SONG OF TRUST
Cano sat on his throne, twirling his crown around one finger. Standing before him were his three elemental nobles. All three were deep in a bow, waiting for him to make his next move. The previous assault on the senshi had failed thanks to the arrival of yet another soldier and the man known as Tuxedo Kamen. Cano sighed in anger and frustration, stopping the spinning crown and jamming it back onto his head. The darkness that had given him the throne whispered soothingly in his ear, making him momentarily forget his wrath.
"Lord Cano," Gaius began.
Cano's green eyes snapped forward, full of anger and the Master of Earth took a step back in fear.
"Forgive me," he muttered, "King Cano, what is the next plan?"
"Do I have to do everything?" Cano asked.
Gaius winced and Sylphe stepped forward, holding her proud chin high.
"Majesty, we know the true identities of the senshi. Why not attack them while they're weak?" she suggested.
"I assume you've already got a plan in mind?" Cano said.
Sylphe opened her hand and a piece of newspaper appeared in it. She held it up so the elementals and the king could see it. It was an advertisement for a charity concert, with Kaiou Michiru on violin with a special mystery guest vocalist.
"Sailor Neptune," Cano hissed.
Sylphe nodded. "We can attack at the concert. The foolish senshi will be surrounded by strangers and unable to transform. Killing her will be easy."
"What about the other senshi?" Aquis asked. "Kaiou Michiru is their friend. Won't they be at the concert too?'
"You and Gaius will block all the exits," Sylphe said. "They won't be able to leave the crowd to transform. We'll get them all at once."
Cano nodded approvingly. "I like it, Sylphe. Get to work."
The Lady of Air bowed and disappeared. Aquis and Gaius were only a split second behind her. Cano leaned back against the throne and gazed out the windows to the devastated world outside. He imagined it rising out of the ashes, triumphant over Earth.
You are a wise king, the darkness praised him from within his mind. A good king. Your kingdom will flourish in a way that will make the Silver Millennium seem like a nightmare.
"I am a good king," Cano repeated, as if he had thought it up himself. "I will have a grand kingdom, with thousands of admirers once the sailor senshi are dead."
He laughed, and another laugh mixed in with his own, a dark and evil shadow of himself.
*****
Kami woke up and blinked sleepily. She had been living at the Tsukino residence for over a week now, sharing Chibiusa's large room in the attic. The younger girl didn't mind the room mate and the two of them would often stay up late talking. Kami was amazed at how much Chibiusa was like Usagi, almost as if they were more than just cousins.
"Usagi! Kami! Chibiusa!" Usagi's mother called. "Time to eat!"
Kami was out of bed in an instant, surprised to find Chibiusa's bed was already empty and neatly made. Kami winced as she stretched her back and stomach, the area still tender after being stabbed by Gaius' tree warrior. If it hadn't have been for the healing power of the Silver Crystal and the other senshi, Kami would be dead right now. She headed down to eat, meeting Usagi at the bottom of the stairs.
"Good morning, Usagi-chan," Kami said cheerfully.
Usagi yawned. "I'm still sleepy."
"That's because you were up all night talking to Mamoru-san," a voice said at her feet.
"Good morning, Luna," Kami said to the black cat.
"Good morning, Kami-chan," Luna replied. "How are you feeling?"
"Still sore," Kami replied, gingerly touching her ribs. "It's getting better, though."
"Come on," Usagi whined, "I'm hungry."
"I thought you were sleepy," Kami teased.
"If you don't come now, I'm not leaving you any!" Chibiusa cried from the kitchen.
The two girls and the black cat raced down the stairs.
*****
After breakfast, Usagi and Chibiusa were watching TV with Shingo while Kami headed upstairs to change. As the show faded into commercials, Usagi turned to call into the kitchen and ask her mother if she could have something for desert.
"Michiru-san!" Chibiusa cried happily.
Usagi's request disappeared and she turned her attention back to the TV. Michiru was in the commercial, standing in front of the concert hall with a microphone in her hand. Usagi could also see Haruka in the background, never far from her partner.
"Please come to the Juuban Concert Hall next weekend at five o'clock," Michiru was saying. "I will be playing a special concert with a mystery guest vocalist. All the money raised will be going to the Children's Hospital in Tokyo."
"Oh, wow!" Usagi said. "A concert! I always forget that Michiru is a big celebrity!"
"Can we go?" Chibiusa asked, her eyes also betraying her excitement.
"Boring," Shingo said with a yawn. Both girls stuck their tongues out at him.
They began to discuss their plans for the concert, each reminding the other to bring it up at the senshi meeting that afternoon. They were so absorbed in their plans that they barely noticed the time until the clock struck.
"Oh no! I'm late!" Kami wailed, racing down the stairs.
"Someone's been spending too much time with Usagi," Shingo remarked.
"Bye! I'll meet you later at the Shrine!" Kami called to Usagi as she ran out the door.
"Where is she going?" Usagi asked.
"I don't know," Chibiusa said, "but the meeting isn't until this afternoon. I guess she isn't coming back until then."
Luna watched the girl leave with an aching suspicion in her mind. Could Kami be returning to her evil ways?
*****
Michiru paced back and forth in the studio. Her violin lay out of its case on a nearby chair and her music stand stood ready. Haruka watched her walk with an amused expression on her face.
"What's wrong?" she asked finally. "I would have thought you were used to this by now."
Michiru stopped walking. "A new vocalist," she said. "I'm always nervous meeting them."
"I thought you already knew who it was," Haruka said.
"I heard her sing," Michiru answered, "but that was just a recording. We've only a week before the concert and I'm just meeting her now."
Haruka caught Michiru's arm and drew her into an embrace. "Relax," she whispered into Michiru's hair. "You're great and the singer will be great. Don't worry so much."
Michiru sighed, melting deeper into the embrace. "I just hope she isn't one of those stuck up professionals. They're too hard to work with."
The door opened and the producer walked in. Michiru and Haruka separated after his polite cough and he smiled.
"Your singer is here," he said. "Shall I bring her in?"
Michiru nodded and ran her hands down her dress, smoothing any wrinkles that may have appeared there. The producer opened the door wider and a girl walked in. Haruka gasped.
"You!" she exclaimed.
*****
Luna sat on Usagi's bed, explaining her fears to the girl. Usagi listened carefully with Chibiusa, not believing anything the cat said.
"I healed her," Usagi told Luna for the millionth time. "She's fine."
"But the darkness could be calling her back," Luna said.
Usagi rolled her eyes. "I think we'd know if it did. She probably just had some unfinished business to do."
"Like planning to destroy the Earth?" Luna finished.
Chibiusa blinked in confusion. "Hang on a minute," she interrupted. "First of all, no one has explained to me where she came from in the first place."
"Before you showed up," Usagi began, "Kami moved here from North America. She ended up being Sailor Sun and more powerful than even the Silver Crystal. But, for some reason, she's stuck between good and evil and can switch sides at the drop of a hat."
"So we have to be extra careful dealing with her," Luna added.
Chibiusa nodded thoughtfully. "Why don't we follow her next time she leaves?"
Usagi nodded somewhat sadly. She hated sneaking around her friend like this, but she had to agree with Luna and Chibiusa. They couldn't afford to take chances.
*****
Later that day, Usagi went out shopping with Ami and Minako. They walked down the street, talking happily with each other about all kinds of things. Suddenly, Ami stopped to stare across the street.
"What's wrong, Ami-chan?" Usagi asked, turning around.
"Isn't that Kami-chan sitting with Haruka-san and Michiru-san?" Ami asked.
Minako and Usagi both looked where Ami was pointing. In the window of a restaurant they could see Haruka and Michiru with Kami. The three of them were talking amicably, laughing and apparently having a good time. Usagi blinked in confusion.
"That's strange," she remarked. "I thought they hated Kami-chan."
"Should we go ask what's going on?" Minako suggested.
Ami shook her head. "I think we should leave them alone. If they're finally becoming friends, we shouldn't interfere."
"Besides," Usagi added, "I want a new dress for the concert next weekend."
"And I need a new bow for my hair," Minako agreed.
"I saw a book that I would like to buy," Ami said.
The other two girls looked at their friend in surprise.
"What?" Ami asked innocently.
"Never mind," Usagi sighed. "Let's go."
*****
The next day, Usagi and Chibiusa followed Kami when she left the house. Kami walked slowly, humming to herself. She was smiling and taking her time, obviously not running late as she had been the day before. A block behind her, Usagi and Chibiusa followed.
"Where do you think she's going?" Chibiusa asked.
"I don't know," Usagi replied in a hushed whisper. "If she was evil again, she'd go to her old apartment."
"I hope she's not evil," Chibiusa said with sincerity. "I like talking to her at night."
Kami turned a corner and the two girls ran to catch up. When they looked down the street Kami had just gone down, she was gone.
"Great," Usagi said. "Now what?"
Chibiusa took a few steps down the street, craning her neck over the people to find Kami's familiar brown hair. She saw nothing. With a sigh, she turned back to Usagi.
"Why don't we go home and tell Luna you didn't find anything," Chibiusa suggested.
"I didn't find anything?" Usagi cried. "What about you?"
"She's your friend," Chibiusa said.
"She's your friend, too," Usagi yelled, "and maybe you should start taking a bit more responsibility."
"Hey, I'm just a kid!" Chibiusa said, heading back the way they came.
Usagi followed her, still arguing. From the doorway of a restaurant, Kami watched them leave.
*****
The week past quickly, with Usagi and Chibiusa or Luna following Kami daily and none of them figuring out where the girl was going. They would track her to an intersection downtown before losing her. Luna was worried; if Kami turned right at the intersection, she would be headed toward her old apartment. She called an emergency meeting of the senshi, purposely not including Kami.
"What is it, Luna?" Makoto asked from where she sat on the Shrine steps.
"Yeah, it's pretty late at night to be calling a meeting," Rei agreed, suppressing a yawn.
Minako nodded and beside her, Artemis snored. Luna calmly smacked the sleeping cat to wake him up and Artemis leapt in the air in fright. He landed on Chibiusa's head, also waking her up from her dozing state.
"It is important," Luna said. "Kami may have returned to evil."
The senshi gasped and turned to Usagi for confirmation. Sadly, Usagi nodded.
"We've been following her all week," Usagi said. "She could be going to her old apartment."
"That is possible," Ami agreed, "but you told me earlier that you have not yet seen her walk in that direction. Maybe she's turning left."
"True," Luna agreed, "but we can't afford to take chances. Be careful around her."
"What about Haruka-san and Michiru-san?" Chibiusa asked.
"I don't think we should tell them," Minako said. "Ami, Usagi, and I saw them talking with Kami-chan a few days ago. If we are wrong, we don't want to mess up whatever friendship they may have started."
"I agree with Minako," Ami said. "We should keep this to ourselves."
The other inner senshi nodded in understanding. From the shadowy trees surrounding the shrine, a white-haired figure watched the meeting curiously.
*****
The day of the concert, Kami disappeared before Usagi and Chibiusa woke up. Usagi's mother told the girls that she had left early to do some errands and hadn't even waited for breakfast.
Usagi was too troubled to eat very much that morning. All she could think about was Kami and Olivine. The darkness had left her for Cano, Usagi was sure of it. She had seen the evil King standing over the dethroned queen, glowing with the dark energy Olivine had once possessed. She had welcomed healing. Then why was she sneaking off all the time?
After the meal, Usagi and Chibiusa headed to the shrine where they were meeting the other senshi before the concert. Michiru had got them all good seats but had refused to tell them who her mystery vocalist was.
"Who do you think the singer is?" Chibiusa asked as they walked.
Usagi shrugged. "Probably someone I've never heard."
"Maybe it's Rei-chan," Chibiusa said. "You told me before she sang at a concert and was really good."
"Rei-chan?" Usagi repeated. "I think she would have told us."
"But it's supposed to be a mystery," Chibiusa protested.
"I don't think Rei-chan could keep her mouth closed, especially at such an important concert," Usagi said.
Chibiusa nodded in agreement, seeing the other's point.
At the top of the shrine they met with Rei, Ami, Makoto, and Minako. Luna and Artemis were there as well, cautioning the senshi for a final time to keep on their toes.
"We'll be fine," Usagi said to the cats. "Don't worry."
The six girls headed down the steps of the shrine, laughing and talking. The two cats watched them go.
"I'm worried all ready," Artemis remarked.
"Me too," Luna sighed.
*****
The girls walked around the shopping district, wasting time before the concert. All anyone could talk about was the mystery singer. Everybody they met had a different theory in mind.
"She might not even be Japanese," Makoto said as the group sat down to an ice cream cone.
"Do you think they would fly someone in from afar just for this concert?" Minako asked.
"Hey, Usagi-chan," Rei said suddenly, "where's Mamoru-san?"
Usagi sighed. "He has his school finals in a few weeks. He said he had to study."
Chibiusa nodded. "He was talking about them the whole time we were in the country. I'm glad he took the break to spend time with me, though."
Usagi stuck her tongue out at the younger girl. "Mamo-chan's mine!"
"Mine too!" Chibiusa reminded her.
As the girls argued, Ami looked at her watch and gasped. "Oh my! It's nearly 4:30! We should head to the concert hall."
As if in answer to her remark, a car horn sounded. The girls all looked up and saw Haruka seated in her yellow convertible, waving. They stood to join her.
"You pretty girls want a ride?" Haruka asked with a smile.
Usagi felt herself blush. "Thanks," she said.
They all piled into the small car and Haruka raced down the street to the concert hall.
*****
Usagi and her friends sat in silence as the lights faded off the audience to focus on the drawn curtains of the stage. Usagi sat in the middle, with Chibiusa to her right and Haruka to her left. Next to Haruka was Ami and Rei. Next to Chibiusa was Minako and Makoto. They all waited in tense anticipation for the concert to start. Haruka smiled to herself, finding their enthusiasm amusing.
The curtains drew back and Michiru was left standing alone on stage. She curtseyed to the audience before taking her violin and starting to play. The melody was slow and sad. From the still shadowy stage a beautiful, singing voice began to emerge.
"Will you miss me when I'm gone?
Will you remember our days together?
Will you wonder where I've gone?
Now our paths have crossed forever?"
The audience sat spell bound as the spotlight that engulfed Michiru slowly faded backward to reveal the vocalist. The girl continued to sing as she stepped out of darkness to stand beside Michiru.
"I don't believe it!" Makoto gasped.
"She's terrific!" Rei added.
"Kami-chan," Usagi whispered.
Kami had her eyes closed and a sad expression on her face, making the tragic song all the more fantastic.
"Or will these memories
Fade far away?
Be quickly replaced
By another day?
Tell me you'll miss me,
Now that I've gone."
The audience exploded into applause as both Michiru and Kami took deep bows. Usagi and her friends leapt to their feet, smiling and cheering. Kami bowed again as Michiru took the microphone from her hand to introduce her to the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Michiru said loudly, above the noise, "may I present in her debut performance, Deruku Kami!"
The crowd cheered louder and Kami waved somewhat shyly. The excited clapping turned into shouts of fear as a large, blue, human shaped creature materialized out of the darkness behind Michiru. It jumped from the shadows, knocking Kami aside and pouncing on Michiru. The girl was thrown backwards, disappearing into the darkened part of the stage.
"Michiru-san!" Kami gasped, running after her.
The monster watched her come, doing nothing to stop her. Kami threw her microphone, striking the creature in the head. Suddenly she slowed to walk and then stopped in front of the trapped Michiru. The monster continued its attack as Kami watched calmly from its side. Panicking, the crowd tried to leave the hall only to find two more human shaped monsters blocking the exits, one green and the other white.
"What do we do?" Chibiusa cried.
"We have to transform!" Usagi decided.
"We can't," Rei hissed. "There are too many people around."
"Follow me," Haruka said urgently. "We'll go backstage."
"That's what you think," a new voice said.
As the group tried to separate from the crowd, Lady Sylphe of Air appeared, floating before them. The senshi stopped in their tracks and glared at the elemental. Sylphe laughed.
"You folk are going to stay right here until you're all quite dead," she said.
Haruka swung at the figure, but her fist passed right through. She blinked in surprise as Sylphe kicked her in the face, knocking her backwards onto Usagi.
As Haruka got back to her feet, she risked a look at the stage. She could see the blue monstrosity beating a nearly unconscious Michiru with such ferocity, it took all of Haruka's willpower not to transform in front of the crowd. Kami, however, remained unmoving.
"Aren't you wondering why your precious Sailor Sun hasn't even tried to help her friend?" Sylphe asked them, calling their attention to Kami.
"Oh no," Chibiusa whispered. "Luna was right."
Usagi gave Sylphe an angry look and began pushing her way through the crowd. The others followed and in no time they had made their way to the edge of the stage. One by one, the senshi hoisted themselves onto the stage. Usagi went up first and the first thing she noticed was that Sylphe was right - the monster was leaving Kami alone, and that the girl wasn't doing anything to stop it from beating Michiru. Kami stood in a somewhat relaxed pose, watching the attack.
Suddenly, the blue monster disappeared, leaving Michiru lying on the floor. Try as she might, Usagi couldn't tell if she was alive or dead. Sylphe, Aquis, and Gaius appeared on the stage between Kami and the senshi. They smiled wickedly as Sylphe turned around to address Kami.
"What shall we do with them, my Queen?" she asked.
Kami said nothing and Sylphe bowed to her. Usagi felt utterly betrayed by her friend and found tears forming in her eyes. As the trio of elementals advanced, a single red rose landed in their path. They stopped and looked up to see a man in a top hat and black cape standing on top of the stage. He jumped down to stand in front of them.
"Ruining music and culture is one of the worst things you could do," Tuxedo Kamen said. "Trapping innocents is another and for that, I cannot forgive you!"
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" Usagi cried happily.
"Quickly," he said over his shoulder, "go backstage. I'll keep these three busy."
Usagi and the other nodded and ran. They past Kami on their way and Usagi thought she could see fear and sadness in the other's eyes. She shrugged it off, not wanting to be caught again in one of Olivine's traps. As much as she hated to admit it, Luna had been right once again. Now she knew that Kami must be destroyed before she could do more damage to the Earth.
"Moon Cosmic Power, Make-Up!" Usagi said.
"Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!" Chibiusa cried.
"Mercury Star Power," Ami yelled.
"Mars Star Power," Rei added.
"Jupiter Star Power," Makoto shouted.
"Venus Star Power," Minako recited.
"Uranus Planet Power," Haruka cried.
"Make-Up!" they all said as one.
The seven newly transformed senshi stood together facing the three elementals. Tuxedo Kamen joined them holding his cane at the ready.
"World Shaking!" Uranus called.
The elementals leapt clear. Aquis shot a spray of water at the Mercury and Jupiter, but they dove out of the way as it hit.
"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter said, summoning her lightning.
Aquis was struck and fell to the ground. The other nobles watched her in shock. They looked once again to the advancing line of angry senshi. With a snarl of defeat, the elementals disappeared.
"Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus," Tuxedo Kamen instructed, "go stop the other two monsters and free the people."
The inner senshi nodded and jumped off the stage. Sailor Moon turned to see Kami fall to her knees and Uranus race to Michiru's side. Sailor Moon, Chibi Moon, and Tuxedo Kamen went to join her.
"Traitor!" Uranus snarled at Kami. "I knew the lure of evil was too great for you to resist."
"Kami, how could you?" Sailor Moon asked sadly.
"Usagi, I - " Kami began.
"Maybe you should go back to your planet," Tuxedo Kamen snapped, "before any of us do something we regret."
"Yeah," Chibi Moon added angrily, her hands on her hips. "Luna told us this would happen."
Kami rose slowly to her feet, her eyes brimming with tears. The senshi before her stared at her with hard, hate filled eyes and she bit her lip in sadness. She opened her mouth once more to defend herself, then realize it would be futile and turned to leave.
"Wait," Michiru called from where she lay in Uranus' arms.
The senshi and Kami turned to her. Before Kami could move, Tuxedo Kamen firmly grabbed her by the arm.
"Kami-chan saved me," Michiru said weakly. "The creature attacked and I would have been killed if Kami hadn't thrown the microphone at it."
"But you didn't try to help her," Uranus accused. "You stood and watched in pleasure."
"I couldn't move," Kami sobbed. "I wanted to, but something held me."
Sailor Moon remembered the fear in Kami's eyes when they passed her. Slowly, she nodded.
"But what about sneaking away every day?" Chibi Moon asked.
"I was going to rehearsal for this concert," Kami said. "Michiru-san, forgive me. I didn't mean to bring them here."
Michiru smiled. "It was all of us that did that. No matter where we are, we are not safe as long as they know who we are."
The four inner senshi joined them and gave the group questioning looks. Sailor Moon smiled.
"Kami is still with us," she declared.
The senshi cheered.
*****
Two weeks later, the concert began anew. The mystery vocalist was no longer a secret, but that just drew a larger crowd. The radio stations had been playing the one song that had been recorded before the attack and the public was dying for more. The duet of Michiru and Kami was outstanding.
Usagi and her friends sat once again in the front row, eager to hear Kami's new song. She had composed it soon after the fight and had given it to Michiru to play for the concert.
The lights faded and the curtain came up. Michiru and Kami entered the stage to a roar of applause. The crowd quickly became silent as Michiru raised her violin to her chin and played the first chord. Kami licked her lips and brought the microphone to her mouth.
"Once, I can't remember
I was long ago, someone strange.
I was lost and all alone,
And full of rage.
Then somehow you found me,
And showed me the way.
You brought me to the light.
And now I have to say.
Thank you, my friends.
You'll be with me 'til the end.
I was so afraid of life,
Without you I had no fight,
But you rescued me and showed me where to go.
Thank you, my friends.
You chased away my fears.
The darkness now is gone,
I'll sing a lighter song,
Now you've brushed away my tears.
Thank you for this song of trust"