Chapter 216
Mike and Steve were headed up the steps to Raye's temple.
"What do you think Rick and Raye wanted to see us about?" Mike asked.
"Good question, maybe it's that they want us to get off our butts and start practicing," Steve replied.
"Good theory," Mike said.
"We have been a little lazy lately. How many songs have we actually practiced?"
"It's not entirely our fault, it's taken Rick and Raye some time to write them."
"Hmm..true," Steve said. "Still.."
They arrived at the door to Raye's room.
"I haven't been to Rick's house in months," Mike said.
"Yeah, he's always here," Steve said.
The two looked at each other and grinned.
Mike knocked. The door slid open.
"Come in gentlemen," Rick said.
"Not a good sign," Mike said as he and Steve walked in.
"I have a question for you two," Raye said. "What would you say if I told you that we've got a concert booked."
"I'd say, who'd be stupid enough book us?" Mike replied.
"Yeah..they must be desperate," Steve said.
"Ehh..what if I said we had a date at an open mic night," Raye said.
"Falls within the realm of possibility," Mike and Steve said.
"Take a look," Rick said showing them a poster.
"Hmm..I see..you realize this is Saturday," Mike said.
"And today is Monday," Steve said.
"And that you're both out of your minds if you think we can be ready by then," the two added.
"Don't worry," Rick said. "It'll just take some effort. And besides we've got other songs we already know."
"Which I've forgotten," Mike said.
"This isn't a discussion," Raye said. "We've got something to prove. We've wasted the entire summer, now it's time to make up for it."
"If we stink, we'll make up for nothing," Mike said.
"Mike..listen..it'll be fun at least," Rick said.
"Maybe," Mike said. "If we're going to be going into overdrive, I've got some things to do. Call me when you need me."
He headed out.
"Me too," Steve said and followed.
"That didn't go well," Rick said.
"I expected that," Raye said.
"You know..the last time there was a band full of nice looking guys with pure skill, a woman broke it up. I think we're heading that way.," Mike said.
"Wait Mike..you're saying there's only been one band full of nice looking guys with pure skill in the past twenty years?" Steve asked.
"Twenty years..what do you mean?"
"The beatles," Steve said. "Right..that's who you were talking about right?"
"I was talking about milli vanilli," Mike said.
"WHAT?" Steve said. "That doesn't even make sense."
"Not to you maybe," Mike said.
"So how have your talks with Hotaru been going?" Artemas asked sitting on Greg's desk.
"Good question," Greg said. "I got her very angry at the Sailor V game, but aside from that I don't know."
"Very angry at the Sailor V game? How?"
"Well she wanted to do something fun, so I had her try it."
"And she got angry at it?"
"After she lost, yeah."
"Guess she is on her way to becoming human," Artemas said with a grin.
"Yeah..but D.V.'s the only one who got her to show any positive emotions."
"Jealous?"
"Jealous? No..why?"
"Nothing," Artemas said.
Mina grinned and stared at the poster she had found.
"Open mic night. This'll be perfect. The debut of Mina Deveraux! The world has been kept waiting far too long. They cry out..Mina..sing for us..and I say..not yet. But now..finally they will have their wishes granted. I shall sing for them. Of course..where am I going to find a backup band? I'll find one somewhere."
She started laughing hysterically. Her mother and father poked their heads in the door and looked at her with concern.
"Mina..are you..all right?" they both asked.
"Absolutely," Mina said. "You know me."
"That's why we're worried!"
"I take that as an affront. It borders on child abuse."
"Sure it does," her father said.
"We better call the lawyer," her mother said and the two headed out.
Mina growled.
"They ruined the moment!"
And in the Tsukino household, Mister Tsukino sat at his desk staring at the list he had made up.
"All right...now I shall begin the elimination of the people who it can't be!" He said and cackled slightly.
"Dear? What are you doing?" Misses Tsukino said walking in.
"Nothing!" he said and covered the paper with his hand.
"Obviously you're doing something."
"No..no.I'm doing more then something..but please..leave me to my work. It is important."
"All right.." she said and headed out.
I wonder what he's up to. She thought. I hope it's not yet another of his
messy financial deals that always end up with us getting audited. Then again, he
didn't cackle manically when he was organizing those. Hmm..strange.
"You know Amy, me and you should double date sometime," Serena said.
"Serena..I've been reading up on dating. Isn't the double date taboo?" Amy asked.
"No..no..well yes..but not for us," Serena said. "We've got two great boyfriends."
"Yes but.."
"Come on..what are you worried about?"
"I fear the unknown like many people."
"The unknown is merely what you don't know yet," Serena said. "Besides, we can't get tables for two at this restaurant Darrien wants to take me to."
"Oh..so that's it."
"No..no..it's not an ulterior motive, just an additional one," Serena added.
Amy sighed, well aware that she wasn't going to win this battle.
"Fine..I'll ask Urawa," she said.
"Excellent," Serena said.
"Uh..this place..is it expensive?"
"A little..but you're rich remember."
"Serena..no I'm not. You know all those times I got sued and such...remember?."
"Oh..you're right. Okay..I'll figure that part out later. Actually..if Urawa loves you he'll.."
"Serena, I won't ask him to pay to take me to an expensive restaurant," Amy said.
"It's the best way to see if a man loves you though."
"Through their willingness to pay for things for you?" Amy asked.
"YES! That's how it's been for generations!"
"I must have skipped that chapter in that book I was reading," Amy said.
"That's been known to happen," Serena said
"But I can't do this for a couple of days."
"Whenever, just let me know."
"All right."
Haruka woke up early that morning. She glanced at Michiru lying in the other bed in the room and smiled slightly.
You get to sleep in. She thought. She quickly dressed herself and started cooking some toast.
As she waited she sipped a cup of coffee.
How long have I been at all this? She thought to herself. Too long. Running around destroying monsters even before anyone knew they existed. And now...still doing it. Though not very well it seems. The last time I met up with a goddess it managed to slip LSD into my system and make me paranoid around Michiru. Since then I haven't been able to take on one on one. They aren't exactly making it easy. That's true. But..it's not supposed to be easy. I should be able to do something. To act rather then react. And these night patrols Michiru and I have been doing. Doesn't make me feel too good for work. And it's not helping. That's for sure. They should pay me for being a Sailor Scout I devote so much time to it.
The toast popped up out of the toaster. She grabbed the pieces and put them on her plate. She took another sip.
These goddesses are amateurs, that seems obvious. They can be beaten by two scouts, not very formidable at all. Though I guess there defense is only part of the issue. Their offensive weapons aren't good enough. They have the potential to be. Some of them. Hopefully they aren't able to combine some of those powers into one goddess. That could be bad. Still. I wonder what is going on. Why is it that they are so ineffective most of the time? They only do any real damage when they steal conventional weapons, or get Sailor Mars to set fire to a hotel.
She grinned slightly. It was somewhat funny if one saw it the right way.
And here I sit with no way to change anything from what it is. No way to draw them out into a final confrontation. No sign of even a pattern. Even worse, the sense I had of evil's movements, their whereabouts...gone. At least for now. That's annoying.
She finished her first slice of toast and started contemplating the past.
There was time when she was five. She found herself dressing for school in the customary uniform of her grade school.
"Haruka..I wish you wouldn't demand that you're hair be cut so short. You look to much like a boy," her mother said.
"I like it this way," Haruka said with a grin.
Her mother let the look of concern slide off her face.
"All right.." She said. "If you insist."
Haruka's smile broadened and she headed out the door to catch the bus.
It had been the last day she had seen either of her parents alive.
Three hours later she had found herself in the back of a police car. She hadn't known why, only that something had happened. She remembered being brought down to a room. A man in a suit had walked in.
"Hello...Haruka's your name right?" he asked.
Haruka nodded.
"Why am I here?" She asked.
"I'm Detective Ozaki. I have some bad news for you. I'm afraid that your parents have been killed. A robber attempted to sneak into your house. Your father hurt him badly, but he had a friend and he killed your parents. I'm very sorry."
Haruka didn't let it sink in immediately. She didn't understand. But soon she
was crying.
It was seven years later she had found out the truth. Her father was a drug
runner. Despite the exterior that he had put up around her, as a nice caring
man, he had killed two people. The police had busted into his house to arrest
him. He had resisted, in the gunfight, both of her parents had been shot. Her
mother wasn't involved they thought. It was a mistake. She had been resentful of
the misinformation. She wished she had been told the truth, rather then the lie
that was somehow supposed to hold her innocence together despite the fact that
her two parents had been killed. But she also knew..they were right not to tell
her. She wouldn't have understood. But it still hurt. It was still painful.
She had spent the years after that tough. She got into fights, mainly with other boys. She didn't take anything from anyone. Her short hair lead to some measure of ridicule, but not from the same person more then once. She saw to that. Then there was the day she met Michiru. She had been a loner, so she was eating lunch alone. A rebel, an outcast from both girls and boys. Too tough to be with the other girls. Too much of a girl to be with the boys. So she was in the middle.
"You're not a boy," came a calm voice. Haruka turned.
"So I've noticed," Haruka said facing a green haired girl.
"Yes..well...you certainly act like one. They say you get into fights."
"Best way to settle things sometimes," Haruka said and took a bite.
"Yes..I agree," Michiru said. "Haruka is it?"
Haruka nodded.
"And you?" she asked.
"Michiru Kaioh. You don't have many friends do you?"
"None," Haruka said. "Everyone thinks my hair's too short."
"Short hair has it's uses," Michiru said.
"Uses?" Haruka asked.
Michiru nodded.
"I think it looks nice," She said.
"Hmm...yeah.." Haruka said.
"You don't believe me."
"I've come to find that there's a lot of people not worth believing."
"You think I'm one of them?"
"Don't know yet."
"Don't worry, I'm not."
"Easy for you to say," Haruka said.
"You'll find out that I'm telling the truth soon enough," Michiru said with a
grin and headed off.
Michiru. Nice to everyone, but always making it clear she has an agenda. Haruka thought. They had fought a lot of battles since that meeting. All over the place too. The attacks on Tokyo were a relatively recent addition to the mix. How convenient of the enemy to attack here so often. I know the scouts have come up with explanations as to why it happens from time to time, but still...you'd think the enemies would try something else. I guess the universe operates in strange ways.
She took a bite out of her second piece of toast.
Why am I reminiscing now of all times? You think I could find something else to do with my time. Like get ready for work. Then again, I don't want to think about work. The past is the past. It wasn't exactly fun, but it was interesting. I should stop thinking of the past, and start thinking about now. I wonder where Setsuna is. Are things that bad in the other dimension?
She finished her toast.
"Up early Haruka?" Michiru asked drowsily.
"Yes, surprisingly, it seems the less sleep I get, the easier it is for me to wake up," Haruka said.
"That's odd," Michiru said. "What have you been doing?"
"Wasting time thinking about the past."
"That's not wasting time. The past is what makes the person you are now exist."
"Maybe but,"
"No but's about it," Michiru said. "Without the past there is no present. It's a good idea to reflect every once and awhile."
"Maybe," Haruka said.
"Both of our pasts have had their ups and downs, but both the highs and the lows have meaning. They are important to remember, and important to respect," Michiru said.
"Didn't you just wake up?"Haruka asked.
"Sure. Why?"
"You're the first person I've met capable of constructing a very logical argument just out of bed."
"How many other people have you met just out of bed?" Michiru asked with a grin.
Haruka grinned back.
"We've been dating for a while now huh?" Urawa said.
"Two weeks, seven days, four hours," Amy said.
"Amy? Seven days is another week," Urawa said.
"How silly of me..I've just had the numbers in my head for a while," Amy said. "It happens."
"Yeah..I know," Urawa said. "The price of being intelligent I guess. I'm glad we were both able to keep up with each other during the national exams. I didn't really want to beat you."
"I don't think you had to worry about that," Amy said.
Urawa grinned.
"I see..so you were assured of victory then," Urawa said.
"Maybe not assured," Amy said. "I suppose some external events could have interfered."
Urawa laughed.
"I always thought you were the modest type," he said.
"But I am..normally," Amy said. "In fact I don't know what came over me, I really am modest."
"I know..you don't have to convince me," Urawa said.
"Now I'm worried," Amy said.
"Why?"
"Oh..nothing..so..how have things been with you?" she asked.
"Could be better, could be worse. School's coming up. Do you know what class you're going to be in?"
"2-B. I don't know who's teaching it."
<>"I'm in 2-C, you'll come by to visit won't you?"
"We've shared classes before you know. How is it that you've never gotten the top score on school exams?"
"Oh..well...the format of school gets to me. I do a lot of outside reading. That's why I take the national exams. Even if I get a few B's here and there, the colleges will see how well I've done."
"It's not assured that they'll all except B's."
"It'll do," Urawa said. "Besides..Juuban High can't have their pride and joy eclipsed by anyone can they?"
"I..uh..." Amy said and blushed. "I try not to think of myself that way."
"You should. Heck, you're what keeps Principal Oksua from being shifted to the central office."
"I don't think that's true," Amy said.
"It's hard to say, we do have those strange attacks every once and awhile. The superintendent gets annoyed."
"I guess it's fortunate the Sailor Scouts are around to protect us huh?" Amy asked.
"I've never trusted them."
"What?" Amy said in surprise.
"I have a theory about them. You want to hear it?"
"Uh..sure," Amy said mystified.
Haruka didn't particularly like the service industry as she had gotten to know it so well. Being a delivery girl for a pizza place was somewhat degrading, but it wasn't like they hand out good jobs to untrained minors. At least she got to drive a motorbike, and visit places. Still..it wasn't her favorite part time job compared to some of the others she had had. It had its moments though.
She had received an unusually large order to be delivered to police headquarters. The number had been checked, it was no prank. The officer on the other end had explained they were celebrating someone's promotion. She would have preferred not to have to go to that building again. It was true during the heat of battle just weeks ago she was able to suppress her hatred of that building. Right now though...
She carried the pizza's in the door.
"Oh..the pizza delivery, fifth floor," the desk officer said.
"Right.." Haruka said remembering quite vividly the fifth floor.
How ironic. She muttered. Though not unexpected the way the universe works.
She got into an elevator and waited as it rose to the fifth floor. She got out and was a little unprepared for the sight she saw. It wasn't the fifth floor she remembered. It was the elevator most assuredly, but the layout had changed.
She sighed. At least that's one good thing. She thought and was ushered down a corridor to where a large group of officers were standing around.
"Pizza's here," one of them said. Haruka was quickly relieved of your burden.
"Here you are," Captain Shinobu Ozaki said handing her the payment. She took it and nodded.
She headed for the door noticing that Lita's father seemed to be the object of attention. She waited for the elevator. The doors opened and a familiar figure stepped out. The Chief of Police himself. He glanced at her and then stopped.
"Haruka..Tenno.." he said.
"Yes sir," she said. "You remember. So do I. I know the truth about my parents now."
"Oh..I'm sorry.I shouldn't have lied..."
"It's all right. It was nice of you to try," She said.
"I'm sorry anyway. Delivered the pizza's did you?"
"Yes sir."
"We promoted Sergeant Nelson today. He's getting a new job. Party's on the city," Ozaki said with a grin. "I see you've had to support yourself."
"Yes sir."
"Would you consider working for us?"
"I'm not sure I understand."
"You know helping out. As a staffer. I'll beat whatever your being paid and shorten the hours."
"Uh..I don't know what..to say..why?"
"Because..it was unfair what happened to you. I want to help, I know I've waited eleven years , but.."
"I..uh..sure.." Haruka said.
"Here.." Ozaki said and handed her a card. "You call my office and we'll get you set up. You didn't drop out of school did you?"
"No sir."
"We'll work around that too..okay?"
"Yes..thanks,"
Ozaki smiled and headed off.
Haruka was still dumbfounded even blocks away from police headquarters.
Why would he be so nice to me like that? It seems almost too generous. No..this is on the level..I think. But if I only had to work one job..that would really help. But I've got other things..
She whirled. A goddess stood behind her. A relatively well built one.
"I'm no good at sneaking up," the goddess muttered and the ground erupted sending a wave of cement flying at her. Haruka grabbed a fire escape and flipped forward hitting the goddess straight through and knocking her to the ground. Haruka flipped off and raced back around the corner. The goddess turned and followed sending another wave of cement flying along the ground.
Haruka had no where to run and she was caught up in. The goddess ran forward. Haruka ducked into an alley and pulled out her power stick.
"Uranus Planet Power!"
She finished her transformation just as the alley ripped up and propelled her to the ground.
"Hmm..you got lucky," the goddess said. "No..I won't fight you today, but I want you alone. You chose the battleground, I'll show up. See ya!"
The goddess then hurried off. Sailor Uranus moved to follow despite the pain in her, but lost track of her quickly.
"That was strange," She said to herself. "She issued a challenge. But why?"
She wants to get me alone so she has a better chance of winning. Still..if I could fight her on ground of my choosing, I would have a better chance of beating her. And I could actually accomplish something. Still..that's exactly why she proposed the idea, she knows I might just accept it. That worries me.
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