.Chapter 321

A man in traditional clothing walked along one of Tokyo's many streets. Many of the people moved out of the way curious as to the man's appearance. The sword he wore at his waist was also cause for some concern. He soon arrived at his destination, the temple at Cherry Hill and made his way up the steps.

Elsewhere.

"You wanna do what?" Chad asked in surprise.

"Take you on tour Chad," Mr. Fujikawa, the Vice President of Inferno Records, replied.

"Me? Just me?"

"Sure," Fujikawa said.

"Uh..but why?"

"Well you're association with the big crushers will sell. Just think about it, you're the only one left."

"I guess I could use the job, it'd be fun."

"Of course, we'll make you into a big star," the executive said.

"Wow..cool," Chad said.

And at the Fujimori household.

"Here's what I have to say about women," Kino Fujimori said leaning against the door frame of Rick's room.

"What do you have to say about women?" Rick muttered. Kino grinned.

"They're like snakes, in fact they're like an entire snake pit. See it's not just that they'll bite you, and then subsequently inject venom into your bloodstream..it's that they're a pit too so you can't get out."

"Kino, wonderful use of metaphor there.." Rick said.

"You liked it huh?" Kino asked.

Rick lunged at him quickly.

"Ah I see," Kino said and dodged out of the way.

"Well I'm up for it," he said and fought back. The two were soon facing off at either end of the second floor of the house.

"Cool, they're going to fight," young Roy Fujimori said sticking his head out of his room door.

"It's been a while," his twin Rod Fujimori added also sticking his head out of the room.

"Hold it!" came a shout. Raymond and brother Ryu ascended the stairs and stood between the two.

"Combat is honorable, especially among family members," Raymond said. "However, you can't fight here and damage the house."

"Yeah, then dad will kill all of us," Ryu said.

"Ah..come on guys, chill out," Kino said.

"Dad won't mind if it's a good fight," Roy and Rod said.

"Besides, if we take the time to move the fight the moment will have passed," Kino said.

"Uh this is a bad idea already," Rick said.

"Too late," Kino said and lunged forward hitting Ryu and Raymond, he then kicked at Rick, who dodged and fought back.

"Insolence!" Ryu said and lunged at Kino.

"No. We can't stop it now," Raymond said pulling Ryu back.

"Then I'll fight you!" Ryu said and the two began to brawl.

"Well let's join in," Rod said.

"All right," Roy said and flung Rod into the hall.

"Hey wait for me!" brother Rob said charging out of the bathroom.

"HEY!" Regina shouted charging out of her room.

The group all stopped.

"I'm on the phone!" she shouted.

The group all laughed and then started fighting again.

"I'll show you!" Regina shouted charging into the fight.

As this was all occurring, Mike and Steve had been making their way towards the Fujimori home.

"You know what I think about women," Mike began.

Before he could any farther, Ryu Fujimori fell out a window towards him, the martial artist landed and rolled. Raymond Fujimori leapt out the window at him.

"We're just in time," Mike said.

"The Fujimori's..what a family," Steve said.

They heard some more battle cries. To their surprise Rick and Kino appeared on the flat rooftop of the house both holding kendo swords and swinging them at each other quickly.

"This is getting better," Mike said.

The two both stepped out of the way as Ray Fujimori was flung into a pile of trash.

"Come on...no time for resting!" Ryu said and then noticed the two.

"And what do you want..do you wish to fight me?" he asked.

"Uh..no..you're doing fine.." Mike said.

"Ah..so you reject my challenge," Ryu said.

"Uh it's not like that," Steve said.

"Isn't it though," Ryu said and charged the two.

"I'll run...you fight," Mike said and dived out of the way.

Steve dodged out of the way of a kick.

"All right, it's street fight time!" Steve said and picked up a trash can.

"Ah..I see," Ryu said. "Very well."

The two faced off.

"You get em Steve!" Mike said.

"Be quiet cowardly one," Ryu said.

"Hey!" Mike said.

Everyone turned towards him.

"Now it's personal," he said advancing towards Ryu.

"Ah..so now you're challenging me?" Ryu asked.

Mike pulled a bandana out and tied it around his head.

"It's time for karate action! Karate kid style!" Mike said.

Ryu grinned and turned to face him.

"Hey Ray you all right?" Steve asked the other brother.

"Sure, sure," Raymond said standing up. "What's happening."

"That.." Steve said pointing.

"Oh I see," Raymond said.

There was a smash. A bed went flying through the second floor wall.

"Jeez..how did that happen?" Mike said in surprise.

"No matter!" Ryu said and lunged forward.

Mike dodged it and leapt out of the way.

"Too slow," Mike said.

"Not for long," Ryu said readying himself.

And up on the roof.

"You realize they're destroying the house Kino," Rick said.

"So?" Kino said swinging his sword.

"Well.." Rick said. "I mean..maybe we should try to keep it from getting out of hand."

"I've never been a fan of things not getting out of hand," Kino said.

"You are not a productive member of society, you realize that right?" Rick asked.

Kino grinned and the two continued to fight.

"Hey..wait.." Mike said and took up the stance for the Crane kick.

"You have got to be kidding," Steve said in shock.

"I am prepared for you now," Mike said.

"I really am embarrassed to be in combat with you," Ryu said.

"That's what it's all about!" Mike shouted.

"Enough! I'll end it here!" Ryu shouted.

A toilet slammed into the ground.

"Wait! It must be Toilet Mask!" Mike said pointing to the second floor.

"Uh..woops," Rob said looking through the gaping hole they had formed.

"You creep!" Regina said kicking him out the hole.

"Ah geez..." Raymond said and caught the boy.

"You weren't supposed to catch him!" Regina shouted and turned to be hit with two drop kicks from Rod and Roy. She went flying out the window and landed on the bed, before bouncing off and hitting the ground.

"You jerks!" she screeched.

"Hey..if I fell out of a house I'd be pretty happy to fall onto a bed!" Mike said.

"Yeah!" Everyone else in earshot shouted.

"Kino, I think we've gone too far," Rick said.

"So defeat me, and the battle will end," Kino said.

"That's the problem, you've gotten better since we last.."

Kino laughed.

"I have not gotten better, you've just gotten worse!" He shouted.

"Stop making no sense!" Rick said and swung knocking Kino back down the stairs leading to the roof.

"Hey! All right!" Kino said. "But it'll take more than that!"

Rick leapt down the stairs and swung his sword.

Kino dived out of the way and the fight continued.

"I'm glad I found you Raye," Luna said.

"Oh, why is that Luna?" Raye asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes I think so. Serena's very distracted right now, and with this threat and all I was hoping you could take charge."

"Take charge? Well sure, if I have to."

"I had thought you'd jump at the chance. You've always wanted to be leader."

"Yes, well I stopped wanting that a while ago. But I can see what you mean. We do need to do something about those rogue scouts."

"It's unfortunate," Luna said. "They choose to attack when we're vulnerable. All the people we rely on to gather intelligence and keep an eye on enemies are gone."

"Maybe that's just why they chose to show up now," Raye said.

"I'd thought of that. Still regardless of their reasoning, the fact is that we're missing many of the assets we could use. The outers are no longer in this dimension and Patterson and Hotaru are in China, we hope."

"We'll just have to be careful some other way," Raye said. "We can do it. It's not like we're helpless."

"Well that's true enough, for now I suggest the scouts try to stay together as much as possible."

"Yeah, we'll develop another one of those systems to keep watch on the others," Raye said.

"You should get the other scouts together as soon as possible to talk about it," Luna said.

"Good idea," Raye said.

"I have to go find Artemas, I haven't seem him in days."

"All right, we'll do what we can in the meantime," Raye said. She moved to the door to open it for Luna. She was surprised when she saw Urawa Motoki moving towards it.

"Ah..Miss Hino," Motoki said and bowed.

"Something I can do for you?" Raye asked.

Luna hurried off.

"Yes in fact," Motoki said. "I have another favor to ask of you."

"Ask it," Raye said.

"Hey! Raye!" came a shout.

Chad came bounding up the steps.

"Chad what is it?" Raye asked.

"Woah..Motoki-san..what's happening?" Chad asked.

"I was about to explain myself," Motoki said.

"Woah..cool...guess what?"

"What Chad?" Raye asked.

"I've got a music career again," Chad said.

"Oh..joy..." Raye muttered.

"Yep, I'm making an album and going on tour and stuff, it'll be all me," Chad said. "And so I'm leaving for a while."

"How fortunate, in that you'll need someone to do his chores," Motoki said.

"Wait..you're not saying that.." Raye said.

"I wish to work for you Miss Hino," Motoki said and bowed again.

"That's eerily convenient," Raye said.

"Yeah..scary," Chad said.

And back at Rick's house.

The Fujimori family was staring at the house in shame as their two parents starred at them.

"So...you just decided to destroy the house huh?" Noboyuki Fujimori said angrily.

"You know there are plenty of other good houses to destroy," Mrs. Kamiko Fujimori said.

"That is not the point!" Noboyuki snapped. "Listen, there's going to be some punishment here. I'm not sure what yet, but it will be a big one."

"Aw.come on you should be proud of us," Kino said.

Noboyuki paused and then walked up to him.

"And why exactly is that Kino?" he asked angrily.

"Hey..how many families do you know that could destroy their house by hand?"

Noboyuki decked Kino with a blow to the head.

"Let that be a lesson to all of you," Noboyuki said.

The group all sighed.

"Now I'm hungry, I'm going to eat," Noboyuki said. "You all stay out here!"

"Me too?" his wife asked.

"What possible reason could I have for you staying out here?" Noboyuki asked.

"Well you're like that some times," Kamiko said.

Noboyuki sighed.

"Let's just go all right," Noboyuki said.

And the two went inside what was left of the house.

"So they're just going to stand outside like that?" Steve asked in surprise as he and Mike hid down the street from Mr. Fujimori's wrath.

"They don't dare sneak away," Mike said. "You know what though?"

"What?"

"A lot of houses are getting destroyed around this city."

"I noticed that, and you all have at least a small part to do with it."

"Hmm..yeah I guess I'm just cursed," Mike said.

"No Mike, everyone who knows you is cursed," Steve said.

"Ah..that puts it more clearly," Mike said.

"I thought it would," Steve said. "So what do we do now?"

"Make sure our own houses are still standing?"

"Normally I'd say that would be gratuitous, but not today."

"It's still gratuitous," Mike said.

"Whatever," Steve said.

"So Motoki-san, why are you here?" Raye asked.

"I wish to train," Motoki said. "But I have done all that I can in nature."

"I don't understand."

"I am a swordsman, I have learned the skills I need to handle the weapon. However, to become better I must better understand the people around me. A swordsman trains in seclusion, focused on the art, not the environment. I must learn more about that aspect of the world, to better hone my skills. The place to do that is here. And as I do that, I must stay somewhere. I figured the household of my former master would be a good place to start," Motoki said.

"Well..uh..if you're willing to work for it, I guess it's fine," Raye said.

"Thank you," Motoki said.

"But just uh..stay out of my other affairs okay," Raye said.

"I had no intention of getting involved."

"Uh..good," Raye said. "Then it's settled. We have extra room."

Motoki nodded and headed out.

"This temple just attracts people doesn't it?" Raye said to herself. And I have to get the others together too. This is getting to be a busy day.

"Oh hello Raye," Amy said into her communicator.

"Hey Amy, how are things at your place?" Raye asked.

"Quiet," Amy said. "Thankfully."

"So the Tsukino's have calmed down."

"Well yes, I had to use extraordinary measures, but they are sufficiently uh..tired.."

"Amy...what did you.."

"Oh..I assure you nothing permanent," Amy said.

"Amy...uh..."

"Don't judge me until you've lived with them for a day," Amy said.

"All right..all right, look, I'm getting the scouts together we need to plan strategy," Raye said.

"Good idea, your place?"

"Yep."

"Well good, I have an excuse to leave then."

"Yeah, well...try to relax."

Amy laughed.

"Relax? Now there's a concept."

"Uh..right Amy, see you soon bring your brother and Serena, assuming she's still alive, all right?"

"Uh huh," Amy said.

"Uh bye," Raye said and disconnected.

"Now that's troubling," Raye said.

"Hey Rick, what's going on?" Raye asked.

"Uh..well, my family came together to destroy our house," Rick said.

"They did what?"

"Long story, what is it?" Rick asked.

"Well..the scouts are meeting to discuss how we're going to deal with this trouble," Raye said.

"I've kinda been grounded, but I'll see what I can do, after all, it's easier to sneak out when there are fewer walls," Rick said.

"I'm not even going to ask,"Raye said and disconnected.

Soon afterward, the nine scouts were sitting around the table in Raye's house.

"So..here we are," Raye said. "Amy is Serena awake?"

Serena was laying face down on the table.

"I didn't give her as large a dose as everyone else, in fact she should be awake already," Amy said.

"It is Serena though," Mina said. "She can fall asleep anyway."

"I'm up!" Serena shouted. "Ah...where am I?"

The group all sighed.

"Listen we've gotta figure out how to deal with these new scouts," Raye said.

"Hey, Raye why are you in charge?" Serena asked.

"Luna put me in charge until you snapped out of the funk you inevitably sink into every time a new enemy shows up," Raye said.

"Oh.." Serena said dejectedly. "Well I'm fine."

"Serena, just listen all right, we'll figure this out then you can be leader all you want."

"I really don't care," Serena said. "I mean, everyone knows that a fraction of my power could blast you several miles."

"Ouch..." Mike said quietly.

"Serena, calm down," Raye said. "This is important."

"All right," Serena said calmly. "I'll listen."

"We need to come up with some way to project against these guys," Raye said.

"Why don't we set a trap," Lita said. "The evil guys always try to do it with us."

"It just might work, I mean, they want Serena's crystal," Greg said.

"Make her bait you mean?" Raye asked.

"Well I wouldn't put it that way," Greg said.

"I like putting it that way," Raye said.

"You're abusing your power!" Serena said and stuck her tongue out.

"I'm not going to get into an argument with you Serena," Raye said. "Grow up a little."

"You're mean," Serena said.

"Weren't we beyond this?" Rick whispered to Steve.

"Guess not, and it's only worthwhile to everyone else if a catfight comes out of it," Steve replied.

"Agreed," Rick said.

"We really should get down to business here," Mina said.

"Stand and fight!" came a shout from outside.

"What's that," Mike said and opened up the door. Outside Urawa Motoki and Chad held swords facing the three mysterious figures.

"Oh...just those guys," Mike said and closed the door. "I uh..think we had better do the transforming thing now."

"You are foolish to think you can match me," the Leader said. "Now stand aside, you're not part of this."

"Sorry no," Motoki said and charged. The Leader dodged it, but had to struggle to use his energy sword to block Motoki's attack. Chad made a similar charge at the second, but the enemy knocked Chad to the ground easily..

"How annoying," the girl said holding out her staff and aiming it at Raye's house.

"Mars Fire Ignite!"

"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"

"Jupiter Thunder Crash!"

The three attacks flew at her. She leapt out of the way. The other two scouts knocked Motoki and Chad into the brush unconscious.

"Well skilled, but out powered," The Leader said.

"Unfortunately for you!" Sailor Moon said landing on the ground flanked by the other scouts. "We're not pushovers!"

"Ah I see," the Leader said. "So you all wish to fight us? Nine to three? Not very honorable is it?"

"It's not honorable to ambush either," Guardian Uranus snapped.

"Our cause is the right one," the Leader said. "We are allowed certain liberties. However, now we will deal with you, even if you do outnumber us three to one."

"Your power's are useless, if you cannot hit us," the second male said.

"Pretty cocky aren't you?" Sailor Jupiter asked. "We'll see won't we?"

"I suppose this won't help, but I will give you one last chance to surrender the crystal," the Leader said.

"Not this time," Sailor Moon said. "You forgot to say please."

The scouts all tensed for battle.

"Guess we have no choice, but to fight then," The Leader said. "But I must warn you, the scouts of the third planet are a match for all of you."

"So you are from Earth," Mercury said.

"Somewhat," the Leader said. "I am Guardian Moon, this is Sailor Earth," he said gesturing to the girl. "And our associate, Guardian Earth."

"Guardian Moon?" everyone asked.

"Just think of the power we must have," Guardian Moon said. "We are at the center of all this, all the energy. Last chance, give us the crystal."

"I don't care where you're from, you're acting wrong and where I come from that's a problem," Sailor Moon said. "So let's do it scouts."

The scouts all nodded.

"Very well," Guardian Moon said.

And the two sides faced off.

319  320  321  322  323  324  325  326  327  328

329  330  331  332  333 334  335  336  337  338

To Next Menu