RPG: The Christmas Ball
Started By: Guardian
11/27/99
Players: Guardian, Venus Knight, Sailor Life Sustainer, Darien, Sailor Venus, Sailor Peace Keeper,

Silent Night, Holy Night...

The melody floated throughout the Juuban High School gym as students slowly filed in for the annual Christmas Ball. Around the gym students mingled among each other and a few couple were even out dancing to the Christmas melody. All around people were and merry and having fun, Christmas would be in a couple days.

Jeremy Satterlee stood in his simple black dress slacks, white long-sleeved dress shirt, and tie and flexed his glove covered left hand, *I can hardly feel anything with it. Look at the couple, having fun. This is not a place for one a millennia old and hardened by the tragedies of war. Yet just the same, it is a target some of the Negaverse may enjoy. Rather I like this or not, I must remain, for their protection.*

"Now how did I let you talk me into this?" Darien asked his date, eyebrow raised as he looked the place… especially the girls… over. He turned to give her a crooked grin, his eyes having a wicked look in them. He was dressed to the nines in an ultra-chick tuxedo. He tapped one gloved finger on her nose, his smile growing wider. "Not that I would want to miss the look your father gave me.. or that dress."

Dunican walked slowly towards Minako's front door. He was so nervous about this. Not the dance itself but the fact the he may run into Minako’s father if he would be the one to knock on the door. Dunican stood in front of the front door for several moments. Slowly he knocked on the door.

Michiru smiled devilishly at Darien. "What this thing?" she asked motioning to her dress. It was a red and white squence dress. The neck line dropped down to show enough cleavage to make a sailor blush, and a split went up her left leg to her upperthigh. She smiled to him. "Oh I've had this thing in my closet for the longest time." she said and smiled at him.

Jeremy's eyes darted across the room taking in the sites. The two picture stands, one for photos of just normal photos in front of a blazing paper fireplace, and then another set where one could be photographed with the Santa Claus that had come. He sighed and closed his one good eye thinking back to that day decades ago when he had been captured and tortured by the vile creature. He breathed deep, searching for his center of calm but couldn’t find it. Instead he flexed his gloved left hand instinctively and sunk as far in the shadowy corner as he could, a small tear forming in his eye, *Why is Christmas always the hardest time to maintain control and posture.*

Darien had to shake his head. "Why don't I find that surprising?" he asked her. Then with a grand gesture, he swept one hand across the room while wrapping the other around her waist. "Shall we mingle with the rabble for a while before going to a real party?"

Michiru smiled. "And just where is this real party you are talking so much about?" she asked playfully.

Sanjoun stood by the punch bowl. *What a bore!* His mind shouted. *If only I could use this to my advantage* he thought. "Oh...yaoo-hoo...Mr. Sanjoun..Oh Mr. Sanjoun, thank you so much for agreeing to take Ms. Grethin's place tonight. It means so much to the rest of the faculty here." A very large teacher said taking his hand. "You must dance, now, we can't have our most eligible bachelor standing on the wall all night." she said and drug him out of the floor. He protested the entire way, but she didn’t seem to hear him at all.

Minako quickly opened the door, calling back into the hall. " I got it Dad, it's just Ami coming to pick me up for the dance!" she lied, closing the door behind her. Minako smiled sheepishly at Dunican, smoothing out the ruby red skirt of her dress. " Sorry... I haven't told him about you yet..." she apologized, straighten the holly tucked in her golden ribbon.

Ami stood in front of her mirror staring at herself. Her hair was swept up into a French twist with tiny curls coming out and a couple framing her face. She wore a burgundy two part dress the skirt was silk with layers of crinoline underneath. The top was embroidered with roses in the lower right spaghetti strap and showed about an inch of her stomach where you could see the lines of muscle in her stomach. She stood in front of the mirror debating making an appearance at the dance. She finally turned and exited the room. *I'll go. If only for a bit.*

"We-ell," Darien drawled. "You have two choices: we could go to my office where they serve real drinks or we could go to my apartment and open Christmas presents earlier… among other things."

Dunican smiled to Minako and looked her over. "You look great," he said as they quickly walked away from the front door. "This is the first dance I will ever be going to," He said and wrapped an arm around Minako. "Especially someone as beautiful as you Mina-chan," said Dunican with a smile.

Michiru smiled devilishly. "Why don't we, mingle here for a few more minutes, go to your office party, then go to your place. I don't have school tomorrow and my parents don't care if I don't come home tonight." she said running her fingernails over the front shirt of his tux.

"As the lady wishes," Darien said teasingly. He caught her hand, brought it up to his lips and kissed each fingertip.

Michiru smiled at him and slipped out of his grasp. "I'll be right back." she said and headed for the lady’s room.

Sanjoun was growing very tired of the game of "pass the cute *single* gym teacher to every single professor in the school". "Excuse me, Ms. Duncan, but I have some tests to grade" he said and ran out of the gym. *I don't think I could have survived another minute. Still all those teenagers are using a lot of energy.* he thought with a devilish smile.

Jeremy took a swig from the small bottle he carried and slipped it back into his back pocket, *Ahh, a splash of straight vodka always does the bitterness some good.*

Ami pulled up at the school and sighed. As she entered the door she Looked around before walking towards Minako and the others.

sanjoun summoned a few of his youma in one of the vacant classrooms. They were all female and all dressed in sequence dresses. "I want you to go in there and dance, and while you dance, take their energy!" he commanded. Each youma bowed and walked down the hallway, all giggling and laughing, like normal high school girls. They stood in the doorway and looked around. "The one with the bottle is mine." the girl in the dark blue dress said and walked off towards Jeremy. "Oh, I just love a man in a tux." the girl in green said and strolled over towards Darien. "Oh pooh, I always get stuck with the left overs!" the girl is black pouted and started to mingle.

Jeremy glanced about the classroom, taking note as a young blue haired girl entered and of Michiru and her date. *So many, so happy, yet myself so lonely due to my past actions.*

Darien smiled at the girl that appeared and latched onto his arm like a leech, despite the crawling feeling that he got in the pit of his stomach. With an expertise born of hundreds of such scenarios, he slipped free of her grasp and said, "Hold it, pretty. I may look available, but I promised my date the first dance. Afterwards, we'll see, okay?"

The girl in the dark blue dress took Jeremy's arm and leaned on his shoulder. "Hey handsome...feeling lonely..well..so am I so why not being lonely together." she asked with a smiled.

The girl in green looked pouty at Darien. "Oh please, can you forget her for just five minutes. I can change your entire world." she said with her beautiful emerald eyes

Ami stood next to Mina and said, "Gee they don't have to much modesty do they?" She said indicating the girls who had just entered the room. She stood in a corner looking rather lonely.

Minako nodded, agreeing with Ami, " They remind me of Michiru..." She laughed a bit, noticing how two of the girls had all ready gravitated to a guy. " Don't you have anyone to dance with Ami?" Minako asked, looking around for Dunican who vanished for a bit.

Jeremy glanced at the young woman and shook his head, twisting his gloved left arm out of her grasp, keeping his voice calm and even, "Sorry, but I am not interested in being with anyone at the moment. Now if you'll excuse me, this ugly wall bug needs to walk a bit." With that he glanced at another girl and shook his head walking towards the snack bar, *That was strange. Normally when you're missing an eye girls don't flock to you. Most of the time a teenager wouldn't even consider one dance.*

The girl watched Jeremy walk off. "I was...rejected. How can someone this beautiful be...rejected like that." she said to herself softly. She started to fume and walked over to him. "Hey buddy. I was talking to you and Nobody ditches me like that!" she said loudly. Her eyes started to turn red.

"Oh really?" Darien asked archedly, smiling a little despite the sudden headache. "And how much of a change would that be, pretty?" He made no move to the dance floor.

Jeremy glanced at the glowing eyes and silently cursed himself, but kept his composure, "I didn't know I was ditching you considering the fact I was never your date to begin with. Sorry ma'am, but I'm afraid this ugly individual is destined to be alone." Once again he faced forward and headed across the gym, this time slowly angling towards the rest room, keeping his attention on the young lady behind him.

Hotaru walked into the gym late, very late. She had really wanted to come, but her father fell ill, and she had to stay and take care of him. Hotaru would have stayed with him, except her father knew how much she had been looking forward to the dance and insisted that she go, even though she’d be late. She arrived at the dance wearing a simple, yet elegant, dark purple dress; it had spaghetti strap sleeves, and was decorated with small black and purple roses. Her long hair was left down for the most part of it, but some was pulled back in small braids by her temples. However, now that she was here, she began to have second thoughts; everyone seemed to be paired with some one else and she didn’t have a date. *Oh well...* She thought glumly as she walked over to the drinks to pour herself some punch.

The girl fumed at Jeremy. "I didn't say you could leave!" she cried and sent a blast of energy hurling towards him.

The girl in the black looked over at her counter part. "Oh dear." she said softly. "This isn't good." she sighed. "Time to get to business." she said and started draining the man who was in her arms.

Michiru walked up behind Darien and the "leech". "Yes, I'm interested in hearing this too, seeing how he's MY date!" she said to the girl. It was obvious she was not happy. "Darien, who's your friend?" she asked in a monotone.

"Don't know," Darien said with a shrug. "She came out of nowhere and latched onto my arm like a succubus. I told her I had a date but..." He shrugged again and pouted at Michiru. "You're not mad at me, are you? She's pretty but not as beautiful as you, nor is she the one I'd want to be caught underneath the mistletoe tonight." He rubbed his forehead, the sudden stab of pain causing him to grit his teeth. "Though at the moment, I don't know if I can make it that far," he muttered.

Dunican came up behind Minako and wrapped his arms around her. "Miss me?" he asked with a smile. "Sorry I disappeared but I was looking for something he said and then lifted up some mistletoe up to Minako to see. "Look what I got," he said. Suddenly he heard an energy blast go off. "I think we have trouble."

Minako frowned, obviously disappointed. Silently cursing to herself, she stepped into the shadows, and quickly transformed into Sailor Venus. *Hotaru and Ami are here also, this shouldn't be too bad...* she thought, studying the scene while she waited for Dunican.

Dunican looked around and followed Minako action. Stepping into the shadows he bent down on one knee and whispered his transformation phrase. A few seconds later Duncian appeared next to Minako. "I see Hotaru and Ami are here. But where are the others?" he asked looking around.

Jeremy rolled across the floor, springing to his feet and glaring at the woman, *So much for transforming first.* He gritted his teeth and glanced at the small trails of blood trickling down his back. Shook his head and spoke in his calm, monotone, "That was not wise." With that he charged forward, pushing himself into the air and flipping himself into a drop kick.

The energy blast caught Hotaru by surprise, and she ducked in reflex. She glanced around quickly surveying the situation, and saw Minako already transformed into Sailor Venus. Not quite sure as to what was going on, she decided to follow Venus's lead and transform. Hotaru ducked into a shadowed location and whispered her henshin phrase. Soon, Sailor Life Sustaier, holding her Glaive, stood where Hotaru had moments before. She stepped out of the shadows, looking for the cause of the energy blast.

The woman went back when the kick had landed. She yelled and screamed in furry as she stood back up. her skin turned a dark purple and he dress started to shrink into a tight fitting body suit. "I will destroy you!" she cried and sent more energy at Jeremy.

Michiru heard the blast and looked up. She sighed at the sight. "Just another dance complete with fights and all. Now will you let go of MY date before I rip your eyes out!" she asked the woman.

The woman hissed at Michiru and spit acid at Michiru. The acid hit Michiru's dress and started to dissolve it. "What the.." she said and found herself on the ground with a purple skinned youma on top of her.

Jeremy ducked his head to the side as the energy soared by and charged forward again, leaping straight into the woman, *This just sucks. I can't transform without revealing who I am.*

Darien's head felt like it was exploding, but seeing Michiru fall down, he gritted his teeth and grabbed the youma's hair and yanked hard. It grabbed him with one hand and he could feel himself grow weak. That just made him mad. From somewhere, he didn't know where, he pulled out a black rose and rammed it into the youma's arm. It let go and he staggered back before throwing himself at it, knocking it off Michiru. Angrily the creature attacked him, and Darien, dazedly wondering how he knew this sort of thing, twisted out of the way while getting a couple of cheap shots.

The youma roared as it hit the ground with Jeremy on top. She put her hands on his forehead and started draining his energy. "You're energy is MINE!" she cried.

Michiru looked over at Darien and the youma. "Darien!" she cried and picked up a chair. "How dare you ruin MY date!" she cried and hit the youma with the chair, sending it across the room.

Darien staggered back, and shook his head wryly. "And here I thought you didn't care," he teased as he looked around. His reporter instincts kicked in. "What a scope," he murmured.

Jeremy ground his teeth together and brought his arms up, quickly breaking the woman's hold and pushing himself back a few feet. He staggered slightly, but kept his footing and kept himself in a combat stance, *This just gets worse and worse*

Sailor Life Sustainer quickly assessed the situation and walked over to face the yoma who had been attacking Jeremy. She took her Glaive and hit the yoma in the stomach with it, throwing the yoma back about ten feet.

The youma yelled as it flew back and sent bursts of energy towards both Jeremy and Sailor Life Sustainer.

Michiru smiled at Darien. "Well, of course I care. This youma just ruined any chance of a romantic setting for us tonight." she said and tossed another chair at it and took his hand. "Go get the car and lets get out of here. My friend is over in the corner with that third monster and I want to make sure she's not hurt." she said pointing at the youma draining some poor girl's life away.

Jeremy leapt and rolled through the tables pushing one up to act as a barrier briefly. He gritted his teeth and slipped a small hunting knife from a sheath on his lower leg, slipping a throwing knife from the other leg, *Time to get messy*

Darien blinked at Michiru, then shrugged. "If you want," he said through the blinding headache. Giving the room one last look, making mental records of what happened, he went out the door. But he didn't go to the car. He circled around and found another way in through a fire escape left open by a fleeing couple. Sneaking through the shadows, he found a comfortable spot before thinking, *Okay, my shadow, time to party.* The headache he'd been pushing back exploded to life.

The youma roared at Jeremy. It took one of the nearby students and held her by the neck, draining her energy. It roared again and grew twice the size it was. "I want you!" it said and lunged for Jeremy.

The youma beside Darien and Michiru decided to take on a victim of its own. It started draining a couple making out. The couple slowly started to slump in their seats, not knowing what had happened.

Michiru made it to the corner and whacked her purse over the youma's head. "Come on ugly, pick on someone who can fight back!" she taunted.

Jeremy ducked under and rolled between the creature and ground his teeth as the claws tore across his back, causing five crimson streaks to appear across his back, staining the dress shirt quickly. He pivoted, wishing he could just transform and finish the creature.

Life Sustainer couldn't move fast enough and was hit by the energy. By the time she got back on her feet, the yoma had forgotten about her, concentrating on Jeremy. She snuck up behind it, and gave the yoma another good whack across its back with her glaive, sending it crashing into a nearby table.

It roared in pain as it flew into the table. It shook its head and looked at Life Sustainer. Its eyes glowed a bright red as it fell onto Jeremy, and lunged again.

The youma turned to Michiru with a curious look.

"Yeah you ugly. Come on a fight me." she said hitting the youma again.

Jeremy dropped on his back and used the balls of his hands to push himself, feet first into the approaching monster.

The youma charging Jeremy stopped suddenly, blinking stupidly at the rose spouting from its chest. A quiet voice said, "Earth Silent Scream" and it exploded with a shriek. Landing in the chaos like it was created just for him, Preacher stood for a moment then whipped out another rose.

The youma fell back from Jeremy's kick and exploded from the rose, turning to dust and flying away.

The second youma charged Michiru. She smiled devilishly as her fist connected, sending the youma flying back.

The third youma continued to drain energy in a far corner away from the fight.

Dunican looked around and spotted the youma in the far corner. "Minako. Look over there," said Dunican and pointed to the youma. "A lost soul," he said with a grin and started over to the youma in a run. "Let's get him!" he said to Minako.

A razor sharp rose slammed into the youma in the corner, and another one drove it out into the open where others could reach. Preacher turned and threw a third at the one facing Michiru, distracting it.

Life Sustainer decided to add her attack to the one in the corner. Her glaive disappeared into a convenient spatial pocket as Life Sustainer held her hands high. She whispered "Life Force Depletion!" and threw the energy ball at the yoma in the corner, stunning it.

The youma in the corner screamed in pain and dissolved into dust on the floor. Michiru looked at Life Sustainer and smiled. "Thanks." she whispered and looked for the last youma.

The final youma noticed her sisters were gone. "I will avenge them. I swear it." she said and left.

Dunican slide to a stop when he noticed the youma disappeared. "Damn. They always seem to get away," he said and walked back over to Minako.

Michiru sighed. "Well, there blows that romantic setting." she said and headed out the door to meet up with Darien.

Jeremy glanced at the crowds as they slowly dispersed. He avoided the approaching teachers and sunk into the shadows of night as he headed home, to take care of his wounds.