[Admin: All right, you lucky fans. Here comes part 3 of my epic 
saga <g>, Sailor Moon: Dark Jewel. You may notice some changes in 
this, mainly they've now got their Japanese names. Well, sorry it's 
so late, getting fanfics out on time is *not* the best thing that I 
do. Also, the names of places, unless they have appeared in the series', 
have been made up by me. C&C welcome. And now, without further ado...]
 
SAILOR MOON: DARK JEWEL
by: Marie Kelly (mkelly@eagle.ycp.com)(formerly mkkelly@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us)
 
CHAPTER THREE
 
         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. 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.

         Osaka 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 English 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, preforms 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--Sailor 
Venus--Aino Minako--dying, slowly, painfully. It *must* be slow and 
painful. And, most importantly of all, Sailor Moon 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 red-
head. 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. You will no 
longer be afraid. 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?"
        "Of course not," the librarian was quite puzzled. Why in the world 
would she be afraid of her master? "Is there anything I can do for you?" 
she said, 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 Venus, suddeny felt a strong surge of pleasure
enter the Dark Jewel and, from that, her own body. This pleasure was doubled 
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," suggest 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 differently."
        Ami blushed, and looked down. "Gomen nasai," she whispered, 
although there was no need to apologize.
        Usagi broke the uncomfortable silence which had settled over 
the girls after Ami'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," Mako volunteered. Nobody contested that...
not that there was any need to. After all, Mako 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-chan 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 
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 digged 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, Sailor Moon. 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 specimans 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 to 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.
        "Grandpa?" 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?" She didn't sound angry.
        "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. "Nani?" 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.
        Osaka 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 Rei!" 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-chan!" Usagi smiled happily. "You're here! When did you come 
in?"
      Naru laughed flippantly. "Oh, Gurio 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, Sailor Mars,} she thought, 
and let loose her grip on  Rei's hands, which fell weakly to her 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, Gurio's 
probably  missing me by now. I must return. It was lovely meeting you, 
Rei-chan!"
        "Usagi," Rei whispered, as soon as she felt Naru 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.
	"It's about--"
         Before she could inform Usagi as to what, exactly, the matter was, 
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, have 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."
        "Nani?" Usagi was confused. "Naru-chan'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, Sailor Moon! Tsukino kawatte, o shioki yo!"
        "And I am the Sailor Senshi for love and passion, Sailor Mars! 
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. "Nani?" 
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 the wall. 
The youma continued to throw more balls, until finally Sailor Moon 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.
        "Sailor Moon, now!" cried Sailor Mars.
        "Hai." Sailor Moon 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. Some people were 
even starting to get up.
        "Sailor Venus, I presume?"
        Minako 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. "Shine," he whispered, as the blade flashed open.
        They were too late. It was as if some horrible dream. They 
each saw the knife reach towards Sailor Venus's throat, and each prepared 
their attacks, but the first syllable was all they could get out.
        "VENUS!!!!!" Sailor Moon cried, her voice choked up. Ignoring the 
boy...the other people in the room...the other Sailor Senshi, she went up 
to Sailor Venus, cradling her frame in her hands. "Minko-chan," she 
whispered. "Don't die. Please, don't die."
        Sailor Venus tilted her head up, to stare at Sailor Moon. "Sailor 
Moon...." she whispered.
         "MINAKO-CHAN!!!" Sailor Moon 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.
        Sailor Venus was translucent. As the other senshi watched, they 
saw her....or perhaps it was only her body...vanish, as though she had 
never existed.
        "MINAKO-CHAN!!!!" Sailor Moon 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...Sailor Venus."
        "I know who I am. But who are you?"
        "You'll know soon enough."
        The laughter continued on.
 

(To Be Continued.....)