Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project-Part Three
By Bonnie-Chan
Email: hunniebunny@aol.com
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_moon_rose/
Today is February 12, 2002
Welcome back! Here's part five...let the fun begin!
Welcome to Day Five of the 2002 Winter Olympics! I've always loved the Olympics, haven't you? Anyways, to memorialize this historic event, I am releasing a chapter of this story every single day for the next 14 days. By the Closing Ceremonies on February 24th, this story will be ending as well.
I would like to congratulate the winners of the Pairs Skating events! Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze from Russia-you did a great job! You came back from a shaky practice to claim victory, an amazing feat! Jamie Sale and David Pelletier from Canada-I rooted for you all the way! When your program finished, I truly thought you got the gold! I felt your disappoint, and my dorm-room was full of screaming fans! Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China-You were amazing! If only the land of the quad had stuck, you would go down in history! I winced with you as you faltered…I was rooting for you!
Watch the Olympics…you never know when the tides will turn and what you thought would happen can change in the blink of an eye!
Sailor Eeyore-you're a wonderful beta reader, thanks so much!! ^_^
Well, on with the story!
_____________________________
Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project: Part Three
By Bonnie-Chan
_____________________________
"Will you guys stop it with the basics? I need to practice my routine before the festival! We're running out of time!"
"Be patient, Cherry!"
"Starting today, you're only going to be practicing on the ice-no more roller skates."
"I'm not going to that rink the Princess practices at again! I'll go somewhere else! I'm going to practice as hard as I can, get real good, and then go there. Next time I meet the Princess will be when I challenge her, but not before then!"
Kouichi raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You know, Cherry, you really angered that spoiled princess…she'd probably die before she'd let you use that rink again."
"What are you talking about? You know her, don't you?"
Tsuzuki nodded. "She's Princess Canty, the rink manager's daughter."
Kouichi nodded and pulled up her statistics on the computer, showing them to Cherry. "She's quite good, Woman's Junior Champion. Of course, if you really want another rink…"
Tsuzuki shook his head at Kouichi. "There isn't another rink. This is the newest one. The older ones are either open only on the weekend, or too decrepit for intensive training. Just because they're okay for my mild practices doesn't mean they're okay for Cherry."
"Tsuzuki!" Hiroshi scolded. "Stop being so stubborn!"
"That's right! If we're going to do this, now is as good of a time as any."
Tsuzuki scowled before muttering under his breath and heading towards his house.
"Where are we going?"
"my house."
"Why? I thought we were going to-"
"Tsuzuki has a rink in his house."
"Are you serious!?"
"They built it for me when I became junior champion."
"You have your own private rink? Why did you tell us that earlier?"
"Well, you're the first person beside me to use it…I never intended to bring anyone else."
Kouichi shook his head and murmured in english, "Don't tell lies, Tsuzuki…the truth is that you didn't intend to bring anyone but your skating partner here…and that's not Cherry yet, it's just the plan."
"A plan that remains to be seen."
***********************
"Luna, stop it! I know what homework is, thank you very much! I've been doing it for years!"
"Yet you don't pay any attention to it."
"It's just math! Besides, the only reason I didn't do it is because I don't understand it, and Haruna-sensei has been in an awful mood all week! I don't wanna ask her for help, she'll just make me feel stupid."
"You're far from stupid, Usagi. You just don't try!"
"I try."
"Do you?"
"Well…not as much as I would have tried if I still did gymnastics…I may have lapsed a bit, but I always needed help with math to begin with. It's a topic I've always struggled with."
"It's a topic you'll struggle with until you take the time to master it."
"You're such a nag, Luna."
"I am not! I only tell you what's best for you."
"You nag me."
"I don't nag"
"I don't need two mothers, Luna." She turned over in her bed and flipped on her radio.
"You're supposed to be doing your homework!"
"Yeah, right! Midnight Zero's new program is about to come on!"
"That guy who saved you the other day?"
"No, silly! That was Tuxedo Kamen! Midnight Zero is this ultra-hip radio talkhost that comes on at midnight! He reads your love letters online to hook people up, and if he reads your letter aloud, you get a special gift! It's all the rage right now!"
"You have hearts in your eeys, Usagi. Please grow up and make my job easier."
Usagi flopped onto her bed and innocently shoved her legs backwards, hitting her pillow and sending it-and Luna soaring across the room. Ignoring her cat's yowls of protest, she nonchalantly turned up the volume on the radio and tuned everything else out.
***********************
"We're going to be on a set schedule every day from now until the end of the festival, Chieri. The day of the festival, the exhibition will start at one p.m. you'll skate for about ten minutes, rest for an hour, and skate for another ten minutes. During the one hour break, we'll have an open-skate session on the ice. We'll also have the class skate as a group."
"What are you going to do about the rink?"
"It's a secret, you'll have to find out like everyone else."
Hiroshi smirked at Kouichi and dropped a cassette tape in his lap. "Here's the tape I made, it's sort of like light rock…very danceable."
Chieri stood at the edge of the rink and watched in shock at Tsuzuki skated onto the rink, performing an elegant program. He came to a stop by where she stood, sending shavings flying towards her.
"Did you see that, Chieri? That's your program!"
"No way! I can't do that!"
"You can." He held up a complex paper and waved it in front of her. "This is your program. Follow it and you'll be fine."
"We'll start without music. Come here." He grabbed a hold of her hand and led her onto the ice. "Follow my moves, okay?"
"O-Okay…"
A couple hours later, Tsuzuki decided to make the transition to using music. "Make this step smooth and precise, okay? Ready? Good! That's it, Chieri!"
He grinned at her as they jump into the air. "Your jumps are so high! Do a double, Chieri!"
Chieri grinned and began skating faster, preparing for a triple. As she leapt into the air, she heard Tsuzuki yell at her to stop, and crashed to the ice.
"Chieri! You always do one spin more than I say and end up twisting your body! You don't need a triple in your program…just skate the program I created for you, alright?"
She stared at him sullenly. "This program is too plain! I want something flashier, Tsuzuki!"
"You haven't perfected your form yet!"
They glared at each other until Kouichi and Yuni noisily entered the room bearing gifts.
"I brought your favorite, Chieri! Chocolate banans!"
The ice broken, Tsuzuki looked at Chieri in amusement. "Your name is Cherry, but you like banans? Your weird!"
"I am not!"
"All right, you're a monkey then!"
"What!?"
A monkey! Monkey, monkey, monkey!"
"I am not!"
"Then prove it to me and practice the right way!"
"Hey, Tsuzuki?"
"Yeah, Yuni?"
"Do you mind that we're staying here so late?"
"Of course not. Besides, no one's home, and even if someone was, I've told everyone never to come in here. I've even removed all the phones! Speaking of which…can I borrow your cell, Kouichi?"
"Sure." He handed his friend the small black phone and watched in amusement as he got into a heated business debate. He turned to Chieri sympathetically. "Tsuzuki's your typical type A*…he won't help you out at all. In fact, he'll work you really hard."
Tsuzuki turned up the phone and handed it back to his friend, raising at eyebrow in amusement as he stared down at Chieri. "I know someone here who's the typical B…a festive B.*"
"That's not a very nice thing to say!"
"We're going to quit jumps for now."
"What? Why!?"
"You shouldn't do jumps when your form isn't perfect, you'll injure your hips. You have to be careful, Chieri."
"You know a lot about skating, Kouichi!"
He laughed in amusement. "I learned everything alongside Tsuzuki."
"Did Hiroshi, too?"
"I did."
"You've been skating since you were little as well, right Chieri?"
"I started going to the rink weekly when I entered junior high."
Kouichi blinked in surprise and turned to hear Hiroshi murmur to Tsuzuki, "There are those who can succeed even without having built up effort and a career, Tsuzuki."
"If she had been doing this for a long time, she would be a better skater than she is now."
"I resent that!"
Kouichi raised his hands, signaling a time-out. "You know, since the two of you have the same birthday, you should be better friends!"
"We have the same birthday!?"
Tsuzuki rolled his eyes. "Take a break, practice will resume soon. We don't have a minute to lose!"
"We have the same birthday…?"
"Take off your necklace, it can be dangerous if you fall!"
"No! this is my lucky charm…"
"What are you doing staring into nothing? Your music just started! Come on, it's time to get back on the ice!"
Chieri snapped out of her trance and reluctantly followed after him.
"Stop staggering." He held her steady and re-positioned her arms. "Your arms should always be raised slightly, Chieri!" he sighed in exasperation and held her stomach steady, lifting her leg up behind her."
"Keep your knees extended when you do a smiral, Chieri!"
"No!" she pulled away from him angrily. "Stop badgering me! You're so mean!"
he sighed and ran his fingers raggedly through his hair. "Do you seriously want to do this, Chieri? Or am I just wasting my time?"
"I do, yes! I'm sorry, Tsuzuki!"
"I forgive you. Now come on, let's skate."
***********************
Monday morning, Tsuzuki, Hiroshi, and Kouichi entered the administrator's office before homeroom. "Excuse us, we'd like a permit to use the vacant lot at the back of the school?
"The one you can see through my window?"
"That's right. After all, it's not being used for anything, right?"
"Why do you want it? It's not a sunnyday, you can't play ball outside…what class are you in?"
"Class 2-1."
"2-1!? You're the class putting together the skating exhibition!"
"That's right."
"Well, I guess that's alright then!"
"Thank you sir!"
"You're welcome. Now get going before you're late to class!"
"Yes, sir!"
***********************
"Bye, Chieri! Good luck at practice!"
"Thanks, Usagi! See you tomorrow!"
Usagi grinned and waved at her friend before lazily heading home.
As she turned the corner, she noticed a girl with dark blue hair walking ahead of her, her nose buried in a thick book. The girl started in surprise as a violet-black cat jumped onto her shoulders, curling against her neck. "Why, hello! What a sweet kitty! Do you have a name?"
Usagi's eyes widened and she quickly jogged over to the girl. "Hi!"
The girl looked at her curiously, cocking her head as she tried to place her. "Aren't you in my class at school?"
"That's right! I'm Tsukino Usagi."
"I'm Mizuno Ami. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
"Er…likewise! So, I think my cat likes you!"
"This is your kitty?"
"Mm-hmm! Her name's Luna."
"Luna, how pretty. Did you name her that because she has a crescent moon bald spot on her head?"
"Umm…sure did!"
"Very creative!"
"So, Mizuno-san, would you care to accompany me to the arcade?"
"Well, I don't know, I have juku in a bit…"
"You don't have to stay long, honest!"
"Well, alright then, but just for a bit. Thank you, Tsukino-san."
"Call me Usagi."
"Alright…Usagi." She smiled shyly and ducked her head, following the bubbly blond to the nearby arcade.
***********************
Hiroshi watched happily as Chieri skated around Tsuzuki's rink. "If she can do such a good job after such a short amount of time, this is going to be easier than we thought, Tsuzuki!"
"She's sharp, easy to teach…we thought right when we chose her."
Kouichi cocked his head as he watched Chieri waltz across the ice. "Her program's going to be a bore, it's too plain. There isn't anything but jumps and singles!"
"We've filled her with all the necessary basic techniques, Kouichi. After all, isn't the foundation the most important? That's why we don't need the advanced jumps and spins. Since the stage is the school festival, it will be enough."
Hiroshi nodded thoughtfully. "So the fourth stage is clear?"
Yuni shook her head in disagreement. "I don't think Cherry's program is plain. She'll look cute no matter what she does, she always looks so happy when she's skating! Isn't that showy enough?"
Tsuzuki turned to look at her before tilting his head back towards the ice as Chieri stopped in front of them.
Kouchi grinned and gave her a brief hug. "That aws wonderful, Cherry! You're doing so well!"
Yuni nodded in agreement. "You were great!"
"Was I really?" she looked over at Tsuzuki, who was standing to the side, but he mainly stood there, before turning to discuss something with kouichi, not bothering to tell her what he thought of her performance.
***********************
"Usagi, this disk contains the enemy's brainwashing plot!"
"So…Ami-san is an enemy?"
"It looks that way…we better head there now!"
"Right!" She glanced once more at the sign in front of the doorway to the cram school and whirled around, banging into a tall young man with ebony hair.
"So, I see you've finally decided to study hard enough to get good grades, Odango! I'm proud of you!"
"Why you impertient-"
"By the way…was your cat just talking?"
"No, of course not! Cats can't talk! What drugs are you on? What a stupid idea! Ehehe…a talking cat! Of all the crazy ideas! Well, gotta go, bye!" She pulled Luna tightly against her chest and sped around the corner, leaning against an alley wall and breathing heavily. "That was close, Luna!"
"That guy is observant! Be careful around him, Usagi!"
Anyways, you'd better disguise yourself so that you can get into that cram session!"
"Right!"
She pulled out her disguise pen transformed herself into a nurse, storming into the building to the room where a class full of students lay sick over their computers.
She watched as the teacher angrily turned to her and the students fainted as a foggy mist enveloped the room.
"Transform, Usagi!"
"Right!" She raised her arm into the air and yelled, "Moon Prism Power…Makeup!" She quickly transformed into Sailor Moon and began yelling at the teacher, who revealed herself to be a hideous youma.
"Aiee!" She screamed, dodging out of the way of a stream of killer exam papers. She felt strong arms wrap themselves around her waist as she was moved to the side and looked up into the face of Tuxedo Kamen. "You saved me!"
"She was right in front of you, Sailor Moon, you need to pay more attention!"
"Ri-Right!"
"Shabon Spray!"
Usagi turned around in amazement as the youma howled in pain as she buckled over in discomfort. She quickly raised her hand to her forehead and yelled, "Moon Tiara…Action!" The youma screamed in agony as it dissipated into dust, and Usagi wearily turned to face a girl in a blue fuku.
"…Ami?"
The girl's eyes widened and she whispered, "Usagi-san, is that you?"
"Hai."
"You're Sailor Moon?"
"That's right. And you're one of my allies?"
"I…think so."
Luna cleared her throat and jumped to Usagi's shoulders. "I'd like you to meet Sailor Mercury, the brains of the group!"
Ami blushed and ducked her head.
"I have a feeling we're going to be great friends!"
***********************
"Well, Cherry, tomorrow's your big day. Are you nervous?"
"Definitely! I'm getting more so every minute! Can I really do this, Tsuzuki? Am I going to do all right?"
"You're going to be fine, Cherry! You'll do a great job!"
"I sure hope so!"
He smiled at her tenderly and lightly placed his hands on her shoulders. "You'll do wonderful, I promise."
"Thank you for having so much faith in me, Tsuzuki…"
"Come on, let's go practice one last time."
"Alright!" She took off her skateguards and headed onto the ice as Tsuzuki leaned against the railing to watch her program. ***********************
*What was the whole thing with the blood types? Well, the Japanese associate people's personalities with types. Alex Glover translated the sidebars which describe types A and B.
"The A [blood type] with high ideals is cheerfully jealous. Needs to look at reality."
"The B [blood type] is easily excited, and easily loses interst. There are festive B's and grave B's. which are you?"
Hope that helps!
The end…until tomorrow, that is! The sixth part of this epic tale brings you to the moment you've been waiting for-the exhibition has arrived! Not to mention, now there's a new scout!
Don't forget to watch the Olympics on NBC! Every day that you see events taking place, there's going to be a new chapter of this story! We've only just begun, there are still 12 Chapters to go! Usagi and Tsuzuki's stories are far from over!
Give me the next 12 days to tell you the rest of their story…I promise it'll be worth the ride! ^_^
~Bonnie-Chan~
February 12, 2002
Day 5 of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter O
DISCLAIMER: Both Sailor Moon AND The Cherry Project belong to Naoko Takeuchi…man, she's one lucky lady! What I wouldn't give to own the rights to two of my favorite manga! In case you were wondering, TCP was Naoko's first epic story ^_^ ….wait until you see what character shows up in part three-one that is in the original manga for TCP, and a character you know quite well from SM, as well!
The Cherry Project-Part Three
By Bonnie-Chan
Email: hunniebunny@aol.com
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_moon_rose/
Today is February 12, 2002
Welcome back! Here's part five...let the fun begin!
Welcome to Day Five of the 2002 Winter Olympics! I've always loved the Olympics, haven't you? Anyways, to memorialize this historic event, I am releasing a chapter of this story every single day for the next 14 days. By the Closing Ceremonies on February 24th, this story will be ending as well.
I would like to congratulate the winners of the Pairs Skating events! Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze from Russia-you did a great job! You came back from a shaky practice to claim victory, an amazing feat! Jamie Sale and David Pelletier from Canada-I rooted for you all the way! When your program finished, I truly thought you got the gold! I felt your disappoint, and my dorm-room was full of screaming fans! Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China-You were amazing! If only the land of the quad had stuck, you would go down in history! I winced with you as you faltered…I was rooting for you!
Watch the Olympics…you never know when the tides will turn and what you thought would happen can change in the blink of an eye!
Sailor Eeyore-you're a wonderful beta reader, thanks so much!! ^_^
Well, on with the story!
_____________________________
Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project: Part Three
By Bonnie-Chan
_____________________________
"Will you guys stop it with the basics? I need to practice my routine before the festival! We're running out of time!"
"Be patient, Cherry!"
"Starting today, you're only going to be practicing on the ice-no more roller skates."
"I'm not going to that rink the Princess practices at again! I'll go somewhere else! I'm going to practice as hard as I can, get real good, and then go there. Next time I meet the Princess will be when I challenge her, but not before then!"
Kouichi raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You know, Cherry, you really angered that spoiled princess…she'd probably die before she'd let you use that rink again."
"What are you talking about? You know her, don't you?"
Tsuzuki nodded. "She's Princess Canty, the rink manager's daughter."
Kouichi nodded and pulled up her statistics on the computer, showing them to Cherry. "She's quite good, Woman's Junior Champion. Of course, if you really want another rink…"
Tsuzuki shook his head at Kouichi. "There isn't another rink. This is the newest one. The older ones are either open only on the weekend, or too decrepit for intensive training. Just because they're okay for my mild practices doesn't mean they're okay for Cherry."
"Tsuzuki!" Hiroshi scolded. "Stop being so stubborn!"
"That's right! If we're going to do this, now is as good of a time as any."
Tsuzuki scowled before muttering under his breath and heading towards his house.
"Where are we going?"
"my house."
"Why? I thought we were going to-"
"Tsuzuki has a rink in his house."
"Are you serious!?"
"They built it for me when I became junior champion."
"You have your own private rink? Why did you tell us that earlier?"
"Well, you're the first person beside me to use it…I never intended to bring anyone else."
Kouichi shook his head and murmured in english, "Don't tell lies, Tsuzuki…the truth is that you didn't intend to bring anyone but your skating partner here…and that's not Cherry yet, it's just the plan."
"A plan that remains to be seen."
***********************
"Luna, stop it! I know what homework is, thank you very much! I've been doing it for years!"
"Yet you don't pay any attention to it."
"It's just math! Besides, the only reason I didn't do it is because I don't understand it, and Haruna-sensei has been in an awful mood all week! I don't wanna ask her for help, she'll just make me feel stupid."
"You're far from stupid, Usagi. You just don't try!"
"I try."
"Do you?"
"Well…not as much as I would have tried if I still did gymnastics…I may have lapsed a bit, but I always needed help with math to begin with. It's a topic I've always struggled with."
"It's a topic you'll struggle with until you take the time to master it."
"You're such a nag, Luna."
"I am not! I only tell you what's best for you."
"You nag me."
"I don't nag"
"I don't need two mothers, Luna." She turned over in her bed and flipped on her radio.
"You're supposed to be doing your homework!"
"Yeah, right! Midnight Zero's new program is about to come on!"
"That guy who saved you the other day?"
"No, silly! That was Tuxedo Kamen! Midnight Zero is this ultra-hip radio talkhost that comes on at midnight! He reads your love letters online to hook people up, and if he reads your letter aloud, you get a special gift! It's all the rage right now!"
"You have hearts in your eeys, Usagi. Please grow up and make my job easier."
Usagi flopped onto her bed and innocently shoved her legs backwards, hitting her pillow and sending it-and Luna soaring across the room. Ignoring her cat's yowls of protest, she nonchalantly turned up the volume on the radio and tuned everything else out.
***********************
"We're going to be on a set schedule every day from now until the end of the festival, Chieri. The day of the festival, the exhibition will start at one p.m. you'll skate for about ten minutes, rest for an hour, and skate for another ten minutes. During the one hour break, we'll have an open-skate session on the ice. We'll also have the class skate as a group."
"What are you going to do about the rink?"
"It's a secret, you'll have to find out like everyone else."
Hiroshi smirked at Kouichi and dropped a cassette tape in his lap. "Here's the tape I made, it's sort of like light rock…very danceable."
Chieri stood at the edge of the rink and watched in shock at Tsuzuki skated onto the rink, performing an elegant program. He came to a stop by where she stood, sending shavings flying towards her.
"Did you see that, Chieri? That's your program!"
"No way! I can't do that!"
"You can." He held up a complex paper and waved it in front of her. "This is your program. Follow it and you'll be fine."
"We'll start without music. Come here." He grabbed a hold of her hand and led her onto the ice. "Follow my moves, okay?"
"O-Okay…"
A couple hours later, Tsuzuki decided to make the transition to using music. "Make this step smooth and precise, okay? Ready? Good! That's it, Chieri!"
He grinned at her as they jump into the air. "Your jumps are so high! Do a double, Chieri!"
Chieri grinned and began skating faster, preparing for a triple. As she leapt into the air, she heard Tsuzuki yell at her to stop, and crashed to the ice.
"Chieri! You always do one spin more than I say and end up twisting your body! You don't need a triple in your program…just skate the program I created for you, alright?"
She stared at him sullenly. "This program is too plain! I want something flashier, Tsuzuki!"
"You haven't perfected your form yet!"
They glared at each other until Kouichi and Yuni noisily entered the room bearing gifts.
"I brought your favorite, Chieri! Chocolate banans!"
The ice broken, Tsuzuki looked at Chieri in amusement. "Your name is Cherry, but you like banans? Your weird!"
"I am not!"
"All right, you're a monkey then!"
"What!?"
A monkey! Monkey, monkey, monkey!"
"I am not!"
"Then prove it to me and practice the right way!"
"Hey, Tsuzuki?"
"Yeah, Yuni?"
"Do you mind that we're staying here so late?"
"Of course not. Besides, no one's home, and even if someone was, I've told everyone never to come in here. I've even removed all the phones! Speaking of which…can I borrow your cell, Kouichi?"
"Sure." He handed his friend the small black phone and watched in amusement as he got into a heated business debate. He turned to Chieri sympathetically. "Tsuzuki's your typical type A*…he won't help you out at all. In fact, he'll work you really hard."
Tsuzuki turned up the phone and handed it back to his friend, raising at eyebrow in amusement as he stared down at Chieri. "I know someone here who's the typical B…a festive B.*"
"That's not a very nice thing to say!"
"We're going to quit jumps for now."
"What? Why!?"
"You shouldn't do jumps when your form isn't perfect, you'll injure your hips. You have to be careful, Chieri."
"You know a lot about skating, Kouichi!"
He laughed in amusement. "I learned everything alongside Tsuzuki."
"Did Hiroshi, too?"
"I did."
"You've been skating since you were little as well, right Chieri?"
"I started going to the rink weekly when I entered junior high."
Kouichi blinked in surprise and turned to hear Hiroshi murmur to Tsuzuki, "There are those who can succeed even without having built up effort and a career, Tsuzuki."
"If she had been doing this for a long time, she would be a better skater than she is now."
"I resent that!"
Kouichi raised his hands, signaling a time-out. "You know, since the two of you have the same birthday, you should be better friends!"
"We have the same birthday!?"
Tsuzuki rolled his eyes. "Take a break, practice will resume soon. We don't have a minute to lose!"
"We have the same birthday…?"
"Take off your necklace, it can be dangerous if you fall!"
"No! this is my lucky charm…"
"What are you doing staring into nothing? Your music just started! Come on, it's time to get back on the ice!"
Chieri snapped out of her trance and reluctantly followed after him.
"Stop staggering." He held her steady and re-positioned her arms. "Your arms should always be raised slightly, Chieri!" he sighed in exasperation and held her stomach steady, lifting her leg up behind her."
"Keep your knees extended when you do a smiral, Chieri!"
"No!" she pulled away from him angrily. "Stop badgering me! You're so mean!"
he sighed and ran his fingers raggedly through his hair. "Do you seriously want to do this, Chieri? Or am I just wasting my time?"
"I do, yes! I'm sorry, Tsuzuki!"
"I forgive you. Now come on, let's skate."
***********************
Monday morning, Tsuzuki, Hiroshi, and Kouichi entered the administrator's office before homeroom. "Excuse us, we'd like a permit to use the vacant lot at the back of the school?
"The one you can see through my window?"
"That's right. After all, it's not being used for anything, right?"
"Why do you want it? It's not a sunnyday, you can't play ball outside…what class are you in?"
"Class 2-1."
"2-1!? You're the class putting together the skating exhibition!"
"That's right."
"Well, I guess that's alright then!"
"Thank you sir!"
"You're welcome. Now get going before you're late to class!"
"Yes, sir!"
***********************
"Bye, Chieri! Good luck at practice!"
"Thanks, Usagi! See you tomorrow!"
Usagi grinned and waved at her friend before lazily heading home.
As she turned the corner, she noticed a girl with dark blue hair walking ahead of her, her nose buried in a thick book. The girl started in surprise as a violet-black cat jumped onto her shoulders, curling against her neck. "Why, hello! What a sweet kitty! Do you have a name?"
Usagi's eyes widened and she quickly jogged over to the girl. "Hi!"
The girl looked at her curiously, cocking her head as she tried to place her. "Aren't you in my class at school?"
"That's right! I'm Tsukino Usagi."
"I'm Mizuno Ami. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
"Er…likewise! So, I think my cat likes you!"
"This is your kitty?"
"Mm-hmm! Her name's Luna."
"Luna, how pretty. Did you name her that because she has a crescent moon bald spot on her head?"
"Umm…sure did!"
"Very creative!"
"So, Mizuno-san, would you care to accompany me to the arcade?"
"Well, I don't know, I have juku in a bit…"
"You don't have to stay long, honest!"
"Well, alright then, but just for a bit. Thank you, Tsukino-san."
"Call me Usagi."
"Alright…Usagi." She smiled shyly and ducked her head, following the bubbly blond to the nearby arcade.
***********************
Hiroshi watched happily as Chieri skated around Tsuzuki's rink. "If she can do such a good job after such a short amount of time, this is going to be easier than we thought, Tsuzuki!"
"She's sharp, easy to teach…we thought right when we chose her."
Kouichi cocked his head as he watched Chieri waltz across the ice. "Her program's going to be a bore, it's too plain. There isn't anything but jumps and singles!"
"We've filled her with all the necessary basic techniques, Kouichi. After all, isn't the foundation the most important? That's why we don't need the advanced jumps and spins. Since the stage is the school festival, it will be enough."
Hiroshi nodded thoughtfully. "So the fourth stage is clear?"
Yuni shook her head in disagreement. "I don't think Cherry's program is plain. She'll look cute no matter what she does, she always looks so happy when she's skating! Isn't that showy enough?"
Tsuzuki turned to look at her before tilting his head back towards the ice as Chieri stopped in front of them.
Kouchi grinned and gave her a brief hug. "That aws wonderful, Cherry! You're doing so well!"
Yuni nodded in agreement. "You were great!"
"Was I really?" she looked over at Tsuzuki, who was standing to the side, but he mainly stood there, before turning to discuss something with kouichi, not bothering to tell her what he thought of her performance.
***********************
"Usagi, this disk contains the enemy's brainwashing plot!"
"So…Ami-san is an enemy?"
"It looks that way…we better head there now!"
"Right!" She glanced once more at the sign in front of the doorway to the cram school and whirled around, banging into a tall young man with ebony hair.
"So, I see you've finally decided to study hard enough to get good grades, Odango! I'm proud of you!"
"Why you impertient-"
"By the way…was your cat just talking?"
"No, of course not! Cats can't talk! What drugs are you on? What a stupid idea! Ehehe…a talking cat! Of all the crazy ideas! Well, gotta go, bye!" She pulled Luna tightly against her chest and sped around the corner, leaning against an alley wall and breathing heavily. "That was close, Luna!"
"That guy is observant! Be careful around him, Usagi!"
Anyways, you'd better disguise yourself so that you can get into that cram session!"
"Right!"
She pulled out her disguise pen transformed herself into a nurse, storming into the building to the room where a class full of students lay sick over their computers.
She watched as the teacher angrily turned to her and the students fainted as a foggy mist enveloped the room.
"Transform, Usagi!"
"Right!" She raised her arm into the air and yelled, "Moon Prism Power…Makeup!" She quickly transformed into Sailor Moon and began yelling at the teacher, who revealed herself to be a hideous youma.
"Aiee!" She screamed, dodging out of the way of a stream of killer exam papers. She felt strong arms wrap themselves around her waist as she was moved to the side and looked up into the face of Tuxedo Kamen. "You saved me!"
"She was right in front of you, Sailor Moon, you need to pay more attention!"
"Ri-Right!"
"Shabon Spray!"
Usagi turned around in amazement as the youma howled in pain as she buckled over in discomfort. She quickly raised her hand to her forehead and yelled, "Moon Tiara…Action!" The youma screamed in agony as it dissipated into dust, and Usagi wearily turned to face a girl in a blue fuku.
"…Ami?"
The girl's eyes widened and she whispered, "Usagi-san, is that you?"
"Hai."
"You're Sailor Moon?"
"That's right. And you're one of my allies?"
"I…think so."
Luna cleared her throat and jumped to Usagi's shoulders. "I'd like you to meet Sailor Mercury, the brains of the group!"
Ami blushed and ducked her head.
"I have a feeling we're going to be great friends!"
***********************
"Well, Cherry, tomorrow's your big day. Are you nervous?"
"Definitely! I'm getting more so every minute! Can I really do this, Tsuzuki? Am I going to do all right?"
"You're going to be fine, Cherry! You'll do a great job!"
"I sure hope so!"
He smiled at her tenderly and lightly placed his hands on her shoulders. "You'll do wonderful, I promise."
"Thank you for having so much faith in me, Tsuzuki…"
"Come on, let's go practice one last time."
"Alright!" She took off her skateguards and headed onto the ice as Tsuzuki leaned against the railing to watch her program. ***********************
*What was the whole thing with the blood types? Well, the Japanese associate people's personalities with types. Alex Glover translated the sidebars which describe types A and B.
"The A [blood type] with high ideals is cheerfully jealous. Needs to look at reality."
"The B [blood type] is easily excited, and easily loses interst. There are festive B's and grave B's. which are you?"
Hope that helps!
The end…until tomorrow, that is! The sixth part of this epic tale brings you to the moment you've been waiting for-the exhibition has arrived! Not to mention, now there's a new scout!
Don't forget to watch the Olympics on NBC! Every day that you see events taking place, there's going to be a new chapter of this story! We've only just begun, there are still 12 Chapters to go! Usagi and Tsuzuki's stories are far from over!
Give me the next 12 days to tell you the rest of their story…I promise it'll be worth the ride! ^_^
~Bonnie-Chan~
February 12, 2002
Day 5 of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter O
DISCLAIMER: Both Sailor Moon AND The Cherry Project belong to Naoko Takeuchi…man, she's one lucky lady! What I wouldn't give to own the rights to two of my favorite manga! In case you were wondering, TCP was Naoko's first epic story ^_^ ….wait until you see what character shows up in part three-one that is in the original manga for TCP, and a character you know quite well from SM, as well!