Chapter 5

Minako's eyes slowly fluttered open, sitting up to see her surroundings. She remembered the previous night she fell asleep…in Katsuro's bed? It finally dawned on her that she slept next to a guy. Where was he though? Did he already get up to leave? She smelled something delicious all of a sudden. 'Nooo, is he…making breakfast?' She then saw her clothes had been washed and dried from yesterday. 'And he cleaned my uniform? What kind of royal treatment am I getting this morning?'

She got out of bed and began changing clothes, however as soon as she took off what she had on last night, he came walking in the door with a large plate prepared with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Standing in nothing but bra and panties, her entire face and body turned completely red.

"I'm sorry! Here! I'll come back in a bit!" He apologized quickly before putting the food onto the dresser near the door, then rushing out and closing it behind him.

Minako stood for a few seconds just in complete shock. Finally, she quickly threw her clothes on. "I'm dressed…sorry about that." She apologized before sitting back on the bed.

"No, I'm sorry, I should have given you a heads up first." He laughed nervously before coming back in and walking the food to her. "I thought you might be hungry, and probably didn't eat much last night. So, I made food this morning."

"It smells and looks so delicious." She began to take a bite of pancakes and bacon. "And tastes amazing! Are these chocolate chip pancakes!?"

"Yeah, I decided to fancy things up some."

"Oh, thank you! Keep this up and you'll never get rid of me!" She joked, then began stuffing her face with food. "Wait, are we late for class?!"

"Don't worry, we should have enough time." He got his bag and things prepared to go, then paused for a second. "Hey, Minako. Do you want to…maybe go on a date tomorrow?"

She finished her food with one last big gulp then looked up to her. "A date? Sure! That sounds fun. Hey! We could do a double date with Usagi and Mamoru. That's her boyfriend. You two would probably get along well too."

"That sounds good then. How about the amusement park?"

"Yeah, I'll talk to Usagi today about that." They then began to head out and to school.

She grasped onto his hand as they walked, leaning in close to him, her head on his shoulder. "Our first time walking together in the morning. It sounds silly, but it makes me feel so giddy inside." She laughed.

"It's not silly at all. It…feels nice actually." His face turned a tint of red. Images flashed from the strange dream sequence he had the day before. He made sure to grab the jewel from the pillow to bring with him. If all of that was real, there had to be some way of talking to that unknown voice. Wait, if it was real…could he transform like in the dream?! Woah, was he some super hero now?!

Minako noticed Katsuro seeming to be distracted by something. He was looking away, then his eyes almost like they were looking at numbers from an equation, or that he was trying to solve some riddle. "Uhm, is everything ok?" She asked.

'Holy shit biscuits! I might have powers now! Why am I going to school?! I should be testing this bad boy out!' He thought, continuing to go over everything in his mind before feeling a light tug on his sleeve. "Huh?! Oh! Hey, sorry. I must have super spaced out there." A nervous laugh left him.

"Yeah…I was trying to talk to you and you were like completely on auto pilot. You aren't thinking some naughty thoughts about me were you?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "We did sleep in the same bed last night, I suppose its only natural for a guy's mind to go to those sorts of things."

"No, no! Not at all. Just a bit out of it I guess after being sick or whatever yesterday."

"So, what you're saying is…I'm not good enough to have naughty thoughts about?" She gazed up at him innocently, giving him puppy dog eyes. "Not even one thought?"

"Yes! You definitely are more than good enough and worth SO MANY dirty thoughts."

"Oh you pervert! I feel so indecent! You're probably undressing me with your eyes right now!" She let go of his hand and dramatically placed the back of it against her forehead with her eyes closed. It was just so fun to tease and mess with him.

"Wait, no, I mean. Hold on. I don't know what the right answer is!"

"Its ok, I'm just messing with you." She laughed before taking hold of his arm again.

They arrived at school and walked into class, Minako still clinging onto his arm before getting to their seats.

"Hey, good morning you two. Katsuro, you're looking a lot better." Ami looked up from a book she was reading.

"You really had us all worried. Minako had stayed behind to make sure you were ok, your family hadn't shown up yet." Makoto explained before seeing Minako blush. "You…stayed over, didn't you? Wait, did you two sleep together?!"

"No! I mean, yes, but not like what you think!" Minako waved her arms.

"Yes, she took advantage of me in my unconscious state. She said she just couldn't keep her hands off me. That I was just…too irresistible. I was so helpless to such a pervert minded person!" He joked, getting her back for earlier.

"He's lying! I did no such thing!" She frantically placed her hand over his mouth.

"Oh so trying to silence your victim? I see how it is now." He joked, Makoto and Ami began to chuckle with him. They definitely were the perfect fit together and similar.

"Well, I suppose one clear sign you stayed over is the fact that you aren't running late with Usagi this morning." Makoto teased, then just like clockwork.

"MADE IT!" The bun headed blonde exclaimed, charging into the room full force. "Woah, Minako! You got here before me?! How?!" Then the realization hit her. "You slept with him didn't you!? Oh Minako! You're growing up too fast!"

"No! We didn't! We SLEPT! JUST SLEPT!"

'Oh man, I've gotten myself wrapped up into a crazy and wild bunch indeed. Well, at least it keeps things interesting I guess.' They all finally began to quiet down and take seats as the instructor walked in, and the day began as usual.

'Hey, Katsuro and I were talking this morning about going on a date. You and Mamoru want to make it a double date at the amusement park tomorrow?' Minako sent a text to Usagi.

'Amusement park!? That sounds amazing! We haven't really gone out and done anything fun like that in so long! Yeah! I'll ask Mamo today! I'm sure he'll be all for it!'

It was almost lunch time before an announcement came over the intercom. "All rooms are to turn on the news now. There is an attack downtown, students are to not leave their rooms!" Just then the teacher flipped on the tv and a monster, with the shadow warriors were causing havoc in the streets.

The creature was humanoid but with a car like body. The torso had the front end of a car on it, the arms and legs had wheels on the knees and elbows and the rest of the body armored. It began to zap pedestrians, draining energy from them as the minions attacked others that were fleeing.

As the principle mentioned not leaving their rooms, Katsuro had somehow snuck out at the mention of monster attack without being seen by anyone through the back window. 'Thank you protag seat!' He referenced where protagonists in animes usually sat. 'Time to test what this thing is about!' He took off running. 'I hope Minako doesn't get mad!'

"Wait, where's Katsuro!?" Minako began looking around. He wasn't in his seat.

"Maybe he wasn't feeling good and had to get to the nurse? He was just really sick yesterday." Makoto stated.

"I didn't even hear or see him get up." Minako was worried now.

"We have to try and find a way to get out ourselves and get that monster. Or people are going to be suffering." Usagi stated, gazing at the television.

Thankfully, the commotion wasn't far from the school. Katsuro stood hiding around the corner from the attack. "Alright jewel, lets see what you've got." He then held it in his right hand across his chest facing outward. A belt appeared in a flash of fire energy around his waist. "It wasn't just a dream then. Oh man. This is my big debut then! Right. Lets make it flashy! Henshin!" He slid the jewel into place, giving it a spin as fire energy spun around his body forming a sphere.

Armor pieces began flying into the ball and flashes of light emanated from within. Then with the slash of his sword, the energy was dispersed, embers floating away in the wind. He then turned the corner and ran towards the attack. "Stop right there!" He called out.

"Wait, who or what is that!?" Makoto pointed to the television. The girls were just about to try sneaking out before stopping in their tracks to see some person in crimson red armor standing before the monster and black skeletal shadow warriors. There was a phoenix head on the shoulder pads and chest plate. The helmet was the same with his face in what appeared to be the beak that was opened. There was a guard covering his mouth.

"It looks like some kind of knight in armor. Is someone trying to fight a monster just wearing armor?" Usagi asked as Ami placed her computer on to try and scan from the tv, but it wouldn't show any stats.

This was now like watching some hero show on tv. Minako stared anxiously. She didn't know where Katsuro had gone off to. Surely he wouldn't try to show up to that and do what he did that last time when Rei intervened, right?

"Who the hell are you?!" The creature yelled on the screen as everyone in the class watched and listened closely to see if there was some new hero in town.

"Who am I you ask?!" His fists clenched. "That's…actually a very good valid question honestly." He laughed nervously. 'Who…am I? I mean, my hero persona. I don't even have a kick ass catchphrase prepared. Ok improv classes, time to be put to use.'

"I'll tell you who I am!" Then, just like the fighting in his dream, something just came to his mind as if by memory. Without even thinking about it, he began talking. "I am the warrior who fights for justice! I fight for all those who cry out for peace! I am the warrior chosen by Suzaku! Rising from the ashes! I am Phoenix Knight! Now burn in the chaos of your sins." He pointed to the creature.

"Phoenix Knight? Warrior chosen by Suzaku? No…it can't be! You're all supposed to be dead! The master will be pleased then if I manage to kill you."

"Master? Wait, supposed to be dead?" And now he was officially confused. No time to think about that now though. "Alright! Lets get shakin!" He then held his sword out, charging into the group of minions, slashing them down one by one.

"Phoenix Knight? Is there really some new hero out there?" Usagi asked, looking back to the others.

"His introduction though! That was so cool!" Minako was in awe. She had a boyfriend, but at the same time, it wasn't a sin to fangirl over super heroes right?

"Well, at least someone is out there to stop those things while we're stuck." Makoto crossed her arms, but there was still a great deal of concern she had. A newbie hero? Did that person even know what they were getting into?

Ami could tell Makoto was questioning this person's abilities. Ami was too honestly, but they just had to believe it'd be ok this time.

"Flame Saber!" He called out, slashing his sword to send one large flame energy sickle down, burning five of the shadow warriors into a black mist. He then looked to the car monster. "Guess its time to…burn rubber." He winked after telling the pun.

"Hey, isn't there…something familiar about him?" Minako suddenly asked.

"Wait, you aren't insinuating that that's…?" Makoto questioned.

"It can't be, he would still be kind of weakened from yesterday right? Plus, if he DID have that kind of power, wouldn't he have used that when he was attacked? Especially when Sailor Mars got injured." Ami added.

"Yeah, there's no way that's Katsuro. I mean, he was good at fighting, but does not have powers." Usagi watched intently.

He finally got rid of all the minions and began to take on the main monster. The monster took a swing at him, hitting him in the face with the tire on it's elbow, then began to spin it quickly, smoke rising from the rubber. The spin on the tire increased the impact, sending Katsuro flying back into a light pole, denting it in. The creature transformed into a car then rushed at him. Smashing him through the pole, he was stuck on the hood as the creature took to the street, speeding up then braking hard to send him skidding across the pavement.

"Argh! Ugh! Aaaaaah!" He exclaimed at every strike then yelled while ripping up pavement from the ground on impact. "Ok. Now I'm pissed." He stood up seeing the car driving fast at him. 'Wait for it…waaaaait for it…' He gripped his sword tightly then brought his blade from the ground slashing upwards. The creature was sent into the sky, cleaved directly in half. But before it began to split. "Phoenix Wave!" He sent the attack rushing up into the sky as the phoenix shaped fire energy exploded on impact with the creature, turning it to dust.

Down on the ground, in the shadows stood a familiar sailor suited female. Sailor Mars had been watching the entire the fight from afar to study the situation. 'A new warrior? He seems like an ally, could this have been what my vision was about?! I've got to tell the others about it now for sure.' She then backed away slowly to return to school.

He stood, holding his sword still gazing up to where the monster was. He noticed there were people gathering around him, staring in complete awe. There were news cameras from all sorts of stations focused on him. He noticed all the energy the creature absorbed was returning to the bodies. "Please take care of the wounded! Till next time citizens!" And with that, he threw a small ball of fire to the ground to cause debris and smoke to form. With that, he made his escape.

"Woah, that was so wild…" Usagi said, then taking notice of all the students talking among themselves about the appearance of a new hero. The boys of course were causing a ruckus because of a new 'manly armored hero'.

"I wish I knew where Katsuro went off to. I'm still worried." Minako looked out the window. A few moments passed however until…

"Hey, sorry about disappearing. I kind of wasn't feeling good so I snuck off to the nurse. I didn't want to worry any of you. Then hearing about the monster attack, I guess I kind of got ptsd from it." He apologized, seeming to be a bit down as well.

"You're alright. I was worried though, please don't just take off like that and not tell anyone. Especially with all that crazy stuff going on." Minako got up to embrace him.

"Did you manage to catch the news?! There's a new crazy strong hero!" Usagi exclaimed.

"Oh yeah. He seemed cool. Needs to work on his delivery on certain things. But managed to handle everything in the end it seems." Katsuro stated. "Looks like those Sailor Senshi have a bit of competition here now." He laughed. "Maybe we can get to see really cool team ups now." He hoped for that. How awesome would that be?! Working with the heroes he looked up to.

Usually, most schools would cancel after something like that, but here they were just used to it. So, the day continued on as normal.

~Meanwhile~

Within a dark realm, creatures of all sorts roamed around. There were hordes of shadow warriors, a black fog sat atop the ground, flowing mysteriously. There was an almost pyramid-like structure with a large black throne on top. A figure sat upon it with red piercing eyes, and long black hair. His eyes began to glow through the darkness, his head resting against his fist. "So, they've returned?" His voice was low but filled with intrigue.

His other hand gripped the arm of his throne tightly, cracking it. "Warrior of Suzaku. I will make you pay most of all for your transgressions. "You will receive suffering far greater than death itself." He stood up, black dragon-like wings emerged from his back. "I, Zeo, will plunge this world into darkness and claim the rest of the celestial gods' powers for my own." The pressure of energy flowing from his body caused a wind to blow from him, striking down the lesser powered demons around.