Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my beta!
Sammy paced his room in anger. His favorite superhero, the woman he had a crush on, was his sister! Ewwww. He was disgusted.
He thought Sailor Moon was the coolest and imagined her meeting him and falling in love with him. He even fantasized about her telling him that he was more manly than Tuxedo Mask.
Then he caught the last battle on television, and it clicked for him. Serena was Sailor Moon. No way were any other two people as sickeningly and disgustingly in love as his sister and Darien. It was like the blinders came off, and he recognized them. Gross.
Suddenly, Sailor Mars was his favorite. He didn't recognize her, but she looked the least like his sister.
Darien sipped his coffee as he sat at the Crown Arcade, Rick was to his left, and Kunzite was to his right. Meanwhile, Andrew was wiping down the counter, chatting with them.
"So, that was interesting," Rick commented. "Those things weren't hard to defeat, and the news picked up the whole thing. Even Sailor Jupiter's comments about that restaurant."
Kunzite shrugged, "We had no idea they were filming us all."
"And you all looked brilliant during the fight."
"Because those youma were so weak!"
"Yeah, but I should point out that the public doesn't know that. The video crew wasn't anywhere close to most of you. They didn't overhear anything important being said during the battle."
Rick then snickered, "Yeah, but the best clip on the news is Sailor Jupiter cheering over keeping that new restaurant safe. Everyone is applauding her for being a proponent of small businesses. They don't know she just loves good food."
Andrew smiled and bragged, "She does recognize a good milkshake when she has one."
"You and your milkshakes!" Rick grumbled. "I've heard too much about them."
"What are you talking about," Andrew said in confusion.
"Most of the girls had a crush on you at some point, and those damn milkshakes didn't help."
"They did?"
Darien let out a long sigh. "Yeah, they did."
"Who?" Andrew then looked alarmed at the guys, "Or should I even ask?"
Kunzite smiled and ticked the names off of his fingers, "Raye, Amy, Molly, Lita, and Serena."
"Um… sorry?" He didn't know what to say to that information.
Darien shrugged uncomfortably, "It's okay."
"No one believes that," Kunzite said, looking at him rolling his eyes. "You're over it, but I know it bothered you when you found out. You're allowed to be honest."
"Fine, it bothered me, but I am over it now. I just…"
Rick stepped in, saying, "You know he's a great guy and would have been good to her. It would have sucked watching them date."
Kunzite laughed, "Is that Darien's thoughts or yours?"
"Both," Rick admitted reluctantly.
Andrew was beet red and desperately wanted to change the subject. "So, what did you think of my sister's tennis match?"
To Andrew's surprise and excitement, the whole group had shown up to cheer Unazuki on at the tennis tournament. The day after they dusted all the youma gone amuck, they showed up in support of her.
Secretly he thought they looked like two royals with their entourage, precisely what they were, really. It shocked him how much Serena, and especially Darien, were falling into their roles. While Darien was a solemn person, existing within a social group was new, and he was surprised how well he did with it all.
At least to Andrew's estimation. As demanding and as 'bad cop' as he could be when it called for it, interacting and trusting people was new for him. When everyone who could fight showed up to the battle, it changed something in him. When they let him down, it was just another time it happened in his life. When they set aside their busy schedules to show up no matter what that made a significant impact on him, especially when he saw it as being in support of the woman he adored and lived two lives for.
Unazuki shocked a lot of Japan that day. She was a rookie and just out of the junior leagues, but her ability and focus under pressure was astounding. The announcers all commented on her laser focus and her powerful backswing. She finished fourth, just out of the medals, but even Unazuki didn't care. It was a huge deal to place as high as she did, and everyone was talking about what a performance she put on.
Rita and her parents were there, and she hugged Unazuki and whispered something into her ear that made her blush and gave Rita a huge smile. It was a very good day for Andrew. He was proud of his little sister.
Kunzite laughed at Andrew, "You know we are all impressed with Unazuki. You're trying to change the subject." He then winked and said, "I'll help you. She's incredibly talented, and it couldn't happen to a nicer or harder working girl. I hope she wins next time. That woman in second place was such a bitch."
Rick laughed, "Yeah, and Lita took care of that."
"What?" Andrew asked in confusion.
"You know she's violent, don't you?"
"Well, duh, I've known her longer than you have."
"Well, that girl had it coming for calling your sister a wannabe-upstart. Lita made sure she knew that no one appreciated her comment."
"Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding style?" Andrew asked, blushing.
"Sorry, you lost me on that one," Kunzite replied.
Darien chuckled, "Don't worry, she didn't break anything, and Unazuki didn't hire Lita to take her out of the competition, so nothing like that."
Rick smiled and added, "But she did slap her. It was great!"
"Please tell me it won't lead back to my sister."
"Don't insult Lita like that," Kunzite said, glaring at Andrew. "She's smarter than that."
"In that case, good. She's horrible to my sister. I hope she beats her at the next tournament."
Lita leaned against Nephrite's shoulder as they walked down the sidewalk under the stars. "That was perfect."
"I'm glad you liked it, my love, and that it was worth saving."
She giggled, "Hey! A restaurant that good is hard to find. I couldn't let the Negaverse destroy the good things in this world."
"Serena, well done on your speech. I found it compelling."
"Thank you, Professor Myers. I'm touched that you, of all people, liked what I said."
"You're very charismatic. We need women like you in politics," she replied.
Serena held in her laugh. At one point, she was supposed to rule the solar system. Instead, she said, "I'm excited to get involved and do my part for the people."
"Lita! You skipped out on the testing for your desserts test," her professor complained.
"Sorry. I had something important come up…" She knew she couldn't explain what had really happened.
Professor Peters looked around, and Lita was the last student left in the room. It was as good a time as any to have this conversation. "Next time you save a restaurant, don't quote exactly what someone said about how good it was. It might make them realize that you were… something different."
Lita looked at her professor in shock. "Whaaa…?"
He shrugged and said, "Come in tomorrow to make up the work for full marks. I don't see any need to tell anyone what I noticed." He then looked her in the eyes, "Your secret's safe with me. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping to save Tokyo."
Unazuki smiled at her tennis coach, "I feel even more prepared for this next tournament."
"You've got this! I want you to drink lots of water and get enough rest. Eat the foods we outlined for you too. Your body needs to have the right fuel."
She smiled indulgently, "I know. I'm always careful. I've wanted this since I was three."
"Kenji."
"Yes, my love?"
She sat down next to him and said, "I want to do something for Darien."
"We raised Serena well. What more can we do for him?"
"He needs family around him."
He kissed his wife's cheek gently and said, "We're always here for him. I still say, what more can he need than our daughter's love? Look at that boy when he's with her. He can't be happier."
"He really does love her. It reminds me of us. You always have had a soft spot for me."
Kenji caressed her cheek and said, "Darling, I would walk across the world on my knees just to bring you your favorite flower. I'm just happy that she's found a man as devoted to her as I am to you."
"You're such a charmer."