Disclaimer: We don't own any Sailor Moon characters, but we DO own Kiyoshi Natsume. FACT! We also own Anastacia Poon, Mikayla Hunt, and Trixx.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but here it is! And this is dedicated to impersonal, for all her hard work both in and outside of the world of FFN.
Chapter 5
"Michi?"
The senshi of the seas turned to her lover, who was lounging at one end of a chaise in the living room.
"Hai, Ruka?"
The blonde tomboy turned over in the chair, her features solemn and her eyes clouded with concern.
"Do you think Sets is okay? I mean, her powers and all?"
Michiru smiled gently before approaching her love and sitting on her lap.
"Is Haruka Tenoh showing concern for the 'old hag'?"
Haruka turned away, her cheeks flushing a light pink. The tomboy shook her head fervently.
"N-no! It's just I don't wanna have to be working extra hard just 'cos the old hag's lost her powers!"
Michiru feigned a pout and spoke under her breath, "And it was so much more a turn-on when you were all concerned..." Michiru trailed off and Haruka instantly raised both eyebrows and cleared her throat.
"Well, I mean naturally I am concerned, of course. I'm not heartless." Haruka gave her trademark Cheshire cat-grin and Michiru leaned in close, her breath gently tickling the cheek of her blonde lover.
THWACK!
Michiru looked at the shocked look of her significant other as the tomboy remained stock still with a pillow still covering her face.
Michiru tutted tauntingly, "Ecchi Haruka! Is that all that's ever on your mind?"
The blonde slowly removed the pillow to reveal an adorable scowl. She gingerly rubbed her face and turned to her lover, who by now had stood up and was staring out of the window.
"But you're the one who said it was a turn-on! Michi, I –" Haruka stopped mid-sentence and leapt up from her seat too and approached the window. Michiru shuddered involuntarily and looked up at Haruka.
"Do you sense that too, Haruka? What is it? And why is it here?"
The tomboy shook her head. "I don't know. It feels bad, but I also sense a fellow senshi." Haruka tilted her head in confusion and shook her head as if physically ridding herself of confusion. The tomboy slid her hand into her pants pocket and gave out a sigh of relief.
"My henshin's on me. Do you have yours?" Michiru nodded and Haruka grinned, "Okay, then I'll go out front and see what's going on. You head around the back and keep an eye out for anything suspicious, okay?"
Michiru nodded once more, and leaned upwards, feeling the need to connect with her lover. Both knew that every time they parted could be their last, so treat every moment as if it would be the very final time they would be together.
"I love you." Both spoke at the same time but neither blushed nor gave embarrassed looks. With a solemn nod, they separated and went into two separate directions.
Teal eyes searched the perimeter of the property. So far, Haruka could see nothing and she let out a sigh of relief.
She tentatively made her way down the steps and stopped halfway when she noticed a white van from across the road; it was a servicing company for furniture apparently, but why did Haruka only manage to get this aura of impending doom from it?
Maybe that was the effect wooden furniture had on the tomboy.
Shaking her mind of all these thoughts, Haruka gripped the henshin in her pocket, taking some relief in the fact she had her trusty transformation at hand should anything go awry. Haruka's brow furrowed as she sensed a growing evil close by; and getting closer with every passing second.
A noise from behind her alerted the blonde to someone being far too close.
Haruka whirled around, henshin in hand and began shouting out, "URANUS PLANET POW—… Minako-chan?"
A blonde with a red bow tied in her hair stood before the tomboy, but her usual smile was nowhere to be found. Sensing something was wrong, Haruka took a step forward.
"Minako? What's wrong? Do you sense this evil too?" Haruka looked around perplexed. "Where are Usagi and Rei? Or are Mako and Ami here?" Haruka nodded towards her henshin and lowered her tone just a touch. "Do they need us to transform too?"
Minako was silent and Haruka was convinced there was something wrong. A few moments later the blonde opened her mouth and spoke in an unusually cold voice.
"Mako, Ami? Usagi and Rei? Hmm, thank you, senshi." Without another warning, the blonde pulled her henshin from her pocket and threw it up in the air. "VENUS-MARS PLANET POWER MAKE-UP!"
Haruka's eyes bulged. "What the – Oh!" The blonde tomboy threw her own henshin in the air, "URANUS PLANET POWER MAKE-UP!"
In an instant the two blondes were turned into their alter egos; Haruka Tenoh into Sailor Uranus. The tomboy looked confused at the blonde in front of her. Minako was dressed in a fuku that was red where their uniform was usually white, and her orange Venus trim was in place as usual. She wore Venus-style boots in a dark crimson colour.
"Who are you?" Uranus demanded.
The long-haired blonde smirked. "Anti-senshi Venus." Without another word of warning the 'anti Venus' opened up her mouth. "Love-Me Mandala!"
Uranus's mouth hit the floor. She had no idea what to expect; it was a mix of Venus and Mars signature powers after all! Her teal eyes widened as eight flaming hearts surrounded the 'senshi' and began making their way towards the senshi of the skies. She managed to dodge them all but then she stopped in her tracks as she heard the shout of her beloved.
"Neptune!"
"Love Sniper!" Uranus's eyes widened as she felt her body being pierced by the anti-Venus's power. Suddenly she was overcome by a familiar and unwelcome sensation rushing through her body.
"Oh snap!" Uranus began moving around at a frightening pace, unable to control her body, all the while wanting to move her body to her beloved as she heard Neptune scream once more.
"It's useless, Uranus is... preoccupied."
Neptune was backed up against the back of the house, a large gash in her forearm and her breathing was laboured. "DEEP – "
Gunshots prevented the end of Neptune's infamous catchphrase from being finished. Neptune closed her eyes, but felt nothing. She opened her eyes to see ISC standing, gun directed into the air and a smirk in place.
"Next time, it'll be aimed at you, Neptune."
Neptune narrowed her eyes and moved swiftly from her position, hoping to reach ISC before the gun could be lowered. Neptune tackled the criminal, sending ISC to the ground and the gun to go sliding across the gravelled side of the yard.
"Goddammit!" ISC took a hit to the jaw before managing to bring her legs up and kick off the senshi of the seas. Leaping up, ISC looked at Neptune with an amused look. "And here I thought you were a lady... Miss Kaioh."
Neptune's eyes widened and she stood stock still; ISC used this to her advantage and produced a sharp flip-knife from the inside pocket of her jacket. Neptune's sense kicked in as ISC approached her with a maniacal grin, looking the aqua themed senshi up and down.
"I only need one thing from you."
"What a day!" Kiyoshi shook her head and looked to her long-haired colleague who was sitting beside her, but had remained silent ever since they had left the offices of Dr. Poon and Hunt.
They had even driven to 'Underworld' and picked up assignments they could both work on from home, and Setsuna had just silently entered her office and picked up her portfolio and headed back out. Kiyoshi had offered her a ride and received not even the smallest protest from Setsuna – it was weird seeing the green-haired woman so defeated.
"Do you need any help with the assignments? My laptops in the back so I can help you with –"
"I'm not going anywhere near your backseat. I don't need to be fucked and trashed, thank you very much."
Kiyoshi sighed at Setsuna's incredulous implication. "I didn't mean for that! I just mean to relieve your workload! I thought if you had less work to do you might be able to have an easier day." Kiyoshi kept her gray eyes fixed on the road, trying her best to keep her temper calm and level.
"Why do you care about making my day easier? Since you've come along all you've done is throw my life into disarray!" Setsuna retorted.
Kiyoshi sighed heavily. "Look, I just do care, okay? I don't like seeing women upset!" Kiyoshi spoke with such vigour that it damned near shut Setsuna up for a moment – a feat rarely achieved.
Setsuna cleared her throat, "No, Kiyo. I'm fine. And if I want to stay that way then you staying as far away from me as humanly possible can only amplify my fine mood." Setsuna's snappy reply instantly caused Kiyoshi to look at her with concern.
"I know you're not fine, Setsuna. And you know," the short-haired driver took in a deep breath, but Setsuna didn't look over to Kiyoshi, "I have trouble confiding in people too, but sometimes you just need to let things out. Don't let your troubles eat you up. I used to do that, and it led to a bad place in my life. I know we didn't get off on the right foot, but I am known for my good ear and comfy shoulder."
Setsuna lazily brought her gaze over to Kiyoshi, quite taken aback at hearing such sentimental words come from someone she deemed an all out promiscuous pervert.
"I have people I can confide in," she said in a much calmer tone, "but I can't tell you this. But... thanks, Kiyoshi."
The two shared a small smile.
"Anytime, Setsuna."
Kiyoshi's car pulled up to the curb and Setsuna took off her seatbelt. She turned to thank the photographer, but found her attention being dragged elsewhere.
She sensed evil… and it was close by.
"Kiyoshi, I, er, have to go!" Setsuna opened the car door and got out as quickly as possible in her civilian form, and she was somewhat surprised to have not heard any protest or comments on her rude behaviour from Kiyoshi.
She spared a quick glance back and found Kiyoshi staring intently at a white furnishings van not fifty feet from where Kiyoshi had parked, but hesitated not another moment longer when she heard the gunshot.
That van! Kiyoshi's mind registered the vehicle from the previous night. "Setsuna, wait!" she called out, but when she turned to the passenger seat beside her, it was empty. A gunshot sounded and she looked up, barely catching a glimpse of Setsuna disappearing around the side of the house. Where is that woman going?
Kiyoshi took a quick glance around before uttering the words that transformed her into Sailor Eris. She quickly got out of the car, but stayed wary of her surroundings. Keeping her back pressed to the house, Eris went after Setsuna. When she turned the corner, the sight before her brought her to pure shock.
"Goddammit! C'mon, I need you to work now more than ever!" Setsuna growled at a dangerously low level as she rushed around the Outers' home, being led by her instincts to where she sensed a wounded Neptune was. She would have gone for Uranus first, but sensed an erratic amount of energy coming from the senshi of the skies; erratic energy but she wasn't hurt like Neptune's aura implied.
"Oh, come on! PLUTO PLANET POWER MAKE-UP!" The fizzling sound of her henshin was all she heard.
No way! Setsuna is Pluto? Eris's thoughts were cut short at the sound of clanging and shouting from the front of the house. Diverting her gray eyes away from the green-haired woman shouting profanities at a small object in her hand, Eris made her way swiftly but quietly to the front of the house, keeping her ears and eyes peeled for any suspicious behaviour. She spotted movement by the detached garage opposite from where she stood.
CLANG!
"FUCK! Shit, someone make it stop!"
Eris's eyebrows knitted together and she turned a corner, only to find Haruka Tenoh, who was jerking about side to side like a lunatic with both of her hands covering her crotch. Eris tilted her head to the side in a confused manner before hiding back around the side of the house and de-transforming back into her civilian alter ego.
"Tenoh-san! What's happened?" Kiyoshi said stepping out in front of Haruka.
"Natsume-san! Do NOT come any closer, I can't stop this, I –"
Kiyoshi barely had a second to register the sentence Haruka uttered out before finding the blonde tomboy had thrown herself on top of the photographer.
"What the –?"
"Fuck! I can't stop myself! RUN! Run... far, far away!" Haruka's teal eyes were filled with a pleading desperation Kiyoshi had never seen before.
Then Kiyoshi realised what was happening.
Her clothes were being pawed at like a wild animal and being damn near ripped off. Gray eyes bulged and using all the strength she had in her body, Kiyoshi placed her hands firmly on Haruka's shoulders before pushing her back with all her might.
The blonde tomboy flew in the air for a second before landing and standing up, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I said run, dammit!"
Haruka flung herself at Kiyoshi once more, and the green-haired tomboy avoided the lunging action of the short-haired blonde before her.
"What the hell's going on?!"
Haruka opened her mouth, only to stop for a second; she couldn't tell Kiyoshi the truth, so she had to settle for a horrible, terrible lie.
"I, er..." Haruka's speech was paused as her genitalia made another lunge towards Kiyoshi who dodged at the last minute, successfully evading Haruka. "I-I-I accidentally took some Viagra and... now I can't stop –" Haruka's body threw itself once more at Kiyoshi, who jumped up and let Haruka go flying into the ground. Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow and was slightly out of breath.
"Let me guess: you can't stop dry-humping everything in sight?"
Haruka wailed as her body attempted to fling itself again at Kiyoshi, who sidestepped and let Haruka stumble into the open garage door.
"Ever since she got me, it-it-it's like I-I-I can't stop jumping and humping everything in sight!"
"Who? What are you talking about?"
Haruka wailed more as her body tried to hurl itself at Kiyoshi repeatedly.
Kiyoshi shook her head and used all the strength she had to summon up enough force to knock Haruka far back into the garage.
As soon as the blonde was three feet away, Kiyoshi threw her fist into the blonde's stomach. Haruka went flying back into the garage and didn't stop until her body made contact with the back of the garage wall.
Kiyoshi winced as she heard the 'thwack' of Haruka's back make contact with the cement wall. The blonde didn't move and Kiyoshi took a tentative step into the garage.
Haruka still didn't move and Kiyoshi sighed in relief as she heard the slow but steady breathing of the now unconscious blonde tomboy.
"Nothing personal, Tenoh-san, but I don't fuck other tomboys. I prefer a pillow queen."
Kiyoshi closed the garage door and hoped it would keep Haruka safe while she searched for Setsuna. In a flash of light, she was Sailor Eris again and she ran to the back of the house.
ISC carefully placed the aquamarine locks into a plastic Ziploc bag labelled "Uranus."
"Are you sure that's right, ISC?" anti-Venus questioned the blonde gunman.
"Of course it's right! Here, put Tenoh-san's hair in the Neptune bag. I won't get them mixed up this time," ISC said.
Anti-Venus did as she was told and looked over at the two unconscious forms lying on the floor. "And who's this woman?"
"Some fashion designer. Anyway who cares? We have what we came for," ISC said and patted the pocket which contained the bags of hair samples.
"DISCORD BOMBARD!"
The air was filled with the deafening sound of Eris's attack and the impact threw ISC and anti-Venus across the yard.
"Anti-senshi! Deal with her!" ISC grunted painfully.
"LOVE-ME MANDALA!" the anti-senshi countered. Eight flaming hearts were flung at Eris.
Immediately two long blades appeared, one in each of Eris's hands. "STATIC BLADE CUTTER!"
Each of the flaming hearts was extinguished and the two senshi stood glaring at each other.
"You think you're so tough now just 'cuz you've joined the ranks of the solar system," anti-Venus chided, "but you have no idea what's coming."
Eris clenched her blades tightly and swore through gritted teach, "I am Sailor Eris! I always know what's coming! Prepare to be CUT!" With that said, she charged for the imposter senshi, blades drawn back and ready to do serious damage.
Anti-Venus called forth her sniper bow and barely managed to ward off Eris's attack. They locked weapons and the battle became an object of strength – who would be the first to back down? Eris stared anti-Venus down with eyes so fierce that her determination was undeniable.
Her opponent could only hold out for so long until her masked accomplice, who finally decided to be useful, relieved her. Eris ducked just as ISC took aim at the green-haired senshi and fired a shot. The bullet whizzed past Eris, but managed to nick her on the shoulder.
The senshi cringed at the sting and pulled back from anti-Venus, allowing the blonde hybrid ample time to retreat with ISC to the white van. Ignoring the blood beginning to seep from her wound, Eris chased them down the street, but as the van picked up speed she could no longer keep up. Her shoulder was crying out in agony as well and was in desperate need of attention.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Eris slowly made her way back to the mansion. She just reached the front lawn when she became light-headed and her sight blurred. Just before she collapsed to the ground and passed out, her fuku disappeared and was replaced by her civilian clothes, which now had a crimson stain covering the upper part of her right sleeve.
When Kiyoshi opened her eyes, her vision was out of focus, but she could see a bright light and small objects floating around her. At first she thought they were feathers of some sort by the way they swayed lightly, but as they landed on her skin, she recognised the soft touch to be flower petals. She could hear delicate music too that sounded much like a heavenly choir. Finally her vision cleared and she noticed a pair of deep purple eyes to her right staring down at her.
"Oh my God, I love this dream," Kiyoshi thought out loud.
"I'm sorry?" Hotaru questioned. "Hold on, don't move." The girl turned away from Kiyoshi and yelled, "Setsa-mama, can you please turn your soap operas down? And Ruka-papa, I know Michiru-mama asked you to trim her rose bushes, but honestly, can you make any more of a mess? The petals are flying everywhere."
Kiyoshi blinked and sat up straight. She was on a couch in the brightly lit room she had seen earlier that morning. Through the doorway she could see the living room and to her left was Haruka, haphazardly trimming a rose bush. Immediately she looked down at her appearance. She was relieved to see her civilian clothes then turned to look at her shoulder. Her sleeve had been torn off and her shoulder bandaged.
"Now, what were you saying?" Hotaru asked Kiyoshi.
"Er, nothing," the green-haired tomboy quickly responded. "Hey, did you do this?" she asked Hotaru.
"Yes," the girl replied timidly. "Your wound should heal well, but it'll probably leave a little scar."
Kiyoshi gingerly touched the bandage and was surprised to not even feel any soreness. "But how…?"
"She's studying to be a nurse," Haruka said proudly. "Hime-chan has a natural talent for heal—"
"Medicare," a voice interrupted. "Haruka, why don't you go change the oil in your car or something?" Setsuna said, but her underlying tone threatened Haruka not to say another word. "Hotaru-chan can clean up the mess you've made before Usagi and the others get here."
Setsuna looked over to Hotaru, who nodded and quickly took Haruka's place at the rose bushes as Haruka rushed to the garage.
Kiyoshi eyed her boss, or more accurately, Sailor Pluto. That probably explained the aura she felt when she was there at the house earlier. It must have been no accident that the photographing agency sent her to work for 'Underworld,' but she decided to keep this newfound knowledge to herself.
"So, what happened?" Kiyoshi asked first. "Everything's a blur, but all I remember is getting out of the car, almost getting raped by Haruka, and then getting shot." She made her story sweet and simple. Now she was interested in what story Setsuna had lined up for her.
Inwardly, Setsuna breathed a sigh of relief. The less Kiyoshi knew, the easier it was for her to make up a story and fill in the gaps.
"Occasionally, we get crazed fans stalking Haruka and Michiru. Today's stalkers were some Europeans; one from the Netherlands and one from France. The Dutch girl had a gun and tried to shoot Haruka because she thinks Haruka doesn't deserve Michiru, but the French girl fought her because she's obsessed with Haruka. She's the one that drugged Haruka with Viagra. Mainlanders… you know how they can be. Anyway, long story short, they were arrested, but essentially the stray bullet hit you."
Kiyoshi was impressed. "I see. Well I'm glad nobody was seriously hurt. Today's turned out to be pretty exciting, ne?"
Setsuna only smiled. "You know, Kiyoshi, you're not so bad when you're not busy trying to get inside women's pants."
"Shh! Don't tell that to the models. I can't have them know I have a sensitive side," Kiyoshi said and winked. "And you're not so bad yourself when you're not busy ragging on me."
"It's complicated," Setsuna sighed. "No offense, but I really don't think you'd understand."
Kiyoshi placed her hand on top of Setsuna's shoulder. "Try me. We may have something more in common than you know."
At that moment Michiru appeared at the doorway. She looked at Setsuna first, then Kiyoshi, then cleared her throat. "I don't mean to interrupt or anything, but I hope you don't mind if I steal Setsuna away for a moment."
Kiyoshi and Setsuna turned to Michiru at the same time, then looked back at each other and exchanged dubious looks.
"Not at all, Kaioh-san," Kiyoshi replied as she and Setsuna snickered and tried to hold back laughter when they realized how they must have looked. "Anyway, I better get going since it seems you're expecting company," she said and stood up.
"Well, thanks again Kiyoshi. I'm sorry you got mixed up in the madness," Setsuna said.
"No problem, Setsuna. I'll see you at work."
"Hota-chan, would you please show Kiyoshi out?" Setsuna requested as she left the room with Michiru.
Hotaru dropped the broom she was using to sweep the petals, but managed to catch it before it could hit the floor. "S-Sure, Setsa-mama." She placed the broom against the wall and walked up to Kiyoshi, avoiding all eye contact with the taller woman. "Follow me, please."
Kiyoshi walked with Hotaru through the mansion till they reached the genkan. There was awkwardness between the two, but Kiyoshi figured it was obvious why. Leaning against the wall for balance, she stepped into her shoes then turned to face Hotaru. The other girl dropped her gaze to the floor.
"Hotaru, I didn't get a chance to thank you for taking care of my wound, so thank you. And… no hard feelings about… you know… when we…"
"Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, and Setsuna-mama are my adoptive parents."
A green eyebrow raised up in question, then settled back down as Kiyoshi understood. "I see... that's your living arrangement. You're lucky to have them."
Hotaru looked up with curiosity at the unusual tone in Kiyoshi's voice. For a moment she saw sorrow in Kiyoshi's face, but it disappeared quickly and a smile took its place. The tomboy turned to the door and opened it.
"Well, have a good evening," Kiyoshi said before bowing humbly with gratitude and stepping outside, where the late afternoon was beginning to turn to dusk. The sun cast a long shadow ahead of Kiyoshi as she walked towards her car. She pulled her keys out from inside her pocket and pressed the button on the remote that would unlock the silver vehicle.
"Natsume-san!"
Kiyoshi turned around and saw Haruka coming out of the garage. The blonde waved to her and motioned for her to wait.
"Honda Integra Type R?" Haruka asked when she reached Kiyoshi.
"That's right."
"What year?"
"'04."
Haruka's eyes glazed over, clearly showing a growing enthusiasm. "What modifications have you done to it?"
The blank stare Haruka received from Kiyoshi disturbed her.
"You haven't done anything to your car?" Haruka asked bewildered.
"I got new wheels?" Kiyoshi offered.
Haruka took a step back. "Your car is one of the top tuner cars and you haven't done anything?" the blonde repeated.
"Honestly, Tenoh-san, besides basic car maintenance, I know next to nothing. But I know a sexy car when I see one."
Haruka staggered backwards like she was about to faint. "You can't leave without letting me soup up your car."
Kiyoshi politely held her hand up. "It's okay; I don't want to impose on your time any more than I already have."
"I insist! I can't let a friend drive around in that car with nothing but stock parts. It's unforgivable. Drive your car up to the garage now," Haruka demanded and ran back to her lair of auto mechanics.
Kiyoshi was too confounded by Haruka by then to refuse. She did as she was told and parked her car inside the garage next to a sleek black BMW Z4 Roadster, which was flanked by a black Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren on the other side. Shelves with various auto parts lined the walls of the garage and in one corner lay stacks of tires.
All these things Kiyoshi hadn't noticed earlier since she was busy warding off the "Viagra-induced" blonde. The thought made her shudder and she wondered if being in the garage alone with Haruka was a good idea. She dismissed the thought and just took time to appreciate Haruka's passion for the motor-world.
"You've got some wicked rides." Kiyoshi said to Haruka.
"Thanks! The Roadster is mine, but the SLR is Hotaru's graduation present; she just doesn't know it yet though. Don't worry, your ride's gonna be wicked once I'm done with it!" Haruka lay on her back and slid underneath Kiyoshi's car. "Alright, this won't take long. Natsume-san could you hand me th—"
"If we're going to be friends, you're going to have to drop the formalities."
Haruka smiled. "Kiyoshi, please hand me that wrench."
"Hurry up, Usagi! We're late! Everyone's already there!"
Usagi bent over, placing a hand on her knee and the other hand on her side, trying to catch her breath. "Rei," she whined, "I have a cramp!"
"You shouldn't be eating out so much! You knew we were going to have to run."
"I didn't hear you complaining about eating out earlier," Usagi muttered defiantly.
Rei glared at Usagi, but she couldn't deny she rather enjoyed eating out with Usagi. "Let's just go! We're almost there," she said, grabbing Usagi's arm and pulling the blonde the rest of the way to the outers' mansion. The two girls ran up the driveway and onto the porch when Rei suddenly stopped, causing Usagi to run into her.
"Dammit, Rei! If you want full body contact, then just—"
"Shut up, Usagi!" Rei cut her off and pointed back in the direction they came from. "What's Mina doing over there by the garage?"
Usagi followed the direction of Rei's finger and spotted the other blonde. "Who knows?" she replied impatiently.
"Mina!" Rei called out. "What are you doing?"
Minako spun around and put a finger up to her lips, then gestured for them to come over. The two girls joined Minako on the outside of the garage.
"What's going on, Mina?" Rei asked.
As if answering Rei's question, a voice sounded from within. "Just slide one in there, it's not hard. Don't worry, nobody will find out. You know you want to."
Rei and Usagi's eyes widened.
"Is that Haruka?" Rei whispered.
Minako nodded. "And Kiyoshi!"
"Hold on! Let me grease up," came Kiyoshi's voice.
"Why does Kiyoshi need to grease up?" Usagi asked puzzled.
Rei and Minako gave Usagi an annoyed look. "Don't worry, Usagi. It's just car trouble."
"Dude, this needs replacing," Haruka said from underneath Kiyoshi's car.
"No, it doesn't! I just changed it last month," Kiyoshi argued.
"Trust me, it needs replacing. Come down here, I'll show you."
Laying on her back, Kiyoshi slid underneath her car to see what Haruka wanted to show her. "Haruka, isn't that illegal? I thought those parts aren't allowed outside race tracks."
"Just slide one in there, it's not hard. Don't worry, nobody will find out."
Kiyoshi's eyes lit up, then hesitated.
"You know you want to," Haruka egged her on.
The other tomboy grinned. "Hold on! Let me grease up!
The three girls continued eavesdropping outside the garage and imagining the unimaginable based on the sounds coming from inside.
"Dude, it doesn't go in that hole. It goes here in the front," they heard Haruka instructing Kiyoshi.
"Man, I'm not used to being on my back this long."
"Well you better get used to it if you and I are together."
"Ah fuck! Haruka, it's leaking!"
"Don't worry, we're almost there," Haruka grunted.
"Oh shit!" Kiyoshi cried out.
"Careful! Don't spray it everywhere! Move over, I'll do it."
"Dude, don't break it!"
"Don't be such a baby, Kiyoshi! I'll only put it in for a second."
"Watch out, don't slip in the puddle."
"Whoa, this towel is soaked through. No wonder Michi… er, nevermind."
Usagi, Rei, and Minako shook their heads, still shocked at what they were hearing.
"Look, just let me do it," Kiyoshi continued.
"Yeah, right there," Haruka breathed. "You know, you're not so bad at this. Maybe after a few more times, you'll be as good as me."
"Pfft, I'd exceed you."
"And how!" Minako burst out then covered her mouth. Rei shot her a dirty look and Usagi mouthed the word 'ho.'
"Phew! That was awesome. We make a good team, you and I. Now just a few more things," said Haruka. "Grab that big one over there while I plug this in."
"What am I supposed to do with this, Haruka? I usually don't do this sort of thing," Kiyoshi's voice waivered as she seemed to be struggling with something.
"Just push it in as far as it goes and when it cracks, you've done it."
Suddenly a buzzing noise arose and Kiyoshi's strained voice said, "Um, what is that for?"
"To make it smooth, so it's real slick and just slides in easier."
"Oh my God, this is too much!" Rei said and got up to leave.
"Rei, wait for me!" Minako said and followed her.
"Hey, don't go without me! I still don't know what's going on!" Usagi chased after them.
All the senshi were inside the living room listening to Setsuna describe what happened during her visit to NASA and upon her return home. The idea of these new enemies hitting so close to home was startling.
"Do you think Natsume-san suspects anything?" Ami asked once Setsuna finished.
"I don't think so. Just to be safe, I asked Hotaru not to completely heal her wound so that it would leave a scar and seem real," said Setsuna, then shook her head, "but Haruka almost slipped."
"By the way, where is Haruka? She's been tinkering in that garage for a while now," Michiru noted with arms crossed. "What could be keeping her? She knows we're having this conference."
"She's with Natsume-san," Usagi blurted out before Rei and Minako could stop her.
"Someone looking for me?"
All eyes turned to the entryway to the living room where two tomboys stood covered in sweat and grease and oil-stained clothes.
"Kiyoshi? You're still here?" Setsuna said.
"Yeah, well, Kiyoshi and I did some bonding," said Haruka, "since, you know, Michi never wants to do stuff like that 'cuz she's too much of a lady."
"Man, don't worry, I'm all about the hardcore stuff!" said Kiyoshi.
"And how!" the blonde tomboy said giving Kiyoshi a high five.
Usagi, Rei, and Minako fell out of their chairs.
Hotaru walked in at that point and looked around innocently. "How what?"
The rest of the group looked suspiciously at the tomboys.
Kiyoshi shrugged and held her hands up. "What?"
The tomboy beside her said, "We were just doing car stuff!"
On the floor, Minako sighed blissfully. "I'm so getting that VW Beetle I saw at the dealership tomorrow," she said with a wink at Kiyoshi.
The green-haired tomboy questioned Minako's statement with only a raised eyebrow.
Deep down in the depths under the city, three individuals stood anxiously in front of two cylinders. The machinery in the secret lair hummed rhythmically around them while they waited for the liquid to drain. The door to the cylinder containing a woman with aqua hair opened first. The brunette held out her hand for the woman inside to take.
'Welcome, Neptune," Anastacia said as she helped the woman out.
The second cylinder's door opened then and Mike and Trixx rushed over to aid the blonde woman emerging from it.
"And Uranus," Anastacia added.
The Neptune clone immediately pushed Anastacia aside, who let out a surprised yelp, and calmly walked over to the blonde with a peculiar confidence in her step. The Uranus clone, on the other hand, began squealing like a giddy schoolgirl and ran up to meet her. She jumped into Anti-Neptune's arms, where she was immediately taken into a deep kiss.
"Michi! Not in front of everyone!" the blonde scolded the aqua-haired woman with a giggle and playfully pushed herself away from Anti-Neptune. "Later though, I promise," she said seductively.
The other anti-senshi smirked and said, "Sure thing, babe."
Anti-Uranus threw her arms around anti-Neptune and squealed again, kicking a heel up into the air.
As Anastacia observed their behavior, her jaw clenched, her nostrils flared, and her eyes locked in on Mike.
"YOU DUMBASS! AGAIN?" she screamed and smacked Mike upside her head.
"What? I labelled the bags!" Mike reasoned desperately.