"NATURE LOVER"
A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic Chapter 3: "Flora and Fauna"

By Bill K.

Ves-Ves and Palla-Palla were sitting in the central room that connected the four sisters' bedrooms. Ves-Ves was at a computer terminal, valiantly trying to research a history paper for Sensei Aino-sama and growing more frustrated by the moment. Palla-Palla was at another terminal, putting together a video jigsaw puzzle. Jun-Jun entered. While Ves-Ves barely acknowledged her sister, Palla-Palla gave the girl a huge grin and waved.

"Jun-Jun, come see Palla-Palla's puzzle!" Palla-Palla begged. Her insistent manner brought Jun-Jun over - - the girl knew that her sister would keep insisting until Jun-Jun complied.

"It's very nice, Palla-Palla," Jun-Jun said patiently.

"Palla-Palla thinks the picture is going to be a pretty waterfall," the girl announced.

"I think you're right," Jun-Jun said. Shifting subjects quickly, Jun-Jun asked everyone, "Has anyone noticed Cere-Cere acting weird the last few weeks?"

"You're going to have to be more specific," Ves-Ves grunted, scowling at the computer screen. "Cere-Cere's always acting weird."

"Well," Jun-Jun began, "She seems - - preoccupied. She's always humming or daydreaming anymore. Remember a couple of days ago when Sensei Hino-sama caught her daydreaming in class?"

"Yeah," snickered Ves-Ves.

"Cere-Cere looked like she wet her panties," giggled Palla-Palla. "It was real funny."

"Yeah, it was a riot," muttered Jun-Jun acidly. "But she's spacing out like that a lot lately. And she's always spending her time in the garden now."

"So?" Ves-Ves asked. "You know what a freak she is for flowers. She probably sits down there and talks to them."

"Well, have you noticed how happy she is? It's like nothing phases her anymore."

"You want to know what Palla-Palla thinks?" Palla-Palla asked.

"Could we stop you?" Ves-Ves muttered.

"Palla-Palla thinks Cere-Cere has a boyfriend."

Jun-Jun descended on her sister while Ves-Ves whirled around to face her.

"How do you know that?" Jun-Jun inquired. "Have you seen him?"

"No," Palla-Palla replied innocently.

"Are you tuning into her thoughts?" Ves-Ves demanded.

"No! Sensei says Palla-Palla is getting very good at concentrating!"

"Then how do you know, Palla-Palla?" Jun-Jun asked.

The girl shrugged helplessly. "Palla-Palla doesn't know how she knows. She just does."

Ves-Ves and Jun-Jun turned to each other inquiringly.

"Maybe she can sense moods now," Jun-Jun shrugged. "The queen can do it."

"Well, there's one way to find out," Ves-Ves announced. She got to her feet and marched straight into Cere-Cere's bedroom.

"Ves, what are you doing?" Jun-Jun demanded, following her in. She and Palla-Palla found Ves-Ves fishing under the mattress of their sister's bed. She came out with an electronic device in her hand. "Ves, that's an audio storage log!"

"Not quite," Ves-Ves said, sitting on the bed. "It's Cere-Cere's audio storage log. Let's try last week. Access audio files for 3 October, 2995."

The device beeped.

"School was boring as ever," they heard Cere-Cere's voice narrate. "Sensei Hino-sama reprimanded me today. It was SO embarrassing. Sensei Hino-sama may be the absolute coolest person on the face of the Earth, but I wish she wasn't so strict. The only thing that kept it from being totally humiliating was she nailed Ves-Ves, too."

Ves-Ves scowled, while her sisters smirked.

"But all I had to do was go out into the garden and it suddenly didn't matter. Gallan was there again. He's been there every day this month, waiting for me, like he can't live without me. And - - and I'm beginning to think I can't live without him. He's so nice. I just feel so good when I'm around him. We connect in so many ways. I think maybe I - - no! I better not say it yet. Not even to you, diary. I'm afraid I'll jinx it. But Gallan's become - - very important to me."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" screeched the real Cere-Cere. The three girls whirled around and found her standing, fuming mad, in the doorway of the room. In the flash of an eye she was across the room and snatched the audio storage log out of Ves-Ves's hand. "You were listening to my DIARY?"

"Well, yeah," Ves-Ves replied incredulously.

"You . . .!" fumed Cere-Cere. "Now I wish the king HAD thrown you out!" She whirled on the other two. "And you two! I expect that from her! But you!"

"Please don't be angry!" whimpered Palla-Palla. "Palla-Palla's ever so sorry!"

"Yeah, we were just," Jun-Jun began, "um, trying to, um, stop, um, Ves-Ves. Boy, was that as lame as it sounded?"

"GET OUT! JUST GET OUT!" Cere-Cere bellowed tearfully.

"Nah, the Hell with all that!" Ves-Ves volleyed back. "Who's Gallan?"

"Never mind who Gallan is!" spat Cere-Cere. "He's someone who's worth twenty of YOU! A hundred of you!"

"Look, Cere," Jun-Jun offered, interjecting herself between her feuding sisters, "we're just curious. We've noticed you've been acting strange lately. We're just wondering about you. You know, that whole 'sisters stick together and worry about each other' thing?"

Cere-Cere didn't answer, save to sniff back bitter tears.

"And we were just wondering if you really did have a boyfriend, like it seems - - and if he was nice? And why you hadn't told us?"

"Yeah, were you afraid I'd steal him or something?" Ves-Ves added.

Cere-Cere gave her sister the cold shoulder.

"Cere, the secret's out," Jun-Jun said. "Sorry about how we found out, but we found out. From what we heard, he sounds like a nice guy. Does he live in the palace?"

"No," Cere-Cere whispered. "But he lives close by."

"Is he kind and gentle?" Palla-Palla asked.

A smile grew on Cere-Cere's pretty face. "Yes. He's got such a gentle spirit."

"Is he cute?" Ves-Ves asked hesitantly.

"Uh huh. He's like an adorable little boy and a big strong handsome man all rolled into one."

"Where'd you meet him?" Jun-Jun asked.

"In the garden. We meet there all the time. It's sort of become our 'special place'."

"Are you in love with him?" ventured Palla-Palla.

Cere-Cere bit her lip. "I don't know. Maybe. I could be. I don't know."

"Is he in love with you?" Ves-Ves posed.

"I think so."

"It sounds wonderful, Cere," Jun-Jun told her. "I don't understand why you don't want us to meet him."

Cere-Cere's featured clouded over. "It's not that. You can't. You just can't."

"Why not?" demanded Ves-Ves.

"YOU JUST CAN'T!" she wailed and fled the room. Her sisters watched her departure helplessly.

"Jun-Jun, why is Cere-Cere so sad?" sniffed Palla-Palla.

"I don't know, Palla-Palla," the green-haired girl replied.

"So let's find out," Ves-Ves demanded.

"No, let's butt out," Jun-Jun countered.

"What if he's using her?" Ves-Ves fumed. "What if he wants her to stay away from us so we don't figure out what he's doing?"

"What if he's got something about him and he's afraid we'll judge him harshly?" Jun-Jun countered. "Cere-Cere wants us to butt out. I think we owe that to her. She'll let us meet him when she's ready."

"This is nuts," snarled Ves-Ves. She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room. They heard the outer door hiss open and closed.

"Cere-Cere's going to be all right, isn't she?" Palla-Palla asked with child-like desperation.

"I hope so," Jun-Jun responded. "We just have to let her be."
- - - -
The door to the Princess Usagi's quarters opened and Diana padded through. The gray feline made sure to rub her back hip against the door as she passed. For some reason, feeling the edge of the door frame against her made her skin tingle in just the right way and she worked too hard in the palace to pass up any opportunity to feel good.

The door controls had long since been instructed to allow her entry without inquiry. It was a privilege only afforded to the king and queen besides her - - and that wasn't by Usa's choice. If it were up to her, they'd be locked out, too. Diana heard the door close behind her, yawned, then looked around to see if Usa was around.

"No doubt galavanting around with her friends," Diana thought to herself, failing to notice how much of an uncanny impression of her mother, Luna, she was doing. "If she's studying at all, it's only because Hotaru's here."

The cat made her way to the bedroom. To her surprise, there was Usa, sitting on her bed with her personal computer station propped up on her lap. She seemed to be studying - - by herself - - until Diana looked closer. She hopped up on the bed, drawing Usa's attention.

"You hardly seem to be concentrating, My Lady," Diana said. "Does something trouble you or is the subject that boring?"

"Hi, Diana," Usa smiled, holding out a hand. Diana crossed over and let Usa stroke along her back. "Hard day?"

"Monitoring the Door of Time is never easy," Diana told her. "But I accepted it and it's my lot to bear. I appreciate your interest, My Lady, but that hardly answers my original question."

Usa sighed.

"My Lady?" Diana inquired. "What is it? You know you can tell me anything."

"Yeah?" Usa asked, giving her a half-hearted smile. "You have fish breath."

"Anything but that," Diana replied patiently. "Come, My Lady, we've been through so much over the years. Give your old sounding board another go?"

Usa's hand absently draped on the cat's neck and lightly scratched. Diana arched in appreciation.

"Perhaps you might have more luck studying if Hotaru were with you," Diana suggested. "Is she out on a date with her young man?"

"No," Usa said glumly. "We were supposed to meet to study an hour ago. The computer says she's still helping Ami-san." Diana looked on sympathetically. "It makes sense. Hotaru wants to be a doctor when she's grown up and what better way to get started than working for Ami-san? She can learn so much just being in the same room with her - - a lot more than she can learn with me. And I've seen how excited she gets when she talks about it - - the times I still see her anymore."

"I see," Diana nodded. "You miss her."

"I know I shouldn't feel this way, Diana. I'm just being selfish. Working with Ami-san is good for Hotaru and I should be happy for her."

"My Lady, it's perfectly all right to miss a friend," Diana counseled. "And you two did have an agreement and she did stand you up."

"She's just doing what she likes," Usa whispered.

"Which in no way should be construed that she no longer likes being with you," Diana cautioned, but Usa wasn't listening. "Well, if you're lonely perhaps you could study with your senshi. They're your friends now, too."

"I'm," Usa began, "not sure Ves-Ves would be comfortable with me there."

"Perhaps she would. Have you asked her?"

Usa responded with a silent expression of teenage mortification. She knew Usa didn't want to come right out and admit what she was feeling, though.

"Very well. You know them best." Diana turned around and curled up against Usa's hip. "Well I've nothing pressing. I'll study with you. What subject is it this time, eh?"

The pink-tressed teen smiled wistfully.

"Just like old times, huh Diana?" she asked, stroking the cat again. "Well, tonight's subject is algebra."

"Oh dear," Diana replied. "I can see why your mind was wandering. No matter; put your leg down so I can see your display and we'll press on as best we can. Between the two of us, we can lick anything."

"Right, Diana," Usa smiled warmly.
- - - -
The small grove of trees behind the palace was a familiar safe haven for Cere-Cere by now, even before she'd met Gallan. The peacefulness of the trees, their shade, their strength and experience made her feel safe and secure. Sometimes she just had to seek them out, for even her sisters could hurt her despite their closeness. Since this was now "their spot" - - hers and Gallan's - - it would naturally be the first place she'd flee to.

Cere-Cere leaned against an ancient oak and wiped the tears from her eyes with her finger. They were only concerned about her. They hadn't meant to hurt her - - well except for Ves-Ves and that was because SHE didn't care - - but she couldn't tell them the truth. They wouldn't understand.

No one would. Maybe not even the queen.

A gentle hand closed on her shoulder and instantly she knew it was Gallan. Cere-Cere turned around and found him standing there, smiling placidly, as if the very sight of her had made his entire day. The girl fell into his arms and pressed her face against his slim, hard, bare chest. She could feel herself tearing up again.

"Cere, my goddess," he whispered, cradling her as she crumpled against him. "What troubles you?"

"The others," she whimpered, grateful for his touch, a touch she realized just recently that she longed for and missed. "They found out, Gallan - - about us! Jun-Jun and Ves-Ves and Palla-Palla - - they listened to my diary. They know about you."

His hand caressed her light scarlet hair.

"And why are you so afraid of this?" he asked. "From what you've told me, your sisters seem kind - - even the one you protest so much about. We have nothing to fear from them. They only have your best interests in mind. I doubt they'd hurt you."

"You don't understand," Cere-Cere protested.

"So they know?" Gallan persisted. "I love you, Cere-Cere. That's all that matters. I would have the world know. I would tell the universe if I could!" He turned and tilted his head to the sky. "Hear me, one and all! I am in love with this girl and that makes me the luckiest being in the universe!"

"Gallan, it's not that simple!" Cere-Cere sobbed. "We're from different worlds. People aren't just going to accept us because we want them to."

"Do you love me?" Gallan asked. Cere-Cere looked up at him and saw the youth was expecting not just an answer, but a particular answer.

"Please don't ask me that," she whimpered, looking down.

"Oh." Cere-Cere swallowed and looked back up at him. The disappointment in his beautiful, boyish face tore at her heart. "Forgive me. I've made assumptions - - perhaps I am complicating things needlessly. In my enthusiasm, I thought . . ."

Cere-Cere suddenly shoved her mouth to his, because in that brief moment the thought of hurting him so brought her to the brink of despair that she couldn't abide it. He pulled back, startled, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like it was her last moment on Earth. Gallan finally recognized what she was doing and returned her ardor with everything he felt for her. At length, their lips parted.

"I'm sorry," Cere-Cere sniffed. "I didn't mean to hurt you. But all I seem to be able to do is hurt the people closest to me."

"Cere," he whispered, out of breath and intoxicated by her. "Then you do love me?"

"Yes," she whimpered. "I was afraid to. I was afraid of getting hurt. I don't know if we can work, Gallan. I don't know how. But you're too strong. You're in my blood now." She kissed him again, softer and more respectful this time. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"I apologize for putting you in such a predicament," Gallan responded. "Upon my very existence, I wish nothing for you but all the happiness you can have."

At the far end of the grove, by the border with the queen's garden, eyes watched from concealment. Those eyes belonged to Ves-Ves and she was once more in a quandary.

"What is she doing?" Ves-Ves wondered. "Is she seeing things? Is she play-acting or something?"

"What are you doing, Ves-Ves?" she heard Palla-Palla say. Whirling around in surprise, Ves-Ves found no one behind her. Only then did she realize that her sister had spoken to her telepathically.

"Where are you?" Ves-Ves demanded mentally.

"In the palace. Palla-Palla can see you from the window."

Ves-Ves looked up. After several sight adjustments, she spotted the precocious Palla-Palla leaning out of a third floor window. It must have been the play area in the orphanage. Palla-Palla often went there to play dolls with the two young orphans that the queen was housing.

"What are you doing?" Palla-Palla reiterated.

"What's it look like, stupid?" Ves-Ves thought back.

"It looks like you're playing 'hide and seek'. Can Palla-Palla play?"

"I'm TRYING to find out who this Gallan guy is!" Ves-Ves shot back mentally. "I followed Cere-Cere hoping she'd meet up with him, but all she's doing is acting weird! She's beginning to scare me."

"What's she doing?" Palla-Palla asked.

"She's doing a lot of crying," Ves-Ves thought back, "and she's hugging the air and talking to herself. I think she's flipped out. Maybe SHE ought to be the one going to see Sensei Mizuno-sama three times a week." Ves-Ves peered out from behind the bush to see if Cere-Cere was still there. "Hey, stupid, can you spot her from where you are? She's up by that bunch of trees."

Palla-Palla leaned out the window farther.

"Oh! Palla-Palla sees her now!" Palla-Palla thought-cast.

"Don't you think she's acting weird?"

"No. Cere-Cere's just hugging her boyfriend. What's weird about that?"

"What?" Ves-Ves gasped. She looked again and again saw just Cere-Cere in the grove of trees.

"Cere-Cere's boyfriend is very pretty," Palla-Palla thought to Ves-Ves. "Palla-Palla can see why Cere-Cere loves him so."

"You see somebody?" Ves-Ves asked.

"Well, yeah. Don't you?"

Ves-Ves stared again. The only person she could see was Cere-Cere.

"Are you making this up?" Ves-Ves demanded.

"No! Palla-Palla sees him! Honest!"

"Palla-Palla, what's he look like?"

"Well, he has brown hair and a very pretty face. And he's kind of thin, like Miss Hotaru-ma'am, only he's a boy. And he's not wearing any clothes."

"You are making this up!"

"Honest! And he's got this little thing between his . . ."

"OK, OK!" Ves-Ves gasped out mentally. "So why can't I see him?"

"Palla-Palla doesn't know. But she can see him and so can Cere-Cere." Palla-Palla paused for a moment. "And so can the other man."

"What other man?" Ves-Ves asked. She looked out from behind the bush again, but once more only saw Cere-Cere.

"The other man with no clothes on," Palla-Palla said. "Ooh, Palla-Palla doesn't like him. He looks mean."

Continued in Chapter 4