Author's note: Please, leave reviews - I love to hear from readers. I hope you enjoy this update. I don't want to go into detail for every single youma attack so I hope you like the imagery that I put in there. I hope it provokes your imagination.

Chapter 20

Minako stirred her spoon slowly in her tea, the strong herbal scent filling her nostrils. She had been sitting in this coffee shop for the past hour with Danieru, discussing the next steps they want to take with her modelling career. He suggested no more 'beach season' shoots and to move into women's wear for the autumn season. He had reached across the table and took up a handful of her long golden locks, commenting that the autumn tones associated with the season would complement her naturally sunny radiance perfectly. Minako had blinked rapidly at the random turn their conversation had taken, pointedly staring at his hand, eyebrows raised. She experienced, yet again, the increasingly familiar déja vu that occurred whenever he invaded her personal space like this. It wasn't just his interactions with her that was familiar, it was like he was familiar to her… beyond the man who is her agent. She sighed, watching him at the counter ordering them a light bite to eat now that the 'work' part of their meeting was finished. He had insisted that she join him for a quick bite before the afternoon was over. She felt weird, noting the unexpected interactions were getting more frequent these days.

"Hi, Minako-chan," a voice chimed in her ear. Her ears perked up, recognising instantly who it was.

"Rei-chan!" Minako greeted the raven-haired miko.

Things between them were still a little strained since their heated conversation in the Crown Arcade. In all honesty, Rei was feeling guilty, not knowing Minako's backstory, yet at the same time, she was annoyed with the blonde for not standing with her in their duties as sailor senshi. However, Rei strongly felt that their bonds went deeper than standing together as senshi – the loyalty and devotion between the girls was a love that never dies.

"What are you doing around here? I usually see you in the Crown Arcade," Rei said, cringing slightly at the reminder that the last time they'd been in each other's company, it was at the Crown.

Minako raised her eyebrows. "We do go to other places!" she laughed. "Actually, I'm here because I'm having a meeting with my agent. We just finished talking about work."

"Oh, are you alone now?" Rei hesitated, "may I join you?"

"He's just over there," Minako pointed at the counter. "He convinced me to have something quick to eat before we leave."

"Do you want to hang out afterwards?" Rei asked.

"Sit with us," Minako invited. "It'll be cool for at least one of you to meet him!"

Rei was about to reply when Danieru appeared, setting down two plates on the table. He paused, taking in the violet-eyed beauty before him, standing in front of Minako. She turned and briefly looked him up and down. She frowned when her eyes caught his. His grey eyes bored into her own violet hues and she felt a cold shiver go through her.

Minako was oblivious to the brief glares and she hopped off her chair and introduced them to the other. "Kataomoi-sama, this is my good friend, Rei Hino. Rei-chan, this is Danieru Kataomoi, my agent." She smiled at each of them as they silently reached to shake hands.

"Enchanted to meet you," Danieru smiled, holding out his hand in a friendly greeting.

"Charmed," Rei replied, taking a hold of his hand, shaking it. It was then that she lost her breath.

She felt the burning fire within her react. It was the same feeling she experienced whenever she communicated with the great fire to show her visions through her psychic abilities. Upon contact with his skin, she could feel the coldness that flowed through his veins – there was no warmth in his heart. She squeezed her eyes closed, a bright light, almost reminiscent of the light that surrounded Minako, flashing across the forefront of her mind. She blinked, looking into his bemused face. She dropped her hand to her hand, as if burned and turned from him.

"I've got to dash," Rei said hurriedly, looking at Minako.

"I thought we were going to hang out once I've eaten this?" she replied, her brow furrowing.

Rei twirled round, making her way to the door. "I'm sorry! We'll catch up later!" she threw over her shoulder.

Danieru stared after her. "Your friend seems interesting," he offered, sitting opposite her and taking up his baguette in his hands, taking a bite.

"I want to say that she's not normally so abrupt, but she really is like that," she laughed, picking up her hot panini and blowing on it.

"I'm getting tired of this," Sailor Jupiter grumbled, looking around at the devastated park.

Sailor Mercury looked around herself too. "I have to agree with you on this one. What a mess," she replied gloomily.

A youma had attacked the Juban park not an hour ago. Makoto and Ami had come out of the cinema across the street when they witnessed people running away from the park, where screaming could be heard. They hastily made their way over and found the plants and wildlife, wilted and lacking their usual vibrancy. They noticed the gardeners passed out on the ground, grey in the face and limp. They were shocked to see a large youma with vines flailing everywhere from her scalp, wreaking havoc on the park. Makoto had been reminded of Medusa upon seeing the youma's makeshift hair. Instantly, both girls transformed and fought tirelessly with the youma. Eventually, they were victorious thanks to Jupiter's flower hurricane attack that bound the menacing tentacular vines, the flurry of stinging flower petals catching the youma off guard. This did anger her, but Mercury was able to throw her shine aqua illusion attack that drowned the plant-based youma. Mercury used her shine snow illusion attack to freeze their enemy, which inspired Jupiter to throw her Jupiter coconut cyclone attack. The bright blue ball of lightning was blasted at her frozen opponent, sending out shock waves of high-voltage energy in a large spherical blast, effectively smashing the youma into a million pieces, ending her.

"Oh no," Jupiter groaned.

"What now?" Mercury asked sharply, turning her head to look at her disgruntled friend.

"That witch got me with her crazy hair," she replied, looking at her sore, weeping shoulder. It felt sticky underneath her sailor's fuku where blood was leaking out of her torn skin. "It's fine – just a graze."

"Well, we'll check you over later. We don't want a repeat of what happened to Venus," Mercury frowned.

"Should I do something about the state of the park?" Jupiter asked, looking around at the devastation.

"We should probably get the gardeners to the hospital first," Mercury replied, kneeling by one of the unconscious park workers.

"I hear the sirens of the ambulance," Jupiter said, right as the sirens were getting louder. She sat on her feet, hands flat on the ground and concentrated, feeling her planet respond to her wish to restore life to this tired land.

Mercury watched as the colours of the park were brought back to life and once wilted plants and trees, once again stood up to drink in the sunlight. After another moment, Jupiter opened her eyes, standing up, swaying.

"Oh," she gasped, "that took a little out of me."

Mercury was at her side, her hand under her elbow supportively. She noted the paramedics making their way into the park. "They'll be fine. Come on, let's go to the Hikawa Shrine. Let's talk to Rei about this. I'd love to know who's behind this."

"You're not alone there," Jupiter groaned.