Pandora's Senshi

A Sailor Moon Spin-off Fanfiction

By mew-tsubaki

Note: Ha-HA! This time, I have copyright power over these characters because their MY OWN! (Woo-hoo!) Anyway, I want to give some credit to Naoko Takeuchi-sensei, though, because I used the original names she had planned for the Sailor Moon characters (Sorano Hikaru, Yoruno Miyabi, Chino Mamoru, and Artemis; only Amano is hers- I came up with Kako), and the original scouts (Moon through Saturn) are hers. By the way, I know that the senshi names (Phlegethon, Colytus, Styx, Acheron, and Lethe) come from rivers in Hades (I read it somewhere) and have nothing to do with Pandora's Box, but read on to discover what they're really about. - Don't forget: READ, REVIEW, AND ENJOY! P.S.- the Artemis in this fanfic isn't the same as the cat-turned-human Artemis from the original series. She's someone completely different. Also, the other senshi will not be making anymore appearances. It's original from here on out.

Chapter Five: Yoruno Miyabi a.k.a. Sailor Styx

"Wait. So you're telling me that the genius girl Sorano Hikaru has a brooch just likes the ones we have?" Mamoru asked Kako as they ate lunch together on the roof.

Kako nodded. "Yep. It happened last night when these zombie-like people appeared out of nowhere. Turns out that she's Sailor Acheron. But the problem she has is really bad…"

"What do you mean?"

"She says she's an empath. You know, when you're able to feel other people's emotions."

"Wow…" Mamoru thought for a minute before taking another bite out of her sandwich. "An empath…"

Just then, the door to the rooftop burst open and Sorano Hikaru came running over to them. She was waving a book around in the air. "I've found it!"

Kako and Mamoru watched as Hikaru stumbled as she reached them. When she sat down, she plopped the book down on the tiles before the other two. "'Greek Mythology'?" Mamoru read aloud.

"You said you figured something out," Kako remembered, facing Hikaru.

The girl nodded. "And I did." She opened the book to a section marked with a sticky-note. "In Hades, there were five rivers. There was the Phlegethon, the Lethe, Acheron, Styx, and Colytus. These five rivers each represented a different stage of Hades. The Phlegethon filled them with rage. Styx reminded them of their hatred. Acheron reminded them of their woes. Colytus tormented them with the screams of the ones they hurt in their past lives. When they reached the Lethe River, they were forced to drink from its waters to forget who they were and forget all about their past lives. At that point they were pretty much zombies and they were left to become victims to Hades' cruel punishment."

"But," Kako began. "How do we fit in with all of this? I mean, none of us want to kill or torture people and turn them into zombies. I don't understand it at all."

Hikaru frowned. "Unfortunately, I don't know how we fit into all of it, either. I'm still working on it."

Mamoru thought. "So, there are two others like us?" she asked.

"Yes," Hikaru confirmed. "I'm guessing they'll be Sailor Styx and Sailor Colytus." She grabbed one of Mamoru's sandwiches.

"Hey! Eat your own food!" Mamoru whined.

Hikaru shrugged. "Can't. I forgot my lunch today."

"You-!"

Kako giggled at the sight of her friends squabbling. Just then, she looked up at the door to the rooftop. Someone was there, watching them. His eyes were a piercing blue and his hair was of the lightest hazelnut color. "Sorano-san…," she mumbled. In a second, though, he turned and left.

Hikaru and Mamoru looked at Kako. "What's wrong Kako?" Hikaru asked. "I'm over here."

Red-faced, Kako shook her head. "I-It's nothing!"

"Whatever…"

The pink-haired girl watched as her friends started chatting again, but her mind was elsewhere. That guy, she thought, was watching us. He seemed so familiar… One thing makes me wonder, though. Why won't my heart stop pounding?

"YEEEK!"

"Not again! Come on, Yoruno-san! Just hold the scalpel steady and cut down the middle!"

The dark-haired girl collapsed onto the stool. "I can't! Every time I see a frog pinned down on a tray like that…" She looked at the amphibian. "I'm gonna puke…!"

Her teacher and classmate looked at her. "Puke THAT WAY!" they said in unison, pointing away from them.

"This isn't a joke…," the girl mumbled, her brow furrowed.

The teacher grimaced. "Yoruno-san, you already don't do very well in my lab. I'm afraid I'll have to flunk you if you can't finish this dissection."

Something changed Yoruno's mind. She gripped the scalpel in her hand. All right, she reassured herself. I can do this. I can do this. She started cutting down the middle of the frog, neck first. I can do thi- Suddenly, gooey gross goop spurted from the frog's insides, covering Yoruno's face.

All was still and quiet in the entire biology lab. The teacher was scared Yoruno was going to scream again, but she didn't. "Y-Yoruno-san…?"

With a clunk, the scalpel hit the tray, and Yoruno tipped over. She had fainted.

"Hikaru, Kako, it's the end of the day. I want to go home!" Mamoru whined. But the other two insisted on dragging her to something elsewhere in the school building. When they got closer to the pool, they saw the huge crowd of people watching something. "What's going on?"

"This is what Kako and I wanted you to see," Hikaru said. "See that girl over there? Number three?" She pointed to one of the middle rows of the pool, but Mamoru couldn't make out a number.

"She's going too fast. I can't see her."

"That's the thing," Kako stated. "She's really fast. In fact, she's the top swimmer on our swim team. Just wait until she's done."

It was a few more seconds before the race was over. After the swimmers got out of the pool, the gym teacher looked happy and seemed to be congratulating number three with a pat on the pack. The girl removed her cap to reveal gorgeous dark hair with maroon highlights. She smiled triumphantly as the horde of onlookers rushed to her side.

"I think she set another record," Hikaru commented. "Yoruno-san's always doing that. But look- isn't she beautiful?" Hikaru and Kako watched Yoruno like the other groupies, but Mamoru shrugged.

"She's pretty, but I'm going home now. I'll see you nuts tomorrow." She turned around and left.

Kako and Hikaru waited until the crowd had died down so that it was just the remainder of the swim team members left. They walked up to Yoruno-san and congratulated her. "Here, you may want to tie your wet hair back," Kako said, holding out a ponytail holder.

Yoruno took it. "Thanks. It'll be easier for my hair to dry that way. What're your names?'

"I'm Amano Kako, and my friend here is Sorano Hikaru."

"Hey, I've heard of you two," Yoruno said, eyes wide with excitement. "The rich girl and the genius! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Yoruno Miyabi. You can call me Miyabi if you like." Miyabi smiled again and the room seemed to brighten up a bit just by the power of it.

The other two smiled back, but Hikaru's faded when she noticed something was wrong. "Is that…a bruise on your neck?" she asked timidly.

Miyabi appeared to stiffen. "Uh, n-no, I don't think so," she said shakily.

Hikaru focused her eyes on Miyabi's neck. "It is!" She turned to the dark-haired girl. "Do you know how you got it?"

"I remember I tripped recently. It must have been then. I hope to see you guys again!" she said cheerily as she dashed off.

Kako frowned. "Didn't that seem…a little fake?"

"Yes. She knew it was obvious, too, but we can't do anything about it. Oh, well, I'm heading home now. You should be getting home, too, shrimp."

The pink-haired girl stomped her foot on the ground. "H-Hey!"

"YEAAAH! WOO-HOO!"

"Go, go, Yoruno!"

"She's almost there and… YES!"

"She came in first place again! SO COOL!"

There were many other shouts, cheers, and jeers as Yoruno Miyabi hopped out of the pool. Her classmates were roaring with whoops and hoots as she was announced the winner of the race…yet again. First and foremost among her fans were Hikaru and Kako.

"Thanks for coming, guys," Miyabi said them. "Did you all stay to watch my event?"

Kako pulled Mamoru from out of the crowd by her ear. "Yes, we all came to see you."

Miyabi offered her hand to Mamoru. "Nice to finally meet you, Mamoru. I hope you don't mind if I call you that. Call me Miyabi."

Mamoru shook her hand. "Uh, y-yeah… Same here."

As the groupies dispersed with the toll of bell, the only ones who delayed their departure for home were the scouts and Miyabi. "It really dies down after everyone finds out who won," Miyabi commented. "But silence can be pretty nice when you here shouts and stuff all day."

"We were thinking that we could all walk home today," Hikaru stated, meeting Kako's eyes. "We'll wait for you right here, Miyabi-chan."

Again, she seemed to falter, but she halfheartedly grinned. "I-I guess it's okay. I'll be right back." Miyabi headed to the showers while the other three stayed behind, waiting.

"I don't get why I have to be here," Mamoru pointed out. "She seems nice and all and she's a good swimmer, but I don't really feel the need to be friends with her."

"It wouldn't kill you to be a kind person for once, Mamoru," Hikaru taunted.

"Look, you-!"

"Uh, guys?" Kako squeaked.

"You what?" Hikaru shot back. "I don't get what you're problem is with me."

Mamoru was ready to explode. "Problem? Problem! You're just one big problem yourself!"

"GUYS!" Kako yelled over both of them.

"WHAT!"

The pink-haired shrimp pointed behind them. "Miyabi's teammates are attacking her!"

Mamoru shrugged. "I've heard of sore losers before, but-"

CLONK!

Kako had smacked both Hikaru and Mamoru's heads. "Stop arguing and get moving, you dolts!" Kako whipped out her brooch. "Lethe Forgetfulness Fulfillment!"

"At least we know I've got her covered," Hikaru sneered. "Acheron Woefulness Fulfillment!"

"Ugh!" Mamoru mumbled. "That jerk! Phlegethon Rage Fulfillment!"

All three ran to the locker-room and stopped short when they realized that Miyabi was between them and the possessed students. "Move!" Lethe ordered.

Miyabi only shook her head. "Please don't hurt them! I don't know what's going on, but, if they hate me, I want to fix it on my own. They're…they're…"

"Look, it's not something you can handle," Phlegethon stated. "You can't…win by yourself."

"Miyabi-chan," Acheron said, "it's best to let us handle this."

The girl looked over her shoulder at the senshi behind her. "Who are you guys? And how do you know my name?"

Phlegethon shot Acheron a nasty glare. "Let's just say it's our job to take care of situations like this," the taupe-haired soldier said.

"Your job? But why-?"

"Watch out!" Lethe knocked Miyabi off her feet before one of the swim team members made contact with her. "You've got to be more careful."

But Miyabi ignored her. "Why is it your job?" she asked.

Acheron dodged one of the other members. "We don't really know ourselves." She turned back to the possessed students. "Acheron Woefulness Incarnation!"

And yet the students remained unharmed. Lethe, Phlegethon, and Acheron were shocked. Her attack hadn't missed; it just hadn't worked!

"What's going on!" Miyabi inquired as the senshi kept her safe from the attacks. "You said it was your job to take care of this. Why didn't it work?"

"We don't know already, so shut up!" Phlegethon hollered. She reared her fist to hit one of the students, but she was surrounded. "Just how many people are on the swim team anyway!"

Several of the pupils broke away and lunged for Lethe, but they missed, and Miyabi was sent flying into the pool instead. Lethe was struck with horror. "MIYABI!"

I kept making excuses to stay away from people… I don't want the world to know what my family does to me. I know they don't mean it. I was… I am scared of what might happen if someone or someones discover what's going on. But…maybe that's what I need. Maybe it's time I told someone the problem. Maybe it's time I let all of my anger out!

There was a shining, blood red light emitting from the pool. The water rose up and caught everyone's attention, scout and possessed pupil. While the possessed had no idea what was going on, the senshi knew the familiar light.

As the waves crashed down on the concrete tiles of the pool, the water drifted out in tides. A figure was floating in the center of the pool. "The Styx River of Hades makes lost souls remember their hatefulness from their past lives. To bring about destruction through the hate and anger of my acid waters- that is my mission! Sailor Styx!"

"Genius girl strikes again!" Acheron called to Phlegethon.

Sailor Styx spread her arms out down by her sides. Her hair flew up along with the water. "Styx Hatefulness Epithet!" The streams of water engulfed each student and released their grip after a split-second. Each possessed student fainted and fell to the ground, but the monsters that had possessed their shadows were gone. For good.

"What's this power?" Styx said aloud, clenching her fist and staring at it.

The other girls transformed back. "We're just as confused as you are, Miyabi-chan," Kako softly stated.

She transformed back, too. "Wait… All three of you have the same…?"

"Yes," Hikaru said. "There's one more of us, though. One who we haven't met yet. That's Sailor Colytus."

Realization hit Miyabi. "'Sailor'…?"

"Yeah," Mamoru said. "Something wrong?"

"And we're all sailors…?"

"So it would seem," Hikaru confirmed. "What are you getting at?"

Miyabi shook her head. "I just thought of something. If I figure it out, I'll make contact with you guys. I just need some time to sort some things out." As she walked away, Miyabi seemed lost in thought, off in her own little world.

"Well, that was nice," Mamoru retorted. "And now I'm outta here." She picked up her bag and left before either of the other two could stop her.

"Great. We're more and more involved in this whole sailor business…," Mamoru mumbled to herself.

"What was that?" a voice said from behind. Mamoru froze. A strong, warm hand gripped her shoulder. "That's okay. You don't have to tell me," Takeyuki stated, smiling. "Where have you been the whole time?"

The taupe-haired girl crimsoned. She had not expected to see Takeyuki at all! "I- I-I was just…" She caught her breath. What do I say to him!

A minute of silence passed over the two before either of them said anything. Finally, it was Takeyuki who broke the silence. "Mamoru-chan, I wanted to tell you-"

"Don't call me that anymore. You're not allowed to. You're the one who ran off to the states. You left me in the dust. Besides, even if I did want you back, we couldn't have it. You're a teacher. My teacher!" She turned around and, even though she tried not crying, she couldn't help it. The tiny droplets were forcing their way out of her. "I'm not Mamoru-chan anymore," she choked. "I'm Chino-san. I'll never be Mamoru-chan again."

Takeyuki's brow furrowed. "It could happen again, though. We don't know for sure-"

"I do. I know it-" Mamoru was cut off as Takeyuki wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't push me away. Please, don't push me away. I want a second chance. I-" He exhaled slowly. "I want us to try again."

Mamoru could feel her throat go dry, but she had to make him understand. "Takeyuki, I lo-" She shook her head. "I need you to let go of me."

Shocked and hurt, he did so. But when he tried to read her eyes, she wouldn't meet his. "Mamoru-chan…"

"I'll see you tomorrow at school, Shiro-sensei." Mamoru turned on her heel and ran. Takeyuki ran his fingers through his gelled hair and grimaced. It's not like he was geeky; he didn't wear glasses. He was only two and a half years older than her; she would be eighteen in two months. Then he thought. An early birthday present. I know her birthday's the twenty-sixth of December, but…but it would be a present for both of us. Steadily, he clenched his fists. "My mind's set. Tomorrow, for sure…"