The Return of Sailor V: Chapter Twelve
by Vchanny
All characters are copyright of the talented Naoko Tacheuchi. I own nothing.
~*~V~*~
"Aino! Wait up!"
Minako here! I am currently trying to complete Operation Best Birthday Gift Ever. But people keep getting in my way today.
Minako cursed under her breath a moment before stopping on the dark sidewalk, plastering on a smile, and turned around to the familiar voice. "Hey! What's up? Did I forget something?" she looked to make sure he had her clutch, and that her phone and keys were inside. "Looks like I have everything," her voice trailed off.
"No no," the woman dismissed. "You just took off before I could ask you something. And you generally aren't the first to take off, or decline an offer to hit up karaoke. Mako and Ami have to get up for work in the morning. And Rei, well, you know Rei. Up hours before the sun rises," there was a slight roll of her eyes before continuing. "So, I just wondered what was up with that."
"When everyone else declined, I just figured I'd let you off the hook. I'm sure you and Michiru have better things to do than listen to me belt out today's hottest songs," she said, trying to act as natural as possible. She said no, because she had something to do, but she couldn't tell Haruka that. "I love karaoke, but I don't do pity karaoke," she added with a playful wink.
"So, you're not up to something?"
Minako looked past the soldier of wind, to Michiru saying her last goodbyes to the remainder of the group gathered near the entrance. "Nope." Back to Haruka, who now had an eyebrow raised in suspicion. "I don't know why you'd think that."
"Two months of unexplained traveling?" her hip was jutted out now, hand rested on it, leaning slightly forward as she examined the girl, waiting for her to trip up on some lie she was sure she was hiding.
Minako could see Michiru steadily approaching now. Would she be able to stand up two the scrutiny of two? Best not to chance it. Plan B was about to begin, anyway, and she needed to be in place. There were only a few hours left of Mamoru's birthday. A late present just wasn't the same. "Pish posh! Says who?"
The ocean senshi had arrived now, and had a hand rested on her lover's shoulder. "What's going on here?"
"Nothing," Minako giggled. "Listen, I'll catch up with you two later. I'm still tired from my flight. I'll kick your butt at karaoke another time, hm?" And before anyone could get another word in, she took off down the sidewalk to catch a taxi.
"Rei seemed quite agitated with Minako tonight, didn't she?"
Haruka nodded in agreement. "I don't know what that girl is up to, but she's up to something."
Michiru chuckled softly. "Shall we follow her?"
Haruka grinned, and swiftly turned and wrapped her lover up in her arms. "Oh no. Now that the rest of the night is free, I have plans for you."
"Oh yeah?" came the playful reply.
"Oh yes."
~*~V~*~
"You're late."
Minako met the sharp greeting with a roll of her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, Jun. I had to make sure someone wasn't following me."
Kudret shot her a worried glance. Someone? Who?
Minako seemed to know what he was thinking. "Don't worry. Nothing crazy. Just Haruka. I think she thinks I'm up to something."
"You are," Jun replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, but she doesn't need to know that!"
"Can we move this along, now?" Zack asked, pushing himself off of the street bench.
"Where are we anyway?" Nate asked, looking around the street.
"Well that," Minako turned and pointed to a building across the street, "Is the apartment of one Chiba Mamoru."
"We're going to ambush him in his home?" Zack was agast.
"What if they are, um... together?" Jun coughed out, knowing very well everyone knew what he was implying.
"Who? Usagi and Mamoru?" After a nod of confirmation, she chuckled and waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, don't worry about that. Usagi-chan had a few too many. I saw Mamoru helping her into the car. There is no way any of that is happening. Mamoru is quite the gentleman."
"If you say so," Jun's voice trailed as he too stood from the bench, remembering a time or two in the past where he wouldn't quite describe his prince as being the perfect gentlemen in the presence of inebriated ladies. "Shall we?"
"Follow me!"
A few minutes later, the group of five were standing outside the aforementioned apartment. Just before she began to knock, she looked back at them, who were all staring at her expectantly, "You guys all remember how we're going to do this, right?" They all nodded. "Okay, so back up, huh?" She shooed them a few feet away, and then held her finger over her lips to silence them. When she was satisfied, she knocked. A moment later, Mamoru answered the door.
"Minako? This is a surprise. Did Usagi forget something at the club?"
Minako could hear Usagi call out from the bathroom, asking who it was. "No. Nothing like that. I just realized I forgot to give you your birthday present, that's all."
Mamoru smiled. "Surely it could have waited? I wasn't expecting anything. It's really not a big deal. You didn't have to make the trip."
Minako shrugged, and gave the signal to the guys. "It sort of is."
Mamoru nearly fainted when the four men appeared behind Minako, who was still standing just outside the door. He grasped the door frame to steady himself, and Minako was quick to lend a hand. The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. Minako and a man, who looked a lot like Kunzite, helped him to the couch. The others followed, shutting the door behind them. Usagi appeared a few seconds later in her bunny pajamas, with a toothbrush hanging from her mouth. She, too, nearly took a fall at the shock of the sight before her. Quick thinking Jun made it to her side before she lost her footing. Minako was next to her side, and she removed the toothbrush and set it down while Usagi was led to the sofa.
There was a lot of awkward staring and silence. Usagi looked from Minako to the men in the room, then to Mamoru, who seemed to be off in his own world. "M-minako, what is this? H-how?"
Minako beamed and spread her arms out, as if she were presenting a new car to some contestant on a game show. "Happy birthday?" Mamoru and Usagi both shared a glance before looking to Minako for an explanation. At least they hadn't transformed and tried hurting anyone? Minako felt like this was a good sign. They were doing much better than Rei.
~*~V~*~
AN: Short and sweet! I have some hijinx planned as the girls meet the guys, though I'm not sure entirely how much of that I will do. There is something else I want to do, and I don't know how that will all work in. . I had honestly only originally meant for this to last until she found Kunzite, so if it seems a bit unplanned... well, it is, ha.
Btw, thank you guys for the quick reviews! You make a girl feel loved. :)
Gabicg93 – Thank you! I'm sure you will capture her. I read your new story. I think the fun of AU stories is that the character can get a little out of character, without it ruining things. As long as it isn't totally crazy.
Bethany89 – Hahaha, "K-man" XD I love it. One of the guys might have to call him that now. I am trying to get back to the Sailor V style. I really fell out of it these last few chapters. I think it will be a lot easier now that this is knocked out and out of the way. If nothing else, that omake idea sounds fun! I could probably take an idea I have and run with that. Thanks for the review! I'm glad this last chapter was better than the last. That last one I didn't even really like that much.. but it had to get posted so I could move on. I'm one of those people who will sit on a bad chapter for a year if I have to. .
Valkyrie Celes – Rei is just mad, still. Jun wasn't aware of her part in it, but I think his messing with her was good retribution.
James Birdsong – Thank you for the kind words!
XsmallLadySerenity13 – Rei couldn't get away with that. I couldn't allow it. XD
