"Shifting Positions"
Part One
by Luna and Phoebe

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi. We decided to be naughty and therefore use it without her permission.

He paced the abandoned church, hands behind his back, eyes focused on a point far far away. His long hair lifted and lowered itself with every stride he made. Deep in thoughts he heard nothing but his inner voice calling for a solution for his problem. He saw nothing but flashing memories about the last fight of his youma against the senshis, the defeat was going to become routine. He had to do something. The next action better was a triumph or otherwise he would end up like Jadeite. The king tasted the prospect of being trapped inside a crystal, being punished with eternal sleep. Eternal? He shivered.

Determined to win the next battle he stopped pacing from arc to arc and went to his traditional place below the great window. A grumbling snarl escaped his throat when the last memory on Sailor Moon slowly faded away, too slowly. This pert girl. She thwarted every plan! 'But not this time,' he vowed.

When he was about to call the powers of the stars to his side a swirling sound accompanied by little flying cherry blossom petals interrupted him in his meditation. Recognizing the intruder he rolled his eyes but bewared not to let the other see his reaction. After he had relaxed his clenched fists again he turned around quickly - his hair swinging with the movement - and faced his feminine looking adversary. "Hello, Zoisite," he mumbled.

"Ohaiyo! Having a wonderful morning, too, Neffy?" Zoisite beamed through the room.

Nephrite flinched inside his mind but didn't intend to let that hit creep to his face. Keeping a stern expression he forced himself to answer in a calm but nevertheless threatening tone. "What d'you want?"

"I wanted to bring some joy and light into your day...if your winecellar didn't already do that."

"Don't you think that your Kunzite is more qualified for your nice visits - and your nasty tongue?"

"Och, Kunzite is still sleeping." He gave Nephrite an insidious look. "And for the tongue - rather naughty than nasty as he might confirm you."

"Ah yes, the privilege of the leader. Sleeping while others have to work and think hard. If you had tried to work again you wouldn't even have come to the idea to visit a busy man. So again, why are you here? Do you want to tell me that you've found the genzuishou?" Nephrite asked offensively, hands in his sides and ready for a new fight with Zoisite who lazyly twisted a strand of hair around his index finger.

"Would you be satisfied if I would tell you that I'm doing that just for the fun of watching you running around and loosing your nerves?"

'Son-of-a-bitch!' Annoyed he noticed that the other king was indeed pushing his nerves to the rim of tolerance, with all his powers as it seemed. "Tell me what you wanted to say when you came here or leave that place. I have work to do. Maybe you have found a method to calm Beryl down, but don't get on my nerves right now. Choose another time, when I'm in a better mood for your jokes." 'Hopefully Beryl has killed you by then already,' he added in his mind. Declaring this conversation as ended he turned back hoping that it was no mistake letting his back unregarded. Zoisite chuckled and disappeared. A few seconds later about ten liters of icecold water poured down on Nephrite.

The impact with the icy substance caused a kind of shock on the nerves of his upper body. He ducked his head, eyes wide in surprise about this hostile encounter. He clenched and unclenched his fists, shock changing to fury, his whole body trembling. That was the final blow to let his nerves stumble down the narrow rim of self- control.

"ZOIIIISIIIIITEEEEE!!!" His voice broke after a dozen seconds of yelling.

Still quivering slightly he stormed through all the church's naves seeking for this unbearable bastard. "You will regret this, Zoisite. This is a promise. DID YOU HEAR ME? YOU WILL REGRET THIS!"

Cancelling the useless search for this coward Nephrite came to a halt in the midsection of the church looking around one last time and decided to return to the Dark Kingdom, to get rid of the soaked, ice-crystal-growing uniform and dry his hair.

After having changed clothes Nephrite teleported himself to Kunzite's castle and shot through the hallway directing his strides to a certain chamber. Standing in front of the door he heard somebody talking to Kunzite inside. Thinking of something very possible he grinned wickedly when he had an idea how he could make Zoisite pay for the humiliation some minutes ago. He went to the next youma he found telling her that he was sent by Kunzite and that somehow Zoisite isn't as trustworthy as the king believed and will surely try to kill him. He plays that game because he doesn't want to telltale himself. That's why he couldn't come himself to give her that order. He wants to give Zoisite a second chance so he didn't report the changed behavior to Queen Beryl. The king needs her help and he sends this plea through him, Nephrite. The youma, a yellow and blue colored woman with the body of a snake instead of legs, moved away heading back down the hallway Nephrite just took some moments ago. Watching how the youma twitched her tail in a more or less gracious manner he allowed himself a satisfied grin.

Nephrite saw how the bedroom door was ripped away in a second and the youma glided through the now doorless doorframe. There was a long silence.

'Something went wrong! Damn!'

The certain sound of someone being dragged over the floor destroyed his doubts. Joy reflected in Nephrite's eyes when he saw Zoisite hanging upside down in the grasp of the youma's tail, kicking and yelling for Kunzite to help him. His cries turned into a high shriek when the youma shook him roughly.

Nephrite's chuckle increased to a loud laughter. Zoisite, in this helpless position not being able to defend himself and too irritated to teleport away. Suddenly Kunzite dashed out of the doorframe, merely clad in a light blue housecoat. Astonished he stared at the scenery, arms wide and mouth open. "Are you nuts, Hèbi?" he barked at the youma.

The youma only glanced at him obviously irritated by the king's reaction while Nephrite had difficulties to keep a standing position, shaking with laughter on his whole body. Zoisite's face had turned slightly green which caused a pleasant feeling of gloat and satisfaction. Then Nephrite disappeared.

"S-stop shaking me, stop shaking me!!!"

Nephrite reappeared below the window watching the sun shining through the many colored windows.

'If they think they don't need to accomplish their tasks maybe someone should hint Beryl about that. But first I have to find my new victim.' He closed his eyes again like he did before Zoisite's interruption almost an hour ago. He invoked the stars to show him a human standing at the beginning of a climax of power. As always he received an image of the one who was predestined to give his lifepower to their great leader Queen Metallia. This time he saw an approximately fiftyfive year old man, wearing a blue kimono with white lining and a black pattern of sakura was printed on it.

"Mmh, an antiquarian. Maybe Masato Sanjoin should pay this Yasoma Akabe a visit."

"I'LL KILL HIM WITH MY BARE HANDS!!!" Zoisite stomped through the room fuming with rage. "Or maybe one or two dozen ice crystals, I don't know yet," he added with less volume.

Kunzite hardly suppressed a slight smile. Zoisite was just too kawaii when he was in such a mood. After some seconds he stepped to the other's side wrapping his right arm around his lover's waist, comforting him. "Ssh, you will get your revenge. I promise. But right now, we have to find the genzuishou.

Zoisite sulked, "He is always so cruel to me, and I NEVER do him ANY harm..."

Kunzite ran his fingers through Zoisite's hair smoothing it from the fluffy look he got hanging upside down in Hèbi's grip. He stopped, groping a small bump on the other's petite head. Zoisite's eyes suddenly snapped open.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayks!!!" He jumepd back and held his head. "Whaddaya doing to me?" he whined.

"Gomen nasai, I didn't mean to ... I mean ... HELL, HE WILL PAY FOR THAT!" Remembering how the youma had let Zoisite fall down he admitted himself that he wasn't that innocent on that accident.

If he hadn't waited too long until saying 'carefully' the word would have been audible before and not in time with the sound of Zoisite crashing to the floor. After that Hèbi had fled very quickly screaming apologizes and that it was all Nephrite's order.

"I'll kill him with my bare hands!"

Zoisite stifled a grin. "My words exactly."

Now that Zoisite had obviously recovered Kunzite took his hand pulled him close and teleported them to the Earth Realm.

"So who did you say is our next try?" Kunzite asked.

"A man called Yasoma Akabe. He's got an antique shop." Zoisite handed him a newspaper. "Look at the photo on page four. I thought that crystal would be worth a try. It has such a silvery gleam and is said to have magickal abilities."

Kunzite studied the picture a while and then nodded in agree. "You could be right, dear. Since we don't have an exact description of the genzuishou this crystal could be it. All right, let's..." He couldn't finish his sentence. A telepathic call of his queen interrupted him. "I'm sorry, Zoisite. You have to go on your own. Queen Beryl called me home."

Zoisite flinched and sulked, "Och, Kunzite-sama, can't the old dragon wait?"

"You don't need my help. You are trained very well, and don't dare to say you are not. Because if you do you would insult me and my teaching skills."

Zoisite folded his arms grinning broadly. "I'm not."

"Well, you could always look for Hèbi and ask her if she would give you some extra lessons. I have to go." Kunzite was just about to turn away when he thought of something. Hoping he could give the other a little piece of support Kunzite decided to kiss him goodbye.

"You are mean, koibito." Zoisite turned around and headed towards the antique shop.

Kunzite smiled about this statement and teleported himself into the Queen's throne chamber.

An old bell rang when Masato Sanjoin stepped through the door of the antique shop. It was darkly lit inside, only some thick candles were adding their light to the one that fell through the display window. Many old books were rowed on several shelves. Dust had accumulated on wooden figures, vases and furniture. Scrolls showing geisha, blossoms or landscapes hung on the walls. Inside a showcase lay different many colored pieces of jewelry and precious stones.

"Irasshaimase." A friendly looking man, obviously Yasoma Akabe, stepped through a door on the rear side of the shop. "How can I help you?"

Nephrite took a closer look at him recognizing a rose-colored pendant on a necklace of several green stones. Thinking of something query and improbable his thoughts were confirmed by the shop's owner.

"Oh, obviously you are interested in that necklace. It's a heirloom so it's not for sale. But for your information it is made of four different stones. There on the necklace are 'piedras de ijade' or jadeit, 'lapis nephriticus' or nephrit and these dark ones with the black spots are zoisit. The pendant is a stone called kunzit. The whole necklace is called the 'Kings' treasure'. Something I don't understand," he shrugged, "it's not that precious anyway."

Nephrite couldn't look away from it. "May I?" he asked in amaze and extended one hand.

"What? Have a closer look?" Akabe took it off and handed it over to the man. "You're welcome."

"Domo arigato!" Holding the necklace in his hands he took the chance to fill it with dark energy. It was unexpected heavy but nevertheless surely delightful to wear. After some seconds of studying he gave it back to the antiquarian. "It's a real beauty. Wear it as often as you can and it will make you very strong. Those stones have the ability to suppress a lot of weaknesses, they are said to bring the strongest power into their bearer."

"I barely take it off. But how can I help you?"

"Oh, I just wanted to look around, fleeing into the past, you know?"

"How well I know. The world just isn't the same anymore, is it."

"No, but we can remedy that," Nephrite spoke those words barely audible.

"Pardon me, what did you say?"

"Nothing. I just mentioned how fascinating it is to dwell in the past and how nice it would be if we had the old times back."

Akabe just nodded and arranged some scrolls heaped on the table.

"It was nice to have a break from the real world but I'm afraid I have to go back to my work now." With those words he turned around and opened the door. In the next moment he stumbled over two girls entering the shop.

Yasoma Akabe jumped when he saw how one of the girls fell to the ground and immediately began to cry. "Watch your step, little one," he called.

The other one - a red haired young girl, looked from the tall man to her friend and back to the man. Suddenly a name came into her mind, "Masato-san," she asked.

He blinked in response, swallowed hard and hurried out.

"Mata dozo!" Akabe yelled after him.

The other girl with a strange hairstyle stood up again, looking angry and with clenched fists at the back of the culprit. "Aww, how mean, leaving without even a word of apologize or support. Just ran away. Who does he think he is? That's --"

"Usagi, let him be. You are not hurt." Naru took her arm and pulled her into the shop still peering after Nephrite. "Don't forget what we're here for!"

"Mmh," Usagi grumbled but didn't resist.

"My feet! Ouch!" Zoisite sat down on a bench and took off his shoes. For better security he had chosen more usual clothes instead of his uniform. And the black polo- shirt and the green shirt over it were quite comfortable. Zoisite had chosen to braid his hair for it was rather windy and it annoyed him to have it in his face steadily. Looking down he cursed when he spotted black lints from his polo-shirt on the white trousers. Frantically he began to pick them all off. 'Appearance matters.' If he had known where exactly the antique shop was located he would have teleported near it, but since he did not ...

'Walking. Yuck! Kunzite...If you were here I could complain now.'

Sighing one last time Zoisite put on his shoes again and went on.

"Hey, Naru, what exactly do you want to buy for your grandfather? I can imagine he would like one of those fantastic stones over here. Come, take a look."

Naru went over to Usagi who was standing in front of the showcase, hands put on the lid.

"Aren't those incredible!" Her eyes sparkled.

"Yeah, they are nice. My mom has a lot of them in her shop. But take a look at those old books in the shelves. How torn those leather covers are. And the yellowed pages. You can almost smell the time." Carefully she flipped through some pages beware not to damage them.

Usagi looked at them but seemed disappointed. "There are no pictures in it."

Naru eyeballed her in disbelief when the door opened with the sound of the bells ringing and forced her to take a step aside in order not to stand in the way.

The shop's owner was hurrying from side to side sponging his goods.

"Gomen kudasai," the new customer said but the owner didn't seem to notice.

The new one repeated his words louder this time but the reaction was the same - nothing.

Usagi watched the scene some moments, then went over to Akabe to call his attention to the blonde-haired man. But before she could reach him he hurried past her to the other side of the little room.

Zoisite shrugged. 'I can help myself.' He went over to the showcase and looked for the genzuishou.

"I would like to buy something," he said after he had found the object.

Yasoma Akabe slowly turned his head, peeking over his shoulder. "Pardon me?"

Zoisite frowned. "I - would - like - to - BUY - something," he said emphasizing every single word like speaking to a small child.

"Ahh, a customer. What do you want?" Akabe seemed to notice him the first time now.

Zoisite cocked his eyebrows. Then he looked to Naru and Usagi. "Is he deaf or something?"

"I have heard that," sounded the insulted shop owner from behind the counter.

Suddenly Zoisite turned back to him and beamed. "Good! Fine! Now -- are you really listening?"

Akabe obviously didn't expect such a reaction and seemed startled. He hadn't done something wrong, had he? "Of course I am listening. Tell me what you would like and then go, I have work to do." He sounded angry and offended. His eyes almost shone with a red light.

"Ohhh, I'm scared! Now, what I want to buy is this silvery crystal in here." Zoisite pointed at the showcase.

"Ah, I don't think you can afford it." Came the sharp response. "But if you insist --"

"I do insist."

"Maybe you want to look at it first." The offer almost sounded like a threat.

"If you insist on it."

Zoisite watched how Akabe took the crystal out of the showcase and handed it over to him.

Usagi and Naru who had watched the whole scene stunned saw how the person with the blonde braid took the stone with delicate fingers.

"Why is Akabe so hostile to that man?" Naru wondered.

"A man? Are you sure this is a man? I would say it's a woman, at least she looks like a woman."

"Usagi, didn't you hear that voice? That's not a woman's voice. He is a man."

"She is NOT."

"He IS."

Zoisite had caught some pieces of that conversation. "Would you two stop discussing my gender please? I am a man and this is confirmed." He sounded a bit upset but didn't turn his gaze away from the sparkling crystal.

Usagi grumbled again, crossed her arms and pouted. Naru stood beside her in a similar pose but smiled over her whole face triumphantly. "See?"

"Mmmh, but she --"

Zoisite shot her an angry glance over his shoulder.

"-- HE looks like a woman."

Zoisite swirled around furiously and pointed with his finger at the girl. "YOU -- !" All of a sudden the crystal he had grasped in his hand began to glow in a blue light. Zoisite rolled up his eyes and fell over into Usagis arms. She automatically catched him and then let him dump to the floor. Usagi felt strange for a moment, dizzy somehow.

When they were past their shock about the unexpected turnout of events they started looking for any signs of life. While Naru knelt down to check the pulse Usagi jumped to Akabe yelling at him to help them. But like some minutes ago he didn't notice them, running again from side to side and cleaning up all objects in the room.

Usagi didn't give up that easily following him whereever he went. Naru jumped up and ran through the door. "I go call an ambulance," she yelled.

Akabe was still escaping Usagi every time. What was up with him? She couldn't understand why he didn't seem to notice what has just happened here. "Akabe san, stop running away. You have to help this wo -- ahem man. Immediately."

"Stop following me, nuisant child. I have work to do. Don't bother me." He had become louder with every word. After he had finished the last sentence, his voice sounded almost like a high scream, he started shaking. Then Akabe fell unconscious to the ground while a youma formed out of his necklace. Usagi's eyes went wide when she understood what was happening. Raising one hand into the air she yelled, "Moon Prism Power Make Up!"

She had barely finished her transformation when the youma attacked her. Clumsily as always she stumbled over Zoisite's body escaping the youma's attack through the fall. Razor sharp books stuck in the wood of the shelves behind her when she turned around. Turning back she saw how the youma went up into the air, crossing its arms and attacking with a hissed "Kodaino" anew. Sailormoon squealed fearfully raising one arm in order to defend herself. Waiting close-eyed for the fatal blow she crouched and whined when a fireball hit back the attack. She opened her eyes and looked around searching for her rescuer.

"Sailormoon! Stop whining, that doesn't suit a warrior. Sailormars comes to your help!"

"Sailormercury comes to your help! SHABON SPRAY!"

Fog spreaded through the room making it impossible for the youma to see something.

"Sailormoon!" Rei's voice thundered. "It's your turn. Get up from the floor and fight!"

A whining sound came from Usagi's direction. "Wwww-- what? Fight? I don't wanna."

"You coward. Your behavior isn't worth a sailor senshi's. Maybe I should --" Rei muted when she saw some books flying in her general direction. "FIRE SOUL!" The books turned to dust in the air. Taking a deep breath she turned to Usagi intending to continue their fight. But Sailormoon stood already holding her tiara in her hand ready to make the final blow. "MOON FRISBEE!" The tiara - now an energy discus - headed towards the youma. With a final "Kodaino" it disappeared.

Outside a siren could be heard. The ambulance stopped in front of the antique shop.

When Naru and the doctors entered the room they saw two girls kneeling beside three bodies on the ground. One of the doctors turned to Naru. "You mentioned only one patient."

The girl rushed to the other girls kneeling down beside Usagi. Her eyes went wide in surprise.

"When I left there was only one patient for you," she responded over her shoulder. She wondered why Rei and Ami were here but on the other hand was glad about it.

The doctors hurried to get the patients into the ambulance and drove off into the nearest hospital leaving the girls behind.

When Zoisite woke up she felt very dizzy. 'What elephant stomped on my head?' she wondered swinging her legs out of the bed. She stumbled out of the blank room with the green walls and into a blank corridor with green walls. "Where am I?" Zoisite muttered. Suddenly someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me, Miss --"

Zoisite flinched. 'Everytime the same old game.'

"-- Are you feeling well again?"

She turned around and saw a nurse with friendly eyes.

"Pardon me?"

"Better you go back into your room, little one. I'll call the doctor so that he can make the examination and tell you whether you can leave or not." The nurse gently shoved her back into the room.

Zoisite somehow had the urge to break free and wriggled out of the nurse's grip making the woman fall over. Head over heels Zoisite ran out of the hospital, into the next street. 'Oh boy, oh boy!' She shook her head and saw her reflection in a shop window. 'At least my skirt isn't crumbled.'

She went on and dug her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

After some meters she stopped. 'Wait a moment!'

She went back to the window. "Since when do I wear a skirt???"

There formed a lump in her throat when she saw two plaits in an ridiculous style on the back of her head. "And those things look like meatballs!"

"How right you are meatball-head." Someone slapped her back.

Furious she turned around to her attacker. At first she only saw a chest. Looking up there also was a face with blue eyes and short black hair.

"Who are you if I may ask?" The annoyance was unignorable.

"You don't know anymore? Maybe I should think of me as a lucky guy, mmh?"

"Huh?"

*big grin*

"..."

*big grin still spreading*

"Do you know how imbecile you look with that smirk on your face?"

The grin on Mamoru's face froze and then disappeared. "Oh, your mother has bought you a dictionary."

Zoisite blinked.

"Maybe you can learn some more foreign words if you use it more often. I must admit it suits you to speak in such a refined way. Perhaps you can get a boyfriend that way."

She began to fume. "I have a boyfriend you decoutant pert bastard!!"

Obviously taken aback by the sudden verbal attack on his person he cocked one eyebrow and walked past her mumbling something.

"What?" Zoisite barked after him.

He stopped, turned his head to look at her and then went further without saying a word.

Zoisite still fumed but decided that it was about time that he left. She ran in the opposite direction and went into a random alley. After checking it to be sure that no-one watched her she opened a gateway and disappeared into the Dark Kingdom.

Kunzite sat in the study over some maps and marked some areas with a pen when the door squeaked open a bit. Sensing Zoisite's presence he asked, "And, do you have the genzuishou?" without looking up from his work.

Zoisite cleared his throat. It sounded unusual. "Errm, well -- wwhat shall I say -- we might have a -- tiny -- problem here."

Kunzite turned around when he perceived a strange voice. A girl stood in the door wearing a white skirt and a green jacket over a rose top. He eyeballed her open mouthed.

"Zoisite???"

END OF PART ONE

Part Two

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