DISCLAIMERS All Zodiac senshi and Zodiac cats, including families and acquaintances are copyrighted 2005 - 2006 Wild Nature. All BSSM characters, story, and all other relations to the story is copyrighted 1993 - 2006 Naoko Takeuchi. This is a fanfic and thus is NOT a part of the canon storyline but BASED upon both the anime and manga versions (mainly manga).

Chapter Seven: Sea Life

A young girl stood at the beach, staring out at the glistening seas. She was lost in thought but she couldn’t exactly pinpoint what she was thinking entirely.

Her green hair was wild, cut haphazardly and unevenly. Her eyes were a sky blue and she was rather tan. She had little curves, a well built body akin to that of a naturally born swimmer.

She began to wade into the sea, her eyes turning blank. She felt that urge to dive in and to just melt into the water.

But a memory, still well embedded in her mind flashed.

She was thrashing, screaming. But water was seeping in, sucking the air from her lungs, drowning her. She was sobbing and she saw alternate colors of black and white.

She felt it then, underneath her chubby, child fingers. A animal, a sea creature pulled her to the surface.

It had been a dolphin. Known to have a kind streak, she had stroked it’s moist skin and felt it, a shock of feelings, thoughts. It was muddled and she fainted afterwards but she did catch one single word.

‘Pisces..’

Her thoughts broke free and she pulled away from the water. “One of these days, I’ll swim this big, wonderful ocean.”

She sighed tiredly. “But unlikely today.”

She entered the town, walking lightly. She tried to remember her plans but as always, once she had thought of them, those plans flew out of her head. One of the aftereffects, her parents and doctor said.

Thankfully, she was used to writing things down now. “Let’s see,” She rummaged in her purse, absently walking down the street. She began to cross the intersection, failing to note the ‘do not walk’ flashing.

And with a screeching, honking car headed her way, her eyes grew big as she became a deer trapped.

A body slammed into her, throwing her to the side. A group of girls were calling out.

“Are you all right?” A young man, with black hair cropped closely to his scalp and deep blue eyes, studied her hurriedly. She noted that he had a rather interesting accent.

“Say, is English like a second language for you?”

“Yes, it is,” He smiled as he helped her up.

“Are you stupid! The light was flashing!” A raven haired raged.

“Rei, shush! She’s all right now,” Ami soothed.

“I’m sorry, I was trying to find my list of things to do..”

“Oh?” Minako grinned. “Here, let me...”

“NO! I have to do it myself or else I’ll forget.”

She noticed the strange looks. “I have a really bad memory. I had a accident when I was just a kid and...”

She had resumed fiddling in her purse and pulled her hand out, the bracelet dragging out with the paper. She watched it fall in slow motion as she merely blinked.

“This... I’ve seen this before with the.. others,” Makoto murmured.

“Do you.. know what this is?” Ami asked softly.

Kerri blinked, staring at the bracelet. “It’s my sign. See, I was born in March, on the 20th, and so that makes me a ..”

“No, no...” Minako glanced at the others. “I mean... do you know how.. important.. this is?”

Kerri blinked. “Say... are you also Zodiac senshi?! HEY! I’m not the only one? I thought you all died or something.”

“Err.. we’re not exactly the ...” Rei started.

“Oh boy! It’s a hot day today! Summer’s always a grand time. I wish I could go swimming but I’d just end up drowning.”

“Uh.. excuse..” Ami began.

“Are you hungry?”

“Oh boy, am I!” Usagi instantly agreed.

She looked at Usagi with a grin. “Come on down to the chow bucket! My mom and stepdad run a great fish restaurant!”

“Yea!” Usagi danced happily and Kerri began to dance with her.

“Say! What’s your name?” Kerri beamed. “Name’s Kerri Fisk!”

“I’m Usagi Tsukino..”

“Wait! Wait! Let me write this down,” She pulled out a tiny pad.

“Err...” Usagi waited until Kerri nodded. “Usagi Tsukino.”

“I’ll just write that as it sounds. Is that okay? Okay! Your names?”

“Rei Hino.”

“Makoto Kino.”

“Ami Mizuno.”

“Minako Aino.”

“Mamoru Chiba.”

They were all watching each other with a strange look. “You got that down now?”

Kerri gave another beaming smile as she finished writing the names. “So you are Usagi, Rei, Makoto, Ami, Minako, and Mamoru?” She asked, pointing to each named person.

Minako couldn’t help it. “Are you stupid or something?”

Kerri’s smile faded. “Wha..what? I’m.. I’m not stupid.” Her eyes filled with unspilled tears as she looked away. “I’m sorry.. my memory was ruined.. I am .. very...” She was trying to not look at the paper as she hiccupped. “Min..mina...”

“Minako,” Ami gently told her. “She didn’t mean it, really. It’s very nice to meet you, Kerri.”

“I would love to go eat!” Usagi stated, smiling warmly at the girl who smiled suddenly.

“I like you! We should be allies!”

Usagi blinked before nodding. “All right.”

She led them to a small, quaint restaurant, much like a mom-and-pop that many locals, especially near the beaches, liked to go to for its seafood.

“Mama! Mama!” Kerri called out. A older woman, a plump, green-haired with dark blue eyes, exited the kitchen, a small wave of heat following her as she beamed.

“Mermaid! I was wondering what you were up to!” She said cheerfully. “And who are these?”

“Customers!” Kerri beamed. “And new friends!”

“Wonderful! Please have a seat, won’t you?”

“The tall man saved me Mama! I was walking across the street and a car jumped at me!” Kerri still spoke rather cheerfully as her mother’s face paled of color.

“Today at least, you’ll all get free meals,” she said, her eyes suddenly bright. “My poor baby..”

Kerri blinked. “Mama?” She asked hesitantly as she watched the older woman leave. “I made her sad again..”

“KERRI!”

“Stevie!” Kerri smiled broadly at the younger boy by about four years. He had pale blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and a scrawny look to his body. Everything about him was stretched, even though he was average height, it gave the impression that he was taller than seemed.

“Where’d you go? The beach again? You can’t swim in it!” He told his older sister firmly.

“What were you doing earlier?” Kerri asked.

“Dad came by.”

Kerri’s face instantly closed in. “Oh, how nice..” Her tone said otherwise. She obviously didn’t hold much of a candle to her father.

“He was talking about taking the boys camping,” their mother said, coming in with a plate carrying a pitcher of water and several glasses.

“And nothing about me?” Kerri asked flatly.

Her mother looked down, avoiding the group’s gaze. “I’m sorry honey. Would you like to do something with me and Henry?”

“No thank you.”

She sighed as she looked at her middle child. “I’m sure eventually you’ll feel better. Why not hang out with your friends? I’ll make you your favorite!”

“Shrimp-cabob?”

“Coming right up!”

“Yea!”

She sat down with the group, beaming. “All the food here is wonderful so don’t worry about what you pick! Henry and Mama know how to cook everything just right!”

“How’d you get so many people over?” Stevie asked noisily.

“This man.. Mam...Ma.. no, don’t help me please,” She said without looking at the others, even though Makoto had her mouth open. “Mamoru saved me from a car.”

Stevie’s eyes were blank. “You need to be more careful.” It was the same speech anyone in her family gave her, anytime she was in any type of danger.

“I will be!” She beamed. “I have allies now!”

Stevie slowly arched an eyebrow but didn’t question. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to find Jeff.”

“Tell Mama!” She shouted as her little brother left.

“I already did!” He called back as he disappeared out of the building.

“So, who’s hungry?” She asked happily, opening the menu. “Oh right, I’ve already ordered!”

The meal finished in over an hour, Makoto was grinning broadly. “This a really cute place! It’s inspirational!”

“Inspirational?” Kerri tilted her head before she smiled at Makoto. “I suppose it is. Mama says this is her biggest dream right here!”

“Correction,” Mrs. Fisk smiled. “My second biggest dream. Being a mother was my top priority,” she beamed at her daughter. “She’s the middle child. Her older brother and sister live with their father at the moment, finishing up some things. I have her and the two younger boys with me.”

“It must be hard to have so many,” Minako breathed.

“Oh yes but it’s worth it. Especially when they mean a great deal,” her hand ran affectionally through her daughter’s hair. “We have to keep a close eye on Mermaid. She has a forgetful memory but her heart is always in the right place.” She impulsively hugged her, her eyes misting. “I’m sorry about your father. I tried talking to him but..”

“It’s okay, Mama. I’m hard to handle..” Kerri stated evenly, a monotone tune.

“No, you’re not,” She sighed. “I just wish I left him a long time ago.”

Kerri looked down at the table. “I’m sorry Mama. If I hadn’t..”

“Oh no, no, not your fault sweetie!” She began instantly, her face worried. “I’m sorry, I tend to go off tangent. Did your new friends enjoy the food?”

“They like the atmosphere!”

“Perfect!” She nodded to them. “No need to pay. Thank you for coming and being friends with Kerri. Honey, make sure you’re home on time, all right?”

“Yes Mama!” She watched her mother leave, one of the waiters coming over to collect the used plates. “She’s very protective.”

Kerri followed them out, watching them with a blank gaze, her thoughts turned inward.

“If you’re not the Zodiac, then how do you know of me?” She asked suddenly.

She reached into her pocket, digging out her bracelet. “Here, take it.” She offered it to Ami who only shook her head. She went to Minako whose eyes were looking down. “Why won’t you take it?”

“It’s yours,” Usagi closed the other girl’s fingers around the bracelet. “It’s a part of you.”

“That’s the problem!” Kerri began. “This is something I don’t want!”

“But wouldn’t you like to meet the other Zodiac?” Usagi asked gently.

She was surprised as the green haired girl’s eyes flashed. “NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!”

Her screams triggered the bracelet, short beams of light lighting her fist as she cried out and dropped it. “I don’t want it! I don’t want to! We’re not here! We’re not real! We’re not...!”

Fingers dug into her shoulders as Usagi shouted. “STOP IT!” Her eyes filled with tears. “I have never seen such people.. any warriors.. any senshi like this. Full of fear of their own powers!” She pulled Kerri in and sobbed. “I’m so sorry!”

Kerri looked up at the skies, a flock of birds flying high. “If only we could be free like them..” She pointed to them, Usagi following her outstretched hand.
She began to follow the birds, her feet slowly taking off as she gave a shout of joy. “I want to fly!” She shouted.

Usagi hurriedly picked up the bracelet, running after the girl.

Demi, Galena, and Yale were walking with each other. Tategami and Lila were tailing behind, whispering softly.

“You ain’t be talkin’ about me, would you?” Yale asked suddenly, hopefully.

“Oh no, it was about this!” Lila offered the magazine, where skinny models stood stock still.

“Bleh..” Galena rolled her eyes. “They’re ugly!”

“They’re very pretty!” Lila stated firmly. “They’re perfect models!”

“Don’t get out much, do ya?” Yale snickered. Lila eyed her. “What?”

“You look good dressed like that. Are those boy clothes?”

“My brother’s. He lets me wear his outgrown set.”

“Sounds like a nice person.”

“Yea.. don’t know where he got it..” Yale turned away to see Kerri running across from them, over onto the beach.

“HEY!” She saw Kerri begin to struggle into the water. “Stop her!” They turned and saw the other girls.

“What are you doing here?” Demi tried to ask but they ignored her and followed Kerri who was now waist deep in the cold water.

“Hey!” Kerri shouted. “HEY! I want to...” She suddenly became aware of the freezing water. “I... mama.. mama? No.. I’m trapped.. not.. not...again.. MAMA!” Her fingers began to itch, her arms thrashing as she howled. “MAMA!”

The water surged in a whirlpool, Kerri in the center. This didn’t help alleviate her at all as she began to scream on the top of her lungs. The water turned wild, thrashing as she screamed louder and louder.

“KERRI!” Makoto shouted. Minako shouted as well but they couldn’t get her attention.

“We need to get her out of there!” Ami cried out. “She’ll drown at this process!”

“GALLY!”

Galena had snagged the bracelet from the open palm of Usagi and went into the churning water. She nearly lost her footing but gritted her teeth.

“I may be little.. but she will listen! SHE WILL!” She told herself. She straightened and shouted as loudly as she could. “PISCES!”

She got a response instantly, the figure slowly turning. The fear was there, the face white as a ghost, eyes wide open. “Cancer.. please.. help me...”

Galena offered her hand. “It’s all right...It’ll be all right..”

The water suddenly began to thrash even more and Kerri turned away. “IT’S HIM!” She screamed.

Galena shouted. “Cancer Celestial Power, Make Up!” She felt herself transform, her eyes blazing in energy. She felt different but didn’t take notice of it. “Cancer Water Barrier!”

The water swarmed and blocked off the coming tidal wave. “You have to transform!” She shouted to Kerri.

“I’m afraid..”

“We all are but we have each other! Don’t be afraid..”

Kerri saw the bracelet upon the ground. They were in a bubble of air, the water surging around them. Her fingers stretched out and as she grasped it, words poured out. “Pisces Celestial Power, Make Up!”

The sign of Pisces blazed upon her brow, her fuku swimming in turquoise ribbons. She had a crisscross choker, the top half white, the bottom turquoise. There was a yellow star clasped in its center. She had a turquoise collar void of any design. Her bodice was white but the sides of her body was lined in turquoise. Her waistband was flat and jade green, the skirt two layered, the top turquoise and the bottom jade green. She had turquoise protectors and turquoise sandals clasped over the toes and ankle, a vertical strap connecting the two. Her brooch was heart shaped and turquoise, a yellow five pointed star in its center, three round gems on each side.

Her hair fluttered in the wind. “On the count of three, I’m letting up!” Sailor Cancer called out. Pisces closed her eyes in preparation.

She heard it, the running water to claim her. “Not this time!” She shouted as she added. “Pisces Tsunami Rage!”

The water gathered around her and for a moment, she felt a old panic before it fled, leaving behind another, far more older, emotion. She spread her fingers, the water swarming closer before her eyes flashed open. The water shot out at all directions before her world turned black.

Cancer instinctively picked her up. She wasn’t thinking as she and the other were to safety. She looked up and saw her sister staring at her with wide, shocked eyes.

“What?”

She then noticed the problem with her voice. Softer, gentler, not as high pitched as a young girl. She looked down and jumped away from the group. “Oh my GOD!”

She was still with the mentality of a ten-year-old, but her body was now that of a older self. She realized that this body was even older than her own sister!

“What..”

Yale snapped her fingers. “You took the shard, remember? You’ve gotten more.. powerful?” She tilted her head. “Wow! You’re going to look hot when you get older!”

“YALE!” Demi shouted. “For the love of all mankind, transform back!”

Cancer blinked. “You don’t like...”

“You’re TEN!”

Galena untransformed. “Even though I was still older.. you still didn’t listen.. no one listens to me!” She cried out as she ran down the street, away from her sister.

“Galena!”

She was still sniffling when Karna bumped into her. “Taurus!” Galena latched onto the other girl who choked back a sob. “Oh.. god! Little Cancer, I failed us!”

Galena tugged on her arm. “Please, sit with me!”

Karna staggered to bended knees, her eyes welled up with tears. “He took her.. he took her from me..”

“Who?” Galena’s voice was thick. “Who took who?”

“Ophiuchus.. he took her.. he took Libra..”

Galena blinked. “Are you all right?”

She reached out only to feel Karna smack it away. “Leave me alone,” her voice came out bitterly. “I’m a disgrace.. worthless in the eyes of everyone that knows me..”

She struggled to her feet.

“Karna, you’re hurt!” Galena grasped out at the other girl only to feel herself get slammed into the wall, lifted high enough that her feet dangled in the air.

“Little Cancer..” The voice hissed out of the possessed girl. Her eyes turned black and the sneer was sharp on her face. “Time is ticking.. child..”

“Get away from her!” Haruka had appeared, followed by Setsuna. Karna’s fingers had to be pried. “What the hell..”

She let out a hiss before her body became rigid.

“She needs help! Someone please! Save her!” Galena cried out.

“But what’s the matter with her!?” Haruka began.

Galena began to cry, her wails echoing in the streets. Michiru attempted to calm the distraught girl but her wails only grew louder.

“I don’t wanna do this!” She screamed finally. “No one listens! No one cares! We’re all going to die because we won’t listen to each other! It’s my fault! It’s my...”

A hand reached out from no where and a smack across the cheeks caused Galena to cease her wails.

“I have never met such a wild, emotional girl in my life. You’re just like you were in the freaking past,” Pollux told her grimly. He had taken human form, finding it far more easier but slowly ebbing his strength out by a trickle.

“Polly...” Galena sniffled before she threw herself into his arms. He sighed and held her closer. “I’m sorry.. but Karna..”

The other girl had finally gone slack, the rigidity melting away as her eyes fluttering.

“Let.. me go..” She whispered through puffy lips.

“You’re sick,” Setsuna murmured.

“I’m poisoned..” Karna attempted to lift herself but tried to not accept Setsuna’s help. “Because he tried to take me.. it won’t be long now...”

“But you need to be helped..” Galena pulled out of Pollux’s arms. “Why won’t you let me help you!?”

“What can you do?” Karna stood as straight as possible. “I was the one at fault..” Her voice came out painfully. “I thought if we were by each other.. but she didn’t even bother to fight..”

“Libra is confused...” A voice came out. Kerri pushed through, her eyes wide. “She’s trapped even more so because she’s so easily attained. If we can just reach out..” Kerri smiled as she held out a hand. Karna instinctively reached out and their fingers touched.

Galena smiled as she placed her hands on the two grasped. “See, we can be a team!”

“I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news,” Yale began. “But uh, we’re drawin’ attention here.”

“Well... This is fun..” Pollux said finally. “I think I’m going to head on home and hide for a few days.”

He winked at Galena and let Demi by him. “Why can’t your brother be human?” Demi asked suddenly.

“Because a certain person has yet to accept her own shard,” was the answer thrown over his shoulder effortlessly. Galena was watching him leave, a strange look in her eyes. Demi scrunched her face suspiciously.

“Tell me, Galena? When did you fall in love with Polly?” She asked dryly.

“It’s like.. not love,” Galena flushed. “Leave me alone..” She went off to follow Pollux, who was waiting by the flashing stop sign.

“Ah... If that’s the case, what about Castor?”

“What about me?” Castor lounged on her bed, his legs hidden underneath him as he watched her. Until she began to change, he promptly turned around. When he heard nothing else, he turned back around.

His eyes bugged out, seeing Demi clad in only revealing lingerie, the bra fringed in lace and the panties curving around her hips with ease. “So, what do you think?”

If he could, he’d get a nose bleed but he merely sneezed. “I.. uh.. shouldn’t you.. uh... how about... um..”

“Well?”

“Do you have to look like that? Get dressed woman!” He jumped off the bed and dived under it, hiding effectively the sight of Demi in lingerie.

“What, am I that ugly?” She meant to say it jokingly. “Castor.. for the love of God, why won’t you tell me anything? We were lovers too? Did we mean anything to each other? Am I too weak for you? Too what, come on, tell me already!” She nearly wailed.

His head poked out, his feline eyes glittering. “If I could do things differently...”

“Then become human!”

“I CAN’T!”

“Because I’m weak!”

“No and yes..” He said hesitantly. “When you were.. punished, we were not, Pollux and I. We knew we couldn’t live.. without you... and chose to be cursed as well.”

“Being feline was fine. You gave me your own power to become human but the time lasting drained out until we both realized that to be human meant death for one of us. But by then, it didn’t matter.. It came then, a nightmare.”

“That curse that took all of us, all of you and your beautiful stars, it swallowed us. I had to watch you die first because.. because...”

“I didn’t want to see you die..” Her eyes were wide. “You.. loved me that much?”

“No matter what form I took, what I take, all I ever wanted...” He didn’t get to finish as he watched her fall to her knees.

“Just like me to be selfish,” her voice was a whisper. “Expecting everything from you and acting like I never cared..” Her eyes filled with tears. “I just wish.. I knew how to make it better..”

As a feline, what could he do but sit there? He moved over and purred, rubbing himself against her, his eyes also filled with tears.