Disclaimer:      Look at A/N. BTW, Thank you soooo much for those who reviewed. It really gives me an awesome boost to keep on writing. Also, there is no 113.4 FM station called Nightshade in Miami. Trust me. I live there.

Looking Back

Part V

Location: Nightshade radio Station in Miami

"Yo, yo , yo , yo, Yo! Good morning Miami! This is your favorite song-bird Robin Lonei on MIA's most wanted and loved radio station, 113.4 FM Nightshade. Now today we have a very very special guest in the house; A certain charming woman who is still riding out her success wave since her first outstanding appearance in Aphrodite. Yes, people, you know who I'm talking about. Ladies and gents, turn up your radios for the goddess of love and beauty herself, Mina DuBaer!"

Minako Aino, alias Mina DuBaer (stage name), leaned in on the mike laughingly. "It's good to be here, Robin."

The dark-skinned woman in opposition to her waved her hands dismissively, her blonde-streaked braids swishing in the air.

"Puh-lease!" She replied with a wide smile. "It is an honor to have you here with us, hon. Not too many radio stations can say they've had the pleasure of having the newest star sensation of America gracing their airwaves."

Mina laughed. "Thank you very much."

"You are absolutely welcome." Robin shifted her position to cross her long legs then continued. "Now, we're pretty damn sure that just about everyone who's listening has heard of you. Then again, after all the glitz and glam you've been exposed to, it's hard to imagine that no one hasn't heard of you. For those who've been living under a rock for the past three years, Mina DuBaer, England-native, has been steadily gaining national fame ever since she starred in her first film, Aphrodite, about three years ago. Just recently she starred in White Moon, which has also become a national hit. Dang girl! You've been busy!"

Mina laughed once more and nodded her head. "Oh yeah. Everything has just been so crazy and fast every since Aphrodite that I'm somewhat still in shock of it all."

Robin's smoky voice filled the air. "Tell us about it girl. I understand that a short while before you did Aphrodite that you did a couple of modeling shoots. Now these weren't just any regular modeling shoots. These were done exclusively between you and the Japanese model only known as 'Serena'. Now, as I understand it, you two have known each other before the shoot?"

Minako nodded her head, smiling. Serena was Usagi's stage name. She had had tons of fun doing those cover shoots with her friend.

            "Yes. As a matter of fact, we sort of grew up together." Robin raised an elegantly plucked eyebrow.

            "Is that so?" She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "Do tell."

            "Well," Minako began. "She and I met each other during our high school years in Japan. We became very good acquaintances and we're still good friends now."

            Minako conveniently left out the fact that they had known each other before the beginning of high school as well. Usagi and she figured that it would be much better if the media didn't fully associate either woman with each other. It would be nice for publicity but not so nice if anyone were to catch wind of their constant associations with certain…mishaps back in Japan.

Robin nodded. "Wow. That's pretty sweet. Hey, wait a minute. You lived in Japan?"

Mina smiled and the other woman's skeptical tone. "Yes. I transferred there from England around my freshman year and I just left home about three years ago."

Robin did some quick calculation. 'Hmm…she's about twenty four now. She just said she came here around three years ago. So that means…'

Her eyes bulged. "Damn girl! You spent one hell of a time there."

Mina nodded. "Yup. About six years I believe. I can't really tell you how long I stayed there. After a while I just started settling down and I still consider Japan as my true home."

Robin smiled. "Well ain't that peachy? Moving along, tell us all what we all wanna hear about, honey. Who's at the top of the Goddess of Love's list?"

            Minako's brilliant smile didn't falter. "Actually, there's no one at the time being." When Robin raised her eyebrow once more, Minako continued. "Well, for one thing, yes I was dating Gregory Jones for quite a short amount of time during and after the production of White Moon. But, as the media has told you all, we have broken up. In all honesty, I am currently single and by the looks of my schedule, I won't be having time for one in quite a while." She ended with a laugh.

            Robin laughed with her. "You hear that boys? Maybe one of you can catch lady love over here. Moving along…"

            Minako continued to exchange information with Robin for the next few minutes. In truth, she was very busy lately. She hardly had time to relax ever since White Moon came out a few months ago. She already had requests for future movies and her agent/best friend in the states, Dara, was very excited in getting her the best leading role possible. Minako, however, just wanted some time to relax. Sitting in the room with Robin, her mind drifted off to the possibility of going home soon. It had been a while since she took a vacation and she needed one now badly. Dara would protest against it, naturally. But she would eventually give in. Dara understood the crap Minako had had to go through lately.

            Gregory was truly just a stupid publicity stunt that she hadn't even wanted to go through with in the first place. But after finally going through it and find out just how huge of a dumbass Gregory truly was, she broke it off immediately. To add to her troubles, her father had been calling from England, saying how her mother had been having some medical troubles as of late.

She and her mother had never gotten along very well. Minako couldn't say what it was but they just couldn't get along. It was probably the fact that Minako had always had different views as to how her life should go. Her mother had always tried to make her go to college and give up her 'useless dreams' of becoming a star. Little did her mother know, Minako had already been taking on modeling as a career during high school. Unfortunately, her parents eventually found out after spotting her on the front cover of a magazine with Usagi. After a very heated confrontation with her parents, they had become severely estranged and it didn't have to be said aloud for Minako to know that they would definitely cut off their allowance to her. It was then that she moved to America. Dara had also been on the end of her career as a talent agent when Minako walked in to her office in L.A. Immediately she knew she had struck upon a hit and took Minako under her wing. Ever since she had become known to the public, she had been an instant hit. Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to have enough time to do much else. She was looking forward to a vacation right about now.

Thinking of Japan always made her homesick. She missed everything about the place; Usagi and the others, the arcade, the adventures, the memories. She loved it there. Granted, she loved it in America too. Hell, she had about three houses in the states. But then again, home was where the heart is. Unfortunately, her heart so far belonged to her work and to her friends. Speaking of companions, she missed Artemis too.

She had left him back in Japan in Hotaru's care. He had protested vehemently but she had pointed out that Diana still needed to be born since Chibi-Usa was around now and Luna would miss him terribly not to mention he'd probably hate having to move from place to place so often. Minako wouldn't be able to make enough time for him even if she was Setsuna. Apparently, Luna was probably living with Hotaru as well, taking into consideration the fact that Usagi and Mamoru were both busy people and Chibi-Usa was more than enough for the two.

            She smiled warmly at the thought of Japan and her feline friend. Yes, she decided, answering one of Robin's questions. I'll go home. I can put off at least a month's worth of work…

Location: Rooftop of the Nightshade radio station

            He glanced over at the screaming fans surrounding the entrance of the station. He rolled his eyes at the scene. Were all people in this dimension this pathetic? His portal had opened up about a mile or so away from his target; an after-effect of his destruction of the portal gate. It hadn't taken him very long to locate his target's position. Then again, he found her position without using any of the devices his teammate had created for them. He glanced over at the screaming crowd once more, shaking his head.

He pushed aside several silver, spiky strands away from his face, absently twirling the end of his platinum ponytail between two fingers. A touch of sadness glazed over his amber catlike eyes. Absentmindedly, he brushed his hand over his lips. He really shouldn't have done that.

FLASHBACK  

the two stared at each other for a while. Abruptly, both reached for each other into a kiss before reluctantly pulling away. He grazed his hand on her face softly and she gripped that hand. Wordlessly, she squeezed his hand before stepping into the gate. He stood there and watched as her petite figure stepped through the gate.

END   

            It had been their first kiss to each other. It had been deep and lasted for what seemed to be centuries to him. He didn't want to let her go at that point. He had almost followed her into her portal had his leader instincts not kicked in. He mentally kicked himself for not showing more emotion to her. And now, they were on a mission to determine their lives and the lives of their leaders. And their once chance was riding on strangers that would fight first then talk later.

            Excellent timing. He sarcastically commended himself.

Ear-piercing screams snapped him back to reality. He glanced over at the crowd, annoyed. But he saw why they started screaming. She had stepped out of the building and into the light, golden hair shining almost as brightly as the smile on her face. He cocked his head to one said, bemused. She didn't seem much of the ditz as he had heard her to be. Then again, looks could be very deceiving. He had heard of her accomplishments numerous times before. She was a walking legend. While almost every before him believed her to be a glamorous movie star, he understood her to be a killer with a dark side that completely contradicted her bubbly personality.

            His eyes narrowed to a glare. He didn't care what it would take. She would go along with their plan… he'd see to it for sure.

~*chickay*~

Woah! Are these guys good or bad? Hehe. Well that's for me to know and you to find out. Later…back to the unknown and then moving on to the Outers. Don't worry, I'm going to give these strangers names in maybe the next chapter or so. Finals…BLEH! School sucks.

Here's to Baby Daydreamer Wiley and everyone else who's reviewed and encouraged poor lil me to continue with this! It has been greatly appreciated!!