Guardian Stars: Part 3- New Warriors and Foes
Morning had arrived, and two foreign girls strolled in Mugen Gakuen High School. As they walked by, heads were turned and were voices whispered toward their direction. For they were extraordinary beautiful; one had pink flowing hair with two heart odangos shaped on top and the other had dark red hair fixed in a bun, hair hanging loosely, framing her head. One had on the Mugen Gakuen uniform.
"Who are they?"
"Hey Miki, are they new students?" a boy asked one class representative, Kuroda Miki, who was then sitting on the grass, leaning on a tree. Miki also helps sorting students' files in the office. Miki too turned to study the pair. They were heading in her way.
"Iya, I'm not sure . . . they don't look familiar. I haven't heard of any new transfer student coming," replied Miki, mystified. She brushed her light purple bangs away from her face.
Her friend sitting next to her smiled gently at the little habit of Miki's. Miki always does it, often when she is confused. "Miki-san, I don't think you should worry about that now. We *do* have other matters to attend. Like, for example, our _Calculus exam_?"
Miki groan besides her. "Don't mention it. I didn't even crack open the hateful book last night! To think that all that winter festival planning takes so long. By the way, are you going to come? I know you and I know you well. You never get into public events-"
"Excuse me, ma'am? Can you please tell us where the main office is?" a soft voice interrupted.
Miki looked up, surprised. The pair was in front of her, smiling politely. The girl with the bun addressed her, but her eyes stopped on the other girl for a moment. 'What a strange hair- style,' Miki thought, eyeing the heart odangos. She quickly glanced back to the other. "Oh, hi! Yes, walk straight from here, make a turn to the left and go pass that building. You can't miss it. Just open the door with the most horrifying plastic snowman in front," Miki responded with a serious face. When the pair looked a bit bewildered, she winked. Her friends laughed.
"Arigato gozaimasu, er . . ."
"Kuroda Miki, a senior here," Miki offered her hand. They shook friendly.
"Nakazaki Miyuki," she returned warmly. "This is my cousin Shouiriki Miwa," Miyuki nodded toward her friend.
" 'Middle of Peninsula' and 'Beauty of Harmony'," Miki translated. "Beautiful names, minna!" She chuckled, "Miwa, Miyuki, Miki. Let's see if we are as alike as our names. Well, nice to meet you. Are you guys transfer students?" questioned Miki.
"Miwa is, but I'm not. I just came along with her. She needs her schedule. Oh, and speaking of schedule, I think we better get going," Miyuki stated.
"Would you want me to come with you. I'm an assistant from the office," Miki proposed.
"Thanks, but-" Miyuki started politely, about to refuse.
"That will be great! Thank you," Miwa cut in smoothly. Miyuki looked strangely at Miwa for a moment.
"Well, lets go then."
Not long after Miwa, Miyuki, and Miki passed the hallways, they stopped before the office door. True to Miki's word, a plastic "snowman" was in front, with a pathetic attempt to cover up the gap between the head and body with a scarf.
Miki burst in laughter at the sight of the pair's wide-eyed look. "It's a natural reaction. This is supposingly one of the 'Christmas decoration'," explained Miki.
"You _do_ mean Halloween, ne? Miwa muttered, eyeing the object. They all laughed as Miwa reached for the doorknob, her eyes avoiding the snowman.
As they entered the office, the two foreign girls sobered, as if they just remembered something. For with Miki close to them, Miyuki would have trouble getting a schedule without rising suspicion.
Miyuki shot Miwa a calm _'you got us into this, you get us out of it'_ look. Miwa returned her with a helpless _'I forgot to shoo her away'_ face. Miyuki glared at Miwa.
"Ah, Miki-san!" Miwa addressed the purple haired girl desperately, turning Miki slightly away from Miyuki. "Where's the restroom?"
Miki looked confused. "Aren't you getting the schedule?"
"Um, yeah! B-but after I do, I'll have to go and I wouldn't want to trouble you for so long and you've probably have other things to do afterwards so . . ." Miwa babbled mindlessly.
"Okay, okay, I got it. You turn the corner . . ." Miki pointed out the glass window with a number of other hand motions. Miwa nodded innocently, watching Miyuki on the corner of her eyes.
Miyuki immediately took the distraction and headed for the nearest person: a blond guy holding a stack of papers. Miyuki walked toward, and purposely tripping and falling on him. The guy caught her quickly.
"Are you okay, miss?" he said gently.
"Yes, thank you . . ." Miyuki replied hypnotically, staring into his eyes with a gleam.
The other's eyes grew blank as she let go of him, standing before him, waiting. The blond headed back to the copy machine. He pushed something and frowned. "Miki-san, there's something wrong with the copy machine," he told Miki.
Miki stopped talking to Miwa for a moment, and looked to the boy's direction.
"Nani, Yaku-san?" she asked.
"Go see what's wrong," Miwa urged.
"But-"
"I can manage. I gotcha. Turn left and walk straight and I'll see the restroom. I'll get the schedule," Miwa gave Miki a small push toward Yaku. As Miki headed to the copy machine, Miwa sighed, relieved. Miyuki and Miwa bounced to the counter.
* * *
Miki held on to a stack of papers as her classmate, Yaku fumbled around with the copy machine. Having nothing to do, she gazed at the pair on the front desk, who was talking to Aya, the admissions secretary. There seemed to be some kind of trouble. Aya was scrolling down a list from the computer and shaking her head. Miwa said something, and Aya gave them a _'I have no idea'_ gesture. She scrolled down the list again, and shook her head. She was about to turn away when Miyuki spoke up. When Aya looked up this time, her expression changed.
Aya sensei seemed to be startled by something, but a blank look almost immediately replaced it in her eyes. Miki can see her hands' muscles cling and releasing the desk. Miki's curiosity piqued but she could only see the back of Miyuki's head. Aya was floundering through a pile of papers, looking extremely dazed. Finally she fished out a form of some kind, a form Miki recognize as the application to apply for the Mugen Gakuen High School, and wrote on it. Then she pushed it toward Miyuki, who nudged it to Miwa. Miwa signed it, probably, and returned it. Aya stared at it, though she didn't look like she'd see anything. Then she returned it to a folder, and reached into another file, bringing out what seemed like a class schedule. Miyuki nodded, and left with Miwa, walking towards Miki.
* * *
"Idiot! You expect me to do my illusion with Miki to witness it? God, sometimes, you are so dense!" Miyuki scolded softly as they headed back to Miki.
"You heard her. She's an office assistant. That could be useful later on when we have to check out something. Besides, this is a good time as any to get to know her. I just forgot to distract her when we reach the office, that's all," Miwa defended.
* * *
Meanwhile, Yaku was ridiculously still working on the copy machine, although Miki could not see anything wrong. In fact, she could not even see _what_ he's doing. "Yaku, *what* exactly are you doing?" When Miki didn't get a reply, she frowned, worried about the spaced out look on Yaku's face.
"Miki-san," Miwa beamed from behind. "I got my schedule!"
Miki turned around and smiled. "Is everything okay back there? It looked like there was something wrong," she said, recalling the admissions secretary's expression. For a moment, Miki could have sworn a flash of panic on Miyuki's face. But it was gone the next instant.
"No, they just seemed to have misplace some information," Miwa explained calmly.
Miki looked over her shoulder and asked in an annoyed tone, "Yaku! What's wrong with the copy machine?!"
Miyuki, as if suddenly realizing something, went over to the machine. "Let me try," she said as she checked the system-in process, had physical contact with Yaku. "It's just a copier mis-feed," she stated and crumbled a piece of "messed up" paper that came out of the copier. The blank look on Yaku's face dissolved, but he was still confused. He shrugged and continued his task, wondering what happened.
"Ah, well let's see your schedule . . .these are good classes, Miwa . . . Oh, you have Karamu- sensei! I had her last year. She's a really good teacher," Miki told her, also realizing that Miwa is a junior. "Eh? 'GATA Music Program'? Ara, only talented seniors had been able to make it in! You must be good, being allowed to attend that class while you're only a junior!" Miki exclaimed, impressed. Miki continued, "Hmm, you have the same class as two of my friends, Tenoh Haruka and Kaioh Michiru-"
The bell rang, and students began to fill up the hallways.
"Well, I gotta go now. See you soon!" Miki exited.
Miyuki and Miwa waved and turned back to each other.
"Remember to tell the others to stay close and observe other strong elemental energy points. I can cover the first energy point here in Mugen Gakuen. I feel strong elemental energy . . . well, I better get to my classes now." Miwa instructed, her leader intellects showing instinctively.
Miyuki nodded and they both walked out the office.
*~*~*That afternoon . . .*~*~*
The store buzzed with conversation in the grand open store.
"Makoto! That dress is so pretty!" exclaimed Ami.
Makoto smiled proudly. She held up a white, silk, spaghetti strap dress with small pink flower petals embedded everywhere. Usagi leaped from behind and grabbed it.
"That is _so_ my dress!" Usagi cried out excitedly. Her eyes gleamed at the dress that contains all her favorite colors. 'This is the perfect dress for the winter party,' she thought dreamily and sighed.
Minako smirked. "Yeah, and that _price_ is so yours too."
Usagi turned the price tag over and her eyes went bizarre. "Nani!? 50,000 yen?!" she shrieked.
"The things here are gorgeous, but are awfully expensive," commented Ami from behind.
Minako took the dress away from the weeping Usagi. "That's the reason why we should hit the ground floor, not this one," she said casually.
After everyone followed Minako to the ground floor, she expertly skimmed through a rack of dresses. Her fingers stopped at an exquisite rose-colored gown with white flower trimmings. She lifted it out and pulled in toward her to let the others see. It flowed down and covered her feet. The gown was a simple yet elegant piece.
"Wow! That's perfect for the Christmas party!" Makoto remarked. "Since when did your shopping skills improve so much, Minako-chan?" she asked, impressed.
"It runs through the family. I, especially, take great studies on styles," Minako boasted.
Artemis jumped on his owner's shoulder (god knows why pets are allowed in the building) "Bull! Apparently, Minako have been hitting the malls every single day after school. Of course, she never touched the school textbooks, and made _me_ sneak in here to explore the floors before the store was opened-"
Minako bonked Artemis on the head quickly to shut him up and laughed nervously. Everyone's sweat dropped, except for Artemis, who was looking slugged with stars in his eyes.
"Ahem, anyway, wouldn't this look best on Rei-chan?" Minako suggested, eyeing the shade of red. She carried the dress to Rei, who was just staring off in space on the bench as she leaned against one of the full size mirrors. Minako handed the dress to Rei, but received no reaction. "Rei-chan? Earth to Rei!" Minako shouted to get the other's attention.
Rei jumped, startled. "What's the matter, Minako?"
" 'What's wrong' my foot. Didn't you pay any attention? This dress! Try it on!"
Ami studied Rei carefully. She saw not the shopping spirit Rei usually have when they hang out in malls. She frowned as Rei stumbled to the changing room.
"Hey, check this out!"
Ami's attention was shifted toward the dainty dress Usagi was taking out from the rack. It was sky blue with white, fluffy fur on the neckline, sleeves, and the very edge of the dress. From the way the dress slipped away from her hand like water, Ami was sure silk had been part of the materials of the dress. Her eyes widened.
"It's beautiful!" Makoto voiced Ami's thoughts.
With a sweep, Ami brought the dress into another dressing room to try it on, letting her thoughts drift away from Rei.
* * *
A young man with light brown hair wondered through the jewelry section of the mall. He stops to browse the different chains and necklaces.
"Sir, look at these chains! They're real gold!"
"Right-"
"Because today's the grand opening, we're having a 15% off sale. May I ask you your name?" asked the chatty saleswoman behind the jewelry stand.
The man paused for a second. Then, "Mura. Why?"
"Well," explained the saleswoman, "we have a special this month, and we can engrave your name on your favorable pendants. For half price! Can I interest you-"
"No thanks," Keikan interrupted, "I have other manners to attend to right now. Maybe next time." He turned away and walked slowly through the aisles. "Hmm . . ." he thought, "Chains . . . gold . . . all elements of metal . . . The birth place of the Elemental Seed of Metal should be where the minerals' spiritual energy built is highest. Could the Elemental seed of Metal be attracted once again to a place where metal energy is strong?"
He begins down the stairs to the ground floor, the only place he haven't been to yet. "Elemental Seeds shouldn't be attracted to only strong elemental energy, but true, rich energy. To have rich elemental energy, the place has to be in right land position and has to possess the necessary characteristics. With a place like that, people's attention would be attracted too . . .".
Suddenly, a thought hit him. "If that's true, then this clothing store can be a possibility! A clothing store has the relation to the element wood. Good business and strong human-interest magnetism could be some things that point to a strong spiritual energy," he reflected as he strolled passed the racks of clothing.
A little further ahead on the ground floor of the store . . .
"Wow! Rei-chan, you look amazing!" complemented Makoto.
The ruby red gown covered Rei's feet. It whirled around her she turned in a circle; a perfect, stylish dress meant for only Rei. Even Rei herself was surprised how well she looked in it.
"Ta da! Minako-sama has done it again! A perfect model taste!" exclaimed Minako with pride. "Rei-chan looks like she's ready to meet her prince-"
Rei turned the other way . . . and crashed into someone. For a minute, Rei looked into charming, deep gray eyes. The young man she bumped into had beige colored hair. If the guy haven't caught her in time, she would have landed straight on her face.
Rei's friends gasped.
"G-gomenasai!" apologized Rei, a little stunned herself.
"It's alright," he reassured, flashing them a killer smile, "It's not an everyday thing someone such as yourself fall into my arms."
Rei blushed as her friends continued gaping at them.
"Does he look familiar to you guys?" Ami whispered, but it seems like no one heard her.
He looked into Rei's eyes for a moment longer, then released her. "See you around," he left with a wave.
Usagi snapped her fingers in realization. "That's right! He's the new model, Hebita Mura. I heard he's about to play as a main character in the new drama, 'Lost and Found Again'!"
"Sugoi!" gushed Minako and Makoto at the same time, hearts replacing their eyes, instantly in love out of the blue.
After purchasing the red gown for Rei, a blue dress for Ami, and other clothing, the five friends left the mall.
"Wow . . . that guy is awesome! I wonder is his acting any good. . ." Minako murmured dreamily.
"What, Minako-chan? Shouldn't you be the first one to know about him since you're so into modeling?" questioned Ami, surprised.
"Actually," Minako admitted, "I had something else in my mind recently. You know about the GATA Music Program?"
"Hai, 'Gifted And Talented Advanced Music Program'," replied Ami immediately. "They accept students with great music talents to perform charity concerts and such. From time to time, there would be contests between GATA students from different schools. Why?"
"Well, Juuban High needs an assistant in the newspaper group. An interviewer for top news of the GATA Music Program competitions and concerts," Minako sighed with envy. "That means interviews with hot singers too . . ."
Artemis sweat dropped. "And here I thought it was of an educational cause . . ."
* * *
"Akuma-sama, for me to proceed, it is necessary for me to borrow Torimoku-san's strength," Keikan, wearing a snakeskin cape and a silver mask that was his battle uniform, reported to the figure on the throne, Akuma. Keikan explained his theory of how to find the Elemental Seeds. "Torimoku is a leader yokai of wood. I'm sure he can sense the Elemental Seed of Wood."
"Very well then." Akuma nodded to Torimoku, who was kneeling next to Keikan. "Meanwhile, fetch some energy for later use."
Torimoku nodded in understanding.
As the two left, Akuma watched the glowing orb in his hand and thought, "Soon . . . Very soon."
* * *
"Honestly, Usagi, you are such a ditz!" Rei puffed as her friends followed behind. "How many times are you going to lose that necklace? And at the mall, no less!"
"It's my favorite one! The clasp broke, that's all," replied Usagi meekly.
Luna sighed in disappointment of her owner. Artemis was following next to her.
"Then _get_ it fixed!" Rei shot back. "I gotta head back to the temple soon-"
"We'll make it quick," Makoto interrupted feebly, "I think it might have dropped in the changing room at the mall. We're here anyways." Makoto opened the glass door and stepped in, the rest following her.
Rei, who was grumbling, stopped the instant she walked in. She froze, a jolt of feeling from her sixth sense sent her to immediate alertness.
"What's wrong, Rei-chan?" Minako asked, noticing Rei's sudden stillness.
"I sense evil power . . . strong. The atmosphere suddenly became dark-"
Without warning, a scream ripped through the air, causing them all to jump.
"Henshin yo, minna!" Usagi cried.
"Mercury Crystal Power, Make-up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make-up!"
"Venus Crystal Power, Make-up!"
"Mars Crystal Power, Make-up!"
"Moon Eternal, Make-up!"
With a flash, the five girls transformed into their fuku. As the senshi rushed in, they passed by people who were on the ground that passed out. A thump, the sound of a fallen body, was heard above them. They nodded in silent agreement and dashed to the stairs that brings them to the higher floor. A slight mist was in the building. When they reached the above floor, they spot a blond creature with a bird-like beak. It held in it's talon hand a huge, glowing, golden ball of collected human energy.
"Why are you taking so long?! Don't forget the main reason we're here!" hissed someone behind it. It was a figure with a snakeskin cape-his face was concealed with a silver mask.
"I know what I'm doing. YOU need not remind me," replied the bird-like demon coldly, eyes glare menacing. Just when it was about to withdraw the gathered energy, a voice interrupted.
"Hold it right there!"
"Nani?!" Both spun around to the direction of the voice in surprise that someone was still conscious in the building.
On top of the stairs were five figures. The centered one stepped out and spoke angrily, "How dare you disturb a grand opened mall like this, and zapping everyone's energy after? The sailor senshi will not forgive you villains for hurting so many innocent people. I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice. In the name of the moon-"
"In the name of Venus," Sailor Venus joined.
"In the name of the fire planet Mars," Sailor Mars continued.
"In the name of the ice planet Mercury," shouted Sailor Mercury.
"…And in the name of lighting planet Jupiter!" Sailor Jupiter ended.
"We shall punish you!" the five senshi yelled in unison.
"My, my. Seems like we have company. Torimoku, kill them before summoning the Elemental Seed!" the masked figure commanded.
The blond bird-like creature, Torimoku, stood still and studied the group as if not hearing the command at all. His golden eyes posed no obvious threat.
"Attack, minna!" Sailor Moon whispered.
Before she finished her sentence, Sailor Jupiter let loose her attack. "Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
The attack shot towards Torimoku, but as if there was a barrier around it, the attack reflected and slammed back into Jupiter. "D-doushite?" groaned Sailor Jupiter in pain.
Without another word, Sailor Venus and Sailor Mercury attacked at the same time.
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
Their attacks combined as one, but the results were the same; the senshi were merely able to dodge their own attacks in time.
"It's . . . powerful," groaned Venus in pain.
"Let me try." Sailor Mars said as she reached for one of her warding off evil scrolls. She tossed it up and before gravity started pulling it down, she began her attack. "Mars Flame . . ." Mars took aim and once the scrolls fluttered down in front of her aim, she quickly fired. " . . . Sniper!" The fire arrow brought the scroll with it as the scroll was caught on fire.
Torimoku's eyes widen in great surprise and suddenly jerked away from Mars' attack. The fast magic arrow missed the demon by inches. Torimoku narrowed his sizzling eyes treacherously and gave a shrill screech.
"Aiyaa! Look at what you did, Mars!" Sailor Moon whimpered as she took a step back.
"Stop whining, Sailor Moon. At least _I'm_ trying . . ."
Torimoku advanced towards the five perilously, ready to strike. Suddenly, a red rose was headed for the blond demon. Torimoku caught sight of it from the corners of his eyes and jumped back. The rose pierced into the ground between them.
"Set these innocents' energy free!"
"Tuxedo Kamen!" the sailor senshi proclaimed together, turning to the tuxedoed man standing on top of a rather high shelf. He was holding a red rose in between his fingers.
"Enough interruptions already!" uttered Torimoku irritability. With harden eyes, he quickly whipped out his other hand, shooting many spiked vines towards the senshi and the newly arrived Tuxedo Kamen. They were fast, but the vines were faster. At once, they were bound together by the vines, hurting and unable to move. Tuxedo Kamen, who was pulled down from the shelf by some vines, landed on the ground with a smack. The vines tighten around them and sharp spikes pierced through their skin easily.
"Yes . . .!" whispered the masked figure gleefully.
After the victims of the spiked vines were tied together helplessly, Torimoku turned its attention to the center of the room. "Now back to the point . . ."
"Hey! Why didn't you kill them?" demanded Torimoku's partner.
"I don't take orders from you." Torimoku stated frostily.
They locked into battle glares and after a short while, the masked man turned away with a growl.
Torimoku turned to the center of the room again and concentrated its energy. Suddenly, the round, dark green gem on its forehead glowed with light. A beam of pale green light shot out from the gem to the center of the room. While the beam connected from the gem to the ground, the octagon shaped baqua used in Feng Shui* (with different patterns of lines on the eight sides and the ying yang on the middle) appeared in neon green.
As the people in the room watched with awe, Torimoku began to chant:
"Ancient power of wood,
unravel from the deepest sand.
In presence of the Jewel of Oak,
come as I command!"
An unnatural wind stirred up in the room. Instantly, the eight line-symbols gathered energy. A ball of energy was built right above the ying yang. This time, it wasn't human energy. Then the octagon disappeared, leaving only the shimmering energy orb.
Torimoku smiled in satisfaction as he walked toward it with an outstretched arm, reaching for it.
Suddenly, two thin objects whizzed by in front of his face from crisscross directions in front of his face.
"Nani?!" Torimoku said as he leaped back, fuming at yet another interruption. Less than one foot away are two golden needles with a pearl on top, each pinning down a single rose petal to the ground; one petal was yellow in color while the other was light mint green.
"Step away!" two new voices called out.
All turned to the direction of the voices astonishingly.
Two figures leaning back to back against each other dressed in a familiar fuku stood on top of the stairs.
"From the star governing all nature forces, I am Sailor Altair!" declared the one on the left, crossing her arms arrogantly. A gentle, soft breeze blew lightly on her short wavy hair. Her clear teal eyes made her brown hair particularly noticeable.
"From the star of most lethal poisons, I am Sailor Arcturus!" the one on the right proclaimed. She twirled one of her two braids. The rest of her hair was in a bun. Her violet eyes showed out because of her yellow orange hair.
"The Guardian Stars have arrived!" both announced together.
To be continued . . .