Ra looked at the Silver Crystal which she had made into a necklace. I can't believe how easy that was. I really believed that they wouldn't give it to me. I'm surprised this planet hasn't already been conquered.
Thoth entered the room. "Whenever you are ready."
Ra nodded. "Proceed."

Everyone was asleep except for Usagi and Minako. "I just can't believe I handed it over so easily."
"Don't blame yourself, Usagi-chan." Minako started rubbing Usagi's back. "We all agreed with it. I guess being in here so long. . .it's playing with our heads."
"Yeah, but. . ."
Human Osiris stepped into the room. The two shrank away from the metal bars as she kneeled before them. "Princess Serenity," she whispered. "I wanted to inform you that the Earth is in good hands. A new Senshi, Sailor Earth, has recently awakened. She is on her way to Tokyo to find the Golden Crystal."
"Why isn't she with us?" asked Minako in a low voice.
"We are not able to find the Senshi until they have awakened and hers was a recent one," Osiris explained.
"Why do you all want Luna and Artemis?" demanded Usagi.
"Because they turned their backs on our people."
"How?" asked Usagi.
"By living with your people during the time of the Silver Millennium."
"So, where do you fit into all of this?" asked Minako.
"I put the group together. The thing is. . .the whole point was just to get Luna and Artemis. Somehow, Ra took control and the plans started to involve other things."
"Like the Crystals?" asked Usagi.
"Right," replied Osiris."
"So, why are you telling us this?" asked Minako.
Osiris winked. "Just thought you would like to know why I going to do what I'm about to do." She stood. "I will follow Ra and the plan she sets forward. And now that I am traveling with Sailor Earth, this deal is in the bag."

Cat Osiris appeared next to Hana. "Where have you been?" Hana asked as she took off her headphones.
"Out," Osiris responded.
"Well, I know that." Hana placed her CD player back in her satchel and sighed. Out the window, she could see Tokyo in the distance. Hana thought that by this point, she would have been scared out of her wits. Instead, she found herself excited at the prospect of starting over.
"What time is it?" Osiris whispered.
Hana checked her watch. "12:04." She took a look around. The bus had about ten to fifteen people on board with all expect for Hana asleep. Ken squirmed a bit before finding a more comfortable position lying against her. Hana tried to forget her racing heart by asking, "Osiris. Please tell me what is going on. Why do your people want Luna and Artemis?"
"Luna and Artemis are cats like myself. During the time of the Silver Millennium, they were offered positions as advisors to the Moon Princess. They accepted and were labeled as traitors by my people."
"Why?" Hana asked.
"Long before that happened, we had been attacked and requested the help of the Silver Millennium. They never responded. We never forgave them."
"Maybe they never got the message."
"Twenty missed messages?"
"Oh."
"Anyway, we have been trying to bring them back and convict them of crimes against the Empire." Osiris looked up at Hana. "But, if they are subjects of the Silver Millennium, I guess that makes it illegal, huh?"
Hana rasied an eyebrow. "You waited until the Silver Millennium fell, didn't you?"
"Well, we tried once before it fell, but yeah, basically."
Ken started to squirm some more. "Perhaps it would be better if we continued this conversation at a later time," Osiris suggested.
Hana nodded. The rest of the trip was spent in silence.

Motoki looked up. "Can I help you?"
Hana held Ken's hand with one hand and a "Help Wanted" sign in the other. "I was just wanting to know if there was still a job opening."
"Not anymore. You're hired," Motoki informed her.
Hana was shocked. "Really?" she stuttered. "Arigato!"
Motoki smiled. "When can you start?"
"Right now!" Hana blurted out.
"Alright. Let me get the paperwork." As Motoki went to the back, Hana lowered herself to the ground. "Ken-chan, I need you to be a good boy and stay in this store and not annoy anyone. Here is some money. Don't spend it all, though. We won't have much money until I start getting paychecks, okay?"
Ken nodded.
Hana kissed him on the forehead. "Love ya. Go have fun."
"Alright." Motoki handed Hana a few pieces of paper and a pen. "I just need you to fill it out as much as honestly as you can." Hana nodded and began.
The door slid open and Mamoru walked through. He glanced at the V vs. Moon game, the last place where he had last seen Usagi.
"Wow, look at this: V vs. Moon. Who do you think would win?" asked Usagi.
"In terms of the game, I guess that would depend on the skill of the players," answered Mamoru.
Usagi raised an eyebrow. "And in real life?"
"I'm not touching that."
"Good man."
"Mamoru-kun." Motoki came out from behind the counter and greeted his friend. "How are things with you?"
Mamoru sighed. "As well as I could be right now."
Motoki nodded. "Any word?"
Mamoru shook his head 'no'.
"Well, Usagi is a strong girl, though her klutziness would suggest otherwise. Still, I'm sure she is fine. Here, have a Coke on the Crown." Mamoru nodded and sat a few seats down from Hana. She looked over at him and the two nodded in greeting.
A few seconds later, Hana looked back over. That guy looks familiar.
"Wait!" Hana stepped off the bus and waved her arms wildly. Mamoru didn't turn around, so Hana followed the stranger. "Wait!"
Kami-sama! That's the guy from the bus! She quickly looked back down at her application as he started to look back at her.
That's the girl from the bus! Mamoru realized as Motoki returned with his drink. "Here you go, Mamoru-kun."
Mamoru? That name sounds so familiar, thought Hana.
"You done with those?" Motoki asked Hana.
"Almost."
"By the way, I never did get your name."
"Kin Hana, sir."
As he sipped his Coke through a straw, Mamoru thought, Hana? That name sounds familiar.
"Furuhata Motoki." Motoki shook Hana's hand. "My parents own this place and we like to keep it in the family. However, the store behind us closed and we bought the building to expand the arcade section and add a karaoke area. So, we need someone to run the karaoke section when it's up and running."
"I suppose that will be my position, then," Hana inquired.
"Yep," Motoki replied. "Until then, though, you will be here at the juice bar."
"I believe I can handle that," Hana said. She signed the forms and slid them across the counter. "Done."
"Alright. Here is you apron and welcome!" They shook hands. "My parents are right over there. I'll introduce you to them."
As Hana put on her apron, she caught Mamoru staring at her. "Hi!" she said nervously but cheerfully. He nodded her way and mumbled a greeting. As she walked away, he noticed her necklace. It's the other half of mine! She's my pen pal! That's why her name sounds familiar. Now if I could only figure out what I am sensing from her. . .

"You sure you can finish on your own?" Motoki asked Hana.
She nodded. "I've closed before."
"Alright. Good night, Kin-san."
"Good night, Furuhata-san." Hana continued to wave until Motoki walked out of view, then headed to the men's room. She slowly opened the door. "Alright, Ken-chan. He's gone." Ken quietly slipped out of the stall. "How was Osiris?"
"She was a good cat; she didn't make a noise or anything," Ken reported.
"Did anyone see her?"
"Nope."
"Good job." Hana led Ken to an unused room of the Crown. "Furuhata-san said they don't use this room anymore, so this is where we are going to live for a while."
"I thought we would be in a hotel or something."
"I wish I could buy us an apartment, but we don't have enough money. I promise you, though, that as soon as I earn enough money, we will get a nice place." Hana sighed. "I just wish I had planned this better. I just wanted to get you out of there as soon as possible. . ."
A tear slipped down Ken's check. "I'm sorry I caused you do much trouble," he whispered.
"Ken-chan, no!" Hana lowered herself and wrapped him in a big hug. "You are no trouble at all. Some days, the only reason I get out of bed in the morning is to see your smile. . ."
More tears ran down Ken's face. "But won't you get in trouble?"
"Ken-chan, I was damned if I did and damned if I didn't. If I am going to be damned, it will be because of what I did, not what I failed to do."

Hana-sama! Hana-sama! Wake up!
What is it?
Luna and Artemis are in danger! You have to help them!
But I can't leave Ken alone!
Have Osiris watch him.
Are you nuts, Earth? I can't trust him!
You have to, Hana-sama.
Hana sat up. "I guess I have no choice."
Osiris's head popped up. "What do you have no choice with?"
"I have to protect Luna and Artemis from your buddies. . .and I need you to watch Ken while I'm gone."
Osiris quickly stood up. "No way! My orders are to watch you at all times. . ."
"I don't care!" Hana hissed back. "You either watch him or I will kill you!"
Osiris hid her smirk. This was too easy. "Fine," she said, pretending to be defeated.
The anger left Hana's face and she smiled with relief. "Thank you, Osiris," she said in a grateful tone. She kissed Osiris on the forehead. "You don't know how much this means to me." She grabbed her henshion stick and ran out.
Osiris was surprised by Hana's sudden show of compassion. She could tell Hana had actually meant what she had said. "Hana-san! Wait!" Osiris yelled after her. What have I done?

Sailor Earth caught up to the action in the park. Three cats were fighting: a white one and a black one were fighting another black one. Crap! Who is who? she wondered.
"Send them back!" Artemis yelled. "Leave us alone!"
"Never!" yelled Thoth. She became human. "You betrayed us!"
Artemis and Luna became human as well. "You had abandoned us! We did what we felt was best for us!" Luna stated. "We meant no harm!"
"I cannot guarantee as much." Earth stepped out of the shadows. "I am the Guardian of this planet. Sailor Earth. On behalf of the Earth, I will punish you!"
Both Luna and Artemis gasped. "Sailor Earth?"
"Sailor Earth, I tire of your presence," said Thoth.
"And I tire of yours! Bolder Dash!" Her hands started glowing gold. Sections of ground came out of the Earth and formed boulders. Using both hands, she started making throwing motions. Every time she did, one of the boulders headed towards Thoth.
"Sacred Writings!" attacked Thoth.
Both women were equally matched. Luna turned to Artemis. "What should we do?"
"I say we help Sailor Earth and take our chances," Artemis said.
Luna nodded. "Alright." Both powered up and attacked Thoth. Thoth, unable to defend herself from all three, screamed as her life came to an end.
Earth looked over at Luna and Artemis. "Who is Luna and who is Artemis?"
"I'm Luna. He's Artemis."
Earth raised an eyebrow. "He's Artemis?"
Artemis looked away, embarrassed. "Let's not go there." Luna giggled as his face turned beat red.

Osiris laid down next to Ken. Why do I suddenly feel so guilty about this?
"You don't know how much this means to me."
"Hana-chan," mumbled Ken, "can Ris-chan come with us?"
Osiris's ears perked up. I have to get him out of here! "Ken!. . .Ken!" She started shaking the boy to wake him. "Ken-san, wake up!"
Ken slowly woke up. "Osiris?"
"Ken. I did a bad thing and now I have to get you out of here."
Ra teleported into the room. She crossed her arms. "You are not going anywhere."

Chapter 7