Matsuki Takato looks around the bus stop, his cousin Tsukino Serena was supposed to pick him up, he was staying the weekend. Thankfully his parents could handle Gigimon alone otherwise he would have never left his digimon partner behind, well, that and Wong Henry had agreed to help his parents out. Just then a blonde girl with sapphire blue eyes and her blonde hair done up in twin blonde pigtails comes running up, " Takato, I am sooooo sorry, I got so caught up in talking to Molly that I lost track of time. " Serena says.
" It's all right, Serena. I know how things can come up. I also know how easily you get distracted. " Takato teases her.
" Hey, I'm not that bad, I just haven't been able to spend as much time with Molly lately. " Serena says, and she was blaming it all on Luna and Raye too. Their bitching was enough to drive her insane. Serenity was about ready to slap both of them down, but she didn't want to go all out bitch on them. Then there was the Uranus and Neptune issue. They didn't even give her any respect and she was their damn princess. Mina was practically useless as the captain of her guard because she refused to take a certain Martian to task, as was her job. Lita was the one who did that.
" Yes, you are, Serena, but I love you for it. Never change, cous. " Takato says.
Serena smiles at him, " Thank you, lately it seems as though everyone is trying to get me to be someone I'm not, or someone I don't want to be. Why can't I just be accepted for who I am. "
" Who's trying to change you? " Takato asks.
" Mom, dad, Hino Raye, Anderson Amy, Aino Minako, and Shields Darien. They all want me to be this punctual straight A student that has perfect poise and grace, along with diction. " Serena tells him, snorting.
Takato shakes his head, " You are all those things, you just choose not to be. Well, you can be a klutz. "
Serena had never been more grateful for her red eyed cousin than right at that moment. She'd have to make more of an effort to keep in touch with him, but her computer and phone priveledges had been taken from her. Her mother forced her to go to a study group with Amy, Raye, Mina, and Lita. Serena had honestly done better when she had been with Molly. Molly understood how to help her study. Her grades had gone way downhill ever since she had become Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars had come along.
That was why she had taken the time to actually be with Molly, Molly understood her. If things went well she'd make sure to use Molly's address as a return address for letters to Takato. " I'm glad I have you for a cousin, Takato. However, I have to go to my study group now. Please, come with me. You might be able to actually help me out more than the ones whom are supposed to be helping me with my homework. "
" Sure, why not, I got all of my homework done, I can probably help you out some. " Takato says.
Takato is surprised when she leads him to a shrine, " You climb those stairs all the time? " his voice turning incredulous.
" Yeah, I do, it's a real bitch too. " Serena says. Serena reflects on the change that had come over her with Takato being with her, she was more like herself, less likely to roll over and take whatever anyone was going to be dishing out. "
" SERENA, YOU'RE LATE! " comes the voice of Hino Raye.
" Chill out, Pyro, I told all of you that I was going to be picking my cousin Takato up at the bus stop and I might be late! " Serena snaps back.
Takato sees a raven haired girl with violet eyes and wearing temple robes come into view just as he climbs the last step. This must be one of the ones trying to change his sweet cousin.
Raye pales when she sees the boy with her, backing up Serena's story. Before she could open up her mouth her grandpa strolls into sight, " Raye, I thought I taught you better than that. "
Raye's mouth opens and shuts before she bows before Takato, " I am so sorry for my inappropriate behavior that you bore witness to, " then she bows lower to Serena, " I am so sorry for how I greeted you, Serena. "
" Apology not accepted, Hino-san. You need to learn to look before you leap. Jiji, I am truly sorry if my being here has caused any sort of disturbance. " Serena says, bowing slightly towards Raye's grandpa.
Grandpa smiles, " Nonsense, Serena, this is still my shrine. Young man, you are welcome here too anytime you wish to come. "
" Arigato, Jiji-san, watashi wa Matsuki Takato. "
" I hope you come back to visit with your cousin, Takato-san. I could help you out with some control exercises. " Grandpa says and walks off calling for Chad.
Takato blinks, had he been talking about the Hazard? Oh well, he'd worry about that later.
Witches 4 HQ:
Mimete giggles happily as her next target is chosen, a young teen with brown hair and red eyes. Maybe he'd have a pure heart strong enough for the Messiah. Now, what minion to use?
Yellow Convertible:
" The winds are howling, Michelle. " Amara says. Amara has short dusty blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
" Yes, indeed, that boy that Serena met seemed very interesting to me. Let's see if we can find out more about our enemy this way, we'll use him as bait to draw them out. " the aquamarine haired girl states.
Cherry Hill Temple/Hikawa Shrine:
Raye walks ahead to warn the girls that Serena had brought her cousin and the cats to keep their mouths shut for once. " Raye, is Serena here? " the blonde haired Mina with her hair tied back by a red ribbon asks.
" Yeah, but she brought her cousin Matsuki Takato along, so no scout business and the cats have to keep their mouths shut. " Raye says.
Rini pales, " Uh-oh, Takato's not going to believe I'm a cousin as he knows all of them, I get my red eyes from the side he's related on. "
Mina hands her the Crescent Compact, " Hurry and change your look to a cousin related on the other side of the family. The Crescent Compact works similarly to the Luna Pen in that way. Raye, go stall them, take Takato on a tour of the Temple. "
Raye nods and Rini quickly uses the disguise magic the Crescent Compact afforded her, making her look entirely different. Then the girls scramble to make sure all scout stuff is hidden away. It wouldn't do to have someone find them out because they were careless. Serena follows along on the tour Raye gives Takato, she knew the girls were scrambling to make sure all senshi related things were hidden. Takato was a very good tourist, asking all the appropriate questions at the right times, hell, he even made Miss Pyro have to think about her answers. Kinda made Serena's day to see that not even Miss Perfect Pyro knew everything about her own home.
Raye was actually getting flustered as the tour went on because Takato was asking her questions that no one else ever had, like whom had founded the shrine and when had it been officially recognized, stuff she didn't know immediately off hand. Since Takato was staying the weekend with his aunt and uncle she just told him she'd look it up and tell him later. He accepted that response and Raye almost sighs in relief when the tour is over, leading them to her room where the study group was taking place. Serena almost smirks when she sees Rini's new look. Served the little spore right, she still didn't believe that, that pink haired bitch was her child.
She would never have tolerated any child of hers disrespecting her like that. Serena pulls out her history homework after introducing her cousin to everyone and Takato looks over her shoulder, pointing her in the right direction for her assignment. Amy Anderson with short blue hair and blue eyes looks stunned at how Takato managed to get Serena set on the right path. Serena never studied at these groups, she always read manga. Takato sees her shocked look out of the corner of his eye and frowns briefly before keeping Serena on track.
Didn't these girls that were supposedly her friends know how to get her to focus? He knew and he hadn't seen much of her lately, though he didn't know what to make of Rini, his senses were telling him that she wasn't to be trusted. His senses told him the same about Hino-san, Anderson-san, and Aino-san, plus the black cat, Luna. That cat and the white one, Artemis were not normal, they couldn't be. He'd been dealing with Digimon for almost three years now, no way in hell those cats were normal.
With Takato's help Serena manages to finish her homework and he begins quizzing her for her entrance exams in a way that she actually got. How she missed studying with Molly. Serena snags one of Lita Kino's dark chocolate chunk cookies, she loved Lita's goodies, the brown haired girl knew how to cook and bake, that was for sure, " The cookies are delish like usual, Lita. "
" Yeah, these are really good. My parents own a bakery if you ever need a job I'm sure they'd give you a chance. " Takato says.
Lita's green eyes get stars in them, " Your parents own a… wait a minute, your last name is Matsuki, as in the Matsuki Bakery in Shinjuku? "
" Ah, yeah, why? " Takato asks her.
" I had a raspberry muffin from there once, it was heavenly. " Lita says.
Takato grins, " That's actually a recipe Serena and I stumbled upon. "
" You're saying the meatball brain that burns cookies can bake raspberry muffins, I don't buy it. " Rini says.
Takato glares at the little girl, " Show some damn respect, her parents are housing you, remember. "
Rini stares at him in shock, no one had ever corrected her before, not even her parents. She was just told not to do drugs or get knocked up. No one had ever so casually told her off. The other girls stare at him too, save for Lita, she had been wanting someone to tell the pink haired brat off even though right now she had hair colored similarly to Ikkuko's with green eyes. " I have to admit, I've seen Serena bake, she has the skills of a gnat. " Raye adds.
Takato's eyes flash and the Hazard symbol glows briefly on the back of his right hand, which was thankfully out of sight, " Serena is a fantastic baker, just ask my parents, " Takato snaps, " Serena, we're out of here. If this is how your friends treat you, I'd hate to see how someone who isn't your friend treats you. "
" I have to agree with Takato-san, Serena deserves better than this. I'm going too, and my cookies leave with me. " Lita snaps. Once they're all on the sidewalk in front of the temple Takato continues to quiz Serena while they walk away. That was when the dandelion haired Mimete made her move. Serena spots her first, " Lita, I forgot my Naruto Manga, would you go back and get it for me, please? "
Lita spots Mimete just then and understands what Serena wanted, " Sure, no problem, I'll catch up as soon as I can. "
Mimete releases the Daimon, based off of a velociraptor of all things right in front of the cousins, " Takato, run, now. " Serena shouts it and turns on her heel, dragging Takato with her. The good thing was Serena knew Juuban like the back of her hand.
" Daimon, get me that boy's pure heart! "
" Jupiter Thunder Dragon! "
Velocica pulls up short and Takato only got a glimpse of green before Serena has him dragged away, " Ignore the bitch, get that boy's pure heart! " Mimete snaps.
Sailor Jupiter curses and jumps down from the wall she was on, her green eyes narrowing before she engages the Daimon physically, trying to give Takato and Serena a decent enough head start. Takato looks at his cousin, " What the hell is going on here? "
" One of the scouts enemies is targeting you for your pure heart. Sailor Jupiter stepped in to save us. "
Up on a roof Uranus and Neptune follow the blonde and her cousin, " Too bad Jupiter interfered, we might have gotten an answer. " Neptune says.
If Serena were to be privy to this she would already be smacking them down for using her cousin as bait. However, the reincarnated moon princess was unaware of their presence at this time and then she slams on the brakes, cursing, Mimete had used two Daimon this time. Son of a bitch, she'd have to transform just to save Takato. This youma was based off of a triceratops. " Takato, run, now. " Serena says, her sapphire eyes narrowed as she looks at the Daimon.
" Are you insane? " Takato asks her.
" Run! " Serena shouts it, shoving him out of the way of the beam the would extract his heart crystal, barely dodging it herself. Takato scrambles away only for a third Daimon to show up and steal his heart crystal.
" Moon Cosmic Power! " Serena snarls it out. No one screwed with her family, she didn't count the spore as family.
Sailor Moon immediately draws her Moon Scepter and levels it at the one Daimon, " Imperial Scepter Blast! "
Up on the roof Uranus and Neptune's eyes widen as the Daimon is destroyed in one shot. Sailor Moon then turns to the other youma only to find it gone and a fourth in its place. Sailor Moon levels her scepter again, " Imperial Scepter Blast! " With that done she starts hunting down the Daimon that had her cousin's heart crystal.
Uranus and Neptune track her, neither one of them had thought she had that kind of power in her. She was almost putting them to shame. Sailor Moon finds the Daimon cursing because her idiot senshi, yes, she was including Mercury in that, were engaging said youma. It was only when Mini Moon was in danger did Uranus and Neptune reveal themselves. Sailor Moon destroys the youma and then calls upon the Purity Chalice. Super Sailor Moon storms over to them, fury in her sapphire eyes, her voice had gone even toned, " You used my cousin as bait! "
Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Mini Moon back away from her, they all knew that messing with her family was a surefire way to piss her off. " Venus, get my cousin's heart crystal back to him. Now! "
Venus scrambles to obey, " Then you will stay with him and Protect him with your Life! " Super Sailor Moon says. Her fury was a cold one and she pins Uranus and Neptune in place with a look, " I can see I have allowed you two entirely too much latitude. "
" You're not the boss of us. " Uranus snaps.
Super Sailor Moon glares at them, " Do you not serve the royal house of the Moon? Do you not answer to the Lunar High Princess? "
Uranus blanches, " Shit. "
Neptune glares at her cousin, " Shit is right, Uranus. Have you forgotten that she is our princess? The one whom can suspend us from active duty. "
Super Sailor Moon stands up straight, " I honestly thought you two would get yours heads out of your asses on your own. Apparently I was mistaken, you never use civilians as bait. You are to protect the people! Selene, how were you two even chosen during the Silver Millennium to be senshi? "
The Inners wince, she was really letting them have it, wasn't she? Super Sailor Moon spares a glance at them, " Oh, they won't be the only ones taken to task. I think it's about time I remind all of you that you cannot tell me what to do. I am the fucking moon princess! "
Mercury, Mars, and Mini Moon all gulp before she returns her attention to Uranus and Neptune. Jupiter, Venus, and Takato all arrive in time to see Super Sailor Moon slam her knee into Uranus' gut, then she proceeds to lay in to them brutally. Takato blinks, he knew those moves, that style. Serena was the heiress to the family style, they had both been trained in it, but Serena had been the one to shine in it. Once she was done with them, and by done this means that they looked like they had just gone ten rounds with Apocalymon, she turns to Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Mini Moon, " First, the Captain of my guard has been very remiss in her duty by not keeping my own protectors from disrespecting me so I remove the Captainship from Sailor Venus and place it with Sailor Jupiter. "
Every senshi blanches at this, Jupiter was being given free reign, shit. " I will gladly accept, hime. " Jupiter says and she glows green briefly, signifying her promotion.
" Next, is the issue of Mini Moon, there will no longer be a Mini Moon, if her father wishes to make her Sailor Earth so be it, but I will not tolerate that spore representing my Queendom any longer. Third, Mars will have her powers restricted until she can earn Star Power again. This means she will only have the Fire Ignite. " Super Sailor Moon states.
Mars blanches as her power is decreased, " Fourth, well, that is the issue of Luna being my advisor, that will no longer be, Artemis is hereby promoted and Luna is demoted to Venusian advisor. "
Venus curses, " Oh, Mars is not the only one getting her powers decreased so is Venus, back down to Sailor V. "
Venus yelps as her senshi uniform reflects this, " Next up, Jupiter is increasing in power, I'm granting her a super transformation for being so loyal to me and for defending me against you ungrateful bitches. Mercury, you will also be punished. I will be sending you to my grandmother, my father's mother, she's a martial arts expert and she taught me everything I know. You will be getting in shape. No more needing Jupiter to be your fucking body guard. You are a warrior, it's time to act like it. "
Takato smirks, that was his cousin. He was glad to see her acting more like herself. The Serena he'd grown up with had not taken any shit from anyone. What had happened to make her act like that any… her parents. Kenji had been furious that their grandmother had taken her for training and not Sammy. Grandma had said Sammy was not right for the style. Takato pulls out his phone and dials up Umika Tsukino, Who is this?
" Geez, baa-chan, you're as pleasant as ever. " Takato says.
Takato, you never call me anymore.
" Well, I thought you'd like to know that I'm staying with Uncle Kenji for the weekend and I witnessed Serena let herself be verbally bullied by her so called friends. "
What! I'm on my way. Apparently I need to put my damn son and his fucking wife in their places again. I am the damn head of this family and I think it's about time I call in the loan I gave them!
Super Sailor Moon smirks, " Thank you, cousin, for that, oh, you know Rini, she's Mini Moon, I think she needs to meet grandma too. "
Mini Moon pales at the mention of her great-grandmother on her maternal grandfather's side, she'd heard stories, " Who's her father anyhow? "
" Unfortunately her father is Cape Boy. " Super Sailor Moon admits.
They disperse and Rini heads for her friend Momo's house, as she was spending the night there. Takato and Serena return home with Artemis in time to see their grandmother arrive, " Dear child, what have you let them do to you? "
" Sorry, Baa-chan, I had no other choice. They refused to have anything to do with me unless I acted more lady like. I have to practice really early in the morning. " Serena says.
Umika Tsukino storms forward and slams the door open, " Musuko! Ikkuko! Sammy! Get your asses in front of me now! "
Kenji pales, his mother was here? Why now? Oh, she was going to kill them for how they had been treating her heiress. Once all three are in front of her Umika looks at them, " Why has my heiress been letting people walk all over her? "
" I refuse to have a heathen for a child. " Ikkuko snaps.
" I own this house technically as you haven't paid back that loan yet! I could easily kick you out on to the streets. " Umika snaps.
Ikkuko subsides immediately, she had forgotten that Umika played hard ball. " Serena, dear, I want you to stay with Takato and his family for a little while until I can get them sorted out. "
" I can stay with either Kino Lita or Osaka Molly, I need to be in Juuban right now, with all due respect, Baa-chan, and Lita lives alone. " Serena says.
" Serena's right, Baa-chan, we'll tell you about it later. " Takato says, backing his cousin up.
Umika nods at this, " Go up to Serena's room for now, I'll head up there when I'm done with them. "
The teens nod and head upstairs, Umika motions for the rest of the Tsukino family to go sit in the living room, " I will be hearing Serena's side of this and if you have been coming down on her about her grades then you should damn well know she's ADHD, the lessons have to be interesting to keep her attention. It's why she reads manga, it can actually help her focus. "
Ikkuko winces, remembering all the times she had locked her daughter out for any grade below a B. Umika was quick to catch that too, " What did you do? "
Ikkuko can't bear to look into her mother-in-law's eyes, " Any grade below what I deemed acceptable I would lock her out of the house and tell her she couldn't come back in until she studied. "
Umika curses internally, she knew she should have moved in with them. Meanwhile, upstairs Serena is leaning up against her cousin, the day had been emotionally taxing for her and it wasn't even done yet. Artemis looks at his princess, he was surprised it had taken her this long to take her scouts to task. Takato looks at her, " Why haven't you told anyone? "
" Secrecy oath, you know because you recognized my fighting style and I'll have to tell baa-chan as I have to stay in Juuban. " Serena says.
" True, you leaving right now would be devastating. " Artemis admits.
Takato just shrugs at a talking cat, he dealt with digimon, a talking cat was nothing major. Umika knocks on Serena's door and Serena bids her enter. She shuts the door behind her and Serena looks to Artemis. The Mauan nods and his sigil flashes, ensuring total privacy for the conversation to come. Serena starts her tale from after her training with Umika was complete up until Takato had called her. Umika frowns, her granddaughter would need to stay in Juuban until her duty was finished. The Tsukino's came from a long line of demon hunters so Umika wasn't going to forbid Serena from doing her duty.
" I will talk with your friend Lita, from what you've told me she's Sailor Jupiter so therefore you will not have to hide things from her. I will also train Sailor Mercury and deal with the pink haired gaki. " Umika says.
" I'll be here the whole weekend. " Takato says.
" I know, after this weekend, if I approve of Lita I will find a more suitable place for them, one where they can train and have the cat. " Umika states.
Serena sighs in relief, she'd be able to hang out with her true friends again. Of course, her parents didn't know about anyone other than Molly. " Baa-chan, I need to go find my go to sparring partner. Artemis can answer any more questions you may have. " Serena says and jumps out her bedroom window before running over to Molly's and changing into a purple tube top, black skinny jeans, and purple and black running shoes. Her hair is put back into a braid with spikes woven in, she wore black arm guards as well, that also held one of her knife sets.
Molly smiles, " Going to find him again? "
" You know it, girlfriend. I need a good spar and he's the only one that isn't afraid to mark me. " Serena says.
Molly watches her best friend go, now that was the Serena she knew. Her grandmother must have pulled a surprise visit. Serena had also put black skull earrings on before setting out. The blonde would never be recognized by her scouts, that was for sure. She never dressed this daringly around them. She rolls her eyes at the wolf whistles, generally he could be found at one of the underground arenas. Serena whistles appreciatively half an hour later when she finds him, his burgundy hair was soaked in sweat and he'd fought without his shirt this time. He'd gotten even more built than the last time she'd seen him.
Brown eyes glance her way, " Well, Vixen, what brings you back? "
" I need a good spar and you're the only one whom isn't afraid to mark me. So, up for it. " Serena retorts.
Those eyes roll at her, " You know I am, I actually finished my fights for today. I'm free and I'm sure they'll let us have a space. "
" Need to vent too. " Serena tells him.
Brown eyes narrow and he nods before wending his way through the crowds to get his stuff, then he leads her to a free computer and suddenly they're gone and reappear in a new world, a world Serena had been too before, the Digital World, " If my so called friends ever found out about my underground fighting they'd never believe it, Ren. "
Serena snorts, " Like those whiny little girls I have to lead are any better. They only see what I've been forced to show, but now I'm gonna be living in a place my Grandma Tsukino provides for me so I can be myself again. "
" When does Cape Boy get the heave ho? "
" Not for a while yet. I still need his sorry ass to save his own damn planet. If it wouldn't be for the fact that Earth is my home now I would have left them to rot. " Serena answers.
With that the spar was on, her opponent went for a sweep kick but Serena leaps up and flips over him, " Come on, you know I'm not that easy. "
He grins, he loved her double entendres. " Don't I though. "
His next attack had her blocking with them almost body to body, " Face it, Vixen, you like sparring with me 'cause it gets you hot. "
Serena rolls her sapphire eyes at him for that and goes to knee him. He quickly shoves her away, he'd forgotten that she wasn't above fighting dirty. He groans silently, damn, what just seeing her did to him, and naturally she just had to wear a tube top. Serena darts forward and ducks under his round house kick before going into a sweep kick. He turns a backhand spring and lands facing the blonde. He smiles widely, this was why he loved sparring with her, her speed made her a tricky opponent.
Half an hour later he has her pinned to the ground, " Enough of a workout for you? "
Her sapphire eyes are sparkling, " I got my aggression worked out, but it seems you may be ready for another round. "
The glare he sent her lost some of its bite with the lust that was in the gaze as well. Serena smirks and he growls at her before kissing her roughly. Serena met his force with her own, this is what she had truly missed, she couldn't wait until she could get rid of Cape Boy. She doesn't even react as his hands move her tube top aside.
Serena returns home at midnight, after patrolling for Daimon, and she was jumps back into her room before grabbing her pajamas and going to take a shower. With her grandma around she had no curfew. Meeting up with her sparring partner had helped her out immensely, she felt significantly less tense. She just hoped, as she heads for her bed, hiding her clothes in her subspace pocket, that tomorrow would prove to be better Daimon wise and they wouldn't have to protect Takato again.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Digimon.