After many days abroad, Mina finally returned home, to Tokyo. She was greeted by a very welcome, but unexpected smile.
        “Mr. June! I didn’t expect to see you here!” Her surprise was one of genuine pleasure. She smiled broadly, walking closer to him. “How have you been?”
        He, too, began walking in her direction. “I am well. How are you?”
        “I’m great, now that the tour is over. I can spend time with my friends. Speaking of which, they should have been here.” She began looking around for any sign of the other Scouts.
        “I’m afraid there not here.” Ryan said apologetically.
        “What do you mean?” She asked. “How do you know who my friends are?”
        “It was simple. Before you went on tour, you were talking about your friends vacationing in Idaho Falls.”
        “Yes, I remember that.”
        “When they weren’t on their flight home, I called the mayor of Idaho Falls. He told me that due to the persuasive prowess of one of their citizens, their stay has been lengthened.”
        “Oh, I understand.”
        “May I now call upon you to render your part of the deal?”
        “What do you mean?”
        “I distinctly remember our agreement. I pay your way to Tokyo, you tell me about your stay.”
        “Oh, I had a great time. Thank you again for paying. The money I saved came in really handy.”
        “That’s wonderful. Now that you’re home, may I drive you home?”
        “Let’s get my luggage first.” They followed the signs for luggage pickup, where they gathered three suitcases and a hatbox. “Before we go, I need my cat.”
        “Your cat?”
        “Yes, I always take him with me.”
        They followed more arrows to the animal storage locker. There the register handed them a small cage-like box with a small white cat inside. Upon the cat’s head was a gold crescent moon shape. On the cat’s face was the most unbelievably disgruntled face any cat could possibly muster. His eyes stared coldly at Mina, while he thought; Do you know how much I hate plane rides?
        “His name’s Artemis.” She explained. “He’s kind a like a guardian angle to me.”
        They collected him from the cage, and Mina carried him in one arm, and held her hatbox in the other hand. They strode out to the parking lot. “Oh, my. I didn’t rent a car!” Mina realized in horror.
        “Then please permit me to lend you a ride home?” Ryan offered.
        “That would be wonderful.” Mina breathed a sigh of relief.
        They found his car, and began loading the luggage into the back seat. His car was a rose red convertible, with tan leather interior. Ryan opened the passenger door for Mina, and she smiled, sliding gracefully into the seat.  Artemis lied down on Mina’s lap. Ryan climbed into the driver’s seat and drove out of the parking lot. The roar of an airplane could clearly be heard taking off.

        “So, what are you going to do first in this big city?” Ryan asked casually as he drove down the highway.
        “I am going home to take a nap. I need one.” Mina replied exhaustedly.
        “No wonder. I can’t begin to imagine how tired you must be after that tour. You must be drained.”
        Mina laughed once at that comment, then quickly tried to hide her outburst.
        “What?” Ryan asked.
        “Oh, nothing.” Mina replied, her foot in her mouth.
        “No, really, what is it?” Ryan pushes.
        “It’s just a silly little joke between me and my friends, ‘being drained’ and all.” She explained.
        “Ah, I see. Perhaps you could explain it to me in detail,” Ryan replied, understanding.
        “Oh, no. It’s really a long story.”
        “Perhaps some other time then.” Changing the subject, “I’d like to know more about you.”
        “You could read my record in your company.”
        “But that’s so impersonal. I want to hear about you, from you. In return, I could tell you a little about myself. I hear that it’s called a conversation.”
        Mina giggled at his type of humor. “So that’s what it’s called.” She said, playfully. “You seem to know a lot about me. I want to hear about you.” Her tone turned serious. “Like what you’re doing in Tokyo!”

        Ryan smoothly managed to tell Mina that he is enrolled in one of the local business schools, by the idea of his parents. He managed to leave out the part of him being in love with her. They told stories and half-truths to each other. Mina was hiding her Sailor Scout history. Ryan was hiding his feelings for her. Their skill in their stories were so complete, that they completely deceived each other to the point that the other could not tell they were hiding something. As Ryan talked, Mina began to grow a fondness for him.
        “I like your tie, it reminds me of…” Mina cut herself off before she finished.
        “Reminds you of what?” Ryan asked.
        “Well, on my tour, I received a package with a very pretty dress in it.”
        “And my tie reminds you of it?”
        “Yes! Yes it does!” Her voice was speeded up by her excitement. “It’s the exact same color and…” Her voice slowed. “Did you send me that dress?”
        “As a matter of fact, I did.” Ryan said casually. “I thought it would be a nice gift.”
        “It was!” Mina was stunned. “But I don’t even know you!”
        “You do now. What do you think we’ve been doing for the last half hour?”
         Mina could say nothing.
        “Mina,” Ryan began. “You have to realize that two-dollar-trinkets are not my style.”
        “And thousand dollar trinkets are?”
        “Don’t you like it?”
        “Well, yes, but, I mean, I don’t know…”
        “If you like it, keep it.”
        “But!”
        “No. I got it for you. Please, keep it.”
        “Do I owe you anything?”
        “Just your smile.”
        Mina was so overwhelmed; she wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck. Ryan was a little startled by this response, but managed to put one arm around Mina, the other still driving. Artemis found his way from Mina’s suddenly uncomfortable lap, to her quiet shoes. She soon regained her composure, and, a little embarrassed, resumed their conversation.

        “One more run, that’s all I need, just one more run.” The gremlin like creature insisted.
        “Then go. Tonight I want you to be careless.” The largest told him, His eyes hiding the true darkness inside his soul. “Let’s see if we can draw out any of the Scouts. I must know if they are truly gone.”
        “As you wish, master.” The creature speedily exited the room.
        A thoughtful humanoid creature stepped forward. “Master, is that wise?”
        “You have always questioned the acts of superiors. That is why I keep you around. Beryl never learned to see flaws in her logic. What is on your mind?”
        “I wonder if your mistake is the same mistake as Beryl made, and Jadeite.” The last name hurt the behemoth, but no one could see from the outside.
        “How so?”
        “When Jadeite drew out the Scouts, he was defeated and encased in ice. When Beryl drew out the Scouts, she was destroyed. What makes you think they won’t defeat you too?”
        “Because I know who they are, and how they fight.”
        “How?”
        “As you know, Jadeite was my master, and in turn, he trusted me with only the most important missions. I was never in combat with the Sailor Scouts, but I did study their attacks from a distance.”
        “Ingenious.”
        “Only once was I seen by the Sailor Scouts. It was the day my master died. I possessed the body of one of the humans that worked in the airport. I knew that I could have ripped them to shreds, but my master did not know I was there. I let myself fall. If I did not, if I killed those Sailor Scouts, he would still be here today.”
        “I can see your advantage. But I advise you to avoid letting it cloud your judgement. I pray that you will be better than your successors. Now that you have my advice, what do you wish of me?”
        “Be on hand, guard the crystal, and wait for Tybek.”
        “As you command.” He bowed and left the room, leaving the hulking monster alone. The beast turned around and began his route through the dark and empty building. He entered a secret room by walking through a wall that wasn’t there, but could be seen. In this dark room, one light shone. A small lamp filled a strong column of light over a stone statue.
        The beast knelt, and began a solemn speech. “Master, forgive me. I did all I could to help you, both in ice and now in stone. We are almost ready for our assault on Tokyo. I vow to destroy all of the Sailor Scouts, if it is the last thing I do. That sound must be Tybek returning with the last shipment of energy. I must go now to plan our final victory.”

Part 3