Chapter 7

Usagi's suitcase crashed to the floor with a heavy thump as she dropped it to prepare herself for the onslaught. The tiny, fast-moving, short-haired missile that was Ami flung itself across the floor and wrapped itself around her, weeping profusely. When the girls had been in high school, she had experimented with dyeing her hair blue, but now it was a demure black that suited her perfectly. Beside her, Minako panted as she hefted two large bags in her hands; when she caught up, she put them both down rapidly with a sigh of relief and turned to greet her friend.

"Got any hugs left for me?" she said.

Ami laughed. "Of course," she said, throwing her arms round Minako. "How are things in the world of show business?"

"Never been better," said Minako. "And of course I owe it all to my wonderful lyricist!"

Ami blushed bright red, but Rei nudged her and said, "Hey, don't forget my contribution! Ami-chan's words wouldn't sound nearly so good without my music!"

"That's right," said Minako. "We're a three-girl team, reunited at last!"

Ami looked round, and her eyes fixed on Usagi. "Where's Mako-chan?" she said.

"She decided not to come."

Ami looked a shade disappointed. "I suppose it's only to be expected," she said. "I guess she doesn't want to be away from her child at this time."

Usagi nodded.

"And how are you, Naru-chan?" Ami said to the redhead, who had been hovering timidly at the back of the group. "You managed to get away from your studies, then?"

Naru smiled. "I'm surprised at you of all people being the one to encourage it."

Ami's face became solemn again. "Yes… I'm sorry," she said.

"Why? Don't be."

"Well…." Ami looked nervously around, saw that all the others were focused on her, and tutted in annoyance at herself. "Look, I suppose I've got to tell you, then," she said. "I really didn't want it to be this way – I hoped we could at least get to the hotel and I'd have a chance to prepare you."

"Prepare me?" Naru said, her face showing signs of alarm. "What's going on?"

"It's your friend Ruby," said Ami. "She's gone missing."

"What?" cried Naru. "Oh, no!" The other girls were similarly shocked.

"How did it happen?" Usagi said instantly.

"We'd better get to the hotel so I can tell you the whole story. This really isn't the place."

"Is that why you wanted us to come here?" said Rei. "To help find her?"

"That's part of it," Ami said cautiously. She glanced at Naru and then winked at Rei, trying to ask her without words, She still doesn't know about us being the sailor warriors – does she?

"Then let's get to the hotel as quickly as possible," said Usagi. She bent down to pick up her suitcase, and then groaned at the weight of it. "Where's Mamoru?" she asked at once.

"He's at the hospital," said Ami. "I'm sorry, Usagi-chan. He really wanted to come with me to meet you, but – well, you'll understand when I've explained everything. But he's really happy that you're visiting. You need have no doubts about that."

"I would never doubt it," Usagi said at once, and the two friends smiled at each other.

It took a while, but eventually they managed to get all their bags to the exit door, and commandeered the nearest taxi, and then stood back and sipped milkshakes while the taxi driver loaded their bags into the back of his car for them.

"Sakura Hotel, Sixty-fourth Street," Ami said to the driver.

"You'll like the hotel," she said to the girls as they drove away. "It's the same one my mother stayed in when she came to visit, and she said it was lovely."

"Your mother came to visit and you put her in a hotel?" said Minako. "Four of us I can understand, but you couldn't fit one extra person into your room?"

Ami blushed. "Well, I have so many books…," she said.

The other girls laughed, except Naru, who was staring moodily out of the window, watching the city streets roll past, and worrying about Ruby. The tennis star was just two years older than her, and had been like an older sister to her when they were growing up. They had drifted apart as Ruby had become more successful and had spent a lot of time going to tournaments abroad, but all the same, there was a deep bond between them that time could not wholly erase, and she knew that when they met again, it would be as if those years of separation had never happened.

She looked out into the unfamiliar city and felt lost, a stranger in a world she did not understand.