SailorStar9: Well, Chapter 53 is out, this is Chapter 54. Remember boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. So, please be a dear and read and review.

Disclaimers: Nothing here is mine, well, except the plot and the pairing.

Chapter 54: Trial of Love


The Senshi were all meeting at Rei's Shrine again, and this time the three Mooncats "So they're called Uranus and Neptune... Just what I thought," Artemis said.

"There's some things I don't understand, though... Why are they searching for those Talismans? And what exactly are those things that popped out of Rei's and Nanako's bodies?" Usagi asked.

"I don't know the answer to the first one," Ami said, "there was no data about 'talismans' in my computer. But on the other hand, these crystals are called 'Heart Crystals' and are supposed the representation of a living being's life. Call it mind, soul, or whatever you want, but there wasn't any proof of its existence... Until now."

"Wow... So that's why we faint when the Heart Crystal leaves our bodies..." Rei said.

Ami nodded. "The bad part, though, is that you cannot exist for long without one. If the Heart Crystal leaves the body for more than that, the person dies."

"Then if someone else is attacked, we cannot waste time," Rei said.

Hotaru nodded. "Even is Neptune and Uranus are Senshi, we cannot let them risk the lives of innocent people. If they collaborate with the enemy, they are our enemies."

"I don't know... They're Senshi, they must have a reason to do what they're doing..." Usagi commented.

"I knew you would say something like that," Hotaru admitted, "but don't expect me to let them get away unharmed if they help the enemy again."

"..." Usagi sighed. "Guess I cannot tell you not to hurt them. But at least try to ask them why they're doing it."

Hotaru nodded "I will. If the answer is not something I like, though, I won't hold back."


The next morning, during lunch break, the group was sitting around their group of tables, chatting about various subjects. Naru, though, was silently eating. Usagi was about to ask her if there was something wrong, when Umino came walking towards her.

"Usagi, can I talk to you?"

"Go ahead," Usagi said.

"I meant, in private..." Umino explained.

"Oh... Sure." Usagi stood up and followed Umino to a corner of the room "So, what's wrong?"

"Naru's been acting strange lately. As if she was hiding something from me. I'm worried that she may have found a new boyfriend..." Umino said worriedly.

Usagi smiled "Don't worry, Umino-kun, I'll try and find out what's going on." She walked back to the table and sat down, then sighed. Just what could be wrong with Naru? I don't think she's found another guy she likes...

Her train of thoughts was, ironically, derailed by Naru. "Usagi, I'm worried about Umino," the brown-haired girl said.

"What's wrong?" Usagi asked.

"Well, he's acting strange... Stranger than usual. I'm worried that he may have found another girlfriend.

Deja vu... Usagi thought. Outloud she said, "Naru, there's no way Umino could find another girlfriend. I mean, there's no way other girls would like him..."

"Hey! Umino's got some good points too!" Naru snapped then walked off.

I guess she really likes him… Usagi thought with a smile.


"Kaolinite, we've found who might be a talisman carrier." One of the figures said and gave Kaolinite a picture.

"Then I'll go and check on it."

"Once the talismans are found, our Master shall return and this world will be his." The other figure said.

"Go, Kaolinite, find the one with a pure heart."

"I will," Kaolinite said and vanished.


Later that day, Usagi was walking home together with Ami and Rei. She explained her friend about Umino and Naru's trouble then asked them how they could help them. Rei thought about it for a moment then said "Well, since they both like each other, it's simple. There's a contest at Lover's Park for boyfriends and girlfriends to test their love for each other. If we make them enter that contest, they can express their love to each other."

"Cool... Maybe I should enter with Mamo-chan..." Usagi commented.

"But if you win, you'll make Naru and Umino even more sad." Ami said.

"You're right..." Usagi said "Well, thanks for the help, girl."


Several hours later, Usagi went with Umino and Naru to Lover's Park. She run up to the place of the contest, but she saw there were no free places. "Oh no..."

Umino and Naru came running after Usagi. "Hey Usagi, what's up?" Naru asked as she saw Usagi's depressed expression.

"Well, there's a contest here, and I wanted you two to enter it, but all the places have been taken..." Usagi explained with a sigh.

Umino and Naru both took out their contest tickets and showed them to Usagi. "We found out just a few hours ago." Naru said. "We were both keeping it a secret from each other because we were both embarrassed."

"Oh, I see... Well, good luck, I'll come and watch the contest." Usagi said happily.


Kaolinite materialized in the park and looked around "This is the place where that contest will be held. The owner of a pure heart will probably win it." She produced a Daimon egg, and it went flying and embedded itself on the heart-shaped statue at the top of Lover's Park.


The following day, a lot of couples were at Lover's Park. "I feel an evil presence at this park." Haruka commented as both she and Michiru walked through the park.

"I'm sure that one of those evil creatures will show up." Michiru said.

"We won't let it have the talisman."

"Right."

Several meters away, Usagi was with Umino and Naru, as the contest was about to begin. Umino looked very nervous. "Naru-chan, Umino-kun, do your best." Usagi said, then saw the rest of the group walking towards them. "What are you all doing here?"

"Rei told us about your plan." Yuu said.

"I had nothing else to do." Hotaru muttered.

Minako was leaning on Brad's shoulder. "Where there's love, I have to be there," she said. Brad just sighed.

Rei smiled "It'll be fun." She was clinging from Yuichiro's arm.

Usagi spotted Haruka and Michiru, who had also entered the contest. Haruka was dressed up as a guy. "They are weird, aren't they?"

The contest begun. In the first game, all of the girls got behind a wall and stuck their hands out from several holes. The boys had to find their girlfriends.

Haruka went first, and immediately went to a girl's hand. Usagi and the others were surprised. "I wonder if it is that kind of relationship?" Ami pondered. Brad looked at her and smiled.

"Now," the announcer said, Let's see if this handsome guy found the right hand... Please say your girlfriend's name."

Haruka frowned but then said Michiru's name. Michiru answered and walked out from behind the wall.

Umino was next, and tried to find Naru's hand. He remembered the time Naru had gave him a handkerchief, and he recalled that Naru had a bandaid on her finger. He went to a girl's hand which had a bandaid. He called Naru's name but it was a different girl. Everyone laughed.

Umino couldn't believe it. "But the bandaid is a proof!" He said.

How can I have the bandaid from one year ago? Naru thought. Then again, he remembered that day... She said and smiled.

Haruka was watching them from a short distance. "He's weird... Doing so much for just a game..."

"It's not a game for him. It's good that he can be so intense when showing his emotions." Michiru said.


There were many other games, but Michiru and Haruka kept winning on everything. Umino kept messing up on everything, though he was trying very hard. Then they came to the last game. It was the "confess your love" game. The announcer said that the winners of this game had the purest hearts.

The announcer called on Haruka and Michiru, but Haruka said, "The show is over. We're going to quit. We just entered for fun, and we might win if we continue. The winner should have a real love. Love is everything! Bye." After she said that, Haruka and Michiru left the stage.

"That was weird..." Makoto muttered.

"I guess it is that kind of relationship..." Ami said.

"You mean...?" Rei asked. Ami just nodded.

The rest of the couples had their chances, and last couple was Umino and Naru. Umino was very nervous, but he just said what was in his heart.

"Naru-chan is always very cheerful, and she is like the sun. I always do klutzy things, and I'm probably not fit for Naru-chan. Why is Naru-chan going out with me? It might just be god's whim. But I'm just happy to see Naru-chan's smile, which is like that of an angel. To protect that beautiful smile, I, Umino Gurio, would die."

Everyone started to get tears. When the announcer called on the audience to judge them, everyone cheered.

The announcer then said, "The winners are Umino Gurio and Naru Osaka. "

So Umino and Naru got to go to the heart statue to declare their love. But when they got close, the Daimon came out of the statue. Naru was going to escape, but Umino said "I want to get the statue, it's the symbol of our love." "The talisman exists in a pure heart," the Daimon said and leapt at Umino.

"Moon Star..."

"Mars..."

"Mercury Star..."

"Jupiter..."

"Venus..."

"Saturn Star..."

"Make-up!" The girls all shouted and transformed.

"Earth Dragon Power!"

"Mars Dragon Power!"

"Venus Dragon Power!"

The three male Senshi also transformed. They all leapt in front of the Daimon, Sailor Moon in the front, while the others formed a semi-circle around her. "I won't let you destroy the love they've just found. I'm the pretty soldier Sailor Moon..."

"Sailor Mars..."

"Sailor Mercury..."

"Sailor Jupiter..."

"Sailor Venus..."

"Sailor Saturn..."

"Dragon Earth..."

"Dragon Venus…"

"And Dragon Mars."

"And we'll punish you!" All shouted.

Kaolinite materialized into the battlefield. The Daimon spit handsome guys, one for each of the female Senshi. They said "Let's dance", then they turned into monsters and trapped the Senshi.

Dragon Mars and Dragon Venus started trying to free their friends as Kaolinite laughed.

Sailors Uranus and Neptune appeared. "Daiheart, give them a partner for the dance as well," Kaolinite said.

"I'll find my own partner. World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

The two Senshi shot two energy balls, one was yellow, the other was aquamarine. Both hit the Daimon and destroyed it. The other Senshi got free.

Kaolinite shrugged "No matter how many of them you destroy, I can make more Daimon eggs."

Uranus shrugged "Then we will destroy you."

Kaolinite grinned, reached her hands out and shouted "Fire Buster!" A fiery blast sent Uranus and Neptune crashing on a wall. "You're ten years too young to defeat me, kids," the evil woman said and vanished.

Sailor Uranus looked at Umino's heart crystal. "This isn't a talisman," she said and tossed it back to Naru. Naru walked towards the unconscious Umino, and the crystal melted back on his body. Uranus and Neptune leapt out of sight. When Naru looked around again, she noticed the rest of the Senshi were gone as well.

"What happened?" Umino asked.

"Don't worry, it's all over now. The Senshi took care of that monster."


SailorStar9: Now that's done. Read and review folks.