Created: 6/10/02

Day 6

"Now, you must understand," which is what Minako said when the Senshi looked at her crossly and asked about her mental health. She continued trying to seem composed, though her left toe kept twitching in a warning, "that I, the wonderfully talented Aino Minako, have made a bet, and I shall stick to this bet until it's completion."

She fiercely nodded, mostly to convince herself that it was the right thing to do after making Tenoh-san suffer in a dress for a greater part of the week.

Honestly? Well, Minako really, really would have liked to drop the bet, but she had the odd feeling that if she even got close to the old Victorian House, she would get a taste of "World Shaking"... uhh.. "Death Reborn Revolution," umm.. and did she even think of what "Dead Scream" could do to her body. It might seem harmless as Pluto swong around with a gigantic key in her hand, but man, that attack nearly annihilated poor Sailor Moon once.

"Venus Love And Beauty Shock" could hardly make a dent into any of those attacks. Even Michiru seemed to be a little ticked off... well a lot.

It wasn't really Minako's fault that the heat caused boredom which caused the bet. She was entirely innocent. Blame mother nature, please. Blame the stinky weather.. but please, please don't blame the wonderfully talent to-be-an-idol-someday (did I mention beautiful?) Aino Minako.

Rei looked at her with a lot of sarcasm and in a sardonic voice said, "Oh really? I saw you running from their house the other day when I was shopping in that area."

Ami, who was studying at the same time as trying to find a solution to the rift between the two groups of senshi said, "I've analyzed the situation Minako-chan, and my only solution to this poposterious situation is that you appologize with a floor-bow and beg forgiveness."

Ami turned back to her book, which was already for the entrance exams to the top universities in Japan.

Makoto shook her head as Minako started to crack. Minako stared back and lipped something as if to say Makoto was also at fault since she could have stopped her in the first place.

Usagi sat there silently in a half daze. Everyone had been leaving her alone since the news about Mamoru had been very hard on her, even if she smiled through all the college shopping. She seemed to be a bit concerned, but too distracted at the moment, as Mamoru had told her that it might be a while before his finances would allow him to come back to Japan. Usagi had offered to help with the payments for him to get back, but realized that her spending habits were too extravagant. She was too young to have a job. Even if she tried to get one illegally, her parents wouldn't let her.

Chibiusa was off with Ruruna and Naruru, going to Sutaaburu.. which was their new favorite hang out.

Minako murmered as the feeling of guilt increased, "OK, I'll tell her."

The doorbell rang and Hotaru answered the door since everyone else was out of the house. She looked up. She was getting tired of being so short. Last time she was Sailor Saturn she was taller. Why couldn't she awaken to the same body? She liked being at least a bit taller. Yeah, she could really explain to her friends at school why she'd shrunk and was still in the same grade.

She looked up into big blue eyes which were trying to act innocent. Suddenly, it disappeared into a slump of gold hair with a red bow on it. A muffled set of words came from the pile.

Hotaru was still holding the door. She was tempted for a second to bash the top of the Senshi of Love and Beauty in the head with the door for ruining what should have been a peaceful week. In truth, Hotaru was still a bit mad that Chibiusa had gone out with Naruru and Ruruna without telling her. It had been over 5 hours and Hotaru still wanted to go to the amusement park before school started again. Those plans had been ruined by the girl at her feet. Again she debated bashing the golden-haired girl with the door.

Hotaru said levelly, "She's not here. Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa went out so they could see if they could win the bet."

Hotaru thought for a moment as she saw the slump of hair move upward to meet her gray eyes.

"Setsuna-mama said that they would win. I heard Haruka-papa say that she doesn't want to take back your bet. She knows she's going to win."

Hotaru was really in a fowl mood and decided it was time to take her week of suffering on the cause of this mess. She may have looked 12 once, but she felt like she should be the age she looked.

The lump called Aino-san said in a worried voice, "When are they coming back."

Hotaru said simply, "Don't know."

She thought she heard a wail from the lump and then saw a blur vertically, and a dust pile kick up behind her. Hotaru coughed.

Hotaru reflected that maybe this body did have an advantage. She didn't have to fix her parts, and was never sick. Still, if she was that bit taller, her new black dress wouldn't be dirty now. She slammed the door.

Now that Michiru was helping her, it was hopeless! It was entirely hopeless. Minako knew that she was defeated. She would have continued on this thought, hadn't her mother demanded this morning for Minako to clean up her room before school resumed again. She dragged her feet along the pavement, and then dramatically slumped herself on the edge of the sidewalk. She hoped that some gorgeous guy would think to pick her up.

A soft cheek ran itself along her leg.

She looked down and saw a white furball. She started to poor out all her problems to the white furball. Perhaps he had a solution.

A small boy ran out into the street and said, "Lucifer! Come back!"

Minako sweat dropped as she realized it wasn't Artemis and the boy gave her a weird stare.

"Hey, Old lady, it looked like you were asking the cat for advice. Cats can't talk."

But that gave Minako an idea. In a blur she jumped up and ran down the block, entirely forgetting about her bedroom.

Now this was a scene that no one should be subjected to. It was three lovely girls, 2 of the ages of 17 and one of the age of 20 sitting on a bench. It wasn't exactly that they were sitting on a bench, but one of them was wearing a dress and looking miserable as she lazily hit on other girls, and one seemingly fretting with aqua hair, and the other with dark green hair looking like she was worrying about the future.

It was two women instructing Haruka on how to pick up another woman. To be more exact, one of them had no idea, since she'd been standing next to a silver door for an infinite amount of time, and hadn't actually gone out with a man for quite a bit more. The other woman looked reluctant to tell the white-haired woman how to pick up another woman, and her success stories, which in actuality amounted to 2 (One which included Haruka herself, and the other was how she discovered that she was homosexual.)

It wasn't too bad, except this was not something discussed in public soceity in the middle of Tokyo. Everyone in Japan knew the truth about what homosexuality was really about in manga. It was a way for girls to dream of the perfect relationship. In reality, girls were pushed to find a perfect guy to marry-- love not always required, bear some children, and be a quiet housewife. Homosexuality flew in the face of those values, though it wasn't for religious reasons. It was a part of the society.

It was further traumatic to see the women talking about Haruka's type. Haruka, as Haruko, was not pleased to discuss in front of Michiru what she exactly looked for in another woman.

It wasn't so bad, until a guy overheard the three women, and thugh Michiru was a famous violinist, and Haruka was a famous race car driver, he didn't recognize them.

"Hey Lez!" he called out in English.

Haruko looked up, and after being called that so many times, and guys touching her butt on the bus, feeling her up, girls screaming, and the bet she was forced into not really being her fault; she punched his face. He fell over.

Michiru looked down at the guy and said, "Now Haruko, you are getting out of character."

"It felt good," Haruko said quite satisfied that she still could do that after a week.

Setsuna peered down at the guy. She looked at the other two senshi and said, "Well, he's not too hurt."

Michiru countered at Haruka, "I don't listen to that outside of bed."

Haruka asked, "Hey, jealous?"

Setsuna smiled as she tended to the man.

Michiru said quietly, "I don't get jealous."

Setsuna supressed a small laugh, which was unusual for the senshi.

Haruko said, "OK, now can we continue on how to win this bet?"

Luna looked at Minako crossly, and said flatly, "No."

Minako said, "But it's brillant Luna.. At the time of the bet you were a cat, so this way no one wins."

Luna looked at Artemis who'd somehow found that staring at a piece of lint in Tsukino's carpeting was more important.

Minako said, "Listen, it's not that hard... we just have to find them before the end of the day."

Luna was sitting on her hind quarters. She was rather bitter to find the Sailor Senshi of Love breaking up loyalties that had been set since Queen Selenity first arrived on the Moon billions of years ago.

Luna shook her head and said, "Firstly, I am not to be abused in this way. I will not transform into a human, and abuse my powers. Usagi knows my transformation is connected to the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. I refuse to abuse the crystal handed down to her by Queen Selenity. Second, I object to the fact that you do not think me a someone, and rather think of me as a cat."

Minako said, "C'mon Luna... please. I know they won't let me talk to them. They'd probably try to kill me first! Please flirt with Haruka before tomorrow?"

Artemis was quietly trying to use his skills to sneak away. A sudden gust of wind stopped his escape. He looked up slowly, and saw that his long time friend and companion had blocked his exit. He groaned.

Sunset was falling on the old victorian house. Minako only had a few more minutes left before Haruka lost the bet. Dragged behind her was poor Usagi with the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. Somehow the other blonde had convinced poor Usagi that this meant the future and that Usagi would not be queen if she didn't help. Luna was in Minako's arms.

Minako knocked on the door of the house quickly. The door was opened by an ailing Haruka with a broken heel and a bruised face.

Minako gave the signal. Usagi transformed into Eternal Sailormoon, which she hadn't done in over a week, and then tried to use the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. Minako looked expectedly down at Luna as Eternal Sailormoon glowed.

Nothing happened, except the slamming of the door.

Much later, after the sun sank low, Eternal Sailormoon transformed back. She said sheepishly, "I think that it only works when everyone is transformed."

Minako slumped over. Her life was done with. She remembered her room and her expecting mother and screamed into the night.

Note:

In Japan, it's illegal for people under 18 to get a job. Therefore Usagi can't do it. It's something to do with labor laws.

Oh, and there are very few Christians in Japan. It's unlikely that any of the characters in Sailormoon are affiliated with just one religion. In Japan, you can be dedicated to many at once. Like marry in a church, but have the real ceremony at a Shinto Shrine. Be baptized, and honored at a Shinto shrine, be buried as a Buddhist. Most Japanese aren't aware that they are being religious. There are very few Christians in Japan. It's unlikely any of the Senshi are Christian. (Check out the book Secret Life of Mariko for more info on Japanese every day life.)

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