Usagi had been running late, as usual. She had woken up only twenty minutes ago, and she didn't even get breakfast! As she sprinted to Rei's shrine, she cursed herself for not grabbing some toast or something to eat before she left the house. Maybe she would get lucky and score some sweet buns from Rei's grandpa.

Bracing herself for the exhausting climb up the stairs, Usagi took a deep breath and started ascending the staircase two at a time. She was so focused on her climb that she didn't realize she even reached the top, and ran right smack into Rei.

Their collision caused Usagi to fall, pulling Rei down with her. "Owwwwwww," she whined, sitting up and rubbing her elbows. "Sorry Rei-chann," she said, standing and holding out a hand for the priestess to take.

Austin gasped at the sudden collision, taking a moment to realize who had came along. "Usagi, are you alright?" He asked the bun head girl.

Rei stared at Usagi with a disapproving gaze. This girl was the reason why the world had been saved a million times over, but that was no excuse for not opening her eyes once in a while.

Rei stood up without any help, and sighed. "Seriously?"

Usagi looked down and kicked at the dirt, smiling sheepishly. "I said I was sorry," she said, resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at Rei. Who stuck a stick up her butt this morning?

Returning to her original cheerful self, Usagi addressed Austin. "Yeah, I'm fine! So, what's the plan here? I want to go to the arcade sometime today, so I really don't wanna be stuck here for too long."

Austin watched as he had gotten used to Usagi being clumsy and such, yet it was a good laugh for him. When she asked him that, he said "Well.....Rei would be the one to explain that."

Mercury watched Rei and Usagi clash, and giggled to herself. It was typical of them to argue, but she wondered what was bothering Rei. What had Rei seen in her fire, and who was Austin?

After centuries of waiting, the moment had finally come. 

Dmitri descended from his position in the sky, landing inconspicuously on the ground behind his brother. In one swift motion, Dmitri's dark blade was in his hand and he had locked Austin in a chokehold - the blade pressed against his throat. 

"Long time no see, brother. Miss me?"

Austin gasped when he felt himself suddenly in a chokehold by someone from behind. His blue eyes looked to see a dark blade pressed against his throat, yet he didn't understand of what the guy said as he said "Brother? What are you talking about? I have no brother." His voice was filled with confusion. No doubt the girls would be shocked about this sudden appearance of whomever this guy is.

Minako felt the sinister presence instantly, knowing that there was danger just by the goosebumps rising on her arms. She quickly grabbed Usagi and dragged her back and away from the threat, her eyes like daggers shooting right into the intruder's path. 

"Who are you, and what do you want?!" Minako snapped, her transformation pen in hand. "No need to start threatening lives, now."

Rei was listening to the others chitchat and carry on when a sudden dark feeling washed over her body, and she froze. Her gut was right when she saw the enemy appear and take Austin. There was something about Austin that somehow had him connected to them in a past life. This only confirmed it.

"What do you want with Austin?!" She shouted, her pen out and ready to transform. Rei didn't want to mess around. Something was about to happen. She took the initiative and transformed. She didn't care of Austin saw, for she knew in her heart, her fire, that he somehow already had an inkling of an idea.

Austin tried to get out of the grip as he gasped before his eyes as Rei was........transforming before his eyes. She was now wearing a colorful sailor uniform, with gloves and red high heels. A tiara was on her head too. There was something about her that made him feel like he knew her. "R-Rei?" He said. "What is going on?"

Dmitri grinned evilly and pressed his blade into Austin's flesh, drawing a thin line of blood. "Why don't you tell them who I am, Atem? Or is your underdeveloped brain still not catching on? Very well. I am Dmitri, elder brother to this weakling. I come for my brother, and he alone. Step aside, peasants, before this gets ugly."

He couldn't help the look of amusement and slight surprise when the dark-haired girl transformed into Sailor Mars. "Ah, it seems I have stumbled upon the traitorous sailor senshi. That is some powerful cloaking magic you have there, girls. I almost didn't recognize you. But now I see it. You all are just as naive and weak as you were a thousand years ago. It's a pleasure, really."

 


Ami was shocked at the site before her eyes. This was Austin, a boy they had met a few days before from school. Was Rei correct about her suspicions with him? Ami wanted to help, but she didn't of how much use she would be. Regardless, she took out her pen and transformed.

Austin felt the blood be upon the blade of this guy. He was saying things that he honestly did not know about. However, it felt as though he did know him and the girls. But it was impossible. "What is it that you want from me?" He asked.

(So sorry about the late reply, girls. I didn't mean to keep you both waiting.)