Chapter Three

Miracles do not happen.
-Matthew Arnold

Jenny's scream pierced the air. The horror of the moment was overwhelming, and she could think of nothing but no, no, no, no, no! To her surprise, her scream seemed to startle the creature, and it drew back sharply, as if the sound had been a verbal slap. Jenny's voice died at the movement, and she decided to take advantage of its falter to run, but the creature sensed her intention and swooped over her again to grab her arm.

How it could hold onto her was a mystery, since whenever she tried to kick, hit and bite it, her arms and legs passed through as if it were only shadow and mist - and yet she could feel its icy grip on her arm, squeezing tighter the more she tried to escape. Strands of red hair blew into her eyes from the cold wind, and she tossed her head in an angry attempt to see. She hated the creature for not being something tangible she could fight.

The smoky arm was trying to drag her forward into its horrendous mass of black. Jenny struggled and dug her feet into the ground, but despite her efforts, she felt herself sliding. She was having a hard enough time dealing with this thing on the outside… she didn't want to think about what might happen if she was pulled into its center.

Where's security in this place? she thought as a single tear dripped down her left cheek. Where's help when you need it?

And then, unexpectedly, help came.

She wasn't sure what happened at first. One moment, she was struggling with the smoky creature, and then suddenly she was flung backwards and hit the wall with a painful thud that made her lose her breath. She heard the creature howl as she slid to the ground, rubbing her shoulders, but didn't comprehend the reason. Her mind had stopped functioning. After a moment, Jenny looked up uncertainly, and was relieved to see that it was no longer watching her. And then she saw why.

Of course it wasn't interested in her. If she was sizzling with green and blue electricity, she wouldn't be paying attention to anything but the pain, either. The smoky shape writhed and screamed as it flashed, as if attempting some bizarre dance. Unexpectedly, there was a sharp stab of pity in her chest, quickly drowned out by shock when she saw who was behind the creature. A girl, looking tall and beautiful, though her lips were curled with hate, stood before the awed crowd. Jenny's mouth gaped open in amazement. It was one of them. Japan's famous senshi. And she had always thought they were a hoax…

The young warrior lifted her arms, did a little twirl and shot more electricity at the creature. A huge black head formed out of the smoky mass, and its mouth opened in a deafening howl of pain. Jenny couldn't take her eyes off the girl, moving with such grace and determination as she fought. The energy coming from her was crackling and alive, glowing with iridescent colors that lit the faces of the watching crowd. Strangely, the creature didn't seem to be trying to defend itself. Jenny wondered if this was because it couldn't.

Jenny would have sat there forever, staring stupidly at the scene, if a jerk on her upper arm hadn't brought her crashing back to reality. "Jenny, what are you doing? Come on!" Jenny blinked up into Alyson's frightened violet eyes and long, swirling hair, and hardly knowing what was happening, she felt herself being pulled to her feet and tugged away.

"No… stop. I want to watch," Jenny protested weakly. She stumbled as she tried to twist out of the other girl's grasp.

Alyson paused and steadied her, looking anxious. "What's happening?" she demanded, but Jenny didn't answer, for she was already staring back at the creature and her savior, transfixed. As if sensing her gaze, the huge smoky head turned and looked directly at her. Alyson gasped and started backing away, but Jenny couldn't move, paralyzed under the creature's eyeless stare. She felt oddly fascinated.

When it spoke in the same low voice she had heard earlier, she found again that she understood. "I'll be back," it said, those black lips lifting up into a creepy smile. "I'll be back… for you." And then with one last look of promise and a final poof of smoke, it was gone. Startled gasps and cries rose from the crowd around her.

Jenny stood rigidly, staring at the spot where the creature had been. She felt numb, both surprised and confused by its words and sudden exit. It was a moment before she realized that the girl who had saved her, Sailor-something-or-other, was watching her. Their eyes met, and silently they regarded each other, until the girl lifted her hand in a final salute and hopped off into the crowd. Startled, Jenny took a stumbling step forward, her hand outstretched.

"No, don't go," she whispered. "I want to ask you…" But the girl, too, had disappeared. Jenny's vision blurred. Her head hurt as a mass of colors swirled around her. Disoriented, she took a few stumbling steps back, trying to regain her balance, but her knees gave out. For a moment, she could feel herself falling, but before she hit the ground, arms wrapped around her and there was a voice. A soothing voice, not the deep, terrifying growl of the creature.

"It's okay, it's okay… I've got you. You're safe with me now."

Alyson caught me, Jenny thought dizzily, her only coherent thought in the midst of her confusion. There was a warmth flowing through her body, pushing away all feelings of panic. The storm in her mind slowly dulled to a simple darkness as she was gently lowered to the ground, and she vaguely realized that her eyes were shut. Slowly, she opened them, and after a quick blinding light, she was confronted not by Alyson's wide purple eyes, but eyes of the most vivid azure blue she had ever seen. The kind of eyes that held an inner light, containing all the secrets of the soul. Her own eyes swept over the face curiously, and she felt a flush as she took it in.

Quite simply, this was the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen He had shining black hair and perfect features, twisted into a mask of concern. For her… a complete stranger! Of course, her initial reaction to his being male was: Boy. Run. But there was something about this Japanese boy with the warm blue eyes that made her realize he was different from the ones she had known back in San Mantego.

His lips were moving and a few seconds passed before the words sank into her brain. "Are you okay?"

Jenny allowed herself a nod. It was all she could do. The boy smiled, obviously relieved, and Jenny felt a leaping flutter in her chest. Her mind was whirring again, filled with fantasies of herself and this boy. Sure, she had never really given a damn about boys before, but why not start now? And besides, what could be a more romantic first meeting than falling into his arms?

Her lips parted and she was about to ask his name when a high, frantic voice broke through the hazy mist of her fantasies. Go away, leave us alone, she thought with irritation, but the beautiful boy was already looking up and answering.

Another girl was coming into view, and Jenny recognized the hairstyle before the face. Hello, Tsukino Usagi, she thought as she blinked into the bright lights of the airport. We meet at last.

She was about to call out a pleasant greeting when Usagi dropped to her knees beside the boy and asked, "How's the girl?"

The girl. Jenny knew she shouldn't, but she took offense to the way Usagi hadn't bothered looking at her when she asked. Still, her new sister was allowed a few quirks, so she decided to ignore it and took a deep breath before sitting up. Seeing the movement, Usagi glanced over, and her mouth dropped open in a soft 'o' of surprise.

"Oh, it's you!" she cried and covered her mouth with her hands. Feeling satisfied for receiving some kind of reaction, Jenny sat back into a more comfortable position, and shook her head, trying to clear the befuddlement caused by the boy. A light pressure on her arm told her that Alyson was kneeling at her side, and Jenny smiled at her gratefully before looking back at Usagi. She opened her mouth to try saying 'hi' again, but Usagi wasn't looking at her.

"What happened?" she asked the boy, and Jenny bit her tongue to fight back a quick stab of jealousy when he turned his eyes from her to frown at Usagi.

"I don't know," he said regretfully. "I came near the end of it. All I saw was this girl fainting, so I caught her. Why that look? Do you know her?"

Another glance from Usagi's wide blue eyes. She looked miserable. "She's my exchange student. Oh Mamo-chan, you don't think… what if they knew…?"

Now both were looking at Jenny, and she squirmed under their solemn stares. What were they talking about?

"Coincidence," the boy finally said. "It has to be. I don't know how they could have known."

"But what if she was targeted because… because…"

"No. Don't think about it."

"I'd feel awful if…"

"It wasn't," the boy said sharply, and tried to smile at Jenny and Alyson. Jenny, still a little dizzy, smiled back, and was disappointed when his eyes swung to the side where two other girls were approaching: a short red-head and an even shorter girl with purple hair. Jenny didn't care. The only one she cared about had deep blue eyes that made her heart race.

"Who are you?" she whispered, and was rewarded with another beautiful smile.

"Chiba Mamoru," he said. "And you're Jenny-san. I know." Jenny tried to hold his gaze, to make him keep looking at her, but he was already turning back to Usagi.

"And what happened to you?"

Who cares, Jenny thought. Look at me! I'm the one who was just in mortal danger!

"I tripped," Usagi said with a goofy smile, "and got stepped on by about twenty panicking people. Naru-chan and Christine came and picked me up, but I ran after you. They must have thought I was crazy."

"We still do," the red-head said with a shake of her head. "What possessed you to run off like that? Both of you?"

Usagi looked nervous. "We, uh, just thought we might be able to help. No… stop it, Mamo-chan, I'm fine."

Jenny's eyes widened as she watched Mamoru take Usagi's chin in his hand and tilt it at different angles, checking for scratches and bruises. With a sudden flash of fire in her cheeks, she understood. It should have been obvious from the beginning. Why hadn't she seen the way they looked at each other, the way Mamoru's eyes and voice had softened when she came near? Jenny felt extremely stupid for believing he could fall for her when someone as beautiful as Usagi was around. She desperately wanted to look away as they smiled at each other, but couldn't. She felt shocked and hurt, almost as if Mamoru really had been hers, and she'd just discovered his infidelity.

A strong dislike for Usagi was filling the void in her chest. What right did the blond bitch have to take away all her hopes and thoughts of future romance? None, Jenny thought with growing passion. From that moment on, it would be war between her and Usagi, and may the best girl win.

And there sat poor Usagi, smiling in the middle of Jenny's heated vision, not having the slightest idea that she had just made an enemy.

"Jenny, what are they saying?" Alyson suddenly demanded, and Jenny blinked to rid herself of the steam clouding her thoughts. The sharp voice pulled Usagi and Mamoru out of their happy little world, and they once again focused on the foreigners.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Usagi said sweetly with concern. "Are you okay?"

Yeah, I bet you're sorry, Jenny thought, and her annoyance came out in the form of words.

"No!" she yelled. "I am not okay! I came to Japan understanding that there would be four dangers." She lifted her hand and started counting on her fingers. "1. earthquakes 2. volcanoes 3. Godzilla and 4. sushi. Getting attacked by hideous black shapes was not part of the contract, and I want out!"

She was rewarded by a panel of stunned faces, and didn't realize that she had yelled in English until Alyson said, "But Jen… Godzilla isn't real. Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" Jenny sighed and closed her eyes, not bothering to translate for the non-English speaking part of the crowd.

She soon discovered that she didn't have to, for Mamoru's voice told her, in only lightly accented English, "This doesn't happen every day, and I'm sorry that it had to happen to you. Please don't judge us all by this event. And your friend is right: Godzilla doesn't exist." Jenny opened surprised eyes and saw him smiling at her. A little embarrassed, she returned the smile, just the right corner of her mouth turning up.

Usagi and the redhead were still looking confused, but the purple-haired girl was giggling, and Jenny realized that just because she was in Japan, she shouldn't assume that no one understood her native language.

"So what happened?" Mamoru asked, this time switching back to Japanese for the benefit of the others. Jenny blinked at him.

"I don't know. There was this black… thing. Creature. It looked like smoke, but it wasn't. When I tried to hit it, my arm went through as if it was invisible, but it grabbed me and tried to pull me into it. And then one of the senshi came," Jenny said, her eyes lighting with the memory. "I think she attacked it with lightning. Alyson pulled me out of the way, and then the monster disappeared and the girl left. That's… that's about it."

She looked at Mamoru hopefully, but found him looking at Usagi. Damn, she thought, but that didn't change the fact.

"Lightning," Usagi whispered and frowned at Mamoru before turning to meet Jenny's gaze. "What color was the skirt. Was it green?"

Jenny blinked. "No. It was yellow."

"Yellow?" Usagi and Mamoru exchanged another glance. Jenny was getting irritated. What was the big deal? Who cared what color the skirt was, and did they really have to keep looking at each other like that?

"Are you sure it wasn't… maybe orange?" Usagi asked skeptically.

"Of course I'm sure, stupid," Jenny said, glaring at Usagi for suggesting such a thing. "You don't see something like that and forget. I'm going to remember every detail for the rest of my life!"

"Okay," Usagi said, taken aback by her tone. Jenny groaned in frustration and brought a hand to her mass of tangled hair. Usagi was watching her warily, looking slightly hurt, and Jenny did not want to start feeling guilty on top of everything else, so she glanced over at Alyson and saw her deep in conversation with the purple-haired girl. Alyson was glowing, and Jenny guessed that she was pleased to finally find someone speaking English.

Sensing her stare, the small girl looked up and smiled at Jenny. "I'm sorry," she said in a sweet voice, in Japanese. "That must have been horrible. They must be used to it here, though. Look. Everyone is already walking around normally, not concerned in the least. Me, I'm from France and I would have fainted if I saw what you did. But them… it makes no difference, as if it's an everyday occurrence."

Usagi and Mamoru looked at each other significantly. "You have no idea," Jenny's blonde nemesis muttered darkly.

0 0 0

That night, Usagi lay awake in bed, thinking about the day. Even then her face burned as she flushed with anger at the memories. Jenny, although an immediate hit with the rest of her family, had been noticeably chilly to her after leaving the airport. At first, she had assumed it was merely shock from being attacked, but throughout the day, while Jenny had smiled and laughed with everyone else, the girl's arctic blast hadn't lessened towards Usagi one bit. Every five minutes or so, just when Usagi was starting to feel comfortable with her new houseguest, Jenny had shot her a nasty look.

Why? Usagi had gone over in her mind everything that had happened in the airport a thousand times, trying to figure out what she had said to offend the girl. From the moment they met, Jenny had seemed to hate her. Even in the car trip home, while she chatted away happily with the others, she made a point of ignoring everything Usagi said. Mamoru had told her she was imagining things when she mentioned it, but Usagi knew the truth: the American was a bitch. And in the face of all the unfounded hostility, Usagi had felt a wall of her own animosity growing throughout the day. If Jenny didn't like her, fine. She didn't have to like Jenny.

As if hearing her thoughts, Jenny whimpered across the room and rolled over in her sleep. Usagi glared at her through the darkness, hoping she wasn't always such a noisy sleeper. A silver patch of moonlight was shining through the window and lit up the younger girl's face, making her appear almost normal. Usagi knew better. Still, she couldn't help feeling a little sorry that Jenny had been attacked on her first day in Tokyo, especially now that she was asleep and unable to insult her.

Sighing, Usagi's thoughts turned more to the problem at hand. She could hardly stand the thought of facing another day like the one she just had. Like her or not, she was determined to make friends with Jenny, or at least come to a truce that would get them through the coming year. But how? How did one pacify a beast? Slowly, a plan came into her mind - just a little trickle of an idea that turned into a thought. Usagi smiled at her cleverness. So simple… and all she had to do was call Nick.

Feeling extremely pleased with herself, Usagi shut her eyes and prepared to dream pleasantly without interruption, but soon found this was impossible. Jenny's thrashing and moaning was becoming progressively worse. Usagi sat up with a grimace. If this continued, she wouldn't be able to sleep. Wearily, not quite knowing what she was going to do, Usagi stood and started across the room towards Jenny's bed.

The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the room from the open window. Usagi shivered. Although it was late summer, the chill from outside was positively wintry. She leaned over the bed to slide the window shut before looking down at Jenny and noticing with a start that there was a sparkling stream of wetness on her cheeks. Tears. Usagi stared in disbelief at the girl's face, which twisted in an expression of fear as she moaned and cried out, "No, stop!"

A nightmare, Usagi realized. Softly, feeling a great deal more kindly towards the girl who was obviously suffering, she reached out and gently shook Jenny's shoulders. "Hey, wake up. It's okay." Shake shake. "Come on, Jen-chan. It's just a dream." Shake shake shake.

Jenny's eyes flew open, and immediately her shaking subsided, but her frightened eyes darted around the room. When they landed on Usagi, she relaxed. "Oh, it's you," she said in a peaceful tone that surprised Usagi. "Sorry, did I wake you? I guess I was having a bad dream."

Usagi wasn't sure why Jenny was being civil, but she liked the change. "What about?" she asked soothingly, her sisterly instincts kicking in. Jenny yawned and looked like she was about to speak, when suddenly she blinked and glanced up at Usagi in horror, fully awake. She sneered.

"Why should I tell you?" she snarled and flipped over, pulling the sheets tightly over her head. Usagi stood fuming for a few seconds, glaring down at the silent figure, before spinning around and returning to her own bed. She tried to calm herself, thinking about the plan. But really, whether it worked or not, Usagi was beginning to think that caring about what Jenny did wasn't worth it.

She crawled into bed and closed her eyes, resolving not to think anymore.

0 0 0

On the other side of the room, Jenny lay awake, shaking under the covers. She was going over the nightmare she had just had in her mind. It had been of the creature that attacked her, except this time when it grabbed her, it poured its thoughts and powers into her until she was just like it… evil and totally without remorse.

Jenny squeezed her eyes shut, more afraid than she had ever been.

0 0 0

"No."

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun!"

"I'm really not that into fun."

"Jenny-san!"

"I said no! Don't you understand the meaning of the word?" Jenny scowled at the fidgeting Usagi, and turned back to her magazine. Usagi frowned. This was an unforeseen obstacle to the plan.

"Well, why not?"

"I have no interest in meeting one of your little Japanese friends," Jenny said, her eyes fixed on the text in front of her. Usagi was seeing red. If only her family could see their perfect new daughter now… but they were always conveniently away when Jenny was being difficult.

"Did I mention he's American?" Usagi said, desperately trying to keep her voice neutral. Jenny didn't even blink as she turned a page.

"Even worse."

Usagi felt like screaming. Why why why did their exchange student have to be this girl? She would have taken anyone else, even a convict as long as she acted civil! "What are you going to do?" she exploded, unable to contain her frustration any longer. "Stay here all night? Alone?"

"That was the plan, yes." Jenny's lips curved slightly, making Usagi even more furious. If this was amusing her, Usagi refused to bother any longer. She let out a angry squeal and stomped away into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Jenny lay on the living room sofa with a grin. She had never known that being a bitch was this much fun. Of course, Usagi never failed to rise to the occasion, but still… Jenny's eyes scanned the page in front of her, something about an up-and-coming J-Pop star, but her brain refused to comprehend. She really wasn't in the mood for reading. With a sigh, she tossed aside the magazine and rubbed her temples.

Despite her firm decline, there was a mini-war going on in her mind. Part of her really was horrified by the idea of going on a double date with whatever loser Usagi had chosen, but the other was thrilled by the prospect of seeing Mamoru again. She bit her lip. The thought of being around him for an entire evening was tempting, but was it worth having to entertain some stupid, drooling, hormone-crazed boy all night?

Jenny smiled suddenly. The answer was crystal clear. "Hey, Usagi, wait! I changed my mind."

0 0 0

Nick critically eyed his reflection in the visor mirror. Why he bothered, he didn't know, for he nearly always looked great. He ran a hand through his smooth, dark hair, watching it lift briefly before falling back into place. Chocolate eyes lit up in the light from the car behind them as he smiled. He was more than ready.

Mamoru tried his best not to look at Nick during this ritual, but one annoyed glance leaked out. "Do you have to keep doing that?" he asked irritably.

"Sure," Nick said seriously. "I have to be in top form. Usagi wants me to tame the wild beast, right?"

Mamoru frowned. "She has a name. Aren't you even a little curious about her?"

"What does it matter? Jane, Laura, Jill… they're all the same." He laughed and Mamoru looked at him disapprovingly before glancing over his shoulder and merging into the other lane.

"She was exaggerating. You know how she does that. Jenny really didn't seem that bad. A little high-strung, maybe, but who wouldn't be after being attacked like that?"

Nick grinned, the mischievous grin that Mamoru had learned to dread. "No problem. Just let me handle her, and by the end of the night, the girl will be so under my spell that she won't remember her own name."

Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, I fear for her sanity. Promise me you'll behave yourself. I've only known one girl who can handle you… How is Dalila, by the way?"

Nick's nonchalant shrug didn't quite mask his frown. "Okay, I guess. She really hasn't been around. I've tried calling her, but some girl always answers and says she's not there. I thought I'd try stopping by this weekend. I don't know what's up, if she's avoiding me or what, but Lila has always been a bit eccentric… You know, she still hasn't given me a reason for kicking me out. It was just: You. Out. I've never had the heart to disobey her, so I went."

"Much to my benefit," Mamoru said bitterly. Nick grinned at him.

"I know. Thanks."

"No problem," Mamoru answered, a little surprised by Nick's words of gratitude. They drove in silence for a while longer until Mamoru said, "Hey Nick? Good luck."

Nick shrugged and looked out his window. Good luck… not that he needed it. Girls were never a problem. He knew how to handle them. He always had known. No matter their exterior differences, they all proved to be the same in the end, totally captivated by his charm if he played them right. There was no reason that Usagi's Little Miss America should give him any trouble.

No reason at all.

0 0 0

"How do I look?"

Jenny looked up just in time to see Usagi twirl into the room in a pretty blue sundress. Beautiful, as usual, she thought bitterly, but said nothing. This didn't bother Usagi as she fluttered by. Ever since Jenny had agreed to go on the stupid date, Usagi hadn't seemed to care about her opinion anymore.

Usagi stopped her happy little dance and her sapphire eyes rested on Jenny. "Are you going to wear that?" she asked in surprise, distaste in her voice. Jenny looked down at herself. She was wearing her favorite new jeans and a fitted, black Offspring shirt. High fashion for her.

"Yes," she said defiantly.

"But you look…" Usagi clamped her mouth shut when Jenny raised her head, frowning.

"I look great. Can we go now?"

"Will you at least comb your hair?" There was a note of pleading in Usagi's voice that surprised her. Why did she care? Rather than obey, Jenny reached into her pocket for a hair tie and pulled the mass of red behind her into a messy ponytail.

"Happy?"

Usagi sighed. "It's better."

A light knock came on the door to break the slightly awkward silence, and Usagi's eyes lit excitedly. She hurriedly straightened her skirt and patted her hair before rushing forward to answer. Jenny raised a surprised eyebrow behind her back. She was excited to see Mamoru too, but the intensity of Usagi's smile was beyond anything Jenny felt. For an instant, she felt guilty for deliberately trying to hurt her, but immediately shook the thought away when she heard Mamoru's voice.

Usagi's sparkling laugh floated back to her, calling out, "Come on, Jenny-san! They're here." Jenny raised a self-conscious hand to her head. Maybe Usagi had been right… maybe she should have made more of an effort… But really, if any boy was going to like her, it would be for herself, not the way she dressed.

Jenny sighed and stepped forward, pushing her uneasy feelings aside. Three voices were rapidly conversing in Japanese. Curiously, she listened for her date's voice, and felt a certain grudging admiration when she picked it out. If she hadn't been listening for an accent, she wouldn't have noticed one at all.Maybe he wouldn't be so bad… anyone who took the time to learn Japanese that fluently couldn't be a total idiot.

The boy laughed, and she thoughtfully tilted her head to the side. It was a nice voice, she decided, smooth and classy-sounding. Intelligent. Unexpectedly, Jenny's face flushed, and her heart started thumping more heavily in her chest. She scolded herself at this, annoyed. Linguistic genius or not, there was nothing about this particular voice that should affect her so. It was Mamoru she was anxious to see.

Usagi poked her head around the corner. "Jenny, come on!" she hissed before disappearing again. Jenny took a deep breath and started forward. Later, she wondered if, before seeing him, some part of her already knew.

At first, she noticed nothing unusual because the boy was standing in shadow, shielded from her view. Her gaze immediately focused on Mamoru, illuminated in the porch light, and all her defenses dropped away. This was a mistake, because before she had a chance to gather her composure, the other boy moved into the light and said, "Ah, and is this the lovely Jodi… um, Jenny I've been hearing about?"

She saw him before he saw her, because he looked at Usagi with smiles in his eyes and laughed at something she said. What that was, Jenny never knew, because to her, the entire universe had gone silent and all she could see was the laughing boy with the nice voice in a halo of light. It could have been a dream… but it wasn't. This moment was more real to her than anything else that had happened since arriving in Japan. Jenny's eyes swept over him in amazement. His dark hair was gleaming in the light, and his handsome face was relaxed in happiness. Yes, he had always been like that, so confident and carefree. Nothing could ever upset him…

Jenny's heart fluttered nervously when those brown eyes swung her way. She mostly dreaded the moment, and was unsurprised when, upon seeing her, he froze in astonishment and his mouth lost the ability to smile. The rest of the world dropped away as they stared at each other, forgetting the presence of the bewildered Usagi and Mamoru entirely.

An inner voice soon woke inside Jenny, casting away her shock and replacing it with a heated flame. Hatred and loathing welled up inside her like a dam about to burst. "You," she seethed, and watched the boy blink at her, his shock fading into the night.

"You," he echoed, in the voice of someone with hardly enough life or will to make a sound.

The air between them sizzled with electricity.