eight

"I now call this meeting to a start," Usagi declared importantly, despite the fact that Rei and Minako were too busy squabbling to pay attention to her. Makoto was rearranging the plates of food for the fifth time while Ami uncharacteristically stared outside the window. "Hey, hey, I'm talking!"

"Ugh, no one cares," Chibiusa said as she stretched her arms above her head. Her fist knocked into Michiru's knee. "Oops, sorry Michiru-san—"

"No problem," Michiru said from her spot on the couch. She shrugged away Haruka's eighth attempt to put an arm around her. Haruka sulked.

"Shut up, Chibiusa," Usagi growled, snatching a pastry off of one of Makoto's plates. Makoto swiftly replaced it with another pastry from a different tray. "Come on, guys, focus!"

"Wow," Haruka grinned. "Our Usagi, telling everyone to focus?"

"Haruka-san!" Usagi started to whine, only to be quelled by a comforting hand on the top of her head.

"I was just kidding, kitten—"

"What a flirt," Hotaru said dryly, rolling her eyes. Setsuna, sitting beside her with a cup of tea in her hands, nodded sagely.

"Oh my god, my family is against me," Haruka grumbled, crossing her arms and sitting back in her seat. Mamoru, who was looking at his empty wallet, nodded slowly.

"Tell me about it," he mumbled to himself, wondering how breakfast with his future wife and child could have cost him so much.

"Okay, seriously guys," Usagi said, her mouth full of pastry, "I have some important things to talk about."

"That's a first," Minako quipped, finger in the air. Usagi threw her a dirty look. "Pardon me, please continue."

"I shall," Usagi simpered. "Anyway, so we have on our agenda today—"

"We have an agenda?" Makoto asked, looking up from her arrangement. She raised her eyebrows at Mamoru, who shrugged cluelessly.

"Yes, I drafted it up myself—Rei-chan!"

Rei took the sheet of paper Usagi grasped in her hands. She held it up between her thumb and forefinger. "Wow, this actually has words on it."

"No way," Minako gasped, snatching the paper before Usagi could get it back. "No rabbit doodles?"

Usagi sat down, grabbing two more pastries. "I give up," she said, biting into both pastries at the same time. "Someone else continue the meeting, please."

In lieu of her agenda, she was thoroughly ignored. Chibiusa took pity on her and stood up, easily grabbing the agenda, which had been passed onto Haruka. "Listen up! In today's meeting we'll be talking about Hotaru-chan fighting Esmeraude, Minako being rude as usual, Mako and Rei's discoveries and our division as guardian and outer system Senshi."

"What? What division—"

"Hotaru-chan first," Chibiusa said, shushing Haruka with a glare. Haruka, obviously miffed, pouted as Hotaru stood up.

"Ryo was walking me home when Esmeraude attacked us. We killed her. She turned into dust."

Everyone stared at her quite short explanation. Chibiusa had a sudden gleam in her eye.

"Is that all, Hotaru-chan?"

Hotaru sat back down, unaware that everyone wanted more details. "Yes."

"Okay," Chibiusa said suspiciously, winking at her best friend. Hotaru didn't understand. "Well then! I guess we can move on. Minako."

"I would like to object," Minako said, holding her right hand in the air, the other sitting primly atop her lap. "I am not at all rude."

"Minako, I'm sure if I hadn't been there with you, you would have tried to take all those boys out yourself," Makoto said.

"And I'm sure she doesn't mean on a date," Usagi added, nodding her head. Minako scowled, jabbing her fist at Usagi's side, all propriety lost.

"What, are you guys ganging up on me now?"

"We're just trying to understand," Usagi said, wriggling away from her. "And for your information, that hurts—"

Minako sniffed. "Well, if you must understand, then know that I met with them—"

"We've met with them too," Rei interrupted, giving Minako a pointed look. "They were very polite."

"What? No way, they were so rude, they accused us of being MIA or something—"

"Well," Makoto said with a sigh, "we kind of were."

"You really can't believe that, Mako-chan. We were saving the world—"

"So were they," Makoto argued back listlessly. Minako's lips tightened.

"We don't have any proof—"

Usagi lifted her hand up, trying to distill the tension. "C—can we go back to the agenda?"

"I'm afraid your last three objectives combine into one," Setsuna spoke up. Her voice overpowered Minako's sullen expression. She set her teacup down. "Minako, I'm sure you would like to explain your position, but I must first address Makoto and Rei. You have met with Mouri, no?"

Makoto and Rei nodded. "They told us—"

"That we know more than we let on, yes?" Setsuna sighed, looking weary. "That is true, we do."

"But," Usagi asked, still giving Minako a cautious glance, "why? I thought we could all count on each other..."

"We can," Haruka said hurriedly. "You know we can, kitten. It's just—"

She broke off, looking almost troubled. Setsuna picked up her teacup, closing her eyes. "I suppose the four of us have always been rather socially inept."

Minako's mouth dropped as Usagi swung her head from side to side nervously. Sure, all the guardian Senshi had thought that, but no one ever really addressed it to them. "Not at all, Setsuna-san, you four—you guys all know you're welcome, you're a part of our family—"

"We know that," Michiru interrupted gently, looking amused. "We just have a different way of handling things."

"Not your code again," Minako groaned. Even Rei looked bothered.

"Not our code," Haruka quipped, her lips quirked up wryly. "We just want to protect you guys, that's all."

"Haruka-san, we don't need protecting," Makoto pointed out, eyebrows raised. "Unless you forgot, we're kind of, you know, Senshi as well."

"Of course," Michiru explained, her voice still soft. "That's not it at all, Makoto. We also have a... connection to this situation."

"Excuse me?" Rei said, sitting up straight. She had always admired Michiru, that was obvious to anyone who paid any kind of attention to their dynamic—but at the moment, Rei felt a flash of annoyance towards the older girl. "If you really want to protect us, you could start with telling the truth."

"Of course," Michiru repeated. She set her hands in her lap, glancing off to the side. Usagi squinted, wondering if she was hallucinating the rose petals the vaguely imprinted the air. "Setsuna, you don't mind if I—?"

"Not at all, go ahead."

Michiru looked momentarily over at Ami, who was still staring out the window. Funny how none of the others noticed her lack of attention. She turned her gaze back to the rest of guardian Senshi. "Five years ago, you all traveled to Point D to fight against Metallia. And while it seemed only a day, in truth—I'm sure some of you have already suspected this, with the help of some Mau citizens—" Here she looked pointedly at Artemis, who seemed pleased with the recognition, "—in actuality, it was weeks. Despite the taboo, Setsuna interfered and slowed time for you at Point D, while she guided the rest of the world to move more quickly."

This seemed to finally catch Ami's attention. She was leaning forward now, her eyes glittering with interest. "Is that within your power to do, Setsuna-san?"

"Not technically," Setsuna said, her smile slightly—only slightly—mischievous. "My powers as Sailor Pluto were not designed as such. However, spending eternities at the Time Gates gave me a bit of free time to experiment with loop holes."

"Rule-breaker," Minako hissed behind a hand to Chibiusa, whose mouth was open at the thought of Pluto being a secret troublemaker.

"What was the point of that?" Rei asked, bringing the attention back to the story. "For us to exist slower, for the world to move faster."

"There is a realm," Haruka spoke up. "The underworld. Hades' realm. The Youjakai. Governed by the kingdom of Pluto, initially, but after the fall of the Silver Millenium it was left to fend for its own. Somewhere along the line, a man named Arago was able to take control of the Youjakai. He morphed it into his own creation, corrupting it from the very core. He had his sights on conquering the human world—our world—but he was craftier than he let on. He knew about the guardian Senshi and the moon princess, and he knew that you five—six, sorry Mamoru—would be a threat to him, seeing as how you were slowly destroying the Dark Kingdom."

"So he waited until we were led to Point D before attacking Shinjuku," Ami concluded. Her face was troubled. "If that were the case, shouldn't you have sped up time for us and slowed it for the rest of the world? We would have been back in time to defend against his attack."

"That would theoretically have been correct." Michiru smiled, finding Ami's grasp of the situation refreshing. Minako and Usagi were both nodding, but their eyes were glazed over. Makoto seemed to be understanding, but the way she picked at the pastry in her hand said otherwise. Rei, of course, was absorbing everything—perhaps not as well as Ami, but Michiru had the sneaking suspicion that the priestess had been having dreams that clued her in to the situation.

"Theoretically?" Minako stuck her finger in the hole of a donut, swirling the donut around her plate.

"We all died at Point D," Ami said. "Our bodies after being reborn would have been too weak. You saw this. Am I correct?"

"Partly," Setsuna confirmed. "I also saw five young boys, each gifted with armor and an inner strength, that perhaps were meant to battle Arago in your place."

"The Boys from the Roof," Makoto concluded. "They saved the Youjakai while we were gone."

"Correct. They are not our enemies."

"So," Minako said slowly, taking a bite of her donut. She chewed, watching the older Senshi thoughtfully. "Why couldn't you just tell us they weren't dangerous?"

Michiru easily saw the hurt in Minako's eyes, despite the fact that she tried to hide it. It was difficult, she thought, being able to read the younger girls so easily. But maybe that was a good thing—they weren't bitter soldiers, like herself, Haruka, Setsuna, and even Hotaru. "We were trying to protect you."

"Wouldn't telling the truth from the beginning avoid any unnecessary confrontation?" Rei asked, eyebrow primly raised.

"We were under the impression that perhaps if you did not trust them, you would not involve yourselves so deeply in the situation," Michiru confessed, looking apologetic.

"That doesn't make any sense," Mamoru said politely.

"Socially inept," Hotaru supplied helpfully. The guardian Senshi cringed.

"Anyway, please forgive us." Haruka bowed her head, her gaze on the carpet. "We're constantly keeping secrets from you, even though we've learned that's not how we should treat you. It's a part our code."

"I hate that code," Usagi said softly, her bottom lip jutted out. "It's stupid."

"Usagi," Rei hissed, nudging her. "Don't be rude—"

It was Michiru who started laughing first, her hand over her mouth. Setsuna was barely fighting off a smile, which she tried to hide behind her teacup. Haruka shook her head, eyes wide. "Kitten, don't you think that's a little—harsh?"

Usagi sat straight up on her knees, her arms on her hips. "No, and I decide that from here on out, a new code will be in order. And that one says you guys won't pull this kind of stuff anymore."

"Ugh, Usagi, you're a little embarrassing," Chibiusa grumbled, slapping her forehead. Michiru continued laughing, finding herself unable to speak. It was Setsuna who smiled and nodded.

"I agree. New code in place."

"Good," Usagi huffed. "Anyway, next objective. Minako, you will go to the Boys from the Roof and apologize to them."

"What, no way," Minako protested, chucking her donut at Usagi's face. Usagi, somehow (though really, no one should have been that surprised), caught the donut between her teeth.

"Yes way!" Usagi cried out, chomping on the donut.

"Ugh, fine," Minako groaned, leaning back on her hands. "I really don't like the idea of it, though."

"Minako, we're not normal girls," Rei said bluntly, catching the look Makoto gave her (the look was clearly saying, only you can snap Minako out of this funk, Rei!). "We never were and never will be."

"I know," Minako said lightly, though the look in her eyes spoke more than that.

"You should probably also consider that they are not normal boys. They never were, and they never will be."

Minako was silent. Everyone was silent. There had always been that large elephant in the room that was never really addressed—the fact that as much as Usagi wanted them to pursue their own lives, they really couldn't. They could go off and be superstars, world-class chefs, renowned geniuses and gifted women, but in the end they would come back. The guardian Senshi had come to an understanding right after they defeated Nehelenia that they would always be there for Usagi, even if she protested. It was their birthright, but more than that—it was their devotion to her, to the world, to themselves and their mother planets that kept them.

"I'll go with you to apologize," Rei finally offered, before Usagi could do something stupid like start crying as apologizing, even if none of them at all blamed her. The corner of Minako's lip lifted slightly.

"Don't tell me you've got your eye on one of them," she teased half-heartedly. Rei rolled her eyes nonetheless, waving the question away.

"I just don't trust you. The second you tell them you're sorry and they forgive you, you're going to jump on one of them, I know it."

"You know me well!" Minako winked. Makoto shook her head, wondering how Minako was able to quickly just shift through her moods. "Shall we go now?"

"How do you know where to find them?" Chibiusa asked curiously.

"I don't know," Minako said, throwing an arm around Chibiusa's shoulders and pulling her close. "You, however, are dating their little brother figure, correcto?"

Usagi spit her donut all over Makoto's face. Mamoru's eyebrow twitched. "ExCUSE ME?!" she shrieked, launching herself at Chibiusa. "You want to explain?!"

"Oh my god get off me!" Chibiusa wailed, kicking Usagi and scrambling for an escape. Usagi swung forward, snatching Chibiusa's leg and pulling her back.

"You have some explaining to do, brat!"

"Whose business is it if I'm dating someone?!"

"Uh, hello," Usagi said. "You're supposed to be dating Helios!"

"Helios?" Haruka furrowed her brow. "The horse boy? What happened to Peruru?"

Chibiusa paled. Minako almost had stars in her eyes.

"I've taught her well," she gushed to Makoto, who sorely picked up a pastry and wondered how a fifteen year old had more luck with guys than she did.

x

Touma closed his notebook, tucking it away in his book bag. He glanced down the lecture hall, though he wasn't surprised when he didn't see the short crop of blue hair. So Mizuno hadn't been in class today. That was understandable; they had stayed up late the night before, running over possible theories on why they had never met as well as the purpose of their enemy.

Their enemy. He smiled wryly at the memory. Ami had, at first, been very reluctant to divulge any information to him. It had taken a bit of persuasion on his part (he himself was also unwilling to reveal everything to her), but she finally decided to spill everything when he mentioned Mukala.

"Three years ago?" Ami's eyes widened, her hands clutching the folds of her skirt. "This was the unbearably hot summer, am I correct?"

Touma nodded, eyeing her with scrutiny. She looked tense, excited—on the verge of an epiphany. He recognized the look all too well.

"It could be a coincidence," Ami said, almost breathless. "But that was around the time the Dead Moon circus set their sights on Tokyo. The weather was stifling hot, humid, due to the sheer presence of their evil power. But you said this—Mukala was what caused the heat in Shinjuku?"

"I haven't heard of a Dead Moon circus," Touma mumbled, more to himself. He leaned back on his arms, watching as Ami put a finger to her lip.

"No, you wouldn't have—especially not if you were busy with your own opponent. I'm starting to wonder now—"

"Maybe our teams were purposely being pushed apart," Touma finished for her. He caught the surprise in her eyes that he could follow her train of thought so easily. And then she smiled pleasantly, nodding. She didn't have to tell him that she was thankful for someone else who could grasp at clues and fill in the blanks—he himself was grateful for her unexpectedly sharp mind.

"Hashiba!"

Touma was jumbled from his thoughts, seeing Ami, in real life, jogging towards him. Her face was flushed, as if she had been rushing to find him. "Mizuno, hey—"

"Thank goodness I found you," she breathed, her face blooming into happiness. He stared, unsure of how to respond. "I've just had a meeting with the others, but I didn't have a chance to let them know about what we talked about before we had to break up. I was actually preoccupied the whole meeting, I just couldn't stop thinking of our conversations. I wanted to find you, though. Do you have time now?"

She was speaking unnaturally fast. Touma blinked, glancing around. Seiji was supposed to meet up with him, like he always did after their morning class. "Yeah, we could sit at that bench if you don't mind."

"Of course," Ami said, fumbling with her messenger bag as he led the way. She slung the strap over her shoulder as she sat down. She didn't hesitate to start. "Setsuna told us everything she's told you guys, maybe more. I can perhaps fill in the blanks later, but a sudden thought occurred to me."

"Go on," Touma said politely, keeping his eyes out for Seiji. His mind, however, was entirely focused on her.

"You remember that I had theorized that this enemy was targeting my princess?" At Touma's nod, Ami turned fully to him. "I'm starting to doubt that. It just doesn't make sense to me. Why would they go after each of us Senshi if they could just take her instead?"

"You protect her, don't you?" Touma, for once, couldn't understand where she was heading. Ami bit her lip.

"We're not as strong as we used to be. Peace, I think, had put our powers into a bit of a hibernation. It would be easier than they think, and after that attack from Rubeus—the man from the festival—I'm sure the enemy would realized the state of Venus and Jupiter's powers and change their tactic accordingly."

"You might be giving them too much credit," Touma joked. In the back of his mind, however, he remembered what Ryo had told them early that morning. That Hotaru had told him the guardian Senshi were weak, that Uranus's strength was immensely greater than theirs.

"Perhaps," Ami said. "That's beside the point. There's one thing in common that the attacks all had. One thing we're overlooking."

Touma looked at her, trying to read the information from her eyes. Instead, all he saw was an unguarded pool of excitement, anticipation—and trust. It almost overwhelmed him and he looked away. All of the previous attacks... He looked at her again, eyes narrowed. "Ryo?"

"Precisely." Ami sighed, glancing down at her lap, playing with the edge of her short skirt. "I'm still unsure of why dead enemies are showing up, but I think their main focus is to take on Sanada."

"But that time on the roof? They asked for Kino Makoto."

"That puzzles me as well," Ami said, shaking her head. "Makoto is the strongest of the guardian Senshi. They might mistake her for leader..."

Her voice trailed off. A dumbstruck look appeared on her face. Touma blinked again. "Mizuno?"

"They think she's leader," Ami said, almost laughing. "She guards over Jupiter—of course, the god of all gods. They probably think she's the leader, much like Sanada."

"That might be stretching it a bit," Touma pointed out, smirking. Ami's shoulders quivered with giggles. "I'll make a bet on it, if you want."

"A bet?"

"Of course. If you're right, and this enemy is as stupid as you say it is, then I'll build you a robot."

Ami's eyebrow quirked up. "A robot," she repeated, skeptical.

"Or a really good coffee maker," Touma added. "Self-brewing. Solar powered."

"And if you're right?" Ami pressed, curious.

"What do you have to offer?"

"I have some good study guides."

Touma gave her a flat look. Ami laughed, playing with the strap of her bag.

"Fine, I'll let you borrow the super computer."

The two shook hands. If anyone else had been around, they would have been astounded that Mizuno Ami was not blushing, or itchy, or shaking or overcome with nerves. It would have been the oddest (and most exciting) thing for her fellow Senshi to see her conversing with a boy so naturally. Of course, Ami didn't even realize the implications of her late visit at Touma's apartment the night before. She was only concerned with the beauty of sharing knowledge, of theorizing all night long, of talking about physics and the world and everything in between.

It wasn't until later that afternoon, when she was sitting in a booth at Crown Fruit Parlor, pouring over her class notes, did she realize—she had been over at Hashiba Touma's apartment until two in the morning, sitting in his room—alone—with a boy—in his apartment—his room—alone—

"Another tea, Ami?"

Ami looked up at Unazuki. "N—n—n—"

"Ami?" Unazuki set down her tray on the table, leaning forward. "You're all red, are you feeling okay?"

Her phone lit up. It was a text from Touma, thanking her for the information earlier. Ami suddenly felt her arms itching.

"Do you need some medicine? I'll run to the back—"

"I—I—I'm," Ami continued to stutter, rubbing her arms furiously. The text was not a love letter, she was trying to convince herself. Of course it wasn't, that was stupid to even think of in the first place. Not a love letter, she repeated, and not an allergic reaction.

"Ami?" That was Motoki. He leaned over the booth, reaching out to feel her forehead. That did it. Ami flailed her arms, knocked her lukewarm tea all over the notes, stood up and collapsed right as she got on her feet. Motoki gaped, catching her. She shoved him away, scrambling backwards into the booth.

"I'm so sorry," Ami said, breathing heavily, scratching at her itching face. "I'm so—I'm—"

"Do you want me to call someone?" Motoki offered hesitantly, his arms still out in case she fell again.

"No," Ami said automatically. "I just—I need—"

She had been alone in Hashiba Touma's room until two in the morning. Motoki watched as she stood stark still, her face paling, before she suddenly fainted.

"C—call Mamoru!" he sputtered out to Unazuki, who had returned with a bottle of medicine.

x

Yamano Jun was the first of his friends to spot the blonde girl standing at the gates. It was late, past school hours, but he had stayed behind to clean up the practice room. He swung his duffle bag over his shoulder, giving the girl a glance over. She had her hands on her hips as she puffed her cheeks out.

Jun tried to sneak by. She turned her glare from the school's sign onto him. "Hey, kid!"

Jun pointed to himself. "Me?"

"Yeah, hey," she said, trying to draw herself up taller as she crossed her arms. Too bad he towered over her tiny little figure. "You go here?"

"Yes," Jun said plainly. Oddly enough, she reminded him of someone... He just couldn't out a finger on who.

"Do you like it?"

"Er, yeah," Jun said, wondering what the hell this strange girl was getting at. "Do you need any help, ma'am? I really have to go—"

"I'm looking for a brat," the girl said, waving her hand. "He's probably in a gang or something, and really ugly, with dyed hair. You know anybody like that?"

Jun had a handful of guys he could think of. He, however, did not understand why a girl like her would be caught up with a bunch of thugs. "What do you need with them?" he asked cautiously.

"He's dating my sister," the girl said. "I need to give him a piece of my mind, you know, let him know that Tsukino girls aren't to be messed with."

Jun opened his mouth to quickly explain that he really couldn't help her when he realized what she had just said. "T—tsukino?"

The girl's face immediately brightened up. "Yeah, you know her? She's a punk, but she's sweet—don't tell her I said that, though. Any idea who she's dating?"

Jun took a good moment to survey the girl in front of him. He must have been dumb, he realized, to not figure out the connection. Different hair and eye color, but they shared the same sweet face. Oh god, he thought. This was not how he wanted to meet the family. Did that weird Chiba guy tip her off? Was that it?

"Yoo-hoo, kid? Hey, kid?"

Jun blinked at the hand waving in front of his face. He plastered on a silly grin. "You know, Tsukino-san, I don't think I know him all that well. I heard he's a great guy, though, really nice to his classmates, star of the Kendo team."

"Call me Usagi," she said, staring at the nametag on the bag. Her eyebrows were scrunched up. "Ah, sorry, I can't really read your name that well..."

She was unflinchingly honest. Jun's smile wavered. "It's—my name, that's—"

"Oi, Yamano! You forgot something in the locker room!"

Jun squeezed his eyes shut. He opened them to see Usagi staring at him with a flabbergasted expression as his teammate shoved something under his face. "Here, you wouldn't want to leave your lucky charm behind, eh lover boy?"

It was a photograph. Of Chibiusa and him, cheek to cheek, with his arm around her. Both of them were grinning at the camera, with Chibiusa flashing a peace sign. Before Jun could grab it and hide it, Usagi took the photograph, her mouth flapping open. "You little brat!" she squealed, not taking her eyes off the picture. "You lied to me, right to my face!"

"I didn't try to! You're the one who was making me out to be some kind of thug!"

"You are a thug!" Usagi cried out childishly, pointing her finger right under his nose. Jun's teammate stared.

"Yamano, you know this crazy girl?"

"Crazy?" Usagi rounded on the other boy. "Scram!"

Jun's teammate's eyes widened as he reluctantly took a step back. Jun gave him a pitiful glance and he turned around, shrugging. "See you tomorrow, Yamano."

"Yeah, bye."

"So, Jun," Usagi said, taking him suddenly around the shoulders. That itself was a feat; she had to almost jump before he took pity on her and crouched down. "How about you treat Usa-neechan to a milkshake?"

"I—I really have to get home," Jun stumbled as Usagi somehow managed to drag him down the sidewalk.

"Nonsense! Kids should be visiting the arcade center, not study all day! I'll even let you pay for a round of Sailor V, how about that?"

No wonder Chibiusa always avoided talking about her sister. Jun found himself somehow putting in a few coins into the Sailor V game. He almost numbly watched as Usagi expertly beat her way through the levels. Soon, his nerves had faded away in lieu of his amazement at Usagi's expert Sailor V skills. "How'd you do that?"

"Do what?" Usagi asked, her tongue sticking out as she squinted at the screen.

"Usually you have to fight the boss head on, but you managed to sneak around it."

"Easy, use your climbing skills to scale the wall and get over him," Usagi said. She groaned as Sailor V suddenly fell into a hole. "Man, I always forget that's there!"

"You're—really good," Jun said dumbly. Usagi looked smug.

"Of course I am. See the second place score?"

"That must mean you've spent way too much time here," Motoki said as he appeared, leaning against the game machine. He rapped his knuckles against the machine fondly. "Still haven't beat Ami's score though."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Usagi stepped back from the game, grinning at him.

"Have you heard from Ami? I'm a bit worried—"

Motoki blinked as Usagi started laughing. She slapped the game machine for good emphasis. "Ami's fine! She's absolutely okay! Did you know that she's allergic to love letters?"

"Love letters?" Motoki was dumbfounded. "Are you sure that's what it was?"

"Yeah, Mamo-chan told me all about it. His doctor buddy said it was an allergic reaction, and she's only got one thing she's allergic to." Usagi paused. "I might have to hunt her down and figure out who this guy is though."

Motoki sighed, shaking his head. "You girls are going to be the death of me. I honestly thought she was having an episode or something."

Usagi glanced at Motoki, her eyes softening. She really wondered, sometimes, why he put up with them. They were all meddlesome, and she knew that he knew that they all had a crush on him at one point in their lives. "Ah, Motoki-niichan, you're too nice."

Motoki shrugged, grinning. He glanced at Jun. "Oh, hey, your friends were just here."

"My friends?"

"Shuu and Ryo? Somewhere around here, maybe at the parlor now."

"Shuu's here?" Usagi's face lit up.

"You know Shuu?" Jun asked, blinking at her. Usagi almost started cackling.

"I know everything about you, little boy, there's nothing you can hide from Usa-neechan!"

Motoki shook his head again, motioning over to the parlor. "Go and help yourself, Usagi."

"Thanks, Motoki!"

Usagi grabbed Jun's arm, forcibly dragging him. They went through the door connecting the arcade and the parlor. Unazuki immediately looked up, greeting Usagi. "Your usual?" she asked. Usagi nodded eagerly, thanking her. She scanned the parlor for a few familiar faces before her eyes landed on Shuu. He was sitting in a booth with two other people, whose backs were facing her.

"Shuu-niichan," Jun called out weakly. Shuu immediately spotted them, waving them over. His eyes seemed to light up as Usagi saluted him.

"Long time no see, pretty girl."

"We just ran into each other the other day," Usagi countered. She squeezed into the booth, jabbing her thumb at the still-standing Jun. "You never told me you knew the kid dating my sister, though!"

"Chibiusa's your sister?" Shuu feigned a look of surprise. "I never knew!"

Usagi stuck her tongue out at him. Across from her, Ryo stifled a laugh. "How are you doing? We haven't met since the recital."

"Ah, that's right! You're the tiger boy, of course! How are you?" The blonde paused before she realized who was sitting next to Ryo. "Ah, Hotaru-chan?"

"Hi," Hotaru said plainly before turning back to her soda. Usagi blinked a few times, trying to understand. Eventually she gave up and turned to Shuu.

"You're stealing all my friends," she said. He winked at her.

"I'm just that great of a guy."

"Gross," Ryo joked. He nudged Hotaru and nodded his head at Jun. She glared at him before rolling her eyes to the standing teen.

"Yamano," she said stiffly.

"Tomoe," Jun greeted, just as coldly.

"Woah," Usagi said, watching the exchange. "This is great."

"Better than television," Shuu agreed. "Anyway, what brings you here with Jun?"

"I was going to terrorize him," Usagi huffed. "But then he paid for my Sailor V game so I figure I could be nice."

"Better than your fiancé," Ryo said, laughing. Jun colored at the memory as he finally took a seat next to Ryo. "He almost beat up Jun. It was kind of funny."

Shuu's smile was a little tight. No one except Hotaru noticed, and she figured it wasn't any of her business. "Should've done it," she instead chose to say. Jun's expression turned sour.

"What was that, Tomoe?"

Hotaru slid her eyes to her drink, shrugging one shoulder. Jun scowled, but before he could say anything, Shuu intervened. "Wow, you guys really like each other, huh?"

"As if," Jun muttered darkly. Usagi's eyes seemed to be dancing.

"Jun, you know that to really charm a girl, you have to get her best friend's approval, right?"

"I don't need approval from a spoiled girl with a princess complex," Jun grumbled.

"I wouldn't want to give my approval to a crybaby little worm, anyway," Hotaru said smoothly.

"I am not a crybaby!"

Shuu and Usagi could have clutched hands and started dancing. Instead they both snorted and ducked their heads, trying to hide their laughter. Ryo sighed, caught in-between the crossfire—literally. Hotaru was on his left while Jun was sitting to his right. "Come on, you two, play nice."

Silence from the both of them. Ryo shook his head, stretching his arms and yawning. It was contagious; Shuu also started yawning. Usagi rubbed her eye. "Stop that, you guys are passing it on."

"Late night," Ryo said apologetically. "Though I'm sure you know about it?"

Usagi nodded, her gaze soft. "Yeah. I..."

She paused for a moment. All eyes were on her. Shuu sighed. "You don't have to explain, Usagi."

"No, I do. Though maybe Hotaru-chan already has?" Usagi glanced up, seeing Hotaru shake her head. Great, she thought. She wasn't the most eloquent with words. "I just think—I know we got off on the wrong foot—and I'm sorry—"

"Don't apologize," Shuu said firmly. "Really. You didn't do anything wrong."

Usagi didn't miss the implication in that. "My friends mean well," she said, meeting his eyes. "They're just trying to protect me."

"You need that much protection?" Shuu joked, trying to lighten the mood. Instead Usagi lowered her eyes, biting her lip.

"I don't think I do. I don't really know. I just—I'm sorry if we hurt any of you."

"No offense or anything," Ryo said, "but we're pretty tough guys. We can handle more than a bunch of girls being mean."

Usagi sighed. "Really, if you're mad, let me know—"

"We're not mad," Shuu reassured her. "Who can be mad at a girl like you?"

Hotaru pulled a face as Ryo grimaced. Trust Shuu to lay it on thick—and trust Usagi to not even get it. Usagi just smiled warmily. "Thank you," she said, and he returned the smile whole-heartedly.

The five of them spent the rest of the afternoon at the parlor and the arcade. Usagi had finally granted permission to Jun to leave after an hour of beating him at a racing game. They watched as he left. "He's really a good kid, you know," Shuu said eventually. Usagi started giggling.

"I know. It's just fun, you know, playing older sister. I don't get to do it much."

"No?" Shuu leaned against the whack-a-mole game that Ryo had been teaching Hotaru how to play for the past half hour.

"Nah, Chibiusa's more reliable than me. Smarter, too. Maybe even cuter." Despite her words, Usagi didn't sound upset. She was smiling, with her fingers laced behind her back. "I'm glad she's found someone like him. He's a pretty average guy."

"Average," Shuu repeated. "Your man, is he average?"

Usagi puffed out her cheeks. "No way! Mamo-chan is above average! He's too sexy and suave to be average!"

"I'm telling him you said that," Motoki said as he passed by, patting Usagi's head fondly. She groaned.

"Come on, Motoki, don't give him any leverage!"

Motoki winked, returning to the counter. Usagi turned back to Shuu, rolling her eyes. Shuu just humored her, laughing, even if his heart didn't really mean it. He knew what he had been getting into, anyway. He would have been dumb not to notice the ring on her finger. And after meeting Chiba, he understood—someone silly and cute like Usagi needed someone smart and cool like Chiba.

"Should we head out?" Shuu asked, noticing the sun was starting to set. Usagi yawned loudly.

"This reminds me of high school. I used to spend all my days here, without a care in the world."

"You still don't?" Shuu teased. She swatted him on the shoulder.

"Of course I don't! I have enough money now to buy my own games."

The two of them waited outside for Ryo and Hotaru. Shuu felt a lump in his throat as he watched Usagi play with her phone. Get over it, Shuu, he thought to himself—and of course that made his throat even drier. It sucked, he thought. It absolutely sucked to like a girl who was already taken.

But of course he wasn't going to pity himself.

Shuu sighed as Ryo and Hotaru finally came out of the arcade. He made a face as Ryo dangled a plush keychain in front of Hotaru's face.

"I don't want it," Hotaru said, exasperated.

"Just put it on your bag," Ryo was saying, even trying to grab a hold of her bag. She quickly maneuvered out of his way.

"It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen," Hotaru pouted. Ryo rolled his eyes, finally grabbing onto the strap of her bag. He swiftly clipped the keychain on, grabbing Hotaru's hand away as she tried to take it off. "Ryo—"

"Friends are great, right?" Ryo grinned at her mischievously, his blue eyes twinkling as he walked backwards in front of her. "You said it yourself, you're glad I'm your friend."

"I'm starting to regret ever saving your life," Hotaru said, shoving his shoulder. She ignored Ryo's feigned shock as she made her way to Shuu and Usagi.

"When did you guys get so chummy?" Usagi asked, squinting at them as if she couldn't possibly understand for the life of her. They had only met last night, right? How did they become so close so fast? Unless it was like a comrade kind of thing, that she understood. She and Ami were inseparable the day after Sailor Mercury awoke.

"Yeah, Ryo, what happened on that walk last night?" Shuu egged on, wiggling his eyebrows. Ryo punched him on the shoulder, laughing.

"Whatever," Ryo said. "Usagi, where are you headed?"

"Mamo-chan's place isn't too far from here," Usagi said, her hands behind her back. "Hotaru-chan, you're going home?"

"To Setsuna's," Hotaru said, absently playing with her new keychain. Ryo smirked at that.

"Oh, that's the opposite way." Usagi sighed, rubbing her elbow. The 'socially inept' thing came to mind; she never really saw Hotaru and her adoptive parents outside of Senshi business. "Take care of yourself."

Before Hotaru could respond, she reacted. She leapt forward, her shoulder crashing into Usagi's stomach as she knocked the older girl down. Ryo and Shuu, who had instinctively jumped out of the way the second they saw Hotaru act, stared at the crater where they all once stood.

"What the hell," Shuu breathed as he rushed over to Usagi. "Are you okay?"

Usagi said nothing as she grabbed onto his arm, staring up at the sky in horror. Hotaru, still on the ground, narrowed her eyes as she followed Usagi's gaze. Ryo paused, seeing the look on her face. It sent a chill down his spine, he realized, just as it had the night before.

"Usagi?"

"Demand?" Usagi whispered, and the man in the sky smiled down at her.

"Demand?" Hotaru voice was flat as she got to her feet. She yanked Usagi's attention away from him. "Another member of the Black Moon clan?"

It was all Usagi could do to nod. Her knees suddenly felt weak as she blinked, tears coming to her eyes. "And Saphir," she mumbled as another young man appeared in the sky. "But how..."

"Get her out of here," Hotaru demanded almost roughly to Shuu. Shuu lightly took Usagi's hand.

"Come on," he said. She stumbled a bit at his tug, shaking her head.

"They're not—Hotaru-chan, they're not bad," Usagi found herself saying. She wiped at her eyes with her free hand. "Please."

Hotaru said nothing. Ryo flashed her an easy-going grin. "Don't worry about it. We've got this."

Just as he spoke those words, Demand and Saphir both raised their hands. And then the sun turned black, the world felt cold, and Usagi remembered nothing else as she fainted in Shuu's arms.


an and another chapter done! thank you for all the reviews and for sticking with me thus far. hopefully i haven't bored you all yet. next chapter, we see... the end of the world, what?! :O

Girl-chama: thank you for your reviews! in characterizing the boys, i do take bits from their profiles and background stories, as well as how other stories characterize them. i feel like my own twist to making these characters flourish come from the little things that i like to flesh out. for example, touma, for all his cleverness, is a complete brick and has no idea what "other peoples' feelings" are lol. this i got from the kikoutei ova, where shin is all riled up and ready to bolt and touma says something like, "come on dude now isn't the time for feeling like this you're just being emotional," with the intent of being supportive but of course... it ends with him getting decked in the face hahahaha.

another example would be shuu vs ryo – they're both very impulsive (as demonstrated when they try to sneak away to attack arago when everyone's sleeping hahaha) but in different ways. out of the two, i would say shuu is the one with the wild temper, not ryo. ryo gets heated up when his friends are in danger, but otherwise i find him to switch between being chill and energetic, depending on the mood. shuu is the same way with being chill and energetic, but i feel he gets riled up much more easily – maybe not seriously, and maybe just to entertain his friends, but he would be the one to squabble over stupid things just for the hell of it.

haha i will admit though, shin is the hardest for me to write. it's so easy to just write him off as the sensitive guy, but obviously he's tougher than that. anyway i hope this helps somehow! :')