The Sailor Scouts were holding a meeting at the Cherry Hill Temple. This time it was different. They had a serious matter to discuss: the appearance of a new Sailor Scout, and the Negamoon's increasingly aggressive attacks on the Tokyo. The two Scouts who had seen the new warrior, were sharing what they'd seen. The others listened quietly, some in awe, and some with worried frowns.
"Luna, we've got a serious problem." Lita said. Glancing around the table she saw the other three Scouts nodding in agreement. Serena was already grabbing the cookies that Lita had brought as snacks. "Do you know anything about a new Sailor Scout?"
Luna shook her head. "Sadly Scouts, like you, both Artemis and I have no idea who this new Sailor Scout could be."
"Do you think she could be an enemy Luna?" Mina asked. Holding a squirming Artemis in her arms, she scratched his head. "Rei said she wasn't very friendly after the battle."
"Yeah, apparently she picked up and ran." Lita added, glancing from one girl to another. "She didn't introduce herself?"
"But she did help Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars destroy that Yoma." Amy said. "I don't think she's an enemy."
"Don't let your guard down so easily Amy!" Rei said, looking down at the table. "It could have been a ploy to earn our acceptance. She might be working for Rubeus. There's a lot about her that's suspect."
"You really think so Rei?" Mina asked. "I don't know, it doesn't fit with the Negamoon's style."
"Not lately, but they could be changing tactics." Rei said, turning to Luna. "What do you think?"
"Mina has a point." The cat said calmly. "But we can't always expect the Negamoon to use the same plans. They might be trying to fool us with this new Scout." The small black cat with a crescent moon bald spot and red eyes looked at each of the Scouts. Seriousness raced through her entire being. Then she glanced over at Serena, who was busily munching on Lita's cookies, seemingly oblivious to everything around her.
"I don't think so." Surprised all the Scouts stared down at the end of the table. Cheeks filled like a chipmunk, Serena continued to chew, and then she said. "After all, she's a Sailor Scout."
"Brilliant logic there Serena." Rei said sarcastically. "Come up with that all by yourself?"
"As a matter of fact, I did Rei!" Serena snapped. "Sailor Scouts are the good guys, this Scout isn't any different. She helped us! She must be a good person, she has to be." She stuck out her lower lip. "Just because we don't know anything about her, doesn't mean she's an enemy!"
"That's why we shouldn't trust her!" Rei yelled. "If she was a friend, she would have told us her name! She'd be sitting with us now! Not running around the city! Getting into all kinds of trouble!"
"Maybe she doesn't trust us!" Serena said. "Ever thought of that Rei?" Serena leaped to her feet, spilling the bowl of cookies. Crumbs and bits of cookie spewed across the floor. The others groaned, as they anticipated the clean up.
"There's no reason why she shouldn't!" Rei paused, looking around at the other Scouts. "Look Serena, if she's a Scout in this system, then her duty would be to protect this planet. But she hasn't offered any kind of hand of friendship. What does that say to you?"
"But Rei, she might not have known that we existed. We don't know what her duty is." Amy said. Rubbing the back of her head, the blue haired girl looked at Serena. "All I'm saying is that we shouldn't jump to any conclusions."
"Amy has a point Rei." Lita said, as she began to clean up the cookies. Then she pulled out another basket, as Serena took a cookie out. "This Scout is different from us. But that doesn't mean she's dangerous." She watched as Serena began to eat her cookies.
"Not dangerous, Lita?" Mina snapped from the opposite side of the table. Her long blonde hair swinging behind her, and blue eyes flashing. Hands pressed against the table, she said. "She destroyed a Yoma in one hit! How is that not dangerous?"
"Guys! Why can't we give her the benefit of the doubt?" Serena asked, she was on her feet, angrily glaring at each Scout in turn. "I don't believe that she's evil. I simply can't believe it! So no matter what you guys decide, I'm going to prove it!" Then she stomped out of the room. Leaving a group of surprised Sailor Senshi behind her.
"Serena feels strongly about this." Lita said, rubbing her chin. She looked after their leader. Lita knew that Serena only felt strongly about the things that were important to all of them. "I think we need to give this Scout a chance."
"I'm not sure Jupiter." Mina said, as she shook her head. "We need to be cautious. We can't simply go on Serena's intuition."
"Why not?" Lita asked. "We have in the past."
"Those were under less pressing circumstances." Luna said, her tail twitching agitatedly. She jumped onto the table. "The point is that the Yoma are getting stronger, and the Negamoon has become very aggressive. We need to be on our guard at all times Scouts."
"That's why we should wait and see Scouts." Artemis said.
"But if she turns out to be an enemy, we'll destroy her." Rei said. "Agreed?" All four scouts nodded solemnly.
Meanwhile…"Darien, this tea is amazing!" Sayuri leaned into the back of a comfy green chair. She closed her eyes contentedly as she breathed in the smells of Darien's apartment. Fresh coffee was brewing in the pot on the stove. The smell of clean air and basil passed through her nose. 'Fresh earth, this must be Darien's scent.' She thought to herself. 'It's wonderful.'
"I'm glad you like it." Darien said. "I'd like to know where you're from."
Sayuri stiffened slightly. "I'm from America." She said softly, staring into the cup of tea. It stood on the glass table, steam rising in small puffs toward the ceiling. "My parents were Japanese, they moved to the States because they thought it was the land of opportunity." Darien noticed a strange sadness touched her blue eyes, as Sayuri continued. "We lived in Long Beach, California before I moved here to…go to school." She finished lamely.
'What's the real truth?' Darien wondered. Looking up he met her eyes; they were worried and full of fear. 'What is she afraid of?' He took a sip of his tea. "America, that sounds like an interesting place to grow up. I hear that California is beautiful."
"It is." She said. Her lips curved into a smile. "Lush and green, and when you stand on the shore, you can see the ocean going on for miles and miles. Like it was the mirror image of the sky. But if you turned off all the hoses, it would go back to being scrub and desert." Leaning back, she looked up at the ceiling, her hands closing on the armrests. "The sun was so hot there, it's rays beat down on everything, and it absorbed into me. It became a part of me." Thoughtfully, she looked over at Darien. "Or maybe I became a part of it."
"Maybe it was both." He said. Their eyes met for a brief instant, Darien felt strange electricity running up his spine. He shook his head. 'What was that?' Then he stood, picking up his cup. He walked over to the sink. "So you're moving in across the hall." He said, scrubbing the cup beneath cool water.
Sayuri looked at the ground. "Yes, I am." She said, brushing her silvery blonde bangs away from her forehead. "I was accepted to a private school here in Japan, my parents thought it would be an important opportunity." She sighed, closing her eyes. "For my future."
"You don't sound happy about it." Darien said. Setting the cup in the drying rack, he asked. "Are you done with you're tea?"
"What?" Surprised, Sayuri looked down at her empty cup. The ceramic mug pressed coldly against her skin. "Oh, yes, I am."
"Then I'll come get it." Darien said, and he started to move towards her.
Sayuri shook her head. "No that's okay." She looked at him and smiled. "I'll bring it to you." She walked into his kitchen. Turning on the faucet, she took a sponge and dripped some soap onto it. Then she began scrubbing the cup.
Standing next to her, he reached for the cup. "I can do that."
"No, it's fine. I don't mind.' She looked up, and meeting his eyes, she smiled. "If you did it, I'd feel useless." Scrubbing the inside of the cup, she sighed. "It's nice to be with you." She blushed. "What I mean is...it's comfortable to be around you."
Darien chuckled. "You're not so bad yourself." 'I wonder…' He leaned on the counter. "Are you here all by yourself?"
Pausing, Sayuri glanced down at the cup. It fell from her fingers into the soapy water. "Yes." She said. "My parents are still in California, my brothers… I mean, my brother too." She rubbed her forehead, leaving suds all over her. "They said it was a golden opportunity, that I shouldn't pass it up." Reaching into the water, she pulled the cup out. "That I'd never get another chance to see Japan. To get a good education." She sighed. "So…"
"You came here." Darien smiled. "You must be lonely." Standing next to her, he reached out, and took the cup from her. Then he grabbed a towel from the rack behind him. Setting the cup on the counter, he handed her the towel. 'Her parents sent her here by herself?'
"Not really." Sayuri picked it up, wiping her hands and face, she stared out at the city. "I mean…" Smiling, she handed him the towel. Their fingers brushed, and she pulled her hand away quickly. "I do miss them, and all my friends. But it's not so bad here." Her mouth quirked ironically as she added. "I'm already making new friends."
Laughing, Darien patted her on the back. "Yes, you are."
"Don't sound so condescending!" Sayuri said. "You're not any better than I am!" Frowning, she brushed past him. "I should go."
Darien caught her arm. "Don't." He stared down into her wide blue eyes. "I didn't mean it that way." He looked away, out at the city. Where the sun sat high above the horizon. It's warm glow spread protectively across the city. "I meant that we're friends."
"Oh save it." Sayuri snapped. "You just feel sorry for me! It's written all over your face. You're like everyone else! Poor Sayuri, here all alone without her family…how will she ever survive." Clenching her fist, she pulled away. "I don't need anybody." 'I just need myself.'
"Do you like kids?" Darien asked.
"What?" Sayuri stared at him. "What are you talking about?
"Well, there's this little girl that I know." Darien said. "Her name is Rini, and she's lonely just like you."
"What do you want me to do about it?"
Smiling Darien said. "I want you to be her friend. She comes over here a lot; I thought that you could look after her when I'm busy. You could even come visit us when she's here. I know you two would get along." 'You'd be good for one another.'
" Sure why not." Sayuri reached for the doorknob and let herself out of the apartment. Walking down the hall, she sighed. "So…I've opened another can of worms." 'How the heck am I going to do my studying if I have care for a little girl? Even if I avoid my Sailor duties… Why did I volunteer?' Then Sayuri thought about the pleased smile on Darien's face when she'd agreed. 'It would be terrible to disappoint him.'