Chapter Eight

We have done with Hope and Honour, we are lost to Love and Truth.
Rupyard Kipling

The senshi stood frozen in a combination of shock and fear as the dark fireball raced towards them. The roaring heat was mixed with the sound of Usagi's laughter, making the situation ever more like a surreal nightmare. The girls were so caught up in denial that they were unable to move or respond. And the dark fire flew closer, crackling… a painful reality they wouldn't long be able to ignore.

But suddenly the air was filled with another sound, a commanding voice roaring, "Enough." The giant fireball paused in midair and slowly dissolved into nothing.

Usagi scowled and whirled around as the senshi gasped their relief. "Why did you do that, Boss?" She sounded very annoyed, denied her fun.

Ignoring her pout, Boss beckoned and she obediently returned to him, like a well-trained puppy. "There's no need for that, Serena," he scolded softly. "Don't you think it's better for them to go away and think about what they've lost?"

Usagi stuck out her lower lip and scowled, but then shrugged and went over to snuggle into the blond man's embrace. Mamoru struggled to his feet and stood on wobbly legs, watching the young couple in open disbelief. Usagi leaned her cheek against the boy's chest and smiled at her former love.

"Mamoru, meet Averill," she said teasingly. Mamoru looked at the blond man with narrowed eyes. He had never felt such a strong urge to hit anyone as he had to slap that blond jerk silly. But Averill wasn't laughing like the rest. He looked back at Mamoru with… was it apology? Well, he could keep his pity to himself. Mamoru balled his fists, ready to start on his mental threat, but was startled when a foreign scene flashed through his mind.

He saw himself and the blond boy standing on a balcony over a city of lights. "It won't be so bad," Averill was saying to him. "I don't want to go any more than you, but I'm not whining about it."

"You've always had the charm," he saw himself replying with a laugh… and then there was the two of them, much younger, wrestling in the mud with an anxious nursemaid fluttering about. The children looked at each other, amused by her protests, and with silent agreement they turned and started tossing mud on the poor, shrieking woman.

Mamoru shook his head to free himself from the reverie. What was this? Another trick? He wouldn't put it past them. They had already messed with Usagi's mind: why not his as well?

Boss laughed and waved his minions closer. "Enough," he said again. "We're leaving. Let them think about how they've lost her. It's sure to hurt worse than anything we could do to them now. But know," he finished, locking eyes with each of them, Mamoru last and longest, "that soon we will return and finish you. Until then…" He stepped back and waved, and all, including Usagi, faded away into darkness.

Mamoru stared at the spot she had been, shaking. He barely noticed when the senshi drew near.

"We'll get her back," Mars whispered fiercely, placing a firm hand on his slumping shoulders. "I know we will."

But Mamoru closed his eyes and shook his head. To him, that was the impossible.

0 0 0

On a foggy afternoon several days later, Mamoru stared at the T.V without really watching it, and listened to Nick talk without really hearing him. Nick, of course, had noticed that his friend wasn't quite all there, and despite his attempts to be social, Mamoru couldn't bring himself to respond to his cheerful chatter.

And after two hours of no response, Nick had had enough. "Hey Mamo, buddy," he said and poked him several times. "What's wrong with you?" Mamoru made no movement or indication that he'd heard, and Nick seemed to realize with sudden grim determination what he had to do.

"Ow," Mamoru said irritably and glared at Nick, rubbing his arm where he had just been punched. Roughly.

Nick grinned wolfishly. "That got your attention. What's up with you, man?"

Mamoru sighed. ""Nothing."

Nick shook him. He literally did. "Don't give me that! I'm not your friend for nothing. You've been like this the last few days, and just now you haven't blinked in like three minutes. Do you know how freaky that is?"

Mamoru glared at his roommate. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, either you're going for a world record or you're thinking about something. I'm betting on the thinking, since that's more your kind of thing. Something on your mind?"

"Other than kicking you out of the apartment, no," Mamoru told him testily and turned away.

"Ouch," Nick said. "There's no need for that. We're both adults here. What's wrong? Usagi having an affair or something?" His innocent statement made Mamoru lose composure. He fell sideways on the couch and covered his head with a pillow.

"Okay," Nick said with a low whistle and stood. "I see that you need some alone time. I'm going to run to the store. Need anything?" When Mamoru lay still without response, Nick sighed. "Alright, then. I'll be right back. Try not to kill yourself, okay? I'll consider it an personal insult if I come back and find you dangling from the ceiling."

Mamoru waited until he heard the door click shut before sitting up. He knew there wasn't any reason to be angry at Nick. The boy had only been trying to help in his own way. He decided to save his anger for when he next saw Averill and the rest of the people who had taken Usagi from him.

The telephone shrieked, taking him away from his depression. Slowly, he heaved himself off the sofa and padded over. He glared hard at the receiver before picking it up and giving a curt, "Yes?"

"Mamoru-san!" a familiar voice greeted and he sighed.

"Hi, Rei-san."

"Hey, are you okay? You sound terrible. Never mind. Come to the balcony."

"What?"

"Just do it."

Mamoru sighed and walked over to the balcony. He carefully pulled the drapes aside and peered out.

"Well?"

"Down here."

Mamoru pushed the sliding door open and stepped out. After a moment of searching, he spotted Rei in a phone booth across the street, waving madly.

"Do you see me?"

"Yes. Hi."

"Hi. Listen, can I ask you a favor?" she asked breathlessly and went on before he gave his permission. "We were going to have a meeting at the temple, but Grandfather is having a big meditation day and can't be disturbed. I've been out here watching your apartment for an hour and that cute roommate of yours finally left, so…"

"No," he said, sensing what she was about to ask. "He'll be back any minute, and I'm not in the mood to host a meeting."

"Oh, please!" she said with a little gasp. "You don't have to do anything, just sit there and keep him out of the way."

"But…"

"I'm going to get everyone and we'll be there in half an hour, okay?"

"But…"

"Thanks! You are such a doll!" she shrieked and hung up with him staring dumbly at the phone. He clicked off the receiver, and took several minutes to rub his temples. This was a problem.

Numbly, he made his way to the living room and collapsed on the sofa. How could he keep Nick away? He couldn't; that was the problem. The harder he'd try, the more Nick would want to stick around to see what was so forbidden. There was only one solution: he'd have to keep Nick at the apartment, but keep him in such a way that he'd never know a thing.

Suddenly the future seemed much brighter. Mamoru stood with a smile and headed to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of Coke, Nick's favorite. He then poured a glass and headed to the bathroom to open the medicine cabinet. Frowning, he examined the contents until he found what he was looking for.

He narrowed his eyes and read the label. 'Sleeping Pills' - the doctor had prescribed them several years ago when he'd had an especially hard time sleeping due to disturbing dreams of the future. He took a few capsules from the bottle and unscrewed them, pouring the powdery contents into the drink.

How much is safe? he wondered, and then with a shrug, dumped the rest of the bottle in. He started to swirl the contents of the glass, but when he heard the door open and Nick's voice, he jumped and spilt some.

No time to clean it up. He hurried into the living room only seconds before Nick walked in. He smiled, congratulating himself on his stealth. Well, this was definitely going to be interesting.

0 0 0

Nick left the apartment shaking his head. Mamoru had been acting strangely. That was the polite way to describe his behavior. What Nick really thought was that his roommate had gone downright insane. He hadn't really needed to go to the store, but thought Mamoru would appreciate a few minutes to himself. And Nick no longer had confidence in his abilities as emotional coach: that had been destroyed by his last few years in California.

Nick snorted. No reason to make himself crazy as well. He had decided it was better not to dwell on the past. And besides, it was Mamoru he needed to worry about, not some girl who hated him, and whom he'd probably never see again, anyway. All for the better, he reminded himself, trying to believe it. He stepped back up to the door of his apartment and knocked loudly.

"I'm coming in, ready or not!" he called, trying to keep his voice cheery despite his grim thoughts. He let himself in.

Mamoru was standing in the middle of the room, holding a glass. He looked very odd, indeed. Nick tried not to be suspicious, but Mamoru's face was too blank, too expressionless. He knew immediately that something wasn't right.

Better not show it.

"Hey there," he said casually, taking off his jacket and lazily throwing it over a chair. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," Mamoru said and held up the glass. "I made you a drink. I felt guilty about how I snapped at you, so this is my way of asking forgiveness."

Nick peered at it, unconvinced. "What do you mean you made me a drink? It looks like Coke."

"Drink it," Mamoru commanded and Nick looked at him warily. His friend's eyes were bleak and he held out the glass stonily. Everything about Mamoru's robotic attitude screamed trouble.

"Come on, take a sip," he urged and Nick shook his head.

"In a minute. I have to pee." And then before he had to spend another minute with Mamoru the Stoic, he raced down the hallway.

That had been fairly strange.

Nick shook his head and shrugged away his worries. Mamoru probably had a perfect explanation for why he was acting so weird… But even if he'd guessed for twenty years, Nick never would have figured out why Mamoru was so miserable that day, or that within a little while, he himself would have a rude awakening and his life would never be the same.

Nick reached the bathroom and was about to take care of business when he noticed some liquid on the toilet seat. Mamoru has really been careless today, he thought with a smirk and bent down to wipe it off.

But then his smile disappeared. For the liquid wasn't pee, it was Coke.

Please, please tell me that Mamo wasn't in here mixing the drink with his own special ingredient, Nick thought grimly but with a touch of amusement. That is sick and wrong, but creative. Very creative. He had to grant the boy that much.

Nick took a step backwards to throw the tissue he had been using into the trash, but slipped on something and went flying backwards. Hands flailing wildly through the air, Nick caught the counter behind him and steadied his balance.

Smooth, he thought with a self-mocking grin, and glanced down to find the guilty culprit.

He froze.

Rolling across the bathroom tiles was an empty bottle of sleeping pills.

This wouldn't have shocked him if he hadn't known that the bottle was half-full the previous day. He had borrowed a few of them himself the night before when his thoughts had become particularly bothersome, withholding sleep.

Suddenly, Nick knew where the rest of the pills had gone and felt chills creep down his spine.

What is he trying to do, kill me? he wondered, without the slightest hint of amusement. Deep down, he knew Mamoru wouldn't ever deliberately hurt him. Maybe he just wanted to shut him up, and since Mamoru wasn't exactly sane that day, he wouldn't have realized that the combination of Coke and half a bottle of sleeping pills was potentially lethal.

Thank God for my bladder, Nick thought grimly and left the bathroom to confront Mamoru. His roommate was still standing in the center of the room. Nick faked a smile, but was frowning on the inside. Now the big question: should he openly accuse him or go along with the farce and have some fun?

Nick's smile grew wider.

"Thanks, man," he said reaching for the glass, and pretended to take a big sip, but actually backwashed all of it.

Mamoru's eyes shone.

Aha, Nick thought and did it again.

"Well," he said finally, "I'm going to take a nap. I don't know why, but I'm suddenly very tired." He yawned for emphasis and watched Mamoru with his peripheral vision.

"Oh yes. Go ahead." Mamoru was smiling now, nodding enthusiastically. Nick faked another yawn, trying to keep the sparkling amusement out of his expression.

This was really fun.

"See you," Nick said and staggered to his bedroom, stumbling into a wall on the way. He decided that Mamoru really had gone around the bend because the pills took twenty minutes to work, not three seconds. Mamoru should know: they were his pills. But there was no reason for him to doubt Nick's sincerity, for Mamoru was a very trusting soul.

Which will be your downfall, Nick thought with another grin and shut the door behind him. Now, what to do with the rest? With sudden inspiration, he pulled out a pair of expensive shoes he had borrowed from Mamoru and poured the mixture in, completely stony-faced. He felt no remorse. The boy deserved it.

Nick heard footsteps approaching and quickly collapsed on the bed, flinging the empty glass onto his nightstand. He rolled over and shut his eyes two seconds before Mamoru pushed the door open and stuck his head in.

"Nick?" he called softly. Nick let out a snore and rolled over so he could see Mamoru through his eyelashes. Mamoru had taken the glass in his hand and was smiling down at Nick with satisfaction.

Oh you would, wouldn't you? Nick thought, resisting a strong urge to sit up and hit him. You jerk.

Nick hoped that Mamoru wouldn't look down and notice something very wet and sticky in his best pair of shoes. But Mamoru was leaving, not suspicious in the least, and the second the door clicked shut, Nick sat up. Victory.

And now, he thought, a little revenge. Time to sneak up behind Mamoru and scare the hell out of him.

He would have, too. He was imagining the look on his friend's face with delicious anticipation. But just when he was ready to go, he heard the front door open and Mamoru call out greetings. Nick paused in his crusade, surprised at this new development.

The really interesting thing was that all the voices that responded were female. None of the voices, however, belonged to Usagi.

Well, Nick thought and blinked. Well, well. This was unexpected. Perhaps Mamoru had brought them over for a good time, and he didn't want to share the wealth. Very interesting.

"How much did you give him?" he heard one girl ask and he pressed his ear against the door, straining to hear.

"Enough," Mamoru replied briskly. "He won't be bothering us. Let's get this over with." Nick felt his lips twitch. The man obviously had his priorities straight.

But as he listened, his grin slid from his face. For Mamoru and his female companions weren't having a free for all roll and tumble, they were talking about things Nick had never imagined in his wildest fantasies. The air in the bedroom grew stifling as he listened, and he struggled to breathe, everything he thought he had ever known sliding away from him.

He had innocently stumbled upon something big.

0 0 0

Kyanite swallowed and felt sick. It wasn't only that watching Usagi/Serena simper and flirt with Boss was positively disgusting, but he also couldn't stop thinking about Makoto. The more he thought about her and about what was going to happen when Boss won, the more his insides trembled and squirmed.

Makoto was one of the senshi. The glimpse of her standing in the night, clothed in green, had been a shock, but he had recognized her right away. She had seen him, too. The look of horror on her face had since haunted his dreams.

He hoped she didn't hate him. What kind of a friend could he be to her now that she knew who he was and was no doubt sickened about it herself? Everything they stood for was opposite. They had been sworn enemies from the start.

But he cared about her. That was the tragic part. He didn't like the fact that he was going to have to kill her the next time they met. The thought made his stomach churn unpleasantly. Impossible. He wouldn't be able to do it. Let Boss deal with him as he wished. Kyanite wouldn't lay a hand on her because…

He stopped his betraying thoughts and allowed himself a dry laugh. You what… love her? He smirked and shook his head. He couldn't. He was incapable of love. He was fond of the girl, that was all.

But fondness alone shouldn't make his heart wrench this painfully in his chest.

And what if I do love her? he thought rashly. It's only Romeo and Juliet all over again. Boss will understand. His stomach continued doing flip-flops, for he knew Boss would not be understanding in the least. Boss would cheerfully order his execution before he had a chance to warn her.

Warn her. What an interesting idea. Kyanite looked up and sucked in his breath. He could do it, but the question was, would he? What was more important, saving his friend or being loyal to his prince?

The answer was so obvious that Kyanite laughed out loud. He would go, then. These people meant nothing to him. He was dead no matter what he did. Boss would kill him if he went to help the enemy and Boss would kill him if he knew that Kyanite was even thinking about helping the enemy.

And there was the possibility that Makoto would kill him herself when she saw him, but somehow that didn't seem so bad compared to the alternative. She'd use her little thunderbolts or whatever her power was and his life would end quickly. Boss would undoubtedly think of something creative, something that would give him hours of amusement. Something Kyanite wouldn't enjoy.

Kyanite straightened and eyed the scene before him. He could escape easily: everyone was distracted. Usagi was laughing and stroking Boss's arm, and he watched her with cool approval in his flickering, dark eyes. Neither seemed to remember the existence of Averill. Calcite was watching them, her lower lip stuck out in a childish pout, sulking because Boss wasn't paying attention to her, and Alexandrite and Azurite were arm wrestling.

No sign of Averill, but that was good. One less person to notice him sneaking away.

He turned and walked out, trying not to hurry so if one of them noticed him leaving he could give a quick explanation. Thankfully, he escaped unseen and as Kyanite reached the grand hallway, he let out a sigh of relief. Mission accomplished.

However, he didn't notice the figure leaning against a stone pillar, watching him. And when he heard the voice of the elusive blond boy, he was so surprised he nearly leapt through the ceiling.

"And where are you going?"

Kyanite whirled around and faced Averill with wide eyes. His prince smiled lazily, as if sensing he had the upper hand. But he didn't have to keep it. Kyanite was good at mind games himself.

"Out for a stroll," he said and flashed his usual cool smile. "Do you have a problem with that?" Averill narrowed his eyes, but not suspiciously. He was offended by Kyanite's tone.

"Of course not. You aren't my prisoner."

Kyanite stared back at Averill, trying to calm his breathing. "True," he agreed and turned.

"But where are you going?" Averill's soft voice demanded again and Kyanite gritted his teeth before whirling back around.

"Out to get a hit of energy," he lied, thinking that Averill would appreciate that. "It's crowded in there, and I need some refreshment."

Averill didn't look impressed. His lips curved into a frown and he looked at him with clear distaste. Kyanite tried to keep his eyes neutral. Believe me. I'm not running off to join the Enemy. I'm as bad as you are. I'm just going out to hunt a few worthless humans. I'm as bad as… Kyanite's thoughts suddenly broke off and he forced back a bitter smile.

Truthfully, Averill wasn't all that bad. While Kyanite had been out searching the streets for as many victims as he could find, Averill had sought only Usagi. One soul compared to the countless he had destroyed.

Kyanite felt faint and for the first time he evaluated his life. What would Makoto think of him, the imperious hunter who preyed on the innocent? How could she trust him? All she would see was the monster he had been and she wouldn't believe him if he told her that he truly wanted to help.

He caught himself and realized that his fists were clenched and he was rapidly blinking, holding off a bit of wetness. Tears? Kyanite almost snorted. Ridiculous. But it was true.

And Averill stood watching, his green eyes intense and searching.

Kyanite would have said something nasty but didn't trust his voice. A thought kept floating around in his mind that the next time he saw Averill they would be fighting on opposite sides. He was betraying his prince, his friend. He shouldn't have cared - he told himself he didn't - but he couldn't prevent the rock from forming in his stomach.

Averill smiled then and Kyanite felt that rock gain mass.

"So," Averill said pleasantly, the sparkle returning to his eyes. "You're off to see her, huh?"

Her. Kyanite thought his heart stopped beating, but a second later he could feel it stronger than ever. Blood rushed through his veins and he wished he had a clever retort, some way to save himself, but his throat felt like sandpaper.

"You're wondering how I know?" Averill asked and even though Kyanite really didn't want to hear, he continued. "Did you think I spent all my time following Usagi? I'm no stalker." He broke off and laughed bitterly but Kyanite couldn't even manage a watery smile.

"I used to take walks to see what was happening around town. A way to pass the time, you know? On one of my walks I saw something very interesting from the window of a arcade. It was you and a girl laughing together. And that wasn't the only time. I often saw the two of you there. I saw the way you looked at her, even if she didn't. I'm not blind, Kai. You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Kyanite felt his face flush, and even though he made no sound nor movement to agree, he certainly didn't try to disprove the statement.

"And you know what's really interesting?" Averill continued, apparently enjoying himself. "That girl was Princess Tinia. Lita. Don't you remember? She used to have the hots for me. Always following me around, blushing from across the room when I caught her eye. And you were usually right behind, doing the same for her as she did for me. Oh, the times we had. What a joke. Surely you remember the games we all played back then?"

Kyanite didn't remember. He remembered very little of the past and knew that Boss wanted it that way. It had never bothered him before, but now it crystallized his suspicions that something very wrong had happened back then that Boss was keeping from him. From them all.

But he needn't worry about that now, because he was as good as dead. Averill knew that Kyanite was planning to betray them because he was in love with an Enemy. There was no use bargaining. Averill would never let him go. No hope was left for Makoto or himself. He had failed.

When Averill took a step toward him, Kyanite immediately recoiled, thinking his prince was going to strike him, but instead Averill reached for his hand and shoved something very smooth and cool onto his palm. Kyanite stared at it, dumbfounded. It was a crystal, very small and carved into the shape of a crescent moon.

Kyanite looked up in confusion, but instead of the malicious grin he expected, Averill was staring back at him soberly.

"Take this," he urged. "It will lead you to her. I used it for Usagi, but, well…" His voice trailed off and for just a second pain flickered in his green eyes. "It will work for you, as well. Just open your mind and let it lead you. It works through your heart."

Kyanite watched Averill with disbelief. Why was he helping him? Surely it was a trap. The crystal would lead him into the hands of Boss, and he'd be destroyed without a chance. He was about to refuse the gift when he saw the look on Averill's face.

Averill was smiling at him, and it was a pure, honest smile. There was no trace of betrayal on his face and suddenly Kyanite knew that it was going to be alright. He didn't know why, but he was sure Averill wouldn't turn him in.

"Luck go with you, my friend," Averill said hastily, giving him a push forward. "I'll keep my peace. Just be careful." Kyanite looked back, but Averill was already walking away. Kyanite stared after him for a few seconds before shaking his head with a little smile.

"Thank you, my prince," he whispered to the darkness and then left.

0 0 0

The meeting was stagnant in Mamoru's apartment. Every time they started to discuss the problem logically, someone would burst out with a sob, crying that she couldn't believe their leader had really left them. Surprisingly, the only one with a cool head was Mamoru, the man who had been nearly insane only hours ago. His personal grief was washed away by a new emotion: deep hatred for the people who had taken Usagi.

"We'll get them," Mamoru assured the girls, slamming his fist onto the coffee table for emphasis. Everyone stared at him with surprise when it cracked. Mamoru wasn't normally so violent.

"But how?" Minako demanded. "They have every advantage! They have more power! They have her!"

"We'll get her back," Mamoru repeated in a maddening calm.

"I only wish we knew how they did it," Michiru murmured. She was sitting very close to Haruka and clutched her hand. "Then maybe we could do the same in reverse." Haruka fiercely nodded her agreement.

"It was the poison they injected the last night she fought. It must have had more effects than simply inhibiting her power," Ami said quietly and was responded to with a loud clamor of talk.

"Quiet!" Rei ordered and everyone fell silent, except Mamoru who was muttering dark threats to the Enemy under his breath. "Look," she continued, eyeing each member of the group, "we're not doing any good to ourselves or Usagi-chan unless we get a grip! We have to promise each other to stay calm and do whatever we can to get her back."

"Maybe I can help." A new voice broke through the air and a boy entered the room, his brown eyes unusually serious. The group immediately went crazy. Here was a stranger who had just heard their secrets, and no one knew if he was trustworthy. It was his calm that shocked everyone. Most people would be screaming after hearing what he did, but not this boy.

"Nick, how much did you hear?" Mamoru asked, holding up a hand for everyone to calm down. Ah, here was their chance! Maybe he didn't know as much as they thought!

But Nick was shaking his head. "Everything." This provoked another uproar.

"What… how… why…" Ami was stammering, while Haruka grinned dangerously and said, "I guess we'll have to kill him now. Smooth, Mamoru. I thought you said he wasn't going to bother us!"

"I want to help," Nick insisted, looking hurt by their objections. "Usagi is my friend, too. I don't understand everything you said, but I don't want her to be hurt. And…" Nick trailed off and looked around the room in amazement. "She's Sailormoon. And you… you're all the… the…"

"Senshi," Setsuna supplied with a smile. "Yes. I'm sorry."

Nick burst into a grin. "No, this is great! I came to Japan for some excitement, and here it is! I am going to help whether you like it or not." Mamoru had been watching Nick in bewilderment, but at that last statement, he frowned and stood.

"No you're not. It's dangerous and you don't have the experience we do. The only way to help is to keep your mouth shut." Mamoru reddened when Nick shook his head stubbornly. "Are you crazy? How do you expect to help us? You don't have any powers to fight them!"

"And that's exactly why I'd be useful!" Nick argued impatiently. "They wouldn't suspect me. Anything I did would be unexpected…"

Mamoru opened his mouth to protest and was about to do so when the door burst open and a boy with white-blond hair entered the apartment. Minako screamed and a new uproar overtook the room.

"…And… just like that was unexpected," Nick finished in a faltering voice, his brown eyes concerned. "Who is that? Is that a bad guy?"

Makoto rose to her feet and glared at the newcomer. "Yes, it is," she announced through clenched teeth, and then to Kai (as he was out of uniform), "I can't believe you had the nerve to come here! You've walked straight into a death trap."

"Yeah, we'll, uh… crush you," Nick put in lamely, not used to this hero business. Kai glanced at him, his violet eyes unconcerned.

"You've got me," he admitted in a dull tone, looking Makoto in the eyes. "Now are you going to let me explain or would you prefer to just kill me?"

"I…" The brunette was taken off guard. "There's nothing to explain!"

Luna cleared her throat. "Mako-chan, do you know him?" she asked worriedly and Nick shrieked. Literally, like a second-grade school girl.

"Oh my God! That cat talked!" he yelled, but everyone ignored him, since there was a far more urgent problem.

"I know him," Makoto said fiercely. "I wish I didn't." Emotion flickered in Kai's eyes, but he bit his lip and stood a bit straighter.

"I need to talk to you," he said in a hushed voice. "Alone." Makoto folded her arms and hesitated, torn between her heart's urging and her mind. Kai's violet eyes were sincere, but she didn't want to be fooled by him, not again.

"Whatever you say to her, you can say to us, too. We're a team," Rei declared, but Makoto wearily shook her head.

"No," she said, her emotions getting the better of her. "I'll talk to him. I'll only be a minute." She paused and looked Kai firmly in the eyes. "Don't you dare try anything. You'd be stupid to touch me, because you're clearly outnumbered." Kai looked back at her, his gaze unwavering.

"I swear on my honor," he said quietly, "I will not harm you."

"You have no honor," she muttered, but led him out of the room, past the noisy observers and into Nick's bedroom. She herded him inside and followed, shutting the door behind her. Once away from her friends, her tough facade failed and she leaned against the door for support.

"Well?" she demanded, wanting to sound stern, but her voice came out as a squeak. Kai sat on the bed. If he expected her to join him, he was disappointed.

Without waiting for him to speak, she hissed, "Traitor! I thought you were my friend! You knew all along, didn't you? That I was Sailorjupitor. You wanted to gain my trust… it was part of some sick plan to destroy us, am I right?" Makoto was so upset she was shaking, and she pushed her bangs off her forehead in a distressed motion.

"No!" Kai insisted, leaping up from the bed in a smooth motion. He started towards her but she pushed him away and staggered to the window. "It was never like that," he tried again, his voice calmer. "I didn't know who you were until a few days ago. If I did, I wouldn't have kept coming to meet you. I would have hated you and stayed away."

"So you hate me now, right?" Makoto asked, her voice trembling. Kai swallowed and stepped forward, but couldn't bring himself to touch her. He felt that any such gesture would be unwelcome.

"I admit," he started softly, "that when I first met you, I was planning to lead you to a back alley and attack you, but I didn't. I couldn't."

"And I'm supposed to thank you?" her angry voice shot at him. "Why are you here, Kai? Why bother trying to explain to me? We're enemies and always have been. Why don't you go back to your kind?"

Kai didn't hesitate with his next statement. "Because I'm in love with you." He was surprised that his voice came out so calmly and immediately felt better to say it aloud. Makoto stiffened for an instant before she turned, and when she did, he saw with dismay that there were angry tears in her eyes.

"Why should I believe you?" she asked huskily. "Why should I believe anything you say? You're a damned spy!"

"No, I'm not!" In desperation, Kai grabbed her hands. "Listen to me! I've risked death to come here, and you don't even have the decency to hear me out!" Makoto was still shaking her head without sympathy, but at least she wasn't struggling in his grasp.

"I came to join you," he said meekly, knowing how false he sounded, but to his surprise she lifted her head and regarded him seriously.

"Why?" was all she wanted to know. Kai sighed. He had known this wouldn't be easy.

"You know why." She tried to turn away but he took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. "I care about you. Whether you love me or not doesn't matter. I'm going to protect you and I can hardly do that if we're fighting on opposite sides."

Makoto bit her lip, not sure what to believe. "How long?" she whispered and Kai frowned.

"How long have I loved you? Since the beginning, even though I wouldn't let myself believe it until now."

"That's not what I meant." Makoto blushed scarlet and he released her so she could sit back on the bed. "I mean, how long until Boss attacks? If you're truly on our side, you'll tell me."

Kai sighed and shook his head. "I don't know. I don't," he added fiercely at Makoto's incredulous look. "He never tells us until it's time to act. It isn't that he doesn't know ahead of time: he's always prepared. He just doesn't want something like this to happen. If we planned to defect, it wouldn't do any good because we wouldn't have anything to use against him. He doesn't trust anyone, least of all me."

"Then I guess there's no way to prove yourself," she said dejectedly, folding her arms. Kai sighed and looked out the window, feeling Makoto's disappointment. She lowered her eyes to the carpet so he couldn't see her expression, but somehow he felt that she wanted to believe him, but wouldn't allow herself to do so without proof. He understood her dilemma. She couldn't risk her life and the lives of her friends on account of an undeniable attraction. She would never be that selfish.

Kai started speaking. "His name is Lord Ahriman," he said and Makoto's head jerked up to stare at him in surprise. "Or at least, it was. I suppose he discarded the name with his body because he hasn't used it for a long time. He's also the reason for the fall of the Silver Millennium."

Makoto stared at him. "You mean he helped Queen Beryl?"

Kai smiled at her innocence. "Hardly. She was his pawn. He is truly Evil-personified. Beryl had good in her once, but he never did. He was the last born to a dark race and the only one who escaped banishment to another dimension. He spent his life plotting revenge for his family, but never had the chance until he found the Power… but then he was sealed away. I don't know how, I'm sorry, but he was released again, and well…" He paused and glanced at her.

"Goodbye Silver Millennium," Makoto supplied dryly and he nodded. "What is he trying to do now?"

Kai shrugged. "I wish I knew. He's been having us collect energy in order to release something. I really don't know what. He isn't at full power yet and needs the extra energy before he can fully execute his plans. Now, would I tell you this if I was your enemy?"

Makoto shrugged. "None of it is really helpful, so yes." Kai rubbed his temples and groaned, but was instantly cheered when he saw her smile. "All I need is some concrete proof," she said slowly. "Something that will let me believe you. Something that…" she broke off as Kai shot forward and kissed her quickly on the lips.

They stared at each other in bewilderment, Kai especially, since he didn't know why he'd done it. He watched her with carefully controlled fear. Surely she'd hate him for being so bold. Seconds passed without either of them taking a breath.

And then slowly, a smile rose to Makoto's lips and Kai's heart started beating again. "Works for me," she breathed and leaned forward to kiss him again. Kai couldn't believe this was happening. He was very willing to cooperate for a minute, caught up in his own happiness, but then abruptly pulled away with a gasp. Makoto leaned back and looked at him.

"What?" she asked uneasily, but he was staring at her in shock, his face pale. "What?" she demanded again and he snapped out of his trance.

"It's nothing," he assured, pulling her back into his arms and burying his face into her hair, but the truth was quite the opposite. When she'd kissed him, Boss had finally lost control of Kai and all his memories came flooding back at once.

He remembered what had happened. Everything. He saw Lord Ahriman's spirit possessing Averill after Serena betrayed him with Darien. He saw the room with the relics that held the Evil Powers back from the universe, and he saw the pretty brunette who had given Averill the key because she was hopelessly in love with him.

Kai held Makoto even tighter, more afraid than he had ever been.