Blue Fuku, White Collar

Ch 7: Unexpected Change - wherein I bet that at least some of you thought this chapter would be titled "Invasion"...oh, and someone undergoes some unexpected changes.


Saturday afternoon: apx 1:30 pm – at Hikawa Jinga

Usagi was in danger. Nothing else mattered. The Senshi assembled at Rei's temple to deal with the new threat.

Voices were raised in argument over how to best handle the situation. Ami tried to tune it out. She was busy working out a plan.

"Look! Usagi's in trouble! I'm not leaving her alone in there with a bunch of Yakuza. I don't see why we aren't transformed and going in to get her right fucking now. "

Even so she was trying not to pay attention, Mako's raised voice caught Ami's attention. Minako's response was just as heated.

"No! What if they panic and shoot her in the cross fire, or they run away and hide her somewhere we can't find or I don't know, worse! Any number of a million things could happen. The Sailor Senshi have never interfered in the human world. We can't start now."

Mamoru's distinctive tenor was obvious, as was his desperation.

"Let me go then. Once they have what they want, they will let her go"

"No, we don't know that Mamoru-san. We can't risk you. You are the only one who can testify against them if necessary.

"This isn't about your case anymore Minako."

"I know that! I'm just trying to get Usagi out safely, and get the big yakuza target off your back Mamoru. This situation is an epic clusterfuck."

"Yeah, and Usagi would never forgive us if anything happened to you."

"I'm supposed to protect her!"

Ami filtered through everything she'd just heard. Keywords jumped out at her.

Senshi, human, risk, Mamoru, Usagi, protect...clusterfuck.

She had an idea. It was so stupid that it just might work. Mako would probably be pissed, but Minako should go for it. In fact, there was precedent. Minako was her inspiration after all.

"Everyone..."

None of the other stressed out Senshi heard Ami over the argument.

"EVERYONE! JUST SHUT UP A MOMENT!"

Eyes turned to stare, but Ami was past the point where she would blush at the sudden attention. She had a job to take care of.

"I have an idea. Minako...Do you still have the Disguise Pen?"

Minako handed it to Ami with a puzzled look. Ami all but snatched the little pink pen from her hands.

"Here's the plan. I go in described as Mamoru. Get Usagi, then figure it out from there. The rest of you, cover the exits. Minako, as soon as we're clear, get that place swarming with police."

"Ami! That's crazy! You can't run into what is obviously a trap and rescue Usagi alone! Let me do it!"

"Don't argue Minako! I'm the best suited for this and you know it. Three reasons. First, this whole thing is my case too. Second I do the best Mamoru impersonation here and third: Shabon Spray. I have actual non-lethal attacks if it comes down to it. Do we have any better ideas? Without knowing who's with Usagi, or what they are capable of, this is the right thing to do. We need to go in light and scout this out. You were right earlier. They are humans, not youma. We have to at least try to settle this without crossing that line. I promise, I won't let anything happen to Usagi. That's my top priority. Any sign of danger to her, and I will transform into Sailor Mercury and tear the place apart myself... Besides, if I fail, I know I have the rest of you backing me up."

Mako and Rei looked like they might protest, but Minako nodded slowly.

"I don't like this, but yeah...you raise some good points. This could work. Fine, we'll do it your way. Pull up a satellite image of the area?"

Ami did as requested on the Mercury Computer and laid out her thoughts on the situation.

"Here it is. Warehouse in an isolated part of town. I'm thinking Mars in that cluster of trees to the right, Jupiter on that tall building around the back...and Haruka and Michiru on standby a few blocks away?"

Minako narrowed her eyes as she considered the information Ami just provided.

"No. Mars is a left handed shot. Switch her with Jupiter. I want Jupiter on the front entrance. Its got the best access routes and thus, should be the best escape route."

Rei and Mako nodded in acceptance. Minako turned to address everyone in the room at once.

"This is strictly human crime against human victims right now. Not senshi business. We are going to try to do this with as little senshi interference as possible...Haruka, Michiru, stay close with Mamoru for now. If you haven't heard from us in one hour, I want you two to come in hot. Uranus and Neptune hot. Understood?"

Michiru nodded and Haruka cracked her knuckles. They seemed happy to support the Inner Senshi in this rescue mission. Usagi obviously meant the world to them too.

Everyone was on board more or less. Time for step one.

Ami yelled out the transformation phrase before she lost her nerve.

"Disguise Power! Turn me into Dr Chiba Mamoru!"

Pink light filled the room. Ami felt herself somehow growing taller. She stumbled the second the transformation ended.

"Ow! Goddamit Mamoru! How do you walk with these?"

This crazy plan was off to a awkward start. Ami shook her new limbs, trying to adapt to the different lengths and mechanics.

"Well, how do I look?"

Ami's voice cracked like a teenager's as it dropped an octave. Undergoing puberty in about a minute was the strangest feeling ever.

The surrounding senshi seemed stunned at best. Michiru had the presence of mind fish around her purse and pull out a small mirror. She handed it to Ami silently - how fortunate that she had a non-magical mirror on her today. Ami was curious to see if she looked as different as she felt.

Ami looked at her new reflection. The disguise pen did what it could...the results were a mixed bag at best.

"Mamoru" had short blue hair, baby smooth cheeks, big blue eyes behind Ami's now unnecessary wire frame glasses, and finally, surprisingly small delicate hands.

Minako was the first to say what everyone was thinking.

"Umm...Fauxmoru, are you sure you're up for this?"

Ami cleared her throat and tried speaking again. Her voice came out in a stable, if slightly higher pitched, version Mamoru's voice.

"I'm up for this Minako! This is exactly like that cosplay job I had at the bishonen convention a few months ago."

"That's not reassuring. What happened there was unspeakable."

"And none of it was my fault. It all worked out in the end didn't it? Besides, we've been in worse hot water than this! I'm good. I'm Hard Boiled! I Die Hard! Don't think I haven't been paying attention to your lame-ass nicknames all week Minako. Trust me. I got this."

Ami rolled her shoulders and winked at her worried friends. Sure, she was nervous, but she didn't show it.

Minako grinned back at her confidence. While everyone else was - justifiably - looking at her like she'd lost her damn mind, Ami knew that her partner would understand.

"Wait a second. We've missed something!"

Minako leaned over and unlocked the ankle monitor that was still attached around Ami's leg.

"Training Day's over. You're on Kindergarten Cop."


A.N.

Short chapter, but contains my favourite read-between-the-lines joke of this entire story.