A couple nights later, Kai was still at work on his paper that was assigned as punishment for being late. He let his head fall on the coffee table, a mixture of exhaustion and boredom taking over. ‘This was ridiculous,’ he started thinking to himself as he pulled his head up and leaned back against the couch. All he had to do was explain to the teacher what happened, surely he didn’t deserve such a penalty for his first offense. He needed to take a break before he went crazy. Unfortunately it was rather late and he couldn’t think of anyone who would still be awake at this hour. With a sigh he reached for his notebook to review some of his notes from the library. As he opened the cover he noticed a smooth, definitively feminine script glossing the backside. He couldn’t help but to smile at her note. It seemed that she anticipated his level of insomnia and wrote that he should call her whenever he finds himself distracted and unable to sleep. What he really got a chuckle out of was her signature. She wrote a cursive “V” followed by aka “The Night Owl” and a smiley face underneath. He looked over at the clock once more and hoped that “The Night Owl” would still be up. The phone rang several times and he was getting ready to hang out deciding that she was probably asleep. His thumb moved to press on the end button on his cell, but stopped when he heard her cheerful voice come through the earpiece.
“It took you long enough to call,” she said laughing.
“How did you know if was me?”
“Because I knew you’d call.”
“It’s not too late is it?”
“It’s never too late. I’m actually on my way home from my agent’s loft. She threw a party in honor of my latest photo shoot.”
“That sounds exciting.”
“Did you want me to stop by?”
“If you’re tired go home,” he said, unsure of her forwardness.
“What’s your address? I’ll be there in 5 minutes.”
“5 minutes?”
“You can set your watch by it,” she laughed before ending their call.
As promised 5 minutes later there was a knock on his door. He opened it to find Minako dressed as if she just came from a black tie affair. She wore a white dress lightly spotted with black dots that stopped just above her knees, allowing him a view of her well shaped legs. Her feet were adorned with a pair of strappy sandals bringing her closer to his height, although she still only came just above his chin. Her dress was strapless with a sweetheart neckline giving her a sexy yet modest look. Every curve of her body seemed to be accented by dress and it took him a moment to realize that he was staring at her. “Come in,” he said, closing the door as she walked through carrying a large bag.
“What a long night,” she said, leaning against him as she pulled off her sandals. He smiled noticing how she dropped back to her shorter height without her heels on, bringing her head level with his shoulder. “Do you mind if I use your shower? I need to change out of this dress; it’s even more uncomfortable than it looks.”
“Sure, it’s right down the hall. There’s extra towels -.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find everything that I need,” she winked at him as she walked away and he wondered what he got himself into.
Fifteen minutes later she emerged from his bathroom dressed in a pair of loose fitting cotton shorts and a sweatshirt. She plopped down on the other side of the couch, stretching out her legs on the cushions and he stopped flipping channels, finally settling on the news. Again he found himself staring at how beautiful she was. As gorgeous as she appeared when she first walked in with her elegant dress and professionally done hair and make-up, she somehow managed to make her sweats look even more appealing. “Feel better?” he asked her.
“Much,” she drawled for emphasis. “It’s nice to be able to dress down and be comfortable once in a while. So what are you still doing up?”
“Working on a paper for class.”
“Anything interesting?” she inquired, glancing at the papers spread out on the coffee table.
“Not really,” he replied.
“Is that why you called me?”
“I needed a break and your note said to call you whenever.”
“I’m glad you called. I really am sorry for making you late for class the other day. If it makes any difference I enjoyed our lunch date.”
“It was worth being a little late,” he said, trying not to look at the papers calling to him.
“Do you have a blanket I can use? I’m cold.”
“Of course. I –“
“I’ll just be in your room,” she said lifting herself off the couch.
“My room?” he asked raising an eyebrow.
She giggled at his expression and thought to herself that that this man had to have the sexiest eyebrows she had ever seen. “I meant I’m going to be in your room grabbing the blanket off your bed. I hope you don’t mind?” she asked even though she had already disappeared down the hall. A moment later she came back in the room with his burgundy blanket bundled in her arms. She dropped down on the couch again, curling her legs underneath her, this time opting to sit next to him. “Are you cold too?”
“Not really.”
“Really?” She leaned against him putting her hands on his arm. “You are warm. Good, you can warm me up.” She opened up the blanket and spread it across both their laps. “Tell me about your paper.”
“It’s really not that interesting.”
Her blue eyes looked intensely at him before softening her expression. “I find you to be very interesting. Besides, I like the sound of your voice.” She wrapped her arms around his arm and rested her head against his shoulder. “Please?”
“The assignment is to write about the origins of Japanese mythology and the effects of it on contemporary society.”
“So which story did you choose? Selene and Endymion? That’s probably the most popular.”
“That’s why I chose something different,” he smiled softly at her aware that he had piqued her interest. “I chose the story of Tamamo-No-Mae.”
“I’ve never heard that one. Tell me about it.”
“Tamamo-no-Mae was a courtesan who seduced the emperor and was said to be the most beautiful and intelligent woman who always looked perfect and smelled sweet, never a hair out of place or a winkle in sight. One day the emperor became ill and no one was able to find a reason for his ailment. An astrologer then came to see the Emperor and told him that it was Tamamo-no-Mae who was causing his ailment, that she was really an evil nine-tailed fox in disguise attempting to take the throne. The emperor immediately called for his greatest warriors and sent the two men out to kill the fox. After much time passed the fox appeared to one of the hunter’s in his dream as the beautiful Tamamo-no-Mae and begged him to not kill her. Of course he was loyal to his Emperor and refused to spare her life. The next day as the fox feared, he caught and killed her with a magical arrow. The fox’s body turned into Sessho-Seki (killing stone) which then killed anyone that it came in contact with. It’s said that she possessed the stone until she was finally exorcised from it.”
“What a sad story. Maybe she really loved the Emperor.”
“She tried to kill him.”
“That may not have been what her heart wanted her to do.”
“You sympathize with the fox?”
“Am I not beautiful?” she asked looking up at him.
“You are,” he replied. “You look perfect, smell sweet and never have a hair out of place or a wrinkle in sight.”
She smiled at his comment and comparison. “And what if it was I who made you ill? Would you order my death, even if it was my nature but not my intention?”
“But you are not the fox.”
“Maybe we can see if there is something else on. I can do without the news right now.”
“There’s not really anything on,” he said as he started flipping through the channels again.
“Stop! Let’s watch this one. Please….” She begged.
“You really want to watch this?”
“I love the Sailor V movie.”
“Isn’t it for kids?”
“It’s for everyone. There’s action, adventure, and even a love story.”
“They say she just up and disappeared one day.”
“Maybe she was deceived by a nine-tailed fox.”
“Maybe….” He said, placing his arm around her and stroking her hair. She started to relax against him and her eyes began to close as she drifted off to sleep. He smiled to himself at how comfortable he felt with her and how good she felt pressed up against him. Careful to not wake her he slid down on the couch a little further and put his feet on the coffee table. As he shifted, her hand moved from his arm to rest on his chest. He didn’t resist as he fell asleep nor did he notice the warm feeling that started emanating from his chest.
He had a strange dream that night - men in gray uniforms and women in sailor fukus. There was a sword in his hand and a sword in hers and somehow he knew that they had killed each other. Suddenly a bright silver light engulfed them and then he was alone in total darkness. A cold hand reached for him and he felt like he was drowning, but was saved when a warm hand reached for him, embracing him and blocking out the cold. Suddenly there was a flash of golden light and he awoke with a start. It all seemed so familiar, but when he tried to think back on his dream he found that it was fading. There were no faces, no bodies, just the bright flashing colors as silver battled gold. Despite this, he felt like he had slept better that night than any night before that.
As he sat up he noticed the small form still resting against his body and the tickle of her hair against his arm. He rubbed his eyes and was shocked to realize what time it was. Once again he was going to be late for class and he started thinking that she was going to be hazardous to his education. He had 10 minutes to be out the door if he wanted to make it to class on time.
Carefully he slipped out from under her, laying her down on the couch and headed into the bathroom to take a shower. As he stood under the hot water he wondered to himself what he was doing. The first time he met her she kissed him passionately. The third time he meets her he sleeps with her – well maybe not in that way, but having her spend the night at his apartment and sleeping on the couch with her was not what he expected to be doing. What was he going to do with her now though? He couldn’t very well kick her out while she was sleeping but he wasn’t sure if he should leave her to wake up alone in his apartment. How did he get himself into this? With one last blast of hot water on his face he turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. There was no time for him to be thinking about this, he had to get to class.
Quietly he opened the bathroom door and walked over to the bedroom pushing the door open only to find her on the other side standing by his bed in only a bra and panties and jeans at mid-thigh. “I’m so sorry,” he said averting his gaze from the half naked woman in front of him. “I thought you were still sleeping.”
“It’s my fault, I thought I’d be able to get dressed faster,” she replied as she finished pulling up her jeans to cover the black thong she was previously exposing. “Just one more second and then I’ll be out of your way.” She tugged on a tan and brown striped shirt. “All done, you can look now.”
They both stared at each other for a moment and he could almost swear that she was undressing him with her eyes – not that there was much left for her to undress. “This makes for a slightly awkward situation doesn’t it?” he half-joked.
“I’d say we certainly got to know each other a little better this morning,” she smiled cheerfully.
“That’s one way to put it,” he attempted to smile back at her and they eyed each other up silently once again. “Well if you don’t mind I need to get dressed now,” he said, mentally smacking himself for not coming up with something more suave to say.
“I’ll be waiting for you in the living room,” she said walking past him and he could almost feel her brush against him as she moved, leaving her sweet scent to linger around him. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a gray long sleeve shirt and rushed out into the living room with a pair of socks in hand, sitting next to her on the couch. His eyes darted over to the clock and he had five minutes to grab his books and make it out the door – he might make it on time after all.
“So what are you doing today?” she asked.
“I have class in 20 minutes and if I hurry I might just make it on time.”
“I was late nearly every day in high school and I turned out ok,” she joked.
“What was your GPA?”
“That is not up for discussion.” He couldn’t help but to smile at her answer. “So what’s after class? I was thinking maybe we could do something today.”
“I’m meeting my friends Zane and Mamoru for lunch this afternoon,” he said pulling on his last sock and reaching for his books on the coffee table.
Her face soured at his answer. “Can’t you cancel with them?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“You can have lunch with them any day; you should spend the day with me instead.”
“Actually they are both medical majors and with our schedules it’s rare that we have time to meet.” He jumped off the couch and headed towards the foyer to grab his bag and start putting his books away. “Didn’t you say your friend was a medical major?”
“I did, but I doubt that they know each other,” she said watching his movements. Slowly she stood up from the couch and approached him. “Don’t you need the report that you’re working on?” she gestured to the table.
“Not for today’s class. Why don’t we meet up after lunch?” he started putting his shoes on.
“I’ll meet you on Campus later then.”
“Sounds like a plan. Can you do me a favor?”
“Name it.”
“Lock up when you leave? I feel bad leaving you like this but if I don’t go now I’m not going to make it to class.”
“No problem,” she smiled at him and took a small step closer.
“I’ll see you later then,” he pulled the front door open.
“And Kai,” she said stepping closer still.
“Yes?” he looked back to face her.
She stood up on her toes, giving him a kiss so passionate it rivaled the ones from the night at the club and for a moment he debated skipping class altogether to stay with her. “I just wanted a proper goodbye. Now go and don’t be late.”
Stunned he walked out the door and took the elevator out of his building. He dashed off to his car and started it up, thinking that today would be a good day – until he looked at the clock and realized that he now had 5 minutes to make a 10 minute drive plus get across campus. He was finding it easier to believe that she really was late to school every day.
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Minako walked away from the door and stood on the edge of the living room looking around. Kai’s apartment was spotless and moderately furnished. The room contained a couch situated in the middle of the room facing a plasma tv mounted on the far wall. There was a chair positioned on both sides of the couch and coffee table centered all of the furniture, his school work scattered across the surface leaving the only evidence that anyone actively resided in the residence. A bookcase was on the wall behind the couch, perpendicular to the sliding glass doors of the balcony. There were a few pictures with people who looked like his family and maybe even a couple of friends. Her vague musings were distracted by the distant sound of a female’s giggling. “Princess?” Minako called out. “I know you’re here, I can feel your presence.”
A girl in a gray sailor fuku appeared before her smiling. “My V-chan, you are a tricky girl.”
“How so?” she asked innocently.
“Allowing him to see you practically naked like that, I’m sure your intentions weren’t as innocent as you let on. Too bad he was too much of a gentleman.”
“I think it’s cute,” Minako replied with a smile.
“How much longer are you going to make me wait for him?”
“Not too much. He’s strong, I’ll give him that.”
“Is he too much for you?” Usagi asked, challenging the girl in front of her. “Perhaps I should have one of the other girls help you.”
“This one is mine. Besides, he won’t be able to resist me much longer and then I will bring him back to our Queen, just give me a couple more days. I want to make sure that I really have him under my control.”
“Where is he now?”
“Class. I didn’t see too much harm in letting him go.”
“And what about after?”
“I’m working on that.”
“What does that mean?”
“He has plans to meet with Mamoru and Zane.”
“You can’t let him do that.”
“I’ll think of something. Besides, Mamoru can’t stop us now.”
“Yes he can V-chan!” Usagi shouted. “He plans on awakening his Shitennou! Jadeite has already managed to awaken himself and you can’t let the same happen to Kunzite. You have to stop him V-Chan and if you can’t I will.”
“There’s no need for that. I’ll make sure that they don’t get the chance to talk. In the meantime I’d be more than happy to take a stab at Jadeite, unless of course that would make my dear Rei angry.”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
“Maybe I’ll just soften him up a bit for her.”
“Just remember that she will return the favor.”
“There will be no time for that.”
“I’m glad to see that you have toughed up a bit my V-Chan,” Usagi smiled. “I was afraid that you might never fall into place at my side.”
“You’ve shown me where I belong. I live only to protect and obey you.”
“And no more of that Sailor V nonsense right?”
“Sailor who?” Minako said with a dismissive wave of her hand and transformed into her sailor fuku. “I’m going to stop home for a short while before my first date.” Her top and skirt were both a shocking white, with an orange skirt layered under the white one – only inches of the orange layer exposed. An orange bow sat on her chest and at the small of her back while a gold heart chain wrapped itself around her slim waist. Her feet were adorned in orange strappy heels, and her arms were covered with white gloves. Instead of her tiara a small topaz gem sat in the middle of her forehead. The red bow in her hair had ceased to exist when she gave up her identity as the crime fighting Sailor V. “Don’t worry my Princess, I will take care of everything.” Minako blew a kiss to Usagi and then disappeared in a golden orange haze.
She rematerialized in her sparsely outfitted apartment. Her living room consisted of a couch, a bowl chair, some end tables and a plasma tv mounted on the wall. In her past life she would have wanted more, but as it was she barely spent any time here. Her apartment was more of a formality to help her sustain her pseudo identity.
Cool arms wrapped around her as a masculine voice spoke softly against her ear. “You’re back. I’ve been waiting for you.”
His skin always felt cool when he touched her bare skin. Perhaps he spent too much time in the Dark Kingdom where there is no warmth. “What are you doing here, Danburite? I’m surprised our Queen let you out.”
“And why would she stop me?”
“Because you were supposed to pledge your undying love and loyalty to her and if she were to find out you promised it to me she might have you killed.”
“In my last lifetime I loved you and I will continue to love you in every other as well,” he said kissing her softly on the cheek.
“Not now Danburite. I’m too tired.”
“You spent the night with him.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“I know where you’ve been and I’m disappointed.”
“Disappointed.” She seemed to mull over this word for a moment. “I couldn’t understand why, I only did what I was told.”
“You need to be careful around him my Venus. He hurt you badly last time and I will not stand to see him do so to you again.”
“I hurt you in our last lifetime as well. Those were your words I believe.”
“But you didn’t mean to. I could not reach you in my past life, not like I can now.” He walked around to her side and pulled on her hand leading her towards the hallway. “Why don’t you come with me? I want some time with you before you’re forced to return to him.”
“I am on a mission for my Princess,” she stated pulling away from him and crossing the room to stand by the glass doors of her balcony. She stood on the 29th floor and had a generous view of the city from her apartment.
“It’s too late isn’t it?”
She turned back to face him and took extra notice of his features. He was so similar to Kai with his pale hair and strong build. Yet somehow he was so completely different. Maybe it was Kai’s warmth that separated these two men. “This is all nonsense. I don’t understand what you are concerned about. My Princess asked me to bring him to her and I will. If you are this jealous now, what will you do when he is standing at my side as one of us?”
“He will not outrank me,” Danburite spat, his face starting to flush.
“But he may,” she said approaching him and wrapping her arms around his neck. “He is a powerful man and our Queen made him in charge of her armies last time. I can’t imagine why she would not do so again.”
“Things have changed.”
“You’re jealous,” she smiled wickedly.
“I’m not jealous of that bastard!”
“Oh but you are, how interesting.” She leaned into him so that their lips were barely touching. “If only you would tell me your secrets,” she purred.
He reached up and pulled her hands from around his neck and stepped away from her. “You’re toying with me.”
“I would never be so cruel,” she pouted at her own statement.
“Let me know when you’re serious.” He stepped back and transported out of her apartment.
“You will tell me your secrets Danburite!” she shouted out loud to the empty room. He frustrated her to no end at times and this was no exception. His jealousy of this particular Shitennou was completely unfounded, not that she had ever pledged her love to him in return anyway. During her days as Sailor V she chased him completely fascinated by his appearance and the mystery surrounding him. At the height of their battle her Princess appeared to her and she was ordered to spare his life. She sought to follow her Princess through the darkness as she had sworn herself to always protect her. There seemed to be gaps in time from that point on that she could not explain and that no one else was willing to discuss. Whatever had happened to her must have been bad if they all wanted to protect her now – especially Danburite. Ever since their hunt for Endymion’s Shitennou began he started to become more and more possessive of her. Didn’t he realize that she could never fall in love? That was her destiny as he foretold it no matter how much it pained her to acknowledge it.
A feeling of restlessness came over her and she contemplated her options. Kai would still be in class leaving her with one other option – it was time to pay Jadeite a visit. She transported herself out of her apartment onto her rooftop. She jumped from roof to roof feeling that the man she was looking for was not too far away. As her eyes scanned the population of people walking through the streets she could see him moving through the crowd, a firm look on his face. She leapt across several rooftops and then jumped down to land in an alley. Once he was in her sights she powered up the chair around her waist and threw it forward, wrapping it around him as he walked past her. Once he was pulled into the shadows she grabbed on to him. “Now it’s my turn to talk Joel,” she smiled wickedly and they transported from the alley way to an isolated area of the park.
The chain fell from his body and wrapped back around her waist, returning to its smaller size. He dropped back into a fighting stance preparing himself for whatever assault she might have planned.
“If you would rather fight and get it over with that’s fine with me,” she said indifferently, “although I’d much rather try and talk this out first.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to discuss,” he spat. “I already warned your friend what would happen if you came after me again.”
“Rei can be such a softee at times. I on the other hand will show no mercy Jadeite.”
“Is that so?”
“How is it that you have been awakened?”
“That’s for me to know.”
“I need to make sure that your friends don’t make the same mistake as you.”
“Of course, I’d hate for them to put up a fight when you come for them as well,” he said sarcastically.
“You’ve already had your first warning. Too bad there’s not a second. Love-me-chain!” she called and the chain on her waist expanded into a longer chain that she used to lash out at him. He was unable to dodge her attack on time and was thrown back from the force, small sparks flying off her chain from the impact with his body. “Cooperate,” she demanded.
He looked down at his chest and noticed that her chain had singed the dark green material of his shirt. “I will not!”
“Love-me-chain!” she called her attack forth again, but this time he was able to time it better and jumped out of the way. Her mouth formed into a thin smile as she called forth her next attack before he was able to land on the ground and gain his footing. “Rolling heart vibration!” The attack hit him dead on and he was thrown back from the blast again. “How about now?”
“If it’s a fight you want than you shall have one.” He summoned his powers and transformed into his uniform, signifying him as Endymion’s protector. His chest was covered by a white tunic and he wore a pair of brown pants with black boots up to his knees. A brown and blue cape hung proudly from his shoulders and for a moment Venus was unable to move as she took in his image.
“There’s something about you that I want to remember,” she said softly. “You’re wearing the wrong uniform. Your uniform is supposed to be gray. This uniform that you have on – I don’t know – there’s something familiar. Why would I have memories of you like this?”
“You knew all of us in this incarnation first.”
“Knew you? Were we friends?”
“Friends? Perhaps more than that.”
“More? You and I?”
“No, not us. I loved another, just as you did. You don’t remember him either?”
“Him?”
“They really did a good job erasing your memories didn’t they?”
“I have had nothing taken from me.”
“We were not always enemies,” he said, pausing for effect. “He loved you from the moment you met and you said that you felt the same way. Did they take that from you?”
“I love my Princess, hers is the only the love I can have. Can you say the same about your Prince? It is your job to protect him yet he has fallen victim to us many times over.”
“I will find him.”
“You will find him once you have been incorporated into our ranks.”
“Try it Venus,” he said throwing his hand in front of him. A fireball burst from his palm and flew at a high rate of speed towards her. She side-stepped the attack as it swooshed by her almost as if it had been nothing more than a passing breeze.
“And here I thought we were having a pleasant conversation.”
“You threatened my Prince.”
“I have done no such thing.” She waved her hand airily at him. “Why don’t you tell me more about this Him is that you spoke of? You have my attention.”
“That will continue to be my secret.”
She laughed at his words. “I have had enough secrets for one day. You will tell me what I want to know if you wish to buy yourself more time.”
“I will tell you nothing!” he growled. He repeated his attack again, although this time when she moved to side step it he ran at her at top speed knocking her to the ground. She called her attack but was unable to hit him as he jumped away again.
“Rolling heart vibration!” she called again. The attack pursued Jadeite as he tried to jump away and knocked him off his feet sending him tumbling to the hard ground underneath him. “Tell me your secret.”
“Never.”
“Fine. Love-me-chain!” her chain flew from her waist and slammed against him before he could react. “Tell me!”
“No,” he said defiantly, pain apparent in his eyes.
“Love-me-chain!” she called and the attack lashed out at him again. “This is your last chance.”
He weakly lifted his head to glare at her. “I’m going to protect both of them from you.”
“If that’s the way you want it then,” she snarled. “Love and Beauty Shock!”
“Flame Sniper!”
The attack flew at Venus and she was forced to jump out of the way to avoid getting struck causing her attack to fly wildly and collide with a tree, splintering the trunk into pieces. She glared at the senshi across from her whose fuku was entirely red. The skirt was cut into diamond edging with a white underskirt. The bows on the front and back of her fuku were white, as were the gloves covering her arms. A small ruby sat flush against her forehead and her dark hair fanned around her.
“Venus! The Queen will not be pleased if you kill him.”
“The Queen or you? Are you mad that I was able to do what you could not?”
“The Queen has ordered your return.”
“I’ll return when I’m ready.”
“You will return now!”
“Please give her my fondest regrets.” Venus transported away leaving an angry Mars to stare after her wake. She turned to face Jadeite only to find that he was gone as well. ‘She is going to have a lot of explaining to do when she gets back,’ Mars thought to herself as she transported away leaving only some scorched ground to show that a battle had taken place.
Nearby a man dressed in a black tuxedo kneeled next to the man in the earthen uniform, both watching silently from a safe distance as the women finally disappeared. “You were lucky this time,” the man in the black tuxedo said. “The last attack could have finished you.”
“She caught me off guard is all.”
“How long have you been able to use your powers?”
“I don’t understand how that’s any of your concern.”
“Has it been so long that you no longer remember me?” He pulled away his mask and a small smile formed on his face.
Realization formed on Jadeite’s face and he moved to kneel on one knee, bowing at the waist in recognition. “My Prince, I have finally found you.”
“I felt your powers being used and I came as soon as I could.”
“Where are the other Shitennou? We are supposed to be guarding you.”
Mamoru stood up and signaled to Jadeite to rise from his kneeling position. “I have found Kunzite and Zoicite, but they don’t know who they are. They seem to have lost all of their memories. Unfortunately I’ve been unable to locate Nephrite.”
“You need to restore their memories as soon as possible.”
“I was hesitant to do so before, but it seems like now I have no choice.”
“Let me come with you. I’m eager to be reunited with my brothers.”
“Not yet. I need to talk to them first, this is a lot for anyone to absorb. Tonight I will introduce you to them and we can start our search together for Nephrite. We’ll meet at the Tokyo Tower at midnight.”
“I understand,” Jadeite said, releasing his transformation. He felt weak and leaned against a nearby tree for support.
Mamoru detransformed as well and reached out to support the other man. “Are you going to be ok? You took a pretty bad hits out there.”
“I’ll be fine. I just need to go home and sleep this one off.”
“At least let me help you get there safely,” Mamoru offered.
“I thought it was I who was supposed to be protecting you,” Jadeite smiled sheepishly.
“You have plenty of time to make it up to me now.” Both men started walking out of the park and back into the city, finally disappearing into the crowd.
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Kai arrived at the crowded cafeteria to find Zane waiting for him at a table with a magazine in his hands. Zane didn’t notice Kai until he was standing by the table and even then he didn’t bother looking up. “Is that article you’re reading that interesting?” Kai asked as he sat down at the table across from him.
“Not really.”
“You look like you’re really into it.”
“It’s Ami’s magazine. She asked me to pick it up for her. Women’s magazines can be so shallow,” Zane said looking up to meet Kai’s gaze.
“Then why are you reading it?”
“Because she is hot,” Zane spun the magazine to face Kai and pushed it across the table. Kai’s face seemed to freeze in shock. “Are you ok?”
Kai stared at the picture and immediately recognized the blonde. The first page was an 8 x 10 of her wearing an orange spaghetti strap sundress kneeling by the edge of a pool. The surrounding area was neatly landscaped to give off a tropical appearance. Her body was facing away from the camera, but her head was turned so that she was looking over her shoulder and winking at the photographer. Golden hair fell all around her body and he could suddenly remember the feeling of it from this morning. His eyes turned to the next page which was a series of Q&A’s. The introduction stated her name was Minako Aino – it looks like he was finally able to solve the first mystery about her. Although for the life of him he couldn’t figure out where V came from, it must be some pet name she has from her friends.
“Kai?” He still received no answer. “I need you to blink buddy.” Still no response. Zane snapped his fingers in Kai’s face and Kai looked up annoyed at Zane’s antics.
“I know her,” Kai simply said.
“How could you possibly know her?”
“She stayed at my apartment last night,” Kai said, still staring at the picture.
Zane opened his mouth and then closed it again, sitting there in silence. Slowly a grin formed on his face and his eyes brightened with excitement and awe. “You slept with the Cosmo girl? You may be my new God.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Kai grumbled. “She stopped by last night and we fell asleep on the couch.”
“Do you want me to tell you how lucky you are?”
“Not really,” Kai closed the magazine. “Where’s Mamoru? Shouldn’t he be here by now?”
“I have more questions for you though,” Zane said weakly.
“No more questions,” he replied sharply. Zane opened his mouth to protest but decided against it from the glare he received from Kai. He was normally one to do as he pleased, but there was something about the man in front of him that had the feel of an authority figure. They had gone to school together and all throughout high school Kai always looked after Zane. He was the one true friend that he had even though there was very little in common between them. Kai was always popular, although he never really seemed interested in what was going on around him. He exuded power and you couldn’t help but to sense it when he entered a room. Perhaps that’s why people were always so drawn to him. Zane on the other hand was the polar opposite. He loved to learn and took his studies very seriously, always ranking at the top of his class. As much as he wanted to fit in he was not always accepted for who he was and because of that he tended to find himself on the outside of the crowd looking in.
“I’m not sure where he is. He was supposed to be the Teacher’s Aide in class today but he never showed up. Perhaps he’s not well.”
“Strange that he wouldn’t bother calling either of us,” Kai reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone checking for any missed calls and upon finding none placed it back in his pocket.
The sound of a phone’s shrill ringing startled the girl sitting in the library. She quickly picked up her phone and silenced it before it could make another sound. “Hello,” she whispered.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the library.”
“They are all together now. I need you there.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Stop them.”
The phone went dead in her ear. She shook her head and gathered her books, slowly heading out of the library.
“Speak of the devil,” Zane said looking towards the entrance of the room. Mamoru approached them and sat next to Kai. There was something so similar about the two men sitting next to each other in the way they presented themselves Zane couldn’t help but to think. Physically they were night and day; Kai was slightly taller with broader shoulders and radiated power and authority with every movement and every well thought out word. Mamoru was thinner with a darker complexion who seemed so regal and one couldn’t help but to want to please him. Between the two it was no surprise that they had been able to become friends, each man comfortable with the strength the other exuded. Zane could almost imagine how standoffish each man would become when entangled in an argument. Kai was the leader and he won every fight despite the fact that Mamoru outranked him. Leader? Outranked him? Why would he even think about something like that? Interesting how his thought felt like a distant memory he was itching to catch.
“Sorry I’m late,” Mamoru said running his hand through his disheveled hair. “I ran into an old friend.”
“We were starting to think that maybe we should call out the National Guard,” Zane joked.
“It was someone I hadn’t seen in ages and we had some catching up to do.”
“Perhaps we will meet this friend sometime,” Kai said.
“Perhaps,” Mamoru repeated looking at Kai. “You seem different today.”
“Different? How so?”
“I don’t know,” Mamoru met Kai’s gaze. Something seemed off about the man sitting next to him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Kai was always a man of few words – a lifetime still hadn’t changed that about him. Only one person had ever been able to affect him, but she is gone despite the reincarnated version that appeared only a few nights ago. His eyes moved down to the table to see the Cosmo magazine. “Cosmo, Kai?”
“It’s not mine, it’s Zane’s,” Kai replied quickly.
“Ami asked me to pick it up for her.”
“I see,” Mamoru smiled. “So why then are either of you reading it?”
“Kai’s girlfriend is in this magazine,” Zane said, reaching across the table to grab the magazine before Kai could stop him. He flipped the magazine open to the page with the smiling blonde and slid it across to Mamoru.
Mamoru grabbed the magazine and the smile quickly fell from his face. “Her?”
“She’s not my girlfriend. I barely know her,” Kai replied trying to sound disinterested.
“You knew her enough to sleep with her,” Zane said smiling like a Cheshire cat.
“I didn’t sleep with her.”
“The girl from the club?” Mamoru asked. “I didn’t think that you spoke with her again since.”
“There’s a girl from a club? I never heard about her,” Zane attempted to interrupt.
“What does it matter?” Kai asked ignoring Zane to respond to Mamoru.
Suddenly Mamoru realized what it was about Kai that seemed off today, she infected him. She was trying to fill him with dark energy again and Kai wouldn’t even know what was going on until it was too late. Usagi said that she would take control of one of his Shitennou and she had her sights set on Kunzite knowing that once she had him the other Shitennou would fall in line just as quickly. “You should stay away from her,” he said firmly.
“I think I’m capable of making my own decisions,” Kai replied defensively.
“What’s wrong with her Mamoru?” Zane asked. He could sense that trouble was brewing, but the sense was so muddled that he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks is wrong with her,” Kai cut in.
“I’m sure Mamoru must have a reason –“ Zane tried to interject.
“I don’t care about his reasons,” Kai said, his eyes meeting Mamoru’s.
“Even if you’re making a mistake?” Mamoru challenged.
Both men stared at each other, neither backing down. Zane watched the exchange and tried to think of something he could say to ease the tension. “Ami!” he said, jumping up from his seat. A girl with inky dark hair approached their table carrying several books in her arms. “Ami I want you to meet Kai and Mamoru. These are my friends that I told you about. Guys, this is my girlfriend Ami.”
Mamoru looked her over and the realization of who she was almost caused him to transform in front of everyone in the crowded room. She smiled sweetly at him and he forced himself to return the gesture. “It’s nice to meet you Ami.”
Kai nodded his head and exchanged the same greeting, still distracted by Mamoru’s comments.
Zane turned back to Ami. “So what are you doing here today?”
“I needed to stop in the library and I thought I’d pop in and see if you were still here,” she replied quietly.
“You can join us,” Zane said.
“Actually,” Kai stood up from his seat, “I hate to be rude but I have a previous engagement to attend to.” He grabbed the magazine from Mamoru and walked out of the room.
Mamoru stood up from his seat as well watching for a moment while Kai walked out of the cafeteria. He looked at the couple in front him keeping his eyes on the girl in particular. “I must depart as well. We’ll talk later Zane. It was a pleasure to meet you Ami.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” she replied with a smile watching as he turned and left. She sat in the seat Mamoru previously occupied and Zane followed suit. The couple immediately fell into their own conversation forgetting about the two departing men.
Mamoru turned back one last time to look at his friend sitting at the table with her. Was he too late to save any of them? It seemed like two of the Senshi had already staked a claim and he could only hope that the remaining fourth Shitennou was still safe from their reach. A blonde fell into step besides him as he walked across the campus. “Why are you here?” he asked, his eyes never wavering from the path in front of him.
“You can’t stop the inevitable. He’s mine now,” she said cockily. “That night at the club was only the beginning.”
“You’re underestimating him. Once he finds out who he is and what you are you’ll lose him.”
“I think he already knows more than you believe he does.”
“I’m not going to let you win,” he growled. He stopped walking and grabbed her arm swinging her around to bring her face-to-face with him.
“Please, try something Endymion, with all these people watching. I gave one of your Shitennou a decent thrashing today and now that I’m warmed up I promise you I’ll give you a run for your money.”
“Your Princess wouldn’t be very happy with you.”
“But my Queen would be.”
“You’re an interesting girl.”
“And how’s that?” she smiled sweetly at him.
“You’re smart and you’re strong. Yet you somehow lost yourself to all of this. You were on my side once. We could have been allies.”
“I was never on your side,” she replied indignantly.
“You were Sailor V.”
“She was young and inexperienced.”
“She embodied all that was good. What changed you?”
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
“I can help you.”
“I’m not asking for your help,” she tried to step away from him.
“You can still be with him you know. Even in this incarnation Kunzite still loves you.”
“Loves me?” She tilted her head slightly to the side. “I was in love with Kunzite?”
“You don’t remember?”
“No,” she said softly and looked away from him. “I’m not allowed to love.”
“You can help me to save the rest of the Senshi.”
“I don’t need love,” she raised her chin defiantly, her blonde hair swaying behind her.
“You’re still a girl under all of this.”
“I’m a senshi, the strongest in the galaxy.”
“Think about what I’ve said.” He released her arm and walked away, leaving her to stare at his retreating form. Tears started to form in her eyes and she quickly blinked them away. She wasn’t that girl anymore, she’s Sailor Venus of the Dark Kingdom and she doesn’t need his pity or Kunzite’s love. True or not whatever had happened between them happened a lifetime ago and could not be allowed to sway her judgment now. She had a job to do and she needed to move quickly to bring him to her side. He had already received his first dosage of dark energy to his kunzite stone. If she expended enough of her energy she may be able to convert him tonight. Although, if he really did love her as Endymion said then persuading him to follow her would make things all the more easier. After all, it worked when her Princess came for her.
She later found Kai at their agreed upon meeting spot. He was leaning against a tree with one foot resting by his knee against the tree trunk and reading a magazine curled up in his large hands. Her eyes took in his image and she could understand how her past self could have fallen for him. He was handsome by anyone’s standards, but it was his power that called to her.
He looked up at her as she approached him and smiled. “So I have one question for you.”
“And what’s that?” she smiled back.
“Has it really always been the dream of Minako Aino to be an Idol?”
Her eyes widened for a moment. “Tell me, since when did big strong handsome men start reading Cosmo?” She stepped in front of him and reached for the magazine. He was quicker though and held it out of her reach.
“And is it also true that she is a hopeless romantic who enjoys candle lit dinners and walks on the beach?”
“It doesn’t say that!” she yelled reaching for the magazine again. He continued to hold the magazine over her head. His other arm reached around her and pulled her against him. “I warn you, Kai, this means war….” She reached to tickle his side to which he didn’t so much as flinch in response. “Everyone is ticklish,” she said pouting.
“Everyone?” he lifted one eyebrow (in that sexy way that she couldn’t resist) and started tickling her with his free hand. She collapsed against him in a fit of laughter calling ‘truce’ until he finally stopped. To anyone watching the couple they appeared to be perfect together. She fit seamlessly against him and the look that they gave each other was one of contented happiness – one might even call it love. “So your name is Minako?”
“It is.”
“And if I wanted to know about you all I had to do was read this article?”
“That article is so silly. They ask me a few questions, I give them a few answers and they embellish the rest. So what are you doing with this anyway?”
“My friend bought it for his girlfriend and when I asked him why he was reading the magazine he said, and I quote ‘because she’s hot’.”
“No he didn’t.” She grabbed the magazine from him.
“Oh yes he did.”
“Is he good looking? Do I maybe want to meet him?”
“I guess it could be arranged.”
“You would give me away so easily?”
“No,” he simply said, caught in her gaze. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her softly.
“I believe,” she said, pulling slightly back from him, “that you are mine for the rest of the day. That was our agreement.”
“Minako, I’m yours for the rest of the weekend.”
She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck, the magazine still curled up in one hand. “Good,” she said before kissing him again.
They stood pressed up against the tree, trying to stay hidden from view. Her hair fluttered in the breeze and his brown blue-lined cape wrapped around their bodies. This attractive couple would normally be hard to miss except that they took every precaution when ducking away to make sure that no one would be able to follow them. For as long as time allowed they relaxed in each other’s arms, glad to be able to share in this moment with each other. It was growing late and the air was becoming cooler and the woman shivered ever so slightly as the air ruffled the orange skirt of her fuku that no one would have noticed, save for him who could see through every look she gave him to know its true meaning. His hand pulled tighter against her waist, covered by a white top with orange bows and she allowed him to hold her closer. No one could ever touch this Goddess save for this one heavenly king who breathed in her scent and knew that he would never let her go, not as long as she allowed him to love her. Sooner or later others would learn of their secret, but for now it was theirs.
They pulled back from each other suddenly trying to understand the image they just shared. Her hands fell from his neck to land on his chest, his arms still wrapped around her just not as firmly as before. His mind replaced her brown and tan top with a white top with an orange bow over her chest while her jeans melted away to become an orange skirt. He blinked and the vision cleared, the red ribbon fading from her hair. “We’ve done this before,” his eyes stared into hers.
“It would appear so.”
“Who are you?”
“The more important question you should be asking is who you are.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You do, Kai. It’s that feeling that you get to stay on guard and the need to be prepared. I can show you who you are.”
“This doesn’t make any sense.”
“But it will.” She wrapped her arms around his neck again and pulled him close to her. She powered up transported them away leaving an empty space by the tree where they previously stood. They re-emerged in the living room of his apartment. It took him a moment to process what just happened and he released his hold on her waist attempting to take a step away from this strange girl. Her arms held firmly around his neck and he reached up to grab her hands and pry himself free from her grasp. She was strangely strong for such a small girl, but she was no match for him. He forcefully pulled himself free and stepped away from her. She slumped to the floor and he had to stop himself from rushing to help her out of instinct. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean to startle you, I just thought that we needed a more private place to talk.”
“What’s wrong you?” he asked.
“It takes a lot out of me to do that with another person, especially when I’m not transformed.”
“Transformed? Into what? Is that your true form, the girl in the orange skirt?”
“That was my old form, just like that was your old form as well. I will explain.” She became encompassed in a golden glow and her clothing faded away to become her white fuku. Her powers started to recharge her and she felt stronger with each passing second. “Maybe you would like to sit down while we talk about this.”
He could feel his guard rising again and he shook his head. “I’d rather stand.”
“Very well.” She pulled herself up to stand and watched as his body tensed and his face took on an emotionless mask. “You and I are from another time, known as the Silver Millennium. I am Sailor Venus, the leader of the sailor senshi sworn to protect the Princess of the Moon. You were the leader of the Shitennou, an elite guard formed to protect the Prince of Earth – back then you were known as Kunzite.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am, and after what I have just shown you I would think that you had no other choice but to believe me.”
“Why don’t I remember any of this if it’s true?”
“Our memories were repressed in this lifetime. When the Silver Millennium came to an end we were all sent into the future so that we could all live a normal life.”
“Then how do you know all of this?”
“I was awakened by my Princess.”
“Where is this Prince that you say I served?”
“It gets complicated.”
“It’s already complicated, Minako.”
“You shouldn’t call me that.”
“I thought it was your name.”
“It was, but she is no more. It’s merely the identity that I took on when I was reborn and it’s the identity that I live when I am not in my senshi form. Soon she will completely disappear and there will only be a Sailor Venus. If you would like, I can awaken the form lying within you.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Because once, we were lovers.” For a moment she was able to see a flicker of emotion on his face. “I don’t want to hurt you, Kai. If I did you would be dead by now. I’m sure you realize how many chances I’ve had at this point.” She stepped closer to him but he held firm, not moving in response. He would never retreat, that wasn’t his way. Now she stood in front of him. “Once you have awakened you will have your powers back. You were a powerful man back then; you led armies into battle and answered to no one save the Prince himself.”
“I don’t care about being powerful,” he said, his eyes never wavering from hers.
“You never did,” she reached out and took his hand in her own squeezing it slightly.
“You’re manipulating me. I can feel your power and the effect it’s having on me.”
She smiled at him. “Don’t fight me, Kai, I want to help you.” She pulled on his hand and led him from the living room, down the hallway, and into his rbedoom slowly pushing the door open. He followed her blindly, suddenly unsure of himself. As they reached the bed she stopped and whispered in his ear. She signaled for him to lie down and he obeyed, resting his head on the pillow. He was powerless to resist her at this point and found that he was unable to form a coherent thought. His eyes became heavy and he closed them allowing his body to relax. She sat down next to him and put her hand on his chest, centering it over where his kunzite stone rested within him. Her powers started to flow over him and she leaned forward to whisper in his ear, “We’ll be together again soon, Kunzite.” For a moment she thought she saw a smile form on his lips before he returned to his expressionless mask.
He awoke several hours later, glancing at the clock to realize it was now just past 10 o’clock. Somehow he felt renewed and energized. ‘Was this what she was talking about?’ he wondered to himself, looking over to notice her still form on the bed next to him. She looked so peaceful when she was in her Minako form, and now even more so familiar. Most of his memories were still unclear to him, but he remembered meeting her and he more importantly remembered loving her. He leaned over and kissed her softly on her forehead, careful to not wake her. The distant sound of his cell phone ringing from the living room caught his attention and he quietly padded out to the living room to grab the phone before he missed the call. “Hello?”
“It’s Mamoru. I’ve been trying to reach you for a while, is everything ok?”
“Everything is fine, I must have fallen asleep.”
“I need you to meet me tonight at the Tokyo Tower.”
“Tonight? Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”
“No, there are some things we need to talk about and I’m afraid that if I wait much longer I might be too late.”
“Too late? Mamoru, what’s going on?” the concern rising in his voice.
“Just be there, we’ll talk then.”
The phone went dead and he was met with silence. What could be so important that it couldn’t wait? The tone in his voice told him that he couldn’t refuse Mamoru’s request. He would leave Mina here to sleep and hopefully would return before she awoke to find herself alone. There was a lot that they needed to discuss, but that would have to come later. He looked around the room and ran his hands through his silver hair; he couldn’t sit around and wait, not after what he had just been through. With a final glance back to the bedroom he walked to the foyer and put his shoes on. He reached for his keys in his pocket but then realized that his car was still at the University due to their unorthodox method of travel. Her keys sat forgotten on the table by his mail and he reached for them hoping that her car would still be out in his parking lot – assuming that she had ever driven there in the first place. Once out of the building he looked at the keys in his hand, hoping that she didn’t drive some ridiculously small car like a mini-cooper. He clicked the keyless remote and looked over to the car with the flashing headlights. He looked at the keys in his hand one last time not believing his eyes at the emblazoned logo. The girl drove a new Porsche Boxster – no wonder she was able to be anywhere in five minutes. He walked over to the car in awe and slowly got in, immediately sliding the seat back to accommodate his larger form. Cautiously he backed out of the parking spot and shifted into first gear, speeding off into the night.
After an hour of aimless driving he arrived at the Tokyo Tower, noting that he was still early. He walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, waiting for his friend to join him. His senses seemed sharper as he looked around and the air was fully charged as if something were about to happen. Out of the shadows emerged two figures that he immediately recognized – Mamoru and Zane. They stopped talking as they approached him and Mamoru stepped out in front. “I’m glad you could make it. I was concerned when I couldn’t get a hold of you earlier.”
“If this is about what happened over lunch with Mina -.”
“It is, but not the way that you think. There’s more to her than you know.”
“I know everything about her now, she told me. What I want to know is how you know about her.”
“Then I’m too late,” Mamoru said, defeat etching his features.
“Why did you ask me to meet you this late and what does Zane have to do with all of this?”
“Tell me what she’s told you, Kai.”
“Tell me what you know about her first.”
“Minako Aino is not real, but Sailor Venus is. She has been after you for her Queen for some time now.”
“For her Princess you mean? The Moon Princess?”
“She is no longer ruled by her Princess.”
“How do you know about all of this?” Kai demanded.
“I hoped that you would have recognized me. I am Prince Endymion.” A golden glow enveloped him and when he emerged he was in his Prince form.
“My Prince,” Kai said softly. “And Zane?”
Zane willed his transformation and in the blink of an eye he was dressed in his Shitennou uniform. “I am Zoicite, second in command of the Earth armies.”
“And you, Kai,” Endymion started, “are Kunzite, my first in command.”
“Mina told me all of this, but it still doesn’t make any sense. What happened to us that we have found ourselves here?”
“The Silver Millennium was destroyed a thousand years ago by Metallia. I fell in love with the Moon Princess, Princess Serenity – a love that was not meant to be. Our planet was at war with the moon from fear of the power harnessed by their Silver Crystal. We were all sent to this future to find another chance at life, but now we all have no choice but to awaken and fight. I wanted to meet with you tonight to awaken your true form, but I see that Sailor Venus has already done so. She is extremely dangerous, Kai. Her intentions are to bring you over to the Dark Kingdom.”
“She would never do anything to harm me.”
“I can sense the dark energy in you already. She has already corrupted your stone. If you don’t start fighting her you’ll lose yourself to Metallia again.”
“Again?”
“I want you to transform, Kai.”
“I don’t know how.”
“You need to focus on your stone. I need to know whose side you’re on.”
“I’m not on either side.”
“Your uniform will decide that. If you transform and wear the same uniform as Zoicite I’ll know that you still side with me. If your uniform is gray, I’ll know it’s too late.”
“We’re not at war.”
“We are at war, Kai, and right now you are the most important piece on the board.”
“Gentleman,” a strange voice came from the shadows and Mamoru and Zane quickly released their transformations, “I see I’m not the only one who is out late tonight. I’m especially surprised to see you out here, Kai.”
The person emerged from the shadows and Kai was able to identify the voice as belonging to his classmate. “Nick, what are you doing here so late?” he asked.
“I was out for a midnight stroll with my girlfriend when she needed to take a call. We agreed to meet in front of the tower when she was done.”
“Now’s not really a good time,” Kai said watching the other two men he was previously talking to.
“Nephrite?” Mamoru asked stepping forward.
“You know each other?” Kai asked.
“I believe we do,” Nick said keeping his eyes firmly placed on Mamoru’s face. “We go back a long time I’d say.”
“Nick?” a female voice said emerging from the shadows as well. Her eyes took in the faces of the four men in front of her and stopped when she saw Mamoru. “Now I understand.”
“Sailor Jupiter,” Mamoru said dryly.
“My fearless leader asked me to be here tonight, but I didn’t understand why until now.”
“And where is your dear Princess?” Mamoru asked.
“She’s very close now. In fact, the rest of the Senshi should be here any moment.”
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“I wouldn’t take another step if I were you,” a masculine voice whispered in her ear holding a sword up to her neck.
“Are you back for more, Jadeite?” Sailor Venus whispered back.
“This time I’m prepared,” he pressed the blade further against her throat. “Your plan has been foiled my dear, you’re too late – Endymion will cleanse Kunzite of your dark energy.”
“It’s more complicated than that, Jadeite, he promised himself to me. I think you know what that means.”
“We’ll see about that. Now move.” He pressed her forward from the shadows where they were kneeling until they came into view.
Kai looked up to see Jadeite’s blade pressed to Sailor Venus’s pale throat. “Mamoru, what’s going on? Who is that?”
“Jadeite, my orders where to standby.”
“She was planning an attack, Endymion. You’re about to be ambushed.”
“He’s right you know,” Sailor Moon jumped into view. “We were going to wait until the moment was right, but I guess now is good enough. Mars? Mercury?” Two other girls jumped into line with her. “Now that we’re all together maybe we should talk. What do you say, Endymion?”
“There’s nothing left to talk about, Serenity, you will not take any of my guards tonight.”
“Oh, Endy,” she giggled, “you always were a little slow to catch on. I've already made my pick.”
Mamoru turned to look at Kai who was glaring daggers at Jadeite oblivious to the situation around him. “If it wasn’t Kunzite you were after….”
“Me,” Nephrite said laughing. He transformed into his gray uniform signifying his allegiance to the Dark Kingdom. Makoto transformed next to him as well, appearing in a white fuku top and light green skirt overlapping a dark green skirt. A pink bow sat on her chest and a smaller one on the small of her back. White gloves adorned her arms and her feet were clad in ankle high green boots. She reached for Nephrite’s hand and walked back to stand next to Mercury who wore a pale blue top with silver skirt layered over a dark blue skirt. Blue bows accented her uniform as did white gloves to her elbows and knee high blue boots.
Sailor Moon laughed at Mamoru’s pained expression. “Now the only question is who will make the first move. It seems that you have one of my Senshi in a precarious position and I want you to turn her over. Now.” This was not a request, but an order.
“Then it appears that we both have something that the other one wants,” Mamoru replied looking around to take in everyone’s position.
Kai studied Jadiete, noting that his uniform matched Zoicite’s when he was transformed. Was this Mamoru’s plan the whole time – to use him as bait to hurt his Minako? He took a step forward.
“Don’t do it, Kunzite,” Jadeite warned. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I want you to release her,” Kai said firmly.
“Kai,” Sailor Venus whispered, and she leaned forward, nicking herself on the edge of the sword. A small trail of blood seeped from her throat and trickled onto her white uniform.
“What are you doing?” Jadeite yelled at her, pulling her back from the blade.
“Help me,” she pleaded. Kai took another step forward and Mamoru reached to grab him. Zane transformed into his alternate form and stepped in front of Mamoru, an ice dagger forming in his hand.
“Drop it, Zane,” Sailor Mercury warned.
“I don’t understand, Ami. You’ve been hiding along side of me this entire time?”
“It was necessary.”
“I trusted you,” he pointed with his hand holding the ice dagger.
Sailor Mars stepped back and called forth her flame sniper attack, holding the flaming arrow at bay – aimed directly at Zoicite.
“Now we all need to calm down,” Sailor Moon said looking around.
“Don’t listen to her, Kunzite, she’s trying to trick you,” Jadeite said to Kai, unaware of the situation around him reaching a boiling point.
“I will not warn you again,” Kai said.
“Stand down, Kunzite,” Jadeite ordered.
“I do not take orders from you!” He lunged at Jadeite causing Jadeite to jump away with the sword still waving precariously in Venus’s face. Kai's fingers reached out to touch her hand and he was surrounded by a silver light. When the light faded he had transformed into his uniform.
“Venus!” Jupiter cried. “Flower hurricane!” she flung her attack at the two men hoping to give Venus the opportunity she needed to free herself.
Zoicite saw the attack being launched at his allies and threw his ice dagger at Jupiter with amazing accuracy so that it skimmed over the top of her hand drawing a straight line of blood across the surface.
Sailor Mars launched her fiery arrow at Zoicite. The arrow flew at him at an alarming speed and he was pushed out of the way at the last second by Mamoru who then ducked the attack himself.
Mercury powered up her attack “Shabon Spray!” The area filled up with a cloud of fog so thick that they were all momentarily unable to see the space around them.
“Endymion!” Jadeite yelled. A bright golden light filled the area blinding everyone.
“No!” Sailor Moon screamed. “Venus!” her voice echoed in the darkness.
