A/N - Thank you for those of you that are still around. It seems I may have lost some fans in the last chapter. Sorry this chapter is so short, but a lot happens in Chapter 4 so rather than merging the two this is a quickie. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

Usagi sat in the booth at the Crown Fruit Parlor. Her friends discussed the math quiz make-up that Minako and Makoto was going to have to take. In a daze she sat and allowed her thoughts to wander. 'I wonder how Mamo-chan is doing in America. I hope he has made many friends and his studies are going well. The quicker he studies the sooner he will come home to me.' She sighed. 'How was I able to deal with him being gone before… oh..' The answer dawned on her. '"Oh… Seiya. I hope they made it home safe and their planet is rebuilt. I wonder if they think about us…'

"Usagi!" Minako's voice broke her train of thought.

"Huh?" She was completely unaware of the conversation being carried around her.

"We asked where do you want to study for the make-up quiz." Minako's irritation with Usagi's inconsideration to what was being discussed was apparent.

Usagi's smile became mischievous as she flipped her quiz over to reveal her 90 percent grade. She stuck her tongue out and laughed taunting the other girls. "Hahahaha… I don't have to take a make-up."

Everyone at the table's jaw dropped as they looked in disbelief at the unusually high grade Usagi flaunted with self-swallowing pride. Artimus had to catch Luna from falling off the booth seat as she felt herself nearly faint.

"So whom did you cheat off of Usagi?" Rei's voice was nails to a chalkboard in Usagi's head. 'Why does she always have to ruin everything?'

She glared at the long raven-haired girl. Rei looked around the table to read everyone's expressions and back at Usagi. "We all know you couldn't have gotten a 90 in math. You can't even count to 10 using your fingers."

Usagi looked down at her hands quickly counting her fingers in her head. Realizing the stupidity of the act she turned her focus back to Rei. "I did no such thing. I would never cheat. I guess deep down inside I'm a brilliant girl and all my sleeping and snacking has finally unleashed it." She smiled in between stuffing her face with flavored ice.

"Usagi…" Everyone groaned, but Usagi just continued smiling.

"I don't know about brilliant, but you are beautiful, Buns-head." A familiar voice interrupted their conversation.

"Haruka-san. Michiru-san. Hi." They all greeted the older women.

"So what's the commotion?" Michiru questioned as she entwined her arm with Haruka's

Once again Usagi presented her math quiz and the two women smiled.

Obviously overhearing the question before, Haruka couldn't resist. "So whom did you cheat off of?"

The entire group laughed. Except Usagi who sat with a defeated insulted look on her face. "Yeah yeah yeah." She sighed. 'Am I really that bad at everything that they would rather believe I'm a cheater?'

"Don't be so glum Usagi. We are proud of you. Keep up the good work." Michiru praised her. '"We are only teasing you. I'm sure your parents are proud." The others chimed in with their own encouragement as they realized they had truly hurt Usagi's feelings.

With the mention of her parents Usagi became disoriented. "Oh my god, what time is it?" Noticing the lack of sunlight. "Mamoru's suppose to call me tonight." She picked up her books and ran leaving the others at the Crown calling back as she fled. "Are you coming Luna?"

Luna sighed and groaned as she reluctantly followed. She looked at Artimus before leaping off the seat. "Fill them in."

They all watched Luna disappear through the door, then all eyes returned to Artimus, very expectant, curious eyes. He felt like a steak dinner for a pack of hungry lions.

"What's going on?" Haruka's demeanor became very brutish and protective.

"I didn't like the sound of that. Is something wrong?" Minako inquired.

"A new enemy?" Ami asked with a bit of disappointment.

Artimus shook his head. "Usagi is having dreams."

They all stared at him with blank expressions. "What's so important about that?" Makoto asked the question everyone was thinking.

"She's having dreams about Seiya." Artimus choked on his name as he watched each of them respond.

Rei, Makoto, Minako, and Ami showed sympathy. Them being the closest witnesses to Usagi and Seiya's relationship understood the difficulty Usagi must be going through. On the other hand there was Haruka and Michiru who looked at each other with a different type of concern.

Haruka balled up her fist. "What kind of dreams?"

Artimus found himself feeling really uneasy. Cursing Luna for saying something in front of the outer senshi. They still didn't seem quite a part of the group. 'Too late now.' He thought, and then continued, "Well we aren't sure what kind of dreams, but Luna said she calls his name out and it's becoming more frequent as of late."

Haruka flashed another alarming look at Michiru. "We've gotta go." Michiru nodded. "Goodnight ladies." Haruka called over her shoulder as she wrapped her arm around Michiru. There was always something impish about them. Ever since they pulled that so-called 'trick' on Galaxia the others have doubted their ability to be trusted. They just never seemed like they were on the same page with their own agendas.

After the outer senshi left Artimus lowered his voice and called the other senshi closer. "Luna and I have reason to believe they are trying to communicate in their dreams."

"How is that even possible?" Minako's words were shadowed in doubt.

"We don't have the answers yet. Usagi gives off a certain kind of energy when she dreams about Seiya. It's not a bad energy, but it's troubling." Artimus explained.

"So what do we do?" Rei questioned.

Artimus wishing he had something better to say quoted what Luna told him. "Nothing for now. It's just a heads up. Watch her and see if she has any changes in attitude or personality."

"Like making a 90 on a math quiz?" Ami interjected bringing alarm to the group.

"Well at least that's a good change right?" Makoto replied.

Artimus once again spoke in hush tones. "Even good changes must be noted. We aren't sure what's going on yet. For all we know it could be a new enemy accessing Usagi's memories of Seiya for use against her later. So keep yourselves aware, but don't tell Usagi."

The group agreed that it was in Usagi's best interest to not be made aware of the developing situation. At least not yet. The girls each went their own ways to head home with the thoughts of Usagi on their minds. 'Surely they are just dreams, but what if?' they all wondered.

A/N - Stay tuned... the next chapter is a doozie. I will put it up in the next few days... of course reviews may get it up sooner. (hint hint)