The meeting was over. Everyone was heading home, with grim thoughts. Everyone, that is, except Ami."
"Where are you headed, Ami?" Rei asked, trying her hardest to act cheerful, despite the weight in her mind.
"Oh, I'm starting a computer class, over at Tochita College. They have one of the best computer labs in the world!" Ami gladly explained, trying to act happy, just like Rei. "Tochita is a little bit past your shrine, as you know, so I thought I'd walk with you." She smiled.
Rei sighed, but a happy sigh. "Really, Ami. College courses? Sometimes I think you're too smart for your own good."
The girls continued walking, and talking, each trying to cheer the other up, each succeeding. By the time they reached the Hino's Shrine, both girls were in infinitely better moods.
They said their goodbyes, and Ami continued on to Tochita. Once on the campus, she found herself lost in a sea of students, all of which seamed to be taller than her. She was, after all, short, even by Asian standards.
"Ummph!" As she had turned to try a different direction, she had crashed into someone much taller than herself, and they both fell over.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Are you alright? Please let me help you!" Ami began to gather both their belongings, piling hers separately than the girls.
The other girl, who's hair was very long and streaked red, blinked a few times, then, slowly, "I'm sorry. I don't quite understand you. Could you say that again, please?"
It was then Ami realized she had crashed in to an exchange student. That explained the height. "I said I was sorry for crashing into you, and wanted to know weather you were alright." Ami repeated, slowly.
The girl shook her head no, a decidedly foreign movement in this context. "It's alright. You don't have to speak slowly. I just had my marbles knocked loose for a moment their. I speak very good Japanese." She wrinkled her nose. "Mostly." She smiled. "And yes, I'm fine, and I should apologize to you. I wasn't looking where I was going, and I crashed into you. I was looking for my computer class, and..."
"You're in the Computer class, too?" Ami cried out. "So am I!"
The girl smiled. "Wonderful! Now I'll at least have somebody to talk to."
The girls stood. "You don't have any friends?"
The foreign girl turned suddenly shy. "Something.... Something like that." she said softly. Then she brightened again. "But I get the feeling that we'll get along wonderfully, umm...." she faltered suddenly. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"
"Ami."
"I'm Azrielle."
"Ah-su-ree-ell-oo" Ami fitted the foreign name in to a Japanese accent. "That's very pretty."
Azrielle blushed. "Thanks. Most people call me just 'Az'. I like your name too." By this time, they had found the building the class was being held, and were on their way up the stairs.
"Funny." Ami commented to nobody in particular. "I could have sworn I checked this building." She shrugged, and opened the door for Azrielle. As she did, she looked at the sand stone the door way was made out of, and in the arch above the doors, she thought she saw a question mark. She did a double take when she walked in behind Azrielle, but it was gone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Lee, dear, would you please fetch the kettle?" Sweetly asked Coco Jinguji. Coco was a woman just under average height, with short, wavy, honey-blond coloured hair, and slate blue eyes. She was wearing a white dress with red spots that went down to her knees, a apron and pearls around her neck.
"Why, yes dear." Stated Lee, as he left his position and went to the kitchen. Lee Jinguji was a tall man, with straight brown hair, parted cleanly down the center. His green-gold eyes caught the light and reflected it. He was wearing a red v-necked vest over a white button down shirt, and gray-black slacks, with the crease still in them.
"Thank you greatly for coming Makoto." Said Mrs. Jinguji, as she sat down in a chair opposite from the tall brunette.
"Oh, well, thank you." Replied Makoto. "I didn't think that this apartment would sell so quickly."
"Tea, anyone?" asked Mr. Jinguji, upon his return from the kitchen. He was holding a tray with three teacups, and the kettle.
"Please." Makoto up righted herself.
"Thank you, dear." Politely accepted Mrs. Jinguji. "About the apartment, though, we saw it on our way into the city, and fell in love. We just had to have it. Isn't that right, dear?"
"Oh, yes." stated Mr. Jinguji. "Now, Makoto, tell us about the Sailor Scouts. We just moved here from Hokkaido, and we know practically nothing about them, but it seams everyone in Tokyo is talking about them."
Makoto's eyes grew to enormous size. "Sah..Sah... Sailor Scouts?" Makoto stuttered. "What's to know?" she asked, downing her tea in one gulp.
"Well, we'd like to know how they always manage to show up to save the day, and how powerful they are.... That sort of thing. We'd especially like to know about the... The... What was it again, dear?" Mrs. Jinguji asked her husband as he sat down next to her on the couch.
"The Anti-Sailor of... Something." He creased his brow, thinking.
"Oh, I remember. The Anti-Sailor of Nothingness." Mrs. Jinguji said with a smile.
"Oh, well, look at the time!" Makoto yelled, looking at her wrist, which had no watch, "Gotta go, thanks ever so much for the tea. Homework, and all that, you know. Bye!" She said as she ran out the door, and across to her apartment. As she darted in to the safety of her home, she thought she saw a question mark in the clouds, but was too frightened to actually take notice.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Ami sat through the opening lecture, she took the time to observe Azrielle. She now knew that the girl's last name was Abyss ("Ah-bee-sue" Ami had pronounced it), and that she was currently living with a brother and grandmother, but that was it.
Az's hair was bright blond, as blond as Minako's, actually, but she had dyed red stripes in, giving her a wild look, but her calm, knowing expression countered the hair, for an evenly balanced look. In each ear lobe, she wore small, eight-note earrings, with the tail up, and the note head dangling below. Her eyes sparkled with a green light, as she smiled at Ami, and then returned her attention to the instructor.
Ami sighed, as the lecturer continued to drone on about the basics that she already knew.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rei was walking through what seamed like an endless tunnel, periodically lit by torches. It was cold, and dry, and.... Evil. She could feel it. As she turned a gentle corner in the tunnel, she came to a large, wooden door. There were words written above it that were in a foreign alphabet but somehow she could read them just the same.
'Hall of Warriors'
She knew that whatever was beyond that door was important. And Dangerous. But she was going to try anyway. She reached out one hand, and grasped the large, golden ring that served as a door knob.
And as the door opened, she suddenly found her self...
... Awake in bed. She sat bolt up, and was surprised to find herself sweating. What could that dream mean? She bundled herself out of bed, and to the fire reading room, to ask the great fire.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I'm telling you, they know!" Makoto said, throwing her arms in the air. She paced around the over stuffed couches.
Both the inner and outer senshi sat in the outer senshi's apartment once again, the day after Makoto's meeting with the Jinguji's. The mirror on the wall reflected the images of the girls, and one man.
"You're making a big deal out of nothing." Minako responded, sighing.
"But maybe she's not." Typically quiet Hotaru looked up from her hands. She was seated upon Michiru's lap.
"I agree with Hotaru." Michiru said. "Maybe they're ok," She paused, "but what if they're not?"
Minako shook her head.
"Tonight I'll watch them." Haruka volunteered.
"I have a better idea." Ami said. Glancing at Michiru, who grabbed her talisman from the chair side.
"Talisman," she said quietly, "show me the Jinguji's of Tokyo." The mirror flooded with colours.
All the while, Ami had grabbed her computer. 'Jinguji history' she typed in, and aloud the mini computer a moment to run through its huge data stores. "It's all here." she announced, when it was finished. "Places of birth, driving licenses, address," she scrolled down. "No criminal record on ether of them."
Makoto put a frustrated look on her face.
"They're having dinner." Michiru said, looking up from her talisman. "Nothing out of the ordinary."
Bunny hopped up and down, trying to see the mirror. "What are they having?!" she asked over excitedly. Michiru dismissed the question.
"I don't know." Makoto said. "If it had been you there, and you heard them... Well, you'd know what I mean. I still think we should follow them."
"And I'll still do it." Haruka reported.
Ami suddenly slammed her mini computer shut. "On no!" she gasped, as she leapt up. "I'm late for my computer class!"
"Well, don't forget that you said that you'd come to the tea parlor with the rest of us after your class!" Makoto shouted after her, as she dashed to the elevator.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ami... I don't think this is a very good idea." Azrielle hesitated directly outside the gate of a traditional tea parlor. "I wasn't even invited. And what if they don't like me?" She tugged at the sleeves of her kimono, nervously.
Ami smiled brightly. "You don't have to worry about that. They're all really nice, and I'm sure they'll like you."
She still didn't look convinced. "But I've never been to a tea ceremony before! What if I make some huge mistake, and embarrass you!" She protested again.
Ami laughed. "Don't worry about that. I'm more worried about Bunny making a mistake. She's the biggest klutz, but she has the biggest heart of anyone I know." Ami continued to debate.
"But I can barely walk in this kimono! What if I trip, or something? I don't want to ruin your mom's kimono!"
Ami laughed again. "Don't worry about it, you'll get used to it quickly. Now come on." She finally managed to pull Az through the gate, and into the garden surrounding the tea house. All the other members of the inner and outer senshi were already gathered, minus Hotaru, who was on a sleep over school field trip, and Mamoru, who was working on a research paper. All were wearing kimonos.
"Guys, this is Azrielle." Ami said, walking up to the slightly segregated groups. "She goes to Tochita, and is my computer class. She doesn't know very many people, so I thought I'd bring her along."
"Hi Ami. Hi- um... Ah-oh-eh-la." Bunny attempted a greeting.
"Ah-sue-ree-ell" Az corrected kindly, but shy. She looked at her kimono and pulled the sleeves down.
"Azrielle." Michiru was the first to get it right, although she still did pronounce it with an accent. "That's a pretty name." she commented. Her Kimono was a deep blue with a wave pattern on it, and it was shining in the bright light the late afternoon sun was casting. "My name's Michiru."
"Nice to meet you." Az replied, once again pulling at her sleeves."
"Az just moved here from America." Ami pointed out, trying to break the ice.
"America? Really?" Rei asked, spell bound.
"Yeah." Az once again pulled at her sleeves.
Minako smiled, and said something in English. Azrielle smiled shyly back, and replied in English. They both giggled, as Az tugged at her sleeves.
Haruka cocked an eyebrow and looked at Michiru, who in return looked at Setsuna. They all nodded in unison.
"Az, it was a pleasure to meat you." Michiru bowed. "But I just remembered that both Haruka and I have a sound check for one of my upcoming concerts, and Haruka was supposed to be Setsuna's ride. I'm afraid we're going to have to leave now."
"Oh, are you Michiru Kaioh? I have one of your CDs. I really enjoy your music." Az said, as she pulled at her sleeves.
"Thank you, Az. Hopefully we will see each other again soon." Michiru said, bowing again, and heading towards the gate.
"Bye." Haruka waved.
"Bye," responded everyone.
Az pulled at her sleeve and noticed Michiru pull a mirror from her bag.
Everyone stood still, silent."
"So, Az, what's your major?" Makoto asked.
"Well," she replied, as she pulled at her sleeves, "Music, and technology, like computer networking and the Internet, but I'm also studying British literature, and German, and, of course, I'm taking a Japanese history class. Oh, and...."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hotaru did the same thing." Sailor Uranus said grimly. "Pulling at her sleeves. Hotaru had scars and mechanical body parts to cover up." She rubbed her chin, thoughtfully. "This doesn't bode well for Azrielle."
"I hope she is alright." Sailor Pluto said, worried.
"I don't think so." Sailor Uranus said. "You felt that energy, didn't you?"
Pluto sighed, gazing at the stars. "Of course."
Sailor Uranus, Pluto and Neptune looked into each other's eyes. Each knew what they had felt.
"I don't want to have to kill her." Sailor Pluto implored.
"We might have to. You know that." Sailor Neptune said. "To save-"
Just then, a large group of people came running across the open field in the park, next to which the three scouts were standing. The people were all screaming, and were quite obviously horrified.
Then, a large bear like creature came crashing behind them, it's eyes glowing red and evilly, as it bounded closer and closer to the people.
"Hold it right there!" Sailor Uranus commanded, quickly running out in to the open. "With the blessings of the planet of wind, Uranus, the sailor Scout of the Heavens, Sailor Uranus!"
Neptune ran to join her partner. "With the blessings of the planet of the sea, Neptune, The sailor scout of the depths, Sailor Neptune!"
Pluto appeared on the other side of Uranus. "With the blessings of the planet of the underworld, Pluto, the sailor Scout of Time, Sailor Pluto!"
The creature, which was easily the size of a small car, looked up and smiled, it's sharp teeth glinting in the setting sun. It shifted its weight, and then ran towards a group of ash trees.
"Oh, no you don't!" Sailor Uranus said, smirking, as she dashed after it.
The Scouts ran to the trees, but the creature had disappeared.
"Where'd it go?" Sailor Neptune asked, confused, as she looked about her, and then leaned on a tree.
The tree's branches shot out and wrapped themselves around the scouts before they had time to react. The branches then morphed into something that was like a living rope. It lifted all three high into the air.
"Damn it!" Sailor Uranus yelled, as she tried to free her pinned arms to reach her Sword.
Pluto, however, was luckier, as she had one arm free. She glared at the rope animal that was holding her high. "Dead Scream." She whispered, as she performed the actions of her attack as well as she could. The manna engulfed the creature, and Pluto could feel it dissolving around her.
"Ah!" Sailor Neptune shouted in surprise as the section of rope that held her suddenly disappeared, dropping her to the ground. Then grinned. "Deep Submerge!" she shouted, releasing her attack at point blank against the creature, dissolving it into a pile of purple goo.
"Let's have a talk with Ami." Sailor Neptune said cheerfully, once she and Sailor Pluto had both feet on the ground again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It's a carbon-based..." Ami searched for the word. "Er... Goo." she reluctantly said. "It's quite diluted, however. With water. I don't suppose you used your 'Deep Submerge' on it, Neptune?" Ami questioned, as she straightened up from the microscope, to face the three scouts, who were standing in her bedroom. They had entered through her window, and demanded that she analyze the purple substance they had brought. Well. Uranus demanded. Neptune and Pluto requested.
"Actually, yes. And if it helps any, Pluto used 'Dead Scream' also." Neptune replied from Ami's western bed.
"Ah." Ami glanced through the microscope again. "Hmm..."
"'Hmm'? 'Hmm' what?" Uranus asked, anxiously.
"Well," Ami began, never taking her eyes from the slide, "It appears that its cells can alter themselves."
"Alter?" Uranus questioned.
"Morph, if you will." The three scouts nodded, as if to say, 'that makes sense'. Ami picked up the light blue phone she had in her room. "Az is also majoring in chemistry." Ami said, blushing slightly, as she pulled Az's phone number up on her mini computer, and punched it in to the phone. The scouts remained silent. It rang five times before someone picked up.
"'Lo?" The voice on the other end was rough, and sounded very masculine. It also sounded like whoever it was had just been woken up.
"Yes, Hi. This is Ami, and I'd like to speak to Az, if she's there." she asked into the telephone.
"Well, where the hell else would she be. Most normal people are asleep at this hour." The voice laughed. "Not that I'd ever call that freak normal."
Ami paused, not sure how to react to the lack of manners this person had. "Sorry for waking you. But it really is rather important that I talk to Az right now..." She trailed off.
"Yeh yeh... I'll get her..." the phone was put down on a hard surface, so it banged in Ami's ear. There was a pause and then she could here some mumbling in the back ground.
"Hello?" Az greeted, sounding a bit tired.
"Hi Az, it's Ami."
There was a long pause. "How did you get my number?" She sounded worried.
Ami blanched. She had looked it up on her computer by habit. She had never thought that it might not be listed. "Erm.... It was listed in the Tochita College Directory?" Ami hoped she sounded convincing.
Another long pause. "Oh. I thought I told them not to list it. I'll have to talk to them about that... Oh! Just a second..." the phone was put down again, but not on the hard surface. She could hear the male voice shouting. He sounded angry. Az replied, and she sounded frightened. Then a pause. Then she was back on the phone. "Sorry..."
"No... He has every right to be upset... This is a horrible hour to wake someone... Er, is that your brother."
"Um, yes. But just why exactly are you calling." Az quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, yes. I was wondering if you could come over to my house. I just got my hands on an amazing compound that I know you'd enjoy watching."
"I'd love to!" Az replied.
"Ok then, how about I'll meet you at Sakura Park, and we'll go to my house from there." Ami suggested.
"Sakura Park? Where's that?"
"Umm.... Oh, I know! It's across the street from that book store we pass every day on the way to class."
"Yoshiko's Rare Books?"
"Yes, That one. Now do you know where I'm talking about?" Ami wanted to make sure.
"Yes... I'll be there soon."
"Bye!" Ami said, with as much cheer as she could muster.
"Bye..." Az returned, and hung up the phone. But before she did, she could hear clearly in the background, her brother say "And where the Hell do you think you're going?"
Ami sighed deeply. "Az will tell us everything about it." Ami reassured the scouts, whom were returning to their non-scout forms.
"We'll be outside.... watching." Haruka said, as she jumped out the window. Setsuna and Michiru followed.
Ami quickly dressed, grabbed her coat off its hook, and took the more practical way out of a house- the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It's been over an hour, Ami." Setsuna gently spoke from atop the large sakura tree. "You should go home."
"No. I said I would be here." Ami refused. Then she looked up at the three pairs of eyes that glistened from the branches above. "By the way... Why are you watching over me?"
Haruka silently climbed down to a lower branch so Ami could see her. She hesitated, and looked deep into Ami's eyes. "Ami," she finally said, "When we met Az today, we noticed two things about her."
Ami looked back at Haruka, worried. "Her hair and her accent?" she asked, hopefully.
Haruka smiled, and shook her head no. "No... Ami, she continually pulled at her sleeves. That may not seem like much in it self, but... Hotaru did the same thing, before she was reborn for the second time."
Ami paused, to think about this. Then she waved it away. "Well, maybe she has some scars too. I don't see why that means you have to watch over me."
"Also," Michiru chirped in, as she also came to a lower branch, "Her energy."
"Her energy?" Ami questioned, confused. "What about it?"
"It's strong." Setsuna said, not visible from her place in the upper branches. "Like an enemy's, or..."
"Here she comes." Michiru said, as both she and Haruka climbed back up the tree.
"Ami!" Az called. "Sorry I'm late!"
Ami smiled. "That's alright. We didn't after all, agree on a specific time." Ami stopped talking and stared as Az came into view. "Err... Um, Az? Why are you wearing sunglasses? It's pitch black out."
"Oh?" Az nonchalantly responded. "I didn't notice."
Ami raised an eyebrow. "How could you not notice?"
Az shrugged. "I went to the eye doctor to day, and I had my eyes dilated. It still hasn't worn off."
"When? You were fine this afternoon for classes, and the tea ceremony lasted until six, and I can't think of any optometrist open that late." Ami pointed out.
Az tugged on the sleeves of her long sleeve jacket, nervously. "I... I had a special appointment."
Ami frowned. "But you didn't know until that afternoon that you would be busy, and you never mentioned a previous engagement..." she thought to herself. "Maybe they're right to watch over me..." Ami reasoned, referring to the three people in the tree above her. "You are acting mighty suspicious..."
Out loud, Ami said, "So, shall we go?" And put on a big smile.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ami and Az had reached their destination: Ami's white, two story, very western with purple and green shutter and trim house.
"Wow, Ami!" Az commented, eyebrows raised. "You're house is so beautiful!" She bent down to smell the purple irises that lined the cast iron gate.
"Thanks." Ami politely responded. She slid her right hand under the latch of the gate, and swung it open. The two girls then walked onto the stone path that led to the front door. Az's head turned from side to side, glancing at the assorted planted and potted flowers.
"C'mon in!" Ami beckoned to Az while opening the front door. Az ran to Ami's side.
Upon seeing the blue tile entryway, Az snapped her sunglasses off her face. "Ami!" she cried, "Your house is so lovely!"
"It's just my entryway." Ami said with a laugh in her voice. She pushed her shoes off and set them in the corner. She then turned to see her friends expression. "Az! That black eye! Are you ok?"
Az turned to Ami, who had noticed Azrielle's left eye in great detail. The eye's bruise was an oval corresponding with the eye's natural curvature. Also, the colours of the eye were darkest on Ami's left, and faded as the bruise went out. Putting it all together, Ami cried, "Az, who punched you?!"
Azrielle quickly put her hands to her eye. "I wasn't punched." Az poorly lied. "I ran into some man's elbow while walking home. I... I was reading."
Ami was already in her slippers and getting ice from the kitchen. She walked up to Az, and offered her the ice, wrapped in a thin kitchen towel.
"Thanks." Az said, reaching for the ice.
"Az," Ami paused, "do you want help?" Ami asked quietly.
"Help? For what?" Az questioned back, acting as if she didn't know what Ami was talking about.
"She's not going to tell me..." Ami accepted. She dismissed subject. "Nothing." Ami said lightly. "Well, shall we take the grand tour?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
"I'd love to, Ami." Az responded.
Ami lead Az throughout the large house. In each room, Az, exclaimed how beautiful it was. Finally, they reached Ami's room.
"Well," Ami announced, "here it is." She moved aside so Az could see.
Az's eyes gazed upon Ami's light blue room. Cedar floor to ceiling bookshelves with cast iron guards shaped like waves lined the eastern and western walls (of course all filled with books). A station located on the north wall held a desk with more of the wave pattern iron. The desk seated a computer, TV, microscope, many papers, and pencils. On the opposite wall was a sliding glass door that led to a circular cast iron balcony. Also on that wall, Ami's western bed faced the north. The bedding was bright red with blue bubbles coming from the bottom to top. The backboard was high top with more cast iron.
"Wow!" Az said looking at the room. "Ami, you're so lucky to have a bedroom like this!" She looked towards the desk. "You have a display cable for the microscope too!" she cried with happiness in her eyes.
"Shall we look at the staple?" Ami offered.
"Ok!" Az exclaimed.
"Have a seat." Ami turned her microscope and TV on. "Notice how the cells reconfigure themselves?" Ami reached for the test tube from its stand. "This is a liquid sample of the cells," Ami said referring to the test tube, "but it's made only of carbon."
"But how's that possible?" Az asked in amazement.
"I said it was incredible." Ami explained. "Take a look."
Az got up from the foot of Ami's bed, and sat in the rolling chair. "This is so cool." She mumbled to herself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I get to go get new tires tomorrow." Haruka smiled, with stars in her glittering eyes.
The three elder of the outer senshi stood on the cast iron balcony to Ami's bedroom.
"Haruka." Michiru said with the intent of shaking her lover back to the situation on hand: the odd aura of Ami's friend, Azrielle. Setsuna simply shook her head with a sigh.
Almost an hour had passed, and the entire time (much to Haruka's dismay) Ami and Az had contemplated the physical being that the outer senshi destroyed. Sailor Pluto had, on several occasions, knocked Ami's telescope to the floor with her staff. Each time, Az would quickly look out and the outer senshi would hide to the best of their abilities. Pluto's staff became such a hassle, that eventually, all three demorphed, to get rid of their talismans for the time being. Ami was having a hard time in her own right, trying to make the goo seem more like a normal object than a magical creature.
Ami had noticed the room temperature had dropped greatly since Az's arrival. Finally, she couldn't' stand it anymore. "Az, could you please hand me that blanket?" She asked, pointing to one neatly folded on her bookshelf.
"Sure." Az replied. As she reached for the blanket, she noticed the digital clock also sitting on the shelf. "Oh no!" She leapt up from her chair. "I.... I've got to go home! It's 3:30!"
"What?" Ami asked. "If it's 3:30, why don't you just stay the night?"
"You don't understand, I have to go home!" Az said, pulling on her backpack and sun glasses. "Thank you very much, Ami. Your home is beautiful. Goodnight." Az quickly recited the polite lines and rushed out the door.
Ami sat, not understanding why Az had left in such a hurry.
"Yo, Ami!" Haruka's voice came from the balcony. "Want to let us in?" Ami had locked the glass door to assure Az that they were safe, after Sailor Pluto had knocked over the telescope for the first time. Ami went to the door and unlocked it.
"So, what did you learn?" Haruka asked, impatient.
Ami sighed. "Quite a bit, actually, but nothing that can help us, at this point."
Haruka scowled. "Figures."
Michiru shivered. "Ami, do you realized that it's colder in here than it is outside right now?"
Ami lifted an eyebrow. "It's summer. The nights are warm. We do have air conditioning, but we don't use it at night, to preserve energy."
Haruka shook her head. "No, it's not like that. It's... Different. I could feel the cold air seeping out around your door." Ami still looked skeptical. "If you don't believe me, go stand outside." Haruka challenged.
Ami did, and came back looking a bit confused. "That doesn't make sense..." she murmured.
"Ami, do remember when we told you that Az was giving off a strange aura?" Setsuna asked, sitting on the bed.
"Yes," Ami sighed, as she sat down in the swivel chair in front of her microscope.
"Well, we now, more than ever, believe there is something very special about Az." Setsuna started to explain.
Haruka, being her usual blunt self, in addition to tired and cranky, jumped in. "Ami, Az is an enemy, and she's to blame for the attacks. She a danger to this world, and the princess."
"How can you sat that?!" Ami yelled, standing. "Or, more important, how can you prove that?!" The normally calm Ami was now shouting in her anger.
"Ami, you felt the temperature drop. You even asked Az for a blanket. You yourself said that doesn't make sense. So how do you explain it?" Michiru used her over gentle voice.
"Maybe the air conditioning's broken." Ami spat.
"No. This cold has a magical feel to it." Setsuna said gently.
"Well, then maybe it's the yoma portion that did it. Not Az!" Ami yelled, flinging out an arm to point at the test tube.
"That yoma is dead. How likely is it that it's actively acting as an air conditioner?" Haruka barked back.
"Uh..." Michiru interrupted. "I don't think that yoma was quite as dead as we thought it was."
"What?" Ami and Haruka questioned together.
"Look." Setsuna said simply. They did. The test tube was broken, and the yoma goo was gone.
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"Oh drats!" Copi shouted in frustration, as a small portion of purple goo came quivering into the room.
Leon, who was sitting on the other side, arranging small animal statues what would appear to be some sort of mini stair case, which lead nowhere, smirked. "I told you such a poor copy would fail..."
Copi fumed. "Quiet you. It's not as if your kagemusha had any more success..." she picked up the small portion of goo, and put it in a near by jar. "At least a portion of mine got away." she snapped.
Leon continued smirking. "But did it do any damage? At least Lupin managed to hurt one of them."
Copi smiled acidly at Leon. She was just slightly shorter than he was, but she could easily grow to be taller than he. And she did so, slightly. "Are we forgetting," she stated, placing a hand on Leon's shoulder, "exactly who is ranking warrior here?"
All members of the Shadow Plain were born with out a constant form. They were a race of morphing humanoids. Most, when they reached adolescence chose a definite form, and were then stuck in it for the rest of their lives. But only one had ever decided that she was happier with her moldable body; Copi. The form she usual inhabited was that of an average height, and pointed facial features. Her hair was usually long, and tied up in a top-knot. She also formed herself a long, low cut slinky dress that usually looked like it was melding with the floor. As accessories, she had long gloves, that had a section missing from them, and a band that framed her face along her hairline, and ended at her pointed ears. Pointed ears were the one thing everyone who was a Shadow Plain inhabitant had, regardless of what form they chose.
Leon slammed his fist down on the table in a sudden anger, knocking over most of his carefully placed animal statues. "One level, Copi! One!" He stood and whirled around to face her, which was easier now that she was tall enough to look him in the eye. He glowered. "Do you know how easily it would be for me to snatch that level from you?"
Copi seared. "You were lucky to pass Alpha and Beta to get to your measly number three position. You couldn't hope to have my spot."
Leon growled, literally, the sound coming from somewhere deep with in his throat. Then he smirked again. "So tell me, did that miserable peace of goo you pass off for a kagemusha actually do it's job, or is it my turn again?"
Copi shrank back to her usual size, and went back to the jar. She tapped at it, and the purple goo stretched itself up to form a pillar. Copi clucked her tongue, and reached into the jar. "Come on now, Saku..." She coaxed the blob by its name. "Come on out..." She finally managed to pull it out. Then, she held it up to the light, and, gripping it by its sides, she pulled it tight, until it was stretched thin, and she could almost see through it. "Ah!"
Leon raised one of his bushy eyebrows, from where he was sitting again, replacing the animals he had knocked over. "Found something?"
Copi held, between her fingers, a piece of short, sandy blond hair.
Leon smiled. "Huh. Maybe that thing-"
"Saku... And it did a good job!" Copi praised her peace of goo, as she replaced it into the jar.
"Well then, maybe Saku isn't so worthless after all. Give that here." Copi handed him the hair, which he accepted in his left hand. In his right, he pulled out a large whip, and snapped it at his mini staircase, hitting one of the small statues.
At the touch of the whip, the statue shot into the air, grew to be quite large, and then, it was a statue no longer, as it sank to sit on the floor. This particular statue was of a dog-man, so now, sitting on the floor, was a very evil looking dog-man.
"Genken! What do you smell?" Leon commanded, holding the hair out for the creature, which was apparently named 'Genken' to smell.
Genken growled, and sniffed at the hair. Then, in a rumbling voice. "The wind."
Copi blanched. "Is that all?!"
Genken barred his teeth at Copi, and growled. Leon smirked. "Don't rush him. He knows what he's doing. Carry on." This last remark was directed to the kagemusha.
"Also very strong... motor oil and engine exhaust. Little bit of burned rubber. But mainly the wind, though." Genken sat back on his haunches, apparently finished.
"Good. Now, back you go!" Leon cracked his whip again, and the exact reverse of his appearance happened, leaving Genken a small, figurine, lying on the floor. Leon picked him up, and put him back on the shelf. Then he turned to face Copi. "So."
"So. Tomorrow we find a place that smells like motor oil, engine exhaust, and burned rubber." Copi stated.
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"Punch! Punch! Kick! Jump! Dash!" Minako was shouting over Bunny's shoulder, as she played the newest version of the 'Sailor V' game at the Crown Game Parlor.
"Ahh!" Both girls screamed in unison as big, red 'GAME OVER' letters appeared on the screen.
"My last yen..." Bunny whimpered as she and Minako went to where Rei was waiting in the corner.
"Are you finished now? Rei growled. "Makoto's going to have left, chasing after some cute guy, by the time we get there!"
"Not unless you want to lend me some money...?" Bunny mentioned hopefully.
"No! Now let's go!" The three girls proceeded to dash to the Crown Parlor.
"If you were a professional," Minako puffed as they rounded a corner, "your game would have lasted longer."
"That reminds me... How come I don't get my own video game?" Bunny complained as they headed up the stairs to the parlor.
"Because nobody wants to play a game staring a ditzy girl who trips, lands on her butt, and cries." Rei jibbed.
"Rei-chan!" Bunny whimpered, as they waked through the automatic door.
"Bunny! Rei! Minako! Over here!" Makoto waved. She moved over in the booth to make room. "I thought you would never get here! Wait until you hear this. Show 'em, Az."
They then noticed, for the first time, Az and Ami were also sitting in the booth. Az looked a bit embarrassed, and had a new-looking laptop in front of her.
"It's nothing... Really..." she murmured, looking at her lap. She was wearing her sunglasses again.
"Oh, that's simply not true!" Ami said, smiling brightly. She turned to look at Bunny. "Az is a composer, as well as a computer genius. She writes the most amazing music! She combined her two talents for our last assignment in our computer class. Listen." She reached over to Az's laptop, and pressed a button.
Instantly, the room was filled with orchestra quality music, with all the instruments present, playing a song that they had never heard before, but was easily one of the best, and most beautiful.
As the music ended, the three girls sat in shock, as Az continued to blush, and Makoto and Ami nodded slightly. Minako was the first to react.
"That's so cool!" she shouted.
Makoto crossed her arms, and bobbed her head. "Didn't I tell you?"
Az continued to look down at her hands. "It's nothing, really. Just a little tune that's been in my head lately."
Rei looked skeptical. "I composed some songs for my school's carnival once. It couldn't have been that easy." Az just shrugged.
Bunny was looking thoughtful, a strange expression for her face. "That music... It reminds me of something. Did you base it on anything, Az?"
Az blushed. "Well, erm, yes, but it's silly."
Ami looked interested. "Oh, tell us. Please?"
"I don't want you to laugh at me." Az looked up.
"We'd never laugh at you!" Minako protested.
"Never!" Makoto agreed. Rei and Bunny nodded.
"Well... Ok. But remember, you promised." She took a deep breath. "My original flight from America flew into Osaka, not Tokyo, so I had to take the Bullet Train to get here. On the train, they had this magazine, and it had an article about the Sailor Scouts in it."
Ami almost dropped her glass of water. Bunny choked on the ice cream float she was 'sharing' with Rei. The other three girls eyes grew to a large size. Az didn't notice, because she was back to looking at her lap. Ami noticed she was subconsciously pulling at her sleeves again.
"The article just struck a cord in me, and that's the song," she gestured to her computer, "that eventually came out. It has five movements, one for each of what they call 'the inner senshi' and four bridges, one for each of the 'outer senshi'. The ending is based on the one guy, I think they called him a knight." Az explained, unaware of the looks she was getting. After a moment, she sighed. "You're trying not to laugh at me, aren't you."
"No!" Bunny protested. "It's just that..." She faltered.
"It's just that we never thought we would meet anyone who liked the Sailor Scouts as much as we do." Minako picked up.
"Yeah!" Rei agreed, a little too enthusiastically. "We're their biggest fans!"
"Mmm!" Makoto nodded, also getting into the act. "Sailor Jupiter kicks butt!"
Az smiled, looking relieved. "Thanks... for not laughing at me."
"We'd never laugh at anyone." Ami reassured her.
"Except for maybe Bunny here." Rei jibbed her again.
"Rei-chan" Bunny's lower lip poked out.
The girls continued to talk for a bit, before Ami and Az excused themselves, leaving money for their drinks behind.
"We only stopped in because I wanted to show you Az's project. We really must be off." Ami said as they stood to leave.
Ami and Az walked until they were well into a residential area. "I thought that we'd take a new way today." Ami said, as she smelled some bleeding hearts. "This neighborhood has absolutely gorgeous flowers."
"Ami," Az said, as they continued to walk, "where'd you get my phone number?"
Ami stopped, surprised. "What?"
"Last night. You called me, remember?" Az explained, also stopping. "I asked you then, and you said you got it out of the college directory. I went to the main office today, to ask them to remove it, and it wasn't there, Ami. I know I didn't tell it to you, so how'd you get it?" She questioned. She almost seamed a bit angry.
Ami faltered, searching for an excuse, but finding none.
"Ami?" Az pressed.
Ami dropped her eyes. "Do you promise not to tell a single living soul?"
Az looked surprised, and then serious. "Yes, of course."
Ami sighed, brought out her mini computer, opened it, and showed it to Az. "This is what I call my mini computer. It has 50x the searching capacity, over 1000x the memory storage, and unlimited banks of information, all in comparison to the computers of today. All that compacted into a hand held, light, easy traveling, durable package. Its much more advanced than the most...well, advanced computer around today. I used it by habit to look up your number."
Az gasped, and took the mini computer in her hands. As she pressed buttons, her mouth went up and down, but no sound came out. Eventually, she gasped. "Ami! This is incredible! Did you build this?!"
Ami blushed and took her computer back. "You flatter me. It's actually a bit of a... a family heirloom, if you will." she snapped it shut.
"How old is it, then?" She snapped her sunglasses away from her face again, revealing the bruise, but not caring, as she continued to examine the mini computer.
Ami winced at this question. "Uh, lets just say, very, very old."
"Amazing..." Az whispered. "And that's the sign of Mercury, isn't it, on the cover?"
"Yes" Ami admitted.
"Mercury... He was the messenger god, wasn't he? But he was also one of the most intelligent, too. Right?" Ami nodded. "Appropriate." Az whispered. "Mercury's also the name of one of the Sailor Scouts." The last statement wasn't actually directed at her, so Ami let it pass.
"Ami..." Az suddenly turned to her, a soft light glowing behind her eyes. "Do you want to know a secret of mine? Like a trade. A secret for a secret. Only you have to swear on all the gods not to tell mine."
"Maybe she's going to tell me about her bruises." Ami thought. "Of course."
"Swear, Ami. My life could be on the line if you ever told anyone." Az demanded, dead serious. "Also, swear you won't think I'm a freak." Az continued, big eyes.
"I swear on all the ancient Gods of the world, that I won't tell. And may Mercury strike me down if I break this promise." Suddenly, Ami had a flash back to years not to far past.
"Look, it's that super genius, Ami. She thinks she's so great..."
"I hear she's smarter than the teachers, but she refuses to be moved up..."
"What a stuck up showoff..."
"Brain farm geek..."
It had been a few years since anyone had said that to her, but the voices echoed through time, and they still hurt. "I'd never call anyone a freak." She italicized.
"Ok." Az seamed satisfied with this promise. She then looked around, to make sure nobody else was watching. The neighborhood was strangely deserted, however, for this time of day.
Seeing this, Az gently crossed her arms over her chest, and closed her eyes. A moment went by, when Ami realized that the temperature of the air around Az was becoming rapidly cooler. Soon, ice particles formed into large snowflakes, and began to swirl around Az.
"No! Haruka can't be right! What is this?" Ami frantically thought.
Az opened her green eyes, and threw her arms open. Now the snowflakes shot out in front of her, and began to merge with one another, growing into a humanoid male figure. He wore a long sleeve cut neck shirt into his ice leather-like pants. The pants were toped by a large belt that was the size of the figures' thorax. At the bottom, calf high boots covered the pants. Ami looked in awe, noticing the soft masculine face and long white hair. The over all look was very bishonen.
The ice man looked quizzingly at Ami, almost as if to study her, and then turned to Az, and made a bubbling, cooing noise, from deep within his throat. The noise clicked immediately in Ami's mind.
"Snow Dancer?!" she almost shouted, and began to reach for her henshin stick.
"No, it's ok!" Az grabbed on to Ami. "Remember your promise!"
Ami paused. "I don't think you're a freak, Az, but the last time I saw something like that, it turned out to be dangerous! Really, really dangerous!"
Az shook her head. "No, my Bisetsu are friendly! They were my childhood companions, and they are always there to help me. They'd never hurt anyone, unless I ordered them to, and I wouldn't!"
Ami blinked. "Bisetsu?"
Az blushed slightly. "I named them when I was very little. I know, I know... It's a weird name.... But it seams appropriate, somehow." She smiled a little. The Bisetsu cooed, trying to get her attention.
"But... How?" Ami asked weakly.
Az shook her head. "I don't know how. I learned I could do it when- Oh!" she shouted out in alarm.
Ami quickly looked back at the Bisetsu. It had formed a giant clock out of snow and ice, and was frantically pointing at the hands.
"I'm late! Again!" The snow dancer suddenly faded away, his message having been delivered. "Karl will kill me!" she dashed down the street.
"Az! Wait!" Ami yelled after her.
"I can't be late again!" Az shouted without looking back.
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Az slowly pushed her front door open, trying to make it so it didn't creak. It didn't, to her relief, and she slipped into the dark entryway, forgetting to lock the door behind her. She fumbled for the light switch in the dark, finally found it, and flicked it on. Then she felt her stomach drop into a pit, and fought back a scream.
The walls were splattered in blood. A lot of it.
"G-grandma? Karl?" She called into the house, fighting back the urge to run, or throw up, or scream, or all three. "Where are you? Are you alright?" She slowly walked into the house. The wooden floor was slick with blood.
"In here, Azrielle." Karl's voice came from the living room. He sounded frightened.
"Karl? Are you ok?" She dashed to the back of the house, and opened the sliding door into the room. This time, she did scream, but stopped after Karl smacked her.
Her grandmother's body was in her favorite rocking chair, her blood soaked knitting still in her lap. She had been so horribly cut up that any recognizable feature at all was gone, leaving a bloody mess behind.
Az rocked back from Karl's blow. "Karl, what-?" She was cut off.
"Where have you been?" He harshly demanded. "You were supposed to be home an hour ago." His voice no longer sounded afraid. It now sounded like something Az had never heard before. Something evil.
"I-I-I-" Az fumbled, trying to get her bearings. Their grandmother was murdered, and he was worried about Az's tardiness? "I lost track of time." She finally answered.
Karl, inhumanly quick, snatched up Az's wrists. His hands were damp and sticky. "Lost track of time?!" He yelled.
"Please, Karl- You're hurting me! Have you called the police yet?" she tried to pull away, pleading.
Karl tightened his grip. He smirked. "Call the police? Why in Hell would I do that?" He laughed, very devilishly.
"Karl, Grandma's-" Once again she was cut off.
"Dead. I know. I killed her." his smile was large. He was obviously pleased with himself.
"No. No!" Az whispered, looking in horror at her brother. Her voice quivered. "You didn't!" She suddenly felt her body tossed away. She landed roughly in the hallway in her back. She scooted away, sliding in the blood. Karl sauntered after her, blocking her exit out of the house. He held out his hands. "Take a look at me, Azrielle. Proof enough for you?"
Az looked at him; really looked at him closely, and noticed all the blood stains on him. The kind you can only get from slaughtering a living creature. He was holding his hands out, also. They were slick with blood.
She looked at him in the face. "Why, Karl?" she blankly asked.
He shrugged, and then reached for the hall closet door, and ripped it out of it's sliding track, with an inhuman amount of strength, and threw it at the front door, permanently blocking the exit.
But that wasn't what Az was worried about at the moment. From the now doorless closet had fallen another body. The body of her father.
Az moaned. "Daddy...! No, please no..."
Karl grabbed the body by the head, and holding it up with his left hand, he worked the mouth up and down with his right, making a grotesque puppet of sorts.
"Hi, Baby It's me, Daddy." Karl made the corpse speak. "I just dropped in with your mother to say we've reconciled our differences, and want to uproot you and your brother again. Sorry for the inconvenience..."
"Stop it, Karl!" Az screamed, "Stop!"
Karl twisted the corpse's head around so that it looked like it was looking at him. The neck made a sickening cracking noise when he did. "Oh, but daddy," He spat the word out, "we're happy here with Grandma. Never mind that she's senile, and couldn't take proper care of a stuffed animal, let alone herself and two kids. That doesn't matter. We want to stay here, with the crazy old bat. Don't you want us to be happy?"
The corpse was 'talking' again. "Oh, no, son. I don't give a damn about what you want. The only thing that's of any matter is how your mother and I feel like traumatizing you currently." The neck cracked again, as it turned to 'look' at Az. "Isn't that right, Baby?"
"STOP IT!" Az screamed, and continued to back up.
Karl, straightened up, now tired of that game, and ready for a new one. "I've got an idea, Azrielle. Why don't we see how long it takes you to find Mother's body?"
Suddenly, a realization came to Az. Her brother had always been a mean spirited boy, but lately, he had become possessive angry, hateful, and positively evil all the time. Az had dismissed it all, but now it was clear.
"Who are you? Where's Karl?" She demanded of the body in front of her.
He laughed. "Oh, don't worry, sister dearest. I'm still Karl. Just with a few new... additions." He smiled, evilly, revealing fangs. His eyes turned red, and began to glow, and his fingernails became sharp claws. "Those old idiots didn't have much life force left... but you... You will make an excellent meal!" He extended his hands again, palms up. But now, the palms both had a small mouth on them, filled with sharp, needle like teeth.
Az screamed.