Part Four

Part Four: Usagi's love in peril! Mamoru and the blind teacher

"Hello, Mamoru-san. How is the studying going?"
Chiba Mamoru looked up as the pretty, vacant-eyed girl sat down next to him on the university park bench, her ever present golden retriever at her side. He shook his head and grinned at her. "How do you do that, Shinzui-san? You always manage to slip up on me without my noticing."
Shinzui smiled back, her hand absently stroking her guide dog's silky fur. "It's not that difficult when you're always so absorbed in your work."
Mamoru looked down at the book in his lap and sighed. "I like learning but it is so much work. These university classes are much more difficult than the ones in high school." He paused for a moment. "I feel badly, because Usako--" Then he smiled a bit wistfully. "But I'm not going to bother you with that, Shinzui-san."
The lovely blind girl shook her head. "I don't mind, Mamoru-san. Tell me."
Mamoru glanced at her in slight surprise, but her expression was so earnest he could not refuse her. "Well, it's just that I am so busy studying I rarely ever have time to spend with my girlfriend."
Shinzui smiled mysteriously. "You're dating Tsukino Usagi, right?" At Mamoru's nod, her smile widened. "I wouldn't worry too much about it, Mamoru-san. From the looks of things, she needs a bit more studying time herself."
Mamoru grinned back. "Well, Usako never was one for studying, but" his eyes took on a faraway cast. "She has such a good heart."
"You really love her." This was a statement, not a question.
"She is my life. I'm going to marry her someday" Suddenly Mamoru looked up, and blushed. "Did I say that out loud?" He shook his head at Shinzui's gentle nod. "I don't know why that came out that way I never tell people that." He looked with curiosity at the fair-haired girl next to him. "It's strange, Shinzui-san. I know we only met a few weeks ago, but I feel like I've known you my whole life."
The mysterious smile reappeared. "Oh, much longer than that, Mamoru. Much longer." Shinzui reached out and touched his face affectionately, and for a moment, Mamoru felt a flash of something familiar. Before he had the chance to puzzle over it, though, Shinzui had risen to her feet. "I have to go. Today is Tsukino Chibiusa's piano lesson."
Mamoru closed the book on his lap and stood up. "Would you like a ride?" he asked, indicating his motorcycle parked a few feet away. Then he blushed again at the motion, realizing that the young blind woman would not be able to see where he was pointing. "I
brought my motorcycle," he amended.
Shinzui giggled in her sweet, tinkling way. "That's very kind of you, Mamoru-san, but I don't think Centauri cares for motorcycles."
Mamoru blushed again as he realized that he had forgotten all about Shinzui's guide dog. "Oh, well would you mind if I walked with you then? I've had about enough studying for today, and I think I'd like to pay Usagi a visit." Then he grinned. "Besides, maybe I can get her out of your hair this time. I heard about what happened at the last lesson."
Shinzui giggled again. "The girls aren't that bad, really. They're just so much alike But all the same, it might be better for Chibiusa's learning experience if you did whisk Usagi away for a while."
The tall young woman accepted Mamoru's arm, and he marveled again at her height. She was as tall as he was! And yet there was an aura of fragility about her too, like if the wind blew too strongly it might sweep her off her feet. At her light, delicate touch he again felt that strange familiar feeling wash over him. He was so certain he knew her from somewhere. The Silver Millenium, maybe? He wondered as they began to walk towards Usagi's house.
About a hundred feet away, a pair of bright blue eyes watched from the bushes as the pretty blind woman and the handsome young man walked away, arm in arm. The eyes narrowed. They had seen the way Shinzui had reached out to touch the young man's face, and they didn't like it. Not one little bit. Creeping from tree to bush, the owner of the pair of eyes followed the progress of the tall couple down the street.

"The time has come." The terrifyingly hideous voice emanated, disembodied, from the darkness beyond the edges of the tear in space. The black monument beneath seemed to shudder at the sound of it.
"The first of the jaki sent to retrieve the Dagger have failed in their task. This time, I shall face those bothersome Sailor Scouts myself and get rid of them all permanently. The Sailor brats are not going to stop us like they have in the past. When the Gate has been fully opened, the Negaforce will finally be freed, and we can again conquer the Posiverse, once and for all!" The laughter that echoed over the empty plains was chilling in its evil. "Come, my jaki. Find those meddlesome Scouts for me. I will destroy them myself!"
A drop of the black liquid fell from the aperture, striking the smooth, cold stone of the monument and hissing on the surface. It began to swell, rising up and swirling around, assuming a form that was semi-human, but grotesquely deformed. Its skin glistened, black and oily, and two fierce yellow eyes opened, sparking evilly. The creature had three mouths, each lined with hundreds of tiny, pointed, wickedly sharp little teeth. All three mouths grinned cruelly as the monster addressed its master, somewhere on the other side of the hole.
"Lord Narcissus. I find human juice." All three sets of lips moved at once, so that it sounded as though there were a whole group of the creatures instead of just one.
"Yes, my jaki. Drain the humans. Drain as many as you can; it doesn't matter where you choose to go. Those bratty Sailor Senshi are sure to show up to save their precious, pitiful human friends; and then I'll take over and it will be too late for them." Laughter again.
The jaki nodded, and its yellow eyes lit up at the thought. "I go now." It leapt from the top of the monument where it was standing, and landed in the tall grass below. Rolling into a ball, the creature rocked back and forth for a moment before bouncing into the air. It repeated the bounce twice more, and on the third it flew into the sky, flying in that familiar arc towards Tokyo.
The fields were silent again for a moment, and then once again shuddered with the sound of the evil laughter. Lord Narcissus' turn had come.

"Shinzui-san! Mamo-chan!" Chibiusa's delighted squeals greeted them almost before they had reached the gate. The little girl came tearing out of the house towards them, leaping into Mamoru's arms. He chuckled at his future daughter.
"Glad to see us, huh?" he questioned with a twinkle in his eye.
The pink ponytailed child grinned and hugged him, then turned to Shinzui. "We get to have our lesson today, right, Shinzui-san?"
Shinzui smiled sweetly at her. "That's right, Chibiusa," she responded, her unfocused gaze making it look as though she were addressing the grass at her feet. "I've brought some simple music for you, and a notebook. From now on, I'll assign you a couple of songs a week to work on. You must practice for a half an hour each day, so that you learn them."
Chibiusa wrinkled her nose. "That sounds like homework to me. I hate homework."
Mamoru tickled the little girl's chin, making her giggle. "Come now, Chibiusa. You wanted to learn to play the piano, right? How else can you learn if you don't practice?"
"Mamoru-san is right, Chibiusa. But don't worry practicing music isn't really like homework. It's too much fun." Shinzui told her.
"All right," the child conceded. "Can we start right now?"
"Sure," her music teacher answered, smiling. "But first, where is Usagi-san? Mamoru-san came especially to see her."
"Aw, I thought you wanted to watch me learn piano," Chibiusa pouted, sticking out her lower lip.
Mamoru nodded. "I'd like that, Chibiusa. But that means that Usagi will want to watch too"
At this, the little girl's russet eyes widened in understanding. "Take her, Mamo-chan. Take her far away and don't let her come back for at least an hour. Or two."
Mamoru grinned at her. "Well, I would, but first you have to tell me where she is."
"Oh." Chibiusa shook her head. "I forgot. She's not here. She went to Rei's for a study group after school."
The handsome young man's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Usagi went to a study group? Of her own free will?"
"Not exactly." The little girl's eyes twinkled mischievously. "It took a little persuasion from Makoto and Ami, and Luna said if she didn't go she'd rip up Usagi's new fashion magazine. So Usagi went."
Mamoru put his hand behind his head in a gesture of slight embarassment. "That's Usagi, all right," he conceded with a laugh. "Well, I guess if she isn't here, I will watch you practice for a while, Chibiusa."
The little girl wriggled with delight and practially dragged Mamoru and Shinzui inside the house. Outside, a figure darted into the bushes in front of the window in the front room, and the same pair of eyes popped up over the windowsill to peer into the room where Chibiusa had led her teacher and Mamoru. Those eyes watched jealously as Mamoru took Shinzui's elbow, and gently led her to the piano bench where she could sit down. A look of gratitude passed between them, and the pair of eyes narrowed with displeasure.
"Usagi-chan!" Luna's stern voice caused the peeping tom to jump in surprise.
"Luna!" Usagi hissed, trying to whisper. "Not so loud. They'll hear you!"
Luna ignored her young mistress' admonishment. "Usagi, you're suppposed to be at the study meeting. Just what do you think you are doing?"
"Ami wasn't feeling well today, so she went home from the study group early. And we can't really stay focused without her, so we decided to take the rest of the day off!"
Luna rolled her eyes. "We decided? You mean YOU decided."
Usagi blushed guiltily. "Well, all right then, I decided. I've been studying every day this week. I'm going to go crazy!" Then she remembered that she was suppposed to be being inconspicuous, and she began whispering again. "Anyway, I went to the university to surprise Mamo-chan after his class, and you know what I saw? He was sitting with Shinzui-san, and the two of them were getting really close!" Fire lit her eyes, and she again forgot to whisper. "Mamo-chan is mine! I won't let anyone else have him! Not even her!"
Luna raised one eyebrow. "And exactly why, Usagi-chan, are you spying on him instead of talking to him about it?"
Again Usagi blushed a little. "Well, there have been other times, you know, when I thought maybe" she played with her fingers. "Mamo-chan has always been embarassed when I accuse him of thinking about other girls, especially in public. So I decided to be discrete this time, until I'm sure."
Luna shook her head. "And you call sneaking around in the bushes and following them through the streets 'discrete'?" she wanted to know in disbelief. "Really, Usagi-chan. You must learn not to be so suspicious. Don't you trust Mamoru?"
"Of course I do," Usagi retorted vehemently. "But I don't trust other girls with Mamoru." She snuck another peek into the living room, where Mamoru was bent over Shinzui at the piano, watching intently as Shinzui explained something to Chibiusa.
"Usagi-chan. Shinzui knows that you and Mamoru are a couple. She doesn't seem like the kind of girl to go around breaking up the relationships of others." Luna also took a glance into the room, where the patient teacher was holding Chibiusa's hands over the keyboard, demonstrating a technique. A strand of fair hair fell from her neat bun across her face, but Shinzui didn't seem to notice as it couldn't get in the way of her nonexistent vision anyway. Luna again shook her head. "She seems so sweet."
Usagi's eyes narrowed. "Of course she seems sweet. Mamoru couldn't be enticed away from me by a nasty girl." She turned back to the window again. "But Shinzui-san is mature. And graceful. And pretty. She's so much more grown up than I am, and" Usagi's eyes filled with tears. "What if Mamo-chan decides he wants to be with someone more sophisticated? What will happen to me?"
Usagi looked dangerously close to bursting into hysterics, so Luna did the only thing she could think of to distract her. She answered the question in a very unLuna-like way. "You'll fight for him, of course."
The teary eyed girl looked at her cat with surprise at the unexpected answer. "Fight for him" she repeated slowly. "Of course! That's it! I'll fight for him!!" Her face filled with new resolve, Usagi rose to her feet. "You just watch, Luna. I'm going to turn myself into the most mature, sophisticated woman Mamo-chan has ever seen! There's no way Shinzui-san will ever be able to tempt him away from" Usagi made an exaggerated awkward curtsy that Luna assumed was meant to be graceful. "Serenity, the Princess of the Moon! I will fight to right myself and triumph over Mamo-chan's heart!"
With these words, Usagi stepped from the bushes with determination on her face. "Luna, let's go shopping!"
Luna's eyes closed, and she shook her head. "Usagi, if you want to be more mature, why not start with studying?" she offered wearily.
"That comes later," Usagi declared. "Right now, I have to look more mature. Then, I'm going to learn to study, and to cook, and play the piano, and be a perfect hostess, and make tea, and" her words continued to trail off as she headed down the street for the bus stop.

"Usagi-chan! Is that you?" Makoto's jaw dropped at the sight of her friend. "You look different."
Usagi nodded, restraining her excitement. A lady remains serene, she reminded herself, stepping into Makoto's immaculate apartment. "Yes, Makoto. I had hoped you might notice." Usagi was using her very best Princess Serenity voice. "I have decided. I am tired of being clumsy and irresponsible. What you see before you now is the new me."
"Usagi-chan" Makoto was unable to come up with a response as she looked at her. Usagi had purchased a new dress, not one of the trendy, frilly things she usually picked out, but a very sweet, simple white dress with pearl buttons marching neatly down the front and a soft, ankle-length flowing skirt. Her long ponytails had been taken down, and instead of their usual 'dumpling' arrangment they had been smoothed into a single, ornately braided bun at the base of Usagi's neck. Sophisticated pearl drop earrings and a pair of white, high-heeled sandals completed the look. She didn't even really look like the same person; the heels even made her look taller than the tiny Sailor leader usually was.
"Please, Makoto. From now on I would like to be called Serenity. 'Usagi' is, after all, a rather childish nickname, don't you think?"
Makoto had no response. She stared at her friend without a word, and Usagi giggled lightly. "Come now, Makoto. Don't just stand there with your mouth open. Say something. How do you like it?"
Makoto shook her head. "I'm not sure," she answered honestly. "You look beautiful, Usag- I mean, Serenity. But it just doesn't seem like you at all." Makoto looked down at Usagi's feet. "You're wearing heels! You've never been able to wear heels without falling flat on your face."
"Well, I haven't fallen yet," Usagi responded modestly in her Princess voice. "I never realized it before, but it's so much easier to walk in heels when you take smaller steps, and when you're paying attention to where you're going. I never cared about those things before, but now" she turned around in a circle gracefully. " now I have decided that the way I walk is important too. And from now on, I'm going to study just as hard as Ami does. I'm going to ask Rei to teach me to be more graceful maybe I'll take one of those martial arts classes her grandfather teaches. And I'm going to have Minako help me get into better shape exercising and making sure I'm eating well. No more junk food or binging." Then Usagi turned to Makoto. "But first, I want you to teach me about cooking and keeping a neat house. You're the best homemaker there is."
Makoto was still staring at her. "Usagi I mean, Serenity how are you I mean" she took a deep breath and shook her head. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I no longer wish to be"
"And drop the 'princess' tone with me, all right? I know you too well. I don't believe that 'I'm tired of who I am' bit for a minute. What's going on?" Makoto's piercing green eyes penetrated Usagi's façade, and for a moment, she dropped the charade.
"Makoto," Usagi sighed, walking over to the couch and remembering to take small steps. "I want to be this person. This person that you see. I want to be more mature, and graceful, and sophisticated."
"But why?" Makoto asked, sinking down onto the couch next to her petite friend. "It's true that sometimes your clumsiness and flightiness is irritating, but we all love you, Usagi-chan."
Usagi's eyes shone with tears as she looked up at the brunette. "I know and I love you too. But .Mamo-chan"
"So that's what this is about." Makoto's lips curved into a smile. "Usagi, let me remind you of something. Mamoru has loved you over at least two lifetimes. The two of you have a destiny together; in the past, in the present, and even in the future. Mamoru loves you just the way you are. You don't have to change anything to get him to love you more."
Usagi shook her head. "I guess in my heart I know that, Mako-chan. But" her eyes spilled over, and Makoto knew then that this was not just another of Usagi's whims. Usagi never cried quietly unless the tears came from her soul. "Mako-chan, I'm scared. I lost him once already, in the Silver Millenium. I lost him again when Queen Beryl took him from me, and again when she killed him for not destroying me. And each time, I wanted to die myself." She looked into her friend's green eyes, full of compassion. "If I ever lost him again, even if it was to Shinzui"
"Whoa, whoa. Hold on there. Are you talking about Chibiusa's new piano teacher?" Makoto wanted to know.
Usagi nodded, and sniffled a little. "I saw her in the university park with Mamo-chan. She she likes him. I know it." She turned to Makoto. "She's blind, you know." Makoto nodded, and Usagi continued. "But she still does so much she teaches music, and works with children down at the youth center, and can play any instrument there is, and Michiru says she's an incredible musician who can make music you can feel. She's so perfect. And she's perfect in spite of her handicap. I just know that Mamo-chan admires her for that. Mako-chan, what if she takes him from me?"
Makoto pulled the weeping girl close, and wiped away her tears. "I don't think that could ever happen, Usagi-chan." Then she tilted Usagi's face up to look at her. "But if it did, would it help you to know that I would beat both of them into a bloody pulp for making you cry?"
At this, Usagi had to laugh in spite of herself. Seeing the wickedly amused gleam in Makoto's eye only made her laugh harder. She could just picture Sailor Jupiter blasting into the university park, confronting Mamoru and Shinzui and chasing Mamoru around the grass with her lighting bolts toasting his rear end. She laughed again, and Makoto began to laugh too.
Makoto squeezed her friend's shoulders. "You know that I love you exactly the way you are," she told Usagi. "If you want to make an effort to be more mature, I think that's wonderful, and I will support you all the way. Just be sure you're doing it for the right reasons, Usagi-chan. Do it for yourself, not for anyone else."
Usagi nodded, and Makoto handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. Usagi did so, then proceeded to blow her nose with a very undignified honk that set both girls laughing again.
"Well, Usagi-chan, since you did come here for a cooking lesson, how about I teach you to make some really good cakes and homemade ice cream?" Makoto offered with a twinkle in her eye, knowing that these were two of Usagi's favorites. As she expected, Usagi's eyes lit up. Makoto then pretended to reconsider. "But then, you did say no more junk food"
Usagi's blue eyes flew wide. "Oh, no I I'll still eat sweets. Just not as much. Maybe."
Makoto had to grin at her petite friend's concession. "All right then. How about a carrot cake?" she asked, rising from
the couch.
Usagi scowled. "Mako-chan. You know I hate carrots."
Makoto winked at her. "You'll like this. I promise." She headed for the kitchen. "Come on. We'll get you an apron so we don't spill anything on that pretty dress." She turned back to Usagi. "Which reminds me-you really do look beautiful in that outfit, Usagi-chan. You should wear your hair like that more often. It looks lovely." Then she grinned. "But I'd miss the 'dumplings'. They're just you."
Usagi grinned back, feeling much better. "I am going to learn to cook and study and be graceful, Mako-chan. But I'm not going to give up on being me, completely, either."
Makoto nodded and put her arm around the smaller girl's shoulders as they entered the kitchen. "That's right, Usagi-chan. You should never give up on being you."

Usagi grabbed Makoto's arm and hauled her behind the nearest tree. "Look there they are," she hissed. Makoto looked in the direction of Usagi's pointing finger.
Mamoru was escorting Shinzui and Centauri up the walk towards the university doors. The two had linked arms, and as they watched, Shinzui tipped her head back to laugh sweetly at something Mamoru had said. Makoto had to admit that for two people who had only met a few weeks ago, they did appear awfully chummy. Her green eyes narrowed a bit, and one of her hands inadvertently balled into a fist. Usagi may not have realized it, but Makoto had only been half joking when she had talked about beating up anyone who made her cry. If Mamoru really did hurt Usagi that way-Makoto shook her head. He would never do that to her. I'm getting as suspicious as Usagi, she thought wryly. Turning to her friend, she said, "Well? I thought we were going to do this."
Usagi shrank back against her. "Ummm I don't know. Maybe this isn't such a great idea, Mako-chan. I mean, what if I mess everything up? He might go running back to Shinzui and never come back."
Makoto snorted derisively. "Not likely, Usagi-chan. I've never seen a man more in love with anyone than Mamoru is with you." She turned to look at the tall couple about to enter the university. "Besides, you've been looking forward to this for the last week. Come on. It's now or never, Usagi-chan. Let's go!" Makoto grabbed Usagi's hand and pulled her towards the university doors.
Usagi had no choice but to go, unless she wanted to end up flat on her face. She was wearing the same outfit she had worn to Makoto's apartment a week ago, including the heeled sandals, and so she was having enough difficulty concentrating on making her feet stay under her. She forgot for the moment to worry about Shinzui and Mamoru.
The two girls burst through the doors of the university, and Makoto spied Mamoru and Shinzui disappearing down the hall. "Come on, Usagi-chan," she urged her friend, and they raced down the hall in pursuit.
"Mamoru! Shinzui-san!" Makoto called as they got nearer. The two turned around to see who was there.
Usagi was finally able to slow to a walk, and she was suddenly grateful for the rigorous fitness routine Minako had put her through every day this week. She was not nearly as winded as she would have been a week ago, and it only took her a couple of seconds to regain her breath. She looked up just in time to note with satisfaction the amazed look on Mamoru's face when he saw her.
"Usako!" Mamoru dropped Shinzui's arm immediately and approached her, looking at his beloved like he'd never seen her before. "You look wow." His gaze scanned her new outfit, and the new hairstyle. "Wow." He reached out hesitantly to touch her shining hair, so different from its usual 'dumpling' arrangement, and then drew his hand back uncertainly. "Your hair it's so" He couldn't seem to find the right word. "Wow," he repeated numbly.
Usagi blushed, and giggled a little. "You like it?"
Mamoru found his tongue again. "You're beautiful," he responded. He could not resist taking her in his arms, and kissing her. (But only on the cheek; they were, after all, in public.) Then he pulled back and looked at her again, shaking his head in amazement. "What did you do?"
Usagi smiled flirtatiously. "I went shopping."
Mamoru smiled back. "I never knew shopping could do this." This time he really did touch the silky braid pinned to the base of her neck.
Shinzui came up quietly behind Makoto, so as not to disturb the couple, who were quite obviously absorbed in one another. "What's this?" she asked softly, with a hint of a smile.
Makoto turned back to her. "Usagi was afraid that you might be in love with Mamoru," she answered with a grin. "So she gave herself a little makeover. She didn't want you to take him away."
Shinzui's eyebrows lifted. "In love with Mamoru?" She giggled a little. "Not remotely." Then something occurred to her, and her face suddenly looked very sad. Makoto recognized the expression all too well.
"But there is someone, isn't there?" Makoto asked with a knowing smile.
Shinzui appeared surprised, but she smiled wistfully. "Yes." For a moment Makoto thought she was going to say something else, but Shinzui seemed to think better of it, and she stopped.
Makoto patted the taller girl's shoulder. "I've been there," she said comfortingly. "It's never easy, I know. Especially when he doesn't feel the same way." Shinzui nodded, and her smile took on a mysterious irony, but she did not answer. "I'm Kino Makoto, by the way."
Shinzui smiled. "Yes, Mamoru-san has told me much about Usagi and her friends. I'm Giseino Shinzui, and it is very nice to meet you, Kino-san."
Makoto almost snickered at the formality of the address, but something about Shinzui's sincerity kept her from it. Instead, she simply responded, "Oh, please, call me Makoto."
Shinzui inclined her head in agreement. "And you must call me Shinzui."
"All right. It's great to meet you too." Then Makoto turned back to Usagi and Mamoru, just in time to hear Usagi ask the question she'd been waiting all week to ask.
"Mamo-chan, would you have dinner with me tonight?"
Mamoru's eyebrows lifted. "I'd like that, Usagi. Where do you want to go?"
Usagi blushed again. "To my house. I I want to cook for you."
An odd expression which Mamoru did his best to stifle crept across his handsome features. "Are you sure, Usako? I mean, we could go out"
Makoto, who was standing behind where Usagi couldn't see her, caught Mamoru's gaze and gave him a warning shake of the head, indicating that he shouldn't turn her down. Mamoru's eyes flicked back to Usagi's face, so very eager to please.
"It's all right, Mamo-chan, really. I've been practicing. Please?" The expression on her face was so beguiling that he could not refuse.
Mamoru smiled. "All right then, Usako. Your house it is."
Momentarily forgetting her goal of dignity, Usagi did a little dance for joy. Makoto couldn't help the grin that spread across her face, and as soon as her friend turned around, she gave her a thumbs-up. Usagi returned the gesture gleefully.
Suddenly Shinzui's head snapped up in alarm, and Centauri, sensing the disturbance in his mistress, also stiffened. "I'm sorry," she said to the others. "But I'm late for class. I have to run. I'll see all of you later!" With that, she turned quickly and rounded the corner of the hallway, out of sight.
"That was weird," Makoto commented, watching her go. Just then, a scream sounded from the front lawn, and all three rushed to the window.
"Oh, great," Makoto moaned, as the jaki dropped its helpless, comatose victim and went after another. "Don't those guys have great timing?" Her eyes met those of the other two, and they nodded at each other.
Mamoru reached into the jacket of his school uniform, and pulled out a rose. Usagi's hand went to the brooch on her blouse, and Makoto's transformation pen was already in her hand. A second later, all three burst out onto the lawn to confront the evil spirit.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!" The jaki looked up from the young woman it had seized and hissed contemptuously, his three sets of lips sneering simultaneously. Sailor Moon took up her customary stance. "A university is a place where people can learn, and mature, and prepare for the rest of their lives. I won't forgive you for trying to hurt the students who have big dreams. I'm an agent of love and justice, a pretty Sailor Soldier, Sailor Moon. In the name of the moon, I'll punish you!"
Sailor Jupiter stepped up right behind her leader. "I'm Sailor Jupiter, and in the name of Jupiter, I'll punish you!" The two Scouts stared defiantly at the gleaming black monster. Tuxedo Mask stood next to them, his black cape billowing out behind him like a great big pair of wings.
The jaki did not seem terribly impressed. It hissed again, and opened all three of its mouths. The Scouts and Tuxedo Mask were forced to separate as three separate bolts of crackling dark energy came hurtling towards them.
"Ow ow ow!" Sailor Moon wailed unhappily as she landed hard on her knees and the burst of energy went hissing past her, crashing harmlessly into a nearby tree. Sailor Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask were more fortunate, both managing to land on their feet.
"That does it!" Sailor Jupiter bellowed, rising to her feet. "Sparkling wide pressure!" She flung a powerful expanse of electrifying energy towards the creature's back. The power struck it full force, causing it to stagger forward a step, but that was the only effect. The evil thing spun around in fury, and sent another blast of black lightning towards Sailor Jupiter that she had to dodge.
"Hey you! Ugly!"
The creature turned to see Sailor Venus standing in a defensive position, legs apart, golden hair flying. Behind her stood Sailors Mars and Mercury, and next to them was Sailor ChibiMoon. "Sailor Venus! Everybody!" Sailor Moon sighed in relief.
Sailor Venus scowled at the monster. Then she turned to her friends. "Come on, girls. Let's teach this walking oil spill a lesson in manners." She raised her arms. "Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"
"Shine Aqua Illusion!"
"Burning Mandala!"
"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!"
The four different sparkling powers combined themselves into one great flying disc, shaped like a heart. This shimmering attack soared through the air towards the jaki, and struck the thing right between the eyes. This time the creature was actually knocked down by the Scout's power, but it rose to its feet again and sent three more bursts of dark energy into the middle of them, forcing them to scatter as well.
"Deep Submerge!" A wall of turquoise water came down upon the jaki, immediately followed by a yellow, planet shaped concentration of positive power that shook the ground as it came.
"World Shaking!"
"Uranus! Neptune! You're here!" Sailor Moon cried in delight. The two bigger girls smiled as they stood, back to back, facing the ugly monster.
"Now, Sailor Moon!" Sailor Jupiter prodded, and Sailor Moon nodded, pulling out her Spiral Heart Moon Rod.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" she cried, swinging the pink and red rod around in a circle. The Silver Crystal at her throat hummed with glimmering power as the purifying beam shot towards the jaki and fell, harmless, to the ground at his feet. All the Sailor Soldiers gasped.
The creature began to laugh. Not the hissing, catlike noise of the jaki, but a deeper, more sinister sound. The hairs on the back of Sailor Uranus' neck stood straight up. I've heard that laugh before, she thought grimly, and summoned her talisman sword from within herself. Well, this should be fun. She looked over at Sailor Neptune, who was gripping her mirror. The two nodded at each other, prepared to defend the others from whatever new threat this turned out to be.
The Scouts watched in horrified fascination as the evil spirit's form began to shift, and take on color? A crop of wavy lavender hair appeared, falling casually into a pair of large violet eyes fringed with lavender lashes and brows. A face, with features that were almost too pretty to be masculine, developed from the jaki's hideous visage, and the humped-over, crooked body straightened and grew taller, until a well-chiseled chest and muscular arms and legs had formed. This new figure was wearing a pale purple cape, with a loose fitting lavender shirt that hung open to the waist, exposing gleaming pectoral muscles, and a pair of rather tight deep purple pants that tucked into tall black boots. An eyepatch, complete with amythysts encrusted into the black satin, shimmered into place over the left eye.
Sailor Mars cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, look," she commented to Sailor Venus, just loud enough for the rest of them to hear, "it's a purple pirate. How scary."
"He is kind of gorgeous, though, isn't he?" Venus whispered back.
The newcomer turned towards Mars and made a deep, sweeping bow. "Lord Narcissus, admiral of the Avatar's armada, at your service, ma'am." His voice was so cold it actually made Sailor Mars shiver, and she could hear the scorn and sarcasm dripping from his tone. Lord Narcissus looked up at her then, trapping her own deep amythyst eyes with his frozen violet ones, and grinned cruelly. "I hear you Sailor brats have been making trouble for my jaki. I'm here to remedy the problem."
"What do you want?" Sailor Moon demanded, taking a step towards Narcissus. "Why are your evil creatures taking human blood?"
A lavender eyebrow raised. "So you don't know. I suppose I'm not surprised."
"Answer the question!" This demand came from Sailor Jupiter, who took a threatening stance.
An amused smile crept across Lord Narcissus' handsome face. "You want to know? Ask your new friend, Sailor Orion." Then he looked around them. "Which reminds me. I've been looking forward to meeting little Miss Orion. Where is she?"
"Right here, Narcissus." The tinkling voice rang out from above them, where Sailor Orion sat perched on the university's huge title board. All the Scouts and Lord Narcissus looked up at her as she slid off the edge and somersaulted gracefully to the ground, making a fall of about twenty feet look like stepping off a street curb.
Sailor Orion landed right in front of Narcissus, and he looked her up and down rakishly. "So you're the little girl who has been causing the Avatar such annoyance," he concluded haughtily. "You sure don't look like much to me."
Orion took a step towards Narcissus and looked down at him pointedly. Being a short villain, the top of his head was almost a foot below her gaze. "Did the Avatar tell you what this "little girl" did to the last general he sent after me?"
Lord Narcissus stared back at her, unflinching. "I don't know and I don't care. I'm not afraid of you."
A smirk crossed the peach Sailor Scout's face. "But it's such an interesting story. Would you like me to demonstrate it for you?"
Narcissus took a step back, his expression as proud as ever. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I really don't have the time. So many humans, so little time, you know. I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you now." He raised his hand, and a sparkling ball of lavender colored energy swirled around his fist, then launched itself at Sailor Orion. For a moment, everything disappeared in the glow of the negative energy, but when the brightness cleared, Sailor Orion was nowhere to be seen.
"Well, that wasn't so hard," Lord Narcissus gloated.
"Guess again."
Narcissus spun around, cape flying, to see Sailor Orion standing right behind him with crossed arms. "You're going to have to do a whole lot better than that, Captain Hook, if you want to get rid of me. I don't die that easily."
Lord Narcissus'eyes narrowed. "Fine," he responded, and sent another ball of crackling purple fire at her. He missed again, but the negative power headed straight for Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask exclaimed, throwing himself at her and rolling out of the way with her just as the attack passed them.
"Wrong again, Narcissus." The purple-clad admiral swung around to face Sailor Orion, who had once again maneuvered herself behind him. Sailor Orion clucked her tongue sympathetically. "My, my. Why can't the Avatar ever send someone competent after me? At least it would keep things interesting." Her silver gaze flickered over to where Tuxedo Mask was helping Sailor Moon to stand. "But I'm afraid I just can't have you randomly attacking my friends, Bluebeard." With this statement, a now-familiar humming sound filled the air as the Orion Sphere rose from behind the tall senshi. Glowing softly, it floated up next to Sailor Orion.
Narcissus took one look at the shining glass orb and snickered. "Oh, please. I'm supposed to be afraid of that?"
Sailor Orion cocked an eyebrow. "No," she answered, her voice as musical and sweet as ever. "You're going to be afraid of this." She held up her braceleted arm, and sang brightly: "Heavenly Symphony!" Suddenly the air was filled with the Orion Sphere's melody, and as it rang through the university's front lawn, the jaki's victims began to revive.
"Ugh. What is that?!!" Lord Narcissus groaned, covering his ears with his hands.
Sailor Orion's face literally shone with delight. "This," she crowed, spinning around with her arms flung wide, "is the melody of Orion. This is life. This is light. This is purity and love. This, my dear Narcissus, is what you are going to learn to fear."
The purple pirate moaned again, clutching his head. "I'm coming back, Sailor brat," he threatened between gasps, doing his best to block out the song from his ears. "I'm going to get all of you. The Avatar will triumph this time around!"
Sailor Orion cocked an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. "He says that every time. So far he's never been right."
Lord Narcissus growled at her, but had no more strength for a reply. His form shivered and darkened as he left the jaki's body, and the creature returned to its normal, ugly state.
The silver-eyed Sailor senshi turned to Sailor Moon. "Care to take this one?" she offered.
Sailor Moon nodded, and again raised her Spiral Heart Rod. "Moon Healing Escalation!" she exclaimed. And this time, the healing beam did its job beautifully, reducing the monster to an oily puddle in the grass. This soon absorbed away.
Sailor Orion nodded to Sailor Moon. "Princess," she acknowledged. Then she raised her bracelet to leave.
"Wait!" This came from Sailor Uranus, who strode up to Sailor Orion and put her hand on the taller Soldier's arm. At the touch, suddenly Uranus felt herself overcome by another wave of inexplicable revulsion. She backed away, staring at Sailor Orion in shock. Uranus completely forgot what she was going to say, and her hands clenched into fists. Why do I have this sudden urge to hit her? Sailor Uranus wondered. This is so strange! First Shinzui, and now Sailor Orion? Am I going to go around randomly hating people now?
Sailor Orion watched Sailor Uranus' reaction, and an odd expression of sorrow filled her face. She shook her head. "I have to go, Uranus. I'm sorry." Before anyone else could move, she had pressed the peach stone on her bracelet and shimmered out of sight.
Sailor Neptune came up behind Sailor Uranus. "Are you all right, Uranus?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," came the reply, as the sandy-haired senshi shook her head. "I just don't know."

"Ta-da!" Usagi announced as she uncovered the platter on the table. Mamoru braced himself, and took a look at the dish that was to be his dinner.
"Usako!" he exclaimed, when he caught sight of the steaming tray of rice, sushi, steamed vegetables, strips of meat, and other things that looked equally tasty. "This is" he held up a piece of a bell pepper that had been cut to look like a flower, " really pretty."
Usagi smiled. "Tastes good, too," she boasted, handing him a stuffed dumpling. "Try it."
Mamoru put a bite into his mouth, and chewed. Usagi watched him anxiously.
"Well?" she demanded, waiting impatiently for him to swallow. Mamoru grinned at her. "You're right. You have been practicing. This is really good, Usako."
Usagi beamed happily. "Makoto taught me how to make all kinds of neat stuff," she told him. "You just wait. I'm going to make you fat with all the new recipes I want to try."
Mamoru chuckled and popped another bite into his mouth. "Promise?"
She nodded, her ponytails bouncing. Usagi had chosen to wear her hair in its usual style again tonight, but she still wore the pretty white dress she had picked out. Then she pulled something from behind her back. "I have another surprise for you, Mamo-chan." She handed him the papers in her hand.
Mamoru's eyes widened when he realized what it was. "This is your English test, isn't it, Usako?" His mouth fell open when he saw the grade circled in red at the top. "A 90%! Usako, that's wonderful!"
Usagi grinned with excitement. "Ami-chan helped me a lot with the studying, and it was a pretty easy test in the first place," she admitted modestly. "But it feels nice to get a good mark. I'm going to study more from now on. When I'm not cooking, that is."
Mamoru's eyes narrowed with amusement. "Why are you doing all this, Usako?" he wanted to know.
Usagi took a deep breath as she sat down in the chair across from him. "At first, I thought I was doing it for you. But I'm not."
"Oh?"
"I'm doing it for me." Usagi smiled. "I want to learn new things, and be more disciplined and mature and everything. Not all at once, maybe, but a little couldn't hurt."
Mamoru reached out and touched her face gently. "I love you. You know that, right?"
Usagi covered his hand with her own. "I know. And I love you too. Always and forever and ever." Then she grinned at him. "Now eat up, but save a little room, because you're not going to believe what I've made for dessert!"

Back to Part Three
On to Part Five
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