Chapter 138
Michiru walked into Juuban High alone. Haruka was still injured and taking a day off, and as much as Michiru wanted to stay behind to help her recover, Haruka insisted she go to school. Michiru figured it was less out of concern for her schoolwork and more that Haruka didn't want her to be see in pain. She went anyway. She walked up to the classroom earlier than usual and found the only two occupants of the room to be Greg and Amy.
"That's right..right through the sign in the hotel. Must have hurt a little, but he should be fine in a few days.." Amy was saying.
"He's a strange one, he hardly ever gets injured, but when he does it's usually massive."
"Well that's only because that's what it takes to bring him down."
"Hello," Michiru said with a slight grin.
"Hello Michiru," Amy said.
"Uh.hi," Greg said a bit nervously.
"Don't let me interupt your story telling Amy," Michiru said and moved to her seat.
"We were finished any way," Amy said. "How is Haruka?"
"She's got some injuries that will need to heal but thanks to our enhanced scout metabolism it won't take long. A few days at most. How's Patterson?"
"Pretty much the same," Amy said. "Those two really hit each other hard."
"I'm not surprised. As badly as Patterson wanted to win, Haruka didn't want to lose," Michiru said.
"You uh..don't hold a grudge or anything do you?" Greg asked.
"No, why would I? Maverick was just doing his duty to the planet. Someone had to stop Haruka," Michiru said.
"But you know we could have healed her earlier," Amy said.
"Amy, Haruka may be many things to many people, but despite her evil, she wanted to finish that fight, and would not have appreciated us intervening earlier. She'd gladly accept the wounds."
"You sure?" Greg asked.
"I've known her for a long time," Michiru said. "Maybe though this fight will have done some good and maybe Maverick will be more willing to forgive us since he knows he can beat Uranus."
"He hasn't beaten you yet," Amy said.
"No he hasn't," Michiru said. "But if he could beat Haruka, beating me would be an easier task, not much easier, but easier. I'm much more reliant on my powers you know....but you know we shouldn't confine our conversations to business, what's the point of that?"
"Well...to be honest Michiru, we're still getting used to the fact that we're allies," Amy said.
"You've changed haven't you?" Michiru asked.
"What?" Amy asked.
"Well, the other scouts, even Raye and Serena seemed quite able to forgive us after getting to know us a little, you seem more cautious."
"My mindset has been changed slightly, yes," Amy said.
"Amy...maybe you shouldn't talk about it," Greg said.
"What's not to talk about. I've learned Michiru that things can change quite quickly and I don't intend to be caught unaware," Amy said.
"Well as much trouble as you might have with Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus, remember that Haruka and I are different from them," Michiru said.
"What?" Amy and Greg said.
"Of course we are. Isn't the same true of all of you? When we're fighting the enemy, we do what we have to, to protect the Earth, that's all seriousness. But when we're human, there's no reason for us to be amoral in the least," Michiru said.
"It's hard to envision that big a difference," Amy said. "You both seem nice enough,but the depths you were willing to sink to before..worried me."
"I grant you that right," Michiru said. "But the Amy Anderson that used to exist would have given us more of a chance, like her friends had."
"Maybe so Michiru," Amy said.
"Listen, there's no use going into this," Greg said.
"Sure there is," Michiru said. "I'm reaching out to both of you."
"Why?" Greg said.
"Why not?" Michiru asked.
They were interupted by the three Guardian Scouts walking into the room.
"And she's like..here I come," Mike said.
"And then he's like..bring it on," Steve said.
"And then..woah..why am I flying through the air..oh that's right I was hit with an energy sword!" Rick said and the three started laughing.
Michiru turned away and began to think.
After school that day.
"Greg, I'll see you later okay?" Amy asked. "I've got to do some thinking."
"Sure," Greg said and walked off. Amy headed in another direction.
Wonder where's she going? Greg thought watching. It's none of my business of course, but her house and library are the other way. I shouldn't think in those terms though. She probably has her reasons.
"Hey, Melvin!" came Steve's voice. Greg turned to see Melvin racing down the street, Steve, Mike, and Rick raced down the street after him.
"We got a message from Patterson for ya!" Mike shouted.
"Yeah! It'll only take a second!" Rick said.
"I know what kind of message it is!" Melvin squeaked.
Greg grinned slightly.
Have I really changed? Amy thought. She was floating on her back in a pool on the top floor of a moderately sized building. It was quiet after school because most students didn't know about it and everyone else was at work. She had it all to herself.
No I haven't changed. Well...yes I've matured, but that's a different sort of change. I can't believe Michiru would put it in terms of me being a different person. That's completely wrong. Maybe I'm not as trusting as I used to be. But that can come from experience and maturity all the same. Besides, I trust my friends completely.
"So you use this pool too," came Michiru's voice. Amy snapped out of her thoughts and floated so she could look forward. Michiru stood there at the pool's edge.
"It's a nice place I give it that," Michiru said. "What a happy coincedence I found you."
"Why is that?" Amy asked.
"Because I'm curious about you Amy."
"Why?"
"Well..I see I'm not the only one who's curious," Michiru said and dived into the water.
"You haven't answered my question," Amy said.
"No, I haven't, but that doesn't mean I can't. Of course why should you care so much that I'm curious?"
"Because as you say, I'm also very curious, about what your intentions are," Amy said.
"Intentions? My intention is that someday both of us can call each other friends, rather than allies. Lita, Mina, Serena, Raye, even those three boys seem to have no problem with that. For that matter, Greg doesn't mind either. But you do."
"I don't mind....I'm just cautious."
"Why? What do you have to fear from me?"
"I don't know, and that's why I'm careful. I have plenty to fear from Sailor Neptune."
"Even now?"
"Especially now."
"Why?"
"Because Michiru and you know this, you two will resort to amoral means as you said to achieve goals, that could mean anything. And so...someone has to be careful."
"And that person is you?"
"Yes."
"And I thought it was Maverick's job to be the backup."
"It is, but it's always good for the backup to have a backup."
"I see..so this is purely in case we decided do something rash."
"Yes," Amy said.
"You can't afford to take a chance on us having moderated."
"I'd prefer not to."
"I doubt it. You'd prefer to open up, but you can't."
"And that has nothing to do with what happened to me."
"That could be true."
"Why do you insist on pursuing this?" Amy asked.
"Because regardless of the tactical disadvantage you may put yourself at by becoming your old self again......"
"You don't know what my old self was like."
"I observed enough to get the idea."
"But let me put it another way, we should be friends, we're in the same line of work so to speak, and we have the same friends ourselves. Shutting yourself off from me means that while you may be prepared in case of some unlikely, but maybe one time action on behalf of this planet, but you're also protected from life out there."
"I'm only protected from you Michiru," Amy said. "Not life."
She started to swim to try and take her mind off things. Michiru sighed and
used her own half of pool.
"I don't get it. What could Michiru be up to?" Greg asked the wounded Patterson. "I mean, I could tell she was getting to Amy somehow. But the first question is, is she malevolent, and second, either way, why is she trying to get Amy stirred up? Why should she care whether Amy's a friend of hers or not?"
"I'm more worried about Amy's condition."
"Well, she seemed I don't know..affected a little, she's probably wondering if she's changed that much."
"Did you say anything to her?"
"No, Patterson, I didn't know what to say, and she didn't look like she needed my help."
"Indeed, this may be something she'll need to rely on herself for. Still.."
"Has she really changed that much Patterson? We should know shouldn't we? I mean she is a bit more cautious and distrustful, but not really. I mean Amy was never a big socialite anyway..but she gave me a chance. Right off the bat. She didn't know me."
"Sure she did, she could see who you were Greg, the issue here is we don't know that much about Haruka or Michiru, they'll do anything to accomplish their goals and they've tried. Those two are dangerous. Amy should be worried about them."
"But you know, all her friends are friendly with them now. Heck even I am occasionally."
"So?"
"Well Patterson, the only person that still distrusts them is you. So...well..maybe Amy's wondering what the fall out of that is."
"I wouldn't blame anyone for being scared of being compared with me, but Greg, I don't see much of a problem with Amy. She's still the kind caring individual's she's always been."
"Sure she is, but is she sure of that?"
"Are you sure of that?"
"Yes."
"Then go talk to her."
"Now?"
"I guess."
"Do you think I should?"
"Greg, I'm no expert, it just seems like.."
"The right thing to do..yeah, okay...I'll see what I can do..but where do I find her?"
"Hmm..." Patterson said and picked up a piece of paper he wrote an address on it.
"The pool at the top of 1356 11th street? You think she's there?" Greg asked.
"It's a good bet," Patterson said. "Say, where is everyone else?"
"Oh..apparently some band's about to leave on a one year world tour or something.. called the three bites or something," Greg said. "The girls went down to see them off, and the guys went down to make sure the girls weren't flirting."
"First I've heard of any interest the girls had in a band," Patterson said.
"Really? You're slipping," Greg said with a grin. "Thanks for the info..you really do know everything Patterson."
"It's what keeps me alive," Patterson muttered.
Greg walked out.
"Look, we're in the same pool together, we might as well talk," Michiru said.
"I really don't fell like it," Amy said from the other side.
"Do I scare you that much?"
At that point Amy stood up and climbed out of the pool.
"No don't," Michiru said and climbed out. "I'll leave. I'm sorry..I shouldn't have disturbed you in the first place."
Michiru then turned to walk to the locker room.
"Michiru wait," Amy said.
Michiru stopped and turned.
"I'm not being fair to you," Amy said. "But keep in mind that if something happens to me, Maverick and Saturn will beat you senseless."
"What a wonderful way to start a conversation," Michiru said. "But I'll take it."
"You should. Michiru, you're nice to my friends, and overall you're nice to me and everyone else, a bit pushy at times, but still...I'm willing to deal with it. And maybe, just maybe if we all learn to trust each other some more, maybe all your amoral solutions can be replaced by moral ones."
"That's one way to see it," Michiru said.
Amy grinned slightly.
"I'd forgotten what being a Sailor Scout truly means, even if people such as yourself had been lead astray. We help everyone regardless of everything they've done in the past. We helped two aliens named Alan and Ann when they were hurt even though they had attacked innocent people and hurt all of us. Some in more ways than others. We reached out to members of the Dark Moon family even as they threatened to destroy Crystal Tokyo. We do this because that's what we do..." Amy stumbled through the last sentence and shrugged. "That also means, that for better or worse. You deserve the same treatment from all of the scouts as well as me. And I haven't given it to you."
"You know of course that holding the moral high ground can always cause more problems. We treat murderers in health care facilities so they don't die. We believe in the principle of innocent until proven guilty. And there are other things we do that is not logical, but morally right. You know that you're own position is tactically assailable," Michiru said.
"It's also saved us from fighting more battles then we have fought," Amy said. "And I lost sight of that earlier, you were right, I've changed. But I can always change back."
"Glad to hear it," Michiru said. "Wanna race?"
"Are you sure you want to jeopardize our friendship with a competition?"
"What's the point of having friends if you can't strive to be better than all of them?"Michiru asked with a grin. "Besides, how can it hurt?"
"All right, maybe one."
Meanwhile at Haneda Airport, a white charter plane was taxying onto the runway while a crowd of screaming fans, including Serena, Mina, Lita, and Raye bid the plane a fairwell.
"I've never been this close to them before," Mina said.
"Me neither," Lita said.
"I think Taiki winked at me," Raye said.
"He was winking at me," Serena said.
Meanwhile inside the terminal watching the scene was Darrien, Rick, Steve, and Mike.
"Those girls usually don't get that excited for anything," Darrien noticed.
"Except when they're in love with something," Rick noted.
"Yep," Mike said.
"Notice how we only found out about they're liking of these jokers yesterday, they've kept it well concealed from us," Steve said.
"You know what I think?" Darrien said.
"Let us guess," Rick said.
"When those 3 Lights get back from their tour.." Mike began.
"We're in trouble," Steve said.
The four sighed and looked back out onto the tarmac where the girls were continuing to scream even though the plane had taken off.
"Uh..who are they screaming at?" the four guys asked in surprise.
"That's what we'd like to know," about ninety other teenage boys muttered
from the seats around them.
"All right..when the clock on the far wall reaches the minute mark," Michiru said.
"Right," Amy said.
The two readied themselves on the starting blocks. The second hand crept along to the top of the clock. The two leapt off and raced along the length of the pool. They moved to the wall, flipped over and hit the side before going back the way they came. The two raced and each tapped the wall seconds apart from each other.
"I don't know who won," Amy said.
"It doesn't matter," Michiru said. "Yet. Nevertheless I'm surprised. When did a bookworm like you get so good at swimming?"
"I've had time here and there..swimming relaxes me."
"I'll bet it does," Michiru said. "Still...you could win a medal or something for that."
"So could you."
"That's true. So we could both win medals. We should try it sometime."
Amy grinned slightly.
Haruka, lying in bed with her own injuries glanced up at the ceiling and sighed.
"I've never noticed what a stupid color the ceiling is until now, when I've had to stare at it for hours," she muttered.
Her eyes narrowed as she felt something.
"A storm is coming. I can sense it. But who will it be this time?"
"Yes you might think we were the most well oiled unit imaginable, but there was a time, well..needless to say when we were around twelve..we headed out to find some monster in the country...and Haruka was all business, even then. And..we could sense the monster was in this cabin. So was approached it carefully, and then...the next thing we know, the cabin comes flying at us, the whole thing. Haruka leapt out of the way of it, and right into me, as I was leaping out of the way of it, and you know where we landed.." Michiru asked.
"Right in front of the cabin?"
"Nope, but if we had it would have hurt," Michiru said. Amy laughed at that one.
"But...well..now you see us...and..." Michiru stopped and grimaced.
"Michiru are you?"
"Run Amy...it's you know what," Michiru said.
"Oh no.." Amy said and ran from poolside towards the locker room.
"Don't let me get my powerstick Amy!" Michiru shouted as the energy engulfed her. Her skin turned green and scales formed all around her. She dived into the water and swam towards the other side.
"Mercury Star Power!" Amy shouted quickly as he had just managed to unlock her locker and get the power stick before Michiru emerged from the pool and leapt forward spraying water at her. Mercury rolled away. The Michiru creature sloshed forward.
"Mercury Ice Storm..." Mercury began. From all over the creature's skin, water flew out in a wave at her. Mercury screeched and dived out of the way.
Hmm..if I let her transform I'll at least know what to expect. Mercury thought.
Michiru blasted her locker apart and held up her power stick. Seconds later she transformed back into a human, but very evil Sailor Neptune.
"Come out, come out..no..that's cliche...get out here Mercury or I'll extracate you in a very painful fashion!" Sailor Neptune said.
That's all I need, villains with sophisticated word choice," Mercury thought.
"Amy? You here?" came a voice.
"Oh...no.Greg.." Mercury said. "GREG! Run and transform quick!"
Neptune leapt over a row of lockers at her. Mercury dived out of the way. Neptune pulled out her mirror and fired. Mercury sidestepped it, but was hit with a knee from Neptune.
She says she relies on her power, but her hand to hand isn't bad. Mercury thought. Neptune fired her mirror again. Mercury ducked and the blast hit lockers and blasted them apart.
"Neptune! Deep Submerge!" Neptune shouted quickly. Mercury was already running. The wave blew through the room and knocked over more lockers.
Neptune grinned and turned firing her mirror and blowing up another locker. A blue energy blast flew at her head. She whirled. Guardian Saturn stood there.
"Uh...stop that.." Saturn said in a measley attempt at a speech. Neptune fired her mirror. Saturn dived out of the way.
"What a stupid speech," Neptune said.
"Don't you think I know that!" Saturn shouted.
"Saturn," Mercury said crawling up next to him as Neptune blew up some more lockers.
"This day is just full of surprises," Saturn said.
"We have to be careful. Outside is a pool and beyond that a window. If any of us including her get knocked through it'll be a long way down," Mercury said.
"So let's draw her outside or something," Saturn said.
"I don't know if we can. She could do some major damage. Her goal isn't to destroy us, only everything in sight."
"You're right..we'll need speed to stop her...here.." Saturn handed his sword to her.
"But what will you use?" Mercury asked.
"This," Saturn said pulling out a sword with a large M symbol on it. "Maverick leant it to me. It's his spare anyway."
Mercury grinned.
An energy blast slammed into a locker above them. It crashed towards them and the two dived out of the way and came up firing. The energy blasts flew at Neptune, she blocked Mercury's attack, but Saturn's hit her backwards. Saturn and Mercury fired again. Neptune ducked and slid along the ground towards Saturn. Saturn dived forward, but was kicked right in the gut and pulled down to the ground by Neptune who held her mirror towards his head. Mercury fired and blasted the mirror from behind knocking it out of Neptune's hand. Saturn staggered up and dived away from her. She tried to grab him. Mercury leapt over a locker and tackled Neptune. She tossed the sword back to Saturn and flailed with Neptune. Neptune grabbed her and tossed her off of her. Saturn fired both swords into Neptune and hit her knocking her back into the ground. Neptune started to get up. Saturn sheated the two swords.
"Saturn Rings Blast!" he shouted in two seconds. Neptune was pushed down the floor. Mercury pulled out her power stick.
"Mercury Healing Power!" she shouted. The white light covered Neptune and in a flash of light she reverted back into the monster and then back into human form. Her eyes opened.
"Hmm...well this is embarrasing isn't it?" Michiru asked.
Later the three were leaving the building.
"I didn't hurt either of you did I?" Michiru asked.
"No," Amy said. "We came away okay."
"That's good, it was a very dangerous place to fight, but you two were smart enough to keep me in the locker room,"Michiru said. "But Amy, why didn't you try and stop me from transforming?"
"I had no idea what the monster might do. His attacks were a surprise. Even though Sailor Neptune had more power, I also knew what to expect."
"You never know what to expect with me, I'm full of surprises," Michiru said. "Still it was a smart move...see you in class tommorow. I've got to go check on Haruka."
"Bye," Amy said.
"Yeah bye," Greg said.
"So Greg..what were you doing at the pool anyway?"
"I uh..was worried about you, came to see if could help."
"Well I figured things out...but I appreciate it. And now the bigger question. How did you know where I was?"
"I guessed.."
"Oh..you guessed...he knew didn't he?"
"He knows everything."
"Sure he does," Amy said. "Well...lets go eat dinner or something..."
"Sure..." Greg said. "Do you think everyone's back yet?"
"Why are they still yelling the plane has been gone for an hour?" Darrien
muttered as he looked out to see still hundreds of girls on the tarcmac
screaming madly.
CHAPTER 119 CHAPTER 120 CHAPTER 121 CHAPTER 122 CHAPTER 123
CHAPTER 124 CHAPTER 125 CHAPTER 126 CHAPTER 127 CHAPTER 128
CHAPTER 129 CHAPTER 130 CHAPTER 131 CHAPTER 132 CHAPTER 133