A/N: Here's Chapter 9! Sorry but I haven't really been working on any of my stories. Too busy with schoolwork, mainly. This semester is so horrible. I finally got around to comparing my version with my editor's version, so I decided to update.

Chapter 9

The inners were getting very frustrated, especially Ami. She could find no explanation of why or how Usagi and Hotaru disappeared, let alone where they went when they disappeared.

Minako was still having second thoughts about what they had done, but she didn't say anything to the others. Artemis and Luna had run away together when Usagi and Hotaru had disappeared, so Minako had no one to talk to about how she felt. These feelings didn't come everyday, but when they did, they came on strong.

Makato said nothing to Rei and Darien about how she felt about them dating behind Usagi's back. Yes, she was mad at Usagi and felt betrayed by her, but she still didn't feel right about Rei and Darien. She wasn't having doubts, like Minako. She wanted to find Usagi and Hotaru and get rid of them altogether. How could Usagi be their leader and queen if she was a friend with Hotaru, the Goddess of Death?

Rei was furious that they couldn't find Usagi and Hotaru. She wanted to be rid of those bitches once and for all. When she married Darien, she would be in control. She would have the power and that's all she cared about. Power and Darien. Darien was finally hers and Usagi was not out of the picture yet. There was still that little chance, if they didn't find her and get rid of her, she would come back and somehow get Darien back.

It was another sunny afternoon. The four inners were sitting around the shrine, throwing out theories as to what happened to Usagi and Hotaru. "Maybe it was a new enemy... and they sucked the two away." Minako said.

Rei scoffed. "And where is this new enemy now Minako? Don't be so stupid..."

"Don't call her stupid. It could be. But I seriously think that Pluto had something to do with it. I think she somehow got them out of there before they could be killed." Ami informed them.

"That could be... but where would they be? And Haruka and Michiru have no idea what is going on. Do you think that Pluto would keep it from them?" Makato questioned.

"They could be at the Time Gates, or in hiding. They could be somewhere, trying to get stronger so they can take us by surprise... I really don't know where they are... and as for Haruka and Michiru... they could be really good actresses?" Ami speculated.

Rei snorted. "You really think those two can become stronger? Look at Usagi... she's a ditz and a klutz. She could never be stronger then any of us."

"Well Hotaru could kill us all in the blink of an eye." Minako reminded the others.

"But in order to do that, she has to destroy the world. Do you think she would do that?" Makato asked her.

"Well, maybe not. Ok. I've had enough of this. I'm going back to looking for them. I can't stand not knowing." Ami said, standing and heading for her laptop.

Minako and Makato decided to do some searching in the park, where they had attacked them. The scorched grass had almost grown over and there were hardly any signs that there had been a battle there. They had only come to get away from Rei, therefore were not really looking and did not see the little shiny thing off to their left. They felt that Rei had changed since the day they attacked Usagi and Hotaru. When they mentioned this to Ami, she just brushed it off and said it was nothing, probably her just worrying about finding the two. Minako and Makato weren't too sure about that, but never brought up the subject again.

After taking one or two glances around, they headed off to get ice cream and think about where they girls could be. They sat in the ice cream parlor for about an hour, discussing things and thinking out loud. After that, they decided to head back to the Shrine and see what was going on.

Upon arrival, Rei asked what they found. After telling her that they had found nothing, she went off into a rage and stomped away. Ami hadn't had much luck, either, and was ready to give up the search for the day. She decided to pay Haruka and Michiru a visit.

Ami was nervous as she walked up to Haruka and Michiru's apartment. She gingerly knocked on the door and stepped back to wait. She heard the pounding of feet coming down the hall, and that made her all the more nervous so she started to wring her hands. She heard the chain slide in the little metal slot on the door and she took another step back.

Haruka opened the door to find Ami standing there, looking scared. She had no sympathy for the girl, and was ready to slam the door when Ami spoke. "I know you don't want to see me right now, or ever, but I wanted to come and share my point of view on the fight. I wanted the chance to explain why I did what I did. I know you'll never forgive me, but I never wanted to make Hotaru disappear. That part confuses me." She said in a rush.

Haruka eyed her up and down before stepping out into the hall and shutting the door with a loud slam which echoed like thunder in the tiny, hallow passageway. "Whatever you have to say, say. If I think it's legit, I'll let you come in and share it with Michi."

Ami nodded, let go the deep breath she was holding and swallowed, still wringing her hands. As she began speaking, she didn't have the heart to look into Haruka's raging eyes. "Ok. I have always felt that the Sailor Scouts were about the safety of everyone, especially in our courts. We failed once, in the Silver Millennium, when Beryl attacked and killed everyone. When we were reborn into this time and joined together once again, no one thought that we would have to join forces with the Goddess of Death. When we did, I felt like all our morals went out the window. Here we were, supposed to protect the people, with death and destruction as our friend. It didn't make sense to me, and I felt we had to show everyone that this was unacceptable."

"Is this how everyone else felt? Is this why you attacked your leader and princess?" Haruka demanded, making Ami shudder.

"I don't know how everyone else felt, but when they proposed the attack, I went along with it. And as for attacking Usagi, you can't fight for peace with death as your best friend. We needed someone else who understood this." Ami said, nervously.

"So you attacked without knowing how everyone else felt? You could be working with a group of people way worse then what Hotaru ever will be, and you don't even know! You don't know their intentions! And how can you be so narrow minded about Usagi?!? She was the only one to befriend any of you, and yet you think you have the right to decide who are and are not her friends?? I hope none of you get into power... You'd be a dictator." With that, Haruka turned and walked into the apartment, slamming the door behind her, leaving Ami standing in the hall, mouth hanging wide open for flies to enter.