Sept 2002

 Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them, but the
 story is mine.

 Please read my Author's Notes at the end of this piece, there's something 
 I need to ask everyone!

Chapter 9


	Ami stepped back from the game with a grin, her earlier
 embarrassments forgotten as she turned to look at Usagi.  She took a
 startled step back when she saw her friend watching her with Motoki standing
 close behind her.  "M-Motoki-san."

	Motoki's smile was easy, "That's a really awesome score, Ami-chan."

	She blushed, ducking her head, "Arigatou," she said softly.

	Usagi rolled her eyes, "Naru-chan is probably wondering what happened
 to us, take your time, Ami-chan, I need to talk to her."

	Ami watched, dismayed, as her friend deserted her with the blond
 haired dream.

	Motoki was quiet, assessing Ami with his gaze before he smiled, "Do
 you play often, Ami-chan?"

	She shook her head, "Oh no, this is my first time..."

	"Your first time?" he repeated incredulously.  She'd scored a high
 score he hadn't thought possible and this was her first time playing?  Wow!
  "That's impressive, Ami-chan.  I think a score like that deserves a reward.
  Anything on the menu, my treat."

	Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, "I- I couldn't..."

	He grinned, "Sure you can.  Think of it as a gift, a reward, for not
 only finding the joys of video games, but of scoring such an incredible, and
 I'm willing to bet, unbreakable, record."

	She blushed, but laughed at his outrageous claim, "Thank you,
 Motoki-san, I accept.  Usagi-chan is right, you're very nice."

	He smiled at her shy compliment and motioned for her to lead the way
 to the counter, "Thank you, Ami-chan."

	She said nothing as she made her way to the counter and slid onto the
 stool.  Before long, Motoki had her talking to him about the merits of Law
 school versus Medical school and they'd settled into an easy rhythm.  


	Across the room, Usagi and Naru watched as Motoki charmed their
 friend and grinned at each other.  Hopefully Motoki's attentions could bring
 their shy friend out of her shell.  An easy silence between them, they
 devoured Naru's shake and calmly waited for Ami to finish with Motoki.


	Ami smiled easily as Motoki placed the shake she'd ordered in front
 of her, "A shake for the lovely lady," he teased her, grinning, "one who
 will always be at the top."

	"You're crazy, Motoki-san, but I like you," she blushed, ducking her
 head as she relized what she'd said.

	Motoki clucked her under the chin, "I like you too, Ami-chan, you're
 good company and I can see why Usagi-chan likes to spend time with you."

	Ami shrugged, her smile shy again, "Usagi-chan and I are polar
 opposites in most things but we're still good friends.  I admit I haven't
 known her for long, but she's the most open person I've ever had the
 pleasure to meet."

	Motoki grinned, "Same here.  I don't know how she manages to get
 Mamoru-kun in such knots though.  He's tutoring her in Math and she's giving
 him practical English lessons but when they're not studying they seem to be
 on edge around one another."

	Ami looked thoughtful, "I could get my mother to prescribe a sedative
 but," she grinned mischievously, "I don't think that would help."

	"A drug for being high strung?" Motoki looked at her as if not
 understanding, "Does your mother prescribe them for anything?"

	She shook her head, "Oh no, I was just joking, Motoki-san, my mother
 would never prescribe something if it wasn't needed.  I want to be a doctor
 someday so I know drugs are to be taken seriously; especially prescription
 drugs.  I guess it was a joke in poor taste."

	He chuckled, "Not really, Ami-chan, I just didn't catch it.  Have you
 ever had to take any kind of drug like the one you suggested?"

	She shook her head, "Tylenol is about as strong as I get.  I've
 always been a healthy child because of my mother, so I can't remember having
 anything worse than a headache.  I think I had the flu once, and had to get
 shots for it, but my mother prefers the natural remedies to antibiotics,"
 she shrugged, "I guess you could say I don't believe in drugs either because
 of her methods."

	"What kind of degree does she have?"

	Ami smiled, "Her full PHD in family medicine.  She deals mostly with
 kids.  I hope to be where she is someday."

	"An honorable goal."

	Ami glanced at the clock on the wall and then back to Motoki as she
 demolished half of the shake, "I have to be going soon, Motoki-san, I really
 enjoyed our conversation today."

	"Me too," he admitted, a little surprised.  Shy Ami had pulled things
 from him he'd forgotten he knew and was really good company, "If you like,
 I'd enjoy getting together with you another time to talk.  You're excellent
 company."

	"Arigatou, Motoki-san, so are you.  I'll think about coming back with
 Usagi-chan another time."

	"Could you come back without her so I don't have to worry about her
 popping up like she's about to?"

	Ami laughed as Usagi appeared at her elbow, "Ami-chan, Naru-chan and
 I have to get home soon, are you just about done hogging Motoki-oniisan?"

	Motoki laughed as Ami reddened, "Don't be jealous, Usagi-chan, it
 doesn't become you.  Ami-chan was just saying she had to go too.  I'll see
 you tomorrow, I should get back to my job."

	The girls watched him walk away, Ami finishing off her shake before
 standing, "Gomen, I didn't mean to ignore you and Naru-chan, Usagi-chan."

	Usagi waved her apology away and grinned, hooking her arm through
 Ami's as Naru joined them, "Well, now that you're free, why don't you tell
 us what you found to talk to Motoki-oniisan about so we can have a long
 conversation like you did."

	Naru laughed, "Usagi-chan, you're so obvious!"	 

	Usagi shrugged, "At least I don't pretend to be something I'm not."

	Laughing, the three girls left the arcade.


	Mamoru watched from a distance as Usagi and her friends left.  The
 strangest sensation had run through him when he'd agreed to Motoki's terms.
  Could it be possible he'd wanted to take her out, but had decided against
 it because of her age?  He sighed, turned to head back to his apartment. 
 Usagi and he had an appointment for tutoring tomorrow.  He'd breech the
 subject then.  


	Usagi and Ami parted ways with Naru at the park and stepped into the
 green landscape.  Usagi took a deep breath and smiled, "I love it here.  So
 what did you find Ami-chan?"

	Ami looked around, making sure no one could hear them as they walked
 and talked about the senshi matters, "They're building blocks."

	Usagi stopped, "Nani?"

	Ami nodded, "They're all articles needed to make life.  At least,
 that's what they show as having in common.  Whoever is collecting them is
 making a pretty specific design.  For example, the blood is type 'O'.  All
 of it.  It's a universal type so it can be used for transfusion with anyone.
  The bone fragments are from highly concentrated calcium sections of
 people's bodies.  By duplicating these and enhancing them, they'd be as
 strong as steel."

	Usagi blinked.  "And the lung parts?"

	"From healthy lungs only.  They're perfectly intact with no damage by
 smoke or other substances.  With a little tinkering they could be made to
 receive other atmospheres.  Lastly the salt is pure.  It has no contaminants
 and can only be found in the blood stream.  Whoever is attacking these
 people is looking for specific things."

	Usagi shuddered, "So you're telling me there could be more of these
 attacks?"

	Ami nodded grimly.  "Hai, not only more but more monsters trying to
 find the items we've collected.  I don't want to think about what will
 happen if this lunatic gets their hands on all the components."

	Usagi settled down onto a bench along the pathway, the wind gently
 ruffling her hair.  "Ami-chan, are you sure?"

	Ami nodded, sitting next to her.  "I triple checked my results
 Usagi-chan, there can be little doubt.  So what do we do now?"

	"I don't know."

	"Koneko-chan?"

	Both of the girls looked up to see Haruka, dressed in jeans and a
 t-shirt, a sports jacket slung over one shoulder, standing in front of them.
  "Haruka-san."

	Haruka smiled, "Arigatou, keneko-chan."

	"For what?"

	Haruka looked over her shoulder and Michiru, dressed in a sea-green
 dress, stepped forward, a smile on her face, "Haruka's found her memory
 again, Usagi-chan."

	Usagi jumped to her feet and lunged at Michiru, hugging her tightly,
 "That's great!  I'm so glad!"

	Michiru laughed as Usagi quickly turned to hug Haruka.  "I'm happy
 for you, Haruka-san, Michiru-san was so worried!"

	Haruka chuckled, "Thanks to you she had the chance to set me
 straight.  You look so serious, you and your friend, is there anything we
 can do to help?"

	Usagi's manners reasserted herself as she stepped away from Haruka,
 "Oh!  Mizuno Ami these are Ten'ou Haruka and Kaiou Michiru."

	Ami extended her hand and shook each of theirs, "Please to meet you."

	Haruka glanced at Michiru, "Likewise.  Koneko-chan has some cute
 friends, don't you think?"

	Michiru laughed as Ami flushed, her gaze going to ground.

	Usagi wrapped an arm around Ami's shoulders.  "They're just teasing,
 Ami-chan.  We were talking about the school year.  It seems like everything
 happens all at once.  It's kind of a monster."

	Michiru smiled, "Very true, Usagi-chan.  Haruka and I have an
 appointment with the track manager down at The Golden Mile Racetrack but if
 you or your friend need help, feel free to call me."

	Usagi's smile was brilliant, "Arigatou, Michiru-san."

	Michiru pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket and quickly scribbled
 something on it before handing it to Usagi.  Usagi looked at the elegant
 handwriting, seeing one phone number for both Haruka and Michiru.  "Do you
 live together?"

	Haruka and Michiru shared a smile and the aqua-haired beauty nodded,
 "Hai, Usagi-chan, we have for a long time."

	Usagi flushed at the implication, "Oh."

	Haruka chuckled, "See you, koneko-chan."

	Usagi watched Haruka and Michiru walk away, her mouth hanging open. 
 "They live together?"

	Ami had sunk back down onto the bench, "You have strange friends,
 Usagi-chan."

	Usagi nodded, "Hai, you don't know the half of it.  Come on, let's
 see if we can figure out what the enemy will be after-"

	A scream cut her off.  A very familiar scream.  "Naru-chan!"

	Taking off at a run, the two girls headed for the edge of the park
 where the scream had originated.  They arrived to find Naru strung up in a
 tree, tied to it by silken filaments.  A huge spider with human-like hands
 for feet, was climbing towards her, its mandibles clacking together.

	"Naru-chan!" 

	Usagi's cry drew its attention.  Hissing, it started back down the
 tree towards Ami and Usagi.

	"Usagi-chan!  Transform!"

	Usagi nodded as Ami pulled out her transformation pen.  

	"Moon Prism Power!"

	"Mercury Power!"

	The light flared as the two heroines transformed, their clothes
 melting away only to be replaced by their sailor fukus.  After a few moments
 both were dressed and ready to fight, their final transformation stances
 drawing a hiss from the spider thing.  

	"For love and justice, the sailor suited beautiful girl fighter!
 Sailor Moon!" she smiled as she pointed at the monster, "You're terrorizing
 pretty girls, I won’t stand for it.  Go away!"

	Sailor Mercury dove out of the way as a filament of silk came
 shooting at her.  "Shabon Spray!"

	The thick white mist covered the area as Sailor Moon landed next to
 her friend, "What’s the plan, Blue?"

	Sailor Mercury glanced at her, a smile on her lips as she tapped her
 earlobe, bringing her visor into view.  She scanned the monster as it began
 to climb the tree again, moving towards Naru.  She frowned.  "The weak spot
 is between its teeth.  You’re going to have to feed it your tiara."

	Sailor Moon grimaced.  "Oh fun.  Alrighty, time to put Luna’s
 training into use." Crouching, she sprang straight towards the tree, the
 shillouette barely visible through the thick fog.  Sailor Moon landed on the
 back of the spider thing and almost immediately began to slip.  "Aie!"

	Scrambling for a handhold on the fuzzy, slick back of the creature,
 she felt a moment of panic.  She didn’t want to fall.

	"Sailor Moon!" screamed Mercury, running towards the base of the tree
 as the spider’s back legs came up and grabbed the heroine, trapping her
 effectively against its back.

	"Aie!  Mercury!  Help!"

	A flash of brilliant red struck the back legs, slicing them open and
 forcing them to release their grip.  

	"Catching girls in your web for some evil purpose instead of treating them right cannot be allowed.  Tuxedo Kamen will not forgive you."

	Sailor Moon scrambled out of reach, gore coating her bodysuit as she
 fought to get away.  "Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" she cried, her eyes landing on the
 handsome masked man.  Above her, the spider creature was turning, coming
 back towards her.  From its mouth came the piercing sound of pain and rage.

	"Now, Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Kamen told her sharply

	"Hai!  Moon Tiara Action!"

	The monster screamed as the tiara slammed into the webbing around it,
 cutting Naru down as Sailor Mercury jumped to grab her.  Sailor Moon cosed
 her hand and the tiara flew back to it.  "Moon Tiara Action!" she yelled
 again, this time aiming at the monster’s mouth.  She screamed as a stream of
 sticky silk hit her, tangling her up and imprisoning her.

	"Sailor Moon!" the male scream of alarm echoed through the air.

	She fought to be free of the webbing as her tiara missed its mark and
 connected instead with the monster’s forehead, infuriating it.  "Go for the
 mouth, Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" she yelled as she struggled, the bonds wrapping
 tighter as the spider moved towards her, its hand-feet grasped at her.  One
 contacted with her boot and she could feel something melting through the
 material.  She kicked at it.

	A rose slammed into the ground by her head, the sound of tearing
 audible in the silence.  She kicked free of the torn webbing, backing
 quickly away from the spider, unable to get her feet under her.  It
 advanced, keeping pace with her, its mandibles dripping poison.  In
 desperation she called her tiara back to her hand and waited until it was
 just above her before pushing herself up on one elbow.  Breathing the fetid
 breath, she nearly passed out, gagging but fighting to keep her wits about
 her.  "Moon Tiara Action!" she yelled, slamming her hand with the glowing
 Frisbee deep into the thing’s mouth.

	The expression in the multi-faceted eyes was almost comical as it was
 forced to swallow the weapon.  Its mandibles closed about her wrist,
 piercing fabric and skin easily and injecting something into her system as
 it screamed, disappearing into dust.

	Sailor Moon swayed on her arm and then collapsed to the ground as the
 dust settled about her, covering her.  Her eyes closed in an exhausted sigh.
  The bite in her wrist burned, stinging like the bite from a bumblebee but
 she ignored it.  She was alive, that’s what mattered

	"Sailor Moon?"

	She opened one eye, than the other as the concerned visage of her
 rescuer filled her eyes.  "Tuxedo Kamen-sama." She smiled warily, "Arigatou.
  I owe you one."

	He offered her his hand and she grasped it willingly.  Her eyes
 widened as his hand closed on her wrist and jerked her hand away.  "Ow," she
 looked at her wrist and pulled her glove off.  Her hand was streaked with
 red lines towards her elbow, the puncture wounds on either side of it
 swollen and red.  

	She frowned and almost screamed as Tuxedo Kamen knelt next to her and
 gently took her arm in his hands.  He frowned, "It bit you."

	She nodded, fighting a blush, "Hai.  I couldn’t figure any other way
 of hitting it in the mouth since I’m a lousy shot.  It bit me before it
 died."

	They both looked up as Sailor Mercury joined them.  She drew in a
 shocked breath at the sight of Sailor Moon’s arm, "Sailor Moon, are you
 alright?"

	She nodded, "Hai, I think so.  It looks worse than it feels."

	"For now."  Both of the girls looked at Tuxedo Kamen.  He stood and
 helped Sailor Moon to her feet before looking at Sailor Mercury, "I suggest
 you find her medical care."

	She nodded speechlessly as he tipped his hat to them, taking a long
 look at Sailor Moon before leaping away and disappearing.  Mercury turned
 back to Sailor Moon and sighed, "He’s right.  Come on.  We’ve got to take
 Naru-chan into the hospital and get her treated too."

	Sailor Moon nodded and quickly de-transformed as Mercury did the
 same.  Between them, they lifted Naru and began walking towards the
 Hospital.  Usagi stumbled outside the steps, taking the other two down with
 her.  

	"Usagi-chan, are you alright?"

	Usagi shook her head, trying to get her eyes to clear, fighting the
 fever she felt coming on.  The poison of the spider creature coursed through
 her body and she could feel it attacking her system.  Crazy as it sounded,
 she almost felt like it was trying to tell her something.  "Gomen,
 Ami-chan," she got out just before she collapsed.

	"Usagi-chan!" Ami screamed.  "Help!" she called, putting Naru down
 beside Usagi and dashing into the hospital, "Help, someone please help me!"

	A nurse looked up from her desk at the alarming call, "Hai, what can
 I do for you miss?"

	"My name is Mizuno Ami and my friends have been bitten by something.
  They’re both unconscious outside."

	The nurse hit a series of buttons and called for emergency personnel.
  In moments Ami was surrounded by doctors as Usagi and Naru were wheeled
 into the hospital on stretchers.  She waited, giving as much information as
 she could about the spider without giving away what it really was.  A
 familiar face caught her attention, "Mamoru-san!"

	The dark haired student looked up from his discussion down the hall
 and, excusing himself with a frown, walked quickly towards her, "Ami-chan,
 right?"

	Ami nodded, twisting her hands together, "Mamoru-san, do you know
 Usagi-chan’s phone number?"

	He nodded, "I have it on me, why?"

	Ami glanced to where the doctors were wheeling Usagi and Naru away,
 "Because I have to tell her mom she’s in the hospital."

	His eyes widened with surprise, horror and fear exploding within him
 at her words, "No!  Will she be alright?"

	Ami took a step back at his intense expression, "I- I don’t know,
 Mamoru, she got bitten by a creature that didn’t look quite natural.  The
 doctors think she’s been poisoned."

	Mamoru closed his eyes, rocking back on his heels.  In his mind’s eye
 he saw Usagi, cheerful and teasing, teaching him English.  Biting her lip as
 she concentrated on her math problems.  Seeing...

*flash* 

	A blonde haired man grabbing an Angelic blonde around the neck and
 tugging her upright, using her as a human shield, revealing the ravaged side
 of her face, bruised and bloodied, her golden hair tainted with a crimson
 stain.  Her dress just barely clung to her figure, the diaphanous material
 hanging at a dangerous angle and ready to fall away at any moment.

*flash*

	He stumbled, almost going down as he shook away the image.  Where had
 that come from? 

	"Mamoru-san?  Are you alright?"

	He nodded, willing the image of the blonde, who looked so much like
 Usagi, into the back of his mind.  "I’m fine." He struggled to remember what
 she’d asked him when he’d come over.  Consciously, he reached for his wallet
 and opened it, pulling Usagi’s number from the inside.  "Here, call her
 parents."

	"Arigatou!" Ami dashed off to find the complimentary phone.

	Mamoru turned to the woman at the desk, "Did Ami-chan give you the
 information you need?"

	She nodded, "Miss Mizuno was most helpful.  Are you alright, Mamoru?"

	He nodded, "Hai.  I just know Tsukino Usagi, she’s a friend."

	The woman’s eyes widened, "Well, Dr. Mizuno will want to visit her
 when she comes out of treatment, so you may go with her.  The other girl
 isn’t doing so well from the doctor’s initial examination, she’ll take much
 longer to recover, if at all."

	Mamoru nodded, "I’m just going to wait around, if that’s alright with
 you.  I know Usagi-chan’s parents, maybe I can keep them from being
 hysterical."

	The nurse nodded before going back to her job.  Mamoru turned away,
 waiting for Ami to come back as he paced the waiting room floor.  He
 couldn’t just sit there while Usagi was in danger, could he?  What choice
 did he have?  He ran a hand through his hair, continuing to pace.  ‘Are you
 alright, Usako?’ he asked himself, his gaze on the room she’d disappeared
 into.  He blinked.  ‘Usako?’  Since when had he started thinking of her as
 his?

	"Mamoru-san, her parents aren’t at home." Ami came back into the
 waiting room, "I left a message on their machine, but I don’t know when
 they’ll get it."

	Mamoru nodded to slices on Ami’s knees, "Ami-chan, you’re wounded."

	She looked down.  "It’s nothing.  I skinned them when Usagi-chan
 stumbled on the steps outside."

	"They’re bleeding and there’s a nurses’ station around the corner. 
 Make use of it.  You’ll be no use to her if you get weak from blood loss."

	It gave her something to do, so she capitulated.  Mamoru continued to
 pace as Ami disappeared again.  What was wrong with him?  His hands were
 clammy, his gut tight.  A deep, wrenching fear had hold of his gut and
 wouldn’t loosen.  Why was he so terrified of losing this girl?

	"Mamoru-san?"

	He looked up, "Dr. Chang."

	"Are you waiting to hear about Tsukino Usagi?"

	He nodded.

	The Doctor smiled, "She’s fine.  We’ve managed to neutralize the
 poisons in her system for the most part."

	Mamoru almost sank to the floor so swift and overwhelming was his
 relief.  "Are you sure?"

	Dr. Chang nodded, "There’s a possibility for a relapse, but we’re
 going to keep her for monitoring for a few days.  Osaka Naru is another
 matter.  She’s barely survived the treatment.  We’ll know in the next 24
 hours if she’ll make it."

	"May I see Usagi?"

	He nodded and motioned for Mamoru to follow him.  They passed the
 nurses’ station and Mamoru paused.  "Ami-chan, we can see her know."

	Ami leapt off the chair she was sitting in, bandages wrapped around
 her knees, and followed him.


 Author's Note: The flash Mamoru sees is from Secret Garden 3: Final Battle
 Scene 6. Chapter 10 promises to be fun and filled with not only flashes back
 to Secret Garden, but budding romance.  Between who has yet to be see.  
 Please review, or e-mail me with your comments, questions and suggestions.

 AN2: Alright, I'm a little at a loss for what exactly I'm going to be doing
 with this story next.  I'm not sure if I've got the drive to finish it, or the
 attention span.  SO.  If you'd like the next part you've got to let me know,
 otherwise I think I just might let this one slide and leave it until I feel
 inspired to either continue, or revamp it.  Thanks in advance for your input. 

Jademax@hotmail.com

Thanks for reading!

Jade_Max