Chapter 94

A chance encounter was happening in the streets of Tokyo.

"Oh..hey..Rick," Serena said.

"Hi, Serena," Rick said.

"So..uh...how's it going?" Serena asked.

Rick smiled.

"We haven't talked much have we Serena?" Rick said.

"Well no," Serena said.

"I think you'll find that if you took the time to talk with each of the Guardian Scouts that it would take you long to reach one conclusion...." Rick said.

"And that is...." Serena asked.

"It was a complete waste of your time."

"Oh..." Serena said. "What do you mean? I thought Mike and Steve were the messed up ones."

"Well..after hanging around with Mike and Steve for a while, it can change you, in very, very bad ways," Rick said. "Just watch...in a few months Greg will be as far gone as I am..and by that time, I'll be just another Mike."

"I'd bet Raye won't let that happen."

"She can't stop it."

"She'd kill you."

"Good point," Rick said.

"You know Serena, you might be able to help me with something?"

"And what might that be?" Serena asked.

"Well Raye and I haven't had much of a chance to do anything really romantic lately. Sure..we've gone on dates, but nothing that can prove to her..hey I'm the man..you know what I mean?" Rick asked.

"All to well," Serena said.

"So...I'd like your advice on a plan of mine."

"Sure.." Serena said.

"Well..tomorrow Raye's going with Chad down to visit his parents. They want to meet the person who they pay the bills for," Rick said.

"Oh of course," Serena said.

"So I figure...in the meantime, I turn the temple into a five star restaurant."

"Literally?"

"So to speak. I figure Lita can cook something up. Mina can decorate. Steve can be the maitre de, and Mike can be the waiter. When Raye gets back. Bamn! Romantic evening," Rick said.

"It's a nice idea, but you're going to need a lot of stuff," Serena said.

"Yep..I know.but I'll have plenty of time to get it. That's where you come in."

"Me?"

"Sure..you're the scouts' expert on romantic evenings, you should know exactly what a girl wants at one," Rick said.

Serena blushed.

"Well I have had my share of them," Serena said with a grin.

"Great, so you'll help out?"

"Sure thing," Serena said. "But why aren't you getting Amy and Greg to help?"

"They're so busy. And I'm sure they won't mind me leaving them out," Rick said.

"I guess...it's a nice idea Rick," Serena said. "And I think Raye would like it a lot. Any of us would."

"Well that's what I'd hoped for," Rick said.

The next morning.

"You don't have a problem meeting my parents do you Raye?" Chad asked as the two walked down the steps of the temple.

"No, of course not. I owe them a lot. I should meet them," Raye said.

"They can be a bit weird."

"Chad, you forget who I keep as friends. They define the word weird," Raye said. "For instance, they're all hiding in the bushes right now for some reason...I'm sure I'll find out whatever they're up to when I get back."

"Bushes? Strange...I'm sure they're just being weird like you said," Chad said. Raye turned and walked down the sidewalk. Chad turned and gave a thumbs up to the group in the bushes. They returned it and hurried up the temple steps.

"How'd you get Chad in on this?" Lita asked.

"Hey, he's a nice guy...he just wants Raye to be happy," Rick said.

"How much are you paying him?" Mike asked stoically.

"Twenty dollars, but I stand by my original statement too," Rick said.

"Oh do you?" Mike said.

"That's not homework is it Amy? Greg asked as he leaned against the wall in Amy's room. The girl genius was meanwhile typing rapidly on her computer keyboard.

"No, I've just been entering all the information we've collected about Doctor Tomoe into the computer. I have various programs that can create databases and things like that. I'm hoping that there are some links in this information that can help us track him down."

"That would be useful," Greg said.

"It's not easy though. There are so many pieces that don't come anywhere near each other. It's like a puzzle with seven corner pieces and none of them have any pieces to attach themselves too. But I do have some leads," Amy said.

"Yeah it is confusing. We did do a sweep of most of the city and even then we didn't find him," Greg said.

"That's what makes it all the more baffling. He might have a way to block our scans," Amy said.

"He didn't the first time."

"I know, but something's preventing us from finding him. Either he's keeping us from seeing him, or we haven't been looking in the right place. And we have to keep looking until we find it," she said.

"The pressures of being the brains of the outfit," Greg said with a brief grin.

That afternoon.

"Mom, Dad, this is Raye Hino," Chad said. Despite the fact that she had been in nice mansion's before Raye found the Vanderbilt place to be quite extraordinary. Right now she was sitting some sort of main room, but they were all large enough to be main rooms anywhere. It was a far cry from the simple lifestyle she was used to. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt, looked relatively normal. A middle aged man with greying hair and somewhat well built muscles and a woman who looked like how Serena's mother would look given ten more years.

"Uh..hi," Raye said a bit overwhelmed.

Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt sat down.

"Chadwick..why don't you take a walk," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Uh..right," Chad said and stepped out.

Chadwick. I will have to remember that. Raye thought but held back from smiling.

"So..Raye," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Uh..yeah.." Raye said a bit startled.

"Chadwick tells us that you took him in when he was down on his luck," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"As if he isn't always," Mrs. Vanderbilt muttered.

"Well..it was my grandfather who agreed to train him in some of the higher..disciplines," Raye said. Hoping that her Grandfather's womanizing tendencies would not come up.

"But Chad says you were kind to him," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

I wonder exactly what he means. Raye thought.

"I guess...just courtesy," Raye said. "That's all."

"Courtesy is nothing to be understated," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Yes, we appreciate how you've kept our Chadwick under your roof. He is going through..well..an imbecilic state right now...wanting to be a rocker and all when we can give him all he wants," Mrs. Vanderbilt said. "But..he'll work out of it, and with your generosity he is kept safe from undesirables."

"Glad to be off service," Raye stammered.

"Are you nervous?" Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Uh..kinda...I mean..you are responsible for my livelihood and all..and I don't want to blow it," Raye admitted.

"Is there any reason we shouldn't be funding you?" Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Yes. Anything?" Mrs. Vanderbilt asked.

"Well of course not. Me and Chad get along fine...and all," Raye said.

"Well then there isn't a problem," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Can I ask you something though?" Mrs. Vanderbilt asked.

"Sure," Raye said.

"Are you attracted to him?"

That was completely unexpected.

What do I say here? She thought. There are so many possibilities and how many of them do these two want to hear.

"Uh...Chad's very nice," Raye said. "A kind caring individual..."

"Many people are," Mrs. Vanderbilt said. Raye could see she needed to give more of an answer.

"I'm seeing someone," Raye said.

"Hmm...you're still nervous aren't you?" Mr. Vanderbilt asked.

Chad was right. They are weird.

"You see...Miss Hino. We're just concerned about Chad. See he doesn't really tell us anything during the few times we talk. But...we got the impression he's how do you put it..."gaga over someone" I believe is the term...we were just trying to figure out who," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"We're just curious," Mrs. Vanderbilt said.

"Uh..well..Chad and I try not to talk about that kind of thing..." Raye said.

"I see," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"To tell you the truth it's really none of our business," Mrs. Vanderbilt said.

"That it isn't," Raye said.

"What?" the two said.

"Nothing," Raye said.

"Anyway...we see no problem with funding you until you can get your own job. Which will be about when?"

"Uh..well I'm in my first year in high school."

"I'm sure by the start of college you will have some sort of employment. Fair?" Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"You got a deal!" Raye said with relief.

"Excited aren't you?" Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Uh..well..yeah..sorry," Raye said.

"Well you should be excited," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Yes, there's no problem with self-expression," Mrs. Vanderbilt said.

"Say..Ms. Hino..what are your interests?"

I don't think I should mention my own band. Raye thought.

"Uh..well..I tend to the shrine mainly," Raye said.

"That all?" Mrs. Vanderbilt asked.

"Well I have some friends too," Raye said.

"And what do they do?" Mr. Vanderbilt asked.

"What don't they do?" Raye replied.

Husband and Wife glanced at each other.

"I mean they're very diverse in their um..interests," Raye said.

"Oh..well..let's have lunch shall we? No need prying into your life more than we have to," Mr. Vanderbilt said.

"Oh..good," Raye said.

"A little higher...little higher..." Mina was saying.

"Mina...if you nitpick with me..I will come down there," Mike said standing at the top of a ladder hanging a poster that had a massive picture of the harbor seascape on it so essentially, the poster looked the same as a view out a window would look.

"Where'd you get that thing anyway?" Steve said helping to position the lower half of the poster.

"The Leslie family has spent generations fooling with people's minds, of course we'd have one of these in the basement," Mike said.

"A little higher,"Mina said.

"Hey! What did I just say," Mike said.

"Well you're still touching the ground," Mina said. "Dummy."

"Hah..how many times do you think I've been called that in my life?" Mike replied.

"Thirty eight," Steve said.

Both of them looked at him.

"So I've counted," Steve said.

"How's it coming in there Lita?" Mina asked calling inside the temple.

"Raye should really get a new stove," Lita said.

"Why?" Mina asked.

"Because I prefer my kitchen to not smell like the inside of a smokestack," Lita replied.

"Ever been in a smokestack Lita?" Mike asked.

"No, of course not," Lita said.

"You aren't missing much," Mike said.

"You are so weird!" Lita said.

"Lita, we don't use that line when Mike says something," Mina said.

"But it's appropriate!" Lita said.

"And I suppose if someone told you to jump off a cliff and then jump off a bridge just because everyone else was doing it, you'd go and jump right?" Steve replied.

"Actually, I'd jump off the cliff, but then...I'd run away..and leave all those suckers at the bridge waiting for me," Mike said and began to laugh.

"You are so weird!" Mina said.

"Hey!" Lita said.

"All right so I did it too!" Mina said.

"Well..looks like we're all having fun here," Rick muttered. He was standing there holding a shopping bag, as was Serena. "Where'd you get that poster?" Rick quickly added. Mike leapt off the top of the ladder and landed beside him.

"Why I just followed the yellow brick road," Mike said.

"Didn't that hurt," Rick said.

"More than I can express with spoken speech," Mike said. "Excuse me."

He went off into the woods to curse.

"So did you get everything?" Mina asked.

"You bet...and we plan on using Raye's dinner table as the um..table.." Serena said.

"How? It's only two feet off the floor?" Steve said.

"That's what these are for," Rick said holding up four table legs.

"How'd you get those?" Mina asked.

"Long story, many interesting people and places involved..not worth telling though," Rick said.

"What is with all of you. You're all insane!" Mina shouted.

"We broke her will! Woo hoo!" Steve shouted. Rick dropped what he was doing and the two began to do a little dance. Mike appeared out of the forest and joined in.

"This is why I avoid them," Serena said.

"This is why I should avoid them," Mina muttered.

Two hours later.

"Okay..it's all set," Rick said. Set up on the ground in front of the temple was a table with a candle set up all lit. Two chairs stood by it. The fake window adorned the wall. A few ferns were taped to the building in various places. Mike had scrounged together a waiter's outfit from his basement. Steve had a tuxedo on, also found in Mike's basement. Rick was wearing a two piece suit, complete with tie and all.

"Wow..don't you look slick," Mina said looking him over.

"You're not the first girl to say that," Rick said.

"But I might be the first girl to knee you groin after saying it," Mina said.

"Surprisingly, you'd be third," Steve said.

Serena started laughing.

"Don't encourage them," Mina said.

"Well..we might as well go and wait for Raye," Serena said.

"Yep, no use sticking around here," Mina said.

The two hurried down the steps and sat at the bottom.

Soon they saw Raye and Chad moving down the street towards them.

"Hey Raye," Serena said loud enough to the guys at the top could hear.

"Hello Serena, what are you doing here?" Raye asked.

"Just standing here, making sure you got home safely," Serena said.

"Yep," Mina said.

"Did you guys bomb my house?" Raye asked suspiciously.

"Well..not literally," Mina said.

"Ehh...I'd better make sure," Raye said and dashed up the steps. When she reached the top she was pleasantly surprised.

"Welcome to the Cherry Hill Restaurant and Water Reclamation Plant," Steve said.

"Water reclamation plant?" Mike and Rick said looking at each other.

"Heh?" Steve said giving them a thumbs up. "I mean..may I show you to your table, Miss Hino."

"Uh..sure," Raye said immediately getting caught up in the moment.

They walked over to the table and Raye sat down.

"Howdy, I'm Mikey the waiter," Mike said.

"Do it right," Rick snapped.

"Uh..I mean..greeting madam I am Mike the waiter," Mike said in the best french accent he could come up with. "Here is your menu," he said and then slipped out of his accent. "We stole it from that place Lizzie Tillman works at."

Raye grinned.

"Anyway.there is only one thing on the menu...which I shall bring to you both," Mike said.

He walked inside her house and came back with a plateful of Raye's favorite dish.

"Courtesy of the chef..which of course is Lita," Mike said. Lita was standing right behind him at the time.

"Now..if you'll excuse us.." Mike said. Lita was right behind him. "You enjoy your dinner."

They walked off with Steve and headed down the steps.

"Surprise," Rick said.

"I'm shocked..Rick..I mean..this is just...wonderful," Raye said overcome with happiness.

"Uh.good," Rick said.

"You did this all for me?"

"Sure..."

"Why?"

"Because you're my girlfriend," Rick said.

"Oh.." Raye said and blushed.

And the two began to eat their meal and do whatever it is one does in these romantic settings.

It was about fifteen minutes later that the monster leapt out of the bush and charged at them.

"Not now," Raye muttered as the two jumped out of the way and the creature smashed through the table.

"Just what I need? More repairs," Raye muttered.

"Raye..he must be after me..go.." Rick said remembering that Raye had already been targeted.

"I'm not going to leave you alone," Raye as the creature faced both of them.

"You can't help me as you are."

"Sure I can," Raye said and readied herself in a karate position.

The monster charged.

Raye leapt into the air and readied a jump kick. She smashed right into the creature's head and was propelled off landing in the bushes. The creature smashed right into Rick and pushed him to the ground.

"I'm immune to punches and kicks.." the creature said.

"Really?" Rick said and tried a kick of it's own. It bounced right off, and Rick felt pain in his leg.

"Told ya," The creature said and touched Rick on the forehead. The boy fell unconscious.

"Works like a charm. Too bad it only works once," The creature muttered.

"Get away from him!" Raye shouted racing across the ground and sticking her hands out as if to stiff arm him. It hit and she bounced away again. Her hands began to throb.

"Do I have to take care of you now as well," the creature said. "You can't hurt me," it said and then turned to extracting the heart from Rick.

I can't let them do that. Raye said and dashed to the side of the house and pulled out her power stick.

"Mars Star Power!" She shouted and transformed. She peered around the side of the house the creature had just begun the extraction.

"Mars...Celestial Fireball..." Mars said and jumped out from around the house. "Surround!" She shouted as she aimed. The firebolts flew out at the creature. It turned and was hit with them. It began to shout in pain and whirled towards her and charged. Her eyes narrowed and she leapt over it heading for Rick. She was blocked by two figures landing on the ground in front of her. Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus. She skidded to a stop.

"Stand back, or we will be forced to take action," Neptune said.

"I'm well aware of your methods," Mars said.

Uranus grabbed the heart that was hovering over Rick.

Mars readied herself, forgetting for the moment about the creature.

"It's not a talisman," Uranus said.

"Then put it back," Mars growled.

"You really should be more patient with us. We're your only hope," Neptune said. "Behind you.." she said. Mars whirled around just in time to get plowed into by the daimon. Neptune and Uranus jumped off. The heart still floated above Rick. The daimon grabbed a hold of her and flung her back across the yard. She smashed into a the bushes on the other side.

"The heart is mine," the creature said and raced towards it.

"No!" Mars shouted leaping up into the air and at the heart. She grabbed it out of the air and slid into the ground awkwardly, grimacing from the pain she felt. The creature kicked her in the chest. She held onto the heart and tried to stand. The creature kicked her in the legs. She fell back down hard.

"Give me the heart!" it shouted.

"She said it wasn't a talisman!" Mars shouted.

"I must make sure."

And then there was flash of light and the creature disintegrated.

"Mars? You all right?" came the familiar voice of Sailor Moon. She looked up to see the face that matched the voice looking down at her with concern.

"I'll be fine," Mars said and coughed slightly.

"You should rest," Sailor Moon said.

"Later," Mars said and placed the heart back inside Rick. He began to stir.

"How'd you know I was in trouble?" Raye asked.

"I was a few blocks away...I thought I'd be nearby..I don't know why..but you know Raye .being Sailor Scouts sometimes has some unfortunate consequences. A lot of our good experiences get trashed. Guess I just wanted to be ready. Then Patterson picked up the presence of Neptune and Uranus and called us. The others should be here any minute."

"Well..at least I got fifteen minutes worth of romance," Mars said.

"You'll get plenty more if I have anything to say about it," Rick said rising slightly.

"Be careful Rick," Mars said.

"I'm fine, just a little beat up," Rick said.

Mars smiled and wiped a tear from her eye.

"Mars?" Sailor Moon asked.

"I'm fine," Mars said and sniffled. "I'm just glad to see you're all right Rick. I didn't fail this time."

And the two hugged.

CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 67 CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 69 CHAPTER 70  CHAPTER 71 

CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 75  CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 77

 CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 80  CHAPTER 81  CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 85  CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 89

 CHAPTER 90 CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 95

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