005 Unwilling Heart

Naru smiled at Nephrite as they quietly strolled through the park. The two never had a specific destination in mind when they went walking; they just wandered as they talked about random things. Today was different; they were quiet as Nephrite tried to gather his thoughts. Naru, sensing something on her boyfriend's mind, kept quite and tried to lead them in a circle to extend the time they were together.

After several circles of the park Nephrite pointed out a bench. The two sat on the bench and Nephrite watched the sun set as he said, "Naru, I can't keep doing this. I have to tell you some very important details of my life. I'm a general for the Dark Kingdom, a force out to rule the world. My queen, Queen Beryl, wants to collect energy from humans to awaken our Great Ruler, Queen Metallia. Once she's been revived no one on your planet will be able to stop her, she'll take over everything."

"There are dangers, a group of brats in tutus, and I have to help gather energy. Jadeite, one of the other generals, is having difficulty. The tutu-brats are increasing in numbers and they've stopped several of his better plans from continuing. I have to start helping or our Great Ruler will never awaken. I don't want you to get involved in this fight, these Tutu-brats won't hesitate to harm you," Nephrite said.

"I can handle danger, just so long as you are near. Nephrite. Let me help you," Naru whispered as Nephrite stood up. He shook his head sadly and faded in a soft swirling of petals. Naru gasped in shock as she tried to grab her fading boyfriend.

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"Rei, you have a package." Yuichiro whispered as he offered a small box to Rei. The black haired girl absently accepted the gift and placed it on the table as she looked out across the nearly deserted temple grounds. Rei, Ami and Hotaru had been waiting at the temple for nearly four hours watching for the mysterious girls who were going to join their team. As the sun started to sink below the horizon, all three girls tried to hide their disappointment and worry.

"What did you get, Rei?" Hotaru asked softly. Rei turned from the doorway and knelt beside the table. She slowly opened the box and gasped at the purple orchid lying inside. Her hand twitched slightly as she carefully extracted the flower and held it out for the others to see. She frowned as both girls hesitantly reached out to touch the silky petals.

The three girls jumped slightly when Luna growled and knocked the flower from Rei's slack grip. Ami watched the flower tumble across the floor with slight disinterest as Hotaru picked up a small letter. Rei grabbed the letter and cautiously read the letter to herself as Ami muttered, "It's one of the 'Sleeping Flowers' that have been showing up for a while. Several students at my school have been affected."

"THAT BASTARD!" Rei shouted. Hotaru hesitantly grabbed the letter from Rei as the older girl stood and started to pace the floor. Hotaru read the short letter aloud as Ami continued to watch for the two unknown scouts.

'My dearest Rei,

Sorry about the whole bus fiasco. Here's a token of my sincerest apology, even though I feel it's not near enough. I'd dearly love to apologize in person, please meet me at FM No. 10 Radio Station at Midnight.

Your Humble Friend,

Jadeite

P.S. Hope to see you soon.'

Hotaru placed the letter on the table and watched the older girls. She could see the rage building within Rei as she tried to stop pacing and think of an appropriate form of revenge. She could also see the anguish hiding within Ami's eyes as the older girl considered the coming events. All three girls could easily see the lurking danger, and the need for them to be there to face it, but that didn't mean they were ready to wage war with their hearts in another life or death battle. Someone had to die in the upcoming fight, them or Jadeite, and whatever monster he decided to leave to the scouts this time.

Hotaru was dragged from her silent musings by Rei who angrily grabbed both her and Ami's hands and marched from the grounds. Her furious pace knocked over Yuichiro and the tea set he'd brought with him for the girl, but Rei paid no mind. She kept up her intense pace all the way to the radio station where Ami finally convinced the other girl to slow down before her recklessness got them all killed.

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Michiri looked up the long line of stairs and sighed darkly. Haruka had been in a fowl mood since Michiru's decision to help them, and had made no effort to hide her feelings form her companion. Haruka started up the stares staring moodily at the dying the exhausting trip up the steps the two girls silently walked around the shrine searching for a bluenette and her young companion. The duo walked into the shrine and spotted the purple flower.

"Haruka, what do you suppose this is doing here?" Michiru whispered to her companion as she picked up the small purple flower to examine it. Her companion merely shrugged her shoulders and turned away to look for the three scouts they were supposed to neet. Michiru frowned and looked at her silent companion before she swayed slightly. "Haru…"

Haruka looked back at Michiru as the other girl fainted. She carefully picked the other girl up off the floor and took a shaky step towards the bed in the corner of the room as she felt a pull at her energy. The two girls collapsed in a heap on the floor as Yuichiro walked back towards Rei's room with a tray full of food. He frowned at the two girls before he noticed the swirl of dark energy focused on the purple flower. He placed his burden on the floor and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. Carefully he lifted the flower and placed it in a metal waste bin before he grabbed his broom and stood guard over the two girls.

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Naru grimaced as a cool breeze and a soft clinking of bells announced her arrival at the Crown arcade. She glanced around the crowded arcade and tried to hide her disgust at all the happy couples. After a second glance around the arcade her eyes fell on the forlorn figure of her once-best friend. The blonde was picking at a small basket of fries and staring at the people passing her small window at the back of the arcade.

Naru slowly made her way towards the blonde and took a seat at her booth. Usagi glanced up and smiled hesitantly at Naru, who merely gazed outside before she muttered, "You and your tall dark-haired boyfriend get in a fight?"

"No, he has school. Why aren't you with Nephrite?" Usagi countered.

"He…I… I can't help him, but I want to… I'd do anything for him," Naru whispered, tears leaking from her eyes.

"Then go help him, I'm sure he'd want you to follow your heart. He's at the radio station… RM No. 10, with his blond friend." Usagi whispered as she stood and walked from the arcade. Naru stared at her retreating back for a moment before she stood and raced towards the radio station, her heart set on seeing Nephrite.

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Ten to Midnight

Hikawa Shrine

Jadeite faded into existence as he looked around the shrine. Before he fully had a chance to gain his bearings a broom smacked into his head. He whirled around and glared at a tall boy wielding a broom as a weapon. The broom, swung with all the energy the youth had, struck again sending Jadeite to the floor in a disgraceful heap. The boy took full advantage of Jadeite position and continued to attack with the broom. Frustrated, Jadeite made a hasty retreat and decided it best to avoid the irritable temple protectors of Hikawa Shrine.

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"Good evening and welcome to Midnight Zero, this J-Dite. Tonight's first love letter comes to us from…" Jadeite said in a soft tone. He gently ran a hand over the slowly darkening bruises left by the broom-wielding youth and scowled. A sudden girl walking in stopped his train of thought completely as she settled in the seat across from him.

"This is an emergency message regarding the sleeping ailment plaguing our citizens. After hours of exhausting research we have discovered the cause of this to be the flowers sent out by this illegal program, Midnight Zero. If you receive one of these flowers please throw it away for your own safety." The girl casually announced as Jadeite tried to find the words to quiet the exasperating brat.

The two were startled from their glaring contest by the glass breaking and Sailor Mercury crashing into the far wall. Jadeite faded away as the girl raised her hand and yelled, "Mars Power Make Up!"

Sailor Mars jumped through the broken window and looked around for the monster or their youngest companion. Spotting none she made her way back to Mercury, who was standing shakily. Mars grimaced at the long stream of blood pouring from several cuts on the other scout. Mars carefully supported the blue clad scout outside where they could hear the sounds of a furious battle.

Once the two were outside Mercury pushed away from Mars, and raced towards her friend. Rei growled angrily when she spotted Jadeite talking on a rooftop with another man dressed as a general of the Dark Kingdom. The man's luxurious brown hair caught the moonlight and Mars angrily yelled, "Fire Soul"

She growled loudly in disappointment as the two generals disappeared and her attack fizzled out. She turned her attention back to the fight just in time to watch Mercury, crescent wand in hand, go flying into a brick wall where she lay unmoving. The monster slowly closed in and Saturn stood protectively before their fallen comrade.

Mars sent another attack, this one directed at the monster, and groaned when it was batted aside. She raced forward intent on simply using her fists against the monster but was stopped by the brunette general appearing before her. Sailor Mars continued her charge into the tall general and was sent flying backwards by the tall laughing man.

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Mamoru frowned as he entered his apartment. His last assignment had taken longer than expected and it was already well beyond midnight. He was beyond tired but he could feel something sinister hanging in the air over the city. He kicked off his shoes and slowly walked out to his balcony to gaze at the stars. Exhaustion and pain screamed through his veins as he cast his gaze from the iridescent stars to the glowing city lights. "What's wrong? What's causing so much suffering, and why can I feel it when no one else can? Am I supposed to stop it… only how can I?"

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Sailor Mars stood angrily, blood and dust drifting off her torn outfit. She slowly walked forward, a soft red glow surrounding her battered form, preparing to use what strength she had left to help her friends. As she watched Sailor Saturn fall a few feet from Mercury her outfit changed to a soft white gown, a glowing symbol for Mars on her forehead. Princess Mars slowly continued her walk towards her friends until she was hit from behind.

Saturn watched horrified as a red-haired youth hit Princess Mars over the head with a metal pole. Tears leaked from Saturn's eyes as she watched her friend fall to the floor like a lifeless doll. She glared hatred at the girl and prepared to attack when a brunette scooped up the girl and faded into darkness.

"Crescent Beam Smash," yelled a nearby voice. Saturn turned in time to see a scout in an orange outfit land beside the disintegrating corpse of the monster that had injured her friends. "You looked as though you could use some help."

"Now's not the time for that Venus. Grab Sailor Mars we need to get out of here." A small white cat at the scout's feet commanded. Saturn carefully supported Mercury who was only half-awake and led the other scout back to the shrine.

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"What…happened?" Michiru whispered as she pushed herself off Haruka. Haruka shook her head in confusion and helped her friend sit up before she too sat up. The two girls looked around in confusion as a group of four scouts staggered into the room. Michiru and Haruka immediately sprang into action gathering supplies that could be used as bandages. Two of the girls dropped out of their transformations as they passed into unconsciousness while Haruka and Michiru carefully ripped Rei's bedding into strips to be used as bandages.

After an hour of carefully bandaging the three girls wiling to detransform, Sailor Venus stubbornly refused to loose her transformation, Haruka and Michiru leaned against the bed and sighed in relief. Despite the number of wounds the three scouts were in no danger of dying anytime soon.

"What happened?" Haruka asked softly.

"We can't tell that to civilians," Venus said with a wicked grin. Michiru, irritated with the youth's brash nature, pulled out her transformation pen and placed it on the floor at her feet. Haruka followed suit and glared at the blushing blond.

"We were issued a challenge by one of the generals of the Dark Kingdom and Rei answered it. We had to help in any way we could anyways, they were stealing energy from everyone with their flowers." Hotaru said in a rush.

"Purple flowers?" Michiru asked. Hotaru nodded and Michiru muttered, "And we fell victim to it when we should have been helping them. I guess this proves everyone is susceptible to the Dark Kingdom's ill desires."

"We got to the radio station and confronted Jadeite, but his monster was too strong for us and we nearly lost, except Sailor Venus arrived and saved us," Hotaru finished with a sad smile at the still transform scout. Everyone fell silent as Ami and Rei stirred and sat up. Both girls leaned against the wall and gazed silently at Sailor Venus as two cats slowly walked back into the room.

"We need to talk, now drop the transformation," Luna demanded as she jumped on the table. Venus hesitated a moment before she released her transformation and stared at the angry black cat focusing on her. The cat's voice was soft as she turned to her white counterpart and asked, "How long has she been awake?"

The white cat, shy and afraid of the black cat's wrath, whispered, "Three or four months."

Luna twitched slightly and the blond crowed in delight, "I'm Minako, Aino, Minako and the cat's Artemis. I've been a Sailor Scout for Five Months, three days, and six hours, if you want an exact count."

Haruka and Michiru, caught in the exhaustion of caring for the injured gave the blond blanks stares as Rei picked up a manga to read, Ami buried herself in her romance novel and Hotaru pulled out her homework. Luna, her patience stretched to the limit, asked, "Where were you?"

Artemis blushed brightly and answered, "Uh…England…we….."

"Doing what?" growled Luna.

"Well first there was that jewel thief, then there was the bank robbing syndicate, then there was that car theft ring…" Minako said happily as Luna tried to reign in her temper. Michiru and Haruka's focus turned to Rei who had just torn her manga in half.

"I broke my pencil," Hotaru whispered, and Ami gave her another pencil before returning to the world of fictional romance.

"Were any of them monsters or Dark Kingdom?" Luna ground out between clenched teeth.

"Monsters?" Minako asked. Haruka and Michiru glanced between Hotaru, who had broken her second pencil in half, and Rei, who had torn another manga in half. Ami fished another pencil from her bag and handed it to Hotaru without looking up from her book. Rei furiously grabbed the next book in her stack of Wedding Peach manga. They turned their attention back to the cats and noted with grim humor that Artemis was crying as Luna flexed her claws.

Luna patiently asked, "You know horns, funny looking, kind of like monsters in the movies?"

"Nope, tonight was the first," Minako proudly exclaimed. Haruka and Michiru turned to see Rei holding the remains of another manga.

"Oops, I put a hole in the table," Hotaru muttered as she carefully extracted her pencil from the table. Haruka and Michiru turned to Ami expecting to see the girl fishing for another pencil and were shocked to see the girl holding the two halves of her book as several loose sheets fell to the floor.

Luna calmly asked, "Were you looking for the Princess?"

Artemis muttered, "I was seeking the Messiah."

"Princess?" Minako muttered as she looked to Artemis. Haruka and Michiru held their laughter in check as Luna launched off the table and attacked their new blond companion.

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Ami slouched in her seat as she listened to the teacher talk about their math assignment. She had no interest personally as she could easily do the math assignment, but her heart was ill at ease. Scenes from the battle at the radio station continued to flash through her mind, her failure to use the wand and the near death of her friends. She put her head down to hide her tears just as the bell releasing the students for lunch sounded.

She took no notice of the students trailing past her to go eat in the warm spring sunlight. Her heart felt as though it were drowning in darkness so complete that not even being on the sun would ever warm her up. A soft kind voice disturbed her dark thoughts, "You should at least eat."

"I'm not hungry," Ami muttered. She felt the person settle in the desk next to her and look up to see Usagi Tsukino gazing forward with a distant expression in her eyes. Ami felt a pull at her heart, urging her to reach out to the light within the blond. Ami smiled despite the heartache and pulled out her lunch, as a happy light filled Usagi's bright blue eyes.

"I'm Usagi, Tsukino Usagi, and you're Ms. Mizuno?" Usagi whispered.

"Ami," Ami corrected happily as the two opened their lunches and ate in quiet. After long moments Ami whispered, "I killed something…a monster but my heart still aches. I know it would have killed my friend, but it was a living creature. The guilt and pain is eating me up inside and I don't think I can deal with this pain… I almost got my friends killed because I couldn't act."

"It's okay to be sad, and afraid. Have you told them, the aches in your soul…. Friends' help each other face off against the demons of life. You just have different demons to deal with then most people our age." Usagi whispered just as softly as Ami.

"I can't … I just can't," Ami mutter horrified at having to admit to her weakness.

"There's a little girl I know, dealing with monsters and evils beyond her ability alone. Whenever the darkness threatens to overwhelm her innocent heart she seeks me out, tells me all there is to know of her painful battle with the darkness, and then she leaves, smiling. Always smiling, that's the important part of it all…. If you need someone who won't judge, or who will honestly believe in everything you have to say, I'm always available…" Usagi whispered as she stood to throw away her trash. She walked past Ami with a friendly smile as students started to filter into the classroom once more.

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Mamoru smiled as Usagi sat in a back booth with a bluenette. The two had spent the first half hour in serious discussion before their conversation had obviously turned to lighter subjects that led to laughter. Every once in a while you could hear one or the other burst out giggling over some joke or another and Mamoru had to squash another spell of jealousy. He wished fervently to be able to join the two, but he knew he couldn't stand between his blond crush and every new friend she might make.

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Ayamari: I don't own Sailor Moon….