Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Senshi: Gathering of the Five ❯ Chapter 5

Senshi: the Gathering of Five Part Five

The youma looked about them worriedly, advancing slowly into the near absolute darkness of the cave system. Some of the others lay on the floor of the cavern just behind them, their thick, dark blood staining the ground.

"Is she still in here?" the harsh, grating voice asked the others softly.

"Silence," the leader growled.

"Hurk," the first speaker gasped. They turned to see him dangling, a long length of golden chain wrapped around his throat. The links came untangled, and the body slumped to the floor, the neck cleanly broken.

"Find her!" the leader howled. He stopped cold suddenly, feeling the icy prick of a sharpened blade up against his throat.

The woman's voice was silky, dangerous as she said, "Tell your masters that their time is coming, and coming very soon. The princess gathers up her companions, and I will personally see to it that you all pay most dearly."

The pressure eased, and the monster staggered away. He turned to look at her, the blonde dressed in a pristine sailor fuku, a simple white mask covering her face. The terror that hunted them, the nemesis of evil... the woman called Sailor V.

"Remember me," Sailor V smiled at them, and it was a coldly beautiful thing, "because my face will be the last one you see before I send you all to hell." A leap, and she was gone, leaving no trace of her presence behind.

Out in the sunlight, standing by the three young women Makoto Kino repeated, "You want to hire me." A slight smile, "But why should I take the job?"

"Because it's something worth doing," Usagi smiled slightly and quietly offered, "a fight that will test you to your very limits."

Makoto nodded thoughtfully. 'Lady knows how to read people,' she noted. "Who's your friends?" she asked softly.

"Rei Hino," Usagi gestured to the miko first, who gave Makoto a steady, unyielding glance, then to the woman in the suit, "Prof. Ami Mizuno."

'Guess I was right about her looking like some kind of teacher,' Makoto noted even as she said to the two of them, "Nice to meet you." Getting back to business she looked at Usagi, "A good fight's great, but I've got to keep a roof overhead. How much can you pay me?"

"I was going to suggest something better than paying you up front for monster fighting," Usagi said, and continued on reluctantly, "How would you like to live in my house, rent free?"

"What?" Rei blurted.

Rei's startled reaction brought a slight smile to Makoto's lips. "That's awfully generous of you," she said softly, "but what's the catch?"

"I live alone," Usagi said softly, "because my family were slain by the youma." There was a silent appeal in her eyes as she continued, "It's why I do this."

Makoto felt a pang as she met the girl's blue eyes with her own green ones. She certainly could understand wanting revenge, after what happened to her own parents. "All right," Makoto said to her firmly as she offered her hand, "I'll do it."

"Thank you," Usagi shook the extended hand with a gentle hand.

Ami pushed her glasses up and took her hand next saying, "It's good to have you with us." Makoto held onto Ami's hand for a few moments, looking down into her wide eyes, and strangely Ami blushed once again.

With a great deal of reluctance Rei shook as well, "Welcome to the team."

Ami looked up at Makoto curiously. "You've encountered the youma before?"

"Yeah," Makoto nodded seriously, "they got involved with a argument that I was helping some people to handle."

"Interesting," Ami murmured, "Did the youma manifest when you became involved, or when Usagi joined the fight?"

"It went after me," Makoto admitted. She looked at Ami curiously, "What's your point?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Ami admitted. "These creatures appeared to be aware of us," she mused, "but didn't act until now. What changed?"

"Usagi?" Makoto suggested.

While listening to the two talk Rei drew Usagi aside, "Are you sure this is such a good idea?"

"We need her," Usagi said softly, "and this is the best way to get her help."

"But letting her under your roof," Rei stammered, "what if she tries something perverted?"

The previously silent Luna spoke up at that, "I would certainly not allow that."

Usagi had went red at that, "You don't think that she's..?" She shook her head slightly, "Even if she was, Ami would be the one if the way that Makoto's looking at her is any judge."

Looking over at Makoto talking with Ami, Rei had to admit Usagi had a point. Looking remarkably boyish Makoto was talking to Rei cheerfully, and the blue haired girl was soaking up the attention. "All right," Rei admitted, "but be careful, please?"

Usagi smiled slightly, "Thank you for caring."

Rei blushed slightly, "You're welcome."

They walked over to where Makoto and Ami were talking, and the amazonian woman looked over at Usagi curiously. "Now that you've organized this merry little band," Makoto asked, "what do you want us to do?"

Usagi looked over at Rei, "Do you sense anything?"

Rei closed her eyes, trying to find a center of stillness as she reached out with her perceptions. Oddly, all three of her companions registered in her mind's eye. Usagi glowed golden, Ami was like a pool of cool water, and Makoto shone forest green.

"Nothing," Rei murmured, "but they might be out of my range."

"Then you're not looking hard enough," the chill voice said. They looked around wildly, finally focusing on a small, white cat sitting up on the wall nearby. "Time is running out," the cat started to say, before he was cut off.

With a feral cry Luna knocked the other cat right off the wall, both of their forms blurring as they transformed. "I should kill you for your betrayal, Artemis!" Luna hissed, struggling with the white haired young man.

"I'm not a traitor," Artemis struggled to keep the woman's hands from his throat, "just someone who read the prophecy differently, Luna!"

"Luna," Usagi cried, "off him!" When the girl refused to obey she spoke firmly, "Now!"

"But Mistress!" Luna looked up at her in horror. Wisely Artemis stopped struggling, not giving Luna any more reason to beat on him any more.

"Let him up," Usagi said softly, and Luna quite reluctantly stepped away from him.

"Thank you, Princess," Artemis said with a small bow.

"Call me that again," Usagi said in a dangerous tone, "and I'll send her back after you. Now what do you want?"

"The youma are throughout the city," Artemis dusted himself off with as much dignity as he could possibly muster, "seeking to gather life force to fully restore their dark masters, the oni. You must stop them before they do this, or humanity is doomed."

"Restore, not revive?" Luna said disbelievingly, "The oni are already awake?"

"My mistress has faced an oni," Artemis confirmed, "and barely lived to tell the tale."

"Wait, who's your mistress?" Usagi asked, "What did Luna mean, betrayal?"

"I can tell you no more," Artemis shook his head. With startling speed he was up and over the wall, shifting to his cat form and disappearing into the night.

Luna moved to go after him when Usagi said, "No, let him go." She stood there, the sun setting behind them and a grim expression on her face, "If he was telling the truth, we have much more important things to do."

To be continued...