Sailor Moon NeoStars: What the Future Holds (REWRITE)

CHAPTER 4

Boys Will Be Boys

Author's Notes: Wow, it took me over a month to finish this, and I still didn't get as far as I wanted to. Ah, well. I am taking off a semester from school, so I should have enough time to get some good work on this story in the next couple of months. I really hope you guys are still enjoying it, even if it is moving horribly slow. I am really trying to do some character development for the three boys, and also include some hints for my future stories. This chapter will hold at least one of the hints. Also, I can promise none of my future stories are going to go this slow . . . and I am going to try and pick up the pace after a particular scene I want to get through in the beginning of the next chapter. In any case, thanks for continuing to read, and please, please, please, PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks a bunch!

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Euphoros – hangs head in shame Yeah, I know. Not only have my updates gotten slow, but not a whole lot happened in Chapters 2 and 3. I'm going to try and pick up my pace a bit, or at least make this next chapter longer. I just returned to college in May, which is part of the reason I have gotten so slow and lazy with this thing. Glad you are enjoying it! Hope to see you again next chapter:)

Immortal Sailor Cosmos – You came back. Yaa! I was afraid I might have lost some reviewers since I've been taknig so long to update. I'll be checking my email for that list you mentioned. ; I know - - aren't I mean to let Triston get hurt like that? Ah, well. Glad you are enjoying it!

Faithful Cherry Blossom - YAA! New reviewer! hugs I am glad you are liking it. Here's the next chapter Hope you like it just as well. :D

(Story Starts Here)

Prince Triston winced as chilled waters came down like needles against his bare skin. Light auburn locks matted carelessly against his forehead as he hurried to wash and get out from beneath the icy waters. Turning off the faucet, Triston shivered as he reached for a towel drying off quickly and slipping back into his briefs and his black pants. He rubbed the towel once more over his damp chest and through his thick hair before throwing it back over the shower curtain. He found a comb in one of the drawers and ran it briefly through his hair before putting it away and heading back to the door leading into the bedroom.

Triston blinked as he stepped through the open doorway only to find himself face to face with the cotton-candy haired princess of the Earth and Moon. 'Why is it every time I step through a door today, there is someone waiting for me on the other side?' Having been awakened by the sounds of the shower, Small Lady had been using the mirror on the back of the door to straighten out her bedraggled clothes and put the cone-shaped buns on her head back in the proper order. The sound of the door beginning to open had caused her to jump back, her burgundy-colored eyes gazing intently at the as-of-yet half dressed young prince. Her eyes trailed upwards and then back down stopping at a set of firm-toned fourteen-year-old abs. Small Lady inhaled deeply not realizing that she was starring at she watched his chest rise and fall with his breathing.

"A-ahm--" Triston started to say something but found his voice getting stuck somewhere between his chest and his vocal cords. A faint blush crept into face as he took note of the young princess' starring. Being well-built for barely-fourteen and a prince on top of that, it wasn't as though he wasn't accustomed to unwarranted attention. But somehow, having HER watch him in such a way entitled a completely different reaction from what he might otherwise have smoothed his way through. The young prince swallowed heavily shifting uncomfortably under her scrutiny.

A strange new set of feelings was stirring inside the newly emerged pre-teen as her burgundy eyes fell upon the young man in front of her. Though she had only lost herself for a second, it seemed like an eternity when she finally snapped back into reality. Taking note of the prince's deep breaths and slightly uncomfortable shifting, Chibiusa finally realized that she had been starring quite blatantly at him. She could feel heat rising in her cheeks as she quickly averted her eyes, suddenly discovering the floor extremely interesting. A deafening silence fell upon the two, weighing heavily upon them. Finally unable to take it any longer, Small Lady built up her courage and began to lift her gaze from the floor . . . only to have the faint remains of a scar catch her attention.

"Oh . . ." A soft mist pushed into the edge of the Small Lady's vision as she reached her hand slowly out – slowly – until it rested lightly on the side of his chest. The tips of her fingers traced tenderly over the scar, which started on his left side near his back and went up diagonally towards his upper torso. The muscles of Triston's abs contracted in response to her touch. "You – you got that because of me." She replied quietly, her voice cracking slightly. "Gomen, gomen nasai. I never meant for you to be hurt. I didn't - -" A few stray tears slipped down the young girl's face.

Triston frowned. He hated to see her cry. But then, he hated to see his little sister cry to, so maybe it was just a soft spot for him. Removing her hand gently from the site of the old wound, he lifted it up causing her burgundy eyes to trail upwards after it. As he kissed the back of her hand affectionately, she found herself looking deeply into the warmest chocolate-brown eyes she had ever laid eyes upon. "Truly, it is alright, Small Lady. I am the leader of your court. I only did what I was born to do." Chibiusa opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get a word in Triston reached out placing his hand lightly over her lips to silence her until he had finished. "Look here. I will always protect you, even after the Neo Senshi are fully trained and prepared to do so properly." Smiling softly, Triston now released the girl stepping gingerly around her to get to the forest-green top Makoto had stashed over the back of a chair the night prior.

"But, Triston I--" Small Lady started to speak, but stopped mid-sentence unsure of how to finish.

The young prince was still in the process of pulling the top over his head, when the sound of his own name caused him to turn around to face her once more. "Hai?" He questioned gently while tugging his shirt down and tucking it in. Triston looked up at her through a curious gaze as he sat down on the bed beginning to pull on his socks. Being in that cold shower had given him quite a chill, so he wanted as many clothes on as he had.

"But I –" Small Lady's eyes teared up again as she rushed foreword wrapping her arms tightly around Triston's middle. "But, I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

"Nani?" Triston blinked at the girl's declaration. She cared that much? Triston shook his head. She was Neo Queen Serenity's daughter; of course, she cared that much. The girl had a big heart was all. She couldn't have any real feelings for him though, could she? Although still trying to deny it, Triston smiled when the young woman starred up at him once more through those deep burgundy eyes of hers. "Hey, I am going to be fine. The wound is almost gone. It doesn't even hurt now. I have a headache . . . but that's nothing I'm not used to, training with Damien and all." Triston smiled, relieved when Chibiusa laughed lightly over his comment concerning his best friend. "Besides--" Triston commented with a mild grin as he got to his feet, heading towards the living room. "I take after my mother. I'm too damn stubborn to die." While reaching for the doorknob, he turned back in her direction once more. "Oh, and I wouldn't advise trying to take a bath anytime soon. The water is cold as icicles." Triston shivered slightly.

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Climbing out of the tub, the cornflower blonde nineteen-year-old reached for a towel squeezed the water out of her hair until it no longer dripped, and wrapped it around herself. It took her a good twenty minutes to blow-dry her long hair before she stood back from the mirror. Throwing the towel back over the towel rack, she pulled on a robe and made her way slowly back into the bedroom. She picked out a white skirt that fell down to just above her knees and a pink sleeveless top. She finished off the outfit with a red belt with a golden heart-shape in the front and pink choker with a small gold cross, and a set of gold star earrings that swung down from her ears.

That done, she pulled on some white socks and made her way over to the vanity to try and get last of the tangles out of her hair and put it up in its usual odango-style. She smiled, picking up a brush as she heard Rei and Makoto's voices coming from the living room. Parting her hair down the middle, she threw half over each shoulder to make it easier to reach. She shut her eyes losing herself in thought as the soft bristles of the brush went through her hair. When she glanced back into the mirror, her eyes went wide over what she saw. "Eeep!" she squealed starring at herself in the mirror. "What's this!"

At the sound of her friend's squeal, Hino Rei immediately pushed her way into the apartment making her way into the bedroom. The raven-haired girl threw the door open and . . . stopped dead in her tracks, a shocked expression playing across her face, as she starred at her friend's reflection in the mirror. Not far behind, Makoto pushed the tray of food into Mamoru's arms before following Rei into the bedroom; she blinked. "Usagi, what did you do to your hair!" Makoto exclaimed with shock before the image in the mirror caught her attention as well. "Serenity..." She murmured, before growing silent.

It was true - - In the mirror plain as day was the reflection of a golden cresant moon insignia shining from the very center of Usagi's forehead. Her hair as well had changed, with streaks of silver flowing through the cornflower blonde locks. The hair-color hadn't surprised Usagi. She had noticed it happening gradually for a couple of months now, but it wasn't nearly as noticeable when she wore her odangos. Well, that and she had used her disguise pen to try and hide it. They had enjoyed such a long time of peace, but . . . they still hadn't the slightest clue what it was that could have caused the 1,000 year slumber that was supposed to happen before Crystal Tokyo came about. She hadn't wanted the girls to worry about it until they had to. But . . . if her changing appearance was any indication, they might well be finding out sooner rather than later. Or at least, that is was she had assumed. It was the insignia that had suddenly appeared that put her into shock.

The first to get over her initial shock, Rei made her way over to Usagi's side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Usagi-chan . . . Serenity-hime are you all right?"

The silver-blonde haired moon princess smiled fondly up at her friend's reflection. "I am still Usagi, Rei-chan." She told the raven-haired beauty as she grabbed a brush running it through her long silken hair rolling it up into its usual odango-like style. Eyebrows furrowing, Usagi starred at herself intently for a moment before frowning and shaking her head. "But it - - it won't go away." She replied uncertainly, while tracing a single finger around the outline of the mark. "I can't go outside looking like this!" She exclaimed loudly, sounding extremely close to falling into one of her old wails.

"Looking like what?" A familiar chipper voice questioned popping her blonde head in the door, "Fashion-expert Minako at your service!" Skipping into the room, she made her way up behind Usagi. "Let me see. A little make-up will fix anything." Turning Usagi around on the stool, Minako looked down and gasped. Sky-blue eyes widened in momentary shock, before making a quick recovery. Minako laughed rubbing the back of her head. "Okay . . . maybe a lot of make-up."

"I don't know if make-up is going to cover this one, Minako-chan." Ami replied from where she had been hovering quietly in the doorway, "But I am sure we will think of something."

Makoto just kind of laughed at Minako's enthusiasm. "Hai, we will think of something. . ."

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Prince Triston opened the door to the living room stepping out just in time to see Aino Minako and Mizuno Ami disappear into the adjacent bedroom. Not thinking twice over what might be going on in the master bedroom, the young prince turned his attention to his friends, who had yet to notice his presence in the room. For a few moments he remained silent, watching them from his post near the doorway of the extra bedroom. He smiled lightly at Small Lady as she walked past him and curiously followed Minako and Ami into the bedroom to see what all the fuse was about. His mind wandered briefly back to their previous encounter. What exactly had just happened in there?

"Honestly, what is it with girls and their hair?" Damien mumbled. Leaning casually against the back of the couch, he glanced over Antiny's shoulders curious as to what had been keeping his attention for so long. On one side of the screen was a window full of some sort of programming language the Martain Prince didn't understand, but he knew the end result and waited eagerly for his genius friend to finish mapping out the logistics of his newest program. "So, how is the new program coming?" He questioned boredom evident in his voice, as he searched for something to occupy his time.

"Almost complete," The Mercurian Prince answered back distractedly, in a way that suggested he was more interested in his conversation with Aiyamai than he was in alleviating Prince Damien's boredom. Damien leaned forewords, reading over Antiny's shoulder, as Aiyamai informed him that she had a lesson to get to and they said their last goodbyes. "Aishiteru," Antiny spoke into the microphone before removing his headset, putting it away, and closing the chat window.

"So…." Damien spoke again, in a suggestive tone that caused Antiny's eyebrows to furrow questioningly as he looked back over his shoulder at his companion. "Well, things between you two seem to be going well, don't they?" Prince Antiny nodded his head in agreement, a slight tinge of pink coming into his cheeks, as he wondered where exactly this conversation was leading them. Damien chuckled lightly at his friend's discomfort. "So . . . have you kissed her yet?" He questioned directly.

At this, Prince Antiny turned a crimson shade of red. "I – That's – –" It took the young Mercurian a moment to recover. "That is really none of your business!" Antiny declared, glaring at his friend through a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment.

"So, you 'did' kiss her." Damien assumed, a bright grin forming on his face as he did so. "Which kind did you get? What was it like?" He prodded of the other.

His embarrassment fading, Antiny smirked. "You wouldn't know, would you? Have 'you' ever been kissed?"

"I – erm – –" Damien hesitated, and it was Antiny's turn to laugh. "Hey, I'm 'working' on it." He responded defensively.

"Oh, yeah? With who?"

"With Akako-chan, of course,"

"Of course . . ." Antiny rolled his eyes, before going back to his work.

"Of course, you would have to go for someone who was blind." Triston commented, putting in his two cents as he stood up off the wall, making his way in Damien's direction. Triston grinned roguishly at the fire which flew through his friend's eye as he turned to face him. The boys had grown up together, being the closest of friends, and as such Triston knew exactly where to dig to get under the Martian's skin.

"What is 'that' supposed to mean?" Damien questioned dangerously.

"Oh, nothing at all – just that you are lucky. If she were able to get a good look at you, she would probably run the other direction." Triston stopped a few feet from his friend, watching for the other boy's reaction.

Damien's eyebrows furrowed as he processed this. Realizing that the insult was meant to be on him and not on his girlfriend, the young man's mood lightened up, face growing into an impish smirk. "Is that so?" Damien questioned, while Triston returned the smirk. "Well, at least I'm not to chicken to tell her the truth." He remarked, returning with an insult of his own. Behind him, Antiny snickered quietly, knowing where this was going, but wisely choosing to keep his mouth shut, pretending to be more interested in his computer programming.

Triston raised an eyebrow, not quite catching the lead. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

"You and Small Lady, of course!" Damien broke in peels of laughter, as Triston's face suddenly edged into a crimson shade of red.

Looking up, the Jupitarian Prince made note of Mamoru looking up in their direction and turned an even deeper shade of red. "Damien no baka! You do not know what you are talking about." He replied, immediately denying it, but this only made his friend laugh harder. "You are asking for it, Damien. . ." Triston growled as Damien continued to laugh. "Alright," Without another word, Triston lunged at his friend sending the pair of them sprawling onto the floor. Trying to contain his laughter – and almost choking on it – Damien struggled to remove himself from his friend's grip as the two of them fell into a wrestling match behind the couch. Being used to this kind of behavior from his two friends, Antiny just shook his head, rolling his eyes at the pair and went back to work on his computer program.

Author's Notes: Just as a short note, I really know nothing about wrestling except that my cousins sometimes like to do it. So, if you are actually some kind of an expert on this, please bare with me. Okay? Thanks!

"Gak! Come on Triston-kun, you know it's true!" Damien remarked voice full of mirth as he attempted to get the upper hand on his typically much stronger friend. "Come on. Say that you like her like that."

"I do 'not' have a crush on Small Lady. She is 'just' my princess, nothing more." Triston insisted.

"Yeah, like I am 'really' buying that . . ." Damien returned with a knowing smirk.

"You are a dead man, Damien! No, I take that back. You aren't going to 'live' long enough to ever reach manhood." Pinning his friend to the floor, Triston leaned over him and smirked. "Say it." He replied with a wicked grin as Damien struggled to escape.

"Not a chance!"

"Say it!" It looked as though the Prince of Jupiter would – as usual – become the winner of this match. That is – until the previous nights events began to creep back onto the scene. Triston winced as a wave of dizziness hit him with a sturdy force, causing him to loosen his grip slightly on the Martain beneath his grip.

Taking this as his golden opportunity, Damien slipped stealth fully out from under his friend quickly turning the tables of the match in his favor. The two boys struggled for a few moments more, but the Jupitarian was quickly losing his edge and before long found himself pinned down with Damien on top of him looking gleeful over his achievement. It was clear that he rarely got the upper hand in these matches, common as they were. "Say it!"

"Damien no baka!" Triston cursed, struggling beneath his friend's grip.

"Say it!" Damien crowed, a proud smirk gracing his features, as he forced more of his body weight into the move intent on winning the match over his friend for maybe the third or fourth time in his entire lifetime.

"Damien no . . ." Triston started to shoot off another smart remark, but found himself cut off when move of his friend's weight pressed down upon him. Triston winced, losing his breath as another wave of dizziness passed across his vision. "All right, All right, mercy. Get off!"

Damien laughed joyfully as he climbed off of his friend and leader. He turned around, another smart remark fresh on his lips, until his friends stature caught his attention. Rolling over onto his back, Prince Triston's face had a slightly pale hue to it as he closed his eyes taking in deep breaths to try and recover the energy he had just recently taxed out. Insults forgotten, Damien frowned looking his friend over. "Triston-kun, are you all right?" He questioned, remembering only now the state his best friend had been in only the night prior. "Maybe . . . we were a little to rough?" He suggested.

"Hai," Triston agreed breathlessly. Opening his eyes, he looked up only to be met with his best friend's worried gaze. Leaning over the back of the couch, Antiny also seemed to be concerned as he gave their leader a quick once over. Finally seeming to catch his breath, Triston laughed lightly. "This is certainly a switch, isn't it?" He suggested of his weaker state making the other two guys laugh at him as they both nodded their agreement. Offering a hand up, Damien helped pull Triston back to his feet. As he got up, Triston took a firm hold of Damien's shoulder using it to steady himself, before releasing him and leaning back against the back of the couch. Noting the return of his friends' worried gazes, Triston smiled gratefully but shook his head. "I am fine. I just overdid it a little bit." He assured them, before making his way around the couch to take a seat next to Antiny. Nodding, Damien made his way to the other end of the couch, plopping down and leaning back into the cushions.

After watching this scene go on from the kitchen doorway, Mamoru made his way back into the living room over to the couch where the three boys had gathered. Triston looked up meeting Mamoru's azure gaze as he placed a single hand upon his shoulder. "You really need to take it easy." Mamoru repeated his earlier statement a little more firmly this time. Flushing slightly, Triston nodded his agreement with a sheepish grin. He couldn't help it really; it was in his nature to be bold and slightly rambunctious – particularly when Damien was around. Mamoru glanced in Damien's direction as well, only to be met with a wiry grin and mischievous purple gaze.

Shaking his head at the two pre-teens, Mamoru turned his back heading over to take a place on the loveseat. As soon as he did so, Damien elbowed Triston roughly causing him to turn and look in his direction. Smirking, Damien mockingly repeated Mamoru's warning. "Yes, Triston, take it easy. We wouldn't want the little lovebird to overexert himself." Damien laughed amusedly as Triston gave him a mock glare, turned and punched him lightly in the arm.

"So, do your parents know you are here?" Mamoru questioned, pointedly ignoring the antics of the two boys.

This simple question drew a thick silence from the trio of young men. The sound of typing stopped as Antiny's hand seemed to hover just about an inch above the keyboard. Damien blinked, the expression on his face attesting that the idea of contacting his parents probably hadn't even crossed his mind until that very moment. Triston and Damien exchanged looks, before turning in unison to gaze at Antiny, expectancy written on both their faces. Feeling multiple sets of eyes focused on him, Antiny flushed looking embarrassedly down at the computer screen. "Ahm – well, I did manage to connect to the 30th century network early this morning. I was . . . using it to talk to Aiyamai."

Triston groaned, giving the mercurian an incredulous look. "You remember to talk to your girlfriend, but forget to tell our parents we're alive?" Antiny smiled sheepishly. What could he say? That was pretty much exactly what had happened. "I thought you were supposed to be a genius."

Damien just laughed at this. "I guess genius and common sense don't always go hand in hand, do they?"

"Oh, shut up. You two could have reminded me too, you know." Antiny remarked, looking critically back at the others. His friend's seemed taken aback. Of course, it was always his job to do the thinking . . . Sheesh.

"Hey, I wasn't exactly until about 45 minutes ago . . ." Triston returned defensively.

Damien just shot off another of his infamous grins when Antiny looked back at him. "Ahm . . . can I plead the fifth? I just forgot." He admitted willingly.

Antiny sighed, rolling his eyes at the antics of the untamable Martain. "I am doing that now, sir." He finally answered Mamoru as he went back to typing on his computer. It would only take a few moments to get past all the barriers and passwords he and his mother had put in place. . .

"Okay, I got it." Pressing a button, Antiny used his computer as a projector to make a larger screen all of them could look at, at the same time. A few random, computerized beeps and dings showed that the computer was working before the screen came to life. In front of them was the control room the 20th century Senshi had seen during their short visit to the 30th century. It had changed in the years since then of course. The sound of an alarm going off could be heard as well as footsteps headed in rapidly from the hallway. "What is going on?" A frighteningly familiar, slightly high-pitched male voice questioned just prior to entering the room.

"Apparently, someone just broke into the main computer base." Mamoru paled visibly . . . it couldn't be, could it? His suspicions were confirmed moments later when a pair of men appeared at the screen. "Antiny, where have you been? Is everyone all right?"

Antiny smiled somewhat fondly at the man's concern as he nodded his head in assurance. "Hai, Dad. We are all here, even Small Lady. Triston is a bit woozy, but otherwise everyone is fine. Small Lady decided to escape from the battle by throwing us back into the 20th century." Antiny motioned to the loveseat where Mamoru sat, a rather shocked expression playing across his face.

"Zoisite? Jadeite?" The four stones that contained the souls of his four Shitennou were currently resting on his desk next to a picture of himself and Usagi. Could it be that at some point in the future, he would have the opportunity to get his four friends back? Those were definitely two of his friends, and they looked surprisingly solid. The man swallowed hardly, starring incredulously at the two men on the screen . . . .