Aurora Eos Rose 8/28/01 auroraeosrose@heavensdawn.org http://heavensdawn.org:8008/ Rated R- 17+ Chapter 5 – Sailor Moon Tokyo, Japan-1997 Ace Saijou sighed. His latest incompetent secretary, the last in a long string of incompetents, had scheduled an appointment for six in the evening, so he was here instead of at the meeting at Terran Eclipse Headquarters. The woman hadn't even bothered to get a name for the appointment. Ace had turned off his cell phone, knowing that a call would be coming to summon him. Mamoru hated to be kept waiting, and hated missed meetings even more. Ace spun around slowly in his chair. He scowled at the creases in his Italian suit. He heard the door open in the lobby and stood to go fetch his last appointment of the day. He mumbled under his breath, hoping that this girl wasn't one of the vapid airheads who normally came through, wishing to be stars but lacking any talent. Mina was a little startled to see the lobby empty. "Hello? Is anyone here?" She walked towards the receptionist's desk and leaned over for a moment. Her heart was beating fairly fast. She wasn't altogether sure how great this idea had been. But Ace seemed to be her only link to the past right now. "Miss Aino?" The deep voice startled Mina, and she whirled around quickly. He was leaning against one of doorways. His blonde hair was slightly tousled and he had hazel eyes that were more blue than green. Mina felt a strange thumping in her chest. He was beautiful, enough to make her stomach leap with desire. But she also knew that he was ruthless and a real bastard. "Ace. So nice to see you again." Her voice was a bit breathless. She smiled broadly. His eyes grew wide. She had taken the bait, taken it beautifully. All the puzzle pieces were slipping into place now. He looked his newest acquisition over carefully. No matter what she wore, Mina always looked gorgeous. Ace beckoned Mina back to his office. He slowly sat in his chair. Mina perched a hip on the edge of his desk. "What can I do for you, Ms. Aino?" Mina resisted the urge to smack the man. He had almost killed her with his stupid stunt, and now he wanted to act as though they were old friends. She felt a shiver race down her back at the predatory look in Ace's eyes. She controlled herself. She bent over the desk. The front of her blouse gapped a bit, showing a fair amount of cleavage. Ace's eyes were instantly drawn to the spot. Mina almost crowed in triumph. Men were so easy to manipulate. "I understand that you run a successful business here. I'm new to Japan and I have need of your services." Mina could see the drool practically running down Ace's chin. "Shall we discuss a contract with this agency?" The words sounded a bit choked. Mina nodded her head slowly. She could almost read the man's mind. He thought she was playing right into his hands. But Mina always had a trick up her sleeve, or at least down her blouse. She stood up and smoothed her skirt. Her face went from seductress to business in less than a second. "Of course. Let's get started." ____________________________________________________________________ Usagi Tsukino raised one slightly shaking hand and smoothed a strand of silvery hair into her French twist. Her hair had changed color overnight after she had given birth. Her cornflower blue eyes darted around the room, like a frightened rabbit looking for an escape. She shifted from one foot to the other and then tugged at the hem of her brown wool suit. She knew it was a bit short on her, and itched. She had found it at a thrift store cheap, it was the only one they had in her size. She tugged on the hem again, and almost swore at how short the skirt looked. Long legs weren't always an advantage. She slipped one foot in and out of the too big high heels, borrowed from her best friend Naru, and grimaced at the sweat collecting there. Usagi resisted scratching her legs. Her only pair of nylons had been snagged in the subway on the trip here. She hadn't been able to buy new ones. She had decided that bare legs looked better than the torn nylons. Her sweaty left hand clutched a perfectly typed resume in a manila folder. There were three empty chairs in the room, but Usagi was far too nervous to sit. She had been waiting for fifteen minutes now for her job interview. The door swung inward and a dour, unsmiling face looked into the room. "Ms. Tsukino?" The old woman leveled a disapproving glance at the beautiful, obviously nervous young woman. The secretary's eyes grew cold and she scowled. She didn't want someone like that stirring up her office. Her icy voice rang in the empty lobby. "Ms. Usagi Tsukino, I presume. You have an 11:00 appointment." Usagi nodded her head, the lump in her throat blocking any attempts at sound. The woman turned her back and began to walk away. Usagi hesitated for a moment, uncertain of what to do. The woman walked halfway down the hallway, then called in a loud voice, "Now, Ms. Tsukino." Usagi gulped loudly and raced down the hallway after the woman, praying she wouldn't trip in her borrowed heels. The woman walked around the small metal desk in the equally small room and sat with a flourish. "My name is Florence Henderson. I'm obviously not native to Japan, and I will be interviewing you today. Sit down." Usagi tripped a bit at the door of the room, then hurried inside and took a seat opposite the woman. "Your resume please." Ms. Henderson held out a gnarled hand. Usagi extended the plain manila folder. The old woman snatched it away and gave it a cursory glance. "Ms. Usagi Tsukino, Age 21, Graduated Juuban High School." The woman looked up for a moment. "Since you didn't attend college I'll assume you did poorly on your examinations." Usagi blushed bright red. The woman looked down at the paper again and continued. "Entered Secretarial School, Passed with a D average. No prior work record listed, no experience." Then she raised narrowed hazel eyes. "You really don't have the credentials to be working at a company as prestigious as Terran Eclipse Corporation." Usagi could feel the panic rising in her throat. It spilled out in a string of words. "Please, I just really need a job and your ad said you needed a number of secretaries…"Ms. Henderson cut off Usagi in mid-plea. "We need a large number of skilled, experienced secretaries, not a little girl who couldn't do any better in college examinations. I'm sorry young lady, you just aren't schooled enough to handle the job." The woman handed back the folder. "I hope you have better luck elsewhere, good day." Ms. Henderson turned her attention to a large stack of paperwork on the desk, ignoring Usagi completely. Usagi rose unsteadily to her feet and slowly left the room. The woman's dismissal of her hard work at the secretarial school made Usagi want to scream. She felt like the world had fallen in on her. An image of the stack of bills she had left laying on the kitchen table this morning flashed in her mind. The twisted halls of the Terran building stretched like a labyrinth. Usagi felt tears seep from her eyes. She closed them tightly and kept walking. "I will not cry. I will find a job. Everything will be fine." She repeated the mantra to herself as she blindly moved towards the lobby. ____________________________________________________________________ Mamoru Chiba had a headache. He moved into the lobby from the executive elevator with a smooth, steady step. At twenty-four he was the founder and CEO of Terran Eclipse Corporation. He had inherited the company at seventeen, and with the help of several friends the company had flourished under his hard work and leadership. His black hair was carefully combed, and his sapphire eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. He was carrying an Italian leather briefcase that matched his shoes, his designer suit was perfectly pressed, and he was having a phone conversation while instructing one of his assistants on how he would like the press conference set up. The man yapped incessantly, wiggling like an overexcited puppy, while Hisame whined on the phone about how he needed more money for his research. Mamoru sighed loudly. He stopped for a moment, turning to the assistant with a frown. His eyes bored into the assistant's, their chill evident even from behind the glasses. The man halted mid-sentence, his mouth hanging open, frozen by the cold stare. "You're useless." Mamoru's voice was chillier than his gaze. "As of now your position is terminated. Leave." The man's face went white, but he made no argument, simply bowed and headed for the elevator at a brisk trot. Mamoru ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. That particular assistant reminded him of his current paramour's pet, a terrier that was quick to bark and even quicker to run away. Mamoru returned to his phone conversation with Hisame. Hisame was a genius. Handsome, gifted, intelligent, witty, and very demanding. Mamoru knew that Hisame had returned every penny he spent in research, and more. Mamoru finally fired back an acceptable sum for the latest project, and slammed the phone shut violently. He had too much to do in a day, and now he had lost his head assistant again. Mamoru picked up his forgotten briefcase and turned back towards the door at a brisk pace. That's when he when he collided with Usagi Tsukino. The two went down in a flurry of papers, briefcase, arms and legs. "Why the hell weren't you looking where you were going?" Mamoru felt his blood rise to a boiling pitch. He didn't need his day interrupted, and he knew it would take hours to clean up the mess of papers on the floor. He sat up and yanked the glasses from his face. His bright eyes flashed with anger and frustration. He stood up in one smooth motion, glaring at the small body sprawled on the floor. The girl struggled to her knees, the hideous skirt she was wearing rode up to mid thigh, exposing a great deal of white flesh. Mamoru absently admired the view. He stared down at the head, which was covered in hair of a most unusual color. Silver, not a gray, but sparkling silver. Mamoru would have wondered what the girl's age was, but her childish voice and beautiful legs meant she was quite young. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you. I mean I didn't look where I was going." The girl began to stammer apologies while gathering papers in slightly shaking hands. The voice sounded strangely familiar, but Mamoru brushed off the feeling. He felt his temper raise another notch at her excuses. "You didn't see me?" Mamoru roared the sentence and reached for the girl. He grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet in one swift motion. Usagi's mouth opened in surprise and the stack of papers fluttered to the floor. Mamoru pulled her towards him. Usagi lifted one hand to her precarious hairstyle, but the sudden motion caused the efforts of Naru to unravel in a long curtain of silver. Mamoru continued the motion, jerking Usagi up against him. The silver mass swung around, surrounding the heart shaped face in a veil of mist. Mamoru felt a few silk-like strands brush against his skin. Sapphire eyes met blue ones that were dripping with tears. Mamoru felt the strangest sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen this girl before, held her like this before. Usagi felt like she had been hit by lightning. Her skin sizzled where it was pressed against Mamoru's broad chest. The two stood, staring at each other for a heartbeat. His piercing eyes caught Usagi and held her in a trance. His gaze dropped to her full lips. He felt desire surge through him, compounded by the anger that was already present. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, forcing his body back under control. The eyes, the eyes were the only things that were the same. It wasn't his Usako. The girl sagged against him a bit. Mamoru was the one to break away. He released his hold on her arm, grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "What in gods name were you doing?" Usagi tried to answer, but she was still in a daze from the feelings that had washed over her when she had been pressed against the stranger's body. All that came out were a few sniffles. Mamoru became more frustrated and shook her again, hard enough to make her head snap. "Who are you dammit?" Usagi's silent tears turned into loud choking sobs. Mamoru snorted in exasperation and dropped his arms away from the girl. "Stay right there." He turned and reached for the fallen papers. Usagi took the opportunity. She pivoted on her heel and ran for the revolving door before Mamoru or the small crowd that had gathered in the lobby could interfere. Mamoru swore as the girl disappeared from sight. He turned and began to pick up his spilled papers. Then he halted as the words on one page caught his eye. "Ms. Usagi Tsukino." Mamoru took a deep breath. "That's impossible." ____________________________________________________________________ Usagi ran several blocks before realizing that she had dropped her resume. She slowed her pace to a walk, the too big high heels making an uneven clipping noise on the concrete. It had taken her a great deal of time to craft the piece of paper, and she didn't have a copy. Usagi swore, her humiliation and depression molding itself into anger. She ran her fingers through the loose silver mass of her hair. "Who in the world does that man think he is? It was an accident, it's not like I ran into him on purpose." Usagi pushed the strange feelings she had experienced while wrapped in his arms out of her mind. "I was just too tired, and disappointed, and overemotional." And the eyes were just a coincidence. They had to be. Then she glanced at her watch and swore louder. Her train, the last one back home until three o'clock, was scheduled to leave in less than twenty minutes, and she'd have to catch the subway. Usagi stopped for a moment, wrenched the heels from her feet, and took off at a dead run. ____________________________________________________________________ The Three Lights were incognito. Seiya had gotten a notion that exploring the city would be fun, so Taiki and Yaten were dragged, protesting, along for the trip. The three walked through the city at a snail's pace, the bustling people moving around them like water rushes around a stubborn rock. The anonymity felt wonderful. No girls screaming and pressing against them, no flashes from cameras. They had been simply strolling around the city; their dark glasses an attempt at disguise. Taiki would stop every few blocks and give a lecture on the historical importance of a district, or expound on the latest news from the area. Yaten complained. There were too many people, the streets were noisy, the air was thick with exhaust, and his feet hurt. Taiki and Seiya didn't even register the comments; they had learned long ago to ignore anything that came from Yaten's mouth on whine frequency. They were in the financial district now. Seiya had tuned out Yaten and Taiki's droning, concentrating instead on the people. He was fascinated by what he saw. Old people, young people, all walking fast, as though they were automatons with a programmed destination. The movement made songs dance in his head. Seiya caught himself humming a new tune under his breath. Then a streak of silver rammed full speed into him, sending him sprawling on the ground with a grunt. Yaten was the first to react. He started yelling, at the top of his lungs, and they were powerful lungs. His voice echoed through the streets, even above the noise and bustle of Tokyo. Taiki was a little slower to react, but his motions were just as important. He walked over to Yaten and slapped his hand across the other's mouth, stifling the god-awful noise. Seiya waited a moment for air to return to his lungs, then took in a deep breath, removed his glasses, and opened his eyes. Usagi felt the tears threatening to start up again. She could hear the subway leaving the station from her position, and knew the next one wouldn't be along for five minutes. She would miss her connecting train. She propped herself up on her elbows above the soft body she had rammed into, intent on apologizing. Sapphire eyes met blue, for the second time that day. Usagi found herself thinking that the eyes were almost identical to the other ones she had looked into earlier that morning. Seiya was lost. The girl lying on top of him was breathtaking. She had very long silver hair that was draped over them like a blanket. Her eyes were red with recently shed tears, and Seiya felt protectiveness rise inside him. "Are you all right, Miss?" Seiya wrapped his arms around the girl and sat up slowly." Are you hurt?" Usagi felt a shiver at the amount of concern in the stranger's voice. He stood slowly, drawing her up with him, keeping their bodies pressed against each other. "I'm all right." Usagi pulled away a bit and wiped new tears from her eyes. "I just missed my train, that's all." Usagi tried to move farther away from the man, but he didn't let go. "Please, I'm all right, really." She tried again and the man's hands reluctantly released her. Seiya didn't want to let her go. The intensity of his feelings for the girl scared him, but he didn't care. She made him feel complete, whole. He couldn't understand it. Women had always fallen at his feet, but this one seemed different. He quickly looked her up and down, checking for injuries. "Is there anything we can do to help?" A muffled yelp and a loud snort came from behind Seiya, he shot a dirty look back at his two companions. "We can give you a ride home if you want." Usagi turned her gaze back towards Seiya's face. The hope shining in her eyes made him gasp. "Really, you would?" Usagi's face brightened and Seiya grinned widely. "Taiki." Taiki rolled his eyes, and nodded at Seiya's unspoken order. Taiki removed his hand from Yaten's mouth and pulled a phone from his jacket. He dialed a number, spoke a few words, and put the phone away. "They'll be here in five minutes." Seiya nodded and turned back to Usagi. "Let me introduce you to my friends. This is Yaten Kou, and this is Taiki Kou." Usagi bowed politely to the men. "I'm Seiya Kou." Usagi's face twisted into a strange expression. "Are you brothers?" She slapped her hand over her mouth at the rude question. Taiki sighed, Yaten cringed, and Seiya merely smiled. "No we're not." Usagi shrugged. "My name is Usagi Tsukino, and I want to thank you very much for your help." Someone bumped into Usagi, sending her careening back into Seiya's arms. He wrapped them around the girl again, glad for any excuse to hold her. "Perhaps we should move from the center of the sidewalk." Taiki shot a smirk at Seiya and dragged the unusually silent Yaten out of the sidewalk traffic. Usagi nodded and the four moved to the edge of the sidewalk nearest the building. An awkward silence ensued. Usagi fiddled with her heels, still grasped in her right hand. Not even Yaten would break the moment. Seiya kept one arm wrapped around Usagi, unwilling to relinquish touching her. Then a dark sedan pulled up, followed by a second vehicle. Seiya took Usagi's free hand and put her in the first car. "Just tell the driver where you want to go." Usagi placed a kiss on Seiya's cheek. "Thank you so much, I don't know how I'd ever repay you." Then Seiya pulled back, the door shut, and the car drove away. "I think you just have, little one, I think you just have." ____________________________________________________________________ "Exactly how much of the Silver Millennium do you remember, Mina?" Artemis was sitting on the balcony of their new apartment with a coke in one hand and the TV remote in the other. "Everything Artemis, everything." Mina was lounging on the couch, a script for a movie in her hand, and a copy of the new Sailor Moon manga across her lap. Her eyes turned a bit cloudy. Artemis whistled slowly through his teeth. The two sat in silence for several long moments. Mina absently flipped through the first chapter of the book. She absently wondered who had come up with the story. It was like a bright reflection of the truth. What might have happened had the princess been discovered at the age of fourteen. Mina closed her eyes for a moment. The princess would be almost twenty now. Finally Artemis broke the silence. "You remember the final battle?" Art's voice was soft, his tone worried. "Yes." Mina closed her eyes again for several long moments. "My memories…they're complete. I don't know if I can ever…" Mina's voice cracked. A single tear rolled down her cheek, smudging her foundation. Artemis moved forward, his arms wrapping around her gently. "It wasn't your fault, Mina. You did everything possible." Mina leaned her head against Artemis's shoulder, the tears that she had been holding back finally letting loose with a torrent of jumbled words. "We were best friends. Mercury…she was so smart. She could get us out of any jam. The look in her eyes when she died. The look in his eyes while he held her mangled body. He begged me to kill him Art. Jupiter…she'd kick anyone's ass. She was so mad at being helpless against the invasion. I didn't even see her die. Goddess…Mars…we, we were very close. We did everything together. But I couldn't keep him from killing her. They haunt me Art. I keep thinking, if I would have done one thing differently they'd all still be alive. If I had kept duty before my heart. Like the outer senshi. I was never close to them…I always thought that Uranus treated us like children. I think maybe she was right. We were children." Mina took several gulping breaths, trying to bring her tears under control. "It wasn't your fault. The enemy was too stealthy. They knew exactly what your defenses were, and had the strike timed perfectly. And they used your emotions against you." The new voice came from the balcony. Artemis and Mina both whipped around, facing the intruder. Mina's eyes opened wide. "The Starlights." The words came out in a breathless whisper. Artemis groaned loudly. "Hello Starfighter. Always had to make an entrance, didn't you?" Artemis stood and walked toward the dark haired senshi. "What in the world are you doing on earth?" Starfighter's face became pensive. "We're looking for someone." She shot Artemis a sideways glance. Artemis turned back to Mina. "Minako Aino, meet Sailor Starfighter. Although I believe you once knew each other." Mina stood up and offered a hand while trying not to stare at the black leather wrapping the tall woman. Fighter crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. Artemis sighed loudly. "Sailor Starfighter, meet Minako Aino, otherwise known as Sailor V." Fighter's mouth opened in surprise. Mina smiled smugly; glad to have caught the rude senshi off guard. Artemis opened the sliding door wider and stuck his head outside. "I know you two are out there. Why don't you come introduce yourselves?" Two more figures dropped onto the balcony and entered the apartment. "Mina, meet Sailor Starhealer, and Sailor Starmaker." Mina held out her hand, laughing at the look Maker shot Fighter. "You couldn't tell who she was?" Maker's voice was deep for a woman, and dripping with laughter. "She doesn't even know her own name after a drink." Healer flopped down on the couch for a moment, her long legs dangling over the end. Mina's eyes narrowed for a moment. Her gaze swept from the gray haired woman lounging on the couch to the very tall brown haired one leaning against the wall and finally landed on the black haired woman with her arms insolently crossed over her chest. There was something very familiar about the three. She had known them as Sailor Senshi a lifetime ago, but she was sure they looked like someone. Then her eyes lit up. "Seiya!" Starfighter's mouth dropped open. Mina gave the tall woman a hug. "Akira will be so glad to see you again." Mina glanced at Starfighter's outfit. "You do realize this will take some getting use to. Black leather S&M outfit and you're female. I suppose I shouldn't think about it too hard." Starmaker smiled at Seiya's dumbfounded expression. "I told you she'd guess." Healer stood up slowly held out her hand. "The money?" Fighter growled and yanked out a twenty. Mina walked up to the extremely tall senshi. "And you're Taiki. You're even taller in heels." Starmaker blushed. Mina turned and stopped in front of the last senshi. Healer's face fell a bit. "I wanted to tell you Mina, there was a reason we …" Mina put a finger over Healer's lips. "It's all right, Yaten. I understand." Mina stepped back for a moment. "Well, so, where is your princess? I seem to remember she had fabulous red hair and never wanted to get into trouble. And what in the world happened to you after the Silver Millennium?" Fighter flushed for a moment. "You know that evil swept through the whole galaxy, not just this system. We managed to escape death, but our princess disappeared and our powers were so drained that we couldn't teleport. So we found an old rusted spacecraft and flew here." Mina's face turned red, then purple…and finally she burst out laughing. She collapsed onto the couch. Finally she could speak again. "I'm so sorry, but that is the funniest story. I'm surprised you didn't kill each other, stuck in a spaceship together for a trip across the galaxy." Maker shot a glare at the still laughing Mina. "There were times I thought I wouldn't survive." Mina's laughter finally died down. "So you've lost your princess, and you don't know where she is?" The three nodded. "We know she's somewhere on earth, but we have no idea where." Fighter sat down on the couch beside Mina. "Well, you're one up on me. I seem to have lost my princess, and all my fellow senshi too." Fighter sent Artemis a strange glance. Then she signaled the other two senshi. "Well, we have a performance tonight. We'll see you later Mina. And hopefully we'll work together too." The three jumped off the balcony, leaping from rooftop to rooftop off into the distance. Mina sat down again, picking up the forgotten manga. ____________________________________________________________________ "Usagi Tsukino, you get your butt over here right now." Mina flinched at the sound. Someone's little kid was getting into trouble. Mina smiled a bit and pushed Akira a little higher. The swing creaked and Akira squealed. The playground was fairly deserted today. "But Momma, Endymion pulled my hair." Mina chuckled again at the little girl's tone. So sassy and absolutely sure that retribution was her right. It took a short moment for the name to register. Then Mina's head snapped upwards. Endymion. The boy was named Endymion. Mina turned around, her eyes scanning the playground frantically. They stopped on a figure by the slide. A young woman holding a little girl who couldn't be more than five. The child was adorable, with fairly long, slightly curly hair that was an unusual color of strawberry blonde. In fact the little girl's hair looked pink. Standing beside the two females was a little boy with raven black hair and a scowl on his face. The woman had silver-white hair that curled slightly and almost reached the backs of her knees. She was fairly short, and her laughter danced in the wind. Mina recognized the laughter. She took a deep breath. "Akira, can you go get Artemis for me?" ____________________________________________________________________ Usagi listened half-heartedly to Naru talk about the new distribution system for the Osa-P jewelry stores. She was a little more concerned with the bills at home and her current lack of a job. She watched the twins on the swings, having a competition to see who could go higher. Endymion had been born first, surprising Usagi. She hadn't expected a boy at all. Chibi-Usa had been even more of a surprise. Usagi really hadn't been expecting twins. She was a little glad she hadn't known before hand, however. It had been hard to reconcile the idea of one child at fifteen. Two might have overwhelmed her. "Excuse me, I'd like to introduce myself." Usagi spun around at the sound of the voice. A beautiful woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes was holding out her hand. "My name's Minako Aino, and that's my son, Akira." The woman pointed to a little boy with white hair who was talking to the twins. She smiled widely. Usagi remained frozen for several moments. Naru took the offered hand. "I'm Naru Gurio, and this is my best friend, Usagi Tsukino. Her son Endymion is on the swings, but we call him Endy. The little girl is named Usagi, but we call her Chibi-Usa to keep things straight. They're twins." Mina shook Naru's hand, and then reached for Usagi's. "Rabbit of the Moon. Unusual name, Ms. Tsukino." Usagi smiled. Mina was obviously friendly, and there was something else there. It was like love radiated from the woman. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Aino." "Twins. I don't know how you do it. I have enough trouble handling just one little boy." Usagi laughed at Mina's expression. "Usually they're both very good children. But sometimes they do get into mischief." Usagi found herself drawn to Mina. The woman's openness and laughter were quite contagious. "Why don't we go swing with them?" Mina grabbed Usagi's hand and started pulling her over toward the swings. Naru watched the two of them go. She hid the bittersweet smile on her face with one hand. Usagi needed more friends. And these two looked like they'd have a lot in common. Maybe Mina could be the friend Usagi really needed. Naru slowly turned to go. She had work to do and too much time with Usagi would lead to questions that Naru refused to answer. The other two hardly noticed Naru leave the playground. The afternoon passed quickly. The boys got along extremely well, running around the playground with the exuberance of young males. Chibi-Usa snuggled up between the two women, listening to them talk. "I don't mean to be rude, but would you like to go out for dinner? Our boys seem to be getting along very well, and I just moved to the city." Mina crossed her fingers. She really needed to spend some more time with this Usagi. Usagi looked at Endy on the swings. Kenji was taking Ikuko to the specialist again; Shingo would be at a friend's house. A small hand pulled on her arm. "Can we go Momma? Please?" Usagi smiled down at her mirror image. She couldn't say no to Chibi-Usa. "Of course, I'd love to go?" Mina's smile grew bigger. "All right then, let's go." ____________________________________________________________________ The house was disturbingly quiet when Usagi entered, Chibi-Usa cradled in her arms. Endy trailed behind. He rubbed his eyes. Usagi carried Chibi-Usa upstairs and tucked the two into bed, checking to make sure Shingo was asleep. Then she entered the room where her mom slept. Ikuko Tsukino looked peaceful. The quiet hum of the chemotherapy pump made Usagi wince a bit. She checked to make sure the machine was working properly. She pressed a kiss to her mother's forehead and then covered the woman with a blanket. Usagi walked into the living room slowly. Her feet hurt, her head hurt, and the light was blinking rapidly on the answering machine. Dinner had been wonderful. Mina had picked the perfect restaurant, and pulled Usagi's life story out before the food came. Usagi had been a little uneasy at first, but Mina had a way of making people feel comfortable. Usagi smiled. She felt like she'd always known Mina. The boys…they had acted as though they were the twins, even making dates to play together again. Usagi had been a bit embarrassed when the bill came, but Mina hadn't even let Usagi see how much dinner had cost. Usagi had never met anyone like Mina in her life. Totally confident, beautiful, intelligent, and Mina just accepted everything. She hadn't even flinched when Usagi had talked about the twin's father. In fact, Mina had spilled her own tale of being in love with an older man. Usagi winced at the pile of bills still lying on the table. The lights in the house were all out but the side lamp. Usa looked at the clock, groaned, and returned her gaze to the bills. Life was not exactly what she had imagined at fourteen. Kenji just didn't make much as a photographer, and the insurance didn't cover all the bills for her mother's treatments. Usagi felt her world crumbling into a million pieces. She set the bills down and picked up the newspaper. Her eyes scanned the list of crossed off ads. She heard rain began to beat against the windows, and an ominous echo made her skin crawl. A storm was definitely coming. ____________________________________________________________________ Kaji watched his employer pace the floor again. He had never seen Mamoru this upset about anything since the night he met some girl at a party five years ago. Mamoru was usually calm, serious, a rock in the middle of troubles. Now he was pacing the floor, snapping at his assistants, and scowling. Something this morning had shaken him up badly. Kaji looked down the table. Hisame was absorbed in conversation with Umino over the latest application of magic to technology, Arashi was on the phone negotiating a merger, and Ikusa was going over a speech draft for an address to the assembly with his head writer. Mamoru paced by his chair at the head of the table. Then he turned and looked Kaji straight in the eye. Kaji sighed and reached for the phone at his side. Ace Saijou was late again. Mamoru was very upset; this was the third meeting in a row. Kaji listened to the phone ringing and glanced at Mamoru's still pacing form, he knew this would be a long set of meetings. ____________________________________________________________________ "Serena! Serena, get your butt over here. Your mother is going to kill me if we're late for the ball." Serena turned and laughed at her friends face. "I'm late for everything, Ariadne. What makes you think tonight would be any different?" Ariadne, Princess of Venus burst into the bedroom and threw her hands in the air. "You're still not ready?" She sighed loudly and grabbed the brush from Serena's hand. "Tonight is very, very important. The moon kingdom is started negotiations with the planet earth and the forbidden realms. The restrictions on contact between planets have been lifted. Your mother is confident she can pull off this alliance." Ariadne talked between brushing and putting hairpins in Serena's buns. "You have to be there. Now come on!" She shoved the last pin in place with a little more force than necessary. Serena winced. Ariadne grabbed the princess's hand and pulled her forcefully down the hall. "But I don't want to meet anyone from earth. I'll hate them, I just know it!" Ariadne sighed and moved behind the reluctant Serena, pushing the girl down the hall towards the ball. "You don't know how to hate anyone. Come on, the others are waiting for us." Usagi woke up from the vivid dream with a quick jerk. Sweat coated her brow and made her old t- shirt stick to her skin. "Who the hell is Ariadne, and why was she calling me Serena?" Usagi looked out her window at the waning moon hanging in the sky. She could still see the white marble halls, hear the music drifting from somewhere below the room where she had been sitting. The dreams had returned. Usagi put a hand to her forehead. "Chosen Soldier of Destiny, the dreams are not fantasy, but records of your past." Usagi scrambled out of bed at the voice. "Who said that?" A white cat jumped down from the windowsill and moved across the bed. "I did." Usagi simply stared, her mouth hanging wide open. The cat sighed loudly, his tail twitching. "Why is it you girls always do that when you meet me?" The cat turned in a circle once, and then executed a perfect back flip. Usagi screamed. The cat dropped the beautiful brooch in his mouth and shook his head. "You're as bad as V." Usagi scooted forward on the bed, careful not to get too close to the strange cat, and looked at the brooch. It was star shaped. It had a heart shaped moonstone in the center, with four other stones in a circular pattern around the outside. "Topaz, emerald, sapphire, ruby, moonstone." Usagi traced a finger over the stones. "I have to be dreaming still." She stared at the brooch for several moments, and then jumped up and ran to her bookshelf. She pulled a manga down and flipped through the pages. "Cat…I hope your name isn't Luna." The cat flinched at the name. "No, call me Gekko." Usagi gave him a strange look. "Moonlight? Like that's any better." She glanced down at the book, then at the brooch. "This isn't what I think it is, is it?" The cat sighed loudly. "We need your help, Usagi Tsukino. You are Sailor Moon." Usagi fainted dead away. "Why do they always do that?" ____________________________________________________________________ Ace breezed into the room after the fourth call. Mamoru glared at him, but the man didn't seem to notice. He simply sat in his seat, his folder ready in front of him. "All right, now that everyone is here, we can finally start the meeting. Does anyone want to go first?" Arashi slid a folder down the table toward Mamoru, then leaned back in his chair and pressed the tips of his fingers together. "I have a suggestion. Ever heard of Tenoh Enterprises?" Mamoru nodded his head slowly. "The old man has put forth a proposal in the assembly. Ikusa agreed to back him on it. In return, he has agreed to let us buy his corporation." Mamoru's eyebrows drew together. "He was always a crafty codger. He would want more than that in exchange for his company." Arashi's smile broadened. "He did ask for one more favor." Arashi flipped to the last page of the packet, showing the face of a blonde young man. "He wants his 'son', Haruka Tenoh, made a member of this board." Mamoru's face darkened a bit. "That was a rather large request for some worthless boy." Arashi glanced at Mamoru and started laughing. "Ah, but you have to have researched Haruka a bit more." Hisame smiled and pulled a packet from his briefcase. It was a manila envelope. He slid it to Mamoru. Mamoru opened the packet and started laughing. Hisame and Arashi joined him. "What's so funny?" Ikusa looked at the two men. Mamoru smirked and passed a picture to him. Ikusa gasped and joined the laughter. The pictures were quickly passed around the table. Mamoru finally gained control of himself. "So Mr. Tenoh wants a seat on the board for his girl-loving daughter." Mamoru slid the pictures slowly into envelope, chuckling a bit. "I think we can arrange that." Mamoru gave Hisame a questioning look. "And we may be able to do something for the girl." Hisame smiled a bit. "The technology is being worked on right now. If she has latent magical powers, the transformation would be even easier." Arashi leaned back in his chair with a wide smile. "The resources of Tenoh Enterprises won't hurt either. They've been holding out against our advances for quite some time." Mamoru stood and stretched. "Do you have a mission for tonight Kaji?" Kaji looked down the table at the woman seated at the end. She stood and addressed the table. "You've all done well at your training so far, both one on one and in group situations. It's time for you to introduce your personas to the world." She looked each of the men in the eye. "Remember, you are chosen to protect the earth, to control the earth. You must be ready to accept whatever sacrifices are necessary." The woman nodded again and quietly left the room. Kaji stood. "All right, the time has come. We have several assassinations tonight, and most every night, until the people who stand in our way have been converted to our cause or eliminated." His gray eyes were like steel. "Umino will stay here and run the information center." Umino stood and bowed, then headed for the back wall of the boardroom. "I'll brief you once you're there." The others followed. Umino pushed on a piece of the wall, and a pair of doors appeared. They slid opened, showing a room filled with electronics. "Welcome to my world, this is what I've been doing for the past five years." Umino walked into the room. "Eclipse systems activate." The room lit up, computers humming to life. Hisame's eyes were wide. He ran a hand gently over a piece of curved metal. "I see my inventions have been put to use." Mamoru inspected the room, and then nodded his head. "Excellent work, now, let's get these assignments set." The silver doors slid closed, and the boardroom was empty, except for the small black cat that had entered quietly and was now grooming herself on Mamoru's chair. ____________________________________________________________________ Something was swiping at Usagi's toes. She sat up with a muffled screech to find the white cat still sitting on the foot of her bed. Usagi opened her mouth to scream again, but stopped when the cat bounded up the bed and slapped her across the face with one furry paw. Usagi stopped in shock. She didn't know a cat could even do that. The animal hissed loudly. "I could have done that with my claws out. We don't have time for hysterics. Come, you're needed tonight." The cat picked up the brooch and dropped it into Usagi's lap. "Hold that in the air and say 'Moon Prism Power, Make-Up'" Usagi just stared at the cat stupidly. "This has to be another one of my dreams. You're just dreaming Usagi, go back to sleep." Usa curled back up under the covers. The cat sighed loudly. Then he moved to the end of the bed again and raked his claws up Usagi's leg. "Wake up NOW! My name is Gekko, you are Sailor Moon, and you are needed immediately!" Usagi popped up again with a screech. She slapped a hand over the new wound. "I'm bleeding!" "Come on, we don't have all night, the princess will get hurt if you don't cooperate here!" "What princess?" "Your princess, of course. The one you're supposed to protect? Didn't you read the manga? It's very accurate, to a point. You could say it's a story of what might have happened. Yell the words please." Usagi gave the cat a dirty look and picked up the brooch. She held it up in the moonlight and felt a strange power coming from the object. She thought the words in her head, and there was a flash of light. "You and V, have to do it without the words." Usagi stared at the outfit she was wearing. "Why in the world is the skirt so short? And why is my hair like this? I haven't had it in odangoes for five years now." She turned around slowly, admiring the clothing in her mirror. The cat sighed loudly. "Let's just go." Usagi felt a strange sense of purpose coursing through her veins. She had always wanted to be something more than just Usagi Tsukino. But a character from a manga? Gekko leaped out the window. Usagi took a deep breath and catapulted after him. She landed on the slightly damp grass. She felt a surge of surprise at her physical capabilities. She really was Sailor Moon. The cat scurried off into the night, followed by Sailor Moon in her sailor fuku and a pink cape. Sailor Moon followed the white shape through the streets of Tokyo. She was amazed at how well she was able to see in the dark, and at the amount of power her body contained. "I need this form during the day too, I think. It would come in handy when chasing the twins." Sailor Moon thought to herself. Finally the cat stopped outside a house. He ducked into a set of low bushes. Sailor Moon followed, swearing softly at the new scratches inflicted. The cat gave her a dirty look. "This is the home of one of the prominent members of the Japanese National Assembly. I think they'll hit here tonight. This is one of the members they haven't been able to bribe or corrupt." A form dropped down beside Gekko, almost making Sailor Moon scream. The figure's hand shot out, slapping over her mouth quickly. "Shhh, Sailor Moon. I'm your Princess, Sailor V. I need your help, I can't do this alone. I think there are three of them, already inside. I know you can do it, Sailor Moon, don't let them hurt that man." Sailor Moon looked at the structure ahead of her, looming out of the darkness. "So do we have a plan?" Sailor V fiddled with the edge of her glasses. "We get inside the building and stop the bad guys." Sailor Moon sighed. Then she took a deep breath and crept through the darkness, muttering about lack of preparation. "Next time I want numbers, a layout of the place, and backup." Sailor Moon hissed back at her new partner. "I'm not Mercury." Sailor Moon didn't hear the comment. She managed to enter the house through the open window on the main floor. She followed the sound of muffled voices and a light to a center room of the house. She peeked around the corner. There were two men there, one in a black tuxedo and cape, the other in a golden tuxedo and cape. One had short black hair; one had white hair to mid-back. The two were talking to an old man tied to the chair. "I'll go around behind and untie the prisoner, Moon, you take care of these two." Sailor Moon watched the mysterious girl duck around the corner and disappear from sight. Moon knew she had the advantage of surprise. "I wish I knew what I was supposed to fight with." She thought in exasperation. The tiara on her head began to grow warm. She reached up to touch it and it transferred to her hand. Usagi smirked at the now circular disc. "Just like Xena's thingy. Now if only I had a sword and training too." ____________________________________________________________________ Tuxedo Kamen was extremely frustrated; the prisoner wasn't cooperating, refusing to bow to any blackmail, threats, or bribes. Kamen hissed through his teeth, and motion to Tuxedo Star. "Finish him off, I'm tired of games." Star nodded and drew his sword from his cane. The old man's eyes grew wide. A shining golden disc came flying towards them. Kamen let out a sharp gasp and dropped to the ground. Star raised his sword and deflected the object. Then a blur of white, red, and blue hit Star from behind. He didn't have a chance to react as the flying kick hit him in the back hard enough to send him flying. Kamen watched in astonishment another girl stepped forward and expertly caught the spinning disc. In the same movement she released it directly towards him. Star swore and dived towards Kamen. Sailor V wasted no time in rolling behind the old man. She quickly untied him. "Are you all right?" The man's eyes were a bit glassy. Then they cleared. "What the hell do you think you're doing in my house?" The man stood and pushed Sailor V away from him. Sailor V felt strong arms wrap around her from behind, pinning her effortlessly. Sailor Moon was having problems of her own. The man in black on the floor had been pushed out of the way, and now she was trying to fight off two men at once, with little luck. "Next time it might be wise to appear before we've accomplished the goal." Sailor V froze at the sound of the man's voice. It seemed, so familiar. She was turned in his arms, and he held her pressed against him for a moment. "Do not interfere, next time I won't be so nice about it." She heard Sailor Moon screaming, and then saw a bloody head roll across the floor. Sailor V felt the anger rise in her again. She twisted her body a bit, and then smacked her arm into her captor's gut, making him release her. She dropped to the floor and rolled into the legs of the man who now held Sailor Moon. Then she stood up quickly, grabbing the arm of Moon, and taking off into the night. The two girls raced across the yard, and into back alleys, the sounds of their pursers hot in their ears. "We need to split up. Detransform and head for home, I'll draw their trail." Sailor V tapped the tiara on Moon's forehead, and Sailor Moon was suddenly Tsukino Usagi again. "Take care." V took off into the night, leaving a stunned and lost Usagi alone. "Some super hero I am." "Actually, you did better than I thought you would. You haven't had any training at all, Sailor V has been doing this for five years now." A white shape moved out of the shadows. "I hope you're going to help me home, cat." "Call me Gekko, and yes, we can go home now. The first part of their plan has succeeded, but you and Sailor V both managed to injure them. That will set their plans back a bit. Enough time to train you and maybe find some help." Usagi just yawned. ____________________________________________________________________ It was three in the morning by the time Usagi and Gekko stepped in the door. The answering machine was still blinking. "A message? Why in the world didn't dad get it?" Usa pushed the button and went to the fridge. She scowled at the lack of contents, but money was too tight for food this week. "Ms. Tsukino. This is Ms. Henderson from Terran Eclipse. We have reconsidered your application and would like you to start tomorrow. Please report to the reception desk at eight a.m." Usagi dropped the glass she was holding. It shattered on the floor. "I got the job Gekko." Usagi twirled around in circle in the center of the shattered glass. "I got a job Gekko!" ____________________________________________________________________ Usagi woke to a screeching alarm clock and a cat tongue licking her nose. "EWWWWW. Cat, don't you ever do that again!" The cat sat back and huffed lightly. "That's the thanks I get for everything I've done for you? And my name is Gekko, G, E, K, K, O, as in moonlight," the cat went to the end of the bed and started cleaning himself. Usagi rolled over and glared at the brooch laying on her nightstand. "Oh god, I was hoping it was a dream." Usagi snuggled under the covers, and tried to go back to sleep. "It's a quarter to seven. Is your new employer going to be happy if you're late?" Usagi sat up with a shriek and glared at the clock. "Oh my god, I'm going to be so late!" ____________________________________________________________________ Usagi was still fighting her hair into a single thick braid when she walked into the door of the Terran Eclipse Corporation. She was wearing the ugly brown suit again, and she knew she should have taken a shower. But she had to call Mina to see if she could watch the twins, and then there was the frantic race to the train. She was sweaty and out of breath from running to catch her subway ride, and then running the six blocks to the building. The woman at the reception desk gave Usagi a curious look. "Can I help you miss?" "My name is Usagi Tsukino and I got a call from Ms. Henderson yesterday." The receptionist's eyes grew wide. The lobby grew quiet. "I'll call someone right down, one moment please." The receptionist picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Ms. Tsukino is here." The sound of the phone being hung up seemed abnormally loud in the sudden silence of the lobby. The woman looked at Usagi like she was some sort of freak. Usagi tugged at her wrinkled suit and frantically tried to smooth escaping tendrils of her hair back into their braid. She felt foolish and out of place compared to the elegant woman seated at the desk. "She'll be right down miss, if you'd like to take a seat." Usagi nodded and gingerly sat in one of the plush chairs grouped around the reception desk. She picked at the little nubs on her woolen skirt and tried to ignore the strange looks the receptionist was giving her. The early morning sun lit up the three-story lobby, making the day seem cheerful. Usa glanced at the groups of people who walked through. They were all well groomed and seemed to be confident in their work. Usa glanced down at her ratty suit and felt shame weighing down on her. The elevators at the far end of the hall slid open and an elegant woman stepped out. Setsuna Meioh had been a personal secretary to Mamoru Chiba for three years now, after a failed attempt at business. She had remained with him for that long because she had stopped trying to catch him. In fact, after her last experience with men, she would be more apt to chase after the beautiful women who Chiba used and discarded like bed sheets. Ms. Meioh found Mr. Chiba's recent behavior very odd, however. He had canceled a news conference yesterday and stormed into her office, demanding she call some barely qualified woman in the next day for a job interview with him. She had obeyed instantly, and didn't question the request. Mr. Chiba demanded absolute loyalty and obedience in all his employees. Setsuna thought back to a time when she had been a friend instead of just an employee, but Mamoru was a different person now "Ms. Tsukino?" The girl next to the reception desk rose and fiddled with her suit jacket. Setsuna took in a sharp breath. "No wonder he wants her," she thought to herself. The young woman was beautiful. Knee length silver hair, cornflower blue eyes, and legs most men would die for. She seemed to radiate this, innocence. As though nothing could taint her. The girl looked straight into her eyes. The depth of emotion they displayed made Setsuna gasp for air. "If you would follow me, Ms. Tsukino." She turned her back quietly and started toward the elevator. Usagi followed, admiring the woman's black hair twisted into an elegant bun, and her rich brown eyes. She was wearing a stylish pants suit and walked with a confident stride. Usagi felt smaller than ever. "What in the world am I doing here?" Usagi thought. She felt like an ant beside a battalion of butterflies. The woman held her hand up to a palm-sized device by the central elevator. A voice chirped a hello, and the doors opened. Usagi's stomach dropped as the car rose swiftly. The elevator ride was fairly quick, but felt like an eternity to Usagi. Finally the silver doors slid open. Usagi's jaw dropped, her mouth hung open in astonishment. There was a large central room here, with leather furniture and low tables. Opening off of the room were several sets of double doors. One of the doors was open. Usagi glanced inside and saw multiple rooms, and more than four secretaries and assistants frantically working, while an inner set of double doors remained tightly closed. "This way, Ms. Tsukino." Usagi followed the woman to a very large set of double doors directly opposite the lobby windows. Ms. Meioh pushed the doors open and swept past the people bustling inside. She stopped in front of the second set of doors, turned, and spoke to Usagi. "Mr. Chiba will see you now." Usagi felt her stomach jump into her throat. "Mr. Chiba? As in the owner of Terran Eclipse Corporation?" Her voice came out as a breathless whisper. Ms. Meioh nodded, gave the scared girl a look of pity, and opened the doors. Usagi simply stood in shock for a moment. The inner office was gorgeous, in a dark sort of way. Done in black and gold, it was elegant and modern. A dark head could be seen over the back of the chair. Usagi took a deep breath and walked slowly into the room. The doors shut behind her with a soft thud, but to Usagi it sounded like a cell door clanging shut. Mamoru Chiba was exhausted. The energy he had expended yesterday healing Ace's broken arm and his own slashed arm hadn't been refilled in a single night's sleep. Those two little girls had disrupted his plans, and now there were two witnesses to the murder of Japan's Prime Minister. Mamoru sighed. Things just never seemed to go right for him. Usagi shifted her weight slightly. Her feet hurt from standing in the shoes that didn't fit right. Then the man in the chair spun around. Usagi's eyes grew wide. "You!" Mamoru stood and walked toward the girl. Her eyes were still opened wide, as was her mouth. Mamoru suppressed a chuckle. She looked like a child in her ill-fitting suit and with her hair braided in a single plait down her back. He moved closer. Usagi took an involuntary step backward. "I didn't mean to run into you yesterday. I mean, it was an accident and I'm sorry for any inconvenience…" Mamoru couldn't help himself, he started laughing. Usagi's fearful gaze turned to one of annoyance. She planted her hands on her hips and tilted her chin up. "Why do you think this is so funny, jerk?" Mamoru's laughter died out and his face turned dark. He leaned closer to Usagi. She could feel his hot breath brush against her ear. "Do not address me that way." Usagi swallowed loudly at the menace in his tone. "I'm sorry." She whispered the words, her head dropped demurely. Mamoru stepped back and walked around Usagi. She felt like she was being appraised for purchase. "You seem to be in need of employment. I recently fired my head personal assistant, and all his underlings. I still have Ms. Meioh and my secretaries, but I think you'll do nicely." Usagi's eyes became even wider, something Mamoru had thought was impossible. He glanced down at her ugly suit "He's going to make me his head personal assistant? Why? What is going on here?" Her thoughts swirled in her brain, making her a bit lightheaded. She hadn't eaten since dinner with Mina yesterday, and her hasty morning had made her skip breakfast. Her stomach growled loudly. Usagi blushed at sound. Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "Are you willing to accept the job Ms. Tsukino?" Usagi took a deep breath. She really had no choice. "I accept, Mr. Chiba." Mamoru let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and nodded abruptly. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you your office." Mamoru moved swiftly towards the door. Usagi attempted to follow, but her shoe caught on the edge of the rug and she started to fall. Mamoru reached forward and caught her. Usagi wrapped her arms around him, clinging tightly. She looked up into his eyes. The air stood still again. "Are you all right, Ms. Tsukino?" His voice was low and made Usagi shiver a bit. She blushed and let go of Mamoru quickly. "I'm, I'm fine now." Usagi took two steps backward. Her heart was pounded, and her mouth was dry. She flicked her tongue over her bottom lip. Mamoru's gaze dropped to the movement, and his eyes darkened. He turned abruptly. "This way, Ms. Tsukino." ____________________________________________________________________ AN: This is my second fan fiction and so far I think it's pretty good, but any feed back makes me write more. Notes: 1. Setsuna is also an orphan, like Mamoru, and grew up in the same orphanage. 2. I've put in several jokes. E-mail me if you get them, hehehe. I don't own Sailor Moon, enough said. 2. Was Chibi-Usa a surprise? hehehe