"This is all your fault!" Makoto snarled at Usagi.
"I said I was sorry," cried the pigtailed girl, her tone a little defensive. "It's not like I wanted to mix up the stones on purpose," she muttered.
Ami slapped her forehead. "Okay, it doesn't matter. Can we just finish this, please?" she asked, her tone weary. Dark circles were under her eyes, as well as the other girls', evidence of the fiasco that happened the night before.
As soon as there was light, the girls had frantically called each other about what happened. A conference call was all it took to have them marching to Usagi and Mamoru's home. Ami and Minako had to restrain Rei and Makoto from going after Usagi's throat, and even then, the sky had darkened and ominous rumblings proved that the normally cheery senshi of Jupiter was more than a little teed off. By unanimous decision, they had decided to return the stones to Usagi (Rei was in favor of shoving it down her throat). However, the princess pleaded for them to give it another chance, why is why the Senshi found themselves at the third floor of the Chiba residence. They reasoned that they would summon the Shitennou together, to prevent any more mix-ups, and the room upstairs was big enough to hold whatever it is that would happen. Or so they thought.
"Why are we doing this again?" Rei grumbled.
"Because we gave our word to Usagi," Minako explained, trying to keep her tone patient.
"Thank you, Mina-chan!" squealed Usagi, rushing over to hug her friend, but the Sailor of Venus's glare was enough to draw her back. She might not be as angry as Rei or Makoto, but she was still smarting over the Zoicite incident.
Aloud, she asked, "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Ami breathed out.
"Let's do this," Makoto growled.
"Jadeite!"
"Nephrite!"
"Zoicite!"
"Kunzite!"
A shimmering mist hovered over the stones, and then the four Shitennou stood, in all their battle glory. What happened after was something Usagi didn't expect.
"You jerks!" shrieked Rei, throwing one fireball after another at Jadeite and Nephrite.
"How dare you insult Nephy?" Makoto yelled, chasing after Kunzite, the tips of her fingers buzzing with electricity. The leader of the Shitennou, in his haste, tripped, with Minako clutching at his arm, screaming her head off at the meanness of Zoicite, who was trying his best to fend off Ami, who, in a very un-Ami like manner, was trying to tackle him to smother him with hugs. In a move worthy of Ami, she decided to freeze the floor, causing everyone to start slipping and sliding. Not looking at where she crawling, Ami got under Nephrite's feet, who promptly prompted and had even more of his hair singed. Screaming like a little girl, he tried to hide behind Makoto, who promptly hurled him at Kunzite, who yelled and accidentally elbowed Rei, who accidentally set fire to one of the chairs as she aimed for the squealing Jadeite. Thankfully, some of Ami's senses came back, and she quickly put the flame out, but not without jumping on Zoicite first and squeezing him tightly. Zoicite's color immediately began turning purple because of oxygen deprivation. He was saved from death by choking by the most unexpected person.
"Usako? Are you home? The weather's crazy outside! I think Makoto's gone crazy again..."
Eight pairs of eyes immediately turned to Usagi, who gulped. "Mamo-chan... Hehehe. I thought you're supposed to be home tomorrow?"
"I know, but the conference ended early. Something about a freak storm coming and..." Sound of footsteps. Usagi's eyes began to widen in panic. "Why is it so cold here? Did you turn on the heater? I think..." Whatever Mamoru was thinking, he didn't get to say. Instead, his eyes bugged out at the sight: Ami, who had her arms around Zoicite, who wasn't purple anymore but seemed afraid of what the blue-haired girl would do to him. Minako, clutching Kunzite's arm like crazy, while trying to shove off Makoto who was trying with all her might to calm down the sparks floating above her hand while muttering "I am not crazy, I am not crazy", glaring at both Kunzite and Mamoru, while Nephrite tried to cower behind her. Jadeite was on the floor squealing while Rei looked like she was trying to tug his leg off, her face still red with fury. The ice-covered floor, the smell of burning hair, and the smoking chair didn't help matters.
"Usako, what the heck have you been doing while I was away?"