In a clumsy swoop, Illusional Knight landed in front of Sailor PeaceKeeper. "Gomen!!" he apologized, fumbling for his sword. "I had
to hitch a ride on top of a police cruiser after I heard of the 'disturbance' on my CB."
Finally drawing it out, he gave PeaceKeeper an over-the-shoulder grimace. "The fuzz is heading this way, and you look in sorry-ass shape. I can get you outta here, if you want," he said, turning his attention back to the dark suit. "Hey, buddy, why don't you pick someone your own size!!"
Peacekeeper shook her head. "We can't let the police get involved. We already look bad enough in the public's eye. I can just see it now: 'Senshi Unable to Hold Their Own, Police Used as Back-Up'," she said with heavy sarcasm.
"That and this guy owes me, and I plan on collecting." Sailor Peacekeeper brought her hands together and shouted, "Peacekeeper BLAST!" sending a small ball of energy towards Zoisite.
Rikko had heard the battle and was on his way. He transformed on his way and was already drawing his sword as he ran. He came on the scene to see Sailor PeaceKeeper and Illusional Knight already in battle. He shouted, "EARTH'S VENGANCE!!!"
His words seemed to echo a bit as the ground around him
crumbled, rose as small rocks, and propelled themselves toward Zoisite.
A blue rose flew across the battle field, the battle needed to be ended quickly and for Guardian that meant throwing everything he could at Zoisite while the Senshi and Knights did the same.
As he stood on his perch in the tree watching his rose soar and preparing
his next move, the thoughts echoed through his mind. *The Dark Kingdom's smart, too smart. They know the Senshi have trouble communicating and even on my best days I'm not always there, even I can move only so fast.*
He breathed deep and brought his bare hand to rest on the hilt of his sword, he had been at each battle this week, but each time he had arrived after PeaceKeeper. It was as if for reasons unknown they were
focusing on her. The fatigue wasn't showing on him yet, but then he spent a lot
of class time sleeping when not watching the student body.
His mind instantly cleared though and focused his attention instead on the General before him.
The Venus Knight ran into the scene. His WristBlades were already out and ready for battle. He looked around and noticed the others were here as well.
*This is getting so out of hand. We can't seem to call one another when someone needs help.* he thought and went over to Sailor Peacekeeper and Illusionary Knight. "Are you ok?" he asked Sailor Peacekeeper.
Peacekeeper's blast and the Earthnian Knight's could be handled by Zoisite. Guardian's wasn't one that he was expecting. Yelping in pained surprise, he clasped a hand over where the stem had driven into his side. A cough brought a spray of pinkish red blood to his lips.
He had to get out of here... now. Healing was what was needed, not combat with that wound. With four senshi and their knight plus whoever threw that rose, he was in a word...screwed.
Drawing his wings about him to hide the damage as he
dragged the thorned rose from himself and dropped it to the ground, burning eyes full of fury settled on the four. Someone was going on pay before he was through.
Illusionary Knight grinned psychotically; this Dark Kingdom jack was about to be whooped on majorly. "Looks like the gang's all here," he said. "Five to one, he doesn't stand a chance, ne? A quick word of warning, though," he said, turning to Venus Knight. "The police are on their way, and pretty girl here needs attending to. I ain't no doc, but if you could help her out, I'd be grateful."
Venus Knight looked at Illusional Knight and then to Peacekeeper and back again. Taking his cloak he ripped a piece of it off and then field dressed the best he could of her wound. "That is the best I can do," he said to her and Illusional Knight. Sailor Peacekeeper moved her arm slightly. "thank you." she said softly and turning back to Zoisite. "What about him?" she asked. "My powers are useless against him, there's not much i can do but be cannon fire for you guys." she said in a saddened voice. "'Cannon fire'??" repeated Illusional Knight incrediously. "Bullshyt! (OOC: Man, playing Blakers and Jaku ARE completely different! O_O;;) I've seen you rip up monsters before, it's just a bad day, that's all. And thanks, mac," he said, slapping Venus Knight on the shoulder plate. "Whoa! Naaaaaasty blades at four-o'clock!" he whistled, noticing VK's armlet appearal. Rikko looked to Zoicite and made his way to the group, through the bushes, and came out behind the group. "Is everyone here ok?" he asked, looking at Sailor Peacekeeper. His jaden green eyes narrowed as the group of testosterone closed in around his kill. And it was supposed to be just that: the cat and mouse. And he was enraged that these stupid Knights would dare to take his prey away before he could bring it home. Yet... he was out-numbered. With a cry of "ZOI!" he hurled a flurry of ice shrapnel and cherry blossoms, then quickly teleported out and into Nephrite's mansion. "Look out!" shouted Illusional Knight, throwing his cape as best as he could over Sailor PeaceKeeper. He grunted though, as a few pieces of the ice rained down into his left arm. Sailor Peacekeeper pulled herself into a tighter ball to try and keep the ice shards from hitting. One that passeed through the cape hit her square in the back. She shrieked in pain as the blood flowed out. "We've got to do something." she said in a grunt. "We can't keep meeting like this." The Benefactor looked at the scene. "Something needs to be done about this lack of communication," he said to himself. Looking at the scene once more he noticed someone was injuried. Lifting a hand he brought Sailor Peacekeeper to his relm. Getting up he walked over to a shelf and took a small bottle with a clear luquid inside. Walking back over to Peacekeeper he knelt down next to her and opened the bottle. Holding her down he said, "Try to hold still. This will sting." He then slowly poured the luquid over the wound on her back. "W-whaa?!" exclaimed Illusional Knight as the solid in his arms vainished and he fell on his face, arm splayed out. His body twitched as he thought he'd die in mortal embarrassment in front of the other Knights. "This sucks," he said in a muffled tone, then sat up as the police sirens got closer. "We gotta scram!!" he shouted. "Minna look for sailor chick, whatever her name is! Ganbette ne!(msp)" he said, throwing his cape around himself. In an instant, the cape was on the gorund, with no trace of Illusional Knight. The Venus Knight looked around for Peacekeeper until he heard the sirens. "Damn!" Looking around one last time he took off into a dark side street and he disappeared into the darkness. *Maybe the Benefactor took her.* he thought. Sailor Peacekeeper looked up at the Benefactor. "We're getting our asses kicked out there!" she exclaimed then shieked again when the liquid came in contact with her body. "That HURTS!" she cried. Nephrite looked up as a squell of cherry bloosms entered the room. "Zoisite, back so soon?" he asked. The Benefactor finished pouring the luquid on Peacekeeper's wound. "Of course its supposed to hurt," he said to her. "It is going to heal you slowly," he explained as he got up. "And I am aware of what is going on with you Knight and Senshi and the lack of communication between you all," he said as he turned around. "I have already come up with a solution to the problem," he informed her. Zoisite growled, lowering himself to the ground with all the grace of a panther. "I was _this_ close!" he said, his pretty pink lips twisted in a scowl. "Not to mention that someone cut my face!!" He ran a slender hand across the wound. The blood had slowed a bit, but that corner of his mouth would be red for a day or two. His green eyes flashed as even more anger welled up inside him. Only two people could have thrown roses, and he hated them intensely if not more than the senshi themselves. "Kuso!" he muttered, hugging himself. "Nephrite, it was almost as if the males have a built-in signal. If one girl in this whole city is in trouble, ALL of them pitch in! I was out-numbered and out-gunned!!" Illusional Knight was walking down an alley-way and grunted himself as he pulled some shards from his arm. "This hurts like a bitch," he mumbled, fumbling for something. Realizing his mistake, he concentrated and became plain old freaky Blake again. Blake then reached into his pocket, pulled out a small joint and lit it, inhaling deeply. "Got weed?" he joked to himself, continuing his walk, figuring that whoever had taken the girl in that fashion was the Benefactor. "Maybe I should ask his birthday," he said, crossing a corner. "That way I can buy the guy a pager..." Out in the street, Blake, the Benefactor and Sailor Peacekeeper saw another Sailor dart into view. It was Sailor Amazonia, looking around ferverently for the action. "Stupid muggers!" she grumped. "I hope that old lady got home all right. It kept me from the real trouble!" She looked around ferverently, but all she could see was a news truck that gave her the report. And the sirens and some flashing red and blue light closed in... Blake almost choked on his joint as he saw a large giant of a senshi with long legs up to her neck peek out into the street as news trucks swerved to miss police cars. They were all looking for one thing: the disturbance. "She's gonna get arrested, whoever she is!" said Blake, picking his jaw up off the pavement. In an instant of creativity, Blake shouted, "Over here!! Over here! I saw the whole thing!!" A few people looked towards him as Blake made a ruckus. "I saw it, I saw it!!" he said, continuing to give the new sailor a look that read 'Get the hell outta here!' Sailor Peacekeeper looked back at the Benefactor. "I hope you do, cause if it don't work I quit. That's right. I'm tired of getting ganged up on by the Dark Kingdom. They know my every move. As if they are watching me. Five nights this week I've been attacked and alone! Five Nights, Benefactor. And I can't hold off by myself anymore. Where's my Knight? Where's the guy that's suppose to protect me, huh? I'm not the warrior I was over a thousand years ago. And frankly I'm getting sick of all the fighting!" she said. Her piece was finally spoken. Nephrite took a look at Zoisite's cheek. "Well, then why don't we go and take them out right now. Two Generals against a few Knights, shouldn't be that hard. If I knew where Kunzite went off to, it would be all the more easier. Where are they all now?" The Benefactor looked at Peacekeeper and then walked around to his desk. Sitting down he opened one of the draws and opened it. Taking out a black velvet case he placed it on the table. Sliding it forward he opened the case to reveal several crystal's that were made into necklaces. "Give these to the others and one for yourself. With these you can all communicate to each other telepathicly. They also start to glow when they come close to one another," he explained as the crystals glowed in the case. Sailor Peacekeeper walked over to the desk and slammed her hand down. "You aren't listening!" she said in a very frustrated tone. She snatched up the case and walked away. "If this doesn't work, old man, you'll be short one senshi." The Benefactor fixed Sailor Peacekeeper with a cold look. "So I am not listening huh?" he said. His voice changing to anger. "I could have left you out there on the battle field dying from that wound you reieved but I brought you here and healed you. Then I gave you those crystals for the problem you and the others not being able to communicate. Then you claim I am not listening," he said. "Tell me Peacekeeper. You tell me all the problems that you all are having but you can't even tell me what you really want from me," he said and sat down again. While Sailor Amazonia was no threat to Melvin for valedictorian, she did read between the lines with Blake's hint. She ducked into a nearby alley, and looked for some decent cover to hide behind. There wasn't much, just some trash cans. She zipped behind them, and scrunched down, struggling for both invisibility and a better view. "Oh, this won't work," she whispered. "I'm too big for this stealth stuff." Then she saw the fire escape. Hoping Blake would keep everyone distracted, she jumped up, grabbed the bars neatly, and pulled herself up for the climb to roofside for the best hidden look-see. Blake breathed a sigh of relief as a cop pushed aside a newsman. "Okay, kid, what did you see." "Monster! FREAKING HUGE MONSTER!" said Blake, taking on the persona of an excited pre-teen. "Like... 12 FEET TALL, man! He and this dude were duking it out and-" People began swarming around Blake, as he got more involved in his embellished story. Peacekeeper looked sternly at the Benefactor. "I never asked to be a superhero. I never asked to take a hit for some innocent I will never know the name of. I never asked to get attacked every night of the week. I never asked to be thrown out of my own home. What I want is for all this pointless fighting to be over. I want to go back to my normal ways. I want the Dark Kingdom to just vanish. But you can't do that can you? You couldn't even beat them over a thousand years ago, which is why you drug us off the streets to fight your war for you." "This is not my war. This is our war," he said to her. "A thousand years ago the Moon Kingdom was a peaceful one. Do you think they were ready for a attack from the Dark Kingdom? No they were not. But we can make a differance here and now," he said, getting up from his chair. "You have power that no normal human has. You and the others are special in so many ways. I know it seems the world is asking for so much but there is no one else who can stand up to the Dark Kingdom," explained the Benefactor. "I know you all wonder why I am not taking part in the fight. The time will come when I will be needed to join the fight but that time is not now," he said. Tashande watched the crowd from a distance, yet again uncertain. He sighed and took a seat on a bench, shaking his head. On one hand he seemed a bit relieved that he didn't have to do any fighting. The less he worked the fewer rads the other senshi would absorb. On the other hand, most of them were freaks and would actually look *more* normal without hair. The crowd suddenly scurried, though, as someone shouted, "What's that up there?!" Blake blinked. "Huh?" Heads turned towards the sky line and people murmured and gawked as they watched Sailor Amazonia swing up towards the roof. "Get me that on Channel 8!" came the sudden voice. The crowd then exploded: police in the lead trying to knock whoever it was down off the roof, cameramen and anchors running alongside so they could get the scoop, and tag-along neighbors so they could catch a babe! Blake was left all alone from the hurdling stampede, and he dropped his arms. "Aww..." ((OOC: I'm gonna get you for this, Jurei... )-?lt; )) At first Sailor Amazonia wondered what the hubbub was all about. Then looking down from the roof, she saw Blake's crowd leave him and swarm around her building's wall. With a heartfelt cry of "Oh, caaaay-RAP!!", the virago of virtue vaulted away from the ledge, ran across the roof, and leapt to the building across the alley, sprinting to shake her pursuers. Peacekeeper narrowed her eyes. "You can fight and yet you won't?" she asked. "Coward. Send me back, I have to get these to the others. Unlike you, I have to go back to the voilence and gore of the streets." she said. Nephrite brushed Zoisites blonde hair out of his face. "Don't worry, I'll get them for you." he said softly. "Don't misjudge me Peacekeeper. You assume I don't know anything. Since I have met all of you no one bothered to ask me about my past or personal history," he said. "But know it is too late," he said and lifted his hand. "Goodbye." And with that said he teleported her back. Blake took a long drag on his smoke, and looked to his right. He immediately yelled like a girl and hopped onto a telephone pole. "What the--where did you come from?!" he asked in short breaths, as he looked at Sailor PeaceKeeper. Zoisite's anger subsided as he nuzzled Nephrite's hand with his cheek. True, sometimes the star king was the cause of his anger (senshi being only more so), but at other times, he could be very compassionate, even understanding of the little sakura. "Oh, Nephrite, if only we could infiltrate the senshi," he said in a long sigh. "If only..." A light suddenly shone in Zoisite's green eyes as he paused. "Inflitrate the senshi..." he repeated, staring off into space, and letting the other man's hand drop. His slender body drifted over to the couch, where he felt his way down, sitting on the edge. "Nephrite," he said slowly, "what if we could infiltrate the senshi as a pair? A senshi and a knight?"
Sailor Peacekeeper looked at Blake. "Long story." she muttered and ran off down the street. She had to find the other senshi somehow.