[Episode 205733] [Episode 205733]Rei was fuming as she entered the shrine and took her place before the Sacred Fire.
"The nerve of those people!" Rei thought to Ranma. "Imagine accusing Grandpa and I of having something to do with the disappearances!"
"Good thing I wasn't there, Koi," Ranma thought back. "I'd have given'em an earful for questioning your honor."
Rei felt a warm feeling well up inside her as she sensed Ranma's outrage and desire to protect her. It quickly calmed the storm of indignation that had caused her to all but throw the poor, frightened mothers of the missing children off the shrine grounds.
"Thanks, Love," Rei thought with a smile. "You want to get off at this station." The young priestess quickly gave her soulmate directions to the Hikawa Shrine from the train station. "While I'm waiting for you, I'll see if I can do a fire reading and find some answers about what happened to the missing girls."
"I'll be there as soon as I can," Ranma replied to her.
He smiled as he felt her excitement. Ranma was pretty excited to finally meet the girl that had been in his thoughts for so long. She was so beautiful and elegant, he sometimes wondered if she could possibly be real, and if she was, how she could possibly be interested in him even before Jusenkyo had turned him into a freak.
Rei was two years younger than him, but neither really cared. Ranma had to admit, if only to himself, she was more mature than he was in many ways. A blush bloomed on his face as he recalled just how mature she had gotten in the last year. Rei had teased him to distraction posing in front of the mirror in various states of undress as he looked through her eyes. Unfortunately, he was unable to return the favor. The best he was able to do was let her see his face in his pop's shaving mirror or in the reflection of the odd pond they camped beside in their travels.
A surge of annoyance washed over him as he thought about his stupid old man. The selfish panda hadn't even considered that Ranma might have someone he hoped to one day marry. No, the old fart, as usual, was only thinking of himself and how he could use his son to get what he wanted—regardless of whether or not it wrecked Ranma's life.
Rei was right; it was high time Ranma ditched the old fool. Not that he thought it would be that easy. Eventually, the panda-man would find him and then all hell would break loose. Despite knowing that Genma would not be likely to give up without an absurd amount of difficulty, now that Ranma had made the break, he knew he had to rebuff Genma as many times as it took, not just for his happiness but for Rei's as well.
Suddenly, Ranma felt alarm coming from Rei.
"Rei-chan, what's wrong?" Ranma demanded urgently.
"The Odango Atama—the one I accidentally hit with the ofuda—she's in danger!" Rei replied. "I had a premonition and it was the creepy bus driver!"
"I'm coming, Koi!" Ranma told her as he broke into a run and leapt to the nearest roof much to the amazement of the people on the sidewalk.
"Ranma! It's him! He's here!" Rei cried out. "I-I can't stop myself! M-my feet are moving by themselves and I'm getting on the bus!"
Abruptly, the link went silent. Ranma felt a cold knot of terror settle into the pit of his stomach and he pushed himself to go faster.
"Rei!" Ranma cried out mentally. "Come on, Rei, speak to me!"
He got no response.
Ranma leapt over one last roof before landing in the street in front of the familiar stairs of the Hikawa Shrine. He was just in time to see the back end of a bus disappearing into some weird portal. Ranma raced down the street, intending to leap through the gateway after the bus but it closed just as he reached it.
"NOOOOOO!" Ranma howled, falling to his knees and driving his fist several inches into the pavement. He had no idea what to do and he felt completely helpless. Ranma hated that feeling with every fiber of his being.
Rei lost consciousness as soon as her traitorous body seated itself on the infernal bus. As she slept, she dreamed of a time long since past...
Reiku Aries, Senshi of Mars, watched the warrior practice in the Royal Dojo. She was unable to tear her eyes away from his perfect body as he performed his kata with cat-like grace. His movements flowed like calm water but contained the power of a tsunami and often exceeded the speed of sound. A Senshi she may be, but the warrior she was so intently watching eclipsed her and all of the other Senshi in strength, speed, and stamina even before activating his power-up. As First Warrior of Mars, Commander of the Martian Elite Guard, his skill in the combat arts was second to none in the Solar System. It was an impressive achievement for someone only a year or two older than her.
Reiku practically drooled as she watched his muscles move and glisten under the light sheen of sweat that formed as he practiced. It seemed so unfair to her that he should possess such skill and power and still be so incredibly gorgeous. He was perfect. And since becoming First Warrior and having been introduced to Serenity's Court, he was the realm's most desired bachelor. Whenever he was made to attend a Court function, there was invariably a legion of noble ladies attempting to gain his favor, usually headed up by the Senshi themselves. Unfortunately, that didn't include Reiku herself because...
"Reiku, Dear," Reiku's mother, Queen Rika, said from behind her, "It's unseemly for you to watch your cousin so obviously."
"Yes, Mother," Reiku said blushing furiously at having been caught lusting after her first cousin.
"It's okay, Dear," Rika smiled at her daughter. "Prince Ramius is magnificent. Any woman with a pulse could not help but be enthralled. Where he not my sister's son, trust me, Daughter, he would be yours, but alas you are too closely related. It's okay to look, but please be more circumspect in the future. We wouldn't want a scandal would we?"
"Of course not, Mother," Reiku replied. 'If she only knew,' the Princess groaned internally.
The Senshi of Mars blushed lightly, remembering what took place last night...
Reiku used the disguise properties of her Senshi powers to slip from the Royal Palace. About a mile away, there was a luxurious hotel that catered to visiting dignitaries and what not who came to visit the Martian Court for various reasons. This was her destination. Entering the lobby, she bypassed the front desk and went directly to the lift. She already knew which room she wanted and she soon stood before it.
The door opened at her knock and before her stood a very handsome man dressed casually in a white silk tang and matching loose silk pants.
"My I help you?" the man asked with a warm smile.
Reiku eyed him appraisingly before answering.
"Doubtful," she said with a haughty air. "I had hoped that you might have a bit of Venusian Brandy of a suitable vintage to spare, but obviously a barbarian such as yourself would never possess something so refined."
"Sorry, but I can offer you something with real kick," the man smirked. "Might I interest you in some Saturnian Purple-eye? I promise the rumors of temporary blindness are all exaggerated."
"Indeed?" Reiku eyed him with a delicately arched eyebrow. "Isn't that supposedly brewed in Sailor Saturn's bathtub and stirred with the infamous Silence Glaive, consumption often resulting in either death or pregnancy?"
"Feh, rumors only," the man stated. "With proper precautions, the risk of pregnancy is small at best. Won't you come in and try some?"
"I must confess to being intrigued," Reiku said, struggling to keep a straight face. "I believe I will accept your offer."
"Then, please, I bid you enter," the man grinned.
Reiku barely waited for the door to be closed and secured before she pounced.
Several hours later, the sweaty couple lay entangled in each others arms, basking in the afterglow of their passion.
"That was fantastic, Rei-chan," the man, otherwise known as Prince Ramius said softly.
And it was. Reiku had been brought to such heights so many times by her talented lover, but it wasn't just some base carnal act they had engaged in. It was pure lovemaking, the resonating of two complimenting souls celebrating their passion for one another. Reiku found herself overwhelmed by her desperate feelings of love for this man and the knowledge that their forbidden love was doomed to end in tragedy. Poignant tears began to trickle down Reiku's face and drip on Ramius' chest.
"Rei-chan?" Ramius asked. "What's wrong, Love?"
"I-I'm sorry, Ra-chan," Reiku said tearfully. "It's just that I love you so much. I want to be with you forever, but I know it can never be."
"I know, Rei-chan, I know," Ramius said, pulling her in tighter. "I feel the same way. No other girl can make me feel the way you do. I don't know how I'll be able to live without you at my side. It just doesn't seem worth it. If it weren't for the duties we both have, I would ask you to run away with me, but we wouldn't be the person we love if we could turn our backs on our people like that."
"I know," Reiku nodded. "Hold me, Ra-chan. We have to make the most of our time together while we can."
"Of course, My Fierce Warrior Goddess," Ramius smiled softly, leaning down and kissing Reiku's forehead tenderly.
Reiku purred and squirmed around until she was on top of him. She smiled in pleasure as she once again lowered herself onto him making him moan softly.
Rei began to wake up feeling confused and disoriented. As the last tremors of passion from the dream ran down her spine, she became aware of being held around the throat and being used as a shield by the creepy bus driver. Across from her were two girls dressed like figure skaters.
"Release Rei-chan!" the blonde girl with the odango hairstyle demanded.
'That voice...' Rei thought. 'It's sounds familiar...'
"For kidnapping innocent girls, I cannot forgive you!" the blonde declared. "In the name of the Moon, I, Sailor Moon, will punish you!"
"I don't think so, Sailor Moon," the bus driver laughed. Suddenly, Rei found herself dropped to the floor as bus driver's body exploded outward and became more blocky. "I am M.A.R.T.Y. and you're about to be hit by a bus!"
(Metro Area Rapid Transit Youma)
"GAH!" the blonde shrieked in panic as she ducked, just missing the large truck tire that MARTY launched at her.
"Mercury! You've got to give Rei the henshin pen I gave you!" cried a talking black...cat?!
"Right, Luna! Rei-chan! Catch!" the other girl with the short blue hair called, tossing a gaudily decorated baton at her.
Confused, Rei caught the baton and looked at it. On its top appeared to be the symbol for 'male' or...Mars! Suddenly she knew what to do!
"Mars Power! Make Up!" Rei cried.
The head of the henshin pen burst into flames as Rei was carried aloft and twirled around, a ring of flames forming around her in the wake of her henshin pen. Her red hamaka and white kimono caught fire and burned from her body before the flaming rings wrapped around her and formed into a white body suit with a sailor collar and a short red skirt. On her feet, the flames formed into a pair of bright red heels before the remaining flames vanished into a red gem on a purple bow between her breasts.
"Mars Fire Soul!" Sailor Mars shouted, holding her hands toward the bus-youma.
The youma shrieked as a jet of fire engulfed it. Secondary explosions rocked the pocket dimension as the youma's diesel tanks reached their flashpoint and detonated. Soon there was nothing left of the youma but a raging fuel and tire fire.
"Hurry, Sailor Moon!" the cat called out again. "You must get everyone together! The fires have destabilized this world! We have to leave!"
Mars looked over and saw the missing girls all lying nearby, still unconscious. She hastened to assist the other two girls in gathering them up. In a flash they were all standing in front of the Hikawa Shrine once more.
"That was so great, Rei-chan! You're so strong!" the blonde gushed. "I just knew there was something special about you! You were one of the Senshi we've been searching for all along!"
"I...am a Senshi..." Mars spoke hesitantly, as if not quite believing it.
"Yup!" the blonde nodded cheerfully. "I'm so glad Ami and I found you!"
"That girl..." Rei whispered. "You're that girl I hit with the ofuda...Usagi, wasn't it?"
"Uh huh!" Usagi smiled.
"You're Sailor Moon?" Rei asked.
"Right, and this is Sailor Mercury!" Usagi said happily.
The girls that had been abducted began to wake up, precluding any further discussion of identities. Mercury quickly scanned them with her computer, announcing they would be just fine after some rest and sent them home to their worried families.
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(Posted Mon, 19 May 2008 20:53)
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