Disclaimer: I own no part of the Sailor Moon universe.

AN: This one is for Starfighter626. Thanks for all your wonderful encouragment! We finally get to see the Shitennou and Senshi interact.

Luna had never seen the girls move so fast. The moment Kunzite stepped through the door, Makoto seized up the nearest book and flung it as hard as she could. He ducked, and the spine cracked against the bridge of Jadeite's nose. He fell backwards with a muffled groan, taking Zoisite down with him.

Meanwhile, the Senshi closed ranks around their startled Princess. Minako, Haruka, Makoto, and Setsuna stood in a solid wall before the couch, with Hotaru, Rei, Michiru, and Ami just behind them. Artemis sprang up beside Luna for cover.

The first attack caused Kunzite to step back, tripping over his fallen companions. He managed to keep his feet, and half closed the door so he had some form of cover. He yelled around it.

"Are you insane?!?"

"I told you she was!" they heard Jadeite's pained voice shout.

"Mako-chan isn't the only one you have to worry about now!" Minako yelled. "Senshi, transform!"

With the exception of Usagi, who still looked confused, every girl brought forth her wand.

"VENUS-"

"MERCURY-"

"MARS-"

"JUPITER-"

"SATURN-"

"URANUS-"

"NEPTUNE-

"PLUTO-"

"STAR POWER!"

A dazzling rainbow of light encompassed the room. Luna watched with the same wonder she felt every time the soldiers transformed. The young women disappeared into the beautiful glow. Eight soldiers emerged, ready for battle.

"VENUS LOVE ME CH-"

"NOT IN MY APARTMENT!"

The words froze in Minako's mouth.

Mamoru pushed past Kunzite, stepping into the room with a placating gesture. "All of you, put your wands away! They aren't our enemies!"

"Since when?!?" Rei demanded. No one moved to obey him, but no one moved to attack.

"Since they saved my life!"

"How do we know this isn't some kind of trick?" Makoto asked suspiciously. "Why should we believe anything they say?"

"Jupiter, please calm down and listen!" Kunzite pleaded. "We remember all that we did while under Beryl's thrall, and we are sorrier than you could ever understand. But please, please believe us! We have no wish to harm you!"

"I might!" Jadeite shouted.

"You shut up!" Rei yelled back.

"I love you, too."

Rei stiffened dangerously with rage. "Don't ever say that again! Whatever we might have been in our past lives, that time is dead! You killed it!"

"Well, technically, Beryl killed it," Ami whispered.

"And Metalia," Zoisite added, climbing to his feet. The Senshi's collective glare made him wince. "Please don't hit me with a book."

"You helped kill it!" Minako clarified.

Kunzite looked at her with such pain that Luna felt pity towards the man she still saw as their enemy. He bowed his head to Minako, and admitted, "We know we have wronged you, my l-" he stopped sharply, then tried again. "Excuse me. Venus. We cannot make up to you all that you have lost.

"However, we, like yourselves, have a sworn duty. Now that we are free to act with no interference from the evil that twisted our minds, we have again pledged our lives to our Prince, a pledge he has accepted."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Luna demanded of Mamoru. "They are not to be trusted!"

"They have proven their loyalty," Mamoru explained. "If I ask for their lives, they have shown themselves ready to obey."

"How can you be sure?" Haruka asked, glaring darkly at all the men.

"Because when I did ask for their lives, they nearly gave them to me, without question or complaint," he said. "Now, please, everyone calm down. Where is Usako?"

"Behind everyone else!" Usagi called. "On the couch!"

Mamoru rushed into the room, and the Senshi reluctantly gave way before him. He collapsed to his knees beside Usagi, pulling her into his arms with a sigh of relief. Several faces softened, and Minako and Michiru even smiled as the lovers clung to each other in an outpour of tenderness.

"Oh, Mamo-chan, I missed you!"

"Usako, Usako."

A glance at the door showed Kunzite and Zoisite averting their eyes from the private moment, the silver eyed Shitennou smiling wistfully. No one interrupted the couple on the couch as they whispered sweetly to each other. Only when Mamoru leaned in to kiss her did Usagi pull away.

"No!"

"What's wrong?"

"I was sick!"

Mamoru grinned, and kissed her anyway. She did not protest again, instead putting her arms around his neck and holding him tightly. It took them some minutes to remember their audience.

"Oh, you're all still here," Usagi murmured, blushing. She turned to the door, and surprised everyone as she called, "Aren't you going to come in? You look silly just standing there."

Kunzite entered with a certain amount of trepidation, followed by Zoisite. After a moment, both turned back to look down at the floor just outside the door.

"Jadeite, are you going to come in?" Kunzite asked.

"I have bruises on my face and ribs, I have a big knot on the back of my neck, and my nose is bleeding. I don't want to get any closer to those lunatic women than I have to!"

"Well, you have to come in here," his leader ordered without mercy. "Come on, get up."

With help from his friends, and uncertain glares at the females, Jadeite limped into the room. The other two lowered him into the nearest chair, which he promptly scooted back nearly a meter until he reached a comfortable distance from Makoto, who received the most wary of looks. She returned them with her own glower.

"All right, now everyone relax and sit down," Mamoru ordered, gesturing to all those still standing. Exchanging looks, the Senshi knelt in a row before the couch, with two exceptions; Minako perched on one arm, and Haruka on the other. Zoisite and Kunzite sat on the floor in front of their wounded friend. Luna noted they carefully kept their hands where the nervous Senshi could see them.

Perhaps they are sincere, Luna mused. We could certainly use such powerful allies, but what effect will they have on the Senshi?

So far, the only effect their former lovers seemed to have on the Inner Senshi was suspicion and nervousness. No one looked at all relaxed as they stared across the low table at each other.

Ami broke the silence first. "Jadeite, would you like some ice for your nose?"

He looked at her in surprise, then smiled a little. "That would be nice."

She hurried off to retrieve the ice while Mamoru asked, "So, why are you all in my apartment?"

"Oh, Ami needed a book," Minako explained, not taking her eyes from the three Shitennou. "We have some kind of new enemy that arrived last night."

"It probably has something to do with all of you returning," Ami added, reappearing with an ice pack wrapped in a towel. "When It forced Its way into our world, It sent some kind of ripple through reality."

Jadeite winced as she applied the ice to the bridge of his nose, wiping some of the blood onto the towel. "Thank you, Mercury."

"You can call me Ami."

"Your name is Ami now?" Zoisite thought this over. "That's very pretty."

Luna noticed with worry that Ami blushed as she returned to her seat. She shyly refused to meet Zoisite's gaze, instead looking steadily at the table.

"So, how did you save Mamoru's life?" Makoto asked.

Mamoru answered. "We met the enemy. They fought It for me."

"You met the enemy?!?" Minako gasped. "Ami, get your computer! Tell us everything."

Instead, Kunzite looked at her strangely and asked, "What is your name?"

"My name?"

"Yes."

"Minako."

He smiled. "That is a pretty name, too."

Minako unconsciously smiled back.

Luna fervently prayed that history would not repeat itself.