The Meet Up
22 October, 1994
Juuban Ward, Tokyo
1:47 P.M.
"Usagi, you're looking a bit better," came the voice from her bed.
Usagi turned to look at Luna, her magical advisor who also happened to be a black cat with a golden crescent marking on her forehead. "I met someone last night, Luna. Did you know that there are magical police?"
Luna blinked at that, getting up to pace around Usagi's bed. "I wasn't aware. I wonder where they've been all this time."
Usagi sighed as she put away her school things. "I think that we hit the youma, and then left before they could arrive," Usagi admitted. "During the fight last night, they showed up a little over a minute after we finished it. Their response time was just over four minutes, according to Harry."
"Something to consider, even if they're not linked to the Moon Kingdom," Luna offered. "But at least you look like you're feeling better about things. What happened?"
Usagi began changing out of her school uniform, explaining, "Turns out that what Mousse and I were fighting a couple of weeks ago wasn't a youma, but a vampire. Last night was werewolves. Harry helped me out, hid me from the police while my transformation healed my ribs, and then we spent a couple of hours talking."
Luna frowned at the admission. "I hope you didn't tell him anything important," Luna chided.
"Actually, I told him almost everything," Usagi calmly replied, putting on a sweater, long skirt, and leggings to ward off the late October chill. "Everything except for the names of the others."
"Why?" Luna demanded, now atop Usagi's bed post. "Why would you trust an outsider?"
"Have you ever heard of a magical vow?"
Luna blinked at that, and then frowned as she searched her memories. "I think... something about that kind of vow being... unbreakable?" she ventured, her memories of the Moon Kingdom being spotty on the best of days.
"He made one to keep my secrets," Usagi stated, "and suddenly I knew that I could trust him. He gave me the card of a magical detective, and talked me through my breakdown."
"And?"
Usagi sighed, finally sitting on her bed. "And he told me two things. One statement, one question."
Luna rolled her eyes at that. "Usagi, please stop dithering."
Usagi giggled at her advisor's consternation. "Okay, fine. The statement was 'The King is Dead, Long Live the King'. I'm not the Moon Princess, I'm the moon Queen."
"Obviously," Luna scoffed, shaking her head. "Or at least you will be once you return to the moon to take your throne."
Usagi shook her head at that, saying, "I don't think it works like that. Anyways, the question was about the past. 'Just because things were a certain way thousands of years ago, does that mean they should be the same today?' He pointed out that the Senshi were my bodyguards and tutors during the Silver Millennium, but today we're more like sisters. So I need to figure out if I want stuff to be the same as they were.
"I've given this a lot of thought today," Usagi admitted. "And I need to figure out what everything means before I make a big decision. I'm wanting to get back to the moon to see what's there. I need to figure out what being the Moon Queen means in the modern day. And I need to figure out how to work as Sailor Moon. That means working with the magical police, and figuring out how my own magic works.
"Did you know that there are school for magic now?," Usagi asked, looking Luna in the eye. "Harry goes to one in England; he showed me one of his text books. I need to find out if I qualify to go to a magical school in Japan, or even if there is one here. But if I can work magic in and out of my Senshi form, wouldn't that be best?"
"You aren't incorrect," Luna admitted reluctantly, "but how do we know we can trust these people if they're not of the Moon Kingdom?"
"Because there isn't a Moon Kingdom," Usagi stated. "Not yet, at least. Non-magicals haven't seen the resurrected Moon Kingdom on the moon yet; we'd hear about that on the news. Harry thinks it's being magically hidden, which would make sense."
"And this 'Harry'," Luna interrupted. "He may have made a vow, but is he trustworthy?" she demanded. "What do you know about him? Does he know where you live? What about-"
Luna was cut off as Usagi laid a finger against her lips. "I know he's English, and he's my age. He was told I live in Juuban. About me personally, he doesn't know anything important. And we're supposed to get together after school on Tuesday, so I'll learn more then."
"Hmf!" Luna grumped out; if the moon cat could have sat stiffly upright while folding her forelegs, she would have. "I suppose it's not too bad, then. Why did his words have such an effect on you?"
"For the last month," Usagi began, "I was sad because I couldn't bring myself to force my friends to remember dying for me. Harry figured out that I had no direction, that my friends were a grounding influence on me. He hinted that I needed something to focus on, something to do while I work out the bigger stuff in my head."
"He hinted?" Luna asked crossly. "He didn't tell you?"
"On the flight back from Kamurocho, he explained that he'd just gotten out of a couple months' of therapy," Usagi explained. "He mentioned that his therapist usually just asked questions, and let Harry find his own answers. He said that while his therapist was leading him, Harry always ended up choosing the destination. And that's what Harry did with me."
Luna flopped down off the bed post, landing on her side on Usagi's bed. "So what will you do now?"
"Now?" Usagi asked, smiling a little. "Now I'll go to a pay phone, and use the phone card I bought with cash to call Detective Okajima, arrange a meeting with him tonight or tomorrow. No real names, and I'll meet him in Shinjuku. Oh, it'll be like I'm a secret agent!" she squealed out, giggling as she rolled on her bed.
Three hours later, Usagi, now in Senshi form, finally landed in Nerima, about four blocks from Ucchan's Okonomiyaki. Typing the card information, she then called the number on the card.
"Okajima, speak," came the terse voice from the other end.
"Detective Okajima, this is Sailor Moon," Usagi stated, a trace of nervousness in her voice.
A sigh came over the line before he replied in a tired, bored tone, "No offense, but is there any way you can prove that, miss?"
"Last night, Beam Street. A Mister Potter gave me your card a few hours later."
"Oh? Oh!" he exclaimed, his voice adjusting so far that Usagi could hear him straightening up. "Sorry to have to check, but we get a dozen calls a day from women claiming to be Sailor Moon. How can I help you, Miss Moon?"
"I was hoping to arrange a meeting," Usagi replied. "Today or tomorrow, for preference. Someplace quiet and out of the way."
"I can... Let me check the book," Okajima said. "Debrief of last night is done, all of the werewolves are in lockup. I have nothing for this evening. Chose a spot and a time, and we can sit down."
Usagi gathered her courage, saying, "Seven, Kamurocho. The roof of Sushi-Gin is easy to get on to. Will that work?"
"I'll be there, Miss Moon," Okajima stated, a trace of glee in his voice. "And let me be the first to say Thank You for agreeing to this."
"You're very welcome," Usagi smiled out. "It's a relief to know that there are police that I can go to. Would... would you mind if I brought someone who's helped me?"
"I don't think I'd mind," Okajima admitted, "especially since I was going to ask if I could bring my partner. Out of curiosity, how is the person involved?"
"He helped me take down the you-, er, vampire two weeks ago."
"Got it. Sure, sure. You and your partner, me and mine, check. I have to say, I never expected Mister Potter to find you so fast."
"He found me on the other end of Kamurocho," Usagi smoothly lied, "trying to heal up my ribs. He was kind enough to help me out, and at the end gave me your card."
Twenty minutes later, Usagi walked into the Cat Cafe. Knowing that Nerima was very, very odd (local legend held that every Nerima citizen had at least a black belt in some martial art form for sheer survival alone), she knew that walking in Nerima in full Senshi mode would barely even be blinked at.
"Nihoa, customer!" Shampoo exclaimed, before stopping to smile at her. "Oh, Magic Moon Girl! You come in, have too-too delicious pork ramen for you! Is new, spiced with fresh leek powder."
"Thank you, Shampoo," Usagi replied, sitting at a table. "Is Mousse in today?"
"He out for delivery," Shampoo admitted from the kitchen. "Deliver to crazy flower girl, and Furinkan staff. Shampoo think he beat Hair-Shave Principal again on principle."
Usagi giggled at that, even as Shampoo set down her ramen. "Mousse does have his share of issues," Usagi admitted, before saying, "Thank you for the food."
"You is welcome," Shampoo chirped out before sitting across from her. "Is slow time now. Business people not come on Saturday, not hit peak until six, when college crowd come in."
Usagi sipped at the hot broth, internally marveling at the sheer size of the serving. Many things could be said of the Cat Cafe's food, but 'small' was not one of them. Even their small order of ramen was the size of a large anywhere else in Tokyo, and their Deluxe was truly massive.
Usagi always got the Deluxe.
"So, how Moon Girl doing, hmm?" Shampoo asked inquisitively. "Shampoo see you around, looking sad. Looking much much better today."
Shampoo's exuberance never failed to put a smile on Usagi's day, and today was no exception. "I met a boy last night. He really helped me think about some stuff."
"Oh?" Shampoo asked, an eager gleam in her eye. "What boy, hmm? Better than Moon Tuxedo Man?"
Usagi couldn't help but laugh at Shampoo's mangling of Tuxedo Mask's name. "Not better, just different. His name's Harry, and we met in Kamurocho. He helped me against some werewolves."
"Harry?" Shampoo asked. "Odd name in Japan. What he look like?"
"A few centimeters shorter than Mouse," Usagi began, winding up some more noodles, "with long, black hair and intense green eyes."
"He have big pack, and cane?" Shampoo asked. Usagi nodded, her mouth full of noodles. "Aiyah! That man who come in yesterday, speak to Great-Grandmother! He talk with her about other land, old enemy of Nyucheizu from centuries past. Great-Grandmother was very impress with his manners. Mousse pay much attention."
Usagi nodded as she swallowed. "Mousse sent him to help me out. Do you know why he couldn't make it?"
"Yes! Mousse say he have to call village, talk to old males there. Something new come up, he and Great-Grandmother very busy with what Sun King talk about."
"Wait, he actually is the Sun King of Yamatai?" Usagi asked, eyes wide.
"According to Great-Grandmother, yes," Shampoo confirmed. "He show signs of Sun King, lightning crown. Old symbol, yes?" Usagi nodded for her to continue. "Shampoo was in back doing inventory, so not be hearing what they say. But Great-Grandmother been in contact with village council ever since. So, he strong one?" she asked slyly.
"Very," Usagi answered, finally draining the last of the ramen bowl. "He fought werewolves with magic and a walking stick. I might not have survived if it weren't for him," she painfully admitted, "but he made it all look easy. It's like watching you and Mousse against someone. It looked almost choreographed, and the way he slid in and out of my own maneuvers was... far too graceful," she ended, a tinge of shame coloring her cheeks.
"Hey, not look like that," Shampoo commented, wrapping her up in a hug. "You doing too-too good things, so Mousse and me help train, Great-Grandmother give blessing for. You doing better already, so none of that, yes?" Usagi nodded, hugging Shampoo back gratefully. "So, what else you have?"
"Thanks to Harry, I found out that there are magical police," Usagi said, sipping at her tea. "So I set up a meeting with a detective, and I was hoping that Mousse would come with me for it."
"Ah, I see," Shampoo replied, nodding sagely. "Is important thing, meet lawgiver. You and Mousse work together, you two good fight pair. I tell Great-Grandmother to let Mousse have night off, and why. If husband come make trouble, we deal with him."
Usagi sighed, shaking her head. "Is this guy really so important to you? Surely there are other good guys out there than the one you chose."
Shampoo sighed, before looking around carefully. Usagi watched as she cast out her chi, sensing for observers, before quietly saying, "Shampoo not really want Ranma. He good fighter, strong, make good babies. But he prideful, shallow, and for all skill, he raised by scum who not keep honor word. Ranma father is skilled in the Art, a true Master, but Shampoo wonder how deep Ranma's morals go before he give up on them."
"I see. Ranma's father is a jerk, but a skilled one. And if his father's that way, how do you tell if Ranma will do the same when it comes to it?"
"Is right!" Shampoo exclaimed. "Ranma cute in both form, fight well in both. Honorable, not wants to hurt people, wants to help to protect. But Shampoo worry that he come out like his father in end. I admit that his father is an amazing Master of the Art, but as person, he a big pile of turd."
"So what does Shampoo want?" Usagi asked, resting her cheek against her upraised hand.
"Not know exactly," the lavender haired girl admitted, a bit of sadness in her voice. "Want man who is devoted, strong. Skilled, with good heart and open mind. Man willing to get hands dirty, but still gently hold my own hands. Handsome is plus, but good heart is best."
"'A good man is hard to find', I understand that," Usagi admitted. "I think I found one in Harry last night. I... kind of broke down," Usagi said, smiling sadly, "while I talked about the Moon stuff. He just held me while I cried and talked. And this was after we beat up a dozen werewolves."
Shampoo nodded at her. "Sounds like you find one, yes. What about Moon Suit Man?"
Usagi giggled a bit more at that. "I don't know. We had something a long time ago; literally in another life. Now I have to ask myself if I want that to continue. And I also have to ask myself if I want someone at my side who can keep up with me in battle or not. Because Harry did; Tuxedo Mask was always more of a support sort."
"I get. Harry get in, mix up at side. He not throw flower, make speech."
"Exactly. But Harry won't be in Japan for more than another week or so, and we're getting together on Tuesday to get to know each other better."
"Aiyah, Moon Girl have date?" Shampoo asked, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Shampoo jealous. Not want Mousse; he not right guy for me. Not really want Ranma, but forced because of law. Ryoga be good, but he would faint from blood loss first time Shampoo kiss his cheek."
"There aren't any other guys around?" Usagi asked curiously.
"Not at skill need," Shampoo sighed out sadly. "Stick Boy crazy, even if nationally rated for sword. Everyone else come and go, or just old."
"Makes sense. Maybe you need to get out into the world, see what's out there," Usagi gently suggested.
"Not can do yet," the young Amazon replied with a huff. "Not with chain to store, to Great-Grandmother, to tradition and law. Have no money, no way to earn except with fight and body. And Shampoo never go body path for money," she gritted out.
"Shampoo, what do you know about magic?," Usagi asked with a sudden subject change.
"Not know much," Shampoo admitted. "Know history, lore from elders. Most what have are magic stuff, items traded long ago to tribe for favors. Nanban Mirror, Love Pearl Bracelet, Fire Pacifier for baby. Actual magic lost to tribe over four century ago. Why you ask?"
"Harry can do magic," Usagi answered. "And I wonder if I can, outside of me being Sailor Moon."
"Anything possible," Shampoo stated, standing up to clear Usagi's bowl. "Maybe test for that, yes?"
"Maybe. Maybe there's one for you, too!" Usagi smiled out. "Mousse explained that there's not a lot of difference between ki and magic, just the source, really."
"Hm. Is maybe," Shampoo admitted, walking towards the kitchen as Usagi followed her, "but how is know?"
"I'll ask the detective tonight," Usagi replied, helping Shampoo wash dishes; Shampoo couldn't work with cold water due to her curse. "There's a lot of things I need to know if I want the police to help me."
"Is point," Shampoo commented, scrubbing the pot and bowl with hot water as Usagi rinsed them with cold water. "You ask, have Mousse come and tell after. You need place to stay tonight?"
Usagi shook her head at the offer. "Probably not. If I can make it back here with Mousse, I can make it to Juuban. Thank you though."
Kamurocho, Shinjuku Ward
Japan
7:00 P.M.
Usagi and Mousse landed atop the Sushi-Gin building, some five stories in the air. Two men stepped out from behing a, air conditioning unit they'd been using as cover from the wind.
"Sailor Moon, I am Detective Hajime Okajima," the tall, handsome detective began, "of the Tokyo Magical Police Department. This is Detective Makoto Date of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Date is my liaison with the non-magical police, and I am his for the magicals."
"I am Sailor Moon," Usagi began, "and this is Mousse of the Nyucheizu. Thank you both for agreeing to this meeting."
"Sure thing," Date replied. "But can we get out of this wind?"
Mousse smirked, pulling a substantially large canvas tent seemingly from behind his left ear. It instantly set up and, once inside, Mousse promptly began pulling a table and chairs from his sleeves.
"How did-" Okajima began.
"Hidden Weapons style of Kung Fu," Mousse stated with a wicked grin. "Please, sit down. We have a lot to discuss."
All four sat, and then Okajima began with, "Why haven't you contacted us before now, Miss Moon?"
Usagi sighed, her fingers fiddling with the edge of the table for a moment, before saying, "This is going to sound very weird, but please hold off until the end."
Twenty minutes passed, as Usagi told the two detectives about the Dark Kingdom, the youma, Beryl and Metalia, and finally her own wish that ended up with her and her friends rewinding time.
"That would explain why we still know about Sailor V," Date admitted. At Usagi's confused look, he explained, "Basically, you and your friends were shifted back in time to where you started your journey. Sailor V was active for most of a year before you appeared on the scene."
"That... would explain why the Sailor V video game still exists," Usagi breathed out. "At any rate, I didn't know that there were other magicals than us before last night."
"And my people lost their access to magic centuries ago," Mousse admitted, shrugging a little.
"Hm. That explains a lot," Okajima admitted, looking over his notebook. "So, what do you want, Miss Moon? And will your other Senshi be joining you?"
"No!" Usagi exclaimed, slamming her hand onto the table. "I don't want them remembering how they died," she snarled out. "I don't know what I want to do about that, but I'll make that decision later.
"For now," she continued, her tone much calmer, "I am asking for help from the magical police. Last night showed me that I can't keep doing this by myself. That vampire two weeks ago? Mousse was the deciding factor; I just wasn't fast enough. So yes, working with the police will make a lot of things go better for me."
"And your conditions?" Date asked. "I'm assuming that you don't want a lot of people knowing about you, and I'm pretty sure you're using disguise magic, because your face looks different every time you pop up."
"Yes, you are correct," Usagi replied, her tone a touch imperious. "I don't want people knowing who I am, or what my exact involvement is. Mousse is less worried about that."
Mousse shrugged, slipping in, "It's reputation for me. As a martial artist, I want people to know what I've done."
"In addition, I think we'd need some access to equipment," Usagi continued. "Radios, for one. That way we can keep communications open. From there..."
"Pay and some form of benefits," Mousse slid in. "If we're operating with the police, then we'll need some sort of compensation. In my case, better citizenship and a working visa. Moon?"
Usagi shrugged, her mind already a little tired. "I don't know, really. I just... I want to protect people, help them. That's why I'm Sailor Moon. We can figure out something later, I suppose.
"Oh, that reminds me," Usagi said, perking up. "Is there a way to test for magical ability? I mean, I have powers thanks to being a Senshi, but what about when I'm not? What about someone like Mousse?"
"I'd have to talk to some people," Okajima admitted, noting that down, "see if there's a way. Usually, Mahoutokoro has the records on who is and isn't magical, and they're updated as the children are born. Late Blooming magicals are almost unheard of. My own brother turned out to be non-magical, and my family pretty much turned on him for it."
"Might be that the Senshi magic shielded her from the network," Date spoke up. "And Mousse is Chinese; the Imperial Academy of Sorcery was wiped out by the PRC in the 1930s. Anyone in China who pops up as magical wouldn't be detected. So you'll definitely need to test for that sort of thing. After all, if there are unknown magicals, we need to find them to get them trained; the Statute pretty much requires it."
"Good point," Okajima admitted. "I'll talk to some people at the magical ward of Tokyo General, see if they can come up with something.
"In the meantime," Okajima continued, "I think we can come up with something for the both of you. A way to reliably communicate, some paperwork. After that, we can talk pay and benefits. Japan doesn't have a bounty system, but I'm sure we can work something out on the magical side."
Two hours later, Usagi and Sailor Moon landed in the alley behind the Cat Cafe. Mousse let them in through the back door, and they both heard Cologne welcome them. "How did it go?" the elderly woman asked.
"Fairly well," Mousse admitted, shucking off his outer robe to give it a shake; loud clanking from weapons and other items settling could be heard.
"We have enough to work with," Moon added. "We can work on particulars later. They're working to see if there's a way to test for magical potential. And Detective Okajima got us police cell phones in case of an emergency."
"Good, good. Do you need anything else, young lady?" Cologne asked in a gentle tone.
"I don't think so," Usagi replied, leaning against a table. "Did Shampoo fill you in?" Cologne nodded. "Then nothing's new. And I'll make it home before midnight!" she exclaimed with a giggle.
"Ah, it's good to see you in high spirits, Moon," Cologne commented, tapping out the coal in her pipe into a bowl of sand. "It really does my heart good to see a warrior free herself from depression."
"I have something new to work on," Usagi replied with a smile, "and I have a date on Tuesday. Things are really coming up for me!"