Want to talk about normal things? If so, the last address in your book should be luna_dreamscape@hotmail.com

PS No suing…I ain’t doing this profit, just out of admiration!

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And now the real games begin. The Senshi awaken as if from a dream, not knowing of the cosmic unbalance in the Dark Kingdom…

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"I’m SOOOOOOOOOO late!" screeched Usagi, leaping out of bed, turning Luna into a temporary identified flying object. She sighed, and watched Usagi flit about the sun-drenched room, wondering how it could be that she, Luna, could have slept in. Usually she never…

Usagi finished dressing, and gave herself a quick look in the mirror, before leaping towards the door. Before she pounded down the staircase, she stopped dead. And she fingered the bow on the front of her school uniform.

Her brooch was missing.

"Luna…" she said quietly, and looked up at the cat, startled. "Luna, my locket is gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" shrieked Luna. "You’ve lost…oh, wait. There it is." She pointed a paw at Usagi’s scattered bed sheets. The locket glinted from amongst the linen.

"How did it get there?" asked Usagi, snapping it onto her uniform. She stopped short again, as if struggling to remember something. "I had such weird dreams last night…"

Luna’s eyes perked up. Now THAT sounded familiar…she herself had had strange dreams.

"I can’t remember…Breccia." The name echoed as Usagi’s voice died away. It seemed to have a life of its own.

Luna shrugged, but the name nagged at the back of her mind, somehow. "You’re still late, Usa-chan."

______________________________________________________________________________________

"What do you mean you can’t? You said-"

"I know what I said, Mamoru-kun, and I’m sorry…but Reika-sama is coming back, and I…we want to move in together. Kind of a permanent thing…" Motoki looked embarrassed, as he ran a hand through his sandy hair, and took a sip from his coffee.

Mamoru sighed, but he knew it would be pointless to try and change Motoki’s mind…not with Reika involved, anyway. "It’s okay, Motoki-kun – it’s just I was really looking forward to that apartment, and well…it was a great deal. I can’t afford it on my own though…"

Motoki gagged on his coffee at this, and Mamoru gave him a dirty look. Then he smiled.

Coughing as he settled the cup on the formica tabletop, Motoki looked thoughtful. "You can’t think of anyone else who could go halves with you?"

"No – and don’t you dare start in on Usagi-chan again. I know she’s young and all…"

"I wasn’t going to say anything!" protested Motoki, looking hurt and thoughtful at the same time. "Reika was telling me about a new girl in her classes, who just moved here from Kyoto. She was also telling me about this incredible new lecturer that just started here."

"Changing the topic, hmmm?"

"No – what I mean is, Reika was saying that this girl was looking for a flatmate, and I sort of said to her I was turning down a friend’s offer…and I said to her that I would ask you if she could share."

Mamoru looked into his cup thoughtfully, as if he was about to read the tea leaves. But he had never really been into reading esoteric things like that…it was more Rei-chan’s style. "I don’t know…a girl? Usagi-chan will probably have a fit."

"Do you at least want to meet her? She’s a real sweetheart, incredibly intelligent. Though not half as intelligent as her teacher."

"This new lecturer you mentioned?"

"Yeah…he’s like, 25, and a qualified, experienced heart surgeon. Not to mention his venturings into neuroscience. I couldn’t believe it when Reika-sama told me about him, but then I met him…he’s got a weird aura about him, I’ve never met anyone like him."

Mamoru sighed, and stretched as he stood, fishing his wallet out of his pocket. "Do you know where they are?"

______________________________________________________________________________________

The university campus was crowded with people bustling from place to place, the students laughing and carefree during their lunch hour. Motoki guided Mamoru easily through the sea of people, towards the science sector of the building and the school of biology.

"They’re probably with Dr. Bennett," said Motoki, walking into the building with a wave at the doorman. He waved back, and let them pass without comment. "They’re his little favourites, really…and I have a feeling that-"

"That what, Motoki-sama?"

"Reika-sama!"

Mamoru winced as the pair embraced, feeling a little nauseous at their blatant display of affection. He had never been too romantic…ironic how he had ended up being Tuxedo Kamen…

"D’you know where our esteemed Doctor Rutherford is this afternoon? And the lovely Troubetzkoy-san?"

"Sure – they’re with Dr Bennett, as per usual. Hey, Mamo-sama."

"Hey, Reika-sama. So where’s this student of Dr Bennett?"

She led then through a door with the name plaque "DOCTOR SAMUEL BENNETT" written on it, into an internal office, crowded with paper and various artefacts collected on the good doctor’s travels. Another door had "Dr. Bennett" carved in the brass.

"Through here," she said easily in her melodious voice, and knocked briefly.

"Enter if you dare," boomed a loud voice, and Reika chuckled, stepping through. Mamoru was greeted by the sight of a large, burly man seated behind a cluttered desk, enough paper to represent a forest scattered over every surface. The man’s hair was dark brown, his face dominated by a thick moustache and two twinkling, startlingly blue eyes. He stood, proffering a large, strong hand towards the young man, introducing himself as "Sam, call me Sam. Your handle?"

"Mamoru Chiba," he said, wincing at the man’s strength as he enthusiastically pumped Mamoru’s hand. Dr Bennett then turned his attention to the love struck pair, and Mamoru looked to the two people he had missed during the introduction. Leaning on the desk was a young man, dressed completely in black, staring at a piece of paper on the table. He had obviously been discussing something with the doctor before they had arrived. He had long silver hair, just like…

The resemblance was startling, thought Mamoru in shock. This man looked exactly like Kunzite…same build, same calculating cerulean eyes, long platinum hair. He had to wonder why this didn’t disturb him…

It was the slight figure in the corner that sent a shiver down his spine. The copper-toned hair, the green eyes regarding him through wire-rimmed glasses…she reminded him of Zoisite…albeit a very female Zoisite…

The girl looked briefly down at her book before snapping it closed. Dr Bennett turned from Motoki and smiled at Mamoru. "Oh, how could I forget to introduce you to these two?"

"And here you were, telling us we were unforgettable," chuckled the female Zoisite, shooting an uneasy glance towards Mamoru. It appeared he disturbed her as much as she disturbed him.

The Kunzite-clone snorted. "Nature moves towards chaos, you should know that. It’s natural he forget us."

"Always the cynic, ne? I guess we don’t call you Daikonran-sama for nothing." The girl looked at her book longingly one last time, then abandoned it on the desk as she left her chair.

"Wakarimasen," said Mamoru, looking at the pair curiously. Dr Bennett laughed.

"Oh, them. As you can probably guess, my friend over there, the esteemed Doctor Karl Rutherford, is not Japanese…he’s actually from Australia…"

"New Zealand," corrected the Kunzite-like man with an odd twinkle in his eyes. "You watch that, Sam. You say something like that in New Zealand, and you’ll be crucified."

"Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted, I was saying that my little English-Russian rose over there, the delightful Zoya Troubetzkoy, decided to give him a Japanese name. And since he’s so into the Chaos Theory…"

"He’s our version of Dr Ian Malcolm," snickered Zoya, and earned herself a glare from Karl.

"Mirokteki, seito," he muttered, and his face brightened suddenly. "So this means she’s leaving, ne?"

"Anyone would think you were glad to get rid of me, Karl." She fluttered her eyelashes at him, and he sighed.

"Hey, I didn’t call you Kinjirarete-sama for nothing, Zoya dear. And it’ll be nice to get you out of my apartment – the place still hasn’t recovered from your cooking."

"And neither have I," grimaced Dr Bennett, clutching his stomach in mock nausea. Zoya whacked him on the arm, a smile on her features. "Now that wasn’t very nice," she said reprovingly, and Karl grabbed her by one of her plaited pigtails, yanking her playfully away from the burly man. She fell directly into his arms, and she looked at him through emerald eyes.

"Now this is putting you in a rather unprofessional situation, isn’t it, Dr Rutherford? Watashi no sensei?"

He let her go, and she crashed to the floor in a giggling heap. He laughed, and extended a hand, helping her to her feet.

"Aren’t you just adorable?" asked Karl, letting her hand go. She brushed off her dark blue pants suit, and adjusted her glasses.

"Charming – and you know it, don’t you?"

"Could we quit it already?" asked Dr Bennett. "You two…all I ask for is a moment’s seriousness out of you, and you just can’t do it!"

"We’re sorry," the pair chorused, their contrasting accents each lending a weird grace to the other. They smiled, and suddenly their bond was shattered. Karl looked out the window, and Zoya retreated towards her chair, before turning to Mamoru.

"Zoya," she said brightly, obviously masking some emotion with her too light voice. Something unspoken had passed between teacher and student, and Mamoru was smart enough not to press things. "Mamoru Chiba, Motoki’s friend. So…you’re looking for a home?"

"If you’re offering," she smiled, and somehow, Mamoru eased. This girl, despite her resemblance to a certain male King, acted nothing like her male doppelganger. "So…can I?"

Mamoru wondered briefly if he was making some kind of mistake. "Hai."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Usagi looked at him in disbelief. "You’ve got a…FEMALE flatmate?" she squeaked, and Mamoru sighed. He should have realised that Usagi would get jealous…not that she didn’t have good reason, if his dreams were anything to go by. His regressions to his former life as Prince Endymion had gone on hiatus…it was now Zoya-season on planet Mamoru. He blushed.

"What’s with the guilty look, Mamo-chan?" asked Usagi suspiciously. He coughed, and cleared his throat, pushing Zoya from his mind. After all, the girl was involved. Motoki had explained the significance of Zoya’s Japanese nickname to him – for essentially, Zoya was forbidden to Karl, as they were teacher and student. Though their attraction was painfully obvious.

"Nothing. She’s really sweet – though…there is something I should probably tell you about her."

"Nanii?"

"She…she really looks like Zoisite."

"You mean…Beryl’s flunky? That psycho weirdo?"

"Do you know another? But it doesn’t matter. She acts nothing like that sneaky, effeminate little weasel."

Usagi’s brow furrowed in confusion, as they continued to walk alongside the lake, the sunlight scattering off the surface. "That’s strange…I think I had a dream about him the other night…"

"Who? Zoisite?" He had to wonder why that worried him so. After all, it would be natural that Usagi would have dreams about the King. He had tried to kill her beloved on several occasions.

"I think so…but, anyway…when are you guys moving in?"

"Tomorrow, hopefully…hey, if you want to meet her, why don’t you come over tonight? Zoya’s turning up at about five, to help me out with the rest of my packing. She’s at the university right now – she told me she spends ninety percent of her Sundays there. You can come help out – why don’t you invite the Senshi over? They could help too."

"Not likely," snickered Usagi. "They were my honour guard, not yours. They wouldn’t help you…they do have lives, you know. As for your old guard…"

"Don’t start," said Mamoru. "If it isn’t enough that Zoya looks like Zoisite, I also met a doctor who looks like Kunzite."

Her eyes widened, but Mamoru hushed her. "Don’t go crazy, Usagi – it’s a coincidence. I haven’t met any Nephrite or Jadeite clones. They’re dead, okay? Don’t panic. My former honour guard, the united flunkies of Beryl, are gone. For eternity."

"It’s a pretty big coincidence," muttered Usagi unhappily, and silently, Mamoru agreed with her. He too had wondered over the appearance of two clones…and their relationship. So like their twins…teacher and student.

Usagi’s communicator went off with a loud beep, and she yanked it out, Mamoru leaning over her shoulder. It was Ami – and her face was as white as a sheet.

"Guys," she said shakily. "Could you get over here? Now? There’s something going on…"

Minako’s blonde head popped into view, her blue eyes wide with worried curiosity. From the background noise, it was obvious she was in a department store, trying to conceal her communicator from passers by. "Where’s ‘here’ exactly?"

"My house," replied Ami, bleeping back into existence. Makoto turned up.

"What’s with all the drama? What’s going on?" Ami’s colour had not improved. "You’ll see when you get here."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mamoru glided his car easily into a spot before Ami’s home, and the group spilled out of the red vehicle. He had stopped to pick up each of the Senshi, and they had made it in record time.

A shaken Ami let them in, and showed them to her room, explaining as she went along. Luna looked concerned, and Artemis worried. Usagi got the feeling that Ami had already told them what was going on.

"Well, you see, I was taping the news as a part of my biology project, because I knew there was going to be a piece on the recent developments in cancer research. And then I saw this…"

She choked back a sob, seemingly reluctant to push play. It was as if she was frightened out of her mind.

The screen flickered into life, and she released the mute button.

"…and in further news, a strange reappearance." The picture flicked from a well dressed newsreader to a familiar building. The Sanjouin mansion. "Earlier today, this building and assets connected with its former owner were reclaimed by the original owner."

Usagi’s eyes widened, and her hand flew to her face in horror. Mamoru gasped, and Rei gripped his arm so tightly it was painful. Sanjouin Masato’s handsome visage filled the screen, cerulean eyes dark.

"Mr Sanjouin," called a reporter over the cacophony of voices, one of many, holding a microphone to his face, as cameras flashed in random bursts. His face was almost masked by the barricade of mikes, but one could sense his distaste at the media circus surrounding him. "Mr Sanjouin, where have you been all this time? Is it true you were involved with the FBI and CIA? You were presumed dead…was it part of a government conspiracy?"

Masato Sanjouin snorted. "Yes and no. It was a personal matter that got a little out of hand, and that’s all I am permitted to say." He turned from the crowd, and slipped into a sleek black sedan, which then drove through the wrought iron gates into the compound of his mansion.

Back at the studio, the woman continued. "The owner of a vast business empire, Sanjouin Masato was missing, presumed dead, after his disappearance a year ago. His reappearance and assumption of his former role has once again made him one of the wealthiest men in Tokyo, and indeed the world."

There was more, but Ami hit the mute button, and sighed heavily. Mamoru had paled, and Usagi looked close to fainting. Rei’s eyes flashed liquid fire, and only Makoto and Minako didn’t look overly worried. Though they too, through Phoebe Loxley, knew just who Sanjouin Masato was.

"I think…I should tell you something," croaked Mamoru, eyes very wide, bleak. Usagi held onto his arm tightly. "I…I’ve just met two other people whom we know as different people…"

"What do you mean?" asked Ami tightly, and Luna looked horrified.

"You mean…he’s not the only one?"

"No…at least, I don’t think so. I met two people yesterday, through Reika and Motoki. A doctor and his student. Karl and Zoya."

"Kunzite and Zoisite?" gasped Rei, looking like she was going to be sick. "You mean, they’re not dead?"

"If they ever were dead," said Mamoru darkly. "I mean, you guys saw Nephrite die, you saw Kunzite die, and I heard explicitly what happened to Zoisite and Jadeite while I was Prince Endymion of the Dark Kingdom. Zoisite was definitely dead, and Jadeite was trapped in eternity…no, wait. They can’t be alive."

"And what about Jadeite?" asked Rei hopefully. "We haven’t met him yet."

"So who are these clones?" asked Artemis, looking at Mamoru with wide eyes. He could sense there was a lot more to this than Mamoru had first said.

He sighed, holding Usagi to him tightly. "Zoya…is my flatmate."

"NANII?!!!!" screeched the girls in horror, though the cats remained silent. Rei continued. "Are you NUTS?! What in the HELL made you let this girl become your flatmate? Mamoru no BAKA!"

Mamoru winced, and Usagi gave Rei a dirty look. "I didn’t realise…I mean, she looked like a female version of Zoisite, sure, and then there was Karl Rutherford, but really, Zoya Troubetzkoy was too pleasant, too bright, too ‘human’ to be Zoisite…"

Rei opened her mouth to protest sharply, but Minako stopped her. "Did you say…Troubetzkoy?"

"Uh huh," replied Mamoru, seemingly glad for the interruption. Rei steamed meant one hell of a grilling for him.

"I…I met someone Troubetzkoy this morning…a lawyer. He was about 22, his name was Jonathan Troubetzkoy."

"Was he…tall, blonde, with deep blue eyes? Like Mamo-chan’s?" asked Usagi, her young, kawaii face worried. Minako seemed startled, she dragged her hand through her pale blonde hair, looking stunned, and very tired.

"Yes…how did you know?"

Luna shot a look at the other two original Senshi, and then at Makoto, who looked as blank as Minako. "She just described Jadeite. The first of our Dark Kingdom adversaries."

"I should ask Zoya about this, I guess…I mean, how many Troubetzkoys could there be in Tokyo?"

"He said he was from Greece," said Minako helpfully, stretching out her long legs, running her hands over her thighs. She wore a bright outfit, consisting of loose, baggy orange jeans, and a white T-shirt with a caractirature of Sailor Moon embroidered on the pocket. She looked like she had gotten over the initial shock of running into an old enemy, and although she looked relaxed, her eyes told another story.

Rei tossed her raven hair over her shoulder, tucking her legs beneath her. She had come straight from the temple, and was still in her typical robes. "I think we should ALL have a chat to these people – and then fry the lot in one fell swoop!"

"Hey hey hey!" cried Mamoru. "Look, I have to say, Masato certainly looked as ‘evil’ as ever, but Karl and Zoya don’t."

"Anyone would think you actually LIKED those jerks!" sneered Rei, completely out of character. It was in her nature to be nasty, but not to her beloved Mamo-chan. She stood angrily, dark hair swinging around her taut form. "Come on, would you wake up and smell the scum? They’re a bunch of murdering, psychotic jerks! Maybe once, they were your friends, but Beryl has corrupted them all beyond that. It’s over, Mamo-chan. Accept that." Rei sat down again, her eyes wounded. "And don’t forget…you’re not the only one who was betrayed by them…we were too."

"Hey!" cried Usagi, eyes wide. "Am I the only one…Zoya Troubetzkoy is a GIRL?!"

Mamoru shrugged. "Don’t ask me. Maybe this is a sign that…well, that this isn’t happening. It’s all a horrible coincidence."

"Karl and Zoya, maybe. Sanjouin Masato– fat chance."

"Let’s…have a talk with Zoya. You said Karl and Zoya were teacher and student, didn’t you? Maybe once you guys are settled in, you could have a dinner party type thing. You know, friendly atmosphere…" said Luna helpfully, Artemis nodding his head.

"Settled in?" squawked Rei. "You can’t be serious…it’s Zoisite! He – she’ll try to kill you, Mamo-chan!"

"Hardly," muttered Mamoru dryly. "And I appreciate your faith in my abilities, Rei-chan."

She coloured, and looked down. Minako filled in the uncomfortable silence with her cheerful voice, her kawaii face bright and honest. "You know, maybe we can invite Jonathan over. I have his phone number, and…" she coloured slightly, looking embarrassed. Makoto hooted with laughter.

"There was more to this meeting than you were going to tell us, ne?" she laughed, and Minako pushed her with a friendly shove, still blushing furiously. "You have a one track mind, you know that?"

"With my hormones, it’s not hard," sniggered Makoto. "Is he cute, this Jonathan? You said he was a lawyer...he’s bit old for you, isn’t he?"

"22, yeah," said Minako, laughing a bit uncomfortably. "I won’t even begin to tell you how my parents would react to that."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mamoru watched Zoya dump the last box on the floor of the new apartment, and brush the long hair hanging in her face back over her shoulders. She sighed, then smiled. "I think that’s the last one, Mamo-chan. You didn’t have a lot of stuff, ne?"

"Don’t start," he said good naturedly. "You had enough stuff to sink the Titanic."

A smile glinted in her eyes. "I think that ship was doomed, anyway. My stuff wouldn’t have any effect on that. It sunk because it was destiny."

"What, you’re into that kind of stuff? Destiny?"

Zoya pulled her hair into a long ponytail, securing it with a aqua band. The style was similar to that of Zoisite, it made him uncomfortable. But the relaxed way she held herself was completely different from the narcissistic creature who had tried to stab him with ice crystals on more than one occasion. Her clothes, too, helped him remain at ease in her presence – she wore a loose green shirt, the colour of her eyes, which were still hidden behind her glasses, and loose black jeans, with green suede boots. She acted nothing like her psychotic, male look alike, and Mamoru was finding it hard to dislike her.

"So – do you want to have this dinner thing I was telling you about? Some of my friends wanted to meet you, and maybe you could invite Karl over, too."

She shrugged, and looked at him with her expressive eyes. "What, is it a little obvious that I like him?"

"Just a tad," he said with a laugh. "That reminds me…do you know a Jonathan Troubetzkoy?"

Zoya looked up, startled. "Hai."

"A friend of mine met him a few days ago, and I kept forgetting to ask if you two were related."

"He’s my brother," she said, an odd smile on her face, opposite to the sweetness of her eyes. "He lived in Greece, with our mother, while I lived in Liverpool, with our father. My name may be Russian, but I can assure you, it’s from way back in my father’s heritage. It was a coincidence that we both ended up in Japan, he in Tokyo, me in Kyoto. Though I got a scholarship and transferred here. We haven’t seen each other in awhile…do you want me to invite him around?"

"Minako-chan would probably like that," said Mamoru absently, wondering briefly how any of them were going to get a hold of Sanjouin Masato. No one had volunteered for the job – to be expected. Usagi was particularly worried about Naru-chan. If she remembered Masato…

Makoto had been the one to craftily suggest that Mamoru, the heir to a vast fortune, might be the only one of the group who would be able to get an audience with the esteemed Sanjouin-san. That had earned her glares from both Mamoru and Usagi.

"Tomorrow night? Do you think that they’re all going to able to make it then?"

"It’ll be okay – I’m sure they wouldn’t miss it."

Zoya snorted. "Why do they want to meet ME so desperately? I’m only a medical student, after all."

"Are you and Dr Rutherford actually…involved? Because he calls you forbidden, but that doesn’t seem to stop him much."

She dropped into an armchair, after placing the box on it carefully on the ground. "I wish we were, Mamo-chan…I think I love him, I really do. But he thinks of me as an amusing student, that’s all. I…I kissed him once, and although I felt like my heart was on fire, along with my soul, he didn’t seem to enjoy it as half as much as I did. He never mentioned it to me again."

"That’s really terrible," said Mamoru, wrinkling his brow. "If you really love him, Zoya-chan, you should just go ahead and tell him. That way at least you’ll know for sure if there’s a future for you two."

She sighed restlessly. "I don’t need to know. It’ll sort itself out, I guess."

She looked so vulnerable, sitting in the armchair, eyes downcast, hands wringing nervously in her lap. A glimmer of light was captured by her fingers, and his eyes looked curious. He had never noticed her ring before.

"What kind of ring is that?" he asked, kneeling beside her chair. He took her unresisting left hand, and studied the ring on her middle finger. It was a delicate gold band, containing a small, purple crystal. "What is that?"

Zoya looked distracted, gazing out through the glass doors of the balcony at the sickle-shaped moon. "It’s only Tanzanite…it’s a form of Zoisite found only in Tanzania."

Mamoru winced, but Zoya was too engrossed in the night sky to notice. Maybe the Senshi had been right. The Dark Kingdom had somehow returned.

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