The Wild Wind And The Scarlet Sea
By: Jaqui K
Chapter 3: A Peaceful Life
Usagi Tsukino was humming a cheerful tune as she skipped along to her after school destination of the Crown Game Center where her friends (as well as her super gorgeous perfect boyfriend) were waiting for her. Well, probably very impatiently waiting for her at this point since she got stuck with detention again. It wasn't her fault no one got her up early enough for school, darn it!
Well, at least detention right at the start of her third year in middle school was the worst problem she was dealing with at the moment. Ever since she took on the mantle of the Pretty Guardian Of Love And Justice Sailor Moon, not to mention discovering that she is the reincarnation of Princess Serenity of the ancient Silver Millennium Moon Kingdom, her life felt like it consisted of nothing but endless hardships and battles. First fighting against Metalia and the remnants of the Dark Kingdom from the past, and then needing to save her future daughter from Death Phantom and the Black Moon Clan. Finally though, after what almost felt like an eternity, she was now able to enjoy a peaceful life once more. Unfortunately, even with the calm and happiness around her, she couldn't fully shake the feeling this peace wasn't meant to last.
A low rumbling sound coming from the vicinity of her stomach interrupted Usagi's musings. Perhaps a little snack first wouldn't hurt. I'm probably not that late. Her focus quickly went to the ice cream parlor located right next to the game center. As she went in, wondering what delicious treat she was going to get, her eyes immediately drew towards a slightly older couple sitting at a booth on the far wall. Well, to be purely honest, the majority of her focus was on the super jumbo sized fruit filled extravaganza parfait the boy was very cautiously poking at. She floated over to the table, mesmerized by the wondrous monument to the gloriousness of ice cream.
"You know, it's not going to bite you or anything just because you have darker hair right now," the girl said with half-lidded eyes barely visible beneath a baseball cap, her chin resting on her hand. "Honestly, after all the things you've been through, you really have no reason to be scared of a little ice cream."
"I'm not scared!" the boy, with dark hair braided in a single pigtail, declared, while still nervously looking at the dessert in front of him. "It's just…you know…"
"Yeah, and the whole point of this little detour is because you said you want to try and finally get over that crap, remember? Just hurry up already, we still need to go and check out Mugen-"
"Oh wow! So gorgeous!" Usagi exclaimed, startling the two who just noticed her standing right next to their table.
The girl seemed to recover from her shock quickly as her eyes narrowed and she started to growl. "What exactly do you mean by gorgeous?"
"The parfait," Usagi explained. "It looks so amazing and so delicious!"
"Oh," the girl said, her apparent anger quickly dropping. "Hey, can you tell this idiot that there's nothing wrong with a guy eating a parfait?"
"Huh?" Usagi looked between the parfait and the boy, who was still looking a bit pensive. Was there something wrong with it? Her perfect Mamo-chan had no problem eating ice cream. Although, maybe a parfait like that was a bit too much for a guy to have? Her mind went back to the time she used the disguise pen to disguise herself as a bridegroom in order to confront the evil bride that was threatening Makoto. If, for some reason, she ended up stuck in that form, would that mean she would have to give up on the wonderous joys of parfaits, oh and also have to stop being Sailor Moon as well?
"No way!" she yelled out.
The boy gave a sigh and looked over at his booth mate. "You see? I guess it really is-"
"I'd never give up parfaits if I was stuck in a boy's body!" Usagi continued with a very determined look on her face.
"W-what?!" the pigtailed boy asked, once more looking shocked.
Undeterred by the reaction, Usagi pointed towards the parfait on the table while lifting her other hand in the air. "Such a divine confection gifted to us by the gods should be a treat enjoyable by everyone, even boys!"
The two teenagers at the table stared at her with shock, along with just a bit of awe, all the way up to when she went out of her pose to nervously poke her fingers together while sheepishly asking, "Um, but if you still don't want the parfait, I'll be more than happy to eat it instead," at which point they both fell over in their booth seats.
The boy was the first to recover, sitting back up and giving a dismissive wave. "No, no. I still want to eat it. It's just…" He looked at the extra sweet confection in front of him. "I can't help but feel like the rest of the world would judge me for it."
"So what if they do!" Usagi exclaimed as two pairs of eyes turned towards her again. She took a deep, calming breath and gave a gentle smile in return, hopefully tapping into the wisdom of her future self, Neo-Queen Serenity, in order to help this poor, ice cream deprived soul. "This isn't about what the rest of the world wishes for you. This is about what you wish for yourself. Don't think of it as a boy thing or a girl thing. If it's something that you really want, then move forward and don't worry what they think."
The boy stared back at Usagi with a curious look before giving a quick nod and turning towards the parfait in front of him with new determination. Very carefully, he took his spoon and scooped out a sizable chunk of the extravagant dessert, slowly and deliberately bringing it up to his mouth and taking a bite. He took a quick glance around the room, as if he was expecting someone to suddenly burst in to yell at him or something. When nothing like that happened, a big smile grew on his face and his eyes lit up as he started to dig into his treat at a much faster pace. "Oh wow!" he exclaimed between bites. "This still tastes just as good."
Usagi maintained her smile, although she had to tilt her head a little at that comment. Before she could say anything, the other girl managed to reply first. "See? I told you that you were worried over nothing. Next time, do the sensible thing and just listen to me." She then turned to address Usagi. "Oh, hey, thanks for your, um, interesting words of encouragement. It really takes a lot to get through that dummy's thick skull."
"I always love to help people out," Usagi replied cheerfully. "Although I guess it doesn't hurt when that helping out also involves sweets. Oh, by the way, I'm Usagi. It's nice to meet you both." She turned towards the girl, only to find herself frozen at the sight. She wasn't quite sure why, but she couldn't help but feel her cheeks start to flush upon seeing this girl clearly for the first time. The pleasant and amused smile on her face, her deep brown eyes that almost seemed to flash ocean blue for just a moment, the blue hair with hints of aquamarine peeking out from beneath the ball cap.
"Nice to meet you too, I guess," the girl said in a jovial tone. "I'm Akane and the dummy over there is Ranma." Her smile then dropped somewhat slightly. "Um, is there something wrong?"
Realizing that she was staring, Usagi gave an apologetic smile as her blush increased just a bit. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that you are very pretty." She turned her eyes away, only to land upon the clock on the far end of the ice cream parlor, which was mean enough to inform her of the exact time. "Oh no, I really am that late! Sorry, I got to go. It was really nice meeting you both. Maybe we'll meet up again some time. See you!" She called out that last part as she was rushing out of the door.
She hurried over to the Crown Game Center, where her best friend Naru was impatiently waiting by the door. "You're late again, Usagi," she chastised.
"It's not my fault this time!" Usagi whined as she entered the arcade, where her other friends were waiting. Although her amazing and definitely understanding boyfriend was currently absent.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Ami said cheerfully. "In fact, while waiting for you, I was able to complete a whole book and get halfway through a second one."
"Yeah, it's fine, Usagi," Rei said with a smirk on her face. "At this point, we're pretty much used to you always showing up last anyway."
"Don't be so mean, Rei," Usagi said with an annoyed huff. "I had a good reason this time. I needed to help a boy eat some ice cream!"
"Yep, that's our Usagi alright," Minako said while sitting down at some sort of racing game with Makoto standing next to her. "Was the guy super hot?"
"Um…maybe?" Usagi said, realizing she didn't actually get a good look at Ranma's face. "The girl he was with was really cute, though."
"Usagi, you say that about all the girls you meet," Makoto said with an amused expression. "Now come on and check out this new game."
"I do not!" Usagi countered, feeling her face heating up slightly as she walked over. "Um, so is this the new multiplayer racing game Motoki was talking about?"
"Oh yeah, it's so cool," Minako said, getting up from the imitation race car seat and guiding Usagi into it. "The seat actually shakes around when you play. It feels so realistic."
"Plus, it even comes with a special racing helmet," Makoto chimed in, plopping said helmet onto Usagi's head. Instantly, she could hear engine sounds and crowd noises coming from all around her. "Yeah, it has special speakers that make it sound like you're really on the track. Now, hurry up and pick your car. Your opponent over there is waiting."
Usagi looked up at the screen to see a selection of different cars to choose from and a timer that was quickly counting down, along with a second player that was all ready to go. She glanced over to see a boy sitting at the next cabinet with his own helmet and wearing a suit in the gaudiest color combination she had seen in quite a while. A red jacket with plaid green pants and matching tie? What was he thinking?
"Usagi!"
She turned back to find the countdown timer almost running out. Quickly panicking, she selected the pink car, since it looked like the cutest one. Unfortunately, the rumbling of the seat and sounds coming from the helmet didn't really give her a chance to calm down before the actual race began. She slammed down on the gas pedal, but for some reason her car was barely moving on the screen as she very quickly found herself in last place.
"Gear up, Usagi!" Makoto called out. "Use the clutch!"
Oh no! Usagi grimaced as she realized she didn't get a chance to select automatic transmission. Or was that even an option in this game? Darn it, she always sucked with the manual version. Why did cars even have that option? Fumbling around, she somehow managed to get up to sixth gear, but now was having trouble staying on the road during those annoying turns.
"Shift down to third or fourth gear during the tight corners," said a new voice over to her side, "then shift back up and slam on the gas right before the straightaway to rev up."
Usagi was a little surprised at the sudden new advice, but still decided to try it out. She struggled with the whole shifting gears thing at first, but pretty soon she managed to get the hang of it and was starting to do quite well.
"Oh wow," Naru exclaimed, "you've caught up to almost everyone!"
"Yeah, look at that," Minako added. "350 kph. You're going so fast!"
"Not quite fast enough to catch up to this guy's ridiculous lead, unfortunately," Makoto commented. "He's amazing."
"Huh?" Usagi glanced over to the racing cabinet beside her just in time to catch her opponent's speed at 400 kph right before he crossed the finish line in first place. "Oh wow," she said in awe.
The boy then turned in her direction. "Eyes on the road, bun-head."
Usagi turned back to her own screen and let out a little shriek as she was able to turn the wheel hard just in time to barely avoid crashing right into the wall. With her friends shouting out encouragement, she somehow was able to recover from her near wipe out and continue, just barely finishing in third.
Taking off the helmet, Usagi leaned back in the seat, finally getting a chance to catch her breath. "Yikes, that was nuts," she gasped out. "Everything felt so real!"
"You did pretty good there," the boy she was racing against said, getting up out of his seat and taking off his own helmet, revealing a sharp and handsome face beneath short, sandy blond hair.
"Oh wow, he's so hot!" Makoto and Minako immediately started to gush.
The handsome boy gave a slight smirk as he continued his commentary. "Still have a long way to go to fully catch up with the best, of course, but hey, you definitely have what it takes to one day be a real race car driver."
"You…you really think so?" Usagi asked, taken aback somewhat by the praise.
"Usagi, you aren't really thinking of racing for real, are you?" Naru asked. "That stuff is super dangerous! Plus, I'm pretty sure it's mostly a guy thing anyway."
"Oh, I don't know about that," the boy said, his tone turning a bit more gentle. "I remember someone once telling me a long time ago that it's not about being a guy thing or a girl thing. If it's something you really want to do, then go for it, and don't worry about what the rest of the world thinks."
Usagi could only look up at the boy with amazement combined with just a bit of disappointment. Ah, darn it, I thought my speech to that other guy earlier was completely original. Figures someone else would have thought of it first.
"That being said," the boy continued with a stern look on his face. "There are definite dangers present. Harsher than you could imagine. Even if you'll keep getting better and stronger in the future, it's important to know what your limits are now. If it's too much for you, make sure to back away."
"Uh, sure," Usagi gave a curt nod, suddenly feeling like they weren't talking about race cars anymore.
"So, scouting for new proteges, I see," said a new voice. Usagi looked over to find a girl with aquamarine hair walking up. She was wearing a uniform in the same color pattern as the racing boy's, which admittedly did look a bit better on her. And walking next to her was-
"MAMO-CHAN!" Usagi exclaimed, leaping out of her seat and latching onto her super perfect boyfriend in a big hug. "I missed you so much!"
"Hey now, Usako," her wonderful boyfriend said, playfully, "We just saw each other this morning."
"Yeah, and that was such a long time ago!"
"Well, looks like it's time for me to go," the blond haired boy said, to the audible disappointment of Makoto and Minako. "Hey, it was good seeing all of you girls again. Especially you, bun-head."
"Huh?" Usagi carefully disentangled herself from her Mamo-chan and looked over. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Oh! Well…" the racing boy suddenly had a nervous expression on his face as he started to awkwardly rub the back of his neck. "Um, actually…you see…"
He was interrupted by a quick jab in the side by the aquamarine haired girl's elbow. "Oh, don't mind Haruka here. He likes to say that to all the cute girls he runs into." She then gave a warm smile towards Usagi. "My name is Michiru. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Usagi gave her own smile back as Haruka started to give light protests against Michiru's statement. "It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Usagi." Her smile dropped slightly as she looked up at the taller girl's face, finding something familiar with her deep, ocean blue eyes. "Have…have we met before?"
Michiru tilted her head slightly. "Hmmm, I'm certain I would remember a face as lovely as yours. Ah, perhaps you've seen one of the posters around town promoting my concerts."
"Oh, I guess…" Usagi quietly muttered as she continued to stare, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.
"So, bun-head," Haruka said with that previous smirk again on his face, "do you think she's still very pretty?"
"Okay, we have to go now," Michiru quickly responded in a very curt tone, a slight bit of red on her own face as she took Haruka by the hand and started to walk out of the game center.
"Hey, don't forget what I told you, bun-head," Haruka called out behind him as he was dragged away.
There were a few moments of silence after the two left before Naru spoke up. "You know, Usagi, I'm pretty sure I've seen that hottie somewhere before."
"Really," Usagi asked. "You recognize that Michiru girl, too?"
There was more silence as everyone turned to her. "Um, I was talking about Haruka," Naru clarified.
"Oh, um…yeah, I meant…" Usagi stammered out before her Mamo-chan started to pat her head.
"It's okay, Usako," he said, "I know you think that about all the girls you meet."
"I do not!" Usagi whined before turning back to Naru. "So, uh, where did you see that Haruka guy?"
A little bit later, everyone was at a nearby bookstore, looking through the magazine section. "Here it is," Naru declared, holding up an article in a magazine that had Haruka's picture in it.
"Let me see," Usagi said. "Huh, Haruka Ten'ou, 'hot new rookie sensation of Japan's racing circuit'. No way, he's a real race car driver!"
"Yeah, and he was wearing the uniform for Mugen Academy, so he must be really good," Naru added.
"Mugen Academy? What's that?" Usagi asked.
"You mean you haven't heard of it?!" cried out a new voice right next to her.
"Gah!" Usagi jumped back in surprise. "Darn it, don't sneak up on me like that, Umino!"
"It's the new private academy that just opened up," the nerdy boy continued unabated, "and it's meant to be the elite school."
"The best of the best are now going there," Naru said. "Performers, olympic athletes, everyone who's anyone."
"That included top musicians too, it seems," Ami commented, walking up and handing Usagi a music CD.
"Michiru Kai'oh," Usagi read, looking at the name and picture on the cover. "She's a concert violinist?"
"Seems so," Ami said. "There was an entire part of the music section dedicated to her."
"Do you think they hang around here often?" Makoto asked. "Particularly that Haruka guy?"
"Oh, I hope we'll see him again," Minako added.
"Yeah, maybe we'll see them again," Usagi muttered out.
As the group left the store, a flash of red and green caught her eye and she quickly turned to find two unknown girls walking past, both dressed in the same uniform as Michiru.
"Hey, it's more Mugen Academy students," Rei noted. "I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of them around now."
"Hmmm, I wonder…huh?" Usagi looked down as her brooch was suddenly glowing. What? Why is it-
A large scream interrupted her thoughts and she looked back up to see one of the Mugen Academy girls hunched down on the ground in pain. Then, a strange black mass began to grow out of the girl's back, forming into a large, misshapen creature that immediately began to threaten everyone around it.
"I'll get Naru and Umino to safety," Mamo-chan said, quickly carrying the two off.
"Come on," Minako declared. The five girls ducked back into the bookstore and hid themselves from sight behind a shelf. "Let's transform."
Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!
Mercury Planet Power, Make Up!
Mars Planet Power, Make Up!
Jupiter Planet Power, Make Up!
Venus Planet Power, Make Up!
A few seconds later, the five transformed Senshi appeared on the street to confront this new enemy.
"Hold it right there!" Usagi, now Sailor Moon, called out. "We are the Sailor Guardians. We fight for love and justice, and in the name of the moon, we will stop you!"
If the monster even heard her, it wasn't paying attention as it continued to flail its tendrils around at the people rushing to get away.
"I'll take care of this thing!" Mars yelled out, brandishing several talismans and throwing them at the creature. While they all managed to connect, they immediately fizzled out, causing no apparent harm to it. "It did nothing?" Mars said, shocked.
"We need to hurry," Mercury said, scanning the monster with her visor. "There's a girl trapped inside of it."
"Right. Don't worry, I got this," Moon boldly declared, brimming with confidence as she walked forward and took out the special scepter gifted to her by Neo Queen Serenity. Yeah, if she was good enough to be a professional race car driver, then a simple monster like this would be a piece of cake! She stopped well short of the range of the monster's tendrils and prepared her attack.
Moon Spiral
Suddenly, the monster lunged forward, stretching its body to reach much farther than she expected to slam into her. She flew backwards, colliding with one of the parked cars nearby.
"Sailor Moon!" her friends all called out. Mercury and Mars rushed over to check on her while Jupiter and Venus immediately went to attack the monster.
Venus Wink Chain Sword!
Jupiter Coconut Cyclone!
Venus managed to entangle it with her metal chains, allowing Jupiter to finish it off with a sphere of electricity, causing the monster to disintegrate, leaving behind the Mugen Academy girl unconscious in the middle of the street.
As Jupiter yelled out to the nearby onlookers to call an ambulance, Mercury and Mars were helping Moon back to her feet. "Are you alright?" Mercury asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Moon admitted a little sheepishly.
"What were you thinking being so reckless out there," Mars chastised.
"I…I just thought…" Moon trailed off as a flash of red and green was once again in the corner of her vision. She quickly turned, just barely catching a glimpse of aquamarine hair disappearing into the crowd.
"What's the matter?" Mercury asked.
"I thought I saw…nevermind. I guess it was nothing." Moon then turned back to the aftermath of the fight.
"It appears we may have a new enemy," Mars said, her eyes narrowing with a grim determination.
"Yeah," Moon admitted with a dejected sigh. "Looks like our peaceful lives really weren't meant to last after all."