At some point Sailor Mars dehenshined into Rei Hino. She still kept her henshin pen close, as she always does, in case something happened, but maintaining henshin for long periods of time is probably not a good idea. Right now she's in Mamoru's living room, which is right next to the balcony, sitting on Mamoru's couch, brushing her long raven hair.
The place has been somewhat dusty since Kyouko was warned to abandon the place, but Rei being the kind of person who needs to have things be 'just right' has at least done a bit of clean-up around here.
At some point she apparently went out, because there is are bags with some of Rei's clothes (and possibly Usagi's?) and other 'sleepover supplies'.
Rei occasionally gets up to peeks through the balcony door, just in case someone decides to spy on them from there... but really, she also has her psychic sense to warn her of danger, and she relies upon that, too.
Usagi -- even though she's technically Princess Serenity right now she still feels like herself, sort of -- manages to get a shower when Rei's out. It was probably not the best idea, she dozed off twice, but at least she managed to wash away all the dirt and...ash that had clung to her skin and hair.
And now she's out, squeaky clean, using about three or four towels to keep her hair from dripping everywhere, and scowling.
Hey, at least she's wearing her pyjama bottoms, thank you, Rei! But she also stole another shirt because, well, there's a closet full of them.
Finally, grouchy, she shlumps into the living room. "Do you think I should text Amic-chan? See if she knows away to turn my skin off?"
"Meooow."
"Clear right."
"Meeeeeeeeow."
"Clear all."
"Good. Now pick the lock."
It's Sailor Venus and Artemis outside at the door, judging by the voice (and the meows). "I know. I'm on it. Dibs on his television," comes an exhausted voice. While being a senshi for long periods of time might be a bad idea, somebody's been senshi'ing it up for a while.
"Just watch the hallway in case somebody comes by. We'll be in and out, pick up what we need to, and be gone. Shouldn't be too much to do. Nobody cares about orphans-- hey, the door's unlocked," Venus says, voice cracking but sounding thankful for small breaks.
The door swings open and Venus trudges in, stopping mid-stride to blink at the room and its obvious signs of occupation. Then, its new occupants/future tenants.
Artemis, from his vantage point, doesn't see anything but a frozen Venus, so he does the least suspicious thing he can think of. "Meeeeeow."
Usagi arches an eyebrow. Yes, apparently Serenity has mastered the art where Usagi has failed. For it's just one, not two.
"Minako."
She tries to remember if she should be annoyed or angry or amused, and decides she's too tired for anything other than holding up her brush. "Since you're here being all innocent and not thievey at all, wanna brush my hair?"
It's a legitimate request, but it probably sounds like a Princessy Request, which is rarely ever a request.
Poor Minako. The hair's silver and glowing, which isn't really the issue. The real issue is that while Usagi has long enough hair on her own, Serenity's is a good foot, maybe more, longer.
Rei stops in midbrush when Usarenity asks her. "Well, if any of us could, it's Ami-chan. I don't think a text would hurt."
Then Rei hears Minako's voice. Oh good, a friendly face. Then she hears what Minako is actually saying...
...
... okay. Rei frowns. She's about to say something, but Serenity is choosing to handle it differently. So instead of what she was going to say, she greets Minako with, "Hey, Mina-chan. Hi, Artemis-kun."
Rei continues brushing her own hair.
Minako Aino makes weird faces once she recognizes who is about but is mostly (mostly!) relieved. "Oh. What are you two doing here?" she asks, suspicious. But also relieved - relieved that her Usagi talk is over hair brushing.
"Sure. I can brush hair. When it comes to hair, I'm king!" she brags. She takes a moment to put on a mask, stepping sideways and 'becoming' V instead of Venus before stepping from the door to the hairbrushes.
"Turn that frown upside-down, Rei-chan!"
"But really, what are you guys doing here?"
Usagi shrugs a little at Minako's question. "Hiding out? Rei's been keeping me company and this is better than my house. No one's really going to be looking here for Mamo-chan anymore, so."
Usagi hands over the brush and scoots over. "What are you doing here? Aside from not taking the TV?"
"We decided that it would be unwise to bring Usa-chan home while she's still glowing," says Rei. "We also figured that the Dark Kingdom wouldn't be watching this place anymore. This is a good place to hide while I keep guard over her."
Rei does smile at V-chan, for a moment, before her concentratin goes back to her hair.
Minako Aino/Sailor V clucks her tongue once. Artemis meows at Rei. It's a greeting for a cat.
"I'm not stealing TVs. That's a joke. Thought the place was empty," she notes, taking the brush and sweeping it through Serenity's hair like a blade, but infinitely gentler.
"We're collecting stuff that might not be fit for public consumption, then mailing out the final letters," she says, simply and in summary of the evening's plan.
"And sorry for doing what I did. What I *had* to do. I'll be V so you don't have to see my face... but I couldn't take a chance. We'll get 'em, though," she says, collecting all of Serenity's hair in one general pile behind her before attacking it again.
"You guys doing ok now, then? Have any questions?"
Usagi looks over in confusion. "What do you mean?" Even as she asks, she reaches over and takes the mask off her face.
(Of course, she knows who made the kill shot. She doesn't need one of George Lucas' ridiculous redos to know that. It's all on her.)
Usagi shrugs. "I think so? Can't get out of this, though. So I'm hiding. Shhhhh. I'll be like Rapunzel in a tower until my hair's long enough to climb down."
Rei raises an eyebrow at V. Did she really kill Mamoru? It looked pretty close... but something about this makes Rei think that something's up. There would've been no reason to do it if Moon's purification had worked... No, it's a lie, and a weak one. A lie meant to protect the feelings of a friend.
But for the sake of Usagi's feelings, it's not a lie that Mars calls her out on.
"Well, that actually makes sense. He didn't have any family, but the school should probably be told. He had some friends that were unpowered, too. I admit I don't really know them. Some of the people we saw last night might, though."
Rei shrugs, and starts brushing the opposite side of her hair. "We're doing alright though, considering the circumstances, aside from the fact that Usagi can't go back to normal."
Minako Aino/Sailor V tries to keep her face in her mask by leaning into it and towards it, but her hand is pre-occupied with hair and brushes. "I lost a friend once," she says, pausing in brushing for a few seconds. "But it gets better. For now, though, if we're doing OK, we should make the next step."
"Like Rei-san says. Fix up some of these issues. Maybe talk to the other friends. Do some more investigating. I have some leads and ideas I want to follow up on."
She plays brushing games once she has all of the hair managed. "No using hair for rapping down the building. Maybe put it up into a bun. Or red-ribbon it. Some beautiful young lady popularized that trend."
While Minako brushes her hair, Usagi texts Ami.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: How do I get rid of being Princessy? I'm a walking nightlight. Help!
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: You will always be a Princess; however, I believe you can likely henshin to Sailor Moon whenever you wish. Think of removing the Princess's mask the same as we remove our Henshins. Just will it away, and become Usagi-chan again.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: I tried like how I do for Sailor Moon. I'm just too hummy. But if I go from here to Sailor Moon, I may come out of it as Usagi? That what you mean?
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: It's worth a try!
But see, the thing is, Usagi
isn't doing okay. She's avoiding. Avoiding everything.
So, as Minako talks strategy, Usagi avoids.
Fortunately, Ami-chan is still answering texts.
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: It's worth a try!
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: Also, how's my Ami-chan? I'm sorry I asked you to do that. :( It wasn't fair of me!
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: It was fair of you. We need him back, Princess. I am doing alright. I finished my finals yesterday after claiming a death in the family, and I am taking the rest of the week away from school to investigate how to get him back. It's too early to know what will come of this, but you just rest, and relax, and let Rei take care of you. Maybe go visit Makoto and bring her some cookies. I need to visit her, too.
(Here, Usagi makes a face.)
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: Is it okay if you just call me Usagi?
She clears her throat and catches the last end of the conversation. She manages a small, half grin. "Beautiful young lady? Could only be one person."
She rubs her knee. "Can we...let this place stay...up? I mean, I don't know if he has some weird autopay for things," he does, "but I just...don't want...it gone. Yet."
"I've lost someone, too," says Rei, as she runs her brush through her hair. "... but it was a long time ago. I had my time to grieve. You'll feel better too, Usa-chan. Eventually."
Rei considers, for a moment, using a red ribbon in her hair. It would go with her outfit. Except... hey wait a minute!
Rei playfully sticks her tongue out at Sailor V, then turns back to Usagi as she watches her text Ami. She's close enough to see the screen, and with Rei being the nosey girl she is she reads every line!
"Huh... that might actually work. Maybe. Do you want to try it?"
As for the apartment, Rei pauses. Usagi wants to keep it going. "I don't think anyone's going to notice him gone. If we don't then I doubt anyone else will."
Minako Aino/Sailor V and Artemis clearly had plans involving bank account investigations andd apartment manager talks, but V just nods her head after a few moments in response to questions about autopay and keeping apartments. "I suppose. Maybe. I don't know how it's being done. Was gonna go through the stuff, see if we had to move stuff out or not," she explains, clearly not relishing the thought of going through a dead person's personal belongings and trying to move it out - unhappy, sure to upset others, and just illegal enough to attract attention.
She also reads text messages over shoulders. "Oh. I need to find Ami-san before the night is out. Feel free to text her and tell her to find me. It'll let her know I'm safe and with you both," she says, sounding absolutely exhausted.
Usagi takes a moment to lean against them both. It's weird ans awkward, but she manages it. "Hopefully we all will be."
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: Of course, Usagi-chan. I'm sorry. I just ... I knew before all of this. I figured it out late last week; just before we went to the orphanage. I feel really guilty that I didn't tell anyone.
Her brow furrows a bit when she reads that.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: Well...I mean...you needed to process? How did you figure it out?
She blinks and looks up at Minako and nods, small smile in place.<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: Oh, Minako asked you to find her later. She's brushing my hair.
She stands, and stretches, and rolls her shoulders. "Here goes nothing?"
"MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE-UP!"
Sailor Moon is where Serenity had been seconds before.
She feels a little bit more energized and she hops in place. "Okay! One henshin down."
She focuses, concentrates, and soon Minako and Rei are looking at Usagi. She looks as she normally does, albiet with longer hair and the beginning mottling of bruises around her neck. "Oh thank goodness."
Maybe now she can hide in shadows. And maybe sleep.
She pickes up her phone to text Ami that it worked. Brows furrow again.
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: Process of Elimintation, mostly. But also the Prince is drawn to the Princess. Plus some of the things that happened all sorta pointed towards it. And then there's the level of power you display as Sailor Moon, the elemental affinites ... there's a lot. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, sooner. Please tell Minako that I will have the information she requested by tomorrow, but may be unavailable except in emergencies.
She relays to Minako what Ami says even as she's typing. She's a multitasking girl of the technology age.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: I...it's okay. And wow, when you put it like that. Why didn't I see it sooner? Anyhoo, I am Usagi now. Thank yoooou <3
She puts the phone on the table and tries for another smile. "Good. About this place. And things. I didn't even think about...everything else."
It's a sad thought, though, that no one would notice.
"It might be easier if we both look," says Rei. "Mamo-kun might not like us going through his things, but... we're going to be here a while anyways."
After a moment she adds, "Well, as far as his personal effects around here, I mean. I don't know the first thing about breaking into bank accounts."
Rei watches as Princess Serenity becomes Sailor Moon, and Sailor Moon becomes Usagi Tsukino. Huh.
"So, a layered henshin. You were Sailor Moon when you transformed, too."
Usagi says she wants to focus more on this place. Rei watches her closely, like she has been since last night. She is serious about protecting the Moon Princess. She always has been.
"He seemed like he had a lot of money. He sure had a nice car, anyways. If we can set up some kind of autopay, it'd probably last for a while."
Minako Aino/Sailor V agrees with Rei. "Right. If you're staying, feel free to look. It's not hard, but it's time-consuming. Take, keep, or burn anything that links to somebody with a touch of magic in them," she says, sounding like she's done this before.
She lets leany Usagi lean and play transforming games before pushing the brush through her hair a few more times, just for fun.
"I guess I'll leave you to it," she says after a pause, looking down and to the side before summoning up the energy to straighten up and walk again. "You know how to get me. Let me know if you need anything. Both of you. You too, Mars-san!"
Usagi nods and sighs. "Yeah...he was kind of worried the first time I looked in his closet."
She smiles a little at the layered henshin observation and makes a little twirl, as though modeling off her old, fortunately glow free skin. "Now we know for next time, too."
Then she is blinking. "I...sort of...figured he had some?" She shrugs. "I never really cared to ask. That may have made things easier now, though."
Then Minako is preparing to go.
And she can't really not launch at her in a hug.
And she's very, very quiet when she speaks!
"I love my Minako. I hope she knows that."
"He also probably left stuff back at the shrine," says Rei, thinking out loud. "We'll have to look there, too. ... but a lot of his info would've probably been in his wallet, and well..."
There's a good chance that doesn't exist anymore, is what Rei chooses not to say.
"... Well, we'll figure it out. We'll figure something out."
Minako goes to leave. Usagi goes for a hug. Rei puts her brush down and stands up.
"Thanks for coming by, Minako-chan. Even if you weren't expecting us to be here. Take care of yourself."
Minako Aino/Sailor V returns hugs.Not immediately, because she's taken by surprise! But eventually she realizes they're hugs and perfectly normal and probably mostly safe, so she replies with tired hugs right back.
She doesn't say anything clear in reply to being loved but stays in contact for much longer than is necessary, mumbling a few indistinct apologies before pulling away to go.
"I'll take great care of myself. I'll be back. I'll have plans and we'll have a new target soon. I promise!"
Usagi wrings her hands. "I'll look for his wallet, too. Minori probably left some things at my house, but I don't think that was one of them." Her cheeks warm. Probably because that was the last time she and he had smooched. And it makes her sad. But she has to try not to be sad! At least on the outside.
She looks thoughtful for a moment. "Didn't he mention a bank account with Homura? At the meeting? Maybe she knows?"
Usagi stays in the hug with Minako as long as she's allowed.
"You better take care of yourself. But you get sleep first. Yes. Sleep is good."
Rei smiles as Minako promises plans and targets. Objectives are good. Focus is good. Especially right now. The war doesn't stop just because they lost a soldier, and maybe it would be good for Usagi to get her mind into her work.
"I'll look forward to hearing about them, V-chan."
Usagi mentions a shared bank account with someone else. Homura, was it? "Well, you could try asking her about it. I don't have her number, but... maybe someone else might."
The thought of some of Minori's things being at Usagi's house... well, it makes perfect sense. Maybe there might be something there, too.
At least for the moment it seems like the senshi have some direction. Direction is good.
Minako Aino/Sailor V reassures everybody she gets plenty of sleep and takes great care of herself.
She has the bandages on her arms (and fingers) and the bags under her eyes to prove it.
Then she's off! Artemis too!
She watches the doorway for a long moment, worrying her lip. "I hope she'll be okay."
She turns to Rei, tired, not sure if she'll sleep because if she does she'll wake up and this
won't have been some horrible nightmare. So long as she's awake, it's possible she's still dreaming.
"What time is it?" She honestly doesn't know. "Is it time to pretend to sleep some more, or is it couch cuddle time?"
And then there's her phone. She begins answering tests and paying attention. She can do both!
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: Honestly, I think there has been some sort of magical block against us all realizing it. Similar to our blocked memories from the Silver Millenium. Somehow I managed to get through it, but it was almost too late.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: Of COURSE my Ami-chan figured it out first. You're the smartest <3 <3
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: For all of our sakes, I hope I'm smart enough.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: With you on the job, if there's a way, it will be found!
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: You still make me think I can do anything, Usagi-chan. :) And that's how I knew you were the princess.
<PHONE> You text Ami Mizuno: Me being her has nothing to do with how much I believe in you :D
<PHONE> A text from Ami Mizuno: You being her has everything to do with how much I believe in me.