Episode 3

Radio Mayhem

By Sailor Phoenix1997

Usagi sits on the edge of her bed in her pajamas and hair in ribbons. Luna walks into her room.

"Usagi-chan? What are you doing up so late?"

"I'm testing something."

"What? How long you can stay up and how many days before you totally break down?"

"No. I'm trying to find out if things are happening the exact same way they did before. Then we can end all this sooner."

"Ah. Using past experience against your enemies. What was it around this time?"

"Midnight Zero." Usagi turns the dial on her radio through her channels. "I bet that if Mamo-chan listened to the radio this late he'd be listening to the classics or news or something sophisticated like that."

"-I'll never forget that-" Usagi travels very carefully to the channel she went over. It's very full of static. In another district. "-That day will... my memory... truly gone. And that..." Usagi turns off the radio.

"Ugh. Dang radio frequencies."

"Usagi-chan. Was it your radio that made the problem?"

"No. The signal came from another district. So the signal was screwed up."

"Ah. Perhaps Mamoru-san knows."

"I doubt he'd be listening to the radio at this time of night. Luna. Mamo-chan has a job to worry about and school. He can't be up all night listening to the radio. I think I should stop trying to relive the past and just roll with the punches."

"That's my girl."

"Good night Luna."

"Sweet dreams Usagi-chan."


In Neko's living room Mamoru sits up on his laptop to finish up a report due the next day and listening to the radio to help keep himself awake. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

"If Usako saw me now she'd ask who I was and what I'd done with Chiba Mamoru." He chuckles to himself and changes the channel. The station Usagi rolled over almost blasted out his ears. He quickly turned down the volume and went to check on Neko. Luckily she was still asleep. He quietly shut the door behind him and finishes his report while listening to the station. He sends in his work and looks up the radio station's website. "Weird. There's supposed to be a different program on. Probably just a computer error." He shuts the laptop and turns off the radio before going to bed himself.


Mamoru opens the newspaper to see the front page. He sips his coffee as he reads over it.

"A new disease. The victims can't wake up. Odd."

"Not odd. Freaky." He turns to the little girl plowing through eggs and a piece of toast. He chuckles as she runs off to prepare for school.


Neko runs into class looking a little pink in her once dark cheeks. Her teacher notices this.

"Chikyuuno-san. You look better today. And happier."

"I am. Mamoru-oniichan's going to Oba-san's hearing to show my blank custody papers. He said he'll sign them himself. I get to live with a new oniichan."

"My. That is happy. So your Oba-san's in jail?" Neko nods. Her bruises that had once lined her arms and marred her forehead are nothing more than a slightly yellow mark. Mie walks into class and sits next to her friend.

"Neko-chan. Listen. Do you know about that new radio program Moonlight Romance?" Neko shakes her head. "It's on at midnight. They say that's the most romantic time."

"Oniichan has me in bed and asleep by 10. 10:30 on weekends."

"Oniichan?"

"Hai. Chiba Mamoru-san's going to be my oniichan. Really soon too."

"Really?" Mie folds her hands together and brings them up to her smile. "Thats great. No more of that cruel aunt of your's."

"I know." Their teacher drops her book.

"Sensei?"

"Kessho-san. You were up at midnight listening to the radio when you should've been asleep?" Mie nods. Their teacher shakes her head. "At least Chikyuuno-san is dependable. Chikyuuno-san?"

"Hai?"

"What would you do? Go to bed or listen to the radio until midnight?"

"I'd listen to the radio until it was time for bed. Knowing how important school is I can't let inferiorities such as a radio program for love letters when they need to be sent to the one they're intended for interfere with my chances of getting into a good junior high, high school, or college." Neko looks down at her folded hands.

"Chikyuuno-san's more responsible than myself. I was listening to that program last night."

"Sensei?"

"Hai?"

"Do you agree?"

"With what?"

"That a love letter means nothing unless you send it to the subject yourself."

"Chikyuuno-san." Her teacher smiles and nods. After school starts the teacher hands out a test. In the middle of it Neko's left arm starts to tremble.

"What's wrong with you?" A soft snore comes from her teacher's desk. She turns to the teacher with her head in her arms and sound asleep. "Sensei!" The other kids try to wake her as Neko runs to the nurse's office.


Motoki pushes open the Crown's doors while his arms are full of groceries. HE sets them behind the bar and walks out to sweep the front step. Terran walks up to him.

"Yo Terran." He kneels down to her level. "Where's Neko-chan?" Terran meows. "I get it. She must be at school. I guess I'm just used to when you show up Neko-chan's not far behind." An ambulance blares by. "That's coming from Neko-chan's school." Motoki stands up and notices the length of the victim's body. Full grown woman. "Yokatta."


"Neko-chan. Wasn't calling the paramedics a little much? She only fell asleep."

"Oniichan said that there's a new disease going around these days that won't let it's victims awaken from a sleep. I think Sensei has it." The principal comes on the loudspeaker.

"Attention students. Due to the immediate leave of quite a few teachers school will be canceled today and parents and buses will be called for pick-up." Almost all the students cheered. All but Neko. Mamoru hadn't come to her school to give his information in place of her aunt. They'd be calling a disconnected phone and receive an answering machine at her house. Neko assigns herself a little homework and leaves to change her shoes. Outside hundreds of elementary students leave for buses. Neko watches as Mie climbs into her mother's car and Tiayke gets on a bus with a few friends. Neko wipes away some tears as the final bus leaves and the last teacher's car leaves the lot. SHe sits on the sidewalk and starts to cry.


Motoki notices the children leaving early and watches the children leave until only one is left. He walks over to the little girl. Her smudge turns into an 8-year-old brunette with green eyes and tear streaks on her pink cheeks.

"Koneko-chan?" Neko looks up.

"Motoki-kun."

"What are you doing here on your own?" He gets down to her level.

"Oniichan forgot to drop by school to give his information to my school." Neko's finger traces a few lines on the sidewalk.

"Well. Does he know that school was let out early?" Neko shakes her head. "Come on." He offers his hand to her. She hesitates for a second before taking it. He takes her bag and walks back to Crown. "I'll call Mamoru-kun and let him know about this."
He sits her down on a stool and dials Mamoru's number. "Mamoru-kun. I have to know. Are you baka?...You forgot to give your information to Neko-chan's school...She told me herself...Yes I've got her...You think what?...She's fine. She's not hurt...Because her school let out early...I don't know I didn't ask!...Mamoru-kun. Honestly...Shes perfectly fine...We're at Crown. Where else?...Just remember to give your information to her school." Motoki hangs up. "Mamoru-kun," he growls.

"Is he coming?" Neko's eyes wide with questions.

"Yea. He's coming. Neko-chan."

"Hai?"

"Why did your school close early?"

"A few teachers got sick. For the safety of the students they sent us home. My house is too far away to walk and no bus goes that way. I get to school by car."

"I see." Mamoru's red sports car parks outside. He shuts the door behind him and walks inside. Neko's patiently waiting at the doors.

"Sorry about that Koneko-chan." He lifts her onto his back. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her Motoki-kun." Mamoru places Neko in the passenger seat and gets into the driver's seat. He drives off. "You know Neko-chan its a very good thing that Motoki-kun came and got ya."

"Why?"

"Well. There's thieves, weirdos, and kidnappers. I hope you weren't waiting too long."

"No. I wasn't."

"I almost forgot. Your aunt's in the slammer for the next ten years."

"Ten?"

"Yep. Ten. By the time she's out you'll be 18. But by then you'll also be in college and she won't have a thing of your's to claim as her's." Neko smiles at her new brother. The Senshi hold an emergency meeting at Rei's. The girls consider what could be wrong. Mamoru holds both Usagi and Neko close. Both Usagi and Mamoru know what's happening but refuse to say anything.

"What about all those victims?"

"I could read the fire."

"I doubt fire reading will help pyro."

"I could try."

"But weren't these things happening this way two years ago?" Usagi gives Luna a kick. "Nani?" Usagi moves her fingers over her lips.

"Zip it."

"Usagi-chan. You seem tense." Mako moves away from Usagi a little.

"I'm perfectly fine." Mamoru knows what she's thinking.

"I don't like where this is headed."

"Eh?"

"There is not possible way I'll let this happen under my watch. Absolutely not."

"Don't even think about it girls. There's no way we'll let this go on. It won't work on us."

"What are you two talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with us Rei-chan. We know exactly what you're thinking." The Senshi put the meeting on hold. Usagi and Mamoru use their internal bond to have a private conversation even with Neko in the backseat.

"I don't like this."

"Why not?"

"It brings discomfort."

"Who said this job was ever going to be comfortable?"

No one. But I have a feeling that this'll end the same way as we did."

"What? Afraid your brother'll fall in love with my sister?"

"No. But the one she does love will be stolen thanks to a leader of the returned Dark Kingdom."

"And they won't remember being in love."

"Exactly. And the-"

"Oniichan! Pay attention to the road!" Mamoru stomps on the brakes.

"What?"

"You drove by our house." Neko points her thumb behind her and pulls her head into her shoulders as best she can. Mamoru pinches the bridge of his nose in aggravation. Neko presses herself against her seat.

"Don't worry Neko-chan. Mamo-chan's not mad at you. He's annoyed at himself for getting distracted." Neko nods but keeps quiet. Mamoru backs into the driveway and goes inside. Neko lingers in the car a little. She started silently working on her homework in the living room. A blue sofa, curtains, and walls along with white carpet and chair and T.V. with a brown coffee table now covered in textbooks and loose papers. Mamoru watches from the doorway. Neko notices but doesn't say anything.

"Imoto-chan. Did I scare you in the car?" Neko shakes her head. Mamoru keeps his distance between him and Neko. "I thought your school was canceled before homework could be given out."

"I assigned myself some." Neko keeps her eyes off her brother and on her work. Mamoru sits down behind her on the blue sofa.

"And if your teachers assign this?"

"I'll turn it in before anyone else."

"I wasn't mad at you." Neko turns around. "In the car. If I can't keep my focus on the road I might as well just be putting a target on your back for a car to hit." Neko backs up to the table. "Not that I will. I mean. Ugh. I just don't know why I can't talk to you like a little sister." Neko looks down at her folded hands.

"I think what Mamo-chan's trying to say is," Usagi says as she walks into the room,"that if he can't keep his focus on the road then he'll be putting you in danger every time you get in the car."

"Arrigato Usako." Neko covers her mouth as she starts to laugh.

"What were you two talking about at the meeting?"

"Nothing. Nothing you need to worry about. Now. Are you almost done here?" Usagi helps Neko through her homework. Not that the girl needs it. Usagi just stays around for something to do. Although Neko doesn't show any sign of displeasure. "Why does this feel so right?"

"I don't know. Don't ask me."

"What?"

"You asked me why sitting by me felt so right and I said that I don't know." Neko shuts her math book and crosses her arms. Usagi looks up at Mamoru for help but he just raises his hands in surrender.


Neko shows up to school the next morning like usual but the day's only a half day for the lack of teachers. Mie shows up right after her friend. Holding a package in her hands. The wrapping paper is purple and orange striped with a purple bow.

"Mie-chan. Where'd you get that?"

"I won it."

"Nani?"

"Hai. I mailed in a love letter and won it." Mie takes out a purple flower and places it on her shirt. "Isn't it pretty?"

"Mie-chan Are you sure it''s safe to wear that? I mean. After what happened with Sensei the other day?"

"Its perfectly fine. I mean. What could be wrong with something so pretty?"

"Mie-chan. Behind a pretty flower is a poisonous snake. Ready to strike when you pick it."

"Well. There's no snake in the wrapping." Mie plays with a petal. Neko hits her forehead with her palm.

"That's not my point. I mean. Oh just forget it." The flower glows. Mie shakes her head.

"Neko-chan. Do you feel...tired?" Mie falls asleep at her desk. A few other girls come over. One grabs her arm.

"Mie-chan? Mie-chan!" The flower glows again. Energy strands come from the girl's face as she falls asleep and lands on the floor.

"Koki-chan!" Neko keeps her hand away from the two unresponsive girls. Neko places her hand over her mouth. Terror reached down to her core.


Motoki looks up from his homework at the sudden shock of emotion from Sailor Earth.

"You OK kid?"


"You OK kid?"

"My friends got that disease that's going around. I don't know what to do."

"Think. You're Sailor Earth right?"

"Yes."

"Did someone else you know get sick?"

"Yes. My teacher."

"What did you do when she got sick?"

"I got the nurse."

"Then?"

"I get it. I just do the same thing right?"

"Atta girl." Neko runs off to the nurse's office. School was let out early again and just as Neko was leaving she ran into Mamoru.

"Oniichan."

"I was just dropping off my information. I'm guessing they let out early again."

"Hai. I assigned myself some homework again."

"Why go to school if you can assign the homework yourself?" Neko shrugs. Mamoru takes her to the car. "So why'd the close school early?"

"Lack of teachers and a few students got sick."

"Did you know them?"

"Hai. Mie-chan and Koki-chan. But Mie-chan got a flower as a prize from some sort of contest. I got a weird feeling about what she was wearing and next thing I know she's asleep. Koki-chan tried to wake her up but when she touched her she fell asleep too. I couldn't think straight I was so scared." Mamoru opens the door and pushes her in. He gets in on his side.

"Usako thought it'd get to this."

"To what?"

"You'll have to go to the radio station and find out what's going on."

"What?"

"Unless you do those victims won't wake up and more and more will fall asleep. Do you understand?"

"Not really."

"Usako will explain things at home. Well. When she gets there." Neko looks down at her lap.

"I have no idea what he's saying."

"That's probably because you don't listen to that program."

"You can't blame me."

"I'm not. You're a good girl and you go to bed when you should. You just never listened to the program. But I bet Mamoru-kun knows."


Motoki hit himself on the forehead.

"Baka move." He shook his head. "Oh boy. Better just say who ya are Motoki-baka. Yeesh."


Neko looked out the window.

"Do you know the station?"

"Nani?"

"For the program. It'll make my job a little easier."

"I think. I might have scrolled over it a couple of nights ago. I didn't move the dial on the radio since then. We'll check at home." Mamoru pulls into the driveway and gets out. Neko follows suit. Once inside she looks at the radio. The red line on the radio's stuck between two stations. Neko turns up the volume and hears the station's number. She opens the newspaper. "What are you doing?"

"I'm checking the station's program list. What was the name of the program again?"
FLASHBACK

"Neko-chan. Listen. Do you know about that new radio program Moonlight Romance?"

FLASHBACK ENDS

"That's it. Moonlight Romance." She looks over the times again. "At midnight a different program's supposed to be on." Terran walks into the room.

"What's going on?"

"Some new disease that Usako and I believe is fro the enemy."

"I see." Neko stands up.

"That's it. If the enemy is behind this then how about we check out the station itself?"

"You'd have to get past security Neko-chan."

"And how do I do that?" Neko turns to her guardian. Terran does a flip and a green pen with a green gem on the top lands at Neko's feet. "Um. What's this?"

"It's the Terran Pen." Neko picks it up.

"What does it do?"

"It acts like the Lunar Pen. You say,'Earth Power,' then tell it what you want to turn into." Neko stuffs it into her pocket. Terran rolls her brown eyes.

"So it'll turn me into anything?"

"Hai. But it'll turn you into a full-grown woman."

"Excuse me." Neko and Terran turn to Mamoru. "But won't that be kind of scary for her? I mean she's just starting puberty and won't an instant change be awkward?"

"No. ANd how do you know she's starting puberty Mamoru-san?" Terran's fur stands on end.

"I've seen the puberty movies. Girls start puberty around this age." Terran turns to the living room.

"Call me if there's any problems."

"Terran. You're coming." Neko crosses her arms over her chest.

"Why?"

"Oniichan needs to stay here for when Oneesama comes. She'll want to be informed on this." Terran jumps on Neko's head.

"Fine. Let's go." Terran looks at Mamoru with a pleading look. He shakes his head.


Neko looks around the corner at the guard post for the station.

"OK. Terran Pen time." Neko pulls the pen out of her pocket and raises it above her head. "Terran Power! Turn me into a news reporter!" She throws it up in the air. A circle of green and blue envelops her. She turns from an 8-year-old to a 20-year-old. She looks down at her green high-heels, teal business dress and black sunglasses on her shirt. Her hair's short and wavy. "Wow. How do I look?"

"Very mature Neko-chan." Neko puts on her sunglasses.

"Let's go Terran." Terran wraps her body around Neko's neck. She walks in without a problem and looks into a door. "Ano. Terran. DO you think that they should be doing that?" Terran looks into the window.

"Neko-chan. This is the enemy's work."

"Alright. Time to put an end to this fiasco." Neko opens the door and walks by a woman with black hair, brown eyes and wearing a red dress like Neko's but with the purple flower in her jacket. A man sits at a table reading a letter. He had blond hair, brown eyes, and his gray uniform has red lining to match his red stud in his ear. Neko pushes against the door.

"Wait. He's on the air. You can't-" Neko shuts the door behind her. The man stops short of reading and looks at her. Neko sits down across from him.

"Everyone listening turn off your radios now. This program isn't worth the trouble."

"What are you doing?"

"Think on it. Those flowers they send out to people drains their energy. If you receive one destroy it. And anyway. A love letter isn't worth anything unless you deliver it yourself."

"Sailor Earth! Watch out. The woman's his partner!" Neko looks at the woman as she breaks through the glass. Neko covers her face with her arms. The woman turns into a monster with pink skin, long brown hair, and a blue explosion on her forehead. She's wearing a green tunic like the Greeks would wear. Neko looks at her.

"You should know better to blow secrets." Neko dodges a blast of explosive wind. She runs out of the room.

"Sailor Earth would be a good idea around now."

"Right. EARTH PRISM POWER! MAKEUP!" In a matter of seconds an 8-year-old Sailor Earth stands where the woman did.

"Sailor Earth."

"That's right. Senshi style, Senshi grace, Senshi power in your face." Neko giggles.

"Fioria. Attack." The woman jumps at Neko. Who jumps to the roof. "Baka. Don't let her get away!"

"I won't." Neko hits her back into a wall. She pants for breath.

"Perhaps you should call the Sailor Senshi."

"Iya. I'm going to do this on my own. Oneesama did. I can too."

"Neko-chan."

"Call me Sailor Earth in this form."

"Right. But don't just stand there after your speech."

"I know." The monster jumps up through the hole in the roof Neko made.

"Where are you you little pest?"

"Right here." Neko unclasps her bracelet. "EARTH DIAMOND MAGIC!" Neko lets it fly. It misses her.

"Where are you aiming?" Neko pulls her bare arm around so the bracelet follows her command.

"The direct approach is for little kids," Neko snarls as the bracelet goes for the monster's back. It turns around. "See?" THe bracelet flies through the woman's stomach. She screams.

"Sailor Earth! The man!"

"Right! EARTH DIAMOND MAGIC!" The man just smiles as he raises his hand. Her bracelet stops and falls to the ground. "Nani? Who are you?"

"I am the first of the Generals for the Dark Kingdom. Jed." Neko jumps and readies for a kick. He grabs her leg and throws her against a wall. "As if you had a chance." Neko shakes her head. Terran runs to her side.

"Sailor Earth. Pull yourself together."

"I am. He just got me a little shaken." Jed takes slow steps toward her. A cruel smile crossing his features. Neko stands up. Her bracelet flies to her wrist.

"I wouldn't try that attack again." Neko takes in deep breaths.

"I am Sailor Earth. Protected by the planet Earth. That's it." Neko raises her arm and vines jump up from the ground.

"Nani?" The vines wrap around Jed's body before he can attack. He struggles against them but the more he struggles the more they tighten. Jed summons a large amount of power that makes the vines whither. The amount of power blasts Neko back. Near the edge of the roof. Jed starts walking her way again. A flash of gold and red streak through the air. Jed stops short. "What on Earth?"

"Jed. Report back at once."

"Nani?"

"Do not question my orders!"

"Of course your highness." Jed disappears. Neko looks at a gold and ruby dagger.

"Caped Kamen-sama?"

"Right here. Are you alright?"

"Hai!" Neko stands up in an instant. "I'm perfectly fine." He smiles.

"Good. Until next time." He disappears.

"Arrigato."


Usagi and Mamoru wait for Neko's call with the other Senshi. The door opens.

"I'm home." Mamoru stands up. Neko walks into the room.

"Neko-chan. We were waiting for your call."

"She was very brave tonight."

"Was she?" Rei crosses her arms over her chest.

"Hai. She found out the name of the enemy and defeated him."

"How?"

"I discovered a new power. I can control plants."

"Can you?" Ami looks up from her book to be involved in the conversation.

"Hai. Watch." Neko walks over to one of the dead plants in the room and passes a hand over it. The leaves turn green and red roses bloom. Mako claps.

"Very impressive." Neko smiles and does her pose. Just her legs spread apart with her left hand like a bear's paw.

"I'm Sailor Earth." Usagi shakes her head.