Part 01 : Surprise!

Makoto wrung her hands nervously as she stared at the large passenger plane outside the window. She had been somewhat excited about this at the beginning of the trip to the airport, but the more she looked at her companions, the more she began to think of what her friend's reactions would be. She looked back to where Seiji was talking with Ryo and Natsuti about something.

"The girls won't assume things," she whispered hopefully. "We're all beyond that point."

Seiji, sensing he was being watched turned his head in her direction and Makoto relaxed as he cast her one of his smiles. She was being silly. The girl's should able to see that Seiji was a gentleman.

"A *cute* gentleman," she laughed, watching Seiji fondly.

"Mako-chan!" screamed an excited voice from behind her.

Makoto's green eyes widened in surprise and she turned around in time to Usagi pounce on her in a giant hug.

"Let me guess," laughed Ryo's voice through the link. "That's Usagi."

Makoto didn't answer but hugged Usagi back fiercely, "Welcome back Usagi-chan. How was America?"

Usagi looked up at Makoto with bright blue eyes and pulled away from her.

"It was great! Mamo-san took me to all sorts of wonderful places!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands before her passionately. "And he took me out to this restaurant that looks like a rainforest and he..."

Usagi stopped talking abruptly and looked around before wiggling her finger at Makoto to come closer.

"He asked me to marry him officially!" she whispered with surprising calmness after Makoto had leaned in. "I wanted to tell you first."

Makoto looked down at her first best friend with a fond smile and then pulled her into an embrace.

"I am so happy for you, Usagi-chan." she whispered affectionately. "And I want to tell you something."

Usagi looked up at her with trusting blue eyes and Makoto leaned in.

"I have a boyfriend now," Makoto whispered and pointed at Seiji. "And he's right over there."

Usagi's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open soundlessly in surprise. However, before Usagi could say a word a nothing blur suddenly shot out of the boarding ramp and found it's way to Makoto.

"Makoto!" exclaimed Mina wrapping her arms around Makoto in a hug. "I've missed you!"

Makoto grinned and caught sight of Ami, Rei, and Hotaru exiting the ramp with excited smiled.

"Thank you Mina. I've missed you too. I've missed all of you."

Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru walked out of the ramp and soon Makoto had all her friends standing around her tell her about their trip in excitement. A few times Makoto saw Usagi look over at Seiji in curiosity and momentarily wondered what she was thinking. However, Usagi would snap out of her thoughts a few moments and join the excited talking.

"Um, Makoto. When can we come over?" asked Ryo's voice. "Seiji is starting to look a little nervous."

"I'm not nervous," retorted Seiji quickly.

Makoto chuckled and sent them they ok to come over before gently clearing her throat to quiet the group..

"Guys, I want you to meet someone very special to me," announced Makoto.

The girls, with the exception of Haruka, Setsuna, Michiru, and Usagi, looked at Makoto in surprise as Seiji, Ryo, and Natsuti walked up to the small group.

"I'd like to introduce you guys to Seiji," said Makoto with a slightly apprehensive smile. "I ran into him in Toryama after you guys left and he's now my boyfriend."

Five jaws dropped and eyes widened in absolute surprise and Makoto instinctively took Seiji's hand for security.

"We left and you found yourself a guy?" asked Rei, snapping out of shock first.

Makoto thought she heard Ryo stifle a chuckled and watched as Natsuti elbowed him gently in the ribs. She nodded slightly and wasn't prepared for the excited squeal Mina let loose or the spontaneous hug from Hotaru.

"We were worried that you'd be lonely, Makoto," informed Ami with her gentle smile.

"Haruka didn't tell us that you were seeing anyone when she came home," informed Usagi. "She just said you'd found some friends to live with...."

Suddenly the girls looked at Makoto with large eyes and Makoto and Seiji both turned pink.

"Makoto-chan," whispered Ami. "You haven't..."

Makoto's eyes widened and she felt her heart stop.

"NO!" Makoto exclaimed feeling betrayed. "My apartment got wrecked while you were gone and I've been staying in Nasuti's home where Seiji and four other guys just happen to be staying too. I'd never do... that! Seiji is a gentleman!"

Faces became red with shame and embarrassment and Michiru suddenly stepped forward to break the tension.

"Well then, Mako-chan. Could you introduce us to your other two friends?" she asked with a relaxed smile.

Makoto smiled in relief and nodded her head before pointing to Ryo and Natsuti who were still looking a bit shocked at Makoto's exclamation.


Seiji looked out at the large oak tree where Makoto was sitting from his bedroom window. He wanted to go out to where she was to try and comfort her, however Makoto had asked to be let alone quite adamantly when they'd returned from the airport. Through the armor link, he could feel her emotions of hurt, confusion, and sadness. The girls had apologized to Makoto after understanding why Makoto was living at the manor, but Makoto had been hurt by the initial lack of trust from her friends.

As Ryo and Natsuti had left to bring the jeep around, the older three girls had discretely pulled him aside and told him that the younger girls had been extremely worried about Makoto while there were gone.

~*~

"Surely they realize she can take care of herself," asked Seiji, still upset by the girl's assumptions. "If they're her friends they should understand her character."

Haruka sighed and shook her head, "They're still learning things, Seiji."

"They're younger than Makoto and have never quite faced things that Makoto has," added Michiru softly.

"They're supposed to be her best friend." insisted Seiji.

"Her best friend, yes. However, when Makoto was younger, she and Mina spent time searching for guys. They weren't very successful in finding a guy that fit their dreams, but Makoto earned a reputation."

Seiji looked back at Makoto in surprise, but Haruka cleared her throat to get his attention.

"I normally wouldn't say this, but I feel it needs to be said," said Haruka in a low voice. "After Makoto agreed to move to Toryama, she and I spent a lot of time together. One of those times we discussed relationships. Her heart was very cruelly broken, Seiji. She has sought for a man to fill her heart, and has not found one to fit her standards since. The fact that she has introduced you to her friends formally was a very bold step for her, and I can only say that she must be smitten with you."

Seiji stood quietly a moment and then nodded, "So you are saying that although she has checked out a number of guys since this other guy, she hasn't found one."

Haruka nodded, "Yes. You are very important to our Mako-chan, Seiji. Do not let the other girl's momentary misconception draw you from her side.

"And you should know that she hadn't even looked for a guy since coming to Toryama," said Michiru with a sudden grin.

"How did you find that out?" asked Haruka in surprise.

"I asked when I helped her decorate her apartment ," laughed Michiru.

~*~

Seiji sighed softly and watched Makoto in concern, wishing he could ease her heart. Then, from somewhere to the far left, Byakuen slowly padded out to where Makoto sat and laid down next to her, as if sensing the human's distress. Through the link, Seiji could feel a flash of appreciation as Makoto's hand stretched out and rubbed the white tiger's head fondly.

"Seiji," said a voice timidly a few moments later.

Seiji turned away from the window to look at the doorway where Jun stood looking up at him shyly.

"Hello Jun. Do you need something?" asked Seiji, surprised to see the young boy.

Jun nodded and walked over to Seiji after a split second of hesitancy.

"Seiji ... I know Mako-san wasn't to be disturbed, but she looked really sad and lonely outside and so I let Byakuen out and told him to go sit with her," said Jun nervously. "You don't think she'll be upset, do you?"

Seiji chuckled and placed a hand on Jun's head, "I don't think she'll be upset, Jun. I bet she'll even thank you later if you tell her you sent him out."

Jun glanced out the window and then back up at Seiji, looking more like a mature young man than an eleven year-old boy.

"Naw. I don't need her to thank me. I just don't want Mako-san to be sad."

Seiji smiled with a sudden flash of pride for the young boy and gently ruffled Jun's dark hair, "Then I won't tell her. We'll just keep it a secret."

The childlike innocence returned to Jun's eyes as the young boy smiled and wrapped his arms around Seiji.

"Thanks Sei-san."

Then with admiring smile up at Seiji, Jun ran from the room. Seiji stood smiling fondly at the open door for a few moments and then looked out the window. Makoto's spirit had become content.


"I don't know if we should be doing this," said Ami guiltily. "I mean, this will look like we don't trust Makoto."

"Don't look at it that way Ami," said Mina with a flip of her hand. "Look at it as making sure we know those other guys are ok."

"Ryo and Seiji seemed ok to me," said Usagi suddenly.

Rei and Mina looked at Usagi in surprise and she quickly folded her arms defensively, "What? You don't actually think Makoto would stay with a bunch of rough guys do you?"

Mina laughed nervously and Rei bit her lip.

"I just want to make sure she's somewhere safe. Makoto may have been on her own since she was twelve, but that doesn't mean she'll always be safe," said Rei carefully.

The taxi pulled to a stop and the girls looked out the window in surprise.

"That is a *really* big house," gasped Mina.

TBC :)

Author's Note : I hope the girl's didn't seem to OOC. I've seen a few translated Sailor Moon Stars episodes and I remembered them acting like that when Seiya and Usagi were found in closed in spaces a few times. O_o Also, I shall try to finish up the next part quickly. ~_^