PART 4: Pluto's Warning

Yomi snucked out of school, trying to ignore the pang of guilt she was feeling. Never in her life had she ever considered cutting class. She had to literally argue with herself to keep from turning right back around and confessing her wrong-doing. But her mission had become very serious. Luckily, Michiru mentioned that she would be in the area that day for a concert recital. The thought actually excited the young Senshi-trainee. For as long as she could remember, Yomi was a huge admirer of the accomplished violinist. It was Michiru would made her pick up a violin to begin with. She squeezed her own Stradivarius under her arm and cursed herself – she'd be missing her music period and she was supposed to play her solo for a presentation of late European classical music. Maybe she could relay the message and get back in time to make the second half of the class. If she even stood a chance, the girl really needed to hustle.

The silver-haired teenager hoped she wasn't drawing too much attention to herself. She had changed into a pair of sweatpants and baggy sweatshirt beforehand, but the fact that she carried her violin case under one arm still drew a few suspicious stares and occasional unwanted back-handed comments of her attire. She was used to getting stares, having gone through some of the most uncomfortable situations in her three weeks being back in Japan. She had her father's Japanese eyes and fine hair, but her mother's mocha complexion. She was more often then not considered a 'gaijin', but sometimes the comments she received weren't always hurtful. She had her fair share of run-ins with perverts looking for a good time. Yomi shook her head and tried to concentrate on the task at hand. There were more important things to worry about.

"So, Yomi-san…What brings you here?" Michiru sat back down after going to fetch the younger girl from the concert hall lobby. After a few moments Yomi placed down her violin in an empty seat and slipping off her Yankees baseball cap, taking the chair next to it.

"W-Well, um…I sensed something coming. If they keep on their current path they'll be landing here in a matter of days. I needed to speak with you or Haruka-san," Yomi informed. Michiru didn't answer at first, taking her hair down and combing through it with her fingers. Then she turned to the younger girl and nodded.

"Yes, I've sensed it too. You're right, we need to make preparations. Hey…,' the aqua-haired maiden narrowed her eyes at Yomi, '…aren't you supposed to be in class right now? Gakuen isn't the type of school that will forgive poor attendance without penalty," she warned. Yomi opened her mouth to speak, but she fell silent. But she looked up from her hands when she heard Michiru giggle, a sound that suited her beauty well.

"I have no excuse that the maestro will believe. I hear he makes students do drills for hours after school…," Yomi sighed.

"Don't worry about it, okay? I'll talk with him. He and I used to know each other well. You're covered."

"Oh, y-you don't have to do that! I'll willingly take the punishment. Truthfully, I haven't been practicing as much as I should. I'd like to…," Yomi stopped herself as she felt her face flush hot. She'd wanted to say the she'd like to be good enough to go to a prestigious college on a music scholarship. And that she wanted to maybe one day be good enough to play alongside her idol. But now with what was happening, she wasn't sure if things were going to pan out that way. It looked as if her future was drastically changed. Playing her violin with Michiru seemed so far away, maybe even unreasonable. The older woman seemed to sense her concern and lay a friendly hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Listen, no matter what happens don't give up on what you really want to do. There are times when the Earth is at peace. We're not warriors all the time. We all have things we want to do. So you go ahead and just continue doing what makes you happy. But keep in mind that you are one of us now, and you'll be called upon to serve our Moon Princess. Now...," Michiru stood up and straightened out her dress, '...I'm actually on a break right now. Since you're missing your lesson, I'll help you." Yomi sat unmoving, staring up at her teammate.

"R-Really? But, don't you have better things to do with your time. I mean...," Yomi stuttered. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but that she was surrounded by professionals who probably would rather not listen to an amateur. She swallowed the lump in her throat and opened her violin case, slowly picking up her shiney Stradivarius. She glanced up in time to see one of Michiru's fellow violinist step forward.

"Oh, is this a friend of yours Kaioh-san? No surprise you'd have a pretty friend. Nice to meet you," the man stretched out his hand before laughing and nodding to her, 'Sorry, your hands are full. Gonna give us a little preview, kid?" Kid?! That word struck a nerve with Yomi. She didn't like him already and raised her bow. She closed her eyes just so she didn't have to look at the smug expression on his face. She started to play her solo piece, opening her eyes occasionally when making note changes. Michiru grinned slightly at seeing the man's insulting smirk drop from his face, replaced by annoyance that the girl had shut him up. His eyes never left Yomi's hands as they made some of the most difficult chord changes. She was gathering an audience and only when she finally completed the song and opened her eyes did she smile and bow respectfully.

"Very good, Yomi-san. You know you just might be good enough to join our symphony some day," Michiru commented. The others that had gathered around the girl clapped their hands, others nodded in agreement. The only one who didn't seem impressed was the man that mocked her earlier. Michiru tossed her hair and sent him a wide smile.

'Surely someone of your talent and experience has to agree, right, Mitch-san?" The red-head grunted and glared down at Yomi's face, whose lips couldn't help but twist into a smile. Instead of telling the much older man off, the girl extended a hand.

"It was very nice to meet you sir. I hope we can work together someday." He 'hmph-ed' and stormed off, muttering something under his breath about know-it-all gaijins.

Usagi and her usually group of friends, minus Chibiusa (she was over a friend's house for a sleep over) all piled into the bakery/deli and took a booth by the window. They had all been told to meet here after they got out from school.

"What can I get for you girls?," the short yet attractive African-American woman asked sweetly. Usagi was the first to pipe up.

"Ooo, somethin' sweet! And with chocolate," the pig-tailed blonde stated excitedly. Rei shook her head in disappointment. She waited until the woman was out of ear-shot.

"You know, if you keep downing sugary stuff the way you do, you'll start falling out of you sailor uniform," she teased.

"That's so mean Rei! I thought you were supposed to be my friend."

"I am your friend. I just don't want to be peeling you off the floor if an enemy flattens you 'cause you're too fat to keep up with us…OWWW!" Usagi grabbed Rei's cheeks and pulled hard. The Shinto Priestess retaliated by pulling on the girl's long pig-tails. Ami tried her best to break them off.

"Girls please! We're in public…," she moaned as she pried them apart.

"Just forget it Ami. You know it's a lost cause when they argue like this. Just let 'em alone, maybe they'll destroy each other," Makoto draining the last drop of juice and crunching the empty can in her fist. Usagi pouted and turned to her boyfriend, snuggling against his chest.

"Mamo-chan, do you hear the nasty things my supposed friends said to me," she cried. Mamoru rubbed the back of his neck and looked out the large clear window.

"So what's this all about anyhow? Did Haruka-san say anything besides getting together?," he asked in a desperate attempt to change to subject. Minako twirled her hair in her fingers and stared at the counter, trying to make a decision of what she wanted.

"All she said to me was it was important…Oh! Here she comes." They all turned their heads as the tall woman pushed the door open lightly, allowing her partner Michiru step through. Then, a shorter younger girl with long silver hair and mocha complexion followed close behind. She had changed back into her Gakuen uniform and, like Michiru, carried her violin at her side.

"AH! I KNOW YOU!! YOMI…!," the Inner Senshi all reached up to pull Usagi back down in her chair. The sudden outburst startled Yomi, nearly making her drop her things. Michiru sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You'll have to excuse our Princess. She's a bit…hyper." Haruka grinned weakly and gestured for her to sit with them. Yomi looked over her shoulder at the counter and walked towards it.

"In a moment. I have to speak with mother, okay? She likes to know what I'm up to. But she won't mind if it's about a sleep-over. Um, you sure that ditzy blonde is the Moon Princess? Maybe someone made a mistake," Yomi wondered.

"No mistake. She's the one all right. We'll be waiting for you, okay? By the time you get back, everyone will have been filled in," the tall sandy-haired blonde patted the girl on the head. Yomi sighed and walked behind the counter, disappearing into a back room.

"So guys, who's the new girl?," Usagi asked as soon as the two Outer Senshi had sat down. They exchanged glances and looked around them to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation.

"Well, I won't get into specifics but put simply…she's one of us," Haruka whispered.

"No way! Seriously?! But I thought we found all the Senshi…"

"Usagi-chan keep your voice down!," Rei growled. She looked over her shoulder at a young couple sitting behind them who turned their heads to look in their direction. The pig-tailed Moon Princess ducked low and rested her chin on the table.

"You're certain? How did you find her?," Ami's curiosity was overriding her usual cautious nature and she too, found herself leaning in close.

"There'll be time for all that later. It's too dangerous to talk here. In the meantime, try to make her feel welcome. She says she's never really had any friends." Michiru smiled and looked up to see Yomi emerge from the back room, followed closely by a girl of almost the same height.

"She's still a little skeptical about the whole thing, so I think it would be a good idea if we all gave her a little encouragement," Haruka added and made room for Yomi to sit. The girl behind her was, as far as Haruka could tell, her sister. Same violet eyes, same mocha complexion, but with shoulder-length silver hair – they could have been twins.

"Oh, should we find another chair for your cute sister?"

"No no! I-I'm leaving. I have martial arts class to get to. Um, thank you for being nice to my big sister," the shorter girl smiled and waved goodbye, dashing out the door with a travel bag in tow. Yomi sighed and sat down, but didn't say anything at first. Well, not until she received a sharp nudge in the ribs by Haruka.

"Um…it's nice to meet you. Haruka-san and Michiru-san says that we're to be teammates. I'll…I'll try my best not to disappoint you all. My name is Katasei Yomi...," she met eyes with Mamoru and she quickly averted her vision to something in the distance. There goes my shyness around men, again, she thought to herself. She was sure that this time he really was a man. Why'd her sister have to go and run off like that? Tessha was a complete opposite from her. Athletic, extremely out-going, not as good with her grades but had a willingness to try anything once, and totally honest when it came to men. The girl would say what was on her mind without batting an eyelash, even if it meant hurting the other person. Yomi admired her sister, sometimes wished she could switch places with her just for a day. But…

"Yomi-chan! So you're coming right, RIGHT?!" The young Senshi-trainee snapped out of her daydream and met the excited face of Usagi. She had to lean back in her chair.

"Uh…wha?"

"My sleep-over party! It'll be great. We'll all become great friends, you'll see. Haruka-san and Michiru-san are even coming over for a while. Oh, I hope you don't mind cats." Yomi relaxed her tensed muscles a bit. At least Haruka and Michiru will be there, so see felt a bit better about it.

"I don't think that's going to be a problem."

Sirius bathed in the remaining sunlight as the girls chattered, rather too noisily in fact, about their day at school. Luna and Artemis were sitting not too far away.

"So that girl is Sailor Io? Something dreadful must be heading our way for someone like her to be awakened now," Luna whispered.

"I agree. Sirius, what do you remember from that battle the two of you last fought together?," Artemis asked getting a little closer.

"Sailor Senshi Io fought a long courageous battle. Even in my warrior state…with us together, it was still a hard battle to win. In the end, I was badly injured and near death. Io sealed me away to recuperate and jettisoned me out of harms way, but from what I understand the enemy was so powerful she had no choice but to use her mystical abilities to drag the Demon Lord through the gates of hell herself. But…she paid a terrible price. She was too weak to escape, so she used the last bit of her strength to permanently lock the Demon Lord away. The mystical barrier completely drained her life-force, so she died in the process. However, its powerful magic has held strong for millennia even in her reincarnation. That is why…,' Sirius stood on her long slender legs and faced the group, '…that is why I stress the fact that Yomi train to get her powers back to their original state. There is a very good chance that the mystical seal will break. Majesty, we are here now to fight by your side once again. Hopefully this time we can avoid future tragedy."

Usagi stared blankly at the wizened fox, not sure of what to say. But she smiled and nodded her head. She turned to Yomi who had taken a spot by herself to tune her violin.

"Just call me Usagi-chan, okay? That goes for you too, Yomi-san. We're friends now. Whatever's coming to Earth we'll beat as a team. Everyone feels the same way." Friends. That word didn't have much meaning to Yomi because she never really had anyone she could call that. But these people were being so nice to her. Sirius sat heavily as the crescent moon symbol on her forehead glowed. She closed her eyes as she tried her hardest to concentrate on the in-coming signal.

"…Pluto. What is it?"

"Pluto? Is she here?!" Usagi looked around frantically to locate the form of the Keeper of Time. The room around them grew dark and soon filled with stars.

"What's this? Are we in space or something?," Makoto wondered as they all seemed to be floating in mid-air.

"Fellow warriors. Time is limited, so I'll make this as brief as possible. A little word of warning to you, Yomi. Your powers as Senshi are great, but don't let yourself become overwhelmed. It could be disastrous not only for yourself, but everyone around you, the Earth and even the Universe."

"Who are you? And what does that mean?"

"If you're put into a situation where there seems no possible way of escape, you'll awake your dark powers. These powers are strong enough to wipe out an entire galaxy. You must keep yourself in check…because it's possible you may even turn on your fellow warriors. Heed my warnings young warrior, beware the Black Wings. They can be your greatest weapon, but also, your worst enemy…For you and your teammates…"