AN at the bottom…

Title: Shades of Grey

Authors: Moonlight Storm

E-mail: MoonlightStormSM@aol.com

Genre: Romance/Action/AU/Supernatural

Season: 1st

Standard disclaimer applies.

Chapter 10

~*~

Usagi stepped jubilantly into the Crown, quickly scanning

the surrounding area for a glimpse of a familiar head of

dark hair. He raised his head at the jingling of the bells to

announce an entrance, and met her eyes. Usagi shook her

head nearly imperceptibly, telling him not to come over –

she had not told them yet.



"Luna hasn't come yet. Wonder where she's gone off to…"

Ami commented, after following Usagi into the Crown.

"Since she's not here yet, I'm heading to the restroom

really fast. Give me just a minute, Usagi-chan," Ami set her

schoolbag on the counter next to Usagi's.



"Hai, Ami-chan. I might head to the arcade area."



'Now I can go tell Mamoru what's going on. I really should

have a chat with him soon, find out how far his vampiric

abilities have progressed… Setsuna said he changed

because *I* did, but I don't see how that would work… Our

link, as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen? But I don't even

understand why *that* is in effect. Gods, I can't believe

*Mamoru*, of all people, is Tuxedo Kamen…'



Usagi shook her head to clear her thoughts, while striding

quickly over to Mamoru's booth.



"Mamoru-kun, I'm getting Luna and Ami-chan together

here. Then, we'll head over to the park, I guess, so I can tell

them about Setsuna, and you, and then I have a hunch Luna

will want to talk to you."



Usagi glanced at the clock above the Crown doors.



"Give me… 45 minutes, then come find us in the rose

gardens in the park. There's a small spot just off to the right

a little after the entrance. You wouldn't notice it if you

weren't looking, but it should be easy enough for you to

find. You know that spot?"



Mamoru arched an eyebrow, smiling behind his coffee cup.



"The rose gardens, Odango? Shouldn't the saviors of the

world have some sort of building for these kind of things?"



Usagi, overcome with the irrational urge to blush, fought it

off before quipping, "You find a way to talk the

government into giving us a building to plan how best to

save the world and we'll talk. Ami should be back any

second, see you in 45 minutes."



Sliding into the booth, Usagi waved as Ami exited the

restroom.



"I thought you would be in the arcade, Usagi-chan."



The golden child shrugged, "Nah, I decided to wait for

you."



Ami smiled before picking her schoolbag up from the

counter and pointing to the window, "Luna's outside. We

better go."



Usagi turned her head to see Luna perched on the

windowsill outside the Crown, then followed Ami into the

fresh spring air.



~*~



Shortly after leaving the Crown, Usagi, Ami, and Luna

found themselves nestled into a private alcove in the rose

gardens of the nearest park. After a few minutes of

struggling for words, Usagi proceeded to tell Luna and Ami

everything that had happened, conveniently editing out any

and all parts relating to vampiric activities. With few

outbursts from either of them, it took Usagi a shorter time

than expected to finish her story. However, before Usagi

could tell them of the upcoming meeting with Mamoru,

Luna began to speak.



"We'll need to talk with Mamoru soon, assuming he's

willing to join forces with us as you claimed, Usagi. Right

now, though, I have more news. You two may have been

wondering why I was late today, but as I was walking here

I sensed a strange presence. It took me a fair time before I

could pinpoint its source, but I finally did: the Hiwaka

Shrine. This power was coming from a dark-haired girl,

wearing a T*A Private Girls Academy school uniform. At

first, I thought the power might just be manifesting itself

because she was an exceptionally strong miko-in-training,

for she changed into the Shinto temple robes. Yet, her

power felt increasingly familiar. When she went inside to

pray to the sacred fire, I realized – her power is that of a

Senshi, the guardian of Mars."



"This priestess is Sailor Mars? We've already found the

next Senshi?"



"Hai, Usagi. And if her power is showing, I have a feeling

she will become involved in the next youma fight. We

should visit her now, before the youma appears, and try to

explain everything. Her gifts as a miko may affect her

abilities as a Senshi, or she may have noticed changes in

her day-to-day training, which could have alerted her to

strengthening powers within her. If the miko has, it should

be easier to convince her of her Senshi heritage, short of

her henshin pen being revealed."



And with that, all thought of meeting Mamoru was driven

from Usagi's mind.



~*~



"So, the Senshi are progressing with no further help from

me. I think it is time for Ikuko and Kenji to go on their trip.

Perhaps tomorrow. That should be sufficient time for

matters to arrange themselves, and my next appearance as

Setsuna shall be fulfilled."



~*~



Two Junior High students, accompanied by a small black

cat, made their way up the steps before the Hiwaka Shrine,

the afternoon sun shining against their backs. At the top of

the steps, a dark-haired temple maiden stood sweeping the

entry to the temple. Upon hearing their footsteps, the young

miko looked at the visitors and smiled.



"Welcome to Hiwaka Shrine. I am Hino Rei," she said,

bowing slightly, "May I help you? Perhaps you'd like a

charm bracelet?"



Luna glanced up at her charges, making sure they would

take the girl to a secure place to talk to her.



Usagi swiftly took over the situation, "Hino-san, we'd like

to speak to you. Could we talk privately somewhere?"



Rei blinked at them for a moment, before recovering her

composure and gesturing gracefully to the temple itself,

luckily taking no notice of Luna trailing the trio.



~*~



Mamoru had quickly found the niche Usagi spoke of in the

rose gardens, and arrived promptly 45 minutes after they

last spoke – yet the area was empty. He waited another 10

minutes before exiting the park angrily.



'She stood me up! I will speak with the golden spitfire child

tonight… Then maybe she'll tell me exactly what the hell is

happening around here.'



~*~



After seating themselves around a small table, Usagi began

to speak again.



"Ne, before we begin, I should probably introduce myself.

I'm Tsukino Usagi, and this is Mizuno Ami," gesturing to

the blue-haired girl, Usagi continued. "This probably

sounds extremely odd, but we possess the key to allow you

to become a fighter for justice."



Looking at them in near anger, Rei seemed about ready to

take this as a joke, an insult to her temple.



"Look, if this is a joke, I have better things to be doing. I

need to go finish my chores."



Usagi held up a hand, stopping Rei before she could stand

from the table.



Ami chimed in with her own protest, "Please, just listen a

few minutes. Then you'll understand."



Rei looked at them in disbelief, clearly skeptical.



Usagi tried again.



"Have you seen the news lately? Or heard stories of strange

youma being driven off by several superheroes in short

skirts, and a tuxedo-clad man?"



The miko nodded hesitantly.



"What does that have to do with anything?"



"Those superheroes are called Senshi, specifically Sailor

Moon and Sailor Mercury, and the man is Tuxedo Kamen.

And you, are soon to be Sailor Mars."



~*~

AN: Not much of a cliffhanger, ne? Well I tried. Sort of.

*sweatdrop* Anyway, sorry again its kind of short. You

may notice I include elements of both the anime and the

manga, mainly because I personally like the manga much

more than the anime, but am more familiar with the anime.

Hence, this fic is going to contain pieces of each. It'll be

like aniga. Or something. o.O



Did it seem like Rei was ooc? I tried to have her react as

she would in Takeuchi-sama's own head… but it doesn't

always work that way. Were any of the characters ooc? Let

me know, or any other comments/criticism you have.



Also, I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed me.

First, Lia, for putting up with me and actually reading this.

Jamiegirl, thank you so much for reviewing, it means so

much to me. And DragonSparkle, there'll be romance,

don't worry. I just can't *stand* fics where it moves too

quickly from "I hate you" to "I love you" so I'm going to

take my sweet time getting Usa and Mamo there. Thanks

for your comments though! Kiss, thank you for the

criticism, I like to know what readers want more of. I did

try to make it a little longer this chapter, but I was kind of

crunched for time, along with adding more details. Thanks

to all of you!



*Please* review, or e-mail me at

MoonlightStormSM@aol.com. Thanks for reading!