Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Pretty Soldiers ❯ Act 03 - rei : Sailormars ( Chapter 3 )

       "Computer. Are these all of the data entries?"
       "Correct."
       A black paw scrubbed at the feline's face in sleepy annoyance. Though the control center and its computers were specially modified to allow for a cat to type, it was hardly comfortable. It didn't help that she was working on barely a few hours sleep; when one shares a bed with a habitual toss-and-turn-and-flail occupant, one has a tendency to be woken up often. More than a few traumatizing drops off the side tonight alone had prompted this midnight session.
       Quite frankly, she was attributing this to sleeplessness. "Computer. Bring up all of the entries made since the link was established in Tokyo, circa late 20th century." It made a noise not unlike a PC booting up, one that reminded her of indigestion. Then, the screen ran up a series of boxes, all but two blanked out. "Computer. Identify entries."
       "Unable to comply. Verification of authority needed."
       "You have my authority!" Luna felt like smashing her paws against the keyboard, but that would solve nothing and most likely confuse the system. So she mollified herself with raking her claws against a strategically placed scratching post at her side. It was a minor embarrassment to suffer, seeing as destroying expensive equipment wasn't something she could, or would, live down. That done, she bathed both paws before going back into the line of fire with a vengeance. "Computer. Bring up both accessible entries."
       The screen exchanged the rows of blacked-out boxes for a set of two colorful with pictures and writing that ran as thus:

Sailor Moon
Tsukino Usagi - age 14
Active since 200X

Sailor Mercury
Mizuno Ami - age 14
Active since 200X
Second to awaken

       Luna sat back on her haunches thoughtfully. Then, she brought up a new screen, blank and begging to be touched, though she had barely typed a few notes before everything went black. "Nani?" she said, getting up onto all four paws. But she needn't have worried, as the silhouette that soon came up was a familiar one. "Ara, it's you. Really, you should warn me before doing that! I lost my work."
       "Gomen gomen, Luna-chan," the voice giggled, hardly repentant. Like the voice of a child who has just interrupted a playmate to show off their new discovery. And truly, the bow-shape at the head of the silhouette only reinforced the feline's curiosity as to exactly who her ally was.
       But as always, the switch from childish naivete to stern taskmaster was unnerving. Gestures ceased, and the figure became like a solid statue of gray tones, voice soft yet pointed. "Luna, you tried to access them again. You know you aren't allowed to see that far ahead. It could disrupt everything-"
       "And is withholding information from me supposed to help our mission?" As the silhouette sighed, the black feline settled back onto her haunches again. It was the same argument that had been waging in the past few weeks since Mercury had been awakened, a feat that had barely whetted Luna's insatiable curiosity. So many boxes, and only two soldiers awakened - not counting the possible third on the screen before her.
       The figure sighed. Indeed, it was already becoming a painful argument. "Trust me, Luna. There are people who…can't be awakened yet. It's too soon. And such foreknown info can be dangerous; the awakening is a desperate and sudden event. Things can be said that can alter potential, and then, the enemies will have won." And with a blip of finality, the screen went blank once more.
       Luna stared at the blinking cursor as if it would divulge to her what exactly her ally had just said. Then, after the pixels began re-arranging themselves as she stared at them a bit too long, she finally began typing again.

Chiba Mamoru - age 17-18
Exhibits unusual knowledge
Possibly an enemy?

       The poster was started to wear thin from countless fingers touching it, rubbing it; colors had faded from the sun's harsh rays. 'Don't fail! This year's athletics festival is sure to be the best word all season! Only the top school can hope to win!'
       "Ne ne, when did Shibakouen decide to allow other schools to compete?"
       Naru had been the one to ask. Usagi was too busy trying to rip the controls off of the Sailor V game; Ami was frantically trying to convince her the machine wasn't cheating. "Maybe the sponsors wanted more schools involved this year," Moriya replied, standing next to Naru as she was. A finger tapped at the small print below the semi-vibrant pictures: 'Sponsored by Dark Tech. Corporation.' "I guess the prizes are going to be all video games and CDs."
       "Video games?" An odango'd head squeezed between Naru and Moriya, crystal blue eyes zooming in on the poster. Neither had heard her approach; such was the quiet, deadly stalk of the video game addict. Both girls literally jumped aside, blinking.
       Having saved the Sailor V console from imminent destruction by bludgeoning, the blue-haired genius made her way over to the trio. Draped over her shoulder was Luna, who had decided that Ami was a far safer mode of travel then a crybaby who managed to find every crack in the sidewalk by some sort of unexplainable attraction. "Dark Tech. Corporation? I've never heard of them before," Ami murmured quietly.
       "Most likely they're new and need the attention," the redhead countered amiably, folding her arms. It was a warm day, and everyone was rolling up their sleeves. "And I remember the principal saying our class had been selected."
       Usagi's following screech caused everyone in the arcade to slap their hands over their ears. "Na-ani!? You mean we all have to get involved?" Luna flattened her ears against her head; the odango-haired blonde was hardly the most athletic girl in her class, something that the black feline sorely wished she'd rectify. Tripping and falling flat on your face hardly inspired fear in your enemies. "But I don't like sports! It's not healthy for me, and I prefer to eat so much more!"
       "And you'll gain weight always eating like that, Usagi-chan," Naru chided softly, though she smiled right afterward. "Besides, you don't need to worry. We pick one person to do the events for our class."
       "Sugoi! This means I can cheer in the stands safely!" A fist pumped up to the ceiling in triumph as the other three just nodded, warbling "Hai hai" in unison.
       But just outside of the window was a bit more sober affair. Men on the sidewalk hurriedly primped themselves as the schoolgirls passed by; one or two of the more daring trying to get a glimpse beneath skirts almost dangerously short - so short, one would think it amazing that it was the uniform for a staid Catholic girls' school. Gray top, its buttons in a neat row of two across the breast, and one down, coupled with a brown skirt. A burgundy neck kerchief that matched the stripe of the sailor's collar.
       One particularly brave (or perhaps stupid) middle-aged man leaned forward, beginning his descent into a kneel to tie his shoes. Timing it just as they passed, he was starting to lower himself when a frigid purple gaze stopped him. An exotic stare that held him in place, made his insides go numb, and then promptly shoved him back onto his ass. He wasn't sure that he was even breathing, and indeed held his breath as the girls passed him by, spines ramrod straight.
       "Such ridiculous foolery," one stated coldly. A hand lifted, wrist limp as she gestured at the Crown with an air of absolute superiority. "To think, we have to debase our school by participating in those…athletic games." With the tone she used, she could've been describing the vilest occurrence in creation. One of her associates nodded; the other simply stared in through the window with exotic purple eyes.
       "Don't look in, Hino-san, you're too good for such rabble!" the other gasped, taking the purple-eyed girl's arm and leading her away. She moved easily despite her solemn gaze, and the trio resumed their walk. But when a similar group of schoolgirls left the Crown, a raucous laughter pursued the haughty females and their purple-eyed companion all the way down the sidewalk.

      Some days, it just didn't pay to get out of bed in the mid-afternoon.
      Of course, since their kingdom existed beneath the ice of the Arctic, time had no relevant concept in conjunction to the day. When one can't see the sun, one can't honestly say if it's the morning, evening, or noon hours. Details, really.
      Nothing Jadeite was particularly concerned about either, in light of his recent chewing out. Tension literally wired his body into steel consistency, and his eyes shot daggers. Unfortunately for the recipient of that gaze, he was far too smarmy to recognize the need to turn tail and run. "I hear our queen is still displeased with you, Jadeite."
      "Fuck off, Nephrite." Terse and bitten off were those words, common Earth street slang he had picked up on his few travels to Tokyo. Not the words for one of Beryl's highest commanding officers to use, but he really didn't care right now.
      The brown-haired general simply laughed. "Are those the words of the Far Eastern general? Ara ara. Those weak soldiers have really gotten to you." A charming grin curved his lips as he touched a fist to his chest. "You should leave it to me; I would make them cower easily before our Queen."
      A subtle challenge, but still.
      Jadeite narrowed his eyes. "I don't need help from you, Nephrite. My plans will succeed, and our holy kingdom will be awoken to overtake this planet of fragile lives. Don't interfere with your useless ideas!"
      "Not nearly as useless as your arguing words Jadeite, Nephrite. The Far Eastern general and the North American general, fighting like rabble!" The words bounced off the hallway's walls, rebounding into silence. Their owner stayed comfortable in the shadows, though the shiny leather toe of one boot protruded into the meager light.
      Both generals seemed angered at the intrusion, though only Nephrite was inclined to state it: "And what words would you offer us, Zoisite?" A flick of fingers gloved in white brushed a few dust motes off the sleeve of his uniform as he waited for a response. The short blond-haired general sneered flat out.
      The boot toe slunk forward, bringing the third speaker into the light. "I would offer you that our Queen is displeased, and her displeasure could spread to the rest of us. Your disgrace makes us all look bad, Jadeite." A hand came up to draw back through long blond hair, gathering it up at the nape.
      "I won't fail this time. We will have energy for our master, and the Ginzuishou for our Queen! No child in a short skirt will stop our kingdom from taking its rightful place up above," Jadeite stated coldly. Another gaze of indignation was leveled on both of them before the general strode meaningfully away.
      His heels clicked on the stone floor like hammers all the way down. Though, truly, his mind had already left the scene and this place; it spiraled out towards the immense city that had become his bane, nitpicking over his plan. Nothing could go wrong this time, because for once, it was a plan that worked because of its subtlety.
      Already could he feel the workings of their magic, of his kingdom long buried and forgotten, as he initiated a teleport. It was like a violent rip in the air, red-raw and jagged, and it yanked him with no lack of gentleness from stone hallways into empty air. A few citizens of Tokyo who noticed the sudden flash of color simply rubbed their eyes, blaming the heat.
      Such were the minds of humans; simple and easily swayed.
      Below the sharp slash of color, however, one pair of eyes remained steadfastly upward. The owner of the eyes halted in mid-step, head swiveling almost painfully up towards the sky. At least, until a passing bicycle veered at her, the swerve coming too late; and there was screaming as the odango-haired blonde toppled into the street, hitting the concrete hard. "Usagi-chan!"
      A few of the cars saw the girl in the street and hit the brakes hard, skidding to a stop…and into each other. Metal crunched, glass shattering. Usagi lay oblivious to it, dazed from a blow to her temple, and barely had the strength to look upward as several pairs of footsteps came toward her. And the smell of…of…
      …roses?
      "You should be careful!" Arms lifted her up, and she was surrounded by a cacophony of voices, blurry images, scents. Moriya she recognized as a blot of red, Naru a blob of brown. Ami was a solid pillar of blue, and another person, the one holding her, was auburn. Processing that much info was too much, and she let her body relax as they carried her off the street.
      Ami was already gingerly touching her head, her fingers skittish; despite her new bond to the odango-haired blonde, she was still wary and new to such trusting friendships. But the light probe was all she needed before she said, "It doesn't look like she has a concussion. Just dazed from the landing."
      "Dazed? She was nearly hit by a car for the second time this month!" That was Moriya, frantic and worried. "Usagi-chan, are you alright?"
      "Itaaaai…." A wet nose was snuffling at her cheek, and she flailed wildly at it. Luna squawked indignantly when she finally hit the mark, smacking the feline head over tail. "What happened?"
      Someone laughed, and it was a voice she didn't recognize. Maybe the blow had rattled her brain more than she thought. "You almost found out what the inside of a Tokyo bus looked like, Usagi-san."
      Now that the shock was finally passing, and crystal blue eyes had gained more focus, the odango-haired blonde gained a better look at her saviour, who towered over all of them; even Moriya, who had a few inches over Usagi and Naru both. Permed auburn brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, rose earrings shining like small stars in her ears. Her eyes, the colour of healthy green maple leaves, were wide and soft. "D-domo arigatou gozaimasu," Usagi finally stuttered out.
      "Just be careful next time." The girl smiled, standing up straight. Naru handed her a plastic grocery bag, and Usagi finally, absurdly, noticed the fruits and vegetables littering the street, as well as another bag. She must've thrown it aside in running towards her, to free up a hand. The odango-haired blonde felt another immense pang of embarrassment.
      Ami, quiet in her corner where she'd picked up the disoriented Luna, spoke up. "We…I….we'll pay you back for the groceries you lost…" Eyes the colour of warm water flickered between Moriya and Naru hesitantly, relaxing only when both nodded. It was the least they could do, after all, for someone who helped to save their friend.
      The girl laughed, sounding surprisingly embarrassed. "That's all right, I was just going to another store anyway. I just moved here." Then, she quickly ducked into a bow, her cheeks coloring pink. "I wouldn't impose on you, I just wanted to help. Sayonara." Quick was her exit down the sidewalk, despite the fact it was in the opposite direction from where she'd come.
      And it was fast, if only so they wouldn't notice the tears in her eyes. "Baka, Makoto…! They were so nice…they'd never accept the true person I am, so unwomanly and crude…" She fled as fast as long legs would take her, trying to avoid the eyes she knew remained on her. As they always did.
      Never mind the pity and sadness that mirrored in all five of them.
      But once the permed head disappeared down the sidewalk, Naru and Moriya busied themselves with propping Usagi up on their shoulders. They could hear the ambulance and other emergency vehicles showing up, and most of the gawking bystanders had their attention on the totaled cars. "We can take her to my mother's hospital," Ami started to say as they began to weave through the crowd, only to trail off. Her mother's hospital was still being investigated after the youma's attacks.
      "Isn't your mother's hospital the one that had a floor closed down, Ami-san?" Naru glanced back at the blue-haired genius, who was coloring slightly. Lying still had yet to settle within her system, and every mention of the floor that had been attacked made her squirm uneasily.
      Moriya clicked her tongue against her teeth. "We can take her to the orphanage," she stated quietly, stopping the question that was on Naru's tongue. Usagi stared upward at her friend with wide, wondering eyes; Moriya had never even shown anyone outside of the odango-haired blonde where the orphanage was located. The city had more than a few due to the immense size of its population, and the constant flow of military families who had their children run away; it was immensely easy for Moriya to hide within them, anonymous. "Sakkaku-san has medical training, and she knows Usagi. She can bandage her up."
      "Moriya-chan," Usagi murmured.
      Luna was now positive that something enormously important was being shown to her.

      Doors were cracked open as curious eyes and ears trained on the lone room at the end of the hall. It stood away from the rest of the rooms that opened into the hallway, the door worn and tired-looking. By mutual consent, it was the room that the eldest orphans had; a solitary refuge for those children who couldn't make the grade for adoption. Most of the inhabitants of that room left only when they turned legally able to do so alone.
      Nowadays only one person slept in it, the last and oldest child in the building. Usually, she was quiet, withdrawn. But now, screams of bloody murder cut through the thin walls, and most of the children were nearly beside themselves with curiosity as to what was going on…
      "Itaaaaiiiii!"
      "Hold still, Tsukino-san! Honestly, you're acting as if you've just turned five!" Another cotton ball soaked in antiseptic dabbed none-too-gently at a raw red scrape that decorated Usagi's elbow, and the odango-haired blonde screamed bloody murder again.
      Sakkaku was a stout elderly woman, her ink-black hair shot through with gray, eyes of a rare green shade still sharp behind her glasses. She ran the orphanage with a lace glove inside of an iron gauntlet, and for the most part, the kids loved her. Usagi just didn't happen to be one of them right now. "If you hadn't been traipsing around in the street, I wouldn't have to be doing this," she stated firmly, winding a bandage around the elbow.
      "We weren't traipsing, Sakkaku-san, for the last time!" Moriya sighed, exasperated, and just looked up at the ceiling as the woman snorted inelegantly.
      The room they had clustered themselves in was long enough to fit five single beds at each wall. All but one was made up neatly, sheets tightly tucked in, pillows plumped and lacking indentation. The newcomers, wary of even disturbing such serenity, milled about in embarrassed silence, Ami stroking at Luna's head now and again.
      Moriya had led them to the orphanage in silence the entire way, a considerable feat. The building was on the outskirts of the city, several bus rides from Usagi's house and their school, and both Ami and Naru were in quiet awe at just how early their friend got up every morning to meet the perpetually-late Usagi at her house.
      Luna was silent as well, though had it only been her and Ami and Usagi, she still would have found herself in contemplation. She swung limply over the blue-haired genius's shoulder like a fur stole, blue eyes vague on her surroundings. Things didn't seem to add up for her, and she spent most of the time tabulating details in her mind that would be added to her computer files later.
      Once at the orphanage, however, chaos ensued. Sakkaku had been just opening the door to look out at the sinking sun over the city skyline when the five bedraggled girls had shown up. One look at Usagi, and the woman ushered them inside with sharp comments that only barely veiled her worry. And inside, she'd taken them all to Moriya's room to clean those wounds - hence the screaming.
      "A man biking past Usagi-chan nearly hit her," Ami interjected quietly. Suddenly gaining attention, she flushed an uncomfortable shade of red. "He swerved, and knocked her into the street before we could catch her…."
      The stout woman tied off the last bandage, straightening up to dust her hands off. "Well, those people do have a tendency to be wild. Always ungrateful of others….do you feel better, Tsukino-san?"
      Usagi sniffed. "Hai. I'm just a crybaby, that's all." She flexed her arm slowly, then bounced on Moriya's bed experimentally. Finding it softer than she expected, she lolled back into it, limbs akimbo over the comforter. "Ahhh!"
      "That girl needs to learn discipline," Luna grumbled under her breath, directly into Ami's ear. The blue-haired genius coloured again, touching a hand to her mouth. Naru looked at her quizzically, but said nothing as Sakkaku spoke:
      "You girls be careful now." A thick finger waved at them before the stout woman was moving past. The antiseptic bottles and bandages in her arms, she went through a humorous minute of attempting to open the door with full hands, before nearly tumbling out. Naru and Usagi began giggling, while Ami looked even more embarrassed, if possible.
      Moriya slowly shook her head. "Ara ara, the woman is stifling sometimes." She slumped back into a lean against the wall that any chiropractor would have drooled at. At her friends' looks, she shrugged. "She tries to be protective of all of the kids, but me she still treats like I'm ten. Maybe because I'm the oldest and still here…" Trailing off, she shrugged again. Trying to be indifferent, and failing.
      The room fell silent again. Crystal blue eyes regarded her friend with a worried stare, knowing how badly it hurt for her to be constantly left behind. An arm reached out as Usagi stood, trying to comfort her. "Moriya-chan, don't be sad…"
      The redhead just clasped her hand over Usagi's as it settled onto her shoulder. "Daijoubu, Usagi-chan. It's just old age creeping up on me." She grinned as the odango-haired blonde made a face, Naru and Ami joining in on a short, if warm, tendril of laughter.
      "So, Moriya-chan, this is where you live?" Naru queried curiously, tilting her head to look around at the room. The walls were bare, save for the corner near the window where they stood. Posters of various foreign musicians overlapped, covering the paint, most of them sneering or staring moodily into the camera. One was even giving it the finger, and at that, Ami's face nearly singed Luna's fur, she was so red.
      After a moment's quiet grin at Ami's discomfort, Moriya nodded. "I moved in here after Mamoru left, about, oh….three years ago. All the others were adopted away a year after that, and it's been just me ever since."
      Naru and Ami had yet to know the pleasure of meeting the black-haired high school boy. Hence their surprise as Usagi stood bolt upright, squeaking indignantly, "That jerk used to live in this room?!" Moriya nodded, and the odango-haired blonde collapsed onto the bed, moaning about the evil inherent in Chiba Mamoru.
      "Sounds like a mysterious boy," Naru murmured in amusement. "Is he your secret love, Usagi-chan?"
      A pillow smacked the brown-haired girl in the face. "NO!"

       When night fell, more sirens split the air.
       From the window of a high-rise condominium building, several people watched the blinking lights below. The window took up most of the wall, obscured by immense curtains during the day that were thick with velvet. A large desk sat before it, a man of no considerable bulk sitting in the chair. The oval table that sat the rest of the room's occupants took up space in the center of the room, each chair filled.
       The talk was menial, hardly anything new. For a guild of thieves, they spoke of little else but their craft, and that was to be expected. But for the solemn-faced girl that hung just beside the immense window, fingers curled about a chain of golden, glittering links that wrapped twice about her waist, it was intolerably dull. "Why do I have to be here, Artemis?"
       "Because Boss thinks something big may be going down, V-chan!" the pen, safely tucked as it was into a skirt pocket, snapped. Although the voice was of a feline miles away, it brought a faint smile to her face.
       A carefully placed hole in the glass was next to her ear. She could hear what they were saying, though it was faint; the steadily increasing winds didn't help any. Her body was being buffeted about by the wind, and it was only a tight grip on the chain and its magic that kept her from flying off into space. "I'm getting too old for this," V muttered ruefully.
       Ever since the first had awakened, Sailor V's activities had drastically decreased. Although she kept active, she left the enemies to Sailor Moon, and honed her own skills on villains of a different variety.
       Common human criminals.
       Even now, the men she listened to were plotting another of their robberies. Some random rich patron of the arts had too many valuable paintings not to catch their eye, and they knew exactly which ones would gain them the most on the market. Standard fare, really; their mentions of a 'ridiculously-dressed little girl' who had halted their last few attempts made her smile. And that was one of the kinder comments she'd heard about herself.
       "Ne, V-chan, what's going on?" Midnight eyes blinked rapidly. She'd been starting to daydream, and that was exceedingly dangerous in her position. The links of her chain had started to lose tangibility with her lack of control, and she reset them firmly once again before daring a look inside.
       Chaos.
       Someone had thrown the doors open, a small figure clad in solemn blacks striding in. A slim, slender figure, with a familiar face… "Shimatta!"
       "Ne, Venus? Venus, what is it?" Artemis' voice hinged on frantic. One of the things he hated most about sending the long-haired blonde out on her own was not being there when she needed help. It didn't help that she took nearly four minutes before answering him, so engrossed she was in watching the room and eavesdropping.
       Everyone had stood, save for the rotund man at the sole desk. She couldn't see him, his back being to the window currently, but she was certain he was frowning. "You have a lot of nerve barging in like this, child. Your last job was a farce; the police have begun to sniff around, suspecting us. If you will stay with this guild in honor, you will-"
       "I'll do what I please, Ooki-san. It's your honor to my family that binds me into this guild, and you wouldn't dishonor their name….not if you're a man who still believes in such codes." It was a quick rebuttal, and the group clustered around the table seemed to hold their collective breath, just waiting to see what the man would say.
       The girl hanging outside of the window held her breath as well, though it was a dual motion; the wind was getting worse, and the building made for horrible padding to be slammed into. Artemis was squawking something that she couldn't hear, because one ear was pressed firm to the glass, leaving the other with the task of filtering through the noise of the whistling plus the feline's comments. No easy task indeed, when both sounded alike.
       Ooki eyed the slender female, shifting his weight. A barely imperceptible nod of his head, and he was motioning the group out. "Leave us; I must speak with this honorless child alone." Cries of "But Ooki-san!" and "We have business!" rang out, a loud clamour after such tense stillness. The man simply grunted, shifting himself again in the chair. "I said leave us."
       "Venus, what in the name of the kami is going on over there?!" The sailor-suited soldier grappled with the mystical chain, levering the pen out of her pocket and wedging it quickly between her teeth, before grabbing hold again. With such intense winds, she'd very nearly been flung out into space with that quick loss of two-handed grip.
       "The leader of the guild is talking to the newcomer alone," she grunted back. Although the words came across so garbled from both her full mouth and static that Artemis had to sit back and stare incoherently for a few minutes to untangle it.
       A paw pressed against the microphone that hung in front of his mouth, wobbling the badly fitting headset that clamped his ears against his head. "Maybe this is the big deal Boss thought…."
       "Shhh, Artemis." Midnight blue eyes narrowed as she shoved her hip against the side of the building, pressing herself as tightly as possible to the stone. The argument inside was half-lost to the winds, their conversational tones far too quiet against the raucous elements they had to compete with. Not for the first time did V curse the lack of microphone bugs that Artemis steadfastly refused to let her use. "Instead, I have to hang outside of a twenty-story window while a tsunami is trying its best to drop me down and make me into street taco…"
       The white feline sighed. "Pizza, V-chan," he muttered, only to hear a muted razz of tongue and a "Whatever" in return. English slang was definitely not her strong point, ranking a good second behind her proverbs.
       Inside, however, Oogi and his visitor were mangling nothing if not their working ties. "I will take no more of this ridiculousness! Your talents as a thief have been tarnished, and your sloppy mistakes will have us all in trouble with the law. They're difficult enough to deal with as it is, and you pull this!" A finger that just barely wobbled with rage pointed down at the open newspaper before him. "'Thief makes away with jewels worth millions; baubles later found in a local pawn shop.' You never attempted to hide your steps, nor go through our usual brokers. Stupidity, selfishness!"
       "I have more important things on my mind then giving some fat excuses for thieves their 'cut,'" the figure snapped back. A finger far more steady and smaller pointed back at him, held straight in accusation. "A dream, not that you would know of such things, demands I do this my way. I'm on a search for a holy item, and damn any of you that try to stop me."
       While Oogi began to sputter in total indignation, the words began to flow faster, more rapid against him. "Your laws and traditions are old, just like you are. I have a higher calling, I know it in my heart! And if I have to stomp and kick and scrape my way over all of you to find this mystical crystal, then I will, and never once pause to consider the consequences!"
       The gasp outside was never heard over the howling wind, or Oogi's snarl. "Sharp words for a little girl. Consider this our parting, musume-san; for to cross us, is to invite death. We have our laws to uphold in the face of honor!" Fat trembled as his girth was lifted upwards, stepping away from the desk and his visitor. A door opened on the side of the room; and even before he stepped through did several new figures glide through it, all dressed tightly in black. Metal glinted in some of their hands.
       "You're an honorless dog!" the girl snapped in return. She couldn't have been old enough to be in high school yet, but she faced her killers proudly. Oogi never commented back, having disappeared into the door.
       The guild of thieves in Tokyo had old, stern rules; cross them, defy them in any way that made you a threat, and you were exterminated. Age didn't matter. If one had been accepted into the guild with full status, the punishment was final. And at the moment, it looked like her punishment was going to be a group party; all five of them had cutting blades that looked recently sharpened and cleaned. "I knew I should have stayed home…"
       "Cr--nt B--am!" Glass exploded inwards, flying at high velocity through the room. Everyone went diving for cover immediately, or ducked down, not noticing the 'ridiculously-dressed little girl' swinging inside by a length of glittering gold chain.
       It didn't matter, because as soon as she'd spotted the other girl, she was motioning frantically at her. "Come on!"
       "Sailor V?" The girl gawked for a moment, before standing upright and jumping over the long table, pursued by one of her executioners. A wickedly curved blade aimed down at her back as they ran, though a sudden bright glow had her dropping down flat. Golden energy accompanied by yet another yell flew over her head, blasting the man backwards several feet.
       The long-haired blonde was almost hopping about from foot to foot, she was so high strung. Artemis was near screaming to try and get her attention, though she could barely respond in such a state. She held out an arm to the girl, grinning. "This is fun. Trust me!"
       "Do I have a choice?" the other replied sardonically. She wrapped her arm around Sailor V's waist, as the soldier did the same in return, and summoned her chain again. It flew out the window into the sky to the next building over, and wrapped a good ten times around a chimney. Both girls ran for the window, and leapt. "Thank the kami I'm not afraid of hei--IIIIGHTS!"
       Down they dropped, the glass-littered office and flabbergasted assassins left behind. Air whistled past them as they fell, the girl thief's grip tight as a vice around V's waist, though she wore a look of astonished glee.
       The lights of the city grew brighter, closer, and it seemed forever until the chain suddenly snapped tight, and they were swinging sharply for another window - this one was, sadly enough, closed. "Brace yourself!" V yelled over the wind, even as she sacrificed her hold around the girl for a minute (seeing as the thief had both arms tight enough to cut off circulation) to point her finger and aim. "Crescent Beam!"
       "VENUS!" Neither girl even bothered flinching at the yell as they flew through the newly opened window, the chain released and allowed to dissipate. They let go of one another to land and roll in separate directions, momentum carrying them both quite a distance into what was apparently another office.
       The sailor-suited soldier finally slid to a stop, bits of broken glass glittering in her hair, mask lost somewhere in the roll. "Venus, answer me!"
       "Hai hai, Artemis," she warbled. "I'm alright, no need to shout." She stood steadily despite the surge of adrenaline and crash landing, shaking her hair out. A look around confirmed it; the thief had disappeared. Not even an open doorway to mark where she'd ran out to. "Damn it, she's gone. Not even a thank you."
       "I am going to kill you when you get back, Minako-chan."

       "It's way too early for this. Someone wake me up later, ne?"
       "Iie, Moriya-chan, rise and shine! Face the day positively!"
       "Easy for you to say when you've got food in your mouth, Usagi-chan." The redhead smirked faintly as she watched her friend gobble down the last of her breakfast, which had consisted of nothing more than two pieces of toast snatched from the table. Both girls had been more hurried than usual to get to school, and with good reason.
       The day of the athletics festival had arrived in full-force.
       After a quick vote, their class had chosen Moriya to go through the courses. Along with being smart, the girl was a wonderful athlete, and the competition had been next to nothing. So she stood now near Usagi and Ami, dressed in a T-shirt bearing their school's name and shorts, one of several students actually participating in the games themselves; each student would represent their separate school.
       It had been a long bus ride to the site, seeing as Shibakouen had been forced to move the festival outside of the city due to the open participation. Hundreds of students now milled about, varying uniforms separating them easily. But the students from TA Girls' School kept themselves apart simply by their disdain and aloofness. Uniform had nothing to do with it.
       Drinks and snacks had been set out for the spectators. Someone yelled over a megaphone for all of the participants to gather by the booth, and Moriya nodded. "That's me…wish me luck guys!" A sign of victory was exchanged with the odango-haired blonde before she jogged off.
       "I hope we win," Usagi sighed happily, her visions already dancing with snacks and various video games with tiny legs and tap dancing shoes. The blue-haired genius simply smiled, nodding at her from around her book. One couldn't reasonably expect her to not bring something to keep herself interested, though both Usagi and Moriya had made a face at the long-winded title.
       "Moriya seems very athletic and able. It's too bad she isn't one of our allies." Blue eyed both girls solemnly from a branch above their heads. Luna had hidden herself under a seat in the bus lest she be caught, and had voiced a strong opinion on keeping herself that way. The moment she'd had a chance, she left the bus and sprinted for a tree and a convenient hiding place.
       The blue-haired genius peered up at the black feline, adjusting her glasses. "You still haven't fully told me our mission, Luna…."
       "Well, I have to find some of it out myself!" she blustered. Her tail began to weave in the air, a sure sign of her irritation, as she stalked along the branch. "I don't know the entire story myself; my memory is faulty, and no one will help me…"
       "But you have us, Luna!" Usagi flashed a victory sign once more, hugging Ami to her. The blue-haired genius flushed, though it was hardly as uncomfortable as it might've been just weeks prior. Friendship was a new concept, as was closeness, but the odango-haired blonde was helping her leap those hurdles at a hare's pace.
       The black feline sighed, though a smile twitched her whiskers as she watched the two schoolgirls turn away to stare at the growing crowd. It had been, at best, a year and a half since she had felt the stirring changes inside of herself; a need to find something, someone that she didn't know.
       Only that long ago had she been content to laze in alleyways, a common black cat with no collar, no owner, no strange birthmark. Her needs and wants back then had been simplistic: a warm spot to sleep, garbage bins and occasional back doors to find food, a mating dance with one or two tomcats. And it had been for her a sort of peace.
       Then, her fur began to fall out on her forehead. Every puddle she looked into when she lapped up a drink revealed a growing bald spot that gleamed golden against her skin; a spot that increased along with a sudden realization of things she hadn't known before.
       She was able to speak Japanese within a day.
       The characters were readable by the next, and she could write despite her clumsy paws.
       Computers and electronics lost their mystery by the week's end.
       And then, she wasn't satisfied with garbage bins and dirty, scummy water. She bared her teeth whenever any other cat tried to advance on her, and she ran from the alleys she'd been so content with, ran with a singular knowledge that she was now better than them. Better because of a mission she didn't fully understand.
       Her paws had ached so badly in those first days! She walked the city endlessly, meowing pitifully at the back doors of restaurants she now knew were first-class for bowls of milk and cream. The first time they'd given her cat food - a rare luxury only a week prior - she'd had to force herself to eat it, to not spit it onto the ground. It'd become easier since then, but such processed mush still made her ill. The food of felines, hardly finicky unless it was really badly decayed or moldy, would never settle in her stomach anymore. Human food, with its rich qualities and freshness, was all she craved.
       It was as if her memory, her body, had betrayed her.
       She twisted about to lick at the fur on her back, washing herself thoroughly. Her past was better left forgotten, something she easily understood. A life as an alley cat, a ragged existence indeed, was hardly something one could miss - even if there was a firm pain in her heart that said otherwise.
       But if she could feel proud about anything, it was her accomplishments up to this point. She'd found two of her allies, Moon and Mercury. And although Usagi was still clumsy and whiny, and she kept balking at her mission, Ami seemed to be accepting it in silent grace - despite the fact that her new form contradicted the blue-haired genius's firm belief in science and fact.
       "They're starting, they're starting!" Pointed ears swiveled forward as the black feline peered out from the leaves. The crowd had tightly compacted to form a long wide-open area between the press of bodies. And in that space Luna could spot the games' participants, a familiar copper-colored head of hair among them. An announcer was waving his arms expansively, microphone in hand.
       "…and from TA Girls school, Hino Rei, a strong girl with a sense of character!" The crowd sucked in its breath softly as the student stepped forward, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts with her school's kanji. But it was her eyes of a magnificent purple slanted with an exotic tilt that made everyone pause, so distant they seemed. Her long black hair shone with purplish blue highlights, and as she bowed formally to the crowd, it nearly trailed to the ground.
       Usagi stared wistfully at the girl, toying with a strand of her blonde hair. "Like a princess…oh, she's so pretty!" she whispered to Ami and Naru.
       "Hai hai, so proper and lovely…" Naru murmured back. She unconsciously fluffed at her own hair, a brown colour that was frequent in the immense crowd, and tied back with a big blue bow.
       Ami didn't bother primping at herself in the presence of someone so beautiful. Instead, she stared as covertly as possible at the black-haired girl, her book held open in her hands but unread. Her own unusual hair colour had long been the topic of debate for her classmates, and she had firmly buried any resultant pain from their jibes under her studious veneer.
       The spell was broken as Rei stepped back into the small group of contestants, and the announcer continued his speech. "From Juuban junior high, we have Chouno Moriyakumi, an athletic girl who won't give up!" Where the private Catholic school had disdained cheering for their contestant, Juuban erupted into almost dissonant screaming.
       Moriya grinned faintly, though most of the adulation was unwanted. She seemed grateful to step back into line, though not before waving to her three friends in the middle of the crowd - Usagi's bobbing head as she jumped up and down was hard to miss.
       Back she stepped almost gratefully into the line of contestants, the announcer looking back down at his card of names and schools. "And from Shibakouen, we have the outgoing and vibrant Aino Minako!"
       "Ne, I know that girl!" Usagi gasped, momentarily stunned as she watched the long-haired blonde bound out from the line. "Moriya-chan and I met her before school one day, when we were late…" The odango-haired blonde bit her lip sharply. That had been the last full day she'd been normal. Before a black feline with a crescent-shaped bald spot had told her she had a destiny to fulfill, in a scant uniform no less.
       The last day in her life she had control.
       Minako wrestled the announcer for his microphone amidst stunned laughter, and gave the crowd a haughty laugh. "No one has to worry, Aino Minako is going to win these games!" A victory sign was flashed wildly, as she danced out of the announcer's reach. "Leave it to me!"
       She grappled with the mike as the announcer managed to grab onto it, and both began tugging and twisting at it. The entire crowd - even, despite themselves, the TA girls - was laughing hard by this point, more than a few on the ground. Ami herself was even starting to laugh as the long-haired blonde set her foot firmly against the announcer's torso, pushing at him.
       The announcer managed to yank the mike in close to his mouth for a few precious seconds, though all anyone could really hear was mostly garbled. "….school….wonderful cook, a better….Kino Makoto!" He lost the mike again, along with his card, as Minako managed to yank both away.
       A familiar tall girl stepped forward, looking uncomfortable but still smiling despite it. Her long auburn brown hair was still tied back, but braided to keep it out of the way. And this time, Usagi wasn't the only one to gasp, all three Juuban students exclaiming as one, "I know that girl!" Unfortunately, the crowd had quieted down by this point, and Makoto seemed to have heard them; she colored red, bowing hastily before stepping back.
       Minako smiled brilliantly to try and save the light mood as she read a few more names and schools off of the card. Most of the crowd began talking amiably again, select schools cheering for their contestants as they came forward and bowed, though none managed to eclipse the long-haired blonde's showing.
       Luna, still crouched in the tree, had settled herself to eyeing the crowd in silence. There was an almost overwhelming feeling she couldn't place, one that threatened to engulf her. But it was familiar, comforting. The sensation of her allies, her Sailor senshi, only multiplied.
       Her paws stretched out comfortably on the branch in front of her, claws lightly kneading at the bark. An errant claw scratched a long furrow, jarred from its normal path as she heard someone muttering above her, somewhere else in the tree. "Ne, Minako-chan, such a silly front…"
       Sharp ears stood straight upward now, as her sleek body tensed. "A familiar voice! I…know this person, but who?" she whispered, whiskers shivering. Between the leaves, she could see the first game starting, the ball catch. But it wasn't anything she took particular note of, as her mind began racing to place the voice. It had to be a feline like her; after all, they were both in a tree with branches just big enough for a cat's weight. No human could be up that high without smashing back down to the ground.
       Leaves rustled, and a white flash was caught out of the corner of her eye. The cat disappeared down into the crowd before Luna could follow, and she hissed in irritation. "Shimatta…"

       Gloved fingers traced over the worn bark of a tree nearby, as Jadeite mentally paced himself. He felt like an idiot in his disguise, but how else could he stand so close to the games he himself had enticed to grow but by pretending to be one of the janitors? Though, honestly, after peeling muddied burlap bags off the ground after the sack race, he was more than happy to relinquish duties to the rest. Creating a fictional corporation to fund the event had been much easier.
       Now he stood ensconced by trees at the edge of the forest. With more glee than he probably needed did he shed his janitor's uniform, letting it dissolve into gray, the colorful striping of his shirt. Ragged yellow gloves were exchanged for immaculate and perfectly stitched white, his fingers exalting in the close fit. They flexed singular, one at a time, before he laced them together in a pensive grip.
       The games had been amazingly lively, considering the mix of students participating in what was once restricted to a single school. And, though almost all of the students had been picked by their peers for their athletic ability, four of them had taken the lead quickly and viciously, leaving everyone else in the dust. Now as they all broke for lunch, the blond general surveyed the four headstrong leaders, eyes narrowed. "Such speed and persistance, it can't be coincidence," he hissed quietly under his breath.
       By the sweet potato cart stood the blonde, Aino, who was busily stuffing her face. Oblivious to his staring, she instead glared down at a white tabby cat next to her foot, and lightly booted him. He yowled, paws flailing as he fell over onto his side, and was immediately picked up by a young girl with short hair. "Mina, you treat your cat so cruelly!"
       "He's not much of a cat, Hikaru-chan. Besides, I need to stay cheerful about my upcoming victory!" Another sweet potato disappeared into the long-haired blonde's mouth, and she sighed happily. "I can't be made unhappy by a meowing, needy cat!" She laughed loudly as the white tabby seemed to scowl, his tail lashing madly against the other girl's arm.
       Nearby, Hino was surrounded by a crowd of classmates, seemingly protected from the rest of the gathering. "Savages," one of them sighed, idly fanning at her face with a limp wristed hand. "Honestly, this sort of event is beneath us. How can you stand to become so…so sweaty and dirty, Hino-san?"
       The question had to be repeated twice, before the dark-haired, purple-eyed girl finally turned her attention around. "Ne?"
       "Mou…surely you don't think this is fun, do you, Hino-san?" another commented in what was close to a sneer over the rim of her cup. The private school had actually brought their cooks with them to serve tea and small, elegant obento, and even now, half of the girls sipping timidly from English teacups.
       Hino was suddenly accosted by several stares as they waited for her response. She simply tilted her head at them, before tossing her long hair back over her shoulder. "Of course not! I'm simply doing this because I was asked, and that's all." The group visibly sighed in relief, before the quiet clamor of discussion rose up again.
       Not that she joined it.
       Instead, those slanted eyes lingered back on the forest, narrowing in their focus. Not even the passing of several loud girls from a different school tore her vision away, and Jadeite actually found himself growing….uncomfortable?
       Impossible, he snarled to himself. Nevermind that her eyes were so deep and unusual that he could fall into them, or that she was such a lovely girl… "Get a grip, general! You're acting like a flighty little human." No way for such a high-ranking officer to act, indeed. He straightened an invisible wrinkle in his uniform, though it was impeccable as always, and resumed his surveillance.
       Chouno nearly spilled her drink as she was accosted by the loud girls who had passed by Hino's group; Usagi, Naru, a few other classmates, the ever quiet Ami. "Ara, I could hear you guys from the other side of the clearing!" Moriya laughed as Usagi snuck a bite of her sweet potato.
       "We couldn't help it, you've been doing so well, Chouno-san!" one of their classmates cheered, flashing a victory sign. "You're so good, even better than that prissy private school girl."
       Usagi, leaning against Moriya's arm for better access to her sweet potato, was chewing happily away. Once she swallowed her mouthful, however, she began violently flailing her arms in the air, smacking both Moriya and Naru in the face. "Kino-saaaaan! Over here, over here!"
       "Itai, Usagi-chan!" Naru squawked, rubbing at her cheek. Moriya just rolled her eyes skyward, sipping from her soda can.
       The entire group fell quiet as the tall brunette came walking over, smiling hesitantly. Her smile began to tremble when the silence remained, only to stiffen; she seemed determined to not show her fear. "Hajimemashite," she said finally, bowing slightly.
       The odango-haired blonde didn't bother to return the formal greeting, instead flying forward to grab Kino's hand. "You remember me, right? You saved me from that car a few days ago!" She shook the hand vigorously while gesturing to herself. "I'm Tsukino Usagi."
       Her demeanor was infectious even at the worst times. Kino stared at Usagi as a rabbit would a wolf, green eyes wide. Then, by slow degrees, the others witnessed as she began to genuinely smile, and even laugh softly. "Kino Makoto. Yes, I remember you. You should be careful, Tsukino-san."
       "We wanted to thank you for saving our friend's life, Kino-san," Moriya interjected, setting her soda can down on a nearby picnic table. "Usagi-chan is special to all of us. Though," she added with a small grin, "I won't let you win this contest."
       Makoto looked startled before realizing it was a joke. Then, as Moriya started laughing, so did she, and the others joined in without a moment's hesitation. "It doesn't matter anyway, I'm transferring schools once this is over with. I've already moved to be closer to…well, to be closer to my new school."
       The blue-haired genius, on the outskirts of the group as usual, bent to pick up Luna as she began to rub against her legs. "You moved into Juuban, Kino-san?" she queried softly, folding the black feline into her arms.
       "Hai, I did. I transferred to your school, actually. It seems much friendlier than my old one is," Makoto replied, reaching slowly towards Luna. "May I pet her?"
       Usagi made a small, somewhat rude noise. "She's a cranky cat! Make sure she doesn't bite you."
       Luna bit down sharply on her tongue - had to remember she couldn't talk in front of so many witnesses - and arched her head up into Makoto's hesitant petting. She purred like a rusty engine, eyes closing in visible pleasure as slender fingers parted her fur with slow strokes. "Ara, she's so gentle."
       Conversation started up about the usual topics as Makoto continued to lavish attention on the basking feline, unaware that Luna was scrutinizing her in such close proximity. It was halted as a gong began to sound, signaling the end of lunch. "Gomen, koneko-chan, but I have to go now."
       Behind her, Usagi finished off Moriya's can of soda, burping as the bubbles tickled her stomach. Then, she paused, staring upwards as she felt a sensation tickling at her; the can dropped, unnoticed. She blinked slowly, looking around as two girls broke away from the larger group of mixed students, heading their way. Long hair the colour of sunshine swung past the hips of one, a contrast to the black of the other. Both were contestants.
       "Hino-san, Aino-san," Moriya greeted them, if somberly. The competition was too fierce, too close, to warrant anything past an almost businesslike sense of profession.
       "Chouno-san, Kino-san," Hino replied, bowing briskly to both of them. "Aino-san and I came so the four of us could be together before the final relay race. So we could meet in person, instead of being announced to the public."
       Aino just made a rude noise in a similar vein to Usagi's noise of earlier, and gestured foppishly. "Call me Minako! And I simply wanted no hard feelings when I won the competition for my school. Ne?" She smiled so brightly it was hard to take offense at her statement. Still, Moriya smirked.
       "Yare yare, you're confident, aren't you? Well, Minako, you might find yourself losing to me, so don't get too cocky." The red-head folded her arms, giving the long-haired blonde a smile in return, although slightly sharp.
       Hino and Makoto both stepped back as Minako stepped forward, chin up. "Oh, really?"
       "Hai."
       They both stared at one another as silence fell in the crowd. Luna, still safely in Ami's arms, twitched her whiskers in a mad spasm, eyes narrowed. It was the same feeling as earlier, only intensified like an electrical shock to the system. Was one of these four girls another of her allies? Certainly, it was possible; all four were fast, sprightly, possessing almost inhuman athletic abilities over the rest of their peers. But with so many auras in the clearing, it was impossible for the feline to narrow it down with any certainty.
       Finally, the silence was broken as Hino coughed. "Well. May the best one of us win, ne?"

       "The competition has been fast and fierce today, and we're down to the last four! Who will be the final winner after this, the relay race? Only the best one will do!" The announcer gestured widely with his arm towards the four as they stood at the starting line, shifting on their feet. Around them the crowd gave a wide berth, right up to the lip of the forest; the dirt path they would be running on went right in through the trees. They would be running by themselves until they reached their destination, turned around, and made it back to the finish line.
       The mike screeched with feedback as the announcer hit it against his lips. "Our best girls will be running a mile to the natural spring, and retrieving small flags to prove they made it, before running back. Whoever makes it back first will win for their school. Get ready, girls!" He waved his arms to get the crowd cheering as all four tensed at the start line, ready to run.
       "Go go go Moriya-chaaaaaan!"
       "C'mon, Kino, you can make it!"
       "Mina, Mina, Mina!"
       A few of the younger TA girls cheered for Hino, but the din drowned them out. It didn't matter; those intense purple eyes were focused on the woods solely. And when the gun went off, all four of them sprang forward, their speed carrying them neck and neck down the dirt path.
       Beneath the tree again, the blue-haired genius and odango-haired blonde watched their friend disappear. "Why do we have to follow them, Luna?" Usagi whined.
       "Because," the black feline snapped from up above, "one of them could be another of our allies. It's too difficult for me to tell with so many people around, and out there, we'll have solitude. Now stop arguing, Usagi!" Down the cat dropped, landing sedately on all four paws between the two girls.
       "Are you scared, Usagi-chan?" Ami teased gently as she picked Luna up again, carefully draping her over a shoulder.
       The odango-haired blonde stuck her tongue out as they began to creep towards the woods, avoiding as many people as possible. Small cameras and TV screens were set up to follow the four girls as they ran, eliminating the need for the rest of the schools to trek through the woods as well. It also meant no one but the four were allowed into the woods, unless an emergency came up. "I'm not afraid! I just don't like to run."
       Ami smiled softly, tugging Usagi behind a bush as a janitor came close. "Don't worry, Usagi-chan, I doubt we'll have to run very much. Ne, Luna?"
       Luna rolled her shoulders, springing off the blue-haired genius' shoulder. "I'll scout ahead while you two try to make it into the woods. After all, a cat can make it into places where humans can't." Both girls nodded, ducking down lower as the janitor decided to stand right in front of them. Luna was, however, right; when she fled from the bush, springing on city-worn paws down the dirt trail, the janitor did nothing but yell, "Damn cat!"
       Not that she appreciated it very much, but that was how it worked sometimes. It was gone from her mind as she continued to run, tracking the four sets of indents in the dirt. Like a hunting dog, she thought with mild annoyance. "You're getting too bitter for this, Luna," she added out loud, pausing to lap at a small puddle of clean water off to the side.
       Her earlier musing hadn't helped her slight melancholy either. Now, as she straightened up, she simply sat back on her haunches, letting the breeze ruffle her fur. Too often was she busy to enjoy even this simple pleasure, and her ears flickered to catch the cool, teasing wind.
       It wasn't long before she was sprinting again, kitten's face contorting into what was, for her, a sardonic smile. "Always too busy, too bitter, Luna, ne? The mission is everything…"
       "Not always, Luna-chan." Claws dug into the branch for a better grip as green cat's eyes watched Luna disappear down the path. With a coil and release of muscles, the white feline launched himself into space, catching hold of another branch. Again was the process repeated, though it was slower going than running on the ground.
       Frankly, he preferred it up here. It was easier to watch Minako from the air, and now, Luna….
       His train of thought nearly derailed and crashed when his claws didn't quite grip the next branch. With a yowl, he found himself plummeting downwards, and he flailed out madly for a grip. A catch was made several feet down, and he was catapulted up and over into the next tree with a rather loud thud against the trunk. "Itaaii….I'm too old for this," he whimpered.
       Once he scrambled up onto a nearby branch, he rubbed his paws at his face vigorously, muttering about making a will once he got back home. "Ne, Artemis, why are you way up here for?"
       "Minako-chan!?" The poor feline was really running out of lives. He nearly toppled out of the tree again as the long-haired blonde appeared beneath him on a thicker branch, beaming. "What are you doing here?"
       "Baka no Artemis! I made it here before the others did, that's why! My superior speed made me the winner." She waved one of the flags at him, before tucking it into her waistband.
       The cat closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten, tapping a claw on the bark. "No, Mina, that's not what I meant. I meant, why aren't you running back yet?"
       She drew a leg up, resting her knee against her chest. Her expression turned somber as she rested her cheek against that knee, wide blue eyes staring down at the spring. "I wanted to see how they did. Who would get here after me."
       He seemed to shrug, settling down onto his tummy against the rough bark with a wince. Chin on forepaws, he watched with Minako as the three came into view beneath them, hardly even winded. The tall red-head was only slightly in the lead, with the dark-haired private school girl right beside the brunette. It was, for most purposes, evenly matched.
       "Aino-san - I mean, Minako - made it before us, but she didn't pass us up," Makoto commented as they reached the spring and grabbed their flags. She tucked her flag into the pocket of her shorts, leaving it easily visible against the cloth. Each flag was a different colour, the tall brunette having grabbed the green. Moriya took up the blue one, leaving a red one by itself; the one missing had been golden yellow.
       But Hino didn't take the last flag. Even as Moriya stepped forward, she was stepping backwards briskly. "Something is wrong….I feel immense evil, a wrongness amongst nature…"
       "Ne, Hino-san?" Both girls asked it in almost perfect synch, but the dark-haired girl didn't respond. Instead, she turned her back to them, hugging her arms across her chest.
       Above in the tree, Minako and Artemis exchanged sharp looks. The wind, nearly non-existent previously, was beginning to pick up, almost on cue with Hino's statement. A shift in the breeze wasn't very odd, truly, but the fact it carried no change in sound sent tremors of warning up the long-haired blonde's spine.
       The birds stopped chirping.
       So innocently was the last flag moving in the increasing wind that all three stared, watching as it was lifted upwards. It floated along on a gentle stream of air, fluttering with a life of its own as it moved towards Hino. And just in front of her face, it dropped to the ground, and lay limp. Dead.
       "….I think you're supposed to pick it up, Hino-san," the brunette murmured after a long pause. Her own flag was gripped tightly in her hand, pushed deep into her pocket.
       "But you don't feel it, do you? Evil is nearby…I-I can feel it coming closer…" Hino closed her fingers around the small bauble around her neck, closing her eyes as the wind started to beat at them harder. "Helpless…"
       Minako reached up to grab onto a sturdier, thicker branch as the tree began to sway, not even wincing as a few smaller whip-like vines slapped across her face. Her own flag was still tucked into her waistband, though her free hand soon settled over it to pin it down. "Artemis…"
       "Hai, Mina. But you can't reveal yourself so soon," the white feline whispered. He dug his claws into the bark, tail winding around the branch when he felt himself start to tear loose.
       Branches were falling by this point, ripped free by the battering winds. Makoto arched her back with a soundless scream, staring upwards towards the sky as she flailed. "Kino-san! Daijobu?!" Hino cried, reaching out as the brunette crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
       "Chikusho….I'll carry her, Hino-san, just get out of here!" The red-head brushed by Hino to pull Makoto upward, trying to sling her arm across her shoulders. She managed with some success, considering the slight difference in their height, and began to half-drag, half-carry the brunette away from the spring.
       The dark-haired girl paused, obviously surprised. Then, as she sidestepped a falling branch, she called out "Matte! You can't carry her alone!" and swooped down to pick up the flag as a final afterthought before jogging over to Makoto's other side. Tucking the flag into her shirt, she propped herself beneath the brunette's free arm, and both girls began running.
       "I have to help them, Artemis!" Without bothering to hear his reply, Minako was swinging down to a lower branch, pen in hand. Even before she said the words was magic swirling around the star at the tip, coalescing to be freed by a few simple syllables.
       She never had the chance before electricity seemed to course through her body. Below, Moriya and Hino jolted with the same effect; had Makoto been conscious, she would have screamed with them. "Minako-chan!" Artemis added to the screaming as he watched the long-haired blonde spasm, haloed in blue fire. He barely had the chance to leap down before she was falling off the branch, and downwards towards the ground.

       A quarter of a mile away, Luna was nearly frantic. Having paused to allow her girls to catch up with her was taking longer than she had expected, and now, the woods were going mad all around her. Branches were falling like rain, and she very nearly found herself impaled more than once, her tail smashed several times. Dodging and bounding was beginning to take its toll, and when a particularly fat deadwood limb pinned her down, she was almost happy to give up.
       It was so cold, too….
       Wait a minute.
       The black feline lifted her head to see…well, nothing. A thick fog had rolled in, making the fallen branches more brittle and breakable, cold. She heaved her muscles against the limb holding her down, and felt it snap around her as she shook her fur out. "Sailor Mercury? Sailor Moon?"
       "Hai, Luna! We were so worried about you!" As she stared out into the whitened air, blurry shapes began to form, coming closer. A blue blob grew legs, arms, a head, before Luna felt herself being lifted into Mercury's arms. "I felt…we felt…the wind, it increased so suddenly and without warning," the blue-haired genius explained, cuddling the shivering cat closer.
       Behind her, Sailor Moon was a similar blob in shades of blue, red, yellow. The discs on her odango seemed to pulse and glow through the fog, like beacons. "We heard screaming, Luna, and we transformed. But Moriya-chan, Hino-san, Aino-san, Makoto-san…they never came back to the clearing."
       "I expected this. The enemy may have been in hiding all along, waiting for a chance to strike! We have to find them; one of them could be-"
       Laughter. It echoed off the trees, each peel and curl of bark amplifying the sound perfectly. Laughter that wasn't evil, so much as simply arrogant. And though none of them recognized it consciously, it touched off a chord inside their soul; it was a voice they knew, though they couldn't grasp how. But whoever it was, it had them running, sprinting even, for the springs that marked the end of the halfway point of the race.
       But it was already starting without them.
       "Yare, yare, I expected so much more from the little girls who defeated me twice now." Jadeite sighed dramatically, surveying the springs with a critical eye. Branches littered the grass and dirt, though they weren't the only things fallen down; Moriya, Hino, and Makoto lay crumpled beneath one another, sprawled out in painful unconsciousness. Up above in a tree, Minako dangled across a pair of close-grown branches, thankfully spared from impact, but still in danger of falling. Artemis was frantically hissing at her, unaware that the general could hear him.
       But it didn't matter; the white feline wasn't even on Jadeite's mind at the moment. With a casual shove of a booted foot, the blond dislodged Moriya and Makoto from the pile, shoving them over and onto the ground. Hino was left by herself, stretched out on her side with a painful arch of backbone. She didn't even move when Jadeite lifted her into his arms, a gloved hand stroking across her cheek. "So lovely, so vibrant….such potential for our Queen. A true prize to be sure," he commented.
       Hino moaned quietly, her head rolling against Jadeite's hand. No warmth seemed to bleed through the cloth, and the lack of heat was discomforting, even to her uneasy state. Her movement prompted him to set her back down slowly, carefully on the ground, before he stood and swiveled on the heel of his boot. His head tilted, muscles working in his neck as a curl of blond hair shifted against his skin. "Disappointing, to say the least. Now I'll most assuredly have trouble this time. Shit."
       "Such language, Jadeite," a voice chided. The blond general didn't even bother to look around for the source; he knew how such magics worked.
       "Stay out of this, Nephrite. I have a job to do for our Queen-"
       "With useless plans and creatures as worthless as sand!"
       "-and I will do it," Jadeite hissed, gesturing sharply with his hand in dismissal. Nephrite's formless voice simply laughed, obviously uncowed as it filtered into oblivion.
       The blond general absently adjusted his tunic, folding his arms across his chest. Obviously attacking these four had been a bust; only Hino showed any sort of potential. Time wasted, he began to quickly formulate a new plan, lips already beginning to move in a sharp incantation to weld together a youma from the surrounding natural garbage. But when he inhaled sharply, he ended up coughing violently as the suddenly cold air scraped his throat; a white haze spread in front of his eyes.
       "How awful of you to attack those innocent girls!" The cry came from behind the general, still wobbly with fear, but starting to develop a core of steel. On instinct did he duck, cursing the cold that seized at his limbs and slowed him down. Something whistled past his head, golden like the sun, and disappeared. "For justice, I will defeat you! The pretty soldier, Sailor Moon!"
       Another object streaked past him, but this was black. Blobby. He reeled away from it, still working on pure instinct, and rolled quickly to his feet. "Little speeches won't work, soldier girl. And I have actions to back up my words!" The incantation that had been woven was quickly unraveled and re-spoken, and he smiled with something close to glee as a white flash produced a loud cry of pain.
       Luna was barely resisting the urge to sink her fanged teeth into the blond general's leg. She was too close for her comfort, and the cold was deadening her senses. But it didn't matter, because she knew who to seek out.
       When they'd arrived at the springs, it had taken merely a look to sense the power she was looking for. Hovering on consciousness, Hino's aura had been strong and sure, and now, as Luna batted at the dark-haired girl's face with a paw, it was like fire. "Hino-san!" the feline finally hissed, giving Hino one last good smack as she heard Jadeite fire another blast of energy.
       "Nani…?" Purple eyes slowly began to open, only to immediately squeeze shut at the stinging cold. But when they opened for a second time, they opened wide and white. "You're that black cat I saw at the games earlier! But…you're talking to me?"
       Whiskers trembled as the black feline shifted her weight, eyes darting from Hino's face to the battle behind them. "You know why, Hino Rei-san. In your heart, you have the strength to become like Mars. You're an ally of ours, the soldier of the red planet, and we need your help!"
       A small red pen glittered on the grass between them, winking brilliantly in its newborn experience. For such a long span of time it had lain dormant, uncalled; now, it sensed its true owner near. "A soldier….hai….the truth of my soul, I know it!" Before Luna could even respond in kind, Hino picked up the pen.
       "Moon Frisbee!" The attack phrase drowned out the shout of another as Sailor Moon flung her tiara for the second time. It spun like the discus, and she watched pitifully as Jadeite simply dodged it again. "Mou, I don't like this! Stop moving! He's too strong, Mercury!"
       "Don't lose faith, Sailor Moon!" Mercury called back, peering intently at the blond general through a pair of blue goggles. Equations and graphs lit up the lenses, scrolling upwards as the blue-suited soldier called on more fog. She couldn't do much more; her power was in offense, not defense.
       "Never give up faith, Sailor Moon! The soldier of fire and fight won't allow it!"
       Red. It shone through the fog like the fire that had birthed it, from high heels to tiara. The sight stilled even Jadeite as heat rushed past all of them like a cyclone, dispersing the fog as easily as if wiping away condensation on a mirror. "I'll punish you in high heels, enemy mine. With flames, I'll cleanse your evil deeds!"
       "Nothing will cleanse the taint of my Queen!" Energy coalesced in the general's hand, even as he brought his arm back around. Forget youma and useless bodies; he could destroy these little girls himself.
       Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury stepped back on instincts of their own.
       And the red-suited soldier flung her force forward with the strength of her gods. "Akuryou Taisan!"
       The strip of paper fastened itself to Jadeite's forehead as sure and solid as any glue. It began to burn almost instantly, the black characters painted elegantly across the front bursting into flame. Perhaps a scream or a plea loosed from the general's lips before his body simply charred away into ash, simple as that.
       Silence.
       Then, "Sugoi! You must be our new ally!"

       "I'm fine, Usagi-chan, stop fussing over me so much!" Moriya sighed for what had to have been the fourth time, peeling the frantically happy girl off her arm. And it was true, too; despite a bout of nausea after waking up, the tall redhead was as well as she'd ever be.
       The paramedics had found the four girls when they hadn't returned, after Usagi and Ami and several others had voiced concern. Minako had been carefully lifted from the tree and pronounced healthy along with the others, even though they all had suffered from the strange sickness.
       Because of the oddness of the event, all four schools had been declared winners, and even now negotiating was going on over how to split the winnings evenly. The four had been applauded for being such good sports, and recommended for future sport activities at their schools. None of them cared, really, past Minako, and they'd all disappeared back into the crowds that formed their separate schools to endure compliments and cheers.
       Now, as the buses rumbled back towards civilization, Luna curled up in Ami's lap. The blue-haired genius, odango-haired blonde, and redhead had chosen seats in the far back, giving them ample space to sit and privacy to spare. A book held in front of her nose, Ami petted the black feline with ease, not even paying attention to Moriya and Usagi's gentle bickering; so much more took importance now.
       "We're getting closer, Ami-chan," Luna purred softly, nuzzling her head up into the awaiting hand. "A new ally, Sailor Mars, and soon, the truth…."
       Fingers turned a page with ease, and lips silently formed the equations. Magic was contrary to fact and science, and it was a war raging inside of the blue-haired genius; but she smiled gently down to the purring feline in her lap. "Hai, Luna. And then maybe, we'll know why we were chosen. Ne?"
       In the next bus, Minako smiled out of the last window as her fingertips traced symbols in the steam from her breath. "Someday, minna…."