Chapter 20

"Look at'chu!" smiled widely Mina as she held the eldest twin, Aiko. The baby gave a giant toothless smile as she was carried by her eldest sister. She gave a squeal when Mina gave her kisses on her cheek, "Look at you! My sweet little Aiko! You have such chubby cheeks!"

The younger twin, Suki, was carefully being held in a baby carrier on Mina's back as she slept peacefully from the warmth and movement of her sister. One might think she was holding too much weight and should be more careful with carrying her two young siblings, but with her power and strength as a warrior and sailor senshi, she was able to easily prove that carrying the two siblings was a simple thing and helped keep her practicing strength training at home.

Both girls looked exactly like her father in hair color, eye color, and mannerisms.

"Mina!"

Turning her head, the young woman smiled at the voice who called to her. It was Jade. "I'm in the living room!"

He must have arrived with her brother from their morning training.

Sure enough, she noticed Hikari walk in the room completely drenched with sweat and deposit his workout bag in the nearby closet followed by Jade who seemed freshly showered from the gym. Mina knew her brother had a thing about only showering at home and not a public facility. To each their own, she guessed.

Hikari gave a smile seeing Aiko gurgle happily and he also gave her a kiss on the cheek before smiling, "Good seeing you awake and happy, Aiko." He also nodded to Mina, "Mom and dad put you on baby-sitting duty?"

"I volunteered since they both looked like living death. I think mom almost ran into a wall like three times today. If it wasn't for dad's quick reflexes to protect her from herself…" responded Mina as she looked to her brother and friend.

Hikari nodded, "I'll be down in a little bit."

Mina continued standing and giving happy faces and sounds to her little sister, which laughed excitedly at the play. It was several minutes before she caught Jade staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She gave him a smile, "Would you like to hold Aiko?"

He looked at her a little flustered when he realized he was staring at her caring for her baby siblings. He saw the happy baby who was usually content no matter the person she was given to. He gave a nod interested in holding his mentor's new child. When he held the baby, Mina was surprised at how skilled he genuinely was in making sure the head was properly supported and the baby being comfortable in his arms.

"You're an expert at this! I didn't even know," smiled Mina as she adjusted the baby carrier on her back, her baby sister still asleep and baby drool starting to wet her shoulder.

Jade felt his face heat up as he continued smiling to the little one who also smiled in delight at the new person she was carried by. He nodded, "My parents taught me how to care for a baby when they had my other younger brother and sister a few years back." His voice was gentle and even causing the baby girl to smile even wider. "They made sure I knew how to take care of a baby because they saw how challenging it was for Sensei Kunzite when he cared for your brothers on his own during the Exile as a new dad. Father didn't want me to be caught off guard without the skills in case my future bride becomes a warrior and we have to be separated for a period of time."

Mina gave a smile and a deep sigh, "That's so thoughtful! I'm sure whoever you marry is going to be a very lucky person! I'm excited to see who it is!"

Jade gave a smile, his cheeks becoming pink, before he returned his focus to the child.

"I'm sure your future bride is going to be amazing and absolutely love that you can help raise the children with her together," encouraged Mina, "I wish I could find someone as caring and loving as you are." She paused noticing his face become a very bright red. She blinked, "Jade, why is your face super red? Did something happen? Are you okay?"

The more she pressed, the brighter his face burned. He couldn't help but look to the side as she kept touching his arm gently, "Come on! Tell me! I'm one of your best friends! We've known each other forever!"

He remained silent trying to look down at the child who was now starting to fall asleep at her sister's antics.

When the child finally fell asleep, Jade silently handed the baby to Mina before stepping out of the living room to Hikari's bedroom.

She held her sleeping sister and watched silently unsure of how to respond. When she placed her two sisters back in their crib, she paused for a moment reflecting on what just happened. She wasn't exactly sure why, but Jade sure was acting strange.

She felt a bit hurt thinking back to the words she told him. Did she do something to offend him? She didn't think she said anything offensive…

She paused a moment noticing her father, Kunzite, briefly walking down the stairs. His eyes were still squinted from waking up probably due to the noise both Hikari and Jade made when going up the stairs to her brother's room.

"Dad?" Mina asked as she went up to her groggy father. She noticed his eyes seem to clear up when he noticed her expression.

"Who hurt you?" he asked. She knew that tone of voice; her father was ready to kick some tail.

She shook her head. "No one, dad, but I'm concerned because Jade is avoiding me." She saw his narrowed eyes soften just slightly before she continued on, "I started making comments about how his future wife would love how he helps out with their future children because Jade offered to hold little Aiko and did so like a pro! And then he got really quiet and his face got red. I asked him some questions about why he was upset and he went upstairs after giving me back Aiko, who was then asleep in his arms."

Mina noticed her father pinch the bridge of his nose. This was ridiculous. Why hasn't that young man made a move? Was he really that cautious? Sure, Kunzite respected such a decision, but if he was starting to avoid bringing up the topic at the cost of his daughter misinterpreting his actions, as a father, Kunzite knew he needed to intervene.

"He's not angry at you," spoke Kunzite bluntly, "He's too afraid to ask you out to be his girlfriend."

Mina's eyes widened significantly. "WHAT?!" She was rendered speechless as she stared at her father in disbelief.

"He cares too much about your friendship with him that he's waiting for the right time to ask you to date him," clarified Kunzite to his stunned daughter. "But you didn't hear that from me."

"W-wait wait wait wait, WAIT A MINUTE!" gasped Mina still trying to understand what her father just dropped on her, "My best friend actually likes me? Like he wants to get to know me romantically?"

"Did I stutter?" dryly remarked the father as he looked to his daughter with a dead serious stare.

His daughter became silent once again, contemplating what she was told. She followed with another question, "And that's why he's avoiding me and my questions?"

"If you're interested in dating him, let him know. Otherwise, you might be waiting a decade before he mentions something to you," spoke Kunzite as he started walking towards the kitchen, "Again, you heard nothing from me."

Mina silently watched as her dad left the room, and she turned her attention to the direction of her brother's room where her best friend ran off to. She felt internally conflicted. She wasn't sure what decision to make. It wasn't that she was opposed to the idea of dating him. She thought he was cute, but they grew up together so she never considered him romantically. Silently, she considered her options before finalizing her decision and choosing what to do next…

Author's Note: Hello Everyone! Yes, I'm back with a desire to finish writing this story and my other one by the name of "Seasons". That one has about 3 or 4 more chapters before it is complete. As for this one, I am not sure. Lol. Either way, I would really appreciate feedback from you, the reader about this story. Or say hi! I'm curious to know who my readers are, especially if you drop a review or two. That does encourage me to finish up the stories quicker. Seeing responses and interaction from you really does encourage me. :)

Anyways, I am not sure if these two stories, once they are finished, might be the last fanfics that I ever write on this account. I started this account in my early teen years twenty years ago. (Yes, it's been twenty years already) As much as I love Sailor Moon and the characters with all the possibilities, I also have original fiction ideas that I would love to complete and publish. For now, please consider dropping a review. I love hearing from my audience, especially those silent lurkers. You know who you are. ;)

-Kunzite