Chapter 421
One week had passed.
"One crystal to go," Sailor Moon muttered leaning over the railing of a cruise ship.
"Yep, then we can put this whole hunt behind us," Sailor Venus said leaning beside her.
"I just want to see Rick again so I don't have to keep have to staring at Darrien to remind me that there are some men out there who aren't trying to kill us," Sailor Mars said.
"Do you mind?" Sailor Moon muttered.
"So far my former allies have proven to be not much of a threat," Jasen said. "And the last crystal will soon be ours."
"Yes, finally," Sailor Pluto said. "How is the work coming back in Tokyo Mercury?"
"Well whatever Sorophyte was looking for is now being dug for by the creatures," Sailor Mercury said. "Apparently Sailor Earth has been getting visions drawing her there."
"We should get back there before they finish though," Sailor Pluto said. "We don't entirely know what we're dealing with."
"Yes, it could be an entirely evil force we don't want to dig up," Tuxedo Mask said.
"We've still got time apparently," Mercury said.
"That's good to hear," Sailor Pluto said. "Anything else of note."
"Well..my brother's up, and not listening to reason," Sailor Mercury aid.
"Now what are you doing now?" Ayeka asked.
"I'm training, you remember I do that to fight.." Patterson said.
"You're training to fight Sorophyte!"
"I'm training to fight whoever shows up."
"You leave the fighting for us. You still haven't fully healed yet."
"I live with pain," Patterson said.
"Oh..sure you do..you and your pain, I'm sick of hearing about it. I don't want you to get killed."
"I won't be."
"You say that, but I really doubt it."
"Thanks for the confidence, but I am merely training to get back in the swing of battling."
"So you are," Ayeka said. "Good for you..jerk.."
She stormed off.
"I see she's giving you her full support there," Sai said.
"I don't suppose you're getting any better."
"Ai and Akiro are also doing their best to keep me from ever seeing the likes of Sorophyte again. Patterson let's be honest with each other."
"I'm always for that."
"We don't particularly like each other. But we do realize each other's fighting skill. I of course have more energy."
"Yes you do and I have more skill the you do," Patterson said. "What's your point?"
"The only way for us to achieve both of our goals is to face him together."
"Like that will work," Patterson said.
"It could. We are not that different in our approaches to warfare."
"Yes, but we are that different in our approaches to best working alone."
"Now you know we both are just as useful with backup as without it," Sai said.
"Of course that's when the backup is someone I know and trust."
"Well..I'm not about to backstab you in the middle of this fight."
"One never knows."
"Patterson listen, there isn't a way in all of the universe either one of us can beat Sorophyte on our own, furthermore, we both owe our parents to avenge them!"
"That is true," Patterson said.
"Mail call.." Chad said walking up. "Woah it's something for both of you. One each."
"Drop them Chad!" Patterson snapped.
Chad did so.
The two scouts scanned it.
"Not a bomb..video tape.."
"Yes.."
"Well hello there," Sorophyte said.
The two growled.
"Now I have sent you these tapes for a reason. I want to fight. You two want to fight. So we're agreed. Now the only thing is where and when. I suggest the end of this week. The 10th street park, midnight. It'll be me and the two of you. Period. I'll be waiting."
"That's it.." Sai said. "What do you say?"
"Hmm..very well," Patterson said. "We will kill him using both of our skills."
"I suggest we get in shape. We may actually have to cooperate come Friday."
"Yes..." Patterson muttered.
"We should get rid of these," Sai said holding up the tapes.
"Most definitely."
"Hi Rick..what's happening?" Raye asked into her communicator.
"What do you think is happening. Not really any time to relax around here with the war on," Rick said.
"I know," Raye said. "It's no better out here."
"Yeah, I guess not. You feeling better?"
"Feeling better?"
"After dying..I mean.."
"Oh that..yes..I'm all right. How about you?"
"Just glad to see you, really glad."
"Me too," Raye said. "But we'll get this last crystal and I'll be home soon."
"I can't wait," Rick said.
"Me neither. And Rick, when I get back. Let's get married."
"WHAT!"
"Just kidding. You and your commitment problems!"
"Don't do that," Rick said.
Raye laughed.
"I don't want to even think about the schoolwork that's going to be waiting when this is finished," Amy said.
"We'll get through it somehow," Taiki said.
"Yes..I guess so.."
"By the way a bunch of letters came for you. They're pretty big."
"The acceptance letters! Where'd I get in."
"Everywhere."
"Oh thank goodness. I was worried."
"How you're the best student in the country?"
"At a public school."
"You beat the best private student."
"Yes but not before the colleges made their decision."
Taiki grinned.
"Well you're in," Taiki said.
"Did you get in too?"
"Well..I..guess." Taiki said. "I haven't really been paying attention."
"Oh.."
"Ehh..."
"What?"
"Oh nothing.."
"What really?"
"I just wish you were here that's all..this kind of living is getting to me," Taiki said.
"I'm not particularly thrilled either," Amy said.
"Yes, well it will be over soon I hope."
"Me too."
"Guess this is the time when I say I love you," Taiki said.
"Yeah, I love you too," Amy said.
The two grinned.
"See you when I get back," Amy said.
"Yeah," Taiki said.
"So Mike, you're not cheating on me are you?" Mina asked into her communications device.
"Not today no," Mike said.
"That's fresh."
Mike grinned.
"And if I were cheating how would you find out. How do I know you're not cheating on me?"
"There is no one to cheat on you with...believe me if there was.."
"What?"
"Oh nothing..Freudian slip," Mina said with a smile.
"I'll bet," Mike said.
"Oh Mike you take me too seriously."
"Yes, I wonder why."
"Oh let's not get into a fight, this is a time to be happy."
"Yeah I know," Mike said. "So are you feeling all right? Blood pressure normal and all that."
"Sure," Mina said. "I'm at a high point right now. But I'm sure it'll dip pretty low again."
"Yeah probably," Mike said. "That's what stinks about being a manic depressive."
"I am not manic depressive."
"Oh that's right. That's me," Mike said. "Silly me...hah hah hah..ehh.."
"You don't have to provide an example!"
Mike laughed.
"But I so enjoy to see you worry."
"Stop it!" Mina snapped. "You shouldn't enjoy my discomfort."
"Well someone should, no use letting it go to waste."
"When I get back there.."
"You're going to what?"
"Probably...kiss you.."
"That's what I figured," Mike said.
"Then I'll slap you several times."
"And how do you I know I don't like that?"
"Because I've done it before."
"That's right..you have..no I'm pretty sure I don't like it...well..gotta go."
"Where?" Mina asked.
"The bathroom. Where men are the gods!"
"That makes no sense."
"Wouldn't have it any differently," Mike said.
"You doing okay Serena?" Darrien asked.
"Oh sure..sure..I love stuff like this. Wandering around the globe getting attacked periodically, the threat of world destruction over my head. It's just the sort of thing that a young girl like me should have to deal with."
"Don't tell me you've become a pessimist."
"No..just a very annoyed optimist," Serena said.
"We'll get through it."
"Probably, the universe usually doesn't kill off the good guys for no reason, not the way it works, but then again, maybe this time it'll just decide to pull a fast one on society."
"Oh..well.I wouldn't know anything about that."
"Me neither," Serena said. "It's a nice night though."
"At least we have that," Darrien said.
"You know when we get to that last crystal those three are going to be waiting."
"And we'll beat them."
"I know we will, but why can't they just leave us alone? I'm so sick of it."
"You say that every time we get into this."
"Because it's true. I want this war over and done with. It's that simple."
"Then we'll take care of it."
"Sure we will, and then you know what I get to do?"
"What?"
"Take final exams."
"Oh poor Serena.."
"Hey..I am deservedly the most depressed girl on the planet."
"I'm not so sure of that."
"Hey, who has it worse then me?'
"Well..I mean you have your low points, but it's not always that bad. You have a lot of fun with your friends, things are normally peaceful."
"Guess you're right," Serena said. "Still..it's just going to be another edition of me fighting off the evil bad guy to the finish. Then maybe I can build that barrier to protect the world, but not before..no sir...especially since he has all those crystals."
"I know," Darrien said. "So it'll be tough. You can handle it."
"We can handle it."
"All right, fair enough," Darrien said.
Serena sighed.
"You know..a strange thing happened yesterday," she said.
"What?"
"Well I was thinking about all that's happened, you know the fighting, the wars, all that..and something inside me said...if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have changed a thing. And I don't get that."
"Serena..there is a lot of good things you've done, and it has been satisfying to save the world hasn't it?"
"Yes I guess it has," Serena said. "There's been a lot of good things, but some bad things too. All the lives..wasted...by evil.. I have to save them somehow. I don't know how..but I'm going to beat Ircanite..and then things will change, at least in this corner of the universe."
"I'm proud of you Serena."
"You are?"
"Yes...you're really showing that you care..you can see beyond just the next battle, you understand the true cost of what we do. You're willing to help others, even if you don't know whether they're going to help you back or not, or to treat you well at all."
"Guess that's what I'm good at, and not much else."
"And that's why you're Sailor Moon and Raye isn't..or any of the girls."
"What?"
"Because you care so much, you can see through the evil. You can hope for the better. You don't give up. You never give up."
"I'm about to. At the very least I'm tired."
"Me too," Darrien said.
"So you think we'll win this time?"
"Most assuredly."
"Why?"
"Why would we lose?"
"I don't know if that's a real answer," Serena said.
"Nice night huh," Jasen said.
"Yes, I'm glad I'm allowed to enjoy it," Setsuna said.
"Hmm..."
"What?"
"Setsuna...you ever fall in love with anyone?"
"Jasen..that's not somewhere we should ever go."
"I was just curious."
"No you weren't...I'm flattered, but it wouldn't work.."
"Why not?"
"It just wouldn't..I am eternal," Setsuna said. "I have duties. Good night."
"No don't go..I'll go..sorry to bring it up. I had no idea it would mean that. Sorry..look..you just enjoy the night. Sorry.."
"No, I'm sorry," Setsuna said. "Good night Jasen."
Jasen sighed and walked off.
Setsuna stared up at the sky.
Back at Cherry Hill.
"Where'd they go!" Ayeka shouted racing down the porch. Ai followed.
"Who..what?" Urawa Motoki asked.
"D.V. and Sai!" Ayeka said.
"I didn't notice they were gone," Motoki said.
"I swear if you're lying to me.." Ayeka said.
"Hmm...I didn't notice they were gone, but I might know where they went," Motoki said.
"Where?" Ai asked.
"The SDF base between Tokyo and the airport."Motoki said. "But I don't know if you should follow them."
"I don't care!" Ayeka said. "Come on Ai let's reign those fools in."
"Mizuno!" Motoki shouted.
She turned.
"What?"
"Before you think so ill of them, try to understand a warrior's duty," Motoki said. "And one's duty to one's parents."
Ayeka sighed.
"Come on Ai," She said.
"What was that all about?"
"Nothing.."
"I missed another race," Haruka said.
"You'll make the next one," Michiru said.
"No I won't," Haruka said.
"Now is not the time to get despondent."
"No..I suppose not," Haruka said. "Tell me when it is will you?"
"All right," Michiru said.
"I'm going for a walk," Haruka said. "If I get ambushed you'll be the first to know."
Michiru nodded solemnly realizing that Haruka was best left to herself.
"Just remember all that you have," Michiru said.
"Yeah.." Haruka muttered.
Michiru sighed.
"This war..." Michiru said.
"Not a pleasant sight is it?" Greg said walking up.
"Oh..no it's not..."
"At least she has someone.."
"What do you mean.."
"She has you..someone who understands her...knows her as well as she knows herself. She should feel blessed."
"You in the market for someone like that?"
"I found her..she just hasn't learned yet," Greg said.
"Oh?"
"And then there's the matter of her not being here."
"You haven't been letting that get to you have you?"
"I really haven't been able to stop it. I guess I'd like the war to stop being so blatant. Every
days she's not here I worry about what it would be like to lose her forever, and sure we're just good friends right now...without a clue how to be romantic with the other..but.."
"I know," Michiru said. "Doesn't make it any less special."
Greg sighed.
"Is it just me.." Greg said. "Or is this war pretty much driving us all insane?"
"If it was just you wouldn't know for sure what my answer was, it would just fit your psychosis, however, it's not just you, so we get to share in the magic together."
Greg laughed.
"How do you do it?" he asked.
"What?"
"Manage to be so...you..all hours of the day. You know, calm collected, always right," Greg said.
"Well I guess maybe, I just don't let anything else show. Or at the very least not around anyone I know," Michiru said.
"Oh that must be it."
"Well here we are beautiful Hong Kong," Sailor Moon said.
"I'm surprised, I thought the authorities would be less then pleased to see us," Jasen said.
"Oh they hate us, but what are they going to do?" Sailor Pluto said.
"Good point," Jasen replied.
"Well let's find that last crystal," Sailor Moon said.
"The crystal should be down by the water," Sailor Pluto said.
"Oh great," Sailor Moon said. "How would it remain hidden with all these people around?"
"That's a curious question," Sailor Mercury said. "I wonder what could have
kept the crystal safe for that long."
Minutes later.
"There's the answer to our questions," Mars said. The group stood in front of a temple.
"And the crystal is pointing us in that way," Sailor Pluto said.
"Then here we are," Sailor Moon said.
They walked up the steps.
"Oh I see...you think you're going to come in do you?" a monk said standing in the doorway.
"That was the idea," Sailor Venus said.
"And why should I let you all in?"
"We're trying to save the world," Sailor Moon said.
"That is what they always say," the monk said.
"I think you're a lunatic," Sailor Venus said.
"Careful Venus, we don't want to offend them," Sailor Mercury said.
"That's right you don't," the monk says. "Because I'm quite sure that..come on in!"
The group all glanced at Sailor Pluto.
"He won't remember it," she said with a grin.
They walked inside and straight towards a statue."
"It's behind the statue," Sailor Pluto said.
"Guess we have to move it," Tuxedo Mask said.
"I'll have no part of it, I'm not going to desecrate a sacred artifact," Sailor Mars said.
"I will," Sailor Venus said.
"It's the world at stake here," Jasen said.
"Hmm...forgive us.." Sailor Mars said clapping her hands together in prayer.
The rest of the scouts pushed the statue out of the way.
The door to the crystal opened up.
"Here we go," Sailor Moon said taking it.
"Fix the statue will you?" Mars said.
The scouts all did.
"Now let's go," Mars said.
They hurried out.
"Now back to Tokyo!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"Watch it!" Pluto shouted.
They were all hit with a wave of energy and thrown to the ground.
Zoisite, Malachite, and Nisiran stood there.
"Surprise," Zoisite said. "We'll just be taking those crystals."
They launched another attack. The scouts were thrown back.
"How do you like our little ploy to get you to underestimate us?" Nisiran asked. "And now!"
The three pulled out crystals of their own and the other crystals appeared floating away from the scouts.
"No!" Sailor Moon shouted. "How!"
More energy flew at the group throwing them down.
"Now these are ours! Thank you!"
The three laughed and built up their energy for a final attack.
"Sorry..that we had to do this..but then again we're evil," Zoisite said.
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