Juunikyuu Senshi Chapter 1: Kohitsuji Kinko/ Sailor Aries
Seigino Haeru/ Sailor Libra
Author's Notes- This story is meant to take place right after the fight with Nephelenia and right before the encounters with the Starlight Senshi. The story is in English, but some Japanese phrases that are unsatisfactorily translated into English are kept the same. (i.e., Hajimemashite, san, chan, sama, Oniisama.)
Usagi breathed deeply as she turned the corner to Crown Game Central. The winter break before her first year at Juuban High was the sweetest she had yet to live through. No enemies, no school, no worries! She walked into the Crown Game Central with a smile on her face and a hand in her pocket. Her face fell, however, when she didn't see Motoki sitting in his usual place behind the counter. Instead was a tall girl, perhaps 163 cm, of her age or a bit older. She had wavy long hair that shone with a brilliant yellow that put her golden locks to shame. Her eyes were a deep blue that reminded Usagi of the most turbulent ocean. Her shoulders and arms were feminine, yet gave the aura of muscle and strength. Quite frankly, Usagi was breathless at this beautiful stranger behind the counter. "Eh, excuse me, Miss, but where is Motoki-Oniisan?"
The girl looked up from her magazine and smiled. "Furuhata-san is not here today. I'm his temporary replacement, Kohitsuji Kinko. Hajimemashite."
Usagi bowed slightly. "Hajimemashite. I am Tsukino Usagi. I'm looking for a girl named Hino Rei and a girl named Aino Minako. Are they here?"
The woman smiled with closed eyes. "Why, yes, Tsukino-san. They are waiting for you next to the racing games."
Usagi smiled. "Thank you." She quickly turned and began walking briskly to Mina-P's favorite game, Go-go Mach*. No doubt her friends were waiting there. She looked over her shoulder on an impulse and saw Kohitsuji- san quietly looking at her magazine once more. She shrugged and continued.
Kinko quietly studied the kanji on her pages of magazine Sun Sign. She ignored the glance of Usagi and quietly spoke to herself. "The powers of Mars call to me. I can feel her, the princess I was sent to protect. Was Tsukino-san that princess? She had a power within her that is quite different than any other civilian to come to me today. Also, those two who walked by earlier."
"Excuse me." The girl with royal eyes and ebony strands smiled quaintly at Kinko. "If a girl named Tsukino Usagi comes in, will you tell her we are by the racing games? She has two dumplings tied into her hair and a childish voice."
Kinko remembered the event with interest. "Was that the Hino-san or the Aino-san she was speaking of? She, too, had a power I cannot quite explain." She looked quietly into the fluorescent light above her head. "Princess.."
Usagi smiled at Rei in a smug way. "Ho ho, Rei, you were wrong! Mamo- chan does not think pink hair is prettier than blonde hair! He told me as such!" She blushed and placed her hands upon her fat cheeks, swaying back and forth. "Mamo-chan said he loves gold hair the best, because gold hair reminds him of Rumpelstilskin, and he loves that story!"
Minako raised an eyebrow. "But wasn't Rumpelstilskin an ugly little troll who threatened to steal children and locked women in their bedrooms?"
Usagi stopped swaying and felt a drop of sweat form upon her brow. "That isn't the point, Mina-P.."
Rei smiled. "No, no, Mina-P is right!" She grabbed Usagi and spurted, "You are very much like a troll! Stupid and silly!"
Usagi bit her lower lip and began to tear. "R-Rei! You are so mean!"
Rei let go of Usagi and sighed. "Please, Usagi-chan, I'm not being serious!"
Minako smiled. "That's true! It's like they say, 'a true friend laughs at you in the front'!"
Rei placed a forefinger on her brow, as if struck by a headache. "It's 'a true friend stabs you in the front'." She pictured herself with a knife in one hand and Usagi's, back under her feet, dumpling ponytails in the other. "Uh, I don't think that quote is appropriate for this situation, Mina-P."
Minako crossed her arms. "And how would you know an English quote anyways." She turned to Usagi. "Usa-chan, Rei and I are heading to the Hikawa Shrine after we eat at the Fruit Parlor. Do you want to come?"
Usagi thought for a moment. "Hmm.No, I promised Mama I would be home, so I could take Chibi-Usa to the Juuban Department Store. Chibi-Usa needs new shoes." Usagi frowned. "Not that my mother should waste her money on Chibi-Usa."
Minako nodded furiously. "Yes, children are a hassle, and a virtual succubus whenever it comes to money."
Rei sweat-dropped. "Where did you learn to speak so many big words?"
Minako smiled awkwardly and scratched her head with a single finger. "Well, for Christmas, Artemis gave me a Dictionary." She frowned. "Even though I told him I wanted a CD of the new hottest idol, Nakamura Ken." She removed a picture from her pocket, brandishing it to the others as if it were a badge. On it was a picture of an attractive young boy with wavy purple hair and violet eyes. "See?! Isn't he the cutest?!"
Rei smiled nervously. "Uh.."
A young boy with purple hair and violet eyes bowed deeply to the misty image in his mirror. "Yes, Sailor Leo, I am preparing to sing my songs of sleep to these beautiful young fans. Once they're asleep, I will search them for the Sun Crystal you so desperately seek."
The image spoke. "Remember, Ken, if you find Sailor Sun, contact me right away. Do not revive her yourself!"
Ken bowed. "Yes."
Rei and Minako waved goodbye to Usagi as they turned the corner. Quietly they continued, until they passed the Juuban Musical Hall. From inside came the haunting melodies of a teenager in love.
If you should see me alone
Please catch me! I'm not heavy
And I'm so alone.
So cry for me, and fall into a sleep.
Quietly, you pass
Into the Underworld
Until
Even the light of the sun cannot save you
Minako screeched and fell sullenly to her knees. "That's Nakamura Ken! Ooh, his tickets were 45000 yen, and I only had 30000!" She began to kick her feet. "It isn't fair!"
Rei ignored her as she quietly listened to the music. "That tone is ominous.."
Minako was on her feet in a second. "Really?!" She grabbed Rei and dragged her into the entrance. "We, as Sailor Senshi, must watch, I mean, monitor the concert!"
Rei nodded. "You're right." They walked into the hall and stared at the walls in silence until they reached the doors, which led into the concert room. Suddenly, two large security guards stood in front of them.
"And were are you two doing?" One yelled. "Trying to sneak into the concert?!"
Minako huffed. "How dare you?! We paid, but we had to go to the bathroom! If you refuse us, Rei's politician father will see you loose your jobs!"
The guards stared at each other. "All right.."
Kinko awoke from her nap by a mechanical beep from around her wrist. She pulled back her sleeve and clicked open her communicator. "Kinko, here."
"Kinko," the voice urged, "It's Seigino Haeru! There is a disturbance in the Juuban Musical Hall downtown, near the arcade you're working now. It's believed the princesses may be there!"
Kinko's eyes widened. "Princess?!"
"Fire Soul!" Sailor Mars' flame burst destroyed several weak attacks thrown against her by none other than Nakamura. "Ha! You think that attack can weaken my defense?! I am Sailor Mars, guardian of fire and spirituality! In my red high heels, I'll punish you!"
"Venus Wink Chain Sword!" Sailor Venus struck down a shadow attack with ease. "How dare you?! I respected your artistry, and you betrayed your fans! Senshi of beauty and love, Codename: Sailor V! I am the pretty soldier Sailor Venus, and I'll destroy you!"
Ken smiled demonically. "Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars? My master is not looking for you, but I'm sure I'll get something for destroying you and taking your planet crystals." He raised an arm swiftly. "Time to hit you with everything! Nakamura Sing Song!"
The blast swung for the Senshi. Venus and Mars attempted to dodge, but fell short and were knocked violently away. Venus used her sword as a crutch as she pushed herself from the floor. "I-I don't believe this! How does he know about the crystals?"
Mars pushed herself to her knees. "I don't know, Venus, but we have to hit him back, and hard!"
"Right! Venus, Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Mars, Flame Sniper!"
The blasts flew towards him, but he quickly dodged them. "Ha! Sailors, is that it? Don't you have any reinforcements?"
"Yes, they do!" All three contenders snapped their heads in the direction of the voices. There, on a balcony, were two girls in Sailor fuku. One wore a fuku with a pink skirt and lavender bows. They other wore a lavender fuku with light turquoise bows. The sailor in the pink fuku had long, wavy gold hair and deep blue eyes. The sailor in the lavender fuku had sienna skin and long white hair, which was streaked with lavender and turquoise. Softly they jumped upon the stage where the battle ensued.
The Pink Sailor stepped forward. "Protector of Princess Mars, Sailor of initiative and action, I am the aggressive Sailor Aries!"
The Lavender Sailor joined her comrade. "Protector of Princess Venus, Sailor of justice and balance, I am the harmonious Sailor Libra!*" She ran towards Nakamura at full speed. "Equal Tenbinza Harmony!" A blast of brilliant lavender light struck Nakamura across the face. He screamed and grabbed his face.
"Golden Ohitsujiza Storm!" Golden beams ejected from Sailor Aries' palms and struck the crippled Nakamura across the back. He screamed again and fell. Aries turned to Mars. "He'll get back up. Our attacks are not strong enough. Concentrate more. You are too rusty from all this laziness and game-playing. Remember why you are a Sailor Senshi and you will prevail."
Libra nodded slightly at Venus. "Yes, do not fill your head with idols and music, my princess. I will protect you to the death, but you are stronger than I. I can only be a pillar to your strength. We have traveled far to be with you."
Venus reached forward and took Libra's hand. "Who are you?!"
Libra shook her head. "We cannot tell you. We have a mission he must first complete." Her and Aries turned away. As they walked into the darkness, she yelled over her shoulder, "Tell your friends they too are protected. Soon, the time will come that we must fight together. See you later."
*1- Hajimemashite loosely translated means "it is the first time". Is used in Japan when meeting someone for the first time.
*2- Aries and Libra are ruled by the planets Mars and Venus (in fact, Rei is an Aries and Mina-P is a Libra), and are polar opposites in the Zodiac.
Seigino Haeru/ Sailor Libra
Author's Notes- This story is meant to take place right after the fight with Nephelenia and right before the encounters with the Starlight Senshi. The story is in English, but some Japanese phrases that are unsatisfactorily translated into English are kept the same. (i.e., Hajimemashite, san, chan, sama, Oniisama.)
Usagi breathed deeply as she turned the corner to Crown Game Central. The winter break before her first year at Juuban High was the sweetest she had yet to live through. No enemies, no school, no worries! She walked into the Crown Game Central with a smile on her face and a hand in her pocket. Her face fell, however, when she didn't see Motoki sitting in his usual place behind the counter. Instead was a tall girl, perhaps 163 cm, of her age or a bit older. She had wavy long hair that shone with a brilliant yellow that put her golden locks to shame. Her eyes were a deep blue that reminded Usagi of the most turbulent ocean. Her shoulders and arms were feminine, yet gave the aura of muscle and strength. Quite frankly, Usagi was breathless at this beautiful stranger behind the counter. "Eh, excuse me, Miss, but where is Motoki-Oniisan?"
The girl looked up from her magazine and smiled. "Furuhata-san is not here today. I'm his temporary replacement, Kohitsuji Kinko. Hajimemashite."
Usagi bowed slightly. "Hajimemashite. I am Tsukino Usagi. I'm looking for a girl named Hino Rei and a girl named Aino Minako. Are they here?"
The woman smiled with closed eyes. "Why, yes, Tsukino-san. They are waiting for you next to the racing games."
Usagi smiled. "Thank you." She quickly turned and began walking briskly to Mina-P's favorite game, Go-go Mach*. No doubt her friends were waiting there. She looked over her shoulder on an impulse and saw Kohitsuji- san quietly looking at her magazine once more. She shrugged and continued.
Kinko quietly studied the kanji on her pages of magazine Sun Sign. She ignored the glance of Usagi and quietly spoke to herself. "The powers of Mars call to me. I can feel her, the princess I was sent to protect. Was Tsukino-san that princess? She had a power within her that is quite different than any other civilian to come to me today. Also, those two who walked by earlier."
"Excuse me." The girl with royal eyes and ebony strands smiled quaintly at Kinko. "If a girl named Tsukino Usagi comes in, will you tell her we are by the racing games? She has two dumplings tied into her hair and a childish voice."
Kinko remembered the event with interest. "Was that the Hino-san or the Aino-san she was speaking of? She, too, had a power I cannot quite explain." She looked quietly into the fluorescent light above her head. "Princess.."
Usagi smiled at Rei in a smug way. "Ho ho, Rei, you were wrong! Mamo- chan does not think pink hair is prettier than blonde hair! He told me as such!" She blushed and placed her hands upon her fat cheeks, swaying back and forth. "Mamo-chan said he loves gold hair the best, because gold hair reminds him of Rumpelstilskin, and he loves that story!"
Minako raised an eyebrow. "But wasn't Rumpelstilskin an ugly little troll who threatened to steal children and locked women in their bedrooms?"
Usagi stopped swaying and felt a drop of sweat form upon her brow. "That isn't the point, Mina-P.."
Rei smiled. "No, no, Mina-P is right!" She grabbed Usagi and spurted, "You are very much like a troll! Stupid and silly!"
Usagi bit her lower lip and began to tear. "R-Rei! You are so mean!"
Rei let go of Usagi and sighed. "Please, Usagi-chan, I'm not being serious!"
Minako smiled. "That's true! It's like they say, 'a true friend laughs at you in the front'!"
Rei placed a forefinger on her brow, as if struck by a headache. "It's 'a true friend stabs you in the front'." She pictured herself with a knife in one hand and Usagi's, back under her feet, dumpling ponytails in the other. "Uh, I don't think that quote is appropriate for this situation, Mina-P."
Minako crossed her arms. "And how would you know an English quote anyways." She turned to Usagi. "Usa-chan, Rei and I are heading to the Hikawa Shrine after we eat at the Fruit Parlor. Do you want to come?"
Usagi thought for a moment. "Hmm.No, I promised Mama I would be home, so I could take Chibi-Usa to the Juuban Department Store. Chibi-Usa needs new shoes." Usagi frowned. "Not that my mother should waste her money on Chibi-Usa."
Minako nodded furiously. "Yes, children are a hassle, and a virtual succubus whenever it comes to money."
Rei sweat-dropped. "Where did you learn to speak so many big words?"
Minako smiled awkwardly and scratched her head with a single finger. "Well, for Christmas, Artemis gave me a Dictionary." She frowned. "Even though I told him I wanted a CD of the new hottest idol, Nakamura Ken." She removed a picture from her pocket, brandishing it to the others as if it were a badge. On it was a picture of an attractive young boy with wavy purple hair and violet eyes. "See?! Isn't he the cutest?!"
Rei smiled nervously. "Uh.."
A young boy with purple hair and violet eyes bowed deeply to the misty image in his mirror. "Yes, Sailor Leo, I am preparing to sing my songs of sleep to these beautiful young fans. Once they're asleep, I will search them for the Sun Crystal you so desperately seek."
The image spoke. "Remember, Ken, if you find Sailor Sun, contact me right away. Do not revive her yourself!"
Ken bowed. "Yes."
Rei and Minako waved goodbye to Usagi as they turned the corner. Quietly they continued, until they passed the Juuban Musical Hall. From inside came the haunting melodies of a teenager in love.
If you should see me alone
Please catch me! I'm not heavy
And I'm so alone.
So cry for me, and fall into a sleep.
Quietly, you pass
Into the Underworld
Until
Even the light of the sun cannot save you
Minako screeched and fell sullenly to her knees. "That's Nakamura Ken! Ooh, his tickets were 45000 yen, and I only had 30000!" She began to kick her feet. "It isn't fair!"
Rei ignored her as she quietly listened to the music. "That tone is ominous.."
Minako was on her feet in a second. "Really?!" She grabbed Rei and dragged her into the entrance. "We, as Sailor Senshi, must watch, I mean, monitor the concert!"
Rei nodded. "You're right." They walked into the hall and stared at the walls in silence until they reached the doors, which led into the concert room. Suddenly, two large security guards stood in front of them.
"And were are you two doing?" One yelled. "Trying to sneak into the concert?!"
Minako huffed. "How dare you?! We paid, but we had to go to the bathroom! If you refuse us, Rei's politician father will see you loose your jobs!"
The guards stared at each other. "All right.."
Kinko awoke from her nap by a mechanical beep from around her wrist. She pulled back her sleeve and clicked open her communicator. "Kinko, here."
"Kinko," the voice urged, "It's Seigino Haeru! There is a disturbance in the Juuban Musical Hall downtown, near the arcade you're working now. It's believed the princesses may be there!"
Kinko's eyes widened. "Princess?!"
"Fire Soul!" Sailor Mars' flame burst destroyed several weak attacks thrown against her by none other than Nakamura. "Ha! You think that attack can weaken my defense?! I am Sailor Mars, guardian of fire and spirituality! In my red high heels, I'll punish you!"
"Venus Wink Chain Sword!" Sailor Venus struck down a shadow attack with ease. "How dare you?! I respected your artistry, and you betrayed your fans! Senshi of beauty and love, Codename: Sailor V! I am the pretty soldier Sailor Venus, and I'll destroy you!"
Ken smiled demonically. "Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars? My master is not looking for you, but I'm sure I'll get something for destroying you and taking your planet crystals." He raised an arm swiftly. "Time to hit you with everything! Nakamura Sing Song!"
The blast swung for the Senshi. Venus and Mars attempted to dodge, but fell short and were knocked violently away. Venus used her sword as a crutch as she pushed herself from the floor. "I-I don't believe this! How does he know about the crystals?"
Mars pushed herself to her knees. "I don't know, Venus, but we have to hit him back, and hard!"
"Right! Venus, Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Mars, Flame Sniper!"
The blasts flew towards him, but he quickly dodged them. "Ha! Sailors, is that it? Don't you have any reinforcements?"
"Yes, they do!" All three contenders snapped their heads in the direction of the voices. There, on a balcony, were two girls in Sailor fuku. One wore a fuku with a pink skirt and lavender bows. They other wore a lavender fuku with light turquoise bows. The sailor in the pink fuku had long, wavy gold hair and deep blue eyes. The sailor in the lavender fuku had sienna skin and long white hair, which was streaked with lavender and turquoise. Softly they jumped upon the stage where the battle ensued.
The Pink Sailor stepped forward. "Protector of Princess Mars, Sailor of initiative and action, I am the aggressive Sailor Aries!"
The Lavender Sailor joined her comrade. "Protector of Princess Venus, Sailor of justice and balance, I am the harmonious Sailor Libra!*" She ran towards Nakamura at full speed. "Equal Tenbinza Harmony!" A blast of brilliant lavender light struck Nakamura across the face. He screamed and grabbed his face.
"Golden Ohitsujiza Storm!" Golden beams ejected from Sailor Aries' palms and struck the crippled Nakamura across the back. He screamed again and fell. Aries turned to Mars. "He'll get back up. Our attacks are not strong enough. Concentrate more. You are too rusty from all this laziness and game-playing. Remember why you are a Sailor Senshi and you will prevail."
Libra nodded slightly at Venus. "Yes, do not fill your head with idols and music, my princess. I will protect you to the death, but you are stronger than I. I can only be a pillar to your strength. We have traveled far to be with you."
Venus reached forward and took Libra's hand. "Who are you?!"
Libra shook her head. "We cannot tell you. We have a mission he must first complete." Her and Aries turned away. As they walked into the darkness, she yelled over her shoulder, "Tell your friends they too are protected. Soon, the time will come that we must fight together. See you later."
*1- Hajimemashite loosely translated means "it is the first time". Is used in Japan when meeting someone for the first time.
*2- Aries and Libra are ruled by the planets Mars and Venus (in fact, Rei is an Aries and Mina-P is a Libra), and are polar opposites in the Zodiac.