Author's Note: oh boy, oh boy! The fight should be coming soon! Yay!
(fans: so, what kept you so long this time?) ...hm...dunno, yet! Maybe
I'll have an excuse by the second author's note... 'k, well, enjoy chapter
12!
~venusgirl
~*~Chapter 12~*~
Serena woke up the next morning to the birds chirping just outside the window. She looked over and noticed that Rini, who had slept in her bed the night before, was gone, as was Luna. Serena rolled over and fell to the floor. "Oh, boy. Morning," she said sarcastically to herself. She walked slowly to the bathroom and took her shower, then slipped on an outfit for the day and put her hair up in the usual style.
"Ohayo, Serena!" Rini yelled cheerfully from the table where she sat munching on toast with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of her as well.
Serena took a seat beside Rini and just sat there quietly.
"What's wrong?" Rini asked in between bites.
"Huh? Just still trying to wake up is all," Serena answered. "I'll be good once I have some food in my stomach..."
"Well, speaking of food, here's your breakfast," Ikuko said, setting down a plate identical to Rini's in front of Serena.
"Arigatou, Mama," Serena said, picking up her fork, ready to dig in. "'Kaasan, is it alright if the girls come over today?"
Ikuko nodded. "That's fine."
"Cool." Serena finished off her breakfast and went to put her dishes in the sink. She then walked to the phone to call everyone so she could tell them it was all okay for them to come.
"Be right over, Serena," Lita replied.
"I was busy, Meatball Head! I'll be right over, though," Raye sighed.
"Well, I really should be studying, but I guess this is scout business," Amy said wistfully.
"In a jiff!" Mina shouted cheerfully, as usual.
Serena smiled and hung up the receiver. "Everyone'll be right over, Rini!" Serena shouted for the hallway into the kitchen where Rini stood atop a stool, helping Ikuko with the dishes.
"Okay!" the pink-haired youth yelled back. "I'll be up to your room in a minute; I just gotta finish helping Ikuko-mama!"
Serena nodded even though she knew Rini couldn't see her and ascended up the stairs, down the hall, and into her room. She stepped inside and gently shut the door behind her. She paced around the room anxiously. *I'm so nervous* she thought. She sat herself down on her bed and breathed deeply in order to try to calm herself. Finally she was calm and looked up just as she heard a click of the doorknob being turned and heard the creak of the door as it was pushed ajar.
Rini smiled and walked over to the bed, sitting down beside Serena. "So what's up?" she asked seriously.
"Nothing much. What kind of question is that?" Serena questioned.
Rini shook her head. "That's not what I meant. What's up with your weird vibes? You haven't been yourself the whole time I've been here."
"That's something we'll have to discuss when everyone else gets here," Serena sighed sadly. "But it's big. ...Really big."
"A battle?"
Serena merely nodded in response.
"Ah..." Rini sat for a while longer, then, not being able to take the stillness anymore got up and went to a shelf in the closet where she retrieved a manga. "Was it good?" she asked holding up the manga.
Serena looked up to see what Rini was talking about. In Rini's small hand was the Sailor V manga Serena had obsessed over not all that long ago, when she had nothing else on her mind to worry about. She sighed wistfully at the remembrance of what a wonderful feeling that was. "Yeah," she said simply and then returned to her reminiscing.
Rini seated herself on the floor where she stood and flipped to the first page. Rini was half-way through the manga when the door opened. She looked up to see a blue-haired girl with a book tucked under her arm walk in. "Ohayo, Amy," Rini greeted.
Ohayo, Rini," Amy replied, smiling warmly. She averted her attention to Serena and Rini went back to her manga. "Ohayo, Serena," Amy said cheerfully. "How are you?"
"Been better," Serena replied. "You?"
Amy sighed. "Same here... Are the others all able to make it?"
"Yeah, they're all on their way," Serena responded with a slight nod of her head, sending her long pigtails bouncing.
The whole room fell silent and Rini squirmed in her seat, unsettled by the lack of noise. *It must be really bad*
"Ohayo, Serena!" Mina shouted, bouncing in the room, ecstatic as ever. Her cerulean eyes lost some of their shimmer as she looked upon the state of everyone in the room. "Whoa, talk about an aura of doom," she joked. No one laughed. Mina sighed and seated herself beside Rini. "Well, at least Rini's always cheerful."
Rini looked up at the Senshi of love and grinned. "At your service!" She reached inside the closet and pulled out a stack of mangas and magazines for Mina to pick and choose through.
"Arigatou, Rini-chan!" Mina bubbled. She sifted through the stack and finally settled on an old copy of Nakayoshi*. She sat back against the wall and idly thumbed through it, stopping every now and then to look at something or laugh at a picture.
Finally Raye and Lita walked through the door together, Luna in tow, and the meeting could finally start.
"Alright, we all already know why we're here," Luna started. "Except that is for Rini," she added noticing Rini's uneasy state on the floor beside Mina. "Rini," Luna began, "we are now up against a very old and very formidable enemy. We had thought them to be dead, but we were sorely mistaken."
Rini nodded in understanding. "But, who is it, Luna?"
Luna sighed. "Well, that's the hard part, because you don't know anything about them. The scouts fought them before we had any idea of you. They were the four generals, the minions of Queen Beryl."
Rini gasped. "I know them!" she stated.
Everyone looked at her oddly. "You do?!" they cried in unison. "How?!"
"Mama talks about them...in stories and such. She said they were very strong, even more so that Queen Beryl whom killed Mama and the others during a heated battle." Rini went silent. "So that's who we're up against?"
Luna nodded then looked up suddenly as something white came flying through the window. The white thing landed on the bed next to Serena who jumped a mile in the air at the intrusion.
"Well, Artemis, good of you to join us," Luna said sarcastically. "Better late than never, I suppose." Artemis blushed in embarrassment.
"Gomen nasai. I was on my way here when I smelled something delic...evil. I decided I should check it out," he said matter-of-factly.
Mina laughed at her partner. "What a glutton!" she cried, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye that threatened to run down her cheek had she not intervened.
Artemis's eyes narrowed into a squint. "Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," he accused.
Mina stopped her gigging immediately. "Hmph! In that case, I disown you!" she said tossing her magazine she was holding at the furball's head. "Hn, apple doesn't fall far from the tree my foot," she muttered under her breath. "*Grumble* Talk about nerve! *Grumble*"
Luna shook her head in dismay. "Anyway, I don't suppose we could get back to the meeting?"
"We have an option," Serena asked hopefully.
Luna just glared daggers at the blonde. "I didn't hear that."
"What else is there to discuss," Lita asked. "Rini already knows about them; that's what the meeting was called for after all."
Luna considered this. "That's true..." she trailed off. She nodded in approval. "Yes, you're right. There's no point in continuing this meeting then."
"Alright!" Serena yelled, leaping of the bed. "Well, looks like we can just go out and have fun!" She skipped over to her closet and ruffled though her shoes, finally deciding on a pair of high-top blue sneakers.
"Not me," Amy stated. "If there's no meeting then I should be at home studying."
"I have work to help Grandpa with at the temple," Raye claimed, standing up as well.
"Aww..." Serena pouted, sticking out her bottom lip. "Come on! It's finally summer! We shouldn't be thinking of anything besides having fun! We're fifteen...it's what we do!"
Amy and Raye shook their heads simultaneously.
"Gomen, Serena," Amy sighed. "But the entrance exams are a few short months away. We should all be studying."
"I promised Grandpa I'd help him clean and just help out around the temple today when I came back home. If there's nothing to do here then that's where I should be."
Raye and Amy walked out the door together, waving over their shoulders.
"Well, looks like it's just us," Lita said, placing a hand on the small blondes shoulder.
The blonde smiled back warmly. "Looks like it."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Mina cried, jumping up from her seated position in one enthusiastic bound. "There's shopping to do, guys to meet, and games to play," she shouted, making a fake jab in the air as if fighting an enemy on a video game. She reached down and pulled Rini, to the pink-haired girl's amusement and surprise.
"Alright!" Rini cried. "Girl's day out!" She stuffed the mangas and magazines back in the closet and ran out the door. "Be right back!" she said, her little head popping back in the room. "Gotta go get some shoes," she yelled as she jetted down the stretch of the hallway to her own room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ja, Ikuko-mama!" Rini shouted as she and the others shut the door behind them.
"Where to first?" Lita asked, placing her hands behind her head, comfortably falling into her normal walking stance.
"Crown Arcade!" Mina and Serena shouted together, eyes shining.
Lita and Rini sweat-dropped and looked at each other. "I think they were separated at birth," Rini said. Lita nodded back.
Mina and Serena didn't hear a thing they said as they shot off faster than a bullet towards the arcade.
The two sweat-dropped again and lowered their heads. "Definitely separated at birth," Lita confirmed.
"Yay! Sailor V!" the two blondes shouted ecstatically. They rushed over to the machine, Mina reaching it first.
"First come, first serve!" she said with smug triumph stamped on her face.
"Aw, no fair! You run faster that I do!" Tears sprung to her blue eyes, making them shimmer and shine pathetically in the light.
"Too bad," Mina said, inserting a coin in the slot. Besides, I let you go first last time, remember.
Serena looked up. "...No?" she lied, batting her eyes innocently.
Mina scowled. "Yes you do." She turned to the machine as the screen lit up and first scene popped up. "Take that, scum! Yeah, mess with me, will ya!" She punched buttons and moved the joystick rapidly. "Ha! Nothing beats the original! Bring it on!"
Lita and Rini walked up beside them, panting. "The things you guys'll run quickly for," she said, choking on air.
Rini stood beside her, hands on knees, feeding her hungry lungs. Finally she stood up, having gotten her breathing back in order. She looked around at the scene of Mina playing and Serena sitting in mock pout on the stool next to her. "I see Mina won again," she said smiling.
"V-babe cheats! She can run faster than me!"
Mina sweat-dropped and looked at Serena, briefly tearing her eyes away from the screen. "Don't call me that!" She quickly turned her head back just in time to see a youma coming towards the little digital version of Sailor V. "Sneaking up on me, eh? I don't think so, freako!" The Chibi-V shot a ray from her weapon, disintegrating the enemy on approach. "Yeah, that's what I thought! Who's awesome? Not you!"
The other three sweat-dropped and turned away from Mina. "I worry about that girl," Lita said. "Freako?" she asked turning her attention back to Mina.
"Yeah, it's my own word. Isn't it awesome?" She continued with her destruction of evil pursuit.
"...Well...it's unique, that's for sure," the green-eyed teen replied cautiously.
"I know!" Mina said proudly, not catching the insult. "Hey, what are you...? NO!" Chibi-V squirmed on the screen and fell over dead. "Shimatta!"
"Ha!" Serena said, rising from the stool. "The original losing! I'll show you how the pros do it." Serena stepped up to the machine, breathing on her fingernails and proceeding to polish them on her shirt front.
"Hmph! Let's see it then, Miss Thing!" Mina sat down on the stool Serena had just abandoned.
"Like birds of a feather," Lita said jokingly.
Mina sat in an identical pout to the one Serena had sported just minutes ago. She suddenly looked up as she spotted something -or rather someONE- across the arcade. She stood up immediately. "I'll be right back," she said quietly.
Lita followed her friend's gaze to a booth with a lone young man sitting at it. She smiled; this was Mina's reason for distraction. *He's cute* Lita thought. *Well, she has good taste.*
"Sumimasen," Mina said. The young man looked up at her.
"Konichiwa," he replied back. "Can I help you?"
Mina smiled charmingly. "No, not really, I just haven't seen you around here before. Are you new to Tokyo?" she questioned with innocent shyness.
He smiled at her warmly. "Am I that obvious?"
Mina shrugged then answered, "Yeah, actually." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and looked down at the booth. "May I?" she asked, her arm outstretched to the seat opposite him.
"Oh, yes, of course!" he answered.
She bowed and took a seat across from him. "Doomo arigatou. Watashi wa namae Aino, Minako des," she said politely (My name is Mina). "Call me Mina, please."
"Watashi wa namae Ryuuzaki, Jin des," he replied, equally polite. "Would you care for a drink?"
Mina blushed. "No! I came over here! You're not obliged to, I'm fine really!" she rushed. Jin looked slightly hurt. "But I'll have something to drink with you, if you like," she offered bringing out her wallet.
He smiled up at her, his shaggy black hair nodding along with his head. "Sure." He raised his hand to get the attention of the waiter. A blonde-haired boy walked up to them.
"Konichiwa, Andy!" Mina greeted happily.
"Mina! Konichiwa! What brings you here?"
"I came with the others," she said pointing back to the games where Serena sat at the machine, talking back to it.
Andrew nodded. "Ah...and who's this?" he questioned, meaning the man Mina was sitting with.
"Oh, gomen nasai! How rude I am! This is Ryuuzaki, Jin-san!" Jin stood up and shook hands with Andrew.
"Where'd you guys meet?" he asked curiously.
"We just met here, actually," Jin admitted.
"Oh," Andy said, frowning. "Well, can I get you two anything?" he asked coolly.
"Um... I'll have a cherry cola!" Mina said, ever bubbly.
"Regular tea, please," Jin answered.
"Sure thing," Andy said, jotting the order down on his notepad. "It'll just be a few minutes. He glanced over his shoulder a few times at the two.
"Hm, I wonder what's up with Andy," Mina wondered, genuinely confused.
Jin smiled. "I think I know. Have you two known each other long?" he leaned casually back in his booth, the smile still present on his face.
"Yeah, pretty long, why?" confusion shining in her cerulean eyes.
"I think he's worried about you because you don't know me... And more importantly, HE doesn't know me."
"Huh?" Mina asked, baffled. "Worried? I don't get it. Why would he be worried?"
"He doesn't want anything to happen to you, so he doesn't want to be with people you don't know anything about. He doesn't want you to get hurt. It's good that you have such great friends." Steel eyes met blue ones, and caught in a un-breaking gaze.
"Here you go," Andy said setting down the soda and tea cup in front pf their respectable buyers. The two tore away from the other's stare.
Mina smiled up at Andrew. "Arigatou!"
"Doomo arigatou gozaimas," Jin said politely. Andy started to walk away.
"I'll be right back," Mina said jumping up from her seat. She ran after Andy and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Andy, don't worry, he seems nice enough and I can take care of myself." She winked and struck one of her famous victory sign poses. "I'm a big girl now!" she giggled.
Andy's eyes widened and his expression softened. "Gomen, I can't help but worry. But if he starts any funny business call me over and I'll gladly take care of him."
Mina rolled her blue eyes at her friend. "Don't worry, I'll sick you on him!" she joked. "Later!" She walked back to the booth and took a seat across form Jin again.
"So, how'd it go?" Jin asked. He casually took a sip from his tea.
"I just told him I'm a big girl now, but if anything went wrong I'd call him over here quicker than he could say, 'Jimmy Dean!' Then he was okay... Or at least a little reassured."
Jin laughed. He like this girl. She was cute and bubbly and nothing seemed to get her down. "Well, that's good... I think."
"V-babe!" Serena shouted running up to the booth.
Mina cringed. "I said quit calling me that!" she said, blushing. "It's embarrassing!"
"So, who's your friend, Mina? Aren't you gonna introduce us?"
"Oops! Gomen, my manners are lost today! Minna, this is Ryuuzaki, Jin-san, Jin-san, this is Kino, Lita-chan, Tsukino, Bunny-chan, and her dau...cousin, Chiba, Bunny-chan. We just call her Rini, though," she added with a wink and a smile.
"Konichiwa, minna-san," Jin said, flashing a dazzling smile.
"Konichiwa, Jin-san," the others replied in unison.
"So, where'd you get the nickname V-babe from? I bet you were really secretly Sailor V! You even have the same red bow in your hair," he said smiling at the joke.
"NANI?!" Mina cried. "How did *umph*!"
Lita quickly covered up her mouth with her hand. "Yeah," she laughed innocently. "That's where we got it since she wears the bow and plus she's totally obsessed with the game and all." She uncovered Mina's mouth and Mina gasped for air.
"Ya trying to kill me?!" she accused. "You're gonna send me to an early coffin!"
Everyone sweat-dropped. "I think you mean an early grave, Mina," Lita said. "That's one thing you'll have to get used t, Jin-san, if you plan to hang out with Mina. She couldn't remember a saying to save her life."
Jin laughed good-naturally. "Can't she now?"
Mina pouted. "That's right, everyone gang up on me!"
"G-go-gomen, Mina," Rini said wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "We're just funning around."
"Hey, Serena, there's a new racing game over there," Lita offered so as to leave the two at the booth alone once again.
"Really?!" Serena asked, blissfully unaware of the true meaning to Lita's proposal.
Rini caught on and agreed to going and challenging Serena. The three walked away and Lita winked at Mina over her shoulder and continued walking.
Mina smiled at Lita thankfully and mouthed 'Arigatou' to her. Mina giggled and looked back to Jin.
"Your friends seem nice," he said.
"They're weird, but ya gotta love 'em!"
"Well, of course they're weird! They're your friends!" he joked.
"Hey, that's not very nice!" Mina cried crossing her arms over her chest and sticking her quivering bottom lip out in mock pout.
Jin laughed. "You're funny, Mina. Do you...um... Do you wanna go for a walk?"
"Hm... Well, there's nothing else in my schedule book!" she said happily bounding out of her seat.
Jin stood up and went over to her, hooking his arm at his side. "M'lady," he said with a goofy grin on his face.
"Why thank you, good sir,' she said giggling. She linked arms with him and looked at Lita over her shoulder and gave her a thumbs up as they walked out the door, arm in arm.
Lita smiled and returned the thumbs-up. She spun around as she felt someone walk up behind her, and then blew out a relieved sigh as she saw a familiar blonde. "Andy, konichiwa!"
"Konichiwa, Lita," he said kindly. "So where are Mina and that guy going off to?"
Lita smiled knowingly. "Do I sense a hint of worry? Aw, that's so kawaii and big brother-like of you, Andy!" She frowned when she saw his unchanging expression. "What's wrong?"
"I don't trust him, that's all..." Andy trailed off. He turned to Lita and, seeing the expression of worry that settled on Lita's pretty features, forced on a smile. "But Mina's right, I suppose. She's a big girl and she can take care of herself. After all, she's a Senshi and all*."
Lita smiled warmly. "I don't know, he seemed nice and respectful to me."
Andrew nodded. "Yeah, I guess we'll have to trust her choosing of good character." He walked over to Serena and Rini at the wheel of the new racing game. "So, Rini, I see you're beating Serena," he said trying not to laugh at Serena getting beaten by a little girl.
"Of course; it's not like poor Serena ever had a chance against me," she bragged. With that she lapped Serena and raced down a straight-away and crossed the finish line. "Ha! What did I tell ya, Meatball head?! I always beat you at racing!"
"Why you little devious, maniacal, manipulating, cheating...thing you!" (A/N: hey, wowies, those are a lot of big words for our little Serena^_^)
"No need for name calling," Rini said spinning around in her swivel stool with her eyes closed and a smile on her smug little face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mina and Jin walked down the sidewalk chatting away, enjoying the nice warm summer day.
"So, where do you go to school?" Mina questioned.
"I'll be starting at Azuba University in the fall," he replied.
"Azuba? Hey, that's where Serena's boyfriend goes! I could introduce you sometime so you'll know someone when you get there," Mina offered.
"That sounds good," Jin said smiling down at Mina. A blush crept onto his face as he grabbed the blondes hand next to him.
Mina jumped and Jin immediately let go. "Gomen nasai, I shouldn't have done that!" he stumbled over his words in embarrassment.
"Iie, it's fine, you just scared me is all. I'm a little jumpy," she quickly explained. *Good going Aino, why'd you go and do something so stupid? A cute guy grabs your hand and you freak out!*
"Are you sure? It's really my fault; if it makes you uncomfortable I won't do it!"
"I'm sure," Mina assured him and grabbed his hand this time. She smiled up at him.
Jin smiled back and squeezed her hand. Just then a whole horde of people came screaming around the corner followed by an explosion and people flying forward from the impact. Mina gasped and the ground exploded right in front of them sending them flying backwards.
Mina screamed and Jin clasped onto her, holding her against his chest in an effort to protect her. The two hit a stairwell that was behind them.
Jin gasped and surrendered to the darkness. Mina looked up a little shaken but fine nonetheless. "Jin... Jin? JIN!" She turned towards the cause of the explosion. "A youma!" she gasped. She flipped open her communicator watch. "Serena, Lita, Rini, pick up!" she cried.
"What is it, Mina?" Serena asked.
"Down the street a bit by the tanning salon! Youma!" she said everything rushed a very quickly.
"We'll be there in a flash," Serena assured her and cut off the connection.
Mina nodded and closed the watch-top. "You picked the wrong person to mess with at the wrong time! Venus Star Power Make-up!" Mina closed her eyes as she fell into the familiar motions of her transformation. "And now you'll pay!" she yelled striking a pose. "Venus Love-me Chain!" Her whip hit the youma and wrapped around it, draining it of its energy.
The youma screamed out in agony then sent a bomb from its clawed hands, severing Sailor Venus's love chain. He sent out a second bomb, this time aimed at Sailor Venus.
Sailor Venus jumped back but was caught off-guard as another came flying her way. She screamed out and flew to the ground, chipping some of the pavement from the impact. She held her shoulder lightly and tried to move it, but found it hard to do. *K'so. That thing better not have popped it out o' place...* She lifted up her still good arm and the other hang limply. "Venus Crescent Beam!" The golden beam of energy hit the youma head on and it disintegrated before her eyes.
"Sailor Venus!"
Sailor Venus spun around on her heel to see Sailor Moon, Jupiter, and Chibi Moon running towards her.
"Hey, good job, Venus!" Jupiter said clapping her on the back.
Venus gasped and fell to her knees at the slap, which landed square on her hurt shoulder.
"What's wrong?! Omigosh, you're hurt!" She knelt down next to her friend and put a gentle hand on her unhurt shoulder. "We gotta have that looked at!"
"Oh, no. My, my, did someone get hurt?" came an icy voice from the shadows.
Sailor Venus gasped. "That voice! You're...!"
"Yes, Malachite," the figure replied stepping into the light so they could get a good view of him. "I do hope that's better by tomorrow. Oh well."
"What do you mean tomorrow?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Tomorrow you will meet me and the other generals at the Tokyo Tower at midnight. The result of that battle will determine the fate of this precious world of yours as we know it."
Jupiter gasped. "Wha...?"
"See you tomorrow." With that he disappeared into a portal.
Mina looked up as she heard movement form behind her. She looked back to that Jin was stirring. "Hurry! Get out of here! This is not something I want to have to explain to him!"
The others nodded and took off down the street. Mina detransformed and went over to Jin and quickly sat down next to him. "Are you alright?!" she shouted nervously.
He looked up and rubbed his head. "Yeah, a headache, but nothing serious I don't think..."
"You may have a concussion!" the blonde cried out and placed a hand on his shoulder as the other arm still hung useless at her side. She stood up and extended the good hand to Jin to help him up.
He took it graciously and stood up with her help. He fell forward a bit against her causing her to put up her bad arm. She cried out in pain as his weight was pressed upon her, sending shoots of pain up to her shoulder and all down her back.
"Gomen nasai! What's wrong? You're hurt! Where?" Jin forced himself to get off of her. He swayed a bit but walked up to her nonetheless.
She pointed to her shoulder as a tear of pain slid sown her cheek. Jin quickly but gently wiped the tear away and put his arm around his waist. "Come on, let's get you back to the arcade. Do any of your friends there have a car?"
She nodded slowly, even that much of movement made her shoulder hurt immensely. "Andy does," she replied.
Jin nodded. "Alright, I'm sure he can take you," he said forcing a smile onto his face.
"Well, I can't say you didn't make a big bang of a date. Think when we meet again," Mina joked.
Jin smiled down at her. "Even when you're hurt you can joke. I don't know how you do it, honestly."
"I do what I can," she said with a weak smile on her face.
Jin smiled back and leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.
Mina leaned into the kiss and kissed him back gently as well. The kiss deepened and Mina parted her lips allowing Jin's tongue into her mouth.
Jin broke away and both gasped for air. "You're a good kisser," Jin claimed smiling down at her.
"You're not bad yourself," she said playfully. She shifted her weight as she walked and gasped in pain from her shoulder.
Jin tightened his hold on her waist. "Come on, we're almost there." Sure enough, the arcade was only a short distance, a few short meters away. The two entered the door and heard the bell ring-a-ling. "Sumimasen, Andy- san!" Jin called out.
Andy looked to where the shout came from and saw Jin with his arm around Mina's waist. "Mina!" He ran up to the couple and stared at Jin. If looks could kill... Well, Jin would've been dead on the spot. "What happened?" Andrew asked in an accusing voice.
"Some...thing attacked us," Jin explained.
Andrew looked to Mina as if for confirmation. Mina nodded her head.
"Yeah, it's the truth. Jin brought me back here to see if you could take us to the hospital. I think my shoulder's dislocated." She winced slightly.
Andrew's gaze softened. "Gomen nasai, Jin-san. I thought... Well, it doesn't matter. Let's go!"
Jin nodded. "I understand. Arigatou and apology accepted." He smiled warmly at Andrew and it was returned right back at him.
"But who'll watch the arcade?" Andrew wondered.
"Ooo! We will!" Serena said bounding over and pointing in a circle to herself, Lita, and Rini. "We can watch it for ya!"
Andrew looked worried. "Well, okay, if you're sure..."
"Don't worry, I won't let her do anything stupid," Lita assured the worried blonde boy.
Any smiled. "Arigatou, Lita-chan! Come on, let's get you two to the hospital."
The three of them walked out the door, Jin's arm still around Mina's waist.
2nd A/N: my God, that was forever! Oh about the asterisks, Nakayoshi is a magazine in Japan that's like Shonen Jump only aimed more towards shoujo. Also, in the manga, Andy knew about the girls being the Senshi^_^ Ja ne, gotta go baby-sit my three little cousins!
~venusgirl ^._.^
~*~Chapter 12~*~
Serena woke up the next morning to the birds chirping just outside the window. She looked over and noticed that Rini, who had slept in her bed the night before, was gone, as was Luna. Serena rolled over and fell to the floor. "Oh, boy. Morning," she said sarcastically to herself. She walked slowly to the bathroom and took her shower, then slipped on an outfit for the day and put her hair up in the usual style.
"Ohayo, Serena!" Rini yelled cheerfully from the table where she sat munching on toast with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of her as well.
Serena took a seat beside Rini and just sat there quietly.
"What's wrong?" Rini asked in between bites.
"Huh? Just still trying to wake up is all," Serena answered. "I'll be good once I have some food in my stomach..."
"Well, speaking of food, here's your breakfast," Ikuko said, setting down a plate identical to Rini's in front of Serena.
"Arigatou, Mama," Serena said, picking up her fork, ready to dig in. "'Kaasan, is it alright if the girls come over today?"
Ikuko nodded. "That's fine."
"Cool." Serena finished off her breakfast and went to put her dishes in the sink. She then walked to the phone to call everyone so she could tell them it was all okay for them to come.
"Be right over, Serena," Lita replied.
"I was busy, Meatball Head! I'll be right over, though," Raye sighed.
"Well, I really should be studying, but I guess this is scout business," Amy said wistfully.
"In a jiff!" Mina shouted cheerfully, as usual.
Serena smiled and hung up the receiver. "Everyone'll be right over, Rini!" Serena shouted for the hallway into the kitchen where Rini stood atop a stool, helping Ikuko with the dishes.
"Okay!" the pink-haired youth yelled back. "I'll be up to your room in a minute; I just gotta finish helping Ikuko-mama!"
Serena nodded even though she knew Rini couldn't see her and ascended up the stairs, down the hall, and into her room. She stepped inside and gently shut the door behind her. She paced around the room anxiously. *I'm so nervous* she thought. She sat herself down on her bed and breathed deeply in order to try to calm herself. Finally she was calm and looked up just as she heard a click of the doorknob being turned and heard the creak of the door as it was pushed ajar.
Rini smiled and walked over to the bed, sitting down beside Serena. "So what's up?" she asked seriously.
"Nothing much. What kind of question is that?" Serena questioned.
Rini shook her head. "That's not what I meant. What's up with your weird vibes? You haven't been yourself the whole time I've been here."
"That's something we'll have to discuss when everyone else gets here," Serena sighed sadly. "But it's big. ...Really big."
"A battle?"
Serena merely nodded in response.
"Ah..." Rini sat for a while longer, then, not being able to take the stillness anymore got up and went to a shelf in the closet where she retrieved a manga. "Was it good?" she asked holding up the manga.
Serena looked up to see what Rini was talking about. In Rini's small hand was the Sailor V manga Serena had obsessed over not all that long ago, when she had nothing else on her mind to worry about. She sighed wistfully at the remembrance of what a wonderful feeling that was. "Yeah," she said simply and then returned to her reminiscing.
Rini seated herself on the floor where she stood and flipped to the first page. Rini was half-way through the manga when the door opened. She looked up to see a blue-haired girl with a book tucked under her arm walk in. "Ohayo, Amy," Rini greeted.
Ohayo, Rini," Amy replied, smiling warmly. She averted her attention to Serena and Rini went back to her manga. "Ohayo, Serena," Amy said cheerfully. "How are you?"
"Been better," Serena replied. "You?"
Amy sighed. "Same here... Are the others all able to make it?"
"Yeah, they're all on their way," Serena responded with a slight nod of her head, sending her long pigtails bouncing.
The whole room fell silent and Rini squirmed in her seat, unsettled by the lack of noise. *It must be really bad*
"Ohayo, Serena!" Mina shouted, bouncing in the room, ecstatic as ever. Her cerulean eyes lost some of their shimmer as she looked upon the state of everyone in the room. "Whoa, talk about an aura of doom," she joked. No one laughed. Mina sighed and seated herself beside Rini. "Well, at least Rini's always cheerful."
Rini looked up at the Senshi of love and grinned. "At your service!" She reached inside the closet and pulled out a stack of mangas and magazines for Mina to pick and choose through.
"Arigatou, Rini-chan!" Mina bubbled. She sifted through the stack and finally settled on an old copy of Nakayoshi*. She sat back against the wall and idly thumbed through it, stopping every now and then to look at something or laugh at a picture.
Finally Raye and Lita walked through the door together, Luna in tow, and the meeting could finally start.
"Alright, we all already know why we're here," Luna started. "Except that is for Rini," she added noticing Rini's uneasy state on the floor beside Mina. "Rini," Luna began, "we are now up against a very old and very formidable enemy. We had thought them to be dead, but we were sorely mistaken."
Rini nodded in understanding. "But, who is it, Luna?"
Luna sighed. "Well, that's the hard part, because you don't know anything about them. The scouts fought them before we had any idea of you. They were the four generals, the minions of Queen Beryl."
Rini gasped. "I know them!" she stated.
Everyone looked at her oddly. "You do?!" they cried in unison. "How?!"
"Mama talks about them...in stories and such. She said they were very strong, even more so that Queen Beryl whom killed Mama and the others during a heated battle." Rini went silent. "So that's who we're up against?"
Luna nodded then looked up suddenly as something white came flying through the window. The white thing landed on the bed next to Serena who jumped a mile in the air at the intrusion.
"Well, Artemis, good of you to join us," Luna said sarcastically. "Better late than never, I suppose." Artemis blushed in embarrassment.
"Gomen nasai. I was on my way here when I smelled something delic...evil. I decided I should check it out," he said matter-of-factly.
Mina laughed at her partner. "What a glutton!" she cried, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye that threatened to run down her cheek had she not intervened.
Artemis's eyes narrowed into a squint. "Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," he accused.
Mina stopped her gigging immediately. "Hmph! In that case, I disown you!" she said tossing her magazine she was holding at the furball's head. "Hn, apple doesn't fall far from the tree my foot," she muttered under her breath. "*Grumble* Talk about nerve! *Grumble*"
Luna shook her head in dismay. "Anyway, I don't suppose we could get back to the meeting?"
"We have an option," Serena asked hopefully.
Luna just glared daggers at the blonde. "I didn't hear that."
"What else is there to discuss," Lita asked. "Rini already knows about them; that's what the meeting was called for after all."
Luna considered this. "That's true..." she trailed off. She nodded in approval. "Yes, you're right. There's no point in continuing this meeting then."
"Alright!" Serena yelled, leaping of the bed. "Well, looks like we can just go out and have fun!" She skipped over to her closet and ruffled though her shoes, finally deciding on a pair of high-top blue sneakers.
"Not me," Amy stated. "If there's no meeting then I should be at home studying."
"I have work to help Grandpa with at the temple," Raye claimed, standing up as well.
"Aww..." Serena pouted, sticking out her bottom lip. "Come on! It's finally summer! We shouldn't be thinking of anything besides having fun! We're fifteen...it's what we do!"
Amy and Raye shook their heads simultaneously.
"Gomen, Serena," Amy sighed. "But the entrance exams are a few short months away. We should all be studying."
"I promised Grandpa I'd help him clean and just help out around the temple today when I came back home. If there's nothing to do here then that's where I should be."
Raye and Amy walked out the door together, waving over their shoulders.
"Well, looks like it's just us," Lita said, placing a hand on the small blondes shoulder.
The blonde smiled back warmly. "Looks like it."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Mina cried, jumping up from her seated position in one enthusiastic bound. "There's shopping to do, guys to meet, and games to play," she shouted, making a fake jab in the air as if fighting an enemy on a video game. She reached down and pulled Rini, to the pink-haired girl's amusement and surprise.
"Alright!" Rini cried. "Girl's day out!" She stuffed the mangas and magazines back in the closet and ran out the door. "Be right back!" she said, her little head popping back in the room. "Gotta go get some shoes," she yelled as she jetted down the stretch of the hallway to her own room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ja, Ikuko-mama!" Rini shouted as she and the others shut the door behind them.
"Where to first?" Lita asked, placing her hands behind her head, comfortably falling into her normal walking stance.
"Crown Arcade!" Mina and Serena shouted together, eyes shining.
Lita and Rini sweat-dropped and looked at each other. "I think they were separated at birth," Rini said. Lita nodded back.
Mina and Serena didn't hear a thing they said as they shot off faster than a bullet towards the arcade.
The two sweat-dropped again and lowered their heads. "Definitely separated at birth," Lita confirmed.
"Yay! Sailor V!" the two blondes shouted ecstatically. They rushed over to the machine, Mina reaching it first.
"First come, first serve!" she said with smug triumph stamped on her face.
"Aw, no fair! You run faster that I do!" Tears sprung to her blue eyes, making them shimmer and shine pathetically in the light.
"Too bad," Mina said, inserting a coin in the slot. Besides, I let you go first last time, remember.
Serena looked up. "...No?" she lied, batting her eyes innocently.
Mina scowled. "Yes you do." She turned to the machine as the screen lit up and first scene popped up. "Take that, scum! Yeah, mess with me, will ya!" She punched buttons and moved the joystick rapidly. "Ha! Nothing beats the original! Bring it on!"
Lita and Rini walked up beside them, panting. "The things you guys'll run quickly for," she said, choking on air.
Rini stood beside her, hands on knees, feeding her hungry lungs. Finally she stood up, having gotten her breathing back in order. She looked around at the scene of Mina playing and Serena sitting in mock pout on the stool next to her. "I see Mina won again," she said smiling.
"V-babe cheats! She can run faster than me!"
Mina sweat-dropped and looked at Serena, briefly tearing her eyes away from the screen. "Don't call me that!" She quickly turned her head back just in time to see a youma coming towards the little digital version of Sailor V. "Sneaking up on me, eh? I don't think so, freako!" The Chibi-V shot a ray from her weapon, disintegrating the enemy on approach. "Yeah, that's what I thought! Who's awesome? Not you!"
The other three sweat-dropped and turned away from Mina. "I worry about that girl," Lita said. "Freako?" she asked turning her attention back to Mina.
"Yeah, it's my own word. Isn't it awesome?" She continued with her destruction of evil pursuit.
"...Well...it's unique, that's for sure," the green-eyed teen replied cautiously.
"I know!" Mina said proudly, not catching the insult. "Hey, what are you...? NO!" Chibi-V squirmed on the screen and fell over dead. "Shimatta!"
"Ha!" Serena said, rising from the stool. "The original losing! I'll show you how the pros do it." Serena stepped up to the machine, breathing on her fingernails and proceeding to polish them on her shirt front.
"Hmph! Let's see it then, Miss Thing!" Mina sat down on the stool Serena had just abandoned.
"Like birds of a feather," Lita said jokingly.
Mina sat in an identical pout to the one Serena had sported just minutes ago. She suddenly looked up as she spotted something -or rather someONE- across the arcade. She stood up immediately. "I'll be right back," she said quietly.
Lita followed her friend's gaze to a booth with a lone young man sitting at it. She smiled; this was Mina's reason for distraction. *He's cute* Lita thought. *Well, she has good taste.*
"Sumimasen," Mina said. The young man looked up at her.
"Konichiwa," he replied back. "Can I help you?"
Mina smiled charmingly. "No, not really, I just haven't seen you around here before. Are you new to Tokyo?" she questioned with innocent shyness.
He smiled at her warmly. "Am I that obvious?"
Mina shrugged then answered, "Yeah, actually." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and looked down at the booth. "May I?" she asked, her arm outstretched to the seat opposite him.
"Oh, yes, of course!" he answered.
She bowed and took a seat across from him. "Doomo arigatou. Watashi wa namae Aino, Minako des," she said politely (My name is Mina). "Call me Mina, please."
"Watashi wa namae Ryuuzaki, Jin des," he replied, equally polite. "Would you care for a drink?"
Mina blushed. "No! I came over here! You're not obliged to, I'm fine really!" she rushed. Jin looked slightly hurt. "But I'll have something to drink with you, if you like," she offered bringing out her wallet.
He smiled up at her, his shaggy black hair nodding along with his head. "Sure." He raised his hand to get the attention of the waiter. A blonde-haired boy walked up to them.
"Konichiwa, Andy!" Mina greeted happily.
"Mina! Konichiwa! What brings you here?"
"I came with the others," she said pointing back to the games where Serena sat at the machine, talking back to it.
Andrew nodded. "Ah...and who's this?" he questioned, meaning the man Mina was sitting with.
"Oh, gomen nasai! How rude I am! This is Ryuuzaki, Jin-san!" Jin stood up and shook hands with Andrew.
"Where'd you guys meet?" he asked curiously.
"We just met here, actually," Jin admitted.
"Oh," Andy said, frowning. "Well, can I get you two anything?" he asked coolly.
"Um... I'll have a cherry cola!" Mina said, ever bubbly.
"Regular tea, please," Jin answered.
"Sure thing," Andy said, jotting the order down on his notepad. "It'll just be a few minutes. He glanced over his shoulder a few times at the two.
"Hm, I wonder what's up with Andy," Mina wondered, genuinely confused.
Jin smiled. "I think I know. Have you two known each other long?" he leaned casually back in his booth, the smile still present on his face.
"Yeah, pretty long, why?" confusion shining in her cerulean eyes.
"I think he's worried about you because you don't know me... And more importantly, HE doesn't know me."
"Huh?" Mina asked, baffled. "Worried? I don't get it. Why would he be worried?"
"He doesn't want anything to happen to you, so he doesn't want to be with people you don't know anything about. He doesn't want you to get hurt. It's good that you have such great friends." Steel eyes met blue ones, and caught in a un-breaking gaze.
"Here you go," Andy said setting down the soda and tea cup in front pf their respectable buyers. The two tore away from the other's stare.
Mina smiled up at Andrew. "Arigatou!"
"Doomo arigatou gozaimas," Jin said politely. Andy started to walk away.
"I'll be right back," Mina said jumping up from her seat. She ran after Andy and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Andy, don't worry, he seems nice enough and I can take care of myself." She winked and struck one of her famous victory sign poses. "I'm a big girl now!" she giggled.
Andy's eyes widened and his expression softened. "Gomen, I can't help but worry. But if he starts any funny business call me over and I'll gladly take care of him."
Mina rolled her blue eyes at her friend. "Don't worry, I'll sick you on him!" she joked. "Later!" She walked back to the booth and took a seat across form Jin again.
"So, how'd it go?" Jin asked. He casually took a sip from his tea.
"I just told him I'm a big girl now, but if anything went wrong I'd call him over here quicker than he could say, 'Jimmy Dean!' Then he was okay... Or at least a little reassured."
Jin laughed. He like this girl. She was cute and bubbly and nothing seemed to get her down. "Well, that's good... I think."
"V-babe!" Serena shouted running up to the booth.
Mina cringed. "I said quit calling me that!" she said, blushing. "It's embarrassing!"
"So, who's your friend, Mina? Aren't you gonna introduce us?"
"Oops! Gomen, my manners are lost today! Minna, this is Ryuuzaki, Jin-san, Jin-san, this is Kino, Lita-chan, Tsukino, Bunny-chan, and her dau...cousin, Chiba, Bunny-chan. We just call her Rini, though," she added with a wink and a smile.
"Konichiwa, minna-san," Jin said, flashing a dazzling smile.
"Konichiwa, Jin-san," the others replied in unison.
"So, where'd you get the nickname V-babe from? I bet you were really secretly Sailor V! You even have the same red bow in your hair," he said smiling at the joke.
"NANI?!" Mina cried. "How did *umph*!"
Lita quickly covered up her mouth with her hand. "Yeah," she laughed innocently. "That's where we got it since she wears the bow and plus she's totally obsessed with the game and all." She uncovered Mina's mouth and Mina gasped for air.
"Ya trying to kill me?!" she accused. "You're gonna send me to an early coffin!"
Everyone sweat-dropped. "I think you mean an early grave, Mina," Lita said. "That's one thing you'll have to get used t, Jin-san, if you plan to hang out with Mina. She couldn't remember a saying to save her life."
Jin laughed good-naturally. "Can't she now?"
Mina pouted. "That's right, everyone gang up on me!"
"G-go-gomen, Mina," Rini said wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "We're just funning around."
"Hey, Serena, there's a new racing game over there," Lita offered so as to leave the two at the booth alone once again.
"Really?!" Serena asked, blissfully unaware of the true meaning to Lita's proposal.
Rini caught on and agreed to going and challenging Serena. The three walked away and Lita winked at Mina over her shoulder and continued walking.
Mina smiled at Lita thankfully and mouthed 'Arigatou' to her. Mina giggled and looked back to Jin.
"Your friends seem nice," he said.
"They're weird, but ya gotta love 'em!"
"Well, of course they're weird! They're your friends!" he joked.
"Hey, that's not very nice!" Mina cried crossing her arms over her chest and sticking her quivering bottom lip out in mock pout.
Jin laughed. "You're funny, Mina. Do you...um... Do you wanna go for a walk?"
"Hm... Well, there's nothing else in my schedule book!" she said happily bounding out of her seat.
Jin stood up and went over to her, hooking his arm at his side. "M'lady," he said with a goofy grin on his face.
"Why thank you, good sir,' she said giggling. She linked arms with him and looked at Lita over her shoulder and gave her a thumbs up as they walked out the door, arm in arm.
Lita smiled and returned the thumbs-up. She spun around as she felt someone walk up behind her, and then blew out a relieved sigh as she saw a familiar blonde. "Andy, konichiwa!"
"Konichiwa, Lita," he said kindly. "So where are Mina and that guy going off to?"
Lita smiled knowingly. "Do I sense a hint of worry? Aw, that's so kawaii and big brother-like of you, Andy!" She frowned when she saw his unchanging expression. "What's wrong?"
"I don't trust him, that's all..." Andy trailed off. He turned to Lita and, seeing the expression of worry that settled on Lita's pretty features, forced on a smile. "But Mina's right, I suppose. She's a big girl and she can take care of herself. After all, she's a Senshi and all*."
Lita smiled warmly. "I don't know, he seemed nice and respectful to me."
Andrew nodded. "Yeah, I guess we'll have to trust her choosing of good character." He walked over to Serena and Rini at the wheel of the new racing game. "So, Rini, I see you're beating Serena," he said trying not to laugh at Serena getting beaten by a little girl.
"Of course; it's not like poor Serena ever had a chance against me," she bragged. With that she lapped Serena and raced down a straight-away and crossed the finish line. "Ha! What did I tell ya, Meatball head?! I always beat you at racing!"
"Why you little devious, maniacal, manipulating, cheating...thing you!" (A/N: hey, wowies, those are a lot of big words for our little Serena^_^)
"No need for name calling," Rini said spinning around in her swivel stool with her eyes closed and a smile on her smug little face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mina and Jin walked down the sidewalk chatting away, enjoying the nice warm summer day.
"So, where do you go to school?" Mina questioned.
"I'll be starting at Azuba University in the fall," he replied.
"Azuba? Hey, that's where Serena's boyfriend goes! I could introduce you sometime so you'll know someone when you get there," Mina offered.
"That sounds good," Jin said smiling down at Mina. A blush crept onto his face as he grabbed the blondes hand next to him.
Mina jumped and Jin immediately let go. "Gomen nasai, I shouldn't have done that!" he stumbled over his words in embarrassment.
"Iie, it's fine, you just scared me is all. I'm a little jumpy," she quickly explained. *Good going Aino, why'd you go and do something so stupid? A cute guy grabs your hand and you freak out!*
"Are you sure? It's really my fault; if it makes you uncomfortable I won't do it!"
"I'm sure," Mina assured him and grabbed his hand this time. She smiled up at him.
Jin smiled back and squeezed her hand. Just then a whole horde of people came screaming around the corner followed by an explosion and people flying forward from the impact. Mina gasped and the ground exploded right in front of them sending them flying backwards.
Mina screamed and Jin clasped onto her, holding her against his chest in an effort to protect her. The two hit a stairwell that was behind them.
Jin gasped and surrendered to the darkness. Mina looked up a little shaken but fine nonetheless. "Jin... Jin? JIN!" She turned towards the cause of the explosion. "A youma!" she gasped. She flipped open her communicator watch. "Serena, Lita, Rini, pick up!" she cried.
"What is it, Mina?" Serena asked.
"Down the street a bit by the tanning salon! Youma!" she said everything rushed a very quickly.
"We'll be there in a flash," Serena assured her and cut off the connection.
Mina nodded and closed the watch-top. "You picked the wrong person to mess with at the wrong time! Venus Star Power Make-up!" Mina closed her eyes as she fell into the familiar motions of her transformation. "And now you'll pay!" she yelled striking a pose. "Venus Love-me Chain!" Her whip hit the youma and wrapped around it, draining it of its energy.
The youma screamed out in agony then sent a bomb from its clawed hands, severing Sailor Venus's love chain. He sent out a second bomb, this time aimed at Sailor Venus.
Sailor Venus jumped back but was caught off-guard as another came flying her way. She screamed out and flew to the ground, chipping some of the pavement from the impact. She held her shoulder lightly and tried to move it, but found it hard to do. *K'so. That thing better not have popped it out o' place...* She lifted up her still good arm and the other hang limply. "Venus Crescent Beam!" The golden beam of energy hit the youma head on and it disintegrated before her eyes.
"Sailor Venus!"
Sailor Venus spun around on her heel to see Sailor Moon, Jupiter, and Chibi Moon running towards her.
"Hey, good job, Venus!" Jupiter said clapping her on the back.
Venus gasped and fell to her knees at the slap, which landed square on her hurt shoulder.
"What's wrong?! Omigosh, you're hurt!" She knelt down next to her friend and put a gentle hand on her unhurt shoulder. "We gotta have that looked at!"
"Oh, no. My, my, did someone get hurt?" came an icy voice from the shadows.
Sailor Venus gasped. "That voice! You're...!"
"Yes, Malachite," the figure replied stepping into the light so they could get a good view of him. "I do hope that's better by tomorrow. Oh well."
"What do you mean tomorrow?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Tomorrow you will meet me and the other generals at the Tokyo Tower at midnight. The result of that battle will determine the fate of this precious world of yours as we know it."
Jupiter gasped. "Wha...?"
"See you tomorrow." With that he disappeared into a portal.
Mina looked up as she heard movement form behind her. She looked back to that Jin was stirring. "Hurry! Get out of here! This is not something I want to have to explain to him!"
The others nodded and took off down the street. Mina detransformed and went over to Jin and quickly sat down next to him. "Are you alright?!" she shouted nervously.
He looked up and rubbed his head. "Yeah, a headache, but nothing serious I don't think..."
"You may have a concussion!" the blonde cried out and placed a hand on his shoulder as the other arm still hung useless at her side. She stood up and extended the good hand to Jin to help him up.
He took it graciously and stood up with her help. He fell forward a bit against her causing her to put up her bad arm. She cried out in pain as his weight was pressed upon her, sending shoots of pain up to her shoulder and all down her back.
"Gomen nasai! What's wrong? You're hurt! Where?" Jin forced himself to get off of her. He swayed a bit but walked up to her nonetheless.
She pointed to her shoulder as a tear of pain slid sown her cheek. Jin quickly but gently wiped the tear away and put his arm around his waist. "Come on, let's get you back to the arcade. Do any of your friends there have a car?"
She nodded slowly, even that much of movement made her shoulder hurt immensely. "Andy does," she replied.
Jin nodded. "Alright, I'm sure he can take you," he said forcing a smile onto his face.
"Well, I can't say you didn't make a big bang of a date. Think when we meet again," Mina joked.
Jin smiled down at her. "Even when you're hurt you can joke. I don't know how you do it, honestly."
"I do what I can," she said with a weak smile on her face.
Jin smiled back and leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.
Mina leaned into the kiss and kissed him back gently as well. The kiss deepened and Mina parted her lips allowing Jin's tongue into her mouth.
Jin broke away and both gasped for air. "You're a good kisser," Jin claimed smiling down at her.
"You're not bad yourself," she said playfully. She shifted her weight as she walked and gasped in pain from her shoulder.
Jin tightened his hold on her waist. "Come on, we're almost there." Sure enough, the arcade was only a short distance, a few short meters away. The two entered the door and heard the bell ring-a-ling. "Sumimasen, Andy- san!" Jin called out.
Andy looked to where the shout came from and saw Jin with his arm around Mina's waist. "Mina!" He ran up to the couple and stared at Jin. If looks could kill... Well, Jin would've been dead on the spot. "What happened?" Andrew asked in an accusing voice.
"Some...thing attacked us," Jin explained.
Andrew looked to Mina as if for confirmation. Mina nodded her head.
"Yeah, it's the truth. Jin brought me back here to see if you could take us to the hospital. I think my shoulder's dislocated." She winced slightly.
Andrew's gaze softened. "Gomen nasai, Jin-san. I thought... Well, it doesn't matter. Let's go!"
Jin nodded. "I understand. Arigatou and apology accepted." He smiled warmly at Andrew and it was returned right back at him.
"But who'll watch the arcade?" Andrew wondered.
"Ooo! We will!" Serena said bounding over and pointing in a circle to herself, Lita, and Rini. "We can watch it for ya!"
Andrew looked worried. "Well, okay, if you're sure..."
"Don't worry, I won't let her do anything stupid," Lita assured the worried blonde boy.
Any smiled. "Arigatou, Lita-chan! Come on, let's get you two to the hospital."
The three of them walked out the door, Jin's arm still around Mina's waist.
2nd A/N: my God, that was forever! Oh about the asterisks, Nakayoshi is a magazine in Japan that's like Shonen Jump only aimed more towards shoujo. Also, in the manga, Andy knew about the girls being the Senshi^_^ Ja ne, gotta go baby-sit my three little cousins!
~venusgirl ^._.^
