Chapter 6:

Snowy Meetings

Before Emochan knew it, the seasons began to change. The air became crisper as rainbows of leaves fell from the trees along Japan. As time passed, shadow appearances began to decline, worrying Luna and Artemis. The others kept their guard up in fear of a surprise attack. School took up most of Emo's time as her thoughts of the past and of Morgana dwindled. The strange senshi stopped appearing as well. Over this time, the group had grown closer as friends. This was especially due to Daichi, Tomaru, and Homoto becoming more involved with everyone. Emochan and Toshira were almost inseparable (which caused many to ask when the wedding was as a joke). Toma formed a band called Split Time with some other talented friends and got gigs at local nightclubs in the area.

Winter rapidly approached as the sweet smells and sounds of Christmastime emerged all around. Emochan was excited for Christmas this year because she had not celebrated it with so many friends for as long as she could remember. Her mother and her decorated their large tree, strung lights all around their living room, and wrapped an assortment of delightful presents. On Christmas Eve, Emo invited all her friends to her house for a party.

That day, she put on a beautiful, red, satin dress that her mother had bought her. She baked cookies and pies with her mother until everyone began to show up. Usagi and Shingo came along with their parents. Reiko and Sakura and their parents came as well. Daichi and Toma were the next to arrive and the other girls were the last. Homoto was out of town for the holiday. Emochan began to wonder where Toshira was. When she started pacing, Usagi whispered in her ear that he was planning a surprise. What does he plan on doing? Emochan blushed at the thought.

After munching on some snacks, everyone gathered around the Christmas tree to open gifts. Emochan smiled as she handed out her presents to everyone. Reiko and Sakura got matching mittens and boots; each complimenting their hair colors. Usagi got a soft, bunny doll and Shingo got a new video game. Minako got a karaoke set while Makoto was given a new baseball mitt and glove. Ami received an updated anti-virus program. Rei received a set of scroll paper and calligraphy tools. Daichi got a drawing template along with a drawing of him and Tomaru. Toma received new guitar straps with some picks. Everyone seemed happy with their presents, relieving Emochan.

"Your turn for gifts, Emo!" Usagi said and handed her a small music box with a dragon on the top. Inside was a piece of jewelry from each senshi: a red crow broach from Rei, a pair of blue bubble earrings from Ami, a ring with a yellow ribbon on it from Minako, and pink rose charm bracelet from Makoto. Reiko and Sakura handed Emochan two teddy bears and a new pair of panda-themed pajamas. Daichi gave her a portrait of her with everyone, and Toma gave her a CD of his band's latest demos.

" All your gifts are so wonderful!" Emochan said happily. The back doorbell suddenly rang. Emochan's mother went to open the door, revealing someone in a Santa suit with a bag behind him.

"HO HO HO! Merry Christmas, Emochan! Your boyfriend Toshira sent me here to give you this!" The Santa said and took out a large box from his bag and brought it into the living room. He set it down in front of her. She skeptically tore off the wrapping paper, exposing a box. As she opened the box, there was another, smaller box inside. Each box had strange holes around the sides.

"What is this?" She asked.

"Just keep opening it. You'll see," Santa said. Everyone watched in anticipation as Emochan kept opening boxes and smaller ones appeared, until she came across a box the size of a large shoebox. She opened it and gasped as she took out a small orange and white-striped kitten.

"Oh…how adorable! It's so cute!" she said. It meowed softly and nuzzled against her cheek. There was a little collar on it and she saw a little box attached to it. She took it off and placed the little kitten on the floor. Here was a little note on the box. "Dear Emochan, the kitten's name is Angel because you are an angel to me. I hope you enjoy what is inside this small box because it cost me a lot! Love you, Toshira." Emochan read aloud and opened the box to see a gorgeous necklace that had red roses and small diamonds between them. There was a pair of matching earrings with small roses on them. "Oh my…." she said in shock. Santa smiled and took off his beard and hat to reveal Toshira. Emochan looked at him and hugged him tightly, crying happily. "Oh thank you Toshira! I love you so much!" She said, exasperated. Toshira kissed her forehead.

"Hey, where's my present?" He asked her. Emochan blushed and walked over to her tree. She pulled a box out from underneath the branches and handed it over to her boyfriend. His eyes were filled with excitement as he opened it. Inside was a silver chain. There was a small section where an inscription was etched, "To Toshira, With All My Love, Emo," Toshira grinned as he spoke. "I love it, Emochan!" he wrapped the chain around his wrist and hugged her. Angel rubbed her face against Emochan's leg with a loud pur.

"She is so cute!" Minako said.

"Dinner everyone!" Emochan's mother exclaimed from the kitchen and everyone crowded in the dining room for dinner.

"Mom made her special Curry and rice tonight," Emochan said happily. "We have pies and cookies for dessert too."

"YAY!" Usagi said and grinned. Rei and Ami shrugged while Makoto patted Usagi on the back. Emochan's mother placed all the food on the table and everyone began to eat. Talk of upcoming midterm exams and what people were doing the rest of their vacation filled the room. Emochan smiled, looking at everyone. This is how life should be for me. I don't want to fight, she thought to herself as she ate some rice. I hope Toshiro and Morgana stopped…

A faint beeping sound came from Emochan's pocket. She slowly pulled it out and glanced over it, seeing Luna's worried face.

"Oh, my! I forgot it's time to…." Emochan murmured.

"To go see Minako's aunt?" Makoto filled in. The others looked confused.

"Huh?" Reiko tilted her head. Sakura yawned. Minako jumped up frantically.

"My aunt has been in the hospital for a little while because she is really sick and we planned on going to say hi to her and give her gifts…" Minako said. "I completely lost track of time!"

"What about dessert? Why didn't you tell me about this, Emochan?" Emo's mother said.

"I guess I forgot about it. We were so busy decorating today…" The long-haired brunette bit her lip as she got up from the chair. "I promise we won't be too long…can you wait here?" She asked Toshira and the parents. Toshira frowned.

"Can't I come with you?"

"No!" Emochan exclaimed, startling the others. She nervously chuckled at her action. "No…her aunt is very sensitive. It takes her a while to get used to other people…" Daichi and Tomaru both gave Emochan strange looks.

"Yeah, it took my aunt a good week before she even said hello to Emo without getting mad. It's because of her illness…" Minako faked a frown.

"Oh…alright then…"

"Don't worry, it won't take long," Emochan said and rushed out the door with the other girls. Once far enough from the house, they took out their communicators.

"What is it, Luna?" Usagi asked.

"Trouble at the park! Hundreds of shadows have appeared and are terrorizing the people. Hurry!" her cry buzzed through the small tool. The girls gazed at each other nodded.

"Let's do it, girls!" Emochan exclaimed and they all ran off towards the park, transforming into their senshi personas.

Snow was falling steadily, covering the roads and trees in white. The dim street lights made the senshi sparkle in the night as they arrived at the park. Bodies of unconscious people were scattered across the fresh snow as shadows chased after running people. Large balls of black and purple electrical energy flew around the area. The girls formed a line across the park's main field. Seeing this made the shadows slow and face their new opponents. Sailor Moon held her hands out in front of her.

"I am Sailor Moon!" Sailor Earth held out her hand as her dragon glaive formed.

"And I am Sailor Earth!"

"We are the Senshi protectors of the universe! We will not allow you to harm people on this holy night!" They all said in union. On behalf of our planets, we shall punish you!" Everyone said in unison.

It was silent in the park for a moment as the shadows only leered at the group of girls. One of them spiked into the air and started to screech. Two others shot energy at Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus. Sailor Venus and Sailor Mar ran out of the way of the energy's path, landing in the cold snow.

"SHABON SPRAY!" Sailor Mercury cried and sent out her fog of bubbles. Sailor Earth flew into the air and over the shadows.

"EARTH SHUDDER ATTACK!!" She screamed and blasted energy from her hands and wings at the shadows. It pierced through them, making them disappear. But just like before, more shadows replicated.

"SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!" Sailor Jupiter's voice carried into the sky as lightning bolts zoomed through the fog, hitting the shadows. They sent more and more black energy through the fog, almost hitting Mars. She ran to a bench and jumped on top of it.

"BURNING MANDALA!" She called out, and spirals of fire shot out at the creatures. A good few fizzled away, but more and more replicated; the new ones even more fearful than the last.

"CRESANT BEAM!" Venus shouted, sending a beam of energy at the new wave of shadows. "Come on, Sailor Moon! Use your princess halation!" She cried out. Sailor Moon nodded and took out her moon rod.

"MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" She exclaimed and sent energy from her wand out at the shadows, harming only a few. More began to pile up as the fog began to dissipate. "Damn it!" The blonde cursed. Mercury quickly pressed her earring, making a blue, transparent visor appear over her eyes. She gasped as strange sparkling lights and numbers spread across the screen.

"We are in a lot of trouble here, girls. They just keep coming. We have to think of something quick!" she called out into the remaining fog. Sailor Earth lowered in the sky landed by Sailor Moon.

What are we going to do? Sailor Earth narrowed her eyes at the growing mass of laughing shadows.

"Sailor Earth! We have come to fight in the battle of battles! I am Sailor Estineon!"

"I am Sailor Astinia, and we will punish you for disrupting such a celebration on this snowy night!"

Sailor Earth heard footsteps and turned to see the two mysterious senshi from before appear.

"What should we do? There are so many of them!" Sailor Earth said, worried.

"CHAINED FATE!" Sailor Estineon exclaimed, sending chains of energy around some of the shadows.

"SAKURA TWISTER!" Sailor Astinia cried, holding out her hands. Petals of energy flew swiftly through the snow at the shadows. The shadows snarled as their sight was temporarily blocked.

"Everyone, send your attacks at the same time! Now!" Estineon ordered. The others nodded in response.

"EARTH HEALING HEARTBEAT!"

"CRESENT BEAM!"

"FIRE SOUL!"

"SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"

"PRINCESS HALATION!"

"SUPREME THUNDER!"

All the energy combined into one single mass and blasted into the shadows, disintegrating them. All the senshi cheered and Estineon and Astinia walked to Sailor Earth.

"Great work, Princess," Estineon said.

"Who are you?" Sailor Earth asked. Astinia and Estineon only smiled.

"The answers will come to you soon enough," Astinia replied. Suddenly, a black mist covered the grounds of the park. Purple energy engulfed the nearby trees, splitting the bark and loosening branches. The limbs started to fall off and crash into the ground below.

"What's going on now?!" Sailor Moon cried. A dark figure appeared above the girls, shrouded in black and purple energy. Laughter filled the air as the figure landed on the ground. The shield of energy faded away, revealing a sinister-looking young man in black armor. His right hand was covered in silver metal. Sailor Earth noticed a sword hanging from his left side. His eyes opened, revealing deep, green eyes. They locked onto Sailor Earth's, sending shivers down her spine.

"Ah, there you are, Sailor Earth. Morgana has been waiting for you," he said. Sailor Earth widened her eyes in shock as she realized something…impossible!

"You look like Toshira!" She exclaimed.

"Toshira? I know no one of that name. I, Toshiro, will destroy all your pathetic lives for the sake of Queen Morgana and her thirst for revenge," he said with hatred in his voice. Sailor Earth looked at the others then to Toshiro.

"You will not lay a hand on Sailor Earth." Estineon's voice was very serious. Astinia nodded and the other senshi stood around Earth. Toshiro glared at the group of girls, as if accessing the situation.

"Hmm…very well then, I will be back when you aren't so guarded by your crew. Merry Christmas, humans," he said and sent a final blast of energy at them all.

"PLANET SHIELD!" They all cried, shielding them from the energy. By the time the energy dissolved with the shield, Toshiro was gone. Naturally, Sailor Estineon and Sailor Astina were also gone. Sailor Earth gazed out in the direction of where Toshiro stood, lost in confusion.

"We need to get back home before everyone starts suspecting something," Sailor Mars said.

The girls de-transformed and hurried back to Emochan's house. Upon arrival, Emochan noticed that the twins were passed out on the couch.

"How was Minako's aunt?" Toshira asked.

"She was alright. She was really tired, so we didn't stay very long…" Minako replied. Emochan looked at the twins and looked at Toshira.

"What happened to them?"

"They left a little after you did, then came back half asleep a couple moments ago. They passed right out on the couch," Emochan's mother said. "I wonder where they went off to?"

No way…Emo thought. Could I be right?

"Well, let's let them rest for now," she said with a smile.

"It's getting a little late now, I think I'll head home." Ami said.

"Merry Christmas, Emochan," Ikuko said as she, Shingo, Usagi, and Kenji left for home.

"That sounds like a good idea," Daichi said. "Let's go, Toma-chan." The two hugged Emochan before leaving. The other girls left as well, and Reiko and Sakura's parents said goodbye as well before they left.

"Let the girls sleep for now. I'm sure you can take care of them for us, right, Emo?" Reiko and Sakura's mother said. Emochan flashed them a nod as they walked out the door. Emochan's mother walked out of the living room to clean up the kitchen and dining room.

Toshira sat down on the floor and pet Angel as she purred at his side. Emochan sat next to him and placed some cat nip that he brought in front of the kitten. The purring grew louder and Angel rubbed her little fuzz-covered face in the nip. Toshira chuckled.

"Toshira, I was just wondering…do you have a brother?" Emochan asked hesitantly. She could see pain fill her boyfriend's face has he turned to her.

"I-I did…" Toshira replied. "But he was very sick as a child and died when I was 6."

My father died when I was around that age... Emochan thought. Her eyes closed for a moment as a flashback of her as a child entered her head. "I got you, Daddy!" Her eyes opened and she looked back at Toshira. "What was his name?"

"Toshiro. We were identical twins. Though I remember always fighting with him. He was very rambunctious when he was healthy. My parents would yell at him a lot for getting into trouble. When I was little, I thought he hated me, but now I think he was just upset that he was sick…so he would take it out on me because I was healthier. When he died, I was very sad…" Toshira's voice weakened.

"I'm so sorry, Toshira," Emochan said sadly. She placed a hand on his thigh and rested her head on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Emo. I know he's enjoying himself in heaven right now. I'll see him again someday I'm sure," Toshira replied and Emochan frowned.

Now I'm sure of it. Toshiro must be Toshira's reincarnated brother…and Morgan had to have stolen his soul and turned him evil…I wish everyone would remember their past lives…Emochan thought to herself as Toshira pet Angel.

"Well, I'm heading home. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Toshira stood up and yawned.

"Thanks for telling me about your brother, Toshira." Emochan stood up and yawned as well.

"Why did you ask, out of curiosity? I don't remember mentioning Toshiro at all to you before."

"Oh um well…" Emochan bit her lip, fidgeting with the skirt portion of her dress. "…I never…really asked about your family before…and seeing Minako-chan's aunt in the hospital reminded me of that."

"Ah, I see. Well now you know," Toshira smile and patted Emo's head playfully.

"Have a goodnight. Love you!" Emochan said and kissed Toshira passionately before he left.

She walked back to Reiko and Sakura, watching them as they peacefully slept. She noticed bizarre symbols glowing faintly on their foreheads. Her body arched over as she went to examine the symbols closer. Those…symbols…Her eyes widened as another flashback seeped through the depths of her memories. Those symbols glowed brightly on Sailor Estineon and Sailor Astinia's foreheads in the past! Emochan opened her eyes and looked at Reiko and Sakura again. The symbols were gone. Then is it true, after all. They really are my senshi…if only they could remember…Emochan thought, stepping away from her friends. She joined her mother in the dining room to help clean up. "Thanks for the dinner, Mom. It was great."

"Thank you, Emochan. I appreciate that," her mother said and they hugged.

"I'm heading to bed. I'll see you in the morning. Merry Christmas," Emochan said and walked up to her bedroom.

"Emochaaaaaaaaan, waaaaaaake up!" Emochan heard a girl say, and she opened her eyes to see Reiko and Sakura smiling at her.

"Hey sleepyhead. Merry Christmas!" Reiko said happily. Sakura smiled and Emochan sat up.

"Hey guys. What time is it?" Reiko glanced over at Emo's clock.

"Um….It's about 10. Why?"

"No reason..." Emochan said and got out of bed. "So I heard you guys passed out last night. What happened?"

"I don't really know," Reiko said.

"Yeah. It was really weird. When you guys left last night, Reiko and I felt strange and blacked out. I remember waking up this morning and seeing that we were still in your living room!" Sakura exclaimed.

"It was strange. I'm a little worried." Reiko frowned.

"I'm sure it's nothing that bad, Reiko," Emochan said. She reached into her closet and grabbed her robe and followed the girls downstairs into the living room. "I wouldn't worry too much about it."

"Maybe…." Sakura said. "Hey, are you meeting the girls today?"

"Nah. I'll see Toshira, but not 'til later. You guys wanna hang out for a little while?" Emochan said.

"Sure. How about the arcade?" Sakura suggested.

"The arcade isn't open! It's a holiday!" Reiko giggled.

"Ah, but I have Motoki's key.! He asked for me to watch the arcade for me while him and his sister were on vacation." Sakura grinned.

"Really? Cool!" Reiko exclaimed. "Let's go!"

"Let me get dressed first, baka," Emochan laughed out and ran upstairs. She left a note to her mom on the fridge and left with her friends to go to the arcade.

It was a beautiful Christmas morning. The snow was falling much slower than the previous night. Few people were out and about. The arcade wasn't far from the house and it felt like no time passed when they got there. Reiko opened the door and turned on all the lights and games. Sakura ran to the Whack-A-Mole game and started playing it. Emochan looked at the new Sailor V game and started playing that. Reiko watched Emochan and smiled.

"It would be so cool to be like her," she said dreamily, clashing her hands at her chest in awe.

"Yeah, I guess…" Emochan shrugged.

"I guess? Sailor V is the coolest. Sailor Earth and the other senshi rock too. I wish I was one of them," Reiko said.

"You are…" Emochan murmured to herself.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," Emochan giggled. "Want a turn?"

"Sure." Reiko said. Emochan stood up from the game and watched Reiko play. She was really good at it! The points on the screen increased rapidly, surprising Emochan.

To think that we are all connected this way from our previous lives…even with the enemy…Toshira…Daichi…everyone…I hope I can make you remember before it's too late, Emochan thought as she watched her friends play games. This is my mission, and I vow to complete it, somehow…