Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Makoto bit her tongue lightly as she smashed her hands into the ground meat, kneading it. Taking a large handful, she patted the meat into a thick paddy, and placed it on the grill above the fire. Sighing happily, Makoto wiped the back of her arm against her forehead and flicked away some sweat caused by the large adobe hearth's heat.

She heard a few laughing voices accompanied by the hoof beats of several horses outside of the courtyard where her open air grill stood. She laughed we she recognized one voice. "Unazuki," she called to the young redhead who was handing food out to customers. "Unazuki, go get Rei! Tell her to come quick." The red head listened with a surprised look on her face until she also heard the voices. With a joyous laugh, she ran from the grill's "counter" and raced down the street.

Makoto brushed her clothes off quickly and turned to see four men riding horses coming up to her. She bounced on the balls of her feet twice before vaulting over the counter and racing to the horses with a laugh. "Nephrite! Hey, you guys!"

"Makoto," Zoisite cheered as he jumped off his horse and tied the reigns to a post in front of the courtyard. Jadeite, who had been riding with him, eased himself off the horse with a slow, painful grace. Kunzite remained on his horse and watched as Nephrite swung down from the horse and swept the brunette in a hug.

"Oh, by Yu Huang, it's good to see you guys again," she laughed, tossing her arms around Nephrite's neck. She suddenly paused when she heard a small voice ask "Who's she?"

Makoto blinked and leaned back from the embrace to look up at Kunzite-right behind sat a young slip of a girl in baggy clothing. "Well, hello. Who are you?"

Kunzite coughed to catch their attention. "Makoto, may I introduce you to Miss Usagi here? Usagi this is Makoto, Makoto this is Usagi."

Makoto looked back to Nephrite who released her from the embrace. She walked over to the horse and lifted her hand up to the girl. "How you do, Miss Usagi."

"How you do, Miss Makoto. You don't have to call me Miss Usagi."

Makoto grinned up at her as Usagi shook her hand. "Well, then, no need to call me Miss Makoto either," she chuckled. "Here, let's get you off that horse and down towards the tables-you must be hungry. You look so small and skinny that I'll have to come up a feast to plump you up a bit." She lifted her off the horse and began to tug her towards the eatery.

"Food?" Usagi gasped delighted. "Real food? Not just stew with tough meat and vegetables?"

"Hey," Zoisite shouted, "I helped cook that stew."

Jadeite laughed and with Kunzite's help, began to wobble after the two girls. Nephrite elbowed Zoisite in the side.

"And what a great help you were to me while I cooked it," he taunted. Zoisite slugged his arm.

"That's beside the point."

Quickly, they settled down at a table while Makoto hurried back into the kitchen of the grill to bring out some food. After she returned Usagi grinned while she sat there eating her delicious paddy on two slices of thick bread, laughed and talked with Makoto, and watched as the four men bantered about this and that. She was more comfortable then ever sitting there in the shade of a large tree, eating and talking with the others. Makoto was especially nice and Usagi instantly liked her just as she had with the four men they were sitting with.

Kunzite was talking with Nephrite one side, who had Makoto's hand in his own, and had Jadeite on the other, who was talking with the rather animated Zoisite about something that had Zoisite in feverish excitement while he maintained a rather sensible cool, collected head while listening to Zoisite ramble. Makoto turned to Usagi and began to speak.

"So, Usagi, where are you from?" she asked. Usagi took a rather large bite of her paddy and chewed thoroughly before answering.

"I was a maid in the outpost city of Miran," she said finally. Makoto raised her brows.

"Miran?" she repeated then turned to Nephrite. "You guys went to Miran? I thought you were going to Queztco by Sagara Oasis..."

"We did," Kunzite spoke smoothly. "We were on our way back when we came to Miran-Zoisite did some trading there-"

"-which is where we picked up her," Zoisite finished loudly breaking away from his conversation with Jadeite who rolled his eyes, but listened anyway. Makoto lifted her brows in surprise, but said nothing as Zoisite barrelled on. "We were on the way home when we found her tucked in between some rugs that I had traded for. And do you know-"

Zoisite was interrupted, which he hated but learned to live with, by a rather loud shout from behind them. "Where the hell have you been?"

Immediately, everyone at the table besides Usagi ducked and Jadeite cringed. Usagi looked over the slouched bodies to see a raven haired exotic beauty striding up the boulevard at them. Usagi watched as the scowling beauty with snapping violet eyes marched up to their table and stop directly behind Jadeite. It suddenly clicked in her mind that this young woman must have been Jadeite's "hellcat" wife, Rei. Usagi watched her and couldn't help but admire the crackling vibrancy of her aura just oozing off her.

"Heh, hello, darling," Jadeite tried as he turned in his chair to look up her.

"Hello, Rei." echoed the three other men while Makoto sat upright.

"Hiya, Rei."

"WHERE have you been?" Rei snapped again. "You've been gone four weeks and not a damn word did I get-"

"Well," interrupted Jadeite. "It's kinda hard to send it while on the move."

"There were caravans. At least three in the last four weeks," she snapped back. "Why didn't you send anything with them?"

"I WAS BUSY!"

"I MISSED YOU!" she shouted. Both glared at each other huffing, then Jadeite reached over, cupped her face and gave her a rather more-than-necessarily-appropriate-in-public-kiss. Zoisite wolf whistled as Rei melted into the kiss while Usagi could barely contain her "aww"s. The others began to laugh and make disgusted noise as the kiss dragged on.

"Hey," Kunzite chortled. "This is a public grill."

"Let her breathe, Jadeite," Nephrite guffawed as the two finally parted the lip lock. Usagi laughed and clapped with the rest of them while Jadeite ignored them and helped Rei sit down. Nephrite grinned and turned to Makoto. "Miss me that bad?"

Makoto laughed, patted his hand and kissed his cheek. "No, not that bad." Nephrite groaned and placed his head on the table as the others laughed. Makoto laughed and prodded his shoulder to make him look up at her. "But, since you're my fiancé you can have a kiss on account." She leaned over and pecked his cheek as the males began to make disgusted noises as the Usagi "aww"ed and Rei smiled. "Now," Makoto began, "I just remembered-Usagi you reminded me of it actually," she laughed and then continued. "There's going to be at least nearly three dozen positions opening up in the palace for maids and such!"

Usagi perked up instantly while the others became quieter. "Really? Do you think I could get a job?"

"I have a relative up there as a head matron to the maids-not to mention quite the friends up there already," Makoto hummed. "I'm sure I can pull some strings and nab you a job."

Usagi couldn't contain her glee-in her happiness she reached out and latched on to Makoto's arm in a hug. "Oh, thank you, Makoto! How can I repay you?"

Makoto smiled. "Anything for a friend-but I can always use good company around here." She lightly rapped her knuckles against the girl's forehead. "Just come visit me every now and then."

"Oh, yes," Usagi agreed excitedly. "Of course."

Kunzite coughed and gave Makoto a significant look. "And...why are so many new positions opening so fast?"

Makoto leaned into the group and gestured then to do so too which they did so. "It's very hush-hush but...the Skeit...might be choosing a new big wife."

"Big wife?" Usagi echoed.

"She means one of the main ones-there's usually only three or four-the Skeit already has six." Rei harrumphed. "Why another one? So soon after the last one-" she trailed off.

"What happened?" Usagi asked. Kunzite coughed to catch her attention.

"It's nothing, Usagi. Makoto, who's the new possible bride?"

Makoto shrugged. "I've never really heard of her before-Lady Aphrodite Minako the Third from the Aino line according to my aunt."

I was surprised how quickly this story has gained popularity since I originally was really considering just leaving a one shot but I'm glad so many of you like it. XD Yay, Minako is finally been "introduced" will see her later, maybe the next chapter at the earliest. Finally, figured out where I'm putting Ami-you will see her in the next chapter!

See you in Chapter four!