Darien leaned against the corridor wall and yawned

Darien leaned against the corridor wall and yawned. The last three weeks had been particularly tiring and he had not been getting enough sleep. Since the first attack there had been a month and a half of small incursions. Then three weeks ago the enemy had started a consolidated campaign. Each of the new wave of attacks involved multiple youma and one or more of the Dark Kingdom Generals. There had been five of these attacks, three of which he had been involved in himself. A week after the last of the small incursions another youma had targeted a jewellery store trapping the merchandise so that all of the items sold would drain the energy of the wearers. Sailors Pluto, Neptune and Venus along with him had been in the vicinity when the plot had reached culmination and between them they had been able to prevent any irreparable harm from occurring. Three days later Uranus, Mars and Jupiter had stumbled across another insidious scheme and between them had destroyed the youma responsible.

From these two attacks the defenders had theorised that Beryl had changed her methods and planned to weaken society somewhat before the main invasion occurred. That thought had been confirmed when Nephrite had almost trapped Sailor Jupiter only to be stopped by Sailor Moon, who had reappeared for the first time since the first fight. The two Scouts had fought the Dark Kingdom General to a standstill and he had retreated. The last attack had been the night before and it had taken all of the Scouts and Tuxedo Mask nearly an hour to defeat the youma that had been rampaging in a concert hall along with the two Dark Kingdom Generals accompanying it.

It was the fifth attack that had thoroughly confused Darien. It had happened simultaneously with the concert hall attack and when Mercury had detected it Darien had been afraid that it would have to go unopposed, the current battle being more than enough to occupy their attention. When they had defeated the youma all of the Scouts except Uranus and Neptune, Uranus had been hurt in the preceding battle and she and her partner had gone home, had left to investigate the other disturbance. They had arrived to find that Sailor Moon and four other warriors in armour had already destroyed the monsters. All of the onlookers had described them as a girl in a miniskirt and four people in weird armour. Four men with helmets in the shape of fantastic creatures that hid their faces.

A thump sounded and Darien came back to the present with a start. He glanced around at the door beside him and saw the doorknob turning. He sighed and rolled his shoulders, he hadn't been there that long but it was still time he could have used sleeping. Oh what I wouldn't give for a few hours of sleep. If I hadn't had that test today then I wouldn't have gotten out of bed. He yawned again and ignored the speculative looks some passing female tenants gave him. I need to talk to Amy and find out if she has anything on those new warriors. Who and what are they? Their armour was in the form of dragons and unicorns the civilians said last night. If we hadn't have been fighting Zoicyte and Nephrite at that time it would be enough to make me think that the Guard had been reborn and were fighting against Beryl.

The door finally opened and Darien looked to find Mina staring at him.

"Darien what are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

"Hello to you too Mina," he said wryly. Nice to know I'm welcome.

She flushed and motioned for him to come in, "Oh yeah, hi. Why on Earth haven't you gone to bed yet? Lita said you had to get up early for some test. If we'd known you'd still be up know we'd've told you about the picnic."

Darien yawned yet again, "Believe me Mina, there is nothing I want more than to go to bed. I need more than two hours to be able to function well but there's some stuff that I need to check before I can hit the sack."

"Why don't you leave it to me?" Mina asked as she herded him to one of the lounge chairs.

Darien sprawled into the offered chair with gratitude and breathed a sigh of pleasure as he relaxed. "I'm not exactly sure of what I'm after,"

She looked at him in disapproval, "Highness, you should know better than to neglect your body's needs for an unknown. You don't know when the Dark Kingdom will attack next. You need to be rested. Looking for mysteries can wait."

"It's because there could be another attack at any minute that I have to do this now," Darien disagreed, shaking his head, "I came here to find Amy, if you're here then I'll take it that she's in?"

"Yeah, she's in the kitchen helping Lita and Raye with picnic stuff," Mina replied before yelling, "AMY! Darien's here to see you!"

Darien winced as her voice rang loudly in his ears. It's not that you have a bad voice Mina, just that your volume is one of Venus' greatest weapons. "So, you're all going on a picnic?" he asked faintly as the echo died.

She nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, Setsuna can't make it but Michiru, Hotaru and Haruka are going to be here soon to help us get the food to the park. Lita's cooking up a feast, I think she wants to impress Bunny so that she'll tell her chef friend about her."

Meatball Head? "Bunny's-" he began.

"Yes Mina, what did you want?" Amy's faintly aggravated voice began before she saw Darien, "Oh Darien, hello. What are you doing here?"

What is it? You'd think I never dropped by to just say hello to a friend. I guess I haven't much, not since the girls started hanging out with the Meatball Head. "Nothing terribly important Amy, I was just wondering if you'd gotten those scans and references for me." he answered. I refuse to just let this go, there's something important there and I will not rest until I've figured it out... well maybe a couple of hours but that's not the point.

"Sure Darien I can tell you what I've found right now if you'd like-" Amy started.

"Oh no you won't," Lita interrupted from behind the shorter girl. She flipped her brown ponytail over her shoulder and advanced on Darien, "Today's our day off and since you were going to waste your free time working, instead of getting the rest you so obviously need, you can come on the picnic with us." She shook the spoon she was holding under his nose, "Maybe you'll be able to relax and doze off in the sun. If not you'll still get some good food."

"That sounds great Lita, really, but I'd rather hear what Amy's found out," Darien hedged.

Lita shrugged happily, "That's easy enough. Haruka will be here soon with Michiru and Hotaru to take us to the picnic grounds. Only there's a few too many to fit in her car, you can take Amy and Mina while Haruka brings the rest of us. That way Amy can fill you in on what you want to know-"

That might work.

"-and you can pick Bunny up at the same time." she finished cheerfully.

Whoa, Bunny? "Lita, I'm not sure that's such a great idea," he protested. Yeah, the klutzoid queen in my car? Perish the thought. "I think you've noticed that the two of us don't get along too well. Putting us in an enclosed space is a recipe for homicide. Besides why on Earth would I want to willingly spend time with the Meatball Head?"

"That's the million dollar question, isn't it Dare?" Mina said slyly from his side.

Darien glared at her and Amy hid a giggle while Lita frowned. "Look Dare," the tall girl began seriously, "Bunny is our friend. We all really like her, even Michiru, Hotaru, Setsuna and even Haruka. She's great fun and when you think about it, it's for people like her that we fight for." Amy and Mina nodded soberly and Lita continued, "Darien, you're our prince, our friend and practically my brother and for the last two months the only times I see you are late at night or at Scout meetings. You've been avoiding us and I want it to stop. Don't make us choose between the two of you, you know that you'll win but for what? It's not like she'll ever really become one of us, there're too many secrets, but she reminds us that there's a world beyond Beryl and the ShadowWar."

I didn't realise that it was that hard on them. It's not like I've been doing it on purpose, it's just there's something about the girl that makes me extremely nervous. "OK, OK. Lita, I'll stop trying to avoid her, it's not like I meant to anyway. But if she klutzes out on me I will not be held responsible!"

Lita laughed, "Whatever, Bro. We'll see you all in an hour in the park" and headed back to the kitchen.

Darien hauled himself out of the chair, "Well, are you coming ladies?"

Five minutes later the trio were driving through the centre of the city.

"You do know where we're going don't you?" he asked suspiciously.

"Of course I do Darien," Mina assured him.

Darien lifted an eyebrow and looked at Amy through the rearview mirror and she nodded. It's not that I don't trust you Mina, I do, with my life, it's just that I don't trust you not to get us lost. "OK Amy, so what have you got for me?"

"Well I compared the scan I completed with the one I did in the past and there was a massive difference in not just the radiant energy of the Moon but also in visible landmarks. Some of the changes on the face of the Moon can be accounted for by several millennia of asteroid strikes but that wouldn't explain what happened to the vestiges of atmosphere that used to exist there."

"The moon had an atmosphere?" Mina asked.

How come I never remembered that before? "Yeah. Once upon a time it did. It used to be about... what? Ten, eleven percent of Earth's?"

"Ten point three four percent," Amy corrected, "It's completely gone now as is the source of the interference in my scans. What ever used to interfere left minor traces but nothing I could analyse. Basically the Moon used to be an unreadable enigma which orbited Earth, now most libraries would contain appropriate texts with all the relevant information."

"Oh." So there was nothing. Does that mean that in the centuries since the Day of Darkness that Selene or Queen Serenity has died or left the Moon alone?

"There is one thing that you may find interesting though," Amy remarked as she reread her palmtop's screen.

"Yes?"

"The moon now reflects nearly forty percent less light than it used to."

"What does that mean?" Mina questioned in confusion.

"It means that the Moon is a lot less bright now than it was when we ruled the System Alliance," Darien explained. It's almost as if the Moon were dying or something. "OK, so what about the legend of Selene?"

"Nothing," Amy said flatly.

"Nothing?" Darien repeated blankly.

"Uh huh," Amy confirmed, "The story about the love affair between the moon goddess, Selene, and the shepherd, Endymion, was the only version of the story I could find. There were variations of course, origin, time, how they met, etc, but nothing about a Moon Queen being trapped or any thing similar."

So where did Meatball Head come up with it? "Have you asked the Meatball Head about it?"

"Briefly, she mentioned that it was probably just a bedtime story that her mother used to tell her."

"Maybe we should talk to her mother about it," he mused. The two girls stayed silent. What did I say?

"Her mother's dead Dare," Mina said softly, "Both of her parents died before she was four. She said that she doesn't remember that much about them, she was too young"

She's an orphan? How does she live? Who looks after her? "Who takes care of her then?"

"Friends of her parents who took her in after the accident. She regards them as her family now," Amy informed him.

"We're here!" Mina exclaimed, breaking the following silence.

Darien examined the house as he parked. It was a beautiful old home with gorgeous rose gardens between several large oaks. The house itself was two floors and made of stone, the grey blocks brightened by the flowering vines and creepers that hung along the walls. As the trio approached the building music became audible. As Amy knocked on the door Darien saw that Mina was nodding her head in time to the beat.

It must be up full bore. Who ever's in there must be deaf... but they've got good taste. I wonder, which band?

No one answered the knock and Mina pushed past Amy and pounded loudly on the door. She shrugged over her shoulder at the other two and tried the door handle. It turned and before Darien could stop her Mina opened the door and slipped inside.

Great Mina, what if you have the wrong house? What if the Meatball Head's not here and one of her friends is? They'll probably charge you for breaking and entering. Amy and Darien stared at each other for a moment before sighing simultaneously and following the blonde in. When he stepped into the front room the music's volume staggered him. What on Earth is going on in here? A personal concert? He looked across to see Amy regarding him with bemused eyes and he shook his head in disbelief as he closed the door.

Amy yelled something and Darien put his hand to his ear to indicate that he hadn't heard her. She moved closer and yelled, "I think Mina headed towards the living room!"

Darien nodded and motioned for her to lead. No wonder the Meatball Head is a ditz, playing her music this loud must turn her brains to mush. He followed the dark haired teen as she led him down the hallway and through a large room. He noticed that the shelves in the room were only partly filled, mostly with books, and that there were no posters or pictures up. The only other objects in the large room were the mismatched lounge suite, several unopened crates and a large floor harp. They mustn't have finished unpacking yet. I wonder who plays the harp? The left the room behind and headed towards the rear of the house were the music, impossibly, got louder.

The two saw Mina standing in a doorway, looking into a room with her mouth gaping open. Darien and Amy crowded behind her and the first thing Darien noticed was that that the room was in fact a fully equipped gym. Wow, I'm jealous. I wonder if Lita has seen all this? I bet she hasn't otherwise she'd be raving about it. Darien turned his attention to the centre of the room where a large space had been cleared and the floor covered with mats and his eyes widened in astonishment. Is that the Meatball Head?

On the mats a short blonde woman moved in time to the music. She was wearing bike pants and a crop top with her thick blonde plait just trailing along the ground. She performed a gymnastic display to the beat of the music, somersaulting, back flipping and cart wheeling with as much ease in midair as on the ground. Her eyes were closed in absorption and she danced with an air of confidence that defied her seeming lack of attention to her surroundings. Darien found he couldn't take his eyes off of her, comparing her skill to Mina's, who he knew had taken gymnastics for ten years. This is the klutz queen? Oh man, my foot is so far in my mouth I am never going to get it out.

At that moment a sharp pain lanced through his ribs and he glanced down to see Mina grinning at him. "Better pull your tongue back in Dare, someone might get the wrong impression!"

Is she suggesting that I'm drooling over the Meatball Head?! He scowled at her and shouted back, "Get a life Mina!" At that moment the song ended and his voice echoed loudly in the sudden silence. Bunny looked to the door, startled and Darien's cheeks began to heat in embarrassment. I'm sure I seem to be saying this a lot more since this girl moved here but why me?

Only Bunny's heavy breathing and Mina's muffled giggles broke the silence. Amy eventually took pity on everyone and broke the silence.

"Hi Bunny. Sorry to frighten you like that but no one answered the door. I hope we're not intruding," she greeted in a cheerful voice.

The blonde shook herself and walked over to the tape deck, which was just beginning to play another song, and turned it off before answering. "Oh no, it's nothing but I thought you guys weren't coming for another couple of hours yet."

Mina walked through the door way and over to the other girl, "We're a little early girl but not that much. Half an hour at most."

"Half an hour? Eep! Man I totally lost track of the time," as she babbled the small teen began to rush towards the door freezing when she remembered Darien was there. "It's a good thing you decided- What on earth is he doing here?" she demanded as she was reminded of his presence.

Once more it starts.

"He's driving us Bunny," Amy soothed.

"Crazy no doubt," the girl muttered.

Why do I put up with this? Oh yeah - Lita's chocolate cake.

Mina giggled and Amy smiled, "He's not that bad Bunny, really."

Chocolate cake.

Bunny smiled sourly and pushed past him with muttered apology.

Choc cake, choc cake, choc cake.

The trio followed the girl back to the living room where she gestured to the easy chairs, "Take a seat. I'll be down in a couple of minutes, feel free to look around while I grab a quick shower."

"Great we'll be here for hours," Darien mumbled. Why on Earth is my heart speeding up?

"Unlike you, Mr. Chiba, I do not spend hours admiring myself in the mirror. It might take you forever to get cleaned up but you'd find if you skipped the interval for self adoration then it'd only take you ten minutes, tops!" With that she bounced out of the room and up some nearby stairs.

"Very funny." Hah hah, I can't stop laughing. "And don't think I can't hear you snickering Mina!"

Darien slumped into the nearest armchair; Amy chose a chair close to the harp while Mina went straight to the shelves. At Darien's raised eyebrow she retorted defensively, "I've never been here before."

"I thought you were getting really close," Darien stated, confused.

"We are, Bunny's been to the Outer's mansion, Mina's house and my home but none of us have ever come here before," Amy explained, "The generals have been keeping us rather busy so we haven't been able to spend as much time with her as we'd like."

"We even missed her birthday," Mina said mournfully.

Hmm? "When?"

"She turned eighteen about a month ago, a couple of days after school let out for the summer," Amy expanded sadly.

Eighteen and it was forgotten! "Why, what happened?"

"In the days before they stopped, when the incursions became a lot more numerous, we were rather harassed and she'd only mentioned it in passing. After they had stopped and we were able to regain our equilibrium we met her in the street and found out that she'd turned eighteen," Amy answered

"She shrugged it off but I still felt awful, I mean it was her eighteenth!" Mina exclaimed, "And we totally blew her off."

"You couldn't help it, it's not like you weren't doing anything important." She's a ditz and a klutz - can't call her that anymore... damn! - but she wouldn't hold it against them, they said it themselves. "If she knew, she'd probably be the first to say not to worry."

"We know and she did, without even hearing our excuses. She genuinely didn't mind." Amy murmured.

"Hey look Dare, their taste is as wide as yours!" Mina burst out from her place by the bookshelves. She turned and gestured, "There're books on technology, astronomy, astrology, physics, biology, history, gags and practical jokes, woodcraft, painting and even music, though I never see you reading about that. There's computer books, atlases, geology, military references, an encyclopedia of weapons and armour, books on tactics and strategy and even a heap on myths and legends!"

Darien rose and crossed to where the vivacious blonde was inspecting. Whoa, comprehensive. Her guardians must have wide tastes. He selected a huge volume titled, 'Legends of the Ancient World' and flipped it open and scanned a few pages. I have got to read this book, it looks absolutely fascinating. Maybe whichever of the Meatball Head's guardians that owns it will lend to me. He read a few of the commentaries that were jotted in the margin and snorted. Who ever wrote those has a deadly sense of humour. I'd hate to be on his bad side. He flipped the pages to read the inscription on the inside cover, 'Merry X-mas, from all of us to our own exclusive angel, Luv Jase, Nick, Kev and Zoe.' This is the Meatball Head's? I know she said she liked myths and legends but who'd have thought that she'd have been able to sit through this? Those notes run the whole way through, all fifteen hundred pages!

"Sorry about that!" Bunny chirped as she returned, her hair damp from a quick shower but redone into her normal buns and ponytails. "I've just gotta get the basket Nick packed for us and then I'm ready when you are!"

"Hey Meatball Head, can I borrow this?" Darien held out the book while inwardly wincing. Not the most intelligent words of choice, not when you're asking her for something. Her face darkened and he hastily corrected himself, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Bunny it is." She didn't look appeased and he sighed, "Look, I apologise, you just don't seem like a Bunny to me. Meatball Head mightn't seem as nice but at least it has more character." How do I explain this...? "Bunny is like Muffy or Pepper, for shallow, empty headed twits, with more hair than brain. You have a truck load of faults but those aren't among them... except for the more hair than brains part but that really isn't surprising considering how much hair you have!"

She looked at him consideringly and he shrugged at her helplessly. Come on Meatball Head, you mightn't believe this but I am trying.

Finally she sighed, "My name is Serena, will that do?"

Serena? It's better, almost perfect, though I hate to admit it, but why does she seem so sad at the prospect of my using it? "Yeah, Serena it is," he responded, nodding.

Bunny sighed again before nodding towards the book he was holding, "And yes, you can borrow it. It's pretty cool." She turned away from him before he could thank her and spoke to Amy. "It's gorgeous isn't it?"

Darien turned and saw Amy longingly caressing the harp's frame. It's been a while, I bet you'd love the chance to get back into practice. The whole court used to love it when you, Mars and Neptune played with Venus singing. I remember even Jadeite would shut up when you practiced with your harp, we all called it a miracle.

"Yes it's magnificent," Amy answered.

Bunny moved towards it and pulled a small stool out from behind a stack of boxes. "Do you want to try it?" she asked setting the stool up.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly," the dark haired genius protested while still staring longingly at the instrument.

Darien saw Bunny grin as she pulled Amy out of the chair, "Give it a go, you won't hurt it and you can't sound any worse than Nick did when Jase dared him to have a go. I love him dearly but he must be tone deaf!"

Amy shyly started to stroke the strings, "I'm terribly out of practice."

"Don't sweat it Amy," Mina encouraged, "It's not the symphony orchestra and we're not music critics."

"V-babe's right Ames," Bunny laughed, you don't have to worry about rotten tomatoes here.

V-babe? Ames? I take it you've told her about your stint as a model Mina. She likes giving nicknames, doesn't she? Wonder why she doesn't like getting them?

Amy looked at him as her hands began coax a soft melody from the instrument. Darien smiled and she closed her eyes as she began to remember her old skill. Play Mercury, play.

For five minutes Darien and the two blondes listened to the music with delight, it obviously being the product of a skilled musician. The blue haired teen immersed herself totally in her playing until she came to a difficult chord and struck three sour notes in quick succession. Instantly she stopped playing and blushed, apologising.

Bunny put her hand on her friend's shoulder, "Amy that was excellent, especially for someone who hasn't practiced in as long as you say. Trust me."

"I've really missed playing, but I've never had access to an instrument, they're way too expensive."

"I know," Bunny said as Amy rose, "Jason said that he wanted to get a professional harp and he took me shopping with him. There were some breathtaking instruments, each costing thousands of dollars, I don't know how much in yen. Anytime you want to practice you can come over and use this one."

"Jason won't mind?"

Bunny smile reassuringly, "Of course not... as long as you don't decide to do so at six am, he's not a morning person. Anyway it's mine."

"Yours?"

Yours?

"But I thought-?" Amy started.

"That it was Jase's? So did I when he ordered it, but it turned out to be my birthday present. I woke up and there it was, wrapped in a huge red ribbon and the four of them grinning from the doorway like loons." Bunny plucked a quick archepreggio out and grinned at the others' stunned faces. "Kevin taught me how to make and play wooden pipes, Zoe taught me the piano, Nick can't play or sing but he can dance and he showed me. The surprise was that it was Jase that taught me the harp!"

OK, she keeps mentioning these people, who are they? A couple of them must be her guardians but the others? And who is this Jase? His confusion must have been visible on his face because Mina cocked her head at him.

Mina moved closer to him and whispered, "She has four guardians."

Bunny looked over, saw Mina whispering and guessed the reason for it, "There are four friends who have looked after me for almost as long as I can remember, Zoe Rostek, Nick Cook and Kevin and Jase Ice. Jase is a practical joker or a cutthroat executive, it's kind of difficult for most people to believe that he has a sensitive side but he's been playing the harp for years. He never told anyone until I was six and caught him practicing. He started to teach me and soon enough the others found out. I've gotten to be quite good but nowhere near what he can do, you've got to hear him some time Amy, it's incredible."

"I'd like that," the other girl replied gratefully.

Mina shook her head, "You've got to introduce us to them, Bunny. They all sound absolutely fascinating!"

Darien looked at her, startled. Why are they so special?

Mina sighed at his ignorance and explained, "Lita is totally gone over Nick, I mean he's her hero and Bunny's promised to introduce them.

Oh?

At his questioning look Bunny shrugged, "He's been incredibly busy getting everything organised at the new restaurant so he hasn't had much spare time but he's rather looking forward to meeting her. I've been helping them swap recipes."

Your Nick is the Nicholas Cook Lita is always raving about?

"Jason plays the harp and Zoe makes beautiful jewellery, show him your pendant Bunny!"

Bunny looked hesitant and Darien sighed. By the Goddess! "I won't bite Mea... Serena," he corrected himself mid-word.

She looked at him with an expression he couldn't identify before pulling a small golden chain out from under her shirt. He moved closer to examine the golden disk in her hand, reaching out to gently flip it over so that he could see the second side. I don't understand the rose, sword or feathers but the crescent moon could be a reference to her name so maybe they're out of some old myth as well. "It's exquisite," he murmured, looking down into her upturned face. He was standing less than two feet away from her and for an instant he found he was losing himself in her eyes. ENDYMION! What on Earth do you think you were doing? Twit! Get a hold of yourself, this is the Meatb- Serena! He stepped back and shook his head. He noticed Mina's lips twitching and decided a quick change of subject might be in order.

"Um hadn't we better get going?"

Amy quickly looked at her watch, "Oh yes! We have to be there in ten minutes!"

Bunny winced and began to motion them out of the room, "You guys are parked out front, right? Well give me a couple of minutes, I'll lock up and meet you out there."

***

Bunny jumped out of the car and hauled her basket out after her.

"Let me take that Serena," Darien ordered as he moved around to the other side of the car. Bunny reluctantly relinquished the basket and he grunted as he took the weight, it was a lot heavier than she'd made it seem.

"What have you got in here? Rocks?" he mumbled.

"No, food! Lots of chocolate flavoured food and if you keep the smart remarks up you won't be getting any!" she retorted before running ahead to greet Haruka, Michiru, Raye, Hotaru and Lita, all of whom had arrived five minutes earlier.

"You brought food Bunny?" Lita asked, hurt, "I told you I would take care of everything!"

Bunny held up her hand in surrender, "Don't blame me, Nick's showing off for you. I think he just wants to impress you so he made some of his best stuff, that he never makes for anyone but me and the guys, and he's even given me the recipes for you if you want them!"

A slow smile spread it's way onto Lita's face, "Showing off for me? Bunny you have got to take me to meet him, I'm in love!"

Bunny's face fell and she asked hesitantly, "You're not really, are you?"

Lita looked confused by the other girl's seriousness and answered, "Well I haven't actually met him yet, so that kind of puts a crimp in our relationship. Why?"

Bunny took a deep breath before replying, "I know why he doesn't date seriously-"

"You do? So spill!" Lita exclaimed.

"Well, I guess you could say he fell for a girl years ago and was too shy to do anything about it. He knows she's in Tokyo and he's kind of hoping that she'll be available."

"Bummer!" Lita groaned, "Ah well, I'd still like to meet him. Even if he is taken, he'd still be the best chef to work for, besides he might change his mind when he sees me!" and the tall girl winked.

Bunny smiled in relief and they walked over to where the others were setting their picnic up. Darien had sprawled himself on the grass next to the cloth on which the food was being laid and had begun reading the book he'd borrowed. Bunny knelt next to her basket as she dug around inside, looking for an item she knew was there.

While Bunny rustled around Raye looked over to Darien and asked, "What're you reading Dare? I thought Lita told you to take the day off?"

"She did but M-Serena leant a book about myths and legends. I don't have a great desire to listen to all of you girls gossip so I'll read instead."

"Hmph! If what you and Andrew do isn't gossip I don't know what is!" she retorted.

"Myths and legends? Anything about the one you told us about?" Michiru asked.

"I don't know... Serena?"

"Hmm?" Bunny answered as she pulled out several dishes, none of them the one she wanted.

"Is there anything about the myth of Selene and Endymion in this?"

"Ahh... the usual thing. Selene sees Endymion herding his sheep, falls in love and makes him fall asleep, the classic tale."

"So nothing about the other version you were telling me about?" Darien questioned, disappointed.

"Oh... no, not in that," suddenly Bunny fell back holding a container up triumphantly, "Found it!"

"So you remember what book you read it in?" Darien quizzed quickly.

"Found what?" Hotaru asked at the same time.

Bunny looked at Darien and answered absently, "No, but I remembered the whole thing. Hotaru, this should be declared a national treasure. It is the most wonderful stuff you will ever taste- hey!" Bunny glared at Darien who was holding the container out of reach, "Give that back!"

"No! Not until you tell me the story."

Bunny stood up and drew herself up to her full height to glower at Darien. The watchers were struck be the difference between the two opponents, the tall, strong man and the tiny, delicate girl.

Lita's lips twitched and she whispered, "Anyone care to place a small wager on who wins?"

Raye snorted, "Her against him? Come on!"

"I'll place my money on the Meatball Head," Haruka stated thoughtfully.

"Look at them!" Raye exclaimed quietly, "He's about a foot taller. All he has to do is hold it up and she doesn't stand a chance of reaching it!"

"She got him to stop calling her Meatball Head," Amy added.

"She did? How?" Lita asked avidly.

"How do you think he convinced her to lend him that book?" Mina asked.

"I don't care," Raye objected, "You're on Haruka, any other takers?"

"I will," Lita said, "You haven't seen her in action, it's awesome. What about you Amy? Mina?"

"No thank you, I think she's outmatched in this, Darien's drawn this confrontation into the realm of the physical rather than the verbal and her physique puts her at a slight disadvantage," Amy decided.

Mina choked on a laugh, "Her physique, as you put it, mightn't be such a disadvantage when she deals with him. Have any of you noticed our prince's developing habit of spacing out when ever he gets close to her?"

"Possible romance?" Michiru asked thoughtfully.

"You'll never get him to admit it," Lita chuckled as Mina nodded in confirmation.

"What about her?" Haruka inquired curiously.

Mina watched the pair for a moment. Bunny was scowling furiously and Darien's face looked wry. Mina started to shake her head as Bunny stopped trying to reach the container that Darien held high over her head. Instead the blonde combatant grew a small smile and she moved in closer and began to tickle him under the arm he held up. Mina's headshake turned into an even more thoughtful nod as Darien began to twitch under the girl's onslaught.

"She hides it better but if he'd stop acting like such a jerk around her she'd probably fall like a log."

"So says the goddess of love?" Raye asked doubtfully, all too familiar with Mina's matchmaking mode not to recognise it at that moment. All of the other girls pulled their eyes away from the battling pair to stare at the blonde in consternation.

"I don't think they'll need any help," Michiru quickly advised.

Haruka agreed, "They look like they're nearly there already," and she motioned to where Darien was lying on the ground, laughing helplessly as he was tickled mercilessly by Bunny.

"It's about time, if you ask me," Lita retorted, "He needs to lighten up and when's the last time you heard him laugh like that?... Excuse me for a minute."

The other girls turned back to see Darien had regained the iniative, Bunny having gotten careless was now the one in danger of laughing to death.

"Sooo," Raye began, "Haruka and Lita for Bunny against me for Darien. What are our stakes?"

"How about-" Haruka began before being interrupted by Hotaru.

"Lita what is in that? Bunny never got the chance to tell me."

Lita sat down again, pulled the lid off of the mysterious container and chuckled, "No wonder she was so protective of it, we all know what a chocoholic Bunny is. It's chocolate fudge." She took a piece of the candy before handing the dish to the younger Scout. "Oh!" she exclaimed as it melted in her mouth and Lita devoutly hoped that that recipe was among the ones Bunny had brought, "That is..."

"Perfect!" Hotaru finished.

"Here, give me some!"

Darien sat on Bunny's stomach, tickling her ribs with enjoyment, "Do you give in yet Mea-Serena?"

"N... ne...nev... v... ver!" she gasped and twisted expertly. Surprised he toppled of off her and she quickly leapt onto him, taking advantage of his surprise. She began her own tickle attack and for the second time in ten minutes Darien found himself convulsing with laughter. "This is what you get for holding my chocolate fudge hostage!" she proclaimed. Suddenly she paused and began to look about frantically. "Where is it?"

"What's wrong?" Darien asked in concern as she scrambled off of him, allowing him to sit up.

"Where's the container? It had the chocolate..." both of them noticed the group of girls wrestling at the same time. A general free for all was occurring, even the collected Michiru was involved and as the pair watched a small, round, empty container rolled away from the battleground.

"What on Earth?" Darien muttered.

"They've eaten it!" Bunny mourned, "All of the chocolate fudge was in that container, they've eaten it all!"

"Chocolate fudge?" Darien repeated, his own mouth beginning to water, he was himself a closet addict.

Both of them watched as the group of girls calmed down. When it seemed that they'd all settled down and Bunny was sure she had everyone's attention she returned to her picnic basket and after a moment's search pulled out a large dish. She grabbed a knife off the cloth and moved back to Darien.

"Under ordinary circumstances you would not be deserving of this but since the only others present are traitors I present to you Nicholas Cook's patented, world famous, award winning chocolate bavarian cheese cake... would you like a piece?" With a flourish Bunny revealed the delicacy and Darien grinned at the incredulous expressions on his friends' faces.

"Thank you very much," he murmured as he accepted the huge piece she offered him. He took a delicate bite and closed his eyes in genuine bliss, a moan of delight reaching the watching girls.

Bunny smirked as none of the girls' eyes left Darien's mouth as he slowly consumed the dessert.

"That wouldn't be the chocolate bavarian cheesecake that made the Gryphon Restaurant Chain the success it is today? The chocolate bavarian cheesecake which only available if Nicholas Cook is himself preparing the meal because no one else knows the recipe? The chocolate bavarian cheesecake the Three Lights said was worth murdering for?" Lita moaned.

Bunny grinned evilly, "Yes!"

Lita threw herself on her knees before the smaller blonde, "I'm sorry, I will never do anything so inconsiderate again. Please, please, let me have a taste!"

Darien chuckled as he licked the last of the cream off of his fingers and Bunny graciously nodded and presented Lita with a modest slice. The brunette cradled her morsel as if it were gold as she planted herself comfortably on the grass. She brought the slice up to her mouth but before she took a bite she counseled her friends, "It's worth groveling for, trust me!"

Over the next ten minutes Darien's abused ribs were afflicted with another fit of hilarity as one by one the girls capitulated and begged forgiveness of Bunny. The last and most stubborn was Raye.

"I'm not gonna grovel," she said flatly.

Bunny looked at her thoughtfully for a second before offering the cream covered knife to the priestess, "Taste," she ordered.

Cautiously the other girl ran her finger along the knife and then put it in her mouth. Darien almost choked as her eyes crossed and she wholeheartedly fell to her knees, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you have no idea how sorry I am!"

"Prove it!" Bunny ordered and everyone else turned to watch in fascination.

"How?" the brunette asked, her eyes fixed to the remains of the cheesecake.

"Do not ever call me Meatball Head again!" Bunny almost growled.

"Deal!" Raye swore, "I promise, you have my word as a s-priestess."

Several of the observers nearly choked as the usually careful Mars nearly betrayed herself. As Bunny handed Raye her piece and took the last for herself Lita, Amy, Mina, Haruka and Darien burst into applause, "Well done Bunny!"

She waved at them royally with the creamy knife and winked at Haruka, "Two down one to go, you're next Haruka!"

The tomboy blinked in astonishment, "Me?!"

Bunny nodded as she savoured her cheese cake, "Huh huh! You're the only one who calls me Meatball Head now."

"So what do you plan for me?" Haruka drawled.

"I'll think of something," was the airy answer, "I'm on a roll... though I had to compromise with Chiba."

"Let's not start or I won't be able to keep my end of the bargain," Darien declared dryly, "How about you tell us the whole of the myth of Selene as you know it?"

Bunny shrugged as she received a chorus of affirmatives, grabbed a couple of Lita's sandwiches and virtually inhaled them before starting. Following her lead the others spread out around the cloth and began to eat as Bunny recalled the story.

"OK, now I was told this, it didn't come from a book or anything so do you still want to hear it? It's probably a total hoax made up to get a hyped up kid to sleep!"

"Yes, get on with it Mea... Bunny" Raye snapped.

"Fine! You don't have to bite my head off!"

"Serena, please?" Darien said wearily.

"Hmph! OK, well a very long time ago, I'm talking like lots of thousands of years, there lived a King and his beautiful Queen who ruled over a magical people. Everything was wonderful until the day a woman gave her soul to darkness and became the Queen of Darkness. The Demon Queen attacked the good King and Queen, wanting to steal their people's magic. The King and his people fought them off until the good Queen was able to seal the Demon Queen away with her powerful magic. The King died in the war and the Queen and the survivors found themselves imprisoned behind a magical wall on the moon. The Queen's name was Serenity and not even her mighty magic could pierce the wall to see the universe outside. For thousands of years they remained trapped on the moon, always the same, never changing because of the magic that locked time out.

"Then one day the Queen's daughter, also called Serenity, saw past the wall to Earth. She went to her mother and said that the Earth was being attacked and that they must help. The queen was undecided for if they were to bypass the enchanted wall she must use her daughter's link to the Earth and that would cost her dearly. Then she discovered that the Demon Queen had returned and she had no choice. Queen and Princess joined together and broke through the wall to fight the Demon queen. It was too late for the prince of Earth, whose name was Endymion, and his people for through the use of a traitor and those she had enslaved against their will they had been murdered. The Queen and Princess battled the Demon Queen and once more locked her away. The Queen knew that she would escape again and that the next time she herself would be unable to intervene so Serenity sent the souls of the Prince and his court into the future to be reborn to fight the Demon Queen when she rose again."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Darien finally whispered, "What was the cost that Queen Serenity paid?"

"Her daughter's life."

Darien's face went white as did that of several of the other listeners. Bunny saw this and, though bewildered and slightly depressed at the topic of conversation, she continued, "It's been suggested that when the princess saw past the barrier to earth she saw prince Endymion and fell in love and that's why she sacrificed herself. Personally I'm more of the opinion that she saw the evil that was happening and couldn't stand to sit by when she could help. She was her parents' daughter after all." Bunny looked around at the silent faces and frowned, ignoring her own associations with the story, "Geez, you guys, lighten up. It's just a story! The way you're acting you'd think it really happened."

Darien shook his head, "Yeah, you're right. Just a story."

Bunny frowned at him again before suddenly looking very introspective. The others slowly began to shake the worry off when Bunny twitched and edged closer to Darien. He looked at her curiously.

"When death retreats of the reaper's free will," she murmured so quietly that he almost didn't hear, "When gold dances to silver's beat, when the Earth revolves around the moon then will the host be free once more."

"What?" he hissed.

"It's a riddle or a prophecy or something that goes with the story. It tells what must happen before the moon people are free. Before you ask those are the exact words and it's been driving me nuts ever since I remembered it. Does it mean anything to you?"

"No," he whispered thoughtfully. They sat in an awkward silence for a couple of minutes before he asked softly, "Why tell me? Why not tell everyone?"

She shrugged uncomfortably, "I dunno, I guess it's 'cause you're the one who's really interested. All of the others are only curious because you are." She shrugged again before moving to sit next to Lita.

***

"What's up Bunny?" Mina asked as the other girl missed her catch for the second time in a row.

Bunny twitched her shoulders irritably, "Who knows? Maybe my luck has just run out?"

Lita tossed the frisbee to Haruka who turned to pass it to Hotaru. "Bull Bunny," the green eyed brunette stated, "You rock with that thing, no luck involved. So what's wrong?"

Bunny rolled her shoulders again and suddenly she felt as if she were covered in insects. She would have screamed aloud except a familiar strength supported her, giving her the strength to ignore her crawling skin. She did gasp audibly but it was drowned out by the sound of a motorbike's horn.

"Lita look over Bunny's head to where the cars were parked and asked, "Isn't that your Jason's bike?"

Bunny turned to look, although she already knew the answer, her friend's aura helping her to keep her wits about her. "Yeah, THAT'S what I forgot!" She turned back to the other two teens, "Sorry guys, I gotta book, thanks for inviting me!" She rushed back to the cloth pausing momentarily when she was forced to step over Darien's sleeping form. Her urgency forgotten for a moment, she looked back at the following Mina and Lita and muttered longingly, "Can I wake him? Please? My own patented method of bringing logs back to the land of the living?"

Both of the other girls looked intrigued but Lita was forced to object, though with heavy regret, "Better not, he had a major test this morning and he hadn't gotten much sleep last night."

"It's summer!" Bunny whined, "There's no school in summer, so please?"

"It was a supplementary," Mina explained.

"He missed a test at the end of the semester and so he had to take a later one," Lita expanded softly.

Bunny pouted and glanced at the still form once more, "Alright, but if Chiba drools on my book, he's definitely dead!" She stepped around where his head was pillowed on her book and quickly began to gather the dishes that had come in her basket.

The horn sounded again and, "Hurry up... Meatball Head!" echoed across the park. Bunny started upright, stiff as board, every fibre of her being radiating indignation, "That... traitor!" and both Mina and Lita burst out laughing. Instants later her basket was packed and she was rocketing across the grass. Just before she reached the man on the bike she turned back and waved, "See ya later guys!"

She handed Jason the basket and shoved her ponytails down the back of her shirt before putting her helmet on. "What's the idea of calling me Meatball Head?" she growled as she climbed on behind the blonde man and retook the basket from him.

"It got you to hurry didn't it Angel?" Jason retorted as the bike took off, "Now where is the next attack about to happen?"

"Turn right at the next intersection," Bunny ordered before asking, "How did you know? Did Zoe finally figure out how to predict the wretched things and send you?"

"Nuh uh!" Jason grunted as he turned at the corner.

"Keep going straight," Bunny directed.

"I was just riding past when you virtually shouted at me that another attack was about to happen and I thought you could use an excuse to hit the road."

"I did, thanks. Right again here. How did you know though?"

"I think that bond between all of us is getting stronger or maybe it's just you getting more powerful. Whatever, it let me feel when you started to sense the next attack. So why were dawdling like that?"

"Hmm? Left here, perfect opportunity to pay Chiba back for some of the grief he's given me and would have only taken a second. He'd fallen asleep," she explained.

Jason choked for an instant, she'd learned her methods of waking people up from watching Kevin with him. "So why didn't you?" he questioned after a moment.

"Lita and Mina talked me out of it." she replied, sounding disgusted.

"Heh!"

"Straight ahead, we're almost there."

"So why are you calling him Chiba?"

"It's his name," she replied dryly.

"Ha ha ha!" he said sarcastically, "What I meant is why not Jerk or Zit like you usually do? Or Darien if you're going to use his name?"

"I got him to stop calling me Meatball Head," she answered.

"OK, great! Why aren't you delighted?"

"He refuses to call me Bunny, he's calling me Serena instead."

"Ahh!" Jason's voice expressed his sudden comprehension.

"Stop here!" Bunny commanded and Jason obeyed, "We've still got about five more minutes before they actually manifest themselves. Jase it's like admitting defeat, only people who don't know me at all call me that. I won't call him names if he's not doing it to me and I can't call him Darien, it'd be like calling a teacher by their first name, as long as he's calling me Serena. Besides I'm not Serena and I won't ever be so again unless I get my memories of my past life back! Serena was the moon princess I'm just an ordinary girl."

"An ordinary girl who has been protecting the world from evil for the last two months," Jason corrected gently.

Bunny smiled and got off of the bike and moved into the shadow of the nearby grandstand. He directions had led the pair to a large school stadium which was currently half filled with teenagers as some neighbourhood kids played baseball inside. After checking to ensure that no one could watch, Bunny triggered her medallion and was enveloped by light and ribbons. A warmth behind her informed her that Jason had followed her lead and soon they were standing there in their incarnations as Jadeite and Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon turned to her friend, "You'd better tell the others what's going on. After last night we can't trust Beryl or Metallia not to start attacking us on multiple fronts at once. We're all going to have to be on our guard."

"Why don't you teach granny to suck eggs Angel?" Jadeite retorted.

"Alright! I'm sorry! Do it your way, I'll go scout ahead. Man you're short tempered!"

Jadeite's lips twitched as he watched the younger blonde melt into the shadows, "We'd better hope Endy and his Scouts are on the ball as well Angel," and he turned his attention to alerting his sword fellows.

***

Tuxedo Mask yawned as he moved easily from rood to roof of the multistoried buildings that formed the part of Tokyo around the park. He paused for a moment on the roof of a local high school and looked to his companions. A few minutes ago Mercury's computer had alerted her to an impending attack. She'd just managed to awaken him from his much needed nap when the minicomputer had detected two more Shadow outbreaks. Tux had split his warriors into three teams and each group had darted off to meet their respective threats. Tuxedo Mask had found himself paired with Jupiter and he looked to her to confirm that they were in the location Mercury had directed them to.

She was nodding at him when the screams began and the pair of the quickly headed towards were the sound were coming from. They reached the large stadium to find teenagers running out of it in every direction, they perched atop of the scoreboard to see three youma terrorising the players and a male form floating overhead and laughing.

Zoicyte again? I don't believe this! Doesn't he ever sleep?

"Get a life you cheap, half rate wannabe!" a furious voice rang through the stadium.

Sailor Moon? The blonde Scout was ranting at the hovering general while another shape slipped through the grandstand moorings. Who's that... that armour! The strange shape slowly positioned itself behind the floating enemy as Sailor Moon kept his attention.

"Oh poor widdle Zoicyte, been left all alone to face the bad widdle kiddies. How on Earth does he manage it?"

She has that down pat, right to the tone of voice! It's got to bite. At that moment he noticed that Sailor Moon and the strange warrior weren't the only ones preparing ambushes. The three youma had split up, two were cornering several frightened kids and the third was sneaking up behind the Scout in blue and red. Goddess, we've got to move!

"I'll take Sailor Moon, Tux," Jupiter declared before leaping to land at the top of the grandstand near Sailor Moon.

Thank you for giving me a choice Lita! Whoa! At that moment a gust of flame coursed from the strange warrior straight at Zoicyte who faded to intangibility with a swirl of petals.

This apparently infuriated Sailor Moon who screamed, "Come back you cowardly wuss- oof!"

Good job Jupiter, now I guess it's my turn. He leapt down, hurling several of his roses at the two monstrosities menacing the trapped teens. The monsters turned, distracted, and the kids seized their chance to escape. Good, run kids. Tuxedo Mask took the time to examine the monsters in detail and winced at what he saw. Oh Goddess, if the Shadows don't get you the puns will! The two that he faced were of similar shape and sized, both looking as if they were giant, mutated, baseball players. Ugly too! One of them had no hands on either of his arms, instead he had giant bats. The other had four arms with glowing catcher's mits. Both looked ticked off that their prey had escaped. Uh oh!

"Angel get your act together!" roared an angry voice.

"Geez, don't get your feathers in a knot!" Sailor Moon's voice shouted back and continued slightly softer, "I don't know Jupiter... Men! You can't live with them and there's no resale value!"

Tuxedo Mask heard Jupiter's delighted laughter as the two Scouts face off with the last of the youma.

"Don't worry about Moon, she's just slightly peeved that that half bit excuse for a general got away,"

Tux started as he saw the strange warrior step up beside him. From the corner of his eye he quickly examine the gold and copper armour, the fierce helmet in the shape of a bird, the crimson feathers that formed his crest and the strange crescent moon inlaid on the warrior's breast plate. "And you aren't?" Who are you?

The warrior snorted, "I can't believe I missed! Maybe I should take my brother up on that extra training he suggested... by the way you can call me Phoenix."

Jade... Jadeite? No it couldn't be.

"So what say we cooperate to show those girls what fighting really is?" Phoenix asked.

"I'm game," Tux answered with a slight smile, "One at a time though I think."

"Good idea," the man in armour flung out his hand, grunted and the youma with the bats was hurled in the grandstand. "OK he's out of the way for a little while. Now for the catcher."

A dozen roses and a wave of flame soared towards the youma. The roses embedded themselves in the monster's gloves and the flames disappeared. Next to Tux Phoenix staggered. What?

"Can't use energy blasts," he gasped, "He catches them and drains the maker."

Tux nodded and sent some more roses. "Any suggestions?"

"One of us distracts it, the other sneak up on it. Classic tactics, they always work."

"Always?" How do you know?

"Yeah, well for these things anyway. They're dangerous but not real smart, every time we've fought them over the last couple of months we've found it's pretty simple to destroy them if we use team work."

How often have they fought? I know of only three attacks that Sailor Moon has been involved in and the attack last night was the first I've heard of the armoured warriors. Have there been attacks that I don't know about? How many? How did they find out about them if we didn't? "OK you sneak up on it, I'll distract it."

"You sure?"

"It's not going to drain me while I keep it busy."

Phoenix nodded and vanished and Tuxedo Mask began to throw more roses. As he and the youma played catch Tux saw Sailor Moon dodging projectiles that looked like glowing baseballs. The third youma appeared to be a pitcher to complete the set and its weapon of choice were huge baseballs thrown at tremendous speeds. Good grief, she's good. Not one of them came close to touching her. Between her agility and her sword that thing doesn't stand a chance of hitting her. As he watched Sailor Jupiter electrocuted the youma and Sailor Moon sliced the last of the projectiles in half before the two high fived each other.

Tux returned his attention to his own opponent and saw that Phoenix was almost in place. He also noticed that the batter-youma had hauled itself out of the wreckage of the grandstand and was about to charge him. Goddess, it's just not my day. Sorry Phoenix, gotta bail- on the other hand may be I don't! A golden disk sliced past him straight to the last youma and though it was batted into the stratosphere, it diverted the youma from Tuxedo Mask. Sailor Moon saves the day again!

At that moment Tuxedo Mask's playmate went up in smoke and he turned to watch as Sailor Moon sent another golden disk of light at the youma who was stalking her. It, too was fended off by the monster's bats and Tux saw Phoenix begin to race towards his partner. Tuxedo Mask saw Jupiter whisper to Moon before yelling at him, "Yo, Tux, batter up!"

What-? Oh! What's with the puns today? He conjured his cane from another plane of existence. One day I'm going to have to get Mercury or Pluto to explain that.

Sailor Moon sent a third disk soaring that missed the youma by a wide margin. It made a noise that Tux could only describe as laughter and he snorted as the disk circled around to head straight for him. Hey, ugly! What on Earth made you think she was aiming for you? Tux swung his cane in the same manner as the youma hade been doing with its bats only moments before. The energy disk connected and was reflected straight into the youma's exposed back.

"Strike three and you're outta there!" Phoenix whooped from behind Tux as the youma collapsed into a pile of dust.

Tuxedo mask turned and regarded the warrior with disbelief. Did he really say that?

The armoured man's posture became slightly chagrined and a laughing voice added from behind him, "Ignore J-Phoenix, sometimes he's like a kid." Tux stepped to the side to make room for the Scouts.

"Oh look who's talking," the armoured warrior retorted as Jupiter and Tux watched on, bemused.

Sailor Moon poked out her tongue and Phoenix blew an echoey raspberry back before exclaiming, "Oh gross! Now I've got spit all over the inside of my helmet!" Sailor Moon burst into giggles soon to be joined by Jupiter.

I thought he was her teacher or superior or something similar, but the way they're acting is like they're both kids! "Um.. I hate to interrupt your discussion but Sailor Moon was about to call you something else a moment ago. I take it Phoenix isn't your real name?"

"Of course not!" the other man replied cheerfully.

"So you're going to tell us who you really are?" Jupiter asked, still breathing heavily from her laughter.

"Are you going to do the same?" he returned.

Impasse. We should really be cooperating with them though.

"We are friends and allies. We don't mean any of you harm-" Phoenix cocked his helmeted head and Tuxedo Mask saw Sailor Moon doing the same with her hand covering her ear.

What on Earth? Communicating? Some kind of transceivers? Where on Earth would she have one?

Sailor Moon nodded and both of the straightened up. She looked at Jupiter and Tux and reported, "The other attacks were all met and defeated. Your friends are all OK except for a few bruises and Uranus' pride was dented when she tried to attack Dragon... We'd better be going..."

She stepped back from Tux and Jupiter towards Phoenix. Why? This is only the second time I've seen you! He grabbed her hand to prevent her from retreating further. From the corner of his eye he saw Phoenix reach out to her protectively and her motion him aside. I know those eyes! Why can't I remember? What has she got that keeps confusing me? "I'm glad that I got to see you again," he murmured. You idiot, what are you trying to do? Ask her out on a date? Well...

"Ahem!"

She broke away from him and moved to the waiting warrior, "I'm glad to see you too, both of you." She placed arms around Phoenix's neck and he leapt out of sight with her in his arms.

Ouch! He turned to see Jupiter looking at him with a dry expression, "What?" he snapped irritably.

She shook her head mournfully, "Two beautiful girls, both of whom are immune to your charms. It's just not fair is it Endy?"

"Don't you ever think about anything else?" he sighed wearily. No, it's not.

***

"Jason Ice, what are you implying?" Bunny snapped as he guided the bike down the street.

"He likes you!" Jase answered happily.

Bunny remained silent for a minute before snapping softly, "Oh grow up. Could you tell?"

"Tell what? If he likes you?"

"If he was Endymion? It's only what we've all been trying to figure out for the last two months. He's the only man that fights with the Scouts, we've seen no one else."

"Some how I can't picture Endy dressing up in a tux with a cape and cane to fight the bad guys... I just can't." Jason said helplessly, struggling valiantly to reconcile his memories of the down to earth, practical, austere, warrior from the past with the strangely dressed fighter he'd met that day.

"So it's not him?" Bunny's voice sounded disappointed.

"I don't know, if I could see his eyes I might be able to make sure but that wretched mask hides them."

"Not if you get in close enough..." Bunny whispered thoughtfully.

"Oh? And how do you know?" Jase returned blandly.

"... During the first fight he shielded me from a stream of acid for a couple of minutes. His eyes are blue."

"Ooh?"

"They're blue! What more do you want?" she replied exasperated.

He chuckled, "It's a pity you don't remember what Endy looked like. Zoe told us that you met him in this lifetime once."

"I did? When?"

"The day your parents died, there was another boy in the hospital. You were comforting him when Zoe found you. That's why we're so sure that he'll look a lot like he did in his previous lifetime."

"I don't remember..."

"You were only three. Now why are you in such a hurry for us to get home?"

"You didn't feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"Kunzite and Zoicyte both took hits. Nothing serious but they're not enjoying it."

"So it is you!" he stated.

"Are you sure that you weren't just too distracted to notice? It was while you were sneaking up on the thing with the four arms."

"Nah, I think you're just starting to come into your full strength, it happened to us when we turned eighteen as well. It doesn't mean that you're going to be as strong as you would have been on the moon I think you're just getting your adult human strength."

"Oh!"

"Well we'd better get you home so you can fix the lovebirds up. Speaking of lovebirds, you were saying that Darien was at your picnic?"

Bunny groaned.