Chapter 343

"I'm curious D.V. What exactly is it that you're doing?" Amy asked staring at the computer screen her brother was staring at. He rapidly typed information into the database.

"Just because we've neutralized one threat does not mean that there aren't others," D.V. said.

"Yes, I guess, but who exactly is out there?" Amy said.

"Needless to say that conspiracy Guardian Moon was involved in."

"What's going on with that anyway?" Amy asked.

"I have yet to figure that entirely, my surveillance has been inhibited because of the distance, between me and the conspiracy headquarters."

"I suppose going there is out of the question then."

"As much as I'd like to, I fear it might be a more major operation then it seems," Patterson said.

"Oh, is this going to need the scouts you think?"

"I'm not sure yet, I hope not."

"You do?"

"Of course, why would I wish any more of a burden on anyone?"

"Spoken like a true hero."

"Yeah..well.."

Patterson continued to type.

"Guardian Moon did not react well to his anger," Amy said.

"None of us react well to our anger," Patterson said.

"Hmm..point taken," Amy said remembering how many houses she had destroyed. "Still I guess I didn't mind seeing him beaten up like that. I think it brought him down to earth."

"Glad to be of service," Patterson muttered.

Amy grinned.

"You just don't like to admit that you're helping people," Amy said.

"I prefer to keep it simply as a matter of fighting the people that deserve to be fought."

"So..how many girls would you fight the Chinese Army to save?"

"Abrupt..change of subject," D.V. said nervously.

"Ah...but so worthwhile," Amy said with a grin.

D.V. sighed.

"Hmm...look at all this wonderful food," Serena said staring at a menu. "I love restaurants."

Darrien as usual was trying to remain amused and not worried about Serena's enthusiasm.

"Ah..an all you can eat buffet," Serena said. "Perfect."

Thank goodness. Darrien thought. Usually she turns all the menu items into such a thing, and I'm out a week's salary.

"The all you can eat will be a good start," Serena said.

"A good start?" Darrien asked in surprise. "What a black hole of logic."

"What?" Serena asked.

"No, nothing," Darrien said. "Sorry."

Serena glanced at him.

How can all you can eat be a good start? Darrien wondered. It's theoretically impossible.

"Hmm...if it's expensive it must be good," Serena said. "Maybe I'll go with that."

Darrien sighed. She's a gold digger and she doesn't even know it.

"That sound all right to you Darrien?" Serena asked.

"What?" Darrien asked.

"Weren't you paying attention to me?"

"Nope, I was thinking about world hunger."

"Oh..well..anyway..here's what I was thinking..wait a second.." Serena said. "What did you mean?"

"Huh?" Darrien said. "What do you mean?"

Serena stared at him.

"I asked you what you meant first?" She asked.

"By what?"

"Oh never mind, I'm getting this!" Serena said and pointed at a large plate of food.

"Go for it," Darrien said.

"You bet I will," Serena said.

"All right then!" Mister Fujimori shouted. He was starring at his karate class with a scowl on his face.

"We shall try a new training technique today!" he shouted. "Everyone attack me!"

"What?" the class said.

"You heard me!" Fujimori said. "Come on there are seventeen of you, one of me."

"Yes but.." one of them said.

"COME ON!" Fujimori said. Everyone raced at him.

"All right!" Fujimori shouted and flew into action.

Literally a minute later, his entire class was lying on the ground moaning.

"Good effort," he remarked gasping for breath.

"Mister Fujimori," came a voice. He whirled to see himself staring at Raye.

"Ah..how nice of you to come!" Fujimori shouted and lunged at her. Raye backpedaled avoiding his chops. She spun and kicked. Fujimori slid under them and went for her legs. She leapt over him and landed several feet away. She took up a fighting stance.

"Hmm..impressive" Fujimori said and shot forward. Raye blocked his thrusts quickly, and made a few of her own. Fujimori's hand shot upward, grabbed her and threw her over him. She landed on the mat hard, but rolled forward and lunged back at him. Fujimori sidestepped her and caught her off guard flinging her to the ground again.

"I am a master," he said.

Raye rolled back up and turned to face him.

"Tell me..why are you keeping this going so long?" Fujimori asked.

"Because maybe I can beat some sense into you," Raye said.

"Ah..I see," Fujimori said. "This is about Rick."

"Of course it is!"

"I hate to disappoint you, but this is a losing battle," Fujimori said.

"We'll see," Raye said.

Fujimori grinned.

Raye charged. Fujimori blocked her, she slid back and kicked quickly. Rick's father knocked it aside with his hand and threw his own chop. Raye ducked it and grabbed his hand, and prepared to make another move. Fujimori instead reached out and grabbed her and flung her over him with her still holding on him, she hit, but pulled knocking him off balance, he fell forward, but she moved to knee him as she rolled up. He blocked that too landing on top of her.

"Get off of me!" she shrieked.

"Hah! Surrender then," Fujimori said. "I've won."

Raye kicked him in the groin. Fujimori rolled off of her and let out a shout of pain .

"That was hardly legal," he whined.

"Not my problem," Raye said. "You left yourself open for it."

"True.." Fujimori said and stood up. "I am quite capable of shaking it off though."

Raye readied herself.

"You're really willing to keep this going?" Rick's father asked.

"Of course," Raye said.

"All because I won't let you and my son stay together?"

"Yes."

Fujimori grinned.

"Maybe there's hope for you after all!" he shouted and flew forward nailing Raye with a variety of shots she hadn't expected from him, especially that fast. She fell backwards.

"I was holding back," he said. "Wanted to see just how good you were."

Raye angrily readied herself again.

"Oh I see, even confronted with a superior opponent you will keep fighting. How noble."

"You may be able to fight better, but you're hardly superior, the way you treat Rick," Raye said.

"Ah..that..let me tell you something, I've got my reasons, reasons you wouldn't understand."

"Try me," Raye said.

"No.." Fujimori said. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'll take my chances."

"You what?"

"You have my permission."

Raye was stunned.

"Rick can come home whenever he wants, and he can date you, marry you, heck it's all right."

"But why?" Raye asked.

"Because I've changed my mind," Mister Fujimori said.

Raye looked on in surprise.

"Yeah that's right," he said. "No kidding."

"Uh..all right," Raye said.

"Now I've got a class to teach," Fujimori said turning to his students, they all shuddered nervously.

Raye caught her breath and then hurried out.

What could have done it? Who cares? It worked, Rick will be so happy to hear it. What a strange man that guy is. I'm surprised Rick isn't more ill affected then he is already. Oh well, lucky him.

At the Crown Restaurant.

"Mina, you do realize what you're doing don't you?" Lita asked.

"What?" Mina asked. "Why is everyone second guessing me? I believe in fair play."

"Yeah, but one of them's gonna kill the other."

"Flattering isn't it?"

"No, it's not, Mina, you've got to control your flagrant disregard for common romantic practice," Lita said.

"I suppose that having a backup boyfriend is all right then?" Mina asked.

"Uh..he's not a backup boyfriend, he's just made his intentions clear," Lita said.

"Sure, sure, I got ya," Mina said with a grin.

"You're in no position to talk."

"Look Lita, we both have unorthodox relationships, just accept it."

"But why should I? I want a romantic knight to sweep me off my feet and ride into the kingdom of love, not a jealous boyfriend, or his rival who is just waiting in the wings?"

"Well put," Mina said. "Look Lita, you should be happy, two guys want you badly."

"Yes, but that can't work, one of them's going to be hurt."

"Nah, they'll manage," Mina said.

"But Mina, Steve obviously never let go."

"Sure he did," Mina said. "But he got back what he let go."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"It's not as stupid as you think!" Mina snapped. "Stuff like that happens all the time, it's the price we pay for having emotions. You think emotions of love are easy to understand? No of course not, the only way to figure them out is through practical application and that takes effort."

"Oh..I see.." Lita said, understand what Mina was saying, but also opposed to taking any advice from her.

"Look either Yaten or Mike is going to turn out to be the right person for me, I don't know who it is yet so I have to find out."

"And just how do you know it's one of them?" Lita asked.

"I know," Mina said with more seriousness then Lita thought she had inside her.

"Uh..well..it's not that simple for other people," Lita said.

"Of course it isn't," Mina said. "But you have to find your own way. I'm not criticizing your ideas, don't criticize mine."

"I guess you have a point," Lita said.

"I always have a point," Mina said.

"But this one actually is meaningful."

"You know there's something to be said for being a flake," Mina said. "You just remember that."

"This ends the intellectual portion of Mina Deveraux's thought process for the day," Lita said.

"Hey, stop that, we get the same grades, I'm just as smart as you are," Mina said.

"Yes, you just don't use those smarts to any beneficial purpose,"Lita said.

"Ehh..go punch someone," Mina snapped.

"Pretty lame Mina," Lita said.

"I didn't get much sleep," Mina said and promptly fell asleep on the table.

At the Cherry Hill Temple.

"Hey, Rick, you're really down aren't you?" Steve asked.

"Shouldn't I be?" Rick asked.

"Hey, who needs a family huh?" Steve asked. "Hmm..well..that's not the way to put it, I uh..meant.."

"Steve," Rick said with a small grin. "I appreciate the help, but you're just no good at it."

"Why do you think I haven't come by before?"

"Yeah, that's what I was figuring."

"HEY!" Mike said dropping to the ground.

"Why do you always do that?" Steve muttered.

"What?"

"Try to find someway to immediately draw attention to yourself?" Steve asked.

"Because I'm a latent narcissist, I have a one way love affair with myself," Mike said.

"Wrong question to ask," Rick said.

"So what have you been doing Mikey?" Steve asked.

"Stealing cars," Mike said.

The other two sighed.

"Do you want to see them?" Mike asked.

"No," the two muttered.

Mike grinned.

"RICK! I've got great news," Raye said racing up the temple steps.

"Huh...what?" Rick asked.

"You're father says we can stay together."

"He did? What? How?"

"I went and talked to him and after our subsequent martial arts fight, he agreed."

"Well that's just like him," Rick said.

Raye hugged him.

"Isn't that nice?" Mike said.

"Yeah I guess," Steve said.

"Ah true love, like the rose petals falling from the sky and being eaten by beautiful sparrows, because live bugs are so hard to come by at this time of year," Mike said clasping his hands together.

Steve shrugged and then punched him.

"Let's just let ourselves out," he said.

Greg sighed. He was standing in a forest preserve starring at a stream.

This is nice he thought, but it doesn't seem to help me.

"What brings you out here?" Michiru said walking up.

"How'd you find me?" Greg asked in surprise.

"Jeez..don't say it like it's a bad thing, I figured it out," Michiru said. "I heard about the book."

"Seven rejection letters," Greg said.

"Yeah, well it happens," Michiru said.

"Still it doesn't make it easy to take," Greg said.

"Well, that's understandable," Michiru said. "Look, I could tell you a story about how hard it was for me to break into the music field, but I won't, do you know why?"

"No."

"Because one person's success is no guarantee of another. I'm not going to tell you all that stuff about how if you try real hard you have to succeed, that's not true. However, it is true that the journey can be as important as the end."

"But if there is no end?"

"Well yes, that's the risk, but look, you're starting early you've got time to work," Michiru said. "Besides, you do enjoy it don't you? And regardless of what the editors think you have the mind for it."

"Yes, but if they don't think so, how will I succeed?"

"Greg, all of our lives are based on severe challenges being placed in front of us. We rise to the occasion and beat it. That's the way we work. All I can say is keep fighting."

"I guess," Greg said.

"Michiru..uh..can I ask you something, you see I've had something else on my mind, more as a curiosity then anything."

"Sure," Greg said.

"Well..do you believe that fate defines romance?"

"Fate defining romance? Hmm..good question. I believe that fate plays a part, after all, if you don't meet someone, you can't go any farther."

"Except with the Internet, but that's just a snakepit anyway."

"Uh..right..why?"

"It's..uh..uh..first of all, it's uh..I..uh well..me and you are just friends, we know that right?"

"Of course," Michiru said.

"Well.uh..right and there's this other girl."

"Good for you," Michiru said. "It's about time the juices started flowing."

"Uh..well..yes, but..uh..I'm not sure that I love her, but you know that sometimes fate throws two people together as if trying to make it look like they should be you know.." Greg said.

"Yeah," Michiru said. "And you're wondering is your contact with this person enough to get you to pursue a relationship?"

"Well yeah," Greg said.

"Hmm..I think it's worth going after, at least to find out, I mean if fate is doing it there must be some reason. If not love, then some other destiny."

"Hmm.yeah, I guess."

"So who is the girl?"

"Uh...oh I don't want to say."

Michiru grinned.

"Come on..I'm your good friend, can't you tell me?" She asked.

"Uh..well.."

"Come on, come on.."

"No.."

"Hmm..what do you think that I'll spread it around? Come on.."

"Well Michiru, I've learned to be wary of this kind of thing, it's nothing personal."

"Hmm..I guess you have a point, "Michiru said. "Even our best intentions sometimes get out of control."

"I hate grocery shopping," Haruka said.

"Why?" Setsuna asked.

"I just do," Haruka said. "I don't know why, I think it has to do with primal instincts."

"Primal instincts?"

"Yes, I mean, I think just going to a store and picking up boxes of food goes against the idea of either catching it or finding it?"

"We had trouble finding the cheese isle," Setsuna said.

"Oh..don't do that."

"What?"

"In any way shape or form give a response that resembles what I'd get form one of the other scouts."

"Why? Can't I be trite and immature for brief instances?"

"No," Haruka said.

Setsuna grinned as they loaded their grocery bags into Haruka's car.

"The communicator," Setsuna said breaking her concentration. Well..let's see what it is this week?"

Guardian Moon appeared.

"Ah, Setsuna, I wished to speak with all the scouts, and I hoped you could arrange it," he said.

"Of course why?" Setsuna asked.

"We have much to discuss don't we?"

"Yes, I see," Setsuna said.

"All right them," contact me when you've made the arrangements," Guardian Moon said.

"I will," Setsuna said and closed the link.

"Have you made any progress figuring this out on the human side?" D.V. asked. His foster uncle sat on the video screen.

"Sure we have," General Patterson said. "But this is going into deep territory here."

"I know," D.V. said. "Regardless I think it's obvious we have to do something about it."

"That much is certain, though I'm hoping you can handle it on your own. The rest of the scouts don't need to be dragged into this mess."

"I agree, I wouldn't worry, I've already proven I can spend a month wandering through China looking for a prison camp, and then and only then fight off several divisions of the army."

"Please don't be so bitter, think about my position, how could I possibly risk anyone else?"

"Yeah, well..we'll talk later, just keep an eye on Churchill and company," D.V. said and cut the link.

The scouts all waited. The former rogues dropped to the ground.

"Hello again," Guardian Moon said.

"So what is it?" Sailor Moon asked pleasantly.

"Well first of all allow us to introduce ourselves," Guardian Moon said. The three reverted back into human form.

"My name is Sai Tsukano," Guardian Moon said. He had a dark black hair tied back into two ponytail's trailing down behind him.

"That style is obviously on the borderline," Guardian Uranus muttered.

"Of what..clinical insanity," Sailor Mars replied.

"Actually, I could learn to like a style like that," Sailor Venus said.

"You can call me, Akiro Tasuke," Guardian Earth said. His hair was a strange mixture of blonde with a tint of green throughout it.

"That look is wasted on him," Guardian Neptune muttered.

"It's wasted on any form of evolution beyond plants," Guardian Mars added.

"Actually, evolutionary study is a bit more complex that, a well evolved plant may be..." Sailor Mercury began. "I guess that wasn't the point."

"No actually you have a good point," Guardian Jupiter said. "They should choose their insults more carefully."

Guardian Mars growled.

"Everyone calls me Ai Sakamoto, which is good because my name is also Ai Sakamoto," Sailor Earth said stoically.

Guardian Neptune started laughing.

"It's so golden!" He shouted.

"I had forgotten all this," Maverick Ayeka said. "Maybe we can go back over to China you think?" she asked Gmerc.

Sakamoto's hair was violet, and tied into a pair of pony tails, though not the way Sailor Moon's was. A third ponytail stretched behind her.

"Three, a new record," Sailor Venus remarked.

"Hmm..two is enough for you isn't it Darrien?" Sailor Moon asked.

"The more the better," Tuxedo Mask replied. "Maybe you can go for four."

"What?" Sailor Moon said.

"Don't suggest it, now she'll probably try," Sailor Mars said.

"Anyway," Sai Tsukano said. "It's been suggested that we take a break from the fighting. At the very least we want to make up for our previous troubles and learn to work with you all. So we're going to be hanging around."

"Great," most of the scouts muttered unattractively.

"Now guys," Sailor Moon said. "I think we can work this out well. I'm willing to try."

"All right," the sailor scouts all agreed.

"Guys?" the sailors all said looking at the Guardians.

The Guardians all looked at each other and huddled.

"Odd course of action," Sailor Saturn said.

"What can you say?" Maverick Ayeka said.

The guys broke the huddle.

"Uh...we'll go along with it, but we can't be responsible for any bloodshed," Guardian Mars said.

The sailors sighed.

"Welcome to the family!" Guardian Neptune shouted.

"Uh..don't worry, it'll get better," Sailor Moon said. "It isn't usually like this."

"You kidding?" everyone asked.

"Okay, it's always like this but we have fun!" Sailor Moon said.

The three former rogues glanced at each other worriedly.

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