Legal Disclaimers (my lawyer made me:)
Sailor Moon is property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, DiC,
Bandai, Mixxine and a lot more probably.  Bottom line is: Sailor
Moon and its characters are not mine so don't sue me.  You should be
used to the disclaimers by now.
______________________________________________________________________
Thanks to:
Mike for the new E-mail address.
Saul for editting
Kevin for reviewing.
__________________________________________________
|  Visit my homepage at:                         |
|  http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/temple/9286    |
|  Official site of Lady Jupiter's stories.      |
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Remember When?  (7)
Off To See The Wizard (the wonderful wizard of Oz)
Lady Jupiter (LadyJupiter@SailorJupiter.com)

    
    "Rise and shine, Serena!"  Luna shouted to a still deep in
sleep Serena.
    "No, Darien..." Serena mumbled and turned her back on Luna.
    [All these times and she's still so lazy!]  Luna thought. 
She started to claw on Serena' blanket.  "Come on, lazy, wake up or
Rei's going to-"
    Suddenly, Serena's whole body jumped up, sending Luna to the
other side of the room in a black pile of fur.
    "Rei's going to kill me!"  Serena continued and leaped out of
bed to the restroom.
    "That was an improvement,"  Luna muttered.
    "But by how much?"  A male voice asked from a window
chuckling.
    Luna looked over to see Artemis on the window sill smiling at
her.  She scowled at the white cat before letting him in.  "You could
have offered to help."
    "I could have, but did I want to?  Not really."  
    "Okay, I'm ready to go."  Serena stepped out of the restroom
in her work out clothes and her hair in those two meat-balls.
    "Great, you're getting quicker and quicker.  In a couple more
years, you could actually be on time!"  Artemis offered.
    Serena scooped the two cats up and dumped them into her
knapsack, "Come on, don't want Rei to blow a fuse."  She ran down the
stairs juggling the cats in her bag and grabbing a "bite" to eat
before exiting the house.


    Rei paced back and forth with dead calmness.  Instead of the
red priestess robe she usually wore, she was wearing her shorts and
shirt to practice in.
    "Just give them a couple of minutes, I'm sure they have a
good excuse." Mina told her.
    "Yeah, I bet. Trying to wake Serena up."  Rei muttered under
her breath.
    "Hey, how come Artemis isn't with you?"  Ken noticed.
    "He woke me up and then said he'd go check on Serena and
help Luna wake her up."  Mina replied.
    As usual, Ami had a book in her hand and was eagerly reading
the pages at a super speed.  She barely paid attention to the
conversation because it was an old one:  everyone trying to figure
out why Serena was late.
    Lita stood up, stretched and yawned.  Between her almost
closed eyes, she saw a blonde figure walking up the will with two
cats.  "There she is. At least she's only ten minutes late. She's
getting better."
    "Yeah, maybe she'll actually be on time."  Rei shook her head
and went out to greet Serena.
    "So what's the plan?"  Mina asked the two cats who were
usually the ones who told them what they needed practice on.
    "Serena and Ami should practice on defense because from what
I observed, they were both a little weak at that."  Artemis started.
    "We're on it."  Ami saluted and put her book away. She and 
Serena started to jog towards the far end of the temple grounds 
where there were a couple of trees to "dodge".
    Luna stepped in, "Rei, Mina and Darien, you guys work on 
offense.  Your defense is already pretty strong, but you need to 
get a little more accurate in your aims."
    "Yes, those extra years of scout training for Mina worked."  
Artemis said, referring to when Sailor V was working alone in France.
    Those three hurried off into the direction of where the dummies 
were placed.  It was in a large opening, where the usual tae-kwon-do 
classes were held but since Grandpa and Chad wouldn't be back till 
six in the afternoon to say the soonest, it was empty.
    "What about us?"  Ken asked.  Only Lita and him remained.
    "We had something...different in mind for you two."  Luna 
started.
    "Why don't I like the sound of that?"  Lita frowned.
    "It's nothing hard.  I want the two of you two practice 
together. Ken, teach her how to use your sword um.....what's the 
word?"  Luna turned to Artemis. She didn't want to offend Lita.
    "Efficiently,"  Artemis suggested.
    "That's right,"  Luna nodded.
    "Okay. That sounds easy."  Ken said and started to lead the way 
to a small clearing in the trees.  
    Lita looked back and asked over her shoulder, "Hey, do you want 
us to transform?"
    "Not unless you have to. We don't want any risk of being 
discovered."  Luna instructed.  "One word of advice though.  With 
some research, I deducted that Sailor Jupiter's power is designed 
for accuracy and isn't too reliable or effective if conducted 
through Jupiter Knight's sword.  Countering that, Jupiter Knight's 
power is more accurate and efficient if conducted through the sword."
    "Which means?"  Ken asked.
    "Without the sword you're more likely to throw a wide range of 
lighting than the usual sharp thin one.  What I'm trying to say is, 
if you can, Sailor Jupiter should learn to use the sword's physical 
attributes like an ordinary sword without relying too much on 
conducting her power through it.  Jupiter Knight should try to find 
or discover situations in which he can use his wide range of 
lightning in like when surrounded or being charged from the front."
    The two humans left there nodded and were on their way.
    
    "Are you sure you can practice without transforming?"  Ken 
questioned Lita, who was wearing white sweat shorts and a red sports 
bra under a white mesh jersey.  He knew he shouldn't get too 
distracted, but he couldn't help thinking that she looked good.
    Lita smiled, reading his thoughts and shot him a coy look.  
"Why, what's wrong?  Am I distracting you?"
    [This is too easy]  Ken thought and grinned.  "I don't know.  
You're scout fuku isn't much more conservative."
    "Are you sure you don't need to transform?"  Lita asked, 
changing the subject.
    "No, I'm comfortable."  Ken replied.  He was wearing a plain  
white shirt and shorts.  It wasn't spotlessly white, but had little 
stains from previous food spills, paint spills, oil spills, and 
numerous other accidents.
    "Ready when you are,"  Lita told him after making sure her shoes 
were tied.
    Ken closed his eyes and concentrated.  He found that it was 
impossible to bring the sword out without a verbal command.  "Storm 
Sword," he muttered under his breath.
    Easy as pie, the sword materialized his open palm.  He 
grasped it and felt that security that could only be felt when he 
had the sword.
    "Male bonding?"  Lita teased after seeing that facial expression 
on Ken.  He looked like he had just eaten a satisfying meal.
    "Fine then, hot shot, let's see what you can do."  He handed the 
sword to her carefully, noting to have the handle facing her.
    Lita took it in her hands like a drumstick.  Ken shook his head 
and showed her the right way to hold it, one hand in front of the 
other like a baseball bat, and showing her how to line her knuckles 
up.
    "It feels kind of weird,"  Lita told him, taking a few practice 
swings.  "Especially when I swing forward."
    "Most of the time, when you swing the enemy will be coming from 
the side, so it'll make more sense to hold it like that. And even if 
an enemy is coming from the front, never swing at him and try to 
chop him in half like you're holding a mallet.   That'll leave your 
front side unguarded so that if you don't have the most precise 
timing, you're dead."  Ken explained.  
    "So what if they're coming from behind?"
    "If you think there's time, turn and swing at the same time, but 
only if there's enough time and you're sure of what it is.  If there 
isn't time and you're undoubtfully in danger, just lift the sword 
above your head and try to go as far low as you can with the sword."
    Lita nodded and tried to do that.
    Stepping away so that he wouldn't get accidentally decapitated, 
Ken suggested, "I'll call out a direction they're coming from and 
you swing at it, okay?"
    "Sure, sounds easy." Lita nodded and stood there idly, waiting 
for a command.
    "When you stand, make sure your right foot is a little in front 
and your feet are shoulder width apart.  Square your shoulders to 
the direction you're aiming for."  Ken pointed out to her.  It had 
taken  him a great many fights to learn all the itty bitty details 
he was telling Lita right then.
    Lita fixed her stance and waited.
    "Your left."
    She swung left.
    "In front,"  Lita swung, or rather tried to swing straight 
in front of her.
    "When it's coming from the front, just stick the sword out so 
it'll ram into the enemy's neck.  They'll run right into it if 
they're fast enough."  Ken advised.  "In back."
    Lita took a swing in back.
    "To the right,"  Lita swung to the right.  Her swing was a 
little too wide and she wobbled a bit before maintaining her balance.
    Ken got up from the tree he was leaning on and walked over to 
her.  She held the sword out for him, but he shook his head.  "Hold 
on to it in front of you."
    She did as she was told and looked in front of her.   She felt 
Ken's arms come from behind her and rest on her hands.  They felt 
warm and wonderful on hers.
    "When you have the sword, never let go.  Never EVER let go of 
your weapon because the second you do, the enemy will have it.  Keep 
it close to your body until the initial swing and when you swing, 
make it quick and fierce, then draw it to your body again."  Ken 
said softly.  "To the right."
    Lita swung there with the aid of Ken's hands and brought the 
sword in again.
    Ken drew her hands closer to her body and whispered in her ear, 
"Even closer than that.  Left."
    This time, Lita swung it perfectly and drew the sword in quickly 
and close to her body.
    "Front."    
    The sword extended in a quick poking motion.
    The grip on Lita's hands were firmer as Ken directed.  "You have 
to lunge forward if you really want to get them good."
    Doing as she was told, Lita lunged with a forward step.
    "You're doing good,"  Ken told her and went to lean by the tree 
again as he kept calling out directions.  
    After an hour or two, Lita and Ken were taking a break under the 
shade of some trees.  They wiped the sweat off their brows and 
caught their breaths before continuing with the practice.
    "I noticed that when you swing, you stop halfway."  Ken told 
her.
    "Well, yeah. That's where the youma will be."  Lita explained 
her reasoning.
    Ken shook his head. "You have to go all the way.  Finish the 
swing and then bring it in.  That way, you'll have more force and 
just in case he moves, you'll still get 'em."
    "Aye-aye captain."  Lita saluted and picked up the sword again. 
She was surprised to feel Ken's arms around her again. He guided her 
through a few moves slowly and gracefully.
    "Your hands are so soft,"  he whispered, caressing her fingers 
where she held the sword.  He breathed in the floral scent of her 
hair mixed with the baby powder scent of her skin.
    Lita closed her eyes and let herself melt against him. Ken held 
her closer, planting small kisses down her neck, then up again until 
he reached the ridges of her ears.  Unconsciously, Lita let the 
sword drop to the floor.
    In half a second, before she knew it, Lita almost fell backwards 
because Ken wasn't there to lean on and his arms were no longer 
around her.  Confused, Lita opened her eyes and stared down the 
blade of the sword pointing at her.  The point was only inches from 
her nose and as she stared down the blade, she stopped at the end to 
see Ken's frowning face.
    After putting the sword down so that it was no more of a danger to 
her, Ken scolded her, "I told you never to let go of your weapon no 
matter what happens."
    Lips turning up in the corners, Lita said, "You wouldn't hurt 
me, what do I have to worry about?"
    Ken gave an exasperated sigh and handed the sword back to her.  
"That's beyond the point, Li.  What if you weren't fighting against 
me?  What if it was some Negaverse general?  Would you have dropped 
the sword?"
    "Of course not, Ken."
    "Then why did you drop it?"  He interrogated again.
    "Because you're not a general!"  Lita said firmly. She didn't 
know why he was taking this so seriously.  Even Luna wouldn't have 
been this strict.
    He turned his back on her and shook his head.  "So what if that 
Negaverse general was doing the same thing I was doing?  You would 
still have dropped the sword."
    That statement was way out of question and Lita had no idea 
where that came from.  "First of all, I wouldn't be caught dead 
letting a Negaverse general getting that close to me. Second of all, 
what's the matter?  Is something the matter, Kennie?"
    "No,"  he replied quickly.
    "Are you sure?"  Lita's hauntingly mellifluous voice asked 
again, seeping into every nook and cranny of his soul.  
    Ken did an about face and bore his eyes into hers.  It was a 
clash of wits, seeing who would give in first. They stared at each 
other for at least five minutes before Lita reached and put a hand 
on his arm, a casual gesture that meant everything to him.
    "I'm sorry I was being such a nit-picker,"  Ken apologized.
    Lita shook her head, "No, it's not your fault. I should have 
held on to the sword."
    Drawing her into an embrace, Ken once again breathed in her 
scent and smiled when he felt the handle of the sword against his 
back, where her hand was.  "I just worry about you.  I want you to 
be able to defend yourself if I'm not there."
    Lita drew back and shot him a look.  "I am capable of defending 
myself."
    Ken grinned. He had hit that sensitive spot in her.  Lita _was_ 
fully able to take care of herself in most situations and she made a 
point of that.  Suddenly, on impulse, he jumped high and aimed his 
foot at her, ready to kick her to the next block if he could.  
"Think fast!"
    As if by instinct already, Lita swung the sword and hit him with 
the flat part of the blade like a spatula and flung him into another 
direction.  Ken fell with an "oomph" on the floor, dazed, but 
smiling.
    "Are you crazy?! I could have killed you!"  Lita shouted to 
him.  She thanked the heavens above that she only hit him with the 
face of the sword and not the edge.
    "I just wanted to make sure you could handle it,"  Ken said and 
got up to dust the seat of his pants off.
    "Are you okay?"  Lita asked, handing him the sword, which 
dematerialized as soon as Ken took it.
    "Just a bruise, no big deal."  He assured her.
    "Sure?"
    Ken laughed, "Don't worry.  You're not as strong as you think 
you are."
    Lita socked him in the shoulder, which he blocked with fast 
accuracy.  [He's quick] she thought and launched a kick at him, 
which he also blocked.  This lead to a hand to hand combat.  Each 
punch, each kick Lita gave him, Ken blocked it.
    "What are you doing?"  Ken asked between blocks.
    Launching another kick, Lita told him, "We'll see who's as 
strong as they think."  
    After another great block, Ken arched an eyebrow.  "Is this a 
challenge?"
    "You bet."
    "Are you sure?  I don't want to hurt you now."  He grinned.  He 
knew she was serious about this because she didn't stop.
    "Come on, hot shot."  Lita said, quoting what he said earlier 
that day.
    Ken threw a couple of super quick karate chops, all of which 
Lita dodged gracefully.  As soon as the last chop was done, Lita 
crouched on the floor and did a sweep with her leg, succeeding in 
tripping Ken and seeing him land on the floor.
    "I give up,"  he surrendered, still on the floor.   
    "Smart move,"  Lita smiled and dusted her hands off.  She held a 
hand out to him to help him up.
    To her surprise, Ken took her hand.  Not only did he grab it 
firmly, but he also pulled her down onto the floor with him.
    "Hey, cheater!"  Lita protested as she landed on him not too 
gracefully.
    Ken's eyes sparkled with mischief as he said, "Here's another 
challenge."
    "What's that?"  she whispered, her face now inches away from his.
    "Who can hold their breath the longest,"  and with that, Ken's 
mouth found Lita's.
    Ken would have thought he was going to win that one since he 
kind of "cheated" and took a deep breath before kissing Lita, but he 
heard snickering and giggling softly in the background.  He 
separated from her and looked around.
    "I win,"  Lita said breathlessly, her face flushed.
    Sure enough, Ken spotted a pair of blonde meatballs peaking out 
from a patch of blackberry bushes.  He got up and pulled Lita up 
with him.
    "Aren't you two supposed to be practicing?"  Serena emerged after 
seeing that she was found.  
    "We were,"  Lita defended.
    "I meant practicing with each other, not on each other."  She 
giggled.
    "What are _you_ practicing?  Spying skills?"  Ken changed the 
subject.
    "No, Luna told me to tell you guys to meet us in front of the 
temple."  Serena answered.
    "We're done for today?"  Lita asked.
    "Probably,"  Serena shrugged.  She linked her arm through Lita's 
in a friendly and tugged her, "Come on. The sooner we end, the 
sooner I can go eat lunch."
    Lita laughed and followed the pigtailed blonde and grabbed hold 
of Ken's arm also.  Together, the three of them bounded off to the 
front of the temple.
    "What are you guys so happy about?"  Rei asked suspiciously as 
Serena dragged Lita and Ken along.
    "They were-"  Serena started, but stopped when Lita's hand came 
over her mouth.
    "We were just going to come anyway," Ken filled in and smiled 
weakly.
    "Oh really?  You and Lita weren't busy lip-fighting?"  Darien 
speculated.
    "What do you mean?"  Lita asked as innocently as she could.
    Darien leaned closer to Ken for a better inspection and nodded.  
"Umm hmm, just as I thought. You two _were_ kissing."
    "And how do you know that?"  Ken's eyebrow arched under his 
bangs.
    With a smile, Darien answered, "Because look at your lips. 
They have this... shine to it.  Looks like _somehow_ Lita's chapstick
wore off on you."
    Ami agreed, also leaning in for closer inspection, "Yes, there 
does seem to be a luminescence to his lips."
    Lita sighed, "Okay, enough with the third degree already.  We 
were practicing as a matter of fact."
    "Yes, I have no doubt of that."  Luna assured her, looking at 
several grass stains and dirt marks on both of their attires.
    The sun was now directly above them, shining down with unusual 
hostility like a concentrated magnifying glass beam.
    Artemis spoke, "Since practice is over for today, you are free 
to go have lunch and take a change of clothes."
    "But,"  Luna reminded, "Right after lunch, Ami, Rei and Mina 
will go look for Michiru while Serena, Darien, Ken and Lita will go 
look for Haruka."
    "And where will you two be in case we need to contact you?"  Rei 
questioned them.
    "Most likely somewhere around town. We'll just scope out the 
coffee houses and other miscellaneous locations that Setsuna has 
been known to be seen at.  Let's all meet back here at six to 
discuss what we learned."  Luna advised.
    "No can do. Chad and Grampa might be back by six."
    "Let's all meet at my place then,"  Ami suggested.
    Everyone looked surprisingly at her.  
    "My mom's out at a Doctor's convention for New Age medicine so 
it's safe." she explained.
    "Ok, that settles it. Meet at Ami's at six."  Mina said.
    "Alright, see you then."  
    They split off into two groups and went their separate ways.  
Luna and Artemis stayed behind for the time being to discuss some 
additional points.  It wasn't really a discussion since Luna led the 
whole talk while Artemis only interrupted with a few words to say the 
most.
    
    "Let's first go home and change and we'll meet at the diner on 
8th street for lunch," Darien suggested to Serena, Lita and Ken.  
    "Good idea, then after lunch, we can check out the race tracks 
for Haruka." Lita agreed.

    A half hour later, they all arrived at roughly the same time
at the diner.  The bell tinkled as they pushed the front door and
looked for an empty booth.  From the looks of things, the restaurant
was having a pretty good business day.
    The group found a booth by the window and slid in, men on one
side, ladies across from them.  A perky waitress dropped by and
handed them separate menus and promised to be back soon.
    "Ooo, everything looks so good here!"  Serena exclaimed.  "I
don't know what to order."
    Lita closed the menu and put it at the corner of the table,
"I already know what I want to order."
    "What?"  Ken asked.
    "Chef's specialty. It sounds delicious."  Lita told him and
showed him where that dish was.
    "I'll just go with the rice balls and barbecued oriental
beef,"  Darien made up his mind.
    "Chef's specialty for me too," Serena finally decided.
    The last to order, Ken just told the waitress, "Just get me
the salami sandwich."
    The second the food arrived at the table, everyone dug in
hungrily because of the practice earlier.  They ate like scavengers
seeing food for the first time.
    "You know,"  Serena said between mouthfuls, "This place is
pretty good. We should go here more."
    "Yeah," Ken said after taking a big bite out of his sandwich,
"I hear they have a buffet line on Sunday nights."
    "Ewww please,"  Lita suggested, "Don't talk with your mouth
full."
    Ken grinned and opened his mouth wide, "What's wrong?  Don't
like sea-food?"
    Lita shook her head and concentrated on her own food.  It was
pretty delicious food after all.  While she was eating, she couldn't
help but separate the different ingredients that it would take to
make a dish like that.
    "What's wrong, muffin?  You haven't said anything since the
food got here."  Serena asked Darien.
    "This stuff is _really_ good," Darien offered.  "Almost as
good as your cooking, Lita."
    "Thanks,"  Lita accepted the complement.
    "When are you going to make your sea-food dinner again, Lita? 
I haven't had that for such a long time!"  Serena whined and looked
at her with hopeful eyes.
    "Tell ya what,"  Lita promised her.  "When it's your
birthday, I'll make you all the food you want."
    "Oh, thank you thank you thank you!"  Serena giggled.  "I can't
wait!"
    In another five minutes, the dishes were empty but their
stomachs were far from it.  They argued as usual as to who paid the
bills and finally settled at paying the individuals meal themselves.
After that was taken care of, they were off to the race tracks.


    Meanwhile, in the other part of town, three girls tried to
make their way into the Tokyo City Music Hall.  Rei was standing with
her hands on her hips and a frown on her face.
    "Please, please, please?"  Mina tried to sweet talk her way
in with the security standing at the door.    
    "Nope, sorry ladies.  There are practices going on in there
and I was given strict orders not to let anyone in without a pass." 
The security officer said again and again.
    Ami had already gone all the way around the building,
searching for another way in, but every door was either locked or
being watched.
    "Look buster,"  Rei said firmly, "We're friends of violinist
Michiru Kaioh and if you don't let us in, I'll..."
    "You'll what?"  the large man asked, crossing his arms. 
"What are you going to do to me, lady?"
    "I'll tell your supervisor!"  Rei threatened.
    "Hah!  I doubt he'll do anything about it."
    "Well, then, I'll just-"  Rei stopped as someone pulled her
arm. She turned to see a rather red faced and embarrassed Ami.
    "Rei, I found her.  I found her in the parking lot.  She's
willing to talk to us there."  Ami whispered.
    "You're lucky this time, buster!"  Rei glared at the smug
security guard.
    "Very sorry, sir, to bother you."  Ami apologized and dragged
Rei and Mina toward the parking lot.  As she said, Michiru was there
waiting, violin case in one hand and a music folder in another.
    "Yes, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?" she
asked, offering them a small smile.
    "I hope we're not taking up too much of your time,"  Ami
started off.
    "Not at all, I'm always willing to help friends."  she
replied.
    "Do you know where Setsuna is?"  Rei blurted.  She didn't
feel like waiting there and beating around the bush.
    "Sure, she's probably around town somewhere.  Last time I saw
her, she was at the mall buying some history books." Michiru told
them.
    "Oh, so she's living in her apartment?"  Mina asked.
    Michiru laughed, "Of course she is.  You don't think she'd
live off the streets, do you?"
    "No, I meant, she's not at the Time Gate or anything?"  
    "She's not there that frequently anymore."  Michiru replied. 
"But if you are all thinking of asking about something to do with
Crystal Tokyo, good luck."
    "Thanks,"  Rei thanked.
    After a couple of good-byes and good lucks, Rei, Ami, and Mina
left the parking lot, glad that they found some loose bits of
information and got what they were looking for.
    
    
    "Go, go, go, go, go!"  The group of four chanted in unison.
"Haruka Ten'oh and her Michi-mobile is having a great
start!"  The announcer shouted enthusiastically over the loudspeakers
around the track.
    Serena watched as Haruka's car zoomed past her at least three
seconds before the car in second place also zoomed past.  There
weren't a lot of people at the tracks since this was only a practice
race, but she felt the tension for first place amongst all the
racers.
    "She sure is fast,"  Ken commented, shaking his head.  There
was more than a 500 feet between the Michi-mobile and the car
closest to it.
    "It's all over, folks!"  The announcer stated as the race
drew to an end with Haruka as the winner.  "Michi-mobile does it
again."
    Darien, Lita, Serena and Ken walked down from the bleachers
to greet Haruka who was taking her helmet off and combing her hand
through her unruly hair.
    "You were great!"  Serena beamed as they came within hearing
distance.
    "It was nothing,"  the taller blonde replied and patted her
car, "Good old Michi helped a bit."
    "You're going to be at the World Series if you keep that up."
    "Serena, I don't think there even is a world series for
this,"  Lita told her.
    "Yes there is!"  Serena defended and jutted out her lower
lip.
    "Okay, okay, I'm not Rei. I'm not going to fight with you." 
Lita assured her.
    At the mention of fight, Haruka asked Lita, "Speaking of
fight, how good have you gotten?"
    "Are you challenging me?"  Lita grinned arching an eyebrow.
    "Come on, right here, right now!"  Haruka said and got into a
fighting stance.
    And they were off.  The two tall ladies circled each other,
looking for a way in while the bystanders gave them more room.
    "Are you sure this is safe?"  Ken whispered to Darien, not
taking his eyes off the fighters.
    Darien shrugged, "They always get like this.  It's just
friendly competition.  But actually, Lita has been getting better,
although Haruka still hasn't been beaten."
    "Until now,"  Lita said, hearing the last part of what Darien
said.
    "We'll see about that,"  Haruka launched a kick at Lita, which
she easily blocked.
    After the block, while she still had time, Lita threw a punch
at Haruka's mid-section, almost making contact if the latter hadn't
sidestepped.  It was amazing how quick Haruka was despite her height.
    "C'mon!"  Lita complained, "You're going easy on me."
    "You think you can handle more?"  Haruka grinned from ear to
ear like a Cheshire cat.
    Lita quickly took advantage of the grin and tried to trip
Haruka to the ground like she had done with Ken earlier.  Much to her
dismay, Haruka jumped quickly to avoid the leg sweep and landed
perfectly on both feet.  Just as Lita was about to get up, Haruka
kneed her in the shoulder, making her end up on the floor.
    "And the battle's over!"  The announcer, who had been
obviously watching the ladies fight declared.
    Everyone looked around, searching for the voice without a
body.
    "Where is he?"  Darien asked.
    Haruka just shrugged, "He's everywhere.  He's the announcer,
he had cameras all over the place, what did you expect?"  She helped
Lita up off the dirt floor.
    "Thanks.  One day, I'll beat you."  She vowed with
determination.
    "Yeah, but until then, one little piece of advice:  Don't get
on the floor unless you absolutely need to or you end up there
because of a hit.  If you're to the ground on purpose, it's harder to
get back up."   Haruka suggested.
    Lita nodded, reminding herself to remember that because every
single tip the better martial artist had told her, she stored into
her memory.
    "So what are you guys doing here anyway?  I doubt it's to see
me race."  Haruka wiped off a small smudge of dirt from the
Michi-mobile's windshield.  
    "Can we talk in private? Where we can't be overheard?" 
Serena suggested, indicating the still to be seen announcer who might
be listening to them.
    "Sure, but the only private place around here that's away
from The Voice is the ladies' locker-room."  Haruka led the way with
the four of them following.
    They stopped at the door and Haruka looked at Ken and Darien. 
"Where do you two think you're going?"
    "With you guys," Ken said.  "You said no one was there
anyway."
    "But it doesn't mean you can go in it. It's a private place. 
You guys wait out here."  Lita said and hurried in after the other
two ladies.
    "I see we're not wanted around here,"  Darien shouted in
after them and turned to offer a smile to Ken.  "Oh well, let's go
see what's at the soda machine.  I'm dying for a drink."
    
    Haruka faced the cold shower and let all the sweat wash off
her body. She turned to the shoulder-height wall of the stall and
looked at Lita.  Although it was shoulder-height, the thin wall was
about as tall as Serena's forehead so the only one Haruka could
really talk to was Lita, whose head was (unlike Serena's) above the
wall.    "Setsuna, eh?  Well, she's around here alright.  She doesn't
stand at the TimeGate as much as she used to anymore, that's for
sure."
    "So you're sure she's in this time period?"  Lita asked.
    "Well, she's obviously not dining with Socrates, so she's
here in Tokyo."  Haruka said and shampooed her hair.
    "Do you know where exactly she is?"  Serena's voice asked.
    Haruka waited until she rinsed all the shampoo out of her
hair before answering.  "Not this moment, but she's at her usual
whereabouts. The cafe, the book shop, her apartment, you know those
places."
    "Okay, thanks for telling us."  Lita thanked.  "We don't want
to take up too much of your time."
    "If you're looking for some answers in here, you'll have
better luck with a broken 8-ball."  Haruka advised.
    "We'll try to squeeze something out of her,"  Lita replied
confidently.
    Haruka shook her head.  "She's as unsqueezable as an empty
tube of tooth-paste."
    "Don't worry, we'll fish something out sooner or later." 
Lita said again, with a little more uncertainty.
    "She's as unfishable as the sand at the golf course."  Haruka
said again. 
    "What's up with all these similes?"  Lita curiously asked.
    "I don't know, they just popped up."  Haruka shrugged as she
put on her normal clothes and stepped out of the closet.
    "Thanks again for the info," Serena said.
    "Yeah, thanks.  Next time we meet, we'll have another duo." 
Lita promised.
    "You're on!"  Haruka furrowed her brows in a fighter's
expression.    
    "Bye!"  The two girls rushed out the stuffy showers and found
the guys by the soda machine.
    

    
    It was six p.m. when the group met in front of Setsuna's large 
apartment.  They were all a bit nervous.  Luna knew all too well what 
the outcome of this encounter would be.  There were many times when 
they asked Setsuna for some answers, or at least a hint or two into 
the future and almost always, they got the same response:  It's not 
for me to tell.
    "Do you think she'll be mad at us?"  Serena asked, clinging onto 
Darien like she was a drowning person.  Just a few minutes before, 
she was singing "We're off to see the wizard" happily in that shrill 
voice of hers.
    "I don't think she'll be angry,"  Ami said thoughtfully.  "But I 
do suppose it gets mighty irritating when we constantly ask her 
things."
    Suddenly, the large door opened and Setsuna stood in the frame. 
Her hair was in it's usual half bun and she was wearing nothing 
exquisite, just a shirt and jeans, but even then, she looked regal.
    "Hi Setsuna!"  Serena greeted enthusiastically.
    "Hello, Serena.  It's so good to see all of you here.  Let me 
guess, you're here to ask me something?"  
    "You bet,"  Mina replied for her.  "Wow, you really _can_ see 
into the future, huh?"
    The scout of time only smiled, "With all of you gathered here 
like this, it would be the only reason."
    She let all seven and two cats in and closed the door.  Darien 
was the first to speak after the long silence while all of them were 
admiring the extravagant room.
    "Nice place you have here,"  Darien commented.  He thought it 
was more than nice. This place could have competed with the royal 
suite of England.
    "I try to keep it clean,"  Setsuna replied.  "But it's pretty 
hard considering the size."
    "Yeah, I know what you mean."  Lita agreed.  This apartment was 
about three times as large as hers.  Heck, just the living room 
alone was as large as her whole apartment.
    "Have a seat,"  Setsuna told them and pointed to the set of 
couches.
    [Why does she need so many couches and chairs for if she lives 
alone?]  Lita wondered.  There were two of the three-seat couches, 
both a mauve color facing each other.  Then, there was another pair 
of love seats, the same color by the couches, and then three 
separate mauve armchairs.  It looked kind of like a small furniture 
store in there.
    "I sometimes have guests over, much like this occasion."  
Setsuna explained as if reading Lita's thoughts.  She took a seat 
after seeing that everyone else found a comfortable place.
    Rei was about to speak out, but then stopped short.  Then, she 
said something again.  "We'd better let Luna start this."
    Luna nodded and started.  "Since the last youma attack, we 
noticed a pattern.  All the attacks seem to have originated from one 
particular spot, the park."
    Setsuna leaned back into her seat and took that into 
consideration.  It didn't take a very observant person to figure 
that out, but what Luna said did hit a chord in her.
    "And the park is in the middle of Tokyo,"  Luna continued.  "And 
from what we know, in the future, the tower in which Neo Queen 
Serenity stays in-"
    "Crystal Tower,"  Setsuna provided.  
    "Yes, the Crystal Tower is in the exact location that the park 
is in right now."  Luna concluded and arched her eyebrow.
    In her head, Setsuna had already solved what they were about to 
ask.
    "Is there some sort of connection?"  Serena asked hopefully.
    Setsuna debated between decisions.  [It wouldn't hurt to tell 
them, but then, that depends on what they would do with the 
knowledge.  The logical thing that they'd do would be to fix the 
problem, or try to, but the fact is, they can't.  Should I tell them 
they can't fix it, or should I not?  Or maybe I shouldn't tell them 
anything?]
    "If you're vacillating about telling us the connection or not, I 
assure you, we'll find out one way or another."  Ami offered in a 
non-threatening way.
    A heavy silence followed.  Everyone crossed their fingers, 
waiting for the scout of time to make her decision.
    "Yes, there's a connection,"  she finally said, cutting the 
quietness.  "The spot where the park is planted is the energy center 
of Japan, perhaps even the world.  That's why the Crystal Tower was 
built on it, and that's why youmas like to accumulate there.  It's 
like a well that contains more energy than anywhere else."
    "But isn't that dangerous?"  Rei asked.  She wondered why she 
didn't sense that before.
    "Not necessarily, but if it falls into the wrong hands, it can 
do a lot of damage."  Setsuna advised them.  "Like all power things, 
this one has to be guarded closely.  There's no way to stop what's 
happening now because there's no way to stop energy from 
accumulating there.  The only thing to do is watch that spot closely 
because I guarantee that there will be plenty more battles on that 
ground."
    It all made sense.  Luna found that she actually believed it. 
Most of the time, answers they sought would be outrageous and 
unbelievable, but nonetheless true.  But this time, there was 
actually a logical answer.
    "That's all?"  Ken asked.  It sounded too easy.
    "That's all."
    "We can't reverse the energy field around the park to stop 
energy from accumulating there?"  Ami questioned.  She was quickly 
doing the math in her head, trying to set the perimeters straight.
    "Don't bother working it out.  There's a loop in there some 
where.  Believe me, I tried and it won't work.  The only thing to do 
is watch it."  Setsuna convinced everyone.
    Suddenly, a small girl with short black hair stepped into the 
room from a smaller bedroom.  She had on a faded pink sweatshirt 
under white leggings.  She stopped in her tracks as soon as she saw 
she had come in and interrupted something important.
    "I'm sorry,"  she said in almost a whisper and started to head 
back into her room.
    "No wait, Hotaru."  Setsuna called to the girl.
    "Yes, Setsuna?"  she turned around to face her elder.  As she 
got a better look at everyone, she saw it was the scouts.  She 
seemed to brighten up a little.
    "Were you going to ask me something?"
    Hotaru's face flushed as she was being put on the spot.  She 
shook her head, "It can wait until later.  I'm sorry about the 
interruption."
    "Actually, they were just about to leave."  Setsuna said.  She 
was the only person in the world who could have said that and not 
meant it rudely.
    They all got up and made like they were about to leave anyway.  
    "Yes, thank you."  Ami thanked sincerely.
    "I'm surprised you told us so easily,"  Mina commented on her 
way out.
    "Are we wearing you down?"  Serena teased.
    Setsuna only smiled, "No, there is just so much you still don't 
know.  It all comes with age."
    "Good bye,"  Darien said and shut the door since he was the last 
one out.

    "That was too simple,"  Rei complained.  They were standing out 
on the street in front of the apartment now, discussing what they 
learned.
    "Do you think she told us the truth?"  Ken asked.   
    Lita almost socked him.  "She always tells the truth.  She never 
lies.  If for any reason she can't tell us, she just says that, not 
lie."
    "But it was... too simple,"  Darien agreed.
    "First, everything's too complicated, and you guys complained.  
Now that it's simple,  you're still complaining?"  Luna shook her 
head in disbelief.
    "But that's my point,"  Darien argued.  "We changed from 
complicated to simple almost overnight.  Don't you find it odd?"
    "I guess,"  Serena started.  "But we better watch that spot more 
carefully like Setsuna said."
    "Exactly,"  Artemis nodded, glad that Serena had said something 
accurate for once.
    The group then split up and said their good-byes so they could go 
home and sleep since it had been an eventful day.



    In another dimension, rest was the last thing on this woman's 
mind.  Scandite paced the floor ever so slowly.  She was extremely 
angry.  She was so angry, her usual carrot orange hair was starting 
to turn a fiery red.  Her eyes were no longer a recognizable color, 
but a piercing, blood red with white spots around.
    "I'll make you pay,"  she swore under her breath and threw 
another dagger into her dart board.
    The dart board was no ordinary board.  Sure, it was made of cork 
like the usual ones, but unlike them, this one didn't have a series 
of red and black rings used for scoring.  No, this dart board had a 
figure on it.  The figure was in a green cape and held a sword in 
hand.  And on that sword was the sign of Jupiter.
    "I'll make you pay for killing Boronite, for making me suffer, 
and for everything else I blame onto you."  She vowed in a deathly 
whisper.  She had already lost touch with sanity.  Now, she was 
driven by only one urge, and that was vengeance.    

    
    The raven-haired girl gasped at what she saw before the fire.  
She even double checked to verify that her revelation wasn't a false 
one.  Unfortunately, it correct.  Something bad was going to 
happen.  Rei felt the ambiguous cloud of evil looming over the 
fire.  
    "This is going to be bad,"  she whispered.  Immediately, she 
took out her communicator to notify the others.



***********************************************************************
        
I see a big finale coming on, don't you?  Well, you know the drill, 
C&C goes to me, addy on the bottom.    

             LadyJupiter@SailorJupiter.com
**********Copyright 1998 Lady Jupiter  (All Rights Reserved)*************