The Strength of Friendship, 
Chapter 2. 

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Tanya Cambridge and her god sister, Veronica, were happily 
walking deeper through the beautiful Ichinohashi Park as Tanya 
is excitedly showed Veronica other various statues and flowers, 
which were only found in the exotic land of Japan. The two then 
finally decide to rest and got into talking about times long ago 
and what they remembered of their lives in Northern Africa. 

"Remember the time you wanted to go horseback riding when you were 5?" 
laugh Veronica when the two finally rested on a bench, "You threw 
the biggest tantrum in the world when your parents said no!! I have 
never seen them look so mortified. You were a REAL brat! Did you 
have any idea how embarrassing that was?" She burst out laughing again. 

"Hehe!! Well, that WAS a long time ago, you know," said Tanya in an 
embarrassed laugh, lowering her head. "No need to bring up the 
forgettable past. I don't even remember that incident very well!" 
Tanya shook her head in disbelief. "All I remember was that the horse 
was so beautiful, and I wanted to at least touch it." 

Tanya's head snapped up and she gave Veronica a sly, knowing look. 
"As I recall, you weren't exactly an angel yourself!! I seem to remember 
SOMEBODY wanting to see how how a T.V. works when she was 7, and in 
the morning, that certain someone's family found the television on 
the living room floor, totally gutted out!! And the time you almost 
caught fire on the......" 

"Ouch!!" Veronica interrupted, putting her hand over Tanya's mouth 
to silence her, "Touché! You got me! I know when a point is being made," 
She lowered her hand and gave Tanya a pleading look, "Let's just keep 
this between us, alright? Mom still has no clue how that small fire 
started." 

"Yeah right!" said Tanya, giving Veronica a playful push, then sighing 
and laying her head on the older girl's shoulders. "You know Ronnie, 
I really missed you. The first couple of weeks here have been so lonely! 
I missed our conversations on boys, music, and what we wanted to be when 
we grew up. When I had to leave, it was like a part of me....almost died. 
I...I thought I would never see you again!" Tears moistened her eyes. 

"Hey Ti, like I told you before, I will NEVER leave you! You're so 
important to me!" Veronica placed her nimble fingers under Tanya's 
chin and lifted her head up to meet her eyes, "No matter what, you 
and I are connected in the spirits, and we will always be one, no matter 
where you go, no matter where I go. We may not be sisters in the flesh, 
but in our hearts and souls, we are closer than even blood sisters, see?" 
Veronica then lightly kissed Tanya's forehead. 

"Yeah, I see!!" smiled Tanya, hugging the taller girl. They sat in silence 
a few moments more, listening to the rushing waters and chirping birds, 
the wind softly blowing cherry blossom leaves around them. Suddenly, 
Tanya's ears picked up the sound of laughing girls, and she looked behind 
her to see, Usagi, Minako, Ami, and Makoto quickly walking up by them. 

"Hey, those are the girls I go to school with! Come on, I'll introduce you!" 
she said, jumping up and pulling Veronica's hands so she can stand with her. 

"Oh! Well, alright, I suppose." said Veronica shyly. 

"Guys!! You're back from the Crown Game Center? How was the new Sailor V 
game? Where's Rei-chan?" said Tanya, looking at each of them. Unfortunately, 
Makoto, Usagi, and Minako started shouting at once, giving Tanya a big 
headache. 


-Usagi lost TEN games in a row!! 
-DID NOT!! 
-I think she must have used all her allowance!! 
-She couldn't even pass level two!! 
-That's A BIG LIE!! 

"Guys! Guys!" shouted Ami, holding her hands over her ears, "Cool it, 
NOW!!" A hush fell, and she turned red with embarrassment when everyone 
stared at her in astonishment. "I..er.. think Tanya-chan wants to introduce 
us to somebody. Oh, and Rei-chan is still at school, rehearsing for her 
school play at The T*A* Academy for Girls." she said, then eyed the new 
girl with curiosity. 

Veronica giggled softly under her breath as Tanya gave Ami a grateful look. 
"Thanks Ami-chan! Everyone, this is my god sister from back home, 
Veronica Waters. She came for a few days while she was off from the 
University of Nigeria to visit me. Veronica, this tall one here is Makoto Kino. 
Lady Red-Bow here is Minako Aino, the quiet one is Ami Mizuno." Veronica 
said hello to the girls and gently shook their hands. 

"The big mouthed one here is Usagi Tsukino!" said Ami just as Tanya was 
about to introduce her. "HEY!!! No fair! You can't call me big mouthed!!" 
wailed Usagi as everyone then began to laugh hard, nearly falling to the 
ground. 

Veronica was the first to recover as Usagi continued to scowl. "Well, it's 
very nice to meet all of you! I'm sure I'll have a pleasant stay here now 
that I have met all Tanya's friends!" 

"Thanks! Nice to meet you too! Now, with the introductions said and done, 
how about we all go to the Crown Fruit Parlor to welcome you properly?" 
said Makoto, twining her arms around Veronica. "We don't usually do this, 
but it IS a special occasion!" she winked at the rest of the girls. 

"COOL!!" They all shouted in unison. 

Crown Fruit Parlor**** 

"Mmmmm...Mmmmmm! This is so delicious! What do you call it again?" said 
Veronica, licking off the ice cream on her lips. 

"A banana split," said Minako, licking chocolate ice cream of her fingers 
and grinning with delight. "When the clerk heard about it, he knew he had 
to make them here! As you can tell, they are very popular now!!" 

"Ahh, yes! The banana split," said Veronica, diving in once again. 
"I will forever remember this taste!" A figure overshadowed the table, and 
tall girl looked up to see who it was. 

"Hi! Everyone enjoying their ice cream?" asked a sandy haired boy, wearing 
a waiter's uniform and a tan colored apron. His blue eyes fell on the new 
person who came in with the regulars, "Oh, hello there." he said quietly. 

"Umm, Veronica, this is Motoki Furuhata. He usually works at the Crown Game 
Center for his father, but he sometimes helps out here." said Tanya, giving 
Motoki a warning glance, "Motoki-chan, this is my god sister, Veronica. 
She will be here with me for a few days." 

"AHH! I see. Well, let me welcome you to Tokyo, dear lady!" He bowed, 
"If you would like a very personal tour, please let me know. It would be 
my pleasure, fair maiden!!" said Motoki, taking Veronica's hand and kissing 
the top part. The girl blushed harshly. 

"Don't even think about it, Romeo!!" said Tanya in an angry voice as she 
snatched away Veronica's hand, "You don't think I know about you, huh? 
What about "what's her name?" " 

"Oh! You mean my girlfriend Nishimura Reika? Well, she'll be in Africa for 
a few more weeks studying insects. What, I can have a little fun, can I?" 
Motoki said, giving the girls a grin to mean he wasn't really serious. 
Veronica rolled her eyes as the rest of the girls groaned. 

"In your dreams, Lover boy! Have fun on your own time!" laughed out loud Makoto. 
Motoki then made an over-exaggerated show of being rejected, and walked off 
with his head hanging. 

"Oh! Look at the time! I have so many things to study for! My test in 
calculus and history is tomorrow afternoon. Bye everyone!" gasped Ami. 
She flew off from the booth and ran through the door. 

"Good idea! I think I better head out too!" said Minako, "See you!" She 
followed Ami out the door. 

"Come on Usagi, let's go too! I know you have a test tomorrow." said Makoto, 
standing up from the booth and taking Usagi's arm to stand her up as she 
gobbled ice-cream. "It was nice to meet you Veronica!" she waved as she 
dragged Usagi along. 

"AWWWW! I wasn't finished yet!" whined Usagi. 

Veronica and Tanya walk home through Ichinohashi Park in the sun's fading 
light. "You have really great friends Ti. I'm glad you were able to meet 
them so that your days won't be so lonely." 

The smaller dark skinned girl smiled sadly. "Thanks. You wouldn't believe 
it if I told you, but we have been through alot already." she said, 
thinking of the last battle with Sailor Galaxia. 

A chill wind suddenly picked up, making Tanya shiver, "Hmmm, weird wind. 
I hope this doesn't mean trouble is on the way!" she muttered aloud, then 
looked to see that Veronica was shivering also 

"Yeah," Veronica replied, "The last thing I came to look for is trouble!" 
she looked expectantly at the sky. A evil, low pitched laugh suddenly 
filled the early evening air, and the girls looked wildly around them. 
Sailor Lead-Crow then materialized out high above them. 

"That's just too bad, sappy humans, because trouble has just found you!!" 

To Be Continued... 

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