Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G-PG 13+
Chapter: 5- Helping Hands Part 1

Last Time on "Winter Snow"…

"Ok, I'll give you one more chance… what do you say?" Darien paused

"I say…. Bye!" Crystal said as she grabbed her locket and closed her eyes, dematerializing, and materializing, standing in the hallway, leaning on the wall.

"Didn't think I could do that did you?" Crystal asked

"Hey that's not fair!" Darien called "Goodnight"

"Night" Crystal replied as she went into her room and closed the door behind her.

"Hmm… I think it's about time I started that mission now…" Crystal pondered as a menacingly wicked smile spread across her lips.



Early next morning Crystal called Mina

~Ring Ring~ "Hello?" Mina picked up the phone.

"Hey Mina, it's me, Crystal." Crystal replied, half-whispering.

"Hey Crystal! Why are you whispering?" Mina asked, concerned

"I'm on a mission and I need your help, but I can't talk about it over the phone, so meet me at the Crown in about ½ an hour ok?" Crystal explained.

"Yeah ok, sure! Do you want me to call Serena and the scouts too?" Mina asked

"No, no. Let's keep this our little secret for now." Crystal said a little louder.

"Ok, see ya then!" Mina hung up, wondering what she was talking about.

[Half an Hour Later]

"Hey Crystal!" Mina greeted, as she walked into the Arcade.

"Hi Mina. Take a seat" Crystal said sitting on the seat across the booth from Mina.

"So what's this 'Top Secret Mission' about?" Mina asked curious

"Well, it's about…" Crystal explained every little aspect of the mission. An evil smile spread across Mina's face.

"We have to do this. It's for the best" Crystal continued. Mina nodded. Suddenly Andrew popped up from behind the booth, scaring the two girls immensely.

"Can I help?" Andrew asked

"AHH! Don't do that 'Drew!" Mina lightly hit her boyfriend's chest

"You scared me HALF TO DEATH!" Crystal said a bit too loudly. Andrew simply chuckled.

"How long have you been listening to our conversation?" Mina asked, annoyed that her boyfriend was spying on her.

"Since the beginning, and I heard everything!" Andrew admitted, a little too sure of himself. He knew there was no way the girls could get away with this now unless he was allowed to play along.

"So you know our secret?" Crystal asked

"About you girls being sailor scouts, yep, and I also heard your plan… And I think that I could help you" Andrew smiled, wickedly.

"Hmm" Crystal said thoughtfully "I think we could use you Andy!" she continued

"Great, I'll meet you girls back here straight after school?" Andrew asked

"Yep! And speaking about school, we better go before we're late!" Mina exclaimed. The two girls left the arcade and bolted to school. The day went by quickly and soon, the last bell for the day rang. Mina and Crystal ran to the arcade to get there before anyone else did.

"Hi again, girls!" Andrew waved, as they practically collapsed onto the counter.

"Hey…An…dy" they both puffed. Andrew chuckled and handed Crystal a chocolate shake and Mina a strawberry one. "Thanks, we needed that" Mina said cheerfully, leaning over the counter to kiss Andrew on the cheek.

"Aw, how sickeningly cute!" Crystal exclaimed, making the couple go red. They then went over their practically flawless plan and claimed their duties.

"So, everyone knows what they have to do?" Crystal asked, sipping her chocolate shake. The couple nodded.

"Good," Crystal smiled wickedly. "And remember, not a WORD to anyone about this, not even any hints!" Crystal said seriously.

"Definitely! We don't want to spoil the surprise" Andrew smiled

"I love surprises!" Mina grinned, evilly. "A Scouts' work is never done." As if on cue, Darien walked into the arcade.

"Hey Drew! Hey Mina! Hey little ankle biter!" Darien smiled as he walked towards them.

"Hey Dare!" Andrew smiled warmly.

"Hi Darien!" Mina waved.

"Heeeeey my awesome big brother!" Crystal hugged Darien a little too eagerly.

"*Sniff Sniff* Nothing like a family reunion!" Mina said, pretending to cry.

"What? I only saw the brat 6 hours ago!" Darien teased. Crystal faked a hurt expression.

"And besides, who would miss THAT jerk?!" Crystal turned her back against her brother, crossed her arms and arrogantly stuck her nose up in the air.

"Ouch, I'm hurt!" Darien exclaimed sarcastically, sitting on the stool next to Crystal. "So what have you guys been talking about? And where's Meatball Head?" Darien asked, looking around. And as if on cue, Serena, Lita, Raye and Amy walked through the arcade doors.

"Well, well, well! speak of the Devil" Andrew smiled "I'll be back in a tick" Andrew winked and walked into a room with a sign on the door saying "Employees Only". Serena and the gang walked over to where Mina, Crystal and Darien were sitting.

"Hi guys! When did you get here?" Serena asked suspiciously.

"About..." Mina started.

"Just then, actually" Crystal interrupted. Darien looked at his sister strangely. *What are you up to?* He mentally asked *Nothing! I'm not up to anything!* She replied, smiling innocently. *Yeah…right!* Darien rolled his eyes.

"So, meatball head, have anything to throw at me today?" Darien asked Serena

"Actually, no, not right now, but if you don't leave me alone, then that milkshake over there will be on your head!" Serena replied, pointing to a banana shake, sitting on the counter.

"Ooh! Touché!" Darien backed away. Mina nudged Crystal with her elbow and Crystal winked, and they both giggled.

"What's so funny girls?" Serena asked, suspicious.

"Yes ladies, please, enlighten us." Darien said, eyeing his sister down with that strange look on his face again. *There's something strange going on…* Darien thought to himself *I told you! There's nothing going on!* Crystal mentally replied. *Well ok, whatever you say, but will you QUIT perving on my thoughts!?* Darien asked getting mad *Well sorry! But I can't help it! You know very well that I can't fully control my powers yet!* Crystal fought back *Well… Learn faster!* Darien shot back, not knowing what else to say.

Mina, on the other hand, noticed that Crystal was having a mental war with her brother, so she answered.

"Nothing, nothing at all…" she smiled all fake and sugar coated.

"Isn't that right Crystal?" Mina asked, but Crystal and Darien were still arguing through their link, throwing the occasional daggered glance at each other.

*Well, that's all easy for you to say 'Mr. Tuxedo Mask Cape Top-Hat Man'! You've only got your cane and a few roses and stuff! How would you know about controlling telepathic abilities?* Crystal steamed *Didn't I tell you not to tease Tuxedo Mask? I told you! You just wait till we get home!* Darien teased. With that Crystal stuck her tongue out at her older brother.

"Hello? Have you guys finished glaring at each other yet?" Serena asked, waving a hand in front of them both.

"Yeah," Crystal confirmed. There was a short moment of silence.

"Oh no! Mina! We were supposed to pick up that dress that you ordered from the mall!" Serena remembered. Mina exaggerated a gasp.

"Oh yeah! I totally forgot!" Mina said. "Well we better go!" Mina winked at Crystal as she and Serena bolted out the door to the mall. Just then, Andrew strolled out of the back room.

"Hey where are Mina and Serena?" Andrew asked quite confused

"They went to the mall to pick up Mina's dress." Amy said sweetly.

"Oh…" Andrew grinned

"Well, I guess I'll be heading home now…" Darien stood up and stretched his legs

*See Drew, I told you that the only reason that he came here was to see Serena* Crystal mentally told Andrew. *Woah, you never told me you could do this. This is so creepy, and cool!* Andrew mentally replied. Crystal just smiled.

"Wait up, I'm coming with you!" Crystal got up following Darien. They started to walk back to their apartment together, when suddenly, Darien poked Crystal's side. She let out a loud high-pitched squeal and leaned over to her side.

"What the heck was that for?! You know I'm VERY ticklish!" Crystal scolded Darien, who had a broad grin on his face.

"THAT was for teasing Tuxedo Mask" Darien said, sounding childish.

"Geez Darien! You can be such a little twerp at times!" Crystal said recovering from her shock. "I really don't know WHY someone would want to go out with you" Crystal smiled to herself

"What? Who?" Darien stopped dead in his tracks. Crystal stifled a smile and 'Hmm-ed' innocently. "You said, you don't know why someone would want to go out with me, what did you mean?" Darien asked

"Oh, yeah… that." Crystal shrugged off, acting casual and rather blasé. "I know someone who likes you… really likes you"

"Who? Tell me who!" Darien asked curiously, desperately trying to hide his it under a cool demeanor.

"I can't tell you that, the only way you can find out is if you meet them" Crystal said, cleaning a bit of pizza topping from under one of her, otherwise perfectly clean, nails.

"Well is it someone I know?" Darien asked, looking a little flushed, but maintaining a calm tone.

"Yep, of course! And I think that you'll like her… very much" Crystal emphasized the last two words.

"Well, in that case, I'll meet her." Darien said, boldly.

"Pinky promise?" Crystal asked holding out her little pinky, childishly.

"Yep, pinky promise" Darien said, awkwardly interlocking his pinky with Crystals.

"You can't back out… promise?" Crystal asked, making sure that there was no way that he could back out. Darien smiled at his sister's childish antics.

"As my duty as Tuxedo Mask, I promise" Darien played along, placing his right hand across his heart and his left hand up, as if he was pledging an oath. "Do you want to spit-shake while you're at it?" Darien smiled

"Eeeww! Dare! That's sooooo disgusting! You can get cooties from that!" Crystal said taking a step away from Darien, who laughed lightheartedly.

"Cooties? What are they?" Darien asked rolling his eyes.

"Umm… They're these big green slimy things that grow from tiny little bacteria and they spread and make you decompose and go all smelly and dead!" Crystal said trying her best to worry Darien. It obviously was NOT working. Darien just laughed harder.

"Cooties…?" Darien asked skeptically, trying his best not to crack up laughing again.

"Ok Ok, maybe there are no such things as cooties, but what I meant is that it's really unhygienic, You should know that Mr. Doctor wannabe!" Crystal changed her tone from an immature little girl to a mature mother-like voice, as she waved her index finger in Darien's face. By then, they could see the block of apartments that they lived in.

"So… please tell me… Who I'm going to meet!?" Darien asked.

"Hmm… oh ok. You're going on a dinner with Sailor Moon, at a fancy & formal restaurant, at 7, this Friday." Crystal admitted.

"SAILOR MOON?!" Darien asked, shocked.

"Well yeah… duh! It's pretty obvious you've got the hots for her! And well, you'd be a total idiot not to know that she's totally mad about you, so… I (with the help of some friends) set you two up!" Crystal smiled, proud of herself.

"Are you crazy? She'll find out my identity!" Darien said a bit quietly, blushing madly

"Well she's bound to find out sooner or later! And besides, aren't you dying to find out who she really is?" Crystal added

"Well… yeah, but what if she doesn't like the real me?" Darien asked getting self-conscious.

"Calm down! Calm down, trust me big bro… she's totally head-over-heels in love with your alter ego AND the real you. She just doesn't know that your alter ego IS the real you." Crystal said, as they both walked into their apartment. As soon as Darien started to breathe normally, he then remembered…

"Wait, TOMORROW IS FRIDAY!!!"


Crystal Saturn