Disclaimer: Sailor Moon...not mine. End of story.
Usagi giggled as she watched Aria chase Nara across the temple grounds and into the nearby trees. She had witnessed their disagreement first hand, " You should see her eyes light up every time he comes around, " Nara grinned leaning back in her chair, " you'd think he was the only man in the galaxy. Never mind the fact that he's like four years older than her. "
Aria tossed her hair indignantly, " And you're one to talk. I've seen you follow him around at gatherings like a lost little puppy. "
" Maybe I have, but nothing could beat that night at your fourteenth birthday party, " Nara turned to Usagi with a mischievous gleam in her bright red eyes, " You should have been there. It was likely the most stunning gala ever thrown on Andronica, because not only was it her Royal Highness's birthday, but her identity as a Senshi had just been discovered. Her parents were elated, of course. So there we were, dressed in the most exquisite gowns you've ever seen, and awaiting the arrival of the Phamerian Royal family. It was the first time that we ever met Luriel, but we knew her cousin Jaize would be there. "
" He looked amazing that night, " Aria interjected dreamily, " he has long white hair, and the most stunning deep violet eyes. He was wearing a black tux with a black satin cape lined with white. You've never seen anything more perfect! "
" Too perfect I'm afraid because when he greeted her, Aria fainted! Jaize managed to catch her, and he was trying to see if she was okay. She woke up and kissed him! Fortunately their parents were too busy to notice, but I saw it as clear as day. "
" I did no such thing, Nara! " gasped Aria.
" I saw you, and he turned redder than a kimari blossom. "
" She's making that up! " Aria leaped out of her chair the same moment Nara did, and the chase was on. Usagi had felt a moment of concern, but the way they were both laughing indicated that there was no need to worry.
" Usagi? "
" Hmm? " she replied groggily sliding her sunglasses down to see who was talking to her. She had fallen asleep in the chair, and was surprised to find that it was already late evening. " Mayoko? Hey, I must have dozed off. Is something wrong? "
" I'm not sure to tell you the truth. Have you seen Aria and Nara? "
Usagi laughed a bit recalling the earlier episode, " Yes, Nara was telling me about Aria's crush on Jaize, and Aria chased her over the hill and through the trees. "
" I wondered what that was all about. Keridwen saw them go, but, Usagi, that was almost three hours ago. They haven't come back. "
" What? " exclaimed Usagi.
" I'm afraid something has happened to them. Luriel is trancing, and Rei is at the Sacred Fire trying to find out if they're all right. Minako and Makoto have gone looking for them. "
Both girls looked up when they saw Rei and Luriel racing towards them, " Did you find anything out? " Mayoko shouted.
" I saw a vision of them in the flame, " said Rei as she approached, " and they're fine. "
Luriel laughed softly, " They are better than fine. Tell them exactly what you saw, Rei. "
" It seems they met a couple guys, and went out to eat. "
" You're kidding me, " sighed Mayoko, " I should have known. Keridwen is going to be livid when she finds out. I'm warning you now, be prepared for an hour-long rant on responsibility and how our younger team mates do not possess it. "
" I resent the stereotype of the irresponsible, boy crazed teenager, " said Luriel, " it's entirely unwarranted in some cases. "
" In your case maybe, " snapped Keridwen as she joined the group, " but Aria and Nara must be two of the most irresponsible Senshi that have ever existed! They are to help protect our galaxy and it's people, and they can't even call home to let us know they're going out! What if something happened while they were gone? "
" Keridwen, please, " Luriel said, " there is no need for this. Keep in mind that they were the last two to join the group. Nara's only been with us for six months. "
" And your point is? "
" You have to give her some time to get used to all of this. It's a whole new way of life, and she's still adjusting. You, on the other hand, have been a Senshi for nearly five years and still have much to learn about patience. "
Keridwen scowled at the priestess but remained silent. Luriel had a point, but that still didn't excuse the other two for not letting everyone know that they were leaving. None of them were familiar with this planet, and any number of terrible things could have happened to them. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed heavily.
" The important thing is that they're safe. "
" Four years? " Usagi suddenly exclaimed, " How old are you anyway? "
Mayoko and Luriel laughed at the startled expression on Keridwen's face at the other girl's sudden outburst, " I'm nineteen. "
" Are you the oldest Senshi? "
A devious smile spread across her lips, " Dear me, no, " she replied in an overly sweet voice, " that honor belongs to Mayoko. She'll be twenty next month. "
" Twenty? " gasped Usagi, " Really? "
" Hey, twenty is not old by any standard, and besides, Keridwen, you'll be twenty in another four months. You're not exactly an infant yourself, and I have the most experience here. That means I get to be the leader."
" Will you two cut it out. You sound ridiculous. "
Luriel spun around, " Khamiya! Where have you been all afternoon? "
" Here and there. The important thing is that I saw someone sneaking around here earlier. " " Who? Where? " the other girls exclaimed.
" I don't know who. All I had a chance to see was a gray and white blur before they vanished into thin air. " " I guess that rules out a visitor to the temple then, " said Rei.
" I'll get Ami to check it out on her computer and call Mamoru. Rei, contact Minako and Makoto and tell them to get back here. Mayoko, do you have any way to contact Aria and Nara? "
" Yeah, I'll do that right away. Keridwen, why don't you go with Rei as a precaution. Khamiya, would you find Jedite and Nephlyte? "
Everyone went their way to gather the others as the twilight sky faded to midnight black.
Usagi giggled as she watched Aria chase Nara across the temple grounds and into the nearby trees. She had witnessed their disagreement first hand, " You should see her eyes light up every time he comes around, " Nara grinned leaning back in her chair, " you'd think he was the only man in the galaxy. Never mind the fact that he's like four years older than her. "
Aria tossed her hair indignantly, " And you're one to talk. I've seen you follow him around at gatherings like a lost little puppy. "
" Maybe I have, but nothing could beat that night at your fourteenth birthday party, " Nara turned to Usagi with a mischievous gleam in her bright red eyes, " You should have been there. It was likely the most stunning gala ever thrown on Andronica, because not only was it her Royal Highness's birthday, but her identity as a Senshi had just been discovered. Her parents were elated, of course. So there we were, dressed in the most exquisite gowns you've ever seen, and awaiting the arrival of the Phamerian Royal family. It was the first time that we ever met Luriel, but we knew her cousin Jaize would be there. "
" He looked amazing that night, " Aria interjected dreamily, " he has long white hair, and the most stunning deep violet eyes. He was wearing a black tux with a black satin cape lined with white. You've never seen anything more perfect! "
" Too perfect I'm afraid because when he greeted her, Aria fainted! Jaize managed to catch her, and he was trying to see if she was okay. She woke up and kissed him! Fortunately their parents were too busy to notice, but I saw it as clear as day. "
" I did no such thing, Nara! " gasped Aria.
" I saw you, and he turned redder than a kimari blossom. "
" She's making that up! " Aria leaped out of her chair the same moment Nara did, and the chase was on. Usagi had felt a moment of concern, but the way they were both laughing indicated that there was no need to worry.
" Usagi? "
" Hmm? " she replied groggily sliding her sunglasses down to see who was talking to her. She had fallen asleep in the chair, and was surprised to find that it was already late evening. " Mayoko? Hey, I must have dozed off. Is something wrong? "
" I'm not sure to tell you the truth. Have you seen Aria and Nara? "
Usagi laughed a bit recalling the earlier episode, " Yes, Nara was telling me about Aria's crush on Jaize, and Aria chased her over the hill and through the trees. "
" I wondered what that was all about. Keridwen saw them go, but, Usagi, that was almost three hours ago. They haven't come back. "
" What? " exclaimed Usagi.
" I'm afraid something has happened to them. Luriel is trancing, and Rei is at the Sacred Fire trying to find out if they're all right. Minako and Makoto have gone looking for them. "
Both girls looked up when they saw Rei and Luriel racing towards them, " Did you find anything out? " Mayoko shouted.
" I saw a vision of them in the flame, " said Rei as she approached, " and they're fine. "
Luriel laughed softly, " They are better than fine. Tell them exactly what you saw, Rei. "
" It seems they met a couple guys, and went out to eat. "
" You're kidding me, " sighed Mayoko, " I should have known. Keridwen is going to be livid when she finds out. I'm warning you now, be prepared for an hour-long rant on responsibility and how our younger team mates do not possess it. "
" I resent the stereotype of the irresponsible, boy crazed teenager, " said Luriel, " it's entirely unwarranted in some cases. "
" In your case maybe, " snapped Keridwen as she joined the group, " but Aria and Nara must be two of the most irresponsible Senshi that have ever existed! They are to help protect our galaxy and it's people, and they can't even call home to let us know they're going out! What if something happened while they were gone? "
" Keridwen, please, " Luriel said, " there is no need for this. Keep in mind that they were the last two to join the group. Nara's only been with us for six months. "
" And your point is? "
" You have to give her some time to get used to all of this. It's a whole new way of life, and she's still adjusting. You, on the other hand, have been a Senshi for nearly five years and still have much to learn about patience. "
Keridwen scowled at the priestess but remained silent. Luriel had a point, but that still didn't excuse the other two for not letting everyone know that they were leaving. None of them were familiar with this planet, and any number of terrible things could have happened to them. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed heavily.
" The important thing is that they're safe. "
" Four years? " Usagi suddenly exclaimed, " How old are you anyway? "
Mayoko and Luriel laughed at the startled expression on Keridwen's face at the other girl's sudden outburst, " I'm nineteen. "
" Are you the oldest Senshi? "
A devious smile spread across her lips, " Dear me, no, " she replied in an overly sweet voice, " that honor belongs to Mayoko. She'll be twenty next month. "
" Twenty? " gasped Usagi, " Really? "
" Hey, twenty is not old by any standard, and besides, Keridwen, you'll be twenty in another four months. You're not exactly an infant yourself, and I have the most experience here. That means I get to be the leader."
" Will you two cut it out. You sound ridiculous. "
Luriel spun around, " Khamiya! Where have you been all afternoon? "
" Here and there. The important thing is that I saw someone sneaking around here earlier. " " Who? Where? " the other girls exclaimed.
" I don't know who. All I had a chance to see was a gray and white blur before they vanished into thin air. " " I guess that rules out a visitor to the temple then, " said Rei.
" I'll get Ami to check it out on her computer and call Mamoru. Rei, contact Minako and Makoto and tell them to get back here. Mayoko, do you have any way to contact Aria and Nara? "
" Yeah, I'll do that right away. Keridwen, why don't you go with Rei as a precaution. Khamiya, would you find Jedite and Nephlyte? "
Everyone went their way to gather the others as the twilight sky faded to midnight black.