Ch.2: A Fatal Mistake
Kathryn awoke to a loud bang on the door. She yawned and slipped out of her bed. Her bare feet slushed along the carpet as she made her way to the apartment door. Without think she opened it. "Hello?" Her long blonde hair was in a loose braid and her long aquamarine gown had just stopped swaying with her motion.
Seiya smiled. "Warning knock. You may want to get ready as quick as possible."
Kathryn yelped, though most of it was muffled as she had placed her hand over her mouth. "Thanks, Seiya."
"Welcome, Kat. I'll come and get you in half an hour, that's when we leave."
Kathryn nodded, trying to swallow back the lump in her throat. "Ok, sure." Seiya smiled once again and left. Kathryn shut the door and slumped to the ground. Tears streamed down her soft cheeks and her eyes were clenched shut. A few minutes later she decided to actually get something done, although now she didn't feel all too well. She slipped into the shower and about five minutes later emerged in a towel. She slipped on a black tube top and a knee length black skirt. She slipped on black strappy, platform sandals. As she applied her fire red lipstick to her lips, a loud knock filled the silence. "One sec!" she called out.
Quickly she grabbed a jean coat and tied her hair into a ponytail. She opened the door to see Seiya. "Hey. I wasn't fully awake earlier."
Seiya laughed. "It's ok. Taiki and Yaten are in the car. Did Antoinette tell you everything?"
"I think. Only that we have two practices until the concert tomorrow night."
Seiya frowned and let out a sigh. "Always leaving out the important part, she is."
"What?"
"Someone else is going to be in the concert with us. Two people actually. Pianist, Ten'ou Haruka and violinist, Kaiou Michiru."
"Same last name as mine?!"
"Yeah, weird. Well, we should get going. Taiki hates waiting and Yaten isn't always in the best of moods."
Kathryn laughed. "Allright." She locked the door quickly and rushed outside along with Seiya. He opened the door to the passenger seat and she got in.
"You guys sure you're allright with me being up here?" she asked Yaten and Taiki, of whom were sitting in the backseat.
"We're sure." Taiki replied quickly, as to not let Yaten answer.
Seiya hopped into the driver's seat and drove off quickly.
"So, do you know these two that are playing with us?" Kathryn finally got the nerve to ask.
"Casual acquaintances." Yaten muttered.
"They're some people we know. Did Seiya tell you that they're going to be playing yours, as well as our background music?" Taiki added, although Kathryn had not heard Yaten's response.
"They are? Well, that's all the better. Do you guys play your own instruments?"
"Yes." Seiya and Taiki replied at the same time.
Kathryn giggled. "I see. I bet it's much easier."
"Yes, it is much easier." Yaten stated.
"Mind being the slightest bit kinder to me, Yaten-san?"
"Don't feel bad, he's this rude to most people." Seiya laughed.
Kathryn frowned and looked back in front of herself, not wanting to see that impudent Yaten anymore than she had to. Her eyes fixed themselves on the road ahead and she didn't speak another word until they made it there. She sat in the car as the others piled out, then got out herself. Glaring at the nothingness in front of herself she walked backstage. Suddenly, she wanted to get this whole thing over with.
A lovely woman with teal hair down to her shoulders and a face almost identical to Kathryn's walked up. She was followed by a handsome young man with cropped blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes. The lady began jabbering in japanese, too fast for Kathryn too follow. As if sensing the girls confusion she took a deep breath and let it out. "Hello. I'm Michiru Kaiou, this is Haruka Ten'ou. Who are you?"
Kathryn took a breath of relief. "You confused me for a moment." She laughed. Seeing that Michiru and her handsome companion wanted an answer she took a deep breath. "Kathryn Kaiou. I'm the one who's going on tour with the Three Lights."
Haruka looked the girl over, as she did most new people she met. Something wasn't right about this girl. Michiru seemed to sense it as well. Finally her stare broke and she smiled. "Nice to meet you. You are very pretty."
"Thank you, sir." Kathryn replied softly.
Michiru giggled. "Haruka, you've done it again."
"What? What's so funny?" Kathryn asked quickly.
"I'm female. Not male."
Kathryn blushed bright red. "Oh, oh my. I-I'm so sorry."
"It's allright. Almost everyone thinks she's a boy at first." Michiru stated softly. "You need to learn better japanese. It's not wise to wander around and not know much japanese."
"I know. I'm being tutored in japanese."
"Good. We'll see you later. Maybe you could come to lunch with us. We're meeting some friends for lunch." Michiru waved slightly and walked deeper into the backstage area with Haruka.
~*~*~Later~*~*~
Antoinette smiled. "Allright. That's all for today, everyone." First she jabbered it in japanese, and then translated it for Kathryn.
Kathryn let out a deep sigh and sat on the edge of the stage. Strings of hair had come loose in the process of learning the dance moves and singing. She impatiently brushed them out of the way as she gulped some more of her bottled water.
"You were better than your manager claimed." Antoinette smiled.
"Thanks, but I'm not that good." Kathryn wiped her forehead and stared ahead.
"You look very tired. Are you going to make it for the concert tomorrow night?"
"I'll live." Kathryn could feel it again. Something flared inside her, as if she couldn't trust Antoinette. Some power tried to warn her of something. But she had never felt this power before. It was as if, she had something special about herself. She shook it off once more.
"Kat!"
Kathryn's head snapped up and a lump welled in her throat once more. "Nani?"
"We're going out to lunch with some friends. Wanna come?" Seiya walked onto stage.
"Sure." Kathryn picked herself up off the edge of the stage, glad to have found a reason to get away from Antoinette without being rude. Seiya smiled at her and lead her outside.
"Thanks for inviting me along."
"It's allright. Since the restaraut is so close, we can walk. Everyone's there already, I think."
Kathryn smiled. "How many people are we having lunch with?"
"Around eight other people."
"Wow. You have many friends."
"Yeah, I suppose. They'll be happy to meet you, they need someone to try and talk to with their english."
The two reached the restaurant and walked over to a large group of girls who were sitting with Taiki and Yaten.
"Erm, konnichi wa." Kathryn greeted.
Seiya laughed and sat down next to one with blonde hair as long as hers, except it was pulled into two odangoed pigtails. He jabbered something to her and the others, Taiki looked somewhat annoyed. She figured Taiki had already explained.
Michiru smiled. "Kathryn, sit right here." She offered. Kathryn thanked her and sat down next to her.
"Hello. I'm Ami Mizuno." A girl with cropped blue hair greeted.
The girl next to her waved slightly. "Makoto Kino." She had her long brown hair in a high ponytail atop her head.
"Pleased to meet you two." Kathryn smiled. "Kathryn Kaiou."
The other blonde smiled. She wore a red bow in her hair and looked almost exactly like the other blonde. "I'm Minako Aino."
The raven haired girl next to her waved. "Rei Hino." She looked almost exactly like Tarea, it was all too weird.
"Nice to meet you."
Two little girls sat next to each other. One had pink hair pulled into pigtails making her look like a rabbit. The other had short black hair, and looked quite sickly.
"I'm ChibiUsa Tsukino." The pink haired one introduced.
"Hotaru Tomoe." The black haired one stated after her.
"Setsuna Meiou." The woman had emerald green hair, part of it pulled into a bun at the back of her head.
"Usagi Tsukino. It very good to. . . erm, meet you." The blonde pigtailed one stated.
Kathryn giggled. "You may want to work on your english." She jabbered to her in broken up japanese. Right then, something clicked. As if she knew japanese better or something. It was weird, she felt as if she had been speaking it for years.
The whole group ordered their meals and talked to each other in japanese. The weird thing was, Kathryn understood everything they said. Out of nowhere her cell phone rang. She took the lavender phone from her back and opened it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kat!"
"Hey Laura."
"How's everything going? Any hot guys there? Hm?"
Kathryn laughed. "Yes. But I'll talk about that with you later. Everything's going great. I wish you could be here."
"Both Demorie and Koree said to tell you hi and they send you their luck. Hm, Sandy, you know the most popular girl here besides you, well, she heard you were going to Japan. I think she's gonna try and fly out there to bother you. I wish I could be there too."
"Well, that sure is news. Tell Dee and Kor I'll see them right when I get back."
"Alright. Oh, guess what? We got two new students. Terry Tenoh and Kendra Meiou. They're partners with Tarea. Oh, and Mandy won the Tae Kwon Doe tournament yesterday evening."
"Tell her congrats for me." Kathryn glimpsed down at her watch. "I'm sorry. . . I really have to go. I'm eating lunch and I have to go to japanese lessons later. I'll call you tonight, k?"
"Allright. Bye."
"Bye." Kathryn folded her phone up and turned back to the others. "A friend."
Usagi smiled. "I see."
~*~The night of the concert~*~
Kathryn finished putting her large mass of hair into millions of different tiny french braids. She lathered a pink lipstick on and them some glitter gloss over it.
-Knock!-
"Ten minutes till you go on stage!" the muffled voice called through the door.
"Allright!" Kathryn slipped on a jean jacket over her aqua tube top. She flattened out the black mini-skirt and slipped on some black heels. She opened the door and headed for the entrance to the stage. There she saw Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten. Michiru emerged from her dressing room in an elegant strapless white dress, followed by Haruka in a nice white blouse and some black pants. Kathryn smiled at them and took a deep breath.
Michiru turned to the girl. "Don't worry, it isn't any more nerve wrecking than it is where you live. Just the same, except with different audiences."
"Thanks for your support." Kathryn brushed a piece of her bangs out of her way and took another deep breath. The announcer called Michiru's, and Haruka's names and the two went out onto stage. Haruka played the piano and Michiru played her violin. The spotlights were on the two. They were playing Kathryn's background music when Antoinette travelled up to Kathryn and told her to go on stage. Since no one could see anything but Michiru and Haruka (the front row excluded) she stayed away from the light and wandered to the microphone on the pole. The lights then added another spotlight and it landed on her. She waited for the right moment in the background music, then began singing softly into the microphone. The crowd seemed to love it. She stopped singing and Michiru and Haruka began to play another tune. The three lights ran out on stage, going to their instruments and microphones, the spotlights adding more so they could be seen.
Kathryn glanced over at the three. All were smiling. She looked at the music in front of her and began to sing the chorus of Todokanu Omoi with them. She paused every time a solo came up and began singing at the right time when the chorus came up. Soon enough, the concert was over.
Kathryn wiped some sweat from her forehead and graciously accepted the towel from one of the backstage people. Michiru, Haruka, Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki had already gone to their dressing rooms. As Kathryn reached the door with her name temporarily on it sudden screams echoed from the audience. "What now?" she whispered softly to herself. She ran back to the stage only to see a monster attacking the monster. It looked like a young woman with the exception of having wings on its back. Its skin was a bright pastel blue and it wore the most ugly pink dress anyone could imagine. Its hair was an ugly yellow color and cropped.
"What are you?!" Kathryn yelped.
The monster turned to her. "I'm Koshi, and I have come to steal your rarity. Now give me your crystal key!"
"My what?" She stepped back, almost tripping over a chord as the monster advanced on her.
Koshi licked her lips. "Come here pretty, it won't hurt much." The monster jumped behind her and grabbed her long blonde hair. Its right forearm crossed over Kathryn's neck made it impossible for her to escape.
"Help! Help!" Kathryn screamed out. She struggled to get out of the monster's grip, but couldn't.
Koshi's left hand stopped in front of Kathryn's breasts, only inches away. Koshi's hand let a bright aquamarine beam emit from it and towards Kathryn. As the beam hit her between her breasts she let out a deafening scream.
Sandana ran a hand through her dark brown hair. "That's it Koshi, keep her from getting away. We almost have it."
Out of nowhere, a red rose broke the beam and Kathryn collapsed to the ground as the monster let her go.
"She has a special gift in her, the gift of a good musician, how dare you plan to take that away by harming her." Tuxedo Kamen's cape billowed in the wind as he held a hand to his side. Four girls appeared with him. Two on each side.
Koshi glared up at him. "Who are you?"
"From the planet of fire, I am Sailor Mars!"
"From the planet of love, I'm Sailor Venus."
"From the planet of strength, I'm Sailor Jupiter."
"From the planet of ice, I'm Sailor Mercury."
A girl with a sailor fuku stepped forward onto the stage, her two odangos blowing in the breeze. "I stand for love. I stand for justice too! I'm Sailor Moon!"
"And I'm, Sailor Chibi Moon!"
"Protected by the deep sea star, Neptune. I'm Sailor Neptune!"
"Protected by the heavenly star, Uranus. Sailor Uranus."
"Protected by the time space star, Pluto. Sailor Pluto!"
"Protected by the silent star, Saturn. Sailor Saturn!"
"There are three invincible lights, where the stars drift to."
"Sailor Star Healer!"
"Sailor Star Fighter!"
"Sailor Star Maker!"
Kathryn, only half conscious on the ground could hazily make out the figures of thirteen figures. "W-who?" she muttered softly.
Star Fighter rushed to her side along with Star Healer.
"Are you allright?" Star Fighter asked softly, a worried look spreading across her face.
Kathryn squinted up at her. "Wh-who are you?"
"We're friends." Star Healer patted Kathryn's shoulder lightly and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Deep Submerge!"
"World Shaking!"
"Dead Scream!"
The three attacks merged together and blasted towards Koshi.
"Star Light Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" Eternal Sailor Moon shouted, defeating the monster.
Sandana glared. "Take this you bothersome senshi!" She screamed angrily. A black ball of energy grew in her hand and she threw it at Star Fight, Star Healer, and Kathryn.
Just before it reached them, though, an aquamarine light surrounded the three, causing the black ball to redirect itself and zoom towards the wall. Everything went white.
A tall girl with long dark purple hair stood before Kathryn. Only those two were seen. The purple haired girl giggled and laughed. Her body was glowing so brightly, Kathryn couldn't see what she was wearing, if anything.
"Hello." The purple haired girl greeted with a wave of her hand. She pushed a lock of her hair out of her face and her body stopped glowing. She was wearing a pink version of something you would see Queen Serenity wearing.
"Who are you?" Kathryn peered at the girl, she seemed all too familiar.
The girl put a finger to her chin. "Well, some would say that I am the reincarnation of your past self, but that's too scientific like. In simpler terms, I'm you."
"What?!" Kathryn yelped.
"You had better steer clear of trouble. They want your crystal key."
"What's that?"
"An item of the purest form. It's only in those who come from the stars. Or, at least the valuable ones are. And you have one of them. To let them get it would be not only fatal to yourself, but possibly the world."
"You're talking nonsense. So what's the reason for this visit?"
"Come." Kathryn's past self held out a hand, which Kathryn took carefully. "Now look there." She pointed in front of her.
Kathryn slowly turned her head. "Wow! This place is gorgeous!" A palace of the finest turqoise marble sat upon a sea of water. A few patches of green indicated gardens. "But, that's not possible. Grass, and flowers, and castle's can't float on water!"
"On Neptune they can."
Kathryn floated inside the castle along wit her past self. "This place is gorgeous."
Her past self began to float up a staircase.
"Hey wait! Aren't you going to show me around the whole place?!"
"No. This is your home, you don't need a tour."
Kathryn put a hand to her forehead. "You're talking nonsense again."
"Follow me." Her past self floated up the stairs as she followed, and stopped at a door.
"Why'd you stop?"
"Take a look inside. Oh, and don't try turning the knob, it's locked."
"Then how am I supposed to get in?!"
"We aren't here. We are here, but no one can see us. Therefore, we are somewhat of ghosts."
Kathryn rolled her eyes ad cautiously stepped through the wall. Her eyes clenched shut she entered the room, followed by her past self. She opened one eye to check and then let out a deep sigh as she opened both of her eyes.
A girl that looked identical to herself, with the exception of having pink hair, was climbing through the window. She looked around, as if hoping not to get caught. Kathryn's past self pushed her away from the door as a regel looking woman entered.
"Kathryn!"
The girl looked up, almost falling from the window. "Nani, mom?"
"We told you that you wre grounded, then you go off to the festival?!"
"How'd you know?!"
"Your sister said you weren't in your room."
Kathryn glanced at her past self. "Who's that?"
"That's you. Or should I say, that's us."
Kathryn frowned in confusion and continued watching the scene.
"After that ordeal at the ball, I'm still thinking over whether or not to punish you more severely."
The girl stood up, her pink hair waving behind her. Putting her hands on her hips she glared. "Look, mom, I don't care what you do to me. It's better than having to be set up like this! I don't want to get married, do you hear me? I've been telling you that for the past four months, yet you still insist that I search at the balls."
"Don't speak to me in such a way, Kathryn. You know your sister looks up to you, is that how you want Michiru to grow up to be like? Getting in trouble every hour of the day?"
"As long as she's free to live her life as she pleases, I don't give a da**."
Her mother's face reddened. "That's it! Come with me, we are going to talk this over with your father."
She smirked and followed her mother. Kathryn and her past self followed. Before she could go through the wall, her past self stopped her.
"Why won't you let me go in?" Kathryn stated angrily.
"You can't know every thing of your past life. I already let you know too much."
"That's it! You're banned from Neptune! GUARDS! Send her to Kinmoku at once!" A voice boomed through the door.
Kathryn took a step back. "He banned me from my planet? What about the throne when they die?"
"Your sister will gain it." Her past self looked around, now they were on a field of gorgeous lush grass with flowers everywhere.
"Where are we now?"
"Your second home. Kinmoku." Her past self began walking forward, Kathryn following. They reached a grand castle, and then appeared in the throne room. The three women in leather she had seen before she passed out were standing next to a throne with a woman in the most unusual outfit and red hair in an odd hairstyle. She saw herself bowing to the woman. They said a few things back and forth to each other, but everythng was soft, and she couln't understand what they were saying.
"What are they saying? Who is she?"
"That's your aunt, by adoption of course. And you are speaking to her about the moon of kinmoku. She gave it to you, to rule. It should seem it's been under attack."
"Why is my hair purple?"
"This is the part of your past where I am from." Her past self smiled.
"Is this all?" Kathryn was becoming quite bored and wanted to know the reason of all this.
"Iie. You and three others are in danger. I am giving you the power of your planet. Your rightful power. A mixture of the stars and neptune. But, you mustn't let the other senshi know of your identity. It could be fatal to yourself. Since you arrived here, you noticed something. Have you not? Well, now you understand and know japanese. You still speak english, but you also know japanese."
"So. . . .?"
A marbel like aquamarine stone necklace with a silver strand of metal coiled around the stone appeared around her neck.
"Now, when you are by yourself, you are to shout Keeper Star Power, Make up. Got it? Don't let anyone be around you! When you transform, your attacks will come to you, don't try and hold them back, they'll just get through any mental barrier you keep. I'm sending you back, and you mustn'y speak a word of this to anyone."
Kathryn nodded in understanding and then felt as if she were falling off a cliff. When she opened her eyes, Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki were hovering over her. Each smiled as they saw her wake up. "Hey guys." She yawned softly.
"Thank goodness you're allright." The three of them sighed in relief.
"What happened?" Kathryn asked softly as she sat up.
"You fell off the stage and hit your head while giving your autograph to one of your fans." Taiki explained.
"Oh. . . . I see." Kathryn looked down at her neck. The necklace hung from her neck, just like it had in the dream. "I'm fine now. Can we just head back to the apartments?"
Seiya nodded. "Yeah." He helped her up, along with Taiki, and they all walked to the car. Where Antoinette stood, waiting.
"It's about time! Are you allright Kathryn?" Antoinette gave her a questioning look full of concern.
"I'm fine." Kathryn smiled at her. "Just want some rest." She got into the car along with Seiya and Yaten.
Antoinette took a step back from the car as Taiki sped off. "Shimatta, she was supposed to be dead by now." She cursed lightly under her breath.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
As they neared the apartment building, Seiya shook Kathryn lightly, as to wake her up. She had absently fallen asleep leaning on him, and Yaten had been teasing him the whole time about it.
"Hm? Oh, we'ere here allready?" Kathryn asked softly, her eyes fluttering open. She stopped leaning on Seiya and let out a soft yawn.
Both Seiya and Yaten stared at her increduliously. Taiki had looked back a few times.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Kathryn asked quickly, not knowing what she had done to get them in such a state of shock.
"You're speaking flawless japanese. When did you learn it?" Yaten asked quietly, almost afraid to know how.
Kathryn yelped and quickly covered her mouth. "OH! What happened?!" ~I know what happened. Stupid past self! She made me able to speak this language, and now I don't even know how to control it!~
"Maybe that hit on the head she received when she fell off the stage," Yaten started, knowing perfectly well that she hadn't fallen from the stage. But, that was the excuse they had given her when she awoke.
Kathryn leaned back into her seat, closing her eyes and tuning out the three men.
Seiya sighed. "She should get some rest. Kat? You awake?"
Kathryn's eyes snapped open, and she became attentive once more. "Er, yeah, I just need some rest."
Taiki parked the car and turned off the engine. Seiya and Yaten helped Kathryn out of the car and to her apartment, followed by Taiki.
"We have tomorrow off. Maybe some female attention would do you some good. We'll take you to the Hikawa Jinja shrine if you like." Taiki offered.
"Yeah, allright." Kathryn mumbled as she stumbled slowly into her apartment.
"Get some sleep, and we'll see you in the morning." Seiya called as the three entered into their own apartment across the hall.
Kathryn closed the door behind her and leaned against it softly, clutching the aquamarine stone necklace in her hand. "Why do I feel so groggy?"
Sandana appeared from the shadows. "Your crystal key has started to appear, and you won't be back to your normal self until I have." She snickered evilly.
Kathryn backed into the door even more so. "You're the one that controlled that monster!"
"Quite right. My, my. You are a smart one." Sandana smirked. She put her hand in front of herself and sent abeam hudling towards Kathryn.
Kathryn jumped out of the way quickly. ~Now's better time than ever to test these 'powers'~ "KEEPER STAR POWER! MAKE UP!" Kathryn screamed, thrusting her hand into the air above herself. She began to glow the oddest color of teal and pink. Her long hair was blowing up towards the ceiling. She did somewhat of a ballerina type twirl and the flashin stopped. Where Kathryn was, now stood a tall girl with long pink hair in a simple braid. She wore a teal colored version of what the women who saved Kathryn before wore. The girl looked down at herself. "Woah. . . ." A lump grew in her throat, forcing words up. "First descendent of my respective planet Neptune. The keeper of the stars, Sailor Star Keeper!"
Sandana took a step back. "Y-you're a senshi?! I thought there weren't any left to be awakened!!!"
Star Keeper advanced on the now frightened Sandana, who was now shrieking.
Seiya then ran into the room, followed quickly by the other two.
Keeper looked at them, tearing her harsh gaze away from Sandana, of whom took the chance to make an escape.
The three young men stared at Star Keeper, looks of awe edged into their features. Keeper looked back to where Sandana was, but she wasn't there any more. Keeper cursed lightly under her breath. "You idiots! I almost had her!" she screamed angrily.
"Who are you?" Seiya asked quietly, ready to henshin at a moments notice. Yaten and Taiki looked the same way.
"Princess of Kinmoku's only moon. Adoptive neice to Princess Kakyuu, and first heir to Neptune. Sailor Star Keeper." Star Keeper replied softly. She let out an exhausted sigh and collapsed to the floor, becoming Kathryn once more. Only this time, Kathryn's hair remained pink.
Kathryn awoke to a loud bang on the door. She yawned and slipped out of her bed. Her bare feet slushed along the carpet as she made her way to the apartment door. Without think she opened it. "Hello?" Her long blonde hair was in a loose braid and her long aquamarine gown had just stopped swaying with her motion.
Seiya smiled. "Warning knock. You may want to get ready as quick as possible."
Kathryn yelped, though most of it was muffled as she had placed her hand over her mouth. "Thanks, Seiya."
"Welcome, Kat. I'll come and get you in half an hour, that's when we leave."
Kathryn nodded, trying to swallow back the lump in her throat. "Ok, sure." Seiya smiled once again and left. Kathryn shut the door and slumped to the ground. Tears streamed down her soft cheeks and her eyes were clenched shut. A few minutes later she decided to actually get something done, although now she didn't feel all too well. She slipped into the shower and about five minutes later emerged in a towel. She slipped on a black tube top and a knee length black skirt. She slipped on black strappy, platform sandals. As she applied her fire red lipstick to her lips, a loud knock filled the silence. "One sec!" she called out.
Quickly she grabbed a jean coat and tied her hair into a ponytail. She opened the door to see Seiya. "Hey. I wasn't fully awake earlier."
Seiya laughed. "It's ok. Taiki and Yaten are in the car. Did Antoinette tell you everything?"
"I think. Only that we have two practices until the concert tomorrow night."
Seiya frowned and let out a sigh. "Always leaving out the important part, she is."
"What?"
"Someone else is going to be in the concert with us. Two people actually. Pianist, Ten'ou Haruka and violinist, Kaiou Michiru."
"Same last name as mine?!"
"Yeah, weird. Well, we should get going. Taiki hates waiting and Yaten isn't always in the best of moods."
Kathryn laughed. "Allright." She locked the door quickly and rushed outside along with Seiya. He opened the door to the passenger seat and she got in.
"You guys sure you're allright with me being up here?" she asked Yaten and Taiki, of whom were sitting in the backseat.
"We're sure." Taiki replied quickly, as to not let Yaten answer.
Seiya hopped into the driver's seat and drove off quickly.
"So, do you know these two that are playing with us?" Kathryn finally got the nerve to ask.
"Casual acquaintances." Yaten muttered.
"They're some people we know. Did Seiya tell you that they're going to be playing yours, as well as our background music?" Taiki added, although Kathryn had not heard Yaten's response.
"They are? Well, that's all the better. Do you guys play your own instruments?"
"Yes." Seiya and Taiki replied at the same time.
Kathryn giggled. "I see. I bet it's much easier."
"Yes, it is much easier." Yaten stated.
"Mind being the slightest bit kinder to me, Yaten-san?"
"Don't feel bad, he's this rude to most people." Seiya laughed.
Kathryn frowned and looked back in front of herself, not wanting to see that impudent Yaten anymore than she had to. Her eyes fixed themselves on the road ahead and she didn't speak another word until they made it there. She sat in the car as the others piled out, then got out herself. Glaring at the nothingness in front of herself she walked backstage. Suddenly, she wanted to get this whole thing over with.
A lovely woman with teal hair down to her shoulders and a face almost identical to Kathryn's walked up. She was followed by a handsome young man with cropped blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes. The lady began jabbering in japanese, too fast for Kathryn too follow. As if sensing the girls confusion she took a deep breath and let it out. "Hello. I'm Michiru Kaiou, this is Haruka Ten'ou. Who are you?"
Kathryn took a breath of relief. "You confused me for a moment." She laughed. Seeing that Michiru and her handsome companion wanted an answer she took a deep breath. "Kathryn Kaiou. I'm the one who's going on tour with the Three Lights."
Haruka looked the girl over, as she did most new people she met. Something wasn't right about this girl. Michiru seemed to sense it as well. Finally her stare broke and she smiled. "Nice to meet you. You are very pretty."
"Thank you, sir." Kathryn replied softly.
Michiru giggled. "Haruka, you've done it again."
"What? What's so funny?" Kathryn asked quickly.
"I'm female. Not male."
Kathryn blushed bright red. "Oh, oh my. I-I'm so sorry."
"It's allright. Almost everyone thinks she's a boy at first." Michiru stated softly. "You need to learn better japanese. It's not wise to wander around and not know much japanese."
"I know. I'm being tutored in japanese."
"Good. We'll see you later. Maybe you could come to lunch with us. We're meeting some friends for lunch." Michiru waved slightly and walked deeper into the backstage area with Haruka.
~*~*~Later~*~*~
Antoinette smiled. "Allright. That's all for today, everyone." First she jabbered it in japanese, and then translated it for Kathryn.
Kathryn let out a deep sigh and sat on the edge of the stage. Strings of hair had come loose in the process of learning the dance moves and singing. She impatiently brushed them out of the way as she gulped some more of her bottled water.
"You were better than your manager claimed." Antoinette smiled.
"Thanks, but I'm not that good." Kathryn wiped her forehead and stared ahead.
"You look very tired. Are you going to make it for the concert tomorrow night?"
"I'll live." Kathryn could feel it again. Something flared inside her, as if she couldn't trust Antoinette. Some power tried to warn her of something. But she had never felt this power before. It was as if, she had something special about herself. She shook it off once more.
"Kat!"
Kathryn's head snapped up and a lump welled in her throat once more. "Nani?"
"We're going out to lunch with some friends. Wanna come?" Seiya walked onto stage.
"Sure." Kathryn picked herself up off the edge of the stage, glad to have found a reason to get away from Antoinette without being rude. Seiya smiled at her and lead her outside.
"Thanks for inviting me along."
"It's allright. Since the restaraut is so close, we can walk. Everyone's there already, I think."
Kathryn smiled. "How many people are we having lunch with?"
"Around eight other people."
"Wow. You have many friends."
"Yeah, I suppose. They'll be happy to meet you, they need someone to try and talk to with their english."
The two reached the restaurant and walked over to a large group of girls who were sitting with Taiki and Yaten.
"Erm, konnichi wa." Kathryn greeted.
Seiya laughed and sat down next to one with blonde hair as long as hers, except it was pulled into two odangoed pigtails. He jabbered something to her and the others, Taiki looked somewhat annoyed. She figured Taiki had already explained.
Michiru smiled. "Kathryn, sit right here." She offered. Kathryn thanked her and sat down next to her.
"Hello. I'm Ami Mizuno." A girl with cropped blue hair greeted.
The girl next to her waved slightly. "Makoto Kino." She had her long brown hair in a high ponytail atop her head.
"Pleased to meet you two." Kathryn smiled. "Kathryn Kaiou."
The other blonde smiled. She wore a red bow in her hair and looked almost exactly like the other blonde. "I'm Minako Aino."
The raven haired girl next to her waved. "Rei Hino." She looked almost exactly like Tarea, it was all too weird.
"Nice to meet you."
Two little girls sat next to each other. One had pink hair pulled into pigtails making her look like a rabbit. The other had short black hair, and looked quite sickly.
"I'm ChibiUsa Tsukino." The pink haired one introduced.
"Hotaru Tomoe." The black haired one stated after her.
"Setsuna Meiou." The woman had emerald green hair, part of it pulled into a bun at the back of her head.
"Usagi Tsukino. It very good to. . . erm, meet you." The blonde pigtailed one stated.
Kathryn giggled. "You may want to work on your english." She jabbered to her in broken up japanese. Right then, something clicked. As if she knew japanese better or something. It was weird, she felt as if she had been speaking it for years.
The whole group ordered their meals and talked to each other in japanese. The weird thing was, Kathryn understood everything they said. Out of nowhere her cell phone rang. She took the lavender phone from her back and opened it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kat!"
"Hey Laura."
"How's everything going? Any hot guys there? Hm?"
Kathryn laughed. "Yes. But I'll talk about that with you later. Everything's going great. I wish you could be here."
"Both Demorie and Koree said to tell you hi and they send you their luck. Hm, Sandy, you know the most popular girl here besides you, well, she heard you were going to Japan. I think she's gonna try and fly out there to bother you. I wish I could be there too."
"Well, that sure is news. Tell Dee and Kor I'll see them right when I get back."
"Alright. Oh, guess what? We got two new students. Terry Tenoh and Kendra Meiou. They're partners with Tarea. Oh, and Mandy won the Tae Kwon Doe tournament yesterday evening."
"Tell her congrats for me." Kathryn glimpsed down at her watch. "I'm sorry. . . I really have to go. I'm eating lunch and I have to go to japanese lessons later. I'll call you tonight, k?"
"Allright. Bye."
"Bye." Kathryn folded her phone up and turned back to the others. "A friend."
Usagi smiled. "I see."
~*~The night of the concert~*~
Kathryn finished putting her large mass of hair into millions of different tiny french braids. She lathered a pink lipstick on and them some glitter gloss over it.
-Knock!-
"Ten minutes till you go on stage!" the muffled voice called through the door.
"Allright!" Kathryn slipped on a jean jacket over her aqua tube top. She flattened out the black mini-skirt and slipped on some black heels. She opened the door and headed for the entrance to the stage. There she saw Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten. Michiru emerged from her dressing room in an elegant strapless white dress, followed by Haruka in a nice white blouse and some black pants. Kathryn smiled at them and took a deep breath.
Michiru turned to the girl. "Don't worry, it isn't any more nerve wrecking than it is where you live. Just the same, except with different audiences."
"Thanks for your support." Kathryn brushed a piece of her bangs out of her way and took another deep breath. The announcer called Michiru's, and Haruka's names and the two went out onto stage. Haruka played the piano and Michiru played her violin. The spotlights were on the two. They were playing Kathryn's background music when Antoinette travelled up to Kathryn and told her to go on stage. Since no one could see anything but Michiru and Haruka (the front row excluded) she stayed away from the light and wandered to the microphone on the pole. The lights then added another spotlight and it landed on her. She waited for the right moment in the background music, then began singing softly into the microphone. The crowd seemed to love it. She stopped singing and Michiru and Haruka began to play another tune. The three lights ran out on stage, going to their instruments and microphones, the spotlights adding more so they could be seen.
Kathryn glanced over at the three. All were smiling. She looked at the music in front of her and began to sing the chorus of Todokanu Omoi with them. She paused every time a solo came up and began singing at the right time when the chorus came up. Soon enough, the concert was over.
Kathryn wiped some sweat from her forehead and graciously accepted the towel from one of the backstage people. Michiru, Haruka, Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki had already gone to their dressing rooms. As Kathryn reached the door with her name temporarily on it sudden screams echoed from the audience. "What now?" she whispered softly to herself. She ran back to the stage only to see a monster attacking the monster. It looked like a young woman with the exception of having wings on its back. Its skin was a bright pastel blue and it wore the most ugly pink dress anyone could imagine. Its hair was an ugly yellow color and cropped.
"What are you?!" Kathryn yelped.
The monster turned to her. "I'm Koshi, and I have come to steal your rarity. Now give me your crystal key!"
"My what?" She stepped back, almost tripping over a chord as the monster advanced on her.
Koshi licked her lips. "Come here pretty, it won't hurt much." The monster jumped behind her and grabbed her long blonde hair. Its right forearm crossed over Kathryn's neck made it impossible for her to escape.
"Help! Help!" Kathryn screamed out. She struggled to get out of the monster's grip, but couldn't.
Koshi's left hand stopped in front of Kathryn's breasts, only inches away. Koshi's hand let a bright aquamarine beam emit from it and towards Kathryn. As the beam hit her between her breasts she let out a deafening scream.
Sandana ran a hand through her dark brown hair. "That's it Koshi, keep her from getting away. We almost have it."
Out of nowhere, a red rose broke the beam and Kathryn collapsed to the ground as the monster let her go.
"She has a special gift in her, the gift of a good musician, how dare you plan to take that away by harming her." Tuxedo Kamen's cape billowed in the wind as he held a hand to his side. Four girls appeared with him. Two on each side.
Koshi glared up at him. "Who are you?"
"From the planet of fire, I am Sailor Mars!"
"From the planet of love, I'm Sailor Venus."
"From the planet of strength, I'm Sailor Jupiter."
"From the planet of ice, I'm Sailor Mercury."
A girl with a sailor fuku stepped forward onto the stage, her two odangos blowing in the breeze. "I stand for love. I stand for justice too! I'm Sailor Moon!"
"And I'm, Sailor Chibi Moon!"
"Protected by the deep sea star, Neptune. I'm Sailor Neptune!"
"Protected by the heavenly star, Uranus. Sailor Uranus."
"Protected by the time space star, Pluto. Sailor Pluto!"
"Protected by the silent star, Saturn. Sailor Saturn!"
"There are three invincible lights, where the stars drift to."
"Sailor Star Healer!"
"Sailor Star Fighter!"
"Sailor Star Maker!"
Kathryn, only half conscious on the ground could hazily make out the figures of thirteen figures. "W-who?" she muttered softly.
Star Fighter rushed to her side along with Star Healer.
"Are you allright?" Star Fighter asked softly, a worried look spreading across her face.
Kathryn squinted up at her. "Wh-who are you?"
"We're friends." Star Healer patted Kathryn's shoulder lightly and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Deep Submerge!"
"World Shaking!"
"Dead Scream!"
The three attacks merged together and blasted towards Koshi.
"Star Light Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" Eternal Sailor Moon shouted, defeating the monster.
Sandana glared. "Take this you bothersome senshi!" She screamed angrily. A black ball of energy grew in her hand and she threw it at Star Fight, Star Healer, and Kathryn.
Just before it reached them, though, an aquamarine light surrounded the three, causing the black ball to redirect itself and zoom towards the wall. Everything went white.
A tall girl with long dark purple hair stood before Kathryn. Only those two were seen. The purple haired girl giggled and laughed. Her body was glowing so brightly, Kathryn couldn't see what she was wearing, if anything.
"Hello." The purple haired girl greeted with a wave of her hand. She pushed a lock of her hair out of her face and her body stopped glowing. She was wearing a pink version of something you would see Queen Serenity wearing.
"Who are you?" Kathryn peered at the girl, she seemed all too familiar.
The girl put a finger to her chin. "Well, some would say that I am the reincarnation of your past self, but that's too scientific like. In simpler terms, I'm you."
"What?!" Kathryn yelped.
"You had better steer clear of trouble. They want your crystal key."
"What's that?"
"An item of the purest form. It's only in those who come from the stars. Or, at least the valuable ones are. And you have one of them. To let them get it would be not only fatal to yourself, but possibly the world."
"You're talking nonsense. So what's the reason for this visit?"
"Come." Kathryn's past self held out a hand, which Kathryn took carefully. "Now look there." She pointed in front of her.
Kathryn slowly turned her head. "Wow! This place is gorgeous!" A palace of the finest turqoise marble sat upon a sea of water. A few patches of green indicated gardens. "But, that's not possible. Grass, and flowers, and castle's can't float on water!"
"On Neptune they can."
Kathryn floated inside the castle along wit her past self. "This place is gorgeous."
Her past self began to float up a staircase.
"Hey wait! Aren't you going to show me around the whole place?!"
"No. This is your home, you don't need a tour."
Kathryn put a hand to her forehead. "You're talking nonsense again."
"Follow me." Her past self floated up the stairs as she followed, and stopped at a door.
"Why'd you stop?"
"Take a look inside. Oh, and don't try turning the knob, it's locked."
"Then how am I supposed to get in?!"
"We aren't here. We are here, but no one can see us. Therefore, we are somewhat of ghosts."
Kathryn rolled her eyes ad cautiously stepped through the wall. Her eyes clenched shut she entered the room, followed by her past self. She opened one eye to check and then let out a deep sigh as she opened both of her eyes.
A girl that looked identical to herself, with the exception of having pink hair, was climbing through the window. She looked around, as if hoping not to get caught. Kathryn's past self pushed her away from the door as a regel looking woman entered.
"Kathryn!"
The girl looked up, almost falling from the window. "Nani, mom?"
"We told you that you wre grounded, then you go off to the festival?!"
"How'd you know?!"
"Your sister said you weren't in your room."
Kathryn glanced at her past self. "Who's that?"
"That's you. Or should I say, that's us."
Kathryn frowned in confusion and continued watching the scene.
"After that ordeal at the ball, I'm still thinking over whether or not to punish you more severely."
The girl stood up, her pink hair waving behind her. Putting her hands on her hips she glared. "Look, mom, I don't care what you do to me. It's better than having to be set up like this! I don't want to get married, do you hear me? I've been telling you that for the past four months, yet you still insist that I search at the balls."
"Don't speak to me in such a way, Kathryn. You know your sister looks up to you, is that how you want Michiru to grow up to be like? Getting in trouble every hour of the day?"
"As long as she's free to live her life as she pleases, I don't give a da**."
Her mother's face reddened. "That's it! Come with me, we are going to talk this over with your father."
She smirked and followed her mother. Kathryn and her past self followed. Before she could go through the wall, her past self stopped her.
"Why won't you let me go in?" Kathryn stated angrily.
"You can't know every thing of your past life. I already let you know too much."
"That's it! You're banned from Neptune! GUARDS! Send her to Kinmoku at once!" A voice boomed through the door.
Kathryn took a step back. "He banned me from my planet? What about the throne when they die?"
"Your sister will gain it." Her past self looked around, now they were on a field of gorgeous lush grass with flowers everywhere.
"Where are we now?"
"Your second home. Kinmoku." Her past self began walking forward, Kathryn following. They reached a grand castle, and then appeared in the throne room. The three women in leather she had seen before she passed out were standing next to a throne with a woman in the most unusual outfit and red hair in an odd hairstyle. She saw herself bowing to the woman. They said a few things back and forth to each other, but everythng was soft, and she couln't understand what they were saying.
"What are they saying? Who is she?"
"That's your aunt, by adoption of course. And you are speaking to her about the moon of kinmoku. She gave it to you, to rule. It should seem it's been under attack."
"Why is my hair purple?"
"This is the part of your past where I am from." Her past self smiled.
"Is this all?" Kathryn was becoming quite bored and wanted to know the reason of all this.
"Iie. You and three others are in danger. I am giving you the power of your planet. Your rightful power. A mixture of the stars and neptune. But, you mustn't let the other senshi know of your identity. It could be fatal to yourself. Since you arrived here, you noticed something. Have you not? Well, now you understand and know japanese. You still speak english, but you also know japanese."
"So. . . .?"
A marbel like aquamarine stone necklace with a silver strand of metal coiled around the stone appeared around her neck.
"Now, when you are by yourself, you are to shout Keeper Star Power, Make up. Got it? Don't let anyone be around you! When you transform, your attacks will come to you, don't try and hold them back, they'll just get through any mental barrier you keep. I'm sending you back, and you mustn'y speak a word of this to anyone."
Kathryn nodded in understanding and then felt as if she were falling off a cliff. When she opened her eyes, Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki were hovering over her. Each smiled as they saw her wake up. "Hey guys." She yawned softly.
"Thank goodness you're allright." The three of them sighed in relief.
"What happened?" Kathryn asked softly as she sat up.
"You fell off the stage and hit your head while giving your autograph to one of your fans." Taiki explained.
"Oh. . . . I see." Kathryn looked down at her neck. The necklace hung from her neck, just like it had in the dream. "I'm fine now. Can we just head back to the apartments?"
Seiya nodded. "Yeah." He helped her up, along with Taiki, and they all walked to the car. Where Antoinette stood, waiting.
"It's about time! Are you allright Kathryn?" Antoinette gave her a questioning look full of concern.
"I'm fine." Kathryn smiled at her. "Just want some rest." She got into the car along with Seiya and Yaten.
Antoinette took a step back from the car as Taiki sped off. "Shimatta, she was supposed to be dead by now." She cursed lightly under her breath.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
As they neared the apartment building, Seiya shook Kathryn lightly, as to wake her up. She had absently fallen asleep leaning on him, and Yaten had been teasing him the whole time about it.
"Hm? Oh, we'ere here allready?" Kathryn asked softly, her eyes fluttering open. She stopped leaning on Seiya and let out a soft yawn.
Both Seiya and Yaten stared at her increduliously. Taiki had looked back a few times.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Kathryn asked quickly, not knowing what she had done to get them in such a state of shock.
"You're speaking flawless japanese. When did you learn it?" Yaten asked quietly, almost afraid to know how.
Kathryn yelped and quickly covered her mouth. "OH! What happened?!" ~I know what happened. Stupid past self! She made me able to speak this language, and now I don't even know how to control it!~
"Maybe that hit on the head she received when she fell off the stage," Yaten started, knowing perfectly well that she hadn't fallen from the stage. But, that was the excuse they had given her when she awoke.
Kathryn leaned back into her seat, closing her eyes and tuning out the three men.
Seiya sighed. "She should get some rest. Kat? You awake?"
Kathryn's eyes snapped open, and she became attentive once more. "Er, yeah, I just need some rest."
Taiki parked the car and turned off the engine. Seiya and Yaten helped Kathryn out of the car and to her apartment, followed by Taiki.
"We have tomorrow off. Maybe some female attention would do you some good. We'll take you to the Hikawa Jinja shrine if you like." Taiki offered.
"Yeah, allright." Kathryn mumbled as she stumbled slowly into her apartment.
"Get some sleep, and we'll see you in the morning." Seiya called as the three entered into their own apartment across the hall.
Kathryn closed the door behind her and leaned against it softly, clutching the aquamarine stone necklace in her hand. "Why do I feel so groggy?"
Sandana appeared from the shadows. "Your crystal key has started to appear, and you won't be back to your normal self until I have." She snickered evilly.
Kathryn backed into the door even more so. "You're the one that controlled that monster!"
"Quite right. My, my. You are a smart one." Sandana smirked. She put her hand in front of herself and sent abeam hudling towards Kathryn.
Kathryn jumped out of the way quickly. ~Now's better time than ever to test these 'powers'~ "KEEPER STAR POWER! MAKE UP!" Kathryn screamed, thrusting her hand into the air above herself. She began to glow the oddest color of teal and pink. Her long hair was blowing up towards the ceiling. She did somewhat of a ballerina type twirl and the flashin stopped. Where Kathryn was, now stood a tall girl with long pink hair in a simple braid. She wore a teal colored version of what the women who saved Kathryn before wore. The girl looked down at herself. "Woah. . . ." A lump grew in her throat, forcing words up. "First descendent of my respective planet Neptune. The keeper of the stars, Sailor Star Keeper!"
Sandana took a step back. "Y-you're a senshi?! I thought there weren't any left to be awakened!!!"
Star Keeper advanced on the now frightened Sandana, who was now shrieking.
Seiya then ran into the room, followed quickly by the other two.
Keeper looked at them, tearing her harsh gaze away from Sandana, of whom took the chance to make an escape.
The three young men stared at Star Keeper, looks of awe edged into their features. Keeper looked back to where Sandana was, but she wasn't there any more. Keeper cursed lightly under her breath. "You idiots! I almost had her!" she screamed angrily.
"Who are you?" Seiya asked quietly, ready to henshin at a moments notice. Yaten and Taiki looked the same way.
"Princess of Kinmoku's only moon. Adoptive neice to Princess Kakyuu, and first heir to Neptune. Sailor Star Keeper." Star Keeper replied softly. She let out an exhausted sigh and collapsed to the floor, becoming Kathryn once more. Only this time, Kathryn's hair remained pink.