The enslaved catgirls aren't slaves, they're "household spirits," and the slave marketing isn't human trafficking, it's, I dunno how that gets rationalized in the heads of creeps; it may not even be mentioned as a way of giving it the kind of invisibility that it really has in the mind of whoever runs the IMO.
It is work permit program. Well behaved Youkai are given the opportunity to interact with the wider magical community through job placement programs. The goal is to help integrate Youaki into society and remove the need for dedicated Special Administrative Zones. Sure they have to sign a magically binding agreement to ensure they don't slip and start eating people but you can't expect people to trust them after centuries of murder. Especially not when it isn't even historical murder considering that whenever a rogue Youkai escapes the SAZs they inevitably go on a killing spree and create yet another set of demon hunters.
 
A cram school called the Crystal Seminar (which had apparently been cleaning out by the time the police investigated) was the first DK gang front to be revealed to the public by the TMPD. This incident was also notable due to some of the children involved never being found, inciting the fear and rage of the public.
The poor sods still don't have the full picture...
"Deep clean successful"
"Why is japan overflowing with alphabet soup special forces and spy organizations?"
DK is terrifying enough with their 1 day conversion without having something wipe all evidence of magic from the precinct holding a DK agent...

And my nega quest self continues pointing out the obvious and partially insightful.
 
I'm still making my way through the story, and given all the weird stuff I've already seen... is Sailor Luna a possibility? Cause, hey, if Ranma gets to be a magical catgirl a quarter of the time then I don't see why Luna doesn't get to be a magical catgirl too. Also, I'm immensely amused by the fact Tuxedo Mask is technically Sailor Earth- sure he's not a proper Senshi due to being male, but he also possesses the Golden Crystal so... Like, I hoped Naru would have a strict nature theme, so we could at least have her pretend to be Sailor Earth. Very least the Sailor Transformation is clearly useful, and if she's really who I think then surely we could manage some faux-Senshi form for her. Just be so obviously different despite following the same basic design.
 
Imperial Impositions Part 4: The Far End
And of course, there is the very real fact that she doesn't know what other protections there are to keep the girl trapped here. There is a long moment of silence, before Usagi breathes deep, and then sighs. "As much as I want to do something now. That it just..." Usagi's hands come up, strangling wildly at the air. "I know some people who are not going to be happy to hear that there are slaves being traded on Japanese Soil..." Usagi blinks. "Actually, Samui might even know about it..." She shakes her head. "There are people I need to talk to make sure that we have a plan... Which will probably take a couple of weeks at the least for MCAT to get everything ready..." Usagi looks to the girl.

"Are you still going to be here for a couple of weeks?" She asks, and the cat girl simply sighs. "I am not allowed to leave the Night Market. So... yes."

"Then," Usagi says simply, "It will only be a couple of weeks until we find a way to get you free."

The feline girl looks to the two with a sad smile, shaking her head. "I... thank you." There is something about the way that she says it that makes it clear to Usagi that she doesn't believe them.

"Hey," Usagi says, "you might not believe me yet, and that's fine. I'll just have to prove it to you."


The feline girl gives the two a quick smile as she half shrugs at the two. "When you get to far end, tell 'em that 七七(Qiqi) sent you. They'll give you a bit of a discount."

Giving their final thanks to Qiqi, the two leave the store. It takes everything that Naru has to keep her cool until the two manage to step away from the store. Once the two make their way out of sight of the poor Nekomata, past the end of the shop, Naru suddenly whirls around, letting out a snarl of rage as she whirls around, slamming a fist into the wall of the alleyway. There is a sharp crack as Naru draws her bloodied hand back from the stone. The girl turns, eyes contracted to slits as she turns to Usagi, the brooches in her hair quivering alongside their creator as the girl hisses, "THAT ISN'T RIGHT!" It takes everything that she has to keep her voice down.

"I know." Usagi says simply. Her tone is calm, but flat as the girl takes a deep breath. "Hopefully someone at this 'Far End' might be able to tell us where the German Diplomat works." Usagi says simply, but her eyes glitter dangerously. "I would like to have a word with whoever works under him."

Maybe it is the entirely Blasé way that Usagi speaks, or the perhaps it is the calm and nearly relaxed look that Usagi has, or just maybe it's... Whatever the reason, it only takes a moment for Naru to start to get control of herself again. Letting out another hiss, Naru quickly cradles the hand that she punched the wall with. Just as quickly, Usagi is by her side, slowly reaching down turning the girl's arm very slowly.

Now, Usagi may not be the best person to understand what exactly has gone wrong, but if there is one thing that the princess of the moon is very good at, it is healing and restoring things to how they should be. Slowly, the girl's magic feeds through Usagi's hands, down and into Naru's arm.

Of course, given Naru's nature, Usagi can feel that her spell isn't doing exactly what she is wanting it to do. No, somehow the girl's injury is consuming the magic that Usagi is pouring into it, and while yes, Naru is being healed, the slightest bit of the Princess's magic that isn't being used is able to tell that Naru's body is not exactly the same as it was before, but how is more than Usagi has the ability to explain.

The girl's hands certainly don't look any different than they do normally. Usagi spends a moment staring at the girl's hand, trying to figure out what has changed, before her mouth goes a little dry, and Usagi slides back and away from her friend, a slight red tinge on her cheeks. There was a bad thought there, but Usagi isn't entirely sure what it was, just that it was a bad thought, and she doesn't want to have bad thoughts about her best friend. Definitely not bad thoughts about how Naru looked in a suit like when they went to the Cinderella Caravan.

Coughing as she tries to hide the way that her mind had completely slipped off of topic, Usagi glances down the length of the market. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that any of the shops just so happen to have the words 'Sky Slip' on them to make it nice and obvious which of the places is the one that the two are looking for.

With the easy and obvious solution already shot down, the two make their way down the length of the market, checking stall after stall as they try and figure out exactly what the Sky Slip is. Naru brings up the idea of just asking someone, but Usagi simply shakes her head. The Princess of the Moon really doesn't want to talk to any more of the people in this market than she has to right now...

Not after... after what she was with Qiqi. Which is an entirely fair enough position to hold. It is only finally when the two reach the last handful of stalls that Naru spots the store that they are looking for. There, on the opposite side of the alley from Faust's Bargains is a small store front built into the building. There is but a single window that much to both girl's surprise has an actual electric 'Open' sign, along with a small hand written sign that says 'The Far End'.
1 + 12 = 13
[NAT ONE!]
CRIT CONFIRM? == 2
[NO CRIT FAILURE]
A little bell over the door rings as Usagi and her best friend enter into the cafe, which unlike nearly everything else in the market looks pretty much exactly like one would expect a cafe to.

...Disregarding the fact that the building looks like it might be a bit bigger on the inside than it should probably be on the outside, but that barely even phases Usagi anymore. The real thing that manages to surprise Usagi is just how... empty the place is. From where the two senshi stand in the front, they can see only three tables that are filled. After a moment, a tall broad shouldered man steps through a door behind the counter next to the door. It takes everything that Usagi and Naru both have to keep from gaping at the figure - Easily over six feet tall, with a large, bushy blonde mustache and a short cropped hair so yellow that it is almost golden. The man has to weigh twice as much as Usagi and Naru combined, and his bright green eyes glimmer like jewels as he spots the two. "Ah! Welcome to the Far End." The man says with a hearty chuckle, his Japanese near perfect despite the hint of an American accent in his words. "Dining in or carrying out?" He asks.

Usagi glances over towards Naru, who simply shrugs. Giving her friend a nod, Usagi turns back to the man. "Eating in today." Usagi says, "We were told to say that Qiqi sent us?"

If anything, saying that makes the man's already bright eyes sparkle even more, as a massive grin splits his face. "She did? Glorious!" Quickly grabbing a pair of menus, the giant of a man quickly leads the two over towards a booth near the back of the cafe. "It is so wonderful to see Chichi," The American stumbles a little over the Nekomata's name, but presses on regardless, "make new friends. Most people here in the Night Market barely give her a second glance, and the man," Somehow, the man that Usagi assumes is Chef Dimitri manages to make the word man rhyme with pile of moving trash. "who is in charge of her well being is failing in every manner. Were he not so important to the government... Why I'd..." Dimitiri shakes his head, "No matter however, you aren't here to listen to me complain about things... and neither are my other guests, you are here for food. So how about I get you two started with something to drink."

Once the two decide on what to drink - A German soda that Usagi has never heard of for her, and a far more common coke for Naru, Chef Dimitiri properly introduces himself, before heading off to get their drinks.

Usagi leans back, slowly looking around the room, before her eyes land on her best friend again. Usagi opens her mouth, about to ask if Naru has been getting enough of her tea, before a sudden thought slips past all the filters in Usagi's brain, settling down across her mind like a particularly unruly cat.

Here the two of them are, all alone. Usagi and Naru, at an at least somewhat fancy restaurant. Almost like a date. The surprise of it turns the question that Usagi was about to ask into nothing more than an unruly squawk. With that, Usagi's face turns redder than it has in a long time, and with a thump, the girl allows her head to drop to the table. For a long moment she sits there, trying to hide from the strange thoughts that keep slipping into her head. Usagi isn't sure what they mean, but she wants them to go away.

She doesn't like thinking weird thoughts about her friends. Thinking about everything from the shape of Naru's fingers, to the way that Ami bites her lip when she is thinking on a particularly complicated problem. The way that Rei storms into whatever room, eyes burning like embers before she sits down and says that she's solved some problem that Usagi barely even knew that she had, or the way that Makoto... was Makoto. So much taller than Usagi with such strong limbs that would be so good for cuddling.

Of course, then there was the way that Michiru and Haruna do anything around each other, the way that Michiru just leads her best friend around in a way that confuses Usagi but at the same time the girl wants for herself. Or... maybe it is that she wants to be led around that same way. To be honest, Usagi doesn't even know.

Over the last two months so many people have dropped into Usagi's life, each one making things better for all of them in their own special ways. It's just not fair that they are all so pretty. Usagi had already been more than a little envious of Naru for being so pretty, and now that she's actually wearing jewelry (even if it is alive) everyday, it just makes her prettiness all the more obvious.

Naru is looking at Usagi with a distinctly odd look on her face, and after a moment Usagi just shakes her head. "I... That was dumb." She says finally, and just as expected, Naru shakes her head, chuckling. "Anyways..." Usagi says, trying to not only change the subject out loud, but to also focus her thoughts in a direction that doesn't make it hard to do anything other than panic. "Have you been getting enough from the pot?" Usagi asks, "You aren't left hungry or tired or..." Vague hand motions are vague, but it's enough to get the idea across to Naru.

"Other than starting to develop a bit of a hate for green tea..." Naru says sighing, "Yep. Still got my thermos and everything." Before Usagi can say anything else however, Naru is the one to introduce the next topic, "And you?" She asks, "Not counting... today... Have things been well enough with you and your family?"

Usagi gives a short sighing chuckle. "It's... weird." Usagi admits, "Mom and Dad are both looking at me differently." She says, "I don't know if it's a good different or a bad different. Luna has been hanging out some with Mom and talking with her, but I don't know about exactly what. Meanwhile, Shingo is just the same as he's always been, annoying and always getting into things, but now he's causing trouble with his powers. Earlier this week he managed to move his bed to block the door so that Mom couldn't make him clean his room."

Naru snorts at that, shaking her head. "I guess that you're mom wasn't happy when she managed to get the door open?"

"Yeah..." The blond admits, "I had to 'climb' up the side of the house and get in through his window. He's grounded for a whole week."

The conversation between the two continues back and forth, talking about everything from the exams that they've been having in class, to ideas for the future and, naturally, discussions about the different food options available. Though neither of them really said anything about it, the two had something of an unspoken agreement to try and avoid talking about 'work' as it were. A brief respite from the horrors of Magical Japan and the Imperial Ministry. Once this is all over, it will be time to get back to the grind, trying to figure out how to deal with all of this... but for now... for this single moment...

It is a moment to sit back and relax...

And it is in sitting back that a horrible thought crosses Usagi's mind. In a blur, Usagi's hands snap to the pockets on her skirt. Her wallet isn't in the right pocket. It isn't in the left pocket.

Naru stares at the girl for a long moment, a strange look on her face. The only words that Usagi can try to describe it as is a mix between amusement, fondness, and frustration.
d10 + 10 + (12/4)
4 + 10 + 3 = 17
[SUCCESS]
"..." Naru stares at the girl, before she shakes her head. "You forgot your wallet didn't you." It isn't a question. Allowing her head to drop down in order to futilely try and hide from her best friend's gaze, Usagi nods. With a huff, Naru reaches into her own pocket. "Alright." The girl says, "I'm paying this time, but you owe me." Nodding meekly, Usagi is completely willing to work with that.

With that, Naru and Usagi really dive into the discussion about what it is that they want to eat, quickly deciding on their main dishes, before the truest and most important part of the meal comes up (At least in Usagi's opinion).

Desert.
CHOOSE TWO ONE EACH:
[ ][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [ ] The Daimon's Eye
- A Mysterious Pastry that is the specialty of Chef Dimitri, it is said that those pure of heart will float when eating this Pastry
- [ ] Sweet Puff
- A pink ball of... smoke? that floats around on the plate and that you more inhale than eat?
- [ ] The Super Stuffer
- An Ice cream sandwich that if you eat slowly will start to make more ice cream to fill itself with (up to a certain amount)
- [ ] The Alcremie
- A slice of enchanted cake that changes flavor with every bite
- [ ] Pixie Sticks
- A sugary treat that uses actual Pixie Dust in it's creation (All Natural, Free Roam Pixie Dust)
- [ ] Proper Everlasting Gobstoppers
- Unlike the unenchanted variation of the Everlasting Gobstopper sold to non magical stores, Nestlé Candy company sells actually enchanted versions of the candy to magical societies around the world. The Jawbreaker has been enchanted to be made of far more candy than could possible be within, making the Gobstopper last for hours, if not up to a whole day.
- [ ] Swimming Taiyaki
- Enchanted Taiyaki Pastries that are filled with Red Bean Paste, and that float lazily through the air as they swim like actual fish.

[ ][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [ ] The Daimon's Eye
- A Mysterious Pastry that is the specialty of Chef Dimitri, it is said that those pure of heart will float when eating this Pastry
- [ ] Sweet Puff
- A pink ball of... smoke? that floats around on the plate and that you more inhale than eat?
- [ ] The Super Stuffer
- An Ice cream sandwich that if you eat slowly will start to make more ice cream to fill itself with (up to a certain amount)
- [ ] The Alcremie
- A slice of enchanted cake that changes flavor with every bite
- [ ] Pixie Sticks
- A sugary treat that uses actual Pixie Dust in it's creation (All Natural, Free Roam Pixie Dust)
- [ ] Proper Everlasting Gobstoppers
- Unlike the unenchanted variation of the Everlasting Gobstopper sold to non magical stores, Nestlé Candy company sells actually enchanted versions of the candy to magical societies around the world. The Jawbreaker has been enchanted to be made of far more candy than could possible be within, making the Gobstopper last for hours, if not up to a whole day.
- [ ] Swimming Taiyaki
- Enchanted Taiyaki Pastries that are filled with Red Bean Paste, and that float lazily through the air as they swim like actual fish.

Once the meal and dessert is done, it is once more time to start looking through the Night Market to see if there are any... other issues that the Senshi are going to have to deal with.
CHOOSE TWO:
[ ][Market] Souvenir Stalls
[ ][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[ ][Market] Stone Podium
[ ][Market] The Big Manor
 
...is 七七 supposed to be her actual name, or is it supposed to be a number?
(Not that we needed more reasons to come down like a goddamn princess wand on them)
 
- An Ice cream sandwich that if you eat slowly will start to make more ice cream to fill itself with (up to a certain amount)

If we had not forgotten our wallet and were able to pick two each Usagi would love this one.

[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] Stone Podium
 
[x][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [x] The Daimon's Eye
[x][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [x] Pixie Sticks

I worry that Naru might get a false negative from the Daimon's Eye by eating its enchantment.

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] Stone Podium
 
I must admit, I like Usagi being so distracted by Naru and the other Senshi. I wonder what it means that Naru is gobbling up Sailor Moon energy so greedily though, and whether her body has actually changed or if that was Usagi perception only. Is Naru becoming more Pandora and/or more Senshi like?

As for the vote, so much that sounds good to try eating. I think it has to be the specialty for both this time, but hopefully there can be more eating of Dimitri's desserts. He at least seems on the side of justice and delicious sweets.

[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
- A Mysterious Pastry that is the specialty of Chef Dimitri, it is said that those pure of heart will float when eating this Pastry
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
- A Mysterious Pastry that is the specialty of Chef Dimitri, it is said that those pure of heart will float when eating this Pastry

For exploration, I'm inclined to the podium and manor now, I think. They're more likely to be relevant to the slave issue than the other stalls.
[X][Market] Stone Podium
[X][Market] The Big Manor
 
- [ ] The Daimon's Eye
- A Mysterious Pastry that is the specialty of Chef Dimitri, it is said that those pure of heart will float when eating this Pastry

You know, that implies the villains of Sailor Moon S might be known to the supernatural community already, because that's dead on for them.
 
If the gobstopper is enchanted, wouldn't it be a good way for Naru to tide her hunger over?
Probably depends how it interacts with her. If Naru just drains all the enchantment and it becomes a normal gobstopper, then that wouldn't be too helpful. On the other hand, if the enchantment does continue for a day even with being drained by Naru's thaumaphagy, it would be a good (though probably more expensive) alternative to tea.
 
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[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] Pixie Sticks

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] The Big Manor
 
[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] Pixie Sticks

I wonder if the Daimon eye will get Usagi to realize her new feelings for her friends are not 'bad thoughts'.

[X][Market] Stone Podium
[X][Market] The Big Manor
 
Probably depends how it interacts with her. If Naru just drains all the enchantment and it becomes a normal gobstopper, then that wouldn't be too helpful. On the other hand, if the enchantment does continue for a day even with being drained by Naru's thaumaphagy, it would be a good (though probably more expensive) alternative to tea.
Also if she drains the entire thing, then given how its enchantment is worded it'd revert to its proper size in her mouth.

Which strikes me as rather...ehhh.

Well.
 
[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye

[X][Market] Stone Podium
[X][Market] The Big Manor
 
[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] Pixie Sticks

I think Naru's just going to eat the enchantment, so why not see if she gets pixie magic from this opportunity?

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] Stone Podium

I still think checking out what the magical world considers standard is a good idea, and we might find something worthwhile if we're lucky. It's a bit worse without Usagi's wallet, but I think it's still worth it.

I believe Usagi has the second highest Learning score among the Senshi, and she just had a revelation about applying her computer knowledge to magic, so I think this will be interesting.
 
[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] Stone Podium
 
[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] Pixie Sticks

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] Stone Podium

Usagi is going to break the roof.
 
[X][Usagi] Usagi's Dessert
- [X] The Daimon's Eye
[X][Naru] Naru's Dessert
- [X] Pixie Sticks

I think it will be interesting to see what happens if the heir of Pandora eats (ethically sourced) magical creatures product

[X][Market] Magical Tool Stalls
[X][Market] Stone Podium

We have had good luck with magical shopping.
 
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