SAILOR MOON: DARK JEWEL
by: Marie Kelly
CHAPTER 4



         With her pinky finger, she expertly pushed her glasses up her 
nose, still typing  with one hand. She wasn't the only one at the library 
at this hour; there was that red-headed girl, who had spent the entire 
day in the periodicals section. The librarian thought that was very 
strange. Oh, she liked to see teenagers read, but she knew they prerred 
other things. Sometimes they might grab a book for school, or a silly book 
to pass the time, but it was a rare teenager that read, and truly enjoyed, 
books.
   	If the girl had spent her time collecting good works of 
literature, the librarian would have been quite happy. Had she been 
flipping through teenage fashion magazines, the librarian wouldn't have 
given it a second thought. But she didn't, and that worried her. Each time 
she had seen her, the girl had been looking at old newspapers, with an 
unplacable, yet most definately terrifying, expression on her face. The
librarian didn't know why, but she wanted to be as far away from the 
red-head as possible.
       	She paused in her work, and glanced at her watch. "Only one 
half hour left until the library closes. She *has* to leave then." The 
librarian desperately wished that the half hour would pass quickly; she had 
an overwhelming sense of dread.
 	Naru  frowned, as she stared at the newspaper clipping on the 
screen in front of her. It was dated a few years back, and bore the caption,
"Sailor V Saves Lotsa Fun Amusement Park." She turned a knob, and the 
screen sped forward quickly, to reveal another article. "Sailor V Is a Hero 
to the Children of The Old Orphanage." The articles were like all other 
articles, consisting of the same trite dribble: Sailor V comes in, performs 
a heroic act, saves everybody, then leaves. Naru had read over a hundred of
those messages, and she was bored beyond belief.
       	{I almost wish I didn't have to kill her,} she thought sadly. {It's 
such pity to have to waste my precious time at the library, simply to find 
information on her. Really, she's *quite* overrated.}
        Still, Naru smiled, as she thought of Sailor V-Sailorvenus--Aino 
Minako--dying. She smiled as she thought of Sailormoon watching. 
Sailormoon must see it. She must be forced to watch it, yet be forbidden 
from interfering.  She would pay They would all pay.
     	The girl heard a sound behind her, one of someone walking up 
towards her. Her shoulders stiffened. Well, now. It appeared that somebody 
was foolish enough to bother her. Naru didn't like that one little bit.
        A throat cleared audibly behind her, and a voice spoke. 
"Ma'am? The library's closing. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."
	Naru's eyes narrowed. Leave? Now? But she couldn't...she simply 
could not. Not yet.  Giggling lightly, Naru pivoted the chair, using but 
one single toe, until she came to look at the woman who had spoiled her fun.
        She was nothing special to look at--dark brown hair pulled 
severely  back into a chignon, pale blue eyes framed by tortoiseshell 
glasses, a dull gray suit. Her entire body seemed composed of sharp lines  
and angles.
        Naru giggled, a bit louder, and the librarian instinctively 
stepped back, though why she did not know. It was ridiculous being afraid 
of a little girl; really---she ought to know better.
        The giggles continued. "You fear us," whispered Naru.
        The librarian shook her head. "You're mistaken, my dear. 
You're the only one here. Please leave."
	"Oh, don't deny your fear." Naru stepped swiftly towards the 
librarian, who stepped back. "Fear is such a dreadful emotion, isn't it?"
	"Yes...yes," the librarian found herself agreeing with the redhead. 
Fear *was* a dreadful emotion, one which she detested. Her heart quickened, 
and her palms began to sweat. "Please," she whispered, her voice quaking. 
"Please, leave."
        "Oh, I don't want to leave. I don't think I should leave." 
Naru placed her hand upon the librarian's forehead.
        The librarian closed her eyes. Cold! This girl was so cold. 
"Please...leave." Her voice was no more than a slight whisper.
	Naru giggled, as she whispered. "Accept the power. I am your master. 
Accept the power."
        As she did this, she opened her hands slightly to reveal the 
Dark Jewel nestled between them. The energy of the Jewel emptied itself into
the librarian, who screamed and seized. A warped smile grew upon Naru's 
face, as she watched the torture of the librarian.
        "There," she said, in a most pleasant tone, as she removed
the stone from the librarian's head. "Are you afraid of me?"
        "Yes, Master," the librarian said worshipfully.  "I fear 
you, yet I also worship you, for you are the Master. How might I serve you?" 
she finished, as she prostrated herself in front of her master.
        Naru looked hatefully at the librarian. "You disappoint me. 
I have no more need for you. Do away with yourself."
       	The librarian prostrated herself once more in front of her 
master. Yes. Of course. Her master had no more need for her. The thought 
that she could disobey her master did not enter her mind--she *lived* to 
serve her master!
       	The needed item was in the car. A paring knife that had been 
bought the same day, when her old one had lost its sharpness. She ripped 
the package off, and held the knife in her hands. This was it. This would 
allow her the final act of obedience to her master. The librarian held the 
blade up to her throat.
       	"I obey you, my master."
       	Naru, who by that time had returned to her seat and was 
continuing  to study the files of Sailor V, suddeny felt a strong surge of 
pleasure enter the Dark Jewel and, from that, her own body. This pleasure 
was double at the knowledge she had.
       	The librarian was dead and *she* *knew* *what* *to* *do*.


       	The shrine simply was not the same, the four girls realized 
as they sat there. It was supposed to be a meeting of the Senshi, yet 
without Rei to tell them about what had happened, there was little they 
could do.
        "Perhaps we should go over the facts again," suggested Ami, 
stroking Luna's fur. "We might have missed something."
        Makoto, better known as Mako, shook her head, her brown 
ponytail swinging with the movement. "No, I don't think so. We've done 
that three times already. I can't imagine we'd learn anything different."
        Ami blushed, and looked down. "I'm sorry," she whispered, 
although there was no need to apologize.
	Usagi broke the uncomfortable silence which had settled over the 
girls after Amy's apology.  "Let's have a welcome home party for Rei-chan 
when she comes back!" she suggested, brightly, her head filling with 
visions of delicious food that she would get to eat at the party. 
       	A burst of laughter suddenly came from the blonde with the red bow, 
who previously had been quiet. She jumped up on the highest step, so that 
she was above the others.  "Ah! I, Aino Minako, the best party planner in 
all of Tokyo--no, Japan--no, the WORLD!!! will plan this party for 
Rei-chan!" She then gave her trademark laugh, and the other girls got 
sweatdrops.
	"I can cook the food," Makoto volunteered. Nobody contested that... 
not that there was any need to. After all, Makoto was the best cook that 
they knew--even professionals could not surpass her.
 	Usagi, wanting to join in, piped up. "I'll send out the 
invitations-- I know lots of people that can come!"
	"That's a great idea!" "Yeah, you know more people than I do." "
Invite the whole school!"
       	Only Ami had reservations. "Are you certain that this is a good 
idea? Perhaps Rei would prefer to rest after her stay at the hospital," she 
suggested, a bit nervously.
       	Usagi smiled at Ami. "Ami-chan," she explained patiently. "Rei-chan 
has had enough rest. She needs this party."
       	"I suppose so," Ami replied, albeit a bit reluctantly. She ran her 
fingers through her short blue hair and perked up. "Well, it appears there 
is going to be a party tonight.'


       	She made a fist, and her claws dug into her palm, and she bled black 
bile. She was not the least bit pleased.
       	"Father..." she whispered. She had sensed her Father. Could he 
possibly be...alive? Had his Soul been awakened? "Impossible," she hissed 
between her teeth. "I have not awakened him. I worry about nothing. I must 
concentrate on the task at hand. I must get HIM back."
       	Her Love, the one that rightfully belonged to her, had been taken 
by that brat of a girl, Sailormoon. The Queen deduced that she was the Moon 
Princess, the last of the lineage of her sworn enemy's family. "You took my
Love, princess," she whispered. "I have come to claim that which is mine. 
But first," her lips curved upwards at the corners. "First...I must gather 
more energy. Then I can make him mine."


	She sat on the five o'clock bus, knees together, hands clasped in 
front of her. She was glad to be out of the hospital. The place reeked of 
disinfectant, the sheets were overstarched, and everybody shouted all the 
time.
       	{At least I'll be able to sleep when I get home,} she smiled to 
herself, leaning back. I can actually relax.}


        The girls walking in were marvelous specimens of female beauty,  
and the old man leered at them as they entered. His eyes raked over their 
wonderful figures. "Hello, girls!" he said, quite appreciative of his short 
stature, especially since the girls were wearing skirts. "Welcome to  the 
Hikawa Jinja! Have a charm!" he held out the charms to them, hoping to 
perhaps get a touch.
    	"DISGUSTING!" cried one of the girls, stepping out of the way. 
"Really, what an  awful man," agreed the other, as they declined his offer 
of a charm and walked, stiffly, into the shrine, where balloons and 
streamers were hung, along with a banner that said, in English,  "WELCOME 
BACK REI!"
        The old man hung his head in grief. Really, he simply did not 
understand why these girls did not like him. He was only trying to be 
friendly. He had hoped that this party would allow him to find a pretty 
girl to work at his shrine, yet that did not appear as if it was about to 
happen.
	"Grandfather?" he heard a voice behind him. "What's going on? Why 
are all these people going into the shrine?" Rei put her hands on her hips. 
"What did you do this time?" 
        "Rei!" her grandfather sounded insulted. "How could you accuse  me 
of doing something like that? I wasn't the one who invited all these girls 
here!"
        Rei of course, did not believe her grandfather. Who else could have 
possibly done it? Still, she was too exhausted to argue. "I suppose I'll 
take a nap. Wake me in time for dinner," she said, as as she yawned and 
stepped into the shrine.
        "SURPRISE!!!" the words blasted her with a forceful gale, and Rei 
nearly lost her balance. "Wha--?" she struggled to find the words. "What's 
going on?" she looked around, surveying the scene...balloons, streamers, 
food. It did not take a genius to deduce that there was a party here, which 
Rei quickly did.
        "USAGI!" she yelled, knowing instantly who must be
responsible for this party.
        The small, odango headed girl sidled up to her. "Yes, Rei-chan?"
she asked, an expectant smile on her face.
       	"Usagi, is this party your doing?"
        Usagi smiled happily. "We all did it, Rei-chan! It's your welcome
home party."
        "USAGI NO BAKA!" Rei shouted. "Did you ever stop to think
that I might want to rest after I'd come home from the hospital?"
        Ami, listening, put her head in her hands. "I knew it," she
whispered.
	Naru watched the conversation. {Usagi abandoned me for her.} 
Her gut twisted at that revelation, and she was hurt. They would suffer.
"Are you prepared?" she whispered to the older boy beside her. "Are you
prepared to serve me?"
       	"Yes, my Master," he whispered, staring at a lovely lady with
blond hair and a red bow.
       	"Good. Please, you must wait. I have certain..." she glanced
at Rei and Usagi. "....things that I must do."
       	"Please!" she shouted, so that all heard it."Let's not argue!"
Though she had been in the back of the crowd, she quickly stepped
forward, people moving out of her way as if propelled by an unseen
force. She smiled at both Usagi and Rei. "You must be Hino Rei-san," she
declared, taking the other girl's hands in her own. "My name is Osaka Naru.
Perhaps you've heard of me...?" she turned to Usagi.
	Evil....such......evil. Rei's heart quickened, and she tried
to pull her hands away from Naru, yet Naru was grasping them too
tightly. 
       	{Yes, you fear us. Yet you do not know what we are. You will
soon enough know. Remain in ignorance for a litle while longer, dearie.
It is all you can do.}
       	"Naru!" Usagi smiled happily. "You're here! When did you come
in?"
      	Naru laughed flippantly. "Oh, Melvin and I slipped in while you
were gorging on all that food. I've never admitted it before, but I am
jealous of you! How do you stay so thin, Usagi, darling?"
	Usagi frowned. She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but
there was something wrong with Naru. "Naru-chan....are you all right?" she
asked.
       	Naru glanced at Rei. {You will know us, Sailormars,} she
thought, and let loose her grip on  Rei's hands, which fell weakly to
Rei's side."Well, I am a bit jealous of you and all your friends," she
smiled. "But we mustn't let that bother us! We're still friends. Friends
forever?" she smiled shyly at Usagi.
      	Usagi felt a pang of guilt within her. She had, though not
intentionally, of course, abandoned Naru for the Sailor Senshi.
"Friends forever," she agreed, and enveloped both Rei and Naru in a
giant hug, which Naru and Rei returned, though Rei was reluctant to
touch Naru.
       	{Something's wrong,} she thought. {I sense perverse evil from
Naru. I have to tell Usagi. I have to get her alone to tell her. But
how can I get rid of Naru?}
        Her wonderings were answered by Naru herself. "Well,
Umino's probably  missing me by now. I must return. It was lovely
meeting you, Rei-san!"
        "Usagi," Rei whispered, as soon as she felt Molly was quite
out of earshot. "I have to tell you something."
        "What is it, Rei-chan?"
        "Private..." she gestured towards a room which was not in use
for the party.
	Before they entered the private room, the door flung open to 
reveal...
        A clown?
        "Nani?" Usagi looked confused.
        "Usagi," Rei shook her head. "This is too much! Aren't we a
bit old for clowns?"
  	"But I like clowns," Usagi whined. Wait a minute! "I didn't
invite this clown here," she said, partly to herself.
       	"Oh? Then who did?"
       	The answer was given to them by the trademark laugh, which
came from a table  that speaker was standing upon. "The entertainment
that I, Aino Minako, has planned, has at last arrived!"
       	Rei stared at Minako, and got a sweatdrop. She quickly recovered
from it, and pulled Usagi into the separate room.
       	"It's about Naru," Rei didn't bother with any preliminaries.
"I sense evil on her."
 	"Huh?" Usagi was confused. "Naru's been my friend for years.
She's not evil. Could you be wrong?"
     	"No! I know what I sense. I'm not wrong. I sense evil."
	"But, Rei-chan, you sensed evil on me when we first met," Usagi
reminded her.
    	Before Rei could give an answer, there came a scream from
outside. Rei and Usagi looked at each other for but a second, and
flung open the door.
       	The clown had turned into a youma; seven feet tall, with long
claws, a warped smile, and a mass of red hair that almost seemed alive.
It held up some balloons, as it exclaimed. "I AM BOZO! YOUR ENERGY IS
MINE!!!!" Energy draining waves floated from the balloons.
  	"Mars Power, Make Up!" "Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"        	
"Stop right there!" the youma turned its head at the sound of the voice. 
"For ruining my friend's surprise party, I won't forgive you!" She began 
the ritual of speech and motions. "I am the Sailor Senshi for love and 
justice, Sailormoon! In the name of the moon, I'll punish you!"
	"And I am the Sailor Senshi for love and passion, Sailormars of 
the red high heel! In the name of Mars, I won't forgive you!"
	The clown laughed gleefully, as it took out three balls and 
started juggling them. Both Mars and Moon were quite confused. "Huh?" 
Their question was soon answered, as the youma threw the balls at them. 
They quickly dodged the balls, which exploded as soon as it hit a solid
object. The youma continued to throw more balls, until finally Sailormoon 
lost her balance and fell down. The youma smiled, as it went in for the 
kill.
        "SHABON SPRAY!" the room was cloaked with a cloud of bubbles, the 
youma was blinded, and began shooting out balls every which way.
     	"FIRE SOUL!" "CRESCENT BEAM!" "SUPREME THUNDER!" As each attack
hit the youma, it was weakened yet did not die.
  	"Sailormoon, ima yo!" cried Sailormars.
      	"Hai!" Sailormoon  put her hand to her tiara, and removed it
from her head. With the words "Moon Tiara, Action!" she flung it at the
youma, who had only time to scream until it was dust.
 	The five Sailor Senshi viewed the scene....the room was a 
mess, yet, by some miracle, nobody had been seriously hurt. 
       	"Sailorvenus, I presume?"
       	Sailorvenus turned around, and saw an older boy, of perhaps sixteen.
He was incredibly handsome, with longish brown hair and dark green 
eyes. "Yes?" she asked.
       	The boy's eyes flashed red, as he held up an object in his
hands. "Die," he whispered, as the blade flashed open.
       	They were too late. It was as if some horrible dream was
occuring right before their eyes. They each saw the knife reach towards
Sailorvenus's throat, and each prepared  their attacks, but the first
syllable was all they could get out.
       	"VENUS!!!!!" Sailormoon cried, her voice choked up. Ignoring
the boy...the other people in the room...the other Sailor Senshi, she
went up to Sailorvenus, cradling her frame in her hands. "Minako-chan," she
whispered. "Don't die. Please, don't die."
        Sailorvenus tilted her head up, to stare at Sailor Moon.
"Sailormoon...." she whispered.
       	"MINAKO-CHAN!" Sailormoon had never felt, nor  expressed, such 
anguish in her entire life. "Please! Hold on! We'll get you to a hospital! 
Please!"
       	She hugged Venus's frame, though she could sense her getting 
ever weaker.  "Minako-chan..." she sobbed, as her hand slipped through 
Venus's body.
        That odd occurance was enough for her to pull back, and 
look at Venus's body. Her skin now had a gray pallor, and her eyes were 
closed, yet that was not the curious thing.
        Sailorvenus was translucent. As the other senshi watched, 
they saw her....or perhaps it was only her body...vanish, as though she had 
never existed.
        "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sailormoon burst out 
sobbing, and the none of the other Sailor Senshi bothered to stop their 
tears.
	

	"Where am I?" she wondered.
	All she got as a  reply were giggles, and she repeated her
question. "Where am I? Where is this place? Who are you?"
	The giggles continued, escalating into laughter. Finally, when she 
felt certain  she would go mad, a voice spoke. "You are Aino Minako...
Sailorvenus."
	"I know who I am. But who are you?"
	"You'll know soon enough."
	The laughter continued on.