
Sailor Moon: Secondary Characters: Twisting
{Jon Carp}
address: jcarp@med.unc.edu



I went bowling with my girlfriend, and of course I whooped her.  So she 
says, "Does that make you feel like a big man?  To beat a girl at bowling?" 
"Yes it does," I says.  "Yes it does."--Bug-Eyed Earl (Red Meat)



Oh, you know how it is, Conan.  Bailin' out mah bitches.  Dressin' fine and 
jerry-wine.  Gots ta keep turnin' out the hoes.--Pimpbot 5000






	"We need longer skirts."
	The others looked up at Makoto with strange expressions on their 
faces.  It had been her first speech all day.
	"What?"
	"We need longer skirts.  The ones we've got are way too short."
	Rei blinked a couple of times.  "What?"
	"Is this hard to figure out?" Makoto almost yelled.  "We all know 
those things are ridiculous."
	"No, I mean, where did that come from?  Are you okay?"
	"Of course I'm not okay!  I don't think I can take any more being 
stared at and oggled and fantasized about."
	"But I thought that was the point," Rei said.  "We automatically 
have an advantage over almost any man we go up against."
	"Yeah," Minako added.  "Besides, you do plenty of staring and 
fantasizing, yourself."
	"I want mine longer," Makoto said angrily.  "I don't care what you 
all do."
	Nobody could think of a response for a while.  Eventually Minako 
spoke up.  "Sure," she said.  "I'll get mine lengthened too.  But something 
is obviously wrong, Mako-chan.  What happened?"
	"Nothing happened!  I'm just sick and tired of people...looking at 
me."
	Again, nobody said anything.  She knew they knew she was lying.  "I 
have to go," she said quickly.  "I just remembered I have something to do." 
She walked out the door.  The others threw goodbyes after her.
	"Y'know, this is the first time I've seen her for a couple of days," 
Ami remarked.
	"Yeah, me too," Minako agreed.  "I'm really worried.  What 
happened?"
	Nobody knew, of course.



	What was it about being alone that made the memories come back?  
Still, she decided, better that pain than having to face them.
	And so, as soon as she entered the apartment and closed the door 
behind her, everything came rushing into her brain, despite all her efforts 
to block it.

	Night.  Cold.  She sees herself run through the rain down the alley 
towards her apartment building.
	Somebody's shadow covers her.  She turns to see two men approaching. 
The farther one is small and unsure, but the other is smiling.  "Hey Babe," 
he says.
	She prepares to defend herself, but can only think one thing.  "My 
god...he's so cute."


	
		
	They could never help but notice how attractive her eyes were.  They 
never acted on it or anything, but it still kind of hurt to see them so 
puffy and bloodshot, the dried streaks leading down to her chin.
	She looked suprised to see them.  "Haruka...Michiru, what are you 
doing here?"
	They glanced at each other, but made it subtle enough that Makoto 
missed it.  "You called us.  Remember?  You asked us to come."
	"Oh yes.  Sorry.  Come in.  Want something to drink?  Tea?  Coffee?"
	"Coffee," Haruka said.  
	"Sure."  Makoto sniffled.  "Have a seat on the couch."
	They did, and looked around for more evidence of the Something Wrong 
the inners had warned them about.  
	Makoto took a mug out of a cabinet and poured some coffee into it. 
"The place is a whole lot dirtier than I remember it," Michiru whispered.
	"Yeah, and she doesn't look very good, either," Haruka answered.  
She looked up and realized Makoto was standing directly in front of her, 
offering the mug of coffee and pretending she hadn't heard a word they'd 
said.
	"Thanks," Haruka said, grinning sheepishly.
	Makoto faked a smile and took a seat across from them.  "Well, I 
suppose you've heard about my plan with the uniforms."
	"Yeah," Haruka said.  "It's a good idea, just as long as Michiru 
doesn't participate.  Her skirt is one of my few pleasures in life."
	Michiru giggled, but Makoto did not.  "Fine," she said.  "Whatever 
you decide.  But for me and whoever else, you're the best person I can think 
of to actually do the alterations."
	Haruka blushed slightly.  "Well, thank you," she said.  "But I've 
never done anything like the uniforms before.  I'm not even sure if the 
magic behind them will let them be changed or poked with a needle or 
whatever."
	"But you will try," Makoto insisted.
	"Sure," Haruka said.  "I'll start collecting the materials today."
	Makoto nodded, and forced a smile.  "Thanks."
	Michiru saw the strange look in the girl's eyes, and decided that 
solitude was not helping whatever was wrong.  "Any time," she said.  
"Listen, we're going over to the track.  Setsuna has a race in an hour.  
Want to come?"
	Makoto stiffened when she heard Setsuna's name.  "No," she said 
quickly.  "I...I'm busy.  Sorry."
	"Okay," Haruka said.  "Well, bye."
	Makoto opened the door for them.  "Bye."



	Setsuna was on the way to the track, thinking about the only person 
she ever thought about, when she stopped short.  A smile spread across her 
face.  Time slowed as things worked themselves out in her mind.  She laughed 
and disappeared.	
	Time travel is a truly wonderful thing.




	"I think you'd be the best one to do the alterations," Makoto said.
	Setsuna nodded.  "If you want, I'll get the materials today," she 
said, trying to make herself sound as kind as she could.  It was a strain.
	"Thank you."  Makoto forced a smile.
	It disturbed Setsuna to see this girl in such obvious pain.  
"Listen," she said, doing her best to fake sincerity.  "I don't know what's 
bothering you, and you don't want to talk about it.  But sitting here by 
yourself won't help.  I think Haruka has a race in about an hour.  Why don't
you go down there and try to enjoy yourself?"
	Makoto stiffened when she heard Haruka's name.  "No," she said 
quickly.  "I'm busy here."
	Setsuna noticed her reaction.  "Or," she said.  "Why don't you head 
over to Rei's temple?  I bet at least some of the other inners will be 
there.  Maybe Usagi and...Mamoru."
	Makoto again tightened her muscles, this time from the sound of 
Mamoru's name.  "No," she said tensely.  "I said I was busy, Setsuna.  I'd 
appreciate it if you did what you do best, and go off and mind your own 
business."
	"Very well."  Setsuna stood up.  "Goodbye."
	Makoto opened the door for her.  She muttered something that was 
probably a goodbye.




	Makoto's problems were obviously great, but Setsuna forgot all about 
them within five minutes.  Her own thoughts were far too distracting.
	She stopped short.  A smile spread across her face.  Time slowed as 
things worked themselves out in her mind.  She laughed and disappeared.
	It wasn't going to be the last time that happened.



	
	Dream?  It was hard to tell.  All the memories seemed like dreams.  
	She's lying on the cement ground, it radiates out coldness and sucks 
the strength away from her.  Her mind doesn't seem to work.  It's stuck on 
one word, sometimes getting slightly past it, but never close enough to a 
thought.  "No.  No.  No.  He...he...no.  NO.  Why did...NO!"
	The cute one is standing over her, panting and laughing.  His friend 
wants to get away.
	"Fuck off," the cute one says.  "I sure ain't done with her yet."  
He laughs.  "This one's strong.  I like that."
	He advances again, oh god, again!  
	Strong, he said that I'm strong.  But I'm not...I let him...and I'm 
letting him again!  I'm weak.  So weak.
	But her body is insulted by that thought and refuses to accept it.  
"You're not weak," it whispers to her.  "You're JUPITER."
	Yes.  She looks up and sees him reach down to her.  She smiles.



	
	"REI!!"
	The inners jumped at the sound.  It was the angriest yell any of 
them had ever heard.
	Makoto stormed into the room where they were gathered.  She went 
straight to Rei.
	"If I so much as SEE your goddamn grandfather EVER AGAIN, I swear to 
god I'll pick him up and throw him at the fucking wall!!"
	There was silence for a few seconds as they all tried to think of a 
response.  "Okay," Rei sputtered eventually.  "I...I'll tell him, I guess.  
Just...try and calm down, Makoto."
	"I can't calm down!  Do you know what he said to me?!"
	"No, but I can imagine.  Listen, don't worry, okay?  He's not going 
to bother you after this.  To tell you the truth, he's always been kind of 
scared of you."
	Scared of her.  She liked that.
	


	
	"MEN?" Rei asked incredulously.  "Mako-chan?" 
	"I know how it sounds," Ami said.  "But I also know I'm right.  It's 
definately men she's got a problem with.  Just look at her reaction to your 
grandfather."
	Minako nodded.  "Yeah," she said.  "I ran into Haruka and Michiru, 
and they said that Mako-chan started acting real weird whenever they 
mentioned Setsuna."  She giggled.  "I guess she counts as a man.  But...what 
could do this to Makoto?"
	Ami sighed.  "I hate to think."



	
	He backs away, absolute terror jammed on his face.  He tries to 
scream, but the girl, the senshi, beats him to it.
	Rage feeds the lightning, her most primal attack, and her voice 
pushes it forward.  The bright tentacles grab him, flow through him, FORCE 
THEMSELVES INTO HIM!
	And then they are gone.  He collapses to the cold cement ground, his 
body and face scorched and bulging.  He is no longer cute.
	The other just backs away.  "Oh shit," he mutters.  "She's a 
fucking senshi.  Oh shit."  He looks up at her.  "Please.  I...I didn't do 
anything.  It wasn't me, it was his idea...I..."
	She doesn't let him finish.
	She falls back, propping herself against the wall.  Tears start 
falling from her face as she remembers what he did to her.  And what she did 
to them.
	She runs away as fast as she can.




	Haruka carefully compared her fabric with her skirt.  Perfect.  
Exactly the same color.
	Michiru walked in.  "So, I see you're getting started on that," she 
said.  "You're not thinking of doing it to your own uniform, are you?  
You've got the best damn legs of all of us."
	Haruka looked up.  "Yes, I am thinking of doing it, and no, I do not 
have the 'best damn legs of all of us'."	
	Michiru snorted.  "Well fine.  I'm just going to have to do it too."
	Haruka snorted too.  "You wouldn't--"




	Haruka turned on the TV and started surfing for something good.  She
found it rather difficult.
	Michiru walked in and sat down next to her.  "Setsuna's working on 
the skirts.  You're not thinking of doing it yourself, are you?  I mean, 
you've got the best damn legs of all of us."
	Haruka looked up, grinning.  "Well, thank you very much, but yes, 
I'm definately going to do it.  I never liked that goddamn, short, feminine 
thing.  I think I'm gonna ask Setsuna to make me some sailor sweat-pants, or 
something like that."
	Michiru sniffled.  "Fine.  Just take away one of my few joys in 
life."
	
	
	
			
	Makoto jumped at the sound of the buzzer and quickly wiped the tears 
off her cheeks.  She walked to the kitchen, turned on the water, and 
splashed some on her face.
	She went to the door and opened it.  Minako was on the other side.  
"Hi," she said.  "Can I come in?"
	Makoto nodded, but said nothing.
	Minako stepped in and noticed with dismay the fact that the place 
hadn't been cleaned for a while.
	She went to the living room and sat in a chair.  She pointed to the 
couch.  "Sit down, Makoto."
	Her friend took a little offense at being ordered around, but had a 
seat anyway.
	"Now," Minako said.  "The others sent me here to talk to you.  We 
know something happened."
	"Nothing happened!" Makoto insisted.  "How many times do I have to 
tell you?  I just don't want to walk around in that damn little thing 
anymore."
	"It's not just about the skirts.  It's the way you've been acting." 
She reached over and put her hand on Makoto's, squeezing it in a friendly 
manner.  "We're worried about y--"
	"Don't touch me!" Makoto pulled her hand back.  She took a deep 
breath to try to calm herself down.  "I'm sorry.  I just..."  She trailed 
off.
	Minako was obviously frightened by how her friend was acting.  
"Mako-chan, you're not fooling anybody.  TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED."
	Makoto hung her head.  She refused to meet her best friend's gaze. 
"I...I can't tell you.  I can't tell anybody."
	Minako stood up and went to her.  "Mako-chan..."
	"Please go.  Please.  Just go."
	"If it's about something you did that you're ashamed of, I don't 
care.  Whatever it is, we'd still help you.  No matter how bad."
	Makoto pulled away and opened the door.  "It's not bad, Minako.  
It's the worst.  The worst thing.  Please just leave."
	Minako started for the door, defeated, but she stopped suddenly.  
Her mouth fell open and she stared at her friend in horror.  "Oh my 
god...Mako-chan...those men.  Those fried men they found last week, that was 
you, wasn't it?  Oh my god!"
	"No," Makoto sputtered.  "No, I didn't...it wasn't me!  I..."
	"Why?  Why did you do it?"
	"I didn't!  I...Minako, just go!"
	"Mako-chan, why?  WHY?"
	"IT WASN'T MY FAULT!!  They...they hurt me!  They made me WEAK!"  
She fell forward into Minako's arms, sobbing and screaming.
	Somebody banged on the wall.  "What the hell is going on in there?" 
a gruff voice yelled.  "Keep it down!"
	Makoto let herself be dragged back to the couch, where she cried 
herself out, and her best friend stayed with her and made her stronger.
	And the neighbor turned on his stereo really loud to drown out the 
noise.




	Later, when Makoto had calmed down and realized she was accepted, 
Minako went to the kitchen and started making them both some dinner.
	She returned with two platefuls of hot dog fried rice.  "Sorry, it's 
really bad," she yelled, because the neighbor had refused to turn his music 
down.  "Compared to what you're used to, anyway."
	"It's okay.  You being here is helping more than you could imagine."
	Minako frowned.  "You know what you need?" she asked rhetorically.  
"You need just one moment of pure power over somebody.  Just so you can feel 
bigger.  Y'know?"
	Makoto nodded.  "You're exactly right," she said.  She grinned.  
"Excuse me a minute."
	She went out to the hall and knocked on her neighbor's door.  He 
opened it.  "Yeah?" he asked loudly.
	She didn't respond.  Instead she smiled, took a step forward, and 
kicked him in the groin.
	"Ooooof!" he grunted, and fell to his knees, his eyes ridiculously 
wide.
	"Sorry," she said sweetly.  "Please don't take it personally.  I 
just really had to do that to somebody."
	She returned to her apartment, where Minako was laughing 
hysterically.  "Feel better?" she managed evetually.
	"You have no idea how much I needed that," Makoto said.  



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