Sailormoon Neo: #5 - Sailor V no Himitsu, Hateshinai Aiko wa Nijuujinkaku? - The Secret of Sailor V, Hateshinai Aiko has Two Personalities? - By. Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official WebPage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] (If you haven't gone there by now, your missing out on important stuff.) "I demand to know why you haven't done anything about these Tau Ceti nuisances!" Queen Rage shouted angrily, she slammed her fist against the arm of her throne. "Queen Rage-sama, there isn't anything we can do to stop them. They are much more powerful than we, and they don't have physical bodies." Gallium replied in defense of himself and the other generals. "They almost killed her...that would have been awful." Queen Rage said softly and glanced her red eyes upwards. "Almost killed who, your majesty?" Thulium asked. "That pink haired girl, Sailormoon..." Queen Rage answered, she leaned back against her throne. "Why is she so special?" Vandium asked quizzically. "Doesn't she look familiar to you?" Rage sighed, she sounded rather vague. Thulium raised her eyebrows in confusion. "No, she doesn't, your majesty." Thulium answered. "She is the Angel of Hope who will defeat the Guardian of the Opaque Prism." Queen Rage said. Her blood-red hair was also up in odango, pointed like Neo Sailormoon's, she took a lock of it and twisted it around her finger. "I thought you said that she had the Opaque Prism...?" Gallium questioned. The looks on the faces of Gallium, Vandium, and Thulium were of utter confusion. "I was hoping she did by now, but obviously she doesn't know that she is the Angel of Hope, the one who can defeat the Evil Snake-Headed Guardian of the Aurora system, where the Opaque Prism is kept." Rage explained. "What is the importance of the Opaque Prism?" Gallium asked. "There are three treasures of this Galaxy which originated in the Golden Millennium, the Illusion Iridescent Jewel, Illusion Silver Crystal, and the Illusion Opaque Prism." Rage began, "The Iridescent Jewel's whereabouts are unknown. I must acquire the Opaque Prism, you see it would be the only way we could defeat the Tau Ceti and restore myself back to my original state of being." she said, "Original state of being?" Thulium repeated quietly, "Your majesty, what about the Silver Crystal? Shouldn't we take that from people of Crystal Tokyo? You know the Queen has it." Vandium asked, ignoring Thulium's comments. "Yes, I know that...but it isn't necessary." Rage answered, she opened her right palm and a gold case appeared in her hands. It was heart shaped, and looked like it could be opened. The case was encrusted with beautiful jewels of every color, they seemed to be making a picture, like a mosaic. It looked like a silouette of someone, but it was hard to tell in the dim light of the Dark Side of the Moon's throne room. Rage waved her hand over the case, it's lid disappeared and the inside was now visible. There was a large diamond-looking crystal sitting in the middle of a gold setting, crystal angel wings seemed to be holding the gem in place. Queen Rage smiled at the reactions of her generals, "You see, there isn't a need to get the Silver Crystal...I already have it." * * * * Aiko tip-toed out of her bedroom, her mother was asleep and Aiko didn't want to wake her up. She hurried into the kitchen and cooked breakfast for herself and her mother, then placed her mother's portion on the table. Her mother, Minako, was a terrible cook as it was, but if Aiko didn't cook anything for her mother, then Minako wouldn't eat. After finishing breakfast, Aiko quietly opened the door and headed towards her school, Juuban Koutou-Gakkou. Aiko sat down at her seat, she was usually one of the first people to arrive at school. She rested her head on her desk, ever since the day at the park she had been having terrible headaches. She had no recollection of what happened that day. She remembered falling to her knees and then everything going dark, when she awoke she was lying on the ground feeling incredibly weak. She heard people talking in the distance, then cousin Sorano Himeko appeared out of nowhere and waited until she could walk, then escorted her back to the care of her mother. "Hey, Aiko!" a voice exclaimed happily. Aiko's thoughts were interrupted. She looked at the clock, fifteen minutes had passed already. She looked up at the girl standing before her, it was Chiba Usa. "Hello Usa-san." Aiko replied politely and said nothing more. She felt embarassed and lowered her head. Usa rocked on her heels and looked like she as thinking deeply, in fact she was. She was actually trying to see if Aiko had been Neo Sailor V, but it was obvious she wasn't. Her hair, although the same pale color, was incredibly short while Sailor V's was long. Not to mention, the personalities were not the same at all. "Weeeelllll....I guess I should go sit down, have a nice day Aiko!" Usa said with a smile and headed towards her seat. The bell rang and the teacher entered the room, "Good morning class." she said as she entered and headed towards her seat. "Good morning Suzaki-sensei." the class said in near unison. Suzaki-sensei smiled warmly and opened her brief case. "Before we do anything, I want to give you back your tests. They were done fairly well as a whole, but only one person had a perfect score." Suzaki-sensei replied, she picked up a paper and set it on Aiko's desk, "Good job, Hateshinai-san." she smiled. Aiko blushed and ducked down in her seat, she could feel the eyes of the other students on her. She heard people whispering behind her, "Hateshinai-san is so stuck up. No wonder she always gets good grades, she doesn't do anything but study." "I heard her mother was insane, maybe that's why she's so smart." Tears formed in Aiko's eyes. Declaring to the class she had never studied for any test wouldn't help...nothing she said would. They'd just laugh at her...Aiko hated herself so much. Why can't I be someone normal? Someone stupid? Why has fate given me such a horrendous life? Isn't everyone destined to be something great at one point of their life so why can't it be now? Aiko wondered, why can't it be now? * * * * "The Dark Enchantress swept into the room silently, there the knight slept looking almost angelic. Could she seduce him to the side of darkness? She laughed, of course she could. She could do anything, no matter how sinfu--" "Yamete. (stop it.)" Seishi ordered, she ripped the paper out of the girl's hands. Seishi's violet eyes raging. The girl who had been reading smirked and crossed her arms. "Interesting imagination there, Shino-san." she laughed. The crowd behind her laughed as well, however Seishi was undaunted. She always was, she was unnaturally calm and serene. Her name fit her well. "Really, Aozora-san." Seishi said with a cold smile. Minutes ago Aozora Natsumi had grabbed Seishi's novel-in-progress out of Seishi's hands and began reading it aloud to the crowd behind her. "Perhaps, it isn't just my imagination." she said, her cold smile widening. Natsumi stared at Seishi, she was a disturbing girl. Everyone in Meiyo Gakuen knew it. Anyone who dared to say anything remotely nice about Seishi was looked down upon. Many of the males at Meiyo Gakuen found her to be quite stunning. Her features were near perfectly shaped, her eyes were bright violet jewels set in perfect almond eyes. Her skin, although very pale, was very clear and soft. Her lips were red and also shaped perfectly. Her loveliest feature, perhaps, was her dark purple hair which looked like black more than purple. It reached the middle of her back and always looked perfect. The males never said to one another how beautiful she was, that would be damaging to their reputations. In fact, no one said a nice word about her...no one but Morino Ryuu. Natsumi's eyes suddenly widened and she broke into a smile, she waved at someone standing behind Seishi. "OOH! Morino-kun!" Natsumi exclaimed, pushing Seishi aside and running towards him. Her tone of voice had changed to sugary and sweet. "Oooi (Hey), Sei-chan..let's go. I don't want to be late.." Ryuu said, ignoring Natsumi and reaching for Seishi's arm. He pulled her away, and the couple walked out of the school's courtyard, "How did she get him? Why's he ignore us and talk to that freak?" Natsumi asked her friends loudly enough for Seishi to hear. Seishi turned her head and smiled coldly, "Maybe I'm a Dark Enchantress.." she replied, her violet eyes glowing brightly as if they were on fire. Natsumi and her friends shrank back. Ryuu burst out laughing, "You're unstoppable..." he grinned, and patted her on the back. She lowered her head and smiled gently, "Ah, if only I used my powers for good and not evil." This 'power' which Seishi referred to was something that actually existed. She had an amazing ability to heal, she could touch something which was hurt and heal it. Her eyes would flash as they just had...and she'd feel a little weak, but the wound would be gone. It was an amazing power she recieved from her mother. But Seishi also inherited another power, the power to destroy...it also came the same way as her power to heal, but it worked in reverse. Seishi looked up and Ryuu and smiled, he had been an incredible friend since they were just babies. To Seishi, however, it was much more than a friendship...she loved Ryuu, she always had. Picturing him with a other girls made her very depressed, not to mention jealous. However, she never had to worry about it. For some odd reason, he didn't date very often...and when he did, nothing stemmed from it. "Sei-chan, you just passed your own house." Ryuu said shaking his head. Seishi looked up from her thoughts, sure enough she was a few steps past the gate to her home. She smiled softly and took a few steps backwards to Ryuu's position. The two walked up the path to the front door, which Seishi opened. They headed straight for Hotaru's room. "Konnichi wa, Okaa-sama!" Seishi said as she entered the room, (Note: Calling her mother 'okaa-sama' means that she admires her mother very much so. The honorific -sama is used mainly for kings, gods, and other people who are to be treated with the utmost respect.) "Hello, Hotaru-mama." Ryuu said smiling, (Note: Hotaru-mama is like saying that she's a mother to him, just a friendly nickname and also his own little spin on Seishi's Okaa-sama.) Hotaru opened her violet eyes weakly, she looked paler than before. "Aa..Seishi and Ryuu...I'm glad you came.." Hotaru said softly, she smiled at the two of them and reached out to hold Ryuu and Seishi's hands. Her black hair was tied into a very very long black braid which lay beside her. Seishi held her mother's hand, so cold. "Seishi..Ryuu...I've got something important to tell you.." Hotaru said weakly, "I've been having strange dreams lately, fortelling my death." she began. "Okaa-sama, please don't say that." Seishi pleaded, she looked at Ryuu with worry in her eyes. "I've never held the truth out from you...but there are somethings about my past that I cannot tell you now...but you'll know. From the moment of my death, you'll know everything." Hotaru said, she looked at Seishi with desperation in her eyes, "Don't give into them..please.." she whispered. "Don't give into who, Okaa-sama?" Seishi asked. "You'll know...you'll know.." Hotaru whispered, she closed her eyes and turned her head away. Seishi's hand began to feel warm, like there was somesort of energy traveling from her mother's hand to her own. She looked down and saw the purple aura which sometimes surrounded Seishi when she used her powers. Seishi instantly dropped her mother's hand in fear, what if she was draining her power? Her mother was weak enough as it was... even a drop of accidental draining could be deadly. Another one of Seishi's abilities was to drain the energy from people, to strengthen herself. She couldn't control this ability, it just seemed to...happen. "I think it's time you left Hotaru alone." a quiet voice said from the doorway, Ryuu looked and saw Seishi's father, Shino Masaya standing in the entrance to the room. "Otou-sama.." Seishi whispered. The man in the doorway didn't respond, he gazed at his wife who was asleep in the bed and then at Seishi and Ryuu. "I told you, leave this room." he said, his voice was never loud. He never raised his voice, but this was still an order...and it still hurt Seishi. "Yes, Otou-sama." (note: otou means father, the -sama part means she also respects him very much.) Seishi replied quietly and walked out of the room, Ryuu following her. Seishi lead Ryuu to the front door and opened it, Ryuu gazed up at the darkening sky. There was a storm brewing, the clouds swirled violently around. "Gomen nasai (I'm sorry), Ryuu...you know how he is.." Seishi sighed, she was referring to her father. Ryuu lowered his eyes and gazed at Seishi worriedly, he stepped down stairs from her porch and looked back up at her, "He scares me, Sei-chan, he really does." * * * * Morino Ryuu gazed down the street, it was pretty quiet for a nice autumn afternoon. He stuck his hands into his pants pockets and looked up at the sky, not before brushing a loose strand out of his face. It was a habit of his, to look up to the sky when he was happy or nervous. Today for a change, he was taking the long way home from Seishi's house. It always worried him having to have to see her live in a home where no one but her ailing mother cared. Seishi was like a sister to him, he had known her for so long. He knew everything about her, and loved everything about her...but in a platonic way. There was a time when he thought they could be a something more than friends, but she never seemed to feel the same way he had..so he dropped it. That was several years ago, he knew now that they couldn't ever be together in the sense of boyfriend/girlfriend like he used to wish...it just wouldn't be right. The sky above surged violently, in just a matter of minutes the temperature had dropped and the wild was howling loudly. Ryuu looked up nervously and wrapped his arms around himself for a moment. It was strange weather...where did the clouds come from? In the distance he heard the pounding of thunder. The beating of his heart grew louder, he knew there was someone watching him... "Who's there?" he demanded, the wind howled loudly in response. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck right in front of him. He jumped back, "Tell us where Neo Sailormoon is." a voice demanded, Ryuu backed away slowly and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green wand. (Be quiet you perverts! :P) He held it up to the sky, "Jupiter Cosmic Power, Transform!" he shouted. From the top of the object came a flashing green light which filled his body, his clothes turned into a suit and cape. A jeweled mask appeared over his eyes and the small green wand lengthened into a long white sword. "I am Jupiter Kamen, the Dragon of the Forest, Jupiter is my Guardian Planet." he said introducing himself, "Show yourself, I know you're from Tau Ceti." he ordered. "Wrong, we aren't from Tau Ceti..." A woman answered. From the smoke coming from where the lightning had struck stepped forward two figures. A woman with short black hair and a man with silver hair, they both looked at Jupiter Kamen closely. "Ah, so he's the new one." Thulium smiled, she gazed at Ryuu deeply. "You're a bit lucky to be the only male on the Sailor Team, do you get to watch them transform?" Gallium asked with a small smirk. "Don't be hentai (perverted), Gallium. We have come here simply to ask you a few questions. We won't harm you, unless we need to." Thulium replied, her eyes were still locked on Jupiter Kamen. "Then ask them." Kamen responded coldly, he was not going to let his guard down for even a second. "Where is the one called Neo Sailormoon?" Thulium asked, "I don't know." Jupiter Kamen answered, "DON'T lie to us!" Gallium shouted. "I'm not lying, I don't lie. I seriously do *NOT* know where she is. It's not like I keep tabs on her every second of the day, or anything like that." he snapped. Thulium raised her eyebrows, "You don't need to raise your voice like that. We could kill you in an instant." she warned with a snap of her fingers. "But would you?" Kamen asked coldly. Thulium narrowed her eyes, "Don't play with me, little boy." she said coolly, "I'll show you the true extent of my power.." she muttered. Thulium raised her hands to the sky, a sudden wind picking up and toussling her hair. The clouds in the sky surged downwards into a funnel-shape and swirled rapidly. Thulium laughed hysterically, "See this power? Isn't it beautiful?" she called over the raging winds. "Sailormoon...where are you..." Kamen whispered as he looked up at the cloud, he shook his head violently, "NO! I won't call on the others, I can do this myself..I will not endanger the others.." * * * * "Hey there Aiko-san, need some company walking home?" Usa-chan asked as she chased after the blonde-haired figure. Aiko looked up at her nervously, "Umm..umm..sure...th-thanks.." she said, stuttering on almost every word. She was shy enough with normal people, but this was the PRINCESS! Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity-sama, the daughter of Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion the rulers of the World. I must look like a total idiot, Aiko thought to herself. "So..." Usa began, she looked down, she had no idea what to say to Aiko. She had never really talked to the girl before, even if they had known each other since practically birth. "So...have you heard about the new Idol Girl? Spice-chan? She's kakkoii, ne? (cool, huh?)" Usa asked, she looked at Aiko. Aiko wasn't there. In confusion, Usa turned around and saw Aiko standing far behind her with a look of distress in her eyes. She was breathing hard and she didn't look very well. Usa ran back to Aiko, "Daijoubu ka?! (Are you okay?!)" Usa exclaimed. Aiko looked up at Usa with fear in her eyes, her hands reached up and clamped the sides of her head, "DON'T YOU HEAR IT?!" Aiko screamed, "Aiko..calm down..hear what? What's going on?" Usa asked worriedly, she wanted to get hysterical..but she had to stay calm. "The voices..the screaming..the voices..." Aiko muttered, "I feel a strange warmth in my heart..." Aiko whispered. A golden light was slowly forming around her. Usa's eyes widened as she backed away, "Who..WHAT..are you?!" Usa demanded, her fingers reached towards her brooch on her uniform. Was it that...all this time Aiko was some sort of youma? Or maybe it was a youma disguised as Aiko...or maybe it was Aiko under a spell...or maybe--Suddenly, Aiko let out a scream as flashes of golden light appeared from her body. She floated several inches off the ground, and beams of golden light appeared on the ground, encircling her. Wind blew upwards, her clothes melted off and were replaced by a new uniform, it looked like a school uniform...but also like a sailorfuku. "Masaka (no way).." Usa gasped, Aiko's short blonde hair suddenly grew longer and longer until it was past her knees. Red lipstick appeared on her lips, as well as moon shaped earrings on her ears. Several portions of her now long blonde hair rose up from each side and joined together at the back of her head, a red bow magically appeared tying the strands together. Finally, Aiko's glasses melted into a red mask, she smiled and posed. "S-Sailor..V?" Usa said in utter disbelief, she couldn't belive it.. How was that possible... "Hayaku, Usa-chan! Henshin yo! (Hurry, Usa-chan! Transform!)" Sailor V urged with a smile, not only had her looks been altered..but also her personality. Usa-chan nodded and pulled her brooch off her uniform and raise dit to the air, she waved her hand over the cover which disappeared. "MOON ANGELIC POWER, MAKE UP!" * * * * "So, Jupiter Kamen..calling for help...from GIRLS?!" Thulium asked with a laugh, she smirked, "You aren't a man." Jupiter Kamen's eyes flared, he raised his sword to the sky, "Lighting Burst!" he shouted, the sword became surrounded with green energy which expanded and suddenly exploded, sending bolts of green lighting to every direction. Thulium giggled, "You are so weak...We might as well destroy you now." she yawned, the wind suddenly grew harsher with every word. "CRESCENT ECLIPSE!" a voice shouted, a golden crescent moon flew like a boomerang around Jupiter Ryuu and towards Thulium were it struck her off guard directly in the face. The wind suddenly stopped. Thulium's eyes flared, she reached her hand up to her bleeding nose and touched it carefully. She winced in pain and looked down at the blood on her fingers, her eyes narrowed. "Where's the BUSU who did that?!" she screamed. (Note: Busu is a Japanese word which means 'ugly girl' it's the WORST insult you can say to a female.) Two figures stepped fowards, "For Love and Justice! I am the pretty Sailorsuited Soldier, Neo Sailormoon! In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" a girl with pink pointed odango said. The girl beside her bowed, "In the name of Victory, I am the beautiful Sailorsuited Soldier, Code named Sailor V!" she said introducing herself. Thulium glared at the two, while Gallium simply gawked, "Vandium was right...they *ARE* alot more kawaii than I first suspected!" he commented. "I will NEVER forgive you for this!" Thulium shouted, she looked at the blood on her fingers again, her temper rising. She raised both of her arms the sky, thunder boomed loudly and the wind picked up again, much more violently. "NEO SAILORMOON! ATTACK THEM!" Jupiter Kamen ordered, Sailormoon opened her palm and the Angel Moon Wand appeared in her hands, "ANGEL MOON HEART BREAK!" she shouted, a pink beam flew towards Thulium. She was struck off guard, once again, she lost her balance and fell to her knees. She clenched her fists and narrowed her eyes, a dangerous red aura surrounded her body. "Get away.." Jupiter Kamen whispered, he held his arm back keeping Neo Sailormoon and Sailor V away, his other hand held on to the sword, which he kept at Thulium's neck. "You and Gallium are to leave now, and you are not to come back. The next time I see you, you WILL die." he said, his tone sounded dead serious. "I think you're going to want to reverse that comment some day soon, BOY." Gallium said narrowing his eyes. His image seemed to fade out, as did Thulium's. Thulium glanced upwards and gave Neo Sailormoon a deadly look, "I will destroy you." she whispered, her body began to fade out, "I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!!!" she screamed, as she disappeared back to the Dark Side of the Moon. Neo Sailormoon shivered, she sounded so serious, all those death threats because we bruised her face? she wondered. "I'm glad you guys came..." Jupiter Kamen said, he lowered his arm and loosened his grip on the sword. His face was turned away from the girls, so they couldn't see his disappointment. He was embarassed that he couldn't be the one to be able to protect Neo Sailormoon and Sailor V. "It's no problem, you couldn't fight them alone.." Neo Sailormoon smiled. "But I should have been able to.." Jupiter Kamen said quietly, none of them heard him. "Aiko-chan...so...you're Sailor V?" Moon asked as she turned to the blonde. Neo Moon's uniform faded away and she was dressed in her school uniform once again. Sailor V looked up at the sky, "Don't say that...I'm not Hateshinai Aiko." Sailor V replied looking down at the ground for a moment. Jupiter Kamen also reverted back into normal form, "You aren't?" he asked, "But..I saw you transform!" Usa exclaimed. Sailor V shook her head, she looked at Usa angrily. "I'm *NOT* Hateshinai Aiko! I'm a new person when I'm Sailor V, someone I always wanted to be..Only when I'm Sailor V can I be away from the pain of my real life...the pain I feel because I'm a useless girl named Hateshinai Aiko. No one can know who I really am..only you two. I wanted to be someone different, someone people admired, you know? Mother made that dream come true...and you two will NOT destroy that dream." she snapped. Usa looked a bit hurt, "But..Ai..I mean..Sailor V-san.." Usa stuttered, V's mouth softened into a smile, "Ne, take care of yourselves, Ryuu-san and Usa-san...I'll be here when you need help." she smiled. She lept into the air and disappeared. Sailor V's words echoed in Usa's mind, I'm not Hateshinai Aiko, I'm a new person when I'm Sailor V...someone different...