"Erica's got a girlfriend?" Hotaru looked mildly surprised at
hearing that piece of news.
"Shh!" Usagi shushed her lover, her pink hair flowing past her
shoulders. "I'm not sure," she admitted, "but she actually had a girl
walk home with her from school."
"Which is a major step forward for our shy Erica," the black
haired woman smiled wryly. Hotaru leaned forward, "Have we met her
before?"
"Her name is Catrine," Usagi eagerly reported, "she's a blue
haired girl who we saw at the Memory observances up at the Palace.
Apparently she's also a classmate of Erica's."
"Well, isn't that interesting?" Hotaru mused. She frowned
slightly, "I wonder if I should check her out, make sure she's right for
my little sister?"
"If we try something like that, Erica will be really upset,"
Usagi observed, but there was an excited tone to her voice. "We'd need
some Disguise Pens, though."
Hotaru gave her a sly smile, "I know where we can get them." She
paused thoughtfully before adding, "Though we might have to bring
someone else along with us."
"Well, the more the merrier," Usagi shrugged before asking her
curiously, "so who do we have to go see for the Pens?"
"You'll see," Hotaru grinned, getting up off of the couch.
A few minutes later they were standing in an office, and Hotaru
finished explaining to the woman sitting behind the desk. "I'll lend you
the disguise pens," Minako said with a smile, "but I want to come along,
too."
"Told you." Hotaru grinned at Usagi.
Minako stuck her tongue out at Hotaru. "You have to admit, it
could be fun. Besides, how often do I get to dress up as a school girl
again?" the beautiful blonde asked.
"Gee, I would have thought that Motoko might.." Usagi smirked,
then yelped softly as Hotaru pinched her in the side.
"Ohh, bad girl," Minako walked over to the wall, tapping it a
certain sequence and causing a panel to slide aside. From a compartment
there she drew out three disguise pens, passing them out to the other
two girls.
As Hotaru took her pen she softly said, "From what I've seen,
you and Motoko are doing well." A gentle smile, "I'm glad."
"Thanks," Minako blushed slightly.
"So," Usagi bounced the little pen up and down in her palm, "do
these work just like the old Disguise Pen did?"
"Luna pretty much insisted," Minako said with a impish smile,
"hold the pen above your head, call 'Disguise Power' and then say what
you want to become."
"Simple enough," Hotaru agreed.
"When do we want to do this?" Usagi asked the others curiously.
"Erica and Catrine should be in classes tomorrow," Minako
offered, "we can let Erica go to school first, then slip into the school
later on."
"That should work," Hotaru agreed.
"Simple plans usually are best," Usagi agreed.
"Then excuse me for a moment," Minako went to her door, sticking
her head out to smile at her secretary, "Nuku Nuku?"
"Hai?" the perky redhead beamed before correcting, "I mean,
yes?"
"Clear my appointments for tomorrow," Minako ordered her, "I
should be back by the afternoon, but.."
"Yes, ma'am," Nuku Nuku said in her perky way.
Usagi looked up curiously as Minako came back inside and closed
the door behind her. "I always wondered why you chose her for your
personal secretary, rather than some of the other applicants," she
mused.
"She's cute, good natured and handles the paperwork well,"
Minako said to them mildly. She smiled wickedly, "Also she's superstrong
and nearly invulnerable, so if anyone tries something, they'll badly
regret it."
Hotaru chuckled softly. "So, we'll see you tomorrow," she smiled
as Usagi took her hand and they left the office together.
Early the next morning Erica rode the maglev to school, and
without being aware of it she was followed. "When do you think we should
use the Pens?" Usagi asked softly, the three riding a few cars back from
Erica.
"Let's wait until we reach the school itself," Minako offered.
"That way we can make sure we blend in better by copying a girl's
uniform."
"Erica does look good in the boy's uniform," Usagi noted.
"True," Minako agreed, "but I doubt any of us could carry it
off." She paused thoughtfully, "Well, maybe Hotaru, but not Usagi and
I."
"You think so?" Hotaru blinked.
"Hmm," Usagi nodded slightly, "you've got the pale coloring to
go with the black uniform. Add in the dark hair, and it really works."
Hotaru smiled slightly, "Then maybe I'll try it." She dropped
her voice, leaning towards the pink haired girl, "Maybe when we're
alone.."
"We're there," Minako reminded the girls with a slight smirk.
"Ah, right," they jerked apart, both women blushing slightly.
The three got off the train together, walking towards the school where
they saw several of the school girls walking to their classes. "Let's
change, then," Usagi grinned.
Ducking into an alley they held the three pens up and cried,
"Disguise power! Transform us into school girls!"
The three school girls were smiling slightly as they emerged
from the alley, adjusting their sailor suits. "Not bad," Hotaru adjusted
her skirt, noting the black trim.
Usagi bounced up and down, her own suit with the pink trim.
"I've missed this," she noted, "it's been too long since I was in
school."
"Considering your marks, I'd be happy I was out of school,"
Minako noted.
"Minako!" Usagi protested, "That's not fair."
Hotaru rolled her eyes. To head off any further debate she
mildly offered, "Why don't we go in and see if we can find Erica and her
new friend?"
"Good idea," Usagi beamed.
The three moved with the crowds, slipping through the hallways
together while they searched for their target. "There she is," Minako
murmured, spotting Erica in front of her locker.
The dark haired teen ran a hand through her short black hair,
hesitating before finally opening her locker. Before Erica could grab at
them a small pile of love letters fluttered down to lay there around her
shoes. Sighing, the girl in the boys uniform collected then, tying them
up into a bundle that she put in her school bag.
"Popular, isn't she?" Hotaru noted.
"There's that girl I mentioned!" Usagi piped up as a blue haired
young woman walked up to Erica. She was a bit shorter than Erica, the
blue hair reaching her slim shoulders. "Look at her face," she murmured
softly, the girl gazing up at Erica happily.
"Erica," Catrine looked up at her schoolmate, "you've got the
oddest look on your face."
"This itch between my shoulder blades," Erica frowned, "almost
as if I was being followed."
Catrine took a look around, then her eyes widened. "There are
three girls watching you over there," she whispered, "and I don't
recognize them."
Erica took a careful look, watching all three girls trying to
look casual. "I think I recognize them," Erica sighed, "their family,
more or less."
"Eh?" Catrine blinked.
"Come on," Erica gently took her friend's arm to walk over to
the trio.
"Busted," Minako realized as Erica walked towards them. Once
they got near enough she said in her perkiest voice, "Erica! Fancy
meeting you here."
"Everybody, meet Catrine," Erica sighed, "Catrine, I'd like you
to meet my Aunt Minako, sister Hotaru and best friend Usagi."
"Hi," Catrine blinked, looking at them oddly.
"How did you recognize us?" Usagi blinked.
"I've known you all for years," Erica said dryly, "I very much
doubt that a Disguise Pen is going to hide you from me."
"It's very nice to meet you," Hotaru smiled at Catrine, noting
that the blue haired girl had the oddest look on her face.
"Hotaru.. Usagi.. Minako," Catrine's face was pale. "You're
senshi?!"
"Here we go again," Erica sighed. She softly advised Catrine,
"Breathe, please. We don't want you to faint."
"Hai.." Catrine managed weakly.
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