DISCLAIMERS:
All canon characters are (C) 1992 - whatever year it is Naoko Takeuchi and all other related parties. The Shadow senshi are (C) Wild Nature 2006 - 2007. This is a fanfic based upon the anime version and all written work that this consists of is (C) 2006 - 2007 Wild Nature.

Chapter Nine: Strange Occurrences

“And once you’ve finished this, you can go out,” Shinkon told her daughter. Kaki nodded dutifully, trying hard to not be distracted by her little sister Kashuryoku. The little tyke was dancing around an imaginary maypole, giggling to herself.

“Come on, Kashu,” Kaki called out, carrying the load of laundry nearly effortlessly. She was trailed by her sister, still dancing to an imaginary tune.

“What’s with you?” She asked with a laugh.

“I’m practicing,” Kashuryoku grinned. “I’m gonna be a dancer!”

“Uh huh,” Kaki knelt down, stuffing the washer full.

“What happened to the senshi?” Her sister asked finally. “It’s been -forever- since I’ve seen them!”

“They’re around. They have a lot to do,” Kaki answered.

“I’m bored!”

Kaki shrugged. “And you’re too hyper. I can’t help you, go find something to do.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see my friends.”

“Can’t I come?”

“Not this time.”

“But you never take me!”

“It’s big girl stuff!”

“MAMA!”

“Kaki?” Her mother peeked in. “What’s wrong, Kashu?”

“She won’t take me with her!”

“Kaki,” Shinkon began.

“Mom, I can’t take her every time.”

“Since when have you brought her?”

“Okay, maybe once but Mom..”

“No buts, you take your sister with you!” She spoke with finality. “Understand?”

“Yes, Mom,” Kaki said in resignation.

Jaro stared up at the clear skies. Summer was a way to enjoy life to the fullest. He didn’t think he was quite there but he could be patient. He hadn’t much choice in the matter as is.

“Hey!” Eizou glared at him. “Are we going or not?”

“Coming,” he stepped up to move parallel to her, their steps in unison. “What were we going to do today?”

“Find a moment of peace. I thought the park would be suitable.”

“Ah...” He glanced at her, a tiny smile growing. “Is this, perhaps, a date?”

“I didn’t ask you and you didn’t ask me, so no.”

“You’re right, you didn’t ask me. You ordered me. I never took you for an authority figure.”

She glared at him. “What’d I say?” He grinned widely.

“I am not bossy!”

“Only more so. You’re making sure everything goes your way.”

“I am not!” Her face turned red. “You’re so mean.”

“Am I? I haven’t noticed.”

“Of course not..”

“So what are we doing?”

“I just told you!” She turned a corner and entered the flat plain park, muttering darkly to herself. “You’ve got to be the most stuffy person ever!”

“Ah... but yet you dragged me out with you.”

“Stop that!” Eizou crossed her arms. “Always turning things around to be at me, that’s not fair!” She settled on a bench with a low sigh. “It’s so warm out here.”

He reached over to her and patted her head. “Seasons change.”

“So..” She began after a lengthy pause. It felt awkward, being alone with him and she realized it had been getting worse as time wore on. She kept remembering that moment, that single vision.

“Yes?”He turned around and nearly fell out of his seat with a near shout.

“What?” She looked up and frantically searched the area but she didn’t see anyone. “What? I don’t see anything!”

Her fingers gripped her necklace tightly, prepared for the worst.

“Nothing.. It’s nothing,” he was flushed, embarrassed as he gave a weak chuckle. “The sun’s playing games on me.”

“Since when do you get frazzled?”

“I told you! It was ...not...hing...” He stared over her shoulder, his face paling. “Or well, something.” He finished weakly.

“What?” She turned and once more, there was just nothing there. Then she realized she was expecting something dangerous. What if she was supposed to be seeing something else?

She studied the people but she didn’t find anyone. She turned around and nearly screamed and she fell off the bench, the small girl nestled between the two. Jaro had his mouth covered, leaning on his knee, keeping his face averted as the girl beamed at Eizou.

“Hi ya!” She said cheerfully. “My name’s Reisei! But people call me Sei.”

She was just like the girl in her vision. ‘From.. my.. future..’ She tried to grasp that thought. “Oh... god..” She had the long raven hair, up in two side flattened buns from a set of half ponytails, the rest falling to nearly her buttocks. Her skin was a warm peach, her eyes a glittering gold.

“And, ah, what reason would you be here for?” Jaro asked, still keeping his face averted.

“It’s a funny story!” Reisei began.

“I’m gone!” Eizou stood up. “You take care of this!”

“Oh, excuse me, won’t you?” He told Reisei in one breath as he glided to the hurrying girl. He grasped an arm and pulled her a bit too hard as she fell into his arms.

“This isn’t helping..” She mumbled in his shirt.

“Yea well, I wasn’t expecting this! Who’s the father!?” He demanded darkly. He glowered over her. “I’m going to kill him!”

“For the love of my sanity! One, we’re not going out, two, I’m not going out with anyone else, and three, don’t act like you own me!”

“Maybe you haven’t noticed but she looks just like you,” Jaro hissed.

“And she has your eyes,” she faltered at that, looking away with a blush that spread rapidly. “I.. I mean...”

Jaro turned with a quick glance. “She does... remind me of me, a bit.”

“Jaro..” Eizou began tiredly.

“I’m not.. I don’t want to be pushy.. But damnit, you’ve mourned enough. Let me be near you..”

“You are near me,” Eizou muttered.

“Eizou..”

Eizou rubbed her face. “I don’t know, I can’t...I mean, I want... I don’t... I..”

Jaro carefully tilted her head up to meet eye to eye. “Eizou?”

“I do... I do feel..” She stuttered.

“HEY!”

The two nearly fell over as Reisei beamed. “Can I butt in? I need help, see. I wasn’t supposed to be playing with.. ah, something, and I sort of, kind of, accidentally and intentionally got lost here.”

“Did that make sense?” He asked Eizou. Eizou rolled her eyes.

“And what accident was it?” Eizou asked Reisei.

“I was hanging out with Usagi and she was talking about keys that Pluto had and I, while searching the castle, sort of found the gate and the stash of keys. I thought it’d be fun! I mean, Usagi got to so why not me?”

Eizou blinked. “Usagi?”

“Yea, a pink haired rabbit?” Reisei made bunny ears, pressing her hands to her head in a comical look. “She’s the daughter of Neo Queen Serenity.”

“Serenity... you mean.. she’s Usagi’s daughter? Does she know?”

“Uh, duh.”

Eizou glared.

“Sorry... so how about the help? And ah.. .a note to tell that this wasn’t my fault?” She asked hopefully.

“Jaro?” Eizou glowered at the man. “This is YOUR fault, isn’t it?”

“What, the key issue or the attitude?” He managed a tiny smile but it melted under her glare. “Come on, turn that frown upside down!”

There was a sudden commotion as the three pivoted on their heels, only to see a dark-skinned warrior in front of them.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” Reisei demanded. “Oof...” Jaro tugged her and threw her over his shoulder. “Hey!”

“Shut up and listen to your elders!” Eizou shouted before she turned to face the intruder. “Who the hell are you?”

“Alsvid,” the woman answered rather perkily. She had blue tipped, raven black hair, a yellow star over her right eye and a blue crescent moon on her left cheek as well as a blue orb in her right ear. “I’m so happy to find you! Now we’re off to Sailor Sigel!”

“Uh.. no, I’m sorry I can’t do so,” Eizou stated finally.

“Oh dear, you’re going to fight?” Alsvid’s smile dimmed.

“Sorry but I can’t be taken as a hostage,” Eizou said pointedly.

“Oh, well...” She scratched her head. “This is new. But oh well, it’ll turn out all well in the end. Sister said so.”

She spun into a wide arc, a pillar of flames of high heat forming as she spun faster, the pillar becoming an spiraling tunnel.

“You might want to do something, Eizou,” Eizou told herself. The area of clear of people, having run from the flames. “And me.. why doesn’t anyone ever save me?”

“Oh right..” She held up her necklace. “Nepheline Holy Light, Make Up!” She transformed in a blinding twirl as she posed and shouted. “In the name of the Shadows.. I am.. Shadow.. Moon.. I never needed a line to introduce myself.”

She jumped up, away from the growing flames. “Moonlight Boomerang Ricochet!” She formed two boomerangs of white light, throwing them into the flaming tornado.

It shattered and filtered out, the attack neutralizing the fire. Alsvid blinked innocently. “Whoops.. I never had to fight alone before so I’m just kind of lost.”

Shadow Moon glared. “What do you want?”

“Alsvid! Attack now!” A voice echoed from above. Shadow Moon swerved her head and it was the coming heat that told her to look out but it would be too late.

“Deep Impact!” Shadow Neptune appeared on the scene.

Arvak landed next to Alvsid, her eyes narrowed. “It takes you far too long to do anything.”

“I got dizzy,” Alvsid admitted.

“God, you’re insufferable. Good thing you have me, now don’t you?” The two moved in sync, aiming as fire blazed from each single palm. They rested their backs together, a left hand from one, a right hand from the other that met side to side and the flames merged together as Shadow Neptune and Moon jumped.

“Shadow Moon!” Familiar voices came from behind. The Sol senshi posed in their classic signature.

“Is there really time for that?” Shadow Moon shouted indignantly.

“Ares Hammer Barrage!” Sailor Mars aimed as she attacked. The ground shook underneath them and unfortunally, half of the people fell over.

“MARS!” Sailor Moon shouted, on her bottom as she glared at her friend.

“EIZOU!” The two strange warriors honed onto the other girl, who had also fallen as she looked up in shock. Fingers grasped her shoulders, two hands on each side.

Something reacted around her as the two were thrown off. “Yea! Jaro’s barriers still work!” Shadow Moon cheered as she held up her hand. “Triad Moon Staff!” She called out.

There was a moment of silence. “What.. is the new one renamed?”

“MOVE!” Sailor Jupiter shouted, a bit needlessly as Shadow Moon jumped from the attack. Arvak had surged forward, ruthlessly attacking as Shadow Moon barely dodged.

“NO!” She screamed finally as her fingers grasped tightly into a fist. “Please... please, Crystal Triad Staff!” She shouted in desperation.

It was the right phrase as the staff formed in her fingers. She spun them into her fingers until the top was thrown above her head. Light was seen sucking into it as she shouted, the crystals lighting one by one until the top of a blinding halo around the three crescent moons.

“Haloed Moonlight Radiance!”

The attack blazed out as the two warriors moved hurriedly back.

“Sister, my eyes!” Alsvid screamed in pain.

Arvak howled in rage and attacked the beam head on and it was almost evenly matched. Arvak’s energy was being pushed back as she began to sweat.

“We.. need.. you.. to come. If you don’t, our plan will fail..” Arvak told Shadow Moon unexpectedly. “We never wanted this..”

And they disappeared in flashes of heat.

Shadow Moon stared at where they had been. “I don’t understand. They’re enemies, right?”

“They want something from you,” Sailor Mercury mused. “But it may not be an item, it may just...be you.” She finished after a pause.

“But what can I do?” Shadow Moon was staring still at the spots. She remember the unusually cheerfulness of Alsvid and the feeling that both knew something and expected it from her. “So they can’t really tell me, huh? Do I have to figure it all out?”

“I can help! Pick me! Pick me!” Reisei was waving her hand frantically in the air, Jaro being dragged with her.

“I couldn’t stop her,” he offered as an apology.

“This is so your FAULT!” She shouted at him as the others stared at the Eizou look-a-like.