Chapter 150
A few days had passed, the ice problem had been cleared up, but there was still snow everywhere someone could look.
"I used to like snow," Serena muttered staring out the window. "Now I don't.."
"And why is that Serena?" Luna asked.
"Because there's too much of it, that's why! And it's all in the wrong places. Snow is only useful when it gets me out of school."
"Is that how you see it now? You don't have any respect for it's other qualities?"
"I used to, but those other qualities don't matter too much when it's everywhere and the skies are always grey. I hate grey!"
"Serena..are you feeling okay? Wait..wrong question..are you feeling different then you usually do?"
"Of course I am! It's so dank dark and hopeless looking out there..and that makes me dank, darkless, hopeless, and hungry, and my mother hasn't gone to the store to get anything good to eat yet."
"Oh..sorry I asked," Luna said.
Meanwhile, Lita and Steve were pitting themselves head to head in a hockey video game.
"You've never been very good at putting up a defense.." Lita said moving the controls.
"I prefer to merely outscore an opponent..but that could change," Steve said wincing as his player was swatted aside by Lita's attacker.
"She shoots.."
"Ah..."
"She scores!" Lita said. "And that's a hat trick."
Seconds later she found herself buried in hats.
"What?" she said popping her head out. She noticed Steve's closet door was opened.
"I knew stuffing my closet full of old hats would be worth something someday," he said.
"Oh..where'd you get all these anyway?"
"Various places.over time," Steve said.
"Why do you need so many?"
"It's not a matter of needing so many..I just thought I'd get them," Steve said.
"But you don't wear hats."
"Well not since I put them all in the closet."
"Oh..let's just play the game," Lita muttered sweeping more of the hats off of her.
"Fine with me," Steve said.
And the game continued.
"I don't understand this.." Amy said leafing through her textbook and her notes. "Just what exact time period are we working with here.."
"I've had trouble understanding that myself," Greg asked leafing through his own books.
"I'm almost afraid to ask the teacher, she seems to think this assignment is self explanatory and she might get angry," Amy said.
"And when she gets angry look out," Greg replied.
"No..we have to figure this out on our own."
"Easier said then done."
"Yes I know..but this assignment was assigned before D.V. left wasn't it?"
"Yeah..that's true...and we've spent days trying to figure out just what it meant."
"Well maybe he figured it out," Amy said.
"But he isn't here."
"But his notes are."
"Amy..is that wise to go into his stuff?"
"I'm sure he won't mind..I mean...he can trust us..." Amy said. "And he'd want to help us do well right?"
"I guess," Greg said.
"At least I hope that's how it would be," she said and moved to a closet where the schoolbooks and notebooks were kept.
"Besides..Greg..if there was anything D.V. was afraid of us seeing he wouldn't have left it here," Amy said.
"I guess you have a point."
She opened up the closet and pulled out the history book and flipped through it.
"Nothing here.." she said and put it back. She then found a spiral notebook which had the word's history written on the front.
"These should be his notes," she said and opened the book. They both were surprised to see, not words but diagrams.
"That doesn't look like notes," Greg said.
"But this is the notebook he uses in history, I'm sure of it," Amy said.
"Then maybe he doesn't take notes."
Amy leafed through the notebook.
"There's not a page of notes here," she said. "Though there is a doodle of Raye on fire for some reason."
"Can't see why that would be there.." Greg said. "All the diagrams though, what are they about?"
"I don't know..they look like...attack plans..maybe....but..he probably only knows their true nature."
"It's too bad he doesn't take the notes..now what do we do?" Greg asked.
"Good question. I'm going to get a drink."
Greg reached inside the closet and began to leaf through all the notebooks.
"No notes at all? Interesting doodles though. Heck that's all his English notebook has."
"Greg..what are you doing?" Amy asked.
"Uh..just making it neat in here.." Greg said.
"Oh..okay.." Amy said.
Greg then placed the books back as he found them and walked away.
"Why is it that I have to do the shopping?" Haruka asked.
"We have to do the shopping," Michiru said.
"Yes, I know, but I've never been good at it."
"Haruka..sometimes you're the strangest person I know.." Michiru said. "Here you are willing to sacrifice everything you have to protect the Earth, and I do mean everything, you're very serious and down to earth, but you don't like shopping."
"That's my right isn't it?" Haruka asked. "I've got enough problems already, I'd prefer not to have to decide whether to get skim milk or half and half."
"Oh..well..we usually get skim," Michiru said with a smile.
"You're enjoying this..why is that"
"You have to relax a little..besides, I know the real you, not the facade you put up to everyone else."
"The real me? I wasn't aware that I was putting a facade up anywhere."
"Trust me, you do it more than you think. But I've known you too long..you're not some one dimensional person, there's a lot more to you then that."
"Well I know that. You don't have to tell me."
"Lately..though..it seems like you need to be told. Ever since we fought of the dark one I'd guess."
"Well..it is a little different, I need to be ready at a moment's notice to go in to combat."
"So do I, but you don't see me changing."
"I still don't know what you mean."
"What I mean is..that..you're so focused it's scary," Michiru said as the two walked inside the store.
"I stay alive by being focused," Haruka said.
"Yeah, but you don't have to be that focused," Michiru said.
"I think you're seeing things that aren't there. I'm fine."
Michiru began to look over some of the groceries.
"Haruka..don't you trust my judgment?"
"Of course I do..but I just don't see what the problem is...and you just got into all this because I didn't like shopping and I don't..not for food anyway."
"And why is that?" Michiru asked.
"It bores me.." Haruka said. "Food is something you need to survive, it shouldn't be so complex just to buy it."
"It isn't complex, it just takes some time," Michiru said.
"I find it complex," Haruka said.
"You're very stubborn Haruka..surely you've noticed that. Stubborn and extremely focused."
"This is why I hate shopping," Haruka said.
"What?"
"You never shut up..it's distracting," Haruka said. Michiru grinned.
"Well at least we've gotten to the truth," Michiru said. "I always do, of course that still doesn't explain why you've been so tense lately."
"I haven't been tense."
Michiru quickly tossed an orange at her head. Haruka caught it.
"Why did you do that?" Haruka said.
"Good reflexes aren't they?" Michiru said. Haruka tossed the orange back quickly. Michiru caught it more casually.
"I saw that coming Haruka."
"Maybe you're too uptight.." Haruka said.
"No..I just know how your mind works.."
"Then why do insist on badgering me about how uptight I am?"
"Just for kicks," Michiru said and started laughing.
Haruka glanced at her and started laughing too.
"Has anyone told you just how devious you can be Michiru?" Haruka asked.
"Devious? Well..no..but that's really your area of expertise. No one ever suspects me...and that's why makes me dangerous."
"I'll say," Haruka said.
There was a gunshot breaking up the conversation. Haruka immediately ducked pulling Michiru down.
"Good reaction time,"Michiru said. The two looked over to see two masked robbers standing with their rifles in the air.
"Now we want all the money! Or else!" one of them shouted.
"Jeez...it figures.." Haruka said.
"I doubt they'd get very far though," Michiru said noticing police cars already pulling up.
"And who robs a grocery store anyway?" Haruka muttered.
"Maybe we should do something.." Michiru said.
"It's tricky," Haruka said. "But possible."
Her eyes narrowed even more than usual.
"You already have a plan?" Michiru asked.
"Yes..." Haruka said and crept along the counter she was behind.
"Now don't no one try anything," one of the robbers said focusing on everyone behind them and standing up against a wall. Haruka watched them carefully timing their moves. She waited as the cashiers finished bringing the money to them and loading it in a bag. Haruka saw her chance as both of them glanced at the money. She leapt forward vaulted off one of the checkout counters and flipped forward kicking both of them men into the wall. She grabbed their guns and through them aside while finishing off her attacks with some knees to the gut. The robbers slumped down to the ground.
"Need some help," Michiru said walking up. Haruka nodded. The two dragged the robbers out the door and laid them on the ground while the police moved in. The grocery store people started cheering.
"Well...that's wonderful..now I get to go back to shopping," Haruka muttered.
"Oh..dear.your fun is over for the day.." Michiru said with a smile.
"It wasn't fun," Haruka said.
"Sure it wasn't," Michiru said.
"Don't pester me Michiru. It's embarrassing."
"No one cares.."
"I do," Haruka said.
"Embarrassed in front of yourself..well..we can't have that.."Michiru said.
"Please..Michiru enough with the jokes," Haruka said.
"Okay..okay..sorry.." Michiru said.
"Thank you.."Haruka said.
Shopping really does put her in a bad mood. Michiru thought.
"Forty to thirty nine..now that is a hockey score," Steve said with a grin.
"Turns out neither of us have good defense I guess," Lita muttered.
"Yeah.."
"Say..what's this.." Lita said noticing a paper lying on the floor.
"Oh..it's a brochure for an ice sculpture exhibit tonight," Steve said.
"You're into that."
"Sure..does that surprise you?"
"Yeah."
"Well it should..wanna go?"
"Of course.." Lita said.
Later.
"I never thought I'd be as cold inside a building as I was outside," Lita said as they wandered around the ice sculpture exhibition.
"Well..he couldn't have his sculptures melting could he..and after that abrupt heat wave..what was he supposed to do?" Steve said.
"I'm not saying he was wrong to do it, it's just weird that's all," Lita said.
"Yeah..well it all adds to his mystique," Steve said.
"Is he here?"
"Oh..sure..he's over there.." Steve said pointing .
"The guy in the shorts?" Lita asked.
"Apparently the cold doesn't affect him that much," Steve said.
"Well something affects him.or he wouldn't dress like that in this cold room," Lita said.
"I'll agree with you there," Lita said.
"Then again..he is wearing an overcoat.." Steve said.
"It's settled he's insane."
"All part of the mystique," Steve said.
"So Steve..do you have a mystique?" Lita asked.
"Well..I do have an interest in ice sculptures," Steve said.
"I know that.." Lita said. "Or did you think I wouldn't have guessed even though you had told me outright."
"But I didn't tell you why."
"Well why?"
"I can't tell you..that would ruin the mystique."
"You have a pretty pathetic mystique you know," Lita said.
"At least I've got one," Steve said.
"What are you implying?"
"You know full well what I'm implying."
"I have my own mystique..but it's so mysterious..I uh..don't even know what it is."
"All right..I'll accept that," Steve said.
"You will?" Lita asked.
Steve grinned.
"All part of my mystique," he said.
"Stop using that word," Lita said bluntly.
"Uh..okay...isn't that Hotaru?"
"Hotaru? Here?" Lita said and turned. Standing in front of an ice sculpture of an angelic figure was Hotaru Tomoe starring silently into it's eyes.
Why should angels need to be so majestically portrayed when it's their deeds are the only things that matter. She thought and turned away noticing Lita and Steve watching her. The two turned away quickly to try and hide the fact that they were staring. She slowly walked over to them.
"You were staring. Why?" she asked.
"Oh..we were just trying to see if it was you..that's all.." Lita said.
"Sure..it's hard to tell from a distance," Steve said.
"Oh.." Hotaru said. "Understandable," She said.
"Uh...so you like the ice sculptures?" Lita asked.
"I am curious about them. I question why someone who could chooses ices from the many instruments that could be used to create art," Hotaru said.
"Why is that?" Steve asked.
"Because Ice is cold and hard, and furthermore transient, how can one preserve their work?" Hotaru said. "If one wishes to use cold materials it should be for sculptures that reflect the cold. If they chose to use hard materials for preservation, they should use what will last for centuries. Ice is useless," Hotaru said.
"But Hotaru, Ice doesn't last that's right..but..it's the way the light flows through the figure and the color that makes it worth it," Steve said.
"You could use glass to do the same," Hotaru said.
"Yes..but it would take more work.." Steve said. "Besides..this is natural..using only solidified water."
"And there are people out here to see it aren't they?" Lita asked.
"That may only signify a lack of alternatives," Hotaru said.
"Well..that's true..in an uh...abstract sort of way," Steve said.
"How can one ever define abstract,"Hotaru said. "But I have disturbed you two enough..excuse me."
She headed off.
"Hmm..well..that was interesting.." Lita said.
"Yeah..it was.." Steve said. "She raised some good points."
"You agree with her?"
"Well not about the ice sculpture, but the other stuff," Steve said.
"Since when have you thought about that stuff?"
"It's all part of my mystique," Steve said with a grin.
"All your mystique is... is a load of...."
The front door exploded.
"Oh..great..what now?" Steve said.
"Hey..maybe it's another part of your mystique," Lita muttered.
Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in a white blazer with blue pants. He held a cane.
"Greetings.." he said. "I am here to critique the art."
"There are already enough art critics here and there was no reason for you to destroy the door," The artist said stepping forward.
"Doors are replaceable...and believe me I should know.." the man said. "But enough about me..let's get to it."
"To what?" the artist said.
"Well..right now everyone here's just a little scared...but soon you shall be cringing in fear!" he shouted and flung some pellets out of his hand. They dropped to the floor and turned into small creatures with mouths, one eye, and having two feet with loafers on. Most of the group let out a scream.
"That's what I like to see.." the tacky dressed creature said and blasted most of the people.
"How dare you!" the artist said.
"Oh..I'll do more.." the creature said. The small heads leapt up onto the ice sculptures and started chewing on them.
"No! You can't!" the artist said and ran at him.
"Anger..good," the creature said and moved to blast him. An energy blast hit him in the head and knocked him to the side. The artist barreled into him.
"Get off!" the creature shouted and flung the artist across the room.
He looked up to see his assailant, Sailor Saturn standing there.
"You have chosen your targets unwisely. I am Sailor Saturn and your destruction is imminent..If I had the slightest bit of interest in your well-being, I might hope that you had all of your affairs in order, but I have no such concerns.." Sailor Saturn said.
"Jeez...she's even more frightening then Maverick is.." Steve said.
"Let's get on with this," Lita said.
The two were hiding behind a very large ice sculpture's base at the end of the room.
"Jupiter Planet Power."
"Pluto Power."
The two transformed.
Sailor Saturn meanwhile was preparing as the man's loafer wearing creatures advanced on her. In unison they all leapt at her.
"Saturn Mist Wave!" she shouted. The attack flew out at the creatures and blasted through them.
"Hah!" the tacky enemy said and threw another group of pellets which turned in mid air into the creatures. They hit the unprepared Saturn and pushed her to the ground. She batted at them with her staff, but some managed some bites, she let out a screech. Pluto opened fire blasting at them, but missed most of them high.
"Try harder," Jupiter snapped.
"I don't want to hit her," Pluto said.
"Then get closer, I'll cover you," she said.
Pluto charged forward.
"Jupiter Thunder Crash!"
The attack blasted apart an ice sculpture on it's way through and then right at the man who dived out of the way and ran forward. He swung his cane at Pluto who was still trying to get rid of the creatures. Jupiter jumped forward to meet him before he could get there. She lunged forward with a punch. He took the hit and punched back hitting Jupiter in the gut. She staggered back the wind knocked out of her. Pluto ducked out of the way as one of the smaller creature's jumped at him, but the tacky man lunged forward and kicked him before throwing him into a wall. Sailor Saturn spun around and knocked the mans legs out from under him. He fell forward. She pulled around her scythe and pointed it at him.
"Watch it, there's still a human in there.." Jupiter said.
"That is unfortunate.." Saturn said.
"Really..you'd kill him to get to me.." The tacky creature said.
"I.."
"Move your staff away so I can blast him," Jupiter said.
"That would leave an opening," Saturn said.
"You won't kill me," the creature said standing up.
Saturn hesitated.
"Saturn.." Jupiter said.
"Uh..excuse..me.." the artist said sliding up to Pluto who was just getting up.
"Can I borrow this?" he said grabbing the sword.
"Uh..why not?" Pluto muttered.
The creature grabbed Saturn's scythe. She tried to swing it around to beat him.
The artist raced forward with his sword.
"I will avenge my art!" he shouted and jammed his sword into the creature's side. The creature cried out.
"Jupiter Thunder Zap! Look out!" she shouted. The thunder smashed along the ground and nailed the creature knocking him into another sculpture which exploded.
"Pluto Healing Power.." Pluto said. The creature returned to human form.
"This is yours," The artist said and handed Pluto his sword.
"It is a beautiful weapon," he said. "Fortunately in my line of work I'm used to using blades," he said.
"Ah.." Pluto said.
"Are you all right Saturn?" Jupiter asked.
"No.." Saturn said and strode off.
"Hmm..you know in retrospect maybe she should have just blasted him while he was down," Pluto said.
"Well..in theory..but..you're not supposed to hit someone while they're down.." Jupiter said.
"But they're evil," Pluto said. "They'd do it to you."
"You Guardian's may have a different philosophy. But usually we Sailor Scouts like to play by the rules," Jupiter said.
"What rules?" Pluto muttered.
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CHAPTER 146 CHAPTER 147 CHAPTER 148 CHAPTER 149 CHAPTER 150
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CHAPTER 156 CHAPTER 157 CHAPTER 158 CHAPTER 159 CHAPTER 160