SAILOR ECLIPSE,
Chapter 6: "WHO DO YOU TRUST"
By Bill K.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter stared down at the fallen Sailor
V, lying in the grass of the park. Stunned by the power of Sailor
Moon and her Moon Tier, the girl only now began to stir. The two
senshi only stood and gaped in shock and amazement, for Jupiter held
the scarlet mask of Sailor V in her hand, revealing the girl's
identity to them.
Propping herself up on two hands, Minako groggily collected her
senses. At once she realized her mask was missing. Glancing up, she
saw the amazement, confusion and betrayal in the faces of her fellow
senshi. Her face twisted into an uncomfortable grimace.
"This is not what you're thinking," she sighed in frustration.
"It better not be," Jupiter replied coldly. Minako bit back an
angry retort.
"I got out my old Sailor V uniform to try to lure the impostor
to me. Unfortunately, you two spotted me first. Why do you think I
was running away from you instead of attacking?" Minako scowled. "I
must be getting old if I got caught."
"Wait a minute," Jupiter grumbled. "You honestly expect us to
believe you came up with a hair-brained scheme like that and expected
it to work?" Then Jupiter considered what she just said and whom she
was talking about. "Yeah, I suppose it probably is the truth," she
shrugged.
"I'm not sure, but I think I've just been insulted," Minako
said, getting to her feet. "Bad enough I had to eat Silver Crystal
attack. Do you know it makes you feel all sweet and gooey inside?"
"Well I believe you, Minako," Sailor Moon said, clasping the
girl's hands in her own. "But you shouldn't go off on your own like
that. We're a team and we'll solve this as a team."
"Yeah," Minako grinned slightly. "But it's my reputation,
Sailor Moon. It's something I worked hard for and something I'm
proud of. I just don't like the idea of someone else horning in on
it, especially someone using it to attack us, you know?"
Before she could respond, Sailor Moon got a signal from her
communicator.
"Usagi, where are you?" Luna angrily demanded over the
communicator. "Did you forget we had a meeting at the temple?"
"No, I didn't forget, Luna," scowled Sailor Moon. "Jupiter and
I went to check out something in the park first."
"Well it had better not have been a new food vendor."
"It wasn't," Sailor Moon scowled.
"Do you need assistance?"
"No," Sailor Moon said, glancing at Minako. "It, uh, turned
out to be a false alarm."
"Fine. We'll be expecting you shortly."
She closed the channel, lost in thought. Suddenly she turned
to Jupiter and Minako.
"Well, Ami'll probably be at the temple. It'll give me a
chance to talk to her there." She allowed herself to revert to Usagi
and gestured for the others to follow.
"Uh, can I have my mask back?" Minako said to Makoto. It was
then that she noticed the suspicious glare she was getting. "What?"
"I don't know what's going on," Makoto said, "but if this is
some game you're playing or some crazy scheme you've cooked up, just
remember that I'll be watching you from now on."
"Better be careful," Minako said with a jaunty grin, plucking
the mask from Makoto's hand. "You keep watching me, you could trip
on something and hurt yourself." She fell in line behind Usagi while
Makoto brought up the rear.
* * * *
"Well as annoying as her being distracted can be, it is a
gratifyingly normal response from her," muttered Luna. She sat in
the temple, in the senshi's special room, with Rei and Artemis.
"Usagi's been acting strange?" inquired Rei.
"Well, yes," admitted the black cat. "Her improvement in her
punctuality and attention to her schoolwork can probably be
attributed to her infatuation with this new teacher of hers.
Honestly, she talks about him all the time. He certainly seems to
have charmed her."
"Professional jealousy?" needled Artemis.
"Don't speak of things you know nothing about," Luna huffed.
The cat sobered. "Back to Usagi, what worries me is this incident at
Mamoru's."
"Did they have a fight?" Rei asked, worried.
"I'm afraid it goes beyond a mere squabble," Luna said. She
seemed reluctant to continue. "Mamoru said she was in his apartment
when he returned home last night. That she was - - well, dressed
quite scantily and - - and attempted to seduce him!"
"All right Usagi!" grinned Rei.
"Rei, you're missing the point! I grant you, I've had to
listen to endless mutterings of hers in her sleep that, well, quite
frankly aren't the sort of things proper young women should be
muttering. And then there's her waking fantasies about Mamoru as
well. But Usagi saying such things and doing them is quite a
different matter. I don't doubt the idea's popped into her head, but
the Usagi I know would lose her nerve before she even tried such a
stunt."
"Yeah, you're right about that," sighed Rei. "Was Mamoru able
to tell if it was really her?"
"That's another interesting point. Mamoru seemed to sense it
was her, and yet it wasn't. Now could it be that we've got someone
masquerading as Usagi? We've already got someone masquerading as
Sailor V."
"But why? To infiltrate us? And if so, why make a play for
Mamoru?"
"You're both overlooking another possibility," Artemis
interjected. "That someone or something is controlling Usagi, and
possibly Minako, too. Did Usagi have any memory of visiting Mamoru?"
"No, she denied it immediately," Luna reported.
"The same way Minako's denied being out as Sailor V. But
there's been periods when I can't account for where she is. She says
she's out hunting for the impostor and it sounds just like something
she'd do, but it also gives her opportunity to appear as Sailor V.
And if something else is controlling her, she might not know she was
doing it."
"There was a period last night when Usagi was gone, too," Luna
said.
"She was with me," Rei whispered. "We were - - kind of
following Ami."
"Indeed?" Luna asked.
"Yeah. She's - - kind of acting weird herself. I spotted her
in the shopping district on her own at night. That isn't like her.
Usually you have to drag her into doing something frivolous." Rei
blushed. "I thought she was meeting someone and wanted to see who it
was - - not that I'm a gossip or anything! And naturally I knew
Usagi would want to know, too. But she just wandered around,
looking. If she bought anything, it must have been when Usagi
insisted on stopping at the food court."
"Lovely. Now it's three of them," Artemis muttered.
"Speaking of Ami, where is she?" Luna commented, looking
around. "Unless she's with Usagi, it's past time she got here."
* * * *
"Ami?" her mother said, gently rapping on the door to her
daughter's bedroom. "May I come in?"
There was no response.
"Ami, please talk to me. I know something's upset you. It
might help to talk about it."
No response.
"If it's too soon, tell me and I'll understand. I just want to
make sure you're all right."
Still no response.
Sighing, Mrs. Mizuno opened the door and peered in. The room
was empty. Expelling another sigh of frustration, she closed the
door again.
"Maybe she's sought out Usagi for help," the woman thought.
"Or maybe she had one of her Sailor emergencies."
Unsure of her next action, Dr. Mizuno leaned against the
molding of the doorframe. She thought for a few moments, then moved
to the phone.
"Maybe Ikuko knows something," she thought.
* * * *
Usagi, Makoto and Minako entered the temple room and nodded to
Rei, ignoring the looks of disapproval they got from the cats.
"Rei, you've got to do something about your grandpa and his
x-ray eyes," complained Minako.
"I'd have an easier time changing the tides of the Pacific,"
mumbled Rei.
"Where's Ami?" asked Usagi.
"Isn't she with you?" Luna asked.
"Well, no. Luna, you did tell her about the meeting, didn't
you?"
"Of course I did."
"Well we have to find her."
"If she doesn't show in the next few moments, we'll call."
"But Luna, she could be in trouble!"
"Usagi, we've important matters here."
"More important than Ami? I'm going . . ."
"USAGI! SIT!"
"Oh, what?!" huffed Usagi. But she did sit.
"Rei was attacked by Sailor V last night," Luna announced.
"Rei-chan!" gasped Usagi.
"Are you all right?" Makoto asked. Minako stared uneasily.
"The only thing hurt is my pride," Rei muttered. "She snuck
into my room while I was sleeping. I don't know what she wanted. I
woke up, we fought in the garden - - and I lost."
"Did she use attacks?" Minako asked desperately.
"Crescent Boomerang, Sailor V Kick," Rei recounted, "and she
was able to call down a monsoon instantly."
"Love Crescent Shower," whispered Usagi in shock. Minako
looked on, sick.
"And she was good, too," Rei continued. "That kick she caught
me with was right out of a Hong Kong Martial Arts film."
"Artemis?!" Minako cried fearfully. "What's going on? How is
this possible?"
"We tracked an energy signature recently," Artemis related.
"It was strong enough to theoretically be able to mimic your
attacks."
"Um, look, there's more," Rei said, her news not setting
comfortably on her mind. "When I fought that Sailor V last night, I
could sense a familiarity about her. I don't know who she is, but
she's someone I know."
Minako was up on her feet. "Look, it's not me, OK! I know
what this looks like! I know everything points to me, but it's not
me! I swear it! I'll swear it on any religious icon you want to
give me! It's not me! You have to believe that!"
"Mina-chan, we do," Usagi replied, shining her reassuring
manner at her friend. "We'll find who's doing this - - together.
But never doubt that we believe in you and we'll always believe in
you."
Minako glanced around the room. "Well, at least you believe in
me." The eyes of the others sought the floor.
"I, um," Rei began again, "spent the day trying to divine who
she really is. All I got were impressions of Usagi." She turned to
Usagi. "Usagi, I think you're her ultimate target. I don't know why
she's going through all of this instead of attacking directly, but
you're her real goal. There was one image of you in particular that
left me with chills. This person is out to get you. There's no
doubting the intent of that impression." Rei's brow furrowed. "And
I kept getting a name: 'Sailor Eclipse'."
"Is she a senshi you never told us about?" Usagi asked Luna.
"There was never a Sailor Eclipse in the Crystal Kingdom," Luna
replied grimly. "I rather think she's betraying her intent through
her name. 'Eclipse' - - the astral phenomenon which eliminates the
Moon from Earth."
All eyes moved to Usagi.
"I think we need to find Ami," Usagi replied.
After Usagi went out in the hall to phone home, Rei and Makoto
excused themselves awkwardly. It didn't do much for Minako's
self-esteem and she sat in the room and let the silence surround her.
The girl stared absently at the floor, a forlorn expression on her
face, until Artemis passed into view.
"You believe me, don't you?" Minako whispered so he couldn't
hear her voice quaver.
"I believe you're not consciously doing this," he replied
frankly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Minako," Artemis said, measuring his words carefully, "the
possibility exists that you're being controlled by some outside
force." He met her irate, skeptical gaze without flinching. "It
may be happening to Usagi, too. Luna's related some - -
uncharacteristic behavior on her part as well. It might even explain
where Ami is."
"Controlled by who?" Minako demanded. "How?"
"I don't know. But it would explain a lot, wouldn't it?"
Minako didn't answer. She concentrated on the wood grain in
the floor.
"You haven't had any," Artemis asked cautiously, "lapses, have
you, that you can't explain?" Minako shot him an angry look. "I
have to ask. Ami's gone now and if whoever they are have her, too,
we have to know." Minako's face took on a look of deep hurt as she
turned away. "Come on, Minako. Didn't someone once say that 'tears
don't suit Sailor V'?"
"You've got too long a memory," Minako whispered. "No, I
haven't had any lapses that I'm aware of. Whoever's doing this
isn't controlling me - - she's masquerading as me."
Artemis reached up and licked the tips of Minako's fingers.
"Then we have to find her and stop her," Artemis said. "After
all, she's threatening more than your reputation now. She's
threatening Usagi."
Minako's hand reached down and scratched Artemis behind the
ear.
"Never any rest, is there?" Minako sighed. She pushed to her
feet. "Come on. Let's hit the bricks."
Minako walked out of the room. Makoto and Rei were near the
door and she gruffly pushed past them, then paused and turned around.
"If either of you two are going to follow me, you'd better get
moving," she said bitterly, then turned on her heels and left,
Artemis following behind her. Makoto and Rei exchanged guilty
looks.
"You don't think we should, do you?" Makoto asked.
"You heard her in there," Rei replied, heartsick. "You didn't
need to be psychic to hear the honest pain and emotion in her voice.
I think we really hurt her."
"I know," Makoto sighed. "I can't help it, though. This is a
real threat, to us and especially to Usagi, and every time I turn
around, something new points to Minako. And yet, she's got every
right to be mad. Everywhere she turns, she's greeted with fear and
suspicion, especially from people who are supposed to be her
friends."
"Been there, done that," Rei said, old wounds of her own
surfacing.
"Yeah. Same here." Makoto scowled. "You'd think we'd have
learned by now."
"Sorry," Rei mused. "I haven't gotten my 'perfect' suit yet.
Must be lost in the mail."
Just then, Luna ran into the hall. She looked around until she
spotted Rei and Makoto, then ran up to them.
"Where's Minako?" she asked, huffing from exertion.
"She and Artemis just took off," Rei said. "What's up?"
"Ami's mother called Usagi's mother looking for Ami!
Apparently no one knows where she is!"
"And Usagi ran off to look for her, right?" Rei said, finishing
the thought. The two girls leaped into action and Luna quickly
matched their pace.
Continued in part 7
Chapter 6: "WHO DO YOU TRUST"
By Bill K.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter stared down at the fallen Sailor
V, lying in the grass of the park. Stunned by the power of Sailor
Moon and her Moon Tier, the girl only now began to stir. The two
senshi only stood and gaped in shock and amazement, for Jupiter held
the scarlet mask of Sailor V in her hand, revealing the girl's
identity to them.
Propping herself up on two hands, Minako groggily collected her
senses. At once she realized her mask was missing. Glancing up, she
saw the amazement, confusion and betrayal in the faces of her fellow
senshi. Her face twisted into an uncomfortable grimace.
"This is not what you're thinking," she sighed in frustration.
"It better not be," Jupiter replied coldly. Minako bit back an
angry retort.
"I got out my old Sailor V uniform to try to lure the impostor
to me. Unfortunately, you two spotted me first. Why do you think I
was running away from you instead of attacking?" Minako scowled. "I
must be getting old if I got caught."
"Wait a minute," Jupiter grumbled. "You honestly expect us to
believe you came up with a hair-brained scheme like that and expected
it to work?" Then Jupiter considered what she just said and whom she
was talking about. "Yeah, I suppose it probably is the truth," she
shrugged.
"I'm not sure, but I think I've just been insulted," Minako
said, getting to her feet. "Bad enough I had to eat Silver Crystal
attack. Do you know it makes you feel all sweet and gooey inside?"
"Well I believe you, Minako," Sailor Moon said, clasping the
girl's hands in her own. "But you shouldn't go off on your own like
that. We're a team and we'll solve this as a team."
"Yeah," Minako grinned slightly. "But it's my reputation,
Sailor Moon. It's something I worked hard for and something I'm
proud of. I just don't like the idea of someone else horning in on
it, especially someone using it to attack us, you know?"
Before she could respond, Sailor Moon got a signal from her
communicator.
"Usagi, where are you?" Luna angrily demanded over the
communicator. "Did you forget we had a meeting at the temple?"
"No, I didn't forget, Luna," scowled Sailor Moon. "Jupiter and
I went to check out something in the park first."
"Well it had better not have been a new food vendor."
"It wasn't," Sailor Moon scowled.
"Do you need assistance?"
"No," Sailor Moon said, glancing at Minako. "It, uh, turned
out to be a false alarm."
"Fine. We'll be expecting you shortly."
She closed the channel, lost in thought. Suddenly she turned
to Jupiter and Minako.
"Well, Ami'll probably be at the temple. It'll give me a
chance to talk to her there." She allowed herself to revert to Usagi
and gestured for the others to follow.
"Uh, can I have my mask back?" Minako said to Makoto. It was
then that she noticed the suspicious glare she was getting. "What?"
"I don't know what's going on," Makoto said, "but if this is
some game you're playing or some crazy scheme you've cooked up, just
remember that I'll be watching you from now on."
"Better be careful," Minako said with a jaunty grin, plucking
the mask from Makoto's hand. "You keep watching me, you could trip
on something and hurt yourself." She fell in line behind Usagi while
Makoto brought up the rear.
* * * *
"Well as annoying as her being distracted can be, it is a
gratifyingly normal response from her," muttered Luna. She sat in
the temple, in the senshi's special room, with Rei and Artemis.
"Usagi's been acting strange?" inquired Rei.
"Well, yes," admitted the black cat. "Her improvement in her
punctuality and attention to her schoolwork can probably be
attributed to her infatuation with this new teacher of hers.
Honestly, she talks about him all the time. He certainly seems to
have charmed her."
"Professional jealousy?" needled Artemis.
"Don't speak of things you know nothing about," Luna huffed.
The cat sobered. "Back to Usagi, what worries me is this incident at
Mamoru's."
"Did they have a fight?" Rei asked, worried.
"I'm afraid it goes beyond a mere squabble," Luna said. She
seemed reluctant to continue. "Mamoru said she was in his apartment
when he returned home last night. That she was - - well, dressed
quite scantily and - - and attempted to seduce him!"
"All right Usagi!" grinned Rei.
"Rei, you're missing the point! I grant you, I've had to
listen to endless mutterings of hers in her sleep that, well, quite
frankly aren't the sort of things proper young women should be
muttering. And then there's her waking fantasies about Mamoru as
well. But Usagi saying such things and doing them is quite a
different matter. I don't doubt the idea's popped into her head, but
the Usagi I know would lose her nerve before she even tried such a
stunt."
"Yeah, you're right about that," sighed Rei. "Was Mamoru able
to tell if it was really her?"
"That's another interesting point. Mamoru seemed to sense it
was her, and yet it wasn't. Now could it be that we've got someone
masquerading as Usagi? We've already got someone masquerading as
Sailor V."
"But why? To infiltrate us? And if so, why make a play for
Mamoru?"
"You're both overlooking another possibility," Artemis
interjected. "That someone or something is controlling Usagi, and
possibly Minako, too. Did Usagi have any memory of visiting Mamoru?"
"No, she denied it immediately," Luna reported.
"The same way Minako's denied being out as Sailor V. But
there's been periods when I can't account for where she is. She says
she's out hunting for the impostor and it sounds just like something
she'd do, but it also gives her opportunity to appear as Sailor V.
And if something else is controlling her, she might not know she was
doing it."
"There was a period last night when Usagi was gone, too," Luna
said.
"She was with me," Rei whispered. "We were - - kind of
following Ami."
"Indeed?" Luna asked.
"Yeah. She's - - kind of acting weird herself. I spotted her
in the shopping district on her own at night. That isn't like her.
Usually you have to drag her into doing something frivolous." Rei
blushed. "I thought she was meeting someone and wanted to see who it
was - - not that I'm a gossip or anything! And naturally I knew
Usagi would want to know, too. But she just wandered around,
looking. If she bought anything, it must have been when Usagi
insisted on stopping at the food court."
"Lovely. Now it's three of them," Artemis muttered.
"Speaking of Ami, where is she?" Luna commented, looking
around. "Unless she's with Usagi, it's past time she got here."
* * * *
"Ami?" her mother said, gently rapping on the door to her
daughter's bedroom. "May I come in?"
There was no response.
"Ami, please talk to me. I know something's upset you. It
might help to talk about it."
No response.
"If it's too soon, tell me and I'll understand. I just want to
make sure you're all right."
Still no response.
Sighing, Mrs. Mizuno opened the door and peered in. The room
was empty. Expelling another sigh of frustration, she closed the
door again.
"Maybe she's sought out Usagi for help," the woman thought.
"Or maybe she had one of her Sailor emergencies."
Unsure of her next action, Dr. Mizuno leaned against the
molding of the doorframe. She thought for a few moments, then moved
to the phone.
"Maybe Ikuko knows something," she thought.
* * * *
Usagi, Makoto and Minako entered the temple room and nodded to
Rei, ignoring the looks of disapproval they got from the cats.
"Rei, you've got to do something about your grandpa and his
x-ray eyes," complained Minako.
"I'd have an easier time changing the tides of the Pacific,"
mumbled Rei.
"Where's Ami?" asked Usagi.
"Isn't she with you?" Luna asked.
"Well, no. Luna, you did tell her about the meeting, didn't
you?"
"Of course I did."
"Well we have to find her."
"If she doesn't show in the next few moments, we'll call."
"But Luna, she could be in trouble!"
"Usagi, we've important matters here."
"More important than Ami? I'm going . . ."
"USAGI! SIT!"
"Oh, what?!" huffed Usagi. But she did sit.
"Rei was attacked by Sailor V last night," Luna announced.
"Rei-chan!" gasped Usagi.
"Are you all right?" Makoto asked. Minako stared uneasily.
"The only thing hurt is my pride," Rei muttered. "She snuck
into my room while I was sleeping. I don't know what she wanted. I
woke up, we fought in the garden - - and I lost."
"Did she use attacks?" Minako asked desperately.
"Crescent Boomerang, Sailor V Kick," Rei recounted, "and she
was able to call down a monsoon instantly."
"Love Crescent Shower," whispered Usagi in shock. Minako
looked on, sick.
"And she was good, too," Rei continued. "That kick she caught
me with was right out of a Hong Kong Martial Arts film."
"Artemis?!" Minako cried fearfully. "What's going on? How is
this possible?"
"We tracked an energy signature recently," Artemis related.
"It was strong enough to theoretically be able to mimic your
attacks."
"Um, look, there's more," Rei said, her news not setting
comfortably on her mind. "When I fought that Sailor V last night, I
could sense a familiarity about her. I don't know who she is, but
she's someone I know."
Minako was up on her feet. "Look, it's not me, OK! I know
what this looks like! I know everything points to me, but it's not
me! I swear it! I'll swear it on any religious icon you want to
give me! It's not me! You have to believe that!"
"Mina-chan, we do," Usagi replied, shining her reassuring
manner at her friend. "We'll find who's doing this - - together.
But never doubt that we believe in you and we'll always believe in
you."
Minako glanced around the room. "Well, at least you believe in
me." The eyes of the others sought the floor.
"I, um," Rei began again, "spent the day trying to divine who
she really is. All I got were impressions of Usagi." She turned to
Usagi. "Usagi, I think you're her ultimate target. I don't know why
she's going through all of this instead of attacking directly, but
you're her real goal. There was one image of you in particular that
left me with chills. This person is out to get you. There's no
doubting the intent of that impression." Rei's brow furrowed. "And
I kept getting a name: 'Sailor Eclipse'."
"Is she a senshi you never told us about?" Usagi asked Luna.
"There was never a Sailor Eclipse in the Crystal Kingdom," Luna
replied grimly. "I rather think she's betraying her intent through
her name. 'Eclipse' - - the astral phenomenon which eliminates the
Moon from Earth."
All eyes moved to Usagi.
"I think we need to find Ami," Usagi replied.
After Usagi went out in the hall to phone home, Rei and Makoto
excused themselves awkwardly. It didn't do much for Minako's
self-esteem and she sat in the room and let the silence surround her.
The girl stared absently at the floor, a forlorn expression on her
face, until Artemis passed into view.
"You believe me, don't you?" Minako whispered so he couldn't
hear her voice quaver.
"I believe you're not consciously doing this," he replied
frankly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Minako," Artemis said, measuring his words carefully, "the
possibility exists that you're being controlled by some outside
force." He met her irate, skeptical gaze without flinching. "It
may be happening to Usagi, too. Luna's related some - -
uncharacteristic behavior on her part as well. It might even explain
where Ami is."
"Controlled by who?" Minako demanded. "How?"
"I don't know. But it would explain a lot, wouldn't it?"
Minako didn't answer. She concentrated on the wood grain in
the floor.
"You haven't had any," Artemis asked cautiously, "lapses, have
you, that you can't explain?" Minako shot him an angry look. "I
have to ask. Ami's gone now and if whoever they are have her, too,
we have to know." Minako's face took on a look of deep hurt as she
turned away. "Come on, Minako. Didn't someone once say that 'tears
don't suit Sailor V'?"
"You've got too long a memory," Minako whispered. "No, I
haven't had any lapses that I'm aware of. Whoever's doing this
isn't controlling me - - she's masquerading as me."
Artemis reached up and licked the tips of Minako's fingers.
"Then we have to find her and stop her," Artemis said. "After
all, she's threatening more than your reputation now. She's
threatening Usagi."
Minako's hand reached down and scratched Artemis behind the
ear.
"Never any rest, is there?" Minako sighed. She pushed to her
feet. "Come on. Let's hit the bricks."
Minako walked out of the room. Makoto and Rei were near the
door and she gruffly pushed past them, then paused and turned around.
"If either of you two are going to follow me, you'd better get
moving," she said bitterly, then turned on her heels and left,
Artemis following behind her. Makoto and Rei exchanged guilty
looks.
"You don't think we should, do you?" Makoto asked.
"You heard her in there," Rei replied, heartsick. "You didn't
need to be psychic to hear the honest pain and emotion in her voice.
I think we really hurt her."
"I know," Makoto sighed. "I can't help it, though. This is a
real threat, to us and especially to Usagi, and every time I turn
around, something new points to Minako. And yet, she's got every
right to be mad. Everywhere she turns, she's greeted with fear and
suspicion, especially from people who are supposed to be her
friends."
"Been there, done that," Rei said, old wounds of her own
surfacing.
"Yeah. Same here." Makoto scowled. "You'd think we'd have
learned by now."
"Sorry," Rei mused. "I haven't gotten my 'perfect' suit yet.
Must be lost in the mail."
Just then, Luna ran into the hall. She looked around until she
spotted Rei and Makoto, then ran up to them.
"Where's Minako?" she asked, huffing from exertion.
"She and Artemis just took off," Rei said. "What's up?"
"Ami's mother called Usagi's mother looking for Ami!
Apparently no one knows where she is!"
"And Usagi ran off to look for her, right?" Rei said, finishing
the thought. The two girls leaped into action and Luna quickly
matched their pace.
Continued in part 7