�Just WHAT do you think you are doing, young lady?!�
For one horrible moment of d�j� vu, Haruka thought her mother had arrived on the scene. She and Michiru turned their heads toward the stern voice and saw instead a beautiful blonde girl with indignant green eyes. She was taller than Haruka and stood looking down at her, hands on hips, obviously upset about something.
�Are you talking to me?� Haruka managed to say.
�Of course I am talking to you! Who else would I be talking to?!� the girl had an accent - Russian, it sounded like - and it seemed to get thicker as she became more irate.
�Way to go, kid!� said a voice behind the blonde. The two younger girls gazed over at a powerful-looking young woman with big muscles, unruly red hair, and a big grin. She nodded toward Michiru then winked at Haruka. �If you�re gonna act indecent, at least you chose a gorgeous partner!�
�Why, thank you.� Michiru smiled.
�Kanna!� the blonde scolded. �Do not encourage her!� She turned back to Haruka and pointed at the car. �You come with us and we will discuss this later, at the house.�
Haruka and Michiru both started speaking at once.
�There�s been some mistake,� Michiru said.
�You�ve got me confused-� Haruka began.
�Kanna,� the blonde said expectantly.
�Okay, Maria.� The redheaded force of nature named Kanna headed toward Haruka, who backed up.
�Hey, just a second here! I�m not - HEY!�
Michiru watched in horror as the big girl flipped Haruka over her shoulder like she weighed no more than a dishtowel. The blonde called Maria touched Michiru�s shoulder.
�I am sure she will call you later - provided she was courteous enough to ask your name and number.� She turned and headed for the car, followed by Kanna, with Haruka bouncing helplessly on her shoulder.
�Why do people keep wanting to carry me around like this?!� Haruka yelled, and started pounding on Kanna�s back. �Hey, put me down, you Neanderthal! I�m not who you think I am!�
�Right and I�m Inuyasha,� Kanna laughed. �Stop banging on me like that, it hurts.� She gave the tomboy�s upraised rump a light swat, causing Haruka to cry out involuntarily.
Michiru�s eyes narrowed. She pulled out her transformation stick. �Neptune Planet Power, make up!�
Maria and Kanna both felt the rush of spirit energy and turned to find themselves facing a very angry Sailor Senshi.
�I am Sailor Neptune and if you value your lives you�ll release her _now_.�
Kanna saw Maria reach inside her coat and hissed, �You can�t fire on a Sailor Senshi!�
Maria looked frustrated, but let her hand drop to her side. �Put her down, Kanna. If she is so determined to stay, we will wait for her to come home before speaking to her.�
Haruka was set on her feet and the two girls headed back to their car. The Russian opened the door and looked back at her, shaking a warning finger. �Later! At home!� she told her, then got behind the wheel.
Haruka realized suddenly that Kanna had mentioned something about Inuyasha, and that he�d been the first person to mistake her for someone else - someone they all knew! �Hey, wait!� she called after them.
It was too late, however. They were already in the car and driving away.
�Haruka, are you all right? Did she hurt you badly?�
The blonde turned to Michiru, who had de-transformed already. �They know her, Michi!� she cried. �The double! They must have thought I was her!�
�Calm down,� Michiru put her hands on Haruka�s shoulders. �They were trying to kidnap you - I couldn�t let them just -�
�I know, I know, but they could have _cleared_ me.� Haruka sighed. �They mentioned Inuyasha, did Kurama tell you about him?�
�The dog-demon boy who just moved in with a group home?�
�Yes,� Haruka said, �and if they know him, and he mistook me for the double and those two were trying to take the double home with them -�
Michiru gasped. �Then the double must live at the group home!�
�Exactly!� Haruka shook her head. �If I hadn�t been so caught off-guard I might have put two and two together while they were still here.�
�Gee, maybe I _should_ have let them kidnap you,� Michiru said mischievously. �They would have taken you right to her house.�
�I wonder if your brother or my sister got Inuyasha�s phone number,� Haruka speculated.
�I don�t know, but we�ll find out, come on.�

Amara flipped her jacket collar up and sighed. She was feeling better today, but wondered how long it would be before she made some friends in this town. Not long, hopefully. She was used to being surrounded by people - some of them just admirers, but she�d made some good friends, too. She hadn�t been totally honest with Duo the previous night. There _were_ people she�d miss now that they�d moved, especially if it turned out to be a while before she found a buddy to hang out with. A date might be even better, if she had any money to treat one with.
�Hey, wait up!�
She looked over her shoulder to see the source of the voice. A handsome young man with blue hair and dark-toned skin was running down the street toward her. His expression was friendly, so she waited for him.
�How are you doing?� he asked, his voice sounding a little raspy. �I�m feeling a little better, but not enough to return to work. I was just going to the garage to give this to you. Thanks for the loan!� He pushed something into her hand and backed away quickly. �I don�t want to infect you, so I�ll go now. Thanks again!�
He headed back in the opposite direction. Amara looked down at her hand and found a twenty dollar bill in it.
�I�ve got to wish for money more often,� she said to herself, stuffing the bill in her pocket with a smile.

�And he�s about _this_ tall, with a long brown braid,� Seiya was saying. The blonde, muscular boy behind the video arcade counter shook his head.
�I haven�t seen him today, and I was off yesterday. Sorry.�
Seiya wasn�t sure whether to take his word for it or not. He knew Gourry from school and it was common knowledge that he wasn�t the sharpest pencil in the box. �You know Tenou Haruka, right? She comes here a lot to play the racing game.�
�The blonde tomboy who always has girls hanging around her? Yeah, I know her, why?�
�She needs to find this guy with the braid, it�s important. Can you call her, or any of her friends, if he shows up? We�re all in the book.�
Gourry looked past him. �Isn�t that Haruka?�
Seiya turned and saw that Gourry was right for once in his life - Haruka had just come through the sliding arcade doors. �Hi!� He waved and jogged over to her. �How are you doing?� he asked, his expression changing to one of concern.
She looked a little puzzled, but answered, �I�m fine.�
�That�s good, I�m glad you�re feeling better,� Seiya said. �Listen, Gourry hasn�t seen Braid Boy yet today, but I�ve got him keeping an eye out for him. You want to go get something to eat?� He grinned. �Not at Captain Chicken, though. I�m kind of sick of their food.�
Haruka hesitated, then shrugged. �Sure, why not?�
Seiya grinned. �Cool, let�s go.�

Amara watched Seiya�s butt as he passed by her heading out of the arcade. This was a fine specimen of a male model. Between he and the guy who gave her the money, this area was showing some promise for good-looking boys, anyway. If the girls turned out to be just as cute, she was going to be in business. She had no idea what Blue Eyes was talking about, or why he was acting like he knew her, but it promised to be fun finding out.

End of chapter 19

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