She stood silently on the roof of the school, watching the sun rise over the foolish city of weak, pathetic humans.
Her instincts were to descend into the living mass below and rend, tear, rip, kill, devour—to take the souls of these prey creatures for her own, to become stronger, to...
But she served a master whose will was much stronger. She had her orders, and had been forbidden from doing anything to draw undue attention to herself.
She sighed as the sun became a bright pool of fire on the horizon, tinging the hazy clouds with the light of early morning.
Soon, it would be time to begin. She had much to prepare...
Makoto sat across from the vice-principal of her school, face hard, fists clenched tightly in the fabric of her skirt, eyes narrowed.
"Kino-san," the officious little man was saying, peering at her through tiny, oval-framed spectacles, "you must understand that we care very deeply about the reputation of this school. The actions of our students reflect on the entire school—for good, or for ill."
"Hai, sensei," Makoto replied in a dull, flat tone.
"We cannot abide behaviour which brings shame and dishonour to the school. You do understand this, do you not?"
"Hai, sensei."
"Kanzou-sensei has submitted a disturbing report. I am certain you know the contents."
Makoto debated lying, feigning ignorance, but knew it was futile. She lowered her head, eyes closed, and nodded.
The vice-principal coughed once, then opened a folder and withdrew a single sheet of paper from it. "We will, of course, not be alerting the authorities. The negative attention that would bring to the school would be far more damaging than the behaviour alluded to by Kanzou-sensei's observations." He paused, then started to speak again. "Now, Kino-san, as a man of responsibility and as a teacher, I feel I must—"
"Skip the lecture," Makoto bit off tersely. "This isn't the first time I've had to put up with this shit. Just give me the fucking expulsion slip and I'll get out of your hair."
The vice-principal's eyebrows climbed and his eyes narrowed. "Kino-san, your tone is dangerous. You should keep your position in mind, and—"
"My position?" Makoto demanded angrily. "I'll tell you my POSITION. It's FLAT ON MY DAMN BACK, every goddamn night, usually with people JUST LIKE YOU, who are married, or have children my age—or even older! Disgusting, filthy pedophiles, perverts, disgraces...if their employers, if the police, knew half of what I've seen in the last two years..."
"Kino-san, that's enough!"
"No it's not! I haven't said a damn word to anyone about what my life is like, but if I'm about to be thrown out of another school because of it, I'm damn well gonna have my say!" The anger in her eyes seemed to quell the vice-principal's ire; he sat back in his seat, staring intently at the raging girl.
"Since my parents died, I've been on my own. My one living relative, my uncle, squandered my entire inheritance—enough money to see me through my entire education including university—on gambling debts, cheap whores, and greedy personal desires. He also tried to abuse me." Makoto smiled grimly. "The hospital bills drained the last of the money that was rightfully mine. Then the loan sharks he still hadn't paid off got hold of him, and that was that.
"So there I was, an orphan, penniless, everything my uncle had bought repossessed by the people he owed. I spent two months in an orphanage, and in that time, I saw HELL. I refused to endure the kind of suffering and torment I saw in that place for another six years, so I left.
"I was twelve, already taller than all the boys my age, with a ridiculously huge chest that earned me a lot of ridicule and unwanted attention. I had nobody to turn to, nowhere safe to go.
"But I had one thing, one very important thing: my dignity. The dignity to refuse to live on the street eating filth. The dignity to refuse to tuck tail and run back to the orphanage to be mistreated and neglected. So I made a decision: to make my own way in the world, in the only way I could."
Makoto fixed the vice-principal, whose face had turned very pale, with a steely, penetrating gaze. "I became a whore. A twelve-year-old whore.
"I've been expelled from three private schools and moved twice since then. I still work to provide for myself, using the only asset I have. In short, sensei," she spat, "I don't care what you, Kanzou-sensei, or anyone else thinks of me. When I walk out of this school, I'll go with my head held high, because whatever I may be, whatever I may have done, I'm a survivor...and I still have my dignity." With that, Makoto roughly snatched the expulsion paper from the annoying, insignificant man, turned sharply on her heel, and marched out of the office and off the campus, head held high.
It was only five minutes later, when she had put most of the distance between the school and her apartment behind her, that Makoto threw back her head and screamed.
* * * * *
Monday saw a return to a more sedate pace for the students of Juuban Junior High. The police presence had disappeared entirely, everyone had stopped talking about the bizarre death of Saegusa-sensei, and attentions had returned to more run-of-the-mill matters: mundane gossip, rote lesson recitals, and the general drudge of Japanese school life.
Only the most observant would have noticed a glance pass between the quasi-popular class ditz, Tsukino Usagi, and the friendless, unapproachable model student, Mizuno Ami. Such an observant person would have noticed a very slight change in the usually hostile, aloof gaze the genius girl held for all of her classmates, and the barest nod of—respect?—she afforded the long-haired girl before returning to her textbook.
One person, out of the thirty in the class, did in fact notice. But Umino Gurio, for once, decided it wasn't his business, and promptly forgot all about it.
As class 2-C settled down for homeroom, the teacher trudged wearily in, leaning against her desk and yawning before beginning to speak. "Alright, listen up. I'm supposed to tell you that tomorrow during homeroom period, there will be a special health lecture for all second years." Several students groaned. "I know, but it's one of those things. Besides, it means you don't have to listen to me ramble on. Now..."
Usagi drowned the teacher out, concentrating on the more important concerns in her life: worrying about the upcoming "date" with her ersatz fiance, and wondering when and where she would find the next Senshi.
*Two to find,* she mused. *Mars and Jupiter...or Mars and Venus...or Jupiter and Venus...what kind of people will they be? What kind of powers do they have? I hope they're a little less mean and grumpy than Ami-san...*
A piece of chalk bounced off her forehead, to the amusement of several classmates. "TSU-KI-NO-SAN!" the teacher growled.
Usagi laughed nervously. Across the room, Ami frowned, pushed her glasses up, and turned a page.
* * * * *
Mina looked at her new school, and had to admit she was impressed.
After her parents had separated and she and her mother had moved from England to Japan, there had been many arguments. Mina fought her mother daily about speech, food, manners, friends, clothing, and just about everything else. The most heated discussions involved the subject of school.
Simply put, Mina wanted nothing to do with a Japanese school, preferring to attend one of the schools set aside specifically for foreigners. Her mother, on the other hand, wanted her to have the benefit of a proper Japanese education at one of the drill-intensive, rote-learning, high-discipline schools she herself had attended as a girl.
Ultimately, Mina's mother realised that on this one issue, she needed to make a concession to avoid potentially serious trouble. Thus it had been settled that Mina would attend a private school which combined the benefits of Japanese and Western educational standards.
The school was a bit pricey, but well within their budget. It taught at all grade levels, so Mina would not need to deal with the stressful entrance exams which were the bane of Japanese students.
And, as a bonus, the school uniform wasn't one of those annoying sailor suits. She didn't mind dressing like that as her alter-ego, but she'd be damned if she'd be seen wearing that ridiculous crap every day.
Tugging at the lapels of her magenta blazer and smoothing down her green plaid skirt, Mina walked through the gates to begin her first day of school in Japan.
* * * * *
Makoto sat in a small restaurant a block from home, picking morosely at a poorly-cooked okonomiyaki.
Expelled. AGAIN. Dammit.
She supposed it was bound to happen, though. Really, it was amazing she hadn't wound up arrested or worse yet.
*I hate my life.*
Fortunately, she had contacts to handle this kind of situation, and by the end of the day, would be enrolled in a new school.
Still, she envied the ordinary girls who spent their afternoons hanging out with friends, gushing over pop idols, worrying about nothing except bad test scores and whether or not to give chocolates to this boy or that one.
A normal schoolgirl's life. It was her only wish, aside from a fam—
*Stop that,* she chided herself. *There's no use living in the past or wishing for things you can't have. Life isn't pretty and it isn't fair, but it could be a HELL of a lot worse.*
"NOBODY FUCKIN' MOVE! HANDS ON THE TABLES OR I START CUTTIN' BITCHES!"
The handful of people in the small diner screamed. Makoto sighed, placing her hands on the table, and bowed her head in defeat.
*God I hate my life.*
* * * * *
Minako stifled a yawn as the class shifted in preparation for the next period. *One good thing about Japanese schools,* she mused, *at least it's the teachers who move from class to class and not the students.*
Many murmurs stirred as the teacher for the next lesson entered, accompanied by a strikingly handsome youth. Mina immediately sat up straight and focused her full attention on the front of the room. *I think I'm in love,* she mused, before reminding herself she already had a boyfriend.
The person who had accompanied the teacher could not be more than seventeen or eighteen years old, with a strong, firm jaw, perfect cheekbones, and short, tousled blond hair. Eyes concealed behind small, mirrored glasses, the attractive youth's skin tone hinted at foreign origin, possibly mixed heritage; a faint Oriental hue to what largely seemed Mediterranean to Mina. The youth smiled easily at the students, causing several girls to giggle.
"Class," the teacher said, "This is Mr. King. He will be assisting me in our English lessons together for the rest of the term."
Mr. King bowed to the class. "Pleased to meet you."
"Now, you were all to choose a passage in English to recite in class today," the teacher continued, ignoring the continued giggling of several girls at the handsome new teaching assistant. "Is anyone prepared?" Three hands went up out of the thirty-one students. The teacher seemed slightly surprised at one of the hands, and nodded in that direction. "Hino-san, we'll start with you."
Mina watched as an elegant-looking girl with long, glossy black hair and deep violet eyes stood, posture straight, hands behind her back. There was no hint of a book or paper on her desk. The girl faced straight ahead and began a memorised recitation, her pronunciation slow but crisp, with little of the thick accent common to Japanese speaking English:
"And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
"And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
"And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life."
Mina's eyebrows climbed nearly to her hairline. Mr. King looked similarly surprised, smiling bemusedly and arching a slim eyebrow. The teacher simply nodded. "Well done, Hino-san. Extra marks for memorisation." The raven-haired girl bowed, sat back down, and proceeded to ignore the remainder of the lesson.
* * * * *
Makoto stumbled into her flat, grimacing at the blinking message light on her phone. "What next?" she demanded of the empty air. Slamming the door behind her, she shuffled over to the phone, stabbing a button with her index finger.
//You have. One. New message. First message.//
A brief pause.
//Mako-chan. Call me as soon as you can.//
She hissed, closing her eyes. Her pimp. *Just perfect.* With a frustrated groan, she picked up the phone and hit a speed-dial button.
//Motoki speaking.//
"It's Makoto," she said tersely.
//Mako-chan! How're things?//
"Save it. What's the job?"
//Ah. Well, you see...I wouldn't bother you with this since I know it hasn't been the best day, but...//
*Oh hell.* When Motoki got evasive, it was bad.
//Couple of American football players. Really big black guys. In town shooting a commercial, want a little fun. Um...they said something about Oreos, I don't know what—//
"I do," Makoto replied, turning faintly green.
//Ah. Well, um...I can't get any of the other girls. They're scared of these guys. I figured, you being, um...//
"This REALLY isn't the best time," Makoto practically growled. *I wouldn't do THAT even on a GOOD day.*
//Mako-chan...// Motoki whined. //Come on, kitten, it's 600,000 yen...//
Makoto blinked. *THAT much? Holy—* "Motoki? I..." She sighed. "Alright, but these guys better behave themselves, or I'm taking it out of YOUR ass."
//Great, thanks Mako-chan. I knew I could count on you.// *CLICK*
"Yeah, count on me to be that desperate," Makoto muttered. With an angry roar, she slammed the phone down onto the charger, then stalked off to the bathroom.
Best to get the vomiting over with before the fact.
* * * * *
After the final bell, Mina collected her things, then moved to stand by the dark-haired girl's desk as she put away her books. "Hino-san, was it?" she asked.
The girl looked up, her face impassive. "Hai." She frowned. "You're the transfer student. The American."
Mina pulled a face. "I'm British, not American."
"Oh. I apologise."
"Eh, easy enough mistake around here." *Right. Like I sound anything like a sodding Yank...* "Anyway, my name's Mina."
"My name is Rei." Rei stood, hefting her bag over her shoulder. "It has been a pleasure."
As she moved to leave, Mina fell in step beside her. "Hey, mind if I walk with you for a bit?"
Rei paused, frowning. At length, she shrugged. "If that is your wish."
*Wow, real friendly one.* "Listen, your recitation in English..." Mina paused. "That was really good. I knew there were some Christians in Japan, but—"
"I'm...not a Christian," Rei interrupted, face bowed. She seemed almost...ashamed? "I...I just find the Bible interesting. And things related to it."
"Oh." Mina wasn't sure what else to say about that. "Well anyway, you got my attention, that's for sure." She paused. "I'm really, really new here, and I..."
Rei glanced at her, head tilted. "Yes?"
"Well, it's just...I'm having a hard time getting used to Japan. And my mum wants me to make friends with as many Japanese people my age as I can." She rolled her eyes. "She's kidding herself, but...I really do want to have friends, you know? And I was kind of hoping, since you seem..." She paused. "Well, would you mind? Studying together and eating lunch together and stuff."
Rei stopped walking, turned to face Mina, and considered her carefully. Then the barest hint of a smile touched her face. "You are very forward, Mina-san. It is an unusual thing here, to be this forward."
"So I've heard."
Rei continued onward, Mina trailing a pace behind her. She decided not to say anything else for a few minutes, having sensed that perhaps it would be best to wait for the other girl to speak next.
After a few minutes, they approached a bus stop. "My bus will arrive momentarily," Rei said. "Where I live...is very far from the school, and most likely from your home as well. We can speak again tomorrow, if you—"
"Actually, do you mind if I tag along on the bus?" At Rei's sharp glance, she added, "I'm not in any hurry to get home, so I don't care if I get a little sidetracked." She paused, then admitted, "I'm kind of pissed at my mum, so I like to put off going home as long as possible."
Something sympathetic flashed in Rei's eyes for a moment. Then it was gone, her face impassive once more, but she nodded. "I do not object."
* * * * *
Class 2-C was in for a surprise Tuesday morning.
"Everyone, we have a new student today! I'll just let her introduce herself before we head for the auditorium for the health lecture."
The class murmured; the new girl was very, VERY tall, and had a rather prominent bust. She was still wearing the uniform of her previous school, and her brown hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She bowed stiffly. "Kino Makoto. I am pleased to be here."
The teacher observed her with some concern. "Kino-san, are you alright? You seem to be in pain..."
Makoto grimaced, but waved a hand dismissively. "I just pulled something last night. It's no big deal."
"If you're sure..." Shrugging, the teacher instructed the students to stand, and led them in a single-file line to the auditorium, where they were joined by the other second-year classes.
The principal came out onto the stage and spoke into the microphone on the podium. "As per instructions from the Ministry of Education, you will now listen to a special health lecture. May I introduce Kamiki Amami-san."
A tall, dark-eyed woman with reddish-gold hair and a sedate, frumpy brown suit walked onto the stage. Bowing, she began to ramble on about things nobody particularly cared about.
As the lecture droned on, Makoto glanced around at her classmates. Most of them seemed to be in the same kind of stupor she herself would usually be in for one of these absurd lectures.
It was as her gaze drifted over a girl with long, tea-coloured hair that she felt a strange sensation, the hair on the back of her neck prickling.
The girl looked up, met her gaze with a startled, guilty expression, then smiled shyly before returning her attention to the front of the room.
*Okay, what was THAT?*
* * * * *
In the empty classrooms on the second-years' floor, something very unusual was taking place.
Sheets of paper—loose writing paper, old tests, freshly copied worksheets—rose into the air, folding themselves into neat origami cranes, and flew high into the corners. As each crane reached a corner of the room, it unfolded, pressing itself flush against the wall. Charcoal-black runes burned into the center of each leaf, emitting a thin trail of smoke which dissipated rapidly. The runes pulsed with a red glow, and then the oddly-behaved pages faded from view, blending flawlessly into the walls behind them.
* * * * *
Makoto had braced herself for the usual lunchtime rush of chatter, questions, and intense interest that accompanied her transition into a new school. However, for some reason, very few people seemed motivated enough to approach her, and indeed there was a general lull of apathy hovering through the class.
She herself felt...listless, tired; not in the way she usually did after a gruelling night at "work", but in a deeper, more bone-weary way. Even the teachers, she had noticed, were becoming somewhat lifeless. Their Japanese history teacher had even fallen asleep during his own lecture.
School finally ended, and the students departed in a shuffling malaise. Makoto went straight home, turned off the phone, and collapsed on her bed.
Wednesday did not seem to be much of an improvement. Everyone seemed a bit better rested and lively at first, but almost as soon as homeroom began, the lethargy and apathy of the previous day returned in full force.
*I know school's dull and tiring, but something is REALLY off here,* Makoto thought to herself as she yawned hugely.
The half-asleep daze of incoherence that most everyone in school had slipped into lasted well into the lunch hour.
Makoto had almost fallen face-first into her uneaten bento when all hell broke loose.
* * * * *
"Princess! Princess!"
Usagi looked up from where her head lay on her arms. "Hmmwha?" She felt something tugging at her skirt, and looked down.
"Luna?" Suddenly, she was alert. Leaning down, she hissed, "You shouldn't be in here! Youshouldn'tbetalkingIshouldn'tbetalkingto
youwecouldgetinsomuchtr—"
"Does anyone look awake enough to notice me?" the cat asked sharply.
Usagi blinked, looking around. Most of her classmates were sound asleep at their desks, except for herself, the new girl, and Ami—both of whom looked about as worn down as she felt. "Um...now that you—" She broke off to yawn. "—mention it, not really."
"There's a youma here," Luna stated without ceremony.
Usagi frowned. "Well, yeah—"
"BESIDES ME!" the cat hissed. "You see how everyone's all tired and listless? This is a class one energy draining operation! I'm telling you, there is a youma in this school, draining everyone's energy!"
Usagi was instantly alert. "Can you find the youma, Luna?"
The cat hesitated, head up, sniffing. "Not in here, but I can smell something dark in this room. Probably whatever the youma is using to drain energy, which means..."
"Which means?"
Luna frowned. "If the youma isn't draining energy directly, then..." She shook her head. "Nevermind that! If we find the youma and kill it, whatever's draining energy will stop working."
"Are you sure?"
"Almost positive."
"Well alright. Let's go on a youma hunt." Usagi stood, stretching and yawning. She tiptoed across the room, glancing around to make sure nobody had noticed her strange conversation, and crouched by Ami's desk, where the genius girl had finally given in to slumber. "Ami-san, wake up."
Ami stirred, her glasses askew and a bleary haze in her eyes. "Tsukino-san?" she asked drowsily.
"Youma. Draining everyone's energy. Making us all sleepy. We've gotta stop it. Come on."
Ami seemed not to understand for a moment, then the haze fell away from her eyes and she nodded sharply. "Right."
* * * * *
Makoto looked up sleepily as the tea-haired girl she'd noticed at yesterday's assembly and a girl with glasses stood and walked toward the door. They had just reached the exit when it flew open, and the health lecturer stepped in, blocking their path. There was a cruel, predatory smirk on her face. "Going somewhere, ladies?"
"Actually, yes," the tea-haired girl said, frowning. "There's some very sick people in here, so we're going to go find the nurse."
"I'm a nurse," Kamiki Amami said, still smiling coldly, "and I'd be more than happy to take care...of YOU!"
Makoto wasn't entirely sure she was awake; what happened next seemed to be something from a nightmare.
The health lecturer's clothing exploded outward, pulsing black light surrounding her as strips of—paper?—unwound from the frumpy garments, reforming into new patterns. Her eyes turned golden and double-pupilled, floating in fields of blood-red. Her skin changed, taking on the colour and texture of aged parchment. The paper storm around her coalesced into a tight-fitting black halter and exercise shorts. Her distorted mouth stretched into a wicked, sharp-toothed grin.
"SURPRISE!" she yelled, throwing back her head and laughing wickedly. Two long, twisted ribbons of paper erupted from her hands, slamming into the two girls with the force of a runaway bus and sending them crashing through the window.
The sound was enough to wake everyone up; when they noticed the monstrosity standing in the doorway, they began screaming.
* * * * *
"Mercury Power, Make-Up!"
"Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!"
Ami and Usagi transformed in mid-fall, completing the transformation just in time to catch themselves, cracking the pavement beneath their boots.
Serenity swept the back of her glove across her forehead. "That was a close one."
Luna sprinted up to them, transforming into her panther form mid-run. "Are you girls alright?" she asked.
"Yes, just barely. What the heck just happened?"
"That," Luna said, glancing sharply upwards, "is the Papyrus Witch, Amami. She's fairly dangerous. She can control all forms of paper, making weapons, clothing, traps, and even explosives out of it."
"A paper-controlling youma in a school. That makes sense, somehow," Mercury commented.
Suddenly, every window in the building exploded, thousands of origami cranes pouring out of the empty panes. A tidal wave of screaming students stampeded out of the entrance. A swirling ribbon of paper hit the ground in front of the two Senshi, reforming into the maniacal Amami. She sneered at them. "So, I was right. I'd wondered how you girls managed to stay awake, caught in my sap-trap. Now I understand." An unholy leer split her face. "Senshi, and I have the honour of disposing of you. Lord Jadeite will be pleased."
"I'm sorry, but that's not going to happen! School sucks the life out of students on its own, without any help from monsters like you! Your presence is not welcome here, youma! We've got you outnumbered, and we're sending you to the paper shredder!"
Mercury groaned into her gloved palm. "Embarrassing."
"You talk a big game, Senshi! Let's see if you can back it up!" Hundreds of ribbons of razor-sharp paper enveloped the two Senshi, and they were soon running for their lives.
* * * * *
Makoto stared at the bedlam that had erupted all around her.
She had fled with the others when the screaming started. A searing pain in her lungs, coupled with a fresh wave of pain from abused portions of her body that hadn't quite forgiven her for the other night, forced her to stop running and take shelter under a large tree.
Now, she stared around the schoolyard at the chaotic nightmare the peaceful lunch hour had degenerated into. Of the two girls the monster had thrown from the second floor, there was no sign; Makoto idly wondered if they were alive or dead after a fall like that. Two odd-looking girls in strange costumes were leaping around the courtyard, throwing blasts of...SOMETHING...at the bizarre monster that had been the health lecturer, who was now flinging razor-sharp paper in every direction. There was also a huge black panther leaping around, slashing at the flying paper with dagger-like claws.
*Okay, I think I'm going insane or something...*
An origami crane shot at her at impossible speeds, and she raised her arms to block. A silvery burst of light hit the projectile, causing it to explode violently. Makoto hissed in pain as sharp shards of paper left minute cuts on her forearm.
The golden-haired girl dropped down in front of her, landing in a crouch. Eyes firmly on the monster the blue-haired girl was still fighting, she asked softly, "Are you alright?"
"I...what the hell IS that thing?"
"It's—" Suddenly, the golden-haired girl paused, glancing sharply back over her shoulder. "Uso," she hissed, eyes wide.
"What? What's wrong?"
The girl's blue eyes pierced her, making her squirm uncomfortably. Suddenly, the girl stood. "Mercury," she yelled, "Give us some fog! Nice and deep!"
"Ryoukai," the blue-haired girl called back. She made a wave of her hands, and a deep, chilly mist blanketed the area. The monster screeched in anger.
The golden-haired girl was now focusing intently on Makoto. "You..." She paused. "Yes, you are. I'm certain."
"Certain I'm what?" Makoto asked, eyes narrowing.
The golden-haired girl suddenly began to glow silver...and changed. Her strange miniskirted outfit was replaced by a long, elegant white dress, and a glowing golden crescent moon replaced the tiara on her brow. She fixed her brilliant blue eyes on Makoto, and intoned in an echoing voice, "Awaken, Senshi!"
Suddenly, Makoto felt like every cell in her body was ablaze. The sensation was not painful or unpleasant, just...strange. The feeling coursed to every extremity, then swept upward, coalescing in an icy-hot, prickling tingle on her forehead. The strange golden-haired girl nodded, smiling.
"Wha...what did you do to me?" Makoto asked.
Suddenly, there was a scream, and the black panther erupted from the fog, crimson eyes ablaze. "Princess!" it roared. "Mercury's in trouble! What the hell are you—" The cat broke off as it stared at Makoto. "...Jupiter?!"
"Quick, Luna! She needs her henshin thingy!"
The panther made an odd snorting noise at that, but lowered her gaze to the ground, where a burst of crimson flames flared into existence briefly, fading to leave a glittering metallic green bracelet. Without preamble, the strange girl picked it up, unclasped it, and slapped it around Makoto's wrist. "There's no time to explain, we've got to help Mercury. You know what to do."
"What—"
"Say the words." The golden-haired girl glowed again, changing back into her previous costume and charging through the thinning fog.
Makoto stared down at her wrist, a sudden strange sensation overtaking her senses. *This is...not happening,* she thought. *This is some kind of...*
She heard another scream, and the delighted roars of the monster.
She scowled. Whatever was going on, those girls had just saved her life, and they needed help...
With determination, Makoto stood, clenching her fist, and screamed the words that blazed through her mind:
"Jupiter Power, MAKE-UP!"
