I don't own the rights to any of the characters in this story, nor do I claim them. The idea, however, is mine. Enjoy!
AN - Hey readers! I just thought to warn you all that I'll be changing some things (about SM) from here on, and it will be very different from the anime series. Some of the stuff about the show always bothered me (i.e. how Rini didn't realize Serena was Neo-Queen Serenity) and I'm going to change it to my liking! ^_^ So, if anything is way off, or someone is out-of-character, I know. That's how I wanted it. Don't forget to leave your comments, please . . . Happy reading!
This Time Around
Chapter 5
"Here you go, Rini," Mia said as she gave the girl a cup of tea. Everyone had made it back to Mia's house one way or the other, and now they were all sitting around the living room. The girls were still in their Scout uniforms, except for Serena, and the boys were in their sub-armor.
"Thank you, Ms. Mia," Rini said as she accepted the cup.
"So tell us, Rini," Serena began. "Do you recognize any of us from your time?"
"Well," Rini began. She thought about her answer carefully. Before she had left her own time, Sailor Pluto told her it was important that she didn't reveal anything about the future to anyone that she met. "There are Sailor Scouts. They're personal body guards to my family."
"So you know us in the future," Jupiter asked.
"No," Rini said carefully, "but I do know a Sailor Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter." She paused and looked at the girls thoughtfully. "You can de-transform, if you want to. I'm really close to the Scouts from my time, so I know you're not always dressed as a Scout." The girls looked at each other in surprise, and then did as she suggested.
"Rini, isn't there a Sailor Moon in the future," Serena asked.
"No, there's not," she replied. As Serena was about to say something else, Rini interrupted her. "I can't really explain it all that well. Sailor Pluto would do a better job."
After a couple of minutes of silence, Serena cleared her throat. "Well, I might as well introduce everyone," she said. "This is Rei, also known as Sailor Mars. This is Amy, or Sailor Mercury. Mina is Sailor Venus, and Lita is Sailor Jupiter. You already know Mia, and the boy over there is Yuli. These five guys are the Ronin Warriors. That's Ryo over there with his tiger White Blaze. The one with the book is Rowen. Sage is over there polishing his sword. Sai is the one sitting on the arm of the sofa. And Kento . . . " She began laughing as she looked at him. "Kento is the one inhaling his food over there, next to Sai."
"You don't have much room to talk, Serena," Rei said dryly. "You do the same thing!"
"Oh, I do not, Rei," Serena hissed.
"It's nice to meet you all," Rini said as Rei and Serena began to argue.
"So Rini, what are you looking for," Ryo asked. "Maybe we could help you out." Rei and Serena stopped their argument momentarily to hear her answer.
"I'm looking for something that will help someone from where I come from," Rini said. "I need to get it as soon as I can."
"Well, we'd all be happy to help you find whatever you're looking for," Mia stated.
"What are you looking for anyway, Rini," Serena asked.
"I can't say," Rini replied. "I'll be able to tell you when I can. Please try to understand."
"Of course we do, Rini," Mina said. "In the movies, people from the future never say where they're from, or what they're looking for. It's always because it would alter time." Rini looked at her strangely, and Mina laughed nervously.
"That makes sense, actually," Amy said. "If we know the outcome to something before it happens the event may never occur."
Serena smiled at Rini. "We can be patient," she said.
* * * * *
"Oh Lotus," Kite exclaimed. "I don't know what went wrong! I had the girl where I wanted one minute, and the next, those Scouts and Hardrock showed up. If only I had taken her first and asked questions later. Now we have the Ronins and the five Scouts to contend with."
"You've never failed in the past, Kite," Lotus replied. "But we can learn from this failure." He paused to think. "What I don't understand is why our Master did not warn us of the Scouts."
"Then why don't you ask me yourself," a man asked as he entered the room. Kite and Lotus kneeled before him immediately, and he smirked with an air of conceit. He was wearing a black, gray, and red kimono, and his dark hair was hidden underneath his headdress. He had a mustache that was medium in length, and a goatee. "Now what were you saying, Lotus?"
"I was just wondering why you didn't tell us of the Scouts, Master," Lotus replied.
"The prophecy did not foretell their existence. It foretold of a girl who held unfathomable powers within her, and warned of the armored samurai who would protect her," he stated. "The Scouts, as you refer to them, are not supposed to be in this realm."
"What should we do, then, Master," Kite asked.
"I bestowed upon the both of you great power. Do not fail me. Bring me the crystal, so that I may fulfill my own destiny," he said.
"We won't fail you again, Master," Lotus stated.
"Then go and bring me what I desire," he replied as he left the room. After he was gone, Kite turned to Lotus.
"He doesn't seem mad about my failure," she said. "That worries me."
"Good," Lotus replied. "Your fear can serve as an initiative to prevent failure again."
"Lotus, I may have a plan that will give our powers a boost," Kite began. "I think you'll like this. Come with me, so that I can explain."
* * * * *
"Rini, now can you tell me what you're looking for," Yuli asked the girl. The two children were sitting outside of Mia's house. It had been a couple of days since Kite attacked Rini. The children had grown close over that time, and Rini had promised Yuli she would tell him what she was looking for.
"Well, I guess I could, Yuli," she replied. "But not here." She grabbed him by the wrist, and the two ran down towards the forest. When they came to a clearing, she let go of him. "I promised you I would tell you what I'm looking for, so here goes. You have to swear you won't tell anyone, Yuli."
"I promise I won't say anything," he exclaimed.
Rini smiled at him. "Thank you! Like I said, I'm here looking for someone," she began. "Well, the person I'm looking for is my mother's past self. I need to find her, so that I can get something from her to bring back to the future." Tears began to cloud her eyes. "My mom's life is in danger, and if I can't bring back what she needs . . ."
"Don't cry Rini," Yuli said as hugged her. "I'm sure we'll be able to find your mom here. Who is she?"
"I'm not allowed to tell anyone," Rini replied. "If I do, it might change the future, and I might be gone forever."
"Don't worry, Rini," he exclaimed. "I'm sure we'll be able to find your mom."
Rini smiled at him, and wiped away some of her tears. "You're a good friend, Yuli," she said. "I'm glad I met you!"
"I'm glad I met you too, Rini," he replied. As the two continued talking, neither one noticed a figure walking up behind them.
Meanwhile, the ten warriors and Mia were talking about Rini. Over the past couple of days, they had all relentlessly helped Rini search for what she was looking for futilely, and had not had the chance to talk about their present situation. As they all sat deep in their own thoughts, Ryo finally broke the silence.
"You know, something has been bothering me over the last two days," he began.
"What's that, Ryo," Rei asked.
"Am I the only one who has noticed how much Serena and Rini look alike," he asked. "It has to be more than a coincidence."
"Yeah, I noticed that, too," Sai stated.
"Maybe she's related to you in the future, Serena," Lita suggested. "She could be your descendant or something."
"That's crazy," Serena exclaimed. "If she was related to me, she would have recognized me right away. She said she didn't know any of us. Besides, there's not a Sailor Moon in the future, so I'm sure… no, it's obvious I'm not around."
"Don't say stuff like that, Serena," Rei scolded. "We wouldn't allow anything to happen to you! We would die first before we let any harm come to you!"
"Whoa you guys," Kento began. "Don't get so serious over nothing. We can ask Rini about it when she and Yuli get back from the woods."
"Kento has a good point," Mina said. "We should be talking about how we're going to contact Sailor Pluto, and take Rini to her."
"What would happen after that," Sai asked hesitantly.
"We would go home, I suppose," Amy said quietly. The room fell silent once again.
"Maybe a Sailor Teleport would work," Serena suggested. "I'm sure it's within our powers."
"But will we be able to teleport an extra person," Lita asked.
"Your help may be needed here, Sailor Scouts," a woman's voice said. Everyone's eyes shifted towards the door where the woman stood. She wore a white, silk kimono with gold trimmings. Her dark hair was swept up on the top of her head, and in her left hand was a staff. On her left stood Rini, and on her right stood Yuli.
"You! You let them go right now, do you hear me," Serena said angrily. She stood up quickly from her seat, however Kento grabbed her arm.
"Serena, it's okay," he said. Mia took the initiative and turned to the woman.
"What brings you here, Lady Kayura," she asked.
"Greetings, Mia," Kayura replied. She looked at Serena and smiled warmly. "I understand your hostility towards me, Serena," she stated. "We weren't exactly on the best of terms the last time we met."
"We were enemies the last time we saw you," Serena replied. She looked at Kayura with narrowed eyes and as the two stood staring at each other, Rini cleared her throat.
"Serena," she began, "Lady Kayura didn't hurt us. We're fine!" She left Kayura's side and stood next to Serena. She sat down next to her as Kento scooted over to make room for her on the couch.
"Why don't you come in and tell us why you're here, Lady Kayura," Sage suggested.
"Thank you, Sage of Halo," she replied as she came into the house. The girls watched her warily as she sat down. Kayura cleared her throat and then looked around the room, at each of the Ronins. "After the defeat of the Dynasty, I swore to myself that I would leave you in peace, Ronin Warriors," she began.
"And has something happened to change that," Rowen asked.
"It has," Kayura replied. She raised the Ancient's staff into the air, and an image appeared. "Two days ago, two individuals stormed my sanctuary in the Nether Realm and stole the armor of the former Warlords." As the image of the two figures appeared, Rini gasped.
"That's Kite," she exclaimed.
"And the one she called Lotus," Kento added.
"Yes," Kayura said. "Sekhmet, Dais, and Kale's armors were all stolen. Anubis' armor was safe within me, and though I fought them off, they got his armor as well."
"How is that possible," Rowen asked. "Only the holder of the orb can call forth for the armor, right?"
"That is correct, Rowen," Kayura replied. "However, since the Dynasty was defeated, the former Warlords placed their orbs in a glass encasement. They never dreamed they would be stolen."
"But if Anubis' orb was within you, how did they get it," Mia asked.
"I was badly injured during the struggle," Kayura replied. "I was forced to call forth the orb. And so you see, that's why it took me so long to get to you. The Ancient blood running through my veins only barely kept me alive."
"What can we do to help," Rowen asked.
Kayura smiled before she answered his question. "I only ask that you, Ronin Warriors, wield your armors once more," she said.
"Of course," Ryo replied. "It is our duty to protect the city, and the entire world if necessary."
"We'll help, too," Serena said. "This enemy comes from our future. Therefore, it is our responsibility to defeat them."
"There's no need to risk your lives," Ryo argued. "You should just take Rini back to where she needs to go."
"No," Rini yelled. Everyone turned to look at her, shocked from her outburst. "I can't go back yet!"
"Rini," Amy began. "Ryo has a good point. The longer you're here, the more danger you'll be in. Kite and Lotus are after you for some reason, and you might be safer in your own time."
"And if you're not around to get hurt, we won't have to worry about your safety," Serena added.
"Then we can come back here, and help defeat them," Lita added, clenching her fist tightly. "That way, they can never bother you again."
"But you don't understand," Rini said. Tears formed in her eyes, and she began to cry.
"You can't send her back," Yuli exclaimed. "She's my friend, and if you send her back, I would never see her again."
"Yuli, you have to understand something," Mina began. "Rini is from the future. She's from our future. None of us were supposed to meet her." She paused to think. "In fact, none of us," she continued with a sweeping gesture across the room, "were ever supposed to meet at all. We're from different dimensions."
"I don't care about that," he replied as tears began to form in his eyes.
"Yuli, don't cry," Mia said as she comforted the young boy. She looked up at everyone. "Rini and Yuli can stay with me. I will protect them."
"Mia, it's not a matter of protection," Rei began. "We were sent here to find Rini and bring her back to her own time. We have to do what we were sent to do."
"Some things must be changed, Sailor Mars," a voice said as a glowing figure appeared in the middle of the room. As the glowing stopped, Sailor Pluto was standing there.
"Who are you," Ryo demanded as he and the other Ronins stood. "What are you doing here?"
"It's Sailor Pluto," Rini exclaimed. She ran over to the woman and hugged her. "Tell them, Sailor Pluto. Tell them that I have to stay here." Pluto smiled down at the little girl.
"Sailor Scouts," Pluto began. "Though Rini is in danger here, she would be in greater danger if she were to return to her own time. Because I have interfered so much already, it's best for her to remain here."
"Then what should be done," Serena asked.
"Defeat the Black Moon Dynasty here, and only then can Rini return to her own time," Pluto replied.
"But Sailor Pluto," Rini began.
"Say nothing more, Small Lady," she replied. "I promise you that everything will turn out as it should."
"Sailor Pluto, could you tell us what you know about the new enemy," Amy asked.
"I'm sorry, but if I were to tell you anything more than you already know, it would jeopardize the future," Pluto replied. She turned to Lady Kayura. "I must speak with you, however, Lady Kayura." Kayura was shocked, however quickly recovered.
"Of course, Sailor Pluto," Kayura replied as she stood. "Perhaps we should speak elsewhere. Please come with me."
As Lady Kayura left, Serena stood up. "Sailor Pluto, wait," she exclaimed. "What can you tell her that you can't tell us?"
"Please try to understand that some things can not be discussed openly," she replied. "For instance, when you first met the Ronins, you weren't completely open with them."
"But that was different," Rei exclaimed. "We were protecting ourselves. I thought we were supposed to be a team!"
"We are a team, Sailor Mars," Pluto replied wearily. "And that's why I mustn't say anything, for the sake of the team. For the sake of everyone."
"Then tell us this," Lita began. "What can we do against the new enemies?"
Pluto walked to the door and turned to face them. "You will know what to do when that time comes," she replied. With that, she disappeared through the door.
To Be Continued . . .