I DON'T OWN SAILORMOON.

Yeah, I'm back to writing. =D

* Chapter 1 – Hello

"One Usagi Special", the woman wearing a baseball cap, a jacket and jeans ordered to the nearly white haired man in front of her while she sits on one of the high stools near the counter. She was resolutely not making eye contact with anyone and was pretending to be reading the menu book she was holding.

Motoki, her server, watched carefully the girl, or rather, the royalty (as they, his previous friends, were all known that way now), as she's succeeding in not making her presence known. That must be her motive, he thought, as he took in her appearance. She's dressed the way as how he knew them best and not in the customary flowing gowns they wear at the palace. He drew in closer to her and caught a glimpse of the glowing sign on her forehead that her bangs were trying desperately to hide.

"The Usagi Special is not on that menu, your highness." He whispered so that only she can hear then straightened up and smiled.

Makoto looked up, and studied the face of the person who had identified her so easily despite her attempt at camouflage.

"Mo-Motoki-kun?" She stuttered wide-eyed and her hand landed on her agape mouth in surprise.

"Feeling depressed your highness?" He asked as he grinned at her and began collecting the stuff he needed to make her special milkshake that's named after the queen.

"Oh, where are my manners?" He added when she didn't move an inch and he tilted his head in an attempt at a bow but his previous friend hurriedly blocked him.

"Ssshhhh! Cut it!" She said, looking around if anyone noticed. "And stop this 'your highness' thing, you can still call me Mako-chan."

The guy returned to his blender and worked in silence. After a while, he looked up. "I am under the impression that I really couldn't anymore…" He said distractedly then went about his task.

The royalty was stunned with what the guy said and regarded him seriously. "Of course you could, because you're our friend." She tried to convince him but the aged eyes of the guy they used to hangout with didn't even seem to agree nor disagree with her. How long has it been really since she last stepped foot at the crown's? She asked herself. Twenty? Thirty years? She cannot know for sure, because ever since she had stopped ageing, she had cared less and less about time.

"Motoki, how old are you?" She asked, obviously at lost at how many years have really passed already because of her disregard of time and because 'busy' is not a suitable or strong enough word to explain how her everyday goes. She just happened to snap today and decided she needed a break so head off to the place that had always made her smile.

Baby blue eyes met green ones and Motoki softened when he saw how lost the powerful woman in front of him seemed. "I am three years older than the five of you and as old as his majesty." He saw that that wasn't the answer she was looking for. "Biologically fifty – eight years old; considering I was twenty – three before the frost and it has been thirty – five years after the awakening." He computed for her as he wiped the sides of her tall glass then placed her order in front of her.

She twirled the straw in her drink repeatedly as she got absorbed in her train of thought. Thirty – five years since the awakening and several more years of living to serve the people. Thirty – five years of being nothing but co - ruler of the solar system and centuries more of it. Thirty – five years of defending the kingdom and being a politician. Does she have regrets? No. She knows she'd do it over and over again because it is for the greater good. It's just… It was way easier before the frost. Granted, they had to fight demons and invaders from space at fourteen, she reasoned, but at least, she and her friends can still be normal and carefree girls after defeating the monster of the day.

The old guy noticed his previous friend spacing out a lot. "Come on inside if you're still considering me a friend." He invited and broke her pondering.

She nodded, brought her drink with her and followed Motoki into the back of the store. He led her through a flight of stairs, into a hallway and eventually into a room.

She was instantly awed as soon as he had opened the lights for her; for there on all the walls are framed clippings of news reports about the senshis from since before the frost to the present.

She approached a wall and began reading some of the headlines: 'Senshis Saves Daycare', 'Senshis Saves School Bus', 'Senshis Saves City'… and so on and so forth.

"I have been a fan of the Sailor Senshis even before I found out it was you guys." Motoki told her smiling, his eyes obviously reminiscing.

Makoto turned to look at him but something else caught her eye: on one of the side tables nearest Motoki was propped a huge picture frame whose inhabitants she recognized. She approached this and lifted the photograph gingerly; a single tear escaped as she looked at the esteemed picture judging from its place in the room. It was them: her, Mamoru, Motoki and the rest of the gang at Usagi's surprise birthday party and they were all in their pajamas. It was taken a year after the defeat of Galaxia and everyone was celebrating the birthday of their savior; unknowing that their lives will be paused a thousand years just two years after.

"You have no idea how much I value that I had once been inside the group of friends of the king, the queen and the rest of you." He said as he reached out and wiped with a handkerchief the lone tear that escaped.

She held the hand on her face, squeezed it and with the other, positioned the picture on its place again. "You will always be our friend." She had said with authority, her Jupiter sign flashing. "You will always be one of us."

"Are you threatening me?" He suddenly teased, and with the confused look the brunette gave him, pointed at the shining sign on her forehead.

"Uh, no…" She let go of his hand and approached the mirror on the opposite wall. "This just tends to act up when we're being emotional." She admitted as she examined herself.

Motoki followed her and looked at her reflection also. "What you said earlier is not true… I am not one of you. Just look, you're still as beautiful as before; but me, I look even way older to be your father."

Silence was thick between them as they regarded each other's reflection.

"Why are you really here Kino-san?" He asked, noticing the stress and loneliness in her eyes as he stares at them through the mirror.

"Kino-san?" She clarified. "Where did Mako-chan go?" She asked as she turned around to face him.

"You tell me…" He answered. "Mako-chan was cheerful, always smiling, always on the go, girly, and most of all, can always be seen with one of her friends."

It wasn't the answer she was expecting so looked down. She wanted to talk to a friend, right? She asked herself then looked at Motoki and decided to tell him the truth. "The Kinmoukians are here for a visit again…" She answered so softly that Motoki had a hard time hearing her properly. Luckily, there's only the two of them in the room that he heard her okay.

He tilted his head a bit. "You don't like them?" He had to ask, because he can remember that even way back, the trio was hanging out with the girls.

"It's not that…" She paused, remembering that Kinmouku is their closest ally. "I have to go." She said so suddenly and made to move away but Motoki caught her wrist and effectively stopped her.

"Motoki, I…" She grasped for words but nothing coherent was formed.

"Just come back here tomorrow, I'll make an extra appetizing Usagi Special for you." He said with a smile and let go.

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A/N: This story is somewhat related to Until Tomorrow but this happened earlier. Thanks for reading.