Return of Evil; Everyone's Rude AwakeningThe bright, morning sun peaked slightly into the blue colored room. The room was messy to say the least, but it was decorated quite fashionably. One could easily tell that this room belonged to a girl by the heaps of jeans and tank tops that were thrown in a pile in a corner of the room. Mitsukai Kaichuu, the girl who's room it was, turned over in her sleep as the sun peaked through her windows. It was the first day of school, and Kaichuu could have cared less. Sleep was something Kaichuu welcomed without a problem, and she did not even notice her roommate, Kashikoi Shakaku, walk into the room with a pillow in hand.Kaichuu turned over once more, and she pulled the covers over her head in an effort to block out the rising sun. However, Shakaku remained standing there, and she suddenly brought the pillow down and hit Kaichuu in the head."Shakaku!!!" Kaichuu screamed as she woke up with a start. Kaichuu did not realize that Shakaku was already dressed and ready for her first day of classes, and she just lay back down on the bed. "Five more minutes," she groaned."You're going to be late," Shakaku greeted Kaichuu with her always-practical comment. Kaichuu still could not comprehend what Shakaku was going on about, but a sudden change in her face indicated that she was now well awake."I'm going to be late!" Kaichuu screamed as she jumped out of the bed. Shakaku rolled her eyes at her friend as she had been trying to explain the very same thing. Kaichuu rushed into her closet, and she pulled out a pair of shoes, her black uniform skirt, and a white polo with the letters "T" and "A" embroidered on it in gold and black.Shakaku did not stay for Kaichuu to get ready, as she did not want to be late. Shakaku grabbed her book bag, and she walked to the door without looking back once. As she opened the door, someone whom Shakaku did not want to see at that moment was just about to knock."Well, hello there," Kaboku, Kaichuu's boyfriend, said as the door opened in front of him. Shakaku looked up and gave Kaboku a cold stare as she walked past him quickly. "See you in second period!" Kaboku called after her. Shakaku glanced back slightly with another glare, but she held her retort back as she did not want to be late. She rushed down the stairs, covering the last three in one jump, and she began to walk to school.Just as Kaboku was about to walk into Kaichuu's room, his path was blocked as a small, twelve-inch dragon darted in front of him. "Kaichuu, you're going to be late," the dragon growled. Kaichuu looked up at the dragon while she still continued to put her shoe on, and she stuck her tongue out at him."Lighten up, Hades," Kaboku said as he continued to wait for Kaichuu so that they could leave."Aren't you going to be late?" Hades sneered at Kaboku.Kaboku shook his head with a grin, "I don't have a first period." Hades rolled his eyes at Kaboku, and he flew out of the door that Shakaku had left open.Kaichuu finished putting her shoes on, grabbed her bag, and she and Kaboku walked out of the apartment. The weather was perfect for the first day of school; it was a clear day, and there was only a slight breeze."You should be excited about starting school," Kaboku stated. "I know you were yesterday."Kaichuu looked up at him for a second before responding. "That was before I remembered that going to school also meant waking up early," she said with a frown. Kaboku grinned, and the two walked the rest of the way in silence.
***
"Who do you have for Chemistry?" Dorei asked as she and Shakaku walked into the girl's locker room in the main gym."Bauer," Shakaku responded as she put her school bag into her locker, and she took out a bag with her practice clothes."Ouch, You got the farm boy," Dorei said as she also began to get ready for volleyball practice."Farm boy?" Shakaku asked after she had changed into the practice uniform and was tying her shoes. Dorei chuckled as she finished tying her own practice shoes."Bauer means farmer in German," she informed Shakaku. Shakaku raised an eyebrow, and she began to laugh because her teacher did not look like a farmer at all, but she did know that he was German."You should be in his class," Shakaku said as she redid her ponytail. "That way you could speak your little German language with each other."Dorei made a face at Shakaku, and she rolled her eyes. "I like my teacher, thank you."Several other girls from the volleyball team began to walk into the locker room, which interrupted the girls' conversation."I hear we're actually going to play today," Meticka, one of the team's setters, said as she opened her locker, which was right in between Shakaku's and Dorei's."That's a first," Dorei said as she slammed the door shut. All of the girls soon walked out to the gym where the net had been left up from their previous practice."Start stretching," Coach Briggs, the head volleyball coach, said as he waited for the remaining girls to get out of the locker room. He was a short, muscular built man who ruled over the volleyball team with his talent. With his iron fist, he had molded countless teams into champions, and he had been to district finals for than once. Height mattered little to him as the girls had found out from the very beginning, and he continued to rule strongly, reprimanding anyone who questioned his coaching techniques."Second year of high school," Meticka said with a sigh. "It seems like only yesterday we entered as first year students.""Time has flown by, hasn't it?" Dorei added as she stood up in order to stretch her calves."This year we're better, and we'll kick serious butt," Shakaku said with a grin."Come on, ladies, time for some drills," Coach Briggs said after he was certain that everyone was done stretching. Meticka and Dorei looked at each other; the team never really played during practice, and all they did was drills."One of these days we'll actually get to play," Keiko, one of the outside hitters, whispered to the girls. Coach Briggs had treated playing as a privilege instead of practice, so the girls only played if there was enough time."Aero, Jenico, and Vanessa: passing on court one. Katya, Jennifer, and Shakaku: serving on court two. Sazume and Dorei: passing on court three. Keiko, Meticka, and Sheila: serving on court four. Move!" Coach Briggs instructed the girls, who quickly went to their assigned courts."It's almost like we're playing," Meticka told Sheila as she grabbed a ball to serve. Sheila looked at her teammate skeptically, but she also went to get a ball.Shakaku walked over to the intersection of the four courts, where Dorei was waiting to set for Sazume. "This is the part where Kaichuu would say, 'That slimy cheese ball,'" Shakaku said, referring the Coach Briggs."You're right, too bad Kaichuu doesn't play volleyball," Dorei agreed.***
Kaichuu tapped her pencil on her book as she waited for the bell to ring. It was only the end of the first week of school, and she was already tired of it. She missed the freedom of summer, when she was able to hang out with friends without having to worry about homework and getting up early. She turned and looked across the room where Kaboku was busy working on the assignment. Why didn't she have that kind of drive to finish her work? However, Kaichuu laughed at herself. If someone were to have told her two years ago that Kaboku, one of her worst enemies, would be sitting in a high school classroom with her doing homework, she would have laughed at the thought.Yet there he was concentrating on the assignment as though he had been going to school most of his life.Kaichuu looked up as the teacher walked by, half expecting her to give more homework, but instead she walked all the way across the room to where Shakaku was sitting all by herself. Kaichuu could almost understand their rapid Spanish conversation, but she drew her attention to tapping her pencil on her book again."Ya terminamos," the teacher said after she was done talking with Shakaku. "Hasta maƱana." The bell rang about a second later, and everyone quickly got their things together and began walking out the door. Kaichuu and Kaboku met at the door, and Kaichuu waved to Shakaku, who walked out the other door on her way to volleyball practice."Well, that was an interesting assignment," Kaboku said as they walked out the door."I don't know how I'm going to make it through this class," Kaichuu said as she looked up at her boyfriend with a frown."I'm sure Shakaku will help you," Kaboku reassured her. "And you're not doing as bad as you think." Kaichuu nodded, as she knew that Kaboku was right, but she couldn't help but dislike the class."Let's just go," Kaichuu said, trying to end the conversation. Kaboku tilted his head, but he walked beside Kaichuu in silence. After they had gone to their lockers, the two walked off the large campus, and they started to head toward Kaichuu's apartment. They decided to take the short way by walking through the park.The bright scenery and the sound of children playing made Kaichuu feel better, and she and Kaboku were soon conversing about their classes."Second period was interesting for me," Kaboku said. "How about yours?""Art's always fun," Kaichuu said with a smile. "I'm determined to convince the teacher that sculptures made out of duct tape are works of art." Kaichuu smiled again as she pictured herself putting duct tape all around the room and calling it art. "What do you have second period?""PE," Kaboku responded, but that had not been the interesting part. "Guess who else has PE second period?"Kaichuu thought about this for a second, but no one specifically came to mind. "Who?""Who hates me more than anything else?" Kaboku asked with a grin. That clue gave everything away, and Kaichuu covered her mouth in shock."And Shakaku hasn't tried to beat you up yet?" Kaichuu said after she got over her initial shock."I'm sure she tried, but it wasn't enough for me to notice," Kaboku said, and then he glanced at Kaichuu with a sly grin."That's cruel," Kaichuu stated."Hey, I owe her a few for the times she's gotten me," Kaboku said. It was true, Kaichuu was sure, since Shakaku had always spoken to Kaboku with her sharp tongue, and she hadn't exactly been nice to him.***
"School starts too early," Tsukino Usagi complained to her friends Mizuno Ami, Hino Rei, Kino Makoto, Anio Minako, and the two cats that were with them."It's really not that bad, you just have to get used to it," Makoto replied, trying to get her friend to see the brighter side of things."That's right, and it's good to start early. My extra math class already started," Ami pointed out. Usagi looked at Ami in disbelief of the fact that she had already enrolled in something other than school."It's easy for you to say," Usagi said. "High school just isn't as wonderful as it used to be.""If you would just put your mind to it," Rei said as she rolled her eyes. "We know you can do well in school; we've seen you do it, but you have to keep it up." Usagi just loved Rei's lectures, and she was getting ready to lecture Rei herself. The only problem with that plan was that she didn't have anything to lecture Rei about."There's this really smart guy in my math class," Ami said, trying to change the subject so that her friends wouldn't start a large-scale argument. "He knew all of the answers, and the teacher never even gave anyone else a try.""So what? It's not like you're not smart, and it's not like anyone doesn't know that," Makoto said, understanding that Ami was upset."But he's tutoring students that I USED to tutor," Ami said. "He's unnaturally smart."All of the other girls stopped walking, and they all turned to stare at Ami. Ami looked at them puzzled, not realizing that they were trying to point out that she too was unnaturally smart without actually saying anything.Before anyone said anything, they heard people walking in their direction, and they looked up to see two familiar face. It had been at least a year since the group had seen Kaichuu, Kaboku, or the other Constellations, and it was strange to just run unto two of them in the middle of the park."Hi!" Kaichuu said, as she and Kaboku stopped in front of the group. The group became quiet almost instantly, and they each keep a watchful eye on Kaboku. Even though Kaboku had been on Earth for quiet some time, most of them still didn't trust him, and they just wanted to make sure that their fellow senshi was all right."Hey, Kaichuu," Makoto finally broke the awkward silence. "Long time no see.""Yeah well, school's been hectic as always," Kaichuu said, almost unaware of the tension between Kaboku and the other girls. "Well, say hello," Kaichuu encouraged him."Hello," Kaboku said quietly, and the girls took a step back, which made the slightest sign of a grin appear on his face. The senshi were still scared of him even though they had welcomed him to earth, and Kaboku just couldn't believe that."Kaboku," Makoto said as she glared at the former Dark Realm minion."Things alright with you?" Minako asked Kaichuu. "Cause they'd better be.""Of course they are," Kaichuu said with a smile.Ami suddenly looked up at Kaboku with wide eyes in realization. "I'll see you on Monday during math?" Kaboku asked Ami, noticing that she finally realized whom the smart boy in her class was."That's him," Ami quietly said to Rei, and Rei looked up at Kaboku."Interested in math, are we?" Rei asked coldly."It's the only thing worth learning here," Kaboku replied. Makoto took a step forward, but Minako and Usagi took a hold on her arms, and she stayed where she was. Makoto calmed down, and she walked over to Kaichuu after her friends had let go of her arms."You tell me if he starts acting up," Makoto whispered as she took a threatening glance at Kaboku."Thanks," Kaichuu said as she noticeably rolled her eyes. "But I think everything will be ok."Kaboku and Kaichuu continued walking past the group, and they continued on their previous conversation."I honestly don't think he's going to do anything," Usagi said, trying to get the others to look on the bright side of things."You never think anything's going to happen," Rei answered.***
Kerai whipped her eyes for the hundredth time since she had been on the floor of this particular room. She hated being in the Dark Realm alone, but she felt that this was the only place where she belonged. Today she had chosen to spend most of her time in Kaboku's old room. Everything was beginning to show its age, and large amounts of dust had already collected on many of the items in the room.The bedspread that covered the bed was now colored a dark gray by the amount of dust that had gathered on it. The desk across from the bed had a large book on it, and those too had collected their fair share of dust and decay.However, Kerai continued to stay in the room, and she sat on the floor hugging her knees. She found it hard to believe that Kaboku and Kyuuteki had been here in the Dark Realm with her almost two full years ago. She smiled sadly to herself as she remembered how she had found their presence annoying and dominating at times, but now she missed them.It had been the senshi's fault, as they had taken all she loved away. Sailor Aquaria had taken Kaboku even though Kerai knew that they were right for each other.Kerai hugged her knees tighter as she took another look around the room. She had rarely been allowed in the room, so she savored this moment. However, it hurt her that she was just sitting by herself in an old room surrounded by her memories. She wanted to actually go out and take back what had been taken from her, but she didn't know where to begin."If you needed help, you could have asked," a gentle voice rang throughout the Dark Realm. Kerai looked up, startled, but she lowered her head, convincing herself that she had finally snapped."You could be doing so much more," the voice rang out once again. Kerai looked up again, and she listened. "A little guidance never hurt anyone."Kerai thought about this for a moment, but she still couldn't get the idea that she was hearing voices out of her mind. "You're too smart to listen to strange voices, but you're listening to mine," the voice called out; as if knowing what Kerai was thinking."And if I accept your guidance?" Kerai finally responded, knowing that she was too clever to fall for any tricks that her mind might play on her."You can get the freedom and glory that you've always wanted," the voice answered softly. "We both know that you're better than this, and you more then deserve that which is rightfully yours."Kerai stood up from where she had been sitting, and she looked up, almost expecting to see someone there. "I have nothing to lose," she reassured herself."No, you don't, but you have so much to gain." The air around Kerai began to grow humid, and she watched timidly as a fog-like quality began to take over the room. The fog formed together into three separate spheres, which soon formed into solid eggs about a foot tall. The eggs came to rest on the floor, and Kerai looked at them in amazement."Yajuus," she whispered quietly, but she couldn't believe it. The last of the creatures had died along with Kyuuteki, and their eggs had not been anywhere near the size of the ones in front of her. However, yajuu was the word that went to her mind first, and she tilted her head in confusion."You of all people should know what to do with them," the voice said. "Develop them; let them grow, and don't waste them all.""I don't understand," Kerai said, trying to get a better explanation. However, there was no reply, and Kerai was left in the humid room with the three eggs. Kerai turned around slowly as she looked around the room. She was going to save Kaboku, and she was going to use all the help she could get.