Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
A/N: I'm leaving town for a few days, so I should have a little more free time to get an update up! Until then, here's a nice long one. :)
Thanks to everyone reading and feel free to leave a review! Special thanks to: CloudAuditoreFair-SinisterJ, Neanda, Neo Draco, WolfPeaceMonster, Ravendra, PeaPrince, Slightly Dead and Bin82501!
Chapter 3: Sanctuaries
-Twenty Two Years Earlier-
"We've got reports of a youma in the metro shopping area," Minako said without preamble as she burst into the dining hall.
"How many?" Makoto asked, pushing her half finished lunch away as she stood.
"Just one so far," Minako replied tightly. She looked expectantly around at the others.
"Are you sure?" Rei asked, frowning down at the table.
Minako clicked her tongue in irritation. "Of course I'm sure. The city guard just reported it."
"You didn't sense anything?" Ami asked, tilting her head as she looked over at Rei. The raven shook her head slowly. Ami shot a meaningful look at Makoto. "Can you guys handle this? I think I should head down to the labs and work on my youma detection system."
"Sure, but…" Makoto cast a pointed look at Rei. "Do you really think it will be necessary?"
"No, it won't," Rei snapped, slapping her palms on the table as she got to her feet. "There's just too much other energy in the palace for me to get a clear feeling of them. I'm going to my shrine." She stomped around the table and strode toward the door.
When she passed Minako, the blonde caught her arm, gazing at her in concern. "Do you want me to go with you? I can send Haruka and Michiru instead."
"No," Rei said shortly, jerking her arm from Minako's grip. "I need to concentrate."
She slammed the door behind her, leaving a ringing silence in her wake. Ami looked between her two remaining companions. Minako looked stricken as she stared at the door, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Makoto seemed conflicted, watching their commander's trembling shoulders. Ami sighed and pushed her chair in, drawing their attention. "I'm going to the labs," she said firmly. "Can you two handle the youma?"
Minako swallowed and nodded. She glanced at Makoto, who gave her a tight smile. Without another word, the two of them marched out the door. Ami sighed softly as she followed.
On the opposite end of the room, Serenity pushed open the door where she'd been eavesdropping on the conversation. She crept into the empty room and took a seat at the head of the deserted table. Luna leapt up and sat down by her elbow.
"They're fighting again," she said sadly to the small black cat. She crossed her arms on the table and rested her chin on them, turning sad eyes to the door.
Luna sighed and curled her tail around her paws as she considered the woman in front of her. Lately she seemed less like a queen and more like the girl she had once been. Her forlorn blue eyes seemed so lost as she stared after her friends. Luna wished she could say something comforting and fix things like she had in the past. However, it seemed as though they were all simply growing apart. "Give them time," she said finally. "Have faith in them to overcome whatever is happening between them."
Serenity nodded, looking childishly relieved as she pulled Luna into a hug. "You're right," she sighed as she nestled her face into Luna's fur. "They love each other. Nothing will ever change that."
-Crystal Tokyo: Distant Future-
A rumble of thunder sounded, followed quickly by a flash of lightning. Chibi-Usa turned toward the sound and frowned at the dark clouds massing behind the palace.
"We should get back before that storm hits us," Hotaru said as she looked in the same direction. They each had a stack of files held tightly in their arms and it would be disastrous if they got caught in the rain. They quickened their pace and tried to stay close to the buildings to avoid the worst of the wind that had picked up.
"Where do you think we should go first?" Hotaru voiced the question Chibi-Usa had been agonizing over all morning. Her dark eyes fell on the files and she frowned. "Even with all of this, it's going to take ages to find them."
Chibi-Usa considered the internal debate she'd been having. She'd come to a tentative conclusion but going through the labs had made her unsure of her plan. "Well, I thought we should start with Mercury." At Hotaru's doubtful look she pressed on. "It's the smallest planet and would be the easiest to search. Plus, if we had Ami she could help us figure out where the others might be since she's the one who designed everything."
"If we had Ami," Hotaru repeated darkly. "You didn't see her right before she left, Usa. She wasn't anything like the girl we grew up with."
Chibi-Usa stopped to face her friend. "She is still in there," she said firmly. Her mind went to the photograph resting in Hotaru's pocket. "Somewhere inside of her is that same girl."
Hotaru looked like she still wanted to argue the point, but Chibi-Usa cut her off. "Besides, we'll never find the others without her."
The roar of an engine made them both spin toward the street. Hotaru smiled as a yellow Ferrari skidded around the corner and screeched to a halt beside them. The tinted passenger window rolled down and Haruka leaned over to grin at them. "Hey there, ladies, how about a ride?"
"What are you doing out here?" Chibi-Usa asked, laughing as she leaned on the windowsill.
"Looking for you two," she replied, tilting her sunglasses down to see them better. They were purely for effect since the sun hadn't been out for days. "Were you on your way back?"
"Yes, we-"
"Actually," Chibi-Usa interrupted, "We had another stop to make first. Haruka arched a blonde eyebrow in question. Rather than explain, Chibi-Usa leaned further into the car to set the stack of files carefully on the passenger seat. She shot a pleading look at Hotaru and the young soldier followed suit. She gave no indication that she was out of the loop, simply straightened and pushed her hair back from her face.
Haruka gave the stack of papers a curious look before pushing her glasses back up her nose. "Don't stay out too late," she cautioned after a moment. "That storm looks pretty nasty." The girls looked back at the tall block of clouds and nodded fervently. Haruka grinned and sat back in her seat. "Just call me when you're ready and I'll come pick you up."
"Thanks, we will." Chibi-Usa assured her, stepping back onto the curb with Hotaru. Haruka smiled brightly and waved to them. The instant the window was rolled up, she peeled out and sped off down the street.
Hotaru chuckled as she looked after her. "She must be in a good mood today if she's got her toys out." Her dark gaze moved back to Chibi-Usa, who was watching her with a guilty expression. "So where are we going?"
"I was thinking about that picture." Hotaru's hand moved to her pocket, but she didn't pull it out, merely hovered over where it rested in her jacket. Chibi-Usa followed the movement with a small smile. "It might be a little easier to convince them to come back if we have a way to remind them of who they were."
Hotaru nodded thoughtfully. "We could take one of the paintings in the palace," she suggested.
Chibi-Usa shook her head at the idea. "We need something smaller and more personal."
Hotaru tilted her head as she considered. There were only a few places where they would find personal items of the Senshi outside the palace, and she knew the most likely spot. "You want to go to the theatre?"
Chibi-Usa shrugged and nodded almost reluctantly. "Do you think it would be a good idea? It's not a very good part of the city anymore."
"Maybe but I doubt anyone's been inside recently. We should at least check." A sudden gust of icy wind hit them making both girls flinch. Hotaru pulled her jacket tighter and zipped it to her throat. She cast another look toward the ever-darkening clouds over the palace. "If there's a chance it might help, we should try."
It was nearly a twenty minute walk along the western edge of the city until they reached what used to be the entertainment district. There was a wide open area that had served as a staging area to many events like fairs and traveling shows. The surrounding blocks had contained art galleries, picturesque storefronts and the theatre. When the area was still in use, the theatre had been host to performers from all over the world. Even after it closed, the Senshi had still used it frequently for their own events. Hotaru and Chibi-Usa had attended many concerts by Haruka, Michiru and Minako as well as various other fun events. There had even been one memorable evening when the Neo Queen had transformed it into a gigantic karaoke stage.
In particular, it had been Minako's favorite place. The blonde loved to stand on the stage and recite lines from her favorite plays to the empty seats. Sometimes she would sing or occasionally pace across the wide stage, talking to herself and sorting out her problems. More often than not, if Minako was missing, they would find her there.
Chibi-Usa remembered Minako's smile as she would perform to the empty theatre, blue eyes closed and face tilted up toward the light. Sometimes Rei could be found sitting in one of the back rows, a small smile on her lips as she watched. Even after Minako was gone, Rei would occasionally come to sit in one of the old, moth eaten seats. Those times, however, a thoughtful scowl replaced her fond smile.
No one had gone to the old theatre after Rei left and, from the look of things, not many people had passed through this district either. It was one of the few areas of the city still made of the old materials and it seemed to have aged a few centuries in the sixteen years since Chibi-Usa had visited. The bright shop fronts had dulled and become weather worn and decrepit. The sidewalks were cracked and the fountain in the district square was filled with decayed leaves.
The girls stopped in front of the theatre, looking up at the once imposing structure. The old marquee was there but only a couple letters still clung to the lines. The windows were opaque with dark grime and one of the front doors was ajar where the wood had warped too much to fit the frame.
Chibi-Usa gathered her courage and tugged open the other door before she could talk herself out of her plan. Hotaru stayed close to her back as they made their way through the entry to the big double doors that led inside.
When they passed into the actual theatre, they were engulfed in darkness. Hotaru held her back and slipped ahead of her in the aisle, then lifted her hand and activated her flashlight. They heard the sound of skittering footsteps as something ran away from the pool of light. Chibi-Usa grimaced and turned away.
"We need to go all the way to the back," she reminded Hotaru. The raven haired girl nodded and started slowly forward. When they reached the stage they went along the edge until they reached the short flight of steps that led to the wings. They complained loudly as Hotaru stepped up and shuddered violently once she had her whole weight on them. She hopped up quickly, skipping the last two steps and landing lightly on the stage. Chibi-Usa gave the stairs a skeptical look and decided to bypass them completely. Instead she braced her palms on the edge of the stage and hoisted herself up. She dusted off her knees as she straightened.
"It almost seems the same from up here," Hotaru commented, pausing to survey the rows of seats. Chibi-Usa looked up to the catwalks. They were illuminated just enough that she could see the reflections of thick cob webs between the old lights.
"Almost," she murmured. They made their way carefully backstage, trying not to touch the slightly damp walls or dust covered set props. The area was eerily silent and Chibi-Usa found herself jumping at every shadow as they started down the hallway that led to the dressing rooms. She let out a sigh of relief when they reached the last door.
Long ago, Minako had claimed this space as her own private dressing room. Her name was still barely visible, written on a faded yellow star. One wall had been covered by a huge tack board and she'd filled it with snapshots and mementos of her friends and her life. That was why they'd come here.
The door squeaked loudly as Hotaru pushed it open. She took a step inside and froze. Chibi-Usa squeezed in next to her and her eyes widened in horror. The room had been utterly destroyed. The mirror had several spider web cracks and was splattered with brown droplets as though someone had punched it repeatedly. The pillows and cushions of her old fluffy couch had been ripped apart. Moldy feathers, shards of glass and decayed flower petals littered the floor. Judging by the layer of dust over everything, it had happened years ago.
She remembered Minako's mental state just before she'd left. She guessed that the blonde had ransacked the room herself. Reluctantly, Chibi-Usa's gaze moved to the tack board wall. She sighed in disappointment but wasn't surprised to find it stripped bare.
"I was afraid we'd find something like this," Hotaru grumbled as she kicked a gutted pillow aside. The action raised a small cloud of dust and she coughed before shooting her friend a quick apologetic look.
Chibi-Usa moved to the dressing table, trying not to look at her fragmented reflection in the shattered mirror behind it. The table was covered in multi-colored glass shards as though Minako had smashed every bottle and vase she'd owned. She found a larger piece near the back. It looked like the bottom of a flower vase. When she lifted it, she found a small folded square of paper that appeared to have survived. She picked it up and carefully blew off the dust before unfolding it. She smiled as she read the neat handwriting inside.
'Break a leg, Mina. You're already a superstar to me. Reiko'
Chibi-Usa folded it again and was about to put it into her pocket when she noticed something else sitting in the small dust-free circle. It was a ticket stub. She recognized the title as the first play Minako had been involved in. She picked up the ancient slip of paper almost reverently; it was over fifteen hundred years old. Minako had written on it in her loopy, whimsical scrawl: Reserved for Reiko. Next to this was a tiny heart. Chibi-Usa stuck the stub into the folded note and turned back to Hotaru.
The other girl smiled as she looked over her find. "I can't believe she kept that all this time," she said softly. Chibi-Usa handed it to her and she placed it carefully with the photo of Makoto and Ami.
Chibi-Usa cast another look around the ransacked room. "I doubt we'll find anything else in here," she decided.
Hotaru nodded and moved back toward the door. "What do you think she did with all the pictures?"
Chibi-Usa shrugged. It had been eighteen years since Minako had left. She couldn't begin to guess what had happened since then. "Maybe they're back at the palace somewhere," she suggested doubtfully. More likely the blonde had destroyed them, but she didn't want to think that. "Anyway, where do you think we should look next?"
Hotaru pushed her hair back from her forehead as she considered. "Are you up for another walk? Since we're already on this side of town we could stop by Sendai Hill."
Chibi-Usa shuddered at the thought, but Hotaru was right. It was their most logical next stop. Hotaru smiled bravely and Chibi-Usa nodded, returning the gesture. "Alright, let's go."
Judging by the brighter spot in the dark clouds overhead, Hotaru estimated that it was just past midday by the time they reached the base of the old stone stairs. Unlike the other old areas of the city, the Hikawa Shrine looked as though it hadn't aged at all. They started the long climb and Hotaru took a deep breath. The soft scent of cherry blossoms carried on the air, a nice change from the stench of decay that had permeated their other destinations that day. When they reached the top of the stairs, a gust of wind blew pink blossoms over them. One of them stuck in Chibi-Usa's hair, almost blending in. Hotaru chuckled softly as she picked it out.
No one had set foot up here in years, long before Rei had gone. From the stories that circulated, Hotaru had been expecting something far worse. The locals told wild tales of ghostly shrine maidens strolling the paths through the trees and unearthly voices carrying on the wind. Now that they were here, Hotaru could admit that she'd been a little frightened to come. They walked slowly along the path toward the sacred fire room.
"I didn't think it would have held up so well," Chibi-Usa commented as she slid the screen open. Even though the fire had long ago been extinguished, the room held a residual warmth. Hotaru glanced around at the plain furnishings. It seemed that even dust was afraid to settle on the sacred surfaces.
Hotaru moved slowly to the dark grate in the center of the room. It was easy to picture a blazing fire and Rei's still form as she knelt in front of it. She reached out her hand, feeling a slight tingle in her palm as though an ethereal fire still burned.
A loud rumble echoed through the room and she squeaked in alarm and leapt back, colliding with Chibi-Usa and knocking them both to the woven mat on the floor. A moment later a steady tinkling sound began and Hotaru realized it had started to rain. Laughing weakly at her nerves, she rolled off of her friend and laid flat on her back.
Chibi-Usa sat up, looking a little ruffled. She shook her head to clear the daze then grinned down at Hotaru's prone form. "A little jumpy are we?" she teased, poking her arm playfully.
Hotaru pushed herself up and leaned back on her hands, casting an annoyed glance toward the fire grate. "I thought some shrine ghost was coming down to smite me for touching that." Chibi-Usa giggled and stood, offering a hand to her friend. "So do you want to check inside the house?"
Chibi-Usa refrained from commenting on the obvious subject change with difficulty. She settled for keeping her mouth firmly closed and nodding in assent.
They ran across the courtyard, holding their arms above their heads to keep the worst of the rain at bay. It was coming down harder every minute. Hotaru chanced a quick look at the sky, noting that there was no visible end to the black clouds. A flash of lightning snaked across the sky, followed immediately by another deafening boom of thunder. Both girls were soaked when they reached the threshold of the main house.
Thankfully, the door was unlocked. No one would ever had the nerve to try to break into the sacred buildings. They took their shoes off at the door and Hotaru shrugged out of her jacket and hung it on a nearby hook. Chibi-Usa only had a long sleeved shirt on. She stripped it off and wrung it out, dripping water on the rug. "I'll have to remember to bring a jacket on our trip," she commented as she squeezed the last of the moisture from her shirt and hung it beside Hotaru's jacket.
The raven nodded, giving her friend a sideways look. Chibi-Usa shivered and hugged herself, rubbing her bare arms. Her thin pink tank top was damp as well and clinging to her. After knowing her as a child for over a thousand years, it was strange to see her now as a grown woman. Hotaru looked away and unbuttoned her dark over-shirt. She handed it to her friend, leaving herself in a tight black tee shirt.
"Thanks," Chibi-Usa said, slipping the garment over her shoulders. Her eyes traveled briefly over Hotaru. "You won't be cold?"
"I'll be fine," she promised, shaking water from her hair. She pushed it back, but even wet it refused to cooperate, simply falling in wet spikes across her forehead. She sighed, earning a giggle at her antics.
Chibi-Usa cleared her throat and suppressed her smile, padding into the living room. They made their way through the house and found it in the same condition as the fire room. You would never know from looking that it had been abandoned for sixteen years. It made the stories of shrine maiden ghosts even more believable. Hotaru could imagine them roaming the halls with dust cloths and brooms.
When they reached Rei's old bedroom, it was in pristine condition. The bed was neatly made and everything was sitting on the shelves just as she'd left it. Chibi-Usa picked up the picture frame from the night stand but was disappointed to find it empty.
Behind her, Hotaru was carefully checking the drawers of her dresser. Chibi-Usa moved to look over her shoulder. Rei's clothes were still neatly folded in the drawers and three more empty picture frames sat on the surface. She wandered over to the desk against the opposite wall. Absently, she trailed her fingers across the top. It seemed that the room had been purged of anything personal.
She started to turn away before registering what she'd seen. A desk organizer sat on the corner, filled with pens and pencils. A red ribbon was looped carefully around it. She realized that she recognized it. "Taru," she called softly. She carefully lifted the ribbon to examine it. It was tied in a neat loop and something heavy was hanging from it.
"Is that…?"
Chibi-Usa nodded and turned toward her. It was Minako's hair ribbon, and it was tied loosely around a familiar looking gold ring. She remembered the last day they'd seen Minako. She'd been in a better mood than they'd seen her in months, excited about her date that evening with Rei. Then she was gone, just like that. Rei had been absently fiddling with the ring at breakfast the next day as she sat silently, not eating. That had been the last time Chibi-Usa had seen it until now.
Hotaru took the ribbon and ring from her and held it between her fingers. The inside of the band was engraved and she had to tilt it toward the light to read it.
'Mars and Venus will always find each other'
"I never knew that was there," Chibi-Usa said as she squinted to read it.
Hotaru blinked back sudden tears and dropped her arm to her side, clutching the ring tightly. "We should call Haruka-Papa," she said in a choked voice.
"Taru…" Chibi-Usa stopped her as she started to turn away and pulled her into a hug.
Hotaru wrapped her arms around her friend, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Do you really think we'll find them?"
"Yes," Chibi-Usa said with certainty. She pulled back and smiled, even though tears were trailing down her cheeks as well. "We have to remember the people they were. Things like this," she paused to touch the hand clenching the ring. "They're still those people."
Hotaru dropped her head, staring at the floor as she tried to reign in her emotions. She couldn't help the next words that slipped out. "How do you know?"
Chibi-Usa wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her borrowed shirt and smiled. "Through everything that they ever went through, my mother always believed in them and they always came through for her. She's always had faith in them so I'll always have faith in them too."
Hotaru felt a little of the weight lift at those words. She took a steadying breath and was able to muster a real smile for her friend. "Well then, I guess we should hurry up and bring them back."
They went back to the front door and Hotaru stowed the ring and ribbon in her jacket pocket before taking the garment down and shrugging it on. "Do you want your shirt back?" Chibi-Usa asked as she took down her own shirt, which was still damp.
"Don't worry about it," she replied as she dug her gloves from her other pocket. She pulled them on and activated her communicator then lifted her wrist to her mouth. "Haruka-Papa?"
"How's it going, Squirt?" came the immediate reply. Hotaru made a face at the nickname and Chibi-Usa laughed softly.
"We're ready for you to come get us. We're at the Hikawa Shrine."
"Eesh. Okay, I'll be there soon." They laughed at the elder Senshi's reaction. Evidently she hadn't come to visit the shrine recently either.
Chibi-Usa shook out her shirt and put it over her head like a hood. "Alright, ready to make a run for it?" She grinned when Hotaru did the same with her jacket.
"Just don't trip," she advised as she pulled the door open. "Don't forget what happened to your mom last time she tried to run down those stairs."
Chibi-Usa laughed at the memory of a much younger Serenity tumbling down the stairs, wailing the whole way, and landing in a pile at the bottom. Once they were sure she was alright, it had been Rei's favorite story to tell for months.
The rain was coming down in sheets now and they could barely see as they ran along the path. They were forced to slow down to avoid slipping in the puddles forming on the stairs. By the time they reached the covered bus stop by the road they were both soaked to the skin.
They had barely sat down when the rumble of an engine brought them back to their feet. Moments later a big black and electric blue Escalade pulled up in front of them. Both girls reflexively jumped back as two tires hopped onto the curb. They could see the outline of someone waving from the passenger seat but the windows were too dark to see the face. They lunged forward, yanked open the rear door and dove onto the seat. Hotaru pulled her legs in and slammed the door, panting from exertion.
Haruka grinned at them in the rear view mirror. "I see I've got good timing," she commented. "Any longer and you might have drowned out here."
Michiru twisted around to peer at them from the other seat. "Did you have any luck?"
"Some," Hotaru replied, leaning her head back against the seat. "We still can't find exactly what we were looking for." They quickly recounted their journey as Haruka sped down the deserted streets toward the palace.
They had almost reached the gates when Chibi-Usa suddenly sat forward. "Wait, turn up here!" she cried.
Michiru's hands shot to the dash as Haruka squealed around the corner. She glared briefly at her partner before turning her stern gaze toward the back seat.
"Sorry," Chibi-Usa said quietly, eyes wide. Hotaru released her death grip on the overhead handle and laughed, glancing up to meet Haruka's gaze in the rear view mirror. Haruka winked at her before returning her expression to one of contrition for Michiru. "I thought of one more stop we should make."
Hotaru looked out the window and recognized the street they'd turned onto. Just ahead was Makoto's private greenhouse. She'd spent hours there every day, lovingly tending her plants. And, Hotaru remembered, she'd kept a small office next to the storage room.
Haruka read her train of thought and turned down the side road, parking under the awning in front. Everyone piled out of the vehicle, thankful that they were out of the rain still. Chibi-Usa went ahead, using her mother's key card to unlock the translucent sliding door.
Inside the building, they were immediately hit by the strong smell of compost. "You know on second thought I'll just wait for you in the car," Michiru decided as she stepped back, one hand covering her mouth and nose.
Haruka smiled impishly and followed her out. "I think I'll just go keep her company. You two can handle this right?"
Hotaru smirked and shooed her parents away. Sometimes, they still acted like a pair of love-struck teenagers. She watched as Haruka gallantly held the car door for Michiru, then hopped in after her. Chibi-Usa bit her lip, smiling as she looked after them. "Cute," she laughed.
"We'll have to remember to warn them before we come back out," Hotaru chuckled. "I can't even count the number of times I've walked in on them making out in weird places."
The girls shared another laugh before shutting the door and starting into the greenhouse. Inside, the rain sounded even louder as it pounded against the thick plastic roof. The room was like a giant jungle. Wherever a leak dripped down, the plants below it were thriving, spilling over their pots and mingling with each other to make wide patches of bright green. Other areas contained only shriveled vines and brown, bare stalks. The ground crunched under their feet, thick with decaying plant matter.
The storage room and office were all the way in the back. Since the walls were see through, Hotaru could already tell that they weren't going to find much. She stuck her head in the storage room but pulled back quickly when she was met with the smell of old, spilled chemicals. The office was small and relatively neat. Some of Makoto's decorations still clung to the walls and a dusty tea set sat on a grimy table in the corner.
Her desk was cluttered with moldy papers. They appeared to be meticulous notes on the different species of plants contained within the space. Chibi-Usa pushed the papers around, making a small noise of disgust when some of them came apart under her hand. "I don't think we're going to have a lot of luck here," she said, wiping her palm on her thigh.
Hotaru tilted her head to read the titles of a stack of horticulture books. She was inclined to agree with the princess, in the thirteen years that Makoto had been gone, everything seemed to have rotted away. A shiny cylinder on the desk caught her attention and she picked it up curiously. She wiped the film of mud away with her thumb and smiled as she examined the contents of the vial. "I remember this," she said excitedly, gesturing Chibi-Usa over.
"What is it?" she asked, putting her face close to the glass to get a better look. Inside, a small plant was suspended in clear liquid. The bright blue flower was perfectly preserved just beginning to bloom. "A flower?"
"A test tube flower," Hotaru clarified. She tilted the container, allowing the crystalline petals to catch the light. "Ami made it. She worked for months to get it perfect to give Makoto as an anniversary present."
"It's really pretty," Chibi-Usa observed, touching the glass with her finger. "Is it real?"
Hotaru nodded. "She grew it in her labs. I remember how excited she was that she got the color to turn out. Then she froze it and preserved it in here."
Chibi-Usa smiled as she examined it through the light. "What a sweet thing to do. Makoto must have loved it."
Hotaru nodded as she thought back to that day. Makoto had been incredibly touched by the gift; it was so rare for Ami to be sentimental. She tucked the tube into her pocket with their other gathered treasures. "You know, maybe we won't need an actual picture of them. As long as we can remind them of who they are, that's what matters."
"You're right," Chibi-Usa agreed, casting one last glance around the room. "We should get back to the palace. The sooner we leave, the sooner we see them again." She smiled up at Hotaru and led the way back to the front of the building. They had a long journey ahead of them and it was time to get started.