Finally the time had come. It was time...for finals!!!! The scary tests that most kids take at the end of the year. I was never one for studying but I was so afraid to fail on my first finals in Japan that I decided we should have a cram group.
"So what exactly do we need to know, Ami-chan?" Usagi asked when we were studying at my house. Everyone was there except for Haruka, because she went to a different school, Setsuna, because she didn't go to school, Chibiusa and Hotaru, because they were in junior high, and Chibi Chibi, because she didn't need to be.
"Well, for history we need to know up to 1900, for language we won't really know, but Annie-chan is doing something different so we can help her out, in science we need the periodic table, and for math we won't really know until the time comes," Ami ran down the list.
"I have to know all the words I've learned in Japanese and more," I said exasperated. I was getting really good but under the pressure I didn't know how well I would do.
"Don't worry, Annie-chan," Makoto tried to cheer me up. "Finals aren't as scary as they seem. You just have to relax and do your best."
I smiled back to her but I still felt a little nervous. I had been nervous lately. With finals plus our on-going battles, I was already nervous enough. But having all this to do, I barely had any time to hang out with Sutahito and everytime he came over to me I thought he was going to break up with me.
"Annie-chan?" Seiya roused me from my thoughts. He was sitting on my left and he shook me a little as he said my name. "Are you ok?"
I told them all what I was thinking. "Well, I guess you know what that means," Minako said. I shook my head. "You have to go out on a date and quick. Cancel this study session and go find your lover boy!"
"But I really should stay..." I trailed off.
"You'll go on a date AND YOU'LL LIKE IT!!!" Minako shouted.
"Yikes! Ok, ok, I'll go." I really needed to spend some time with him before our relationship disintegrated. And I'll forever thank Minako for being the pushy senshi of love.
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"The number you've dialed is busy. If you would like to be notified when the line is clear please press seven. A fee may apply," the recording played again. I tried calling Sutahito all night but it was busy the whole time.
"Guys...could he be avoiding me?"
"Why would he do that?" Usagi asked. "He loves you."
"But what if he doesn't anymore? What if he still thinks that breaking up with Sonoko was a mistake? What if he thinks I was making up what she said so I could get him? What if he doesn't want to fight evil anymore? What if-" but I couldn't finish my sentence because Seiya put a hand over my mouth.
"Annie-chan, Suta-kun loves you. He loves you like no other person every has or ever will. you're going to grow old together and have kids and stuff like that and everything's going to be great. Consider yourself lucky," he added quieter.
"You're right. But I have to go to his house and find out why he's not answering." I turned to leave. "And Seiya, thank you." I ran out the door and all the way to Sutahito's.
"Is Suta-kun there?" I asked the man that answered the door. I assumed he was Sutahito's dad.
"Uh, yes, but who are you and why are you here so late?" he asked.
"I'm Annie Mouses. I'm Suta-kun's girlfriend and I need to see him. He won't answer his phone." I must have looked either out of breath or worried to death because his dad made a strange face.
'Well, uh, I'll go get him if you like..." I think he was shocked because I wasn't acting like a regular Japanese girl would have.
After a few minutes of waiting outside the door, Sutahito came out. "Annie-chan? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
I hadn't realized that I was crying until he pointed it out. "I...I..." I clung onto him and cried harder. "I don't want to lose you! We haven't spent a lot of time together lately and I don't want our feelings to start to die out. And when you didn't answer the phone I though that you were avoiding me. Please tell me you still love me!!"
Sutahito didn't say anything and I got more scared. Then he lifted my face and gave me a long and loving kiss. "Annie-chan, I love you so much. I would never stop loving you just because we haven't had a lot of time together. Absence makes the heart grow fonder..."
"Do you mean it?"
"Of course. And I couldn't answer the phone because I was on a long distance call with my grandmother. I'm sorry you were worried." He kissed me again.
"Ok. So do you want to do something together in the city when finals are done?" I asked.
"Yes, I will most certainly do something with you."
And so we planned to go to the city the weekend after finals were done. When I told Usagi and Seiya they told me that I shouldn't have been worried. I told them they were coming with me. "I think it would be better for Usagi and I to stay together in case of enimies," I explained.
"And me?" Seiya asked.
"Well, without you Usagi would be like a third wheel," I explained. "I don't want Suta-kun to feel uncomfortable, but I can't risk Usagi and I being seperated. So, I figured we could make like a double-date."
I stopped and looked at Usagi and Seiya's faces, already expecting their reaction. They looked at one another and giggled softly with red cheeks.
"Is that ok with you, Odango?" Seiya asked.
"I don't mind at all," Usagi replied. Seiya seemed happy with the reply. Very happy. Then I realized something. I was trying to push these two together.
I don't know why, but at the time I didn't think of Mamoru too fondly. I never really got to know him but I knew he hadn't been too reliable. Plus I knew that these two had feelings for each other too but they shouldn't have been pushed so far. Usagi had to be with Mamoru in the end or Chibiusa would cease to exsist, though you never know. But I figured that even if the two were together now they wouldn't be in the future. Soon enough Mamoru would be back from America and everything would be as it was supposed to be.
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The city was beautiful. I always thought of cities as a New York looking place. It pretty much was, a little cleaner maybe, and with Japanese writing all over the place of course. We saw all the sites. Big stores with huge prices, little stores with huge prices, cafes on corners and so much else. But my favorite place was the anime artist who took your features and changed them into an anime picture. How awesome!?
I had one done with Sutahito. We had our arms around each other's shoulders and we looked so cute!
Seiya and Usagi got one together too. The artist protrayed them as a cute couple. They looked very close and loving of each other. I saw it and went 'Aww!' and the two of them blushed.
We also went into a photo booth. The four of barely fit inside so there were pictures where we were cut off partially. It was hysterical.
After dinner we went to a few more stores. "Uh...guys?" Usagi said.
"What is it, Usagi-chan?" I asked.
"I have to go to the bathroom." She looked a little uncomfortable.
"Ok," I said. "Catch up with us later."
"Ok," she said and ran off.
Meanwhile, we were looking at a new CD. Then we watched as a bunch of people walked by out on the street. They were all playing instruments but we couldn't hear what they were playing because we were listening to the CD.
We walked outside and immecdiately recognized that they were playing Nagreboshi He.
"What's going on?" Seiya thought aloud.
"Looks like a Three Lights parade," Sutahito said as a big float went by featuring head shots of Seiya, Taiki and Yaten.
"Awesome!" some girl said. "It's Seiya himself!! Seiya!! Come sit on the float!!"
"Uh..." Seiya was stunned. "I'll go if my friends can."
"Are you fans?" she truned to us.
"Of course we are!" I said. "Why would we be friends with him if we weren't?"
"Good point," she said. "Well, come on then! My name is Maila."
"I'm Annie and this is Sutahito," I said. And so we took seats next to Seiya and waved to the crowds of screaming girls.
About fifteen minutes later I had the feeling that something was missing. I couldn't quite put my finger on it but something wasn't here that should have been. Then it hit me. "Usagi-chan!"
"What?" Sutahito looked at me.
"Oh no!" Seiya said. "We forgot that she was in the bathroom!" Then there was a scream. "We have to find her!"
Then there was another scream. "No time," I said. "Someone's in trouble."
"But..."
"It's our job. She'll be fine. I have my communicator," I reached into my pocket and felt my brooch but my communicator was gone. "Had my communicator..."
"Perfect!"
"Fine. You look for her and we'll fight."
"Ok."
"Anonymous Crystal Power, Make up!!" I transformed and the Kishi transformed. "Well, if it isn't Xphen: the Magnificent...-ly Stupid!"
"Oh, I'm shaking," Xphen said. "Let me guess. You're here to fight for love justice and all that planets and stuff?"
"What a wise guy," Kishi said.
"I say we have a battle. One on one. What do you say?" I proposed the idea.
"I say if you can defeat this O-patient we'll see," Xphen motioned to a lifeless figure near by where we were who was changing into an O-patient.
"Fan! FAN, FAN, FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the O-patient yelled.
"Do you think he has little paper fans to attack us with?" I asked the Kishi.
"Yeah, he might give us a paper cut!" he said and we burst into laughter.
"Fan Whirlwind!!" Fan shouted and he pulled out a masive electric fan and wind started to blow almost causing us to fly into the crowd of girls.
"What do we do?" Kishi shouted.
"We fight wind with wind!" I said. "Anonymous Occluded Blast!!" I focused my attack at the fan but it wasn't powerful enough and I started to fly backwards again.
"Oh no!"
"Gotcha, Anonymous!" The Kishi caught me as I crashed into him.
"I don't think we can do this alone!"
"You're right! We need help! I hope Fighter and Sailor Moon hurry!"
"I can't hold out until they get here!!" It looked like the end for us. I couldn't even keep my eyes open that wind was so badly blowing. Then in the distance:
"Star Gentle Uterus!!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!!"
"Healer! Maker!"
"We came back for your final battle," Maker said. "So how do we get rid of this thing?"
"We need to wait for Sailor Moon," I replied. "She and I have a double attack that kills these things in one shot."
"No need to wait anymore," a voice said. I looked up and on a lampost stood Fighter and Sailor Moon back to back.
"Penetrating the darkness of the night," Fighter said.
"And fighting for love and justice," Sailor Moon continued.
"We are the moonlight and the shooting star," they said together.
"Sailor Star Fighter!!"
"Sailor Moon!!"
"We're here!!"
"Thank goodness! Sailor Moon let's transform!"
"Hai!"
"Celestial Power, Make up!! Celestial Crystal Power Defeat!!" we cried.
"Peace out!!" The person turned back to normal and we ignored them. (AN: Mean much! XD)
"So Xphen," I said. "Our deal?" He looked around at the six of us and seeing himself outnumbered tried to flee. "Oh no you don't! Golden Star Sparkling Power Heal!!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed. "You can't do this...it's...impossible. I...am...all...powerful..." I had stunned him enough that he couldn't move.
"Right..." I said. "And I'm the queen of France."
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" Sailor Moon finished him off.
"Well...I guess you are...stronger than I...thought...good luck...against...Xalia..." he said and breathed one last time.
"There goes the last soldier," Healer said. "Now we'll be able to battle Xalia."
"Healer! Maker!" Sailor Moon cried and ran to hug them. "I missed you so much!"
"Sailor Moon," Maker said. "It's good to see you. And you too Fighter. But we have brought vital information about Xalia and the Unknowniverse headquarters. There is a portal into her base in the Grand Canyon. We have to go there soon and defeat Xalia. If we don't she'll send her strongest warrior to defeat the planet. And believe me you don't want to find out who he is."
"When do we have to go?" I asked.
"Very soon," Healer said. "That would be best."
"Ok then," I said. "Sometime this month. And we'll defeat Xalia for good."
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There was a short time in between the battle and the arriving of the other two Starlights. Rei was done at her special school and Michiru's tour ended so we had the entire team back. We used Rei's shrine again to have meetings so there was plenty of space. I really didn't get to spend too much time with Taiki and Yaten because they were either with each other or with Ami and Minako. Well, that wasn't a long paragraph so I guess I'll just move on to the next chpater.