SAILOR MOON Z: Act 3, “Double
Image”
Scene 1: After the weekend, things seemed to be
going smoothly again. It wasn’t back to
normal, of course, since
Roshiva could tell that Pollux
and Kazari were still mourning the loss of
“We have a new student today,” Mr. Sensei told the class. “She . . . uh . . . transferred from Shibakouen Junior High--”
“Don’t sugar-coat it, Teach,” the new girl said casually.
Roshiva noticed the girl for the first time. She was 5’0” tall, with jungle green eyes, and curly blonde hair that reached her mid-neck and bangs that tweaked up a little. She was still wearing the Shibakouen uniform, and not the Juuban one. That was strange because wearing the wrong uniform wasn’t allowed. “Just tell it like it is so we can get this over with,” she continued. “Yo kids, I got expelled from that stupid school ‘cause they couldn’t handle me. My name’s Yoshin Kassandra, but just call me Kastor.”
Pollux suddenly looked up from his trance and gave Kassandra an odd look. His face was a mixture of surprise, confusion, and amusement.
“My birthday’s comin’ up – I’ll be twelve on June 20th.”
Roshiva looked at Pollux. That was his birthday too.
“I don’t have a religion or a lover; I have better things to do with my time. My favorite stone’s emerald and my least favorite stone’s moonstone. My favorite flower’s the trailing arbutus. Favorite day – Wednesday; least favorite – Saturday. Favorite numbers – 3 and 4; least favorite – 0. Favorite color – silver; least favorite – black. Favorite place – in the mountains; least favorite – at the beach. Favorite food – soda and fast food; least favorite – tea. My favorite subject’s drama, but I goofed off too much at my last school so I failed. I get the best grades in English. My least favorite subject’s History; it’s the boringest class, I swear.”
Kassandra rolled her eyes.
“This class is History,” one of the students told her as other students chuckled.
“Oops. . . .”Cassandra said with a sweat drop, turning slowly to the teacher.
He cleared his throat disapprovingly. “Carry on, Yoshin-san.”
“Please,” she insisted. “Call me Kastor.”
She turned back to the class. “Anyway, my dream job is either an actress or a talk show host. My hobby is talking and getting people mad.”
She smirked, giving a victory/peace sign to the class. “I’m pretty good at doing that, if I do say so myself. What I’m not good at is cooperating with people. I live with my dad, Keitaro.”
She heaved a sign. “Done. Finally. It’s such a waste of time. I’ll probably get kicked out of this school too, and then I’ll have to repeat my profile all over again.”
“That’s enough, ‘Kastor.’ Take a seat in Serenity-san’s old desk where those two girls are.”
“Over there by that blond boy?” she asked Mr. Sensei, pointing at Pollux.
“Yes, by Pollux.”
Kassandra sniggered.
“What kind of name is that? I
can’t even say it—
“Just sit down,” Mr. Sensei told her wearily.
“Fine, fine! No need to get all disgruntled.”
She walked over to the desk slowly and dropped her backpack on the floor.
Roshiva and Pollux stared at her.
Kassandra shook her head at Pollux, chuckling. “Pox. Really, what a name.”
“Shut-up,” he said, a smile curling on his lip. “What kind of name is Kastor? It sounds like kasutera (Japanese for “sponge cake”).”
[Note : The name Kastor would be pronounced “Kah-soo-tah” in Japanese, so it does sound like kasutera (“kah-soo-teh-rah”).]
Roshive and Kazari looked at Pollux, amazed. He was back to his old self.
Kassandra looked just as surprised, as if no one had ever insulted her before. Before she could say anything, Mr. Sensei started discussing the lesson.
Scene 2: Oushi smiled as she walked into her second period Home Economics class. She was happier than she had ever been in life. She had her boyfriend Nandi and her secret partner Roshiva. Nothing could get her down as long as she had them.
She sat down at her seat and waved to Roshiva, who smiled and waved back.
The bell rang.
“Good morning, class,” Ms. Sensei greeted. “We have a new student today—Yoshin Kassandra.” She looked around the room. “Hmm . . . she doesn’t seem to be here. . . .”
Just then the girl came into the room.
“I didn’t miss much, did I?” Kassandra asked no one in particular.
Everyone stared at her in silence.
“I didn’t think so.”
“You must be Yoshin Kassandra,” Ms. Sensei said.
“Kastor,” she corrected.
“Did you have trouble finding the class?”
“Not really. I just didn’t feel like coming right away.”
“I see. . . . Well, we’ve finished up the bread we made yesterday. The yeast dough is already made. You can be in Bullock-san’s and Pollux’s group. They--”
“Pox!” Kassandra exclaimed, pointing at Pollux.
“—need the help.”
“Ha, well don’t expect me to be the master cook or anything.”
“Okay . . . well everyone can start cooking now.”
Everyone got out of their seats and went to their kitchens.
Oushi followed slowly behind Pollux and Kassandra.
“Let’s rustle up some grub, Pox!” Kassandra said, putting her arm around his shoulder.
Pollux chuckled.
Oushi didn’t know what to think of this new girl. She was so rude.
Roshiva passed by Oushi. “Have fun with the clowns.”
Kassandra turned around and looked at Oushi. “Hey chick, are you in our group?”
Oushi nodded, staring at her.
“Well don’t be rude! Introduce yourself!” Kassandra shook Oushi’s hand vigorously. “Hi, what’s crackin’? I’m Kastor, and you?”
“Bullock Oushi,” she replied softly.
Kassandra laughed. “Okay then! C’mere, Oushi-san. Join the group! Ya don’t wanna lose participation points, now do ya?”
She pushed Oushi into the kitchen. On the way, Kassandra grabbed Pollux’s arm and pulled him in too.
“The new girl is cocky,” Keshi murmured as she walked into her own kitchen with Roshiva.
“Tell me about it,” Roshiva agreed, getting out the cooking supplies.
“Sensei,” someone from another kitchen called. “We don’t have any flour.”
“Yeah,” Roshiva told Ms. Sensei. “Neither do we.”
“All right,” Ms. Sensei said. “I’ll go borrow some from another classroom. I’ll be right back.”
She left the classroom.
“Ooh,” Kassandra mused. “The teacher’s gone. Time to have some fun.”
Pollux hopped up on the kitchen counter and laid down. “You girls can do the cooking.”
“What?” Kassandra said. “You poopin’ out on us, Pox?”
“Nah, just relaxin’, Kasutera.”
“Here’s the bag of dough,” Oushi told Kassandra, handing it to her.
“Kasutera!” Keshi mocked from the other kitchen. “Ha ha! You’re a sponge cake!”
Kassandra opened the bag, pulled out a chunk of dough, and hurled it at Keshi’s face.
The room went silent. The whole class stopped what they were doing and looked at Keshi, the dough slowly dripping from her face. Pollux sat up and stared at her, then cracked up laughing. Kassandra did too. Soon the whole room was laughing, even Oushi. But not Keshi.
“You bitch!” Keshi yelled, stomping over to Kassandra and slapping her across the face.
“Actually, my name is Kastor,” she replied coolly. “What’s yours?”
Keshi didn’t answer, just glared coldly at Kassandra.
“Her name’s O’Brien Keshi,” Pollux told Kassandra, still laughing.
“Ah . . . pleased to meet you, Keshi-sama!”
[Note: Kassandra insulted Keshi by putting “-sama” after her name; “-sama” is a very formal title, and Kassandra used it sarcastically; so it was like she was mocking her by calling her “Queen Keshi.”]
Kassandra took a big glob of dough and smashed it in Keshi’s face.
“Hope I didn’t mess up your make-up too bad!” Kassandra sneered with glee.
The class laughed more.
“Aw, you’re bad, Kasutera,” Pollux commented, grinning, and giving her a high five.
“Don’t I know it, Pox!” she agreed.
Roshiva walked over to Oushi. “They’re quite a pair.”
Oushi nodded, still gawking at the scene.
Scene 3: Kassandra sighed loudly as she went into her third period math class.
“When’s the day gonna end?” she mumbled loudly. “It’s taking forever.”
A girl brushed past her.
“Hey, watch it,” Kassandra said, looking at the girl as she went to her desk.
It was the same girl she sat in front of before.
“Oh, you’re that--” Kassandra began.
The bell interrupted her, and Mr. Sensei wasted no time to start talking.
“Welcome to Juuban Junior High, Yoshin-san.”
“It’s Kastor,” she corrected. “Where should I sit?”
“Over there in Serenity-san’s old desk—in front of Tabemono-san, the girl with the pink hair.”
“Serenity-san’s desk again? The girl that got put in a coma? I sat in her desk in first period. What’re y’all tryin’ to do—curse me?”
“Would you mind taking your seat now?”
“To tell you the truth, yes, I do mind. But I’ll sit there just so my dad can sue you once I get put in a coma.”
Kassandra went to the desk and sat down. Mr. Sensei began teaching, writing algebraic equations on the board.
“You’re the broad I sat behind in first period, right?” Kassandra asked casually, turning around to face Kazari.
Kazari scowled at her. “Who do you think you are, calling me a broad?”
“I think I’m Kastor. Honestly, what’s your problem? I call all girls that. It’s a more fitting name for them, don’tcha think?”
“No, I don’t,” she growled. “I think you better show me some respect before I beat you up.”
“Beat me up? Is that a threat, miss high and mighty?”
“What do you think?” Kazari mocked.
“I think you better take it back before I call your bluff.”
“Shut-up, you--”
“Excuse me, Tabemono-san, Yoshin-san!” Mr. Sensei interrupted. “I’m trying to teach here!”
“Not tryin’ hard enough obviously,” Kassandra muttered loudly, turning back around.
“Is your conversation so important that you can’t wait until after class?”
“Yes it is, actually.”
“Oh really. Then how about you share it with me?”
“How ‘bout not. This is a taco and burrito conversation—nachos!”
“No, this conversation is over,” Kazari said. “Sorry for the disruption, Sensei. I was trying to get her to shut up.”
“Tabemono is the burrito,” Kassandra said, chuckling. “’Cause she STINKS.”
The class laughed. Kazari scowled at Kassandra.
Scene 4: “Ooh, Science. . . .” Kassandra mused as she walked into her fourth period class. “Let’s make a bomb to blow up the school!”
“Hello Yoshin-san,” Ms. Sensei greeted.
“Kastor,” she corrected.
“Okay, well, we’re doing a lab today, but tomorrow you can sit in that empty desk there.”
“Lemme guess—it’s Serenity-san’s old desk?”
Before Ms. Sensei could answer, Pollux walked in.
“It sure is,” he told her.
“Or was,” Kassandra muttered with a chuckle.
“Hey now,” he said, offended. “Don’t diss her; she was my friend.”
“Oh . . . sorry ‘bout that, Pox.”
Suddenly Kazari walked by, pushing in between them.
“Uh, excuse me, Tabemono,” Kassandra said. “That’s the second time today you pushed me. You can walk around us, ya know. If you want respect from people, you gotta dish out some yourself.”
Kazari ignored her, and went over to talk to Jovanna.
The bell rang.
“All right, everyone,” Ms. Sensei said. “Get into your lab groups.”
“Hey, Pox, wanna be my partner-in-crime?” Kassandra asked.
“No way,” Kazari growled, walking back to them. “He’s working with Jovanna-san and me.”
“Tabemono-san,” Ms. Sensei scolded. “Show some sympathy for our new student. We should make her feel welcome.”
“Yeah, show some respect,” Kassandra agreed, nodding with her arms crossed.
“She can work with your group today.”
Jovanna led the way to a lab station. Kazari hurried past Pollux and Kassandra.
“Ha ha,” Kassandra scoffed. “Tough luck, sister.”
She and Pollux laughed.
Scene 5: It was a sunny mid-Spring afternoon. Everyone was eating their lunches outside. However, Lunch time was almost over. Some kids were finished eating—like Keshi. She was sitting under the shade of a big tree with several other girls.
“Oh oh!” Keshi was saying with side excited eyes. “I meant to tell you all about my new boyfriend!”
“Oh, you have a new boyfriend?”
“What happened to your last one?”
“Oh, I dumped him the other day,” Keshi replied with a wave of her hand. “He didn’t turn out to be my type. But this new guy is really, really hot—and I mean really hot.”
A girl giggled. “What’s his name?”
“Bob,” Keshi answered dreamily. “I really think he may be like . . . the one!”
“It’s serious?” a girl asked, swallowing a bite of food.
Keshi nodded. “I just met him the other day at my sister’s party, but I think we may even get married!”
They all giggled.
“Are you gonna have kids with him too?”
“For sure!”
“How many?” a girl asked with interest.
“Like five or nine—somewhere in there.”
“Sugoi (Amazing)!”
“I know,” Keshi replied, her eyes still wide. “He’s so hot too! We’re going on a date this Sunday!”
“Sunday again? Why do you always go on dates on Sundays? Does it have something to do with Christianity?”
Keshi shrugged. “Not really. Between us, I don’t really believe in God. I’m just like sexier on Sundays, that’s all. Anyways, we’re gonna eat pizza in the park! We’re gonna feed it to each other and make out!”
“It sounds like all your other dates.”
“No, this one’s special,” Keshi insisted. “Bob’s really hot. I’m getting all dressed up. I’m gonna wear this cute outfit that has dandelions and marigolds on it. I wanted golden rods and sun drops to be on it too, but that one was the only one I could find. It was really expensive. I’m wearing gold eye shadow and a gold bracelet to match! And I’m gonna wear red lipstick and paint my nails red! And I bought this gorgeous ruby ring that I’m gonna wear too! I’m gonna look so beautiful!”
The bell rang.
“Oh darn,” Keshi said. “Now we have to go to class.”
Most of the girls went separate ways to go to class, but two girls stayed with Keshi.
“Later, Keshi-chan!” the girls who were leaving said.
“Later!” she called back.
“Drama is going to be exciting today,” one of the girls next to Keshi said. “We get to audition for that play! I hope I get the lead role. Will you wish me luck, Keshi-chan?”
“Of course I will. You’ll need all the luck you can get. Everyone knows I’m the best actress in the school.”
“Yeah,” the girls agreed with disappointment.
They went into the Drama room and sat in the front row seats of the auditorium. Just then Kassandra walked down the aisle.
“Oh goody, Drama class,” she said sarcastically. “Now I get to laugh at all these wanna-be actors who can’t act worth CRAP.”
“Who’s she?” one of Keshi’s friends asked in a whisper.
Keshi turned around and looked at Kassandra. “Oh God, it’s her. She’s the one I told you guys about—the one who made a fool of me in Home Ec.”
“What did you say her name was?” another girl asked.
“Kastor,” Keshi answered, making a face.
“She has a weird personality and a weird name. What an odd ball.”
“And look at her hair,” the other girl whispered. “It’s all messy and her bangs are tweaked up. It looks like she didn’t even brush it—like she just got out of bed.”
“She’s a freak of nature,” the other girl agreed.
“Yeah—like that other new girl—Sasori Masago,” the other girl added. “What’s up with all these weirdos coming to Juuban?”
“Sasori-san is the freak,” Keshi said. “Kastor is just a bitch.”
It was at that moment that Kassandra had reached the bottom of the aisle—right where Keshi and her friends were. She turned her had and looked at them.
“I heard that,” Kassandra said. “When will you learn, Keshi-sama? I’m not a female dog. Just because you are, doesn’t mean I am. I’m a human being. Get that through your thick head.”
“More like a sponge cake,” Keshi sniggered to her friends.
They giggled.
“Are these your cronies?” Kassandra asked Keshi. “Do you feel more superior when you have them around to back you up?”
“They’re my friends,” Keshi corrected haughtily. “Something you’ll never have since you make enemies everywhere you go.”
“Ha, it’s fun making enemies,” Kassandra replied, plopping down in one of the bottom row seats. “I’d rather have enemies than friends like you who don’t have a brain to think for themselves. ‘Yes, Keshi-sama! Right away, Keshi-sama!’”
Kassandra put her hands behind her head and gazed up at the ceiling. She could hear Keshi and her friends whispering furiously.
“Ya know,” Kassandra said, still looking at the ceiling. “It’s really stupid to whisper when I’m right here, and I know that you’re talking about me.”
They scowled at Kassandra, Keshi’s scowl the harshest.
“Kon’nichi wa min’na!” Mr. Sensei greeted, coming on to the stage. “We have a new actress today. Yoshi Kassandra, why don’t you come up on stage and introduce yourself?”
She stopped staring at the ceiling and looked at him. “You mean give my profile?”
“Yep.”
Kassandra rolled her eyes and got up. She slowly walked on to stage.
“First of all,” she began. “My name’s Kastor, not Kassandra—and not Kasutera as some of you may think. Only Pox can call me Kasutera ‘cause he’s cool. I’m here at Juuban ‘cause I got expelled from Shibakouen, blah blah blah. . . . It was a stupid school—all of ‘em are. But I sure like their uniform better than Juuban’s; no one’s gonna get me into that girly shirt with that stupid bow. . . .”
(Time passes as we see the stage lights.)
“And I live with my dad Keitaro,” Kassandra finished.
“Well,” Mr. Sensei said. “You’ve certainly got spunk.”
Kassandra chuckled. “That’s an understatement.”
“Bravo!” a high voice shouted from one of the auditorium seats in the back. “I loved your speech! Such feeling, such personality!”
Sweat drops formed on everyone’s head. Kassandra looked at the person. She was standing up and clapping—not sarcastically though. She was 5’4” tall with tan skin and straight sea green hair in a braid that reached just past her butt.
“Shut-up, Kani-san!” Keshi shouted to the girl.
The girl stopped clapping and frowned like a child that was deeply hurt.
“Okay people,” Mr. Sensei said. “I know you are all anxious to audition for parts today, so let’s get started.”
He started to walk off the stage, but then turned around and looked at Kassandra.
“Come on, Kastor. You can sit next to me, and I’ll explain how things work around here.”
She followed him off stage, and they sat in one of the middle row seats. He handed her a packet of papers.
“Everyone will have to wait a few minutes so I can explain things to Kastor,” Mr. Sensei told the class.
Some kids grumbled in disappointment.
“Sensei!” the high voice chirped. “That’s okay! You go ahead with the class! I’ll explain the stuff to Kastor!”
She was trying to walk quickly out of the row of seats that she was in. But when she reached the aisle, she tripped over the last seat and fell on the floor.
Mr. Sensei stood up and went into the aisle. “Are you all right, Kani-san?”
Keshi and her friends snickered at her.
The girl slowly got up, wiping away tears and sniffling. “Yes, Sensei. Thanks. I’m okay.”
Mr. Sensei walked to the front row of seats and sat down in one.
“Let’s get started then!” he said. “Most of you probably haven’t memorized lines from the character you want to play since I just gave out the scripts yesterday. So I won’t hold it against you if you don’t have it memorized. You can just take the script up with you when you audition.”
A boy went up on stage with his script and began acting. Meanwhile, that rainbow-haired girl sat in a seat behind Kassandra.
“Hiya!” the girl greeted with a victory-peace sign. “My name is Kani Sakusha! You can call me Sakusha-chan!”
“How ‘bout just Sakusha?” Kassandra asked, noticing she had pink eyes and fresh water pearl rimmed glasses.
“That’s fine too! Wanna be my friend?”
A sweat drop formed on Kassandra’s head. “Uh. . . .”
“I thought your profile was very intriguing,” Sakusha continued. “Want me to give mine?”
“Why would
you even want to?”
“I’ll be turning twelve on July 19th,” Sakusha said, ignoring her comment. “My favorite stone is moonstone, and my least favorite is bloodstone. My favorite flowers are trillium, acanthus, and swamp rose mallow. My favorite days are Friday and Monday, and my least favorite day is Wednesday. My favorite numbers are 3, 7, 8, and 63, and my least favorite number is 20. My favorite color is white, and my least favorite color is black. I like to be on big boats, and I hate being in the desert. I like to eat melons, soup, and milk, but there’s really no food that I don’t like! Everything’s so yummy! I’m pretty good at cooking; it’s one of my hobbies! I also like to write and spy on people, hehe! My favorite subject is Home Economics, and my last favorite is Math. I’m good at acting, so Drama is my best subject, but I get really really nervous in front of an audience; that’s one of my weak points. I worry too much . . . and I’m sensitive . . . I’m a crybaby.”
Sakusha paused, looking ashamed. “Well anyway, my dream job is to be either an artist, author, or interior decorator. I would wanna be a spy too, but that’d be too scary. My wish is to be a mom to a big family. My religion is Greek Mythology. I don’t have a boyfriend yet, but I have a crush on this really really cute boy! And I think he likes me too!”
She sighed dreamily, staring off into space. Then she snapped out of it.
“Oops!” she said with a sweat drop. “I’m sorry! Anyway, I live with my daddy Toru, my eighteen year old brother Tori, my nine year old sister Umeko, and my six year old brother Keru. I love ‘em to pieces! I don’t live with my mommy, Sakura, because my parents got divorced. Their divorce was actually my fault because I spied on Daddy and found out he was having an affair! Isn’t that awful?! I had to tell Mommy. She has this gorgeous pink hair in a big braid just like mine! It’s so pretty! Oops! Golly, I keep digressing! I’m sorry! Anyway, they got a divorce. There was a custody battle for my siblings and me, but Daddy won because Mommy didn’t have a job so she wouldn’t be able to support us. Daddy has lots of money. He owns tons of big houses across the world! The one we live in here is the biggest one! It’s a mansion! It’s so huge that I get lost whenever I wander off! But I like to wander off; it’s fun to explore the house! It has all these hidden passage-ways that not even Daddy knows about! And I use ‘em to spy on him! Ooh, and wanna know a secret? I think he has more than just one lover! He’s such a naughty man! But I still love him a bunch, and I wouldn’t trade him or the rest of my family for anyone in the world!”
Kassandra stared at her.
“So what do ya think?” Sakusha asked.
“Your profile was . . . interesting. You certainly used a lot of detail. . . .”
Sakusha put her hand behind her head, a sweat drop forming. “Yeah . . . I really like your profile though. It was way better than mine. Yours was short, but mine was only long because I talk too much . . . hehe.”
“Right . . . well, aren’t you supposed to explain how I’m supposed to audition for this thing?”
Sakusha put her hand down. “Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that! I’m sorry! All you have to do is read the packet and see who you want to play. Then wait for Sensei to call your name, and you audition! He goes in alphabetical order, so you have plenty of time to read the lines, don’t worry.”
Kassandra chuckled. “You look more worried than I am.”
“Oh, I know! I always get super worried before I act.”
“That’s because she has something to worry about,” someone sniggered.
They looked up. Keshi and her friends were standing next to Sakusha.
“Yeah,” Keshi’s friend agreed. “Kani-san sucks at acting.”
Sakusha started to cry.
“Gee, Keshi-sama,” Kassandra said. “You say all I do is make enemies, yet here you are making this poor girl cry. Now that’s cruel. What’d she ever do to you?”
“Thanks, Kastor,” Sakusha sniffled, managing a smile. “But they’re right. I’m not that good of an actress.”
“It doesn’t matter if you are or not,” Kassandra replied. “You just can’t let people put you down like that . . . especially broads like these.”
Keshi and her friends scowled. Keshi opened her mouth to say something, but Mr. Sensei spoke before she could:
“Kani Sakusha,” he called. “You’re up.”
Sakusha gulped.
“Good luck, Kani-san,” Keshi and her friends said, smirking.
Sakusha stood up slowly, taking a deep breath.
“Hey, don’t sweat it,” Kassandra said.
She nodded and went to the stage with her script.
“I’m playing the mother,” Sakusha told Mr. Sensei.
She put on a frustrated expression and started pacing. “Now where are those kids? I told them to be home by supper, and they’re late. They’re always late. I’m going to have a serious talk with them . . . if they ever get home. Argh. . . .”
“She’s not that bad,” Kassandra remarked.
“Of course you’d say that,” Keshi’s friend replied.
“You can’t do any better,” Keshi’s other friend agreed.
Kassandra chuckled. “Oh yeah?”
Keshi sat down in Sakusha’s seat. “Leave us. I’d like to talk to Kastor alone.”
The two girls left and sat in the seats they were sitting in before.
“Uh . . .” Kassandra said. “We have nothing to talk about.”
“Have you decided on what role you’re playing yet?” Keshi asked, ignoring what she said.
“No. . . .” I haven’t even gotten a chance to look at the parts.”
“Would you mind if you played the lead?”
“I don’t care . . . it’s all the same to me. . . . Why are you asking all these questions?”
“Well, I want to see if you’re as good as an actress as you seem to think you are. Let’s both audition for the same role; then we’ll see who Sensei picks. You obviously don’t care what role you play, so we’ll do the one I want to play—the lead, Melissa. So how ‘bout it? . . . Unless you don’t think you can handle playing such a big part. . . .”
Kassandra smirked. “Fine, I’ll play your little game. It’s no sweat off my nose.”
Sakusha was coming back to her seat. “Oh—excuse me, O’Brien-san, um, that was where I was sitting.”
“I was just leaving,” Keshi replied haughtily. “It’s almost my turn anyway.”
She went back to her old seat and joined her friends.
“What was O’Brien-san talking to you about?” Sakusha asked, sitting down.
“Ah, nothing.”
“Did she want to challenge you for Melissa?”
Kassandra looked at her, surprised. “How did you know?”
Sakusha put her hand behind her head as a sweat drop formed. “Maybe I’m psychic.”
“Right . . . whatever you say. . . .”
Sakusha put her hand down and cleared her throat. “So how did I do?”
“It looked fine to me.”
“Wow, really?” she asked with relief. “Thanks a bunch!”
“Sure . . . no problem. . . .”
“O’Brien Keshi,” Mr. Sensei called.
Keshi walked onto the stage as her friends cheered. Some boys in the audience whistled.
“Thank you,” Keshi said with fake modesty. “Sensei, I’m playing Melissa.”
Keshi’s eyes grew wide and frightened. “Oh Amanda! Don’t worry, my dear little sister! No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side! You don’t have to be afraid! I’ll protect you from them!”
“O’Brien-san is a good actress,” Sakusha told Kassandra. “She just over does it sometimes.”
“No kidding,” Kassandra agreed, looking at Keshi act.
“She can be cruel and cold hearted sometimes, but she’s a good person inside. She just has to cover up her insecurities and stuff, ya know? She’s actually really lonely.”
Kassandra stared at her. Sakusha certainly knew how to read people.
[commercial break]
“And last but not least, Yoshin Kassandra,” Mr. Sensei called.
Kassandra got up, putting her script on the chair.
“Good luck, Kastor!” Sakusha said.
“Yeah, you’ll need it,” Keshi snickered from her front row seat.
Kassandra smirked and went onto the stage. She closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them, her smirk was gone and her eyes were filled with tears.
“Oh Amanda . . .” Kassandra began, her voice wavering. “Don’t worry, my dear little sister. No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side.”
She knelt down and looked into the air as if Amanda was really there.
Kassandra swallowed hard and spoke with determination. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll protect you from them.”
Mr. Sensei clapped. The rest of the class stared at Kassandra in awe.
“That was great, Kastor!” Mr. Sensei complimented. “You get the part!”
Kassandra stood up and smirked. The tears were gone from her eyes.
Sakusha and Keshi both got up out of their seats and went to the stage. Keshi went to Mr. Sensei, but Sakusha went to Kassandra.
“Omedoto (congratulations), Kastor!” Sakusha chirped. “You didn’t even bring your script up with you, and you were terrific! Were you nervous?”
Kassandra jumped off stage. “Nope. The part wasn’t that hard.”
She looked at Keshi talking to Mr. Sensei. Sakusha looked too.
“How can you pick Kastor?!” Keshi demanded. “I’ve always played the lead! Just because she’s the new girl doesn’t mean you have to pity her!”
“I’m not pitying her,” Mr. Sensei replied calmly. “She’s a great actress. So are you. Melissa just isn’t the part for you. She’s not as dramatic as the other parts you’re used to; Melissa is a more emotional part. It’s no big deal, O’Brien-san. Take a break from being in the spotlight. It’ll be good for you. Why don’t you give someone else a chance?”
“Yeah,” Kassandra agreed. “There’s a first time for everything, ya know. I’m sure there’s another part for you.”
“Exactly,” Mr. Sensei said, nodding. “You’d be great for playing the maid.”
“That’s perfect!” Kassandra exclaimed with purposely artificial excitement.
Keshi gritted her teeth as her eyes narrowed.
Kassandra slapped her on the back and laughed lightly. “Sorry to say it . . . but I won your little game. Don’t take it too hard. Hahaha.”
Sakusha giggled.
Scene 6: Roshiva was in her last class now—P.E. She was playing softball against Jovanna’s team. Jovanna was playing first-base, Pollux was pitching, and Kassandra was the catcher.
Roshiva went up to bat and got ready to swing.
“Are ya ready, Rose?” Pollux asked with a smirk. “I’m gonna throw a fast one.”
“Shut up and throw it,” Roshiva spat.
“Ramblin’ Rose, Ramblin, Rose,” Kassandra chuckled to herself.
Pollux threw the ball. Roshiva hit it out of the park. She threw down the bat and ran all the way to home base. All of her teammates cheered for her as she jogged to the back of the line in the dugout. All of them except Kazari; she was busy gazing dreamily at Pollux as someone from the outfield tossed him the ball.
“That was a good hit!” Jovanna told Roshiva with a kind smile.
“Ah, it was nothing.”
A boy next to Kazari in the dugout pushed her forward.
“Go on,” he said. “It’s your turn, Tabemono-san.”
She walked slowly up to the plate.
Kassandra handed her the bat. “About time! Let’s see how good you are.”
Pollux smirked and tossed the ball to Kazari.
She swung and missed. She seemed to have a small smile on her face.
“Strike one!” Kassandra shouted, tossing the ball back to Pollux. “Try harder, Tabemono.”
Pollux tossed it again and Kazari missed again.
“Strike two! What’s wrong, Tabemono? Can’t hit the ball? Is it too fast for you? Or maybe you’re too slow! Hahaha.”
Kassandra threw it back to Pollux, and he threw it to Kazari. She hit the ball, but it barely got past the pitcher. She walked slowly to first base. The dugout was at her side. Everyone there was yelling at her to run.
“Run, Kazari-san!” Roshiva yelled. “Why aren’t you running?!”
Kazari ignored her teammates and kept walking. A second later, Pollux had the ball again.
“Tabemono is out!” Kassandra declared with glee.
Kazari wasn’t smiling anymore. She passed Jovanna at first base on her way to the dugout.
“We’re going to have to do something about that girl,” Kazari told her.
Scene 7: Giovanna knelt down in front of Queen Lily.
“I liked your dragon idea,” Lily began. “But the monster only worked with Sailor Aries. She evidently has a partner, and it isn’t Tuxedo Star; it’s another Sailor Soldier named Sailor Taurus, and she was strong against the dragon.”
“I’m sorry, Himegami-sama,” Giovanna apologized. “If I had known there would be a different attacker, I would have made a different type creature.”
“Could you try again?” Lily asked hopefully.
“Of course.”
“Thanks.”
Scene 8: June 20th had arrived—Pollux’s twelfth birthday.
He was walking home from school, wondering if his mother,
He opened his door and saw his six-year old sister Alexandra run by, her blonde ponytail bobbing behind her.
“Wee!” she screamed.
Just as Pollux closed the door,
“Pollux! It’s about time you came home! I’m going out, and I need you to baby-sit Alex.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I most certainly am not!”
“But today’s my--”
“I don’t
have time for this,”
“Wee!” Alex screamed again, slamming into her mother.
“Alex,”
“Yeah right,” Alex replied. “I’m not doing you any favors.”
She went
around
“Oh, is that what it is?” Pollux asked, his voice on edge. “Another date? Who is it this time? When are you coming home?”
“Probably tomorrow, I don’t know. Don’t worry about it. You can take care of yourself.”
Pollux sighed and smiled grimly. He knew his mother wouldn’t care about his birthday—if she even remembered it.
Alex whizzed by, making another lap around the house.
“Wee!” she screamed.
“Looks like it’s T.V. dinners for us again, kiddo.”
Scene 9: It was also Kassandra’s twelfth birthday, and she was on her way home too. She had a longer way to walk though, since she lived in another district.
Suddenly Queen Lily was there in front of her.
“Whoa,” Kassandra said, stopping. “Who are you, and where’d you come from?”
“I am Queen Lily. I’m here to take your star crystal.”
“My what? You’re psycho. Go back to the circus where you came from. And button up that vest; it’s unsightly.”
Lily slapped her across the face.
“I am the most beautiful girl in the universe, and I will be queen of it as soon as I collect all the Star fragments.”
Kassandra raised her eyebrow, rubbing her cheek. “Oh yeah? Then what’ll happen, Queen of the Universe?”
“Then the star crystals will all come together and form the Nova Crystal! The ultimate crystal of destruction!”
“Uh huh, well until then, I’ll be going. See ya around, Queen Lily.”
She pushed her aside and continued walking. Lily kicked under her feet before she could go. Kassandra tripped and fell.
“Hey,” Kassandra said. “What’s your deal?”
Lily shook
her head slowly, staring down at her.
“You are one sad girl. You have
no friends and no morals. You cover up
your insecurities by making enemies, acting all tough. But you’re nothing. You’re plain pathetic. What’s wrong with your mother? Didn’t she teach you anything, Kassandra?”
Kassandra looked down, her bangs covering her eyes. “I don’t have a mother.”
“Oh, that figures. No wonder you’re so messed up. Your mother probably took one look at you and gave you up for adoption.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “You know nothing.”
“Oh yeah? Then why are you crying? I’ll do you a favor by putting you out of your misery.”
Lily shot golden light into Kassandra’s chest, extracting the second star crystal. It wasn’t a full piece though.
“Hey,” Lily said to herself. “This is only half a shard.”
“Stop right there!” a voice shouted.
Lily looked up. It was Sailor Aries and Sailor Taurus.
“For love and justice, we are the beautiful Sailor Suited Soldiers!” Aries shouted, posing like a true Sailor Soldier.
“Sailor Taurus!” Taurus cried, posing too.
“Sailor Aries!” Aries exclaimed. “On behalf of the stars and planets, we’ll punish you!”
“You’re a little late,” Lily replied. “I already got the star crystal. But you’re lucky you caught me before I left; now I can use my newest card demon on you!”
She pulled out a card, kissed it, and threw it at the ground.
“Five of Hearts!” she summoned. “Antares!”
The card glowed yellow. Its aura grew larger and materialized into a giant scorpion with a red heart on its head.
“Heal Kastor,” Aries told Taurus. “I’ll try to take care of this monster.”
Taurus went over to Kastor and put her hand on her chest. She closed her eyes and began healing her.
“Fire Cremation!” Aries shouted at Antares.
The scorpion’s eyes widened and glowed yellow. Somehow it stopped the fire from coming towards it.
“Fire Cremation!” Aries repeated.
Antares did the same thing. The fire disappeared.
Kassandra was getting up off the ground.
“What happened?” she asked Taurus. “What’s going on?”
“Just leave. It’s dangerous here.”
Taurus led her past the street corner, and then went back to help Aries.
“It keeps on stopping my attacks!” Aries told Taurus.
“Energy-Switch Blast!” Taurus shouted.
Antares was weakened, and Taurus’ power was restored.
“Fire Cremation!” Aries tried again.
Although Antares was weakened, it still stopped Aries’ attack.
Meanwhile, Kassandra was still where Taurus had left her. Tuxedo Star was coming up from behind her. He stopped running when he saw her.
“I promised myself I would never cry again,” Kassandra whispered. “But that girl said those awful things. . . . She reminded me of my mother . . . and Kioshi. . . . I haven’t thought about them since they left. . . .”
She remembered back when she was six years old. That was the last time she saw her mother and Kioshi. Kioshi was Kassandra’s older brother; he was sixteen then. Kassandra remembered how Kioshi would always find time to play with her. He always knew how to make her laugh when she was upset. But sometimes when she would peek into his bedroom, she would see him crying.
“Onii-chan (big brother),” she would say. “Why are you crying?”
Kioshi would manage a smile and tell her that it was nothing for her to worry about.
Kassandra remembered when she was visiting her mother in the hospital:
“Oka-san, what are you going to name my new baby sister?”
“Her name will be Alexandra.”
“Why that name?”
“I’m naming her after myself, just like I did with you.”
“Oh yeah! Your name’s Sandra, huh? Why can’t I call you your real name and not by Oka-san?”
Her mother smiled. “Because!”
Then Kassandra remembered the bad memories: Kioshi had come home from visiting Sandra in the hospital one day, and he wasn’t his normal self. He seemed angry.
“Onii-chan, what’s wrong?”
Kioshi knelt down to face her and spoke seriously. “Oka-san has done something bad. She has kept things from us, and now our whole family is going to be torn apart. Oto-san is going to get a divorce, and Oka-san is taking Alex-chan away.”
“Forever?” Kassandra had asked sadly. “Will I ever get to see her?”
“Probably not. I’m sorry, Kastor-chan.”
Kassandra had crossed her arms and stomped her foot. “Hmph! From now on I won’t be called Kassandra anymore! Kassandra is the name Oka-san gave me, and she is ruining our family! She doesn’t deserve to name me after herself! Kastor is not just my nickname anymore, it is my name!”
Kassandra then remembered the news her father gave her that same week:
“Sweety, I have some bad news.”
“What, Oto-san?”
“Kioshi . . . died. He killed himself . . . I’m so sorry, Kassandra.”
He reached out to hug her, but she stepped back, tears falling down her cheeks.
“My name is Kastor! Kassandra is Oka-san’s name! This is all Oka-san’s fault! She broke up our family! Kioshi’s nickname for me was Kastor, and as long as I go by that name, he will live on!”
She ran to her room and slammed the door.
[back to the present:] As Kassandra was remembering all this, Tuxedo Star saw it all too. They weren’t his memories, yet he saw them happening in his head as if they were his memories. And even more oddly, he knew two of the people in her memories—Sandra (AKA Sandy), who was his mother and Kioshi, the boy he saw at the hospital six years ago when Alex had just been born. Seeing Kioshi in Kassandra’s memories brought memories of Kioshi that Tuxedo Star himself had:
Pollux
(who is Tuxedo Star, if you haven’t figured it out yet) and his father, Paul,
were visiting
“Who are you?” Kioshi asked Paul. “Are you related to Oka-san?”
Paul looked at
“He called you Oka-san,”
Pollux told
Kioshi walked forward and looked down at Pollux. “Yes she is. Who are you?”
“No you’re not!” Pollux protested. “I’m her only son!”
“What’s going on here,
Kioshi
stared at
She looked at Pollux. “Son, I need to talk to Paul—Oto-san—alone. Please wait outside until we’re done.”
“Why, Oka-san?” Pollux sneered. “Am I not good enough to hear your secret?”
“It’s not a secret!”
Pollux walked to the door slowly. He stopped by Kioshi and looked up at him.
“Whoever you are,” Pollux said. “I’m not letting you take my mother.”
He kicked Kioshi’s leg and ran out of the room. Pollux leaned against the closed door and crossed his arms.
“Hmph,” he mumbled. “I’m her son; I have the right to know whatever she won’t let me hear.”
Suddenly an idea occurred to him. “Ha, I’ll just listen through the door.”
He pressed his ear to the door and listened. [scene changes to the hospital room]
“Sorry about Pollux,
Kioshi,”
“My leg is fine,” Kioshi replied coldly. “So who is he? My brother?”
“Half brother. . . .”
“This Kioshi here is too old to be my son,” Paul said tensely. “Were you married before?”
“She still is married,” Kioshi told him. “To my father, Yoshin Keitaro.”
“You’re married,
“I don’t understand, Oka-san,” Kioshi said, his voice on edge. “How could you have another son without Oto-san and I knowing? The only time you were pregnant after I was born was when you gave birth to--”
“Yes,”
“Are you saying that I have another child?” Paul demanded. “And you never told me? How could you keep this from me?!”
“I had to, Paul,”
Paul stared at her icily. “So why did I get Pollux and not the twin?”
“You let him be my son?” Paul said in rage. “He is my son! His twin is mine too! There shouldn’t have been any question about who my children went to!”
“Now wait just a second, Mister,” Kioshi spoke up. “Oka-san is married to my father. Even though the twins are yours biologically, she is still married to someone else. How do you think my father would like it if he found out his second child isn’t his, and that that child has a twin he didn’t even know existed?!”
He looked at Kioshi. “You’re right.”
Paul turned back to
“It was the only way,” she insisted pleadingly, tears forming in her eyes. “Can’t we just forget about all this? I know I made a mistake, and I regret that now. Paul . . . you will forgive me, won’t you?”
“When were you planning to tell me and your other family?” Paul asked coldly.
“I knew I would have to tell you
and Keitaro soon,”
“How can you ask me that?” Paul asked sharply. “The least you could have done was be honest. You could have either divorced your husband or broken up with me. I didn’t even know you were married! You weren’t faithful to your husband, and you weren’t faithful to me! I can’t believe you’ve been living this lie for so long. And now you’re asking me to ‘understand.’ There is no excuse for what you did. It was plain selfishness.”
“Paul,”
“A relationship is based on trust,
“Are you saying you’re leaving me?”
“I won’t live with someone who lies to me.”
“What about Pollux?!”
“I love him, but I have no claim to him. We’re not married, remember?”
Tears rolled down her face. “And Alexandra?”
“I would love to raise her, but you’re too selfish to give her up. Besides, how do I know she isn’t Keitaro-san’s daughter? He deserves her more than I do. He’s your husband after all.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this. . . .”
“Goodbye
Meanwhile, Pollux was still listening outside the door. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His mother was married, his father was leaving them, and Pollux had a twin he never knew about.
He heard footsteps coming towards the door. He backed away and sat in a nearby chair, pretending not to have heard.
After that day, Pollux
had lived with Sandy and Alexandra alone.
He never understood why his father had left the family, and he never met
Keitaro or his twin.
“Kastor’s my twin sister,” he said softly, still looking at her as she cried.
His eyes were revealed through his mask, confirming that Tuxedo Star’s true identity was Pollux.
Meanwhile, Kassandra was wiping away her tears scornfully. She was sad and angry, but she felt something else too. She was filled with resolution. She felt a new power surging through her. The memories of Kioshi reminded her of all the feeling she had kept inside until now. She realized now how much pain she still felt. It made her angry to know that she was still vulnerable, even now, six years later. A silver sign of The Twins glowed on her forehead.
“These memories wouldn’t have surfaced if that broad Lily hadn’t shown up,” Kassandra whispered angrily. “I’ll make her pay for reminding me of the past! Gemini Power, Make Up!”
She thrust her hand in the air as her fingernails turned silver. Her Shibakouen school uniform disappeared and was replaced with a Sailor Soldier fuku with a light grey bow, a jungle green skirt, and low jungle green platform shoes.
“A Sailor Soldier,” Tuxedo Star muttered, even more shocked.
Sailor Gemini turned the corner, going back onto the street where Queen Lily and the other Sailor Soldiers were.
[scene changes to that street; Tuxedo Star is no longer shown]
Sailor Gemini saw Aries and Taurus still trying to attack Antares. She looked past them. Her eyes fell on Queen Lily. Gemini strode to her. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Gemini.
“The next Zodiac Sailor Soldier. . . .” Aries murmured in amazement.
Gemini ignored the other Sailors and continued walking to Lily.
“You,” Gemini growled. “You need to pay.”
“And who’s gonna make me pay?” Lily scoffed with a smirk.
“I am,” Gemini replied. “I’m Sailor Gemini.”
“You’ll have to get past my monster first! Antares!”
The scorpion looked at Lily, ready for command.
“Come over here and protect your queen from this next weakling! Make her sorry for challenging me!”
Antares charged at Gemini.
Gemini suddenly didn’t know what to do. She froze, watching motionless as the scorpion came towards her, raising its poison stinger above her head.
“Gemini!” Aries shouted, running up to her. “What are you doing?! Don’t just stand there!”
[commercial break]
Aries tried to push her out of Antares’ way, but she didn’t get there fast enough. Instead, Antares was stopped by a red rose.
Gemini blinked, out of her trance.
They all looked in the direction of where the rose came from. Tuxedo Star was standing in a nearby tree.
“Tuxedo Star!” Aries said.
“Sailor Gemini!” he shouted. “Look into my eyes. We are one.”
Gemini stared at him. Then she realized that he was Pollux. Her eyes grew wide with surprise.
“But . . .” she began. “I’m confused. I don’t’ know what I’m doing. Everything is happening so fast!”
“You’re a strong girl,” he told her. “Yet confusion stopped you in your tracks. This monster is strong too. But maybe if it gets confused, it wills top in its tracks too.”
Gemini thought for a moment, swallowing hard. Antares, Lily, Aries, and Taurus were all staring at her curiously, wondering what was going to happen.
“Trust me,” Tuxedo Star told Gemini. “Believe in yourself.”
“That’s it!” Lily yelled. “All this mindless chatter is making me bored! Finish her, Antares!”
Antares started charging at Gemini and raised its stinger again.
“I got it,” Gemini told Tuxedo Star.
He nodded approvingly.
Gemini turned to Antares.
“Confusion Doubt!” she shouted.
Antares stopped suddenly and looked around uncertainly.
“What’s wrong with you, Antares?!” Lily shouted. “Kill her!”
Antares gave Lily a quizzical look.
“What did she do to you?!” Lily demanded.
Sailor Gemini’s determined expression returned.
“Now!” Gemini shouted in the direction of Aries and Taurus. “Finish it!”
Aries nodded with the same determination. “Fire Cremation!”
Antares looked up just as the fireball swirled towards him. Still confused, he didn’t move as the fire penetrated his body and turned it to ash.
“No!” Lily cried. She turned to the Sailor Soldiers. “You haven’t seen the last of me.”
She jumped from tree to tree and disappeared from view.
Aries and Taurus walked up to Gemini.
“Sailor Gemini?” Aries asked.
“Yeah. . . .” Gemini muttered, looking down at her gloved hands and fuku. “I don’t really know what’s going on here, or how I got that power.” She looked at the Senshi. “But you two are dressed like me, so you must know.”
“You’re part of our team now,” Aries replied with a smile. “The Zodiac Sailor Soldiers. We’ve awakened because Queen Lily put Princess Serenity in a coma.”
“Oh, so that’s how it happened,” Gemini said.
“Yeah, and now she seems to be attacking other innocent victims like you, extracting something from their bodies. We don’t know any more than that.”
“Before Queen Lily attacked me, she told me that she’s gathering all the star crystals to make the Nova Crystal so she can rule the world.”
“Oh yeah! The Nova
“We should update Neo-Queen Serenity with this information,” Taurus said.
Aries and Gemini nodded. Little did they know, Queen Lily was still hiding in the trees, listening to their conversation.
“Princess Hoshi,” Lily whispered as a smirk curled on her lip.
Just then, she heard a rustle of leaves and felt the branch move under her feet. Turning, she saw Tuxedo Star running across the branch with his black cane raised to hit her.
“Nice try,” she whispered with a giggle.
She blew him a kiss and disappeared just as he swung the cane through the leaves.
“Damn,” he cursed.
“Who’s there?” Aries demanded.
Tuxedo Star jumped down from the tree.
“Oh, it’s just you,” Gemini said as Aries and Taurus sighed with relief.
“I heard everything you guys said,” Tuxedo Star told them. “But unfortunately, so did Queen Lily. I tried to get her, but she disappeared.”
“Just who are you?” Aries asked suspiciously. “If you’re on our team, why did you run off last time?”
“I’m Tuxedo Star,” he answered.
“He’s Pox!” Gemini said at the same time.
Aries and Taurus stared at them in shock.
“Pollux?!” Aries exclaimed.
“Geez, Kasutera,” Tuxedo Star said, knocking her on the head gently. “Can’t you keep a secret?”
“That means . . . you’re Kastor?!” Aries said to Gemini.
“We’re the Gemini twins,” Tuxedo Star told Aries and Taurus with a wink.
“Duh!" Kastor said at the same time. "But who are you two?”
Aries and Taurus stared in silence.
“Sorry about running off last time,” Tuxedo Star said. “We’re both fighting Queen Lily to protect those we love, so I am your ally.”
He held out both his hands. Aries and Taurus each shook one.
“Well then, we should introduce ourselves,” Taurus said to Tuxedo Star and Gemini. “I’m Sailor Taurus, alias Bullock Oushi.”
“And I’m Sailor Aries, alias Ramos Roshiva.”
“Rose?!” Tuxedo Star exclaimed. “Wow, we all know each other. Now that I think about it, it makes sense why you were at Princess’ house that day. . . .”
Aries smiled sadly. “So . . . you and Kastor are related? How’s that?”
“Wait,” Gemini said. “I am? Did I miss something?”
“He just said you were twins!” Aries replied.
“I thought that was a joke!” Gemini said. “I know we act alike, but we’re not related! That’s impossible!”
Tuxedo Star grinned at Gemini. “It’s a lonnnng story.”
“You’ll have to explain it to me too,” Gemini replied.
They
laughed.
