Chapter 387

"Meow.." Horace said.

"Meow!" the cats shouted back. Horace began to walk back and forth across the crate he stood on. The cats all followed his lead. Horace began to meow some more. Luna looked around wondering what was going on.

This is so wrong..she thought. She glanced at Artemas. He was meowing too.

Now what has he gotten himself into? Luna wondered.

"Meow?" came a voice. She turned. A cat was staring at her.

"Meow.." Luna said.

"Meow," the cat said and resumed his staring at Horace.

I better try to fit in. Luna thought.

Horace rose up on two feet slowly.

"MEOW!" he screeched.

All the cats rose on two feet as well and screeched back.

This is scary. Luna thought. Very scary. I have to find out what's going on here.

"MEOW!" Horace said and leapt down from his stoop. He then began walking through the cats.

I can't let him see me. Luna thought and snuck out the way she came. She leapt up on a fence and waited as Horace emerged, followed by the cats. They all headed down the street in a long line.

"Just what is happening? And why is Artemas going along with this? I'd better follow them."

She walked after them hoping they didn't notice or care.

The next morning at school.

"So how was that fight you were waiting for?" Lita asked.

"Wonderful," Mina said. "I've never seen such a good one."

"I didn't think you'd be into fighting Mina," Amy said.

"Well it's like this, they're hilarious in public places," Mina said. "Ketchup and hamburgers flying everywhere..property damage, it's cute."

"Oh yeah, cute." the other four said.

"So Lita, how'd your date with Seiya go."

"Fine," Lita said.

The other four girls stopped and looked at her.

"Fine?" they asked.

"What?" Lita asked. "It went fine. There's not much more to say."

"But that's not a good thing Lita," Serena said. "You should be bragging about it..shouldn't you?"

"I don't like to brag about dates," Lita said.

"Now that's just a cover story for not liking any of the dates you've been on, "Mina said.

"It is not," Lita said. "I just don't like talking about it There's such a thing as privacy," Lita said.

"There is?" the other four asked.

"Romance and publicity are quick to meet," Mina said.

"That is not a real saying," Amy said.

"Is now," Mina said.

"Look..can we just drop it," Lita said.

"All right," Serena said. "If that's what you want, fine."

"Thank you," Lita said. "Seiya is really wonderful though..it's not like that at all."

"Sure it isn't," Serena said.

"I mean I just don't see the need to tell all the details of my dates, its kinda immature in a way."

"Sure is," Serena said.

"There's just something wrong with it."

"Absolutely."

"Ah..anyway...how are you all doing?" Lita asked.

The four sighed.

"Here goes," "Lisa Anderson" said approaching the front door to the school flanked by Hotaru, Ayeka, and Greg.

"Don't worry," Ayeka said. "It'll be fine. No one even noticed when I showed up."

They approached the door and opened it. They walked in to find boys lining the halls looking at "her."

"Welcome to our school Lisa," they all said.

"This is a setup," Patterson muttered.

"What are all of you doing?" Ayeka asked.

"Greeting the new girl..ahem..student."

"And how come I didn't get such a greeting?" Ayeka snapped.

"You were a surprise, we didn't know you were coming.."

"Hmmph..and how did you..he..she..was coming.." Ayeka said.

"Uh..we...uh.."

"Sorry..it's just the way I work," Sai said leaning against a wall.

"Sai..come ere.." Patterson said.

"Yeah..what?" Sai asked walking up. He won't do anything to me in front of the principal's office.

"You feeling all right Haruka?" Michiru asked.

"Didn't sleep well last night, it's nothing though," Haruka said.

"All right, you know you can tell my anything though."

"I know.."

They heard a battlecry. Sai went flying out the fortunately open front doors and slammed into the ground in front of them.

"Sai..you went and did something stupid didn't you?" Haruka asked.

"What happened out here?" Setsuna asked poking her head out of the principal's office.

"Accident," Lisa, Ayeka, Hotaru, and Greg said.

"Well...be more careful," Setsuna said.

"We are, but one can never tell when another accident might happen," Lisa said and glanced at the guys all standing around. They scattered.

"For this I cannot forgive you!" Lisa shouted and raced down the corridor after them.

"He's adjusting fine," Ayeka said.

"The real question is whether the building can withstand the punishment," Hotaru said.

"It's good architecture," Greg said.

"Just try to keep too many people from getting hurt all right?" Setsuna muttered.

Later.

"So class, how was your weekend?" Sakura Love asked.

"Want me to tell you?" Mike asked.

"No!" Sakura said. "Sai..what happened to you?" she asked the bruised and battered student.

"Nothing at all, I fell," Sai said.

"In such an awkward way too," Ayeka said.

"Well anyway..I see we have a new student here..Lisa..why don't you come up and introduce yourself."

"I'd rather not," Lisa said.

"Oh no don't you start, I've had enough from this class...you come up here right now."

"Yes ma'am," Lisa muttered and walked to the front blushing.

"Everyone this is Lisa Anderson.."

"At last we finally have a beautiful girl in the room," Mike said and started laughing.

"That wasn't funny," The girls all shouted.

"I agree," Lisa growled.

"Uh oh,"Mike said.

"Lisa do you have a boyfriend?" Akiro asked.

"Akiro, don't tease," Ai said.

"Sorry dear," Akiro said. "But .."

"Akiro..shut up," Lisa said. "You're going on the list."

"I see you've met some of the students here.." Sakura said. "Maybe you had just better sit down."

"Always a good idea," Lisa said.

"Now let's start class shall we..." Sakura said. "Let's see we were talking about the poems of Soto.."

"That farce," Yaten said.

"Oh quit it Yaten, I don't remember you being this vocal."

"I wasn't when we were covering worthwhile subjects."

"Well aren't you a rebel?"

"I believe in fighting against the fallacies of art that abound in this period of poetry."

"Take em down Yaten," Mina said.

"Hallelujah," Mike said.

Sakura sighed.

In a science classroom.

"Explain to me this..." Setsuna began. "Just how did this happen?"

Setsuna and a teacher stared at a classroom of students all swaying back and forth and mumbling things to each other.

"Well..I guess the fumes we were working with were a bit too powerful there...that's been known to happen," the teacher said.

"And don't you think it was a bad idea to go ahead with the experiment then?"

"No, no, it's a standard thing, besides now they know what not to do."

"Yes I think that's clear, but we've got a bunch of druggies now."

"No..no..they'll recover."

"I don't like my students tripping during class hours, clear this room out and get them some medical attention!"

"But then the authorities will know,": the science teacher said.

"Too bad," Setsuna said.

"They found out the last time too.." The teacher growled.

"I guess that.." Setsuna began to say before the teacher ran to the window and leapt out it dropping a floor and racing away.

"Oh..wonderful," Setsuna said.

Luna yawned. She was staring at the inside of an abandoned warehouse. Inside the cats had congregated and instead of just meeting they were all standing around in circles meowing at each other.

Just what is happening here? Luna asked. It's been hours and they're still at it. I can't just keep watching them.

She sighed. But I have to find out what this is. It could be trouble..though I don't know exactly how..still..this shouldn't continue I think. No definitely it shouldn't. I'm sure of that. Of course the question is once I find out what it is, just how do I stop it?

At lunch.

"So how's the music going?" Serena asked.

"Fine," Raye said. "We've got quite a performance lined up."

"The country's finest musical talent has come together," Mina said.

"And you're there too Mina," Raye said.

"That wasn't even a high quality insult," Mina said. "I resent that."

"Whatever," Raye said.

"No it's really going to sound great," Lita said.

"Of course Chad was spying on our practice session," Rick said.

"He was? Why?" Seiya asked.

"Because he's scared," Rick said.

"Scared? Are you sure that's the reason?" Raye asked.

"Oh yeah, we've got em," Rick said.

"The hyphen song will just be the deciding blow," Mike said.

"Somehow I doubt that," Yaten said.

"No, no..really...it's like chloroform," Mike said. "Knocks you right out."

"Exactly how is that piece of...noise.....oh..never mind," Yaten said.

"I take it you don't subscribe to the song,"Rick said.

"No, I don't," Yaten said. "But there's a lot of things we don't agree on," Yaten said.

"Very true, besides it takes a certain taste to appreciate that song," Rick said.

"That is one social club I have no interest in being a part of," Yaten said.

"By invitation only," Mike said.

"You're not invited," Steve said.

"I'm so relieved."

"Actually I like the challenge the song poses," Seiya asked.

"It's not a matter of the elements of the song being wrong rather the fact that they are all intermixed which is the problem," Taiki said.

"I don't even give it that much credit," Yaten said.

"Well..experimental works are often criticized," Rick said.

"But are you sure this is what you want to use against Chad?" Raye asked. "I mean it's very risky."

"It's incredibly creative," Rick said. "That's what I'm trying to show. We'll knock him off for sure with other stuff, but I want him to see originality."

"Don't you have something original and that doesn't stink?" Yaten asked.

"Actually do we have anything that doesn't stink?" Mike asked.

"Guess not," Rick said.

"Oh well," Mike said.

"Are you all of you getting along up there?" Serena asked. "You don't seem to be cooperating."

"We manage," Seiya said.

"Yeah it's just a little hard, but we do," Rick said.

"Say..Lita.." Seiya said. "After practice I had something I wanted to show you. You up to it?"

"Oh definitely," Lita said. "I can't wait."

"Great," Seiya said.

"Ah..romance," Serena said. "What a wonderful thing. Darrien took me to the pancake house it was splendid."

"Serena, do all of your romantic experiences involve food?" Ai asked.

"No of course not, just most of them," Serena said. "But that's usually coincidental."

"How can you say that?" Raye asked.

A window broke. Everyone whirled towards the sound. A figure leapt onto a table.

"I am Disco Man....evil disco man!" the figure shouted and began to dance. Four other similar clad figures joined him.

"Oh this is the best one yet," Akiro muttered.

"We have come to plunder this school!" Evil disco man shouted.

"What are you, a pirate too?" Ayeka shouted.

"Yes, I am evil pirate disco man!"

"This is beyond crazy.." Yaten muttered.

"Do you want to do the honors?" Lisa asked handing Ayeka a smoke pellet.

"Oh..why thank you," Ayeka said and tossed it onto the table. Smoke rose.

"What is this!" evil pirate disco man shouted.

The smoke cleared the five creatures lay on the ground.

"Pluto Healing Power!" came a shout. The five disco warriors were hit with energy and reverted back to their original form.

"Glad I was in the neighborhood," Sailor Pluto said and hurried out.

"That was too easy," Ayeka said.

"Beaten by girls. How pathetic," Akiro said stared at the creatures lying on the ground.

The girls at the table all glared at him.

Later.

"You know you don't have to keep coming up with surprises Seiya," Lita said.

"I know, but I like to," Seiya said.

"Oh..well..don't go to all that trouble, it's nice to settle down sometimes."

"Yeah you're right, but I usually try to keep things at the high level."

"I like that too, still don't overexert yourself."

"It's really not trouble, I don't mind."

"And if you did would you say so."

"Of course," Seiya said.

Lita smiled.

What she didn't notice was her four friends popping out from behind a wall.

"Why are we doing this?" Amy asked.

"Because something's not right here," Mina said.

"Mina's right," Serena said. "We've gotta find out."

"I don't know," Raye said. "They seem to be getting along well, maybe Lita is just used to not bragging."

"Are you kidding?" Mina asked. "If she was enjoying herself she'd be letting us know."

"I have to agree," Serena said.

"Well maybe Lita has matured," Amy said.

"No..I think they're right," Raye said. "Lita would at least tease us a little."

"But if Lita sees us," Amy said.

"We'll just pretend it's a coincidence," Serena said.

"But will she believe us," Amy said.

"Sure," Serena said.

And several blocks behind them.

"Hmm...they seem to be doing fine," Rick said.

"Sure do," Mike said.

"So why are the girls following them?"

"Just for sport maybe?"

"That's doubtful."

"With the girls?"

"All right maybe, but I wouldn't think so."

"You're probably right," Mike said. "Then again..if Mina and Serena are the driving forces.."

"Okay..we have no idea..but that's why we're following them...say..why are we..this isn't really our job," Rick said.

"Yeah, but we're following them because they're following Lita and Seiya, who Steve is following," Mike said.

"Oh yeah," Rick said. "Where'd Steve get off to?"

"He's over there," Mike said. Steve was hiding behind a bush a block in front of them.

"Wow..what great cover he's got there," Rick said.

"He's going to get himself into trouble over this," Mike said. "But what can one do?"

"True enough," Rick said. "Well let's not the prey escape us. Come on."

"Right on!" Mike said.

"Please don't say that more than once a week."

"Sure thing."

"They're still going," Luna said weakly staring at the cats. They have to sleep sometime don't they? But I can't leave. I don't know what they're going to do next, and I need to talk to Artemas.

"Meow, meow, meow!" Horace cried.

The cats repeated it and began shaking their paws.

Oh wonderful. Luna muttered.

"Hi," Michiru said appearing at the front door of the A.P.T. house.

"Oh hi," Greg said.

"I've been reading your story. It's wonderful."

"You're just saying that."

"No..I'm not. I know better," Michiru said. "I want you to succeed, if told you a lie you couldn't improve. Of course there are things I would do differently, but that's a matter of style really."

"Oh," Greg said.

"Yes, I'm very please with it," Michiru said. "You capture the experiences vividly and use what you know effectively."

"I wonder, maybe you have to be a scout to understand it."

"No, not at all, I think you could explain what it's like to be a scout to those who don't understand it. It's well done. Considering you just decided to do it one day and then went at it, it's excellent," Michiru said.

"The publishers don't think so."

"Well..there are a lot of idiots in the world," Michiru said. "You should keep trying."

"Yeah I guess I should," Greg said. "It's just discouraging."

"Yeah I know," Michiru said. "I know."

"Anyway..I really shouldn't be bothering you with my problems," Greg said.

"Greg, I enjoy the challenge..besides this is hardly a bother,"Michiru said.

"Oh..well..still.."

"You're too kind," Michiru said.

"Something wrong Seiya?" Lita asked.

"No not at all, just felt strange for a minute, no problem," Seiya said.

"Oh..okay."

"I'm sure you're going to like this."

"Sure? That's quite a pronouncement."

"Well yes, But I am sure."

"It's a long walk though."

"Unfortunately, but I like walking don't you?"

"Sure," Lita said. "I do it a lot."

"Then that's great," Seiya said. "Just adds to the experience right?"

"Yes it does," Lita said.

"There's nothing wrong..how could there be?" Raye asked. "I mean she agreed to the date in no time flat didn't she?"

"That's true," Mina said. "But still it's our duty to make sure."

"What are you four doing?"

They whirled. Taiki and Yaten stood there.

"Uh..spying on Seiya and Lita..you?" Serena asked.

"The same," Yaten said.

"What?" the four said.

Something has to go wrong. Steve thought. They aren't meant to be together. I know it. But why aren't they showing that? Come on. Stop enjoying yourselves! Be miserable together! I'm serious! Who am I kidding?

"Where are they going anyway?" Mike muttered.

"That's an excellent question," Rick said.

"Hey maybe he's taking her to a secluded place so he can kill her."

"Hey..yeah.." Rick said and bonked Mike on the head.

"You don't usually get violent that fast," Mike said.

"Sorry.." Rick said.

"No, no, I understand."

"Seiya..are we getting close?" Lita asked.

"Yep," Seiya said. "We're almost there."

"Good."

"Yep, not far. I wonder what your friends would say if they were here."

"What do you mean?"