It was supposed to be a sunny afternoon… according to the weatherman, at least. Supposedly, weathermen are experts on stuff like this, so Makoto left the apartment without her umbrella.
Hours later, true to the nature of all weathermen, it rained.
“Stupid weatherman!” she growled running while holding her bookbag over her head. “Ten percent chance of rain, he says. Some ten percent this is!” She continued on her way, not watching where she was going while muttering angrily and suggesting that the aforementioned weatherman should stick his forecast somewhere that was bound to hurt, when she ran into someone and crashed onto the wet ground. “Hey! Why don’t you watch where you’re going!” she yelled furiously.
“I’m sorry,” the person apologized.
“Sorry isn’t good enough!” she growled. She paused as she recognized the guy’s voice. Is that voice… Motoki-san…? She looked up. It was Motoki.
“Mako-chan, are you okay?” he asked as he grabbed her hand and helped her up. “I’m really sorry. I was busy thinking about something. By the way, don’t you have an umbrella?”
His voice sounds like my long-lost senpai…, Makoto thought dreamily to herself. I wish time could stop right now.…
“Maybe we should get going?”
Makoto suddenly snapped out of her trance and nodded. “Sure.”
They walked down the street, Makoto staying close under Motoki’s umbrella. Staying dry was one thing, but to actually have an excuse to stay close to him….
“I hear you’re an excellent cook,” he said suddenly.
“Just a bit,” she said with a grin.
“Sounds great,” he replied. “Can you cook me something?”
“Sure, anytime!” she answered eagerly. “And I’ll clean up your room.”
Motoki blinked. He wasn’t really expecting to be taken seriously, but…. “That’d be great,” he said with a small, appreciative grin.
She quickly reached into her bookbag, pulled out a pencil and a pad of paper, and handed it over to him. “Here. Can you write down your address, phone number and favorite food?”
He took the pad and pencil and wrote down the requested information. “There. You’re an interesting girl,” he said with some amusement.
“That’s what everybody tells me,” she replied, looking over at the pad as he wrote. “Hmm… your favorite food is Hayashi Rice.”
Slowly, the rain began to lessen until it completely stopped. The clouds parted quickly allowing the sun to shine over them. “The rain stopped,” he said, folding his umbrella. “I guess we can be on our way.”
“Why did it have to stop raining already?” she grumbled disappointedly. He looked at her in confusion and she laughed nervously in chagrin.
“Mako-chan, I have to drop by my school for a bit,” he mentioned.
“I see. Then, I’ll drop by your place later to make Hayashi Rice. See you later!” she said cheerily as she ran off.
“Wait!” Motoki called, but she had already left. “I have a date tonight….”
“My, you have a pretty friend,” a female voice said from behind. She was frowning lightly with her arms folded in front of her. “So, is she the new girlfriend Mamoru-kun was telling me about?”
Motoki grinned as he turned around. “Don’t tease me like that, Reika.”
“I’m just kidding,” Reika replied, smiling as well.
He glanced over her outfit and frowned in disappointment. She was wearing a lab coat over her lavender dress, which could only mean one thing. “Judging from your outfit, no date tonight, right?”
“I’m sorry. It’ll probably take until night to finish.”
“It’s all right. So, have you decided on what you’re going to do?”
She sighed and shook her head. “I still can’t make up my mind.”
He frowned in concern as he nodded. “I see. It is a once-in-a-lifetime decision, so take your time.”
“You’re such a kind man,” she replied, looking away as a tear slowly ran down her cheek. With her facing away from him like that, he couldn’t see it. “But….”
“Hi there, you two!” Mamoru called out, walking up to the couple with Ryoku silently walking with him.
“Mamoru-kun!” Reika exclaimed in surprise. “You’ve got to stop sneaking up on us like that! By the way, who’s that with you?” she asked, glancing at Ryoku.
“That’s Kino Ryoku,” Motoki replied. “He’s a friend of ours. Ryoku, this is my girlfriend, Nishimura Reika.”
Ryoku was surprised to find out that Motoki had a girlfriend, but it didn’t show on his face. Well, I never did ask if he had a girlfriend. Usagi-chan and Mako-chan are really going to be shocked over hearing this! I’d better let them know about Reika-san. “Hello,” he greeted pleasantly.
“Nice to meet you, Ryoku-san,” she replied, smiling. She glanced at her watch and gasped slightly. “Oh, look at the time! I’ve got to go. Mamoru-kun, would you and Ryoku-san mind keeping him company for a while? Bye Motoki, I’ll call you later!” she shouted over her shoulder as she ran off.
Both Ryoku and Mamoru turned to Motoki, who was still staring off after Reika with a crestfallen expression on his face. They shared a look, nodded, and dragged Motoki along with them.
Zoisite thrust her crystal spinning out in front of her. The crystal spun in place for a second, then stopped with one point sticking straight into the air. “Dark Crystal,” she shouted, “I command you, show me the fifth of the Rainbow Crystal carriers!” Several small streaks of light shot up from the bottom end of the dark crystal and gathered at the top into a glowing sphere of light. The bright sphere of light then exploded into a swirling black funnel, upon which the image of a red-haired woman appeared, wearing a lab coat over her lavender dress.
She looked over to Kunzite, who was standing beside her. “This woman is the next target. The top biology research student at Azabu Technical Institute.”
Kunzite glanced at the image from the Dark Crystal. “Hmm… she is rather attractive,” he remarked.
Zoisite glared at him with a hurt expression on her face. “How could you?” she exclaimed dejectedly. “She’s only an ugly youma! And you call her attractive?”
“Zoisite, jealousy does not suit beautiful you,” he replied.
“I’m not listening!” she answered coolly, closing her eyes and turning away.
Undaunted, he made a rose appear in his hand and offered it to her. “Even this rose cannot surpass your beauty,” he said softly, as she took the rose from him and smiled. She rested her head on his chest as he gently stroked the back of her head.
“Kunzite-sama, I will get the next Rainbow Crystal for you.”
“So, what’s wrong?” Ryoku asked, staring at a slightly disappointed Motoki sitting across from him. He and Mamoru had dragged him for a short distance until he got the message and started to follow them. Mamoru had suggested they go to a cafe and order some drinks. Idly, Ryoku had noticed that it was the same place he and Rei went to when she told him that she had won tickets to that cruise they went on a couple of months ago. He ordered a soda while the two older guys both ordered some coffee.
“Reika might be leaving soon,” Motoki replied despondently. “To Africa.” He absently drank a little of his coffee. “It’s a research project on the possible origins of life on Earth.”
“I see,” Mamoru replied. “So, what’s going to happen?”
“I don’t know. She’s still trying to decide.”
“I mean, what’re you going to do?”
“I just don’t know. I want her to stay close to me, but I can’t tie down her future.”
“That’s typical you,” Mamoru replied wryly, folding his arms across his chest.
“Haven’t either of you ever been in love with someone?” Motoki asked.
“Not really,” Mamoru replied flatly. Ryoku remained silent as he began to study the table in front of him.
“How about you, Ryoku?” he asked.
“Once,” Ryoku replied quietly.
“Really?” Mamoru inquired.
“Yes, but I really don’t want to talk about it.”
Mamoru and Motoki both glanced at him as he continued to stare down at the table.
“Oh, yeah,” Motoki said suddenly. “Do either of you like Hayashi Rice?”
“Not really,” Mamoru replied while Ryoku blinked at the abrupt change in subject and silently nodded.
“I see,” Motoki replied. “Ryoku, your sister said she’d come over and cook me some. Why don’t you two join me?”
“Mako-chan?” Mamoru asked, frowning in thought. “Oh, Usagi’s friend.”
“You’ve met my sister, Mamoru-san?”
“Not really. I’ve just seen her around Usagi; that’s all.” He paused as he gave Motoki a significant look. “Do you know how Usagi feels about you?”
“Well…,” he began with a casual shrug, “she is cute.”
“Cute?” Mamoru remarked, staring at him as he sweatdropped in chagrin. “We were talking about Reika-san and look at you….”
“Do you think I’d get serious about junior high students?” he asked, then smirked at him. “What about you and Usagi-chan’s friend, Rei-chan?”
“It’s not like I’m that interested in her. She’s the one with the huge crush on me.”
“Rei-chan tells me you’ve been going to karate classes together,” Motoki mentioned. Mamoru paused for a moment in mortification. Ryoku noticed his hesitation and decided to answer the question for him.
“You’re right about that,” he said with a half-grin of amusement as Mamoru gave him a silencing glare. He ignored it and continued. “In fact, Rei-chan has already kicked his butt three times in a row and is gonna go for a fourth the next time they go.” Both Motoki and Ryoku laughed at Mamoru’s expense as he softly growled to himself in vexation.
“Cute,” he muttered dryly. “Very cute.”
“Sorry, Mamoru-san, but it is true,” Ryoku replied.
“Anyway, that’s not the point,” Motoki continued, “Usagi-chan and her friend are like my younger sisters.”
Both Mamoru and Ryoku shared another look. From the chagrined look on Mamoru’s face, Ryoku knew he was thinking the same thing. Wait until he finds out that both Mako-chan and Usagi-chan have huge crushes on him!
Ryoku, though, was definitely not looking forward to breaking the news to Makoto tonight. Usagi could wait until tomorrow at school.
Later that day, Makoto cheerily ran over to the address Motoki had given her earlier. The apartments that he lived in weren’t that much different from the ones that she and her brother lived in, the major difference being that theirs was a three-story complex, whereas his was just two stories tall. She glanced down at the notepad. Yes, this was the right address. She grinned to herself as she strode over to the door and knocked.
“Yes? Who is it?” Motoki’s voice called from behind the door.
“Good morning!” she responded loudly. “This’s Kino Makoto!”
“Hold on.” The sound of a door unlocking was heard, then the door opened with Motoki standing in the doorway. “Hi, Mako-chan. What brings you here?”
“Excuse me,” she replied as she quickly walked into the apartment, nearly knocking him aside.
“My place is a mess right now,” he said apologetically.
“Don’t worry,” she replied, not having seen the room yet, since she was looking at him. “I know that some guys don’t clean up a lot…,” she faltered as she observed the extreme disarray that was his living room. Clothes strewn chaotically all over the place, dishes piled in the sink, dust everywhere…. To say that the room was a mess was quite an understatement. “…or at all,” she concluded.
A determined expression set on her face as she took out a bandanna from her bag and tied it across her forehead. “Okay! Let’s do it!”
“Do what?” he asked in surprised confusion.
“Clean up, of course,” she replied matter-of-factly. “You honestly don’t expect me to cook in a mess like this, do you?”
“Um… I guess not.”
“Here we go!”
Makoto quickly went to work helping Motoki clean up the place. He started cleaning the dishes as she gathered up some of the clothes lying about the floor and set them over in a pile in the corner, which he would wash later. When that was done, she began to dust, then clean the windows, while he returned most of his books and other objects to his room. She was in the middle of mopping the floor he had just swept, when she noticed a picture of him standing next to an unfamiliar red-haired woman.
“Who is she?” she asked, picking up the picture.
“That’s Reika,” he said fondly.
“She’s not your sister, is she?”
“No.”
Uh-oh, she thought suddenly. If she’s not his sister, then that must mean.… “She’s your girlfriend?” she asked frantically.
“Well…,” he began sheepishly, “…yeah.”
Reality was like running face-first into a brick wall at 100 mph…. repeatedly. I think I’m gonna be sick.…
Ryoku was considering how to break the unfortunate news to his sister when the door to their apartment opened and she walked forlornly through the door. Her expression was so bleak and depressed that he decided not to tell her about Motoki’s girlfriend… at least, not right away. No sense compounding her misery by giving her what could be even worse news.
He walked over to Makoto and put his arm around her shoulders as closed the door behind her. “What happened, Mako-chan?” he asked with deep concern. “You seem so miserable.”
“It’s Motoki-san,” she sighed. “I just found out that he has a girlfriend.”
So much for having to worry about that. “I know. I just found out today, as well. I met her while I was talking with Mamoru-san and Motoki-san this afternoon.”
“So you’ve seen her, too?”
“Yes. I can’t help but feel sorry for Usagi-chan. She had a crush on him, too. I’m going to hate breaking this to her tomorrow. I don’t think she’ll take it well.”
“I know what you mean,” she replied glumly.
Makoto was still despondent when she went to school the next day. She was sitting beneath one of the many trees on the school grounds, sighing softly to herself. Luna sat quietly on the grass to her right, while her brother stood on her left. He was leaning against the tree behind her, with his arms folded across his chest. His expression was neutral, as usual, and he looked as though he was making sure no one bothered his sister’s brooding.
“It’s strange to see Mako-chan so troubled,” Usagi said as she walked up to Makoto on her right. “What’s wrong? You look down. Another broken heart?”
Makoto gave Usagi a furious scowl. “It’s a bit annoying when you say stuff like that,” she snapped irritably.
Usagi jumped back a bit at the severity of that scowl. “Uh-oh. I was just kidding,” she said contritely. “What happened? I’ll help you out.”
“I doubt you could,” Ryoku remarked, not turning his head. He hadn’t moved from his position, leaning against the tree.
“Why don’t you worry about your own problems?” Luna added before Ryoku could say anything more.
“Just tell me,” she said sympathetically, turning to Makoto. “Who was it this time?”
“Motoki-san,” Makoto replied curtly.
Apparently, reality had the same crushing effect on Usagi, because she immediately broke down into tears. At that point, Luna decided to walk over to Ryoku and leap into his arms, then climb onto his shoulder. She didn’t exactly want to be next to Usagi when she was wailing at her usual level of loudness.
“How come you’re so surprised?” Makoto added.
“Why shouldn’t I be? I saw him first…. I liked him, too!” Usagi whined.
“Is that so?” Ryoku said sardonically, still not turning his head.
“This’s too much!” Usagi continued, bawling incessantly.
“But I thought you said you liked Tuxedo Kamen,” Makoto pointed out.
“I like both of them!” Usagi cried miserably. Ryoku and Luna promptly facefaulted.
“Make up your mind!” Makoto shouted irritably.
“Why don’t you two cut it out?” Luna chided in annoyance from Ryoku’s shoulder. “He has the right to choose, you know.”
“I don’t think they’re listening, Luna,” Ryoku sighed in vexation.
“Wait!” Usagi said as she stopped her crying.
“Now what?”
“If Motoki-oniisan didn’t choose Mako-chan, that means he’s got someone else in mind.”
“Brilliant deduction,” Ryoku muttered dryly.
“And it must be… me!”
Ryoku and Luna performed their second facefault for the day.
“Nope,” Makoto corrected flatly. “Her name’s Reika-san.”
“No way!” Usagi gasped. “I’m out, too?”
“Cheer up!” Makoto said encouragingly. “Who cares if he has a steady? I say we go for broke! Keep on trying, because you’ll get nowhere just by crying!”
“That’s right!” she said with renewed confidence as they both got to their feet.
“If we don’t go for it, then there’ll be no future for the Sailor Scouts!” they shouted simultaneously.
Luna and Ryoku sweatdropped. “Why do I get the feeling that those two don’t have a future either way?” Luna asked dryly.
Ryoku sighed and shook his head sadly. “Just hope that this will pass swiftly, Luna. That’s all we can do right now.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“That is a trail of thought too perilous to pursue, Luna. I would rather not think about it.”
Ryoku and Luna, who was still riding on his shoulders, followed Usagi and Makoto to the arcade after school. When the two girls asked why they were coming, he replied that he was curious as to how they intended to steal Motoki away from his girlfriend. Truthfully, he just wanted to watch both girls make fools of themselves, but he wasn’t about to tell them that. He definitely wasn’t going to tell them about Reika’s possible trip to Africa, since it wasn’t decided yet. No sense giving them aid in a futile endeavor.
“Here we go,” Usagi said seriously.
“No grudges regardless of who wins, right?” Makoto said just as seriously.
“Right,” Usagi answered, nodding. “Let’s go in order of height!” she suggested suddenly.
Facefault number three.
“What is this? P.E.?” Makoto muttered as she sweatdropped while Ryoku and Luna recovered.
“Hey, Meatball-head!” Mamoru called as he walked up behind the group.
“Oh, great,” Usagi growled. “Just what I don’t need.”
“Both of you?” he said, more to himself than to anyone else. Ryoku silently nodded as the girls blinked in surprise. “Why don’t you two just forget about him, for both your sakes?”
“It’s none of your business!” Usagi snapped irately.
“You cynic!” Makoto added just as testily.
“I hate to break this to you,” Mamoru added undauntedly, “but Motoki thinks of you two as younger sisters and nothing more.”
“Younger sister?” Makoto repeated in quiet disbelief.
“No way,” Usagi added in similar disbelief.
“Don’t believe me?” Mamoru asked. “Just ask Ryoku.” Both girls whirled to face Ryoku, each with a questioning expression on their faces. Before they could ask, he nodded confirmation of Mamoru’s statement. “Believe me now, Meatball-head?”
“Why should I believe anything a jerk like you has to say!” Usagi retorted furiously. “And remember, my name is Usagi. Not Meatball-head!” She turned and stomped toward the arcade’s entrance.
“Sure, I know your name,” Mamoru called after her. “Meatball-head!” Usagi stopped in mid-step, growled furiously and continued into the arcade.
“Don’t you know that Motoki’s already got a girlfriend?” he asked Makoto. He shot a glance over to Ryoku, who was leaning boredly against the wall with Luna perched on his right shoulder. Ryoku gave him an I’m-staying-out-of-this look and folded his arms stubbornly.
“You mean, Reika-san?” Makoto answered.
Mamoru looked at Ryoku again, who just shrugged, and sighed. “I just don’t get what’s going through the minds of junior high students these days,” he muttered tiredly. “Even if she does choose to go overseas, I still doubt that either of you would have a chance….”
He was interrupted when Makoto suddenly grabbed him and started shaking him violently. “Overseas?” she demanded forcefully. “What do you mean? Tell me more!”
“I shouldn’t have told her…,” he muttered weakly as Makoto’s fierce shaking caused him to collapse onto the ground.
“Are you okay?” she anxiously asked Mamoru’s prostrate form.
“I think you killed him, Mako-chan,” Ryoku teased from behind. Luna stifled a laugh and meowed her agreement.
“Some help you two are,” Makoto muttered as she tried to revive Mamoru.
That night, Makoto waited by the gates of Azabu Technical Institute and stared up into the clear sky. The pale moonlight softly illuminated the school grounds where there were no lampposts. She sighed softly as the waiting was beginning to become boring.
“I came to urge Reika-san into going overseas, but…,” she began, then dropped her gaze from the sky. “…how am I going to tell her?”
The sound of approaching voices caught her attention. There were two voices, one male and one female. She looked around the corner of the wall she was leaning against and peered through the gates. “It’s her,” she said, catching sight of Reika as she was walking towards the gate. She opened the gate, walked through it, and closed it again, all without noticing Makoto. “Excuse me,” Makoto said, trying to catch her attention.
“Who is it?” she asked as she turned towards Makoto. “Didn’t I see you with Motoki yesterday?”
“You did?” she asked as she followed Reika.
She grinned slightly. “I’m not upset, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she mentioned. “So, what is it? Did you want to ask me about something?”
“Actually, I did,” Makoto said as they walked into Shiba Park and sat on one of the benches. “Have you decided to study overseas?” she asked bluntly.
“You got the news quickly. Did Motoki tell you?” Reika asked obliquely.
“Please answer my question,” Makoto requested.
Reika’s expression fell slightly as she gazed down at the ground in front of her. “I still don’t know yet,” she replied after a long pause. “I’m still trying to decide. On one hand, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but… I don’t want to part with Motoki, either. If only he’d stop me….”
“What are you talking about?” Makoto exclaimed, standing up from the bench. “Who do you think you are? You wouldn’t go overseas if Motoki-san stops you? Then, why don’t you just forget about the whole idea? You only have one way. Study or love. You won’t get both!”
Reika nodded in surprised agreement, while Makoto suddenly realized what she had just said. Oops… I wasn’t supposed to push her to go.…
The following afternoon, Makoto went to go cook Motoki’s favorite dish for him since last time she didn’t have the proper ingredients to make the dish. Usagi insisted on tagging along and Ryoku came because he wanted to pick up a few pointers from his master chef sister, or so he claimed. She wasn’t too sure about that, but she let him come along anyway. She also made him carry the bag of ingredients, too.
It was a large, heavy bag.
“That’s his place over there,” Makoto said, pointing to Motoki’s apartment.
“You know your way? At last, I’ll be in Motoki-oniisan’s home,” Usagi said excitedly. Ryoku and Luna rolled their eyes in exasperation and sweatdropped.
“Knock it off, Usagi,” Luna muttered as the girls headed over to Motoki’s apartment door and knocked. Ryoku noticed that Luna wasn’t following.
“You’re not coming with us?” he asked.
“I’m a cat. I don’t really need cooking lessons,” Luna explained.
“I see. Well, see you later, then,” Ryoku replied and went to join the girls.
The door opened and Motoki stepped into the doorway. “Hi, everyone! Please come in.”
The apartment was still clean from the cleaning it had two days ago. Evidently, Motoki must’ve kept the apartment from falling back into the mess that was there before.
“Nice place you’ve got here, Motoki-san,” Ryoku remarked appreciatively.
“Wow, it’s so clean,” Usagi said, surprised. “The rooms of good-looking men are good-looking as well, aren’t they?” Makoto choked slightly in chagrin after hearing what she said.
Usagi spotted an almost empty coffee mug sitting on the table in the living room. “Unfinished coffee,” she said, picking up the mug. “I smell Motoki-oniisan,” she said as she smelled the coffee.
“Usagi, what are you doing?” Makoto asked pointedly.
“Oh, I forgot about that,” Motoki mentioned as he came up behind them.
Usagi put down the mug and blushed slightly, bowing her head so no one would be able to see. “I hope you don’t mind me coming,” she said sheepishly.
“I came to watch Mako-chan cook,” Ryoku called from the kitchen as he set the bag of ingredients down on the counter. “They also made me carry everything here for them. Anyway, I’m ready to go if you all are.”
Usagi glanced over at Motoki, then down to the floor again. “No,” she said almost to herself. “I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Motoki replied. “You need mental preparation to cook, too?” From the expressions on Usagi and Makoto’s faces, they didn’t exactly expect that reaction to Usagi’s usual complaints. Ryoku, on the other hand, simply dumped the contents of the bag he’d been carrying onto the table and arranged them for later use.
“Let’s just get started,” Makoto said dryly and went to go join her brother in the kitchen.
“All right,” Usagi said, joining the others in the kitchen and still elated over getting that unexpected comment from Motoki. “Just tell me what to do.”
“Okay, here’s a knife. Start peeling some carrots,” she ordered, handing her a knife.
“But, I’m not good at peeling,” Usagi replied, staring at the knife in her hand.
“I’ll just have Motoki-san handle it, then,” Ryoku said, grabbing the carrots and carrying them off.
“Okay, then,” Makoto said, slightly annoyed at Usagi’s refusal to peel carrots. “Slice up some onions.”
“I don’t wanna be in tears,” Usagi complained.
“I’ll do it, then,” Ryoku replied, walking back into the kitchen and grabbing the onions.
By now, Makoto was really getting annoyed with Usagi, clenching a fist in annoyance and snapping the carrot she was holding in half. “I think it’s dead now, Mako-chan,” Ryoku muttered aside to his sister as he began chopping the onions.
“Then, start cooking rice!” she growled to Usagi, ignoring her brother’s remark.
“But, I don’t know how to wash rice!” Usagi exclaimed.
“Don’t look at me. I’m already busy,” Ryoku said, still chopping onions.
“You useless thing…,” Makoto grumbled.
“But….”
“Well, you can always eat what everyone else makes,” Ryoku remarked. “However, it would be kind of embarrassing for your future husband if he had to cook for his wife.” He was saved from a scathing reply from Usagi when the phone suddenly rang.
Motoki left his carrots and went to go answer the phone. “Hello? Reika!” he exclaimed. Both Usagi and Makoto abandoned the food and started eavesdropping, leaving Ryoku to continue preparing the food and grumbling quietly to himself about nosy friends and sisters.
“Motoki, I’ve made up my mind,” Reika told him sadly.
“What?”
“I’ve come to a decision, Motoki,” she informed him. “I… I need to see you. Right now.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” he said, hanging up the phone. Usagi and Makoto quickly rushed back into the kitchen. Ryoku gave both girls a quick disapproving glance and went back to work.
“Usagi-chan, Mako-chan, Ryoku, sorry but…,” Motoki began.
“Sure, see you later!” Usagi replied, cutting him off.
“You heard me?” he asked, slightly embarrassed.
“…you dummy,” Makoto muttered aside to Usagi.
“What’re you waiting for?” Ryoku asked, having figured out what was going on from the anxious expression on Motoki’s face and the disappointed looks on the girls’ faces. “Go.”
“I’ll be out for a bit!” he told them and rushed out the door.
Makoto sighed while Usagi suddenly yelped in pain.
“I cut my finger!”
While the meal they prepared slowly simmered, the girls sat around the living room table. Ryoku was keeping watch over the pot, in case it started to boil over, while the girls waited for Motoki to return. He didn’t mind watching the pot; it was almost done anyway and it was better than listening to those two sigh constantly.
Outside, the sun had all but set. Usagi was half-asleep, while Makoto was extremely bored. Ryoku had set the pot aside to cool and was now sitting with the girls.
“He’s late,” Makoto muttered quietly.
Luna walked up to the window and peered inside. ”Oh, there they are,” she said to herself. “I wonder what happened to Motoki-san. It’s not like him to just run off.”
Suddenly, a faint beeping sounded from within Usagi’s purse. “The Crescent Moon Wand is reacting! There must be a Rainbow Crystal nearby! Usagi!” Luna leaped up to a nearby window… and discovered that it was closed by smacking into the glass.
“What?” Usagi mumbled sleepily. “What’s happening?”
“Rainbow Crystal…,” Luna exclaimed as she landed face-first onto the ground after crashing into the window. “Everyone, transform!”
Makoto noticed the beeping sound coming from Usagi’s purse. “Motoki-san’s late and now I’m ticked off!” she stated, standing up.
“That’s right! And he’s making us wait! Damn Motoki-oniisan!” Usagi grumbled loudly, also standing up.
“…Usagi-chan,” Luna muttered in exasperation.
“I’m just kidding.”
“Enough of that,” Ryoku told them, also standing up. “We’ve got work to do.”
“Right. Moon prism power, make up!”
“Jupiter power, make up!”
“Knight swords power!”
The three transformed Scouts ran out of the apartment and headed straight for the location of the fifth Rainbow Crystal.
Motoki stood protectively between Reika and their attacker. The blonde woman was at that moment surrounding them and herself with a tall ring of fire, preventing their escape. He stared harshly at the blonde woman, who was now laughing mockingly at his attempts to protect Reika.
“How heroic,” the woman mocked. Motoki snarled furiously as he rushed at the woman. She leaped into the air and hovered over the fire behind her, then quickly crossed her arms over her chest and then flung them apart, causing a huge energy blast to fly straight at him. The attack struck hard, sending him flying backwards to land at Reika’s feet, out cold. “Have a nice nap,” the woman said, landing back on the ground and striding over to Reika.
Reika kneeled down worriedly and touched his cheek with her trembling hand. She was scared. Scared, and infuriated. How dare this woman attack her and the one she loved! “You monster!” she spat furiously, whirling to face the blonde threat approaching her. She hovered protectively over Motoki’s motionless form as if to ward off any further attacks from their assailant.
“And you are a hideous monster as well,” Zoisite stated as she approached her. “One of the Seven Shadows, Rikoukeida.”
“Seven Shadows?” Reika repeated in disbelief.
“Yes,” Zoisite replied, holding up the Dark Crystal in front of Reika. “Now I’ll retrieve the Rainbow Crystal and show you exactly what I mean.” The Dark Crystal began to glow, emitting pulses of energy at her. The pulses of energy began to envelope her and penetrate through her. Suddenly, she felt a surge of power as the energy from the Dark Crystal found the Rainbow Crystal within her. She began to scream as the power of the Blue Rainbow Crystal began to overload her senses. Suddenly, a screen of smoke rose around her. From out of the smoke, the Blue Rainbow Crystal flew straight towards Zoisite’s hand. She smiled darkly as she caught the crystal. The smoke cleared, revealing a green-skinned woman with short flame-colored hair. She wore a monocle over her right eye, and what seemed to be a black one-piece swimsuit and red knee-high boots.
“Reika-san!” Sailor Moon exclaimed as the three Scouts and Luna appeared on the scene.
“She changed into a…,” Sailor Jupiter continued.
“…into a Shadow Warrior,” Sailor Knight finished.
“Sailor Moon, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Knight, be careful!” Luna warned.
“I’m the Sailor Warrior fighting for love and justice, Sailor Moon!” Sailor Moon stated. “I’m different from the usual me!”
“Ten thousand volt power of a broken heart!” Jupiter shouted.
“Looking for boyfriends!” they finished together.
Luna stared at them in complete exasperation. “You too, Mako-chan?” she muttered in a suffering tone.
Knight had an utterly mortified look on his face. “Why me?” he implored skyward as if patience would materialize from thin air.
“On behalf of the Moon, I’ll punish you!” Sailor Moon shouted, finishing her speech.
“So, you have no boyfriends?” Rikoukeida asked derisively.
“It’s all your fault!” Sailor Moon retorted.
“Forget boyfriends for now!” Knight exclaimed in frustration.
“I will have the Rainbow Crystal!” Zoisite said, laughing as the Shadow Warrior tossed an exploding canister at Sailor Moon, which would have hit her if Knight hadn’t pulled her out of the way. As she was watching the scene below her, something struck her hand from behind, forcing her to drop the crystal. “What?” she growled as she turned around to see who had attacked her. A figure dressed in a black tuxedo, top hat and cape stood atop the building behind her, his cane retracting back to its normal length. “Tuxedo Kamen!”
Tuxedo Kamen leaped off the building and landed onto the ground just as Zoisite settled to the ground herself. “So, you dare to interfere with me again?” she sneered.
“You will not have the Rainbow Crystal,” he declared.
Sailor Moon was staring dreamy-eyed at Tuxedo Kamen, which didn’t go unnoticed by the other two Scouts. “Hey, what about Motoki-san?” Jupiter asked.
“Right now, I’m Tuxedo Kamen-sama all the way!” Sailor Moon replied.
Facefault number four.
“It must be nice to be able to change your loyalties, just like that,” Knight remarked sarcastically as he recovered.
Before Sailor Moon could ask Knight what he meant by that remark, Rikoukeida began to bombard the Scouts with several blue-colored canisters. The canisters exploded upon contact with the ground, releasing several small, slimy blobs that slowly began to climb up their legs.
“What are these disgusting things?” Sailor Moon shrieked as she leaped up and down, trying to dislodge the disgusting creatures.
“Those cells will draw the energy out of you through osmosis, leaving your bodies in a desiccative state,” she explained. Sailor Moon’s expression turned blank from confusion.
“She needs to brush up on her biology,” Luna commented dryly.
“She meant that these things’ll suck out all of our energy until we turn into raisins,” Knight told Sailor Moon, simplifying it for her benefit.
“Oh,” she replied, now understanding what that complex statement meant. “…but I don’t wanna be a raisin!” she whined, fully understanding what that complex statement meant.
“My guardian planet, Jupiter,” Jupiter intoned, preparing her attack. “Bring forth the storm! Call upon the clouds! Let thunder come down upon me! Supreme thunder!” The lightning bolts struck the energy-draining cells, destroying them. Rikoukeida, on the other hand, summoned a flask to appear between her hands, which she used to catch Jupiter’s attack.
“What?” Knight uttered in shock.
“She caught my attack!” Jupiter exclaimed, also surprised.
The Shadow Warrior pointed the opening of the flask at the Scouts and slapped the bottom. Lightning bolts shot out from the flask, headed straight for them.
“Look out!” both Knight and Jupiter shouted, each grabbing one side of Sailor Moon and pulling her out of the way of the attack.
“So, you escaped,” Rikoukeida said indifferently. “I still have plenty of thunder left.”
“Sailor Jupiter, do something!” Sailor Moon pleaded. “Can’t you turn that lightning bolt off or something?” Jupiter only shook her head.
“I will send you three to hell together,” the Shadow Warrior declared, readying another attack.
“Shabon spray!” Sailor Mercury shouted, raising a thick fog to obscure vision.
“Mercury!” Knight exclaimed in relief.
“And Mars!” Jupiter added, echoing his relief.
“Glad we made it on time,” Mercury said, as she and Mars appeared from out of the mist.
“Do you know how hard it was looking for you three?” Mars asked pointedly.
“Tell us later,” Knight replied as prepared his attack, hoping to shatter that flask and rid the Shadow Warrior of that weapon. “Earth thrust!”
“Fire soul!”
The two attacks struck the flask simultaneously, completely destroying the flask. As the fog began to dissipate, Rikoukeida found herself surrounded by the five Sailor Scouts.
“Use lab equipment with care,” Mercury told her.
“Use limited resources wisely,” Jupiter added.
“Now, get moving,” Mars urged imperiously.
“Don’t get bossy!” Sailor Moon retorted irritably.
“Then, don’t just stand there like an idiot!”
“Who’s an idiot?!?”
“Would you two just knock it off?!?” Knight bellowed in frustration.
“Sailor Moon, hurry!” Luna scolded.
Sailor Moon nodded and brought out the Crescent Moon Wand. “Moon healing escalation!” she shouted, rotating the wand in a large circle in front of her, ending above her head. As she held the wand above her head, a white glow emanated from the wand and covered the Shadow Warrior, returning her to her normal form. She then collapsed onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Tuxedo Kamen and Zoisite had been busy dueling over the Blue Rainbow Crystal, which was still lying on the ground where Zoisite had dropped it. Tuxedo Kamen thrust and blocked with his cane while Zoisite tried to blast him with several energy bolts, each missing by a slight margin.
“It appears that the battle is over,” Tuxedo Kamen announced as he dodged another shot from Zoisite and thrust again with his cane.
She took a cautious look over to where the Scouts were gathered, and saw that he was right. “You win. You can have the Rainbow Crystal,” she resigned, stepping back from the crystal. He gazed warily at the blonde General for a moment, then bent to pick up the crystal. Suddenly, a flurry of flower petals flew straight for him, forcing him to bring up his cape protectively against the attack.
“Tuxedo Kamen, you fool,” Zoisite taunted, after grabbing the crystal and opening a portal behind her. “I will have the Rainbow Crystals!”
“Hold it, Zoisite!” Knight ordered to the fleeing General as he rushed after her. “I won’t let you have that crystal!” He reached behind his back, brought out one of his swords and quickly flung it at the retreating General’s hand. The sword struck the Rainbow Crystal, knocking it out of her hand just as the portal closed on her. He dashed over to the crystal and grabbed both it and his sword before Tuxedo Kamen could recover from Zoisite’s attack.
Tuxedo Kamen stared at Knight’s retreating form, as he ran off with the Blue Rainbow Crystal. At least Zoisite didn’t get the crystal, he thought as he turned and departed.
Motoki slowly got to his feet, his head aching from Zoisite’s last blow. “Motoki!” he heard Reika call. He turned to see her running anxiously towards him. “Reika!” he responded, relieved to see her all right. She rushed into his arms, all of her fears and worries melting away in his embrace.
“Hey!” Knight called out to the other Scouts as they were beginning to leave. “Look at what I’ve got!” he exclaimed, proudly holding up the Blue Rainbow Crystal.
“That’s wonderful, Knight!” Mercury exclaimed delightedly.
“Now, we have two Rainbow Crystals!” Jupiter added.
“There are only two more crystals to find,” Luna pointed out. “Not to mention that we have to retrieve the other three from Zoisite and Tuxedo Kamen.”
“Oh, don’t be so gloomy,” Sailor Moon admonished. “We at least have two.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get the others,” Mars added. The other Scouts each nodded their agreement.
A few days later, Motoki and Reika were despondently holding hands at the airport, near the gate for her flight. She had finally decided that she would take the opportunity to study in Africa, which he supported wholeheartedly, if a little sadly.
The last call for boarding sounded over the PA system. Though it was time for them to part, they were loath to leave each other’s side.
“Reika, I won’t say goodbye,” he promised ardently.
“I’ll write you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I’d better go.”
“Have a safe trip.”
Reika gazed into Motoki’s eyes, as her eyes grew teary. “You’re in my heart,” she said lovingly.
“As you’re in mine,” he replied just as lovingly. He followed her all the way to the gate and watched as she boarded.
“Oh, that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen!” Usagi exclaimed, dabbing a handkerchief to her eyes. She, Makoto, and Ryoku all accompanied Motoki and Reika to the airport, and were now watching the tableau between the parting couple.
“Indeed,” Ryoku remarked as he stood with his arms folded, watching the couple with a sympathetic expression on his face. It definitely was worth it to come to the airport with them, even if he and his sister did hate the place.
“Mako-chan, let’s give up on Motoki-oniisan,” Usagi suggested.
“Reika-san might find a good man in Africa,” Makoto said with a sly grin.
Usagi regarded her with surprise. “No way!”
“So, you’re dropping out?” she inquired as she started after Motoki.
“No, I did not!” Usagi shouted, chasing after her.
“Didn’t you give up?”
“No, I didn’t!”
“I’ll have Motoki-san!”
“No!!!”
Facefault number five.
“I’ll just pretend I don’t know them,” he muttered wryly as he recovered and headed in the opposite direction.