AN: I own nada, nothing, zero, zip. My blazing red shoes were a gift. Really.

What Happens When We Pray

When twilight settled on the Cherry Hill Temple and the street lamps began their first attempts to come on, Minako and Usagi finally gave up their quest to finish preparing for Monday's Composition Exam. "If you see Rei before I do, Minako, tell her she owes us lunch," Usagi called over her shoulder as she headed for home. With her parents away on a business trip for the weekend, Minako felt no rush to return to her empty feeling house where she had leftover Chicken A la King casserole waiting for her in the fridge. Artemis had been out and about all day saying he was visiting a 'friend.' The Senshi of Love grinned. She had noticed that the white cat had failed to mention this friend in Luna's presence. When was that cat ever going to tell Luna how he felt…A blur of white came dashing into the cone of light of a street lamp in front of her.

"Artemis!" Minako crouched down to face her advisor. "I was just thinking about you! How was your visit today?"

"Can't talk! You've got to come on! Suki's been run over!" Before Minako could register enough thought to ask who Suki was, she found herself racing after her fleet-footed feline friend. They reached a small alleyway behind an old coffee shop and Minako could see a small bundle of marmalade fur curled up just out of the way of foot traffic.

"Oh, Artemis," carefully picking up the young kitten Minako found no signs of blood in the soft fur. That meant that the damage was mainly internal, but Minako refused to speak of the bleak outlook the situation had taken.

"She's just a baby. She reminded me so much of Diana, I thought that I could look out for her…" Artemis' crescent moon shone in the dim alley light. Minako felt her breath catch in her chest when the little cat in her arms gave a pitiful meow.

"Don't give up yet, little one!" Shaking herself from her shock, and being mindful of the precious package she carried, Minako began to run for the veterinarian's office that she normally took Artemis to for his check ups. The staff at the office looked like they had been ready to pack up and head for home, but one glance at Minako's worried face, the doctor and his assistants took Suki into the examination room, leaving Minako and her white cat to wait outside in the lounge. Collapsing onto the nearest bench with her head leaning over her cupped hands, Minako felt the first cold tendrils of fear seep into her being. Suki was so small. Only when a beautiful rosary was slipped into her stiff fingers did Minako realize that another human was in the room.

A young priest with deep indigo eyes smiled as he sat down on the bench beside her. Noticing her stare at the collar around his throat, the man shook his head. "Don't let the look fool you. I give comfort, but I'm not too dedicated to God myself." Minako and Artemis both started when the doors to the exam room opened, but it was only a nurse fetching something from the store room before bustling back inside. "You got a friend in there?"

"Yeah," she said slowly as she fingered the red and black beads in her hand. "More like an acquaintance. Suki's more like Artemis' friend." Minako looked down at her pacing friend. "He really likes her." Strain and fatigue finally crept into Minako's eyes and tears began to fall before she could help them. It was so natural that it took Minako several minutes to realize that the man had slipped his arms about her and that she was silently weeping onto his shoulder. She pulled back, but he didn't let her go completely.

"I'm so sorry. You don't even know my name," she said as she rubbed her face.

"Let's fix that, so you can finish your comforting. My name is Duo. I may run and hide, but I'll never tell a lie." Minako grinned slightly at his flippancy.

"My name's Minako and my friend over there is Artemis." Despite herself, Minako allowed herself to be pulled closer to Duo. She needed the warmth he provided as they waited together for news about Suki. When the nurse came out a few hours later to tell them the good chance Suki had, Duo just nodded and placed a finger to his lips to let Minako sleep awhile longer curled at his side.

AN: Okay folks. Thanks so much for the great reviews! I love to hear what you think about the match-ups. Remember that they were totally random, so if your favorite couple failed to happen, maybe next time!