"Go for it, Tochino-san!" The coach cried, cheering the girl on. "You can do it!" The girl, her deep red hair pulled back in a tight braid, her dark purple eyes narrowed with concentration, lunged at the small yellow ball, her racket connecting with a 'thwack'. She swung, and the tennis ball rocketed over the net. Her opponent swung-And missed, as he twirled around precariously. He fell over, hard onto his rear, grumbling angrilly. He hated when she won!
The girl, however, was ecstatic, as was expected. "I won!" She cried, swinging her racket around and around and around. She loved this moment, it had become a part of her dayly exercise for so long. She NEVER lost.
However, gravity, and reality, seemed to be against her today. As she twirled, her foot caught on her shoe string, and she fell onto the ground, twisting her ankle in the process-and landing on something relatively soft.
Holding in her wail of pain, she instead cried,
"WHAT THE HELL DID I FALL ON!" Her eyes bugged out, as the furry 'WHATEVER' ran off. She could swear it was a cat... She shook her head,
narrowing her eyes in pain as she clutched her ankle. "Itai!" She cried, as the coach, really a student in the senior class, knelt beside her.
"How bad does it hurt?" He asked, as he gently pulled her fingers away from the already swollen ankle.
"Bad..." She whispered, as he smiled. He lifted her up into his arms,
"I'll take you to the nurses office." He said, and she nodded, mutely. All she could do was stare up into his face...His face framed by blue black hair...His deep blue eyes...
**My God, he's so handsome...** She thought, **Tsuchino Masurao...**
She sighed wistfully, "Tsuchino-sempai..." She murmured, completely enthralled. Tsuchino Masurao, the most wonderful male in all of her school.
Extremely nice, exceedingly popular, completely handsome, and best of all...
Single. Perfect in every way... With only one problem. Even though he WAS single, she was terrorfied to ask him out. She sighed, as she closed her eyes, and imagined Masurao's kiss...
...And then she was snapped back to reality, being sat down on a bed. She blushed deep crimson, then noticed where she was. The nurses office! Masurao, however, had noticed her complexion.
"Do you feel warm?" He asked, she could hear the concern in his voice, as he placed his hand on her forehead. He drew it back, "You DO feel warm. I hope Nurse Ikijunno gets here soon..."
She bit back her tears, the pain of her throbbing ankle was getting to her, only so that she could cherish her time with Masurao...
"Why are you crying, Koeta-chan?" He asked, and her eyes widened with shock. **I'm crying?! ... Ack! He knows my name!**
"I... I..." She stammered, her heart beating faster and faster, her pain forgotten. And then she froze, falling back onto the bed. "I'm fine, really!" She laughed nervously.
"Really?" He asked, with a smile, as he leaned over her. She nodded, still nervous.
"Yep!"
He stood their, semiposed over her. She calmed herself, and she felt the dull throb of her ankle again...
...And then he kissed her. Koeta felt shocked, happy, relieved... So may emotions at once, as if an instinct, she wrapped her arms around her neck. Her body was on fire, all because of him-Masurao! She pulled back, purple eyes on deep blue.
"Tsuchino-sempai..." She murmured, her gaze glazed over.
"Call me Masurao..." He replied, just as softly, as his lips met hers. Once again, Koeta felt as though her body was aflame, her heart...
"AHEM." A voice interupted, and they turned as one. It was Nurse Ikijunno...
Koeta was completely depressed, as well as in pain, sitting outside
the Principals office. **It is not correct for the students of Chioh Academy to kiss on school grounds!** She could still hear the nurses words, before she dragged her and Masurao to the Principals office. She smoothed the fabric of her skirt... Well, after a short stop for Koeta to change. Now she was here, and Masurao was getting in trouble... And so would she, soon enough...
She closed her eyes as she mumured his name, "Masurao..."
**Does he like me? Was he just taking advantage of the situation? Is this all just some cruel prank?** She shook her head swiftly, **He must like me...** Her cheeks reddened, **That kiss...**
"You sure look happy." A bright voice cut into her revery. Her eyes snapped open, to a quite embaressing reality.
"Eek! Was I talking outloud?"
The girl who stood before her had long, golden hair in two braids, and mischivious blue eyes. She shook her head, "Nope, but you looked it." The girl sat down next to Koeta, and she sighed in relief.
"As long as I wasn't talking outloud!"
The girl grinned, "So who is he?" Koeta shook her head, her now unbound hair long and slightly wavy around her.
The girl seemed suprised. "Ara?(Oh?) Well, then who is she?"
Koeat blink-blinked, and blushed deeper red than her hair. "I'M NOT A LESBIAN!" She cried, ignoring the stare from the secretary. The girl nodded.
"I know, I know, I was just joking! So, who is he?!"
Koeta hesitated, but only for a moment. "Well, don't think I'm lying, I know you will... But it's Tsuchino Masurao."
"TSUCHINO MASURAO?!?!" The girl demanded, and Koeta nodded.
"Yeah... I've had a major crush on him for as long as I can remember, and I think he likes me..."
The girl sighed, "You're so lucky, Tochino-san!"
Koeta blink-blinked, "How'd you know my name? I don't even know who you are!"
"Well..." The girl hesitated, then said quickly. "I know you from the tennis team! You're the best!"
"Ara... I see... Thanks... Ano,(Um,) I still don't know who you are." The girl grinned,
"Ara, I knew I forgot something! My name's Aikyo Yukai, Tochino-san!"
"Well, Aikyo-san, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Tochino-san, I am quite dissapointed with you."
"Hai, Kocho-san.(Yes, Principal.)" Koeta murmured, gaze down.
"I mean, kissing on school grounds! What was going threw your head?! Aren't the school policies important?!"
"Domo sumimasen, Kocho-san.(I'm very sorry, Principal.)"
"Well, I want to ask you this, Have you learned your lesson?"
Koeta nodded, "Hai Kocho-san."
"Very well, but I'll still have to punish you." The principal looked down at his papers.
"Mochiron,(Of course,) Kocho-san..." **PUNISHMENT! My parents are going to KILL me!**
"All right, here it is. Starting this monday, after the weekend, you'll have morning and afternoon detention until friday." Her principal glared at her, and her head dropped as the punishment sank in.
"I'll be there, Kocho-san." **FIVE DAYS?! Morning and afternoon! All I did was kiss a boy! I am DEAD!**
"Well, you're excused now, Tochino-san." Koeta nodded,
"Arigato, Kocho-san." She stood, her gaze averted from his harsh glare, and she left the room. She walked into the reception room, and closed the door behind her. The room was empty, except for herself, the secretary, and...
"Aikyo-san?" Koeat asked, and the blond haired girl looked up, and smiled brightly.
"Tochino-san! How'd it go?" Koeta shrugged, but Yukai saw the look on Koeta's face. It answered all of her questions, "Naru-hodo...(I see...)" She murmured, as she stood, then smiled. "I know what you need to do!"
"What?" Koeta asked, though her voice was only half interested.
"Spend some time with me, I'm tons of fun!"
Koeta blink-blinked, as she looked up at Yukai. "Honto,(Really,) Aikyo-san?"
Yukai smiled, her brillian smile. "first thing, call me Yukai-chan... Koeta-chan!"
Koeta smiled, "Mochiron, Yukai-chan!"
The two girls walked on, Yukai chatting happilly about anything and everything that came to mind. Koeta listened intently, **Yukai-chan is interesting...** She thought, with a smile.
"We're almost to the shrine!" Yukai announced, out of the blue, and Koeta raised an eyebrow in question.
"Shrine? What shrine?"
"Hikawa Jinja!" Yukai replied, and Koeta nodded.
"I've been there before..." And then, her shoe caught on a raised part of the sidewalk, and she tripped, wincing in pain at her sore ankle. **At least I didn't fall...**
"Daijobu ka?!(Are you all right?!)" Yukai asked, and Koeta nodded.
"Hai... But my ankle isn't that lucky. I tripped on something at practice... Something FURRY..."
"Furry?" Yukai asked, eyes wide, and Koeta replied,
"Hai, and I twisted my ankle... But I forgot about it after Masurao..." She blushed, and Yukai nodded, her eyes bright, in a mischivious,
knowing manner.
"Ara, naru-hodo! The power of love is a potent medicine!"
"Koeta smiled softly, Yukai supporting her. "It seems so..."
"Well, let's get going. If we get to the shrine, I'm sure they'll have a first aid kit."
"Jitsu wa...(Actually...) Turn down that street, my doctors office is their."
Yukai grinned, "That's awfully convinient, ne,(right,) Koeta-chan?"
Koeta nodded, "Sore de wa,(Well,) Yukai-chan, it's more convinient than you'd ever think!"
The two girls entered the office, Koeta clinging greatfully to Yukai. She scanned the waiting room, "Thank God he has no appointments now!"
"Here, let me sit you down..." Koeta nodded, as Yukai helped her into a chair. "Let me go tell the secretary, all right?"
"Hai, Yukai-chan." Koeta replied, sinking back into the wonderful, comfortable shair, her sore foot elevated before her. **So peaceful...**
"KOETA-CHAN!" A loud, insisten voice cried, and her foot snapped down in shock, slamming intot he ground painfully. And then she screamed.
"ITAI!" She wailed, the pain barely tolerable. "Okay, okay! MAYBE NOT!" Clutching her ankle, she glared up at her assailant, and her mouth dropped open. "Mom?"
Her mother nodded, pale violet hair framing her fair face. "Who else would I be?" She asked.
"Ano..." Koeta murmured.
"What happened?!" Her mother demanded, and Koeta, still holding her ankle, replied,
"I twisted my ankle at practice!"
Her mothers deep green gaze softened, "My pour baby!" Koeta blushed,
"MOM!"
"Domo sumimasen, Koeta-chan." Her mother eeped. "Has your father seen you yet?"
"Iie." Yukai-chan went to get the nurse..."
"Koeta-chan?" Yukai asked, as she returned. Koeta looked up,
"Can I go now?" Koeta pleaded, and Yukai nodded.
"Hai, the doctor can see you now." Koeta sighed in pure relief.
"Suteki!(Wonderful!) Now, someone help me too him!"
"What did you do THIS time, Koeta-chan?" The doctor, a man with short black hair and pale blue eyes, asked. He also happened to be her father.
"I tripped at practice..." She replied, wincing slightly as her father took her ankle in his hand. He nodded,
"Tell me everything, Koeta-chan." He asked, and Koeta nodded.
"Mochiron, dad! I was playing Yoruno Kogoe, and I had just won. I was, well, celebrating my victory, and then I tripped, and landed on something furry..." She smiled, glad he didn't comment on it, and went on. "And my ankle was twisted in the process. Tsuchino-sempai..." At that name, her father spoke, not looking up from her ankle.
"Ah. Tsuchino Masurao, ne?" He asked, and she nodded, blushing slightly.
"Hai. He... he took me to the nurses office..." She hesitated, knowing she couldn't say a word about the kiss, OR the detention. "But she wasn't their, so Yukai-chan and I came here."
"Well, all done." Her father commented, setting her ankle down, and Koeta smiled. She got down off the mat, and testes her ankle. Just as she had known it would be, her ankle felt better than new.
"You're the greatest, dad!"
"Do you want me to drive you home, Koeta-chan?" Her mother asked gently, and Koeta shook her head.
"No thanks mom, I'm going to spend some time with Yukai-chan..." Koeta bit her lip, then went on. "Why aren't you at work, mom?"
"Well," Her mother began. "I'm on vacation so I thought I'd bring your father lunch. He always forgets, you know."
"Koeta nodded, "Naru-hodo... Sore de wa, Yukai-chan and I have to go now. I'll see you this evening, mom."
Her mother smiled, her deep green eyes twinkling. "Have fun, Koeta-chan!"
"So, that was your dads doctors office?" Yukai asked.
"Hai, he's really great... He fixed my ankle, it doesn't even hurt anymore!"
"Really?!" Yukai asked, her voice was incredulous.
"Really!" Koeta cried happilly, as she danced around Yukai. She stopped suddenly, grinning. "Well, I don't want to fall again..."
Yukai nodded, "Right... I need to remember that office. He seems to good to be true!" Koeta grinned.
"He is! He's my dad!"
"Well, here's the shrine..." Yukai said with a smile, leading Koeta up the stairs and across the yard. She followed after, looking around. her gaze was nervous, as she spoke uneasilly, when they ended up in a private room.
"Is it all right for us to be here?" Koeta asked, and Yukai nodded, waving her hand dismissively.
"Yeah, I'm real good friends with the shrine owners granddaughter..." Yukai glanced at her watch, "Ara! I'll be right back, Koeta-chan!"
Before Koeta could protest, Yukai was gone. She sighed, and sat down. "I hope so..."
But as the minutes ticked by, she really worried that Yukai wasn't going to come back...
...Yukai stood outside the back of the shrine, and drew an ornate cresent moon shaped brooch from her pocket. She smiled, as in a flash of light she became another girl...
Her hair, still golden blond, was longer, it fell unbound past her waist, held back with a red bow. She slipped the brooch away, as a voice demanded,
"Minako-chan! I was worried! What took so long!"
Minako sighed, her blue eyes glaring down at Artemis. "Give me a break, Artemis! She had twisted her ankle earlier today, and we had to stop at the doctors office... Look, cat, I got here! Now, go do YOUR job!" She drew out her henshin wand, as she finished. "And I'll wait here to finish mine..."
Artemis nodded, "All right, Minako-chan. Now, get ready!" He called, as he dashed off. He heard a muffled call of, 'Venus Power, Make Up!' He smiled,
**This is working out perfectly!**
Koeta sighed, resting her head on the meeting table. "When is Yukai-chan going to get back?!" She asked. There was no answer, as there shouldn't be, but their was a sound...
She turned around slowly, and her gaze fell upon a cat. White furred, it looked up at her with intense green eyes, and she noticed a golden cresent moon upon its forehead.
"Kirei...(Beautiful...)" She murmured, as she got out of her seat, and knelt before the cat. She reached out tentatively, and traced the symbol. "You're so cool..." She mumbled, then giggled.
The cat sighed, which caught Koeta off guard. And what he did next surprised her even more, "You can't fool me! Reveal your true self!"
Koeta fell back, slamming into a chair. Ignoring the pain, she cried, "YOU TALKED!" She shook her head. "I can't believe this!"
"Don't act innocent!" The cat cried. "I know that you are a minion of the Dark Kigdom! Stop this illusion!"
Koeta sweatdropped, "Tha Dark Kingdom? I have no idea what you're talkign about!" She raised an eyebrow, "What have you been smoking?" Then, she sighed. "What have **I** been smoking..." Her voice trailed away.
The cat sighed. "I see that you won't give up. I know that you are a minion of the Dark Kingdom, your energy sign is too peculiar... SO QUIT PLAYING AROUND!"
"I'M NOT PLAYING AROUND!" Koeta retorted. "Leave me alone!" She stood, and rushed by the cat, who followed after her. Thing was, she had come to the most embaressing part of her life.
She couldn't remember which way was out.
"Perfect..." She grumbled. "Just perfect! I have a psycho cat saying I'm a minion of the Dark Kingdom, and I can't even find my way out!" She sighed, then took off. After who knows how long, she spied an open door. She shrugged her shoulders, and headed out. "Any ways out is better than no way out..." She slammed the door behind her, and heard the crazy, talking cat slammed into it. Koeta winced in pain,
"Itai... That had to hurt..." And then, shd doged, as a beam of golden light hit right next to her. Well, it was more of a stumble, and she landed on her rear. "Itai..." She groaned, as she looked around for her attacker. And found her...
A girl in a sailor fuku, orange with a dark blue bow. "You won't get away!" The girl cried, and Koeta scrambled away.
"I don't know-!"
"I know you work for the Dark Kigdom!" The fuku clad girl cried, and Koeta felt like she wanted to scream. Instead, she shouted,
"But I-!" She was cut off, with a shout of...
"Cresent Beam!" The girl cried, and the beam of light shot forewards. Koeta closed her eyes, **I hope it doesn't hurt too much...**
...And felt exceptionally warm and alive to be, well, dead. She opened one eye, and then the other, and watched in amazement as the beam of light faded away.
"What the...?" The sailor fuku clad girl mumured, staring intently at Koeta, her blue eyes wide with shock. Koeta looked down at herself... And was just as shocked.
She was glowing, with a radient, deep golden aura. "What the...?" She murmured, and then it began to fade away...
"She can't be an enemy!" The girl cried. "Artemis! She CAN'T be!"
Artemis, having just arrived, looked up at Koeta. The glow was gone, except for a single symbol which now pulsed with radient power. The symbol of the Earth...
And then the glow was gone, and Koeta stood. "I have to go!" She cried, and turned to run.
"Wait!" Artemis cried, and Koeta's head sagged.
"Not YOU again! I am NOT a minion of the Dark Kigdom!" She cried,
"Of course you aren't!" Artemis replied, "I was wrong! You're no enemy. You are a Sailor Senshi. You must be..."
"Sailor Senshi?" Koeta murmured, as she turned around. Her gaze went from the girl, to the cat.
"You must be... You must be Sailorearth." Artemis said, forcefully.
"Only, the thing is..." His voice dropped away.
"What?!" Koeta demanded, forcefully. She blinked at the command in her voice...
"There is no Sailorearth..."
The End of Episode One
Stay Tuned for Episode Two-"Koeta's Transformation! The First Power of Sailorearth"