A Discovery

I hope this is a bit longer than last time. I'm sorry about this, though. It hasn't turned out exactly the way I'd hoped. I guess you'll like it anyway.



At the little girl-talk meeting the inners had set up yesterday, we were getting very impatient waiting for Rei. Finally losing my temper, I sent my butler in to check on her. He came back, and, looking white, motioned for us to follow him. We did, and were faced with the most horrible sight we had ever seen, and that's saying something. Rei was lying half on her blood stained white sheets, half on the floor. She had a gaping wound in her chest, and her throat was slit ear to ear. Her hair and clothes were absolutely drenched in blood, and her eyes were rolled back in her head. "REI!" Screamed a usually composed Ami. I looked around the corner and told my butler gravely. "Go and tell Scott what's happened." He nodded, almost running away from the disgusting sight. Looking back into the room, I discovered almost everyone with tears running down their faces. Biting my lip, and ushering everyone silently out of the room, a shot a questioning glance at my beloved Michiru, wondering how Scott would feel.

As we re-seated ourselves at the table, Makoto demanded that the culprit be found. Ami, her eyes red from crying, seemed very unlike herself. "We'll take it up before the courts of the moon." She hissed angrily, slamming her fist on the table as hard as she could. I shook my head. "I don't know." Michiru looked curiously at me. "Why not, Ruka?" I looked at Michi, who currently had her head on my shoulder, her eyes red from crying, and Hotaru who sat stiffly next to Setsuna, who had her ever-present sunglasses on, to hide her red eyes.

"I'm not sure." I answered. "I just get a terrible feeling when you talk about that, and I always trust my instincts." Completely ignoring my words, the inners all wasted several minutes trying to convince me to use the court of the Moon to find the culprit. The other outers just sat in silence, not taking either side, although Michiru looked worried for me. She knew from experience that my instincts were usually right. Being outnumbered, I reluctantly agreed with the enraged, sobbing and screaming (and therefore terrifying) inners. Usagi, using the special bond she had with her mother, managed to communicate with her telepathically, and told her everything that was happening. After a while of silence, except for everyone's sniffling, Usagi looked up.

"Mother agreed. The court is coming up to Uranus tomorrow, at around 10 o'clock. In the meantime, what do we do with poor Rei's body?" I sighed. "I'll get a few people to organize a funeral." Then, somebody cleared their throat. I looked up. "Yes, you do that," said Minako dryly. Until now, she had been staring at the ground, her eyes red and her face white, "I'm going to go read in my room." I stared after her, in utter shock. Since when did Minako read? I didn't even think she owned a book, unless you count those stupid teenage magazines she still reads, even though she's older than Twenty. "Yes," agreed Ami in a monotone, "I'm going to go take a nap, I think." I watched her leave too. Ami could always find something to do. I fact, she was probably the most level headed of the inners. What in God's name was happening? As if on cue, Makoto stood up, not looking angry anymore. She just looked sad. "Yeah, I'm really bummed, I think I'll just go sit." By now I was feeling very worried for everyone, and turned in desperation to Usagi. "Oh. Ummm. I'm gonna go get something to eat from the kitchen." Hmm. Nothing wrong with that picture. Unless, of course, she's going to go eat something low fat. The horrors!! I turned to the other only people still there: Hotaru, Setsuna and Michiru. "Guys, I'm really worried about the Moon court coming. I think it's a really bad idea, I just know something really bad's gonna come out of it." Michiru ran her fingers lovingly through my hair. "Sweetie, don't worry, I'm sure nothing will happen. They won't even be able to find the culprit unless they stand up and confess, and as far as I know, that's never happened." I sighed. "I just hope that you're right, Michi, because I'm still worried." Setsuna stood up. Her stony expression hadn't changed. "I'm going to take a bath and relax for a while."

Hotaru, looking pained and very stressed, stood up and walked in the general direction of her room, almost walking into the doorframe on the way out. She was just as old us, but always looked pale and tired. Michiru and Setsuna constantly worried about her. Well, maybe I do too, but I know that she can look after herself very well. Feeling downcast, and all alone, Michiru and I walked out to her courtyard, the place where we both felt safest, to have a nice long chat and sit in the warm sunshine and gentle breeze.

But, before we even walked out the door, my butler came rushing up, red faced and out of breath. "Your Highness," he panted, " there has been a summons. They want you in the boardroom immediately. They have information on Queen Mars." Spluttering, I shrugged at Michiru and took off down the hall after him. "What! Already! " He nodded. "Yes. And I think this might interest you."



Please review, I need to know how I'm going! But be gentle, because it's my first fanfic I've actually posted. Please write and tell me what you like and/or don't like about my story. Oh, and thankyou to sailormoonjoy, who reviewed my last chapter!