Sailor Moon The Complete Rewrite: The Dark Kingdom

by starmariofan4

Usagi Tsukino was just a normal 14-year-old girl until she saved a black cat with a crescent moon bald spot which leads her on a magical adventure to defeat an enemy from the distant past before they destroy the Earth as the superheroine and guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Along the way, she meets new allies, foes, and a masked man who could be either one.

4. Episode 4

"Where am I?" Usagi asked, finding herself lying in a beautiful sea of fluffy clouds with a glowing crescent moon of white overhead in a sky made of indigos and blues. Sitting upright to get a better look at her surroundings but found she could see very little else except what was directly in front of her as the rest was hidden by a thick blanket of silvery fog.

Pulling herself up from her comfortable cloud, she began to walk through the fog, wondering how far she would have to go before she came upon anything other than clouds and mist. It was very strange. After walking around for a few more minutes, Usagi paused. No matter where she went it still felt like she was walking into nothing.

Looking up to see what was above her she saw the moon was still visible and seemed to glow brighter than when she first woke up. Usagi continued to stare at the moon and felt strangely comforted by the white light that fell on her cheeks.

Bathing for a few minutes in the pure light, Usagi saw a piece of moonlight break off and fall towards her feet. Charmed and confused by the speck of light, Usagi reached down to touch it but it escaped her grasp and flew through the mist, carving a path to an intricately-designed, white marble-like bridge that led somewhere just out of sight.

Curiosity filled her, she walked onto the smooth surface looking around her, she tried to see where she was heading. To her surprise, saw that it led to a dark shadow of...something. Pausing for a moment to squint to get a better view of what was ahead, Usagi shrugged it off, before continuing to the end of the bridge where she found beautiful field of crimson roses surrounding a gazebo made of the same material decorated with moons where a figure stood with their back to Usagi which shocked the secret superheroine who thought she was all alone in this strange world.

"H-Hello?" Usagi said, walking towards the gazebo. The person who turned around Usagi let out a gasp of shock because the person wasn't just anyone. It was Tuxedo Mask! "How are you here?" Usagi asked, nervous as the masked man stared back at her with that wicked but charming smirk, the kind that made Usagi go weak around the knees, as he walked closer to Usagi causing her to blush crimson.

Coming to a stop, inches from her face, Tuxedo Mask said, "Well, this is a dream." Tuxedo Mask summoned a thornless rose and placed it behind Usagi's bun. "Anything can happen in those," he finished as Usagi felt her heart pound against her chest as his face drew closer, his gloved hand wrapping under her chin pulling her lips closer to his, causing her to gulp as she closed her eyes waiting for the moment when-

"USAGI!" a shrill voice screeched, forcing Usagi out of her perfect dream with Tuxedo Mask to find that she was seconds from kissing LUNA of all people.

"...AHHH!" Usagi cried out in fright as Luna fell from her grip and landed on her bed with the angriest scowl on her face, showing her claws. Usagi backed away as far as she could on her comfy bed from the irate cat as she threw her hands up in front of her. "S-sorry, Luna!" Usagi cried out as Luna jumped onto her bent knees, shoving her face into the teenager's. "I-I was just...having the most amazing dream ever," her face changed from one of fear that Luna ignited within her to a lovestruck smile and bright eyes as she remembered her dream. "It was SO romantic! There were roses, a gazebo, and Tuxedo Mask!" Usagi cried out in joy as she grabbed her pillow from under her and held it tightly to her chest as she giggled in love and happiness.

Luna watched all of this with an expression that went from anger to shock to fear. In the little time Luna had come to know Usagi, she had found the girl to allow her emotions to over take her whether it was fear or glee which could prove deadly in battle. Then there was Tuxedo Mask that Usagi seemed to have an infatuation for, however the black cat didn't think this was wise though she didn't even know why. Something about him just rubbed her the wrong way. "Usagi," Luna sternly said to the squealing girl who was now kicking her legs, as Luna desperately tried to hang onto her swinging knees. "USAGI!" Luna said again before being thrown to the floor and onto her back. Usagi paused her declarations of love for Tuxedo Mask to look at Luna who she hurt for the second time today.

"Sorry, Luna," Usagi said again as Luna flipped onto her right side before turning back to glare at Usagi.

"Usagi," Luna said, jumping back onto the bed and sat down next to her, now well aware of the dangers that come with sitting on Usagi's knees. "I've been wondering about Tuxedo Mask."

"You think he's awesome too, right!?" Usagi cried out in Luna's face with a large, ear-to-ear grin on her face.

"Well," Luna paused, sighing at the wide-eyed expression of the secret senshi. "Not exactly," she finally said, which earned a confused frown replacing Usagi's bright smile.

"What do you mean Luna?" Usagi asked, worry written in her eyes at her feline companion as she leaned over her bed.

"I mean, don't you find him the least bit untrustworthy?" Luna said looking back at her charge who was staring wide-eyed at her. "I mean he just pops out of nowhere, manages to disarm an enemy with a rose, and somehow warded off that dark general just by threatening him," Luna continued staring at Usagi, pleading with her eyes to understand.

"Yeah, isn't it awesome!? He's like a knight in a tuxedo or the star of my favorite manga!" Usagi said holding up a manga with the cover reading Mysterious 2098 Face. "He's just perfect! When I see him, I know we'll fall in love eventually," she cried, falling onto her bed clutching her manga close to her chest, loudly squealing.

Luna facepalmed at the girl's reaction. "Usagi," the cat said sternly, catching Usagi's attention. "I think Tuxedo Mask may be involved with our enemy's plans." Usagi blinked for a moment, almost looking like she couldn't register the words that Luna spoke followed by shock written her eyes as Luna sighed, pity enveloping her as she said, "I know you must feel sa-" that was interrupted by Usagi's fits of laughter that led her to roll on the floor next to Luna in the fetal position still laughing her head off. For said cat, pity turned to anger as she scratched Usagi across the face causing the girl to yelp in pain, but the black cat couldn't find herself caring. "USAGI! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING!?"

"Yeah. Yeah!" Usagi managed as she rubbed her sore cheek. "But I mean Tuxedo Mask doesn't seem evil at all. I mean he helps me out and he's saved my life three times already."

"How do you know he's sincere though?" Luna asked the secret Sailor Senshi. "He could just be trying to take advantage of your trust."

"Or he could be sincere and just likes helping people!" Usagi defended.

Luna sighed. She was getting nowhere talking to Usagi, was she? "Just be careful," she finished when a loud knock came to Usagi's door.

"Usagi-baka!" came the annoying voice of Usagi's younger brother, Tsukino Shingo. "It's almost noon! Are you going to get up eventually or are you just going to continue lazing around like you always do?"

"Shut up, Shingo!" the 14-year-old yelled back as laughing came from behind the door. "SHINGO!" Usagi screamed before remembering what he said about it being almost 12, which caused her annoyance to turn to fright over her moon-themed wall clock that showed it was now 11:45 in the morning.

"OH NO! I'M LATE!" Usagi cried as she tried to stand up only to trip over the mess of blankets that had fallen onto the floor, but somehow managed to make it to her closet and began to throw aside outfit after outfit with some ending up pelting a very confused Luna in the face until she found the perfect white blouse and pink pullover dress.

"Oh, are you late for class again?" Luna asked as she averted her eyes as Usagi changed into her outfit.

"No way. It's Sunday, so that means I'm free from school and all its evils," Usagi said with glee in her voice as she finished dressing.

"Then what's the rush?" Luna thought out loud as Usagi raced past her to grab a cute purse shaped like a bunny.

"It's almost the start of Motoki onii-san's shift at the Crown to start!" Usagi replied with a big smile as she danced around her room with the biggest smile on her face.

"And that matters because..." Luna said with genuine confusion since from as far as she's seen in the little time, she and Usagi had been coexisting, she's done nothing but go to the Crown (or some other sort of messing around) when she could've been training or working towards their goals.

"If I don't make it on time, some other girl will come and try to steal him away from me!" Usagi said with desperation, clutching her face in horror. "Just imagine

Luna's face turned from confusion to shock then back to confusion before glaring at Usagi and saying, "I thought you were in love with Tuxedo Mask and that's why you won't give a thought to him being evil?"

"Well...A girl's got to have her options?" Usagi said with an unsure voice and her eyes ducking away from Luna's stare before her own landing on her clock causing her to cry out in fear. "I'm going to be late!" the fourteen-year-old echoed out as she raced out the door, tripping on the way as usual as Luna facepalmed.

---

"Motoki onii-san!" Usagi called out as she raced inside, waving as she did so.

"Oh, Tsukino-chan!" Motoki said back as he finished cleaning the counter which Usagi immediately flung herself to, frightening the college student in the process. Quickly, he wiped off his expression of fear and terror as he turned towards the milkshake machine behind him. "One of our famed double chocolate milkshakes like usual?" he asked in his usually friendly tone that made Usagi give a wide smile. There was no way that Motoki couldn't be in love with her. I mean what cashier really remembers a random customer's order. Well, um...okay she has come in here since she was 10 with Naru-chan and saw her most days of the week and often on days off but still! Motoki had to remember her, if he remembered her favorite drink so perfectly. It was absolutely meant to be!

"Oh, Motoki onii-san! You know me so well," Usagi said, putting her head on the palms of her hands with what she hoped would be a sweet but flirty smile on her face.

"...Let me go and grab you that milkshake," Motoki said with a smile that faltered a bit as he turned on the machine to make a perfectly thick shake topped with whip cream and a cherry in a soda glass.

"Thank you, Motoki onii-san!" Usagi said, beaming a smile at the cashier as she took a long sip of her ice-cold, sugary sweet treat. Now, of course it was delicious they always were but to Usagi it always felt like Motoki made them especially for her.

Motoki looked back at her and grinned. "You're welcome, Usagi-chan but be careful, you don't want to get a-"

"AH! BRAIN FREEZE!" Usagi cried out in anguish, sending the milkshake she had once held in her hand flying through the air of the arcade before landing with a crash.

"Yeowch!" Usagi heard behind her causing her to swirl around and witness quite the sight. There was someone, male she thought from his muscular physique, wearing from head to waist her chocolate milkshake that was still managing to drip down from his face that was absolutely covered in chocolate ice cream and milk, as he visibly shivered from the cold desert drink. For a moment all Usagi and Motoki stared at the poor man who was in such a state of obvious shock, that he was unable to process what even had occurred.

Usagi and Motoki glanced between them, also unsure of how they were supposed to approach the situation, until Usagi cried out, "MY MILKSHAKE!" which earned a glance of wonder and worry from Motoki and the feeling of a glare on her.

"I'm great too by the way," a familiar voice said in an annoyed tone. A familiar, obnoxious, condescending, rude voice.

No. No it couldn't be. This was some sort of cosmic trick against Usagi to make her start questioning her mind or something. There was no way HE could be here! No way, not one! Comforted in this though, she turned around behind her and she froze as the man started wiping off the chocolate from his anger-induced red face and glasses to reveal, as if to make the universe laugh at her, the jerk with the black hair and now, as she had come to see, a pair of bright blue eyes that were of a slightly darker shade than her own cornflower blue eyes.

"You're that jerk from before!" Usagi pointed out while pointing at the ice cream covered man who glared back.

"You're that Odango Atama who enjoys attacking me," he said back in an angry voice that wasn't screaming but one of those tranquil fury tones that neither raise and octave but overall get their point across which to Usagi was to make this jerk seem like more of jerk.

"Not my fault you always happen to be where I am!" Usagi cried back indignantly. How dare he blame her?! "And why are you always so rude to me all the time!"

"Well, I tend to not be too kind to Odango Atamas whose klutziness ended with my bodily harm," the sapphire-eyed man said with an eye twitching angrily.

Usagi huffed before saying, "Well...um..." Oh no how was she going to make a comeback?! "Shut up! I don't have to keep talking to you," Usagi said, turning her head away from the sapphire eyed man.

"Oh, nothing to say now, Odango?" he asked, as he began to lick up the chocolate milkshake on his hand. "Well, gotta say you at least have good taste in milkshakes."

"Hey! That's my milkshake!" Usagi cried out.

"And it's on my body," the jerk responded with that stupid smirk he loved to put on.

"Why you-!" Usagi started to scream out.

"Usagi, how about another milkshake?" Motoki asked, holding out a freshly made chocolate milkshake that was nearly identical to the one that the jerkface in front of her was so rudely wearing and then mocking her for it. And yes, that is definitely what he did.

Usagi grew a big, wide smile as she happily took the remake of her delicious and sadly lost milkshake before turning to Motoki with the biggest smile she hoped he would find attractive. "Thank you, Motoki onii-san!" she said with extra cheer in her voice until she heard the jerk before pretending to gag which made her glare at him.

"And why don't you head home to clean up?" Motoki said, turning his attention to the black-haired jerk who was still licking up the chocolate milkshake on his body.

"What about the mess?" he said with a questioning look.

"Don't worry about it. I'll get it," Motoki said, giving his typical smile. "Besides, you're creating a bigger mess," he continued, pointing at the puddle of chocolate growing at his feet.

"Alright, Furahata-senpai," he said, handing Motoki the milkshake covered mop Usagi just noticed had been in his grip this whole time, before walking away leaving chocolate footsteps and drops in his wake.

Usagi smiled seeing his retreating form and gave a wicked little smile before looking over at the door with 'Employees Only' that Motoki had ducked into with the chocolate covered map. With that jerk finally gone, she could get back to trying to convince Motoki to fall in love with her and possibly marry her in the future. Okay, maybe that was a little far off but still!

Usagi tried to straighten out her pigtails and fluff up her buns making them look attractive when Motoki finally came out with a spray bottle of cleaner and some towels before he proceeded to clean up the chocolate on the floor. "So, Motoki onii-chan, how have you been?"

"Well, I managed to hire some more help for the Crown," he said as he finished wiping up the puddles.

"Aw...Why didn't you ask me?" Usagi pouted, crossing her arms. Who would Motoki hire over her? Was it another girl!? Oh no! Nothing could possibly be worse than that because that would mean she would never have a chance if Motoki got a girl that was older and prettier than her!

"Well, you're 14 so it would be illegal," Motoki said with a joking smile. "And I used to know him when I was in high school so when he came in looking for a job, I was happy to oblige."

Well, that's good at least he was a he, so Motoki couldn't fall in love with him. "Oh, who is he?" Usagi asked.

"The guy you threw a milkshake on," Motoki said with a teasing smile, hoping to make her laugh but it did not. In fact it had quite the opposite effect. In fact it made Usagi open her mouth wide as she felt her entire existence come crashing down onto her, with the only thought in her mind being one word. How?

How did the biggest, rudest, meanest jerk in the world get a job from the kindest, sweetest man she had ever met? There should be some kind of law against it. Oh, this was absolutely horrible! Now, every time she goes to the Crown to see Motoki, she'll have to see the jerk as well and have him call her odango atama because he was a jerk! How was she ever going to survive this? WHY!? Nothing and she means nothing could be worse than this. She would take the hot, college girl over him! This was the worst thing to ever happen in her entire life!

"Usagi-chan?" Motoki asked, breaking her out of a terror-induced trance.

"How could you hire him!?" Usagi asked, grabbing Motoki's apron. "He is quite literally the worst person on the face of the planet!"

Motoki giggled as he gently took Usagi's hands off his apron, "Well, like I said I was doing him a favor, besides he's a good cleaner. Besides, Usagi, you were the one who spilled a milkshake on him."

"That was an accident!" Usagi protested. "He didn't have to be standing there in the first place."

"Usagi-chan..." Motoki scolded in a low tone which just radiated disappointment that it filled the teenager with regret.

"Well...I guess," Usagi said. "Doesn't mean he isn't a jerk."

"Well, I suppose I can't change your opinion of him. Just be sure to apologize to him when he comes back okay," Motoki said with one of his heart-melting smiles that made Usagi want to fall over and faint. However, when the words he said began to register in her mind, her smile turned to a groan before morphing into a devious smile. If Motoki onii-chan sees how sweet she is by apologizing to that massive jerk and then seeing what a massive jerk, he is when he inevitably rejects her leading her to life-long romance with Motoki onii-chan and that baka kicked out onto his butt. It's a full-proof plan with no holes at all!

"Okay, Motoki onii-chan. I'll make sure to do just that!" Usagi said with the biggest, brightest smile.

After devouring her milkshake in less than five minutes and paying, Usagi looked back at the arcade portion to see if anyone was playing the Sailor V game and to her delight the floor was nearly empty save a few stragglers that she could count on one hand playing some of the arcade games. Well, that was weird. It was Sunday so the arcade should be packed. Oh, well. More games for Usagi then.

With this in mind, she quickly flashed Motoki a flirty smile before running over to the completely vacant Sailor V video game and began to try and win the game and this time without interruption! Go Usagi!

"Darnit!" Usagi cried out for maybe the 47th time in a row. This level was impossible! That wasn't it. It was the stupid boss! Not only did Usagi have to save the civilians but she had to defeat the boss who was holding them captive and so far she's spent 1099.45 yen on this darn machine trying to save them and she failed yet again with the Game Over screen laughing at her.

Hitting her head against the machine, trying to think of some way to save the captives and beat the stupid boss, her thoughts were interrupted sounds of commotion from outside. Now usually this wouldn't have attracted her attention since this was the Azabu-Juban Shopping District so something was usually happening, but this. It sounded like...desperation.

Listening closer, she heard pushing and shoving and yells coming from across the street. What was going on? Was there a sale?! Maybe there was!

With this happy thought in her mind, Usagi pushed herself away from the video game and raced outside of the Crown where she saw not a sale but something rather strange. There was a large crowd desperately trying to push their way into a building with a sign that said Sweets and Things Bakery written in pink cursive on a white-painted sign decorated with cupcakes. A new bakery? Usagi thought, Where did that come from? As she pondered her thoughts, she looked up and saw a man with silver eyes trying to beckon even more people over with promises of sampling free treats and with that all those pesky thoughts vanished from Usagi's mind as she made her way over to the bakery the taste of chocolatey deliciousness already in her mouth. Well more chocolatey deliciousness thanks to the milkshake but there was never such a thing as too much chocolate.

Arriving she saw the customer, a pretty brunette, in front of her take one bite of what looked to be a small, cube-shaped strawberry shortcake before her eyes burst open with what seemed like joy to Usagi before she joined the rest of the crowd, trying to push her way inside. It was rather chaotic but a good sign that the treats were delicious.

"Hi!" the person behind the cute table with the white and pink tablecloth called out with a smile. "Here to try some treats?"

Usagi nodded and walked up to the man who appeared to be about Motoki's age at 18 wearing a pair of denim pants and a red hoodie that covered his blonde hair and shadowed his silver eyes. Strange. He seemed familiar. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

The man looked at it for a moment before laughing. "Sorry. Never seen you before," he said, wiping his eyes. "Anyway, would you like to try the last one?" he said pointing to the cute, little milk chocolate and strawberry cake cube with a bit of whip cream on top that sat alone on the fake gold tray before her. It looked absolutely delicious and Usagi could feel her mouthwatering at the sight of the cake with the smell entrancing her senses. If this was what they made on the daily, then no wonder they got so popular in such a short time.

"Oh sure. Thank you," Usagi said as grabbed one of the complimentary napkins and went for the chocolate and strawberry confection, raised it to her open lips that were just waiting to bite down on the sweet treat and let it's taste run down her throat when-

"Hello, Odango Atama," came a voice from behind her, right next to her ear.

"AHHHHH!" Usagi cried out, sending her chocolate treat flying and hitting the sidewalk turning from a cube to a pancake. Usagi could only stare as tears began to prick her eyes. What a waste! Her delicious treat wasn't in her stomach but now a stain on the sidewalk! Oh she could just break down and cry!

Only one person could be so evil, despicable, and cruel enough to do this to someone as pure and innocent as her. "Drop something?" And speak of the literal devil, Usagi whipped around to see that milkshake-less jerk in that stupid puke-green jacket and another black turtleneck.

"YOU JERK!" Usagi screamed at the top of her lungs right into his ear.

The jerk then viciously began to rub his ear before saying, "Gotta say bunhead, you got quite the pair of lungs on you."

"You made me drop my cake!" she said, grabbing his face and pointing it towards the flattened chocolate and strawberry sweet.

The jerk pulled away from Usagi's grasp before crossing his arms, "And that warrants giving me ear damage?"

"Why were you sneaking up on me anyway?" Usagi questioned standing on her tippy toes to try and match his height to appear intimidating.

It didn't seem to work on the dark-haired jerk as he just smirked and said, "Vengeance."

Usagi's pale face turned bright red from rage as she started to yell, "You must be the most inconsiderate, rudest, least likable person to ever stand on the planet Earth! Not only are you a jerk to innocent, gentle girls such as myself, you made me drop my dessert!"

"Well, to be fair I was only trying to spook you a bit as payback for the milkshake shower which took me twelve baths to get off by the way and made me miss my job, I didn't know I was putting an innocent chocolate cake at risk," he said.

"You still did!" Usagi said, turning around and pouting.

"And you still hit me with a milkshake, Odango Atama," he said.

"You...you...you," she said, trying to put together the words needed to tell off the jerk in front of her before she heard another voice from behind her.

"Excuse me," it was that vendor who attracted the attention of the two who looked over at him. "If you're going to continue arguing, could it not be in front of the store," he said. "I mean it doesn't look great to the customers."

"Oh sorry. He's a massive jerk," Usagi said, pointing at her verbal sparring partner.

This only made her sparring partner roll his eyes before looking directly at her, "Don't you have to go home soon?"

"What makes you think that?" Usagi asks.

"Because I assume you go to school and that means you have homework to do," he stated simply.

"And how do you know I didn't do it already?" Usagi smugly asked. Ha! Now what can he say to topple her superb argument.

"Well, did you?" he asked.

Usagi's cheeks quickly became the shade of a cherry from embarrassment. That jerk, he saw through her ingenious argument! Then again, it wasn't THAT much really. Just her math homework. And her science homework. And reading up on the Feudal Era for history class. There was also that English test she hadn't studied for yet...

"AHHHH! I GOTTA GET HOME!" she cried out so loud, shocking everyone present, even the mad, dessert-craving customers who briefly stopped their pushing and shoving to look at Usagi who was now racing home like a bat out of Hell before going back to their shoving, pushing, and even kicking for their treats.

However, this didn't stop the sapphire-eyed man from watching her retreating form before it disappeared and even then, his gaze lingering on the spot she had been.

"You know," he heard, taking his attention away from where the bunhead girl had been before looking at the vendor and his empty tray. "We're going to have a fresh batch coming out very soon if you want something but you better be quick about it," the vendor said gesturing to the mob inside the store, "our product gets sold out very quickly."

The sapphire-eyed man turned his gaze to the inside of the store before looking back at the vendor, suspicion evident in his eyes.

"No, but thank you for the offer," he said, starting to walk away but from the corner of his eyes, he kept watch of the new bakery.

Usagi was dragging her school bag behind her as she trudged her way towards the Azabu Juban Shopping District as she remembered how terrible today had been.

---

Despite managing to get her homework done for once, she ended up falling asleep at her desk which ended up giving her the worst crick in her neck she'd ever gotten and to top it off she got a massive headache that only worsened when she got to school where despite turning in her homework her teacher still decided to lecture her about falling asleep during the English test which she no doubt failed. Not to mention that neither Naru or Umino were at school so she ended up eating lunch all alone and then to top it off she had to stay an hour late after cleaning duty as a punishment!

Well, at least it was over, and she could head to the Crown and Luna wasn't around to badger her about her duties or her responsibilities...

"USAGI!" she heard behind her.

"AH!" Usagi cried before looking behind her to see Luna standing in the shadows of a nearby alley. Her fright soon turned to annoyance as she looked around to make sure no one saw her ducking into a dark and scary alley in the middle of the day.

Luckily, it seemed no one saw her which if she was being honest was a bit strange given that the district was usually hustling and bustling around this time and yet it was weirdly bare. Where was everyone?

"Usagi, are you listening?" Luna asked.

"Oh! Yeah! Sorry, Luna," Usagi said, bending on her knees so as not to touch the disgusting concrete.

"I know this might be a shot in the dark, but please tell me you've been at least trying to keep an eye out for the other senshi and the princess," Luna scolded.

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Come on, Luna," the teenager whined. "I already had a long day and the last thing I want to do is think about being Sailor Moon. Now can we please leave," Usagi continued. "This place gives me the creeps."

"Usagi," Luna sighed but nodded as the two left with Luna jumping onto Usagi's shoulder. "Have you at least seen anything odd or out of the usual?"

"Not real-" Usagi began before she head shoving and screaming up ahead. For most people hearing such sounds would cause them to retreat in the other direction out of fear for their own lives. Usagi was not like most people though. Kicking up her heels, Usagi sprinted with Luna clinging by her claws to Usagi's collar, desperately trying to hang on for dear life, to the source of the chaos.

No. Chaos was too kind a word for the sheer mayhem Usagi found coming from that new bakery. A line a mile long with people physically shoving each other to move out of their way, wrappers on the piling up on the ground, people who had already gotten their desserts trying to push their way back in line, it was an absolute madhouse inside the bakery itself, and others were trying to rip other people's treats out of their hands. Neither Luna or Usagi could barely comprehend what they were witnessing as they backed up a bit to stay out of the way of the insanity, looking between each other as they simultaneously wondered whether they should help or just take off. However, as Usagi scanned the crowd for an exit she saw a familiar looking green bow in red hair and big, eye-covering glasses among the crowd, fighting with each other over some sort of strawberry shortcake. Wait could that be-?

Usagi took off with Luna looking at her in shock and fear of what might happen as the former called, "Naru-chan! Umino!" she called as she tried to fight through the suffocating and angry crowd. She felt herself being pushed and shoved in the crowd as people fought for the treats in the bakery, ignoring her existence as Usagi tried to fight to get a better view of her arguing friends. "Naru-chan! Umino!" she called again trying to attract their attention, but it proved fruitless as she was thrown to the ground by one of the customers who didn't even take the time to check if she was okay. Rude.

Usagi fought to pull herself up and avoid being trampled on by the uncaring patrons before racing over to her friends where she nearly cried tears of relief when she saw them which quickly changed to shock as Naru had pushed Umino to the ground, wrestling over the strawberry shortcake that was now splattered on the floor.

"Naru-chan! Umino!" Usagi cried out, knowing there was no time to pause before racing over to try and tear Naru off, only to be hit in the face by her redheaded best friend's elbow. "Naru-chan!" Usagi called again trying to get attention, but her words didn't reach her.

However, she did say something, and it sounded to Usagi like, "More. More. More. More. More." More? What did that mean?

Before Usagi could wonder further she was pushed back by the desperate crowds away from her still arguing friend as she tried desperately to reach out and get back to them but between the crowds forcing her out and the yelling and fighting Usagi could only watch helplessly as her friends disappeared from her sight.

Eventually, Usagi landed with a thump on her rump on the sidewalk near the Crown just watching the insanity before her.

"Are you alright, Usagi?" Luna asked, jumping onto her lap to check for any external injuries which were luckily absent. However, the questions running through her head on the other hand were boiling in her mind. What was going on? Why were all these people fighting? Were the pastries at that bakery really that good to make her two best friends get into a fist fight? Most of all, why was she dealing with this!? "Usagi?" she whispered as she looked behind her. The Crown. She had to make sure Motoki onii-san and to a much lesser extent that black-haired baka were okay

"I'm heading into the Crown," Usagi said standing up before putting Luna on the sidewalk.

"Usagi? We can't just let this continue!" Luna said, gesturing to madness behind her. "You're trying to flirt at a time like this?! This could be the work of that Dark General!"

"I know," Usagi muttered looking down before back at the Crown and running up the steps, away from Luna.

"Usagi!" Luna called before sighing. That girl would never learn, would she? The talking feline looked behind her at the madness. The madness that didn't even realize they had a talking cat in their midst. "Well, if Usagi won't take this seriously, then it's up to me," Luna took off for the bakery ready to uncover what happened to cause all this.

Meanwhile, Usagi had burst into the Crown where she saw that jerkface whispering to Motoki onii-san.

"This can't go on..." she heard Motoki say which shocked her enough to listen in on their conversation by jumping into an empty booth which might've caught their attention since they looked over for a moment as Usagi crouched out of their line of sight.

Being as silent as she possibly could (which wasn't an easy task for the golden-haired girl), she waited for them to resume talking which after what felt like a few minutes, she heard their hushed whispers continue.

"...your dad?" she heard the annoying tones of her arch nemesis said.

"He's worried..." she heard Motoki continue. Motoki's dad's worried. Worried about what? And what can't go on? The screaming and shoving continued and she peeked towards the window to find her answer.

As she heard the mayhem from outside increase, her ears picked up a horrifying thought from Motoki who said with a sigh, "...close the Crown."

...Close the Crown?

Close the Crown!

"CLOSE THE CROWN!" Usagi cried, bursting up from her hiding spot attracting the two males' attention.

"Hello, Odango Atama," the jerk said. "Ever heard of the term 'private conversation'?" he continued crossing his arms

"I wasn't talking to you, baka," Usagi said, getting out of the booth as quickly as possible that she ended up nearly hitting the ground, walking over to the two by the counter. "I was talking to Motoki onii-san," she said once she made it and then turned her gaze from the sapphire-eyed man to the golden-haired one. "Motoki onii-san?" she said in as cute a voice as she could manage. "Is everything okay? Is the Crown really going to be shut down?"

Motoki looked down for a moment before trying to give a small, genuine smile, that just came across as kind of sad, at Usagi. "Don't worry about it, Tsukino-chan. Why don't we worry instead about what you'll be ordering?" Motoki said.

"A-are you sure, Motoki onii-san?" Usagi said.

"I'm sure. Now let me guess: double chocolate milkshake, cheeseburger, and a basket of fries?" Motoki asked with that sweet, charming smile that made Usagi nearly forget about the 'event' that was happening outside, just wanting to get lost in Motoki's wide smile. It was so sweet and wide and gentle and shouting. So much shouting. And anger. And threats. Oh, right, craziness outside.

"Sure, Motoki onii-san. Hey, do you know what's been happening at that bakery?" Usagi asked to take a seat at the counter and she saw a distinct change in Motoki as he stiffened slightly and his smile lowered a bit with his eyebrows which made Usagi feel guilty before Motoki gave a wide smile that seemed a bit fake if Usagi was being honest.

"Let me get you your order," Motoki said, avoiding the question before disappearing into the kitchen.

Usagi felt sad. Why didn't Motoki talk to her? What was going on? Why did Motoki look sad and even angry about the bakery? And did they really say the Crown would close?! These thoughts jumbled around her mind as she tried to sort through them but couldn't. Everything just didn't make sense. Usagi needed answers but Motoki wasn't giving them so...

She heard humming behind her that shocked her out of her state of questions and anxiety. Quickly looking behind her, she narrowed her eyes in a glare at seeing the humming coming from the jerk butt himself, who was mopping the floor. Usagi groaned at seeing him. Ugh. Seriously, why was he even working here? He seemed like such a boring person.

Turning back around, a thought struck her. He started working here so he might know something and since Motoki wasn't saying anything, he might. Ugh, but that would mean talking to him and possibly getting into an argument with him but then the questions would keep rolling around in her head...

Sacrifices must be made.

"Hey!" she called, turning around to face him which caught his attention, and he paused his mopping.

"Yes, Odango Atama?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What's going on with well...everything!?" Usagi cried out, hopping off her stool and marching over to him before crossing her arms and staring into his sapphire eyes that were questioning her.

"Everything?" he said with that stupid amused smirk. "Well, I guess in that case according to the Big Bang Theory, the matter that are universe is made out of was created due to an explosion billions of years ago-"

"Not that everything!" Usagi yelled, interrupting his speech. "That everything!" Usagi cried, grabbing his head, turning it to the side, and pointing out at the terror unfolding that continued outside.

The jerk's face turned from one of amusement and teasing to one of shock, then anger, then, to Usagi at least, sadness. He turned back to her to stare into her own cornflower blue eyes, his own piercing behind the silver frames of his glasses that Usagi actually felt herself gulp and her heart race, gazing into those orbs of his. They were so deep. So blue. Like an ocean storm and just as intense. Almost too intense.

No. No. Focus on the matter at hand. This is the jerk we're talking about. "W-well, I want to know what's going on. Why was Motoki onii-san talking about the Crown being shut down and why is dad worried," Usagi said, placing her hands on her hips as his eyes turned away from her.

"Look around you, Odango," he said as he walked away from her to continue mopping. Confused, Usagi did look around and her bright blue eyes widened from the shocking realization. There was no one at the arcade machines, no teenagers gossiping in the booths, no one trying to order at the counter, and there was no one coming to the door; she was the only one there besides the jerk and Motoki. Usagi looked back up at him, who saw her shock before taking a deep breath, "Ever since that bakery opened up yesterday, no one's been coming to this section of the Crown because of the pastries and the brawl in the streets and if it continues, then we won't have business and Furahata-sama will have to shut the Crown down and we'll all be out of a job."

Usagi's world felt like it was collapsing. How could this happen? The Crown was a place she had been coming to since she was young! A place where she could hang out with her best friends and play video games without the stress of her ordinary life! The idea it could possibly be gone couldn't be real! And what about Motoki!? He might leave! She'd never see him again! They would never get married, or fall in love, or just talk to him!

"I have to do something!" she cried out loud.

The man paused for a moment and gazed at Usagi for a moment before going back to cleaning the floor. "Look, Odango Atama, if you asked me-"

"I didn't," Usagi said with a pout.

"But you shouldn't get involved," he continued.

"And why is that?!" Usagi said, her face progressively turning redder and redder from the fury and feelings that this jerk aroused in her.

"Because Furahata-senpai, his family, and I are already trying to handle it," he said as continued to sweep. "Besides, how can you help anyway?" the jerk continued.

Usagi began palming the golden brooch before saying, "I have my ways. And I can help! I would do anything to help Motoki onii-san."

He paused, his back visibly stiffening as pride flooded Usagi. Looks like she finally got him this time in their bouts of word-to-word combat. The golden-haired girl watched him for a bit before he began to look halfway behind him and said, "Then good luck Odango Atama."

"Oh, what no quippy replies on how I'll fail?" Usagi tested to see if he would respond.

He didn't for a few moments, just staying there in that position before saying, "I have work to do," and walking away taking the mop and bucket with him.

That was weird. Usagi watched him retreat into a storeroom before he disappeared. What a weird guy. It doesn't matter! She now has her mission to save Motoki's family's business from annihilation and uncover the mystery of that evil bakery across the street from doing any more damage to her fair city (and along the way hopefully get a date with Motoki)! "Usagi! Your food's ready!" Motoki called from behind the counter. A mission for after Usagi eats.

---

Luna had somehow managed to make it through the street brawl chaos and arrived in the alley next to the source of the madness, Sweets and Things Bakery. Luna looked up at the building and thought that in terms of appearance the bakery was no different than any other cutesy pastry-serving establishment in Japan, even here in the alleyway with the dumpsters near a set of stairs that led to the employee entrance door where she had begun her investigation. Everything looked fine. However, the black cat knew better than to believe appearances with her being a perfect example.

Jumping up on the stairs, she tried to get a better view of the darkened alley to get any clues about the strange occurrences when she saw something rather odd by human standards. The dumpster which should be full of trash or at very least dirtied by it was remarkably clean. There wasn't even dirt or smudge on the outside of it. It was almost as though the dumpster was a prop instead of something that was actually used.

Luna jumped off the stairs and came closer to the clean dumpster to further inspect it, even putting her paw against it before turning it over to see that it was still clean without even a trace of dust. What was going on?

As Luna stared at her strangely clean when she heard someone exiting the employee entrance which caused her to quickly hide under the dumpster. "And you're sure theyak

human authorities haven't been called?" a masculine voice said to his companion. Human authorities? What did that mean? Quietly as she could she peeked out to observe to see a man wearing a hoodie that covered his face talking to a strange-looking human wearing the uniform of a baker with Sweets and Things Bakery written on her apron and she in her right hand she held a pink cookbook with no writing. Strange.

"Of course. My creations and I made sure of that personally, Master," the supposed baker said to the hoodie-wearing man.

"Good, after my last...attempts," the man in the hoodie continued with venom in his tone of voice, "Her Majesty has become less forgiving of any complications and on that note, has a certain complication come yet."

"No, Master, but don't worry if Sailor Moon does show her face, I'll be more than prepared to face her," the baker continued with a wicked chuckle. "I have even prepared a special treat to turn into her one of those mindless humans," he continued pointing towards the street fight.

Luna let out a gasp. Sailor Moon? Usagi! She had to warn her!

"Who's there?" cried out the hoodie-wearing man. Quickly, Luna covered her mouth with her paws. Oh no! If they find her, she's done for and no one will be able to warn Usagi of the threats! "Come out now or we will come for you," the hoodie-wearing man continued.

The black cat wouldn't allow this to intimidate her though as she remained silent under that dumpster. Silence began to permeate the air as Luna slowed her breathing to a near halt to prevent them from finding her. Why won't they just leave?!

A whistle broke the silence with thunderous footsteps following as the baker stepped off the stairs, coming closer to her hiding spot under the dumpster until she could see his large boots. They were walking around before stopping right in front of her.

Holding her breath, she tried to slither further, praying that the baker would just leave already so she could duck out and find Usagi. Luna shut her eyes though she knew that won't do much to detract them from her.

Footsteps resounded again. Were...Were they leaving? Luna peeked open her eyes, when the dumpster was thrown from the floor crashing into the ground, a blinding light flooded her eyes and only when her eyes adjusted did she see the menacing shadow of the baker with his large hand reaching out for her.

Frozen in fear, she could barely make up her mind to run until it was too late and she felt the skin on the back of her neck being roughly grabbed by the baker. Quickly, she tried to struggle and scratch to free herself but no matter what she did, his grasp held tight and quick, not even flinching when Luna managed to nick the skin around his eye.

"Well, done," the boy in the hoodie said. "Bring it to me." The baker nodded as Luna struggled harder, however, to no avail as they came closer to the man who pulled back his hoodie and to Luna's horror, underneath was none other than that dark general, Jadeite. She began to pull harder and harder but no matter how much she did, it proved futile. Jadeite came closer and examined Luna's face. "That mark..." he muttered but before he could think any further and without thinking, Luna managed to slash him across the face with her claws.

Shocked by this he fell back before saying, "Little beast. Take it inside! We'll deal with it tonight!" Jadeite said as he held his face.

"Yes, Master," the baker said as he began to carry a desperate and hysterical Luna inside who could only think, 'USAGI! HELP! HURRY! PLEASE!' as he along with Jadeite entered the bakery with the door locking shut behind them.

---

After Usagi had finished her delicious meal at the Crown, she left to uncover the truth behind the evil bakery that was threatening to steal Motoki away from her. Luckily this shouldn't be too hard, especially since jerk butt clocked out during her meal, which was lucky for her, and the streets had finally been cleared when the bakery closed though she did find it a bit weird. Why would they all just magically stop fighting when the doors shut?

Well, whatever she can worry about that later she thought as she walked across the street and looked through the window of the now closed and locked bakery. Inside it was pitch black with only shadows of what appeared to be a counter with one of those display fridges next to it, and some tables with chairs on them. Overall, pretty normal from having seen quite a few bakeries in her life (don't judge her), however... Normal pastries don't do that and she's had some really good pastries in her life that she would fight someone over but not to the point of physically! Was this a Yakuza scheme? Or an evil plot by a scientist to try and trick people into an evil experiment? Then there were also Luna's words about this being one of that dark general's schemes. What was his name again, Jiro? No. Er...Whatever.

Usagi pondered this for a moment when she heard, grunting and even a bit of cursing combined with metal tapping against metal. These sounds nearly made her jump out of her skin as she was about to turn and run to Kyoto. As she did this however, she remembered why she came. To get evidence of anything wrong doing to save Motoki's dad's arcade! And she was Sailor Moon! She could totally find out what that strange, terrifying, creepy noise from the back alley was. Was it still too late to run away?

NO! She had a mission to complete! Grabbing a hold of her school bag holding it over her head in a defensive position, she walked cautiously over to the alley peeking into the darkness to see a hooded figure with a masculine physique near the employee entrance door fiddling with some kind of tool and the lock. Who was that...? Could they be the owner? Or were they just a thief? What if they were a murderer? Or...she let out a gasp which attracted the hooded figure's attention. Quickly, Usagi without any other options flung her backpack as hard as she could and somehow it hit the hooded man square in the face knocking him backwards and falling against the metal railing.

"Oh my gosh! I killed him!" Usagi cried. She's going to go to jail no doubt and then she'll never get the chance to marry Motoki! Then again, he might not be dead...hopefully.

Usagi walked closer with small baby steps until she reached the fallen man and carefully reached down and grabbed her schoolbag, reaching into grab her school-issued ruler to poke the hopefully not-dead body and when he didn't react, she came closer to inspect him.

On closer observation though, Usagi saw he was wearing all black from his turtleneck to his hoodie to his shoes, it was nothing but black. His physique was also quite muscular yet lean. It was strange. He almost reminded her of Tuxedo Mask. She looked over to see that along his shoulder was a satchel bag that was the only different color being a dark brown instead of black. This caught her curiosity and she reached out to try and see what was in the bag in case he was a thief.

Unfortunately, a low groan began to emit from his body and she promptly tried to smack him again, which he somehow reached out and caught her wrists in his tight grip before she could cause her bag to hit the ground with a thump.

Not good! Not good! Who knows what this crazy might do to an innocent, young girl all alone in the nighttime? Quickly, she began to try and struggle and pull herself from his grip while also trying to fight him off by kicking and shoving. If she was going down, it wasn't without a fight! "Lemme go! Lemme go!" Usagi cried, kicking and screaming. "HELP!" she yelled before she got her mouth covered by her assailant.

"Odango Atama? I should've known. You're the only girl, I know that likes to give me brain damage," a low voice came from under the hood that was promptly pulled back to reveal the jerk face himself. Oh joy! "What are you doing here?"

"I-I could ask you the same question!" Usagi said, pulling her wrists out of his now loose grip and pointing accusingly at the dark-haired male. "What were you just waiting for pretty and innocent girls to frighten with your mere existence?"

"I asked first," he said, crossing his arms.

"Well, if you must know, I came to help Motoki and his family," Usagi said, crossing her own arms.

"Didn't I tell you not to get involved with it?" he said, raising an eyebrow behind his glasses.

"You did but then I just remembered you weren't the boss of me," Usagi said with a smirk. "Now it's your turn." At this, he began blushing from embarrassment and darting his eyes, something Usagi took more than a little sadistic joy out of, when she noticed the tool that was still sticking out of the lock wasn't just any tool. It was a lock pick. Why did he have that? Unless he was, "YOU WERE TRYING TO BREAK IN!" she yelled, pointing his face about to laugh and proceeding to do so upon seeing his obviously guilty face. "So, Mr. Perfect has a dark side!" she cried out with a big smile.

His cheeks now bright red, as he shamefully looked over at Usagi and said, "Yell that louder why don't you. I'm pretty sure you haven't alerted everyone on the street yet."

Usagi wiped a tear before looking over at him, "You know I didn't take you for the thieving type so now I can only ask why?"

"Remember when I said that I was helping them handle this?" he asked.

"Yup," Usagi responded.

"Well," he said, gesturing to the door. "This is my way of handling it. I was trying to see if there was any evidence of wrongdoing."

"Oh," Usagi said. "What? Worried about your job?"

He seemed to actually grow offended by this before turning away from her and then back to the lockpick, "Yeah, because I can't actually care about Furahata-senpai can I?" he said as she tried to work on the lock.

This actually shocked Usagi. "You care about Motoki onii-san? I thought he just pitied you to give you a job," Usagi said which caused one of his blue eyes to obviously twitch.

"Well, if you must know, yes. I care a lot for Furahata-senpai," he said as he began fiddling with the lockpick.

Usagi stared at him as he muttered about the 'stupid lock' and felt confusion. "You do know you can be arrested, right?"

"I'm aware," he said, not breaking his gaze away from what he was trying to do.

"But you'd risk that because you care about Motoki onii-san?" Usagi asked.

"I believe I just said that Odango Atama," he continued.

"Stop calling me that!" Usagi yelled without missing the roll of his eyes. "And why?"

He actually paused for a moment at hearing what she asked and Usagi almost saw a glimmer of sadness in his eyes that was quickly done away with when he looked over at her with that same piercing, analyzing gaze in his midnight-blue eyes that appeared darker in the darkness. "Why do you want to know?"

Usagi played with the hem of her skirt before looking away with a blush on her face to avoid that gaze that she nearly lost herself in. "I'm, well, Motoki onii-san's friend," hopefully something more one day, "and I want to know why you came to care for him."

He stared at her a moment before a low sigh came as he turned back to the lock before explaining, "Let's just say when I first started high school, I wasn't exactly having the best time, however, Furahata-senpai was there for me and then despite not seeing me in over a year gave me a job no questions asked, so I guess I feel I owe him. Does that meet your satisfaction?"

Usagi after listening to his words thought two things. The first was Motoki really was sweet and kind and how perfect he was! The second was about the jerk in front of her and how he might be of some help if he really did care about Motoki onii-san. "You really do want to help him? Well, so do I. As much as I hate the idea, why don't we work together."

"Sorry, I work alone," he said he looked back towards to the

Usagi felt her eye twitch, before saying, "Look, here, jerkface!" she said getting in front of him so his attention had to be on her. "I care about Motoki too, so I want to help in any way I can!"

Silence settled over them as he peers into her, those eyes threatened to entrap her own cerulean-colored eyes. She really hated that gaze. It was so challenging. So intrusive. So intense but also hidden. What was with this guy?

"Alright, Odango Atama," he said, which broke the silence and managed to surprise Usagi. "But only if you can get this stupid door open."

"Wait, really? That's all? No stupid remarks or insults?" Usagi asked as he stood up, dwarfing her in the process.

"It's late and I want to go home before midnight," he said, crossing his arms over his chest before one of his stupid smirks came to his face. "But if you insist-" he continued about to open his mouth which was promptly covered up by Usagi.

"No, thanks," Usagi then turned to the door and took the lockpick out, throwing it to the black-haired man who just managed to catch it, allowing Usagi to examine it. "Did you think of just opening the door?"

"Like they would be dumb enough to leave the door un-" he scoffed, until he heard a distinct click and the creaking of the door. He turned around and saw Usagi standing there with a smirk on her face holding the door open. Shock, annoyance, and even a bit of anger showed on his face before, something Usagi took a bit of a sadistic joy at, he quickly shook his head and turned away. "Lucky guess," he muttered before seeing the giant and teasing smile stretched across her face and now it was his turn to have a twitching eye. Facepalming, he said, "Fine, you can come along. Just don't touch anything alright."

"Alright!" Usagi said, heading inside into the pitch-black darkness behind the counter.

"Wait, Odango Atama!" he called out before grabbing something from his bag and tossing it to a now paying-attention Usagi. It came out very fast causing it to nearly fall and hit the ground if not for Usagi just barely, clumsily managing to catch it before it could. Luckily, she did and when she held it in her hand, she saw it was a polaroid camera. "If we find anything incriminating, use that to take the pictures, okay?"

"Okay," Usagi said. "Why did you bring this?"

"Because I did," he cryptically answered, which did little to answer the question. This guy really was the weirdest person she ever met. "Now we need to split up and find any clues."

"Okay, I'll go check out the dining area. Surely, with how many people were here today, there's gotta be something," Usagi said.

"Alright, just try not to let your clumsiness get us caught," he said as he started to carefully inspect the cabinets and drawers.

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I'm not that clumsy-" Usagi said, reaching out her arms, nearly knocking the glass tip jar to the ground. "Ah!" she said grabbing it before it could fall over and shatter. She looked over at him who was now turned towards her with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "That was...Um...Shut up!"

"You're the only one talking, Odango Atama," he replied before going back to inspection.

"Ugh! You're the most infuriating person I've ever met," Usagi yelled as she climbed over the counter and into the dining area.

"Are you going to search or not? Because I'm not really up for babysitting today," he said as he continued to search the kitchen area which had all of the usual things. Cooking utensils of varying shapes and sizes, a large white stove and oven that looked strangely too clean, a walk-in freezer and refrigerator that were silver in color, a dishwasher, and bright pink counters for food except for one that had a built-in sink. Overall, pretty normal to his eyes.

"Gr..." Usagi growled but relented for now. Pouting away, she began to look around the dining area by ducking under the tables to see if anyone had dropped anything under there but no they were clean without a smear or speck or a trace. Nothing. Next, she looked at the white-tiled floor that seemed to have been recently cleaned judging by how clearly she could see her face. No clues. No answers. Nothing! Without many other options, Usagi even tried looking out the window to see if she could see anything outside that might give a hint to what had caused the madness she saw earlier and the Crown's would-be closure. Nothing! Nothing at all!

Ugh, investigating was so hard! How does Luna do this?! Speaking of, where was Luna? Oh, she did not abandon her to go back home, did she?! Then again, she could've headed off to find the princess or these other senshi she keeps telling Usagi about. But that would still mean she's abandoned Usagi in a place she thinks is run by Jiro, the Dark General!

To top it off, she was in the dark so she couldn't see anything, it was way too quiet to the point it was deafening, and her only company was the last person she ever wanted to interact with, and he was also way too quiet! "AH!" she screamed just to get it out which attracted the attention of Mr. Silent.

"Sh! Do you want to get us caught?" he half-whispered, half-yelled.

"It's just way too quiet in here," Usagi said, stamping her foot turning towards him.

"Qu-?" he paused. "That's it!" he exclaimed in joy that shocked Usagi who thought he had been incapable of emotion and the sudden thought he came up with.

"What's it?" Usagi asked to which she was quickly shushed by the male, as they listened for...absolutely nothing. After what felt like a couple of minutes, though most likely, really only a minute or two, she finally asked, "Are we supposed to be hearing something or...?"

"Yup," he said, which Usagi gave a confused look at as though he lost his marbles. "In bakeries in this one we should be hearing a compression hum."

"A compression hum?" Usagi asked, her mind completely blank as to what that could mean.

"Yeah, it means the cooling system for the refrigerators and freezer are turned on," he explained as he walked closer to the display fridge and quickly opened it from the back. Resting his palm against the inside, he pulled it out with a perfectly dry hand in tow and said, "This is at room temperature."

"They could've turned it off?" Usagi said with a shrug.

"Sure," he said as he closed the display fridge as Usagi jumped over the counter to follow. "However, there would still be some residue of the cold having been there in the first place such as a wet spot due to the fusion of the cold meeting a warmer area but because that fridge lacks any traces of that I can only infer that the cooling system, for that at least, was never turned on in the first place."

"Um..." Usagi said, trying to understand his science talk. "Could you explain that differently?" she asked while not trying to seem dumb to him.

He looked over at her and said, "It means that since it wasn't wet then that means it wasn't cold in the first place."

"And that's bad?" Usagi said.

"Yes, given how long they were open today they could've allowed bacteria to grow on the pastries they served," he said.

"And that's why people went weird?" Usagi said as she walked over to the walk-in refrigerator with a concerned look on her face. As much as she hated to admit it, the jerk had a point but then another thought. How can bacteria alone do this?

"Maybe," he said as he walked next to her and stared at the fridge. "However, if we can prove it's true then the police would have no choice but to shut this place down," the black-haired man continued.

"How do we do that?" Usagi asked with a confused face as she leaned against the fridge except it wasn't frigid. In fact, it was quite warm and it was just as quiet as the rest of the building. Did that mean-?

"Hey, jerkface."

"Yes, Odango Atama?" he asked with a bit of annoyance in his voice.

"Would a refrigerator be with the cooling system?" she asked, turning to him.

"Of course. They have to keep ingredients cold," he said as he walked closer to her side and touched the fridge, "but this isn't."

"So does that mean we have proof?" Usagi asked, touching the fridge with her hand next to his.

The black-haired jerk scratched his chin before saying, "Yeah. You didn't break my camera already, did you Odango?"

Usagi gave him the stink eye before pulling out the camera and shoving it straight into his face, "HA! Even if you are a jerk, I try not to break things that belong to other people because I have decency unlike you."

"Alright," he said, turning back towards the door. "If there is a spoiled product in there, I'll need you to take pictures of them so we can show them to the authorities."

"Okay," Usagi said, grabbing the camera as the jerk tried to pull open the handle without much success. It honestly made Usagi smile to see him grunt over something as simple to open as a refrigerator door. "Need some help there?"

"N-no! I got it," he said though the vein in his head said otherwise.

"Okay," Usagi said, taking a seat on the counter to watch his misery on how he barely nudged it open. "Still don't need help?"

"I'm fine, Odango Atama!" he continued, glaring over at her. He paused for a moment, leaning against the fridge before looking back at the smirking Usagi who sat cross-legged with his camera in her lap then back at the handle. "Well, if you wanted to try and help, I won't stop you."

Usagi jumped off the counter with that same smirk and they both grabbed the handle together and pulled. The golden-haired girl was actually shocked by the stubbornness of the handle and now felt the littlest bit of guilt for mocking him as she grunted as well trying to open the fridge. Seriously, what was this thing made of?! Titanium or something!

Together, the two kept pulling and pulling, sweat on their faces as they pulled all their strength into the opening door with their hands practically sticking to the handle as they dug their feet into the ground and pulled again. It gave a bit which shocked the two who turned to each other before smiling. So it was possible to get this door open! Again, they pulled this time harder using all their strength as the handle continued to give and give until...Victory! The fridge door was open!

Overwhelmed with joy and forgetting who the person next to her was, she threw her arms around him, just happy they could get the door open, and they could get the proof they needed. However, she felt his body first stiffen and then loosen a bit as his arms started to come around her slowly before she opened her eyes and saw it was the jerkface looking at her in surprise as she quickly pulled away and if she didn't know better this looked like it hurt him a bit. Good thing she did know better because why would he care? "Jerk," she muttered

"Hey, you were the one who hugged me," he said, putting his hand in his black pants pocket which caused Usagi to turn red from embarrassment.

"Well, you were trying to hug me back, so there!" Usagi cried out which made him look away before sighing.

"Let's...Let's just see what's inside," he said as he started to walk in with Usagi.

However, what they saw inside shocked them to their cores, leaving them standing frozen in place.

---

It was much bigger on the inside than it was on the outside with thick, dark walls that looked to be made of obsidian that surrounded them on all sides that it almost felt like they were closing in on the two. Unnerved but determined, the two looked closer to see that from the walls was a purple, vein-looking wire protruding from it leading from an ornate looking door to their right. Next, they noticed it was warm, almost too warm for the two of them that it forced the black-haired male to take off his hoodie and Usagi to roll up her sleeves to get cooler though this did little. The final thing they noticed was what they could only think was the centerpiece for in the middle of the room was a dark-purple, twisted-looking oven that matched the vein-looking wires along the walls that stood high above and a conveyor belt that stood at the foot of the open oven that radiated that the two now noticed was what was causing them to sweat.

Upon seeing this, Usagi's thoughts turned to Luna's words about the involvement of the dark general and smacked her forehead. Of course they were involved! That was the only explanation for any of this and how it was so large and despite the outside area being so small. Usagi turned her head towards her enemy/reluctant partner and saw that his face was like stone and his body stiff as wood as he stared blankly at what he was witnessing which made Usagi first question before her eyes widened.

He was obviously...freaked out by this! There was no other explanation! He was just a guy and now was staring into some weird magical other realm or something like that! And now he was going to know she was Sailor Moon due to her lack of reaction! Think of something!

"...AHHHHH!" Usagi screamed at the top of her lungs before being quickly shut up by her male companion who placed a hand over her mouth.

"What did I say about being quiet?" he asked, inched from her face.

Firstly, rude. Usagi took his hand away from her face, before looking into his eyes and saying, "I was frightened okay." Please, buy it!

He sighed before walking away from Usagi. "Let's just get the pictures and get out of here. This place makes me..." he said. "Let's just go and remember not to touch anything."

"Do you really believe I'm going to touch anything in a creepy, evil fridge thing?" Usagi asked him as he headed off to examine the strange oven that was taller than him by at at least 152 centimeters.

"I don't know how, Odango Atama, you just screamed like a banshee in my ear," he said, turning towards her.

"Gr...You really are a jerk," Usagi said as she started to walk around snapping pictures of the strange room especially of the oven which she stopped near the conveyor belt and looked up at it with fearful eyes as he stomach began to twist and turn from the sight of the looming oven that upon closer inspection looked some sort of strange beasts ready to pounce and devour her. She felt a chill run down her back despite the heat, and quickly turned away to look at him who was now staring at her. "What?"

"How are you feeling, Odango Atama?" he asked with those armor-piercing blue eyes staring into her.

Usagi's eyes quickly darted anywhere but his face but tried to maintain a strong face in front of the jerk because she would positively die if he saw how much his stare affected her. Taking a deep breath she said, "Besides being trapped inside a creepy, stuffy evil room with an evil oven that looks like it wants to eat me with the baka who likes to insult me, fine."

He paused, staring at her without the intensity but something that resembled sorrow Usagi thought though she could be wrong since the jerk never seemed to express anything except for that bit of fright when they first entered which seems to have strangely disappeared. Odd. "Do you have the pictures?" he asked with a sigh and Usagi walked over and shoved them into his arms. Shock was written on his face before he calmed down and put the photographs in his bag. "Thanks," he muttered.

"You're welcome," she muttered back as she walked over to him. "We should probably leave," well him, she'll have to figure out the full story of this creepy place but first she needs this jerk out of here or else he'll know for sure she's Sailor Moon!

"Yeah," he said. Silence fell over the two as they began heading towards the freezer door before he stopped. Usagi looked at him confused looking back at her. "Odango Atama, you know it was really stupid to come along right?"

"I'm more capable than you think I am," Usagi said, crossing his arms and glaring at him. Seriously, what was this guy's problem with her?

He paused looking down before looking back at her. "I know but this-" he gestures to the room at large. "It's pretty...We could've...You could've...Just promise me you won't make a habit of this."

Usagi continued to glare before putting her hands on her hips, "I came to help a friend," and boyfriend if she plays her cards right, "so I'll do whatever it takes to do so."

He stared at her for a moment before turning away. "Tch...Just be careful in the future, Odango Atama. Next time, luck might not be on our...your side."

"Whatever you say, baka," Usagi said as she started to walk ahead of him.

"And learn some better insults please other than baka, please," he said with that oh-so-wonderful smirk of his.

Usagi just rolled her eyes as she headed to grab the handle of the fridge to pull it open when she swore she could hear something coming from behind the door.

It was faint at first like little droplets of rain on asphalt and if it was just that, then that would've been no problem. This was not the case. The sound started to grow to the sound of drumming, of marching.

It was footsteps. Not just one or two or even four but more like twenty or even thirty that she could make out. To make matters worse, they were coming closer to the fridge door! Usagi's face turned pale as she turned to look at black-haired man behind who had also turned white as a sheet and while he remained that stoic and often smirking face, his eyes told a much different story about their situation. They were wide with fear, an emotion the teenager thought she would never see.

"Hide," he quickly said, grabbing her hand and dragging her behind the oven, the only place that they wouldn't be noticed in this creepy place and while she hated being here another minute without being Sailor Moon, she wouldn't have a choice of just leaving the room in case whatever was on the other side caught her as Usagi and since this giant room only confirmed that this place was a creation of the Dark Kingdom it wouldn't be anything good nor could she turn into Sailor Moon with them so close and the jerk here without them all finding out. She was completely stuck and completely terrified. She was shivering despite the heat, her heart was racing, her breath was heavy, and knuckles were white she hid behind the dark oven that loomed over her as her hands touched the burning metal.

She felt eyes upon her and she looked over to see him staring at her with an emotion she'd thought she'd never see from him. Compassion. Or at least what she thinks is compassion because with how stoic his face was, it was hard to tell but to her at least his eyes seemed softer. Or at least lacking that intensity or rudeness she usually got from them. "We'll be out soon," he said in a hushed tone. "We just have to keep our cool," he continued.

Usagi looked up at him and before she could say anything in response, the doors of the refrigerator swung open with a loud thud.

The two curious and wanting to know who or what had come in peeked out from behind the oven and saw a sight they could almost barely believe.

The first who walked in was a familiar vendor in a red hoodie walking next to a pretty baker in a dress and apron holding what appeared to be some kind of cookbook, and behind them were dozens of people walking like zombies with their eyes empty of any light behind them, their skin was sickly green, and their faces were covered in crumbs and cream. They followed limply into the room before lining up eight by eight, all in a row without stumbling or tripping, almost perfectly like they were like puppets on a string.

The two looked between each other, fear in their eyes as they looked over the crowd and Usagi's eyes widened with sadness and shock as she glimpsed curly red hair tied back with a green bow and spiky brown hair and large glasses. Naru-chan! Umino! What were they doing here? What happened to them? They were clearly not okay, but how could she break them out of their state!? What would happen to them if she didn't!?

"My friends," Usagi sadly muttered, loud enough for her companion to hear as he looked over from her gaze to the two she had her eyes on and his eyes filled with pity.

Before he could say anything to her, the hoodie man stopped in front of them and took off his disguise revealing himself to be the dark general. "Greetings, I am the owner of this fine establishment and this is the Madame Doux and the one who provided you with the delicious treats you feasted on." This made the crowd slowly, robotically clap that echoed throughout the room and assaulted the ear of the two non-possessed humans. "However, in order to make more of those treats," the dark general continued as the two looked behind him to see the strange other door creaking open, "we will need all of your help."

"Yes," they said in a zombie-like manner, barely making any other reaction to the dark general's request as Usagi's mind began to race over what they meant in needing the help of the crowd and they made her blood run cold, that she let out a small gasp.

Quickly, before she knew what happened, she was grabbed by her waist and held against the large chest of the black-haired man with his large hand covering her mouth. Minutes passed like hours in this position with him peeking out to make sure they weren't caught by the dark general or his possessed humans. Usagi breathed heavily into his hand as her mind continued to race on the consequences of being caught. Would they end up like Naru-chan and Umino? How could she be so careless?

The silence was broken, "Please step inside and fear not, you will be richly rewarded," he said and the group gathered into a single file line and marched without question into the darkness of the next room leaving the dark general and Madame Doux alone. "The plan has worked perfectly, Madame."

"Thank you master," the two villains' footsteps started to walk closer to the oven and Usagi felt the black-haired man pressed deeper into the oven to try and hide them from their sight. "With all the energy we will get from those simple-minded humans I'll be able to create more of my pastries and then we'll be able to draw more to us," she said.

"Now do you have the special treat we have for the sailor pest if she arrives?" the dark general asked.

"Of course, master," as she snapped her fingers and the oven began to shake, rattle, and stir, nearly throwing Usagi and the sapphire-eyed man to the ground as they watched as the vein-like purple wires began to be pumped with black energy into the oven above them when it suddenly stopped. "A perfect piece of strawberry shortcake. The brat won't be able to resist."

"Excellent," he said as he and Madame Doux began to walk away to the door.

He didn't release until he was sure they were gone but even he only spoke in hushed whispers to her shivering, frightened form. "Are you alright?" he asked.

She was heavily breathing, her heart and mind racing a mile a minute from everything. The people. The dark general. The pastries. The baker. Then her mind realized something.

The pastries. She had been offered one by the dark general. She was going to eat it. She could've ended up just like Naru-chan and Umino. She could've ended up a mindless zombie and then there wouldn't have been anyone to stop him and that evil baker. And the only reason she didn't was because of- she looked up at him who had worried written in his eyes.

Tears began to well up and she began to cry. "Y-you saved me," she said.

"What?" he asked.

"Yesterday, when that d- weird guy," Usagi said. "I was going to eat one of their pastries but you stopped me. If I hadn't I would be just like them.."

"Oh, that," he said. "You don't need to thank me. I was just trying to get a rise out of you not be prince charming, Odango Atama."

"Well you still did and as weird and gross as it is to say this, thanks I guess," Usagi said leaving his gaze and looking at the floor, though his gaze was still on her.

"Sure," he awkwardly said, before coughing. "You need to get out of here."

Usagi glared at him, "Me? What about you?"

"I'm gonna do something about this, which would be a lot easier if you weren't here," he said, crossing his arms.

"You're going to face those things all on your own? And you call me stupid?" she demanded.

"I'm not arguing with you," he said as he grabbed her wrist, as she began tugging and pulling and struggling to free herself from his iron grip.

"And why can't I help?" she continued.

"Because you can die or be turned into a sweets zombie and then die or whatever they want to do with all those people," he said turning around and staring directly into her big blue eyes with that same intensity that frightened her before when they were essentially analyzing her, however, seeing these eyes now, she found something different. Fear. Fear for himself, fear for the people, or fear for her. No, that last one couldn't be true.

She glared up at him and asked with a sneer, "And you have some magic force field that will stop that from happening to you."

He ducked his eyes away, which Usagi noticed but before she could ask anything further, he said, "Let's just say I've been taking self-defense classes for years. Now come on. You need to get out of here now."

He then pulled her to the fake fridge door without much thought to the tugging, jerking, protests, and pulling that Usagi was doing behind him. His only focus being the door and getting Usagi out of the building.

However, before he could even touch the inside handle, the door suddenly flung open with such force it, the aftershock knocked him and Usagi to the ground causing them to be startled and confused for a moment before the sound of growls and groan alerted them to look up and saw what could only be described as dessert golems. Two hulking, barely humanoid masses of cake, ice cream, crème brulee to form what the two supposed were their bodies as they let out groans despite not having mouths or a head, crushing the camera Usagi dropped in her fright, as they reached out with their massive dark peppermint arms for the stunned two, who quickly came out out of their daze and made a run for it to the kitchen area behind the slow monsters.

"What are those things?" the male asked the female as the two creatures began to follow them, their heavy footsteps echoing behind them.

"I think they might be that weird baker's creations," Usagi said as they made it to the employee's entrance door which to their anger and horror had been locked by some strange energy so that no matter how much they tugged and pulled and pushed, it wouldn't come loose.

The heavy footsteps were getting closer until they were practically on top of them. Usagi looked behind and saw the two dessert golems reaching out to grab the two and the jerk continued to try and get the door open, not paying attention to what was behind her. Fearful but without any other options, Usagi sprinted for the first thing she could grab, which was not a knife like she hoped but a ladle of all things. Shrugging, she rounded up and with a cry of, "Silver Ladle Action!" threw the kitchen tool as hard as she could. It bounced harmlessly off of the chest of the weird creations though it luckily distracted them long enough for Usagi to grab the black-haired jerk and yell, "Come on!" to push him over the counter, followed by herself who quickly pulled him up off the ground where he landed and briefly turned back to see the creatures following after them.

"Let's try the entrance door," he suggested and Usagi nodded as they came upon the large, sliding door. The two grasped the handle but unfortunately it was sealed by the same energy as the door for the employee's. Darnit! The creatures were closing in and Usagi looked over at the sapphire-eyed man who grabbed a chair off the table and was now holding it over his head and flung it as hard as possible into one of the creatures knocking it back, stunned.

However, the other one was still coming and much closer so when it was close enough, and despite not being Sailor Moon, Usagi knew she had to do something. She grabbed a chair and broke it over where the head would've been, bringing it to its knees. Usagi looked at the jerk and was now staring at her in shock and maybe admiration. Yeah right. Not from him.

"We need to get out of here," he said, as he looked back over at the two stirring treat monsters.

"I kind of noticed, but we can't use the doors," Usagi said as she looked around the room for an alternate escape route before looking over at her companion who was grasping his head in pain. Usagi noticed this and reached out to grab him, when the monster began to get up reach out for the two.

Without thinking and with only seconds before they were captured, Usagi pushed him out of the way with herself and managed to fling themselves at a nearby window. With the monster momentarily stunned, Usagi looked over at the black-haired man who was still grasping his head but now was able to look at her and then at the window. "Windows," he muttered to her as the one he knocked began to pull themselves up and now the two monsters were coming for the two humans.

"Windows?" Usagi asked as she went to grab a chair from a nearby table for defense.

"Windows!" he yelled again as he staggered over to a table and grabbed a chair off it and began to use it to bash the window out. One hit, two hits, three hits, he gave until they could see a crack starting to form.

"WINDOWS!" Usagi yelled. They could escape! Before Usagi could cry tears of joy, she heard those heavy footsteps again coming closer and closer.

Quickly, Usagi readied her chair weapon high above as they continued their journey towards the two and their escape plan. Usagi quickly took a deep breath One managed to make and Usagi felt it's sharp peppermint claws dig into her skin, trying to pull her away causing her breath to become short and labored. Was this the end?!

No. She swung that chair, sloppily, messily, but threw the creature to the side!

The other monster was still a problem and it was going for the black-haired man and even if he was a jerk, he was still making their only form of escape. Going swinging from a downward motion, the creature flew back and landed on its back as Usagi nearly fell back from exhaustion.

The breaking sound of glasses resonated as the glass finally gave out as this time Usagi was pushed away in time by the black-haired man out of the way of the flecks of broken glass that had been sent flying by his actions and now a wide open hole stood where the glass once was. "Move! But be careful," he said.

"You're coming too, right," Usagi said looking over at him as she made her way to the broken window

"I have to stay here," he protested.

"And die!" Usagi insisted as she began to climb out the window and outstretched her hand. "We have the proof we need to come with me and I'm sure someone we'll be here soon to stop whatever those evil people are trying to do so come with me." Hey, he was still a jerk but he was also a civilian too. And without the proof, they won't be able to get the proof.

He paused at this for a moment staring at her hand and then back at, "I-" he never got to finish his sentence as he was now being held against the chest of one of the monsters.

"BAKA!" she yelled as began to climb back in.

"No!" he managed to free his mouth and was struggling to free his body which seemed impossible. "GO! WARN THE POLICE! QUICK-" his mouth was covered and he was dragged away by the monster to that dark room and despite not wanting to she ran off and kept running until she made it to the Crown.

She was out of breath. She was tired. Most importantly, she was scared. Scared of that evil baker and her creations. Scared of that dark general. Scared of what they did to her friends and all those other innocent people and what they'll do to the jerk.

Usagi took a deep breath as that fear turned to anger. They made this business to hurt people. It might cause her crush to leave town. It might destroy her and her friends' favorite hangout spot. All those innocent people and the jerk will be used for their energy! That can't happen! That won't happen! Not if she can help it.

Summoning her courage and strength she cried out, "MOON PRISM POWER MAKE-UP!"

---

The dark room behind the door of obsidian, pitch-black darkness blanketed the room with only huge, moving shadows to break the stillness until light streamed into the room shocking every one of the inhabitants as a shadow was cast over them.

In the doorway, the monsters looked over there stood a blonde young woman in a blue and white fuku with pink knee-high boots staring at them with anger blazing in her bright blue eyes. "How dare you take advantage of innocent people who just want to have a sweet treat to snack on and turn them into sugar-addicted zombies! I am the Pretty Guardian who fights for love and for justice! I am Sailor Moon and in the name of the moon, I will punish you!"

From the shadows walked the strange baker woman with a neutral smile on her. "So you're the one Master Jadeite spoke of," she said in an abnormally calm manner.

"Wait, Jadeite. I thought it was Jiro," Sailor Moon said in a questioning manner.

Madame Doux rolled her eyes before looking back at the sailor soldier, "I can't believe you were the one who defeated Balm and Morga."

"Yeah and I'll do the same to you!" Sailor Moon said putting her hands on her hips to look more confident and intimidating to the fake baker.

"Oh really?" Doux asked without changing her smile, clearly not intimidated.

"Y-yeah, so prepare for your doom," Sailor Moon said.

Doux looked at her for a moment longer with that same unchanging look but then her lips began to turn upward into first a smile, but a sick, demented smile that reached the creature's ears, her bangs covering her eyes as she snapped her fingers closing the door leaving Sailor Moon briefly in pitch black darkness once more as the sound of a child-like giggle echoed throughout the room that soon turned into the evil cackling of a witch as Sailor Moon tried covering her ears to block out the noise to no avail.

Candles lit themselves as small amounts of light penetrated the room but this did nothing for Sailor Moon's nerves especially with the true terror she saw in the room. To her left were three of those creatures she fought outside attending to crystals made of what looked like hardened caramel with a tube sticking out of the top which had something inside of it. No, not something. Someone! Multiple someone's in fact!

Sailor Moon's eyes widened when she realized who those someone's were by the familiar red hair and glasses. They were Naru-chan and Umino! Actually all those caramel cocoons contained a person she had seen in the other room! What were they doing to them!?

Fury stirred in her as she looked back at Madame Doux, fury that soon turned to fear as she saw the beautiful façade melt. Her silky brown locks turned to matted nest of gray with bits of candy, her pearly whites turned into sharpened peppermint, her skin that was fair and smooth was now green and covered in wrinkles, her dress and apron that had been perfect before was now ragged and torn, and her back that had stood straight was now hunched over as she continued the cackle that evil cruel laugh. Doux looked, her eyes crazed with swirls, at Sailor Moon and said, "So you finally decided to show your face here? Come to save those pathetic little humans or perhaps you've came to save your feline companion?" the candy witch said gesturing to the ceiling where Sailor Moon saw in a circular chocolate cage the outline of the limp cat. Oh no! Luna! "You know after Master Jadeite realized that this cat was yours, we were beginning to wonder if you even cared about it enough to come and save it," Doux said, turning her mad eyes to Sailor Moon who had a look of guilt on her face.

"I'm sorry, Luna," Sailor Moon muttered looking up at the cat, her heart heavy and fear in her eyes. Sailor Moon had a face of forlorn before turning back to the evil witch. "Let Luna and all those people free!"

Doux looked at her with an amused expression, "Let me think, no. Actually, I think you would look much better in one of the caramel cocoons creating energy for our great Queen and helping me make more of my scrumptious treats," she said as she snapped one of her gnarled, clawed fingers attracting the attention of the creatures in the room. Snapping open her cookbook, a dark purple shine glowed from it as she cried out, "Now, my creations! Capture that girl for the glory of the Dark Kingdom!" This shocked Sailor Moon awake as she saw the creatures beginning to surround her on all sides just like the kitchen area without any weapons she could use at the moment!

Panicking and without many other options as the creatures inched closer and closer to her, Sailor Moon dashed for it by ducking under their legs, briefly confusing them. Where? Anywhere! Just as long as she could find some weapons to use against these things! She briefly looked over at Doux who merely cackled at her struggling though strangely not attacking her. Did she just have that much confidence that Sailor Moon would lose?

Looking for another place to hide as the monster continued to chase, Sailor Moon rushed to hide behind one of the caramel cocoons despite how creepy she thought they were. However, the monsters were still coming searching through rows and rows of evil, people-holding candy.

She heard the loud, deafening footsteps one coming closer to her. What was she going to do? She barely got away as Usagi and that was only because she had a chair to hit these things with but here, all she had was her tiara but would that be enough against these things? What about the disguise pen? No, that wouldn't work. The footsteps were getting closer. Sailor Moon ducked to another one as she looked up to see Luna and a thought hit her.

If she could just get Luna, maybe she could tell her more about her powers. Trying to sneak over to another crystallized caramel, she instead found herself face to face with one of those sweet golems. After a moment of surprise from them both, the creature made a grab for her which she barely ducked out of the way of. Right onto her butt which she quickly recovered from and made a dive for a caramel crystal itself, climbing onto it. The creatures began to surround the crystal she was stumbling around, barely keeping her balance.

She looked down to see the creatures reaching out their long claws for her which nearly sent her flying off the caramel crystal cocoon and right into their waiting hands to do who knows what to her.

Looking over at the cage where Luna was and then at a nearby cocoon, Sailor Moon gathered her strength and jumped. Barely she managed to find herself on the new cocoon, hanging from the point. Taking a deep breath, Sailor Moon tried to heave herself up when she heard the footsteps of the golems coming closer.

Frightened, she managed to scramble to the top and then jump to the next cocoon and the next until she finally reached the cocoon closest to Luna's cage.

"Luna!" she cried. No response. "LUNA!" she tried again, this time louder. Again no response.

She had to get over there somehow! However, even if it was closer there was still a large gap between the caramel cocoon and the chocolate cage that held Luna but she had to get to her! What was she going to do?! Rustling came behind her and she looked back and to her horror the sweet golems had learned how to climb the caramel crystals by climbing on top of each other. Sailor Moon turned her gaze towards Doux who was waving her fingers over her book, then back at the monsters who were now only two rows away from her, and then back to Luna.

Gulping and without any other options as the monsters were getting closer, Sailor Moon leaped as high as she could with her only hope that she'll be able to grab the cage as the monsters made it the crystal she was just on and just missing grabbing her leg.

Sailor Moon saw the cage coming faster and faster towards and she clumsily reached out her hands hoping to grab something without plummeting towards the ground and her certain doom.

And...she did!

She barely believed it herself and actually pinched her neck to make sure she was still awake and alive.

"GET HER!" Doux shouted as the golems fell off the crystal without much care for themselves Sailor Moon noticed.

Sailor Moon shook her head. Focus! She reminded herself. "Luna!" she called again, even shaking the cage. No movement and for a moment, Sailor Moon thought the worst happened to the black cat but then a small mew came from the cat.

"LUNA!" Sailor Moon happily cried as the cat began to stir more and even managed to look over at Sailor Moon with glazed eyes.

"Sailor...Moon?" Luna managed to lowly mutter.

"Oh, Luna! I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Well...I'm...still...in...a...cage," she said in a snarky way.

"Don't worry, I'll find-" a sickening crack came from above them. "What was that?" Sailor Moon asked. Another crack came as the cage began to loosen causing Sailor Moon to clutch on and another crack was heard. Sailor Moon looked up to see the chocolate chain was breaking until...it broke.

"AH!" she and Luna screamed as the two plummeted to the ground, their lives flashing before their eyes...Sailor Moon landed harmlessly onto her butt and Luna's cage fell into her lap.

The two breathed a quick sigh of relief at the joy they might live to see another day.

That is...until they realized they were surrounded with no route of escape unlike last time and this time Doux joined her three creations, holding that delicious-looking but evil strawberry shortcake that didn't make Sailor Moon's stomach turn from delight but from dread, remembering what she said to the dark general when she was with the jerk in the other room. Distracted by that, she failed to realize until too late that one of the golems had managed to snatch the chocolate cage with Luna inside away from her.

"LUNA!" Sailor Moon cried as she stood up only to be grabbed by the other two golems.

"SAILOR MOON!" Luna cried out struggling and clawing at the golem who didn't even flinch as Doux merely smirked as she walked up to her with the treat.

"When you're ready," Doux said, tracing one of her claws along Sailor Moon's pale cheek, her breath in her face smelling of rotten fruit that Sailor Moon visibly cringed.

"Sailor Moon, you don't have to do this!" Luna tried again.

Sailor Moon said nothing back to her, a look of sadness in her eyes as she took the cake off the plate and held it, staring at it for a while. She might never see her family or her friends again. She might never see Motoki again. She might never even get to see the jerk again. She'd just stay imprisoned in a caramel crystal, maybe without any consciousness or sense of time. Just trapped. Like all the others inside their caramel prisons with no mind of their own.

But...Luna would be safe. Luna would be able to find the other Sailor Senshi and the princess and then she might be freed and the Dark Kingdom stopped.

With this though giving barely any comfort, Sailor Moon took a deep breath and raised the cake to her open mouth slowly to savor the last moments of freedom as Luna cried for not to, practically begging. The scent of fresh strawberries drifted into her nostrils as the cake came closer to her teeth that were slowly making their way down when-

Luna yet out a yowl that caused Sailor Moon to look over to see a crimson rose having knocked Luna out of the grip of the evil sweets golem.

"Who-" Doux said, as she looked up to see another shadow in the open doorway, clad in black tuxedo, top hat, and cape that blew in the wind with his foot kicked up onto the other side of the doorway.

"Using your deliciously deviant sweets to enact such vile schemes against people who committed no greater crime than wanting something sweet to delight the tongue is a crime of which I, Tuxedo Mask, will never forgive!"

"Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Moon cried out as she threw the evil strawberry shortcake.

"Thanks a lot," said Luna who was rather dizzy from having hit her head.

"Luna, are you okay!?" Sailor Moon cried out racing to her cat's side.

"Well, I was just threatened by a creature made out of compressed sugar after being locked up in a cage for most of the afternoon and nearly watched my charge be turned into a sugar-obsessed energy battery, so I've been better," Luna said in a dizzy state.

"Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask yelled which caught the heroine's attention and saw the lumbering figure of the masses of evil desserts.

"AHH!" Cried out Luna and Sailor Moon as the pastry creations of humanoid figures came closer to grab them.

However, before they could a resounding crack came from their chocolate legs as they looked over and saw that Tuxedo Mask's cane sliced right through causing them to fall to the ground with a huge thud before Sailor Moon and Luna.

"Thank you, Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Moon said, rising from the floor with her hearts in her eyes and Luna being squeezed against her chest as she stared at her handsome savior.

He chuckled before saying, "Maybe, thank me once we're not in an immediate mortal danger," he said in a teasing, yet sweet tone of voice that made Sailor Moon blush a bright crimson and her heart raced a mile a minute as she stared at his handsome, chiseled face that held an air of regality and intelligence. Boy, did she know how to pick her future husbands.

"On your right!" he shouted, tossing her his cane, which shocked her out of her lovestruck state. Barely managing to catch it she turned around to realize that the creation of the witch, Doux, was now reaching out to grab her. Quickly, she fumbled around with the cane until she managed to catch it and swing it the same way she saw Tuxedo Mask do, leaving the creation on the ground.

"Well done, Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask said.

Giggling, Sailor Moon said, "Thanks!"

"Where did you even come from?" Luna asked.

"The door," Tuxedo Mask answered with a shrug as he took back his cane which he promptly used to hit the monster over the back as he tried to crawl towards them leaving it momentarily stunned.

"How did you know how to defeat those things?" Sailor Moon asked as she kicked away another one that was crawling towards them.

"Oh. That. I heard about the strange rumors about this place and the fighting earlier today so I came to investigate and ended up fighting these things to save someone in trouble."

Someone in trouble? Wait! "Did he have black hair and blue eyes?" she asked.

He stared at her for a moment before asking, "You know him?"

Sailor Moon realized what she had implied before saying, "Oh no. Nothing like that! I was also coming here when I came across this girl panicking and she told me that this jerk she knows was captured by these things so I came to help before anything could happen to him."

"I see," Tuxedo Mask said before smiling looking down. "Did the girl get to safety?"

Sailor Moon blushed as she was that girl but Tuxedo Mask couldn't know that yet and instead nervously said, "Oh yeah! I made sure she went home! And then came right here." Come on! Buy it!

He looked at her before saying, "Well, that's good. The guy managed to get home alright as well."

Sailor Moon breathed a sigh of relief at that. Okay, sure he was a total massive jerk but he was still close to Motoki and who knows how sad Motoki would be if she learned that one of his friends had been used as a battery for the forces of evil? And how kind was Tuxedo Mask to have saved someone like the jerk?! He was simply perfect!

The heroine turned her eyes up to meet him and blushed, their eyes simply enraptured with each other. It was like there was no one else in the world and nothing that could destroy this perfect moment.

"Sailor Moon!" Except for that. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask turned around to see the witch Doux casting a spell with her book that caused the golems' broken chocolate legs to return and them to reach their full height again.

"EEK!" Sailor Moon cried out.

"Go!" Tuxedo Mask yelled as he pushed her out of the way of one of the golems who made a snatch for her. Extending his cane, he made another hit for the golem's legs and looked at Sailor Moon who was staring at the glowing cookbook in the witch's hand. Was that the source of Doux's power?

"I have an idea," she whispers at Tuxedo Mask. "Can you keep these things distracted?"

Tuxedo Mask stared at her questioning for a moment before sighing, "Alright." The tuxedo-wearing superhero quickly slashed the chocolate legs of another golem that made a grab for him, leaving an opening for her to run.

Sailor Moon quickly took it and rushed for the witch and her book. "Let go!" Sailor Moon yelled as she tried to wrestle the book out of her hands.

"You little brat!" Doux said as she tried to hold onto her book. "Creations! Destroy this girl! Defend your creator!" she announced and the reforming golems quickly lost interest in Tuxedo Mask and made a rush at Sailor Moon, coming in fast instead of their usual staggering around which made Sailor Moon yelp in fear.

"Not on my watch!" Tuxedo Mask shouted as he slashed the golems just before their claws could touch Sailor Moon.

"You bastard!" Doux said as she continued to try and rip the book from Sailor Moon's grip.

"Don't talk to him that way!" Sailor Moon cried and with a particularly wrench and a kick to Doux's chest, she managed to rip the book from her grip and clutch it close to her body.

"Damn you!" Doux cried as she extended one of her claws towards Sailor Moon, lunging to kill the poor sailor senshi who was petrified with fright as she stared at the evil creature.

"SAILOR MOON!" Tuxedo Mask yelled, trying to rush to her aid only to be tripped by one the golems, grabbing his ankle and pulling him to the ground. Kicking the creature and struggling to get free, he looked back, "SAILOR MOON!" What was going to happen!?

"Don't you touch her!" Luna cried, pouncing onto the face of the witch, scratching her and no doubt leaving numerous injuries moments before she could harm her ward.

"You disgusting beast!" Doux screeched as she tried to rip Luna off, as the cat's claws dug into her green skin. However, it was a fight to hang on and keep her claws extended into this evil monster and any moment she could let go if something was not done quickly!

Luna turned to Sailor Moon, "Quick Sailor Moon! Destroy that book! It's how she controls her golems!"

Sailor Moon nodded and she opened the book, briefly seeing that it was written in a language she couldn't understand, before she raised it far above her head and slammed it down on her knee causing the spine to break and the book tear in half. The moon-themed heroine held the two pieces that quickly began to crumble into dust in her hand as Doux screamed, "NO!".

Sailor Moon looked behind her to see the golems wilting and melting away until all that was left of them was a pile of sugar that Tuxedo Mask easily freed himself from. Speaking of Tuxedo Mask, he looked back at Sailor Moon with a gentle smile which soon turned to fear when he saw Doux making one final attack at Sailor Moon by running like a mad woman towards her, "Sailor Moon! Use your tiara now!"

Sailor Moon looked over and just barely dodged the attack from the insane creature who was screaming, "No! No! No!" over and over again. She almost seemed pitiful, however, Sailor Moon knew what she had to do.

Pressing the jewel on her tiara, she raised it in the air and cried, "Moon Tiara Boomerang!" and sent the golden headpiece flying as it spun to a state of pure light before hitting the candy witch straight in the abdomen.

"Forgive me, Master!" the creature cried out as her last words as her body was broken apart into moondust that sprinkled onto the floor, leaving a pile of ash in its wake and the room, the three and the people in the caramel cocoons began to disappear like the illusion it was.

Instead of the creepy room they were trapped in they were now in a normal-looking but empty store, however, it was a site of beauty to Sailor Moon after the night she had. She turned to see the caramel cocoons to see that they were rapidly starting to melt and release the humans inside, though unconscious were looking much healthier now which made Sailor Moon give a sigh of relief. Everyone would be okay.

"You did a great job, Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask said, walking over to her.

Sailor Moon blushed heavily before saying, "Well, thank you, Tuxedo Mask! But I couldn't have done it without you."

"Oh please. All I did was throw a rose and swing my cane," Tuxedo Mask replied, scratching the back of his head.

So modest. She liked that in a man. Or maybe she just liked that in Tuxedo Mask. "No, it was you who managed to free Luna so I didn't have to eat that evil cake and for that I still want to say thanks."

Tuxedo Mask looked surprised at that for a moment before smiling, "Well, you're welcome."

"Kind of strange that you just happened to hear strange rumors about the monster's bakery and just happened to show up when you did," Luna said, breaking the two out of their little world.

"I told you I was saving someone before I came to help you and Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask said with a shrug.

"And the rumors? Where did you get them from?" Luna asked, suspicion evident in her voice.

"Does it matter?" he asked back, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.

"I'm not sure yet," Luna said, her body tense.

"It's also kind of hard to miss a street wide brawl," he said with a smirk that made Sailor Moon swoon. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he said with a tip of his hat to Sailor Moon and grabbing one of his smoke bombs from the pocket of his jacket.

"Wait, we are not don-" Luna cried out trying to stop him but to no avail as he threw the smoke bomb, creating a gas that hid his disappearance as it caused Sailor Moon and Luna to violently cough and close their eyes to avoid the sting.

Soon enough though it was over. The gas was gone as was Tuxedo Mask. "Luna! You just scared him away!"

"I was trying to get answers out of him!" Luna argued. "Look, I know you have a crush and have dreams about him, but I'm still worried about him." Luna sighed at seeing Usagi's peeved expression before saying, "But thank you for saving me."

Sailor Moon, though still angry with her for not letting her spend a little more time with Tuxedo Mask before he disappeared, relented and said, "I guess you did save me from Doux's claws."

"And I'm glad you did notice that I was missing and came to find me, right?" Luna asked, looking at Sailor Moon who now had an expression of 'get-me-out-of-this-situation' and a blush of embarrassment. "Right?" Luna said a bit more forcefully.

"Hehehe..." Sailor Moon laughed nervously which made Luna facepalm. Why does she even bother with this girl?

---

Everything was back to normal at the Crown now. The seats were filled with teenagers and young adults looking to relax with a good burger and friends, the arcades were filled with gamers trying to beat the high score, and Tsukino Usagi entering after a long day of school ready to play Sailor V and flirt with a certain blonde college student.

"Motoki onii-san!" Usagi yelled as she headed straight to the stool in front of the counter where Motoki was working.

"Oh, hey Usagi-chan!" Motoki said back, flashing that kind-hearted smile. "Why aren't you with your friends today?"

"Oh they're staying home. After everything with the brawl and that evil bakery across the street, their parents thought it was best they stay home and rest for a little while," Usagi explained.

"Well, I'm glad they're okay," Motoki said before clapping his hands. "Anyway, a milkshake?"

Usagi looked down at her hands before remembering what happened inside the bakery and how Doux used sugar to manipulate people before saying, "Oh no. Not today."

"Who are you and what have you done with Tsukino Usagi?" Motoki teased.

"Nothing. Just not craving sugar right now," Usagi said with a shrug.

"I suppose that makes sense after everything," Motoki said, rubbing his chin, which made Usagi smile. He was so considerate! He reached behind him to grab a plate of three pork buns. "Here. Hot and fresh and on the house."

"Really?!" Usagi cried out, happily. They were so meant to be.

"Of course. I heard about what you tried to do for us and I just want to say thank you for that," Motoki said as he placed the buns in front of her.

Usagi grabbed up a pork bun but stopped. "Who told you?"

She felt the pork bun being tugged away from her hand and when she turned around she groaned seeing the jerk back to his old ways of annoying her. "Me."

"You told Motoki onii-san? And stole one of my buns wearing an apron!" Usagi demanded.

"Firstly, the buns not wearing an apron and sure," he said with a shrug as he took a bite out of the bun much to Usagi's fury. Those buns were for her!

"Besides, I helped and since he made these because you helped stop that bakery, I'm also owed one too. Besides, you should be thanking me. I'm stopping you from committing cannibalism."

"Cannibalism!?" she asked with offense in her voice that did little to shake his teasing behavior as he merely took another bite out of the pork bun.

"Yup. Seems wrong that an Odango Atama is eating buns," he said with a shrug.

Usagi felt the fury rise inside before, screaming, "YOU JERK! I'LL GET YOU! GIVE ME BACK MY BUN!" With that she took off running, flailing her hands in trying to catch the annoying jerk who took off running with a bun and broom still in his hands and laughed from his mouth.

All Motoki could do was smack his forehead at the scene before him.

Up Next: Scent of a Monster: Chanela Will Steal Your Love