Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the "Sailor Moon" series. This goes along the lines of the original series, but an alternate dimension. Trust me, eventually, my knights will meet the scouts. Patience is a virtue, so awaiting that moment won't be so bad. REVIEW!!
Chapter 15
Aquarium Sanitarium
~ The International Aquarium ~
- Higashi Ikebukuro, Tokyo -
- Midnight -
- Marina Torino locked up the gift shop as she left her job. Some silly kid had puked on the carpet as the place was closing, the little beast getting his last bit of disturbing behavior in right before he got out the door. Most kids at the aquarium were rotten beasts, especially those visiting from schools. Those little monsters tried stealing the fish, crabs and turtles. Ten had been caught today, expelling five different schools from ever returning until the boys and girls were kicked out or punished severely for their actions.
This boy had come in screaming he didn't want to be there by an overprotective and zealous mother. After a while, the kid got ice cream, then chocolate, then grilled cheese, then his juice encrusted fingerprints and smears all over the glass tanks, the walls, a water fountain, making the janitorial service nearly quit because the boy was making a mess nearly every five minutes. His Mom decided to 'let him explore' without her holding his hand and nearly broke priceless items found in the sea, broke the smaller tanks by throwing whatever toy of the hour he had, messing his pants and getting the stains all over the carpet. The boy was just a problem beyond measure and wasn't going to be good or clean the entire time.
When they finally left, all the crap the kid ate came up as his mother tried leaving with all the other late nighter's, the puke missing her by and inch and flooding over Marina's.
She was glad the day was over, but still pissed that the staff of the shop left her behind to clean up the mess. "I hope when I have kids, a nanny takes care of them. Yucky brat." She sighed, washing her hands a fifth time in the outside water fountain, still feeling the funk of that kid's cravings under her nails. They were painted pale blue this morning, but now they were faded and cracked from so much work.
She just wanted to get home and think about her other problems, like Lamont Inabikari, her sort of boyfriend. They had been dating for a short time, and he was fine at first, then she heard rumors he had a horrible temper and beat people up in his old school, even a cop. She didn't want a bully or a brute as a boyfriend. She was going to tell him they had to break up tomorrow. He had told her he wanted to discuss something with her, to help a friend of his.
Lamont was certainly helpful, but it could all be an act just to get her in bed and knocked up so he could beat her after he was forced to marry her. Her grandfather had done that to her mother, and he was paralyzed and in a home now. Mother was safe the moment she got to father, away from grandpa. She had heard her mother cry at night over that, she didn't want to suffer like her mother did ever. It had to be done, even if it was a little hasty. She had to protect herself or she'd never live a good life.
As she reached her car, she heard a child's laugh, the light pitter-patter of bare feet and boots. She didn't see any reflections in the glass, so she started to unlock it, but the noise got closer, images fluttering in the glass suddenly.
Then she heard something like metal slashing against metal and loud panther scream. She whirled around, her blonde hair blinding her vision a moment, only to fall away in the wind to reveal two figures, one tall and slim and the other a head shorter and….fluffy?
"She's Jaws, Princess Kittiana. The keeper of the Crystal of Water." The tall, silver clothed cyber punk male said, his voice like ice. The other one was female, a girl dressed in gaudy clothing that didn't even flatter, bounced up and down like a sugar-rush toddler. "Oh boy, Oh boy, Knight Xeno! Kitty gets to play with the fishes. Oh Boy! Oh Joy! Oh! OH! COME PLAY WITH KITTY!!" she screeched, suddenly ramming Marina against the car, shoving her dainty little clawed hand through Marina's chest.
"GIMMIE! GIMMIE!" Kitty screeched, the fangs in the little fluffy psycho girl's mouth Marina's last sight.
- One Week Later -
~ Dream ~
Stephen walked through what he'd thought was his house, but the place wasn't as fancy in the décor. It was pretty ordinary, like Lamont's place. His icy blue eyes scanned over himself and started a bit to see he was in his boxers. 'A dream….why the hell would a dream of a house?' he thought, but plodded on, walking towards the cheap carpet covered stairs. He saw pictures on the table near it, pictures of a family he didn't know. There was man with glasses and dark who looked overly happy, embracing his wife. Her hair was sort of blue and she looked so pleasant. It didn't look like his mom, more like his Home Economics teacher, the same cheery and bubbly look on her face.
Below them were their children, a teenage girl and young boy about Casey's age, judging from his height. He had short brown hair and the same darling eyes, making him ill. 'Can't be two of them….that'd be a nightmare.' He shuddered, then looked at the girl. His face screwed up as he did, so he had to pick the picture frame up to make sure he wasn't hallucinating too badly. She had buns on her head, a blonde girl with two extra long pigtails erupting from these….these. "Meatballs….dammit, she made meatball shapes on her hair? She looks so….ugh….bubbly." he said aloud, a little confused. Her face was overly pleasant, and eyes as blue as the sky.
She was in a school uniform, much like the one Angie and the other girls wore, but something about her told him she wasn't just a normal happy girl. He more so felt it in the back of his mind, nagging him.
Then the glass of the frame shattered, startling him so bad he dropped it. The picture clattered to the ground face up, the shattering spider web spiraling from the girl's face. He waited a moment, and the glass began to reverse the effect, repairing the glass, but the picture was different.
It was his family, his face where the girl's was and Casey's where the little boy's was. He visibly shuddered, thinking he should swear off midnight sushi snacks from now on. They were just making his dreams hard to stomach these days. He backed away from it and went up the stairs, to go for his room, where pictures didn't freak out and break for no reason, where his head wasn't lost in this insanity.
He reached his room and was puzzled to see a cute kitty doll head on the door. It had a little nameplate of wood that said 'Serena's Room.'
'Serena? Who the fuck is Serena?' he thought, shoving the door open. He stopped halfway in, approaching the occupied bed slowly. The room was entirely too different. The closet was half-way open and comic books were spilling out of it like a flood, panties and petty pink, yellow and green shirts and matching skirts were either hung over the nightstand or strewn all over the floor. The room looked like several girls had come in and exploded, leaving their clothing behind. Some half-eaten candy boxes were among the scattered clothing, and an empty sushi tray. It was still fresh since it hadn't begun to stink just yet.
Stephen let his eyes travel back to the bed, shifting uncomfortably as he got right at the foot of it. The girl from the picture was in it, in pink moon studded pajamas. This was the Serena the door alerted him to, the same meatballs on her head from the picture, as if they'd been styled with super glue. Not a single hair was out of place. She looked like an innocent angel as she slept, what his mother used to say about him, until Casey was born, until Stephen started to get pushed aside.
He didn't hate Casey for getting all the attention really, he just resented how his parents forgot him so quickly since Casey liked all the snob crap and he didn't. He wanted to be a normal boy, to grow up his way, not theirs.
He wondered why he was dreaming of this girl, why her house was like his, all be it more normal looking. Then he got an idea. Stephen pulled the covers up from the foot up the bed and gave it a yank, just to see what would happen.
He regretted it when the girl jumped ten feet out of her bed screaming, the noise nearly making his ears bleed. He swiftly wrapped the covers about his half-naked body, not wanting her to scream pervert or for help that she didn't need, not just yet.
"Wha? Huh? Num, num, Luna, did you steal the sheets again. I was having a quite lovely dream about Tuxedo Mask and if you ruined it. You have plenty of fur….-gasp- A guy!" she yelped, her cheery voice sorely reminding him a watered down version of Kitty.
He winced a bit, opening his pale icy blue eyes to her sky blues. He grimaces when he saw she was smiling open mouthed at him, her hands clasped on her cheeks.
"What a babe!" she crooned, but stayed on the bed, thankfully. He didn't back up, but he was sick of weird girls hitting on him. She wasn't as bad, it was just her sunny disposition than made him violently ill. "You're Serena, right? Like it says on the door?" he asked stupidly, shaking his head to stop the ringing sound.
Her love struck look faded, but still looked still quite happy. She crawled across her bed to sit just in front of him, smiling. "Yeah, that's me. Serena Tsukino. Who are you? Hey, wait a second, what are you doing in a lady's bedroom wearing her sheets?" she huffed suddenly, wrinkling her nose at him.
"I don't know. All I know is I went to sleep in that bed you're on….in MY house, and I wake up in the living room and my house turned into yours. This is some crazy dream from eating too much sushi before bed. Why else would dream about a ditzy meatball head?!" he shot back, annoyed she was accusing him of things.
"MEATBALL HEAD!? Ugh, you must be one of Darien's friends. He told you about that silly nickname he gave me and you just came in here to tease me. Why do all the hottie's have to be creeps like dumb old Darien….you…whoever you are?" she said tersely.
Stephen frowned at her and shook his head. "I don't know anyone named Darien, but I think I'd commend him on the good nickname choice for that silly hairstyle, Serena. And the name's Stephen, Stephen Tsukikage."
"That's almost like my last name….but….your hair is funny. You look like you have snowflakes on your head." She giggled. Her mood changes were making him dizzy, but he did not like Angie's nickname haunting him.
"A snowflake? Ick….you sound like that brute Angie now. How the heck do I get out of this weirdo place. I want to be back home, not here. As rotten as my life is, I'd rather be there than worrying about getting arrested for appearing in a young woman's house." Stephen replied
"You think I'm a young woman. Not even my brother Sammy or my mother say that." She stated, and her tone was light, not cynical. He looked at her a moment, fearful she'd attack him for some inane reason. She looked ready to pounce him for something. He shrugged, losing his hold a moment on the sheets, revealing his pendant to her.
"Oh, what a pretty pendant. It's almost as pretty as my Moon Wand….oops." she said, then covered her mouth. "Moon….Wand?" he said with interest, touching his pendant, then looked at it. 'Are we connected somehow? Is she a knight like me? What's this supposed to mean?' he thought, looking back at the girl. "Are you….a Galaxy Knight?" he asked tentatively. She blinked at him, not seeming to understand, but reached one smooth, creamy hand out to him.
After a moment, he reached out too, his fingertips barely brushing against hers. Then, his pendant glowed, and the room was taken down by darkness.
~ Serena's Room ~
"OH!" Serena breathed, shooting out of bed, her fingertips alive with unseen flames as she put them to her heaving chest. Luna sat up at the sudden movement, and Serena could barely see the concern in her eyes. Serena was too startled. That young man in her dreams, that gorgeous young man with hair like purest snow and eyes like frozen turquoise lakes, still and soothing to her heart. Was he a Sailor Scout, were there male Sailor Scouts out there? Luna would know.
She lifted her head up to at last see her guardian cat staring at her, nervous and worried. "What is it, Serena? I've never seen you so…flustered. Was it a nightmare?" she asked, her lovely British accent soothing Serena's nerves slightly. Serena looked at her fingertips, the ones that had touch the boy's, and put them to her face with a gentle smile.
"No….not a nightmare. There was a boy in my dreams, so incredibly beautiful….even better than Tuxedo Mask. His hair was so white and his eyes were so blue, I can't even begin to describe the color at all. Luna….are there any male Sailor Scouts? He was wearing a pendant of a sword embedded in this colorful orb. The sword had a heart on the hilt….He said this house was his house and he got sent to mine. Does it make any sense to you?"
Luna frowned, as best a cat could manage not having lips. "Serena, you should honestly stop eating so many sweets and sushi trays before bed. You'll make yourself dream up all sorts of nonsense. No, there are no male scouts I am aware of, but it does intrigue me that you said he looked better than the love of your supposed life." Luna replied.
Serena smacked the cat with her pillow and then flopped back onto her bed. "I was just trying to be descriptive. Let's just get back to sleep. I have to go over to Molly's house tomorrow. She's still so torn up about Nephlite's death and we've got some weirdo lady general running around ripping jewels out of people's chests. Gamer Joe was sure lucky we found Lita when we did or he'd be that tasteless game monster forever." Serena muttered, yawning a bit, but he mind was still on the odd dream of that boy, the boy with the haunting eyes, and looked so much like an angel from storybooks.
She drifted back to sleep soundlessly, until she fully fell back into normal dreams, snoring the night away and keeping Luna up all night.
- Same time -
~ Stephen Room ~
Stephen's eyes snapped up, his hand tingling a bit where the dream girl had touched him. He sat up slowly, and saw Cyrus sleeping at the foot of his bed. He smirked at it and picked the cat up, plopping it atop his hamper. Cyrus stirred a bit, muttering about fish and Fancy Feast. 'Like it'll happen. You're lucky I feed you at all. It's not so bad sharing my sushi with me and some generic cat food. I'm not importing American cat food for you, spoiled brat.' He thought crassly, sliding back into his bed. He wouldn't bother Cyrus with his dream, he could deal with it. He had to learn to deal with things on his own better, and he couldn't get anyone's help. He'd always depended on himself in the past, and it had gotten him this far.
With all the lunacy that had happened a week ago, he felt lucky to even be about to walk. Kitty was unstable, that much he had learned from Angie, but she was going to the double date Lamont had cooked up for himself and Stephen. Stephen cringed at the thought until Lamont told him it was a set-up to get her and Ray on a date, to see if Ray would still pursue her. All Stephen had to do was get sick a few days before the date, or rather pretend he was sick, and ask Ray to take his place. It had all been so simple, and it had worked. Yesterday he faked getting a cold, though he felt miserable having onions and all such nasty things shoved in his face after school by Lamont to make it more believable.
At least Angie and Ray had bought it, so Stephen was free and clear of dating her, but it turned out Lamont's date was just a lucky break for Cyrus to plan things for the next Crystal. Cyrus felt one was near the aquarium the date was set up to take place in. The International Aquarium** had been suffering from mysterious disappearances of couple visitors, young and old. One survivor, who disappeared shortly afterwards, claimed it was a fish monster that came out of the tanks suddenly and stole away the patrons back into the tanks, where it vanished.
No one was taking it seriously though, since not many people had disappeared and most of them were labeled as unstable. It was true, the police reports on TV said those that had vanished had histories of running away from home, leaving town without notice, even the survivor was considered a flight risk.
It was lucky Lamont's new girlfriend, Marina, worked at the Aquarium as a part-timer at the gift shop, so she got free tours if she wanted them. Stephen couldn't recall how long Lamont had been dating her, but it probably wasn't more than a week. Stephen had never met her, but he knew one thing without even having to ask, this girl had to be blonde, Lamont's personal romantic weakness.
The date was tomorrow, and he'd be going to the aquarium as well, but not for looking at the fish and exhibits or even the lousy date, he was going undercover to find out where the monster was, and then, find its master, Kitty.
He nestled himself back under the covers, but he couldn't get back to sleep. He was still disturbed by his dream. 'Why can't I be normal?' he thought, slamming his fists onto the bed, his face growing angry, but he knew it was useless. He was Moon Knight, this was as normal as life got for him.
~ The International Aquarium ~
- Higashi Ikebukuro, Tokyo -
"I hate fish." Angie announced as they walked inside, Lamont showing the young man their free passes. Ray sighed, after trying for a last time to get arm and arm with her and take her hand, only to get avoided for the tenth time. This wasn't going like he'd hoped. He was sorry Stephen went home sick and couldn't make it, and Angie was even more upset, but she was much more vocal that she didn't want to go without her 'Snowflake.' All the way to the aquarium Angie had complained about something, the fish hatred was new cause there was no going back, but she was being a terrible brat over everything. Stephen was the subject on her mind, and not having him around pissed her off, as if to say "How dare he get sick!"
Ray wondered a moment if what Stephen said about Angie being a stubborn pain being true, her looks being great, but her attitude was lacking. He shrugged it off, this was the chance of a lifetime to have a date with Angela Furasoto, something not many could say cause they were either too bruised from leaving her or had moved.
He just had to see what Angie was really about, and the fact that she was strong and pretty made everything worth the risk of broken bones. He took injury with stride even before he became a Galaxy Knight, he could take whatever Angie threw at him.
"RAY!" Angie glowered, snapping him from his thoughts. He felt her tug on his right arm, rather hard. He looked about, not about to step in an enclosure or tank or anything. They were all still in the main hallway.
"What?" he asked. Her lip upturned sourly. "We have to wait here for Lamont's blonde of the week." Angie replied tersely.
Lamont wasn't far off and cringed as she spoke, looking back at her with a brutal vengeance in his eyes. "Watch your mouth, Angie. I really like this girl. Marina is real pearl, and she's going to be marine biologist someday."
"Practicing her profession in the gift shop where she says "Here's your change,' is very good practice for that." Angie sneered, obviously not enjoying herself. Lamont sniffed at her and went back to looking about for his date. "You're just peeved cause it's that time of the month for you 24/7." He mumbled, but Angie heard him, squeezing on Ray's arm extra hard. He yelped and told her to stop, but she wouldn't, nearly dragging him towards Lamont to bash the boy upside the head with Ray's body.
Ray sighed in relief as a beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes came running towards them, far different from the picture Lamont had put in their heads of her. "Lamont, honey!" she shouted, wearing a very sexy blue jacket and skirt, high heels, and even earrings of little waves. She had lovely make-up on, but in Ray's opinion, it was really too much. The way Lamont had described Marina, Ray figured she was a more conservative girl, not a fashion model escapee.
Lamont didn't seem too stunned, but he didn't even move to kiss the girl as she came right at him, kissing him deeply for all to see. Lamont finally remembered himself and pried her off, his eyes full of wonder. "Marina, I thought I wasn't supposed to kiss you in this place. Your boss'll have a fit if he saw." Lamont whispered, then got silenced by another kiss.
"Let him see….I love you, Lamont." She mumbled against his lips. He sputtered a bit, then gave in, kissing her back. It lasted a few minutes, everyone in the place staring at them and whispering back and forth, some being good, but most were bad.
Finally, the two broke apart and went arm in arm, looking at a stunned Ray and Angela. 'Oh, these must be Stephen and Angela. You make such a lovely couple." She commented, almost too sensually.
"Uh….Stephen got sick, itooshi kin, this is my other friend, Ray. He goes to military school….and he's taking Stephen's place as the good friend he is." Lamont explained. Marina just nodded as if it was an improvement, making Angie growl, cut she still had a grip on his arm. At least he hadn't had to try to do it on his own and fail. He wouldn't remind her about it, lest she tear his arm off.
"Well, come on! There is so much to do today, but we have to keep to an even schedule….," she said, pulling Lamont away to a tank full of dolphins," Or the stupid urban legend fish monster will pull you into one of our tanks and keep you there forever as a snack."
Ray perked as she said that, his words halted when Angie yanked him along herself very hard to keep up. Once they were back with the doting pair, he took his chance. "I'd like to hear this urban legend. We're discussing them in my psychology class." Ray lied.
Marina looked at him sharply, then up and down. "You're very strong….you know."
Ray blushed at the answer, and went redder when Angie said," My Snowflake is stronger. He's just a replacement date. I didn't want to go with him."
'That hurt….I don't stand a chance against a guy who doesn't even want to date you.' Ray thought sourly, yanking his arm free from her. "I would like to hear about it, if you don't mind."
Marina shrugged, then reached into the water to pet a dolphin. As soon as she touched the water, every dolphin in the tank swam to the opposite side, clicking and screeching loudly. "What's up with them, Marina?" Lamont asked, then yelped as he was pulled away again.
"How should I know why those stupid things do anything?" she said sourly.
"This girl is going to be a marine biologist and she can't stand even dolphins? What's up with this girl?" Ray said aloud.
"Maybe the Dark Universe is here after all and got to her somehow. We have to make her tell us what this legend is and about the disappearances." Angie said vigorously, and started to march right for Marina and Lamont, but Ray stopped her, grabbing her arm. He pulled her off towards the tropical fish exhibit, rainbow's of little fish swimming past the two as ray pressed Angie against the glass.
"Either let go or pull back a stump, Ray….I'm warning you." Angie seethed. "And I'm warning you not to risk a lot of innocent life. If she is in league with the Dark Universe, she might use any one of the visitors here as a hostage, or hell, kill them all for annoying her. We have to take this slow, drag piece by piece out or we'll never learn anything, Angie!" Ray said in a hushed and urgent tone," Let's get the facts from her, as many as we can, then lead her off somewhere where there are no people, or the outdoors, and confront her. I know it'll be a kick in the ass for Lamont, but if she's evil, we have to do this delicately or we'll get a lot of people killed."
He waited a moment as his work sunk into Angie's head, then slowly released her. He sighed gently when she nodded, then she slapped him. "What was that for?" he yelped, grabbing his sore cheek.
"Never touch me again, you creep. Or I'll beat you to a pulp. We'll do it your way, but don't you dare try and touch me again." She seethed, and stalked off towards Lamont and Marina, who were making out again.
"Stephen, maybe you were onto something after all….ouch, man, can she hit." Ray mumbled, trailing behind the orchid haired terror.
~
Marina was in energy heaven, this Lamont was utterly delicious. His love energy was the strongest she'd ever felt in 10,000 years. She was practically gorging on it with every kiss and he didn't even noticed it. 'Stupid human.' She thought, partaking in another foul tasting contact with the lovely human's lips, more energy pouring down her throat. He'd nearly felt the drain the first kiss she'd given him, so she made sure to take a little at a time. Every time she took some, more would replace it. He would last centuries if she took her time, but the Dark Goddess lacked such luxuries.
She stopped kissing him when someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was that Angie female. She had lots of energy too, but Mistress Kitty had told her only men. Perhaps she could present this female as a gift to Lord Specter. Maybe she was the Earth Princess he wanted, she had enough energy, but Mistress Kitty would have alerted her by now if she was. Still, she'd be amusing for the Dark Lord.
That Ray male was coming too, his cheek red and being cradled so weakly, she could only describe pathetic coddling as human. He had nearly as much energy as Lamont did, but the one called Ray was boundlessly filled with sad and angry energy, aimed towards the Angela female. She was the cause of the silly red mark and most of his distress. Not that it mattered, they would all be meals to the Dark Universe by the end of the tour. She merely needed to lead them in the right places.
"Say Ray, you want to hear about that urban legend stuff so bad, I can take you to the guy that said he saw it." Marina lied sweetly.
Ray perked up, taking his hand away from his now creamy cheek. "Really?" he asked, hopeful and bright. 'Sickening….good, that means he's stupid too. Perfect….' She thought, then smiled.
"Sure, but we have to go through the tour first. He is out by the seal show, and that's the last stop of the tour. So, let's have fun today, then we can do your boring little homework stuff." She mock teased. Ray shrugged and gestured for her to go ahead. "As long as I get to talk to this person. Let's get started." He said.
"All right. Let's have a tour to remember…." She beamed, then added quietly," Cause it'll be the last thing you'll ever see."
~ Tsukikage Household ~
"Come on now, you took your time getting up today again. Time to transform and help your friends…." Cyrus scolded, sitting by the toilet as Stephen stared at himself crassly in the mirror, holding up his pendant.
"Fine, what do I turn into this time that doesn't look like me….hmm? Should I be a photographer, an old man, or a little kid. Maybe a pilot? What? Hmm?" Stephen sighed.
"Try something no one would suspect even you as. Like a human being." Cyrus commented dryly. Stephen glowered at him, but held the pendant out anyway. "Transformation Sphere, make me look like….something no one would recognize me as!" ARGGHHH!!"
The light of the sphere filled the entire bathroom, the filtered away. "Oh….snicker….dear gods….pffft, no one would recognize you like that. Ahahahahahahaaa!" Cyrus chortled, rolling around so much laughing, he nearly fell into the toilet.
Stephen opened his now blue eyes, seeing a bit lavender tinted white hair, then screamed when he saw the rest of himself. "AHHH!! It turned me into a girl!! With meatballs on my head! IEEE!!" he howled, in his own voice, then went to trying to strangle Cyrus," You stupid cat! You gave me this piece of junk, fix me! I have breasts, dammit! Get them off!"
Cyrus gagged a bit, then bit Stephen's now even slimmer hands and raced to the bathroom door, which was still, and regretfully, shut. "I'm not the one who told the crystal that stuff. It must have been on your mind, but where you met a young lady with such odd taste in hair styles, I don't wanna know." The cat hissed.
Stephen looked at himself, or rather herself in the mirror again. He looked almost like Serena, except for the hair color, the eyes and style were the same as her though, but dealing with having such a girly figure was something he never wanted to have to live down. He'd been mistaken for a little girl when he was still a child and in his early teens. He had that sort of figure, his hands were slim, so was his slender build, but the short hair sort of helped people know he was male. Now he looked a lot like a real girl, wearing a lovely sleeveless pink tank top and a soft, knee touching skirt. He had very cute pink shoes and socks with little hello kitty clips on them. 'I feel like a reject from a bad manga.' He thought sourly. His pendant was still out, so he did his best to tuck it into the tank top, without touching the illusionary breasts he was sporting. The chest was the only other difference in his fake appearance compared to Serena's. The chest size he had was a little bigger, almost like Glamour's.
The pendant was easy to hide, cause this body wasn't capable of feeling being touched. Only a little of the illusion cleavage showed, but there was enough of the tank top to go around to hide at least the pendant part.
"Next time, I am going to be specific. This sucks….I'm a meatball head, with clashing taste too….why couldn't this form wear a less….showy short."
"Someone doesn't like you?" Cyrus asked pleasantly. Stephen grabbed Cyrus up by the back and yanked him out of the bathroom for his sister's room, happy his parents and Casey had all gone to a game of bridge. He really didn't want them seeing this. He'd get into trouble even if he told the truth. "I know someone doesn't like me….and right now, I don't care much for you, so you're riding in my sister's backpack for acting smart with me." Stephen replied, snickering as he picked up the pink and tattered piece of junk that smelled of peanut butter and jelly. "Not there….I'll smell like a sandwich for weeks. Ugh, and there's a mess of it in there. My fur! YIKES!" Cyrus yowled, but couldn't prevent himself from being crammed into the sweet smelling sack, locked inside with a tug of the zipper.
"Next time, don't make fun. It was your damned idea to do this anyway. I should have gone as a photographer….oh all things, I have to be turned into an undercover cross-dresser." Stephen sulked, holding the small knapsack like a purse as he strode out of the room, then the house, trying not to blush over being disguised as a girl.
~ The International Aquarium ~
- Higashi Ikebukuro, Tokyo -
"And you'll be going in along, Stephanie Hibiki?" the young man asked in an almost knowing voice. Stephen felt like slapping the guy for flirting with him, but the form was a pretty one. He should have known it would catch some pervert's eyes. "Yes," he said in a high pitched voice," Now give me my ticket or I'm leaving."
Stephen's throat hurt from having to talk so high, but he had to at least sound like a girl to fit the disguise. He sounded like Mickey Mouse, in his opinion, and it made him ill. The young man shrugged, his eyes still looking 'Stephanie' over, then gave up the ticket.
Stephen grabbed it quickly and ran into the aquarium. The first place he went was for a bathroom, getting eyed by two young men as he tried going in the men's room, but then recalled how he looked to everyone. He hovered by the ladies' room a moment, debating on whether he wanted to go in or not, then he felt something swat at his butt. He whirled around to see a guy from his class, Jin, smiling lustily at him. 'Crap….' Stephen thought.
Jin had always been the teacher's pet, glasses, dark brown hair that looked had way too much mousse in it. The glasses were so thick, he thought the guy had three eyes when he first met him in elementary school. They were brown, he found out, when he accidentally whammed into to the guy during a daydream, getting grounded after his parents had to pay for the broken spectacles. He had been sore at Jin for that, and eventually the fact that Jin was always kissing up to the teachers and competing with Stephen's grades to be the #1 student of the school, even thought Stephen had him licked in brains.
Right now, having a tall, lanky, nerd in heat staring at you like a piece of meat was disturbing, but Stephen couldn't speak now or he'd give himself away. Jin wasn't a total dork, he'd know the voice, disguised or not, of his rival. Since Stephen's grades had been improving, still surpassing Jin's grades, the hatred was still alive in them both, Jin for not being better than Stephen for long and Stephen for Jin still thinking they were rivals of the brain. They'd spent a lot of time in debate class shouting at each other, and sometimes during recess he'd challenge Stephen to his version of 'the battle of wits.'
Stephen had told him off and even answered the first question before leaving Jin in the dust. Jin said he'd scour the Internet for a subject he could excel in and defeat Stephen in it once and for all. Stephen laughed, not really caring anymore. He juts wanted to get into a good college, far away from Jin and his family, and be a scientist, not a stuck up asshole.
The look on Jin's face was making Stephen's skin crawl, so he back up. Jin took a step forward. "Where ya going, sweetie? Heh hehe, hehee, heehe…." Jin let out, that nasally laugh of his nearly making Stephen blow his cover. Stephen's nose wrinkled a bit as he caught a whiff of Jin's cologne. 'Au de toilet water. Ewww….he actually comes here to pick up women? Ugh, and he's hitting on me, I can't let him find out who I really am, it'll spread all over school that I dressed up like a girl in public. I'll never get left alone!' he thought, and kept moving backwards until he realized he was in the girl's bathroom.
A few other girls were in there, wetting their hair, coming out of the bathroom stalls, and others, fixing their make-up or wiping out stains on their skirts or pants from food. But Jin had stupidly followed, not realizing where he'd just walked into. Stephen smiled, he knew.
He screeched and pointed at Jin, alerting all the other girls to his presence. Jin was too love stuck to notice until toilet paper, tampon packs, and wet paper towels started smacking into his head. Stephen grinned as Jin pathetically floundered out of the room, looking like a wet mummy. He sighed in relief, slowly making his way to the stalls. The other girls were back in their routine, angrily commenting about the rude nerd that had tried to sneak a peek. 'Heh, he'll get the reputation as a sick pervert. Serves him right, for hitting on me….'Stephen thought, finding a stall with a ventilation shaft. He went in, adjusting his skirt and shut the door.
"Ok now," Stephen whispered, unzipping the knapsack and placing it on the floor. Cyrus came up, old peanut butter stuck to his fur. "I'll get you for this." Cyrus whispered back, hissing as Stephen lifted the grate on the shaft up. "You already scarred me with this girl crap….get moving, pussy. We have lives to save, not talking. Move!" Stephen hissed back, shoving the cat and bag through. He put the grate back in place and flushed the toilet, going for the sinks to clean the damned peanut butter he hadn't been able to avoid touching.
~
Stephen got out of the bathroom, not seeing why anyone peeked in there for a thrill, it was just girls going to the bathroom and cleaning up. It wasn't so different than the men's room, only without all the tampon machines. It wasn't much of a great mystery, other than most of the girls were talking about their lives, days and boyfriends. 'Let them keep their silly secrets….it's not a big issue. I have to find the killer monster and Kitty already.' He thought, starting for the exhibits.
He stopped the second he got within five feet of the dolphin tank, a hoard of leering boys blocking his path. 'Ugh….crap….don't these dork have girlfriends!?' his mind screamed, it was a little too much to handle than Jin. Jin was among them, still picking wet paper off of his body. They had waited, waited for his Stephanie form to come out to surround her.
'Screw this….Cyrus and the others can play with the fish. I will not come back until I have a decent disguise that doesn't subject me to the gauntlet of perverts.' He thought as he turned on heel and ran for the exit. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, looking back to see the boys were in hot pursuit.
He was about to turn his head back towards the exit, knowing he'd call a taxi and get sped away from this mess, when he rammed into something solid, something that puts its hands on his fake girl shoulders.
"Hey….watch it, lady!" a familiar voice chuckled. Stephen looked up at the person's face, gasping as the girl's form he wore reflected in the dark sunglasses. 'Gary….oh shit no….oh wait, yes! Gary will help.' He thought, and embraced the startled college student.
"Whoa lady, down! Stop that!" he stammered, his voice going high, just like it always did when he was nervous. Stephen wrapped his arms about Gary's neck, leaning his head towards his ear. "Just play along, they won't leave me alone." Stephen said, making sure to keep his voice high and whispery.
Gary nodded, and Stephen felt so relieved. Good old Gary, he would help anyone in trouble, if it was forced in his face. Gary put his arms about Stephen's waist and stood still, the pounding footsteps stopping.
"Oh….you finally came out of the bathroom, darling. Come on, we've wasted enough time, we can't spend the whole day in the lobby." Gary said loudly. The boys all murmured their resentment, and Stephen wasn't about to let go, lest he get dragged away by quick hands he didn't want to be in.
Gary practically had to carry Stephen to the entrance to the tour, leaving his would-be pursuers behind.
"Ok, lady, what did I just save you for?" Gary asked, giving Stephen a shake to make him let go. Stephen blushed and obeyed, stepping back a few paces, trying to look meek and upset. "My….uh….brother came here and disappeared after he survived the mysterious attack on his tour. I know he must be here….but the police wouldn't do anything. I have to find some proof so they'll search this place." Stephen said in his high pitched voice, muffling it a little with his hands. Gary seemed to by it, but was rubbing his smooth chin thoughtfully, his lips looking not so satisfied.
"Tai Masuchi's little sister….huh? I knew Tai….he never mentioned a sister." Gary said subtly. 'Damn, busted….gods, lie, think of a good lie.' Stephen's mind screamed.
Stephen quickly crossed his arms over his chest, looking up a bit. 'And Allan never mentioned a little brother either…want to harp on that or help me?" Stephen countered. Gary started a bit, then made a small grin and nodded. "Fine, keep your secrets, but at least tell me your name. Lady doesn't seem to suit you, meatball head." Gary replied sarcastically.
'Not like I care…but….gotta act the part.' Stephen thought, and started to wail. "How dare you call me that! You brute, you bully! My name is Stephanie, not meatball head." Stephen cried, making Gary start to sweat and look around, seeing people staring at them. Gary finally just latched his arm to 'Stephanie's' and walked for the start of the tour. "Fine, fine, Stephanie, just don't wail like that again. My ears are permanently damaged…." Gary huffed, tugging Stephen along roughly. 'Sorry Gary, but I have to save lives, you'll never know. But at least I might be able to protect you from whatever lurks in there. It was lucky and unlucky that you're here….you always seem to show up, Gary,' Stephen thought, then got a quizzical look on his face," What's you name?"
"Gary…." He replied.
"Why are you here? I don't see many guys in suit jackets walking around anywhere in place like this unless they give them out." Stephen replied.
Gary seemed to stiffen. "Well?" Stephen asked.
"That's my business. I don't need to tell some strange meatball head what I do on my day off from school." Gary retorted sharply.
"I was just curious, don't be such a grouch about it. Having a little fun in life is no crime, but I wouldn't come here for fun. I'd go to your brother's arcade for that." Stephen replied evenly, stopping when Gary did by the eel tank.
Gary looked at him, his lips a pale, thin line. "You sound like my friend Stephen. You should date him….he'd probably get along either you better than his current sort of girlfriend. That weirdo girl won't leave either of us alone. He needs someone a little less adamant." Gary commented.
"I already have a boyfriend….don't need another one." Stephen lied. Gary shrugged, then tapped at the glass. The eels didn't respond to it, only gulped more water and slunk their garish yellow green bodies out of their small caves, then retracted.
"You know eels are really blue and are covered with yellow slime, which makes them look green. They hide it so well, just like Stephen hides himself." Gary said thoughtfully, his voice wistful.
Stephen blushed a bit, but couldn't help but wonder what Gary meant. "How does he hide himself?" he asked, stepping next to Gary, Gary's and Stephanie's reflections slightly faded in the glass.
"He hides behind his own skin. There's a side to him I don't think he shows his friends, except me. I saw him crying at his friend's funeral. I was worried about him. When he came to see my brother and me at the hospital, he looked so shattered. His best friend since childhood had been murdered, and he was trying so hard not to cry. I sort of followed him after he left and saw him throwing himself around in an alley, saying it was all his fault. I wanted so much to tell him it wasn't, but I couldn't. He looked like everything in his life had been stolen….and I didn't have right to try and give him a well deserved lie that things would go back to normal. Things are never that way….I should know." Gary let out, calm and quiet.
Stephen gasped a little, sorry he'd let Gary see him so distraught, but he was in Stephanie's form now, he'd give himself away if he tried to apologize. "I think you should talk to him about it, if it bothers you. Maybe he'd like to hear it from you….if you really are his friend. He might want to ask why you seem to understand, someday. He replied.
Gary nodded and started to move again. "Yeah, but not today. He's home sick. I'll tell him about the aquarium on the phone or something. That and tell him I tried to have fun today like he asked. And he got to be away from that shrew girlfriend of his….he should set things right, when he gets better, with her. Let her know he just wants to be friends, not steady. I can't stand seeing him with her. She's not the right person for him….she too….brutal and loud."
"I'll bet he's thinking about that right now. So let's get on with this tour, no more questions….come on, Gary-kun!" Stephen chirped, getting Gary to laugh a little. Then the lights went out.
~
Stephen woke up near the shark tank, not in the darkened tour area, but right near the shark tank's rim. Water lapped at his hand, then something like sandpaper brushed against it, shocking Stephen awake. He sat up and saw his hand was scraped up, but he had all his fingers, still Stephanie's though. The funny think about the tank was that it was a dog shark, not very big or terribly dangerous, and it was one of five of the same breed. There were suppose to be some blue sharks in here last time he checked, some hammerheads and tiger sharks, all part of the man-eater expose the tank represented. "How did I get up here….Gary! Shit! Gary, where are you!?" Stephen yelled, forgetting to disguise his voice.
His hand healed up swiftly as he got to his feet, looking around for signs of the staff. There was no one. He looked up and saw the room had a skylight. The moon was out. 'I came here at noon, it can't be night already….unless….the Dark Universe. They have Gary!' his mind screamed, and he ran about, looking for a door to get back to the tour area.
He searched for a while, going past the octopus tank, the eels, the tropical fish, until he finally found and exit door, opened just a crack. He peeked in, seeing nothing, then kicked it open. He stepped inside and had to feel along the walls as he found there were stairs within, but all the lights were out.
Stephen sighed and walked down them for several minutes before he found the end, a door that was locked tight. 'Shit….I don't have time for keys.' He thought and started pounding the door.
"Let me out of here! Help! Help!" he yelled, not caring who heard him now. He was all alone, he didn't care who came so long as he was out of the fish smelling darkness.
"Snowflake?" a familiar, feminine voice chirped.
Stephen's hopes started drowning as the door opened slowly, Angie and some blonde girl staring at him. "Hey, you're not….Mmpph!" Angie was saying, then Stephen rushed out and tackled her to the ground, his hand on her mouth.
He leaned very close to her ear and said is a rough, hushed tone," Don't blow my cover, stupid! Play along." Stephen got off of her and dusted his skirt off, pretending to be embarrassed a few seconds later. "Oh sorry," Stephen said all high-pitched," I thought you were a monster! I'm Stephanie."
Angie looked ready to laugh, but held it in, the blonde girl near her just eyeing Stephen rather hungrily. Stephen felt a little sick being near her, like she was poisoning him. 'Maybe she's in on the Dark Universe thing….where's Cyrus when I need him? Lousy hairball.' He thought, and moved near Angie. She didn't make his body feel ill, only his mind, but it was better than being stared at like a meal.
"Stephanie, huh? I'm Angie and this is Marina. We lost our….dates when the lights went out. We woke up near the dolphin tank….but our dates weren't there. Want to help us search for them?" Angie asked, snickers bubbling out. Stephen elbowed her and nodded. "Sure, I lost my date too. Gary was his name….we were near the eel tank when everything went all so scary and dark. I wok up near the shark tanks….but it was filled with baby sharks….isn't that strange?" Stephen remarked.
Angie looked a little incensed that Gary had been with Stephen instead of her, but it died quickly. "Then let's look around. The emergency lights are on where the tour is. Maybe if we go through it we might find some clues to where our dates went." The girl called Marina piped, all too sweetly.
Stephen nodded, a little unsure, as did Angie. "Lead the way, Mari!" Stephen chirped loudly. Marina nodded and walked back towards the tour area, with Angie and Stephen in cautious tow. "I don't trust her." Stephen commented quietly to Angie.
Angie nodded her brow furrowed. "I didn't the moment I met her. She changed drastically from Lamont's description. That and she led us around on a wild goose-chase for a witness that didn't exist. Lamont seemed winded from every kiss they shared, she must have been draining him. I don't forget an energy sucking freak race so quickly….we have to be on our guard…." She said, then looked him over," And you definitely have to watch those transformations or you'll stick that way. Then what'll I date."
Stephen hissed at her and walked a little ahead. "We'll discuss this later. When we reach our destination, wherever it is, find some place to transform….don't need our identities blown. Kitty is probably close by to her freak….Be very careful."
She nodded and followed him in, both watching Marina's back as if it would explode any moment.
~ Neptune Arena ~
Stephen and Angie remained a good distance from Marina who seemed to be amused by something. They'd gone through nearly every enclosure and tank surface Stephen hadn't already been in. Cyrus was no where to be seen, nor any of the people who were at the aquarium when the lights went out. The trip through the place was nearly as boring as a regular tour, but ten times more frustrating.
The end of the tour was near, the arena center where dolphin and seal shows were held. It was an enclosed area, with a tinted skylight, so the animals could get a good dose of sunshine and the crowds wouldn't get burned.
Stephen and Angie slowed up a little more as their stomach's turned. "Something is going to happen, isn't it, Snow….I mean Stephanie." Angela whispered.
Stephen nodded, and looked about them as they walked, smiling as he saw a bathroom up ahead. "Go change in the Ladies Room. I'll go on ahead to the arena with Marina. If she's the monster of the week, then I can't let her go in there alone, or she'll hurt the hostages."
"But….," she tried, and Stephen gave her a dirty look," Ok….I'm going." Stephen kept his eyes on Marina, who barely even noticed how far away they were, or that Angie has slipped into the Ladies Room. She seemed only to care about reaching the end of the tour, a small part of marina's job taken highly out of proportion. She could be reached if he and Mercury could weaken her, but finding their missing friends was the main thing right now. Once they were saved, he could kick Lamont's date around all he wanted until it was time to save her. 'And little Miss Kitty's ass too….she has to be around too….' He thought.
"We're here, oh, where did Angela go?" Marina said suddenly. Stephen stopped short, finding they were in the center of the circular arena. She was eyeing him slyly. "She had to go to the bathroom….I forgot to tell you…." Stephen replied uneasily. Marina was glowing a bright blue color, and he could hear muffled noises echoing in the room.
"Good thing, little girl. It makes it so much easier to find her after I kill you and your boyfriends. Ahahahahaaa!!" Marina laughed, her face becoming silver, her clothes ripping off and her mouth started to stretch. Stephen took a step back, looking away from the once beautiful girl start to lose her hair and flesh. As he did, he saw a group of people tied up to posts in the water. They were patrons from the aquarium, struggling and screaming. They had strange jellyfish attached to their chests, the glowing tendril all snaking about and through the water of the giant tank to a larger jellyfish at the bottom of the tank, surrounded by sharks. The sharks looked different than normal ones, they looked half starved.
His eyes went all around until he found the ceiling, a long cable hanging from it, Lamont, Gary, and Ray hanging onto it, their wrists tied to the hook at the end. Gary's sunglasses were cracked a bit, and blood stained his cheek, Lamont looked to be healing from a bop to the head as was Ray, blood stained in their hair.
Finally, a horrible high-pitched laugh rang out, nearly making Stephen double over in pain. "Kitty is so happy, you brought earth princess to Kitty, Jaws. Now Lord Specter play games with her, naughty Raven games! Kyahahahaha!" Kitty screeched, bouncing up and down on one of the seal platforms, holding something high in her hands, something blue.
'They think I'm the Earth Princess, boy, is Specter going to be disappointed when he finds out we have something in common in our pants. And Kitty's got the blue crystal….fire, then water! Marina is a reborn Dark Universe monster! I have to get that crystal, Kitty already has one of the seven, she can't have another so soon, but….,' he thought, looking up at Gary and the others,' She might lower them into the sharks and kill them….I have to save them and get that crystal first.'
"Jaws, get Earth Princess for Kitty!! Now!" Kitty sang out, still bouncing up and down like mad. Stephen looked back towards where Marina stood, and finally understood where her past form got her name. All those teeth, it was like a humanoid piranha, the smile of endless teeth going back so far he almost expect the head to snap off if the mouth opened.
"Yes, Mistress Kitty." Jaws gurgled and lunged for Stephen. He jumped out of the way, smacking into the bleachers. He groaned in pain, reaching his hand into where he stuffed his pendant, groaning again. He pulled it out, hiding it within his hand, but wasn't up in time to avoid Jaws next attack. He found himself struggling in her arms, then the thing jumped across the tank to Kitty, drooling all down his back a rotten fishy smell.
'In major need of a Tic-Tac, ugh, the entire factory even! I'll never get this lousy smell off.' He thought, keeping his head low as he was brought right up to Kitty. The Dark Universe princess was acting like a little kid getting a new toy, her sharp claws making him shuddered as they touched his face.
"Any last words, Earth Princess before you spawn the ultimate being for our lord?" she asked sweetly.
"Yeah, I do," Stephen said in his normal voice holding out his pendant, scaring Kitty, the Crystal in his view," Moon Sword! Transform!"
He transformed in seconds, kicking out the moment he was done, right into Kitty's crystal holding hand. His free hand went for his sword, whipping it out as Kitty wailed and slashing it across Jaws' arm, setting himself free.
Maybe he couldn't chop body parts off of this possessed human, but he could hurt her to bring her back. "I'm no princess, miss kitty cat! Hail to disguise power….ah, forget it. Think fast!" Moon Knight shouted, shoving the princess off balance long enough to leap up and grab the descending blue crystal. He darted off for the tank as soon at it touched his glove, leaping for one of the posts covered with drained people. "NO! He stole Kitty's treasure! Stop him! Stop the mean old bully knight! Kill all the people! Satisfy Kitty's rage!!!!" she screamed, Jaws sprinting into action seconds later.
Moon Knight leapt from post to post, momentarily dunking people before leaping away. "Gary! Start swinging the cable! I can't get you lose the way you three are now! Swing! Yipe!" Moon Knight shouted, getting slashed across his arm by Jaws, nearly getting his other arm chomped off by her mouth. Gary nodded and obeyed, Lamont and Ray following his lead. Moon Knight had a good excuse for knowing Gary's name now, his disguise had been told the name and Gary had just seen Stephanie turn into Moon Knight. 'At least he doesn't know who Moon Knight really is….who Stephen turns into to save lives when he should be enjoying himself….' He thought, dodging another attack as he leapt for the glass edge, running back for the platform Kitty was wailing on.
The trio of boys had the cable swinging pretty hard, good enough to be freed on the other side. They'd be bruised, but they'd be alive if his plan worked. Moon Knight held the crystal tight as he rammed into Kitty, sending her screaming into the water. The sharks didn't go for her as he'd hoped. Kitty came flying out sputtering and red in the face.
"KITTY HATES THE WATER! JAWS! SUCK HIM DRY!" she screamed, vanished with a growl. Jaws rammed Moon Knight from behind, but he jammed his sword into the platform to keep away from the water. His head whipped around swiftly, the fish-woman's claws reaching for him. "SHIT!" he swore loudly, trying to yank his sword free to block the attack, but it was stuck.
"Icicle Daggers!!" a voice shouted, numerous chilled shards ramming into Jaws, sending her into the wall. Moon Knight looked back, pulling his sword free. Lady Mercury waving at him with her arm and sword. "Mercury! About time! Look up!" he shouted. She did so and gasped.
"Get over it! I need you to stay right where you are and catch them…."
"You got it, Moon Knight!" she shouted back, sheathing her sword swiftly.
Moon Knight grinned, taking one look back at Jaws as she struggled to get the shards out of her body. "Not a lot of time. So here goes," he said, looking towards the trio, waiting till they started to swing towards Mercury and slashed his sword at the cable," Celestial Beam!"
The light beam flashed out of his blade and soared right into the cable, snapping it in half. The trio fell, right for Mercury's waiting arms. Moon Knight knew she loved a test of strength, no matter what. Catching them sent her flat on her butt, but she prevented them from smashing into the bleachers or concrete any harder.
Moon Knight turned about, seeing Jaws was pulling the last shard from her body, her acidic, clear blood leaking down each slowly healing wound. "Like I'm going to wait. Celestial Beam!! Strike! " he shouted, sending the beam of light into Jaws' chest. She howled, then slumped to the ground, panting heavily.
"Now you're ready, you soul sucking sushi tray…. Celestial Healing Light! Encircle this lost soul!" he said softly, raising his silver sword high, the white beams of light swirling from its quicksilver pores into the silvery, stinking body of the monster, It howled anew, then was only a silhouette was seen within the bright light that took it over.
It grew smaller and smaller until it was human-sized, and normal pale skin was in Stephen's view. Too much in fact. "Gah! She's naked!" he screeched, covering his eyes, his cheeks reddening.
He walked to her, peeking at her feet every so often to know where she was. He couldn't just leave her here naked and cold in the arena. She'd get raped, fired, or humiliated, or all three. He held into the blue crystal tightly, practically sticking it in his eye until his foot met with hers. He carefully picked her up and leapt back for the bleacher area. He set her down on one, and turned his back to her, finally opening his eyes.
"You're pretty sneaky, Moon Knight." Gary said, directly in front of him. "S-sneaky? How?" he said, making his voice a little deeper. Gary shook his head, crossing his arms across his chest. "Disguising yourself as a girl, and a meatball headed one at that." Gary piped, and Moon Knight could heard Lamont and Ray stifling giggles in their throats. He looked at them sharply. "Why don't you civilians get this young lady some sweats from the gift shop instead of laughing about something that isn't your business."
"Oh, yes, sir, Mr. Moon Knight. Don't let us interrupt you and your boyfriend….ahahahaa!" Lamont teased.
Before Moon Knight could respond to it, Lamont and Ray had run off for the clothes, Lamont carrying the nude Marina in his arms. He looked at Gary with a frown. "Fine thing you did….those boys didn't have to know I knew you when I was disguised." He said tersely. Gary just smiled.
"NO, just strikes me as funny. I thought you'd be suited for my friend when I thought you were a girl. I guess it seems kind of silly now. This is the second time you've saved my life, Moon Knight….I kind'a feel like I know you….from somewhere. Can't put my finger on it though, but thanks anyhow. Stephen's not going to believe this.
"Oh, he would. He's here….oops…." Mercury chuckled, then grabbed her mouth, blushing with embarrassment. Stephen wanted to smack her for that, but it wouldn't do any good. He hated lying to Gary, but it was for the guy's own good. Kitty might use him as a hostage if he ever found out.
"WHAT?! The meathead came here anyway, being sick? Where is he?" Gary said with earnestly, grabbing Moon Knight by the collar. Moon Knight took a step back, freeing himself as he raised his hands up in defense. "Hold on a minute….I don't know anything about sick. He looked healthy to me. I saved him from drowning in the shark tank. Kitty tied him to a pole in there. I wouldn't let a close friend like that die on me." he lied quickly.
"Where is he now?" Gary asked.
"I told him to hide in one of the bathrooms and to lock the door. Last I saw, he followed that order. You go off and tell him to come out now….he's….got a lot to say, to you and to someone named Angie. Right now, Lady Mercury and me have to save those people in the water. Those sharks are getting their strength back at the same rate as the people. Their appetites are going to be hard to handle if we have people still in bite range." Moon Knight replied.
Gary nodded and ran off. Moon Knight started for the tank again, gesturing for Mercury to follow. "We have to do this fast….there are only so many bathrooms I can hide in for so long. We have to hurry!" Moon Knight told her, leaping for the first pole, cutting it loose from where it was held, brushing off the dead jellyfish from their bodies.
-1 Hour Later -
~ Lobby ~
Gary pounded on the Men's Room first, seeing Lamont and Ray leaning against the dolphin tank. Lamont looked a little upset. He stopped pounding to look at them a little more, and say Ray's hand was on the other's shoulder, and there was no sign of the girl they'd been carrying. "Where did the girl go?"
"She ran home after we roused her, in unpaid for clothes. Guess the ex-boyfriend picks up the tab for the last time." Lamont uttered, a little hurt. "She dumped you? After all this that you didn't even cause and she dumps you?" Gary said, a little stunned.
Lamont lifted his red-head, smiling faintly. "Before that Kitty lady came along, she was planning on dumping me anyway, someone told her about how I got kicked out of my last school….lousy luck really. I never would have hurt her. Eh, I guess its over. I'll have to go it single again….real lousy luck." Lamont said, sighing.
Gary nodded, then heard a door creak. He turned a bit to see Stephen's wet head peak out of the Ladies Room, his icy blue eyes wide with fear. "Gary? What are you doing here?" he asked quietly, stepping out fully. Stephen was soaked to the skin, smelling of dead fish. His normally smooth hair was a bit rumpled and a bit of seaweed was in it. Gary picked it out, looking to see if his friend was all right.
"What? I was in a tank….that lunatic woman threw me in to get eaten….The thanks I get for trying to see how Ray's date was going.
"Didn't go so well, Stephen. I changed my mind….you can have her."
"I don't want Angie." Stephen shot back, shivering.
"Who doesn't want me?" Angie's voice scowled.
"Ray and me…." Stephen replied.
"And me." Gary piped, raising his hand.
"Moon Knight said you wanted to talk to me Stephen. It's not another change to hit me is it?" she said in a hurt voice. Stephen shook his head to Gary's surprise. "Come into the gift shop, where I can grab some towels….we need to have a talk, Angela." Stephen called, gesturing for her to follow. Stephen walked off and vanished into the gift shop and Angie followed a few seconds later.
Gary waited a moment, then looked back at Lamont and Ray, who were petting the dolphins, their backs to him. He shrugged and walked quietly after Angie and Stephen, ducking under the rope guards quietly. He saw Stephen taking off his shirt, his back to Angie, who sat on a pile of stuffed animals, plushies, and squeaky toys.
Gary bit his lip as Stephen toweled himself off and took a seal shirt off the rack, then sat down next to Angie. Gary hit behind the large doll display, and listened. "I'll have to pay for Marina's clothes too. No way Lamont is flipping the bill for her. Dumping him after he saved her dignity, dumping him over one little fight. That's not a good girlfriend…." He muttered.
"What is a good girlfriend to you?" Angie asked, seriously. Stephen, shifted a bit and Gary leaned out a little to see what they were doing. Stephen was looking at his hands, one was planted on Angie's right leg. She was looking at him, hopeful and sincere, while he looked a little upset.
"Angie, I meant what I said about not loving you. I just don't feel the way you feel about me. Sure, say I'm a lame asshole for it, but guy that can knock you on your ass isn't boyfriend material, especially one that hadn't wanted to fight you in the first place. I'm not the guy for you, I just want to be your friend, Angie, just your friend. But…." He said, pausing a moment.
"But what?" Angie piped, sounding hopeful again. "But, I am sorry, very sorry for hurting your feelings in front of the whole school, and for hitting you. I had no right to take my anger at….Mark's death out on you. You were probably hurt too by what we saw….and I didn't stop to think about anyone else's pain and suffering except my own. For that, I'm sorry….and I hope you can accept my apology. I never meant to hurt you, my temper just got out of hand. I'm sorry." He replied.
The words seemed to sink in as Angie sat there, her fingers toying with a plushie octopus doll. "I accept you apology and ….I understand what you're trying to say. We'll start over from the beginning, from when we first met." She said.
Stephen looked up and pale, even more than usual. "We met when you socked me in the face…." He said exasperated tone.
She giggled and hugged him. "No, when we really met, on good terms. No fighting…..no monsters, just us."
"My memory seems to have eluded me with that word and us. But, ok….if it'll make you happy." He said, and pecked her on the cheek before getting up," Good friends now….No more stealing into my bedroom or coming to my homeroom. Just good friends, like eating lunch together kind of friends. OK?
"Certainly…." She said, and Stephen smiled, and walked out of the shop, right past where Gary was hiding. Stephen didn't even see him, the young white haired boy kept going until he was back in the lobby, out of view.
"He still likes me! I still have a chance!" Gary heard uttered from where Angie still sat, giggling and sighing.
'Oh joy….here we go again. Bad enough I nearly get drowned and eaten in a shark infested tank, but the Moon Knight has my crystal too. I needed that thing to find out why the hell I get drawn to these weird situations. Gods, I wish Stephen was older, then I could have a stiff drink in front of him. I need it….' He thought, waiting for Angie to pass by into the lobby. Then he stood up and walked for the gift shop exit. He didn't care if the alarm went on right now. He had to find the next crystal, soon, or he'd go crazy.
* The International Aquarium is a real place in Japan, though I have probably not described the inside as accurately as it's location:
World Import Art Building, 10th Floor, Sunshine City, 3-1-3 Higashi Ikebukuro, Tokyo.