Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story but the idea and the title.
A/N: Another special thanks to Lysia Croft for the sweet reviews. It's great to know some people are actually sticking this monster out.
At some point, this chapter has a song that some of you may know. It's called Anata no Sei Janai, or in English, It's Not Your Fault. It's Makoto's image song from the first season, I believe, and I thought it fit very well in here. This is not a perfect transcript of this song, I edited it a tiny bit to fit the scene. Thoughts are still italicized, so the song has ellipsis (…) as well as being italicized. I hope that isn't too confusing!
"Chocolate!"
"Powdered sugar!"
"Glazed!"
"A bagel, please."
Everyone stopped to look at Setsuna with concern. She returned their gazes with one of mild surprise.
"Nani?"
"A bagel?" Usagi repeated, almost affronted. "You can have anything you want!"
"I would like a bagel."
"Usako," Mamoru reprimanded mildly. "Setsuna can have a bagel if she wants. You want two jelly filled, right?"
Giggling with delight, Usagi turned back to the bakery's selection, snuggling into her boyfriend's side with contentment. Makoto grinned and looked at Setsuna. Together, they rolled their eyes and laughed.
"So where are those two?" Rei demanded suddenly. "I thought they were supposed to meet us here two minutes ago?"
"I'm sure they're on their way," Kunzite reassured her, bending to peer over Minako's shoulder into the case. He said something in an undertone which made the blonde cover her mouth quickly, shoulders shaking in silence.
Wow. Those two got over their problems really easy, Makoto thought almost enviously. Look at the way he smiles at her, and the way she glows at him. They're just like they used to be. I wonder if she's really been missing him, all this time, just like-
She cut off that line of thought quickly. It only led to trouble.
"Ami, what do you want?" Mamoru asked.
"Huh?"
Wide-eyed, Ami spun to face him with a horrified expression. Her eyes flickered briefly over his shoulder, catching sight of Zoisite for half a second before she burned red and dropped her eyes to the ground.
"I don't care. Whatever."
"Okay," Mamoru muttered slowly. "Uh, Zoisite?"
"Whatever."
Several snickers were stifled, everyone pretending to be more interested in the doughnuts than Ami and Zoisite's mortification. Neither genius had been able to meet the other's eye all morning. Ami had not given up her amorous fight until the first rays of dawn, when she at last fell into an exhausted sleep. Only after he was certain of his own safety had Zoisite managed to collapse into a chair and catch a few hours of rest.
"Rei, what kind of doughnut do you want?" Mamoru asked.
Purple eyes narrowed in a fierce glare at her watch, Rei snarled distractedly, "Chocolate."
"I'll have what she's having."
Makoto watched, torn between amusement and pity, as her friend spun around, her glower flashing into a smile, and then, as she caught herself, turning into a frown.
"You're late."
"Gomen," Jadeite muttered, rubbing his arm with a wince. "We had a long night. Did you come up with anything useful from your research?"
"We didn't really get a chance to do a lot of research," Kunzite said.
"Why not?"
"I'm not the only one who can do research, you know!" Ami snapped in a shrill voice. "Everyone else can read!"
Jadeite raised his eyebrows. "Alrighty, then. Did I miss something?"
"IIE!" Ami and Zoisite shouted.
The whole bakery turned to look, and both blushed even brighter.
"This must have been good," Jadeite chuckled. "What happen? Did you two get caught? What are you doing?"
Rei had stormed forward suddenly, her face white and still with a dangerous calm. Her fingers shot out to his shoulder, and snatched something off his sweater. She held it directly in front of his face accusingly.
"Unbelievable! I knew we couldn't trust you!"
"What are you babbling about?"
"You promise to watch the portal, to keep this city safe, and then you turn around and find some redhead slut!"
"Oh! It's a hair!" Michiru cried in surprise. "I can't see it from here."
"I did not go find some redhead slut!"
"Well, where did this come from, huh? It sure as hell didn't come from Nephrite!"
"I don't snuggle with Nephrite, either!"
"So if you were watching the portal, where did it come from?"
"That is a good question," Kunzite noted mildly.
"Do not help," Jadeite growled back.
Makoto raised her hand just a little to break in. "Where is Nephrite?"
"I left him back in the park."
"Why is he in the park?"
But Rei had recaptured his attention by stomping on his foot. The two launched into an impassioned row, with many accusations and defenses. Makoto heaved a sigh and leaned closer to the other girls.
"I'm going to go find Nephrite!"
They all nodded, not taking their eyes from the fight in their midst. Again, the entire bakery was watching them, but neither seemed to notice anything but each other.
She's angry, jealous, yelling…Even Rei is falling in love again.
Makoto paused to shade her eyes against the bright morning sun, squinting across the street at the park where she had first run into Jadeite just two days ago.
Two days ago, she had hardly even thought about the dead Shitennou, let alone their past lives together. Now, that was almost all she could think of. And there, across the street with his back to her so she could see only his shining waterfall of dark curls, his powerful shoulders, and his tall figure, was the reason.
…My memories are glittering…
…That's right, ever since then…
…Whenever I meet a man who reminds me of you…
…My heart flutters…
Smiling just a little, Makoto jogged across the street. An old impulse kept her from calling out to him. Instead, she slipped quietly forward with the intent of leaping up and covering his eyes. She would whisper in his ear, "Guess who?" He would make silly guesses, "Endymion! Queen Serenity!" until she laughed, and released him to just hang over his shoulder, her lips at a very convenient height. He always accepted this invitation, turning his head until their mouths met.
…No matter how often I fall in love…
…I never do it successfully…
Drawing close, she stopped suddenly when she heard his voice. He was speaking to someone, hidden from her sight by his averted form. His voice was alarmingly warm and soft.
"Gomen! I didn't mean to worry you. I meant to come and see you, but last night I was busy."
"I was just afraid something had happened to you, Nephrite!"
A girl's voice, and just as soft and warm as his. She sounded like she was in love.
"Gomen, Naru-chan."
So did he.
…It's not your fault, I am so sorry…
…It's the fault of the rain that started to fall…
"I had to go."
"You said you would return to me if you could!"
Makoto almost doubled over in pain. She had not realized anything could hurt so much as those words. She wanted to sink into the ground. She wanted to die.
No man had ever hurt her so much, without even knowing she was there.
…I've had as many loves as there are stars in the sky…
…But I…
"Naru-chan, I told you-"
"Please, don't talk about your duty, or whatever. I don't understand any of it. I just want… I just want to know you're alright."
He reached out, and Makoto winced as Naru lay her cheek on his chest. The smaller girl sighed, her delicate little arms wrapping tightly around his waist while he stroked her hair. She looked so tiny against him, so feminine and pretty.
Nephrite's head was turned a bit as he looked down, and Makoto put a hand over her mouth to stifle her sob.
…Your few innocent looks at me…
…Your smile, the color of brown cocoa…
…I know, you who are so gentle…
…There is no one who can take your place in my heart…
Makoto backed up blindly several steps, and considered running. She couldn't seem to turn her eyes away from their tender tableau, watching through her tears as Naru tilted her head back to look up at him. The way he brushed his thumb over her cheek cut Makoto like a knife.
…Roaming about the ends of the sky…
…Like the clouds, my heart is in so much pain…
She had been a fool. Just for a moment, she let herself believe that the past could be saved, that their love meant enough to live again. But she was just a memory to him, maybe even a mistake from long ago.
Who could blame a man for wanting a delicate, sweet girl who didn't punch their friends in the face? Naru looked more the maiden, more the girl, than Sailor Jupiter or Makoto ever could.
…It's not your fault, I'm so sorry…
…After time passes by, you will forget this…
…But please, I beg of you, inside my dreams…
…Always stay right by my side…
Biting her lip, Makoto watched him cup one hand around her face. She rubbed her cheek against his palm, her lips parting just a bit in an innocently seductive way. He dipped his face just a little closer to hers, completely oblivious to Makoto's anguished presence.
…It's not your fault, I'm so sorry…
…It's the fault of the rain that started to fall…
His lips softly brushed against her forehead, and Makoto felt her heart break all over again.
…I've had as many loves as there are stars in the sky…
…But I am still in love with you…
Makoto closed her eyes, no longer able to bear the sight.
Oh, Nephrite, I'll always be in love with you.
"NEPHRITE!"
All three of them jumped, the couple separating as Nephrite spun towards Rei's angry shout. His eyes landed on the girl so close behind him, and he gasped.
"Makoto!"
"Gomen," she breathed, ducking her head so he would not see her tears. "Jadeite didn't say… We're getting doughnuts! What kind do you want?"
"Nephrite!"
Rei stomped up to them, holding the incriminating hair out in front of her. "How did this get on Jadeite's shirt?"
"What is it?"
"A red hair!"
He looked up into her enraged face, and started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Rei snapped.
"The only woman with red hair we saw last night attacked him!"
Her eyes widened, and Rei gasped. "Really? He wasn't making that up?"
"Of course not."
"Oops."
"What 'oops'?" Makoto asked.
"Well, I didn't really believe any woman hit him in the ribs with a rolling pin, so I… kinda… hit him…in the ribs."
Dead silence followed this, until Makoto and Nephrite burst into whoops of laughter.
"He's right! Every woman in Tokyo is trying to kill him!" Nephrite cried.
"You shut up!"
Rei turned around and began stomping back the way she had come. Collecting herself, Makoto called after her, "Where are you going?"
"Now I have to go apologize to that baka!"
"Poor Jadeite," Nephrite chuckled. "Her apologies are more dangerous than her accusations!"
"Nephrite! I didn't know you were friends with Makoto and Rei!"
Both turned to Naru, who still held onto his waist, though now she looked jealous and possessive.
"Oh, well, um," Makoto stumbled, falling unpleasantly back to Earth, "he's actually friends with Mamoru. We're not really friends. We just know each other."
Nephrite caught her eye, and their gazes locked in silent understanding. At last he bowed, just a little, and whispered, "Hai. If that's the way you want it…"
"Hai. We'll be over by the bakery when you are done." Makoto bowed to them both. "Sayonara."