006 Raging Hearts
Being new is always unpleasant. It comes with dealing with new people, and trying to get them to like or hate you, depending on one's personal preference around strangers. You must always be wary of the established social structure, and its rigid rules concerning those 'beneath' them.
For Ryo Urawa being new was nothing new. He'd moved plenty of times in his short life, but this move was different. He'd know these faces for years, known their names, and how they'd react to him. And he knew Her, the girl he wanted to kill him so others didn't get hurt. He was afraid of death, but knowing she'd be the one to kill him somehow eased his heart.
"Hello, I'm Tsukino, Usagi, and you look just a little nervous….first day?" a soft calm voice asked, pulling Ryo from his dark musings. He examined the smiling blond and frowned softly, he didn't remember her from his visions of this school, and his visions had always been right before. He was always positive of what to expect, but this girl had thrown a hammer straight through his calculations.
"Urawa Ryo. I am a little nervous, Ms. Tsukino," Ryo confessed.
"Usagi… just Usagi, no one really calls me by my last name," Usagi said with a bright grin. Ryo returned the grin, lost in the girl's positive aura and allowed the blond to lead him to their class. Ryo was assigned a seat beside Ami Mizuno, the girl he'd grown to care for thanks to his visions of the future.
After a long morning of work Usagi and Ryo wandered outside for lunch. Usagi giggled as the two settled under a tree with a perfect view of Ami reading a book as she ate. She smiled at Ryo's half-hearted glare and said, "She's a friend… and you've a crush. Wanna meet her?"
Ryo shook his head vehemently as a deep blush spread across his cheeks. Usagi giggled again and stood. Her new friend sent her an inquisitive look before his shock turned to despair as the blond pulled him to his feet. She grinned as she dragged him to Ami's side and said, "Ryo, meet Ami. Ami this is Ryo, he's new here. You two talk, and I'll be right back!
Both stared after Usagi for a moment before they turned to stare at each other. Ami slowly closed her book and carefully placed it within her bag. Softly she said, "Usagi's a little… different, than most, but she has a big heart. She helped me with something important, and I've grown to trust her judgment on people…she's so very rarely wrong. If she thinks we should talk, I'll talk, so long as you're willing. I'd really like to be friends with you."
Ryo smiled at Ami and replied, "I'd love to be friends… especially with Usagi about to keep things interesting. I imagine it would be hard to keep from being friends, with Usagi pushing us together, as I'm certain she will."
The two laughed as Usagi came back with three drinks and sat beside Ami. The three chatted happily until lunch ended. Usagi was truly content by the end of the day and agreed to spend the afternoon with Naru, despite Ami and Ryo's request that she join them at the arcade.
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Usagi smiled as Naru led her into a small flower shop at the heart of the shopping district. The two wandered among the flowers in silence for a while until Naru stopped in a deserted corner and face Usagi. After a long silence Naru said, "This is it. I can't be friends with the likes of you. You are the worst crybaby cheater I've ever met. From this moment forth I don't want you to talk to me ever again. As far as I'm concerned you and I are complete and utter strangers. I hate you and if you even attempt to be friends I'll hurt you, your friends, and that pathetic little brat of a brother. Am I understood?"
Usagi gaped at Naru for a few moments as she tried to take in everything that was just said. Naru's blue eyes narrowed as she glared heatedly at Usagi and punched the shorter girl. Usagi fell into a bench covered in flowers, several following her as she slid to the floor, crying softly in pain. She felt water soaking her skirt as shards from several pots cut into her shins, but she couldn't move from her spot on the floor.
Usagi heard Naru walk away before the store manager arrived and spotted the mess around Usagi. The tall skinny man instantly started to yell, "Look what you've done! You clumsy little brat, you've ruined some of my most expensive arrangements; those took hours to put together! What have you to say for yourself? Huh! Well, you better pay for all that or I'll call the cops!"
Usagi listened and cried, her heart aching with the pain of losing her best friend. She heard the manager stalk towards the front of the store swearing about disruptive youth, and slowly forced herself to her feet. Keeping her pace slow, she walked to the front of the store, blood slipping down her legs from several shallow cuts. She could hear the water from her skirt dripping on the floor, and felt the people staring at her. Usagi kept her head up as she reached the counter and asked politely, "How much do I owe you Sir?"
"The total comes to 2,096 dollars," the man growled angrily. Usagi solemnly dragged out her wallet and placed 339 dollars on the counter with a sad sigh. The manager growled low and Usagi bowed her head in shame.
"Princess Usagi," a gentle baritone voice called out. Usagi turned and spotted Mamoru's teasing smile and quickly turned back to face the manager. The manager was glaring at Usagi as she tried not to fidget and Mamoru walked up beside her.
"You're little friend owes me for the flowers she destroyed!" the manager explained harshly after several uncomfortable moments of silence. Usagi blushed brightly and lowered her head further. Mamoru frowned and looked at Usagi's discomfort. He looked at the small stack of money on the counter, and then looked to the total on the register. He bit back a rude comment and fished in his pocket for his wallet. He gently placed Usagi's money back in her hand, then handed the man enough money to pay for the ruined flowers. Then Mamoru grabbed Usagi and gently led her from the shop, where she collapsed in tears.
"I'm so sorry…I'll find some way to pay you back, I swear…" Usagi wailed miserably. Mamoru knelt beside her and wrapped her in a firm hug. He let Usagi cry on his shoulder until she couldn't cry anymore. He carefully picked her up bridal style and carried her to his car. He set her in the passenger seat before he walked around and climbed in the driver's seat.
Several quiet moment's later Mamoru asked, "What happened, Princess?"
"Naru…hates me. She said she never wanted to talk to me ever again, then she hit me and I fell into the flowers…I'm sorry. I really will pay you back," Usagi whispered, figuring he deserved an honest answer for helping her.
"You owe me nothing; I just want to be your friend. I don't mean an older pal who occasional helps you study math, but a real, true friend. The kind you can bring your troubles to," Mamoru said softly. Usagi gasped at his calm words and nodded slowly.
"I…I think I'd like that, Mamoru," Usagi whispered.
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"Those damned, brats! They killed one of my best, and then that temple rodent…." Jadeite murmured as he paced across the throne room. The youngest general for the Dark Kingdom had spent nearly two days ranting about the Sailor Soldiers and the inhabitants of Hikawa Shrine. The other three general were tired of listening to the youth, but Queen Beryl seemed to tolerate the rants as pleasant chatter.
Kunzite, easily the most laid back and gentle member of the generals, decided he'd had enough of the whining and stood to leave the throne room. Nephrite and Zoisite, the remaining generals, silently watched him walk across the throne room towards the nearest exit. Before he managed to reach the exit Queen Beryl finally entered the room and settled on her black throne. Her cold voice was sharp as she asked, "And where are you going, Kunzite?"
"Oh, Beryl, so horrific to see you today. I was hoping I'd be saved from having to gaze at your repulsive face. Now if you'll excuse me, my atrocious queen, I've beauty and youth to attend to. My dearest Peruru is awaiting my return. I can hardly wait to lay eyes on his fair beauty," Kunzite said as Queen Beryl glowered. Kunzite disappeared in a black arc as a pair of attacks hurled his direction. Jadeite and Queen Beryl turned from their hate-filled glares at the door to look at the remaining generals, both of which were desperately trying to hide snickers.
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Haruka walked slowly through the shopping district and examined the many stores. She was window shopping for a gift for Michiru as an apology for her behavior regarding Hotaru. She knew after seeing the youth return with her many bruises the other night that her concerns were unfounded and hurtful, and now she had to make amends.
She sighed in defeat and slipped into a crowded flower shop with disinterest. She browsed for a few moments before she grew tired of shopping and decided to go home and simply beg for forgiveness. A sharp spike of dark energy made Haruka stop and closely inspect the flower shop. Most people were innocently looking around, and she felt nothing from their auras, but one blond made her worry. She followed him as he walked towards the employee area.
Before Haruka reached the door she heard screaming and turned around. Seconds later she found herself pinned to the wall behind her with a sharp stem of a large sunflower-like monster impaling her shoulder. Haruka tried to bite back a scream of pain, and only partially succeeded. She tried to ignore the pain as she fished in her pocket with her good arm. She grabbed her phone and slowly dialed Michiru's number.
"Hey," Michiru answered distractedly.
Haruka bit back another yell as the monster pulled energy from her and barely whispered, "I'm at the Haven Flower Shop…"
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"Why?" Michiru asked as she continued to cook dinner for two. She slowly hobbled across the kitchen, being careful of her sprained ankle, and started to work on a salad. She hummed softly as she waited for an answer, only to hear muffled screaming. Michiru's grip on the phone tighten as she asked, "Haruka, are you alright? Haruka?"
After several moments without a response from her blond roommate Michiru hung up. She walked purposefully across the kitchen and turned off the stove as she dialed Ami's number. When Michiru heard the bluenette answer she immediately said, "We need to be at the Haven Flower Shop now!"
Michiru hung up and quickly jumped from her apartment window. As she fell ten feet to the neighboring roof she transformed into Sailor Neptune. When Neptune landed she remembered why she'd been avoiding walking for most of the day as the pain in her ankle sent her to her knees. Yesterday she'd sprained ankle after her one of her high heel broke and Haurka had carried her home.
She gasped silently for a few seconds before she willed herself to stand and walk towards the flower shop. Each step sent pain racing through Neptune's body, but she kept walking until she could look down into the Haven Flower Shop. She knelt and examined the monster inside. It looked to be a giant Sunflower with several vines wrapped around a few customers. The rest of the people in the shop were passed out on the floor. She looked at the customers searching for her teammate, but had no luck. She leaped to the ground and groaned softly. Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Saturn landed next to her and looked in at the monster. The four scouts dashed across the street, Neptune clenching her teeth to avoid screaming in pain, and into the shop.
The monster turned to face them, an evil sneer on its plant face. Neptune searched the shop until she spotted Haruka pinned to the wall, blood pooling on the floor beneath her. Neptune raced across the shop to her friend's side as Sailor Venus popped in the door proudly proclaiming, "You who would defile the sacred art of offering flowers to a lover and have the utter audacity to drain the energy of blossoming lovers everywhere."
"Venus, it's a sunflower, not a rose," Mercury muttered, shocked over the ridiculous posing of the orange clad sailor, who for some reason had a white mask covering her eyes.
"Every girl dreams of a wondrous bouquet of dazzling flowers from those they cherish. They revel in the joy all flowers provide. In the name of my guardian Star, the Goddess who looks down on lovers everywhere, and graces them with eternal beauty, and everlasting joy. For the Great Goddess of Love, Venus, I shall punish you for your ruthless and uncalled for attempt on my Patron's gift of love. In the name of the Great Goddess Venus, I shall punish you!" Sailor Venus announced proudly. Mars and Mercury stared at the girl for a second too long s the sunflower lashed out with twin vines. The two scouts were thrown into walls as the plant turned to glare at Venus.
Sailor Saturn rushed to Neptune's side and quickly cut the vine pinning Haruka to the wall. Neptune helped pull Haruka down and slowly led her to the employee exit as Saturn went in to help the other scouts. Mercury had managed to stumble to her feet and cloud the room in a haze of bubbles. Saturn pulled Mars to her feet and the two glared hatred at the monster as Venus shouted, "Crescent Beam."
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Seconds after Haruka and Neptune were safe behind the door Haruka transformed into Sailor Uranus. Neptune quickly wrapped a bandage around her friend's bleeding shoulder before Uranus rushed up the stairs towards the roof. Baffled, Neptune followed.
"Why?" Neptune asked as Uranus pushed open the door and looked around. The injured scout slowly walked across the roof, exhaustion clearly showing as the blond tripped several times. Neptune rushed to her friend's side, mindful of the screaming pain in her ankle. The two made their way to the edge of the building where Uranus sat on the edge and look around the barren rooftop.
"The man who created the monster came up here…I was hoping…" Uranus muttered. Neptune nodded thoughtfully as she gazed out across the shopping district in the setting sunlight. Soft laughter surrounded the two scouts before a blond man appeared before them in a whirlwind of soft pink petals. Sailor Uranus stood as Neptune turned to fully face the floating blond.
The blond fired an energy blast at Neptune, who took a step back with her injured ankle and slipped from the roof. Uranus reacted instantly and grabbed her friend, her injured shoulder protesting to the weight of another. Neptune gasped in shock as she watched Uranus's blood flow down her arm and drip onto her and the street below. Pain-filled tears escaped Uranus as she let out a short cry of pain.
"You're heavy," Uranus joked as she tried pulling up the other scout. Her shoulder protested and she gritted her teeth to avoid screaming again.
Neptune tried to smile as she replied, "You didn't say that last night."
"Living in sin are we?" Zoisite asked from behind Uranus. The blond general laughed softly as he threw an energy bolt directly into Uranus's back, driving the injured scout to her knees. Uranus tightened her grip as another blast burned through her outfit, charring the flesh beneath. Neptune closed her eyes hearing her teammate yell in pain as blast after blast burned into Uranus's back. With each blast Uranus forced herself to tighten her grip on her dangling teammate even as she felt the blasts tearing the skin of her back.
Zoisite laughed softly for a few moments, contemplating how he'd tell Queen Beryl he'd managed to kill two of the tutu-brats that continued to thwart Jadeite. His concentration was drawn back to the persistent blond as her outfit slowly transformed into an elegant gown of the purest white with the soft symbol of Uranus glowing on her forehead. Zoisite took a step back in wonder before two black crows flew into his face. While Zoisite was busy trying to bat away the persistant birds Sailor Neptune managed to crawl back up onto the rooftop. A as she finally managed to drag the other scout back onto the rooftop.
Neptune fueled by anger and worry instantly punched the blond boy who had dared to inflict so much damage to Uranus. The blond fled the rooftop in a swirl of cherry blossom leaves and balck feathers before Sailor Neptune worried over the shaking white clad princess of Uranus. Slowly her transformation slipped back into her sailor uniform before even that faded away, leaving her in her original bloodied street clothes. Sailor Neptune carefully helped Haruka downstairs to a small cot she'd seen earlier. She made Haruka lie down on her stomach while she examined the extent of the damage. The burn covered most of her friend's back, bits of fabric were clinging to the skin and Neptune had to brush away her falling tears. She looked at her friend and smiled sadly when she noted that the girl was fast asleep. Neptune crossed the room to a phone and called for help before she detransformed and knelt at Haruka's side, crying quietly.
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Mercury grit her teeth and glanced at the scouts. Saturn was standing, but only because she was using her staff as a weapon. Mars and Venus were both pinned to opposite walls with vines in their shoulders and Neptune and Uranus were missing in action. The monster was slightly charred by Mars, and cut in several locations thanks to Saturn, but still angry and powerful. She clutched the crescent wand and forced herself to stand, her ribs screaming in pain and her left arm hung uselessly at her side as she glared at the monster and whispered, "Twilight Flash."
The monster screamed loudly as it disintegrated into nothingness. The four weary scouts collapsed among the other victims. Slowly their transformations faded, leaving behind four bruised and bloody teens among the many uninjured floral customers and staff.
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Zoisite grumbled as he slowly entered the throne room, a hand covering the bruise left by Sailor Neptune's vicious punch. He was angry and sore as he muttered, "Damn Brats. How dare they mar my perfection…those wenches will pay dearly for this!"
Nephrite and Naru stood a few feet away and watched him grumble. After several moments Naru stage whispered, "Who's this weakling Nephrite-kun? Is he really one of the famed generals?"
"Well he certainly has proven weaker than Jadeite, and Jadeite has less experience as a general." Nephrite replied in the same stage whisper.
"So you're Nephrite's slut of the week? I assumed his taste was better than that," Zoisite remarked casually.
"You have only two chances left Zoisite," Queen Beryl said as Zoisite stalked from the room. She turned to Nephrite and Naru with calculating eyes. She beckoned Naru forward as she said, "You've come to join. Well, you've proven yourself once, continue to do well and I'll let you live."
Naru nodded before a stream of energy hit her. Nephrite caught Naru as she passed out and cautiously carried her from the room. Queen Beryl nodded happily as Kunzite strolled into the room.
"Oh, it's the chambermaid; did you want something, Chambermaid?" Kunzite asked with a jovial grin.
"I can put you back the way you were?" Beryl growled.
"You'd have to have some say over my life then, wouldn't you?" Kunzite asked with a smirk.
"How dare you insult our Royal Highness," Jadeite growled.
"My sincerest apologies, O' Grand Queen of the Mighty Porcelain Throne. You clean them so well, may we all aspire to be just as good as you," Kunzite said. He turned to walk away when he felt a dagger pressed to his throat. He shrugged softly and allowed the angered Jadeite to lead him away.