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The end in the beginning ch.7
Usagi POV
It's the weekend of the hot springs as my family is packing up several suitcases. We each have one in the back of the van that dad has as we travel together. Mother has already put a ban on any work talk from dad as she wants this to be a family weekend. She shoots me a silent look on no boyfriend either. Normally she's all for Mamoru but this is a family only thing and while he and the girls are considered family in a sense this is immediate family only for them right now and I let that slide for now.
My parents were really unaware of how close Mamoru, and the girls and I were to each other as family to so I couldn't really defend it too much without going into detail. Instead Shingo and I were busy on our phones till we lost signal from the lack of cell reception. I knew it was going to happen, so I was glad that I brought the communicator with me. I hit the button on it that went to Mamoru's as I typed in 'almost there'.
I was glad Luna got our communicators upgraded and modified for texting. Our watches even looked more like regular ones so we could be more discrete when taking a call or a text. In this case since it's a text I use the communicator to send a short one out to him. I don't want to catch my parent's attention as they ask us about school. I'm just thankful that my work won't be coming up on the topic, especially if dads isn't.
"So dear how's your job going?" mother asked, I muttered, "So much for that…" to low to be heard by anyone in the car. Unfortunately, Shingo's response as he was pulled from his game app on his phone didn't help either, "Oh right I was meaning to ask you about that. I heard about the attack, were you there?!" I closed my eyes as dad's response to that was a loud and sharp, "What attack? Usagi?!"
I looked over at Shingo who winced at the volume and seemed to regret his word's, yet the damage was done, "It wasn't a big deal. The creature disappeared before long. No one was hurt." Scared but not hurt…unless you count my slightly bruised throat that healed up within hours after the attack. "I don't like that. Those monsters keep popping up. It's beginning to feel unsafe." I never liked the direction of where my dad went with these conversations.
He sometimes sounded like he wanted to talk about moving further away and I couldn't have that, not especially so close to the end of high school and right now, not when I had a job, my friends and duty as a senshi. "Darling it sounds like it was over with pretty fast." My mother tried, "That's not how that reporter on t.v. sounded." He grumbled. I couldn't help the eye roll as I snipped out, "Please she's just trying to make a name for herself' so she makes a bigger deal out of something than what it really is."
That caught dad's interest, "You really think so?" as he eyed me briefly in the rearview mirror, I had to think fast to get the spotlight off me so I thought on it for a second before trying the buttering up method, "I do. It's like I was explaining to the girls when they were over what you do is hard pressed journalism that speaks to people and is truth based on facts that are necessary. Talking about a random attack that isn't all that big a deal and trying to make it bigger is beneath that of a true journalist."
He smiled, "Thanks honey, it's true, its why I work for the company that I'm at. We get the truth out and get the hard-hitting facts that are important." One thing that tends to work on people to leave a subject or at least the negative side of it alone and focus on the positive feedback. Once more we were just having a regular talk about random things that we were seeing along the way and watching nature pass us by was nice.
I was tempted to take pictures but at the same time knew that I wouldn't get that good of quality through a window. So, once we got there, I took a few snap shots then helped my parents out with the luggage as we hauled it into the rooms we had. I was just glad that my room and Shingo's were not as close to our parents as they used to be. Now they were a tad further so we had more room to stay up later and it wouldn't rouse them from sleep.
It was only when I saw that I had a flashing 'no service' on my cell that I went back to my communicator and saw the message icon beeping. I answered it saying…made it to the hot springs safely…I felt it was both a tad ridiculous and very sweet that Mamoru insisted I do this. I know that at the beginning of this week when my dad cooked up the idea to come out here that everyone was a little tense.
I knew why though, there was a new enemy out there and we didn't know when the next strike would be, I just hoped that by now the girls and Mamoru would recognize that I could handle myself in a battle. They were so loving but their overprotective nature was starting to get a bit much. It felt like it wasn't bad during the month that Galaxia had left, we just crammed harder and worked out harder.
It wasn't till this new enemy popped up that I was getting a taste of it again. Almost like how it first was whenever I was found out to be a personal target to the enemy. They got a bit much whenever that happened to. I especially noticed Minako's lack of enthusiasm regarding taking online courses for university when Ami talked about it. Ami had some very reasonable points but while Minako was listening it was like she wasn't really there.
I think Minako sometimes wished things were different. I just don't know how, its why I want them all to experience life, one that BEYOND being a senshi and just school but a life that has happiness and love in it. One that holds their passions in life in it. How else are we to become more than what we are if we don't explore that and become the best individuals we are? It's also why I wanted to be sure they experienced that.
Especially while I was out this weekend. Makoto had a cook class, or rather a lesson at the restaurant, I swore one of these days that professor was going to name her head chef at his restaurant and she was going to really start to introduce her own recipes and bakery treats in there to. Plus, Ami had her own studies she wanted to work on, while a few chapters ahead is good enough for us for Ami its different.
She works hard cause its part of who she is and unless she's about five to seven chapters ahead she feels she can fall behind and while we KNOW that won't happen we can't stop her from feeling as she does so we only encourage her and show her that we're in her corner regardless, and as for Rei she's become headstrong in her business class to. She's really taking to it and I don't want anyone's personal or academic life to suffer because MAYBE something MIGHT happen near me over a single weekend.
So, once we settle in and get a look of the land we go for a walk as a family before heading back in for a nice sushi dinner. It was flavorful as we ate before settling into our respective rooms. I already knew mother had a day planned out for us all to do things tomorrow starting with a long hike in the trails. I was actually excited for it since that was cut short last time, we were here thanks to a certain evil prince waking up a pissed off water sprit that thought I was the woman that stole her man.
That was neither here nor there now. Now there was simply a family. That is until I got a message on my communicator from Mamoru. Any chance you can break free for a little while? I won't keep you long. Right there I knew he was here already or else he wouldn't have asked. I sigh and respond…I'll be by the waters side…he sends a smile as I sneak out of my room, light loose shorts and loose night top on as I put on my socks to discretely hide it if my feet get dirty or something.
I don't need something actually on me to tip off my parents if they see that I'm sneaking out or back in. Plus, my shoes would make too much noise, with the socks if they get muddy, I can pull them off, hide them and feign needing to use the bathroom. So, once I'm outside I go to where I said I'd be. He was already there as I couldn't help but smile, "You look as handsome now as you did the last time we were here together."
He smiles in response, "That wasn't one of my finer times." His face falls a bit, "Did I ever apologize for that?" he asks as I roll my eyes and slip into his arms, "Only about a thousand times." He chuckles, "Well I am. To be honest I do remember a lot of that, and I know for a factor that even being evil, I couldn't shake the notion that I cared for you." I smiled, "Even as your evil self you still liked me." I kissed him.
"Oh, more than that…" he kissed me back as he gently lowered us to a seat by the water as neither of us had any swim wear on to use for it. Granted we could go in naked but then if I went into the water the next day with my family knowing what I did in here tonight…I'd think on it before making a decision. "You see even evil you tempted me." His voice getting lower as he kissed a trail down my throat.
"Really? How?" I asked though barely retained it as his lips dipped lower, "Well I wanted to capture you and take you as my personal concubine." His hands suddenly but gently grabbed up my hair in their braids as he pulled my head back to look into his eyes. I couldn't help but smile, "There's something awfully naughty about that prospect." He kissed me once more, "Yes and while the aspect of capturing you fancied Beryl, you being my concubine made her nearly shit herself after I said it." I couldn't help but crack up laughing.
"Wait seriously?!" I asked, "You asked her that?" he nodded as I pointed to him in indication as I was astounded, "Yeah but despite my rationalizing that you'd be 'forever humiliated as my personal lap dog' she wanted you dead more than anything." He put the quotes around 'forever humiliated as his personal lapdog' as we both knew that I'd have been more than willing to be with him, "She probably knew that you'd remember things and didn't want to take the chance." I tell him.
"That or she was just really, REALLY jealous of you and of what we had together on the moon and the earth. I mean when I asked her that and she had that reaction a youma snickered out of line and she evaporated it on the spot." Now my eyes were bugged out, "Damn, to put it in Minako's words 'bitch sounds cra-cra!'" as I giggle lowly in my tone trying to keep the sound to a minimal.
"Very much but enough about her." he caresses my cheek as I slip into his embrace even further, "Agreed." As we kiss, I can feel things getting heated up and soon enough we are losing some of our night cloths, that's when it hits me, "Did you book a room here?" I ask as I see that he is in-deed wearing night clothes and I DOUBT he came all the way from his apartment in only his t shirt and boxer shorts.
He looks to me a tad guilty, "Not the whole weekend, just tonight. I have a shift tomorrow that I can't miss so I wanted to see you tonight at least." I smile, "As long as it's not the whole weekend that your taking out just for me." I didn't want him to put his life on hold, "Nope not doing that at all. Besides the shift is at least fourteen hours long at the hospital and then I have classes the following few days." It sounds exhausting to be honest.
"I have a paper due on those days that I'm proofing for a third time so, I won't be able to see you again for at least half a week." I smile despite not being able to see him for a little bit I'm happy that he's following his dreams. I smile, "I'm really proud of you." I tell him as he smiles back, "And I am of you to. Going after your own dreams and still making time for me…for all of us." I kiss him, "I couldn't not do it." The kissing began to intensify.
Just as things were getting heated up again, we heard a rustle out in the darkness. Our senses on high alert with everything going on we stand up into near defensive positions. For a moment we take it as being just an animal. "There's gotta be lots of little critters around here." I try to pacify him as I force my body to stand down only to have him blasted away by the sound wave that hit us earlier that week.
It was the creature. I turned to face off against it as I watched its creepy form slink out from behind some shrubbery. Mamoru's form is now nearly unconscious. I have to stay alert and figure out a way to get this monster away from the area that we were at to avoid it from doing further harm and from my family. "My Queen doesn't want him in her way of killing you, but she knows he can handle being tossed around a bit." the creature says.
"Your Queen seems to have a real chip on her shoulders for never having met me before." I counter as I go to grab my locket, thankful that I put it in my subspace pocket only to find that Mamoru getting knocked into the building was enough to rouse my parents from sleep as they come outside. This was the LAST thing I needed to happen. I yelled out my first instinctual thing to say, "Get back inside!"
Yeah telling your PARENTS what to do is never a REAL option UNLESS they're in your home and being disrespectful to you or someone you care about. This was NOT that type of situation so the glare I got from my parents matched the furious tone from my father of, "Get inside now so I can call the proper authorities!" The daughter in me wanted to obey my father and his furious need to protect his family.
Yet the senshi in me KNEW better. He was no match for this creature that looked at him like it was weighing its options on his as a viable threat to it. I put more force back behind my words, "Get back inside! I have to get Mamoru!" I took off for his now coming to form as I knew my parents were at the door themselves. They were technically the closest to 'safety' that there was, all they had to do was turn around and go back.
Yet these were also my parents. Overprotective and willing to do stupid things to save those they loved. At least I know where I get my reckless need to protect those I love from. It goes from my parents, beyond that of a senshi's duty. The monster must have sensed something, the protective instinct that was there in all of us to protect the other, cause the next thing I know it gets a smirk on its face.
A deadly smirk that kicks my senshi instincts into action. I know I can't transform in front of them to protect them, so I instead go to get it to chase me only to have Tuxedo Mask jump in to distract it. He blocks me from everyone's view as I take this as a signal to go transform by ducking out of view around the corner. He gives out his customary little and tries to elongate it this time, so I have time to transform.
"To try to harm an innocent family out on a vacation will not be justified. You will be punished for such an act." I nearly role my eyes at the speech as I send out a quick message to the girls about the attack, something I really wished HADN'T happened as it really only proved Minako right about a few things. It was ridiculous that we really couldn't have more than a moment of peace these days.
Once the message is out, I jump out on the scene moments later as I take its attention from Tux but more importantly my family. Tux can protect himself; my family are at a severe disadvantage in this fight. My mother's trying to force Shingo back while my father's trying to use a useless broom as a weapon, where he got that from, I didn't know but he needed something I guess.
It didn't help that he was looking for me or rather my civilian self and had no idea that he was looking at me as it were. I wanted to assure him 'she' was safe, but I wasn't sure if this monster was going to try to out me in front of my family. I couldn't take the risk, so I knew I'd have to keep the attention on myself to keep them safe. My brother is the first to identify me, "Hey looks its Eternal Sailor Moon!"
"That's right and I will - " I aim to get my own little speech out there when it shoots out its sound wave power blast towards me. I jump out of the way as does Tux this time to. Both of us transformed now and are better able to duck and dodge the attacks thrown at us. We're just lucky were strong enough in our civilian forms to NOT be knocked completely out of the game at this point.
"I know who you are." it says as a way of being irritated by my mere presence, "Then you already also know how this will end." I snip back as I pull out my scepter. It smirks snidely at me though, "Yes I do." that's when it shouts out a sound wave towards my family. I react on gut instinct alone. I hadn't counted on it going after them. After all I was this thing's target why go after them?
I body slam into it, using a lot of force as Jupiter taught me in and out of battle lessons. Using my momentum to send us both over and off of our feet. Rushing it without forethought as the blast gets interrupted and stopped midway. Clearly the creature didn't think I would try to do this as it didn't try to counter my move towards it. The blast hit more of the side of the building as I signed in partial relief.
I shouldn't' have done that as it slammed a tentacle looking thing into my gut. I went from nearly laying on it to being sent flying nearly fifteen feet back as we both then scrambled to get up on our respective feet, or whatever the hell those claw looking things were called that it stood on as it braced itself for whatever I had planned to do next. As I go to use my scepter, I find that its halfway in the middle of us.
I must have dropped it in my pursuit to body slam the monster. Tux has gone to see if my family is okay to which I'm grateful for that as it gives me a better chance to go after my scepter and end this thing once and for all. It sees what I'm trying to do as it starts to run towards it to. Go ahead...I mentally tell it confident in myself in getting to it first. Normally I'm not the type to egg it on even mentally but the scepter knows me.
It comes from a part of me and my heritage. It won't respond to it as it would towards myself, there's a connective bond that's hard to explain. Calling upon the power as quickly as I can, I focus hard as I feel it starting to move towards me, nearly jumping. Not that the monster notices this as its sole focus is pretty clear 'If I can't get it then I'll kill her as she makes a play for it'. I can see it in its eyes.
The monster makes a large jump for me and its size alone tells me it'll make a huge denting impact if it were to hit me. A lot of damage done if I don't play this right. That's when I use both of our sizes to my advantage and slid under it. We both know I couldn't take this thing head on, I caught it off guard once but it's focus was on my family. I don't honestly think I could make that move again toward my benefit.
So, I took to the ground instead, slipping my whole frame backwards and angling myself to favor my left side so I could brace and grab the scepter with my right hand. As I hit the ground, I feel the slight pain that comes from the impact of the ground. Being the earth prince's future Queen doesn't mean anything to still getting bruised or hurt by mother nature. I slid forward at a speed that's barely favorable to me as I grab onto my scepter.
I see the monster above me looking pissed that I outsmarted it as it was midair when I took to the ground. It had no chance of stopping itself unless it had that ability and obviously it didn't since I was currently under it by a few feet and it was still sailing over my head. I feel the weight of the scepter and focus on the power channeling through it as I contort and twist my form around to face off against it now technically behind me.
I had to perform the splits at the last minute in order to face off against it as I shouted, "Sailor Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" it hit the monster dead on in the chest and pushed it away by a good ten feet. It was smoking like it got burnt by Jupiter's lightening and was looking worse for wear, but...it was still alive. It was hunched over and definitely hurt badly, but it was still alive and looking more upset than fearful.
That was a shocker to everyone. Normally when a monster gets seriously injured it looked for a retreat. It looked for its master even, that would have been nice. I'd love to meet this so-called princess so I could smack some sense into her. It looked up to me, its face nearly snarling like it was trying to be smirking but was to pissed off that I badly hurt it, "You'll have to do better than that." that's when it looked over as the other girls arrived on scene.
"Till next time." the taunt didn't go unnoticed as I turned to the other girls as the creature disappeared...again. I was admittedly pissed off that it got away...again, but now we knew something more about it. My strongest battle attack, other than direct usage with the crystal didn't kill it. "What happened to the monster?" Shingo asked behind dad. I hated to break it to him, so I was grateful when Mercury said, "Don't worry, we're tracking it now." she signaled to me to follow them as I nodded.
That is until my father called out, "Where's my daughter?" I winced thankful that they didn't see that, though I do notice that his voice sounds strained. "She's safe." I looked to Venus as she nodded and left out discreetly, "In her room. You should go inside." I gently order them and only then does my father begin to move that is until he collapses. I nearly break in my stride forgetting to NOT react as I want to as Tux seems to be checking over his injuries, ones that I hadn't noticed before now.
I felt horrified that he was hurt. He wasn't supposed to get caught up in this. None of them were. So, when Tux looks to me after checking him over he says, "This...is a little advanced for me to heal." I could hear the 'sorry' in his voice and the regret as well. "Then we'll get him to a hospital." I assure him as well as my family. Its seconds later when Mars touches my shoulder, "Moon we need to follow that thing."
I look to her; I know she's right but this is my family. My father is hurt, I can't just leave. I look to her then beyond to Jupiter and Mercury as I know Venus is inside pretending to be me, so it looks like I'm safe inside. It's not the first time we've swapped places to fool people though we've always done it with good reason. Problem is I don't think this is a good enough reason to leave. I can't now that my father's hurt.
Doesn't that change things? "Moon why don't you get the daughter back to her family, we'll catch up with you later. Mercury's working on a tracking software for it." Venus's abrupt arrival makes me wonder where she came from only to see Mercury nod to me herself. Indicating that she sent her a message to come out and go with them in my place. Before the girls can take off though Tux cuts in.
"I seriously hate to break this up..." his voice is slightly on edge, "But there MIGHT be some internal damage he needs a hospital. Now." His voice is stern, and I felt foolish for debating this, yes the monster was important but it didn't take precedence over my father's injuries. I needed to be here. Before I could speak though Mercury went over to him and scanned his body, "He seems to have been hit pretty decently." I wondered how bad that meant as Mercury looked to Tux, "Girls I think we need to sailor teleport him to the hospital."
Mercury had never suggested that before. Not for anyone other than Chibi Usa as an extra. It must have been dire. I could tell Mars wanted to go after the creature as did I, but this was important. She looked to me and accepted it as we surrounded my father, "Wait what about my daughter?" he looked near panic, "Tuxedo Mask will get your family there. Moon why don't you go get the daughter over to him then rejoin us later."
I was thankful for Mercury's suggestion but questioned, "What about the sailor teleport?" He had never done it short a senshi and with an extra person in the center before, "We haven't used up any energy we can manage." I nod and take off to go de-transform while I feel the girls and see them vanishing less than thirty seconds later. Walking out I see mother and Shingo looking worried as Tux is there with them still.
"Where's dad?" I ask, making sure to sound fearful of his presence gone. Mother looked to me, "Oh thank -kami your still okay! Your father got hurt trying to go at that monster." she was clearly distraught as Tux then said, "No need to worry, sailor teleport works a hell of a lot faster than even a chopper. The surgeons at the hospital will help him. I'll take you there now." He says right as my mother glares at him, "Language!"
I couldn't help but arch a brow, she still tried to shield Shingo from this stuff, "Mom I've heard worse than that." He whined. She then turned on him, "Where?!" when her voice began to near shriek levels I knew I needed to break this argument in the making, "Mom, Shingo let's just go to the hospital where dad's gonna be at. I'll let the girls know that way they won't be expecting me for a study session if this goes past the weekend." really though all I'm doing is giving them the heads up to be there in civilian form so we can talk.
Mamoru as Tux drives us there since mom is still clearly distraught. It's at lease fifteen minutes before were in the lot as he drops us off. I'm tempted to ask about the care he drove us in when he speeds off. I'll ask him later, right now we need to check in on my dad. My mother hits the counter where the receptionist is, "My husband Tuskino, Kenji, where is he?!" her voice is while frantic it's also demanding.
Enough to nearly startle the receptionist, "He's down the hall." She tells us as we sprint to get there. We see a doctor down the way as I ask him, "Where's my father, Tuskino, Kenji." He looks to us, "Ah you must be his family. The young senshi that came here said you'd be arriving shortly. He's being tested now. Please." Gestures for us to take a seat, "Tested for what?" my mother asks, worry etched on her face.
We all take seats near a room that doesn't seem to be occupied, "My mistake, I misspoke, what I mean is he's in the x-ray room now. One of the senshi Mercury I believe said he might have internal injuries." I hoped she was wrong, I knew she probably wasn't but still this was my father here. "When we spoke to your husband…" he looked to our mother as she nodded, "Yes." He nodded, "He told us what happened." He said.
"So we had to get x-rays done to see the extent of the damages done. He should be coming out now." We waited as he went to go talk to a nurse as I then saw Ami and the girls coming in, "You're here." I made it sound surprised even though I knew they'd be here. Though Rei didn't look entirely comfortable in this place. I was curious on why till I recalled her mother passed away at a young age for Rei.
This might be hitting to close to home for her. That's when I saw Mamoru jog towards us, "I came as soon as I could." He said kissing me lightly in greeting, making sure to keep it lighter than usual. My mother gave a small smile, "It's so nice that you all came here in support." The girls nodded respectfully as Ami approached my mother, "Don't worry Mrs. Tuskino, the doctor taking care of your husband is well respected in the area." My mother looked at her curiously on how she knew that if she just came in.
Ami caught on though, "I saw his name on the hospital jacket he wore, my mother is a doctor herself so she knows and tells me of all the top doctors out there." My mother let it go as I mouth 'thank you' to her. She nods as we see the doctor comes right back towards us, "Well it looks like the damage was minimal. There was a small amount of internal bleeding caught but it can be easily fixed." He assures us.
"We just need him overnight for the surgery and he just needs some rest for at least a week. I then hear Shingo ask, "What about his job?" the doctor looks to him, "If he has an active job then I'd say he needs some rest but if it's a desk job and he doesn't need to move around to much then I think it'd be acceptable to go to work, but I'd recommend for at least a few weeks to work from home." We all sigh and nod in understanding.
"Dad has been doing more work in the office anyways, it shouldn't be to hard for a few weeks while he heals." I tell mom. That's when we see dad being rolled towards the room for the surgery. He smiles at us as we smile back, "Yes, I'll still give his boss a call to let him know what happened so he can give him more desk work to do at home, I'd like to make sure he doesn't try to over do it." Mother was always so caring.
She pulls out her phone when Ami gets her attention, "You might want to try outside, the reception is here is pretty poor and might even mess with machines." Her gentle suggestion has my mother nodding as Shingo then says, "I'm gonna grab something from the cafeteria, want anything?" he asks us. I feel a small chill form in here and remember that I'm still in my night clothes, "Hot cocoa." I tell him.
The girls shake their heads no as Mamoru says, "I'm good." Shingo then leaves as were now alone in the hallway, "So it came again." Makoto noted as we all stood by, neither of us really wanting to sit down at the moment so we instead took to leaning towards the wall so other people could pass by. "This time it seemed like more of a random attack." Ami notes, "Or focused." Mamoru suggest as we look to him, "Think about it, both places were random yes, but both places had all of us there, together."
It makes sense. Then Makoto asks, "Do you think that were attracting this thing and its queen here?" Almost as if we were partially to blame for this thing here. It was hard to imagine but not entire inaccurate either. Power does draw other powerful people or even enemies to play. So when Mamoru sighs, "It's a possibility. We are powerful creatures ourselves. It makes sense." It just sucked that it COULD be a possibility.
Its Rei who questions next, "Then why not go after Usagi directly?" we look to her, "I mean I'm sorry to say it but why not kill her, she was vulnerable." Its hard to find any offense in her words when she has a point and an accurate one at that. "Because it's a taunt." That voice was familiar as I whipped my head around to see who it was. I almost smiled and it not been for the context of the conversation and the situation at hand.
There they were, Haruka with Michiru and Setsuna and Hotaru taking up the back as the four of them stood there. That's when Haruka looks to me, her hair just slightly longer now but not by much as Hotaru looks slightly older now herself. Haruka looks to the girls, "Its painting her into a corner and throwing her off balance. First the attack on her at the arcade, then at a family event. It's targeting Usagi. Hey koneko." She finally looks to me.
"As for why not kill her, it, this things princess wants her to feel like she has no place left to go, and no one to turn to. I guarantee you this is only the start." I nod yet I know this has only brought about more questions to the girls now, "How do you know?" Rei's voice is that of suspicion and if I didn't know any better jealousy with a mix of slight agitation that Haruka knows something she or we don't.
"Cause it's what I'd do if I wanted someone to pay with their life and wanted to be cruel about it. attacking the family was just one way of saying 'I can get to you'." Haruka then looks away as if nearly ashamed of it yet not since it's a clearly working method of attack to use. I didn't blame her for it though. It may not have been our way, but it was a clever and deceptive way, and it did work. "What can we do?" I ask.
"Right now, be there for your father, we'll do some research and digging of our own but whatever you do, DON'T transform in public." This catches us off guard as we've ALWAYS been careful about that, "And what makes you think we would?" Rei nearly snips a bit, "We mean nothing by it." Michiru jumps in, "There's a new reporter out there, she's been following the tales of the sailor senshi from all the way in America before she transferred over here. Her name is Rebecca." Now Haruka's warning makes sense.
"She's been hedging her way into the mainstream trying to follow the senshi. It's all we could get from nearby sources without casting suspicion on ourselves its why we're here. When the monster made headlines and she put more emphasis on it than usual we started to do some digging of our own." Looks like we had help now and form the looks of things since my scepter didn't do as much damage as I was hoping we needed it.
I knew I'd have to tell them that but all in due time, I still did damage it. I'd have to tell Luna and see what news she could give me or give us on this princess and the monster she was sending out to attack. "To find out more about here and where she came from and WHY she's targeting the senshi for reporting and hardly anyone else. In case you didn't happen to notice ALL of the senshi coverage lately has been from her and no one else." We had to admit they had a point in this.
Especially as Ami pulls up her computer and does a search result and finds that any and all senshi articles out there are in fact all being published by this Rebecca as even I look over and see the many articles and publications online. Ami looks to them as Rei looks at the computer then back to them to, "She's right every article, every web entry, all of it is from her. It's like she's gotten permission to be exclusive on us or something." Her words have us concerned as we try to figure this out.
"Question is why is she so focused on us?" Makoto asks though it's obvious that no one has an answer right now. "We've been looking into that to but so far nothing unusual is popping up." Michiru answers as I notate, "It's highly unusual for a reporter to follow a lead across the country or even going around the world in this case for a story." I begin to connect dots that weren't there before regarding this reporter.
"There's more to it than meets the eye. Only high-end reporters who are known for traveling for huge stories and have already made big names for themselves go the distance, she doesn't sound like that nor have we heard of her till now." That's when the girls all look to me in slight shock as to how I know this, "My father's a journalist. I listen to him about work." They all nod as Mamoru comes up from behind me and holds me in close.
I hadn't realized I was getting a chill till I felt his warm embrace. I slipped into his arms with ease as Haruka spoke, "We'll do what we can regarding figuring out her angle, but we still have the people and planet to protect, honestly how we haven't been found out yet is a mystery to me." We almost have been a few times yet I don't mention that now. That's when Haruka takes a few steps towards me.
IT seems though she may have read my mind or something, "You haven't been caught yet because you've been careful. Not that I'm saying you won't continue to be careful, but this is a new age of electronics, and social media is everywhere you look. You're either loved or you're hated in seconds flat. None of us need the media making any of us out to be the bad guys and interfering with senshi business. If someone gets hurt or worse you'll – we will all be blamed." She says to everyone.
I know the girls want to argue her point as even Mamoru sees the tension brewing from Haruka's truthful but slightly harsh words. We've all been fighting for a long time now and while were all seasoned in this it's not like we haven't come close to nearly getting caught transforming in front of people before. It's how several people we know and love found out about us and while they've shared and kept the secret it doesn't mean that the world would do the same. Haruka has a right to feel more cautious due to this new reporter.
Yet I also know the girls are careful in their own rights to know the dangers of transforming in front of people. It's only been in extenuating circumstances that we've done so. Though I had a feeling Haruka held a deeper meaning behind why she was warning us. "We understand but the same goes for you to. We don't want anyone else to get hurt it's been a huge priority to us for years to keep this secret. It's detrimental to those that we all love and care about in our lives." Mamoru's warning is clear as Haruka accepts it.
"We'll keep in touch." she says as they leave off. "I don't like this." Rei admits as I look to her, "How does Haruka and them seem to know so much about her, this Rebecca? I can feel it that she knows more and their NOT telling us." Rei's intuition was usually right so I suggest, "Perhaps she might know something, but wants to wait till they've proved their theory to be accurate before they come to us about it."
Rei begrudgingly says, "Maybe…I still don't like it though." Rei just hated to be left in the dark, "Either way she has a point and we need to be more cautious, we did almost get caught or rather I almost did." I admit, "Maybe that's part of the point." Makoto pointed out as I turned to her, "This monster is doing his princesses bidding. What if she wants you to be exposed to the world?" I look down the hall where the Haruka and them left as I turned then back towards Makoto, "It would be a new tactic to use."
"A successful one to if she gets what she wants." Minako jumps in, "If she gets us to mess up then the warning they had is incredibly valid. We have to not only be more careful but make sure that we can be doubled up whenever possible. Tonight was pure luck that things didn't go more south than they did." I look to her, "We can't let more people we love and care about get hurt." She looks to the rest of the girls and Mamoru, "Fine." Rei admits just as Shingo returns with my hot chocolate.