Author's Note: I still balk at being labeled at the reason she rushed! But here I am writing mine promptly! And look out for love squares my psychic friend told me they were coming. And on to the disclaimer...
Disclaimer: You might just believe we own everything. But you would sadly be wrong. All we own (jointly) is the plot.
Minako looked at Seiya. Her mind going a mile a minute. While she was NOT going to let this other Sailor Soldier interfere with Haruka and Usagi, that would not stop HER from being there to pick up the pieces should things fall apart. But first she had to head off this DISASTER waiting to happen. Haruka was a possessive lover. But his would not stop Seiya and this could lead to much ugliness if everyone was allowed to have a free for all.
"Seiya, can you help me over here for a sec?" she asked sweetly, a sly twinkle in her bright blue eyes.
Indigo eyes grew confused as she walked over to join the bright Goddess of Love, "What can I do for you today oh Minako my love?"
Minako pulled Seiya out of the Hotel's restaurant, "Listen up Kou. I know your feelings are still there and still strong. I UNDERSTAND them better than anyone here. You keep wondering what Haruka has but you don't. I get it. But if you mess up her happiness to suit yourself...I will HURT you in so many ways..."
Seiya glared at Minako, "You might be ready to give up on love but I am not. If I can win her I will."
Minako's eyes blazed in fiery anger, "Me give up on love? DO you think I still don't wish it were me in her arms and not Haruka? I adore that woman more than anyone else in the world – besides Haruka. But guess what? And this might hurt Kou – while she is the woman of our dreams – we are NOT the women of hers. So get over it."
Seiya glared back, "Never." And stalked back to the table to help make plans for the rest of the day.
Minako closed her eyes and fell back against the wall with a tired sigh. This was going to be rough going. Was Seiya right? Was she giving up to easily? With a firm shake of her head she went back into the room only to be hugged by Usagi.
Taiki pulled Ami closer to her side as the group vanished out the doors. She felt so right snuggled warmly up against her. They had decided to go to a movie and then shopping. Usagi grinned as she reached for Haruka's keys.
"Honey, I love you. But where do you think you are going with my car keys?" Haruka asked amusedly, her eyes dancing as they watched Usagi go to the driver's side of the car.
"Why I am going to drive of course!" Usagi teased with a sly wink, "Seiya why don't you ride with us? I still have so much to talk with you about!"
Everyone collectively let their jaws hit the ground. And Usagi being who she was totally oblivious to it all. She was busy adjusting the seat and the mirrors. Haruka growled low at Seiya as the raven-haired lady climbed gracefully into the back seat.
Makoto looked at Rei, "No good can come from this. No good at ALL!"
Rei grabbed Yaten's hand, "If Haruka kills Seiya we take no responsibility for it. This is all Usagi's idea."
Yaten just smirked and held the door open to the SUV Taiki was renting, "If Haruka kills her I am sure it would be justifiable. Kami Sama knows I have had the urge more than one myself."
The usual fight of chick flick over action/massive fight movie erupted outside the theater. Then there was the playful fight/teasing at the concession stand. Then came the rearranging of the seating arrangements in the theater itself. When Minako finally got there she saw that Seiya had gotten herself on one side of Usagi and Haruka had claimed the other. Usagi already had an annoyed look in her eyes at the twos constant jibes. Her eyes met Minako's and they screamed 'SAVE ME!' And although Minako wanted to save her by stealing her away from BOTH of them, and keeping her for herself. She knew this 3was not an option. Using the seats as stairs instead of the crowded stairs she plopped on the other side of Seiya and smiled brightly at her. Then whispered so only Seiya could hear her.
"I warned you. Behave Kou or I will make you wish you had never left your planet."
Seiya raised an inky eyebrow and looked at Minako out of the corner of her eye. These girls were so hard to read! Although I suppose the same could be said for the Starlights. You get so used to wearing a mask you never quite know if you are wearing it or not. And Minako was Venus – leader of the Inner Senshi. The fight might acyually go to her. Then with a sly wink Seiya whispered back, "Hey I am just here to watch the movie. I never DREAMED of ruining ANYTHING."
Minako caught a glimpse of Seiya's hand moving towards Usagi's thigh. Another quick look to the other side of Usagi showed Haruka's eyes were glinting angrily. Before anyone could react Minako leaned over and kissed Seiya – thusly halting the progress of her hand towards the currently unavailable thigh. Usagi mentally chuckled. This could get VERY interesting. Minako was her last one. The last one she needed to help find her soul-mate. After all, how could she be totally happy when they weren't?
Haruka felt her eyes widen and then she raised an eyebrow at Usagi who smiled innocently back at her. Those were the smiles to watch out for. She never put effort into the innocent look unless her mind was working in decidedly non-innocent ways. Casually she put her arm around Usagi and pulled her closer into her and kissed the top of her head.
Minako glared at Seiya over the rim of her soda as she drank deeply and then hopped up, Be right back you guys, I have GOT to get this taste out of my mouth."
She darted out of the theater before she started to laugh – although she could here Seya sputtering amongst theior friends' laughter.
Two hours later, they were all going out to the cars when Seiya pulled Haruka around a corner. "Listen Ten'ou. I just wanted to let you know that I have every intention of stealing your girlfriend. I thought I was over her. And then I saw her...and the world stopped. She will be mine."
Navy eyes glinted dangerously in the afternoon sunlight, "Those are dangerous words Kou. I will fight you till the very end. I waited to damn long and worked too damn hard for her to see me as someone she loved enough to risk it all. I am not going anywhere."
The two girls glared at each other. Neither blinking nor moving an inch. There was more than pride at stake here. There was the need to prove ... prove something to each other and themselves. It was a defining moment. One they would look back on as years past and their eyes would again glaze over and there would be a lost air about them as these feeling washed over them all over again.
Usagi watched Yaten and Rei as they shopped a few r0ows over from her. Her blue eyes dancing as she caught them acting so sweet. Yaten walked behind Rei and wrapped her arms around her waist and kissed the side of er neck.
"You know who she is gunning for next don't you?" Rei whispered to Yaten as she sensed Usagi's eyes on her.
"Who? Usagi? I dunno. Maybe our mutual friends Seiya and Minako. Although I think her aim is off on this one." Yaten replied looking through a dress rack. Why did all these dresses seem perfect for Rei and not herself?
Rei's eyes widened at the ever growing mound of clothing for the fitting room. Thenm they narrowed at the leer she could see in her girlfriend's eye, "Whatever you are thinking about put it out of your mind. It ain't never going to happen."
Yaten put on a faux innocent look, "DO I look like the type that would try and do unspeakable things to my girlfriend in a changing room?"
Rei pretended to think about it for all of a second, "Yes!"
Yaten smirked, "Good cause I am..."
Michiru looked around her new apartment. It seemed colder and less friendly than the other one. She sighed and dropped her keys onto one of her many packing boxes. Slowly she made her way to the balcony and walked out on to it. Strange how little anything had seemed to change, and yet nothing was the same. She had left Tokyo broken and now she was mending. She wasn't ready to see Haruka yet by any means. But should their paths cross, she wouldn't feel like her soul was being torn out of her body. Which was a major step from where she had been.
Haruka. Strange how that one name used to be her whole world. She hadn't thought life could really go on with out her in it. She had done everything to make sure it couldn't possibly. Then Haruka had ended it by falling back in love with Usagi. In her heart Michiru had been waiting for this to happen. She had known it wasn't going to last – but she had still hoped. And now she was learning that life went on after love.
"I don't NEED you anymore Haruka. I might still WANT you, but I don't NEED you. What a peculiar concept..." she whispered in the growing twilight. Her eyes darkened for a moment as memories came flooding back. Then she closed her eyes and let them roll over her in waves. It had gotten better to remember after she had stopped fighting the memories and just let them go.
"I am back Tokyo. Now what am I going to do?"
Haruka and Seiya were arguing the whole way home from dinner. Usagi just sat in the passenger seat and fumed. Her headache from the theater and the earlier car ride and the mall and EVERYWHERE else they had been today was getting worse. And these two were not helping. Her eyes closed and she briefly entertained the idea 0f going homicidal. But then, she had just gotten Haruka and it would be a shame to kill her. And Seiya was such a good friend. Plus she was a guest. A good hostess NEVER killed a guest. It simply wasn't polite after all. The last thought pulled a smile to her lips. Then ther fighting began again as they pulled up to the Hotel to drop Seiya off.
A sharp whistle broke up the current fight, the point of which Usagi had long since lost track of. Her eyes flashing fire she turned on them, "Okay, I don't know what the hell problem you two have with each other but it is driving me crazy. I have had a headache that just won't die all day long because you two can't seem to eve PRETEND to have a truce!"
Ami hopped out of the SUV and hurriedly motioned everyone to be quiet, "Usa's gonna hurt someone!" she said in a soft sing song voice.
Yaten watched as Usagi motioned and used her hands liberally as she berated the two women in front of her. Her cat green eyes dancing, "Her temper is almost as bead as yours love." She whispered to Rei pulling the fiery priestess closer.
With a roll of violet eyes and a jab of the elbow Rei motioned Yaten to hush.
"And further more! I do not appreciate being blamed for you two not having the sense to realize you have more in common than you think. I love both of you! But I am IN love with Haruka. But I do not LIKE either of you at the moment."
Haruka went to open her mouth, Seiya reached out to stop her, but Usagi was a tad to quick for those two. She hopped into the driver's seat of Haruka's new car and was gone. The two women turned and glared at each other and were about to start fighting again when a shrill whistle broke through the night air...
AN: I know it isn't very long. But I have a lot going on right now for school and other stories that have not been updated in a while. So here it is. I hope you all like it. I am trying to show the plot EPM. Anyway – go poke Kiss till she updates okay?