Matchmaker Madness!
Chapter Four
The lock of the door opened with a soft click. Turning the doorknob, I placed a small amount of my weight forward with my arm, opening the door and walking in. Light footsteps followed in behind me, the door closing behind after both of us had entered.
I turned around, smiling at the tall dark figure hidden within the shadows. Though I doubt very much she could see my smile as both of us had failed to try turning on any of the lights yet.
Or should I say he? Even though the very plain fact that Taiki was female stood within my mind, I often wondered if she was posing as a male idol if I should keep relating to her as he. Not because I wished her to be so, or thought of her as a man but what if I continued to think that way and let it slip up in public? To let it slip that one of the famous, popular, hunted down by girls of all ages idols was in reality not a male of the human species but in fact a woman. No, that would not go over well.
Finally after several seconds my hand moved and a light was turned on. The world of my home was no longer cast in the pale blue shades of moonlight that streamed in through the windows, but now it was one of various different shades of color.
"You are sure this is alright?" The brown haired Taiki Kou asked.
I nodded fervently in reply, "Don't worry Taiki-san it's perfectly fine," I reassured. Though I know my mother would not agree, but what was I to do? I did not want to go out in a public place like the mess I was, but neither did I wish to go home to the emptiness of the penthouse alone. My mother wouldn't be home until early morning anyways. That was hours away, she needn't know of Taiki's visit.
My guest and I took off our shoes, though it's custom to wear slippers inside, we both walked deeper within my home in sock feet. I was silent as I slid across the kitchen floor, getting two mugs from the cupboard. Strange how nice the quiet of the penthouse was when there was another with you. Though I smiled at the warm thought of having company I kept quiet and silently went about my mission of making hot cocoa.
************************************************************************
A fist slammed hard into the stunned Nephrites eye. He was already on the ground with the first punch, shocked, stunned and unable to move away from the person striking him.
Another fist came down ready to hit him in the jaw but was stopped midway.
"Mako-chan, please stop!" Usagi cried tugging at the waist of her enraged friend in a futile attempt to pull her off Nephrite.
Mamoru held Makoto's hand back from striking the general again, as Minako tried to help Usagi pull their friend away.
Kunzite, Zoicite and Jadeite were trying to pull their baffled comrade out from under his past love.
This was how Rei found the bunch of them when she came in with a tray of tea and muffins. The raven haired priestess quietly set the tray upon a table then shouted loudly. "If Mako-chan gets to hit them, I want a chance too!"
That's when everyone froze, turning to stare at Rei. Sure she tried to attack Jediate earlier and often beat on Yuiichiro (check the spelling on this name) but they had thought she would just jump in and help Makoto. Not complain about not being allowed.
"What?" she asked, "Its only fair."
"Look maybe everyone should calm down and take a seat," Mamoru suggested. "Then everything can be explained."
************************************************************************
I placed one mug of steaming hot cocoa near Taiki on the coffee table in the living room. My own mug was kept enclosed by both of my hands.
"So how is Kinomoku doing?" I asked taking a seat on the cream colored couch across from Taiki.
"Well, the palace and a few of the smaller villages have been rebuilt. When we left plans for reconstruction of the larger cities was underway," he answered taking his own mug within his hands. Violet colored eyes looking down at the warm liquid it held.
I nodded, glad to hear things were going ok for the planet. I understood what kind of destruction there could be. The moon had been like that as well, I remembered vividly the attack, the violent destruction, and even the last image of how it all looked before my life came to its end. "How about life for you now on Earth?" Though the question I really wanted to ask was what they were really doing on Earth. It as a long way from Kinomoku and though I believed Seyia was sincere about saying they were here just for a visit when we first saw them at the temple, I couldn't help but think there had to be another reason.
"Fine I suppose. Though that project we were given in biology class has given me some trouble. I'm uncertain if I'll have time to do it on my own, but to acquire a partner who wouldn't be an overenthusiastic fan now….." his voice trailed off then he took a drink of his hot cocoa.
"I could be… your bio partner…" I murmured quietly not brave enough to really say the words too loud. I was sure he hadn't heard me, but then he looked up. More words seemed to instantly spill out of my mouth to form some sort of excuse for my sudden offer, "I was going to do the work on my own but I'm finding it difficult and….." my voice just trailed off.
"I though Kino-san was your partner," it was a statement though his tone of voice made it sound like a question.
Slowly I nodded. Normally Usagi and Minako paired together for everything so did Makoto and I but then… "I was with Mako-chan but a day or two ago she got asked by a guy in our class that she has a crush on. She wasn't going to go with him but I told her I didn't mind. I thought I could do it all on my own but even I'm finding all that work to be a little much."
"Its due by the end of this week so we're going to need to start on it tomorrow. After school at the library ok with you?" he asked me, and then finished off his cocoa.
I nodded somewhat stunned, "yeah… that's fine."
He smiled, glancing at his watch, "I need to get going we have a 'The Three Lights reunite concert to practice for. I'll see you at school tomorrow."
Taiki stood from the couch and I followed him to the door, watching until he was out of sight. Slowly I closed the door then walked back to the living room.
For a moment I just stood there in the middle of the room, allowing my brain to register what had just happened a few moments before. When it finally seemed to seep in I panicked! "Why did I just do that?" I asked myself over and over. If the girls found out…. no they wouldn't think it was a date would they? Who am I kidding of course they would!
I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself down. An idea came to mind. They didn't have to find out. Quickly I grabbed my senshi communicator, pushing the button that would get me Makoto only. She would probably be the only one not to immediately question me. "Mako-chan?"
Her face came up on the small circular screen, "Something wrong, Ami-chan?"
"No I just wanted everyone to know that I won't be able to make tomorrow's meeting after school. I'm really busy then," I explained. Other voices filtered through. Not just those of my friends but… were those male voices too? "What's going on over there?"
"Oh nothing you need to worry about Ami-chan. Ok I'll tell the others about tomorrow. See you at school," She spoke quickly then the communicator shut off.
I didn't stop to contemplate the other voices that had come over the communicator. I had to get ready for tomorrow! We were going to need to know what books to look for and maybe some internet sites for recent sources as well. I couldn't look unprepared!
I ran from the living room to my room. I had to get started right away!
************************************************************************
Makoto put her communicator away. She was standing a small ways off from the others in the room. When her communicator went off she knew it could only be their blue haired friend and she didn't want Ami to hear what was going on. There was no doubt the girl would come over if she did and they didn't need her seeing the shitennou now. They had no clue how the shy quiet girl of their group would react. No that was the problem. Makoto knew Ami would try not to react with everyone around, keeping whatever feelings she had to herself.
She made her way back to where everyone was sitting, drinking tea. Except Nephrite who had an ice pack held up to his eye. Makoto grinned with satisfaction at having connected with at least one good hit. "That was Ami-chan. She won't be coming tonight and she's not coming to tomorrow's meeting either."
Zoicite was the first to reply, "Why?"
"She had a date tonight and though she really didn't say I think she has a study date tomorrow," Makoto was quick to reply.
"Really?" Minako whispered to Makoto.
The brunette whispered back to the blonde, "I'll explain after they leave."
Jadeite just howled in laughter at the jealous look on Zoicite's face. Nephrite smirked, while Kunzite's face seemed unchanged yet the side of his mouth might have slightly been tugging upwards in amusement.
"Ami on a date?" Usagi repeated puzzled. Ami hadn't told her of any date and none of them had had the chance to really hook her up with Taiki…… so what was Mako-chan talking about?
"It doesn't matter if she's here or not," spoke Rei. The others in the room began to object. The raven haired priestess stopped them by raising her hand then continued to speak, "She's been stressed out lately with school or something. That unexpected bio project you," she glanced at Usagi, "told me of, and she doesn't have a partner. Not to mention shes been up late studying for those entrance tests into university. The last thing she needs at the moment is to see THEM again," Rei pointed an accusing finger at the shitennou.
Zoicite's look of jealously quickly became one of anger, his forest green eyes narrowing at hand that pointed towards him and his companions.
"Well then lets just start the meeting," Mamoru interrupted. Though he was certain Zoicite wouldn't do anything, it was probably best to try and steer everyone to a less violent direction.
Usagi took a muffin, "Mamo-chan, maybe you should start first," then she started munching on the muffin.
Makoto nodded, her emerald eyes watching Nephrite, daring him to make one wrong move so she could pummel him again, "Yeah you can start with how they are alive, and why we shouldn't kill them. Again."
Mentally, Mamoru sighed. This was going to be a long explanation and in the end his efforts would more than likely have him end up in Nephrite's current state. "When they all died their bodies faded away only leaving a gem behind. Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite, and Zoicite. Not only their names but also minerals from Earth. The minerals their names correspond to were what their bodies became.
"Inside these gems their souls were locked away. They came to me that way in a box. Now and then I'd ask them for advice. Though it really started over a year ago after I recovered the Golden Crystal………"
Unlike the inner senshi, Mamoru hadn't been given his memories of the Silver Millennium back by Luna. No, he had gotten them back much sooner. A lot of it had come back to him when he found out Usagi was the Princess he'd been searching for, but his newfound memories were mostly limited to the Moon Princess. Later when he was able to call upon the power of his Golden Crystal he was finally able to remember everything else of that time period.
It was the Shitennou that the dark haired Prince of Earth remembered the most. They had been his protectors; they were all bound together in a friendship as strong as the inners were tied to with their own ward.
For one year Mamoru sorted through his past life memories. He couldn't understand why the Shitennou had turned against him and the Moon Kingdom.
He was supposed to have gone with his friends to fight against the person who had started this accursed war, Beryl. Except he couldn't until he had seen Princess Serenity one last time before leaving. Against his friends advice he sent them on ahead while he made his way to the Moon.
The evening was wonderful. The Earth Prince disguised himself as Tuxedo Kamen because the current situation in his kingdom only gave the Lunarians reason to distrust him. The Moon Kingdom was holding a masked ball. It was an illusion that allowed Endymion to relax, forget the war back home, and think of his love.
However, that night only ended in tragedy. When the ball was coming close to its end, a massive explosion came from outside the palaces elaborate walls. The Dark Kingdom had come. It was a sign that Earth had fallen.
Prince Endymion silently cursed himself as he ran outside. His friends were surely dead and now the Moon was in danger. If he had just gone with them to battle… but there was nothing he could do about that now. He would just have to help the Moon fight and hope the Lunarians could be saved.
He stood outside the palace walls his sword drawn, waiting for the Dark Kingdom forces to come.
In the distance they could be seen coming, but his blue eyes only stared in shock as the forces slowly became more and more visible as they came closer, from a distant blur to people… and not just anyone. Four familiar figures stood at the frontline, commanding monsters of every shape and size. The Shitennou of Earth.
His breath caught within his throat. This couldn't be happening but it was. Like a strange twisted nightmare turned reality.
Not understanding why his closest friends had done this in the past Mamoru asked the Shitennou themselves what had happened. Though only their souls lay trapped within the stones that bared their own names, he could still speak with them. They would not, however, tell him what events had occurred for them to turn against the ones they had sworn to protect… or even those they loved. He thought of his own experiences with Beryl and came to the conclusion that they had to have been captured somehow then brainwashed.
Therefore it couldn't be their fault. Mamoru then came to the decision that they should be released from their gemstone prisons. He was eager to see his friends again, as they once had been.
In need of advice on how to go about bringing the Shitennou back Mamoru went to Elusion. After he explained the situation to the head priest Mamoru asked, "Helios do you know how this can be achieved?"
The priest cocked his head to the side thinking quietly over this information, "The Golden Crystal is powerful but it does not have the ability to recreate the bodies of the shitennou. Though if I combine my healing abilities along with it, it might be possible."
"Power and healing alone cannot accomplish this task," a female voice spoke.
Mamoru and Helios turned to see a mysterious woman with long dark green hair, wearing a senshi uniform, holding a key like staff in her left hand.
"Sailor Pluto, what brings you here?" asked Helios.
"The time for the Shitennou to return has come. I knew Prince Endymion would be here seeking advice. His choice was wise but only the combination of power, healing and time will bring back the four kings," was the answer she gave.
Mamoru nodded, he wasn't surprised by Pluto's arrival. She always popped up now and then in some of the most unexpected places. "So since you seem to know more about this… what is it that has to happen?"
"You've brought the spirits of the four with you?" Pluto asked.
In answer, Mamoru pulled out a small box, opening it to reveal four stones, precious not because of what they were but because of what was locked within them..
"Good. Then instead of explaining it we shall just proceed. Place the box on the ground. I'll start off. Do not worry. The both of you will know when and what your part will be in this when the time comes."
Once Mamoru placed the box on the ground and had stepped back, Pluto began to twirl her staff about the air. While spinning she tossed it to her right hand, it stopped immediately becoming dead still. The garnet jewel top of the time staff pointed downwards at the ground beside the plain box that held the spirits of the shitennou encased in separate stones. For a moment nothing happened, and then the garnet orb began to glow brightly. A bright flash erupted from the ground beside the box.
When the light dispersed four rotted bodies wearing uniforms now lay on the ground. Sometime during the bright flash Mamoru had transformed into Prince Endymion and now held the Golden Crystal in his hands. Its golden light hit out at Helios, who began to take up a position of prayer. The priest's robes began to flow gently around him as the light of the Golden Crystal that shone upon him mixed with his own powers of healing. The light redirected itself off of Helios and surrounded the rotted bodies with a heavenly glow.
It took several hours for the bodies to change back completely to their former glory of four handsome young men. Helios, who was used to many hours of prayer, did not falter once. The dark haired Prince of Earth, however, was not used to using his powers for such long lengths of time. His blue eyes blinked with weariness but he held through until the end.
When the healing was fully completed, Prince Endymion sank to his knees in exhaustion. He stared at the four bodies, but they didn't move and still looked devoid of life. "What now?" he asked quietly.
"Now we wait," was Pluto's answer.
Helios stood from his prayer position to walk over to his Prince, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah just tired…"
The senshi of time nodded, "It's no surprise, never have you had to handle the Golden Crystal in such a way before."
Endymion was about to speak but movement caught the corner of his eye and his head turned to look back at the bodies. The movement didn't come from the bodies though, instead it came from the open box lying beside them. The stones within the plain looking box floated up into the air, setting over the hearts of their respected bodies then slowly melted into them.
Another moment passed and nothing more seemed to happen. Then a sudden gasp was heard, a sharp intake of air. Almost unnoticeably their chests could be seen rising and falling. Prince Endymion smiled seeing they were alive. It would be good to have them back again. Back where they belonged as his friends not enemies.
"It will be a while before they awaken, you may want to rest as well, Prince Endymion," Pluto turned to walk away into a door that had not been there before. The door was open, thick purple mist poured from it.
"Wait!" Endymion shouted.
Pluto stopped but didn't turn back, "Yes?"
"Where did the bodies come from?" he asked, his voice laced heavily with exhaustion.
"Don't fret over that dear Prince, just rest for now," her voice answered as she disappeared into the door. The white time door faded from sight.
"So you see… that's how it all happened," Mamoru stated.
The girls, with the exception of Usagi, stared with varying degrees of anger. Rei was the first to speak, "So technically if we should hurt anyone over this it should be you."
Minako bit her bottom lip. Uncertainty seemed to hit her like a load of bricks. She liked the idea of having their loves back again but… what if history repeated itself. Could she really face that all over again? Then again it couldn't be too bad right? Pluto did help bring them back after all. Her eyes narrowed slightly. What business was it of Pluto's anyhow?! And just when they were trying to set Ami up too! No their hard work and plans would not be put to waste! "That's fine and all but this is twentieth century Tokyo, maybe you should find some clothes that let you fit in a bit better," her comments were targeted at the Shitennou. A plan had formed in the blondes mind. The only question was would it work? Well she hoped so. "Also don't tell Ami-chan your here. We aren't happy to see you and neither will she. She has other things to stress over than the likes of you four."
The Shitennou, especially Zoicite, looked angry at the comments made by Minako. Mamoru saw this right away and was quick to jump in, "Alright that sounds fair. Come on guys," he gestured to his four friends and quickly walked out of the temple room. The four generals frowned, a couple grumbled but they all followed their Prince out.
"Ok Mako-chan, Minako. Both of you need to explain some things," Usagi spoke once the guys had all left. She knew something about what Makoto had said earlier about Ami not being here wasn't right, and had caught that twinkle in Minako's blue eyes that often said she had an idea.
"Well ok Ami didn't have a date," the brunette started, "but I ran into her on the way to the meeting and then we saw Taiki. Long story short, I told Ami she could not come to the meeting, left her with Taiki, she used the communicator to call me and say she wouldn't be here for tomorrows meeting."
"That still doesn't explain why you said she had a date," the raven haired priestess murmured.
"I wasn't going to tell THEM," Makoto gave an angry glare to the door where the Shitennou had left through, "what really happened."
"But Mako-chan what if they found out you lied?" Usagi asked.
"They won't. Ami would never tell anyone about a date and tomorrow she said she was busy. They won't see her so they'll have to presume I'm right."
"Alright my turn!" Minako shouted joyously. She was always happy to be the center of attention. "They really needed to get some better clothes for one but other than that if Ami doesn't recognize any of them or know they're here she won't have to deal with them."
The other three nodded, not as optimistic as Minako about this plan of hers but then again maybe it would work.
************************************************************************
"Mamoru why did we leave?" asked Zoicite. He was very peeved at the moment at being told he couldn't tell his Ami he was here. He had waited patiently with everyone else for their Prince to tell the senshi they were here and now he didn't get to see his Ami!
"Calm down Zoicite they did have a point."
"Nani?" the four generals asked at once looking at Mamoru as if he had lost his head.
"Listen they were pretty angry to see you all and in a way you can't expect them to be happy, but Minako made a couple of good points that we can actually use to our advantage," he explained.
"You have a plan?" asked Kunzite though it was more of a statement.
"We do need to get you some new clothes so you blend in a little better with this time period, and Minako just said not to tell Ami you were here. So we won't," Mamoru turned down one street with the shitennou following him, they hadn't really been paying much attention but they were heading downtown to the shopping district.
"I don't follow any of that," Jadeite grumbled.
"It's simple. We'll find ways to introduce you to them under different names. Like Jeremy or something and back on the Moon they hardly saw you in anything else but your general uniforms. I somehow doubt they'll recognize you different clothes," explained Mamoru.
"Ok sounds good, but one thing. I refuse to be stuck with the name Jeremy!" Jadeite shouted. The others laughed.
AN: Phew another chapter finally done. Also I cleaned up chapter one. There are no longer any BR's hanging around.
I really don't have much to say so I guess I'll do a little advertising. For those of you who are Ami/Zoi fans check out this yahoo group out:
There are all kinds of links to Ami/Zoi fanfics and other related stuff. It's a good group so check it out.
Also don't forget to review. Flame me to bits if you like but review. Or even send me an email. I like getting those. ^_^
I'll try to have another chapter of this or something else I'm working on soon.
Ja Ne
guardianmercury