DISCLAIMERS:
All canon characters are (C) 1992 - whatever year it is Naoko Takeuchi and all other related parties. The Shadow senshi are (C) Wild Nature 2006. This is a fanfic based upon the anime version and all written work that this consists of is (C) 2006 Wild Nature.
Eizou's been discovered as a Shadow. But there's little more to go upon as Apple isn't even sure of who he is. And while they try to make due, more faceless enemies appear, fighting for their demon lord, the Void.
And Usagi and the others are just as perplexed. No one, even Setsuna, has heard about any Shadow senshi. But Setsuna makes an educated guess that if there's one of the moon, there might be eight others.
Episode Three: Making Plans of the Sol Senshi; Eizou's First Love
Kakushi stood at the stairs, quietly contemplating whether he should let his one and only sister sleep in or be an ass and jump her off the bed.
Didn't take long for him to decide as he half ran up the stairs, chuckling. "Zou-chan? Oh Zou-chan?" He sang out softly, peeking in. He saw her, curled up into a ball, snoring lightly. "Aw, what a angel."
"YEEHAW!" He howled as he became a human cannibal, the bed thumping hard onto the ground and flying up into the air.
And Eizou screamed, rolling off the bed onto her hands and knees. "What? Who? What...HEY! Why do you always do this? It's Sunday! SUNDAY!"
"Yea, so?" He smirked, leaning on his palms on her bed.
"You selfish little..."
"Eizou!" Kokei walked in then. "What were you about to say?" He said very evenly. Kakushi chuckled to himself. "Out, now."
"Dad, I wasn't going to.."
"Where would you pick up such a language?" Kokei asked firmly. "You shouldn't talk like that. It is very unladylike."
"I didn't say..."
"No but if I hadn't come in, you would've! Now next time I catch you, I will wash your mouth out with soap."
"All right, Dad."
"Good," He turned and left the room as Kakushi peeked in.
"Ha ha..." He grinned as he left himself, heading back down the stairs.
Eizou took her time, though once downstairs, her mother began to ask how much homework she had left to do.
"I told you Mom. Not that much!" Eizou protested as her mother cornered her.
Her mother held up the English quiz. "But look at how low this score is!"
Eizou weakly smiled. "That's an old one. I should do better on the one I had the other day."
"You had another one?" Hanshou blinked. "But you didn't tell me."
"Mom, I don't have to tell you about every single test, do I?"
"Until your English grades improve..." Her mother began.
Eizou rolled her eyes as she listened to the same argument her mother would give about her grades.
"Apple! Come!" Eizou called out the window. She saw Apple's ears perk up as he stood up and trotted to the door, to then sit patiently by the door. She flourished out, grinning. "Here ya go! Breakfast!"
Apple's tail wagged as his head went zoom and in thirty seconds, his food dish was empty. Eizou was tending to the water dish by then.
"So, Mom, how are my chances of keeping Apple?" She asked idly.
"Huh? Oh, well, I was talking with your father about that. Despite the fact that you seem to do very poorly in English, you maintain a good top. As such, we do believe it would be all right. However," She turned and fixed her daughter with a bold gaze. "If something is wrong with him or if he catches something, you understand there is little we can do for him."
"What? We're not going to get him vaccinated?"
"Oh no, of course we are. But honey, he seems to be quite tame but just look at him," Hanshou pointed outside. They both looked and saw Apple chasing a butterfly, flying daintily above him. "Well, that didn't work, now did it? Honey, he is obviously not all dog but perhaps wild and one cannot trust wild creatures."
"We trust Kakushi, don't we?"
Hanshou stopped momentarily with the dishes before she glanced at her daughter. "Eizou..."
"Oh come on Mom! You left it right open for me!" Eizou grinned.
Her mother smiled slightly. "Well, yes I did. But he's very tame... Like his father." Hanshou openly grinned at that.
"See! Aren't they fun to poke at?" Eizou pretended to have a stick and poked the air with her imaginary stick. Kakushi walked in as she turned and prodded him with the empty air.
"So..." He raised an eyebrow. "What's your problem?"
"You. Duh!" She left the room with a skip, reaching up to the coat rack and pulled off the leash. "Taking Apple for a walk!"
"Be careful!" Her mother called out.
"We wanna come!" Boya and Chuukou appeared, side by side.
"Why? You guys go play with your friends!" She called over her shoulder as she ran to the back again. She was out in the back yard in moments, Apple watching with precise gaze at the butterfly resting on the snow-white fence. "Apple!"
"Oh boy!" He turned and wagged his tail.
"Shuu! Can't let them know you talk, you know?"
"Oh.. I mean, woof!" His tail wagged faster as she clipped his collar.
"Mom wants to get you vaccinated," She commented as they headed down the sidewalk.
"That's fine."
"And get a healthy checkup."
"That's fine."
"You'll get shots, you know."
"That's fine."
"And maybe neutered," she grinned.
"That's fine." He frowned. "Wait, say that again?"
" I said..."
Apple fully sat down on his haunches, glowering at her. "I was kidding! Kidding!"
"You swear?" He frowned. "I'm an animal but as a special exception, I deserve to remain intact, if you know what I mean."
"What, you want puppies?"
Apple growled as he stood back up and began to walk, dignified and brazen. "See, I am a good, honest male dog...I don't need to be adapted to the terms of everyone else."
"Well, as long as you don't do any hanky panky."
"Hanky... What kind of term is that!"
"Oh, just some idiom."
"You don't know what idiom means do you?"
"Do you?"
"Hey! Zou-chan!" Makoto was in the close distance, cutting close. She was carrying a set of heavy bags as she tried to wave.
"Hey, Makoto!" Eizou grinned, feeling a bit shy. She realized she had just left suddenly last night and felt awful about it. But Makoto seemed to not care.
"I was worried about you! And Apple too! Hey boy, wanna cookie?" She placed the bags down before pulling a bag of cookies out.
"It would've been better if it'd been doggie treats," Eizou pointed out.
"These are just plain sugar cookies," Makoto grinned. "I'm planning on decorating them for my friends as special treats, you know?"
"Huh, that's nice." She took the other cookie Makoto offered. "Why not make your own cookies?"
"I will but I've been a bit preoccupied," She picked up the bags with a slight groan.
"Here, I can help." She took one of the bags and she, Makoto, and Apple all moved in the direction Makoto lead.
They were nearing the apartment building where Makoto lived. "You and your family live here?" Eizou asked.
"I live alone. My parents.. died in a plane accident."
I'm sorry...You.. like living here, err, alone?"
Makoto smiled. "I didn't mind it but it was lonely. But I made friends that help me feel better."
"Lucky. I tend to lose the friends I make. I'm not exactly people material."
"I think you're nice."
"You're just saying that!" Eizou grinned as Makoto glanced at Apple. "What?"
"Oh, I'm trying to remember if it's okay for animals to come in..." She peeked at Eizou.
"Oh, I could tie him up..." But the look on Eizou said otherwise.
"Hey, I don't mind if he comes in. Come on, Apple, I'll give you another cookie!"
Apple barked, his tail thrashing the air. "It's so cute and fluffy! In fact, he's so fluffy! That's an amazing coat he has. Do you think someone owned him before?"
"I don't know.." She studied Apple as they came to the elevator. It moved up as the two continued to talk amicably.
It was when Makoto was putting things away as Eizou took to another subject. "You know, those...what are they called, senshi, used to be really popular?"
"Really? What, they're not anymore?"
"Well, it's like they disappeared. We need super heroes if you ask me," She sat down on the couch, Apple resting his head on her knee. "I mean, we have monsters here, don't we?"
"Well, depends on what you think monsters are. People can be monsters."
"Oh, that's true but what if it were.. supernatural?"
"I have yet to meet a supernatural monster," Makoto smiled. "You don't like the senshi?"
"It's not that! I mean, my family cheers for Sailor V and then there was that Sailor Moon and her friends but it's all become... quiet since last year, I guess." She bit her lip. "Actually, I really don't know what I'm talking about. I've never actually met them."
"I heard that they were very nice...well, most of them. Uranus and Neptune were a bit hard but they mellowed out."
"You met them?"
"Huh? Well.. maybe once. They saved my ass, that's for sure!" Makoto laughed.
"Do you think.. there are more of them?" Eizou fiddled with her fingers. "I mean, it's a big world out there."
"I don't know. It is big and the senshi can't protect everything... it really does seem that Japan is the favorable target though!"
Makoto stretched. "Want something to drink?"
"Sure. What do you got?"
"Some soda, milk, and of course," She presented the kitchen faucet sink. "Water al natural."
"Soda will do fine, thank you."
Makoto pulled a can as her phone rang off its hook. She tossed the drink to Eizou as she answered it. "Moshi moshi?"
Makoto listened for a moment. "All of us? Yea, sure but I have company... yea, I'll make it soon. Okay Setsuna, see you in a little bit."
Makoto sighed. "I have to go meet a few friends of mine. We get together to have discussions and you know, all the older guys like us to be there every and I mean EVERY time. Usagi and Minako once missed and boy, did they get their ears bitten off!"
Eizou smiled. "That's fine. I still need to walk Apple here."
Makoto guided the two out with a smile. "So why Apple?"
"Huh? Oh, well, I don't know, I just think it's cute."
"Yea, it is. Say, maybe we can get together again. I'll go with you and Apple to the park, say Monday afternoon?"
"I'd like that."
"I'll probably bring my friends."
"Apple and I don't mind," she smiled brightly.
"Okay then, see ya!"
Makoto watched her leave first before heading down to the bus. It took her around twenty minutes to get to Setsuna's home and the others were just arriving as well.
It took a while longer for the whole group to settle. "All right, now, you guys told us about that Shadow Moon and Setsuna here was looking into that," Haruka began.
"Something to drink? Cookies?" Michiru butted in.
"Hey!"
"We still need to be good hostesses," Michiru smiled. "No? All right then." She sat back with a smile as Setsuna moved to rest her elbows on her knees.
"I did some looking into but I can't find anything."
There was absolute silence. "Well, that was a bust. Coming here just for that?" Minako scratched her nose with a frown.
"But let's go with hypothesizing for a moment. She said she was Shadow Moon, am I correct? I had the sudden idea that there could be more like her."
"Well, we're doomed," Minako sighed.
"Not quite. She didn't attack us," Ami pointed out.
"It was a chance meeting," Makoto added. "We don't know enough."
"So all we need to do is wait. Tell me, what was striking about her?" Setsuna asked.
"The monster didn't have a face," Usagi shivered. "It was creepy."
"The girl had a white crescent moon on her forehead. It was facing left though," Rei stated.
"Someone related to the moon? It sounds like it but it could just be coincidence," Setsuna shrugged.
"We all know there's only Serenity," Haruka growled.
"But what about Nehellenia?" Usagi said suddenly.
"What?"
"Nehellenia. She came from the other side of the moon, right? What if this Shadow Moon was related to her or something?"
Setsuna smiled. "Now that is the thinking of a future queen. However, according to my calculations, Nehellenia was sent home, far back to the times of the lost Silver Millennium. I'm not even sure if anyone has survived."
"Well, how would we find out?" Makoto asked.
"Oh come on," Minako frowned. "We don't live there anymore, they couldn't possibly!"
"We still need to find out for sure," Setsuna sat up quietly. "Hotaru, do you think you could perform your game again?"
"I guess I could but it might not show anything of the dark side of the moon," Hotaru said quietly.
"Damn," Haruka sighed.
"What about Sailor Teleport?" Ami suggested then.
They all looked at her. "What?"
"That's a brilliant idea!" Usagi grinned. "I vote for Ami's way!"
"We might not even be able to survive.." Rei began.
"Please! We've gone to the moon before! We'll be fine!"
The outer senshi looked at each other. "Well, it would be the fastest," Michiru agreed.
"Should we all go?"
"I think we should," Haruka nodded.
"Great! When do we get to go?" Minako asked excitedly.
"Apple! Slow down!" Eizou was nearly dragged out of the door as Apple seemed to catch something in the air that was highly interested.
And he barked as he came to a sudden stop, right at the backside of a young man who jumped about five feet in the air.
"AYE!" He had bleached hair, like milk gold colored. It was fashioned haphazardly, slightly long for his angular face. His eyes were a deep green, much like how a emerald would twinkle. "Down boy!"
"I'm sorry! He got excited," Eizou began. She smiled at him, the feeling of shyness welling up into her throat. "Oh.. um.. I should.. just, you know.. walk.."
She inched around him, her eyes wide and expressive. He smiled as he stepped back and she moved to leave only for her arm to snag on the leash. Apparently Apple decided he wanted to make friends with the man as he padded over to the tall fellow.
The young man, while acting brave, began to back off slowly. His face gave only a hint of nervousness but Eizou smiled brightly. "He's harmless! Look! Apple, sit!"
Apple instantly sat. "Good boy! Shake now!" Apple offered his hand to the man.
The man blinked before bending down to be face to face for the most part. "'Allo there, dog. How are you on this fine day?"
Eizou giggled. "He loves it outside."
"Most dogs would. He's awfully big. You sure you can handle him on that leash?" He stood and Apple moved quickly, wrapping around him as Eizou fell forward and they both crashed, her body straddling his as she whimpered.
"Ouch, ouch.." She pulled her head up and found herself looking into those emerald eyes. "Wow.."
"Hee.." He gently helped her up before standing up completely. He eyed Apple with a reproachable gaze. "He did that on purpose."
"Apple's very smart but ah... I don't think he's THAT smart..." She began. She took a step back and fell over in heap, tripping over the curb. "Ouch..."
He knelt down and before she could do anything, he had lifted her into his arms and carried her to a bench. "You all right?"
"I guess I was just clumsy."
"Looks like it," He commented, lifting her calves to study her ankle. "This one starting to swell. Does it hurt when I press here?"
The look of utter pain answered that question. "You got a sprained ankle. How far is your home?"
"I would probably need to take a bus," Eizou tried to think.
He sat down next to her. "By the way, I am Injuuno Henshou."
"Oh, I am Ginbano Eizou," She nodded her head slightly. "And this is Apple."
"Yes, we've met. Tell me, Apple, you like playing matchmaker?"
"He's a dog, he can't do that."
"You'd be surprised what a dog can do," He reached into his pocket. "I know I could fit you in my car but Apple here might be pressing it."
"Oh.. don't worry about me! I'll just walk.." She winced as she attempted to stand on her wounded ankle. She tried to balance herself on the other ankle but her body began to slip to the side. "Err.."
"Here," She was led to a rather nice car but it was small. "If we keep the windows down and his head sticks out, we should be fine."
She was soon settled in, Apple looking out the window behind her, his tongue starting to flap. "He's very well trained. How long did it take you?"
"Not long, I'll give you that," She was fiddling with the seatbelt, glancing outside time and again.
"What? Don't get too many rides?" He started the car and it shot out like a rocket.
"HEY!"
"Sorry," He flushed. "I've been driving for a while now but this is a new car. Gotta break it in, you know?"
"No but please be careful! Apple doesn't have a seatbelt."
"Something tells me Apple doesn't really care," Henshou quipped.
Eizou felt Apple's snout on her shoulder and she peeked back, his eyes expressive. "Yes, well, still be careful," she said finally, gently stroking Apple's snout.
They came quickly to her home and he frowned as she started to get out. "Now hold on, will ya? I'll go around and give you hand!"
"I'm fine. I'll lean on Apple," Apple bounded out and her hand slipped as she fell face first into pavement.
"While that's a nice view, I'd feel better if you listened," He bent down and offered his hand.
She frowned and pushed herself up. "Don't tell me what to do, okay? And don't act like a pervert!"
"Hey, I say things as I see it," He answered. He was still offering her his hand and she sighed noisily before taking it.
"There now, that wasn't so bad now was it?"
"Whatever."
He helped her gently up the walkway and then the porch stairs. Apple began to bark and Kakushi came out with a frown.
"Hey, found your sister with a hurt ankle," Henshou began.
"What happened, Eizou?" Kakushi asked quietly.
"Apple tried to play matchmaker."
"He's a dog, he can't play matchmaker," Kakushi opened the door. "Just head to the living room. I'll get you some ice." He turned to Henshou. "Thank you for your kindness. I hope she wasn't rude to you."
"Not very no. Very independent one though. Kinda cute too."
"HAH! Of course there was bound to be somebody to think that."
"I heard that!" Eizou called out from the living room.
"Sorry about the trouble. Have a good day, man!"
Henshou walked quietly down the walkway but turned around slowly and Eizou was at the window, like a lost puppy. He smiled and waved before he blew a kiss and a wink for good measure. He knew from her face she was giggling and he smiled as his car lurched and he drove off.
Eizou smiled as she lay back, waiting for Kakushi. She tried to examine her ankle but it was currently going purple so she left it be.
"Ouch woman! Since when are you a klutz?" Kakushi placed the ice pack down gently.
"AUGH! COLD! COLD!"
"Well, DUH!" Kakushi frowned. "Now explain to me how Apple would play matchmaker? Or did the guy come on to you or something? I won't kill you if he did. After all, he's the one that..."
"Will you listen to yourself?" Eizou glared at him. "Not once has a guy come onto me and I really doubt that one will in the future! Anyways, Apple just wrapped around Henshou and I was still holding the leash, see, so we kind of just smushed together."
"Ah...are you sure he didn't hit on you?"
"How the hell should I know?" She snapped.
"EIZOU!"
Kokei walked in but stopped with a frown. "What happened?"
"I sprained my ankle."
He showed his son away and gently studied it. "I don't think we need to go to the hospital. However..." He glared at her. "What did I say about language?"
"It was my fault Dad. I kept bugging her," Kakushi said quietly. "Besides, I've heard a lot worse."
"Eizou, remember. You are a growing woman and you must behave properly," He held up his hand as she started to protest. "As in act like a proper person, not just a woman. That means you must learn to control your temper and language. Children are very impressionable and we want them to learn good behaviors."
"SHIT!"
Kokei's head snapped up. "Boya! Chuukou! WHO SAID THAT?"'
"I'll tell you this, they didn't learn it from Eizou," Kakushi grinned.
"When I come back, Kakushi, I'm washing your mouth with soap," Kokei growled as he left the room.
"Wait! I didn't... How'd he know?" Kakushi looked around. "Still need me?"
"No."
"Good! See ya!" And Kakushi ran out of the house, escaping at least for the day.
Eizou sighed as she leaned back. She felt something amiss and slowly her hand moved upward to her throat. "My necklace.. it's.."
She staggered up with a grimace. "It must've fallen off when I was Henshou! Shit!"
"EIZOU!"
And she too ran out of the house, wobbling down the walkway and out onto the street.
She was still hobbling down the sidewalk, making good progress. It helped that her ankle was numb but she knew she'd probably have to go to the hospital for this.
A car honked as a car drove up to her. "Looking for this?" Henshou called out, holding out her necklace.
She opened her mouth and fell forward, pain shooting up her ankle like darts.
He was by her side instantly, leaving the car still running. "Hey, hey. Easy now."
"I thought.. I thought.. I almost.. lost that." She grasped the necklace and gave him a grateful smile.
"Gee, for returning that back to you, of such a important item, I think I deserve a treat."
She thought for a moment before she reached up and patted the top of his head.
"What was that?" He asked, seeing the smile she was trying to hide.
"Well, that was kind of like when my dog wanted validation for being a good boy. I patted you on the head."
"Great.." He smiled as he lay her in the car. "But I'm no dog."
"Certainly not a gentleman, either."
He mockingly frowned. "Why, dear lady, I take insult to that."
"Yea, you would."
"How would you know? Anyways, what if you were to appease me with thanks upon a dinner out?"
"Come again?"
"How about a date?" He asked as he started the car.
She was quiet. "What? Say something wrong?"
"No.." She spoke softly. "Just never.. well, was asked that before."
"What? A girl like you never had a date before? No boyfriends?" She shook her head. "Aw, boys don't know what they're missing."
"Are you just saying that?" She peeked at him.
"No, I really mean it! Besides, I like strong girls."
"I'm not strong, strong! I like sports, that's all!"
"I don't mean physically, I was referring to your spirit. It's warm and bright."
"Hee...I always thought I was kind of in the shadows."
"Until sunlight plays on you and you shine like a diamond.." He finished dreamily. He caught himself. "Damnit, did I just say that?"
"Muahaha! You're a romantic!"
"Yea, well shoot me," He pulled up to the curb. "So... ah.. a date, perhaps?"
"I'd.. like that, a lot. But you know, you'd have to meet my dad."
"And who might he be?"
She started to sink in the chair. "The guy who's raging over here."
"EIZOU!"
"Hi dad," She smiled as he opened the door. "I went off after Henshou for my necklace and he gave me a ride home."
"He did?" Kokei frowned. "And that's ALL?"
"Well, sir, I also asked for a date," Henshou smiled charmingly.
"How old are you?"
"Going to be twenty in a few months."
He opened his mouth and took note of his daughter's face. "Well, only during the day.. for now." He helped her stand. "Thank you for the ride. Come by anytime." He closed the door and helped her move forward.
She looked over her shoulder, seeing Henshou resting on the wheel with a smile. She waved shyly and he waved back as he lunged the car forward and once more, he drove off.
"He's very nice dad. Apple liked him," Eizou pointed out.
"Well, Apple does have an impeccable intuition of people. He looks nice too. Good car, nice year. And you? We have a visit to the bathroom."
"But DAD!"
"No buts!"
A half hour later she was resting comfortably on her bed, glowering at the television. No amount of soda washed the taste of soap from her mouth.
"Honey?" Hanshou smiled. "Now don't be mad. He just wants to make sure you don't say anything truly bad."
"I've heard plenty of things from him," Eizou grumbled. "And I'm sixteen! He acts like I'm ten or something!"
"Calm down. Now, tell me about this 'date'."
"I can't. Before we could discuss it, Dad came barging in," She rolled over to her side. "Besides, he was probably lying," She finished sadly.
Her mother gently brushed her bangs before patting her shoulder. "Don't be so sure of that fact. He could come over."
And Eizou merely sighed tiredly.