Blueeyeddevil06 thank you so much for being my beta!


Zoisite sat in front of the woman giving the Princess Lessons, and he was pissed. He mentioned the debt she was in and hinted at the money, and she was immediately excited to do anything he wanted. When he told her he needed access to a sixteen year old girl, she didn't even flinch. She agreed to give him access to her right away without asking what he wanted her for. He handed her the money and wondered if there was something that Kunzite could find to get her arrested. He really hoped there was.

He sat at the club later that night. He was scowling and on his second glass of cognac when Darien walked in and gave him a funny look. "Amy's on her way with Serena and Mina. It looks like it's not a moment too soon."

"That woman is horrid!"

"Beryl?"

"Her too. I meant the woman running the Princess Lessons. She just sold me access to a sixteen year old girl, no questions asked." He cursed under his breath. "I'm kidnapping her. Gosh, for all she knows, I plan to rape her."

"So we don't inform her what we're actually doing with the girl. Let her believe she got someone kidnapped."

"Will she care? I mean, when did I become the good guy?!"

"The moment you met Amy."

Zoisite smiled. "Okay, so that's probably true. Not that it happened all at once."

"It certainly didn't, but you did start caring about someone else more than yourself. She obviously doesn't." A waitress came over, gave Darien his usual bourbon, and walked off. "I never thought I'd have the waitstaff at a club knowing my drink order." He chuckled.

"You don't like clubs?"

"I didn't before. Serena changed my mind on that." He smirked.

"I can empathise with a good woman changing your mind."

Kunzite walked over and joined them. "Girls aren't here yet?"

Zoisite shook his head. "You'll just have to put up with our company for now."

"I have good news," Kunzite said. "I asked Scott to look into the woman running the Princess Lessons after we talked. Once they're over, we'll have her on tax evasion." He smiled.

"Tell Scott thank you. I feel a lot better now that she'll get in trouble for something." He shook his head in amazement. "That guy is incredible."

Darien nodded. "I couldn't agree more."

Just then, one of Zoisite's men walked over and whispered in his ear. "Thank you," he said. "The girls are arriving right now." All three men turned to look for the girls.

The three walked up, and their drinks were already on the table waiting for them. Serena looked at Darien sitting there with the guys smiling and happy, and she started to tear up. This is the kind of life she wanted for him. One full of love and friends. She sat next to him and kissed him. "I'm so happy right now," she whispered into his ear.

Mina smiled at Serena's obvious joy and then announced, "Well, the three of us are signed up for Princess Lessons. We'll naturally have Serena make first contact with the girl. Everyone immediately loves her." Serena blushed.

Misaki stood in front of her father. "Please let me go to the lessons." She pleaded.

"I'm really close to publishing a story on a horrible woman. I don't think it's safe for you out there."

"It's Princess Lessons, dad, come on! I promise I'll stay home after them. I just want to get out and do something, please." She kissed his cheek. "I'll be really careful."

He sighed. She'd not fought him for months on how much he'd kept her home. He knew she was getting cabin fever. "Okay, sweetheart. You can go."

"Thank you, daddy!" She gave him a huge hug.

Serena, Mina, and Amy showed up at Princess Lessons and all found seats next to each other. They were laughing and chatting beforehand when Molly walked in. Serena paled when she saw her. "Molly, you're taking Princess Lessons?"

"Yea." She blushed. "Melvin did something to improve himself for me. I thought I'd show him how much it meant to me."

"That's…" Serena gathered her wits. "That's actually really sweet. Why don't you sit by us? You know Amy, this is Mina."

Mina smiled. "I've heard so much about you! I'm glad to meet you."

Molly watched them all as the four of them chatted. She noticed there was something about them all that was similar. It took her a bit, but she realized they all held themselves the same. Interesting. She also noticed the collective mood of the three change when a pretty girl that was a few years younger than them entered the room.

Serena smiled at Misaki kindly and asked her if she'd like to join them. The girl gave a tight smile and shook her head. She then went to the edge of the room and sat by herself.

Misaki wasn't a fool. She knew that there were girls out there that were genuinely kind. The girl who invited her over really looked like one of them. The problem was that she knew that her father was about to expose someone dangerous. He let her go to these lessons, and she would reward him by being incredibly careful. Her plan was to learn how to be more of a lady and to stay to herself.

Molly watched Serena share a concerned look with Amy and Mina. Something was up, and she had no clue what it was. She did know one thing, she knew she trusted Serena.

Lunch break came, and Molly watched as Amy approached the girl. She refused to join them. Molly squared her shoulders and walked up to the girl. "I'm Molly, and I feel it's important that I talk to you. I will stay five steps back and not pressure you. Please, just hear me out."

The room had emptied, and Misaki was in there with Molly. She was incredibly nervous, but Molly didn't come close and left a clear path between her and the door. She wasn't trapped. She pressed her lips together and nodded. She then said, "Talk fast."

"Trust Serena. I don't know what's going on at all, but I do know I owe my life to her. Whatever is happening, she's the good guy."

"There aren't many of those out there."

Molly shrugged. "You're in luck then. One found you. If you need to talk, I'm willing to listen any time."

The girl hesitated as Molly went to leave the room. Before she walked out the door, she said, "Wait!" She paused as Molly turned to look at her. "My father's an investigative reporter and is on to a big story. It involves danger. It's big, and the person would want to keep it quiet."

"A man held a knife to my throat and threatened to kill me. Serena saved me, risking herself, and she'd just become my friend. Even more, I fully believe she would have done the same if I was a stranger." Molly smiled kindly at her. "She's capable of more than you think." She then walked out the door.

Misaki sighed and looked at her feet. She promised her father she'd be careful. Would she be breaking that promise to just talk to Serena? She walked out onto the lawn, collected her food, and walked over to join Serena, Molly, and the other girls.

She looked at Molly and said, "I'm going to take your advice."

Serena looked at Molly in shock. She'd gotten Misaki to talk to them? Molly smiled and asked, "Do you need me to leave so you can talk?"

Mina shook her head. "I don't think Misaki would be comfortable with that." She reached out and held Molly's hand a second then let go. "I think you should discover how you helped protect her."

Misaki looked startled. "Protect me?"

Serena nodded. They had decided she'd take the lead so she started talking. "We know who you are, and before you freak out, you need to know we're here to help. It's obvious your father is trying to keep you safe. He's right. The person he's writing his piece about is planning on kidnapping you."

Misaki was completely panicked. "What do I do? Oh, I need to tell-"

"No! She's the one who sold access to you. You're supposed to be kidnapped here, and she's helping. You won't be." She pulled out her badge. "Here, I work for the government. I'm going to keep you safe."

She took the badge and looked at it. "I'm not even sure what I'm looking at." She laughed. "I've never seen one of these before."

Amy smiled. "It's real."

"How can you help? If she fails, she'll just try again."

"She's not going to know she failed. Our plan is to make it look like you were kidnapped and hide you until she's brought into custody. That will be soon."

"She'll know she doesn't actually have me though."

Amy smiled and shook her head, "The man she asked to kidnap you is a mole and actually works with us. He'll report that he was successful, that you tried to escape, and you died. She won't be able to get her hands on you then. We will be telling your father from the beginning that you are completely safe."

"This is a one day lesson. When are you kidnapping me?" She was shaking. She hoped she wasn't making a mistake trusting them.

"You will be called out of the class halfway through this afternoon's session. It will happen then." Amy supplied. "The man who is going to take you will not hurt you. He's…"

Serena smiled at Amy. "Amy and Zoisite, the man who you'll meet, are completely in love. It's actually really sweet to watch. You'll be safe with him."

Misaki nodded and straightened her posture. "How will my dad find out?"

Serena pulled out her phone and said, "What's his number?" Misaki gave it to her, and she pressed send. "Don't hang up, this is about your daughter." … "You are about to have a government agent come to your place. Answer the door. Your daughter is safe." … "Yes, I promise." … "Bye." She hung up and looked at the girl again. "They will be there in five minutes. Your father will be given all the details before it even happens."

"Okay," Her hand shook. "I'm terrified. I begged him to let me come."

Serena smiled. "It's going to be okay. She would have gotten to you another way. You're safe now."

Mid-afternoon Misaki was called out of the session because of a phone call for her. She gathered her things, stood straight, and walked out the door.

Zoisite watched a brave girl walk towards him. Her hand was trembling, but her posture was perfect and her feet didn't falter. He smiled and said, "Misaki, I'd like to meet under better circumstances, but this is what it is. Please, come with me." He led her outside, held the car door open for her, and she got in.

"Where are we going?"

"A place in the woods where you'll be safe. I got word your father is very stubborn and insisted he was there when you arrived." He watched her posture relax completely as relief washed over her face. He traced a bend in the road with the car and pointed out a spot to her. "See that?"

"Yes." she looked at him curiously as to why he was pointing it out.

"That is where you panicked and jumped from the car. Your foot slipped, and you fell under the back wheel. You died instantly." He smirked. "Now, Beryl can't demand I turn you over to her."

"Beryl?"

"The woman who ordered me to kidnap you."

She nodded. "How far away are we?"

"Fifteen minutes. If you want water, there is a bottle in the pocket in the door."

She reached down, opened it, and took a drink. "If it's poisoned, I'm screwed anyway," she quipped.

He laughed out loud. "Smart girl!"

"Amy." She watched him smile when she mentioned her name. "She said I could trust you. You look dangerous though."

He chuckled. "I'm really not anymore. She tamed me."

"No way. You can't tame bad boys. That doesn't actually work." She took another sip and smirked. "You use that as an excuse. You met her and decided to become a better man for her. You tamed yourself."

He looked at her curiously. "How did you figure that out?"

"My father is an investigative journalist. I've learned all the tricks for figuring people out."

The car settled into comfortable silence. Soon enough, the drive was over, and they pulled up to the safe house. A middle aged man was running to the car. "I'm guessing that's your father."

She smiled and hopped out of the car not even answering. She then ran and hugged her dad.

Artemis walked up to Zoisite and patted him on the back. "Now, it's time for you to go convince Beryl that she's dead."