Moon of Destiny

by Lord-Mandrake

Post Galaxia, The Senshi learn the history of the universe before the Moon Kingdom. Powerful enemies and Allies awaken, and destinies are fulfilled

3. Revelations and rowdyness

Makoto layed awake in her bed, her eyes closed remembering the events of this afternoon. She felt very sorry for her friend Mina. Mina had been snappish and irritated after the Senshi meeting. She understood Mina's feelings better than she was willing to admit. Makoto cast her mind back to the kitchen of the boys' apartment, recalling just how she had come to interrupt Mina in the midst of passion.

******** Konjou led the way into the kitchen, it was as neat and orderly as the living room, leading her to believe that the boys were even better about cleaning up than she was. She looked at Konjou as he took out the ingredients she got out the cutting board and knives.

"Here," he said handing her the green peppers and chillies, "why don't you wash these while I find the rice steamer"

Makoto readily agreed and began washing the vegetables while he dug into one of the cabinets near the sink. His nearness, alone with her in the kitchen of his house, brought a tremor of excitement to her movements. She knew that Mina was here for only one real reason, getting some quality kisses from Tenjin. Makoto felt much the same about Konjou, but wasn't nearly as ready to go to the extremes to get her way that Mina was.

Makoto jumped in surprise as Konjou's arms wound around her sides and took a hold of the pepper in her hands. "You've been washing this pepper for five minutes," he whispered in her ear. "You want to tell me what's so fascinating about it?"

Makoto could hardly breathe, her back was pressed firmly to his chest and his elbows lay just beneath, almost but not quite touching, her breasts. "I.I was thinking about the physics exam," she lied trying to reign in her galloping heartbeat. "I was just wondering what Tenjin is teaching Mina."

"Hmm, she probably the one trying to teach him," he joked as he turned his head, placing his lips on the skin of her neck just behind her ear. "She seems pretty aggressive."

"Yea," Makoto sighed not quite realizing what he was saying. "She's been pretty upset about her failures."

"I can guarantee you if she keeps at it he'll teach her things you wouldn't believe." Konjou said as his mouth moved down her neck to her collar.

"Oh Kami-sama, we can't do this. Not here Konjou." She said trying to get back under control.

"Why not," he whispered. "They wouldn't notice if we were in here for a week."

"This is too fast, we've been in here for less than ten minutes and you've already got me stirred up," she said as she pulled herself almost unwillingly out of his embrace. Makoto took a step towards the living room and found her hand still lightly captured in his. She turned to him to ask that he please let go and stopped dead in her tracks.

His eyes were magnetic, pulling her back the one step away she had managed to take. He gathered her gently in his arms once again, kissing her upturned face on her pert nose. From there his lips kissed a trail of fire over her cheek to her neck, and back again. By the time his lips returned to hers she was breathing heavily and doing her best to meet him kiss for kiss. His tongue traced over her lips silently seeking entrance, and her lips parted in response.

Makoto groaned into his mouth and allowed her hands to fall to his rear. She pulled him tightly to her feeling his hardness press into the juncture of her thighs. He turned around with her still in his arms and pressed her up against the counter. He lifted her slightly so that she then sat on the edge, her legs wrapped around his waist. His hands moved up and down her back as their mouths continued their battle for dominance.

Konjou brought his hands down and began to caress her butt through her skirt, Makoto let out a sigh of contentment and pulled her hands from his back to rub up and down his chest. He growled into her mouth and mimicked her actions making her arch her back in response. He brought his hands up under her breasts and lifted slightly as his fingers curled around their sides. He contracted his hands kneading her breasts.

Makoto unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it backwards forcing his hands away. Konjou made a sound quite like a purr as she dipped her head to his chest and swirled his nipples with her tongue one after the other. His shirt hit the floor as he finally freed it from his hands.

Konjou grabbed the bottom of her fuku top and began to lift it off her, but she refused to raise her arms making removing it impossible. The errant top settled with its bottom just over Makoto's breasts. Lifting the bottom of her bra above her breasts, Konjou bent down and pulled her left nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard yet not enough to hurt, and punctuated his action by grazing its end with his teeth.

Makoto felt as if she had been punched in the stomach, her muscles contracted so violently at the feeling. His attention moved to her other breast soon after and repeated the process. Her hands alternated between trying to hold his head to her and attempting to guide him. He moved as he desired regardless of the motions of her hands. His fingers caressed whichever breast his mouth abandoned at the time.

Makoto's hands slid down from his head onto his back, her hands curled, scratching forcefully in unknowing response to her growing needs. Konjou purred deep in his throat in pleasure at the feeling of her hands, the vibrations travelling through his mouth into her breast, a loud moan tore itself from her at the sensation.

Konjou slid his hands down onto her legs tracing a path up the inside of her thighs to her most sacred of places. He cupped her through her panties, his thumb flicking the hardened nub hidden within her folds. Makoto bit his shoulder hard to stifle her cry of pleasure. His thumb lightly traced a circle around the supersensitive nub over and over again.

Makoto's hips had long since gone beyond her conscious control, they thrust against his hand in time with his thumb. She began to whimper wordlessly in need at his touch. Finally taking the hint her actions gave he brought the fingers of his hand to trace her slit as his thumb continued its self-appointed task. His fingers pressed into her, her panties pulling tight across her adding extra friction on the tiny knot of flesh that seem the centre of her world.

Makoto yelped in surprise when his fingers lifted the side of her panties and slipped inside to caress her folds. She shook her head, maybe in denial of the touch, or perhaps of the feelings themselves, but the result was the same. Konjou pulled his hand away out of her panties and her bare flesh, she whimpered at the loss and pushed herself harder against his still occupied thumb. He once again moved her underwear aside to stroke her meike.

Makoto pulled her hands hard against his back urging him closer, striving for a closeness she couldn't express with words. She brought her right hand around to the front of his pants and ran it against his hardness. Konjou bit her breast nearly hard enough to break skin in his shock, but Makoto was by this point far beyond what pain could interrupt, and simply moaned in response. Makoto began to rub him through his pants in time with his tracing of her folds. Their breaths became short as they fought the rising pleasure.

Konjou was nearing the end of his sanity, his fingers nearly tore her panties pushing them aside far enough for him to slip a single finger into her. She stiffened in shock at the intrusion, the unbelievable tightness of her body nearly crushing his finger. He worked his single finger in and out of her body his thumb now circling her nubbin without the barrier of clothing.

Makoto began to gasp and moan loudly as the sensation wound her tighter than a spring. A second finger pushed its way into her virgin channel, and the sensations assaulting her nearly tripled in response. By now Makoto was making more than enough noise to be heard in the living room, but she no longer cared, she couldn't stop the feelings burning themselves through her.

Her hand clumsily tore at the button of his pants, her need to feel him almost as great as her need to be stroked by him. More through accident than by design she got her hand into his pants and wrapped around his hardness. Her hands moved in a convulsive motion in response to his movements on her. Makoto felt a burning begin in her, she pushed against his every movement trying to expedite the feeling she could sense coming her way. His fingers continued the maddening sawing motion within her body. Her arms and legs began to shake, her back arched and her grip tightened on him to a near crushing force. He covered her mouth with his as she began to yell and thrash in her ecstasy, her blood turned to liquid fire and all motion stopped as he swallowed her long cry of release. Her eyes widened in undisguised terror as the implications of her actions assaulted her now fully aware mind.

Makoto sagged in despair as she tried to figure out how to get out of the situation she was in without going any further. On one hand she felt she owed him something, she had just had the most wonderful, terrifying, but wonderful experience of her life, and it was all his doing. On the other, despite how far they had already gone, now that she was more fully aware of her actions she knew this couldn't go any farther.

"I'm so sorry," Makoto said slipping away from his touch, unable to look him in the face. "This has just gone way too far, I know I wasn't complaining earlier.."

"Makoto, stop, don't worry. You want to end this right?" he said with a strained yet mostly patient tone. "That's still your choice to make. I'm not gonna force you, or even be angry at you for doing what you feel is right. But I hope you can understand that I'll be a little disappointed."

"I'm sorry Konjou, I just. I just can't. I shouldn't have let it go this far." She said with tears in her eyes.

"Shhh. its ok Mako-chan, its ok." He said as he patted her back. She straitened her clothing and prepared to do one of the hardest things she had done in her entire life. Makoto brought her face up and looked him in the eyes, seeing the caring look that almost, but not quite, masked the frustration and disappointment. "Thank you Konjou, very few men would have been able to stop themselves once it got this far."

She moved to hug him but he backed away slightly. A look of hurt and confusion crossed her features. "What's wrong?" She asked in a soft voice.

"I'm not too sure I'd be able to control myself if you started touching me again." He said with an embarrassed and slightly roguish grin.

******** "He was so much nicer about that than I expected" Makoto thought once again as she curled her legs behind her feet nearly touching her butt as she lay in bed. Her body once again wet, in response to the memories of the magic Konjou's hands and lips had worked on her. "He's definitely the most wonderful boy I've ever met," she said to her self as sleep claimed her.

******** Her computer beeped its warning at precisely four fifteen AM. Ami shook her head violently trying to clear the sleep from her eyes as she made her way to examine the reason for the offending noise. One look at the screen and she hit the all call button on her communicator, which was lying on her desk next to the computer. This was going to be trouble.

The Senshi assembled a few blocks away from the park, recent events had taught them that taking these foes on with anything less than a full team was pointless. The feel of magic weighed heavily in the air. As close as they were they didn't need Mercury to tell them something fairly major was going on. The Senshi cautiously approached the park, those with weapons had them out and all were prepared to fire their magic at a moments notice.

It looked like the park had been replaced with a piece from some alien world. The air sparkled with incandescent swirls of light, silver, gold, blue and white mists mixed together as they floated inches above the ground. The entire park seemed to vibrate with the unearthly chanting coming from the general location of the docks. The occasional bursts of flame seeming to originate from the still unseen lake made them feel even less confident in themselves.

The Senshi finally approached close enough to see the cause of all this disturbance. Niccolai floated less than a metre off the surface of the lake glowing with intense silver light. Sailor Moon could feel the resonation of her crystal to the power he wielded. Usagi was torn with indecision, sure he was using lots of magic for something but he wasn't doing anything bad that she could see. These 'Primarchs' so far hadn't tried to hurt anyone until they were attacked. And though they had done some things that weren't at all very nice to her Senshi, the things they'd been doing had been cleaning up the world. Maybe they weren't bad, just misguided in how they helped people. It was entirely possible that if she could just talk to them she could get them to quit doing things that hurt people and everyone could be friends. That thought lasted until Endymion took the initiative in dealing with Niccolai, and with it any thoughts she had of making peace with them.

Endymion had managed to contact Elios earlier that afternoon, Elios had protested vehemently about Endymion's decision, but he had obeyed, Endymion now had the Golden Crystal in his possession and with a grin of anticipation for the coming payback, unleashed its power in a staggeringly powerful blast of energy. The magic tore through the air at something just this side of the speed of light, its staggering force smote Niccolai full on in the chest, slamming him backwards in a blur of movement. The bolt of power carried Niccolai over the lake and drove him into the hillside on the far side like a spike. Endymion held onto the Crystal with all his willpower, continuing the attack. The beam of energy continued to burn into the hill, its backwash began to boil the lake. He knew how powerful these 'Primarchs' were, he would not take any chances. The hill was reduced to a shattered ruin, the lake frothed and steamed, the ground for two hundred meters around the point of impact was burnt and blasted. Finally exhausted from his efforts, Endymion fell to the ground and could sustain the attack no more.

The Senshi began to move around the near side of the lake, though they doubted his survival, none of them wanted to take any chances. Uranus and Jupiter led the pack their faces set in grim determination at their task. Though Uranus was untroubled by her conscience, Makoto for the first time wondered if what they were doing was right. These people may be different, but the Outers had done as much or even more harm to innocents fighting the Death Busters as these guys had. The environmental changes have been nice, she thought. Given that her magic was based in plants, it was pretty hard for her to be angry at someone that seemed to care as much for the world as these 'Primarchs' did. Makoto followed a few steps behind as Uranus neared the crater. Uranus readied the Space Sword, and prepared to strike quickly.

A loud screeching sound distracted her from her task. Uranus looked up just in time to avoid a blast of fire, from a small winged shape circling protectively around the crater. The smoke and steam made it difficult to discern the nature of the attacker, but it did nothing to stop Uranus from sending a return strike. Uranus's attack was joined by Neptune, Venus, and Mars's, the creature though rolled out of the way with seeming ease, magic flying wide of it. The girls again prepared to fire at the small shape, but it took the opportunity to close in on Uranus.

The creature was difficult to get a fix on at its speed but as it closed it became apparent that it was a dragon, a very small dragon. Its golden body was about the size of a domestic cat, its tail probably a little longer than that, its wingspan spread a good two and a half meters. Uranus got the best look at it though as it flew by her at no more than a metre over her head, and smacked her in the face with its tale. Uranus screamed in outrage as the dragon hissed in a cute mockery of laughter as it once again barrel rolled out of the way of the Senshi's attacks. Nothing they did could seem to catch their mercurial foe, though it seemed quite content to taunt them with bursts of flame that missed them by the tiniest of margins. The humiliating dragon kept the Senshi quite occupied, for several minutes any time one of them tried to break off combat with it to deal with Niccolai, they would become the target of choice. Unfortunately for the Senshi this action was quite effective.

Seven minutes, that's all that Prince Endymion had been able to do. His monumental and unprecedented attack with the Golden Crystal had wounded Niccolai severely. The last time it had taken such an extraordinary amount of time for him to recover, Mordred had been showing him the finer points of focused entropic energies, this had hurt almost as bad. It really was too bad for Endymion that he wasn't anywhere near as powerful as Mordred, as Niccolai had lost his temper.

Ami looked up as a large black shape leapt from the crater and ran in a blur at Endymion. In the time since his attack on Niccolai Endymion had managed to draw enough energy off the golden crystal to return to his fully powered up form. Ami winced as her computer began to give out its data on the blur's energy readings, Endymion was in for another bad night.

The blur resolved itself into something out of an ailurophobe's worst nightmares. It was vaguely human shaped, short stygian fur covered it entirely, sharp teeth and silver eyes shown on its entirely catlike face. In short it looked like an anthropomorphic feline, an angry one.

It swiped angrily at Endymion as it yowled in rage, tearing through his armour like tissue paper spraying blood out in a wide arc. Endymion cried out in pain and tried to bring the Golden Crystal to bear once again on his target, but the cat-thing moved to fast. Again it struck and another viscous wound opened on the Earth Prince, this time on his side. Sailor Moon screamed in fear and rage but could not seem to get a clear shot on her love's assailant. Once again the cat-thing struck this time without its claws extended. The sound of Endymion's ribs breaking could be clearly heard one hundred meters away. The creature moved in for the kill Endymion's death was clear in its eyes, it could easily avoid any attack the Senshi called out. That was exactly why it didn't notice Makoto sneak up behind it. It never even knew she was there as she had remained silent, and it was so intent on killing Endymion that it never contemplated that the Senshi would attack it physically. Makoto made her move as it loomed above her prince, her foot struck quickly, snapping from the ground to in between the creature's legs so quickly that her foot became invisible in its flight. It struck the cat-thing, causing an almost comical yowl of pain. Its tail lashed out in a reflexive response tripping Makoto and giving it time to react more.

The creature leapt away, landing more than twenty meters from Endymion and Makoto. Its features melted like butter for an instant, resolving into those of Niccolai. He was obviously even angrier than before. Sailor Saturn finally had a clear shot, though she knew that these people could defend themselves against her lesser attack she knew she had to try. She drew her Glaive back to unleash her Magic, and found herself detained by a small golden dragon sitting on the blade. The dragon had its tail curled around the haft of the weapon seemingly unconcerned with the power it could unleash. Hotaru narrowed her eyes and began to attack anyway despite her passenger but suddenly found herself without the ability to speak. The dragon actually smiled at her as she silently screamed in impotence.

A translucent silver bubble surrounded Niccolai as the rest of the Senshi fired their attacks at him. Niccolai's dark expression took on an even more ominous cast as he began to chant in an echoing terrifying voice. "Chutula nondras, ceadrel jotai hondara mas. Naturu jendessai war."

The dragons eyes widened in shock as the chant continued. It began to look frantically around and hissed in warning at the Senshi who stood staring in sick fascination at the aura of power that now surrounded Niccolai. The chant grew ever more terrifying as the air began to hum in sympathy with the words.

"Dahau sendressa far tefig ATRAN!" he finished. A ball of intense light surrounded him as he took note of his location. With a pained look Niccolai disappeared from sight, a millisecond later a flash of light thousands of times brighter than the sun bloomed on the horizon. The dragon uncurled from its position on the Silence Glaive and looked towards the now darkened sky. It sighed and in an instant of blurring, it resolved itself into Mordaki. The Senshi were in a quandary, Endymion was either dead or dying, one of their enemy had just appeared in the middle of their group, and judging by the glowing distinctively mushroom shaped cloud off to the east, another enemy had just unleashed the magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb somewhere over the ocean.

They stood in dread of what new horrors the Primarchs could unleash, no one, not Haruka, not Rei, not even Setsuna moved towards Mordaki, who simply watched the horizon for something unknown. Endymion's dying gasps brought Usagi back to lucidity as she quickly tried to use her crystal to save him. A bright silver glow surrounded the lovers as she poured her energies into him, willing his wounds to heal. After nearly a full minute Usagi collapsed, Endymion's wounds were unchanged.

"No!" Usagi screamed in a heart wrenching voice. "No, Mamo-chan you can't die, you just can't." Again she drew upon the power of the crystal, fully prepared to give her own life to save his.

"You can't save him with that." Mordaki said, drawing the attention of the Senshi to him. Most of them looked at him as if they just realised he stood there. Mordaki looked at Usagi's furious and grief stricken face. "Neko made those wounds, the crystal could never undo what its creator has done." Mordaki finished. With that he once again turned his head to scan the horizon to the east.

"You can save him can't you." Usagi accused, it wasn't a question.

"Yes." Mordaki said simply.

"Then please, save him." She said, her eyes once again filling with tears as she acknowledged the enormous treason she committed with that request.

"What makes you think I don't want him dead? I'm still not happy with him about hitting me with a rose, and besides, how do you know I won't bring him back as my slave or something." With that Mori again took his eyes off the skyline and stared deep into Usagi's eyes.

"You don't want him dead." Usagi said simply. "If you did you would have killed him already, and I don't know for certain that you won't do something horrible to him, but if he's alive I'll always have hope of fixing anything else."

Mordaki stared hard at Usagi, she had the impression that he looked not at her body but at her very soul. A flash of golden light encased her and she found herself no longer as Sailor Moon, but instead she stood now in her Princess Serenity form. Mordaki smiled tenderly at her, his eyes seeming to glow with warmth.

"For you, I will." He said as he pointed his palm at Endymion. A soft golden light shone from his hand illuminating Endymion. An instant later Endymion showed no sign of ever having been wounded, his breathing was once again slow and even, like someone sleeping. Mordaki returned his gaze to the Princess. "He is returned to you, unharmed and unaltered little cousin. Now I must await the damage wrought by Neko."

Five minutes later it became apparent what Mordaki had been waiting for. A massive tsunami raced towards the coastline of Japan. It was more than easily visible from where they stood, and yet it was silent. Mordaki raised his hands and extended them palms forward towards the wave. He then bent his wrists placing his palms parallel to the ground and lowered his arms, as he did the tsunami sank into the ocean.

Mordaki looked around, seeming surprised that the Senshi were still there. "Is there something else you want?" he asked in a conversational tone. The gathered Senshi looked at their leader, unsure of what to do. Should they attack him, hoping that they could take him off guard, or should they retreat? He far outclassed all of them in power, he made Galaxia seem like a child in comparison. Usagi took control of the decision with a simple question.

"Why are you doing all of this?" She asked.

"All of what, young one?" he responded in an equally polite voice.

"The destruction, the changes, even hurting people, why?" She implored, her eyes filled with tears.

"Do you really care about my reasons, would it matter to you in the least why we do what we do, or are you trying to make me doubt my path?" he queried earnestly.

"Both really." She replied.

"Fine then, I'll tell you what you want to know. So long ago that you can't even begin to imagine it, we came into being. We were alone, the universe was dark as matter had yet to coalesce far enough to begin to give off light. The first stars wouldn't be born for eons. We five stood in awe at what our 'Fathers' had wrought. Time passed swiftly for us. There was much to do, and new wonders to see all the time. I remember clearly when the first quasar formed around the event horizon of a black hole. I remember the beauty of the first world capable of supporting life as you would recognise it. I also remember when the Universe itself took a hand and tried to copy what the Creators had made, us. For over a billion years the Ulterran ruled. They went everywhere, saw everything. They were so much like us, but they were fragile in comparison. Their power weakened through the eons, until they were no more. Their degeneration gave rise to your kind, the mortals." Mordaki paused, his stare locked with Usagi, his eyes burning with some unknown emotion.

"When Jander christened your people 'mortal', a vile slur in our language, it became obvious how the rest of the Ulterran would treat you. I had long ago used my power to create for myself a vacation home. A place few other Ulterran knew of, and even fewer would dare intrude upon without my permission. In sorrow for them, for they had lost their birthrights without even being aware of what they had lost, Neko and I gathered the discarded children and moved them to my retreat. We taught them how to survive without the magic their ancestors took for granted. We taught them everything they would need to survive and make a place where their kind could be happy. For ten thousand years the Mortals dwelt in relative peace on the world we had transplanted them to. All the while the Ulterran continued to die out. More and more of the children were born 'mortal'. It was unsettling to see the death of the race that had been modelled after us. Most of the 'mortals' retained some scrap of the power of their forbearers, your race did not. Finally we Primarchs could stand the sorrow no more. We forged crystals to maintain the balance of energies in the universe and went to sleep, each in the places we felt most comfortable. Mordred drifted in the blackness of space. Jander slept on a world he had accidentally destroyed through his power. Lor entered his own crystal and slept within. Neko dissipated his corporeal form and slumbered within the dreams of his namesake. I on the other hand constructed a resting place for myself on the Island of 'Solitude'. I was very unhappy to find my home under seven kilometres of ocean when I awoke." His eyes flickered to Endymion his stare hardened until Usagi felt afraid for her prince. Mordaki tore his gaze off Endymion and his expression became somewhat sad.

"When I began my sleep, the world was a beautiful place. The air was clean, the water was unpolluted, and its natural beauty was unspoiled. There were thousands of creatures then that do not exist now. Your people, though violent as always, knew that there was a line one did not cross even in warfare. Now you bend the forces that drive the sun to your own destructive ends. You have polluted or destroyed every life giving part of the planet. You abuse the knowledge you have amassed to create horrors even Jander has scarcely dreamed of, and worst, if you could find no way abuse something, you destroyed it so no one else could use it either." His voice took on a tone of disgust as her continued. "Your people have forgotten something important. This is my world. I have allowed your people to live here on my sufferance. Your actions have proven to me though that you cannot be trusted to live here unsupervised. Like all children that misbehave, your people will be disciplined, and before you say anything foolish about my rights remember this. I created this world, its mine, therefore you can follow my rules in 'my home' or you can leave. You're petty squabbling amongst yourselves have already destroyed the life giving ability of the other worlds nearby, I will not allow you to ruin this one."

Usagi was aghast at the vehemence in Mordaki's voice. It was obvious to her that he felt betrayed by the way the human race had damaged 'his' world. It was understandable really. For the last two hundred years the rapid progression of technology and industry had done terrible things to the environment, but his answer was far too extreme. "Please, give us some time. The governments around the world have spent that last twenty years fighting to save the environment. It just takes time to change the way people act." She implored.

"The mortals have run out of time. My world grows more ill every day. The laws these governments have passed are insufficient to halt the devastation, and only a few of them actively enforce them anyway. No I'm afraid its time for more decisive actions." Mordaki stated coldly.

"But." Usagi began to protest.

"No." Mordaki interrupted. "I will not rescind my decision. The mortals will have to learn again to survive without their filth."

"Now just a minute here boy-o, nobody talks to our princess that way. You'd bet.. Ahhh!" Haruka's tirade was cut off in mid word as Mordaki simply looked at her. Haruka fell to the ground convulsing and twitching, in a disturbing mirror of Minako's actions weeks before. Mordaki once again returned his gaze to Usagi.

"It would behove you to control your servitors. While I may accept a small amount of censure and grief from you, I will not tolerate disrespect from a mortal." He spoke with fierceness.

"I don't understand." Usagi said. "Why would you treat me differently, then?"

Mordaki shook his head in sadness. "You truly don't even know do you. I wonder. Should I be the one to tell you, or should I leave it to the little blue one over there?"

"Tell me what?" Usagi asked a feverish desperateness in her eyes.

"That you're like him, sort of." Mercury said.

The other Senshi's heads snapped around at whiplash speeds and their combined glares made Mercury shrink back.

"And just when were you planning on sharing this vital information with us Mercury?" Mars spoke crisply.

"I was planning on telling Moon as soon as I made some sense of it." Mercury returned somewhat hotly, her earlier embarrassment forgotten in her anger at being talked down to.

"Please release Uranus." A voice begged softly from behind Sailor Moon.

"Oh all right." Mordaki said and with absolutely no visible action from him, Haruka ceased her thrashing and wailing. Venus and Neptune were at her side in an instant. Venus wore a look of sympathy and understanding. She now had some idea of what happened to her at school.

"Is there anything I can say to change your mind about hurting everyone like you are? I know the world needs help, but you can't fix things by making people suffer. You have to forgive them, help them to understand. Please." Usagi pleaded. "Don't hurt them just for trying to make their lives better, they don't remember anymore how to do it any other way. Please just give them a chance."

"Why should I allow this world to suffer anymore for their selfishness and greed? Do you really believe that your words can turn them from their abuse? Or would you have me sit back and allow these mortals to slay my home?" Mordaki replied.

"All I can do, is ask you to give them time to change. If you just help them."

"No. They have had more than ample time. After we got rid of all the radioactive electricity plants, they began to build new ones. The fools actually intend to replace those nightmares." Mordaki said in sadness. "If they are so set in their ways as to not see the simple solution to their power needs, and would endanger everything in their stubbornness, then they deserve no consideration."

"If there is no other way, then I must stop you by force." Usagi said sadly.

An immense golden aura snapped into existence around Mordaki in an instant, and he lifted off the ground several metres. His eyes burned with a platinum radiance. A long amber crystalline staff materialized in his off hand. Mordaki looked more ready to do battle then they had ever seen him. "Well then little cousin. Come on then, show me the error of my ways." He said with a sarcastic grin on his face.

"Wait!" Usagi yelled. "Give me some time to prepare. We both know you would win easily right now. Just give me a month, just a month to get ready. Then we will challenge you."

"Very good little one." Mordaki said as he reined in his power and settled once again to the ground. "Your terms are accepted, save on one point. I will hold off my reparations for a month, only if you agree not to attempt to disturb me in that time. I make an oath to you that I will take no action that causes any mortal harm until after our battle, unless the mortal in question attacks me or someone or something that cannot defend itself. Do we have an agreement?"

"Yes, we do." Usagi responded.

"I expect that your agreement also binds your mortal servants correct?" He stated more than asked.

"I won't let my friends bother you either, as long as you hold up your end of the deal." She replied.

"Neither I nor Neko will break this vow. I have less than no say however on what Jander or Mordred may do. Of course last time I checked on Jander, he was busy exercising his powers on the people of, umm Kinmoku? Was it? I'm not entirely positive what the native populace calls it, I do remember they're a people with some limited shape shifting power, Mostly gender changing if I remember right." He said with a shrug. "Mordred still hasn't bothered to do anything, thank Dallak. That man has very little in the way of a sense of humour. Of course, being the avatar of Entropy, basically a living reset switch for the universe has to eat at guy over the eons. If he does do anything I sure as hell am not getting in his way. He put Lor down so hard once that Lor still won't return to that time. He says even being within a few years of then feels like being turned slowly inside out. And then there's Lor, I seriously doubt he'll bother with hurting any mortals, From what I've felt of his magic in the area, I'd say he's been a bit too busy tormenting the little Time Guardian over there."

Setsuna stared hard at Mordaki when he finished. The other Senshi alternated between looking at her and gawking at the fact that Usagi had once again managed to talk an enemy down with pure undiluted niceness.

"I guess we'll all be on our way then, oh but one thing. I'd apologize to Neko were I in your position Jupiter. He was here to blow off some steam from a bad day, and one of the worst cases of sexual frustration ever known, and you go and kick him in a very sensitive place. You all are very lucky he remembered that his Cataclysm spell would have wiped out everything for about 20 kilometres around. There are what twelve or thirteen million people within that radius? That could have been a lot worse if he wouldn't have teleported out over the ocean. Oh and one thing to remember, just because we haven't bothered wasting the energy to penetrate the Glamour that protects your identity, doesn't mean we can't. Keep that in mind."

With that Mordaki teleported away, leaving the assembled Senshi standing in contemplation of their fate. In one month they would do battle with the Primarchs, and they had no idea how they were supposed to win.

********** Today was going to go down in the big book of worthless, Konjou thought. His morning couldn't possibly have gone any worse. Tenjin was pissed at him with a capital p, and he knew he deserved it. No matter how bad off Makoto left him, he had no right to go off that bad. One more hour until lunch, he thought as he mindlessly folded his sociology homework into the tiniest possible square without tearing it. He had to talk to Makoto. He wanted to see her again, despite the way their last get together had ended. Makoto needed to be reassured that he wasn't angry, and in fact wanted to get together again. Of course, he thought, he intended to continue where he left off with her as soon as he could convince her that it was a good idea, but he was nearly positive she already knew that.

"No, please don't!" a voice called so softly he could barely hear it.

"Shut up!" another voice said. Konjou was on his feet in an instant.

"Dude this might not be a good idea. I mean sure nobody likes her, but she does hang around that Haruka guy sometimes." A third voice said.

"Quit whining and gag her with something before someone hears her, or you don't get a turn." The second voice snarled a few seconds later. Konjou ignored the sputtering protests of his Sensei and dashed out of the room following the nearly inaudible voices.

"Damn, she's hot for a freshman right Dai?" Yet another voice chuckled at the sounds of muffled whimpering and tearing fabric.

That did it, Konjou ran quickly down the hall to the source of the noise, the boys bathroom on this floor. The door was locked but proved to be less than no barrier. Konjou strode in through the broken door. The looks of shock on the faces of the four boys in the room almost but not quite brought an evil smirk to his face. His reason for not smiling was the room's fifth occupant. A young girl, no more than fourteen or fifteen was held against the far wall by two of the boys, another held a knife that he had been using to cut her clothing off with, the last boy stood next to the torn open door, his face a mask of terror. The girl had slightly less than shoulder length black hair, and the most amazing lavender eyes. She was petite and pretty, and obviously here against her will.

"Who the fuck are you?" the boy with the knife asked as he stepped closer to the girl. The boy by the door began to inch slowly around Konjou to get behind him. The girl began again to struggle in her captors arms, afraid that this boy was here to join in their assault on her.

Konjou had simply seen enough. He had thought his day couldn't have gotten any worse, he was wrong, dreadfully so. His control at the absolute limit, he looked directly at the knife wielder. "I'm going to be very very nice to you and tell you just once to let her go and get out of here."

"Look asshole you want a piece of her you wait in line, you mess with us and they won't find all of you. So just close the door and wait your turn."

If Dai could have studied the problem for a few thousand years he still couldn't have found a worse thing to say. Konjou completely lost control. "Dahlah!" he growled as he spun and punched the boy attempting to sneak up behind him. Dai gasped once and fell to the floor, his knife clattering at the girl's feet.

Jin knew what Dai wanted, he just had to sneak up behind this guy and take him out. It shouldn't have been that hard, but one instant he was talking to Dai, and the next his fist connected with Jin's chest hard enough to powder Jin's sternum. Jin flew into the partially closed door, his impact ripped it off its hinges allowing both Jin and the door to land in the hallway. In less time than it took to blink two of the four assailants were completely out of action.

Konjou advanced toward the boys still holding the now terrified girl, his expression promising them pain or worse. His hands blurred forward and tore her from their grasp, in the same motion his body spun around bringing her out of their sight and allowing him to crescent kick the larger of the two. He flew sideways under the force of the blow obviously unconscious already, and smashed into the line of urinals, shattering the porcelain on two of them, before halting in a pool of rapidly expanding blood. The last boy had seen more than enough, he had absolutely no desire to fight this guy. He ran like a frightened bunny toward the door, but long before he got there Konjou halted his flight with a powerful backhand to the face. The sounds of breaking bones assured Konjou the boy would not be going anywhere.

"Are you ok?" Konjou asked the girl.

"I'm., I'm." and she burst into tears. Konjou knew she was likely in shock. What she had almost happened to her was more than enough to accomplish that alone, not even including his reaction. He looked around at the devastation and sighed, oh yea, Tenjin was gonna be unhappy again.

"Look, I can hear people coming, so why don't you wear my jacket for now ok?" He asked her in a patient tone. The girl took the proffered jacket and used it to cover her torn open fuku. Seconds later a voice could be heard from the hallway.

"Kami-sama, what in the hell happened here."

"Someone get the nurse, I don't think that kid's going to make it." Another voice answered.

Three teachers dashed in through the missing door, and saw even more carnage. A woman Konjou recognised as the English teacher dashed to a stall and was ill. The two male teachers took note of the battleground and the shreds of fuku littering the ground near the fallen knife wielder and instantly came to the obvious conclusion.

"Let go of the girl!" one of the teachers yelled at Konjou.

"He didn't hurt me." The girl responded in a totally emotionless voice.

"You don't have to protect him, we won't let him hurt you." The other teacher said glaring daggers at Konjou.

"He protected me from them." She said, her voice hovering just slightly above the temperature of liquid helium. She turned and faced Konjou, her pretty eyes still filled with tears. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up."

"You're very much welcome little one." He said standing proudly at her words.

"Oh my!" a female voice said from outside. "He's alive, at least. The ambulances will be here shortly." With that a pretty brunette wearing a white lab style coat came in to the bathroom. "Oh this certainly looks like there was trouble." She said in an unbelievably cheerful voice.

She bent over and examined the boy closest to the door. "Well, I'd say he needs a hospital, and Taikutsu-sensei, please pull that boy out of the urinal before he drowns." The nurse then checked on Dai. "Well at least this one won't need any surgery, that's always good."

"Yea, he looks ok, the rest of them look like they went through a meat grinder." The other male teacher said.

"Oh no, he's anything but ok." She replied still cheerful. "I'm afraid he's dead, oh and would you please go down and have Meiou-san call Ten'ou-san and Keiou-san."

"What did you say?"

"I asked if you would go down and have Meiou-san get Hotaru-chan's guardians here, she looks like she could use their company." She smiled at Hotaru as she finished.

"He's dead?" the man screamed at the nurse.

"Oh that, well he's dead. It tends to happen when someone's heart stops."

Hotaru flatly refused to leave Konjou's side, and a few short minutes later Haruka and Michiru marched into the amazingly occupied bathroom, their every movement screaming a readiness to kill someone for hurting their 'daughter'. Once they got in Haruka stomped over to Konjou, stopping centimetres from him. Haruka's look promised years of agony before the relief of death.

"He isn't the one that tried to hurt me." Hotaru spoke softly. Haruka's attitude did an instant about face as Hotaru continued, "He's the one that stopped them." The look Haruka shot Konjou carried a grudging respect and heartfelt thanks.

"Thank you." Michiru said as she stepped up and took Hotaru into her arms. Michiru's face was wet with tears, both of fear and gratitude. "You're Makoto's friend are you not?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Well children, the ambulances are here, time to send all the injured, and potentially injured, to the hospital." The nurse interrupted with a smile.

As the paramedics took the fallen boys out on stretchers, the nurse led Michiru and Hotaru out. Haruka grabbed Konjou by the arm as he turned to follow. "Thanks, I don't know why you helped her out, but I'm glad you did. I owe you one."

"Don't worry about it Ten'ou-san these guys needed a beating worse than anyone I've met in a very long time."

"Yea," she said looking at the devastation, "You really tore this place up didn't you?"

"They made me angry, people really shouldn't do that. It's always sickening to me when I see people trying to take someone else's freedom to choose away. Rape is just about the ultimate in personal crimes. The only thing I'm sorry about is a few of them might live." With that Konjou walked out the door.

Haruka shivered when he left, she had made some life or death decisions as Sailor Uranus, and she agreed that the guys that attacked Hotaru deserved death, but the cold way he said he was sorry about their survival frightened her. He was colder than Sailor Pluto and before today she would have sworn that was impossible.

******** Lunch was a subdued event that afternoon, Konjou was still in the office with several police officers, and Tenjin was livid. The Senshi had all gathered out by Usagi's favourite tree and discussed the day's events.

"So Makoto, what do you know about this Konjou guy anyway?" Haruka asked her as she ate.

"He's very sweet. I mean he did something for me I didn't think any boy could do." She broke off as Haruka smirked at her.

"So, Konjou's the one that gave you the Hickey huh?" Haruka teased.

"Yes,... er No err, that's not what I meant." She tried to explain. "Let's just say I let things go way too far, and he still stopped when I asked, and believe me, most boys wouldn't have at that point." Haruka and Usagi nodded sagely, and giggled when they noticed each other.

"Ok, just for future reference, Konjou is dangerous if he gets angry. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad as hell he was there to stop them, but damn he was brutal. From what I saw at least two of them are gonna need serious reconstructive surgery." Haruka said.

"That's nothing." Rei spoke up. "I heard from a girl in my class who's the health room assistant that one of the guys was dead. I mean really dead, and he didn't have a mark on him. It was like he got scared to death or something." Makoto suddenly didn't feel like eating.

"There is something I should bring to your attention, but I don't know what, if anything, it means." Ami interrupted. "I was in class with Konjou when he suddenly stood up and rushed out the door. He must have heard or sensed that Hotaru was in trouble."

"Well she was screaming." Mina said.

"I was much closer to the bathroom than Konjou was, I didn't hear anything at all. Besides that's not what is really strange. At about the time Hotaru was attacked my computer registered a massive pulse of magic, type unknown. Also the force needed to open that door would have been unbelievable. That's a reinforced steel fire door, it was locked both at the handle and at the dead bolt, it would have required tonnes of force to tear it open, and almost as much to knock it off its hinges afterwards. I have a very difficult time even imagining a human doing that." She finished.

"What about people that lift cars off their babies and things like that." Usagi proposed.

"You mean an adrenalin rush?" at Usagi's nod Ami continued. "While that is a possibility, I'd rate it as fairly low. People that do that usually have damage to themselves afterwards, according to what I've been able to learn, Konjou is in perfect health."

"Yea, he's just fine." Haruka answered. "He didn't even look like they had a chance to touch him, and believe me there might be more than one death from this. The guy that went through the door didn't look like he was gonna make it. So are you saying something is up with Konjou, Ami?"

"I'm saying that I don't know. There's something strange about him, and by extension Tenjin."

"Yea, hey where is Tenjin anyway. I'd like to hear what he has to say about Konjou." Makoto said.

"Oh I asked him if it was ok if he would mind eating somewhere else today, I didn't think you all would want him around today just in case we discussed secret stuff." Mina answered somewhat distracted.

"Hey, Mina?" Haruka asked. "Could you ask him to come over her and talk to us about this? I'd like to hear from him too."

"Sure, he's just over on the steps."

Mina stood up and practically bounced over to where Tenjin sat. As she approached she heard Tenjin mumbling to himself, at least it sounded a little like mumbling. "Eaderu notas, kisal mithrain."

"Hi Tenjin!" She said loud enough to cover his words, and the worry the sound of it created in her.

"Huh!... Oh, hi Mina," Tenjin said. "Wow, you snuck up on me there. Sorry, I was kinda lost in thought about Konjou." He said scratching the back of his head cutely in embarrassment. "I hope you didn't hear me cussing at those morons that tried to hurt your friend."

"Heh heh, no, I didn't hear anything, nope nothing at all like you speaking some creepy sounding language." Mina finished.

Tenjin looked at Mina strangely and shook his head. "Okaayy. so are you and your friends done ridiculing all males for what those losers tried to do?"

"Oh we weren't insulting all guys just any guy that doesn't understand what 'no' means. Also, my friend Haruka, Hotaru's guardian, wants to talk to you if you'll do it."

"Sure, let's go." Mina sighed happily as Tenjin took her hand and began to walk towards where her friends were sitting. Mina blushed as she remembered where his hand had been less than a full day ago. She still couldn't believe how forward she had been, but was also somewhat glad. Mina knew what was going to happen in a month. No matter how well Ami planed, or how much Usagi cared, Mina knew the Primarchs were going to kill them. After seeing what Mordaki did to Haruka with a look, Mina realised what happened to her. Somehow, without knowing who or where she was, he had done the same thing to her from the Kami only knew what distance. If he could do that any time he wanted then there was no way to fight him. She was going to die, but she was going to live first. Taking a hold of Tenjin's arm tighter Mina leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, yes it was very good that she had been so forward, it would come in handy very soon.

Mina and Tenjin arrived at the tree the others were sitting at, Tenjin sat down and surprisingly Mina plopped down in his lap. Haruka raised her eyebrow at Mina's forwardness and Rei looked like she tried to swallow her tongue, Tenjin on the other hand reacted better than expected. After a short moment of shock, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pretended there was nothing odd about her choice of seats.

"So," Tenjin began once everyone had adjusted to Mina's actions, "you wanted to talk to me?" He asked.

"Yea," said Haruka. "I just wanted to ask you about Konjou."

"What about him?"

"How did he know Hotaru needed help?"

"I don't know. I haven't talked to him since he left the class."

"Have you known him a long time?"

"Longer than I can ever explain. We've been friends ever since we were born."

"How did he get through that door then, I mean I know he looks strong, but that was one tough door."

"Well, to be honest Konjou is a good deal stronger than he looks. He's absolutely fanatical about staying in shape." Tenjin actually smiled when he said that, it wasn't a nice smile. It was more like an 'I know something you don't' smile.

"Ok Where did he learn Kendo, he took those guys down and didn't even look like he got hit."

"Oh he didn't get hit, there's no way he's gotten that sloppy. Back when we were kids our cousin, Hikage, taught us how to defend ourselves physically, for those times we couldn't talk our way out of a fight. Believe me we learned everything we could."

"Wow," Makoto interjected, "What ranking is Hikage?"

"Well, I doubt he actually ever bothered getting ranked, but if I had to guess, I'd call him a grand master. I have never, ever seen anyone even come close to defeating him. Most people couldn't even touch him, and believe you me I've seen some tough customers try to take him down. My other cousin Koden and has been trying to get the best of him for a long long time. Koden lost it back when we were younger and Hikage took him down hard. I wasn't sure Koden would live through it. Lets just say if there is one person in the world I don't want mad at me its Kisei Hikage."

"You know it's kind of strange, I hear you talk about your cousins all the time but you never mention any other family." Mina said suddenly.

"Oh, well there's only the five of us. Our parents have been gone a long time, and none of us had any siblings."

"Oh, that's so sad." Usagi said, her eyes filling with tears for the boy's obvious loneliness. "My Mamo-chan is an orphan too, you should get together and talk about it. You'll feel much better."

Makoto turned her head so no one would see the tears in her eyes. She knew all about what it was like to lose one's family. It still struck her hard sometimes when she thought about it. Konjou and she had even more in common than she had admitted before.

"Your family has some strange names." Ami commented.

"Like 'friend of water' isn't?" Tenjin said with a smile. Ami winced slightly and smiled back, that point was his.

"Back to the martial arts questions," Haruka said. "Are you any good?"

"I can hold my own against anyone I've ever met besides Hikage. My last cousin Zekkou used to challenge me pretty often. That was always exciting."

"How about we spar after school, I'd like to see you guys' style in action." Haruka asked. Makoto seconded it instantly.

"Ok, as long as I get Mina here as my cheerleader, and I don't have to go and post bail for Konjou." Mina blushed and whispered something into Tenjin's ear that had him blushing. The rest of the girls laughed at his expression. Tenjin was finally finishing his lunch when a loud voice called his name.

"Gogyou-san." The voice of the secretary came through the buildings external speakers. "Please report to the guidance office immediately."

The girls shared a look as soon as Tenjin left, if he was headed to the guidance office then Setsuna wanted him for some reason. That information did not sit well upon Mina. "I wonder what Setsuna wants with him?"

"I don't know." Ami responded. It was true she didn't know, but she had her suspicions. If she said anything Haruka would most probably try something, as would Rei. Minako and Makoto would feel betrayed, and without absolute proof, something she couldn't get without exposing herself as Sailor Mercury, they would in all likelihood not believe her. Ami felt like crying, she needed time, and that was the one thing she didn't have. One month was hardly anything when her friends were depending on her to find some way to equalize the horrific difference in power between the Senshi and the Primarchs.

******** School ended without anyone seeing Konjou or Tenjin again. Mina was quite upset, Tenjin had promised her that he would be here after school and he was missing. Makoto, Haruka, Rei, and even Ami were waiting with her. Mina smiled to herself when she thought about the upcoming sparing match, sure Tenjin was going to lose, but all that meant was she would be able to use it as an excuse to comfort him. No matter how good Tenjin was, there was simply no way he could take Haruka in hand to hand combat. She was just too fast, and too strong.

After another five minutes Haruka snorted. "Well Mina, it looks like your boyfriend is afraid to get his butt whooped." She snickered.

"Remember he said he might not be able to show up. Give him a little more time. He'll be here he promised to take me out after the match."

Haruka laughed, "If he's in any condition to take you anywhere when were done."

"If you feel that way maybe we should begin." Tenjin said from right behind Haruka.

Haruka jumped and spun around in startlement at the sound of his voice. When she landed she took note of Mina's smirk and Konjou's knowing smile. Ami had for some reason taken out the Mercury computer while Makoto and Rei intently watched them.

"So do you know somewhere we can do this privately or would you rather we just start right here?" Haruka asked. Tenjin smiled as he thought about it for a second.

"Well Konjou and I have a practice room in our apartment, but I don't know if you all would feel comfortable being in a guy's house you hardly know."

"Hey I'm all for it." Makoto said as she put her hand on Konjou's arm. Rei looked like she wanted to object, but a look from Ami of all people caused her to keep silent. Mina simply wrapped her arms around Tenjin's waist and hugged him tightly.

"You remember where Mamoru lives right girls?" Mina answered.

"Yes." The girls replied in a sarcastic chorus.

"Well they live in the penthouse of the same apartment."

Rei was momentarily taken aback, a penthouse apartment in the middle of Tokyo was hideously expensive. Their trust funds must be enormous for their guardian to allow them to live there. "Wow." Was all she managed to say.

Mina and Makoto decided to walk over to the apartment with Tenjin and Konjou, while Ami and Rei went with Haruka back to her house. When they arrived they found Michiru and Hotaru already there. Haruka quickly swept them up into a hug.

"How are you Hotaru-chan?" Haruka whispered into her ear as the hug continued.

"I'm ok Haruka-papa. They never even touched me really. Konjou-san saved me."

"That's good," she whispered tears in her eyes. "That's very good." Haruka held her daughter for a few more moments, then with reluctance stepped away. "How would you two like to join the rest of the girls and I in going over to Konjou and Tenjin's apartment?"

"Can we really?" Hotaru asked beaming. Michiru's smile at Haruka was answer enough, and ignoring the look of hero worship on Hotaru's face, Haruka nodded in assent.

"That's right, I challenged Tenjin to a martial arts match. I want to know how good he is. He told us at lunch that he and Konjou are pretty much equals."

"Haruka-papa, if he's as good as Konjou-san I wouldn't challenge him if I were you." Hotaru's voice was filled with warning. "Konjou-san is too good to beat without being in Senshi form."

Haruka smirked, it was obvious that Hotaru-chan had a bit of a crush on her saviour, and as insulting as it was for her to doubt Haruka's abilities it was nice to see her behaving like a normal teenage girl. "Don't worry Hotaru-chan, it's just a little sparing, I won't hurt Konjou's cousin."

"It's not Tenjin I'm worried about." Hotaru whispered so softly that no one but her heard it.

"If you believe it would be all right I would like to go as well." Setsuna said from behind the group. Rei jumped at the unexpected interruption causing Hotaru to giggle slightly.

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind Setsuna. They invited all the rest of us, we'll just tell them the truth, your one of Hotaru's guardians and wanted to talk to the boy that helped her." Ami said.

"Are you certain they wouldn't mind anata?" Michiru asked.

"Yea, I'm sure." Haruka responded. "You know it's a good thing you girls are so skinny, otherwise there would be no way to squeeze you all in my car."

"I'll just meet you at their apartment building." Setsuna said as she disappeared.

"I hate it when she does that." Rei said as the girls left the house.

Mina enjoyed the fifteen minute walk to the apartment. Despite the heat of the afternoon the walk was pleasant. It was obvious that Makoto was in agreement with her on their chances of survival, and had come to the same conclusion. Enjoy what time remained. The walk was filled with the sounds of idle chatter and much affection. Mina kept her arm around Tenjin the entire time, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. She was almost sad to see the apartment as it meant that she would have to let go soon. Just before they stepped onto the buildings grounds Mina pulled Tenjin into a fierce embrace.

"No matter how you do I'll be proud of you." She said, and then kissed him softly. Her pulse began to hammer as he deepened the kiss, the impropriety of their actions totally lost on her kiss drugged mind. The sound of squealing tires didn't penetrate the bubble of contentment that encompassed them, it was Haruka's whistling and cat-calls that finally did the job.

"Wow." Haruka said. "That was so hot it made me want a cold shower. Should we come back later?" She asked with a grin.

Mina was at a loss for words, yes she knew what she was doing, but having her friends actually see it reminded her too much of Makoto walking in on her yesterday. Tenjin suffered from no such difficulty.

"Nahh, She and I can always pick up where we left off after I kick your butt." His grin was positively evil.

Haruka's answering smile was equally unpleasant as she responded to the verbal jab. "Oh it's on now little boy." Despite their appearances, Haruka and Tenjin looked forward to the friendly match. For Haruka not only would she get a decent workout, but when she beat Tenjin, the supposed equal of Konjou, she would once again become the best in her daughter's eyes. For Tenjin it was a chance to check on something that had been troubling him, and to look good in front of Mina. The kiss they had just shared had his blood pumping.

"I hope you do not mind a few more of us coming along to watch do you Tenjin-san?" Michiru asked as she stepped out of the car.

"Nahh," Konjou answered for him. "He's a show-off and loves to have an audience." The girls pretended they didn't see the rude gesture Tenjin sent Konjou as the trudged inside. They were met at the staircase by a beautiful teal haired woman the boys recognised as Meiou-san the school guidance councillor.

"Greetings gentlemen." She spoke oh so very formally. "Haruka told our ward and I that you were planning on sparing with her." She said looking at the two boys. "Would you mind overmuch if I also observed, I would also like to have the chance to talk further with you about what happened today." The last part was directed solely at Konjou.

"Yea sure, the more the merrier," he said off handedly as he began the long walk up the stairs to the penthouse. The walk continued with small talk that almost pushed away the oppressive heat of the enclosed stairway.

"Hey minna, do you think we should ask Usagi and Mamoru if they want to watch." Makoto asked as the arrived on the fourteenth floor.

"Yea, that's a great idea Makoto." Mina and Rei agreed so the group left the stairs and headed towards Mamoru's apartment door. It was unnecessary to knock. Usagi and Mamoru weren't actually in the apartment.

Usagi and Mamoru were in the open doorway to his apartment. She leaned back, her head and shoulders on the frame, her hands tangled in Mamoru's hair. Her shirt was pushed up above her belly button and Mamoru's hands were hidden under her top. Her eyes were closed and little gasps of pleasure escaped her throat as Mamoru caressed her breasts. His mouth feasted on her neck, the wet sounds of kissing carrying as far away as the group. Her legs were wrapped around him, her hips pressing against his. Only their clothing kept the scene from being completely pornographic. Setsuna cleared her throat loudly, the sound easily cut through the passion filled minds of the young lovers.

Usagi yelped in pain as Mamoru yanked his hands out from under her top quickly enough to give her friction burns. She turned crimson from embarrassment as she took in the assembled group and the picture she and Mamoru must have made. When they were done righting their clothing Usagi finally spoke, her mortification and fading desire making her voice thick.

"S.Setsuna, minna, what a surprise to see you." She stuttered.

"We could see for ourselves you didn't expect company." Makoto said with a teasing grin.

"What do you want?" Mamoru nearly growled. It was obvious he was highly irritated by the interruption. A look of understanding and apology passed between the three males.

"The girls here wanted to invite you to watch Tenjin kick the snot out of Haruka." Konjou said tactlessly. Mamoru looked at Konjou then Tenjin in surprise, then consideration.

"You want to put a wager on that outcome?" Mamoru asked. Haruka broke into a smile. Not only was she going to get to redeem herself in from of Hotaru, but Usagi and Mamoru were obviously going to be there as well, and she loved looking good in front of her princess.

"Mamoru-san," Tenjin began. "Trust me that you don't want to bet on this. You know nothing about me."

"Don't worry about it Tenjin-san." Mamoru said, his voice raised a slight question at Tenjin's name. Tenjin's slight nod made it clear that his use of it was acceptable. "I know Haruka well enough to be sure of the outcome."

"But Mamo-chan!" Usagi whined, and then whispered something in his ear.

"That's ok Usako," he said, "this won't take long, and I'll make a deal with you." Mamoru whispered something to Usagi that had her widening her eyes in shock. After a moment her face nearly split in an ear to ear grin.

"Please don't take this personally Haruka." Usagi said to the older girl. "Tenjin, kick her butt."

"Usagi!" Mamoru said as the group once again headed towards the stairs, Usagi giggling the entire way.

Konjou opened the door and led the large group of guests into the apartment. Oohs and Aahs of appreciation rang out as the guests dispersed to examine the decor. Michiru was quite surprised and pleased to see one of her own paintings, a work titled 'Silver Shadows' showing the silhouettes of the Senshi mostly obscured by fog, the Moon Palace distant in the background, stars almost seeming to twinkle while one watched.

She was even more appreciative of some of the other artwork, she would have to ask the boys who the artist was. She dearly loved the painting of the fanciful unicorn horned bunnies, and the silver dragon curled protectively around a nest of eggs was almost as gorgeous. In the corner of the room was a glass front cabinet that held various small musical instruments. Her violin 'The Marine Cathedral' was a beautiful instrument, several of these looked to be in its class. A hammered dulcimer sat proudly on the highest shelf, its mallets stored in a velvet lined case next to it. Also in the cabinet was a very small and highly expensive looking harp. Though she was not sure, it looked to be plated entirely in silver. Its style was very old, probably early Greek. If she was correct in her assumptions that instrument was worth a fortune.

"Done drooling koishii?" Haruka asked as she put her arm around Michiru.

"Hai, the boys have wonderful taste," Michiru sad.

Haruka looked at Konjou noting the look he gave Makoto as she laughed with her friends. His arm held her close, his eyes soft and full of wonder. "Oh yes, they most definitely have good taste."

Haruka looked around the room at her friends and had to blink away tears that threatened to come. They looked happy despite how the day had gone. Hotaru was ok now, but the attack on her however terrible was not what weighed most heavily on Haruka. They only had a month to get ready, and she wasn't sure that was enough time. The girls deserved every scrap of happiness they could find. Haruka leaned over and kissed Michiru softly.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too Ruka-chan." Michiru said equally quietly. She could easily sense what Haruka was feeling, and agreed completely.

"Well children are we about ready?" Tenjin asked as he stepped out of the bathroom. He was dressed in a gi, his lithe form displayed wonderfully by it. Rei swallowed a lump in her throat, he may be a hentai, she thought, but he was a gorgeous hentai. She had to consciously remember that he was Mina's to keep herself from reaching out to touch his hair. It couldn't possibly be as soft as it looked, she thought to herself before she become conscious of just exactly who she was thinking about. She pulled her hand back in horror when she realised she had lifted it slightly towards him. No one seemed to have noticed her actions thankfully so she forced a frown onto her face and followed the group down the hall, telling herself the entire time that she was not watching Tenjin's butt, she was just looking down the hallway and he happened to be in the way.

Setsuna shook her head sadly when Rei turned to follow the rest of the group. She was fighting a loosing battle with herself. It had been building for weeks now. Despite her loud and numerous proclamations of dislike, once again Rei was attracted to someone that belonged to one of her best friends, Setsuna hoped for her sake that she grew out of it before Mina noticed. Usagi was far more forgiving than the self proclaimed Senshi of Love.

Ami once again peeked into her school bag where the Mercury computer was on and in active scan mode. She needed evidence, quickly before Mina or Makoto got any deeper involved with the boys. Hopefully this little match would give her what she needed, if not she wasn't sure what she would do. Maybe Setsuna could be of assistance.

Hotaru skipped forward to Konjou's side and walked along next to him. He was deeply involved in conversation with Makoto her head resting against his shoulder. It hurt a little to know that Konjou was too old for her. Makoto was very lucky to have such a wonderful sweet and almost perfect boy like him. She was sure that even if he knew what she was, he would still be nice to her. He wouldn't be afraid of her, she just knew it. Looking up at him with deep affection Hotaru wished there was a boy like him out there for her.

Makoto felt wonderful, Konjou had an arm around her, her head rested against his shoulder and a tangible aura of contentment wrapped around them. Ok sure he had hurt three boys badly today, and one boy seemed to have died of fright, but the boys he hurt were the type of people that made her want to change into Senshi form and beat to death herself. No matter how bad he hurt them it was justified. The fact that he was saving Hotaru- chan in the process simply made his actions even more justified. She had plans now, and even if by some miracle she did live through the upcoming challenge, she would still be happy about the decision she had come to. Of all the boys she had ever met Konjou was the most wonderful. She wanted him to be the man to take her virginity. She only had to find the perfect moment, in less than a month.

She held Tenjin close, her body in contact with his from hip to shoulder. Their legs occasionally brushed as they walked down the hall towards the practice room. It wasn't more than fifty feet, though the Penthouse took up the entire floor of the building. Mina was glad for the chance to hold onto him. He looked at her, a smile that reached deep into his eyes and she felt her heart flutter. He is so beautiful, she thought. They stepped through the sliding door into the practice room. It was larger than Mina would have thought. Before anyone else had a chance to enter Tenjin leaned over and gave her a brief but deep kiss. Mina's eyes glazed as she felt her body react predictably to it.

"Win and I'll give you a prize." She said and a tremor ran through him. Haruka was in deep trouble. It no longer mattered to Tenjin that he had chewed Konjou up one side and down the other for going overboard and showing the school a part of what he could do. His lecture about the flagrant breach of their cover was forgotten. Mina had offered to reward him if he won. Haruka was going to get her ass kicked, badly.

" .and I'll give you a prize." Mina said in a whisper to Tenjin. Konjou felt sorry for Haruka, given the look on Tenjin's face and his body language things were about to get ugly. On a positive note more than likely he would get the opportunity to return that chewing out Tenjin had given him earlier today. It almost made up for the fact the room was going to take some damage, again. Makoto cuddled a little closer into him. He gave her a little squeeze to show acknowledgement and stepped to the back of the room leading the rest of the group to relative safety off the tatami mats.

He followed Makoto and her new boyfriend, thank the Kami he didn't have to hear how every boy on earth reminded her of her old sempai now, into a full dojo built into the Penthouse apartment. He had looked at this apartment when he first though about moving into the Nobara building. Its price kept him from actually renting it though. It was six times the size of his apartment, and in Japan you pay dearly for every square millimetre of space. Usagi stepped away from him once everyone was in the room and stood between the combatants.

"Remember minna we want a nice clean match, no cheating." Her smile was such that no one would ever want to disappoint her. Her sweetness had literally stopped tyrants from trying to take over the world, it was guaranteed to induce good behaviour in her friends. "I'm counting on you to be my champion and defend my honour Tenjin-chan, don't let me down." Mamoru felt a bit jealous at her words. He was her champion, not some upstart kid, but he grinned when he remembered what he stood to win should her 'champion' fail her. He was totally confident in Haruka's ability to earn him the most intimate kiss possible from Usagi. She didn't do it often which perversely made him crave it more than he would have otherwise.

"Take him down Haruka." Mamoru called out. Usagi smiled at it. Mamoru loved it when she took him into her mouth. It was a little icky, but she would do just about anything for the man she loved. His bet was simple, if Tenjin lost Usagi would give Mamoru what he wanted, but would never make a fuss about. If he won Mamoru would treat her to her dream date. Mamoru was the best possible boyfriend in the world, but he was still a little leery about their public appearance. Besides, she thought, her smile slipping a bit towards the hentai, part of her dream date included Mamo-chan making sure she wouldn't have enough strength to walk to the kitchen let alone his car to go home.

"Ready, Go!" Usagi called out as she stepped off the mats.

Haruka immediately struck forward in the attack, her right hand leading the attack. The punch was a feign, and when Tenjin blocked it, the kick she had hidden with her obvious attack snapped up in an attempt to hit him in the face. His head was nowhere near the intended attack. While her leg was in the air Tenjin ducked under it to end up at her side. A quick short distance palm strike hit her just above the floating rib, partially knocking the wind out of her. He quickly stepped back to avoid the elbow she tossed at him as she stepped away to open the distance. He was too fast for her to allow him inside her guard, and her kicks had always been her best weapon in hand to hand combat.

He dodged behind another roundhouse kick, quickly stepping inside her guard to catch her pivot foot in a sweep. Haruka leapt with the sweep actually doing a backflip instead of ending up on the ground. Tenjin mentally applauded her agility. His brief distraction allowed her time not only to regain her stance, but to actually strike back. Her speed was almost as great as his and the jab caught him completely off guard. Her fist caught him just under the chin lifting his head back with the force of the blow. Haruka shook her hand in pain from the impact.

Her hand hurt like hell. Tenjin definitely drank his milk as a child, his jaw was harder than a rock. She jumped back to avoid the knife hand counter attack, and struck out again with a kick in the wake of it. He grabbed her foot in mid flight and kicked out hard into the back of her standing leg's knee. Her leg buckled under the impact dropping her to the ground. She rolled with the fall bringing the injured leg around in a circle tearing free from his hold and forcing him to step back to avoid her arcing foot.

She was much better than he had anticipated. She wasn't strong enough to hurt him in the least but her skill and speed were quite impressive. Knowing that his holding back against her actually insulted a warrior of her calibre, Tenjin turned up the heat a notch. Faster than she could follow, his rear foot snapped around in a circle, catching her on the side of the head dropping her like a stone. She again rolled when she hit the ground, ending up several metres from him. She shook her head in an attempt to clear it as she leapt to her feet just in time to avoid a downward thrust kick. She was still awake after that hit, he was even more impressed.

Oh damn! Haruka thought, he kicks like a mule. She had fought droids that hit lighter than he did. It was very difficult to see his attacks before it was too late. She already knew he was faster stronger and tougher than her. Her only hope left was in skill, if she could just get in and hit some nerve clusters before he got the chance to crack her head open like an egg under one of those hits she would be ok, seeing a small opening in his defences, Haruka struck quick and hard. She hardly had time to register the fact that it was a trap before she was flying over his shoulder. Despite popular opinion tatami don't offer much padding when you're thrown like that. Haruka was seeing stars and knew that she had to get back up before he closed and finished this.

She managed to get up before he got over to her. Considering his speed, that was an accomplishment. Her blocks were a tad slow for a moment as she got her bearings but they were adequate to turn back his attacks. His opinion of her skills went still higher when she managed to sneak an attack that would have crippled most people through his guard. He brushed off the powerful but ineffective strike to the nerve cluster in his underarm, and brought his elbow down on the top of her head before she had a chance to step out of range. Her eyes crossed yet she remained standing despite the blackness he knew had to be filling her vision after taking a hit like that. She quickly dodged out of the way of his follow up side kick and again managed to connect. This time she managed to get her foot around fast enough to strike him directly in the kidney. He was pushed forward almost two metres from the force of the blow but remained standing.

Mamoru was aghast. They were moving at speeds he had trouble following. He had always known Haruka could stomp him in combat, but he'd never realised how disparaging the difference was. She was frighteningly fast, and probably almost as strong as he was, but it was her skill that had him totally outclassed, and Tenjin was keeping up with her. It was nearly 40 degrees outside, and only a little cooler in here, but Tenjin wasn't sweating despite his exertion. His face still wore the calm look he had had on since the fight began. Mamoru never wanted to play poker with someone that could do that. Mamoru winced in sympathy as Tenjin yet again hammered Haruka with a palm strike this one just below the sternum. The explosive exhalation of air didn't speak well for Haruka's chances over the next few moments.

This was unbelievable, Makoto thought as the fight went on in front of her. She knew how good Haruka was, and even though she didn't have her magically boosted strength and toughness without changing into Sailor Uranus, there were still very few people that could stand up to her in combat. Tenjin was playing with her for Kami sake. It was hard to tell, but several times Makoto had seen him deliberately open a hole in his defences and allow her to try to hit him. Also a few times she had seen him pull his punch at the last instant. So despite what it looked like Makoto knew the truth. Unless Haruka was transformed she had no chance against him. Given just how hard he was hitting even when he pulled the strikes Makoto was willing to bet he could beat some of the lesser hand to hand skilled Senshi in their Senshi form. Of course once attack magic got involved he would lose, but the thought that Tenjin might possibly be able to take even someone as tough as Rei was in Senshi form gave her a burst of sympathy for the boys Konjou had stopped this morning.

Wow. That was all Setsuna had to say. She had been around for a long long time, and had still never seen anyone as fast as Tenjin that was not magically boosted. His combat style looked like something she had seen before. Of course she could not remember where at just this instant, but given the sheer length of time she had been alive that was no surprise. It would occur to her eventually and when it did she would teach Haruka how to combat it next time. It still irritated her that none of the Senshi had asked her to teach them combat skills. Just what in the hell did they think she did with all that time watching the Time Gates. She had had ten thousand years to hone her skills she was completely confident that even without transforming she could take either of these boys, despite their phenomenal abilities, but until the Senshi asked she would not train them.

Rei jumped back as Haruka landed on the mat in front of her. Haruka looked like she was running out of strength, but Tenjin looked just as fresh as he had at the start of the match. She knew she wasn't in Makoto's, let alone Haruka's league in martial arts, but she didn't understand why Haruka hadn't conceded the match already. She had to have bruises the size of Tenjin's hands all over her. She didn't know what Haruka was trying to prove, but she doubted getting the snot beaten out of her was the way to do it.

"Do you concede?" Tenjin asked Haruka as she just managed to escape a backfist to the temple.

"Never," Haruka growled. She used the anger his words brought to give herself a brief burst of energy. The unexpectedly fast attack blasted through his guard and caught him directly in the solo plexus. He didn't even exhale. He nodded his head to her in acknowledgement of the hit. Haruka felt a sharp pain on the back of her neck as he brought his foot down in an axe kick. The floor rushed up to meet her where welcoming blackness embraced her and took her away from the pain of the waking world.

Tenjin tossed his head and bowed to his fallen opponent. He then looked up and smiled at Mina. Usagi gave a whoop and rushed over to give her 'champion' a hug.

"Good job Tenjin. I knew you could do it!" she cheered. Mina sauntered over to him, a seductive look in her eyes. She stopped centimetres from him and pulled his lips down to hers in a searing kiss. Whistles filled the room as Makoto, Konjou and Usagi showed their appreciation for Mina's action. Michiru and Hotaru were already seeing to Haruka. Despite the long and heavy match she was remarkably unharmed. Michiru thanked the Kami for Haruka's condition and blocked everyone's view of Hotaru as she quickly applied what little healing energy she could spare in her unpowered form. Haruka began to stir immediately thanks to Hotaru's efforts.

Haruka awoke and wished she hadn't. She hurt in places she hadn't known she had. Michiru helped her to her feet, where she staggered over to Tenjin.

"That was a hell of a match Tenjin." She said. Respect in her voice and expression.

"I agree Haruka-san, you are a most worthy opponent."

Haruka snorted, though she knew she hadn't even hurt him she wasn't about to dispute her abilities in front of her friends and family. She caught his brief grin at her snort and knew he understood her situation. To her it was the final element, both Konjou and Tenjin were ok by her. They had both easily proved their honour and ability beyond question. And it looked like for the first time in a long time she had some people she could practice with, without having to hold back.

Usagi glided over to Mamoru, her every movement poised and seductive. He swallowed convulsively as she dragged her finger from his chest up to his chin where she lifted his eyes to hers.

"Get your tux, Mamo-chan." She said softly, her voice smoky, and her eyes dark with seduction. "Ami, Rei would you come assist me. I find myself needing help getting ready for a date." With that Usagi sauntered out the door, her friends moving quickly in her wake talking animatedly. Mamoru followed the girls out with a bemused expression on his face.

"Now that was worth getting a beating for." Haruka said leaning on Michiru. Setsuna gathered Hotaru from her daydreams of virtuous samurai charging to her protection, and assisted Michiru in walking Haruka out. Tenjin saw the group of girls to the front door and wished then all a good afternoon. As soon as the door closed Mina threw herself onto Tenjin's back with a whoop.

"Oh that was just perfect, I have never ever seen Mamoru look like that. She had him totally speechless!" Mina chirped with delight. In her exuberance she forgot that they were not yet totally alone. "So, Ten- chan," Mina said as he finger traced lazy circles oh his chest that was visible through the opening of his gi. "How about you get cleaned up and we get a little something to eat. We'll need the energy if you still want me to pick up where we left off."

"Oh Kami Mina, I did not need to hear that!" Makoto yelled in embarrassment, her face flushed red in remembrance of the activities she had inadvertently interrupted yesterday. "I am never going to get that image out of my head now!"

Tenjin reached back and pulled Mina around him without breaking her hold of him. She ended up with her legs wrapped around his body, her arms around his neck. Tenjin took the opportunity to kiss her deeply before responding. "How about you help me clean up and we order out." Makoto choked in embarrassment and Konjou roared in laughter. Tenjin carried Mina out of the front room and disappeared down the hallway leading to the southern side of the building.

"So Makoto, do you feel like keeping me company for a while? I don't think my roommate is gonna notice if I'm alive or dead for the rest of the day." Konjou said with a smile.

"I can not believe those two. I mean I know what I walked in on, but. but. you just can't act like that with other people in the room!" Makoto vented at Konjou.

"Does that mean that since we're alone you won't mind if I do this?" He asked as he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her gently.

"That's totally not fair Konjou. I wasn't ready. I demand a redo."

"Gladly," he said as he kissed her again.

"Ummm, much better." Makoto said relaxing against him. "I think I'll just keep you."

"I wasn't planning on going anywhere anyway. Except possibly to get a snack, I missed lunch dealing with the police you know." He said, lightly showering her face and neck with kisses.

"There's always what we were making yesterday." Makoto said, her voice thick with passion.

"Oh I am so glad you mentioned that. I'll just warm it up a bit." He said as his hands slid up her sides, his lips slipping to the junction of her neck and shoulder.

It was at that point that Makoto realised they were talking about two different things. "Slow down a little Konjou-chan. You're starting to scare me again." She whispered.

Konjou reluctantly released her sides and took a half step back. His eyes were nearly black with desire. "I'm trying to go slow with you Mako- chan, but you're so beautiful and you're body responds so well that it's very very difficult. Be a little patient with me. I don't mean to rush you so just keep warning me if I go out of bounds, ok?"

Makoto looked up at Konjou, her expression a mixture of fear and desire. "I will, just be patient with me. I want you, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. You're a good man for not trying to push me into it."

"I have more respect for you than that." He said giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Let me change out of my school clothes and we can go out somewhere. I really don't want to hang around here if they start doing anything more intense than they have been." He said looking at the hallway Mina and Tenjin had disappeared down.

"Ok I'll wait right here."

Makoto didn't have long to wait, within a couple of minutes Konjou had washed up and changed clothes, taking Makoto's hand in his they walked out the door and headed toward the stairs.

********

Mina giggled as she felt his lips on her neck, she had her eyes squeezed tightly shut and her hands clenched into tight little fists at her side. Tenjin had carried her into his room and tossed her unceremoniously onto his bed. He then began to ravish her with kissed to every exposed scrap of flesh her fuku displayed. She could feel beyond the shadow of any doubt just how ready he was for this to go further, but she hadn't been joking in the front room. She wanted him to get cleaned up first, and for her own self esteem she needed to go on a real date with him first. If she went on a date with him it would make their relationship feel more real. Despite how much she wanted him, she would feel cheap and dirty if this went any farther without it.

"Ten-chan, you need to get cleaned up now." She said between sighs. Her body was melting with his touch. She had to stop him now. As if he read her mind he groaned and stood up taking a hold of her hand and pulling her up with him.

"If I have to get cleaned up, so do you, and you know how much of a waste of water it would be to run two showers."

"You don't mean you want me to shower with you, do you Ten-chan."

"Mina, let me be totally honest. I've already seen almost every beautiful centimetre of you, and if you were serious back in the dojo and front room I'll soon do more than see you. I don't want to leave you, even for something as short as a shower right now. I want you, I understand that you need a little time to get used to the idea, so let me help you adjust, please. Besides, I have a very large furo in my bathroom and I think it would be the perfect thing to help you relax."

"Ten-chan, I want you to go take a shower, alone. I can't do what you want yet, please don't push me."

"Hai Mina-chan, I understand."

"I'm not telling you no, Ten-chan, there's just some things I need to do first, trust me, please."

Tenjin smiled in understanding and disappeared into the bathroom adjoining his room. Fifteen Minutes later he exited wearing a towel wrapped around his waist. His lithe muscular physique was almost totally open to Mina's inspection. Her eyes greedily raked him from head to toe, almost caressing him whit the intensity of her stare. He flashed her a grin and unashamedly dropped his towel. Mina gulped and watched his every movement in fascination. Inexperienced Mina may have been, but completely ignorant she was not. She was more than well aware of what a man would look like naked, but having one naked in front of her was something else entirely. She almost pouted when he put on the black silk underwear he had taken from his drawer. A few short disappointing minutes later he was fully dressed.

"You do realise I did that for you right?" he said with a smile as he took her hand and led her to the front door.

They gathered their shoes and set off down the stairs. They soon arrived at the lobby of the apartment, and hand in hand strolled into the afternoon sunlight. From behind his back Tenjin pulled a parasol and presented it to Mina. The smile on his face made her laugh as she accepted his gift.

"Why thank you my gallant knight." She giggled.

"A pleasure my lady. It would be a terrible crime for me to allow your beauty to be marred by the merciless summer sun."

Mina was further surprised and overjoyed when she opened the parasol. It was constructed entirely of delicately woven white silk and lace. Its overlapping folds streamed over its ribs to form a short curtain around her face. She didn't know where he had gotten such a beautiful gift, but its presentation brought a tear to her eyes.

"It's beautiful Ten-chan."

"It's not even close to as beautiful as the young woman holding it." With that he leaned over and kissed her briefly on the lips.

The afternoon fairly flew by, as Saturday afternoon's tend to do, Tenjin seemed to anticipate her every need, though most of his actions had an underlying romantic theme. Somehow he convinced the man that rented out the paddle bikes on the lake to move them to the head of the waiting list, and in under five minutes had them out on the lake of the park. Though one side of the park was heavily damaged from the battle early this morning, it was still a beautiful and romantic thing to do. Despite not having a reservation and being almost sadly underdressed for the occasion, He managed to get them window seats overlooking Tokyo Tower in the Kanki no Ai restaurant. The sun set on them as they strolled hand in hand down a path in the Tokyo Botanical Garden's tropical flowers section.

Hand in hand they walked back towards Tenjin's apartment. An acceptance of what was to come had settled on the couple. Words were almost extraneous as a look spoke volumes. When Tenjin unlocked the door and lead her in Mina pulled away. He looked at her, confusion and quite a bit of disappointment in his expression. She held up her hand in a gesture that asked to wait.

"I need to borrow your phone for a moment Ten-chan." She said simply.

"Right over here," he said as he led her into the kitchen. She easily found the telephone mounted on the wall. Mina was glad the telephone company was deemed important enough to warrant the government putting it on the electricity list. This would have been a lot harder without the telephone.

She dialled her home number and waited for one of her parents to answer. After a short moment her mother picked up.

"Mother," she said. "Yes I know I'm late, yes I've been over at the Jinja. Uh huh, yea were going to make a sleep over of it. No mother, the only male here is Rei's grandpa. No Rei and Yuuchiro had a falling out. No he doesn't live here anymore. Mother, he's close to twenty five years old, and hasn't had a hair cut in my lifetime. That's right I'm totally and completely uninterested in him. Can we talk about this later mom, the girls are calling for me. I love you too, mom. Goodbye." Mina hung up the phone and looked Tenjin strait in the eye.

"It is ok if I spend the night here with you, right?" She asked, her expression caught somewhere between fear and excitement.

Tenjin stepped forward and placed a kiss on her upturned face. His hands settled on her shoulders as he pulled her tight against him. She could feel his body reacting to hers. "I'd have to be insane to say no." He told her in a whisper. "Now, how about you go put on that bathing suit you bought and we go soak in the furo to relax a while."

End Chapter 3