Chapter 6 The Outer Senshi Meet the Night Soldier
"Okay new plan," Nightsky laughed hesitantly, "I identify each senshi and take them out one by one until that annoyance Sailor Moon has no one to run to."
She turned back to her computer and pulled up a record of all the inhabitants of Tokyo, "Let's start with the furthest planet… Pluto," she smiled and brought up records and pictures of the Sailor Soldier. There were very few, apparently this one was smart enough not to ever get caught on film, "How interesting so all of the protectors aren't like their Princess," she laughed. Finally after hours of work she had a picture clarified and began her search. She found Sailor Pluto in a young fashion designer Setsuna Meiou. "Found you!" she shouted triumphantly then printed out the address and walked out.
~~~§§§
"You fought Yaten?!" Usagi shrieked.
"Keep your voice down," Rei hissed, and she apologized.
"It was just a friendly test of skills," Minako smiled.
"Mina-chan you flatter yourself. A friendly test of skills does it give you those," Makoto pointed to the scratches on Minako's face. She blushed and scratched her head nervously.
"Uh…don't worry about it," she waved it off, but they didn't seem convinced, "Really it was nothing," she begged them with her eyes to let it go, and they did but only for love of their friend.
"So who do you think this new enemy is?" Makoto changed subjects.
"It could be anyone; I have reason to believe," they all turned to Amy, "To believe that whoever it is may be…" she faltered seeing the Three Lights walk in, "To believe um that…" they were walking over.
"Odango!" Seiya called.
"Seiya I…" Yaten turned.
"You'll apologize," Seiya warned.
"Oh that's okay I understand," Minako smiled.
"Seiya you interrupted Ami-chan," Usagi scolded.
"We were discussing the enemy would you like to join us?" Minako asked.
They agreed and sat with the others.
"Now keep going," Rei instructed Ami who blushed and began again.
"Well obviously she's smarter than Galaxia to find out Usagi-chan so quickly," they didn't like where this was going, "But," Ami continued.
"Buts are good," Makoto nodded then blushed at what she said.
The other laughed but quickly settled and let Ami continue, "But obviously she isn't very strong to be stopped by Chibi Moon."
"So we have to corner her and destroy her in one sweep," Rei understood, and Ami nodded.
"But how?" Usagi whined.
"She'll make herself known. Still we shouldn't think this easy. She wasn't completely destroyed by Sailor Moon's attack either," Ami added.
"We'll protect you Usagi-chan don't worry," Minako assured her, and they all nodded.
"Minna-san," Usagi was about to cry.
"Minako did you have to get her started?" Rei demanded.
"Usagi-chan please don't cry," Ami begged, and Usagi sniffed.
"Usagi-chan!" Michiru called from the door.
"Michiru-san! Haruka-san!" Usagi shouted happily jumping up.
The others sweat dropped as Seiya pointed, "Does she always change so suddenly?"
They nodded, "That's our Usagi," Makoto muttered.
"You?!" Seiya heard a voice behind him and spun to meet Haruka's eyes.
"Haruka-san?" Usagi asked meekly.
"Haruka," Seiya addressed her calmly, "How are you today?"
"What did I tell you about staying away from her?" Haruka demanded.
"We asked them here," Usagi defended them.
Haruka disregarded her and turned to the other two Starlights, "I thought you two had a little more sense."
"It wasn't my choice," Yaten muttered, and Minako kicked him under the table smiling sweetly as he glared but stayed silent.
"You don't have to worry about our planet or our Princess. You have your own go home," Michiru said as icily as Haruka.
"Yes but they don't have an enemy and we do. As long as they're not needed at home we can use them here! Stop this fighting all of you!" Usagi ordered sounding much like a Princess, so much like one they all growled.
"We haven't seen the last of each other Starlights," Haruka threatened, "Sayonara," she said to the inner senshi before she and Haruka walked out to find a quicker place to eat.
"They're so protective," Usagi blushed, "But I know they really like you."
"They speak the truth," Yaten muttered, and Minako kicked him again, "Would you stop that?!"
"Playing footsie Yaten?" Seiya teased, and Yaten glared and looked away, eternally silent.
~~~§§§
"What's wrong with Yaten?" Usagi asked Seiya. He, Taiki, and the inner senshi were walking her home in case of enemy attack.
Seiya and Taiki grimaced and looked away, "It's not important for you to know," Taiki responded.
"If you're here on our permission then we have the power to send you home," Makoto warned.
Seiya spoke up smiling, "He just thinks we're abandoning our Princess."
"But she sent you!" Usagi protested.
"Well he never was one that took things just because they made sense or were wanted," Seiya said quietly, and Taiki nodded.
"I think you're leaving something out," Rei told them.
"We told you what you wanted to know, drop it," Taiki said harshly, and they felt guilty.
"Gomen," they all muttered, and Seiya grinned as they reached Usagi's house.
"Need a bodyguard tonight?"
"I have one," she smiled back, "Chibi-usa-chan."
He smiled back trying not to let his disappointment show, "Sayonara then," he and Taiki turned and left.
"Seiya!" Usagi called, and they turned, "Wanna come in? My family's out late."
He laughed, and all of them walked inside.
~~~§§§
Nightsky knocked on Setsuna's door. Haruka was the one who opened it.
"Hello sir," Nightsky wasn't expecting a man in the house.
Michiru laughed behind her hand.
"May we help you?" Haruka asked, and Nightsky was surprised to find the voice female. She was a bit thrown off but regained herself beautifully.
"I'm looking for Setsuna Meiou. Could I find her here?"
"Setsuna-san," a little girl emerged from behind Haruka and called for her.
"Hotaru-chan?" Setsuna walked into the room. A tall girl with long, straight dark hair and dark eyes much like Nightsky's own. She was surrounded by a confidence and intelligence that surely Sailor Pluto herself would possess.
"I know it's late, but no one else can do it. I must have something designed for me. I understand you're probably not working catching you at home and everything but…" she begged.
"I'd be glad to help you," Setsuna smiled, "Come in I'll help you in my study."
As she passed Michiru. Michiru's eyes narrowed, something was not right with this woman. She shook it off and shut the door behind her.
As they walked into the other room Michiru and Haruka sat next to each other.
"What was wrong with you just now?" Haruka asked Michiru almost immediately.
"I'm not sure probably nothing just a bad feeling from that woman," Michiru confessed.
"Did you hear Usagi-chan speak of a new enemy today?" Haruka inquired softly.
"Yes I wonder what that's about," Michiru nodded.
"I don't know but those Starlights are always bringing trouble with them," Haruka scowled.
"You just don't like popular men," Michiru joked.
"Something about him unnerves me. I just get a feeling he has more to do with things than it seems."
"You worry too much," Michiru informed her.
"Maybe so but," she would never finish because Setsuna screamed from the other room.
"Setsuna," they burst into the other room to find Setsuna furthest from the door, and the woman now sporting a black jewel on her forehead was coming close to Setsuna.
"Sailor Pluto your life is mine!" a whip lashed around her hands.
"Please let me go. I don't know what you want but please…." Setsuna begged.
"I want nothing more than to take the life of the outermost senshi," she laughed pulling Setsuna near.
"Silence Wall!" and there was a force between Nightsky and Setsuna.
"Pluto Crystal Power Make-up!" When she was fully transformed Sailor Saturn let down her wall, "Dead Scream!" the attack hit Nightsky hard, and she fell to her knees then vanished saying she'd be back.
The outer senshi exchanged worried glances then Sailor Saturn passed out detransforming as she did.
"Hotaru-chan!" they all shouted, and Haruka picked her up and put her in her own bed. They all went and sat down to try and figure out what had just happened.
~~~§§§
Rei looked up startled, "I think the enemy just attacked the outers," she said softly.
"What?!" the rest of the inner senshi roared.
"Michiru-san," Ami looked worried.
"Haruka-san?" Makoto asked.
"Setsuna-san," Minako's eyes were tired.
"Hotaru-chan," Chibi-usa said softly woken by the commotion and walking downstairs.
"I think they're okay, but she got away," Rei added a bit confused by the feeling.
After a long silence Chibi-usa saw the Three Lights and looked at them confused, "Who are you?"
"You mean you don't know?" Seiya asked, and Usagi muttered; he had asked her the same question.
"Chibi-usa-chan isn't from this time. She wouldn't know who you are," Makoto explained.
"Mako-chan!" Chibi-usa shouted, "Don't tell them that!"
"Hey Odango she not only looks like you she acts like you too," Seiya laughed.
"I do not!" Chibi-usa protested.
"Chibi-usa-chan," Usagi brushed it off, "Meet Seiya, Yaten and Taiki," Usagi pointed to each, "Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Star Maker. The Starlights that helped us in the battle with Galaxia.
Chibi-usa looked stunned then smiled, "Nice to meet you. I'm Chibi-usa or Sailor Chibi Moon."
"We've heard much about you," Taiki told her, and she blushed.
"The same to you," after all the formalities were over Chibi-usa sat with them. They talked until Usagi looked at the clock.
"My parents are going to be home soon. You'd better go," she ushered them out promising to call for help if the enemy attacked. She turned and saw Chibi-usa yawn, "It's late you should sleep," Usagi suggested. The fight with Galaxia had caused her to realize what she had, and she was more of a mother to Chibi-usa now.
Chibi-usa yawned again and nodded as she walked upstairs to her room.
Usagi went to hers and sat down on her bed putting her head in her hands, "What am I going to do?" she muttered, "What?" she sighed and looked at the picture of her and Mamoru. She picked it up and touched it gently, "I love you Mamo-chan just not like that, like a friend," she whispered.
"Usagi-chan," Luna surfaced.
Usagi looked worried.
"What did you mean by that just now?" Luna asked jumping beside Usagi.
Usagi blushed, "Nothing just thinking don't worry about it. I'm tired. See you in the morning Luna," Usagi turned off the light and lay down not letting Luna finish, but she wasn't sure if she wanted her answers. She trusted Usagi's heart enough to make its own decisions.
~~~§§§
Ami sat in her room worrying about her Princess and confused by her own feelings, "It doesn't matter," she growled, "The most important thing now is Usagi. Just stop it," she ordered her mind, "Stop it for the good of everyone."
She wouldn't let her mind stray from Usagi until she slept. She couldn't control her dreams though, and she dreamt of him.
~~~§§§
Rei looked into the fire trying desperately to see the new enemy but all she saw was the crackle of the fire and the flames leap into the air. She sighed and went to her room defeated, "What should we do?" she muttered and as she did her two birds Phobos and Deimos landed near her in encouragement. She smiled.
~~~§§§
Makoto looked at her ceiling waiting for sleep to grab her. She was too worried to sleep but too tired to worry, "Usagi-chan we won't let them get to you. I will give my own life to protect yours. After today though I wonder if the Lights are to be trusted." Her mind flashed back to the way Yaten hurt Sailor Venus with seemingly no mercy. How could that be trustworthy? Someone that hurts the leader of the inner senshi so easily? She would keep her eyes on them, keep them away from her Princess if she had too, especially Yaten.
~~~§§§
Artemis I know that there's good in him somewhere," Minako assured the cat.
"Mina-chan he hurt you and seems to despise the others. How can you find any good in him?" Artemis asked, "I'm proud of you for trying so hard but there's nothing to be found."
"But there is!" Minako shouted desperately, "I know there is somewhere."
Yaten, she thought, why are you so cold? What aren't you telling us? What are you hiding?
~~~§§§
"What do you think this enemy wants from the Moon Princess?" Seiya asked.
"To take over the system; to have control of the infamous sailor senshi," Taiki responded.
It didn't need an answer it was too right. They were all quiet. Even Yaten was silent and felt a small pang of worry for the planetary senshi. He remembered Sailor Venus' words.
'No Healer you're the only one who's forgotten how to dream!'
Was that true? Had he lost his true dream? Did he even have a true dream? Most importantly how could he find it again?
