Crystal Tokyo Shorts: The Love Triangle of Venus

Chapter 14 – Meddle, Meddle

Characters – V

by Vchanny

General disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story.

AN: After re-watching some episodes of Crystal, I HAD to write some Setsuna! Also, this has been sitting on my computer for a while now. Shame on me!

In the back of the tiny corner coffee shop, she sat. Sunglasses propped on the top of her head, hair pulled back in a neat braid, business casual attire, head stuck in the magazine she was holding. Aino Minako didn't need to stand out. She knew the person she was meeting would find her the instant they walked into the place.

She wasn't there long before they arrived. Which was funny, because she herself was late. But, you didn't need to be able to see the future to know that the Goddess of Love was always at least fifteen minutes behind.

"Ah, Sets, you made it!" she called out cheerfully as the woman made it to her table, setting her magazine down with the rest of her belongings.

"Indeed," was all the taller, exotic woman said as she sat her things down in a neat pile in the booth before taking her seat.

"So how are things?" she asked eagerly. It had been a while since the two had spoken. After the thaw and Crystal Tokyo emerged, the Outers took their leave and went back to living their normal lives.

Setsuna smiled warmly. "Oh, you know, same old stuff." She didn't need to explain what stuff she was talking about. Minako knew. Setsuna had new freedom from her post; Mercury had helped her build a remote monitoring system, but she still spent time at the Time Door. "Michiru just finished another round of tours across Europe, so the house is full again. Haruka started building some race machine downstairs. Rather noisily, I might add." She chuckled briefly and then continued. "Hotaru is finishing up another college course abroad."

The waitress came by then, and took their drink orders. Minako ordered some chocolate iced coffee concoction, while Setsuna simply got some green tea.

"And what about you, Minako? How are things here? I haven't visited the Palace since shortly after the princess was born."

"Ah, well, you know." Minako knew she knew, but decided to indulge her anyway. "In her benevolence, the Queen, decided to reincarnate all our past foes who had been taken advantage of by Chaos. I suppose she saw the Ayaskahi sisters doing so well, and of course, the Amazon Quartet, and decided 'hey, why not!'" She got a little over animated toward the end of that sentence, her frustration seeping through.

Setsuna smiled that knowing smile of her. "I sense you are not entirely behind this decision."

Minako simply shrugged as she rolled her eyes a bit and looked out the window briefly. The waitress dropped off their drinks, and they each took a sip.

"Why did you really ask me here, Minako?"

"Well, I assumed you knew. Miss I-can-see-the-time-lines."

Setsuna chuckled. "That's not exactly how it works." She sipped her drink and set it down, leaving her hands wrapped around the cup to borrow some of it's warmth. "I do... but, you know I can't answer that."

"But you came." Her eyes then drifted back out the window, "So, I assumed you would." The slightest hint of defeat could be heard in her voice.

"I can't," she stated with finality, and then softened a bit, trying to lighten the blow. "But, who am I to turn down coffee?"

"Why can't you?" She was staring the older woman straight in the eyes now. "Would it really be that big of a deal to just tell me? I obviously can't figure it out on my own. They've been here for forever, nearly a year now, and I'm still no closer to figuring it out. I should know this! Right? I'm the Goddess of freaking love for Pete's sake. You have to tell me, Sets. Have to. I'm going to lose my mind if this goes on much longer. She has all three of us working on something right now. All. Three. Same room."

"There are rules. I can't tell you who you choose."

"Why not?"

"The time line is fluid. You know this. What if an event occurred that caused you to choose, and if that event never occurred, because you choose too soon, your relationship would not be as fulfilling?"

"What?" So confused. Why did Pluto always talk like an alien?

"You can't meddle, Minako. Things will happen when they are supposed to happen."

Minako let out a frustrated sigh. What a waste of time. She should have known better. Pluto was never one to bend the rules—at least not for something so silly as a friend's love life. Saving the universe? Sure. Helping her dear friend Minako with her conundrum, not so much.

"Thank you for the tea. I need to get back, though. Haruka is having something delivered that needs a signature. Why she couldn't be home for this... is beyond me. We will have to do this another time soon. Give my regards to the others."

As Setsuna left through the front doors, her phone chimed. She pulled it out of her purse and checked the message.

::How did it go?::

:Just how you said it would.:

::Oh?::

:Just as entertaining as you said. She really is a mess.:

::Teeheehee. See? Worth it.::

:Oh, Princess... or should I say Queen now? You really are trouble.:

::Oh, don't say that! I didn't actually plan for this... it was just an interesting present after the fact.::

:If you say so. Give Small Lady a kiss for me. See you soon.:

::Will do! 3::

AN: Clearing out some more already written chapters. I was reading through all my published chapters, and decided to clear up just how long this has been going on. I was going to start on a brand new one, but realized this could work. So, here ya go! Sets is in on the scheme. I'm off to start the chapter I had planned on starting now. A big thanks to all the new follows. :)