Chapter Three
The bright face of danger.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Men, Aneko thought viciously as she furiously turned the key in the lock. All my problems are caused by men. The tiny red-head finished locking the small restaurant where she worked the late shift as a waitress and, tossing her purse over her shoulder, she headed down the street, heels clicking all the way.
My life stinks, she realized with a sigh. There's my father riding my back all the time about what a disaster I've made of my life, my jerk of a boss constantly suggesting he wants to ride more and my boyfriend... Aneko closed her eyes and groaned. She couldn't think about him without waves of anger threatening her sanity.
She felt the stabbing urge that had come more frequently lately and paused to rummage through her purse for the pack of cigarettes she kept handy and the small blue lighter with a picture of Mickey Mouse smiling at her.
Quit last week, she thought with a wry smile, but that didn't stop her from raising the cigarette to her lips and breathing in deeply. Ah, better.
"Gonna leave my boyfriend," she muttered decisively. "Gonna leave him tomorrow." Surely that would make everything alright. A horn blasted in the distance and tires squealed - normal night noises for Aneko's walk through downtown Tokyo to the small apartment she shared with her boyfriend. Mindlessly humming a tune she had heard on the old radio at work, she turned down a dark alley that served as a shortcut to her apartment.
Having grown up in Tokyo, Aneko was accustomed to wandering around alone in the late hours and it usually didn't bother her. But for some reason as she turned down the familiar alley that night, she felt a sort of dread, a terrifying feeling of apprehension that caused her breath to come faster and her footsteps to quicken.
"What is wrong with me?" she scolded herself aloud, eyes darting from side to side, searching for something that didn't and couldn't exist.
It's just nerves, she decided. I'm a wreck. Gonna leave my boyfriend tomorrow… But the words didn't comfort her as they usually did. Feeling a sudden chill, Aneko wrapped her arms around herself. Nothing to be afraid of, she reminded herself harshly, absolutely noth..
A shrill scream escaped her throat as an icy hand grabbed the back of her neck. The cigarette dropped from her lips and fell on her bare arm, causing her to scream again. Aneko turned sharply and strained her eyes in the night, but saw nothing.
"Who... who's there?" she demanded of the darkness but was granted no reply. She dug her hand in her purse until she found the lighter and lit it, sending strange orange shadows to dance on the alley walls.
Even with the extra light, Aneko couldn't see anyone, so she tried to calm her breathing. "I'm going crazy," she whispered and her words seemed to echo in the night. Aneko shook her head and fumbled through her purse for the pack of cigarettes but froze when she heard a voice.
"Smoking is a dirty habit."
Aneko whirled around, but instead of the horrid creature of night she was expecting, she saw a young woman smiling quite pleasantly.
"Did I frighten you? I apologize," the woman said and flashed another smile.
"N… no. That's okay. I'm fine," Aneko stuttered and mentally kicked herself for sounding stupid.
Swell, Aneko, now that she thinks you're mentally impaired…
"Well, anyway," the woman continued, moving closer, "I wanted to ask you…" She trailed off and smiled in a way that caused Aneko's heart to pound (Girl, what is wrong with you?) and made her back into the alley wall, "…where's the nearest subway?"
"Huh?" Aneko was confused. For a minute, the woman's eyes had seemed to glow red, but now she looked as normal as anyone.
"Two blocks to the right," Aneko answered, brushing a strand of red hair from her eyes in an embarrassed fashion.
What this woman must think of me…
"Really? Thanks, dear. You've been a big help. I like you." The woman paused and grinned. "In fact, I think Boss would like you, too."
And before Aneko had a chance to say another word or even think about what was happening, the woman's skin rolled off, revealing a grotesque… thing… underneath with blue-grey scales. Green hair sprouted from its head and its eyes glowed the evil blood red Aneko had seen before. A hideous cackle escaped the throat.
Aneko's mouth fell open as she stared at the thing with the distorted features. She couldn't think. "Thank you, my dear, for cooperating," it cackled and reached for her neck. Aneko's survival instinct kicked in then, and without thinking, she swung the lighter flame across its eyes and slammed her purse into the torso. The thing howled in pain and frustration, giving Aneko a chance to run. She bolted as if the hounds of Hell were after her, heart thumping hard enough to explode.
A dark figure appeared at the end of the alley and she recognized the shape as a man. She sobbed with relief as she neared. Everything was going to be alright.
"Oh sir… please help me!" She clutched his sleeve in desperation, and looked up at his face pleadingly. It was a normal-looking face, a young man, tall, but her blood froze when she saw his eyes. Eyes that were as evil as the monster's and just as cruel.
"Sir?" she whispered, horrified as a slow smile slid across his handsome features.
"Boo," he said calmly and Aneko started screaming.
0 0 0
Usagi raced through the streets, her sneakers pounding on the pavement. No more monsters, please! she pleaded to any god benevolent enough to listen. I don't know if I can take it!
Downtown Tokyo was emptier than usual and the few people she passed seemed oblivious to the terrified screams. Either everyone here is insensitive or I'm picking up a new ability, she decided.
The screams abruptly stopped, but Usagi had spotted a faint blue glow coming from an alley and knew where she was headed. She slowed her pace and poked her head around the corner. The sight she saw confirmed her fears.
There was an ugly youma standing by and watching proudly as a good-looking man dangled his hand over a red-haired woman's chest and retrieved blue life force from her. He was wearing a uniform that she recognized as similar to Queen Beryl's generals, except it was a darker gray with forest green trimming. He was also laughing like a mad man.
Setsuna was right… Usagi thought in wonder. She backed out of view and leaned against the building, trying to calm her breath and prepare herself for the fight. Ready or not, life was about to get interesting again. Peace, she had learned, never lasted. Not in that city.
Her eyes shut and her body heaved a heavy sigh. Well, it was show time.
"Moon Eternal Make-Up!"
0 0 0
Aneko struggled against the man's grip, but soon discovered that the more she moved the tighter his hands squeezed her throat, so after a while she lay limp in his arms for breathing's sake. Even as she felt herself becoming weaker, she lay still, quietly denying it all. This couldn't be happening, not to her. Bad things only happened to others; she had never imagined in her most terrifying nightmares that the victim would one day be her.
She painfully twisted her head to look at her attacker. He was laughing and his face was twisted in an evil smirk, making him appear less human, less handsome and more like the ugly monster watching them with wild hunger in its eyes.
"Help me," she whispered, knowing very well that no one could hear her plea. Her whimpers only made her attacker laugh harder. She felt a strong surge of emotion inside, a hatred greater than she had ever known. This guy deserved a beating but she was too weak to do anything about it…
She knew she was going to die, but felt calmer than she would have expected. She wasn't afraid, only wished that someone would send the bastard along death's road soon after her. It was funny how thoughts progressed in one who was dying. Aneko found herself thinking about silly things: the novel she was reading and would never finish, how she had forgotten to leave her boss a note about the burnt-out light bulb in the bathroom, about her kitten, Tama, and most of all about her boyfriend. She closed her eyes then. Her boyfriend…
If I ever get out of this, I'm going to tell my boyfriend how much I love him…
"Leave her alone, you monster!" a young girl's voice unexpectedly tore through the night. Aneko would have jumped if she hadn't felt as heavy as Khufu's pyramid. The man was just as surprised and his head shot up to glare into the darkness.
"Who's there?" he demanded. "Show yourself if you're not afraid!"
"All right," the voice agreed, and Eternal Sailormoon stepped out of the shadows.
"Sailormoon," Aneko whispered, feeling a spark of hope light within. Sailormoon glanced at her with pity, before turning her angry gaze back to the man.
"Who are you?" she demanded, voice hard.
"Bauxite, my dear girl," he replied, bowing his head like a gentleman. "And you?"
"I am Eternal Sailormoon, and on behalf of love, justice and all the power within me, I will correct the mistake you have made," she said, striking several different poses.
"Eternal Sailormoon, huh?" Bauxite mused, an odd smile on his lips. "Is that so? That was a rather pretty speech, but can you live up to your threats?"
"Want to find out?"
Bauxite smirked and tightened his grip on Aneko when the little waitress started struggling, thinking her attacker was distracted. "Cute, real cute. But all I can see is a little girl in a pretty costume with a mouthful of petty threats."
Sailormoon turned several shades of red and clenched her fists. "That was low, Bauxite, but you're not going to live to regret it," she taunted. Bauxite sighed and gestured to the youma.
"Carmenia?"
"Yes, master?"
"Eliminate the little girl."
"With pleasure," Carmenia said, her gray tongue sliding over her lips in anticipation. Sailormoon's eyes widened slightly but she held her ground.
"You can't scare me," she informed Bauxite.
"Maybe not yet," he answered pleasantly. "But wait a minute and it'll kick in. Carmenia? She's all yours." Carmenia grinned and lifted her arms, her long fingernails transforming into sharp daggers.
"It really was a pleasure knowing you, Sailormoon, short as our time was together." He waved a hand at Carmenia to begin.
"No!" Aneko cried and tried to move towards the girl, but Bauxite pulled her back into his arms and grinned at her.
"Oh no, you're not going anywhere," he said cheerfully and placed his hand on her chest, sucking more energy.
She's so young, Aneko thought as the world started to turn black. She can't save me… or herself. And she closed her eyes.
0 0 0
The red-haired woman went limp in Bauxite's arms and Sailormoon stepped towards her with a cry. But she didn't have time to do anything, for Carmenia stretched her arms with a roar and released the daggers. Sailormoon dodged out of the way, but not fast enough to miss one of the daggers, which sliced neatly through several layers of skin on her right abdomen. With a moan of pain, Sailormoon clutched the crimson welt and tried to stop the flow of blood. She felt a searing heat on the spot and thought she saw a white glow envelop her body, but it was gone before she could think about it. Suddenly lightheaded, she dug her feet in the ground and desperately tried to keep her balance.
"You'll be sorry," she told Carmenia through gritted teeth and raised her head. "S... Silver M… M… Moon…" With a start, Sailormoon realized she couldn't finish and fell to her knees, clutching her wound. Her free hand closed over a rock and she hurled it towards Bauxite, but it bounced harmlessly off his shoulder and he stared at her, blinking in confusion.
"That's it?" he asked in disbelief. "I was expecting more from the great Eternal Sailormoon."
"You haven't seen anything yet. I'm just warming up."
"As long as you believe that. Carmenia, please put the child out of her misery."
"Yes, master." Carmenia opened her mouth and slowly it grew wider until a large black vortex was revealed. Her gray tongue shot out and encircled Sailormoon's body, before proceeding to drag her into the vortex. Sailormoon screamed with a combination of fear and surprise.
Its breath smelt like dead carp. Sailormoon tried to recoil from the smell, but each second Carmenia dragged her closer. I have got to get out, she thought frantically, but how? She noticed from the corner of her eye that the girl lying in Bauxite's arms had gone pale, her eyes partially open, but unseeing. Sailormoon struggled against Carmenia's hold, praying it wasn't too late to save her.
The jerk noticed her looking and smiled. "Don't worry. I left enough for her to live, but she won't be feeling entirely fresh for a while. Boss will be pleased with the life energy I've collected." As he spoke, Carmenia paused in her mission to swallow Sailormoon and her eyes darted to him, waiting.
That's it! she realized dizzily. I have to keep him talking. Carmenia won't eat me until she truly believes Bauxite is through having me around.
"Boss?" she choked out loudly as Carmenia started pulling her again. "Is that who you work for? Does he have a name?"
Bauxite stared at her for a moment before answering. "He is our Boss, so why should we call him anything but that?" He looked as if the thought was too profound to have occurred to him.
"We? There's more of you?" Sailormoon asked shrilly, shooting a sharp glance at Carmenia. Wonderful.
"Yes, but I am the only one he trusts to do his work." Bauxite smirked, balancing the girl's blue ball of energy on his palm. "And it looks like I'm doing a superb job."
"Bauxite, you... I'll get you for this!"
"And what are you planning to do?" he asked calmly. "May I remind you that you're about to be eaten alive? Carmenia so does love human girl. One of the greatest delicacies of the universe, I'm told. Be quiet and try not to ruin this for her."
A sharp jab of pain in her side reminded her of the not-so-good odds of the situation and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
What am I going to do?
Luckily, she didn't have to think of a way out. One minute, Carmenia lifted her into the air and pulled her closer, and the next, she hit the ground with a heavy thud and heard Carmenia's howl of pain. Sailormoon opened her eyes in surprise and her gaze focused on a single red rose stuck in the dirt near the half of Carmenia's tongue that was still wrapped around her.
"Tuxedo Kamen!" she cried joyously, and then, "Yuck!" as she rolled out of Carmenia's severed tongue and frantically tried to wipe the slime off her uniform. Tuxedo Kamen was perched on top of one of the alley buildings, glaring at down Bauxite.
"And you are?" Bauxite demanded and dropped the limp red-head to the ground where she lay, bright hair covering her face.
"I am Tuxedo Kamen, defender of all against evil and loyal protector of the girl I love." Sailormoon's heart swelled with happiness, his strange behavior at the temple forgotten in an instant.
"Well then, Tuxedo Kamen," Bauxite said pleasantly, "you've come just in time to see your girlfriend die." Tuxedo Kamen looked in horror at Carmenia, who was positioning her dagger arms again. But Sailormoon didn't notice; she was staring at Tuxedo Kamen with hearts in her eyes.
"Sailormoon, move!"
"Huh?" she asked, confused, and cried out when she saw Carmenia release her daggers.
"No!" Tuxedo Kamen yelled. "Velvet Rose Protect!" And he threw another rose, which landed in front of Sailormoon, forming a bubble of protection just in time. The daggers bounced off the bubble and clattered harmlessly to the ground.
"That wasn't very smart," Bauxite said coldly. "You'll pay for that with your own blood." Tuxedo Kamen leaped off the building and landed with a small grunt before straightening and looking Bauxite in the eyes.
"Do your worst," he challenged.
"No! Don't!" Sailormoon screamed, banging her small fists against the walls of the bubble. "He's dangerous! Get away and save yourself!"
"I'm not leaving you. That bubble won't last forever. Besides, this might be some fun," he said, tossing her a smile, before turning back to Bauxite with narrowed eyes. Bauxite smiled and took a step forward.
"Well, if you're that anxious to die…" He lifted his free hand and a ball of black energy formed in his palm. Sailormoon squeezed her eyes shut - she couldn't watch. It was amazing that with all the death she had seen in her lifetime, she was still disturbed by any thought of blood and fighting. Especially when it involved someone she loved.
And then, with miraculous luck, the conflict ended before it began.
Bauxite! a sharp voice filled the alley. Return immediately!
"But…" Bauxite looked at Tuxedo Kamen with something like longing in his eyes.
Now!
"Yes, master," Bauxite answered meekly and turned back to Tuxedo Kamen, his dark energy dying from his palm. "I got what I came for. As much as I would love to snap your neck in half, Boss calls, so we'll have to continue this some other time. And don't feel neglected, my dear," he said turning to Sailormoon and blowing an exaggerated kiss. "I have very special plans for you."
Tuxedo Kamen let out a cry of outrage and lunged towards Bauxite, but he and the youma disappeared, laughing, with the girl's ball of energy before he reached them. Tuxedo Kamen stared at the spot where Bauxite had been, breathing heavily, and clenched his fists before turning to Sailormoon.
"Just when I thought we would have peace for good. Shows what an optimistic fool I am," he growled, and as an after thought, "Oh… right." He snapped his fingers and the bubble disappeared, causing a surprised Sailormoon, who had been leaning against it, to fall forward.
"Ow."
"Sorry."
She rubbed her elbows with a passion and glanced up at him, suddenly embarrassed. "That was a neat trick, by the way," she admitted and he beamed.
"You think so? It was something I was working on in case we were in danger again. I guess I was right to practice." But before they could exchange more words, the red-haired girl groaned and started moving. Sailormoon crawled over to her and Tuxedo Kamen finally noticed the wound on her right side, which had started bleeding again.
"Sailormoon, you're hurt!"
"I'm fine. Forget about me."
Tuxedo Kamen frowned but went to stand beside her silently. She could tell he was not at all pleased at the sight of her blood, but understood that she would refuse to be fussed over until she knew the other girl was okay. She hid a smile at the sight of his pale face. His worry about her was touching, and she would have enjoyed it had she not felt like passing out.
"Oh, my head," the girl moaned suddenly and brought a hand to her forehead, catching Sailormoon's attention. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around.
"Did we win?" she asked wearily when her gaze locked with Sailormoon's. Sailormoon glanced at Tuxedo Kamen who shrugged.
"Sure," she said dully. "Sure we won."
"That's good," the girl said cheerfully and then blinked. "Who's the guy in the cape?"
"A friend," Sailormoon assured her. "What's your name?"
"Fuyuko Aneko," she said in a rush. "What time is it? My boyfriend must be so worried!"
"Are you okay?" Tuxedo Kamen asked, peering at her closely.
"Considering the fact that a sharp pain stabs through my body every time I move, I'm great," she said sarcastically as she struggled to her feet.
"She's fine," Sailormoon said, smiling at Tuxedo Kamen. He gave her a weak smile, letting her know she wasn't the one he was worried about, before turning his attention back to Aneko.
"Can you make it home, Fuyuko-san?" he asked gallantly.
"Oh, yeah. I'll be fine. I've had worse, like the time I.…" she broke off and laughed a little sheepishly. "Not that you want to hear about it. My God, do I ever need a cigarette." With lightning speed, she found one in her purse and lit it.
"Well, thanks a lot, you guys. And keep on, um... fighting bad guys," Aneko said in dismissal and turned with a slight wave.
"Uh, Fuyuko-san? One more thing," Sailormoon called. Aneko turned and blew out a puff of smoke.
"Yeah?"
"Smoking is a dirty habit," Sailormoon said, wrinkling her nose. Aneko's mouth dropped open is disbelief. The cigarette fell out and landed on her chest, making her shriek as both Sailormoon and Tuxedo Kamen sweat-dropped.
"What a night, what a night!" she muttered as she turned and stalked away.
"Think she'll be okay?" Sailormoon asked quietly.
"Of course. It's you I'm concerned about. What happened?" He knelt beside her when Aneko turned the corner. She looked at the ground without answering and it took him a minute to realize she was crying. "Sailormoon?" he inquired with surprise and placed an arm around her shoulders, an arm she immediately shook off.
"You idiot!" she hissed. Tuxedo Kamen was shocked at her reaction. He stared at her, mouth parted in disbelief. She had never spoken to him so harshly before.
"You could have been killed!" she continued angrily, "and you treated it like a game!"
"Well, did you honestly expect me to leave you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why are you so upset? I'm alive… I didn't fight him."
"I'm not mad at you. I'm furious at myself! You shouldn't have had to think about fighting him in the first place. I should have destroyed them both long before you arrived - but I couldn't!" Her body convulsed in heavy sobs and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself.
"Will you tell me what happened?" Tuxedo Kamen asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder while keeping a nervous eye on her wound. "Hey, don't cry. It's okay." Sailormoon wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and looked at him helplessly.
"My powers didn't work. First, I couldn't dodge Carmenia's daggers in time, and then, well…" she glanced down at her wound and Tuxedo Kamen followed her gaze with a wince. "And I couldn't use my attack. The worst I could do was throw a rock at Bauxite."
Tuxedo Kamen's mouth twisted into a smile. "You threw a rock at him?"
"Yes," she sobbed, "and it didn't do any good! Maybe it's like he said. I'm only a little girl in a pretty costume."
"Don't say that," Tuxedo Kamen said harshly, making her stop shaking. "I know you're stronger than this! I've seen you stand up to a hundred Enemies without a thought, and now you're getting upset over one jerk and his insensitive remarks."
"That's another reason. I've thought myself so much stronger than I used to be, and here I am bawling like I'm 14 again. My powers have never not worked! Sometimes they haven't affected the Enemy, but never have they completely not worked!" Sailormoon sniffled, but otherwise seemed to be done crying.
Tuxedo Kamen stood and offered a hand, which she reluctantly took, and pulled her to her feet. She grimaced when strain was put on her wound and he watched her, chewing his lip thoughtfully.
"We need to get that taken care of," he said quietly. She nodded in agreement and signaled for him to turn. He obeyed and she spun around. Sailormoon closed her eyes and concentrated on her clothes, feeling her body tingle with warmth as the transformation took place. When it was over, Usagi turned to face Mamoru.
"Come on," he said holding out a hand. "Let's get out of here." Usagi allowed him to place an arm around her shoulders and gently guide her out of the alley. She closed her eyes and leaned against him, feeling warm and safe, and as far from handsome Bauxite and his words as possible. With Mamoru beside her, she didn't have to think, and simply allowed herself to be guided. But soon it became clear that the direction he was taking her wasn't home.
"Um, Mamo-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Where are we going? My house isn't this way." She had a feeling he wasn't taking her on an evening stroll.
"I'm taking you to my place," he said easily and at her shocked look, added, "I can't just drop you off at your house and bid you goodnight. I'm not letting you out of my sight until I'm convinced you won't bleed to death."
"But I'm fine," she argued, voice strained with pain. He gave her an incredulous look and shook his head. "It's nothing my mother can't take care of," she continued, suddenly nervous. "My mother! Oh no... she's probably frantic by now. You have to take me home!"
"And how are you going to explain to her why you're bleeding?" he demanded. Usagi opened her mouth, but after a moment shut it again and shook her head miserably. "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything," he assured her.
Usagi sighed and rested her head against his chest. "That's what I'm afraid of."
"I see you're feeling better," he mused, and she could hear him smiling. "Well, here we are." Mamoru helped her up the steps to the main floor of his apartment building and hit the elevator button. They continued up to the eighth floor in silence, listening to the elevator's hum and the instrumental version of "Memory." When they reached the correct floor, he led her to his apartment and rummaged around in his pocket for the keys.
The key slipped in the lock and a small click signaled acceptance as the door swung open. Mamoru stepped inside and felt around for the light switch, sending the apartment alight.
"Hey, Mamo," a lazy male voice called out, causing them both to jump. Usagi's eyes swept the room before landing on a boy a few years older than her sprawled on the couch. The boy's mouth was curved into a smile, chocolate brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Nick," Mamoru said, bewildered. "What are you doing here?" The boy ignored the question. Instead, he sat up and ran a hand through his smooth, dark hair, staring with interest as Usagi crept inside.
"Mamoru, you sly fox. Who's your friend?" he asked with a slight American accent, but otherwise perfect Japanese. Nick stood and swept across the room, grinning.
"Tsukino Usagi," she introduced and offered him her hand. He took it, but instead of shaking, he bent and gently brushed his lips against the back. Usagi looked at Mamoru with an amused smile, but he didn't look happy.
"Ah, Tsukino-san, of course. Mamoru has talked my ear off about you, but he's neglected to mention how beautiful you are," Nick said with a wink and rose. Usagi flushed with pleasure, both at Nick's compliment and at the fact that Mamoru told his friends about her.
"Oh, I like him," she said, beaming at Mamoru, and was surprised to find him frowning at Nick. "And you are?" she asked, elbowing Mamoru roughly in the stomach with a hidden message - be nice.
"Nicholas Kestral," he said with a little bow. "But please call me, Nick. I'm from California. No reason I couldn't to go UCLA like everyone else in my class, but I had to get away. Trust me, if you grew up in San Mantego, you'd understand, Tsukino-san."
"You can call me, Usagi," she said with a bright smile and Mamoru rolled his eyes.
"Nick was just leaving," he told her, nearly shoving poor Nick out the door.
"Oh, let him stay," Usagi pleaded. "You know my friends. I want to know yours."
"But we have certain things to take care of," Mamoru said through clenched teeth, giving her a meaningful glance. Usagi felt a sharp pain in her side. She had almost forgotten. Nick had that effect; he brightened the room and made her forget the pain until Mamoru thought it necessary to remind her.
And the fact that he was pretty cute helped, too.
Nick grinned, misinterpreting exactly what 'things'' Mamoru was referring to. "Oh, so that's how it is, Mam my man," he said and winked. "I wouldn't want to interrupt. Sleep here often, Usagi?" Usagi and Mamoru both flushed.
"No," Mamoru growled. "She doesn't. And that was very rude of you to ask."
"Was it? Oh, well, cultural differences and all. I still have a lot to learn." He looked serious, but his eyes were smiling.
Usagi frowned as she thought of an explanation. "We were just taking a walk and I… uh, I walked into a tree and was scraped by a branch. Mamo-chan's going to help me clean it up." Nick's eyes widened as she stepped forward and showed him her wound.
"That looks pretty nasty," he observed, frowning at her blood-soaked shirt. "What kind of tree did that?"
"Uh," Usagi faltered and a sweat drop appeared on her forehead. "I… I didn't see. It was dark, and I'm such a klutz, anyway."
"Yeah," Nick said in a subdued tone. "That's what he says." Usagi turned hard eyes on Mamoru who looked away.
"Nick," Mamoru tried again, "how did you get in?"
Nick grinned. "I asked the landlord for a key," he explained with a shrug. "I told him I was a visiting cousin and that I had locked myself out."
"He's not supposed to do that," Mamoru said, clenching his fists. "Why did he assume you were my cousin? We don't look a thing alike, and you're a gaijin."
"Yeah," Nick agreed, "but he fell prey to my irresistible charm. Stupid man. It's amazing this place isn't burglarized more often." He laughed and Usagi watched him in amazement. He reminded her of a painting of Puck she'd once seen in a museum, eyes alight with mischief on a boyishly cute face. She watched him for a moment, intently studying his laughing features. Forget cute: he was gorgeous, as far as foreigners went. There was something about that laugh and the sound of his voice, his brown eyes…
"Nick, I have to ask," Usagi said slowly, surprised at herself, "have we met before?" Mamoru looked at her sharply, but she was busy staring at Nick and didn't notice.
Nick cocked his head to the side in thought. "I don't think so," he said with a flirty twinkle in his eyes. "I think I'd remember someone as beautiful as you."
"Excuse us, but I have to tend her wound," Mamoru said gruffly, pulling Usagi out of the room before she was completely swept away by Nicholas Kestrel.
"Take your time," he said, reaching for the remote. "I'm going to check out the tube."
"No, you're not," Mamoru told him indignantly, snatching the remote. "You're going home."
"Mamo-chan," Usagi said warningly from the bathroom. Nick's eyes lost their sparkle and his mouth fell.
"Why do you think I'm here, Mamoru? I have no home. Dalila kicked me out."
Mamoru groaned. "Again?"
"Yeah, but this time I think she means it. She says she has too much to deal with and I'm a burden. It's only an excuse," he said with a shrug. "I guess I don't mind. I just didn't know where to go, and since you're such a nice, caring, all-around awesome guy…" he broke off and looked up hopefully.
"Come on, Mamo-chan," Usagi prompted, sticking her head out of the bathroom to give him a LOOK.
Mamoru sighed. "All right, you can stay. But only tonight. We'll figure something out in the morning."
"Thanks, buddy," Nick said, slapping him on the back, nearly knocking him to the ground. "You won't regret this."
"I already have." Mamoru headed over to Usagi, muttering shocking words under his breath. Nick squinted after them, hesitating.
"Hey, Usagi?"
"Yes?"
"You are kind of familiar," he admitted. "But not because we've met. You remind me of someone."
"Who?" she asked curiously. Nick's eyes glazed for a second, but he shook his head and seemed to regain his calm.
"Oh, no one. Just a girl I know. It's not important." With that, his face again became cheery and he turned on the TV. Mamoru slammed the bathroom door to tune out the noise of an anime police drama that Nick had found and turned up to full volume.
"Annoying little twit," he said, shaking his head. "Here... sit on the counter." Usagi obeyed and eyed him curiously.
"Don't you like him? I thought he was your friend, but you're not being very nice."
"Pull your shirt up," Mamoru ordered as he ran a washcloth under warm water. "He is my friend… no, not that high. There, that's good… he just has too much energy for me to handle sometimes, especially when I'm already stressed." Usagi was embarrassed as he gently dabbed away the dried blood from her stomach. It wasn't like he was seeing anything important, but still…
"Do you know who he was talking about? The girl I remind him of?" she asked, to distract herself from the fact that he was touching her in a very ticklish area.
To her surprise, Mamoru rolled his eyes. "Jenny someone. I can't remember her family name."
"How do you know?"
"I don't, but it's a pretty good guess. He won't shut up about her."
"Who is she?"
"Some girl he's wronged in the past, and apparently she's grown up so beautiful that he can't forgive himself for it," he answered and rinsed out the washcloth, which was already soaked with blood, before reapplying it.
"She's grown up beautiful?" Usagi said, annoyed. "Is that all that matters to him?"
"No. There's more to it. He doesn't say, but I think he really cared about her. Don't worry. Nick's not the kind of guy who lets things bother him for long." Silence fell upon the two.
"Does he really seem familiar?" Mamoru asked in an odd voice, and then, "Does this sting?"
"Nothing I can't handle. Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but I swear I've met him before."
"I did, too," he said, and when she looked at him in surprise, he smiled. "When I first met him at the university, I almost fell over when he introduced himself. But despite the deja vu, I couldn't place his face, so I passed it off as nothing. Until you said you recognized him, too."
"Could we have known him in the Silver Millennium?" Usagi suggested. "Maybe the two of us and the senshi weren't the only ones reincarnated."
"It's possible. I guess we'll find out if it's important." Mamoru let out a soft whistle. "This is pretty bad. I really don't know what else to do. How do you feel?"
"It hurts, if that's what you're asking."
Mamoru opened his medicine cabinet and pulled out a ball of gauze, which he applied and gently taped to her skin as a temporary bandage. The wound had reopened as he was cleaning it, and he needed something to slow the bleeding. "Stay here. I have to make a few phone calls," he said finally. Usagi looked at him, alarmed.
"You're not going to send for a doctor, are you?" she demanded. "What if he finds something that proves this wasn't from a tree?"
"Not exactly. Relax. I said I was going to take care of everything, didn't I?" Usagi nodded reluctantly as he left and then smiled when she heard him yell at Nick to turn down the TV.
She glanced around the tiny bathroom with interest. She'd been to Mamoru's apartment before, but not in the bathroom. The walls were covered with periwinkle wallpaper that had tiny white swirls. She decided she liked it and wanted some if she ever redecorated her room.
Her eyes traveled to the counter she was sitting on. It was white and speckled with blue spots, the color matching the wallpaper exactly. Her eyes fell on his electric razor on a white towel and she smiled. What would it be like to watch him shave every morning when they were married? It was strange thinking about it, knowing for a fact that they would marry. Knowing the future left out the element of surprise, but at least she knew they'd be very happy and have a beautiful daughter.
She turned then and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Nick thought she was pretty? He must be blind. Her skin was glistening white from the pain, and her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Usagi stuck a tongue out at her reflection and turned just as Mamoru opened the door.
"Come sit in the living room," he suggested. "No sense sitting in there while we wait."
"Wait for what?" she asked, easing herself off the counter and biting her lip because of the white streaks of pain that shot through her side.
"You'll see," Mamoru said mysteriously, placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her out of the bathroom. "I also took care of your mother. You may stay here tonight."
"How did you manage that?" Usagi asked with shock. "She'd never let me!"
"Oh, I created a cover story with the help of a very willing volunteer," he said with a smile. "Now we wait."
0 0 0
Rei glared at the receiver as she slammed it down. "Why do I agree to these things?" she muttered furiously. Of course she knew why - she'd always had a soft spot for Mamoru, ever since her crush on him. A 'please' from him, and she would immediately agree to things she wouldn't do for anyone else.
Rei groaned and closed her eyes, massaging her temples. What a night. The dinner party had been a disaster. Everything had broken up soon after Mamoru stormed out after Usagi. Haruka had been nagging him for some reason, and after several minutes of her goading, he decided he'd had enough and left with scarcely a 'goodbye' to anyone. When he was gone, in the uncomfortable silence that followed, the others had suddenly remembered a pressing engagement they had to attend… but thanks for inviting them, it was fun.
Yeah right. Rei hadn't believed them for a second. Still, she plastered a smile on her face and showed everyone to the door. Later, she chased Yuuichiro around with a broom to ease her frustrations. She had finally calmed down when her grandfather called her to the phone. Surprisingly, Mamoru was on the other end with the story of the night's attack. She bit her lip as he talked, hoping Usagi wasn't hurt too badly - probably not if Mamoru wasn't taking her to the hospital, but still…
An new Enemy, huh? Rei felt a strong urge to meditate. Evil things… didn't they have anything better to do than try to take over the world?
But she couldn't meditate now. No. She had to call Usagi's mother. Don't know why I agreed to this, she thought glumly, because if they get caught, it's my butt that's going to be fried! Grumbling, she padded over to the phone and punched in the Tsukino's home number.
She frowned as it started to ring and after a few seconds, a musical voice answered. Rei cleared her throat. "Is this Tsukino-san? Hi. This is Hino Rei."
"Rei, of course!" Usagi's mom said cheerfully. "You want to speak to Usagi? She hasn't returned yet, and frankly, I'm a little concerned…"
"Don't worry, Tsukino-san. She's still here. Everyone is spending the night, and I was calling to let you know," Rei said, hoping her voice was light and even.
"Oh that sounds like fun! Could I talk to her?"
"Talk to her?" Rei's heart pounded madly. "Uh... I think she's asleep already."
"That sounds like her," Mrs. Tsukino said with a heavy sigh, knowing her daughter well. "Could you wake her, please?"
"Wake her? Sure," Rei said dully. "Hold on." She moved the receiver from her mouth and yelled, "Hey, Mako-chan! Could you get Usagi up?" She paused and then said, "Oh, she is? Okay. No, don't bother. That's fine."
"Rei, who are you talking to?" Yuuichiro asked, entering the room with a strange look on his face. "Makoto and Usagi left hours ago!" Rei motioned for him to be quiet and turned her back.
"She's taking a bath," Rei said. "I'm sorry."
"She?" Yuuichiro said loudly. "The only person taking a bath is your grandfather!" Rei threw a book at him, and after a howl of pain, he shut up.
"Rei, is everything alright?" Usagi's mother asked anxiously.
"Oh, yes. They're having a pillow fight," she said with a nervous laugh, glaring at Yuuichiro, who blushed meekly.
"Oh. Well, have my daughter call in the morning, okay? I wouldn't want to disturb her bath. Does she want me to bring over some clothes?"
"No!" Rei yelled, and then laughed nervously at the stunned silence on the other end. "I mean, no. She can borrow mine. She likes the temple robes."
"Well then, if everything is alright…"
"It is."
"Tell her 'goodnight' for me."
"I'll even give her a kiss. Thank you," Rei said and hung up. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart. One thing was sure… Usagi and Mamoru owed her big time!
0 0 0
The doorbell rang just as Nick let out another loud and rather endearing laugh. Usagi grinned as Mamoru leapt up to answer the door. In the past fifteen minutes, she'd decided that she really liked Nicholas Kestrel. It wasn't just his friendly open manner or even his charming smile: it was the way she immediately felt at ease with him. As if she did know him, and had for years.
She and Nick had been talking and laughing about this and that since she'd sat down, but Mamoru had been quiet… even for him. Usagi supposed it was because he was too worried to join the laughter. Not that there was any need; it was just a scratch, and it didn't hurt her so much any more. Nick was like a walking endorphin.
Suddenly, Nick stopped in the middle of an amusing story about some idiot he knew back home and looked towards the doorway with interest.
"And you are?" he asked with one of his flirtatious smiles. Usagi turned and a grin spread over her features.
"Ami-chan!" she cried and started to get up, but Mamoru motioned for her to sit down. She did so, grudgingly, but continued to beam at her friend.
"Man, Mamo, if I'd known this place was crawling with gorgeous femmes, I'd have come over more often," Nick said and grinned at Ami. She gave him a watery smile and a wary glance, not sure how to take him.
"Ami-san, this is Nicholas," Mamoru introduced as he ushered the blue-haired girl into the room.
"But you can call me, Nick," he said with a wink that made Usagi roll her eyes.
"Ami-san is here to talk to Usagi," Mamoru told Nick with a glare that told him to sit and be quiet before he got up to charm Ami, too. "You girls can use the bathroom," he added and sat next to Nick, one hand on his friend's arm as a restraint. Usagi led Ami away and shut the bathroom door, muffling the sound of Nick's laughter, before turning to her friend.
After an initial greeting, Ami was all business. She began questioning Usagi about the night's events and rummaged in her knapsack for her small computer. Usagi sighed and explained everything she could remember as Ami did a scan with the little machine and a quick visual examination of the wound.
"Mmm," she said finally, blue eyes troubled.
"What?" Usagi squirmed on the counter. "Good 'oh' or bad?"
"The dagger the youma threw - Usagi-chan, will you stop moving! - it must have had a type of poison on the tip. I'm getting a reading, but I don't quite know what it is. Usagi… your power isn't something magical, it comes from deep inside you. The poison entered your system and attached itself to your enzymes, which as a result is inhibiting vital reactions from taking place, so your metabolism…"
"Explain in baka terms, please," Usagi said with a pained look. Ami gave a small smile, tight and grim.
"It zapped your power, and until we find a way to cure it, you won't be able to transform at all. It may have… other effects, but I'd have to do more tests to determine what those are. For now, whatever else it may be, the poison is not lethal. You're safe, and that is all that matters."
Usagi's smile had frozen and now she swallowed. "Well… how do we cure it?" she asked, trying to stifle the panic creeping into her voice. Ami's eyes went bleak and she looked away.
"I don't know. I'm sorry, but I don't. I suppose if there was an antidote… or if you had another power-up, but…" Ami trailed off and looked at her friend uneasily.
"But Eternal Sailormoon is the highest version of Sailormoon," Usagi finished, understanding what Ami couldn't say. Ami chewed her lip for a moment.
"Usagi-chan, I assure you… I will do everything I can to help fix this."
"But what am I supposed to do until then if I can't transform?" Usagi exclaimed. "Sit on the sidelines and watch you guys risk your lives? I can't stand by without doing anything!"
"You have to. I'm so sorry, but you'd be in the way. The other senshi and I can handle this. Until we get you back to normal, you need to rest. Besides, you got your wish, right?" She smiled, trying to cheer her up. "No more fighting."
"But this isn't what I wanted," Usagi whispered. Ami silently gathered her things before throwing her arms around the solemn girl on the counter.
"You'll be okay," she said, pulling away. Just before she left the bathroom, she looked back and said, "And Usagi-chan… they could have easily dosed the poison to kill you. All they needed was to slip something deadly into the mixture and you wouldn't be here talking to me. They don't seem to want you dead… just out of the way."
She left with Usagi staring after her with shocked eyes.
0 0 0
The next night, Usagi found herself wandering through the park again. The beauty of the flowers and the lake sparkling with moonlight didn't phase her. That night, the park was a place for her to gather her thoughts. Unfortunately, she had a lot of thoughts that needed gathering.
She found a bench facing the lake and sat, gazing at the silver reflections on the water, and thought about the day. She had woken up confused in Mamoru's bedroom. He and Nick had spent the night in the living room. Nick had insisted on the couch ("I'm a guest, Mam, my man. Be hospitable."), and Mamoru was too tired to argue, so he curled up on a chair and was asleep almost instantly.
The one thing they agreed on was that Usagi should get the bed. Even though she tried to protest, she knew it was a losing battle, so she gave up and went to sleep, borrowing under Mamoru's sheets with a smile on her lips.
The next morning, she had sleepily stumbled into the kitchen to discover the boys busy making breakfast. Nick was trying to figure out how to make orange juice from concentrate and Mamoru was at the stove, making pancakes. They had enjoyed a rather pleasant morning together, until Usagi realized she had to head home. Nick made her promise to come see him again, but Mamoru didn't say anything - just gave her a special gaze that was more important than words, anyway.
As soon as she arrived home, her happiness faded when her mom demanded why she hadn't called and also why she was wearing a man's shirt. Usagi didn't want to explain how Mamoru had her shirt and was going to get the blood out before he returned it, so she muttered, "It's, uh... Yuuichiro-san's," and raced to her room.
And now she was sitting in the park, feeling melancholy. How could she do nothing while her friends fought the new Enemy? Why did Bauxite want her out of the way? Usagi felt that killing her would have been kinder. The knot in her stomach tightened as she realized how Bauxite and Carmenia had been playing with her. They had never meant to seriously hurt her… they were just having fun. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she remembered how Carmenia had dangled her until Tuxedo Kamen came - toying, a cat with a mouse.
She could still hear Bauxite saying, "I have special plans for you, my dear…" and Tuxedo Kamen's cry of outrage. What were those plans? Thinking about it made her stomach twist in agitation.
She was so lost in gloomy thoughts that she didn't hear the approach until a twig snapped behind her. Usagi sucked in her breath, but before she could turn, she heard a voice that made every muscle in her body freeze. A voice soft as rain and smooth as mink, but unmistakably masculine.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, wouldn't you agree?" Usagi's heart calmed. Whoever it was, he didn't have the voice of an Enemy. She'd had enough experience with Evil to recognize it straight off.
"May I?" he continued, and she guessed he wanted to sit down. She nodded.
A shadow glided around the bench and sat next to her. "I've always been fascinated with the moon," he continued as Usagi sat stiffly and stared ahead. "Something about it… it's easy to believe there's a another world on it's surface, and a race of beautiful people who live there."
"They did, once," Usagi said without thinking and blushed when she realized what she'd said. If he thought her strange, he didn't comment. Finally, she worked up the courage to look at him. She half expected him to be watching her, but he was staring at the moon's reflection on the crystal waters, eyes fixed almost as if he couldn't look away.
Good. That gave her more of a chance to study him. Her eyes swept over his features and she felt a strange feeling of recognition. His hair was shining almost silver in the moonlight, but she knew that in the daytime it was as golden as a sunbeam. And there was always a smile on his face - sunlight followed him wherever he went, and his laugh was so warm…
Oh God, what am I thinking?
She sucked in her breath, startled at her thoughts. This was crazy. Crazy, crazy, crazy… He was a stranger, and nothing more.
As if on cue, the boy turned and faced her, and that's when she recognized him as the boy in her dream, and also the one who had been staring at her the previous weekend. Instead of two beings, he was one. For some reason, she was comforted.
"It's you…" she said softly, no more than a whisper, and he watched her, familiar green eyes sad and distant, but with a definite trace of hope. Hope of what, she didn't know. But she knew she was about to find out.
Hi, all. Thanks for reading and your reviews. I'd forgotten how long this chapter was... hope you made it to the end...
I forgot to mention the timeline: this story takes place a few months after Sailor Stars, in the spring. I guess that's it for now - thanks again!