Chapter 17: Starlit Romance
"Basil, do you ever get the weird feeling that someone is staring at you?" Pierre asked as he and Basil headed out to the school gardens at lunch time. Basil looked worried.
"If you think there's a danger, maybe we should sit by Ahmed, although he kinda scares me since he's a suspicious Arab, but at least he's another Sailor Senshi," Basil said tenatively.
"Don't we always? I wonder if he's going to break the school record yet for the biggest lunches," Pierre teased, seeming to forget his earlier fear. Indeed, he did have a reason to be wary, as Momoko Hanasaki was spying on him. Maybe if I get one of those gay guys to date me, he'll learn how much better it is to love a woman instead, she thought. I don't think the pink-haired guy would like me, he seems to prefer fatter people, but maybe the chubby one will do. Creeping closer, she noticed that he had a book he was reading. That's the ticket, Momoko, she told herself, find out his interests and use that to your advantage!
"Pierre, I think there's someone watching you, or else that bush suddenly grew a flower that looks like pink hair," Ahmed commented while eating yet another donut. Momoko gasped upon hearing that and fell out of her hiding place, surprised.
"Okay, okay, you found me! But it's just because I was so enamored with your wonderful handsomeness that I forgot to come out!" Momoko giggled.
"Aren't you one of those girls who's trying to steal our magic Senshi bracelets and attacking people for being homosexuals?" Pierre pointed out. Momoko feigned innocence, staring at him as if she didn't understand.
"No, but if I happen to look like a criminal, then I can't help that," she said sweetly, "I see you like astronomy. I do too, the stars are so romantic." Momoko couldn't help but sneak a peek at what Pierre's book was about, and she noticed that it was about galaxies.
"Really? I thought they were just balls of plasma. But, in a way, they are, because we are all made of the same stuff the stars are, and people can be romantic," Pierre replied. Momoko swished over seductively and sat next to Pierre, fluttering her eyelashes.
"You are so wise, my rotund professor. Would you care to instruct me in more of the ways of the universe tonight? We could meet by starlight," she cooed.
"You want a lesson in astronomy?" Pierre asked, blinking confusedly.
"Yes, of course! Teach me all the ways of the universe!" Momoko cheered, twirling around dramatically. Pierre was still convinced that this girl was Wedding Peach. Certainly, he had no reason to doubt that she WAS Wedding Peach, her appearance, voice, and even some of her personality traits matched. He then decided on a test.
"Okay, I'll do it. As long as HE can come along. He's my lover," Pierre said, gesturing towards Ahmed. Momoko couldn't help but shudder as the love wave between boys hit her...it just felt so WRONG to her! But she couldn't let her prey fall through her fingers!
"Fine, as long as you don't do anything creepy with him," she sighed, "Does he know about astronomy too?"
"I think he's more interested in math, but how could he NOT being around me? Anyone would," Pierre bragged. Basil rolled his eyes at that; why did Pierre have to speak for Ahmed like that? Was that something they agreed on? Then again, Basil told himself, that was probably because Ahmed often had his mouth stuffed with food.
However, when Pierre told of his plans at the dinner table, Haruka and Michiru vehemently refused to let him go on the "astronomy lesson date" with Momoko.
"Definitely not! She's obviously the enemy; why are you going right into her trap!" Haruka spluttered, shocked and angry, and also worried about him.
"I know she's the enemy. I intend to trick HER. If Ahmed comes along, he could just chop her head off with the Silence Glaive. She would be free, and the other Love Angels would've lost their leader," Pierre countered.
"I doubt she would let him do that so easily. Just you and him...it's way too risky," Michiru said.
"Possibly, but isn't that what being a Sailor Senshi is all about? Doing the dangerous stuff that ordinary people can't do without having magic powers?" Pierre argued back.
"It's not about making stupid decisions to trust your enemies!" Haruka shouted, jumping out of her seat, "Usagi nearly killed us all when she trusted Mistress 9 with the Grail! If it hadn't been for Chibi-Usa..." Haruka sat down, sullen, as Hotaru put a hand on her shoulder.
"Please let him try this. He's quite aware that it's a trap; I think he wants to turn Wedding Peach's trap back on her," Hotaru pleaded.
"And I'm saying that it's not worth the risk. Why go marching into danger when it's not like she's cominig here?" Haruka grumped.
"She might come looking for me if I DON'T come. Either way, until we kill her in this world and send her back to her anime world, she's going to be after us Sailor Senshi for our bracelets," Pierre reasoned, then he smirked at Haruka and said "If you're so worried, you could come as a chaperone."
"Don't smart talk to me, young man, or I'll march you to your room and duct tape the door shut," Haruka snarled.
"Haruka, please. He has given some good reasons. Also, he is a Sailor Senshi. Should we not let him decide for himself what to do about the new enemy? It's not like we could defeat them ourselves, not without our powers. I know you're thinking that, Haruka, you're jealous of the Dessert Senshi, especially Sailors Bubble Gum and Butterscotch, because you gave up your strength to them. You have to let it go, Haruka, you have to stop being so cautious," Michiru said, gently, yet flirtaceously, toussling Haruka's hair.
"But they're just innocent children! We promised the Queen that we would protect and take care of them! We already lost Serena, we can't afford to lose another one! Don't you see it would bring us such dishonor?" Haruka moaned, putting her head in her hands.
"Pierre's gone already." Haruka shot up out of her seat when she heard Rainbow's words. That traitor! He was a traitor, just like Serena! She was going to spank his fat little behind until it was roasting! She was going to chain him to his bed! Take away his bracelet and have it sent to someone else! Punish Rei, as well, for choosing hiim as one of her successors!
"Hey, isn't that them in the backyard?" asked Galaxy, pointing out the window. Haruka roared.
"The enemy, in our backyard! We must defeat her!" she shouted, racing for the door. Unfortunately, she wasn't looking and she slipped on the butter that had been spread all over the front steps. Outside, Pierre snickered.
"Don't worry, Momoko, my overprotective 'mother' Haruka won't bother us; I buttered the steps," he said.
"The butter would be better used to fatten me up," Ahmed mumbled, wondering what Pierre was getting himself into with this "allowing Momoko to come over and have an astronomy lesson" thing. Momoko crept closer to Pierre seductively, completely ignoring Ahmed.
"You know, I do look quite similar to your boyfriend. We both have pink hair and blue eyes; his is just shorter than mine, which is more appropriate for a male, of course. Cannot you love me the same way?" she pleaded, sticking out her lower lip for the full pouty effect.
"It's got nothing to do with what he looks like! Love isn't that shallow!" Pierre snapped. Momoko's eyes narrowed, and she touched her magic ring.
"Wedding Beautiful Flower!" she called. Even though she transformed, she didn't get to attack first because Haruka slammed into her in a screaming rage, tearing and ripping at her pink poofy gown.
"GET OUT OF HERE YOU TEMPTRESS! LEAVE HIM ALONE! JUST LEAVE AND GO BACK TO YOUR WORLD!" Haruka was screaming, that was all she could get out before she became incoherent. Michiru and Setsuna rushed after her, and yanked her off of Wedding Peach.
"That's enough, Haruka! I don't want you to be killed by her when you've given up your powers! A world without you isn't worth living!" Michiru pleaded desperately. Wedding Peach raised her hand to attack them, then stopped.
"I can't. I just can't attack those who don't have magic powers. I still hate you though, evil lesbians," she growled, spitting at them before she left in a swirl of pink and red sparkles.
"He disobeyed me...punish him," Haruka hissed, glaring daggers at Pierre.
"Possibly, but don't forbid him from using his Senshi powers. That would just be deadly," sighed Setsuna.