Lady Takeuchi

    Placing down her fork, Dr Mizuno smiled at the people at her table and said, “Chiba-san, let me see how you have done with the translations please.”  He handed her the piece of paper that he had translated, taking it from his hands, she sat down at her seat at the head of the table, taking a sip of wine from her goblet, she nodded, “not bad, but you have missed some words.”
    “I couldn’t find them in the dictionary you gave me.” Mamoru replied simply.
    “Did you understand the gist of it?”
    “Not why you gave it to me.”
    Staring out into the air, she recited from memory, “I know of the violence, its taste of blood, I know of these wars, and I have not been scared, but life without you, I know not.
    “Well? What has it to do with Ami then?”
    “That is why I said that she has not lived.”
    “Then what has it got to do with me?”
    “It’s your fault.”
    “How?”
    “You brought him there.”
    “Who is the he you talk about?”
    “A gentleman.”
    “Dr. Mizuno, that was quite obvious.”
    “Oh...” She was silent for a brief moment, then, “Luna, Artemis, will you be so kind as to help me in the kitchen for a moment?”
     The two, taking the hint, immediately stood up with Dr Mizuno, and waited while she loaded the dishes onto the tray, giving the rest of the people a quick communicative look, they followed her into the kitchen.

    “How did she do that? No… to start off with… how did she know that Luna and Artemis were really humans?” Minako asked.
    “I dunno, maybe she’s just smart, like Ami is and she figured it out, I mean, its not like our fuku exactly HIDES our identities.” Usagi shrugged off.
    “Usagi, get serious! Do you have any idea what this means for us? The enemy knows our identity, and Ami’s mum not only didn’t act surprised to know of our identities, which meant that she had suspicions, but also that she knew about Luna and Artemis.  It means that no one is going to be safe, EVER! It means that our family is in danger, it means that our friends are going to be in danger, and I care about them!”
    “Friends? YOU ACTUALLY HAVE FRIENDS?” Usagi mocked, seeing Minako and Makoto’s annoyed look, not joining her laughter, she sobered up. “Okay fine, I’ll be serious about this, it is a little problem, we can trust her though, can’t we?” she looked around at her friends and boyfriend’s faces and repeated herself softly, “can’t we? She is Ami’s mum after all, right?”
    “But doesn’t the fact that she knows so much scare you?” Minako asked softly.
    “I does, but... hehehe... she’s always know enough to scare me to death... But I think that she is trustworthy.”
    “Usako, it seems that she know even more about the situation than we do, you heard her just then, mysterious and all, I don’t know what to make of it.”
    Holding out her hand, Usagi reached for Mamoru’s, “I’m sure that she’ll tell us when she is ready, after all, I would think that she would want Ami back home as soon as possible.”
    “That’s the thing, doesn’t it get to you, the fact that she is so unconcerned, about Ami being lost? I mean, any other parent would be frantic.” Mamoru replied

    … “Thank you for helping me, Luna, Artemis.” Dr Mizuno nodded her head at both people as she spoke their names respectively.
    “You are welcome, Someieichi-kou (Queen of Intelligence).” The two bowed at her respectfully.
    “Please, don’t bow to me. You want some answers I suppose.”
    “We dare not act so imprudently, oudenka (your royal highness).” They said as they got off their knees from their bowing position.
    Ignoring their formality, Dr. Mizuno began to speak, “my memories returned to me partly two nights ago, that’s how I knew that Ami would go. I say partly because I didn’t realize exactly why, until yesterday, after I had been told of her disappearance, the load of information was returned to my mind. You two are the girls’ guardians, tell me, do you want me to tell them?”
    “By what you have done in front of them, oudenka (your royal highness), I would be a good idea to tell them, they are suspicious of what just happened.  And with the greatest respect, I suspect that you do want to help them.”
    She mocked horror but smiled futively at Luna’s suggestion, “Goodness me, are you saying that I cannot tell the difference between business and personal affairs? That bias is occurring? I assure you that it is not the case, I am not allowed to help them and I will not help them, even to recover Ami.”
    “Heika (your majesty), please accept my apologies for Luna having offended you and your principles of work, of course you would not compromise your ethics.”
    “That’s enough, now, would you be so kind as to help me with these? I believe that tuna was your favorite dish, I hope that your tastes have not changed too much.” Opening the oven, she took a glove and carefully took out 8 dishes of tuna linguine, garnished with grilled capsicum laced with vinegar.
    “We have not changed at all.” Artemis answered.
    “Good, oh… umm... and after dinner.” Dr. Mizuno said, and smiled when she saw the glances which had been exchanged in response to her comment.

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