Disclaimer - I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic. All characters belong to their respective creators and/or companies. Enjoy!
Unity - Mina and Rowen
This takes place during "This Time Around, Part 5," sometime during the two days before Lady Kayura comes to talk to the Ronins to ask them to fight again, and before Sailor Pluto appears to tell Rini to stay in the past.
"So what, exactly, do you think Rini is looking for," Mina asked Rowen as the two warriors walked through the mall. She looked over at her companion and smiled. "And I wonder why she suggested that we come to the mall? Not that I'm complaining … I love to shop!" She nudged him with her elbow and winked. "I'm sure you remember that all too well." He smiled at her, however grew solemn.
"I don't know what we're supposed to be looking for, Mina," Rowen replied seriously. "We don't have much to go on. It's like we're playing a guessing game." The two watched Rini running ahead of them quietly, stopping a few feet away from her as she stopped to look into the window of a store. "If you think about it, Rini really hasn't told us exactly what we're looking for," he continued quietly.
"I know," Mina stated, a frown creasing her forehead. "All she has said is that it's an object she needs that will help someone in the future. But that object could be just about anything! I wonder why she's being so secretive about it?"
"Well, it's like you said earlier, Mina," Rowen began. "If you know too much about the future, things might change." They continued walking behind Rini as she stopped at another window display.
"Where do you think Mia is," Mina asked, looking around. "She said she'd be back here to pick Rini up."
"I'm sure she's around here, somewhere," Rowen replied with a shrug. "I think she figured Rini would have more fun with us, instead of going with her."
"You're probably right," she stated cheerfully. "Somehow, I don't think Rini would sit still for very long in a book store." The two laughed, and Mina grew silent. "She's a lot like Serena in some ways," Mina added silently to herself, surprising herself with her own thoughts. "But what would make me think something like that?"
"Mina, I was wondering something," Rowen began, looking at Mina from the corner of his eye.
"Hmm," she asked, glancing over at him. "And what's that?"
"I've been thinking a lot about what you and Amy told me, Yuli, Sai, and Sage … about chance and fate," he began. "And I was wondering, if you could change any one thing about your fate, what would it be?" She looked at him surprised, but thought over his question.
"A long time ago, I probably would have wanted it so that we didn't have to fight the Negaverse any more," she stated slowly. "Having a peaceful, safe life would be nice. But now that I've met you and the other Ronins, I think that I would want to change my fate so that I could be around you on a more permanent basis." She paused, stepping closer to Rowen and taking his hand into hers.
"R-really," he stammered, looking at her in shock.
"Yep. I really like you, Rowen. You're fun to be with," she replied. She looked at him and began to giggle, and he raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "You're even cuter when you blush," she answered his unasked question, causing him to blush even more. "What about you, Rowen?"
"Do you mean what I would change about my fate," he asked. She shook her head affirmatively. "Well, I would want to change the same thing you would. You're a beautiful person, both inside and out, and you make me feel so …"
"Full of life," she suggested with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Yeah," he said with a chuckle. "No pun intended." The two stopped, facing each other, and he ran a hand over her hair, smoothing it down. "Mina, I wish you didn't have to leave, but I know you'll have to eventually. I'm going to miss you so much. You really do make me feel full of life." He cupped her face in his hands, leaning forward to kiss her. As their lips were about to touch, Rini called out to them.
"Rowen, Mina," she exclaimed, running towards the startled teenagers. "I found Mia! Well, she found me." She stopped in front of the two, Mia soon stopping behind her. "I was looking in this store, and I saw her inside. And guess what?"
"What," Mina asked with a smile.
"Yuli was with her," Rini exclaimed as Yuli jumped out from behind Mia.
"Hey there, Yuli," Rowen greeted the young boy. "What are you doing here?"
"I was walking around with my parents, and we ran into Mia," he began. "She told us that Rini was here somewhere with you and Mina, so I asked my parents if I could stay and they said yes!"
"But it seems my timing was bad," Mia interjected, an apologetic look on her face. She looked from Mina to Rowen, causing the two to blush slightly.
"That's alright, Mia," Rowen stated. "We were wondering where you had gone off to, anyway."
"Well, Rini, Yuli, how would you like some ice cream," Mia suggested, looking at the two children.
"Yeah," they exclaimed at the same time. Each took one of Mia's hands, and the woman looked towards Rowen and Mina.
"Do you two want some ice cream, too," Mia asked. "It's my treat."
"No thanks, Mia," Mina replied. "I think me and Rowen will do some more window shopping. Thanks anyway."
"No problem," Mia said. "I'll probably be leaving after we're done. Do you two need a ride back to the house?"
"No," Rowen stated. "We'll find a way back, don't worry about us."
"Alright then," Mia replied with a knowing smile. "I'll see you two back at the house. Come on Yuli, Rini." The two children said their good-byes, and Rowen and Mina watched as the trio disappeared into the crowd.
"So, what do you want to do," Rowen asked, turning towards Mina. "We can do whatever you want to do." The two found a bench to sit on, and Mina looked down towards the lower level of the mall. Her eyes lit up as she saw something.
"I know, Rowen," she exclaimed, grasping his hands. "Let's go skating. There's a skating rink down there." They stood, and she pointed to where she was talking about. She jumped up and down in excitement. "Oh please, Rowen! I haven't gone in forever!"
"It sounds like a plan to me," he replied with a laugh. "Let's go."
"Thanks, Rowen," she exclaimed, giving him a hug. She then grabbed his hand and took off running, pulling him towards the nearest escalator.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Mina giggled as Rowen fell down for what seemed like the hundredth time. "Rowen," she gasped in between her giggles. "Why didn't you tell me you didn't know how to skate? I wouldn't have insisted that we came here, if I had known."
"I know how to skate, Mina," he replied, struggling to steady his wobbly legs. "I just haven't skated in a long, long time."
"Apparently," she replied dryly. She gasped and rushed towards him as he began to topple over again. She reached him just as he fell over, falling on her in the process. "Oh, Rowen, are you okay?"
"Yeah," he grumbled, embarrassment apparent on his face. He watched her stand up, and took the proffered hand she extended towards him, to stand himself. "I'm sorry, Mina," he apologized. "If you want to go, I understand."
"You're not getting off that easily," she exclaimed, waggling a finger at him. "I'm going to teach you how to skate." She skated backwards a short distance from him, extending her arms towards him. "Skating is just like walking. All you have to do is move one foot forward at a time. I want you to skate towards me."
"I don't know, Mina," he began uneasily.
"Come on, Ro," she exclaimed. "You said we could do anything I wanted to, and this is want to do!"
"Teaching me how to skate," he asked dumbly. She rolled her eyes, and then a sad look crossed her face.
"No, Rowen," she said quietly, hanging her head. "I just want to spend time with you." She hid a smile as she heard him sigh in defeat.
"Alright, I'll try," he stated. She looked up towards him, extending her arms again. He looked at her with a determined look on his face, and slowly began to move towards her. "One, two, one two," he counted silently, staring down at his feet. "Left, right, left … damn," he cursed silently as he felt himself starting to fall again. He squeezed his eyes shut and successfully steadied himself. When he opened his eyes again, he found Mina staring up at him.
"See," she said with a smile. "I knew you could do it. But, you're still trying too hard." She stood in front of him and turned around, taking his hands and placing them on her hips. "I want you to follow my movements," she instructed. "When I move my right foot, you move yours, and then your left when I move my left, okay?"
"Okay," he agreed.
"Here we go," she stated. She placed her hands on top of his, and started out slowly, skating forward on the right foot. After a couple strides, the two were skating in synchronization. "That's better, Rowen," she exclaimed. She gradually increased the speed they were skating, and soon, the duo was skating around the rink at a fast pace. She took his hands, and turned around, skating backwards.
"You're a show-off," he commented good-naturedly.
"I know," she beamed. She let go of his hands. "Do you think you can catch me," she challenged. She spun around and increased her speed.
"I can, and I will," Rowen exclaimed. He grinned at the challenge, increasing his speed as well. He chased after her, seemingly weaving expertly in between and around the other skaters.
"You have to do better than that," she exclaimed, looking over her shoulder. A confused look crossed her face as she realized her was no longer behind her. "Where in the world …"
"Looking for me," he asked from ahead of her, startling her in the process. She lost her balance, and as she fell, he caught her.
"Smooth, Rowen, really smooth," she said with a smile as the two began to skate at a slower pace. "I thought you said you didn't know how to skate?"
"I never said that," he stated innocently, skating side-by-side with her. "I just said I hadn't skated in a long time."
"Then why did I have to teach you," she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He leaned towards her with a sly smile. "Maybe I wanted you to teach me," he whispered in her ear. He increased his speed, heading towards the door that led out of the rink, and leaving a slightly confused Mina behind.
"He wanted me to teach him," she asked out loud. The realization of his statement hit her, and she blushed slightly. "Hey Rowen, wait up!" She skated after him, and found him sitting on a bench, removing his skates. "What are you doing," she asked.
"I'm kind of hungry, aren't you," he asked, not taking his eyes off of his task.
"Well, now that you mention it, I am," she replied, sitting to take her skates off as well. "Teaching you how to roller skate isn't the easiest thing in the world to do!" After the two put on their regular shoes, and returned their skates at the desk, they headed back upstairs, towards the food court.
"Mmm, everything smells good," Rowen exclaimed. "What do you want to eat?"
"I don't know," she replied, looking around the room at the different food booths. "How about pizza?"
"That sounds good," he replied, leading her towards the pizza booth. They looked at the menu, and settled for a deluxe pizza.
"There's going to be about a ten minute wait, sir," the cashier said. "Will that be alright?" As Rowen was about to say something, Mina cut in.
"That's fine," she stated, taking their number and pulling Rowen towards the seating area.
"You don't mind waiting ten minutes," he asked her.
"No," she replied. "Besides, I want something cold right now. That ice cream Mia suggested earlier sounds like a good idea," she continued, leading him towards the ice cream stand. "Do you want something," she asked him after ordering a milkshake.
"Yeah, I'll have a sundae with a scoop of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry," he told the vendor. Mina looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and he gave her a sheepish grin. "I told you I was hungry." After they got their orders, the two warriors found a table to sit at.
"I thought we'd never find a table! It's busy in here," Mina exclaimed, taking a sip of her milkshake. "Mmm, this is really good, Rowen." She offered him her cup. "Here, try some." He took a sip of the proffered drink, and murmured his agreement.
"That is good," he exclaimed. He went back to eating his ice cream, and looked up as Mina laughed. "What?"
"You've got some on your chin," she stated, leaning over the table and wiping the spot with a napkin. "There, it's all gone, now." As their eyes locked, Rowen leaned towards her, and she closed her eyes. Their lips touched, and the two shared the kiss they hadn't been able to earlier that day. "Rowen," Mina began, breaking for air. He silenced her with another kiss, and as it deepened, neither of them noticed as an old couple walked past them.
"Young ones these days," the old man stated. "They have no shame!"
"Hush, Gregory," the old woman scolded, causing her husband to smile. "They're just young and in love, much like we were when we were their age."
Rowen and Mina broke apart, both blushing furiously. They looked up as they heard their number being called. "It looks like our pizza is done," Rowen stated, standing. "I'll go and get it." Mina smiled as she watched him leave.
"Even if we do have to go our separate ways, that's one kiss I'll never forget," she thought, her smile widening. She sighed contentedly, and waited for Rowen to return with the food.
Fin
I hope that wasn't too corny there, at the end. Don't forget to leave your comments, please, and keep a look out for the final part of This Time Around. Until later, bye for now! ^_^