Chapter 294
At Juuban High School on yet another morning.
"So Darrien took me out last night..." Serena said happily.
"He did? What are the details?" Lita said.
"I kept notes," Serena said pulling out a notebook.
"Oo..let me see..." Lita said.
"No..you can't understand them unless I read them," Serena said.
"Is that because of your handwriting?"
"No," Serena muttered. "Because I can express the emotions behind them."
"Do tell," Lita said.
"All right," Serena said. "He picked me up at twilight, the sky was golden.."
"You didn't copy this from a romance novel did you?"
"No," Serena said. "Quit being so skeptical, this is true love."
"You're right, I apologize. Please continue."
"Even the streetlights added to the beauty," Serena said. "We drove for a while, and then we ended up at this wonderful restaurant, nestled in between two others near the waterfront.."
"Oh..cozy..huh?" Lita asked.
"Uh huh," Serena said. "And it got even cozier."
"Ooo.." Lita said impressed. "Keep it
coming.."
"Hotaru isn't here yet," Greg said. "That's a good sign."
"Greg, I thought you had got beyond fear and were ready to talk to her," Amy said.
"I never got past fear, I'm just working to solve the problem before I get any more afraid," Greg said.
"Well okay..but if she doesn't show up, you'll just be scared longer."
"That's true," Greg said. "Why do logic and emotion have to fight with each other all the time?"
"I don't know," Amy said.
"Hey..uh..where's Patterson," Melvin said and wandering up to the two.
"The roof," the two said.
"Undoubtedly watching the new transfer student," Melvin said.
The two nodded.
"Then I'll find him there," Melvin said hurrying out.
"Wonder what that was about," Amy said.
"I've got other problems," Greg said looking at the door where Hotaru had just walked in.
"Calm down.." Amy said.
"Oh..uh..Amy.." Greg said with a slight grin. "This came in the mail for you...it's from Taiki."
He handed Amy an envelope sealed with a red heart.
"LOVE LETTER!" Amy shouted and fell out of her chair.
"Illogical response," Hotaru observed.
"There take that!" Greg shouted.
"I didn't know..you were so uptight about this.." Amy said picking herself off the ground.
"Sorry," she said.
"I am too," Greg said calmly.
"Then maybe we can go back to being sane again?"
"Yeah," Greg said. "But Amy the letter is real."
"It is?" Amy asked nervously.
"Uh huh."
"I've got to go," she said and hurried out the door.
"You are troubled by my presence?" came the monotone of Hotaru's voice. Greg turned.
"Oh..uh..Hotaru...we should talk..." Greg said.
"I assume you mean not here.." Hotaru said.
"Yes, and later too," Greg said.
"Very well, it would make sense that the two of us would converse."
"That was my feeling too," Greg said.
"Uh...Patterson.." Melvin squeaked. Patterson whirled.
"Don't kill me!" Melvin said.
"What is it?" Patterson asked. "I assume since you risked your personal safety to seek me out, especially at this point in time that it's important."
"Uh...huh.." Melvin said. "Melvnet has acquired some information..as well..as copies of some pictures a certain tabloid magazine has acquired."
"Pertaining to what?" Patterson asked stoically.
"Look.." Melvin said holding out some pictures. "It was kept from the press just where the three lights were hiding after their studio was destroyed, however..what was not keep hidden was this.."
Patterson looked at the pictures. They were of Amy and a disguised Taiki eating dinner, looking through some stores and sitting in a park.
"The photographer knew this was Taiki, in addition, his disguise was only minimally effective that day."
"It's clear that it's him," Patterson said.
"This magazine is set to go to press two days from now," Melvin said. "I thought you would want to know."
"Which magazine is this?" Patterson asked.
"The Extra Page," Melvin said.
"Very well..." Patterson said. "I will deal with them before Amy finds herself getting attention for all the wrong reasons."
"But Patterson is Amy Taiki an item?"
"What..didn't Melvnet find that out?" Patterson said heading for the door.
"Well..uh.." Melvin said. "No...come on help me out," he said following.
"Sorry..Melvin..you're on your own."
"But...I helped you.." Melvin said.
"Yes..and trust me..you will be rewarded at some point, think of it as an insurance policy against accidents," Patterson said.
"Oh..uh..okay.." Melvin said. "Fine then...I could get you some information on Ayeka Mizuno you know..for a price."
Patterson whirled.
"You just used up your reward," he said angrily and
headed off.
"Okay class, for a special assignment I'm going to assign an in class essay," Miss Morris said.
The class moaned.
"Oh grow up," Morris said. "Anyway, today I'm going to ask you to write an essay on your personal weaknesses."
"Weaknesses?" Melvin asked. "That's a strange assignment ma'am."
"Regardless of how strange is seems, it is still due at the end of this period, and I want it to be truthful from the heart, you know..good," Morris said.
"This is a very strange assignment," Patterson whispered to Greg.
"Something the matter Patterson?" Morris said.
"No," Patterson said. "Nothing."
"Then write your essay," Morris said.
Patterson's eyes narrowed.
The last thing I'm going to do is reveal my weaknesses to a school teacher, especially one such as yourself.
"What if we cannot comprehend our weaknesses at the present time?" Hotaru asked. Morris looked at her.
"What do you mean Hotaru?" she asked.
"Just what I said. I do not know just what should be considered my weaknesses," Hotaru said.
"Well..uh..write about that then.." Hotaru said.
"What?"
"That you don't know what your weaknesses are then."
"Is this assignment on the level?" Urawa snapped.
"Shut up Urawa," Morris said. "I'm the teacher and you're the student understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Urawa said hurriedly.
"Very good."
"What a strange essay," Amy said later that day.
"Yeah, and I'm so tired in the morning, I couldn't write more than a paragraph," Serena said.
"I don't like to think about my weaknesses, just what are we supposed to gain from this?" Lita asked.
"Probably nothing," Haruka said walking up to the table, flanked by Michiru.
"May we sit?" Michiru said.
"Please," Serena said.
The two sat down.
"Why we didn't just decide to sit here earlier I don't know," Michiru said.
"There wasn't much reason not to," Haruka said.
"Where's Hotaru?" Serena asked.
"Off with Greg on the roof. They must be discussing their romantic situation," Michiru said with a grin.
"Or Hotaru's thrown Greg off the roof by now," Lita said.
"I don't think that happened," Amy said.
"Of course it didn't, Hotaru couldn't lift Greg over the fence, it's a matter of upper body strength," Serena said.
"I can't comprehend why we didn't sit here before," Michiru said with a grin.
"Odd," Haruka said. "Patterson," she added to the only male left at the table. He turned towards her stoically.
"What did you think of today's assignment?" the blonde asked.
"Suspicious," Patterson said.
"So you obviously didn't write down your aversion to snakes then?" Michiru asked.
"Hotaru told you.." Patterson muttered.
"Yes..she couldn't stop talking about it. She was mystified that you actually had a weakness.." Michiru added.
"Fancy that," Haruka said.
"You're afraid of snakes Patterson?" Lita asked.
"Of all the things to be afraid of..geez..." Serena added.
Patterson blushed slightly.
"Even Amy isn't afraid of snakes," Serena finished.
"I would think that my ability to face any enemy, no matter what his power level is, and fight them to my fullest in the defense of all the is right in the universe, and your lives, would make up for a puny fear of snakes!" Patterson snapped.
"We hit a nerve," The five girls replied with embarrassment.
"Anyway.." Haruka said. "Patterson have you done any background research into our new teacher?"
"Yes," Patterson said. "I scanned her for traces of any known energy, I found nothing."
"Strange, I would have almost expected her to be evil of some kind," Michiru said.
"Just because she's not from another planet doesn't mean she's not evil," Lita said.
"Good point," Haruka said.
"Oh don't say all this," Serena said. "I was just getting used to peace, don't go telling me there's yet another evil force for Serena and her small army of scout friends to fight off."
"Actually considering how many of us there are it would have to be a pretty strong evil force," Amy said.
"I don't want to think about it," Serena said.
Elsewhere.
"So..Hotaru.." Greg began.
"You are not reacting as I would have expected," Hotaru said.
"What did you expect," Greg said.
"That you would accept me willingly."
"Well Hotaru, let me start with the upside of all this and then go from there."
"Very well," Hotaru said.
"Hotaru, you're smart, you're beautiful, you're kind hearted too."
"True," Hotaru said.
"And we're good friends don't you think?"
"Yes," Hotaru said. "I think that we have a good relationship."
"Right..but you see, you're still learning about life. And I'm not sure we should try romance until you've got some more of the basics down. I mean we just got you to feel happiness, and laugh and all that. I think we should work on that more."
"But why not focus on romance, so that I could learn all these emotions by experiencing them?" Hotaru said.
"Uh..because romance is very dangerous, it can be an emotional roller coaster. And you may not know how to react to it," Greg said.
"I see," Hotaru said. "I had not accounted for emotional variation. I had expected to feel the joy and understand it, however you say there is more to it."
"Yes Hotaru, romance can lead to bad feelings as well, pain, almost suffering."
"I would not want to feel that if I could prevent it."
"Exactly, but if we're still friends, that won't happen," Greg said.
"Hmm..perhaps.you're correct," Hotaru said. "Very well, we shall suspend romantic relations for the time being."
"Uh..interesting way to put it," Greg said.
"I am practical," Hotaru said.
"Sure..sure..uh..let's go eat all right," Greg said.
Hotaru nodded.
Irene Morris sat in the classroom staring at the essays.
"These are no good," she said tossing them in the trash.
"What didn't that plan work Iron Mouse?" came a voice.
"Well..well..Lead Crow what brings you by," Morris said with annoyance.
"New orders," a disguised Lead Crow said walking in. "I brought a friend."
"Hi!" Sailor Aluminum Siren said sticking her head in the door.
"Oh wonderful, Gala revived you as well," Morris muttered.
"Yep," Aluminum Siren said. "We brought these for you."
Siren held out a pair of bracelets.
"Trust me we're only helping you because Gala ordered us too," Lead Crow said.
"I have no doubt of that," Morris said and put on the bracelets. "It was good I could transfer all my power to these though. I have no doubt that some of the scouts were suspicious."
"After that stupid essay question? Of course they would be," Lead Crow said.
"At least I'm trying," Morris said. "Now..what's the plan?"
"We're going to ambush the scouts isn't that great?" Siren asked.
"What the three of us?" Iron Mouse said.
"Well there are only eight of them.." Siren said.
"If we hit them in human form..." Crow began
"And when has anyone managed to do that?" Iron Mouse asked. The other two glanced at her.
"Come on.." Crow said.
The three headed out in human form.
"Here they come," Serena said noticing Greg and Hotaru walking in.
"Do they look like they've broken up?" Lita asked.
"Or gotten engaged?" Haruka asked.
Greg and Hotaru moved in and sat down.
"We're still friends," Greg said.
"Oh..wise choice," Michiru said.
The other scouts nodded.
"Something bothering you Patterson," Greg whispered noticing his brother's facial expression.
"Snakes came up in the discussion," Patterson muttered.
"Oh..tough luck," Greg said.
"Patterson," came a voice. Everyone turned. Ayeka Mizuno stood there a wooden bokken sword in her hand. The entire cafeteria went silent.
"I challenge you," Ayeka said.
"Challenge...me?" Patterson in surprise.
"Uh huh," Ayeka said with a grin. "I've always wanted to meet you in combat. Now I believe I have achieved sufficient skill to do so."
"But you can't fight here can you?" Lita asked.
"I've cleared it with Principal Oksua," Ayeka said.
"What?" Patterson said in surprise.
Oksua appeared behind Ayeka.
"If there's a chance to see you beaten in a fight I want to see it. Especially if it's by a woman," Oksua said.
"Sexist!" The girls all shouted.
"Let's just get this started before lunch is over," Oksua said. "To the courtyard!"
"I never accepted," Patterson stammered.
"Looks like the decision was never yours," Haruka said somewhat sympathetically.
"You think you can beat her right?" Lita asked.
"I've never fought a girl like this before," Patterson said. "I mean.I fought Haruka for a good reason."
"So you did," Haruka muttered.
"Where did everyone go?" Iron Mouse muttered, as the three sailor animates peered into the cafeteria.
"This is odd," Lead Crow said.
"Maybe some other evil force got to them before we did," Aluminum Siren said.
"That's good thinking," Iron Mouse said snidely.
"Well let's find them then," Lead Crow said and the
group hurried down the hall.
Outside, Patterson faced Ayeka. Ayeka had removed her socks and shoes for better traction. Patterson had tucked his pants into his boots and put his belt around his tunic. He stood facing her. Each held wooden swords.
"Now..we'll see if I can beat the best student swordsman in the country," Ayeka said with a grin and swung her sword around into position.
The crowd ooed.
Patterson readied himself.
"Not one for theatrics then," Ayeka said. "Fair enough."
She took up a stance holding the sword out in front of her and placing her right foot in front of the other. She bent her knees and her eyes narrowed.
"That's an interesting stance," Lita observed.
"I've heard of it," Haruka said. "It's originated in the Tokugawa dynasty I think."
"So it's actually one of the arts," Lita said.
"It appears so, her command of the skill isn't clear though," Haruka said.
"D.V. looks so calm right now..I wonder what's going through his mind," Amy said.
I hate existence. Patterson thought readying his sword.
The two sides faced off. A wind blew across the courtyard.
"That was predictable," Serena said.
"Shush you'll ruin the moment," Lita said.
Ayeka shot forward poking her sword outward. The crowd gasped. Patterson slid aside it and spun to face her. Ayeka turned bringing her sword around.
"Very good, many have fallen to my first attack," she said.
Patterson said nothing and readied himself again.
"Usually he would be much more aggressive," Haruka whispered.
"She is well skilled though," Michiru said.
Ayeka brought her sword forward again and held it out.
"She's going for the same move?" Lita asked.
"That doesn't seem logical," Greg said.
Ayeka shot forward faster then before, she swung her sword downward. Patterson slid aside and knocked the sword upward. The two spun their swords met and they began to hack at each other. The crowd was silent, despite being excited as the two continued to spar. They both slid back and caught their breath.
"She held her own against him," Haruka observed. "I've never seen a human able to do that before."
"Then again he's human too," Amy said.
"Trust me Amy, his sword skill comes entirely from human training," Haruka said.
"I see," Amy said.
"This is quite a challenge," Ayeka said taking up her stance again.
"Why that stance again?" Haruka asked.
"Apparently it gives her versatility," Hotaru said. "Patterson must guess what attack she will use. If he guesses wrong.."
"But Patterson has a variety of moves he can use too," Michiru said.
"Yes, and that is why this fight will not be decided," Hotaru said.
The others looked at her.
Ayeka shot forward, Patterson swung and batted down the sword. Ayeka rolled forward and swung hers word at Patterson's legs. He flipped backward and faced her. She leapt at him. The two sparred again.
The crowd watched intently.
"There they are," Iron Mouse said watching from a distance.
"Now's our chance, they're all distracted," Lead Crow said. The three turned into their animates form.
Ayeka swung at Patterson, he rolled out of the way quickly and jumped out of the way of another spar. Abruptly he turned and vaulted over a group of the crowd.
"Where are you going?" Ayeka said.
Patterson said little and the group all stared as he charged with his wooden sword right at the sailor animates. They all let out cries of surprise as he leapt into them.
"Oh no..not them!" Serena said. "Why them!" she said pounding on Lita's chest.
"Uh..let's go Serena," Lita said and the seven other scouts hurried to transform.
"We'll vaporize you you meddlesome idiot!" Lead Crow shouted. Patterson swung forward with great speed knocking her back into a wall. Iron Mouse and Aluminum Siren let loose energy blasts. Patterson leapt out of the way of them, barely, but was clipped by another attack on the leg. He stepped back and reached for a smoke bomb, he was hit again and thrown to the ground.
"You interrupted out battle!" Ayeka Mizuno shouted hitting Aluminum Siren in the head with her sword, Aluminum Siren was caught off guard and thrown backwards, but Iron Mouse blasted Ayeka to the ground. The seven scouts dropped to the pavement.
"I thought we dealt with you," Sailor Moon said. "But we can do it all again I guess."
"Drat!" Lead Crow said. "We're out of here!"
Phone booths surrounded the animates and they disappeared.
"You okay?" Sailor Jupiter asked helping Ayeka up.
"I guess.." Ayeka said. "And just who were they?"
"Long story," Jupiter said. "Thanks for helping out."
"Uh..sure," Ayeka said.
"You all right..Patterson?" Sailor Uranus asked.
"Ehh.." Patterson muttered standing up looking at the scorch marks over his uniform.
"So it is true, you do know the sailor scouts Patterson," Ayeka said walking over him.
"We've shared some battles," Uranus said. "He can be quite dangerous."
"I don't doubt it. Looks like we'll have to finish our duel some other time," Ayeka said and walked away.
"You know she did jump into help you," Sailor Neptune said.
"No..she was just upset that they interrupted our duel," Patterson said.
The other scouts all looked at him with varying degrees of skepticism.
"Well that's what she said," Patterson muttered.
The group, excepting Sailor Saturn, grinned. Saturn in turn began to laugh.
The scouts all looked at her worriedly.
"It is so funny to see you embarrassed," she said to Patterson. "Your humanity is so wonderful."
"I don't think any of us know how to respond to that.." Sailor Uranus said.
"It's best not to," Guardian Saturn said.
"Well another victory for the Sailor Scouts!" Sailor Moon said.
"But that means more evil to fight," Sailor Mercury said.
"NO! This is so unfair!" Sailor Moon shouted.