Chapter one
"The sign of a good party is when you can only remember it in flashbacks!"
Anon Drunk Student
June 1st 1991
With a groan Kino Makoto came back to consciousness, and regretted it. She groaned again as her eyes were stabbed by the bright June sunlight coming in though the semi-open blinds, the normally gentle sound of the air-con pounded her ears like the marching of an army on gravel road.
Makoto had a hangover, or was the hangover having her?
Getting up from the futon that she was lying on, discovering that she had a stiff neck from sleeping with her head back. She looked around the room, scattered around the room was the 'remains' of her friends. On a futon in the corner furthest from the sunlight was Mamoru & Usagi, Mamoru was face down in the futon with Usagi sprawled over Mamoru's body, surprisingly it was Mamoru who was snoring quietly and Usagi was silent.
Against the wall near the now silent stereo system was Ami and Setsuna, partly propped up by each other and a large pillow. The two had been discussing (well slurring to each other) about what music to put on next, when the 20-octane saki that Haruka had been serving up had finally got them.
The other two inner senshi were crashed out on a futon near the food table, Minako orange sun dress had a large chocolate stain down the front as she slept on her back with a chocolate stained smile. Rei was curled up next to Minako hands under her head. A perfect image of someone sleeping only spoiled by large amount of drool coming from her mouth.
Of the others at the party, Minako remembered, Hotaru had headed to bed early with a faint look of disgust at the antics of her older friends. Of Michiru and Haruka there was no sign, they probably made it to bed.
With bare feet and as stealthy as 6'1" frame and hangover allowed, Makoto headed for the kitchen, although she was convinced that the only thing to wake her friends up at this stage would be small war! Quietly closing the door behind her, she opened the fridge and began to drink her way though a 2-litre carton of fresh orange juice.
The party had been publicly billed as a celebration of the end of first year of high school. In truth it was as Makoto had put it, "This is a party to celebrate we managed to fucking survive and surprisingly win!" Usagi had another reason to celebrate, her much beloved Mamoru had "returned" from the USA. Which for some reason meant she missed School on Wednesday with a stomach bug, she had returned to school on Thursday, looking flushed and tired. The only thing that spoiled that image was a smile on her face that looked like surgery was required to remove it. Even the sudden quiz that had been sprung on them failed to dent it.
Makoto started on her second carton of orange juice and for a while held the cool carton against her forehead as she tried to remember the events of the night/morning before and what sequence they came in. After a few minutes the kitchen door opened and pale faced and dishevelled Usagi came in. Wordlessly Makoto handed over the juice carton, from which Usagi drank until it was empty.
"How do you feel Usa?" asked Makoto.
Usagi fixed a slightly blood shot eye on the Makoto for a moment, "I feel, *cough* like ate all the sand of a beach and I feel like my brain is trying to get out of my skull, but otherwise fine and why do we feel we have to ask such stupid questions when its obvious that other person is not well!."
Makoto with a shrug of her shoulders "Well I suppose it's polite?"
"Well I don't do polite at, "glances at clock on wall, "11 O'clock on Saturday morning." Usagi opened the fridge removed another carton of orange juice and with all the grace of a sack of potatoes fell into a chair by the kitchen table, resting her head on the table. Makoto removed milk from the fridge and moved over to the stove.
"What ya making?" came the voice from the table as Makoto started heating the milk.
"Porridge."
"PORRIDGE!" Said Usagi pulling her head up from the table and wincing was the pain flashed across her forehead as her body told her that quick movements were a bad idea.
"Yes, porridge with strawberry's, sugar and some potassium salts to help us get over drink, that and its easy on the stomach."
"Ooookkkayyy, never heard of that before."
"Its something the one of the chef's at the restaurant below my apartment told me about. Thought I would give it a go."
Silence returned as Usagi put her head back down and Makoto resumed her cooking.
"CRASH" went the kitchen door as a green hued Minako ran though in a kitchen in a blur of blond hair. Another crash was heard at the end of the corridor at the bathroom door closed, followed shortly by the faint sound of someone being noisily sick. Both Usagi and Makoto's stomachs churned in sympathy.
"Well that will have woken everyone up." Commented Makoto. Usagi rolled her eyes and put her head on the table again.
"I cannot help but think I have done something silly."
"What's new about that!" said Rei coming in though the now open door. Usagi lifted her head off her arms, poked her tongue out briefly at the young priestess and then laid it back down again.
Makoto stopped her stirring, "You know I have that feeling too?"
"What feeling is that?" asked Ami as she came in though the door.
"That they done something silly." Said Rei passing a carton of juice to Ami from the fridge before sitting next to Usagi.
Ami paused and lent by the fridge as she tried to alcohol-fogged brain to work probably. "I get that feeling to. If I could remember."
At this point the kitchen door opened and Mamoru came in though the door.
"Anyone got any aspirin?"
Everyone stared at him as around the kitchen memories returned. Adorning Mamoru face was 8 different sets of lip marks in brilliant red lipstick, with his left cheek baring a game of noughts and crosses (curtsy of Hotaru).
"What you all staring at?" Then he caught his refection in the window.
"ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!"
The room dissolved in laughter at this point.
The laughter wound down just as slightly green face Minako staggered back in the room as Mamoru leaned over the sink scrubbing at his face with a cloth and mumbling about women, parties and getting hold of the person who invented water proof lipstick.
"Well if that's the worst that happened, I live with this party." Commented Rei, wiping her eyes. Laughter seems to be good for clearing up hangovers she noted
Usagi got out of her chair, walked over to Mamoru and gently pulled his face to hers, and proceeded to give him a kiss that lasted a full 10 seconds and at the end of it brought a dreamy smile to Mamoru's face.
"Well princess can we have all have one of those?" Came Haruka voice as she entered the room dressed in a large white bathrobe.
Usagi smiled evilly and came over and placed her hand on Harukas stomach and twisting a blond lock around one finger said "Why Haruka do you think your man enough?" The sound of Harukas jaw dropping was almost audible. "Thought not!" Patting her stomach below her hand and walking away. Haruka's jaw snapped shut as her face turned bright red. The room yet again was filled with laughter.
"I cannot get much past you now, can I princess!"
"No," Usagi face changed "Is the food ready yet Makoto, I'm hungry!"
"Well some things never change!" said Rei.
Breakfast/lunch was started and at the end of porridge, fresh fruit and a half a bottle of aspirin during this time the remaining members of the house joined the group around the kitchen table. At the end Mamoru bent over and kissed Usagi soundly.
"Excuse me beloved, I have an appointment at 12:30, I better go."
"Are you OK to drive?"
Mamoru paused "Yes I think I passed out around 1am, I should be fine."
"Be safe Mamoru-chan."
"I will be, thank you for your hospitality." He said bowing to Haruka and Michiru, Michiru rose and followed him to the door.
"Well what are we going to do today then." Asked Minako.
"You are all welcome to come and enjoy the pool and hot tub, Michiru and myself find steaming ourselves in the tub with a few cold drinks a wonderful cure for when we have over-done things."
Usagi looked around at the other girls, and got nods from all. "Sounds like a plan!"
"You know, I think we should hold all senshi meetings in here." Usagi commented as she laid back in the tub.
"Wouldn't hear any augments from me!" said Makoto.
"Hedonist!"
"Yep pyro, that's me!"
"Whats the matter with a little Hedonism now and then?" asked Setsuna slipping into the water bearing a floating tray containing further drinks.
"Thank you Setsuna." Said Usugi and raising her voice. "Hey guys drinks!" as she called down to Ami, Michiru and Hotaru who were swimming in the pool.
"Be up in a minute!" came the call back.
"Water senshi." Commented Haruka.
Setsuna lightly slapped Harukas arm, "Now you know Hotaru needs as much exercise as she can get, that and Michiru does well to be away from your bad influence once in a while."
Haruka's left eyebrow came up, "is it pick on Haruka day today?" The rest of girls in the pool giggled.
"We just have not forgiven you for that car fuel served up to as saki last night." Said Minako waving her finger in her direction.
"Hey I got that from a very reputable chain."
"Of gas stations." Came a quiet voice from Makoto's direction.
"Setsuna," said Usagi's voice cutting across the others, "is there any sign of another enemy yet, before we start fighting with our selves." She asked with a smile and the others had the decency to look embarrassed.
Setsuna's smile faded, "Yes princess, I do have some news, some unexpected news." Usagi's hand raised to stop Setsuna. Her face changed from that of gentle humour to one of complete seriousness.
Since her battle with Galaxia, Usagi's personality had changed. Most of the time she was the same of Usagi, slightly dizzy, prone to cry over anything, impulsive and still famous for huge appetite. But in moments like this a change came over her. The future Neo-Princess Serenity made an appearance, calm, reserved and focused, the leader that Rei had nagged her to be. And it was this Usagi that called to the three in the pool, in a clear voice, which was instantly obeyed as the three slipped into the tub without a further word.
Usagi turned her eyes on Setsuna. "Please continue."
"Thank you Princess. " bowing her head to Usagi. "Time as you know is a fickle beast, but myself and I Osiris have examined the time stream and have seen that the treats we face for the next few years are from here on Earth not from outer space or different times. The problem is that our activities have not gone unnoticed even after the diligent actions of you and Venus to keep our actions secret or at least to be blamed on something more 'normal'. The problem is that Crystal Tokyo and the reformation of the Moon Kingdom is still some ways off in time so we have to be very careful about who knows about us. Do not ask me how long until we get to that time, I do not know or more correctly there are too many different possible futures to give you an anyway accurate answer. Despite what I have said we are no way off the hook as far as enemies, new ones will rise but they will be different to those we have seen before and new methods and new skills will have to be found to deal with them. The inners have already experienced something like what I am talking about."
"The island." Ami commented quietly.
"Correct, sometimes the depth of human depravity even out does the horrors of Negaverse and the wanton destruction of Galaxia. The problem is others will wish to control us, to use us for there own aims. Imagine the use to secret services around the world if you could control a girl who can turn herself invisible, change memories and shoot laser beams from her hands. MI6 would love to find Sailor V again."
"Is that why Artemis had me destroy my passport?" Spoke Minako. Setsuna nodded.
"He erased any digital trail back to you via passport and emigration reports Aino Minako has never left Japan as far as the records are concerned. Investigations by the Tokyo police keep failing to turn up anything, due mainly to Lieutenant Fukoda actions. You made a good friend that day. But Luna and Artemis can only do so much and powerful people are beginning to look towards Tokyo and wondering, what if?
Silence fell. The only sound was the sound of the water recycling though the tub. Usagi's face held a thoughtful frown.
"Setsuna does anything need to be done today?"
Setsuna shook her head.
"Then today we finish of enjoying today. Minako I trust you will inform Artemis about this." Minako nodded," I will speak with Luna and Mamoru. Everyone it is time to think about what has been said. I need ideas and if possible plans, Michiru & Haruka you are in America for two weeks soon, I believe?"
"Yes we leave on Wednesday."
"Hotaru, if you need a break from Setsuna, please feel free come and stay with me a few days. Everyone we will gather three weeks today at 11 O'clock to discuss this further. Despite Setsuna's reassurances that nothing need be done now, I feel rapid action and thinking is required."
"Yes Princess." They all responded.
"Haruka, is there any of that rocket fuel you call Saki still around? I think I need a drink!"
