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.

6. Chapter 6

"Jadeite. Stand before me," the evil queen commanded in that cold voice of hers that echoed throughout the ebony-colored crystals that sprouted out of the ground and walls like an infection, casting an eerie glow throughout the twisted throne room as Jadeite emerged from the shadows to bow before Queen Beryl.

"Your Majesty honors me with her most glorious attention," Jadeite said.

"I know. Though I thought I made myself clear the last time your plan failed that I and our Great Queen are quickly losing patience with you," Queen Beryl said with venom leaking off her words as she leaned onto her throne with displeasure and fury that burned like fire in her orange eyes.

"Your Majesty, I understand yours and our Great Queen's impatience and I have adjusted my plan to account for Sailor Moon's interference," Jadeite said, before taking a deep breath and summoning the object that will be central to his next scheme in gathering energy to ensure their Great Queen's resurrection. And ensure his own safety since if he was dead, so were all his future plans. "This object is called a cassette tape, Your Grace," he said as the object was lifted from his grip and into the dark queen's who stared at it and then at Jadeite with a look of aggravation and warning. Taking a quick, gulp to cool his nerves, Jadeite said, "I know it doesn't look like much but I promise you that if you'll allow me to demonstrate, it will be worth your time." Queen Beryl looked briefly at him before at the cassette in her hand before throwing it at him.

"I'll decide if it's worth my time," Queen Beryl said as Jadeite caught the cassette tape before he summoned a small, portable cassette player which he promptly placed the object in before pressing play. From the portable player, flowed a jazzy and low beat that could lull even the most stubborn and angry of children to sleep though it didn't seem to do anything to help their cause.

"This melody is one of my own creation and while it might seem like any other human tune, this song was created in a frequency that will lure in humans to listen to on repeat and with each one more and more of their energy will be drained in a way that won't alert Sailor Moon," Jadeite explained as he removed the tape from it's holder.

"I see," Queen Beryl said before tapping one of her long, sharp, claw-like fingernails to her chalk-like skin before turning back to Jadeite. "You may proceed but do not make me regret this," she finished in a low threatening voice.

"As you wish, My Queen," Jadeite said before walking out of throne room with one last bow.

Once he was in the hallway, he saw two glowing, crimson eyes with vertical pupils emerging from the shadows. "Do I have permission, Master?" the Youma asked.

"Yes, Kyurene," Jadeite said walking over to his newest creation and placing the tape into her fur-coated claw. "But remember, no witnesses. We don't want Sailor Moon to catch onto our plans to early."

"Of course, Master. It will be done," Kyurene said as her cold, wicked laughter filled the dark walls before the shrieks of bats and the flapping of wings.

In a nicely-furnished but slightly messy bedroom belonging to one Osaka Naru, sat said girl with her best friend Tsukino Usagi lying on one of her pink pillows and her cat, Luna who were all enjoying the sounds of smooth jazz coming from Naru's mint green boombox.

Usagi couldn't help but sway to the gentle piano tune that played an elegant and romantic beat that seemed to touch her very heart and soul. However, as the song continued the romantic nature began to change to a much slower and sad sounding tempo before it finally drifted to its end without a triumphant chorus as thought the musician couldn't play any longer.

It was so sad! But also so beautiful and loving. It could make one cry.

And it did.

The dam of tears burst from Usagi's eyes as she remembered the song's heartbreaking beauty! "That was so beautiful, Naru-chan!" Usagi cried as she squeezed the life out of Luna, who was struggling to get free before falling practically unconscious in Usagi's arms.

"I'm so glad you like it, Usagi-chan," Naru said as she showed her blonde best friend the CD cover with the picture which showed the silhouette of a lone holding a bouquet of roses with his clothes being gracefully blown in the wind creating a very beautiful scene. Wanting to get a better look, Usagi promptly dropped Luna, who promptly smacked her face into Usagi's leg, in favor of snatching the cover to see if she could figure out the name of the breath-taking, incredible, awesome musician. "His name is Amade Yusuke," Naru said seeing her friend's over excited display.

"Amade Yusuke?" Usagi asked. "I've never heard of him."

"He's mainly a jazz pianist," Naru said with a shurg. "Honestly I never heard of him either before mom brought home one of her CDs and when I first heard his music I just fell in love," Naru said with a dreamy look on her face. "Can you imagine dating him? Such a sensitive and sophisticated guy writing romantic and mature music like that just for you?" she said as she pressed her hands together against her cheeks. "I bet it would be wonderful."

Usagi listened to her friend's words before her mind began to drift off to someone else she knew, her sophisticated and sensitive nighttime protector who made her face turn red as a cherry and her heart beat a thousand miles a minute who went by the name of Tuxedo Mask. Oh wouldn't it be wonderful if he came to her one night, not during a battle or fight with one of those weird monster things, but to serenade her with a beautiful song? Oh she could picture it now! He would swoop in from above and reach out a hand for hers before guiding her to a romantic garden filled with roses of every shade before getting down on one knee and singing her a song filled with his love for her. She would cry and he would then stand, and come closer to her wiping away the tears of joy before leaning in and-

"Usagi-chan!" Naru called. "Are you okay? You just left for awhile."

"Oh sorry. I was just thinking that it would be incredible," she said with a dreamy expression on her face before another thought came to her. There was such true and honest feelings in his song that it made her wonder if the musician, Amade Yusuke, did already write his songs for someone?

Far from the Osaka house and just in front of the building, Jam Records, that specializes in recording, creating, and distributing music was a man in his mid-to-late-twenties with teal hair and a look of sadness on his face as his fist tightly clenched around a beautiful bouquet of red roses before he turned his sad chocolate-covered eyes from the concrete sidewalk to the towering recording studio above as he said in a small voice that could barely be heard, "Today. Today I'll tell her." He took a deep breath and a sigh before he walked in.

Unfortunately, it was not, for something sinister was afoot in the very recording booth he was heading for.

"Stupid contraption," a woman in a slinky with red hair and blood-colored eyes said as she tried to shove the the cursed cassette into a stereo to no avail. How infuriating it was! She bet that if she actually had blood it would be boiling in her veins by now! She needed to calm down and to this she just thought about the beautiful future awaiting when her Great Queen and Master conquer this pathetic planet and its useless people, they will richly reward her and allow her to hunt the lifeforms that made this infuriating piece of machinery and make them suffer. Oh, yes, when she had them, she'll take great pleasure in their screams for their lives as they slowly agonized in pain without release of death to save them. Oh, yes. That was a pretty image.

However as she was struggling to put her Master's tape and mewling over her future reward, she heard the creaking of the door open followed by the sound of a human woman's voice and a stream of light. "I'll just be a moment," the woman said to a person outside as Kyurene quickly darted into the shadows as to avoid detection or else her Master's plans would be ruined and watched with pure hatred and annoyance as the woman fumbled around the room, clearly searching for something as she fumbled with papers on the desks and check the shelves while muttering, "I swear he can so disorganized sometimes," she muttered as she went near the that machine that was ruining Kyurene's mission. She paused for a moment before looking at the machine before loudly sighing as she removed a tape from the compartment that Kyurene tried to shove in before this human interrupted her, she was horrified by what she saw.

The tape in the human woman's hands was not a normal tape. No! It was Master Jadeite's cassette! Kyurene must've left it in that slot!

Curse that human! This was all her fault. If she hadn't come in while she was trying to put the cassette in then, Kyurene would've already her mission in action. Pesky humans. Always interfering. The only thing they're good for is entertaining her with their screams of despair. Speaking of, Kyurene turned her gaze back to the human woman who was examining the cassette tape in the dimly lit room, alone, with no other humans nearby. 'Remember, Kyurene, no witnesses' Kyurene rememberedMaster Jadeite saying and her look of frustration and annoyance turned to one of sadistic pleasure as she licked her lips at the thought.

Quiet as mouse with a smile of a viper, she quietly came closer to the woman with her claws starting to extend, her teeth growing sharper, and her skin starting to turn a toxic green as she came closer and closer to the woman who caused this. Oh! What pleasure it will be to watch her suffer and agonize as she shreds her pale skin with her claws, tear apart her flesh with her teeth, all the while she begs and pleads for help. For somebody to come and rescue her from the endless torment that Kyurene will rain down on this nothing human. But no one would come. No one will save her. Don't worry though. Kyurene won't kill her. She'll just maim, break her, and beat her enough that she wished she were dead and that she'll be unrecognizable. But no she won't kill her.

She could practically taste this woman's blood now.

She inched closer, savoring the moment when her claws would first dig into her skin. That initial shock before the look of fear in her eyes. Oh, yes. Absolutely delicious.

Her claws came closer brushing the hair near the nape of her neck. Just a little closer. So close.

"Are you okay in there, Yanagi-san?" a man's voice said.

Damnit. Quickly, Kyurene ducked into the shadows. Now of course she could take on to humans but torturing them both would be too much work.

The woman turned around to see the man and said, "Oh, sorry. Is he here already?" the woman said as she brought the cassette with her which made Kyurene slowly growl.

"Yeah, and he has a bouquet of roses for you," the man said with a teasing tone. "I think he might have a thing for you."

The woman rolled her eyes, "Don't be ridiculous. Amade-san and I are just co-workers."

"I would hope I was more to you than that, Yanagi-san," another male voice. Ugh. Three humans? Now, Kyurene will never get that tape.

"Oh, Amade-san," the woman said seeing him as he pathetically fiddled with the bouquet in his hand. "I got your latest tape right here, despite the mess," she said gesturing to the area.

"Hehe, sorry," the man said with a small chuckle before he clearly took a breath and cleared his throat. "Yanagi-san, we've known each other-" he began as he slowly started to bring his bouquet up as the other human left.

He wasn't able to get another word out as the woman jammed her Master's cassette tape into his hands which he fumbled around with for a bit before just barely managing to catch it. Pitiful. "Remember, you have to figure out a name for your new demo before next Friday," she said.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it," the man said as he started to raise his bouquet to her. "Anyway, would you...maybe, want to-"

"Yanagi-san, Takahashi-sama needs you upstairs," the man from before said walking in.

"Coming!" the woman said before looking back at the man. "Boss is calling. Sorry, Amade-san. Maybe we can talk more later," she said before leaving him to wallow in his feeble worthlessness.

Kyurene watched as the man looked down with sadness and then at her Master's cassette in his hands and that same anger she felt at the human woman before now transferred onto this man. Just the mere sight of him made Kyurene want to wring his neck. Standing their drenched in his own lovesickness. It made her laugh. Love was such a weak, human emotion, one that Kyurene had the profound pleasure of never having to deal with. However, to those that did feel it, she had nothing but hate for. Nothing but the innate want to make them feel true pain. Then again that's how she feels all the time.

She shook her head. She needed the tape from the man and looked back at the cassette in the frail human hand and her thoughts changed. A wicked smile returned to her face. Well, he may not be the intended target, but a human suffering by her hand is as good as any other.

And her claws were just itching for some fun.

"Did you really have to get his album?" Luna said, shivering against Usagi with fur in her eyes as rain poured down and right onto their head.

"I didn't know it was going to start pouring like this!" Usagi said as she gripped Luna closer trying to create body warmth between herself and the furious feline.

Luna looked up at Usagi before glaring and saying, "I told you this morning that it was going to be raining then again before we went into the store but did you listen? No, just brushed me off and now look at us."

As Luna continued to rant in the background about the predicament, Usagi had to admit she may have had a point. Here she was, soaked to the skin because her blue cardigan and short white skirt provide basically zero protection against the elements (even though they were super cute), her blue sneakers covered in mud and grime and other things that Usagi didn't even want to think about slish-sloshed with every step she took, and, worst of all, her woolen socks were sticking in a super uncomfortable way to her legs that were shaking from the cold rain and wind! Luna was also, no better off as she basically became a bundle of wet fur that was sticking out in every direction and looking at her poor feline form, the blonde fourteen-year-old felt really bad and gave a look of pity to her cat companion.

As she mewled over her predicament, she could faintly here something behind her. At first, she thought it might be her imagination or maybe the rain so she just continued walking until, "HELP!" resounded through the pitch-black, night air. Help? Was someone in trouble? Usagi stopped dead in her tracks and looked back with Luna as That was until Luna reached up and scratched her across the cheek with her claws and cried out, "Are you even listening?!"

Suddenly, Usagi wasn't feeling so bad for Luna as her look of kindness turned to to one of rudeness as she said while rubbing her cheek with her wrist since the hand was holding her new album as she said, "Yes, and I'm sorry so you don't need to be mean to me."

Luna turned back towards the concrete, puddle-covered sidewalk and huffed out, "Fine. Let's just hurry home since cats and water don't exactly mix."

"I figure that much," Usagi uncharacteristically said out loud. Stupid rain. Stupid. Luna. Destroying her sunny disposition.

As she mewled over her problem, she could faintly here something behind her. At first, she thought it might be her imagination or maybe the rain so she just continued walking until, "HELP!" resounded through the pitch-black, night air. Help? Was someone in trouble? Usagi stopped dead in her tracks and looked back with Luna who stiffened in Usagi's arms when they saw a dark, male-shaped shadow in the rain that was charging at them like his life depended on it. "HELP!" the shadow cried again as he started to take form as he came closer but before Usagi could make out any details of the man, he slipped and fell face first into a puddle. Shocked and scared for him, Usagi ignored the storm around and only focused on the frightened man as she raced to his side.

"Are you okay, sir?" Usagi said as she reached out for the man to make sure he was alright, he quickly proved he was when he sat up which startled Usagi in the process before she was terrified by the look in his eyes. They were wide, nearly bloodshot, and filled with horror and panic as he seemed to be staring through Usagi and Luna than at them. That wasn't all though, his breath was panicked and only came out in short spurts from his bluish lips and his body shook heavily not from the rain but from sheer fear. "Sir?" Usagi asked again, trying to understand what happened to this poor man. Had he been robbed? Was someone chasing him? Was he a man who got to involved in the Yakuza and now they're trying to silence him? Okay, maybe that last part was a little much but still, why was he was so afraid? "Sir?" Usagi tried again, since he hadn't answered before too frozen by fear. "Sir? Are you alright? Do you need me to ca-"

"-ster..." he half-whispered in fear though Usagi and Luna couldn't make out the rest. Well, at least she was getting an answer. Kind of.

"I'm sorry?" she asked.

The man suddenly grabbed her shoulders and cried, "M-Monster! There's a monster chasing me!" he said pointing off into the empty area where there was...a bunch of streetlights. "It...it attacked me...and...and st-started chasing me," he said, before turning back to Usagi, his eyes still wide with fright. "You-you've gotta...help me...PLEASE!" with this he squeezed her shoulders tightly. "You-you...believe me, right?" he cried out.

Many people probably wouldn't believe a stranger running full speed at them, crying how a monster had attacked them and chasing them, and probably believe they weren't...okay. Usagi was not most people. She was Sailor Moon who protects love and justice and defeater of evil monsters who threaten innocent people! And even then, she could just see from the look on his face, the fear and the desperate hope that she would,

Usagi turned to the terrified man and smiled the warmest smile, saying "Don't worry. I believe you," before giving him a gentle pat on his hands. "Could you tell me what happened or..."

Usagi watched the man's eyes turn from being so afraid he could barel talk to one of shock then one of true hope and relief. "Th-thank you," he said as he let Usagi go. "I had just about to leave the recording studio with one of my tapes when this...this demon attacked me!" he explained, his eyes looking around as he tried to search for the monster that did this to him, as that panicked look came back to him. "I b-barely e-escaped from it...I just ran...I...I..." he couldn't speak anymore and his body shook even worse.

Usagi saw this and said with her hand outreached, "Hey! Maybe we should go on a walk."

The man, obviously still scared turned to Usagi and paused before carefully taking her and they both rose to their feet and began to walk away from where he had been running from, though Usagi could see that he kept looking behind him, probably expecting the monster to pop out of the dark corners and alleys.

"So," Usagi said, wanting to lighten the mood and calm him (and herself) before it got worse. "You work at a recording studio? You must be a pretty famous musician then!"

The man paused before looking at Usagi with a confused look before he said in a nervous voice, "W-well, I am a musician but I wouldn't say I'm famous."

"Don't sell yourself short! I bet you'll be as famous as this guy!" she said, shifting her arms to hold up Yusuke Amade's latest album.

The musician looked at the album and for the first time since she met him, he cracked a small smile that looked like she said something funny. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call that guy famous either," he said.

The blonde's face turned red-hot. How dare this guy? She was trying to help him with his monster problem and he was here making fun of the musician she liked. Gr...That's just rude (it almost reminded her of that black-haired jerk she always runs into)! "I'll have you know sir," she said in tone dripping with rudeness. "Yusuke Amade is an extremely talented piano player who plays with such passion and honesty, he can make you feel joy, sadness, love, and heartbreak just with his music so even if he isn't famous right now, which I really doubt, he will be!"

Usagi glared at the man before her and the smile he had turned to shock before finally a smile, a real smile, came to his face. "Thank you."

"Thank you?"

"Yeah," he said, looking the most relaxed she had seen him. "Thank you for saying that. When I started out thought no one would ever listen to my music," he said, looking off into the distance.

His music? Wait. Does that mean?... Usagi's face brightened up. "YOU'RE YUSUKE AMADE!"

The man was shocked before shaking his head.

"My best friend showed me your music and it was amazing!" Usagi said, getting really too close to his face for comfort but she didn't really notice. "They were so heartfelt and breathtaking and beautiful! I couldn't believe it! Where do you get your inspiration from? Is it from someone special?" Usagi asked her mouth running a mile a minute until she saw the awkward look on his face at her last question. "So it is someone special! I knew it! Who is she!?" she asked grabbing his face pressing it to hers. "Tell me," she slightly creepily said which made Yusuke Amade back away.

"W-well," he paused before looking back at Usagi. "Her name is Yanagi Akiko," he said with a dreamy smile on his face. "She has the most beautiful blue eyes that you could lose yourself in and the softest, reddest hair I've ever seen but she's also so organized and intelligent and ambitious. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have gotten as far as I did without her since she was the one who helped me get my first album recorded at Jam Records and has been with me this whole way. She's...just incredible."

"It sounds like you really love her," Usagi said a smaller smile and not in his personal space anymore.

"I do," he said, before his smile turned kind of sad. "Too bad, she'll never know."

Usagi's smile quickly faded and she cried out, "Why!? You clearly love her, so what's stopping you!?"

Yusuke Amade looked away before saying, "Whenever I build up the nerve to try and ask her out, something always happens and I can't, and now with th-the mon...mon...the you know what, I can't put her through that if it comes after me again."

Usagi gave a sympathetic look. So that's why his music sounded so sad at the end of his song? It was because he felt like he'll never get Yanagi-san's love. Well that just won't do! Not in Usagi's book! She will give the song a happy ending since she wasn't the protector of love and justice for nothing! "Yusuke Amade! You must tell her how you feel!"

"Wh-what about the mon-thing?" he asked with a tremble in his voice.

"That's no excuse!" Usagi said, her voice filled with confidence. "You love her don't you!?"

"Y-yes," he said, probably wondering if he should be more worried of the monster chasing him or this girl.

"Then you need to be honest with her or she'll never know. Besides do you want to live in a state of eternal regret wondering if you just gave up the love of your life for this monster!" Usagi demanded which made Yusuke Amade look down with sadness in his eyes.

"B-but what if...what if something goes wrong? What if she doesn't like me in that way?" Yusuke Amade said with sadness heavy in his voice.

"Then at least you'll know and don't you worry about that evil monster, I'll be taking care of it!" Usagi said with pride beaming from her face before realizing. Oh yeah! She was Usagi right now, not Sailor Moon and no one was supposed to know that. Think quick! "I mean...um...I have this friend and she'll take care of it," Usagi quickly said.

Yusuke Amade looked at Usagi, unsure and scared before saying, "How?"

Usagi suddenly felt a little stupid. How? Well, with a golden tiara but then again that's not really something you tell someone even if they are scared out of their wits by an evil monster intent on their doom. "Just trust me," Usagi said with a small wink as Luna facepalmed.

Yusuke Amade paused looking at Usagi's honest expression and and finally he sighed, not completely believing her about her 'friend' that destroys monsters, before he slowly pulled out a card from his jacket. "Here," he said handing the card to Usagi which had the name of some Jazz club surrounded by musical notes and a piano beneath the letters, and when she flipped onto its side she saw a small map of its location. "I'm heading there tonight to perform, so give that to your friend," he said as he looked around. "I really hope you're being honest."

"Everything will be fine," Usagi said before looking at his returned fearful expression. "Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to walk with you?" Usagi asked looking up at him.

"N-no. I'll be fine," he then turned to her and said. "Just tell your friend to hurry," Yusuke Amade said before he ran off as though he had seen something horrible.

Usagi watched her new favorite musician take off into the rainy darkness with worry now in her eyes the further he ran before disappearing. Why was he being chased? Will he be okay at the club? Will he even reach the club? Will he ever be able to confess his love to that lady?

"USAGI!" Luna cried out as she left another long scratch to Usagi's cheek.

"LUNA!" Usagi cried out as she grasped her pain-filled cheek. "What was that for!?"

"For keeping me out here for longer than necessary," Luna said angrily as she jumped onto Usagi's right shoulder.

"I was trying to help Yusuke Amade, Luna," Usagi cried out with a couple of tears in her eyes as she became distinctly aware of the rain around them. "Besides don't you think this monster is at least worth looking into? It could give us a clue to the enemy."

Luna looked over at Usagi before saying, "And I assume you're not just saying that to get me to agree."

"Is it working?" Usagi asked with a hopeful expression.

Luna looked over at Usagi hopeful face before openly sighing. "I guess we can check it out but remember we'll be busy, so don't get distracted."

"Me?" Usagi asked with a wicked smirk. "Never."

"Why I am already regretting this?" Luna asked before yowling in fright as Usagi took off in the same direction as Yusuke Amade and the hope she will be able to defeat the monster like she promised. And if by some lucky stroke of fate get him and his soon-to-be girlfriend together then that would be awesome too!

"Kyurene," Master Jadeite's voice said as she turned on the worthless human-made contraption and bowed before him. "Have you completed your mission yet?" he asked.

"Forgive me, Master, but I haven't," she said, unable to meet her Master's eye.

He paused for a moment, probably unsure how to take this news before slowly saying, "Why not?"

"A human woman came into the recording studio I was using to enact your plan, Master, and interrupted me before she gave your tape to human man," Kyurene said, bitterness heavy in her voice at the two humans who have put her in this humiliating situation in the first place. Oh, when she gets her hands on them, she'll make them regret ever stepping into that building.

"Have you taken care of it?" Master Jadeite asked.

"I tried, but the man had gotten away with the tape," Kyurene replied.

"And the woman?" Master Jadeite said, sounding exasperated.

"I...don't know. I thought it was more necessary to try and get the tape back," Kyurene said.

Master Jadeite gave a low growl before saying, "Find them and get rid of them before the entire plan is ruined and I assure Queen Beryl will not be as merciful as me."

"I know Master but that's why I came to you. After I lost the human male, I hoped that you would have someway to track the tape," Kyurene said.

Master Jadeite went quiet before she heard a loud sigh coming from the contraption's screen turned from bluish in color to a dark, almost black purple and saw something beginning to materialize before her. At first, she couldn't make out what it was but as she watched it turned into a ball of dark purple yarn that radiated dark energy that seemed to suck the light out of the nearby area. "This yarn will lead you to the tape's location," Master Jadeite said as the yarn began to unroll itself into a near invisible strand that she had to squint to see. "This is your final chance. No more mistakes," Master Jadeite with the threat obvious in his voice.

"Yes, Master. I swear that there will be no more interruptions, including those humans," Kyurene replied with a wicked smile as she remembered all the wonderfully terribly things she'll do when they're in her clutches and this time she won't care if anyone sees. Maybe she'll start by ripping out their eyes. Or maybe she'll break their fingers, one at a time. Or maybe she'll carry them just high enough so when she drops them, they'll feel the force of the ground and lie there in withering pain for hours if she was lucky. She giggled in amusement at her thoughts before it turned to an evil cackle as her physical body began to break apart into bats that soon took to the skies with a wicked glint in their eyes as shrieks and screeches broke the peaceful night air.

"That must be it," Usagi said, pointing at a small, hole in the wall with only a flashy neon sign saying it was a jazz club that looked really old and, not to be mean, but kind of ugly. "You know for such a great musician, he does work at a pretty cruddy place," the blonde said out loud.

"Usagi!" Luna loud whispered angrily which Usagi gave an awkward giggle to. This girl sometimes. Luna gave out a deep sigh before looking back at the hidden jazz club and gasped loudly as she saw the bouncer was checking the IDs of a young couple. Wait...Oh no. "Usagi, we might have to think of another way in," Luna said turning to her teenaged charge.

"What? Why?" Usagi asked as she looked down at her cat who merely pointed towards the burly bouncer with a no-nonsense look that scared Usagi before she quickly shook it away. "Don't worry, Luna!" Usagi said with a smile on her face. "He doesn't seem that tough! And besides, my natural charm and appeal will be more than enough to convince him," Usagi said as Luna facepalmed before the cat watched Usagi walk away from their hiding spot and approach the intimidating bouncer.

"This is never going to work," Luna muttered.

And lo and behold, it didn't. Usagi came flying back towards Luna, crashing into the feline. "I can't believe I didn't manage to convince him," Usagi muttered in a dazed state.

Luna pulled herself out from under Usagi's body with a bright red bump on her head. "We'll need to think of something," Luna said.

Usagi tapped her chin before her face lit up. "I got it! How about I turn into Sailor Moon, beat up the jerky bouncer and-"

"No," Luna said.

"But why?" Usagi whined

"Well, it's a crime for one and do you want to monster to find out that Sailor Moon is after them?" Luna said.

Usagi was confused at first. Why would the monster care that Sailor Moon would be after it? She was Sailor Moon! Sailor Moon had to defeat the monsters that terrorize the city of Tokyo! And since it was a monster and probably had heard about her, it knew she was going to be coming after it eventually! Sure, it wasn't as open or obvious about it's evil schemes like the others and sure the only way she'd even know about would be because of Yusuke Amade. Wait..."OH NO!" Usagi cried grabbing her face in the same way that guy in Edward Munch's The Scream does.

Luna, seeing Usagi catch on said, "Exactly. We're going to need to think of another solution."

Usagi thought for a bit before her eyes widened in joy and she brought out her bubblegum-pink Disguise Pen. "I've got it!" she cried. "Moon Power, turn me into a beautiful musician!" With those words spoken, the blinding pink light engulfed Usagi, swirling and twirling around her as she felt her body begin to grow and her clothes transform. Slowly the light settled around her, before it disappeared showing Usagi was taller and now in a revealing outfit that consisted of knee-high fishnet stockings with heeled ankle boots, a black mini-skirt and matching crop top, and a bright red short jacket made of leather. However, her clothes weren't the only change as Usagi also saw that her usual blonde locks that fell to her knees and she spent hours brushing was now a messy ombre green with streaks of red that only fell to her shoulders. "How do I look, Luna?" she asked excitedly.

"Like your father would faint if he saw you," Luna replied as she hoped onto Usagi's shoulder. "Now come on, we have to get inside."

Usagi nodded and started walking towards the mean bouncer who had just let in a couple. "Hi," Usagi said, trying to put on a cheerful voice.

"ID?" he said gruffly. Still that same charm as before.

"Oh, um..." she said.

"Do you have an ID or not?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"Of course I do! I just put it in my pocket," she said as she shuffled through her pockets, trying to maintain her huge and fake smile while the mean bouncer just rolled his eyes. Rude. But still! She needed to get by this guy! Yusuke Amade needed her help! As the freaked out Usagi searched her leather jacket, she felt her finger scrape something plastic. Could it be-? She pulled it out and there it was a shiny, new ID which read, Tanaka Mitsuki along with presenting her age as 18 rather than 14. Her fake smile turned to a real one as she showed the bouncer her ID. "Sorry about that! I can be such a scatterbrain," she said trying to sound sweet and grown up.

The bouncer just gruffed out a response as he checked the ID before gesturing her to go in. Usagi gave a sigh of relief and was about to swagger on in when the bouncer's overly muscular arm prevented her from entering. She gave a small peep as a thousand thoughts began to race through her head all at once. Did he figure her out? Did he figure out that the ID was fake? Did he figure out that she knew nothing about jazz and is going to a jazz club!? Okay, probably not that last one. But why!? Okay! Calm down Usagi! "Is there a problem?" she asked.

"Your cat?" the bouncer said pointing towards Luna who was slumped over Usagi's shoulders. "No pets are allowed in the club."

Usagi nearly froze at this. No pets? But she needed Luna! Think, Usagi! Think! "W-well...um. This isn't a pet!" she quickly said as the bouncer groaned in disbelief and annoyance.

"Okay. What is it then?" he said, clearly not believing her.

"Um...It's the latest in faux fur scarves!" Usagi said with a trying-to-hard confident smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a long night ahead of me," she continued with a flick of her neon green hair sauntering into the club as the bouncer rolled his eyes before going back to his job.

The first thing Usagi realized upon entering the club was that she was way of her depth here. The disgusting smell of cigar and cigarette smoke wafted through the air, talking in rough and mature voices about topics Usagi didn't understand, and an elegant looking woman with straight black hair that covered one of her eyes was playing a large brass instrument. Yeah. Way out of her depth here. Honestly, she felt like suffocating in here. No. Yusuke Amade need her help to stop the monster chasing him and so he can be with his girlfriend! Usagi took a deep breath and put on an obviously fake smile that went unnoticed by anyone there (thankfully) and somehow managed to get to the bar.

The bartender looked over at her as he finished cleaning a glass. "What can I get you? Some sake? Plum wine? Beer?" he asked going through the options as Usagi who was getting more and more intimidated with each listing. She was 18 in this form but she wasn't about to start drinking!

"Um...a cream soda, please," she said.

The bartender looked at her weirdly but shrugged and brought out her drink which she promptly took and swiveled on the bar stool to look around. No sign of a monster or anything monster-like. Or Yusuke Amade. Darn. What if it already left!? What if it already made it to Yusuke Amade?! What if-! "Ladies and Gentlemen," Usagi was quickly broken from her fears and worries, "let's give one last hand to Honda Naomi," the host said through a microphone as the woman on stage gave a bow followed by a round of slow, respectful clapping except for Usagi who was widely clapped (which may or may not got her some awkward stares but hey she was good)! "And please welcome to the stage Yusuke Amade, an up and coming star at home as well as here," the host said as the very recognizable Yusuke Amade, only now wearing black slacks and a white dress shirt with a bowtie, walked onto stage and took a seat at the piano and began to play his beautiful sounding music. Usagi couldn't help but give out a sigh of relief at seeing the musician safe. However, he didn't seem to be okay. Sure, he was good at hiding it and if she hadn't seen him earlier, she would've thought he was perfectly fine.

But she did see him earlier. And now she can see how his eyes would discreetly dart around the room with fear still obvious and his fingers would shake along the keys, even missing a few but running with it and still making beautiful music despite it.

It was...it was heartbreaking to witness.

She needed to find the monster.

"Usagi?" she was broken from her trance and looked at Luna. "Look," the black feline said looking over at the floor and at first Usagi saw nothing but then she saw a flash of something. It was so faint that Usagi still wasn't sure it was real, that she thought she might be seeing things. Another flash. Usagi stared, it was the faintest hint of dark purple before disappearing. It was real! Usagi concentrated on the faint whatever-it-is and it came again, another flash of dark purple. Usagi followed the flash and saw it stretched out like a string and was attached to something. No. Someone!

It was connected Yusuke Amade. Usagi looked up at him as he was closing up his song, seemingly unaware of anything. That couldn't be good. "Do you think it's part of the Dark Kingdom?" Usagi whispered to her cat.

"I know it can't be anything good," Luna said. "We need to warn Yusuke-san befo-"

The keys of the piano were pounded into letting out a sickening sound. Usagi and Luna looked up to see Yusuke Amade stare out on of the windows of the club at something in pure horror before he quickly stands up, knocking over his piano bench, and racing off the stage without another word.

Whispers rose up from the customers, wondering about his weird behavior as the host came on stage to reassure them that Yusuke Amade was fine and it was just stage jitters. Usagi knew better though. He was frightened off by something or someone.

She quickly turned to the window. There was nothing there. She turned back to the stage and he had disappeared from sight. Something scared him off. Something was at that window. Without another word to her feline companion, Usagi took off in the same direction as Yusuke Amade.

Yusuke frantically searched the underground parking garage for his car as the horror of what he saw outside came back to him. It was the monster! He just knew it! It followed him here. Okay. Breathe. Just breathe. Breathe. That didn't happen. That couldn't happen. But it did. He had to get away. He had to get away now!

He continued trying to run towards his car as the underground air grew hotter and more suffocating with each passing moment and the shadows all around seem to be playing tricks on him. No. No. Can't think like that. He needed his car.

He took a deep breath. And then another. And then another. Thoughts came pouring into his head. Why was any of this happening to him? What did he do to deserve this? First, he couldn't confess Yanagi-san and now might never, then that-that thing nearly killed him at Jam Records and he barely got away with his life, he couldn't even play without worrying it would jump out and do unspeakable things it him, and now it seemed like he couldn't escape it! If he was being honest, the only good thing about today was that blonde girl he met. She seemed so kind and worried about him. Oh no. What if that thing saw them together!? He might've put that girl at risk. And didn't she say she was sending a friend to help him? No! He might put her at risk too. He was such a terrible person.

The flapping of wings he heard and he felt his blood physically run cold. It couldn't be. Could it?

Well, he wasn't sticking around to find out!

Flapping wings followed by a shriek. This time closer. His legs. They didn't move. They were frozen. His breathing was heavy.

Move. Please. Move!

The flapping came closer. The shrieks louder.

Move. Just move!

The flapping was above. The shrieks were deafening. Shadows of bats circled above him.

His legs did not move.

He was trapped.

The ding of an elevator echoed through the claustrophobic air. Yusuke, willed with all his might, to look behind him to see the elevator doors slowly open as the bats flapped over. He watched with horror as that demon in human shape emerged from the elevator with a hand on her hip as the swarm of bats flew around. "You have something important to me," it said in a tone that reminded Yusuke of the tune played whenever a predator had their prey cornered. "You have something of mine," she said removing her hand as her nails extended into those same claws. "And I will get it back," she continued before lunging at the musician who prayed with all he could to be able to run, flee, to even just move his legs. He couldn't.

He was knocked the ground, his head colliding with the concrete and his vision blurring. "Humans are so weak," he heard the heinous voice directly in his ear as he felt his tape leave his pocket. "Now that I have my master's tape back, I will be able to enact his plan and once it's done, I'll make good on my promise to break your fingers one at a time before tearing out your throat for wasting my time. Then again why wait?"

His breathing became faster. Time froze. A realization hit him. He was...He was going to die. There was no one to save him. He was alone. He was going to die alone. He would never see the sun again. He never see Akiko again. He never told her. Silent tears began to fall down his cheeks as the monster's cackles of hate assaulted his ears.

She readied her claws above her head, ready to maul him without a care and with a sadistic glee while he lay helpless, resigned to his fate and then... "Hey!"

They turned behind them and his tears of fear and pain turned to one of joy. It was that girl and her cat from earlier. Oh no. It was that girl from earlier! "Run Away!" he yelled. He couldn't let her get hurt!

"Quiet," the monster threatened before turning to the girl. "Leave."

"Then let him go because I'm not afraid of you," the girl said. Was she crazy? She needed to leave.

The monster stared at the girl for a moment before saying, "I have no time for pest," and then it started to change. It's red hair became ragged and messy and its skin turned a disgusting neon green, dark purple fur began to grow from its arms and legs, scale-like armor began to harden around its torso, her dress tore and only became a barely-there sash, talons on its feet , it's pupils became thin slits on red sclerae with strange triangular shaped marking under her eyes, purple-painted lips hiding rows of sharp fangs, and bat-like wings began to protrude from her back.

Yusuke was horrified and disgusted by the creature but he wasn't the only one. He saw that girl, she had a look of pure terror on her face. Honestly, he couldn't blame her. He was a grown man and he was cowering like a kitten against a monster so he couldn't even imagine how this teenager felt staring at this creature.

"I'm still not leaving until you let him go," the girl said on shaky legs. She needed to run already! Forget about him! The monster growled at the girl looking like she was ready to pounce upon her which even she noticed as her eyes grew wide with fear, though she looked like she was clumsily trying to get into a defensive position. She was still trying to stand up to this thing?! What was with this girl?! "Like I said, I'm not leaving. Leave him alone!"

The monster looked briefly taken aback by the girl's determination despite her fear but seemed to quickly shake it off. "Like I said I have no time for a pest like you with my Master's plan so close to fruition but don't worry, I won't forget your insolence," it said with a smirk before it spread it transformed before their eyes into a swarm of bats and flew out of the underground parking lot as its cackles echoed behind her before disappearing altogether.

Yusuke, even with it gone, was still in a state of shock. His body still violently shook. His breathing was still panicked and desperate. His skin was still clammy and pale. His eyes were still filled with tears. He looked like a wreck. "Are you alright?" he heard behind him. It was that girl and her cat.

"Not really." Understatement of the century. "But thank you."

"You're welcome," she said as she took a knee next to him.

"What are you doing here?" he said, as he shakingly rose to his feet with help from the girl.

"I wanted to come and protect you since my friend wasn't able to at the time," the girl said.

"I see, but you should go home now. I don't want you to get any more involved in this than you already are," he said nervously.

"I'm sorry but I can't. If that thing is going to do something too innocent people then it's my duty to stop it," she said with both confidence and fear in her voice. Yusuke stood there his eyes wide. This girl was going to go and try to stop that monster herself? Was she really this brave? He looked into her eyes once more. She was. And here he was quivering like a coward while a girl, half his age was willing to defeat the monster that had been plaguing him all night. Was he really going to let this girl and whoever her friend was, fight his battle for him? "I gotta go now!"

He made his decision, "Wait!" She looked back at him with bewildered expression. "We'll take my car because I think I have an idea of where she's going."

The girl's bewildered expression turned to a smile before she followed the musician to his vehicle.

Well, here goes either the best or worst decision of his existence.

Usagi with Luna on her lap had been seated in Yusuke Amade's in uncomfortable silence for about ten minutes. Speaking of him, Usagi could just feel the anxiety and fear coming off him as he stared dead ahead at the empty nighttime roads. It was honestly kind of suffocating in the small space. "So...where are we heading?" she asked in that tone of voice where you're trying to relieve a really tense situation but fail.

"Jam Records," he said not looking over at Usagi as his eyes were squarely on the road and his knuckles white around the steering wheel.

"Jam Records?" Usagi asked. "Isn't that where Yanagi-san works as well"

"Yup," Yusuke Amade said in a quick manor between his worried breaths.

"You must be excited to see her then," Usagi said.

"Yeah," he said sounding somewhat bitter and snappish. "I can deal with the fact she'll never want to speak to me again after a monster tries to tear her apart if it hasn't already."

Usagi looked down. "I'm sorry," she said in a soft voice which even earned a look of sympathy from Luna.

She heard a deep sigh from the driver's seat. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just scared. What if we're too late and Akiko...is you know? What if we can't stop it? What if...What if there's nothing we can do?"

"You're already doing something even though you're scared," she said. "And honestly, you're not the only one whose scared," Usagi continued as she petted Luna's head.

Yusuke Amade paused for a moment before saying, "I know. But I should've been better. I mean I'm an adult but I was crying like a baby on the concrete while you could look that thing in the eye and fight for my life."

"You know someone told me when I was scared and afraid," she said with a deep blush, "you can't cry, you have to fight and he helped me to destroy my problem."

"He sounds very smart," Yusuke Amade said with a smile before turning towards the road.

"He is," she said with a dreamy, love-filled grin at the thought of her masked savior while Luna just gave a loud sigh. He was so handsome and protective and wonderful. One day, she would tell him all this and hopefully, he would see how incredibly she was and they would fall in love and get married! There would be no monsters and evil generals and it would just the two of them, living happily ever after!

Her dreams were stopped when the car came to an abrupt stop. "We're here," Yusuke Amade said as he pointed to a large building where a shadow of something landed. Usagi gulped. It was already here.

Were they too late? No. Can't think like that. Usagi took a deep breath as the two hopped out of the car and hesitantly headed inside.

Close. So very close. Those humans might have gotten in her way before but now nothing can stop her from carrying out her Master's plan.

Kyurene peered into the comforting darkness as she searched for that accursed machine that started this whole mess. Ugh! Couldn't humans do anything right?! Kyurene sighed. Aw, well. The sooner she finishes this job, the sooner Master Jadeite will allow her to hunt down her prey, starting with that little brat in the parking lot! If it wasn't for her then she could've been having her fun with that pathetic excuse for a man for daring to interfere with her mission thinking that she was strong. How dare she think she could stand against her? A soldier of the Dark Kingdom! A servant of Master Jadeite, one of the Great Dark Generals! She could've ripped her in half in that moment! And yet she stayed! Trying to act all tough instead of running and crying to her mother like a good little girl! Someone should teach her to try and fight her betters.

And soon Kyurene will. Maybe she'll tear out those ugly pigtails from her skull? Or use one of her nails to dig into the hideous pale flesh around her skin? Or maybe...maybe she'll just make the heroic girl watch as she made others suffer starting with that man she wanted to save so desperately. Force her to watch as gave him the excruciating, agonizing torture and show her what it really means to play hero.

Kyurene chuckled at her own thoughts of how she was going to make the girl suffered when her eyes landed on the wretched machine from before. Finally. She gave a sick smirk as she walked over the machine. This will all be over soon and the humans will be her playthings. She reached the machine and pulled out the tape and just as she was about to put it in...

"Hold it right there!" an annoying, high-pitched voice called out before a piercing pain filled her hand causing her to gave a loud, humiliating cry as Master's tape was thrown from her hand! Kyurene looked at the source of the pain to see it was some furry Earth creature that was digging it's fangs into her claw and when she turned around she saw it was that same little brat who clumsily caught the tape and man from before!

Kyurene shrieked. Of course it's them! These vermin! These insects! Whenever she was close to finishing her mission, they just crawl out of the cracks they were born from! Darn them! She was absolutely sick of seeing their disgusting faces! And now she won't have to after tonight!

Using her far superior strength, she ripped the creature from her hand and threw it as hard as possible into a nearby wall where a satisfying crunch could be heard. "Luna!" the brat cried out trying to run towards it as the animal whined in pain. However, Kyurene could care less about that!

"GIVE THAT TAPE BACK!" Kyurene roared as she flew at the girl, ready to rip the head from her throat!

"Watch out!" The man's voice called and it seemed to reach the brat's ears as she quickly grabbed the cat and crawled out of the way.

"Why do you even want this!?" The blonde brat cried.

"It belongs to my master!" Kyurene screamed as the girl barely managed to make it back to her feet. "GIVE IT!" she screamed again as she again flew at the girl who was barely dodging her attacks as her eyes darted around. She was probably searching for a weapon to use. Well, too bad! Kyurene raced towards the girl and managed to ensnare her in her claws. The girl began to scream and struggle. Pathetic. "You should've given the tape back when you had the chance," Kyurene whispered against her ear.

"No! This belongs to Amade-san!" the brat cried as she continued to fight against her inevitable death. Kyurene hesitated and became visibly confused. What was this human talking about? That tape is the property of Master Jadeite!

As Kyurene boiled at the implication that her Master's tape could belong to some human, she felt her prisoner violently shift before kicking Kyurene in the face causing the mighty youma to drop the brat as pain and humiliation flooded her beautiful face before pure, unbridled hate burned in her eyes as she saw the girl rise to her feet with her master's tape still in her grip!

"Let's get out of here," the male human cried as the brat and her creature escaped through the door.

Kyurene panted. Heavy. Angered. Furious. She gave the loudest, ear-shattering screech before she flew over and tore the door off its hinges!

Kyurene now knew what she'll do when she has claws in them. She won't hesitate. She'll savor their screams no matter who saw.

She made a mistake letting them live. She won't make it again.

"Do you think we lost her?" Usagi said through heavy breaths from the ache in her lungs, as she and Yusuke Amade ran as far as they could from the room where that monster was.

Unfortunately, her answer came not from Amade-san but from the screech of merciless anger from down the hallway followed by what sounded like wood cracking and metal snapping from behind them.

Oh no!

The hall filled with shrieks and screams and something that sounded like, "I shall tear the flesh from your bones!". It was this that made Usagi's blood run cold. This was terrible! The monster wasn't playing around anymore! Flaps of wings were heard far down the hallway and they were getting closer and closer! Usagi was terrified! She knew she had to keep going though! She had to get away from that thing and stop it before it could hurt them! But first, they needed to lose that thing!

Before she knew it though, she felt her hand being grabbed and snapped into another direction before being shoved into what seemed like a supplies closet. If she was being honest it happened so fast, she wasn't really sure what happened.

All she could hear was her own breathing and her own thoughts going crazy. What were they going to do now!? They were still in this building with that monster! Not only that, for some weird reason, that thing wants Yusuke Amade's tape! But why?! Why did that thing want with it? And why did it say it belonged to her master or whatever?

"Are you alright?" she heard. It came from Yusuke Amade who was leaning against the door

Usagi didn't really know. She was still shaking from fear and she felt like she was about to cry so she was definitely not alright but should she say that to Amade-san? No. She didn't want to worry him. "I'm fine," Usagi said with a forced smile. She kind of doubted either Amade-san or Luna believed it.

"Hm..." was all Yusuke Amade said as he took slow steady breaths and for a moment that was the only sound between them.

"Amade-san?" Usagi asked as she held out the tape to him. "Why did that monster want your tape?"

Yusuke Amade looked up at her and said, "I have no idea. Wait-" he took the tape and looked it over. "This isn't my tape." Wait, what?

"What do you mean?" Usagi said ripping the tape away from him and trying to see what he was talking about but couldn't find anything all that off. Wait a minute. Something twinkled. She squinted her eyes and faintly saw something...off. It kind of looked like a very thin vein but its color was a dark purple that blended into the black almost perfectly. As Usagi was looking over the tape she suddenly felt Luna tense on her shoulder with her her black fur standing on edge, which could only mean one thing. The teen's eyes widened. This tape belonged to their enemies!

No wonder Amade-san's been hunted down by that thing!

Well, what now? Should they keep it? Try to destroy it? Find out why she had it? Usagi looked over to Luna for help with her questions but saw that she was growling at the tape. That doesn't exactly help. The teen turned back to the stupidly evil tape in her hands that caused this whole

Suddenly, Usagi was startled out of her by a loud-ear shattering scream from the hallway!

Oh no! Someone else was in the building with that thing!

"Akiko!" she heard Yusuke Amade cry as his face went sheet white but without another thought he threw open the door to the storage room. Usagi followed him in a flash. Someone needed her help!

They ran through the halls when they found the monster holding up a pretty woman by her short brown hair as she wrestled against the creature. "I'll ask once more, where did the humans go!?" they heard the monster say in a tone filled with hate.

"I d-don't know what you're talking about!" the woman with tears coming out of her eyes as she struggled against the monster's claw.

"Then you are of no use to me," the monster said as the claws of her other hand lengthened and sharpened until they reached the pale flesh of the woman as she screamed so loud, Usagi had to cover her ears.

"Stop!" That wasn't her. Was that...Was that...Was that Yusuke Amade? She looked up and there he was shaking but his fearful eyes won't leave the monster's who looked happy and mad all at the same time.

"You humans are so predictable," the monster said, as she moved to wrap her arm around the woman's neck before pressing her sharp claws to her throat which made her freeze in terror. Oh that was so not good! What was Usagi going to do!?

"Please don't hurt her!" Yusuke Amade begged. He sounded absolutely frantic. Almost like he knew this woman. Wait a minute. Was this woman Yanagi-san? Oh no. Usagi's face whipped back to the woman who shook with fear and silently falling down her face

"Then give me the tape," the monster said as she kept her claws to her throat.

"Please help me," Yanagi-san said in fear as she turned her terror-filled eyes to them.

Usagi looked down at the tape. Oh, what was Usagi going to do!? On one hand, Yanagi-san's life was literally hanging in the balance! On the other hand, Usagi still didn't know what this tape would do the people and it could be something awful! But could she really sacrifice an innocent woman?

...

"Do you promise to let her go?!" Usagi shouted. She felt everyone's eyes turn to her. "If we give you the tape will she be free to go?" Usagi briefly glance at Luna whose expression changed to one of shock and horror.

The monster turned towards her with a roll of her eyes and said, "She's of no use so sure."

"Promise me," Usagi demanded. "Promise you'll let her go and tape's yours."

"Fine. I promise," the monster said.

"Alright," Usagi said as she slowly lifted her the evil tape towards the evil monster. Usagi could still feel Luna's eyes on her, probably wondering what she was doing. Honestly, she herself didn't know. This was stupid. This was selfish. But she knew it was the right thing to do. She couldn't sacrifice even a single innocent life.

The monster came close Usagi looked over at Luna before a thought hit her. Just as the monster was about to reach out and grab the tape, Usagi winded up her arm and threw is as hard as she could and (luckily) it went flying over the monster's head and across the hallway. "NO!" the monster cried as she threw Yanagi-san against a wall with a hard thud, rendering her unconscious. Quickly, Usagi and Yusuke Amade ran to her side to make sure she was alright. Thankfully, she was!

Meanwhile, Luna leapt into the air and grabbed the tape in her mouth before she flung the tape at a wall reducing the evil Dark Kingdom weapon to a pile of debris that quickly turned to ash!

Well, at least that was solved.

Onto the much, MUCH bigger problem.

The monster let out a barely coherent screech that promised death for everyone in the room! She and Amade-san were still in danger! "Take her somewhere safe! And stay hidden! Quickly!" Usagi cried out and Amade-san nodded as he ever so gently lifted his crush into his arms like a bride before racing out of the hallway.

"YOU HAVE DOOMED ME!" the monster screeched before it began to rapidly flap its wings. Wait...What was it doing? The air in the hallway began to pick up and swirl. Great amounts of energy began to appear before it turned into rings that didn't look friendly! "Run!" Luna cried as the two took off, barely being able to fight against the raging air as the energy continued to build! They began to run faster and faster before they just barely made it behind the safety of a corner wall as the supersonic rings darted through the air, with a loud deafening BOOM as they destroyed everything in its path including a wall.

Usagi looked at the destruction as her ears screamed in pain. That could have been her and Luna. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HER AND LUNA!

Her breathing grew heavy, her mind started to race, the ringing in her ears continued.

"U...gi!"

They could've died if not for Luna.

"Us..i!"

It was the only thing she was focusing on.

"U...agi!"

The only thing she could contemplate.

"Usagi!

It was Luna. She barely realized it.

"Wh-what?" Usagi asked, her frightful eyes turning towards the cat.

"You have to transform," Luna said.

Was she crazy? "What about that sonic wave thing?! I don't know how much my tiara can do against that! And I don't really want to die today."

Luna looked down and pondered for a bit before a lightbulb hovered over her head. "Do you remember that recording room we found the monster in?" Usagi nodded. "Lead her there and I'll have everything ready!"

Usagi looked into Luna's red eyes that pleaded with her to trust her. The blonde paused before sighing.

"I'm trusting you, Luna," she said. "MOON PRISM POWER MAKE UP!"

It was freezing cold outside with some clouds still in the sky as Sailor Moon searched for that monster and sincerely hope it didn't get too far. Unfortunately the Sailor Guardian was having a tough time even finding the monster! Oh no! What if it got away and was going to do something terrible to other people!? Or what if it was going back to the base and Sailor Moon wouldn't be able to catch it?!

No! She couldn't let that happen! What if it came back?! What if it hunted Amade-san and Yanagi-san?! What if it came after her and Luna?! NO! There had to be something Sailor Moon could do!

Wait...There was!

Sailor Moon breathed in before she screamed "HERE I AM! SAILOR MOON!" to the Heavens! She wasn't sure that worked.

She heard a shriek and the beating of bat wings. Or maybe it did!

Behind her, she heard the sound of concrete breaking and heavy, angry breathing. "So you're the one that destroyed Morga, Balm, Doux, and Father Chanela," it said with venom dripping from its voice.

"Yes!" Sailor Moon yelped in fear before quickly shook her head before she got into position. "How dare you attack innocent people so you can use the beauty of music to make people into your mindless servants! I am the Pretty Guardian who fights for love and for justice! I am Sailor Moon and in the name of of the moon, I will punish you!"

The monster growled and said, "Was that supposed to impress me?"

"It should," Sailor Moon said defiantly.

"It doesn't!" the monster cried frantically. "Actually, it just makes me want to gouge your eyes out and stuff them down your throat!"

Sailor Moon visibly gulped. "Well, I'm not going to let you do that."

"You don't have a choice," it said. "Or I could just finish you off quickly and then be showered with praise by my Master and Great Queen and maybe then they'll overlook how those blasted humans ruined the mission." The monster began cackle as it rapidly flapped its wings causing the wind to pick up like last time as Sailor Moon's gut warned her to run if she didn't want to end up like the wall in Jam Records. Sailor Moon tried to take off but it was like the wind was so much stronger out here! It felt like she couldn't move at all!

She heard the energy building behind her which caused her gut to scream at her to run with all her might. She couldn't though. She could barely turn her head in time to see the supersonic rings collide with her.

Everything became kind of blur because she just felt pain. Just terrible pain just everywhere in her body. It honestly felt like she had been hit by a thousand horses directly in the face. Not only that, she couldn't see since it was all weird and fuzzy and her ears were ringing with a sound that sounded like TV static. She felt stone and metal uncomfortably poke her body. To top it all off, her head was pounding!

"So, the mighty Sailor Moon really was nothing more than a human," Sailor Moon barely heard. She really could only groan in response. "Broken. Alone. In pain," it said coming closer before it held its knife-like claws closer to her face. "This honestly too easy," the monster said as Sailor Moon felt the coldness of metal coming closer and closer. What was she going to do? She could barely move, much less fight! "Isn't it sad Sailor Moon? Coming all this way and managing to fall within seconds of our fight? Aw well. Without you in the way, I'm free to do whatever I want to the humans and that wretched creature who destroyed the plans of my Master." Wait...She was talking about Luna and Amade-san and Yanagi-san. No. NO! That can't happen!

Sailor Moon needed to be strong. She needed to fight the pain. She was Sailor Moon for crying out loud!

The sailor-suited senshi slowly and painfully raised her arm. Unfortunately, her vision was still blurry and she could only make out colors and barely visible shapes. Deep breaths. Just take deep breaths.

She grabbed something.

It was fleshy but cold.

It was the monster's wrist.

"Why you-" the monster cried as it desperately and frantically tried to drive her claw into Sailor Moon's face, but she couldn't. Sailor Moon was holding her back with a strength the superheroine didn't even know she had, especially with all the pain she had.

But she did.

Deep breath. Take a deep breath.

She needed to escape.

Using most of her strength, Sailor Moon fought against the monster and managed to turn her own claws back at her, even managing to leave a large gash across her face. "AH!" the monster cried in pain as it ripped her hand away from Sailor Moon to hide her now scarred face. It honestly made Sailor Moon feel bad but she also knew she couldn't dwell on that fact.

As the monster sat there screaming, Sailor Moon began to quickly as she could crawl away before managing to barely stagger to her feet as she quickly looked around despite her vision still not being the best. Her eyes landed on something. It was the elevator!

Thank goodness!

She just had to make it there- "I will break you!" the monster cried with anger obvious in her eyes as it furiously stood with a black ooze-like substance dripping down from the wound.

Oh no. Run!

Sailor Moon willed her body to run! Just run! It still hurt and she couldn't even properly see but she knew she just had to reach that elevator and then she can reunite with Luna and this whole nightmare would be over.

That is if she can reach it though!

She felt a stabbing pain in her back that nearly brought her to her knees. She heard the monster growling, "You won't escape this time!"

No.

Gotta keep going!

Sailor Moon used everything she had and ran.

Pain. Pain everywhere!

Deep breaths. Deep breaths!

She dove for the elevator button and soon heard a soft ding that made Usagi cry in joy. Quickly, she used the last of her strength to jump in and desperately and repeatedly pushed the level she wanted as she heard bat wings flapping from outside.

Sailor Moon looked over and saw the crazed look on the monster's face coming closer and closer with curses spilling from her lips that promised death for the superheroine. The elevator door was slowly closing. Sailor Moon continued to jam the button in an attempt to get the door to close faster, even though she knew it wouldn't do anything.

Luckily, the elevator door was almost close.

Unluckily, the monster's arm stuck through and Sailor Moon felt it's claws clinging to her arm.

"Let go!" Sailor Moon cried as the monster started to pull her towards the almost closed elevator.

"You. Will. Die!" the monster cried from outside.

Oh, crud! And it really hurt!

What was Sailor Moon going to do!? The elevator won't move with the arm stuck inside.

Quickly, she thought and a possibly stupid idea came to her mind but it was all she got.

She slammed her entire body against the elevator door. Once. Twice. Three times until she felt doozy!

Thankfully, the monster took its arm back and the doors closed. The elevator started to move and Sailor Moon fell to the elevator ground and took a deep breath of relief.

She was alive. She was in serious pain, but she was alive.

Speaking of the pain, she cringed a bit as her body now safer than before, could feel the whole onslaught of the monster's attack. Everything ached, everything shook, and she had to focus on breathing. She never felt pain like this before.

But then again, he was always there. Her masked hero and savior, Tuxedo Mask. He always fought by her side. Protected her when she could've died or been seriously injured. He made her feel stronger.

But this time...

"Why? Wasn't Tuxedo Mask here?" she thought to herself as she leaned against on of the metal walls. Did he forget about her? Did he not think she was worth it? Did he just always go around saving pretty, sailor-suited senshi? Or...maybe he had something else to do. Maybe he already had someone.

Why did that thought hurt so much more than any bruise?

She heard a loud ding breaking from her thoughts. She couldn't worry about that now. It was showtime!

She grabbed onto one of the metal bars to pull herself up as the elevator doors opened and she staggered out.

Somehow and by some miracle she managed to make it to the recording studio from before where Luna was messing around with the buttons on the big recording table where a bunch of microphones were scattered around the recording booth. "I-I'm here," Sailor Moon panted out as she leaned against the doorframe.

"Good," Luna said before looking over to see her charge looking mangled and almost beaten. "What happened?"

"I-I got hit...by that ring magic thing...then a wall," Sailor Moon said.

Luna's eyes widened before she jumped down and inspected her. "Well, you're lucky that your henshin managed to protect you."

"Protect me?" Sailor Moon said kind of offended. She was thrown into a wall!

"You could've easily died if you hadn't been transformed," Luna replied.

Oh...Wait, what?!

Before Sailor Moon could ask any more questions. Scraping and the beating of wings could be heard. "The monster," Sailor Moon whispered.

"You hide," Luna said. "I'll lure her into the recording booth so we can get a recording of the sonic waves she creates."

"Lure her? Get a recording of the sonic waves? But that would mean she would try to use it on you," Sailor Moon asked.

"Yes. You're too injured to do anything other than throw your tiara," Luna said.

"But she could kill you," Sailor Moon said.

Luna didn't respond. "Just hide." She then ran away into the recording booth in full view from the door while Sailor Moon just stared. She was serious? She was going to do this. Sailor Moon looked back at the cat as the bat wings got louder and louder.

There was no time to reject this. Sailor Moon hid around the side of the table, praying not to be caught as the monster entered and searched the room. Sailor Moon held her breath. She couldn't be found.

"Are you looking for Sailor Moon?" Sailor Moon heard Luna say.

"Yes. Where is she?" the monster snarled at Luna as it walked closer to the table as Sailor Moon willed herself not to make a sound.

"She's gone. After you used those sonic waves she abandoned the mission," Luna said. "Honestly, she's quite the disappointment if you asked me," she continued. Sailor Moon felt herself scowl at what Luna said. Well, it was rude!

Sailor Moon leaned over slightly to see the monster walk into the recording booth where Luna was. She quietly gulped.

"My sonic waves are incredible," Sailor Moon heard the monster cackle. "Taking off like a child. I guess I really am just that incredible. However, I still haven't fulfilled my needs yet," the monster said before it snatched the up Luna held her by her neck and waist as Luna howled in pain as the monster started to slowly bend her body. Sailor Moon gasped. Was she gonna...No. NO! That won't happen!

She didn't care what Luna said or the pain she was in! There was no way this monster was going to hurt Luna!

Sailor Moon rose to her feet and stood before the glass with defiance in her eyes.

The monster saw it to before throwing Luna to the floor which caught Sailor Moon's attention. "It seems that animal was wrong. Well, no matter I can kill you here and now."

Sailor Moon saw Luna managing to leave the recording booth a bit injured but thankfully alive. She turned back to the monster. If there was ever a time to enact a plan, it was now. "So what are you going to use your sonic waves on me?" Sailor Moon said.

A loud, empty laugh filled the empty recording studio. "You're so weak, I wouldn't want to waste the energy. I'd much prefer to tear you limb from limb," the monster said.

Well. That wasn't good.

Okay, think Sailor Moon! Think! Wait... "Okay," even Luna looked at her like she was crazy. Honestly, even she was beginning to think she was. "I guess if you don't have the energy or the strength."

Sailor Moon watched the monster's eyes turn from sadistic glee to shock to fury in a manner of seconds. "I have all the strength. A mere human like you wouldn't understand."

"I understand that you can't even set off two of those weird shock wave thingies," Sailor Moon continued. " Or you don't care about anything but hurting people. I'm here, broken and practically beaten. You could stop me right now but you would rather waste your time torturing me than just killing me right here and now. So either you're bad at priorities which I get or you don't enough strength to unleash another shockwave."

The monster was shaking with fury before it screamed, "You want a Sonic Wave that badly! Here!" It began to beat its wings, faster than before as the air in the recording booth began to pick up causing the instruments inside to pick up off the ground and spin around as the rings began to form.

Sailor Moon's breathing became labored as she watched those horrible rings form the pain her back and everywhere hitting. No. No. No. Not again.

She looked over, with fear in her eyes, at Luna who discreetly turned on the recording equipment. Well, at least this will be over soon. Still...The rings were unleashed.

Sailor Moon heard a loud, ear splitting BOOM! fill the room as she and Luna hit the ground as glass shard went flying everywhere, followed by dust and debris from the wall behind them, and the crash and brass and string instruments as they hit and crashed into the ground.

Sailor Moon took deep labored breaths as she laid there for a moment, a bit frightened to come out from the safety of her hiding spot before she saw Luna. The black cat jumped without fear to the top of the turntable before unleashing the sonic wave the microphones caught back through the speakers in recording booth where the monster still was causing the room to shake and quiver a bit.

An inhuman, pain-filled scream came from the monster. Sailor Moon stood up to see the monster covering its ears trying to resist its own powers. If she didn't know what a monster this thing was, Sailor Moon might've been heartbroken at the sad sight.

"NOW, SAILOR MOON! BEFORE SHE RECOVERS!" Sailor Moon heard Luna cry.

Oh right!

Sailor Moon touched the red jewel on her golden tiara turning it from an accessory to a deadly weapon. "Moon Tiara Boomerang!" She let it fly.

How pathetic! Tricked and brought to her knees by a mere child! Kyurene was sickened. As she fought against the pain of her own powers, she saw a blinding light head for her! It was spinning through the air before it darted right towards her chest before stabbing it through and coming out the other end.

Kyurene merely looked ahead as she felt her body being ripped apart at the brat who brought about her demise when she noticed something. The creature was the same that insufferable brat with the male from before. Did that mean? She looked into the eyes of Sailor Moon and saw something. Those same darned defiant of the brat. That meant..."It's you..." Kyurene breathed out.

It was her last thought. Her body was not a pile of moon dust on the floor.

The sadistic youma known, Kyurene, was gone forevermore.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Luna asked as Sailor Moon limped into the lobby of Jam Records.

"I'll be fine," Sailor Moon groaned. At least it was all over now. That monster was gone and Amade-san and Yanagi-san were safe and free to go out now.

Wait! AMADE-SAN! YANAGI-SAN! She totally forgot about them during all that! Oh no! Where were they?!

Sailor Moon looked around frantically when they heard voices coming from a door behind the reception desk. The two walked over to it and Sailor Moon opened it to reveal it was a small break room where Yanagi-san was gently attending to Amade-san.

"You were so brave, Amade-san," Yanagi-san said as she wrapped his hands in bandages. "But I gotta say you were pretty reckless, putting yourself in danger like that."

"I-I couldn't let you die, Yanagi-san," Amade-san said.

"Akiko. Call Akiko-chan. I think running for our lives from some kind of bat demon is close enough," Yanagi-san continues placing a hand on his.

"Then call me Yusuke," Amade-san said, placing his over hers. Sailor Moon smiled at the moment, when they finally noticed she was there. "Who are you?" Amade-san asked, curiously.

"Oh me...Um...I'm Usagi," she thought back to what she said as Usagi, "...'s friend! The one she told you could help. Well, you don't have to worry about that bat demon thing anymore. Gone and gone!"

The two stared at her for a moment before Yanagi-san gave a gentle, "Thank you."

However, Amade-san stared at Sailor Moon a moment longer before smirking, "Yes thank you. And tell your friend thank you as well."

Sailor Moon gave an awkward smile before saying, "Well, I'll just leave you two alone then! Bye!" Quickly, she shut the door before heading out into the cool night sky where the clouds mostly cleared and the moon was shining again. Sailor Moon took a moment to breathe in the night air, it would've been so nice to share this with...she groaned in pain.

"Sailor Moon!" Luna cried as her teenaged charge fell to the ground.

"I'm fine, Luna, but I'm just going to rest a moment," she said sadly as she sat on the cold asphalt in her tiny skirt.

"How are we ever going to get your home in this state?" Luna asked as she jumped onto Sailor Moon's lap.

Sailor Moon didn't reply. She just thought back to the battle and how she wished Tuxedo Mask had been there. Maybe if he had, she wouldn't be in so much pain. maybe she would've had an easier time defeating that thing. Maybe...She looked up to the moon. She just wished he was here now.

"Sailor Moon!" she heard from somewhere high up. It couldn't be..."Sailor Moon! Is that you?" It was. It was Tuxedo Mask! She felt joy hit her in waves! Wishes really do come true!

"Where did you come from?!" Luna demanded as the tuxedo-wearing superhero and savior jumped down to Sailor Moon before leaning down to look at her.

Tuxedo Mask just ignored the feline to look at Sailor Moon's injuries. "What happened?" he asked as he looked at the bruises on her arms and legs.

"There was...an attack," Sailor Moon said as her cheeks flared up the way they always did around him as she gestured toward the large, gaping hole in the lobby wall. "I was hit but don't worry! I'm fine now. See," she tried to prove it by standing as he stood too, only to stagger a bit into his waiting arms which made her cheeks even warmer if that was possible.

She looked up at Tuxedo Mask, and even despite his mask, could tell he felt guilt and shame. "I'm sorry, Sailor Moon. I-I...should've been there," Tuxedo Mask says as he held onto her arms and gazed into her deep blue eyes.

"And what were you doing before that?" Luna asked obviously suspicious of the masked man. "And funny you just showed up once the attack was over."

"Luna," Sailor Moon scolded.

"It's okay, Sailor Moon," he said with a gentle smirk before turning serious. "I was in the middle of finishing up some business when I heard what sounded like a boom sound so I rushed over here as fast as I could," his expression turned grave, "but I was too late."

"Yes," Luna hissed.

"Not necessarily," Sailor Moon disagreed. "I need a way home since we can't exactly get there, like this," she finished with a gesture to her injured body.

"You are not revealing your identity to a total stranger, Sailor Moon!" Luna cried.

"You said it yourself, we need to get home and Tuxedo Mask is offering to help, right?" she said the last part with pleading eyes towards the tuxedo wearing hero.

"Right," Tuxedo Mask said before turning to Luna. "How about I drop her off in her neighborhood and then I won't know."

Luna scowled before begrudgingly agreeing by hopping onto Sailor Moon's shoulder and letting the Sailor senshi tell him the name of her neighborhood.

Tuxedo Mask nodded and then proceeded to bridal carry a now badly blushing Sailor Moon before he jumped and hopped over the Tokyo skyline and shopping districts.

Sailor Moon for her part felt like she was in Heaven. Safely and neatly, tucked into the arms of the man she loved, his warmth rocking her while his strong arms protectively held like the world's most precious cargo, and the pain she had felt started to fade. She looked up to her hero who looked so focus and dedicated to getting her home. It made her feel safe.

No.

She knew she was safe with him.

She felt herself being rocked more and more and started to fall asleep.

"Sailor Moon," she heard which woke her. She groggily opened her eyes to see Tuxedo Mask staring at her with a smile. She gave back a smile. "We're here," he said.

Sailor Moon for a moment wondered what that meant until she became more aware more awake. They were in her neighborhood. He would have to leave soon. She felt her face go visibly sad at that as he slowly put her on the ground. Cold, night air chilled her to the bone. It hadn't even been a minute she already missed his warmth.

"I guess I should go now," she sadly said as Luna tugged her bun as a way to say get a move on.

She looked up at him to see his face looked rather sad. Wait! Did that mean he wanted her to stay!? She felt hearts in her eyes. "I suppose, but here," he said as he summoned a beautiful red rose with shining, velvety petals. "Think of this as a token of my sincerest apology."

"You don't have to keep apologizing, though I will take the rose," Sailor Moon finished holding it close to her heart.

He gave a small smile before saying, "Adieu," and jumping away from the neigborhood, where Sailor Moon still stood with a smile of love on her lovestruck face.

She never had a scolding that bad before. It was the next morning and the moment she stepped out of her room, her parents had screamed about how irresponsible she was for not calling and staying out all night, for worrying them sick, and not even telling them when they got home. Her father even thought she had been sneaking out to meet a boy before almost fainting at that thought.

Needless to say, she was grounded.

No arcade. No video games. Just studying.

She honestly saw it as cruel and unusual punishment.

Because here she was, having a free day and she was locked inside with book about English. Ugh!

She banged her head on the pages of her book before she saw the rose that Tuxedo Mask gave her standing proud and tall in its vase as the sunlight shimmered off the crimson petals.

She sighed as she put her pencil down and held the rose to her nose and took a deep whiff in. It was incredible. Just like him. Her love.

Speaking of love, her thoughts turned to what happened with Yanagi-san and Amade-san when the knock on a door became furious and desperate.

Who the heck could that be?

Usagi stood up from her desk and walked to the door where the knocking got louder and louder.

The unjustly grounded teenager opened the door to see Naru standing there with big tears in her eyes. It honestly freaked Usagi out a bit. "What happened?!" Usagi cried out.

"Terrible! Horrible! Disaster!" Naru shouted as she looked around the living room.

"Why? What's wrong?!" Usagi cried. Oh please don't be another monster! She was still had the bruises from the last one!

Naru grabbed the controller and turned on the living room TV . "Just watch," Naru said as she fell onto the couch as an interview began to play starring...Amade-san!

"So Amade-san, how did you and Yanagi-san begin dating?" the off-screen interviewer asked.

"Well, let's just say a friend helped us out in a bad situation and it brought us closer," Amade-san explained.

"And who is this 'friend'?" the interviewer continued.

"I don't think she'd want me to reveal that but let's just say my new album, Moonlight Lady is named in honor of her," he continued as a picture of an album cover appeared in the left corner above his head showing a blue ombre background with a large golden moon in the center behind a silhouette of Sailor Moon!

Usagi gave a huge smile while Naru cried over her 'lost love being taken from her'. Maybe something good did come out of last night despite everything.

The TV suddenly shut off by a pale hand that belonged to her purple-haired mother. "Usagi! You know the rules. No TV when you're grounded!"

Then again, she was still grounded.