//Sailor Senshi! They're at it again! Last night, Sailor Moon made an appearance at the Yamagoto Corporation's gala ball, where she foiled a daring robbery by a mysterious thief!//
//That guy was pretty interesting, too, even though he didn't stand a chance against Sailor Moon.//
//I kind of like him—he's so mysterious! And the tuxedo is kind of...romantic, I think? Oh, and I hear he threw a rose at Sailor Moon!//
//Someone I talked to said that, too. But she didn't seem happy about it at all.//
//I think she was still mad at that creep who took a picture up her skirt.//
//Speaking of which, a warning for our viewers: a number of false auctions have appeared on the Internet, claiming to be selling the memory card containing that picture. We have it on good authority that these are absolute hoaxes, because the memory card in question was destroyed in the confusion.//
//But back to the robbery...isn't it strange that the thief—oh, what was it Jun-chan was calling him at the meeting this morning?//
//Mmmm...'tuxedo to kamen no otoko', I believe.//
//Sou da ne...so anyway, he got away clean, right? But he gave back the jewels he stole. I hear they're worth 87 million yen.//
//Eeeeh? That much? Sugee...//
//Un. And he could've gotten away with them, I mean, he just gave them back when Sailor Moon started trying to kill him.//
//That...could probably be WHY he gave them back...//
//Well yeah, but he still got away, you know? I mean, he could've gotten away AND kept the jewels.//
//I guess...//
//What I'm saying is, I've heard that he was after something in particular, and whatever he was looking for wasn't in the stuff he stole.//
//Oh yeah, I did hear something like that. And he said the rest of the jewels weren't worth the trouble, right?//
//Sou yo, sou yo...so if 87 million yen worth of gems wasn't "worth the trouble"...doesn't it make you curious what he was really after?//
//Mmm...maybe a little.//
//Shame the director's wife refuses to talk to us.//
//Can you blame her?//
//Not really. But anyway, do you think we'll see this tuxedo-kamen guy again?//
//I wouldn't be surprised. Things are getting really weird in this city lately.//
//Sou yo, sou yo...//
"Man, it's like the whole world's just gone freakin' nuts," Makoto remarked to her empty apartment, shaking her head as she muted the television. "Senshi, monsters, jewel thieves in formalwear...what the hell have I gotten myself mixed up in?"
Frowning thoughtfully, she picked up her phone and keyed in a number she had not yet called. "Yo, Usagi!"
//Aa, Kino-san! Ohayou.//
"Saw you on the news," Makoto said with a grin. "Good job kickin' that guy's butt!"
//Hai doumo,// Usagi replied, giggling.
"Hey, how'd you know that guy was robbin' that place, anyway?" Makoto asked. "Do we have some kind of Sailor-Sense or somethin'?"
Usagi made a funny spluttering noise. //Mou...don't start with that 'Sailor' garbage,// she groused. //It's bad enough from the news and the bystanders.//
Makoto laughed. "Okay, okay. But seriously, how?"
//I was kinda already there, actually,// Usagi admitted. //I was attending the gala with my fiance.//
The brunette blinked. "Fiance? You're engaged?!"
//Arranged.//
"Oh." Makoto paused. "That's cool. He cute?"
//He's a jerk,// Usagi replied flatly. //I'd like to do to HIM what I did to that tuxedo-kamen nut.// A pause, and Makoto could practically HEAR the other girl's grimace. //Oh God, now I'm doing it.//
"Doin' what?"
//Picking up on those stupid names the reporters keep coming up with.//
Makoto snorted. "Well, he had a tuxedo, he had a mask...I mean, it helps to have somethin' to call these weirdos, right?"
//Kino-san, you DO realise that 'these weirdos' include you and me, don't you?//
"Yup!" Makoto replied cheerfully. "I'm a weirdo, and so are you. We're weirdos together!"
Usagi laughed. //Just don't say that to Ami-san. She might freeze off something you'd miss.//
Makoto snickered. "Okay. Anyway, talk to you tomorrow?"
//Hai!//
* * * * *
"Hey, that's the same guy from the museum!" Mina exclaimed.
Timothy looked up from the morning newspaper. "Yes, it does seem to be him."
"'Seem to be' nothing, it's the same damn nutter." Mina pulled a disgusted face. "You'd think that idiot would've learned..."
Timothy shrugged. "Some people are possessed of a startling and often fatal lack of common sense." He idly peeled off the front page and handed it to Mina.
The blond scanned the article, frowning. "Dammit, even with Rei tutoring me..."
Timothy looked up at her, tilting his head. Mina blushed. "My friend from school is trying to help me with my kanji. But we've only had one cram session..." She sighed.
"Ah." Nodding, Timothy looked around warily. Seeing nobody was paying any attention to the two of them, he reached out and took hold of a corner of the page. His eyes flared silver.
Mina blinked. The newspaper was suddenly in English. "How—?"
Timothy merely smiled.
The blond shook her head, snorting. "Prat. You could've done that any time you wanted."
"But then how would you learn to read Japanese?" Timothy asked, amused.
"Right, whatever." Mina settled in to read the article. "So...wonder what the Princess was doing there in the first place?"
The mage shrugged. "Couldn't say. I know who she is, where she lives, and where she goes to school. Beyond that, I know absolutely nothing about her."
Mina levelled a flat stare at him. "That's still an awful lot of information," she accused. "That, yet again, you're not sharing with me."
Timothy sighed. "Love, you know—"
"No, Timothy. I'm getting tired of that load of dung. I want a real answer."
Crystal blue eyes locked with steel grey eyes. Time passed.
"...pass me your phone," Timothy eventually said, a note of weary resignation in his voice.
Mina frowned, but handed over her mobile. Timothy tapped furiously at the keys for several seconds, then handed it back.
"Think about this carefully," the mage urged. "Consider: involving yourself directly with the Princess at this stage could become...messy."
Mina examined the screen, face blank. "You're the one who started all this Senshi stuff, Timothy," she replied. "Didn't you say this Princess is supposed to be my leader? That I'm supposed to be protecting her and fighting beside the other Senshi? Because so far, that's not what I've been doing."
Timothy smiled. "Mina, love...I'm actually pleased to hear you say that. You're really thinking seriously about everything. And..." He paused. "You may be right. It may be well past time." Toying with his spoon, he continued, "Just...two things."
"Yes?"
"One: whatever you do, try not to get hurt."
Mina snorted. "Believe me, I wasn't planning on it. And the other?"
"If you contact the Princess...she doesn't know my name. Or rather," he added hastily, "she doesn't know the name I go by at present. I've only introduced myself to her using my real name."
The blond blinked. "Your real name...?"
The mage laughed. "Love, I have lived for more than ten thousand years. Did you really think I've always gone by just one name? A very modern, very English name, yet?"
"I...guess I never thought about it," Mina admitted, frowning. "The whole 'more than ten thousand years' thing kinda broke my brain when you got around to admitting it, so I try not to go there if I can help it." She stuck out her tongue.
"Well, I can't fault you for that. In any case, if you do contact the Princess, you'll want to mention 'Artemis'."
Mina blinked. "Artemis."
"That's right."
"...wasn't that a Greek goddess...?"
The mage grimaced. "Damn, I was hoping you didn't know that. I was positively mortified when I woke up in that era and heard that. Luna got incredibly vindictive about it, too—damn beast teased me about that one well into the Dark Ages." He sighed. "In any event, yes, I have the same name as a Greek goddess. But I had it first," he proclaimed with mock indignation.
Mina giggled. "Alright, alright." She paused, then her brow furrowed. "Hang on..."
She fished a notepad and a pen out of her purse, and wrote for a second. She frowned at what she had written, then looked up at Artemis, and shook her head. "Arturo, Timothy S. Art, Tim, S. That's DREADFUL."
"I thought it was rather clever," Artemis replied with an amused smile.
Mina shook her head and laughed.
* * * * *
"Mamoru."
The university student's blood froze at the tone in his father's voice.
It was a tone he had, luckily, only heard a few times in his life—and one that NEVER boded well.
Chiba Takeshi was angry.
"Otousama," he replied as calmly as he could. He locked his gaze on the older man's eyes, forcing himself not to look away at the stern rebuke he found there.
"Your mother has recently spoken to Tsukino Ikuko," the elder Chiba said, voice hard as stone. Beside him, Mamoru's mother stood silent, a half-pace behind her husband—and her eyes bothered Mamoru even more. She was angry, yes...but she was also disappointed. Even...hurt.
"The mother of my iinazuke," Mamoru replied unnecessarily.
"Hai." Takeshi's thick grey brows lowered like a thundercloud. "Tsukino-sama called to discuss the matter of your interactions with your iinazuke. There was nothing complimentary in their conversation."
Mamoru stood silent, waiting, saying nothing, refusing to look away despite the growing coldness in the pit of his stomach.
"Mamoru," his father began in that stern, crushing tone, "your behaviour toward young Usagi is, to say the very least, inexcusable."
"My behaviour...?" Mamoru asked. "I have met and spoken to Usagi precisely three times. We have never been completely unchaperoned."
"This is not a suggestion of impropriety," Takeshi snapped. "This is a matter of your attitude."
"My...attitude."
Now, his mother spoke up. "Ikuko-san expressed dismay with your seeming lack of interest in Usagi on a social level. She also informs me that Usagi herself has spoken of you as, in Usagi's own words, the biggest asshole she has ever met." The middle-aged woman frowned. "Ikuko-san assures me that Usagi is not customarily prone to such language, and that her use of this term to label you suggests an extraordinary cause for this animosity."
They waited, then, for Mamoru to say anything in his defence. For a time, he did not speak, measuring his words carefully.
"It...is possible that I have..." He paused. "That perhaps I have spoken to my fiancee with unnecessary harshness."
"It is possible you called her a useless, empty-headed girl," his mother rebuked. "The very first time you met her. With no provocation."
Mamoru flinched.
"Can you offer cause for this behaviour, which contradicts everything I have ever tried to teach you?" Takeshi asked, arms crossed.
Finally, Mamoru looked down, unable to bear the weight of his parents' stares. "Otousama, Okaasama," he began, "there is no sufficient cause for my behaviour in regards to Usagi herself." He paused. "You have given me everything and more. You have raised me, you have nurtured me. I cherish and love the both of you. I wish only to earn your respect and pride. However..." He paused. "The arrangement of this marriage was announced at a time during which I am under an extreme amount of pressure. I..." He paused once more. "I do not object to the betrothal, and will see it through for your sakes, as it is little enough for you to ask of me, in return for all you have given me." He looked up, then, and met his parents' eyes. "But the situation, and its timing, are not ideal, and...it is possible that I lashed out at Usagi without due cause." He bowed, low, and held the bow for several seconds. "I have shamed and disgraced you, and failed in my role as your son. For this, I have no excuse, and offer no defence."
His parents were silent for a long time.
At length, Takeshi sighed. "Mamoru-kun...you should have just told us from the start that this was a bad time. We would have called the whole thing off. You have many years ahead of you for marriage, but now is the most important time in your preparations for your future. We understand this, and...we wouldn't ask you to do anything you didn't want to do."
"We're proud of you, and we love you," his mother added. "We never dreamed you'd agree to a major change in your life such as marriage just to make us happy. And in a way, that makes me even prouder, but..." She paused, and her tone became one of rebuke again. "That does not excuse the horrible things you have said to Usagi-chan."
"Indeed. You owe her, and her parents, a full apology," Takeshi added.
Mamoru straightened. "Hai, Otousama." He paused. "I regret that I have caused this strife."
"So long as you accept responsibility, as a man, then we will consider the matter settled." Takeshi paused. "We will go to the Tsukino residence this afternoon. You will apologise to Usagi and her family. Then, we will sit down and determine whether or not to dissolve the arrangement."
"Dissolve...?" Mamoru blinked. "Otousama, such an act would dishonour both families."
"But you do not favour the engagement, and neither does Usagi," his mother pointed out. "You must not allow concerns of family honour to outweigh concerns of your heart."
"I respectfully disagree," Mamoru replied. "I value the name I have been given far too highly to tarnish it in such a manner."
"We will discuss it this afternoon, with the Tsukino family," Takeshi said.
"Hai."
* * * * *
A small black cat sat perched on the steps of Hikawa Jinja, peering up at a surly raven which was rustling its feathers and cawing raucously.
"Thank you for allowing me to photograph your beautiful temple," a soft, accented voice drifted down from above.
"Oh, it's no trouble," a merry, older voice replied. "I'm always pleased to meet someone who's interested in our culture."
"Yes, I find Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines in particular, fascinating."
"You're welcome to come back anytime!"
A blond, green-eyed Westerner dressed in a royal blue pullover and khaki slacks descended the steps, a camera bag slung over one shoulder.
The cat watched him go, then slunk away in a different direction.
The cawing of the raven trailed off.
* * * * *
For the second time in as many weeks, the three members of the Tsukino family and the three members of the Chiba family sat across the table from one another. The mood was far more tense this time.
"Tsukino-sama," Chiba Takeshi began, "Mamoru-kun has something he wishes to say."
Mamoru moved slightly away from the table and lowered himself into a full, formal, submissive bow, his gaze held low. "Usagi-san, I have behaved toward you in a manner which is inexcusable. For this, I apologise, and humbly ask that you not look upon my family with scorn due to my inappropriate conduct." He looked up, then bowed once again. "I also extend my apology to you, Usagi-san's parents, for the treatment I have shown your daughter during our betrothal."
Several tense seconds passed.
"I accept your apology, husband."
"We also accept your apology, and we do not hold the house of Chiba accountable."
"We are undeserving of your mercy," Takeshi said, mirroring his son's bow, as did his wife. "We offer the determination of our son's fate to your judgement."
Kenji and Ikuko conferred silently for a moment. Ikuko then glanced at Usagi, an eyebrow raised. The young girl nodded once, casting her gaze upon Mamoru.
"The arrangement of this marriage is still beneficial to our two families," Kenji said at length. "At this time, however, the strain of this engagement upon our children may be harmful to the course of their lives." He paused. "Perhaps...at this time, it would be prudent if the arrangement were reduced in formality. If, as time passes, your son and our daughter come to feel they can indeed exist in harmony as husband and wife, then there is no problem. However, if they feel they are simply not compatible with one another, it would be cruel of us—all of us—to force them into a life of mutual enmity."
Takeshi nodded solemnly. "I concur." He stood and bowed. "We shall take our leave at this time. Please excuse us."
"Until we meet again."
The Chiba family left. Once their car had pulled away from the curb, Usagi let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Papa," she said.
"We do still want you to marry Mamoru-kun," Kenji admonished her. "We want you to try to get along with him. But..." He paused. "If it isn't meant to be, it isn't meant to be."
"We want you to be happy, Usagi-chan," Ikuko said, hugging her daughter. "That's all any parent wants for their child."
Usagi sniffled. "I love you, Mama, Papa."
"We love you too," Kenji said, eyes misting behind his glasses.
* * * * *
"Ami-chan?" Mizuno Sayoko asked, knocking lightly on her daughter's partially open bedroom door.
"Hai, Okaasan?" The studious girl did not look up from her computer monitor. Her fingers were flying furiously across the keys every few seconds, punctuated by frustrated sweeps and clicks of the mouse.
"I was thinking of ordering out for dinner tonight, is there anything in particular you're in the mood for?"
"Anything is fine, Okaasan," Ami replied absently.
"What's got you working so hard on a Sunday?" Sayoko asked curiously, stepping into the room.
Ami glanced up, adjusting her glasses. "I always work hard on a Sunday, Okaasan," she replied.
"And every other day, I know," the doctor frowned. "You really need to take it easy sometimes."
"I am, actually," Ami said, a slightly embarrassed look on her face. "I'm not doing schoolwork or exam preparation at the moment."
"Really?" Sayoko asked, curious. "So what—oooh, those are pretty gems! So it's window-shopping online, is it?"
The web browser on Ami's computer displayed photo after photo of dazzling gemstones. The short-haired girl grimaced. "Not exactly." She paused, then sighed. "You saw the morning news, about last night's incident at the Yamagoto gala."
"Yes, the jewel thief, and Sailor Moon—"
"Yes, that," Ami replied, somewhat tersely. She pushed her glasses up, and continued, "I have no interest in such nonsense as Senshi, of course, but...there was one thing the reporters said which has been eating at me."
"Let me guess. About whatever the thief was really after, and didn't find?"
Ami nodded. "It is a mystery. It...annoys me." She looked up at her mother. "So I'm attempting to solve it."
Sayoko laughed, patting her daughter's shoulder. "So we're a detective now, are we? Well, if anyone can figure it out, my Ami-chan can." She straightened up. "I'll go order dinner. Don't work too hard!"
Ami stared after her mother's retreating form for a moment, then returned to her search, expression grim.
*I should not be wasting my time with this...but somehow...*
*Somehow...I believe this merits attention.*
*Besides, this is still beneficial to my intellectual development. Mineralogy...a very complex and fascinating subject.*
* * * * *
Luna found Artemis standing on the roof of a building across the street from Juuban Junior High School, watching the last of the workers leave for the day.
"They certainly are working quickly," the mage mused, hands in his pockets.
"They're not the only ones," Luna replied. "We have a problem."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"You know the Shinto priestess I've been keeping an eye on?"
The mage nodded. "Who, ironically, is Mina's new best friend."
Luna blinked. "When did this happen? You never mentioned—"
"YOU report to ME, not the other way around," Artemis reminded her.
The cat growled. "Yes, I'm aware of that, Master, but it does help if we're both on the same page..."
Artemis waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever. You were saying?"
"The shrine where the girl lives had a very unusual visitor today."
"Not uncommon."
"It is when it's Lord Jadeite."
Artemis blinked, and turned his silver gaze to fix on the youma. "You are certain of this?"
"Whether I live twenty thousand years or two hundred thousand, I will not forget the face of my liege lord," Luna replied. "I'm telling you, Lord Jadeite was at that temple this afternoon."
"Damn," Artemis spat. He sighed. "I guess it's a good thing Venus finally made me give her the Princess' phone number. She'll almost certainly be properly Awakened by this time tomorrow..." He smirked. "Mina's going to be VERY surprised when she finds out her friend Rei is Mars..."
* * * * *
Usagi blinked confusedly at the display on her phone. *Who...?*
"Moshi-moshi, Usagi desu."
There was a pause. Then, a hesitant voice. //Um...I'm sorry for calling you like this, out of the blue, but...am I speaking to Princess Serenity?//
Usagi's eyes widened. "Who is this?" she demanded. "What—"
//I'm sorry, it's just Artemis gave me this number, and—//
"Artemis?!" Usagi interrupted. "...are you 'Sailor V'?"
//Yes. Um, but you can call me Mina, Your Highness.// A pause. //So um...can we meet up to talk? If it's no trouble.//
* * * * *
A figure appeared in the shadows of Beryl's throne room.
"Exalted One," he greeted, kneeling and bowing his head. "I pray entreat your audience."
"I will grant you my audience," Beryl replied. "Report."
Still kneeling, the man looked up at the dark queen. "I bear concerns which number of three. The first of these concerns regards the Senshi." He paused. "Fortune guided my path to stand present and witness an engagement between one Senshi and an inferior adversary, a pitiful clown of a brigand. The engagement was brief, but informative; I took some small measure of the mettle of the Senshi."
Beryl nodded approvingly. "Your analysis?"
"The Senshi I did witness is young, undisciplined, and untrained, but powerful. If allowed to mature, if allowed to hone her edge, she may become a blade which will cut to our marrow. I have no basis in observation for it, but I speculate the same is true for her sisters in arms."
Beryl frowned thoughtfully. "Your recommendation?"
"I have none at this time. I would rather a conference with my brethren of the Shitennou in the stead of advising you out of turn."
"Very well. Your other concerns?"
"Yes. The brigand that fell flight before the Senshi...he is human, truly, and ill poses a threat. However..." A pause. "It did seem, to my reckoning, that he seeks a thing which has not been found. A thing which no mortal man of this human world should know exists." His eyes darkened. "My suspicion is that this human seeks also the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou."
Beryl raised an eyebrow. "A human, in search of Serenity's crystal?"
"The human woman whose collection of jewels served as the brigand's temptation...bears on her person a stone which, I have cause to suspect, might in fact BE the Ginzuishou. This is, by incident, the third of my concerns." He paused. "The human woman, she did place a counterfeit stone amid her collection of baubles. In some manner I cannot fathom, the brigand seemed aware of the ruse, and saw fit to abandon his gambit. This suggests that he is indeed aware of the existence of the crystal, and will likely target it yet again."
"And you have access to the human who possesses it?"
"To an extent, the scope of which I am at present ill inclined to abandon in a base attempt at thievery. Until I can with my own senses know, with pure certainty and absolute lack of doubt, that the stone in question is indeed the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou, I shall foster no attempt to claim ownership of it. Unless ordered to do so by you, Exalted One; however, I strongly oppose the issuance of such decree."
Beryl sat in contemplative silence for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. Continue to observe, and attempt to determine whether or not that stone is the one we seek."
"As you command, Exalted One. By your leave, I shall resume my post."
"You are excused, Lord Nephrite."
