Usagi put her hands on the hips while Naru and her double continued to snicker. "All right, that's not funny anymore, Naru! Just tell me what's going on!"
Ranu giggled and said: "Well, it's like this..." But suddenly, she disappeared with a 'pop'.
Naru blinked. "Huh? She's gone already? Why?"
"Because you can't use your powers the whole day," Luna's voice called down from a tree. Naru and Usagi looked up at her in surprise. The black mooncat shook her head. "Really, what were you thinking? Do you want everyone to know that you have the powers of duplicating yourself?"
Naru raised her finger. "Um... should I be surprised that your cat is able to speak, Usagi?"
"Not really," Usagi sighed. "Not if you consider the fact that I am Sailor Moon and she is my advisor..."
Naru gasped. "You're... Usagi! But why... when..." She forced herself to calm down, then she looked at her friend sternly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's a good reason the identities of the Sailor Senshi are being kept secret," explained Luna. "But let's go somewhere else where no one can listen to our conversation, okay?"
Usagi nodded. Naru sighed. "Okay, but I expect the full story behind this, you hear me?"
----
Half an hour later, they were sitting in Usagi's bedroom.
"You're serious?" Naru murmured. "I'm a Senshi as well?"
"Of course," Luna replied. "What do you think where your new abilities come from? You're one of the Zodiac Senshi, Sailor Gemini, and thereby able to create copies from yourself or any other person you'll come in contact with."
"Sailor Gemini..." Naru grinned. "Sounds cool. Do I get my own fuku now?"
"Actually, we're getting those fukus by transforming," Usagi explained. "And we need special magical items to do it. Luna already had something for me when I became Sailor Moon, but... I'm afraid the amulets of the Zodiac Senshi are all scattered over the world."
"Great," Naru moaned. "And how are we gonna find out where my amulet is hidden?"
"That's not the problem," Luna assured her. "One of your new teammates has a special pendulum which can show you the exact place where it's hidden."
"So, does that mean we..." Something beeped. Naru blinked. "What was that?"
"Just a moment..." Usagi pulled out her communicator. "Yes, what is it?"
"Usagi, we should all come to the Outers' home," Ami's voice came out of the little device. "Setsuna found out where several of the other amulets are being hidden."
"All right, I got it! When should we come?"
"This evening, at seven. And Usagi..." Ami's voice now sounded like she was pleading. "Please try to come in time, okay?"
Usagi grinned. "Okay, I'll try it. By the way, I'm bringing Naru with me. She just discovered her Senshi powers, and Luna told her all about us."
"Hey, that's great! So, see you then... bye!"
When Usagi switched off her communicator, Naru asked: "That was Ami right now, wasn't it? So she is a Senshi too?"
"That's right," Usagi nodded. "Sailor Mercury! The brains of our little team! Well, I think it's not that little anymore..."
"So, I guess Rei, Makoto and Minako are part of this as well, huh? After all, you've been hanging out much more with them than with me recently." A little accusation came along with the last part of her speech.
Usagi ducked her head in shame. "I'm so sorry, Naru-chan... But, you have to understand: Senshi business is sooo important for us... We have to make sure Tokyo is safe from all the Youma, Daimons, and whatever creatures are out there."
"I think I understand," Naru nodded. "Well, now that I'm a part of this, we will spend much more time together, huh?"
"Yup!" Usagi smiled. "Isn't it great?"
----
In the evening, the Outers' home was very crowded. Except for Azusa, every Senshi was present. The Inners, the Outers, the Zodiac Senshi, the advisors, Mamoru and Chibiusa.
Naru, Usagi and Luna were the last ones to arrive. "Make yourselves at home," Michiru greeted them. "Although I hope there is still some place left for you to stand... our house has never been that full before."
Because of their large number, they didn't sit down in the dining room as before, but in the living room. Haruka and Michiru had carried most of their chairs from the dining room in here, so everyone would have a spot to sit down.
"All right, I think I was able to track down two of the missing amulets," Setsuna started the meeting. "The ones I know nothing about are the Gemini, Aries and Sagittarius amulets.
Finding out about the Gemini Amulet won't be a problem, though," she added with a glance to Naru, who smiled. "I also think I have enough money to pay for all of the flights."
"Excuse me," Minako spoke up. "But I just realized: Wouldn't it be easier to just use our teleport to get there?"
"I already thought about that," Setsuna replied. "And I talked about it with Ami. And we came to the conclusion that only the Inner Senshi have been able to use the Sailor Teleport. And that would leave the question how the Zodiac Senshi would be able to get to their amulets. And I think it would only be fair that they are coming along to get them. Besides, Sting told me that the amulets would 'react' to anyone that tries to get the amulet. You all were aware of the strange coincidences how everyone of you found them, right?"
She looked at Ranma. "The Aquarius Amulet was hidden within the spring water of Jusenkyo."
She looked at Akane. "The Leo Amulet was hidden near a lion."
She looked at Nabiki. "The Scorpio Amulet was hidden within Scorpion Valley."
She looked at Ukyo. "Ukyo found the Libra Amulet within the castle of a Scottish clan which had a pair of scales inside their family emblem... Also, the story of the McScotts and McTricks began with a pair of defective scales."
She looked at Shampoo. "The Pisces Amulet was hidden at the bottom of the sea, guarded by fishes."
Kasumi. "Although the Virgo Amulet was in California, it somehow led it's Senshi to a planet that was being populated by virgins."
She looked around. "And Azusa... okay, we don't know the circumstances how she got her amulet, but after everything that happened, I'd say that it had to do something with a goat. So, Sting, Mercury and I started to believe that the Zodiac Senshi simply HAVE to search for their amulets themselves, or it just would be impossible to be found, understand?"
Most of the present Senshi nodded, although Ranma and Shampoo still seemed to have a hard time following Setsuna's words.
"Sadly, I don't have enough money for everyone of us to fly to those countries, so I'm afraid some of you have to stay here in Tokyo."
"That's not that bad, I suppose," Rei spoke up. "If anything bad happens in Tokyo, we always have someone back here to take care of everything."
Setsuna nodded. Then she put several papers on the table. "Look here... these are the places where two of the amulets are hidden:
The Taurus Amulet is in Canada, within some sort of summer camp for children... although this one seems to be only for girls."
Hotaru smiled. "I suppose you planned to send me to Canada, don't you, Setsuna-mama?"
Setsuna smiled. "Yes, you're right. It's much easier to explain the presence of a young girl in there than that of several older teenagers... or even boys." She looked at Ranma and Mamoru.
"I'll come with her," Chibiusa shouted. Hotaru smiled. "Thanks, Chibiusa!"
"Okay, but you'll need at least one older person to accompany you, I think..." Setsuna thought about it. "Kasumi, would you be interested?"
Kasumi smiled. "It would be my pleasure."
"I guess I'll come as well," Rei said. "I always wanted to visit Canada..."
"Okay, then it's settled... Well, the Cancer Amulet is hidden in Italy, near the coast... I think it's somewhere near Venice..."
Michiru raised her hand. "I'll go voluntarily," she said. "Anyone wants to come with me?"
"When it's near the sea, I think my ability would be suited for it," Ranma spoke up.
"I'll come, too," Shampoo and Akane said instantly. Both of them threw each other angry glares.
Ranma sighed. 'Hoo boy, that's gonna be some trip...'
Setsuna nodded. "Okay, now we only have to see where Naru's amulet is hidden... Nabiki, the pendulum, please!"
Nabiki pulled it out of her pocket and gave it to Naru. "Here you are!"
Setsuna put the world map on the table and Naru let the pendulum hang down. Finally, it stopped right over France.
"It's in Paris," Naru shouted in surprise. "Oh, that's great! I always wanted to visit the Louvre."
"I'll go with Naru," Usagi said. "Senshi business is still pretty new for her, she needs her friend!"
"Thank you, Usagi!" Naru beamed.
"Okay, I guess I have to go somewhere as well," Haruka sighed. "So I'll keep an eye on those two."
"Hey, we are no children, you know?" Usagi said offended.
Meanwhile, Setsuna had written everything down on a small piece of paper:
Gemini Amulet (France): Usagi (Luna), Naru, Haruka
Taurus Amulet (Canada): Hotaru, Chibiusa (Diana), Rei, Kasumi
Cancer Amulet (Italy): Michiru, Ranma, Akane, Shampoo (Fin & Fun)
"Okay, I guess that means the rest of us is going to stay back and fight every bad Youma that tries to attack Tokyo," Minako smirked.
"Awww, I wish I could come along to France," Makoto pouted. "Very well, maybe some other time..."
"All right, I'll think I should go home and prepare the first-aid kit," Nabiki smirked and stood up. "I think Ranma will need it on his trip."
Both Shampoo and Akane frowned at that.
"Nabiki, shut up," Akane simply growled.
"Mercenary girl be careful what she says," Shampoo warned her. "Or Shampoo gives her Amazon Noogie!"
----
Meanwhile, in another dark place...
An enormous figure with long horns was carrying a small, flailing shape over his shoulder and threw it to the ground, in front of a Youma clothed in rags. "Here he is, mistress..." the horned being growled.
Duplicas smiled. "Excellent work, minion... You can withdraw for now!"
The tall figure bowed. "My lady..." He left.
Happosai stood up and looked at his host. "You know, I'd like to have a date with nice women, but I think you're a little too old for my tastes..."
"Silence!" the Youma shouted. "You're not here for fun, Happosai! Know that I brought you here to offer you a bargain... a bargain regarding the Zodiac Amulets!"
Happosai raised an eyebrow and pulled out his pipe. "I'm listening..."
"We are interested that the Sailor Senshi won't get all of the Amulets into their hands. But now that their numbers have increased dramatically, I have no other choice but to change my plans... And that includes offering you a deal: Work with us, and I promise you will be the first one to use the powers of the amulets for your own wishes."
"Is that all? There has to be a catch somewhere. What are you going to do with the amulets anyway?"
"That is our concern! Pay no attention to our plans, and we won't question yours, right?"
Happosai was still cautious. He could feel this was some kind of demon, and a man of his age and experience knew better than to trust the word of a dark being.
But still, the idea of a world with underwear-clad beauties that were willing to let him look at them...
"Okay, deal! But you better not trick me, lady... I'm not your ordinary old grandfather, you know?"
"Oh, I know..." Duplicas smiled. Inwardly, she laughed. 'Stupid old fool... when you have done your job, I will gladly kill you myself...'
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(Posted Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:56)
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