Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Dream Catcher ❯ Sailor Team United ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. I do not own any rights to them, nor ever will.

CHAPTER 2: SAILOR TEAM UNITED

Michiru got up early. She was always an early bird but today something just didn't let her sleep. She looked over her shoulder at the bed. Haruka was still sleeping bundled up in the covers. The blanket was slowly rising and falling with the rhythm of her breathing. Michiru smiled. They were happy together. There was no doubt about it. They had their ups and downs, of course, but she would never give up the life she led.

Michiru stretched a little and then went to the kitchen. They lived in a small house right outside Tokyo. They wanted to move somewhere where nobody could find them, escape from the ordinary life, but they both knew they had to stick around and keep an eye on the Princess. Royalty or not, she was still young and needed protection. Michiru picked up her mirror. Yes, the Princess needed protection, now, more than ever before. Michiru sighed. Their simple lives were about to be disturbed again, but she didn't mind a little excitement. They got too comfortable. Haruka gained a few pounds in the past five years. She was really upset about it. A little exercise wouldn't hurt. Michiru giggled thinking about all this.

"What are you laughing about?" Michiru turned around. Haruka's eyes were still half closed. She lazily ran her fingers through her hair and scratched her head.

"Good Morning. That's an unusual view this time a day." Michiru smiled again. Haruka looked at her puzzled. Michiru didn't wait for a reply. "Well, usually I need a heavy duty canon to get you out of bed."

Haruka grinned, rubbed her eyes and went to the bathroom. A minute later the water in the shower began to run. Meanwhile Michiru started fixing breakfast.

"I guess since we are both up we might as well eat something." She thought. Soon the smell of cooked eggs and fresh brewed coffee filled the room. Haruka came out of the shower. Michiru thought she looked gorgeous with wet hair. They both sat down at the table and began to eat. Suddenly the doorbell rang. They looked at each other. Nobody visited them for the past several years. And they didn't expect visitors, especially so early in the morning. Michiru got up. She turned around to look at Haruka. Haruka nodded and Michiru finally opened the door. Their surprise was even bigger when they saw who was standing in front of them.

"But... what... how..." Michiru was speechless. The tall girl in the door smiled. Her long black hair was waving in the morning breeze. The light brown dress accented the dark tan. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" Setsuna asked gently.

"Please, come in." Michiru finally woke up. "I'm sorry, but you totally threw me off. Where did you come from? And how did you find us?"

Setsuna greeted Haruka with a bow and then turned around towards Michiru.

"I suspect you know why I'm here." It seemed like the room got darker. Suddenly a lot of tension built up between the girls. Michiru nodded and invitingly pointed to an empty chair. Setsuna sat down. She glanced at both girls and started to explain.

"There is a strange vibration going around the Time Gate. I've seen things happen that weren't meant to be. It doesn't look good." She sighed. "If we don't undertake something the Crystal Tokyo will never rise." She looked at Haruka. "We need the Sailor Team. All nine soldiers. Unfortunately Sailor Chibimoon can't join us. She has other things she needs to take care of"

"They will only get in the way." Haruka protested. "Like they always did."

"No, Haruka, we really need everybody this time." Setsuna continued. "It's bigger than anything we've encountered before." She made a short pause. "Sailor Saturn will join us later today. Until then we should try to contact the others."

"I already talked to Mamoru." Added Michiru. "You know, I had a dream last night that might have something to do with the new danger." And she described what she dreamed about. Setsuna and Haruka were more and more surprised as Michiru's story progressed. They could hardly wait till she was done and then they both shouted. "I dreamed the same." They looked at each other in shock.

"What could that mean?" Haruka asked with reserve. She looked at Michiru but the girl just shrugged her shoulders. They sat quietly for few minutes trying to figure out the meaning of all that. Finally the phone broke the silence. Michiru picked it up.

"Hello?" she recognized the voice right away. "Oh, Mamoru." The others turned towards the speaking. Michiru listened for a while. "Let me ask. By the way, Setsuna arrived this morning. The situation is more serious than we thought." And then turning around she said "Mamoru wants us to meet him for lunch today." Setsuna answered without waiting for Haruka's reply.

"I think we should do it. After all we are trying to contact all the team members." Michiru listened again to the young man on the other side of the line. And, repeating the time of the meeting out loud, finished the conversation.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mamoru hung up. Luna and Artemis were curious what he was told.

"It seems that we will need the whole team after all." And looking at Usagi added, "Setsuna is already here." Everybody was surprised. Usagi's face lit up. She was finally going to see her lost friends again. She could hardly wait till 1 o'clock, which is when they were supposed to meet at the Crown. She hasn't been to the parlor in a long time. "I wonder if Unazuki still works there?" She thought to herself. Mamoru's voice brought her back to reality.

"We need to contact Rei, Ami, Makoto and Minako." He said. Usagi jumped quickly up from the seat. "I'll go to the temple. I think the cafe is on the way to the shrine, so I'll drop by Mako-chan as well." Before anybody could say something she ran out the door tripping over her own shoes. Luna shook her head. "Maybe she hasn't changed as much as we thought after all." Artemis smiled. "I guess that leaves Ami and Minako. I'll pay Minako a visit." Luna decided to notify Ami. Mamoru nodded. The only one that's missing is Chibiusa. He missed her a lot. She might have been a pain in the neck sometimes, and she definitely loved to tease Usagi, but nevertheless she was their daughter and they loved her. He wondered... he hoped that Setsuna had some news about her. How was she doing in the future? Had she found a boyfriend? At that thought his heart sank. He was always going to treat Chibiusa as a little girl. And she was slowly turning into a young woman.

Meanwhile Luna and Artemis left.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Usagi was skipping down the sidewalk feeling light as a bird. She could hardly wait to see the faces of her friends. "What are they going to say?" she wondered. The café was right around the corner from the park. It was an older building, but it looked like Makoto took a good care of renovating it. A little bell rang as Usagi opened the door. A young girl looked up from behind the counter.

"May I help you?" Usagi looked surprised.

"I'm looking for Makoto Kino. I thought she owned this shop."

"I do." a familiar voice replied, and a young woman came out from behind a storage door. Usagi thought Makoto looked great. Her hair was put up in a bundle. She wore a green turtle neck and black pants. "She hasn't changed much," thought Usagi. When Makoto saw who was asking for her, her face lit up. She was happy to see her old friend. They quickly exchanged hugs and Makoto invited Usagi to the back. They started to chat about everything and nothing, laughing merrily from time to time. Finally Usagi said, "I'm here for a reason." Makoto quieted down. She suddenly remembered the transformation pen in her drawer. "I knew it didn't mean anything good." She thought, but didn't say anything out laud, just looked seriously in Usagi's eyes.

"Mamoru talked to Michiru yesterday. A new danger is threatening the world." Usagi continued. "We are supposed to meet today at one o'clock at the parlor." She made a pause. Makoto looked at the young woman in front of her again. "Who am I to turn away, when the world needs protection?" Usagi saw the struggle Makoto was going through in her mind.

"I'll be there." She got up, making it clear that she wanted to be alone.

Usagi left the store and started walking towards the temple. She realized how selfish she was thinking everybody would be happy about the news. All she saw was an opportunity to meet old friends. What she forgot about was the fact that they would most likely have to fight again. The closer she got to the temple the more scared she was of what Rei was going to say.

Rei saw somebody climbing the many stairs that led to the temple. At first she thought somebody was coming to pray. But soon she realized who it was. She would always recognize those funny odangos. Only one person could wear that kind of hairdo. Usagi finally reached the top of the stairs and was panting heavily. She wasn't use to that kind of work out.

"I need to start exercise more." She said to herself.

"I couldn't agree more." She suddenly heard a familiar voice. "But knowing you I know it's just an empty speech."

Usagi looked up. There she was, a young beautiful woman with eyes like amethyst, and hair as dark as the wings of a crow. She smiled, but her smile was rather cold.

"Rei…, I should have known you didn't change much." Usagi answered, "Always picking on me."

"Well, it's your own fault. You never proved us that you can do better." She turned away from Usagi and started walking towards the buildings.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Rei just looked over her shoulder,

"I know you're going to follow me anyway, so what's the point." And she kept walking.

"Just so you know, I'm not going to chase after you." Usagi yelled, more and more annoyed. Now she turned around and was about to walk away, when she realized why she was there. With the big sigh and angry expression on her face she followed Rei inside. Rei was sitting at the fire.

"Why are you here? I don't collect manga anymore" She said when she heard the door open, "And make it short." She added quickly.

"Michiru has some news about a new danger." Usagi started, still feeling angry, "The sailor team is supposed to meet at 1 o'clock at the parlor. Makoto, Haruka and Setsuna are also going to be there." she continued, "There, now you know." She was greatly surprised when Rei didn't do any stupid remarks. Instead the priestess was concentrating on the fire. Usagi went ahead and set down next to her. They sat quietly for quite a while. Finally Rei broke the silence.

"I don't know what exactly is going on," she almost whispered, "but I saw the new danger in the holy fire." She paused and turned her head looking straight at Usagi.

"I'll be at the parlor at 1. You can count on that." Usagi nodded. Then she got up and left.

Meanwhile Artemis and Luna contacted the other girls. It looked like the whole team was going to unite again to fight the evil.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

That same afternoon everybody showed up in the Crown. The first ones to arrive where Michiru and Haruka. Setsuna stayed behind to wait for Hotaru, but it didn't take them long to catch up. Next came Ami, Rei and Makoto. The girls met outside as they were approaching the parlor. Minako showed up shortly after, bringing Luna and Artemis with her. Usagi and Mamoru arrived last.

"Late, as usual." Rei welcomed them with a sharp remark. Usagi stuck her tongue out at her. Rei did the same and the arguing had begun. Makoto and Ami just shook their heads. Mamoru rolled his eyes. Minako was giggling, "Just like old times." She laughed.

"Would you stop that?" Luna yelled. "You haven't seen each other for five years, but apparently nothing has changed." Both girls looked up at her surprised. They blushed and sat down, each in her corner.

Michiru turned to Haruka and said, "I knew it was going to be interesting." Haruka just smirked and the meeting finally began.