Sailor Moon is copyright 1992 by Naoko Takeuchi. North American Rights for Sailor Moon are owned by D.I.C. Rating: PG-13 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Life ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Part II - Unravelings Chapter III - Aches and Pains On the first day of December, Usagi was talking to Naru and Umino. They had 15 minutes of break, before attending the next hell, otherwise known as class. They were talking about the test they had just taken first period when the shouting occurred. The three rushed towards the screams, along with everyone else. They were blocked by a fence, but could easily see that it was a youma. "Those things are coming more and more often. That's the third one in the last two weeks," Umino commented. "I know. Doesn't it freak you out a little, Usagi?" Naru asked. "Uh . . . Usagi?" Naru and Umino looked around. "Where'd she go?" As soon as Usagi saw the problem was a youma, she raced into the abandoned hallways of her school. There she transformed, before jumping a fence that had no people crowding against it. Jupiter and Mercury were at her heels. The youma resembled a dog with six heads and twelve feet. As soon as she was within range, Sailor Moon called out, "Moon Tiara Action!" She grinned with satisfaction as her tiara sliced straight through the neck of one of the heads. It fell off and turned to dust. Her grin quickly faded when the head grew back. The youma grinned - all 6 heads. "My turn." The dog jumped onto Sailor Moon. Using two paws to hold down her shoulders, another paw raised to strike her face. "Jupiter Oak Evolution!" The youma stumbled off the sailor beneath it and with an outraged cry went for Jupiter. "Mercury, what's the deal?" Sailor Moon shouted as she tried her attack. "Moon Spiral Hea-" The dog's tail swatted at her attack. "Shimatta!" "Fire! We need fire to defeat it!" Mercury cried out. "Perfect!" Sailor Moon exclaimed frustrated. "The one time we need Mars!" "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" It hit the youma, but in the end, it was only angrier than it was hurt. In a new fury, it attacked the senshi, sending discs of dark energy their way. As they dodged, Sailor Moon looked around, hoping to find something to help them. She knew Jupiter should be able to do it. 'She just needs the right tools . . . AHA!' "Mercury, can Jupiter use her electricity to defeat it?" Sailor Moon shouted out as she ran for cover. Mercury typed furiously into her computer. "Yeah, but we need-" Sailor Moon was one step ahead. As soon as she heard Mercury say "yeah" she called out, "Moon Tiara Action!" The tiara cut the telephone line and it swung down swatting the youma. "Jupiter: NOW!" Sailor Moon shouted. "Supreme Thunder Dragon!" The attack hit the line where it touched the youma and the youma went up in flames. As the dust settled onto the floor, Sailor Moon looked at the other two. "Let's go!" she said curtly. They ran and jumped the fence again, as best as they could, considering they were injured. The teachers had apparently ushered all the students inside, because of the danger outside. They de- transformed before going into the hallway. Then, they ran like hell was right behind them. "AND WHERE HAVE YOU THREE BEEN????" They turned around to see Haruna-sensei glaring at them. "Do _not_ tell me you were out there! You could have gotten yourselves killed!" Ami and Makoto looked at each other desperately, not knowing what to say. Usagi coolly stepped in and said, "Gomen, sensei. As soon as we found out there was a youma attack, we ran inside. We were afraid and the girls' bathroom was the only place we could think of to hide. The sounds of fighting stopped just now. Gomen. We didn't mean to worry you." Haruna-sensei looked on suspiciously for a moment, until Ami and Makoto nodded their heads slowly. Usagi had lied so easily, as if it were nothing; it surprised them. Haruna-sensei nodded her head and said, "As long as you're all okay." "Hai," they all replied. "Well, get back into your classrooms, then." And with that, she ushered the three girls forward, towards their rooms. ^ ^ ^ Saturday, El Café ^ ^ ^ "You okay, Jiro?" Usagi asked with concern, as Jiro rubbed his temple. "Yeah; I've just been having these pounding headaches. They're killing me!" "Same here," said Noriko. "I don't know what gives. Maybe it's 'cause I haven't been sleeping very well." "I keep tossing and turning. I don't even know why," Zared put in. "Restless sleep and migraines. I know exactly what you guys are going through. It's been happening for about a week or two for me," Kiyoshi put in. Usagi frowned at them. "Maybe you guys are all sick. Something contagious, you know?" "Highly doubtful," Zared said. "It's not that." "Maybe you guys have just been really stressed." "Mmm"s went around. "Well, whatever it is, I hope you guys feel better." Usagi went around and gave each one a hug. "I gotta go. I'll talk to you later, ne?" They said their good-byes and she left. After she did, Jiro tried to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, you guys only look half as bad as I do." "Uhh . . . We look that bad?" Jiro attempted a tired glared at Zared, who only grinned helplessly, exhaustedly. The other two only groaned. Those two were always at it. After a moment's silence, Jiro stood up. "Look you guys, this headache is killing me. I'm going to my apartment to lie down and overdose on some aspirin. You comin'?" It didn't take long for the rest of them to agree. They bid farewell to Kai and were at the apartment in no time. Riko immediately headed for the couch and sprawled his body over it. Zared hit him for taking it and plopped down in one of the armchairs. Riko grinned tiredly. Kiyoshi went to the kitchen to make green tea and came back with a bottle of aspirin. Jiro lay down on the light brown carpet, one arm cast over his eyes. Kiyoshi slumped down in the other armchair. Zared observed the group and could only groan, "What the hell is wrong with us?" ^ ^ ^ at the park ^ ^ ^ "AAAHHHHH!!!!!!" 'They're baa-aack,' was the thought that ran through Usagi's mind. She had just gotten off the bus when the scream sounded. She listened for it again. "MOVE!!! NOW!!!" Usagi heard Rei's voice ordering the people around. It was coming from the park. She looked for an alley and upon finding one, raced in and transformed. 'How come Superman always has those stupid phone booths and I gotta look for an alley all the time??' Within seconds, Sailor Moon was jumping buildings to get to the park. Upon arriving, her hand touched her forehead and she called out, "Moon Tiara Action!" The disc sliced through the youma's back legs. It was a unicorn. A 6-foot unicorn. Upon its forehead, it had a horn, glowing with dark energy. Black with glowing green eyes, it reared when it felt the pain. Immediately, it turned its horn towards Sailor Moon and shot dark energy at her. She dodged it easily. "Mercury! Weakness!" She continued jumping around. Trying to tire the youma out. "Mars Flame Sniper!" The attack caught the youma's tail. It blazed for a few seconds, before dying out. "Jupiter Oak Evolution!" The attack hit the unicorn's side and it stumbled a little. "I can defeat it!" Mercury shouted. "So, defeat it already!" Sailor Moon shouted back. "I need to get the horn! We have to immobilize it first!!" Thinking quickly, Sailor Moon yelled, "That's you, Mars!" Mars glanced at Sailor Moon before realizing what she had to do. "Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, sai, zen! Akuryou taisan!" she screamed while throwing the anti-evil sign. It attached itself to the unicorn's front legs. The body was immobilized. But the youma kept thrashing its neck about, sending sparks of dark energy everywhere. A golden whip of chains flew around the unicorn's neck and was secured. Sailor Venus pulled hard and the head was brought down. Straining, Venus yelled, "Now, Mercury!!!" "Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!!!" "Shine Aqua Illusion!!!" After wave after wave of water, visions were cleared. On the floor remained clumps of dust in piles of water and the whip. Venus retracted her whip and they all stood silently, their breathing labored. Sailor Moon de-transformed. The others followed suit. Turning, she walked away, pained. 'They're fine. They'll live. They have each other.' "Usagi, are you okay?" Ami asked the retreating back. "I'll live," was the only reply she got. Sighing exasperatingly, Ami turned to the other girls and proceeded to treat their ailments. ~ ~ ~ End ~ ~ ~ Author's Notes: School sucks. Chemistry bites. And AP tests are hard. There's my excuse/explanation. That's all I'm saying. I know this was just a fight. But time needs to pass for what's about to happen next. I figured the best way to do that was by doing this. I was going to include chapter 4 this week, but, in my very own opinion, chapter 4's really good. So, you guys just have to wait. Besides, it needs a little editing. I also wanted to mention that I do realize that sometimes the jokes and conversations are elementary. You have to remember that all the guys are only around 20. They're young. My brother's 19 and he and his friends are not the most mature people in the world. Same thing goes for the girls; they're only 16-17. What I'm trying to do is show how much more mature the mind can be when it is allowed to be; that's why there's a lot of thinking and why there's always a shift between some deep stuff and then some corny joke. Getz? Email me! With anything! I know you know how! Thanks for reading! And thanks to all those people who have emailed me! HoNeY Hnymustd@hotmail.com 5/17/00