When I Was A Little Girl
Chapter 9
By: Chibi J
Rated: G
Standard Disclaimers.
This is dedicated to all my friends at AI. I love all you pep squanders and pep squaders in training. Also, as always, big thanks to Ssista for her wonderful editing skills!
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"Haruka? Is that really you?" I asked, knowing that she was the only person who ever called me odango or ko-neko.
"Hai, it's me." She said as she removed her mask. Her short blonde hair fluttered in the wind that was blowing around us. She was dressed in all white with a white cape billowing behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Rei asked in a tone of astonishment. At the same time, I could tell that she had tried to probe the girl's mind, but with no result.
"First, stop doing that. Then I'll try to explain." Haruka said with a smug smile.
"Stop doing what?" Ami asked, unsure what was being done.
"She's trying to probe my mind." Haruka smiled at the astonished looks she received from everyone, myself included. "It kind of tickles."
"Haruka, how do you know she was doing that?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"I can't read minds, if that's what you are wondering. But I can feel it. I felt it the first time we met. It tickles at the back of my mind." Haruka answered.
"How can you be certain that it's from Rei though?" Ami asked, again entering information into her mini-computer.
"Well, besides the fact that it has only ever happened around you two, that gives a little clue. Second, I just tend to know these things. I've never had to wonder about things, the answer is usually in my brain, just waiting for the right time to come out." Haruka told us.
"Sounds a little like Ami." Makoto mumbled just under her breath, however, we all heard her.
"I don't believe we have met." Haruka spoke as she walked towards Makoto. "My name is Tenoh Haruka. And you are?" She asked, putting her hand out in front of her.
"Makoto. Kino Makoto. I just started going to school with the girls last month." She answered.
"You're very pretty. And tall. I like that." Haruka said with a smile that caused Makoto to blush profusely. I gave a small chuckle at the situation, knowing now what I looked like when Haruka had pulled a similar line on me.
"Um, Haruka," Rei began, trying to refrain from laughing out loud, "Perhaps you could now tell us what you were doing here."
"Oh, I suppose so. I just, well, it's just that I like a good fight. Always have." Haruka began to explain. She removed her cape and took off her white shirt to reveal a blue tank top underneath. She walked over to a backpack that had been resting by a tree and stuffed her white attire into it.
"Yes, but you could always find a good fight in a safer location." Ami suggested.
Haruka smiled at the petite girl. "Yes, Ami, I suppose I could, but that's not the point. Something inside tells me that I need to help you girls. Don't ask why, I don't have that answer yet."
"Well, I appreciate it." I said with a smile. "If you hadn't of yelled for me to watch out, I might not be here now."
"Not a problem, but I'm sure the guy in the tux wouldn't have let anything happen to you." Haruka replied with a smile. "Any idea who he was?"
"His name is Tuxedo Kamen." I replied. "That's all I got from him."
"Well," Ami interrupted as she closed her mini-computer, "Perhaps we should take Haruka to meet Luna. Maybe she will have some answers for us."
~*~
"She's not a senshi."
"What?!" Five stunned voices shouted in unison.
"I said...she's not a senshi. I'm sorry Haruka." Luna said sorrowfully.
"Luna, there must be some mistake." I pleaded with the feline.
"I'm sorry Usagi. I will admit, she has powers very much like that of a senshi, but we have already found the five senshi. Remember, Venus." Luna replied.
"But there are more planets than just Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter." Makoto said.
"Yes, but I only have henshin wands for the Inner Senshi, the first planets of the solar system. If she is a senshi for the outer planets, then she must find the one that holds her henshin wand." Luna instructed us.
"I understand." Haruka said with a small smile. "Perhaps I am only meant to help from the sidelines." She said with a sigh.
"Haruka..." I started. I felt the need to comfort the girl, but didn't know what to say.
"No, really, Ko-neko. I'll be alright." She said with a smile in my direction. Unfortunately, her emotions were pouring off of her and I could feel her sadness.
"Okay. Haruka, you will help us as you have. We will all be grateful for another pair of eyes on our backs." Rei said with a large smile. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and Haruka accepted.
"Now, we have other matters to discuss." Ami jumped in, her mini-computer open and ready to go. "First, who is Tuxedo Kamen? Second, who was Jadeite?"
The group looked around at each other, as if expecting someone to suddenly gain all the information to the questions. No one, of course, jumped forward with any information.
"So far," Ami finally began. "We know that Jadeite is a general for the Dark Moon. He has attempted to create a more powerful youma that would destroy us. However, he failed and we sent him back home with multiple injuries."
Everyone nodded their agreement. There didn't seem to be too much more than what Ami had supplied.
"Tuxedo Kamen. Usagi said that he had no other thoughts on his mind but his name. He wore a black tuxedo, top hat, and cape. He was also wearing a white mask. Haruka, do you know him?" Ami asked.
"No. Nothing other than we both like capes and masks." Haruka joked, giving everyone a chance to laugh.
"Well, without anything more..." Ami began, but was cut off.
"I may know him." Makoto said quietly.
"What? Who is he?" I asked immediately. The man saved my life; I at least owed him my thanks.
"I can't say for sure. But I am pretty sure that I know who he is." Makoto said as she played with her fingers in her lap. "However, I can't tell you yet."
"Why not?" Luna asked, slightly upset that Makoto was withholding information.
"Well, like I said, I'm not sure. Plus, he doesn't know who he is. When I am certain, and he knows who he is himself, then I will tell you." Makoto replied, still not willing to meet anyone's eyes.
"That sounds fair Makoto." I said. "We won't pressure you anymore, unless it is an emergency."
Makoto looked up and smiled at me in appreciation. As much as I wanted to know who Tuxedo Kamen was, I didn't want to pressure Makoto into telling. She had already shared many of her life secrets with us.
"Well then," Ami began, "We really don't have much more to discuss as far as senshi business goes."
"Good!" Rei and I shouted in unison, causing the group to began laughing again.
'Arcade?' I asked Rei.
'Race?' Rei asked back.
I nodded my head and Rei and I got up and began running down the steps, leaving everyone else at the temple not only unsure of where we were going, but why we were going so fast.
~*~
"Schools out for summer! Bum ba ba ba bum. Schools out for summer! Bum ba ba ba bum. Schools out for summer!"
"Usagi, don't you know any other verses?" Ami asked in a pleading voice.
"Um, no. Sorry. Schools out for summer!" I continued singing. I saw Ami roll her eyes and I gave a slight laugh. "Gomen Ami, I'll stop."
"Thank Kami-sama!" Makoto pleaded to the heavens. "Gomen Usa, but your singing, well it's not really the singing. It's more the lack of lyrics." Makoto laughed. I couldn't help but to join in. Soon, Ami was laughing along with both of us as we made our way up the shrine steps.
"REI!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as I skipped up the last couple of stairs. Ami and Makoto, although getting used to the steps, were still only about half way up. "Where are you?!"
"Usagi! Stop yelling!" Rei yelled at me as she came out from around the corner of the shrine with a rake in her hand.
"Rei!" I yelled again and began to run to her. As soon as I was close enough I jumped into my cousin's arms. "Schools out." Unfortunately, Rei wasn't strong enough to hold me for long and soon we both toppled to the ground.
"Geez, I guess you're excited Odango." Haruka said as she stepped up the shrine steps along with Ami and Makoto. Evidently she had come to visit and quickly caught up with the two girls I had left behind.
"Haruka!" I quickly jumped to my feet and ran at Haruka. Being both taller and stronger than Rei, Haruka easily picked me up and spun me around. She placed me back on my feet and patted me on my head.
"Are we just a little excited by summer vacation?" Haruka asked with a sarcastic grin.
"I'm just so excited! Nothing could bring me down!" I continued yelling and skipping around the small courtyard in front of the shrine.
"Nothing?" Haruka asked with a smile. "Not even a thunderstorm?"
"Nope." I replied. A small beeping sounded from Ami's mini-computer and she opened it.
"Not even an earthquake?" Makoto asked.
"Nope." I answered, as Ami continued to fiddle around with her computer. She must be checking for an appointment or something.
"Not even a shortage of ice-cream in the world?" Rei asked, knowing my weak points. But I got her.
"Nope."
"Not even a youma attack?" Ami asked.
"Nope, not even a you...a youma attack. Ami, please tell me that's not why your computer is beeping." I pleaded.
"Unfortunately, yes. Youma attack. Guess where?" Ami said. We all groaned and began to walk down the stairs.
"The park." We all replied in unison, even Haruka, who had been filled in on all of our battles from the beginning.
"My, how did you guess?" Ami replied sarcastically.
We entered the park but saw that no one was around. No people, youma, evil general, nothing. Still not transformed, we began to walk around. Ami began to scan on her mini-computer.
"Nothing. All scans say that it was right here." Ami informed us all.
"And he was right there." A voice echoed from all around us. "And now I am right here." Jadeite appeared and gave us an evil smile. "And now I know who the Sailor Senshi are."
"Well, no keeping secrets for any longer." Makoto said as she transformed into Sailor Jupiter.
"I suppose not." I replied and transformed. The rest of the girls followed suit, except for Haruka, who chose to forget the costume and stay in her street clothes.
And the battle began. Haruka, as promised, stayed on the sidelines, simply yelling warnings for us. A couple of attacks were aimed in her direction, but she was able to dodge them effortlessly. Jadeite seemed to be weakening under our constant attacks, though only one out of every four probably hit him. But with nothing else to attack, we were able to concentrate on him.
Unfortunately, he soon realized that.
"Odori! Come forth!" He shouted. Suddenly a youma dressed in a tutu came from nowhere. "Odori (AN: translates to dance) take care of these senshi." Jadeite ordered.
"Come dance with me." The youma said in a voice that sounded almost child-like. She shot off several blue disks, but we were able to dodge them all. I continued to attack Jadeite, along with Makoto. Rei and Ami were concentrating on the youma.
"Sailor Moon! Watch out!" Haruka yelled. But before I could dodge the attack, I was hit from behind by one of the blue disks. I lost control of my body and began dancing around like a chicken with my head cut off.
"Help me!" I yelled as my arms began flapping around at my side. "Oh Shimatta! Rei!" I yelled to gain her attention. "Rei! I don't have control over my arms!"
Rei looked at me and I could see understanding and fear flash across her face. (AN: did everyone forget that Usa has telekinetic powers? I did, but now that I remember, they're back!) "Quick, everyone. Get down!" Rei yelled as she dropped her body to the ground.
Ami, Makoto, and Haruka followed her directions, although they didn't understand what they were doing.
"What's going on?" Ami asked, fear filling her voice.
"You'll see soon enough." Rei answered with a slight groan.
She was correct. No sooner did she say those words then I started to lift items off the ground. First was a park bench, then a bike, a trashcan and small cooking grill soon joined. The objects were spinning around in the air as my body continued to dance out of control.
Jadeite watched in humor, at first, as I was stuck in this position. But as he had to duck under the trashcan twice, his humor began to fade. Upon his third time ducking under the trashcan, he didn't see the grill come up behind him and hit him in the head.
"Odori! Stop this!" He yelled at the youma in a very irate voice.
"I can't!" Odori yelled as she continued to flee from the park bench that was flying behind her.
Still dropped down on the ground, Rei and Makoto fired off a shot at the youma. Their timing caught her off guard and she shriveled to dust. The spell was released and I was finally able to stop moving. So were the objects around me.
Jadeite, who had finally escaped the trashcan, was knocked down to the ground by the bike as it fell from the air. He began to get up and try to walk, but he was swaying badly. I readied my tiara in my hand, but felt guilty hitting the man unawares.
He suddenly stopped stumbling and turned around to face me. The other girls were at my side and witnessed the madness in his eyes. In his hands, he held a ball of energy, just waiting to be thrown. Knowing that I was the target, I braced myself for impact.
"CRESANT BEAM!"
A gold beam of energy shot out from behind Jadeite and pierced him in his back. The ball of energy he was holding backfired on him. Burned and bruised, he continued to stand his ground.
"I will not be defeated!" He yelled out in a voice that was terribly inhuman. He tried to fire an attack in our direction again. This time, however, we were ready.
"MOON TIARA ACTION!"
"SHABON SPRAY!"
"FIRE SOUL!"
"SUPREME THUNDER!"
"CRESENT BEAM!"
The attacks hit simultaneously at Jadeite and he crumpled under the power. The air began to crackle with energy and then clouded. When we ceased our attacks and the air cleared, there was nothing left of Jadeite except a burn mark on the ground and a stone with a rose embedded in the middle.
My energy completely drained, I fell to my knees. My transformation melted away from me as tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at the spot where Jadeite had been. He had not been of this world, yet I felt immensely guilty for his death.
"Usa." Rei began as she put a hand on my shoulder. "It had to be done." I nodded my head in understanding and wiped the tears from my eyes.
I stood and walked over to the stone and the rose. I knelt down and said a small prayer in my heart for the man. I picked up the stone and removed the rose from it. The slight crack that had formed from the rose healed itself. I pocketed the stone and stared at the rose.
"Tuxedo Kamen?" I whispered. Looking around, I couldn't see him anywhere. "Tuxedo Kamen!" I yelled out, startling my friends. I still saw nothing, but the rose proved that he had been there. I twirled the perfect red rose in my hand. It's thorn-less stem led down to a dangerously sharp steel tip.
"He's gone." I whispered to myself. Then with sudden realization, I looked up to meet a pair of blue eyes with a head of blonde hair.
"Usagi?" The girl standing in front of me asked. I immediately recognized the voice.
"Minako?" The girl nodded her head. Wasting no time, I dove into her arms and gave her a big hug. She hugged me back and when we separated, Rei was standing next to me and took her turn to hug Minako.
"Girls, this is Minako!" I began with a giddy voice. "This is Sailor Venus!"
Recognition dawned on everyone's face and introductions began. However, my moment of joy was short lived as I looked past Minako to see the spot where Jadeite had his last stand.
"I'm ready to go home." I said to the girls who were all standing around me.
"Let's go." Rei said with a soft voice, understanding the thoughts running through my mind. She put her arm around my shoulders and led me away from the scene of Jadeite's demise.
~*~
"Haruka! You are so cool!" Minako squealed as Haruka sped into a parking spot.
"Oh Lord, that'll go right to her head." Rei groaned quietly to me, yet loud enough for Shingo and Ami to hear and let out a light chuckle.
"No problem Minako." Haruka said with a slightly seductive smile. Minako blushed slightly, something that Haruka seemed able to make us all do easily. "Special delivery to the beach, just as promised."
"Yes, but I know of safer ways to get here." Ami groaned as she finally let her grip on the door loosen. Haruka turned in her seat and stuck her tongue out at Ami.
Minako was up out of her seat before Haruka even had a chance to put the car into park. Rei, Shingo, and I slipped out of the backseat while Ami waited to make sure that Haruka wouldn't quickly take off again.
"I'm sorry Ami, next time I'll slow down a little for you." Haruka said with a smile as she helped Ami out of the backseat.
"Great. That will put you only 40 miles over the speed limit." Ami replied with sarcasm.
Rei and I removed all of our beach gear out of the trunk of the car while Shingo ran off after Minako. By the time Rei and I had made it to the sand, Minako and Shingo had already run into the water, their clothes and shoes marking the path they took to the water.
"When's Makoto getting here?" Ami asked as she and Haruka approached Rei and I.
"She said that she would be here around noon. It's eleven thirty now." I told Ami, realizing then that I didn't even know how she was getting there.
"She said that Mamoru would be bringing her." Rei answered my thoughts. She gave me a slight smile as she set up her umbrella and chair. Just then, a very wet Minako and Shingo ran up to us.
"Usa, you got to come in!" Minako exclaimed with a bright smile.
Minako had surprised us all when she showed up unannounced. Evidently, her mother was tired of living in England. Much like her daughter, Aino Kiko was a very social woman and many of the people that she approached treated her as if she was dirt just because she was a foreigner. So, although her father still had one year left at his job in England, mother and daughter returned to Japan.
Ironically, Minako had been on her way over to the temple when she saw a group of girls go running past. Curiosity took over her senses and she ran after the girls who happened to be the Sailor Senshi. Her intuition told her that she should wait to see if she was needed. After all, the general didn't know that Sailor Venus existed.
"I'm coming." I smiled. Minako was exuberant, as she had always sounded on the phone. We were all a little startled to see that she looked so much like me, except for the way she wore her hair, but the similarities didn't end there. Her bubbly personality was a match to mine and we had many of the same interests.
"I'm going to go swimming with the twins too. Anyone else coming?" Haruka asked. She had quickly dubbed Minako and I the twins. Of course, I was still her odango or ko-neko, but she set those names aside when Minako was around.
"I'm going to do a little reading. I'll join you later." Ami said, perching her glasses on her nose.
"I'll stay here with Ami. I just want to lay out for a while." Rei said as she put on her sunglasses.
"Fine, come in when you're ready." Minako shouted as she ran back towards the water with Shingo in tow.
"It's seems that your little brother has a slight crush." Haruka said with a laugh as we walked slowly towards the water.
"It seems so." I gave a slight smile. Haruka stared at me as my smile turned sinister.
"Usagi? What are you thinking?" Haruka asked with a slightly scared tone to her voice.
"Oh, nothing terrible." I replied. "Just a little psychological pay back." I grinned.
'Shingo and Minako sitting in a tree.' I started singing in my head. My message was obviously received as Shingo stopped dead in his tracks and glared at me. 'K-I-S-S-I-N-G.' His face began to turn bright red. Although he knew that Minako and Haruka weren't hearing her, he was still embarrassed. 'First comes love. Then comes marriage.'
By this point, Haruka and I had made it to where Shingo and Minako were standing in the water. I gave the red boy a big grin.
"Then comes the baby in the baby carriage." I said with a laugh. However, my laughter died short as my baby brother lunged at me.
"Die Usa!" Shingo shouted as he tried to dunk me under the water. Through my struggles, I could hear Minako and Haruka.
"Do you ever feel like you missed something?" Minako asked Haruka.
"Always." Haruka responded with a laugh.
Sometime later, after Shingo felt that he had sought his revenge, we began to enjoy the water. Minako and I teamed up against Haruka and Shingo in a chicken fight, that we lost badly. We continued to splash around and have a wonderful time, until Rei began to talk to me telepathically.
'Usa, Makoto is here.' She informed me. In all of our fun, we had wandered in the water quite a ways from our beach site.
'Okay. We'll be there shortly.' I responded and began to walk towards the shore.
'You better bring a rag with you.' Rei snickered. My curiosity was peaked.
'Why?'
'To wipe up your drool, because her roommate is hot!' She exclaimed. Knowing that Rei wasn't usually one to drop compliments so easily, I was intrigued.
'Be there soon.' "Come on guys! Makoto's here!" I yelled to the others in the water. Minako quickly joined me and we began to run to shore. As soon as our feet hit the beach, I challenged Minako to a race. She accepted and we took off.
With our wet hair flying out behind us, Minako and I neared our beach site. I could see Makoto talking to Rei, but saw no sign of Chiba Mamoru. From everything that Makoto had told us, I really wanted to meet him. Not only was he now a senior at the high school that I was now a freshman, but he was said to be "cute" by Makoto and now "hot" by Rei.
I still didn't see him, but I assumed that Rei and Makoto were blocking him from my vision. After all, I couldn't see Ami either. Suddenly, I realize that I was running full speed towards my cousin. My thoughts had distracted me too long and now I was going to run into her.
"Rei!" I screamed. She turned and saw me coming. Her eyes flashed in terror, but she collected herself quickly and stepped out of the way. Unfortunately, that left me to run into the body standing behind her.
"Ouch." I said in pain.
"I agree." A masculine voice said from under me.
"Good one odango." Haruka said as she approached the group that gathered around me and the person I was lying on top of.
"Usagi! Are you okay?" Shingo asked in worry and tried to pull me off.
"I'm fine." I said, as I used his help to stand. "Are you okay?" I asked looking down to the body I had crushed.
"I'll live." The guy I squished replied. Getting a good look, I realize that this must be Chiba Mamoru. 'You were right Rei. He is hot!'
Rei simply smiled at me with a look that said, "I told you so."
"Well, Usagi, I guess I should introduce you." Makoto began as she gave a hand to her roommate to help him up. "Tsukino Usagi, this is my friend, Chiba Mamoru."
I stuck out my hand to shake. He grabbed my hand into his and my eyes went suddenly blurry. Bright lights, like fireworks, shot out in front of my eyes. Then, it cleared. I was standing in a field at night. I was wearing a dress of all white that ran down to my feet. Around me, I saw nothing but an old field and a large tree. I began to walk toward the tree as I looked around. In the sky, I saw something that was not the moon. It was beautiful, blue and white swirls.
I continued to walk towards the tree. In the shadows, I thought I saw a man leaning against the tree.
"Usagi." The man at the tree said in a beautiful voice.
He was wearing a suit of black and silver armor.
"Usagi!" His voice was getting louder and slightly more feminine.
"USAGI!!"
I blinked my eyes. Suddenly, the field and the tree disappeared from my vision. They were replaced by the worried faces of Shingo and Rei.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice barely auditable to my own ears.
"You zoned out." Rei said out loud. 'You went into a trance.' She told me privately.
"Are you okay Usa?" Ami said from where she was standing above me. "You passed out, but your eyes were still open." She informed me.
"What?" I asked again, slightly regaining my voice.
"I never knew that I could have that kind of an affect on a woman." I heard the masculine voice of Mamoru say with a laugh. Shaking his hand that had caused the vision.
"Who are you?" I asked, looking directly at Mamoru.
"Chiba Mamoru. Remember, we just met." He said, almost alarmed that someone didn't remember him.
"I guess I'll accept that for now." I said as I sat up. He gave me a puzzled look. "I'm okay guys, go ahead and have fun." I insisted.
Shingo hesitated for a moment, but a word from Minako requesting to go back into the water quickly pulled him away from me. Rei helped me stand and I watched as Haruka followed Shingo and Minako to the water.
"Are you okay Usa?" Rei asked as she walked by my side, being certain that I didn't fall.
"I'm fine Rei, just the sun I guess." I supplied as a weak excuse to those who were around us. I knew that she wanted more than that however. 'We'll talk later. Promise.'
"Well then, I guess I'm going into the water. Are you coming Ami? Makoto?" She asked the two other girls.
"Yes, I suppose." Ami replied, as if it would be torture to leave her book.
"I'm game." Makoto replied with much more enthusiasm than Ami.
I smiled at the girls as they took off down the beach towards the water. I decided that I needed to take a rest and sat on the beach chair that was sitting under the umbrella.
"What did you mean?" Mamoru asked, as he sat in the chair next to the one I was sitting in.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"You said you would accept my name for now. What does that mean?" He asked with a look of confusion on his face.
I looked up to him and my eyes met his. I could feel my self drowning in his deep blue eyes.
"Usagi?" He asked, bringing me out of my light trance.
"Sorry. I don't know, guess it was just an after effect from passing out." I answered, hoping that he would accept that.
"I don't believe you." He said. Damn it! Why did everyone seem to know when I was lying?
"Why don't you believe me?" I asked innocently.
"Because I felt it too. I saw it too." Mamoru replied, shocking me to the core.
"What do you mean?" I asked in a barely auditable voice.
"You, in the white gown. I've seen it a million times. I, however, have gotten used to the flashes and can control my responses." He said with a proud voice.
"A million times." I repeated to myself. "The prophesizing dreams that Makoto said she had. She said you had them too." I was talking to myself, not even realizing that Mamoru was still listening.
"They used to only come in my sleep. But since the first time I saw you, they have become more frequent. Now, little things set off these visions." Mamoru told me in a quiet voice.
"Me? Why me?" I asked. This whole thing was really beginning to freak me out and I really wished that one of the others were still here with us.
"Because..." He began. I waited for him to continue. However, it seemed as if the words were caught on his tongue.
"Because?" I questioned, hoping to encourage the words out of his mouth.
"Because...because I...I love you." And he then passed out.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mwhahahahahaha! Oh, I feel just plain evil! That was sooo much fun! I got to make a really good cliffhanger!!! Well, I hope it's good. Let me know! ChibiJ77@yahoo.com
I feel the need to remind you all that I am insane and evil. Ssista thought that our most beloved couple came together rather fast. Again, as I reminded her, things aren't always what they seem and I think you will all be surprised when chapter 10 comes out in about a week.
Oh, lastly, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! How can I know if you like this if you don't tell me??
Chapter 9
By: Chibi J
Rated: G
Standard Disclaimers.
This is dedicated to all my friends at AI. I love all you pep squanders and pep squaders in training. Also, as always, big thanks to Ssista for her wonderful editing skills!
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"Haruka? Is that really you?" I asked, knowing that she was the only person who ever called me odango or ko-neko.
"Hai, it's me." She said as she removed her mask. Her short blonde hair fluttered in the wind that was blowing around us. She was dressed in all white with a white cape billowing behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Rei asked in a tone of astonishment. At the same time, I could tell that she had tried to probe the girl's mind, but with no result.
"First, stop doing that. Then I'll try to explain." Haruka said with a smug smile.
"Stop doing what?" Ami asked, unsure what was being done.
"She's trying to probe my mind." Haruka smiled at the astonished looks she received from everyone, myself included. "It kind of tickles."
"Haruka, how do you know she was doing that?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"I can't read minds, if that's what you are wondering. But I can feel it. I felt it the first time we met. It tickles at the back of my mind." Haruka answered.
"How can you be certain that it's from Rei though?" Ami asked, again entering information into her mini-computer.
"Well, besides the fact that it has only ever happened around you two, that gives a little clue. Second, I just tend to know these things. I've never had to wonder about things, the answer is usually in my brain, just waiting for the right time to come out." Haruka told us.
"Sounds a little like Ami." Makoto mumbled just under her breath, however, we all heard her.
"I don't believe we have met." Haruka spoke as she walked towards Makoto. "My name is Tenoh Haruka. And you are?" She asked, putting her hand out in front of her.
"Makoto. Kino Makoto. I just started going to school with the girls last month." She answered.
"You're very pretty. And tall. I like that." Haruka said with a smile that caused Makoto to blush profusely. I gave a small chuckle at the situation, knowing now what I looked like when Haruka had pulled a similar line on me.
"Um, Haruka," Rei began, trying to refrain from laughing out loud, "Perhaps you could now tell us what you were doing here."
"Oh, I suppose so. I just, well, it's just that I like a good fight. Always have." Haruka began to explain. She removed her cape and took off her white shirt to reveal a blue tank top underneath. She walked over to a backpack that had been resting by a tree and stuffed her white attire into it.
"Yes, but you could always find a good fight in a safer location." Ami suggested.
Haruka smiled at the petite girl. "Yes, Ami, I suppose I could, but that's not the point. Something inside tells me that I need to help you girls. Don't ask why, I don't have that answer yet."
"Well, I appreciate it." I said with a smile. "If you hadn't of yelled for me to watch out, I might not be here now."
"Not a problem, but I'm sure the guy in the tux wouldn't have let anything happen to you." Haruka replied with a smile. "Any idea who he was?"
"His name is Tuxedo Kamen." I replied. "That's all I got from him."
"Well," Ami interrupted as she closed her mini-computer, "Perhaps we should take Haruka to meet Luna. Maybe she will have some answers for us."
~*~
"She's not a senshi."
"What?!" Five stunned voices shouted in unison.
"I said...she's not a senshi. I'm sorry Haruka." Luna said sorrowfully.
"Luna, there must be some mistake." I pleaded with the feline.
"I'm sorry Usagi. I will admit, she has powers very much like that of a senshi, but we have already found the five senshi. Remember, Venus." Luna replied.
"But there are more planets than just Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter." Makoto said.
"Yes, but I only have henshin wands for the Inner Senshi, the first planets of the solar system. If she is a senshi for the outer planets, then she must find the one that holds her henshin wand." Luna instructed us.
"I understand." Haruka said with a small smile. "Perhaps I am only meant to help from the sidelines." She said with a sigh.
"Haruka..." I started. I felt the need to comfort the girl, but didn't know what to say.
"No, really, Ko-neko. I'll be alright." She said with a smile in my direction. Unfortunately, her emotions were pouring off of her and I could feel her sadness.
"Okay. Haruka, you will help us as you have. We will all be grateful for another pair of eyes on our backs." Rei said with a large smile. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and Haruka accepted.
"Now, we have other matters to discuss." Ami jumped in, her mini-computer open and ready to go. "First, who is Tuxedo Kamen? Second, who was Jadeite?"
The group looked around at each other, as if expecting someone to suddenly gain all the information to the questions. No one, of course, jumped forward with any information.
"So far," Ami finally began. "We know that Jadeite is a general for the Dark Moon. He has attempted to create a more powerful youma that would destroy us. However, he failed and we sent him back home with multiple injuries."
Everyone nodded their agreement. There didn't seem to be too much more than what Ami had supplied.
"Tuxedo Kamen. Usagi said that he had no other thoughts on his mind but his name. He wore a black tuxedo, top hat, and cape. He was also wearing a white mask. Haruka, do you know him?" Ami asked.
"No. Nothing other than we both like capes and masks." Haruka joked, giving everyone a chance to laugh.
"Well, without anything more..." Ami began, but was cut off.
"I may know him." Makoto said quietly.
"What? Who is he?" I asked immediately. The man saved my life; I at least owed him my thanks.
"I can't say for sure. But I am pretty sure that I know who he is." Makoto said as she played with her fingers in her lap. "However, I can't tell you yet."
"Why not?" Luna asked, slightly upset that Makoto was withholding information.
"Well, like I said, I'm not sure. Plus, he doesn't know who he is. When I am certain, and he knows who he is himself, then I will tell you." Makoto replied, still not willing to meet anyone's eyes.
"That sounds fair Makoto." I said. "We won't pressure you anymore, unless it is an emergency."
Makoto looked up and smiled at me in appreciation. As much as I wanted to know who Tuxedo Kamen was, I didn't want to pressure Makoto into telling. She had already shared many of her life secrets with us.
"Well then," Ami began, "We really don't have much more to discuss as far as senshi business goes."
"Good!" Rei and I shouted in unison, causing the group to began laughing again.
'Arcade?' I asked Rei.
'Race?' Rei asked back.
I nodded my head and Rei and I got up and began running down the steps, leaving everyone else at the temple not only unsure of where we were going, but why we were going so fast.
~*~
"Schools out for summer! Bum ba ba ba bum. Schools out for summer! Bum ba ba ba bum. Schools out for summer!"
"Usagi, don't you know any other verses?" Ami asked in a pleading voice.
"Um, no. Sorry. Schools out for summer!" I continued singing. I saw Ami roll her eyes and I gave a slight laugh. "Gomen Ami, I'll stop."
"Thank Kami-sama!" Makoto pleaded to the heavens. "Gomen Usa, but your singing, well it's not really the singing. It's more the lack of lyrics." Makoto laughed. I couldn't help but to join in. Soon, Ami was laughing along with both of us as we made our way up the shrine steps.
"REI!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as I skipped up the last couple of stairs. Ami and Makoto, although getting used to the steps, were still only about half way up. "Where are you?!"
"Usagi! Stop yelling!" Rei yelled at me as she came out from around the corner of the shrine with a rake in her hand.
"Rei!" I yelled again and began to run to her. As soon as I was close enough I jumped into my cousin's arms. "Schools out." Unfortunately, Rei wasn't strong enough to hold me for long and soon we both toppled to the ground.
"Geez, I guess you're excited Odango." Haruka said as she stepped up the shrine steps along with Ami and Makoto. Evidently she had come to visit and quickly caught up with the two girls I had left behind.
"Haruka!" I quickly jumped to my feet and ran at Haruka. Being both taller and stronger than Rei, Haruka easily picked me up and spun me around. She placed me back on my feet and patted me on my head.
"Are we just a little excited by summer vacation?" Haruka asked with a sarcastic grin.
"I'm just so excited! Nothing could bring me down!" I continued yelling and skipping around the small courtyard in front of the shrine.
"Nothing?" Haruka asked with a smile. "Not even a thunderstorm?"
"Nope." I replied. A small beeping sounded from Ami's mini-computer and she opened it.
"Not even an earthquake?" Makoto asked.
"Nope." I answered, as Ami continued to fiddle around with her computer. She must be checking for an appointment or something.
"Not even a shortage of ice-cream in the world?" Rei asked, knowing my weak points. But I got her.
"Nope."
"Not even a youma attack?" Ami asked.
"Nope, not even a you...a youma attack. Ami, please tell me that's not why your computer is beeping." I pleaded.
"Unfortunately, yes. Youma attack. Guess where?" Ami said. We all groaned and began to walk down the stairs.
"The park." We all replied in unison, even Haruka, who had been filled in on all of our battles from the beginning.
"My, how did you guess?" Ami replied sarcastically.
We entered the park but saw that no one was around. No people, youma, evil general, nothing. Still not transformed, we began to walk around. Ami began to scan on her mini-computer.
"Nothing. All scans say that it was right here." Ami informed us all.
"And he was right there." A voice echoed from all around us. "And now I am right here." Jadeite appeared and gave us an evil smile. "And now I know who the Sailor Senshi are."
"Well, no keeping secrets for any longer." Makoto said as she transformed into Sailor Jupiter.
"I suppose not." I replied and transformed. The rest of the girls followed suit, except for Haruka, who chose to forget the costume and stay in her street clothes.
And the battle began. Haruka, as promised, stayed on the sidelines, simply yelling warnings for us. A couple of attacks were aimed in her direction, but she was able to dodge them effortlessly. Jadeite seemed to be weakening under our constant attacks, though only one out of every four probably hit him. But with nothing else to attack, we were able to concentrate on him.
Unfortunately, he soon realized that.
"Odori! Come forth!" He shouted. Suddenly a youma dressed in a tutu came from nowhere. "Odori (AN: translates to dance) take care of these senshi." Jadeite ordered.
"Come dance with me." The youma said in a voice that sounded almost child-like. She shot off several blue disks, but we were able to dodge them all. I continued to attack Jadeite, along with Makoto. Rei and Ami were concentrating on the youma.
"Sailor Moon! Watch out!" Haruka yelled. But before I could dodge the attack, I was hit from behind by one of the blue disks. I lost control of my body and began dancing around like a chicken with my head cut off.
"Help me!" I yelled as my arms began flapping around at my side. "Oh Shimatta! Rei!" I yelled to gain her attention. "Rei! I don't have control over my arms!"
Rei looked at me and I could see understanding and fear flash across her face. (AN: did everyone forget that Usa has telekinetic powers? I did, but now that I remember, they're back!) "Quick, everyone. Get down!" Rei yelled as she dropped her body to the ground.
Ami, Makoto, and Haruka followed her directions, although they didn't understand what they were doing.
"What's going on?" Ami asked, fear filling her voice.
"You'll see soon enough." Rei answered with a slight groan.
She was correct. No sooner did she say those words then I started to lift items off the ground. First was a park bench, then a bike, a trashcan and small cooking grill soon joined. The objects were spinning around in the air as my body continued to dance out of control.
Jadeite watched in humor, at first, as I was stuck in this position. But as he had to duck under the trashcan twice, his humor began to fade. Upon his third time ducking under the trashcan, he didn't see the grill come up behind him and hit him in the head.
"Odori! Stop this!" He yelled at the youma in a very irate voice.
"I can't!" Odori yelled as she continued to flee from the park bench that was flying behind her.
Still dropped down on the ground, Rei and Makoto fired off a shot at the youma. Their timing caught her off guard and she shriveled to dust. The spell was released and I was finally able to stop moving. So were the objects around me.
Jadeite, who had finally escaped the trashcan, was knocked down to the ground by the bike as it fell from the air. He began to get up and try to walk, but he was swaying badly. I readied my tiara in my hand, but felt guilty hitting the man unawares.
He suddenly stopped stumbling and turned around to face me. The other girls were at my side and witnessed the madness in his eyes. In his hands, he held a ball of energy, just waiting to be thrown. Knowing that I was the target, I braced myself for impact.
"CRESANT BEAM!"
A gold beam of energy shot out from behind Jadeite and pierced him in his back. The ball of energy he was holding backfired on him. Burned and bruised, he continued to stand his ground.
"I will not be defeated!" He yelled out in a voice that was terribly inhuman. He tried to fire an attack in our direction again. This time, however, we were ready.
"MOON TIARA ACTION!"
"SHABON SPRAY!"
"FIRE SOUL!"
"SUPREME THUNDER!"
"CRESENT BEAM!"
The attacks hit simultaneously at Jadeite and he crumpled under the power. The air began to crackle with energy and then clouded. When we ceased our attacks and the air cleared, there was nothing left of Jadeite except a burn mark on the ground and a stone with a rose embedded in the middle.
My energy completely drained, I fell to my knees. My transformation melted away from me as tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at the spot where Jadeite had been. He had not been of this world, yet I felt immensely guilty for his death.
"Usa." Rei began as she put a hand on my shoulder. "It had to be done." I nodded my head in understanding and wiped the tears from my eyes.
I stood and walked over to the stone and the rose. I knelt down and said a small prayer in my heart for the man. I picked up the stone and removed the rose from it. The slight crack that had formed from the rose healed itself. I pocketed the stone and stared at the rose.
"Tuxedo Kamen?" I whispered. Looking around, I couldn't see him anywhere. "Tuxedo Kamen!" I yelled out, startling my friends. I still saw nothing, but the rose proved that he had been there. I twirled the perfect red rose in my hand. It's thorn-less stem led down to a dangerously sharp steel tip.
"He's gone." I whispered to myself. Then with sudden realization, I looked up to meet a pair of blue eyes with a head of blonde hair.
"Usagi?" The girl standing in front of me asked. I immediately recognized the voice.
"Minako?" The girl nodded her head. Wasting no time, I dove into her arms and gave her a big hug. She hugged me back and when we separated, Rei was standing next to me and took her turn to hug Minako.
"Girls, this is Minako!" I began with a giddy voice. "This is Sailor Venus!"
Recognition dawned on everyone's face and introductions began. However, my moment of joy was short lived as I looked past Minako to see the spot where Jadeite had his last stand.
"I'm ready to go home." I said to the girls who were all standing around me.
"Let's go." Rei said with a soft voice, understanding the thoughts running through my mind. She put her arm around my shoulders and led me away from the scene of Jadeite's demise.
~*~
"Haruka! You are so cool!" Minako squealed as Haruka sped into a parking spot.
"Oh Lord, that'll go right to her head." Rei groaned quietly to me, yet loud enough for Shingo and Ami to hear and let out a light chuckle.
"No problem Minako." Haruka said with a slightly seductive smile. Minako blushed slightly, something that Haruka seemed able to make us all do easily. "Special delivery to the beach, just as promised."
"Yes, but I know of safer ways to get here." Ami groaned as she finally let her grip on the door loosen. Haruka turned in her seat and stuck her tongue out at Ami.
Minako was up out of her seat before Haruka even had a chance to put the car into park. Rei, Shingo, and I slipped out of the backseat while Ami waited to make sure that Haruka wouldn't quickly take off again.
"I'm sorry Ami, next time I'll slow down a little for you." Haruka said with a smile as she helped Ami out of the backseat.
"Great. That will put you only 40 miles over the speed limit." Ami replied with sarcasm.
Rei and I removed all of our beach gear out of the trunk of the car while Shingo ran off after Minako. By the time Rei and I had made it to the sand, Minako and Shingo had already run into the water, their clothes and shoes marking the path they took to the water.
"When's Makoto getting here?" Ami asked as she and Haruka approached Rei and I.
"She said that she would be here around noon. It's eleven thirty now." I told Ami, realizing then that I didn't even know how she was getting there.
"She said that Mamoru would be bringing her." Rei answered my thoughts. She gave me a slight smile as she set up her umbrella and chair. Just then, a very wet Minako and Shingo ran up to us.
"Usa, you got to come in!" Minako exclaimed with a bright smile.
Minako had surprised us all when she showed up unannounced. Evidently, her mother was tired of living in England. Much like her daughter, Aino Kiko was a very social woman and many of the people that she approached treated her as if she was dirt just because she was a foreigner. So, although her father still had one year left at his job in England, mother and daughter returned to Japan.
Ironically, Minako had been on her way over to the temple when she saw a group of girls go running past. Curiosity took over her senses and she ran after the girls who happened to be the Sailor Senshi. Her intuition told her that she should wait to see if she was needed. After all, the general didn't know that Sailor Venus existed.
"I'm coming." I smiled. Minako was exuberant, as she had always sounded on the phone. We were all a little startled to see that she looked so much like me, except for the way she wore her hair, but the similarities didn't end there. Her bubbly personality was a match to mine and we had many of the same interests.
"I'm going to go swimming with the twins too. Anyone else coming?" Haruka asked. She had quickly dubbed Minako and I the twins. Of course, I was still her odango or ko-neko, but she set those names aside when Minako was around.
"I'm going to do a little reading. I'll join you later." Ami said, perching her glasses on her nose.
"I'll stay here with Ami. I just want to lay out for a while." Rei said as she put on her sunglasses.
"Fine, come in when you're ready." Minako shouted as she ran back towards the water with Shingo in tow.
"It's seems that your little brother has a slight crush." Haruka said with a laugh as we walked slowly towards the water.
"It seems so." I gave a slight smile. Haruka stared at me as my smile turned sinister.
"Usagi? What are you thinking?" Haruka asked with a slightly scared tone to her voice.
"Oh, nothing terrible." I replied. "Just a little psychological pay back." I grinned.
'Shingo and Minako sitting in a tree.' I started singing in my head. My message was obviously received as Shingo stopped dead in his tracks and glared at me. 'K-I-S-S-I-N-G.' His face began to turn bright red. Although he knew that Minako and Haruka weren't hearing her, he was still embarrassed. 'First comes love. Then comes marriage.'
By this point, Haruka and I had made it to where Shingo and Minako were standing in the water. I gave the red boy a big grin.
"Then comes the baby in the baby carriage." I said with a laugh. However, my laughter died short as my baby brother lunged at me.
"Die Usa!" Shingo shouted as he tried to dunk me under the water. Through my struggles, I could hear Minako and Haruka.
"Do you ever feel like you missed something?" Minako asked Haruka.
"Always." Haruka responded with a laugh.
Sometime later, after Shingo felt that he had sought his revenge, we began to enjoy the water. Minako and I teamed up against Haruka and Shingo in a chicken fight, that we lost badly. We continued to splash around and have a wonderful time, until Rei began to talk to me telepathically.
'Usa, Makoto is here.' She informed me. In all of our fun, we had wandered in the water quite a ways from our beach site.
'Okay. We'll be there shortly.' I responded and began to walk towards the shore.
'You better bring a rag with you.' Rei snickered. My curiosity was peaked.
'Why?'
'To wipe up your drool, because her roommate is hot!' She exclaimed. Knowing that Rei wasn't usually one to drop compliments so easily, I was intrigued.
'Be there soon.' "Come on guys! Makoto's here!" I yelled to the others in the water. Minako quickly joined me and we began to run to shore. As soon as our feet hit the beach, I challenged Minako to a race. She accepted and we took off.
With our wet hair flying out behind us, Minako and I neared our beach site. I could see Makoto talking to Rei, but saw no sign of Chiba Mamoru. From everything that Makoto had told us, I really wanted to meet him. Not only was he now a senior at the high school that I was now a freshman, but he was said to be "cute" by Makoto and now "hot" by Rei.
I still didn't see him, but I assumed that Rei and Makoto were blocking him from my vision. After all, I couldn't see Ami either. Suddenly, I realize that I was running full speed towards my cousin. My thoughts had distracted me too long and now I was going to run into her.
"Rei!" I screamed. She turned and saw me coming. Her eyes flashed in terror, but she collected herself quickly and stepped out of the way. Unfortunately, that left me to run into the body standing behind her.
"Ouch." I said in pain.
"I agree." A masculine voice said from under me.
"Good one odango." Haruka said as she approached the group that gathered around me and the person I was lying on top of.
"Usagi! Are you okay?" Shingo asked in worry and tried to pull me off.
"I'm fine." I said, as I used his help to stand. "Are you okay?" I asked looking down to the body I had crushed.
"I'll live." The guy I squished replied. Getting a good look, I realize that this must be Chiba Mamoru. 'You were right Rei. He is hot!'
Rei simply smiled at me with a look that said, "I told you so."
"Well, Usagi, I guess I should introduce you." Makoto began as she gave a hand to her roommate to help him up. "Tsukino Usagi, this is my friend, Chiba Mamoru."
I stuck out my hand to shake. He grabbed my hand into his and my eyes went suddenly blurry. Bright lights, like fireworks, shot out in front of my eyes. Then, it cleared. I was standing in a field at night. I was wearing a dress of all white that ran down to my feet. Around me, I saw nothing but an old field and a large tree. I began to walk toward the tree as I looked around. In the sky, I saw something that was not the moon. It was beautiful, blue and white swirls.
I continued to walk towards the tree. In the shadows, I thought I saw a man leaning against the tree.
"Usagi." The man at the tree said in a beautiful voice.
He was wearing a suit of black and silver armor.
"Usagi!" His voice was getting louder and slightly more feminine.
"USAGI!!"
I blinked my eyes. Suddenly, the field and the tree disappeared from my vision. They were replaced by the worried faces of Shingo and Rei.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice barely auditable to my own ears.
"You zoned out." Rei said out loud. 'You went into a trance.' She told me privately.
"Are you okay Usa?" Ami said from where she was standing above me. "You passed out, but your eyes were still open." She informed me.
"What?" I asked again, slightly regaining my voice.
"I never knew that I could have that kind of an affect on a woman." I heard the masculine voice of Mamoru say with a laugh. Shaking his hand that had caused the vision.
"Who are you?" I asked, looking directly at Mamoru.
"Chiba Mamoru. Remember, we just met." He said, almost alarmed that someone didn't remember him.
"I guess I'll accept that for now." I said as I sat up. He gave me a puzzled look. "I'm okay guys, go ahead and have fun." I insisted.
Shingo hesitated for a moment, but a word from Minako requesting to go back into the water quickly pulled him away from me. Rei helped me stand and I watched as Haruka followed Shingo and Minako to the water.
"Are you okay Usa?" Rei asked as she walked by my side, being certain that I didn't fall.
"I'm fine Rei, just the sun I guess." I supplied as a weak excuse to those who were around us. I knew that she wanted more than that however. 'We'll talk later. Promise.'
"Well then, I guess I'm going into the water. Are you coming Ami? Makoto?" She asked the two other girls.
"Yes, I suppose." Ami replied, as if it would be torture to leave her book.
"I'm game." Makoto replied with much more enthusiasm than Ami.
I smiled at the girls as they took off down the beach towards the water. I decided that I needed to take a rest and sat on the beach chair that was sitting under the umbrella.
"What did you mean?" Mamoru asked, as he sat in the chair next to the one I was sitting in.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"You said you would accept my name for now. What does that mean?" He asked with a look of confusion on his face.
I looked up to him and my eyes met his. I could feel my self drowning in his deep blue eyes.
"Usagi?" He asked, bringing me out of my light trance.
"Sorry. I don't know, guess it was just an after effect from passing out." I answered, hoping that he would accept that.
"I don't believe you." He said. Damn it! Why did everyone seem to know when I was lying?
"Why don't you believe me?" I asked innocently.
"Because I felt it too. I saw it too." Mamoru replied, shocking me to the core.
"What do you mean?" I asked in a barely auditable voice.
"You, in the white gown. I've seen it a million times. I, however, have gotten used to the flashes and can control my responses." He said with a proud voice.
"A million times." I repeated to myself. "The prophesizing dreams that Makoto said she had. She said you had them too." I was talking to myself, not even realizing that Mamoru was still listening.
"They used to only come in my sleep. But since the first time I saw you, they have become more frequent. Now, little things set off these visions." Mamoru told me in a quiet voice.
"Me? Why me?" I asked. This whole thing was really beginning to freak me out and I really wished that one of the others were still here with us.
"Because..." He began. I waited for him to continue. However, it seemed as if the words were caught on his tongue.
"Because?" I questioned, hoping to encourage the words out of his mouth.
"Because...because I...I love you." And he then passed out.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mwhahahahahaha! Oh, I feel just plain evil! That was sooo much fun! I got to make a really good cliffhanger!!! Well, I hope it's good. Let me know! ChibiJ77@yahoo.com
I feel the need to remind you all that I am insane and evil. Ssista thought that our most beloved couple came together rather fast. Again, as I reminded her, things aren't always what they seem and I think you will all be surprised when chapter 10 comes out in about a week.
Oh, lastly, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! How can I know if you like this if you don't tell me??
