Alright, this thing still has some life left in it!  At least for
another couple chapters, anyway.  The tone of the story has shifted
dramatically in the last couple chapters (the first of this arc) and I
hope it hasn't detracted from the story.  

Anyway, here it is, drop me a note and tell me what you think.  Brief is
fine, I just love getting mail from people I don't know ^_^

Disclaimer goes here (Sailor Moon).

Part 13

        Training sessions had been broken up into two parts, physical and
magical.  Elder Rei, now known widely as Hino Taika, did most of the
physical coaching.  This was mainly showing the younger Senshi a few of
the more basic martial arts skills like falling and blocking a punch,
but it was still quite a bit of work.  As things progressed, she hoped
to show them some more advanced maneuvers.
        The magical training fell upon Serenity.  For the most part, it was
just repeatedly summoning, shaping, or altering the Senshi's chosen
element, except in the case of Usagi.  The moon princess, though having
some small dominion over wind, had powers that weren't really elemental
in nature.  
        Sailor Moon used talismans and magical items to harness that power and
give her attack and defensive power, but without them, she could do very
little with her magic.  This meant that she had to learn some real
spells if she was to reach her full potential.  
        Right now, it was mostly little things like creating a glowing mote of
light or a shower of cherry blossoms, but it would eventually progress
into some of the higher magics like shielding and enchanting.  First,
though, she had to build up her ability to channel and control her
power, just like the rest of the Senshi.  That meant an endless
repetition of simple spells.
        The physical part was generally considered to be a pain while the
magical part was fun.  So, the athletic part of the session was always
toward the front where it could be gotten out of the way, and the more
fun parts toward the end to keep everyone from getting too bored.
        That's how Taika ended up eating a light dinner alone in the Crown. 
Her half of the night's festivities were over and she was free. 
Unfortunately, the only people in this world that she really knew were
busy training.  
        She took another small bite out of her slice of lemon pie and sighed
deeply.  Somehow, being back here in this time and place wasn't as much
fun as she'd hoped it would be.  Sure, it was a lot better than where
she'd been a week ago, but that didn't change the fact that she was
alone.
        Alone.  It had become the word that would sum up her life.  Yuuichirou
had been with her through her teenage years and then off and on again
for some centuries later until they married.  He had died shortly
afterward, and she'd felt alone ever since. 
        Even here, where Yuuichirou and her grandfather both still lived, she
knew that it didn't help.  This Yuuichirou and this grandfather belonged
to younger Rei, who was perhaps just Rei now that she had given up her
name.  She couldn't deny her other self the opportunity to mess up her
life with the one man that had ever come to understand her on her own.
        And she had realized that even if she did try to take this Yuuichirou
as her own, it wouldn't work out.  She didn't want the young, foolish
Yuuichirou that had come to her grandfather's shrine all those years
before.  She wanted the older, understanding Yuuichirou that he had
grown into over the centuries.
        Desperately, she wanted someone to be with, no matter how fleeting it
was.  But who?  She didn't know many people, and from the ones she had
met, she'd already decided that she needed someone mature.  Someone who
would be able to appreciate the finer things in life.  Or, at least,
someone who didn't overly appreciate the juvenile things that her
"peers" reveled in.  
        Even if she had wanted to date someone from her junior high, there
wasn't much chance for that with Umino following her around like a lost
puppy.  
        Umino himself was totally unsuitable for several reasons.  One being
that, no matter how untrue in this time, she would always thing of Umino
as Naru's.  Another being the fact that he talked too much.  
        Taika, like so many others, went for the tall, dark, and handsome look
with a little soft spoken and romantic thrown in.
        "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"  A voice disturbed her from her
ruminations and she looked up to see a tall, blond man standing beside
her table.  A tiny voice in the back of her mind was doing a quick tally
and came up with tall and handsome.  Two out of three wasn't bad.
        "No, you're welcome to join me if you wish."  She watched him intently,
waiting for his aura to gently pulse to the surface so she could get a
reading on his personality before she decided whether or not some god
had decided to have a little fun with her.
        "Thank you," he said, his voice smooth and cool.  "My name is Fujii
Ryota." He bowed to her slightly.
        She returned the bow.  "Hino Taika."
        He smiled and took her hand gently in his and brought it to his lips. 
"It is truely a pleasure."
        She blushed just a little at his suave demeanor.  "You certainly do
know how to make a first impression."
        "Madam, I wouldn't know what you mean," he said with a smile that
plainly said that he knew exactly what she was talking about.
        "I'll bet you don't." 
        "Ms. Hino, if you don't mind me asking, what's a beautiful young woman
like you doing eating dinner all alone?"
        "Oh, my friends are just busy tonight."  As she continued to watch, his
aura unfolded before her and she saw quite a few things.  First was a
trace of deception which she surmised to be an illusionary glamour. 
Second, his soul was dark, almost purely evil but encasing a core of
goodness that didn't seem to be of the same origin as the surrounding
blackness.
        "Well, then, might I request the pleasure of your company for the
evening?"
        "Well..." she trailed off.  She kept her features neutral even through
the shock of seeing his aura and now tried to see through the glamour he
had cast about himself.  It wasn't hard, actually.  There was just
enough minor disguise magic to shift his features and skin tone a bit. 
Probably meant to keep anyone from figuring out that he was General
Jadeite of the Dark Kingdom.
        Inwardly she sighed.  Of course, the only polite, older guy that would
approach her would have to be an evil minion of Queen Beryl. //Oh,
well,// she figured, //if he's buying, why not?  It's not like I have
anything to worry about from him.  I mean, I almost took him myself when
I was just a beginner.//
        "I'd be delighted."
        "Splendid!" he exclaimed.  She caught the slight predatory glint to his
smile but decided that a date was a date, even if your escort probably
planned to try to kill you later.  "How do you feel about the opera?"

***

        After practice, the rest of the Senshi and Serenity were happily eating
away at the late dinner that Makoto and Rei had thrown together for
them.  It was, as always, a very good meal and, mixed with the feeling
of accomplishment they shared from an evening of training, made for a
general atmosphere of good cheer.
        They had finished and were in the process of cleaning up when Endymion
and Mamouro entered the shrine.
        "Endy-chan!"  Serenity immediately tackled Endymion in a fierce hug. 
The others had expected it but were always amazed that she could be so
dignified so long as neither food nor Endymion were in the room.  That
and the fact that she could instantly tell him apart from Mamouro.
        Endymion, for his part, just smiled and nuzzled his one time wife
affectionately.  "We were just wondering if you girls would like to have
a little fun tonight.  There's a new amusement park in town, Dream Land,
and we were hoping to get some company and go check it out.  We know
that you could use a break from training."
        There was a round of agreement from the younger Senshi, but Serenity
looked up at him questioningly.  He nodded slightly and she smiled. 
Tonight was going to be the Senshi's first battle since the trip to
Okayama.
        Somehow, when there are an even number of people walking along
together, they always end up breaking apart into twos.  Serenity and
Endymion, of course, were together.  Mamouro and Usagi kept drifting
toward each other, almost as if they didn't realize it was happening.
        Makoto and Minako were discussing boys.  Which left Ami and Rei walking
together.
        "So, Ami, what do you think about those two?" Rei finally asked,
growing sick of the silence.
        Ami gave her a quizzical look.  "Which two do you mean?"
        Rei gave a grin.  "All of ‘em.  Any of ‘em.  I'm just interested in
having a conversation right now.  How about Makoto and Minako?"
        "Well, Makoto and Minako seem to be a little overly occupied with
boys.  The really should examine their priorities."
        "Oh?  And you have no interest in young men, I take it?"
        Ami blushed slightly.  "I don't have time for things like that.  I have
too much to do!" she exclaimed, a little more forcibly than she really
had to.
        "Is that right?  When WILL you have time for things like that?  When
you're a doctor?"
        Ami's face fell a little as she realized exactly how much time her
mother, the doctor, had to spend at the hospital.  
        "Well, why don't you have a boyfriend right now?  There has to be
someone you like."
        "Hey," Ami decided to turn the tables a bit.  "Why don't YOU have a
boyfriend?  And why are you so interested in my love life all of a
sudden?"
        "Well..." Rei trailed off, uncertain of her own motivations.  "I don't
have one because I go to an all girls school.  That makes it really hard
to meet people, you know.  And I'm just curious."
        Ami frowned.  "Well, stop.  If I meet someone that I really like, I'll
date him, but I'm not going out of my way like those two."  She
indicated Makoto and Minako who were currently discussing a basketball
player in a manner that required a few hand gestures.
        "Whatever."  Rei looked back at the two couples wandering along behind
them.  "But just remember that you're not alone in the lonely hearts
club."
        Ami, in an uncommon flash of insight into human nature, realized that
the real objective of this conversation had been.  Rei had a thing for
Mamouro.  "Don't worry, Rei-chan.  There are plenty of other guys out
there."
        "Yeah, I know.  It was just a crush."
        "How long?  I didn't know that you knew him before all this started."
        "He studies plants, you know, and my school has a very nice
greenhouse...  I'd see him occasionally and think... but it's nothing. 
He belongs with her now."
        "Going to keep telling yourself that till you believe it?"
        "I hope."

***

        Taika's night was actually going fairly well.  As long as she ignored
the evil that her date was radiating, he was quite charming and well
mannered.  
        They had gone to an after dinner performance of "The Phantom of the
Opera" at the Juuban area cultural center.  Jadeite offered to translate
for her, and she accepted, deciding that it would be more fun that way. 
Even if she was fluent in English.
        The show, even performed by armatures, proved to be beautiful.  Rei
always had loved the opera, and this happened to be one of her
favorites.  Not that she would tell that to Jadeite, of course.  
        For his part, Jadeite was convinced that this "Taika" was really the
one he had been seeking.  Even if she was giving a different name, her
picture was the same as the one given to him by his spies.  If it proved
that she wasn't really his target, then she might be able to lead him to
her.
        Taika snuggled up against him a little more as the show reached a
particularly romantic piece and he decided on the conclusion to this
evening's festivities.

***

        Serenity watched in interest as the younger Senshi wandered their
separate ways about the park  "Are you certain that this is a good
idea?  The last time we were here, things got a little rough." 
        "Yes, they can handle it.  I've checked the police records and around
thirty people have disappeared her so far.  You came in later so maybe
they are not as prepared."
        "I don't know, Endy-chan.  Let's make our way over to the candy house
and see who figures things out first."  
        "Will you give them a cookie?"
        Serenity giggled.  "How about, I just make sure that no one gets hurt."
She paused for a moment.  "Make that no one on our side.  Tricking
people with food is something that I cannot forgive.  And in the name of
the Moon, I will see that they are punished."  Serenity actually did a
few of the hand motions while saying the last.
        Endymion broke out into laughter, unable to contain himself any longer.
"You've not lost your flare for the dramatic, my dear."  He straightened
up slowly.  "Now, let's go see if our students have been paying
attention in class."

***

        Taika and Jadeite left the theater much closer than they had entered
it.  Taika was just content to be out with someone after such a long dry
spell.  Long as in centuries.  
        Jadeite's mind was working furiously, as any man's would have been in
this situation.  His thoughts, however, were not on whether or not she
liked him and would agree to another date or a walk in the park.  Well,
he was thinking about a walk in the park, but that was for an entirely
different reason than most men.
        Currently, he was trying to decide how to best confront this girl and
find out her true identity.  If she even knew, that is.  
        "My dear, would you care to take a walk in the park for some fresh
air?  The moon is lovely tonight."
        Taika smiled dreamily.  "Of course."
        Jadeite smiled.  The girl suspected nothing.
        Taika, however, was beginning to dread what was coming.  Her date was
getting a little anxious, which could only mean that he was planing on
making a battle of this before the night was over.
        She didn't really want to hurt him now that she'd had a couple of hours
in which to examine his soul.  There was a core of goodness in him, but
it was surrounded by what could only be spells to keep in locked away.
        The spells, themselves, seemed ancient and powerful and she wasn't sure
that she could break them without causing trauma to the good part of
him.
        She was saved from further agonizing by the sound of a beeper going
off.  
        Jadeite looked confused for a second and then realized what the sound
was.  His amusement park youma was in trouble and had hit the panic
alarm.  
        "Oh, I'm so sorry, my dear, but I must go.  Duty calls.  Perhaps we can
do this again some time?"  He made to excuse himself.  
        Taika smiled.  "Certainly."
        Jadeite bowed and hurried off to find out what was going wrong this
time.
        Taika sat down on a nearby bench and silently cursed her luck. //Why is
it that all the nice guys are either taken or possessed?  Why?//

***

        Serenity and Endymion were sitting on a similar bench near the candy
house in Dream Land.  Serenity was happily munching on some cotton candy
and watching the fighting between the Sailor Senshi and Muurido, the
Dream Princess youma, transpire on the inside of her visor.
        "Remind me later to teach Usagi a true seeing spell.  I can't believe
that she fell for that stone snake illusion."
        Endymion grunted an affirmative.  For his part, he was watching the
battle on his version of the visor, a pocket calculator style thing. 
"Mamouro's swordsmanship is really poor.  He hasn't been practicing
much, I see.  We're going to have to remedy that later."  He paused to
watch a particularly painful looking hit.  "I think he needs to forget
about the tuxedo and try the armor."
        "Ami should have used her Shabon Spray as soon as they saw that the
enemy relyed on a breath weapon.  I swear, these girls really don't
think some times."
        "Dear," Endymion turned from his display to give her a steady look. 
"They're just starting out.  And they're doing better than we ever did
at that point."
        Serenity sighed.  "Yeah, you're right.  But that doesn't mean that
they're going to get off easy on the training."
        The battle raged on well past the point where Serenity ran out of
cotton candy and was most of the way through the popcorn.  The Senshi
eventually staggered out of the ruins.  Tuxedo Kamen, Sailor Mars, and
Sailor Jupiter had to be helped along by the others.
        Tuxedo Kamen had taken a painful burn wound on his side and Serenity
decided that it was a perfect opportunity to teach Usagi some of the
most minor healing spells.  Mars and Jupiter would be okay as soon as
the effects of Muurido's gas attack wore off.
        Then it was time to retire back to the shrine a couple of hours before
everyone had to go home.  It wasn't a very pleasant experience for the
younger Senshi as Usagi had set up a small projection device and was
giving a play by play account of what had been done wrong in the battle.
        There was a lot of training to do, still, and an unknown amount of time
in which to do it.

END

Yeah, I know the Rei/Jadeite thing may be a bit overused, but I felt the
need for Taika to have someone and Jadeite was the only one available.