Disclaimer : I do not own Sailor Moon.
A/N: The words in italic are thoughts.
A Shock in Time
...Present...
Setsuna POV
On the outside I appeared calm and in control of the situation that could so easily shift into chaos. My emotions were raging on the inside and yet my body delivered actions that were smooth and calculated. All I could do was smile lightly and gaze into a set of piercing emerald eyes.
As opposed to my stoic behavior, Makoto's actions reflected nothing but insecurity and distress, as if being thrown into a group of youma unarmed.
"Hello Setsuna," Makoto said softly. She ran a shaky hand through her hair before flashing a smile to show a hint of confidence.
Who are you trying to fool, you or me, Makoto? I turned my attention back to the other outers and couldn't help but scowl at the smirk that crept onto the expression of the wind senshi. She's enjoying this awkward moment with no remorse to my uneasiness of the matter.
"Your restaurant has done really well, Mako." Michiru replied with a smile, pushing back the unruly aqua strands that were determine to free itself from the band holding her hair in place.
"Agreed," Haruka agreed, "but then again I never doubted your business savvy or skill in the kitchen."
"It seems as if your young Hotaru has enjoyed my meal as well," Makoto spoke with a smile. She noticed the stains on the jumper of Hotaru along with the tell tale signs of a demolished chocolate cake around her mouth.
"Hai. My firefly managed an entire slice of your chocolate cake without my help," the blonde smiled back confidently. She looked at her lover who sat beside her and the smile across her face deepened.
At the same time, both Makoto and I looked away from the happy couple as if scared to disturb such a tender moment. Bottle green eyes caught my garnet pair and held it just a second longer than I would have allowed. I turned back to the loving couple quickly as if afraid that by simple eye contact would have shown too many of my late night thoughts of her.
A slight frown formed around the mouth of Makoto when she noticed my avoidance of direct eye contact. For a moment I thought she was about to ask a question to me, but no soon as her mouth was opened to speak it closed shut abruptly.
Michiru broke the silence when she chuckled softly, "Sometimes we do forget that others are around us watching."
"No it's alright, you have a beautiful family." Makoto noted as she plucked away some invisible lint found on her chef jacket. "I should get back to work anyways."
"Do not let the public display of affections by Michiru and I drive you back to work," Haruka took a drink of her wine, "we hardly see you anymore anyway, and I know it has nothing to do with poor Michi's cooking skills."
Clunk.
"Ouch!" An injured look was given to the woman with aquamarine locks by her blonde haired lover. "I was just kidding," Haruka noted.
No matter the time period these two lovers will always be the same in spirit. I smiled slightly, looking over at Hotaru. "Your mama and papa do not know how to play nicely."
"I should head to the back," Makoto's voice was soft, "I have so many other meals to prepare for tomorrow events."
"Thank you for such a beautiful meal," I answered back quietly.
In an instant, Makoto rush along the path she took to come to our table, but paused briefly before disappearing into the staff room. My eyes never left her figure and I craned my neck to make out the reason for her pause, but to no avail. At the table the others held the expression of confusion and sadness, which I assumed the latter was meant for me.
Makoto POV
Just as I was making a clean get away I saw another flash of blonde, two tables away from where the outers sat. I looked but could not make out the person for he or she held the menu so high up it made it near impossible to figure out.
As I walked to the kitchen I felt a set of eyes piercing into my back, which made me speed up quickly. After the last customer left, the staff and I celebrated with a glass of wine and then we went our separate ways to go home.
It felt so good to be back at my apartment where I can change clothes and rest while watching my favorite television shows without interruption.
Quickly, I changed out of my chef uniform and put on a white t-shirt with sweat pants. I felt absolutely comfortable and the tension that was with me at work seemed to have evaporated slowly.
Walking to the kitchen to get some bottle water in the fridge, I noticed a posted note on the door of it. The note was from Ami.
Mako,
I need to run some errands and I have a study group at the university tonight. I will not be back until much later.
See you soon!
Ami
I smiled as I folded the note and placed it onto the counter. Simple gestures like that made her so much different from Setsuna.
Coming back from the kitchen I took one glance the answering machine, I fully expected no messages but I was wrong, there was one.
"Hey Mako, we need to talk. I will be over after 9, since I am on a date with Mamo-chan. Talk to you soon!" The voice of Usagi rung in my ears still even after the message was complete.
A groan escaped my lips for I knew that something had to be the matter. I shook my head as I made my way to the couch and collapsed upon it.
No soon as I closed my eyes did the door bell ring alerting me of Usagi's presence.
Together POV
"Setsuna is everything okay?" Michiru's concern expression was directed fully at the Time senshi. "You haven't said another word since being in the restaurant."
When silence answered the question it looked as if the senshi of the seas wanted to press the issue further. But her blonde lover grabbed her hand before the words had left her mouth.
"Sets, Michi and I are going to take little Hotaru out for a stroll in the park. If you need us, just call our phones." Haruka smiled reassuringly before exiting from the apartment with the others.
As soon as the others had left, Setsuna ran a shaky hand through her silky mane of hair before sitting on the chair by the window.
Deep in concentration Setsuna debated on whether to go back to the gates of time to find peace or to pluck up the courage to call Makoto.
She decided to do neither, but grabbed her car keys in the destination of her job at the university. Since everything had happened a year ago at the hospital, Setsuna thought it was best to change her occupation to a teaching. Maybe I can get some much need work done earlier, she thought.
Making her way through the double doors of the campus entrance, Setsuna walked at a brisk speed to her office that was before a flash of blue hair stopped her in mid-step.
She made her way to the classroom door that she had just passed at gazed inside of the room where students were studying. The students were studying so hard in the room they paid no attention to the woman with dark hair tinted with green who was gazing at them with a keen interest.
The classroom was filled with about 20 students and it was obvious that she had caught them in a group study session. Setsuna scanned the room lightly until her eyes landed on a young woman with blue hair. Her eyes narrowed slightly before returning to its usual sparkle.
The young woman shifted in her seat while biting lightly on the top of her pencil, deeply absorbed into a problem that she was having a difficult time solving.
Setsuna hesitated for a moment to enter the class room and just before she could step foot inside a voice was heard from behind of her.
"Meioh Setsuna, may I speak with you for a moment?" A woman with red hair and wearing glasses looked at the senshi of Time with intensity.
A moment of hesitation. "Hai."
Tea was served to the woman with flowing dark hair as she sat in front of the desk of the academics department head.
"I have asked you hear today to discuss matters concerning one of the students here."
"Oh? And how does this student relate to me?"
The woman ran a hand through her unruly locks of red hair and then continued, "This student in particular is one that you are close to. And I find that she is in need of your guidance to some degree."
The senshi of Time put down the cup of tea she was drinking and gaze directly at the woman behind the desk. "Please explain."
A slight nod. "Ami Mizuno is a very gifted student and we are very lucky to have her at this university. We have selected three students to represent us in an academic tournament. Each student must write an essay of a topic of their choice and present it to the judges. Ami has chosen time as her topic of interest."
For a brief moment, the mask that was always apparent on the face of the guardian of time had slipped away. "And what do you propose that I do for her?"
The red haired woman chuckled lightly before answering. "You are one of the best experts concerning history and time development. I thought you could guide her on this topic. Actually I asked her to meet me here at this office today."
A knock on the door was a response to what the woman had just stated to Setsuna. Before the time guardian could reject this sort of madness, it was already too late. Ami had entered the room with a look of curiosity and confusion.
"Yes, Ms. Ono I heard you wanted to see me." The young woman with blue hair looked awkward to be in the presence of the time guardian.
"Ami have a seat. I was just discussing with Ms. Meiou about your research paper and how her help could strengthen the school chances of winning the fund for the school's construction." Ms. Ono held the expression of pure delight as if she was a kid at the candy store.
Setsuna who was reserved at the moment opened her mouth to speak but closed it when a gentle voice came out. "I do not think this is a wise idea." Ami Mizuno answered.
The woman behind the desk raised her eyebrow and looked at both woman with eyes darting back and forward between the pair. "And why not? Is there something that I need to know about?"
"No." Both answered in union.
"Then it is settled. You both will work together for the better of this university. I am counting on both of you to put your brilliant minds together to formulate a strategy of success!" She smiled winningly while failing to notice the faint expression of distaste on both of her guests' faces.
"Ladies, our future is in both of your hands." Ms. Ono clasped her hands together with excitement of the moment. While the two woman in front of her smiled back. Both were lost in their own thoughts and could figure out what will happen next.
(To Be Continued...)
A/N: If you made it this far... Review! Thanks.
Special thanks to dc-4me. Here's the chapter you'd asked for!