Chapter 9: Calm Down in Battle? Teamwork is Key! “This is so noble, isn’t it, Shizuko-oneechan,” Natsumi chirped as she and Shizuko approached the Tenou-Kaiou house. “Yes. Maybe this will get the kids at school to stop saying I’m a goth just because I’m Sailor Chibi Saturn,” agreed Shizuko. Natsumi knocked on the door, and Haruka opened it. “What are you two girls doing here?” she asked. “We’re here to help you guys take care of Niji-chan,” explained Shizuko cheerfully. “It seems she’s become very popular recently; Ami-chan’s three kids are here for the same reason as well,” Haruka said, stepping aside to let them in. “It’s very nice of you girls to want to help my daughter, but don’t overdo it. With her condition, and her naturally reserved personality, you might overwhelm her,” warned Michiru. “Us? Of course not! We’ll be such good doctors, she’ll hug us all!” Shizuko declared. Michiru didn’t say anything, but her glance in Haruka’s direction clearly said “Niji? Hug? Yeah, right.” “Hi, you two! Are you also here to take care of Niji?” Hikari asked. The Tomoe sisters met up with her, Fuu, and Akimi in the hallway. “Yes, we are,” said Natsumi. Oddly enough, Hikari started giggling, and so did Akimi and Fuu, though they looked a little guilty for it. “What’s the joke?” Natsumi asked, curious about anything possibly fun. “Your sister’s forehead...it’s huge...IT’S THE SIZE OF A WHALE!!! WAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” Hikari screamed, rolling on the floor in hysterics. Natsumi and Shizuko stared at each other, white eyes locking with green ones. This was the joke? Natsumi smirked at Hikari. “I think you’re pretty pathetic if the only pleasure you can find in life is making fun of people’s foreheads,” she teased the taller girl. Hikari’s blue hair seemed to crackle with angry energy. “I JUST THINK IT’S FUNNY, OKAY?!?!” she shouted, grabbing Natsumi by her shirt collar. Just then, a shadow fell over the two of them. “Okay, what’s going on here?” a stern voice asked. Hikari let go of Natsumi and turned to defiantly face Haruka. “I was just making fun of Shizuko’s HUGE forehead, okay?” she snapped. “You are not allowed here. Your sisters can stay, but I’m calling Ami-chan to pick you up,” Haruka scolded, dragging the screeching Hikari to the front room. Akimi seemed relieved by this. “Didn’t you guys remember what we came here to do?” she asked. “Oh, that’s right! We were going to take care of Niji, but Natsumi-chan and Hikari-chan got carried away with fighting over my forehead,” Shizuko answered. “Then let’s find her room? Won’t she be surprised and pleased to find she has four doctors!” bubbled Fuu. As the four girls opened the door, they found Yumemi in Niji’s room, too. “So what exactly happened to her; I mean besides her leg being broken? Why is she suddenly bedridden?” asked Natsumi, curious and blunt as always. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard about this, but, then again, you weren’t there when it happened. We got attacked by a guy who attacked with poisonous slime of some sort. He tried to shoot it at Megumi-sempai and Kaori-sempai, but Niji-chan blocked the attack. Now she’s very sick, but I doubt she’ll die,” Yumemi explained, trying to be hopeful. Shizuko stepped up first. “Hi, Niji-chan. We’ve come here to help get you all better, okay? So the four of us can be your doctors!” she said cheerfully, sitting on the bed and taking Niji’s hand. The aqua-haired girl just stared at her for a few seconds, then, silently, nodded stiffly. Akimi, who was standing in the back, closest to the door, shifted uncomfortably. She could tell Niji didn’t like all this attention, but if her sister and the Tomoe girls wanted to help so badly... “Sooo...um...” Fuu started to speak, but she was kind of at a loss for words. Talking to Niji was like talking to a brick wall; she was, well, cold and unapproachable. It was, even for an outgoing girl like Fuu Mizuno, hard to talk to her. Natsumi, on the other hand, had no problem talking to their patient; either she was even more confident, oblivious to Niji’s demeanor, or both. “I know! We can put on a mini-skit for her! And we can do it while cooking her a lunch in here! I’m sure Michiru-san and Haruka-san will let us,” she suggested. Even with her eerie eyes, anyone could tell that Natsumi CERTAINLY was not the serious type. “How would we do that?” Fuu asked, curious about the idea and glad that at least Natsumi was able to talk to Niji. “We can make it up as we go along! Let’s go to the kitchen, everyone!” Natsumi proclaimed, leaping to the door, opening it, and nearly crashing into Akimi in the process. “So what kind of thing should we do?” Fuu asked. “Well, I know what we shouldn’t do. Mama once told me and Natsumi-chan about Seiya-san when she was younger. Three of the other Senshi were sick, and Seiya-san went over to take care of them, but she messed up. She wrecked their clothes in the washing machine, and she made Setsuna-san vomit,” Shizuko said. Fuu was confused. “So what you’re saying is that we shouldn’t try to wash the clothes or cook Niji-chan lunch? We don’t have to do either of those; I thought Natsumi-chan said we were going to put on a play,” she said. “I just thought that story would give us ideas,” Shizuko pouted. “Wait a minute. Shizuko-oneesan has got a great idea. Maybe we could act out the Seiya-san incident. Who were the Senshi she was taking care of?” Natsumi asked. “Hmm, I think I remember that Mama said she was taking care of Haruka-san, Michiru-san and Setsuna-san,” Shizuko informed them. “Then I think that Fuu-chan should play Seiya-san, Shizuko-oneesan can be Michiru-san, I’ll be Haruka-san, and Akimi-chan can play Setsuna-san’s parts since she’s the quietest of us,” Natsumi said, taking charge of the operation. Oddly enough, Akimi still went along with it, though she sent a reluctant glance in Niji’s direction. Niji watched them plan her “cure” without even asking what she wanted. She was tired and she had a headache; mostly, she was just very, very weak physically. So they think she needed a performance?! But she wasn’t about to complain. She had to be strong and stoic. If she were to get emotional, the enemy would be even more likely to get her a third time. After being attacked twice, she didn’t need them to think she was weak enough to complain about silly girls who thought they were doctor-actresses. Meanwhile, with Natsumi keeping Niji company, Akimi, Fuu, and Shizuko were in the kitchen. “I think we should make some blender mush like Seiya-san did for the props. We can pretend to drink it and then pretend to throw up,” Shizuko said. “Yeah, let’s see what they have here,” Fuu added. She was sitting on the counter, and she opened one of the cabinets. Just then, Michiru came in. “What are you girls doing in here?” she asked, sounding more curious than suspicious. “We’re putting on a play for Niji-chan, so we’re making the props,” Shizuko explained. “Oh? What’s your play about? Cooking?” Michiru asked with a smile, glad they were being so nice to her daughter. “Sort of. It’s about when Seiya-san tried to cook for you,” Shizuko giggled as she and Fuu grabbed a few random items out of the cabinet and set them on the counter. Michiru raised an eyebrow. “You’re doing THAT story? Did Hotaru-chan tell you about it? I’m not sure I like you girls messing around in our kitchen, though. Can’t you just pantomime the play?” Michiru asked, now getting suspicious. Fuu shook her head. “It has to be realistic. And why can’t we be in the kitchen? We’re not really going to make it taste bad,” she said. Michiru looked at the stuff Fuu and Shizuko had pulled out, then she said “Who here likes daifuku, peanuts, soy sauce, and noodles mixed together in the blender? That doesn’t sound very tasty.” “She has a point. And even if there is someone who likes that mixture, who would eat that much?” Akimi asked, finally speaking up. Shizuko started giggling. “Taiki-san can eat it; she’ll eat anything,” she said. Michiru stepped closer to them, looking menacing. “Taiki-san isn’t here, but I’ll allow it if you call her to eat it,” she warned. “You will? I knew you would!” Fuu guahed, grabbing Michiru in a big hug. “Okay, here’s how we do it. Fuu, you just come and...hey!!! I don’t think Seiya-san DUMPED the mixture on Haruka-san’s head, did she?!” shrieked Natsumi as Fuu dumped the blender mush on her. They were in Niji’s room now, doing the play. “I’m being spontaneous!” Fuu giggled. Suddenly, Shizuko tackled Fuu. “Gotcha! I’ll...AAAAHH!!” she screamed as Fuu dumped the mush on her, too. Just then, Haruka poked her head in the room. “What IS that stuff and what ARE you doing with it?!” she exclaimed, shocked. “We’re acting out the time when Seiya-san messed up your house!” Natsumi explained innocently. “Out, you four!! Get out!!” Haruka shouted, and she threw them out of Niji’s room. The four of them ran out, finding Hikari outside. “So you guys got thrown out too?” she asked. “Yes, and we deserved it. All Niji probably needs is a lot of rest, and we weren’t letting her have that,” Akimi said. “Poor things. You were just trying to be helpful, weren’t you. And the mean, cold girl rejected you,” a patronizing voice said. The five girls looked up to see two girls, one with long black hair and the other with short, dark blue hair. “Rei-san! Mama!” Fuu giggled, leaping to hug them. “Hold it. I’m not your mother. I am Mary,” said the Ami-looking girl. “And I’m Kimberly,” added the other. “What do you want?” Shizuko asked innocently. “We understand you. You hate that cold girl, don’t you?” Kimberly asked, sitting down on the curb next to Fuu, who looked up at the others, confused. “Niji-san? We don’t hate her. At least, I don’t,” Akimi answered. “No, she’s not the worst person I’ve met,” Hikari added. “Really? I think you should. She rejected your help and care,” Mary said smoothly, touching the bridge of Hikari’s glasses. “Back off, Miss Nosy. I wasn’t part of it; they were the ones who tried to help her,” Hikari snapped. “But she’s a cruel girl, isn’t she?” Kimberly asked. “No, she’s not. What are you trying to do?” challenged Fuu. “We want you to join our side and fight the other Senshi!” shouted Kimberly, exasperated. “You idiot! Don’t tell the Sailor Senshi our plans!” shouted Mary. “What did you just say?! Mercury Prism Power, Make Up!” “Death Celestial Power, Make Up!” “Algebra Celestial Power, Make Up!” “Saturn Prism Power, Make Up!” “Hermes Eternal Power, Make Up!” The five girls transformed into Sailor Senshi, warriors of justice. “So you have revealed yourselves, Sailor brats. Take this!” shouted Kimberly, zapping Sailor Hermes with a blast of black energy. “No! Fuu-chan! Algebra Numeric Calculation!” countered Sailor Algebra, throwing a bunch of purple numbers at the two villains. Mary jumped, caught a giant 5, and threw it at Chibi Mercury, knocking her down. “How dare you use the powers of darkness for evil! Darkness can be a nice, peaceful thing for sleeping at night! Agent of love and justice, cute Sailor Senshi, Sailor Death! With my powers of death, I shall punish you!” shouted Sailor Death, striking a fierce battle pose. The other 4 Senshi sweatdropped. “Umm, why are you posing and introducing yourself now? The battle started already,” Chibi Saturn pointed out. “Yeah, dummy! Natsumi, you’re a dummy!” snarled Chibi Mercury. “Who’re ya calling a dummy?! Dark Deadly Beams!” shouted Sailor Death, shooting her attack at Mary, who blew it back at her. Sailor Death was thrown into Sailor Algebra, sending them both flying. Then Kimberly zapped Sailor Hermes and Chibi Mercury. “So, I think you’re next, Forehead Girl,” she smirked, aiming glowing fingers in Chibi Saturn’s direction. “DON’T MAKE FUN OF MY FOREHEAD!!! DEATH REBORN REVOLUTION!!!” screamed Chibi Saturn, shooting a bunch of purple ribbons at Kimberly. Mary blew them back at her, and the two villains loomed over the fallen Senshi. Luckily, the next thing they heard was a familiar cry of “Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!” Then “Space Sword Blaster!”, and finally “Deep Submerge!” It was Sailor Mercury, Sailor Uranus, and Sailor Neptune, coming to the rescue. The two villains were now on the ground, with the three adult Senshi ready to attack again. “Come back, you two. You are obviously not ready to deal with the parent Senshi yet,” Amanda warned them, talking through their wrist communicators. Kimberly and Mary teleported away, embarrassed. “Are you girls okay?” asked Sailor Mercury. “I think so, Mama. Niji-chan didn’t seem to like us helping her,” said Sailor Hermes. Sailor Neptune smiled. “Niji-chan is better now; she’s not sick anymore, even though her leg still will take a long time to heal. She just needed to rest, and we didn’t realize that. She’s the type that thrives on solitude. But you girls didn’t know that,” she explained, stroking Sailor Hermes’s silver hair. “I thought of that. But I also thought the others were right, too,” said Sailor Algebra quietly. “You were correct, Akimi-chan. She didn’t need a silly, messy play,” agreed Sailor Uranus. “Maybe the lesson here is that sometimes it’s better to be a quiet person, like how Akimi-oneechan was able to understand what to do. And also, we got carried away with yelling at Natsumi-chan in battle, and got distracted,” Sailor Hermes said wisely.