"Minako! Over here!" The blonde whipped her head around at the sound of her name. Spotting the blue-haired girl that had called her, she broke into a grin and waved. She quickly bid goodbye to the person she'd been talking to before running over to where Ami was.

"Ami! What are you doing in this part of town? I didn't expect you to be here!" She cried, throwing her arms around the other girl.

Ami laughed and returned the hug. "Zoi's neighbour needed some help moving some furniture. However there was some problems with the vehicle and they were delayed. Xena needed to be walked, so I said I'd do it. I just had to go grab the keys from Kunz. He works around here, so when I brought the keys back we just stayed in the area."

Minako grinned at the complexity of the answer. "So the short version is you're walking your boyfriend's dog?"

Ami blushed and nodded. "Yeah, basically."

"So this must be Xena then, right?" Minako squatted down, making a fuss over the previously ignored puppy. "She's a real sweetie, isn't she? Yes you are. Yes you are, lovey. You are such a good little sweetheart. And so cute, too! Your master really knows how to pick winners, doesn't he? You and Ami, both as cute as buttons and sweet as honey. Oh yes, you know I'm talking about you, don't you?"

Ami laughed. "She sure does. And she's a huge suck for attention. Why don't you join us? There's a park just ahead, I think. Then I can take her off the leash and let her chase sticks for a bit and run around."

"Sticks? You didn't bring her a ball or anything?" Minako asked, surprised.

"No point." Ami responded. "After the second or third time she fetches the ball she just gives you the dirtiest look. She makes it plain that if you want the ball, you shouldn't be stupid enough to keep throwing it away. Although she has taught Jad to fetch, kind of."

Minako started laughing again. "So she's as smart as she is cute. That's good to know. Now I'll be ready for it when she starts trying to train me."

"Yup! Forewarned is forearmed!" The blue haired genius chirped cheerfully. The headed over to the park, still giggling randomly.

"Okay, here you go girl. Go have a quick run!" Ami said, taking the leash off of the puppy. Xena was off like a shot, checking out bushes and running in circles. The two girls watched her from a nearby bench.

"So how long are you gonna be out here with her?" Minako asked, considering inviting Ami out for a meal after.

"I don't know. Until Zoi's done, I guess."

"Wait, you don't have a time?" Minako asked, surprised.

"No. He doesn't know when they'll be finished. He guessed an hour or two."

"And you're going to keep her out for all of that? Does she normally take walks that long?"

"No. But I needed to give Kunz his keys back. He's going on an overnight business trip. He leaves right after work, so he should be gone now." Ami answered matter-of-factly.

"Why couldn't you just take Zoi's spares from him? Why did you need his keys too?" Minako asked, confused.

"I didn't need Kunz's keys. But he needs Zoi's keys. That's because when he gets back late tomorrow, he's going to Zoi's to sleep."

Minako blinked. This was making less sense the more she asked. "If he's already spending one night away, why would he want to spend another one too? And why at Zoi's? It's the middle of the week, won't they both be busy the next day?"

"Yup. Both have work. And he doesn't want to spend another day away, but some of his ex-neighbours didn't return their keys when they moved out, so his building is being re-keyed. He supposed to trade in his keys this evening, but was going to be busy. So instead of making the owners wait up till midnight or so tomorrow night, he's staying with Zoi and getting the keys the next day. And for why Zoi's, because he does have the key for there so Zoi doesn't have to wait up if he doesn't want to." Ami replied, filling in all of the holes in the story.

Minako blinked. "Wow. Just one thing on top of another, isn't it?"

"Yeah, this was the only thing they could think of to do. Actually, that's not quite true. If the keys couldn't be worked out, Zoi was going to call Jad and have him pick the lock to his place. He's done it before. Zoi's neighbour knows Jad and would have let him into the building."

"I see." She said slowly. "So since there was no way to do it easily they just picked the legal way, is that it?"

"Basically." Ami responded. "It's a good choice, and I don't mind watching her. She's fun. Xena! Stay out where I can see you, hun! Get back over here!" The puppy responded by bounding back over to where they were sitting and demanding to be petted. Both girls were happy to oblige. The fluffball stayed with them for a bit before running off to chase bugs. "So how was your day? What were you doing in that building I saw you coming out of?"

Minako grinned conspiratorially. "One of the major newspaper chains has offices in there. My PR agent had set me an interview."

Ami raised an eyebrow. There was more to this story than Minako was saying. "Why there? Why not at your studio or at a coffee shop or something?"

"Well, the official story was that I was in the area and wanted to go see what happens in a 'real news center', and my people just decided to get it over with while I was there." The blonde replied, putting sarcastic emphasis on the part of her bubble brained public image. "While I was there I hung around with some of the head reporters. I was talking to the guy who does crime reporting about Rei's trouble, and how it made me feel less safe. He's going to look into it, but that's not all."

"Not all? That's already quite a bit." Ami replied, giving Minako the eager audience she obviously wanted for her story of intrigue.

"One lady who works just next cubical was listening in. She has a less than fully utilized gift for discovering all the dirty little secrets there are to a story. Her favourite niece, who's named after her, is best friends with one girl that Sumiyoshi terrorized. She despises him with a passion. However, there was never enough evidence for her to go after him due to his father. If he was anyone else she would have had him hung, drawn, and quartered by now. Now she has the opportunity to get him. And since she will be the one hunting down Rei for the story, it'll be more easily believed."

"Wow." Ami said, truly impressed. "That's more than we could ever have hoped for. How did you learn about this?"

"Let me ask you one thing. What did you think Usagi's part in all of this was?" She responded, not ready to spill her source quite yet.

"I don't know." Ami replied, puzzled. "I'll admit I was curious about why she was so involved. I thought she'd have the same amount of effectiveness of Mako and I. That is to say, not much. Does she have something to do with it?"

"Usagi works at a daycare downtown. It's one of the largest daycares in the city. So she drops a few worried remarks in the waiting area with the mothers there, and she's in rumour central. So she says 'watch your daughters' and they reply 'yes, else what happened to so-and-so's girl could happen to mine', then she says 'it would be great if those trouble makers would be dealt with properly' and she hears 'so-and-so totally agrees'. You follow?"

Ami's eyes were wide. "You mean she's spreading rumours to all the offices at the same time that she's gathering leads?"

"Yup." Minako responded smugly. "You know that this will be discussed to death over the water coolers. It's a political scandal and a black sheep horror story all rolled into one, with the added indignity of it being an attack perpetrated by the wealthy and idle. It's going to be all over the middle class by the time anyone has a chance to move to silence the papers. Then, when they try to cover it up, all that resentment will keep the story alive unofficially."

Ami just stared at her friend with respect in her eyes. Finally she found her voice. "Wow. That's… wow. Remind me never to tick you off. That goes far beyond anything I would have expected, even from you. I am seriously impressed."

"Yup." Minako replied cheekily. "So that's what I did today. How about you?"

Ami shook her head. "Nothing so grand. I explained the ethics of this sort of thing to Zoi, then learned how to push a tire swing and do a cannonball off of the trolley on the playground. Things like that."

Now it was Minako's turn to look shocked. "You were playing on the playground? How did that man manage that? I've been trying to get you to do that for years."

Ami blushed slightly. "He's just like that. I couldn't help myself."

"Slick." Minako said, obviously impressed. "You just watch out that he doesn't pull you to the bedroom next time instead of the park."

"Minako!" Ami hissed, face turning beet red. "Don't say things like that! We're in public!"

The blonde just laughed and patted her friend on the arm. "That's my little prude. Good girl. Just remember that there's no problem with it as long as it's what you want too, not just him."

The bluenette just hid her face in her hands, her ears and neck proving that she was blushing even harder, if possible. "Quit it." She mumbled through her hands. "Just, quit it. Why do you have to say things like that?"

More laughter greeted her comment. "They need to be said. I may as well do it. It's not like anyone else would. Well, maybe Mako."

"'Maybe Mako' indeed." Ami huffed, taking deep breaths in an effort to calm down. "She's not as bad as you are."

"I call 'em like I see 'em, girl. You know that. And what I see are two healthy adults who are very, very fond of each other. Now, enough of that. Tell me about your day."

"Well," She said, gaining back her breath. "After we got to the park…"

"Hey kids, mind if we join you?"

The eldest of the young girls turned to look at him suspiciously. "Why do you want to join us? You're a boy."

Zoi looked down at himself and feigned shock. "Wow, you're absolutely right. Strange how I didn't notice that myself. Thanks for pointing it out to me."

The younger children giggled. Even the eldest thawed slightly. "Well, I guess if you really want to, you can. Promise you won't wreck our fun?"

"Promise." He responded solemnly. "See, I have a reason for wanting to join in. This is Ami, and she's never skipped rope before. Do you think you could teach us?"

The girl nodded. Another little girl came forward to look up at Ami. "Hi. I'm Noi. Is he your brother? He seems too nice for a brother."

Ami grinned. "Nope, he's not my brother."

Noi's eyes widened. "Wow. Is he your…" She motioned Ami down and whispered the last word in her ear. "Boyfriend?"

Ami nodded. The girl immediately went into a huddle with the rest of the girls. Frantic whispering was heard before one moaned out "Not fair!" The others quickly hushed her.

"'Not fair'?" Minako asked. "So he got an admirer, did he?"

Ami nodded. "More than one after he rescued a kite out of a tree."

"He got it! He got it!" Noi squealed, excited.

"Hunh. That's not such a big deal." Said one little boy, who obviously had a crush on Noi. He had spent the entire time so far throwing grass at her and pulling her pigtails.

"You're just jealous that he's so cool and has a girlfriend. A dumb meanie like you doesn't have a chance of growing up to be like him."

"Why would I want a girlfriend? Girls are just sissy, silly crybabies. I don't want anything to do with girls." He declared, obviously stung by her words. He reached out to give her a shove.

But instead felt himself falling as she tripped him with a leg sweep. "Don't even try it, Tacchi! I'm tougher than you are, you big bully!"

Zoi came over and helped the boy to his feet. "Now, now, none of that. Someone's going to get hurt if we play like that. Just behave for now, will you? For me?"

Both of the kids nodded, hero worship plain in their eyes.

"He really is a charmer, isn't he?" Minako observed, echoing her sentiments from earlier.

"Yeah. It's so cute."

"C'mon, Ami. Get on the tire swing." He whined, pouting adorably. "That's the entire point of us being here. Just give it a try. Trust me. Drunk Neph has used tire swings. You're nowhere near too big for it."

She shook her head, resolute for once. "Those things are meant for children. I am not a child. I am staying here!"

Zoi glared at his girlfriend from where he was next to the tire swing. She just glared back. To be honest, he was impressed with this show of backbone. Ami usually tended to give way too easily.

"Besides," She continued, still matching him glare for glare, "You said something about a bumpy. That sounds very uncomfortable, and I have no desire to be any part of it!"

Suddenly a rather evil gleam came into his eyes. "Are you so sure?" He asked, voice low and seductive. "You never know, you might really like it. Are you so very sure you do not wish to even try?" He stalked closer to her as he spoke.

Ami gulped. He was planning something, but she had no idea what it was. It definitely wasn't what his voice was promising. He'd never do anything like that around children.

At least, she really hoped he wouldn't.

"Wh… what are you doing?" She stuttered. "Stay back. I know you're planning something. Keep away." She backed up until her back hit the tree she was next to. She ducked around it, keeping it between her and this strangely enthralling side of her normally light-hearted boyfriend.

"Are you so sure you want me to?" He purred, obviously pleased with her reaction to him. She wasn't fleeing in terror, so she at least trusted him enough for curiosity to win. "Are you so very, very sure that's what you want?"

"Yes!" She stated, trying to sound defiant and strong. Not an easy task when your knees and voice are both shaking and you're hiding behind a tree.

"Really? It doesn't look like that. It doesn't sound like that either." His eyes twinkled, and she recognized the humour in them. It made her feel more confident.

However, the fact that he was right in front of the tree she was hiding behind didn't.

"I'm sure. You…ack!" She squealed as he suddenly dived around the tree, moving too fast for her to dodge. He held both of her wrists in one hand and used the other arm to pull her close.

"C'mon Ami. Don't you want to… play… with me?" He murmured huskily in her ear.

"I… I…" She stammered, her breath coming in pants and her head spinning.

Suddenly his grin changed to pure mischief, and before she could even register the switch he used the hand resting on her waist to attack her ribs mercilessly.

"Ah… No… Stop…Ha ha… Tickling… Don't… Hee hee hee… Can't… Breathe…" She wheezed. She would have collapsed right there if he hadn't had a good grip on her. He swung her up on his shoulder and switched the tickling to the back of her knees. She squirmed ineffectually in his grip, but he didn't let her go.

Until he got to the tire swing.

He plopped her down right in the middle. His smile was openly exuberant as he began moving the tire. "Pull your legs in, sweetheart. You don't want them to hit the sides."

"Zoicyte Green, when I get off of this thing, I am going to kill you! You hear me? I am going to kill you dead!" Ami responded, laughter in her words. She did as he suggested and tucked her knees up to her chin. "That was low. Believe me, you will pay for… Urk!" She cut off her sentence as the tire hit the wooden support pillar, the jerking motion causing her to lose her thought. It did tell her where the name 'bumpy' came from, though. "That was not fun. I don't like these, you jerk. I…"

She trailed off as he took hold of the tire again, turning it in a big circle with him in the center instead of in the pendulum motion of the bumpy. "I know." He said simply. "Very few people actually like them. I can't stand them myself. The bump seems to induce motion sickness for a moment."

She glared at him. "If you knew that, then why'd you do it?" She asked, outraged.

He grinned at her unrepentantly. "It was fun. Now, this one's called a spinney."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "Don't you even think about iiiiiitttttt…" She said as he let go of the tire with a flick of his wrist, causing it to spin wildly.

He stood watching off to the side. He grinned at the kids who had watched the whole thing. "I am in so much trouble when she gets off that thing."

They nodded. "Especially if she hurls." Noi added. She turned to the others. "How dizzy do you think she'll be?"

Zoi turned his attention back to his spinning girlfriend as the children argued over the state of her stomach. He grinned, wondering what form his punishment was going to take from his intelligent and very subtle girlfriend.

"He didn't!" Minako said in horror, eyes wide.

"He most certainly did!" Ami responded indignantly. "Can you believe it?"

Minako shook her head. "The boy's got guts, I'll give him that. What did you do to him?"

"I haven't done it yet." Ami said primly. "Something like this deserves some thought."

"Good notion." Minako responded. "Then what happened?"

"Ooh, you are so in trouble, mister!" Ami groused, glaring at the man currently supporting her.

"Hey!" He said, mock indignant. "If I wasn't here you wouldn't be able to walk yet. You could barely stand after that ride."

"Don't you push your luck, you jerk. It's your fault I can't walk." She glared at him.

"I know." He said, mock exasperated. "I can't believe my girlfriend has such a weak stomach."

"You are in trouble right past the tip of that nose." She replied, snapping out the words.

He grinned cheerfully at her. "I know." Then he leaned in close to whisper to her in the same husky voice he'd used earlier. "There's no one I'd rather be in trouble with, though."

She shivered slightly from the feel of his breath on her ear. "Just you wait. I'll make you regret this."

The kids watched as their adult playfellows left. "Adults are so weird." Tacchi groused. There were nods of assent all around.

"I think cooties must have eaten their brains." Noi said, watching the retreating couple bemusedly. "They make no sense at all."

Minako laughed to hear the kids' comments. "They're probably right, you know."

"Probably." Ami said dryly.

"Who's right?" Came an unexpected but not unwelcome voice. Zoi dropped a kiss on his girlfriend's temple from his position leaning on the back of the bench the girls were sitting on. "Thanks for taking care of Xena, sweetheart. I really appreciate it."

"Not a problem." Ami said, smiling up at her boyfriend. She handed him the leash. "We're going to go grab some food now. I'm starving, and I accosted Minako right after work. And no, you're not invited. We have plotting to do."

"With her?" Zoi said, looking at Minako in horror. "Suddenly I'm re-evaluating my chances of surviving your revenge."

"Good." Ami said decisively. "See you later." She said giving him a quick peck.

He watched her go, a dreamy smile on his face.

Minako snuck a look back and snickered. "It may not be cooties, but something's killed the poor boy's brain."

I know that calling the puppy a 'huge suck for attention' isn't really grammatically correct, but it is what we call Xena. I think it originally started with saying she was a 'suck up' for attantion, but considering all of us grandkids were under ten when she was a puppy, it got shortened. I went to fix it, then changed it back. I like it better this way.