"Are you certain of this, Tomoe Ame?"
The look that the young Tomoe gave Usagi was enough of an answer for him. She was, of course, telling the truth. Usagi's only worry was now whether or not he would be too late. Clenching his fist, he turned swiftly and walked towards the riverside.
"I would not tell you this if it were not a most dire situation, Usagi," Tomoe told him as she followed quickly behind him. "Your kame friend was of great assistance in helping to protect Lord Noriyuki, and I desire his safety as much as you do."
"Your concern is much appreciated, Tomoe Ame," Usagi replied, not looking behind him, "as is this valuable word of warning. That does not mean that you will be coming with me."
"I would not think so," Tomoe responded. "I know nothing of his world, and would only prove myself a hindrance. I only ask that you do not attempt to free him of his troubles by way of your physical prowess. Akumu is powerful, and she will stop at nothing to destroy Leonardo-san and those closest to him, now that she has been enlisted by Hebi."
Knowing her words to be true, Usagi stopped and looked at her. "What, then, do you suggest?" Tomoe reached into her pocket, handing him a piece of chalk she had secured beforehand, knowing that it would come to this.
"Use this," she told him, "to draw the portal to the kame homeworld. It will leave a trace of residual interdimensional material behind. I acquired it from Yume, and it should bring you back to her castle."
"Yume? Akumu's sister?" Usagi asked, surprised.
Tomoe nodded, still offering the chalk. "Yes," she explained. "The only one with the power to destroy one of Akumu's curses would be the one with the antithesis of her powers. Use this chalk, Usagi, and bring back the kame. It is the only way to end his anguish."
Usagi looked down at the gray piece of chalk in Tomoe's hand. He had always been wary of using unfamiliar magic. The writing utensil seemed to shimmer in Tomoe's palm, and he cautiously reached out for it. It felt no different than the plain white chalk he used on his trips to the Battle Nexus, but this did little to calm his suspicions. Still, this was Tomoe. He knew that she would never willingly lead him astray. Yume was a good individual, and it made sense that only she would be able to counteract the ill effects of her sorceress sister's spell. For Leonardo's sake, he would have to trust it.
Grasping the chalk in his fist, Usagi raised his eyes to meet Tomoe's. "I thank you for this, Tomoe Ame." Turning away from her, he continued to where he had meant to draw the portal to Leonardo's world. "I am sure that Leonardo-san shares my sentiments." With his back turned to her, Usagi did not catch sight of Tomoe's menacing smile, nor of the bright red that suddenly glowed within her normally-dim eyes.
"Anything to assist the kame," she spoke quietly.