"Not long now huh?" Luna asked.
"No, thirteen days," Setsuna said.
"The scouts will be ready," Luna said.
"I know they will," Setsuna said. "This is going to be a different sort of war I think."
"Oh?"
"Yes, nothing as easy as healing an enemy monster, or even the battles with Gala and such," Setsuna said. "Much different."
"Hmm....we'll win though," Luna said. "The scouts are up to it."
"I always think that. I consult the stars and future, and all that I can, and they do not reveal themselves to me," Setsuna said. "Throughout time Sailor Plutos have been called upon to make sacrifices at certain times for the good of all, but I don't even know when that is."
"Maybe you aren't supposed to," Luna said. "Maybe you're destined to live."
"One can always hope," Setsuna said.
Elsewhere, the Tomoe home.
"Father, do you have any daimons left?" Hotaru asked.
"What? Of course not Hotaru, but why would you want one?" Doctor Tomoe asked.
"I have someone I need to take care of," Hotaru said.
"Now Hotaru just because it used to be normal for us to use evil creatures to dispose of enemies, or at least try to, that doesn't mean it's all right now."
"I believe I am justified," Hotaru said.
"Oh...well...I'm afraid that just won't work out then."
"Very well," Hotaru said. "Then tell me how well you would rate my cackle."
"Your cackle?" Doctor Tomoe asked.
"Yes," Hotaru said and began to cackle.
"Ah...well you see your form's a little off, you have to get into the mood," Tomoe said.
"The mood?"
"Yes, for instance, just listen," Tomoe said. "We must find the pure heart crystals...only then..we can find the holy grail!" he said in a deeply scary voice before launching into hectic cackling.
"You see?" he asked.
"Yes, I see," Hotaru said. "Perhaps like this.."
She began to cackle again more loudly.
"Yeah, that's better," Doctor Tomoe said. "Let me know if you need any more fatherly advice."
He then headed out.
"Your destruction is at hand Ayeka Mizuno!" Hotaru shouted and began cackling.
Her father poked his head back into the room.
It just occurred to me this might not be the best thing to encourage her to do. He thought.
"Uh..Hotaru.." he said.
Hotaru resumed her stoic expression and turned to face him.
"Yes father?" she asked.
"About all this..what exactly is happening?" he asked.
"Destiny," Hotaru said and turned away. "The Sailor of Death has been called upon to dispense her divine authority."
"Ah..well..just remember to look both ways before crossing the street," Tomoe said.
"Of course," Hotaru said and strode out the door.
"Hotaru Tomoe...you have come between me and my beloved," Ayeka Mizuno said standing in the dark somewhere.
"For this, you cannot be permitted to continue your present existence!" she said. "I will destroy all that stand in the way of my destiny!"
She began to laugh. The light snapped on.
"You all right Ayeka?" her mother asked poking her head in the door of her room.
"Oh..uh..sure," Ayeka said.
"Uh..right..you just sounded angry."
"No, I'm doing fine," Ayeka said. "Just something to clear up."
"All right, well, remember to look both ways before crossing the street."
"I wouldn't worry about that," Ayeka said.
"Uh..right," her mother said and headed away.
"Today's wrath will come from the depths of a darkened heart, there will be no mercy!"
She shouted and hurried out the door.
"I'm worried about her," her mother said watching her go.
"Is it that time of the month?" her father asked.
Mrs. Mizuno hit Mr. Mizuno on the head.
"Guess not," Mr. Mizuno said.
At the Three lights' apartment.
"What are you so glum about?" Taiki asked.
"It was so perfect, and yet nothing..." Seiya said. "In the end all she said was..'well this was funny at least'...I hate that, it seems the minute we ran into these other scouts the world just twisted and turned into absurdity."
"Not for me," Taiki said. "I'm doing fine."
"Yeah, well you're lucky then, but I'm sure Yaten would agree that things are getting out of hand," Seiya said.
"I'm not entirely sure," Yaten said. "I had a strange dream last night, it seemed to explain a lot."
"Oh...well..the heck with both of you! The fact is that I thought taking a girl out into the middle of nowhere would be very romantic. I mean I had pulled off the romance thing before," Seiya said.
"Maybe you should have stuck with what works," Taiki said.
"But then I'm not being spontaneous, the girls don't like that," Seiya said. "They want surprises."
"Well maybe you should have waited until you had a better idea of what might work," Yaten said.
"I thought I knew what I was doing, Lita is pretty rugged, and I just thought being away from everyone else would help," Seiya said.
"Guess you thought wrong then," Taiki said.
"Yeah, what do you expect us do, go on your next date for you?" Yaten asked.
"No...but obviously your doing something right that I'm not," Seiya said.
"Seiya, I thought things had been going well," Taiki said.
"In fact, it wasn't until Steve said he wanted to date Lita that things began to crack," Yaten said.
"That's not true," Seiya said.
"Isn't it though?" Yaten asked.
"So what..you began to self destruct too once Mina let Mike in on the action," Seiya said.
"No I didn't," Yaten said. "Besides, I would have an excuse. She was blatantly giving up on me and putting us up for comparison, you had nothing to worry about."
"I had some guy breathing down my back," Seiya said.
"Only means something if you fear that he's better than you which from all appearances is not the least bit true," Taiki said.
"Then why would he be so blatant about it?" Seiya asked. "It's like he knows he has some secret weapon."
"You're deluding yourself," Taiki said.
"No, he knew this would happen, he's got me worried, he knew I would crack," Seiya said.
"Oh that's perfectly logical," Taiki muttered.
"Yes, he knows you so well," Yaten said snidely.
"Look Seiya," Taiki said. "Are you in love with Lita?"
"I have no idea," Seiya said.
"Oh..well that's where we run into difficulty," Taiki said.
"Not unexpectedly," Yaten said.
"Well, of course we do," Seiya said. "Do I like Lita, yeah, we get along great, but I'm not sure it's love, I mean especially considering all this."
He stood up.
"You know what the real problem is?"
"No..what?" Yaten and Taiki asked in unison.
"It's this whole environment. Nothing makes sense. Nothing is done as we'd expect it too. Heck we're not even from the same planet," Seiya said.
"Seiya, our planets are not that different," Yaten said.
"Yeah, but still everything revolving around these girls is just different, abnormal if you will," Seiya said.
"Perhaps," Taiki said.
"See that's it, it's just the whole environment," Seiya said. "It's not my fault at all."
"What's not your fault?" Taiki asked.
"Not having a clue what's going on," Seiya said.
"With what?" Yaten asked.
"No..no..I've reached an epiphany here," Seiya said. "I've got to run with it!"
He ran out the door.
"I didn't really get what he was saying," Taiki said.
"I don't know maybe..nope I didn't get it either," Yaten said.
"Should we follow him, just in case?" Taiki asked.
"Just in case what?" Yaten asked.
"I don't know," Taiki said.
"Good point, let's go," Yaten said.
The two hurried out.
"By the way, isn't today another phase of the endless contest to win Mina's heart?" Taiki asked snidely.
"Well partly, it's the individual date trials as she calls them," Yaten said. "Today's Mike's turn, tomorrow I have take her on a date."
"Ah..with points given for artistic merit and such."
"Essentially," Yaten said. "Her scoring method is complex and utterly random."
"Oo...tough scale then," Taiki said.
At the crown restaurant.
"It's been a while hasn't it?" Mike asked.
"Sure has," Mina said. "Say Mike, are you really over the whole two timing thing?"
"Strange time to ask," Mike said. "I believe it's possible you've matured, I mean it's been months and you've done nothing close to two timing." He grinned.
"Mina I understand, you're a girl with complex needs, and who has trouble knowing just what she wants. I can understand that. So that's why I put up with it," Mike said. "The truth is you need a guy like me, who can adapt to your ever change personalities and idiosyncracies."
"You're probably right," Mina said. "I know Yaten isn't right for me, but I also feel that if I can get out that side of him he's hiding we can be great friends. The only real question is whether you're the man or not."
"Oh..I'm the man, in many circles of life,"Mike said.
"Are you the man in basket weaving?"
"No, but I'm the man in kettle drumming," Mike said.
"Not the response I expected," Mina said.
"Well, you know me," Mike said. "If they see it coming I'm not doing my job."
"Why do you enjoy that so much?"
"What?"
"Making other people uncomfortable."
"Because if they're uncomfortable it's less of a chance they'll make me uncomfortable."
"Point taken, but you know me, I wouldn't do that?"
"Are you kidding? You are the only girl I've met who could match me pound for pound in making someone uneasy, fortunately I am able to neutralize many of your effects, however, it's also why I like you so much," Mike said.
"Ah," Mina said. "So you like me, because I'm just like you?"
"No we have our differences, but we're very similar," Mike said.
"I always saw myself as a smarter, prettier, and a generally more useful and attractive version of you."
"Ah.." Mike said. "Well, your jealously is well founded."
Mina glared at him.
"What...jealousy?" she asked.
"What jealousy indeed," Mike said and began to laugh.
"Just drink your milkshake," Mina said.
"Oh I will," Mike said and continued to laugh.
Mina bonked him over the head.
"Ah," he said. "All better now," he said.
"You really are something," Mina said. "How is it I like you so much when you apparently have no redeeming characteristics?"
"Because in such a cruel world I am a beacon of uncruelness," Mike said.
Mina laughed hysterically.
"It's all about comic relief Mina, that's all it is," Mike said. "I mean after all, I won't be working for a living, they have something against hiring my type, and so you'll come home after a hard's day work and find me laying on the couch, you'll hate me for being so lazy, but I'll make you laugh and then you'll make dinner, and we'll laugh some more. And you'll ask for a baby, and I'll tell a joke instead. That's going to be our life."
"Oh.." Mina said. "Whatever works."
Tokyo University.
"Ah..so they moved your office again," Serena said. "How come it keeps getting smaller?"
"Serena, there are reasons, but I don't want to get into them," Darrien said.
"So how is the work coming?"
"Uh..fine..fine.."
The door opened and Furuhata Sagara walked in.
"Well..this is a familiar scene," Sagara said. "Darrien, Professor Yoshinori is looking for you."
"Oh..all right," Darrien said and stood up.
"You should wait here Serena," Darrien said and headed out.
"Ah..so what brings you up to this institute of higher learning?" Sagara asked Serena.
"I'm just hanging around," Serena said. "Keeping Darrien company."
"Oh..it must be wonderful for him," Sagara said. "To have someone willing to do that."
"It's nothing, I just show up."
"Yes, well you have it easy, I guess," Sagara said. "Most people don't have it like that."
"I guess," Serena said.
"Yeah...well.." Sagara said and headed for the door.
"Wait a second," Serena said.
"What?"
"No..sorry.."
"Well you were going to say something?"
"I was just wondering..if something was wrong, but you probably don't want me getting involved," Serena said.
"You wouldn't understand," Sagara said and headed out.
"Wait up!" Serena said hurrying out of the office. "Now a lot of people think that, but I've had a lot of success, that's what I do really. Business has been slow lately, but hey, give it a shot."
"I don't think so,"Sagara said.
"Oh come on, you'd tell Darrien wouldn't you?"
"Darrien's too busy for my problems," Sagara said.
"But I'm not and I'm Darrien's fiancee, you can trust me."
"Why would you help the girl who tried to steal Darrien away from you?"
"Because I'm a saint," Serena said with a smile.
Sagara sighed.
"All right, let's give it a shot," she said.
Serena grinned.
"Lita, that idiot boyfriend of yours is here to see you!" her father shouted up the stairs.
"Dad! Don't call him that!" Lita shouted.
"I call em like I see em!" her father shouted back. Lita sighed and came down the stairs.
Seiya was standing there.
"Can we go for a walk?" He asked.
"Sure," Lita said. "What's this about?"
"Just think we should talk that's all," he said.
"All right," Lita said.
The two were soon walking down the sidewalk.
"Lita, I don't think I'm right for you," Seiya said.
"WHAT?" Lita shouted.
"Eh..keep it down you meddling kids," shouted one of the neighbors back at them.
"No..look Lita..it's just not the way it should be. We get along, we've had some romantic evenings, but you need someone different, I don't know who..but it's not me."
"Now that's not true," Lita said. "Seiya, you're a great boyfriend."
"But do you love me?"
"What?"
"Well do you?"
"I don't know."
"And I don't know either, Lita, look it's just not the way I want it to be."
"Oh.."
"I'm just not the person who fits in with the romantic vibe.."
"What is that?"
"If I knew I wouldn't be in this mess," Seiya said. "I think you'd be happier with someone else, at least romantically."
"I just don't understand," Lita said.
"It's not you, it's me, completely me," Seiya said.
"Seiya, I think it's different than that, I'm not giving you something either, is that it?"
"No, I just can't keep up with your needs, I can't provide for them," Seiya said. "I'm just not built for it."
"Seiya, now let's not jump to conclusions here, I think we need to talk this out," Lita said.
"Lita,I don't think that'll work," Seiya said.
"Oh, come on, give it a chance," Lita said.
Seiya sighed.
"No...let it go," he said.
"But.."
"I know I'm making the right decision."
"You're being a fool!" Lita shouted.
"No, Lita, you'll thank for me this later."
"You might hope so, I'm ready to beat you up right now, knock some sense in you, what's so wrong here?"
"It just is," Seiya said. "I know what I'm talking about!"
"No you don't," Lita said.
"I'm sorry," Seiya said. "I didn't want it to end this way."
He turned away. Lita grabbed him.
"Don't.." he said and pushed her away. He then ran down the street. She said nothing and stared.
"I did not expect that," Taiki said watching from nearby.
"Me neither," Yaten said.
"Then again he always has been an idiot," Taiki said.
"That's quite a condemnation" Yaten said.
"Were you just here a minute ago?" Taiki said.
Yaten just glanced at him.
"Here's the deal," Sagara said. "I think I'm evil."
"Oh..." Serena said trying not to either look shocked or alternatively begin laughing.
"Sure it doesn't sound right," Sagara said. "But look, I just don't particularly like anyone."
"You like Darrien," Serena said.
"Yes, but he's special."
"So it's not necessarily true that you can't like everyone, maybe the people that work here are especially annoying."
"They are, but that's not it, it's everywhere. I go out and these guys hit on me, naturally..right.."
"Never mind that get to the point," Serena said.
Sagara sighed.
"What I'm saying is I don't go near any of them, I hate them."
"Well maybe you hang out in the wrong places."
"But I don't have any friends either, in fact I haven't had some for years."
"That doesn't mean you're evil, it means you're just insecure."
"Hardly," Sagara said. "If choosing between the two I'm evil."
"Then let's try to root out the evil then," Serena said as pleasantly as she
could. Why me? She thought.
"Hotaru Tomoe to Ayeka Mizuno," Hotaru said into her communicator.
"Yeah.." Ayeka said appearing several seconds later.
"I propose a duel, right now, the two of us to settle this once for all. Whoever surrenders first loses the prize," Hotaru said.
"Ah..I'm intrigued," Ayeka said. "Very well. Where shall we meet?"
"The High School, tomorrow" Hotaru said.
"Very well, I will be ready," Ayeka said.
"You had better be," Hotaru said.
"I mean there are just some people that don't deserve my respect," Sagara said.
"There always are," Serena said.
"And the rest, I'm not sure about," Sagara said. "I mean I just don't like anyone, that's what I mean, Darrien's so perfect, but everyone else is just.."
"So you're saying you're holding everyone up to Darrien's perfect standards?"
"Yep."
"You can't do that, Darrien is the greatest guy in the world, how could anyone be as good as he is?"
"Yeah I guess," Sagara said. "But there must be someone pretty close. There must be a lot of people pretty close."
"Maybe you just need to keep looking," Serena said.
"What's the use?"
"Well..that's all I have," Serena said.
"What?"
"I said that's all I have," Serena said. "You've got problems."
"What?"
"I mean it, I can only encourage people by showing them how I keep going. I can protect their dreams, but I can't make you like other people, and if you want to wallow in dejection good for you, but that's it."
"You're giving up on me. You're not supposed to give up!"
"Sorry," Serena said and turned away.
"Wait..fine..we'll play it your way, just tell me what I should be doing."
"Well I'm not expert, but here are some general tips," Serena said turning back towards her.
"You baited me didn't you?" Sagara asked.
"I was surprised you'd fall for it," Serena said.
"Well you've got me now," Sagara said.
"Figured I would one way or another, I'm like a ramona."
"A what?"
"You know things on sharks?"
"Ramoras," Sagara muttered.
"You get the idea," Serena said. "Now here's what you have to do, to get out of your slump."
Darrien walked up.
"Ah..what's going on here?" he asked.
"You just tell me later," Sagara said and hurried out.
"What was that?" Darrien asked.
"Bathroom," Serena said and raced after Sagara.
"Can't get away that easily," she said.
"Oh..right.." Sagara said. "I wasn't trying to run, but if he found out I was having confidence problems well, I couldn't tease him and know it was having the desired effect."
"You really do need help," Serena said. "But in the meantime."
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