A few days later, Setsuna, Michiru, Usagi, and Mamoru met to discuss the success of their mission thus far. Nathan joined them as well, unable to do anything else but stay at his wife's side.
"I have good news," Usagi announced. "Chibiusa said that she and Haruka were able to find all four of the inner senshi and give them their transformation pens."
"Did they explain what the pens did?" Setsuna asked. Usagi shook her hand in a kind of yes-and-no manner.
"They told them about the Sailor Senshi, but Chibiusa seems to think it's still just all game to them. They don't believe it's real."
"Let them think that," said Michiru quietly. "At least for now." She turned to the green-haired woman across the table from her. "How about Saturn? Were you able to locate her?" At this, Setsuna almost giggled.
"Well, you may not believe this, but Saturn has been reborn in the same place she was before, as Professor Tomoe's daughter." A hush went over the group, a certain fear that none of them could quite ignore. The young inner senshi may have thought everything was just a game, but Professor Tomoe knew exactly what the senshi battles were, and what was at stake. It wasn't likely he'd allow his small daughter to be exposed to them a second time. "I visited his house today," Setsuna went on. "But he wouldn't see me."
"That makes sense," said Mamoru. "He wants to protect Hotaru from getting hurt."
"But if he doesn't let her awaken as Saturn, then everything could be destroyed, isn't that right?" Nathan asked. Setsuna hesitated before her reply.
"I've been watching Chaos. She definitely knows we plan to strike against her. I believe she has been waiting quietly all this time, waiting until you Usagi, had lived your lifespan, and then come in to attack earth."
"She was waiting... for me to die?" Usagi asked fearfully.
"Or at least until your body had grown weak enough to no longer fight. You're her biggest adversary, after all. But now that she sees the senshi re-gathering, she fears for her own safety. She will strike soon, and she will do it hard, before we have a chance to fight back."
"Then we have to get Dr. Tomoe to give up Hotaru as soon as possible," Nathan said, standing up. "Let me go to him. I'll go with Michiru and Haruka tomorrow."
Setsuna looked calmly into the man's passionate blue eyes. "And what will you say?" she asked.
"I don't know," Nathan admitted, looking down at the ground. "I don't know, but I won't leave without Hotaru in my arms."
The next day brought clear skies as Michiru and her family headed for Dr. Tomoe's apartment. Haruka had the day off from school, although even if she hadn't, Nathan would have brought her along nonetheless. Michiru didn't quite understand why he thought it so vital for Haruka to be there. Then again, she reasoned, here was a father who was willing to risk everything to protect a greater purpose. Maybe by having his family there to witness, it would move Hotaru's father as well. So Michiru hoped.
The old house was just as Michiru remembered it from before. Beautiful white walls, timed with ivy, and a cherry tree in the backyard. The blossoms were in full bloom now and as the trio entered through the gate, they saw the proud father pointing out the blossoms to his infant child.
"That's Sailor Saturn?" Nathan whispered to Michiru, when he saw how young she was.
"That's her," Michiru replied. "Hotaru was always one of the youngest senshi. Quite frankly, I'm surprised she's been reborn already." She spoke a bit too loudly, for Dr. Tomoe heard the voices behind him and immediately help his daughter defensively, as he whirled around and asked,
"Who's there?"
Michiru, startled by his reaction, took a step back to assert she meant no harm. "Hello, Dr. Tomoe. I don't know if you remember me. I'm..."
"I know who you are," he replied. "Michiru Kaiou, or rather Sailor Neptune, senshi of the sea."
Michiru smiled. "I'm glad to see your memory is so quick."
"It's hard to forget someone who stole my daughter away from me," he replied. He then glanced at Nathan. "Is this your brother?"
"My husband," said Michiru, stepping back so he could also see the young girl behind her. "And this is Haruka, my daughter." Dr. Tomoe raised an eyebrow as if he didn't believe her.
"That so?" he asked. "Well , wonders never cease. What do you want?"
"We have to take Hotaru with us," Nathan said. "The world is in danger, and if we don't have all of the senshi, we don't stand a chance." Dr. Tomoe did not respond immediately. Instead he took the little girl in his arms and placed her onto the soft grass. Her curious purple eyes stared up at the cherry tree as it drizzled its blossoms down on her. One petal fell on her nose and she giggled with a voice that melted those who heard it.
"Tell me," he said, presumably speaking to Nathan now. "How old do you think Hotaru is?"
Nathan looked at the small child sitting in the shade of the tree. "I'd say, seven or eight months."
"You'd be right," Dr. Tomoe replied. "How well do you think a child like that can fight?"
"We're not asking her to fight," Michiru interceded. "We only need her power. Sailor Moon and I will be doing the fighting. Hotaru will be off to the side, protected by one of her fellow senshi."
"Really?" Dr. Tomoe inquired. "Which one?"
"Me," Haruka said firmly, pushing her wheelchair forward. Dr. Tomoe took one look at her and a smile formed on his lips. Haruka knew what he was thinking, and it made anger rise in her. He was amused, amused at the idea that someone like her, that a girl in a wheelchair could protect anyone. And she was determined to prove him wrong. "Don't hide it in, laugh if you want to," said Haruka angrily. "I know I look weak. And maybe compared to Michiru-mama and Chiba-san, I am. But I still have the power of Uranus inside me. And anyone who tries to hurt Hotaru will have to see my planet destroyed before they touch her." Dr. Tomoe was a bit taken back at the girl's words, but he tried his best not to show it.
"Even if I did believe Hotaru was in safe hands, the last time I gave her up to you, she raced through her childhood. Her memories of me were all but gone, certainly along with any memories of her mother." Nathan noticed the man's fists clenching up. He had been building this up for a long time, and was trying desperately to keep himself under control. "If someone had asked her, she would have said that you, Michiru, you and Setsuna were both her mothers. And her father was..." He glanced over at Haruka and shook his head. "I'm sorry, it's not a topic to be discussed here. Michiru, would you mind if I spoke to you in private?"
Michiru looked towards Nathan for an answer, but saw nothing. It's up to you, his eyes read. And she knew it was. As much as she wanted Nathan to be at her side, Dr. Tomoe had a score to settle with her and her alone. And she accepted it. Nodding to Nathan and Haruka, Michiru followed Dr. Tomoe as he picked up Hotaru and headed into the house, shutting and locking the door behind them.
A/N: I have a soft spot for Dr. Tomoe - I've always felt bad for him the way the outer senshi just seemed to take Hotaru away in the anime and as far as we know, he never sees her again. (Obviously, the manga was different.) So, I decided to work him into this story too. I apologize if my last chapter was rushed, as some people pointed out. Hopefully this one is less so. -Katrina