No one argued over it, an argument could easily be their last. Hirokazu stood there with a blank look on his face, feigning indifference.

"Oh. Okay, that's cool. I was just hoping to be with the pretty one, is all," he admitted. "Work's work."

Inside, he was raging. 'A year?! Where am I to be placed?! Can I even continue my investigation?'

"His things have been placed," the queen continued. She looked to another staff member. "Escort him to his destination."

Mars seemed upset but Hirokazu ignored it. He walked out with the man and followed him down a long corridor. He must have been heading for a residential area. That still worked in his favor, but still. How would he locate the princess if he was actually working?

'God, if this is punishment for breaking that vase and blaming it on the butler, my apologies.'

The man opened a door and the prince stepped inside. It shut behind him and he looked up to see a man sitting at a table over a cup of tea.

"Oh, you've arrived quickly," he greeted. Hirokazu nodded and waved a little. Was this one of the enemy generals? He looked very familiar. "I sent the request in just a few days ago. One of our attendants grew ill and had to be sent home. It will be close to a year before his replacement can arrive."

"That's cool. Oh, I-I'm Hiro," he said. He was a little surprised by the handshake, having figured the man would want little contact with a 'Lower Caste'. "I'm from Japan."

"Yes, the queen explained you lost your family when the Gnosis attacked. You look older than I would have guessed."

"Well, I lost my parents and brother, so…"

The man nodded. "Of course. Here, your quarters." He opened a door near the entrance. It was large enough for maybe two people and had a bed and dresser. His bag was already there. "You'll mostly be attending my wife. She is bed-ridden and has been for centuries."

Hirokazu took a small crystal the man handed him and examined it in the light. "Centuries?"

"Depression, a broken heart. Whatever you wish to call it. She does move around some, but never for long. She needs help most days, particularly when I am gone," he explained. "I felt you would need some time to adjust to your new living conditions, so I will be here for a fortnight. However, when I am gone she is your responsibility."

He nodded and pocketed the crystal. "So, uh… this is for…?"

"She uses it to summon when she needs aid."

That made sense. "I've got to say, you're friendlier than I expected."

The man laughed. "Because you are Lower Caste? I am not native to this system, I have no quarrels with your people. Many Lower Caste I have met have been nothing but polite. Maybe it is because of my station? Regardless, I am sure your reputation as being all supporters of the Dark Kingdom to be exaggerated."

Hirokazu had nothing to say to that.

"But, please do not mention that place to my wife. It is a sore topic. Now, Hiro," the man walked to one of the back rooms. "My daughter may be returning tonight, I hope to introduce you later. You should get used to the castle layout."

"Yeah. I'll be back later, sir."

With that, Hirokazu was out of the room to find Sailor Mars. He closed the door behind him and sighed. This was not going well. At least the person he had met was polite.

He didn't have to look far, Mars was around the corner. "I'm sorry about this," she muttered. "I didn't know they had put in their own request."

"It's okay. I've got a couple weeks before I have to buckle down. Plenty of time."

Mars seemed unsure and looked the way he had come from. "I'll have to get my own staff in. I didn't know it was them. The Lady is bedridden and unable to cope most days. If you're here, they will not be seeking more staff."

Hirokazu scratched the back of his head. "It's really as bad as he implied?"

She nodded and he crossed his arms. There was an awkward silence between them before Mars turned and left. Probably to warn the others about the change of plans. He just continued on his way, looking around the castle. More memories came back to him as he did.

"I colored on the wall here. With paint." He knelt down to examine and saw with some satisfaction that his handiwork was still visible, even a thousand years later. At the corner of the baseboard you could see some droplets of the offending paint. Running his hand along it, he stood back up.

'Mama said she wanted tea,' Yukio had informed him once. They were supposed to have been under lockdown, but Yukio had snuck out to the kitchens and Hirokazu had followed him. That was how they had arrived in the Dark Kingdom to begin with.

He looked down the hall and moved several feet to a wall. He pushed on the panel and watched with satisfaction as it opened up. One of the secret pathways in the castle that he and his brother frequently used.

His mind wandered to the woman he was supposed to be helping. It was still midday, he couldn't begin any actual investigation until night fell and the castle slept. Didn't Yukio once say their mother was sickly herself?

He wandered off to the kitchens, finding his way by hazy memories. When he looked up, there was Sailor Jupiter in her royal dress.

"Oh, uh… hi."

She looked at him with disappointment on her face. Her look said it all. 'I'm sorry our plan isn't working out.'

"Uhm… I need some tea. F-for the Lady I'm supposed to be helping…? Can you put some honey with it?"

She nodded and went to prepare it while he sat on a chair. "Hot, right?"

Hirokazu nodded and picked up an apple to eat while he waited. Once the cup was in front of him he picked it up and went to bring it back to the room. He'd have to come back to raid the pantry for honey later. It was rare to get back home, and was the only sweet he really liked in large quantities.

He moved the door open and stepped in to see the man sitting and reading. He looked up.

"Is something wrong, Hiro?"

Hirokazu nodded and searched for the words. "This's for your wife." He motioned to the tea cup. "My brother said my mom used to be sick a lot and liked it, so…"

The man smiled. "I was just about to send for you to bring some. Are you sure you are not a telepath?" he asked with a laugh.

The prince nodded and held it out. "There's honey in it, I hope that's okay."

"It's just how she likes it. Thank you, young man."

Hirokazu bowed and walked to his own living quarters. The rooms were all set up the same as best he knew, and there would be a hidden door against the wall to allow him access through the castle without being seen by visiting royalty.

He looked in and saw his bag laying open. That was odd, considering he hadn't been in here yet, but expected. He was 'Lower Caste' from Earth. Chalk it up to Queen Serenity's famous paranoia.

He began putting his things away. He couldn't focus on anything right now and decided to roam tonight when everyone else was asleep. A check of the hidden door showed it worked well, the hidden corridor was large enough for two people to walk through.

Once his clothes were put away and his books hidden from view, he stepped in to the corridor to begin marking pathways. He did, after all, need to be back by sunrise each morning, and it wouldn't do to be lost in a maze like a rat.

Speaking of rats, one ran over his foot. He yelled and jumped against the wall as he tried to kick it off. A black cat ran up and snatched it in its mouth.

"Oh… oh thank god. Good kitty," he panted. He knelt down to pet it but it stared at him. How eerie, it was like the cat was sizing him up. "Where'd you get a baldspot like that?"

The black cat with the crescent moon spot seemed to snub him and saunter off with her tail high in the air.

"…was it something I said?"

The Lady Earth sat back in the tea room with Endymion. He spent as much time away from the Moon as he could with the imposter princess still on the loose. Now that the Dark Kingdom was his ally in this, he had to reconnect with his rogue bodyguard.

"Is it true you struck the queen?" he wondered.

"It is. Mind you, I didn't know she was an imposter until the moment I realized I was still transformed." She took a long sip from her cup. "I was simply beyond caring at that point. I figured, 'if I kill her, Hirokazu takes my throne and Serenity hers'. Some days, it feels as though the only peace will come from our mutual deaths."

Endymion leaned back in his chair. "As depressing as ever."

"I don't recall asking you for your thoughts."

He laughed. "It is refreshing to have a conversation with someone who is willing to speak their thoughts. Being a prince, I have far too many who agree with me mindlessly."

"Those four are perfect examples." She took another sip and glanced at her bookshelf. "I still have no love for them. Perhaps rebelling was in their best interests, I'd have run them to the ground given half a chance."

"I don't doubt it. You and Jadeite never saw eye-to-eye on anything." He placed his cup on the table and stood to move to that very same shelf. "You… never changed the books?"

"Never saw a need. I like them. Though I have added a new wing to the library for the new ones that filter in."

He pulled a book out and opened it to flip through the ancient pages. Closing it once more, he put it back and turned to where she sat. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you turn against us? Had you fought alongside us, none of the sanctions would have happened."

"You, Endymion, are a mind washed fool. The sanctions would have happened regardless of my side. I think you mean to ask, 'why did I leave you'?"

He said nothing.

"I saw a corrupt hand controlling the people of this world. I saw people accept abrupt changes to their lives as normal. Forced from your home with a small child to live on the streets because a noble wanted your home? That's fine, thank you for not KILLING ME."

She knocked a book off the table. "That is unacceptable! I wanted the people of the Moon to see the people of the Earth as their equals. Anything else you believe is a load."

"If your heart lies with the interests of my people, then-"

"I will not return to your service, Endymion. Ever."

Hirokazu had been in the library when he felt the crystal burn.

Perhaps 'burn' was not the most appropriate word, it grew warm in his pocket, enough that he noticed.

Whatever the case, he left at once, taking the servant corridor and followed his markings back to his room. Why were they calling for him? He shouldn't have to worry about that for a while, if the man had been right.

Oh, he was probably a general. He must have been leaving for battle, or to see his troops, and Hirokazu would need to be on call. This kind of thing happened.

Once back in his room, he pushed the panel closed and heard voices on the other side of the door to the living quarter.

"Yes, he should be here in a moment, dear," the man said. "He's a thoughtful lad, brought your mother tea."

Oh. He was going to introduce Hirokazu to his child. Probably a daughter, by his tone. Whatever. Hirokazu opened the door up and stepped out.

"You called for me, sir?" he wondered when he froze.

"Ah, yes. Hiro, I want you to meet my daughter. She has been spending much time on Earth, so you may not see her again. But, I wanted to make sure you met, so you know she is allowed in the room while I am away."

She froze at the sight of him, too.

"Of course. Yeah, hi, I-I'm Hiro." He held his hand out with a fake smile on his face.

"Father, this is the new boy?"

Her father smiled. "I know he's not Christopher, but you'll manage without your favorite around."

She nodded. "Yes, father."

"Well, Hiro, I should allow you time to get to know one another."

That wouldn't be necessary, he wanted to say. After all, he knew Safa quite well already.

'Damn.'