SEQ CHAPTER h r 1Author's Note: Megs and I appreciate all of the great support from all our fans, but sometimes we need to remind you that we have lives outside of the magical and we do grow a bit tired of repetitive demands for updates. They WILL come, just you wait.

Disclaimer: Nope nothing is owned by us – tragic I know.

"You always manage to hear everything, love." Haruka murmured. "But what you don't seem to be hearing is my question: What is going on?"

"Did you hear that, Michiru?" Usagi asked mockingly. "She decides to wrap her arms around someone that's not me, and she asks "what's going on?"."

"You're right," Michiru agreed. "It's a little ironic don't you think?"

"Indeed."

Haruka threw her hands up. "Ok!" She exclaimed. "First I get yelled at, then Michiru gets yelled at, and now you guys are teaming up against me?!"

The other girls looked up at Haruka's raised voice in interest.

"Usagi," Haruka grabbed Usagi by the shoulders. "What's happening."

Usagi gave her a sweet smile, "If your asking if I saw Michiru walking in the park and enlisted her help to get you back for you foolish behavior earlier..."

"...then the answer's yes." Michiru finished for her. She gave Haruka an innocent look.

"You..." Haruka pointed at the both of them. "You...you!" She finished for lack of a better ending.

"We've lost radio contact with Haruka." Rei teased from over the trio's heads.

Michiru laughed and turned to Usagi. "A job well done, partner."

Usagi accepted the offered hand and gave it a firm shake, "It was a pleasure. We should do business again."

"We'll have lunch?" Michiru suggested.

"Woah, woah, WOAH!" Haruka pushed the both of them apart waving her arms frantically. "Come on back to the stable, Huckleberry!"

Usagi laughed and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist. "Now don't you feel silly?"

"About which part?" Haruka sighed in defeat.

"Just what every girlfriend wants to hear," Usagi chuckled. "I wanted you to see how utterly childish your behavior with Seiya was today."

Haruka's mind flashed back to her rejected truce, and she cursed inwardly at that insufferable Kou. Childish though their behavior had been there were some seriously strong feelings and emotions underlying all their pointless bickering. She looked down at the mischievous angel in her arms and forced a smile – for Usagi.

"I have seen the light!" She insisted with a light laugh.

"Good." Usagi jumped up and wrapping her arms around Haruka's neck gave her a long and satisfying kiss. When they broke off, Usagi tilted her head back and smiled up at her and Haruka knew things were all right again.

"Marvelous show!" Seiya applauded loudly.

Haruka growled, "You'll get yours Kou!"

Usagi punched her arm reproachfully, but let the comment go.

"Are we done?" Makoto pleaded. "I'm seriously tired!"

Rei gave her friend a surprised look, "No, I thought we'd go out for a wah-mburger and some french cries." She mocked sarcastically.

Makoto sent a withering glare in Rei's direction and proceeded to push the priestess off of the car hood once she'd turned back around.

"Makoto does have a point –"

"THANK YOU!"

Ami glared at the brunette for the interruption and received a meek apology. "She has a point – it is late, and I'm sure there's going to be some huge extravaganza planned for tomorrow and I for one need to sleep."

Usagi nodded in agreement, "I'm sorry for dragging you all out here."

"I just wish I'd had popcorn."

Yaten's dry comment was rewarded with a sharp smack upside the head from her girlfriend as the pair moved to their car.

"G'Night, Usa" Rei smiled, and laughed as she pushed Yaten into the car.

Usagi laughed too and waved goodbye to her friends. "Good night everyone."

Minako threw her car keys to Makoto, "Go start it up, I'll be there in a minute."

Makoto grinned slyly. "Does this mean I get to drive?"

"Fat chance."

As Makoto stomped off to the car, Minako caught up to Seiya as she was heading to her own car. Snagging her arm, she pulled her back several steps and out of hearing distance of the others.

"Minako!" Seiya was getting annoyed with all these little side chats.

Minako yanked down on her arm and Seiya staggered sideways. Minako held her low enough so that she could whisper in her ear without having to stand on tip-toe. Leaning forward she moved her lips to Seiya's ear and her grip tightened on the starlight's arm.

"If I found out it was you who brought Michiru here, you'll wish you had stayed on your planet." She threatened.

Minako relinquished Seiya's arm and stalked off. Seiya straightened and watched as the blonde jogged over to her car where Makoto was sitting resolutely in the driver's seat. Her indigo eyes were filled with confusion as she watched Minako carry on as if nothing had happened.

"Mako! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Driving! You gave me the keys..."

"You are NOT driving my new car!"

Seiya had been so sure that Minako had given up on pursuing Usagi, but each encounter since then had continued to further disprove her theory. Maybe she wasn't pursuing her princess outright, like she was, but she still loved her more than life itself and was doing all that was in her power to keep her safe.

"It's like TWO blocks to my house!"

"Two blocks were you could potentially crash my car."

"Oh ye of little faith."

"Faith has nothing to do with it. You're a bad driver – that's reality."

Seiya ran a hand through her ponytail and exhaled slowly. Picking up her feet she walked over to where Rei and Yaten were waiting, rather impatiently, for her to get into the car so they could leave. She looked over at Minako again.

She certainly was an interesting woman. Completely different personalities were housed in the same, petite body and it was impossible to tell when the next one would rise to the surface. Jupiter and Uranus were certainly the team's commanders of brute force...but Minako. She was the dangerous one. She was the one to watch out for.

Her strength was not in muscle or force, but in passion. Passion was her power and very essence. Passion in love, passion in justice – it wasn't hard to figure why she was the Senshi of Venus. She was filled with a vivaciousness and intensity that defined her and directed the passion in her soul. In every task.

Passion was dangerous.

Minako's passion for Usagi was what anchored her to life...

...and what presented the greatest obstacle to Seiya.

Either way, Minako warranted further investigation.

"Will you move over already? I'm freezing my ass off here!"

"The passenger seat IS open."

"Seriously Mako – I'm going to kill you with my bare hands."

"Either way, I'm driving."

"I'll buy you ice cream."

"Deal!"

Seiya smiled softly as she watched Minako whip her car out of the parking lot and go spinning around the corner in a squeal of tires. As Yaten revved the car and started out after the others, Seiya turned around in time to see Usagi and Haruka disappear into the park.

She scowled into the wind and cursed Haruka a thousand times over.

I WROTE THIS AT 2 O'CLOCK IN THE FRECKING MORNING! DAMN STRAIGHT! All you ingrates had better appreciate some of the lengths we go to to please all y'all! Megs' turn next, but don't expect it for a while because she's taking a well deserved break – SO DON'T BUG HER! Send her flowers...or something.

KissThis

DEDICATION: This chapter is dedicated to my lovely partner and co-writer. You should know I appreciate everything you do and I'd be lost without you. Goddess Bless, and may you find the peace and rest you deserve.