--Motherhood--
Chapter 4: Clues
By: Tisha

	Makoto heard footsteps heading toward the kitchen and quickly wiped the tears away from 
her eyes. She told herself she wouldn't let anyone see her cry again. The night before she had cried, 
like she never had before, and Jifu was a great support. But she hated to appear that weak, she 
wouldn't let the tears be seen. When her face was dry she continued preparing the pancakes until she 
felt a soft tap on her thigh.

	She took a deep breath and turned to find exactly what she had expected, her son. She bent 
down to look at him. "Mama, where's Nomi?" Makoto had to bite her lip to stop the tears from 
returning.

	She took her son's tiny hand and squeezed it. "It's okay, Kioshi. We're going to get her back, 
okay? Don't worry."

	Kioshi looked confused but he never questioned something his parents seemed so sure of, so 
he let it go as he quietly sat in his chair at the table. Makoto returned to the breakfast as she did the 
final touches and put the pancakes on plates. She noticed that she had grabbed one too many plates 
and again felt her eyes water. Okay, Mako, you have to get a hold of yourself. No crying, be strong. 
She put the extra plate away and set the other three on the table just as Jifu came into the room and 
took his seat. Makoto forced a smiled and sat in her own chair, trying to ignore the empty chair to her 
left.


•••••••••••••••••••


	"But WHY? I don't care if he locks me in here forever, or kills me, but WHY does he have to 
take those sweet, innocent kids. What kind of a threat could they be?"

	Mamoru shook his head, as puzzled as Usagi was. "Listen Usako. We've gotten through these 
things before. We got you back from Raidon when I thought it was hopeless. We've beat these things 
before and we have to trust that we can again, okay?"

	Usagi looked at the ground. "I know, I just wish there were something more we could do." 
Mamoru's large hand engulfed her own and she savored the heat of his touch. She was all too thankful 
that Mamoru was with her. The memories of being kidnapped continued flooding her brain and it 
almost became too much. The night before she'd had several nightmares about it. She took in a 
shuddery breath and tightened her grasp on his hand. A light caught her eye and she looked up to see 
the wall again turn into a screen.

	The man appeared and Usagi immediately let go of Mamoru's hand and got to her feet. 
"Please, I don't know what you want but please, just let me see my daughter."

	The man looked blankly at them for a minute and then spoke. "These little brats are acting up. 
Do you know how to calm them down?"

	"Yeah, give them their mothers back."

	The man looked madder and he spat the next sentence. "Can you shut them up or can't you?"

	Usagi nodded quickly. "If Mamo-chan can come too."

	The man rolled his eyes and the screen went blank. Usagi turned to Mamoru. "What's that 
supposed to mean?" Mamoru only shrugged in return. They waited a few minutes before hearing the 
quiet click of the door being unlocked. A man entered and silently motioned for them to follow him, 
and they obeyed. They were led past many shut doors before the man finally stopped. He unlocked 
the door and then stood aside. Mamoru and Usagi went inside and the man didn't hesitate to shut the 
door and lock it once again.

	Usagi looked around but didn't see anything. She turned to Mamoru. "Where are they?" 
Before Mamoru got to speak the door opened again. Three different men entered each carrying a 
child. They roughly set them down and left again. All three children clung to either Usagi or Mamoru 
and Usagi looked at Mamoru with sad eyes. "They're so scared."

	He nodded with the same look in his eyes as he embraced his daughter. She didn't even say a 
word, just sniffled as she desperately clung to the familiar person. Takara acted excited but not quite 
as scared as the younger ones. Naomi tried to follow Takara's lead but still couldn't hide how relieved 
she was to see her aunt Usagi. Usagi's eyes watered as she kissed Chibi-Usa's head and looked at the 
other two's frightened faces, praying that they could get them out of here soon.


 
•••••••••••••••••••


	Ami paced back and forth. "Okay, it's been three days. Usagi and Mamoru most likely 
disappeared about the same time as Chibi-Usa. And Takara and Naomi together six hours later. So 
they took a couple at a time but they haven't taken any more."

	"Does that mean they're done?" Makoto leaned against a pole at the temple.

	Minako, who was sitting on the steps with Aiko in her arms, spoke up. "Well I hope it does. 
Five people is already a lot for us to track down and get back. And we *are* going to get them back."

	"Of course we are."

	Rei felt sorry for the two of them, she couldn't imagine having your own child taken and she 
knew that they really did have to get them back. There were too many families involved. "Okay, we 
have to get some kind of a lead or something. It's got to be some enemy like that Raidon guy three 
years ago. If Usagi and Mamoru disappeared at the same time as Chibi-Usa then he must be able to 
teleport."

	The others nodded and then fell silent once again. Suddenly a glow appeared and they all 
stared at it with wide eyes as Sailor Pluto appeared. 

	Makoto gasped. "Setsuna, you can tell us where they took them! Please tell us."

	Pluto looked at her sadly. "I wish I could, but you know I can't say more than is necessary. 
These disappearances forced me to return to the future and find out what's happening. The future 
has fallen into horrible hands without its rulers and senshi and you will need to stop it."

	"What do you mean senshi? They haven't even taken us."

	She sighed. "Like I said, I can't say much. Our children play a vital role in protecting Crystal 
Tokyo and that's why they were taken. Even in the future they have never resurfaced and everything 
is evil and violent. I'd doubt that any of you are still alive. You *must* free the king and queen, as well 
as the children, they are *dearly* needed." She looked at them almost pleadingly. "Good luck." With 
that she disappeared.

	The four of them looked at each other. "So if they aren't in the future either he must kill them 
sometime." Minako said somewhat frantically.

	Luna jumped onto her lap to calm her. "But they haven't yet. In fact, they can't kill Usagi. 
Without her Crystal Tokyo couldn't be formed. They'll need her until then. Then after that they'll 
probably kill her so that she can't rule it. For now, as least she is alive."

	"Pluto said that our kids protect Crystal Tokyo. Then why haven't they come after all of them?"

	Luna thought about it before Rei spoke up. "Wait a minute, they took Takara, Naomi,  and 
Chibi-Usa. Maybe it's the first born."

	Ami looked confused. "But then why wouldn't they take Kado?" She thought about it and then 
answered her own question, "Unless they need to be girls. That's it! They're the future senshi, our 
firstborn daughters!"

	With the realization everyone was relieved and terrified at the same time. Makoto sat on a 
stair near Minako. "So they could already be dead then."

	Luna narrowed her eyes, as if concentrating. "I wouldn't think so. Obviously Pluto knows more 
than she told us. She wouldn't have us rescue them if it was too late, they have to be waiting for 
something."

	Rei's eyes suddenly turned hazy. "Could it be that they're waiting for me and Ami to have 
daughters? Maybe in the future we do."

	"I guess that's possible."


•••••••••••••••••••


	"Just tell me why you want the kids." Usagi tried to look demanding but she was almost 
shaking in fear and defeat. She felt Mamoru's grasp on her hand tighten.

	The man on his usual giant TV screen appearance sighed. "All right, if it'll shut you up. It's not 
like you're ever going to get out of here anyway. I only took everyone who causes me trouble in the 
future."

	"How could these kids cause you trouble?"

	The man rolled his eyes at Mamoru. "*They* are the future senshi! How stupid can you 
people be? The first-born daughters of each of the senshi take over for their mothers ."

	Usagi bit her lip, thinking. "Well then this isn't going to work because Rei and Ami don't *have* 
daughters! "

	"Don't worry, they will. One of them is already carrying her daughter; she just doesn't know it 
yet. Too bad for her she'll never see the baby once she has it." He laughed evilly and Usagi started 
crying onto Mamoru's chest at the thought.

	Mamoru continued to question the man as he stroked his wife's hair. "So what are you going 
to do with us?"	

	"Death is too fast and too easy. You'll stay here forever with just enough food to keep you 
alive. This screen will show you the world in ruins without you." The screen click off and Mamoru tried 
to comfort Usagi. He glanced at the children, noticing they were all still asleep. 
	

To be continued....