"You're going out with Ikeda Takuya, again?" Rei asked incredulously.
"He didn't give me much of a choice," Sakura admitted. "He forced a credit card on me."
The Scout of the Night had invited the rest of her fellow scouts to her home to help her prepare for the night's events. She had chosen a very low, off-the-shoulder, floor-length gown in black. Much like her previous dresses, it hugged her in all the right spots and it had a slit long enough to reach for her sais but, unlike her other dresses, not long enough to show them. She couldn't afford to be reckless. She was going to a dinner party full of mobsters for heaven's sake! No wonder Takuya told her to wear her sais at all times. It was pretty clear that he didn't trust anyone. It wouldn't come as a surprise to her if he lived by the phrase: "keep your friends close but your enemies closer."
"You're crazy about him, aren't you?" Minako asked.
"Huh?"
Minako didn't buy her friend's act. She saw the bonds between the two glowing brighter. There was a great suspicion about Ikeda Takuya among her friends. They all have heard about the rumors about him being part of the criminal underworld and most of them were worried about them being true, Sailor Mars being the most worried out of the bunch. Sailor Moon, on the other hand was the least worried about her friend. Even though she hardly knew anything about the man, she, too, sensed a growing attachment on Sakura's part. Sailor Night was the strongest warrior among them and she was very capable of taking care of herself. It did not mean, however, that her friends' concerns were nothing. It just meant that one shouldn't judge without knowing all of the facts.
"Don't be so modest, Saku-chan. I'm the Scout of Love, remember?"
Sakura just sighed. Maybe she was crazy about the man...or maybe she was just plain crazy. Either way, there was no hiding from Sailor Venus. A gentle blush rose to her face as she remembered the few kisses he gave her and how weak she felt. His touch was so electrifying, too. This was all that Minako needed. It basically confirmed her own suspicions about her friend's feelings. She smiled.
"I don't think you should go." Rei said.
"Why?" Makoto asked.
"He's too dangerous to be around with."
Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars began to argue. Sakura was about to step in when the doorbell rang. She didn't have to look out the window. Takuya had specified a time when his driver would pick her up. It was now 6:00 PM. He told her to expect the doorbell to ring at exactly at that time and to be out the door.
"Talk to you later, guys. Takuya's very...strict about being on time. Mars..."
The Scout of Mars said nothing. She knew that nothing that she could say would make a difference but she shoved a protection charm into Sakura's hand as her own way to tell her to be safe. The Scout of the Night smiled. She slipped it into the cup of her dress, where her power stick hid, and winked as she pranced out the door.
"Be safe." Rei whispered.
Takuya waited in a dark corner of his client's home. He tried to avoid as much contact with most of the crowd, especially Aoi. He should have known that she would come with her father. The man was looking for a socially prestigious match and was hoping to set her up with him. The young man outright refused. Aoi was nothing to him. She just filled his then-empty nights. Since meeting Sakura, however, he didn't mind the empty nights.
"Sir?"
"Hm?"
"Adachi-san has arrived. Shall we send security?"
"No. I'll get her myself."
The young man emerged from his corner, walking briskly past his so-called admirers. He could careless about them. The majority of them either hated him or were simply trying to kiss ass to get into his good graces. The only person that he gave a shit about was the woman in the limo and he wasn't about to let his client's security team touch her. No one...absolutely NO ONE...touched what he considered his. Adachi Sakura was his. He didn't give a damn if she was on the other side of the law.
Many in the underworld hated the fact that he fraternized with a Sailor Scout. Even Takuya's own father criticized him for it. There were few that applauded him for messing around with one but, at the end of the day, he didn't care. He was a grown man. He called the shots. He even called out his enemies to do something about it. They didn't dare. They were smart not to go up against him.
"Sakura-chan."
The young woman shivered at how husky his voice became at the sight of her and the familiar electricity that flowed through her as he took her hand into his to help her out of the vehicle. She flushed as his eyes traveled down her figure and back up, briefly stopping at her chest. This time, she wore a simple necklace with a diamond pendant that rested snugly between her breasts. She couldn't keep her smirk back as she checked him out. He looked nice in a tux but she preferred his normal black clothes and gray trench coat.
Raising her hand to his lips, Takuya smirked right back before kissing it. Tonight would prove most interesting.
Aoi was not having a very good night and she had only been at this dinner party for not even half an hour. She brushed a strand of sandy-blonde hair out of her face and observed the object of her affection with the one person who he shouldn't have been with at all. That night at the auction should have just been one stupid date. That should have been it. No. Takuya just had to find that Sailor girl rather fascinating. He had even admitted prior to the event that he was just there for fun. Sailor Moon had been his original intention but then he saw Sailor Night. The dark-haired woman wondered what could have happened to divert Takuya's attention to said Sailor Scout? She didn't think she was that special.
"Hmph."
"You really need to get over Takuya, Aoi."
The woman turned to her twin brother and frowned. Get over Takuya? Who the hell did he think he was? She huffed before turning her attention back to the couple outside. She would never get over him.
"Go to hell, Yukio."
"You've been a bitch since he said no to that proposed merge our dad suggested to him. Grow up."
"Fuck off."
Yukio sighed and left his sister alone, but not before taking in the violet-haired beauty that stood outside.
