SHADOW OVER CRYSTAL TOKYO,
Chapter 6: "The Searchers"
By Bill K.
"Endymion!" Serenity cried, racing into the room. "Usa's gone!
Someone may have taken her!" Luna and Makoto were right behind her,
looking concerned.
"No one took her," Endymion said. He pointed to the computer
screen in front of him.
Serenity looked at a recording of the fountain on Promenade
Square. Suddenly a swirl of wind and dust surrounded the fountain,
to the surprise of passers by. When it dissipated, she saw Sailor
Moon and her senshi sitting in the fountain's basin, drenched.
"I guess their aim was a little off," chuckled Makoto.
"That girl is going to be the death of me," Serenity groaned,
her hand on her forehead.
"Do you mean to say she and the senshi teleported from her
bedroom?" Luna sputtered. "Whatever for?"
"Remember Hotaru's missing, too?" Endymion reminded them.
"Computer, run file 062996-462, time frame 0721 to 0724."
The picture changed to the front entrance of the palace.
Hotaru emerged, a backpack on her shoulder. She looked both ways,
then headed west.
"Where's she going?" Serenity asked. She glanced at the
chronometer mark on the screen. "That's seven this morning!"
"I don't know," Endymion said. "It's possible she's running
away. And since she's not used to living in this surveillance heavy
age, she probably didn't think she'd be observed."
"But Usa and the Amazons do know," Makoto nodded, "so they went
after her in a way that wouldn't be observed. Gotta hand it to her."
"Oh yes," grumbled Serenity. "After all, she couldn't come to
me. I'm her mother, so naturally I'm the last person in the world
she can trust." Endymion caught her hand and squeezed it.
"But what would make Hotaru run away?" Luna asked. "Did last
night scare her that much?"
"Or maybe something else happened," Serenity said. "Endymion,
we have to find her!"
"I've got the computer searching the records of my optical
units. And Usa and the girls are looking for her. There's no need
to panic yet."
"But Endymion . . .!"
"Dear, she's Sailor Moon now. She has to learn to think on her
feet and trust her judgment and her senshi. This seems like an
excellent opportunity to do that. No one seems to be in any
immediate danger if, as you say, Mistress 9 can't be running around.
Let's give her the chance."
Serenity sighed loudly. She folded her arms over her chest and
looked down.
"All right," she said forlornly.
* * * *
Coming out of a briefing on Hotaru's situation, given to the
inner senshi by Endymion, Makoto noticed Minako steaming down the
hall at a brisk pace. By now very familiar with her friend's moods,
due to their thousand-year association, Makoto followed her at a
discreet distance. The trail led to the palace aero-pad. There she
found Minako doing pre-flight checks on one of the small magno-dyne
fueled scout ships.
"Going out?" Makoto asked. Minako jumped slightly.
"Either you're getting sneakier in your old age or I'm going
deaf," Minako scowled. "The way you thunder around, you never would
have snuck up on me in the old days."
"Unless you had a chocolate bar in your mouth," grinned Makoto.
"Drugged states do not count," Minako grinned back.
"So what's up? You gonna follow them?"
"Of course! Those are my girls out there!"
"Would you listen to yourself," Makoto chuckled. "This is a
fine time for your maternal instincts to kick in."
"Snicker if you wish," Minako sniffed imperiously. "I like
those four. They've got a lot of potential. And they grow on you.
And," and Minako looked away in embarrassment, "I want to be there
when they realize that potential - - and I want them to be there,
too." She glanced back, a pretend wicked look on her face. "And
what am I doing wasting my time explaining this to you, anyway?
Doesn't an old lady like you have something to knit?"
"No, I've got something more important to do," Makoto said
wryly. "I'm flying with you." Minako stared questioningly at her
longtime friend. "You're not the only one that cares about those
four - - or the Princess - - or Hotaru for that matter. Besides,
with me flying, you'll be free to monitor the optical feeds from
Endymion's network."
"Why are you flying?" Minako bristled. "What's wrong with my
flying?"
"Dear, we don't have THAT long," Makoto said, guiding Minako
gently into the ship.
* * * *
"Hi."
Hotaru turned to the sound of the voice with alarm. She'd been
so wrapped up in her own troubles that she hadn't heard the magnetic
wave car approach. A man leaned out of the pilot's side of the control
compartment.
"You having some trouble?" he asked.
"No," Hotaru said too quickly.
"It just seems like an odd place for a lone girl to be," the man
replied.
Hotaru looked at him. He seemed harmless - - about thirty years
old, with average looks and thick black hair. He could have been a
computer programmer or an accountant - - assuming they still had such
things in the thirtieth century. He had a sympathetic look to him and
seemed only to want to help if she was in trouble.
"I'm just," Hotaru said, editing as she spoke, "traveling - - to
my sister's." She didn't want to reveal that she was a runaway, afraid
that he might turn her in. She also remembered Haruka's many
admonitions about being wary of strangers.
"She lets a slight little thing like you walk there?" the man
asked her suspiciously. "You'll pardon my saying this, but you don't
look like you could walk a kilometer, let alone this far. It's got to
be about three kilometers back to Crystal Tokyo and probably two or
three to the next town. I'd hate for you to overtax yourself."
"I'll be fine."
"I can give you a lift if you'd like."
"No," Hotaru said and turned to move on. She was growing more and
more uncomfortable with the situation. She didn't know this man and
didn't know his intentions - - and she didn't know when Mistress 9 might
rise up again. She certainly didn't want to be around anyone if that
happened.
"Are you traveling to your sister's," the man asked, "or away
from something?"
Hotaru's shoulders slumped. "No, really . . ." she began.
"You don't have to get into specifics if you'd like," the man
said. His vehicle shut down and he climbed out. "It's just - - is
running away the only answer?"
Hotaru agonized over what to say next.
"Yes," she said softly.
"Is it that bad at home?" the man asked, maintaining a neutral
distance as he leaned against the hood of the vehicle. "I suppose it
shouldn't, but I'm always surprised to hear about domestic violence and
abuse in this day and age. The Queen sets such a good example. It's
just so hard to believe sometimes that some people are like that."
Hotaru desperately wanted to confess why she was running, to warn
him away. But he wouldn't believe her until it was too late.
"Have you tried talking with someone about it?" he asked.
The girl shook her head.
"No one would understand, right?" he said softly. "Isn't there
an adult you could go to? Someone you trust, who you could talk this
out with?"
"You don't understand," sobbed Hotaru.
"I'm sure there's someone . . ."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! NO ONE CAN HELP ME!"
And as Hotaru bellowed, a familiar push came from her brain. The
man who had stopped to help her froze in place. His eyes bulged. His
speech began to slur and died out. Bereft of support, the man collapsed
onto the pavement in a heap. He lay there and quivered, staring up at
Hotaru with wide, uncomprehending eyes.
"I tried to warn you!" Hotaru sobbed, her fists crammed up to her
mouth. She stared at him for a few seconds, his stare hammering her
brain with accusation.
Then Hotaru turned and ran. She ran down the road, desperate to
escape before her burden, Mistress 9, could do any harm to anyone else.
* * * *
Serenity looked up from her lonely perch on her chair in her
lonely quarters and saw Rei standing in the doorway.
"Was I being that loud?" Serenity mumbled, embarrassed that Rei
had sensed her distress again.
"You know I always have a knack for knowing when you're down in
the dumps," Rei said softly. She slipped into the room and sat down
next to her sovereign. "Are you worried about Hotaru or about Usa?"
"Both," Serenity replied miserably. "What if it's true? What if
Mistress 9 is back? Usa can't handle her, even with the Amazons!"
"I thought you said you were sure Mistress 9 was dead," Rei asked.
"Oh, and I've never been wrong before!" Serenity cried.
"Well, almost never," Rei grinned warmly. "OK, suppose she is
back? How do you know Usa won't give Mistress 9 a royal butt-kicking?
After everything she's already accomplished?"
"I know, I know. Part of me agrees with you. I think Usa could
handle Mistress 9 easier than I did. Then there's the part that
remembers how bad I felt when she skinned her knee or cut her finger, or
heaven help me, the time she fell from the balcony and broke her leg.
And I don't want to go through that again, Rei! I don't want anything
to happen to my baby!" Serenity sniffed. "And then there's what poor
Hotaru would have to go through if it is Mistress 9 again. I certainly
don't want that."
"You just like to worry," Rei teased.
"No I don't!" Serenity replied with her familiar petulance. "I
like candy and sleeping and my garden and hugging my husband and my
daughter. I hate worrying."
"Then why do it?" Rei smiled.
Serenity glared at her.
"You do that on purpose, don't you," Serenity pouted.
"For a thousand years," Rei chuckled, touching Serenity's arm.
"That pouty look you get is one of the things I like."
Serenity stuck her tongue out at Rei, eliciting another chuckle.
Just then Endymion entered. Rei quickly removed her hand from
Serenity's arm.
"Endymion?" Serenity asked, looking for good news.
"No one's found her yet," Endymion said, nodding to Rei. "The
girls are still on her trail. And we have another set of eyes on the
case, too."
"What, did Minako do something stupid like take an air car and
follow them?" Rei asked. Endymion only smiled. "Why am I not
surprised."
* * * *
Five senshi walked along the road leading out of Crystal Tokyo.
The curious stares died out as they got further from the city and
began to reach the undeveloped outer lands. Serenity had steadfastly
resisted any and all development of those lands, insisting that
nature be given a place to live as well. Thus the areas outside the
city were lush and green. Sailor Ceres noticed the untamed quality
of the area and seemed to liven under its influence.
Sailor Moon, following Sailor Vesta intently, kept up a brisk
pace as the two traveled the pavement made of wear and weather
resistant durable crystalline asphalt. The others were beginning to
fall behind.
"Pallas wants to go home!" whined Sailor Pallas.
"Pallas, we can't," Sailor Moon implored. "We've got to find
Hotaru!" Pallas didn't respond, but her eyes seemed to grow watery
and her lower lip got bigger.
"It's too bad none of us can fly," Ceres said, her pace slowing
so she could take in the scents of the various flora. "We've been
walking forever, it seems. How far you figure we've gone?"
"Probably about nine kilometers," heaved Juno.
"Nine point two five," Pallas said absently.
"She'd know," Ceres shrugged.
"Well, we could always teleport," Sailor Moon suggested.
"No way!" Juno said adamantly. "Not until we've practiced
more."
"Too bad we didn't grab an air car when we left," Vesta
cracked, sniffing the air.
"What good would that do us?" Ceres asked. "None of us are
licensed to pilot air cars yet."
"So? Just because I'm not licensed doesn't mean I can't
operate one."
"You?" Juno asked warily. "I think I'd rather teleport."
"Are we there yet?" Pallas whined.
"Hey!" Juno said, her tone sudden and urgent. The other girls
looked to where she pointed and spotted a parked vehicle up ahead. "You
suppose he's broken down or something?"
"Maybe he's seen Miss Hotaru," Pallas added.
"Maybe he can give us a lift," moaned Ceres.
The five girls approached the vehicle. As they neared, they all
saw that the pilot compartment was empty. That was strange enough, but
it became stranger when Vesta got closer.
"Around here!" Vesta gasped.
The others came at Vesta's summons. Ceres gasped, her hands
flying up to her mouth. Vesta looked around for potential danger, while
Sailor Moon knelt down next to the man laying on the road. She lifted
his head up onto her lap and wiped his brow. The man stared up at her
with helpless fear.
"What happened, sir?" Sailor Moon asked. "Were you in an
accident?"
"Vehicle's not damaged," Ceres noted.
"No other evidence of what he might have been in an accident
with," Vesta added.
"Is the man going to be all right?" Pallas asked.
"Princess," Juno said, leaning in close. "Look at his mouth - -
the way it's distorted. He's probably had some sort of seizure."
"Can you help him, Princess?" Pallas asked.
"I can try," and Sailor Moon summoned the Crescent Moon Wand.
She took a steadying breath. Then she waved the wand in a
circular pattern over the prostrate man and said "Moon Healing
Escalation!" A shower of pink dust particles began to flow from the
wand. It covered the man's chest and head, each particle sparkling as
it was absorbed into his skin. In seconds, his breathing began to grow
stronger. His muscle contortions relaxed and he grew calm. The man
uttered a contented sigh and the word "refresh" as he sagged in Sailor
Moon's lap. Once they were sure he was all right, the Amazoness senshi
helped him sit up.
"The Princess is really good at making people all better, isn't
she?" Pallas beamed.
"You're the Princess?" gasped the man.
"Uh huh," Sailor Moon nodded shyly. "Who are you?"
"Motoki Jinsu," the man replied, still amazed that the Princess of
Crystal Tokyo had saved him.
"What happened?" Juno inquired.
"I stopped to try to help this young girl. She was walking down
the road. She seemed like a runaway."
"Was she about a meter and a half high?" Sailor Moon asked
quickly, "with shoulder-length black hair?"
"And real sad-looking eyes?" added Ceres.
"Yes, that was her. Do you know her? Is she in trouble?"
"I hope not," Sailor Moon said, almost sobbing. She bit her lip
as her senshi looked on in sympathy.
continued in part 7
Chapter 6: "The Searchers"
By Bill K.
"Endymion!" Serenity cried, racing into the room. "Usa's gone!
Someone may have taken her!" Luna and Makoto were right behind her,
looking concerned.
"No one took her," Endymion said. He pointed to the computer
screen in front of him.
Serenity looked at a recording of the fountain on Promenade
Square. Suddenly a swirl of wind and dust surrounded the fountain,
to the surprise of passers by. When it dissipated, she saw Sailor
Moon and her senshi sitting in the fountain's basin, drenched.
"I guess their aim was a little off," chuckled Makoto.
"That girl is going to be the death of me," Serenity groaned,
her hand on her forehead.
"Do you mean to say she and the senshi teleported from her
bedroom?" Luna sputtered. "Whatever for?"
"Remember Hotaru's missing, too?" Endymion reminded them.
"Computer, run file 062996-462, time frame 0721 to 0724."
The picture changed to the front entrance of the palace.
Hotaru emerged, a backpack on her shoulder. She looked both ways,
then headed west.
"Where's she going?" Serenity asked. She glanced at the
chronometer mark on the screen. "That's seven this morning!"
"I don't know," Endymion said. "It's possible she's running
away. And since she's not used to living in this surveillance heavy
age, she probably didn't think she'd be observed."
"But Usa and the Amazons do know," Makoto nodded, "so they went
after her in a way that wouldn't be observed. Gotta hand it to her."
"Oh yes," grumbled Serenity. "After all, she couldn't come to
me. I'm her mother, so naturally I'm the last person in the world
she can trust." Endymion caught her hand and squeezed it.
"But what would make Hotaru run away?" Luna asked. "Did last
night scare her that much?"
"Or maybe something else happened," Serenity said. "Endymion,
we have to find her!"
"I've got the computer searching the records of my optical
units. And Usa and the girls are looking for her. There's no need
to panic yet."
"But Endymion . . .!"
"Dear, she's Sailor Moon now. She has to learn to think on her
feet and trust her judgment and her senshi. This seems like an
excellent opportunity to do that. No one seems to be in any
immediate danger if, as you say, Mistress 9 can't be running around.
Let's give her the chance."
Serenity sighed loudly. She folded her arms over her chest and
looked down.
"All right," she said forlornly.
* * * *
Coming out of a briefing on Hotaru's situation, given to the
inner senshi by Endymion, Makoto noticed Minako steaming down the
hall at a brisk pace. By now very familiar with her friend's moods,
due to their thousand-year association, Makoto followed her at a
discreet distance. The trail led to the palace aero-pad. There she
found Minako doing pre-flight checks on one of the small magno-dyne
fueled scout ships.
"Going out?" Makoto asked. Minako jumped slightly.
"Either you're getting sneakier in your old age or I'm going
deaf," Minako scowled. "The way you thunder around, you never would
have snuck up on me in the old days."
"Unless you had a chocolate bar in your mouth," grinned Makoto.
"Drugged states do not count," Minako grinned back.
"So what's up? You gonna follow them?"
"Of course! Those are my girls out there!"
"Would you listen to yourself," Makoto chuckled. "This is a
fine time for your maternal instincts to kick in."
"Snicker if you wish," Minako sniffed imperiously. "I like
those four. They've got a lot of potential. And they grow on you.
And," and Minako looked away in embarrassment, "I want to be there
when they realize that potential - - and I want them to be there,
too." She glanced back, a pretend wicked look on her face. "And
what am I doing wasting my time explaining this to you, anyway?
Doesn't an old lady like you have something to knit?"
"No, I've got something more important to do," Makoto said
wryly. "I'm flying with you." Minako stared questioningly at her
longtime friend. "You're not the only one that cares about those
four - - or the Princess - - or Hotaru for that matter. Besides,
with me flying, you'll be free to monitor the optical feeds from
Endymion's network."
"Why are you flying?" Minako bristled. "What's wrong with my
flying?"
"Dear, we don't have THAT long," Makoto said, guiding Minako
gently into the ship.
* * * *
"Hi."
Hotaru turned to the sound of the voice with alarm. She'd been
so wrapped up in her own troubles that she hadn't heard the magnetic
wave car approach. A man leaned out of the pilot's side of the control
compartment.
"You having some trouble?" he asked.
"No," Hotaru said too quickly.
"It just seems like an odd place for a lone girl to be," the man
replied.
Hotaru looked at him. He seemed harmless - - about thirty years
old, with average looks and thick black hair. He could have been a
computer programmer or an accountant - - assuming they still had such
things in the thirtieth century. He had a sympathetic look to him and
seemed only to want to help if she was in trouble.
"I'm just," Hotaru said, editing as she spoke, "traveling - - to
my sister's." She didn't want to reveal that she was a runaway, afraid
that he might turn her in. She also remembered Haruka's many
admonitions about being wary of strangers.
"She lets a slight little thing like you walk there?" the man
asked her suspiciously. "You'll pardon my saying this, but you don't
look like you could walk a kilometer, let alone this far. It's got to
be about three kilometers back to Crystal Tokyo and probably two or
three to the next town. I'd hate for you to overtax yourself."
"I'll be fine."
"I can give you a lift if you'd like."
"No," Hotaru said and turned to move on. She was growing more and
more uncomfortable with the situation. She didn't know this man and
didn't know his intentions - - and she didn't know when Mistress 9 might
rise up again. She certainly didn't want to be around anyone if that
happened.
"Are you traveling to your sister's," the man asked, "or away
from something?"
Hotaru's shoulders slumped. "No, really . . ." she began.
"You don't have to get into specifics if you'd like," the man
said. His vehicle shut down and he climbed out. "It's just - - is
running away the only answer?"
Hotaru agonized over what to say next.
"Yes," she said softly.
"Is it that bad at home?" the man asked, maintaining a neutral
distance as he leaned against the hood of the vehicle. "I suppose it
shouldn't, but I'm always surprised to hear about domestic violence and
abuse in this day and age. The Queen sets such a good example. It's
just so hard to believe sometimes that some people are like that."
Hotaru desperately wanted to confess why she was running, to warn
him away. But he wouldn't believe her until it was too late.
"Have you tried talking with someone about it?" he asked.
The girl shook her head.
"No one would understand, right?" he said softly. "Isn't there
an adult you could go to? Someone you trust, who you could talk this
out with?"
"You don't understand," sobbed Hotaru.
"I'm sure there's someone . . ."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! NO ONE CAN HELP ME!"
And as Hotaru bellowed, a familiar push came from her brain. The
man who had stopped to help her froze in place. His eyes bulged. His
speech began to slur and died out. Bereft of support, the man collapsed
onto the pavement in a heap. He lay there and quivered, staring up at
Hotaru with wide, uncomprehending eyes.
"I tried to warn you!" Hotaru sobbed, her fists crammed up to her
mouth. She stared at him for a few seconds, his stare hammering her
brain with accusation.
Then Hotaru turned and ran. She ran down the road, desperate to
escape before her burden, Mistress 9, could do any harm to anyone else.
* * * *
Serenity looked up from her lonely perch on her chair in her
lonely quarters and saw Rei standing in the doorway.
"Was I being that loud?" Serenity mumbled, embarrassed that Rei
had sensed her distress again.
"You know I always have a knack for knowing when you're down in
the dumps," Rei said softly. She slipped into the room and sat down
next to her sovereign. "Are you worried about Hotaru or about Usa?"
"Both," Serenity replied miserably. "What if it's true? What if
Mistress 9 is back? Usa can't handle her, even with the Amazons!"
"I thought you said you were sure Mistress 9 was dead," Rei asked.
"Oh, and I've never been wrong before!" Serenity cried.
"Well, almost never," Rei grinned warmly. "OK, suppose she is
back? How do you know Usa won't give Mistress 9 a royal butt-kicking?
After everything she's already accomplished?"
"I know, I know. Part of me agrees with you. I think Usa could
handle Mistress 9 easier than I did. Then there's the part that
remembers how bad I felt when she skinned her knee or cut her finger, or
heaven help me, the time she fell from the balcony and broke her leg.
And I don't want to go through that again, Rei! I don't want anything
to happen to my baby!" Serenity sniffed. "And then there's what poor
Hotaru would have to go through if it is Mistress 9 again. I certainly
don't want that."
"You just like to worry," Rei teased.
"No I don't!" Serenity replied with her familiar petulance. "I
like candy and sleeping and my garden and hugging my husband and my
daughter. I hate worrying."
"Then why do it?" Rei smiled.
Serenity glared at her.
"You do that on purpose, don't you," Serenity pouted.
"For a thousand years," Rei chuckled, touching Serenity's arm.
"That pouty look you get is one of the things I like."
Serenity stuck her tongue out at Rei, eliciting another chuckle.
Just then Endymion entered. Rei quickly removed her hand from
Serenity's arm.
"Endymion?" Serenity asked, looking for good news.
"No one's found her yet," Endymion said, nodding to Rei. "The
girls are still on her trail. And we have another set of eyes on the
case, too."
"What, did Minako do something stupid like take an air car and
follow them?" Rei asked. Endymion only smiled. "Why am I not
surprised."
* * * *
Five senshi walked along the road leading out of Crystal Tokyo.
The curious stares died out as they got further from the city and
began to reach the undeveloped outer lands. Serenity had steadfastly
resisted any and all development of those lands, insisting that
nature be given a place to live as well. Thus the areas outside the
city were lush and green. Sailor Ceres noticed the untamed quality
of the area and seemed to liven under its influence.
Sailor Moon, following Sailor Vesta intently, kept up a brisk
pace as the two traveled the pavement made of wear and weather
resistant durable crystalline asphalt. The others were beginning to
fall behind.
"Pallas wants to go home!" whined Sailor Pallas.
"Pallas, we can't," Sailor Moon implored. "We've got to find
Hotaru!" Pallas didn't respond, but her eyes seemed to grow watery
and her lower lip got bigger.
"It's too bad none of us can fly," Ceres said, her pace slowing
so she could take in the scents of the various flora. "We've been
walking forever, it seems. How far you figure we've gone?"
"Probably about nine kilometers," heaved Juno.
"Nine point two five," Pallas said absently.
"She'd know," Ceres shrugged.
"Well, we could always teleport," Sailor Moon suggested.
"No way!" Juno said adamantly. "Not until we've practiced
more."
"Too bad we didn't grab an air car when we left," Vesta
cracked, sniffing the air.
"What good would that do us?" Ceres asked. "None of us are
licensed to pilot air cars yet."
"So? Just because I'm not licensed doesn't mean I can't
operate one."
"You?" Juno asked warily. "I think I'd rather teleport."
"Are we there yet?" Pallas whined.
"Hey!" Juno said, her tone sudden and urgent. The other girls
looked to where she pointed and spotted a parked vehicle up ahead. "You
suppose he's broken down or something?"
"Maybe he's seen Miss Hotaru," Pallas added.
"Maybe he can give us a lift," moaned Ceres.
The five girls approached the vehicle. As they neared, they all
saw that the pilot compartment was empty. That was strange enough, but
it became stranger when Vesta got closer.
"Around here!" Vesta gasped.
The others came at Vesta's summons. Ceres gasped, her hands
flying up to her mouth. Vesta looked around for potential danger, while
Sailor Moon knelt down next to the man laying on the road. She lifted
his head up onto her lap and wiped his brow. The man stared up at her
with helpless fear.
"What happened, sir?" Sailor Moon asked. "Were you in an
accident?"
"Vehicle's not damaged," Ceres noted.
"No other evidence of what he might have been in an accident
with," Vesta added.
"Is the man going to be all right?" Pallas asked.
"Princess," Juno said, leaning in close. "Look at his mouth - -
the way it's distorted. He's probably had some sort of seizure."
"Can you help him, Princess?" Pallas asked.
"I can try," and Sailor Moon summoned the Crescent Moon Wand.
She took a steadying breath. Then she waved the wand in a
circular pattern over the prostrate man and said "Moon Healing
Escalation!" A shower of pink dust particles began to flow from the
wand. It covered the man's chest and head, each particle sparkling as
it was absorbed into his skin. In seconds, his breathing began to grow
stronger. His muscle contortions relaxed and he grew calm. The man
uttered a contented sigh and the word "refresh" as he sagged in Sailor
Moon's lap. Once they were sure he was all right, the Amazoness senshi
helped him sit up.
"The Princess is really good at making people all better, isn't
she?" Pallas beamed.
"You're the Princess?" gasped the man.
"Uh huh," Sailor Moon nodded shyly. "Who are you?"
"Motoki Jinsu," the man replied, still amazed that the Princess of
Crystal Tokyo had saved him.
"What happened?" Juno inquired.
"I stopped to try to help this young girl. She was walking down
the road. She seemed like a runaway."
"Was she about a meter and a half high?" Sailor Moon asked
quickly, "with shoulder-length black hair?"
"And real sad-looking eyes?" added Ceres.
"Yes, that was her. Do you know her? Is she in trouble?"
"I hope not," Sailor Moon said, almost sobbing. She bit her lip
as her senshi looked on in sympathy.
continued in part 7