Act One - The Announcement

Hino Rei turned the corner down Main Street, heading for the Crown Fruit Parlor for lunch. Once again, she thought about how long it had been since she and her friends had taken time out of their busy schedules to get together at their former hangout. There really wasn't much reason to go there anymore, now that Motoki was married and living in the U.S. Sighing, the priestess sped up her stroll, not wanting to be late for her lunch date. Unfortunately she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and ran right into a tall brunette.

"I'm terribly sorry, ma'am," Rei apologized, bowing politely.

The Amazon rubbed her sore shoulder, anger burning in her dark green eyes. "You should be… Rei-chan?"

Rei glanced up, immediately recognizing that voice, and broke out into a huge smile as the two friends hugged. "Mako-chan? What are you doing here?"

"I got a call from Usagi this morning, telling me to meet her at Crown for some big news. How about you?"

"Me too. I wonder what the big news is. Do you think it has anything to do with a new enemy?"

Makoto shook her head. "No way. Usagi sounded way too happy on the phone. Besides, if it was something like that, she would have called us on our communicators."

As the two women continued on the way to the Crown Fruit Parlor, Rei reached into her pocket and wrapped her hand over the familiar shape of her wrist communicator. "So, do you still carry your communicator around too?" she asked.

"Yeah. I guess it's just a force of habit. Being Sailor Jupiter was such an important part of my life for so long, it's hard to give it up."

"I know what you mean."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, enjoying being in each other's company and reflecting on their former lives as Sailor Soldiers. When they arrived, they found that Usagi's best friend, Osaka Naru, was already there, sitting at their regular table.

"Rei-chan, Mako-chan, over here!" she called out, waving them over.

"Naru-chan, did Usagi-chan call you too?" Makoto asked, taking the seat across from the redhead. Rei sat down beside her.

"She sure did, and she sounded really excited."

The waitress, Motoki's little sister Unazuki, came over to the table and handed the girls some menus. "Hey, guys!" she said. "It's been a long time since I last saw you three. How long as it been? Since Motoki and Reika's wedding?"

Opening the menu, Naru nodded. "That sounds about right, Unazuki-chan. So, how are the two lovebirds doing in the States?"

"They're great. My brother loves his new job and Reika just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Joben, about two months ago. I have a couple of photos, if you want to see."

The proud aunt pulled out her wallet and handed it to Rei, who held up the pictures for everybody to see. The three girls oohed and ahhed over the handsome little rug rat, amazed at how much like Motoki the baby looked. That boy was going to be a heartbreaker when he grew up.

After back the wallet, the girls placed their orders and Unazuki skated off, her ponytail bouncing every which way. She hadn't changed a bit.

Rei glanced down at her watch and rolled her eyes. That meatball head was late as always. "So, when is Usagi going to show up? I don't have all day. She knows I don't like leaving the temple in Yuuichiro's hands for more than an hour."

"Are you still torturing that poor guy, Rei-chan?" Makoto asked. "Give him a break. He's much better than he used to be, and at least he finally got a haircut and shaved. And you know that he's hopelessly in love with you. You two really ought to get together."

"Mako-chan, I really don't think that you are in the position to give love advice, considering your own track record. Exactly how long have you and Shinozaki-kun been just 'friends'?"

The brunette blushed a bright pink, knowing Rei was right. But it wasn't her fault. Well, not really. There had been a couple of times when she was thisclose to asking Shinozaki on a date, but something always came up. The fact that she was the one who purposely scheduled something else for that night had nothing to do with it. Right…

"Hi, girls!" Usagi exclaimed as she took a seat at the table, a huge smile plastered on her face. "I'm here!"

"It's about time," Rei muttered. "So, Usagi, what is the big news?"

After taking a quick glance at the menu, which she still knew by heart, and placing her usual order of a large chocolate milkshake and a cheeseburger, Usagi shook her head. "Not yet, Rei-chan. Ami-chan's still not here."

"Yes I am, Usagi-chan," the doctor said, racing through the entrance, still dressed in her scrubs. She took a seat beside the blonde. "Sorry I'm late, guys, but I had to deliver Komatsu-san's baby."

"Okay, we're all here now. Spill!" Makoto ordered.

"Not exactly, Mako-chan. We're still missing one person."

Usagi pulled out her old communicator and pushed the button that called Sailor Venus. A few seconds later, a strangely bloody Minako popped onto the screen.

"Minako-chan, what happened?" Ami asked. "Did you get hurt?"

"What?" she exclaimed, looking confused until she touched her face and saw the red "blood." Minako laughed. "Oh, you're talking about my make-up for my movie. I forgot I was still wearing it. Don't worry. It's completely fake."

"Thank goodness!"

"So, what's up, guys? Don't tell me there's another enemy! There's really not much I can do to help you when you all are in Tokyo and I'm here in Los Angeles."

"No, there's not a new enemy," Usagi assured her, taking off the glove on her left hand and holding up it up so her friends could admire her new ring. "Mamo-chan and I are getting married!"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

The sound of the five girls screaming at the top of their lungs spread throughout the small restaurant, causing the other patrons to turn around and stare. Usagi blushed, embarrassed by the scene her friends were making.

"I'm getting married," she repeated to the other curious diners, trying to explain the girls' crazy behavior. A couple of them smiled politely, and there were a few congratulations from some of the people she knew and Unazuki, who was bringing out their meal.

"Congratulations, Usagi-chan," the waitress said warmly, setting down Usagi's milkshake and burger. "I'm so happy for you and Mamoru."

"Thank you, Unazuki-chan."

Once she finished serving everybody their orders, the other girls managed to calm down somewhat. At least they weren't screaming and jumping up and down anymore. Naru grabbed Usagi's hand and began studying the perfect pink diamond."This ring is absolutely gorgeous," she gushed. "It must have cost Mamoru a fortune. My mother has a pink diamond at her store that's just a little larger than this, although not as pretty, and it costs over 500,000."

"500,000?!" the four other girls exclaimed in unison.

Rei raised an eyebrow. "How in the world did Mamoru manage to come up with that kind of cash? I know he's a fairly successful lawyer, but half a million dollars? That's kind of unbelievable!"

"Can I borrow it for the Oscars?" Minako asked jokingly, still on screen.

Usagi twisted the ring around her finger. "I didn't think to ask him how much he paid for it. It's not exactly the kind of question you ask a man after he proposes, but if Mamoru can't afford it, we'll take it back to the jewelry store and get a smaller ring. I don't mind, even though I have gotten attached to this one…"

"The size of the ring isn't really all that important, anyway, Usagi-chan," Ami said. "The important thing is that you two are finally getting married. Have you decided on a date yet?"

"More importantly, have you chosen your maid of honor?" Rei asked. "You know, I would look absolutely gorgeous in a red satin strapless number."

"What makes you so sure that she's going to pick you, Rei-chan?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah. If anyone should be Usagi's maid of honor, it's me," Naru chimed in. "After all, I've been her best friend ever since nursery school."

"But what about me?" Minako asked, making a pathetic puppy dog face. "Certainly the leader of the Inner Sailor Soldiers deserves to be the maid of honor at the princess's wedding!"

As Rei, Makoto, Naru, and Minako fought amongst themselves, Usagi glanced over at Ami and rolled her eyes. She was tempted to give the honor to the young doctor just because she was the only one not fighting about it. How was she going to choose among all her friends? They were all so great. This was going to be one of the toughest decisions she would ever have to make. Couldn't they all be her maids of honor?

"Haruka-papa! Michiru-mama! Setsuna-mama!" Hotaru shouted, running into the house they all lived in and dropping her book bag on the floor. She was still dressed in her candy striper's uniform from her after-school job. "I'm home from the hospital and I have the best news!"

In her study, Setsuna broke the tip of her pencil, her concentration broken by the arrival of her teenaged adopted daughter. How many times did she have to tell Hotaru that she shouldn't yell in the house? Sighing, she reluctantly walked to the living room, figuring she might as well find out what all the commotion was about.

"Setsuna-mama! Haruka-papa! Michiru-mama! Is anybody home?"

"Tomoe Hotaru, you will stop that yelling right this instant!" Setsuna ordered, standing at the entrance of the living room with a hand on her hip. Her face was stern, but there was a bit of laughter in her eyes as the dark-haired girl slowly climbed back down the stairs, looking guilty.

"Sorry, Setsuna-mama," she apologized. "I was just so excited about the news, I forgot my manners."

"That's okay. Just don't do it again."

Hotaru's face suddenly brightened again. "Are Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama home yet?"

"No, we're the only ones here. Haruka's at the racetrack and Michiru has a rehearsal. They'll probably be home around dinner time."

The teen made a face. "Does that mean you'll be doing the cooking tonight?"

"And just what is wrong with my cooking, may I ask?"

"Nothing, if you happen to a raccoon or something that actually likes eating trash."

"Okay, I get the point. We'll call out for pizza or something," Setsuna laughed, knowing she wasn't exactly the best cook in the world. "So, what is the big, gigantic news that you're so excited about?"

Hotaru flopped down in Haruka's favorite armchair, unsure whether she should share the news with Setsuna right now. She really wanted to tell her parents all together, but she had to tell somebody or she was going to burst.

The garnet-eyed woman sat down on the couch, curious despite herself. This must be major.

"Okay, I guess I'll tell you," Hotaru conceded, pausing dramatically before revealing her secret.

"Hotaru, what is it? Just get it out already."

"Usagi-san and Mamoru-san are engaged!"

What?!

Setsuna knew she should have been happy to hear the news. Of course, she knew that Usagi and Mamoru would eventually get married one day. It was their destiny. They were the future rulers of Crystal Tokyo and the parents of Small Lady, after all. She knew all that. So, why was it such a surprise? Why did it hurt so much?

"Setsuna-mama, are you feeling okay?" Hotaru asked, waving her hand in front of Setsuna's blank face. She was acting majorly weird. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine, Hotaru," she whispered, finally finding her voice. "Are you sure? How did you find out?"

"Ami told me after she came back from her lunch break. Isn't that the best news? A wedding! I bet it's going to be a lot of fun helping Usagi plan her big day. Maybe you could even design her wedding dress!"

"Yeah, maybe…"

The teen stared at the older woman, confused. Setsuna wasn't acting like she thought she would to the news of Usagi and Mamoru's engagement. It was almost like she was jealous or something, although why she would be jealous, Hotaru had no idea. "Are you sure you're feeling alright? You don't sound very excited."

"I'm fine. And it's wonderful news. I couldn't be happier for Usagi-san and Mamoru-san."

Sighing, Setsuna headed toward the kitchen to order the pizza, trying to conceal the tears in her eyes. "Is vegetarian okay with you?"

Hotaru nodded, but her violet eyes filled with worry. What was wrong with Setsuna?

Haruka and Michiru arrived shortly after the pizza boy delivered the large vegetarian pizza. Much to Hotaru's disappointment, though, Usagi had already called to tell them about the engagement, which brought up a much talked about subject in the Tenoh/Kaioh/Meioh/Tomoe household...

"Haruka, why don't we have a wedding?" Michiru asked her lover for the thousandth time.

The tomboy rolled her eyes. "Michiru, you know how I feel about weddings. It's not my style. It's bad enough that we have to go to this one."

"How can you not like weddings, Haruka-papa?" Hotaru asked. "They're so romantic and wonderful. And afterwards, you get to have a huge party and go on a honeymoon…"

"The honeymoon part I wouldn't mind," she replied suggestively, glancing over at Michiru and smiling cockily. The aqua-haired beauty simply huffed in indignation. She was going to get the couch tonight for sure.

Haruka took a large bite of a piece of pizza and immediately made a face. Ugh, vegetarian. Whose brilliant idea was this? Her eyes traveled over to Setsuna and glared at the mastermind behind this culinary debacle, quite expecting her to giggle or at least break into one of her trademark mysterious smiles. Setsuna knew she hated vegetarian pizza! However, the green-haired woman sat quietly at the other end of the kitchen table, staring down at her paper plate. She hadn't even touched her pizza.

"Hey, Earth to Setsuna!"

"Huh?"

Setsuna quickly sat up, suddenly aware that there were other people in the room. Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru were all staring at her, wondering what was going on with their normally more alert friend.

"Are you feeling okay, Setsuna?" Michiru asked, placing a comforting hand over her friend's. "You haven't eaten your pizza and you've barely spoken two words since Haruka and I got home."

"I'm fine, Michiru," she answered, pushing her plate away. "I'm just not very hungry tonight."

"You mean to tell me that you ordered vegetarian pizza and now you don't even want it?!" Haruka complained, annoyed.

Michiru shot Haruka a nasty look, pretty much telling her that she was sleeping on the couch tomorrow night too. "Haruka!"

"No, it's okay. I'm sorry. I should have remembered how much Haruka hates vegetarian pizza. My mind wasn't really working this afternoon."

"Don't even think of apologizing to her. She's just trying to be difficult," Michiru declared. "Now, Setsuna, tell us what's wrong. We're your friends and we want to help you."

Setsuna moaned. Why didn't everybody just leave her alone for a while? How could she tell them what was wrong when even she wasn't sure what was the matter?

"She's been acting like this all afternoon," Hotaru informed her other two parents, helping herself to Setsuna's piece of pizza. "Ever since I told her about Usagi-san and Mamoru-san's engagement. I think she's jealous."

"I'm not jealous, Hotaru," Setsuna insisted. "I'm just…oh, I don't even know what I am!"

"I think you need to go on a date," Michiru blurted out suddenly.

Haruka groaned, noticing that look in her girlfriend's eye. Michiru had some kind of scheme and that meant that she would probably be roped into it as well.

"No, Michiru. The last thing I feel like doing is going out on a date," Setsuna said, shaking her head.

"Listen, I think Hotaru might be on to something with this whole jealousy thing," Michiru continued as if she hadn't even heard Setsuna. "Maybe you're upset because you don't have a lover. I mean, I have Haruka, Usagi-chan has Mamoru-san, Ami-chan's married to Urawa-san, Mako-chan has Shinozaki-san even though she doesn't realize it yet, Minako-chan's dating practically every available guy in Hollywood, and even Rei-chan is always flirting with Yuuichiro-kun. It's hard to be around all these people in love when you don't have someone special."

"I don't really think that's it…"

"Don't be ridiculous. It'll be fun. You haven't been on a date in ages. Haruka could set you up with one of the guys at the track. Right, honey? What about that nice Yasashiku-kun you introduced me to the other day? He would be perfect for Setsuna. He's handsome, smart, athletic, witty…"

I knew she would drag me into this somehow, Haruka thought.

"Maybe I should just set him up with you, since you seem to like him so much," Haruka said sarcastically.

"Tenoh Haruka, do you want to sleep on the couch for the rest of your life?"

"Okay, I'll talk to Yasashiku-kun, but I have to warn you that he has a reputation for being fast with the ladies, as well as on the track."

"Oh, that's okay. Setsuna could use a good lay."

The three women stared at Michiru with wide eyes, not believing the words that had just come out of the normally elegant violinist's mouth. A few seconds later, after she realized what she had said, Michiru buried her head in her hands, trying to hide the deep blush that was rising up her face.

"I've lived with Haruka for way too long…"

Later that night, Usagi sat at Mamoru's kitchen table, staring at her engagement ring. Rei's words came back to her. How did he get enough money to pay for it? He made a comfortable living, but certainly not enough to afford a ring that cost half a million dollars.

"Usako, you aren't eating," Mamoru said, looking at his fiancée with concern. "Don't you like it? I know I'm not as good a cook as Mako-chan…"

"It's delicious, Mamo-chan," she replied, taking a large sip of the soup just to prove it to him. "I just can't stop looking at my ring."

"I take it that you like it then?"

"It's beautiful and I know it must have cost you a small fortune," Usagi hinted, hoping he would bring up the subject of how much he paid for the ring.

"It was expensive, but nothing's too good for my Usako."

Drats! She was going to have to be more forward if she wanted to get any information out him. "Are you sure you can afford it? I mean, if you can't, we can go back to the jewelry store and exchange it for a smaller ring. I don't mind."

"Money's no object."

Now she really was getting frustrated! Mamoru was hiding something from her. She knew it. They shared a checking account, so she knew how much they had in the bank. It was definitely nowhere near the amount needed to buy the ring.

"Mamo-chan…"

"Didn't you say that Minako-chan was coming back to Tokyo?" Mamoru asked, quickly changing the subject. "You and the girls must be really excited. She hasn't been back home for over six months."

"Yeah, she's taking a break from the movie business for awhile. But Mamo-chan…"

"When is she arriving?"

"This Saturday, at around noon. Now, back to what I was talking about…"

"Are you going to meet her at the airport?"

That was it! Usagi could feel the anger rising through her body. He wasn't telling her something about the money. It was obvious by the way he kept on switching the subject to Minako.

"Chiba Mamoru, if you are more interested in Aino Minako than in your own fiancée, then maybe you should just give this ring to her," she finally shouted, throwing the ring at his face.

He stared at Usagi in shock, surprised at her behavior. The ring had fallen into his soup after hitting his forehead and was now floating among a sea of vegetables.

"Usako…"

"Don't call me that! I've been trying to get you to tell me how you can possibly afford that ring and all you want to talk about is Minako-chan! What is going on with you?"

Mamoru sighed, then scooped the ring out of the soup, wiping it with his napkin. He might as well tell her. She would find out about it sooner or later, anyway.

Heading to his study next door, he pulled out a piece of paper from his desk and handed it to Usagi when he returned. She quickly scanned the paper, not really understanding all the legal mumbo jumbo. It was enough to give a person a headache.

"What is this?" she asked, finally giving up.

"It's a life insurance policy," Mamoru answered, taking back the paper. "A few months ago, I got a call from the orphanage where I stayed after my parents died. It turns out that my mother and father were quite wealthy and since I was their only living relation, I inherited everything on my twenty-fifth birthday. That policy alone is worth a million dollars."

A million dollars? Usagi could feel herself growing faint. Mamoru was a millionaire? When exactly was he planning to tell her this?

"But why didn't you tell me about this sooner, Mamo-chan? Your birthday was over two months ago. Why all the secrecy?"

"I don't know. I was so surprised myself, that I didn't really know how to react. I used some of the money to pay off my student loans and to buy the ring, then put the rest of it in a separate account. I probably should have told you sooner, but I guess I was afraid that you might just marry me for my money."

Usagi smiled, then took a seat in his lap, kissing him passionately on the lips. "You're so silly, Mamo-chan. I would love you even if you didn't have a penny to your name. We're destined to be together and nothing will ever change that."

"I love you, too, Usako," he said, picking up the engagement ring, which he slipped back on Usagi's slender finger. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will…"

He brought her lips down to his, kissing her softly, as Usagi ran her fingers through his thick ebony hair. His beautiful Usako…

"But you do know what this means, don't you?" she asked, once they broke apart. Her blue eyes were bright with excitement. He was almost afraid to ask.

"What?"

"We can have the absolute best wedding in the entire world. I can see it now. I'll be dressed in one of Setsuna's ridiculously expensive designs and you'll wear an Armani tux, and we'll get married in a huge, beautiful church or maybe even a romantic castle in Scotland. And we can invite all our friends and family and have a huge reception afterwards. And for our honeymoon, we can go on a trip around the world…"

Mamoru laughed. "Don't go crazy, Usako. I may be rich, but I'm no Bill Gates."