It defied all explanation. The most powerful city in the long history of the planet Earth and those of the kingdoms of the Silver Millennium was a tactical nightmare from a design standpoint. There was no defensive perimeter to speak of. Where watchtowers and bunkers should be positioned, there were parks and homes. Where central arms depots should have been there were saunas. The lower level of the palace should have served as a major command center. Instead, it was a massive kitchen. Where gunners should have been stationed, there were fountains or musicians.

Zoisite had no explanation for how such a failure of strategic design could work as a major military center. It was no wonder the attack had nearly succeeded. The city was practically asking for invaders to come in. It was a tribute to the power and will of the Senshi that Crystal Tokyo was still standing.

Zoisite had been furiously making sketches and calculations, trying to determine if anything of the structure of the city could be used in a proper defense. If he was to fulfill his duty to King Endymion and make Crystal Tokyo safe, it would take all of his considerable talents and abilities. And yet, every permutation of his design, every new idea, every new calculation seemed to point to one inevitable conclusion.

The city should be leveled and built from scratch. There was no way it could ever be defended.

"Honestly, what moron designed the city like this?" he yelled in frustration as he crumpled his latest set of failed sketches.

"I believe it could be considered high treason to call Her Majesty a moron," said a voice from behind him.

Zoisite turned to meet the frosty gaze of Sailor Mercury. "Although, I suppose treason is nothing new to you." She walked past him, as if to dismiss his presence entirely. She began surveying the many sheets of sketches and calculations now haphazardly scattered about the room.

Feeling somewhat chastened, Zoisite watched her scrutinize his work. He was dismayed to note that she seemed unimpressed. "I'm sorry, I meant no offense."

She turned to survey him with an arched eyebrow. "Really?"

For a moment, he wasn't sure what they were talking about anymore. He decided he should change tactics. "I must admit ignorance here. Could you tell me more about how Her Majesty created this city?"

"Why should I help you?"

Zoisite sighed. He deserved her scorn and her mistrust, but they weren't helping him accomplish his task. "Because I am not the man you seem to remember. I am the man you have forgotten. And I only wish to help."

Ami's cold exterior broke for a moment, forcing her to turn away. "Who said I've forgotten?" she said in a whisper. Her voice made her sound small and broken, and very much alone. Zoisite had to fight the urge to take the smaller girl in his arms and never let go. It took great restraint on his part to merely wait for her to respond again.

"This city is a natural extension of Her Majesty's power. In order to raise Crystal Tokyo, she wished upon the Ginzuishou for peace and joy on Earth. This city is a reflection of her heart. It is pure, beautiful and open above all else. That is its weakness in your estimation. It is also its greatest strength. Crystal Tokyo is built upon love. If you do not understand love, you will never understand this city, and you will never belong here."

Her tone was harsh, and yet, Zoisite chuckled. Curiosity got the better of Ami as she turned to face him. "You remain the finest of teachers Sailor Mercury. I believe I understand now. You have renewed my faith in my ability to complete my task."

"What are you talking about?"

He met her eyes, and his gaze became wistful, and his voice soft. "I do understand love," he said.

Her own eyes widened in shock at this pronouncement. The look he was giving her and the timbre of his voice were flooding her with memories. Not of an enemy, but of something else that made her equally uncomfortable.

As if sensing her discomfort, his posture straightened and his voice became much more businesslike. "I thank you for your guidance. I believe I will be a much better servant of this city now. Please continue to teach me to be a better citizen of Crystal Tokyo," he said with a formal bow.

Ami was unsure how to respond and decided it would be best if she left. As she exited, she could hear Zoisite return to his work. She dared to look back and see what he was doing. Her glimpse revealed him to be once again engrossed in his work. His hands moving furiously across the paper on some new set of notes, all his previous work having been hastily discarded. He never saw her, as he became totally engrossed in his task. There was a look of fierce concentration on his face.

She was almost compelled to join him, as the air of creativity seemed to almost become palpable as he continued to fill page after page with complicated notes. But just as quickly, she reminded herself that this man was a traitor, and he could just as easily be plotting the destruction of her beloved city. He was not to be trusted; he was to be watched, very carefully.

So, a week later, when Zoisite submitted his proposal for strengthening the defenses of Crystal Tokyo, Ami knew to be very careful. She studied his plans inside and out, looking for any sort of flaw, some hidden weakness or Trojan Horse he had built into his design.

She was dismayed when she found none. What was worse, his ideas actually made sense. They did nothing to change the city. Rather, they seemed to make use of what already existed, and would come naturally. The design and planning was elegant and functional, which appealed to her. Ami was rather upset that she hadn't thought of many of his proposals herself.

He should have been smug about his accomplishment. In the past, he had never shied away from supplying praise for his achievements. So his current humble demeanor only further served to raise her suspicions. She continued to thumb through the proposal with a cold attitude.

"I hope that you might find some of the measures presented suitable."

His expression of humility was what finally broke her. "Your proposal is reasonable," she said with a sigh. "I will consider implementing its recommendations."

Zoisite let out a relieved breath. "I am glad to have been of service," he said with a bow.

"How did you do it?"

"My lady?"

"How did you come up with this? I saw your initial notes. They were very poor. You understood nothing about this city. The disparity between those plans and this proposal is immense. How did you do it?"

The soft smile and gentle voice returned. "I owe it to you Sailor Mercury," he said as he approached her. Absently, he raised a hand towards her face. "I did this for love." His hand was only a breath away from her cheek. Ami felt her breathing shallow and her cheeks redden, her eyes almost involuntarily closing. For a moment, the two were lost in memories, no longer Sailor Mercury, guardian of Crystal Tokyo and General Zoisite, sworn to King Endymion. They were in another place and another time.

"Ami…"

And with one word, reality came crashing back. Ami's eyes snapped open and she stepped back. Zoisite's hand froze before awkwardly returning to his side.

Neither could meet the other's gaze. Zoisite gave a hasty bow. "I'll take my leave my lady."

When she was sure he was gone, Ami absently brought her own hand to the cheek Zoisite had so nearly touched.

She wasn't surprised to find tears there.