Black Dawn Lady of the Black Rose. Ladynorose@hotmail.com *~*~*~*~*~ Not gonna waste your time here today! Sailor Moon isn't mine, peeps! Thanx for all your e-mail, and thanx for reading. ^_^ *~*~*~*~*~ "And there's no sign of her at all? None?" Luna was close to hysterics. She and Artemis paced around the temple while the Sailor Senshi worried themselves to death. Mamoru was sitting in a corner, looking every bit a lost soul. "None. I haven't found a trace of her! It's like she disappeared off the face of the planet!" Ami was typing on her Mercury computer and working on Rei's computer at the same time. Makoto was leaning on Ami's shoulder, looking while she worked. "She had a new attack? Are you sure, Minako?" Artemis asked. "No Artemis, I'm completely incompetant." MInako growled at him. "Oh. I thought so." He replied, and was turning to Luna again. "I WAS BEING SARCASTIC, YOU NEKO-BAKA!" Minako shouted. "She wasn't even transformed! She just pointed at the youma and said 'White Light Beam', and it blew up. And then she practicly told us off, told Mamoru it was over, and walked away." Minako said. "Something must have got to her." Luna said. "Maybe it's whoever sent that youma. Maybe they've turned her against us." "No, this is Usagi we're talking about remember? She'd die before she'd surrender." Rei pointed out. "Maybe she's just stressed." Ami said, still typing away furiously. "Stressed enough to act like that? I think not." Makoto said. "What about you, Mamoru? Have you felt anything from your link?" Minako asked. They were all started when Mamoru looked up, eyes frantic and starved. "No," He said hoarsly. "Nothing." He buried his face in his hands. "It's something I've done. Did you see the way she looked at me?" He moaned. Rei went over and sat down beside him. She gave him a quick hug. "It's okay. Whatever's happened to her, we'll get her back. I promise." *~*~*~*~ "Hmmm. What color do I want?" Usagi was looking over the paints in the store. She was trying to decide between sugar pink and light sea- green as the color of her walls. "May I help you, miss?" A rather cute salesclerk walked over. Usagi raised an eyebrow. "Nope. I'll take the green. And that sky blue, the cream, and the misty violet." She said, handing him the colored pieces of paper that told hiim exactly how to mix the colors she desired. He nodded, and went to get them. She took out one of the many credit cards in her purse. "I hope these have a high limit." She giggled. "Cuz when I'm through, my apartment will be better than the Buckingham Palace." "Here they are." The clerk came back, lugging the paint with him. "Oh, yeah. I want that pale pink too." She said, pointing at a pink that reminded her of Mako- chan's bows. "Okay, but it will be extra." He said, looking her over. "Money is no problem." She smiled. "Are you free Sunday?" He asked suddenly. Usagi looked at him. "Sorry. I'm taken." She showed him the ring Mamo-chan had given her a few months ago. Not a engagment ring, it was a promise ring. Even if she had to blow him off, she still loved the guy. "Charge or cash?" He asked. Clearly, he felt like a fool. "Charge." She rolled her eyes as she handed him the piece of plastic. He ran it through. "Do you need help getting them to your car, Kochi-san?" He said, taking the name from the card. She nodded gratefully. "I'll show you where it's at." *~*~*~*~ "I still can't believe she did that. Do you thnk she really was brain-washed or something? Maybe they were to strong!" Minako said. They were walking down Main Street, window shopping. "Usagi would never give up." Makoto sounded unsure. "Maybe they--" "SHUT UP!" Ami and Makoto yelled at her. Rei shot her a dirty look. "Usagi-chan is better than that." She said, feircly. "Maybe that was a clone or something, and Sailor Moon is trapped in their dungeon." Minako suggested. Ami hit her upside the head with a chemistry book. "Hey!" Rei whispered. "Look." They followed her train of sight until they hit a tall, willowy woman with silver hair with her back to them. She was opening the door of a black sports car, shopping bags in her hands. Two guys, also laden with bags, were behind her. They watched as the guys dropped the bags in the back seat and went back inside. The woman turned around. "That-- that looks like Usagi-chan." Ami whispered. "What the hell is she doing with a car like that? And her hair! And geez, look at her!" Makoto said, gawking. "She's like, two feet taller than she was!" Minako gasped. Rei began to walk really fast. She reached the woman in a matter of seconds. "Hello?" Rei said, tapping her shoulder. Usagi turned, and did her best to conceal her surprise. "What?" She asked. 'Please, please, PLEASE don't let her recognize me.' "Usagi-chan? Is that you?" Rei asked. Makoto and Minako were now behind her. "My name is Michiko." Usagi said. "Give it up, Usagi." Makoto said. "No one in the city looks like you do." "Leave me alone!" Usagi ducked into the car, slammed the door, and sped away, leaving four very angry senshi. "They've gotten to her." Minako said. This time, no one told her to shut up. *~*~*~*~ "Okay. I am calm. I am calm." Usagi chanted to herself. She was sitting in the car in the garrage, trying to get her nerves before she went into the apartment. Finally, she steped out of the car. She hit the small button beside the elevator that said 'Assistance needed'. There was no way she was going to be able to carry all these bags. After a minute or two, a bellhop appeared. "Ma'am?" He asked. "I need help with all these bags, please." She said. He nodded, and looked inside her car. "I'll go get Bob." He said, and left. A few minutes later, a tough, burly man that stood 6'7" appeared with the bellhop. "Hi, My name's Bob." He said. "Thanx. I'm on the top floor. Here, I'll help. She took some of the bags. Bob got all the paint and other heavier stuff, and the bellhop took the rest. They climbed in the elevator, and Usagi hit the button for the top floor. "May I inquire as to your name?" The bellhop asked, and grinned. "I'm Kochi Michiko." She smiled. "My friend Setsuna-chan got me an apartment here." SHe though they were going to drop her bags out of shock. "Meioh-sama?" Bob stuttered. "Yeah-- why?" "Damn, girl! Don't you know who that is? She's owns half this building!" The bellhop exclaimed. "She never told me that." "Yeah, well. Here's your floor." Bob stepped from the elevator. Usagi unlocked the door. They piled the stuff inside. They were about to leave when Usagi called after them. "Tell what's-his-face at the front desk that a couple of moving vans will be along soon. Send them up!" She said cheerfully. They nodded. She shut the door. "I wonder if the senshi know where I live." She worried. *~*~*~*~ Two days later, the paint and furniture was finally the way she wanted it. Her closets were full of expensive and gorgeous clothes, the walls had colorful pictures and posters on them. The carpets had been laid, everything was in it's place. Each room had it's own pastelish color. Everything was perfect. Serena collapsed in one of the comfy chairs, when.... CRASH! *~*~*~*~ Now that's a cliffhanger! Dontcha hate me? -Lady of the Black Rose.