"Hey Mamoru-san!" Kannuki called out to Mamoru after the office had closed. Everyone had just finished another exhausting day of work, and they were all eager to get back home. "Princess and I are going to the new karaoke bar, Dreamful. Do you want to come along with us?"
"Well, I don't know, Kannuki," a doubtful Mamoru said. "I still have a lot of work to finish, and I don't want to impose on you and Princess."
"Come on, Mamoru-san!" Kannuki encouraged. "You know the work can wait over the weekend! Besides, how would you be imposing on us? Princess would love to have you come along!"
"Really?" Mamoru said eagerly. "I mean, wouldn't she want to have you all to herself?"
"What?" a bewildered Kannuki said. "Princess and I are just friends."
"Oh," Mamoru said innocently. "When I had talked to Princess, it sort of sounded like you two were serious."
"No way!" Kannuki laughed. "Princess was just pulling your leg! She loves to mess around with people." Pause. "Are you trying to tell me that you were jealous, Mamoru-san?"
"No!" Mamoru said a little too strongly. He then blushed when Kannuki broke out in laughter.
"So are you coming or not, Chiba?"
"Definitely!"
"Okay, then why don't you come pick us up at my place around eight?"
"At your place? But what about Princess?"
"Didn't she tell you?" Kannuki asked. "Princess is staying with me."
Mamoru was suddenly seized by a fiery jealousy.
"I thought you and Princess were just friends," Mamoru said angrily, "then why is she staying with you? Were you just lying to me, Kannuki?"
"Of course not!" Kannuki said. "It's just that when Princess first returned to Japan, she didn't have a place to stay, and since we've known each other a long time, I told her she could crash at my place. I haven't touched her, Mamoru."
"Good."
"Do you still want to come then?"
"Yes." Mamoru said coldly. He then smiled grimly and added, "Someone's got to watch out for Princess."
"Uh huh. And I suppose that someone is you?"
"You're darn right that someone is me."
Kannuki laughed wholeheartedly. "I don't know if you're ever going to admit it, Chiba, but you're totally hooked."
"Yeah, I just noticed," Mamoru grumbled.
"My place at eight!" Kannuki said cheerfully before he left Mamoru alone in the office.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
"This is so neat!" Princess gushed, when she saw the karaoke bar.
"It is nice," Mamoru agreed.
The bar had one main lounge that was specifically designed for dancing, and there were many private rooms for parties. The rooms each had two black leather couches. Two small glass tables also accompanied the couches, and there were even several candles in there, for the room was in total darkness.
"Refresh my memory again on why you invited Mamoru to come with us!" Usagi whispered to Kannuki.
"I thought it would be fun." Kannuki said simply.
"Fun?!"
"Yeah," Kannuki agreed. "This is your chance to prove to Mamoru that you're nothing like Tsukino Usagi."
"There's a slight problem in your brilliant plan, Kannuki," Usagi hissed. "I am Tsukino Usagi!"
"Hush," Kannuki gently admonished. "Tonight you can be a totally different you. Besides, did you see Mamoru's eyes pop out when he saw you?"
Usagi blushed, for she had taken extra care in her outfit tonight. She had on a midnight black dress with spaghetti straps that went to her knees. She had a gold silk scarf around her neck. Her hair was put up in a french twist, and she had on some sterling silver jewelry.
"Oh my god!" Usagi exlaimed. "It's the girls! What are they doing here? Mamoru probably told them! I knew we shouldn't have invited him!"
"Calm down, Princess," Kannuki soothed. "Just keep your cool and act natural. Remember, you're a totally different person now."
"Right." Usagi took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.
"Hey guys!" Mamoru called out to the girls. "What are you all doing here?"
"We heard you were going to be here, Mamoru," Ami teased.
"See what I mean?!" Usagi hissed to Kannuki. "I swear, he likes them more than he ever liked me!"
"She's just joking, Mamoru," Minako laughed. "We all heard about Dreamful, and we just wanted to come check it out. We didn't know you were going to be here also."
"With company," Rei added. "Who are you friends, Mamoru?"
"This is Chihiro Kannuki, my boss at Kashi Corporations." Mamoru's voice softened when he got to Princess. "And this is Princess. She's the new boss also."
"Why Mamoru," Princess interrupted in a smooth voice, "aren't you going to introduce your friends to us?"
"Right. This is Hino Rei."
"The lovely priestess of Hendai Temple; it's a pleasure to meet you," Princess said.
"Yes," a surprised Rei said, "that's me all right."
"Mizuno Ami."
"One of our smartest students in Tokyo, did you not ace every school test since you were only five years old?"
"Uh, yes," Ami stuttered.
"Kino Makoto."
"Tokyo's finest chef, I heard that you were just offered a job from one of Tokyo's most classy buffet restaurant, Todai."
Makoto blinked in shock. "Yeah," she managed.
"Aino Minako."
"Another one of Tokyo's favorites! Didn't you just finish a fashion show for Japan's most famous designer, Yari Tatsumi?"
"That would be me," Minako said, a little wary.
"Amazing, Princess," Mamoru breathed. "How did you know all of that?"
"I like to keep track of gossip," Princess said smoothly.
"Well, to finish the introductions, the black cat is Luna, and the white cat is Artemis," Mamoru finished.
"Oh, gee. Cats." Princess said dryly.
"Is something wrong, Princess?" Mamoru asked.
"I hate cats! They are so annoying!" Princess whined. "And what are you doing with a black cat, Mamoru-san?"
"It happens to be my cat, Princess!" Rei snapped, mocking her name at the same time. "She belonged to a really good friend of mine, and my friend passed away, so if you don't mind. . ." Rei picked Luna up and glared at Princess.
"I'm so sorry, Rei," Princess shot back. She turned around and started to walk away, but then looked over her shoulder to call out to Kannuki, "Can we go? Our room is reserved, and I certainly don't want them to give it to someone else."
"You're welcome to join us," Kannuki added before he left with Princess.
"Don't tell me you like her, Mamoru-san," Rei accused.
"She isn't like that at all, Rei," Mamoru argued. "I don't know why, but she's acting a bit different than usual."
"Let it go Rei-chan," Ami said. "A lot of people hate cats."
"Still! Did you hear her tone, Ami-chan?" Rei complained. " 'I hate cats! They're so annoying! And what are you doing with a black cat, Mamoru-san?' She acted like she was so superior to us!"
"I don't know why you're complaining about that Rei-chan," Makoto grumbled, "when Princess looks so much like Usagi-chan!"
"That could have been Usagi-chan in ten years!" Minako added.
"Yeah right," Rei huffed. "Usagi-chan couldn't look like that even if her life depended on it! You know what a klutz she is!"
"I don't think that has anything to do with it," Ami said in a small voice.
Rei glared at Ami. "Whatever, Ami-chan. Let's just go. This should prove to be an interesting night after all."
"Finally," Inertia murmured with satisfaction, "the Sailor Senshi have all gathered in one place! Although I know not their real identities, I am able to sense their essence. It is strong and alluring, and soon all that power will belong to the Pernicious Court! I call on Virulent to come and serve me!"
A funnel of black smoke appeared and left, leaving a man standing there. He had dusky brown hair and eyes of emeralds. He had on black pants, a dark green tank top and black boots.
"Your wish is my command," Virulent said, bowing low.
"Good," Inertia purred. "Virulent, the Sailor Senshi have all gathered in one area. Wherever they are, their princess is never far away. Destroy the Sailor Senshi and bring back Princess Serenity, and you will be rewarded! Also bring me Sailor Cosmos! We have a score to settle," Inertia said dangerously.
"Yes, as you wish." Virulent obeyed. He then vanished in a cloud of smoke.
A cockroach crawling on the floor caught Inertia's attention, and an evil smile played on her lips.
"Once I get my hands on you Sailor Cosmos, you'll end up just like him!" Inertia brough her foot down on the cockroach, squashing it. All that was left of him was a hard shell, while his insides surrounded the shell.
Inertia laughed with joy. "Soon, Sailor Cosmos! Very soon!"
"So, who wants to sing first?" Minako asked.
"I vote for Princess!" Mamoru called out.
"I second the vote!" Kannuki chimed.
"I don't know, you guys," Princess said nervously.
"Come on, Princess," Rei said smugly, "surely you know how to sing!"
Princess glared at Rei. "Okay, but you'll be sorry!"
"This song sounds good," Princess commented, "Could I Have This Kiss Forever. I guess I might as well try it." Princess pressed a number on the selection pad to activate the song.
As everyone waited, a sweet melody started to play, and soon Princess's voice could be heard.
The others were appalled.
"She's beautiful!" Ami gasped.
"I've never heard someone sing so good," Rei admitted.
"She was nervous?!" Makoto uttered.
"With a voice like that?" breathed Minako. Kannuki and Mamoru could only stare with their jaws touching the floor.
Suddenly, Mamoru got up and made his way to Princess.
"What's he doing?" Rei asked Kannuki.
Kannuki grinned. "I think he's going to sing with her."
Princess was concentrating on the music, so she did not notice Mamoru next to her until he started singing as well. She stopped momentarily.
Mamoru's deep voice echoed throughout the room. Everyone was even more shocked.
Minako gaped. "Mamoru-san knows how to sing??"
Princess's eyes shone with admiration. She continued to sing the girl's part, with Mamoru as her leading man.
Mamoru then took over the chorus, while Princess later joined him.
And together Princess and Mamoru finished the song.
United as one.
Princess and Mamoru finished singing, staring into each others eyes while the Kannuki and the girls clapped wildly.
"Wow," Princess breathed, "you were great, Mamoru."
"So were you, Princess," Mamoru said hoarsely, "so were you." Mamoru leaned in close, and suddenly the world shrank, as his lips slowly came closer to hers.
Usagi's heart quickened.
He's going to kiss me! Usagi thought excitedly. But wait a second! He's going to kiss Princess, not me! He really wants Princess! No! You're not going to win me over so easily, Chiba Mamoru!
Just as Mamoru's lips were about to touch hers, Usagi shoved him away.
"Mr. Chiba," Usagi said angrily, "I am your boss! Not some girl you can just pick up in a sleazy bar! And because I am your boss, it is about time that you showed me the proper respect! Understood?"
Mamoru was stunned. But just as he was about to say something, all the candles were blown out, engulfing the room in total darkness.
"Okay," Princess said icily, "who turned off the lights?"
"I sense something evil," Rei said, "and very powerful."
"Very good, Sailor Mars!" a male voice called out cheerfully.
Usagi heard the others gasp. She then remembered that Princess and Kannuki were not suppose to know the identities of the Sailor Senshi.
An idea suddenly came to her, and Usagi realized that the only way to get out was to freak out.
"What's going on?" Princess cried frantically. "I'm so scared! Kannuki, where are you? Kannuki!! Help me, please! I'm so frightened!" Usagi felt a reassuring hand on her arm, and then the voice of Kannuki.
"I'm right here," Kannuki whispered. "I sincerely hope that you were just acting, because you sounded like a whining ninny."
"Good!" Usagi whispered back. "That was exactly the point! Now, I'm going to faint, you're going to catch me and get us out of here, understood?" She dimly saw Kannuki nod his head. She took a deep breath and went on with her acting.
"Kannuki?" Princess moaned. "I don't feel very good at all. Ohhhh, I'm so dizzy. So very dizzy." She then fell into Kannuki's waiting arms.
"I should probably get her out of here," Kannuki told Mamoru.
"That would be a good idea," Mamoru agreed. "I'll try to get Rei and the girls out safely, and then we'll go and find someone who can help."
While Kannuki was busy with Princess and Mamoru, the others were still talking to the hidden voice.
"What are you talking about?" Makoto said defiantly. "There aren't any Sailor Senshi here!"
"But Sailor Jupiter, I may not be able to see you, but I can recgonize your voices anywhere! And your aura of power can never be hidden, no matter what you do!"
Ami's voice came through the darkness. "What should we do, Rei-chan?"
"Transform!" Rei ordered.
"But Rei-chan," Minako said warily, "then he'll know who we are!"
Rei ignored Minako and simply went on. "Mars Star Power!"
The others had no choice but to follow their leader.
"Mercury Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"I am the gorgeous sailor-suited soldier, Sailor Mars, and I demand to know who you are!"
The room was suddenly flooded in artificial light, and they saw Virulent standing with at least a dozen wailing banshees.
"Virulent at your service," Virulent said, bowing low. "I am honored to finally make your acquaintance."
"Save it," Mars said dryly. "What do you want?"
Virulent grinned. "You. Banshees, you know what you must do! Capture every one of them! Otherwise, it will be your heads!"
With a roar, they surrounded the Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen. It was then that they realized there were far more than a dozen banshees.
"Be careful!" Luna cried. "We don't know how powerful they are!"
"Let me try first!" Mars said determinedly.
"Fire Soul!" Mars's attack burned most of them away, but they were automatically replaced by more.
"Shining Aqua Illusion!"
"Supreme Thunder!"
"Crescent Beam!"
The results were the same as Sailor Mars's.
"There's an endless supply of them!" Jupiter cried.
"Rainbow Shimmering Illusion. . .Destroy!"
The new attack instantly destroyed all of the banshees.
"You are such a coward, Virulent!" a voice shouted. "Using a mirage to tire down the Senshi! Are you not man enough to fight them yourself?"
"WHAT?" Mars squealed. The idea of the banshees being nothing more than thin air had never occured to her. "A mirage?"
"That's right, Sailor Mars," Sailor Cosmos stepped out from the shadows. "Only a mirage."
Virulent smiled admiringly.
"It was fun while it lasted. It gave me so much joy to watch the 'great' Senshi freak out." he casually waved his hand, and all the banshees disappeared.
"You are very good, Sailor Cosmos! Not even the leader Sailor Mars could see the truth, and yet you are able to waltz in here and automatically know. No wonder you drove Inertia crazy with frustration!"
It was Sailor Cosmos's turn to smile.
"I do try."
"I am sadly outnumbered here," Virulent said thoughtfully. "Well, I think you would be a definite challenge, Sailor Cosmos, so. . ." he looked at the other Senshi, and a force field instantly surrounded them, ":I will get rid of other annoyances."
"Hey!" Mars protested.
"Fire Soul!"
The flames bounced against the force field and headed back toward the Senshi. They all ducked their heads.
"Bad idea, Sailor Mars," Mercury said, as she checked her computer. "The force field has a physical energy that repels all other energy! We need something physical to destroy it!"
"How about my roses?" Tuxedo Kamen suggested. He threw a few at the force field, but these only went right through the force field, slicing through nothing.
Sailor Cosmos effortlessly caught one, and she raised it in the air.
"Thank you, Tuxedo Kamen," she called out, "but I'm not the enemy."
Tuxedo Kamen was a little stunned. No one had ever caught one of his roses before.
Sailor Cosmos is indeed powerful, he thought.
"Sailor Cosmos," Virulent announce, "here is my proposition. If you are able to deactivate my force field, I will not harm any of you. If you cannot though, you must surrender."
"Deal." Sailor Cosmos said evenly.
"What do you think you're doing, Sailor Cosmos?!" Mars screamed.
"By surrendering though, you also surrender Princess Serenity." Virulent added.
"I know.""
"Princess Serenity is dead, Sailor Cosmos," Mars cried. "Pay attention!"
"No! You pay attention, Sailor Mars!" Sailor Cosmos said fiercely. "You are losing control of your emotions. I would calm down before I say anything else."
"Princess Serenity is dead, dead!" Mars kept screaming. "And good riddance too!" The other Senshi gasped in horror.
"How could you say that, Sailor Mars?" Mercury asked.
"Because it is true!" Mars said angrily, but even as the words left her mouth, she knew they would never be true. How could she explain the fact that she still believed it was her fault that Usagi-chan had died?
Sailor Mars lost all control, and she started screaming all the bad things about Usagi. It was the only way she could deal with her pain.
"She was a lazy coward, she couldn't do anything right, and she whine about everything! She stole Mamoru away from me and took everything that ever should have been mine! I should have been the keeper of the crystal. I should have been the Moon Princess!!"
"Mars!" Jupiter cried. "That's treason!"
"It was Princess Serenity's destiny!" Venus protested. "None of us should take her place!"
"I always knew that you had felt that way, Sailor Mars," Sailor Cosmos said, "but to want her place and power? I didn't know that you had wanted Sailormoon dead also."
"How did you know that Princess Serenity was once Sailormoon?" Mars asked.
"Wait a second, you mean that Serenity was a warrior?" Virulent said. No one answered him, but Sailor cosmos turned to him.
"Virulent, I do believe that we still have a matter to settle." Sailor Cosmos twilred her staff, and it glowed a beautiful golden light.
"Cosmos Jeweled Star. . .Evoke!"
Stars and crescent moons surround Virulent, and he screamed as the bright light destroyed his body.
"Thank you, Sailor Cosmos," Luna said. "Thank you for always saving the Sailor Senshi."
"I wouldn't be so confident when I talk, little kitty," a feminine voice said dangerously.
"Who's there?" Mars cried.
"Inertia," Sailor Cosmos said softly.
"So very right, Sailor Cosmos," Intertia purred. "Did you miss me?"
"About as much as I would miss a toothache." Sailor Cosmos mumbled.
"That's really too bad, because a toothache is exactly what you need! And more!"
Inertia summoned her powers, blowing everyone away in a fog.
"I can't see a thing!" Jupiter cried.
"Burning Mandala!"
Sailor Mars's flames cut through the fog, leaving Inertia surrounded. She laughed humorlessly.
"You probably think you've won, Sailor Mars, but look around. Is anything missing?"
The Senshi looked around cautiously, but could not see anyone missing. Everyone was here. Sailor Cosmos, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, even the cats. No one was missing, except --
"Tuxedo Kamen!" Sailor Cosmos cried. "He's gone!"
"What have you done to him, Inertia?" Mars demanded angrily. Inertia clapped her hands, and Tuxedo Kamen came into view. He was tied up to a pole and his eyes were closed.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" Sailor Cosmos cried. The others glanced at her in surprise. Only Sailormoon had ever called Tuxedo Kamen that name. How had she known his nickname?
"If you want Prince Endymion back, Sailor Cosmos, then you must surrender to the Pernicious Court!"
"She will never surrender!" Mars said defiantly.
"And if I do?" Sailor Cosmos said too quietly.
"You will be endangering me, the leader and princess of the Sailor Senshi!"
"Get it through your thick head, Rei! I am the Moon Princess!" Sailor Cosmos roared. Everyone gasped in shock and disbelief. Sailor Cosmos's outburst had awakened Tuxedo Kamen, and he too, was stunned.
"What are you saying, Sailor Cosmos?" Mercury whispered.
"The truth, Ami-chan." Sailor Cosmos brought out the Illusion Silver Crystal, and instantly transformed into Princess Serenity.
"Usako?" Tuxedo Kamen whispered hoarsely. "You're alive! Usako, you're alive!"
Tuxedo Kamen had denied himself the possiblity of every seeing Usako again, but now, here she was, even more beautiful than before.
But what about my feelings for Princess? he thought in frustration. How will I ever be able to tell Usako that I fell for another woman?
"I had thought you were a mindless simpering weakling, Princess Serenity," Inertia murmured, "but it seems I have greatly underestimated you. Your power alone surpasses those of your protectors. How very surprsing."
"It was most amusing watching you pull your hair out over the fact that you could neither defeat Sailor Coismos or capture Princess Serenity. What will your precious Princess Iniquity think of you now?"
"She will reward me with great power, for now that you have shifted back into your original form, you are powerless against me!"
"Why would you think that?"
"Back in the days of the Silver Millennium, you were always cowering behind someone! Be is Prince Endymion, the guardian Senshi, even your cat! You don't stand a chance against me, Serenity!"
"I am not the only one that will fight you! Everyone here will give their lives just to protect the planet Earth!"
"Yes, but their powers are too weak compared to mine! Earth will belong to the Pernicious Court in little time." Inertia closed her eyes, and dark smoke formed around her body. "I almost pity you, Serenity."
"Black Flaming Stone Power. . .Destruction!"
"Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen yelled. "Be careful!"
But the smoke wasn't headed for Princess Serenity. It headed straight for the Senshi, and instantly surrounded them in the thick fog.
"Mercury!" Jupiter shouted. "Use your bubbles!"
"Shabon Spray!"
Nothing happened.
"Burning Mandala!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
"Crescent Beam!"
"Nothing can clear the fog!" Venus said.
"I'm afraid none of our powers are going to work against the fog!" Mars said in defeat. "Any ideas, Sailor Mercury?" No one answered. "Sailor Mercury?" Mars noticed that the others were missing also. Mars began to panic as she looked for her friends in the hazy mog. She frozed when she saw a body lying on the ground.
It was Mizuno Ami.
"Ami-chan!" Mars cried. She knelt next to her and tried to find a pulse. She breathed a sign of relief when she found it.
"Sailor Mars!" Jupiter gasped. Sailor Venus was also with Jupiter. "There you are!" She gasped when she saw Ami.
"What happened to Ami-chan?" Venus asked.
"I don't know, but she was detransformed when I saw her. I --" Mars abruptly stopped.
"Sailor Mars?" Jupiter asked with concern.
"Speak to us, Rei-chan!" Venus said.
"I don't have. . . any. . .strength. . . left. . ." Mars managed. Her eyes closed, and she sagged to the floor next to Ami. Jupiter and Venus stared as Mars shifted into Hino Rei.
"What just happened?!" Venus cried.
"I don't know," Jupiter said tensely, "but I'm guessing that whatever happened to Ami-chan just happened to Rei-chan."
"But what triggered it?"
"It could be the --" Jupiter moaned and closed her eyes detransforming into Kino Makoto as she fell to the floor.
"Mako-chan! Mako-chan!" Venus cried. She looked around desperately, hoping to find something that would help her. Suddenly, it dawned on her.
"The fog," Venus whispered to herself, "it must have some sort of chemical in it that deactivates our power, making us detransform." Sailor Venus started to cough as she fell to her knees. "No! I must fight it! I can't let the others down! I have to protect our princess. . . for I am. . .Sailor. . .V. . " Her eyes closed and Sailor Venus also fell.
As the smoke cleared, Princess Serenity and Tuxedo Kamen saw four girls lying on the ground in a heap.
"Sailor Senshi!!" Princess Serenity cried in horror. "Noooo!!!"
Whew! Finally done with this chapter! I am so, so sorry that it took me so long to write it! I promise to be faster with the other chapters. Wow, this story it taking longer than I had expected. Well, stay tuned for chapter nine! It's going to have some explosive results!
Back to Chapter Seven
Chapter Nine
