Chapter 220
Serena woke up with annoyance as her alarm clock went off.
"What's going on? Six thirty?..." she hit it knocking it off the table.
"Serena get up," Luna said.
"Luna I happen to know today is Saturday, not Monday. Why should I have to get up early today?"
"You should get yourself ready for going back to school Serena," Luna said. "That way waking up on Monday will be less painful."
"Thanks a lot," Serena said and promptly fell back to sleep.
"Don't do that," Luna muttered and jumped on her stomach. Serena awoke again with a start.
"I'm getting awfully sick of you interfering with my sleep schedule," She said staring at Luna. "In fact I think it's driving me insane. You don't want to see me insane."
"Serena...calm down.."
"No.no..no..I think that this is a good time for me to show you what I mean by insane. Would you like to take a bath kitty?" she said with a menacing grin.
"Now..Serena...you know that even talking cats from the moon hate water," Luna said backing up.
"That's true," Serena said climbing out of bed. "But..then again...maybe that's the idea."
"You're making a mistake Serena."
"No..no..I think everything's going just right," Serena said and lunged at her. Luna dived out of the way.
"I'll catch you eventually!" Serena said.
"Not if I can help it!" Luna said and kept running.
Later at the restaurant.
"So I finally caught with her, but at that point I was just too hungry to do anything," Serena said.
"Oh..I see," Lita said.
"In two days we'll be stuck going to back to school huh?"
"Yeah.." Lita said with annoyance. "Just more stress in our already hectic lives."
"You've had it easy, all you had was a wall destroyed," Serena said.
"Easy for you to say. For being our leader you haven't been in many of the battles lately yourself," Lita said.
"I can't explain it, I just don't stumble into trouble like I used to," Serena said. "Maybe it's because I'm getting older, or maybe god looked and said. You know that girl getting into all this trouble just isn't that interesting anymore, we'll have it happen to her friends more often."
"I doubt god micro manages," Lita said.
"Probably not," Serena said and took a sip of her drink. "I don't wanna go back to school," She whined.
"Serena keep it down," Lita muttered.
"Sorry..but I really don't."
"I gathered that," Lita said.
"Why doesn't Setsuna fix it up for us like she did with Patterson? It's not fair."
"You mean let us skip school?"
"What else would I mean?"
"You know Setsuna, she has boundaries and she tries to stay within them whenever possible," Lita said.
"But why? If you've got power why not abuse it," Serena whined. "And it's really not abuse, she'd be helping me out."
"I don't think that's a good enough justification Serena," Lita said.
"Ehh..what do you know?" Serena said.
"No need to get hostile," Lita said.
"Maybe," Serena said. "But just how long do I have to go to school until their convinced I'm not learning anything?"
Lita grinned.
"Good question," she said.
"So Setsuna why are you teaching our class?" Michiru asked sipping some coffee.
"I figured it would be better if I was near the other scouts," Setsuna said. "It makes it easier for me to keep an eye on all of you."
"I guess, but keeping a real job like that.." Michiru said.
"Will help pay the bills. Besides, I guess if there's anything I'm trained to do it's teach," Setsuna said.
"Didn't you go to school Setsuna?" Michiru asked.
"Of course, I got a teaching degree. But I never followed up on it, there was too much for me to do in the meantime."
"I guess now you get the chance," Michiru said.
Setsuna nodded.
"Setsuna.." Michiru added soon afterward. "You do realize what you're getting into right?"
Setsuna looked at her with a slight touch of concern.
"She kissed me Amy," Greg said.
"She did what?" Amy asked.
"That's right she kissed me," Greg said.
"On the lips?"
"No, the cheek," Greg said. "It wasn't a kiss kiss though..I mean..it was one of those friendship kisses, you know like in Europe?"
"Oh..why did she do it?"
"I think it was because she shows so little emotion she didn't think she could show me how happy she was."
"So she resorted to a sign of affection hoping you would get the idea."
"And I thought I did. But.."
"But.."
"Amy..it felt weird," Greg said.
"It's supposed to."
"Yes..that's true..but..I don't know it just felt weird. I keep telling myself it was nothing more then a show of friendship. But with Hotaru..how do I know?"
"What do you mean? What do you think it is?"
"Nothing..nothing..no..what am I thinking.." Greg said. "It's exactly what it was."
"Greg...you're worried this was more than that aren't you?" Amy asked.
"I..no..it was just a foolish thought that came into my head, but it's.."
"Do you have any reason to believe it is."
"I don't know.." Greg said. "I'm probably wrong."
Amy looked at him with concern.
"I'm just imagining things," he said.
"So..Lita.aren't you supposed to be meditating or something?" Serena asked.
"I'm taking a day off. See..I'm going to have to fit it around my school work so I'm setting up a new schedule starting tomorrow."
"Oh...I see.." Serena said.
"But you know I'm not sure the technique I'm using it working. In fact..while I may be relaxed. The world around me continues to spiral into chaos."
Serena glanced at her.
"Yep, that's right," Lita said.
"Lita are you sure this isn't something else. Like you being insane?" Serena asked.
"Serena you'd have to read what I've read to understand," Lita said.
"Why is it that understanding something raises more questions than not understanding it?" Serena asked.
"That's only because further understanding makes detail a larger issue. So..naturally if you understand something you're more intrigued."
"No..that's not it at all, it's because the entire world's one messed up ball of insanity," Serena said. "I'll have no part of it."
"Of what? The world?"
"No, philosophical discussions of the state of the world. I have no interest in understanding what is fundamentally a paradox of physical and spiritual actions!" Serena said.
"Serena..where did you learn to say that sentence!"
"I'm not dumb! Just lazy!" Serena said. "Now..let's change the subject..here's Amy's house. I wanna talk to her."
"I wonder what her interpretation of this discussion will be."
"You ask her and I'll break you into little inner pieces," Serena said.
"Nice pun," Lita muttered.
Minutes later.
"Hello," Amy said. "How are you two doing?"
"Fine, fine, what'd you think of our little date?"Serena asked.
"It had it's moments," Amy said. "Urawa found you..entertaining."
Lita grinned.
"Yeah well, he's a nice guy," Serena said. "Don't blow it."
"What?" Amy asked.
"Serena," Lita said.
"What..I'm just giving some advice, that's all," Serena said. "You gotta hold onto this guy at all costs."
"Oh..I see," Amy said.
"Now anyway," Serena said. "Amy I was hoping to talk to you about something else, I noticed that..during dinner there was this point at.."
"Serena..I know what you mean," Amy said. "And it's nothing. It got me thinking, but it's fine now."
"You sure?" Serena said. "Because if it isn't I can help."
"Trust me," Amy said. "If it was a problem. I'd ask for your help."
"Okay.." Serena said. "So..how's Greg doing? He and Hotaru getting along?"
"She kissed him," Amy said.
Serena and Lita almost fell over with surprise.
"On the cheek," Amy added.
"A kiss is still a kiss," Lita and Serena said.
"Yes, but she was trying to thank him for him helping her out."
"Seems like a heck of a thank you," Lita said.
"No..no.Hotaru didn't mean it that way," Amy said.
"Is that what she said?" Lita asked.
"To Greg, yes," Amy said. "See..she really doesn't show emotion very well, and I guess she had to prove to him that she meant what she said."
"Did she say perhaps I love you?" Serena and Lita asked.
"No," Amy said. "Nothing of the sort. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"In retrospect that was probably your best course of action," The two girls replied. "But what do you think?"
"Exactly what I told you. Greg's been afraid it meant more, but he doesn't think so," Amy said.
"But he was worried?" The two asked.
"Yes, but based on the facts, I don't see why. It seems straightforward to me."
"Yeah, she's in love with him," Lita and Serena said.
Amy sighed.
"Amy hear us out," Lita said. "Think about it. Hotaru just might think she is. She spends a lot of time with him. She might have got her signals crossed."
"Sure..she might actually think he loves her too. And that's not good if it's not true," Serena said.
"Why has this all the sudden become serious?" Amy asked.
"Because if Hotaru doesn't understand what's going on it could hurt her," Lita said.
"We should find out from her," Serena said.
"I don't think Greg wanted the information to be passed around. If we go talk to Hotaru she'll know he was.." Amy said.
"Hmm...then we've got a problem," Lita and Serena said.
"Only if she meant it," Amy said.
"We can't take the chance, we need to know," Serena said.
"Because if she gets angry," Lita said.
"Yeah, she could get out of control," Serena aid.
"I think you two are exaggerating," Amy said.
"You haven't seen Hotaru angry," the two replied.
"No I haven't. But you two have?"
"Sure we did, Greg took her to the arcade again when we were around, not a pretty sight," Lita said.
"Not at all," Serena said.
That evening in the school auditorium that was the sight of the open mic event.
"Okay..I think we're ready," Raye said.
"We've been less prepared for things," Steve said.
"Though usually we know enough just not to get involved in anything that requires preparation," Mike added.
"I'm sure we'll do fine," Rick said.
"Is that Mina?" Mike said in surprise. The others looked. Mina had walked in wearing a strange outfit consisting of a puffy dress.
"She's got to be kidding," Raye said.
"You say that a lot about her," Rick said.
"She's a living joke!" Raye said. "I should be able to."
"Actually she looks kinda cute," Steve said.
Mike glanced at him.
"What?" Steve asked.
"You're right.." he said.
"Cut it out you two," Raye said. "You'll just encourage her."
"Raye..let me explain something to you," Mike said. "When a girl does something that is cute and is pleasing to the eyes, we want her to continue to do this until it gets uninteresting. Thus we want to be encouraging!"
"He's got you there," Rick said.
Raye glared at him.
"I'm not backing down on this one," he said. "But I'll back down on the next five arguments if you just quit staring at me."
Raye grinned.
Mina meanwhile was meeting with her backup band.
"You guys ready?" she asked.
"Yeah...we're ready to rock!" the three shouted and started making grunge gestures.
They are very very stupid. Mina thought. But they can play well, so I'll deal
with it.
In the front row of the auditorium sat Serena, Darrien, Amy, Urawa, and Lita.
"I have to be honest...Raye is a good singer, but what is Mina thinking?" Serena asked.
"Well..Serena I agree she is being a bit delusional, but that's what you do when you dream," Lita said.
"I don't know what you mean by that," Serena said blankly. Lita looked at her. Serena began to laugh.
"Of course I do," Serena said.
"So Mina has never performed before?" Urawa asked.
"Well..unless you count her existence as a performance, no..but.." Lita began.
"She's never sung on stage before," Serena said.
"Oh..is she any good?" Urawa asked.
"We don't know," the girls said.
"Amy?" Urawa asked.
"I don't know," Amy said.
"Oh.."Urawa said. "Say..who's that girl with your brother?"
"What?" Amy said and turned seeing Greg walking down the aisle with Hotaru.
"Hotaru!" the girls and Darrien said in surprise.
"You were saying about them not being anything more then friends," Serena said glancing at Amy.
"This could still be that.." Amy said.
Greg walked up to them.
"Hotaru thought that.."
"I thought that this would be a good way for me to enhance my social skills," Hotaru said interrupting.
"Yeah.." Greg said.
"So..how's it going?" Lita asked.
"I suppose it is going well," Hotaru said. "Whatever that means."
Lita sighed.
The two sat down.
"What's with her?" Urawa whispered to Amy.
"Long story," Amy said.
"What does the expression 'how's it going actually mean?" Hotaru asked Lita who she had sat down next to.
"Oh..it's essentially how are you doing? Just another way of saying it," Lita said.
"Hmm..that could be useful," Hotaru said and turned to Greg.
"You will have to teach me some more slang Greg, I must understand so I don't look foolish," she said.
"Sure.." Greg said a bit uneasily.
"So..Hotaru dragged you out again ey?" Michiru asked sitting down beside him.
"No..it's good that she wanted to go," Greg said.
"I am right here Michiru," Hotaru said.
"Yes, I know," Michiru said. "I didn't mean any offense."
"None taken," Hotaru said.
"I'm quite interested in how Raye and the guys will do," Michiru said. "What do you all think?"
"We're more worried about Mina.." the majority of the others said.
"Oh...good point," Michiru said with a grin.
The first few acts came on. Some were good. Some weren't great. Raye's band soon showed up.
"What do we call ourselves again?" Raye asked.
"I thought we were the band with no name," Rick said.
"We will always be the big crushers," Mike said.
"How about Raye and the idiots," Steve said.
"Why would you suggest that?" Mike and Rick asked.
"It fits," Steve said.
"I'll handle it," Rick said and walked to the microphone. Most of the crowd recognized them and let out some loud applause.
"Hey..how's it going?" he asked.
"It is amazing how often that sentence is used," Hotaru observed.
"Uh..we used to be the big crushers, and then we were the band with no name. But we don't know what we're called anymore. So..let's just get to the music shall we?" Rick asked.
The crowd roared.
Raye took the microphone.
"I thought we'd start with an oldie, well by our standards. It was in honor of those valiant Sailor Scouts who we all love right?" Raye said. The crowd roared.
Hotaru just glanced back at them all.
"All right..here we go!" Raye said.
The band went into "Carry On" slightly modified and received a large burst of applause.
"Okay..now we've got a newer song for ya," Raye said. "We like to call it Fire Soul Love!"
She began to sing her new lyrics.
"You think you're going to be a tough one. You think you can come wreck my home.
You really better think again though. Because you're going to get slapped right down.
You think you're a goddess because your stronger. You think that what you say is what goes.
I'll throw you right back where you came from. I'll teach you not to mess with me..."
I'm not some wimp who you can beat on. I'm not someone who won't get angry.
I'm a girl with the will to win. I'm sick of having to deal with you!"
She then went into a chorus and on with the song. When it ended the crowd started clapping.
"That was pretty angry," Serena said.
"It was a song from the heart though," Lita said.
"And after all she's been through, it's understandable," Darrien said.
"Amazing how emotion can be channeled in that way," Hotaru said.
The band finished up it's performance. A few more performers came on. The four arrived in the front row and sat down in some saved seats.
"What you'd think?" Raye asked. The group gave her thumbs up.
"Here comes Mina," Mike said.
"This is going to be good," Raye muttered.
Mina came on in her outfit.
"What is she wearing?" Lita stammered.
"It's kinda cute," Michiru said with a grin.
"Hi...everybody," Mina said happily. "This is my first performance so I hope all of you are going to enjoy it, and even if you don't pretend to so I don't feel sad and kill myself."
"OKAY!" she said. "I call this one, 'Route to Venus!"
The band started up. Mina began to sing very quickly.
"I'm not the kind of girl who takes love very lightly. I'm a lover of romance."
"I look for that special man who's the right one for me. I'm not someone who will gamble or cheat, I just want someone that's cute!"
"He doesn't have to be the greatest actor, or some prince from someone's royalty,
"I don't have many restrictions, except that he's the one that will hold me tight..."
"I need a guy, who'll love me so, like no one else can do, I mean a perfect gentleman, right out of a fairy tale!"
"He'll say to me "I love you!" And I'll turn right back and say that to him."
"He'll take me in his arms forever, and I'll love him in every way!"
"I said I need a guy, who'll love me so, who will kiss me and hug me and treat me right,
"After all that's what we all want, we want someone to give us love!"
And then the song continued. It stopped soon and the crowd started clapping.
"She needs some work," Raye said.
"Still..she's got some real raw talent," Rick said.
"Yeah..think of what she could do with some training," Mike said.
"The consequences could be catastrophic," Raye said.
"Someone's jealous," Serena said.
"I am not," Raye said.
Then the wall exploded.
In jumped a goddess shooting bolts of energy behind her. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Pluto leapt in the hole in the wall after her firing their own weapons.
"How dare the goddesses interrupt my performance!" Mina shouted and leapt off the stage tackling the goddess.
"Mina get out of the way" Uranus shouted!"
Mina leapt off quickly. Sailor Uranus dug her sword into the goddess who shrieked. Sailor Pluto swung her staff and hit her. The goddess noticed the other scouts all looking at her.
"Uh oh.." she said and ducked another attack. The room was filled with light. Everyone was blinded for an instant. The goddess was gone when they could see again.
"She got away," Uranus said with annoyance.
"Probably once she realized what was happening," Pluto said.
"Who was that?" Mina asked.
"The goddess of light," Uranus said. "We'd better go make sure she isn't still around. Please continue doing what you were doing."
"After that?" Mina muttered.
"Please continue," Hotaru said. "I wish to hear more."
"You do?" Mina asked.
"She does?" everyone asked.
"Yes," Hotaru said.
Mina looked at her.
"Uh..why?"
"Because it is pleasing to listen to," Hotaru said. Mina grinned back and
leapt onto the stage. The band started up again.
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