"Mina?"

There was no response from the sleeping figure before him.

"MINA!"

The girl's brow furrowed and a low mumble escaped from her throat.

Artemis sighed. It was the same every morning. His large blue eyes flicked over to the alarm clock. It was already fifteen minutes past eight. If she didn't get up, she'd be late for school for the third day in a row.

His eyes flicked back to her. She was fast asleep again, her long blonde hair splayed across the thick white pillows. It wasn't a good omen. If she couldn't show the initiative to get up and go to school on time, then what hope did she have of accomplishing her mission?

I guess that's why you're here, Artemis, he told himself. On the bedside table, the large hand on the alarm clock – a peculiar bird shaped object – ticked the time to 8:17. Artemis glared at the prone body before him. This was hopeless. There was only one way she was getting up.

He hopped over her, onto the soft white pillows, and placed one of his paws on the lake of yellow hair that had pooled on them. He rotated his paw a few times, firmly entwining it in the stream of hair. Then he yanked his paw back with all the strength he could muster.

For a few moments, nothing happened. In the silent seconds that followed, Artemis seriously considered the possibility that she wasn't actually going to wake up for anything. He was proven wrong as the girls eyes snapped wide open and a piercing, shrill shriek assaulted his ears.

He allowed himself a smile as the teenager scrambled out of bed with the speed of a cheetah and the grace of an elephant. She tottered backwards, almost collapsing into a large stuffed animal – one of many in the room – and then managed to right herself. She glared over at the white tomcat, who sat amid the scattered pillows and rumpled covers on the bed. Her blue eyes were sharp as knives. The yellow crescent-moon symbol on the white fur of his forehead was accented by the sunlight that streamed in through the partially open curtains.

"ARTEMIS!" she cried, her voice trembling with rage. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"

Artemis nodded over at the clock, by way of explanation.

The girl's neck darted around. She stared at the clock for a moment, and then fixed her eyes back on him, her hands resting on her hips. "Why didn't you tell me that instead of ripping out my hair?"

"I tried to tell you. Several times. You wouldn't wake up," replied the cat.

The girl grumbled something under her breath and began to unbutton her orange pyjama top. Halfway down, she glared at Artemis again, who was still watching her.

"What are you doing, watching me undress!" she barked. "Ecchi!"

Artemis rolled his eyes and hopped from the bed to the ground. He walked past her, heading for the bedroom door. He pulled it ajar with a paw, and turned back. "I'll wait for you outside," he said. He left the room.

"Stupid cat…" she muttered. It wasn't her fault she needed a lot of beauty sleep, was it?

Artemis looked up a few moments later as the front door opened and she came charging out, bag in one hand and the remnants of a piece of buttered toast in the other. She rushed over to the wall, upon which Artemis stood, swallowed the toast, wiped the crumbs from her mouth and then looked up at him. She shot him a bright grin. "Ready when you are!" she said brightly.

Think what you like about her, Artemis thought to himself as he walked alongside her. She certainly is a cheerful girl. With the exception of the odd bout of temper when faced with a terrible prospect like school or homework, she was perpetually in a good mood. Right now, she was smiling and swinging her bag back and forth in time with her footsteps, humming musically. Her long blonde hair streamed out behind her, being caressed by the mild morning breeze. A large red bow was tied at the back. Her school uniform – the standard sera fuku, or sailor suit, comprised of a white blouse with a red tie and a long blue skirt – hung lightly on her slender body.

Aino Minako, thought the white cat as they turned a corner. Or rather, the soldier of justice, Sailor V.

Minako suddenly froze in mid-step, one foot lifted off the pavement. Her expression was one of sudden realisation. She'd had an epiphany of some sort. Artemis shook his head clear of the hope that it was in some way connected to her duties as a soldier and asked the obvious question.

"Something wrong, Mina?"

"I… I…" stuttered Minako. "I forgot my homework!"

Artemis hung his head and sighed, deeply. Beside him, Minako wheeled around and sprinted back the way they'd came, quickly rounding the corner and disappearing out of sight.

It really wasn't a good omen, thought Artemis sadly.


After delivering Minako safely to school – roughly 20 seconds before the bell rang – Artemis wandered back out onto the street. He had a few hours to spare before it was time to pick her up and make sure she didn't stop off anywhere on the way home and squander her allowance. Not that it really mattered if he was there or not. If she wanted to spend all of her money in the Game Centre, or on a CD by the idol-of-the-week then there was no way to stop her.

Then, what to do? He felt a little helpless. Somewhere out there were dark forces, preparing to strike. Even as he strolled through the bright sunshine of a perfect morning in Juuban, they could be amassing their power. But, as unfair as it seemed, there was really nothing that could be done at this moment in time. For now, his mission was to guard Minako and set her upon the path to becoming a soldier, to help her realise her true objective, and there wasn't much he could about that while she was at school.

Still, it couldn't hurt to look around. There hadn't been any disturbances for a couple of weeks now, and so far Minako had handled herself well, considering her inexperience. Still, that was no reason to become complacent.

He set off toward the shopping district. If anything were to happen, it would probably occur in the most populated area of town. Reaching a crossing, he carefully examined both directions for oncoming traffic. Seeing nothing, he sprinted lightly across the road and continued on down the quiet street.


After a length of time that seemed almost infinite, the clock finally made it's way to lunch time. As the clock struck twelve, Minako's expression changed from one of intense boredom to a gleaming grin as if a switch had been flicked inside her head. She quickly stood, hurling her books into her bag and charging out of the room while everybody else was still getting out of their seats.

She dashed out of the building and into the open, filling her lungs with a deep breath of fresh air. She scanned the area for a familiar face, and quickly located one. It belonged to a girl sitting on a nearby wall, in the shadow of a thick tree. Minako took off towards her, waving as she went.

"Hiii, Hikaru-chaaan!" she called.

"Hi, Mina!" came the amicable reply.

Minako skidded to a halt beside the wall and climbed up to sit beside her. They exchanged the usual pleasantries before the conversation moved on to more important things.

"I think Tohru-kun and Kotono-chan are dating!" gossiped Minako, lowering her voice and leaning conspiratorially towards her. Hikaru raised a hand to her mouth and giggled. "You know," she whispered, "I heard that too. Somebody saw them holding hands!"

They continued in this manner for a while, snacking on their lunches as they chatted. Minako finished hers first, the early morning scramble not giving her chance for anything more than a single slice of toast. They sat in silence for a moment as Hikaru finished the remainder of hers, a shiny red apple.

A slight breeze picked up, ruffling their collars and tousling their hair. Minako's flowing blonde wave was a world of difference from Hikaru's short, dark curls. Their feet, wearing identical school-standard white socks and black shoes, swung back and forth in time.

Taking one last bite of the apple, Hikaru turned to Minako, who was carefully adjusting the red bow in her hair. "Ne, Mina?" she said. "Did you hear about the new TV series that's starting tonight?"

"What is it?" asked Minako, tugging gently on the bow to make sure it was secure.

"It goes behind the scenes of the latest idol craze that's sweeping Japan," replied Hikaru. "The Love Heart Boys. You heard of them?"

Minako's eyes lit up. "The Love Heart Boys!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I LOVE THEM!"

The sound of rapidly flapping wings was heard from the tree above them, and a bird, startled by the sudden shriek, hurriedly soared off into the sky. Hikaru watched it go, and then turned back to Minako. "Mm, it's on TV Asahi tonight at eleven. I'm going to ask my parents if I can stay up. What about you?"

She waited for a reply, but none came. "Um, Mina? You listening?" she asked doubtfully.

Minako wasn't. Deep within her large blue eyes swam the image of three handsome young men, with flowing hair and seductive smiles. She giggled happily as she heard their voices in her head. "Minako-chan… would you please, please go on a date with me?" asked Mibae, the most charming of the trio. "No, no!" cried Kaichou, the lead singer. "She's coming with me! I've written a song about her beauty!"

Unfortunately, before Seiteki – the stunningly gorgeous and handsome one of the group – asked her to embark on a romantic cruise with him, Hikaru waved her hand in front of Minako's eyes, bringing her back to reality. She mourned for a moment, before excitement took hold of her again. She turned to Hikaru.

"Did you say eleven?" she asked. Hikaru nodded. Minako frowned, cupping her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… that's pretty late…" she mused, "and I really should make an effort to wake up earlier tomorrow morning…"

Hikaru nodded understandingly, knowing full well that Minako would stay up late to watch it anyway. She sighed as Minako slipped back into her fantasy. "The Love Heart Boys…" she purred, gazing dreamily off into the cloudless sky. "I wish one of them was my boyfriend… or better yet… all of them…"

"Mina… aren't you a little young for that kind of talk?" asked Hikaru.

"Ahhhh…" replied Minako.

Hikaru shook her head, unable to conceal a smile.


Artemis had trawled every inch of the shopping district, but he hadn't seen a single thing that could even qualify as suspicious. He was almost disappointed. Although he knew he'd change his mind later, it seemed like the waiting was the most intolerable part of it all. He looked around at the crowd of people, busily making their way back and forth. Mothers and fathers, walking with their bright-eyed children. Lovers, young and old, window-gazing with linked arms. Friends laughing and joking with one another. All of them carefree, happy people, who had no idea of the events that were going to take place in the near future.

He'd been growing more and more anxious by the day, not just about the inevitable approach of the darkness but also about the safety of those he cared about. He included Minako in that group. He hadn't known her for long, and they'd had their fair share of differences, but her occasionally stubborn exterior didn't hide her pure heart, her youthful innocence or her kindness. What if something were to happen to her? What if his training wasn't adequate? What if…

He shook his head. As difficult as it was to just ignore it, there was no sense in worrying needlessly. Whatever was going to happen, it would happen in time. Until then, all he could do was do his best and have faith in the others.

His paws ached. He'd been on the move for hours now. He passed an electronics store, with a row of televisions displayed in the window, in ascending order of size. The same image – a news program showing a balding newsreader with glasses, chattering silently – was displayed on them all. Glancing at the time, shown in the corner of the screen, Artemis saw that he still had an hour before it was time for Minako to finish school.

With an hour to spare, and worry still circulating in his mind, Artemis decided to head for Shiba Park. It was a quiet, serene little place that he visited often when he had some time to himself. In particular, there was a little area secreted at the top of a stone staircase, partially hidden by trees. It was a great place to think, or just to relax. Up there, surrounded by trees, a view of the town before him and the bright sun above, his worries seemed so distant. It was always deserted, save for one pleasant young girl who occasionally visited with her boyfriend. He liked her. She and her friend often had picnics, and she always made sure he got a tuna sandwich or two.

Taking one last sweeping look around to satiate his curiosity for another day, at least, he set off in the direction of the park.


It was the last lesson of the day, and Minako was bored.

Not just bored, but monumentally bored. The teacher was blathering on about something totally pointless, as usual. Minako didn't even know what it was, she'd stopped listening after about a minute. She sighed and stared down at the paper before her. She'd spent the first half of the lesson doodling.

She admired her handiwork: a caricature of herself in a bikini, being fawned upon by the Love Heart Boys. Talented Kaichou, gazing at her adoringly as he played his flute. Sweet-talking Mibae, massaging her feet and listing the many ways in which she was wonderful. And gorgeous Seiteki, posing by the pool, his toned muscles glinting in the hot sun. Smiling, Minako pencilled love hearts above their heads.

"Aino-san?" came a voice from the front of the room. The teacher's voice.

Minako's head darted up. "H-Hai, sensei?" she asked, trying but failing to sound casual.

"Would you care to share your work with the rest of us?" he asked sternly.

Minako's face flushed a deep red and she quickly flipped the page over. She turned on her most powerful, charming smile and aimed it at him. "I'm very, very sorry, sensei," she simpered. She trained her blue eyes on his, trying with all of her energy to make them sparkle like diamonds. It worked. His frown softened slightly. "Well, just pay attention," he said. "I know it's the final lesson, but you're still here to learn."

Minako nodded vigorously. "I know, I know!" she enthused. "It won't happen again."

He nodded, and then continued with the lesson. Minako, sitting upright in her chair and smiling brightly, heard about four words before her mind did a U-turn and she found herself being pampered by the Love Heart Boys again.


Stretched out in the sun, in the centre of the little garden, Artemis yawned. It was such a beautiful day. The sound of birdsong came from the trees above, blending with the faint bustle of the town below to create a pleasing atmosphere. He was alone, but not isolated.

He lay on the soft grass for a while longer, indulging himself in a daydream. He saw himself playfully chasing a sleek, slender female cat. Her fur was jet black and her eyes a magnificent ruby-red. Upon her forehead, she bore the same golden crescent-moon shape that he did. The chase finally ended as he pounced, and they rolled for a short distance before coming to a stop, their limbs and tails entangled.

"Luna…" murmured Artemis dreamily.

"Artemis…" replied the fantasy black cat.

Their noses touched, her whiskers tickling his cheeks, her flowery scent filling his nose, and then-

He was pulled back to reality by the sound of footsteps nearby. He quickly stood. Somebody was ascending the flight of stairs that led up to the little garden. He backed away, his instincts telling him to be on his guard. His eyes narrowed, and he waited.

He relaxed as he saw who it was. It was the tuna sandwich girl, the friendly one. She slowly stepped onto the grass and began to slowly walk forward, into the centre of the area, towards him. Artemis examined her curiously. There was something different about her. She usually bounded up the steps with the energy and enthusiasm of a kitten, but today…

Even beneath the bright afternoon sun, she seemed obscured by shadow. Her head was lowered and he couldn't see her face. She neared him. He waited, watching her intently. Even though he knew and liked her, something in the back of his mind was warning him to be careful.

She stopped a few feet away, and slowly lifted her head to look at him. Artemis shuddered as their eyes met. He'd seen her only a week previously, but in that time something had changed. Those eyes weren't the same vibrant, youthful eyes that he knew. They were cold, lifeless eyes. Her eyelids were swollen and red, as if she'd been crying.

She stared at him for a moment, until he turned his head away. He couldn't look into those eyes. It was like looking into an abyss. He could feel himself being swallowed up, his energy being ebbed away.

"Hi there, kitty," she said. Artemis felt a chill go up his spine. Her voice, like her eyes, had all the warmth of an arctic dusk. She kneeled down and rubbed his head. Her hands were like ice. Artemis backed away. This wasn't the friendly tuna girl he knew. Something terrible had happened to her.

"What's wrong?" she asked flatly.

Artemis recalled that it was almost time to collect Minako from school, which brought another point to his attention. Why wasn't this girl at school too? Was she playing truant? Or was she ill? Was illness making her act this way? Artemis doubted it. He didn't know of any illness that caused a person to exude such a cold feeling.

What should he do? It was almost time to meet Minako. He couldn't trust her to walk home alone, not with the Crown Game Centre on the route. Her allowance would be gone within minutes and he'd have to listen to her complain for the next two weeks. At the same time, he didn't feel comfortable leaving this girl alone. If something bad had happened to her, could he just walk away? What if she became dangerous?

He felt a twinge of guilt in his stomach. She was only a child, and on any other day she was one of the sweetest and friendliest girls he'd ever met. And thus far, the only things she had done were walk over to him and pat him on the head. It was possible he was overreacting, transferring his worries about the future onto her.

No, he thought. There was definitely something wrong here. It wasn't in her actions, although they were unusually stunted and lifeless by her usual standards. The air around her was cold, despite the pleasant weather. He wasn't imagining it.

What to do?

"I'm glad you're here, kitty," said the tuna girl, breaking the silence. "I…"

She stopped before saying anything else, as if deciding against it. Her eyes begin to glimmer. Her voice wavered as she spoke again.

"Go away, kitty," she said. "Please go away."

Teardrops began to spill from her cold eyes and roll down her cheeks.

"Please," she said again, apparently struggling to maintain her composure. "Please go away."

Artemis took a step towards her, his concern for her overriding his caution. "Nyaaan?" he mewed. The tuna girl's tears began to flow more rapidly. Her voice broke, rising into a miserable wail. "Please!" she cried, shaking her head from side to side. "Go away! Go!"

She sank to her knees before him and began to sob hoarsely. Artemis examined the wretched girl with dismay. He felt helpless. A minute, perhaps two, passed before she managed to speak again.

"Please, kitty…" she whimpered, her voice barely above a broken whisper. "Please… I don't want you to die…"

Artemis' eyes widened as her hands curled into fists. He backed away. She focused her cold eyes on him. They still swam with fresh tears. "I… I'm going to hurt you… please go away…"

Artemis stood, rooted to the spot, torn between fear for himself and concern for her.

"GO AWAY!" she screeched, her voice a dreadful cocktail of rage and despair. Artemis yelped with fright as she lunged at him, her clenched fists bearing down. He managed to dive out of the way just as she crashed on to the patch of grass where he'd stood. She began to crawl towards him, miserable sobs still emanating from her throat. Artemis backed away quickly, before turning tail and breaking into a run.

He dashed down the steps, taking them two at a time, and then ran along the path that led to the park's entrance. He shot through the gateway and on down the street, finally coming to a halt several blocks later. He looked back to see if she was still following him. There was no sign of her.

Artemis hesitated. She was in urgent need of help, that much was clear. He didn't know what had happened in the last week, but it must have been serious. He'd never seen as much as a frown on her face before today, and he certainly never would have thought she could be violent. Perhaps he should go back for her?

But what could he do? He couldn't talk to her, and the image of her crawling towards him, crying, her hands curled into fists with the intent to hurt him, was still fresh in his mind.

Perhaps she just needed to be alone. That must have been why she'd gone up to the little garden in the first place. Something bad had happened, and she had gone to the park to be by herself. She'd seen him there, and her anger and pain had taken hold of her. Perhaps she'd lost somebody close to her? Extreme distress could do any number of things to a person. Perhaps the cold aura he had detected from her was an indication of that? It was a possibility.

After another minute, he forced himself to keep walking. He'd go and pick Minako up. The tuna girl could be by herself for a while. There was every chance that was exactly what she needed. He'd come back to the park tomorrow, just to make sure.

The image of her haunting eyes crept into his mind again, and he quickened his pace.