This is the fic I entered the FFML with, and it's time for another chapter.
This one is for all my fans.
Both of you.
C&C (public or private) is welcome.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Keep/5268/Fanfic/fanfic.html
Agreeable Komodo
He who bought it, supplied it.
Just say yes to prophylactics.
Bored with your enemies?
Make new ones:
Tell two of your women friends that they
look alike.
-Mignon McLaughlin
***********************
Serena was sitting on the floor by the door, knees pulled up to her chest
when Molly showed up. Serena instantly noticed that her friend's face was wan
and pale and her hands were shaking slightly.
"Serena? What are you doing here?"
"I needed to see you. There was something on the radio that I thought you
should hear," Serena said as she held out the tape.
"Thanks," Molly said absently as she took it. "Come on in."
Molly's loft was sparsely furnished with most of the furniture pushed against
the walls and one wall dominated by a row of huge windows that offered a view
of some of the shorter buildings of the Tokyo skyline.
"Be right back," Molly said as she disappeared into the bathroom, leaving
Serena to her own devices.
Near the windows was a small desk dominated by "Morris", the powerful
computer Molly and, Rei Asaymya, the art half of the two-woman team that was
responsible for "Notes from the Edge," a monthly comedy/drama manga
chronicling the adventures of a nerdy alien trapped on Earth, used to give
the artwork it's powerful colors and photorealistic feel.
Idly, Serena drifted over to the smaller laptop set at a right angle to
Morris. This one, dubbed "Nine Lives", a move which had put Molly and Mina
into hysterical laughter, was where Molly did the writing for the Manga and
she reached over to the notepad peeking out from under a book on killer
viruses. She knew the pad was where Molly put her ideas down on paper and if
she could get a look at next month's plot. . .
"And what do you think you're doing?" The question was asked in jest, but
guilt, startlement, and perhaps the strained friendship that had existed
between the two since Molly had found out about Serena's big secret, was a
factor, but Serena exploded with anger.
"I was just looking! Can you blame me for being curious?"
"I. . ." Molly said, taken back, then her eyes narrowed. "Well it is my
stuff."
"Excuse me? Who got you hooked on Manga in the first place? And for that
matter, who was willing to talk to you when you first came here?"
"Well its not like I needed anyone!"
"Oh yes, I forgot. Americans can't admit they might be wrong, world might
blow up!"
"Yeah, well Sailor Moon could save us, if she doesn't trip over her own two
feet first!"
Serena bristled. "What?" She asked softly, her tone of voice dangerous.
"You heard me," Molly said, striking a pose. "In the name of the Moon, I'll
punish you-whoops!" She finished the impression by pretending to trip over
her own feet. "It's a wonder you ever got to the fight, let alone achieved
victory."
"Yeah, well at least my-" Serena broke off as her eyes fell on the picture of
Melvin and Molly on the nightstand and her mind shuddered back from the line
she had been about to cross. "My bus back home will be at the stop soon," she
finished lamely in a more normal tone of voice.
"Yeah," Molly agreed, her shoulders bunching under the short sleeved shirt
she wore.
"Right, "Serena said and stormed out of the apartment. It wasn't until she
was in the elevator that she allowed herself to think about what she had
almost done. 'My best friend, and I. . .I. . .' She shook her head. 'I nearly
insulted Melvin's memory,' she thought. 'Molly would have-I never would have
forgiven myself if I had done that.' Shaking slightly, she exited the
elevator and left the building.
It was some several hours later that Molly sat on her couch, the notepad on
her lap covered in meaningless scribbles. Try as she might, she could not
come up with a plot.
"Hey, you in there?" Molly asked. "Kinsune? You there?"
Silence.
Molly sighed. The Guyver had been quiet since it had told her it's name after
they had touched that energy sphere containing the Kami, and that experience
had left Molly with more questions then answers. Standing, she tossed the
notepad onto the table and started to pace.
As she moved, her eyes fell on the tape Serena had brought over, laying on
the table near the door. Almost curious, she picked it up and put it in her
stereo.
What she heard was the last thing she had ever expected.
#--#
He was putting wood on the fire when he heard the footsteps. He showed no
outward reaction, but he stretched out his senses, listening for the movement
of air that would tell him what the intruder was doing.
"Is it really you?" A female voice asked. His heart leapt in his chest. It
was a voice that had haunted his dreams. The one person he could never, ever,
hurt.
Turning, he saw her standing in front of the open doors to the balcony. She
had grown up in the six years since he had last seen her. She looked
magnificent.
"It is you, isn't it Nephrite?"
"Molly," he said softly, his voice filled with joy.
Then she was in his arms and no more words were said.
#--#
Serena stared at the cordless phone as though she could make it ring by force
of sheer will.
"Relax, will ya Serena?" Lita said from where she was reading a magazine.
"Molly's probably down at the publisher's office or something."
"I know," Serena replied. "But after the fight, and then there was that news
report about Stanton coming back, she might-" Serena broke off. She hadn't
meant to tell them about Stanton.
"What about Stanton?" Raye asked softly.
"Who's Stanton?" Lita and Mina asked Amy at the same time.
"The human identidy of Nephrite, the second Negaverse general we faced," Amy
replied. Zoisite killed him a few days before we met Lita. He and Molly had
a. . .relationship before he was killed."
"Nephrite," Lita repeated, looking ill. In the days of the Silver Millenium,
back on the Moon Kingdom. Princess Lita of Jupiter and General Nephrite of
the Palace Gaurd had been lovers. Lovers until Beryl seduced him and 3 other
generals away to become her Lord Generals and lead the assault on the Moon
Kingdom.
"Stanton's back?" Raye asked, her tone of voice indicating she was very
upset. "Nephrite's human identidy? What if Nephrite came back with him?"
"Oh come on," Mina spoke up. "Molly wouldn't go running off to deal with
him." The girls traded looks, and then Serena paled and looked very
frightened. "She would, wouldn't she," Mina deadpanned when she saw the look
on Serena's face.
"Call the Outers," Serena said softly. "Tell them to meet us on the edge of
the woods near the old mountain road. That's a direct order from their
Queen." She stood up, her eyes filled with determination. "If Nephrite harms
even a hair on her head. . ."
". . .we'll harm every cell of his body," Lita finished.