Hotaru's Beau: Outer investigation beginning [Episode 123924]

Michiru silently sat at the table looking at Haruka. Haruka sat immobile looking across the table at Hotaru. Hotaru ignored both of her fellow Senshi and inspected each spoonful of cereal before popping it into her mouth.

"Is it good?" Michiru asked in an uncertain tone.

"Good" Hotaru responded flatly, her spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl. She looked up, looking over Haruka's shoulder to the clock on the wall. "I gotta go."

"Right, your visiting with Usagi and the others at the shrine." Michiru commented with a nod.

"That is where you're going, right?" Haruka asked suspiciously.

"Yes!" Hotaru responded in annoyance. She grabbed her bookbag and rose away from the table. "I'll see you later!" she called as she ran around the table and made a bee line for the front door.

Haruka stood, raising one hand. Her mouth opened, stayed open for a moment, then shut. With a sigh she lowered her hand. "Not the time for a fight." She said dropping back into her seat.

"Why did you have to ask that?" Michiru asked in an annoyed tone as she sat.

"Why didn't you ask considering Mr. Polearm?" Haruka responded in a half accusatory tone.

"Because Hotaru won't tell us anything if she doesn't think we trust her. And I made a few calls, and the Inners are expecting her." Michiru replied.

Haruka blinked, then grinned. "Not that trusting yourself, are you?"

"I trust Hotaru." Michiru responded. "Well, I trust her not to deliberately do anything wrong. . ."

"But you don't trust that Ren guy." Haruka said, looking directly at her.

Michiru looked back at Haruka, her hand raised and mouth open for a response, then she shut her mouth and lowered her hand. "No."

"Well, it occurs to me that Ren shouldn't be anywhere near Hotaru now." Haruka commented. "So, if we went for a walk, and just happened to bump into him. . ."

Michiru looked at Haruka for several long minutes, then stood. "Let me get my coat."

---

Hotaru paused two steps down from the gateway into the Hikawa shrine, breathing heavily.

"Hotaru!" Hotaru raised her head and looked in the direction of the voice to see Usagi sprint over to her with a huge smile on her face. As she neared, her smile shifted to a look of concern, "Are you alright?"

Hotaru grinned, and took a quick gulp of air. "Being reborn does wonders for a frail constitution." She took another deep breath. "But considering that I didn't take any breaks up the hill, and ran halfway here. . ."

---

"I think that's it." Michiru commented, looking across the street at the four story building on the street corner.

Haruka blinked. "He lives in a restaurant?" she commented, glancing at the fancy Chinese style façade on the first floor.

Michiru held up the Aqua Mirror. "Trust or not, it's your choice." Vanishing away the talisman she took another look. "But in the images it was burned out and abandoned." She added uncertainly.

"Are you lost?" a Chinese accented voice suddenly asked.

Haruka spun, fist clenched, then relaxed, as she looked at the van idling by the curb. A green hared woman was sitting in the drivers seat, leaning against the open window.

"Not that I'm a native, but I can tell you where the nearest Koban are from here." She added with a smile.

"Ah, no." Haruka responded uncertainly. Taking a breath she cracked a smile. "But thank you for the offer, lovely stranger."

"Oh, don't mention it." She looked ahead. "Ah, Glad your not lost," she commented with a wave as she changed the vans gear and drove forward, turning into an alley beside the restaurant.

"Huh, I wonder what she's doing there?" Haruka commented as she watched the path of the van.

"Any reason you want to know?" Michiru responded in an annoyed tone.

"Ah! Just noting that alley, and wondering if she's got business in that. . . Restaurant." Haruka finished.

Michiru looked at her, then looked back to the restaurant. "Well, then I suppose I can let you buy me lunch, lovely stranger." She said as she started across the street toward the restaurant.

---

"So, those are the parents of Ren's new girlfriend." Jun commented as she drove into the alley. One hand raised to press the remote clipped to the sun-visor.

"Parents by adoption, revered daughter." The ghost floating beside her replied. "May I assume you will not need my aid until tonight? Your mother wants to be kept up to date."

"Of course, give her my best." Jun paused to wave before driving the Van forward, then turning into the large door that had opened in the back of the restaurant.