Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon (Did you really think I had enough time on my hands to make something like that up, anyways?)
Chi's note: So... I'm desperately trying to pull this plot together. I have some nasty ideas... I WILL DESTROY YOU SCOUTS!!!... Just not Minako... 'cause... you know... This story's defending her... P.S. I made a boo-boo and put Minako into the same school as Usagi... If memory serves, I'm pretty sure it wasn't like that in the anime, but oh well! One last thing... I plan to put the outer scouts into the mix later on, but not Chibi-Usa... she bugs me. So let's all pretend that she never happened.
"Mako-Chan... have you noticed anything weird about Mina-Chan lately... assuming any of you has seen her?" Usagi's voice cut through the whirrs and dings that filled the arcade.
It was a lovely Saturday afternoon, the kind of Saturday when nothing could possibly go wrong. But things were going wrong. They hadn't seen Mina since Monday... not at school, not after, nor had she been coming to the Temple. Things were definitely going wrong.
"She's been acting pretty weird since that last battle... You think she was hurt badly?" Makoto, taking a slug of her drink, arched her brow quizzically in the direction of Rei. "Whatcha think?... She hasn't been at school lately. I'd have seen her."
"I could consult my flames-"Rei was cut off by the clanging of the bell above the door.
"Mina-Chan! Where have you been all week?!" Ami's voice rose over the babble of the shop, to carry towards the door.
Usagi, eyes alight, hopped out of her seat and ran over to Minako. "I've- WE've been so worr-"
"Save it, princess." Minako's voice was hard, and edged with a poisonous undertone. Shoving Usagi aside, she strode over to the table where the other three scouts sat. "I'm tired of fighting for the cause, with no recognition. I've been thinking all week, and have decided something. I quit." Throwing down the watch that connected them all to each other, she strode from the arcade, without another word.
Today was the kind of Saturday where nothing should go wrong, but around Usagi, things were falling apart. She looked sadly outside to notice, for the first time, that clouds were gathering to the west. A storm would be heading their way. And from the look of the fluffy, ebony formations... that storm would be monstrous.
Minako walked slowly, savoring her final moment of triumph. Her hair rippled in the cool breeze as she strolled, like golden waves. She had finally won.
"MINAKO!!!!"
The shout startled her, causing her to whirl around. Makoto stood facing her, backed by the other three scouts.
"What's your problem, huh? If this is a joke, this is not funny! You can't just quit the scouts! We're a team... a family!" Desperation coated Makoto's words, like a thick syrup.
Calmly, slowly, and with a knowing grin, Minako stepped closer to her former team members. "A family? We were never a family. We were never even a team." Sighing exaggeratedly, she pointed a single finger in the direction of Usagi. "We were back-up... security guards... support. We were support for her. For the moon princess. I'm done being support. I have talent, Makoto! And I do not plan to waste my talent on an ungrateful little failure, who hogs the glory." Clenching her fists, and sneering at the sight of Usagi's tears, she turned quickly on her heel and disappeared around the corner. The remaining four scouts were left simmering in their own stunned silence.
"I just don't understand why she'd do a thing like that..." Haruka sat, stunned, as a tearful Usagi spilled her guts.
"SHE QUIT!" Usagi bellowed. "She... just... left." Letting her head fall, she surrendered to the roiling emotions in her body, sobs wracking her helpless form.
The soft melodic music emanating from the two violins stopped suddenly. "Usagi. Did Minako give you her transformation wand as well?" Michiru looked thoughtfully at the pitiful moon princess, but was answered by Ami.
"No, Michiru-San. Only her watch." Ami's eyes drifted from the contrastingly cozy surroundings, to the blustery storm that seemed to be building as she watched.
"Trouble is brewing... Building like menacing flames... no offense Rei-Sama." Hotaru clutched at her violin, knuckles even paler then her skin. Her mauve eyes darted from scout to scout.
"I feel it too, Hotaru-Chan." Rei sighed, eyes downcast.
Standing in the doorway, eerily placid, Setsuna watched and listened to the other young women. "When the time comes, scouts, we will have to extinguish the flames... but for now. We wait."