mbfanfic8 Episode 8:
It's Only A Game

"Leina..." said Yuki, testing out the name. "That's a very beautiful name, I've never heard it before." Leina blushed slightly. "Yes, well, as you deduced before, I'm not from around here." There was a heavy silence, and Leina appeared to 'busify' herself in a desert menu. Out of the corner of her eye, she felt Yuki gazing at her from across the table. Blushing lightly, Leina opened a new discussion.
"Why do you play that game, anyway?" she asked. "It certainly can't be for the prizes!"
Yuki laughed a little. "Actually, that is the reason that I'm so persistant with 'Grab-A-Toy'. The local orphanage is really low on funding... I thought I would do my part to help out. I play the game so that I can win the prizes and donate the stuffed animals to the orphanage." he hesitated to pick up one of his winnings out of his bag, a little Sailor Jupiter plush toy. He began to toss it up and down. "They're not for me." he added quickly.
Leina's eyes followed the doll as it sailed up into the air, only to drop down again.
"Just one more question." the 16 year-old girl proposed, her gaze swaying from the doll to Yuki's eyes.
"Shoot." he said calmly.
"How do you manage to get all those toys in only a few games? The arcade owner mentioned that it was rigged."
The man suddenly turned pale and lost control of the object in his hand. It fell to the floor, and he immediately picked it up, placing it neatly on the table. Beads of sweat had begun to appear on his forehead.
"I'm sorry, Yuki." said Leina quietly. "I shouldn't pry."
Yuki carefully pushed his glasses higher onto his nose. "No, it's ok." he said softly. "I'll tell you, but..." he looked around the restaurant, "You have to promise never to tell anyone, okay?"
The girl nodded hastily, wanting to see what this was all about.
"Watch the Sailor Jupiter doll." he instructed. He brought out his hand and held it open a few inches away from the plush toy. The toy began to shake a little bit before rising a little into the air, floating across the table, and landing on Leina's lap.
"But, how....?" the young woman gaped at him.
Yuki smirked. "I can't explain it. It's just something I was born with, you know?"
Leina looked down thoughtfully at the doll in her lap.
Could he be the one? she wondered.
A waitress in a red top and purple dress approached their table, her face partially hidden by the tall glasses resting on the tray. She set one down in front of Yuki, the other in front of Leina.
"Hey, this isn't what I ordered." Yuki frowned at the drink, and turned to the waitress.
"Oh dear, I guess it isn't. No matter!" the waitress threw the tray to the ground, and the, flicking her long silver hair over her shoulder, brought out the StarCrystal. "Zoi!" she shouted, and the crystal flew from her hand, shining weird waves at Yuki.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" he screamed, quickly running outside to avoid the beams.
Linaddua was hot on his trail. Eventually, she caught up to him and tried her StarCrystal technique again. This time, there was no escape. Yuki fell to the ground in agony, and a strange dark hole seemed to appear on his chest. In the center, was a sparkling red crystal.
So it is true. Leina watched from the alleyway next to the resaturant.
"Well?" came a voice behind her. "Was I right or was I right?"
"You were right." sighed Leina to the orange cat.
"Please tell me you are going to do something about it."
Leina smirked and reached into her pocket. "Mars Power!" she shouted.

Linaddua cackled gleefully. "The first of the Rainbow Crystals is going to be mine!"
Below her, on the ground, Yuki seemed to have crumpled, and lay nearly lifeless. The red crystal in his chest continued to keep its place. Just as it was about to sail up into Linaddua's hand...
"Stop right there!" the silver-haired woman turned to see who it was. The moonlight silhouetted a figure with two buns on her head, another figure with a large ponytail, and last but not least, another shadow with long hair.
It wasn't hard for Linaddua to identify the interruption.
As if on cue, a streetlamp lit up, clarifying the 3 figures who imposed.
"I am Sailor Mystic Moon, champion of defeating NegaSleazes like you! Games are made to entertain people, they shouldn't be used for evil! So, on behalf of the moon, I'll punish you!"
"And I'm Sailor Jupiter! You'd better leave that man alone or else you'll be tasting the sidewalk!"
"And I," said the male Sailor Scout. "Am Sailor Venus. You may just think I'm a pretty blond, but don't be fooled! On behalf of the planet Venus, you'd better watch out!"
Linaddua errupted into roars of laughter, clutching her sides and wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You three are pathetic." she muttered, still chuckling from the entree.
At that moment, the Rainbow Crystal that had appeared in Noriyuki's chest flew up to Linaddua, who caught it.
"Oh no, she has the Rainbow Crystal!" exclaimed Sailor Jupiter.
"Oh no she doesn't!" came a deep voice from behind. Abruptly, a red flash scratched against the evil woman's hand, causing her to drop her prize. A white rose landed neatly into the ground.
"My hand!" she shrieked. But then, her frown quickly turned into a malicious grin. "No matter," she spoke hoarsely. "Soon you will know the true power of the NegaWorld." her red eyes flashed and she licked her lips as she gazed down at Yuki, who was unconcious on the ground. [No, she's not going to eat him!!] A great cloud of smoke surrounded him, making it impossible for anyone to tell what was going on. All the Scouts and Tuxedo Mask could hear were the cries of Noriyuki Senshu, soon becoming warped. When the smoke cleared, the man was no longer there. In his place stood another figure, a man clad in a tight red outfit, with a VirtualReality helmet over his head and several gizmos attached to his arms. He shook his head, as if waking up. He turned to face the senshi, his eyes glowing.
"Welcome to the NegaWorld." rasped Linaddua, her eyes sparkling.
"I'm Game Machine Man! Champion of the NegaWorld!" he introduced himself.
"Game Maching Man, get rid of these pests. I have a crystal to retrieve."

"The game has started, Sailor brats! And I have the first turn!" he charged at them, knocking Sailor Jupiter to the ground.
"Jupiter!" exclaimed Venus and Sailor Mystic Moon in unison.
"I'm alright," the brunette assured them weakly. "But he's very fast... be careful!" she hoisted herself back on her feet.
"This is too easy a game," mentioned the new addition to the NegaWorld. "No bonus round for you!"
"That's what you think!" the blond senshi raised his arm. "Venus love chain encircle!" the attack managed to surround the enemy, but he used the laser beams atop his VR helmet to cut through them.
"No points for you!" he shouted.

Meanwhile, Linaddua had snagged the crystal.
"No!" yelled Tuxedo Mask. "You're not getting away with that crystal!!"
The woman snickered. "And just what are you going to do about it, Cape-Boy?" she laughed maniacally and sped away. The masked man didn't waste any time and ran after her.

Game Machine Man held out his arm and launched out a claw from his forearm that resembled the one in the Grab-a-Toy game. The claw surrounded the Sailor Scouts and began to crush them.
"Where's Tuxedo Mask when you need him..." Sailor Mystic Moon croaked. It looked like the end of our heroes, but then...
"Mars Fire Ignite!" a burst of flame struck the NegaWorld and he fell to the ground, releasing the scouts. That was when the woman appeared on the scene...
She was dressed like the other Senshi (exception of Sailor V in his new Caeli pants) with a short skirt. It was red, as was her striped shawl and high heels. Star earings hung off her ears, mostly hidden by her long jet-black hair. Her bow was somewhat purple, tied with a red clasp.
"Who are you?" Sailor V managed to ask, blushing slightly from the sight of her. The raven-haired woman ran her deep purple eyes over him.
"I'm Sailor Mars, of the Sailor Senshi." she said hastily.
"Enough.... with the.... introductions...." breathed the mostly charred Game Machine Man. "Onto.... round.... two...."
The sandy-brown haired girl touched the base of her tiara, transforming it into a disc.
"Moon tiara..." she began. But Sailor Mars stepped in her way, her arms out, defending the creature of the NegaWorld.
"You mustn't!" protested Mars. "He is human. You can't take his life!"
"She's right, Sailor Mystic Moon." Naria appeared from behind the tree.
"So then how am I supposed to defeat him?" the leader of the Senshi pouted.
"With this!" Naria did her funky backflip and a strange wand appeared.
Sailor MM caught it. "What's this?" she inquired.
"That is the Crescent Moon Wand," explained Naria. "This is what you will use on all the Crystal Carriers, to restore them to their human form. To use it, just shout 'Moon Healing Activation'!"
"You'd better hurry, he's getting up again." advised Jupiter.
"Moooooon...... Heeeeeeeeeeealing......... Activation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Game Machine Man raised his arms in anguish, and returned to his usual form. He stirred a little before getting to his feet and walking away.
Sailor Mystic Moon turned to Sailor Mars. "Thanks for saving us." she grinned. "And welcome to the Sailor Senshi!" she offered her hand, and Mars took it in a welcome shake.
"Sailor Mars, who are you?" asked Sailor Venus. "I mean, who are you when you're not a Sailor Scout?"
She smiled. "You will find out tomorrow," she promised. "Do you know where the temple is?" Sailor Jupiter and Mystic Moon nodded, leaving the blond to be baffled about the whereabouts of the sacred shrine.
"Good." said Mars. "Meet me there tomorrow morning, and I'll show you who I am. Gotta book it!" with that, she jumped away.
"She was almost... rude!" commented Sailor Jupiter.
"Good job, Sailor Senshi!" commended Tuxedo Mask, who had reappeared a few metres behind them. But his encouraging smile was quickly turned upside-down. "But Linaddua got the crystal. Next time, she won't be so lucky. We can't afford for her to be so lucky. That's all for now." with a dramatic swirl of his long red and black cape, he disappeared into the night.
The superheroes faded, returning the three to their usual forms.
Hitomi found herself watching Tuxedo Mask as he left, her eyes sparkling. A bit of color crept up to her cheeks and she felt a familiar sensation arise within her. The same sensation she felt when Allen had first kissed her to ward off Dilandau's rude interrogations about her clothes and where she was from. The same sensation she had when Van held her for the last time.
No... I can't be... she thought stubbornly. Van is the one I love, I can't be falling for Tuxedo Mask!


A/N: Another bad ending, I is sorry -_-'. I just wanted to introduce Leina etc. ^_^ Please r&r! I need at least 50 reviews for the next chapter to be posted.. I know it's a lot to ask, but I need to know if this story is worthy of continuing.