A/N: This chapter is mostly filler and a short introduction to Hotaru. Who will be making her first apperence. Exciting, no? Tack on a little foreshadowing and we'll see how this all turns out. Don't worry more is indeed coming! Hopefully soon, I'm just busy the next two days so after that I should have another one up. On the plus side, I think the plot is getting better, we are slowly leading up to something (hopefully) big. So stick with me! Hehehe, anyways enjoy!

Disclaimer: Heh, nothing, I own nothing.

Act X.

She was getting good at this sneaking around thing. Haruka-papa didn't have the slightest idea. In-fact not even Michiru-mama suspected much. Setsuna-mama on the other hand…Hotaru decided she'd have to be even sneakier.

Because Hotaru Tomoe adopted daughter of the Outer Senshi. Was a kind, sweet, honest girl. So honest in-fact, if she were to get caught…

She'd sing like a canary!

No matter if Usagi was using her information for the greater good. She just couldn't risk getting grounded again. Especially after breakfast incident, she had promised Michiru-mama that she wasn't going to prank Haruka-papa in the morning anymore. Especially if she hadn't had her coffee.

That incident had become a strictly no-mention one. After what had happened to the kitchen table…and the chairs…and the microwave and a few other miscellaneous items…and of course Haruka-papa.

Hotaru shook her head, she had to focus. Tonight's mission was important. It was life or death! The future and the past! It was…it was…

"Did you finish your homework, Hotaru?"

Amethyst eyes blinked in surprise. Michiru was staring down at her, with a warm smile.

"Huh?"

"I was asking if you finished your homework. We have a meeting tonight and…"

"…You would like it if I worked on my homework upstairs?"

Michiru grinned.

"Yes, because-"

"Haruka-papa and Makoto get rowdy."

"I…do I always use that line?"

Hotaru smiled and nodded her head vigorously.

"I suppose I need new material."

Hotaru agreed.

"So…how many more meetings are there going to be?"

Michiru frowned thoughtfully for a few seconds. It was an innocent question, from an innocent young girl, after-all.

"I don't know, firefly. You know your papa."

"That bad?"

"No…not at all. It's just-"

"Nothing I need to be worried about."

Michiru opened and closed her mouth for a few seconds before nodding.

"Erm…yes. I really need to come up with new lines."

"Preferably ones that aren't just worded differently."

"I will try, firefly. Now, that homework you have to do?"

Hotaru grumbled.

"I'm going…"

With only a passing wave to Ami and Makoto just coming in through the door, Hotaru ran up the stairs to her room. She would sit and wait for a few minutes while everything was getting settled. It only took a few minutes before the first shouting match between Haruka and Makoto began.

Hotaru had to giggle, she could hear them all the way upstairs. After waiting a few more minutes for everyone to calm down, again. Hotaru peeked outside her bedroom door, checking both ways to make sure it was clear. (It would do her no good to get caught, after-all.) She quietly tip-toed out of her room and headed down the hall to the stairs. Kneeling precariously close to them she listened in on their 'secret' meeting.

"…She was so infuriating."

Haruka chuckled.

"That I can believe. Rei can make the sanest person nuts with only a few well placed words."

"Sort of like you, Haruka?"

Setsuna couldn't resist the temptation to tease the irritating blonde.

"Blondist!"

Setsuna smirked.

"Back to the matter at hand…Haruka what are we going to do about Usagi?"

Hotaru eyes grew wide at the mention of her 'employer.'

"I don't see the problem, it worked out in the end."

Ami sighed.

"Surely, you do not think Rei's interference was beneficial? If anything it would lead to Minako pulling even further from her, which would completely ruin the whole point we are doing this. We simply cannot disregard Usagi either, Haruka. I'm positive she set things forward the other night."

The blonde leaned back in her chair, frowning all the while as her best reconnaissance Senshi gave her the preverbal 'gears.'

"Ruka, love, you know Ami makes a good point."

"You do."

Haruka replied quietly, processing the information.

"But if Usagi is helping our cause why should we be so concerned?"

Makoto just had to ask, she was curious. Ami loved their leader as much as the rest of them, for her to be saying that they had to do something regarding Usagi. Well…things were getting a little bit heavy.

"I wouldn't call it helping, Mako."

"Oh?"

"I can't claim to know her plans. But I know she knows about this. She must. Maybe she does not like our ideas, or our plans…I…I can' be sure. But we have to do something. Her interference did not work out last time, and if it continues…"

"…Then there will be no hope?"

Ami shrugged.

"The closeness between Rei and Usagi is not beneficial for our plan. If anything it seems to make Minako feel even more closed off, their closeness is distracting if that and more…"

"So what are you saying Ami?"

Michiru asked, the Senshi of Mercury tired to smile, but seemly couldn't.

"…If we can find out why, perhaps we can deal with Usagi's interference. Minako must have a better reason beyond simple jealously. Her reaction Friday night to Rei's comments seemed to imply something else."

"You know, I did get that feeling too."

Makoto mumbled. There was silence in the room for several seconds, as everyone thought it over. Haruka spoke up first.

"Then, we'll do as you suggested Ami. We will get to the bottom of this."

Hotaru frowned, but quickly snuck back into her room. She however missed Setsuna's final comment.

"I do not think you will like what you find."

Everyone in the room remained quiet.