FROM: Mizuno Ami
RE: Saturday evening
Please meet me on the Special
Observatory level thirty
minutes after roll call.
Do not be late.
Usagi blinked. *Uh-oh. I hope Ami-san isn't mad at me for that mess with the tuxedo creep...*
"Usagi! Hurry or you'll miss your train!"
"Ah...hai!"
Ami had disappeared into the elevators leading up to the higher levels of Tokyo Tower almost immediately after Haruna-sensei marked her present. Usagi considered following her directly, but decided to stick to the frosty girl's terms. Instead, she bought a ticket up to the Main Observatory five minutes later, and lost herself in the crowds while she waited for the time of her "appointment".
At 9:22, she purchased her ticket for the upper level and boarded the elevator. She scanned the less crowded Special Observatory, found her erstwhile comrade, and headed over. "Ohayou, Ami-san," she called.
Ami nodded curtly. "Tsukino-san."
Usagi shifted, digging her toe into the floor. "So, um...what's up?"
Ami wordlessly withdrew a sheet of paper from her bookbag and handed it over. "A list of potential targets," she explained, "of the jewel thief you encountered."
Usagi examined the printout, blinking. "Potential targets? Anou...I was only there by chance, you know," she pointed out. "It's not like I plan to make a career out of this idiot. Let the police—"
"Tsukino-san," Ami interrupted. "Please examine the printout, and notice the common thread among the gems displayed there."
The long-haired girl frowned, studying the sheet thoughtfully. "Well, they're all pretty," she said. "And they're all about the same size, aren't they? And they're all..." She blinked. "They're all silver, or have a silvery lustre..." Her eyes widened. "Masaka..."
"I believe this...'Tuxedo Kamen'," Ami said with a distasteful grimace, "is searching for a gemstone which may or may not be the alleged 'Maboroshi no Ginzuishou' that is directly responsible for our...situation."
"The...but how? I mean, how could some weirdo jewel thief know about—?"
"I do not know. I had entertained the thought that he might be an agent of the Dark Kingdom, but...he does not seem to possess any unusual abilities, such as ours."
"No kidding. The second I cut loose on him, he ran away."
"Precisely." Ami pushed her glasses up, frowning. "It is possible I am reading too much into the incident, but...I have an uneasy feeling about it."
"Hey, if it's making you uneasy enough to actually talk to me, much less do this much work trying to figure it out, I'm willing to take a chance on you being right," Usagi replied. "Thanks for cluing me in on this."
"It is in my best interests," Ami replied. "If this thief is indeed targeting the Ginzuishou, and through pursuing him, we ourselves come to possess it, we can bring an expedient end to this Dark Kingdom business, and to the disruption it causes in our lives."
"Aa...hai."
"Incidentally, the jewel most likely to be in the possession of Director Kamekona's wife is called the Oasis Lament. Please begin your investigation with that."
"Right. Thanks." Usagi paused. "Anou...I should tell you, I..."
"Yes?"
"Well, I'm meeting 'Sailor V' this evening. That Artemis guy finally decided to let her meet me."
"I see."
"So, um...yeah. Just thought you might like to know, and if you wanted to—"
"It is not necessary for me to attend such a meeting, and I am otherwise occupied in any event. Good day, Tsukino-san."
"...yeah, see you later, Ami-san."
* * * * *
When Mina arrived at school on Monday, she found Rei lingering by the gates, staring off in the direction of her temple home, an intent frown on her face.
"You okay, Rei?" she asked.
Rei shook herself and focused her gaze on the blond; her eyes were somewhat sharper-edged than normal, but her expression became neutral after the briefest pause. "Ohayou gozaimasu, Mina-san," she greeted. "It is nothing."
"Come on, Rei. Something's bugging you." She gestured for the raven-haired girl to walk with her to the doors; after a moment, the two girls proceeded into the building.
"I sensed something yesterday afternoon, at the temple," Rei eventually admitted, softly. "A...presence. One I have felt, or one like it, a number of times in recent weeks."
"A presence?" Mina asked, tilting her head curiously.
"An evil aura," the miko clarified. "I am...sensitive to such things. I do not speak openly of it, as it is—"
"Yeah, I understand." Mina patted the other girl's shoulder consolingly. "So you've been feeling bad vibes around the shrine lately?"
"Hai. And yesterday, an especially strong aura of impurity invaded the grounds. Jijiue did not sense it, but..." She shuddered. "I spent most of the evening placing additional ofuda around the shrine."
Mina nodded. She didn't profess to know much, if anything, about Shinto lore, but her friend was clearly rattled, and that was all she needed to know. "Do you need me to help you with anything?" she asked. "I mean, I don't know much about this stuff, but I can try."
Rei smiled. "Thank you for the offer, Mina-san, but no. This is a matter I must face alone, if I am to become worthy of my role as miko."
The blond frowned dubiously, but nodded. "Well, okay. But try not to get too bent out of shape, okay? It's not healthy."
* * * * *
Mamoru excused himself from his Monday classes, citing fatigue. He hated to outright skip school, but he had more important affairs that required his attention.
Namely, the repair and replacement of his damaged gear—again—and the larger issue of coming up with an alternate plan of attack.
The Sailor Senshi had been an amusing novelty, even a welcome diversion, at first.
The fallout from Saturday night, however, had changed all that.
*It's going to be almost impossible to get anywhere NEAR the Oasis Lament now...if that turns out to be the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou, I'm well and truly screwed. And the Senshi...it's a safe bet they're liable to show up every damn time I plan a heist from now on. How do I fight something like that? I can't even figure out what the hell they are!*
With a frustrated sigh, Mamoru ripped the lining from the torn opera cape and began unravelling it. *Got to salvage what I can out of this mess...I have a feeling my cash flow's about to run really, really dry...*
* * * * *
"The Oasis Lament?"
"Yeah. You ever heard of it?"
The novelty of Tokyo Tower's shops and attractions had worn off rather quickly for the students of Class 2-C, so the new school week found most of them spread out in quiet groups on the roof of Foot Town, studying (or at least goofing off in a sedate manner). Gossip about the weekend's unusual events had risen to a fever pitch during the first hour of the day's study session, then died quietly away in the manner of all things that enter the targeting sights of a teenager's attention span.
Usagi was sitting with Osaka Naru, math texts open in front of them but little actual studying taking place. The redhead chewed on her pencil thoughtfully. "It sounds familiar..." she mused. "Oh! I know! I remember Mama saying that there was supposed to be one really, really rare gemstone in the collection that almost got stolen the other night. I think...yeah, I'm almost positive she said it was the Oasis Lament."
"Sou ka na," Usagi replied. "Do you know anything else about it, though?"
Naru shook her head. "Gomen, I don't know half as much about this stuff as Mama does. You could ask her, though! I'm sure she'd love to tell you about it." She tilted her head curiously. "Why d'you ask, anyway?"
"Oh, just something I heard on the terebi," Usagi replied with a wave of her hand. "Someone said they thought that Tuxedo Kamen guy was after the Oasis Lament, and that they'd heard the director's wife had it. I just figured if it was that great that he'd throw away millions of yen worth of jewels just because it wasn't there..."
Naru giggled. "Yeah, everyone wants to know what that guy was really after. Hmm...yeah, we should ask Mama. She'd definitely know."
"How much do you suppose that Lament thing is worth, anyway?" Usagi wondered. "I mean, for him to—"
"He'd never be able to sell it," Naru said, shaking her head. "All the really rare jewels are too well-known. If it's special enough it has its own name, nobody's gonna touch it. So he had to have something else in mind, like keeping it for himself."
"Sou ka na..." Usagi frowned.
* * * * *
A uniformed police officer walked along the perimeter of Hikawa Jinja, hands clasped behind his back. Occasionally, he would reach out to brush a gloved finger along an ofuda attached to the boundary wall.
"Something I can help you with, officer?" the priest of the temple called, bucket and ladle in hand.
"Hm? Ah...no, no," the policeman replied, shaking his head. "I was just admiring the calligraphy. Your work?"
"My granddaughter," the priest replied with a hint of pride. "She is training to take over this temple when I retire."
The officer nodded. "She has excellent technique." He tipped his hat. "Good day." He descended the shrine steps, whistling tunelessly. The priest chuckled, and began washing the stones.
A block away, a voice muttered, "Excellent technique, my tail. I could rip through that barrier in my sleep."
The "policeman" chuckled. "Be nice. She's doing the best she can. For now." He sobered. "Besides, how often do you even see spirit wards that have any real power in them at all?"
"True. The girl is talented," Luna admitted grudgingly. "But will it be enough? I can't imagine what Lord Jadeite is planning, but..."
"Let me worry about Jadeite. Just make sure everything else works out according to plan."
"Yes, Master."
* * * * *
"Brethren, I greet thee."
The Shitennou exchanged ritual salutes before seating themselves at the corners of a table in the shape of a rhombus.
"Brother Nephrite, 'tis thou who calleth this conference; the floor is thine."
"By your leave, Lord Brother." Nephrite folded his white-gloved hands on the table before him. "It is meet that we should discuss now, at this most critical juncture of the task beset us since the Fall, an ill wind which flutters fey amid our standards risen high."
"Now I remember why I never talk to you," a soft voice interrupted. "I can never understand what the hell you're saying."
"Be thou silent, Brother Zoicite."
"My apologies, Lord Brother. Please continue, Brother Nephrite."
If Nephrite took offence at Zoicite's interruption, he gave no indication of it. "I speak of the return of our foes of the time before. I speak of the return of the champions of our jailor."
"Yes...the Senshi," Jadeite remarked, leaning forward. "One of my subordinates has already had a rather disastrous encounter with them."
"This I had heard," Nephrite nodded. "I offer remorse for your difficulty, Brother Jadeite."
Jadeite shrugged. "Amami was a weak, foolish creature. Her death is no loss."
"Our forces are not so numerous, Brother Jadeite, that we can afford needless sacrifice of even the weaker denizens of this realm," Kunzite admonished.
"Yes, of course, Lord Brother."
Nephrite coughed. "Our Lord Brother does, however, come upon the crux of my desire to convene on this day." He paused, surveying his fellow Shitennou with a calm gaze. "As I have reported unto Our Exalted Queen, I have borne witness unto the prowess of one of the returned Senshi."
"Ah, yes, the incident with the jewel thief, reported by the human news," Jadeite said, resting his chin on his gloved hands. "You were there, Brother Nephrite?"
"Indeed I was, Brother Jadeite. My post of duty upon the human world positioned me in such place as the Senshi did battle, and I did take her measure."
"Did that sound obscene to anyone else?"
"Be thou silent, Brother Zoicite."
"My apologies, Lord Brother."
Nephrite coughed once more, and there was a mild bite of annoyance to his voice when he continued. "The Senshi the humans call 'Sailor Moon' is unrefined in power and unsophisticated in skill, yet her potential as a threat is...troublesome. I would ill wish to afford these Senshi the opportunity to become honed as weapons, lest they grow into a fearsome obstacle to our task."
"What wouldst thou have us do, Brother Nephrite?" Kunzite asked. "Queen Beryl has forbidden direct engagements with the Senshi. Hast thou forgotten, she slew her own sister for such a breach of orders?"
"Indeed I recall the matter of Lady Morganite, Lord Brother. However, in audience to my report of the event I witnessed, Our Exalted Queen appeared favourable to an amendment of course."
"You have advised her to openly oppose the Senshi?" Jadeite asked sharply.
"I have taken no such presumption, Brother Jadeite," Nephrite replied. "You know well I would not proffer advice unto Our Exalted Queen without first canvassing the combined wisdom of you, my brethren."
"Of course. My apologies."
"So if we recommend going to war with the Senshi before they grow into a real threat," Zoicite put in, leaning forward, "Queen Beryl will likely consent?"
"Thus it would seem."
"There is an opportunity here," Jadeite said slowly, stroking his chin in thought. "We should grasp it."
"I concur," Nephrite replied.
"I'm up for a little fun," Zoicite put in.
Kunzite cleared his throat. "I agree that the Senshi must be dealt with. But I do not believe we should overplay our hand at this time. It would not be...honourable."
"Agreed."
"Brother Jadeite, Brother Nephrite. Both of thee operate presently in the human world. The course of battle against the Senshi is thine to determine." Kunzite stood. "Brethren, I bid thee farewell and favourable hunting." He saluted, then vanished from the conference room.
Zoicite stood lazily, stretching his back. "If you need a hand with the Senshi, I'll be around somewhere." With a flourish and a teasing grin, he disappeared in a shower of lotus petals.
"Well then, Brother Jadeite," Nephrite said, "Twould seem our cause is joined."
"For the glory of our liege, let us ride to victory," Jadeite replied. The two remaining Shitennou vanished with no fanfare, leaving the conference room still and silent as a grave.
* * * * *
Usagi followed Naru into Osa-P that afternoon. The redhead walked up to the counter and greeted her mother.
"Okaeri, Naru-chan. Ah, Usagi-chan! How are you today?"
"I'm fine, Osaka-san," Usagi replied, bowing. "Are things going okay here?"
"Yes, we've completely recovered from that...unpleasantness."
"Mama," Naru said, "Usagi was kind of wondering about something, and I thought she should ask you, since you'd know all about it."
"Oh?" the jeweler asked, raising an eyebrow.
Usagi fidgeted, ducking her head. "It's...I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the Oasis Lament."
The elder Osaka fixed her with a piercing stare. "Now why," she asked coolly, "would you be interested in that?"
"Anou..."
"It wouldn't have anything to do with jewel thieves, would it?"
The long-haired girl flushed, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. "Eheh...ee."
Naru's mother sighed. "I thought so. I've been getting that all day long."
"Gomen nasai..."
"Oh, I'm not mad, Usagi-chan," the jeweler reassured with a wave of her hand. "And I don't mind, for one of Naru-chan's friends. It's just, I'd love to get my hands on the television idiot who set everyone off like that..." She trailed off. "Anyway, the Oasis Lament..." She tapped her lips thoughtfully, then nodded, smiling, and began an obviously rehearsed narrative.
"Far to the west of Giza, long before the pyramids were built, there was a small desert oasis. A young peasant man and a beautiful merchant's daughter would often meet there in the dead of night, lovers who could not be together by day, for she was favoured for the hand of a prince.
"But she did not love the prince, and he came to know that she did not love him. He employed servants to follow her in the night, and learned of her secret lover.
"Furious that he had been spurned for a peasant, the prince acted in anger. He slew the merchant's daughter and her lover at the water's edge, and threw their bodies into the oasis.
"By the next full moon, the oasis had dried up and vanished. Before the bed of empty sand was reclaimed by the desert, a traveller discovered a beautiful, shimmering silver jewel embedded in the sand, wrapped in the blood-stained dress of the merchant's daughter.
"The truth of the murder of the beautiful maiden then came to light, and the prince was exiled in disgrace. The merchant was allowed to hold the jewel, as a memento of his beloved daughter, taken from him before her time.
"This jewel came to be known as the Oasis Lament."
The two teenagers sniffled. "That's...that's really sad," Naru said.
"Un," Usagi replied.
The jeweler laughed lightly. "It's just a silly legend, girls. People make up all sorts of ridiculous fairy tales about big, shiny rocks. They think it makes them more interesting." She stretched out a kink in her back. "So, is that what you wanted to know?"
"Un," Usagi replied. "Arigatou. Ah, but...one thing. That jewel...is it really—"
"Does Kamekona-shachou's wife really have it? Oh yes," Naru's mother replied. "So that's probably what that thief was after. And he knew the one in the case was a fake, so he must know his jewels."
"Sou ka na..." Usagi frowned thoughtfully. "Eep! I've gotta run. Thank you again...mata ne!" With a quick bow, she raced out of the shop, ponytails flailing.
* * * * *
As Rei crested the steps of Hikawa Jinja, she frowned. "Jijiue?" she called out.
"Ah, Rei-chan! How was school?" the elder priest called from the omamori counter.
"Fine, Jijiue..." Rei looked around, frown deepening. "Have you altered or removed any of my ofuda?"
"Of course not, child," the priest said, tone mildly offended. "Why in the world would I do such a thing?"
"Forgive me, Jijiue," Rei replied absently. She set her bookbag on the ground, walking over to the perimeter wall, where she traced one of the ricepaper wards with a slender finger. Her frown deepened further.
"Rei-chan? What's troubling you?" the elder Hino asked, coming to stand behind her.
"Something has tampered with my barrier," she replied.
"Really?" the priest asked, tilting his head. "I haven't noticed anything amiss."
Rei shook her head. "No...the wards are precisely as I placed them. But..." Her brow furrowed. "I sense a touch of power upon this barrier...it has not been weakened, per se, but..." She was hesitant for a long moment. "A strong aura has come into contact with this barrier. And I was meant to know this. This is deliberate." She scowled, then turned on her heel and stalked into the shrine, not even retrieving her school bag.
Her grandfather gazed after her for a moment, then returned his attention to the ofuda. After a moment, he shrugged to himself and walked back to the omamori counter.
* * * * *
"Now THAT is truly most interesting."
"And not unworthy of concern. Are you certain this is the most desirable location to broker an engagement with our enemies?"
"Truthfully? No. But I lack sufficient time to prepare an alternate site, and the reward balances the risk. Besides, from what we've just seen, it's probably best if we kill this priestess. If she allied herself with the Senshi, it would be...irksome."
"Agreed."
* * * * *
Usagi walked onto the vacant playground, looking around warily. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting red-orange hues on the disused swings and jungle gyms.
The lone other occupant of the playground was a girl her age, a foreigner, standing with her back to a large shade tree. She wore an unfamiliar uniform consisting of a magenta blazer and a green plaid skirt, and the faint breeze played with strands of her long blond hair.
The girl noticed Usagi and straightened, smoothing her skirt. "Tsukino Usagi?" she asked. At her nod, the blond girl smiled and bowed.
"Aino Minako," she introduced herself. "But sometimes they call me Sailor V."
