Chapter 9: Mercury isn't the Side-kick! Sailor V debut!
Usagi couldn't believe it. Was it because of luck?
Standing with a red-head was Haruka. THE Haruka Tenou, Princess of Uranus and the present Sailor Uranus. Judging by the flirtatious look Haruka gave to her partner, they were on a date. "I thought Haruka is with Michiru?" She mumbled, but shrugged it off.
And idea came up to her, and she marched toward her. Masato who was ordering stared at the stomping figure of his 'mother' in confusion, before his eyes bulged out in horror when Usagi bitch-slapped Haruka.
"How could you!" Usagi yelled, tear streaming down her face. "How could you leave me with another woman, Takechi?!"
Haruka was dumbfounded, but she did manage to shake her head frantically. This crazy woman, mistook her, a fifteen years old teenager, as her husband? While Haruka had to admit she looked dashingly handsomer than most men, her face and body always disguised the fact that she was only a teenager.
For this once, Haruka hated her handsome face. "My name is-"
"I'm not mistaken!" Usagi did her best to screech angrily. "How dare you to accuse me of being daft, Takechi?! Do you not remember our vow after we made love under the moonlight?!"
Masato groaned as he held the urge to pull his hair out as Usagi pulled out 'her' wedding ring and slammed it on the table. The embarrassment! That Tsukino was taking him to hell! It was a good thing there were no children around else sensitive ears might bleed.
"I DIDN'T-" Haruka tried again, but Usagi glared her down. She cowered.
"Silence!" Usagi held up her hand, "I'm very disappointed in you! I never knew you would dump me to be with such an ugly woman with red hair! I thought you prefer turquoise!" And with a shake of her head she stormed to the toilet.
Masato hurriedly approached Haruka as soon as Usagi left her. Haruka was about to follow the 'middle-aged' woman but Masato stopped her just in time.
"Sorry that was my mother," He said, looking sheepish. Another flash of image appeared inside his mind as he made contact with Haruka's eyes. "She's a bit… crazy, if you may. She's always been like that since my father died. I'd say you do kind of look like him." He studied Haruka silently and added, "Minus the blonde part and the fact you're a woman."
Haruka nodded as she looked at him in pity. "Oh, I'm sorry then."
Masato nodded and hurried back to his seat, casting the red haired woman a concerned gaze.
SLAP!
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE A WOMAN?!"
He had a trouble on holding his laughter when a loud slap followed suit. It even echoed. He felt bad for laughing, really. But Usagi had a reason why she embarrassed her, right?
To his surprise it wasn't his 'mother' who returned to the seat across of him. It was Usagi, but… slightly older? Masato's jaw hung open as he marveled at the young woman in her early twenties across him. The first thing he noticed was her hair, as it was in ponytail instead of the usual twin buns. Her clothes were a perfect definition of chic, and she was an inch or two taller than before. If he was standing, he most definitely wouldn't be two heads taller than her anymore.
Simply, Usagi looked beautiful.
"Enjoying what you see, Masato-san?" Usagi asked mischievously. Masato rolled his eyes, deciding not to answer the question. "What, baffled?"
"Very," Masato replied honestly. "Who are you exactly?"
"Still Usagi Tsukino," She answered easily. "Only, this is how I look before I decided on disguising as little child."
Masato released a relieved sigh. At least Usagi wasn't an old woman. "Interesting. How come your colleagues never knew? Or your parents?"
Usagi bit her lips. Now that was the plot hole she dreaded. Damn it, why does Nephrite had to be like this?! "It's a secret," She replied. "Anyway I'm about to say that our deal few days ago is off."
Masato glared at her, but smiled at the waitress as his steak arrived along with Usagi's spaghetti. After the waitress left, Masato resumed his glare.
"Relax, I mean getting to hurt Sailor Moon part," She said softly after sipping at her milkshake. "Other than that, you can do whatever you like."
He raised an eyebrow as he took a bite of his steak. "That's it?" He took a sip on his unidentified juice. "Why?"
"Well Sailor Moon's closest friend didn't approve of my plan, of course," She said sourly, but she did hum in bliss as she took a bite on her meal. "But yes. Take 99% of every yakuza's energy, but don't do it in around a month or so."
"Dare I ask why?" Somehow, he had a feeling the answer would amuse him.
"Sailor V wanted to take down a yakuza leader of Tokyo next week," Usagi informed him seriously. Minako earlier had told her she was going to be Sailor V again. And she would regain the front page again by taking down the yakuza leader of Tokyo. "She knew my plot so she decided to help me a bit."
Masato chuckled in amusement, as he'd predicted. Then his face turned serious. "Why are you helping me, exactly? You are Sailor Moon's ally, aren't you? Do you know why I gather energy, Tsukino-san?" He was feeling silly as he felt Usagi was the only one who contributed at the conversation, but he had so many questions in his head.
To his surprise, Usagi nodded. "Of course, I'm – with my shape-shifting ability – a perfect intel, am I not?" Masato nodded grudgingly. "I could impersonate you, Jadeite (Masato's eyes twitched at this), or even President of Hululu country just as easily I aced my tests. And I can answer calculus while sleeping." She said quietly, before her eyes stared back to Masato. The brown haired man was still speechless.
Wasn't calculus a High-school math?!
"Look. I know you're going to resurrect Metalia with the energy you've gathered. But let me say this: it's not enough. Your gathered energy only strengthened her a little, though it's a one hell of significant improvement, it's not enough to resurrect Metalia. And even though if your kingdom did manage to resurrect her," Usagi's lips twisted into a small smirk.
"Sailor Moon could defeat her with a small flick of her fingers."
That morning, Ami was very surprised to read the morning newspaper.
Yakuza of Tokyo Eradicated, Teamwork between Sailor V, Sailor Moon, and General Nephrite?!
Ami speedily read the article, eyes widened as her eyes found several mentions of Sailor V, Sailor Moon, and Nephrite – their current enemy – in positive outcome. She felt nauseous as she read the praise for the trio at the very bottom at the article.
Not just Masked Sailor Moon had acquired the front page again, she did it with Sailor V AND an enemy!
The blunette slumped on her seat, a small tear trailed down from her left eye.
Sailor Moon had always forsaken her.
She was supposed to take her! She's Sailor Mercury, damn it, her supposed side-kick!
Meanwhile at different room but at the same location, Saeko Mizuno decided not to question Ami's sanity.
"Every genius has their quirks, Saeko." She reminded herself every time she saw Ami read newspaper, and had her daughter slumping and sobbing in complete exaggeration. "Ami is a genius, it's normal for her to be slightly insane," She repeated like a mantra.
The doctor then remembered something about thin line between genius and insane, and shuddered.
Few weeks after making it out on the front page, Masato was seen looking frantically for Usagi. He had asked plenty of people he assumed Usagi's acquaintance, but they also didn't know Usagi's whereabouts. He couldn't ask Naru because she was the reason he was searching for Usagi. He couldn't possibly look for Sailor Moon or Sailor V because he didn't know their civilian identity.
Masato was in the verge of breaking when he saw a familiar blue haired girl passed by him. He had seen this girl plenty of times ganging up with a raven haired girl on lecturing Usagi about something. Almost in instinct he called her out, "Blue!"
In a surprising speed the girl spun around, a calm rage was evident on her eyes, but she was still smiling. "Yes, mister?" The girl seemed to know him, but not well enough to know his name.
Slightly sheepish Masato continued on straight to the point, "Aren't you Usagi Tsukino's friend?"
The blunette immediately looked alarmed. She narrowed her eyes towards him, glaring. "Yes." She answered coldly. But still, she was smiling. "Something the matter?"
"Can you tell me how can I find her?" At her continued glare, Masato sighed, slightly surprised by the hostility. At least she hadn't screamed and risk him being chased off by police. "Important business between PR."
"PR?" Now it was her turn to be surprised. "Since when Usagi is a PR?"
Masato blinked, confused. "I thought you know she's the PR of Sailor Moon?"
Ami's eyes widened in rage. "That little cretin! So that's why Sailor Moon controlled the spotlight!" Ami's mind screamed. Not quite angry, but annoyed. Usagi's father was a journalist, and it would make perfect sense Usagi could write something as professional as her father without putting any biased opinion. Ami would accuse Usagi was being biased, but the articles about Sailor Moon never put up any unnecessary praise. Exaggeration perhaps, but they did pull out fancy moves.
"Cheater!" Ami angrily whispered to herself and stomped away from him.
Masato made a face before sighing in disappointment. Not only Tsukino, her friend was also as crazy as her.
He was about to call it a day, as the sun was starting to set, when a soft hand touched his shoulder softly. He turned around, and surprised to see Sailor V staring intensely at him.
"Looking for Usagi-chan, aren't you?"
Usagi started on her bed when the door opened abruptly. She immediately hid her binary diary under her pillow and stared at the shadow nervously. Masato and Sailor V emerged, with Masato looked distressed and Sailor V looked neutral.
"Masato-san?" Usagi was honestly surprised. Out of all enemy turned good, Masato aka Nephrite was the first who visited her because she was ill. Not ill, actually. Injured was more the case.
"Tsukino Usagi-san?" Masato approached her, eyebrows creased in worry. "What happened to you?"
"Accident," Usagi said bashfully, refused to elaborate. She had defeated more than dozens of lethal youmas, died plenty of times, and now she was there, crumpling in hospital bed because she had a car accident. A quite severe one, but she wasn't really hurt. Her alien blood helped her, but as she was discovered to be tired – too tired for her own good after the blood loss she suffered, she was hospitalized. Her family was placed in another room, specially requested by her savior during the accident – Sailor V.
"I… well," Masato shifted. "Get well soon, Usagi-san."
Usagi smiled and motioned Sailor V to do something. Sailor V nodded and pointed her finger at a surveillance camera, destroying it with a weak beam. Masato's jaw hung open as Usagi began to glow in a bright flash of light, and instead of Usagi Tsukino sitting on the hospital bed, it was Serenity.
Sharp pain attacked Masato's head and his vision blurred after Serenity II's eyes bore into him. Masato blinked as his eyes adjusted to the figure in front of him.
"Se-Serenity-sama…" Masato immediately kneeled; his disguise was immediately replaced to his General's uniform.
Serenity smiled. "Rise, General Nephrite." Nephrite hesitantly rose. Serenity with another flash of light was back to Usagi, so as Nephrite to Masato. "I take it Naru is kidnapped?"
Masato nodded, his eyes filled with grief. "Yes, Your Royal Highness."
"Oh drop it! For now, at least. I am now Usagi Tsukino, your business partner," Usagi's eyes glinted in humor, "But first: On whom does your loyalty lies?"
Masato smirked, placing his clenched hand above his heart. "My loyalty lies to Prince Endymion."
"Very well," Usagi smiled broadly. "Now what is this about your emergency?"
"One question, Usagi-san."
Usagi raised an eyebrow.
"Your older appearance… you were merely using Serenity's body, weren't you?"
Usagi blinked and cringed. Sailor V copied her expression.
Nephrite pompously smirked at them "I knew you were messing with me when you said you're a shape-shifter!"
"I'm not, but I can with the help of this pen." She said, taking out Luna Pen from her pocket. In instant, she was Mamoru Chiba – but notably blonde and slightly more petite.
Nephrite fainted.
Nephrite and Sailor V ran through an abandoned alley, both minds were distracted as they dashed off. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars were trailing behind them, still confused of why Nephrite was suddenly… good and it was Sailor V instead of Sailor Moon who led them.
Sailor V didn't say much about Usagi or Sailor Moon, just stating she was preoccupied at the moment and thus the stick of command – literally, Moon Stick fell to her, as the legitimate heir of Moon. She barged into the shrine, interrupted the Senshi 'meeting' and just said that both of them were needed. Mars did attack Nephrite once he showed up, but Sailor V managed to deflect the second fire with her beam. It took a while to persuade the Senshi, but here they were.
"Who are we saving again?" Mercury asked with a slight pant. Sailor V was fast, faster than Sailor Moon she even had trouble keeping up. It was almost as if she had done it for years. Sailor V glanced back a bit before refocusing on her front. "Naru," She answered, and saw how Nephrite's jaw tightened. "Usagi's bestfriend. And this guy's girlfriend. Thought you might know." V gave Nephrite a look. The man sighed.
"Don't worry, I know that." Mercury muttered under her breath, her eyes were still scrutinizing Nephrite. "Aren't you a little older for Naru-chan?"
Nephrite scowled.
"Pedophile," Mars coughed.
Finally, they arrived at the park, a meeting point Zoicite proposed to Nephrite for an ungodly reason. Mercury took a quick scan, alerting V Zoicite was around despite there was no one around aside of them. Mercury pointed at the seemingly empty space, and quickly V shot a beam of yellow-orange energy.
To their surprise, whirlwind of rose petals appeared to deflect the beam. Appearing behind was Zoicite, grabbing a handful of Naru's hair. V glanced worriedly at Nephrite, who had colors drained from his skin.
"Zoicite!" He roared, a silver sword appeared on his hand as he dashed to the still-evil man. V remembered the sword from Silver Millennium – perhaps the same sword used to kill the Captain before her eyes. Snapping out from her thought she gaped in horror as Nephrite charged at Zoicite.
"Nephrite!" Mercury and Mars cried in unison. Both were frozen for a moment on their feet, too shocked to react as vines appeared from the ground and were aiming at Nephrite. Quickly snapping from her shock, Mars quickly FS-ed the vines, burning them, but Nephrite was getting closer to Zoicite. Mercury was about to execute her Bubble Spray to distract both party but something interrupted her.
"Crescent Dawn Healing!"
A beam of pure light passed by them, hitting Nephrite, Naru, and Zoicite in full force. The two Senshi gaped in horror as inhuman scream rang out from the beam.
Their eyes widened in surprise as they saw Nephrite was circling his arms around an unconscious Naru protectively, perfectly fine. Zoicite was, to their surprise, was perfectly fine though he was sprawled on the floor, and looked bewildered. But what surprised them most was the two Shitennou's appearance and… Sailor V.
Both Nephrite and Zoicite was on their usual uniform, but a tone lighter with white cape and jewels encrusted to its cape holders.
Sailor V on the other hand…
"Princess," Mercury muttered, dropping to one knee. Mars followed suit, her eyes were in awe.
Standing in place of Sailor V was a blonde woman clad in white-golden gown, with golden tiara on crown and Venus insignia on her forehead. Even V was surprised herself.
She'd never suspected she would turn to a princess herself and looked to the crescent Moon above her with questioning cerulean blue eyes.
Usagi shot awake from her nap as she felt a jolt of pure energy surged through her. She moved her arms, confused of why suddenly she wasn't hurting at all. Slightly struggling as she walked to the window, she smiled faintly at the white light from far away.
"Sailor Venus," She breathed with a soft smile. "A Princess of Venus indeed."
GREAT NEWS!
Er, I apologize for 'abandoning' this story for nearly three or four months, but believe me I already finished the story and already started writing the sequel. But I can't promise on updating regularly since the internet in my country is such a bitch.
