Chapter 214
"Look at this!" Mina shouted yelling at her mirror. She looked around. "That's right I sent Artemas away. I've got to get him back. Who else do I complain to on a regular basis?"
"So anyway..I'll complain to myself then," She looked at the small cut on her cheek that had yet to heal.
"How can I become an idol star with this thing?" She said. "I have to make sure I don't get cut like this again, and I also have to get rid of this stupid thing?"
"What stupid thing?" came a voice. Mina turned. Serena was standing the doorway.
"Serena..I'm glad to see you, but where'd you come from?"
"Your mother let me in," Serena said. "I came to see how you were doing after.."
"The attack? Yeah..I appreciate it. Let this be a lesson to you, don't do anything with Mike."
"It wasn't his fault was it?"
"No..in fact he actually handled himself well, but that takes nothing away from the lesson."
"Oh..." Serena said. "Doesn't it though?"
"No.." Mina said. "Now..I'm fine..except for this."
"A cut on the cheek," Serena said solemnly. "I feel for you."
"That's right," Mina said. "Now I've got to get rid of it."
"I'm sure it will heal."
"Yes, in time, but I don't want to walk around with this thing on my cheek. It doesn't look beautiful."
"But..it's not like you can just make it disappear," Serena said.
"There must be a way," Mina said. "And you are going to help me find it."
"I'll cancel my appointments for this afternoon," Serena muttered.
"We haven't gone out like this in a while though," Mina said. "It'll be fun."
"I'm meeting Darrien at five, I'm yours until then," Serena said.
"Excellent, let's go," Mina said. "My beautiful radiance will be ruined no longer!"
"Your what?" Serena asked.
Mina glanced at her.
"Serena I am going to ask you a question. Did you ask what because you don't know what beautiful radiance means, or because you didn't know I had it?" Mina asked.
"Mina..if I don't know what it means, how would know if you had it or not?" Serena replied.
"True.." Mina said. "How the heck did you think that up!"
"To be honest, I'm not sure ..." Serena said dazilly.
"Enough of that, let's go," Mina said and hurried out her door. Serena followed.
"Say..where's Artemas, I haven't seen him in awhile," Serena said.
"His sarcasm got on my nerves so I killed him," Mina said.
"With you I'd almost believe it," Serena said.
"There's too much bad vibes in our relationships, you noticing that?" Mina asked.
"Hmm...yeah...let's try to be nice."
"After you," Mina said holding open the door.
"Thank you," Serena said.
"It wasn't very nice of that goddess to show up right before my date. She could have had the decency to wait until afterward," Amy muttered.
"Yeah, life stinks sometimes," Greg said flipping through a book.
"Still..Urawa understood. He's really nice about those things," Amy said. "I'm convinced now though that isn't a ploy to gain an advantage over me in the national tests. He wants to see me tonight and the tests are over."
"Still on top of the scores aren't you?" Greg asked.
"Yep, that's where I like to be," Amy said. "For some reason. I'm not naturally competitive. Yet I guess logic dictates that with my intelligence I should be at this high level. So the reason I try so hard must have something to do with that."
"Yeah..well for the rest of us, it's hard to justify all the hard work sometimes to reach your level," Greg said.
"Greg, you know I work very hard even with my natural assets."
"I know..do you realize that your IQ is close to twice mine?"
"I never knew what you're IQ was."
"156."
"That's impressive."
"Compared to 300?"
"Greg..honestly, there doesn't seem to be that much difference between us despite the fact that we're separated by 144 points."
"I know, it's kind of funny. If you were at 156, and I was 144 points below you, I'd probably be some sort of mollusk," Greg said.
"That wouldn't do at all," Amy said. "How would I explain to everyone that my brother lived in the sea all the time."
"It would be an interesting thing to see."
"How could you..you'd be a mollusk?"
"Guess I'd miss out."
"Hope I'm not intruding," came a voice. The two looked down to see Artemas standing in the doorway.
"I came in your window Amy, I hope it wasn't a problem," Artemas said.
"No...no..that's fine, what brings you by?" Amy said.
"Well..Mina kicked me out of her house and so I've been wandering around visiting others, but I was hoping you two could take me in until she inevitably invites me back," Artemas said.
"Are you sure she will?" Greg asked.
"Of course she will," Artemas said. "You don't know her the way I do," Artemas said.
"I can take care of you, I've got time," Greg said.
"Good..thanks," Artemas said. "I promise to uh relieve myself in the yard. But..Greg I was hoping you had a minute. Amy, it's not a secretive thing though."
"Well..it's all right..I've got to get ready. Urawa you know."
Artemas grinned slightly.
Amy headed out.
"Her date's in five hours," Greg said with a grin.
"I'm so sorry to see Amy turn out this way," Artemas said. "It represents a degradation in culture I think."
Greg laughed.
"So what is it?" he asked.
"Well.it's been my idea to become the Guardian for the Guardian scouts, since it seems you guys need some work," Artemas said. "But I guess I've also shown the type of commitment to that cause that the Guardian Scouts show to their own..and it's taken me some time to get around to it. To be honest, I just haven't wanted to deal with the inevitable hassle of having to deal with Mike on a regular basis."
"That's understandable," Greg said.
"Yes, well, anyway, so here I am, trying to get started. And since you are the leader of the Guardian's I thought it would be best to start with you."
"Patterson should be the leader Artemas, we all know that. I may be intelligent, but I'm not a leader."
"Greg...for one thing, Patterson's got less social skills then you do, and secondly his job keeps him from being in charge. He's got commitments elsewhere, and his intelligence capabilities are what make him important. The Guardian's need someone to lead by example."
"But he.."
"Is not here."
"Rick should be then."
"I thought you guys settled this."
"I proved I was better at aiming my attack and my sword, that's not exactly qualifications for leadership. Rick's the charismatic one."
"I talked to him, he doesn't want to be the leader."
"Why not?"
"Because in his words, your smarter then he is."
"He wanted to be before."
"He doesn't now. Greg...this may be just a part of the problem or a turning point, but when the Guardians went up north and got in that battle, they experienced a revelation. They realized they could function effectively as a team, but..that without an effective leader..they were not in great shape. They stumbled through a battle with a goddess, but their worried about the future."
"They are? Why would they be, they seem so casual."
"Greg, they came within inches of their lives. Rick was especially effected. He doesn't want to be that close to losing it all again. He wants you to take charge and turn the Guardian scouts into the battle ready machine they can be."
"Well okay, I guess I have no choice. It'll be a challenge."
"I'll be there to help you."
"Okay...but why did Mina kick you out of her house?"
"She was sick of me telling her the truth about herself I think."
"Oh...that could do it," Greg said.
Artemas grinned.
"I've noticed," Artemas said.
And at an apartment in deeper in the city.
"How's the leg Michiru?" Haruka asked.
"Better, thanks," Michiru said. "It was sloppy of me to even take one hit."
"You were in human form. The margin for error is lower."
"That's true, but it still annoys me. I'm very thankful that Amy showed real combat skills that day."
"Doesn't she usually?"
"Amy's the brains of the outfit, you know that. She's better at thinking up strategies, then taking the initiative herself. But that time..coming out of the water was brilliant. She was in complete control."
"She didn't even need you huh?"
"No..and that's what worries me."
"Worries you?"
"Yes..she's in love Haruka."
"Oh...so?"
"So..." Michiru said with a grin. "Love makes her very very dangerous."
"So?" Haruka asked.
"You're hopeless," Michiru asked.
"What?" Haruka asked.
Elsewhere.
"All right...this is a cosmetics shop,": Mina said.
"That it is," Serena said. "Good call."
Mina glanced at her.
"There must be something here that will cover up my scar."
"It's not a scar, it's a cut. Scars are permanent."
"I don't want a scar," Mina said. "Scars are bad."
"Of course..if you got a scar on that pretty little face of yours, goodbye singing career," Serena said.
"If you got a scar all over your face..goodbye dating Darrien," Mina replied.
"Hey...he'd still date me," Serena said.
"Oh..sure.." Mina said. "He could call you Scarface Head."
"Mina...you are this far from being punished," Serena said.
"Okay..okay.."
"Remember..we were being positive," Serena said.
"Right..I'm sorry Serena."
"As am I Mina."
"Okay.." Mina said.
The two walked up to a counter.
"Hi, do you have anything that will get rid of this?" Mina asked pointing at the cut.
"What..you're face?" the ditzy clerk said.
"No!" Mina said.
"Positive..Mina..be positive," Serena said.
"I mean this cut.." Mina said.
"Hmm..I think you need a band aid.." the clerk said.
"I think you need a band aid..for your brain!" Mina shouted.
"What?" Serena asked.
"Don't ask...let's go," Mina said and headed out. Serena followed.
Several minutes later in another cosmetics store.
"Take a look at this.." Mina said holding up a container.
"Hmm..what is it?" Serena asked.
"Well..according to the label..no one should ever use it on any part of their body..odd thing to be selling," She said and put it down.
"Oh..bummer," Serena said. "And it's on sale too."
"Now we've been to four stores. The first one had an idiot running it, the other three didn't seem to understand what we wanted done. Someone has to get it."
They headed up to the counter.
"Can I help you?" the clerk pleasantly asked.
"Okay..please bear with us as we explain the situation," Mina said.
"Yeah.." Serena said.
"Now..my cheek was cut here," Mina said.
"Unfortunate," Serena said.
"Right..now what I want to know is, is there any sort of cosmetic in existence that will hide the thing from view, if not heal it all together," Mina said.
"Hmm..well...there's nothing that can just make it heal," the woman said. "At least not in cosmetic lines, but there are makeups that could help. See if you applied the makeup to both sides of your face, no one would probably notice."
"Really? Where can we get this makeup?" Mina asked.
"Here of course," the woman said.
"Thank goodness..do you know how many stores we've been too trying to get that question answered?" Mina asked.
"No.." the clerk said.
"Of course not," Serena said. "But thanks for playing our game."
"Ahem..so hook us up," Mina said.
"Hook her up, I look fine without makeup," Serena said.
"Oh of course you do, but while you girls are here wouldn't you like to sample our newest products, not to make you look good, but to make you look great," the person said.
"Are these by chance free samples?" Mina and Serena asked.
"Well the samples to see how you like them are," the woman said.
"We accept your challenge," The two girls said.
The woman grinned.
Challenge? She thought slightly nervously.
And at the crown restaurant.
"I do not understand embarrassment," Hotaru said.
"Oh..why?" Greg asked.
"I don't know why, I just know I don't know," Hotaru said. "What does it mean."
"You haven't felt it?"
"Not in years," Hotaru said.
"Hmm..well I guess that's a good thing. If all of us could live without being embarrassed," Greg said.
"I still don't understand. What does it mean?"
"It's hard to explain, but I'll try," Greg said.
"That's all I ask," Hotaru said.
"It's like this. It's where you're propelled into an uncomfortable situation, you know what that means right. You've been uncomfortable."
"I have felt pain."
"Not that kind of uncomfortable, it's different from pain. It's more like suffering, but not painwise..it's emotional," Greg said.
"I have no basis for this feeling."
"Well I'm not going to try and embarrass you just so you can get the feeling."
"That is good," Hotaru said. "I would most likely misunderstand."
"Right..see..let me use other people as an example okay..."
Hotaru nodded.
"Take Serena for example. She likes Darrien."
"As far as we can tell yes," Hotaru said.
Greg paused a minute.
"Well..you see..say..Serena was walking towards Darrien, and she tripped and fell. She'd be embarrassed."
"Why?"
"Because it's not graceful to trip and fall."
"Accidents happen."
"That doesn't make it easier."
"Why not? Everyone who witnesses the event should accept it. As it has probably happened to them at some point."
"But usually they laugh or something. It's not connected..for some reason."
"And what is that reason?" Hotaru asked.
"I don't know. It's subconscious," Greg said.
"Oh...so you don't even understand embarrassment."
"Oh..well..I understand the causes of it."
"No you don't, you just said you didn't."
"I meant the cause of the cause."
"I see," Hotaru said. "Perhaps we should handle another subject."
"Good idea," Greg said and sighed.
And at the cosmetics shop.
"I don't know.." Mina said looking in the mirror. "I don't think the world is ready for me wearing this eyeshadow. I had best leave them in suspense."
Serena and the woman sighed.
"I think I just want to cover up my cut for now..." Mina said. "How much does that makeup cost."
"It's very affordable. Only forty eight dollars."
"Forty..eight dollars.." Mina said. "Just for makeup."
"Well..it's specialized to match skin tone you know.."
"Why can't you give me something that doesn't match the skin tone but covers it up all the same."
"I could, but you want to look natural don't you?"
"Yes, but what if you gave me something that was close to skin tone, but not completely it."
"You're playing with fire dear," the woman said.
"No...I will continue my search elsewhere," Mina said. "Thank you for your time. I'll be back for the eyeshadow..someday. Come on Serena."
Mina headed out.
"Uh..you wouldn't happen to have any phenoms would you?" Serena asked.
"What?" the clerk asked.
"Uh..you know those chemicals you use to attract other people, not perfumes..per se. but.."
"You mean pheromones?"
"Yeah.." Serena said.
"Well sure..we've got some."
"Give me your cheapest bottle possible," Serena said.
"Serena.." Mina said poking her head back in the door.
"Coming Mina, just buying a present for someone..." Serena said.
Mina glanced at her and headed back out.
"This stuff really works right?" Serena asked.
"Depends on what you want it to do," the woman said.
There was a screech outside.
"Uh oh..gotta go.." Serena said. "I'll be back."
She hurried out the door. Mina had just dodged an attack by a goddess.
"I'm getting awfully sick of you people!" Mina shouted taking up a fighting position.
The goddess stood in the middle of the street and grinned.
"Allow me to introduce myself...."
The two girls said there looking for their opportunity.
"Now..I am the goddess of beauty. Ironic that I'm going to kill you in front of a cosmetic shop isn't it?"
"No.." the two girls said.
"What's ironic is that we're going to kill you in front of a cosmetic shop," they replied.
"Hmm..well at least I've got looks..." the goddess said.
"You'll have diddly squat when I'm done with you," Serena said.
"What?" Mina said.
"Never mind.." Serena said.
"I've got my own agenda with you all, you goddess gave me this stupid cut and now I'm mad! And given that I wasn't able to get revenge on the goddess of laughter, I'll get it on you..prepare to face the true goddess of love!"
"Often imitated, never duplicated," Serena said.
"Ehh.." the goddess shouted and unleashed a barrage of energy. The two girls dived out of the way and the front window of the store blew apart.
"Wait..a sec.let's get this over with," Mina said. "Just what's your stupid special power?"
"Mine? Oh..I used up my energy to make myself incredibly beautiful, no special power here!" the goddess shouted and fired again. A car whizzed by.
"Eh.." the goddess said.
"You're standing in the middle of a street moron!" Mina shouted and charged at her. The goddess leapt forward, grabbed her, and threw her in through the store window. She let out a scream before crashing into a display and being doused with make up.
"You won't get me!" Serena shouted and dashed down the sidewalk.
"Fine..I'll just get her," the goddess said and jumped in the window.
Mina whirled and ducked the attack. She swung around and jumped on the goddess from behind and began hitting her on the head.
"Stop it!" the goddess shouted.
"Nope..." Mina said. "And while I'm here."
She held on and pulled out her power stick.
"Venus.Planet..Power.."
The goddess threw her off. She smashed into another display.
"Ew..more make up," she said as she transformed.
The goddess whirled and fired a barrage at her. Venus despite changing was not ready and she was blasted back out the window. She barely rolled out of the way of a speeding car. The goddess attacked again.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" came a shout. The golden disk that was Sailor Moon's tiara flew at the goddess. The goddess whirled and caught it.
"WHAT!" Sailor Moon screeched.
"Hah!" the goddess said and tossed it inside the store.
"You're not allowed to do that!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"Hah.." the goddess said and readied an energy blast for Venus.
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" Venus shouted. The attack flew upward and hit the goddess straight on. She fell backwards and stumbled. Sailor Moon rushed forward, called on Mars' aura, jumped into the air, and did her patented kick. The goddess stumbled the other way. Sailor Moon landed and then did a spin kick. The goddess smashed into the store.
"I'll take care of this Venus, you see where everyone else is and get them here," Sailor Moon said.
"You got it! look out!" Venus said.
The goddess leapt out of the store.
"Forget energy..I'll take you down old school!" the goddess shouted.
"What?" Sailor Moon said nimbly using Venus agility to dodge the attacks.
"I mean I'll beat you with my bare hands."
"Good luck," Sailor Moon said, and using Jupiter's aura she lunged forward and hit the goddess with an upper cut. The goddess stumbled back and hit a parked car.
"We do so much property damage," Sailor Moon muttered. "Moon Sword."
With her light sword she charged forward and tried to stab the goddess. The goddess reached up and grabbed the blade, pulled the sword out of her hands and threw it down the street.
"NO FAIR!" Sailor Moon said and leapt on top of the goddess and began slapping her.
"Hey..stop it.." the goddess said and pushed Sailor Moon off of her.
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!" Came a shout as Venus had leapt across the street and made her attack. The enemy goddess was hit at point blank and she screeched.
"Here..Sailor Moon!" Venus said weakly leaning against a pole for support she tossed Sailor Moon her scepter.
Sailor Moon hit the goddess with it in the head.
"Take that!" Sailor Moon said. The goddess staggered back, but unleashed a massive barrage that knocked Sailor Moon back down the street, she landed on her butt.
"Ouch!" she said.
The goddess charged forward. A rose smashed into the ground. The goddess ran right over it and leapt at Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon tried to dodge, but she was frozen in fear. A black figure leapt into the air and kicked the goddess into the street.
Tuxedo Mask landed.
"Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Moon and Venus shouted dreamily.
"It's not over!" the goddess shouted seconds before getting hit by a dump truck. She bounced off at an angle and lay on the nearby sidewalk.
"Won't take much to get rid of her now," Sailor Moon said.
"She's all mine!" Venus said angrily. "Venus...Crescent Beam Smash!"
The attack hit the goddess on the head and she disintegrated.
"That that," Venus said and sank to the ground.
An hour later the two girls and Darrien were sitting in a nearby cafe.
"You two all right?" Darrien asked.
"We are because you're buying," the two replied happily.
"Good," Darrien said.
"Uh.. Mina you've got another cut there," Serena said.
"Well it's a good thing I didn't buy that makeup then isn't it..I would have put it on and then gotten my butt kicked and given a new cut anyway," Mina said.
"That's the lesson of the day, when evil psychotic women run around in the city, don't spend forty eight dollars on makeup," Serena said.
"It'll heal," Darrien said.
"I hope so," Mina said.
"Darrien..do you think I'm beautiful?" Serena asked.
"That's a bit out of the blue," Darrien said.
"I know, but do you?"
"Of course, and even if you weren't beautiful physically you'd have a wonderful personality. Fortunately, you are beautiful on the outside too, and that means I get a bonus," Darrien said.
"Hey...Darrien..am I beautiful?" Mina asked with a grin.
"Speaking objectively..sure," Darrien said.
"How come you didn't speak objectively for me?" Serena asked. "I deserve objectivity, subjectivity can lead to misinterpretation."
"Yes, but.." Darrien said.
"No..more subjectivity."
"You asked for it," Darrien said.
"And I'll get it," Serena said.
CHAPTER 201 CHAPTER 202 CHAPTER 203 CHAPTER 204 CHAPTER 205
CHAPTER 206 CHAPTER 207 CHAPTER 208 CHAPTER 209 CHAPTER 210
CHAPTER 211 CHAPTER 212 CHAPTER 213 CHAPTER 214 CHAPTER 215
CHAPTER 216 CHAPTER 217 CHAPTER 218 CHAPTER 219 CHAPTER 220
CHAPTER 221 CHAPTER 222 CHAPTER 223 CHAPTER 224 CHAPTER 225