A/N: 500 reviews! You guys ROCK! I'm so happy…you guys are so wonderful…and summer school is over (although to tell the truth, now that I've spent three days without seeing my friends, I rather wish it wasn't. Over, I mean.) Anyways – this chapter's kinda short, but I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: If I was Naoko Takeuchi, I wouldn't be posting this story on the web. I would be publishing it and making oodles of cash to spend.
Subject to Change
Chapter Twenty: Hot Guys and Manly Perfume
Night still draped the sky when Serena's eyelashes began to flutter open the next morning. The grey light of pre-dawn had bleached the color of everything, from Serena's blonde hair to her purple comforter.
Serena's mind felt curiously clean after the almost eighteen hours of sleep she had gotten. Everything – all her thoughts, all her emotions, all the events of the past week – was spread out neatly in front of her mind's eye. She felt detached, as though she were looking at a map.
Miss Lanai has a crystal of some sort. The Crystal is still somewhere on Earth. Miss Lanai might be the princess. Our souls belong to the princess, and we're going to hell. Miss Lanai might know that I'm a Sailor Senshi. Sailor Mercury followed a spike of dark energy and found us. Tuxedo Mask is on our – my side. Now Luna, Ami, and Rei are sure that I'm working with the Dark Kingdom. Zoicite knows who I am.
Serena snapped up in her bed, panic crashing down on her. "Zoicite knows who I am – oh my God." She scrambled out of her blankets and to her closet, hopping hurriedly into her clothes. "What if they do something? What do I do if they do something?"
Halfway through zipping up her uniform skirt, she stopped. "She said they could come after my family. Oh, God, oh God, what do I do?"
Serena's panicked blue eyes roved around the room until they landed on her communicator. It sat on her nightside table, buttons dim. Rei wouldn't take her in now, nor would Ami, and even if they would, she couldn't put them in danger like that.
She couldn't even ask Luna what to do. She was on her own.
She was all alone.
"Serena!" A knock on her bedroom door sent Serena diving for her brooch, which sat beside her communicator. Then she realized that the voice belonged to her mother, and she relaxed – but only slightly.
"Sweetheart? Are you awake? Your father and I are leaving now! Come on, you sleepyhead, you need to start getting up on time by yourself! No one's going to be here to drag you out of bed for a while!"
"Huh?" Serena frowned in confusion, running to yank open the door. She blinked up at her mother. "What are you talking about?"
Ikuko's smile dimmed a little. "Oh, Serena, don't tell me you've forgotten – " The bewildered expression on her daughter's face confirmed her suspicion. "Serena, we've been talking about this trip for weeks! Papa and I are going to that journalism conference, remember?" She groaned. "Oh, Serena, how are we going to leave you alone to fend for yourself for a whole week if you can't even remember a trip that we've told you about fifty times?"
"Oh, Mom!" Serena forced a laugh, flashing her mother a dazzling smile. "I was just kidding! Of course I remember your trip! Um – what about, um, Sammy?"
"He's on his school trip to Osaka, remember?" Ikuko regarded her daughter again, with slight suspicion lurking in her eyes. "Honey, are you sure you're going to be alright on your own? We could call Molly's mom, or maybe I should just stay home – "
"Mom! Come on, I'm almost sixteen!" Serena pushed her mother out of her bedroom. "I can handle it, okay?" And I need you away in case Zoicite comes after me…they won't do anything to you, will they? Will they?
Serena clutched her mother's arm tightly. This could be the last time I ever see you – and there's nothing I can do about it –
"Serena?" Ikuko gently pried her daughter's fingers from her arm and took her by the shoulders. "Is something wrong? I'll stay home, really, honey, it's no problem – "
"I'm fine." Serena's voice was muffled as she buried her face in her mother's shoulder. "I'm just giving you a hug, that's all. I'm gonna miss you, Mom."
"Oh. Honey." Ikuko squeezed her daughter tightly. "I'll miss you, too." She pulled back, smoothing Serena's tousled blonde hair back from her forehead. "You be good, okay? No staying out all night at Toki's, no boys, no parties – "
Serena snorted. "Mom. Please. As if I have anyone to invite to a party."
Ikuko's eyebrows furrowed. She opened her mouth to say something, but a horn suddenly honked outside.
"C'mon, Ikuko-ko, we're going to be late!"
"OKAY!" Ikuko hollered back, revealing where Serena had gotten her lungs from.
"Tell him bye from me," said Serena.
"I will. He thought you were still asleep." Ikuko pulled her daughter close one more time. "Don't be so glum, okay, honeybun? Life's too short to be sad. Besides, remember what the doctor says – "
"I know, I know." Serena made a face, but a light had kindled in her blue eyes. "It takes more muscles to frown than to smile."
"That's right!" Ikuko enfolded Serena in another hug. "Ooh, I miss you already!"
"IKUKOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"I'm COMING!" Ikuko bellowed back at her husband. She pulled away from Serena, who followed her to the front steps. "Bye, sweetheart!"
Serena waved. "Bye!"
"SERENA!" Her father had rolled down his window and was staring at her, his face mottling red.
"Love you, daddy!" called Serena, unsure of what was turning her father's face such a strange color. Was he having a heart attack?
Then a breath of cool morning air brushed the skin on her chest – a chest that should have been covered by her shirt…except that her shirt wasn't there. Looking down, Serena realized that she had walked outside wearing nothing but her school skirt and a bra!
Serena's face turned the same color as her father's. She spun and dashed back into the house, slamming the door behind her. She found herself looking straight into the startled blue eyes of her flushed, panting reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall of the living room. She stared at it a moment, then suddenly laughed. She laughed at herself, at her father's expression, and at the world.
Her mother was right. She didn't have time to be sad. Being sad took too much energy. And it never got anything done, either. Look at how much moping around he'd been doing lately!
Depressed Serena had had her turn. Now it was time for someone happier to take the wheel.
It was a gorgeous morning. The sun was nowhere to be found, and plump grey clouds hid the sky from sight. Every now and then, a lone raindrop plopped down on Serena's nose or trickled down her scalp, and each time one did, the smile on Serena's face widened.
Other pedestrians hustled past, elbowing and jostling each other in their haste to get out from under this ominous sky. Serena, on the other hand, took her time: school would not start for another hour, and she had rarely walked to school in weather as pleasant as this. Usually, on a spring morning like this, the sun beat down and it was horribly humid, so that by the time she reached school, her uniform was so sweaty that it stuck to her like a second skin. But today, the air was cool, the sun was absent, and her uniform remained pleasantly dry. It was enough to make Serena wonder if the weather was going out of its way just to make her day better.
"Thank you, Mr. Sky!" Serena directed her gratitude upwards, tilting her head back to grin up at said benefactor. "Arigatou, Mr. and Mrs. Clouds!"
Another fat raindrop plopped down on Serena's nose, as if to say, "You're welcome." The small blonde laughed delightedly and continued to school.
The day only continued to get better. Darien happened to be walking past as she entered the school gates, and loud renditions of "Serena and Darien, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G-G" broke out from all fronts. But Serena didn't mind. Because Darien rolled his eyes at her, and she rolled hers back, and she knew he felt the same way she did. And it was nice, to be part of a conspiracy. To be part of something. So that she wasn't on her own, or all alone.
"Well, good morning, Serena," said Miss Haruna in surprise as Serena skipped into the classroom. "You're early today…any particular reason?"
"I got a LOT of sleep yesterday." Serena hopped up on top of her desk, swinging her legs back and forth.
Miss Haruna smirked as she pulled out a piece of chalk. "Oh, yes, the whole school was afire with what transpired between you and Mr. Shields yesterday."
Serena grinned good-naturedly. "They're crazy. Nothing transpa…transpo… transpired between us." She paused. "Miss H, do you have a dictionary in here?"
Miss Haruna hid a smile and pointed at her desk. Serena sidled over and riffled through the huge red book. Then she sidled back over to her desk. "Nope, nothing transpired. Nothing at all!"
"I must say that you picked the right day to be early for class," commented Miss Haruna. "It just so happens that we have a new student arriving today. I believe she transferred from Seijou High."
"Really? Awesome!" Serena bounced up and down excitedly.
"I thought you'd be pleased. After all, you became such good friends with our last transfer student – that nice girl Ami. I hope things turn out just as well with – hmm, what's her name? Aha, here it is. Lita. Lita Kino."
Serena's ardor cooled slightly. I hope things between me and Lita DON'T end up the same as between me and Ami.
The bell rang. Students poured in. One stood out like a sore thumb, and not only because she was new. She was a good fifteen centimeters taller than any of the other girls (and therefore a good twenty-five centimeters taller than Serena). Her tall frame wore the white and brown uniform instead of Azabu's blue and red, and a humungous green and yellow bruise encircled her right eye.
Needless to say, the class quieted down much faster than usual that day. The tall, brown-haired girl walked inside and stood at the front of the room, slouching against the whiteboard with her arms crossed against her chest. Her aloof, slightly grumpy demeanor reminded Serena of Darien the first time she had met him. He, too, had stood off to the side with his arms folded and his eyes narrowed as if he didn't give a care about the rest of the world.
The similarity only made Serena more eager to make friend with Lita.
"Class, before we move on to calculating the volumes of regularly-shaped prisms, we have a new student to introduce. Her name is Lita Kino, and as you can tell, she transferred to our school from Seijou High. Miss Kino, would you like to tell the class anything about yourself?"
Lita shook her head, her ponytail bouncing.
"Alright then." Miss Haruna tapped her chin. "Now, time to get you a guide. Does anyone volunteer to show Lita around school for the next couple of days?"
"Ooh! Me!" Serena's hand shot up into the air, practically yanking the rest of her body up, too. "PLEASE, Miss Haruna!"
Lita shot Serena a confused look out of her good eye. Serena returned it with a friendly grin.
"It looks like you have a very enthusiastic volunteer, Lita," said Miss Haruna. Thank goodness Serena is so eager. Everyone else in the class is scared stiff of this new girl. "Sit down next to Miss Tsukino, would you, please?"
"Hi!" whispered Serena loudly as Lita folded herself (with some effort) into the desk. "I'm Serena, but you can call me – well, anything you want to. Except Odango."
"Why not Odango?" Lita raised an eyebrow. 'Don't you like dumplings?"
"Are you kidding? I LOVE dumplings! But – well, it's a long story – "
"Serena, I realize that you have a lot of energy from your nap on the bus yesterday – " The whole class tittered, Serena flushed, and Lita frowned puzzledly. " – but it needs to be saved for later. Okay?"
"Yes, Miss H.," said Serena guiltily, but she winked at Lita, who looked somewhat startled by the gesture.
"Argh, finally FREE!" Serena cheered, stretching her arms as she and Lita emerged from English class four hours later. "Well, for forty-five minutes, anyway."
"You get forty-five minutes for lunch?" Lita wore a small frown between her eyebrows.
"Yeah. Not anywhere NEARLY enough, right?"
Lita shrugged.
"Hey, Lita – do you wanna eat lunch with me?" Serena asked shyly, scuffing her shoe against the linoleum. "I mean, I totally understand if you don't – "
"Me?" Lita pointed at herself and looked around. "Are you talking to me?" Serena nodded. "Don't you have friends you'd rather hang out with?"
"Me? No, not really," Serena said sadly, thinking of the good old days when she'd never had to worry about eating lunch alone.
"Are you serious?" demanded Lita. "A pretty little blonde ball of energy like you? Aren't you some cheerleader with a quarterback boyfriend and a pop-pop squad to drink mineral water and eat salad with low-fat dressing on it with?"
"Um." Serena blinked. "No. I'll be eating by myself if you don't want to sit with me."
"Oh." Lita cleared her throat, then scratched her neck sheepishly. "Okay, then."
Conversation flowed a lot more easily after that. It had yet to rain, and Lita insisted that it was far too nice outside to eat lunch in the cafeteria. Serena readily agreed, as so they set up camp beneath an oak tree in the courtyard, chattering about everything under the sun.They squealed, as girls are wont to do, over hot guys, complained about bad hair days (Lita insisted she was having one that very day, but Serena assured her that her hair looked as fresh and bouncy as if it had just been permed), exchanged embarrassing stories, and discussed various manga.
Though she did her best not to show it, Lita was shocked by how easily this minute blonde seemed to extract conversation from her. Never before had she talked, smiled, or laughed as much as she had in the past ten minutes with Serena – at least, not since her parents had died.
Serena, too, was slightly surprised by the ease with which she jumped from one topic to another with Lita. She had become accustomed to less-than-scintillating conversation with Ami and Rei, neither of whom shared many interests with her, aside from Rei's manga vice. They had managed to become friends despite this, but there was always that barrier between them: Ami with her pedantry, Rei with her snapping, Serena with her babble. They had always ended up with interesting conversation nonetheless, but it was nice to be able to talk about normal teenage girl things, instead of where a youma was likely to attack next.
Eventually, Serena and Lita discovered another mutual love – food.
"What about that Chinese place at the mall?" Serena took a bite of the fried shrimp Lita had offered her and shuddered with delight. "Have you been there?" Lita nodded vigorously, her cheeks puffed out with the zucchini bread she had just taken a large bite of. "Isn't their fried rice to die for?"
"Oh, God, yeah," agreed Lita fervently, gulping down her mouthful. "Their steamed broccoli's always a little wilted, but their sesame chicken is good enough that I can forgive them."
"And have you seen the guy who works there on weeknights?" Serena giggled. "Brown eyes – "
"Black hair, and the longest eyelashes you've ever seen!" Lita finished. "Girl, I have not only seen him, I have talked to him!"
"No WAY! What did he say?" Serena squealed.
"'Your total comes to nine-fifty.'"
Serena stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Lita!"
"And he said it so politely," continued Lita, starry-eyed, "that I couldn't help but give him a twenty and tell him to keep the change."
"But Lita!" Serena stopped rolling around on the grass and sat up. "With – " She counted off on her fingers. " – ten-fifty, you could have bought a manga!"
"I KNOW!" mourned Lita. "But he was so hot…"
"No boy," said Serena solemnly. "Is hotter than a manga. Okay, Lita? Repeat after me. No guy alive is hotter than Hatori. Got it? No guy alive is hotter than – Lita, you're not paying attention!"
"I'm sorry, Serena," said Lita dreamily. "But I think I found a guy who proves you wrong."
Serena followed the direction of Lita's gaze and saw The Trio heading towards them, Asanuma in the lead. "Ew, gross. Don't tell me you like Darien!"
"Is Darien the hunky blonde?"
"Since Darien is definitely not hunky, and definitely not blonde, I am going to answer no," declared Serena. "The blonde is Motoki, who makes the yummiest milkshakes ever in the whole entire world with the possible exception of Martha Stewart, who I have never met."
Lita flashed her grin. "You haven't tasted one of my milkshakes yet, either."
"Yum…"
"So the hot blonde is Motoki…who's that black-haired one? He looks familiar."
"Oh, he's Darien. Darien Shields." Serena waved a hand dismissively, returning to Lita's shrimp. "He's Azabu's resident Golden Boy. You've probably seen him in the paper for science fair or some other nerd accomplishment of his."
"Serena-chaaaaan!" Asanuma had bounced ahead of his two friends and jumped down on the grass beside Serena. He shot Lita a friendly grin. "We heard there's a new girl in your class! Is she hot?"
Darien, who had arrived with Motoki just in time to hear Numa's question, rolled his eyes and sprawled out in the grass on Serena's other side. "If she is, you've got no chance with her, Asanuma."
"Hey!" exclaimed Asanuma indignantly. "I'll have you know that teenage girls adore my roguish good looks and perverted sense of humor!"
"Hey, is this zucchini bread?" demanded Motoki suddenly. He had been examining Lita's lunch from all directions. "Who made this? Not you, Usa-chan, no offense, but I know you better than that – did you?" He directed this at Lita, who nodded slowly. "How'd you make this stuff? I've been trying to bake it for forever, but it always comes out burnt or mushy – "
"Oh, I know how to fix that!" Lita leaned forward. "Mine always used to be like that, too, but all you've got to do is add…"
Serena tuned out the conversation there. Not that food didn't interest her; it was just that she preferred eating it to cooking it.
"You look rested." She looked down to see Darien squinting up at her.
"Must EVERYONE mention that?" she sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for falling asleep on you – "
"Hey, I'm not saying anything. Technically, I fell asleep on your head, too. So we're even."
"Hmm…" Serena looked around to make sure that no one was paying attention to them. Motoki and Lita were definitely too engrossed in the interior structure of Lita's zucchini bread; Motoki had a slice of it in one hand and was taking delicate bites of it, clearly concentrating on its taste as he chewed, and Asanuma was munching happily on some of Lita's shrimp.
So Serena deemed it safe to stretch out on her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows so that she could talk to Darien. She giggled, feeling very covert, like a secret agent on a mission.
Darien blinked up at her. "You're cheerful today. Did that new girl spike your drink or something? Because kids are saying – "
"Darien! Lita's not like Asanuma!"
"Thank God for that. So that's her name, huh? Lita?"
"Yeah. She's really nice. And her cooking is so good, Darien, you would not believe – " she blinked. "Wait. I was going to ask you something. What was it?"
"How I can be so good-looking and yet so smart at the same time?"
"Watch it, Shields. Your head's getting too big for those spindly little nerd legs of yours to carry."
"Look who's talking, Blonde Blimp." More like Blonde Shrimp, she's so tiny.
"Ah ah ah." Serena held up a finger. "You said I wasn't fat, remember?"
"Aw, darn…hey, why are you guys sitting out here? It took us forever to track you down."
"Lita wanted to eat out here. I'm glad we did. It's so nice…why'd you guys come and sit with us, anyways?"
Darien shrugged. "Why not?"
Serena watched Motoki and Lita. "It looks like Toki's having fun, at least."
"Numa too." Darien tilted his head towards the now-snoring Asanuma. "Hey – have you seen Mizuno today?"
"No." Serena didn't look at him. "Why?"
"Just wondering." He paused. "Are you ever going to tell me what went on with the three of you?"
Serena brought her knees up to her chest. "It's complicated."
"I've got a big brain. I can handle it."
Serena shook her head, smiling. "Nope. Sorry, Darien. There are still some things that are too big for even you to wrap our mind around, I think." She reached out impulsively and ruffled his hair. Then her eyes suddenly brightened. "Hey, I remember what I was going to ask! Did Toki or Numa take any pictures of us on the bus?"
"Uh…I don't know…" He mused. "But knowing them, they probably did."
Serena wilted. "Darn."
Darien looked up. "Hey, Toki! Numa! Did you guys take any pictures yesterday?"
"Pictures of what?" asked Asanuma innocently.
Darien scowled. "You know what."
Motoki and Asanuma traded guilty looks. But they were saved from answering by Lita.
"Pictures? That's where you two must be familiar from! You're the guy and girl in those photos from the cafeteria!" Lita elbowed Serena where she was lying next to Darien. "You didn't tell me this guy was your boyfriend!"
"He's not."
Lita eyed Serena's position next to Darien. "It looks like he is."
"Aren't you the new kid?" Darien asked abruptly.
Asanuma and Motoki's heads swung around. "YOU're the new girl?"
Serena hid a grin at how easily Darien had manipulated the subject of conversation.
"But – you – you – " Asanuma cried. "Well, I guess the eye – but – everyone's saying you're some femme fatale karate expert! Not a Martha Stewart clone!"
"You know, it's been a blast having lunch with you guys and all, but me and Lita still need to find her locker before the bell rings!" Serena grabbed Lita's hand and dragged her off towards the buildings. "Bye!"
"So…you and Motoki were getting pretty cozy back there, huh?" Serena waggled her eyebrows in a movement she had picked up from Asanuma.
"I was just showing him my zucchini bread!" protested Lita. Then she blinked. "Wait, that sounded a lot less suggestive in my head – "
"Lita's in LOOOOOOOVE!" trilled Serena, zooming down the halls to escape a madly blushing Lita.
Lita was just loading some of her books into her locker and arguing with Serena over who was better suited to Tohru, Kyo or Yuki, when a voice interrupted them.
"Miss Kino?"
Lita stiffened and turned. Serena peeked curiously over Lita's tense shoulder to see Mr. Hatsaru, the vice principal who was in charge of discipline looking at Lita.
"You need to procure a decent uniform to wear," said the administrator in a clipped voice. "I don't want to see you traipsing around our school in a Seijou High uniform tomorrow."
"I understand." Lita's voice was hard.
"Watch your tone, Miss Kino." Mr. Hatsaru's eyes narrowed. "Just because we accepted your transfer to our school doesn't mean that we're going to accept your disrespectful behavior. You'd better watch yourself, because I'll be keeping a close eye on you."
Mr. Hatsaru's eyes drifted down to Serena, who was still peeking timidly over Lita's shoulder. He opened his mouth as though about to reprimand her, but then the bell rang. He walked off as students began to pour into the hallway.
"Wow." Serena let out a breath she hadn't been aware she had been holding. "He's in a really bad mood."
Lita grunted noncommittally and began to walk away. Serena threw one last glance over her shoulder at Mr. Hatsaru's retreating back, then hurried after Lita.
"Lita, wait! Are you okay?"
"Just dandy," replied Lita. She rubbed her neck wearily. "Hey, Serena, are there any Coke machines around here?"
"Um – not really, they're all in the cafeteria…Toki's locker's around here somewhere, though." Serena glanced around, then caught sight of a familiar blonde head. "Hey, Toki!" She grabbed Lita's hand and tugged her over. "Do you have any drinks with you? Lita's thirsty."
"It looks to me like you need caffeine," said Motoki, taking one look at Lita's drawn face. "But Dr. Motoki can cure that! Voila!" He swung open his battered locker with a flourish. Inside was revealed not posters of rock bands or magazine cutouts of hot girls, but a bulletin board of recipes on index cards and a chest of ice, out of which peeked two dozen cans of soda. "Let's see…I've got Pepsi, Dr. Pepper – ha, Dr. Pepper from Dr. Motoki! – , Sprite, Grape, Orange, Mountain Dew – Dare usually drinks that, though, so if you want it don't tell him I gave it to you – Diet anything, Iced Tea, and Cherry 7Up." He turned to Lita. "What'll it be?"
Lita, however, wasn't looking at the soda. Her attention was glued to the recipes lining Motoki's locker door. "Mango-flavored salad dressing, pineapple crumble, puttanesca, éclair cake… Serena, I think I'm in love…"
"Lita'll have Pepsi," Serena told Motoki, grinning widely. "And can I have grape please, Toki-onii-san?"
"Of course!" Motoki dug out the selected drinks and handed them to a bouncing Serena and a dazed Lita. "Hey, are you lovely ladies going to be gracing the arcade with your presence today, Usa-chan?"
"I'm not sure," said Serena mysteriously, looking at Lita. "I might have other plans today. Anyway, thanks, Toki! Good luck on your history test!"
"Thanks!" Motoki turned back to his locker.
"Oh my god," sighed Lita dreamily. All of her energy seemed to have returned. "Does he really make all that food, Serena? Like, he actually bakes pineapple crumble?"
"Well, I've never actually tasted his pineapple crumble, but Numa's always begging Toki to make it, so I guess it's good." Serena made a face. "I personally like Toki's tiramisu way better…"
"He makes tiramisu, too!" yelped Lita.
"Does he EVER," said Serena enthusiastically. "It's really creamy and rich, and he doesn't skimp on the cream like a certain mother of mine – oh, but Lita, I meant to ask you! Do you have the uniform for school yet? Our school, I mean."
"No. I don't even know where they sell the stupid rags," she confessed, eyes darkening.
"Yay!" Serena clapped her hands together. "That means I can take you! The shop's at the mall, so we can go get your uniform, and then we can go to the food court and order Chinese from the hot guy!"
"Really?"
"Of course!" Serena's lashed lowered suddenly. "I mean – if you want to. I understand if you'd rather go by yourself – "
"Are you kidding?" Lita demanded. "The mall's no fun alone! I'd LOVE to go with you!"
"Then it's a date!" Serena quipped, laughing. Now I know why Asanuma pretends to be gay – it's so fun! "I can go right after school. What about you?"
"My schedule is WIDE open," Lita began to answer, then she noticed that Serena's attention had been caught by something on the other side of the hallway. "What is it?" she asked, turning around. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary there, unless you counted some girl having blue hair – "Serena?"
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing." Serena shook her head violently. "What were you saying?"
"Would you stop moping around like such a crybaby, Ami?" snapped Rei. "Your precious Serena's gone over to the dark side, okay? Now get over it!"
"I just…" Ami scrubbed more tears from her face with an alcohol-soaked wipe. "It still manages to elude me how she could have joined them…she was the origin of that explosion at the museum…"
"This has been going on for far longer than we know." Luna's voice, low, entered the conversation. The two girls turned to watch the cat-shaped shadow leaping from the windowsill to the floor. "Perhaps even since before I gave her the Moon Brooch."
Rei snapped her fingers, summoning a flame, and touched it to the wipe in Ami's hand. It burst into flame, and Ami dropped it with a shriek.
"What do you mean, Luna?" the priestess asked.
Luna glared disapprovingly at Sailor Mars' alterego, absently nuzzling her head against Ami's arm to comfort her. Ami pushed the furry black head away, twitching, and began to brush cat hair from her sleeve. "Get it off, get it off, get it off," she muttered.
Luna now glared at Ami also. "Stop that! And pay attention. Rei, stay away from my whiskers with that match! This is important!" Luna leapt up on Rei's bed, red eyes glinting in the dancing firelight. "There's something about Sailor Moon that you don't know. Back in the Silver Millennium, when the Dark Kingdom arrived to massacre the Moon Kingdom, Sailor Moon betrayed the princess and the Senshi."
"That WITCH!" Rei leapt to her feet, yanking out her transformation wand. "I'll KILL her – MARS – "
"Rei! Stop!" Ami scrambled to her feet and grabbed Rei's arm. "STOP! We don't know – "
"Rest assured, Ami, I know," cut in Luna fiercely, seeming to be incensed by Ami's words.
Ami turned to face the cat. "Then please give us some proof, Luna. I've had the feeling for some time that you've been holding things back from us. If you knew that Sailor Moon had betrayed us in the Silver Millennium, why did you make her a Senshi? And why did you wait until now to tell us?"
"You've talked to her." Luna stalked forward, voice quivering a bit. Her voice lifted. "You've TALKED to her, haven't you? What has she told you? WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU?"
"I – I haven't talked to anybody," stuttered Ami, eyes wide. Fear flooded her; this was the way Luna had spoken to Sailor Moon at the museum. "Only you – and Rei – "
"Stop that, you old rag," said Rei suddenly. Ami started a moment, thinking that the priestess was addressing her, but the girl's violet eyes were fixed on Luna. "Can't you see you're scaring her?"
"She SHOULD be scared," growled Luna. She still seemed slightly agitated, whiskers quivering. "Accusing me – me! – like that! As if I've been keeping things from the two of you! I've dedicated my life to you Senshi! You Senshi, who are supposed to protect our princess – everything I've done, I've done for the princess. For her safety! And now you're accusing me like I'm some conspirator – "
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Luna!" Ami wrung her hands together. "I didn't mean it, it's just – I'm scared, and – "
"No, wait." Rei put a hand up to stop Ami. "C'mon, Luna, tell us. How do you know Sailor Moon betrayed us in the Silver Millennium? Me and Ami don't have any memories of it, and Serena said she didn't, so how could you remember?"
"I – I – " It was Luna's turn to stutter. "It's – I only remember one thing. Just one. I had a – a friend – back then, and I remember her, that witch with her bright yellow hair that everyone loved, killing him – " Dark lines streaked Luna's fur as tears rolled down her face. "She killed him. She was supposed to guard the princess, and she betrayed her and him – "
A frowning Rei threw a glance over her shoulder at Ami. Ami gave her a helpless look and gathered the black cat up in her arms, murmuring soothingly. "It's okay, it's okay, Luna…"
"D'you want us to go get her?" Rei asked bluntly. "Right now?"
Ami shot Rei an alarmed look, but the priestess's eyes were trained on Luna, who lifted her head.
"I will be the one to take care of her," purred Luna dangerously. "On my own time and my own terms. You and Ami WILL keep away from her. Understand?"
The two girls blinked. "Yes, but – "
"I don't want either of you to get hurt." Luna's voice softened. "Do you see? Sailor Moon has a tremendous amount of power. She could sweep the floor with you both within seconds. So we stay away."
"What?" Rei burst out. "But she's a traitor, she has to be punished – "
"And she will be. But we have to wait."
"Wait for what, Luna?" Ami asked before Rei could demand it.
"For the others." Luna directed her molten eyes towards Rei's communicator, which sat near her feet, resting her gaze on the green and orange buttons that had suddenly appeared there. "We wait for your sisters to arrive."
"Do these come in a longer size?" Lita asked, holding up a pleated skirt. "This one's too short on me."
"All we've got is the petite and the regular, honey," replied the clerk, cracking her gum and twirling a strand of bleached-blonde hair around her finger. Lita knew it was bleached blonde because the roots were starting to show. "If you want it to be longer, you're gonna have to go up to a size thirteen."
"But then it's too big on me," grumbled Lita, glaring at the skirt she held.
"I don't see why you're so worried about it, sweetie," said the clerk, applying a fresh coat of cherry-red lipstick to her lips and smacking them. "If I had legs like yours, I'd want to show 'em off."
"And that's why I'm a sophomore in high school and she's working for four dollars an hour at a uniform shop," whispered Lita to Serena. She raised her voice. "Okay, fine, I'll take them. Is there anything else I need?"
The clerk glanced over Lita's purchases: skirts, summer shirts, winter blouses, and winter coat. "Some of the girls like to buy little thingamajigs to put on their bows. Y'know, to cover the knot." She pointed at Serena's chest, directly at her Moon brooch. "Like that one there. Though I gotta say, I've never seen one like that. Is that real gold?"
Serena's hand came up to cover her brooch protectively. "No. I don't think so. It's just something. From someone."
"A boyfriend, I'll bet." The clerk began to ring up Lita's clothing articles. "Lemme tell ya what, honey, if you really wanna please that boyfriend of yours, you oughta buy you some shorter skirts. Uh-huh." The woman nodded as Serena flushed and rubbed her sweaty hands uncomfortably on the blue material of her skirt. "Girls like y'all don't appreciate yourselves enough. Back when I was in high school, a girl had legs like that, she would show 'em off. Not cover 'em all up like you're doin'! Your total comes to one seventy-six ninety-two, hon."
Lita reached into her pocket and fished out a worn wallet embroidered with pink roses and green vines. She opened it up and pulled out two of the sheaf of bills secreted within. "Here."
The women's tongue snaked to the corner of her mouth as she held the hundred-dollar bills up to the light and squinted at them. "Wow. Your boyfriend treats ya good, don't he?"
"I don't need a man to give me money, lady." Serena watched as Lita ground the words out, her eyes narrowing.
The woman shrugged, putting the bills into the cash register. 'Yeah, but it sure makes things a whole lot easier, if you know what I mean."
Lita shrugged and picked up the large bag. "Ready to go, Serena?"
Serena nodded and followed Lita towards the door.
"Hey, wait a second," called the clerk.
Lita and Serena turned, the former with lips compressed and the latter with her head tilted expectantly.
"You should get out while you can, hon." The woman shook her head at Lita, pointing at her bruised eye. "Stuff like that – he's just gonna get worse. Don't stick around thinking he's gonna change. Okay?"
Lita's face suddenly softened. The grimace she had been wearing the whole time they were in the store was replaced by a sad smile. "Okay."
The woman's face broke into a smile of its own. She seemed brighter, suddenly. "Good. Good. You two have a good night, now, you hear?"
"We will," replied Lita, stepping out. "You enjoy yours, too."
Serena waited until they were three stores away from the uniform shop. Then she spoke, concern soaking her voice. "Lita, your eye – was it really – your boyfri – ?"
Lita looked down at Serena. "Nah. I haven't got a boyfriend."
"Then…what…" Serena fumbled about confusedly.
Lita patted Serena's head. "Don't worry about it, Serena. Let's go get some Chinese from the hot guy, huh?"
"Okay…" Serena allowed Lita to lead her towards the food court. She glanced back over her shoulder at the uniform shop one more time. That clerk… Then Lita's voice distracted her.
"Hey, aren't those your friends, Serena?"
Serena froze in sudden alarm. She couldn't allow Ami and Rei to see her, who knew what they might do –
"God, he's so hot," Lita sighed.
Serena blinked. Then followed Lita's gaze….to Darien, Asanuma, and Motoki. Oh. She meant the guys.
The three juniors were standing next to the fountain, oblivious to Lita and Serena's presence. Asanuma was dangling something over the water; Motoki was trying to snatch it back; and Darien was dropping something down the back of Asanuma's shirt while the jokester was distracted by teasing Motoki.
At the very moment her eyes landed on them, Asanuma looked up. His eyes met hers, and he dropped whatever had been holding into Motoki's hand and jumped down from the fountain's edge. "Serena-chan! And Martha!"
"What are you guys all doing here?" Motoki asked as he and Darien came up behind Asanuma.
"Uniform shopping," answered Lita, holding up her bag. "What about you?"
"Oh, we just came to, ah, have some male bonding time," answered Darien, slapping Asanuma's back nonchalantly. Asanuma jumped, then turned around to regard Darien suspiciously.
"What did you do?" he demanded as he patted the back of his shirt. "I told you, Darien, the kick me sign trick went out of style years ago – hey." He frowned, beginning to scratch his back. "It itches. Why does it itch? DARIEN! WHY DOES IT ITCH?"
"Just a little present from Serena and I," Darien replied slyly. "Consider it part two of our revenge."
"I'm not…part of this…vengeance, am I?" Motoki gulped. "I mean, I gave you that itching powder from under my counter – "
"Motoki…you traitor…" Asanuma burst into dramatic tears.
Darien paid neither Motoki nor Asanuma any attention. His eyes were fixed on Serena, who had yet to crack a smile at their torture of Asanuma – which meant something was seriously wrong. Again.
"Hey, Odango." He passed a hand in front of her face.
Serena jolted, smiling automatically. "What? Huh? Oh, you used the powder on Numa? Great!"
"What's wrong?"
Serena blinked up at him.
"Don't blink at me. You know what I'm talking about. Spill."
Serena pulled a face at him, turning away. "It's nothing. Leave me alone. Hey, Lita, you ready to go get dinner?"
Lita's eyes flicked from Serena to Darien, then back again. "Sure. Let's go."
"We'll come with you," Darien decided. "C'mon, Asanuma."
"If you haven't NOTICED, I'm in considerable PAIN right now," sniffled Asanuma, arm twisted at uncomfortably awkward angle in order to scratch the small of his back. "I am SO going to get you guys for this…"
"It'll wear off in ten minutes or so," Darien assured him, checking his watch. "I'm not THAT cruel."
"Oh, please," interrupted Motoki. "You were going to give him the stuff that lasted for thirty minutes if Usa hadn't stopped you."
"Gee, thanks for BLABBING, tattle-tale…"
"I hate to break up the lovers' spat," said Asanuma, still jumping up and down like a monkey and scratching his back, "But in case you haven't noticed, the girls have already left."
Darien and Motoki looked up. Sure enough, the girls were gone.
Darien's eyes narrowed frustratedly. "Odango…"
"So here's the plan," whispered Serena to Lita. They were crouched behind a decorative palm tree across the food court from counter serving Chinese food, behind which stood the "Hot Chinese Food Guy," as they had dubbed him. "We order the food. We take the food. But we forget the forks. So we go back and ask him for forks. Then, after engaging in light but tantalizing conversation, we go back to the table, then realize that we also forget the duck sauce. Go back for duck sauce, engage in some minor flirting. Return to table, realize that we also want some soy sauce. Go back for soy sauce and – "
"Make a complete fools of yourselves?" finished a voice in Serena's ear.
Serena jumped a mile in the air. "SHIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEELDS!"
Darien, Motoki, and Asanuma rolled around on the floor in laughter, clutching their sides. Lita was similarly afflicted, busting a gut as she leaned on the palm tree for support. Patrons around the apparently psychotic group of teens scowled and whispered, then sidled away. Hot Chinese Food Guy noticed the disturbance and began to laugh, nudging a co-worker and pointing over at the blonde and her friends.
"Darien! How COULD you?" wailed Serena. "He SAW us! Now we're completely and totally HUMILIATED!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Oh, come on, it wasn't that big a deal, Odango," protested Darien. "He's not hot enough to CRY over."
"I'm not CRYING over HIM," sniffled Serena. "I'm crying because now I'll never be able to show my face to buy fried rice ever again…" She broke into fresh sobs.
"Well, Darien, I guess you've learned your lesson for the day," said Asanuma, patting his friend's shoulder. "Never get between a girl and her fried rice."
Darien gave Asanuma the evil eye. "There's more itching powder where that came from, you know." He looked at Serena and sighed. "Here, look, how about this, Odango. You and Kino-san go sit down, and we'll go get your fried rice, okay?"
Serena looked at Lita. "Is that okay with you, Lita?" she asked pitifully.
"Sure." Lita stuck her hands in her pockets and watched the boys walk away.
"Are you faking, Serena?"
Serena looked up, aghast. "How'd you know?"
Lita grinned. "Just a hunch. Why'd you do it? Are you mad at that Shields guy or something?"
"Yes." Serena began to stalk towards an empty table.
"Why?"
"Because I can't keep anything from him!" cried Serena, throwing herself into a chair. "He always KNOWS! When something's wrong, when I'm lying – he can always TELL. And then he makes me tell him whatever it is, so I get NO privacy – " Serena sniffed. "AND he humiliated me in front of Hot Chinese Food Guy, so I don't feel guilty at all for making him go buy my fried rice." She pounded a fist on the tabletop and repeated it again, as though to convince herself. "I don't feel guilty."
"Hmm." Lita hid a smile. This Serena girl really was a piece of work.
A few minutes later, the boys arrived at the table, bearing cartons of steaming food. And the food wasn't the only thing that was steaming.
"Whoah, what's eating him?" asked Lita as Darien, gnashing his teeth, sat down.
Asanuma spared a moment to stop scratching and explain. "Aw, the usual. That guy at the counter asked Darien if Serena was his girlfriend."
"And?" prompted Lita.
Asanuma shot a glance at Darien. "And…when Darien said no….he asked Darien out on a date."
All sounds at the table stopped. Then fried rice sprayed everywhere – courtesy of Serena, of course. Laughter exploded from the tiny blonde, tipping her chair backward so that she lay, rolling in laughter, on the floor. Lita, who didn't know Darien as well as the rest of them, merely snickered and returned to eating, while Motoki and Asanuma joined Serena in her hysterics.
"SHUT UP, WILL YOU?" roared Darien, face turning even redder. "People are staring! The Chinese food guy is staring!"
"At what?" chortled Serena. "Your butt?"
"HIGH FIVE!" gasped Asanuma, tears rolling down his cheeks. "That was AWESOME, Serena-chan!"
"I know, I know. I'm good." Serena waved a hand modestly. "No need to tell me."
Darien grumbled something under his breath. Serena grinned and dug into her food. The rest followed suit, still chortling.
"Ugh," Serena said a few minutes later, grimacing down at her steamed broccoli. "Gross."
"Wanna trade?"
Serena glanced at Darien, then at the plate of bourbon chicken he was holding out. "What did you do to it?"
Darien laughed and switched plates with her. Serena shrugged happily and set to work on the chicken. Darien brought a forkful of broccoli to his mouth, watching Lita. She was the girl who had been in the alley on Tuesday night, he was sure of it. The height, the brown hair, and the black eye were too much of a coincidence.
He wondered why she had transferred from Seijou to Azabu. Had it been because of what happened that night?
An elbow jammed into his side suddenly. He choked and looked down to see Serena grinning devilishly up at him. "Darien, don't you know it's rude to stare?"
Darien speared another piece of broccoli. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"They'd make a super-cute couple, you know." Serena propped her chin on her hand and fastened her eyes thoughtfully on the animatedly-arguing teenagers.
"Who's staring now?" said Darien.
She shot him an annoyed look. "It's in the interest of true love."
"And what do you know about true love, 'dango?"
"First you're too mean to call me by my real name, and now you're too lazy to call me by your derogatory nickname for me. Nice."
"Methinks you're evading my question."
"She's way better for him than Reika is."
Darien blinked. "Stop changing the subject."
"Reika barely pays any attention to him. They don't have ANY of the same interests. But Toki and Lita could talk for FOREVER about food. And when they get married, they can own the arcade together, and then when they're old, they can make each other delicious prune pudding – "
"Hang on. Rewind. Who says they even like each other?"
"Isn't it OBVIOUS?" Serena flung her arms out wide. "Toki keeps laughing, and Lita keeps making ridiculous faces, AND they're both the best chefs in the WORLD. It HAS to be love!"
"One problem." Darien leaned his chair back on two legs. "Toki's going to prom with Reika."
Serena's eyebrows furrowed. "Prom? That's already?"
"Yup."
"Oh. Imagine that."
An awkward silence reigned for a moment. Each remembered quite vividly the events of last years' Spring Fling prom. TOO vividly, in fact.
Darien cleared his throat, breaking the awkward lull. "Toki's already bought tickets. Reika's agreed to go with him. I'm not going to break up a perfectly convivial relationship just because you decided to be Cupid."
"Darieeeeeeen…"
"No way. I won't do it."
"Pleeeeease…."
"I said no. Now stop making that face!"
"But…Darien…"
"But…Odango…" he mimicked.
She scowled. "Darien – "
Darien grinned at her. "'dango – "
"Hmph!" Serena kicked his shin. "Jerk!"
"Ow!" Darien bent to rub his wounded leg. He felt the abraded skin tingle and flush with warmth, then the pain was gone.
"Hey…" he looked up to see Serena frowning. "What was that – "
Oops. She must have seen some golden sparks or something. Damn.
"Nothing," he said quickly, gathering up everybody's empty plates. "Shall we go, Toki?"
Motoki looked up. "Huh?"
Darien rolled his eyes. "I said, shall we go?"
"Oh. But I was talking to Lita about pilaf – " At Darien's smirk, Motoki shot to h feet. "You're right, we need to get going. I've still gotta find a tux!"
"A tux?" Lita shot Serena a glance. "For what?"
"For prooooooom," sang Asanuma. "Which Motoki is going to with meeeeeee!"
"Shut up!" Red-faced, Motoki shoved Asanuma into a trashcan. Asanuma blinked and waved at a passing-by girl (she just happened to be clad in a fetching pink miniskirt). "I'm not going with you, Numa!"
"Fine!" Asanuma jumped lithely out of the trashcan and hooked an arm through Darien's. Then Dare-Bear will go with me, right?"
"No way." Darien sidled away from Asanuma and hid behind Serena. "Motoki, can we GO now? It's getting late, and you dragged us out here on a school night…"
Serena poked Darien. 'Stop trying to make Toki feel guilty. I can think of a certain someone who made his friends waste their Saturday following around an innocent tenth-grader."
"I'm telling you, that was Asanuma's idea," insisted Darien. "Why doesn't anyone believe me?"
"Because we all know you're MADLY in love with Serena-chan," sang Asanuma. "And you want to take her to the Spring Fliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!"
"Spring Fling?" Lita perked up. "What's that? A dance?"
"It's what they call our prom." Asanuma brandished a plastic fork as he began to lecture. "And let me tell you, it's always tons of fun. I remember last year when Serena and Darien – "
"SHUT UP!" Serena and Darien launched themselves at Asanuma and slapping their hands over his mouth.
"Mmrffghrh!" Asanuma wriggled out from under their arms, cringing under their combined glares. "Man, they're scary. Anyways, as I was saying – " He cleared his throat and snuck a glance at Serena and Darien. " – WHY Motoki dragged us along to help him go tuxedo-shopping is beyond me. I mean, do I LOOK like one of those dudes of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?"
Silence reigned.
Asanuma seemed not to notice , continuing on blithely. "Really, Toki shouldn't want a hunky guy like myself accompanying him tuxedo-shopping. Because I look so good in a tux that it's really impossible for anyone to compare, and he'll just end up getting discouraged."
"Uh, waiter," said Darien loudly. "Could we have our reality check, please?"
Serena shoved a fist in her mouth to smother the laughter that threatened to spill out. She failed miserably as Asanuma jumped up and tried to exact revenge on Darien by sitting on him. Then she noticed Lita's expression.
"Lita? Is something wrong?"
"Huh? No, I'm fine. I was just – uh – hey, Motoki-san, who are you going to the prom with, then?"
"He's going with his girlfriend." Asanuma made a face. He had given up trying to sit on Darien and was now scribbling on a napkin. He lifted the square of white paper, nodding in satisfaction, removed a piece of chewed-up gum from his mouth, and smushed the pink blob onto the back of the napkin. Then he turned, and with a flourish, slapped the napkin onto Darien's chest.
Everyone first grimaced – ew, Numa-spit – then burst into laughter. Except Serena and Darien, both of whom scowled horribly. Because what Asanuma had written on the napkin that was now fixed to Darien's chest was, "Reserved for Serena-chan."
"Well, it looks as though Dare-Bear's taken, too," sighed Asanuma. He held out his arm chivalrously to Lita. "How about you? Don't let me down, darling, I've already bought tickets – "
"But!" Motoki stopped laughing to splutter. Serena shot Darien a triumphant grin.
Lita fingered one of her rose-shaped earrings. "I – uh – that is to say – "
She was interrupted by a strange feeling tingling down her spine. Almost as if…someone… She turned, just in time to see Darien and Serena simultaneously spin around and stare at the opposite end of the mall, beyond the food court. Seconds later, screams sliced through the air. The two broke into a run, Serena diving under a table and Darien vaulting a stroller.
"What do you think you're doing?" panted Darien to Serena.
"Seeing if someone needs help, what do you think?" shouted Serena back. But it was all show; she knew she had to get away from him so that she could transform. What was with Darien and being around her when the Dark Kingdom showed up?
Serena quickly faked a klutz attack by running face-first into a cell phone kiosk – not exactly subtle or dignified, but it would have to do – then ducked into a Gap store and dove into an empty changing stall.
"So there's the youma…now where are the Senshi?" Tuxedo Mask crouched atop one of the jewelry cases in the department store. A home appliance section and a men clothing's display away was the youma, orange-skinned and buxom. Bodies lay piled around it likes fortress walls, but the chests of all of them still rose steadily up and down. This youma appeared to be one of the ones Tuxedo Mask was accustomed to fighting, the ones that merely sucked energy.
"Ha…merely." Tuxedo Mask laughed sardonically at himself, still watching the youma from behind his mask. At this point in time, he was more worried about the Sailor Senshi (or that devil-cat) showing up and tearing into Sailor Moon than he was about the youma doing anyone any particular harm. Besides, the way his track record had been going – he smirked in satisfaction – a single swipe of his cane would take the youma out.
A flash of white attracted his attention. A voice rang out.
"Hey! Department stores are for girls and guys looking to deck themselves out in finery for their proms, not for Hooters' rejects like you! I am the Champion of Love and Justice, Sailor Moon, and in the name of the Moon and girls who don't have chests as big as yours, I will punish you!" She hurled her tiara at the youma, who jumped backwards to evade it and ended up falling into a display of glassware.
Tuxedo Mask landed soundlessly beside Sailor Moon. At least, he had thought his landing had been soundless, but Sailor Moon turned around and flashed him a bright smile.
He returned it. "It's been a while since I've heard one of your inspiring orations."
"I know." She caught her tiara deftly and shoved it back on her forehead. "It feels good."
"That's good!" screeched the youma's voice. "Because this is gonna feel real BAD!" The creature sailed into view and began to hurl white objects toward the two superheroes.
Tuxedo Mask scooped Sailor Moon up. Her hands automatically clenched around his vest beneath his jacket; it was a routine procedure.
By twisting in Tuxedo Mask's hold, Sailor Moon was able to identify the white objects – they were various body parts of mannequins. There was a head, and there was an arm – and here was a whole leg, high heel and all, better stay out of the way of that. She removed her tiara and threw it at the leg. The projectile exploded in a spray of tephra-like bits, and Sailor Moon's tiara returned to its owner's hand.
Sailor Moon turned to ask Tuxedo Mask if he had a plan, but as she repositioned her arms around his neck, she spotted over his shoulder another body part headed straight for them – this one was a man's torso, with washboard abs that were definitely going to put them through the dryer. Unless – she scrabbled for her tiara. But there was no way for her to get to it in time.
The torso smashed into them like a tank. They were sent crashing into a display of men's cologne, plowing through the tower of bottles that had been stacked artistically on the table.
"Elastic collision," groaned Tuxedo Mask, twisting beneath Sailor Moon. The dazed superhero lifted her aching head and tried to focus on him.
"Elastic…what?"
He smiled woozily up at her. "That was an elastic collision. Haven't you taken Physics?"
"Ugh." In too much pain to even attempt deciphering that statement, Sailor Moon pushed herself off of him. She immediately tumbled back down again, only this time there was cold tile beneath her instead of Tuxedo Mask's warm body.
He fuku was wet, she realized headily. Man, I hope that's not blood… She forced herself up on one elbow to peer down at herself. Not a speck of red – aside from her bow – was to be seen on her, which was good, but what was that wetness?
"Weird…smell…" she heard Tuxedo Mask say. She lifted her head further and saw the shattered bottles of cologne. That's what smells. Men's cologne soaked my fuku. Great!
"Get up, Sailor Brat." The youma was floating above her. "Or should I call you Se – "
Schwip. A silver blade shafted through the youma's throat like a skewer through a shish kabob. The youma's eyes darkened, then it disintegrated.
Sailor Moon watched the dust fall, too achy to move. Not to mention that she thought the cologne perfumes might be making her slightly high…she giggled. "Wow, you don't even need me anymore."
Tuxedo Mask twisted his head toward her, retracting the cane's blade.. "Aw, but who would make the corny speeches if you were gone?"
"You're pretty good at them yourself, believe me."
"Ouch."
"What is it? Are you hurt?" Sailor Moon rolled to her feet immediately, checking him for injuries.
The dark-haired enigma grinned up at her. "I'm fine. I was just expressing how wounded I was by your acerbic wit."
Sailor Moon snorted. "Suuure. Hey, you know you're lying in a pool of that cologne stuff, right?"
Tuxedo Mask yawned. "I'm trying to soak up as much manliness as I can."
She eyed him. "What makes you think you need it?"
I don't know, maybe the fact that you still don't seem to have any interest in kissing me? Tuxedo Mask shifted. "The lack of girls lining up at my door to ask me out on a date."
"Would you like some cheese with that wine?" she slugged him lightly in the arm. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Life is good!"
"Is that so?"
She squirmed a little under his gaze. "Of course it is!" She jumped up. "Well, I've gotta go. Bye!"
"That girl…" growled Tuxedo Mask. "ARGH! I forgot to ask her AGAIN!"
"Two shampooings, and I still smell like THIS?" Serena glared balefully at her reflection in the mirror as she sniffed her arm. The cologne seemed to have soaked straight through her skin – her bones probably even smelled like this stuff!
She had met up with Lita after detransforming. She and the boys had split up to look for Serena and Darien – which was lucky, since Serena definitely had not been in the mood to face the boys and the teasing they would be sure to do if they caught a whiff of her new odor. It was lucky, also, that her parents weren't home. She could just see her father's face when he smelled men's cologne on her…
"I am so dead." She flopped on her bed and flicked off the light.
"God, this stuff REEKS." Darien yanked on a new shirt over his freshly-showered body. The stench of l'eau d'homme had not only endured his detransformation, but also an hour-long shower, much to his surprise and dismay. I don't want to go to school tomorrow smelling like this!
As he popped a couple of aspirin (the cloying stink was seriously giving him a migraine), he wondered if Sailor Moon was having the same problem as him. It would be kind of funny if she was. A girl getting herself soaked in men's cologne… Seems like something Serena would do. He chuckled, then crawled under the covers, a smile still on his face.
A/N: Hum-de-dum. Not much this chapter. NEXT chapter is when the story really picks up – oh, yes, oh yes, I'm VERY excited. As soon as I get finished editing this chapter, I'm going to start working on it. Hopefully it'll have some revplies. As for now, please just let me thank all of you SO MUCH for all your encouraging words…XOXOXOXOXO!
By the way, I know I'm being greedy, but could you guys tell em what you think about Lita? I'm still kind of shaky with her personality.