Falling Out of History

Cloud Temples

"It's 6:00 already. Where is that slacker?!"

Rei stood up from the table in frustration.

"I know she's normally late, but not showing up at all for a whole week is strange, even for her..." Ami said, looking up from her book.

"Doesn't she understand that this isn't middle school anymore?" Rei sneered. "Those lazy habits need to stop! I'm sick of her skipping out on study nights, and then whining to me later when she fails her exams."

"Maybe she wants to give us some time to ourselves to... process things..." Minako said quietly. She had been pretty quiet all day, which was rare. But no explanation was needed.

"Maybe you're right. I just hope she's okay..." Makoto sighed.

"I haven't been able to bring myself to talk to him yet," Minako murmured, suddenly changing the subject. "He's been so kind to me, but I'm just not ready. I feel horrible for avoiding him, but I just need time. You guys can agree with that, right?"

"Definitely. Nephrite's REALLY gonna have to work to gain my trust back!"

"I don't know. I really believe they deserve another chance," said Ami. "After all, Beryl could have taken any of us for her army. It just happened to be them."

"I say screw them all!" Rei sat back down and slammed a mug on the table. "Who needs them, anyway? If they want another chance at life and love, it can be with other people, not us!"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

It was getting late. The girls started packing up their things and got ready to head home. The Shitennou were all they could think about, which prevented them from studying worth anything.

Shortly before they headed out, Luna and Artemis came running in, out of breath.

"Artemis?" Minako picked up her cat. "Is everything okay, you guys?"

"Have you girls seen Usagi anywhere lately?" Luna panted.

"No, we haven't," Rei snarled. "She's been slacking all week. This is a new record for her."

"I don't think that's it, Rei." Artemis jumped down from Minako's arms. "She hasn't been anywhere. Not at school, not at home, not at the arcade... her parents have been worried sick. We've tried calling her and the authorities and everything, and Mamoru has been running all around town looking for her, but no luck. We think she might've been captured."

"Captured?!" Makoto's eyes widened in shock. "By who? A new enemy?"

"We don't know. We don't have the slightest clue on this one."

"Well, how are we supposed to find her if we have no idea where to look?" Rei asked, still with that classic, annoyed tone of voice; though internally she was panicking.

Artemis slowly walked up to her and looked her seriously in the eye. "There is one way."

"One way to what?"

"One way to track her location and speak to her."

"Okay, so let's do it. What's the problem?"

The cat sighed. "The problem, Rei, is that you won't like this option. But you'll need to deal with it if you want to have any chance of finding your princess."

The two cats walked back outside for a moment, and returned in with a tall blonde man.

"What's he doing here?!" Rei yelled at the sight of Jadeite.