Five
'Mina-chan, slow down, I can't hear you,' Usagi groaned, angrily yanking up the kitchen's window shutters. Bright light glared back at her. It was far too early to be up on a Saturday morning. And Minako calling and blubbering down the phone line to her…she'd better have a good explanation.
'…was…attacked…' Usagi made out.
'You were attacked?' her tiredness vanished, overridden by the immediate concern for her friend. Something attacked her and the Princess of Venus couldn't overcome it?
'Where are you?'
Sniff, 'At the park…'
'Go to Rei's,' Usagi ordered. She lived a block from the beautiful Juuban parklands at the Temple. 'I'll meet you there.'
Minako blubbered a yes, and Usagi put down the phone, jumping as the shutters she had just opened slammed shut.
'Weird,' she mouthed, rushing down the hallway, golden hair streaming out behind her.
'Usagi?' her mother sounded tired, hearing the heavy, rushed footfalls of her daughter thunder past. There was a hint of disbelief in her voice. What was Usagi doing up at this hour?
She threw open her bedroom curtains to let the morning in and began to dress.
Luna stretched on the bed and rolled onto her back.
'Am I dreaming?' she managed through a massive cat yawn.
'Luna wake up. Mina-chan just called from the parklands, she was attacked this morning.'
'And she couldn't beat it?' Luna sat up.
'She's going to Rei's,' Usagi threw on knee socks and a knee-length navy dress. 'I'm meeting her there.'
'I'll find Artemis,' Luna jumped to the window sill. 'He'll be worried sick about-'
Before the cat could finish, the curtains fell together and the door slammed shut. Luna meowed in protest and made her way out of the folds of material.
Usagi barely noticed her, her blood chilling for a moment.
'Spooky!' she spoke to herself, idly retying the curtains.
'The storm breeze is persisting,' Luna indignantly shook herself and re-perched on the window sill. 'I will be in contact,' she announced, leaving.
Usagi threw on her scarf and coat, not bothering to tie her hair and pulling a thick woolen hat over her ears. It was chilly that morning.
She hurried to the Temple.
