damonika2009: you probably did but for some reason my email these days doesn't display everything from fanfic. I don't know why but either way that is why I keep thinking I'm not getting reviews lately. I have to go to the reviews page to get them all. Akito isn't going away anytime soon. Kenji will go one step forward them several back. I'm REALLY debating on having her just stay with Mamo or go back to her parents place. I do want EVERYONE to give me their views on that.
trish1573: I think emotions help tie things in together. The Amber twist was a last minute thing that I figured could work really well. This story will be ending soon but not THAT soon. I'm up to ch/ep.37 right now. And I'm not even on the last witch.
Guest (1): well I want to show that a young couple in a sexual relationship can make things work out for the better. Kenji's reaction to Mamo won't be pretty. Akito has a few tricks up his sleeves. But he tries to save the best for last.
NeoPrincessRini: he's growing up and growing a backbone in the process. Luna is in the middle of a bit where she needs to find that middle ground for the new relationship status Usa and Mamo are in. they just need to figure it out. As for being traumatized by the intimate moment, I just thought that might be funny, plus I really wanted it to be either her or Artemis. She won!
kera69love: wow thank you! Kenji he is a complex right now.
Spike: wow…I had to read this one over twice…I'm glad you liked the 'R' version so I'm trying to find how I can make it more true to the characters that I seem to be lacking. So far my only true change that I'm seeing is the progress to Usa and Mamo's relationship. With the Uranus, Neptune and Pluto bit. My interpretation of the actual anime and manga (If I recall correctly) I always assumed that both of them were taking orders from Pluto. Secretly like Luna was from Artemis in the beginning. I literally believed that even when I re-watched the eps a few months back. Even watching them now for small reference points its how I have been interpreting them. They are all three very strong senshi but as strong as one is there has to be an advisor, a person to guide as Luna and Artemis is to the inner senshi I believed that they operated to a degree with what Pluto was talking about. Independent yes but I'm sorry if how I originally saw them wasn't how you did. Hopefully you'll continue to read and perhaps even see where I'm coming from. You've been a good reviewer and I appreciate all feedback I get.
CaughtInAFantasy: He will if he isn't careful.
Guest (2): that's a first…I was hoping it wouldn't come off like that but every chance I get to push it in without it being just a throw in I put it in. I take the opportunity because with Chibi Usa back in town I didn't want to fall out of a sexual rhythm with them. There's still point but to be honest I always thought sex scenes were smut to begin with. I guess I interpreted that wrong. Lol but there won't be a whole lot of excess sex but still there will be sex within the story. I like writing it to much to go more than a few ch/ep's without one.
TessBeth: sorry if I didn't catch your last review up there. I must have accidentally over looked it.
Slow Burn: I think it has something close to it, I just haven't looked at it in forever. Lol I won't take out all the smut, promise. I enjoy writing it to much to do that.
Guest (3): that's sweet cause I have similar fics where I read them that often to.
LoveInTheBattleField: always do.
12 reviews, not bad, hopefully this'll prompt more. Seriously though let me know VIA review on your thoughts if Usa should stay living with Mamo or go live with her parents back with them and Shingo.
Sailor Moon S 'Rise of the Messiah' ch/ep. 26
Once out of school Usagi started to head back to Mamoru's when her communicator trilled. With a heavy sigh she pulled up the long sleeve of her uniform shirt and flipped the top. Rei's face instantly appeared on the screen. "Emergency meeting at the temple. Move you lazy butt, Odango Atama right now!"
Usagi rolled her eyes as yet again her beloved nickname was resurrected by the immortally irritated Miko.
"On my way." She responded, thinking she needed to come up with a not so loved nickname for the priestess as well. Jogging now down the crowded street hoping to catch the Sendai Hill bus she spotted Setsuna walking swiftly across the street. The glass bus stop at the corner her intended target just as well. The woman was once again dressed in a long white lab coat and black pencil skirt. Her hand shoved into the coats wide pockets head cast down lost to her thoughts. Milling with the rest of the afternoon crowds across the street.
"Konnichiwa, Setsuna – san!" Usagi called out as she reached the cross walk. The senshi of time glanced up as she to reached the crosswalk. Waiting patiently as the golden blonde dashed across the street with the moving foot traffic. Coming to a standstill before her a huge beaming smile gracing her sweet face. As she was greeted by her future Queen, she refrained from the urge to bow in place.
She had to remember that Usagi was not Queen in this time line, not yet. But she couldn't help but respond in kind, giving the happy teen a warm smile of her own. The princess always had such an infectious joy inside of her that she naturally brightened anyone's mood.
"Usagi – chan. I was just on my way to the temple to see the girls about the new enemy." Setsuna explained, starting for the bus stop again.
Nodding Usagi followed, "I understand you're not allowed to go into much detail over the future…" She began. Wondering if it was taboo just to ask her something.
Setsuna passed her a cool look out of the corner of her eye. "I have only been awakened within the last few years." She stated honestly. "I have yet to explore my full powers. But yes, I have travelled the paths between the here, then and beyond. At least through my Garnet orb." She shrugged, not yet powerful enough to physically transcend time as her previous incarnation. She had only seen the past and future through the timeless depths of the blood red stone on her staff. Her Talisman...
"But could you tell me one thing?" Usagi kept on understanding her limitations, but still very curious to find out the truth. Looking up hopefully to the taller woman.
"Depends, ask and I'll tell you if I can answer it." Setsuna smiled knowingly yet her tone was apprehensive.
"How ah…how many children do Mamo – chan and I have in the future?" Usagi managed to ask, her question so innocent it made Setsuna laugh.
Setsuna smiled, "You mean how many now or total?" the question made Usagi's cheeks blush furiously, "Oh kami." She looked nervously down at her stomach briefly, "That many?" she asked a little startled.
Oh Usagi was well aware that Mamoru wanted a big family but how many was he going to talk her into? "Its best you don't know." Setsuna answered with a delighted chuckle. Usagi agreed, to stunned to keep pressuring Setsuna for more information. Not sure if her uterus or her psyche could mentally handle that knowledge just yet.
When they arrived at the temple the girls were all circled around Rei's low table, waiting for Setsuna to explain it all, "I guess it's time." The Senshi of time muttered. Sitting down at the head of table, staring down the length towards Ami at the other end. Makoto and Minako flanked the scholar. While Rei sat along the side to her left and Usagi settled herself down along the right side of her.
Setsuna briefly wondered if there would be a barrage of questions before or afterwards. It appeared after since the girls were all silent and waiting for her to talk. Rei had taken the liberty to ensure their privacy by getting up briefly and closing the divider.
"My purpose upon awakening was to find my fellow Outer Senshi and set them on the right course towards the Enemy." Setsuna began, casting Luna and Artemis laying upon Rei's bed a brief somber look.
"Were you guys had both Luna and Artemis to guide you in the beginning. Michiru and Haruka had no one but themselves. Unfortunately, even though I had been awakened first the universe was not going to wait for me to finish my quest to find my other Senshi. Neptune was awakened in High School, when the first half formed Daimon attacked a fellow classmate." The girls shifted in their seats feeling for Neptune.
"She fought all by herself for many months. Trying to track down were these monster's were coming from. I was investigating the university at the time, tracing the genetic research of a Professor Tomoe who had recently been fired from the institution. I never expected my comrades would be younger then myself in this new timeline. I figured I would find them at the University as well." Setsuna sighed heavily, feeling guilty for being so single minded in her pursuit of Tomoe at the time that Neptune had to fight alone for so long.
"By the time I finally heard reports of a girl with super powers taking on Monster's at Juban High, she had already found her comrade in arms. Uranus." Setsuna had guilt veiled behind her smooth tone.
"They were still just kids themselves, having to grow up very fast in those few months before I found them. Together we have been tracking down the enemy and are close to uncovering were these Daimon's are coming from." She continued. "I must confess the fact that the enemy has managed to seed itself on this planet is all my fault. If I had been more vigilant they would have never gotten past the asteroid belt." Setsuna pinched her nose in misery.
When she had first been called, when the dreams of her mission began to plague her. She had fought against her awakening, sought vehemently to still have a normal human life. It was a selfish vanity that had a far greater cost now. Her previous self was loneliness incarnate, trapped alone in a void to guard an Immortal door for all time. Always she had wished to fight alongside her fellow Senshi, but truthfully she just wanted to be a part of the world and not just a silent witness to it's existences.
It was one of the reasons she felt so highly of Usagi. They both had the same wants and needs at first but soon gave it up to protect others. Only Whereas Usagi gave into her destiny she fought even harder and it had a price. She wanted to live as a normal human, to have a love and family and future without bloodshed and cruel choices.
Neo Queen Serenity had given her a second chance to lay claim to her true dreams, but that dream held a price. She would one day have to give up that normal life and take her place as a Guardian, she had dragged her feet. Placing them all in this dire predicament. In the end she would always feel her greatest flaw was so easily giving in to her selfish desires for normalcy. She would always resent her powers, her duty. For holding the responsibilities of Time was more a curse then a gift.
"If we could get the right person to handle the grail, the 'chalice', then the world will be filled with its divine light .All evil beings from all over will perish from it. The only problem is, whereas there's light there's darkness to. If the 'messiah of silence' gets ahold of it the entire world will be covered and ruled by darkness and the era of shadows would begin. So you can see if that were to happen the future would change as well." Setsuna explained, jumping right into the most important point to the meeting.
Her story explained her being there but not in how she was there. "I need to know one thing." Usagi asked her. "How are you alive again? We watched you die." Setsuna smiled, "I was reborn into this world as you all were, given a second chance by the blessings of the Ginozushiou." She kept her explanation of her rebirth vague. Neo Queen Serenity wanted very little of her future meddling to come to light. She knew she was as much at fault for all this crisis as Pluto's previous self.
Giving Usagi a thin bitter smile, the young woman before her still had many more difficult trails yet to come before she would become queen. Perhaps this version of Neo Queen Serenity would make better choices, securing the future peace more solidly. "But I had no memory of my past self until the new enemy arrived late last year. Then I was awoken as a senshi, then I was given a mission to find the other outer's." Setsuna smiled warmly as she greeted four extremely confused faces with her words.
Ami meekly raised her hand, still dressed in her High School fuku. Sitting at the end of the low table as if she was still in class.
"Uhm, how could you be awakened before you were actually dead?" She stated. Makoto and Minako sitting on either side of her nodded mutely. They were also still dressed from school.
Even Rei still in her grey and black uniform was watching her expectantly. Intrigued as to how Setsuna was going to explain that one, resting her chin on crossed arms on the table top. Merely braced her chin in her palm, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder. Usagi rested her chin on crossed arms on the table top, sitting the closest to Setsuna she was already feeling a brain ache coming on. As she watched the dark green haired woman take a deep breath before diving into the complex world of Time and Space.
"Time as you know it is separated into three distinct phases. The Past, The Present and The Future." Setsuna gave them a wide grin.
They all nodded back.
"Well time does not work in a lineal pattern. At least not to me, all aspects of time occurs. With my power over time I can exist in one time or in all times all at once." She started to explain, at least it was in her genetic makeup as descendant to Chronos. Even though her current self was not a master of time just yet.
They all nodded, keeping up so far.
"So even though you were not dead to us, you were dead to yourself. Thus you were reborn even further in the past." Ami was trying to wrap her head around this.
"Yes, that's one way to looking at it." Setsuna sighed, in reality her rebirth was a gift given to her by the Great Powers of the Silver Crystal. That night on the mansion's roof two Pluto's had existed for a brief time at the same time. Leaving only one alive. A Senshi in hiding waiting until her time to appear was at hand out at the Marine Cathedral.
"Humans have been trying to understand Time and Space since Ancient Rome, believing it is a constant never changing force when in reality it is always in flux. That every moment is occurring differently to everyone. That time has its own rates of speed based on how the individual perceives the reality around them." Setsuna began to explain.
"But... what you did was create a Grandfather paradox." Ami interceded.
Setsuna cocked her head to the side. In reality Chibi Usa had set this paradox into motion when she had stolen her time key to seek aid in the past. Right now she and Neo Queen Serenity were busy trying to repair or at least Band-Aid the timeline to keep the future on its proper course.
"Couldn't you go into the future and stop Kaolinite from killing you?" Ami cried.
"But that would create the very type of paradox." Setsuna laughed, her humor failing, as everyone just stared dead pan towards her. Neo Queen Serenity was livid when she found out what her previous self had done, tampering with the past yet again. She was keeping a much closer reign on her this time. Understand her own mother, Queen Serenity from the Silver Millennium more intimately now.
She had been a very stoic, a non-compromising ruler who expected the Senshi to obey her with out compromise. She wasn't their friend or their confidant she was their Queen. Neo Queen Serenity treated Pluto with the same stern regard now, seeing her more as loose cannon that her own mother had tamed long ago as a young child. Setsuna grew serious once more.
"Honestly, my past self could have, being far more advanced in my powers. But that is beyond my current powers just now. In the end it is a taboo for me to mess with the timeline." Setsuna answered honestly.
"But that's what you did! By coming back to save Usagi!" Ami responded.
"Yes, it was against the greater laws that I must abide by. But I felt her life was more important than mine. I had to intercede to make sure the correct future would come to pass." Setsuna had a patience in her tone knowing Ami was like a dog on a bone and wasn't even close to being done yet. She honestly believed what she had done was warranted and right, she would always defend her rash actions.
She left her post because she just couldn't stand and watch her fellow Senshi fight without her any longer. All the threads of the new timeline Chibi Usa had created had create a para-dime in which Moon was to die that night. She could not let that happen, Neo Queen Serenity had pleaded with her to be patient, to have hope. But she hadn't listened and left her post to change the future for herself, resulting in her taking Moon's place in death.
"But by getting killed in the past wouldn't that change the future?" Ami sighed, her mind whirling like a well oiled machine.
"No, the Pluto of the future was the Pluto of the long dead past she was a Senshi out of time. Her death was the rebirth of the Pluto of this time." Setsuna countered.
Ami swallowed hard, her stare falling distant as she contemplated it all.
"Enstien's theory of Special Relativity states that time travel isn't possible." Ami muttered, her mind falling onto her vast library of knowledge when confronting puzzles.
"Neither are young women with Magic Power's yet here we exist." Setsuna smiled at her. Her deep maroon eyes sparkling with omnipotent glee eager to engage her intellect with someone of the same caliber.
Ami opened her mouth to speak then quickly closed it. A torch of rival intelligence had been cast. Ami the warrior of logic v.s Setsuna the warrior of ...well all possibilities.
Thus the war begun. Ami struck hard with Einstein's theory of Special Relativity. While Setsuna feinted by proving the existence of Four Dimensions.
Ami countered with the Luxon theory of Thermal dynamics. Setsuna merely tossed back with confirming the reality of parallel dimensions. Ami huffed thinking for a time before striking out again with String Theory. Setsuna merely smiled not phased even a little by the endless debate, finding it nice to have the intelligent conversation. With a very concise and patient tone she begun to recount Ludwig Boltzmann concept of Entropy.
The fact that both the past and the future are not static, only our perceived present. Both combatants lost in a labyrinth of theory and conjecture. So wrapped up in their intellectual battle they didn't realize they had been arguing for over an hour.
As Ami opened her mouth to respond once again, Makoto slapped her hand over her mouth. Ami's eyes flew wide in alarm. It was then Pluto noticed the other girls. Minako sat in a blank stupor with her mouth hanging open towards her, in very good dead fish imitation. Looking as if she had just been lobotomized. Makoto was blinking rapidly her brain wrapped up into endless knots, staring at Ami with both warning and pleading in her deep green eyes.
"Ow..."
"Ow…"
"Ow…" Usagi was banging her forehead repeatedly against the low table. Her mind so confused and twisted up. She was reduced to a futile attempt to purge her thoughts. Else wise she figured her brain just might melt and ooze out of her ears.
"Let's just say it's possible because it's Pluto..." Rei offered, she was the only one capable of speech. Still sitting primly along the side of the table her chin still in her palm. They decided at that point to leave it at that...
"I had not been reborn as you all were. The last time we met, was the me from the silver millennium era. I had to be reborn to be able to once again activate the other talismans for the 'chalice' to appear." She stated. The girls were all stunned.
"So you were reborn and came here to tell us that right? Then you will be here for the remainder of time to aid us in finding the true 'messiah'?" Usagi asked. She looked to Usagi with a gentle half smile before responding, almost as if she knew something, "Hai, I will be here but my path is to aid Sailor Uranus and Neptune with finding the 'messiah'. Gomen a sai, but due to our mission we will be the ones to find and give her the 'chalice'. I hope you all will just stay out of it. Please."
Setsuna left out, rising to her feet giving each girl a respectful nod. Before quietly departing the temple. She hoped that she could make Uranus and Neptune see the true path to the 'messiah' before it was too late. But ultimately it would be Usagi who determined that. She had find a way to gain their loyalty and to gain their confidence within her. Until then, she would keep a close eye on Tomoe.
"I don't think it should just be the three of them." Rei commented, folding her arms and watching Setsuna disappear down the steps towards the street. "I agree." Makoto stated, tapping a finger anxiously against the table.
"I think she said it was due to the fact that they are stronger than us." Usagi told them, "We're not as strong." Mina admitted next, her voice clear with bitterness. "But you are." Ami stated. Usagi looked up, "You have power, not only equal to them but capable to over shadow them as well. The silver crystal is the most powerful amulet to exist." Minako added in. "But Haruka – san and Michiru – san don't share our points of view." Usagi stated.
"They find me to be to 'idealistic' and that makes me weak. Yes, I am stronger than them but I also haven't fully tapped into the full strength of the crystal. I can only use so much of its new potential before I feel fatigued." She admitted. "Besides they've been working together in their own methods for so long that I'm a 'loose cannon' I guess for them." She tried to explain. "I think they envy you." Minako said. The girls looked to her in surprise.
"They wish to see your views as being right but the world is more black and white for them. You see the grey in it they don't. Their new mission to find the 'messiah' would work better if we were all working together but they've been working alone for so long that anything weaker is considered 'in the way'." The girls nodded. "I hate that." Makoto remarked. The girls agreed as it seemed that unless they forced a path nothing would get accomplished.
It was then that Chibi Usa's voice rang out, all merry and sweet. "Is 'puu' here?" she asked, leaning herself over the top of the veranda outside. A hopeful look on her face as she was dressed in her school fuku, with a large white sun hat upon her head. Her striped bow tie looking a tad askew on her sailor bib. Usagi knew the little girl felt a good connection with the older senshi but wished she would be as excited to see her as well.
Her future daughter it seemed did not have a strong connection to her. "No, she left already." She told her, resisting the urge to fix the sloppily done bow. Wondering if the little girl had tied it herself that day. "Darn it. I wanted to go to the park with her today." Chibi Usa pouted. Usagi saw this as a chance, "I could take you."
Chibi Usa looked up to her quizzically. While the younger moon child loved her mother to dearly she was particularly fond of making her past self a bit on edge. Her life in the future was so regimented, so filled with expectations and decorum. She barely felt able to breath, trapped in the guise as the crown princess of the Neo Silver Millennium she had no way to just be herself and let go. Here in the past she could relax, give in to her more mischievous instincts, allow her emotions to spill forth more readily.
Her moon mother in the future never let her get away with anything. It was even harder to get away with things with her father now. But here in the past she could rile up Usagi and she wouldn't be able to punish her. Besides, with Usagi taking up Mamoru's time she had to do something to get even with her. The fact that she missed her chance to talk to Pluto only infuriated her more. Naturally Usagi ended up being her chosen target to vent on.
"Minako – chan can you take me?" Chibi Usa asked. "I doubt Usagi would enjoy it. It's almost been a whole day without Mamoru for her. If she doesn't get to his side soon she just might explode!" She laughed softly at her jibe towards Usagi being a clingy girlfriend.
Usagi grit her teeth and folded her arms over her chest. Suddenly having the urge to leave, she could feel her eyes watering again.
Ami frowned, Makoto gave Usagi a comforting weak smile. Willing her friend to stay strong Chibi Usa was goading her. While Rei rolled her eyes so very tired of this behavior. They all waited for Usagi to take the bait and start fighting with her. When it never happened, they all breathed a silent sigh of relief. Usagi held her tongue, turning uncaring and aloof towards the pink haired girl. Leaning against the wall divider with her arms crossed, absently staring at some unknown corner of the room.
"Which park?" Minako asked with a tired sigh.
"Juban national park, Momo told me that they are setting up a movie shoot there." She answered, looking a bit put out that Usagi wouldn't argue with her.
Minako squealed as if having an epiphany of sorts. "Yasaku Edo!"
Everyone turned to her, as Makoto grew wistful. "He so cool... he is almost like him...my Senpai..." She breathed dreamily.
Rei rolled her eyes.
"Are you coming Rei - chan?" Minako encouraged, her eyes bright with stars.
"Well, I guess. Do I have much choice?" She shrugged, giving Minako a sarcastic grimace.
As the blonde merely shook her head vigorously.
"Well Ami - chan!" Minako then spun upon the last remaining hold out. Not even thinking Usagi as going to come along. Their fearless leader had been pretty much glued to Mamoru's hip all week. She just figured Usagi was headed back to the apartment or meeting up with him right after. Chibi Usa was getting the cold shoulder from her now anyway.
"We have important things to keep discussing...what about the messiah problem we currently have?" Ami countered. She really was in a debating mood now, with the Setsuna paradox unresolved in her mind.
"You never know, the messiah could be there?" Minako coaxed, receiving a thin smile from the stellar scholar.
Usagi couldn't help but chuckle lightly, Minako was like a dog on a bone when she wanted to do something. Which resulted in the two having a stubborn staring contest.
"Why?" Ami got right in her face over the table.
Minako sweat dropped now on the spot to think of something both intelligent and rational to appease her.
"Why...uhm...ah...well." Minako began to stagger. Her inner dialogue in full swing.
(Ami you blockhead, we need some down time. We just had to endure the most tortuous debate between you and Setsuna. Stop being so serious.)
"Well, a hunch...yeah a hunch." Minako finally responded with a confident smile.
"Alright then." Ami gave in smiling brightly.
Both Luna and Artemis who had been lounging on Rei's bed, mouths fell open.
"Even Ami - chan..." Luna responded.
"There goes all real work for a solution towards this crisis for today." Artemis hung his head in defeat.
"The only person we could rely on to stay on track to solving this, has now been corrupted by the dark side..." Luna groaned.
"Yeah...we've lost her. To the shallow lures of idol trolling." Artemis agreed.
"Soon, she'll be shopping instead of studying..." Luna began her voice overly melodramatic.
"Scarfing down snacks by the boat loads and day dreaming about boys." Artemis jumped in with a chuckle.
"She is turning into one of them...they have all corrupted her." Luna moaned to the heavens.
"The world is officially doomed! DOOOOOMED!" Artemis howled, his drama cut short as Minako tossed a throw pillow rudely against his face.
"Shut It!" She commanded, with a meaningful smile.
Artemis merely chuckled, his blue eyes bright with mirth.
Luna laughed with him and soon everyone's moods were lifted just a little by the cats impromptu moral boost.
All the girls got excited to go. All except Usagi, Luna and Artemis, all three for different reasons. "You should come to Usagi – chan." Chibi Usa said, finally realizing her smart mouth had hurt Usagi. When before it would have just annoyed her, this time her comments were hitting her a lot harder. Finding her cold silence a bit unsettling. She sought to mend her previous snide behavior though now it almost seemed to late.
Usagi bit her tongue and nodded not trusting her voice to betray her. She loved her daughter, but their strange sisterly relationship didn't fit anymore. She wanted more from little Usa…she just didn't know what yet. But things just had to change between them. She had enough to deal with, maintaining her grades and keeping her protective father at bay from his finding out about where she was all the time wouldn't be an easy juggle.
Plus having to save the world and reshape her relationship with her future daughter was just another stress on her overwhelming plate.
They began leaving out, with Chibi Usa leading the meandering charge. Skipping ahead, her dark blue school skirt fluttering around her knees. Singing a little song under her breath she might have learned on the playground. Usagi caught onto her little future girl's overly happy behavior. Scrutinizing her with sad eyes. She was faking being happy again, deep inside she was crying in pain. It had something to do with Setsuna, that much she was sure of.
Oh Chibi Usa...why won't you let me in?
"Mamo – chan!" Chibi Usa greeted, her extremely joyful shout pulling Usagi out of her depressing thoughts. Finding Mamoru just crossing beneath the Torrii, dressed in a pair of jeans and a black button down shirt. The fall wind tossing his thick dark hair over his dark blue eyes effortlessly. He smiled fondly at the little girl now jumping up into his arms.
Mamoru walked up to them having over heard the meeting through his bond with Usagi. He easily caught Chibi Usa, giving her a little swing in his arms in a small circle. "How's my sweet little Chibi Usa?" he asked, "Great were going to the park, you should come with us!" She exclaimed, as he saw the sad look Usagi had on her face over the little girl's shoulder he decided to go along with them.
Setting Chibi Usa back down, as they reached the crest of the staircase. Waiting for the other's to proceed him, he waited for the petite blonde who was lagging in the rear of the group. Throwing his arm around Usagi's shoulder and leaning in close, he asked, "Everything okay?"
She sighed, watching as the girls skipped down the stairs. Heading down the steps after Chibi Usa. "If I wasn't staying with you this week I think it would be a bit much to juggle." She admitted. She sent her turbulent emotions through their link so he could understand her just a little bit better.
"Let her get settled in for a while, then we can plan some time with her. Make some family memories." He added, "Have hope, Usako. She will tell us what's bothering her when she is ready." He finished giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze. She nodded and snuggled deeper into his embrace as they walked off. Chibi Usa was too busy running her mouth to Rei to see the couple getting cozy with one another.
Rei looked back briefly and felt for Usagi. It seemed Chibi Usa was pulling at her future mother's heart strings to get a reaction out of her. While she and Usagi argued it was never like that never to actually hurt one another's feelings. They pushed one another, they didn't hurt one another. Chibi Usa had the ability to thrust the most brutal little personal daggers into her future mother and Rei was growing tired of it.
"Chibi Usa I think maybe you could try and ease up on Usagi – chan. She does a lot for you and others. The cheap shots get old after a while." Rei commented lightly. Chibi Usa 'humped' at the senshi's words, "Since when do you care? You've throw more barbs at her than anyone. No wonder why mama made Venus the leader. You're to hot headed. Though why people tell me the same thing when I'm around you in the future I don't know." Chibi Usa's petty remark had Rei shocked, "We hang out in the future?" Rei asked.
"Yep, you tell me all the funny stories about mama in the past. I thank kami that I get to visit here and poke fun to cause in the future mama's no fun. She's caring, loving, and a good mama. A very strong Queen but a very strict mother. She would never tolerate me acting this way. But this Usagi is not my Momma...not really. I don't have to respect her." The words stunned the miko to the core.
Chibi Usa however didn't understand that while her mother could be her friend, her confidant she had to also lay ground rules. So she would grow up with firm sense of morals and discipline to fall back on when her life as a Senshi got real tough.
Rules that Chibi Usa liked to try and break. Rei would laugh at them and tell her funny stories, it made her want to go to the past to do the same thing without the fall out. But no it seemed that now in this time line Usagi was wising up to the pink haired child and not getting into the petty arguments that once had everyone in Chibi Usa's corner. Usagi had learned and was avoiding them now.
In another section of Tokyo, out beyond the bay. On the Infinity sandbank, known as the Delta, sat the Tokyo reclamation area, a triangle of family housing and office buildings with the huge tower in the center that was the Mugen Academy. Three great tower's surrounded the Academy each from very prosperous families. The Tenoh, Meioh and Kaioh tower's which seemed to form a triangle around the center of the Delta.
Hidden just behind the school was a modern laboratory of cement and glass in the simple design of a diamond. It was squat and easily over looked amid the looming luxury tower's that surrounded it.
A very simple sign was bolted to the plain concrete barrier wall that surrounded the building. It read Tomoe research laboratory. This was the cover, the alibi Soichi Tomoe used to craft his more mundane experiments. Nothing evil or strange happened in this pretend lab. The government had built and sanctioned this building of research and study to help fund the Academy that sat before it.
It was far from the tower's and commercial area of the delta. Nestled within the narrow streets of a residential area were the true work for the Sovereign began. In an old English mansion. An unassuming home of white stucco and navy wooden shuttered windows. With a stone walkway that led up to a large bright red door with ivy growing along the west wall, threw an elaborate trellis that had the vines winding around the second story windows like a living curtain.
Surrounding garden's having turned a dried yellow in the fall atmosphere. It looked completely harmless, as did the whole Delta. Completely average in every way, no one would suspect the evil that lay beneath it's shallow surface of normalcy. Which was exactly how the professor had wanted it. A beautiful guise the hide a cold and wretched heart.
The professor was seen walking into a very large, very barren, low lite room. It resembled a queen's audience chamber, with a low dais in the center. Flanked by heavy red curtains, a stone carved throne with a deep velvet pillow upon the seat. The throne was surrounded by stuffed animals and porcelain dolls. The toys filled the corners of the vast room, their glass eyes shining sinisterly in the half light. Giving the appearance of several hundred in audience within the gloomy room when there was only a few dozen.
In the center covered in darkness sat a young girl, with short mousey raven black hair. Her sharply angled face mostly shrouded by the shadows. Sitting upon the throne dressed in a plain black sun dress, her hands clasped in her lap. Looking like some princess of darkness. Her low voice booming low through long speakers, mounted on the edges of the dais. Her vocals to weak to carry out to him in her regular voice.
The professor greeted her, "Our 'messiah of silence' how are you feeling today?" He fell to one knee, bowing his head in reverence.
"I demand for a pure heart to consume the energy of." The girl snarled, her growling voice grating like sandpaper within the barren confines of the room. "I understand. You need the pure heart to consume for yourself. If you don't you won't be able to awaken fully. I have developed a new method of retrieving the pure heart. We shall have one soon." He promised, then rose up to his feet.
She nodded and waved him off absently. Turning on his heel, he bid her farewell. His dress shoes clicking smartly upon the tile floor as he left the room. As soon as he left the figure stood up and walked away herself. Her dainty feet moving silently, barely making a noise across the room as if she was but a ghost. Her dark eyes were dull, as if in a trance she left the audience theatre as well.
The professor moved to the shared office of the Witches 5 that lay in the laboratory behind the prestigious Mugen Academy. Setting up his lecture before the white board at the head of a brightly lit room. With five low cubicles before him. Their plain beige fabric walls greeting him like the honeycombs of a bee hive. One portable office space lay empty now, only four of the witches remained under his command.
He could clearly see the metal desks of each witch, each vastly different than the others. Eudial's was a mess of papers, her bulky old computer still humming in the corner with the details of her final mission. Viluy's desk was immaculate, well ordered and organized. With only a flat screen computer set to the side. The pale haired woman sat primly upon her desk chair facing the shadowed professor. A cruel calculating air in her ice blue eyes.
Her neighbor Tellu's desk was covered with beakers and vials, potted plants in various stages of growth cluttering her working area. She sat just behind the mutated garden, her dull green eyes staring with interest towards the white board's diagrams. Her green tinted hair done up in twin buns on either side against her head. Her face was gentle and round, hiding a truly gruesome imagination behind it.
Behind the two witches occupying the dead center of the back of the room, was the most aloof witch. Cyprine, she was aware of his lecture. Sitting in the deeper shadows of the room, hidden behind her desk filled with stacks of hard cover books. Her raven blue hair twisted up in a bun and braid down the side of her very sour looking face. She had an book open before her on the desk, her dark eyes scrutinizing the professor's plan with a veiled sarcasm in her faint sneer. And then there was Mimet.
Tomoe had decided to teach the witches 5 to retrieve pure hearts using a different method. It was when the newest witch to be activated that caught the professor's attention. Or rather her lack of attention to the newest way to retrieve pure hearts, that infuriated him. He felt his lecture was both stimulating and inventive, a method birds used known as 'Ukai' to go fishing for their prey. The new daimon's would suck and gulp down the new pure heart to be delivered to the 'messiah of silence'.
However the professor saw that the newly activated witch wasn't paying any attention to what he was teaching them. A tiny honey blonde girl, with a high pitched voice that could crack crystal if need be. With short wavy hair that barely covered her ears, currently dressed in an undercover uniform as a Mugen Academy High School student. They had a mole, one of the anomalies had been infiltrating the sealed off areas at the school. Investigating the school under the guise of a student or two.
So he had to send in his own people to track down who this spy was before their cover was blown. He did not need those protected by the planets to find out about him or who he was working for. His master was to weak right now to fend them off.
The girl was to busy fawning over photos of an actor she thought was cutie. Her computer buzzing with a local idol blog glowing upon the screen. He had a feeling this new witch would not last long. "Mimet! Are my lectures so boring that you seek to look at photos of random people instead of paying attention?" he demanded of her. Having been caught red handed the blonde merely blushed, quickly setting the photo's down on her desktop.
"No, I was just looking at the next target." She covered. He didn't believe her but didn't let it show, he would give her a chance, then if she failed the next witch would take over. It made no difference to him on this one. "If anything since the sailor senshi seem to be getting in the way I shall have you take two daimon with you. They will be stronger and faster than the last ones. They should eliminate the threat. But be careful, I cannot make them as fast as you dispatch them." He told her bitterly.
"After all when the time comes the grail will choose its true owner, our 'messiah of silence'." The class of four agreed with him as he gave an evil hearty laugh.
True to his word he made up two of them for her. Two white briefcases with a daimon inside of each. She walked out of the loading dock at the back of the lab, adjusting a pair of overly large round sunglasses. Dressed in a very cute orange sundress, concealed beneath an orange raincoat she kept tied up with a black belt. A red scarf was wrapped snugly around her head, giving her an odd suspicious look. Scanning the bright blue sky with an eager smile. She made her way to the Juban National park, her intent clear as day.
The park was on the far side of Azabu, a huge woodland area filled with koi ponds, shrines and a very prestigious arboretum. A simple iron gate located just across the street from a wide commercial avenue filled with trendy stores was her entrance into the popular scenic locale, used by many of Tokyo's movie and T.V industry. A short walk for the witch who merely ramped the curb and drove her wagon straight through the park.
Making it onto a narrow dirt path, she parked her vehicle in concealment behind a stand of bushes. Then she headed straight towards the milling crowds jostling for view towards the movie set just beyond. The booms of lights and iron stage sets looming just above the horde of squealing teen girls. She got derailed by a few hostile fans of her favorite celebrity before meeting him.
They moved to block her path as she had dashed forward to catch Yasaku's attentions. Knocking her to the ground, before surrounding her. Their shadows looming over her as she was left staring in startled alarm up at them. Her round glasses askew and tears in her eyes she confronted her would be aggressor's.
"What do you think you're doing, running up to Yasaku like that?" One woman in a business suit snarled, flipping her dull mouse brown hair over her shoulder with a superior air.
"He is in the middle of very important scene right now and has no time for the likes of you." The second woman added, also in smart business clothes. With a maroon pencil skirt and white blouse. That was left partially unbuttoned in a very alluding manner. With short red hair and striking blue eyes that carried a great deal of malice.
"It is distracting to have someone dressed up so suspiciously, you need to leave." The third commented taking in Mimet's orange trench coat and red head scarf with distain. She was a raven haired beauty, with deep dark eyes and a long slender body. That she had covered in a sexy tight red dress with a white suit jacket buttoned up for modesty.
The other three chimed in, leaving Mimet suddenly reliving her days in elementary when she was being bullied on the playground. Her insides were now roiling with both humiliation and rage. She was no longer weak, no longer the outsider that always got singled out. She was in command now and not one to be treated like trash!
They had figured her briefcases were gifts and were intent on destroying them both. Lunging for them and attempting to rip them out of her grasp. Mimet fought them off with harsh words and screams of death, using the cases themselves to beat the two crazy women into submission. Leaving them unconscious in the bushes just outside of the glade the movie crew was milling around. She kicked each one a few extra times just for good measure and to improve her soured mood before returning to her hunt once more.
Yasuka Edo...
He was a man she fell for instantly. A rustic god made flesh of dark red hair, deep soulful brown eyes with ripped muscles and sexy abs and a butt that wouldn't quit. Dressed as a cowboy in dark brown pants, with black leather riding pants over top. A white cotton button down shirt with a dusty brown vest. A white cattleman style cowboy hat, resting lopsided and cocksure upon his head. He had her heart beating fast, her skin humming to feel him touching her all over.
Her vivid imagination and easily swayed heart taking her down the path of psychotic irrationality quite easily. That he loved her at first sight. Having her muttering her fantasies as she followed him around the movie set. Like a crazed stalker she tailed him all over the park. Her emotions getting the better of her when she spotted him with his co – star. A gorgeous woman with long carrot blonde hair and long aerobic toned slender legs.
She was dressed in a layered period gown of the softest blue that brought out her luminous green eyes. With long silk gloves and soft velvet pumps. She looked very much like the western harlot Mimet envisioned she was. He had caught up to her finally by the crest of a large lake. Mimet had missed the heart felt conversation they had, and only came in when he was kissing her sweetly and lovingly.
Leaving the deluded Mimet seething and in denial. No doubt having been hunting her down all over the movie set just for this promiscuous rendezvous. Mimet's irrational feelings making her feel as if he had betrayed their love. She then knew it would be that much easier to take his pure heart from him. Her inner dialogue so dramatic and over the top it would turn anyone's stomach over several times.
Her attack came on suddenly, interrupting their passionate moment quite brutally. Releasing her Daimon from it's case, it appeared in a haze of pink smoke. As a tacky western monster in a huge brown poncho and larger Mexican hat. Her skin a clash of pink legs with a bright blue face and glowing red eyes.
"Western!" The creature cried as it came alive before the unsuspecting couple.
Yasuka was stunned, his lover trembling behind him as he tried to block her somewhat with his body.
"Go get his pure heart!" Mimet commanded with tears in her eyes.
In a puff of smoke the daimon was suddenly mounted on a strange mechanical steed. As if a coin operated kiddie ride had come to life. The black horse was molded into the position of a full gallop. It's thin lips pulled back in a whiney of pain with red painted eyes, it looked very much like a demon horse. With a massive tire embedded at the bottom of it's belly. Like some strange motorcycle from some pop art painting. The Diamon snatched up the reins, with a cruel smile on her lips.
"HI-oh Silver Away!" It shouted.
Yasaku bolted, clutching onto his girlfriend's hand as she screamed in fright. Making a mad dash back towards the crowds of the movie set. The westernized daimon burst into the crowds, firing it's pistol into the air. Scattering people screaming throughout the park.
The girls and Mamoru had settled down for a quiet picnic, when several people in a panic rushed past them. They all sat stunned for a moment before a larger group of stage hands started to run past them for their very lives. As the mob of panic disappeared into the trees, they knew what had to be done. Their surprised faces falling into a determined frown, they all scrambled to retrieve their henshin. With the picnic canceled they leaped to their feet and dashed off against the oncoming rushing crowds.
Usagi was repeatedly glancing over her shoulder wondering where Chibi Usa had gone. The wind had caught her hat and sent skyward over a half hour ago and she still hadn't returned. She was worried, yet relieved that she might miss this battle. She knew the little girl needed to train, but not in a real fight just yet.
When Chibi Usa went to retrieve her missing hat that Ikuko had bought her, she had found a very quiet young girl upon a bench. Her hat by fate landing just behind the bench, leading her to this lonely girl. Dressed all in black with a lavender shawl draped over her shoulder. Quietly watching the movie set filled with frantic fans all sharing in friendship and excitement at being so close to their idol. A silent outsider looking in with longing towards something she felt she would always be denied.
Chibi Usa recognized her as the lone fan, watching the track team a few weeks back. She had been drawn to her then as she was now. Her mother's words ringing in her ears, every meeting be it good or bad has a purpose. Give everyone a chance and then make up your mind about them on your own terms. Talking to her came easy and soon they were friends.
A frail girl that was sweet and tender in a soft way. Her obvious health issues had Chibi Usa in immediate concern, having to awkwardly watch as she had a mild seizure. But also in wanting to have this slightly older girl as a good friend. They spoke for several minutes before the chaos broke out nearby, at the movie set. Hiding in the bushes behind the bench, Chibi Usa stayed still, not wanting to blow her cover and run off to transform suddenly.
Both watched in alarm as the senshi appeared in the distance, among the scattered debris of the sets and lighting booms. A strange cowboy daimon had trapped a couple against a covered wagon prop. With a new short wavy blonde demanded that it take the actors pure heart. He stood pinned against the wooden spoke wheel, seeking to protect his girl. Who lay at his feet all tied up in a real lasso, struggling and crying in fear.
The senshi's appearance was rather comical as they came out of the more distant areas like the hero's would in an old west movie. The sun a glittering back drop behinds them, as it sank into the trees. The shards of bright orange light illuminating the group of hero's perfectly. It was classic and fitting for the western movie that was being filmed. Sailor Moon gave her tried and true 'triumph over evil in the name of the moon' speech as the girls walked right beside her. Each of them standing by her side in a protective formation.
Mimet, not liking the interruption, jumped up on the director's crane. Shouting order's into the director's megaphone, as she ascended to the sky. For the daimon to get them, while the other one still lay hidden nearby as backup. Within the confines of the second briefcase. Waiting for it to be called upon to take care of the pests that Mimet hated with a vengeance. They ruined her plans of being in the professors spot light - even if they weren't well thought out and made her look more foolish than her 'celebrity crush targets' made her look - since she started.
"I got this guys!" Moon smirked, moving into her attack.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" She cried sending several glowing hearts towards the Diamon. Who merely spun her pistol out in duel man's flourish and shot right through them, leaving Moon on her knees speechless and in shock.
However, Moon discovered tragically that her tried and true weapon of choice. Was not to be enough to defeat this new Daimon. She would need to call upon more power...
It shocked her, the girls and tux. "It's different and stronger from previous daimon's. We will have to tread carefully." Mercury advised, her visor glowing over her eyes. Data pad in hand, analyzing this new threat. The Daimon ignored Moon seeing her and her band of Sailor suited Soldier's as no threat at all. With incredible speed she grabbed a hold of its target. Yasuka screamed in terror as she gripped his throat, hauling up off his feet.
Before the senshi could get to him, she began stretching her neck like a duck. Sucking out his pure heart and then swallowed it. He fell limp and lifeless in her hands. With her mission accomplished she released him, allowing him to crumple to the grass.
The sight had half the girls in shock and the other half looking slightly horrified at the new grotesque way to take the pure hearts. The sucking and swallowing method, oddly made Moon think of something else but she soon retracted that thought. This was totally different and made her sick with anger inside. "That's just great…and a bit gross." Mars stated dryly. "Makes it harder to retrieve that's for sure." Moon remarked jadedly.
She wanted to put this daimon in its place now. "But I suppose that's the point right? Make it harder on us. That's just splendid." Moon muttered in a huff. "Mercury any way that you're seeing to get the pure heart from it?" She asked. Noticing her Senshi now had her high tech gear on and was scanning the creature with her Data Pad. "Checking now but I'm not seeing anything so far." She began.
"I worry now if we destroy the Daimon would we destroy the heart crystal?" Everyone paled at her words. Finally after a few more scans she spoke up again. "It would have to be done from more of a close quarter combat with a power move. Get the creature to release the crystal…aka regurgitate it." She explained to them. They nodded in agreement, all wearing various degrees of disgust on their faces.
Watching the Daimon suck face with it's victim to swallow up their crystal was one thing, granted still gross but having to witness it throw up the crystal was a whole new level of disturbed for them.
"I could use my 'burning mandala' to keep her off balance while Jupiter goes in to knock it out of her...literally." Mars suggested. Jupiter cracked her knuckles in anticipation. Moon looked to Mercury to see of that was a possibility. She typed away on her computer, as readings glowed behind her visor that was only she could analyze. With both working furiously they'd have an answer in no time.
"World Shaking!" "Deep Submerge!" was heard. The two Senshi's powerful voices rang out over the set, as they leaped into view through the tree line right in front of the poor Daimon.
Two surprise attacks bursting forth as they landed, which knocked and throttled the Daimon's metal steed. Shaking her around like a rag doll, as the beast short circuited and blew up in a ball of fire and sparks. Sending her screaming up into the air. Crashing down into the dirt, the impact enough to temporarily jar the pure heart from its stomach. Before she franticly gulped it back down her throat again, swallowing it to its secured location within her.
"Or that could be effective." Jupiter supplied, raising her brow in approval. Mimet realizing she was being out numbered decided to play dirty. Being so high up on the director's crane she could see great deal more tha0n her adversaries. Finding Chibi Usa with her new friend hiding in the bushes across from the movie set as they watched the action nervously. She decided to take the advantage.
"Grab those kids!" She declared a superior glint in her golden hazel eyes.
The Daimon cast her lasso once again, it lashed out to an illogical length. Chibi Usa got in front of Hotaru to prevent her from being taken only to get wrangled in like a piece of cattle to the forefront.
"No, let her go!" Hotaru leaped to her feet, scrambling through the bushes. "Chibi Usa!" Moon gasped in anger and fear. Tux who had been staying clear of the action from his vantage point high up in an oak tree, surveying the rapid escape of all the civilian's was now drawn back towards the battle. Watching as his young future daughter was being reeled in by the Daimon like a fish on a hook.
"Let's make a deal, Sailor Moon." Mimet offered. "You will let me and my Daimon go peacefully and this little girl will stay alive. As long as no one follows us to the gates I will leave her there unharmed. If I even think I've seen a single mini skirt in my periphery, I'll have Western here shoot the child dead center between the eyes. So if I were you, I wouldn't try anything." Mimet leaped smugly from the crane, landing smoothly before her Daimon on the ground a self-satisfied smile on her face.
Furious as well, he grit his teeth. Trying to come up with multiple scenarios to save his future daughter and save the victim. His future daughter was defenseless against the daimon and her new friend was watching in fear herself. Chibi Usa had no way of transforming she could not expose herself. Left to fight and wiggling valiantly in the ever tightening lasso as she was dragged across the grass.
He clenched his hands into fists in righteous anger over the sight. There was his future daughter in the hands of the enemy who would kill her if they didn't stay back and let her have the pure heart crystal. One life for another and there was no guarantee Chibi Usa wouldn't become a casualty of the mess if it went sideways. No was there of Mimet even holding up her end of the bargain. If the woman was crazy enough she would do away with both.
He felt helpless and hated that feeling with a vengeance. He'd felt it before when Diamond had taken Usagi from him. He'd wanted to do far more than be in a drunken rage. His heart had about failed when the pure heart snatcher took his Usagi's pure heart several weeks prior, leaving her in a state of near death for several minutes. Their link so strong he felt as if his own had failed him. Truthfully he now hoped that if they were as linked as he believed they were that he would pass with her. For there was no future without her in it.
Now his future daughter's life hung in the balance while he and Moon were mentally going over any and all possible ways to get their future daughter between their shared link. Working on scenario's to retrieve her safety and NOT lose the pure heart of the actor in the process. Though if it came down to it they would rather not think of possible scenarios that would cause them to loose either.
To be continued…