Chapter 193

Lita found herself standing on top of a platform only about as large as her feet trying to hold balance. The platform rose ten feet off the ground.

"What am I doing up here?" She asked herself.

"Hold still..." the man said.

"I am.." Lita said. This has gotta be another trick.

"Hold still or you'll fall off for sure!"

"I'll fall off if you keep yelling at me!" Lita shouted.

"Point taken!"

Lita tried her best to hold still.

"There you go!"

Lita grinned slightly.

"Oh..there goes your concentration!" the man said and leapt into the air, he knocked her off of the platform. She let out a yell and fell into a pool of water.

The man stood on the platform and grinned slightly.

"Hah..I told you.." he said.

"You knocked me off!" Lita shouted.

"No..that was all you," the man said.

"It was not!"

"Of course it was, it was what you did that lead me to do what I did."

"What did I do?" Lita asked.

"You'll find out...someday."

"Great.."Lita muttered.

"Serena it's not wise to fight Mercureo," Makoto said.

"I have to. To avenge girls everywhere!" Serena said.

"I don't understand."

"He will be the sacrificial lamb."

"Serena you're not making sense."

Serena grinned evilly.

"No..I'm not..." she said and began to cackle.

"Serena...are you...uh...drunk?" Makoto asked.

"No..of course not!" Serena said and began cackling again.

"Serena..please stop," Makoto said.

Serena continued her cackling.

"Uh...Serena I hate to say this, but you were talking in your sleep last night, and.." Makoto said.

"What..what..did I say.." Serena screeched breaking out of her cackling.

"Uh it was just the way you were talking about this Darrien, it seemed like you wanted to kill him..and I'm worried you might take it out on Mercureo."

"I'm just going to get Mercureo, but I wouldn't hurt anyone..well..almost anyone..but that's another story."

"So it is," Makoto muttered. "But you...didn't seem to want to let him go either."

"Just what were you doing up that late anyway?" Serena snapped.

"I couldn't sleep because you were talking," Makoto snapped back.

"Oh...fair enough," Serena said.

"You bet it is," Makoto said.

"Darrien and I are fated to be together," Serena said.

"Fated?"

"Yes, and he has some problems believing it, and other things come in the way too...it's very complex...but I don't know what he's up to anymore.." Serena said. "I'd like to believe he still loves me, but he is weird sometimes."

"Oh..I know what you mean, guys get confused, tempted, worried, they panic, and they do the wrong thing," Makoto said.

"Yeah...but with him, I just don't..know...I hope he's just making another mistake, but he knows about our destiny."

"How does he know about your destiny?"

"It's a.."

Makoto raised her hand.

"I get the idea..." she growled.

"We just know...." Serena stammered.

"Whatever.."

"And I just hope he figures it out by the time I get back."

"Well good luck."

"I think I'm going to need plenty of that," Serena said.

And at the romance camp, Steve found himself sitting amongst several other teens in a large dining hall.

Romance camp, sounds like something the negaverse would set up to draw out energy. Steve thought.

"I can't help but be skeptical," a somewhat well kept blonde guy said sitting next to Steve. "You don't look too pleased yourself."

"I'm not," Steve said.

"Well..I know what you mean? You look like a first timer," the blonde said.

"What?"

"You know first rejection.."

"Well I had a relationship, but we mutually broke up?"

"Same difference."

"I'm here because I've been in fourteen relationships, lasting no longer then two weeks..needless to say I have work to do," he said.

"You waited till you're fourteenth failure to come here?"

"Sure..I wasn't sure it was my fault till then," the blonde said and started laughing hysterically.

Steve sighed.

"But honestly, I don't know..you ask me..the girls should just tell us what they want," the guy said.

"I tried that," Steve said. "I just couldn't sit through a romance movie."

"Well that's only natural...but with training you can fake it awfully well."

"So that's what it's all about, faking," the guy said.

"Yep, they call it subterfuge buddy. The key to lasting relationships. By the way, everyone I know calls me Sendai Morris."

"Sendai Morris?" Steve asked.

"Yep, I'm from Sendai.."

"Oh.."

"So..anyway..was she a nice girl?"

"Yeah?"

"How'd ya meet..if you don' t my asking."

"I might as well talk about it," Steve said.

"Sure..."

"We met at school..because of her I was given a detention," Steve said.

"Oh...kinky.." Morris said.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Anyway..there were various circumstances that brought us together."

"Oh..really..interesting...what kind of circumstances."

"That's a secret," Steve said.

"Secret....these were unusual then?"

"You could say that."

"Intriguing...I like that," Morris said.

"Uh..well good."

"How long'd it last?"

"Over a year."

"Really? What happened, another man?" Morris said.

"No, she just gave up."

"Oh...bummer..see my problem is I expect my girlfriends to pay for dinner," Morris said.

"That's it?"

"Well there's other things."

"Like what?"

"Unusual things.."

"I get it," Steve said.

"So...my job is to work out al the quirks and then head back out there."

"That's why I'm here," Steve said.

"That's why we're all here."

"There's a lot of people."

"Sure...it's a popular place..usually people leave ready to carry on a relationship..you know why..because they're dating someone they found here!" Morris said and laughed. "So it's not a matter of change, merely a matter of finding someone as romantically inept as you."

"Guess that works," Steve said.

"Not for long it doesn't," Morris said and started laughing.

"You it's very nice up here, but I miss the city," Serena said as she and Makoto were planting some flowers in the yard.

"Why?" Makoto asked.

"Well..I don't know..it's just different..I have a lot of friends, and there's stuff happening all the time...and I guess I'm a little bored."

"Bored?"

"Yeah, I'm involved in a lot of hmm..you might call them extracurricular activities in the city, and up to this point my Darrien was just part of that," Serena said.

"Oh..it must be great to have such an interesting life," Makoto said.

"Well..it has it's ups and downs," Serena said. "Don't you have friends up here?"

"Well sure, but we hardly see each other when regional school isn't in session, it's because we're so far apart geographically."

"Yeah, I guess so. You know I don't know if I could stand being separated for very long from them. Me and my friends are very close."

"Well you're up here aren't you?" Makoto asked.

"I needed a change..there were other..."

She was interrupted by Makoto gasping.

"What?" Serena asked.

"It's Ryu..." Makoto said.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"It could be.." Makoto said.

"Makoto-San!" Ryu shouted advancing towards the house.

"Aw..geez..Ryu...you dumped remember...go away!" Makoto shouted.

Serena just looked on dumbfounded.

"I didn't want to dump you, you bested me in one on one combat," Ryu whined.

"That's only because you asked for it, now go away Ryu," Makoto said.

"No.." Makoto said. "I demand a rematch."

"You fight boys Makoto?"

"I'm a second level black belt," Makoto said with a slight grin.

"Wow...Raye isn't even that good," Serena said.

"Ryu...I'm not about to fight you again," Makoto said.

"Come on, what are you afraid of?"

"It's the principle of the thing.." Makoto said.

"She told you to leave creep," Serena said.

"And you are?"

"Serena Tsukino."

"Serena...Tsukino? Why don't I care?" Ryu said.

Serena growled.

"You could at the least not be rude Ryu," Makoto said.

"I challenge you, you have to accept!"

"Where'd you hear that?"

"You're a coward if you do not accept!"

"What I am is impatient," Makoto growled.

"I'm not leaving," Ryu said.

"What are you going to do Makoto?" Serena asked.

"Kick his butt," Makoto said.

"Uh...wasn't the goal not to..." Serena said.

"Too late for that," Makoto said and walked out into dirt road that lead by the house.

"I knew you couldn't refuse," Ryu said.

"Ryu, I'll beat you this time too..." Makoto said taking a fighting stance.

"And if you don't will you go steady with me again?"

"No."

"Very well! I'll show you," Ryu said and charged forward. Makoto made a move, but it was so fast Serena had no idea what it was, Ryu lay on the ground and grunted.

"No fair!" He shouted jumping up. Makoto kicked him in the chest, he stumbled back.

"I'm a second degree black belt you idiot," Makoto said. "Give it up."

"Well I have a surprise for you..I don't like to lose," Ryu said. Out of seemingly nowhere leapt three more guys and they stood around Makoto.

"Cheater," Makoto said.

"I am merely evening the odds," Ryu said.

"You dated this creep!" Serena shouted.

"Uh..he had a good side too..." Makoto said.

"Where?" Serena asked.

"Now...see if you can defeat my forces.." Ryu said. Makoto's eyes narrowed. The three henchmen circled her.

"Leaving them to your dirty work ey?" Makoto asked.

"Why not?" Ryu asked.

The henchmen moved into attack. Makoto avoided them and hit one knocking him to the ground, the other two guys whirled and attacked, Makoto dodged them and readied herself, until she was hit from behind by Ryu.

"You dishonorable fool!" Makoto shouted and kicked Ryu in the head, he stumbled back, but the other three guys pounced on her and wrestled her to the ground.

"So much for you little miss Ninja," Ryu said.

"Ninja! If you're going to be a jerk, at least get your arts of fighting straight!" Makoto shouted.

"Stop right there!" came a shout. The group all whirled. Standing there behind them was Sailor Moon.

"I usually don't have to beat up other humans but on behalf of the moon I shall punish you!" she shouted.

"And just who are you?" Ryu asked.

"You haven't heard of me?" Sailor Moon asked.

"You imbecile that's Sailor Moon! She's going to take you down," Makoto said.

"Sailor Moon!" the other guys shouted and let go and ran off.

"Wait!" Ryu shouted.

Makoto bolted up.

"Ryu! You have become an even bigger slime then I expected, now I'm going to make sure you don't come back here, by giving you the beating of your life."

Ryu backed up quickly.

"Now wait..I..uh..can't get hurt..it's bad...really.." Ryu stammered. "Sailor Moon don't let her."

"Why should I?" Sailor Moon asked. "You're evil."

"No, I'm just desperate, Makoto was the only girl who would date me," Ryu said.

"You should have thought of that before you ambushed her," Sailor Moon said.

"Yeah!" Makoto said and hit Ryu hard, he stumbled back and fell to the ground.

"Get up.." Makoto said.

"Uh..no..." Ryu said. "You can't hit a man whose down."

"Moon Tiara Magic!" Sailor Moon shouted. Ryu leapt up out of the way of her tiara. Makoto kicked him again.

"Aw..geez..have a heart," Ryu said.

The two girls shook their heads.

And back in Tokyo.

"Mina I'm confused. Why do we have to be so covert?" Johnny asked.

"Because Johnny, if my ahem ex-boyfriend got jealous he'd come after me," Mina said.

"You think?"

"No need to take the chance huh? So it's best just for us to be covert, but here we'll be fine," Mina said. "So do what you do best?"

"Oh..right.." Johnny said and put his arm around her.

"Mina...even though we must travel far from where I live it is a journey I take willingly, because at the end of the voyage are priceless riches like your beautiful eyes and the way they sparkle even on a cloudy day."

"Oh..Johnny it's like you read the dictionary entry on my heart."

"What? Oh...of course...." Johnny said. "So..where do you want to have dinner, I'm up for anything you are."

"Excellent," Mina said. "How about that quaint little Chinese place over there."

"Sounds great," Johnny said.

They moved to the door and Johnny opened it and held it so Mina could step through, she was blocked by a figure passing through the door the other way.

"Hey Mina," he said and moved passed her.

Her eyes shot open as she realized that Mike had just walked by. He looked them over as he did so. She followed him with her gaze as he walked around a corner. She didn't understand.

"Mina what's going on?" Johnny asked.

"I don't....know..that's strange," Mina said.

"Why?"

"Oh..uh..."

Mike appeared next to her practically out of nowhere.

"Say Mina.." he said casually. "You wouldn't happen to be cheating on me would ya?"

"What gave you that idea?" Mina said.

"Uh.." Johnny began.

"Quiet you.." Mike said and elbowed Johnny, who fell to the ground.

"Who's he?" Mike asked.

"He's my cousin," Mina said. "Taking me out to dinner like he does every time he comes by."

"I see..well then okay..sorry to bother you.." Mike said and turned and headed down the sidewalk. He turned back to her.

"Oh..Mina.." Mike said.

"Uh..yeah?" Mina asked.

"You're dumped," Mike said. "Have a nice night."

He then headed off.

"WHAT? HEY! DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME!" Mina shouted.

Mike turned again.

"Believe you? You're a liar, I'm not being dishonorable by not trusting you...hope you enjoy that guy. Hey buddy, did you know you were dating a two timer?"

Johnny stood up and looked at her.

"No..I didn't," he said and headed off in the other direction.

"WAIT! I can explai...." Mina trailed off as Mike headed away. Mina looked around completely shocked. She sank to the ground and began to cry.

"I hope Ryu doesn't come back," Serena said.

"Me too, but after the beating I gave him he'll either give up or come back with even a greater taste for revenge," Makoto said.

"Oh..."

"Still...I'll beat him...I had already figured out how to handle his goon before Sailor Moon showed up."

"You did?"

"Yeah..it would have just hurt me more in the process"

"Oh...well that's good..." Serena said somewhat dejectedly anyway.

"I appreciate it though.." Makoto said.

"Oh...uh..well I'm sure she'd be glad to hear it,'

"I bet," Makoto said with a slight grin. "Sailor Moon just doesn't pop up out of nowhere...does she Serena?"

"Not that I know of," Serena said.

"If you happen to see her, tell her I said thanks."

"Well..it's not like we know each other, but I will," Serena said.

Mercureo came through the door trailed by a beautiful woman.

"Well..here we are," he said.

"You!" the woman shouted seeing Serena.

"Oh..uh..hi..." Serena said.

"Manure girl!" the woman shouted and lunged at her. Serena dived out of the window, stumbled and raced off down the road, Mercureo's fiance at her heels.

"Looks like she has a good memory," Mercureo said. "Anything happen while I was out?"

"Yeah," Makoto said.

"And..."

"Well it's a long story."

"Oh..." Mercureo said.

See how you like it, Makoto thought with a grin.

"So what's been going on?" Greg said into the communicator

"Too much," Amy said. "Mike just caught Mina two timing, Rick and Raye still haven't made up, Serena, Lita and Steve are AWOL. I have no idea where D.V. went."

"Oh.." Greg said.

"Greg I'm worried."

"Worried?"

"Everything has been turn around, the things I thought certain have completely evaporated, all of us are undergoing some kind of changes. It's just overload. And I'm so helpless. I don't know what to do."

"Yeah, I know what you're saying," Greg said. "But I'm sure it won't last long."

"You are, how can you tell? Some of these things are irreversible."

"Well I meant the effects of them," Greg said.

"Oh. I guess you have a point..if you need anything.."

"Amy..I appreciate it, but I'm feeling the same way you are, helpless," Greg said, he paused. "There's someone at the door. I gotta go."

"Okay.." Amy said. "See you later."

Greg turned off the communicator and headed to the living room.

His father was already there.

"I got this one," he said and looked out the window.

"Oh..great...just who I need," his father said and opened the door. Standing there was a middle aged woman.

"Greg allow me to introduce your mother..." his father said snidely.

"Hello Greg," she said.