((I apologize ahead of time if this isn't as good as my work so far. I felt like I was in a bit of a slump this week and I'm worried my writing suffered because of it. Hopefully this reads better for all of you than it looks to me. In any case, I promise next chapter will have more heart and effort into it!))

Chapter 9

"Hey! Mamo-chan, there they are!" Usagi pointed then waved at Katsuro and Minako who were walking up to the entrance of the amusement park where Usagi and Mamoru stood under the arch. Mamoru wore a white dress shirt and red tie, black pants and shoes just like he usually did. Usagi wore a pink sundress with white edging at the bottom, and some flip flops with a flower on the strap between her first two toes on each foot.

"Wow, look at you two. Looking good." She winked, nudging Minako slightly.

"Well, she ALWAYS looks amazing. Me however, eh, I'm adequate at best." Katsuro gave a shrug with his arms out jokingly then turned to Mamoru. "You must be Mamoru, Usagi's boyfriend. Well, of course you are. Unless you're his stunt double filling in just in case things go south. Which might I add is a very smart and legitimate plan." He further joked, as the two shook hands.

Mamoru couldn't help but chuckle slightly; Usagi was right, these two were definitely made for each other. "You got jokes there, don't you? Yes, I'm Mamoru Chiba."
"Katsuro Takahashi. Nice meeting you." He gave a friendly smile as they were interrupted by Usagi and Minako clinging onto them.

"Come on Mamo! Let's get in and start playing some games or getting on rides!" She began to hold his arm with both hands, dragging him in.

"Yeah, come on Katsuro! Let's get to it!" Minako began to pull him in as well.

"Woah, easy Usako, we have all day. Plenty of time, we don't have to rush." Mamoru nervously laughed. "I'm assuming you already know how excited these two get by now don't you?"

"Oh, most definitely, but it does keep things interesting and fun, I gotta admit that." He laughed as the two walked behind the girls now, not being dragged anymore. The two blondes had actually walked ahead just a little so the two guys could get acquainted a little and talk.

"So, how did you two meet?" Katsuro asked; however, he knew at least part of that question thanks to Minako filling him in. At least about the past lives part, but not much about their current lives.

"Well, it was quite a random chance meeting I guess you could say. I was actually walking behind her when she crumbled up her bad test score and threw it back. It smacked me on the face, I teased her about her test score." He laughed, though there was MJCH more to the story. "Its strange, we locked eyes for a few seconds and just felt something you know. From there we would randomly run into each other, I'd tease her, she'd get frustrated. Next thing you know, here we are." He scratched the back of his head. Yeah, that was about all he could really say on the matter, excluding all the other insanity.

"Sounds like a regular rom com to me. That's the kind of things movies are made of." His hands locked behind his head as he looked up. "I guess you can say I met her and Minako the same way. We were all late for class and ended up crashing in the hallway." He laughed. "She is special though, and I understand what you mean by just feeling something. I just feel a whole new level of comfortable with her, like I can just freely be myself." He glanced over to the dark-haired man.

"Well, I certainly hope you stay involved in her life. I don't think I've seen her so happy like this before. Most high school guys are kind of trash as you probably know. And from what I hear, you do get along well with the group, which is VERY rare. Just don't screw it up." He warned, being serious for a few seconds then back to more carefree.

"Oh, trust me, I will give her my everything. No matter what, nothing but my best will suit her." He looked forward to the blondes who were ecstatically talking and making hand gestures at different rides. "Hey! Are we just going to sight see, or are we jumping in a line to rock this shit?" He asked as the two looked back.

"Fine, Ferris wheel!"

"Tunnel of love!"

The two girls yelled at the same time then glared at each other.

"The Ferris wheel will be so romantic! We can ride up together and stop to see a view of everything from above while close and being embraced by our men." Usagi clasped her hands together then held onto Mamoru.

"No! The tunnel of love! What's more romantic than sitting close, holding each other as you calmly drift along the water with a perfect lighting setting the mood as you kiss one another?" Minako did the same.

"I got this, how about we flip for it. Then whichever one doesn't' win, we go do that next?" Katsuro suggested.

"I think that's a good idea. I'm not sure how we came to decisions before you came around." He joked, chuckling.\

"FINE!" Both girls yelled, clenching fists and completely looking at the coin in Katsuro's hand.

"Alright, heads, Ferris wheel, tails, the tunnel. Annnnnnd GO!" He flipped it then caught the coin, slapping it onto the back of his hand. "Its tails. To the tunnel!"

"Alriiiiight. I guess we have to let the new couple shine just a bit." Usagi stuck her tongue out, holding onto Mamoru as the four walked to through the line and to the swan like boat. Mamoru and Usagi in the front seats, and Minako and Katsuro in the back seats.

The group had been too busy being focused on winning or losing the ride picking that they didn't even realize they hopped in the wrong line. The tunnel of love was one line over; this was the haunted house ride. Usagi and Minako both were in a completely different mindset, their guards totally down, not expecting what was to come.

"It's so nice and quiet, the soothing feel of the boat on the water as we drift on. Doesn't it just make you feel…something?" She began to slowly lean towards him with her eyes closed to kiss him, only to be met with a screaming skeleton that dropped, hanging from the ceiling with flashing lights in the rib cage. "What the hell!? OH MY GOD! AAAAAAAAAH!" She screamed at the top of her lungs as she jumped back to her side of the boat, eyes wide open.

Katsuro too was caught off guard but didn't quite have the reaction she did. Instead, he punched the animatronic, only for it to swing forward then back at him, knocking him back into his seat.

"What happened are you two ok?!" Mamoru turned around to see the events unfolding. He was able to quickly put two and two together and realized they went into the wrong ride. "Oh man, we really got this one mixed up." He couldn't help but laugh, only to be met with a screech from Usagi.

"EEEEEEEEEEEK! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" She frantically kept screaming as a fuzzy fake spider dropped down and stuck into her hair. "NONONONONOOOOO!" Her hands began waving in the air before grabbing it finally, throwing it over the side of the boat. There were tears dropping from her eyes. "No fair! I wanted a romantic ride with my Mamoooooo!" She whined.

Suddenly everything on the ride went completely dark, the girls went screaming and even jumping around, avoiding strange things that kept brushing up against them or touching them. And when the lights came back on….

"Oh Mamo, my brave strong man, I know you'll keep me safe." Katsuro had somehow ended up in the front next to him, his arms around his left arm as he looked up at Mamoru with puppy dog eyes jokingly. The two burst out laughing as both girls glared on with jealousy.

"Hands off my Mamo!" Usagi stood up trying to grab Katsuro and drag him to the back, so she could switch places with him.

"Oh, tragic fate separating us! Fear not! I will one day find my way back to you!" And with that, he was flipped back into the back seat with Minako as she leaned over him.

"Ya done now?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Yeah, I think that's out of my system now." He laughed, sitting up as she helped him. Usagi turned around, sticking her tongue out at him. The boat stopped at the unloading area as the four stepped out. "Well, that was a tunnel of love to make the Adams family damn proud." He laughed.

"The Ferris wheel now!" Usagi began to drag Mamoru off.

"We kind of owe her that one now after that." He laughed nervously, Minako crossed her arms.

"Fine, but we're coming back and doing that properly next time." She pouted.

"Yes beautiful, anything you want." He held his arm up for her to hook around and hold as they walked in that direction.

Just before the Ferris wheel, there was an arcade with a brand-new attraction. "Oh wow! The new Sailor Guardians arcade game!" Usagi halted dead in her tracks to look at this large machine sitting in the window. "It's the first game they've released since the Sailor V arcade games!" She became intensely excited, Minako as well.

"Yeah! And it's the first one like it that's almost completely VR! You not only have the headset, but also gloves and boots where you can actually fight the monsters!" Minako's eyes lit up with stars in awe of the game.

"Sailor Guardian VR game?" Mamoru asked, walking up to it. "Oh cool, its even got Tuxedo Kamen, and you can fight as past villains?" His hand moved to his chin as he studied this new game.

Katsuro walked up to the window to read information on it. "It says here that along with their special attacks at your disposal, you get to use your own unique fighting styles. So, I suppose what that means in a nutshell is, spam special power beams and attacks while flailing around like a hyperactive toddler in hopes you nail something." He joked with a shrug. "At least they've gone with a solo VR machine in an arcade to try this out with instead of straight to game system. I can just see the lawsuits from cannon fodder standing nearby at home." Katsuro sighed.

"Sailor V was so popular that they kind of wanted to bring it back on a bigger scale. Then jump on the VR train and make it more interactive so you get the fun of Sailor Moon and the other Senshi now and something that gets you up and moving!" Minako stood back up from leaning towards the glass.

"Oooo! We have to try it! One pit stop before the Ferris wheel?" Usagi pleaded to Mamoru, tugging at his sleeve.

"Sure, lets give it a shot. It definitely sounds interesting. I'd like to see how it operates." With that, Usagi led him inside, holding onto his hand.

Minako glanced over to Katsuro. "Now, no cheating and trying to learn all of my secret techniques and fighting style to get an advantage on me." She winked before walking in before him.

'Huh, guess it'll be kind of interesting seeing them fight in a since. Even if its only a video game.' He followed inside, seeing them loading on tokens already.

"Dibs on first! ME ME ME ME ME!" Usagi rushed to the game, throwing the tokens in, placing the headset on and slipping into the gloves and boots. The game booted up playing a theme song written specifically for this game.

Fighting evil by moonlight
Winning love by daylight
Never running from a real fight
She is the one named Sailor Moon

She will never turn her back on a friend
She is always there to defend
She is the one on whom we can depend
She is the one named Sailor...... Sailor Venus
... Sailor Mercury
... Sailor Mars
... Sailor JupiterSecret powers
All so new to her
She is the one named Sailor MoonFighting evil by moonlight
Winning love by daylight
With her Sailor Scouts to help fight
She is the one named Sailor Moon
She is the one named Sailor MoonShe is the one . . . Sailor Moon!

"Oh damn, that's actually really catchy. They should TOTALLY use that if they ever make a tv show." Katsuro stated watching how this system worked. Usagi was so focused on skipping most of the basics to get straight to the game play, but he was able to catch a few glimpses here and there of what he needed to do when it became his turn.

The game had included a foot soldiers/minions mechanic to make levels last longer and stretch out story more. From the outside, it viewed just like a side-scroller so onlookers could see the action as well, while from the players perspective, it was all first person. Stepping up and down moved your character forward, and you could step backwards or to the sides to backtrack or dodge.

"Woah! This is like the first monster I-She faced in the jewelry store Naru's mother owns!" She almost slipped up there. Just as Katsuro stated before, most of her fight plan was flailing like a toddler hoping she landed hits on the minions. "Alright! Time for Moon Tiara Magic!" She made the motion with her gloves as if grabbing the tiara. However, what she didn't plan for or think about was all the spinning around she does in real life to perform attacks. To fill you all in at home there, the equipment, while yes you can move somewhat freely around with; they are still attached with cables. Cables that can twist and even get tangled up and can cause you to…"Whaaat!? Hey! NO!" And with those cries, she became wrapped in cables then tripped, smashing to the ground with a thud onto her ass with the headset being jerked off. It then came right back down, smacking her on the head. "Yow!" She exclaimed, falling back down.

"And that, boys and girls, is why you read the warnings during the start up process." Katsuro shook his head. Mamoru rushed over to help her up and out of the equipment.

"I got so caught up in it, I sort of forgot my movements wouldn't exactly be the same." She quietly said into his ear before chuckling, slightly embarrassed.

"Well, I think you did amazingly Usako." He kissed her forehead then helped her up. "Next victim!" He joked.

Katsuro began to approach before Minako placed her hand onto his chest. "Not so fast tough guy. Let Minako Aino show you how to fight like a Sailor Guardian." She winked, placing everything on and strapping in properly. There were options on character select that they had not seen before where you could pick alternate appearances and outfits. "I'm gonna have to go with classic Venus, or Sailor V."

'Sure, I saw them show up and briefly fight, but this is kind of cool seeing her skills.' She made it to the final boss that Usagi failed on, jumping around to dodge attacks before blasting the boss straight through the chest with a Crescent Beam, beating Chapter 1, Level 1. "Damn! Impressive!"

For Usagi, this was definitely a blast from the past. It was kind of cool seeing foes they beat before Minako joined them, beaten by her. Who would have guessed something like this would have been created after all their fights. Minako was doing really well. Then again, these creatures were from their earlier less experienced days. Though, being a video game and not real life did prove to still come with a difficulty level. And special circumstances.

She had to choose which of the Four Heavenly Knights to play through their level and fight their monsters, she of course chose Kunzite, for nostalgia really…

He could tell the difficulty for this specific boss was high, he looked up things about the game on his phone. This was supposed to be unlocked at a later level, but this version of the game comes with the option to choose which point to play and go through from. The youma she was put up against in particular proved to be a decently high difficulty level. Oniwabandana was the creature's name.

This ninja youma's abilities were creating multiple clones and fighting with the bandana on its head, stretching it to wrap around and grab its opponent. It multiplied into five, each using the bandanas to wrap around Minako's individual arms, legs and around her neck. "I can't get out of this hold! Oh no! What do I do?!" She started frantically looking through items and ability list, but it was too late. GAME OVER. "What a bummer…" She actually sounded genuinely disappointed at that.

"You did awesome! That was some of the heavier difficulty stuff! I lost on the first level." She knocked the top of her head gently with a closed fist, sticking her tongue out.

"I'd say, you're just as skilled as Venus herself." Mamoru stated jokingly.

"Well, it was only my first time touching it and learning the controls. Next time I totally got it!"

Katsuro stepped up to the game. "Alright, I've been watching, I think I've got the gist of this now." He cracked his neck back and forth, then his fingers, strapping into the equipment. "You guys do know you've been skipping a character creation option, right? Yeah, apparently you can do that and even get a card created where all your progress and character can be saved on. I remember an old Initial D game I used to play did that, and you could save cars you got on it." He began creating a character with what this game offered.

"Alright, come on Katsuro! You can do this! At least you've got some experience from your awesome meeting with Sailor Mars that one time!" Usagi exclaimed. Oh, oh, if she only just knew…

"Yeah, go kick some ass! Let's see what you go. Show us your inner Sailor Guardian!" Minako cheered, punching the air.

'You'd think I was about to actually participate in some sort of sport with how excited they are.' The character he made almost looked like him, using stats from the headset and everything that sized him up and sort of scanned his facial features. "Hm, clothes. Let's see here…" He found an outfit that was a red T-shirt, a black sleeveless jean vest, black pants and black boots. "Throw on some of these cool fingerless studded gloves. Oh I get to choose one of them to use their attack set on my character. Lets go with…Mars. Fire power!" And with that he began going through the game.

"Interesting name he's using there. Phoenix Kamen. So definitely a theme with his character." Mamoru studied everything closely.

"Phoenix Kamen?" Usagi asked, glancing to Mamoru. 'That's really close to…Phoenix Knight. No, there's no way! We would know if he was him anyways, definitely' She thought to herself.

Minako watched closely as he fought through the levels. The minions were these clay golems like warriors with red eyes. He began raising his arms to block then delivered counter punches and even roundhouse kicks, sweep kicks then coming back up with an uppercut onto the next minion.

"The way he's moving, its almost like he's on some dancing arcade game. His transitions from blocks to strikes are…pretty smooth honestly." Mamoru was rather amused and even slightly impressed by his playing style. Definitely was not something he was expecting.

There was a group of minions before him, then the boss. "Mars! Burning Mandala!" He shouted, raising his hands to blast each minion one by one with fire balls. "Now! Before this thing can react!" The youma he was fighting was named Blizzar. "Mars Flame Sniper!" He went instantly to shooting the creature through the chest with the flaming arrow. With that, he saved progress and ended, having a card ejected with his character's appearance and name.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were secretly a Sailor Guardian yourself." Mamoru joked with a chuckle as Katsuro let out a nervous laugh himself.

"Oh yea? Something like that I suppose. I've just studied some martial arts in my life." 'That and have past memories of how I used to fight. Oh shit, is that cheating? Nah, just data from a previous save point right?' He thought to himself. "Well, how about that Ferris wheel now?" He took hold of Minako's hand.

"Yeah, lets go! A nice relaxing and romantic ride after that." Usagi agreed with pure joy as the four headed out.

'So these are the two Minako wanted to tell first about everything that's happened, my powers and everything. Its not exactly something I can bring up in just casual conversation. Oh yeah, by the way, BOOM! Transform and everything, no warning at all.' A heavy sigh left his lips.

"Hey, is there something on your mind?" Minako leaned forward a bit to meet his eyes. "You zoned out for a second there." She quietly spoke with him, knowing what he went through the past two days. "Hey, I'm here with you. We'll tell them together, and they'll accept you as a friend no matter what. I promise." She offered a smile, kissing his cheek.

"What're you two talking about back there?" Usagi looked over her shoulder to see the two.

"Oh, I was saying, we should all get a picture together once we get to the top. Especially since its mine and Minako's first date." 'Good save.'

"Oh definitely/" They made their way through the line then into one of the cars. Minako and Katsuro on the left side and Usagi and Mamoru on the right. The door was secured as the cabin slowly began to rise into the air. "Wow! You can see everything from city looks amazing from this view!" Usagi stood at the window, gazing out.

Minako walked to the other to see the park and the other side of the city. "You know, I can't remember a time I actually came here. Its been years since I've been on a Ferris wheel. Definitely the first time I've been with a guy." As she looked on, Katsuro placed his arms around her waist from behind, holding her close.

"Hey you two! Look over here!" Usagi had brought a camera with her just in case.

Minako leaned back into him, her hands resting down on his. She then smiled, placing one hand on the side of his cheek and leaning her head back to kiss into his lips. Usagi managed to take the picture just right to catch that with the city in the background and the sun reflecting on the river under the bridge. "Woooow. You two are so photogenic together. Our turn!" Usagi pulled Mamoru over to where she stood.

It took Katsuro a second or two to snap out of it. 'Damn, those kisses are…intoxicating…' "Um, I'll get your guys' picture." He took the camera and let them get into place. Usagi faced Mamoru, pulling him to her with his tie gently. Their lips met, his arms wrapped around her. She kept one hand on his tie to keep his lips against hers, and one hand lovingly through his hair at the back of his head. "Perfect, got it." He turned red watching them kiss. You could see the love they felt for each other.

"Thanks! Oh, it's amazing. The background is perfect, and you got such a clear shot. Now we have something to all remember our first double date. Hopefully many more to come?" She asked teasingly to Katsuro.

"Until the day I drive her absolutely bonkers and she can't stand me anymore." He gave a thumbs up. "Actually, there's something I need, and want to tell you two." He glanced to Minako as she gave a light nod. "So, I found out there's a whole other side of me, and actually, I-?!" He was cut off mid sentence with the sound of an explosion down below. The impact caused the Ferris wheel cars to rock back and forth. The four fumbled to the floor, falling on top of each other.

"What was that?!" Mamoru quickly got to his feet to scan around below and assess the situation.

'A demon attack now?' Katsuro shot to his feet then helped Minako up. 'Shit, from the looks of things, this damn thing is stuck in this position so there's no way down.' He began looking around the cabin, then looked below seeing a large cloud of smoke and debris from the explosion. He could only see small specs down below of the shadow warriors. There wasn't any sign though of a stronger creature.

Mamoru lifted Usagi to her feet. "This is bad. We're stuck up here, message the others. If we acted, then that would wrap Katsuro into the dangers of that life…" He whispered, she nodded in agreement, getting to her phone to text everyone.

There could be screams heard from down below of civilians running away and being attacked. Katsuro clenched his fists, he hadn't seen any combat yet, nor had a chance to prove himself in battle. This wasn't at all how he wanted to tell them. However, with things the way they were now, this kept them in a stalemate. None of them could transform or act to help the people below; it would also take longer for outside help to arrive at the park.

Minako's hand gently grasped his arm, her eyes gazed up into his. "You want to act, ]don't you?" She asked, which brought Mamoru and Usagi's attention to them.

"What do you mean, act? What are you thinking of doing?!" Usagi's voice full of worry for her friend, not knowing what he was planning or what he COULD plan.

"Hey, I know its hard to watch…but against things like that, we would just get hurt. Or worse." Mamoru was serious. He didn't know him, but he couldn't just let him charge into danger like that. "Think of Minako. She needs you here. Let's just calm down and sit."

Katsuro tensed up, hearing the screams and yells down below. His mind raced through different thoughts and possibilities. There had to be something he could do. No, there wasn't anything he could do, alone that is. Part of being a hero is working together. There was then an idea that bitch smacked him right upside the face. "I got it. Minako?" He asked, turning to his girlfriend.

"Whatever you need, just name it." She nodded, having a small idea of what he might be planning.

"I have an idea and I need your help. Mamoru, Usagi…what I was trying to say earlier; its easier to just show you than explain."

"Show us? Show us what?" Mamoru asked with concern.

"I promise I'll explain everything properly after this. But for right now, please stand back." Katsuro's demeanor had drastically changed to being series and even angered at the lives being put in danger down below. They moved back away from him as he requested, watching him reach into his jacket. He pulled out the phoenix shaped jewel, gripping it tightly. With a flash of light, the transformation belt appeared around his waist.

"Wait, Katsuro! It is you, isn't it? You're…him/" Usagi asked, her hand over her heart, lightly clenching. "This is why you became so sick that day isn't it?" Everything was suddenly adding up. Usagi may act like a clutz or spaz sometimes and seem oblivious to everything, but she wasn't completely clueless.

He took a deep breath, his eyes closed, clenching the jewel. "Henshin!" He called out, sliding the jewel into place then spinning it, flame energy emitting from the belt, swirling around to make a small dome of fire energy around him. Pieces of armor broke through the door to create an exit, swirling around the ball of power surrounding him. With the slash of his sword, the transformation energy and barrier were dispersed. He now stood there in crimson red armor, glowing sapphire eyes, his blade tightly gripped in his hand.

Mamoru was seeing this for the first time, however deep down, he knew there was some new guardian awakening. Especially since it was a spirit of the Earth. He was in tune with the planet and most all its history. He had met his end with the others well before the gods chose warriors to represent them and protect the planet. Originally, he was to be a part of that in alliance with them and the Four Heavenly Knights.

"Mamoru, Usagi, let me re introduce you to my boyfriend. Katsuro Takahashi, the Phoenix Knight." She winked.

"Minako, there's no time for all of that right now. I need you to transform. I have an idea. Believe it or not, that video game gave it to me. You have an attack called Venus Love Me Chain right? I need you to use that to lower me down to one of the cabins below us. From there I'll make my way down to the fight." He explained as she nodded, grabbing her transformation brooch..

"Venus Crystal Power! Make Up!" She quickly transformed then prepared to work with Katsuro to put his plan into action. "Venus Love Me Chain!" The energy chain extended out of the cabin, hanging down below. She wrapped it around the center column pole to anchor the end. "All ready on my end, good luck!" She smirked to Katsuro as he took hold of the chain, slowly lowering himself out.

"Thanks, I'll see you guys soon." With that he started to repel down to a cabin down below. Once there he began to jump down from roof to roof till he was safely on the ground. "Its not quite the most flashy or best way to make a debut. Especially in front of friends. A little underwhelming actually. Man this sucks. Oh I am ripping this assholes spine out and strangling the bastard with it for ruining this!" With that he began to run off to the group of skeletal samurai warriors attacking people.

"Hey boneheads! Your fight is with me now!" He yelled, skidding to a halt before the creatures. This was it, his first official fight. It was time to show the world and the ones he cared about what he was made of!