Corrode

It was dark, and Phil realized that the apartment complex was staring at him. He shivered and glared at it, gathering his energy as if for an attack. Black miasma came in thick, swirling patterns around his head, then reached out dark tendrils to snake past the locked doors and windows.

He hated the senshi. He hated the people. Hate. Hate. Hate . . .

Miasma whipped the buildings around him, lashing into them and cutting the people inside as he began to run. He HATED them! The violence and pain rose in him, choking, and he let it crash onto the sleeping minds around him.

The black energy radiated out like a sun from the center of the city, and Phil cradled the bruise on his face, bitter and cold.

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"Oh my God." The news hadn't stopped running all day, and the senshi were gathered around it. Even Haruka and Michiru had called to say they were coming back to town.

The newswoman had smooth dark hair and almond-shaped eyes. Makoto stared at her, dazed. "How could this happen?" she asked the silent room. A news tag at the bottom of the screen kept scrolling the words "City Threatened: Murder in Crystal Tokyo."

". . . shocked by the sudden outbreak of violence in our fair city . . ."

Ami slipped off of the couch, her expression clouded. Her eyes remained on the screen even as she moved to leave. "I'm going to see if Zoicite is okay," she murmured. The other girls didn't even bother to make the sly comments that they would have normally.

He was in his room, and he let her in with relief. "Have you heard?" he asked in the hushed tone that everyone had been using all morning – the kind of low voice that is common at funerals. The kind of voice that is afraid to wake the dead.

"Yes," she replied, slipping past him and locking onto the reporter on his television. "It's horrible, isn't it?" She shuddered a little, hugging herself. Zoicite slipped an arm around her, as much for his comfort as for hers.

"Let's sit down."

Ami nodded. She noticed that he smelled like mint, but was dismayed that she couldn't enjoy it. She was too upset.

". . . begs the question," the reporter was saying, "where is our police force? And where is our queen?"

Ami bit her lip. "Serenity will have to make a speech. It's the only logical choice. And it will calm the people to know that she's taken a personal interest."

"Of course," Zoicite agreed, turning the volume down. He didn't let go of her, though. Instead, he looked at her for a moment and asked, "Are you okay? This is pretty terrible stuff."

She shook her head as if to clear it and smiled up at him, their faces closer than she had realized. "I've," she said, distracted by his proximity, "lived through some pretty bad things, back when Crystal Tokyo was first being formed. This is . . . shocking . . . but not really new."

He glanced away, then looked at her eyes, searching them. "Why don't you come to trial with me?" he asked. His voice was low and intimate because of how close they were, and the news created a sort of soft, humming background noise. "You know I want you there."

"And you know that I'm camera shy," she replied, blushing. "I'd never be able to go in a court room with all of those people staring at me."

"But you wouldn't have to say anything," he pleaded. "I just need you there to support me."

"You're doing a good job on your own." His face was so close to hers. It was hard to think, hard to breathe.

"I could be better with you," he said, and she had never realized how green his eyes were before. They were very green, very intense, and she could smell mint again. Maybe it was his aftershave . . . "I could be better at everything with you."

It took a moment for that to sink in, and then her heart gave a strange, quick throb. "Zoicite," she whispered, tilting her face up to his without thinking. And then his lips were on hers and she was kissing him back and everything, absolutely everything, became heady and wonderful. She clasped him around the neck and he pulled her closer, pressing her slim body against his. Her lips parted and, without thinking, he slipped his tongue in. She met it with her own and he moaned, ripping his mouth away to kiss her neck. Ami was foggy, his kisses disarming her, and her head rolled back. A rough, sweet ache had started somewhere in her abdomen and she ran a hand over his long hair, her fingers playing with the soft curls on the nape of his neck.

She glanced with hazy, half-open eyes at the TV.

It was like cold water pouring down her spine. She gasped and stiffened in his arms and tears came to her eyes. He drew back, following her gaze to the screen, and sighed. He pulled her closer with one arm and nestled her against him, kissing her on the head.

"I forgot," she murmured. "How could I forget?" She was miserable. Her city was falling apart, and she was making out with a guy like some silly, hormone-crazed teenager.

"Sometimes it's good to forget," he replied, brushing her hair off of her forehead. He still seemed more interested in her than in the TV. "Ami," he said after a moment.

She looked at him and saw the worry in his eyes, the concern for her welfare and the confusion about what had just happened. He didn't want to presume that she had meant for that to happen, or that she had wanted it.

"I care about you," he said. "I'd like to . . . have . . . a . . . a relationship," he looked away, at the carpet, his hold on her waist becoming weak and unsure, "with you. I mean, I know I'm not . . ."

"Zoicite," she cut him off gently. "It's okay." Her smile was gentle and soothing. Then she blushed, but she didn't look away from him. "I'd like that too." Her voice was almost a whisper from embarrassment, but then she reached up and kissed him. "I feel bad," she said after a moment, snuggling into his side. "I ought to be more upset about all of this, but."

"But it's just so nice to have you," he finished for her. They kissed again, briefly, and he turned the news back up.

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The crowds around the palace were thick and tense, angry and frightened and needing their queen. A conference had been set for that day, and the king and queen would come out of the palace to speak to the people.

Faces in the crowd were dark and murmuring, and only lightened the smallest fraction as the castle doors opened and the royal couple emerged, the king rich and resplendent in his violet cloak and mask, and the queen shining with her own pure light. They were everything good and pure and right with the city.

"Why can't the stupid jerks see it?" a tall blonde muttered, her arms folded and eyes tracing the angry lines in the faces around her.

"Calmly, Haruka," her companion murmured, placing a graceful hand on her arm. "They're scared, and they need reassurance."

"But it's like they're blaming Neo-Queen Serenity," she hissed. "She didn't have anything to do with this. I mean, I'm surprised it took this long for human nature to reassert itself and people to start acting like jackasses again."

The other woman sighed, weary. "It's starting, dear."

The queen was speaking, her face smooth and lovely and unlined. Her eyes filled for her people, and she struggled to retain a regal demeanor. She felt the steady presence of her husband beside her and Luna and Artemis behind her. She breathed. "We are deeply disturbed by the recent news of violence and murder in the city. But we are not frightened." Her voice strengthened, and she seemed to stand taller, brilliant and beautiful. "Crystal Tokyo has gone through worse – much worse – but has never fallen. We have never crumbled, given in, or lost hope. And today, we will not crumble. We will not give in. And we will NOT LOSE HOPE!"

The people cheered, but there was an undercurrent of dark energy that had Haruka shifting uneasily on her feet.

"EVER!" The queen's voice rang out, clear and strong. "We will stand united, and we will not accept murder, violence, or hatred in our city. For love!" the queen cried, and there was a rallying surge of energies from the crowd, good and bad mixed together. "And for JUSTICE!"

A small projectile flew through the air and shattered on the queen. For a moment, everything went silent and everyone stared at the red seeping over her gown. The queen looked down, stunned, and Haruka, terrified, thought it was blood.

"A tomato," Michiru said, her head up and her eyes steely with fury. "They threw a tomato."

A loud shout of "Down with the queen!" rang out, and the two women began to run, plowing their way through the crowd until they could transform. More rotten food was being thrown, but Luna and Artemis were quick to react, getting the royal couple inside the palace. The Inner Senshi got to the queen just a little bit before Haruka and Michiru did.

Serenity was in shock, her eyes glassy and unfocused. The Inner Senshi had one arm and Endymion had the other. They were all trying to talk to her, sooth her, but when she saw her two old friends approaching, horror and sympathy in their eyes, she threw herself on Haruka and began to cry – huge, soul-wrenching sobs.

Haruka held her shuddering queen close to her breast, the draft in the corridor fluttering her senshi skirt. She looked at the king over the queen's head. "What the hell," she asked him in a voice of cold fury, "has been going on around here?"

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"Why the hell won't she testify?" Harris growled. His home had been repaired and they were in his office. It had been a long day, trying to placate the people about the murders and assure them that he had everything under control. He'd ordered the police station to stay open at all times until this latest craze died down. He hadn't even had time to turn on the news all day.

"Maybe because she doesn't have a vendetta against the senshi like you do," Nephrite observed, moody. He was tired, annoyed, and ready to get out of there.

"Bah," Harris answered him, frustrated. But he didn't have anything else to say to that. "Well, at least we know where she is. You've done a pretty good job." He picked an envelope off his desk and handed it to Nephrite, who slipped it into his jacket and turned to go. "I'll pay you double if you get her to testify."

"No thanks," Nephrite replied and walked out, proud of his restraint. A few weeks ago, he would have jumped at the chance to double an already impressive sum. Now . . . "Damn woman," he muttered. He looked up at the velvety darkness, where clouds obscured the stars, and felt empty. "Damn woman," he repeated heavily, and walked on.

Inside, Harris wasn't feeling much better. He picked up a glass paperweight and threw it into one of his mirrors. The crash was satisfying and he tried to steady his breathing. "Damn that Aino girl. I should have asked Nephrite to dig up more dirt on her." He grunted to himself and got his coat. "Maybe I can persuade her myself." Turning, he almost tripped over his youngest son. He cursed and swore at the boy, smacking him upside the head for his stupidity.

"Hate Aino? Hate senshi?" Phil asked, his eyes shining a little above his frown. Harris had given him the bruise on his cheek the other day, after that idiot Judge Kiame had been so lenient with Detective Kunzite. She should have arrested him for his behavior in court.

"Get out of my way, you idiot!" Harris yelled, brushing the boy aside and slipping his coat on as he walked. "Dumb as a post," he muttered to himself. He unlocked his car and got inside, slamming the car door shut. He had the address of Kunzite's apartment, and he made his way through the dark streets, wondering why so many people were out prowling at this time of night. It made him nervous, and, for the first time in years, he locked his car when he left it.

Kunzite's apartment was not in a beautiful building. It was functional, and Harris didn't quite understand how anyone could stand to live without mahogany walls.

Kunzite was boiling a pot of ramen when Harris knocked, and his eyes narrowed when he saw who was at the door. He stood in the way, blocking the police chief's path into the apartment, and asked, "What do you want?"

"I'm looking for Aino Minako. I'd like to speak with her."

Kunzite glowered. "She's not here."

Harris tilted his head back, scoffing. "Of course she's here. Please, I'll only take a moment of her time."

Kunzite's grip on the door tightened and his expression turned feral. "She's not here," he grated. "Unless you're a complete idiot, you ought to know that women don't usually come running back to guys who are forced to declare their love on live television. So if you'll excuse me," his voice was savage, "my noodles are burning." And he slammed the door in Harris's face.

"Well," huffed Harris.

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"Here," Minako said, handing the queen a cup of Makoto's best tea. Serenity was pale against her pillows, her eyes red and wet with crying. She looked haggard and broken.

Serenity sat up a little to accept the cup. "The people hate me, Minako," she said after a few slow sips. She was staring over the rim of her cup as if she could still see the faces in the crowd.

"They don't know you," Minako replied, her voice soft and gentle. "They're just scared, is all." She gave a tight, tired smile. "Besides, they're too busy hating me."

"Let's not get into a Who's Hated More contest, please," said Rei, coming in with the little princess. "I could swim in all the self-pity you two throw around."

"Rei," Minako hissed, a spark coming to her eye that Rei was very glad to see, though she tried to hide it. Minako wasn't angry at her as a woman or as a friend but as a leader. She had just given Mars a silent command to lay off.

"Honey," said Serenity, sitting up and pulling the princess onto the bed with her, giving the first genuine smile she'd had all morning.

"Where's daddy?" asked the princess as she snuggled close to her mother.

"Working," the queen replied. "The people . . . aren't very happy right now. And daddy is working hard to make them happy again."

The princess played with the blanket for a minute, then looked up at her mother. "Are you sick?"

The queen laughed. "Maybe a little. But," she said, pulling her daughter close and hugging her tight, "I feel much better now that you're here."

"Small Lady wanted to come by before her lessons and see you," Rei said, waiting for the little princess to join her.

"Well, I'm always happy to see her." Serenity kissed her daughter on the cheek and let her go. She watched Rei and the princess leave the room. After a moment, she picked up her tea again and held it but didn't drink it. "There's something I've wanted to talk to you about, Mina-chan."

The blonde continued to fluff pillows, but her movements had become deliberate and she kept her eyes on what she was doing. "Yes?"

"Why," said the queen, gentle and a bit sad, but not angry, "couldn't you stay here after that poor policeman died? You know that we love you. And we know that it was an accident."

Minako sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the carpet. "For that," she said simply. "Here, he's only 'that policeman.' But I liked him," she said, meeting Serenity's eyes and seeing full, total acceptance and love, no matter what she said. She looked away. "I mean, I wasn't in love with him or anything, but he was a person to me. And I needed to be around someone who knew him, who could hate me or forgive me. I needed to hear it from someone who cared about him, that what I had done was a mistake." She took a deep breath and let it out. "Or, possibly, that it wasn't."

"And did you find that?" Serenity asked after an extended pause.

Minako nodded. "Yes."

"Then I'm glad." The queen reached forward and drew her senshi's face to her, kissing her on the forehead. As she did so, Minako looked at her own hands on the bedspread – and stiffened. "What is it?" Serenity asked.

"Nothing," Minako lied, standing up. "I just remembered I was supposed to see Ami about something." She gave a wan smile, but the queen accepted it.

"Of course."

In the hallway, Minako broke into a trot and then a run. She pulled out her phone and hit the blue button.

'Hello.'

She didn't beat around the bush. "Where are you?"

'Working with Zoicite. Why?'

Minako shut her phone and went straight to the research room. Ami was just coming out to look for her, and she grabbed the other woman and pulled her aside into an unoccupied room. "I lost it."

"Yes, you have," Ami agreed, rubbing her arm where Minako had gripped it.

"No, I lost the sword," she hissed, holding up her wrist. At all times in the past, there had been a silvery bracelet on it – but now it was bare. "The crystal sword?" she clarified as Ami just stared, her eyes wide. "The magical, mystical, leadership slash-n-stab doohickey?"

Ami gave her a look that was not amused. "I know what it is," she said, shaking her head. "How could you lose it?" Then she got out her handheld super-computer and started typing away.

Minako paced for about a minute until Ami said "I've got it."

The blonde pounced. "Where, where?"

"You left it at an apartment building. Address look familiar?"

"Kunzite's place," Minako said, breathing easier. "It ought to be easy to find."

Ami shut her computer and put it away. "Don't you two need to talk, anyway? This would be a good time."

Minako stopped dancing. "Oh. Right."

"Don't tell me you can't handle a boy that likes you," Ami said, managing to smirk a little.

"Oh, don't you give me love advice," Minako grumped. "Miss Ice Queen over here."

Ami was oddly silent and looking at her toes. Minako read her like an open book.

"You didn't," she gasped. "Zoicite?"

Ami looked up at her, alarmed. "Whatever you're thinking of, I probably didn't. But, yes, Zoicite."

"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Minako threw her arms around Ami and cheered. She pulled back. "Do the others know?"

"Not yet," Ami said, blushing.

"I can't wait to tell them," Minako cried and hurried out of the room singing: "Ami and Zoicite sitting in a tree – K-I-S-S-I-N-G . . ."

"Mina-chan!" Ami complained from behind her, burning with embarrassment, then fled to the safety of the research room. She knew that any minute her friends would swoop in and, with sly smiles at Zoicite, bustle her out so they could get all the juicy details. But until then, she would enjoy his sanity.

"Something wrong?" he asked as she sat down.

"Not for you," she replied, but she couldn't help smiling. It was good to have Minako back to her old self. And, every now and then, it was good to have crazy friends.