* ACT 13 *
Mamoru walked through Juban Natural Park it was night and the stars and a beautiful full moon were reflected within the waters of a reflecting pool it was here that Haruka-san, Michiru-san and Setsuna-san had asked to meet with him, alone and without the other senshi present but the Shitennou ever loyal to their master were not as easily fooled as Usagi had been and were following at a respectable distance from their prince. "Welcome Prince Endymion," Michiru-san was the first to speak revealing herself. "Heir to the Earth Kingdom," Haruka-san said revealing stepping next to her partner. "Husband of our princess, Serenity," Setsuna-san was the last to reveal herself taking her place to Haruka and Michiru's right side. "So you are the guardians of outer solar system," Mamoru said the three nodding their heads before transforming into their senshi forms Mamoru and the others allowing their civilian attire to be replaced by their armor.
"Prince, Shitennou, we have asked you because we no longer wish for you, your Shitennou, our Princess or her guardians to fight against the Death Busters, Pluto said her voice as calm and serene as it always was. "But why, why do you refuse our help at every turn, why do you wish to fight this battle alone, answer us that guardian of time," Kunzite asked causing Pluto to actually smile turning her attention towards the leader of the Shitennou though it was not she who answered. "It is because this is our mistake, long ago we were charged by Queen Serenity, gods rest her soul, to watch over the Earth and Moon Kingdoms from the outer rim of the Solar System," Uranus said taking a step forward Neptune right at her side. "The Death Busters, are not from this galaxy, and they found their way to Earth when myself and Uranus were still unaware of our duties as senshi and Pluto was still charged with watching the gates of time," Neptune said sounding tired.
"This cross is ours to hold, all we ask is that you let us bare its weight," Pluto said. "What you say has merit," Endymion said a warm smile upon his lips. "But the enemy is here," Jadeite said. "The princess cares to much to simply stand aside and allow the Death Busters to do as they please," Zoicite added. "And were the princess goes, her guardians and our prince are never far behind," Nephrite said. "And our duty Sailor Pluto, is to protect our prince, I am afraid that that is our answer," Kunzite was the last to say anything. "Then it would seem that we can not come to an agreement," Pluto said. "As long as my wife is willing to protect this Earth, we can not," Endymion said. "Every bit as noble now as you were then," Neptune said with a sad smile. "All we can ask of you now, is please stay out of our way, and do not interfere in what we do," Uranus said her tone taking on a tone of authority. "Farewell prince, Shitennou," Pluto said and the three seemed to vanish as quickly as they had come.
"Should we tell Usagi-hime and the others," Jadeite asked. "No, at least not for now," Endymion said as Nephrite, Zoicite and Kunzite nodded their heads Jadeite doing the same as the five let their armors fade, civilian attire taking its place. "Let's head back, if Usagi wakes up before I return, well I could never lie to her," Mamoru said and his four Shitennou said nothing as they left the park and headed back towards their homes.
~ PGSM S ~
"So Chibi-usa asked Usagi to accompany her to meet her new friend, and Usagi asked you to baby set," Minako asked me a large grin on her face. "Hai, Mina-chan," I replied looking down at the child in my arms a tender look in my eyes glad that baby Chibi-Usa slept so easily. "Did Chibi-usa come ask you questions about what she should do when she meets her new friend," I asked Minako. "Yea, she called me, and asked me how she should dress. I told her that it wouldn't have to be anything to formal just were something that is nice," Minako replied. "Ami-chan got a phone call to, this one about presents, she told Chibi-usa that a gift is not necessary but if she did buy something make it a book, or something that shows her interests," I said as Minako nodded adding, "she asked Makoto for a cookie recipe, and then Usagi helped Chibi-usa bake them." "Hum, I wonder Ami thinks and I agree, do you think that she found herself, you know a boyfriend," I asked.
"A boyfriend, Reiko, you shouldn't jump to such conclusions," Minako said setting down beside me draping an arm over my shoulder. "Besides, who says it has to be a boyfriend," Minako added with a wink giving me a peck on the cheek causing me to blush. "Well boy or girl she asked me about how formal or informal she should be, I told her to use more respectful phrases when talking with her new friends parents or guardians but it was perfectly ok to be more familiar when talking with her new friend," I said. "So she came to each of us for advice, and now she has Usagi escorting her, ah first love," Minako said pretending to wipe a fake tear from her eye. "Now who is jumping to conclusions Mina-chan," I asked. "Your right, but why else would Chibi-usa go to all of this trouble." "No clue, but," and here I pulled out my cell phone, "that is why we and I am sure Ami and Makoto as well will be calling Usagi later," causing Minako to laugh and because it was so contagious I couldn't help but join her.
~ PGSM S ~
"So did you find something to give as a gift for your new friend Chibi-usa," I asked as we left a local book store. "Hai, it's a manga by Ukon Katakuri, I read his first book on my last visit here and I loved his work so now I'm going to read this one and give a copy to Hotaru-chan as well," Chibi-usa said with a smile showing me the manga's. "Oh I've heard of his work, I think I read something about the third book in the series but I can't remember," I said. "You know I think I did to, hum how strange," Chibi-usa answered both of us shaking our heads in agreement as the doors to the book stores closed behind us neither of us seeing the poster on the class door that told that Ukon Katakuri would be at the book store signing copies of all of his works including his newest manga that had just been released, that very day.
"So what is your friend like," I asked Chibi-usa. "Oh, Hotaru-chan is very nice, sweet, and caring, even if she seems a little frail," Chibi-usa answered saying the last part more quietly though I heard her anyway, and the image of a young man setting in a bed Chibi-usa setting in a chair by his side came to my mind. "You must really like them ne," I asked as with a large smile on my face I watched Chibi-usa's face turn as pink as her hair does when she becomes Sailor Chibi-Moon. "Hai," Chibi-usa said softly. "Hotaru-chan is my best friend, don't get me wrong, Luna-chan and Artemis-kun are great friends but, I don't know there is just something, different about Hotaru-chan," Chibi-usa said and I couldn't help but giggle. "Usagi," Chibi-usa said in a questioning tone hearing me. "Oh its nothing," I said a warm smile stile playing across my lips, and now more than ever I was excited to meet this person that had captured my future daughters attention so thoroughly.
"Wow," was the only word I could think of when I saw the size of the house that Chibi-usa's new friend Hotaru-chan lived in. "Come on," Chibi-usa said impatiently grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the front door causing me to chuckle. After getting me to ring the doorbell we waited and when the door opened I dropped the bag of cookies that me and Chibi-usa had made. "Mimete," I whispered and the blond turned towards me with a warm smile. "Hello, my name is Hagyu Mimi, how may I help you," she asked. "Oh no the cookies," Chibi-usa said and I bent down to get them apologizing to Chibi-usa while thinking to myself, "no, I must be imagining things, she looks so much like her but the personality," and here I trailed off standing back up to see a man with grey hair and full moon spectacles standing behind the blond, the glass over his left eye seemed to have a strange symbol carved into it, the symbol was a prism surrounded by a pentagram but before I could look more closely at it he spoke.
"Oh, I remember you, your Hotaru's friend, Chibi-usa, right," he asked speaking to Chibi-usa who nodded a large smile on her face. "Hai," Chibi-usa said. "Hello sir, I'm Chibi-usa's, cousin Tsukino Usagi," "Nice to meet you Usagi-san I am Professor Tomoe Souichi," he said with a smile as I returned the gesture saying it was nice to meet him as well. "Mimi, why don't you show our guests into the setting room, I'll go tell Hotaru her friend is here and make us all some tea," the professor said giving me and Chibi-usa a nod of his head before walking away a smile on his face as he gently hummed a tune I didn't recognize under his breath. "This way," Mimi said her voice calm, and gentle as she lead the way into the house. "Feel free to set wherever you wish, I am sure Hotaru-sama shall be here shortly," Mimi said bowing to us before leaving me and Chibi-usa alone.
"She seems nice," Chibi-usa said once Mimi was gone. "Hai," I replied wondering if she was some sort of housekeeper or maid before the two of us decided to set on the loveseat to wait for Hotaru. We had been waiting for almost thirty minutes and I could tell Chibi-usa seemed worried, so I was going to go and see what was going on when the door to the room opened and I quickly set back down as a young woman, about Luna's age if I had to guess entered the room, she had short black hair that framed her face, onyx like eyes, and was wearing a black one piece dress, matching pantyhose and house slippers. "Hotaru-chan," Chibi-usa said with excitement as Hotaru walked over to us, and in a softer but still warm tone replied, "Chibiusa-chan." "A girl," I whispered though Chibi-usa and Hotaru heard me the latter of the two actually trying to hide a giggle. "You thought Hotaru-chan was a boy didn't you Usagi," my future daughter said to me with a very familiar smile very similar to my own when I knew I was right about what I had said. "Hai," I admitted turning quite pink in the cheeks.
"That wasn't very nice of you Chibiusa-chan," Hotaru said as Chibi-usa turned to her friend. "I know, but Usagi and all of her friends jumped to conclusions about you, so I thought I would teach them a little lesson," trying her best to keep from laughing Hotaru doing the same. "Ok, I admit it is rather funny, no more jumping to conclusions," I said holding out a pinky that Chibi-usa took with her own the both of us shaking hands with our pinkies before letting our arms drop. "You two seem very close," Hotaru said, "is she your sister Chibiusa-chan," Hotaru asked and Chibi-usa explained instead of me how many people made that mistake before going with the "cousins" excuse that we had come up with. "Wow, so how about we go to my room, it will be much quieter up their," Hotaru said just as the door opened showing Mimi standing their holding a tea set.
"Ah, I see," Mimi said with a warm smile. "Do you wish for me to take this to your room then Miss Hotaru," she asked. "No, that's alright Mimi, I can do that," Hotaru said taking the tea set from Mimi before asking her to follow her. "Are you ok, Hotaru-chan, you seemed kind of upset about what Mimi said," Chibi-usa asked her friend. "Oh, no its not that at all," Hotaru said turning her head. "It's just dad is a very famous professor and between running Mugen Gakuen Academy and being a teacher at the Academy as well papa is always so busy that he can't always look after me himself. He hired Mimi and some others to watch over the house and me, but I have never been comfortable being treated as better than someone else, you know being waited on hand and foot. That is why I always try to do something myself instead of asking Mimi or one of the other girls to do it for me whenever I can," Hotaru said with a sad sort of smile.
"But what about your mother," I asked and Hotaru stopped for a moment before turning towards us with a heavy breath she said, "she died," and I quickly apologized for being so bold with my questioning but the young woman assured me it was fine, "she died when I was very young so I don't remember much about her, oh here we are," Hotaru said opening the door to her room. "Wow," Chibi-usa said looking around in awe and I felt the same way. Hotaru's room was painted in soft purple colors, and all of the furniture she had in the room was made from black oak, while a large collection of lamps seemed to adorn every available space. "Oh, I love your room Hotaru-chan, it somehow reminds me of you in how soft and warm of a feeling it gives," Chibi-usa said making Hotaru blush as she thanked Chibi-usa before the tea set fell from her hands and Hotaru fell to the floor, as if she had just suffered from a dizzy spell.
"Hotaru-chan," Chibi-usa said with concern kneeling by her friends side me doing the same not noticing my Heart Moon Broach slip out from its normal place beneath my shirt. "I'm ok," Hotaru said with a smile before her eyes landed on my broach. "Oh what a beautiful broach, may I, Usagi-san," she asked me and seeing no harm in it I nodded my head yes as Hotaru took the broach into her hand. "Warmth," Hotaru said her voice somewhat changed her eyes blank. "A warm light, as long as I hold this," she added before the haze in her eyes cleared as she let go of my broach her hand going to her mouth. "Did, did I just say something strange," she asked sadness in her voice, "you must think I'm very odd," she added unshed tears forming behind her onyx like eyes. "Your not odd at all," Chibi-usa said as I nodded my head in agreement. "Chibi-usa your present," I said to help clear the air and with an enthusiastic nod Chibi-usa pulled out the books from the bag holding them, causing a piece of parchment that had been in the bag as well to float to the ground.
"What's this," I said picking up the paper. "Ukon Katakuri, book signing, today," I said and Chibi-usa looked just as surprised as I did. "Oh, can we go Usagi-chan, and Hotaru-chan can come to, if you want," Chibi-usa said looking towards Hotaru who with a warm smile on her face said, "that does sound like fun, can we do that Usagi-san, please," Hotaru asked, and with Chibi-usa giving me those big round puppy dog like eyes, and Hotaru sounding so sweet and kind in her request I was simply no match for the two of them working together so seamlessly and quickly agreed that we could go.
~ PGSM S ~
"Ukon-san," a young woman's voice said to the famous author just as he was about to get into his car causing him to turn around to see a young woman with short curly blond hair standing their with a predatory smile holding a silver suitcase with a black star on the side in her arms. "I don't know if you remember but you signed this book for me, to Mimete-san, thank you for reading my work," Mimete said setting the suitcase on the ground. "It is really to bad, that someone of your talent shall soon lose their life," Mimete said before yelling, "Daimon come forth," causing the suitcase to open as purple smoke poured out as a feminine voice said, "Uhenshu," as a Daimon that looked like an inappropriately dressed secretary appeared. "Quickly Uhenshu his pure heart crystal take it," Mimete yelled. "Yes ma'am," the Daimon said moving towards Ukon Katakuri who was frozen with fear next to his car just as Usagi who had been walking by saw what was going on and quickly looked back towards Chibi-usa who was walking at Hotaru's pace a few feet behind her.
"Chibi-usa," I said turning towards her. "Ukon-san isn't here the book signing is already over, the Crown isn't to far away, you should take Hotaru-chan their," I said with a quick glance to my side and Chibi-usa realizing that something was happening that would require the Sailor Senshi turned towards Hotaru. "Come on Hotaru, it looks like we missed the signing but we are close to the Crown and you can meet Motoki-san," Chibi-usa said with such enthusiasm that Hotaru gladly agreed and once I was sure the two were out of hearing range I took my Heart Moon Broach into my hands and yelled, "Moon Cosmic Power, Make-up," just as the Daimon had swallowed Ukon's pure heart crystal. "Time to return to the professor, Uhenshu," Mimete said but before she and the Daimon could go anywhere I made my presence known. "Stop right their, I am the pretty sailor guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon, for trying to take the pure heart crystal of this talented artist, in the name of the moon, I shall punish you," I said taking my pose that also allowed me to be ready to fight at a moments notice.
"You again," Mimete said her smile quickly turning into a frown. "Uhenshu, take care of her before any more guardians make an appearance," Mimete yelled to the Daimon. "Yes ma'am," the Daimon said launching razor sharp pieces of paper all of various sizes at me each one I ducked, dodged and maneuvered in any way I could to avoid the deadly projectiles never giving me a change to counterattack until a large piece of clear parchment fell from the sky, one that I didn't see that pinned me to the ground causing the Daimon to smile. "Snip, snip," it said the fingers the Daimon was using to mimic a pair of scissors actually turning into an elongated version of the very item as the Daimon moved towards me its smile devilish. "I have to escape, I have to break free," I thought to myself desperately but no matter how hard I struggled I couldn't get free of the weight pressing down upon her.
"Dead Scream," the soft gentle tone of Pluto said as her attack, so unlike her voice struck the Daimon that fell to one knee. "Are you ok hime," Haruka's tenor tone asked as I turned with a warm smile to see Uranus standing their as with ease she lifted the paper off of me with ease. "Leave this to us princess," Neptune said helping me to my feet. "But," "please hime, go," Uranus said as the Daimon tried to attack us all again its blade almost striking the two of us down, Haruka was looking at me and not the Daimon the other outers not noticing it either, but just as I was about to yell at Haruka-san to move while pushing myself into her I heard a voice yell out, "Venus Love-Me Chain," as a familiar heart shaped golden belt wrapped around the blade the Daimon had created. "Stop were you are," Venus said her eyes hard, cold and calculating so much like she had been when protecting my life from the Dark Kingdom.
"We are the sailor guardians," Mars added making her presence known, "sworn to uphold truth, love and justice," Jupiter said appearing on a nearby wall. "And on behalf of the moon," Mercury said seeming to just appear beside Ukon Katakuri's body, "we shall punish you," the four said as one. "All of you, but how," Mimete said fear evident in her eyes. "Do you see," I heard Mamoru's voice say looking over my shoulder to see Tuxedo Kamen standing by my side. "We may not share philosophies but there is one we will all, always protect," he said looking towards me causing me to blush and the outers to stand silently though Pluto was smiling. "Sailor Moon, now," Rei-chan yelled at me as I nodded allowing the Holy Grail to come to my hands. "Crisis, Make-up," I yelled the words allowing my body to undergo the second henshin into Super Sailor Moon
"No," Mimete said vanishing from the parking lot as I brought the Spiral Heart Moon Rod to my hands as the Daimon tried unsuccessfully to escape from the vise like grip that Venus's chain had around its arm. "Rainbow Moon Heart Ache," as the attack soared towards the Daimon whose last words were, "Love…Lovely," before the Daimon converted back into a draft work of what appeared to be a manga before the Daimon Egg came out cracked open and the black ghost like figure of a cormorant poured out giving one last shriek before vanishing forever as I fell to my knees the super transformation leaving me once more though Mamoru was right their making sure I was fine as the other girls came closer as well the coldness in Minako's eyes gone as with Rei-chan by her side and Mako-chan and Ami-chan right behind them smiles of relief on both their faces. "Ukon-san will be fine his heart I returned his heart crystal, and he is resting comfortably," Ami-chan said as I nodded glad that Ukon-san would be fine.
"Take care hime," Uranus said nodding her head and walking away a silent Neptune at her side only nodding her head in my direction before she leaned into her partners side. "They may not say it, but we will think about your words prince. My princess, guardians, until we meet again," Pluto said and with a bow of her head before she two followed after Haruka-san and Michiru-san. "Mamoru," I said looking up at my husband. "I'll explain everything, to all of you, but it is a long story and I think it best we go somewhere more private." "Ok," I said before any of the other girls could say anything. "Let's do this at the Crown, that is were Chibi-usa and Hotaru should be, oh and you girls will love her by the way," I said causing Ami, and Makoto's jaws to drop as with teasing grin Minako-chan turned to Rei-chan who replied, "ok, so you were right, Chibi-usa's new friend was a girl," which caused me to start giggling at all of my friends reactions as we found a secure place to let our henshin's fade before making our way towards Crown Karaoke.
Note:
And so ends Act 13. A bit lighter in tone with the girls thinking what they did about Hotaru being a boy but still it had a bit more drama involved than I first intended. Ah, well such is life. The next act will strengthen the bond that Chibi-usa and Hotaru share and is based on what I would like to call an "aw," moment in the Anime.
So till next time;
I remain a . . .
KuRSeofTime