Chapter 9:
Ami and Rei and Luna walked into the room they were sharing with Lita and Mina, last. The others were sitting around waiting for them. They looked at the two girls and the cat expectantly.
"I think everyone else should tell their stories first." Ami said shyly. They gave her curious looks, but began to tell their stories. Amara and Michelle had no luck at all. Darien and Trista retold their story of what happened in the car. When Lita and Mina told them that the models had told them they would never find Serena in this city, Rini burst into tears and wouldn't calm down. Rei smiled slightly at Ami. They had the best news of the group. Darien caught the smile though and immediately questioned her.
"What do you know that we don't?" He demanded angrily. Rei wiped the smile off her face quickly.
"Sorry, um, But we found Serena." She said so quietly none of them could hear.
"What?" Asked Michelle calmly. Appearing to be the only one holding her temper. Rei swallowed.
"We think we found Serena." She said clearly. She and Ami, with aid from Luna, told the guys about the modelling agency. Darien's face darkened.
"I say we go down there and demand to see her." He growled. The girls were a little taken a back.
"No, Darien." Ami said. "We can't do that."
"I agree with Darien." Amara added. "There's ten of us, if you count Rini and Hotaru, we can just go in and tell them to hand her over." Amara said.
"I don't think force will get Serena back." Rei said. "They could just take her out a different way." She continued, "For all we know Serena won't even be there now."
"I bet those models knew her…" Lita said angrily. "I thought they gave each other funny looks." Her fists were clenched.
"One thing we haven't thought over yet," Trista spoke from behind them all. "Is why Queen Serenity feels she has to do this by herself?" They all stared at her.
"But, Trista," Rei said. "We're supposed to protect Serena. She needs us; she isn't supposed to do these things by herself." The other scouts nodded in agreement.
"In the future, Queen Serenity has a tendency to be very independent for short amounts of time." Trista explained. "Sometimes she spends all her time alone and won't allow anyone to do anything for her. It is only for very, very short amounts of time, but it happens. Maybe we are about to discover why she does this." She said mysteriously. Rini looked at her.
"That's not right." She said. "Mama would let me talk to her when she was like that." She added.
"That's true little one, but before you were born she never let anyone in at those times." Trista looked sadly at Rini.
"Maybe we should take Rin to see Serena." Mina suggested. This was greeted enthusiastically. They began to formulate a plan.
Serena woke to her alarm clock. She got up wondering why her head hurt so much. Then she remembered yesterday. Oh no… She thought sadly. I wonder what'll happen today. She got up slowly and got dressed. She left her room and looked slowly at the day plan for her name. She found it and saw she was modelling summer dresses. That'll be nice. She turned and headed for the elevator. She got off at the floor designated and was rushed to a hairdresser.
"Wow," the lady muttered. "You have such beautiful hair!" She worked away without further comment. Serena relaxed in the chair and tried not to think about her friends.
Lita, Mina, Ami and Rei decided they deserved a treat, so they went out for lunch. They found a nice little café and ordered. They tried to talk normally. Ami kept wondering aloud about school. Lita was muttering ideas for recipes under her breath, while Mina and Rei attempted conversation, but kept breaking off and switching topics. Ami sighed and said,
"We're just all to worried about Serena." Lita looked up and nodded. Rei got up and walked to a nearby newsstand and bought a magazine. She brought it back and flicked through it.
"Is it that time of year already?" She whined slightly.
"What?" Asked Ami.
"Dances…" Rei muttered. The couples in evening gowns, reminded her of her non-existent boyfriend. But she admired the gorgeous girls in their gowns. She got to a group photo and began pulling the picture closer to her face.
"That almost looks like…" She muttered. When the magazine was almost touching her nose she gave a small shriek. The others, who were already watching her, snatched the magazine from her hands. Lita managed to get it off the other two and looked at the girls modelling a line of very expensive looking gowns. But it was one girl that caught her eye.
"Oh my…" She said, looking stunned she handed the magazine to Ami and Mina who bent over it.
"Is that…?" Ami said in a whisper. Mina looked up stunned.
"Serena." Rei said her expression growing dark.
"She's off being a model, while we wander around a strange town worried sick about her." She said. Lita looked at her.
"I don't think Serena would've run away from us, just to be a model." She responded.
"Yeah, there's something more." Mina said. "Still, she looks pretty happy." She looked back at the magazine and flicked through. "Oh there are more photos of her." She said. Mina carefully surveyed the magazine with comments of "Darien wont like that one," and "I just can't believe…" Ami and Rei and Lita just looked at each other. That lunch turned out to be a very short one.
On their way back to the hotel they spotted the two models Lita and Mina questioned with someone, Ami and Rei assured them was the hairdresser from the day before. Upon a whim Lita decided to interrogate them. She hurried to catch them Rei right behind her. Ami sighed and walked slowly along with Mina.
"Hey!" Lita called as she caught up to them. They turned to face her.
"Oh, uh, hi." Tai said. "Did you find your friend?" She asked.
"Lita nodded.
"We did, she's right here in this magazine." Lita said flipping to one of the pictures of Serena. Rei spoke now.
"Yeah and look it says these pictures were taken by your modelling agency." She said looking right at Kiara, who looked boldly back.
"I'm sorry," She said. "We pulled in a lot of extras that day; she could've come from any company." Tai nodded.
"Yeah, she could've, but she also could've been doing that shoot, working for you." Lita growled. Kiara just shook her head.
"Listen we're sorry we can't help…" Tai began, but was cut off.
"You can help!" Lita said.
"You can tell us where Serena is, you can take us to see her.!" Rei added. Ami and Mina arrived then and noticed their friend's tempers rising.
"Lita, Rei, c'mon we've gotta get back to the hotel." Ami said. Mina smiled at the models.
"Thanks for your help." She said brightly as she and Ami dragged Rei and Lita away. They protested as they walked along.
"It just wasn't the right time." Ami said plainly and they gave up.
After a long day, Serena walked lazily back to her room. Kiara grabbed her and dragged her into a room to the side.
"Serena, your friends think you're here." She said.
"How?" Asked Serena.
"They saw your photo in the magazine." Kiara explained.
"They won't come here. Not if you guys refuse to tell them I'm here." Serena looked at Kiara. Kiara nodded and Serena went back to her room. Upon entering a searing pain spread over her head and she collapsed on the floor.
Alright, thanks to everyone who reviewed and I just wanted to note a few things before I post this chapter. I made up Ceiriatoe City and that I know models usually get paid by the job, but this modelling agency is very busy and pays their models by the day, because they work everyday. If you have other queries or comments please continue to review.
LostSwallow