Mamoru didn't know what to do with the sailor senshi, still not certain why he had taken her. She was surprisingly light in his grip, her long hair blowing in the wind. He had to be the most perverted male on the planet. Not only did he have dreams about a woman he had never met, but he was strongly attracted to a fourteen year old kid and this super hero.

By the time he reached his apartment, his tuxedo was covered in blood. She needed a doctor, but how did he explain her injuries without getting them both committed? Her eyes slowly opened, whimpering in pain. "Where..."

"Relax," he commanded, setting down a bowl and several rags. The last thing he needed was to frighten her, his voice dropping another octave. "Do you trust me?"

Sailor Moon was aware that she shouldn't. Luna knew nothing about Tuxedo Mask, or why he always seemed to be in the right places at the right time. Who was this man and what were his objectives? Slowly he settled his weight onto the bed, keeping his hands where she could see them. "You're safe here," he whispered, using the full power of his voice. Mamoru never understood why girls were so enthralled by it, but at times he would and did use it to his advantage.

Mamoru watched the fear slowly fade from her silver eyes, her fingers uncurling as he reached to take her arm. He would start with the easier cuts, wanting her completely relaxed before he moved to her legs and back. Sailor Moon wrinkled her nose at the strong aroma from the bowl, but Mamoru tightened his grip before she could jerk away. "Sorry about this..." With no other way to avoid the necessary pain, he applied the cloth to the massive cuts on her arm.

She struggled to pull free, but Mamoru quickly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Sailor Moon was trying hard not to cry, trembling in terror as he reached for another cut. "Don't," she begged, her silver eyes pleading for him to stop.

He sighed in frustration, but did as she asked. "Would you prefer a doctor?" Sailor Moon bit her lip, knowing he was right. Mamoru knew of another way to help her, but had quit using that ability years ago. "Close your eyes," he gently commanded, the injured senshi easily falling under his compulsion.

Ensuring that she wouldn't jerk away, Mamoru placed a hand on her chest and concentrated. After all these years, he could still feel and see it, the golden aura eagerly wrapping around their bodies. One-by-one, he watched the cuts fade, the blood slowing to a trickle before it stopped completely. Mamoru felt her stir, but another command kept her passive and unaware.

Sailor Moon slipped back into unconsciousness, trusting the masked stranger completely. She felt safe, protected by her hero. Mamoru watched her sleep, often stroking back her silver hair. Reluctantly, he carried her to a deserted park, still too early for joggers or runners. Mamoru wanted to continue holding her, but he couldn't afford for the moon senshi to discover who he was. Finding the Silver Crystal was and should be his only priority.

Before he left, Mamoru slowly lowered his head, gently brushing his lips across her mouth. Sailor Moon started to move, but another command and she returned to oblivion. He didn't try to understand this new ability, his fingers touching her lips before he leapt away, vanishing in the darkness.

Jedite had to control himself, a thousand questions on the tip of his tongue. Serenity appeared alright, giving him a cheerful smile as they entered and prepared for class. She had been badly injured, but he could find no signs of blood on her flawless skin; even the dark circles that had been beneath her eyes were gone. Usagi had missed about a week of classes, most of it sleeping in the park where Mamoru had left her. Saturn had finally found her, unable to wake her for another two days. "Usagi..."

He was interrupted by a commotion towards the back of the class, several students talking about something in the newspaper. "You shouldn't go!" Naru said.

"She's right," Umino agreed, snatching the paper from one of the girls. "This is the fifth bus in a week."

"Class, quiet down!" Everyone turned to the front of the class, waiting for Mrs. Haruna to set down her bag. "A lot of students have been talking about visiting the Sendai Hill Shrine and you're highly advised against it."

"Ahhh..." Several students moaned at once. "But..."

"No! Until the mystery of the six o'clock bus is solved, no student of Juuban High is permitted to step foot on the Sendai Hill Shrine. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Mrs. Haruna!" The only two not to speak were Usagi and Jedite. Without Mrs. Haruna catching him, he managed to get a hold of the News Paper, reading it during his lunch break.

"What's up?" Usagi asked, sitting beside him with her lunch.

"It says that several buses have gone missing in the past week; all of them at six o'clock. Every day, a group of girls have headed to the Sendai Hill Shrine to buy some sort of charm bracelet. None of them have returned."

"Do they say who's responsible?" Jedite glanced at Usagi from his side vision, but decided to wait before he asked his question. Flipping to page three, all the color drained from his face. "Jedite? What's wrong?"

"It says that a local shrine maiden, by the name of Rei Hino, and her grandfather are the primary suspects."

"Let's check it out."

"Usagi!" Jedite shouted.

"Jedite, Luna said I shouldn't talk to you about the other night, but I trust you." Usagi watched him carefully, gently prying the paper from his hands. "You know who I am and you also know what's attacking these girls, don't you?"

"Hai."

"You're not one of them, are you?" Jedite sighed, his hazel eyes capturing her silver ones. He didn't answer, waiting for Usagi to figure out the answer for herself. "Lately I've been feeling a dark energy around the creatures I've been fighting, especially that General. You don't possess that aura." He smiled, tugging on her long hair. Usagi glared at him, prepared to throw a roll at him when the bell rang.

"Do you mind if I tag along?" Jedite whispered in class. Usagi chewed on her lower lip. She had a strong hunch that the disappearing girls was because of their enemy, and that Jedite would somehow get hurt if he followed her.

"Jedite!" Mrs. Haruna growled. "Usagi has enough problems in school without further distractions."

He gave her a wounded puppy dog look, Mrs. Haruna not phased in the slightest. "Ahhh, Mrs. Haruna! I was only asking my girl friend out on a date tonight! OWWWW!!!" Jedite clutched the back of his head, glancing at Usagi in surprise. "Mrs. Haruna, do you think she'll like lilies or roses?"

The class erupted into a fit of giggles, laughing harder when Haruna tried to silence them. Jedite was well known for his pranks, the teacher often finding some kind of animal or contraption at her desk. One morning she had sat down on a whoopie cushion, Haruna racing out of the class in tears. Usagi couldn't believe Jedite. "What the hell are you doing?" she hissed in fury. "I am not your girl friend!"

"They don't know that. Besides, I was hoping to make a certain guy jealous!"

"Leave Tuxedo Mask alone, Jedite!"

"You're not aware of who he is; are you?"

"How would I? He never stays long enough to talk!"

"Usagi, Jedite! Outside now!"

Jedite was starting to regret his little joke, Usagi punching him on the back of his head every time they were alone. "I'm sorry!"

"Then take it back!" Usagi snarled.

"On one condition," he teased, crossing his arms. He loved making her mad, it had been so easy during the Silver Millennium, but usually it was Endymion and not himself. "Defeat me in hand-to-hand or sword combat and I'll tell everyone we broke up."

"For the thousandth time; we're not dating!"

"Everyone thinks we are."

"They didn't before you said anything!"

"Actually, that's not true."

"Wha..." Usagi stammered in disbelief. "Why would they think I'm your girl friend?"

"Easy. We hangout after school everyday," Jedite explained, ticking off every reason on his fingers. He knew this wasn't fair on Usagi, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Jedite didn't care if Endymion could easily kick his ass for it later. All his previous life, Jedite had never been able to out smart the High Prince, and Endymion's other guards would never let their leader live it down that Jedite had managed to pull the wool over his eyes. "Second, I never socialize with other girls, and three we ate lunch together. I'm not sure what your version of a date is, but in America that's as close to a couple as we get without going to the next level."

"NEXT LEVEL! Now we're a video game!" Usagi didn't care who saw them, Jedite racing down the hallways in fits of laughter. It felt like old times again, back on the Silver Millennium when he watched Endymion and Serenity fighting constantly. It didn't feel right without her classic temper and he knew exactly which buttons to push. Perhaps being the only one with his memories in tact wasn't so bad. He could pull off the prank of the millennium, and his next target happened to be a certain shrine maiden.

"Jedite!"

Three hours later found both sitting in detention, Jedite sporting two black eyes and several bruises on his arms and back. No matter how much pain she inflicted, Jedite had refused to change his story. Usagi glared at the black bored, suddenly wanting to learn everything Luna had been trying to teach her the past few weeks. First things first, she would have to find someone that knew martial arts, but who? Second, she had to do it without Jedite finding out. He wasn't the best at pranks without always knowing everything about his helpless victims. The sad thing was, she wasn't supposed to be helpless but the heroine Sailor Moon.

Mamoru gaped at the blond headed teen, trying hard not to laugh. If he didn't know any better, he would say that his *girl friend* wasn't too happy with him. Motoki, as usual, greeted Usagi, offering her a triple burger with cheese and two chocolate sundaes. Shortly after she started eating, Jedite ended up with the entire tray in his lap. "Usagi! I was only joking!"

"Jedite, if you don't take it back..."

Mamoru had to admit that Jedite wasn't easily intimidated by the fiesty girl, her silver eyes flashing dangerously. Normally he didn't involve himself in other people's affairs, but something about these two kept him from returning to his school work. "Usagi, unless you've suddenly learned how to fight, this discussion is finished."

"You're impossible!"

After they left, Motoki came up beside Mamoru, still chuckling. "It's been awhile since I've seen her that angry."

"What happened?"

"That kid is telling everyone she's his girl friend."

"Aren't they?"

Motoki broke into helpless laughter, clutching at his stomach. "The day Usagi has a boyfriend, is the day I find a real job. She's never shown an active interest in anyone, and they always end up like that kid. Did you not see the shiners on his face?"

Mamoru had noticed, wanting to track Usagi down and shake her hand. "If she's not her girl friend, then why the charade?"

"I think she's in some kind of trouble. They didn't say what it was, only that he refused to let anything happen to her." Motoki made his rounds of the arcade, ensuring all the customers were happy before he finished what he had to say. "No offense, but I see Usagi dating a guy more like yourself than that kid."

Mamoru choked on his soda, the fizz squirting from his nose. "Why the hell would I date her? She's just a kid!"

"She's only fourteen. Three years is not that big of a gap, Mamoru. To answer your question, it's because you both have the same attitude on dating."

Jedite almost gave in, surprised that Usagi could get so mad. She had been furiously silent all the way to the Sendai Hill Shrine. "Usagi, why are you so upset about this?"

Usagi sighed, "I..." Jedite had a feeling he knew, but chose to let her finish. "I'm not really sure."

"You're searching for him..."

She forced herself not to cry, staring at Jedite with such pain that he wanted to take it all back. "It's only a dream, but... Every time I see him, I feel as if I found the other half of my soul. I know we're not really dating, and that you're only trying to keep me safe."

"Usagi, never doubt the visions shown to us in our dreams. Can I tell you a secret; one that I've never told anyone else?"

"You're gay?" she asked hopefully.

Jedite scowled, "I am not and never have been gay! Would a man that watches porn flicks every night, be considered gay?"

Usagi blushed, glancing around in horror. People were staring at them, some smirking, while others glared at them, disapproving of their conversation. "Jedite, tell me again why we're friends?"

"I make you laugh," he answered, batting his eye lashes. "Does this make me look gay?" He teased. Jedite had such an innocent expression, that Usagi couldn't help it, laughing despite the urge to strangle him.

"What's your secret?"

"I left home because I started having visions of a girl. She has beautiful eyes, violet like the flower and a temper that could rival your own. Her hair falls to her mid back, and spreads out like the wings of a Raven."

"Who is she?"

"A psychic..." he answered mysteriously. Jedite didn't want to reveal too much, Saturn having warned him not to rush Usagi's or Mamoru's memories of the past. "Question, were we only going to check out the shrine, or did you plan on riding the bus?"

"Both!" Jedite sighed, having a feeling she'd say that.

"Usagi, do I need to remind you about how dangerous the Negaverse is?"

"No."

There were hundreds of girls lined up at the local shrine, all wanting to buy a luck charm and to see the mysterious shrine maiden. Usagi shook her head, wondering what girls saw in the pieces of paper. Did they truly believe they'd find love so easily? Ignoring the line, they explored the rest of the shrine, finding beauty in its old fashion simplicity.

"Can I help you?"

They turned, Jedite gasping in surprise and pain. 'It was her!' He gave her an elegant bow, forgetting that he was supposed to be watching Usagi. "I was wondering if you'd say a prayer?"

She studied him with a curious expression, some of the coldness leaving her eyes. "You're not here for a charm bracelet?"

"Why ask for something so cheap when a blessing from a shrine maiden would last longer?" Jedite watched her slowly smile, a small blush on her cheeks. 'I promised to find you Rei and I have.'

"You look like that guy we just hired," Rei said, turning to the booth several yards away. Jedite froze, his hazel eyes zeroing in on the blond headed man.

"How long has he been here?" He asked, a growl of undisguised hatred in his voice. Startled, Rei forgot about the creepy man, intrigued by this kid's aura.

"About a week?"

Jedite blinked, suddenly remembering Usagi. She was no where to be found, 'Damn her!' A dark aura began to build around the shrine, heading towards a single point across the street. Standing in a line, waiting for the approaching bus, was Usagi. "NO!" He tried to reach her, but was too late as the bus rolled away. "Usagi!"

Going back towards the shrine, he saw the blond headed man put away the remaining charms, a cold smile on his face. The Negaverse General didn't seem to notice Jedite, heading for his room. To their surprise, Rei was already there, her foot tapping impatiently on the ground. Jedite hid behind another building, searching for some kind of weapon to use. "Who are you?" Rei demanded.

"I'm Jedite," he sneered. "Were you not the one to conduct my interview personally, Rei?"

"Like hell!" Jedite covered his mouth, horrified that he had given away his position so easily. Shrugging his shoulders, he stepped out into the open, the two men circling. "I don't think we had a chance to finish our battle the other night."

"Let's choose a setting more to my advantage then." Waving his hand, a black portal opened beneath them, sucking Rei and Jedite in before they could cry out.

Rei landed on top, staring at his impostor. The General was now dressed in a gray and white uniform, a tiny ball of energy forming in his hands. Jedite managed to shield Rei from the attack, gritting his teeth at the pain. "You have to hide," he whispered, stroking her face before he turned to face his enemy.

"This will be fun," the general laughed. "Beryl said you'd be the easiest of the four."

"Easiest for what?" Jedite didn't like the dark energy reaching for him, the laughter echoing all around him.

"Look out!" Rei shoved him to the side, the dark energy licking at her skin. She fell to her knees, but suddenly the presence was gone.

"Bitch! You're not the one I'm after!"

"MOON TIARA ACTION!!" He barely dodged out of the way, turning to see Sailor Moon jumping from a bus.

"Sailor Moon," the general laughed. "Normally I'd take the time and play, but I have bigger fish to fry." Snapping his fingers, black bands snapped around her body, holding her prisoner as he turned back to Jedite. "Where were we? Oh yes, Beryl wanted to meet you. However, you have to be properly dressed before you announce your presence."

Jedite tried to lunge, but felt his muscles freeze in place. His eyes widened in terror, unable to break loose as the Negaverse clone approached, reaching for him with his dark aura again. "Stop!" It started to enter his body, the clone slowly melting. His hazel eyes flickered to a pitch black, but Jedite shook his head, screaming in pain and defiance.

"Jedite!" Sailor Moon cried, struggling to get free.

Rei watched the creature slowly possess Jedite's mind and body. Unable to control it, she snarled in fury, a red fire exploding around her. From the corners of her mind, a surge of power flooded her body. "MARS POWER!" She was bathed in a red light of fire, changing her clothes into a short red dress with high heels. On her forehead was a gold tiara, a red stone in the center. As the glow faded, the demon had fully entered Jedite's body. Without thinking, she threw a fire scroll on his forehead, making it impossible for him to harm anyone.

Sailor Moon, free of the bands, ran to her friend. "Jedite, you idiot! Why did you have to come here?" Angry tears slid down her face, her fingers brushing through his sweat soaked bangs. "You have to fight it!"

"Usagi..." he whimpered, his eyes flickering between his gentle Hazel color to pure black hate. "It hurts! Please, make it stop!" He cried, sobbing in her arms. The fire scroll was the only thing keeping him from giving in completely, Jedite trying to keep pictures of the Silver Alliance and those he had sworn his loyalty to.

"Tell me how! Jedite, you have to tell me!"

"Saturn... Your father..." Mars placed four more scrolls onto his body, one on each arm, his legs and one on his chest.

"He's beyond my powers to save," she gently told Sailor Moon. "As soon as he turns, we'll have no choice but..."

"Never!" Usagi screamed. "I'll never allow anyone, including myself, to kill my friends!"

She felt a shadow fall over her, knowing it was him. Gloved fingers brushed aside her tears before lifting up the unconscious teen. "We can't stay here," he said, heading for the buses. "He mentioned your father."

"But..."

"We'll have to trust your friend. If we're to save him, we haven't a moment to loose. The fire scrolls are the only thing preventing the demon from taking full possession of Jedite now."