All disclaimers apply. Neither Sailor Moon nor Bubblegum Crisis belong to me, I'm just playing around with the characters. Send comments/flames/whatever to heronblue@hotmail.com. Thanks! ~~Distant Sailor "World Shaking: A Sailor Moon/ Bubblegum Crisis crossover" Part II: MegaTokyo, 2030 The sweet sound of a violin pulled him out of a light sleep. So strange, to hear something that peaceful. Cadet Daley Wong sat up in his squad car and peered out the window. In the distance, he could hear sirens. And people shouting, and the sounds of buildings being built and knocked down again. The latter was a sound that had been constant in Tokyo for the last five years, since the earthquake. But nearby, there was a violin playing. Taking a swig of cold coffee, the red haired man got out of the car. He could just see the musician through the mist, the silhouette of a girl. Something about the music drew him. Perhaps it was the simple sadness of the tune the girl played. It fit his mood perfectly. Daley was to be assigned to permanent duty with the AD Police Force in the spring, if he didn?t get expelled from the academy for misconduct. Possibly the calmest, gentlest, and brightest young officer in his class, Cadet Wong?s troubles with the MegaTokyo beuracracy had nothing to do with his manner or record. Only his personal life. Which shouldn?t matter, he told himself. He shouldn?t be so intimidated, or frightened for his future. But somehow, the few details of his life that had been made public in the academy could cost him the spot on the police force. And his self-respect, among other things. Although he walked lightly, his regulation boots slapped on the wet pavement, and the violinist turned at his approach. She never broke the thread of music. He stood for a moment on the sidewalk, watching the green-haired girl in the mist finish her tune. When the last strains of music faded away and she lowered her instrument, Daley clapped. ?Thank you.? The girl said. Her blue eyes seemed to see right through him, right to the heart of him. But her smile was warm. Impulsively, he stuck out his hand. ?I?m Wong Daley.? ?Kaioh Michiru.? ?You play beautifully.? She smiled again. ?Thank you. In another time, I was--? she broke off, looking at him. ?Never mind. That was a long time ago.? She didn?t look old enough for anything to be a long time ago, but he let it pass. ?Why are you playing here on the street?? Noting his uniform, she raised one elegant eyebrow. ?Are you going to arrest me, Officer?? A sigh. ?It?s such a nice night, and I?m waiting for my, ah, Haruka to come back, and I wanted to play outside. Is that illegal?? Her tone remained light. Something about the way she?d fumbled for words when mentioning this other person made Daley open up a little. ?What would be illegal, Kaioh-san, would be for me to arrest you. I?m not quite a police officer.? Awkward silence. ?Actually, I?ve been suspended from the academy.? She looked surprised at the admission, but no less surprised than he was. What am I doing, Daley wondered, by blurting out my entire life to a street violinist just because her music is beautiful? And a _girl_, at that. But Michiru simply settled her skirt and sat down on the curb. ?Sounds like you have a story.? He sighed. ?Yeah. You know the ?don?t ask, don?t tell? policy the AD police borrowed from the American army?? She nodded. Daley was still wondering why on earth he was telling her this, but it felt good to talk to someone. Even a stranger. ?Well, I didn?t tell, but someone told on me.? Just as comprehension was dawning on her face, a shadow fell over both of them. ?Michiru.? A harsh voice demanded. ?What is this... person doing here? He was suddenly very aware of his heartbeat. Despite his weapons training, he came near to panicking. Great, he thought. I?m just talking to a nice girl and her jealous boyfriend comes home and thinks I?m trying to pick her up... now how do I convince this guy that the girl really isn?t my type? Nonplussed, Michiru smiled up at the tall figure. ?Hullo, Haruka! Don?t worry. This poor man is less interested in me than he would be in you.? She gave him a strange smile. Actually, Daley thought as he got a good look at the boyfriend, if what Michiru said had been true, then this Haruka person would have had a real cause to worry. The guy was amazingly gorgeous. Tall, blond, and handsome. Wow. But then Haruka moved into the light, and Daley realized that he was a she. Too bad. But the way the pair looked at each other... oh. _Oh_. He smiled as the real meaning of Michiru?s words hit home. ?I, uh, guess you do know what I?m talking about.? ?Well I don?t. And Michi might be the sort to sit around all night in the wet, but I most certainly am not.? Haruka unlocked a nearby door. ?Come inside.? Daley recognized her blustering tone of voice, and had to smile. She was almost as good at bantering as that hot young officer on the force, Leon. But... ?I?m off duty, but I really should get the car back to HQ.? The blonde woman snorted. ?The AD police does so little around here, they won?t miss a car for a while.? Michiru looked at him apologetically. ?Haruka, they try.? ?Not enough.? ?I agree, actually,? he put in, ?that?s the reason I wanted to be on the force. To change things a bit. Less paper pushing and more actual work.? He sighed. ?Doesn?t look likely to happen now.? They entered a dark foyer, and Michiru turned on some lights, putting her violin away first thing. The three sat down in the small but well-appointed living room. Daley sat rather uncomfortably as the other two curled up together on the couch. The way they acted around each other... ?How long have you two been married?? It was meant to be a quip, but something went wrong. Haruka?s face tensed as she and Michiru both spoke at once. ?Forever.? ?You?re lucky,? Daley whispered. The aqua-haired woman simply smiled again. ?I?m Wong Daley, by the way.? He said to the other. ?Ten?oh Haruka.? Michiru gave him an enigmatic grin. ?I think we can help. But first, tell us what happened at the academy.? Strangers, he thought. I shouldn?t be talking to them this candidly... I don?t even know these girls. But if anyone was going to understand what he was going through, it would probably be a gay couple like these two. And they seemed pretty eager to help, well, Michiru did at least. Haruka still looked like she would have rather pasted him to the outside wall for daring to talk to her girl. So he found himself explaining how a classmate had caught him and his ex in a fairly compromising position-- this was when his ex became his ex-- and the cadet had gone Upstairs with the information. Which led to a messy inquiry and a ?temporary? suspension for Cadet Wong. ?Ouch.? Haruka said when he was done. ?AD Police is going to have to drop the bigotry issue if they want to keep getting recruits.? Michiru caught his gaze and rolled her eyes, whispering ?AD Police had a conniption and wouldn?t admit her as a cadet when they realized she wasn?t a boy. They let girls in. But not girls who look too much like guys.? ?I know.? He whispered back. Haruka was looking at them by this point. ?I think,? she said in a rather loud voice, ?that we can help just a little.? ?Hai.? Michiru agreed. ?How?? Daley asked. ?Well,? Haruka glanced at her partner. ?What if your girlfriend of three years came in to vouch for you and explain that what that other cadet could not have seen what he thought he saw?? ?He did see what he thought he saw. I don?t want to lie.? He snapped. ?I just want to stay in the force. I don?t care what they think of me.? By the look in the taller girl?s eyes, he could see that he?d just gone up a notch in her opinion of him. Michiru?s voice was soft. ?You would make a good officer.? The two women exchanged an oblique look, then turned to him. ?Tell the Chief, or whoever?s in charge.? Michiru murmured. ?If you?re bent on honesty, then be brutally honest. If they people in charge have any judge of character, they?ll let you back in.? ?I really don?t think that will work,? he said sardonically. Haruka looked at him with unreadable eyes. ?It should. If there?s any justice in the world.? ?There might not be.? ?But you?re trying to prove that cynicism wrong, aren?t you? By going into the force in the first place, by wanting to fight the Boomers?? Michiru?s words hit closer to home than he liked to admit. Daley looked at them. ?I?ll try it. Thanks.? He stood. ?Now I?ve really got to get the car back to Headquarters before they get another excuse to chop my head off.? He winked. ?Really, thank you.? The blonde stood as well. ?I?ll drive!? Michiru laughed, turning to him. ?If she does, you?ll have to arrest her. Haruka doesn?t understand the concept of a speed limit.? He grinned. ?Hey, I?ll keep in touch.? ?Good.? Their smiles seemed genuine. Daley could barely believe it. In this city, in this time, kindness was a commodity, and these two had more of it than he?d encountered in some time. Haruka closed the door behind it, a mischievous grin playing on the edges of her face. ?I guess now we have to call Minako.? ?You want me to _what_?? ?Don?t hurt him or anything. Just do the ?love and justice? routine. You?re Sailor V, this Chief is sure to have read the mangas when he was a kid. Appear before him and tell him that in the name of justice, he shouldn?t throw out someone who should be a good officer, bladdah blah, you know.? ?You are out of your mind, Haruka!? ?It was Michi?s idea.? ?Then she?s out of hers. I?m Sailor Venus, I don?t do house calls to police Chiefs!? ?Hello, Mina-chan? It?s Michiru now. Haruka stormed off. Listen. This young man seems to be genuinely concerned about the city. I thought it was our mission to get more people like that into power.? ?You?re always talking about missions. Why can?t you two do this?? ? It?s Haruka again. Because you?re Sailor V and we?re not. Random senshi in Sailor fukus won?t change this guy?s mind. Just talk to him! If you?d met this red-haired kid, you?d understand.? ?Are you sure you two aren?t aging? You?re acting like cantankerous, nosy old ladies!? ?Come on, Minako. You might have fun. When was the last time you played Sailor V?? ?Thanks, Artemis.? ?Artemis! When did you learn to pick up the phone?? ?I?m a cat. I?ve been knocking phones off the hook all my life. I think Haruka and Michiru are right.? ?Besides, some of us have never seen you in Sailor V mode.? ?Fine!? ?Knew I could count on you, Minako. Goodnight!? ?This is _not_ my idea of trying to bring about the Crystal Millen-- hello? Haruka? Oh well.? "Touch magic, pass it on" -- Jane Yolen >From the broken heart of the city to the wild sacred silence of the places tangled in mystery, where wind and water and earth will meet, you'll find me seeking, questing, searching for meaning in the madness. _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]