AN: I actually had this whole chapter planned out for a while, but summer doldrums makes it difficult for me to focus and the days tend to run together until it's been longer than anticipated. Still, this isn't unreasonably late for once, so please enjoy. As a side note, there are a lot more references to the Sailor V manga in this chapter, including a mostly-accurate transcription of Venus and Danburite's last discussion. There are a few lines I changed to reflect the differences between this and canon.
Disclaimer: Still no ownership.
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Her power had destroyed the youma, but to save the countless brainwashed people she'd had to use even more. The force of it all but blew the building apart, leaving them on a precarious platform high above the Chinese city. Ace – the youma had called him Danburite; why had it called him that? – stood near the edge. He'd just declared he'd be the one to defeat Sailor V, but he wasn't moving. He stood there staring at her.
Memories broke over her: of her princess, her sisters. Ace loved her, but they were everything. She had chosen them again and again. V came apart, leaving her true self behind. Sailor Venus removed the mask she'd worn.
"Are you all right, Princess of Venus?" Fog was rolling around them as he spoke. "This place often gets foggy around this time."
The fog triggered even more. She saw her planet in its youth, sulfurous clouds hiding the surface, Magellan Castle hovering over her kingdom. She had never been there for long, summoned by her duty to her princess, her tasks on the moon, but she loved her world with all her heart.
"I am not a princess," she said finally, letting the red mask fall. "I am… the guardian soldier of the planet Venus, Sailor Venus. I was born a soldier to protect that single precious person!"
"The land you loved, the people you loved… They are no more. They were destroyed by the enemy."
He was hugging her, and Sailor Venus wasn't sure how to react. She knew where her place was, but she did love him, as much as she was capable of doing so.
"Stop it!" she cried, pushing him back. "Ace, just who are you? How do you know so much about me?"
He removed his mask as she had, and a glowing sigil pulsed on his forehead. Hers. "That's because I'm Adonis. We were supposed to love one another. I am your destined lover. I was borrowed, with some of the other men, by the soldiers under the direct supervision of the prince."
Endymion's Shitennou… Kunzite. Her true love. Her one and only.
"At that moment, I knew… If I could change just one thread of fate, you and I might fall in love. I was born into this world, and raised to the status where I can confront you! There is only ONE destiny!"
He held a card aloft, and a surge of energy threw her back. She leapt to her feet again but didn't press close. She could scarcely believe that he had attacked her, that he was working for the Dark Agency.
"I believe you, but haven't you always, always, come and saved me, Ace?"
"I will soon achieve domination of the whole planet! I am a soldier under the Shitennou of the Dark Kingdom, Danburite! And you, Sailor Venus, are my enemy!"
He went to strike again, but her power flared naturally and threw him back, past the edge of the platform. She jumped across and grabbed his arm, trying to keep him from falling.
His smile was all but tender as he offered her the card in his hand – the ace of hearts. "I'll tell you your final love fortune… Your love will be hopeless for all eternity." She froze, staring at him, and he smirked. "What's wrong? You should look happier! Now you can go on living without having to torment yourself over the ultimate choice… your love or your duty. Your fate is to continue fighting."
He was coming apart as she cried, trying to pull him up, but he did nothing to help. It was her fault; she'd killed him with her careless use of power. She was responsible for killing someone she loved again.
"Your true battle begins now."
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"You wanted me to be happy when you cursed me," Minako said, voice low. "You must have known even then that fighting you would awaken my true self. You wanted me to live forever with the knowledge of what he'd done to me. You knew you would lose, so you tried to make sure I'd lose him too. I killed you, Danburite. You should be gone."
"I revived. They did, so why is it so odd?"
"They came back as friends and allies. You were given a second chance at life; why would you betray us again?"
Just thinking of it was like reliving his betrayals all over again. Minako wanted to be sick. The compact was out of her reach, and she didn't think it would have worked anyway. Kunzite was unconscious, and there were two enemies there – one that wanted to kill her mate, and one that wanted them both dead. The situation was untenable at best.
Her musings were quickly interrupted when CereCere appeared right in front of her, a contemplative look on her little face. "This is taking too long. Die."
The younger girl had a strength she didn't, and in moments Mina was dangling over the edge of the tower, struggling against the circus performer's grip. Shaking her head, the flower master let go, and only the blonde's quick reflexes let her catch the ledge in time to avoid falling. She knew a fall wouldn't kill a Senshi, but she wasn't transformed and it was a long way down.
"Mina, hold on!"
Two white paws settled on her hands as her gaze shot up. "Artemis!" She was trying; they both were, but still her fingers were slipping on the slick concrete. Mina struggled, fighting the inexorable pull of gravity. "Artemis, help!"
"They're coming," he said urgently. "You just have to hold on!"
"I can't! Artemis, you have to do something!"
The tomcat turned and hissed, seeing the two villains approaching Kunzite. "Mina, they're going to kill him!"
Mina kicked wildly, trying to find purchase in the skyscraper's smooth sides. "Kunzite! Kunzite!"
Her stiletto caught for a moment and she started to lever herself up, but it slipped again and she dropped even lower. Her grip failed, but before she could tumble to the ground a strong hand grabbed both of hers, a new yet familiar face watching her in concern as he pulled her to safety.
"Do you want to be Venus?" he asked quietly. "Are you prepared to be a soldier for the rest of your life?"
"Artemis…" It was her cat, she realized, though it had been a long time since she'd seen his human form. "Yes. I made my choice as V, and it's the same one I'd make every time. I want to fight. I want to protect the people I love."
He nodded, unsurprised. "Then you'll need this." The Venus Crystal glinted in his hand. "I know I should've given it to you before, but I couldn't. I'm sorry."
The heart-shaped stone pulsed alternately gold and orange as she took it, and for a second she saw Magellan Castle in its depths. If she used the crystal, took up the full extent of her planetary powers, any chance at a normal human life would be lost forever. There would be no going back.
She didn't hesitate. "VENUS CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE-UP!"
The crystal and her old henshin rod combined, forming a new heavier one. It all but exploded in a wave of orange light, wrapping her in stars as she became Sailor Venus. The uniform, like her sisters' before her, had altered slightly to reflect her more powerful status. She came to a stop on the delicate heels, a golden heart in her gloved hands.
Before she could do anything to free her mate and stop the enemies, Ace was there, one hand at her throat as the other caressed her cheek. "There you are, Venus. I was only waiting for you to find yourself again."
"Let go of me, Danburite. I won't hesitate to kill you."
"Haven't you already?" he asked quietly, brushing a loose strand of her long blonde hair back. "You could have killed me before I lifted a hand, but still you stand unmoving. Maybe you don't hate me as much as you say."
"I'm warning you, back off."
His grip transferred abruptly to her arms, pulling her close and leaning in for a kiss. She fought his hold, but he was right; she really didn't want to hurt him though in her Senshi form she could have easily tossed him across the roof.
Kunzite, she whispered. Please.
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He felt like his head had been slammed into a wall repeatedly, and his soul was halfway out of his body. For a scant second, he stopped to be grateful that Beryl had never learned unconsciousness lessened the connection between his physical and spirit selves – if she had, she would have torn him out completely and just kept his body as her slave to spare herself the fight to tame him.
Venus' voice sounded in his mind, sad and frightened, and he sat up, eyes still closed as he listened. It wasn't much, certainly not enough to tell him what was happening, but she was upset and that was what mattered. She was what mattered. His soul, still only partially attached, looked her way. Kunzite went from mildly worried to absolutely furious in the span of a heartbeat.
His spirit snapped back into place far faster than he'd ever dared attempt before, but even as his physical self began to react his mind went blank. All he could see was red as he encountered the walls of a prison, keeping him away from his precious mate as she was molested by an enemy long thought dead.
With a roar, he shattered the cage as though it had been made of twigs and leapt almost straight up, a feat that should have impossible when he still wore his human form. That changed as he came back down, cape unfurling behind him as he dropped on the traitor like an avenging angel, barely having enough sense to push Venus out of the way.
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Venus rolled back to her feet, still shocked by what she had witnessed. Without any magic to help, he had literally torn apart a cage that would have contained even a Senshi, and now he was clawing at Adonis like a wild animal. She hated to do it, but she left the men to their fight and rounded on CereCere, the heart in her hand blooming into a full-blown weapon. She kissed her fingers and it multiplied, flying out around her in a ring before shooting at their target.
The circus girl barely deflected the attack in time, and the force of it still pushed her back several meters until she was barely balanced on the edge of the building. Venus thought about returning the favor and pushing her over the side, but it really wasn't in her to be that vindictive. She took a step back and watched CereCere take one panicked look at Adonis and vanish.
The blond man wasn't moving anymore, and Venus rather doubted he was still breathing. She reached out with old powers long left untouched, and sure enough his soul was pulling free of his body as it died. She hesitated before forcing herself to take the necessary step, as abhorrent as it seemed. Slowly, Venus dredged up an ability she'd never touched, even in the Silver Millennium, one in keeping with her role as the Shadow Warrior of the Guardian Senshi – the power to put an end to a soul, keeping it from ever reincarnating. Before she could reconsider, Danburite was destroyed.
Kunzite, oblivious to her internal conflict, continued to attack Adonis's form. It was in bad shape, broken and bleeding. Had she not known better, she would have thought he had been set upon by a monster and not a man.
Jadeite and Jupiter leapt into view from a nearby rooftop, and the younger general's gaze went immediately to his commander, still beating an enemy that would never fight again. He took a half step forward before coming to a stop. Venus went to approach him, but he caught her shoulder and pulled her back.
"Don't. No one has ever gotten near him when he's like this without bloodshed, and he would never forgive me if you got hurt."
"Like this?" she repeated, rounding on him. "This – whatever this is – it's happened before? Why did I not know?"
"He never told you?" Jadeite asked, puzzled. "I thought… We don't talk about it. Ever. He hates it when this happens, and he can't stand hearing it mentioned. It's only happened twice, but he's dangerous like this, V."
"I can see that."
Before he could stop her, she wrenched away and slowly approached her mate. As she got closer, she started humming a gentle tune. The others didn't recognize it, but Kunzite's head swung up and he stared at her. When she reached out, he didn't move, letting her stroke his hair and lead him away from Adonis. Once they were out of the way, Jupiter raced in to check the body. A shake of her head confirmed what Venus had already known – he was gone.
"Come back," she whispered in his ear.
And for her, it really was that simple. With a shudder, the clouds in his eyes lifted and he frowned, lost. He remembered a cage, Mina wanting help… Then nothing. He reached for her hand and froze.
His fingers were drenched in blood, and there was more on the sleeves of his uniform – when had he transformed? – with more blotches spattered irregularly over him. Aside from a throbbing head, he was uninjured, and a quick appraisal of Venus showed she was too. Jadeite and Jupiter were there, but they seemed fine. One last image came to him – Adonis, the traitor who had brought ruin to the most peaceful civilization the galaxy had ever seen, had been kissing his mate.
His face drained of color as he turned, locating the body by smell as much as anything else. Blood pooled under it, though except for that it might have looked like a broken marionette. He had literally beaten a man to death. He had tortured him.
"It looks worse than it is," Venus said quietly behind him. "He died pretty quickly; you broke his neck."
"I – I –" It wasn't like the leader of the Shitennou to be at a loss for words, but he truly had no idea what he could say in the face of such an atrocity.
"You can't blame yourself for this, Kunzite. He pushed you to it. I told him to stay away, but he wouldn't listen. He was going to kill you to get to me."
He couldn't find a response as he stared at his victim. Jupiter, trying to diffuse the tension, looked to her leader. "What do you want us to do, V-chan, since you had Artemis bring us specifically?"
"I need you to destroy the body, Jupiter. Can you?"
The stormy Senshi nodded, crouching beside it as she gathered her power. A lightning bolt split the heavens, striking there and leaving ash scattered in the blood. "I can't do anything for the mess with my powers."
"I will. Just give me a moment to focus." She hadn't used that particular ability in some time either, but if she left proof of a very bloody death behind there would be questions none of them could safely answer. As it was, Aino Minako was going to be facing the police soon; she didn't need anyone to connect Minako and Venus. "Venus Power, Love Crescent Shower! Pour down rain!"
It started as a few scattered droplets before turning to a steady downpour, washing away ash and blood in swirling patterns. Sirens wailed below, the police no doubt having traced the Senshi's bright attacks to the Starlight Tower.
Artemis ran over, once again in his cat form. "I left a forged note in your dressing room saying Ace had kidnapped your boyfriend and where to meet him. No one will question your being here now if you de-henshin."
Venus nodded before releasing her power, and she had to tug on Kunzite's arm to get him to follow suit. Fortunately, he was thinking enough to alter his age so he didn't seem obscenely old for her. There was a trace of blood at his hairline showing where he'd been hit. Slowly, the two sat down and curled together as she pointedly kept him from looking at the place Ace had been.
Jadeite glanced at Jupiter before taking a step back and vanishing from mortal view, though the others could still see him. The green-clad Senshi remained, hovering over the couple and making soft sounds like she was soothing the victims of a terrible attack.
Paramedics were the first on-scene, though various officers weren't far behind. One of the emergency crew approached Kunzite, seeing the blood. "Are you hurt, sir?"
"It is nothing," he said quietly. "A bump, soon to heal."
The man looked like he was ready to argue, but Jupiter gestured for him to back off and he did. The detective in charge hurried over to her, one of his underlings holding an umbrella over his head to shield his notepad.
"Sailor Jupiter, right?" When she nodded, he pressed on. "Can we get a statement? Until someone reported the lights, we thought this was a civilian matter."
"The kidnapper was an enemy," she said shortly, "one that has previously caused trouble for Minako-san. After the last time she was placed under Venus' protection. V couldn't be here, so I came in her place."
He was going to ask more questions, but before he could another man burst into view, an officer from the special division the Metropolitan Police had dedicated to Senshi matters. The superintendent was just behind him. Sakurada Natsuna took one look at Minako and ordered everyone but the officer that had accompanied her back inside.
"Are you okay, Minako-san?" she asked gently, squatting beside the pair without paying any mind to the rain soaking into her suit. "What happened?"
"It was Ace," she whispered quietly. "He came back. I went to see him, to tell him to stay away. I didn't know…"
"Didn't know?" the elder woman prompted.
"That he'd done it again. He betrayed me again, onee-san. He's working for our enemies. He told them who we were, what our weaknesses were."
Keiji was staring at her, surprise clearly visible on his face. "Mina?"
"She knows. I worked with the police as V before going to London, shortly before coming and joining the others. She'll handle any official reports until one of us can."
Natsuna got up. "Wakagi, get some blankets. They're drenched and in shock. Will you be able to make it home, Minako-san?"
Mina nodded as her teeth began to chatter. "Jupiter can help." She turned pleading eyes on her. "Right?"
"Of course I will. Keiji, will you be all right with his help?" She wasn't going to draw attention to the Shitennou, so she didn't mind the policewoman thinking she meant their only known male ally. Never mind Tuxedo Kamen was in no condition to be there.
He dipped his head in response, though anyone who knew him could see he didn't want to be away from Minako in their current conditions. At least de-henshining made the blood on him disappear so he wouldn't have to see it. Instead of waiting for a further response, Jupiter swung Mina up into her arms, gave Jadeite a quick nod, and leapt off the side of the building, heading in the direction of her friend's house.
"One of us will come get you in an hour or so," she whispered. "It's not a good idea for you to be alone right now, so you'll be spending a week or so somewhere safe."
"Where?"
Jupiter shrugged. "That's for Usagi to decide; I'm going to her next. Mars will have to do her interview now. Everyone is going to suspect you're Venus."
"I know," she murmured, nibbling her lower lip as she considered. "We'll have to figure out a convincing cover."
"Mars will handle it," the stormy Senshi told her, "so don't worry. You know she'll be able to throw them off track."
Minako's eyes widened in horror when she saw lights on in her house. "Jupiter, did the police call my parents?"
"I don't know; why?"
She pointed. "They weren't due home yet."
The taller girl cursed. "I was just going to drop you at your window. Now we'll have to make a big deal out of you being an innocent."
"What am I going to tell them?"
"You'll think of something."
Mina wasn't so sure.
Jupiter set her on her feet a few steps from the front door, and the blonde struggled to fit the key in the lock with trembling fingers, trying to keep the blanket around her shoulders. On the third go she finally managed it and pushed the door open, stepping inside with Jupiter at her back.
"Minako!" her mother shouted, storming into the hall. "What's this about you RUNNING OUT of a public event over some BOY? And a concert! You didn't have our permission to work again!"
"Mom," she began, but the older woman cut her off before she could say anything to defend herself.
"No warning. What exactly do you think is acceptable behavior when we're out of town, young lady? Running off like a hooligan is not permissible. You're grounded; go to your room!"
Jupiter cleared her throat, suddenly awkward in the face of wrath Mina didn't deserve after what she'd gone through that night. "Aino-san, your daughter was caught in the middle of a Senshi battle tonight and is understandably upset. Perhaps this can wait?" She nudged Mina to the stairs, wanting her to get upstairs and pack.
Her mother only followed the pair up, and Jupiter had to grimace apologetically and take her leave. Their leader needed to be told what had happened so they'd know what to do next. She also wanted to make sure the eldest general was okay.
Minako tried to ignore her mom's tirade as she gathered some clothes and shoved them in her overnight bag, but it was about as easy as pretending she wasn't bothered by what had just transpired. Again hoping to get away, she hurriedly finished and ran back downstairs to get a drink. Her throat felt like it was lined in sandpaper as she battled the urge to scream.
"Are you even listening to me, young lady? You are grounded, and I hope you realize you have to break up with this boy of yours. There will be reporters all over once the news gets out that you had a hand in the death of a celebrity."
"Ace was a monster," Minako spat, losing control. "He deserved what he got."
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ABOUT YOUR BETTERS?"
"My betters?" she repeated, disgusted. "BETTERS? He was scum! He was willing to kill someone I love to hurt me! He betrayed me! If not for the Senshi, I would probably be dead right now!"
"Think of the shame you've brought this family! Can't you do anything right?"
The blonde whirled, nearly spilling her cup of water everywhere. "I did the right thing by going after my boyfriend. I knew if I didn't Ace would kill him, and I couldn't stand that. Did you honestly never know that he attacked me once when I was thirteen? Venus stopped him then, and I have no idea what he would have done otherwise. He betrayed everything that matters, even his very humanity. If you can't deal with that…"
"Is that a threat?" her mother demanded, looming over her.
"Maybe it should be," Mars said. The Senshi of Fire stood in the entryway to the kitchen, fisted hands on her hips and a dangerous look in her eye. "Take a step back, Aino-san. Minako-chan, are you okay?"
Minako nodded gratefully, grabbing her bag. "What's going on?"
"Sailor Moon decided we were moving you into protective custody until some of the fervor dies down. You were attacked by him twice; you deserve a chance to recover."
"You have no business saying what my daughter will or won't do," the older woman blustered.
"I beg your pardon, but I think I do. The Senshi have supremacy in any matters concerning attacks, and we feel responsible for letting him get to her again. She needs time to rest and come to terms with what's happened tonight, and she can't do that while being hounded by reporters."
"You still can't make decisions for her."
"I actually think she can make them herself. Do you want to stay here, Minako-chan? We found a safe place for you to stay."
"What about her schoolwork?" her mother demanded. "Her grades are low enough without missing classes!"
"She probably won't be gone more than a week. The term is coming to an end and she's already taken the high school exit exam. Mercury will help her prepare for the end of year tests."
"I'll go," Minako said quickly, not wanting to fight anymore. Her mom opened her mouth to protest again, but this time she beat her to the punch. "I can't stay here; not after what happened."
Mars nodded with a gentle smile, though she still glared daggers at the older woman. Taking Mina's hand, she pulled her outside before shouldering her bag and picking her up. "Ready?"
The blonde nodded as her mother shot out the door. "Please."
With a casual bound, the soldier of passion landed on the roof of the house and kept going, deliberately ignoring the shouts behind them.
"Where are we going?" Minako asked when they were safely out of range.
"We're going to meet Zoisite nearby as soon as he's done at Kunzite's. He'll take you there."
"What is he doing at Kunzite's?"
"I'm not sure, but I think he said he had a medicine that will help him stay in control until he's calm again. He shouldn't take too long."
Mina nodded and relaxed against her friend's shoulder. "Thank you for coming, Mars. I couldn't deal with her tonight."
"I know. I also knew she'd give you trouble, so I volunteered to be the one to come get you. My father's the same way."
They came to a stop on a decent-sized office building, high enough above the streets to avoid prying eyes. Mars set Minako down as they waited. Zoisite appeared a minute later, pale and harried looking with wisps of his blond hair escaping his ponytail.
"Good, you are here already," he said, sighing in relief. "Kunzite-sama wants you."
"Is he okay?" she asked worriedly.
"His mind refuses to settle, but he is unhurt. You will be able to help him more than I can. His emotions may be expressed more freely than is usual, but the drug I gave him will let him maintain control. He will not slip again tonight."
Mars handed Mina her backpack, and Zoisite extended a hand. As soon as she took it, the world slipped out from under her feet and she found herself in the front hall of Kunzite's house. The younger Shitennou gave a shallow bow before disappearing again.
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She dropped her bag in her bedroom before moving slowly to Kunzite's room, knowing he was waiting for her and that he was afraid she wouldn't come. She almost didn't, afraid to hear anything else that would tear apart her fragile self-control. In the end, though, she had to go to him. Staying away was like trying to live without breathing when he needed her.
"Kunzite?" she whispered as she crept into his room. "Are you still awake?"
She'd hoped he'd fallen asleep, but that proved wrong when he sat up and looked straight at her. "You came."
Mina all but ran across the remaining distance and curled into his arms. "Of course I came. You need me, and I need you too. I was afraid I was going to lose you tonight."
The general absently ran his fingers through her hair, taking a long time to respond. "I thought I might be losing you to him. I know you cared for him in the past."
"I did," she said honestly. "It was never the same as what I feel for you, though. He was… a fling. A brief romance that was doomed before it began. It was always you, Kunzite; you should know that by now."
"Yes, but the worries are not easily laid to rest."
The tension in his arms confirmed what he said, so Mina began to gently massage them until he began to relax. "You shouldn't blame yourself for what happened tonight. He took advantage of something Beryl gave him all those years ago even after I warned him away. You were only defending yourself."
"I was defending you."
That was probably the part that was hardest to bear. "I know. Honestly, though, none of us will blame you, and since we told the police he was an enemy no one will realize he was also human. He was too far gone for us to save, Kunzite, and you had every right to hate him after what he did."
"I tortured a man, Mina. I was not trying to interrogate him, nor was it approved by our rulers. I lost control and killed him out of jealousy."
"You killed him for betraying you, for betraying all of us. This was about so much more than jealousy. I hate saying it, but he deserved what happened, and he won't be coming back to hurt us again."
"You ended him."
She managed a stiff jerk of her head. "His betrayal killed my princess once, and he proved himself untrustworthy a second time. I did what I had to do."
"He loved you," Kunzite said quietly. "He might have made you happy. He would not have displeased your father and your people."
"I never wanted him." He opened his mouth to reply, but she barreled on. "No, listen to me! I was very free with my favors once I came of age, but I never went to him. Once we met, that was it. You were it. Venusians are granted a single glimpse of their one when they come of age, and when I saw you I knew. Maybe I'm what he saw, but for me it's always been you. I chose to be your mate because I was done with flitting from man to man, never caring. I trusted you enough, even then, to want forever."
"Mina…" He paused, touched. "You never told me this before."
"I didn't want to admit to my less than admirable past any more than you like admitting to yours. I was ashamed."
Shaking his head, the eldest Shitennou laughed. It was a little self-deprecating and still tinged with despair, but it was a laugh nonetheless. "We make quite the pair, you and I. I love you, Mina. I know I do not tell you often enough, but it will always be true because you are my forever as well."
They talked after that, sorting through their guilt and grief without anger, finally understanding how to let the past go.
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AN: I always wondered why Sailor V and the main series manga weren't entirely incorporated, which I think reflects here a little, and I know it isn't as widely available. If you have any questions regarding things I mention in here, just ask, but if it seems like something you don't recognize it's either original or from Sailor V. I'd really love to hear what everyone thinks so far, questions and constructive criticism especially. Ideas are also a plus, since I'm not sure how I want to finish this up. I didn't favor the anime's version of events, but at the same time I found the manga scenario a bit confusing. Till next time!
