MercuryDestiny: Thanks, and that's alright! Just review this chapter!
Tenshi-Kaikou: Thanks, I hope I don't dissapoint with this chapter!
DevilWench: I love your story! Anyways, thanks for reviewing, hope this chapter's good!
Chapter 17
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Outside there were lots of trees, lots of grass, and a lovey little fountain in the very back. As soon as they exited, Noko and Koto took advantage of the dark, and slipped away.
"Now where did they go," Neptune asked. There question was answered when they heard a shout, followed by the sound of someone slumping to the ground and groaning.
"Trowa," Mercury heard Pluto say gently as she crouched by him. He attempted to stand,and she grabbed his arm to steady him. Realization washed over Mercury's face.
"Get away from the trees!" But it was too late then. Mars screamed as she and Wufei were attacked next, then tied to the big oak she had been standing next to in the blink of an eye. It was some sort of vine. Venus reached out to untie them, and gasped as she was pulled in too.
"We will need no interferance tonight," Noko said. The trees all got vines which grabbed whoever was closest to them. Mercury and Quatre lept from the area of trees, far away enough so that they wouldn't be harmed.
Duo tried to untie Venus, and ended up tied to her, which he didn't exactly mind. He was tied facing her chest, and he kept looking down until she kneed him Heero, Jupiter, Pluto, and Trowa tried to escape as Mercury and Quatre did. A vine grabbed Pluto by the ankle, and when Jupiter paused to untie her, the group was caught. Uranus and Neptune made it out of the area next to Quatre and Mercury. Tux. mask and Sailor Moon followed Neptune and Uranus.
The six backed up as much as possible before taking off, with the intentions of coming back to release their friends once coming up with a plan, and Noko and Koto secretly at their heels.
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As soon as Aiko and James returned to the hall, Julliana and Greg went to explain to Rini and Hotaru quietly what was happening. The two had the most faith in everyone, and calmed Greg and Julliana down by assuring them that everyone would be back in one hour perfectly fine. It only helped Greg's nerves a little bit though.
Aiko sat down at the table numbly, and James sat next to her, gripping her hand. Aiko was worried, he knew, but James believed that Ami would come back perfectly fine. He had seen her leap onto the shore from the dock. He had seen her fight with her friends several times. He knew she was intelligent. Now that he knew she was Sailor Mercury, he was almost relieved. Relieved that she hadn't been sneaking out for no reason, and relieved that he knew at least she could protect herself. He was a little worried too, ofcourse, but convinced himself that Ami would be fine.
"What happened," asked Anna, "everyone seemed just fine a bit ago? Why did Quatre do that to that boy over there?"
"Yes, Quatre's a very nice boy, it was the last I expected of him," Lisa agreed, nodding her head.
"Just a personal dispute, and they all worked it out," James said quickly.
"I suppose. All of them were shouting, they looked angry at the girl," Kevin pointed out. Damion, Aileen, and Goerge nodded.
"And where'd they all go," asked Lisa. Joseph shrugged, bored.
"Say Joseph, why don't you go ask those two girls to dance," Goeage said with a devilish smile, talking about Rini and Hotaru, whom had already convinced Julliana and Greg to dance, and were getting up as well knowing that they could do nothing about the current situation outside.
Joseph blushed.
"Grandpa...."
"Come on now son, don't be afraid of girls,' his gramps said, grabbing his hand and leading him over to the two.
"Hello ladies, you two look cute tonight. This is Joseph, and he commented to em on how pretty you both are earlier. Why don't the three of you go dance," Goerge told them, winking at Joe, who blushed more. Rini giggled.
"Alright, come on Joe." Hotaru nodded. They two took his hands and they strarted doing a childish dance which involved spinning around and lots of laughter.
Aiko felt too worried to do much, at least not until she saw Ami back in the room safe and sound.
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Mercury, Quatre, Neptune, Uranus, Moon, and Mamoru reached a clearing, only to be surrounded by several youma. Now the fighting began.
"World shaking," Uranus screamed, taking ot about 10 of them, only to have them double.
"This won't work, we've gotta find Noko and Koto to get rid of these youma," Mamoru pointed out.
The youma all attacked at once, and despite the fact that they doubled, the six couldn't be sitting ducks. So until they found Noko and Koto, they would have to fight back.
The youma, instead of just firing attacks, charged at them. Mercury knew why. The youma were always losing because attacks were fired at them from a distance without hand to hand combat, usually. If the large amouunt attacked all at once, attacking from a close distance at the scouts, then they would have a better chance of winning. The readings flared off the charts. Noko and Koto had been waiting on these youma, they were very powerful.
Soon, it was like a battle field as Quatre remembered them. Except, he wasn't in his gundam. They had too avoid being killed by slashing at the youma or quickly getting rid of them with anything they had, nails included for Mercury who was not used to a battle of this type. Ofcourse, they always came back as two, but the sailor scouts couldn't use their powers so quickly.
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Aiko couldn't stand it anymore. She was gripping James' hand so tight that it hurt him, and her knuckles were turning white. She had to go help Ami.
She stood.
"Uh...where are you going honey? To get some desert, I hope," he added as an afterthought, smiling a little nervously.
"Bathroom break sweetie," she said, giving him a crooked smile and exiting the hall.
"Lisa, I think you have to go to the bathroom too," James said, hoping his sister would help out.
"No actually, I-" Lisa was cut off. "Oww! James, why'd you kick me?"
"Kick you?" He gave a nervous laugh, "don't be silly Lisa. But I do think that Aiko needs your help in the restroom," he said, putting on one of his charming smiles. Lisa rolled her eyes and headed after Aiko. For some reason, her brother didn't want Aiko unattented. She would play along with this for now, only for now.
She stood and followed Aiko, and caught up with her when she was at the door exiting the rec center.
"Where're you going hun, the bathroom's this way," she said, latching onto Aiko's arm and pulling her in the other direction. Aiko frowned at her, and she grinned, looking innocent enough, at least she hoped. Aiko sighed and let her drag her into the washroom, away from the door. She hoped Lisa would let her be a few minutes so that she oculd go check on Ami, but she certainly couldn't raise suspicion now. However, her hope of going to help Ami was destroyed when she entered the restroom, and was crowded around by a bunch of woman.
She looked around. The restroom had two couches. Perfect. They lead her over and every time she tried to get up, one of them would say, "oh please stay and talk. I miss our little chats." Or something along that line. And Lisa, strangely enough, wanted to keep the conversation going every time it ended. Alright, Aiko would play along with Lisa'd little game for now, and then she would go kick James' butt.
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Mercury fell to the floor in almost a heap, next to Sailor Moon. She wasn't used to this kind of fighting. Neptune fell next, a bit stronger than Mercury, but soon Mamoru, having taken too many blows to the head, collapsed, completely unconsious. Quatre kneeled in front of Mercury, exhausted, cut up, and trying to stay consious as more blows came there way. It was more like a massacre now. Uranus finally collapsed next to Neptune, unable to continue. It was over. Mercury feared the worst.
And the onslaught stopped. Mercury looked up, her vision clearing a bit behind her visor. Noko and Koto floated above them, and the youma were now gone.
"You were hard to break down, Mercury. Now you're weak enough to remove your essence. But first, I'll rid us of the distractions," Koto said, snapping his fingers. All of Ami's friends suddenly dissapeared.
"What did you do," she demanded weakly.
"I simply sent them to be tied up with your friends, for now. Once we've taken care of you, we'll kill them.
"I'm not that weak. You can do whatever you want to me, just levae them alone," she screamed.
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Aiko couldn't wait any longer. The ladies mindless chatter was getting on her nerves. She began a fit of coughs.
"Goodness!" "Aiko, dear!" "Are you alright?" "Quickly, the heimleck manuever!" "She's not choking!"
"Just some water, excuse me," she said, fooling them and jumping up before they could speak more.
Lisa jumped up to follow, but was stopped by the women.
"So, you're the grooms sister, huh?" "Saw your son, lovely boy." "That husband of yours is quite a catch. What was his name. Nevin, Kevin?" AIko would just have to fend for herself, whatever the reason, while she fended off these crazy gossipers.
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So, you put yourself before your friends. You won't be weak enough then. We'll have to take care of them first so that they don't bother us anyways, because you know they will," Noko said, smiling evily.
"Ami! Oh my God, what happened?! Are you Alright?" Mercury looked up, fearing what she thought it was, and she was right. Her mother ran out of the rec center and over to her.
"Who's this? Oh yes, your mommy," Noko said, laughing. Koto frowned.
"Don't you talk to me like that Mr. Where are your parents? We'll be having a serious chat!" Mercury rolled her eyes, and sat up, struggling to stand.
"Mother, if you want to get us killed, keep talking," she said, standing in front of her and glaring at the twins.
"But you need medical attention!"
"I don't have time for this," Noko said, Koto nodding. The vines that were holding their friends appeared, and before Mercury could blink her and her mothers hands were tied and they were bound together, back to back.
"We'll be back," Koto said dissapearing.
"Nooo!" Mercury screamed after them. Mercury tried to sit up, but it was impossible because of her injuries and the strange vine.
"Oh great." Her mother sighed.
"Well, at least we're safe and together," Aiko replied.
"But my friends are being attacked now! Besides mother, how long will we be safe? Until they finish killing off my friends and come back to finish the job?" Mercury's words were cutting, even for Aiko who had been hearing things like this the past few weeks.
"Why are you so angry at me. You're the one who's been lieing to me for however long you've been doing this," Aiko shot back, struggling With the vines.
"It's not like I was doing it for a bad reason. Besides, mother, it's been 3 years and you had yet to notice a single thing!"
"Well...well excuse me for working so that I could single-handedly provide for this family!"
"Yeah right, sending me to cram school and signing me up for a bunch of different things in my afternoon is really caring. I've been coming home to an empty house since I was 12, and before then I would be home at 7:00 and you would send a nanny or someone to stay with me until I fell asleep!"
Aiko had no response.
"What? Finally quiet? No opinion? Not a word, for once?" Mercury demanded.
"I will never understand you. You're angry at me for being a mother!"
"If you were a mother, you would have at least known I was gone for most of the summer. Summer camp! Yeah right, I can't believe it! You weren't even home most of the summer to see! And you know what, I'm ussually never home during the school season until about 12:00, whether I'm training or fighting, and you don't even notice!"
"Training! For what? And fighting these- these things!"
"If we didn't, the world would be long destroyed by now," Mercury pointed out.
"Couldn't you call the police or something?"
"Are you kidding? In this type of battle, they're as useful as you,"she told her, struggling with the vine.
"Stop that now Ami. That vine is cutting into me every time you move," Aiko said. Mercury stopped.
"It's no use anyways. Greg and Julliana will be out here soon anyways. He'll cut us loose," Mercury said, relaxing slightly.
"How will they know we're here," Aiko asked.
"Greg- and Julliana....they're not quite normal. Especially not Greg. He'll know," she said, her voice reassuring. A long silence followed.
"I'm sorry. Ami, honey I love you. You know I do. In truth I should have been much more aware. I shouldn't yell at you for something that's not your fault," Aiko said, glad that Ami couldn't see her face because they were back to back.
"I- I'm sorry too. When I got back and you were all involved and trying to be a good mom, and not working- I hated it at first. The privacy and silence I had been used to every day was gone. Now, if you were to go back to work, and have things back to the way they were, I think I would really miss it," Mercury said.
Aiko, despite herself, was smiling when they heard the sound of fottsteps coming quickly their way. Greg and Julliana came into view, and with him Greg held a knife from inside. Not very sharp, but it would have to do.
"Just in time," Mercury said, smiling. Greg smirked while Julliana crouched down next to him.
He cut the first vine, only to have it grow back. He sighed.
"They had to make it hard, didn't they?"
"I've got an idea," Julliana said. "Try again."
Greg cut the vine, and while it was still unconnected Julliana grabbed the two ends and kept them held apart while Mercury wrestled loose, and Greg helped her mother get out.
"Quickly, it's trying to reconnect," Julliana said. Everyone stepped back, only to have it re-attatch itself to Julliana's ankle.
"Dammit," Greg siad, stepping forwards to try and get it off.
"Here, don't bother Greg. Just step back. Julliana, keep your ankle away from your body," Mercuryi instructed.
"No way Merc! Yu'll freeze my ankle and it'll fall off with the vine!"
"I promice I'll aim as accurately as possible. Do you want it off?" At Juliana's nod, Ami continued.
"Besides, I have a new attack that's more accurate. Here." She positioned her hands above her.
"Mercury Ice...." A sphere of ice formed in her hand, taking the shape of what she thought of first, which was a sword, then a torent, and finally a sphere, which she aimed with, and threw. "Formation!" It hit the vine perfectly, turning it to ice and then disinigrating it.
"Excellent," Greg said, "now, I believe your friends are in need of some help."
"Yes, they are. let's go. Mom, can you go back inside and act like nothing's wrong?" Her mother blinked, looking a little upset.
"Aww, cheer up. Tomorrow's your wedding day! Your maid of honor won't let you down," she re-assured, as her mother took off towards the center. They watched here enter before heading off to find their friends. As they walked, Mercury though a bit about the notes. And realization quickly washed over face.
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Aiko entered, and smoothed out her skirt and shirt, sprayed on some perfume and entered. Everyone was dancing, and lisa sat with James seemingly explining something.
"I don't know what that was about, but it's your problem Jerk! Come on Kevin, let'd dance," she said, her tone softening.
"What was all that about," Aiko aksed, sitting down.
"I asked her to follow you and couldn't give her a reason why," he said, smiling. Aiko was happy that he'd worried, even though he'd put his sister through a lot of trouble.
"Ami and I talked things out, and I'm positive she'll be fine. You were right, she's strong. So come dance with me! You're making a bad impression, since we haven't danced all night!" Everyone cheered as the two stepped on to the dance floor.
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When Mercury found her friends, they were fairing much better than she'd thought. Of course, her friends would never be down withought a fight! They had all gotten out of the vines, and were defending themsleves good. When Noko and Koto saw Mercury, they stopped.
"Oh, so you got out, huh? Better for us, we'll take you all down as once. As soon as we take that essence," Noko declared.
Koto swooped down in front of her, making everyone tense up.
"Ready, Mercury," he asked.
"Not quite, she resonded, reaching into her sub-space pocket and pulling out several small pieces of paper.
"What are you doing?" She smiled at Koto in responce, and began to read some of the notes aloud to him.
"What is this crappe she's talking about Koto? Get rid of her," demanded Noko, coming closer to the two. Mercury ignored him and continued to read, Koto's face slowly twisting up into that of worry as he looked at his brother.
"What are you doing Mercury," called Venus.
"Just reading to Koto some of his brilliant works," she responded calmly, continuing with the final note.
"Your works, what the hell does she mean? Tell me, now!" Demanded Noko, appearing behind his brother.
"She- I..." Koto sighed in frustration. Noko however didn't consider that an acceptable answer. He raised his hand and hit his brother in the head as hard as he could, sending him sprawling to the ground, landing with a hard thud. Koto struggled to his feet, but Noko wasn't finished.
"Idiot! Had you not written those damned notes, then the we would have long ago had the essence! You've ruined our plans! Your plotting against me!"
Koto looked up at his brother angrilly.
"What we're doing is wrong. I've never felt such remorse before! We've killed so many already, so much blood is on our hands! Isn't that enough?" Koto's words were sincere.
Noko smirked. "You are weak. You've never had it in you to kill. You will die with the rest of them."
Mercury couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not only had Koko helped her by writing the notes, but Koto had been the brains and the strategist behind their entire plan. Noko was just a ruthless killer. Koto was different. He could...he could be healed.
"Please brother, just give up. The will power of the senshi is far too strong for even you to beat," Koto said. "Your hold over me and your evil ways will haunt me no longer."
"My evil ways? Tell me brother, what is it that haunts you," Noko asked, an evil grin spreading across his face. Koto stood his ground.
"The screams of children as you murdered them for their life energy," Koto responded, his eyes betraying his stone set face. Noko let out a scream of fury.
"You will pay brother! All of you will! Be ready for me tomorrow!" Mercury's heart sank when he said this. Her mother's wedding. Noko dissapeared in a rage, obviously to regain power and re-think his previous plans.
She looked over at her friends. While she had been tied up, they had been fighting to stay alive, and looked completely drained.
"Do any of you hav ethe energy to heal him?" Everyone shook their heads, automatically losing their transformations once this had been said, some before.
"Alright, I'll do it, I guess." Mercury was tired, but she hadn't really used many attacks for energy. They had been attacked too closely for that.
"You sure," asked Moon.
"Yeah, I barely used my powers tonight. Did a lot of running though," she said, giving a weak laugh. They all turned to face Koto, whom looked a little left out and nervous.
"Thankyou. You've probably saved my life countless times with your notes. If you're ready, I can rid you of the last of your evil," she told him. He smiled, only it wasn't creepy like Noko's.
"Yes, go ahead before my evil side takes over and I change my mind," he said. She smiled.
She closed her eyes, and they opened looking blank. The healing ring on her finger started glowing blue. The symbols lit up, and hse bagan chanting words in ancient mercurian she couldn't understand, the chanting growing louder until a light blasted from her ring and hit Koto. He screamed and a black aura surrounded him.
When it dissapeared, he looked like one of the two young men she had let into the rec center earlier. Forest green hair and marroon eyes. They held a new life in them.
"Thankyou. I even still retain most of my powers. How can I ever re-pay you," he asked.
"By helping us stop Noko tomorrow. He'll ruin my mother's wedding. Be at the Hikawa Shrine tomorrow,a lright? I'll stop be real quick, and you can come to the wedidng so we can all keep an eye out," Ami replied. She felt her legs go weak.
Her transformation faded right away afterwards like her friends, and she resisted slumping on Quatre until most everyone had headed in, after straitening themselves up to look normal, and fighting over one bottle of perfume, and a small one of hairspray, plus a first aid kit Ami had everyone tended to right way with, everyone entered. Her friends weren't too tired and beta up to go slow dance. So Rei dragged Wufei out there, Minako and Duo joining, Makoto making Heero come, Setsuna forcing Trowa on, Usagi and Mamoru aitomatically going, and Greg and Julliana stepping on together. Hotaru and Rini were relieved to see everyone. Ami and Quatre entered last, and she smiled at her mother, whom ran over to her worriedly.
"Now to check on your injuries," she said. She frowned when Ami pulled back.
"I brough a first aid kit with me, that's all we need for now." Ami was totally drained, but couldn't resist one dance with Quatre. They danced very slowly, barely moving now. She leaned her head against his shoulder. She watched Koto shyly approach a group of girls, one of whom took his hand to dance.
Joseph was still dancing with Rini and Hotaru.
"Well, at least we have Koto on our side now," he said softly into her ear, so that only she could hear.
"Yes, that is good. But still, I'm worried. What if he ends of hurting someone, I couldn't live with myself," she responded just as quietly. Quatre sighed.
"I don't know what to do, Ames. Tomorrow's your mother's big day, we've got to get it together or else everyone is gonna know."
"I know, I know. I've just been so tired lately and I feel like I don't have the energy to do anything. Nothing. I'm just zapped out..." her soft voice faded, before she straitened, stopping dancing.
"I'm too tired to dance, let's sit," she told him. He nodded, feeling the same. The two of them numbly walked to the table, where her friends sat, also a little too tired to dance.
Lisa approached the table, a glass of wine in her hand.
"Hey? What's wrong with you teens? Come on, it's only 11:00, you should be partying!" Ami stared up at Lisa, slightly bothered.
'Geez, A bit cranky now Ami. Get soem rest, you look like you're going to keel over," Lisa said, smiling, but having meaning behind her words.
Ami sighed. Tomorrow would be a VERY long day.
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Whatcha think? Please tell! Sorry for any spelling or graqmmer mistakes!
Tenshi-Kaikou: Thanks, I hope I don't dissapoint with this chapter!
DevilWench: I love your story! Anyways, thanks for reviewing, hope this chapter's good!
Chapter 17
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Outside there were lots of trees, lots of grass, and a lovey little fountain in the very back. As soon as they exited, Noko and Koto took advantage of the dark, and slipped away.
"Now where did they go," Neptune asked. There question was answered when they heard a shout, followed by the sound of someone slumping to the ground and groaning.
"Trowa," Mercury heard Pluto say gently as she crouched by him. He attempted to stand,and she grabbed his arm to steady him. Realization washed over Mercury's face.
"Get away from the trees!" But it was too late then. Mars screamed as she and Wufei were attacked next, then tied to the big oak she had been standing next to in the blink of an eye. It was some sort of vine. Venus reached out to untie them, and gasped as she was pulled in too.
"We will need no interferance tonight," Noko said. The trees all got vines which grabbed whoever was closest to them. Mercury and Quatre lept from the area of trees, far away enough so that they wouldn't be harmed.
Duo tried to untie Venus, and ended up tied to her, which he didn't exactly mind. He was tied facing her chest, and he kept looking down until she kneed him Heero, Jupiter, Pluto, and Trowa tried to escape as Mercury and Quatre did. A vine grabbed Pluto by the ankle, and when Jupiter paused to untie her, the group was caught. Uranus and Neptune made it out of the area next to Quatre and Mercury. Tux. mask and Sailor Moon followed Neptune and Uranus.
The six backed up as much as possible before taking off, with the intentions of coming back to release their friends once coming up with a plan, and Noko and Koto secretly at their heels.
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As soon as Aiko and James returned to the hall, Julliana and Greg went to explain to Rini and Hotaru quietly what was happening. The two had the most faith in everyone, and calmed Greg and Julliana down by assuring them that everyone would be back in one hour perfectly fine. It only helped Greg's nerves a little bit though.
Aiko sat down at the table numbly, and James sat next to her, gripping her hand. Aiko was worried, he knew, but James believed that Ami would come back perfectly fine. He had seen her leap onto the shore from the dock. He had seen her fight with her friends several times. He knew she was intelligent. Now that he knew she was Sailor Mercury, he was almost relieved. Relieved that she hadn't been sneaking out for no reason, and relieved that he knew at least she could protect herself. He was a little worried too, ofcourse, but convinced himself that Ami would be fine.
"What happened," asked Anna, "everyone seemed just fine a bit ago? Why did Quatre do that to that boy over there?"
"Yes, Quatre's a very nice boy, it was the last I expected of him," Lisa agreed, nodding her head.
"Just a personal dispute, and they all worked it out," James said quickly.
"I suppose. All of them were shouting, they looked angry at the girl," Kevin pointed out. Damion, Aileen, and Goerge nodded.
"And where'd they all go," asked Lisa. Joseph shrugged, bored.
"Say Joseph, why don't you go ask those two girls to dance," Goeage said with a devilish smile, talking about Rini and Hotaru, whom had already convinced Julliana and Greg to dance, and were getting up as well knowing that they could do nothing about the current situation outside.
Joseph blushed.
"Grandpa...."
"Come on now son, don't be afraid of girls,' his gramps said, grabbing his hand and leading him over to the two.
"Hello ladies, you two look cute tonight. This is Joseph, and he commented to em on how pretty you both are earlier. Why don't the three of you go dance," Goerge told them, winking at Joe, who blushed more. Rini giggled.
"Alright, come on Joe." Hotaru nodded. They two took his hands and they strarted doing a childish dance which involved spinning around and lots of laughter.
Aiko felt too worried to do much, at least not until she saw Ami back in the room safe and sound.
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Mercury, Quatre, Neptune, Uranus, Moon, and Mamoru reached a clearing, only to be surrounded by several youma. Now the fighting began.
"World shaking," Uranus screamed, taking ot about 10 of them, only to have them double.
"This won't work, we've gotta find Noko and Koto to get rid of these youma," Mamoru pointed out.
The youma all attacked at once, and despite the fact that they doubled, the six couldn't be sitting ducks. So until they found Noko and Koto, they would have to fight back.
The youma, instead of just firing attacks, charged at them. Mercury knew why. The youma were always losing because attacks were fired at them from a distance without hand to hand combat, usually. If the large amouunt attacked all at once, attacking from a close distance at the scouts, then they would have a better chance of winning. The readings flared off the charts. Noko and Koto had been waiting on these youma, they were very powerful.
Soon, it was like a battle field as Quatre remembered them. Except, he wasn't in his gundam. They had too avoid being killed by slashing at the youma or quickly getting rid of them with anything they had, nails included for Mercury who was not used to a battle of this type. Ofcourse, they always came back as two, but the sailor scouts couldn't use their powers so quickly.
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Aiko couldn't stand it anymore. She was gripping James' hand so tight that it hurt him, and her knuckles were turning white. She had to go help Ami.
She stood.
"Uh...where are you going honey? To get some desert, I hope," he added as an afterthought, smiling a little nervously.
"Bathroom break sweetie," she said, giving him a crooked smile and exiting the hall.
"Lisa, I think you have to go to the bathroom too," James said, hoping his sister would help out.
"No actually, I-" Lisa was cut off. "Oww! James, why'd you kick me?"
"Kick you?" He gave a nervous laugh, "don't be silly Lisa. But I do think that Aiko needs your help in the restroom," he said, putting on one of his charming smiles. Lisa rolled her eyes and headed after Aiko. For some reason, her brother didn't want Aiko unattented. She would play along with this for now, only for now.
She stood and followed Aiko, and caught up with her when she was at the door exiting the rec center.
"Where're you going hun, the bathroom's this way," she said, latching onto Aiko's arm and pulling her in the other direction. Aiko frowned at her, and she grinned, looking innocent enough, at least she hoped. Aiko sighed and let her drag her into the washroom, away from the door. She hoped Lisa would let her be a few minutes so that she oculd go check on Ami, but she certainly couldn't raise suspicion now. However, her hope of going to help Ami was destroyed when she entered the restroom, and was crowded around by a bunch of woman.
She looked around. The restroom had two couches. Perfect. They lead her over and every time she tried to get up, one of them would say, "oh please stay and talk. I miss our little chats." Or something along that line. And Lisa, strangely enough, wanted to keep the conversation going every time it ended. Alright, Aiko would play along with Lisa'd little game for now, and then she would go kick James' butt.
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Mercury fell to the floor in almost a heap, next to Sailor Moon. She wasn't used to this kind of fighting. Neptune fell next, a bit stronger than Mercury, but soon Mamoru, having taken too many blows to the head, collapsed, completely unconsious. Quatre kneeled in front of Mercury, exhausted, cut up, and trying to stay consious as more blows came there way. It was more like a massacre now. Uranus finally collapsed next to Neptune, unable to continue. It was over. Mercury feared the worst.
And the onslaught stopped. Mercury looked up, her vision clearing a bit behind her visor. Noko and Koto floated above them, and the youma were now gone.
"You were hard to break down, Mercury. Now you're weak enough to remove your essence. But first, I'll rid us of the distractions," Koto said, snapping his fingers. All of Ami's friends suddenly dissapeared.
"What did you do," she demanded weakly.
"I simply sent them to be tied up with your friends, for now. Once we've taken care of you, we'll kill them.
"I'm not that weak. You can do whatever you want to me, just levae them alone," she screamed.
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Aiko couldn't wait any longer. The ladies mindless chatter was getting on her nerves. She began a fit of coughs.
"Goodness!" "Aiko, dear!" "Are you alright?" "Quickly, the heimleck manuever!" "She's not choking!"
"Just some water, excuse me," she said, fooling them and jumping up before they could speak more.
Lisa jumped up to follow, but was stopped by the women.
"So, you're the grooms sister, huh?" "Saw your son, lovely boy." "That husband of yours is quite a catch. What was his name. Nevin, Kevin?" AIko would just have to fend for herself, whatever the reason, while she fended off these crazy gossipers.
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So, you put yourself before your friends. You won't be weak enough then. We'll have to take care of them first so that they don't bother us anyways, because you know they will," Noko said, smiling evily.
"Ami! Oh my God, what happened?! Are you Alright?" Mercury looked up, fearing what she thought it was, and she was right. Her mother ran out of the rec center and over to her.
"Who's this? Oh yes, your mommy," Noko said, laughing. Koto frowned.
"Don't you talk to me like that Mr. Where are your parents? We'll be having a serious chat!" Mercury rolled her eyes, and sat up, struggling to stand.
"Mother, if you want to get us killed, keep talking," she said, standing in front of her and glaring at the twins.
"But you need medical attention!"
"I don't have time for this," Noko said, Koto nodding. The vines that were holding their friends appeared, and before Mercury could blink her and her mothers hands were tied and they were bound together, back to back.
"We'll be back," Koto said dissapearing.
"Nooo!" Mercury screamed after them. Mercury tried to sit up, but it was impossible because of her injuries and the strange vine.
"Oh great." Her mother sighed.
"Well, at least we're safe and together," Aiko replied.
"But my friends are being attacked now! Besides mother, how long will we be safe? Until they finish killing off my friends and come back to finish the job?" Mercury's words were cutting, even for Aiko who had been hearing things like this the past few weeks.
"Why are you so angry at me. You're the one who's been lieing to me for however long you've been doing this," Aiko shot back, struggling With the vines.
"It's not like I was doing it for a bad reason. Besides, mother, it's been 3 years and you had yet to notice a single thing!"
"Well...well excuse me for working so that I could single-handedly provide for this family!"
"Yeah right, sending me to cram school and signing me up for a bunch of different things in my afternoon is really caring. I've been coming home to an empty house since I was 12, and before then I would be home at 7:00 and you would send a nanny or someone to stay with me until I fell asleep!"
Aiko had no response.
"What? Finally quiet? No opinion? Not a word, for once?" Mercury demanded.
"I will never understand you. You're angry at me for being a mother!"
"If you were a mother, you would have at least known I was gone for most of the summer. Summer camp! Yeah right, I can't believe it! You weren't even home most of the summer to see! And you know what, I'm ussually never home during the school season until about 12:00, whether I'm training or fighting, and you don't even notice!"
"Training! For what? And fighting these- these things!"
"If we didn't, the world would be long destroyed by now," Mercury pointed out.
"Couldn't you call the police or something?"
"Are you kidding? In this type of battle, they're as useful as you,"she told her, struggling with the vine.
"Stop that now Ami. That vine is cutting into me every time you move," Aiko said. Mercury stopped.
"It's no use anyways. Greg and Julliana will be out here soon anyways. He'll cut us loose," Mercury said, relaxing slightly.
"How will they know we're here," Aiko asked.
"Greg- and Julliana....they're not quite normal. Especially not Greg. He'll know," she said, her voice reassuring. A long silence followed.
"I'm sorry. Ami, honey I love you. You know I do. In truth I should have been much more aware. I shouldn't yell at you for something that's not your fault," Aiko said, glad that Ami couldn't see her face because they were back to back.
"I- I'm sorry too. When I got back and you were all involved and trying to be a good mom, and not working- I hated it at first. The privacy and silence I had been used to every day was gone. Now, if you were to go back to work, and have things back to the way they were, I think I would really miss it," Mercury said.
Aiko, despite herself, was smiling when they heard the sound of fottsteps coming quickly their way. Greg and Julliana came into view, and with him Greg held a knife from inside. Not very sharp, but it would have to do.
"Just in time," Mercury said, smiling. Greg smirked while Julliana crouched down next to him.
He cut the first vine, only to have it grow back. He sighed.
"They had to make it hard, didn't they?"
"I've got an idea," Julliana said. "Try again."
Greg cut the vine, and while it was still unconnected Julliana grabbed the two ends and kept them held apart while Mercury wrestled loose, and Greg helped her mother get out.
"Quickly, it's trying to reconnect," Julliana said. Everyone stepped back, only to have it re-attatch itself to Julliana's ankle.
"Dammit," Greg siad, stepping forwards to try and get it off.
"Here, don't bother Greg. Just step back. Julliana, keep your ankle away from your body," Mercuryi instructed.
"No way Merc! Yu'll freeze my ankle and it'll fall off with the vine!"
"I promice I'll aim as accurately as possible. Do you want it off?" At Juliana's nod, Ami continued.
"Besides, I have a new attack that's more accurate. Here." She positioned her hands above her.
"Mercury Ice...." A sphere of ice formed in her hand, taking the shape of what she thought of first, which was a sword, then a torent, and finally a sphere, which she aimed with, and threw. "Formation!" It hit the vine perfectly, turning it to ice and then disinigrating it.
"Excellent," Greg said, "now, I believe your friends are in need of some help."
"Yes, they are. let's go. Mom, can you go back inside and act like nothing's wrong?" Her mother blinked, looking a little upset.
"Aww, cheer up. Tomorrow's your wedding day! Your maid of honor won't let you down," she re-assured, as her mother took off towards the center. They watched here enter before heading off to find their friends. As they walked, Mercury though a bit about the notes. And realization quickly washed over face.
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Aiko entered, and smoothed out her skirt and shirt, sprayed on some perfume and entered. Everyone was dancing, and lisa sat with James seemingly explining something.
"I don't know what that was about, but it's your problem Jerk! Come on Kevin, let'd dance," she said, her tone softening.
"What was all that about," Aiko aksed, sitting down.
"I asked her to follow you and couldn't give her a reason why," he said, smiling. Aiko was happy that he'd worried, even though he'd put his sister through a lot of trouble.
"Ami and I talked things out, and I'm positive she'll be fine. You were right, she's strong. So come dance with me! You're making a bad impression, since we haven't danced all night!" Everyone cheered as the two stepped on to the dance floor.
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When Mercury found her friends, they were fairing much better than she'd thought. Of course, her friends would never be down withought a fight! They had all gotten out of the vines, and were defending themsleves good. When Noko and Koto saw Mercury, they stopped.
"Oh, so you got out, huh? Better for us, we'll take you all down as once. As soon as we take that essence," Noko declared.
Koto swooped down in front of her, making everyone tense up.
"Ready, Mercury," he asked.
"Not quite, she resonded, reaching into her sub-space pocket and pulling out several small pieces of paper.
"What are you doing?" She smiled at Koto in responce, and began to read some of the notes aloud to him.
"What is this crappe she's talking about Koto? Get rid of her," demanded Noko, coming closer to the two. Mercury ignored him and continued to read, Koto's face slowly twisting up into that of worry as he looked at his brother.
"What are you doing Mercury," called Venus.
"Just reading to Koto some of his brilliant works," she responded calmly, continuing with the final note.
"Your works, what the hell does she mean? Tell me, now!" Demanded Noko, appearing behind his brother.
"She- I..." Koto sighed in frustration. Noko however didn't consider that an acceptable answer. He raised his hand and hit his brother in the head as hard as he could, sending him sprawling to the ground, landing with a hard thud. Koto struggled to his feet, but Noko wasn't finished.
"Idiot! Had you not written those damned notes, then the we would have long ago had the essence! You've ruined our plans! Your plotting against me!"
Koto looked up at his brother angrilly.
"What we're doing is wrong. I've never felt such remorse before! We've killed so many already, so much blood is on our hands! Isn't that enough?" Koto's words were sincere.
Noko smirked. "You are weak. You've never had it in you to kill. You will die with the rest of them."
Mercury couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not only had Koko helped her by writing the notes, but Koto had been the brains and the strategist behind their entire plan. Noko was just a ruthless killer. Koto was different. He could...he could be healed.
"Please brother, just give up. The will power of the senshi is far too strong for even you to beat," Koto said. "Your hold over me and your evil ways will haunt me no longer."
"My evil ways? Tell me brother, what is it that haunts you," Noko asked, an evil grin spreading across his face. Koto stood his ground.
"The screams of children as you murdered them for their life energy," Koto responded, his eyes betraying his stone set face. Noko let out a scream of fury.
"You will pay brother! All of you will! Be ready for me tomorrow!" Mercury's heart sank when he said this. Her mother's wedding. Noko dissapeared in a rage, obviously to regain power and re-think his previous plans.
She looked over at her friends. While she had been tied up, they had been fighting to stay alive, and looked completely drained.
"Do any of you hav ethe energy to heal him?" Everyone shook their heads, automatically losing their transformations once this had been said, some before.
"Alright, I'll do it, I guess." Mercury was tired, but she hadn't really used many attacks for energy. They had been attacked too closely for that.
"You sure," asked Moon.
"Yeah, I barely used my powers tonight. Did a lot of running though," she said, giving a weak laugh. They all turned to face Koto, whom looked a little left out and nervous.
"Thankyou. You've probably saved my life countless times with your notes. If you're ready, I can rid you of the last of your evil," she told him. He smiled, only it wasn't creepy like Noko's.
"Yes, go ahead before my evil side takes over and I change my mind," he said. She smiled.
She closed her eyes, and they opened looking blank. The healing ring on her finger started glowing blue. The symbols lit up, and hse bagan chanting words in ancient mercurian she couldn't understand, the chanting growing louder until a light blasted from her ring and hit Koto. He screamed and a black aura surrounded him.
When it dissapeared, he looked like one of the two young men she had let into the rec center earlier. Forest green hair and marroon eyes. They held a new life in them.
"Thankyou. I even still retain most of my powers. How can I ever re-pay you," he asked.
"By helping us stop Noko tomorrow. He'll ruin my mother's wedding. Be at the Hikawa Shrine tomorrow,a lright? I'll stop be real quick, and you can come to the wedidng so we can all keep an eye out," Ami replied. She felt her legs go weak.
Her transformation faded right away afterwards like her friends, and she resisted slumping on Quatre until most everyone had headed in, after straitening themselves up to look normal, and fighting over one bottle of perfume, and a small one of hairspray, plus a first aid kit Ami had everyone tended to right way with, everyone entered. Her friends weren't too tired and beta up to go slow dance. So Rei dragged Wufei out there, Minako and Duo joining, Makoto making Heero come, Setsuna forcing Trowa on, Usagi and Mamoru aitomatically going, and Greg and Julliana stepping on together. Hotaru and Rini were relieved to see everyone. Ami and Quatre entered last, and she smiled at her mother, whom ran over to her worriedly.
"Now to check on your injuries," she said. She frowned when Ami pulled back.
"I brough a first aid kit with me, that's all we need for now." Ami was totally drained, but couldn't resist one dance with Quatre. They danced very slowly, barely moving now. She leaned her head against his shoulder. She watched Koto shyly approach a group of girls, one of whom took his hand to dance.
Joseph was still dancing with Rini and Hotaru.
"Well, at least we have Koto on our side now," he said softly into her ear, so that only she could hear.
"Yes, that is good. But still, I'm worried. What if he ends of hurting someone, I couldn't live with myself," she responded just as quietly. Quatre sighed.
"I don't know what to do, Ames. Tomorrow's your mother's big day, we've got to get it together or else everyone is gonna know."
"I know, I know. I've just been so tired lately and I feel like I don't have the energy to do anything. Nothing. I'm just zapped out..." her soft voice faded, before she straitened, stopping dancing.
"I'm too tired to dance, let's sit," she told him. He nodded, feeling the same. The two of them numbly walked to the table, where her friends sat, also a little too tired to dance.
Lisa approached the table, a glass of wine in her hand.
"Hey? What's wrong with you teens? Come on, it's only 11:00, you should be partying!" Ami stared up at Lisa, slightly bothered.
'Geez, A bit cranky now Ami. Get soem rest, you look like you're going to keel over," Lisa said, smiling, but having meaning behind her words.
Ami sighed. Tomorrow would be a VERY long day.
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Whatcha think? Please tell! Sorry for any spelling or graqmmer mistakes!