Hello Minna, Here is another of my muse's ideas. I hope you enjoy it. Please R & R and let me know what you think.
A.N. - 'Denotes People's Thoughts' I hope you all enjoy this. It is based loosely off something completely off the wall. If anyone can see the connection and guess correctly, I will give them a cookie. :)
Remember I do not nor have I ever had any right to any of this...It is all just for the love of the show. Anyway on to the fun...
Fantastic Journey
Chapter One - Pink Flier and the Ryu Dojo
Usagi found the flier in her bag after school. She had just sat down her bag on her bedroom floor when a piece of bright pink paper caught her attention. Bending over slowly she picked it up, staring in surprise.
'Where did this come from?' Turning it over she read slowly wondering how it came to be in her bag.
Want to learn to better your self-defense skills?
I am your perfect teacher.
Please come to Ryu Dojo.
Classes are free for new students.
Usagi thought for a moment pondering fate. 'Wouldn't the girls be surprised if I was better, if I could hold my own? They would be proud of me.' She smiled deciding to check it out. Changing out of her uniform, she slipped into shorts and a tee shirt and threw on her shoes.
Following the directions on the flier she arrived rather quickly; surprisingly it was not far from her house. Just a plain building looking like it held nothing more than offices. She walked hesitantly up to the door and pulled it open.
Fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling, looking strangely like her school gymnasium, lighted the room. There were mats on the floor and a bar ran along one wall. The far wall was mirrors making the room appear twice its size. She slipped off her shoes and stood taking it all in before speaking.
"Hello is anybody around, is this Ryu Dojo? I found your flier and I have come to take lessons." She waited listening expectantly as her voice echoed around the empty room. Seconds, which seemed like minutes went by draped in complete silence until a door in the far left corner slowly opened.
A gentleman wearing black clothing slowly strolled out taking his time in answering her. A chill snaked up her spine in warning but she smiled choosing to ignore the warning. She could feel his eyes taking her measure and she stood straight trying to hide her insecurity.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle, and welcome to the Ryu Dojo. May I ask how you learned about my Dojo?"
"Eto...I found a flier in my bag." She let her words die away cringing realizing how strange that might sound.
"Ah, the pink flier I presume?" At her excited nod he continued. "Yes I take it you are here to learn about self defense then?" Her nod caught his attention and he smiled to himself.
'It has to be, I knew she was the one. Just look at her pure shine.' He stopped talking and took a moment to study his new student thoughtfully. She was as beautiful as he had heard and that took him by surprise. 'They are never as good as the legends paint them.'
Usagi took his silence as an okay to study him. Draped in black from head to toe he wore a black facemask. Reminding her of Zorro, she smiled to think of such a romantic example. His green eyes were piercing and she almost shook with nervousness. Noticing that he was no longer studying her she relaxed visibly.
He smiled to set her nerves at ease. "You may call me Ninja or Sensei. I carry several names but those are the ones that suit. Now before your first lesson I need to know what you know. How well can you defend yourself?"
Usagi's mind slowed greatly as she scrambled to find a suitable answer. 'I cannot tell him I am Sailor Moon so what do I say?'
"Uh well I know a little bit. Um...my dad made me learn a little bit just in case...you know." She ducked her head in embarrassment. She hoped he would believe her tale. She glanced up through her eyelashes to see him pondering her words. 'Please please, don't question it.'
Etienne could see right through her story but chose to let her think he believed her. Giving her a steady calm look, he nodded.
"Okay let's see what you have learned so far." He strolled to the center of the mat and motioned for her to join him. She walked hesitantly forward, head up, to meet her new teacher.
"Now at first I won't come at you, full strength until I gauge what you have learned." He came at her as though to grab her and she easily avoided his move. They danced around in what appeared to be a strange dance, which were actually several attacks and several parries. When they were both panting heavily, he finally called a halt to the test.
'Wow she knows more than she lets on. She has to be the one I am searching for.' "Very good, it seems your last sensei trained you well." He bowed in traditional style and waited expectantly for her to repeat the gesture.
She was leaned forward with her hands balanced on her thighs when she saw him bow. Thinking about good manners, she straightened up and bowed properly. Blowing her bangs up off her forehead, she chewed her lip nervously waiting to see what he might do next.
"I will take you on as a student." He gave her a satisfying nod before continuing. "I have a few rules though that you must obey. First, you must tell no one that I am training you. I do not want several students at this time, is that understood?" He gave her a serious demanding look hoping to inspire fear in her.
Usagi saw his look and shivered as goose bumps traveled over her flesh. His reasoning made sense and so she nodded slowly waiting for more.
"Secondly you must trust me, if there is no trust between student and teacher then you will never learn." He waited watching as she nodded.
"Last but not least, you must follow the directions I give you without questioning anything." He waited to see if she would agree. She studied him for a moment and then nodded agreeably.
"All right, I will be back. I must grab what I need for your first lesson." He strolled into the backroom and disappeared.
She took a deep breath and relaxed for the first time in several minutes. Letting her thoughts wander she wondered about this strange man. He seemed nice enough and he definitely was good looking. His commanding presence set her nerves to dancing but she did not question that. She startled when she heard him struggling through the door.
Her eyes grew round as she watched him pull out a chest high, narrow, balance beam. He pulled it out to the center and motioned her forward.
"First we are going to focus on balance. You seemed a little off balance earlier so we need to change that. Close your eyes." His tone brooked no argument and she immediately obeyed. Waiting for the unexpected she nearly jumped when she felt his fingers feather over her face.
"Now the most important thing to remember is that if you are not balanced inside, you cannot balance outside." His fingers danced over her face as though he was committing it to memory. It invoked odd tender feelings in her.
"Are you ready?" He grasped her hand and continued. "Now keep your eyes closed. No peeking!" He led her to the balance beam and set her hands upon it.
"Now climb up but do not open your eyes. I want you to feel your way onto it." She could feel him watching her as she tried to get up on to it. It was more difficult than it seemed with her eyes closed. The first time she fell with a loud oomph. The second time she was almost up when she overbalanced tumbling off the other side.
With a sigh of resignation, he grabbed her around the waist gently and lifted her lightly up onto it. She wavered and he reached out and grabbed her hand.
When Usagi felt his hands at her waist, her heart sped up just a bit. When the ground seemed to fall away, she almost squealed until she felt the beam under her feet. She wavered until he reached out grabbing her hand.
"Now feel it! Walk forward using your inner balance." She used her feet setting one right in front of the other. 'Heel, Toe. Heel, Toe.' She made it to the other end stopping just before stepping off the end.
"Good job...maybe you won't be as difficult a student as some. Turn around." She carefully guided her foot around and then brought the other one around, but being Usagi, she could not stop it when her foot slipped off. She felt herself falling until a pair of strong arms caught her.
Her eyes flew open startled to see green eyes gazing at her curiously. He still held her just gazing at her. Usagi felt her heart speed up at the look in his eyes even though she did not fully comprehend his look. Suddenly he looked angry.
"I did not tell you to open your eyes. You will pay for that later. Now let's try this again. Close your eyes again." He set her back up on the balance beam and commanded her to walk. She did it again this time more careful of where she sat her feet. Finally, he spoke again.
"Okay with each step I want you to dip your foot until your ankle is level with the top. Left and then right as you bring each foot forward I want you to dip it."
Usagi slowly dipped each foot and made her way slowly across the balance beam. She tried hard to relax and it became easier.
"Now you may open your eyes and jump down." She followed his commands and landed lightly beside him. He gazed around the room in thought before speaking again.
"You disobeyed me and that is strictly prohibited. I want fifty push ups before you can go for today." She immediately dropped and began dropping and rising as he counted. By twenty-five, she was struggling and by forty, her arms were shaking badly and she was barely able to continue. Usagi held her tears in and pushed herself to do the last ten. Upon finishing the last one she dropped to the floor and let her arms relax. After a moment, she realized that she did not want him to view her as weak. Jumping up quickly she pulled herself together and bowed.
He watched hiding his amusement. 'She will, I think, be one to push herself to continually get better. He smiled benignly and waved her on her way with a final warning.
"I expect you here tomorrow at the same time and remember do not tell anyone." She nodded once and strolled over to her shoes, putting them on she slipped out into the cool afternoon air. Once outside away from those piercing eyes she slumped against the wall letting her weariness show. Pondering whether to visit the Crown Arcade, she decided against it.
'I could not explain being this tired and everyone would wonder. I do not need that right now.' Instead, she slowly straightened up and slowly made her way home.
A couple of hours later the phone rang. Running from the bathroom, she made it just in time to answer.
"Moshi moshi?" she waited expectantly.
"Usagi-chan...You were supposed to be at my place this afternoon! What is your excuse this time? Did you fall asleep?" Rei sounded angry and Usagi scrambled to find a suitable answer.
"Oh sorry my mom went crazy because of a test score I received and locked me in until I studied. I am sorry, can you forgive me?" The line was quiet for a moment and she knew Rei was thinking.
"Okay well just this once but don't let it happen again. I will let you study then, bye." Rei quickly hung up and Usagi was surprised that she had not yelled more. She had just hung the phone up when it rang a second time.
"That was quick, are you mad?" She prayed Rei had not changed her mind and decided to yell.
"Usako, why would I be mad?" Mamo-chan teased her laughing softly. She blushed and stuttered.
"Oh Mamo-chan, I thought you were Rei. I just spoke with her before you called." She giggled at her own mistake imagining his face.
"I waited for you at the Crown, what happened?" He sounded so bummed that quilt ate at her for lying but in the end, the surprise would be worth it.
"Oh sorry my mom went crazy because of a test score I received and locked me in until I studied my math. I am sorry, can you forgive me?" She waited to see if he believed her small white lie.
"Sweetheart you know I can. Do you need help studying? If you do need tutoring, just let me know." He sounded so caring that it hurt to lie but she did not want to spoil her surprise.
"Nah I think I have got it now, but thank you for offering. Well it is time for bed." She sighed wishing there were more hours in each day.
"Usako you know I love you. I will see you tomorrow." She smiled sadly listening to his voice.
"I love you too Mamo-chan Bye." She hung up the phone and fell across her bed. Being exhausted sleep came quickly.
In another part of town in a dank dark building, a leader spoke to his minions. He commanded their utter respect through fear and manipulation. He stood before them speaking in quiet tones.
"It will be time soon my friends, but first you must let me prepare everything perfectly. I am currently setting all of our traps and baiting them just as we planned." He grinned at the group and the evil look upon his face had them excited. He had made many promises and they knew he was capable of keeping them.
Here is an end to Chapter 1. I hope you have enjoyed it. Please R & R and let me know what you think.