Note to the reader: Please bear with me during the next few chapters. I'm trying to get the introducing of the Sailor Senshi out of the way. Thank you.

Act 2: I Simply Don't Have Time for This

"And in three, two, one," Toshio's mom shook her head as she pointed to the ceiling. Samantha looked up. Suddenly there is a loud thud against the floor.

"Mama, why didn't you wake me?" Toshio screamed from his room. Mama shook her head and sighed.

"What are we going to do with your sister, Sammy?" Samantha shook her head and ate her breakfast. Seconds later Toshio came running down the stairs. He grabbed his shoes and rushed out the door. Mama shook her head again and held up his lunch bag. The front door flew open and Toshio walked into the room slowly. He hung his head in shame as he took his lunch from Mama then rushed out the door again.

"Toshio, you've got to start getting up on time," Luna scolded him as she raced down the street with him.

"Leave me alone, Luna," he whined as he raced towards his school. Toshio rounded the corner and smacked right into Mayu. Mayu fell down and spilled her lunch on the ground.

"Ugh, it's you again," a familiar voice groaned. Toshio looked up and saw Takashi. Takashi bent down and helped Mayu to her feet.

"Good morning, Toshio," Mayu smiled as she dusted off her skirt. Today she wore her blonde hair down. It hung down to the middle of her back.

"Morning, Mayu," he smiled back then looked at her lunch all over the ground. "I am really sorry." Mayu shook her head and smiled then spotted Luna.

"Aw, aren't you the cutest kitty in the world," she cooed as she picked Luna up. She rubbed Luna's head and smiled. "A crescent moon on her forehead," she gasped then pondered carefully. "Your name is Moon or Luna." Luna's eyes widened.

"Her name is Luna," Toshio smiled. Takashi scramble around trying to save what was left of Mayu's lunch. He grabbed the cover of her bento box and brushed it off.

"Luna, such a wonderful name," she kissed Luna's forehead and smiled.

"There is something very familiar about this girl," Luna thought. In the distance the school bell sounded.

"I'm late," Toshio screamed, "I'll see you later, Mayu." Mayu let Luna down and waved as they both dashed away. She turned to Takashi and smiled sweetly.

"Can we get a new lunch on the way to school?" Takashi smiled back at her and nodded.

"Mr. Tsukino, go stand in the hallway," Ms. Haruna shouted. Toshio frowned and stood outside the classroom door.

"She's always so mean to me," he whined as he slid down the wall.

"Are you alright?" a voice called out to him. Toshio looked up at the person towering over him.

"I'm fine," he smiled. The classroom door flew open and Ms. Haruna poked her head out.

"Mr. Mizuno," she smiled. "You shouldn't be out here talking to Mr. Tsukino. Talking to him will bring your grades down."

"Hey, that's not nice," Toshio remarked. The guy laughed and nodded then walked past Haruna's classroom.

"Mr. Tsukino, you can come back into the room now," Ms. Haruna said as she walked into the room. Toshio followed behind her then sat down in his seat by the window. Kouki looked over at him and shook his head. Toshio stared up at the sky watching the clouds float pass the sun.

"You have to get out of here," a female's voice cried out.

"I'm not leaving you," he responded as he grabbed her hand. She turned around and looked on him, her golden eyes sparkled brightly.

"I'm sorry," she cried as she pushed him backward. Her fell through the portal and was sealed off from her world. The lunch bell sounded interrupting Toshio's day dream. Toshio blinked slowly pulling himself back into reality.

"Toshio, come on," Kouki said pushing his arm. Toshio nodded and grabbed his lunch bag. On the way to the courtyard Toshio saw someone walk up to the roof. Kouki nudged Toshio, "that's Akio from fifth class. He's really smart." Out in the courtyard Kouki and Toshio plopped down on the wooden bench.

"Toshio," Mei shouted as she waved frantically at him. Mei scooted in-between Kouki and Toshio. "Hi, Toshio," she smiled and flipped her hair over her left shoulder. Toshio nodded and smiled back. "So did you hear about Akio from fifth class?"

"No."

"Well, rumor has it," she began, "that he is a computer sent here by the government to learn all he can so he can be the smartest computer in the world."

"Does that ever sound plausible, Mei?" Kouki asked as he rolled his eyes.

"Well how else can you explain that he did better than me on a test?"

"I don't know," Toshio sighed, "he seemed pretty nice." Kouki and Mei stared at him.

"You spoke to him?" Mei questioned.

"Well sort of," Toshio replied. "Anyway, it's not nice to talk about people." He lifted himself from his seat and walked off. After school Kouki rushed up to Toshio.

"You want to head to the arcade today?"

"Sure, but first I have to find my cat. I'll meet you there alright?" Kouki nodded and headed toward the arcade. Toshio searched in the bushes and around the school for Luna.

"Well hello there kitty," a voice gasped. Toshio rounded the corner and saw Luna sitting with Akio. Akio rubbed Luna's ears gently and smiled at her. Luna purred softly.

"There you are, Luna," Toshio exclaimed. Akio jumped and saw Toshio standing there.

"Oh, she's your kitty," Akio said and lifted Luna off his lap. He handed Luna to Toshio and started leaving the school yard.

"Luna, what were you doing? I was looking for you," Toshio sighed as he began to leave the school yard.

"Something is off about him," Luna replied. "He might be a youma." Toshio scoffed. "Let's follow him." Toshio sighed and looked down at Luna.

"Not everyone is a youma," he sighed. Luna glared up at him.

"We don't know that for sure." Toshio rolled his eyes and followed behind Akio.

"You got me on that stalker level," Toshio chuckled softly. Akio turned and headed into a huge building. "And this is where the trail runs cold," he laughed. He peeked around the corner and spotted Mayu. "Hey, Mayu!" He called as he turned the corner. Mayu turned around and smiled, her green eyes sparkled in the sun.

"Hey, Toshi-chan. Hi, Luna," she smiled. She picked up Luna and kissed her forehead then set her back down. "You go to this cram school too?"

"Uh, no," Toshio blushed, "a friend of mine does. What are you doing here?"

"Taka-chan goes here after school some days so I meet him here," she smiled.

"Ah, alright," Toshio stared at her. They locked eyes and stared at each other then Luna nudged his leg gently. He looked down at Luna. "I have to get going," he smiled and waved bye to Mayu as he rushed into the building. Mayu waved back. Toshio and Luna walked through the doors and peeked through each room window.

"I don't see him anywhere," Toshio reported.

"Try the next one," Luna instructed. Toshio nodded and peered through the next room window. In the room he saw Akio and a group of other students sitting at the computer desk.

"Everything looks fine to me," he said. He knocked on the window and waved at Akio. Akio looked up and stared at Toshio. The teacher came to the door and smiled at Toshio.

"Are you taking this class?" She smiled. Toshio shook his head. "Then please don't interrupt my students," she smiled then closed the door and pulled the window curtain down. Toshio looked down at Luna.

"See," he laughed, "it's just a cram school class." He shuttered at the thought of him inside the class. "School after school," he made an icky face, "who would do something like that?" A chill ran down Luna's spine causing her hair to stand on end.

"Something's not right here," she said and turned around. Toshio turned back around and flung the door open to the room Akio was in. He gasped when he saw the teacher mashing Akio's face into the computer screen. "Leave him alone!" The teacher looked up at Toshio and laughed.

"What can I say," she laughed, "I have a different way of teaching." She pushed Akio over to the side of the wall and began to transform into a youma. Toshio jumped back and stared at her. He transformed into Sailor Moon and glared at the youma.

"I am Sailor Moon, guardian of love and justice. In the name of the moon, I will punish you!"

"But first how about a little pop quiz?"

"Are you serious? I hate test."

"Question number one: What is the square root of 1369?"

"Umm, 7?"

"Wrong!" The youma launched giants "F" and pencils at Sailor Moon. Luna spotted Akio on the ground and rushed over to him. She nudged him softly and he groaned.

"I guess he wasn't a youma. Then what is he?" Planet Mercury's symbol flashed across his head. "He couldn't be," she exclaimed. Akio's eyes fluttered gently as a blue watch appeared on his wrist. "He must be Mercury." Akio's eyes flew open and he levitated in the air. Instantly he transformed into Sailor Mercury.

"Hey, youma!" He called out. The youma turned around and looked at him. "How dare you entice students with learning and use it against them! I am Sailor Mercury, the guardian of water and wisdom. Douse yourself in water and repent!"

"Sailor Mercury," Sailor Moon smiled.

"Sailor Moon, let's do this together." Sailor Moon nodded. "Mercury Aqua Mist!" The youma shivered and rubbed its arms. "Now, Sailor Moon!"

"Moon Boomerang Magic!" Sailor Moon's crown flew into the youma eliminating it instantly. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury ran from the room.

"Great job, Sailor Moon," Sailor Mercury laughed as he smacked Sailor Moon on the back. Sailor Moon jerked forward then nodded.

"Great job, Sailor Mercury," Luna smiled at him.

"Hey! You're that cat from earlier," Sailor Mercury bent down and picked up Luna.

"I hope she didn't bother you too much earlier," Sailor Moon smiled as he transformed back into Toshio. "She thought you might have been a youma or something."

"Sailor Mercury, you are a guardian of this Earth and sworn to protect it from any dangers that may arise," Luna said. Sailor Mercury transformed back into Akio and looked at them.

"Between my studies and school I simply don't have time for that," he replied as he adjusted his glasses.

"Oh, but you must," Luna pleaded. "There's no way Toshio can do it by himself."

"Hey, that's rude," Toshio exclaimed. Akio shook his head and started walking away,

"I can't be bothered with this right now." He waved his hand dismissing the idea. Luna sighed and looked up at Toshio.

"He'll come around. I just know he will."

"What are you doing in here?" a voice shouted from behind him. Toshio turned around slowly then his face turned with disgust.

"Oh, it's you," Toshio frowned as he stared at Takashi.

"I didn't think you were smart enough to be in cram school," Takashi laughed as he walked past Toshio.

"I hate that guy," Toshio grumbled as he walked out the door behind Takashi.

"Taka-chan," Mayu smiled as he walked up to her. Takashi lifted her up in the air and spun her around then kissed her nose.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," Takashi whispered as he set her back down.

"It's okay. It's not like I had anything else to do," Mayu smiled then spotted Toshio. "Toshi-chan," she called as she waved at him, "Hi, Toshi-chan." Toshio blushed and waved back at her.

"Don't talk to him," Takashi snarled a bit as he held Mayu's other hand. He tugged Mayu and turned her away from Toshio. Toshio lifted his hand and was prepared to call after her then Luna appeared.

"Akio is a sailor senshi and he must be prepared to act as one," Luna said bluntly.

"But if he doesn't want to be one he shouldn't have to be," Toshio replied.

"It's not his decision," she argued.

"But."

"No." Luna glared at Toshio. "You need to talk to him tomorrow." Toshio nodded and headed home with Luna. The next day at school Toshio spotted Akio on the roof.

"Do you mind if I eat with you?" Toshio smiled at Akio.

"If you want to sit, I can't stop you," Akio sighed. Toshio sat beside Akio silently eating his lunch.

"Akio, why don't you want to be a sailor senshi?" Akio sighed and removed his glasses. He rubbed the bridge of his nose then replaced his glasses.

"Studying is the only thing I am good at. If it's not studying then I don't know what to do with myself."

"It sounds like you're afraid of failure," Toshio replied. Akio avoided eye contact with Toshio. "Akio, if you spend your life being afraid of failure then you can never try anything new. I mean, look at me. I fail every test we ever have. I'm always late. I'm clumsy, but I never give up because I know one day I will succeed. I spoke with Luna and she said you must be prepared to be a sailor senshi, but I feel the choice is yours. If you join us, I'd be glad to have you and if you don't that's still fine." Akio turned away from Toshio. "Either way I want to be your friend." Akio stared down at his lunch.

"You do?" Akio asked quietly. "Even if I don't fight with you as a senshi you'll be my friend?"

"Of course," Toshio smiled, "everyone needs friends." Akio sat there quietly then looked up at Toshio.

"If I do fight, you'll be by my side, right?"

"Of course," Toshio replied.

"I may fail, but I will try my hardest," Akio smiled up at Toshio. Toshio hugged Akio then released him.

"Sorry about that," he laughed awkwardly. Akio smiled at Toshio and laughed his blue eyes sparkling brightly.

"Jadeite, darling," Eclipse whispered as she hugged Jadeite from behind, "another senshi has awaken."

"Yes and I do apologize, if I may speak with Queen Beryl," Jadeite pleaded.

"My lady doesn't wish to speak with you," Eclipse whispered, "your failure is unsettling to her. She has spoken of threats to seal you away in a permanent sleep if you fail her again." Jadeite swallowed hard at Eclipse's words. "I fear for your life, Jadeite. The small amounts of energy you have collected are not enough to awaken our great leader." Eclipse tucked her onyx colored hair behind her ears and frowned at him.

"Eclipse," a voice called out to her, "Jadeite is continuing to fail our queen and our leader. Maybe it is time that Queen Beryl choose someone else to do his job." Nephrite appeared from the darkness and bowed before Eclipse.

"You think you can do a better job than me," Jadeite shouted as moved toward Nephrite.

"Think? I know I can," Nephrite scoffed.

"Now, now boys," Eclipse smiled at them. "Queen Beryl has not yet chosen someone new to do Jadeite's job so please calm yourselves." Jadeite stormed from the room tossing his gray cloak over his shoulder as he left.

"Eclipse, you know Jadeite is not capable of completing even the simplest of tasks," Nephrite groaned as he hugged Eclipse's waist. He kissed the top of her head gently.

"Yes, but if he thinks Beryl is going to destroy him it may give him the motivation he needs," Eclipse smirked turning to face Nephrite. Her black eyes stared at him seeming empty and cold.

"Darling, I sometimes wonder what goes on in that mind of yours," Nephrite smiled down at Eclipse.

"Dark things, my love. Dark things," she whispered as she planted a gentle kiss on Nephrite's lips.