Chapter 264
The next day.
"Hi...Seiya," Mina said popping out of the bushes in the wooded area around Juuban High.
"Oh..hello Mina," Seiya said cautiously.
"Say..could I ask you something?"
"I guess."
"How about we talk over there."
"Why over there?"
"Well..it's just nicer over there."
Seiya shrugged.
Mina thumbed her wrist communicator.
Serena perked up as she hid in the bushes with her pocket camera.
Mina walked into the clearing. Seiya followed.
"Well..I just wanted to..ahh.." Mina said.
"What?" Seiya said with concern.
"Something in my eye," Mina said.
"Let me have a look," Seiya said and held her shoulders.
"Way to go Mina," Serena said and snapped a picture.
She's a genius when it comes to stuff like this. Serena thought and snapped a few more.
"Whatcha doing?" came a voice. Serena whirled to see Mike crouching there.
"Ach!" Serena shouted. Seiya and Mina looked over in her direction.
"What's going on?" Seiya asked.
"That idiot," Mina muttered.
"Oh...don't mind us," Mike said with a grin and embraced Serena. Serena's eyes widened in shock. As did Mina's.
"Is that Serena's boyfriend?" Seiya asked.
"No...and that's what worries me," Mina said. "Uh..maybe we should go."
"Maybe," Seiya said.
"Let go of me," Serena said.
"Sorry..I was just covering for you," Mike said.
"How?"
"Well..if Seiya saw us you know..making out, he wouldn't think you were taking pictures of him."
"What do you care?" Serena asked.
"Well..I was just being nice," Mike said. "And now you and Mina owe me one."
"Okay..okay..fair enough...just don't do that again," Serena said.
"Why..am I tempting you?" Mike asked.
"No!" Serena said and slapped him.
Later that day, class had been let out, the majority of the boys were swarming around Patterson as he walked out the door.
"Come on help us out," one of them said.
"With your expertise, they wouldn't stand a chance," Steve said. "They have a point."
"I'm not interested in getting involved," Patterson said.
"Now that's a lie, it calls to you, heed the call," Rick said.
"Even you can't admit you're not tempted to hit back," Mike said.
"I am tempted yes, but I'm not going to do it," Patterson said.
"Come on!" the guys all shouted.
"Patterson," Came a voice of the din. Taiki had stepped out in front of group. The guys all stopped. Patterson stopped and said nothing.
"They say you are the best history student here, that you know even more then Amy Anderson."
"He's the man!" the guys all said.
"I find this surprising considering your lax attitude towards practical subjects such as math and science," Taiki said.
Patterson still said nothing keeping his gaze fixed on Taiki.
"So what do you want Taiki?" the guys snapped.
"I wish to test your skill," Taiki said.
"You don't want none of this!" Mike shouted.
"Yeah!" The guys added.
Patterson held up a hand. They all went silent.
He walked straight past Taiki and headed down the hall.
Taiki turned.
"So you ignore my challenge?" He shouted.
Patterson turned a corner and walked away.
"There's your answer pal!" The group of guys said.
"You are all below contempt," Taiki said and walked off.
"Look at these pictures.." Serena said showing them to the various girls after school.
"What is Mina trying to do here?" Raye asked looking at the suggestive pictures.
"My first guess is sell them to the tabloids," Lita said. "She makes money, and she'll gain instant celebrity status."
"But has she done it yet?" Amy asked.
"Well you see...it wasn't just Seiya she had pictures taken with," Serena said.
"What?" the other three asked.
"Well..yesterday, she was feeding Yaten her lunch outside and I took that picture too..." Serena said.
"So that's where they were," Lita and Raye growled.
"And then this morning she got Taiki to tutor her up on the roof, and I took that picture," Serena said.
"What?" Amy said. The others glanced at her. "Uh..well..um...he's too good for her!"
The other three glanced at each other in surprise. Amy shrunk in her seat in embarrassment.
"So Mina's trying to decide which one to sell first, or whether she should sell them yet," Serena said.
"You know what though..I thought Mina wanted Yaten.." Lita said.
"Yet here she is with Seiya..." Raye said.
"And Taiki," Amy said.
"It may just be publicity or maybe just maybe she's still trying to decide who's girlfriend she wants to be," Raye said.
"We don't know who her real target is," Lita said.
"We must know," Amy said.
"Say...Raye..what do you care?" Serena asked.
"It's complex, do not ask again," Raye snapped.
"Hi everyone!" Mina said walking up.
"WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE YOUR TRUE BOYFRIEND!" Amy, Lita,and Raye growled.
"Oh...uh...pass..." Mina said. "Guess what?" she said joyfully.
"What?" the other four muttered.
"I've been made an assistant to The Three Lights!" Mina said.
The other four all made faces of shock.
"Guess they like me," She said. "Oh..well..can't talk..gotta go," she said and rushed out.
"This is getting out of control, even by her standards," Raye said.
"Ya think?" Amy and Lita said.
"I'm going to put a stop to this," Serena said.
"Why you?" the others asked.
"You were her biggest accomplice," Amy said.
"And now I'm feeling remorse," Serena said and walked out.
"I'm surprised," Amy said.
"Us too.." Lita and Raye said. "When did Serena learn the word remorse?" Lita and Raye asked each other. Amy sighed.
Meanwhile at Galaxy T.V.
Producer Nezu was flipping through a magazine.
"I need a star..wonder who I should use.." she thought. "This one looks interesting," she said.
"Producer Nezu, please report to the General Managers office," came the announcement.
Nezu stood up and walked down the dark corridor to the elevator. Soon she arrived in Queen Galaxia's throne room.
"You called Madame Galaxia," Nezu said.
"Yes Sailor Iron Mouse, what is your status?"
"I just identified the next target."
"Then get to it."
"I intend to," Nezu said.
And at the combination studio and apartment of the three lights.
"Do you think we'll find her?" Yaten said leaning back on a couch.
"We will, we're idols, she'll find us no matter where she is," Seiya said.
"Sometimes I wonder, but we have to keep trying," Taiki said.
"So why'd we give that Mina girl the assistant's job anyway?" Yaten asked.
"Because she's a good fan,but also because she can do the job, she's eager to help us, for whatever her own goals are," Seiya said. "Besides, of all the girls in that school she is the most active, I thought if we made her an assistant we could keep an eye on her."
"I agreed...better to have her where can we see her," Taiki said.
"She seems nice enough," Yaten said.
"It's time for our voice training," Seiya said looking at his watch. The
conversation broke off.
"I can't believe they let Mina in.." Serena muttered watching the studio where the three lights lived and worked from a block away. "Now how do I get in? Maybe the disguise pen."
"Hi ya," Mike said popping up next to her.
"Stop doing that?" Serena said grabbing his collar. "You're getting worse then Melvin. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Heard Mina's been named an assistant to the Three Lights," Mike said.
"From who?" Serena said.
"The other girls they're kinda upset about it."
"Oh...but why are you down here?"
"Because I'm curious," Mike said. "Why are you here?"
"I have to stop Mina, she's too ambitious. I mean it's fine that she wants to be near the three lights and all, but she's interfering with everyone else's pursuit of them as well as being a bit forward, and we don't even know who she's after."
"She doesn't even know that Serena. This is "Mina the two timaa!"
"You make that up yourself?"
"I had help, but look Serena, Mina's very juvenile when it comes to love, I know..after all..she dumped me.."
"What does that prove?" Serena asked. "Aside from good judgement."
"More then you could ever know," Mike said.
"I doubt it," Serena said.
"Look I'm worried about her too..she seems to be deluding herself more than usual."
"Then again, she is their assistant," Serena said.
"Say Serena, why do you care so much? You have a boyfriend?" Mike asked.
"Uh...I'm a good person!" Serena stammered. "You know humanitarian!"
"Sure.." Mike muttered.
Meanwhile inside, Yaten was going through his voice lesson. Mina stood ready in another room separated by a glass wall in case they needed anything.
I can't believe I'm here. She thought.
She then heard a clicking. She looked to see a photographer taking several pictures.
"Hey who are you?" Mina asked.
"I might ask you the same question school girl," the photographer said.
"I am the personal assistant to the three lights."
"Are you? Well Ai Karisa, their personal photographer..you must be new here."
"Well yes," Mina said.
"Move aside," Karisa said and continued to take pictures.
Well she's awfully pushy. Mina thought.
The next morning.
"So how was your first day as their assistant?" One of the mobs of the girls asked Mina as the group all waited outside for the Three Lights arrival in their bus.
"Oh..it was interesting," Mina said.
"Come on tell us more," another girl said.
How can I? I stayed with them for four hours while they trained and didn't say one word. They didn't either. She thought.
"Come on girls, it's personal," Mina said.
Many of the girls became excited at that comment.
"What a ham," Raye muttered.
Lita, Amy, and Serena nodded.
"How pathetic is that?" Rick muttered leaning against the window sill.
"Every day they're out there," Steve said.
"So..Mike..is it true that you're ex-girlfriend's their assistant?" one of the male students asked.
"Yep,"Mike muttered. "Mina strikes again."
"Hey..maybe if we kidnaped her and then forced the three lights to leave the city..it would work," someone said.
"Hey..yeah.." a lot of guys agreed.
"Then you'd get charged with kidnaping," Greg said. "And sent to prison."
"Well we'd need a few martyrs for the cause willing to do it," the guy said.
"No kidnapings," Rick said. "I've tried them before."
Everyone glanced at him.
"Ahem..never mind," Rick said.
"I don't know..maybe it could do everyone a lot of good," Mike said.
"I don't think we want to get arrested over this," Steve said. "That's where we draw the line."
"So back to the drawing board ey?" someone said.
"I can't believe them..all..they seem so serious about ending the three lights careers," Setsuna said to Haruka and Michiru at the front of the room.
"I'm just guessing maybe that's because they are serious about ending the three lights careers," Michiru said.
"I don't think so, they're just boasting," Haruka said.
"It's so hard to tell..I wouldn't think they could be that nutty, but then again the girls are going insane over them...maybe the opposite's happening to the boys," Setsuna said.
"And yet..the one most suited for abnormality does not wish to take sides," Hotaru said.
The other three all glanced at Patterson reading a book while all this was going on.
"Good point," Michiru said.
That afternoon, the Three Lights were at an autograph signing. Mina stood off to the side beaming. Ai Karisa was moving from place to place, as well as standing above ladders to get a good shot. She glanced at Mina happily standing there.
What a fool she is. Just another glorified fan. Karisa said and moved off to get some side pictures. She passed by Mina and started taking them.
"Just how many do you need?" Mina muttered.
"Mind your own business," Karisa said and continued to take the pictures.
Minutes later, the Three Lights returned to the studio and entered their dressing room. Yaten yawned as he entered first and was surprised as a picture was taken of him by Ai Karisa.
"This will go well with my latest series of photos, the naked Three Lights."
"Yawning Karisa?" Yaten said. "Come on...don't use that one."
"Yaten it's an excellent picture," Karisa said.
"No, don't use it," Yaten growled. Karisa snapped another picture of him.
"You look good angry," Karisa said.
"Ehh.." Yaten said and walked out.
"You get some good shots today Ai?" Taiki asked.
"Yes, though I don't know what his problem is," Karisa said.
"He's a little self conscious when it comes to how he looks in photos and stuff," Seiya said.
"By the way guys..where'd you get that flake of an assistant anyway?" Karisa
asked.
Yaten walked by Mina who was hovering outside obediently.
"Something wrong Yaten?" Mina asked. "Can I help?"
"No, and no," Yaten said.
"You sure? It's what I do."
"It's just what professionals have to put up with."
"Oh...well it can't be that bad," Mina said.
"Why do you think that?" Yaten asked.
"Uh..well..I mean..you're an idol, you have fans that love you and you get all this publicity, and I guess..maybe that should make up for it..right?"
Yaten paused for a minute.
"It's not a matter of making up for it. It's the price of it," Yaten said. "I just need to be alone for a bit."
"I'm gone,"Mina said and disappeared down a corridor.
"She's just so naive," Karisa said.
"That doesn't matter, she helps us out with the day to day stuff," Seiya said.
"Yes, we're the professionals, she doesn't have to be," Taiki said.
"She's in my way," Karisa said.
"How?" Seiya asked.
"She won't leave me alone," Karisa said.
"Then we'll ask her to leave you alone," Taiki said.
"That's not enough," Karisa said.
"What?" the two said. "Why?"
"Can't you two see it..she just wants to do this to be big...to ride on your coat tails into something more," Karisa said.
"We thought it was just a crush," Taiki said.
"Which we can handle," Seiya said.
"It's more than that, oh she may well be attracted to you...but she's also about something else..she wants to get all that we have, but she doesn't know or care that it takes work, determination," Karisa said.
"Well then maybe Ai..." Seiya began. "This will be a good learning experience for her."
"Huh?"
"Yes Ai, Mina, will learn the truth..." Taiki said. "Just give her a break, she'll stay out of your way I promise."
"All right," Ai said and sighed.
Mina headed towards the door to have it out with Ai, but when she got there she saw something odd, she hung back and watched.
"Are you Ai Karisa?" came a voice.
"Yes," Karisa said turning what she saw was Sailor Iron Mouse.
"What kind of outfit is that?" she said.
"It's very stylish where I come form,"Iron Mouse muttered. "Now..your star seed!"
She held up her bracelets. Two energy bolts smashed through Ai and caused the star seed to come flying out, only to turn to darkness seconds later.
"Just another dud," Iron Mouse muttered and disappeared in her usual phone booth type fashion.
Ai Karisa began to transform into a creature.
Mina slid back into a hiding place and pulled out her power stick.
"Venus Crystal Power!" she shouted and transformed. She dashed out into the street.
"Sailor Picture!" the former Ai shouted.
"You used to be Ai Karisa which makes it very satisfying for me to be able to beat you up!" Sailor Venus shouted. "I'm Sailor Venus."
Two figures leapt down beside her.
"And we agree with that statement," they said.
"How ya doin? I'm Guardian Neptune!" Neptune shouted.
"And I am Sailor Moon, listen carefully...I am the Champion of Justice, Righter of Wrongs, Trimpher over Evil, and on behalf the moon I shall punish you!" Sailor Moon said.
"Where'd you two come from?" Venus muttered.
"Watch the birdie!" Sailor Picture said and fired a laser from the camera mounted on her arm. Guardian Neptune pushed the two girls out of the way and was hit with blast and knocked back several feet.
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" Venus shouted launching her attack. Sailor Picture fired, and the two attacks met. Sailor Moon dashed around to the other side of Sailor Picture.
"Moon Sword," she said and prepared to come up behind it. Venus fired again to distract it. Sailor Moon leapt forward and swung her sword. The creature didn't see it coming, and Sailor Moon connected. The creature screamed, but then grabbed the moon sword out of her hand.
"Hey..give that back!" Sailor Moon said.
"Go fetch!" Sailor Picture said and threw it down the street. Sailor Moon raced after it.
"Watch it Sailor Moon!" Venus shouted. Sailor Picture fired and hit Sailor Moon knocking her down.
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" Venus shouted and hit Sailor Picture knocking the creature to the ground. Guardian Neptune fired his sword. Sailor Picture quickly stood up, avoided the attacks, and aimed at Sailor Moon.
Venus powered up as she did so.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!" she shouted. The attack flew out and smashed into Sailor Picture knocking her to the ground.. Sailor Picture threw out another attack at Sailor Moon as she feel. Sailor Moon fell to the ground.
"Aw..geez.." Guardian Neptune shouted and leapt off to help her.
"Come on Sailor Moon, hurry up," Venus said facing down Sailor Picture.
Sailor Moon was crawling towards her scepter. Neptune raced towards it. Sailor Picture launched another attack. He narrowly avoided it.
Seconds late a wave of energy smashed into Sailor Picture pounding the creature into the ground.
The Sailor Starlights appeared nearby.
"Sailor Star Fighter!"
"Sailor Star Maker!"
"Sailor Star Healer!"
"If you will not heal it, we have to destroy it," Star Fighter said.
"No..she'll heal it," Venus said.
"I'm working on it," Sailor Moon said being handed her scepter by Neptune. She moved to stand. Sailor Picture began to stand as well.
"We have to..." Star Maker said.
Neptune fired and hit Star Healer, he fell to the ground as they were utilizing their attack.
"Okay..I got it, Moon Crystal Healing Activation!" Sailor Moon said. Sailor Picture healed in front of them.
"You fired on a member of the three lights!" Star Fighter said. "Star Serious Laser!" he shouted.
The attack flew right at Neptune who narrowly avoided it.
"Jeez..that's pretty fast," Venus said.
Star Healer stood back up. The Starlights took up their Maverick defense scenario.
"Now..where is the star seed?" Star Fighter said.
"You guys must be stupid," Sailor Moon said. "We don't have a star seed."
The three went motionless.
"Jump!" Venus said. The three scouts jumped to avoid the wave, but it hit them in the air anyway and knocked them to the ground in a heap.
"What is the deal with that?" Sailor Moon muttered.
"Just try and get us Maverick," Star Fighter said.
The three used their wave attack again and hit the three scouts.
"This is embarrassing," Sailor Moon said as they were hit again.
A wave of multicolored blasts flew at the Sailor Starlights. They jumped out of the way of it.
Maverick leapt forward. He stabbed Sailor Star Fighter in the chest.
"Star Inferno!" Star Healer shouted and hit Maverick point blank with an energy blast. He was knocked down even as he blasted Star Healer.
Star Healer and Star Fighter both winced slightly at the pain they were feeling.
"I'll handle this," Star Maker said. "Star Blast!"
Maverick fired at the last second at Maker's head. The attacks his simultaneously. Star Maker was knocked backward. As Maverick flew several feet and slammed into a vending machine.
The Sailor Starlights leapt off.
"I really hate them," Sailor Moon said standing up.
"They are trouble," Venus said.
CHAPTER 261 CHAPTER 262 CHAPTER 263 CHAPTER 264 CHAPTER 265
CHAPTER 266 CHAPTER 267 CHAPTER 268 CHAPTER 269 CHAPTER 270
CHAPTER 271 CHAPTER 272 CHAPTER 273 CHAPTER 274 CHAPTER 275
CHAPTER 276 CHAPTER 277 CHAPTER 278 CHAPTER 279 CHAPTER 280
CHAPTER 281 CHAPTER 282 CHAPTER 283 CHAPTER 284 CHAPTER 285