Sailor Moon-Violence and Corruption
Part Two: "Sailor Traitor"
By Bill K.
Ami and Makoto entered their first period class with several minutes to
spare. Ami scanned the room, hoping to find some sign of Usagi. She was
disappointed to find her friend wasn't there.
"Usagi's not here," Ami said to Makoto. "I hope we didn't hurt her too
badly last night."
"You think she's home crying her eyes out, broken-hearted that her friends
turned on her?" Makoto grinned. "Not likely. Usagi's pretty resilient about
those things."
"But she's not here."
Makoto shrugged. "The bell hasn't rung yet. If it's an hour after the
bell and she's still not here, then I get worried."
Sure enough, ten minutes after the bell Usagi burst in.
"Miss Tsukino," sighed the teacher, "how many days has school been in
session this week?"
"Three, Sir," sighed Usagi, knowing the fate that awaited her, but knowing
no way to avoid it.
"And how many days have you been late this week?"
"Three, Sir."
"Is this acceptable behavior?"
"No, Sir."
"Then you will have no qualms over serving detention tonight, will you?"
"Well, actually," she began, then caught the withering glare of her
teacher. "No, Sir."
"Take your seat."
Usagi slithered into her seat. She glanced over to Ami and noticed Ami
staring back at her. Ami then silently mouthed, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" mimed Usagi.
"Last night," Ami replied silently.
Usagi grinned and waved her hand dismissively
"Miss Mizuno," sighed the teacher, "unless you are admonishing Miss
Tsukino for being late, please direct your attention to the front of the class."
"Yes, Sir," whimpered Ami, flushing noticeably.
"Now, if there are no more interruptions . . ."
Just then Minako burst into the room.
"I'm not late!" she exclaimed. "I have an explanation!"
The class giggled.
* * * *
The four friends gathered at lunch. Usagi, of course, was half done
before the others started.
"Usagi, I want to apologize for last night," Ami said, still bothered.
"We had a little too much fun at your expense."
"Umf, hey, forget it," grinned Usagi between gulps. "You guys were right.
I'm not very good at a lot of stuff and I've got to start thinking about what
I'm going to do after graduation. And I vow to do just that. Besides, that
wasn't what bummed me out last night."
"Oh? What was wrong?"
"I miss Mamo-chan," Usagi sighed, echoed perfectly by Makoto and Minako.
Usagi shot them both an acid glare.
"Hasn't he written yet?" Makoto asked, recalling the trials of a few
months ago.
"I got my first letter night before last. I read it six times. It made
me miss him even more."
"Poor girl," sighed Minako as Makoto patted Usagi's shoulder.
"Are you going to eat that?" Usagi asked, pointing to a cake in Makoto's
box.
"I was planning on it," Makoto smirked.
"Do you want us to wait for you two after school?" asked Ami.
"No, we'll be all right," Minako replied. "I'll get her home."
"So who's going to get you home?" glared Usagi. "You can get lost in your
own room!"
"Hmph!" snorted Minako. "Takes one to be one!" She stuck her nose in the
air while her friends stared, stunned into silence.
* * * *
That evening, Ami came home to an empty apartment, a condition she was all
too used to. Her mother had the evening shift at the hospital - - infants had
no sense of time, so even pediatricians pulled night duty. It wasn't a study
group night. She'd just left Makoto and Usagi and Minako were still in
detention, so she couldn't call them. And for some reason, Ami didn't feel like
being alone right now.
"Maybe Rei won't mind a call," mused Ami.
She put her satchel down and walked to the phone. Just then the doorbell
rang. Going to the door, Ami peered through the peephole and saw Rei outside.
"I was just about to call you," Ami commented happily, ushering her friend
in. Then she noticed Rei seemed nervous and preoccupied. "Is something wrong?"
"I," Rei started to say, keeping her back to Ami. She hesitated for the
longest time, which only fanned Ami's concerns.
"Rei, what is it?"
"It's," whispered Rei, "Yuuichiro. He . . . attacked me last night."
"What?!" gasped Ami. "Yuuichiro? I can't imagine it! Are you hurt, Rei?
Did he . . .?"
"No," Rei said, still keeping her back to Ami. "I-I got away. I . . . oh,
I must have drove him to this."
"Don't even think that! Not for one moment!" Ami said firmly, gripping
Rei by the shoulders. "I know you can be harsh, but that doesn't give him the
right to attack you!"
With the speed of thought, Rei's hand shot up and locked around Ami's
wrist. Before she could defend herself, Ami's arm was pinned behind her back
and Rei's forearm was across her throat.
"You're so trusting, Ami," growled Rei, smiling darkly. Ami squirmed in
Rei's grasp, but couldn't escape. "All I had to do was give you a big enough
sob story. Take her, she's ready!"
An obsidian form materialized above the pair. Its violet tresses blew
from its blank-faced head and the fading evening light highlighted the feminine
curves of its body. Ami gasped in shock and tugged harder, but Rei's grip was
like iron, inhumanly so.
There was no time to reason, no time to plead with Rei for release. The
youma seemed to coil like a snake, then shot forward. The beginnings of a
scream escaped Ami's throat before the dark creature plunged down her mouth, up
her nose, through her eyes and ears. Ami felt a sensation akin to smothering,
then wrenched from Rei's grasp and tumbled to the floor.
With a cruel grin, Rei watched as Ami convulsed on the floor, the tremors
a sign of the inner war she was waging. Finally the girl grew still.
"Get up," Rei snarled, nudging Ami with her foot. She nudged again and a
hand reached back and swatted her foot away.
"Don't push your luck!" snapped Ami, pulling herself up. "The goody-goody
doesn't live here anymore."
"Anytime you want to take me on, just say so," Rei smiled confidently.
"Be careful about what you wish for," warned Ami, not backing down.
"You know where to find me. Right now we've got a mission for our
mistress."
"I know," Ami smiled malevolently, "and I've got the perfect plan."
* * * *
After sleeping the afternoon away perched on the windowsill of Chibi-Usa's
former room in the attic, Luna woke up. She allowed herself a big stretch, then
padded downstairs. Noticing the light on in Usagi's room, the cat changed
course and headed there.
The sight that greeted her bowled her over. Usagi was at her desk, nose
in a textbook, writing in her notebook. No one was standing over her. No one
was berating her to work. Stunned, Luna sat down near the door and watched the
girl in amazement, trying to figure out what the trick was.
After fifteen minutes, though, Usagi flung her pen down in frustration.
"I-I just don't understand!" she fumed in annoyance. "I don't know what
they want! Why do they make me study Japanese anyway! I already speak
Japanese!"
"I was wondering how long this would last," smiled Luna. She leaped up to
the desk. "You don't speak proper Japanese, Usagi. It reflects poorly on you
when you misuse your own language."
"Well I knew I wouldn't get any sympathy from you," groused Usagi.
"I am sympathetic," she protested mildly. "I'm very proud of you for at
least making the effort. It's more than you would have done two years ago. You
see, there is hope for you."
"But why does it have to be so hard, Luna? I listen to what my teacher
says . . ."
"Do you?"
"Well, most of it . . . when he's not being boring. And I read the book
and I try to do the homework like they show me . . . and all I get are thirties!
And it's the same in math and history and English! Don't even get me started
about English!"
"Usagi," Luna began, trying to console the girl.
"I want to do well, Luna! I'm tired of being stupid little Usagi! I want
Mamo-chan to be proud of me! But I just can't seem to understand!"
"You will, Usagi," Luna said, rubbing the back of Usagi's hand with her
chin. "I know you have trouble with schoolwork, but it's not because you're
stupid. Lazy, maybe, but not stupid."
"You're a big help," scowled Usagi. Luna smirked. "Besides, I'm going to
have to get a job some day, so I have to start doing better."
"Well, you are growing up! Have you actually thought about what you want
to do?"
"I don't know," Usagi sighed, slumping back in her chair. "You suppose
being a fashion model is out? Bet they don't have to do math."
"Well, that odango hairstyle would certainly give you a unique image. But
I can't help picturing you tripping and falling off a runway, too."
"If you're not going to help, go chase a mouse," muttered Usagi.
"As if!" huffed Luna. "How primitive!"
"I just know I'm going to end up washing dishes in some dive restaurant.
And then Mamo-chan's going to hate me because I have red, chapped hands!"
"Well, then you'd better get back to work," advised Luna. "If you like,
I'll try to help you with your English."
"You know English?" goggled Usagi.
"It's like a second language to me," Luna said proudly. "Although I'm
told I do speak it with an accent."
* * * *
"Rei, what is it?" Minako said over the phone. "You sound like you're
about to go to pieces! Is there senshi trouble?"
"No, nothing like that," was the reply. "But there's something wrong with
Ami. I can't get anything out of her except her mom supposedly hates her. I-I
think they had a big fight or something."
"I thought their relationship was a little too good to be true," muttered
Minako.
"She's in a bad way and I need help. Can you come over?"
"Where are you?"
"At the Mizuno penthouse. Her mom's at work right now."
"I'm there. You call the others?"
"I-I will. Thank you."
"De nada." Minako hung up the phone, gathered a few things into her purse
and headed for the window.
"Where are you going?" Artemis asked.
"Ami's having some problems. I've got to go help her."
"Is it senshi related?"
"No, personal."
"You're not going to tell your mom first?"
"Why? She'd just give me fifteen reasons why I should stay here." She
climbed out the window. "Try to cover for me, Artemis."
"Sure," grumbled the white cat. "Make me an accessory."
Twenty minutes later, Minako buzzed at the door of the Mizuno residence.
Rei opened it and ushered her in. Ami was sitting on the sofa bent over, her
face in her hands.
"Ami?" Minako said gently, crossing over to the girl, "what happened,
honey?" Ami remained silent, shuddering soundlessly.
"Did you call the others?" Minako asked, looking back at Rei.
"They said they were on their way," Rei replied quickly.
Minako turned back to Ami, then stopped. Usagi was closer to Ami's place
than she was. She should have arrived first. When she turned back to Rei,
Minako found the girl reaching for Minako's neck. The lightning reflexes of
Sailor V came on-line and she seized Rei's wrist.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
Then she felt an iron grip on her left wrist. Turning, Minako saw Ami had
her. Furthermore, Ami had a very un-Ami-like expression of malice on her face.
"Apparently you're too clever to trick," Ami leered.
"Go figure," grinned Rei derisively.
"I guess we'll just have to force your conversion."
Instantly Minako bent down and pushed off with her legs. Executing a back
flip while she held onto Rei and Ami held onto her, Minako's stunt twisted both
of their arms to awkward angles. This forced them both to their knees and
allowed Minako to break free.
"What the Hell's going on here?" she demanded at some distance from the
girls. They rose to their feet and glared at her with supernatural malevolence.
"Surrender quietly, Minako," Rei demanded.
"Don't make us hurt you," added Ami.
"You . . . you're possessed! Both of you!" Minako gasped.
"What makes you think that?" Ami asked slyly.
"Maybe we're just tired of taking it all the time."
Minako had been edging toward the door. This stopped her.
"Taking it?"
"All the pressure! All the demands! All the sacrifices! Why can't I
just live for me for a change?"
"Rei, this isn't like you."
"Maybe she just wised up," Ami snorted. "Maybe she found out there's more
to life than doing the right thing. Maybe she decided the right thing wasn't
right for her."
Minako's face hardened. "And maybe you two have been possessed by an
enemy!"
Minako lunged for the door. Rei slammed into her before she could get it
open, but a shove with her shoulder knocked the girl away. As she opened the
door, Ami grabbed her by the wrist. Minako turned and delivered a palm thrust
that knocked Ami away. However, Ami's grip tore the Sailor Communicator Watch
off Minako's wrist.
For a moment Minako thought about retrieving it. But Rei was advancing on
her and Minako dived through the door. Stumbling to her feet in the hall,
Minako raced down the hall to the stairwell, Rei in hot pursuit.
If only she could make the street, she could change to Sailor Venus. She
could fend them off as Venus, maybe get Usagi to change them back.
If Usagi hadn't been possessed as well.
A cold spot formed in the pit of Minako's stomach. What if all the senshi
were possessed? What if she and Artemis were the only ones left? A moment of
panic bubbled up until the instincts and experience of Sailor V took over and
forced it down.
Minako hit the crash bar on the outer door, flung it open and raced into
the newly minted night, her long blonde hair flying behind her like a comet's
tail. She gestured down with her hand and her transformation wand materialized
in it.
"Venus Crystal Power Make Up!"
It was the first time she'd ever transformed on the dead run and the
effect brought her to a stumbling halt. Once it was done, Sailor Venus whirled,
expecting Rei to crash into her at any moment. But Rei had changed to Sailor
Mars, or whatever she was now, and stood several yards away. The pair faced
each other for a few moments in a standoff. Finally Mars acted.
"Mars!" she snapped, "Flame Sniper!"
The flaming bow formed in her hand, an arrow of fire already notched. She
brought it up in a sweeping blur and fired.
"Venus!" cried Venus, "Love And Beauty Shock!"
The energy waves radiated out from her and intercepted the arrow. The
arrow pierced wave after wave, relentlessly nearing Venus. But the constant
battering slowed it enough and wore it down enough that Venus was able to evade
it - - barely.
The two combatants faced off again. It was a battle Venus didn't want,
for two reasons: She had to get away to warn the other senshi; besides, these
were still her friends.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" rang out. Venus moved instinctively, but she
couldn't avoid the shower of water that instantly froze solid the moment it
struck her. Robbed of her motion as ice formed around her up to her chest,
Venus pitched forward and fell on her face.
"They always forget about Mercury," snickered the possessed senshi. She
and Mars ringed Venus, then reached down.
"She's ready to receive!" called out Mars as they flipped Venus onto her
back.
Venus strained helplessly against the ice. Then she saw it: A lithe
feminine form, her hair violet and her skin inky black against the indigo night
sky. They locked eyes, the youma's phosphorescent white on her dark face, and
Venus felt a primal, irrational terror well up in her.
The youma dived suddenly, aiming straight for Venus. She had time only to
gasp in a breath before it was on her, plunging into her mouth, into her nose
and ears, through her eyes. Venus threw her head back, screaming silently and
thrashing so violently that she rocked her ice prison. Finally, inexorably, she
quieted.
"You ready?" asked Mercury disdainfully.
"Three down, one to go," Venus smiled mercilessly. "Now get me out of
this!"
* * * *
Makoto had just settled down to bed when her doorbell rang. Pulling
herself up out of her futon, wearing a man's baggy shirt (that had once belonged
to her sempai) as a nightshirt, she fumbled for the light switch.
"Who is it?" she asked through the door.
"Minako! Thank the gods you're still home! Open up, please!"
Makoto whipped the door open and found a disheveled Minako waiting. The
blonde's eyes were wide with terror and her chest was heaving. Makoto was
amazed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I got attacked!" Minako gasped out.
"By who? Was it some new enemy or was it some guys?"
"Enemy," panted Minako. "Never seen them before. They tried to grab me
while I was on my way home from the arcade! I tried to change, but they were
too fast!"
"How'd you get away?"
"Sailor V? Remember?" Minako said, pointing to herself.
"Sorry. How silly of me," Makoto scowled sarcastically. "What did they
want?"
"I didn't hang around long enough to find out. Makoto, I tried to call
Ami and Rei, but there was no response. I'm worried they might have . . ."
Makoto went pale.
"Have," she swallowed, "you called Usagi?"
"No," Minako replied, her eyes widening. "You don't think . . .?"
Makoto was across the room and on the phone in a second. She had Usagi's
number punched out and heard the number ringing when she felt Minako's hand on
her shoulder. She turned to Minako.
Minako's knee buried itself in Makoto's stomach. The wind rushed from her
and with it her strength. Minako slammed her up against the wall, the phone
tumbling from Makoto's hand. Makoto looked at her friend, stunned.
"Gotcha!" grinned Minako insanely. "She's ready!"
Black smoke swirled above them, coalescing into a female figure. Makoto's
eyes widened. She gripped the front of Minako's blouse and tried to push away,
but Minako held onto her with abnormal strength. Trapped, Makoto had a single
second to look up at the youma above her before it dived at her. It's inky
tendrils thrust into her through her eyes and mouth, up her nose and in her
ears. It was a sensation akin to drowning and for a moment Makoto flashed back
to the plane crash that killed her parents. Then she fell to the floor,
convulsing violently.
"Hello?" Usagi's voice asked on the fallen phone next to Makoto's
thrashing body. "Is anybody there?"
A hand curled around the phone. It lifted the phone up and replaced it in
its cradle. Minako turned to Makoto. Makoto smiled maliciously at her.
"Let's go," she said menacingly.
Continued in part three
Part Two: "Sailor Traitor"
By Bill K.
Ami and Makoto entered their first period class with several minutes to
spare. Ami scanned the room, hoping to find some sign of Usagi. She was
disappointed to find her friend wasn't there.
"Usagi's not here," Ami said to Makoto. "I hope we didn't hurt her too
badly last night."
"You think she's home crying her eyes out, broken-hearted that her friends
turned on her?" Makoto grinned. "Not likely. Usagi's pretty resilient about
those things."
"But she's not here."
Makoto shrugged. "The bell hasn't rung yet. If it's an hour after the
bell and she's still not here, then I get worried."
Sure enough, ten minutes after the bell Usagi burst in.
"Miss Tsukino," sighed the teacher, "how many days has school been in
session this week?"
"Three, Sir," sighed Usagi, knowing the fate that awaited her, but knowing
no way to avoid it.
"And how many days have you been late this week?"
"Three, Sir."
"Is this acceptable behavior?"
"No, Sir."
"Then you will have no qualms over serving detention tonight, will you?"
"Well, actually," she began, then caught the withering glare of her
teacher. "No, Sir."
"Take your seat."
Usagi slithered into her seat. She glanced over to Ami and noticed Ami
staring back at her. Ami then silently mouthed, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" mimed Usagi.
"Last night," Ami replied silently.
Usagi grinned and waved her hand dismissively
"Miss Mizuno," sighed the teacher, "unless you are admonishing Miss
Tsukino for being late, please direct your attention to the front of the class."
"Yes, Sir," whimpered Ami, flushing noticeably.
"Now, if there are no more interruptions . . ."
Just then Minako burst into the room.
"I'm not late!" she exclaimed. "I have an explanation!"
The class giggled.
* * * *
The four friends gathered at lunch. Usagi, of course, was half done
before the others started.
"Usagi, I want to apologize for last night," Ami said, still bothered.
"We had a little too much fun at your expense."
"Umf, hey, forget it," grinned Usagi between gulps. "You guys were right.
I'm not very good at a lot of stuff and I've got to start thinking about what
I'm going to do after graduation. And I vow to do just that. Besides, that
wasn't what bummed me out last night."
"Oh? What was wrong?"
"I miss Mamo-chan," Usagi sighed, echoed perfectly by Makoto and Minako.
Usagi shot them both an acid glare.
"Hasn't he written yet?" Makoto asked, recalling the trials of a few
months ago.
"I got my first letter night before last. I read it six times. It made
me miss him even more."
"Poor girl," sighed Minako as Makoto patted Usagi's shoulder.
"Are you going to eat that?" Usagi asked, pointing to a cake in Makoto's
box.
"I was planning on it," Makoto smirked.
"Do you want us to wait for you two after school?" asked Ami.
"No, we'll be all right," Minako replied. "I'll get her home."
"So who's going to get you home?" glared Usagi. "You can get lost in your
own room!"
"Hmph!" snorted Minako. "Takes one to be one!" She stuck her nose in the
air while her friends stared, stunned into silence.
* * * *
That evening, Ami came home to an empty apartment, a condition she was all
too used to. Her mother had the evening shift at the hospital - - infants had
no sense of time, so even pediatricians pulled night duty. It wasn't a study
group night. She'd just left Makoto and Usagi and Minako were still in
detention, so she couldn't call them. And for some reason, Ami didn't feel like
being alone right now.
"Maybe Rei won't mind a call," mused Ami.
She put her satchel down and walked to the phone. Just then the doorbell
rang. Going to the door, Ami peered through the peephole and saw Rei outside.
"I was just about to call you," Ami commented happily, ushering her friend
in. Then she noticed Rei seemed nervous and preoccupied. "Is something wrong?"
"I," Rei started to say, keeping her back to Ami. She hesitated for the
longest time, which only fanned Ami's concerns.
"Rei, what is it?"
"It's," whispered Rei, "Yuuichiro. He . . . attacked me last night."
"What?!" gasped Ami. "Yuuichiro? I can't imagine it! Are you hurt, Rei?
Did he . . .?"
"No," Rei said, still keeping her back to Ami. "I-I got away. I . . . oh,
I must have drove him to this."
"Don't even think that! Not for one moment!" Ami said firmly, gripping
Rei by the shoulders. "I know you can be harsh, but that doesn't give him the
right to attack you!"
With the speed of thought, Rei's hand shot up and locked around Ami's
wrist. Before she could defend herself, Ami's arm was pinned behind her back
and Rei's forearm was across her throat.
"You're so trusting, Ami," growled Rei, smiling darkly. Ami squirmed in
Rei's grasp, but couldn't escape. "All I had to do was give you a big enough
sob story. Take her, she's ready!"
An obsidian form materialized above the pair. Its violet tresses blew
from its blank-faced head and the fading evening light highlighted the feminine
curves of its body. Ami gasped in shock and tugged harder, but Rei's grip was
like iron, inhumanly so.
There was no time to reason, no time to plead with Rei for release. The
youma seemed to coil like a snake, then shot forward. The beginnings of a
scream escaped Ami's throat before the dark creature plunged down her mouth, up
her nose, through her eyes and ears. Ami felt a sensation akin to smothering,
then wrenched from Rei's grasp and tumbled to the floor.
With a cruel grin, Rei watched as Ami convulsed on the floor, the tremors
a sign of the inner war she was waging. Finally the girl grew still.
"Get up," Rei snarled, nudging Ami with her foot. She nudged again and a
hand reached back and swatted her foot away.
"Don't push your luck!" snapped Ami, pulling herself up. "The goody-goody
doesn't live here anymore."
"Anytime you want to take me on, just say so," Rei smiled confidently.
"Be careful about what you wish for," warned Ami, not backing down.
"You know where to find me. Right now we've got a mission for our
mistress."
"I know," Ami smiled malevolently, "and I've got the perfect plan."
* * * *
After sleeping the afternoon away perched on the windowsill of Chibi-Usa's
former room in the attic, Luna woke up. She allowed herself a big stretch, then
padded downstairs. Noticing the light on in Usagi's room, the cat changed
course and headed there.
The sight that greeted her bowled her over. Usagi was at her desk, nose
in a textbook, writing in her notebook. No one was standing over her. No one
was berating her to work. Stunned, Luna sat down near the door and watched the
girl in amazement, trying to figure out what the trick was.
After fifteen minutes, though, Usagi flung her pen down in frustration.
"I-I just don't understand!" she fumed in annoyance. "I don't know what
they want! Why do they make me study Japanese anyway! I already speak
Japanese!"
"I was wondering how long this would last," smiled Luna. She leaped up to
the desk. "You don't speak proper Japanese, Usagi. It reflects poorly on you
when you misuse your own language."
"Well I knew I wouldn't get any sympathy from you," groused Usagi.
"I am sympathetic," she protested mildly. "I'm very proud of you for at
least making the effort. It's more than you would have done two years ago. You
see, there is hope for you."
"But why does it have to be so hard, Luna? I listen to what my teacher
says . . ."
"Do you?"
"Well, most of it . . . when he's not being boring. And I read the book
and I try to do the homework like they show me . . . and all I get are thirties!
And it's the same in math and history and English! Don't even get me started
about English!"
"Usagi," Luna began, trying to console the girl.
"I want to do well, Luna! I'm tired of being stupid little Usagi! I want
Mamo-chan to be proud of me! But I just can't seem to understand!"
"You will, Usagi," Luna said, rubbing the back of Usagi's hand with her
chin. "I know you have trouble with schoolwork, but it's not because you're
stupid. Lazy, maybe, but not stupid."
"You're a big help," scowled Usagi. Luna smirked. "Besides, I'm going to
have to get a job some day, so I have to start doing better."
"Well, you are growing up! Have you actually thought about what you want
to do?"
"I don't know," Usagi sighed, slumping back in her chair. "You suppose
being a fashion model is out? Bet they don't have to do math."
"Well, that odango hairstyle would certainly give you a unique image. But
I can't help picturing you tripping and falling off a runway, too."
"If you're not going to help, go chase a mouse," muttered Usagi.
"As if!" huffed Luna. "How primitive!"
"I just know I'm going to end up washing dishes in some dive restaurant.
And then Mamo-chan's going to hate me because I have red, chapped hands!"
"Well, then you'd better get back to work," advised Luna. "If you like,
I'll try to help you with your English."
"You know English?" goggled Usagi.
"It's like a second language to me," Luna said proudly. "Although I'm
told I do speak it with an accent."
* * * *
"Rei, what is it?" Minako said over the phone. "You sound like you're
about to go to pieces! Is there senshi trouble?"
"No, nothing like that," was the reply. "But there's something wrong with
Ami. I can't get anything out of her except her mom supposedly hates her. I-I
think they had a big fight or something."
"I thought their relationship was a little too good to be true," muttered
Minako.
"She's in a bad way and I need help. Can you come over?"
"Where are you?"
"At the Mizuno penthouse. Her mom's at work right now."
"I'm there. You call the others?"
"I-I will. Thank you."
"De nada." Minako hung up the phone, gathered a few things into her purse
and headed for the window.
"Where are you going?" Artemis asked.
"Ami's having some problems. I've got to go help her."
"Is it senshi related?"
"No, personal."
"You're not going to tell your mom first?"
"Why? She'd just give me fifteen reasons why I should stay here." She
climbed out the window. "Try to cover for me, Artemis."
"Sure," grumbled the white cat. "Make me an accessory."
Twenty minutes later, Minako buzzed at the door of the Mizuno residence.
Rei opened it and ushered her in. Ami was sitting on the sofa bent over, her
face in her hands.
"Ami?" Minako said gently, crossing over to the girl, "what happened,
honey?" Ami remained silent, shuddering soundlessly.
"Did you call the others?" Minako asked, looking back at Rei.
"They said they were on their way," Rei replied quickly.
Minako turned back to Ami, then stopped. Usagi was closer to Ami's place
than she was. She should have arrived first. When she turned back to Rei,
Minako found the girl reaching for Minako's neck. The lightning reflexes of
Sailor V came on-line and she seized Rei's wrist.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
Then she felt an iron grip on her left wrist. Turning, Minako saw Ami had
her. Furthermore, Ami had a very un-Ami-like expression of malice on her face.
"Apparently you're too clever to trick," Ami leered.
"Go figure," grinned Rei derisively.
"I guess we'll just have to force your conversion."
Instantly Minako bent down and pushed off with her legs. Executing a back
flip while she held onto Rei and Ami held onto her, Minako's stunt twisted both
of their arms to awkward angles. This forced them both to their knees and
allowed Minako to break free.
"What the Hell's going on here?" she demanded at some distance from the
girls. They rose to their feet and glared at her with supernatural malevolence.
"Surrender quietly, Minako," Rei demanded.
"Don't make us hurt you," added Ami.
"You . . . you're possessed! Both of you!" Minako gasped.
"What makes you think that?" Ami asked slyly.
"Maybe we're just tired of taking it all the time."
Minako had been edging toward the door. This stopped her.
"Taking it?"
"All the pressure! All the demands! All the sacrifices! Why can't I
just live for me for a change?"
"Rei, this isn't like you."
"Maybe she just wised up," Ami snorted. "Maybe she found out there's more
to life than doing the right thing. Maybe she decided the right thing wasn't
right for her."
Minako's face hardened. "And maybe you two have been possessed by an
enemy!"
Minako lunged for the door. Rei slammed into her before she could get it
open, but a shove with her shoulder knocked the girl away. As she opened the
door, Ami grabbed her by the wrist. Minako turned and delivered a palm thrust
that knocked Ami away. However, Ami's grip tore the Sailor Communicator Watch
off Minako's wrist.
For a moment Minako thought about retrieving it. But Rei was advancing on
her and Minako dived through the door. Stumbling to her feet in the hall,
Minako raced down the hall to the stairwell, Rei in hot pursuit.
If only she could make the street, she could change to Sailor Venus. She
could fend them off as Venus, maybe get Usagi to change them back.
If Usagi hadn't been possessed as well.
A cold spot formed in the pit of Minako's stomach. What if all the senshi
were possessed? What if she and Artemis were the only ones left? A moment of
panic bubbled up until the instincts and experience of Sailor V took over and
forced it down.
Minako hit the crash bar on the outer door, flung it open and raced into
the newly minted night, her long blonde hair flying behind her like a comet's
tail. She gestured down with her hand and her transformation wand materialized
in it.
"Venus Crystal Power Make Up!"
It was the first time she'd ever transformed on the dead run and the
effect brought her to a stumbling halt. Once it was done, Sailor Venus whirled,
expecting Rei to crash into her at any moment. But Rei had changed to Sailor
Mars, or whatever she was now, and stood several yards away. The pair faced
each other for a few moments in a standoff. Finally Mars acted.
"Mars!" she snapped, "Flame Sniper!"
The flaming bow formed in her hand, an arrow of fire already notched. She
brought it up in a sweeping blur and fired.
"Venus!" cried Venus, "Love And Beauty Shock!"
The energy waves radiated out from her and intercepted the arrow. The
arrow pierced wave after wave, relentlessly nearing Venus. But the constant
battering slowed it enough and wore it down enough that Venus was able to evade
it - - barely.
The two combatants faced off again. It was a battle Venus didn't want,
for two reasons: She had to get away to warn the other senshi; besides, these
were still her friends.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" rang out. Venus moved instinctively, but she
couldn't avoid the shower of water that instantly froze solid the moment it
struck her. Robbed of her motion as ice formed around her up to her chest,
Venus pitched forward and fell on her face.
"They always forget about Mercury," snickered the possessed senshi. She
and Mars ringed Venus, then reached down.
"She's ready to receive!" called out Mars as they flipped Venus onto her
back.
Venus strained helplessly against the ice. Then she saw it: A lithe
feminine form, her hair violet and her skin inky black against the indigo night
sky. They locked eyes, the youma's phosphorescent white on her dark face, and
Venus felt a primal, irrational terror well up in her.
The youma dived suddenly, aiming straight for Venus. She had time only to
gasp in a breath before it was on her, plunging into her mouth, into her nose
and ears, through her eyes. Venus threw her head back, screaming silently and
thrashing so violently that she rocked her ice prison. Finally, inexorably, she
quieted.
"You ready?" asked Mercury disdainfully.
"Three down, one to go," Venus smiled mercilessly. "Now get me out of
this!"
* * * *
Makoto had just settled down to bed when her doorbell rang. Pulling
herself up out of her futon, wearing a man's baggy shirt (that had once belonged
to her sempai) as a nightshirt, she fumbled for the light switch.
"Who is it?" she asked through the door.
"Minako! Thank the gods you're still home! Open up, please!"
Makoto whipped the door open and found a disheveled Minako waiting. The
blonde's eyes were wide with terror and her chest was heaving. Makoto was
amazed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I got attacked!" Minako gasped out.
"By who? Was it some new enemy or was it some guys?"
"Enemy," panted Minako. "Never seen them before. They tried to grab me
while I was on my way home from the arcade! I tried to change, but they were
too fast!"
"How'd you get away?"
"Sailor V? Remember?" Minako said, pointing to herself.
"Sorry. How silly of me," Makoto scowled sarcastically. "What did they
want?"
"I didn't hang around long enough to find out. Makoto, I tried to call
Ami and Rei, but there was no response. I'm worried they might have . . ."
Makoto went pale.
"Have," she swallowed, "you called Usagi?"
"No," Minako replied, her eyes widening. "You don't think . . .?"
Makoto was across the room and on the phone in a second. She had Usagi's
number punched out and heard the number ringing when she felt Minako's hand on
her shoulder. She turned to Minako.
Minako's knee buried itself in Makoto's stomach. The wind rushed from her
and with it her strength. Minako slammed her up against the wall, the phone
tumbling from Makoto's hand. Makoto looked at her friend, stunned.
"Gotcha!" grinned Minako insanely. "She's ready!"
Black smoke swirled above them, coalescing into a female figure. Makoto's
eyes widened. She gripped the front of Minako's blouse and tried to push away,
but Minako held onto her with abnormal strength. Trapped, Makoto had a single
second to look up at the youma above her before it dived at her. It's inky
tendrils thrust into her through her eyes and mouth, up her nose and in her
ears. It was a sensation akin to drowning and for a moment Makoto flashed back
to the plane crash that killed her parents. Then she fell to the floor,
convulsing violently.
"Hello?" Usagi's voice asked on the fallen phone next to Makoto's
thrashing body. "Is anybody there?"
A hand curled around the phone. It lifted the phone up and replaced it in
its cradle. Minako turned to Makoto. Makoto smiled maliciously at her.
"Let's go," she said menacingly.
Continued in part three