TENTICAL ROMANCE

By

Nicholi

Author's Note: I just wanted to give my sincere thanks to Amy for ALL her help, 
inspiration, and sick & twisted ideas that she let me "borrow" from her. For, without her, 
it wouldn^Òt have been nearly as interesting to read, (Or fun to write!) Also, I just want to 
say thanks to all those other people out there who helped in their own special ways, but 
would simply KILL me if I meantioned their names here! 

Secondly, I just want to mention that I wrote this story in response to all the 
"nonconsensual tentacle stories" out there, (Yes, Amy, this includes your little^Å Novel! ) 
So, I just thought I'd be different, and write a story where the reader could conceivably 
has a sense of pity for the "monster". Also, I had some speculations as to the 
biological/physiological aspects of the average tentacle monster, so I explored them a 
little bit here. 

Other than that, all standard disclaimers apply, don't read this if you shouldn't, (Ya, right, 
like that'll happen!) and as always, The "Sailor Moon " series is NOT mine (Nor would I 
want it to be^Å) its owned by a slightly crazy but creative (But ALL great creative 
geniuses are a all LITTLE crazy! ) woman in Japan whose name escapes me^Å As well as 
a few corporate entities^Å So don^Òt sue me or I'll force you to eat my father's cooking!

PS: This is my first, and probably last attempt at writing a fanfic like this (As in Ecchi!), 
so don^Òt expect more from me, 'cause I intend to leave this sort of thing up to the 
"professionals" in the future! But, who knows, maybe I'll spark a new type "lemon" fan 
fiction^Å Tentacle Ecchi!^Åbut then again^Å
PSS: No Tentacles were harmed or killed in the making of this fanfic^Å



				Tentacle Romance
	
Minako sat down at her desk, just as her first class was started; signaled by the ever-
annoying chiming bell sound that was piped in through the ancient intercom system. All 
around her, several other students scurried quickly to their desks as not to be late as 
Professor Togashi entered the room.
	
He stood patiently before his desk at the front of the room, his glasses shimmering almost 
menacingly. When at last absolute silence took hold, as the chatter died down, he began. 
"Good morning, class," he intoned rhetorically, "Today I am pleased to announce the 
arrival of a new student to our class. Her name is Agasha Yuriko, a transfer student from 
Osaka. I trust that you shall all make her welcome."
	
With that, a smallish female figure with deep emerald green eyes, and long midnight 
black hair that was tied back into twin French braids, stepped carefully and quietly into 
the room, almost making no noise at all. She gave the other students a weak smile and 
bowed to them before being ushered to the only free seat left in the class.
	
Minako stifled a chuckle as she realized that the only free seat was next to hers. 'Must be 
my Karma!' she thought, 'But I guess it IS appropriate for "Venus" to be the one to give a 
new student the gift of friendship!'
	
She glanced at the new girl and smiled brightly. "Hi! " she said quietly, as their teacher 
began writing part of the day's lesson on the black board, "I'm Aino Minako, and I'm very 
pleased to meet your acquaintance!"
	
The girl blushed visibly and looked down at her desk, for some reason unwilling to meet 
Minako's gaze. "I^Å I'm Agasha Yuriko," she stammered quietly, "But I guess that you 
were already aware of that^Å"
	
Minako shrugged and tried to look busy as the class was instructed to commence note 
taking. "Well, ya, but 'Politeness is a virtual shoe'!" she whispered in response, quietly 
misquoting and causing Yuriko to stifle a giggle.
	
"You mean 'Virtue'," corrected Yuriko, glancing sideways at Minako and writing 
furiously as the Togashi began the lecture.
	
Minako shrugged and smiled. "I do that some times^Å" she confessed, "It's kinda like^Å 
Well, stuttering, I guess. It just happens, and I have no control over it usually."
	
"That's okay," replied Yuriko after a moment, "We all have our little quirks^Å Habits that 
we have no control over^Å Things that we just can't stop doing^Å No matter how 
desperately we want too^Å"
	
Minako turned to face the girl with a look of genuine concern, noticing the sadness in the 
girl's voice. "If^Å If there's anything that you want to talk about later^Å" she offered 
quietly.
	
Yuriko shrugged. "I don't know^Å" she responded sadly, "It^Òs^Å Kinda personal^Å"
	
"Even too personal to discuss with a friend?" Minako inquired. 
	
"Um^Å You want to be my friend..?" Yuriko inquired, and gave Minako a surprised look, 
without halting her note taking even once.
	
"Yup!" responded Minako, "Of course I do. Why wouldn't I be? I know what it's like to 
be the kid in town^Å Trust me. I know!"
	
Yuriko smiled and turned back to her work. "Thank you, I am honored to be your friend, 
Aino-sama^Å"
	
"You needn't be so formal," commented Minako, "We're friends now!"
	
"Thank you again, then. Very much Minako-san," she replied.
	
Minako sighed heavily and shook her head. "No problem Yuri-chan^Å" she sighed, and 
went back to her school work^Å

***				
	
The rest of the morning's classes went by fairly dully, and Minako found herself 
distracted through most of them. Her mind continually thinking back to her first meeting 
with Yuriko whenever the class got too boring. Fortunately, though, Minako somehow 
managed to find herself somewhere in the vicinity of Yuriko for most of their classes. 
And Minako found herself growing more and more accustomed to her presence.
	
For the most part, Minako was intrigued by the girl's mannerisms. The way she always 
responded to every question from her instructors with a polite exactness and formality 
that almost seemed unnerving. But her answers were always respectful, and accurate. She 
also seemed to have no problems with the more difficult subjects like "Introduction to 
Reverse Calculus", and "Four Dimensional Geometry", which moved her past Ami on 
Minako's list of study partners.
	
But there was also a strange, indiscernible quality about Yuriko that drew Minako to her. 
She couldn't explain it, even to herself. But Minako was happy that she currently had no 
need to explain her feelings to anyone else^Å
	
Unfortunately, though, come lunchtime, Yuriko was nowhere to be found. Causing 
Minako's mind to conjure up a thousand sinister fates that could have befallen her friend, 
being that she was new in town^Å
	
Towards the end of lunch, though, as she wandered the campus in search of Yuriko, 
Minako happened upon Artemis, wandering about and seeming somewhat lost. When he 
caught sight of his ward, he ran towards her with a worried expression upon his face.
	
"Minako-chan!" he called, when he was sure no one else was in earshot, "I've been 
looking all over for you, kid! Where've ya been?"
	
"Oh^Å I'm sorry, Artemis-kun, apologized Minako, looking forlornly down at her feet.
	
"When you weren't at our usual meeting place, I thought you'd gotten a call from the 
others about a Youma or something!" the guardian cat explained, "Hey^Å Is there 
somethin' wrong?"
	
"I^Å Kinda lost someone," commented Minako, looking up at the sky and leaning against 
a tree.
	
"What?!" exclaimed the cat, before realizing what Minako was saying, "Oh! Hey, don^Òt 
scare me like that! I thought someone had died!"
	
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Artemis-kun^Å" she murmured, and picked him up, "No, it^Òs just that I 
met a new friend today. She's kinda new here and I was just kinda worried that something 
bad may have happened to her^Å"
	
"Because she didn^Òt stick around for lunch?" commented Artemis with a sarcastic grin, 
"I'm sue that your just over reacting. She probably went home for lunch! And unless I 
miss my guess, you're either taking your 'job' way too seriously, or your jealous that she 
might have other friends besides you^Å And judging by the look on your face, kid, I'd say 
that-!"

"Oh no!" exclaimed Minako suddenly, interrupting the guardian cat, as the sound of 
ambulance sirens filled the air, "Yuri-chan!"
	
Minako quickly ran towards the approaching ambulance, jostling Artemis violently as she 
went. "Ow! Hey! Slow down!" complained the cat whist Minako squeezed him tightly as 
she approached a crowd of students who began crowding around the front doors of the 
gymnasium.
	
Soon, the ambulance backed up in front and the paramedics raced out, as the gym teacher 
and several rugby players held the crowd back for them. "This can't be good^Å" muttered 
Minako as reached the outer edge of the group.
	
"Minako-chan!" gasped Artemis, forgetting himself as the girl finally came to a halt, and 
wedged herself between several gossiping on lookers, "I-! Ooops! Meow! Meow! 
Meow!"
	
A few people glanced over at the suddenly very innocuous feline, but quickly lost interest 
as the paramedics came back through the gymnasium doors. The crowd instantly pushed 
forward for a better look as the stretcher was wheeled out, and as one they gasped and 
broke into several different speculative conversations.
	
Minako leaned forward, and stood on her toes to see over the people, giving a momentary 
sigh of relief as she saw that the body on the stretcher wasn't Yuriko. Instead, it was 
Mirimoto Tsukasa, the captain of the school's rugby team. The white sheet that had been 
draped over most of his body did little to hide the extent of his injuries, as peculiar 
bloodstains soaked through it. His inhumanly pale skin making it seem as though he was 
barely alive. He breathed only with the assistance of a respirator, which Minako guessed 
had something to do with the dark purple bruises all along his neck, making it obvious 
that he'd been partially asphyxiated. 
	
Tsukasa moaned in pain as his glazed over eyes stared up into nothing. The near constant 
rumor mongering of the crowd drowning out the observations of the two paramedics as 
the prepared to lift him into the ambulance. But then, as his head rolled to one side, and 
the crowd gasped out loud at the way his skin seemed too have been almost dried out, his 
Tsukasa's eyes went wide with fright.
	
His whole body began convulsing madly, as his dry throat let out a long terrified scream 
that sounded like something from a horror movie monster. "He's going into cardiac 
arrest!" one of the paramedics shouted, as Tsukasa's screaming increased in pitch, and he 
began babbling incoherently, and trying to get away.
	
"We need a sedative!" shouted the other paramedic, as he did his best to hold Tsukasa 
down, as he began coughing up a mixture of blood and sickly green goo, "And get these 
kids out of here! NOW!"
	
Minako quickly extricated herself, not wanting to see anymore of symptoms of the effect 
that she knew all too well. "Still think I'm overreacting?" she whispered to the cat.
	
Artemis shook his head. "Wow! That was more than just some sporting accident!" he 
commented, "I haven^Òt seen an energy drain victim that bad off in months! That must 
have been one hungry Youma^Å You'd think they'd be more careful since the Sailor 
Senshi've been on their cases^Å"
	
"You sure..?" inquired Minako, glancing back over her shoulder as she walked to a more 
private area.
	
"Definitely!" exclaimed Artemis, "There aren't exactly a whole lot of things that'll do that 
to a person^Å At least he wasn't reduced to ash^Å"
	
"That doesn't sound peasant^Å" commented Minako, and practically dropped the cat as 
she suddenly tore off without warning, "Yuri-chan!"
	
"Hey!" grumbled Artemis under his breath, "Watch it next time^Å"
	
"Minako-san^Å" Yuriko replied quietly as she approached, with the wind at her back 
dramatically, and a slightly nervous smile crossing her face as she walked quietly 
forward.
	
"Hey!" called out Minako, running over to give her friend a quick hug, "You had me 
worried! There was an^Å accident^Å I thought you might have been hurt."
	
"Oh. I'm sorry," Yuriko replied softly, glancing over at the dispersing crowd of students, 
"I just went to have lunch with my mother^Å I also needed to do some thinking^Å I didn^Òt 
mean to cause you any worry."
	
"I see," commented Minako evenly, taking a step back, "Well, I'm sorry for overreacting, 
but I guess^Å You just had an effect on me. That's all. And also, you can't be too careful 
these days. Especially with what just happened to Tsukasa-san."
	
"Who?" inquired Yuriko, and gave the departing ambulance a quick glance, "Oh? I 
see^Å"
	
"Ya, it looked like some kind of wild animal attacked him," lied Minako. Feeling relieved 
that it hadn't been Yuriko on the stretcher.
	
"How odd^Å" the girl commented, turning back to Minako and glancing down at Artemis 
with wide eyes.
	
"Oh! Um, this is my cat. 'Artemis'," explained Minako, "Sometimes he follows me to 
school."
	
"It must be comforting to know that you have a guardian watching over you," Yuriko 
replied with a smile as she leaned down to offer her out stretched hand to the cat.
	
"Well, sometimes^Å" admitted Minako, smiling at Artemis, "But sometimes he can be a 
real pain in the butt!"
	
The cat gritted his teeth and gave her a sidelong glance as Minako glanced back at him 
with a sarcastic grin. "He's very unusual," replied Yuriko, as the feline leaned into her 
hand and purred loudly as he rubbed against her legs, "He almost seems like one of those 
Egyptian cats."
	
"Well, let's just say that Artemis-kun's lineage goes way back!" laughed Minako, 
ignoring her guardian cat's attempts to make her jealous.
	
"We should probably be going soon, though," Yuriko replied sadly, suddenly standing up 
straight and staring down into Artemis' big blue eyes, "Class shall begin again soon 
enough. It would be most unfortunate if we were late, let alone get caught out here with 
wild animal's attacking students^Å Unless we could convince Artemis-san to protect 
us^Å"
	
The cat meowed loudly at her words, causing both girls' to laugh. "You're right, though," 
replied Minako, "We'd best head back. But tell me, Yuri-chan, would you be willing to 
let someone walk you home after school today? Maybe we can help each other with our 
homework?"
	
Yuriko smiled sadly. "I^Å I'm sorry, Minako-san," she said, turning away as the wind 
blew her twin black braids to one side dramatically, "I can't today^Å I^Å I'm getting a ride 
home with my mother today^Å I'm sorry^Å"
	
"Oh. Okay, well then, how about tomorrow?" inquired Minako.
	
Yuriko shrugged. "Maybe^Å" she replied quietly as she forlornly turned and walked back 
towards the school.
	
"Um^Å Okay," responded Minako, "I guess we'll just have to wait and agree then^Å"
	
"See^Å" corrected Artemis in a low voice, as his brain processed the information that he'd 
just received.
	
"Whatever^Å" replied Minako as she left him behind.
	
'How odd^Å' thought Artemis, 'Yuri-san was lying^Å'

***
	
Much to Minako's dismay, Yuriko somehow managed to disappear without a trace once 
again, shortly after the end of their last class. But Minako spent only a little time 
searching for her friend. Mostly she just stood by the parking lot, watching as parents and 
relatives came to collect their children and loved ones.
	
But through the crowds of people, who still chattered and gossiped on and on about the 
incident with Tsukasa, Minako found not a trace of Yuriko. And as she finally walked 
away, she noticed Artemis walking towards her.
	
Minako gave him a sad smile and picked up the cat. "I'm sorry about earlier," she told the 
cat, as she walked through the open gateway, "But I guess that I was just getting a little 
carried away^Å"
	
"It's okay, kid," replied Artemis, leaning against her, "We all loose control sometimes. 
But I did find out a thing or two today, though."
	
"Oh?" inquired Minako.
	
"Ya," continued Artemis, "I found out that that Tsukasa guy's been in hospital all 
afternoon, under constant observation, but the doctors have absolutely no clue what's 
wrong with him."
	
"No duh," commented Minako, only half listening to the cat, "So I guess you were tight 
then."
	
"You bet!" exclaimed Artemis exclaimed Artemis, suddenly getting that look in his eyes 
that said he was up to something, "So I popped by to see Ami-chan this afternoon. I told 
her about the situation and she agreed to stop by the hospital after school."
	
"Does Luna-chan know?" inquired Minako teasingly.
	
"What's that supposed to mean?!" demanded Artemis, suddenly going on the defensive, 
"It's just a little reconnaissance! What could possibly go wrong?"
	
"Well," continued Minako, "I just think you should have told everyone else as well. 
Maybe we could get some more insight that way. You know, fresh ideas, that kind a 
thing?"

"What?! You have no faith in my planning skills? Is that it?!" accused Artemis, 
feeling strangely insulted.
	
"No!" exclaimed Minako, "I just think that only three of us know that the Dark 
Kingdom's on the move again. And if the others knew about it, we'd have some kind of 
back up in case something goes wrong with your little scouting mission. Ami-chan's 
powers aren^Òt the most offensive, you know."
	
Artemis turned away, looking slightly insulted. "I don^Òt know what's gotten into you 
today," he grumbled, "But if you're so concerned about one little Youma, go ahead! Alert 
the others! Eventhough this IS the sort of thing we used to be able to take care of on our 
own. But, that was before we came here^Å"
	
"Are you saying that I've gone soft since I joined a whole team of Sailor Senshi, as 
opposed to going it alone?" inquired Minako with a scowl, "Are you implying that I can't 
take care of one lousy Youma all by myself?! Well, you needn't have called in Ami-chan 
on this one! 'Cause Sailor V is on the case!"
	
"That's the spirit, kid!" the cat commented as she tore off in the direction of the 
hospital^Å

***
	
Ami found it surprisingly easy to get in to see Tsukasa. The only thing resembling 
security was a sign on the door marked "Family Members ONLY". And the woman at the 
nurse's station easily bought her story about visiting her mother.
	
Once she had slipped quietly into the well-lit room, Ami shook her head almost 
condescendingly. The large number and variety of medical devices that the medical staff 
had hooked the student up to were insane. Most of monitors and observation devices 
would tell them nothing, irregardless of how long they had him hooked up. But, current 
medical technology seldom covers the treatment energy drain^Å
	
Quietly, Ami pulled out her computer, and began scanning Tsukasa for various things 
that not even several million yen in mundane monitoring equipment could have told her. 
	
As she waited for the results, she could hear the sound of someone approaching just 
outside the door. Quickly, and with out looking back, Ami slipped under the bed, and 
closed the cover of her computer most of the way to hide the light.
	
She soon saw what appeared to be a nurse enter the room, and stand near the bed. Ami 
held her breath as the woman made a few peculiar noises, before chuckling to herself. A 
second later, Ami's computer beeped that it completed the scan. 
	
The girl carefully opened the lid and nervously glanced down at the screen, as the nursed 
seem to pause in whatever examination she was performing. "Task Complete" flashed 
across the screen, and with a shaky finger, Ami hit "Enter". 
	
She glanced up, and saw that the nurse had gone back to her work, and Ami gave an 
internal sigh of relief as she went back to the task at hand. Her eyes narrowed as she 
found what she expected to find. Tsukasa's life force had been drained to 10% of 
normal^Å and were somehow falling rapidly^Å
	
Ami's eyes widened with fright as she realized what was going on. She glanced up as 
several monitoring machines began beeping, buzzing and clicking madly, desperately 
trying to sound alert status. 
	
'Oh no!' thought Ami, feeling a serge of panic as the sounds of Tsukasa's struggling 
increased, and the bed shook violently above her head, until the heart monitor gave off a 
prolonged high pitched whine, 'She^Å She^Å'
	
But then, the heart monitor gave a single "beep", before going back to flat line status. 
Ami gulped as the nurse again chuckled to herself, and left the room. 'This can^Òt be 
happening,' Ami thought to herself, as her computer confirmed her worse fear. Tsukasa 
had been completely drained, and brought back as a Youma. The heart monitor still 
counting out a single heart beat every ten seconds. Indicating that the complex bio-
systems that maintained a Youma were operating "normally".
	
Ami waited a few seconds for the heavy door to close, recording everything that was 
happening on her computer, and pulled out her Senshi Transformation Rod. 'I hope this 
works^Å' she thought, fighting down her nervousness, and held the rod straight out.
	
"Mercury! Star! POWER!!!" she exclaimed, and was relieved as she was dragged into 
subspace for a few precious seconds^Å

	
Seconds later, once Sailor Mercury popped back into the real world, albeit under the bed, 
in an awkward position, she scrambled out from her hiding place to face the newly 
created undead monster. But, as she struggled to her feet, she was relieved to find Minako 
bursting into the room.
	
"The nurse!" exclaimed Mercury, "She's the Youma! Where'd she go?!"
	
"Nurse?" inquired Minako, "Which one? OH! Mercury! Look out!"
 	
Instinctively, Sailor Mercury leaped to one side, knocking over the IV stand, just as a jet 
of green acid hit the floor where she had previously been standing. "Keep it busy!" called 
Minako, pulling out her Transformation Rod.
	
"Um^Å No problem?!" Mercury said nervously, as she stared at the oozing black globular 
monstrosity that had once been Tsukasa. He/it turned what could best be described as its 
face towards the Senshi and opened its mouth, which was little more than a jagged line 
cut through the center of its torso. It drooled for a second before letting out an innerving 
sound similar to a slimy roar, sending its acrid smelling breath out to fill the small room.
	
"You sure did get ugly!" commented Minako, raising her Rod, "Oh, well! Venus! Star! 
POWER!!!"
	
Mercury saw Minako vanish out of the corner of her eye with a soft -pop- and quickly 
leapt up across the room to evade the long, slimy black tentacle the Youma had grown at 
her.
	
She took a moment to regain her footing, and realized that a small bit of its ooze had 
landed on her arm. The formless goo seemly trying to envelop the appendage, but failed 
miserably due to its sheer lack of mass. 
	
"I sure hope that you're not immune to ice!" commented Sailor Mercury, crossing her 
arms across her chest as the Youma turned to face her, "Shining! Aqua! Illusion!!!"
	
Instantly, a jet of freezing water blasted forth, enveloping the Youma, and freezing 
almost instantly. He screamed loudly as he endured the instantaneous frost bite of the 
near absolute zero temperature, and tried to ooze out of the way shortly before his body 
became frozen solid.
	
Mercury gave a smug grin at her handiwork, and turned as Sailor Venus popped back into 
reality beside her. "Hey! Not bad, Mercury-chan!" she commented with a wide grin.
	
Mercury nodded, and was about to speak when she saw Venus raise her arm. "Oh! 
Venus! NO!" she cried, but it was already too late. 
	
"Crescent! Beam!!!" the Senshi shouted, sending out a beam of solar intensity photons 
smashing into the frozen Youma. The golden laser beam melted a small hole in Mercury's 
ice, and cut its way deep inside the Youma's body, causing it to emit strange hissing a 
popping sounds. A vile noxious steam that rose swiftly upwards from the hole followed 
this, and Mercury's eyes went wide.
	
"Get down!" she exclaimed, dragging Sailor Venus to the floor as the Youma's shaking 
body began to crack and splinter before exploding out wards. Dozens of sharp edged 
frozen Youma pieces filled the air for several seconds, causing smaller chunks to land 
messily around the two Senshi.
	
"Wow^Å" commented Sailor Venus, with amazement, "That was just too easy! But 
awfully messy, though^Å"
	
"But unfortunately you didn^Òt give me a chance to scan him for further information on the 
Youma who created him^Å" Mercury commented, trying to hide her frustration as she 
picked frozen goo from her hair, "Its negative planar energy signature would still be all 
over any Childer it created^Å But now all that's left is a handful of Youma chunks. I 
guess I'll just have to work with the information I acquired at the time of his Embrace^Å"
	
"Oh^Å I'm sorry^Å" apologized Venus, feeling foolish, "I guess I've had allot on my mind 
lately. I guess I just got carried away^Å And lost control^Å"
	
"It's okay," assured Sailor Mercury as she picked up her computer and studied the 
readings, "It happens. But I think that we should get out of here before we have to answer 
any tricky questions^Å"
	
"Agreed," replied Sailor Venus, and followed her friend out of the room^Å

***
	
Once outside the hospital, and out of uniform, Ami and Minako found Artemis waiting 
for them. He looked up from the newspaper that was lying on the ground before him and 
gave them a quizzical look.
	
"So how'd it go?" he inquired.
	
"Oh, just fine," replied Minako confidently, causing Ami to give her a nervous sideways 
glance, "It was nothing we couldn't handle!"
	
"Um^Å Actually," inserted Ami, "The Youma who did this made an appearance before 
Minako-chan arrived^Å It finished what it started."
	
"Oh?" inquired Artemis, fixing the two with a look of concern.
	
"Ya, it Embraced Mirimoto-san," Ami finished.
	
"Did you get a reading on it?" the cat inquired hopefully.
	
"Um, only a partial one," replied Ami tensely, "I didn^Òt have a whole lot of time^Å It all 
happened so quickly. But I did find that the Youma was once female."
	
"Technically it still is," commented Artemis with a look of disdain.
	
Ami shrugged. "I also got a reading on its^Å um, her, feeding process^Å It's kinda odd^Å" 
she replied somewhat carefully, "I may need to run further tests to analyze what my 
readings, but^Å It seems that we're dealing with something of a succubus^Å"
	
"What's that mean?" inquired Minako.
	
"Um^Å I think it's better if Rei-san explains that one^Å" replied Ami nervously, as 
Artemis chuckled to himself.
	
"What's your problem?!" Minako demanded, suspiciously eyeing the feline.
	
"Oh^Å Nothing^Å" he said innocently and quickly tried to change the subject, "But hey! 
You know, this isn^Òt exactly an isolated incident. I was browsing through this old 
newspaper I found. And apparently, several dozen people in Osaka fell victim to similar 
symptoms. But, before the matter could be investigated, the victims all either died or 
disappeared^Å Hey! You know what this means don't you?!"
	
"That this goes allot deeper than we thought?" volunteered Ami.
	
"Nope!" laughed Artemis, "It means that you guys have to expand your operation to 
cover Osaka!"
	
"Oh, get serious!" scolded Minako, glancing at the paper, "So, does it say anything else 
note worthy?"
	
The cat shrugged and glanced downward at the paper, and replied, "Only that the 
symptoms were being attributed to some kind of chemical spill. The police kept it all 
fairly under wraps, though^Å The press really wasn't able to get their claws into it."
	
"Sometimes I feel like we're the Reality Police^Å" muttered Minako, "We always seem to 
wind up trying to keep things like that quiet."
	
"Wait a second, here," interjected Ami, "You said 'were' and 'wasn't', as in past tense. Just 
how old IS this newspaper, Artemis-kun?"
	
"About 50 years old," the cat replied as the two Senshi slapped themselves on the 
forehead.
	
"Artemis!" the both exclaimed in exasperation.
	
"And wherever did you find a paper THAT old, anyway?" inquired Minako suspiciously.
	
"Eh, I'm a cat," he replied nonchalantly, "We're always getting hold of things that we 
shouldn't. But it doesn't mean that the incidences aren't connected. Most of the previous 
victims were males in their late teens to early twenties, and all of them had suspicious 
contusions, and abrasions similar to Tsukasa-san's. And, I'd like to point out, Youma 
ARE immortal!"
	
"It's possible," commented Ami, taking out her communicator, "But I think what we need 
is some current information as well. If there is a correlation, old newspapers probably 
won't help us too much unfortunately. But it's a start. Anyway, I'm calling a meeting."
	
"Good idea," commented Artemis, as he read some more.
	
"Hypocrite^Å" muttered Minako.
	
"What?!" the cat replied sarcastically, "I just agree that this situation requires some fresh 
input, that's all."
	
Minako shrugged and glanced over at Ami as she finished making arrangements to meet 
the others at Rei's place. "All set," she announced, "And I asked Rei-chan to do a little 
digging based off my findings. She promised to have something by the time we get there. 
Also, Mako-san said she'd try Artemis' trick and dig up some old newspapers on her way 
over."
	
"Good!" proclaimed Minako, slamming her fist into her palm, "Now we're getting 
somewhere! With any luck we can wrap this up tomorrow, and I can concentrate on 
making Yuri-chan come out of her shell!"
	
Artemis sighed as Ami turned to him curiously. "New friend?" she inquired.
	
"Yup!" replied Minako nodding, "And this girl really needs a friend too. She's new in 
town and knows nobody! Also she's very^Å Mysterious^Å I get the feeling that all Yuri-
chan needs is someone to help her lighten up a little and have fun. Then maybe she'll 
come out of her out of her shell^Å"
	
"Ya!" laughed Artemis, "Just like a seagull and a clam!"
	
"What's that supposed to mean?!" demanded Minako, rolling up her sleeve menacingly.
	
"I think what Artemis-kun is trying to say, is that sometimes^Å You just try to hard at 
your roll^Å" explained Ami, "And that the best way to coax a clam out of its shell isn't to 
drop it from a great height, hoping that it's shell cracks open."
	
"Are you implying that I'm too pushy?!" Minako demanded of the cat, and earning a 
strange look from a passer by.
	
"Um^Åer, no!" stammered Artemis, backing away slowly with a bit of a smirk, "Just that 
you can be a little too^Å over enthusiastic about being Sailor Venus sometimes^Å"
	
Minako cringed, knowing how true the cat's statement was. "Oh, alright," she muttered, 
"I'll back off a little."
	
"Good," replied Artemis, "Trust me, good friendship happen on their own. There's no 
sense in scaring her away by being too pushy. Now let's get going."
	
"Sounds more like dating advice^Å" commented Ami.
	
"Oh just..!" stammered Minako exasperatedly as Artemis chuckled and lead the way to 
the Cherry Hill Temple^Å

***
	
As the trio entered Rei's room, they found the other three Senshi and Luna in the midst of 
a heated debate, that paused only for the briefest of seconds as the door slid open. 
	
"Problem?" inquired Artemis as he sat down beside Luna.
	
The other Guardian cat rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Same old, same old^Å" she 
muttered in reply.
	
"So, why didn't you tell ME that there was something weird going on?!" demanded 
Usagi, looking hurt and angry in an ineffectual way, "I AM the leader of the Sailor 
Senshi after all!"
	
"Fine then," commented Rei, glancing up from the enormous tome that she was reading, 
"So lead us! Tell us exactly what we're up against and how to put an end to it, oh great 
and glorious leader!"
	
Usagi glared at Rei and stuck her tongue out at her, in her usual childish way, as Makoto 
dropped smacked her self on the forehead defeatedly. "They've been like this since we 
got the call," she commented, shaking her head, "But you have to admit, it was kinda 
risky trying to hunt down a Youma more or less on your own. Brave, but just a touch on 
the foolish side."
	
"Well, sorry, guys," responded Minako as she sat down, "I just thought that it was going 
to be a simple matter^Å I thought that I could take care of it. But^Å I have been kinda 
distracted lately, I guess. It's probably affecting my judgement."
	
"Oh?" inquired Usagi suspiciously, as Artemis tried to look innocent when Minako gave 
him a displeased look, "Did you meet some new guy that your keeping all to yourself?"
	
"What?!" exclaimed Minako, "That's not it at all!"
	
"Oh, sure it isn't!" laughed Usagi, tugging at Minako's sleeve, "Come on now. I want 
details! I DO have a right to know. I AM your best friend, after all!"
	
Minako's expression betrayed her sudden feeling of dread, at Usagi's not so true 
statement. "Leave her alone, Usagi-chan," cautioned Artemis, "There's no new guy in her 
life. Just a new friend at school^Å Kind of a strange girl though^Å And besides, I'M 
Minako-chan's best friend!"
	
Luna sighed heavily at Usagi's hurt expression and turned to Artemis. "How do you mean 
'Strange' precisely?" she inquired.
	
"Well, actually," replied Artemis, "I'm not as good at sensing the oddities of things like 
you or Rei-chan, but she did give off some odd 'Vibes'. Yuri-chan's probably just a low-
level Esper or something, though. Probably nothing to worry about. But, it's her 
personality that I was taking about."
	
The cat shrugged and turned to Rei. "So, find anything useful?" he inquired hopefully.
	
Rei slammed the book closed and put it down on front of her. "Well, I found several 
references to creatures in mythology that fir the M.O., but I think that Ami-chan's 
computer might be able to compile a more precise view of just what it is we're dealing 
with, assuming we can find anymore survivors. Anyways, she mentioned that the Youma 
who took out Mirimoto-san was something like a 'succubus'. And while that's a 
possibility-"
	
"Hey! Wait!" interrupted Usagi, "What do you mean by 'succubus' exactly?"
	
Rei smiled with a sinister grin and looked directly into Usagi's eyes mischievously. "It 
means," she explained with a smirk, knowing what such knowledge would do to the girl, 
"that this Youma only feeds off of people who's energy has been augmented sexually^Å"
	
Usagi let out a yelp, and covered her mouth with both hands, as she turned bright red. 
"You mean that^Å In order to feed..? It has to-?! Ami-chan! That can't be true!"
	
Ami blushed and glanced down at her computer. "I'm sorry, Usagi-chan," she said, trying 
not to snicker, "But machines don't lie^Å"
	
"AND!" continued Rei triumphantly as Usagi began to squirm uncomfortably, "There are 
many precedents to prove it! For instance, we've fought Youma with rather selective 
digestions before. Some just need their victims to be experiencing certain emotions in 
order to gain sustenance. Such as pain, fear, adrenaline rushes, exhaustion^Å Orgasm!"
	
Minako and Artemis both burst out laughing as Usagi let out a long whine as she hid her 
face in her hands, and bending her knees to conceal herself. "That'll be quite enough!" 
scolded Luna, glaring at Artemis.
	
"Sorry^Å" he replied sheepishly, bowing his head.
	
"So," interrupted Makoto, "Is there anything else that we should be aware of? I already 
checked through those old newspapers from Osaka, but it seems that the trail's pretty cold 
on my end."
	
"True," replied Luna, looking meaningfully at Artemis, "But at least NOW we're acting 
as a team again^Å"
	
"I'm sorry^Å" whispered Artemis as he inched his way into Minako's lap.
	
"So what's the plan, then?" inquired Rei.
	
Luna looked thoughtful for a moment, and glanced at the stack of newspapers beside 
Makoto. "Well, I guess all that we can do for now is to keep our eyes open. And we all 
know what THAT means^Å"
	
"Aw! Not patrols!" whined Usagi, "But that'll take away from my reading  Manga-! Er-! 
Um^ÅI mean, doing my homework!"
	
Luna rolled her eyes. Would you rather be reading about this Youma's next victim in the 
newspaper, Usagi-chan?" she inquired.
	
Usagi shook her head. "No, I guess not," she conceded.
	
"Actually," commented Rei, "Minako-chan, if your friend IS an Esper, maybe she can 
help a little. Without knowing the whole story, of course^Å"
	
"Of course," agreed Minako, enjoying the feeling of being in on a mini-conspiracy, "But I 
guess I could always ask Yuri-chan if she'd like to stop by here after school to meet my 
friends^Å But^Å"
	
"But what?" inquired Luna.
	
"But Yuri-chan's a bit reclusive," she answered quietly, "It'll take some doing^Å"
	
"That's fine," commented Rei, "We're mostly grasping at straws on this anyway. Artemis-
kun's instincts could be wrong about her."
	
Artemis shrugged. "I definitely think that you Luna-chan'd have a better time asencing 
her that I did. I'm not as in tune with that sort of thing as you are," he admitted, looking 
downcast.
	
"Don^Òt worry about it," Minako whispered to him, and gave the cat a gentle hug.
	
"Anyway," continued Luna, "That about wraps it up for now, I think. Um, Mako-san, 
you're up first. Meanwhile, I think Usagi-can needs help with her homework. Any 
volunteers?"
	
"Slave driver^Å" muttered Usagi as Makoto stood up.
	
"No problem!" she announced confidently, "I ain't gonna allow some Youma to murder 
all the cute guys in Tokyo! Not on MY watch!"
	
"Um^Å actually^Å" commented Rei, as the others laughed, "The Youma probably won't 
stick exclusively to males, "In western mythology, succubae don't feed exclusively from 
one gender. They also tend not to stick to one or the other either^Å"
	
"Oh great!" exclaimed Usagi as Ami pulled out her geography textbook, "So no one's 
safe, then!"
	
"Don^Òt worry," chuckled Rei, "You actually have to have a libido to attract it!"
	
"What's THAT supposed to mean?!" demanded Usagi.
	
"Oh, nothing^Å" Rei said with a smirk.
	
"Here we go again^Å" muttered Ami^Å

***

The rest of the day came and went uneventfully, and Minako felt a strange sense of relief 
as she found Yuriko sitting in her assigned seat as she entered the classroom the next 
morning.
	
"Hi, Yuri-chan!" she called from across the room and hurried to take her seat beside the 
girl, "So! How, ya doin'? Anything new and interesting in your life?"
	
"Um^Å Hi," stammered Yuriko, feeling a little taken back by Minako's entrance, "I'm^Å 
Fine. And my life is^Å Well, uneventful^Å"
	
"Really? That's too bad," commented Minako slyly, "Then how would you feel about 
trying something new?"
	
Yuriko's eyes widened for a moment as she took a deep breath. "What^Å What did you 
have in mind, Minako-san?"
	
"Oh, nothing much," replied Minako, "It's just that I wanted you to meet some of my 
friends today, that's all."
	
"Oh^Å" Yuriko replied, turning away, and looking a little pale. "I^Å I guess so. But I^Å 
I'll have to ask my mother^Å"
	
"Well, there's no rush or anything, but^Å" began Minako, feeling her pulse quicken as she 
saw moisture beginning to form in Yuriko's eyes, "Yuri-chan, what's wrong? Are you 
okay?"
	
"It's^Å It's nothing^Å" the girl lied, "It's just that^Å I have a lot on my mind, that's all^Å"
	
"Hey," Minako said consolingly, and putting a hand Yuriko's arm, "It's okay. But I do 
worry about my friends when they're not happy^Å And with the incident yesterday, I'm a 
little concerned that something might happen to you^Å I mean, a lot of criminals target 
new people in town, who won^Òt be missed and-"
	
"I^Å I'm always careful!" interrupted Yuriko, "Nothing bad EVER happens to me^Å I can 
promise you that, Minako-san^Å"
	
"I hope you're right," Minako replied, "And with me around, it's a guarantee. I always 
look out for my friends. No matter what!"
	
Yuriko turned back to her and smiled. "I know," she said softly, her deep green eyes 
betraying her mixed emotions, "Thank-you, Minako-chan, but our instructor has just 
entered the class, and discussing this later would be far more appropriate. Perhaps at 
lunch?"
	
Minako smiled broadly. "You bet," she whispered, reluctantly pulling her hand back.
	
'How odd^Å' Minako thought as the class began, 'I feel so^Å emotionally charged^Å 
Maybe Artemis-kun was right. I am taking this far too seriously^Å Oh well..!'

***
	
When the lunch bell finally rang and the crowds of students dispersed into the halls, 
Minako had to scramble her stuff together quickly to follow Yuriko. The girl almost 
seemed to disappear into the crowd as Minako raced up behind her.
	
"Hey, Yuri-chan! Wait up!" she called, and tapped her on the shoulder.
	
Yuriko paused, and reached back to touch Minako's hand without turning around. "I'm so 
sorry, Minako-chan^Å" she said sadly, "But I have to go see my Mother at work again 
today^Å I'll be back in time for class^Å I promise^Å"
	
"Oh, I see^Å" Minako responded forlornly, feeling her heart sink as Yuriko seemed 
reluctant to meet her gaze, even as she began to walk away.
	
"Will I get to see you after school?" she called out over the noise of the other students, as 
her hand slipped out from underneath Yuriko's soft fingers.
	
"I^Å I'll have to ask^Å" the girl responded as she disappeared into the crowd, leaving 
Minako alone, staring sadly off into space for several minutes.
	
Once the hall had cleared of all other students and faculty, Minako sighed heavily and 
turned to go. "Hey, kid. What's wrong?" came Artemis' voice, as the cat came out of 
some hiding place or other and noticed the tears forming in her eyes.
	
"I^Å Don^Òt know," she replied quietly, almost to herself, and leaned against the wall, "I 
think that I'm just letting myself get wrapped up in things too much lately."
	
"It's Yuri-chan, isn^Òt it?" Artemis inquired sympathetically, and sat down in front of her.
	
Minako said nothing, and looked away.
	
"I thought so," the cat replied quietly, "And I think you worry about her way too much."
	
"I know," Minako answered, not meeting his gaze, "But I just wish that she's stop 
pushing me away every time we start getting close."
	
"I see," commented Artemis contemplatively, "I know what you mean. But I think that 
there might be more to this than you think.
	
"What do you mean," Minako asked, barely listening.
	
Artemis shrugged. "I just think that maybe you're setting yourself to take a fall," he 
cautiously explained, "That maybe this girl's just a loner, and that maybe it's best to just 
give her her space. Maybe she likes being alone more often than not."
	
"But I-!" exclaimed Minako, turning to face her Guardian Cat with tears in her eyes, "I^Å 
Just can't^Å"
	
Artemis sighed and shook his head. "I was afraid of this," he said under his breath, 
bowing his head, "I thought that I sensed something between you two yesterday. At first I 
thought that it was just you rubbing off on me, but I can see it all clearly now. And I think 
I know why my asencing of Yuri-chan was made so difficult. Strong emotion in the 
immediate area^Å You're in love with her^Å"
	
Minako closed her eyes tightly and took a haggard breath. Don't be ridiculous!" she 
hissed, "That's not possible..!"
	
"It is said that we have no choice to whom we fall in love with, Minako-chan," the cat 
replied solemnly, " And you know better than anyone that love follows no logic beyond 
it's own."
	
"Ya^Å" she replied in a whisper, "I AM 'Venus' after all^Å"
	
The cat was silent as Minako slid slowly down the wall to sit on the floor. He then 
climbed into her lap and leaned against her. "I know it hurts," he responded, "I've loved 
Luna since we first met a thousand years ago^Å And I feel like I'll die every time she 
ignores me. Every time I say something stupid that makes her angry, I feel like I should 
go jump off a high building or something^Å"
	
"But cats always land on their fleet," Minako said with a weak smile, as she petted him 
idly.
	
Artemis smiled as she put her arms around him. "I know," he replied, ignoring her 
patented misquoting habit, and sensing his ward's deep sadness.
	
"So^Å Where do I go from here, Artemis-kun?" she asked, hugging him tightly.
	
"That's entirely up to you, Minako-chan," he answered, "Just talk to her, though. Find out 
how she feels^Å But, be careful. Just don't ruin a perfectly good friendship over it, okay? 
I know you. And I know that you care about her enough to simply accept her as just a 
friend."
	
"Thank you, Artemis-kun^Å" Minako whispered, her tears soaking into his white fur.
	
"For what?" he asked quietly.
	
"For not making fun of me^Å" she answered, "And for being a better parent to me than 
my actual parents^Å"
	
"Um^Å Thanks^Å I think^Å" gulped the Guardian Cat, "But you know that I'm always 
here for you."
	
Minako smiled. "I know, " she said, "Now come on. I brought you some tuna for 
lunch^Å"

***
	
As promised, Yuriko was back in time for school, and Minako felt her pulse race as the 
girl sat down beside her before turning to her with a meaningful expression. "We^Å Need 
to talk," she commented nervously with a grim tone.
	
 "Then I guess you won't be coming with me to visit my friends today, then?" Minako 
said sadly.
	
"No^Å I can^Òt. I'm sorry," she replied sadly, "But I can walk part way home with you 
though."
	
"Really?!" exclaimed Minako happily.
	
"Yes," Yuriko said with a weak smile, "But I really need to discuss a more personal 
matter with you along the way^Å"
	
She glanced around nervously for a moment and caught sight of Artemis sitting in a tree 
outside the window. "He must really care for you," Yuriko commented, wistfully, "It's 
kind a unusual for a cat, though. Usually they're fairly aloof and independent."
	
"Well, Artemis is different," she explained, sensing a certain irony in Yuriko's words, 
"He's been there for me for the longest time. I guess he just sees me as his daughter or 
something^Å And sometimes I feel like I should return the favor."
	
"Oh?" inquired Yuriko, giving the cat a little grin, and waving subtlety.
	
"I guess it's like Karma," explained Minako, nervously, "If someone's always there to 
listen to your problems, you should at least do the same for someone else. Especially 
since he can^Òt tell me his problems^Å" Minako surpressed a smirk and a laugh at her last 
comment by biting her lower lip.
	
"I see," replied Yuriko, her voice taking on its normal calm, controlled tone, and loosing 
the edge it had earlier.
	
"And that's why I^Å Want to help you in any way that I can^Å" continued Minako 
nervously, "So, like, if there's ever anything you need to discuss^Å I'm here for you. Also, 
I really want to be your friend^Å and that's why^Å Why I want to^Å To^Å"
	
"Spend more time with me..?" finished Yuriko in a hushed tone, looking directly into 
Minako's light blue eyes, and causing her to shuffle uncomfortably in her seat.
	
"Y-Yes^Å" admitted Minako, her whole body shaking a little as her pulse raced.
	
"Good," Yuriko replied with a smile, "Then I guess you won't mind talking after school 
then?"
	
"Absotively!" agreed Minako breathlessly.
	
"Posolutely^Å" Yuriko responded, with a hint of sadness as the class began^Å

***
	
When the bell rang to announce the end of the day, Minako literally snapped her pen in 
half. "OH!" she exclaimed, dropping the broken writing implement, and searching for 
something to wipe the black ink off her fingers with.
	
"Here," came Yuriko's soft voice, and Minako blushed as she accepted a handkerchief 
from her
	
"Thanks," Minako replied, feeling horribly embarrassed as she did her best to wipe her 
fingers clean, "So, did you still want to talk?"
	
Yuriko nodded as they both stood, but Minako could sense that something more was up. 
"What's wrong?" she inquired, as she grabbed her school bag.
	
"I^Å Um, not here," Yuriko answered, taking Minako's free hand, "Outside!"
	
Minako wasn't given time to respond, as she was pulled quickly out into the hallway and 
into the sluggishly moving crowds. Somehow, they seemed to dodge and weave between 
people, as Yuriko lead her with amazing efficiency through the school. It almost seemed 
as though people were subconsciously avoiding them as they practically flew down the 
stairs, and Minako couldn't help laughing as they went. Soon, though, they somehow 
managed to find a clear path through to the front doors of the school, and were standing 
by the front gates before anyone noticed that they had left.
	
Once they were out on the sidewalk, though, Yuriko slowed to a walk. "Wait^Å A 
Second..!" panted Minako.
	
Yuriko stopped, and turned to face Minako as she bent over, holding her stomach to catch 
her breath. Yuriko's breathing, though, was even, and not a single drop of sweat showed 
on her forehead. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said sincerely.
	
"It's^Å Okay!" laughed Minako, "I^Å should be used to this sort of thing by now! I guess 
I just wasn't watching my breathing^Å"
	
Yuriko shrugged. "No, it's my fault," she said, "I do a lot of running around, and I 
sometimes forget that others don't like travelling quite as swiftly as I do..."
	
Minako gave her a curious look. "Were you on the track team at your old school?" she 
inquired as Yuriko released her hand and the two began walking again.
	
The girl nodded and replied, "Yes, but that was a long time ago^Å But I did hear 
something about you being an avid volleyball player^Å"
	
"Guilty as chargened," Minako said with a grin, purposely misquoting, "But I've been 
neglecting it a little lately. I guess I just haven't had the time^Å"
	
"I know the feeling^Å" Yuriko said sadly, and turned to Minako with tears in her eyes.
	
"Yuri-chan, what's wrong?" Minako asked, stopping and taking her hand.
	
"Minako^Å" she whispered, bowing her head and staring at the ground as her tears fell 
from her eyes.
	
Minako stepped forward, took Yuriko in her arms, and holding her tightly. "Shh^Å It's 
okay," she whispered, "You can tell me. It's okay^Å"
	
Yuriko put her head on Minako's shoulder, and held carefully returned the embrace. 
"No^Å I can't^Å" she responded, shaking her head slightly, and sobbing softly as the first 
few raindrops of the coming rainstorm fell from the dark clouds above them.
	
"Then just let it all out," Minako said softly, taking a deep breath, and taking in the light 
scent shampoo off Yuriko's dark hair, "I'm not going anywhere, Yuri-chan^Å"
	
"I know^Å" she whispered back, and held onto Minako more tightly as the rain picked up.
	
Minako sighed almost contentedly, as their fellow pedestrians ran for cover. "You know," 
she commented wistfully, and staring up at the dark clouds with a smile, "I always loved 
the rain. The way it feels upon my skin, the way it seems to wash away so many of my 
troubles and worries^Å The cleansing feeling it always provides^Å"
	
"I hate it^Å" Yuriko confided, cuddling as close to Minako as she could, as though 
Minako could shield her from the rain.
	
"Why?" she inquire, turning her head slightly to look at Yuriko as best she could, "It's 
like a water fall almost. It's like, one of those rare naturally occurring showers!"
	
"In the shower, I'm in control^Å" responded Yuriko.
	
"But^Å We all have to relinquish control for just a little while sometimes," replied 
Minako, as she half noticed that they were completely alone on the street.
	
"Not me^Å" Yuriko said tensely, "I'm afraid that if I loose control^Å That I'll hurt 
someone^Å Probably someone I care about^Å"
	
Minako reluctantly pulled away just a little, so that she could look into Yuriko's eyes. 
"Yuri-chan^Å" she began, feeling herself shaking nervously as the cold rain fell upon the 
places where the warmth of her friends body had been.
	
"Shh^Å" Yuriko replied, placing her index finger upon Minako's lips, "^ÅI want you to 
know something. I want you to know that I would never hurt you, Minako-chan^Å But^Å 
I^Å I^Å"
	
Minako shivered nervously as she placed the slightest cautious kisses upon Yuriko's 
finger, causing the girl to pause. Her eyes widened for a moment, and Minako felt her 
face go pale as the tension level between them drastically increased.
	
They stood staring at each other for several silent moments, barely noticing the sound of 
the rain all around them, but then Yuriko leaned forward, once again, towards Minako. 
She stopped just short of Minako's lips as she moved her had away to hold her once 
again, neither of them noticing no caring the way their clothes now clung damply to 
them.
 	
Minako gulped down her nervousness as she felt the warmth of Yuriko's breath upon her 
lips and saw the true depth of colour in Yuriko's searching eyes, as they both pressed 
against each other. Both feeling too afraid to make the next move.
	
"Yuri-chan, I^Å" began Minako, but Yuriko immediately silenced her by tilting her head 
slightly, and pressing her soft lips against Minako's.
	
Minako sighed contentedly, feeling the majority of her pent-up nervousness released by 
the simple act and pulled Yuriko a little closer. She closed eyes closed completely as they 
both settled into it, and soon regained their other senses. 
	
Minako couldn^Òt help blush a little as she noticed the way her nipples had hardened 
underneath her thoroughly soaked tunic, as the rubbed against Yuriko's. But the feeling of 
embarrassment was quickly washed away as she felt Yuriko sliding her hand up her back 
and through her long damp hair. The girl then ran her finger's through it before coaxing 
Minako to tilt her head to one side.
	
Minako found herself unable to move as Yuriko's lips touched her own, and an odd 
tingling feeling seemed to fill her whole body, yet Minako hadn't the will to care. She 
was enjoying the moment far too much, and passed off the sensation as part of her 
nervousness. 
	
But then, as she felt her knees weaken, Yuriko pulled away ever so slightly, and ran the 
back of her hand down Minako's cheek. Minako tried to speak, as she noticed the sadness 
in her friend's eyes, but no words came forth. "Minako-chan^Å" whispered Yuriko ever 
so sadly, "I^Å I'm so very sorry^Å"
	  
Minako barely managed to find the strength to reach out towards Yuriko as she backed 
away, but lacked the speed necessary to catch her before she turned, and ran off down the 
street crying, and disappeared around a corner. Leaving Minako alone, standing half 
paralyzed in the rain^Å

***
	
As Minako walked home alone through the pouring rain, her thoughts were only of 
Yuriko. She ran the memory of kissing her through mind a thousand times, each time 
wishing that Yuriko hadn't run off so suddenly.
	
'If only she had stayed,' thought Minako sadly, 'I could have told her just I care for her^Å'
	
But her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sounds of screaming, and breaking glass. 
Minako looked up and jumped backwards in time to avoid being nailed by a high velocity 
lamp, as it came bursting through a third story window of an apartment complex. The 
lamp crashed onto the sidewalk before her and Minako could hear the distinct sounds of 
screaming from inside the shattered bay window.
	
So, after quickly glancing around to check for witnesses, Minako dashed into an alley, 
and pulled out her Senshi Transformation Rod. She took a deep breath and held it aloft as 
more crashing and banging was heard, followed by a microwave being tossed out the 
window after the lamp.
 	
"Oh, hold on a second already!" called Minako, "I'm on my was already! Venus! Star! 
Power..!!!" 

***
	
Seconds later, Sailor Venus ran back around the corner, crouched down low, and leapt 
upwards with her augmented strength towards the window. Once she was in full view of 
the apartment, Venus covered her face with her arms, and leaned forward, causing herself 
to land inside the room.
	
Upon landing, she glanced around and noticed just what was causing the problem. It was 
a rather odd looking Youma, about five feet tall, but hovering a foot or so off the floor. 
Its uniformly jet black body seemed almost be a ragged two dimensional bed sheet except 
for its head, which resembled a featherless vulture, and its hands, that ended in long 
curved claws.
	
Off to one side, two small children were cowering and crying as the Youma turned its 
attention from them to the Senshi. It opened its beak and roared in a ragged, screeching 
voice that resembled a high pitched whine with a hint of laryngitis.
	
"Can it, Youma!" taunted Sailor Venus, "And I might go easy on you!"
	
"Fresh meat!" it shrieked back hungrily.
	
"Ha!" laughed Minako, striking a dramatic pose, "I'm so much more than just that! The 
defender of friendship! The Senshi of Love! I AM Sailor Venus!!!"
	
"Hungry!" was the Youma's only response, as it's tattered looking lower body began 
extending portions of itself towards the floor. Once there, they began to writhe around, 
before slithering towards her like several long black snakes.
	
"Is that the best you can do?!" laughed Venus, as the shadowy serpents reared up and 
filled out, becoming three dimensional, and opening toothy maws to hiss and snap at her 
threateningly.
	
"Hungry?" inquired Sailor Venus sarcastically, "Then eat this! Crescent! Beam!!!"
	
Energy crackled around the Senshi, and coalesced around the end of her pointed finger, 
but then immediately fizzled out. "What the-?!" she exclaimed, feeling suddenly dizzy, 
and brought a hand to her forehead before collapsing on the floor.
	
It was then that the serpentine tendrils caught up with her, as two quickly bound her 
ankles, and two others raced towards her wrists. "I^Å Don't get it^Å" she muttered, as she 
felt her energy reserves plummeting, "This isn't supposed to happen! Hey! Back off, 
buddy!"
	
Sailor Venus gave her head a shake and grabbed at the two tentacles as they went for her 
wrists. She caught them just under the jaw and cringed as they snapped at her 
ineffectually. Then, as the two on her ankles began trying to gnaw unsuccessfully through 
her mystic armor, Venus angled the two sets of snapping toothy mouths towards them.
	
The Youma shrieked loudly as it bit down upon its own tentacles, and sent another pair 
wrapping around Sailor Venus' wrists before she could react, and forced her arms apart. 
She gritted her teeth as she tried to continue force feeding the Youma, but her efforts only 
seemed to spurn it on, as she began feeling the cold skin creeping through the armor that 
held the Youma's tentacles half an inch away from actual skin contact.
	
"I^Å Can't keep this up forever!" she grumbled through gritted teeth as she was pulled in 
four different directions at once, "I guess this just calls for desperate measures!"
	
With that, Sailor Venus bent forward, sitting up, and bit down hard on the nearest 
tentacle. Once again the Youma shrieked in pain, and immediately sent more 
reinforcements. One wrapping around her throat, to pull her back down, and several 
others to back up the ones binding her arms and legs.
	
It then began pulling the desperately struggling Senshi across the floor towards itself, 
with only her armor protecting her form really bad rug burn. Once she was within arm's 
reach, the tentacles that bound her legs squeezed tighter, almost penetrating the pseudo 
force field that protected her legs.
	
"I won^Òt make this easy for you!" Sailor Venus shouted defiantly, as her lower body was 
pulled off the floor until she was resting only on her shoulders. 
	
She gritted her teeth as multiple new tentacles slithered about body, desperately trying to 
find a weak point, but having no luck. Several even tried tearing away at her skirt, but it 
might as well have been made of wrought iron for all the luck they had, as one boldly 
ventured underneath of it and tried to get a grip on her under garments with even less 
success. Venus could just imagine the frustration it was going through, only vaguely 
causing her to be aware of the way it gnawed at the frictionless surface that the armor 
provided. 
	
"Having problems?" laughed Sailor Venus, unable to suppress her amusement at the 
Youma's utter failure to take advantage of her. Infact, it soon found her squirming arms 
and legs almost too slippery to maintain a proper grip on, and had to continually shift and 
shuffle around its tentacles to maintain its hold.
	
"Well, that's just too bad!" she taunted as it tried to unsuccessfully wrap tentacles around 
her breasts, but failed miserably at it, as they simple slid off the armor the armor, 
"Because all your tickling me! And I HATE being tickled!!!"
	
With that, Sailor Venus somehow found the strength to stagger to a standing position. 
She then forced her arms forward, grabbing as many squirming black tentacles as she 
could into a large bundle by the time her hands met. The Youma's eyes went wide with 
disbelief at the feat the Senshi had just performed, and howled in frustration.
	
"Nothing personal!" Sailor Venus commented, as she shifted her weight, and began 
turning both of them in a slow arc, "But I already have someone that I'm interested in^Å 
And she's the only one that I want touching ME!!!"
	
She then began picking up speed, as Sailor Venus began to spin both herself and the 
frustrated Youma in faster and faster circles. The Youma made a few dizzied sounds of 
protest as the room blurred around it, as it spun around, it's free tentacles flailing, and 
knocking over various household items in an attempt to anchor itself.
	
Finally, it began to almost cry, as the only sound that it heard was the sound of Sailor 
Venus laughing maniacally at its expense until she shouted as loudly as he could, 
"Crescent! Beam!!!"
	
They Youma let out one last shrieking cry of terror as bright golden light pierced its 
tentacles, and followed them up to its body, where the solar radiation began filling it with 
unimaginable pain. Its eyes literally burned out of its sockets as all the hydrogen in its 
body was converted into helium in a small, well-contained nuclear fusion reaction. It 
wasn't conscious by the time thousands of small black bits flew in all directions, heralded 
by a glowing brilliant radiance^Å
	
Sailor Venus sighed heavily as the tentacles that had once held her disintegrated into 
dust. She then looked over at the two small children who were still cowering in the 
corner. "I guess I'll have to call 911 or something^Å" she muttered quietly, "But I have 
NO idea what to report happened here exactly^Å"
	
She picked up the phone and dialed the number before simply putting the receiver down 
on the end table. "Don^Òt worry," she reassured the two motionless, frightened children, 
"they'll send somebody along just to make sure. Just stay put, the police will be here soon 
enough^Å"
	
"Are^Å Are you Sailor Moon?" inquired the boy nervously.
	
Venus ground her teeth while she composed herself, before turning back towards the two. 
"No," she said with a forced smile, "I AM Sailor Venus! And don^Òt either of you forget 
it!"
	
"Oh! I see!" exclaimed the little girl, "I knew you couldn't be HER! Because you're much 
too cool! You don't need some guy to come in and save you at the last moment! You're a 
real heroine, Sailor Venus!"
	
The Senshi sighed contentedly, and smiled happily. "Well, in that case," she replied, 
picking a note pad and pen up off the floor, "Here's a little souvenir!"
	
She quickly wrote "Sailor Venus" on two sheets of paper and handed them to the two 
children, before happily bounding out the window, and back into the cold pouring rain^Å

***
	
After changing back, Minako immediately called a meeting. About fifteen minutes later, 
the group was assembled at Rei's. It was then that Minako explained to the others most of 
what happened on her way home.
	
"So, you say that your powers just fizzled out for a short time?" inquired Luna as Ami 
scanned Minako for anomalies.
	
Minako nodded and sipped her tea. "I'm reading a 7.41% drop in your life force energy," 
commented Ami with a serious look, "Are you certain that you weren't drained just 
before you tired using your Crescent Beam, Minako-chan? Or even before hand, perhaps? 
You weren't^Å 'With' anyone were you?"
 	
"What?!" demanded Minako, missing Ami's joking tone completely, and turning slightly 
red, "Are you crazy?! But ya^Å Maybe it did drain me a little^Å But It may have been 
able to generate some kind of dampening field as well."
	
"That's quite conceivable," responded Ami, "But I don't think that Youma DID get 
you^Å"
	
"Oh?" inquired Minako suspiciously.
	
"Yes^Å" explained Ami carefully, "You see, from what I've discerned from its residual 
aura signature, and the dust that didn't wash away in the rain. This Youma could only 
feed from frightened victims. But, really that's only a hypothesis^Å But, you don^Òt show 
any signs of showing fear. Not in the last forty eight hour, anyway."
	
"It could be that it required an adrenaline rush as well," volunteered Luna, "But, 
unfortunately, we're no more closer to solving this-"
	
"Hm, that's strange^Å" commented Ami, just before she put the computer away.	
	
"What?" inquired Minako, feeling suddenly paranoid.
	
"You've experienced heightened endorphin levels in the last four hours," explained Ami, 
blushing a little, "Gee, I was only kidding about you doing 'things'^Å"
 	
"Hey!" came Minako's exasperated reply, "I'd remember something like THAT!"
	
"You wouldn't necessarily have to go too far," explained Ami, "Unless I miss my guess, 
the victims of the Youma we're after might not need to be quite so^Å 'Brutalized' as 
Mirimoto-san was^Å Maybe its like Jack the Ripper. He only went way out of his way 
with his killings when he had a lot of time on his hands. Maybe you were the victim of a 
light snack at an^Å Inopportune time?"
	
"And just what are you implying?!" demanded Minako, her face becoming horribly 
flushed.
	
"Or!" laughed Usagi, "Minako-chan really DOES have some new secret boyfriend she's 
hiding from us! And she was so involved that she didn't even notice-!"
	
"Would you just shut up, already!" yelled Artemis, glaring coldly at Usagi, "Can't you see 
that Minako-chan's been through a rather traumatic experience?! She could have killed! 
Or worse!"
	
The group stared at the cat, shocked by his out burst. A second later Usagi began to cry. 
"^ÅI think we should go^Å" Minako said quietly, as she got to her feet.
	
"I^Å I'm sorry, Usagi-chan^Å" apologized Artemis as he watched Minako step outside.
	
"Well! I guess this meeting's just fallen to pieces!" grumbled Makoto, collecting her 
things.
	
"Look^Å" continued Artemis, "There's some things that I have to discuss with Minako-
chan. There's more going on in her life right now than hunting some Youma with a 
hyperactive libido. Also^Å I may have a lead^Å"
	
"Oh?" the group, minus the teary eyed Usagi, inquired as one.
	
The cat shook his head sullenly. "No^Å Not now, I^Å I'm sorry^Å" he replied.
	
"Look, if you have something more for us to go on-" implored Rei.
	
"No," Artemis continued, closing his eyes tightly, "Not now^Å I have reason to think that 
it might be someone close to Minako-chan. But I need to break the news to her first^Å 
Okay?"
	
"How does lunchtime tomorrow sound?" inquired Rei.
	
The cat nodded. "For now, fine," he responded, "But right just now, I have a friend to talk 
to^Å"
	
The cat then ran out and dashed after Minako, who had a very unfair head start. "Oh, 
man!" muttered Artemis, "I REALLY hate the rain..!"

***
	
Minako leaned against a lamppost several blocks away when Artemis finally caught up 
with her. Her arms were folded across her chest, hugging herself against the cold as she 
forlornly stared at the ground.
	
"Hey," said the cat, shivering as the rain made him look more like a drowned rat.
	
Minako looked up and Artemis could tell that she'd been crying. "Oh, dear^Å" he replied 
mostly to himself, "Minako-chan^Å What's wrong?"
	
She just shook her head, and continued staring at her feet. "Forget it!" Minako yelled 
over the sound of the pouring rain, shutting he eyes tightly to hold back the tears.
	
"But, you can talk to me^Å" implored Artemis, sitting down at her feet, "That's part of my 
job, right?"
	
Minako sighed, covering her eyes with her hand. "I'm not stupid, you know," she 
muttered, "I know what Ami found. I know when I was energy drained^Å I felt it^Å But I 
told myself it was something else^Å"
	
"Maybe it was^Å" Artemis responded, looking away, uncertain of how to continue.
	
"But that's not all^Å" Minako continued grimly, "It happened when I kissed Yuri-chan! 
Artemis-kun, so you know what it's like to always fall in love with the wrong people?! 
Every fragging time?!"
	
"Minako-chan!" Artemis interrupted, trying to sound sympathetic, "It might NOT be her! 
Maybe the Youma was just passing by and discreetly stole some of your energy to tie it 
over 'till dinner! We don^Òt really know yet...! But as a precaution, Rei-chan and Luna-
chan are stopping by your school to scan Yuri-chan^Å And who knows, maybe Ami-
chan's computer was way off the mark."
	
"Machines don^Òt die^Å" sneered Minako, trying unsuccessfully to hold back her feelings.
	
"'Lie'," corrected Artemis quietly. 
	
"What! Ever!" Minako exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. 

"Look," continued the cat, "Maybe Yuri IS something else. But so what? She 
didn^Òt exactly strike me as 'evil'. And I AM a fairly good judge of character! And besides, 
there ARE a lot of other 'things' out there besides just Youma. I mean, hey, you know two 
talkin' cats for cryin' out loud!"
	
Minako smiled a little. "Maybe^Å she half sobbed, half laughed, "Maybe she's another 
Sailor Senshi^Å I do seem to recall there being some possibility of a tenth planet out past 
Pluto^Å"
	
Artemis looked thoughtful for a moment. "Um^Å No," he said nervously, looking around 
in an exaggerated paranoid manner, "As I recall, that's something else^Å"
	
"Oh?" inquired Minako, finally meeting the cat's gaze.
	
"Um^Å It's nothing! Really!" he replied in his least believable tone of voice, "And 
besides, it's one of those things that'll come back to you once more of your past life 
memories come back..!"
	
Minako stared down at the cat, trying to hold back a smile, but soon gave in, and began 
laughing. "You're lying through your pointy little teeth!" she chuckled, bending over to 
pick up the wet cat, "You have absolutely NO idea what^Òs actually out there, do you? 
You're just trying to make me laugh!"
	
"Ask me no questions^Å I sell you no flies!" replied Artemis with the utmost of sarcasm, 
"And, um, thanks^Å"
	
"For what?" she asked, hugging the cat close to her chest.
	
"For making it easier to tell you that the person you're in love with is a suspect^Å" 
Artemis answered sheepishly.
	
"I suppose so^Å" Minako replied with a shrug.
 	
"Ya, well^Å We can do a little investigating of our own before the other's show up 
tomorrow," the cat suggested, "But I guess that our best bet is to catch her before your 
first class. But it would be easier if we could just visit her at home."
	
"She headed west today," replied Minako, "But I can^Òt give you much more to go on than 
that."
	
"Well, I guess that's something," Artemis said thoughtfully, "Maybe Ami-chan can do 
some cross-referencing and find out who's moved into any vacant apartments in all the 
districts west of your school^Å Hm, she'd probably need more to go on, though."
	
"Are you kidding!?" laughed Minako, "This is Ami we're talking about here!"
	
"Ya!" agreed Artemis with a wide grin, "You're probably right, but, anyways^Å We^Òd 
best be at school early tomorrow, that way we improve our chances of catching Yuri-
chan before class^Å How's an hour sound to you?"
	
Minako nodded. "No problem," she answered, "So long as you don^Òt mind me being the 
walking dead first thing^Å"
	
"Well," replied Artemis with a wry grin, "I guess you'll just be 'Sailor Walking Dead' if 
any Youma show up!"
	
"Don^Òt push it, kitty!" Minako said with a scowl.
	
"Just kidding!" laughed Artemis, "Now, if you don^Òt mind, what do ya say we head 
home, okay? Pneumonia isn^Òt on my shopping list today!"
	
"Sure," responded Minako, "I guess my energy levels are low enough without catching 
the flu^Å"

***
	
The next day, Minako and Artemis arrived at school and our and a half early, and as 
promised, Minako was only half awake as the two sat upon a bench near the front gates 
waiting for Yuriko to arrive.
	
"So, what^Òs the plan, Artemis-kun?" Minako inquired with a yawn.
	
The cat glanced around as various other early risers milled about. "Um, I think we have a 
fairly good vantage point right here," the cat replied, "We can probably stay put for now."
	
"Sounds like a clam^Å" muttered Minako, her eyes half closing warily before she leaped 
to her feet, and scaring Artemis to death. "Yuriko-chan^Å" she whispered under her 
breath.
	
"What-?! Where-?!" the cat exclaimed trying to look in all directions at once.
	
"Over there," Minako answered as Yuriko walked slowly towards them, her eyes 
downcast.
	
"Yuri-chan!" Minako called as the girl got closer.
	
"Oh! Minako-san, greetings and salutations^Å" she replied sadly, stopping a few feet 
away, and barely meeting Minako's gaze, "I^Å I'm so sorry about yesterday^Å"
	
"It^Òs okay," assured Minako, stepping over to Yuriko, and putting hands on her shoulders, 
"I'm glad it happened. It just makes it easier to tell you, Yuri-chan^Å That I'm falling in 
love with you^Å"
	
As their eyes met, Minako could see tears starting to form in Yuriko's eyes, and spill 
down her cheeks. "Minako-san, I^Å" she whispered, choosing her words carefully, "I've 
loved you since I first saw you in the newspaper in Osaka. And^Å As much as I had truly 
dreamed that you'd feel the same towards me^Å I^Å I just don't want to wind up hurting 
you^Å"
	
"Oh!" replied Minako, feeling a little unnerved, "You fell in love with me due to the 
pictures I did when I was modeling for those Sailor V publicity shots? Wow^Å I guess I 
shouldn't have been quite so self-conscious about my appearance!"
	
"Um, no^Å" continued Yuriko, shaking her head slowly, "That's not what I meant^Å" She 
reached into her carrying case and pulled out a scrapbook. Yuriko flipped through several 
pages as Minako reluctantly let go of her shoulders. 
	 
"This is what I meant," Yuriko replied, "NOT publicity shots, Minako-san. I meant, the 
real thing^Å"
	
Minako's eyes widened for a moment as she saw a newspaper article cut out, and pasted 
to one page in the book. The picture was of the 'real' Sailor Venus, firing off a Crescent 
Beam, with an old headline mentioning something about her stopping a bank robbery. 
Minako thought quickly, knowing that her Sailor Senshi armor also altered her 
appearance in such a way as to give her a level of anonymity. But, feeling worried that 
perhaps her vanity had finally gotten her in trouble, and that Minako's 'impersonating' 
Sailor V had finally blown her cover. 
	
"Minako-san, it's all right^Å" came Yuriko's nervous tone, "I know^Å about you. It^Òs a 
talent I have^Å But I've never told anyone! I promise, I'm the only one who knows. And 
well^Å When I found out that you went to school here, I couldn^Òt help but ask^Å My 
Mother to transfer me here. We were going to move to Tokyo anyway^Å But now I'm 
afraid that I've endanger you^Å I'm afraid of hurting you Minako-chan^Å"
	
"Yuri-chan^Å" Minako replied, as she took the girl's face in her hands and tilted her head 
up, "How^Å How do you think you could hurt me..? What don^Òt I know..?"
	
Yuriko took hold of both of Minako's hands and lowered them. "Seeing through your 
disguise is something that I've always been able to do. Along with my other talent^Å" 
Yuriko explained sadly.
	
"Other talent?" inquired Minako, her pulse racing as they spoke.
	
Yuriko nodded and continued. "Yes, I call it 'Hiding in Plain Sight'," she explained, 
"That's why I can disappear so easily. People just subconsciously ignore or forget me for 
a little while^Å Just like we did the other day."
	
"Oh!" laughed Minako, feeling relieved, "So that's all! You're and Esper!"
	
Yuriko glanced back up at Minako and put her arms around her friend. "Please," she 
implored, "Just hold me for a little while, my dearest Minako-chan ^Å We're shielded 
from view by my talent, and after you here what I have to tell you^Å You'll hate me 
forever^Å" 
	
Minako embraced Yuriko, and the girl squeezed her tight. "What is it, my love?" Minako 
inquired softly, as she savored the sensation of Yuriko's warm soft body pressed against 
her own and the feeling of freedom of expression afforded by the girl's psi power.
	
"I^Å I^Å" stammered Yuriko, as she began to cry on Minako's shoulder.
	
"It's okay^Å" she soothed, "You don^Òt have to tell me all of your secrets right away^Å 
Eventhough you seem to know most of mine^Å"
	
"Only some^Å" admitted Yuriko guiltily, "And one that I have no right to know^Å"
	
"Shhh^Å It^Òs okay, Yuri-chan," Minako whispered, "It was bound to happen sooner or 
later that someone was going to see through my disguise when I'm out stomping Youma-
"
	
"That's not it^Å" interrupted Yuriko, shaking her head sadly, "Minako-chan, have you 
ever tasted honey..?"
	
"Yes," she answered questioningly.
	
"Well, when I kissed you-" began Yuriko.
	
"How very poetic^Å" replied Minako, hugging her friend appreciatively, and blushing 
profusely. 
	
"No, you misunderstand," Yuriko continued, "it was more than just your kiss^Å"
	
Minako waited for the girl to finish, but Yuriko only shook her head. "Maybe later," 
offered Minako reassuringly, "We have our whole lives. But, I should tell you. I have 
some friends stopping by here for lunch today, and-"
	
"F-Friends?" stammered Yuriko, looking imploringly into Minako's eyes, "Um, can we 
meet them right here, by any chance?"
	
Minako nodded and gave her a questioning look. "Sure^Å But why?" she inquired.
	
Yuriko turned away and shrugged. "I^Å I'd just feel better about meeting new people in 
an as public place as possible^Å That's all," she answered nervously.
	
"I understand," replied Minako with a smile, ands leaned forward to kiss Yuriko.
	
She turned back and tilted her head slightly before meeting Minako's lips with unveiled 
enthusiasm. The two stood silently for several moments, simply holding one another, and 
enjoying the comfort provided the touch of each other's soft lips. But then, Minako felt a 
warm drop of moisture touch her mouth.
	
She opened her eyes, and saw that Yuriko was beginning to cry. "I^Å I'm sorry, Minako-
chan," Yuriko said sadly as she pulled away, causing Minako' heart to sink, "But I don^Òt 
want to hurt you^Å" Yuriko then broke away completely, and tore off into the crowd of 
passing students, once again, disappearing. 
	
"OH!" there you are!" exclaimed Artemis, after running over to Minako as she stood 
staring off into space, the feeling of euphoria still leaving her a little dazed, "Where did 
you two go? It's like you just vanished!"
	
"Paradise^Å" muttered Minako softly, and licked her lips, stilling feeling Yuriko's touch 
upon them, as well as her tears, "I never thought that it would be such a sad place^Å"
	
"Yuriko-chan," chuckled Artemis rhetorically before noticing the look in Minako's eyes. 
"Hey, what's wrong, kid?"
	
"Um^Å They're not salty^Å" Minako said wonderingly.
	
"What aren't?" the cat inquired.
	
"Yuri-chan's tears^Å" Minako answered, and a chill ran down Artemis' spine^Å

***
	
Minako spent the morning feeling terribly alone, as for some reason, Yuriko failed to 
attend any of their mutual classes. So, when lunchtime finally came around, Minako 
immediately rushed outside to where Artemis was waiting for her.
	
The cat looked up at her with a grim smile and motioned towards the street. "They'll be 
here soon," he said quietly, "But, are you gonna be okay? You look pale."
	
Minako shrugged. "Maybe," she responded, sitting down on the bench, "But I have NO 
idea where Yuriko is. She wasn't in school this morning."
	
Artemis looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, there goes that plan I guess^Å" he 
muttered.
	
Minako looked over at him with tears in her eyes. "Then I guess that's it then," she 
commented sadly, "She's guilty by reason of omission. The others will assume that she 
ran when they were on to her^Å Now they'll hunt her down^Å and end it^Å"
	
"Minako-chan^Å" Artemis said guiltily, "That's not what's going to happen^Å I'm sure 
she'll turn up. And then we can go from there. We'll just wait for her^Å"
	
"And what it Yuri-chan IS the Youma?!" demanded Minako, "What then..?"
	
"We'll deal with that possibility, when, and if it comes to that^Å" Artemis answered, 
hating the way this was hurting Minako, "But don^Òt worry. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. 
I mean, any evidence that there is against her is purely circumstantial. I'm sure that 
neither of you has anything to worry about^Å"
	
Minako just shook her head, thinking over Yuriko's words earlier that day. Wondering 
what she had so desperately wanted to tell her, but just couldn't. "I just wish that Yuriko 
was here to defend herself," Minako muttered, "So that we could prove her innocent."
	
Artemis turned away, and noticed the approaching figures of Rei, Ami. In Ami's arms 
was nestled Luna, and the three all wore grim expressions upon their faces. They noticed 
Minako and Artemis almost immediately, and walked up beside them.
	
"Um, I think that we should tell you this right off, Minako-chan," replied Luna.
	
"Oh?" inquired Minako, without looking up from her contemplation of the ground at her 
feet.
	
"Well, it's just that we found a very old news paper article from Osaka," explained Ami, 
pulling a photocopied newspaper article, and handed to Minako, "We thought that it was 
only fair that we told you^Å"
	
Minako looked up, and took the piece of paper without a word. She stared blankly at it 
for several long seconds, before her eyes went wide, and began tearing up. The headline 
read, "Family of Honor's Student Slain. Daughter Presumed Kidnapped". There was a 
picture associated with it of Yuriko. Minako shuddered slightly, but continued reading. It 
went on to say that Yuriko's parents were slain in their beds, and that all that was found 
of Yuriko were some torn bed clothes and signs of a struggle^Å
	
Minako dropped the paper and stared blankly forward in silence. "I'm sorry, Minako-
chan," Ami said quietly, and put her hand on Minako's shoulder for emotional support, 
"If^Å It you need to talk^Å"
	
"It's not your fault," whispered Minako, feeling cold all over.
	
"So what now?" Artemis asked Luna quietly.
	
The cat shrugged. "I guess we should find out where she lives," replied Luna, "It's still 
possible that there's more to this^Å Some Youma do keep humans as slaves for extended 
periods. Sometimes using them like livestock, feeding from them when hunting is too 
dangerous to be worth the bother. Yuriko-san may still just be an innocent victim in all of 
this^Å"
	
Minako shuddered at Luna's words. The thought of some vile Youma using her as a food 
supply filling her with contempt. But still, there was the possibly that Yuriko had been 
Embraced by it instead. She could have been lying about being an Esper, her abilities 
could very well have been Youma powers. But Minako tried not to think about that.
	
"I^Å I think I need to be alone, guys^Å" she commented, feeling a little sick, "If you think 
that it's for the best^Å Go check out the school's records for her address. "But, promise 
me this. If she IS a Youma^Å I don^Òt want to be there when you guys^Å End this^Å"
	
"We understand^Å" replied Luna.
	
"I'm sorry, Minako-chan," Ami said again, as her friend turned and walked away.
	
"I know^Å" Minako said forlornly as she left them all standing by the gates^Å

***
	
Minako found the tree she would always meet Artemis by, and leaned against it. She let 
out a long sigh, and looked up into the ginkgo's leaves. "You can come out now," she said 
evenly to the empty air.
	
"How^Å How did you know..?" came Yuriko's startled voice from behind her.
	
"Lucky guess," responded Minako, turning to see Yuriko leaning against the opposite 
side of the tree, her arms folded across her chest.
	
"Minako-chan, I-I'm so sorry that I couldn't tell you-" began Yuriko.
	
"But I guess I'm just getting used to you hiding things from me," interrupted Minako, 
"So^Å What's the whole story? Just tell me. At this point I can take anything^Å"
	
Yuriko took a deep breath before pushing herself away form the ginkgo tree and moved 
to face Minako. "A long while ago^Å SHE came looking for a daughter^Å Someone to 
carry on Her legacy. It was because of my being an Esper that She chose me," Yuriko 
explained, her deep green eyes seeming distant as she spoke, "But, I wasn't quite what 
she'd bargained for^Å I'm NOT like Her. I refuse to be^Å Anyway, a reasonably short 
time ago, I heard about Sailor V. I became quite a fan of hers^Å So I tried to find out 
everything I could about her^Å And eventually, I found myself quite in love with you, 
Minako-chan. Then, when I found out that you lived in Tokyo, I begged and pleaded with 
Her to relocate us to Tokyo. I made up all kinds of excuses^Å And made^Å Made a few 
scarifies^Å But we moved here. And now, I've finally met you in person, I think I know 
what I really want^Å But first I just want you to know, that I never told Her anything 
about you, my love^Å You're safe from Her^Å But I'm not. And that's why^Å That's why I 
want you to end this^Å Soon^Å"
	
Minako met her gaze and took Yuriko's hand. "I promise," she said, "That I'll take care of 
this creature that's been using you. And then no one will hurt you. Not ever again, my 
dearest Yuriko^Å"
	
Yuriko shook her head. "No, Minako-chan^Å" she replied sadly, "There's more to this 
than you think^Å"
	
Minako's heart sank as the painful realization sunk in completely. "Then^Å You are^Å 
A^Å A^Å" she stammered, unable to get the words out.
	
"Minako^Å" sobbed Yuriko, taking Minako in her arms and crying onto her shoulder, 
"Please^Å If you truly love me, don^Òt say it^Å Please just don't say those awful words^Å"
	
Minako closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the tears, she clenching her fists as she felt 
her anger build. She felt angry with herself for not accepting the truth sooner, she felt 
mad at the universe for never allowing her a "normal" relationship, and she was 
consumed with hatred for the inhuman, twisted creature that had ruined Yuriko's life 
forever^Å
	
"So^Å What happens now..?" she asked, through gritted teeth, and put her arms carefully 
around her friend, no longer caring about the consequences of close contact with Yuriko.
	
I^Å Want you to end this^Å" Yuriko whispered almost inaudibly in Minako's ear, "I can^Òt 
keep going on like this^Å Being something less than human^Å Sustaining myself by 
drinking Her corrupted energy^Å"
	
"So^Å She did Embrace you then..?" commented Minako, suddenly experiencing a 
terrible calm.
	
"Yes^Å" admitted Yuriko, sobbing and letting forth a new gush of tears, "and that's 
why^Å Why I was so afraid to spend too much time with you^Å Just in case I^Å Hurt 
you^Å But please, Minako-chan, believe me when I say that I never hurt anyone. I could 
never^Å Infact, the strange thing is, is that I require a victim who's mostly willing. That's 
one reason why I've had to stay with Her. So that I could have someone to feed from and 
not have to worry^Å But now^Å Now I just want it all to end. And I^Å Really do want 
you to know, that I DO love you, Minako^Å Honestly, I do^Å And that's why^Å I want it 
to be you. I want you^Å To kill me^Å"
	
Minako's entire body tensed up, and she held Yuriko tighter, as she felt the knot in her 
stomach twist. "No^Å" she said softly, and with determination, "Yuri-chan, I can't do 
that^Å But I do believe you. Eventhough I know that my friends probably wouldn't. 
Eventhough I know that they'd probably just kill you after they take out your 'Mother'^Å 
But I^Å Just love you too much to hurt you^Å"
	
"But after they kill her^Å Which, I've made almost certain will happen eventually, I'll 
starve to death^Å" replied Yuriko, nuzzling Minako's neck beneath her thick hair.
	
"No," Minako replied resolutely, "I won^Òt let that happen. You^Å You can feed from 
me^Å"
	
"Minako-chan^Å I couldn't^Å I can't!" Yuriko responded, trying to push away.
	
"You can just take a little. Whenever you need it," responded Minako, refusing to let 
Yuriko go.
	
"But^Å I kinda inherited one of Her quirks^Å" Yuriko said carefully, "The way I have to 
feed^Å I^Å"
	
"I know," Minako replied, blushing slightly, "You require intimate contact^Å"
	
"Yes, yes I do," admitted Yuriko, "But at times, only a kiss is required. But, for a more 
precise and accurate feeding, more intense contact is required. Something about 
endorphins, I think^Å And some other stuff. But, if I were to just continue taking energy 
through a kiss, I might accidentally take too much^Å Also, the person I feed from must 
consent wholeheartedly to the physical contact or all I get is a head ache^Å"
	
"So, that's why that first time we kissed^Å" pondered Minako.
	
"Yes^Å" interrupted Yuriko guiltily, "I-I'm so sorry, but I was so hungry^Å She barely 
gives me enough to sustain myself^Å"
	
"Shhh^Å It's okay," reassured Minako, rubbing Yuriko's back comfortingly, "I love you, 
Yuriko-chan, and I'll take care of you from now on. I don^Òt care what it takes^Å You can 
feed form me. So long as you're careful, there shouldn^Òt be any problems, right?"
	
"Minako-chan, I^Å I can^Òt ask you to do that^Å" responded Yuriko, shaking her head, 
"What if^Å If you saw me^Å In my Other form...?"
	
"It's okay," assured Minako, suddenly feeling a little nervous at the prospect of just what 
she was suggesting, "Anything if it means that we can be together, and that that thing that 
did this to you pays for what she did^Å"
	
Yuriko shuddered. "You have no idea^Å But I guess in some ways, I was using Her^Å" 
she replied with much dread, "And I thank you for your sediments. Most times I can't 
bear to recall the thing's she makes me do in order to let me feed^Å She's so sick^Å And 
cruel^Å" 
	
Minako held Yuriko for several moments as the girl cried. She sobbed occasionally, 
trying to speak, but Minako quieted her and just Yuriko cry as they held each other. 
	
"Don^Òt worry," Minako said as comfortingly as she could, "The other Sailor Senshi will 
take care Her shortly. And then you'll be free. I promise, I won^Òt let my friends hurt you. 
Even if we have to run away together^Å"
	
"Thank you, Minako-chan^Å But^Å There's just one thing^Å" Yuriko finally managed, as 
she looked into her friend's eyes searchingly, as Minako wiped away her tears, "I^Å I 
haven^Òt fed since we kissed each other in the rain^Å"
	
Minako smiled and kissed her softly upon the lips. "Then^Å I guess there's no time like 
the present," she replied nervously, "I think that we can get away with only a half day at 
school. And besides, I've been meaning to take you home for lunch!"
	
Yuriko smiled weakly. "You are a beautiful person, Aino-sama. And far too generous^Å" 
she replied wistfully, "You^Òre just far too good to me^Å And you're far more than I 
deserve^Å"
	
Minako smiled and kissed Yuriko again, this time on her ear before hugging her again. 
"Hey," she said with a bit of a laugh, "I'm the Senshi of Love^Å And I love you. I guess I 
just want to make things better for you, my dear^Å I just want you to be happy, that's 
all^Å"
	
Yuriko shook her head. "No^Å" she replied, "I don^Òt want you to do this only for me^Å It 
has to be for you as well^Å It wouldn't be right otherwise^Å"
	
Minako smiled. "There's a saying that says that at it's most basic level, love is a selfish 
act," she commented, "We do things to make the person we love happy. Because when 
they're happy, they love us more. Thus, we get our needed emotional support, and they do 
things to make us happy, to make us love them more^Å It's a terribly vicious cycle, but I 
wouldn't have it any other way^Å"
	
"Thank you," Yuriko sighed contentedly, as she buried her face in Minako's hair to cut 
herself off completely from the outside world, "For the first time in so long, I feel safe^Å 
Thank you, Minako-chan^Å"
	
"You're welcome, my love^Å" Minako replied^Å

***
	
Before too long, Minako and Yuriko were standing outside the front door of Minako's 
parent's apartment. Minako spent several nervous seconds fumbling for her keys, but 
eventually she managed to open the door. She then quickly stepped in to disarm the 
alarm, and ushered Yuriko inside. 
	
"Come in! Come in!" she stammered nervously, as she shook with nervous excitement, 
and was unable to stop grinning like an idiot, "My parents won^Òt be back 'till late. So we 
shouldn't have to worry too much."
	
"You sound more like you're attempting to reassure yourself than me," observed Yuriko 
in a subdued tone as she glanced around, and removed her shoes, "But, you're right. We 
have all the time in the world^Å"
	
Minako turned to her and took her friend's hand. "I know," she said, with a smile, "But 
I^Å I've never done anything like this before."
	
Yuriko looked sad for a moment and replied, "In a way^Å Neither have I. For I've never 
been with anyone that I've genuinely cared for^Å"
	
"Oh," whispered Minako, putting her arms around Yuriko, "I'm so sorry^Å"
	
"It's okay," Yuriko responded, "There's nothing you could have done to change that fact. 
But if you're willing to stay with me, Minako-chan, I know that I can put it all behind 
me^Å"
	
Minako nodded, and stretched out her arm to lock the door. "Um^Å Are you thirsty?" she 
inquired, trying to lighten the mood, "Assuming that is, that you^Å can^Å"
	
Yuriko chuckled softly and kissed her on the cheek. "Yes," she responded, "I certainly 
can, and I am."
	
"Well then," replied Minako conversationally, "I guess then that there's a whole lot more 
about you that I still have to learn."

	
"Don^Òt you mean, 'about my kind'?" inquired Yuriko somewhat cynically.
	
"I-! That's not what I said^Å" Minako responded tensely.
	
"But it's what you were thinking^Å Wasn't it?" continued Yuriko, "And, I'll understand if 
you want to end this charade right now^Å"
	
"NO!" exclaimed Minako, desperately holding onto Yuriko, as tears formed in her eyes, 
"Yuri-chan, I love you^Å And I don^Òt care what you are^Å It changes nothing."
	
"Thank you," she replied in a quiet whisper, "I just needed to hear it from you. And yes, 
there is a lot you don^Òt know yet^Å Perhaps this shall be a learning experience for the 
both of us. You can learn about^Å my kind^Å and I can learn what it's like to make love 
to someone I care for^Å"
	
"No," Minako said, chuckling under her breath, "Not make love 'to'. Make love 'with'^Å"
	
Yuriko smiled and rested her head against Minako's shoulder for a moment, before 
pulling away, and holding both her hands. "Thanks," she said with a contented smile, and 
slowly leading Minako farther in to the apartment, "But right now, I am rather 
dehydrated."
	
"No problem," Minako replied and turned them both around to lead Yuriko to the 
kitchen.
	
Once there, she took out two glasses, and poured each a glass of orange juice. "I used to 
practically live on this," Yuriko commented as she gratefully accepted the drink, "But 
lately I've only had access to water^Å But I still do need it, so that I don^Òt dehydrate^Å"
	
"But you still enjoy the taste right?" inquired Minako hopefully.
	
Yuriko nodded in reply, and looked thoughtfully down at the cold liquid.
	
"Then it's a sign of your humanity shining through," replied Minako, taking a sip of her 
juice.
	
"I suppose so," Yuriko replied thoughtfully smiling, "It's good to know that some one 
believes in me^Å"
	
"And that someone loves you," said Minako, walking over to Yuriko and taking a deep 
sip of her orange juice, before pressing her lips against the girl's.
	
Yuriko's eyes widened in surprise, but she slowly parted her lips slightly as Minako 
kissed her anyway. Minako found herself starting to giggle a little, as Yuriko was caught 
off guard by what she had done. Yuriko almost gasped, as she tasted cold, sweet orange 
juice upon her tongue, causing some of it to dribble from between their joined lips as 
Minako tried not to laugh. Yuriko then sighed, and tilted her head to one side, as to allow 
Minako to kiss her properly, and almost gasped a second time, as a trickle of liquid made 
it's way down her neck and underneath her tunic.   
	
The two both carefully tried not to spill anymore as they opened their lips a little wider, 
swallowing slowly as their tongue cautiously met, and tentatively entwined. They both 
sighed contented, and held each other for several long moments as they drank up the last 
of their shared orange juice. Minako then pulled back slightly and carefully licked the 
sweet stickiness from Yuriko's lips.
	
Yuriko smiled mischievously as Minako tilted her head to kiss her again. "You missed a 
spot," she giggled, and glanced downward.
	
Minako paused, and took a second to put take both their glasses and place them the 
counter, as she noticed the almost invisible line of liquid that had previously made it's 
way from Yuriko's lip, down over her chin and neck, to disappear down the inside of her 
tunic.
	
Minako gulped, shaking a little nervously, as she became intensely aware of the small 
curves in the fabric of Yuriko's top. "I see^Å" she said, trying to focus her thoughts as 
Yuriko's breathing quickened, causing her chest to move slightly up and down in an 
appealing manner.
	
"It^Òs still quite cold!" Yuriko gasped suddenly, grasping Minako's arms for support, and 
brought Minako back to reality.
	
She glanced up and met Yuriko's intense gaze. "Well then," she said in most sultry voice, 
"I guess I'll just have to warm you up, now won^Òt I..?"
	
Yuriko smiled, and bit her lower lip as she watched Minako slid her hands up under her 
tunic, before slowly pushing it upwards, her hands running over Yuriko's stomach. As 
Minako's hands moved slowly higher, she could feel goosebumps rising along Yuriko's 
soft skin.
	
"Nervous?" she asked, her own voice a being a little shaky. 	
 	
Yuriko nodded. "A little," she replied, nodding slightly.
	
"Good!" teased Minako, and leaned forward to kiss her.
	
In response Yuriko leaned forward to meet her lips, but Minako only aloud for the 
slightest touch before pulling away with mischievous smile. Yuriko gave her a hungry 
look, and leaned forward again, but Minako only giggled and moved to one side, before 
kissing Yuriko playfully on the neck.
	
"It's not nice to tease^Å" Yuriko said in a serious tone, grasping both of Minako's 
shoulders firmly, as her eyes glowed slightly for the briefest of moments.
	
"I-!" began Minako, feeling startled by the reaction, but was suddenly interrupted by 
Yuriko's lips pressed firmly against her own. 
	
She resisted for only a moment, before catching her breath, and sighing contentedly, as 
Yuriko's tongue passed between their lips and to find Minako's. Yuriko them turned 
Minako around and pushed her up against the wall, surprising her a little, but sending 
chills down her spine none the less.
	
Not to be out done, Minako continued her work on Yuriko's tunic, pushing it upwards as 
her hands carefully explored her lover's body, until she could feel the fabric of Yuriko's 
bra beneath her fingertips. There was then a tense pause, as they parted their lips long 
enough for Yuriko's top to be completely removed. She had to struggle a little to extricate 
herself from her sleeves, much to Minako's bemusement, but soon the garment was 
tossed onto the kitchen floor.
	
"Wow^Å" whispered Minako under her breath, her hands on Yuriko's hips as she assessed 
the girl's proportions with an impressed look.
	
"I take it you approve," Yuriko inquired, tilting her head to one side and smiling 
invitingly, before reaching up and taking Minako's face in her hands and slowly pulling 
her friend towards her.
	
"Very much so^Å" admitted Minako, blushing profusely as her lips met Yuriko's.
	
As they kissed, she could feel Yuriko's hands slide back, over her ears and through her 
long silky hair. Minako smiled, and moved down a little, feeling just a little less nervous 
with each kiss she placed upon Yuriko's pale neck on her path downwards.
	
Meanwhile, Yuriko's hands took twin handfuls of Minako's abundant hair as she arched 
her back in response to Minako's kisses. She sighed softly as Minako reached her 
collarbone, and pulled gently at Minako's hair, urging her ever downwards.
	
Minako chuckled to herself as she was pulled down and soon tasted the rouge dribble of 
orange juice that had left a sticky sweet trail down Yuriko's chest. She paused just long 
enough to bend her knees slightly, and felt the hair on the back of her neck rise in 
reflection of her nervousness, as Minako found herself within striking distance of 
Yuriko's breasts. She glanced down at the simple white bra the girl wore and kissed her 
just above them before glancing up at Yuriko.
	
"It's^ÅIt^Òs okay^Å" whispered Yuriko, her eyes closed tightly, with a look of desperate 
expectation upon her face, her fingers still urging Minako forward.
	
Minako took a deep breath, causing Yuriko's body to shiver slightly as Minako's warm 
breath ran across her exposed skin, before finding the courage to continue. 
Experimentally, Minako gave Yuriko's left breast a soft kiss over her bra, and glanced up 
to gage her reaction.
	
Yuriko's body seemed to tense up a little, pushing Minako's head back towards her. 
"Don^Òt be scared^Å" urged Yuriko, reaching around to undo the front facing clasp that 
held the garment closed.
	
Minako nodded slightly, and ran her lips over the hard little bump she found, before 
giving it a gentle nibble with her teeth. As she pulled back, though, Minako gasped once 
again, as Yuriko's bra fell away, revealing her torso completely.
	
"You're beautiful," Minako replied adoringly, and leaned up to kiss Yuriko playfully on 
the chin, before dropping back down and wetting her lips.
	
"Thank you^Å" Yuriko responded, feeling somehow unworthy of the comment, which 
was far from an exaggeration.
	
Minako then went back up her task, carefully running her tongue down the trail of orange 
juice that had stopped pretty much between Yuriko's breasts, before giving her a kiss 
between them, causing Yuriko to giggle slightly,
	
"That tickles^Å" she commented, as Minako's tongue then moved slowly and tentatively 
up and over the gentle curve of Yuriko's right breast. 
	
Minako had to fight back a sudden shyness, though, as her tongue touched Yuriko's 
nipple, causing the girl to gasp suddenly. Minako gulped down her nervousness and 
continued, finding no reason to stop. As she ran her tongue in a slow tight circle around 
the girl's hardened nipple, Minako ran her hands up higher, over Yuriko's flat stomach 
and ran her fingers over the soft firmness of Yuriko's smallish breasts.
	
Minako was so involved, almost fascinated by the way Yuriko's body responded to her 
slightest touch, that she barely noticed the way Yuriko was now tugging at the bottom of 
her tunic, bringing the garment up to just under Minako's arms.
	
Minako gave a slight sigh of contentment as Yuriko's hands copied her movements, 
cupping the firm round orbs of Minako's bosom as she squeezed Yuriko's small, pink 
nipples between her fingers, and gave one of them a careful nibble.
	
"I thought- I thought you said you'd never done this before Minako-chan^Å" teased 
Yuriko, her knees suddenly feeling weak.
	
 Minako blushed a little and smiled. "I'm just doing what I like having done^Å" she 
admitted, straightening up to face Yuriko before allowing her tunic to be removed.
	
"That makes good sense," commented Yuriko thoughtfully, admiring her friend's half 
naked form, "But, I was wondering^Å Can we move this to your room?"
	
"Of course," assured Minako, brushing her fingers across Yuriko's cheek before the girl 
kissed her fingers affectionately.
	
Minako sighed contentedly, and put her arms around Yuriko. "Okay, she replied with a 
smirk, "Let's go before I forget where it is!"
	
Yuriko giggled a little and shook her head in amusement. "It must be nice to have your 
own room," she commented as Minako lead her down the hall by the hand.
	
"I take it take that you currently live in less than pleasant accommodations^Å" Minako 
inquired solemnly.
	
"Indeed," her friend replied simply, with sadness in her voice and a distance in her eyes.
	
"I'm sorry, Yuri-chan..." Minako replied, taking Yuriko in her arms, "I didn^Òt mean to 
dredge that up again^Å"
	
"It's okay," whispered Yuriko, resting her head on Minako's shoulder as they stopped just 
inside Minako's bedroom, thankful for the small comfort she found in the simple act, "It's 
my fault. But, I was hoping in some way^Å That just being with you would make me 
forget it all^Å"
	
"Some times we just need to forget our lot in life, replied Minako, running her fingers up 
and down Yuriko's spine, applying a little pressure with her fingertips to relieve some of 
her friend's tension.
	
"But I can't forget it all," Yuriko said with determination, "I can^Òt just deny what I am^Å 
And maybe I shouldn't."
	
"So long as you don^Òt deny what you were," added Minako,  "And what you still are."
	
"Well, my other form isn^Òt exactly esthetically pleasing, my dear," commented Yuriko 
sadly, "And it is a concern of mine that if you ever see it... You'll be afraid of me... And 
you won^Òt love me any more^Å"
	
Minako shook her head. "No, Yuri-chan," she whispered in reply, her lips close to 
Yuriko's ear, "You're beautiful, in any form. A few cosmetic changes aren^Òt going to 
change my feelings towards you. So long as when^Å When I'm old and gray^Å You'll still 
be willing to love me^Å"
	
"Absotively," Yuriko answered, and moved her head to face Minako with moisture in her 
eyes, "I shall always love you. For what right do I have to judge you^Å When I'm the 
only monster here..."
	
"No^Å" assured Minako, wiping away Yuriko's tears away with the backs of her fingers, 
"Just because your tears are saltless, and you need to make with me in order just to 
survive^Å Doesn^Òt mean that you're not a caring, kind, compassionate, beautiful girl. And 
as I said, I love you. No matter what."
	
Yuriko smiled and kissed Minako lightly upon the lips. "Thank you again," she said, 
"Especially for putting up with me."
	
Minako shook her head slowly. "Hey," she said with a grin, "It's all part of the job."
	
"Being the Senshi Of Love?" inquired Yuriko, cheering up somewhat.
	
"You bet!" laughed Minako, spinning both of them around 180 degrees before letting go 
of Yuriko and sitting down on the bed, "I guess one of the privileges, though, is the 
ability to fall in love fairly easily. Especially with someone like you^Å Eventhough it's so 
new^Å So different^Å So wonderful!"
	
She let herself fall backwards onto the bed, and smiled as Yuriko moved to lean over 
Minako, supporting herself on her hands. "And there are certain advantages to my 
condition as well," admitted Yuriko, blushing a little.
	
"Oh?" inquired Minako, arranging Yuriko's long braids so that they hung down on either 
side of her pretty face, as opposed to trailing off behind her as they normally did.
	
Yuriko watched her movements for a moment, and then smiled mischievously as she 
slowly leaned forward. Minako gasped as she took the front facing clasp of Minako's bra 
in her teeth and pulled up slightly. Yuriko then closed her mouth around the clasp for a 
moment, as Minako could see a look of concentration on her face before the bra popped 
open.
	
"Wow!" exclaimed Minako in amazement, as Yuriko seemed to take another moment to 
make some kind of adjustment to the inside of her mouth with her tongue, "That's some 
trick! How'd you do it?"
	
"Nimble tongue^Å" commented Yuriko, glancing around nervously before meeting 
Minako's gaze long enough for her pretty emerald green eyes to glow slightly with an 
eerie luminescence for a brief second, and tried desperately not to laugh. 
	
"Should I be afraid?" asked Minako teasingly as Yuriko stood up and began undoing the 
buttons on the side of her skirt.
	
Yuriko glanced up and smiled. "Depends^Å" she purred, "Are you afraid of trying 
something knew?" She took no small amount of pleasure in the look she got from Minako 
as the remainder of her uniform fell about her ankles.
	
Minako dropped her head back upon her bed, and covered her face with her hands to hide 
her embarrassment at her suddenly strong feeling of arousal. All the while, she could hear 
Yuriko sit down on the floor upon her knees and soon felt Yuriko's hands upon her 
ankles, sliding her socks off before moving slowly up her athletic calves to her knees.
	
"Oh!" gasped Minako in surprise at the unfamiliar touch of Yuriko's soft nimble fingers 
pressing against her skin lightly as her skirt was slowly pushed up, causing Minako's 
pulse to race as she realized what Yuriko had in mind,  "I-! Um!"
	
Yuriko stopped immediately, dropping her hands as she knelt before Minako, and letting 
the girl's skirt fall mostly back into place. "I'm sorry, Minako-chan," came Yuriko's 
concerned apology, "If^Å If I've done something to offend you^Å"
	
"No! No, not at all," assured Minako, sitting up, "That's not it at all^Å I^Å It's just all so 
new to me, and I've never had anyone do THAT to me before. That's all. I got a little 
nervous for a second is all."
	
"Oh, I see^Å" pondered Yuriko thoughtfully, with an odd look crossing her face, "Then I 
am honored to be the first person that you allow to help you to experience this one simple 
joy that you've denied yourself all this time, Minako-san^Å"
	
Minako chuckled softly, kissing Yuriko on the forehead teasingly before falling back 
down again. "You're NOT in school right now, Agasha-sama!" she laughed, taking 
Yuriko's hand, and giving it a squeeze, "You needn't be so formal."
	
Yuriko looked away for a moment, staring out the window. "I know," she said, trying to 
explain, "But it's like I said the other day in the rain^Å I don^Òt like loosing control. And 
the way I speak is part of way that I maintain control. Even my hairstyle is an element of 
my self-control, and my victory over my^Å dark side^Å And my less than human 
urges^Å"
	
"Oh, I see," commented Minako, struggling back up to a sitting position yet again, "I'm 
sorry. I didn^Òt know^Å But surely there are times when you just let go^Å Like maybe 
when you^Å You know^Å"
	
Yuriko shook her head slightly. "No," she answered quite simply, "I've never allowed 
myself to experience THAT sensation^Å I'm concerned as to what will happen if I ever 
do^Å"
	
"Fireworks, my love^Å" replied Minako, raising Yuriko's hand to her mouth and each of 
the girl's delicate finger tips in turn, "And I am honored to be the first person that you 
allow to help you to experience this one simple joy that you've denied yourself all this 
time, Yuriko-chan^Å"
	
"Hey," replied Yuriko with a smile, "You didn^Òt mess up saying that."
	
Minako grinned as Yuriko turned to meet her gaze. "It thumbs and grows!" she laughed.
	
"You did that on purpose!" Yuriko chuckled.
	
"Ask me no questions, I sell you no flies!" Minako exclaimed, bursting out laughing and 
burying her face in her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment at being so silly.
	
Yuriko shook her head, finding it strange that her smile refused to fade. "I^Å I guess 
you're keeping your promise, Minako-chan," she replied, with an odd feeling of 
contentment.
	
"Of course," Minako replied, placing Yuriko's hand upon her knee once more, "Now^Å I 
seem to recall that you were in the middle of showing myself something new, my love?"
	
Yuriko smiled broadly. "Of course^Å" Yuriko responded, moving back down, and 
repeating her previous actions of placing her pale hands against Minako's ankles and 
slowly moving them upwards. All the while maintaining eye contact, and savoring the 
soft feel of Minako's skin beneath her fingers.
	
Minako gulped as a chill ran down her spine once Yuriko had reached her previous 
stopping point at her knees. This time, though, Minako moved them wider apart, as her 
skirt was brought up and Yuriko gave each of her knees an affectionate kiss as her hands 
ran along Minako's outer thighs.
	
Minako leaned back as far as she could, biting her lower lip and arching her back, and 
barely noticing her own soft sighs as Yuriko kissed her way up, over Minako's inner 
thighs in an alternating pattern of soft kisses. In response, Minako ran her hands along the 
twin braids that Yuriko's was tied in and took hold of the ends, tugging at them and 
urging Yuriko towards more intimate areas, as her legs hung off the end of the bed.
	
Yuriko giggled a little, tasting the needful urgency of Minako's desire with other senses 
that she only dimly understood, as the girl unfastened her skirt and shuffled it down past 
her knees. Yuriko took advantage of this, and after a few seconds of patiently waiting for 
Minako to extricate herself from the garment, she shuffled forward on her knees. Their 
naked skin then touched for the first time, sending excited chills through both girls, as 
Yuriko descended upon Minako, and placed a firm kiss against her labia through her 
panties.
	
Minako gasped in response, somehow partially unraveling Yuriko's braids as she pulled 
at their ties, allowing the girl's hair to fall partially free, as she moved her legs a little 
farther apart. Yuriko paused for a moment as she tugged playfully at Minako's panties, 
but decided to let it go, and began sliding the tip of her tongue carefully over the soft, 
sensitive skin that she was slowly exposing.
	
"I think you're going to drive me completely over the edge just with pure expectation!" 
murmured Minako, her breathing becoming more labored, as Minako tried to keep herself 
from squirming too much.	
	
"It's much more fun that way," commented Yuriko slyly, watching the expression on 
Minako's face change with near fascination as she pulled the girl's undergarments over 
her knees and down off her athletic legs.
	
Minako smiled, panting slightly to catch her breath before Yuriko could start up where 
she left off, and used a pillow to prop her head up so that she could watch. "Of course, 
that just means that I'll have to do the same to you later^Å" she commented lustily.
	
"I certainly hope so^Å" Yuriko replied, innocently looking down at Minako, as she began 
to weave her tongue over Minako's naked skin once again.
	
Minako drew in a deep breath, digging her nails into Yuriko's shoulders as the girl's 
tongue finally found its way to her hardened clit. Yuriko couldn^Òt help giggle as Minako 
held her breath as her clit was touched by a female tongue for the first time. 
	
Minako let out a long sigh as the tension she felt was finally released with the gentle 
touch of Yuriko's soft tongue. Watching with great interest, as her mind swam in ecstasy, 
Minako took twin fistfuls of her bed's blanket when she noticed and felt the way Yuriko 
wove her tongue teasingly around and around her clit, avoiding it by mere millimeters, 
after licking it but once.
	
"Oh! I think you're teasing me way to much!" Minako replied, moaning softly under her 
breath as Yuriko's tongue sent little sparks of pleasure through her synapses.
	
"I know!" responded Yuriko with a wide grin before covering the entire area with her 
mouth and sucking hard against it, whist she licked maddeningly at Minako's clit. She ran 
the tip of her tongue around it as close to the bottom as possible, before making swift 
tight circles upon the top of it while pushing down hard with her tongue.
	
Minako pushed her head hard against the pillow, her eyes shut tightly, as the semi-
familiar sensation spread through her. Minako cried out joyously as she felt her insides 
convulse and the building finally let go as her emotionally charged release took hold of 
the girl.
	
She squeezed her eyes tightly closed, as her whole body spasmed. Her breathing 
becoming gasping shrieks through gritted teeth, as Yuriko watched Minako's 
performance appreciatively, her teeth carefully giving Minako's hyper-sensitive clit a 
little nibble before giving it a soft kiss, and moving up to hold Minako in her arms as the 
girl came down.
	
"Thank you^Å" Minako whispered as her almost musical sighs and gasps faded away to 
slow deep breaths, and opened her eyes as she brushed Yuriko's now loose hair away 
from her deep green eyes.
	
 "I'm not quite finished yet," Yuriko said softly, before reaching back with her right hand, 
and running two fingers through the moistness that she found between Minako's legs.
	
"Oh-! I-!" exclaimed Minako, her eyes going wide.
	
"Shhh^Å" soothed Yuriko, kissing her gently up the lips to silence her for a moment, 
"Just relax^Å Don^Òt be afraid to just let go^Å"
	
"But I just di-!" exclaimed Minako, feeling one of Yuriko's slender fingers begin to 
slowly slide its way up inside her to the second knuckle. Minako somehow found the 
strength to put her arms around Yuriko and bit lightly into her shoulder as she caught her 
breath.
	
Yuriko continued, though, kissing Minako's neck as her finger wove its way around 
inside of Minako, slowly pushing farther in every few moments. Minako gasped and 
leaned forward to kiss Yuriko full upon the lips, savoring the sensation of the slow, 
careful penetration of Yuriko's finger.
	
It explored around inside of her for several moments, as Minako's inner walls clamped 
tightly around it while it made seemingly impossible movements, bringing Minako closer 
to cumming yet again. But, as the pressure built inside of her, Yuriko began pulling it 
back out, causing Minako to break off their kiss and give her a mildly hurt look before 
she saw the girl smile and bring her wetted finger up to eye level. 	   
	
Minako gave her a somewhat suspicious look as Yuriko smiled a little shyly before 
leaning on her left arm for support, and touching her finger to Minako's lips, spreading 
the wetness across them. Minako's eyes widened in surprise as she blushed profusely. 
	
"Don^Òt be afraid," whispered Yuriko encouragingly, before drawing her finger back, 
putting into her mouth before sucking at it, and sighing contentedly.
	
Minako gave a sideways glance and smiled shyly as she carefully licked her lips. "Oh!" 
she whispered under her breath in surprise, "I^Å I never knew^Å"
	
"That you had such pleasant body chemistry?" inquired Yuriko with a smile, "Well, you 
do. And from my point of view it's amplified^Å We do have rather improved senses after 
all^Å"
	
Minako nodded and met Yuriko's gaze, before going back to almost absentmindedly 
untangling the girl's hair. Combing her fingers through it affectionately, as Yuriko lay 
beside her, their legs still in a bit of an tangle.
	
"I could tell that you did by just sitting next to you in class," she admitted, sliding to one 
side of Minako and tracing a line down Minako's neck with her index finger, chuckling 
slightly as Minako caught her breath when Yuriko's finger continued lightly downwards, 
passing between her breasts.
	
Yuriko glanced at Minako's face and found her intently watching as she placed hand 
upon Minako's sternum. Yuriko sent her fingers over the soft skin of Minako's 
endowment, slowly revealing the girl's breasts, one at a time, by moving the cups of her 
bra away. At last leaving Minako naked before Yuriko after a few long tense moments.
	
"I sincerely hope that you never grow wary of my affection, my love," whispered Yuriko, 
running just her finger tips lazily across Minako's breasts, and watching the way her 
small pink nipples hardened to Yuriko's touch.
	
"Never^Å" promised Minako with a bit of concern in her voice, but no lack of sincerity, 
"You've captured my heart, and shown me a joy that I'd never contemplated^Å I can't 
imagine how anyone could ever let you go^Å"
	
"Thank you, Minako-chan," Yuriko said quietly, leaning down so that she could kiss 
Minako, while sliding the straps of the girl's bra off her shoulders, one at a time.
	
"No problem," Minako said with a smile, holding the back of Yuriko's head, and urging 
her forward once again.
	
Yuriko complied quite willingly, and moved down to kiss Minako, but instead, moved 
her head slightly, and kissed her neck. "Are you teasing me?" Minako asked slyly, as 
Yuriko shuffled down just a little.
	
"You'll see^Å" promised Yuriko with a smile, "Just relax^Å"
	
Minako took a deep breath, and nodded, tensing slightly in anticipation as Yuriko's hand 
was suddenly placed upon her knee. Yuriko barely noticed the way that Minako held her 
breath, though, as she carefully placed her lips around Minako's right nipple and began 
suckling gently. 
	
Minako moaned softly, and Yuriko increased the suction, using a small portion of her 
Youma abilities to maintain the effect, as her tongue traced a slow circular pattern around 
the captive nipple. All the while, Yuriko's hand slid up from Minako's knee, and gave the 
girl's firm thigh muscles a gentle squeeze as it moved upward.
	
Minako exhaled loudly, as the sensations sent tingling chills down her spine and gripped 
Yuriko's shoulder for support as the girl moved on top of her. "Move up a little," urged 
Yuriko, ending her affectionate assault upon Minako's small breast for a moment, as she 
awkwardly tried to rearrange their positioning.
	
Minako just nodded and shuffled higher on her bed, until her head touched her pillow, 
and Yuriko moved so that she was now sitting on her calves at the end of Minako's bed. 
The girl's legs bent at the knees, and resting upon Yuriko's calves as they were spread 
apart.
	
"Sorry for the delay^Å" Yuriko commented, this time putting both hands upon Minako's 
knees, and moving them both forward over her friend's firm, athletic thighs, "I'm just not 
thinking that far ahead, I guess^Å"
	
"You're just nervous, 'tis all," assured Minako, stretching out on the bed invitingly "But 
then again, so am I^Å"
	
"Then I'll just have to relax you a little," replied Yuriko, almost thoughtfully, as her 
fingertips suddenly touched lightly against Minako's labia, causing the girl to cry out 
suddenly.
	
"Oh, dear-!" she gasped, causing Yuriko to chuckle a little as Minako's body quivered 
beneath her, "Please, keep going..."
	
Yuriko nodded, and carefully ran just her index fingers up and down either side of the 
opening before moving slightly to press one of them gently against it. Minako gritted her 
teeth and nodded slightly, reaching down to hold onto Yuriko's lower arms as her friend's 
finger made slow careful circles as it pushed slowly forward.

Yuriko felt a little guilty, as she could taste Minako's life energy through every 
portion of her body that touched Minako's even slightly. But it was peculiar Youma 
senses in her fingertip that screamed out in hunger as Minako's body squeezed tightly 
around the digit while it attempted to penetrate deeper. 
	
"Don^Òt stop-!" gasped Minako through gritted teeth as her body shuddered a little before 
letting out a single prolonged exasperated shriek as she flooded her lover's probing 
finger.
	
Yuriko gasped loudly, as she couldn't help but steal a single drop of Minako's Life Force 
at the point of ecstasy. She savored the taste of her lover's emotions with senses that no 
mortal possessed, as she continued her sensual onslaught, weaving her finger deeper 
inside Minako, and quietly noting the effect that her friend's active life style had had on 
her anatomy.
	
"Oh! How ever did you manage that?!" Minako moaned, opening her eyes, as Yuriko 
leaned forward and smile down at her, "You barely did anything^Å"
	
"To^Å Be honest^Å I kinda used an ability or two^Å" admitted Yuriko, her long black hair 
spilling down over Minako's body, inadvertently caressing it gently, "I also couldn^Òt help 
taking just a little^Å I'm sorry."
	
"No, no, my love," soothed Minako, reaching up to hold the side of Yuriko's face, for a 
moment forgetting the finger that was still wriggling slowly inside of her, "It's alright."
	
"I^Å Just don^Òt want to take advantage of you^Å That's all," replied Yuriko, a little 
guiltily, tilting her head slightly, and kissing the palm of Minako's hand.
	
"Then maybe I'll just have to take a little more control of the situation, them," chuckled 
Minako, reaching back down, and holding Yuriko's wrist with both hands, "Now, why 
don^Òt you show me just what else you can do^Å" 
	
Yuriko smiled lovingly and nodded.
	
"Oh," Minako added shyly, "And I should tell you^Å Sometimes I use 'two'^Å"
	
"Two?" inquired Yuriko, a little confused.
	
Minako hid her face with her hand as she blushed. "Think about it^Å" she chuckled, 
feeling horribly embarrassed.
	
"Oh!" exclaimed Yuriko, suddenly catching on, feeling Minako's embarrassment through 
their skin contact, and sympathizing, "I see^Å"
	
Minako sighed, and tried to relax again, as she went back to paying attention to the 
sensation of Yuriko's finger inside of her. She also noticed that it seemed to be moving in 
an almost impossible manner as Yuriko went about her task.
	
"I said you could use two, you know!" chuckled Minako, pulling Yuriko's hand by the 
wrist towards her.
	
"I have a better idea," Yuriko commented, somewhat mysteriously, her eyes shimmering 
slightly for a moment, before making a slight adjustment to her finger.
	
Minako's eyes widened as she felt Yuriko's finger slowly expand inside of her as it 
continued to move expertly in and out. "How-?" she gasped as her inner walls clung 
almost hungrily to the digit, and an odd feeling of pleasant "fullness" gripped Minako's 
attention.
	
"Do you^Å Have any other surprises for me?" Minako inquired as her mind began to 
drown in a coalescing haze of ecstasy for the third time.
	
"Um^Å Yes, yes indeed," Yuriko replied, somewhat nervously.
	
"Then show me!" pleaded Minako, almost yelling as her passion increased, and she 
arched her back, in expectation of one final release.
	
Yuriko gulped down her inhibitions about using too many of her powers, and gave in to 
her own body's desires, as well as Minako's. With great care, Yuriko made some minor 
adjustments to her tongue, and moved once again. She soon was lying on her stomach, 
propped up on one arm, half on the bed with her face mere inches from where her finger 
was doing its work. Yuriko then leaned in the short distance, and encircled Minako's clit 
with her mouth once more. This accomplished, Yuriko pressed the now modified end of 
her tongue against the hardened protuberance.
	
By this time Minako's vocabulary had be reduced to a long string of mostly incoherent 
gasps, intersplaced by long moans, and the occasional sigh. But as the strange, although 
most overpoweringly pleasant sensation of Yuriko's tongue somehow suckling at her clit 
caught her off guard, Minako emitted a sound that was impossible for human vocal cords 
to pull off. At the same time her eyes went as wide as they could go, as Minako grabbed 
twin fistfuls of Yuriko's hair and pulled her lover as close as possible, whist her body 
quivered and shook.
	
Yuriko closed her eyes and sighed contentedly, lapping up the smallest portion of 
Minako's Life Energy, and basking in the delicious emotions that were practically 
emanating from her. The sounds escaping from Minako's mouth were the harmony to the 
music of her emotional output, as her energy levels increased dramatically at the point of 
sensual spasm.
	
Yuriko made a frightened, as she had to quickly fight the urge to shift completely when 
through special pores in her finger she lapped up the clear sticky juices that Minako's 
body was suddenly expelling. Yuriko closed her eyes tightly, as the excess Energy filled 
her, and she "tasted" the pure sweetness of Minako's Life Force in a larger volume than 
ever before. The sudden, almost sensual rush of Energy swamped Yuriko's senses, and 
she barely noticed the pain as she bit her own tongue against her own sudden release. All 
the while a faint bioluminescence glowed from underneath her tightly closed eyelids, as 
the walls of Yuriko's iron clad self control were battered. She desperately wanted to stop, 
as she moaned quietly, trying desperately not to cry out. But Yuriko's body refused to let 
her, not even for a moment to regain her composure, causing the poor Youma to come 
dangerously close to changing completely, and draining her dearest love completely 
dry^Å
	
Finally, though, Minako's series of exasperated gasps, shouts and cries of ecstasy died 
down as her body gave out, finally attaining the level of release she sought. With great 
relief, Yuriko drew back, still fighting against her partially satiated hunger, and began to 
remove her elongated, and expanded finger.
	
Minako cried out inadvertently, almost like a wounded animal as the wonderful sensation 
of Yuriko inside of her faded and her inner walls contracted. Yuriko, who^Òs breathing 
was more of a quiet panting, carefully replaced her finger with her still altered tongue, 
unable to resist just a little more of Minako's Life Energy. 
	
Minako gasped half happily, and half exhaustedly, before grabbing Yuriko's still altered 
finger, and drawing it up into her mouth. She then moaned contentedly as she held 
Yuriko by the wrist and greedily suckled her own wetness from Yuriko's finger.
	
Meanwhile, Yuriko watched Minako with great interest, as she found it nearly impossible 
to stop the eerie emerald glow of her eyes, or revert her overly phallic looking finger 
back to normal. Instead, she gave in to her desires just a little, altering her tongue a bit 
more as it probed deeper and deeper inside of Minako, and subtly undulated as it 
expanded in width and length to fill Minako once more.
	
All the while, Minako slurped a bit as she almost absently sucked on Yuriko's finger as 
the Youma began to let her own secretions ooze slowly from her pores. Minako's eyes 
opened in surprise, as she tasted a fluid similar to her own, suddenly filling her mouth.
	
Minako gazed down at Yuriko as the girl's mouth was pressed firmly against her. "How-
?!" gasped Minako, pulling the phallic finger from her mouth for a moment.
	
Yuriko only shrugged, her glowing eyes showing a hint of mischievousness, as she tried 
to look as innocent as possible. "Oh, never mind!" sighed Minako, feeling Yuriko's 
tongue probe her in impossibly wonderful ways, as Yuriko's finger glistened with a new 
batch of tasty secretions, "I think I could get used to this!"
	
Yuriko sighed contentedly, as Minako began suckling her finger again, the wonderfully 
warm sensation of Minako's body against her altered finger and tongue soothing her 
hunger for Life Energy slightly, as a feeling of contentment filled her.
	
After several minutes, though, as Minako seemed to be on the verge of unconsciousness, 
and her body began refusing to generate any more excess energy, or lubricant, Yuriko 
reluctantly retracted her tongue. Hiding it from view until it was fully in her mouth as not 
to scare Minako.
	
"Wow^Å" sighed Minako, almost unable to move, as Yuriko withdrew her hand 
completely, and Minako took many long deep breaths as she tried her best to stretch out, 
her body glistening with sweat, her long blond hair fanning out beneath her.
	
Yuriko sighed contently as she took in Minako's beauty at that moment, and almost didn^Òt 
hear her whisper quietly. "Please^Å" she asked, "Hold me^Å"
	
Yuriko nodded, and smiled lovingly as her eyes went back to normal, before sliding up 
on to the bed completely, and taking Minako into her arms. "Better?" she inquired, as 
Minako moved to kiss her.
	
"Yes, muchly," she responded, once their lips had parted, "That was^Å Indescribable..."
	
Yuriko blushed, as the two rolled onto their sides. "You're welcome, Minako-chan," she 
replied, with a guilty sadness in her voice.
	
"What's wrong..?" inquired Minako, savoring the cool touch of Yuriko's skin against her 
overheated body.
 	
Yuriko shrugged, and held Minako a little closer. "I guess I just feel guilty whenever I 
use my powers^Å" she admitted, "That and I almost lost control that time^Å I'm sorry, but 
I just couldn^Òt help it."
	
"Shh^Å It's okay," soothed Minako, "It's okay, I wanted to use your powers. I wanted to 
know what you could do. It was really great, and besides I 'd rather have you feed from 
someone who loves, you^Å As opposed to someone who's just using you^Å"
	
"Thank you," Yuriko replied, looking into Minako's pale blue eyes.
	
"Besides," continued Minako, trying to change the subject, "A human's Energy levels go 
ways up during certain activities^Å So really, you could probably siphon off quite a bit 
without too many ill effects."
	
Yuriko smiled. "I suppose so," she conceded, "And yes, I am happy to have someone^Å 
Besides Her^Å She 'tastes' akin to^Å Um, sour milk, I believe. So really, loosing you 
would be the end of me."
	
"Not a chance of that happening!" assured Minako, brushing Yuriko's hair from her eyes, 
"And soon, we'll take care of that cold hearted monster that stole your life from you."
	
Yuriko nodded. "Thank you, again, Minako-chan," Yuriko whispered, holding Minako 
closer.
	
"Oh, and before I forget," continued Minako, pulling away from Yuriko a few inches, "I 
should return the favor^Å"

"Oh?" inquired Yuriko with a trace of suspicion.
	
"Yes^Å" whispered Minako, leaning back in to kiss her passionately upon the lips, and 
running her fingers down Yuriko's back. 
	
 The girl sighed contentedly in response, going somewhat limp in Minako's arms, and 
allowing her herself to be pushed gently onto her back. Minako broke off their kiss in 
order to catch her breath, as Yuriko could sense her nervousness.
	
"Just do what you feel," replied Yuriko encouragingly, "Just follow your instincts^Å"
	
Minako nodded with a shy smile, and gave Yuriko the slightest of kisses upon the lips 
before slowly kissing down her neck. All the while, Minako's hands moved 
experimentally across Yuriko's body, enjoying the softness of her skin, and envying the 
way the girl didn^Òt seem to sweat. Infact, there was a slight coolness to her skin that made 
Minako not notice the fact that she herself was quite over heated.
	
But her thoughts became less esoteric as her lips kissed between Yuriko's breasts causing 
Yuriko to quietly take a handful of Minako's hair and coax her towards one of the girl's 
hardened pink nipples.
	
Minako complied willingly, and began making the same slow circles with her tongue that 
Yuriko had used on her. The tip of her tongue barely touching Yuriko's skin, as she 
spiraled her way towards the center, until finally taking Yuriko's nipple in her teeth and 
nibbling gently. 
	
Yuriko sighed a little and arched her back, pulling Minako closer and causing her to 
inadvertently bite a lot harder than she intended to. "Ohh!" gasped Yuriko, her voice 
attaining a higher pitch for a moment, as Minako desperately tried to pull her head back.
	
"I-I'm sorry!" she stammered, looking guiltily into Yuriko's partly closed eyes.
	
"No^Å It's okay," Yuriko said with a slight smile, "My pain threshold is substantially 
higher then you'd think!"
	
"Oh, I see^Å" commented Minako slyly, "I guess I'll just have to keep that in mind!"
	
"Promises, promises^Å" chuckled Yuriko almost under her breath, as Minako moved her 
head back down, and put her lips back upon Yuriko's breast, and suckling as hard as she 
could, as she brought up her hand, and cupped the opposite breast.
	
Minako then glanced up as she took the opposite nibble between two of her fingers as 
applied pressure to Yuriko's breast with the others. She caught another glimpse of the 
slight glow in Yuriko's eyes, and Minako was certain that the girl's incisors grew slightly 
as she cried out when Minako squeezed one nipple between two finger, while nibbling, 
suckling upon, and running her tongue over the other.
	
"Don^Òt you ever come up for air?" giggled Yuriko as the sensations that Minako's touch 
was invoking caused her human side to react in ways she had never truly experienced.
	
"Be thankful I'm not Ami-chan," replied Minako, stopping long enough to shuffle down 
enough to give Yuriko's stomach a kiss, before taking a breast in each hand, and running 
her tongue slowly downwards, "She swims a lot. Probably can hold her breath for hour!"
	
Yuriko half laughed, half gasped as both her breasts her gently, but firm squeezed by 
Minako's hands, her fingers applying pressure in alternating patterns. "I-! I think I'm 
satisfied with you, my love^Å" replied Yuriko, biting her lower lip, as Minako's tongue 
touched her clit.
	
"I'm glad," Minako replied sincerely, and gave the general area of Yuriko's hardened little 
clit a deep kiss, before continuing to assault it with her tongue.
	
Yuriko, though, barely heard Minako's words, it was all that she could do to drown out 
most of the sensations that were filling her. There was no way that she was going to allow 
herself a complete loss of control, even though her body was screaming out for release. 
But Yuriko knew that if she attain orgasm, she probably wouldn't have the strength not to 
change form completely.
	
Thankfully, though, just as Yuriko's quick breathing and quiet sighs and moans began to 
increase in pitch, Minako moved down again, her tongue tracing lines up and down 
Yuriko's labia.
	
"That was^Å so close^Å" Yuriko gasped as Minako's tongue slid inside of her at the same 
time she squeezed, and gave a little twist to Yuriko's nipples.
	
Minako did her best to give a muffled response, but was far too involved in her sudden 
surprise at the peculiar flavor that filled taste buds. It was superficially similar to her own 
flavor, which she had thought was fairly pleasant, but Yuriko's body chemistry had 
conspired to make the girl simple indescribably delicious, even better than the peculiar 
secretions she had produced when Minako had suckled the girl's finger. Minako guessed 
that this was yet an other of Yuriko's Youma powers, but was far from concerned.  
	
Instead, Minako let out a long sigh of pleasure, as she settled in and began sucking and 
licking up as muck of Yuriko's ecstatical secretions as possible All the while, Yuriko was 
holding her hands, pushing Minako's finger closer together, and causing her nipples to be 
squeezed all the harder.
	
Soon, though, Yuriko's sense of self-control began to waver all the more. She desperately 
wanted Minako to stop, but she couldn't stop the Youma aspect of herself from 
continually enhancing the semi-sweet juices that Minako's was greedily lapping up. 
Everytime Yuriko opened her mouth to tell Minako to stop, all that came forth was 
another cry of ecstasy, or another prolonged moan, or shriek of delight. This, the pleasure 
Minako was receiving at pleasing her love, caused Minako to go on and on.
	
Without fully realizing everything that she was doing, Minako pulled back her right hand, 
and slid her index and middle fingers into the sopping wetness between Yuriko's labia, 
placing her thumb against Yuriko's clit as she came up for air.
	
Minako then stared down, almost hypnotized by the sight of her fingers sliding in and out 
of Yuriko as her thumb rubbed against the girl's clit at the same time. Once she had 
caught her breath, Minako leaned back down and shared Yuriko's clit with her thumb, as 
Yuriko's whole body began to spasm.
	
Minako smiled somewhat in satisfaction as she felt Yuriko tighten around her probing 
fingers, and Yuriko tried to hold back the inevitable. "Mi-! Nako-!" she cried, her voice 
pleading  as she grabbed Minako's hand and yanked it awkwardly away from between her 
legs, "S-Stop!"
	
It took a moment for Minako to comprehend what had just happened, as she stared a little 
numbly at her dripping fingers. She was then hit by a sudden sense of guilt, and Minako 
met Yuriko's gaze. 
	
"I-I'm so sorry!" she stammered, noticing the look of almost pained concentration on 
Yuriko's face, "Did I hurt you?!"
	
Yuriko shook her head, as she panted for a moment, trying to catch her breath, and 
reestablish control of her body. "No," she finally replied after a few tense seconds, "It's 
just that^Å Just that I don^Òt want to scare you^Å"
	
"How..?" began Minako.
	
"If I allow myself to loose control completely I'll change^Å" continued Yuriko, still 
feeling Minako's fingers inside of her as her frustrated body pleaded for more, "And I 
don^Òt want you to be repulsed."
	
"But^Å I won^Òt be^Å" assured Minako, taking Yuriko's hand and giving her knuckles a 
reassuring kiss, I think you're beautiful inside and out. And a little metamorphosis isn^Òt 
gonna change that, Yuri-chan."
	
Yuriko turned her head to one side, trying to hide the hunger in her eyes. "I can't ask you 
to continue," she replied sadly, "It wouldn^Òt be right."
	
"Then don't," commented Minako, leaning down to give Yuriko's labia a long slow lick, 
sending her tongue partially inside to acquire more of her lover's juices.
	
Yuriko's eyes went wide with not only with fear, but with awe at the sense of devotion 
that Minako was showing her, as well as Minako's courage to face the unknown. So 
Yuriko did her best to relax, as Minako placed her hands on her thighs, gently pushing 
Yuriko's legs apart a bit more.
	
"Please forgive me, my love^Å" Yuriko whispered softly as the sensations began to 
overwhelm her once more, and this time, she simply gave in.
	
Minako barely noticed the change at first, closing her eyes tightly as her own body began 
to spasm at the wonderful feeling of pleasuring someone she deeply loved. So, she did 
not notice the change in Yuriko's skin colour, as it began to take on a bluish tinge. 
Growing deeper and more pronounced as Yuriko reached orgasm. Minako barely noticed 
the way Yuriko's fingers extended as the wove their through her long silky hair. And the 
extra light form the green bioluminescence of Yuriko's eyes went quite unnoticed for 
some time.
	
"Minako-!" Yuriko cried out, pulling the girl as close against herself as she could, in 
order to have Minako's probing tongue as deep inside of her as possible at the point of 
final ecstasy.
	
In response, Minako sucked as hard as she could, trying desperately to drain Yuriko 
completely as her tongue began to feel as though it were going to wear out. Then, much 
to Minako's satisfaction, Yuriko arched her back, and cried out in a long, almost painful 
sounding exclamation of ecstasy.
	
Minako pulled back her mouth, and furiously, and mercilessly then began licking the 
girl's clit as Yuriko convulsed beneath her, frantically flailing about and practically 
screaming loud enough to wake the dead for what seemed like forever^Å
	
Finally, though, Yuriko sank back down against the bed, panting as Minako stared a little 
nervously at what she's been licking. The icy blue of Yuriko's skin seeming to almost 
glow as the girl came down, and Minako slowly cast her gaze slowly upward.
 	
What she saw was nowhere near as horrific as most of the Youma Minako had faced in 
her career as a Sailor Senshi. Infact, Minako could see the beauty in Yuriko's form, as the 
girl looked back up at her with tension in her green glowing eyes. 
	
"It^Òs okay," assured Minako, unsure of what to make of the extra set of arms that Yuriko 
had sprouted.
	
"I feel very self conscious, though^Å" responded Yuriko, folding both sets of arms, her 
fingers twitching nervously in such a way as to imply that they had no bones.
	
"Don^Òt be," Minako said soothing, sliding up Yuriko's body, and encouraging the girl to 
hold her with all her arms.
	
"I can't help it," responded Yuriko, complying with Minako's wishes, and thankful to 
have her in such close proximity, "I feel such a monster at times^Å"
	
"You're not," Minako said firmly, and gave Yuriko a nervous kiss upon her darker blue 
lips, "You're the woman I love."
	
Yuriko smiled, and gave Minako a double hug. "I hope that one day I deserve you Senshi 
of Love," she mused, savoring every moment of Minako's touch, and feeling slightly less 
self conscious.
	
"So," replied Minako, a little nervously, "Are there any other surprises in store for me?"
	
Yuriko shrugged. Only once though. "I can make a couple of other minor alterations," 
she answered, carefully trying to talk around her fangs.
	
  "Hmm, really^Å" mused Minako, rearranging herself so that she was straddling Yuriko, 
and took hold of one of the girl's extra hands, "I seem to recall you being able to elongate 
your fingers?"
	
Yuriko nodded. "Yes, amongst other things," answered Yuriko, suddenly feeling a little 
suspicious. 
	
"And you had that trick of exuding fluid from your pours^Å" continued Minako.
	
"Indeed," Yuriko responded, "my fingers are tentacles in my^Å 'Other' form. I can even 
make the secretions quite sticky^Å I once used them to climb a wall^Å"
	
"Wow!" laughed Minako, "You have Swiss Army tentacles!" 
	
Yuriko smirked, and shook her head, a wide smile crossing her face. "They also are 
extremely sensitive to sensory input. I could take your temperature within 2 degrees. And 
if need be, I absorb liquids through them^Å Same as with my tongue^Å But that makes it 
hard to talk^Å"
	
Minako smiled as she carefully examined Yuriko's fingers/tentacles. "I'll be careful not to 
get you too tongue tied in the future then!" she laughed.
	
"That's just terrible!" laughed Yuriko in response, running two of her hands up Minako's 
thighs almost unconsciously.
	
"Careful!" Minako warned with a grin, "If you send those much higher, I might want to 
try something different!"
	
Yuriko stopped, her skin suddenly feeling slightly cooler. "I^Å I'm not certain that I'm 
completely comfortable with that idea^Å" she replied.     
	
"Not even just a little?" inquired Minako teasingly, as the possibilities for what they 
could do intrigued her greatly.
	
"Well^Å Maybe just a little^Å" answered Yuriko, thankful for Minako's complete lack of 
revulsion, and unusual curiosity.
	
"Good^Å" giggled Minako taking Yuriko's middle finger in her mouth and suck
ling on it the same way as before.
	
Yuriko shivered a little at the sudden sensation. "Those ARE more sensitive than they 
look, you know!" she replied, as chills ran up her spine.
	
"Mm-Hm!" responded Minako with a grin, as Yuriko secreted moisture into Minako's 
mouth through her pours once again, "Mmf!"
	
Yuriko couldn^Òt help giggling as Minako's eyes rolled back and she took hold of Yuriko's 
wrist for support at the sudden burst of flavor. "Careful, my love," replied Yuriko, feeling 
a little more comfortable about giving into her body's desires, "You may give me some 
peculiar ideas!"
	
Minako giggled, and gave her the "thumbs up", before closing her eyes and arching her 
back, causing her breasts to stand out invitingly. Yuriko sighed, and took advantage of 
the invitation, extending the fingers on either side of the middle one that Minako was 
sucking on.
	
They arched downwards, and grew to an impossible length, until they touched the tips of 
Minako's nipples. Yuriko paused for a moment, watching Minako's expression with 
interest, before willing her fingertips to "open" and encompass Minako's hardened pink 
nipples.
	
Minako made an approving noise, and Yuriko moved on to the next step. The ends of her 
fingers actually applying a sucking sensation, pulling and squeezing at Minako's sensitive 
nipples like two small vacuum cleaners. Minako gritted her teeth and took Yuriko by the 
wrist, urging her onwards.
	
Yuriko then moved her other free hand underneath Minako, sliding her middle finger 
carefully inside of Minako. Yuriko smiled as Minako groaned softly, and took the 
response as permission to proceed. Yuriko's middle finger elongated, and widened, 
causing even more approving sounds from Minako as the tentacle/finger filled her, and 
began rubbing gently against her inner walls, lubricated by her own moisture.
	
"I this okay for you?" inquired Yuriko, panting softly as sensation bombarded both their 
minds.
	
"Y-Yes..!" moaned Minako, falling back on top of her, and hugging herself against the 
girl, "Just-! Don't stop..!"
	
Yuriko nodded as best she could, and accepted Minako's passionate kiss before holding 
her beloved with her two occupied arms, before making use of some unused fingers.
	
She sent the index finger, next to her middle one that was gently probing inside Minako, 
up towards the girl's clit. Minako responded with a sudden gasp as the finger did to her 
clit what two of Yuriko's other finders were doing to her nipples.
	
Yuriko sighed contentedly, as she tasted Minako in ways that no human could conceive 
of, pausing only to readjust her arm that Minako was lying on. Minako, however, barely 
noticed as Yuriko drew her arm out from between them, her busy fingers growing all the 
more to accommodate their distance from their hand. Yuriko then moved her two free 
hands, which were holding Minako, downwards, sending her fingers in an almost 
serpentine pattern across her skin and down her back. 
	
Minako giggled slightly as Yuriko's touch send chills through her, before her fingers took 
a firm hold of her well formed bottom, and began gently moving her body in time with 
the probing thrusts of the finger that Yuriko had buried inside of her.
	
The whole time, the aforementioned finger was altering itself slightly, expanding slightly 
as Minako's body became more accommodating, as well as opening small pours through 
which to draw in her juices.
	
Yuriko sighed into Minako's mouth as the flavor reached the appropriate sensors and had 
to concentrate for a moment in order to redirect a small portion of it. Then, much to 
Minako's infinite surprise, her own flavor filled her mouth, somehow secreted through 
Yuriko's tongue as they kissed.
	
"Mmf! Ah-!" gasped Minako, pulling back and gasping for breath, "I don^Òt think I can 
keep up with you!"
	
Yuriko smiled, her long dark hair fanning out around her, her sharply pointed ears barely 
concealed by it. "So long as you approve," she purred, leaning up to kiss Minako once 
again.
	
"Absotively!" replied Minako, tilting her head slightly to avoid Yuriko's kiss for the 
moment, and gave the light frosty blue skin of the girl's neck a long series of kisses and 
gentle nibbles.
	
"Pausolutely^Å" murmured Yuriko in response, tilting her head back, and for the first 
time, feeling her hunger sated.
	
"Oh!" Minako suddenly exclaimed into her ear, as Yuriko could feel her beloved's inner 
wall contracting almost painfully against her tentacle/finger, "Right there!"
	
Yuriko picked up the pace of all her well-coordinated actions, finding the exact rate of 
Minako heartbeat, and moving in synch with it. She also increased the amount of suction 
she was providing Minako's clit and nipples with until Minako was shaking and 
convulsing almost violently on top of her. The girl's screams of passion issuing forth 
quite freely as any and all of Minako's inhibitions melted away. 
	
For several eternal moments Yuriko held Minako firmly against her, kissing her neck 
comfortingly as Minako's cries filled her ears, and mind with a peculiar joy and comfort 
that Yuriko had never felt before.
	
"I love, Minako," she whispered into her ear, and sighed contentedly as Minako 
desperately tried to respond.
	
"I-! I-! Ah! Love-! You-! OH! Too-!" Minako gasped as her brain was filled with white 
light as she peaked, not coming down for several long seconds^Å
 	
Yuriko smiled and psychically "lapped up" the residual emotions and Life Energy that 
were spinning freely off into sup-space as Minako panted and sweated profusely. She 
could taste Minako's utter exhaustion, and knew that to ask her for more would only be 
cruel, so, irregardless of her own almost inexhaustible constitution, Yuriko pulled back 
all her finger/tentacles, and changed back to her human form.
	
"Tha^Å Thank-you^Å" panted Minako sleepily, as she clung against Yuriko, thankful for 
the cool touch of her skin beneath her.
	
"For you, anything^Å" promised Yuriko, kissing her forehead, and relaxing completely.
	
"Do I^Å Have time for a short nap?" Minako inquired, almost falling asleep as it was.
	
"Yes, I believe so," replied Yuriko, glancing at the bed side clock, and idly wondering 
how they'd explain this to Minako's parents if they decided to come home early^Å after 
all, there were still some odd articles of clothing left in the kitchen^Å
	
***
	
At about 5:30pm, Minako was awakened to the sound of an annoying beeping. She 
warily opened her eyes, and smiled at Yuriko, who had been watching over her the entire 
time, and fumbled around until she found her Sailor Senshi Communicator. It took 
Minako a moment to find the right button, but when she did, a cold chill passed through 
her.
	
"Minako-chan!" came Ami's panicked voice, "We tracked down the Youma-! 
Bu-! Oh no-! Minako-chan, help-!"
	
Ami's voice was cut off suddenly, as the connection was broken. "Oh, dear^Å" replied 
Minako, half rolling off the bed, and staggering to her feet, "This bad! Very bad..!"
	
"Minako-chan," Yuriko said, with a guilty tone, "This is partially my fault. Please calm 
down, I can show you were your friends are. And don^Òt worry, she won't have done have 
done anything to them yet^Å"
	
"Oh?" inquired Minako, collecting her clothes in a panic.
	
"She's fed quite a bit lately, and won^Òt be hungry for a while just yet^Å" replied Yuriko.
	
"What did she do with bodies?" inquired Minako in a serious tone.
	
"Oh dear..." Yuriko whispered almost to herself, and jumped off the bed, "We should 
hurry..!"

***
	
It didn't take the two very long to get across town. Minako had transformed into Sailor 
Venus, and Yuriko had partially shifted her lower torso to allow for greater running 
speed, and jumping distance, while her power concealed them both. 
	
After about fifteen minutes of near exhaustive travel, Minako and Yuriko stopped in front 
of a tall imposing apartment building. It had no balconies, so coming in from the out side 
would be problematic. Also, the apartment that they needed was on the 45th floor, which 
was far too high for even a Sailor Senshi to jump. 
	
So, the two simply ran in through the front door, and took the elevator, seeing as after the 
day's activities, both their reserves of stamina needed at least some small reprieve. The 
trip up was short, and uneventful, the elevator didn't even have annoying music piped in.
	
Finally, they stood at the entrance of Yuriko's apartment. Sailor Venus glanced at Yuriko, 
and she nodded. "Well, I guess that there's no sense knocking!" she replied, "So^Å 
Crescent! Beam!!!"
	
The beam of blinding light fired forth, hitting the wall just beside the door. In a split 
second, it was through the wall and a loud inhuman scream pierced the air before Venus 
turned the beam to the let, cutting through the wall, then the door, back into the wall 
again, and presumably through another Youma, judging by the piercing shriek^Å
	
"Now!" the Senshi exclaimed, and Yuriko kicked down the remainder of the door.
	
As they rushed in, past the two bodies of slain Youma, the sounds of shouts and running 
feet issued from the other room. "This is where it rough," observed Yuriko, shifting 
completely, her extra arms ripping holes in the sides of her school uniform, as long 
curved claws grew from her fingertips. 
	
"Just how I-! Er-! Um^Å Never mind!" stammered Sailor Venus, reading another attack.
	
Then, three figures dressed in white kimonos burst through the door of the master 
bedroom. They all seemed to men in twenties, but the plain white masks they wore, 
which totally obscured their faces, distorted their features.
	
"Ah!" middle one exclaimed with evil glee, "We face another Senshi! And our traitorous 
sister as well!"
	
"You shall have no other siblings, brother," promised Yuriko in a harsh tone, her voice 
loosing a small part of its human quality, "Now, either surrender, or face oblivion."
	
"Um^Å Ya! Like she said!" laughed Sailor Venus, feeling a little upstaged.
	
"We gladly accommodate your foolishness, onee-chan!" laughed the Youma, as the three 
changed, their kimonos ripping and tearing in several places as their new bodies took 
shape, "But it is you who shall face Oblivion..! After we have our fun..."
	
The middle Youma became nothing more than a spherical mass of black oozing slime, 
with a single huge reptilian eye in the center of the mass and several dozen long black 
tendrils that ended in sharp barbed hooks. It some how managed to levitate a few feet off 
the floor, and made hideous gurgling noises as it's slimy body constantly oozed as it 
flailed it's tentacles menacingly.
	
The Youma to its right fell upon all fours and howled as it shifted, sending chills down 
the spines of all who heard it. The Youma's body then grew a long snout, pushing the 
mask off its elongating face, and gaining more mass until resembled a huge albino, 
hairless dire wolf, with a row of sharp spines down its back and glowing red eyes.
	
The final Youma's change was hardly noticeable at first. There was the distinct pattern of 
peculiar movement underneath its pristine white kimono as its arms retracted and were 
soon replaced by four, green, pseudopods, the visible skin around the mask became 
deathly pale.
	
"Ha!" taunted Minako. "I've had more horrific nightmares after eating bad boritos! "
	
"We'll see how scared you are in just a few seconds, sailor girl!" growled the center 
Youma, "Get her first, guys! And make sure it hurts!"
	
The two Youma on either side of it laughed evilly as they attacked. The humanoid one, 
sending out its four almost glowing pseudopods out towards Yuriko, as the bargest-like 
Youma leaped at Sailor Venus, growling and snarling as green icor oozed from his jaws.   
	
"I don^Òt think so, puppy!" exclaimed Minako, kicking the Youma under the jaw as hard 
as she could, and sending it flying head over tail before following it with her energy blast, 
"Crescent! Beam!!!"
	
The beam of solar light hit the Youma in the chest and sent him flying across the room, 
whining mournfully the whole way, before hitting a wall, and coming crashing down on 
top of the TV set.
	
Meanwhile, Yuriko growled slightly, as she crouched down, and leaped forward, 
somersaulting out of the way of the sticky pseudopods, before raking two sets of claws 
across the Youma's chest. It screamed in pain as the wound glowed the same green as its 
pseudopods, before smaller tendrils began reaching out from the wounds and entangling 
Yuriko.
	
"Yuri-chan!" exclaimed Venus, starting to run towards her, when the Youma she thought 
that she had downed bounded across the room, and tackled her the ground.
	
"Excellent!" chuckled the more talkative Youma once again. Eventhough no mouth was 
clearly visible, "That was even easier than capturing those other Senshi! And I'm sure our 
Mistress will have no problems with us having a little fun before we turn these one in!"
	
"In your dreams!" replied Minako sarcastically, and swiftly drove her free hand up, and 
under the Youma who held her awkwardly down, grabbing it by the crotch, "Crescent! 
Beam!!!"
	
The bargest-like Youma let out a single long painful yelping howl as the beam cut though 
it from one end to the other, its body dissolving around the laser, until merciful death 
took hold.
	
At the same time, Yuriko used all her strength to force one of her right hands up, and 
grab her Youma by the porcelain mask it wore. She forced its head back, and bit deeply 
into its neck Her teeth all becoming sharp fangs, and her tongue growing a sharp spike its 
end that she drove through the Youma's jugular, and out the back of its neck.
	
Instead of screaming or crying it, the Youma merely gurgled as it dissolved into a pile of 
green slimy ooze, leaving Yuriko to spend several seconds spitting out the same goo.
	
"Ha! Is that the best you can zoo!" laughed Sailor Venus, jumping to her feet, "I've had 
colds that put up more of a fight!"
	
"We'll see!" the Youma grumbled, and faded out, presumably reappearing behind the 
now closed bedroom door.
	
"You okay?" asked Sailor Venus.
	
"Yes," replied Yuriko, after putting her tongue back to normal, "nothing has happened 
that I cannot heal."
	
"Okay. So, is there anything I need to know about what we're up against?" Venus 
inquired.
	
"Just don^Òt believe anything She says^Å" responded Yuriko, her eyes glowing brightly 
with determination, "She is a cunning liar^Å"
	
"No problems, with that," Venus replied, and prepared to kick the door open, "Just watch 
my back, Yuri-chan!"
	
Yuriko nodded, and braced herself against what was to come as Sailor Venus kicked 
down the bedroom door^Å

***

Inside, they found that the actual walls of the room had been concealed behind rice-paper 
walls. There was a small shrine set up at the far end of the room, and a hint of incense 
filled the air.
	
In the center of the room knelt a tall woman, wearing a very expensive and very old 
looking red and black kimono. Her long black hair was mostly tied up, but a single long 
strand hung down, and over her shoulder. The woman's strikingly beautiful face was 
partially concealed by an ornately decorated half mask that hid the left side, and she 
seemed somewhat unconcerned by the way her kimono hung part way open, partially 
revealing her chest. But the most striking thing about the woman was her eerie turquoise 
eyes, that glowed slightly as she sipped tea from a small cup, decorated with little black 
scorpions.
	
"Ah! Yuriko-chan, at last you've returned!" the woman said mockingly, "Oh, and I see 
that you've brought your dear mother a little snack! You're such a good girl, Yuriko!"
	
"Enough!" shouted Sailor Venus, stepping forward, "You're days of hurting Yuri-chan 
are over, Youma!"
	
The woman merely chuckled in a fake demure fashion. "Ah! You must be Sailor Venus," 
she replied, "Please, forgive my lack of hospitality^Å I am Bayushi Kachiko."
	
Kachiko bowed mockingly and went back to sipping her tea. "No doubt my favorite 
daughter has spread many lies about me, Venus-sama," she continued, "But I am certain 
that we can come to some kind of an agreement."
	
"Not a chance, succubus!" growled Sailor Venus, clenching her fists.
	
"Oh! You dishonor your hostess with such insults!" the Youma chucked, "However, I'm 
not the only Youma here who must feed upon sexual energy! But^Å" she sniffed the air 
for a moment, "^ÅAh! I see that you've already found that out!"
	
"Curse you..." growled Yuriko, hating Kachiko more than she thought possible.
	
"Now, now, little one," the woman taunted, "Be careful, or I might start thinking that you 
don't love your mommy!"
	
"YOU-! Were never my mother^Å" Yuriko's voice trailed off at the end as she tried to 
reestablish control over her anger.
	
Kachiko laughed. "I gave you what your parents never could," she replied, "Eternal life! 
You want for nothing, my dear girl. I give you a place to live. I indulge your silly little 
desire to continue your schooling. I provide you with sustenance^Å"
	
"I no longer require the stale bread sour milk of your life force," Yuriko stated with an 
even tone, her skin taking on a slight glow, "I have found true love, and I no longer have 
use for your lies."
	
"Then, so be it!" laughed Kachiko, as she got to her feet, "If you love a human more than 
your mother^Å Then you can die like a pitiful human!"
	
With that Kachiko's body made some unpleasant snapping and crunching noises as she 
transformed. Her skin became covered in a hard black and red chitin as her delicate hands 
became huge black pincers, and a long scorpion tail grew out from behind her. The 
Youma then sprouted six long tentacles from her sides, which tore through her silk 
kimono by virtue of the sharp blades on each of their ends. And finally, a pair of small 
mandibles ripped out from either side of her face, as her eyes became two bulging black 
orbs.
	
"Ick^Å" commented Sailor Venus, not yet noticing the way that the rice-paper seemed to 
melt away, revealing the other Sailor Senshi, as well as Artemis and Luna, bound to the 
walls by some kind of purplish resin. They were unconscious, but seemed unharmed, 
"Now you, ARE ugly!"
	
"We'll see, who's beauty is question, Senshi!" growled Kachiko, thrusting her pincers 
forward, opening them to reveal a mass of sticky, wet white tendrils. She then sent them 
swiftly forward in hopes binding both Sailor Venus and Yuriko.
	
"No thanks!" taunted Venus, as she leapt to the side, "I've already had my dose of 
tentacle for one day!"
	
"Indeed!" laughed Yuriko, as the mass of tentacles merely passed right through her, 
before her image faded. 
	
"What the-?!" exclaimed Kachiko, glancing around the room in an annoyed fashion. 
	
"When you Embraced me, Bayushi-sama, my Esper abilities increased dramatically," 
came the sound of Yuriko's disembodied voice, "You are not the only one with the power 
of illusion."
	
"True!" growled Bayushi, turning her back to Sailor Venus, "But your powers are more 
concern with hiding yourself like coward! Where as under My tutelage, it could be put to 
much better uses!"
	
Sailor Venus quietly raised he arms, and was about to invoke another Crescent Beam, 
when before she knew it, several dozen long, black tentacles wrapped around her from 
behind. "Hey! No fair!" exclaimed the Senshi as soon found herself unable to move.
	
"Ah! Thank you so very much, dear Aramoro-kun," exclaimed Kachiko with delight, as 
she turned to see the Youma that had escaped previously with it^Òs tentacles firmly 
binding Sailor Venus, "Now then, the real fun can begin!"
	
Kachiko raised her scorpion tail over her head, holding the barbed end close to Sailor 
Venus' face. The Senshi's eyes widened with fright as a single drop of poison exuded 
from the stinger, and splashed down against the floor. 

The Youma laughed and glanced over her shoulder, addressing Yuriko. "Dearest, Yuri-
chan," she called out, "I do so hope that you don^Òt mind watching what we do to your 
little Senshi friend^Å My venom will only invoke paralysis, and once that's done, little 
Venus will be ours to play with! Isn^Òt that right Aramoro-ku-! Agh!"
	
Kachiko was cut off as foamy green bile filled her mouth and a shocked look crossed her 
face. She looked down in time to see Yuriko's four sets of claws rip through her torso 
from behind, before literally tearing her to pieces.
	
Sailor Venus gasped, as she saw Yuriko standing over Kachiko's fallen body, as the 
Youma flailed on the ground, making awful gurgling noises as she began regenerating. 
"You will love long enough for me to tell you this," Yuriko replied, holding up a 
porcelain mask in her bloodied hand, before dropping on what remained of the Youma's 
chest, "I am no longer your daughter. I am no longer your servant. And I am no longer 
your slave!"
	
With that, Yuriko stomped down hard upon the mask with her foot, driving sharp shards 
of porcelain deep into Kachiko's heart. The Youma reached up towards her Childer, her 
eyes pleading and full of tears, just before her entire body turned to dust.
	
"You killed her!" gasped Aramoro in a shocked tone.
	
"Yes, indeed," Yuriko replied simply, watching the Youma's blood turn to dust as well, 
leaving her hands, and uniform quite clean.
	
"You-! You've betrayed our Sire!" he accused.
	
"The strong rule the weak amongst our kind, Aramoro-san," Yuriko commented as she 
walked towards the floating Youma, "And I have proven myself stronger. Therefore, 
what was once Kachiko-san's is now mine. Including you, and these pretty little things^Å"
	
As she spoke, Yuriko motioned to the bound Senshi who here firmly stuck to the walls, 
as well giving Minako a reassuring glance when the Youma was distracted.
	
"Why should I trust you?" Aramoro demanded, "How do I know you won^Òt kill me as 
well! You killed two of your own brothers already!"
	
"Only to prove my point," Yuriko replied, "I gave them the option of surrender, and they 
passed it up. It is the way of such things."	
	
"I see..." commented Aramoro thoughtfully, "But I think I need proof of your intent!"
	
"Oh?" inquired Yuriko, her face betraying no expression. Eventhough she more nervous 
than she had been before in her life. 
	
"Ya!" replied Aramoro, thrusting Sailor Venus roughly forward, "Prove you're still one of 
us with this one!"
	
"Very well," responded Yuriko simply, and reached underneath of Venus' skirt.
	
The Senshi couldn't help but smirk a little as Yuriko winked at her. "Oh! No! Please 
don^Òt!" Sailor Venus shrieked, putting every ounce of her acting talent into performance, 
and trying not to laugh at the look on Yuriko's face as her finger found the hard, almost 
impenetrable shield that blocked Sailor Venus' undergarments, and legs.
	
"Ooo! I don^Òt think she likes that!" laughed Aramoro, truly enjoying himself as Venus 
pretended to squirm and try to escape Yuriko's touch.
	
"Good," replied Yuriko in a level tone, beginning to find the situation amusing as well, as 
Sailor Venus subtlety moved her hands to take hold of two of Aramoro's barbed tentacles, 
"It's much more fun when they squirm^Å"
	
"Don't I know it!" laughed Aramoro as Yuriko stepped back, extending her 
finger/tentacle as she went, trying to make sure that it still seemed as though she were 
violating Sailor Venus. The whole time, the Senshi begged her to stop, pleaded with her 
to remove it, and claimed that it was hurting her. All the while, of course, desperately 
trying not to burst out laughing as the Youma that held her practically came, and she 
herself felt somewhat frustrated at the fact that she was cut off form Yuriko's touch.
	
"Now!" exclaimed Yuriko, quickly retracting her finger/tentacle as Aramoro was at his 
most distracted.
	
Minako nodded and gripped the tentacles she held tightly. "CRESCENT! BEAM!!!"
	
From Yuriko's perspective, there was a blinding flash of amber light, followed by the 
sound of a small explosion. "Minako!" she cried, as the Senshi flew through the air 
towards her. Yuriko braced herself, and caught Sailor Venus in all four arms before being 
thrown to the ground by the force of the impact. 
	
"Oh, man^Å" muttered Venus, "They just don^Òt make Youma like they used to^Å"
	
Yuriko smiled and gave her a quick kiss. "So long as you're alright," she replied with 
concern.
	
"Nothing I can't heal," the Senshi replied with a smirk, "Now, as soon as I can stand 
again, we should really free my friends before the police show up or something^Å"
	
Yuriko nodded. "Yes, you are probably correct," she answered almost sadly as she 
changed back to human form, "But I do believe that they're fine for a few moments more 
at least. I'm fairly certain that that armor of yours kept the others away from them^Å"
	
"I'm sure it was quite frustrating^Å" Sailor Venus said with a smirk, changing back to 
Minako, "Maybe I'll have to ask Ami-chan if there's any way to shut off the force 
field^Å"	
	
"Sounds like fun," replied Yuriko a little shyly.
	
"Amost as much fun as when 'they squirm'?" inquired Minako with a sly grin.
	
Yuriko's eyes went wide, as she blushed profusely.
	
"Just kidding!" laughed Minako, "But you know, I've been thinking^Å"
	
"Oh?"
	
"Ya, when the others wake up, they don^Òt 'need' to know that you're a^Å What you are^Å" 
Minako said carefully.
	
Yuriko chuckled. "I think I can shield myself form any kind of mystic scans if I have to," 
she replied happily, and gave Minako a hug, "Don^Òt worry, this can be our secret, now 
that all the witnesses are dead."
	
"Quite," replied Minako, "But I'm afraid my conscience with kill me if we don^Òt hurry up 
and save the others^Å"
	
Yuriko nodded, and helped Minako to her feet before helping her to free the other Senshi 
form the wall^Å

THE END