Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Chasing the Moon ❯ Chapter Ten ( Chapter 10 )

Chasing the Moon

Chapter 10“Talking”Thoughts“Mind - to - mind”---------It was already well into the next day when Haruka awoke, stretching as she remembered the night's events. It had been hours since the battle had ended and the trio of unknown Senshi finished their playful quarrel and sped across the rooftops back to their home. The gold and silver Senshi had followed their taller, navy-clad companion through the aerial maze until they reached an expensive high-rise apartment complex. They paused on top of the building across from it, glancing around in the darkening gloom for any watching eyes, before leaping to a balcony on the top floor and entering quietly. A glance at the kitchen clock had confirmed the late hour and the young women dropped their transformations as they sprawled out in the living room. Eos looked up from her napping place on the couch and ran a critical eye over the three. Satisfied that they were unharmed, she stretched and began shooing them off to bed."I've already pulled out your pajamas," she had told Usagi and Lana, "so just change and go to bed. You can unpack and settle in tomorrow."The two gave feeble protests through frequent yawns, but caved-in when Haruka began to help the feline herd them to bed. The two were sharing a room for the night since the second guestroom was filled with luggage. After they settled into sleep, Eos curled up at the foot of their bed and, with a mumbled goodnight to Haruka, she also fell asleep. Haruka sat at the edge of the bed and watched them sleep, uncaring of how much time had passed, just glad that they were all together again. With a soft smile, Haruka got out of bed, standing in a full body stretch before moving out to the hallway. After a brief check on the still-sleeping trio in the guest bedroom, she entered the kitchen and set a kettle of water to heat for tea before grabbing the supplies for coffee. She grabbed the flavored bag of ground beans from the freezer and a filter from the cabinet next to coffee machine, which she placed into the top of the machine. Pulling out the glass pot from the machine, she filled it with water to the "8" line, then poured the water into the back section of the machine. Haruka measured out the appropriate amount of coffee which she dumped into filter, closed all the lids, put the pot on the heating pad, and flipped the "on" switch. Reaching into the cabinet above, she pulled out a small box filled with various tea bags which she set down on the counter.Satisfied that the morning wake-up calls were heating, Haruka wandered into the living room where she put on soft instrument music before sprawling out on the floor like a starfish.With the familiar sounds of Kaioh Michiru's playing drifting through the room, Haruka reviewed the unexpectedly busier-than-planned day that she'd had yesterday.(flashback to prior day)Haruka drove down the busy street, weaving in and out of traffic and cursing the slower drivers as she glanced at the clock again."C'mon, c'mon! I'm already late! Kuso*! Please, Kami-sama, let their flight be delayed. Even a little bit will help," Haruka honked her horn impatiently. "Move it!" she screamed. Another glance at the dashboard clock, another curse, and she revved the engine. She bolted over the median, sped past the line of cars on her left and swerved into an open space just as a car came speeding down towards her with horns blaring.Haruka stuck a single-fingered salute out the window.A few more harrowing car stunts and Haruka made it safely to the airport. And without a single flashing light behind her the entire trip either. She smirked and thought, Damn, I'm good.Haruka reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a baseball cap - which she placed on her head backwards - and a pair of amber-tinted sunglasses. She opened her door, grabbed her red leather jacket, closed the door, locked her car, and sauntered into the bustling airport. As she smoothly weaved in between groups of people, she smirked at all the giggles and whispers she could hear around her."Oh my god, look! He's so handsome!""He's so tall! Isn't that such a turn-on?""He looks so good in that jacket. Leather, yum!""Do you think he's a dyed-blonde?" "No way! Does that look like a bottle-blonde to you? Au naturale, my friend!"That comment actually made Haruka pause, turn and catch the girls' eyes, wink, and smirk at the reflexive blushing. As soon as she turned away to start walking again, she could hear them burst out into giggles and "Oh my god!"s and "Did you see that?"s. It made her chuckle.Finally arriving at the right terminal, and exceedingly relieved to see that it's passengers were just disembarking, Haruka took up residence against the more secluded side of a pillar and waited for her company to appear. She didn't have to wait long. Shortly after she got comfortable, two blondes - one a silvery-blond and the other with red-and-pink streaked blonde hair - came out and started looking around. The color-infused blonde pointed a hand in Haruka's direction, her shorter companion bouncing up and down trying to see through the crowd of people. Haruka smiled a little at the obvious disagreement the two were having before they both looked sheepishly down at the animal carrier the light blonde was holding. Suddenly - “KAZE-CHAN!!!” the lighter blonde yelled out. Everyone stopped and stared at the pair. The girl's companion blushed a bright red that matched the streaks in her hair, while her obviously excited companion remained unaffected by the mass attention.Haruka smiled and walked over to the pair.“Hiya, Usagi-chan! Lana-chan! Welcome to Japan!” Haruka leaned down and gently grabbed the animal cage from Usagi. “And hello to you too, Eos,” Haruka said to the frazzled-looking feline inside.“Hello, Haruka. Nice to see you again. Would you mind getting us out of here now? The girls need to rest and adjust to the time difference before school starts next week,” Eos whispered, looking calmer now that Usagi was no longer in possession of her cage. Haruka nodded and straightened up.“Come on, you two. I have news about Tokyo you'll all want to hear.”"Oh?" Lana and Usagi chorused.Haruka nodded and then extended her arms out to the two. Lana took the cage from Haruka and held it in front of her with both arms after looping an arm through Haruka's. Usagi took the other side and Haruka escorted them to the baggage claim."What kind of news, Haru-chan?" Lana asked after moments of silence."The kind not meant for public ears," Haruka replied.Usagi and Lana both stiffened slightly and became serious."We'd best get our things and go home then, ne?" Usagi asked rhetorically. "We have news of our own, as well.""So, should I ask why Ozzy is in a cage?" Haruka broke into the serious silence. Eos growled from her confined space."Cheaper," was the reply. Ozzy growled louder as the girls burst into giggles during their retelling of how they got their feline companion into the carrier.After collecting all of the necessary luggage and piling it onto a cart, the threesome headed out to where Haruka parked the car. They loaded her trunk, dropped off the cart at a collection rack, and piled into the car. Lana opened the cage door and let Eos jump out to freedom before she vanished the cage into her sub-space pocket.Haruka, watching her through the rear-view mirror, threw out a question."Why couldn't you have done that for all your luggage?"Eos, jumping to the front of the car and settling into the empty passenger seat, gave a long-winded reply about dimensions and cross-energies and matter variations. Rolling her eyes, Haruka gave Eos a look and asked for laymen's terms. Eos heaved a sigh."Two teenaged girls on a trip to Japan for an indefinite stay with little to no luggage would look suspicious.""Ah. Why didn't you just say so in the first place, Ozzy?"Eos sighed again, then curled into a ball for a catnap.The trio and feline finally arrived at their destination: an expensive, high-rise apartment complex. Lana and Usagi glance at each other and then broke into identical excited grins.“SUGOI!*” they squealed. Beside them, Haruka flinched and nearly dropped the luggage on the rosy-furred feline crouched at her feet with ears pressed flat against her head.“If that's the reaction to the building, I dread to hear the noise they'll make when they see the interior,” Haruka grumbled. Still grouched at her feet, Eos made a noise. “C'mon, you two. Grab a bag! We can do this in one trip if you help.”Usagi and Lana broke apart from their happy bubble and went to help their friend with the luggage. Escorting the sparkly-eyed blondes inside, Haruka led them to the front desk.“Good afternoon, sir. May I help you?” the curly-haired receptionist asked with a flirty smile.Usagi and Lana shared a grin. Haruka leaned an arm on the counter and gave her a matching grin. “Absolutely,” Haruka replied, not correcting her mistake. “You're new here, aren't you?”The receptionist blushed and nodded. Lana and Usagi repressed their snickers. Eos, sitting forgotten on the tiled floor, rolled her eyes and proceeded to clean a paw. If Haruka was in flirt mode, this would take a while. Haruka smiled and picked up one of her hands, bringing it to her lips.“My name,” she pressed a kiss onto her skin, “is Haruka. I'm the tenant in room 1048. My sisters from overseas are going to be staying with me now.” She nodded to the red-faced girls behind her. “I'll need the two spares keys I set aside for them, if you'd be so kind as to get them for me?” Haruka ran her thumb over the flushed-face receptionist's knuckles.She giggled, dreamy-eyed, and started to stand up. Her stumble against her chair woke her from her daze.“Oh!” She flushed a dull red, embarrassed. “Ahem. I'll need to see some ID, please.” She sat back down and turned to the computer at her right. “What room did you say it was?”Someone let out a snicker and Haruka turned to send a glare.“1048,” she said, turning back with a quirky grin.There was a moment of silence as the young woman typed and Haruka pulled her driver's license from her wallet.“All right,” the receptionist said at last. “Ten'ou Haruka, room 1048. Two spares for additional occupants,” she recited. Turning to face Haruka, she smiled and held out a hand. Haruka handed her license over, returning the smile with a wink that made her blush. A passing glance at the picture and the name and it was handed back to the owner. Meeting Haruka's bright eyes and smile caused another blush to rise. The receptionist got up and quickly walked through the door behind her and came out again shortly afterward with two identical keys in had. “H-Here you are,” she handed the keys over. She bowed to cover her glowing face. “Have a nice day!”Haruka smirked, amused. “Thank you. You as well.” She pocketed the keys and, motioning the duo muffling their snickers behind her to follow, began to head to the elevators. “See you around, cutie!” Haruka tossed out as the elevator doors closed. The elevator's ding matched the girl's squeak.As soon as the elevator began moving, Usagi and Lana burst out into laughter. Haruka merely smirked at the duo - which sent them into another fit of laughter - and leaned against the mirrored wall. Eos leapt onto the luggage and frowned at her girls.“That is enough laughing, I think. Really now, it wasn't even that funny.” Eos huffed and turned to the smirking racer. “One day, you're going to be discovered. Whatever will you're adoring fans do then?” she snapped sarcastically.“Aww,” Lana cooed. “I think someone needs a nap.”Almost immediately, Usagi yawned. Eos sniffed imperiously and leveled a look.“Indeed.”Haruka straightened as they reached the tenth floor and the doors opened. She grabbed a couple of suitcases, dislodging Eos from her perch in the process, and walked out, leaving Lana and Usagi to scurry after her. Eos leapt nimbly out the doors and trotted down the hall after Haruka.“Hey, wait up!” they cried.After settling into the apartment, the group congregated in the spacious but sparsely decorated living room. They sat in quiet, munching on their snacks as they relaxed with one another. Eos leapt onto the back of the well-creased couch and settled in view between Usagi and Haruka. “So,” Lana started from her curled up position on a chair. “What's this news that's got you so serious?”Haruka leaned back a bit, sipping on her tea as she thought.“We were already aware that Tokyo had Senshi?” Haruka paused until everyone confirmed the knowledge. “It looks like everyone has been collected. They're all here.”“Have you contacted them?” Eos interrupted. Haruka shook her head `no.' “Why not?”Haruka raised an eyebrow and just looked at the feline.“Because, while the enemy they are currently fighting is an old one from the Silver Millennium, they have been fighting on their own just fine these past two years.” She looked pointedly at Usagi on the other end of the couch. “And I've had more important things to focus on.”“Damn straight!” Lana popped out.Haruka, Usagi, and Eos turned to look at her. Lana blushed to match her red streaks.“Hey, stop staring!” she huffed. “Priorities are priorities. The Crystal, OUR enemies, and then…” she grimaced and waved her hands, spreading crumbs. “You know.”“Mm,” Eos hummed. She turned back to Haruka. “So they are unaware of you?”“As far as I can tell,” Haruka shrugged. “No one's come seeking me out, at least.”“What do you think of them?” Usagi asked softly, gazing into her teacup as though it would show her the future.“Yeah. What are they like?” Lana asked with an eager smile.Haruka looked out the window behind Lana.“They've been fighting the same fights long enough that they're running on autopilot. It's still a challenge, but they generally know what to expect. The Prince fights with them -” she ignored Usagi's noise “- and so are the Shitennou. Although,” she smirked, “they still do battle with Beryl's replicas of the Shitennou.”“Replicas?” Lana interrupted. “They still battle against Beryl? For two years?” Haruka nodded. “Why haven't they confronted her yet?!”“They're afraid,” Usagi said. “She's their only link, and that gives them something to focus on.”“Well, considering the Clan's expansion, they're about to have something new to focus on.”“No,” Usagi said vehemently. “Let them focus on Beryl,” she said to their looks.“Why not, Bunny?”“Time to adjust,” Eos realized. “Haruka made a point - they are accustomed to Beryl's manner of attack. The Clan is rather more… sophisticated in their methods by comparison.” Eos sighed then tensed.A split second later, the three blondes did as well as a familiar sweep of energy brushed their sixth sense.“Looks like we'll find out just how well they'll fare after all,” Lana commented as she rose from her overstuffed chair.Reaching around her neck, Lana pulled out from under her shirt a gold-chained pendant (1). Grasping the gold nugget in her hands, she removed it from the chain to cup it in both hands. As she said her transformation phrase, the baby-fist sized nugget melted in her hands and began to glow a golden yellow. The liquid gold rose into the air and formed an open circle above Lana. Directly in the center, and above her head, was a disc of blinding energy. The Sun symbol hovered above Lana's nude form a moment before the gold circlet sprouted gold ribbons that encased her. A flash of blinding light and a gold Senshi stood in place of Lana. Haruka had also stood up, pulling her navy blue wand from thin air. As the Uranus symbol began to glow in the gold orb ob top of the wand, a matching twin symbol shone from Haruka's forehead. As her clothes faded after she shouted her transformation phrase, a burst of light flowed from her wand. Haruka gripped the wand tighter and swung it around in a horizontal arc. As a glowing circle that followed the wand's path and formed beneath her feet was completed, a column of amber energy rose up from it and concealed Haruka from view before pouring inside from the top. A flare of light and the navy Senshi of Uranus stood in Haruka's place.Taking a deep breath, Usagi also rose up from her seat and pulled out a pendant similar to Lana's. The pendant was small, silver, and flat with a sideways crescent moon etched on the front. She held it aloft and cried out her phrase. White and silver crescent moons burst from the pendant and gently cascaded around her as her clothes dissolved into silver sparkles. Larger moons drifted around her, attaching to each other as they tightened on her body and formed her fuku. A final, single, crescent - this one as large as she - spun in circles around her and revealed the final silver-clad Senshi in Usagi's place.Eos, having watched from her standing position, nodded at the three Senshi before her.“Be careful,” she warned.“Always,” they chorused. Walking to the balcony behind the gold Sailor Sun, they opened the glass doors and leapt out into the growing night.----------------The three Senshi arrived at the site in time to watch a woman in an outrageous pink and purple outfit vanish in black flames. In her place was a large, black egg that faintly pulsed with malevolent energy. Just as the pulsing quickened, the three Senshi leaped off the ground to a higher vantage point and the egg sent out a wave of negative black energy shortly after.“Shimatta!*” the navy Sailor Uranus scowled, watching the unaware people suddenly collapse where they stood. Attention returning to the egg, she growled and clenched her fists as she watched it `hatch.'A fine black mist crept out of the fragments and slithered across the ground. Every fallen civilian it touched gave a cry, shuddered, grew pale and stilled. The golden Sailor Sun clenched her fists before shaking the tension out of them. She gave a sharp clap, an eerie sound in the unnatural silence, and drew them apart. A thin gold line spread between her gloved palms and she tossed it away from her into the mist. The bright gold thread raced through it in every direction until it hit the outer edges; from there it formed a gold barrier the mist thrashed against, but could not pass through.Sailor Uranus and the silver Sailor Crescent Moon exchanged looks when Sailor Sun growled and stepped forward.“Problems?” Uranus whispered theatrically to Crescent Moon.“Just the usual,” Crescent Moon responded in kind.Sailor Sun turned and shot the pair a nasty glare. Uranus smirked and mock-bowed, her `all yours' gesture drawing a stifled laugh from Crescent Moon at her side. When Sailor Sun turned her focus to the silver fighter the snickering ceased.“Ahem,” Crescent Moon coughed. “After you, Sol,” she placated. “We'll just watch from over there.” She started backing away, Uranus one step ahead and already waiting on a rooftop. “Call if you need us!” She leapt away before Sol could retaliate.Sol grumbled before turning back to the mist. She jumped down and walked cautiously through the mist to the egg fragments. Nudging a large piece with her boot, the piece melted into ooze. She quickly leaped back as the other remnants followed suit. Coagulating into a single puddle of ooze, the muck began to bubble and take form. As it grew bigger and more solid, the black mist grew darker and denser. A muffled scratching sound came from every direction around her.“The bodies are being moved!” came Crescent Moon's voice.“You're being made a target, Sunshine!” came Uranus's. Was she laughing?The black muck shot a gooey spear at her and Sailor Sun dodged to the side. A second and third had her dodging left and right as she moved back. A forth and fifth nearly had her running into the other still-extended spears.Cage! Her mind screamed.The sixth spear - more solid than the others had been - forced her to leap above it to a nearby store rooftop.A snap of cloth to her left had Sailor Sun tensing. A group of Senshi and men - the Shitennou, she recalled - were leaping on a nearby roof above her. Sun dropped to the ground out of sight range and dashed to her companions.“Well, damn, our turn already?” Sailor Uranus remarked. “I was just getting comfortable.”“Company,” Sailor Sun whispered, gesturing across the mist-filled plaza.The three crept stealthily to the building's edge and peeked over. There on the ground were the "other" Senshi and Shitennou. Crescent Moon's grip visibly tightened on the ledge, the edges threatening to crumble beneath the superhuman grip. Uranus put her hand over the tense fingers.“Wait,” she whispered without sound. (2)“See how they fare,” Sun echoed her earlier words.The two felt a wave of jumbled emotions flood their link with the silver-blonde Senshi between them. They sent back ripples of warmth, trust, comfort, and conviction. Slowly, Crescent Moon relaxed.“If it's too much…” she started.“I will step in,” Sol finished for her. “The area already bears my energy. One new thing at a time, right?”As Sailor Crescent Moon nodded, still worried but more reassured now, the trio turned to watch the battle.(end prior day's flashback)Haruka, coming back to herself on the floor, sighed tiredly. Things are going to pick up a lot, now that Usagi is settling back in to Tokyo. With all three of us here now, we won't be able to keep such a tight wrap on our energy once it seeps into the area. Hearing the kettle began to whistle, she sat up and ran a hand through her short-cropped hair."Well," she sighed, "we can't stay away from them forever, can we?" Standing up, she walked back into the kitchen. She paused a moment in the doorway, staring thoughtfully as she spied the cat carrier sitting in the hall by the front door. "Poor Ozzy. She really didn't stand a chance against the two of them." She smirked, walking over to turn off the stove as she moved the impatient kettle just as Usagi and Lana stumbled into the room with bleary eyes and yawns.--------------Later that evening, hours after Luna had abruptly run out on the senshi's* meeting, Hotaru yawned as she sat listening to the others still talking around her. Setsuna noticed and gave Michiru a gentle nudge as she nodded in Hotaru's direction. Michiru nodded and went to collect the sleepy-eyed young Senshi. Setsuna stood up and said her goodbyes when everyone turned to her. Michiru bowed and Hotaru nodded her head dazedly in tacit farewells.Shortly after the trio of Outer Senshi left, Nephrite extended a hand to his counterpart, Makoto, and helped her to her feet.“If you all will excuse us,” he smiled secretly, “we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”“Best of luck with that,” Mina said.“Yeah. It's the 20th annual convention too, isn't it?” Jadeite asked. “There's gotta be a huge amount of food there!” Jadeite's eyes became comically starry as he imagined the theoretical feast.Ami and Mina laughed at Jadeite's expression, Kunzite suppressed a sigh and averted his eyes, Zoisite shook his head exasperated, and Rei smacked her companion upside the head to snap him out of his delusions."It's a Chef's Convention, Jadeite, of course there's gonna be a lot of food!"Makoto and Nephrite laughed and left the shrine to the well wishes of their friends.Mamoru sat in silence and listened as the others discussed the battle, the Senshi, and the possible new enemy. When Luna asked Ami to pull up a hologram of the galaxy and corresponding Senshi, he noticed she seemed preoccupied. While he certainly agreed with Kunzite's statement that their long-time advisor wasn't saying something, Mamoru thought there was something… off about the Mercurian diagram.“Ami-san,” Mamoru interrupted the girls' conversation. “Would you mind bringing up that hologram again, please? With all the galaxy's defenders?”Ami blinked in surprise for a moment. “Of course, Mamoru-san.” She nodded and withdrew her mini-computer. Some quick typing and the hologram appeared before them again.First the sun appeared, then all the planets and their moons in corresponding places. A picture of all the girls hovered over their respective planets. Artemis walked over to examine the system, as did a frowning Zoisite.“It's incomplete,” Artemis murmured in surprise.“What?” Mina prodded her cat.“We aren't there,” Zoisite said distinctly. “Mamoru, myself and the others. We should appear above Earth, given that we are Her protectors, and yet the Mercury computer has not relayed that input. It's incomplete.”“And Luna saw that?” Kunzite asked. “Saw that we were not shown, but she said nothing about it?”“Nice to see how highly she thinks of us,” Jadeite said sarcastically.“Maybe not you,” Rei said as she smacked his arm. “She would have said something though.”“She wasn't looking,” Mamoru said as he stared at the system. “Not for us.” He looked up at the others.“For someone else,” Kunzite exclaimed softly.Mina settled next to the first General and gripped his hand as Artemis padded silently closer into the group.“Who would she be looking for?” Mina asked the white feline.“Someone she's never mentioned to me,” was his solemn reply.--------------Luna ran from the temple, through the city and down the street to the alley next to the Crown Arcade. Because she obviously couldn't enter the Arcade during open hours, she needed a secondary entrance to the Control Room. Dashing behind a couple of trashcans, Luna squeezed herself through a metal grate in the wall that they guarded. As soon as her tail slipped through the bars, the light from outside the grate was cutoff with a hiss. Luna stood calmly in the dark, waiting for acknowledgement as a beam of red light scanned her still form."Enter, Agent Kitty One.""Thank you," Luna said primly before jumping down into the basement through the new entrance that opened to her. She darted straight to the Communication and Information console. She accessed the "Senshi" database and scrolled through to an unnamed icon. Clicking on the icon brought up a red "Classified: Access Denied" message. Typing what appeared to be a random sequence of buttons, the red message changed to a green box with "Access Granted" displayed. Several new windows opened up, some displaying pictures of a young and smiling blonde girl, some of a young girl in a Senshi's fuku, and others were without pictures and filled instead with numbers and statistics and statements.Luna pulled a picture from the back of the screen. The young girl was sitting in a clearing in the park, face and clothes smudged with dirt. She had a giant, happy smile on her face and a tightly squeezed Luna - face not so happy - held under her chin. Luna softly traced the pads of her paw over the child's infectious grin. Shaking her head clear of nostalgic thoughts, she gave a hard sniff before turning to the task at hand. Luna opened a search query engine and typed in "energy recognition: Sailor Moon" and hit ENTER. The system hummed as it processed her request, scanning the auras and energies of everyone in the City.The computer beeped and a "NO MATCH" popped up after several minutes. The computer beeped again and a follow-up message appeared.FOUR (4) SIMILARITIESLuna stared at the blinking "CONTINUE? YES or NO?" icon, paw hovering over the NO. She took a deep breath and lowered her paw.She watched as the "YES" lit up briefly before skimming to a list of names:AINO MINAKO.TEN'OU HARUKADIMAKIS LANA TSUKINO BUNNYLuna's heart began to race as she read the last name. The first name was different, but wasn't "bunny" just "usagi" in a different language?Had she found her? Could it really be her little Usagi? Was it even possible? After all, she had felt Sailor Moon's broach break all those years ago. There were few things short of death that could do such a thing, and Usagi was much too young and inexperienced to have encountered such things yet. Beryl's youmas didn't become aggressively active until a few years ago, so the likelihood of a rogue youma battle had been slim.But not impossible."Shimatta*!" Luna shouted, paws pounding on the keyboard. The program closed out. Luna started to cry, her fur sticking together in damp clumps as she collapsed onto the floor. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. "Usagi-chan, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Even as Luna slipped into trouble dreams, she still continued to cry.

*DREAM*

"Lunakins!"Luna paused on the sidewalk and tilted her head. Was that...?"Luna! Here kitty!"The voice was closer this time. It was Usagi's voice. Why did she sound so sad? She nearly hit herself as she remembered that she had been doing side-missions for close to two months now and her absence was bound to be noticed eventually. She gave a loud meow, the best she could manage to be heard over sounds of the city. Using the guardrail as a springboard she jumped onto a car-hood and then balanced precariously on a parking meter, meowing as though she were serenading the passersby."LUNA!" Usagi cried happily. There she was, standing across the street. And about to rush over from the looks of it.Just as Luna was about to jump down, a harsh wind suddenly blew out of nowhere and the Luna's claws lost their fragile grip and fell off the parking meter -- and right into the busy road.A screeching honk and Usagi's terrified cry was the only warning she received before being struck. She felt the impact against her side and then the rough pavement that tore off her fur down to her skin. Her ears ringing and pain engulfing her body, Luna fainted, unseen, beneath the car she had just used as a spring board moments prior.*END DREAM*Luna jerked awake, panting heavily, a phantom pain throbbing the one side of her ribs. As she slowly regulated her breathing, the pain dissipated and she closed her eyes again as another memory swept over her. Luna woke again to find herself in an unfamiliar, bright yellow room. The second sight to meet her eyes were a pair of bright, intelligent green eyes beneath a gold moon that was a match to her own. She yelped and her body spasmed. A little girl, her waist length blonde hair in a big yellow bow, came charging into the room."Artemis! What did you do?" she yelled at the green eyed, white feline. The cat cringed, made a soft meow, which earned a glare, and slunk out of the room. "It's okay," the blonde whispered to Luna. "He was only curious." She giggled. "You're awfully cute, y'know!"Shortly after meeting Artemis and Mina - his young blonde charge - Luna was given a place to stay with the Aino family. She didn't stay often, feeling like an intruder and unable to remain long in the Usagi-like Mina's presence, and so was not upset when the Aino's moved to England. The verification of Artemis as a fellow Mauian feline (3) was a shock though.Luna was so surprised when he had walked up to her, sighed and said, "I don't know if you understand me or if this is some bizarre coincidence, but I wish you well. I know you won't come with us and I hope you find what you're looking for. Goodbye."It wasn't until he was walking away he was walking away that Luna regained her senses and her voice. Their brief conversation - Mina was calling for Artemis, the family waiting in the car already - confirmed the bare basics. They were both from the Moon Kingdom and they were both looking for the Senshi to protect the Moon Princess when she was found. Artemis confided that he thought Mina to be a possible candidate for either position, though he hadn't made any moves yet. Luna gave him a long look and told him to wait for her grow up before saying anything - literally - to her. He gave her a considering look before agreeing and then bounding off to the impatient and now threatening-to-leave-you-behind Mina. After Artemis was settled into England, he set-up a Control Room there through which he and Luna kept in contact.After several years, as Luna began noticing more and more potential Senshi congregating in Tokyo, she contacted Artemis and told him it might be time to bring forth the Sailor Senshi. Dark Kingdom activity was picking up in increasing frequency.Shortly after her 15th birthday, Artemis 'revealed' himself to Mina, who took things considerably more calmly than he expected. After nearly a year of intensive training he deemed her ready to return to Japan. Not being able to tell her parents the truth, Artemis used his unique abilities to alter the Aino's perceptions to believe they sent their daughter to Japan to stay with a family friend and finish her schooling in her homeland.Before Mina's arrival in Japan, Luna stumbled upon another Sailor Senshi.Mizuno Ami had been a completely accidental discovery. Luna was investigating a surge of negative energy in a local cram school when she came across Ami resisting a youma's energy drain. The brightly glowing sign of Mercury upon the bluenette's forehead made it an easy decision for Luna, who had quickly clawed at the youma's face before leaping to the girl's side and pressing the Mercury Wand upon her. Thus, Sailor Mercury was born.Ami's meeting with the bubbly-mannered blonde Mina was interesting when compared to the quiet manner of the Ice Senshi. However, Mina's serious attitude and experience as Sailor Venus was both a comfort and a relief for the novice fighter, and the blonde quickly gained her respect.From there, Luna and Artemis found Senshi and fought the Dark Kingdom youmas. Sailor Pluto was the only Senshi that came to them without discovery. She didn't often speak of her past, but general knowledge of the Time Senshi was that she had always known she was one of the Sailors; despite being the Guardian of Time, her ability to foresee events was severely limited and also something she rarely spoke about. (4)In the two years Luna and Artemis had worked and trained and befriended the group, Luna never once mentioned the first Senshi she found. She didn't know why she never mentioned Sailor Moon, at first, and then their link broke and she was too heartbroken to share her memory with those who'd never known her ward.-------*Kuso: shit*Sugoi: Awesome, terrific, amazing, great*Shimatta: damn it

*senshi: when I use this in the lowercase, it is meant to be a broad reference to both the Senshi and the Shitennou as the word also means "warriors" (or something to that effect). K?

(1) I realize that in chapter 4(?) Lana used a wand for her transformation. I will explain the difference in devices later on, but for now, think of it as part of her “upgrade.”(2) The three of them have a special bond that allows them to speak telepathically to one another. The “ability” is also possible between certain others, although they may not know it.(3) If I remember correctly, the "Lunar" cat-advisors were from a planet of felines called "Mau." I think it was supposed to be a pun on the sounds cats make. (4) XD, I actually wrote a little drabble about this which is posted in my LiveJournal. It turned out more serious than I had intended, but it may help put into perspective a few things. Or not.

 

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I am sad to say, but for the next couple weeks/months this story will be on the backburner. I'm going to be focusing my attention to a major revision of Lady Robin Hood (which is in desperate need of help). I will still be writing little segments of this story, but my focus will not be on it.

 

For those of you who have read LRH, I think it sux to what it could be. For those who haven't, DON'T! Compared to what you've seen here in CtM, my writing in LRH is so juvenile it's shameful. Thus the rehaul.

 

Thanx for all your support and keep an eye on my LJ, little things tend to pop up there every now and again!