A/N: *grin* Okay, fine, most of you guys know who the heck punched Makoto in the face. ^^ As expected, brilliant people. XD But I'm challenging myself to take it easy on this one and actually immerse the senshi in emotions such as anger, jealousy, y'know, the whole works for this to come off as, well, something not that surreal. ^^ Wish me luck, here we go again!

DISCLAIMER: Naoko Takeuchi has amazed me even more with her awesome creation and whole-hearted way of drawing Sailor Moon, and even more so that I'm flipping through ((manga scans)) the pages of her work! XD

Please Forgive Me: It's Only My Nature

"Reiko, Reiko, stop! Mako-chan just hugged me, she's really confused right now and she doesn't need your fist in her fave to confuse her even more!"

Makoto reeled back, her head and back slamming into the ground they'd just walked upon. It had only been a small warning, only because Makoto had known Hino Rei and had trained beside the Senshi of Fire for so long as a friend and sparring partner, but in that instant Makoto felt pity for all the youma who had been burned to ashes by the fiery-spirited miko.

That small warning had been enough, though, to avoid the real brunt of the attack.

It was only a lowering of her head, but Makoto got enough distance and space between her and the enraged miko to just get hit on the forehead. Minako quickly stepped between them, her hands wide out to the sides. Rei stood with her eyes closed, breathing hard and cheeks flushed in red anger and disbelief. The dark-haired woman was clearly focusing on controlling her element, flickering flames of hot orange and red flaring about her clenching and unclenching fists.

Her stance was of intimidation, but Makoto saw the hurt pride and love clashing darkly in Rei's eyes just before they'd closed, almost in denial.

"Rei-chan, I'm your friend. And I'm Minako-chan's friend, too. Please listen to us, Rei-chan. We both love you, don't do this. I swear on my oath to Usagi-chan, Minako-chan here is yours. I've had no claim on her and I will never have a claim on her. You're my friend, Rei-chan, don't let ME get you jealous over this!"

Makoto threw in the last part as a self-criticized joke, and Minako used the hard chuckle Makoto gave out to jump in, walking closer to Rei.

"I'll always be yours, Rei-chan. I love you. Believe me. Don't ever doubt my abilities to, um, er, *flush. . .* my abilities to make you happy! And only you, Reiko, and I'm not giving you up just for a little buddy hug with Mako-chan here!"

Makoto watched in part amusement as Minako walked over to Rei, burrowing herself into the miko and wrapping her arms around Rei's arms, then lower, circling to her waist and soothing the goose-bumped skin. Rei's eyes were still closed, yet not strained anymore as a relaxed sigh came from her twitching lips.

Using nature's cue of the sudden chirping of birds after the deadening silence cueing her it was safe, Makoto slowly got to her feet, carefully watching Rei's face. The movement was something she found uncomfortable, forced to move so slow in front of her closest friends.

Standing, Makoto watched as Rei relaxed slightly, those fiery black eyes opening and hardening in hurt distrust at her. The Senshi of Lightning recognized that look, and it pierced her deep in her heart. It was the look of betrayal.

Bowing her head, Makoto tore her gaze away and forced the old pain to go back into hiding, back where it belonged, unnoticed and unmentioned. Rei's voice made her look back up, though, the miko's soft voice holding a hint of deadly steel underneath the tone of no emotion.

"Minako. . . I'm sorry for losing it. I'm a miko, and even though I hadn't sensed any danger or. . . I reacted badly. And I'm sorry."

Those dark eyes raised to hers, and Makoto tried to look away, but Rei caught her gaze and held it, self-shame swirling in those deep depths. Breaking away from her partner, Rei walked over to Makoto and punched her shoulder, lightly, ruffling her up even more because of the unbroken tension still between them.

"It was my fault, Mako-chan."

And with that, Rei walked away, past Minako and over the hill where the other senshi waited inside the cave they needed to explore to find the den belonging to the youma. Blue eyes shot a sorry glare over to her, and Makoto could only follow a short distance behind when Minako followed her partner in.

00000000000000000000000000000

It was dark inside, yet dry from years of being covered by a whole tarp of forest, and in the autumn, there was a warm wind blowing through the whole cave. Makoto moved about the entrance warily, noting her footsteps tripling their echo inside and confusing her hold on bearings slightly.

The others were supposedly in the heart of the cave already, and Rei and Minako had disappeared into the darkness the minute they'd stepped inside. Even though it was only an hour after noon outside, here it made no difference with only the gray hint of light showing the way. There was a hole at the top of the cave, yet it only showed the dense treetops of dead leaves outside.

Walking further, Makoto sensed an aura, and when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hidden niche in the cave wall, she wasn't surprised.

Rock scraped against the side of her cheek and breasts as she was pulled through, the hard particles tumbling in little grains on the cave's floor as her body pulled loose some of the ancient wall. Running her free hand to her back to squeeze herself in better, Makoto breathed in deeply a sigh of relief when the tight space suddenly drew away into a large cavern around her. Turning, she watched as Rei flicked on a hand-held lighter and sparked it once, twice, drawing bats of all kinds out of the cavern in high-pitched shrieks.

The miko's hand still held Makoto's arm, and Rei pulled Makoto over from the crevice, dark eyes down in embarrassment and high-lighted by the flicker of the oily flame.

"Lightning. . . This time I want to actually say. . . I-I'm-"

Rei's voice was low, cracked, and Makoto wanted to stop her friend, tell her it was fine, everyone made mistakes and she didn't blame her. But Rei went on, drawing a breath in shaky courage before Makoto.

"-I'm sorry. I was wrong to assume, and lose it, and-"

Makoto stood, alarmed, when her dark-haired friend's voice cracked like glass shattering. It wasn't pretty, and Rei flinched from her own voice, hurriedly going on before she broke down and couldn't talk. Collecting herself, Rei shook her head and grabbed the brunette's shoulder, earnestly looking into her eyes.

"I-I mean it. It was WRONG for me to lose trust in you and Minako, and I'm so sorry for punching you, Lightning. I. . . I kind of wish I was more like you, more in control of herself with the meditation and all. . ."

Laughing slightly, Makoto stepped back and examined the large cavern they were now in. It had a high dip, craggy walls showing off a couple of wet rain drops collected on the tips of the rocks. And there was another indent at the top of the cavern, much like the upper hole outside of the crevice they were now standing in. Deciding she needed to correct Rei's statement instead of looking around, Makoto looked at her friend. She really was amazing, Makoto thought, amused.

Miko or not, Rei had a strict way of self-control about her, even when she was among close friends, and only Minako had broken into that barrier and made the dark-haired fire wielder happy.

"You're fine just the way you are, Pyro. Good at keeping herself in check, looking out for her friends, and letting go when you need to. Today was just a misunderstanding, is all, and if it happens again, I'm telling you now; Minako is happy with you, and you only as you are. You could change into a million somethings, but this Senshi of Love is going to know you and love you just for that. Please don't underestimate yourself. I'm just me, you're just you. Can't we be happier like that?"

Stunned, Rei broke out into a grin and socked Makoto on the arm for real this time, laughing as she Senshi of Lightning laughed at their shared symbol of friendship, renewed.

"C'mon, you really thought Minako knows me all that much? I'M the one who came up with the plan for who you really liked!"

Makoto stared, surprisedly shocked at the miko's grinning confession.

"What?"

"Okay, okay, so Minako acted it out, but I'm the one who pointed it out you weren't chasing anyone resembling your 'sempai' within a five-inch radius of you! And we were on that bus full of guys going to the unisex hotsprings and you never even batted an eyelash!"

Narrowing her eyes, Makoto smirked.

"Yeah, as if you didn't, either."

Rei's blush shone redder and lighter than the small flame she was holding on to, and the miko sputtered, dragging Makoto over to the crack in the wall and heading through. Her voice cracked, but this time in shy confession.

"I! I have Minako!"

Nodding in agreement, Makoto couldn't hold back a laugh as she butted Rei from behind as they headed out into the cave's main entrance. It felt good to know she was on even ground with the miko now, and she truly valued her friendship with the dark-haired girl when things got tough, emotional or otherwise. Coming out of the squeezed-in crevice, Rei and Makoto emerged, laughing and joking around to a waiting Minako, blue eyes twinkling in knowing amusement.

"Do I have something to be jealous over, Mako-chan?"

Shaking her head solemnly, Makoto grinned when Rei jogged over to her girlfriend and got a sweet kiss. Watching them intertwine fingers, Makoto was surprised when Minako held out her hand and wiggled her fingers at her.

"Come on, Mako-chan. Don't be bashful NOW."

Hesitantly reaching out, Makoto looked at Rei and got a grinning nod, the miko pulling her over by the shoulder and practically stuffing Minako's hand into her palm. Blinking at their hands all joined, Makoto smiled a bit and walked with the couple to the entrance of the cave's heart.

"You've got a family here if you need one, Lightning. It's not like we come over there only for food, you know."

Laughing, Makoto walked slower, holding them all down, a smile on her face.

"Yeah, only most of the time, anyway."

The two girls let out exclamations, but Makoto only sped up and walked into the flickering light of hand-held torches, towards her princess and towards her partner, knowing in her heart that she'd been accepted, and forgiven, for everything.

"I can't believe the damned thing caved in when Sailor Moon let loose her tiara! What were the chances of her hitting that idiot bat youma and him popping it off course with his sonic radar screech tiara-collapsing the whole! Damn! Cave!"

The Senshi of Lightning and Thunder cursed and growled with each punch, kick, and every melee attack against the used-to opening of the cave, now buried in guano and rubble that had fallen from the top of the cavern and piled up against the hole. Snarling as she jumped back and rushed it, sending a jarring spin kick to the base of the rocks, Makoto was forced to jump back again as the rubble rolled down like a landslide and ended up covering more than moving anything away.

"Rocks! Earth! Bat poop! Aaaaaaargh! Supreme. . . THUNDER!"

Calling down lightning from the hole at the top of the cave, Makoto swirled it around in a chaotic movement between her palms, the energy flickering intense blue-black and white as she hurled it like a side-thrown baseball towards the pile of rock. Gritting her teeth as rocks rained above her, Makoto dodged the flying projectiles that richochetted off the pile from the blast of pure, clean lightning.

Pumping her fist in triumph as she saw the entrance cleared, the Senshi of Lightning and Thunder ran for it in the thick haze of dust. She almost missed the aura of life pulsing in a small corner of the cavern beside the entrance. A breathless whisper, but Makoto heard, and thank God.

"Ami-chan! What are you-? C'mon, let's get out of here!"

The Senshi of Ice was curled up in a fetal position beside the blown-up cave's entrance, and Makoto cringed guiltily but in secret pleasure as the thought Ami had stayed behind for her hit her. It was smushed down with the need to protect, though, and Makoto gently scooped up her best friend, enjoying the feeling of comforting warmth among the feeling of surging adrenaline.

Looking towards the hallway leading outwards, Makoto cursed again, but inside this time, at yet ANOTHER pile of clumpy rocks barring their outwards escape. Silently chuckling at her ironic attempt to stop cursing, Makoto linked it to the precious blue-haired bundle in her arms. Ami really didn't like it when she cursed, and even Makoto could sense her best friend making an attempt to stop reminding her so much. Grinning at the thought of pleasing Ami in some way, Makoto had tried to stop. It had been hard at first, but like now, she knew she'd get it- because no way in hell was she going to let a couple of rocks stop her from freedom and Ami's safety.

Focusing her intent on the base of the pile of rock, Makoto glared at the simple crack beside it. If only she could gather enough power and blast through it like she'd did the last time. . . Yet here there was no outlet for her lightning-based attacks, and no cover either. If Makoto needed to dodge any harmful material whizzing through the air, she couldn't ensure Ami would be protected, especially since the girl was unconscious and going to get heavy if they needed to move.

Frowning down at the blue-haired girl, Makoto wondered WHY Ami hadn't woken up by now. Usually in a fight the Senshi of Ice was the first to figure out a plan as to how to beat the youma or, if given enough time, a great defensive attacker.

"Ami-chan, if you want to wake up now, it'd be great."

When closed lids fluttered hard, Makoto frowned. Ami's eyes were shifting underneath the lids, and it was very obvious the girl was trying to wake. A sense of shifting in her aura made Makoto think. It felt familiar, but something about the beautiful sense of her partner felt. . . off.

Shaking her head, Makoto glanced again at the pile of rocks burying them in and decided it had to be now or never. Night was coming soon from her prior glance to the open hole in the top of the cave back where she'd come from, and with night came bats. Even if the main bat youma had been defeated, Makoto had heard that flesh-eating rodents resided near here, and she wasn't going to stick around for any of that.

Shifting Ami onto her legs, brunette reached around the front of her friend and hooked her arms under the girl's arms and held her up in front. Makoto had to kneel a bit at the height difference, but at least she was in attacking position.

Suddenly, Makoto remembered the spot Rei had pulled her into where the miko had talked to her and the brunette looked frantically around. The darkness had come even sooner, and even that gray haze had faded into a blacker tint. Spotting the craggy hole in the rock walls, Makoto carefully picked up Ami again and had to alternate between putting herself first and then the blue-haired genius into the tight fit.

The brunette wasn't even aware of the sudden rush of emotions until it hit her like an electric shock that overwhelmed her senses.

Self-conscious now, Makoto tried to ignore the tight tingles in her lower abdomen as she gently pulled Ami to her, the small crevice barely giving her any room to breathe. With the sudden close contact of her friend, her own temperature seemed to sky-rocket into a thousand million degrees, and Makoto could only choke on Ami's scent as she pulled her partner out into the open.

Roughly shaking her head, the Senshi of Lightning and Thunder spared one longing glance towards her friend and ran back into the crevice, her heart pounding like crazy as she recalled the closeness of Ami and how much her friend had supported her, been there for her, when she was alone, and when she was just in need of a person to talk to.

This was crazy, she was crazy, it was all crazy, maybe if only she'd been born-

No.

What brought this panic attack on, anyway?

Hadn't Rei and Minako said they accepted her, as a friend, as a family, as a person, no matter what? They had, they did, and they always would. So why? Why was she suddenly feeling this now, and especially at this bad time when there was hardly any light and things were so hectic-

"Mako-chan."

Makoto turned, her heart pumping double-time as that sweet voice gentled out to a low grate, the sound heaven to her ears. Ami. It was Ami.

"Ami-chan?"

In the dark, red eyes gleamed, yet somehow, that bright twinkle of knowing pool blue would always be precious to her. Ami stood, and Makoto wondered how she could have ever missed the large dark bruise coating the base of her neck right above her collarbone. Blood welled, but somehow there had been enough coagulation for it to stay in a clump of red. There was nothing else wrong except those two things.

Yet those two things made a world of living difference.

"I'm hungry, Mako-chan."

And Makoto took in the sight of her partner, her best friend, her fellow senshi, as Ami Mizuno opened her mouth and a pair of sharp incisors descended at the base of her gums. A shadow slinked out of nowhere and materialized behind the blue-haired girl, and Makoto could only watch as Ami stalked forwards, right where she was.

Crimson color flickered at the base of her neck and pupils, and Makoto risked a quick glance upwards towards the hole in the cavern as moonlight flooded the interior of the cave. Full and beautiful and bright, the moon pulsed once, twice, seemingly, and that dark shadow melted back into insubstantial form behind the Senshi of Ice.

Almost immediately Ami fell forwards, again unconscious, and Makoto rushed out of the tight space she had wiggled into and caught her friend, gently lowering her down onto the ground. Looking around, the brunette spotted hungry red eyes peering at her from the dark and again glanced towards the moon.

There was a large black cloud about five minutes away from covering the glorious world's nightlamp, and Makoto could very well guess what that dark being in the shadows was going to do when the moon was covered.

Hefting Ami back up into her arms again, Makoto restarted the delicate extraction of their selves from out into the main cavern's entrance. Protection and safety from debris or not, it would be safer out there than in here with that unknown body of darkness.

They had to get out, and fast.

A/N: XD And so, here it iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis! XD I feel accomplished. *nod, nod* And skipping away from the main plot, but then, that was vaaaague, now wasn't it? ^^ Well, I'll still keep in Makoto's feelings of confusion and la-la, but here's something NEW to worry about. *grin* It'a a classic, don't worry, you won't get lost in the dark. And so won't Ami, right, Ami-chan? =3 Hope ya enjoyed, thanks! XD Take care people! XD