* * * *

After school, Moshi dragged her pink jacket on and headed for her locker. Usagi walked with Moshi, complaining about the difficult math homework Haruna-sensei assigned. Both girls were tired and barely said three words to each other.

At her shoe locker, Moshi removed her soft-soled school shoes and laced her sneakers up. She checked her handbag to make sure she didn't leave anything, especially her henshin star since she wasn't wearing her jumper today.

"Usagi-chan, what are you doing today?" Moshi asked.

Usagi looked up from her locker as she took her shoes out. "I was going to go home, have a snack and maybe take a nap."

Moshi giggled. Usagi seemed to love food just as much, if not more, than she did. "How about we just go get a snack at the parlor?!"

Usagi's eyes grew big. "That'll work!"

"What would work?" Ami asked, already in her outside shoes.

"We were going to the parlor. Want to go?" Moshi asked Ami. Out of all her new friends, Ami was the quietest. At first, Moshi thought Ami was sort of a nutball, she always asked Moshi how her classes were going. At times, Moshi wanted to run at the site of Ami. She finally learned that it was Ami's way of communicating.

Ami hesitated as if she was going over a mental schedule. Moshi didn't wait for an answer. She reached out and grabbed Ami's hands. "Come on, Ami-chan! You need a break once in a while!"

Ami flushed. "Well, we all do, but we do have to prepare for exams!"

Usagi grumbled, looking at Ami sideways. "Ami-chan, we don't take the juken for another year!"

Moshi looked surprised. "Ami-chan was talking about high school exams!?" Ami flushed again, causing Moshi to laugh harder.

Makoto finally appeared, led to the group by Moshi's hysterical laughter. She saw the blush on Ami's face and the sideways glance that Usagi was giving her. She knew that Ami probably stuck her foot in her mouth again. "What's going on?"

Moshi wiped a tear from her eye. "Ami-chan is studying for the juken!"

Makoto grinned. "I know that, Ami-chan just likes to be prepared."

Usagi grabbed Ami's arm, dragging the embarrassed girl with her. "Let's go, I'm hungry!"

Makoto followed, leaving a giggling Moshi. "Eh, Minna, matte!" Moshi cried, chasing after Makoto.

* * * *

The four were walking towards the parlor when they passed Juuban park. Moshi spotted Minako and Rei waiting for them.

"Minako-chan, Rei-chan!" Moshi yelled, waving at them.

Rei sighed. "Does she have to do that!?" Minako only grinned and waved wildly in return.

The girls paused in front of the park, talking about school and what was happening. Moshi noted the different fukus, but had never asked Rei or Minako what schools they were in.

"I know this sounds odd," Moshi said. "But what schools do you go to?!"

Rei flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I attend T*A girls school."

Moshi couldn't believe her ears. "A Shinto priestess is attending a catholic school!?"

Rei knitted her dark eyebrows as she frowned at the shorter girl. "T*A is one of the most prestigious schools in all of Tokyo!"

"That and no other school would be able to contain Rei-chan's ego!" Usagi said, earning a hard glare from Rei.

Moshi sighed. She sensed another argument about to break out between Usagi and Rei. Ignoring them, she turned her attention to Minako. "Minako-chan?"

Minako was twirling the slipknot on her shirt. "I go to Shibakouen junior high!"

Moshi grinned. "That was the school my mom was trying to get me into!"

"If Minako-chan could get in there, you should have made it," Ami said.

Minako glared at Ami, making her flush.

"Open mouth, insert foot," Makoto muttered. Ami flushed a bit more.

Moshi smirked. "You guys are weird, but I like you. I think this is going to a very interesting friendship."

Usagi smiled and nodded happily. "Hai, hai! I feel the same way, Mo-chan! I hope that we can all become good friends!" Moshi smiled and nodded. She felt the same way. Usagi seemed to be a very nice person and she hoped that they would become good friends.

 The breeze picked up, making everyone's hair whip about. Moshi took a deep breath, smelling the scent of the flowers from the park. She felt energized. Kids were running in the playground, grownups were sitting on the benches enjoying other's company. This park was buzzing with life and to Moshi, life is energy.

"Mo-chan?" Minako asked, waving a hand before Moshi's face.

Moshi blinked as she came crashing back to reality. "Nan da?"

"Are you okay?" Rei asked. "You seem a little blank..."

Moshi grinned. "Oh no, I was just smelling the air, feeling the buzzing energy of life."

"Is that where your power comes from?" Usagi asked.

Moshi nodded. "Life is energy, and I can use that energy. That's why I like coming to places with lots of people, it gives me a boost!"

Makoto placed a hand on Usagi's shoulder. "Then this girl here could charge your batteries for life!"

Usagi moaned, "Mako-chan!" Everyone else started to laugh.

"That is true though!" Moshi said. "When I first saw Usagi-chan, her energy level was remarkable. That's why I tailed her as a cat."

That started a new roundtable of questions. Moshi answered each as best as she could, noting how interested each was interested in her answers. As they walked past the park entrance, Moshi heard a light melody flowing through the park.

She'd asked the others if they heard it, but no one did. The music was lovely, it seemed to express the way she was feeling at that moment. "That music, it's beautiful," Moshi said dreamily.

Rei cocked her head to the side. She wasn't hearing anything. "Oh man, don't tell me she's as weird as Usagi!"

"Rei-chan!" Usagi yelled, folding her arms and sticking her tongue out at her.

Moshi took a deep breath as she heard the melody grow louder. "It's loud, can't you hear it?!" she asked.

The others placed blank expressions on their faces. It was very obvious they hadn't heard anything.

As quick as the melody started, it stopped. It left Moshi wondering if she was imagining the song. Blushing, she put a hand behind her head and giggled. "Gomen, I'm sure you're all thinking I've lost my mind!"

"We were getting to that point," Minako said.

"We better get going, we have to study later," Ami stated, earning a round of groans from the other Senshi.

Moshi blinked in confusion. "Study?"

Minako nodded. "Hai, we're having a study session today at Mako-chan's!"

Usagi brightened and grabbed Moshi's arm. "Mo-chan, you should come study with us too! I heard you're good in biology!"

Moshi blushed at the comment. "Maybe Ami-chan's better than me in that area!"

"Nonsense," Makoto said. "I know you're trying to weasel your way out. No dice, you're coming to our study group."

The others looked at Makoto. "Mako-chan kowai," Rei muttered.

Makoto then grinned. "I baked lots of food last night!"

Moshi started to drool at the thought. Makoto was supposed to be the best cook in all of Juuban junior high. "I'll be there! I just have to call my mom!" She pulled her calling card from her jacket pocket. She handed her handbag to Minako and ran to the nearest phone box.

After a quick five-minute call, she gathered her bag and they continued on to the Parlor. As they passed the remainder of the park, Moshi heard the light melody start up again. This time she knew that she wasn't losing her mind.

* * * *

Moshi was hungry. She never felt this kind of hunger before! Maybe it was because Ami had staked out Makoto's kitchen and refused to let anyone past her.

Moshi looked at the small drips of drool that was sliding from Usagi's mouth. Usagi caught her staring and hastily wiped her mouth. A loud growl came from Rei's stomach, making her blush. Makoto was shifting restlessly on her leg pillow. Minako was all but passed out on the table from hunger.

Moshi stood up and stretched. She thought about making a lunge for the kitchen, but that would mean going near Ami. She looked at the others. Each nodded, showing that they knew what she was attempting to do.

She stood up and stretched, hearing her back pop. "Oh man, I think my leg fell asleep," she said aloud.

Ami continued to read her book, sitting in the kitchen doorway.

Moshi looked at Usagi, getting another nod.

Moshi made a break for the kitchen. She was almost at the doorway when a yardstick flew out and cracked her toes. Screaming, she reached for her aching feet and fell to the floor. "Ami-chan!"

"Get the stick!" Minako yelled, diving before Usagi and taking a quick rap to the knuckles.

Moshi made a lunge again. "Tomaranai!" she yelled as Ami whapped at her again, this time catching her wrist. "ITAI!"

Usagi was the one to actually reach the kitchen unscathed. Rei had made a dive for the stick, but Ami had dodged sideways and caught her on the leg. Moshi recovered from her injury and grabbed Ami's legs. Makoto grabbed her arms and Usagi wrenched the stick away.

Minako stood up and whooped loudly. "The kitchen is ours!"

Ami was pushed aside as five hungry girls trampled into the kitchen and started to tear it apart for food.

Sighing, Ami threw her book aside and joined in the fray.

Mouth full of food, Moshi turned to her. "Ami-chan, don't you ever whap me like that again."

Ami blushed. "I really wanted to get some studying done. You weren't here, but whenever we'd study here, they get distracted!"

Moshi gulped down a glass of juice. "If she's like this pre-juken. I'd hate to see what she's like when it comes down to crunch time!"

Usagi grinned. "Ami-chan can be a real bear when needed."

Rei pointed at Usagi. "Kinda like how you're being now, ne?"

Usagi frowned and put her tempura down. "Put a sock in it!"

Moshi groaned. "How many times do you two fight?!"

Minako muttered, "Constantly."

Giggling, Moshi pointed at Usagi and Rei. "In that case you two must be very close!"

Usagi and Rei stopped arguing and growled at Moshi.

"See, I was right!" Moshi laughed, dodging a swat from Usagi. She looked up at Makoto's kitchen clock and noted the time. She wiped her mouth with a napkin and hurried to the door.

"Where are you going?" Minako asked.

"I have to go, my mom wanted me home by seven." She had already laced up her shoelaces and was now gathering her notebooks and stuffing them into her handbag.

She ran to the kitchen and snagged a rice ball. "I'll see you guys tomorrow! Ja ne, minna!" Moshi called as she raced out.

* * * *

Shizar watched Moshi closely in his crystal ball. He had to get her some kind of way before Imitar figured out that he didn't kill her. Panicking, he flipped through a few books before coming upon a spell that might work.

Waving his hands over the ball and uttering a few arcane words, mist drifted from his hands and surrounded him.

When the mist faded, a woman armed with a staff stood before him. "You summoned me?"

Shizar nodded. "Hai, Izumi-chan. You know what to do." He pointed at the image of Moshi in the crystal ball. "I hope you succeed where your sister, Kasumi failed."

Izumi's storm blue eyes crowded with hate. "She killed Kasumi-chan!? I will have her head!"

* * * *

Moshi headed back towards the park where she heard the music. Her mother didn't say she had to be home by seven, she just said don't stay out late. Moshi decided she had to find out where that music was coming from and who was playing such a lovely tune.

She reached the park and heard the music again. Its energy vibrated off of everything in the park. She instantly felt energized. She ventured into the park, letting the growing music carry her to its origin. She came upon a clearing of small students and a lady playing a violin.

Moshi gasped. She was wearing the fuku of the same school that Haruka went to. Maybe she knew Haruka? Moshi saw she was very beautiful, and graceful with deep wavy aqua hair that was flowing around her shoulders.

On the violin, she was balancing a small lemon, making it bounce and jitter with each note.

"Sugoi," Moshi whispered as she joined the small group of children that were clapping along to the tune.

"This music. It's more than just regular music. She plays with her heart and soul," Moshi thought as she closed her eyes and listened. "The energy, I can feel the park reacting to her music. It's wonderful!"

"Sumimasen?" a voice said, breaking into her euphoria.

Moshi opened her eyes to see the aqua haired lady looking at her in confusion. She blushed, she probably looked like an idiot standing there with her eyes close. "Gomen!" she apologized.

The lady smiled. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything."

"I was just listening to you play. The melody was beautiful," Moshi said.

She smiled again. "Thank you, I enjoy it when people like my music."

"What was the name of that melody?" Moshi asked curiously.

The lady blinked and responded. "Well, it doesn't really have a name! It's just a little tune I play to warm up with."

Moshi smiled. "If I had to name it, I'd call it Genki!"

The lady put a hand under her chin as if to mimic thinking. "I think Genki is a beautiful name."

"I heard it earlier, but my friends thought I was hearing things. When I hear it, I can imagine the park burning with energy. Everything listens and reacts to the music," Moshi said wistfully, with her hands clasped over her heart.

"You felt that from hearing my song?" the lady asked.

Moshi nodded. "Very much so!"

The lady packed away her violin and motioned Moshi to walk with her. Together they walked through the park talking.

"I'm glad you felt that from my music. Only a few people can feel what I play," she said, sitting down next to the fountain.

Moshi sat on the bench next to her and put her bag on her lap. "Really? I didn't think that."

The lady smiled again. "Where are my manners? What is your name? Watakushi wa Kaioh Michiru."

Moshi smiled. "Takanera Moshi to iimasu! Hajimemashite, Kaioh-san!"

Michiru's eyebrows rose a few inches. "Moshi-chan? Ah, Haruka mentioned you."

Moshi froze. Haruka mentioned her? Did she also mention she was Sailorearth as well!? Of course she couldn't have, Haruka would have had to reveal that she was Sailoruranus.

"You know Ten'oh-san?" Moshi asked.

Michiru nodded. "She's in my homeroom."

Moshi saw Michiru's body stiffen suddenly, as if she sensed something. She watched as Michiru looked at the fountain. "We should move," Michiru said, standing up and grabbing Moshi's arm.

"Nani?" Moshi asked confused. Did Michiru sense something? "Kaioh-san, what is it!?"

Michiru hurried past the fountain, keeping a firm grip on Moshi's forearm, not responding to any of Moshi's frantic questions.

"Kaioh-san, you're hurting me," Moshi whined, struggling to keep up with her long strides.

"Gomen, Moshi-chan, but we have to hurry," Michiru said, looking over her shoulder. She almost didn't see the woman with the staff standing before them.

"Kaioh-san!" Moshi screamed as she threw herself in between Michiru and Izumi.

"Nani?!" Michiru said perplexed. How did the woman catch up that fast?

"You," Izumi said, pointing the end of her staff at Moshi. "You killed Kasumi and for that you shall die."

Moshi felt a cold sweat break out. Not another one of these freaks. She couldn't possibly reveal her secret to another person! "I didn't kill anyone!"

"Usotsuki!" Izumi roared. She grabbed Moshi by the front of her shirt and flung her backwards. Moshi slid across the ground and bumped her head against the tree. The last words she heard before blacking out was, "Neptune Planet Power, make up!"

* * * *

When Moshi came to, she saw Sailorneptune fighting Izumi. The Senshi had the woman cornered and was ready to release an attack. Izumi struck out with her staff and hit Neptune on the leg. When Neptune cried out and fell, Moshi rushed to her side.

"Sailorneptune!" Moshi cried.

Neptune looked up at Moshi. "Nigete!"

Moshi shook her dark head. "Iie! I can't leave you like this, Kaioh-san!"

Neptune's blue eyes grew wide with shock. "You saw?"

Moshi nodded. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret, as long as you don't tell anyone mine," she said as she pulled her star from her bookbag.

She stood up and faced Izumi. "This is it!" she cried, throwing her hand into the air. "Earth Star Power, make up!"

Once finishing transforming, Sailorearth folded her arms and glared at Izumi. "I really hate it when people crash my fun. Yurusanai yo! Jinsei to enaajii no, seeraa fuku, bishoujo Senshi; Seera Aasu! Mugendaini kawatte, oshiokio yo!"

Not even waiting to see if Izumi would react, Earth attacked. "Power..." She balled her gloved hands into fists and crossed them over her chest. The fists had a purple aura around them that began to shimmer with increasing power. She transferred the power to one hand and tossed the purple ball of energy at the ground.

Izumi smirked. "You missed me, brat! Now I'll kill you for killing Kasumi!"

Earth laughed and waited until Izumi stepped forward. "I didn't miss. GRADATION!"

Izumi screamed as a pillar of purple energy surrounded her and crushed her, making her drop her staff. As the crushing strength grew, yellow sparks filled her eyesight.

"Neptune, imayo!" Earth ordered.

Neptune cocked an eyebrow at the shorter Senshi before attacking. "Deep Submerge!"

Izumi released a keening cry as the ball of water slammed into the pillar of energy creating an electrical shock. "Kasumi-chan..." she whimpered as she faded from sight.

"Yatta!" Earth cried, jumping up and down. "We did it, Sailorneptune!" she said as she turned around to nothing but empty space. "Neptune?"

Earth headed for the trees and transformed back into Moshi. Checking to see if anyone saw anything, she headed home.

"Ten'oh-san is Sailoruranus. Kaioh-san is Sailorneptune. I wonder who Pluto is?" Moshi thought as she exited the park amongst the chattering of people proclaiming to see the Senshi.

"The mystery grows," Moshi thought as she headed home for the night.

The End

Next Chapter: Chapter 9. In The Nick of Time.

 * * * *

-san -- suffix to someone's name giving respect. (In this case, Moshi says Kaioh-san, because she doesn't know Michiru that well.)

-chan -- suffix to someone's name showing affection. (In this case, Michiru calls Moshi, Moshi-chan, because Moshi is younger than she is.)

Genki -- Energetic (in the way Moshi uses it)

Gomen -- Sorry

Hajimemashite -- Pleased to meet you

Ima -- Now

Itai -- Ouch!

Ja ne -- Til then/later

Juken -- High school entrance exam

Kowai -- Scary.

-nai -- This suffix is used in negation.

Nani -- What.

Nigete -- Run

Senshi -- Soldier/Warrior (NOT Scout!)

Sugoi -- Weird.

Tomaranai -- I won't stop.

Usotsuki -- Liar.

Yo -- used to give emphasis on statement.

Yurusanai -- I won't forgive you.

Jinsei to enaajii no, seera fuku bishoujo senshi, Seera Aasu! Mugendaini kawatte, oshioki yo! -- For life and energy, I am the lovely sailor suited warrior, Sailor Earth! In the name of infinity, I will punish you!

Watashi wa --- I am

--to iimasu -- That's who I am (like Takanera Moshi to iimasu.)