Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. I actually don't own much of anything. Don't sue, or you're lawyers will feel really silly collecting my stuffed Rio Ohki.

Moon Cats

Chapter 15

Artemis sighed, even as he walked over and sniffed Reika lightly. She didn't even twitch, telling Artemis she planned on staying that way for a while.

The white cat jumped back onto the ledge of the open window and to the fire escape, where a string and a hook, fastened from a paper clip, waited. Concentrating, he changed to human form, glad that this floors corner office was currently vacant and that no other nearby buildings had a clear view.

Ignoring the fact that he had a tail, he was also naked!

Quickly he pulled up on the string, revealing stronger twine tied to it. This, in turn, had the pants and T-shirt Artemis wore to the police station, wrapped in his coat.

Quickly, he dressed and returned to the window, completely ignoring the hundred-foot drop as he did so. Slipping back into the window, he picked up Reika and set her on the sofa.

About ten minutes later, she started to awaken. "Oh... What a weird dream!"

"Sorry, Reika-chan, but that wasn't a dream."

The Yakuza princess sat up with a start, saw the white haired man above her, and opened her mouth to scream. The scream was muffled when Artemis's hand covered her mouth.

"Geesh, make a guy feel welcome! I'm Artemis. Fred led me here. Let me talk to you for a bit and then, if ya still want to scream, I'll let you."

Reika nodded, and the man moved his hand carefully. "You don't look like Artemis." She said, semi-calmly.

Artemis chuckled, and lifted the coat, waving his tail at her. "I can be a cat, a cat-man, or this mostly human form."

Reika nodded. "Can I... Touch it?"

"Don't tug, but sure."

The woman touched his tail, amazed at the silky feel of fur beneath her hand. "Which is your natural form?"

"Cat."

She nodded, removing her hand. "You shouldn't be here. My father..."

"Wouldn't be the first Yakuza to want me dead. If the Gaki couldn't kill me, I doubt he could!"

"Who?"

"Right..." Artemis nodded. "You likely wouldn't know that name. Sorry."

"Why did you risk coming to see me?"

"Curiosity, partly. I also don't think you realize what sort of man your brother is."

"Wild, is what my Father calls him."

Artemis nodded. "Not a bad choice. Evil wood work better, in my opinion."

"My brother is NOT evil!"

"Reika, he used a monster to attack a restaurant. Before that he'd been arrested on charges from petty larceny to murder and rape! Only your fathers Lawyers have kept him out of jail so far."

"Why would he do things like that?"

"Why would you have a scar from where a bullet hit you?"

Reika froze, looking at Artemis in shock.

"Like I said, I was curious. Tell me you know what your Father is."

"He's the Oyabun... But my father is not evil!"

"Your Father? No. Actually the organized crimes task force is doing little more then watching him and your younger brother. The Hagisaki family is going legit, and they don't mind that in the least!"

"Akuma, however, they watch very closely."

Reika sat back, sighing. "He's going to use the new one as a weapon, too?"

"Oh, yeah. He already has, actually. The Sailor Senshi Uranus and Neptune chased it off before anyone got hurt. I saw it on the news before coming here." 'At least I know what the meeting was about now.'

"Was anyone... hurt?"

"Luckily, no." Artemis sat in the chair, across from her. "But Luck like that won't last."

"I won't make him more then the weak spot is there, so it is destroyable."

"Good."

_________________________________________________________________________________

Mako looked up, noticing Akuma and several of his cronies walking towards him. "Your sister does not wish to be bothered."

"She doesn't get a choice, old man. Out of my way, now!"
Mako frowned. "Your Father and sister may give me orders. Not you boy!" This was said as he drew a butterfly knife from his pocket, spinning it open.

"To bad." Was all Akuma said as he drew a revolver from his jacket, and pulled the trigger.

____________________________________________________________________________________

"What was that?" Reika said, going pale, having heard a sound like that before.

"Our cue to leave!" Artemis yelled, grabbing the woman, and running for the window. She was so startled by his action she didn't even struggle.

The door burst in, as they were moving. "Reika! I have some things I'd like...What the HELL!"

Reika looked back, seeing the gun in her brother's hand, then suddenly the world almost seemed to shift and she was on the outside ledge of the building.

Then she started falling. "No!"

Artemis ignored her scream, waiting for the right angle against the wall then he JUMPED!

Akuma reached the window just in time to see the cat-man and his sister land on the buildings next doors lower roof, running for the opposite side.

"They are heading towards the shopping district. Let's GO!"

_____________________________________________________________________________________

"I wanna chocolate cone!" The cheerful Koneko chirped.

"That's 'I would like a chocolate cone' Koneko. And I think I that sounds quite good myself!" Luna, in 'full' human form smiled.

She was walking with Koneko through the shopping district of Juuban wearing the same outfit as she had the night of the fire. She wouldn't have, except Koneko had insisted. The only concession made was the skirt reached the top of her knees, hiding her tail.

The appreciative looks several passing men gave her said the outfit was still quite attractive.

"Yay! Do you like Ice Cream, Ms. Luna?"

"Of course! Here is the place."

Luna distracted by the girl, and her own thoughts, failed to notice the inner Senshi in civilian form at a window seat.

______________________________________________________________________________

"Come on, Usagi! What did you and Setsuna talk about?" Rei demanded. The girls had been trying to find this out since they got to the parlor.

"Nothing I can or wish to share, and it isn't Senshi business so don't worry about it."

The Inners, except for Ami, all frowned at that answer.

Usagi shook her head, then spotted a woman enter with a young girl. They were both familiar and Usagi stared.

"Usagi! Why are you staring at those people?"

"Sorry, guys. Just thought I knew them from somewhere." She lied.

"Oh." Minako shrugged. "She does have a great outfit though."

"Yeah." Makato agreed. "Proper and sexy all at once. I wonder how she pulls THAT off?"

The girls, except Usagi, giggled. Usagi did smile a bit at that thought though. 'I'll have to ask her later...heh'

On the other side of the room, the Cat-girl and Koneko had acquired their Ice Cream and turned to find a seat. It wasn't until they had sat that Luna noticed the Senshi.

"Ms. Luna? What are you lookin' at?"

"Um. Nothing, dear." Luna said. 'Oh, please, don't let any of them recognize me.'

She did hear them talking about her, but mostly complimentary of her dress. Luna couldn't help but smirk, with the looks she had gotten on her way here.

Vanity, after all, is as much a part of being a cat as Curiosity. As long as they didn't theorize about who she was, she was okay.

She missed the glances Usagi kept giving her.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Artemis was guiding a nervous Reika through the shopping district. They had gotten there a half-hour ago so he figured they had thrown off any pursuit.

"Do you know your fathers phone number, or did the buildings have it's own phone system?"

"I know his number. Where should I call him from?"

The white haired, inadvertent hero looked around, spotting a pay phone. "Over there. I'm glad I started carrying change!"

They started walking in that direction, neither paying attention to the cargo van they where passing.

They paid the price when a stone fist connected with Artemis, throwing him through a plate glass window.

The occupants of the table were as shocked as him. He stared up at the Inner Senshi, blinking.

"Oh boy..."

AN: Next time..."FIGHT!"