagi was standing is but a cartoonish outline of her, the real Usagi is seen running towards the deli.
"Gah! Usagi, get back here!" Yelled Rei, now proceeding to run after her.
"Oh boy." Said Makoto.
Ami, Artemis and Luna just proceed to sigh.
Inside the deli, we see it's owner. His back is turned to the door, and from can be seen, he is seen licking blood from the knife. The man moans in pleasure from licking the knife. Suddenly, he hears the door opening behind him, and immediately turns and hides the knife behind his back.
"Ah, hello. How can I help you young lady?" Asked the deli owner, sweat dropping down his forehead.
"Hello sir, I'd like to purchase the finest piece of meat you..." Said Usagi, before she could even finish her sentence, Rei comes in and clocks Usagi over the head. "AHA!"
"Idiot! Can't you see we're in the middle of a mission right now!?" Yelled Rei.
"I can't help it, Rei, I skipped dinner." Said Usagi, tears comedically forming from her eyes.
"Oh ho ho, this night is being too good to me. I got two more blood sacks right at my doorstep!" The deli owner proudly thinks to himself. He proceeds to speak. "Ladies, ladies, calm down."
"Huh?" Both Usagi and Rei.
"Listen, I can assure you that serving the two of you won't take much time. In fact, I just unloaded a fresh roast beef in the back. I can cut it up for the two of you, make some sandwiches, and send you out free of charge!" Said the deli owner.
"Wow, really?" Asked Usagi.
"Trust me, I'm a butcher. Come with me past this doorway, and you'll be out of here in no time." Said the deli owner.
"Please Rei, he said we'll be out of here in no time." Said Usagi, giving the puppy dog look.
"Ugh, fine. Let's make this quick." Said Rei.
"Right this way." Said the deli owner.
Usagi proceeds to make her way through the doorway, Rei following behind. The deli owner gives an evil look as he proceeds to lick the remaining blood off his knife. "Show time." He proceeds to say to himself.
Inside the freezer, Usagi is seen excitedly looking through the whole room in desperate search for meat. Rei is seen looking around, being remotely suspicious.
"Meat, meat, meat, meat!" Said Usagi happily.
"Something about this seems...off." Said Rei.
"What do you mean?" Asked the deli owner, closing the door behind him.
"You know...for a deli, there's not a lot of..." Before Rei can finish her sentence, the shadow of the deli owner shrouds her, and Rei turns around and gasps.
"Meat?" Asked the deli owner. "Hm hm hm. My dear, in this deli. YOU ARE THE MEAT!"
The deli owner proceeds to slash the knife towards Rei, who immediately blocks it.
"Usagi, help!" Yelled Rei.
"Huh? Rei!" Yelled Usagi. She proceeds to run towards them and proceeds to roundhouse kick the deli owner in his ribs.
"Ugh!" Grunted the deli owner in pain, and grunts in pain as Rei kicks him to the doorway.
"What are you doing!?" Asked Usagi.
"Well well, you two girls definately have more reflexes than the last meal I had. Ha ha ha ha! The deli owner laughs. "Of course, that's not gonna help you for long."
Suddenly, the deli owner's eyes become black, with red irises. His fangs become much more visible, and his skin turns a light purple. His fingernails are replaced with black, beast like claws, and the butcher knife in his possession grows to be the size of a broadsword.
"HISSS" The vampire deli owner proceeds to hiss.
"Gah! An actual vampire!" Yelled Usagi in shock.
"How observant you are, time to die!" Yelled the deli owner, he picks up his large butcher knife and tries to slice them, only for Rei to slap a rectangular piece of paper onto the vampire's forehead, making him stop completely.
"Usagi, now's not the time to be afraid, for all we know, this could be the vampire that got Minako." Said Rei.
"You're right." Said Usagi, her voice now filled with determination. She reaches for her Pen, as does Rei.
"Moon/Mars Power Make Up!" Yelled both Usagi and Rei in unison. In a stunning display of light and fire, their clothes begin to change, and symbols appear on their foreheads, soon covered with tiaras. Their average clothes are replaced with white sailor uniforms, with a blue and red skirt respectively.
The rectangular paper proceeds to combust itself on the vampire deli owners forehead. He finds himself able to move, and immediately slaps his forehead in pain. "GYAH! What was that? Huh?"
"Vile creature of darkness, you will pay dearly for what you did to our friend. Standing before you are two warriors of justice." Said Usagi, in her transformed state.
"Yes, with holy fire, I will see to it that you will pay for your crimes. I am Sailor Mars!" Yelled Rei, now going by her senshi title.
"And I am Sailor Moon, in the name of the moon, you will be punished!" Said Sailor Moon.
"GR! So...you two are just full of surprises huh? And what do you expect to do with me wearing uniforms as tacky like that?"
"This! HAH!" Yelled Rei, releasing a stream of fire towards the vampire deli owner.
"OH CRAP!" Yelled the vampire deli owner in surprise.
Meanwhile, back outside, Ami, Makoto, Luna and Artemis are still waiting.
"I wonder what's taking them so long." Said Makoto.
Almost immediately, the front of the deli shop proceeds to go up in a fiery explosion.
BOOM!
"What the!?" Asked Makoto.
"Let's hurry!" Said Luna.
"Right." Ami proceeds to say, all of them rushing towards the scene.
Back at the front of the deli, the vampire deli owner is seen struggling to put the flames out on his shirt. He proceeds to rip it to shreds, and throws the fiery remains on the ground. Sailor Moon and Mars immediately coming out.
"What are you two doing!?" Asked Artemis.
"Don't be fooled, this person is a vampire!" Said Sailor Mars. "Transform, quick!"
"Uh, alright. Mercury Power Make Up!" Yelled Ami, taking out her transformation pen.
"Jupiter Power Make Up!" Yelled Makoto.
Soon, the two young girls proceed to go through a process similar to the ones Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars did while transforming. Makoto proceeds to have bolts of lightning flare out as she transforms, as mist and bubbles form around Ami. After a few more seconds, the two are in their Senshi attire.
"Warrior of lightning and punisher of evil, I am Sailor Jupiter!" Yelled Makoto, donning her Senshi identity.
"And I am Sailor Mercury!" Yelled Ami, now in her Senshi form.
"What? There are more of you? How annoying!" Said the vampire deli owner.
"You monster, you're gonna pay for what you did to our friend Minako!" Said Sailor Jupiter.
"Who? I don't know who you idiots are talking about. For all you know, that could have been any vampire running around the city!" Said the vampire deli owner.
"Any vampire...You mean there's more of them!?" Asked Sailor Moon.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Idiots. There are more than you can imagine, and even now as we speak, they're all hunting down you pathetic humans like wolves." Said the vampire deli owner. "We're taking over the city, and then spreading out to the next area, until the entire world is filled with our ranks!"
"Good luck, because we're not about to let that happen!" Said Sailor Moon.
"Heh heh heh, you think the four of you can stand up to all of us? You're crazy!" Said the vampire deli owner. He picks up his large butcher knife, which proceeds to glow blue. "Besides, you're not even powerful enough to defeat a minor spawn like me!"
The vampire proceeds to slash the knife twice, creating an x shaped shockwave slash. The attack moves towards Moon and Mars respectively, who dodge out of the way of the attack.
"I think I'll cook the two of you!" Said the vampire deli owner, who proceeds to shoot a fireball out of his mouth towards Sailor Jupiter and Mercury. Both senshi jump out of the way, Artemis and Luna barely getting out of there themselves as part of the road goes up in an explosion.
"Wait, we don't want to hurt you!" Said Sailor Moon.
"Well, that's a shame, because the only way I'm getting fed is by dining on all your sweet, sweet blood!" Said the vampire deli owner.
"This confrontation doesn't have to end in violence, I can feel that you're suffering. Please, let me help you." Said Sailor Moon.
"Suffering? Help? Ha! Is that what you think is going on with me? Man you're dumb." Said the vampire deli owner.
"Huh?" Asked Sailor Moon.
"Fool, do you think I'm this way against my own will? I became a vampire on my own volition! I want nothing to do with the human race! All of you deserve to die!" Said the vampire deli owner.
"How could you say that?" Asked Sailor Moon.
"Don't ask stupid questions! HAH!" Yelled the vampire deli owner. He lifts up one of his hands, and his claws glow blue. He proceeds to swipe the hand through the air, creating more sonic slashes which begin to lock in on all the Senshi.
"Look out you guys!" Yelled Artemis.
The four senshi try their best to dodge the sonic slashes, however, Usagi manages to get cut by one of them, and yelps in pain. She checks her arm and sees that it's bleeding.
"Sailor Moon!" Sailor Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury all yell out.
"HISS" Hissed the vampire deli owner. "TIME TO EAT!" The vampire proceeds to make his way towards her, only to feel a sharp pain across his hand. "GYAH!"
"Huh?" Asked Sailor Moon, she proceeds to look up, and sees a young looking man, wearing a top hat, a white face mask, a black suit and cape. "Tuxedo Kamen!"
"What!?" Asked the vampire deli owner.
"Sailor Moon, use the Silver Crystal, quickly!" Said the man, titled Tuxedo Kamen.
"Silver what now?" Asked the vampire deli owner.
"But...Tuxedo Kamen, if I use it, he'll be in immense pain!" Said Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Moon, this man voluntarily gave up his humanity, there is no reasoning with a monster as vile as this." Said Tuxedo Kamen. "If you let it go, it'll make shop somewhere else, and carve up more innocent people to satisfy it's own bloodlust."
"How do you...? GR! DIE!" Yelled the vampire deli owner. It proceeds to use it's knife to attack again, slicing the streetlight Tuxedo Kamen is standing on in half.
Tuxedo Kamen proceeds to jump out of harms way, as the streetlight crashes to the ground.
"Alright. Creature of darkness, it's time for you to pay for your crimes!" Said Sailor Moon. She lifts up the holder containing the Silver Crystal within, and opens it, it's shining light piercing through the dark street.
The vampire deli owner begins to feel a strong burning sensation across his entire body, as the entire backside bursts into holy fire.
"GYAAAH!" Yelled the vampire deli owner in agony.
Suddenly, Sailor Moon proceeds to get a mental image of what this man was like before becoming a vampire. As it turns out, the man had a similar shtick going for him beforehand, having a meat shop whom he would sell to customers. The image proceeds to show how cruel of a man he was, showing that he'd lure women to the back and murder them in cold blood.
"Y-you really are a monster!" Said Sailor Moon. "Suffer for the crimes you've committed!"
The Silver Crystal shines with holy light, as if passing judgement on the vampire deli owner. Soon the whole vampire's body bursts into flames, screaming in anguish as his flesh and bones are reduced to mere ash.
"Nice work Sailor Moon, you got the vampire!" Said Sailor Jupiter.
"Yeah...but it wasn't the one that got Minako though." Said Sailor Moon.
"What? Asked Sailor Mercury.
"How do you know?" Asked Sailor Mars.
"Call it a gut feeling." Said Sailor Moon. "Sigh, I think we've done all we could for tonight, let's pick this up again tomorrow."
"Agreed, it is getting pretty late." Said Sailor Mars. "Although, we should probably check and see how Minako's doing before retiring."
"Right, come on, let's go!" Said Sailor Moon.
The 4 senshi proceed to start making their way back to Minako's house, the street having not to worry about one more monster roaming the streets.
Comments: Now, I know what you're thinking. "Destroying the vampire was a bit harsh, don't you think, seems a bit out of character for Usagi." And, you're totally right. However, it's not Usagi whose passing judgement on the vampires, but the Silver Crystal itself is acting as judge jury and executioner in this case. It's probably not a thing that's gonna come up much, but I thought I'd just clarify just to be safe. But yeah, it seems that plot moves ever so slowly. The senshi defeated a vampire serial killer, and it seems Minako is finding out more about the drawbacks of being a vampire. Will she succumb to temptation, or be able to resist it? Who knows, we're gonna have to read the next chapter in order to find out. Thank you guys so much for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave your comments and reviews, as I love to hear you guys feedback, and as always, I will see you next chapter.