Chapter 362
"What are you so worried about Artemas?" Mina asked.
"Twelve days left," Artemas said.
"Oh, yeah the spaceship....right, well we'll deal with it."
"It's still nothing to be that casual about," Artemas said.
"I might as well, but no use getting stressed out beforehand," Mina said.
"I guess you're right," Artemas said.
"Don't worry," Mina said. "We always win," she said and headed out the door.
"Just how long can we keep a streak like that going?" Artemas asked himself.
"Anderson, Patterson, Thomson residence," Amy said into the phone. "Oh hello Doctor Tomoe."
"Ah..hello Amy, are things well with you?" Tomoe asked.
"Sure, has your scientific pursuits been satisfying?" Amy asked.
"Well, to be honest, we've been on a cold streak, but then again, what does one expect in the pursuit of cold fusion!"
Amy laughed.
"So that's what they have you working on then?" she asked.
"Sure, with all this political messiness over the fact that neganergy is dangerous. Duh! Anyway, they won't let us near it more" Tomoe said. "So anyway, here I am. The guys I work with are such knot heads."
"Sorry to hear it," Amy said.
"Anyway, the reason I called is that I'm concerned, my daughter has been preparing herself for some sort of duel today, and apparently it's over that brother of yours."
"Oh..you mean D.V.?"
"Right, I can't blame her for being attracted to him, both of them being completely unfit for society and all..but.."
"Doctor that's a terrible thing to say."
"I'm kidding," Tomoe said and laughed cutting it off abruptly. "Still you do get my drift. I'm just trying to figure out what's happening."
"Uh, I'll try and explain it, and just where and when is this duel going to
take place?"
"So what was Furi so interested in?" Darrien asked.
"She was having guy troubles, and such," Serena said lying slightly.
"Oh," Darrien said. "Were you able to help?"
"Don't know yet, she'll let me know."
"It's nice of you."
"Darrien, you forget this is what I do, find wayward souls and pull them back from the brink of destruction."
"So that's what you call it?" Darrien asked.
"I just thought it up, but it sounds good don't it?" Serena asked.
"Sort of," Darrien said. "So what do you want to day today?"
"Eat."
"Aside from that, you always want to do that."
"Hmm..well surprise me."
"Serena, I have to surprise you most of the time."
"Oh," Serena said. "Well, uh, let's see, what else could we do, I don't know..uh..let's just walk around."
"All right," Darrien said. "Sounds fair enough."
"Sure is," Serena said. "But first, the eating."
"Why don't you eat after you walked."
"Hmm...I can do both," Serena said. "In fact are you kidding, I can run while eating."
"You have?"
"Sure, plenty of times," Serena said. "You forget I've had to eat breakfast on the way to school many times."
"How silly of me to forget."
"Yep," Serena said. "Anyway, let's go, I have a taste for ribs."
"Ribs?" Darrien said and sighed.
"Don't you like them?"
"That is once again not the issue."
"Ribs are power packed!" Serena said. "Now let's roll."
"Right, right," Darrien said.
"Akiro, why don't you take me out somewhere?" Ai asked.
"Well, I wouldn't know where to go," Akiro said.
"Oh come on, there's probably plenty of places," Ai said.
"Yeah, I'd just rather not go shopping with the threat of an evil force looming," Akiro said.
"Now that's no way to spend what could possibly our last few peaceful days," Ai said.
"I just don't feel like traveling," Akiro said.
"Fine, I'll go alone," Ai said. "You just sit on your lonesome."
"Ehh, you're making me feel guilty,"Akiro said.
"Well you should be," Ai said.
"And I can't believe a video game changed you into this anyway, what's the deal?" Akiro said.
"Now, don't change the subject," Ai said. "Are you coming or not?"
"Fine, fine," Akiro said. "You've guilted me into it."
"I know how you tick, remember that," Ai said with a grin.
"Don't brag," Akiro said. "They'll come a day when you won't be able to push my buttons."
"Dream on," Ai said.
"You were never this annoying before," Akiro said.
"Oh sure I was, you just never noticed," Ai said. "And it's not being annoying, it's being cute."
"It's being annoying."
Ai grinned slightly.
"Then why are you still here?" Ai said.
"Because I like being annoyed," Akiro said.
"Oh..now that's annoying."
"What?"
"You're making no sense," Ai said.
At the Cherry Hill Temple.
"He did what?" Raye asked.
"Dumped me," Lita said. "He tried to make it seem like it wasn't, but he initiated it."
"I'm sorry Lita, I didn't think he would do that?" Raye asked.
"Yeah, well..I don't know what his problem is," Lita said. "In fact I'm not sure he meant it."
"Not sure he meant it? Why?"
"Just the way he said things, the way he acted, he seemed to be distracted, unsure," Lita said.
"So maybe you need to talk to him."
"I don't know," Lita said. "I'm not sure what to do. I don't know what his problem is either."
"I'll find Taiki, he'll know," Raye said.
"Yeah," Lita said dejectedly.
"So you really loved him huh?" Raye asked.
"No, I never got to be sure," Lita said. "But I felt we had something. It might have been a spark."
"I know what you mean," Raye said. "He had reached the second level at least."
"Right," Lita said. "But now.."
"Don't worry, we'll help you."
"Thanks," Lita said. "But what if he really just meant it and I'm deluding myself."
"I don't know," Raye said. "Seiya doesn't seem like someone who would just dump you without some thought. He must be acting irrationally for some reason."
"Oh one thing, you know he's never dated anyone else?"
"He hasn't?" Raye asked. "You mean you were number one?"
"Yes," Lita said.
"No wonder, he must be really confused."
"Why?"
"Well, don't forget, Seiya knows that Steve was after you, maybe he freaked."
"But why?" Lita asked.
"Think about it," Raye said. "Maybe he just doesn't understand what's going on, maybe he's scared, maybe having someone else vying for the same prize got to him."
"But this is Seiya."
"Hey, Seiya has a soft side," Raye said.
"I know that, but he's also Seiya," Lita said.
"Let's go find Taiki," Raye said. "He might know what to say."
"But..I'm not sure I should," Lita said. "I mean, it might look..odd."
"Hmm...you're scared too huh?"
"No, no..not like that," Lita said. "I just..feel odd, I mean, I just got dumped."
"You're scared stiff, you just don't know of what," Raye said.
"What do you mean?"
"Lita, just cool it here for a while, I'll see what I can find out," Raye said.
"All right," Lita said.
Raye bounded down the steps of her temple.
"Tea?" Motoki asked Lita as he walked up beside her.
"Sure," Lita said dejectedly.
In the War Room.
"D.V. they're going to fight over you again, but this one seems serious, they could get really hurt," Amy said.
"That's usually how these things come out, but then again there's a decisive victor too," Patterson said.
"D.V. these are two girls that you like a lot, can you really let them tear each other apart?" Amy asked.
"Amy, I want to stop them, but they haven't listened to me before, and besides, it's a duel of honor, stopping one of those is incredibly difficult."
"This is between Hotaru and Ayeka here, who cares about some stupid code?"
"It's not like that, if Hotaru and Ayeka have agreed to this duel. They're obviously committed."
"But if you say you don't want them to duel," Amy said.
"I'm no good at this," Patterson said. "This is why I think love is a bad idea."
Amy grinned slightly.
"D.V. they both are attracted to you, shouldn't you be able to step in?" Amy asked. "I mean, you of all people?"
"The problem is that I believe in such duels," Patterson said.
"Not this one you don't," Amy said. "You have to stop it."
"Fine I will," Patterson said. "But they'll just fight again somewhere else. They need closure."
"But settling it with a fight?" Amy asked.
"Of course, don't you girls always fight over boys?" D.V. asked.
"But this is literal, I mean, we don't duel."
"To Ayeka and Hotaru, they're way of settling this is to duel."
"So convince them there are better ways," Amy said. "Or pick one of them to be with you."
"The other will just resent it, and then the one I don't pick will probably try to kill us all."
"You're exaggerating, listen to me. Your fear of social contact cannot keep you from being responsible if those two get seriously hurt," Amy said. "Do you want that on your conscience, that might drive you over the edge again, do you want that?"
"I need some time to think," D.V. said.
"You've got three hours," Amy said and strode out.
Patterson sighed.
I'm in trouble. He thought.
"Ah..what a wonderful place this is," Ai said staring at the birds flying over head.
"It's just like any other city street," Akiro said.
"You never could appreciate the inherent beauty of simple objects and simple life," Ai said.
"I have my quirks yes," Akiro said.
"Well, that's all right," Ai said. "There are many reasons we're together. And this doesn't take away from them."
"Sure," Akiro said. "Anyway, can we get something to eat?"
"We've been out here for twenty minutes?"
"I ate light this morning."
"Oh fine," Ai said. "Honestly Akiro, are you trying to be an annoyance?"
"Sure," Akiro said. "I can see it's working."
Ai sighed.
"What kind of house do you think we should have Darrien?" Serena asked.
"I really hadn't thought that kind of thing through, I'll leave it up to you," Darrien said.
"You will, that's nice of you," Serena said. "Now I'm thinking we should have skylights, gotta have them."
"I'm not opposed to skylights," Darrien said.
"Plus at night the moonlight can shine in," Serena said. "Makes sense don't it?"
"Yes."
"We should have five garages."
"What?"
"Sure," Serena said.
"Why?"
"So when my friends come by they can park in a special garage. They'll be Amy's garage we'll paint that blue. Then they'll be Raye's garage, will make sure the door doesn't work right on that one. Lita's garage will be right next to the kitchen so she'll be tempted to make us something every time she stops by. And Mina's garage will have to be large enough for a limo."
"Why do you think that Mina will have a limo?" Darrien asked forgetting the other issues.
"Because she's Mina," Serena said. "She'll get one somehow."
"Serena, five garages are just not practical, especially on my salary."
"Aren't you going to be a rich scientist?"
"There's no such thing as a rich scientist," Darrien said.
"I've been greatly misinformed," Serena said. "Why can't you just be a rich playboy then?"
"There are several reasons.." Darrien said. "Hey isn't that Ai and Akiro!"
"Oh, it is," Serena said turning. "Hey, Ai, Akiro!" she said. "Whatcha doing?"
"Hello Serena," Ai said. "Me and Akiro are just out seeing the sites."
"Hey, that's what we're doing," Serena said. "Come sit down."
"All right," Ai said.
"We were just talking about what my house is going to look like," Serena said. "It's going to be a beaut!"
"Oh yeah," Darrien said. "Wonderful place."
"Hmm...I've always wanted a houseboat myself," Ai said.
"A houseboat? Hmm, I'd be afraid of it sinking," Serena said. "Then so much for your house."
"Well..yes, but there are advantages too," Ai said.
"Which I've yet to find," Akiro said.
"Hey, be quiet or I'll marry someone else who likes the idea," Ai said.
"So are you two..pretty close like that..too?" Serena asked.
"Well..no," Ai said. "I'd like to think so."
"I'm not going to propose until I have a diploma," Akiro said. "Besides it's a little early to be jumping ahead."
"But we've been through so much Akiro, if we haven't proven our love yet, when will we?" Ai asked.
"This sounds familiar," Serena said.
"For one thing," Akiro said. "Ai you were a reticent......I don't know what for the past year, that hardly was romantic."
"I had problems, I'm over them," Ai said. "But now is the perfect time."
"I'd prefer to wait till after the battle," Akiro said.
"Oh come on, we may never get the chance," Ai said. "I don't need a ring you know. I'm not that vain."
"I am," Serena said smiling at her ring.
"Oo..that's nice," Ai said.
"Yep, Darrien bought it for me," Serena said.
"Thank goodness, if it wasn't him who did, then it would be real trouble," Akiro said.
"Why are you being so wise Akiro?" Ai asked. "I thought you loved me?"
"I do, Ai very much," Akiro said. "But I also know that some things have to happen before I'm ready to commit."
"Typical," Serena and Ai said in unison.
Akiro sighed.
"Ah Taiki thank goodness," Raye said finding him in his apartment.
"What is it?" Taiki asked.
"It's about Seiya," Raye said.
"Oh, yes, I was wondering when someone would show up on some mission of that sort," Taiki said.
"Just what's going on?" Raye asked.
"Seiya's a fool that's what," Taiki said.
"Oh?"
"Can you spare a walk?" Taiki asked.
"No problem. Where are we going?" Raye asked.
"Amy's house, apparently she's hysterically trying to prevent Ayeka and Hotaru from killing each other and is trying to find all the help she can," Taiki said.
"Gee...I didn't know they had taken it that far," Raye said.
"Anyway, you see Seiya has become disillusioned with the way of life the scouts all lead, you know fighting evil, but along the way losing one's mind gradually," Taiki said.
Raye smiled slightly.
"Yes, well that's the price we pay I guess," Raye said. "Sure, we're still a little immature, some more than others, and we act a little bit strange from time to time, some of us more than others of course, but I thought Seiya understood that."
"He's suffering from a lack of confidence too, he wonders just why Steve would be so blatant to state his intentions. Now we all know that Steve was acting with a rare display of honor, but Seiya is paranoid and he thinks that Steve just wanted to set him up. Ironically and inadvertently Steve has done just that."
"It had to be accidental, Steve and Seiya may not get along, but Steve is not that cagey, and even if he was, how could he face Lita if he tried," Raye said.
"That's what I figured," Taiki said. "Anyway, Seiya's just given up, he has no idea what to do."
"So he didn't want to dump Lita?"
"He didn't dump her, he told her there were better people for her, I generally believe he thought that possible rather that he was releasing her for brighter pastures then dumping her because she was unworthy. He believes himself unworthy for her," Taiki said.
"So how do we get him to see reason?" Raye asked.
"Good question, with war in twelve days I find it hard to make such plans, and I am in no position to really conduct any operation. Romance is no specialty of mine."
"We'll throw something together. What we need is to convince Seiya that he's romantic. Lita knows he is, but I'm betting he wouldn't believe her."
"Yes," Taiki said. "He's reached quite a low, I've never seen it like this before. I mean I expected Yaten to crack first."
"How is Yaten handling things anyway?"
"He's borderline," Taiki said. "But that's not necessarily good."
"Yes, I know," Raye said. "Mina's really messing with his mind isn't she?"
"She tells me its to get to the real Yaten inside."
"That's what she says to all of us, but this is probably not the way to do it," Raye said.
"Yes, that was my assessment too," Taiki said. "Then again nothing else has worked."
"Maybe after this fight is resolved you can talk to Lita a little."
"Sure," Taiki said. "There's no use in her feelings being hurt. I'll do what
I can."
"All right, here's what we do," Mike began. "We all get Hotaru with the knockout gas, and then the fight gets forfeited."
"Putting aside the fact we have no knockout gas...that's a short term solution!" Patterson snapped. "Now come on, we need to figure this out."
"Well D.V. the obvious solution is to talk to both of them," Rick said.
"And to say what?" Patterson asked. "What can I possibly say that will get both of them to stop?"
"Threaten to dump both of them if they don't," Steve said.
"Yeah," Mike said.
"Why can't that work?" Amy asked.
"They'll just settle it secretly," Patterson said. "I know about this kind of thing."
"And how many love triangles have you been involved in huh?" Raye asked.
"I..that's not what I meant...." Patterson stammered.
"Hey, we should call Mina in on this one," Mike said.
The group nodded.
"I really wouldn't suggest it," Raye said.
"It seems that we need someway for Hotaru and Ayeka to settle this without coming to blows," Taiki said.
"Aw come on they fought before, they didn't get hurt," Mike said.
"Doctor Tomoe says that Hotaru's going to use her powers though," Amy said. "We can't allow that either, using scout powers for such personal affairs is just wrong."
"It is? Guess the marshmallow roast is off then," Mike said to Rick.
"Too bad," Rick said.
"This is serious," D.V. said. "How am I supposed to get these two to agree to not fight over me, and actually honor it?"
"You're the tactician," Everyone replied.
Patterson sighed.
"I have the solution," Greg said walking in hesitantly.
"What is it Greg?" Amy asked.
"I'll do what I should have done before, profess my love for Hotaru," Greg said.
Everyone collapsed.
"Follow up question," Mike began...
"No, think about it , she did try and get something going, and we got along well," Greg said. "Maybe if I said I was interested she would forget D.V. I mean she just wants someone who can understand her."
"But Greg, do you love her?" Rick asked.
"Sure, a little," Greg said.
Everyone collapsed again.
"Just how else was I supposed to proceed with her, she's unlike any other girl I've known," Greg said. "I mean I don't even know how to handle regular relations."
"But Greg, are you prepared to accept the relationship?" Patterson asked.
"Might as well start sometime," Greg said. "Besides, Ayeka is perfect for you, really. Hotaru is a good friend, but I'm more her caliber, after all, she doesn't like violence."
"Says, who?" Everyone replied.
"No really," Greg said. "She just gets angry, but she doesn't want to hurt anyone."
"That's it, I've given up on humanity," Mike said.
"Hey I'm with you," Steve said.
"Come on, maybe we can reason with them," Greg said.
"All right," D.V. said. "But we better go."
"The fight isn't for another hour," Taiki said.
"I just have a feeling about it, and besides, Hotaru and Ayeka both left their houses five minutes ago," Patterson said.
"They must have found out about us finding out and didn't want us to interfere," Amy said.
"In so many words," Patterson said and hurried for the door. The others
followed.
At the high school.
"Saturn Mist Wave!"
Maverick leapt forward unleashing barrage of bolts from her sword. A cascade of energy blasted into the attacks and destroyed them. The group of scouts dropped down between to the two.
"Don't try and stop us," Maverick said.
"Sorry," Gmerc said. "I can't let you continue."
"Hotaru..before you fight..can I talk to you?" Guardian Saturn asked.
"What is it?" Sailor Saturn asked.
"Remember when we used to talk, spend time together?" Guardian Saturn asked.
"Yes," Sailor Saturn said.
"Did you like that? And did you like me?"
"Are you asking me if I liked you enough to consider romance, as opposed to me fighting with her over Patterson?"
"Well..uh.yes..." Guardian Saturn said. said. "I uh that's what I mean?"
"You are better suited for me, I did not think you were ready for romance yet, however, since you have said so, I agree to your terms," Saturn said.
Everyone collapsed
359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368
369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378
379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388