Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the canon characters. Miyako, Cleo, Lia, Harper, and Owen, as well as a few others, are only figments that have escaped from my imagination.
Chapter Three: Now What?
Leaving Rini and Aki sleeping in the big bed, each tucked under her own blanket, Usagi rose. Aki tightened her grip on Artie-Q, while Luna-P was slowly slipping out of Rini's hands. With a faint smile, the blonde nudged the cat head up into the young girl's hands.
Silently, she padded over to slide on her slippers and her thick, fluffy bathrobe. Creeping out of the room, she walked across the hall to Kyle's room. His was one of the only two rooms that had a small balcony, facing the backyard. Neither balcony was very big. There was just enough room for Usagi to lean on the railing and look up at the stars, with room enough for someone else to stand beside her.
Her room had one, too, but she didn't want to risk waking either of the girls with the cold night air.
Looking up at the sky, she quickly found the faint sliver of the waning moon. By tomorrow night, there'd be no moon at all.
"Can't sleep, little Star Angel?"
She turned to find a familiar, ghostly blonde man beside her, gazing up at the moon, too.
She nodded, slowly. "What happened? Why can't I access the power of the bracelet, anymore?"
For a moment, she thought he wasn't going to answer. He folded his arms and leaned back against the glass doors, not at all concerned with the cold, despite his bare arms.
"The power is complicated, not meant to be used as you've used it," he finally began, not looking away from the moon. "Its proper henshin items aren't available to you. All but two have been claimed by a darkness from another time and place. And the two that are free are currently beyond your reach."
One hand came up to rest on the hilt of his sword, now strapped to his back, over the top of his cloak. "Your bracelet was always meant to be a temporary measure, until the others could be restored. Unfortunately, that isn't possible at present. And I cannot do anything to correct your bracelet, either. But, on the night of the next full moon, be at the field behind your training ground, before the moon rises."
"The night of the next full moon? Why does it have to wait until then?"
But there was no answer. He was already gone, as if he were never there.
Sighing, she pulled the robe tighter around her. Maybe Darien would actually have some good news, tomorrow. She could use some good news.
"I think everyone's getting a little frustrated," stated Darien. "Kyle and Harper had to be forcibly separated yesterday. They're going to drive me insane. I don't even want to think about how bad it's going to be, looking for Jadeite."
"You're reminding me of Andrew, complaining about us," laughed Usagi.
"Yeah, but we weren't at it 24/7, right in front of him. He at least got a break."
"I'm sure you'll find Zoicite soon. Besides, you'll be back here by April and the Spring Festival."
"I'll be there. I promise. Whether or not Kyle and Harper both make it back is a different story. I've got to go, Sere. Noland's checking us out of our hotel and we're off again."
"Hey, maybe a storm will come along and separate you, again. And you'll stumble into Zoicite."
Darien chuckled. "Right now, it might be the only way to save my sanity."
"What sanity?"
"I love you, too, Meatball Head."
"Not nearly as much as I love you, Darien. Be careful and I'll talk to you soon."
Reluctantly, she hung up the phone. She kept telling herself this was better than having him imprisoned by Beryl. And, if the Queen of the Negaverse did come after him, he had a new henshin and three Shitennou to protect him. But the closer he got to Japan, the more she worried.
Koan's attack had only been yesterday, and it would surely only be a matter of time before she returned. Would the Elemental Warriors be strong enough to stop her, when Koan returned? Yes, she'd fled from Sailor Element, but Usagi had a feeling that was due more to shock than fear.
Business had picked up at Melanthios, after the guys had left. Usagi had offered to come and help out, especially on Saturday mornings. Miyako had to be at the library, for her volunteer work, and Cleo was taking the day to spend time with a few of her softball teammates from last year. Which meant that the three little girls were spending Saturday morning with Molly and Melvin.
Which was why Miyako, humming quietly to herself, left the library and headed towards Melanthios, rather than her home. Another peaceful day of shelving books and helping organize new displays.
"Hey, Miyako!" Lia jogged to catch up with her.
"No longer under house arrest?" The ebon-haired girl joked.
Her friend laughed. "Technically, no. I snuck out again. Officially, I'm grounded until softball season starts, and then I'm on probation. But, after what you told us yesterday, I figure it's worth getting in trouble with Mom, in order to protect those girls. Though, really, we need a cover story, for our parents' sakes. Well, you and Cleo don't need one, and neither does Usagi. But the rest of us…"
"Actually, Usagi and I were talking about that. We used the excuse occasionally, last semester. And she and her Scouts used it all the time in Tokyo. We're having a study group. We just meet somewhere where we have enough room for all of us. Trista stopped by, last night, and she talked about fixing up the farmhouse, so we can say we're studying there. Cleo, Usagi, Trista, the girls, and I would move out there, for right now. That way, no one's suspicious of us heading out there."
"Hey, that might actually work! Mom would let me out for a study group. Good grades are really important to her, you know. But, Trista and Usagi just moved in with you guys. Wouldn't it be odd if you're moving out there, now?"
"Not really. Since, officially, the house has been under remodel for a while. Trista just let the lease on the apartment lapse, and they moved in with us, since the house was almost finished. At least, that's the story." Miyako grinned.
Suddenly, a pillar of violet light lit up the sky.
Exchanging a silent look, the two of them ran towards the light.
"That light's coming from Melanthios!" Lia exclaimed.
"Harper's not going to be happy if anything happens to his bookstore," moaned Miyako. "He might just kill us, himself, when he gets back."
Turning the corner, they found Molly and Melvin trying to calm down Takara. The magenta-haired girl was sitting on the curb, covered in slush. Aki was frantically digging in the snowdrift by the curb, Rini at her side.
Miyako dashed over and scooped up Takara, holding her close and rubbing her back in small circles. "It's alright. Everything's going to be alright. I promise. I'm right here, Takara. You're going to be just fine."
"Oh, yes, she'll be perfectly fine if she comes with me!"
Heads whipped around. Koan was back, still in her same purple and pink outfit. Miyako looked around, frantically. She couldn't set down Takara, or pass her off to Molly, who was already gathering Rini and Aki, who was holding a familiar, snow-covered stuffed dog.
"Frigid Whirlpool!"
Sailor Water came darting around the side of the café, her Water Ribbon in her hand. At Miyako's nod, Melvin and Lia dashed away to transform. A barrier of inky black shadows was already surrounding them.
"No quick retreats this time, Koan!" Onyx called out.
No, wait, he wasn't quite Onyx. Gone was the white, gold, brown and black uniform of Terra's Golden Kingdom. Miyako smiled. Darien had gotten the black rose to Owen. The youngest Shitennou wore a completely black version of her brother's new transformation, the loose baggy clothes, the cape wrapped around him, with the brooch pinning it closed over his left shoulder. Though his brooch was black with a silver crescent moon, rather than the same navy blue and gold as Darien's. Even his head coverings were completely black, as were his eyes, rather than their usual milky white.
"Alright," she heard Usagi mutter. "I'm impressed."
"Hey, you helped," grinned Miyako.
The blonde had run out of the café, taking Rini and Aki, which allowed Molly to take off.
Sailors Air and Fire, as well as Knight Metal came running up, through a small gap in the shadowy barrier.
"Take the girls and get out of here," ordered Sailor Fire.
The two untransformed warriors nodded, taking off for the gap, which was now guarded by Sailors Earth and Wood.
Andrew stood just beyond the barrier, arms out to take the still sniffling Takara. Aki managed to make her way over and push a now suspiciously dry stuffed dog into her cousin's arms. Miyako released the five-year-old, before moving back to join her fellow Elemental Warriors.
The shadowy barrier snapped closed, just as Koan unleashed another of her flame walls.
"Soul of the Elements!"
Miyako's transformation began to surround her, but something about it felt off. She shrugged the thought away. Right now, she had a battle to fight.
"Piercing Stones!"
"Molten Inferno!"
The green and red Elemental Warriors charged forward, flinging their attacks before them.
Sailor Element could see Sailor Air preparing to unleash her illusions, even as Sailor Wood lifted her bow and Knight Metal readied his battle axe. She, herself, reached for her Rainbow Rose Sword, but it slid out of her grasp. And the elements fought her control too much for her to attempt and 'Elemental Energy Strike.'
Koan growled. "I don't have time for this!"
She teleported away, straight through the shadow barrier.
"Neat trick," muttered Sailor Fire. "Wish we could pull that off."
"Not now, Fire. We have to get out of here," ordered Sailor Element. "Come on!"
Onyx let the barrier drop and the transformed warriors took off, away from the gathering crowd. Once a safe distance away, Lizzie and Isolde hurried back to work, followed by Miyako, at a much slower pace.
The others were heading for home as their leader approached the café. What was going on? First Usagi couldn't henshin and now this? What was wrong with her power? It felt like everything was too strong for her to control. Like she was trying to put too much energy into too small a vessel. Was that even possible? She had a feeling a trip to the Garden was in order.
Okay, so I'm back! I had to re-write this chapter, since I wasn't happy with my original draft, and my muse didn't want to cooperate. But, it's up now! So much for trying to get regular updates! However, the next chapter is coming along a lot better than this one. So, I should hopefully have it up soon, and we'll get the answers to a few questions, at last.
Please, review! I don't know what you think unless you tell me! Please?
And, to Alex, yes and no on Rini and Aki being twins. All secrets for them will get explained when we get to Crystal Tokyo, because, yes, we will still end up going there. And all secrets, well, almost all secrets, for Takara will get answered then, too! I'm glad you like Aki's eye color! It was originally supposed to be dark blue, like Darien's, but I changed it before I posted. I like her new eyes so much better!