AN: Yay for updating three days later! I actually thought it had been longer. So. Nothing really to add in so short a period. Read on!
Disclaimer: Despite the often ridiculous shapes I prod it into, the Play-Doh that is Sailor Moon does not belong to me.
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"Phones have been ringing off the hook," one of the technicians reported as Akiyama Chiya stepped off the set. "Half the city was watching."
"Of course," she said briskly. "Make arrangements for the photographs, will you? I am sure the Sailor Senshi will be waiting."
Mercury, who had been in the room the entire time, joined them. "I think the message came across well. It would help us a great deal if you remember to push the hotline number Sailor Moon gave you when you do the promotions for the other interviews."
"We'll do that. You're… Sailor Mercury, right? What role are you playing in this?"
"I'm the one coordinating the media work," she answered.
"Not Sailor Moon? I got the impression she was leader, even if Venus is officially."
"She is the leader, but she's all the more valuable for it. Being here too much would put her in the line of fire, and that's risky."
"I see. You're next, aren't you?" Mercury nodded. "We'll want focusing shots of each of you, of course. Papers will be looking for interviews, as will other stations. Do we direct them to you, or you going to keep this arrangement exclusive?"
"This set of interviews is exclusive, and we won't be speaking to anyone else until it's done. After that, they can leave messages with you here and I'll be by routinely to pick them up. To be clear," she added, "I will hear if people are complaining their messages are receiving no response. Even if my response is negative, I will be answering any request we get."
"Which is a way of telling me not to be greedy, I suppose."
Mercury shrugged. "If you're after too much, it makes you vulnerable to enemies. It wouldn't be the first time previously innocent civilians were turned to their purposes. Besides, if they think you're close to us, you become a tool for them."
Akiyama looked down at her before flicking a glance at the Moon Senshi. "You're being awfully quiet now."
"I said my part. This is Mercury's show."
The other three girls drifted over, and Jupiter linked arms with the blonde. "Way to go with that jab about their 'right to know'," she whispered. "I wanted to cheer."
Sailor Moon laughed quietly. "They won't try that line again in a hurry."
Akiyama led them to a photography room, set with brightly colored panels to match each Senshi. One large scene of the Tokyo skyline was against the opposite wall.
"The photographers will take it from here," she informed them. "Yamada Hiro is in charge, so if you have any questions take it up with him. I'll see you at the next interview."
She promptly left, the photographer watching her go with a disgusted expression.
"Such a foul woman. I don't know why you lot chose to talk to her."
"She certainly seems to have too high an opinion of her worth," Mars agreed. "The implications she made about Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen were tasteless."
"You're obviously young, so I'd agree with that. I only work with her because she brings in the top stories. The five of you certainly are that." He finally smiled at them. "She introduced me, so you know how I am, and I certainly realize who you are. I would never have thought the legendary Sailor Senshi would be standing here ready to work with me."
"We had our own reason to come here," Venus said. "She was just the one that took charge when we did."
"You don't like her then?" They all shook their heads as Yamada laughed. "So good taste is another quality that can be attributed to you. Do any of you have things in particular you'd think would suit these photos?"
"Our elements," Mercury suggested. "To really illustrate what we are. So ice or water for me, a storm for Jupiter, fire for Mars, some sort of heart motif for Venus. A crescent moon would be perfect for Sailor Moon."
He nodded, scribbling it down on a notebook. "I can add those effects once the shots are taken, so I won't waste any time on it now. I think first we'll do shots with each of you in front of those five screens."
The shoot went by with no trouble. Yamada was brilliant at his work and managed to get each girl right in no time at all and sent them on their way. They took the stairs to the roof and leapt across to the next building, and several more besides, to meet up with the remainder of their team.
Tuxedo Kamen wrapped his arm around Sailor Moon and held her close. "You did a wonderful job, Usako."
"Thanks. I felt like I was going to ruin it though."
"You handled the situation very well," Kunzite assured her.
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Ami strolled into the station lobby, clutching a formulated school report with a perfect score scrawled across the top. Much though she didn't want to admit it, she had been intrigued by the witty intern.
"Is Yukimura Zane here?"
The receptionist studied her. "You're the young lady Takeda-sama sent. Yes, he just got off shift a few minutes ago. He should pass through any time."
"Mizuno-san?"
She turned. "Yukimura-san. I was just looking for you."
The lightning smile she was beginning to think he had practiced flashed across his face again. "What a delightful coincidence. I was thinking of you as well. What can I do for you?"
"I got my report back," Ami said. She presented the paper with a flourish. "A perfect score. Thank you for being so helpful."
"It was my pleasure, of course." He studied her, a wicked laugh in his eyes. "Did you see the interview with Sailor Moon?"
She lowered her gaze. "No, I missed it, unfortunately. I had cram school."
"A pity. It really was impressive."
She studied him carefully. Suspicion had grown in her mind since she had spoken to Kunzite, though she had kept it to herself. There was no denying that he fit the description the elder general had given. Now Ami was torn between attempting to be sure and letting the man she was increasingly certain was Zoisite be. He was practically still a boy.
"Mizuno-san?"
Her focus snapped back. "Oh dear, I was staring. I'm so sorry, Yukimura-san."
"There is no need to apologize, though I am curious as to what you saw."
"It's nothing. My mind wandered, I'm afraid." Ami smiled at him. "Do you have anywhere to be?"
He seemed to realize they were still in the station's lobby. "Ah. No, indeed I do not. Would you care to accompany me on a stroll? The park nearby is quite lovely this time of day."
"That would be nice," she admitted.
So they walked into the park- not the Juuban park that concealed the Senshi's special clearing.
"Tell me about yourself," Ami suggested.
"I am not sure there is much to tell. As I mentioned previously, my parents are researchers. My mother specializes in medical work. My father is an ecologist."
"My mother is a doctor as well."
He nodded. "Then you understand the demands on their time. I did not see much of my parents as a child. I had friends, certainly, but it was not the same. I had little to do while I was home except occupy myself with my schoolwork."
She did understand. "Anything else? You mentioned finishing high school a year ago."
Zane paused. "To be honest, it was two years ago."
"But you said-"
"I know. To me, it has been only a year. Several months ago I woke up in a hospital with no recollection of the year before. No one could tell me. Apparently I had been missing the entire time."
"That's terrible," Ami murmured. "The not knowing must drive you mad."
"There are times that if I think about it enough, I can remember something. Pain, and despair. Then the memories end, and I have nothing before that hospital."
"A friend of mine has amnesia. He can't remember anything before his sixth birthday because he was in a horrible car crash."
They were sitting at a bench now. He had one leg up against his chest, arms wrapped around it, as the other hung normally. Ami sat quietly beside him.
"Most of the time I can ignore that missing year. I can be normal and live my life like there was no pause. But… I can never talk about it. Sometimes that sense of pain swamps me again, and I would swear that there was something inside me I would never understand. It frightens me."
Any doubts Ami had had about Zane being Zoisite were gone by now, and she was left with the dilemma of what her next step might be. By rights, he had been their enemy and could be again. In another direction, he was Mamoru's, and she had also begun to understand how much Kunzite missed the other Shitennou. And there was his connection to her past, the past that even in her awakened state she couldn't really remember.
She sighed. "I think I have delved too deeply into your past. I've upset you."
There was a smile again, but it was sad. "You did nothing wrong. In a way I suppose speaking of it will allow me to heal in the end."
Ami shook her head, but kept those doubts to herself. "You should go home and rest, Yukimura-san. I am sure you were very busy at your job."
Zane blinked. "I… Well, now I am embarrassed as well. I did not intend to be so easily read."
"I know many people that are far more difficult to read than you."
He slid to his feet and stretched. "Be that as it may. Thank you for talking with me, Mizuno-san. I appreciate your patience."
"I enjoy talking to you." She smiled. "Be careful on your way home. There are dark things in Tokyo these days."
"So there are. I will wish you safety as well."
Ami watched him go, uncertainty still looming in her mind. She knew as a Sailor Senshi it was her duty to report the presence of the youngest Shitennou, knowing where there was one the others were likely nearby. They had no way to know if the reincarnated generals could be trusted. She couldn't be sure Kunzite wasn't a special case.
As a girl, she was torn. This was what kept her from immediately calling the others. Part of her knew Mamoru and Kunzite would be so happy to see Zoisite again, even if the others might be more hesitant. The rest of her was sure that it was better he remain Zane.
Finally, Ami sighed and got to her feet. A small blue notebook emblazoned 'music' lay across the top of her schoolbag.
"What have we here?" she murmured, reaching for it.
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Zane whistled tunelessly as he waited for the man working a food cart to fix his coffee. He wasn't ready for the senseless dreams to start again.
He hadn't lied when he told the pretty blue-haired girl that he couldn't remember that year. Except for the tiniest flashes, he had no idea what might have happened. The only solid thing he knew was constant agony. Well.
That, and a pained voice murmuring a name. "Zoisite". Always that voice. Always that name.
He was sure the voice was female, and that the name was meant for him, but except for that he was clueless. As it was, he could scarcely believe he had shared his fear of that missing year with a girl he scarcely knew.
He gave the vendor the cash, not really caring that he had overpaid. His parents gave him money enough that the extra yen would make no difference to him, but it might do something to help the other man.
The coffee was terrible, but it was enough to bring him back to full awareness. He continued to sip the piping hot brew despite its taste. Without realizing, his hand slid to his pocket.
He kept a tiny notebook of music, one of the few things before the missing year he could still muster interest in. Not playing- he hadn't felt the connection there that he had known in his past, and was constantly swamped with the sensation that he was playing with only a part of his soul. He recorded tunes that occurred to him in the hopes that someday the playing would come again. He missed that outlet dreadfully.
The notebook, however, wasn't there. He frowned, searching his pockets as though it might have moved itself, but it occurred to him that he must have dropped it when he had been sitting so informally on the bench. Frowning, he turned to retrieve it.
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When the notebook began to flare with the same dark magic she had registered in Mikuji and Nekonneru, Ami knew she was in trouble. She reached for her communicator as she desperately backed away, but it formed too quickly.
The Daimon was beautiful in its dangerous way. It seemed to be the shadowy figure of a woman, wearing a gown of sheet music.
"Such a tortured heart," it crooned. "So bright and broken."
Her words confused Ami, who was hurriedly activating an alarm that would spread to the others. A tortured, broken heart?
"Zane," she gasped.
"And you brought it to light," the Daimon continued. "I am Onnagaku, and your Pure Hearts will be mine!"
The red haired woman appeared. "Your target is this girl, Onnagaku. Forget the man."
"Their hearts are purest together," Onnagaku explained. "They might be the Talismans, Kaorinite-sama."
Kaorinite considered. "Very well. See to it quickly."
She vanished again, and Ami's hand leapt to her henshin wand, praying she might have time to transform and hold it long enough for her friends to arrive. She didn't.
Onnagaku came at her the instant Kaorinite was gone, throwing Ami across the little field. Her impact with the ground knocked the air from her lungs and the wand from her hand. Gasping, she tried desperately to reach it, but the Daimon was there again. This time, she crashed into the stone bench. She was sure something had broken.
"Mizuno-san!"
Blinking through the pain, Ami forced her eyes to focus and saw Zane at the head of the path. "No… Zane, run!" she shouted. "It wants you too!"
The Daimon lunged for him, but his reflexes were good. His coffee flew and smashed into the monster's face, sending a wave of the hot liquid over it. It jerked away, screeching wordlessly in its rage.
"Run!"
He scrambled to her side, hands delicately searching for the source of injury. "It's all right; I've sent someone to call for the Senshi. They'll be here soon. Are you hurt?"
"No, Zane, you don't understand. It wants both of us." Channeling what bit of strength she had left, she tossed him out of range for its next charge. "You have to run!"
Onnagaku whirled on the young man, and its screech changed to a sort of song. Lines- like the staff lines on its dress- shot from its mouth and encircled his wrists, holding his arms up against a tree.
"Mizuno-san!" he yelled, thrashing against the restraints. "Mizuno-san!"
The Daimon turned back to Ami, and a black star formed amidst the musical pattern of her gown. "I will take your pure hearts!"
The black beam she had seen in the other attacks sprang from the mark and struck Ami fully in the chest. She screamed in pain, pain far more intense than the broken bones she already suffered from. Zane screamed with her.
The lines shattered, and when he fell to a crouch he wasn't quite the same. His blond hair was longer and in a ponytail, and he wore a navy uniform identical to Kunzite's. Twin daggers fell into his hand.
The star-shaped crystal appeared in front of Ami, and the last of her strength went into her gasp of one word. "Z… Zoi… Zoisite…"
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Zoisite's furious scream echoed through the park, and he lunged for the Daimon. It fired the same attack at him, but he deflected it with one knife while preparing to strike with the other. He didn't anticipate the second blow, which managed to slip past his guard and threw him back against the same tree.
The force of it had torn his Pure Heart Crystal out directly, and it too was agonizing. Whatever had prompted him to become the third Shitennou failed, and as his vision began to turn black he returned to being just Yukimura Zane. He only retained consciousness long enough to see the arrival of the Senshi of the Moon.
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Sailor Moon almost let out her own cry when she saw the state of the new battlefield. Ami's posture told her that at least one bone was broken, and the girl had certainly fainted. The young man didn't seem to be in much better shape.
When the Daimon reached for the crystals, she did release a frightened whimper. "Give those back!" she cried.
Kaorinite rejoined the creature and took the crystals from its hands. She studied them. "These are not Talismans! Destroy the humans and kill the warrior." The villainess teleported away, leaving Sailor Moon and Onnagaku the only moving figures on the field.
"Give them back," Sailor Moon demanded in a choked voice. "Give the crystals back."
It laughed at her. "They will die now!"
The heroine spun wildly. "Uranus! Neptune! I know you're there! Help me!"
The figures she finally spotted only faded away, leaving her to the Daimon.
Onnagaku flung herself at the girl, but henshined she was far faster than Ami had been. She managed to get clear and rolled to a stop beside her unconscious friend.
"Ami-chan! You have to wake up! Ami-chan!"
The Daimon came at her again, but she was less fortunate this time. She crumpled atop of Zane, desperately sucking air into her lungs.
A plume of flame was the answer to its next attack, heralding the arrival of the others.
"Ami-chan!" Jupiter shouted. She ran forward and slipped into a protective crouch between their wounded teammate and the enemy.
"Who's the guy?" Venus asked.
"The better question is why that monster has two pure hearts," Mars said grimly. "They're not so target specific as we thought."
Tuxedo Kamen assisted Sailor Moon to her feet as the others kept Onnagaku busy. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Could you help Ami-chan? I think she's broken a few bones."
"I'll see what I can do, but until she has that crystal back…"
"I know. I'll take care of it." She returned to the field. "Hold it steady!"
Venus and Mars drove it into a corner, pinning it there with waves of Mars' flaming rings and Venus' golden chain. "Get it, Sailor Moon!" Venus called.
She focused and brought the Spiral Heart Moon Rod into her hand. "MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!"
Onnagaku cried "Lovely!" as she shattered, and the shining crystals fell into Sailor Moon's hands. No one cared enough to heed the little music book falling to the ground as the Daimon's spirit failed.
"How do we tell which one is Ami-chan's?" Jupiter asked as she straightened.
"I don't know," the Moon Senshi murmured. "Maybe they do?"
She released them, and they hovered in the air before her before streaking back to their respective person. Ami's form spasmed as it sank into its rightful place, and the young man they didn't know began to cough. He turned over to retch.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama, her injuries!"
The masked hero knelt beside Ami. "Tell me what's hurt."
"Back," she gasped. "And hip."
He focused. "Her spine has been partially crushed at the waist, and her hipbone is shattered, but… somehow, it's begun to mend. And she's healing…" He turned. "She's healing him."
"She is?" Mars asked. "Why?"
"Zoisite," she gasped as Zane finally crawled away from the mess and sprawled out on his back. "He's Zoisite."
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AN: YAY ZOISITE! I have to admit, anime-Zoisite still creeps me out a little. This will be a mix of live-action Zoi and what I figure he would be like without the Dark Kingdom crazy. Last, again, love reviews, would like them a great deal. Questions will be answered if received, though I say that under the assumption that you ask something I can answer. I really don't know where this is going yet, so that wouldn't be a good choice. Till next time!