Don't Touch Anything: Chapter 8

Don't Touch Anything
A Sailor Moon TG by JanusDaGuardian
     Chapter 8: Shaking Hands with the She-Devil

*Disclaimer: I don't own the Sailor Moon franchise. Sailor Moon is owned Toei Animation and Naoko Takeuchi. Please support the official release.*

Nighttime in Pico Union wasn't always predictable. It was like a coin-toss. Some nights, they were as peaceful as a countryside in the early hours of the morning, while others sounded like hell had broken loose, made worse by the pigs that got called in to investigate the so-called, "domestic disturbances" outside, caused by other, less-coordinated thugs. With luck, that night would be closer to the former, but Robert couldn't be sure considering how much Redmond carried-on while they removed the bullet from his shoulder. However, the nasty weather drowned out a lot of things, including screams. Robert could testify.  

Upstairs in the abandoned office of the steel mill, Robert had finally passed-out at his desk, using the rough, wooden surface as his pillow. He hadn't been asleep for more than a couple hours, but fate's minions were already at work in his life, and one of them, a dark, feminine voice, was calling for his awakening.

"Awaken, Robert Sanderson... Awake..."

Though incredibly tired and drowsy, Robert slowly sat up in his chair and rubbed the spoils from his eyes with obvious irritation.

As his senses returned, Robert began to identify his surroundings again. He saw the empty cardboard boxes by the office door, the torn papers, his black revolver, the dusty desk lamp, and his silver digital camera sitting on the moldy, cherry-oak desk, the empty glass case, and--wait... Empty glass case?

Robert saw that the glass case he had brought in earlier had been open, and its contents, the bony staff, the prize of the night's raid, was missing. Realizing how it was there only chance to save Redmond, the young, black-haired leader rose his feet and he searched around the desk frantically for the valuable, stolen object. It was nowhere to be found.

"Are you looking for this?"

In his earlier, groggy state, Robert had mistaken the female presence in his office for Sonja's, despite the obvious difference in their tones. Now that he was more alert, he realized that difference, especially when a flash of lightning from outside illuminated his daytime quarters just enough to reveal the female silhouette standing by the nearby window. This discovery prompted Robert to seize his revolver on the desk nearby in unrivalled-haste and level it at the intruder.

The figure calmly raised her right hand in defence. "Please, do not be alarmed. I intend no harm."

In the dim illumination of the desk lamp's light, Robert saw a strange woman wearing a long,  violet, strapless gown that flattered her curvacious form and her bountiful heritage which was barely concealed in the crescent-moon shaped folds near her chest-line. On her slender alabaster shoulders were a set of pale, yellow horns. Her neck was encased with a silver choker with a sapphire gem, which matched the accessory that rested high on her right arm. Her lips were covered with what Robert took to be a purple lipstick that matched her sensual dress perfectly. Her pointy ears were adorn with precious stones of which Robert couldn't identify. Her cold, gazing eyes were hazel, off-setting her long, curly red mane which reached to her ankles. Finally, her head was adorn with a purple crown that held her vibrant curtain of hair back and possessed another precious stone similar in both the size and color of her earrings. In her left hand, she held the missing white staff, the orb at the top now glowing a low, ominous purple and blue, which made the strange woman's presence even more chilling.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I am Beryl," the strange woman said, "Queen of the Dark Kingdom and ruler of the Youma."

"Bullshit. Who are you really?"

Despite being indirectly called a liar, the strange woman remained just as expressionless as the moment Robert spotted her.

"Why must I repeat what I have already said?"

"Because I didn't believe you the first time... Whoever the fuck you are, I want that staff back. It's not yours, and I have plans for it."

"On the contrary, it does belong to me." Robert snorted, but the woman who called herself Beryl continued like he made no outward remarks. "And what you were planning on doing with my property would have been very foolish indeed..."

"You call making enough money to support the Sons and our external activities for another six months foolish? Money can buy a lot of things in this world."

"Can money buy you power?"

"As a matter of fact--"

"True power?" Beryl said, cutting Robert off. "What you may not realize is that this staff holds a power greater than anything mere mortals can possess."

"Mere mortals? Who're you trying to pass yourself off as? A goddess?"

Without warning, a beam of purple-red light shot from the staff in the woman's hand and struck the chair Robert was sitting in moments prior. Before his eyes, it transformed into a large black chair that had no cushions or a space between the supports.

"Oh, nice trick... You can turn old chairs into ugly thrones. Oh, I'm sure we can make millions off selling those to all those fat-cat Angelinos inside the city; You know, all three-dozen of them..."

Beryl ignored his sarcasm. "What you have witnessed is juvenile compared to what powers are awakening within the staff. Join me, and I will see to it that your lifetime ambitions are ceded. Your message," Beryl pointed her staff towards Robert, and the orb began to glow brighter, "and your powerful essence will ignite the greatest change that the world has ever seen."

Despite his witty remark, Robert actually gave some thought to the woman's proposal. The instant gratification of cash upon selling the ugly staff seemed almost too much to give up, but to drive a hard message into the heart of the ignorant "City of Angels" and its corrupt government was very tempting indeed. The latter choice proved to be the more risky one though, considering that he had only just met this woman minutes ago, and not on the best of terms. In the end, Robert decided to lend his ear to the Devil's proposition.

"What kind of power are you referring to?"

The strange woman calling herself Beryl cracked a thin, pleased smile. "Power... beyond your wildest dreams..."

Robert finally lowered his weapon. "I hope that power can also perform miracles. There's someone important downstairs who needs a legitimate healer."


*** ***

Jason saw himself run across a familiar rusty, steel bridge and charge up the nearby bank. The sounds of dangerous battle were getting louder and louder, along with the familiar voice of his best friend.

At the top of the embankment was a clearing surrounded by scorching oaks and burning apple trees laced with charred fruit blossoms. Jason's foot struck an object, causing him to trip and fall sideways onto his right elbow. When he looked back to see what it was, he discovered the scorched form of his sister, Ally. Her body was now a sickly, revenged mess of flesh and charcoal, her vibrant brown hair was a pile of ashes along side her shrunken face, yet her jade-green eyes simply stared at him as if beckoning him to save her from the incredible pain that had ended her life.

"Ally!" Jason yelped, shuffling backwards, a dull whimper escaping his lips like that of a frightened puppy. Another noise from behind him drew his attention away from the corpse of his older sibling to a figure-less creature clothed in searing flames. Standing between him and the creature was his battered blond, pigtailed friend, Kyle, in Sailor Moon's torn, scorched outfit.

"Kyle, what the hell are you doing?!"

Kyle turned her head to show, not Usagi's face, but male Kyle's face. The entire left side of it had suffered many burns which, based to the strained expression on his face, appeared to be fresh and stinging.

"This thing's gonna burn the entire park down! I gotta stop it!"

"Forget the park! You can't fight that thing by yourself!"

The creature lunged forward, swinging what appeared to be a wall of flames which Jason's friend narrowly avoided.

"Jason, I have to do this! Get out of here while you still can!"

Kyle raised his right hand and a pink staff about as long as his arm appeared. On the staff were a couple imprinted stars that trailed from the hilt up to a pair of golden winged bows, which held a crimson and gold-bracket heart similar to the heart-shaped broach that was on his chest.

 The creature from hell withdrew for a moment, as if startled by the sudden appearance of the new regal accessory. It wasn't until it opened it's black maw that the two friends understood its intentions. It was preparing to attack.

"Kyle, look out!"

Like the after-effect of shaking Menthos in a closed bottle of diet coke, a stream of red and yellow flames burst forth. Kyle was barely able to cover his face before his entire form was consumed in a whirlwind of flames. A harsh series of nerve-shattering screams followed.

"KYLLLLE!!"

When the fire receded, Kyle's smoldering form fell to the ground in inconceivable silence. Most of Jason wanted to go to his best friend's side, but in his heart he already knew that it was too late... His best friend was dead.

The creature, now finished with its opponent-in-a-drag, turned on Jason, prompting the blond teen to take two shaky steps back.

Out of the trees came an ominous blue glow, soaring and spinning before coming to a halt right in front of his face, between him and the murderer of his two closest friends. It was a wand with a blue hilt leading up to a golden star containing a shining blue symbol which he recognized almost instantly.

"It is time..." A familiar voice said.  "Awaken Guardian of Mercury. Protect the reincarnation of her highness."

     ***

Jason awoke with a start and torrents of sweat that soaked his skin beneath his saggy blue and white pajamas. For a moment, the flames of his nightmare seemed to spread onto his walls, the carpet, and the stack of research books he had brought in earlier. Then, slowly, the room became enclosed in a soft darkness, dimly lit by the plug-in light underneath his bedside table.

For a moment, Jason had to convince himself that it was all a dream, even though the contents of said dream were convincingly detailed as well. The white window curtains in front of him waved side to side as a hot, humid breeze brushed past them, which carried the soothing sound of steady rain. Taking a deep breath, he decided it was best to get a change of clothes and wipe off the cold sweat soaking his body. Before he got up to do so, though, he saw something under his covers move, followed by a soft, feminine moan.

Throwing off the covers, Jason forgot all about his horrific dream as he discovered a familiar blond-haired girl with two long pigtails that curled around her thin, flat-chested body and pink cotton nightgown, breathing softly like all was well with the world.

"What the hell? Kyle..." Jason shook his friend's shoulder, sub-consciously putting a lot less effort into it as his fingers brushed her bare, alarmingly-soft flesh.    

When Kyle mumbled and turned over, Jason tried again.

"Kyllllle..."

Kyle opened his eyes, his baby-blues making eye-contact with Jason's sky-blues before closing them again.

"Kyle!"

Kyle sprang awake, connecting a palm-strike to Jason's unsuspecting nose and causing the male, blond-haired teen to reel-back in muffled agony.

"Ooo... Sorry, J. You really shouldn't wake a girl when she's sleeping."

"That's not a feminine reaction, Kyle." Jason said with a nasally-voice.  "What are you doing in here? You're suppose to be sleeping with Ally."  

"She's making me sleep on the floor."

"Can't say that I blame her..."  

"I can't sleep on the floor, J."

The look on Kyle's face made Jason avert his gaze as a slight blush appeared on his face.

"A-And you thought you could sleep in here?"  Jason shook his head. "Not happening, Kyle."

"Come on, J. It's only for one night."  

"It's not gonna be just one night, Kyle. We've already determined that this 'spell' does not cease at 'the stroke of twelve', and you can't sleep in a guys room."

"Why not? We're friends here."

"Kyle, as much as I refuse to believe it, you're a girl, or at least enough of one to convince my mother."

"You're mother doesn't need a lot of convincing..."

"Bottom line is: You're not sleeping in here. Now get out before I have to drag you out..."

At first, Kyle looked bummed. Defeated even. But the sly grin that appeared next on his girlish face next showed otherwise as he took in a deep breath and...

"GYYAAA--..."

Jason's hand clapped over his friend's, muffling the loud, girlish cry that escaped his rather-petite mouth.

"What the heck are you doing?"

Kyle pulled Jason's hand off of his mouth, revealing the wicked smile one her face. "I just realized that you're actually in a bad scenario. I'm a girl with feminine rights and the ability to shout 'rape' should I encounter someone who tries to do something to me that is not consensual."

At that moment, the hallway light clicked on as Jason's mother and sister marched towards the bedroom and knocked on his door, Jason stuffing Kyle under the sheets next to him as his door clicked open and both women stuck their heads in.  

"Jason is everything okay in here?" Mrs. Ford asked.

"I thought I heard a scream..."  

Jason prayed to God they wouldn't spot the breathing lump hidden next to his hips and twisting back. "Y-Yeah, that was me. Sorry. I just had a bad dream. Go back to sleep."

After what seemed like a lifetime, Ally closed the door, and both her and his Mom stalked off to their bedrooms, the hallway light clicking off moments later.

With the inspectors gone, Kyle reappeared with a small grin on his face. "Well, that was close..."

Jason sighed. "Fine, you can keep the bed..." Kyle, having achieved victory, laid down on Jason's pillow, only to have it snatched away. "but I'm gonna sleep on the couch..."

***

The sun and Jason's angry sister rose three hours later as she stormed into the living room and ripped the covers off Jason's hard, tan, cotton bed and backrest.

"Kylie, what are you-- Oh..."

 Jason sat up and slowly rubbed his sleepy eyes with his right hand. "'Morning, Ally."
 
 "What are you doing out here?"
 
 "Kyle commandeered my bed. I'm guessing that's who you're looking for...?"

"Wait, so the scream last night really was..."
 
Ally let out a vicious growl and marched down the hallway. The loud bang of Jason's door being flung open was heard moments later, followed by a squeal from the instantly woken pigtailed girl, who was probably having another "charming" dream about one of her past scores. Ally picked her time well since her mom, Jason's mom, had already left for work. It was a good thing too because Jason could hear everything.
 
 "Kylie, what the heck are you doing in here?"
 
 "I'm sorry!"
 
 "Sorry for what? That you snuck into my brother's room in the middle of the night, or that you didn't stay in my room like you were told?"
 
 "Uh... both? Wait, is there a problem with sneaking into my best friend's room in the middle of the night?"
 
 "Of course there is! You're a girl! It's not right for a girl to sneak into a man's bed!"
 
"What are worried about? It's not like I was gonna to sleep with him or anything."

"That's not the point!"

Jason shifted onto his side, half-deciding to fall back asleep and bypass listening to the heated discussion down the hall. When his leg brushed against something hard and pointy, though, he reached under the covers and pulled out an all-too-familiar blue-hilt wand with a golden star. The symbol of Mercury at the star's was dull but visible. How it got there, Jason could only guess it was related to the flat-chested girl who had seized his bed nearly three hours ago. Prank or not, Jason knew one thing for certain: He wasn't going to get any more sleep that day.