PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON: FUTURE

Chapter 20: When a Beauty Gets Serious

In Azabu-Juuban, Midori found the jewelry shop that Chibi-Usa had told her about earlier. It was a two storey building called Osa-P, surrounded by advertisements and a couple of people handing out flyers. It was notable for being a busy place due to its elegant selection and bargain prices, and it wasn't any different today. Midori didn't pay attention to the shoppers as she headed for the counter to speak with the head jeweler. After some discussion, Midori ambled around and stared at the expensive trinkets that the other women were fawning over.

Meanwhile, CereCere and Chibi-Usa had just left a small shoe store and headed for Osa-P. The former spotted their friend and called out with a wave of her hand, "Yoohoo! Midori, over here!

CereCere barged into the shop and dragged Chibi-Usa behind her, nudging past some annoyed women along the way. Chibi-Usa even apologized a few times to make up for CereCere's rudeness.

"So you're here too," Midori replied, resting her elbows upon the glass display case. "I'm not sure if I should be surprised, considering your affinity for priceless baubles."

"Say what you want, but I can't believe I'd find you in Osa-P of all places! So, what are you buying? Something nice for yourself? Or have you already found a boy-toy who will spend whatever your heart desires?" CereCere asked coyly.

"Don't be so droll. I'm getting my ring repaired."

"You have a ring?"

"Yeah, she does. She showed it to me one time," Chibi-Usa said.

Midori nodded. "I usually keep it in my pocket. It's a little something from my parents to remind me of them while I'm in Tokyo."

The jeweler and owner of the shop, a 20-year old Osaka Naru, returned from the back of the store with Midori's ring. She recognized Chibi-Usa and exchanged pleasantries, then gave Midori her jewelry and said, "There you are. Good as new."

"Thank you very much," Midori replied.

"Ooh, that's a turquoise you've got there, isn't it?" CereCere crooned in awe.

"Not quite. It's apatite, which can come in the same color as turquoise," Naru explained. "It's mainly mined in Brazil and Mexico. It's a stone representing health, clarity and peace. If your life is feeling a little chaotic, you can always get this necklace. I guarantee it will bring a sense of calm back in your stressed out life."

Naru made her pitch while gesturing to a simple silver necklace with a pendant affixed with another blue gemstone. CereCere chuckled and said, "I appreciate the gesture, but I need to watch my budget."

Midori pursed her lips and muttered, "Interesting. I recall you saying before that price tags should not deter a girl from buying what she wants."

"Your memory is sometimes too sharp to comprehend, my friend. But you see, there's an idol competition that calls for participants to spend less than 50,000 yen on their outfit. Only those applicants who receive an invite are allowed to attend, and guess what!?"

CereCere unpocketed an invitation inside a torn envelope and declared, "Ta da! Yours Truly will be participating!"

"My! Congratulations!" Naru commended.

Chibi-Usa said, "She had a lot of tough competition. I had to help her with the make-up, and her sisters went to every thrift shop they could find to pick out her dress just for the photo submission."

"There was some pell-mell over you two asking everyone in the apartment for make-up. So that's what it was for…" Midori mused.

CereCere put her hands on her hips and declared, "I had no doubt that I would be entered since my beauty and charm are unparalleled. The judges would be cheating themselves of some tough competition if they didn't accept me! Oh ho ho ho!"

As she laughed, Chibi-Usa and Midori glanced around at the other female shoppers who were staring at them with a small hint of jealously or annoyance in their eyes. Feeling uncomfortable in this situation, Midori urged, "Perhaps I can hear more about this while attending to my errands."

"Of course, of course. I still need to find a good skirt and corset at the department store. Are you headed there as well?"

"Not particularly, but as I am not busy today, I will accompany you for a while. Perhaps I may find something that crosses my mind."

"Good stuff! Then let's go already!"

Chibi-Usa asked, "Wait, you aren't going to buy anything here?"

"Nah," CereCere waved her hand dismissively. "I don't need to anymore. I've found the perfect thing."

She blinked in a fawning, faux bashful manner at Midori, and she realized what her intention was.

"… Not happening."

"Oh come on! Just for the show! I promise I'll give it back to you when I'm done with it!"

"I prefer to say no only once. Besides, don't judges pay attention more to things like necklaces, bracelets and earrings? How are they going to notice an insignificant little ring like this?"

"Easy! I'll put it on a necklace and show it off until they can't help but ask! I'll tell them that it came from someone very special to me! It'll get their imaginations running wild!"

Midori groaned and left the jewelry shop, with the begging CereCere and the embarrassed Chibi-Usa following her.

"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter initiated the battle by shooting a stream of electricity at Gyps. To her amazement, the Camarilla batted it away with her large claw with no visible injury. Gyps flew in and grappled with Jupiter, forcing her to use all of her strength just to resist being slashed apart.

"Mars Flame Sniper!"

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

Sailors Mars and Venus got behind Gyps and used their respective attacks to snipe her while she was busy with Jupiter. Gyps glared back, allowing Sailor Mercury to dash in and get Jupiter out of harm's way. The villainess grabbed Mars' flaming arrow in one hand and Venus' sparking heart with the other, causing both of them to explode in her grip! When the searing light and smoke settled down, Gyps' hands were noticeably scorched, but her will to fight hadn't diminished. In fact, she just seemed to get angrier the more the Sailor Soldiers attacked her.

Mercury couldn't help but comment, "Unbelievable!"

"Those claws must be impervious to damage," Jupiter said. "If we could knock them out of her hands somehow-"

"Bzzzt! Totally wrong!" Gyps snarled and unleashed a flurry of red slashes that the two Soldiers had to dodge. Jupiter winced as one lacerated her upper leg after shoving Mercury out of the way. Gyps flexed the red talons on her large black hands and exclaimed, "You think I'm using weapons in this battle? The only weapon I need is myself!"

"You're saying those are your actual hands!?" Mars gasped. "How could you catch our attacks knowing you're risking your life!?"

"Man, you guys are so blasé, worrying about your enemy in the midst of battle. Putting my life on the line for victory is totally normal for me! Hah hah!" the Camarilla laughed and sent more claw strikes at Mars and Venus, and they too had to escape the onslaught.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

Mercury and Jupiter sent their attacks at the same time, which then combined into a ring of lightning trailing sparkling water like a glittering comet. The water actually intensified the lightning, giving it double the attack power. Even though Gyps attempted to bat the projectile away, the explosion was powerful enough to dig through the layers of black scaly skin and cause some blood to gush out.

"Kraaagh!" Gyps howled, holding her injured hand. She bared fangs at the Sailor Soldiers and snarled, "Now I'm pissed off! You self-important wenches are going to die!"

If anyone was getting angrier than Gyps, it was Venus. She got in above the enemy and barked, "You're not the only one who's mad! If it wasn't for you, I would be enjoying a quiet afternoon with my fiancé!"

"Then I'll deliver your mangled corpse to him as my apology!"

"I don't think so! In the name of Venus, I shall deliver Love's heavenly vengeance!"

"Shut the hell up already, you worthless bimbo!" the livid Camarilla shrieked and charged for the Sailor Soldier.

"Take this! Crescent Beam Shower!" Venus shouted as a golden aura surrounded her body and her long blonde hair rose straight up. She pointed at Gyps and fired a golden laser beam, which then split into thousands of smaller but equally deadly streaks.

"What the hell!?" Gyps couldn't possibly avoid the barrage. The Camarilla attempted to counter with her claw strikes, but the barrage instantly slammed against her and sent her hurtling uncontrollably toward Tokyo.

"GYAAAAAHHHH!" the villainess' piercing scream faded as she descended out of sight.

Venus breathed heavily and did the bras d'honneur pose while shouting, "How do you like me now!?"

"Hey, what did you do that for!?" Jupiter exclaimed.

"Because I'm mad! It's her fault that Kunzite's waiting for me!"

"Yeah, but she could land somewhere in the city and cause more trouble!"

"No big deal! I'll keep an eye out for her while in Azabu! If she does anything suspicious to the townsfolk, I'll send her packing faster than you can say John Robertson!"

"Uh, isn't that Jack Robinson…?"

Mars shrugged and huffed, "No point in arguing about it. Venus and Kunzite will look out for Gyps in Azabu and warn Chibi-Usa about this. The rest of us should patrol other areas of Tokyo."

Mercury nodded and said, "This is the first time we've had to fight one of Eris' subordinates directly. It would be helpful if we can interrogate her further about their organization and what their objectives are."

"Then what are we waiting for? Chop chop! Time's a'wastin'!" Venus exclaimed and descended for Earth first, followed by the rest of her annoyed comrades.