AN: Ooooh, this is mainly what I call a "necessary chapter". That means I had to write it, but didn't wanna, so I wrote it AFTER I wrote chapter 3, which will be up soon. But this chapter explains SOME things, but mainly creates mystery and plot development. So keep reading and REVIEW me, onegai.

PART 2: "Sisters and Fairies"

"I don't know guys," said Makoto, "This guy sounds kinda weird to me."

"Don't worry, Mako-chan," said Usagi, "He's probably just nervous around girls or something."

"Oh, that's soooo sweet!" exclaimed Minako, "It sounds like the kind of guy Ami goes for. You know, like Urawa Ryo."

"Oh, c'mon guys," whimpered Ami, "Leave Ryo out of this."

Suddenly Usagi ducked down. "Omigosh, nobody look!" she said hurriedly, "It's the girl I told you about, you know, Apey's girlfriend."

"The brunette babe?" asked Minako, "Where let me see!"

"Ow, quit shoving me, Mina-chan!" squealed Usagi.

"I don't see why you girls are acting so strangely," said Rei haughtily, "She's just Apey's girlfriend. She didn't try to kill you or anything."

"Rei's right," said Ami, "Why don't you just invite her over. Then if we get to know her you can see that she probably isn't evil after all."

"That's right," said Makoto jumping up, "I'll invite her over." She marched over to the quiet brunette that just walked in and smiled. "Konbanwa! Watabashi no Makoto. What's your name?"

"April, pleased to meet you," said the girl, "I noticed you and your friends when I walked in. I think I've seen you at the arcade once or twice."

"Really?" said Makoto, "We go there all the time! I'm surprised we never noticed you before. Wanna come sit with us?"

April looked at her for a moment and then got up. "Lead the way, Mako-chan."

Makoto smiled and led her over to the group of gossiping girls. Makoto reclaimed her former seat and April slid in next to her. Then Makoto quieted everyone down. "Minna, this is April. April, these are the girls: Minako, Rei, Ami, and Usagi."

"I remember you!" exclaimed Usagi, "You're the girl that was at Mamoru's apartment when I went there! Apey's girlfriend, right? I met Apey yesterday, he seemed like a cool guy."

April's jaw gaped open for a moment, but then she had to quickly close it to prevent herself from laughing. "Um, hai, I'm Apey's girlfriend. He's a wonderful guy, really romantic, pretty smart, too. I think I'm in love with him."

Just then Motoki's little sister, a waitress at the fruit parlor, came over. "Heya minna!" she said, "How's everyone today?"

"We're great!" said Usagi, "We just got a new member added to the group. Meet, April."

The waitress looked over. "April?! I didn't know you knew these guys!"

"Unazuki-chan!" said April, "I haven't seen you in awhile! How've ya been, girl?"

"Oh, I'm doin' pretty good, actually. I just got promoted to head waitress."

"Sugoi, I guess that means a pay increase." They both chuckled.

"Yeah," winked Unazuki, "Hey, you never know. Maybe someday I can work for Mako-chan at her restaurant flower shop."

"That would be great!" said Makoto, "And maybe April's boyfriend can give me a write-up in a magazine or something."

Unazuki stared at her in curiosity. "April's boyfriend? Who is April's boyfriend?"

"Oh, don't you know," said Apey evilly, "I'm going out with Mamoru's roommate, Apey." Unazuki shot April a look, but she just winked and gave her a sly, innocent smile. Realizing what she was up to, she let it slide. "Alright, then," she smiled, "What're you girls having?"

************

"She thinks you're two different people?" Mamoru asked incredulously.

"Yeah, a guy and a girl," said Apey.

"But why? Wait a minute, what were you wearing when you answered the door?" he gave her a suspicious look.

"The plaid-striped shirt and my undies. Why? - oh!" it suddenly dawned on her, "She saw me when I was in guys clothes at the arcade! She must think that there are two people, Apey and April, Apey's girlfriend! So when I said I was your roomie at the arcade, and she saw me wearing the same shirt, she immediately assumed the girl she saw was sleeping with me! Which means she originally thought that I was sleeping with you!"

"Well, isn't that confusing," muttered Mamoru.

"Mamoru-kun, sometimes your ignorance amazes me," said Apey, "This could be fun! They genuinely think I'm two people. And Unazuki never spilled the beans. C'mon, you never played a joke on anyone?"

"I'm in way over me head here," sighed Mamoru.

************

For the next few weeks Apey made it a point to hang out with the girls a lot in her "April" guise. And whenever she wasn't with them, she stayed in Apey form in case she just happened to bump into them. The greatest thing was, whenever they ran into her like that, they would get all tongue-tied and giggly, then run off. She was having a grand time, and they were none the wiser. Of course, she managed to get all of her friends - including Mamoru - to go along with the ploy, as well. Whenever they were around her AND the girls they were sure to address her as her alias of the moment. But what really slayed her was the jealousy she could see forming within Usagi. When she'd come up with this plan, she hadn't been too sure about Usagi's stance, whether she liked or disliked Mamoru. However, as time went by it became increasingly obvious that Usagi had a crush on Mamoru. It was especially apparent when she discovered that all the ties they bumped into each other weren't exactly "accidents". Usagi was smitten, plain and simple, and Apey wasn't about to let her get away with it. Two could play this game.

************

Apey smiled as Mamoru walked into the apartment, her plan fully formulated and ready to go. "Any calls while I was out?" asked Mamoru, tiredly.

"Why, yes, as a matter of fact," she replied cheerily, "My sisters."

Mamoru was immediately suspicious. "I don't like that look you're giving me," he said with a hint of caution in his voice, "You're never this cheerful after a night of chatting with your family. Especially since they usually call all at once. What happened?"

"As it turns out," said Apey carefully, "Every year our family has this ball thing... nothing too fancy. Usually I don't go...but this year they insisted, since I haven't seen any of them in awhile..."

"And?" asked Mamoru.

"And, I need a date," finished Apey casually, "I figured, you being my best bud an' all, that you wouldn't mind in the least. So will you? Pretty please with chocolate on top?"

"No way. Uh uh. Not happening," said mamoru, shaking his head, "You know I'm not comfortable with the whole family thing."

"But it won't be like that!" insisted Apey, "Most of us barely know each other, you'll fit injust fine. Anyway, you're the first person I've ever heard of that DIDN'T want to go to the Bastienne Masquerade ball."

"Waitaminute!" said Mamoru, "You're related to the Bastienne family?"

"Call me a black sheep, if you will. But yes, in a way," she smiled deviously, "I'm a cousin of the family. But, they still invite me to every little thing and monitor my life."

"I can't believe you wouldn't tell me that you're part of one of the most influential families out there," sighed Mamoru, "Its not exactly a tiny detail to omit."

"Well ex-cuse me, baka-san, but I personally don't care who these people are," said Apey, getting up, "Now will you go with me or not? I promise, we won't stay long if you don't want to."

Mamoru looked at her uncomfortably for a moment, but that moment was soon lost. Apey looked up at him with soft, pleading blue eyes and his defense crumbled. "Alright, I'll go," he said dejectedly, "But you'll owe me for this."

Apey cheered and gave him a big hug. "Its a deal," she murmured.

************

"Stop fidgeting, Apey!" snapped Oralee, "If you don't hold still I can't take the pins out!"

"Sorry, Ora-chan," replied Apey, "I'm just not used to dresses. I feel kinda weird wearing one. How does Vladena do it?"

Oralee stood up and sighed. "I'm sure I don't know." She reached up and straightened Apey's hair. "Alright, one look in the mirror and Cinderella is off to the ball!"

"Gee, thank you fairy godmother," said Apey sarcastically.

Right then came a knock on the door. "Can I come in yet?" came Mamoru's voice.

"Hai, she's ready to go," replied Oralee.

Mamoru stepped into the room and his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't believe his eyes. There she was. A vision in blue. She had small pale blue satin slippers on and sparkly nylons. Her dress was the same ice blue as her slippers and the beautiful satin material reached to her knees. It was sleeveless, showing off her slender arms and the neck dipped just low enough to be modest. On her back were iridescent fairy wings that shone with all the colors of the ocean. Oralee had pulled her short hair back on either side with a snowflake barrette and put in shimmer gel. But, the most surprising were her eyes. There was a tiny gem snowflake stuck near the corner of her right eye and those eyes shone right through his soul with their mysterious stormy-blue gaze.

When he didn't say anything, Apey got worried. "Mamoru-kun?" she said nervously, "What's wrong? It's the dress, isn't it? It doesn't look good, does it?"

"No! No, its not that at all!" he replied in awe, "Its just, well, I can't believe I've had such a beautiful sprite under my nose the whole time and I never realized it," He took her hands and helped her step down, "April Rain, you look absolutely beautiful. You make a wonderful winter sprite." He leaned over and gently kissed her forehead.

Apey blushed slightly. "You used my real name. Thank you, my prince."

"Alright, break it up," snapped Oralee, wrecking the good mood, "You, baby sister, can leave with loverboy now. I have to finish Ella, Ivy, and myself. I'll see you at the ball."

"See you later," said Apey sadly, taking Mamoru's arm as he led her out.

************

They couple had a wonderful time dancing the night away. Mamoru was a great dancer and as he twirled April Rain around the ballroom floor, she felt like she was floating on air. But she knew all good things must come to an end.

Her eyes grew wide as she spotted another fairy across the room, garbed in green with blondish-brown hair. She quickly masked her fear for Mamoru's sake, but inside her mind was screaming with worry.

She had almost gotten over it, a half hour later, when she spotted another one. This one was fully blond and in gray. "Oh no," she thought as she saw the two fairies start to talk. "Umm, Mamo-chan? Will you excuse me a moment?" she asked, "I need to go speak with my sisters. He looked reluctant to let her go, but nodded. She kissed his cheek and walked over to the conversing fairies. "Earth, Air," she greeted.

"Water," said the one called Earth in the green and hugged her. The gray one followed suit. "The time has come," said Earth.

"Yes," said the gray one known as Air, "At midnight the princess turns sixteen."

"Oh, damn it all to the dead moon!" exclaimed Apey.

"Water, that was uncalled for!" said Earth, "The Prince and Princess need to join to create Crystal Tokyo and the rebirth of balance in the universe. We've been around for thousands of years and one would think that by now you would learn when to just go with the flow."

"But I love him!" said Apey and quietly started to cry.

Air put a protective arm around her. "Earth is right, Water," she said, "It has been written since the fall of the silver millenium that this will happen. Even you yourself realize that it is not real love, but merely infatuation. Just because he thinks you are beautiful, doesn't mean he's in love with you. You are his most trusted friend and he cares for you very much. He does love you, but he's IN love with the princess."

"I suppose you're right," sighed Apey, "But he sure is a great guy."

"Even I have to admit that," said Earth, "However, we need to be wary. The Fourth and final sister shall arrive any minute, it is almost midnight."

"Yes," said Apey, "And so shall arrive our destiny, at the stroke of midnight, and so shall the universe soon be rejuvenated, all balance being restored as well as the peace and serenity in the universe and the planets to their former glory. I've heard it over and over again for thousands of years, I know what to do."

The other two fairies giggled. "Well, you won't hear it again after this, sis, we promise," said Air. The three of them hugged again.

Just then, someone tapped Apey on the shoulder. Thinking it was Mamoru, she shot her sisters a questioning look when they got all serious. She was about to chide Mamoru for being impatient when she turned and saw who stood behind her. "Fire!" she gasped, barely a whisper.

The girl behind her was dressed in flaming red with shoulder length brown hair with red streaks. She simply nodded in response to Apey and said "Water, Earth, Air," then she glanced at the grandfather clock and looked back, "The time has come."

Just as she finished, the clock struck twelve. "So shall it begin," said Fire. The others nodded and she led them outside into the dark night. The moon was full in the sky and there was a perfect clearing within the trees where they were to stand. "Everyone, take your places and call upon the powers within."

Apey took one last look at the moon and screamed. "NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

The other three looked at her in surprise. "But we must, sister," said Earth, "It is our destiny, the destiny of the universe. We could upset the entire universal balance if we stop this."

"I don't care! I don't care!" cried Apey, tears streaming down her face, "I love him! I love him. You...you d-don't understand. I need him. I can't let you do this! I won'tlet you do this!" She lunged forward, but was caught by Wind and Fire.

"Stop this at once, Water!" exclaimed Fire, "You can't defy usa like this! You know the punishment for treason!"

************

It was right after Apey left him at the party when he heard the scream. It was completely inaudible to anyone else except for himself. The minute he heard her scream he ran into the night until he spotted the three fairies standing over the corpse of his beloved friend. "Apey!!! No!!"

AN: Ah hahahaha! I'm evil, I know it! Well, this was chapter 2. I hope you liked it. And thank you to everyone that reviewed me. I appreciated it, so please, REVIEW AGAIN!! I love to hear from you. And if you post your e-mail, I'll e-mail a thank you. Coming soon is Chapter 3 where we find out what has happened to Apey and where this leaves our dear Mamoru.