Chapter 7- Ideas and Jealousy

"She thinks we're on the losing side huh?" Lita said, "I'll show her, she chose the wrong girl to mess with!"

"Um, that's great Lita", Serena stuttered, "But do you mind not yelling about it, the whole schoolyard is looking at you!"

Lita looked around and saw that Serena was quite right. Everyone around them was looking at her, and two girls had scrambled away, whispering behind their hands. She turned a faint shade of red and looked back at Serena and Amy, both of whom were giving her comprehensive looks. "It's great that you're enthusiastic about this Lita", Amy said carefully, "But try not to get too excited"
"I'm not excited, I'm mad", she said, returning to her lunch, "I just can't figure out why Rei would betray us like this"
"None of us can", Amy said taking a sip of her juice, "It just doesn't make sense. I know how you feel, trust me"

"Not saying you don't", Lita said, "I just wish I knew why. One day she's fine, the next day…what was with the change? Did someone influence it, or did she just change on her own?"
"You know what I think is weird?" Serena said through a mouthful of crackers, "Yesterday, when we fought her, she had the perfect opportunity to destroy us. So why did she hesitate? It was like she suddenly realized what she was doing was wrong or something. Do you guys think she was brainwashed?"
"I don't know", Amy said uncertainly, "She seemed to know who we were and everything, and it sure didn't seem like she was acting on anyone's orders. I think she was acting on her own accord"
"But that doesn't explain why she just stopped when she had the perfect chance to get rid of us", Serena pointed out, "Then again, nothing is being explained"
"Not right now anyway", Lita said, picking up a cookie from her own lunch, "I wish we had some way of finding out answers"

"I wish we knew how all of this started", Amy said thoughtfully, "It had to have started somewhere"

"If you ask me", Serena said suddenly, "It started with her and those weird dreams she'd been having. I wonder if she's still having them?"

"I don't know", Lita said as the bell rang, "We'll have to pick this up later, probably better, that way we can talk with Mina too, maybe she has a few ideas"

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"Ideas?" Mina repeated, "Hmn…she's lost her mind?"
"Maybe she doesn't have a few ideas", Lita said with a sigh.

"Sorry", she said with an embarrassed smile, "I guess I haven't really thought about it"

"I tried to forget about it too", Lita admitted, "But eventually we have to face it; Rei really has become our enemy. It may be the worst, but…"

"Reality rears it's ugly head", Serena sighed, "You know, I'm kind of with Mina's two-second theory. Maybe the stress of having to take care of her grandfather and keep the temple in order, then having those nightmares and not sleeping on top of it, maybe it all just got to her"

"You think she seriously cracked?" Lita asked.

"That doesn't explain her new Sailor look", Amy pointed out, "I've been thinking, someone had to have influenced it in some way. Maybe in the end she chose to do this herself, but I think someone started her out"

"Amy do you ever stop thinking?" Serena grumbled. She knew the girl had a point. The problem was…

"We don't know who could have gotten to her", Mina said as though she were reading Serena's thoughts, "As far as we know there are no new enemies in town, are there?"

"Obviously", Lita said, The problem is, we don't know who it is, or where to even start looking"

"That's the only flaw in my idea", Amy admitted.

The girls sighed wearily. They were back at square one, which was, of course, nothing. "Maybe we should try to talk to her again", Serena suggested after a second.

"Yeah, so she can fry us", Lita said sarcastically, "Talking to her just does not seem like the world's greatest idea"

"Good point", Serena admitted. Talking to Rei really wasn't a good idea. Not with the way she was right now…

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"Rei, hey Rei!" not that she ever did anything that was a good idea. They hadn't come up with any good ideas for what could have possibly turned their friend against them, so talking was all they had, "Rei!"

Rei whirled around, looking extremely agitated. She was heading into the temple, but luckily, Serena had caught her. "Rei", she gasped, skidding to a halt in front of her, "Look, I wanted to—"
"I could care less what you want", Rei snapped, "Leave me alone already Serena"

"Please", Serena said quietly, "Just talk to me—"
"No, I don't think I will", Rei cut her off, "No, I don't think I will, thank you. Now would you just get lost?"
"No", Serena said flatly. If looks could kill, Serena would have fallen dead right then and there.

"You are so lucky I can't transform", Rei said through gritted teeth, "Or you would be toast, I swear"

"Well you can't", Serena said, "Which means you'll have to settle for listening"
"Or I could just call the cops and have them arrest you for trespassing", she pointed out, "Ever think of that?"
"No", Serena admitted, "I'd like that better than you frying me though"
"It can be arranged"
"No", Serena said quickly, "Please, just talk to me, Rei, forget about whatever has been going on lately, just remember that at one time I was your friend"

Rei's eyes flashed dangerously, "One last time Serena: get lost"

Serena backed up a step. Rei was starting to scare her a little. Especially seeing as how she had just seen a little flash in Rei's hand. And she had a bad feeling she knew what it was. "Rei, please…"

"No", Rei said, turning away, "I'm done talking to you, now get lost or I swear, I will transform, and I will fry you, I don't care if everyone sees me do it"

"You wouldn't", Serena gasped.

"Try me"

Serena really didn't like the sound of that. Obviously Rei meant business, and if she didn't run and quick, she'd be nothing but a pile of ashes on the ground. That certainly didn't appeal to her. She backed up slowly and finally turned and shot down the street as fast as she could.

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"What?.!" Lita cried, "Serena, I thought we agreed to leaved her alone, what were you thinking?.!"
"I know, I know", Serena groaned, "I know we did, but I thought maybe if I could just catch her, maybe get her to talk a little—"
"Serena, you and Rei never got along, what made you think you could get along now?" Lita asked, "If anything she'd hate you even more!"
"You think she hated me?"
"Well, maybe not hated", Lita amended quickly, "But I'm sure there were times she didn't think to highly of you"
"Probably not", she admitted, "I really messed things up, didn't I?"
"Not any worse than they already are", Lita assured her, "Don't worry, things will work out, I'm sure. I've got to go Serena, I'll talk to you later"

"Bye", Serena sighed as she hung up. No matter what Lita said, she realized now that she had messed up big time, and she felt bad. Any chance they may've had of getting Rei back to their side had quickly evaporated. And it was also her fault.

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"Oh, so smooth Shadow", Azumi sneered.

"If you don't shut up", Rei said furiously, "I'll use you as a moving target for more practice"

"Yeah right", Azumi said, "Just like you used little Serena, right?"

"That was different", Rei said, "If I transformed in front of everyone, my cover would have been completely blown. This way the Scouts are still the only ones who know who I am, and they still can't do anything about it"
"They could ambush you in public already in their scout forms", the annoying tracker pointed out, "You'd be helpless"

"The Sailor Scouts are all about fairness", Rei assured her, "Lita is the only one I'd think would do that, and Amy, Serena, and Mina would put a stop to it real fast"

"You really do have them figured out, don't you?"

"Why do you think I got this job?" Rei asked her, "I'm trying to practice, you know, do you mind leaving me alone?"
"You've been Sailor Mars long enough", Azumi grumbled as she turned away, "What do you need practice for?"
"Fine", Rei shrugged, "Tell you what: start running, and I'll do what I said before and use you for a moving target practice"

Azumi glared at her and whirled on he sot, disappearing with a snap.

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"How can you trust her?" Azumi asked Kejano impatiently, "There's something about her I don't like"

"It's all in your head Azumi", Kejano assured her, "Shadow could become one of the best trackers we've had--"
"Hey!"
"Azumi, you know what I mean"

"I'm not sure what you mean", Azumi grumbled, "You said when you trained me that I was the best tracker you'd ever had--"
"And to date, you are", Kejano cut through, "I was simply saying that it's possible Shadow could turn out to be just as good as you if you train her right"
"I don't see why I have to train her", Azumi said, "She got enough training from those lousy little feline friends of hers before she joined us, what more training does she need?"

"The Sailor Scouts guardians are good trainers for fighting against evil", Kejano reminded her, "But now she is fighting with us, she'll need better training than that"

"This is such a waste of time", Azumi grumbled. She wasn't getting anywhere talking to Kejano, not that she expected to. It was pathetic. She glared at Kejano and stalked away, more angry at Shadow then at Kejano, but still, mad at both of them. Mad at Shadow for taking her place, and mad at Kejano for letting her. "I was here first", she muttered venomously under her breath as she stalked away, "I won't let her take my place, not a chance, no way"

"Jealous, Azumi?" Azumi whirled around, angered.

"Go away Zaia!"

"Oh, but young tracker", Zaia said, appearing next to her, "Your thoughts, they're like honey to me, they're angry, filled with jealously--"
"And everything you live for", Azumi rolled her eyes, "Sing a new tune"

"Okay then", Zaia said, "Lets take it to a new angle: you really are jealous of a new trainee. I must say Azumi, that's rather pathetic"
"I'm not jealous!"

"No", Zaia agreed, "You're just used to being the youngest, until Shadow came"
"You're starting to annoy me", Azumi informed him, "Wait, now that I think about it, you always annoyed me, never mind. Now get lost"
"As you wish", Zaia said with a bow. He disappeared with a loud snap. I've got total control over any and every tracker here, except Kejano, he is the leader after all, she thought with a smirk, And Shadow. But I'll take control over her soon enough too. I'm her trainer after all, she knows that, she has to listen to me somewhere down the line

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"Well, can't say you didn't try", Mina said with a shrug, "Not…that it got us anywhere"

"Yea", Amy said, "To be honest though, I don't think we can get anywhere. Not anymore. Rei could be too far gone by now"

Mina averted her eyes quickly. She'd been thinking the same thing, but didn't want to admit it. She was supposed to be the upbeat and peppy one, not the depressing one who brought the party down. She looked up at the others and could tell they were all thinking along the same lines. "I still can't believe Rei would do this to us", she said after a second, "What could have happened?"

"Isn't that what we're trying to figure out?" Serena asked pointedly.

"Yeah", Mina sighed, "I was just throwing that out there"
"We know you were"

Things fell silent for a few seconds. "I wish I knew what she was planning on doing next", Mina said suddenly. It'd been gnawing at her for awhile.

"That would be good to know", Amy said, looking a little surprised, "How hard do you think it would be for us to get close to her without her knowing?"

"You mean spying?" Lita asked, "I don't know, Rei was always able to sense things, it might be hard to get near her without her knowing, you know what I mean?"
"Yeah", Mina said, "But it couldn't hurt to try, could it? I can take a try at it, if you'd like"

"If you aren't too worried about becoming a pile of ashes on the ground, go ahead", Serena said with a shrug, "Be our guest"

Mina peered around the corner of the temple. Rei was outside sweeping, as usual. As of yet she had no clue Mina was there. She liked it that way. She kneeled on the ground, watching Rei like a cat would watch a mouse. She wasn't going to pounce on Rei when she got the chance though, just watch her until she learned something. I never realized how boring Rei's job at the temple was, she thought, Or for that matter, how boring spying was, I could fall asleep standing

She could imagine trying to explain why she didn't have any clue about what Rei was up to because she had fallen asleep. She didn't feel like trying to explain though. Focus, she berated herself. She looked around to make sure Chad and Grandpa weren't anywhere, then looked back over at Rei. But she was gone.

"Uh oh—"

"What are you doing here?.!" She fell back with a shriek as something slammed her over her head and looked around in shock. Rei was standing over her, the broom held high.

"Oh, uh, er, hi, Rei", she stuttered, trying to smile, "Um, ah, uh, how's it, how's it going?"

"What do you want Mina?" she snapped, lowering the broom. She didn't drop her icy glare though.

"Oh, uh, you know…" she said, gesturing around her, "Just, uh…enjoying the scenery"

"Well you've had your fill", Rei said, "Now get lost!"

Mina stood up to leave, and was actually walking away when she suddenly turned around to face the former Sailor Scout, "You know Rei, you used to be our friend", she said, glaring at the raven-haired girl, "Why don't you just drop your pride long enough to fill me in on what happened, because this bad girl phase is getting a little old"
Rei glared back, "I'll fill you in on something all right", she said "I'll fill you in on the where the exit is. I'd really hate to fight you here Venus, it'd take all the fun out of destroying later, but bring me down to it and I won't hesitate"
"You haven't seemed to have a problem hesitating so far", Mina shot back, "All talk no action Shadow, that's you in a nut shell"

"Oh really?" almost quicker than she could see, Rei had swung the broom at her. Thinking fast, Mina jumped out of the way, grabbed a stick off the ground and threw it at her. She dodged easily. "You want a fight?" Rei asked, "Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you"

She threw her hand out, and a black power stick appeared. Dark energy wrapped around her and when it died away, she was wearing her "dark" Sailor Uniform. "Two can play at that game", Mina assured her, "Venus Star Power!"

Orange energy wrapped itself around her, and when it died away, she was in her own Sailor form. "I didn't come here to fight", Mina said, "You're still our friend, we want to help you, not fight you, come to your senses already girl, you're not our enemy"

"Oblivious as always Venus", she said, smirking, "Let me clear up any misconception right here and now"
"Uh-uh, uh Shadow", said a teasing voice, "Kejano told you to stay out of fights, not start them. We wouldn't want another repeat of your last performance, now would we?"

Mina's head snapped around, "Who's there?"
A girl appeared out of no where. "Azumi", Rei hissed under her breath, "Get lost! I don't need you babysitting me"
"Obviously you do", Azumi amended her, "If you're going to be here getting yourself into trouble, maybe it's best I do stick by you"
"Just who are you?" Mina asked. The tension between Rei and this girl was pretty thick, she could tell, and right now she was pretty tense herself.

"Quiet Sailor Brat", Azumi snapped. She threw her hand out and a wave of energy blew into Mina, knocking her backwards.

"This is my gig Azumi", Rei said, "Stick to your own thing"
"My thing is watching you", Azumi said, "And don't forget it. Now leave the Sailor Baby and lets go"
"You're not going anywhere!" Mina snapped, stumbling up. This was her key chance and she wasn't going to lose it.

"Venus wants a fight?" Rei asked scathingly, "Fine, I'll take a few"
Quick as lightning, a fireball flew at her, and hit the ground below her feet, knocking her backwards. "Ow…" she groaned, sitting up and rubbing her head. She just barely caught sight of Azumi smirking before she felt something slam into her. Then everything went black.

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"Mina? Mina, wake up", she stirred and groaned, sitting up. "Your okay", Serena sighed with relief, "What happened?"

"I'm trying to figure that out myself", she muttered, rubbing her head, "How long was I out for?"
"We're figuring anywhere from an hour to about six hours", Lita said. She and Amy were standing behind Serena, who was kneeling on the ground next to her. Mina's mouth dropped.

"Six hours?.!" She looked around. She was still outside Rei's temple, but it was pitch black out. It had definitely been the afternoon before she'd been blind-sided and knocked out cold.

"We were worried", Amy said, "We came out looking for you when you never called us. What happened before you were knocked out?"
"Er…" she strained her memory, "I think…I don't know. I know I was with Rei…and another girl, her name was Azumi…it seemed like Rei knew her, and they didn't like each other too much, I could tell. Azumi hit me with some kind of energy blast, then when they went to leave I tried to stop them. Rei attacked me, then it felt like something hit me…and that's all I remember", she finished lamely. Now that she was completely in tune with her body, she was starting to realize all her aches and pains.

"So you didn't find much out then?" Lita asked.

"No", Mina sighed, "Just that Rei and this Azumi girl really have it in for each other. Wait…Azumi mentioned a name…It began with a K, but I don't remember what it was…"
"It's okay, don't worry about it", Amy said, offering her a hand to help get up, "It's late, why don't you get home and rest, we can talk more tomorrow"
It was one of the best ideas Mina had heard all day.

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