Raina woke up the following morning and found the spot next to her empty and cold. She didn't think much about it, figuring that Mamoru had probably nodded off in his study again. As she walked into the bathroom for a shower, she noted that she felt better than before.
"Maybe it was something I ate?" She yawned and brushed her teeth, going about her normal routine, thinking that maybe she'll make breakfast this time. It was her turn anyway.
Once she had gotten dressed and finished curling her hair, she went to wake up Nijiko first. Raina hummed, padding down the hallway towards her daughter's room and pushed it open. "Niko, time to get up."
She gasped softly at the empty bed, "Niko?" Everything in her was alarmed, but she tried to reason with herself as she moved to check under the bed and even in the closet for her little girl. Maybe Mamoru had taken her?
That was a thought and she moved to the study, "Ru, is Niko with..." She gazed around the office, the computer still on but in sleep mode, "..you.. Where are they?"
Raina tampered her worry, thinking maybe they went for a walk or perhaps were out getting breakfast? Yes, that's it. With a quick pace, she checked outside, but saw the car in the driveway. She steadies her hand and searched for her cellphone in her purse. Upon finding it, she called Mamoru's cellphone. Maybe.. maybe they were just out on a walk and-
The sound of her favorite song was coming from up in the study. Raina turned to look up towards the stairs. She and Mamoru had it so that their ringtones for each other were a favorite song that that the other liked. Mamoru was never without it.
"Oh..my gods..." It was as if all the strength had left her and she crumpled down to the floor, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. "Where...where are they?"
"Princess." Sailor Jupiter took an inward breath but smiled at the pink haired girl, "Why have you brought them here? You know it's against the law to bring Earthlings here, unless they're one of us."
Chibiusa nodded but looked down, her Luna-P ball floated just behind her shoulder. She was pretty sure that Diana was getting the same treatment form her mama and papa too. She couldn't imagine what happened to Nijiko and Nijiko's papa. As soon as her mother's guardians showed up, they had escorted both her friend and her friend's father off to one of the other rooms and she had been sent to her own.
Miserably, she wished she could see Nijiko so she could apologize to her at least.
"I-I know." Chibiusa looked up at Jupiter, "But..Nijiko's my friend and..she just wanted to see where I lived and she's a good person too! So is her papa!"
Jupiter sighed, "I know, but even if-.." She stopped and looked up. "I think we'll have to tell your mother about this."
Chibiusa's head jerked up, ruby eyes wide as she shook her head causing the pigtails to sway with the motion, "Wa-wait! No, you can't tell Mama!" Her eyes watered, "Mama'll be mad and-and.."
"A little too late." Jupiter muttered nodding to the door as Neo-Queen Serenity entered in her white flowing dress, "Your majesty." She bowed her head.
"Mako." The queen smiled a little, "You know you don't have to address me as such in private."
Jupiter returned the smile, "I know, but you know what they say- practice makes perfect."
"Then you've been practicing for a decade." She chuckled but allowed herself to look somewhat serious, "Where are Chibiusa's guests?"
"In the waiting room on the west end." Jupiter told her heading to the door, "I'll go check on them for you."
"Thank you, Mako." The queen said and waited until her friend was gone to deal with her wayward child.
Neo-Queen Serenity moved towards the chair, gracefully sitting down. Her daughter didn't look up at her, making the queen smile sadly. Even though she knew she would reprimand her daughter, she could understand well why her child did such a thing. Even if he was there, she would bet anything that this would still occur.
"Chibiusa.."
The pink haired girl glances up cautiously, "Yes, Mama?" She still looked as if she would burst out in tears at any moment. A second went by and she couldn't contain herself, throwing herself on her mother's lap. "Mama, I'm sorry! I just-" She sobbed, "I just wanted a friend like me!"
"Shh.." Neo Queen Serenity stroked her daughter's hair, "It's alright, Chibiusa. It's alright."
The child sniffed and dared to look up at her, "I-is it?"
"Well, no, but it will be." The Queen replied, "I understand how lonely you must feel in this place. Had you been born on earth, you would've had a normal childhood like those there." She pulled her child onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her. "I'm sorry for not being able to give you that- or my attention."
Chibiusa only nodded, though she only half understood what her mother was saying. Instead, she relishes this moment of cuddling up against her and breathing in her scent. Chibiusa wished it could be like this all the time but...
"However," Neo-Queen Serenity continued, "you must understand what you've done was very grave. You know that the Gods have forbidden contact between the Earth and Moon. To bring your friend and that man here breaks that rule that keeps us safe."
Chibiusa looked up at her, "Are-will they be alright?"
"Of course." the queen smiles, "We'll simply erase their memories of this place and send them back home."
"Do..you have to erase Nijiko's memories?"
Her mother nodded slowly, "Even Nijiko's. Humans must not know of us and our vigile over their planet. We do not want a Great War again."
"No.." Chibiusa sighs, "Are we sending them back now?"
Serenity smiled a bit indulgently, "Not until the next Earth Night." She leaned forward, setting her child down. "So, you can spend your time with your friend for now."
"Mama..." Chibiusa smiled gratefully, "Thank you! Can we see them now?" She paused and worried her lower lip, "I mean, if you're not busy...?"
"Of course." She rose, "Lets see how they're doing."
"I told you." Mamoru sighed, annoyed now, "I stumbled upon them both in our garden and got trapped in that bubble thing."
Sailor Venus eyed the man and his daughter for a while longer before nodding to Jupiter, who came in and whispered something in her ear. Of course, it was as they thought already, but having the conformation that the princess -did- do this was something else entirely. She sighed, with her back towards them. Something about him set her on edge and she couldn't help but feel distrustful. However, she couldn't find it in herself to be openly hostile with a child present.
It'll be over soon. She thought to herself then said, "Jupiter? Could you watch them for a moment? I need to discuss somethings with the others."
"Don't worry." Sailor Jupiter offered a small smile.
With a nod, Venus left them alone, feeling confident that Jupiter could handle whatever that man could do and then some. As she stepped out, she frowned at the odd look that Mars was giving her.
"What is it?" She asked, "Is there something on my face?"
"No." Mars answered but continued to stare intently at the door, "But I have a feeling about that guy in there."
Venus instantly felt on edge again, "You too? What do you think it is?"
"A number of things." Mars found herself walking away a bit, "It could be he's like the people out there or-"
"No, it can't be." Venus shook her head, "The Castle wouldn't premit such people in here." Though she didn't feel confident in that assessment, "I think."
Mars studied the door a while longer before turning to look back, "Perhaps I should meditate on this- see if I can get a better reading."
"You do that." Venus agreed, "It might be nothing, but I would like to feel sure about it."
"Yeah." Mars trailed off a little, wondering if she could also add that the little girl felt just as odd as the man, but wasn't sure if she should add to the uneasiness. It might be nothing. She hoped it was nothing.
"Rei, why are you spacing out?" Mars snapped out of her thoughts as the regal form of the queen appeared down the hallway with the princess in tow. "Usually, that would be my job."
"I'm spacing out at a better time than you do." Mars smiled, "Though why are you here?"
Neo Queen Serenity nodded to her daughter, "We wish to see her guests. After all, she did bring the here, it would be bad manners to just keep them in one room when we're only going to erase their memories later."
"But-" Venus was alarmed, "We haven't cleared them yet. They could still be-"
"Minako, you're being a bit more paranoid than usual." Serenity just smiled and went to the door, " They're just normal people of Earth. What harm can they pose to us on our own home?"
"You never know..." Venus trailed off but sighed in defeat, "However, if that is what you wish...Usagi.."
"It'll be fine." Serenity told her and opened the door.
"Hmm.." Nijiko made a face, sitting next to her father on a pretty couch. She squirmed a bit more and looked up at her father again. "Daddy..."
Mamoru was steadily wondering the chances of getting by this woman in a weird green sailor uniform- isn't she too old for that?- when he noticed his daughter's expression. "Hm? What's wrong, Niko?"
"I'm hungry." She whined softly.
"When we get out of here, we'll find you something to eat." He pulled her close, hugging her, "Just hang in there, ok?"
"Ok.." She didn't seem too happy and huffed a little as her stomach grumbled.
Sailor Jupiter looked at the girl feeling pity for her. After all, it wouldn't be much to pop into the kitchen for a moment and get the child something to eat, right? Of course not. "Wait, we can get someone to get her some food."
Immediately, the five year old brightened up, "Really?"
"Thank you, but no thank you. We'll wait until we get home." Mamoru seemed firm about this. After all, who knows that kind of food they eat? Or what effects it would have on their bodies. Better to be safe...
"If you're sure?" Jupiter wanted to assure the man that the food was fine but didn't get a chance to continue as the door opens and the pink princess came through ahead of the regal queen.
Immediately, the senshi of Jupiter bowed before the queen, moving out of the way so the others could also enter without trouble.
The moment the queen entered, Mamoru was momentarily entranced. He had a feeling.. he's een her or maybe they've met somewhere before? However, he had been certain that they hadn't.
Equally, she looked as startled as he did, with a sense of having met him before. As if he was someone very important but she was certain...No.. they couldn't have met before. Or had they?
"Mama...?" Chibiusa looked at her mother then at Nijiko's father wondering, just as much as Nijiko, as to what was going on.
That's when Venus saw it. Her eyes widen in utter surprise as she saw the strings appear around the two. She backed away slowly, "It...it can't be." A shaky whisper escaped her lips.
"Venus..?" Artemis became worried about his charge. "Mina, what is it?"
"Artemis, " Her breath was shaky, "Look- really look at him."
As it begun to dawn on the others, it was the Queen that said it while stepping forward and reaching out to him with an expression of wonderment.
"Endymion..."