AN: Just to avoid confusion, assume that everyone is able to communicate without worrying about the language barriers.
It had been 3 weeks and Rei had already left for her family in America. The other four were sitting in the Fruits Parlor Crown comparing the families that they would be staying with on their trip.
"So everyone! Where in NYC are you staying?" Usagi asked curiously.
"It looks like all five of us are going to be in the same area, and going to the same school," Ami said trying to hold back the excitement in her voice. "As it turned out, a group of five friends each wanted to host an exchange student and they get a group of five friends! This should be great!"
"Really?" Minako said not bothering to hold back her excitement. "That's wonderful! So who is Rei staying with?"
"Her name is Aiden," said Makoto. "But that's all I really know about her, except where she lives. They sent us a picture of the five of them." She pulled out a picture with five girls on it. She pointed to a girl on the far left with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes. "That's Aiden. Next to her is Nixie, who Ami will be staying with." She pointed to a girl with long reddish hair like Setsuna's length and clear green eyes. "Then Isabella who Minako will be staying with." She pointed to a girl with hazel eyes and short blond hair (a little shorter than shoulder length). Then she pointed to a girl with long, jet-black hair and blue eyes. "Usagi will be staying with Adelaide or Addy. What's great about Addy is that she has a cat named Marigold and her parents said that it was ok to bring Luna along. And I will be staying with Flora." She pointed to a girl with long blond hair (a little past shoulders) that is pulled back into a low braid and blue eyes.
Usagi looked at the girl who was to be her host. "You know call me crazy guys but doesn't Addy look like Mamo-chan?"
The girls all laughed at Usagi. Minako said, "Oh Usagi-chan! You must really be missing Mamoru to be claiming that everyone looks like him!" Usagi started to laugh too but she still couldn't shake the feeling off.
Meanwhile…In New York City, Aiden was helping Rei settle in when the doorbell rang. Aiden said, "Ok Rei I'll see who that is, make yourself at home and feel free to raid the fridge!"
"Thank you Aiden! I will!"
Aiden left the room to see who could be at her door. When she opened it she saw that it was her friends: Nixie, Isabella, Flora, and Addy. "Hey what's up guys? I was just helping Rei settle in when…"
"We need to talk Aiden," Addy interrupted her. "And not within earshot." Aiden directed them to her mom's room and closed the door after them. A picture of her deceased father hung on the wall.
"What is it? What happened?"
"Marigold has been picking up weird vibes lately. He thinks that something evil is here."
"Just wonderful! But didn't we just restore the peace again?"
"Apparently not," said Flora.
"Marigold thinks that those exchange students are the threat," Addy said. Aiden thought about Rei, trying to see if she noticed anything weird about her.
"I don't know guys," Aiden said to the group. "I mean Rei is nice. I don't think she can be with the enemy."
"Appearances could be deceiving Aiden," Nixie explained. "I mean it does make sense. Right when the first one comes, Marigold starts feeling strange things? I don't think it's just a coincidence. We should definitely do something."
Addy continued for Nixie, "I say we watch them and try to find out more before doing anything." The others nodded in agreement and decided to go and greet the newcomer.
Meanwhile Rei, still in Aiden's room, was unpacking. She pulled out her transformation stick with the crystal of mars on top of it. "We are all bringing these just in case something happens. Now that I'm here, I'm glad we brought them, I just have a bad feeling. I wish I could read from the fire here. Good thing the others will be here soon. Or else I—" She was interrupted by a knock on the door. She quickly hid her stick. "Come in!"
"Hi Rei!" Aiden said as she opened the door. "I would like you to meet my friends…"