"I still can't believe I killed Ahurodite," Kendora said as she stared at her bedroom ceiling. "She was such a good person in school. How could she join something so evil? What about her family? Surely she had family."
"Ahurodite was the resurrected queen of Venus," Morii said from her spot of Kendora's rug. "This mistress of the Black Sun Dynasty must have resurrected her, so from the start she was with the enemy."
"What about family?" Kendora asked as she rolled onto her stomach. "Ahurodite had to have had family."
"Not necessarily," Morii said. "She could have just been resurrected, maybe put in an orphanage with a good background story, much like our friend Sailor Keeper Earth."
"Earth?" Kendora sat up straight. "What have you found out?"
"She's an orphan in the Tokyo Orphanage and her name is Humetsu. I found out from following her after the battle in the subway yesterday."
"So that's where you disappeared to."
"Yes. The other two senshi also spoke to me. Sailor Keeper Pluto is an American Exchange student named Amanda Charleston. Sailor Keeper Saturn is also American. She moved here with her father because her father's job was moved. Her name is Kiki Windslow. Strangely enough, the keeper of Saturn would prefer to be called Soldier Saturn, in accordance with her name in her past life."
"Whoa, hang on," Kendora paused. "'Past life?'"
Morii nodded. "You all had a life during the Silver Millennium. However, all of you met a fateful end that caused you to be reborn on Earth, just like the other Sailor Senshi."
"Morii..." Kendora said in thought as she leaned forward. "Could something in out past life have caused Sukotto to be the way he is? You know, male transforming into female?"
"That is quite likely," Morii said. "The past is so blurry for Jakku and I, but I recall Sukotto being one of two siblings. I believe he had a sister back then and she was to be the keeper of Mars."
"Then, what happened?"
"I don't know."
"I still say we should tell our parents that we're sailor senshi," Arissa said. "What would have been done if I had died? It would be best if we told our parents, that way they'll be ready for what could happen."
Hezaa shook her head. "No, Jakku and Morii told us not to. The old sailor senshi and Sailor Moon also told us not to."
"Besides, if my parents found out they would freak out," Sukotto said. "Besides, my sister could find out and she's not liable to keep her mouth shut."
"The same goes for my sister," Kendora said. "Keitii is a good sister, but she has a big mouth."
"Yeah, Chaisu and Osutin aren't likely to be quiet either, though I know Torevaa and Tiijei would keep quiet."
"You know," Kendora said, "You have quite the abnormal family."
"Kendora!" Hezaa shouted. "That wasn't nice!"
Arissa shrugged. "She's right," she said, "My family isn't as normal as hers."
"Arissa, you can't just let her say that," Sukotto said. Hezaa nodded.
"Well why not?" Arissa asked. "It's the truth. I have six brothers, not one sister. My parents are divorced, I live with four of my brothers, my dad, and his girlfriend here in Tokyo. My mom lives in Kyoto with her boyfriend and my other two brothers. My family doesn't seem normal to me."
"Ha, you think you got it bad?" said a familiar voice. Everyone looked at the entrance to Kendora's dining room to see three unfamiliar teenage girls standing in the doorway. The one who spoke had dark skin and black hair. "My dad is father to five kids to five different women. He is most loyal to my mom, who he just recently married and who lives here in Tokyo. I've never met my four older siblings or their mothers. My mom's Japanese, my father's black, and I'm the median."
"Perhaps your family is a little odd as well," Kendora said, "But you must remember, you are American and American's are morons."
"You're not joking there," said the sandy-haired teenager. "That's why my father was open to moving here."
"Uh, who are you?" Hezaa asked.
"They're the sailor senshi who've helped us," Kendora explained. "Sailor Keeper Pluto is Amanda Charleston, the dark-skinned Japanese-American."
"Thanks for the intro," Amanda said in English, knowing Kendora wouldn't understand. She took a seat next to Hezaa as Kendora introduced the next two.
"The sandy-haired one is Kiki Windslow," Kendora said, "She is also known as Sailor Keeper Saturn."
"I'd rather be called Soldier Saturn," Kiki said as she sat next to Sukotto.
"I am Humetsu," said the third girl. She had short hair like Hezaa did, but it was tan and her long bands were held back by green clips. "I am also Sailor Keeper Earth." Humetsu sat next to Kendora. "Morii did a little investigating into who we were and followed us after the subway incident. Kendora invited us here today."
"Since they are sailor keeper senshi as well, I though it only best," Kendora said.
"I'm Hezaa Hanagoorino," Hezaa said.
"I'm Arissa Akikusano," Arissa said.
"The soloist from the Jazz club," Kiki said. "I love your performances. Aren't you also in the Jazz Club?" Kiki asked Sukotto.
He nodded and said, "Yes, I'm Sukotto Himotono."
"You're also a guy," Humetsu said in thought. "I wonder why that i-" A bright light from the window cut Humetsu off.
"What was that!" Kiki shouted as she jumped up.
Hezaa's face paled. "It's coming from the Animal Shelter!" Without another word, Hezaa left the room. The others followed.
"How does she know that?" Amanda asked.
"She has a strong ESP level," Kendora said as she pulled out her locket.
"What do you suppose Ha-desu is up to?" Zeusu asked Herumesu.
"Whatever it is, it must be good," Herumesu said, "otherwise Chronos wouldn't have agreed to help."
"Of course, we all know Chronos has a soft spot fo Ha-desu," said Ashi as he entered the room.
"And what would a child such as yourself know of such things?" Zeusu spat.
"Zeusu, I know you have a dislike for the boy but you must be more open-minded," Herumesu said. "He knows more than we could imagine."
"Because he sits at the mistress' right hand," Zeusu growled.
"It isn't our fault the mistress doesn't like you," Ashi said. "If you didn't fail so often, she might like you more."
"So, what you're saying is I need to kiss her feet like you do?" Zeusu said angrily as he approached Ashi. "Or, perhaps I need to kidnap a princess like Chronos did. Or maybe I should have opened the door to the Black Sun Dynasty like Ahurodite did."
"Zeusu, all you need to do is stop failing and do what you say you'll do," Herumesu said as he stared into the viewing pool.
"Oh really. Herumesu?" Zeusu said calmly as he turned to look at him. "Perhaps I should share the mistress' bed, like you do!"
Zeusu would have regretted his words if Herumesu's ice shards had reached him or if Ashi's fire had touched him. However, a whole different attack made him regret it as he was pinned to the ceiling.
"Mistress!" Ashi shouted as he bowed on one knee. Herumesu had done the same. A slender woman took shape from the waters of the viewing pool. Her dirty-gold hair hung just past her shoulders and was layered in jagged rows. A blue crystal rested on her forehead and contrasted beautifully with her pink eyes. She wore a black gown with a red-orange belt that had a blue crystal at the center. Her left hand was raised toward Zeusu, who dangled helplessly from the ceiling.
"Zeusu, you complain quite terribly," the woman said. "I'd almost prefer Ahurodite's complaining over yours."
"Mistress Star please, I-"
"No more, Zeusu," Mistress Star said. "You would do well to watch your tongue." Then, she smiled wickedly. "Better yet, how about I take care of that for you." Zeusu suddenly began to scream horribly. His scream then became choked as he coughed, blood spewing from his mouth. He fell helplessly from the ceiling, landing with a crack. "Much better," Mistress Star said as she disappeared into the viewing pool.
Ashi and Herumesu stood slowly. They walked over to Zeusu's shaking body. Herumesu knelt beside his face as Ashi asked, "What did... Did she...?"
Herumesu nodded. "She did," he said, not at all sympathetically. "She took out his tongue."
"I don't understand it," Mercury stuttered as the senshi searched the shelter. "The light, the screaming, I felt the pain, the auras."
"Maybe there was an attack but they gave it up," Mars suggested.
"Or maybe they found what they were looking for," Earth offered.
"Or this could be a trap," Jupiter added.
"You are a smart little girl, aren't you?" said the voice of Chronos. Everyone turned to the roof, where he stood beside Ha-desu. Pluto, who stood the nearest to them, twirled her staff into a fighting position.
Ha-desu smiled. "The Meiousei Kanameishi Tsue," she said, amused. "Truly a powerful weapon. Can a mere child like you wield it?"
"I like to think I can," Pluto said smugly. She raised it into the air and yelled, "Pluto Dark Bell Toll!" She swung her staff at the two generals, but they jumped up to avoid it. Ha-desu did a back flip before landing behind Pluto. She grabbed the staff from behind and pulled it up under Pluto's chin. She spun around to look at the rest of the senshi.
"Dear keeper of Pluto, I created this staff," Ha-desu whispered. "I know of its weaknesses, its powers, and its loyalties, which belong to me above you."
"You sure think high of yourself," Pluto muttered.
"Let her go," Saturn said as she stepped forward.
"I wouldn't come much closer," Chronos said as he stepped forward. "I have a unique ability and I would hate to see the opposite of such a pretty little girl."
The senshi looked at him in confusion when Pluto was suddenly thrown at them. Earth and Mars caught her, falling backward themselves. Ha-desu twirled Pluto's staff expertly. "Now I shall show you a little trick to the Meiousei Kanameishi Tsue." She spun it around her back and pointed it at the senshi. She smiled and pointed the staff at the ground, sending a dark spark of energy at it. The spark disappeared. The senshi screamed as black bolts of energy shot up from the ground, trapping them in a cage. "That's not even the beginning," Ha-desu said wickedly. As she did, the bolts of energy began to shock the senshi. They screamed as they became weaker. Slowly she fell to the ground, their sailor uniforms fading in color. Meanwhile, the orchid orb at the top of the staff began to glow. The more energy the senshi lost, the brighter the orb grew.
"It seems to be the end of the dear senshi, don't you agree?" Chronos asked Ha-desu. She nodded when a bean of light struck her hands. She yelped as she jumped back, dropping the staff. As soon as it fit the grass, the bolts stopped shocking the senshi. Chronos looked for the origin of the attack, and found in it the form of four different senshi standing on the roof. Three of them wore black uniforms that were far different from any on Earth. The fourth wore a uniform similar in style to those of Earth. The sight of the senshi made Chronos laugh.
"So, the Starlights come in search of their beloved princess."