Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in here, unless no one else used them before...then I guess they would have to be mine, eh? Well, since I ain't getting paid either way I guess it don't matter.
When the Senshi Are Away, the Cats Will Play
Chapter 5
Artemis leaned against one arm of the couch, watching Mr. Shimaka talk to a female officer in the hallway. It was about an hour and a half since the attack, and he was getting bored, and slightly insulted, with the female officer trying to 'reassure' him, and offering him cookies.
Okay, he didn't mind the cookie part, but it's the principle of the thing.
He let his mind drift to the event it's self, playing it out in his mind. 'Okay, the guy was a pro. I just wish I knew if this was the final act, or just the second volley.'
He yelped when he felt a sharp pain in his thigh. Looking over his shoulder, he found Luna sitting next to him. "Artemis. We need to get out of here!"
"Huh? Why?"
"It's been about two and a half hours since we changed. We have to get out of here before we become cats again!"
Artemis shrugged, and nodded. "Excuse me, Mrs. Shimaka?" He called into the kitchen, where she had gone with a female officer as soon as the cops had gotten there.
She stepped out of the kitchen, trying to dry the last of her tears. "Yes, Artemis?" She asked, looking the boy over, once again. She was horribly worried that he, or Luna, had been hurt, but both seemed to escape unscathed. She was almost more amazed by the fact that neither of them cried or whined through the whole thing, but figured they just didn't understand the events they had survived.
"Me and Luna have to go home. Can we go now?"
Luna looked at Artemis like he was an idiot, to which he muttered "What?" Mrs. Shimaka groaned, having let her self forget about how they had come to her door.
"Artemis, I can't let you and Luna walk home alone. Does either of you know your phone number?" She knew Koneko knew hers, but a lot of parents weren't as careful about such things.
Artemis was trying not to show his panic, when Luna jumped in. "Yes, I could call our Father!"
"You can?" Mrs. Shimaka AND Artemis said, surprised.
"Yes..." Looking at Artemis, she smiled. "Our Father. His name is Mamoru Chiba!"
Artemis chuckled, thinking this was going to be funny. He frowned when, while climbing off of the couch, Luna whispered "Distract Mrs. Shimaka."
The woman in question had reached through the kitchen door and grabbed the cordless phone kept just inside. "Can you tell me the number dear?"
"Um... I have trouble remembering if I don't look at the phone. May I dial please?" Luna said, trying not to look nervous. She managed to just look like a shy little girl.
Mrs. Shimaka smiled down at her. "Here you go then, Luna. I must talk to him, though!" Luna nodded, then looked at Artemis sharply.
Artemis slid off the couch and tried to fake a stumble. The fact that he actually DID stumble, and crack his head against the table, was completely incidental. Mrs. Shimaka AND the two female officers (One had been watching the kids from across the room, while listening to a police radio. The other had been taking Mrs. Shimaka's statement.)
"Nice, Artemis! I'm glad they don't know that language." Luna muttered, then turned her attention to the phone as she heard the other end pick up. Some of the words he was using was causing HER to blush.
"Hello?" Mamoru said on the other end.
"Mamoru, it's Luna..."
Mamoru interrupted before she could continue. "Hey, Luna. How are you and Artemis doing? Didn't expect a phone call from you!" His chuckle carrying easily over the phone.
"Mamoru, Be quiet and listen for a moment. I don't have much time." Nodding when the sometimes Tuxedo Mask agreed, she continued. "I am not going into details, however to make a long story short..." She took a deep breath, thanking every god he was USAGI'S boyfriend.
"Artemis and myself found a way to become human for a short period of time and where spending time with a young girl. It seems someone tried to kill her and we are stuck here, without any way of getting away before changing back. Since we look like five-year-olds we need you to pretend to be our father and pick us up. Just play along!"
She gasped for breath, giving Mamoru time to sort out what was just said.
"Wait! Your children? How the heck did that happen? And why would someone try to kill a little girl...forget that last one just tell me what's going on?"
"JUST PLAY ALONG!" Luna hissed very cat like, noticing Mrs. Shimaka finishing with Artemis. "Here is my father, Ma'am." Luna said, handing off the phone.
"Mr. Chiba?" Hearing the confirmation from the other side of the phone. "Hello, I am Mrs. Kasumi Shimaka, you don't know me, but your children where over here playing with my daughter..." She stepped into the kitchen, so she could tell the poor man what had happened without forcing the children to hear it all again. Her own daughter had just stopped sniffling a few minutes ago.
Luna returned to her spot, next to Koneko. The little girl leaned over and asked "What's wrong, Ms. Luna?"
Luna smiled softly to the scared little girl, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders, only slightly annoyed that the girl was taller then her. "Artemis and myself can't stay human for long." She said, watching the other humans out of the corner of her eye. None of them were listening to the children, so she continued. "We don't want to change into cats in front of all these people, so a friend of ours is coming to pick us up."
"Is he a kitty, too?" She asked, wide eyed.
Artemis, hearing this, chuckled. "No. He's a magical prince though!"
"Artemis!"
Artemis just grinned into Luna's glare. "What? She knows about us! Knowing about Mamoru isn't exactly going to make things worse."
Luna just growled at the white haired cat turned boy, and turned back to Koneko. "Either way, dear, he is going to be coming here soon, to pick us up."
"Are you going to stay away like my other friends now?" Koneko asked, looking like she was going to cry.
Luna gave her a softly stern look. "Of course not! Why I still have to teach you those court dances, don't I?"
Artemis chuckled "And someone is going to have to teach you the old Venus Tango, while we are at it!"
"So...you're going to visit again?"
Artemis slid his arm over her shoulders, not noticing he was putting it around Luna as well, and hugged them both. "Don't worry. We'll be around, kid! Isn't that so, Luna?"
Luna, having decided not to shrug out of Artemis's hug, and ignoring the fact that she rather liked it, nodded. "Of course. It takes more then this to scare a Moon Cat!"
"Yeah. If we still hang out with Usagi and Minako after trying to wake them up for school, a guy with a bow isn't nothing!" Artemis agreed.
Koneko just snuggled in between the two cats, feeling very safe...wondering if this is what a kitty kitten felt like with her kitty parents.
Detective Shimaka finished talking with the officer questioning him, and walked to the kitchen, smiling at the cute pile the kids were making, hugging each other. "Ahh...To be so young again." He muttered as he stepped through the door.
His wife was on the phone, which surprised him, till he heard her finish the conversation. "Good, Mr. Chiba. I can't wait to meet you, and again, I am sorry about Luna and Artemis going through this."
Apparently what ever the man said on the other side reassured his wife, because she smiled. "You are to kind, Mr. Chiba...Mamoru. We will see you in ten minutes."
"Their Father?"
Mrs. Shimaka nodded to her husband. "Yes. Luna knew his number, though why they are keeping an apartment and house is beyond me!"
"Probably have to finish the lease out or something." He shrugged the question off. "Dear...I want you to go to my mothers in Osaka for a few days."
"Hiroshi! You know what I said the last time!" She silenced when he placed a finger on her lips.
"Yes, and I should have insisted then! These bastards tried to kill Koneko and YOU! Not just me, but YOU TWO!" He turned around, and drove his fist into the wall, shattering the kitchen tile. "YOU'RE GOING! I will NOT loose my girls!"
His wife was holding her hands to her mouth, in shock. In all the years they had been married he had NEVER lost his temper like that. "Hiro....Okay. We'll go. I don't want to leave you alone, but we'll go."
"Fine...Tomorrow afternoon. I already had Shin arrange it."
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Luna and Artemis looked at each other over Koneko, who had fallen asleep. "Looks like she's getting out of the crossfire." Artemis said, glancing down at their companion.
"A good thing, I would say." Luna replied. "This is far more serious then even the kidnapping suggested. Do you know why this is happening to them?"
"Yeah, seems the Detective is the star witness in an embezzlement case."
"What?" Luna looked at her partner with shock on her face. "All of this over a white-collar criminal?"
"From what I found out, it's not quite that simple. Seems Mr. Tokai Kuragi is the brother of Muriata Kuragi, an up and coming Yakuza man, though from everything until this it looked like he was completely on their legit operations side. "
"Seems somebody widened their portfolio."
"Seems so." Artemis agreed, then both looked up as the Shimaka's returned to the living room, sitting across the coffee table from the children.
"Your father is going to be here in just a little while, and then you can go home and get cleaned up!" Mrs. Shimaka said, trying to be cheerful.
"All things being equal, I'd say they earned that dirt." Mr. Shimaka said, joining his wife's efforts. "So Artemis, ever think about being a professional athlete when you grow up? I can attest for your...prowess." The man stretched, as if feeling a soar bruise, and winced when he found one.
"Actually, sir, I always thought I'd go into your line of work." He answered with a smile. It was even the truth, since Crystal Tokyo would need a police commissioner, after all. (AN: I ignore the cleansing idea. It really doesn't make sense to me from a lot of angles. Sorry for anyone who really likes the idea. It's an ethical thing.)
"A cop, eh?" The man smiled at the psuedo-boy. "Tell ya what, when you join the force, look me up! I'll get you a good place."
Mrs. Shimaka smacked her husbands knee, playfully. Luna was pleased to see some of the tension had left her shoulders. "Hush...He's FIVE Hiroshi! It's a bit early to start playing politics with him!"
"It is never to early...Oops." Luna said the first part instinctively...the second part was under her breath, so no one really heard it.
Mrs. Shimaka looked at Luna with a raised eyebrow. "What do you want to be when you grow up, Luna? Prime Minister perhaps?"
'Hell no!' Luna thought to herself. "Actually...I want to...be a teacher!" She smiled at her own cleverness. She could think of no better definition of her job, other then Nanny, and she couldn't change diapers, so that didn't really apply now did it?
She ignored her current form for that logic, can you tell?
"A teacher? Well, I must say, a smart girl like you should do very well at that!" Mrs. Shimaka said. Sure they would likely forget about these childhood dreams, but it doesn't hurt to support them. A good idea to she always thought, actually.
"I wanna be a veterinarian, and help all the sick kitties and puppies!" Koneko chirped, having woken up during the conversation.
"A, um...noble goal, Koneko." Luna said, with a bit of sweat forming on her brow. 'Start working on teaching her to be a Courtier much HARDER!'
Artemis just looked at Koneko like she grew a second head. 'Well, she's young...I am sure we can convince her to become something less evil...I wonder if the Negaverse needs any generals?' he thought to himself.
Mr. and Mrs. Shimaka watched the rather strange mix of emotions on the "twins'" faces, and wondered what the heck all THAT meant.
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Mamoru pulled up to the house, and checked the piece of paper he wrote the address down on. "Yep, this is the place." He muttered, pulling up to the curb, and killing the engine. Climbing out he started walking slowly up the walk, looking at the cop standing there, and absently fingering the rose he had slipped into his lapel. He was half convinced this was a trap and wanted to be able to transform and fight quickly, after all.
"Mamoru Chiba?" The Police officer, an older man with Sgt. chevrons on his shoulders asked. A younger officer stood on the other side of the door.
"Um, yes, officer."
"I am Sgt. Hibuki. May I see your ID? You understand I am sure."
"Um, of course." He handed over his Driver's license. The officer took note of the ID number, and his picture, fortunately not looking at his age, and handed it back to him. "Okay, sorry about that." The Sgt. obviously wasn't sorry at all, but Mamoru could respect that.
"Yes, no problem." Mamoru stepped up and knocked on the door, while the younger cop started walking around the house for another patrol. The Sgt. stayed where he stood, watching Mamoru with professional detachment.
A female officer answered the door. "Mr. Chiba?"
"Yes."
"Come in, sir. Sorry about the caution."
Mamoru waved that off. "No problem. I understand you have to be careful." The fact that he was obviously sincere slightly shocked both officers, but they shrugged it off and the woman led him to the living room.
Mr. Shimaka stood up, and bowed. "Mr. Chiba. I do wish we could have met under better circumstances!"
Mamoru bowed back, just as politely. "No trouble, Sir. It is hardly your fault, and everyone came out okay...at least I hope so!"
"Yes, no one was hurt...though I wish it hadn't happened." Turning, the detective turned towards his wife who was standing behind him. "This is my wife, Kasumi." She bowed as well, Mamoru returning the greeting once again.
"Your children have been a pleasure. While I do hope you punish your older daughter for letting them out unescorted, I am regretfully happy she did."
"Um..Yes...Chibi-Usa will hear about this..." Mamoru stuttered. It was the only daughter he could think of on the fly.
"Chibi-Usa?"
"Named after her mother, Usagi."
Mrs. Shimaka nodded. "I understand. Well, the girl that isn't yours is my daughter Koneko." Pointing to the three apparent five-year-olds on the couch.
Mamoru took a close look at all three. He could guess the boy was probably Artemis, and the white hair was a dead give away, but both girls had black hair, and long. He smiled in relief when Luna "absently" brushed her hair away from the moon on her forehead. "Yes." Kneeling he smiled to Koneko. "Hello Koneko, my name is Mamoru."
"Are you really a prince?"
Luna sweat dropped and Artemis fell off the catch, having to fight laughter. His laughter was due to the expression on Mamoru's face when she asked that.
"ummmm...." Mamoru said, his brain having shut down.
"Koneko? Where did you get such an idea?" Mr. Shimaka said, chuckling at the silly imaginings of little girls. He didn't see Mamoru's face so it was all very funny, and innocent to him.
"Artemis said so!" Koneko defended herself, pointing at the boy, rolling on the ground laughing. He stopped laughing when Mamoru gave him a rather dark stare. "Sorry dad!" He said. Then had to fight down more giggles as that comment etched a new expression on Mamoru's face.
Luna coughed. "Either way, we should really go, don't you think so father?"
"Um...yeah, right. See you around Koneko!" Mamoru got up.
"Let me walk you out." Mr. Shimaka said. He led them to the door, and stepped outside with them, walking towards the car. "Again, I do apologize for everything that has happened. Take this." He handed Mamoru a card with several names and numbers, all with ranks of police officers. "If you see anyone around your house that shouldn't be there, call any one of them, or me, understand! We will deal with it quickly."
"Thank you, Detective Shimaka." Mamoru said, opening the door on his car, letting the two moon cats climb in, quickly shifting his position to hide Luna's tail when a gust of wind caught the hem of her skirt. "I will. I hope you and your family are all right."
"We'll get through this. I do hope you will let Artemis and Luna visit again, though I do suggest not in the near future."
Mamoru just nodded. "Don't worry. No one in my family forgets their friends...barring brainwashing." He chuckled to himself. At the detectives odd look he grinned. "Private joke. Have a good evening, Sir...or at least as good as possible."
"And you, Mr. Chiba. Good bye, kids...and remember, Artemis, I owe you an ice cream!"
"Sure, I'll remember."
The detective walked quickly back to his house, and Mamoru slid into the driver's seat, soon driving away from the house. "Okay, we are going to my house, and you are SO explaining everything!"
"Sure, sure...Disguise pen, make me ME again!" Artemis said, changing back into a cat...startled when Luna changed with him.
Luna just hopped to the front seat, and looked at the time on the dashboard. "Three and a half hours, all told. Four is the upper limit, I am sure of that now!"
"Right..." Mamoru said, shaking off the surprise. "You are not leaving ANYTHING out!"
Luna sighed and sat in the passenger seat, while Artemis just sat in the back and listened. "Right, everything. But promise me you won't tell Usagi or the girls ANYTHING about all of this!"
"Why?"
"Because..." the black cat muttered. "They would NEVER let me live this down. Now, it all started just a couple of days after the girls left...." She began her story.
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The Gaki smiled darkly, setting the headphones down, and driving off quickly. "Five o'clock train to Osaka, eh? Seems I have several appointments to keep tomorrow." He chuckled as he drove by the police cruiser looking for him, giving them a pleasant wave as they passed. Oh how he loved cordless phones, he thought as he patted the radio receiver next to him.
In the morning, meet with Kuragi and explain the dangers of not giving a professional all the information. Then give him the revised bill, so to speak. Then pick up a van. Then collect the kitten and her mother. Not only will that draw the Father out to be dealt with, but also he was sure the two Sailor Senshi would show up. Then he could get a trophy truly worthy of his status.
He wondered if the male was the one who wore the Tuxedo, normally. That top hat would be quite a conversation piece, and a wonderful candy dish to boot!
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That night, a pair of sneaky, and small, forms slipped into a second story window of the Shimaka home. Stealthily they found Koneko's room, the door cracked so the bathroom light shined in to her. Hopping up on her bed Luna and Artemis made themselves comfortable. Of course, that wasn't their goal.
The soft, content sigh of the girl, her restless movements and nightmares ending was their goal, and they found the pay worthy of their labor. The angelic smile on her face warmed both Moon Cat's heart as they curled up on either side of her body, and fell asleep, their tails unconsciously twirling around each other over her stomach, as if to hold the girl down...and to reassure each other of the others presence.
AN: Okay, not a lot of action in this one, but what can I say? Not everything in life is crazy bow wielding assassins and Gangsters!