The Ero-Sennin wrote a Sailor Moon Fanfic!
Seiya, I'm convinced that you're the only one in the Sailor Moon section I can count on.
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Disclaimer: Sailor, Sailor, Sailor SWAG!
Beautiful Destroyer Sailor Moon
Rei on Fire
Art is a Blast!
[13.]
Mamoru made his way up the steps of the Hikawa Shrine. It had been a couple of days since the battle at the Ariake Coliseum, plenty of time for the news of what happened there to spread across all of Japan, and the fallout left the atmosphere charged. People on the street were confused by the move Tokyo made against the Senshi, none more than him.
It was understandable if they wanted to prevent further destruction to the city, Mamoru could agree with that wholeheartedly, but making a move like trying to arrest the Senshi sent the wrong message to the girls and the right one to the Dark Kingdom. This was an enemy that was genre savvy, dangerously so, and they were poised to exploit this.
As Mamoru reached the top of the steps, he noticed that there were some kind of festivities going on, and a banner had been put up over the archway leading towards the shrine reading “Welcome to the Hakurei Shrineâ€.
This intrigued him. “Hakurei?â€
“Donations please, this is a shrine you know! You can’t just come here and not give a little money to keep it running!â€
That was Rei’s voice, Mamoru recognized.
He hurried a little and reached the top of the steps where he found a crowd in a large semi-circle in front of the Shrine. Some were standing, some were sitting, and quite a few people had various cameras, taking pictures and recording the scene in front of them. Rei was running around the edge of the crowd, holding a donations box and excitedly demanding donations, which were graciously offered to the box she held.
Mamoru stared at her; she was dressed in a perfect cosplay of Reimu Hakurei from the Touhou Project series, one of his favorite games to play on his down time. “Wow… s-so cute…â€
She went up to a particularly intimidating person in the crowd and held up her donations box. “Hey, old guy, you came to see the fall leaves, didn’t you? It costs money to keep these trees healthy, you know? Support your local shrine!â€
A gentle laugh called from behind her. “Reimu-chan, are you bullying people for donations?â€
That was Usagi’s voice, and she was sitting on the front patio of the Shrine. Mamoru chuckled; of course, she’d be cosplaying as one of the strongest characters in the series, Yukari Yakumo.
“Reimu†looked back at “Yukariâ€, and huffed. “Well, the shrine’s upkeep isn’t cheap, especially when you demons keep showing up.â€
“You mean when you keep inviting us demons.†Yukari opened a fan to hide her mouth as she laughed at Reimu’s indignant reaction.
“Hey! I do my best to be courteous but you always come and eat my food, or sleep in my bedroom, or convince me to throw parties!†Reimu accused.
Yukari looked away. “And you’re always eager to throw them.â€
Reimu pouted and then marched right up to Yukari and sat next to her. “Well then, as long as you’re here, how about giving to the Shrine?â€
Turning to look at Reimu again, Yukari looked down at the box, and then up at her. She then leaned closed to Reimu and opened the fan, to hide their faces as she kissed the priestess cosplaying as a priestess. Jumping, Reimu stumbled back from Yukari and stared at her in disbelief.
“Y-you kissed me!†she screeched in a voice that almost sounded out of character.
“I decided to give my love,.†Yukari teased.
Reimu then turned away, covering her face in shame. “Kissed by a demon, I’m ruined for marriage.â€
The crowd laughed as Yukari lowered her fan. “Oh now stop being so melodramatic. If you’d like, you can be my wife.â€
Reimu stopped, and then pointed at Yukari. “I’d never marry a Christmas Cake!â€
Yukari recoiled. “H-hey, I’m eighteen years old, thank you very much!â€
“Yes, eighteen is the last two digits of your true age,†Reimu snidely shot back as she paced away from Yukari, still smarting over the embarrassing kiss.
Yukari recoiled further, as though struck with a blow to the gut. “You… you…!â€
She looked to the crowd. “Don’t listen to her! I’m not as old as she makes it out to be!â€
“No, she’s older,†Reimu quipped, and Yukari fell over, as though hit with an arrow to the back.
Mamoru laughed with the crowd, and wondered exactly which one of them were the straight man and the fool. Yukari huffed, and snapped her fingers. Two black-clothed stagehands draped a purple, eye-dotted curtain over Yukari and whipped it away, revealing nothing behind it.
The crowd applauded the magical trick, and even more when the same two stage hands raised the cloth again next to Reimu and pulled it away, revealing Yukari. Reimu turned to face Yukari, who got in her face.
“You shouldn’t be so disrespectful, especially with my generosity in consideration,†Yukari advised.
Reimu turned away. “I suppose I should respect my…†She slowly turned and grinned at Yukari. “… Elders.â€
It was like another punch to the face, but Yukari maintained a placid façade… that did very poorly at hiding her unbelievable fury. “I ought to put you over my knee for that impudence, young lady.â€
Reimu prodded Yukari’s nose with an ofuda. “Old~ Lay~ Dee~â€
That tore it. Yukari jumped back. “That’s it, I challenge you!â€
Reimu cracked her knuckles. “Okay, what’ll it be, Spell Cards or Good Old Fashioned Fisticuffs?â€
“Neither!†Yukari snapped her fingers, and a pair of microphones went whipping through the air for both to catch. “We shall duel via duet!â€
“Ha! Then prepare to face a lyrical defeat!†Reimu retorted as the music began to play.
As both girls got to singing for the crowd a well-rehearsed musical number, Mamoru noticed a familiar head of blue hair at the front and center of the crowd, filming the two with an expensive looking camera. With a small smile, he walked over and leaned down to look over Ami’s shoulder and plastic wings–she was cosplaying as Cirno the Ice Fairy.
Ami felt his presence and looked back, when she saw it was Mamoru, she immediately blushed. “Oh Mamoru-san, hello…â€
“Hello Cirno-chan.â€
“Well I’m just cosplaying, I’m not in character.â€
Ami zoomed in on Usagi and Rei as they spun around and continued their lighthearted song and dance number about the friendly animosity shared between priestess and demon.
Mamoru nodded and watched their song, his attention especially on Rei. “Not that I find this weird, but what brought all this on?â€
Ami glanced into the viewfinder as she explained. “This was all Usagi’s idea. Some friends of ours are in the hospital, so she thought she’d film this show for them to help cheer them up
She then fully turned her gaze to Mamoru. “What brings you here? Looking for Rei?â€
Well, he had, but with Ami here too it felt kind of awkward. Mamoru scratched the back of his head nervously. “Well, I was actually coming to pray for some good luck…â€
Ami saw clean through his lie and returned her attention to the song. “Hopefully the Gods will bless you again then.â€
Mamoru raised an eyebrow, and briefly wondered if Ami meant what he hoped she meant.
Elsewhere in the crowd, another photographer aimed a very expensive camera at the two girls, and took several pictures, each one with Rei filling the lens. The young man, with hair in different shades of brown, looked at the screen beneath the view-finder and examined the high definition pictures.
“Amazing…†he whispered as he scrolled through the pictures of Rei.
After the performance, as people began lining up to the donations box, Rei sat on her porch away from the crowds. It was just a small break, before she had to jump back in character and mingle with the donors. This was very hard for Rei, given her shy and quirky nature, but it was for a worthy cause and she was going to give it her all for it.
“I just need to remember that this is for Usagi’s friends, and I can do this,†she said to Phobos and Deimos, who were enjoying some plates of chopped bacon next to her.
As she took a sip of the water she was enjoying, both crows looked over towards someone approaching, that someone being Mamoru, who greeted her. “Hello, Miko-san.â€
Rei’s eyes widened and she spat out her water when she heard his voice. “Ah M-M-Mamoru, h-hello!â€
Her face nearly as red as her dress, she quickly stood up and bowed to him. “W-what are you doing here…?â€
“Well, I came by to see you,†Mamoru said, and he could’ve sworn that if it were dark Rei would be glowing.
She turned away from him, her hands on her cheeks, embarrassed and overjoyed at the same time. She had tried not to think about the cruise–okay that was a lie she thought it was the best night of her life and regretted nothing that happened before or after the battle–but she didn’t expect that this super handsome, super rich guy in college would want to come by and see her, a dopey miko who spends all her time talking to crows and crazy girls when she’s not being a super heroine.
Mamoru chuckled, this was really too cute. “I didn’t expect to find all this, but I admit I like the look.â€
Rei turned around. “Really, you do?â€
“It’s very cute on you.â€
Rei turned her back to him again, her hands over her mouth to muffle her excited squeal.
He thinks I’m cute, he came to see me and he thinks I’m cute, this is the best day ever and will never be surpassed and he thinks I’m cute! Rei thought to herself before it hit her. What did she do now? Did she ask him out on a date? Did she give him her phone number? Did she ask him to sneak into her room for a repeat of the cruise night?
Wait, what was she thinking? She still had to interact with the visitors. Maybe she could ask him to stick around and when everyone was gone they could steal away and have some crazy wild lovemaking down by the fire.
Wait, no Grandpa would have a coronary if he caught them doing it in front of the sacred fire. Oh no! Grandpa, would he approve of him? Well he was rich and successful, maybe he’d overlook that.
Oh, but what if Grandpa tried to force Mamoru to take responsibility for deflowering her? Would Mamoru be okay with marrying her? She would be fine with it…
“Ah… Rei…?†Mamoru asked.
Rei, realizing that she’d gone off on an internal tangent again, quickly turned around and said the first thing that popped into her head. “W-we should have sex, right now!â€
Mamoru recoiled in surprise, as Rei froze in horror. What did she just say? The red drained from her face, replaced by an eggshell white as she quietly repeated herself in shock.
While surprised, Mamoru wasn’t against the idea at all. “Well, sure, but don’t you think we should get to know one another a little more, Rei?â€
Rei blinked and snapped out of her sudden blue-screen. “Eh?â€
“I’m saying I’d like to date you,†Mamoru said.
Then suddenly, Rei was in a field of flowers, a church bell was ringing behind her, crows were cawing their joy, and a formation of crows trailing bright red smoke like jets flew over her head. Sparkles in her eyes, she took Mamoru’s hands in her own and looked up at him. “Of course I’ll date you! I’ll be the best girlfriend ever, just you watch Mamoru-sama!â€
Genre savvy as he was, Mamoru wondered if he had accidentally tripped a yandere flag. It was too easy to picture Rei, with dull eyes, standing over him with a knife in her hand and angry crows cawing for his blood… far too easy.
“Easy, easy, Rei-chan, let’s start small okay? Maybe we should have dinner sometime? Is this weekend okay?†Mamoru asked.
“Yes, that would be just fine! Just let me get your phone number and stuff!†Rei quickly replied as she dug around in her costume for her phone.
“Ne, Rei who are you… oh God it’s you.â€
Usagi glared at Mamoru when she found him and Rei together exchanging numbers.
Mamoru smiled, it had been so long. “Ah, hello Dango-head, I hope you don’t mind me stealing away your friend.â€
Rei quickly waved her hands emphatically. “Please don’t mind, I want him to steal me!â€
Usagi looked to Rei. “Really, with this bald loser?â€
“Why do you keep calling me that?†Mamoru asked.
“I want to, yes! I want to be his girlfriend and go out on dates and spend time together with him, and cuddle, and have dirty, wild sex, and then cook him breakfast in the morning in nothing but an apron!†Rei stopped, and buried her face in her hands from embarrassment.
Usagi turned and stared at Mamoru, who was staring blankly at Rei. “This is what you’re getting, God help you if you squander it.â€
She then grabbed him by his collar, and stared him straight in the eyes. “Seriously, I will ruin you if you break her heart.â€
“Usagi, it’ll be fine!†Rei pleaded, though she was deeply touched by Usagi’s vow, and happy of her approval.
So was Mamoru, who was surprised that she seemed fine with this. “Wait, that’s it? You’re going to let me date her?â€
Usagi let him go, opened her fan and held it over her mouth. “Rei is her own woman, and though I hate the concept of your existence, I won’t let that get in the way of the heart of my friend. I’ll just destroy you if you do anything to hurt her.â€
She had closed her fan and gave him a potent glare with that.
Mamoru smiled at that, and nodded. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll take good care of her.â€
“You’d better.†Usagi turned to look at Rei. “Are you ready to meet your public again?â€
“Yes!†Rei said excitedly. After becoming Mamoru’s girlfriend, nothing could possibly get her down.
“Ah, excuse me, Reimu-san,†another young man called.
Usagi and Mamoru looked over to find the two-tone haired photographer from the crowd. Rei immediately turned to him and bowed. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’ll be right over…â€
The young man bowed back ppolitely. “Sorry, I just wanted to have a word with you. My name is Kijin Shinokawa, I’m a professional photographer.â€
Mamoru had never heard of him, but was he calling himself a professional, really? He had to be no older than the girls. Usagi, however, recognized the name and snapped her fingers. “Oh! You’re that genius award-winning photographer! You’ve been to China, Southeast Asia, and even to the Korean Demilitarized Zone in search of dramatic scenery.â€
“Thank you, exposition bunny,†Mamoru mumbled, and Usagi shot him a glare.
“Uh… yes, that’s me. But that was back when I was ten. Nowadays, I find all the scenery I want here.â€
Usagi nodded to Kijin. “And you’ve found some with my Rei-chan, ne?â€
“Me?†Rei asked.
Kijin quickly nodded. “Yes! I saw your performance today, and when I was taking pictures I saw how you seemed to just come alive for the camera. You’re very photogenic, so I was wondering of you would like to be a subject in my photos?â€
“A Model… me…?†Today just didn’t want to stop being awesome for Rei.
Usagi stepped in. “Whoa, hold on there Yamazaki.â€
Kijin stared at her. “Are you a photography buff?â€
“No, Usagi is just Usagi,†Rei quipped.
“Rei-chan here is shy, socially awkward, and tends to do something only if she’s absolutely comfortable with it or excited about the prospect.†Like dating an incredibly sexy Jackass, Usagi added inwardly. “So please don’t pressure her, okay?â€
“Actually, I’d like to be a model!â€
Usagi turned back to her, surprised. “Really?â€
Rei nodded and then stepped up to Kijin. “My Grandpa always says that I’m pretty enough to be a model, and I’d love to try being a subject in your photos.â€
Kijin smiled. “Oh, thank you. Do you have your phone; I’d like to give you my contact info.â€
Rei nodded and pulled out her cell phone. “Oh yes!â€
Usagi and Mamoru both looked to each other, as Rei eagerly saved the info to her phone, and bowed in gratitude to Kijin, who was equally grateful to have a new subject. Both agreed that some girls had all the luck.
“Hey Rei! Usagi! Hurry it up, we gotta wrap this up, and I have to get to work soon!†It was Makoto, who like Naru was one of the stage hands for their little performance.
“Oh, right!†Rei bowed again to Kijin, and then hugged Mamoru. “Come on Usagi!â€
As the two girls left to join their friends, Kijin let out a long hum as he looked over the girls. “There are a lot of cute girls in this part of town.â€
“Yes, and they’re all crazy.†Mamoru put on a pair of kick-ass sunglasses and walked away. “Have fun with that.â€
“Superintendent-General, the Governor will speak with you now.â€
Natsuna Sakurada was in a pretty bad mood. In the days since the botched arrest attempt, she and her entire police force had been barraged from all sides in the press and in the political arena for her move against those girls. There were even calls for her resignation! From a public relations standpoint, this was becoming a disaster bigger than the ones the Senshi actually committed.
She found herself yearning for her little sister’s teaching job, where the most she had to worry about was a psychotic delinquent girl. At least that psychotic delinquent didn’t have super powers!
After bowing to the secretary who called to her, Natsuna entered the office of Tokyo’s Governor, and bowed politely to him. “Good afternoon, Ishihara-dono.â€
“Ah welcome, Sakurada-chan,†the elderly Governor of Tokyo looked up and smiled to Natsuna from his desk.
This old, grandfatherly-looking man, he’d been Governor of Tokyo for over ten years, and a major figure in its politics since the fifties. His experience alone was worthy of respect, but given that he was the one who personally came down on Natsuna to go after the Senshi for malicious destruction of property of all things, she wondered if he was finally going over the hill.
Asserting herself, Natsuna went straight to the point. “Ishihara-dono, I take it you’ve read the incident report?â€
“Yes, I have. The Sailor Senshi escaped unopposed. The police could not even attempt to pursue them.â€
Natsuna nodded. “I don’t understand why, Ishihara-dono. The Malice Spike two years ago showed we could work with irregular elements against forces we couldn’t handle. Now I’m out there doing the exact opposite of what my teacher did, and the public is after our blood.â€
Ishihara nodded, and then reached into a drawer at his desk. “It was only two years ago, Sakurada-san, I remember it vividly. For all of that Task Force’s success, the cost in good officers and innocent people was extremely high. Even your teacher, Aki-san, acknowledged that… it’s why she gave you her position after it was all over.â€
At that, Natsuna conceded with a nod.
“The situation we’re in now, with forces far more aggressive and destructive than before, requires an entirely different approach.â€
He handed Natsuna a vanilla folder, which she opened and examined the contents.
“What’s this?â€
“It is a plan drawn up with help from friends in the defense forces, for dealing with the Sailor Senshi and this Dark Kingdom.â€
Natsuna read the file, and her eyes went wide in disbelief. She looked up at the Governor. “Ishihara-dono… this is insane.â€
Ishihara nodded. “It is rather extreme, but we do not have the luxury of moderation in this case. It is only a matter of time before this fighting claims life, and I wish to mitigate that inevitable cost. What I need for that to happen, is for Tokyo’s police to be ready to act accordingly, and with all other levels of national defense.â€
Natsuna stared at the folder again, trembling. “But you’re asking me to-â€
“What I’m asking is can you do what is necessary for Japan, or must I replace you with someone who is capable?†Ishihara asked levelly.
Closing the folder, Natsuna took a deep breath, and then nodded. “I can do what is necessary. But I’m doing this by my way, like Inspector Aki would.â€
Ishihara’s smile returned. “Then I entrust the safety of this city’s people to you, Natsuna Sakurada.â€
Natsuna bowed. “Thank you, Ishihara-dono.â€
Turning around, Natsuna briskly walked out of the office, the hand she held the file in trembling. As she left, Ishihara chuckled to himself.
“The girl is overcome with excitement.â€
The day after their benefit show for Rui and Jun, Usagi, Naru, and Rei were in Roppongi, addressing a problem of Rei’s. She had next to no variety of clothes. Even now, she was wearing a pair of bright pink overalls and a plain white shirt. While cute, it was just unbefitting of a future model. Neither Naru nor Usagi could believe that Rei owned so little.
“Well, I’m a miko at a shrine and I go to an all girls’ school with a strict uniform policy. I never felt much need for having more than I need to wear.†Rei admitted.
Naru smiled. “Well you’re going to need to get a whole new wardrobe, not only for the photo shoot, but so you can have something to wear when you go out with your boyfriend too.â€
Rei’s face turned red. “Well… yes, I guess…â€
“And you’re going to need some cute underwear too. I don’t think the bastard’s going to be impressed by plain white panties, .unless he’s into that sort of thing,†Usagi teased.
“Don’t call him a bastard!†Rei snapped at her, before she reined it in. “Ah… um…â€
Usagi smiled big. “Yes…?â€
Rei hiked her shoulders and tapped her fingers together. “Back on the cruise, Mamoru-sama said that he liked the bikini-cut panties Ami had brought for me. C-can we get those and some bras that go with them?â€
She put her hands on her cheeks to cover her intensified blush. Usagi and Naru looked to each other, before the former patted Rei on the back. “I’m going to do you one better than that.â€
Usagi held up a card for Rei to see, and when she saw it she blushed. “That… that’s a card for…â€
“Yes! The finest lingerie shop in Roppongi, my mother is a… preferred… customer…†Usagi trailed off as suddenly some very traumatic mental imagery returned to her.
Just as suddenly, she loudly and forcefully laughed to purge it from her thoughts.
“As I was saying: My mother has built up a lot of credit with them over the last fifteen years and let me use her card!â€
She smiled to Rei. “So we’re going to buy you a lot of sexy things to leave all over the bald bastard’s bedroom floor.â€
Rei was flattered again by Usagi’s supportiveness. “Oh, thank you Usagi… and stop calling him bald!â€
“No.â€
Naru sighed and allowed the girls to back and forth over Mamoru as they reached the lingerie shop, which happened to be across the street from one of those trendy Maid Cafés that attracted lonely young men with no social skills. Usagi had just happened to glance towards it, when something caught her eye.
“Huh?†She did a double-take, and then grinned. “Oi, Naru, you can help Rei with the shopping, ne?â€
She turned and handed her card to Naru, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Yes, but why…?â€
“I just saw something amazing, I’ll catch right up. Help Rei pick out things and don’t seduce her.†Rei did her own double-take at that.
“Wait, what?†She asked.
“Well, unless she wants it, just remember she has a boyfriend. I’ll be back!â€
Naru saluted. “Okay!â€
Rei looked at Naru. “Hey!
Usagi bolted across the street as Naru ushered Rei into the lingerie shop, and went into the Maid Café. Like a woman on a mission, she walked right past the bemused greeter and across the lobby, straight towards a particularly tall maid in the middle of taking orders from a pair of foreign tourists.
“Hey Meido-chan what kind of panties are you wearing?†Usagi loudly asked as she flipped up the Maid’s skirt, revealing very sexy black panties and thigh high stockings.
Usagi stopped and stared. “Wow.â€
That hesitation proved to be a mistake, as the maid promptly kicked Usagi in the chin with enough force to send her sailing through the air and then sliding across the carpeted floor to come to a stop at the feet of another shocked maid.
Lowering her leg, Makoto stared in surprise at Usagi. “What the hell, Usagi?!â€
"Die alliierten haben Berlin erreicht, Galland hatte recht!" Usagi replied.
Usagi then looked up the skirt of the maid she had slid under. "Gehört die Reizwäsche zur Uniform?"
The maid squeaked in embarrassment and kicked Usagi in the head. But it was a minor tap compared to Makoto’s hit. Still hurt, though.
A few minutes later, Usagi and Makoto were sitting at a booth by the window, with Usagi all over this scandalous discovery. “Ne, why are you working at a Maid Café, anyway? And aren’t you a little young for this?â€
Makoto sighed. “The manager is a friend of my probation officer, and because of my looks he said I could swing looking sixteen. Much as I don’t want this job, it pays well enough.â€
Usagi hummed. “Don’t you have your parents’ money to fall back on? What about relatives?â€
“That money I can’t touch until I’m eighteen, and my family’s relatives don’t hold me in high regard. You see, my Father and Mother got together against their respective families’ wishes and… well, yeah,†Miracle Maid Makoto explained.
Usagi understood what that could be like. “Bastards, all of them are. My family’s the same way, something about hating my Dad for stealing my Mom from her fiancé.â€
Makoto stared at Usagi, wide-eyed. Usagi clarified. “My Dad is a very persuasive person, you see.â€
“Yeah, I got that after the whole cruise thing.â€
Usagi laughed. “Man that was fun, wasn’t it?â€
Makoto blushed. “Yes, it was…â€
She quickly changed the subject. “I’ve been meaning to ask, about Rei and that Mamoru guy. Is it a good idea to just let that happen?â€
“Well, I’m not going to stop her from doing what she wants, but I will be there to help her the second there’s trouble. It’s kind of like you, except with a rich older guy instead of your other part-time gig.â€
“I see.†Makoto nodded. “I guess it doesn’t seem inappropriate to you, does it?â€
Usagi stared at her. “Is it inappropriate to you?â€
“It just makes me uncomfortable. Rei is very, very naïve and new at all of this and I think it’s a little too soon for her to be hooking up with a guy. What if he’s taking advantage of her?†Makoto asked.
Those were valid concerns, Usagi agreed. “I made it as clear with the bastard that if he did anything to hurt her, I’d destroy him. But, much as I hate him he seems to be a genuine human being, enough that my little brother hangs out with him.â€
Yeah, about that… “I wonder, Usagi, do you even really hate him? I mean, it’s more like you’re trying really hard not to throw him down, rip off his clothes, and mount him whenever you see him.â€
Usagi blinked. At that moment, outside, a twenty-something man wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sporting a mostly shaved head walked by the Maid Café, glanced in the window at Usagi.
“What do you mean by that?†Usagi asked.
The man outside did a double take and turned red with fury.
“Well, whenever you two interact, he turns you into a mess of unquenchable rage and lust. He’s the only person who gets a rise out of you like that,†Makoto pointed out.
As she did, the man suddenly ran for the door of the café.
The door was then slammed open, and everyone, customer and maid alike turned their attention to him. Trembling in his berserk state, the man pointed at Usagi. “You WHORE!â€
Usagi and Makoto stared at the man as he launched into a tirade. “You... you nearly killed me, wrecked my car, and made me look like a punk bitch! I’ve been all over this fucking city trying to hunt you down!â€
Makoto spoke to Usagi, not taking her eyes off the man. “How many people am I going to meet with that story, Usagi?â€
She looked to Usagi and found that she had lost interest and was eating a parfait. “Eh, I don’t know who this guy is.â€
Makoto looked back at the man, who was practically foaming at the mouth now. “Who do you think you are? Trying to brush me off after what you did to me, you cunt?!â€
Usagi took a bite of her parfait and praised its flavor with a moan. “I don’t know what did I do to you?â€
“You beat me up! You dislocated my shoulder, fractured my skull, broke two of my ribs, ruptured my spleen and gave me catastrophic internal bleeding! I almost died!†he yelled.
“Jesus Christ, Usagi!†Makoto gasped.
Usagi was licking her spoon. “Ah, but you survived. You’re worthy to be my underling, you can call me Aneki.â€
“I CAME TO KILL YOU, YOU DEMON BITCH!â€
Usagi was holding a spoonful of the parfait up for Makoto. “Ne, ne, Mako-chan, try this, it’s good.â€
Well that kindly tore it for the man, who promptly pulled out a very large knife. Usagi saw the gleam of ambient light off the blade and then remembered. “Oh! Now I remember you! You’re that one whore’s boyfriend who came to my school wanting to beat me up and sell me into sexual slavery.â€
Makoto went from concerned about the knife to stone-faced anger. Usagi ate the bite she had offered to Makoto and called to the man. “On second thought nevermind, I have no use for a weakling that can’t even beat up a tiny little girl. Shoo, shoo.â€
“You’re fucking dead!â€
The man charged straight for Usagi to stab her with the knife, hopefully until the blade broke off in her.
Usagi looked to Makoto. “Go right ahead, it’s legally self-defense now.â€
She took another bite out of her parfait, and in that same instant, Makoto was in motion. By the time Usagi pulled the cleaned spoon from her lips, the man was spinning through the air, struck with a powerful kick from Makoto. Hitting the ground, the punk barreled out the door, and onto the sidewalk outside.
The other customers and employees stared at Makoto, who adjusted her maid uniform before reciting one of the rules of the café. “A guest at our establishment will be polite and courteous to both staff and fellow guests, or they will be removed from the premises.â€
Everyone broke into applause, as the authorities were quickly called on the would-be knife-wielding maniac. Sitting back down, Makoto looked to Usagi. “Did you really do all that he said you did?â€
“Probably, I never bother to follow-up on the people I beat up.â€
Makoto sighed. “I think I should hang around you more, just in case more people come after you for revenge or something.â€
Usagi smirked. “Think you need the practice outside the dojo?â€
Try as she could, Makoto couldn’t hide her own small smile. “Let’s not call it that specifically, alright?â€
Back across the road at the lingerie shop, Rei marveled over a pair of panties with a cute crow print on them. “These are the best panties in the world. I want to buy eight of them.â€
She then saw more examples and squealed in joy. “They come with different prints! I am going to buy eight of them!â€
This was going better than Naru thought it would. Rei was enjoying herself, and not being a spaz. “Alright, but remember to get something that Mamoru might like, okay?â€
Naru quickly nodded. “Of course I will, don’t worry!â€
She then spotted some pajamas and headed for them. “Oh! Those look cute.â€
She began to rifle through the collection, with Naru joining her side. “Hey Rei, can I ask you something?â€
“Huh? What?†Rei lowered a pajama top she was examining. It was just her size.
“Not that I think it’s a bad idea, but why did you decide to accept that Shinokawa person’s offer? It took everything you had to perform in front of the crowd for Rui and Jun’s benefit–you did very well by the way. So, why jump at this? Your face is going to be all over the place, if it’s an award winner like Shinokawa.â€
Rei had been holding the pajama top to her chest and imagining herself in it as Naru spoke. She hummed as she contemplated the answer. “Well, I think I can do it if you all are supporting me.â€
Naru stared at Rei. “Oh?â€
“I mean… before I met you guys, I didn’t really do anything except go to school and tend to the shrine. Oh, and occasionally scare people who wronged me with the crows. The boldest thing I ever did on my own was join my school’s Avian Enthusiasts Club.â€
She then smiled. “But since I became Sailor Mars, I’ve been on a cruise, fought monsters, saved the day like a superhero, met a really nice guy who thinks I’m cute, and showed people that I was a really good singer and dancer. I couldn’t have done anything like that by myself.â€
Rei paused. “Well, maybe the fight monsters part. It is the duty of a miko to cleanse evil wherever it may be, but… all that other stuff I couldn’t have done. So! I’m going to give being in pictures a try, because I know if anything happens you’ll be there. Just like Usagi said to Mamoru-sama.â€
“Aw!†Naru was touched, and she gave Rei a hug. “You’re so sweet Rei! You’re also absolutely right!â€
Rei hugged Naru back. “Thank you, Naru-chan.â€
“Now then…†Naru held up a pair of very risqué panties. “You should try these on; I think Mamoru will like them.â€
Rei stared at them, and went wide-eyed. “I-I think he would too.â€
As the two girls rushed to the changing rooms, neither noticed a crazed Kijin Shinokawa on one of the televisions in the lingerie shop, announcing auditions for his next photo series during a fashion program.
“The Prince Park Tower is a pretty swanky place; this is where he wants to hold an audition?â€
It was only two days later, and Naru, Usagi, Rei, and Ami were walking towards the upscale hotel. They weren’t the only ones who were here for a photo shoot. The lobby of the hotel was packed with people, waiting for Kijin to make his announcement. Rei looked a little crestfallen at all the women who had crowded around to take part in the auditions.
“Look at this. Where did all these people come from?â€
“Ah, there’s the problem. Apparently two days ago he announced a huge photo shoot and anyone with a vagina was invited.†Usagi said as she did the sleuthing on her computer this time.
“And this many people showed up?†Naru did a double-take when she saw Haruna in the crowd. “Haruna-sensei?â€
“Ah, just what we need to make the day interesting.†Usagi said before she looked to Ami and Naru. “Since it’s an open invitation, you want to take part?â€
“No thanks, I have no time to prepare,†Ami said.
“I’ll pass as well. This is Rei’s time to shine,†Naru said.
Usagi nodded. “That’s right!†She then looked to Rei. “How may we assist you in securing your path to glory?â€
“Um… you don’t have to do anything.†Rei was looking as though she had second thoughts. Especially when she saw how many other pretty girls there were. “In fact I think we should just go home…â€
Usagi would have none of that. “What? No, we can’t go back now! You only made it this far!â€
Rei hiked her shoulders, and began messing with some of her hair nervously. “But, what if I’m not even noticed…? I mean, look at all these girls…â€
“Yes, but he picked you out personally! I think you have an edge over every whore here.â€
Naru pointed. “Even your mother?â€
“Especially my–wait, what?†Usagi looked, and there was her mother… dressed as a race queen. “Okay, what the Hell?â€
“You did say everyone with a vagina was invited,†Ami noted.
“All right, now this is gone right into the uncanny valley,†Usagi said, before Kijin, who had now stepped onto a stage in front of the crowd, addressed them all.
“ART IS A BLAST!â€
The crowd cheered, while Usagi made a Naruto joke that was lost in the din.
“Now, everyone receive a number from the reception desk and go to the room assigned to you. I don’t want no peeping as I am taking photos for the audition, so you will be called down when I am ready for you!â€
Usagi frowned. “He seemed a lot nicer when we last saw him.â€
Rei noticed this too, but more importantly she could sense darkness coming from the young man’s soul. “Usagi… let’s go to the room right now.â€
The other girls looked to Rei, who turned and headed for the reception desk. Looking back to one another, the girls nodded and followed.
Up in the hotel room reserved for them, Rei quickly sat down on the floor and began to meditate, as Ami, Naru, and Usagi all sat on one of the two beds in the room. Rei began to focus and it didn’t take her long. “Yes, I’m certain now, there’s a great evil hanging around Kijin Shinokawa.â€
“A possession?†Naru asked.
Usagi was not interested in having a repeat of Jun’s possession, with people getting hurt. “Okay, it’s go time.â€
Rei got up, along with Ami, and the two pulled out their transformation pens as Sailor Moon thrust her hand upward.
“Mars Power, Make Up!â€
“Mercury Power, Make Up!â€
“Moon Prism Power, Make Up!â€
Downstairs, both Haruna and Ikuko had met up at the reception desk and were on their way to get their pictures taken first. The curiosity behind the sudden gathering of women was not lost on them, which they discussed on their way to the pool.
“Fun as this is, don’t photographers looking for subjects normally go through talent agencies for these shoots?†Haruna asked Ikuko as they headed for the doors to the pool.
“Normally, but sometimes photographers don’t want to go through the trouble. Besides, he’s just a boy, maybe he wants a lot of pretty girls to look at.†Ikuko explained.
Haruna snickered. “Pretty huh? I saw a few back there that wouldn’t get their pictures posted on milk cartons.â€
Ikuko laughed. “If they did, it’d curdle!â€
Both women broke into laughter, and entered the pool. Kijin was there, having just finished another shoot and was checking the photos on the monitor of his camera. Looking up, he smiled in a most unnerving way.
“Good! Good! You just arrived; you’re much better looking than the last girls,†he quickly said before pointing to a backdrop, “Stand over there and pose sexily! Hurry! Go!â€
Haruna was offended by the pushy young man. “Now listen here, you may be an artist but that’s no way to treat your subjects!â€
“Ne, Haruna-chan, calm down. He’s an artist, he’s eccentric,†Ikuko pleaded and successfully stopped her from going into full authoritarian mode.
“Yes, and I’m a teacher. I don’t put up with that from my students, and I won’t put up with it from him,†Haruna hissed back as Ikuko led her to the backdrop.
Kijin didn’t even hear it. “Yes, be angry. It suits you. Show me ferocity, fury, be the kind of woman that men want to make into their bitch!â€
Haruna glared at him, and he saw it all through the viewfinder. “Yes, just like that!â€
Ikuko giggled. “He likes you when you’re angry.â€
“Yes, just wait until I hulk out.â€
“Oh, just go with it. It can’t be as bad as with Usagi.â€
Kijin had begun snapping pictures. “No talking! Pose!â€
The two women began to pose, and Kijin continued to snap pictures. With each click of the button and the snap of the shutter, he could feel it again, the rush of excitement he felt ever since he ran into a gentleman who gave him pointers for his scenery shots. What was his name again? Sanjouin?
“Yes… that’s it… beautiful! Show me the peak of your beauty!†he declared as he continued to snap pictures.
Initial discomfort aside, both Haruna and Ikuko began to get into it, moving from demure to sexy poses rather quickly.
Each one was snapped by Kijin, who loved every shot he took.
“I can feel it… an explosion of energy with every shot, each time it gets higher and higher. I come closer to the climax. Art isn’t a blast; it’s an impact, an epoch shattering event!â€
Haruna stopped and stared at him. “Wait, what?â€
“MY ART IS AT A CLIMAX!†he screamed as he took a final picture, and a beam of light fired from the lens.
Haruna and Ikuko had no time to react. The beam struck both in the instant the button was clicked, and both disappeared.
“Yes… yes…!†Kijin began to laugh, as an aura of energy manifested around him. He held the camera above his head. “I am a genius!â€
The camera was plucked out of his hands, and Sailor Moon smacked him on the head, dropping him like a sack of bricks. “Stop that.â€
Sailor Mars then threw an ofuda at Kijin’s camera. “Evil spirits begone!â€
The ofuda tag hit and Sailor Moon dropped the camera as it let out a loud hiss. “Whoa, perfectly called, Sailor Mars!â€
Stepping back, Sailor Moon joined Mars and Mercury as a thick black smoke rose from the camera, and took the form of the weirdest youma yet. Pale blue skin and green hair like Thetis, but… well… her shoulders…
“Wow, what’s with those shoulders?†Sailor Moon said as the youma Cameran finished her entry.
“Sailor Moon, you’re going to pay for what you did to Tesuni,†Cameran declared.
Sailor Mercury, as Cameran boasted, analyzed the youma with her computer. “Her arms are funny-looking because they seem to be modified, be careful for whatever she may have up her sleeve-!â€
As Sailor Moon turned her head to chastise Sailor Mercury for the pun, Sailor Mercury suddenly disappeared from sight in a flash of light. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars had little time to react in any dramatic fashion–they had to avoid another shot from Cameran’s palm-mounted laser.
“Sailor Mercury!†Sailor Mars shouted after she landed, only to move again even faster to avoid another shot that reflected off the pool behind her.
“Without your speedy little friend, you don’t have a chance!†Cameran mocked as she fired another blast. Rei avoided it before it left the youma’s hand.
As Cameran aimed another shot, Sailor Moon kicked her into a wall cracking it from the floor to the ceiling. “Stay moving!â€
Cameran growled and pointed her hand at Sailor Moon. “You, impudent girl, say ‘cheese!’â€
She fired again, but Sailor Moon had evaded, closing the distance and kicking Cameran in the stomach, knocking the youma through the wall and outside
Sailor Mars joined Sailor Moon’s side. “Sailor Moon, what happened to Mercury?â€
Sailor Moon didn’t want to think about it, and wouldn’t. “Focus on beating her. But don’t kill her.â€
Sailor Mars nodded, before Sailor Moon leaped into action, rushing straight for Cameran. The youma raised her hand, pointing the camera eye at Sailor Moon. “Keep your eye on the birdie!â€
Sailor Moon did not, jumping up and then crashing down on Cameran with a stomp that cracked the sidewalk underneath them and caused a minor tremor that wobbled the windows of the hotel. Spectators witnessing the violent impact quickly turned and fled, while some contacted the authorities.
Jumping off Cameran, Usagi landed at the end of the sidewalk and faced the youma as she got up. Smirking, Cameran shrugged off the hit. “You’re holding back, how strange for someone powerful as you.â€
Cameran’s smirk grew. “Is it because I have your friend?â€
Sailor Moon got ready to attack, but Cameran waved her finger. “Now… don’t get ideas. You wouldn’t want to lose your friend forever, would you?â€
When Sailor Moon hesitated, Cameran opened her hand. “You flinched.â€
And then Cameran was on fire.
Mars’ Fire Soul cleared mercifully, but only so that Sailor Moon could strike her with a right-hook without being burned. Sailor Moon didn’t stop, using the Dempsey Roll and knocking Cameran from side to side with the force of her strikes.
“I’m… not… going… easy… on… you!†Sailor Moon yelled before she grabbed Cameran by the back of her head and slammed her into the ground with enough force to bury the youma up to her hips in the concrete.
She jumped away and landed next to Sailor Mars, who unleashed another incinerating Fire Soul on the youma’s exposed lower body. When she stopped, Cameran’s legs were kicking in the air.
“Do it again,†Sailor Moon, her eyes hidden by her bangs, said to Sailor Mars.
Sailor Mars nodded. “Mars Fire Soul!â€
The flames engulfed Cameran again. When the attack ended, Cameran was kicking harder and trying to uproot herself.
“Do it again!†Sailor Moon commanded, her fists trembling.
Sailor Mars looked at Sailor Moon, and then back to Cameran, before she fried the youma again. When the flames cleared, her legs were charred and smoking, and now weakly kicking.
Sailor Moon walked back over to Cameran, and then stomped the ground, crushing the youma underneath. As Cameran thrashed harder, Sailor Moon leaned down. “I’m going to continue to hurt you, until you give back my friend. Only then, will I actually kill you.â€
She then grabbed Cameran by the legs and yanked her from the ground. Lifting her into the air, she shook her out like a blanket, before swinging her face first into the ground, leaving a Cameran-shaped imprint in the ground, screwed up shoulders and all.
“So give!â€
She slammed Cameran down again.
“Her!â€
She did it again.
“BACK!â€
She did it even harder than the three previous times, creating a very large crater in the ground.
Cameran lay very still, before she began to stir. Sailor Moon promptly stomped on her back over and over–each hit deepening the hole.
Sailor Mars was wide-eyed. Sailor Moon was suddenly a different person, her irreverence was completely gone, replaced with an almost frightening fury. This was what she became when her friends were in danger?
Raising her leg up high, Usagi slammed it down onto Cameran’s back a final time, causing the steep sides of the pit to collapse onto the youma, burying her. Sailor Moon stared down at the mound of Earth covering Cameran.
Usagi’s tone was frighteningly level. “Give her back. Or I will just make what’s left of your life even more unpleasant.â€
Cameran’s hand suddenly shot out of the dirt, like a zombie clawing from its grave. Moving almost as fast as Mercury would, Sailor Moon jumped out of the hole and narrowly evaded the beam Cameran fired into the sky.
As Sailor Moon landed, Cameran pulled herself back up to her feet, and let out a deep laugh. “You’re holding back too much, Sailor Moon. I thought you wanted to hurt me!â€
Sailor Moon kicked the ground again, kicking up a cloud of dust between her and Cameran. As the cloud grew, Sailor Moon rushed through it in a zigzag pattern before she swung a kick for Cameran’s head. Using one of her weirdly shaped shoulders, however, Cameran blocked the hit and was sent flying to the side, where she tumbled along the ground.
Spotting her, Sailor Mars, quickly raised her hands. “Mars Fire…!â€
She hesitated when she saw Cameran’s opened palm pointed at her. Just as the shutter at the center of the eye opened to fire its laser, however, Sailor Moon imposed herself between Cameran and Mars, allowing the beam to strike her. In a flash of light, Sailor Moon vanished.
“Sailor Moon!†Mars screamed, as Sailor Moon vanished into thin air.
Cameran was as surprised as Sailor Mars. “What?â€
She looked at the spot Sailor Moon had been standing, and then at her hand. “I got her?â€
The youma smiled. “Well! That was anticlimactic.â€
She then looked back towards Sailor Mars, who for all intents in purpose was frozen. Immediately, Cameran’s wits returned to her. She had to get her too before… wait.
Cameran tried, but for all of her effort she could not move. There was something else, too. “Is it… getting hotter…?â€
She heard bubbling, and then looked down to see that the sidewalk under Sailor Mars’ feet had not only melted, but was red hot. She looked up from Mars’ feet, to her face, and saw that Sailor Mars’ expression was entirely blank… even as the ends of her hair and the hem of her skirt caught fire.
“Youma, give me back my friends,†Sailor Mars said, her voice dripping with anger.
Cameran’s left arm was then twisted, and snapped loudly like a dry twig right at the middle of the forearm. The youma howled in pain as the ends of the torn open limb burst into purifying flame.
Cameran trembled from the pain and tried to raise her right arm. However, the moment she attempted to move her hand, it was wrenched up and out, the limb twisted beyond its limit and her palm pointed to the sky. Cameran howled in pain.
Ignoring her cries, Sailor Mars raised her hands and began performing hand seals. “Rin! Pyo! To! Sha! Kai! Jin! Retsu! Zai! Zen!â€
Each syllable Mars shouted, Cameran felt something vital inside her body from the neck down either snap into two, twist asunder, explode, implode, or ignite. It was by far the most horrific pain the youma ever experienced, and with the cry of “Zenâ€, the youma vomited blood that dribbled down her chin and splattered onto the ground.
Sailor Mars lowered her hands, revealing the whites of her eyes were now the color of roaring flames. “Give me back my friends… and I will let you die.â€
“Nephrite…†Cameran managed to gurgle. “…Get me… out of here… Neprhite… Queen Beryl… anyone… help me…â€
“Do as she says, you have completed your mission. I will see to it that you escape,†Nephrite responded in an assuring voice, to Cameran’s relief.
Cameran’s weapon began to glow, and back by the pool Haruna, Ikuko, several other girls, and Sailor Mercury reappeared unharmed. Outside, Sailor Moon reappeared as well.
Sailor Moon looked around. “Where was I just now?â€
She then saw Rei, and stared. “Whoa.â€
Rei’s hair had turned bright red, with most of it from the shoulders down enveloped in flame. Her skirt, gloves, and the ribbon the chest of her fuku were also on fire.
“Holy shit, Mars.â€
“Good. Now die,†Sailor Mars said as she lifted her right hand palm-up. Cameran was lifted into the air at the command.
“Nephrite… hurry… please… I don’t want to die here!†Cameran pleaded.
There was no answer.
“Nephrite? Nephrite?!†Cameran screamed.
Sailor Mars closed her hand into a fist, and Cameran burst into a white flame as bright as lightning. The fire burned for only seconds before it died away, leaving nothing but dust to blow away in the wind.
Satisfied, Sailor Mars lowered her hand. The flames across her body died away, and her red hair reverted to black. She looked to Sailor Moon, and smiled. “Sailor Moon, you’re okay…â€
Her eyes rolled back into her head, and Sailor Mars fainted backward right into Sailor Mercury’s arms. Sailor Moon quickly ran to them. “Sailor Mars!â€
Sailor Mercury quickly checked her over, and then looked at Sailor Moon. “She’s fine, don’t worry. But I think we should get out of here to give her time to recover before…â€
Mercury trailed off, and Sailor Moon looked back to see why. It was Natsuna Sakurada, alone, no SATs, no uniformed cops, no guns pointed everywhere. Looking around at the rather minimum damage this time around, the Superintendent-General sighed in relief and addressed the two conscious Senshi.
“Get out of here. We can talk later… but there’s something I have to tell you. Meet me tonight, at Haneda Airport, I’ll be alone.â€
Wondering what this was about, but more concerned about Mars, Sailor Moon nodded and took Mars from Mercury. “Let’s go then.â€
Sailor Mercury nodded and both Senshi leaped away. Natsuna watched them go, and then looked around the damage. “This went much better than last time.â€
A little later, Sailor Mars woke up, back in the hotel room, with a concerned Usagi sitting next to her, fidgeting about. Ami had transformed back to her civilian identity as well, and had been soaking another rag to place over her forehead. “Oh… I passed out.â€
She sat up, and transformed back as well with little fanfare. Just as quickly, Usagi all but pounced on Rei, bringing her back down onto the bed. “U-Usagi, hey!â€
Usagi was hugging her and nuzzling her face. Rei blushed brightly. “I’m sorry for worrying you, could you please let go? You’re crushing me.â€
Usagi stopped nuzzling. “Ne, I’m not that heavy.â€
Both girls sat up, and Usagi was her smiling self again. “Rei that was so cool! What was that? Your hair changed color, and you were on fire, and you were like Phoenix and it was awesome!â€
Rei shrugged her shoulders. “When that youma zapped you, I got really mad, just like you did when it zapped Ami.â€
“No, you got even madder, when I got pissed off, my hair didn’t change color and I didn’t burst into flames,†Usagi said.
“It was like you went Super Saiyajin, my computer couldn’t keep up with your increase in power,†Ami added.
Rei’s eyes sparkled at that as she could only imagine how she looked. She hadn’t bothered to look at her reflection, after all. “S-Super Reiyajin…? Next time, someone take a picture.â€
Usagi nodded. “Sure, but doing all that knocked you out for like three hours. I wouldn’t be doing it all the time.â€
Rei recoiled. “It’s been three hours?!â€
“Yes, but don’t worry, I booked the room for as long as we needed,†Ami assured.
“God bless the bourgeoisie,†Usagi said as she pulled Ami into the group hug.
Ami happily returned the hug, but Rei hugged the two of them the tightest, as she spoke. “You guys, I’m glad I met you all. Even though we really just met not too long ago, and we go to different schools so we can’t be together all the time… you’re my best friends. And if you’re ever in trouble again, I’m going to do everything I can for you, like you have for me.â€
“Well duh.†Usagi kissed Rei on the cheek, making her squeal.
She then stood up. “We’re more than just friends! We’re comrades in victory and defeat, joy and sorrow, sickness and in health, and even beyond death!â€
Usagi raised a fist to the ceiling. “What we have is an inseparable bond, and it will only grow stronger.â€
Makoto, who was in the doorway of the hotel room with Naru, spoke up, “Riveting speech, but were you going to repeat it to us later, or just have the minutes passed along?â€
Naru held up a pizza she picked up from one of the hotel’s restaurants. “Since the photo shoot was a bust, let’s just have a party and celebrate our victory.â€
Usagi pumped her fist. “Hell yeah!â€
Ami quickly got up and went for the remote. “I’ll order some movies for us to watch.â€
Rei yawned. “Just no scary ones, I’m still tired.â€
The girls climbed onto the bed with Rei, Naru setting down the pizza. Usagi then spoke. “Well, try to stay awake a little longer. We have to discuss our plans, for whatever the police want with us now…â€
The other girls all nodded, and dug into the pizza.
In her lair, Beryl had to wear sunglasses to shield her eyes from the bright orb of energy Cameran’s death had yielded. Holding it up, she presented it to her generals and her youma, before banishing it away.
“Nephrite, you got me twice the energy you did last time. You are now fit to worship my feet.†Beryl raised a pantyhose-clad foot for emphasis.
Zoisite rolled his eyes, while Kunzite shot a brief glare at Nephrite, who was not really keen to the reward. “Ah… thank you… I guess.â€
Beryl lowered her foot. “We’re now ahead of schedule, but don’t get complacent. We still have much work to do.â€
“Yes, Queen Beryl.â€
Beryl then turned her attention to Zoisite. “Hey, bitch boy. I have a mission for you, and if you can pull it off without fucking it up, I’ll let you have an even better one after.â€
She got up, and floated down from her chair and past her generals. “You and Kunzite meet me in my quarters. Nephrite, go fuck off and do whatever, you earned the night off.â€
As the two followed Beryl out, Nephrite wondered exactly what Beryl wanted from them, but he had a feeling it wasn’t just to scratch an itch.
No matter, it was already time to seed another victim with a youma, and if he recalled correctly, the stars had a perfect victim set up.
Teleporting from Beryl’s lair, he entered the interior of an old, dusty mansion hidden somewhere within Tokyo.
“Goro,†he called out, and a beautiful red-skinned, black-haired, and bikini-clad female oni appeared.
The youma folded her arms, and glared at Nephrite. “Let me guess, you want another corpse to throw at the Senshi.â€
Nephrite snorted. “It’s not like that at all.â€
Goro narrowed her electric blue eyes at her master. “Oh? Then why didn’t you save Cameran like you did the traitor?â€
Turning away from Goro, Nephrite let out a snort. “She was beyond help. Now prepare yourself, you’ll like this target. She’s a drummer like you.â€
Goro wasn’t swayed. “Don’t try to butter me up, I want a guarantee I’m not just going out to die.â€
Nephrite walked away from Goro, entering the shadows of the derelict home. He called back to her. “You’re not going out just to die. In fact, I’m choosing you because I heard you’re strong.â€
He stopped and looked back at her. “Prove to me you’re strong, Goro.â€
The youma snorted, and spoke as arcs of electricity danced around her body. “Oh, don’t worry about that.â€
In the office of the Masquerade, Mamoru, Motoki, and Jadeite were sitting in an expensively furnished lounge–a “Man Cave†if you will–watching the news of the latest battle involving the Senshi and the resulting damage.
“Something’s bugging me,†Mamoru said.
Jadeite and Motoki, the latter in the process of cleaning a pair of pistols, looked over to Mamoru. The leader of the Masquerade elaborated. “Nephrite’s a cunning person, isn’t he, and he knows you’re still alive.â€
Mamoru had looked to Jadeite as he spoke. “Why hasn’t he changed his strategy, when it’s obvious that letting you live would make his mission a liability?â€
Jadeite lowered the drink he’d been enjoying, and hummed. “That’s a good question.â€
One that Mamoru hoped they found an answer for soon, but that went without saying. His phone, which sat on the desk next to Motoki’s pistol components, began to buzz. Looking at it, he found that it was Rei sending a text message.
Motoki saw the name on the screen before Mamoru picked it up. “Miko-chan?â€
“It’s this girl who works at a shrine. I met her on the cruise.†He read the message, Rei wanted to meet sooner than they planned.
Motoki nodded. “Oh…â€
Jadeite rolled his eyes. “You know, Batman remained single for a reason.â€
“Much as I wish I was, I’m not Batman,†Mamoru said as he replied to her. Sure he’d meet her. “Besides, this relationship is as much business as pleasure.â€
Both wondered what Mamoru meant by that, while Mamoru got a most enthusiastic reply from Rei. Smiling, he turned and looked back at the TV, where a roundtable group was debating over the hard-line stance the police was taking against the Senshi.
Elsewhere still, Kijin Shinokawa sat in his bedroom at his desk, looking at his damaged camera. He had taken it apart and put it back together twice, but it seemed to be lost and with it the pictures he’d taken today. Setting the camera down, he looked to the screen of the PC on his desk and then took up the mouse.
Opening a folder, he scrolled through numerous files until he came to his most recent pictures, the series of Rei doing her act as Reimu.
“She’s perfect, really,†he said before he picked up the phone and dialed a number. When a voice answered on the other end, Kijin spoke.
“Hello? Hey, I found another model for you. She’s a miko at the Sendai Hill Shrine. She’s pretty naïve; I think you can use that against her.†Kijin listened to the man on the other end of the line, and began dropping Rei’s pictures into a folder to email to him. “I’ll send you some shots of her, and try to keep in touch with her.â€
The man on the other end of the line said something else, and then Kijin smiled. “Don’t worry about that, naïve as she is, she already seems to be kind of a slut.â€
= = =
Beryl: Sometimes, things are just too good to be true. The allure of fame, fortune, and love can sometimes blind you to the fact that those who offer it only want to use you.
Nephrite: Beware of the thieves and exploiters who seek to drain you dry be it body or bank, and do so by remaining vigilant of who your true friends and loved ones are.
Beryl: Queen Beryl says! MWAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!