Title: The Taste of Bananas & Cherries Part Two

Author: Kitty Malfoy

Rating: Pg-13

Summary: Set during the Stars story-arc. This is going by the manga, when Rei and Minako are on the rooftop to find the Lights.

Disclaimer: All Sailormoon paraphernalia belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. The plot, though, was dutifully thought of and recorded by my faithful plot bunnies: Fufu, Tofu, Mushu, Kovu, Washu, Princess, Rags, and Patches. (Rags and Patches are twins)

A/N: If you have any suggestions for Usagi pairings email me @ thetasteofstrawberries@hotmail.com or include it in your review.

This is Usagi/Minako btw.

YOU NEED TO READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER: THE TASTE OF BANANAS AND CHERRIES PART ONE BEFORE YOU READ THIS! ES IMPORTANTE!

TY...

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Ashiteru...Venus whispered.

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"Usagi!" Minako whined as her princess dragged her through the crowds of people. "I don't want to ride it!" Either Usagi couldn't hear her over the loud voices and laughter of the people or she didn't care. It was all the Senshi of Venus could do to avoid knocking anyone over as her crazed friend dragged her haphazardly along with a vice-like grip on her wrist.

Just when Minako thought Usagi just might pull her arm off they stopped. Her sapphire eyes traveled up the rusted metal framework of the ferris wheel to where she was no longer able to see it from her current position at the base of it.

"Ok, that definitely doesn't look sturdy." Minako declared giving her companion a look.

"Nonsense, Mina-chan." Usagi waved Minako's comment away nonchalantly before starting up creaking, metal stairs. Frustrated, Minako fidgeted slightly deciding whether or not to follow. With a sigh she gave up and rather nervously started up the stairs after Usagi with unsure steps.

When Minako reached the platform she was not reassured by the extremely large and balding man running the attraction. The grease stains on his outgrown shirt combined with the grizzly stubble on his chin gave him an almost homeless look, much less the look of someone who actually knew how to run a ride.

With a sort of fearful reluctance she slid into the compartment next to Usagi and began to fiddle with the fringed hem of her brown leather skirt. All of her previous sarcasm drained as the questionable contraption lurched forward and started them turning in a slow circle. Minako's blatant fear was obvious through the hand the clutched to the side of the compartment and the other that held on to her seat.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of heights..." Usagi said with a laugh at her friend's stiff posture.

"No...I'm just a little nervous about riding a rickety machine to like 300 feet above the ground!" The blonde growled through clenched teeth.

Usagi smiled and linked her arm around Minako's and laughed at the hilarity of it all. As Usagi's comforting presence washed over her, Minako let go of her handholds and visibly relaxed. The only sign of her slight uncomfort was when she laced her fingers through Usagi's and held tight to her hand.

They had almost reached the top for their second rotation when their compartment suddenly screeched to a halt. Minako's shout of surprise was quickly followed by Usagi being flung forward. Only Minako's tight grip on her princess' hand kept the blonde from being flung into the opposite side of the circular seats.

"Thanks Mina-chan." Usagi voiced breathlessly as she resettled herself into her seat. Minako was white with fright and she looked at Usagi with wide, blue eyes as if she feared her friend would go tumbling forward again and this time fall over the edge. She practically had a heart attack when Usagi leaned over the back of her seat and looked down to find what was going on.

"I guess there's just a small malfunction, and we should be going around again soon." The blonde finally declared.

"I told you so..." Minako muttered under her breath as she pulled her bag into her lap and began to dig through it.

"What, Mina?"

"Nothing."

Minako pulled a plastic container onto her lap and returned her backpack to its former position. Usagi couldn't tell what it was until her flaxen haired companion lifted the lid from it. It was a very messy, very melted banana split. Usagi licked her sugar pink lips before twisting them into a mischievous grin.

With hardly seen Sailor agility Usagi's pale hand darted out and snatched one of the bananas. The chocolate covered fruit was gone before Minako could even blink. Usagi gave her a cheeky grin before licking her lips clean of any chocolatey residue.

"Bunny! You ate the best part!" Minako whined.

"I know."

"Grr. I swear – when we get down from this Kami-forsaken contraption, I am kickin' your ass!"

Usagi laughed out loud. The sound, like tiny waterfalls, was enough to sooth Minako's rattled nerves and snuff out her anger. As Usagi's laughter dissipated and faded away the two companions sat in amiable silence for several minutes.

Then Usagi spoke, "I loved them..."

Minako turned to her in surprise. "Nani?!"

A small tear appeared at the corner of Usagi's pain filled, azure eyes; threatening to fall. "I loved them...and I let them die."

Minako didn't know what to say.

Usagi turned to her and studied her with eyes filled with tears that she wouldn't let fall. Her head was tilted slightly to the side and she gave her friend a sadly questioning look. "More of my friends will die..."

"Of course not-"

"No...they will. A-And I can't protect them."

Just then the grinding of metal on metal indicated that "Bob-the-homeless-guy" had finally fixed the ferris wheel. Usagi ended any idea of conversation when she turned her face to the outside of the compartment. Her body language and posture completely shut Minako out, but her withdrawal was not in time for Minako to miss the crystalline tear that slid down Usagi's cheek.

But Minako was not to be denied. She slid across the seat and wrapped her arms around Usagi's waist. She pressed her lips lightly against the cool skin of Usagi's throat and hummed the first few bars of the Sailor Moon theme song making her companions body thrum and vibrate.

"No, Usagi. You are the light that keeps us all alive."

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As Venus felt herself fading away into nothingness, her mind instantly went back to that moment when all she had to worry about was getting off the ferris wheel. She knew that even as her body left this place, her love for her Princess, leader, and friend would never die.

And when all that was left of the Senshi of Love was her glimmering Sailor Crystal, Moon was so close a single crystalline tear fell upon its faceted surface and was absorbed within.

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R & R!

Sorry it took so long to get out. I'm still taking requests, and even if someone has already suggested it, I'm taking tallies to see who the most popular pick is.

Kitty Malfoy