CHANGED by Rose PART 10 Two months. Two months of Usagi avoiding Mamoru, Sailor Moon avoiding Tuxedo Kamen. She was careful to never speak to him, and if it was nessesary, standing on the oppisite side of the room. She didn't tell anyone she knew who he was. The youma and soldiers stopped doing raids. All their buildings had maximun defenses. The senshi attacked only when nessessary, or when they felt like it. Ami, Hotaru, Usagi, and Michiru planned strategies, while the others developed their powers better. They had found Jake, who was the real Jedite, and Neo, who was the true Nephrite. General Zoisite had been-- eliminated from command. General Kunzite was working alone, but he never appeared at their attacks. "Guys." Sailor Moon called for everyone's attention. She looked troubled, but the senshi, protectors and Tuxedo Kamen looked at her, all wondering what she had to say. "Minna, this is a good plan, and I don't want anyone to say a word abut it unless they have a *REAL* reason not to do this. Tsukino Kenji holds a top position in Beryl's Kingdom." "Sailor Moon, what are you going to do?" asked Jupiter, an alarmed look on her face. "In order to threaten Beryl, I say we kidnap him." continued Sailor Moon. She shot a glare at the senshi, who had atuomaticly opened their mouths to protest. The generals fell silent, all looking at each other. Tuxedo Kamen spoke up. "I can't." He said. "He is the father of a friend of mine." Everyone but him and Sailor Moon groaned. "Really? Well that means you'll be sitting this one out, Tux." Sailor Moon said, speaking to him directly. "Because Mercury has a plan all done. I know all the security mechanisms in the house. Tsukino Ikuko will help me. Tsukino Shingo, the boy, is not to be harmed, as well as Ikuko. Do not harm Kenji unless it is nessessary. Everyone got it?" She looked around the room. They nodded, but Tuxedo Kamen left in a fury. "I'll go first." Sailor Moon murmured, detransforming. "Mama will let me in, and I'll tell her what we're going to do. She'll stay back, and I want Uranus and Neo to go in. Uranus, go for my papa. Neo, if I say it's safe, I want you to go to his study. I'll help Uranus, and Mars? If one of us isn't out into two minutes, i want you and Neptune in. If they need help, I want you guys to be on guard. He might be able to call back up." Usagi said as she pulled on a black coat and hood that hid her face. "We'll be following you, Hime-san. Be careful." Jake grinned. Usagi ran out the door, heading for home. ***************** Ikuko looked out the kitchen window, worrying about her daughter. There had been no note or rose for two weeks, and she didn't know what to think. The doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" She called to her husband, who was reading his paper. He grunted a reply. She made her way down the hallway, and took off her apron before opening the door. A figure in black stood there. "Hurry." The figure said, and closed the door behind her as she stepped in. "Mama, be quiet." "Usagi!" Ikuko gasped. "Yes, mama. It's me. No, don't call Kenji. I can't stay." "Oh, please, Usagi. I've been worried." Ikuko pleaded. "I know. The last few monthes have been hectic, Mama. But listen. In about ten minutes, two of my friends are going to bust in. They're going to kidnap papa. You and Shingo must not get in the way. I promise, he won't be harmed." "But Usagi... he's your father!" Ikuko breathed. "Not really. Now, come on. They'll be coming in the front door." Usagi ushered her mother down the hall a ways. "Usagi, what have you been up to? I haven't heard from you in a long time." Ikuko tried to smile. "We've made a dent, mama. It's not a big one, but three generals are dead, and Kunzite's scared out of his mind. I've been working with the senshi." Usagi told her. "Senshi!" "Yes. Senshi. Sailor Uranus and Neo are coming..." Usagi said, just as the door was flung open. Uranus went through. Usagi pointed her to the den. "Neo!" Usagi hissed. "Nephrite..." Ikuko whispered. "What, Hime-san?" Neo asked. "Neo, do me a favor. Go upstairs, and turn left. the first door you see is Kenji's study. I want you to go and get anything that looks important. Now!" She pushed him in the direction of the stairs. "Gotcha." He ran up the stairs so fast it seemed as though he were flying. "Mama, do you know of anything?" Usagi asked. "No... your father doesn't talk about Beryl." "Oh." "Dammit!" They both heard. Usagi went to the doorway and looked in. Uranus and Kenji were fighting. Kenji had a knife, and Uranus was struggling to keep her temper in check as to not blow the man's head off. "Uranus, keep him occupied!" Usagi shouted, and pulled out the staff. She ran behind Kenji and swung. The staff connected with a sickening crack. Kenji dropped like someone had dropped an anvil on him. Uranus thanked her, and picked Kenji up and slung him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Neo came down the stairs, a strong-box in his hands. Ikuko watched as Neo and Uranus ran off. "Gomen Nasai, Mama. I had to." She apologized and put her staff up. "Is it nessessary, all this?" Ikuko asked. "I don't know, I really don't. But I'll keep a senshi watching over the house, because they're going to question you horribly. Jake will have first shift. He looks a little like Jedite, but he's good, Mama." Usagi said. "If you must go..." "I must. Good bye." ** A few blocks away, Usagi ducked into an aleey, where the now, tied and gagged Kenji was sitting, still out. Usgai quickly henshined and told Jake about her plan and Ikuko. He nodded and immediatly left. "He's coming to." Mercury whispered. "Neo, you, Zoe and Mercury head back. Go over those documents. Mars, knock him out again-- no! Not like that, baka-chan, with the chloroform!" Sailor Moon shook her head. "Who wants to carry him?" Jupiter asked. "Not me!" Saturn, Venus, Mars, Neptune, and Sailor Moon said imeditaly. Kage looked around. "Fine. I'll carry him. Geesh." ********************** Kenji woke up with a terrific headeache. He groaned, before his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of where ever he was. "Where am I?" he tried to say. With the gag, it sounded like, Mrphf mr r? "He's awake." Sailor Uranus whispered. "Great. Another problem." Neo murmured. Sailor Moon motioned for them to shut up "I'll do this. If I stumble, someone interrupt." She whispered. "Mrhfhrmrpf!!" Kenji yelled aginst the gag. "Shut up." Sailor Moon said, thumping her staff against the floor as she walked closer to him. The senshi watched her, wondering what she would say to him, her earthly father. "Tsukino Kenji, Konichiwa. If I take off your gag, will you scream?" She asked, in a cold voice. He glared at her as he shook his head. She pulled the gag off harshly. "Sailor Senshi." He spat. She felt her heart break. "Yes, Sailor Senshi." She said. "Will you tell us what you know about the Queen? Or will you remain silent? It's okay, either way. We have very gifted mages. I will simply have Sailor Mars read your mind. And she will see far more than you want." Moon bluffed. Mars couldn't really read minds, she could just tell basic emotions. Neptune's mirror might see something, but truely, she was the only one with such abilities. "Liar." Kenji snorted. "Fine. We will attend to that later." Sailor Moon pulled up a chair so that it was facing Kenji, and sat down. "I just want to know what Queen Beryl has told you about us. We have a right to know, you know." "She said that you were koniving witches that would kill us all if given the oppurtunity." Kenji said arrogantly. "Oh, really? Then do tell me, Kenji, why did we spare your life? Or the lives of your wive and son?" Sailor Moon asked. "You killed my daughter." Kenji said. Sailor Moon's face went white. "That is a lie, Mr. Tsukino. We fight to protect your lives. We risk our own to break up raids and destroy the youma that killed so many in the Great War. We do not, under any circumstances, kill civilans." Sailor Moon said. "Where your daughter is, Mr. Tsukino, I truely, just don't know." She said truthfully. "Why do you do it?" "I would have told you, not so long ago, that it is really to save your lives from Beryl. But, I can't do that. Because I respect you, even if you are on our enemies side. Beryl killed my mother, my father, my family. She killed everyone I knew and loved. She sits on a throne that rightly belongs to another. I fight to avenge those people." "Everyone?" Kenji whsipered. "Everyone, Tsukino-san. It was so very long ago, a thousand years to the day, almost. My mother was a very special person, Kenji-san. She was a very powerful woman, but used it for good. My fiance died, my friends, my advisors and mentors, my whole life. I died too, just to be reborn on a world that was taken over by the woman I despise. I don't expect you to believe me." "You died?" "Yes." "Sailor Moon, do you know where my daughter is? Her name is Usagi." Kenji asked. Sailor Moon turned away. "Not really, Tsukino-san." "Not really?" "I thought I did, but... obviously not." "Oh." Kenji sighed, and for an instant, he looked like an old man. "I'm sorry. Please, Kenji, will you help us?" "Sailor Moon, Neo has something to tell you." "What is it?" "It's about the.... you know..." Mercury flushed. "Oh. Um... Jupiter, talk to him. Don't let anything slip, but tell him what you know about my Kingdom." Sailor Moon chose the senshi she thought least likely to blow her cool and slipped from the room. "Hime-san!" Neo was pale, and breathless. He held a paper in his hand. "What's wrong, Neo?" "Beryl.... beryl... She's planning on attacking Tokyo!" ************************************************** finish -Rose