SailorStar9: Well, Chapter 23 is out and this is Chapter 24. And to make up for my lack of updates, here's another chapter. Remember boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. So, please be a dear and read and review. And is it so difficult for you guys to review instead of just putting this fic up in your favorites and alerts?

Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon or the pairings. The only thing I do own is the plot.

Chapter 24: The Sabotage

"Did you find out if the cosmetics Uzumaki Yuki made have any adverse effects?" Usagi called Fumiko for a report. "You couldn't find anything? Fine, I'm coming in now. Get as many Uzumaki Yuki's cosmetics as you can get. The more, the better. Act now! 2 billion?" she frowned, once she returned to her office, the bottles of lotion and creams before her. "They'll give her 2 billion for this cheap stuff? I can't let that happen. I'll do whatever it takes to stop it from happening. Yes," she grinned when an idea came to her. "If there are no adverse effects, I'll create one. Uzumaki Yuki, how dare you toy with my husband and business? I'll teach you the price you have to pay for messing with me." With that promise, she shoved the sample bottles into a carrier bag, intending to put her plan into action at home.

Once in the bedroom, Usagi brought out the cosmetics sample bottles, three bottles of acid and several medical syringes and set to work, injecting the acid into the lotion and cream containers. "They won't sign a contract with her now." The blond chuckled. "Uzumaki Yuki, how does it feel to lose 2 billion? I'd like to see the look on your face when you do."

"You're signing the contract with Seiwa Cosmetics today, right?" Yukino asked her daughter.

"Yes," Yuki nodded. "All I have to do is sign the contract."

"I'm proud of you." Yukino gave her daughter a hug. "Congratulations. Doesn't it call for a celebration?"

"I think so." Yuki beamed. "I'll come home early and bake a cake."

"I'll buy some wine and food, too." Yukino added.

"Is this Seiwa Cosmetics?" Usagi made a call to the cosmetics company using a payphone. "I heard you're signing a contract with Hisako Beauty Shop, but there's a problem with their cosmetics. I developed a serious skin condition after using their product. I'll send you a sample so you can do more research." With a wide grin, she stepped out of the phone booth.

"Send this to Seiwa Cosmetics." Usagi instructed Fumiko, placing two bags of the doctored cosmetics on the table. "And send this to the Consumer Protection Agency. Don't put the sender's address. Make sure they don't find out who the sender is, got that? You're going to get it." She grinned once Fumiko exited the office.

"Are you sure you won't want to come with me?" Yuki asked as Yukino adjusted her coat.

"You should go alone today." Yukino advised. "I'll wait here for you."

"I'm really nervous." Yuki admitted. "I've never done anything like this before."

"There's a first time for everything." Yukino encouraged. "I'm sure you'll do just fine. So I have no worries."

"Thank you for making such good cosmetics." The director of Seiwa Cosmetics shook Yuki's hand in the meeting room. "I feel very lucky to launch an all-natural line of cosmetics without investing in research and development."

"Thank you," Yuki smiled. "I'll meet your expectations with even better products."

"Shall we sign the contract now?" the director asked.

"President." Her aide whispered something into the chairwoman's ear after receiving a call.

"What?" the chairwoman echoed. "You can't even do a clinical test?"

"We did, but we didn't find any problems." The aide replied.

"What's going on?" Yuki asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Our consumer center, as well as the Consumer Protection Agency, have received complaints about your cosmetics." The aide explained.

"There could be side effects depending on the individual's skin condition." Yuki stated.

"Our lab ran some tests and found large amounts of harmful substances in your products." The aide added.

"What?" Yuki gasped. "That can't be! Harmful substances? Our products are completely safe. See?" she picked up a cream jar and tested it on herself. "I've been using them for years, and so have my mother. I can eat it if I have to."

"We'll have to postpone this." The chairwoman remarked. "We'll look deeper into the matter and call you back."

"Madam, please listen to me." Yuki pleaded. "There must've been a mistake. Where is your research lab? I can't believe anything until I see the results for myself. That's impossible."

The chairwoman simply gave her a look and walked off.

"These are popular natural cosmetic lines from overseas?" Usagi inquired, Fumiko having brought in some samples for her. "And can you vouch for their quality?"

"Yes, they're expensive, but they've been clinically proven." Fumiko assured.

"Then, look into a cosmetic bottling company." Usagi instructed. "We have to produce our own line. If Hisako Beauty Shop can do it, we can do it, too."

"You mean, you'll put the imported cosmetics in different containers and sell them as ours?" Fumiko was shocked at what her boss was suggesting. "What if we get caught…"

"Don't worry, we won't get caught." Usagi assured. "Nobody will be the wiser if you keep quiet. Buy yourself an outfit." She handed her assistant an envelope of hush money. "It's a special bonus just for you."

"You're back already?" Yukino blinked, entering her office to find an upset Yuki. "The contract signing went well?"

"It's been postponed." Yuki sighed. "They found harmful substances in my cosmetics."

"What?" Yukino blinked. "Is that true?"

"But that can't be." Yuki denied. "I've already done numerous tests and never had any negative results. There has to be something."

"I just saw Chiba Rei outside the shop." Yukino stated. "She passed this to me," she placed the tote bag on the table. "Saying she found a bunch of our cosmetics in Haruno Usagi's room, along with this needle."

"You mean Usagi laced our products to get back at me?" Yuki realized.

"Why else would she have our products in large quantity?" Yukino asked. "I just don't feel right about it."

"I'll go to the lab and check out the test results myself." Yuki hissed. "I'll find out if the substance in this needle is the same as the one they found in our cosmetics. I have to find out if it's Usagi's doing; I'll never forgive her."

"Make the most opulent containers you have." Usagi instructed the bottling company. "Make 100 samples for now. I'll send the money right now."

"Please, let me meet the director now." Yuki pleaded.

"He's out now." The lab assistant replied. "And our offer is no longer valid."

"We're not asking for a contract." Sapphir stated, having been instructed by Yukino to accompany Yuki to the lab. "Just tell us what you found in our cosmetics. See if the substance in this needle matches the substances you found in our products. That's all we want."

"Do you have the results?" Yuki asked, after the lab assistant exited from his lab with the results.

"Yes, the substance in the needle matched the harmful substance we found in your products." The lab assistant confirmed. "But where did you get this?"

"Haruno Usagi…" Yuki hissed. "You dare trample on my dream? I won't forgive you!"

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.