* * * *

Michiru and Haruka were passing the arcade when they spotted three of the Inner Senshi inside. Makoto, Usagi, and Minako were so busy playing video games, they didn't notice that the Outer Senshi was watching them.

"Haruka, do you think the new Senshi knows about them?" Michiru asked her partner as they were standing near the opening of the arcade.

"Maybe," Haruka said, "she does have the same hairstyle like odango," Haruka said.

"It doesn't make sense. We should have run into her already if she did know about the Inner Senshi. Another thing is what's the deal with these different enemies. They seem totally focused on her!" Michiru folded her arms and looked at Haruka.

Haruka pushed a hand through her blonde hair. "I don't know. What disturbs me is that I didn't feel her presence. It was like she just appeared as if she's always been here."

Michiru nodded. "I noticed the same thing. I wonder if Setsuna has noticed anything as well."

Haruka shrugged, leaning back against a bike railing. "Who knows what Setsuna notices. She probably already knew this was going to happen."

Michiru let her eyes wander across the street to the parlor. She spotted the girl in question leaving the cafe. "Haruka," Michiru breathed, grabbing Haruka and pulling her behind a nearby phone box. "There she is now."

Haruka looked at Moshi. Moshi was absently pushing a dark ponytail away from her face as she was walking towards the shopping district.

"Let's follow her," Haruka said. Michiru nodded and they both took off after the small girl.

* * * *

Moshi had the odd sensation that she was being followed, but every time she turned around, she saw nothing. She thought she saw Kaioh-san and Ten'oh-san back at the arcade, but they had vanished before she could get a second glance.

Humming a tune to herself, she headed for the shopping district. She was glad her mother gave her a few yen to find a new pair of shoes. As usual, she was distracted by the window display of a small sewing shop called, Sewing by Setsuna. Whoever Setsuna was, she created dozens of beautiful gowns.

Moshi would spend time in front of the shop, imagining how she would look in the gowns. Sometimes a tall green-haired woman inside the store would spot her looking. She would never say anything, but merely watch Moshi looking at the clothing. Today was no exception.

Since she was on a mission to find shoes, Moshi spent a few minutes instead of her usual time to gawk at the dresses on display. One particular dress really caught her eye. It was a fountain of lace and silk that was cinched to the waist by a back bow. The fabric was a white color that showed the rainbow in different light. Numerous pearls decorated the sleeves and neckline.

Moshi sighed. She sometimes wished she were a princess. If she were a princess, she would wear a gown like this to a ball and get to dance with a handsome prince. She often imagined what he would look like. Tall, with beautiful green eyes. Eyes only for her. He would pass by every beautiful girl in the court to come dance with her.

She clasped her hands over her heart and sighed happily. "If only dreams like that came true," she thought as she picked up her handbag and headed for the shoe store.

Inside the store, the woman watched with amusement as Moshi walked away.

* * * *

Haruka and Michiru stopped following when they saw Moshi pause outside of Setsuna's shop.

"Which goes to show you," Michiru started. "Every girl, even odangoed ones, has dreams of being a princess."

Haruka smirked. "Not me."

Michiru whapped Haruka lightly on the arm. "You're different."

The pair went into Setsuna's shop, making the little golden bell on the door ring, alerting Setsuna of their presence.

"Haruka, Michiru," Setsuna said, appearing from behind a dressmaker's dummy holding a piece of fabric. "What brings you two here?"

"We thought we'd just check up on you," Haruka said, taking the piece of fabric from Setsuna's hand and examining it. "You know, see what's going on."

Setsuna gave Haruka a stern glare. "No you're not, you're here for something."

Haruka placed an unbelievable innocent expression on her face. "We are not. I'm insulted you'd think that!"

Michiru snickered slightly at the expression on Setsuna's face. "Actually, we have a few questions."

Setsuna looked to Michiru. "About what? Is it about that girl who always stands in front of my store?"

Haruka and Michiru nodded in unison.

"Ah, in that case, I have been noticing her for some time now. She always manages to stop here and just look in the window," Setsuna said, removing the pincushion that was attached to her wrist. "Whenever I make a motion to go say something, she runs away."

Haruka nibbled thoughtfully on her thumb. "Have you noticed anything about her?"

Setsuna raised one green eyebrow. "You mean the fact she wears a hairstyle the same as the princess. Or the fact that she's a Senshi?"

Michiru gasped. "You knew all this time?!"

Setsuna nodded. "When I first ran into her, it was before we retrieved the talismans. She had an unusual aura about her. When I did some checking, I learned that she was a Senshi."

"Wouldn't that be impossible though?" Michiru asked. "She can't be Sailorearth, Prince Endymion is the only royalty of Earth!"

Setsuna nodded at Michiru's statement. "It's true, but she could be an elemental. That I don't know."

Haruka sighed. "And the only way we will know is if we ask her."

Michiru shook her head in denial. "And after the way we just left her after we met, I'm sure she wouldn't talk to us now."

Setsuna straightened her slacks and grabbed her blazer. "Then leave that to me."

Haruka glanced at Setsuna. "I don't like that look on your face, what are you planning?"

"You'll see," Setsuna said with a smirk as she gathered her purse and headed out the door.

* * * *

After Moshi had purchased a new pair of sneakers, she walked along the downtown section, saying hello to friends from school. It seemed that everyone headed for this section after school. As she headed near the Parlor, she spotted a group of students from her old school, Yakomoto.

A tall brown haired girl spotted Moshi and called out. "Oi! Takanera-kun!"

Moshi groaned. It was Akuno Onnako, one of the most hated girls from her old school. Onnako made bullying a sport. She tried to make anyone and everyone her target. Moshi was one of the few girls that weren't afraid of Onnako. That is, when Onnako and her were the same height.

Moshi waved back. "Konnichi wa, Akuno-kun, minna." Then and there, Moshi made a mental note to avoid this area around 3 and 4 pm.

Onnako and her group of sheep walked over to Moshi. "How's life at Juuban?"

Moshi shrugged. "Juuban's nice. It's a lot better than Yakomoto!"

Onnako laughed. "You're only saying that because you miss me."

"Like a hole in the head," Moshi snorted. "We both know how much you hated me. Ever since the science fair."

Onnako's nostrils flared and Moshi swore she could see steam flowing from them. "I see that only one of us has found puberty."

Moshi grinned sweetly. "Yeah. So, Akuno-kun, still wearing those Sailorv training bras?"

The girls behind Onnako giggled as her face turned bright red.

Onnako growled and grabbed Moshi by her tie and pulled her on her toes. "I never did repay you for that science fair."

"And you never will," a voice said before Moshi could answer. Moshi craned her neck to see where the voice came from. She felt her eyes grow large as she realized who the woman was. It was the woman from Sewing by Setsuna. Not only that, the woman was holding her sweeping broom like a lethal weapon.

At first glance, Moshi thought it was Sailorpluto. She shook her head and pushed away from Onnako, stumbling over her book bag.

The woman reached out and grabbed Moshi's upper arm, stabilizing her. "Are you okay?"

Moshi nodded and rearranged her jacket. She grabbed her bags. "Arigato."

Onnako threw Moshi a glare before gathering her groupies and leaving.

Moshi sighed, she knew Onnako would be gunning for her later. She turned and bowed to the woman. "Domo arigato, oba-san."

The woman's eyebrows twitched briefly. "hmm, oba, I guess I am getting up there in age."

Moshi stared at the woman. "Ano..."

The woman smiled. "What's your name?"

Moshi bowed again. "Atashi wa Takanera Moshi desu."

The woman smiled again. "Watakushi wa Meioh Setsuna."

Moshi gasped. She was Setsuna?! The woman that created that beautiful princess gown in the front window? "That's your store?" she blurted out.

Setsuna nodded. "I see you often. Whenever I make a motion to come outside, you always ran."

Moshi blushed. "I didn't mean too..." she trailed off.

Setsuna waved her comment off with her hand. "It doesn't matter. It was finally nice to meet you."

Moshi bowed again. "Same here!"

* * * *

Haruka and Michiru were watching everything from a safe distance. Haruka had giggled at the Sailorv comment, earning a swat from Michiru. "What was that for? I thought it was funny!"

Michiru groaned. "Just pay attention!"

The two stood by another call box and watched the action unfold. They nodded to each other when they saw Moshi encounter Setsuna.

"We better go, Setsuna'll tell us everything later," Haruka said, grabbing Michiru's hand and leading her away.

* * * *

Shizar was in his chambers, madly flipping through his spell books. The Sailor Senshi had defeated every minion he sent. If he didn't get Sailorearth soon, Imitar would find out and be very angry.

Kasumi and Izumi were too stupid. He needed a minion with some brains. Speaking the arcane language of mages, he summoned forth Kage, the shadow.

Kage appeared, bowing before her master. "You summoned me, milord?"

"Hai," Shizar nodded. "Kasumi and Izumi were total failures. I need your assurance that you won't fail."

Kage bowed again, sweeping the floor with her grand black cloak. "You can count on me."

* * * *

Moshi was sitting at one of the stools near Setsuna's workbench. Setsuna had poured them both a cup of tea. For a while, neither spoke as they drank their tea.

Moshi was the first to break the silence. "What kind of tea is this?" she asked.

Setsuna smiled over the brim of her cup. "It's Green tea, one of my favorites."

Moshi sipped at the tea again and nodded. "It's delicious. I see why." She reached out for a cookie.

Setsuna put her cup down onto the small saucer. "Moshi-chan, why do you always stand outside my shop?"

Moshi flushed slightly with a bit of the cookie hanging out her mouth. "Ano, I just like to imagine what it would be like if I wore a dress like that," she said, motioning towards the new dress in the window.

"Really?" Setsuna asked. "What does it make you think about?"

Moshi sighed. "Makes me wish I was a Princess."

At the word, 'Princess' Setsuna's eyebrows rose a couple of inches.

Eyes glittering, Moshi continued. "If I were a Princess, I would wear a gown like that to a ball and get to dance with a handsome Prince. He would be tall, with beautiful green eyes. He would pass by every beautiful girl in the court to come dance with me."

"Dresses don't make people Princesses," Setsuna said.

Moshi sighed again. "I know, but it's fun to imagine." Moshi felt like an idiot. She had revealed a deep secret to a total stranger! She jumped to her feet and dusted off her skirt, hoping to pull the remaining shreds of her dignity about her.

Setsuna looked at her confused. "What's wrong?"

Moshi bowed. "I have to go. Thanks for the tea and thanks for earlier." She grabbed her bookbag and rushed out the door.

Setsuna noticed a small brooch on the table. It was in the shape of a star with a purple circle. In the middle of the circle was a small yellow infinity symbol. Setsuna knew it had to be her henshin item. "Matte!" Setsuna called, grabbing the star and running for the door.

When she reached outside, she saw a small pink dot turn the corner. "Chikusho," she cursed softly, gripping the star in her fist.

"Daijobou, Setsuna?" Haruka asked, putting a hand on Setsuna's shoulder.

Setsuna turned to face Haruka. "This," she said, holding the star up for view. "She left this in my store."

Michiru gasped. "She used that to transform!"

"We'd better find her then," Haruka said.

* * * *

Moshi dashed at the tears from her eyes as she ran towards the park. She felt like a blubbering idiot for simpering before Meioh-san like that. "I feel like fool," she thought as she sat down at the bench.

She sat on the bench, swinging her legs back and forth. "Oh, I wish I was back with the Elementals," she said softly, looking down at her odangoed shadow.

Her shadow flickered and placed its hands on its hips. "Too bad I can't grant wishes." It said.

Moshi hopped onto the bench, pulling her legs underneath. "Nani?!"

The shadow winked one of its white eyes. "What's wrong, Moshi? Don't recognize your own shadow!?"

Moshi blinked. "Shadows don't talk!"

"Maybe because you never paid me attention!" the shadow said, folding its arms.

Moshi's hand went to her jacket pocket for her star and it came up empty. "Oh no! My star is gone!" she thought.

The shadow started to snicker. "What's wrong, can't become Sailorearth?" it asked. The voice was laced with sarcasm and menace. "That's just my luck!" It pulled itself from the ground and started to take shape.

Before Moshi could escape, the shadow reached out with its long arms and encased her in a tight embrace. Her bookbag fell from her hand.

"Let me go!" Moshi wheezed. "You bastard!"

The shadow tsked at her. "Now now, did your mommy teach you those words?"

Moshi couldn't respond. The embrace had grown tighter and was now cutting off her oxygen supply. Her face was starting to turn blue as she struggled for air. She knew she only had a few seconds more before unconsciousness and then death.

She felt her forehead grow hot. She knew her symbol was showing again.

"World Shaking!" a voice cried. Moshi opened her eyes and saw the golden ball fly from nowhere and slam into the shadow.

The shadow screamed and released her. She fell to the ground gasping for air.

"Deep Submerge!" another voice cried. This time a blue ball flew towards the shadow and surrounded it.

Moshi closed her eyes as she felt a pair of arms surround her.

Opening her eyes, her face focused on the concerned gaze of Sailorpluto. Moshi sat up, scooted away from Pluto, and grabbed for her bookbag.

"It's okay," Pluto said, helping Moshi to her feet. "We've taken care of the shadow."

"Arigato," Moshi said.

Pluto smiled. "Next time don't leave without this." She deposited the star in one of Moshi's hands.

Moshi gasped. "Then, you're... "

Pluto nodded. "Yes I am, but I won't tell if you won't," she said with a wink.

Moshi smiled. "I won't!" She looked down and pinned her star to her jacket lapel. When she looked up, Pluto and the other Outer Senshi were nowhere to be seen.

"Sugoi," she thought as she got to her feet and headed for the entrance of the park.

The End

Next Chapter: Chapter 10. Paradise Is Only A Day Away!

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

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

-kun -- Same as chan, but used for boys. This is also used in a school setting. (i.e. Takanera-kun)

Arigato -- Thank you.

Chikusho -- Damn.

Daijoubu -- Are you okay.

Nani -- What.

Oi -- Hey!

Senshi -- Soldier/Warrior (NOT Scout!)

Sugoi -- Weird.

Watakushi -- I (formal version)

Fun note: Akuno Onnako's name means Sweet little girl of evil! No wonder Moshi doesn't like her!