~ New Things ~
Chapter 14
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~ * ~ In living room ~ * ~
"Maxwell! Why did you drag us out here!"
"Hey guys! Look at these!" Duo pulled some slightly rolled paper from his shirt. "Aren't these cool! I found Reicheru drawing in her room this morning before break fest and these were on the floor! She was really into it too... almost like a drawing trance you could say, but... Aren't they cool! They're me and Deathscythe Hell, in like Perfect detail man... and look here's one of a battle... But... I mean they look like Tenshi and Mako-chan... but they're different..." Duo's brow wrinkled in actually thought.
"Let me see them please, Duo." Quatre asked politely.
"Sure thing bud, here ya go." Duo handed over the drawings.
Quatre looked over the drawings. "He's right guys... I mean besides the great detail... This other battle does show Mako-chan and Tenshi, but their dressed as when they showed up from that light." He handed off the drawings to the others.
"We need answers from the weak onna's now." Wufei spoke seriously as the other nodded.
They heard that as it was spoke a bit loudly, and from the kitchen came a "EXCUSE ME?! DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY!?" reply of three different voices, followed by laughter.
Duo grinned, trying not to laugh, Quatre smiled, Heero and Trowa raised their eyebrows while looking at a silently growling Wufei. Finally Duo couldn't hold it in any longer... "HEHEHE WU-MAN GOT YELLED AT!! BY THREE ONNAS!!" he doubled over clutching his chest with laughter.
"Maxwell..." Wufei growled the corner of his temples twitching from annoyance. "What did I tell you...?"
Duo stopped laughing and stood up, trying to keep a straight face. "Umm.... 1. To thyne self be true. 2. To Duo be kind. And 3. My names Wu-man of a different kind?" he tilted his head to the side grinning... the grin turned into a wide smile... then the air was once again filled with his laughed and a few snickers from Quatre and Trowa while the corners of Heero's mouth were tugging into a slow smirk.
Wufei growled unsheathing his katana. "Maxwell... prepare to DIE!!!!" he made a jump for him while Duo took off to the kitchen with a "WWWAAAAAA!!! HHEEEEEELLLLPPPPPP!!!!! MMMEEEEEEE!!!"
~ * ~ In Kitchen ~ * ~
Usagi was starting to stand and move to help Reicheru and Makoto, she had moved to finish washing the dishes when a black and brown blur flew past her, slightly slamming her into the corner of the counter, gritting her teeth in pain, keeping from yelling out she let out a "Shimatta! Nande Kuso!"
Makoto jumped outta the way and next to Usagi "Daijoubo desu ka?" she asked putting her arm around her, helping her stand and turn around to see what exactly was going on.
Duo came racing from the living room, drawings forgotten in his friend's grasp as he raced into the kitchen and behind a bewildered Reicheru. She looked to Duo then to the red-faced Chinese boy. Her eyes glowered at him, not liking what he had said earlier about them being "weak onnas" she didn't know much Japanese but she knew some. "What do you want?"
"Out of my way onna... I want that braided baka"
"You gotta get through me first." Smiling confidently.
"You asked for it onna." Before Wufei could touch her, Reicheru had his arm forced right behind his back in an angle that was surely painful... whispering harshly in his ear. "Now who is weak?"
Usagi with Makoto's help stood looking from a grinning Duo to a pissed off Wufei, then to all the guys that just showed up in the doorway. Her pained and confused glaze settling on Heero for a minute before back to the fuming Dragon and smirking Reicheru. "Minna-chan..." she started looking around again. "What in the name of *Serenity* is going on here!" Obviously, for obvious reasons, she didn't know this was an everyday thing. Makoto nodded agreeing with Usagi, wanting to know what was going on.
Heero, Trowa and Wufei all remained silent. Duo grinned and Quatre sighed. "Miss. Usagi, it's nothing really, you get used to it. Duo has a thing for ticking off Wufei." He paused thinking, "Actually, he's easy to get ticked off." At the glare that he received from the talked about he shrugged. "I'm sorry Wufei, but it is the truth." Everyone else nodded.
"I see... but..." she looked to Duo. "Slamming me into the counter was uncalled for and my ribs don't thank you for it. They're sore enough now..." she stared hard at Duo then Wufei for chasing Duo, "But, your forgiven Duo-chan, just next time... no running around me 'til I'm all better, 'kay?" she winked giving all a bright smile despite the pain shooting through her sides.
The other stared at her, each lost in their own thoughts, thinking to their selves. Heero's thoughts though wondered back to his... well *one* of the questions that he's been wondering about ever since meeting this Tenshi. 'How can she seem the strongest of them, but also be the weakest?' is the question that he has been pondering over the last few days.
They hadn't seen the others do anything... or ever SEEN anyone do anything quite like that attack that destroyed half the MDs that were heading to kill them. And how'd she know which ones to kill anyways? She could have easily killed us not the dolls. His thoughts were interrupted by someone speaking, pulling him back to the world of the living and not the dreamy clouds of thought.
In disgust she released Wufei's hand only to give him a violent shove away from her. Looking back towards Duo and the rest. "I'm going to my room. I need to get away from this." Her gaze pinned Wufei and his one sided thinking. He won't dare call her a weak onna within her hearing range. Glancing towards Duo, "Um... wanna help me with something?" Offering him a gentle smile, actually she wanted to draw to get her mind off this certain situation. "Sure babe... let's go!"
Watching Reicheru release Wufei's hand and walk upstairs with Duo to help her with some thing was not what Makoto or Usagi... or anyone else had been expecting. "Well that was one heck of an explanation." Makoto turned to look at Wufei then past him to the others. She put hand on her hip, while the other supported Usagi. "Alright what in the name of Zeus happened here? Why'd Duo-kun run in and hide behind Rei-chan? And why do" she pointed to Wufei "you, keep calling all of us weak? 'Cause I guarantee one day, you'll do that and one of us will have you knocked to the ground in under five minutes."
Wufei only growled. "I don't have to explain anything to you onna. It's no business of yours so stay out!" he about-faced and went back into the living room sitting in 'his' chair.
"Why I outta!" Makoto started to go for him and stopped, Usagi held her back. Makoto looked at her questioningly.
She smiled kindly at her friend. "Iie Mako-chan, let him be for now." She looked to the others and past them to Wufei... she couldn't see him. "Mako-chan, dozo, can we move to where I can see Wufei?" Makoto nodded hesitantly before complying, the others watching just as confused.
Usagi looked towards Wufei, his face was hard, lips set in a tight line of anger, eyes closed as he sat straight in the chair. "Wufei..." no answer. "Wufei." She called a bit louder and saw him lift his head a little, a little the others probably didn't notice but for Heero, ever the observant as Trowa was, never missing anything.
"Wufei-kun, Mako-chan speaks the truth. One day, calling someone, a 'Weak Onna' or 'Baka Onna' like you like to do... you will find yourself on the ground, and probably in a lot of pain... If it be from one of us..." she gestured to herself and Makoto then pointed a finger he couldn't see up to indicate Reicheru, "Then I can promise it will be for a good reason, or finally worn out frustration over your name calling." That got him to snap his eyes open and glare at her.
"Onna I-" he started.
She raised a hand. "Wufei-kun dozo... I'm just telling you in fair warning hun." she looked at Makoto, "This one, you don't wanna fight in the first place 'less it be sparing. And me? Well you all might call me Tenshi..." she blushed slightly, "...Shikashi (1)... well you don't wanna fight me... really... Now... Why do you call onna's 'weak' and 'baka'? Ain't that kinda a stupid thing to do?" she said the last part as her cheery self again.
"I'm not the one that needs to be answering questions here onna!" Wufei kept glaring at her, looked to the guys, and back to her. "Where did you come from and who do you work for!? We want answers onna!"
Matako and Usagi looked to the others in questioning, they nodded in agreement. Usagi and Makoto sighed. 'Well I knew this time would come sooner or later.' She silently thought. "Alright, we shall answer your questions, Mako-chan, if you please?"
Makoto nodded then helped Usagi to the couch to sit, once she was settled she left to get Reicheru and Duo. Heero sat across from Usagi on the other couch, arms folded across his chest eyes closed. Quatre, who had been silent throughout it all, sat in a plush armchair to the left of Usagi's couch, Trowa leaning against the wall behind the couch Heero was sitting in and Wufei's chair.
~ * ~ Up Stairs ~ * ~
Makoto walked up to the 3rd floor, found Reicheru's door and knocked on it. 'Man... this sucks! And that guy... Wufei... Oh he'll wind up on the floor if he doesn't pull that stick outta his ass!' she thought then grinned evilly. 'Or I can remove it for him, good beating might whoop his ass into shape!'
"Come in!" Reicheru called... she was already at the chair by the desk with Duo standing in a macho pose, his choice of pose that is. It was almost comically in itself but she didn't care.
Makoto walked in and nearly busted out laughing at the pose but she would keep a straight face. She didn't know Reicheru that well, but by Usagi's face and expression she did. Also, there was that incident that she did try to protect Usagi though she didn't know it at the time. This girl had guts about her. And how easy she handled Wufei... she couldn't of done any better herself. This one had earned her respect instantly.
"Hey girlfriend! Duo-kun! Usagi sent me... well, kinda Usagi and the guys to get you two. They "want answers" and want them now, so lets get a move on!" she waved for them to come smiling. "Oh Kawaii pose Duo-kun" she let loose a few chuckles.
Duo promptly stuck out his tongue at Reicheru, a questioning glance on his face to see if she was done or not. She got the preliminary outline done; the rest was shading and the such. "I got what I need Duo, thanks. I think it's a lovely pose." Duo grinned hugely as he offered his elbow for her.
"After you m'dear." That caused both women to snicker at him with him smiling like a fool as offered his other elbow for the other lady, "Shall we?"
Makoto couldn't help but laugh and accept his offered arm nodding, "That we shall!" she laughed some more. "Off to the firing squad we go! Off to the firing squad we go! Hi ho the cheerio it's the firing squad we go!" she sang the whole time smiling widely.
The two joined in on the chant as they descended the stairs, they're voices drawing everyone's attention. The guys expected this much from Duo, but not these three. Inwardly they all groaned. This just wasn't their day. Silently hoping that this was the only act of goofiness they will show... We can all hope right?
"We ARE HERE ta da!!" Duo replied in a flourish.
"Oi Minna!! We're heeerrreeee!!" Makoto said more then loud enough just to annoy someone. Makoto sat on Usagi's left while leaving room for Duo and Reicheru to plop down. "Come on take a load off, it's time to face the FIRING SQUAD!"
Duo and Reicheru looked at one another shrugged and sat down on the large couch.
Usagi giggled as Makoto's face took on a serious look and her voice a serious tone, as she slightly said in a hushed voice to the four seated on the couch, looking from Usagi to Duo and Reicheru and back every now and then sneaking a peak to the guys.
"Minna, we're brought here today on a grim account..." she paused dramatically. "It's not that someone replaced Wufers calming incense with Mint!! Iie my friends... we're here on the worst account imaginable..." she looked around with a serious face "Someone died Quatre-san's favorite purple vest HOT PINK!! It's a terrible thing, I know and for that we now... in this cruel world... face the firing squad!!"
Quatre looked horrified. "DO WHAT!? WHY? WHEN!?" he slumped in his chair looking up sadly, "Why would someone do such a thing? I really liked that vest to..." he looked like he was about to cry.
"What? You actually have a purple vest? And you don't like Hot Pink? Wow... I like pink.. Can I have it!?" Usagi asked happily.
Duo looked like he so wanted to say something. That was giving the braided one ideas. He was of course laughing at Quatre and about Wufei. Reicheru was snickering behind her hand at the two men and Usagi it truly was something funny. She could feel by how close Duo was sitting next to her that he wanted to say or do something but she placed a calm hand to him to keep him from any other trouble.
Usagi smiled innocently at Quatre's wide eyes. "I think pink would look kawaii on you Quatre-san." she giggled, "Defiantly go good with your hair."
"Baka onna better not have messed with my incense" Wufei growled.
Usagi faked a sad face, "Wuffeeeeiiiiiii... Why do you have to be soooo mean!?" she grinned "Oi can I have the other incense if you don't like it then?"
"No you can not onna!"
She pouted, "Awww... but Wuffeeeiiii-kun... you're so mean!" she looked around. "Oi who thinks neon green would look good on him?" she pointed to Wufei, "Or like a umm... electric yellow, ya think?" she giggled more covering her mouth as the temples on Wufei started to twitch again in annoyance.
Makoto laughed. "Hai, I think pink on Quatre-san and neon green for Wufei-san would look good on them." She thought for a minute about the sad non-believing look on Quatre's face, "Quatre-san, don't worry... no one touched your favorite vest, it's still safe upstairs wherever you keep it."
Quatre's eyes lit up in happiness. "Really!" Makoto nodded. "Oh thank Allah..." he then looked to Makoto, Duo and Reicheru, "You guuuuuys! That wasn't funny!!" he whined.
"Sure it was! Did you see the look on your face!" Makoto chuckled, "Gomen ne for scaring you like that Quatre-san, but that was funny..."
"Can we get back to the reason why we're here? Why are you all here?" Heero asked them.
Usagi nodded looking to Reicheru then Makoto. She looked to all the guys, looking at the ground she took a deep breath then let is out slowly, looking back up again her face held a serene look, her eyes had a river of emotion flowing; pain, sadness, hurt, hesitation, worry and others. "Answer time, ne?" she offered everyone a weak smile.
They all nodded, silently agreeing to make Quatre the main spokesman for the group. "Ten- Miss Usagi, where did you all come from?"
"Well, has Heero-kun told you all about my line of questions I started asking him about when I first woke up?" she looked to them all.
Quatre nodded. "Yes, some." The others shook their heads.
Usagi sighed. "Heero, to answer this question, think back to the one I asked about what year it was and how many years back 2003AD was. What did you tell me?" she asked in a soft voice.
Heero looked up at her. "2000yrs ago." his eyes narrowed at her questioningly "Why?"
She looked to Makoto and Reicheru, sighed sadly and looked at them all. "Because Minna... that's from *when* we came from since this is AC195... and the *where* we came from in Juuban, Tokyo."
The others looked at her like she was nuts. Quatre was shocked, Wufei glared at her, Trowa blinked, Duo let out a 'Your kidding me! Cool!' and Heero just kept staring at her. "Explain." Was his simple question.
Usagi wasn't really sure she had. "Heero-kun..." she looked to him since he asked and kept staring at her, "When you were... fighting... was there a bright flash of light? Dimmed then flared up to a blindingly bright one?" At his and other nods she continued. "There was also the same light in our time... We were fighting a youma... I was fighting, not seeing a attacking heading at me, Rei-chan here" she gestured to Reicheru, "...jumped to save me, push me outta the way the same time that Mako-chan did... The light we saw then pulsed with a blinding force, when it died down we hit the ground before you five."
"If what you say is true onna. How did that 'light' penetrate the time span between our times?" Wufei asked.
Usagi shook her head on that one. "I don't know! I don't know... maybe... maybe Setsuna-san had something to do with it Wufei-kun, but I don't know... I'm not sure."
Duo was still confused as he looked from her to the others and back, "Who's this 'Setsuna-san' you keep talking about?"
Makoto who had been quiet 'til now looked to Usagi. "Usagi-hime, if they know... they'll be put in danger... regardless of the time... Are you sure-" she was cut off by Usagi placing her dainty hand on her friends knee.
"Know what? In trouble with who? We can take care of ourselves. Please tell us." Quatre's blue-green eyes pleaded with her.
"Have you ever heard of the Sailor Senshi?" some nodded, some shook their heads. "We..." gesturing to herself and Makoto, "...are some of those... I'm guessing 'legendary' by now, Sailor Senshi."
Reicheru stared at Usagi in a mixture of shock and disbelief. Sure she's heard about the Sailor Senshi, who hadn't? But to know that her friend was one and didn't tell her? That was something that didn't sit well with her. She understood why, she couldn't give away her real identity... that would be risking her friends life as well. She wouldn't want that, that's not the type of person she was... at least Reicheru thought she wasn't, she seemed to pure to do something like that, too kind. But still... she just stared at her in a questioning manner; the same as others, that also held a 'prove it' look in their eyes.
"Setsuna-san, is Sailor Pluto, Guardian of the Gates of Time. She would be the one that would have any control over sending us here... so it is that, for which I believe that she sent us here... How? Well maybe she heard my plea to go to a different place, maybe that light wasn't her doing or was. Either way maybe it helped to transport us here, without anyone the wiser. I really don't know..." Usagi finished.
"If what you say is true then prove it baka onna."
Makoto shot up out of her seat and started to reach for Wufei over the coffee table. "What did she tell you about that!? HUH! What did she tell you!?"
Usagi stood wobbly to her feet and tried pulling Makoto back by her shirts material, she couldn't pull too hard, if she did and Makoto gave in backing up fast, she was sure she'd fall.
She was about to grab Wufei around his neck as he just stared at her when Usagi grabbed the back of her shirt. "Iie, Mako-chan. He's not worth it, that's just the way he is, let him be..." she turned and glared at Wufei, "For now."
"Hai, fine, fine... But they said prove it. I have your permission then Princess?" she asked questioningly. Thinking on it momentarily Usagi nodded, looking from her to the guys and they're praised eyebrows. She looked to Heero who mouthed 'Princess?' She gave another nod.
He was confused more then ever now. He could somewhat believe the time thing, but that would only fly past him if she could prove what she started. And being a Princess? How can she be a Princess? Only Relena Peacecraft was a Princess... there was no one else, not in all that he knew... But then... this proved that he didn't know everything from history... He snapped from his thoughts when Usagi sat down and someone yelled out "Jupiter Crystal Power... MAKE-UP!!"
The room became filled with dark shadows as lighting and thunder flashed and cracked all around Makoto's being, yet she wasn't hurt by it. No one was, instead she seemed to embrace it. There was a brilliant flash of light that temporarily blinded them all, when it died down there stood one of the Senshi wearing green and pink, grinning at them all.
Heero looked around, everyone's jaw dropped or eyes widened in shock. 'What she said was true then, but what role does she play in all this? And why did Makoto call her Princess?'
Makoto after transforming struck her pose, looked around and gave a satisfied grin. She bowed to them all. Then looked to Wufei and his scowl.
"Injustice! That's a dishonorable... thing to be dressed in!" Wufei shouted at the short fuka she wore.
Usagi sighed as Makoto sat down grinning. "Wufei please..." she put her head in her hand, "We do not chose how they look... we just wear and fight in them. "
To everyone's surprise Sailor Jupiter smiled towards Wufei as she sat, crossing her legs ladylike, "I agree, it is injustice to have us fighting in such short skirts as these..." she winked, "But you know they're made to distract the enemy. Maybe we can change them, but we don't know how." She shrugged.
Usagi giggled, 'Leave it to Makoto to lighten things up.'
"What roll do you play in all this then Tenshi?" Heero asked, then realizing what he called her started to mentally kick himself. 'Give it up already geez, the name suits her!' his conscious chided.
Looking up, glanced to Makoto, then the others before standing. "I'm their leader" she stated matter of factly.
"Usagi are you sure your strong enough?" Makoto questioned concern flashing in her emerald eyes.
She nodded. "Hai, Mako-chan, I'm strong enough, don't worry." Taking a deep breath pulling her locket out, she cried, "Moon Eternal Power... MAKE-UP!!" in a flurry of bright lights, feathers and a short burst of light at the end like Makoto's, there stood Eternal Sailor Moon, in all her glory... with a bandaged right wing and all.
"Wow! It's true then! You are the Sailor Senshi!?" Duo questioned hyperly then scratched his head. "But wait... weren't there like, more of you?"
Makoto took this question. "Hai, there are... were more of us. Nine to be exact not counting the Sailor Stars. But yes, more there were."
"Why did you say were? And where are they?" Trowa questioned.
"Because Trowa-kun... they are all back in the past. They... the Inner Senshi; Mars, Mercury, and Venus... betrayed me, I guess... They didn't like me, thought I wasn't a good enough leader..." she sighed, "So before the fight when I was walking and talking to Rei-chan, I had wished to go somewhere else and start over... I didn't know it would actually happen... I don't know if it was the Ginzuishou, or if it was Pluto that brought us here. But we are here and cannot change that. "
Trowa nodded, he seemed to agree with her answer.
"Why does Makoto... Sailor Jupiter, call you Princess?" Heero asked that wouldn't stop circling in his mind.
"Because my friend..." Usagi summoned the Ginzuishou raising it above her head, pink light and ribbons engulfed her from view. When all returned to normal, Usagi was no longer there, but Princess Serenity in her princess dress of long ago, crescent moon shining brightly on her forehead. "I am a princess. I'm Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, hire to the once known Silver Millennium."
Makoto had changed into her princess dress as well. "And I am Princess Makoto of Jupiter, hire to the Jupiterian throne and one of Princess Serenity's Inner Senshi, her protectors."
Princess Serenity nodded. "She is correct, as all my Senshi were princesses of their own planets, part of my court and protectors, each an hire to their own throne. But I... I was destined to marry Prince Endymion of Earth. Together with the Ginzuishou, we would rule the Moon and Earth Kingdoms and the Universe, keeping the peace." At their confused looks she continued.
"In the Silver Millennium, my mother, Queen Serenity, ruled the Moon Kingdom. All other planets were aligned with the Moon to form the Silver Alliance. The Moon was the most powerful kingdom; thanks to the Ginzuishou, for it is the most powerful gem in the universe that only a Lunarian descendent can weld." Eyeing the shinning crystal sadly, "With it, my mother kept the peace. One day three thousand years back, it was my birthday, a joyous day and we were going to announce the engagement to the Prince of Earth that night.
"Before the announcement we took a walk in the gardens, wanting to think and be alone before." She got up and slowly walked across the room, moving had become easier for her now, transforming had given back some of her lost energy. "We were walking when this evil presence surrounded us. It was an attack on the kingdom by the evil Queen Beryl..." she went on to tell of the attack, dying and her mother sending them a thousand years into the future at a chance for better life, only to have fourteen years of a normal life, before she had to fight, she told them all of it, 'til the here and now. "So now you know of my life, our history...."
Everyone was in shock. It was a lot to take all in for one day. Some still held confused looks. Like Duo's, "But Tenshi... you said you'd rule the Universe... How can you do that? If you don't marry this Endymion fellow, he was supposed to be your soul mate right?"
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
1. Shikashi = But (however)
~ * ~
Chapter 14
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ * ~ In living room ~ * ~
"Maxwell! Why did you drag us out here!"
"Hey guys! Look at these!" Duo pulled some slightly rolled paper from his shirt. "Aren't these cool! I found Reicheru drawing in her room this morning before break fest and these were on the floor! She was really into it too... almost like a drawing trance you could say, but... Aren't they cool! They're me and Deathscythe Hell, in like Perfect detail man... and look here's one of a battle... But... I mean they look like Tenshi and Mako-chan... but they're different..." Duo's brow wrinkled in actually thought.
"Let me see them please, Duo." Quatre asked politely.
"Sure thing bud, here ya go." Duo handed over the drawings.
Quatre looked over the drawings. "He's right guys... I mean besides the great detail... This other battle does show Mako-chan and Tenshi, but their dressed as when they showed up from that light." He handed off the drawings to the others.
"We need answers from the weak onna's now." Wufei spoke seriously as the other nodded.
They heard that as it was spoke a bit loudly, and from the kitchen came a "EXCUSE ME?! DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY!?" reply of three different voices, followed by laughter.
Duo grinned, trying not to laugh, Quatre smiled, Heero and Trowa raised their eyebrows while looking at a silently growling Wufei. Finally Duo couldn't hold it in any longer... "HEHEHE WU-MAN GOT YELLED AT!! BY THREE ONNAS!!" he doubled over clutching his chest with laughter.
"Maxwell..." Wufei growled the corner of his temples twitching from annoyance. "What did I tell you...?"
Duo stopped laughing and stood up, trying to keep a straight face. "Umm.... 1. To thyne self be true. 2. To Duo be kind. And 3. My names Wu-man of a different kind?" he tilted his head to the side grinning... the grin turned into a wide smile... then the air was once again filled with his laughed and a few snickers from Quatre and Trowa while the corners of Heero's mouth were tugging into a slow smirk.
Wufei growled unsheathing his katana. "Maxwell... prepare to DIE!!!!" he made a jump for him while Duo took off to the kitchen with a "WWWAAAAAA!!! HHEEEEEELLLLPPPPPP!!!!! MMMEEEEEEE!!!"
~ * ~ In Kitchen ~ * ~
Usagi was starting to stand and move to help Reicheru and Makoto, she had moved to finish washing the dishes when a black and brown blur flew past her, slightly slamming her into the corner of the counter, gritting her teeth in pain, keeping from yelling out she let out a "Shimatta! Nande Kuso!"
Makoto jumped outta the way and next to Usagi "Daijoubo desu ka?" she asked putting her arm around her, helping her stand and turn around to see what exactly was going on.
Duo came racing from the living room, drawings forgotten in his friend's grasp as he raced into the kitchen and behind a bewildered Reicheru. She looked to Duo then to the red-faced Chinese boy. Her eyes glowered at him, not liking what he had said earlier about them being "weak onnas" she didn't know much Japanese but she knew some. "What do you want?"
"Out of my way onna... I want that braided baka"
"You gotta get through me first." Smiling confidently.
"You asked for it onna." Before Wufei could touch her, Reicheru had his arm forced right behind his back in an angle that was surely painful... whispering harshly in his ear. "Now who is weak?"
Usagi with Makoto's help stood looking from a grinning Duo to a pissed off Wufei, then to all the guys that just showed up in the doorway. Her pained and confused glaze settling on Heero for a minute before back to the fuming Dragon and smirking Reicheru. "Minna-chan..." she started looking around again. "What in the name of *Serenity* is going on here!" Obviously, for obvious reasons, she didn't know this was an everyday thing. Makoto nodded agreeing with Usagi, wanting to know what was going on.
Heero, Trowa and Wufei all remained silent. Duo grinned and Quatre sighed. "Miss. Usagi, it's nothing really, you get used to it. Duo has a thing for ticking off Wufei." He paused thinking, "Actually, he's easy to get ticked off." At the glare that he received from the talked about he shrugged. "I'm sorry Wufei, but it is the truth." Everyone else nodded.
"I see... but..." she looked to Duo. "Slamming me into the counter was uncalled for and my ribs don't thank you for it. They're sore enough now..." she stared hard at Duo then Wufei for chasing Duo, "But, your forgiven Duo-chan, just next time... no running around me 'til I'm all better, 'kay?" she winked giving all a bright smile despite the pain shooting through her sides.
The other stared at her, each lost in their own thoughts, thinking to their selves. Heero's thoughts though wondered back to his... well *one* of the questions that he's been wondering about ever since meeting this Tenshi. 'How can she seem the strongest of them, but also be the weakest?' is the question that he has been pondering over the last few days.
They hadn't seen the others do anything... or ever SEEN anyone do anything quite like that attack that destroyed half the MDs that were heading to kill them. And how'd she know which ones to kill anyways? She could have easily killed us not the dolls. His thoughts were interrupted by someone speaking, pulling him back to the world of the living and not the dreamy clouds of thought.
In disgust she released Wufei's hand only to give him a violent shove away from her. Looking back towards Duo and the rest. "I'm going to my room. I need to get away from this." Her gaze pinned Wufei and his one sided thinking. He won't dare call her a weak onna within her hearing range. Glancing towards Duo, "Um... wanna help me with something?" Offering him a gentle smile, actually she wanted to draw to get her mind off this certain situation. "Sure babe... let's go!"
Watching Reicheru release Wufei's hand and walk upstairs with Duo to help her with some thing was not what Makoto or Usagi... or anyone else had been expecting. "Well that was one heck of an explanation." Makoto turned to look at Wufei then past him to the others. She put hand on her hip, while the other supported Usagi. "Alright what in the name of Zeus happened here? Why'd Duo-kun run in and hide behind Rei-chan? And why do" she pointed to Wufei "you, keep calling all of us weak? 'Cause I guarantee one day, you'll do that and one of us will have you knocked to the ground in under five minutes."
Wufei only growled. "I don't have to explain anything to you onna. It's no business of yours so stay out!" he about-faced and went back into the living room sitting in 'his' chair.
"Why I outta!" Makoto started to go for him and stopped, Usagi held her back. Makoto looked at her questioningly.
She smiled kindly at her friend. "Iie Mako-chan, let him be for now." She looked to the others and past them to Wufei... she couldn't see him. "Mako-chan, dozo, can we move to where I can see Wufei?" Makoto nodded hesitantly before complying, the others watching just as confused.
Usagi looked towards Wufei, his face was hard, lips set in a tight line of anger, eyes closed as he sat straight in the chair. "Wufei..." no answer. "Wufei." She called a bit louder and saw him lift his head a little, a little the others probably didn't notice but for Heero, ever the observant as Trowa was, never missing anything.
"Wufei-kun, Mako-chan speaks the truth. One day, calling someone, a 'Weak Onna' or 'Baka Onna' like you like to do... you will find yourself on the ground, and probably in a lot of pain... If it be from one of us..." she gestured to herself and Makoto then pointed a finger he couldn't see up to indicate Reicheru, "Then I can promise it will be for a good reason, or finally worn out frustration over your name calling." That got him to snap his eyes open and glare at her.
"Onna I-" he started.
She raised a hand. "Wufei-kun dozo... I'm just telling you in fair warning hun." she looked at Makoto, "This one, you don't wanna fight in the first place 'less it be sparing. And me? Well you all might call me Tenshi..." she blushed slightly, "...Shikashi (1)... well you don't wanna fight me... really... Now... Why do you call onna's 'weak' and 'baka'? Ain't that kinda a stupid thing to do?" she said the last part as her cheery self again.
"I'm not the one that needs to be answering questions here onna!" Wufei kept glaring at her, looked to the guys, and back to her. "Where did you come from and who do you work for!? We want answers onna!"
Matako and Usagi looked to the others in questioning, they nodded in agreement. Usagi and Makoto sighed. 'Well I knew this time would come sooner or later.' She silently thought. "Alright, we shall answer your questions, Mako-chan, if you please?"
Makoto nodded then helped Usagi to the couch to sit, once she was settled she left to get Reicheru and Duo. Heero sat across from Usagi on the other couch, arms folded across his chest eyes closed. Quatre, who had been silent throughout it all, sat in a plush armchair to the left of Usagi's couch, Trowa leaning against the wall behind the couch Heero was sitting in and Wufei's chair.
~ * ~ Up Stairs ~ * ~
Makoto walked up to the 3rd floor, found Reicheru's door and knocked on it. 'Man... this sucks! And that guy... Wufei... Oh he'll wind up on the floor if he doesn't pull that stick outta his ass!' she thought then grinned evilly. 'Or I can remove it for him, good beating might whoop his ass into shape!'
"Come in!" Reicheru called... she was already at the chair by the desk with Duo standing in a macho pose, his choice of pose that is. It was almost comically in itself but she didn't care.
Makoto walked in and nearly busted out laughing at the pose but she would keep a straight face. She didn't know Reicheru that well, but by Usagi's face and expression she did. Also, there was that incident that she did try to protect Usagi though she didn't know it at the time. This girl had guts about her. And how easy she handled Wufei... she couldn't of done any better herself. This one had earned her respect instantly.
"Hey girlfriend! Duo-kun! Usagi sent me... well, kinda Usagi and the guys to get you two. They "want answers" and want them now, so lets get a move on!" she waved for them to come smiling. "Oh Kawaii pose Duo-kun" she let loose a few chuckles.
Duo promptly stuck out his tongue at Reicheru, a questioning glance on his face to see if she was done or not. She got the preliminary outline done; the rest was shading and the such. "I got what I need Duo, thanks. I think it's a lovely pose." Duo grinned hugely as he offered his elbow for her.
"After you m'dear." That caused both women to snicker at him with him smiling like a fool as offered his other elbow for the other lady, "Shall we?"
Makoto couldn't help but laugh and accept his offered arm nodding, "That we shall!" she laughed some more. "Off to the firing squad we go! Off to the firing squad we go! Hi ho the cheerio it's the firing squad we go!" she sang the whole time smiling widely.
The two joined in on the chant as they descended the stairs, they're voices drawing everyone's attention. The guys expected this much from Duo, but not these three. Inwardly they all groaned. This just wasn't their day. Silently hoping that this was the only act of goofiness they will show... We can all hope right?
"We ARE HERE ta da!!" Duo replied in a flourish.
"Oi Minna!! We're heeerrreeee!!" Makoto said more then loud enough just to annoy someone. Makoto sat on Usagi's left while leaving room for Duo and Reicheru to plop down. "Come on take a load off, it's time to face the FIRING SQUAD!"
Duo and Reicheru looked at one another shrugged and sat down on the large couch.
Usagi giggled as Makoto's face took on a serious look and her voice a serious tone, as she slightly said in a hushed voice to the four seated on the couch, looking from Usagi to Duo and Reicheru and back every now and then sneaking a peak to the guys.
"Minna, we're brought here today on a grim account..." she paused dramatically. "It's not that someone replaced Wufers calming incense with Mint!! Iie my friends... we're here on the worst account imaginable..." she looked around with a serious face "Someone died Quatre-san's favorite purple vest HOT PINK!! It's a terrible thing, I know and for that we now... in this cruel world... face the firing squad!!"
Quatre looked horrified. "DO WHAT!? WHY? WHEN!?" he slumped in his chair looking up sadly, "Why would someone do such a thing? I really liked that vest to..." he looked like he was about to cry.
"What? You actually have a purple vest? And you don't like Hot Pink? Wow... I like pink.. Can I have it!?" Usagi asked happily.
Duo looked like he so wanted to say something. That was giving the braided one ideas. He was of course laughing at Quatre and about Wufei. Reicheru was snickering behind her hand at the two men and Usagi it truly was something funny. She could feel by how close Duo was sitting next to her that he wanted to say or do something but she placed a calm hand to him to keep him from any other trouble.
Usagi smiled innocently at Quatre's wide eyes. "I think pink would look kawaii on you Quatre-san." she giggled, "Defiantly go good with your hair."
"Baka onna better not have messed with my incense" Wufei growled.
Usagi faked a sad face, "Wuffeeeeiiiiiii... Why do you have to be soooo mean!?" she grinned "Oi can I have the other incense if you don't like it then?"
"No you can not onna!"
She pouted, "Awww... but Wuffeeeiiii-kun... you're so mean!" she looked around. "Oi who thinks neon green would look good on him?" she pointed to Wufei, "Or like a umm... electric yellow, ya think?" she giggled more covering her mouth as the temples on Wufei started to twitch again in annoyance.
Makoto laughed. "Hai, I think pink on Quatre-san and neon green for Wufei-san would look good on them." She thought for a minute about the sad non-believing look on Quatre's face, "Quatre-san, don't worry... no one touched your favorite vest, it's still safe upstairs wherever you keep it."
Quatre's eyes lit up in happiness. "Really!" Makoto nodded. "Oh thank Allah..." he then looked to Makoto, Duo and Reicheru, "You guuuuuys! That wasn't funny!!" he whined.
"Sure it was! Did you see the look on your face!" Makoto chuckled, "Gomen ne for scaring you like that Quatre-san, but that was funny..."
"Can we get back to the reason why we're here? Why are you all here?" Heero asked them.
Usagi nodded looking to Reicheru then Makoto. She looked to all the guys, looking at the ground she took a deep breath then let is out slowly, looking back up again her face held a serene look, her eyes had a river of emotion flowing; pain, sadness, hurt, hesitation, worry and others. "Answer time, ne?" she offered everyone a weak smile.
They all nodded, silently agreeing to make Quatre the main spokesman for the group. "Ten- Miss Usagi, where did you all come from?"
"Well, has Heero-kun told you all about my line of questions I started asking him about when I first woke up?" she looked to them all.
Quatre nodded. "Yes, some." The others shook their heads.
Usagi sighed. "Heero, to answer this question, think back to the one I asked about what year it was and how many years back 2003AD was. What did you tell me?" she asked in a soft voice.
Heero looked up at her. "2000yrs ago." his eyes narrowed at her questioningly "Why?"
She looked to Makoto and Reicheru, sighed sadly and looked at them all. "Because Minna... that's from *when* we came from since this is AC195... and the *where* we came from in Juuban, Tokyo."
The others looked at her like she was nuts. Quatre was shocked, Wufei glared at her, Trowa blinked, Duo let out a 'Your kidding me! Cool!' and Heero just kept staring at her. "Explain." Was his simple question.
Usagi wasn't really sure she had. "Heero-kun..." she looked to him since he asked and kept staring at her, "When you were... fighting... was there a bright flash of light? Dimmed then flared up to a blindingly bright one?" At his and other nods she continued. "There was also the same light in our time... We were fighting a youma... I was fighting, not seeing a attacking heading at me, Rei-chan here" she gestured to Reicheru, "...jumped to save me, push me outta the way the same time that Mako-chan did... The light we saw then pulsed with a blinding force, when it died down we hit the ground before you five."
"If what you say is true onna. How did that 'light' penetrate the time span between our times?" Wufei asked.
Usagi shook her head on that one. "I don't know! I don't know... maybe... maybe Setsuna-san had something to do with it Wufei-kun, but I don't know... I'm not sure."
Duo was still confused as he looked from her to the others and back, "Who's this 'Setsuna-san' you keep talking about?"
Makoto who had been quiet 'til now looked to Usagi. "Usagi-hime, if they know... they'll be put in danger... regardless of the time... Are you sure-" she was cut off by Usagi placing her dainty hand on her friends knee.
"Know what? In trouble with who? We can take care of ourselves. Please tell us." Quatre's blue-green eyes pleaded with her.
"Have you ever heard of the Sailor Senshi?" some nodded, some shook their heads. "We..." gesturing to herself and Makoto, "...are some of those... I'm guessing 'legendary' by now, Sailor Senshi."
Reicheru stared at Usagi in a mixture of shock and disbelief. Sure she's heard about the Sailor Senshi, who hadn't? But to know that her friend was one and didn't tell her? That was something that didn't sit well with her. She understood why, she couldn't give away her real identity... that would be risking her friends life as well. She wouldn't want that, that's not the type of person she was... at least Reicheru thought she wasn't, she seemed to pure to do something like that, too kind. But still... she just stared at her in a questioning manner; the same as others, that also held a 'prove it' look in their eyes.
"Setsuna-san, is Sailor Pluto, Guardian of the Gates of Time. She would be the one that would have any control over sending us here... so it is that, for which I believe that she sent us here... How? Well maybe she heard my plea to go to a different place, maybe that light wasn't her doing or was. Either way maybe it helped to transport us here, without anyone the wiser. I really don't know..." Usagi finished.
"If what you say is true then prove it baka onna."
Makoto shot up out of her seat and started to reach for Wufei over the coffee table. "What did she tell you about that!? HUH! What did she tell you!?"
Usagi stood wobbly to her feet and tried pulling Makoto back by her shirts material, she couldn't pull too hard, if she did and Makoto gave in backing up fast, she was sure she'd fall.
She was about to grab Wufei around his neck as he just stared at her when Usagi grabbed the back of her shirt. "Iie, Mako-chan. He's not worth it, that's just the way he is, let him be..." she turned and glared at Wufei, "For now."
"Hai, fine, fine... But they said prove it. I have your permission then Princess?" she asked questioningly. Thinking on it momentarily Usagi nodded, looking from her to the guys and they're praised eyebrows. She looked to Heero who mouthed 'Princess?' She gave another nod.
He was confused more then ever now. He could somewhat believe the time thing, but that would only fly past him if she could prove what she started. And being a Princess? How can she be a Princess? Only Relena Peacecraft was a Princess... there was no one else, not in all that he knew... But then... this proved that he didn't know everything from history... He snapped from his thoughts when Usagi sat down and someone yelled out "Jupiter Crystal Power... MAKE-UP!!"
The room became filled with dark shadows as lighting and thunder flashed and cracked all around Makoto's being, yet she wasn't hurt by it. No one was, instead she seemed to embrace it. There was a brilliant flash of light that temporarily blinded them all, when it died down there stood one of the Senshi wearing green and pink, grinning at them all.
Heero looked around, everyone's jaw dropped or eyes widened in shock. 'What she said was true then, but what role does she play in all this? And why did Makoto call her Princess?'
Makoto after transforming struck her pose, looked around and gave a satisfied grin. She bowed to them all. Then looked to Wufei and his scowl.
"Injustice! That's a dishonorable... thing to be dressed in!" Wufei shouted at the short fuka she wore.
Usagi sighed as Makoto sat down grinning. "Wufei please..." she put her head in her hand, "We do not chose how they look... we just wear and fight in them. "
To everyone's surprise Sailor Jupiter smiled towards Wufei as she sat, crossing her legs ladylike, "I agree, it is injustice to have us fighting in such short skirts as these..." she winked, "But you know they're made to distract the enemy. Maybe we can change them, but we don't know how." She shrugged.
Usagi giggled, 'Leave it to Makoto to lighten things up.'
"What roll do you play in all this then Tenshi?" Heero asked, then realizing what he called her started to mentally kick himself. 'Give it up already geez, the name suits her!' his conscious chided.
Looking up, glanced to Makoto, then the others before standing. "I'm their leader" she stated matter of factly.
"Usagi are you sure your strong enough?" Makoto questioned concern flashing in her emerald eyes.
She nodded. "Hai, Mako-chan, I'm strong enough, don't worry." Taking a deep breath pulling her locket out, she cried, "Moon Eternal Power... MAKE-UP!!" in a flurry of bright lights, feathers and a short burst of light at the end like Makoto's, there stood Eternal Sailor Moon, in all her glory... with a bandaged right wing and all.
"Wow! It's true then! You are the Sailor Senshi!?" Duo questioned hyperly then scratched his head. "But wait... weren't there like, more of you?"
Makoto took this question. "Hai, there are... were more of us. Nine to be exact not counting the Sailor Stars. But yes, more there were."
"Why did you say were? And where are they?" Trowa questioned.
"Because Trowa-kun... they are all back in the past. They... the Inner Senshi; Mars, Mercury, and Venus... betrayed me, I guess... They didn't like me, thought I wasn't a good enough leader..." she sighed, "So before the fight when I was walking and talking to Rei-chan, I had wished to go somewhere else and start over... I didn't know it would actually happen... I don't know if it was the Ginzuishou, or if it was Pluto that brought us here. But we are here and cannot change that. "
Trowa nodded, he seemed to agree with her answer.
"Why does Makoto... Sailor Jupiter, call you Princess?" Heero asked that wouldn't stop circling in his mind.
"Because my friend..." Usagi summoned the Ginzuishou raising it above her head, pink light and ribbons engulfed her from view. When all returned to normal, Usagi was no longer there, but Princess Serenity in her princess dress of long ago, crescent moon shining brightly on her forehead. "I am a princess. I'm Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, hire to the once known Silver Millennium."
Makoto had changed into her princess dress as well. "And I am Princess Makoto of Jupiter, hire to the Jupiterian throne and one of Princess Serenity's Inner Senshi, her protectors."
Princess Serenity nodded. "She is correct, as all my Senshi were princesses of their own planets, part of my court and protectors, each an hire to their own throne. But I... I was destined to marry Prince Endymion of Earth. Together with the Ginzuishou, we would rule the Moon and Earth Kingdoms and the Universe, keeping the peace." At their confused looks she continued.
"In the Silver Millennium, my mother, Queen Serenity, ruled the Moon Kingdom. All other planets were aligned with the Moon to form the Silver Alliance. The Moon was the most powerful kingdom; thanks to the Ginzuishou, for it is the most powerful gem in the universe that only a Lunarian descendent can weld." Eyeing the shinning crystal sadly, "With it, my mother kept the peace. One day three thousand years back, it was my birthday, a joyous day and we were going to announce the engagement to the Prince of Earth that night.
"Before the announcement we took a walk in the gardens, wanting to think and be alone before." She got up and slowly walked across the room, moving had become easier for her now, transforming had given back some of her lost energy. "We were walking when this evil presence surrounded us. It was an attack on the kingdom by the evil Queen Beryl..." she went on to tell of the attack, dying and her mother sending them a thousand years into the future at a chance for better life, only to have fourteen years of a normal life, before she had to fight, she told them all of it, 'til the here and now. "So now you know of my life, our history...."
Everyone was in shock. It was a lot to take all in for one day. Some still held confused looks. Like Duo's, "But Tenshi... you said you'd rule the Universe... How can you do that? If you don't marry this Endymion fellow, he was supposed to be your soul mate right?"
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1. Shikashi = But (however)
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