Chapter 22: Fuyumi
Taiki sat in a field with Kakyuu. It should've been perfect. But something was not quite right. What was it? Didn't he love Kakyuu? Didn't he want to protect her for all time? Was he not jealous of Miss Mizuno for stealing Kakyuu's heart? So what was missing in this picture? Kakyuu began to fade. Not into nothing, but into something or someone else. She shrunk to a more childlike size. Her hair shortened and poofed out. It turned lighter, now a pastel pink. The loops that hung on her pigtails now stuck up on the top of her head and changed into a cone shape. Her eyes stayed the same bright red they always were, but everything was...she was Chibi-Usa now. Sweet Chibi-Usa, the girl who had nursed him back to health. The girl who had, though misguidedly and intrusively, tried to help him get back with Kakyuu. Chibi-Usa, who defended him when he was threatened with the possibility of losing another home. Chibi-Usa, who said she liked him. Chibi-Usa, who could understand the feeling of having one's home destroyed. No, it wasn't love, it was friendship, and that was nice too.

Taiki! Taiki!

Chibi-Usa called to him, dancing off teasingly, beckoning for him to come run with her. He started to follow, then became very weak and collapsed, feeling cold all over. Chibi-Usa ran to him, very worried. She shook him. Then his eyes opened.

Taiki, wake up! Help us figure out what we're doing in the snow! a voice said. This was not Chibi-Usa's voice, it was someone different. For a moment all he could see was a mass of blond hair, then the face of Minako Aino. He turned his head. Michiru Kaiou was there too, standing up and looking around. She seemed just as confused as he and Minako were.

I thought you kids liked playing in the snow, another voice said smugly. This voice was so horribly familiar. It sent chills of fright down Taiki's spine. This was the voice of that awful redhaired girl who pretended to be a nurse in the hospital and made him drink that stuff that made him feel so sick and dying.

Fuyumi! So you've come back to kill Taiki! Minako snapped angrily, standing up in readiness for battle.

Yes, but not only Forehead Boy, you and that nasty overly perfect girl as well. Sorry I'm late, I was just checking on the prisoners, Fuyumi replied idly.

What prisoners?! exclaimed Michiru. She hoped in the name of Neptune that Haruka wasn't one of them.

Oh, just some man in a tuxedo, a girl with a scythe, and a redhaired girl with a flowery attack, smirked Fuyumi, relishing the shock and horror in the eyes of her three most hated characters.

Tuxedo Mask! shrieked Minako.

gasped Michiru.

whispered Taiki.

If you want to see them alive again, I suggest you take me on first. I'll give you time to transform, but that's it. I badly want to see you three writhing at my feet in agony, Fuyumi requested, and the three Senshi took on her challenge.

Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!

Maker Star Power, Make Up!

Neptune Crystal Power, Make Up!

Fuyumi tapped her head, and drew a spring out. She bounced it on the snowy ground, and a blast of cold water shot up. More icy geysers popped up, closer and closer to the three Senshi.

I'll drown you first! Deep Submerge! shouted Sailor Neptune. The wave of ocean water slammed into Fuyumi, but it also mixed with the snow, bathing everyone in a cold bath.

Neptune! You need to fight coldness with love! Venus Love and Beauty Shock! called Sailor Venus, and, blowing a kiss, she threw a golden heart of energy at Fuyumi, who hit it back with her spring. She smirked as Sailor Venus fell down, beaten by her own attack. Then she twirled the spring around, causing a barrage of springs to crash into the three Senshi.

Star Gentle Uterus!

Star Maker flung the energy at Fuyumi, hitting her in the chest and knocking her to the floor.

Now, Michiru! Venus Love and Beauty Shock!

Deep Submerge!

The other two Senshi's attacks slammed into Fuyumi. She screamed as her entire body glowed red. The light collected in a point on her chest, and a red jewel popped out. The light immediately disappeared, and the stone plopped into the snow. Fuyumi lay there, not moving. But they could tell she was breathing.

What's that jewel? Is it evil? asked Sailor Venus. She started to bend down to pick it up, but Sailor Neptune pulled her back.

Let Fuyumi explain; she's waking up, added Star Maker. Indeed, she was. In fact, it seemed like a complete change had come over her. Gone was her usual smirk of hatred. Instead, she seemed peaceful and happy. She seemed a bit disturbed to see her least favorite Sailor Senshi standing near her, but she shrugged it off.

Hi. I don't like you guys, but I feel like you've woken me up from a strange sleep. The last thing I remember was being in my anime club with my three friends, she said, and she wandered off and disappeared into the cold air.

Anime club? Did someone summon her away? asked Sailor Neptune to no one in particular. Her question wasn't answered, though, as the snowy world began to dissipate.