Episode 8 : Sing the blues, oh sorrowful soul.
"No word yet on the cause of mysterious deaths of 27 people at Devil's Lane last night. Police are still looking for suspects. They are also searching for young champion racer Tenou Haruka, who was reported to have been at Devil's Lane. She is presumed dead, but her body has not yet been accounted for...." The anchorwoman's face blurred as the tears once again welled up in Michiru's eyes. Michiru sat in the dark apartment that she shared with Haruka just staring at the TV and sobbing. Occasionally the phone would ring, usually it was Usagi, sometimes Hotaru, and the others had all called at least once. But Michiru didn't want to talk to anyone now...except Haruka. The anchorwoman abruptly changed topics, and with the topic went her solemn tone of voice that was replaced by a new perky tone, "So Bob-san, any chance for some sun?" Michiru felt a wave of revulsion wash over her. That anchorwoman made her sick. She didn't care, not at all. Michiru snatched the remote from the coffee table and turned the TV off. Now she sat in total darkness and just let the tears flow freely.
Usagi strode boldly for the door of Haruka and Michiru's apartment. She hesitated before gently knocking on the door. No response. She knocked again. No response. "Konichiwa...Michiru-san?" No response. Usagi frowned and began to bang on the door. Still no response. "Come on Michiru-san! Open up! I know you're there and I'm not leaving!" Usagi strained her ears and picked up some movement coming from the other side of the door. The doorknob turned and the door slowly creaked open revealing a very weary looking Michiru. She obviously hadn't gotten any sleep last night. Her entire face was wet, just washed, a feeble attempt to cover up the fact that she'd been crying. However her eyes were still a telltale red. Behind her Usagi could see that there wasn't a light on in the apartment and all the curtains had been drawn. "Didn't you get any of our calls? We've all been worried sick! We've been trying all day to reach you!"
"Gomen, I had the phone's volume turned off," Michiru lied.
Usagi saw right through her. "Well you're coming with me, we're going to go have some fun!"
"Gomen Usagi-chan, but I'll have to keep a rain check, I don't really feel up to-"
"Well, Tough!" Usagi declared firmly and she grabbed Michiru by the wrist and dragged Michiru out of the apartment. Michiru just managed to shut the door behind her.
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"I can't believe all that's happening! First Setsunna-san, now Haruka-san!" Minako exclaimed as she walked down the street with Rei.
"I know, I tried to read the mystic flames last night, but I saw nothing, and Ami's beating her brains out trying to come up with something on that computer!" Rei responded.
"How's Michiru-san taking this? I haven't been able to get a hold of her."
"I don't know, I couldn't either. No one's seen her since we heard. Usagi-chan went over there to try to get Michiru's mind off it."
"I seriously doubt that will happen."
"I know, but Usagi's determined. I think that Usagi's taking her to that new Fine Arts Institute. You know, the one that's being run by Stardust-sama?"
Minako got hearts in her eyes. "Wow, I bet that place could help me become an idol! What do you say we go check it out! I mean we could use some cheering up!"
"Sure, I've been wanting to check that place out myself. I mean if I'm going to be a model, a singer, an actress, a...."
"Great lets go!" Minako grabbed Rei's arm and dragged her as she tore through the crowd at light speed. When they arrived at the fine arts institute Rei was gasping for air, Minako however, was unfazed. Minako stared dreamily at the building before she took a deep breath and stepped through the sliding doors. Rei followed closely behind. The two gasped when they saw who was running the counter. "Umm, don't you volunteer at the pet store?" Minako inquired. Nichirin looked up from the Manga she was reading and smiled. Minako and Rei wandered over to the desk.
"I do, but my nechan runs this place, so I help out when I can," Nichirin replied.
"Oh I thought Stardust-sama ran this place," Rei mumbled, obviously disappointed.
"She does," an enchanting voice spoke up from behind them. Nichirin smirked and the two spun around to see Ittenshikai dressed in a black leotard smiling at them. Minako and Rei's jaws unhinged as they looked from Nichirin, to Ittenshikai, and back to Nichirin again.
"Stardust-sama is your sister! And you never told us!" the pair said in synch.
Nichirin shrugged and Ittenshikai chuckled. Then the pair shifted their attention back to Ittenshikai, "please call me Ittenshikai," she insisted. The two nodded still open mouthed. Ittenshikai walked gracefully around to join her sister behind the counter. "So what can I help you with? Dance lessons? Singing? Painting?"
At that moment the doors slid open and Usagi dragged a weakly protesting Michiru into the building. Michiru stopped when she saw Nichirin. Nichirin suddenly decided that the floor was fascinating and began to study it. No one spoke except Usagi but when she noticed Nichirin she clamped her mouth shut. The awkward silence added to the tension in the air. Nichirin had already told everyone (except Ittenshikai, Raa, and Zorya) that she had been knocked unconscious and seen nothing.
Nichirin tersely spoke, "you know what I better go, I've got to get to the pet shop, ja minna!" Nichirin gathered her things and walked hurriedly out the door."
Then the silence took over again before Ittenshikai finally broke it. "So I assume you four will want to take a class together?" The four nodded, "well what would you like to do?"
"Singing," replied Rei.
"Singing," agreed Usagi
"Copycat," Rei muttered. Usagi stuck her tongue out, Rei did the same, and so the war began.
"Everything!" Minako exclaimed.
Ittenshikai laughed, "well alright, how about we just start with a singing course, and a jazz dance course hm?" All the girls save Michiru nodded enthusiastically. "Alright, follow me ladies."
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The girls had a great time at dance class. Even Michiru cracked a smile. Usagi provided laughs for all as she klutzed out on every single move. Rei proved to have a significant talent. Minako, although a klutz herself, was by far the best in the class, even though she had just started. And Michiru, although she danced with grace, made the jazz steps look very depressing.
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Then came the vocal lessons, which was also taught by Ittenshikai. Ittenshikai had decided to change the lesson plan to help Michiru deal with the situation. "All right class, today we're going to take a stab at the blues. Although it's probably more significant to American culture, the blues is an important genre of music. It allows you to express yourself and get things off your chest, so to speak. No I'm going to do a very simple freestyle of the blues then I want each of you to come up and sing your own verse. Now lets all be supportive okay?"
"Okay," the class chorused.
Ittenshikai smiled. "Good. Now, this will be accapella, maybe another day we can add instrumental music." The class nodded signaling Ittenshikai to proceed.
You'd think that stardom
would be more sweet
but no one really cares
what you really think!
the people that surround me
are sickeningly fake
sometimes I don't know
Just how much more I can take!
I've got the blues
Yeah I've got the blues
I've got the stardom blues
yeah.
Members of the class took turns singing their verses finally it was Minako's turn. Minako's voice was the best so far, sweet and cheerful.
Can't remember the last time
That I went out
My heart's been broken
Too Many times to count!
I'm sick of being lonely
How long must I wait
If I'm so pretty
Why can't I get a date?!
I've got the blues
Yeah I've got the blues!
I've got the Broken Hearted blues
Next it was Rei's turn and she sounded even better than Minako!
People say that I'm bossy
that I'm hot-tempered.
They say I don't care,
and I don't hear a word.
But I hear them
I value all that they say.
I try to tell them
But my pride gets in the way!
I've got the blues
Yeah I've got the blues,
I've got the too proud blues!
Now Usagi was up and everyone was amazed at how good her voice was, she could go pro! it wasn't nearly as good as Ittenshikai's, but then none of them had heard anyone whose was. And Usagi put a lot of feeling into her verse.
I may ditz out
and I may be a klutz
But that doesn't mean!
That I don't have guts!
I'm no straight A
But I do have thoughts
And they're just as valid
As all of yours are!
I've got the blues!
Yeah I've got the blues!
I've got the been underestimated blues!
Michiru had listened carefully to everyone. Everyone had problems, many had lost loved ones, and it made her feel better. She also saw all of her friends in a new light, and she has almost feeling happy. Michiru was last, and she promised herself she wouldn't cry. She could do this.
You were my partner!
And my very best friend
I never thought
That this was how it would end!
Now that you're gone
Part of me's gone to
Who'd have thought
I'd need you as much as I do!
I've got the blues!
Yeah I've got the blues!
I've got the emptiness blues!
yeah.
While her voice hadn't been quite as good as her three predecessors, she put so much feeling into it that many of the students sat in thought, deeply moved. Those that knew her were in tears as she took her seat. However Michiru was smiling ever so slightly. A load had been lifted from her shoulders and now that she could see past her grief she knew that Haruka was going to be okay.
Ittenshikai smiled to herself. She could feel Michiru's relief and hope. //Good, she needed that.//
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After the class ended Minako, and Rei ran up enthusiastically to Ittenshikai. Usagi was chatting with Michiru as they leisurely followed.
"This has been so much fun!" Minako squeaked.
"Yeah, anything else we can do!" Rei agreed.
Ittenshikai giggled, "well I only have one more class today, you girls up for ballet."
The other girls nodded enthusiastically, even Michiru.
"Great, you girls go change and change back into those leotards you purchased earlier and I'll see if I can dig up some shoes for you to borrow." Ittenshikai turned from the hyper girls still laughing to herself. Suddenly she felt a brief flash of bitterness and anger radiating from someone. Ittenshikai looked around suspiciously, //probably just my imagination. Still, I better stay on my guard.//
From the shadows a female figure observed the group. "Go ahead and try to stop me Universe, Ittenshikai, whatever you go by these days. You won't do any better at protecting Neptune than your sister did at protecting Uranus. I have a special servant to keep YOU occupied."
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"Pliete, everybody! good. Ummm...keep trying Usagi, you'll get it...uh...better!" Ittenshikai instructed.
Michiru raised her hand, Ittenshikai nodded to her. "Ittenshikai-san, may I please use the restroom?"
"Yes you may Michiru, but I told you, call me Ittenshikai!"
"Yes Ittenshikai-sa...Ittenshikai!"
Michiru walked off to find the restroom and Ittenshikai resumed instructing the class. "No Usagi-san...here let me show you...Pliete." Suddenly horrible music filled the classroom.
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A room full of unconscious people greeted Michiru when she returned from the bathroom. Michiru gasped. Then she spotted A womanly black monster wearing a pink tutu draining the soul from s student. Michiru sweat dropped before she retreated to the hallway unnoticed...or so she thought. Ittenshikai stirred, //What happened. Nani?! I guess my powers allowed me a certain degree of protection from that awful noise.// Ittenshikai glanced to her side and saw the monster stealing a student's soul. //Oh no!// Then she shifted her gaze just in time to see Michiru slide into the dark hallway. //Michiru-san?//
Then she heard Michiru call, "Neptune Crystal Power, Make-up!" There was a blue flash and then SuperSailorneptune emerged from the hallway.
Ittenshikai smiled, //Nichirin was right.// Neptune did her introduction speech, however this time she sounded very angry. She was being so intense she didn't even notice as Ittenshikai pulled herself to her feet.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!" Neptune hurled her attack at her enemy, injuring it.
"Sailorneptune-chan!" Neptune turned to stare in shock at Ittenshikai who seemed unhurt, even though everyone else was either unconscious or dead. "Konichiwa Michiru-chan," Ittenshikai added low enough so only Michiru could hear.
//Oh no! She knows who I am! Maybe she's an enemy, how else could she have recovered so quickly!// Michiru panicked, but then Ittenshikai reached into her near by gym bag and pulled out a locket that Neptune recognized as belonging to SuperSailoruniverse. Neptune's eyes went even wider, if possible.
"Star Crystal Power!" The room lit up with silver and pink light as Ittenshikai transformed. The monster noticed that Neptune was off guard and lunged at her, pinning her down. SuperSailoruniverse appeared, "Falling Star Shoot!" A small silver beam pierced the monster knocking it away from Neptune. Sailoruniverse looked over at Neptune. "Sailorneptune-chan, I am SuperSailoruniverse, I was your mentor. Good to be working with you again!"
The monster jumped up and glared at Sailoruniverse. "You'll pay for that!" it threatened. Universe yawned, but then the monster pushed a button on some sort of watch that it was wearing. A pink beam struck Universe's ballet slippers. At first nothing happened. However then the monster pushed another button and Universe began to dance.
"I can't stop! How am I supposed to attack!" Universe screeched, but then she got an idea and she smirked. Universe began to dance freely, the monster appeared puzzled. "Look's like I'll have to fight dance with dance!" Universe quipped as she began to spin, "Pink Sparkle Spin!" The monster wailed in agony as it was destroyed and it returned all of the souls it had gathered, it's spell also wore off and everyone began to get up.
"Neptune-san...Universe-sama? What's going on?" Usagi asked confused, completely ignoring the fact that other people were around. However no one seemed to notice.
"It's been taken care of," Neptune replied, smiling at Universe in thanks. Suddenly another black circle came up from behind Neptune.
"Neptune-san!" Usagi cried in warning, but Neptune was sucked into the void. The black energy then formed a small black marble before it vanished.
"Neptune-san, iie..." Usagi wailed as tears ran down her face. The others could only stare in disbelief at the spot where their beloved friend Neptune had been just a moment earlier. Universe threw an apologetic at the girls. She gathered the dust left behind from the monster and pulled it into her locket. Then she detransformed and everyone gasped.
"You're...you're...Sailoruniverse-sama, Ittenshikai-san?" Usagi stammered.
"Yes I am, but there's no need for you to know that yet." Ittenshikai poured some pink dust from her locket into her palm. It began to glow and then she lifted her palm up and blew it at everyone. //Stardust memory erase...the memory of SuperSailoruniverse's identity.//
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Triton sat on his throne and smiled to himself. Two figures knelt in the shadows before him, one male, and one female. "Good work Kodomo-san," he praised.
"Why, thank you," the female figure replied.
"However, you lost the souls again," he condoned.
"I'm sorry sir, but if you remember correctly, my job is to capture the Sailor Senshi, not soldiers for the Master's army. Any should I capture is a bonus, don't forget that. Besides, if a certain someone was doing HIS job, it would make mine a lot easier." She motioned to the male figure beside her who grunted in response.
"Fair enough. And don't worry, I was assured that Kinsen-san's plan is ready to be put in motion, correct?" The male figure nodded. Triton laughed, "splendid."