Another chapter, up and running! I hope that you really enjoy this one because it has one of my favorite scenes in it *evil smile and laughter* MUAHAHAHA!!!!! Eh, erhm, uh, so yes, enjoy and please review when you're done.
~SXS
Conflicts of the Earth and a Star; Seiya and Mamoru's Fight
Hand in hand we walked. He was smiling in the most dazzling way. His raven-colored hair shone in the bright sun. His eyes were two blue pools of endless emotion that I could just fall into and never want to come out of. "I can't explain it, but when I'm with you, I'm just so happy," I said.
He laughed and his gorgeous voice rung out all around us. "I'm happy when I'm with you, too. I lo-" But just then, the sky started to darken and our hands were pulled apart. I looked around madly for him, but he was gone.
"NO!!!" I cried and ran as fast as I could. I didn't know where I was going, but I had to get far away from that place. All around me was darkness. Something tripped me and I fell hard on the ground. Looking up, I saw two giant mirrors framed in stone, both reflecting images of the future.
One reflected me in my Neo Queen Serenity dress, sitting on a crystal throne next to my destined lover. The other showed my headstone and I screamed. "I WANT TO GO BACK!!! I WANT TO GO BACK!!!" How could my perfect day have gone downhill so rapidly?
It seemed my only options were destiny and death. I knew the obvious choice of most would be the former, but could I live with that forever? At least with the latter choice, I wouldn't be able to regret my decision. But why would I regret choosing my destiny? My heart wanted to pull me toward something else, but I wasn't sure what.
--
A loud ringing aroused me from my sleep. Alarm clock? I thought groggily. But it couldn't be that because we weren't in school anymore. As my mind cleared away its fog, and the memories of my nightmare, I realized that it was the phone.
I shuffled into the hallyway and pick up the phone. "Moshi moshi?" I said drowzily.
"You sound you just got up, Odango," Seiya's voice came from the reciever, sounding chipper. I could never understand morning people.
"I did."
"Well, that's good, because now you and me can go to Crown's together. What do you say? We never did get our ice cream." I could hear the smile in his voice and couldn't resist saying yes.
"This early in the morning? You must be dying to see me," I teased.
"Well, uh, I, uh..." he stuttered. "I guess I'll just see you there. Ja ne." Why he hung up the phone in such a hurry, I'll never know. But, at least I had something to do to get my mind off that terrible dream.
I threw on a T-shirt and shorts and attached my favorite keychain to one of the belt loops. The little pink bear swayed from side to side as I walked. I also put my brooch in my pocket, just in case.
As I walked to Crown's, I thought about the events of the month before. We hadn't seen hide nor hair of Juunigatsu or Ganetto since graduation. There was a make up ceremony to get us all our diplomas the next week. Other than that, nothing was really going on, which left me pleanty of time to think about the future, even when I didn't want to.
The one that will become the true future of our world is still up in the air. It all depends on us. Pluto's words replayed in my head. I was so worried about what would become of the world if we didn't find the Kinmotsuai No Tier. The Three Lights were singing but with no luck just yet, though Seiya claimed he could feel that it was close by.
The automatic doors of Crown's opened and I immdiately recognized the head of black hair towards the back of the restarant. I didn't want him to worry about me so I pushed my morbid thoughts to the back of my mind and put on my best smile as I ran over and sat down across from him in the booth. "Ohaiyo!"
"Wow. You sound a lot more awake than when we spoke on the phone. Ohaiyo." Seiya passed me a menu. Everything looked good, as usual. I ordered a hot fudge sundae with everything on it. Seiya sweat-dropped as he ordered a scoop of chocolate with whipped cream.
"So why did you want me to come here this early?" I asked. At this, Seiya's cheeks turned the tiniest tint of pink. He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and opened it up. When he handed it to me, I saw that it was a sheet of music and lyrics. The title was long and didn't make much sense. Something about one-sided love...
"See, I kinda wrote this song and I wanted to know if you liked it. Maybe we could use it to find the talisman." Seiya got up from his seat and moved in next to me to read over my shoulder. He sang some of the lyrics. "I want to help you, I want to rescue you, if I can do it/I would even throw away my life all for you/When you're eneasy, when it's painful, I am there with you/Always keep showing to me your smiling face."
The song was beautiful, but it didn't make much sense to me. "It's a very deep and moving song, Seiya. I really like it."
Seiya beamed at my compliments. "You do?"
"Yes, but there's just one thing I'd like to know. Who is this song about?" When I asked this, Seiya's face fell. His jaw dropped and he stared at me, shocked and dumbfounded. "Well, come on! Who is the song for?" It took him a moment to come back to reality.
"You mean you honestly don't know who I wrote this song for..." I shook my head. "You haven't any ideas? Not a clue?" I kept shaking my head. For a moment, Seiya seemed to ponder something, then he sighed. "Maybe it's better this way."
"No! Tell me who it is!"
"You wouldn't understand, Odango." Our ice cream came, ending the conversation. Seiya then went back to his seat. It seemed I would forever be curious as to who the mysterious song was for.
When Seiya got the bill, he sweat-dropped once again. Maybe I overdid it with the sundae. But he just shook his head and smiled. He put the money in with the check and left it at the end of the table. Then he sighed. "Doshtano, Seiya?" I asked.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking about something..." He trailed off and his eyes focused on something that wasn't there. They looked almost...sad. But he had no reason to be sad. Well, he did, after seeing that possible future, but right now he should be happy.
"Seiya, do you miss Kakkyu Princess?"
Seiya jumped back to reality. "What?" Then he seemed to register what I said and nodded. "I always miss Princess, but that's not what I was thinking about. Actually, I was thinking of a certain princess, but not Kakkyu-hime." Seiya sighed again and stared vacantly at the same spot. "Odango...do you know what it's like to love someone but know that they don't love you the same way?"
I thought about everything that had happened with boys in my life ever since I was little. Sure, not all of my crushes liked me when I liked them in grammar school, but that was different. My brain fast-forwarded to when I was fourteen.
It had been after that horrible attack by the Dark Kingdom when Mamoru forgot that he was Tuxedo Mask and my boyfriend. I still loved him, once I regained my memories, but he acted as if he didn't know who I was.
And even when he got his memory back, his future self had sent those terrible dreams to keep us apart. I tried all the time to win him over, but had never succeeded. Luckily that ended when we all traveled to the future and learned about Crystal Tokyo. At the thought of my destiny, my dream resurfaced in my head, and I quickly pushed it away.
"Yes, I have felt that way before."
"Then I guess you understand how I'm feeling right now." He turned back to me with those indigo eyes full of emotion and held me there. Slowly he reached out a hand and just barely touched my face with the tips of his fingers. His fingers slid down my cheek and I turned bright red. "Odango..." he whispered.
Seiya leaned forward over the table and I leaned forward too. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but as we got closer, I felt warmer and warmer until my face felt like it was on fire. Just then, feet stormed inside and I heard an angry voice call me.
"USAKO!!"
My eyes shot open and I blinked a couple of times, confused. I was so lost in the moment that I wasn't even thinking! Mamoru was approaching our table and his face was a mixture of anger, shock and hurt. Those were my least favorite emotions to see in his face.
"Usagi, what are you doing?" Mamoru pulled me out of the booth and put me behind him. Seiya stood too. Anger flashed on his face. "How could you go somewhere with him alone and not even tell me? When I couldn't reach you at home or on your communicator, I was worried."
"Mamo-chan, you know that if I told you that I was going to be here, you would follow us and be watching form the sidlines." He opened his mouth to protest but I stopped him. "Oh, you think I don't see you but I do. Everytime Seiya and I are alone, you're there spying."
"And I have every right to be! I saw you two just before I got in; all googly-eyed and inches from each other. If I hadn't stopped you when I did, who knows? You could have destroyed our future." Mamoru then grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the entrance. "I don't think that you should be seeing him anymore if he's just going to try and turn you against me."
"He's not trying to do anything, Mamo-chan," I said as I yanked my hand free.
"Besides, if Odango would rather hang out with me than you, it's up to her. And I think that she's making a good choice." Seiya walked up and put an arm around me. Mamoru pushed it off.
"If you lay a finger on her one more time..."
"Oh?" There was a playful glint in Seiya's eyes. "You mean like thiiis?" He stretched out the last word as he poked my shoulder.
"That's it! You want a fight, gender-bender? Bring it on!" The whole restaurant turned to look at us.
"I thought you'd never ask, tuxedo boy." The two stared menacingly into each others' eyes. Kami-sama! What have I started?! I tried to get between them, but they both pushed me away, saying that his was their fight. They left the bulding and I followed.
Swiftly they walked. They kept going and going and I had to use my late-for-school pace to keep up with them. Finally they reached an area in a park where there were no people. It was an old section full of overgrown bushes and weeds and wilted flowers. The benches there were covered in mold and leaves. It was the perfect spot because no one would come by and see.
Seiya and Mamoru transformed and stood across from each other like it was a western showdown. Tuxedo Kamen held a rose in his hand and Fighter held her Star Yell. I was nervous that one of them would get severly hurt, so I transformed too. This way I could use my healing powers quickly, if need be.
"What're you waiting for? You're acting as if you really are 2000 years old," Fighter taunted.
"Ladies first," Tuxedo Kamen hissed.
Fighter laughed at that. "You asked for it. Star Serious LASER!!!" The white beam went straight for Tuxedo Kamen, but seconds before it made contact, he jumped in the air and onto a tree. Fighter jumped up too. I backed up to get a better look.
Tuxedo Kamen threw roses at Fighter but she dodged with ease. "Fine. It's time to take it up a notch." His cane appeared in his open hand and extended to the length of a yardstick.
"Oh no! Now I'm scared. What are you gonna do? Hit me with it like an old lady?" Fighter laughed. She took her Star Yell and pushed one of the buttons. A light saber-like blade grew from the top and the star shape turned into a handle. With her free hand, she motioned for him to bring it.
I was so afreaid one of them would fall. After they fenced for a while, the two jumped back down to the ground. Neither of them backed down. I wasn't keeping track of how long this was going on, but suddenly, Fighter's blade was knocked from her hand.
She didn't turn to see where it went, obviously not giving Tuxedo Kamen the opportunity to sneak attack. Instead, she yelled, "Star Fighter Kick!" and in one swift move, she kicked Tuxedo Kamen right where it hurts.
Tuxedo Kamen fell forward, clutching himself. He curled into a ball on the floor and his hat and mask fell off. Figther walked over and put a foot on top of him, claiming her victory. I ran over to Tuxedo Kamen and asked if he was ok. He nodded painfully.
"Baka!" I stood and slapped Fighter's shoulder with the back of my hand. "Are you trying to kill my kids?"
"Sorry, Odango. Guess I wasn't thinking. But victory is sweet, isn't it?" She smiled.
From in the main area of the park, there came screaming. All three of us looked in the direction of the cries. "This isn't over, alien," Tuxedo Kamen wheezed as he struggled to his feet.
"Whatever you say, your majesty." Fighter mockingly curtsied. Then we all ran to the main section of the park.
The rest of the senshi were already there. Juunigatsu and Ganetto were both on the ground. A Koyomi was in front of them and morphed into a dinosaur before our eyes. "Astui Chockoreto!" Ganetto commanded it. "Get that talisman!" The big brown dinosaur roared at the people in the park and crystals flew out of them, much like the way the pure hearts were taken by the Death Busters.
The people all dropped to the ground and the crystals floated above them. "Now we can easily check for the Kouhai Kesshou that has the talisman," Juunigatsu said but before they could start, I made our presence known.
"You're taking these...whatever you called them from innocent park-goers. For that, I can't forgive you! Agents of love and justice, pretty sailor soldiers, Sailor Moon and the Sailor Team! And in the name of the moon, we'll punish you!"
Ganetto rolled her eyes and Juunigatsu turned angry. "Why are you stupid senshi interfering in our business? Astui Chokoreto! Distract them so we can look for the Kouhai Kesshou!" Juunigatsu and Ganetto started searching in the mass of people while the dinosaur thing came towards us.
"I don't know about you guys, but I think now would be a good time to run!" I cried, but Mars grabbed my wing.
"Sailor Moon, this is no time to panic. We've got to stop them from finding that talisman or you know what will happen." Images of the Gates of Time and of my dream played in my head and I knew she was right. "Mercury, find it's weak spot!"
Mercury took our her computer and turned on her visor. She started typing madly while everyone else started to attack the creature.
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
But no matter how many times the thing got hit, it didn't look any weaker. "Why isn't it working?" I wailed.
"Time to take out the big guns. Star Serious Laser!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!"
"Star Gentle Uterus!"
Even the Sailor Starlights' attacks weren't working. "How are things coming along, Mercury?" I turned to her but she was engrosed in finding a way to beat the thing. Tuxedo Kamen started striking it with roses but it was no good. "Mercury..."
"I've got it!" she finally burst out. "See where it's tail is trying to block? If it moves its tail you can attack it there and it should be weak enough for you to finish it off." Quickly, she put her computer away and pushed her earring to turn off the visor. "I've got this. Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
The water attack hit the spot right on. The dinosaur fell and tried to get back up, but was having trouble. "Now, Sailor Moon!" Everyone cried out and I took out my tier.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!!" Something sparked on top of the tier, but nothing came out of it. "Uh...Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!!" I kept calling out the attack and nothing happened.
"Sailor Moon, what's wrong?" Tuxedo Kamen called.
"I don't know! It's just not working!" Everyone came over to me and the dinosaur started to regain its composure. It eyed us with fury.
"What could be wrong?" Fighter asked. She touched my shoulder and suddenly I felt a wave of energy go through me. It was automatically channeled into the tier and I felt a new attack phrase form in my head.
"I...I...something is giving me power, though I don't know where it's coming from," I explained quickly. "I have a new attack. Celestial Love Destiny Reshape!!" The beam coming from my tier was pink and it hit the Koyomi. It bagan to shrink until it was six inches high. I walked over to it and picked it up. It was now a stuffed toy.
"That was...odd," Maker said.
"Wait! Ganetto and Juunigatsu!" Healer said and turned back to the people and the Kouhai Kesshous.
"Netto-chan, there's no talisman here! And look! They beat Astui Chokoreto! Oh, we're in big trouble!" Juunigatsu clinged to her partner who rolled her eyes once again.
"We may as well give them their Kouhai Kesshous back then. More slaves for in the future." Ganetto pushed her hands down in the air and the Kouhai Kesshous returned to the peoples' bodies. "We'll get you next time, Sailor Moon-tachi." And the two of them disappeared.
"We've got to find that talisman soon," Mercury said. "Now that they have a way to find it, it's only a matter of time before it shows up."
"Somehow, Sailor Moon is able to trigger it," Fighter said. "That new attack had to be the power of the talisman. How do you do it?" Everyone looked at me expectantly and I backed away. I put my hands up in front of me defensively.
"Hey, I have no idea! It just happens. I think it has more to do with Fighter. Everytime she touches me in batle, the talisman shines." Fighter looked confused and everyone turned to her.
"I'm not doing it. At least, I don't think I am." Curiously, she placed her hand on my shoulder again but I felt nothing. What happened? It was only after Fighter had touched me before that I could use the new power, but now nothing happened. Everyone waited for me to say something but I shook my head.
"Well then I guess the talisman isn't as close as we thought," Venus said.
"That's why we need to sing," Maker said. "Our songs will lead us to the talisman or lead the talisman to us. We've got to find the Kinmotsuai No Tier before it's too late."
"Wait a minute," Jupiter said. "Why didn't Sailor Moon's attack work before?"
"I'm looking into that now, Jupiter," Mercury said, computer in hand. She typed for a few minutes and looked at my brooch through her visor.
"Nani, Mercury?" I asked.
"I can't quite figure out what's going on," she replied. "We'll have to wait and see if anything else weird happens. Then we'll tell Luna and Artemis. They'll probably know what's going on."
Everyone detransformed and left. I fingered my brooch. If we don't find that talisman soon, the future will be doomed for sure.
--
Ganetto and Juunigatsu bowed before their leaders when they entered the room. "Tanjouseki-sama, you and Reikigetsu-sams's Koyomi worked beautifully at removing the Kouhai Kesshous today," Ganetto announced.
"Then I trust you have found the talisman?" Nenkaningen asked.
"Well...that was the only flaw today," Juunigatsu replied. "Oh! That and the fact that the senshi are able to defeat a Koyomi. They have the power of the talisman on their side."
"Somehow they are able to use it," Ganetto explained. "But I'm not sure they know much about it. I haven't seen it with them so it must be hidden."
"Or," Tanjouseki interrupted. "The talisman could be inside of one of them. We just need to know which one."
"The only way we could find out is to attack them all," Rekigetsu said. "You must luer the senshi to you and then strike. Eventually, you will find the talisman."
"The Kinmotsuai No Tier is our only way of defeating the Earth and extracting my revenge. Go, Ganetto and Juunigatsu. The information you have found is of great value. But we don't have much time. If you don't find the talisman soon, it with be your end."
Juunigatsu gulped and Ganetto straightened up. "Yes, sir, Nenkaningen-sama." They bowed once again and left the room to the three leaders.
Yay! So wasn't that an amazing chapter? I love this one to death. Look out for chapter three next week. Here's a quick summary:
Usagi and Mamoru are planning to go to a concert. But when Usagi kills time with Seiya, she may actually be in it! Can she really be the key to finding the talisman? Is there enough time? Stay tuned and find out in Angel's Voice Calls the Talisman; Usagi Sings with the Three Lights. And remember, destiny is not always set in stone.