-Family Secrets-

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, nor am I making a profit, so please don't sue me.

-IX-

Twilight fell over Tokyo as the two curious figures made their way through the city, attracting the attention of tourists to the bustling city as well as those on the commute home from work. It was rare to see a miko fully-dressed in her ceremonial costume outside of a Shinto temple, and the well tanned woman she was walking with looked like some sort of a fashion model. Ignoring the looks, the miko knelt down on all fours. She pressed the side of her head against the sidewalk and closed her eyes.

"They were here," Rei said, "But their trail is getting cold. Here," she said as she held her hand up towards Setsuna, "Give me your hand."

Setsuna raised an eyebrow, but did as she was told. As one of her adoptive parents, she still had a link to Hotaru, no matter how strained. Rei therefore hoped to use her as a sort of antenna, amplifying the weak signal she was getting. "Alright," Rei said finally, "I've got them again. Come on."

She stood up and began walking rapidly, still holding Setsuna's hand tightly. As she followed the trail, her thoughts went back to her grandfather's words. 'The twenty-eight Lunar mansions are in flux. The four Heavenly Kings are shaken, the planets are out of alignment.' The 'twenty-eight lunar mansions' referred to the 28 points that the moon passed through in one lunar month and the associated star constellations found in the cosmic background in Buddhist mythology. Anything having to do with lunar mansions would therefore have a possible connection with Usagi and perhaps even Crystal Tokyo.

Each of the twenty-eight lunar mansions were divided into four clusters. The four guardian Inner Senshi? Why would the Inner Senshi be in flux? 'The four Heavenly Kings are shaken,' was most obviously a reference to the Outer Senshi. Even the kanji for Haruka's last name, Tenoh, translates as "sky king." The part that worried her the most was the bit about the planets being out of alignment…

"Rei, why did you ask me to accompany you instead of Haruka or Michiru?"

The miko shrugged, "They work better together," she answered as she once more came to a stop and knelt down, holding Setsuna's hand as she placed the palm of the other hand down on the sidewalk.

"Is that the only reason?"

Rei looked up at her. "No."

"Then you do know."

Rei frowned. It was out in the open now. Rei knew what Setsuna was planning, and Setsuna knew that Rei knew. "Hai. I know."

"Would it help if I said I only want what's best for everyone?"

Rei's shoulders slumped a bit for a second or two. "What's best for everyone?" she repeated. "Heh, I once thought I knew what was best for everyone, myself included. Usagi taught me how wrong I was. She's saved the world, overcome impossible odds and turned enemies into allies. And do you know how?" she asked, looking up at the Time Senshi. "With her heart. She's taught me the true meaning of what it means to be a Senshi no ai, a Senshi of love. We are strong because we can love, Setsuna. Don't forget that."

Setsuna looked at Rei for a few seconds before lowering her gaze. "It might be a strength for you," she answered, "But it's my greatest weakness."

Rei slowly shook her head. The philosophical divide between them was too wide, it seemed. She stood up and pointed to the left. "Down there," she finally said, "They went down that street."

On the move once again, they crossed the street hand in hand. Setsuna suddenly realized where the they were being led, and her heart sank. The Tokyo subway system had multiple subway lines throughout the city, each having dozens of subway trains running these lines. As they descended the stairs into the depot, Rei stopped.

"We've hit a dead end," she sighed as she let go of Setsuna's hand.

"There's no way to continue?" the Time Senshi asked as a group of businessmen pushed past her and Rei to grab one of the evening trains home.

Rei shook her head as she and the elder Senshi both moved to the wall so that others could get by. "We would need to find the exact train they took, then figure out the exact depot they arrived at. Even then, there'd be no guarantee that they didn't switch trains or even subway lines. Minako may be a loon, but she's not stupid and neither is Hotaru. They both know you're looking for them, and you can bet that after the forced transformation they'll be covering their tracks."

Setsuna narrowed her eyes as she looked from Rei to the men and women lining up for the next available subway train. "You're right, of course," she said tersely as she crossed her arms, "We'd best get back and see if Haruka and Michiru was able to get anything out of Artemis then."

She turned and began to go up the stairs. Rei started to follow, but then stopped and looked back at the depot. "Be careful, guys," she whispered before once more following Setsuna back out onto the street.

--

She stepped out of the cab, her high heeled sandals clicking against the sidewalk as she paid the driver and walked up to the apartment complex. She stopped in front of the entrance to smooth out her green skirt against her athletic figure and adjust her top a bit before knocking on the door.

"Makoto," Ami said as she opened the door, "I…" the young med student was cut off as Makoto pulled her into a kiss. As they separated, the taller Senshi closed her eyes and rested her head on Ami's shoulder.

"Ami," she said affectionately, "You have no idea how good it feels to be with you right now. Between Sensei Tanaka criticizing my prep work and my failed attempt at a flambé earlier today, this day has just been one nightmare after another."

"Well," Ami began a bit nervously, "It's not over yet. We're not alone."

Makoto's eyes shot wide open. Meeting her questioning gaze, Ami looked over to her couch. The taller Senshi looked over as well and stared in stunned silence at Hotaru and Minako. She released Ami and slowly began to walk over to the pair. "Hotaru-chan? Minako-chan? What are you two doing here?"

"Looking for a place to hide," Minako admitted, adding "You know how it is, 'if at first you don't succeed, the tough get going.' And anyways, what's the story with you two? Have you been together for very long?"

"What?" Makoto asked, surprised to find herself suddenly on the receiving end, "Well… That is…"

"Look," Hotaru interrupted, "I know my former parents are looking for me…"

"Former parents?" Makoto asked.

"…And I'm sorry to have come here and brought my troubles to your doorsteps…"

"Our troubles," Minako corrected, taking Hotaru's hand in hers, "They're our troubles now."

Ami looked surprised. "You mean… You two?" she asked incredulously.

Hotaru allowed a groan. "I know what your thinking, but the two of us feel we…"

"Why do you sound like that?" Makoto asked, "Do you have something in your mouth?"

Hotaru rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, showing off her piercing. Both Ami and Makoto were momentarily struck speechless. It was Makoto who finally broke the silence. "Haruka is going to kill you," she muttered, looking at Minako.

Minako grimaced, "Gee, thanks."

"They're looking for me," Hotaru interrupted, "They've already used the talismans to force my transformation once, and they'll probably do so again. I… I'm sorry to drag both of you into this, but… My entire life up to this point has been one big deception. Both of you, along with Minako, Rei and Usagi, stuck your necks out before to protect me from Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. I'm asking you to help me out once more. I can't go back to them, I won't, but I have no idea where to go or what to do at this point. And I never meant for what happened between me and Minako to happen either, but it did, adding another dimension to my predicament. Please, I need help."

Minako reached over and put her arm around Hotaru, the younger Senshi responded by resting her head on the Senshi of Love's shoulder. Makoto was silent for a bit as she looked at the couple in front of her. She turned to say something to Ami, and froze. There was a look Ami had that was usually reserved for studying, working out particularly difficult homework assignments, and battling against particularly powerful opponents as Sailor Mercury. Her eyes would narrow, and her lips would move slightly as she talked to herself, with no sound coming out as she would work out a solution to the problem at hand. As Makoto watched, she could see Ami getting the look now.

Minako recognized the look as well as Ami crossed her arms and began pacing back and forth. Hotaru, however, didn't know Ami quite as well as the other two Senshi. "Minako-chan," she whispered, "What's wrong? Are they going to help us?"

"Hai," Minako answered, the blonde's lips curling up into a hopeful grin, "I think they are."

--

Mamoru exited the shower and dried himself off. Wrapping a towel around his midsection, he made his way out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. He found his pregnant wife staring wistfully out at the city from their balcony. "Usako," he said gently, noting the look of sadness in her eyes, "What's wrong?"

Usagi looked away from the city over to her husband, then down at her belly. "Mamo-chan," she answered slowly, "Chibi Usa will be here soon. When that happens, everything will change." Looking back out at the city, she sighed listlessly. "No one out there has any idea what's coming. Not my parents, not Naru and Umino, no one. We're the only ones who know of the coming ice age, of the Black Moon Clan, of all that's to come." Turning back to Mamoru, she stepped away from the balcony and slowly made her way over to him. "Mamo-chan, do you… Do you ever wish we didn't know what was coming as well?"

Mamoru wrapped his strong protective arms around his wife and princess. "More than once," he confessed. "But what brought such melancholy thoughts your way?"

Usagi looked down, "Hotaru-chan," she answered. "She's out there somewhere all alone, Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna are in pain, and I can't do anything to help them. I'm their princess, Mamo-chan, and I'm helpless. If I can't even help those closest to me when they're hurting, how… How am I supposed to one day be a queen and rule over a future kingdom?"

Mamoru kissed Usagi gently on the forehead. "This is not your fault," he said, "Don't blame yourself, not for what happened to Hotaru and not for what the Outers are going through. They know more than anyone that you'd help if you could. And it doesn't mean that you're a failure, Koniko. It means you're human."

Usagi smiled slightly at that as she rested her head against Mamoru's chest. "Arigato, Mamo-chan. I… I just wish I could do more."

"It's okay," Mamoru said confidently as he tilted her chin up with his index finger, "We'll find her, I know we will." He then kissed her tenderly on the lips. "Come on," he said, "You look exhausted. Let's go to bed."

Usagi nodded slightly. As Mamoru slipped into a pair of pajama bottoms, she looked once more out into the city. Her husband seemed so sure that everything would work out right. If only she shared his confidence.

--

The sports car pulled up to the shrine entrance. As Rei got out, she exchanged a silent glance with Setsuna, then turned and left. Haruka pulled away, a frown etched on her face. They questioned Artemis, but he had no idea where Minako or their daughter might've gone. And while he explained that Minako was only trying to keep Hotaru there until she came to her senses, it still didn't sit right with the tomboy that Minako wouldn't tell her where Hotaru was all this time. She felt a comforting hand on hers, and looked over to see Michiru's sympathetic gaze.

Michiru wanted to offer words of comfort to her love, but was unsure of what to say. When Haruka was this upset, she'd become very quiet and almost shut down emotionally. Behind her, Setsuna likewise was silent, but then for Setsuna that was the norm. She wanted to say something to break the monotony, but under the current circumstances what was there to say? The silence in the car was getting to her though, and she thought of turning on the radio as Haruka took a right and began to drive by Tokyo Tower.

Suddenly, she could feel something. Her grip on Haruka's hand tightened as the seas began to stir within her. It didn't feel like an immediate threat, but there was definitely something ominous going on and she didn't like it. Looking over to Haruka, she could see that her beloved felt something as well.

"The wind's blowing hard," she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Michiru to hear. The violinist slowly nodded her head. Something was coming, something bad. The initial feeling died down as they continued on their way and left the tower behind, but both women made a mental note of it. Of all the times for something like this to happen, why did it have to be now?

"Where are you, Hotaru?" Michiru whispered, "We need you."

--

Ami stood triumphantly in front of her three fellow Senshi. Hotaru and Minako had come to her for help, and while it had taken her a while she'd finally come up with a solution. She'd just explained it to them, and was expecting their immediate approval. What she was not expecting was the response she got instead. Hotaru, Minako and Makoto were staring at her as if she'd grown a second head, not one of them believing what she'd just said. Finally, Hotaru found her voice.

"Usagi?" she asked incredulously, "You want Minako and I to go back and dump all this on Usagi?"

Ami nodded her head, "Hai."

"Ami-chan, she's seven months pregnant," Minako began, "She's already stressed enough without having to be at the center of a potential civil war between Hotaru-chan, us, the Outers and Professor Tomoe."

"Maybe so," the genius agreed, "But things have escalated to the point that there's no longer any other option."

Makoto looked unconvinced as well, "But Ami, this is a family issue between Hotaru and her parents…"

"No," Ami said emphatically, "For anyone else, this would be a family issue. For anyone else, this would be a simple case of a girl running away from her adoptive parents and then falling for an older girl. But Hotaru is not anyone else, none of us are. Hotaru is a Senshi, she is the Princess of Saturn, just as we are all princesses, and Usagi is our future queen. That makes this not just a family issue, but a political one as well. Usagi is our princess, she is in a position of authority over all of us. If you truly want to avoid tearing the Senshi apart or having this whole thing end in tragedy, you need to appeal to her."

Hotaru understood now. She looked over at Minako, and could see that the blonde agreed with the young med student as well. "Alright," the Senshi of Death said, "But how will we get to her? My former parents are looking for both of us, and the police are looking for me as well."

"I'm glad you asked," Ami said with a smile. "We'll wait until tomorrow. Here's my plan…"

-To Be Continued-

End Notes: I'm sorry it's been so long in between updates. The problem is mainly a combination of real-life interruptions and another story I'm writing besides this one. Now that I'm married, updates are just going to be less frequent unfortunately. That being said, I will continue to try to update at least once a month.

Also, thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed thus far. Your kind comments, constructive criticisms and encouragement have meant a lot.