Chapter 3:

The Dance

"I'll pick you up around 7:30. See you tonight, Emo!" Toshira called out to Emochan as he dropped her off at home after school. It was finally the day of the Autumn Festival! After eating a quick dinner, she got dressed in her new outfit and put her hair up in a bun. A few strands of her hair lay on the sides of her face, all curled. Her mother smiled at her and wished her a good time. Around 7:30, Emochan heard a motorcycle drive up in front of her house. She watched Toshira walk up to her house and knock on the door. Her mother opened it and let him in. He wore a black tuxedo that had tints of dark blue under the lighting and navy blue shoes. In his hands was a bouquet of roses. Emo stood and smiled at him. He returned her smile. "Emochan, you look very beautiful tonight," he said, handing her the flowers.

"Thank you, Toshira," Emochan said. Her mother took the flowers and set them in a vase. Toshira flashed her his gentle smile while holding out his hand for her. She took it and waved her mother goodbye as he led her to his motorcycle outside.

"Alright, just hold onto me. We're gonna go fast," he said.

"Hai," she said and wrapped her arms around his waist, blushing furiously. She felt the bike vibrate as the engine started and the two seemed to fly on the road. Emochan smiled as she felt the wind whip through her and within moments, they were at the school.

Toshira helped her off and Emochan looked at all the decorations and people at the school. White and gold lights hung along the trees around the gardens of the school courtyard. Tables with glowing vases with candles inside outlined the gardens, with a dance floor in the very center. A huge crowd of various people filled the dance floor. "Wow, this place looks wonderful!" She commented.

"Yeah. The party is open to anyone, so a lot of people usually come," Toshira explained. Emochan spotted Reiko and Sakura in the distance and ran to them.

"Hey, girls!" she said.

"WOW! You look great!" Reiko said. Sakura nodded as she munched on a piece of cake. Emochan heard someone call out her name and turned to see Usagi waves her arm at her, while Mamoru held her waist. "I can finally introduce you to Usagi," Emochan said and led the two girls and Toshira to her cousin.

"Hey Usagi, this is Reiko and Sakura, and you know Toshira," she said. Usagi bowed and smiled. "This is Usagi's boyfriend, Chiba Mamoru-san." Mamoru shook their hands. "Where are the others?" Emochan asked, looking around for them.

"Oh, they're all dancing somewhere around here. Why don't you two dance while I gossip with Reiko and Sakura?" Usagi hinted with a giggle. Reiko and Sakura smirked. Mamoru rolled his eyes.

"Um..." Emochan stuttered, looking over at Toshira. He just smiled and took her hand. The speakers blasted a violin solo, making the brown-haired teen calm down a bit.

"May I have this dance?" Toshira asked. Emochan felt lightheaded a little.

"Yes you may." She replied and walked to the dance floor. They got into a dancing formation and Toshira led her into a ballroom dance.

"Hey, Emochan..." Toshira trailed softly. Emochan gazed up at him.

"Yeah?"

"This past week made me realize how…well…how wonderful you are," he said. Emochan felt her cheeks flare. "…and well….I just wanted to say that I…I like you…" Toshira bit his lip, his eyes filled with concern.

"T-Thank you. I...I like you a lot too, Toshira..." Emochan whispered. He likes me? He really likes me! The song started to speed up a little and the two began to dance more casually. A loud ringing sound filled Emo's ears as her heart began to race. She continued to gaze into Toshira's eyes. She did not realize that their heads were drawing closer together. Toshira pressed his lips gently against hers, wrapping his arms around her waist. These lips…so familiar…Emochan's eyes closed tightly and her hands grabbed onto Toshira's arms as she succumbed to an oncoming vision.

"Oh Zecon...I love you so much...never stop dancing with me..." Serendipity said. Zecon held her closer in his arms; his eyes soft and gentle.

"I will never stop holding you, my dear," He whispered into her ear and kissed her.

"Emochan! Are you alright?" Toshira exclaimed. Emochan looked at him, embarrassed.

"I...I'm so sorry...." she said and broke her hold of him, feeling her eyes burn as she dashed away from the dance floor. He was calling after her, but she was too startled to respond. Instead, she found a corner of the courtyard that was crowded and hid behind the trees. Emo fell to her knees and sobbed into her hands.

What's happening to me? Why did I have that flashback? Oh gods, Toshira must think I'm crazy now. I've never cared about a guy like this before. I feel horrible, she thought to herself as she cried. Strange growing warmth against her chest stopped her from crying. Her eyes widened as she realized that it was glowing. "What does this mean?" She whispered.

"Hey, are you alright, Miss?" A young man's voice questioned. Emochan glanced over to see a man standing before her.

"Oh….I am alright. Thanks," Emochan replied, wiping her tears away. As the gentleman approached her, the light around him made him almost look like an angel. He had dirty blonde hair and green eyes. He was smiling with relief it seemed…and Emochan felt an awkward sensation of déjà vu at the sight.

"My name is Daichi. What's yours?" He asked as he kneeled beside her.

Daichi?! Could he be... Emochan thought.

"My...my name is Emochan," she said. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's a pleasure. I'm just glad to see that you're alright. I saw you run over here and it looked like you were upset. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I…"

"Dai-chaaaaaan!! Where are you??" Another boy's voice called out.

"Hold on! I'll be right there, Toma-chan!" Daichi replied. He turned to Emochan. "Come on; let's get you out of here," He said. Emochan stared at him for a moment and nodded. He stood up and took her hand to help her up. When they touched, Emochan felt another wave of déjà vu. As he led her back out towards the festival, another young man waved frantically at them and Daichi smiled. This man had spiked black hair and blue eyes. He was a little shorter than Daichi but had more muscle to him.

"Hey, Daichi-chan! Who's this?" He asked.

"Oh. Emochan, this is my boyfriend, Tomaru. We just call him Toma. Toma-chan, this is Emochan. I found her over there in that corner."

"Hey! It's nice to meet you, Emochan," Toma said and shook her hand. Emochan smiled.

"It's a pleasure," Emochan replied.

"You look like you've been crying. What's wrong?" Toma asked. Emo was hesitant for a moment.

"Well...A boy I really like kissed me, and I kinda freaked out and ran from him. I feel so embarrassed. It was my first kiss." She blurted out.

"Aww...Don't worry. I'm sure he would understand," Daichi said. "It's normal to feel awkward like that."

"Yeah. You should go find him!" Toma suggested.

"I'm sure he hates me now. I really am just a freak," Emochan replied with a frown.

"Emochan! There you are!" She heard Toshira say as he ran up to her. "Are you alright? What happened?" he asked. Emochan looked at him but quickly looked away.

"It…it was my first kiss." she murmured. She felt his strong arms pull her into a hug and she gasped.

"Is that all? I thought I scared you away! I'm so glad I didn't," he said. Emochan smiled and looked over at Daichi and Toma, who were now dancing. They both smiled at her. Emochan looked at Toshira, her cheeks deep red in embarrassment. "Would you run from me if I tried again?" he asked. Emochan slowly shook her head and Toshira kissed her gently once again. She melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. With a sigh, she broke the kiss and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I think I'm in love with you..." she thought out loud and Toshira laughed a little.

"You know? I think I'm starting to feel the same. I don't know why…but I feel like I was supposed to be here with you. Like this was all a part of fate…" His voice was so quiet, only Emochan could hear him. Her heart was making back flips in her chest.

A loud screaming ruined the moment. Emochan and Toshira stopped dancing to watch as groups of people ran into different directions. Large, black shadow-like creatures floated around the dance floor. Their red eyes were glowing with hunger and warped smiles spread across their faces. "Those are like that thing hat attacked me the other night!" Toshira said.

Why now?! Emochan let go of Toshira. "Go somewhere safe! I have to find my cousin!" she cried and ran off into the crowd, leaving a stunned Toshira.

"Let's go, Emo," Usagi said.

"Usagi! Emochan!" Ami's voice carried over the screams of the crowds. The others were with her and as a group they all dashed to the nearby library of the school. Once safely out of everyone's' sight, they each held up their wands and broaches.

"Let's do it!" Emochan yelled."EARTH CRYSTAL POWER MAKE UP!"

"MOON PRISM POWER MAKE UP!"

"MARS POWER MAKE UP!"

"JUPITER POWER MAKE UP!"

"VENUS POWER MAKE UP!"

"MERCURY POWER MAKE UP!" Beautiful ribbons of bright colors filled the room as each teen transformed into their senshi counterpart. They summons their weapons and made their way back out to the festival grounds.

"How dare you interrupt a party of fun and love! I, Sailor Moon will stop you on behalf of the Moon!"

"I am Sailor Earth, and I will not allow you to go any further!" Sailor Earth exclaimed with her glaive in hand. Her wings spread behind her and she leapt up into the air, swinging her blade at the shadows before her.

"CRESCENT BEAM!" Venus cried, using her heart-shaped chains to rip apart the shadows. Their ear-piercing cries echoed around the gardens.

"SHABON SPRAY!" Mercury said, sending mist bubbles at the creatures around her. The attack made them fizzle into nothingness. Sailor Mars held scrolls at the foes in front of her.

"AKURYO TAISAN!" Her voice heated the scrolls as they flung at the shadows, attaching to their foreheads and burning into them. They screamed as they faded away.

"SUPRME THUNDER!" Bolts of green lightning fell from the sky, penetrating the shadow creatures. Sailor Jupiter smirked as they fizzled away.

Sailor Moon used her healing spell to destroy most of the remaining ones while Sailor earth attacked from the sky. Once all the shadows had been destroy, she landed on the ground and saw Toshira watching her in awe. She gave him a warm smile before running off with the other senshi. They all de-transformed and walked out of the restroom, filled with relief. As they returned outdoors, they noticed that people were trying to re-start the festivities.

"Yatta! Looks like everyone will be able to still enjoy the night" Usagi exclaimed in relief.

"That was quite an episode." Makoto said. Usagi nodded.

"Getting more used to your powers, Emo?" Rei asked.

"Yeah. It's getting easier to use them, though I'm still not as good at fighting as you guys," Emochan replied before noticing Toshira looking around frantically. "Ah! Toshira!" She cried out to grab his attention. He ran over to her side, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're all safe. Did you see what happened?" He inquired. Everyone shook their heads, acting like they had no idea what he meant.

"N-No. Me and the girls all hid in the school," Emochan replied.

"More of those female warriors appeared…But I saw the girl who saved me the first time. She looked very familiar..." he said. Emochan smiled a little then rested her head on his chest.

I need to change the subject and quick! Emochan thoughts were jumbled as she instantly came up with an idea.

"Toshira..."

"What is it, Emo?" He replied as she gazed up at him longingly.

"Will…Will you be my boyfriend?" Emochan asked with a nervous tone. Toshira only smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Yes. I think that I would like that very much," He said and took her hand, leading her back onto the dance floor. The other girls followed. Usagi grasped onto Mamoru tightly and the couple danced alongside Toshira and Emochan. Once the dance was finished, Emochan was relieved to find that Daichi and Tomaru were also unharmed. She decided to swap information with them and promised to hang out with them sometime in the future. When Emochan returned home, she told her mother the wonderful news about Toshira and retired to bed.

What an emotional night. I could sleep for a week! Her last thoughts danced around her as she fell into a deep slumber.