Author's Note: Moshi-moshi! Let's get this one up as well...working on Eight, as fast as I can.
Disclaimer: Takeuchi Naoko-sama is my heroine. She owns Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon and all affiliated characters/settings/arcs. I don't, because I'm not as good as Takeuchi-sama. I just own my meager story, with it's small characters.
Just So You Know: Let's get it straight right now. If you have a problem with Mai-chan and Capella-chan being lesbians, either deal with it or leave. They play an integral part to the greater scheme of things.
Yeah, all the baddies' names begin with C, other that Hydrus-sama. So sue me, because I planned it like that.
Chapter Seven
The Senshi of Wisdom
Silently, Arcturus materialized in Corvus's room, and quickly strode over to the bedside table. He'd need to work quickly, before Corvus's shift was over.
"It has to be here somewhere…" he whispered to himself, going through drawers. "Corvus was the last one to have it."
"Arcturus?" a female voice asked, startling the black-haired man. He straightened and turned to see another head of jet-black hair.
"Oh, it's only you, Mai-chan," Arcturus sighed in relief, also glad that he remembered to use her secret identity. They both shared a dark secret, and she was his only friend in the world.
Mai nodded. "What are you doing? Corvus's shift ends soon."
"I know. But I also know that he was the last one to have it."
Mai's dark eyes lit up. "The map?"
Nodding, Arcturus turned around and started going through the drawers again. "If we can find the map, we'll be one step closer to finding the Chalice, which would end all our troubles."
Suddenly, Mai was next to him, digging eagerly through the drawers. "I can't say," she began in a whisper, "that I agree with your quest. I think it's all nonsense, this legend-chasing. But there's always that chance…"
Arcturus nodded. "If by some chance the Chalice is still in this Dimension, we'll have to go retrieve it before somebody else does. Are you willing to embark on such a journey?"
Mai turned to him. "Arcturus, I have other duties. I could never bring myself to leave my princess, especially in this time of trouble. Corvus has already found Vega. Cygnus and Cetus are out there, diligently searching for Columba and Andromeda. If any of them are caught…"
Arcturus nodded. "I know. I know, Mai-chan. I'm looking for Serenity-hime, too, remember? It's my destiny, as told by the constellations."
"Arcturus…" Mai suddenly stiffened. "We have thirty seconds before Corvus's shift ends."
Arcturus put an arm around Mai and promptly disappeared, bringing the petite girl with him into his own chamber. She stood and smiled craftily at him. "You know, if 'Pella-chan found me in here, she'd seriously start questioning my sexuality, Arcturus…"
He laughed. "She knows that we're only friends. After all, it's not like you're bi."
She laughed with him. "Nope. Sorry, Arcturus, but men just don't do it for me."
"Mai-chan! Mai-chan!" Another female voice called. Mai smiled.
"That'll be Capella," Arcturus sighed, used to this sort of thing.
Capella entered just then, her short, dirty-blonde strands of hair falling into her big brown eyes. "Mai-chan, there you are!" They embraced, and then Capella looked at Arcturus. "Corvus wants to see you, Arcturus."
"Yeah, I know. It's my shift. See you girls later." Arcturus promptly disappeared.
"Sometimes, I'm not sure I trust him…" Capella sighed after he left.
Mai looked at her. "I know, 'Pella-chan, but the important thing is that Hydrus-sama trusts him."
Capella shook her head. "There's been a few times when I think he's only here because Cygnus likes him so much."
"They are alike in many ways," Mai agreed, "But they'll never be the same person. Never."
"Yuzuki!" Ginno Keiko called up the stairs. "There's a boy here to see you!"
Yuzuki sighed, closing her book after marking the page. It was a brief history of the Moon Kingdom, given to her by Phoebe, who thought she might benefit from it. She stood, ran her fingers through her hair, and descended the steps.
Chikamatsu Haruki was standing in the kitchen, conversing with her mother as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Haruki-sempai!" Yuzuki gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Haruki began, but Yuzuki pointed abruptly outside, mouthing, "Out there." Haruki nodded, and they exited the house, Phoebe following.
"Must your cat be here, Yuzuki-san?" Haruki said, sitting on a bench in the backyard.
Yuzuki scooped Phoebe up. "She might as well be. I tell her everything anyway. And her name is Phoebe. Please address her as if she is a person."
"Gomen ne, Phoebe," Haruki said politely. Phoebe bowed her head in acknowledgement of the apology.
"Phoebe," Yuzuki said, addressing her friend with a loving tone, a tone that some part of Haruki wished could be used when speaking to him. "Can you tell us anything you might know about what happened between Haruki-sempai and I? Or, rather, Serenity and 'Sumu-chan?"
Phoebe sat up, her countenance taking on a thoughtful look. Then, to Haruki's complete surprise, she opened her mouth and began to speak. "Well, I believe that, if it is true and Serenity's soul has moved into Yuzuki-sama's body, then Serenity's soul must have reacted at seeing Chikamatsu-san, who apparently harbors the soul of Prince Susumu of Saturn."
"Oh!" Yuzuki suddenly exclaimed. "I completely forgot that she calls him 'Sumu-chan! I was confused, because I didn't know who Haruki-sempai could be that Serenity knew so well."
Haruki blinked and cocked his head to the side. "What are you talking about?"
Yuzuki met his eyes for an instant in surprise. "You…you don't remember what happened a few days ago?"
"I remember us talking, and then I sort of blanked out for awhile, and then when I came back, you said you had to go."
Yuzuki turned to Phoebe, who looked at her, thoroughly confused. Yuzuki put her hand to her head, massaging her temples as she thought.
"Serenity," Yuzuki heard the strange voice that had first haunted her dreams. It was like the queen's, and like Serenity's…but it wasn't. "Do you not remember? Sensei told you that when a harbored soul forcibly takes over a body, the host's mind does not remember the event."
Yuzuki blinked, and came back to reality. Haruki was staring at her most curiously. "Susumu's soul took him by force," Yuzuki explained. "It's the only way she remembers."
"Susumu?" Haruki asked.
Yuzuki and Phoebe sighed as one. Then Yuzuki said, "There's no time to explain everything now, Haruki-sempai. Just know that you harbor the soul of one of the close friends of the Silver Princess Serenity X."
"And I want it." A new voice said. Yuzuki whirled around, her eyes widening.
A slim form stepped out of the shadows of Yuzuki's house, keeping her dark eyes trained on Yuzuki's green pair. Her long hair was pulled back out of her angular face, and she walked lightly, with a dancer's step. She wore ordinary street clothes: jeans, tennis shoes, and a light hoodie.
Following behind the girl came another woman, the same height but slightly pudgier and with a round face framed by a head of straight short dirty-blonde hair. Her clothing was most definitely not ordinary: a long-sleeved brown leotard over tan tights and brown shoes. The whole outfit was visible only in a small slit, for she wore a long, cream-colored flowing robe over it. Her big brown eyes stared adoringly at the first woman.
The first girl walked up to Yuzuki, who found herself standing, wanting to protect herself and Phoebe from this possible menace. "Who are you? And what do you want with us?"
"I am…a friend," the girl replied disaffectedly. "I know you, Ginno Yuzuki, and I know of your cat and the soul within you. 'Pella-chan!" She suddenly called over her shoulder.
"Yes, Mai-chan?"
"Would you mind going back and waiting for me? I have some unfinished business." The girl called Mai glanced a little worriedly back at Yuzuki and Phoebe.
The other woman glanced nervously at Haruki. "Are you sure, Mai-chan? I can stay…"
"I'll be fine, 'Pella-chan. If anyone asks, make up a lie. Except Arcturus. You can tell him the truth."
"He's not trustworthy, Mai-chan…."
Mai held up a hand. "I trust him. Don't worry."
The woman bit her lip, but nodded, and disappeared in a small cream-colored spiral. Mai turned back to Yuzuki, Phoebe, and Haruki. "There, that got rid of her for now. Listen, I don't have much time, but I have to see something." And she did an extraordinary thing.
She walked over to Yuzuki, fell to one bended knee, and kissed the taller girl's hand. "Princess," she said. "I have returned to carry out my pledge to protect you."
"Arcturus!" A whiny female voice rang throughout the hall. "Arcturus!"
The man being called sighed in slight frustration, slamming his book shut, its pages giving an angry shluff sound as they were rudely interrupted from telling Arcturus their story.
"Arcturus!" Capella called right outside his door. She knocked before materializing right in his quarters. Arcturus gave her a dead stare.
"I could have been naked in here, you know," he said, standing.
"But you're not, so it's okay," Capella said, jumping onto the bed. "Arcturus, Mai-chan's been acting weird lately."
Arcturus's heart stopped for a second. Capella wasn't the brightest person in the world, so if she was figuring out Mai's true identity… "Are you sure she isn't just on her week?"
Capella opened her mouth, thought, and then closed it again. "I'm not sure, actually."
Arcturus sighed, but inside, he was more relieved than annoyed. He'd have to warn Mai to be more careful. "I'm sure that's it. I can't exactly tell you the inner workings of a woman's mind, you know. Where is she, anyway?"
Playing with Arcturus's bedspread, Capella spoke without looking at him. "Well…we were sort of staking out this girl's house, because we think she might be the princess, and then Mai jumped down and showed herself to them, and she told me to go back and wait, and I'm so worried, because that one looks so much like he has Saturn blood in him, and he's big, and he'll hurt her…"
"Wait a minute." Arcturus held up a hand to cut her off. "Princess? Saturn blood? What are you talking about?" She couldn't be talking about that girl I saved the other day…and the boy holding Susumu-sama's soul…
"Her name is Ginno Yuzuki. She sort of small, but taller than Mai-chan and I, with this gorgeous dark brownish reddish hair. She keeps it up in a ponytail. The cat's been hanging around her, and we don't know if the girl knows yet that the cat's a Guardian…" Capella started babbling again, but Arcturus tuned her out.
Ginno Yuzuki… Arcturus thought to himself. That's the girl. The girl who said I was Hikahiro. Then…if she's really the princess, Arcturus continued, then Mai-chan is revealing herself…and her double agent role.
"How long did Mai-chan say she'd be?" Arcturus said.
"She didn't say much of anything," Capella whined. "She just said she had some unfinished business and asked that I wait here for her."
Arcturus blinked. "Unfinished business?" No…Mai-chan, you can't ruin yourself now…
"Serenity-hime!" a girl rushes past a boy just into adulthood. She is dressed in a sailor fuku, and rushing towards the flames. Only he knows what has happened."Centauri, don't!" Andromeda runs past him as well, and he drops to his knees in absolute shock. The flames are still burning brightly red, too bright to be natural.
"Centauri! Andromeda!" Sailor Vega flies after them, trying to catch her friends before they reach the burning Palace.
"No! I must save her!" Centauri shouts, pushing bravely forward. "It's my vow, my personal vow to Queen Serenity! I have to protect her, at all costs!"
Andromeda reaches her as the boy watches, and tackles her friend to the ground. "Centauri, we cannot endanger ourselves! Our vows as Senshi oblige us to protect the Princess, and if that's not possible, to protect the survivors! Do not retract your Senshi vows!"
"Serenity-hime!" Centauri screams, tears streaking down her face. "Serenity-hime!"
The princess's shrieks are heard, just then, and Centauri struggles even harder. "I have to save her! I have to protect the princess!"
"Centauri!" Vega shouts, aiding in the restraining of the Dancing Senshi. "Our orders, given by the Princess, are to save these people! To save her subjects!"
"Serenity-hime!"
Suddenly, a white light appears above the three struggling Senshi, and forms into a dove. Out of the light emerges Sailor Columba, floating high above them using her own power. "Stop!"
It's the only time the boy has ever heard the Peaceful Senshi shout. The trio freezes, held by Columba's peace. She looks at him, and nods. The boy stands and hurries over to Centauri, Andromeda, and Vega.
"Lady Centauri," he says hurriedly, never losing his perfect enunciation as he lays a cool hand on her forehead. His palm glows white, and then green, and Centauri's transformation is lost as she calms herself.
"Hikahiro-san?" The innocent face looks up at him…it is the face of Lady Chiron, the Princess's cousin. "What have you done?"
"Lady Chiron, you cannot go after her. Columba-sama told me to do this. You won't be able to transform for thirty minutes."
She gives a look of hatred and surprise. "You let me up, now! How did you do this? A mere servant boy, robbing me of my powers?!?"
Columba lands and stares into Lady Chiron's eyes. "Chiron-chan, he is the one. The boy you prophesized about."
Lady Chiron's eyes widen. "Him? Hikahiro-san….is…." She looks at the boy. "No, he couldn't be. He couldn't be…"
"I have to go, Capella." Arcturus whirled around, grabbing his green cloak.
"Go? Mai-chan said she'd be fine!"
Arcturus prepared to go. "Yes, but I have to attend to business. Tell Cygnus it's his shift." And with that, he disappeared.
"Wh-what?" Yuzuki said in surprise at the girl called Mai, who was kneeling in front of her.
"Forgive me." Mai stood, and looked directly at Phoebe. "Old friend, I hope you have not forgotten our pact."
Phoebe's eyes searched Mai's and suddenly the cat's golden orbs widened. "C-Centauri-sama?"
"What?" Yuzuki and Haruki gasped in the same breath.
Mai nodded, and stood. Thrusting her hand up, she started to shout, "CENTAURUS—"
"Mai-chan, wait!" a brand new voice called. The feelings of déjà vu stirred in Yuzuki's soul. She'd heard that voice once before.
Mai froze as a bright green flash appeared behind her. A tallish man wearing a dark green cloak identical to the first woman's in cut emerged from the flash. His black hair flopped all over his face, and, besides the cloak, he was dressed in civilian clothes.
"Arcturus?" Mai said, fear creeping into her dark eyes.
"Mai-chan, don't. You don't even know if she is the princess." The man called Arcturus walked up behind Mai and looked at Yuzuki. "We meet again, Ginno Yuzuki."
Yuzuki's green eyes widened. "You're the man that saved me."
"I'm glad you remember me with a good note." Arcturus turned to Mai. "Don't do this."
"Arcturus, I have to. I have to live as my vow dictates. She is my princess, and he is Saturn's final prince. Phoebe can verify."
"Now, wait a minute!" Phoebe interjected. "I can verify that Yuzuki is indeed a reincarnate of someone who lived on the moon. I never said anything about Serenity-hime."
"You see, Mai-chan?" Arcturus said. "It's no use."
"Excuse me," Yuzuki said quietly, but Arcturus went on talking to Mai.
"She isn't the princess, and you're just going to ruin your cover…"
Yuzuki tried again. "Arcturus?"
"…and then you're going to ruin everything that we've ever done, and that'll put us back to square one…"
Yuzuki was getting annoyed. She reached inside herself and brushed against that bubble of Serenity. "Arcturus!" She called in a commanding voice: the voice of royalty. Arcturus froze. "That is your name, is it not?" The look she gave him silently informed him that she saw through his cover. "Let the woman speak for herself. If she is insistent on doing this, then let her be."
Arcturus opened his mouth, couldn't find anything to say, and closed it again before silently bowing and stepping backwards. Mai stepped forward and bowed again.
"This has proved to me that you are indeed my princess." Mai said courteously, and raised her hand in the air again. A small red wand materialized as she shouted, "CENTAURUS STAR POWER! MAKE-UP!"
End Note: Who is Arcturus? What's going to happen now? Find out in the next episode of Memories of Serenity!
