P-chanfanfic4

Part 4

In the darkness of the shadows outside Hikawa Jinji, someone watched. The dark figure smiled menacingly, and walked into the surrounding trees.

"What do you mean, Setsuna-san?" Minako said, looking at the guardian of time.

"I must not, and will not tell you. You will all know in due time." Setsuna said quietly. "However, the best course of action would be to get a hold of Haruka-tachi, and tell them of this threat." Usagi nodded, and went to go use the phone in Rei's kitchen.

RING! RING!

Haruka ran to the phone, as it neared its fifth ring.

RING! RI-

"Moshi moshi?" Haruka answered, a little out of breath.

"Haruka-san? I was just about to hang up" Usagi said, not very cheerfully.

"Neko-chan! What's wrong?" There was a pause.

"Setsuna-san told me to ask you three to come to Rei's. Something terrible has happened" Usagi trailed off.

"Hai, just wait Neko-chan. We will be there soon."

"Arigato."

Haruka hung up the phone, just as Hotaru appeared in the hallway.

"Something bad happened, didn't it?" Hotaru asked quietly. Haruka nodded, and went to get Michiru.

RING! RING!

Seiya groggily got out of bed.

RING! RING!

"Yeah, yeah... just wait!" Seiya went into the living room, and nearly killed himself tripping on the jacket he left there earlier in the day. "Geeze, Yaten! Can't you ever answer the phone??"

"Whatever..." Yaten replied, half asleep.

RING! RI-

"Moshi moshi?" Seiya answered the cordless, and growled into it. "Ne? Odango Atama? Nani?" Seiya said, shocked, and nodded to no one. "Hai. Give me a bit." Seiya hung up the phone and ran into Yaten's room, switching on the light.

"Seiya no baka! Let me sleep!" Yaten grumbled, putting his pillow over his head.

"Shut up, Yaten! Taiki got attacked!" Seiya growled, throwing some of Yaten's clothes at him. "We have to go to Rei's place." Yaten sat straight up at the mention of Taiki's name, and got up as Seiya rushed into his own room.

Minutes later, they were off to Hikawa Shrine as Sailor Star Fighter and Sailor Star Healer.



Fighter and Healer arrived a few seconds after Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru. They were still standing in the doorway to Rei's fire room when they got there. Healer cleared her throat, and the three turned.

Haruka looked right at Fighter and winked, smiling sexily. Fighter blushed furiously, and coughed, then walked passed the three into the room. Yaten followed, wonder what the heck that was all about.

In the room sat Usagi, Minako, Makoto, Rei, Setsuna, Luna and Artemis. But no Taiki.

"Where's Taiki?" Fighter asked, detransforming. Yaten did the same.

"He's in the spare room with Ami-chan." Makoto said. Yaten face vaulted. Seiya was shocked.

"N... nani??"

"Daijobu, Seiya-kun! Taiki is just fine!" Usagi said, no having any idea what Seiya meant. As usual.

"How's Ami-chan?" Michiru asked lightly. Usagi looked at the ground.

"She... she took the worst of the attack. She will be all right, though. She's resting." Usagi looked up at Seiya and Yaten. "Taiki-kun took Ami-chan back to the room she was sleeping in, because she fell asleep sitting up." Seiya face vaulted this time.

"And how long has he been gone?" Seiya asked.

"About an hour."

"Taiki's fine..." Yaten said sarcastically. Everyone but Usagi, Setsuna and Hotaru laughed.

Just at that moment, Taiki decided to make an entrance. Everyone stopped laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked. Yaten looked at him, and laughed more.

"Nothing, Taiki..." Everyone burst out laughing.

"How can you laugh when Ami-chan nearly died today??" Taiki fumed.

"How is she?" Usagi asked.

"She's okay. She fell asleep a while ago." Taiki answered.

"Why did it take you so long to get out here?" Yaten asked innocently.

"B... because I wanted to make sure that Ami-chan wasn't suffering from nightmares..." he said stuttering.

"Nightmares?" Michiru asked.

"Perhaps you should all sit down." Setsuna said quietly. Seiya sat beside Usagi, and Haruka sat beside him, causing Seiya to blush. Michiru sat beside Haruka with Hotaru, and Taiki and Yaten sat near Setsuna.

"What happened to you?" Haruka asked Usagi.

"Not me, but Taiki-kun and Ami-chan" said Usagi.

"I think Taiki-kun should tell you what happened." Rei said. Taiki nodded.

"The woman who attacked us was wearing something that Ami-chan called... Earth Armor??" Rei nodded, and Michiru and Haruka paid closer attention. Seiya and Yaten had no idea what Taiki was talking about. "The armor was ice blue, and she had a black cape. Her hair was brown, and she had these... weird black eyes. She carried a sword, which she used to... get Ami-chan. I think she somehow knew us."

"How could she?" Michiru asked.

"Well, she attacked us in the van before we had a chance to transform, and, oh... by the way guys, we don't have a van any more." Taiki said looking at Yaten and Seiya.

"Nani?" Seiya exclaimed.

"Well, she blew it up with dark energy. We almost didn't get out on time. She was fast. Very, very fast. I barely had a chance to blast her after she took down Ami-chan."

"Did you kill her?" Haruka asked.

"Iie, she got away in a portal before I had a chance."

"She didn't stay and fight?"

"She just disappeared, leaving me to bring Ami-chan here as fast as I could.

"That's strange..." Haruka said. Michiru nodded.

"What's more... she told me her name. She said she was Giman no Knight, one of the Senshi of Corruption."

"Giman no Knight? What kind of a name is that?" Yaten said sarcastically.

"Wait... does that mean there could be many more like her? If she said she was one of them... and only one..." Michiru pondered. The senshi were quiet for a moment, when Setsuna suddenly stood up.

"What's wrong, Setsuna-san?" Rei asked.

"Nothing, Rei-chan. I must go now. I have some things that must be taken care of." Setsuna said, and walked out of Hikawa Jinji without saying another word.

"What was that all about?" Asked Makoto. Rei shrugged.

"Probably Guardian of the Time gate odds and ends." The senshi continued to talk about the new threat.

The dark figure stood and watched, and then smiled when Setsuna left the Shrine. Then suddenly, it disappeared.

Everyone was asleep. It had been a rough night, with the tension between Haruka and Seiya, and the new threat that had just appeared. Well actually, almost everyone was asleep. Seiya was wide-awake, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep, so he decided that some fresh air might do the trick. He got up as quietly as he could, trying to avoid stepping on any of the sleeping bodies. He managed to get all the way across the room, when he nearly tripped over Haruka, who was sleeping right beside the door. He had kicked her lightly, so he froze. He held his breath, and released it when he realized that she was sleeping soundly still. Seiya stepped over Haruka quietly, and left the shrine.

Seiya walked down the long stairway in front of the temple, and sat on the first step. 'This is terrible. We travel all the way from Kinmokusei, and then we find out that we shouldn't have left... what do we do? Everything is falling to pieces again. As if I didn't have enough problems.' Seiya sighed, and brought his knees to his chest, putting his arms around his legs. 'Damn that Haruka.' Seiya looked up towards the starry sky. 'Why are you doing this? Do you like doing this to people? Leading them on in a false game of cat and mouse, flirting and turning on that charm... making people feel all silly and light headed...'

Seiya sighed. He was in turmoil. 'I know I still love Odango... I always will... but Haruka? Every single time she looks at me, or sits near me... or... or... anything! I feel like a stupid little schoolgirl, and start blushing like one! This is making me confused! This feeling...' Suddenly, Seiya was jerked out of her reverie by a blanket being placed lightly over his shoulders. Seiya spun around, effectively putting her face directly in front of Haruka's. She blushed hard. 'Chikuso!' Seiya swore to himself. 'Stop it!'

"What are you doing out here?" Seiya asked Haruka quietly. Haruka chuckled quietly.

"It's hard to sleep when someone kicks you awake!" Seiya was shocked.

"I... I thought you were asleep!" Seiya stuttered, as Haruka sat beside her, hugging herself in a similar blanket.

"Yeah well, I've had a lot of practice." Seiya decided not to ask what that meant. "Now what are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" Seiya sighed.

"Nothing. Just thinking. I haven't been able to sleep. Arigato for the blanket. I needed it."

"No problem." Haruka leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "I couldn't sleep either."

"Nani? Daijobu?" Haruka looked at Seiya.

"No reason. Just thinking." Haruka repeated what Seiya said, in the same manner. Seiya smiled faintly. Haruka grinned at him, but didn't look away. Seiya couldn't help but find himself blushing seriously, and looking right back into Haruka's eyes. 'Those eyes... they are so... distant... beautiful. So... well... Haruka.'

Haruka suddenly started to lean into Seiya, her face getting closer and closer to his. Seiya panicked, unable to move , but suddenly saw a faint glitter of something out of the corner of his eyes. Seiya broke Haruka's gaze quickly, turning around.

"What is that?" Seiya asked, trying to determine what the glowing thing was.

"What's what?" Haruka asked, looking in the same direction as Seiya. Seiya got up and walked over to the object. He picked it up and brought it to Haruka, showing her the item. Haruka gasped. The item Seiya held was a waist chain with several garnet jeweled keys hanging from it.

"What's wrong?" Seiya asked.

"Pluto's time keys!"

"Her what?" Seiya was getting freaked at Haruka's mood.

"Her time keys! She never leaves these anywhere! Quick!" Haruka said jumping up. "We've got to tell the others. If somehow she misplaced these keys, we know that there must be a problem!" Haruka bolted up the stairway, closely followed by Seiya. They ran into the Hikawa Jinji, waking up the other senshi.


"What do you mean? How could this have happened?" Usagi cried, fear making her voice rise. Michiru was thoughtful, and the rest of the senshi, including Ami, were sitting in the fire room quietly.

"Maybe that is why she left so suddenly..." Michiru said quietly.

"But why?!" Minako squeaked. "She probably knew what was going to happen!"

"Maybe we could have prevented it! If she had only told us..." Makoto whispered.

"Maybe... just maybe... she didn't tell us because we couldn't have prevented this..." Taiki pondered. "We can assume she has disappeared, ne? Haruka-kun..." Haruka nodded.

"She would never leave the keys anywhere. They are sacred." Haruka answered.

"That's right, Haruka-san!" Usagi said, "She would only give out the keys if Queen Serenity gave permission, or if I did from the future! And even then, she would still take time to consider further."

"She would never leave them anywhere so shamelessly." Ami said.

"We have to assume she transformed, and thus lost them as Sailor Pluto." Michiru said. "She carried them in an inter dimensional pocket at most times, like we do with our talismans. No one could grab them from her as Setsuna..." Everyone was silent.

"Then, what shall we do?" Rei asked what no one else would. Everyone was silent for a while more.

"Perhaps it would be better if we did not stay separated for a while." Haruka said.

"What do you mean?" asked Luna.

"I think Haruka-san means we should all stay here for a while." Rei said flatly, looking at Haruka. Haruka nodded.

"Right." Haruka said.

"Will it be all right with your grandfather?" Michiru asked, already knowing Haruka's thoughts.

"I hope he doesn't mind having four guys staying here..." Rei said, indicating how her grandfather thought Haruka was male. Haruka laughed lightly. Usagi sighed.

"As long as we are all safe... I think it's a really good idea... but we are all going to need some stuff, ne?" Everyone but Rei nodded. "How long should we stay for, as long as we are allowed to, of course."

"I don't know. Just a moment, first I must see if this will be allowed. I'm going to ask Ojii-chan." Rei got up, but Haruka stopped her.

"A week should suffice. If nothing happens ... perhaps we will talk about it then." Rei nodded and left to go talk to her grandfather.

It was decided. Thankfully, Rei's grandfather was leaving for a vacation the next day, and although he was suspicious of so many boys staying there, he agreed as long as they slept in separate rooms, because he didn't want his granddaughter to be lonely while he was gone. Everyone would stay in the temple for one week. Everyone needed to get stuff for their stay, especially those who had school the next day. Everyone decided to sleep the rest of the morning, and then the next day they all headed out. At Luna's insistence, no one went without a 'buddy' in case of the chance of a second attack.

"Yaten, I need someone to protect me from evil sword carrying knights!!!" Minako latched on to Yaten's arm, dragging him off in the direction of her house. Everyone face vaulted as they walked off, Yaten struggling to return back to the temple. Rei agreed to accompany Makoto to her house as Artemis ran off after Minako and Yaten.

"I guess I'll pick up Yaten's stuff too," Seiya said, starting towards the street. Haruka stopped him.

"I'll drive you." Haruka said, pulling Seiya after her. Seiya started to protest a little, but let himself be taken away. Michiru rolled her eyes.

"I'll accompany you to your house, Usagi-chan." Michiru said.

"Arigato, Michiru-san." Usagi said, thankful.

"Me too, Michiru-momma!" Hotaru said. "I will help protect Usagi-san!" She said, standing with her right hand over her heart. Michiru nodded, and Usagi giggled, as she gave Hotaru a piggyback ride to her house. That left Ami and Taiki. Ami blushed, and so did Taiki. He coughed.

"Shall we go, Ami-chan?" Taiki asked, nervously.

"H... hai, Taiki-kun." Taiki and a fairly sore Ami went to Ami's house.

Makoto and Rei were walking to Makoto's house. Both were tired and weary, and were very afraid. Makoto hated to admit it, even to herself. 'After years on my own, facing life, evil senshi, and the worst villains this damned universe had to offer... I'm scared. Why? Because my best friends are scared too. When something shakes up Haruka... I get scared. Haruka tried not to show it, but I could tell. We all could. That's probably why Rei-chan's all spooked.' The tall girl looked at the shorter one, and sighed. Rei's face was tight with worry and tension, and she looked on the edge. 'Poor Rei-chan. She has the ability to sense the danger all around us... this situation must be really bad if she's constantly sensing it... She will probably go mad with worry and paranoia...' She forced herself to look ahead. 'But I must be strong... '

Rei looked at Makoto. Her face was rough and preoccupied. It looked as if she were deciding something. Rei quickly darted her eyes to her left, as a couple walked by on the other side of the street. 'Stop it Rei-chan!' She scolded to herself. 'You won't do Usagi-tachi any good by going all paranoid. But why do I feel such evil? It possesses my head... I feel as if I were engulfed in it... not taking me over, but constantly harassing me. Something will happen, and we've got to stop it. This will be our last fight, one way or another. I just know it. Usagi is the difference. I can feel that too. It frightens me.' She saddened. 'Poor Usagi. Can she feel it? I bet Michiru-san can. That is probably why she went with Usagi...'

Both girls felt on odd sensation, causing them to worry much more, and Rei turned around suddenly, with an ofuda in her hand.

"Daijobu?" Makoto asked Rei. Rei turned back, and shook her head.

"It's nothing, Mako-chan." She sighed. "I... I just feel a presence."

"Should we henshin?" Makoto asked.

"Iie, Mako-chan." Rei said, and continued walking alongside a much taller Makoto.

"I know what you are feeling Rei-chan... it feels as if we are being watched. I feel eyes on my back..." Rei nodded, and they kept walking, albeit much more cautiously.

Usagi walked beside Michiru, carrying a tired Hotaru. Hotaru yawned.

"You are tired, ne?" Usagi asked.

"Iie, I just am bored..."

"Hota-chan..." Michiru warned. "Little girls should not stay up so late then get up so early..."

"Hai, Michiru-momma." Hotaru grumbled. Usagi giggled.

"You can nap at my house while I gather some things. Don't you need anything, Michiru-san?"

"Hai, but Haruka will get whatever I need."

"Haruka and Seiya seem to get along now." Usagi said curiously.

"Yes, for some reason they have seen past their differences." Michiru said, knowing the answer would be good enough for Usagi.

"I'm glad. Is Haruka-san all right with the other Star Lights?" Usagi asked.

"Mmm... I believe so. Once she and Seiya-kun stopped arguing, she has become much more mellow."

"Good. It could make the outcome of things much more difficult if they are holding grudges." Michiru looked at Usagi sideways then looked ahead. "I wonder why they hated each other so much before?" Michiru face vaulted. 'Okay, so maybe the princess needs much more time to become mature...' She looked back ahead of her. 'Princess, what will we do?' She asked herself. 'I fear for you, yet I know that when whatever this is that happens, it will be you who decides the future.... you who will be the savior... I promise to protect you, my dear Usagi-sama. Forever. I know it is not my duty, and I am still an outer senshi, but if the duty arises... I will leave my outer post... I will become a protectorate...'

The place was dark, and the people were emanating evil auras, to those who could detect such things. A great throne was in the center of the large room with black walls, and on it sat Queen Malevolence. I figure appeared before, shrouded in mystery, wearing a long, black cloak.

"Have you succeeded?" The regal looking woman asked. The figure bowed stiffly then stood up straight, flinging back the cloak it wore to reveal a very handsome man. He had long raven colored hair and deep black eyes. He carried a long silver staff with a garnet jewel on the top, and he wore crimson colored armor.

"Hai, Malevolence-sama." He replied, in a toneless voice.

"Perfect. You are dismissed." He bowed again, and then disappeared.

Ami was fishing through her school fuku's pockets for her keys, Taiki standing beside her, when suddenly the door swung open, and the two looked up to see Ami's mother, Mizuno Akane standing in the doorway, fuming.

"Ami-chan!" She yelled, and pulled the two inside.

"Okaa-san!" Ami exclaimed, when she suddenly realized she hadn't gone home that night, nor had anyone called her house.

"Where have you been?!" Dr. Mizuno yelled at her daughter. "I've become sick with worry, Ami-chan!" She glared at Ami. "And who is this young man?" Ami gasped, and she and Taiki flushed at what her mother was implying. Taiki snapped out of it.

"Hajime mashite, Ms. Mizuno. Watashi no namae wa Taiki Kou desu. Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu." Taiki bowed to Dr. Mizuno, and she bowed back stiffly.

"Okaa-san, I was at Rei's. Gomen nasai! I didn't mean to worry you... we all fell asleep watching movies there." Ami gushed.

"'We'?" Ami blushed again.

"Rei-tachi... I met Taiki while coming home. He offered to escort me..." Ami lied again.

"It's true, Ms. Mizuno." Taiki interjected. Akane sighed.

"That is still no excuse, Ami-chan. You should have been more careful, and not have fallen asleep. It's a good thing you have no school today."

"Well, Okaa-san, I was wondering if it would be all right for me to spend this week at the Hikawa Jinji." Ami said.

"Doushite? Whatever for?" Akane asked her daughter.

"Rei's grandfather is leaving for a week or so, and he requested that we stay there to keep her company, and make sure she is okay."

"Will any men be staying there as well?" Her mother asked, looking at Taiki.

"Iie, all the people there will we strictly female." Ami said, not in the least bit lying.

"It is all right with me, Ami-chan, but no men!" Akane sighed and hugged her daughter. Ami did her best not to flinch as her mother squeezed her wound.

"Well, I'd better get my stuff together..." Ami said, trying to get away from her mother's prying eyes. She started to walk towards her room, and Taiki followed her absentmindedly, until Akane grabbed his should, and led him into the kitchen.

"I think you should stay out here. Would you like some tea?" Akane asked.

"H... hai." Taiki said, blushing hard.

"Thank you for coming with me, Yaten-kun!" Minako said in a sugary sweet voice, as she held on to his arm even tighter. He sighed, and looked ahead.

"Yeah, whatever, Minako-chan." Yaten said, ignoring the cute looks she was giving him. Minako sighed silently. 'I know, I know. He doesn't care... but neither do I. I have fun pretending he's my boyfriend... even if he would never give me the time of day. I like being with him. I wish he weren't so cold sometimes. Why can't he make friends? I mean, we defeated Galaxia, the universe is safe... well sort of... he needs to be more open with people, otherwise he'll be alone all his life.' Minako giggled in her mind. 'It's like he has never had fun in his life! I don't want him to be so upset... I wonder what I can do?'

Yaten grimaced inwardly. 'Stop it Minako-chan! Don't you understand? This really bothers me... I don't want to hurt your feelings... or maybe I do... but, why do you have to be so clingy? Can't you see that I'm not Seiya or Taiki? I'm pretty sure you aren't either... you can't possibly think that I'll stay a male forever, Minako! You can't wish it either... I won't, and besides, I'll never...' Yaten sighed. He could feel how she felt. 'Stop pitying me, Minako-chan. I don't hate what I feel, or how I am... I've just become used to it... it's hard to break out of a cycle that you almost want to stay in...'

Artemis walked behind them, groaning inwardly. 'Minako-chan no baka!' Artemis thought. 'Can't she take a hint? Kami-sama, she's just like Usagi-chan. Rather blind, yet seeing very well, all at once.'

They walked along silently, until suddenly, Minako felt herself tripping on a crack in the sidewalk, falling face first onto the ground.

"Itai!" Minako yelled. 'Oh no!' Yaten thought, and quickly helped her up.

"Daijobu ka?" Yaten asked. Minako looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

"Daijobu... my nose hurts..." she said, touching it lightly. Yaten took a handkerchief out from his pocket, and lightly dabbed at the underside of her nose. Minako looked into his eyes.

"You have a small nosebleed." Yaten said, looking back into her eyes. 'He actually cares so much that he would give me his handkerchief? Wow... You can't hide it from me, Yaten-kun! I know that you aren't as bad as you try to be... I will make you have fun, Aino style!' Minako smiled warmly, replacing his hand with her own, and started pulling him down the street.
"Arigato." She said quietly.

'Kami-sama, I just had to go with Haruka didn't I? I could have stayed at the temple, or gone with Taiki... but noooo... I had to give in to her smile, her charm... damn she's good looking, and I... NO! Stop it Seiya! Stop thinking like that! But she is... I don't care! No more... I mustn't... she's only playing with me and... so what?! Let her, let her- forget it! I won't give in to her and those blue green, distant, endless- No!!!'

Haruka looked with concern at Seiya, who was fidgeting in the passenger seat in her car. "Daijobu ka, Seiya-kun?" She gave Seiya an I'm-concerned-but-you-are-kind-of-acting-weird glance. Seiya tried to calm down. 'Stop it. Don't look at her. She'll just make your head get all messed up...'

"Daijobu..." Seiya said quickly, and looked away from Haruka and out the window. He was playing with his fingers in his lap. He could feel her eyes on him. He looked over to her slightly. She was looking at him. 'Oi! Seiya no baka! Of course she's looking at you! Pfftt! Noooo... it was only your imagination... What else did you expect!?' Haruka looked back to the street ahead of her, and Seiya let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding.

Seiya was extremely relieved when Haruka stopped the car. In the same place she had the night when... 'NO! Shimatta, Seiya! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! Think of anything else but that! Like... like... Kissing a guy! Yeah that's it! Eww... that's just too disturbing... think of something else... uh... Yaten first thing in the morning? Ewww... that's too gross too!' They got out of the yellow car, and walked to Seiya's apartment. This time Haruka came in, rather than leaving before they even got to the doors. Seiya led her upstairs, and they entered the apartment. Seiya sighed a little, realizing that the apartment was one very big mess, just like they had left it. He took the clothing and papers off the couch and started to go to his room. "Make yourself comfortable." He said to Haruka, and she sat on the couch. She turned to face him and smiled sexily, causing Seiya's legs to stop working. He almost fell into his bedroom.

Seiya closed the door behind him, and leaned against it, breathing hard. "Why in hell is she doing this? She can't possibly be in love with me or anything... I mean, she loves Michiru-san and Odango Atama... not... me!" Seiya mumbled to himself as he got a duffel bag, and began filling it with clothing. 'But, why am I feeling like this? She is gorgeous... but I still love Odango... But, every single time she looks at me that way, I just... can't think straight... I wish she would tell just what she feels...' Seiya sighed. 'And that kiss...'

Seiya opened the door to his room, avoiding Haruka's glance, and crossed over to Yaten's, then Taiki's, gathering all the stuff they would need. He went in the living room to find Haruka pulling something out of the couch.

"What are you doing?" Seiya asked. Haruka gave him this ridiculous grin, and turned around on the couch, holding up what she found. Seiya blushed, practically from head to toe. 'Kami-sama... this is not helping...'

"Are these one's yours?" Haruka grinned even wider, holding up a pair of white cotton boxers for Seiya to see. Seiya couldn't say anything, and blushed even more.

"Uh... yeah..." Seiya grabbed them and stuck them in his bag. 'Kami-sama, I couldn't be more embarrassed even if... if it was hers or something!' Seiya coughed. 'Aww, shimatta! Why didn't I say they were Yaten's or something??' He walked towards the door, and as they left, Seiya could hear Haruka trying to choke back laughter.