YAY!  New chapter.  Sorry I've been so busy I hope you like this!

May 13, 2003

Lita Kino and Terri McGinnis BFF

            Lita smiled evilly as she ran into the main living room and jumped onto Haruka's lap, giving her a smacking kiss.  She then leaned over and did the same to Michiru before beaming at her Uncle.

            "I'm an Auntie!!"  Her uncle raised his eyebrow and she plowed on in explanation.  "Go-chan just let me talk to Usa and she's having a baby.  She's knocked up with Trunk's kid.  There was some confusion, but then happiness cause she's preggers and I'M GUNNA BE AN AUNTIE!!" 

            "Mako-off my lap please."  Haruka's amused voice came a minute before Lita was shoved off the blonde.  She just stuck out her tongue.

            "You're just upset 'cause now you owe me lots of moneybucks."  Haruka's eyebrow twitched. 

            "Michiru, what day is it?"

            "The 25, Haruka.  She won.  Hers was between the 18 and the end of the month.  Anyone in the bet owes her money.  And lots of it." 

            "Yup, there's 'Ruka, and Minako, and Rei and Gohan, and… actually that's all.  That's $2,000.  I'm rich.  Well, sort of."

            "Mako, you've always been rich.  You just didn't know it."  Gohan walked into the room and lifted her off the floor and placed her on his lap when he sat down on the other side of Michiru.  She kissed him on the cheek and smiled.

            "I know.  But that was before I met you."  Bruce cleared his throat.

            "Your boyfriend?"  He raised his eyebrow as his guests as they started chocking on laughter.

            "Go and me? Uh uh.  He's engaged already."  She smiled widely thinking of her quiet friend.  "Ami and him got engaged about two months ago right before I got ready to go.  But Go-chan likes to be my older brother." 

            "I see."  Bruce was very, very confused.  During his time as the Dark Knight, he oftentimes came across puzzles that were difficult to solve.  But the way that Lita was acting around these friends was almost too close for his comfort.  When he went to keep a quiet eye on her years ago, she had no friends at all.  Then she hit 15 and immediately became bonded with four girls and later, many, many more.  After the rise of Crystal Tokyo in Japan, he had heard very little from his informants until she reappeared at his doorstep.  He had been respecting her privacy at first by not asking, then by asking and not digging into her background himself.  But as the weeks passed he was becoming increasingly irritated as he could not find any information on her from anywhere.  Not even his mega computer downstairs could compete with some of the locks put on her files.  And he had yet to figure out who had put those locks on.  "Where's McGinnis?"  He raised his eyebrow again as he noticed the scowl that came across Lita's face and the slight tightening of Gohan's arm around her waist.

            "He's downstairs still I guess.  I told him to come up."  She made anther face, "like he ever listens to me anymore." 

            "Makoto, we have something to discuss in private and then we can-"  Haruka stopped short at the sight of Terri in the doorway, his hands clenched, gaze riveted on the site of Lita in Gohan's lap.  A second later, a beeping came from her pocket and she stood to answer it. 

            "Holo line, get ready for incoming."  Haruka placed the communicator in the center of the room and pressed 'receive'.  A figure flickered into place, the size of the people in the room.  It was a hologram of the Neo Queen of Crystal Tokyo.  Immediately, Bruce came to his feet, just as the others bowed.  His mind was racing.  'what was going on?'

            "Your Majesty."  Serenity's eyes flickered around the room and landed on Bruce and Terri before the figure turned back to look at the senshi and her brother.

            "Rise.  Haruka, have you spoken to Makoto yet?" 

            "No, Majesty.  We were just about to speak.  We had received some glad news about a friend's pregnancy and were… sidetracked."  The Queen smiled beautifully and held her hand over her stomach. 

            "The best of news, I'm assuming." 

            "Of course." 

            "In that case, Mako-Lita, I believe you prefer to be called now."  Lita shook her head yes.  "Well then.  It has come to my attention that there are a number of youma in the area of New Gotham."

            "Yes, Majesty.  There have been many reports.  There have also been sightings of your senshi.  Two of the outers, I believe." 

            "Yes.  I sent them on a mission to help protect New Gotham.  However, I have need of your services.  I would like you to help them if they have need of you.  They have your communicator number.  Much like I have sent Haruka and Michiru to Gothem to… gather information, I must ask you to help them in their time of need.  Can you do this for me?  For the crown?"  Lita smiled.

            "Of course.  It would be an honor."  Terri started when the holo turned to look at him.

            "Mr. McGinnis, I presume?"  He nodded.  "Ah, well.  What can you and… Mr. Wayne tell me about this Tomorrow Knight that is fighting the youma?"

            "He is a hero of New Gotham.  It has been years since… Batman was sighted and the Tomorrow Knight seems to be his replacement."

            "Do you have a way to contact him?"

            "Not directly."

            "Hm."  Serenity looked thoughtful for a moment.  "Perhaps if you see him, you could deliver a message.  I have a need to speak with him, if he could contact anyone in this room, they could put him through to my line.  I am grateful for his help, but believe I could be of assistance to him also." 

            "But Serenity-"  Haruka sighed when he saw what had become known as the "resolve face" grace their Queen's face.  "Your Majesty knows best."  Haruka bowed low and ignored Lita and Gohan's snickering.

            "As for you, Son Gohan.  You are to return immediately after this conversation.  I hear that your sister and fiancé both have important things to speak to you about." 

            "Of course.  With your leave?"

            "Peace to you all, my friends."  And the next moment the holo disappeared. 

            Bruce cleared his throat after a moment.  "Lita, you will join me in my office.  We are going to have a talk."  He leveled a look in her direction that had sent many of the criminals of Gotham running.  She just smiled.

            "I thought you might eventually."  She turned to the rest of the room.  "I'll talk to you and Michiru later, Ruka.  Go-chan," she gave him a tight hug, sighing in comfort when he put his arms around her.  "Tell Ami that I'll be back in plenty of time for the bonding." 

            "I will.  Keep safe, may Kami be with you always."  She smiled and, still ignoring Terri, walked out of the room after her uncle. 

            "You, boy, are in trouble.  Be careful with her."  Gohan ignored Terri's angry curse and turned to his friends.  "Watch after her.  I'll see you back at the palace." 

            "Will do.  Tell Usa that we'll be having a shower at some point.  But wait till we get back," Haruka ordered Gohan.  He smiled.

            "I will."  A few minutes later, he left.  Haruka and Michiru snuck a look at Terri who was sitting in a chair, an unhappy look on his face.  They made a move to leave, but were stopped by his voice.

            "How does he know her so well?"

            "Why, jealous?"  Haruka's voice was snide.  She'd heard only a little of what Lita felt about Dana and was angry that Terri didn't believe her.

            "She comes back and expects everything to be the same for me, but keeps secrets and has a boy toy she isn't even telling me about."  Michiru smiled. 

            "Because I recognize the frustration in your voice," she snuck a look at Haruka, "I'm going to tell you that Lita thinks of Gohan as nothing more then an older brother, that he is already very much in love and engaged.  I will also warn you that she would not lie out of jealousy."  Haruka cut in.

            "If the fact that Dana was just your girlfriend that bothered Lita, she's let it be.  She'd step aside if you really loved Dana.  But, she's trying to warn  you of something.  Remember who she was, McGinnis.  And then tell me if she's really so different.  As for her secrets, some of them are a matter of royal security."

            "Besides, I'm sure you've kept some secrets as well,"  Michiru wove her hand through Haruka's arm and they headed for the door.  "Tell Lita to contact us as soon as possible please."  Terri just sat in his chair, thinking.

*          *          *

            "I can't tell you that, Uncle Bruce."  Lita was getting tired of the constant questioning.  It involved her friends at first, those she could answer.  She met Usagi, who introduced her to the rest.  They found a common interest in helping with the youma and had since been asked to help with some things at the palace.  They went into who the Queen was, why no one had actually met more then a holo of her, and why she wanted to control all of Tokyo. 

            "Look.  She's got a good heart.  She's trying to purify the evil in human souls, but is not forcing anyone to endure her rule.  There is still crime, there is still hate.  But she is working on making things better.  She is trying to run a country with love first and force second.   That is all I can tell you."  She turned and left the room. 

            Bruce sat in the growing shadows.  "Perhaps you are correct, Lita.  But perhaps her senshi are coming to check out the rest of the world for her rule.  The road to Hades is paved with good intentions." 

End chapter

This author feeds off reviews.  Please review.