Sorry this shapter took so long to get out, I've been really busy with school and a new job. Thanks to all who reviewed. I'll try to make this chapter good. Also, this chapter will again involve flashbacks and try to piece together and complete old ones. I will have to do this until the story gets across.

Chapter 7

"Out of here. Most definately out of here," Duo was saying as he hurried away from the reception desk, bag in hand after returing the room keys.

"At this point, no one would object," Makoto said as she and Trowa walked by, her hand laced through his.

"We have horrible luck. Our little trip just had to be ruined by a horrible youma. And that party was awesome too," Minako complained as she angrilly threw her duffel bag in the trunk.

"I'm ready to head back. That crazy night made me miss the relaxing house we left behind," Usagi said.

"Everyone ready," Heero asked, as Mamoru tossed him a set of keys.

"Yeah yeah yeah," Wufei said, tiresome moddiness showing through as he and Rei exited the building. Quatre and Sanyu followed, surprising everyone because they were not making out.

Ami got in the van, Duo climbing in next to her.

The trip was quiet. Almost every passenger slept.

Ami realized that they were home when she was being shooken awake by Duo, who grumpilly climbed out of the car. Short goodbye's followed as everyone departed to their own homes. Ami unlocked the front door. It was only the early afternoon, so it was pretty bright inside. Usagi moved to step in, still a bit tired, before roughly being grabbed by the arm by Rei.

"What the hell," Makoto said angrilly, attracting attention. The guys stopped what they were doing, abandoning their belongings on the front porch. Sanyu turned from where she was walking home and headed back over.

Simply by peering into the door, they could see that the house was a mess. From where they stood, a picture frame was shattered on the floor, and a window on the opposite end of the hall was shattered. Mamoru put his arm up to stop anyone from entering, taking a cautious look inside.

"Why don't we enter together," Minako suggested, "I mean, no one is going to jump a whole group of people."

All the girls agreed, leaving the pilots no say in the matter. All of them entered, looking at the home slowly.

"It's as if someone was looking for something," Rei said, as she surveyed the damage.

"But what," Minako said. In the kitchen, every cabinet was open. Dishes were broken on the floor. In the living room, the couches were all moved. Several books were thrown off of the shelves. Upstairs, the rooms were worse. The beds were all out of place, closets open, clothes all over the floor. After inspecting upstairs, they headed back downstairs to finish looking there. That was when Ami noticed something that in their quick looks she had missed.

Above the fireplace, where the old picture of her and her father, as well as the picture of Robert sat, the pictures now lay overturned. Ami reached over to pick it up, lest the broken glass damage the pictures, when she noticed something. It appeared that a cruel joke had been played.

Someone had used red marker to colour in blood all over Roberts picture. Coming from his serious eyes, from his mouth, from his neck. Ami gasped and dropped the picture after looking at it for less than a second. Tears began to blur her vision. Duo rushed over to her, picking up the picture. Sanyu approached as well, none of her other friends noticing as they rummaged through the house.

Ami gingerly reached over to the picture of her father, hoping that it hadn't been touched. It had. She had been cut from the picture, but being that she was so small and on his shoulders only her head and a bit of sky above it had been cut out. And someone had drawn a rope around her neck, and had used the red marker to draw a line of blood from the edge of the mouth.

Her father was luckillyuntouched in the picture. A small note fell from the broken frame, and she dropped it and picked up the note. It simply read,

Welcome home.

Ami didn't care at the moment, as fresh tears now rolled down her cheeks.

"A nice welcome indeed," Quatre's voice said behind her, as she heard Makoto barely stifle a gasp.

"This is beyond cruel," Rei said, as Usagi snatched the pictures from Duo's hand.

"Unbelievable," Mamoru said, Minako nodding.

"We took every precaution. Locked everything," Minako said.

"That didn't matter. Unless you want to equip this house like an army base, you had better quickly figure out why this person hates you so much. Pretending like you don't know anything will not stop her from killing you," Heero said, as Trowa and Wufei were crouched behind him, inspecting the glass.

"They broke your window to get in. The locked windows meant nothing," Wufei said, standing.

"Are you sure you don't know her Ami? She seems to really hate you," Duo said.

"I'm sure," she said, wiping her tears.

"Duo, that girl is crazy," Rei defended.

"Yeah. She claims she's Ami's deceased boy friends sister. He never had a sister. She's just some psychopath who creates lives by reading about others from the newspaper," Makoto added, all the other girls nodding.

The pilots at them as if they were insane. Duo looked shocked.

"Come on. You really believe that," Duo said incrediously, looking at each girl in turn.

"We should clean up," Mamoru said, interupting. Everyone turned to look at him.

"He's right. Let's seperate. Um...me and Minako will clean up in the living rooms and hall. Makoto, you can take care of the kitchen. Ami, you and Rei clean upstairs. Mamoru, you take care of glass and start sealing up the window," Usagi said, taking charge.

"I believe there are boards and a tool box in the shed," Ami offered.

"Good, it's better if I board it up," Mamoru said, walking away.

"We'll help," Quatre said, afraid that the listening devices planted around the house may have been destroyed or exposed.

"It's okay. We'll be finished within the hour," Rei said.

"No," Wufei lied, "we want to." He earned a smile from Rei.

That evening...

The boys waved goodbye as they crossed across the lawn and finally entered their own house. After closing and locking the door behind them, Quatre turned to look at the others, who had all discarded their belongings in various places on the floor and were slumped in chairs, looking grouchy.

"Do you think that wierd girl was the one that trashed their house?"

Heero shrugged, pulling out his laptop to type up some notes, while Wufei gave a frustrated sigh.

"We're supposed to find and destroy the Sailor Scouts, not baby sit a bunch of teenage girls being threatened by a psycho killer."

"Wufei, I believe they are the sailor scouts," Trowa spoke up.

"Then let's kill them and get it over with," Wufei said, causing everyone to look up.

"I don't know. It seems wierd to me," Duo said, "I mean, if they really were the sailor scouts, wouldn't they be suspicious of us by now? They seem clueless to our whole mission."

"Unless they're playing games with us," Heero said, closing his laptop with a snap, "we need a new strategy to find out for sure."

"Well," Quatre said, "We've been hanging out with them every moment possible, as well as spying on them. Neither of the two has given us solid proof."

"That's because the girls simply aren't confiding in us as friends," Trowa said, causimng everyone to nod.

"Well then," Duo said, standing, "I have an idea!"

Everyone sighed.

"Hey, don't trash it 'till you hear it. Okay, ready? Okay, so how about we make the girls think we're more than friends?"

He was met with silence, before Wufei spoke.

"Maxwell, don't be ridiculous! There is no way I am romancing that stupid onna," Wufei, said, referring to Rei.

"It's flawed. Quatre is seemingly involved with Sanyu," Quatre blushed, "and Usagi and Mamoru are together. We'll get no information from Usagi," Heero stated.

"Not unless Quatre and Sanyu offer to group date with Usagi and Mamoru," Duo said, defending his idea.

"Your task is near impossible as well Maxwell," Heero stated monotoniously, "Mizuno's boyfriend died before Christmas. She'll give you a hard time."

"I'm up for a challenge. Especially if it means finishing the mission and getting out of here. Now who's with me," Duo said, standing. The others glanced at each other.

"This is completely against the rules," Quatre said with a sigh.

"Quatre, buddy, we're in a different demension, and we weren't hired for this mission by the preventers. I'd say that tradition is out the window," Duo said.

"I still don't think it's a good idea," Wufei grumbled.

"What Wufei? Don't have a way with the ladies," Duo teased, causing Wufei to growl.

Heeor stared at the group. Trowa noticed and glanced at him, shrugging. Heero mentally sighed. What harm could come from a new strategy? Besides, Minako was all over him. Perhaps a little response on his part would get her to open up.

"We have to have our own rules on this," he said finally, causing the others to look up. "One rule, actually. We cannot become attatched. I'm speaking specifically to you, Maxwell."

Duo gave a cry of protest.

"All in favor then," Quatre said. Everyone nodded.

"Come in Mackenzie," Makoto said opening the door to let a shivering blonde enter her apartment. Her dark green eyes gazed sadly at Makoto, signaling that something was wrong.

Makoto ignored it against better judgement, and invited her to take a seat at the dinner table.

After Makoto brought some dishes from the kitchen, she began to put some food in Mackenzie's plate. Mackenzie tapped her form nervously againt the table, drumming the fingers of her other hand on it continuously and glancing at her watch every couple of minutes.

"I can't take it anymore Makoto!"

Makoto sighed. What was with the sudden odd outburst? Since Mackenzie lived one floor beneath Makoto, they always ate dinner together, neither one having a family to eat with. Although Mackenzie had only known Makoto a little over a month, they had become close friends. Mackenzie's gorgeous Engligh accent was shining through now as she spoke, and the transfer student from England couldn't help but switch back and forth between English and Japanese. But there was always something a little unstable about her, and in Makoto's opinion, a little scary.

"Woah! Sorry! I'll give you corn instead of potatoes if you feel that strongly about it," Makoto said, grabbing Mackenzie's plate from her hand.

"That's not what I'm talking about," Mackenzie said, on her feet now as she spoke, moving towards the kitchen doorway, towards the table in the hall where she had her purse.

"Well what is it then? Because I've been nothing but good to you and you always seem to have a problem getting through one meal with me lately. What's wrong?" Makoto responded, following her. Mackenzie grabbed her purse and turned back to Makoto.

"I know you have! I know you've been good to me! It's I who isn't being good to you. I'm a liar!"

"What?" Makoto tipped her head at her friend, who sighed.

"I'm a fake. I'm sorry, Jupiter."

Makoto froze in her spot. How did she find out? When?

"What? What are you...what are you talking about," she said finally, glancing at Mackenzie. Mackenzie looked away.

"I was sent by the D galaxy."

Makoto cringed. Their worst enemies this year, and Mackenzie was one of them.

Mackenzie grew quiet, tears now forming in her eyes.

"I'm such a bad person," she said, "Makoto, I revealed you. I've indirectly killed you."

"How long have you been under their control," Makoto asked in a defeated voice.

"I- a year. I don't have powers or anything. I'm just a spy. I don't even get enough power to defend myself. I'm mortal."

"Look," Makoto said, fighting her own urge to both hit Mackenzie and cry as well, "it's alright. I'll stay with a friend. Just come with me to the temple, I can help you. You can join my side. You have no powers, so they don't have enough of a hold over you. You have enough time to get your life back as it was. It's not too late. You are human, good."

Mackenzie shook her head. She began to murmur.

"I'm sorry. I tryed to act like normal but I couldn't. I couldn't. Crazy people and powers. Monsters." She was reaching into her purse.

"Mackenzie, what are you doing?"

Makoto froze when something black and shiny was pulled from her purse. Mackenzie lifted a shaking hand to her head, removing the safety.

"Wait Mackenzie! Please! We're still okay! Nothing bad will happen! You told me in time! Don't do it!"

Mackenzie shook her head.

"In a few seconds, the Negaverse D galaxy warriors will be bursting in here."

"MACKENZIE! WAIT!" The sound of the gun was what surprised Makoto the most.

Almost instantly, the windows of her appartment shattered, as reality of her own danger set in.

"NO! Mackenzie, don't!" Makoto sat up, beads of sweat running down her forhead. Rei and Minako looked at her with concern. She looked around. She was fine. In bed. In the cabin.

"Bad dream," Rei said.

Makoto nodded.

"The worst."

The next day, the boys didn't come over until around three o'clock, at which point Duo pointed out he would be getting hungry soon.

Makoto set to work on making a quick dinner, Trowa and some of the girls helping. Once at the table, everyone began to pour their food.

"Hey, no potatoes with the chicken today Makoto," Duo commented sadly, "I love those potatoes. You didn't make any?"

"There will be no potatoes today," Makoto responded moodily, taking a sip of her water as she turned back to her chicken.

The boys glanced at each other. They had heard Minako wake up and shout a name through the speakers the night before. Today was not a good day. They would have to try tomorrow.

Ami emerged from the back door onto the deck with a warm smile on her face. Two days since they came home, and no attacks. True, there had been slight drama with Makoto in her remembrance of Mackenzie the day before, but that was another memory Ami wished to forget, so she chose not to think anything about it for the day.

Grabbing a good mystery novel, she made herself comfy on a chair on the deck, becoming entranced by her book...

"Ames, hey, what are you reading?"

Her book was snatched from her hand, interupting the confrontation she had been waiting in suspense for the past three chapters, as well as rudely pulling her from the world of the book she was so enthraled by.

"Just a book, Duo," Ami said irritably, snatching it from his hand and yet still moving over for him to take seat on the two-seater she had been lying on, flipping quickly through pages to try and find her place again.

"Aww,come on, it's not like it's real. Real life, and may I say, the pinnacle of real life, is sitting right next to you," Duo said, causing her to sigh and close the book, sitting up better to look at him.

"What is it that you wantDu- oh," she finished lamely, as Duo held out a lilly to her when she turned her face.

Duo laughed slightly. She took the flower, turning her face away slightly.

"How did you know I like lillies?"

"I asked your friends," he responded.

"This is nice, may I ask what the occasion is," she asked, finally meeting his gaze.

Duo shrugged.

"Does there have to be an occasion," he stated more the asked, before continuing, "but while we're on the subject, would you care to accompany me to dinner tonight?"

Ami was shocked, and she knew it showed.

"You mean, go in a group with our other friends?"

"No."

Ami grew quiet. It was too soon. As nice as Duo was, it was just too soon for her. She didn't deserve it right now, it wasn't a good idea.

She shook her head, almost doubtful of her decision not to go.

"Sorry."

Duo paused.

"Do you have plans?" She shook her head.

"Then why not?"

"I thought it would be obvious...It's really not okay for me to go right now." Duo didn't understand what she meant, but tried a different approach.

"Alright, forget dinner. Just take a stroll on the boardwalk with me this afternoon. Once we're there, we can decide if it's the right time, or if it's okay," he said, using her words against her. Ami sighed. She really had no reason not to go. And Duo was a nice guy, if not a little annoying at times. So why not?

"O-okay. I'll go," she said, and Duo jumped up instantly.

"Great! I'll be back around six-thirty."

And he left, leaving Ami sitting silently on the porch. And yet again, Ami did what she had secretely been doing from the start. She compared Duo to Robert. At a first comparison after she had met him, Duo's looks and personality seemed almost the opposite of Robert. Even the way Rob asked her out the first time was different...

Ami couldn't really call what Robert did as asking for a date. She realized this upon arrival. He had told her that she and her friends were all invited to meet him at a museum for an afternoon of fun, but upon arriving Ami had realized that she'd been tricked. Rob stood at the entrance alone, promicing her friends would be there soon, and suggesting that the two of them tour the museum before her friends came so that they didn't spend forever waiting.

Their quick head start turned into a three-hour tour. They laughed and discussed everything from the art work to heir personal lives, and Ami soon forgot about her friends. Whens she finally remembered as Rob suggested they go for a bite to eat, she asked, and Ron laughed.

"Ami Mizuno, you're probably one of the smartest people in the world, and you totally let me trick you into joining me!" Ami didn't mind as she looked at his face, set into a grin, and laughed.

"Well I'm glad."

Ami stood up, closing her book and heading inside. Itwould do no good to remember. No good at all.

Mamoru nodded as he listened to Quatre explain to him.

"I'm really just too shy to take Sanyu out by myself, since I do not speak perfect japanese and do not want to mess up and look like an idiot with anything at dinner. I thought that maybe if you and Usagi would double date with us the first few times, it would make it easier, " Quatre finished. Mamoru nodded right away.

"Of course Quatre. We will whenever you want. We completely understand. There are a few nice restaurants in town we can look into for tonight," Mamoru said. Quatre thanked him and left.

"So," a voice behind Manoru said. Mamoru turned around. Usagi stepped out from the hall where she had been listening in.

"He wants to date Sanyu. He wants us to go with him," Mamoru said.

"You agreed," Usagi pointed out. Mamoru nodded.

"I would rather that we went along every time he went out with Sanyu. We know what brutality she's capable of, she could hurt him," Mamoru said. Usagi nodded.

"Your right, let's keep an eye on her."

That afternoon, around three o'clock, Rei and Minako wandered the house, eventually entering the living room where Ami, Usagi, and Mamoru sat.

The news was on. Strange power outages and mass energy drainings in Tokyo, stopped by the Sailor Scouts, Uranus and Neptune.

Usagi was talking on her communicator.

"Are you sure? All we have to do is pack up and leave, we don't mind."

"No no," Haruka's voice, better known as Sailor Uranus, sounded through the speaker.

"It's really not that bad here Usagi. You girls are there to relax, and your days are practically numbered anyways, you've only got three weeks left there. If it get's too bad and too dangerous, we'll call you and let you know."

"Alright, thanks Haruka. You and Michiru take care of yourselves, and keep a good eye on Hotaru!"

"We will, no worries. Enjoy the rest of your vacation."

"Bye."

Usagi turned off her communicator and turned to the others. "There you have it," she said, "They don't need us back yet."

"Where's Makoto," Rei asked.

"She's gone out with Trowa somewhere. She told me, I just can't seem to remember," Usagi said, laughing slightly.

"Wow, strange coincidence. Duo asked Ami out, Makoto's out, you two," Minako pointed at Usagi and Mamoru, "are going out with Quatre and Sanyu, Rei and Wufei are going back to the temple together again, and I'm leaving at six o'clock for dinner with Heero, one which I knew he was dieing to ask me for," Minako ended dreamily.

"Wait a minute, we've all been asked to go somewhere tonight," Rei said unsurely, and everyone looked up.

"It's uh- quite a coincidence," She said unsurely.

"Perhaps a bit too much of a coincidence," Ami said, just as a loud voice entered the room.

"Hey all! It's me!" Everyone sighed.

"Oh no, it's Sanyu," Minako said.

"Keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't touch anything," Rei said, as Usagi stood.

Meanwhile...

Heero switched off the speaker in his house letting it record. Whow as Usagi talkingto anyways?He suddenly realized how valuable Sanyu was. She was the perfect distraction...

Makoto laughed, and she and Trowa made it to the tree.

"I win!"

"No, we tied," Trowa responded in his solemn voice, however his smile showed otherwise.

Makoto leaned forwards and placed a kiss on his lips, him returning it instantly.

"What did you tell your friends," he aksed as he pulled away.

"That we were going out. They've all been asked out, so it didn't matter."

"Do they know?"

"Know what, that we've been dating for the past month? No, they think this is the first time that we've gone out. How about your friends."

"Same."

"Well then, I'd say we're very good at sneaking around. We should get an award, especially considering how nosy my friends are," Makoto joked, taking his hand as the two continued on their walk.

Trowa wondered just how angry his friends would be after finding out that he and Makoto had been dating so long before they had agreed on it. Trowa knew only one thing. He had to fight how badly he was becoming attatched.

Rei gave a soft sigh, looking up from the fire. Nothing. It wasn't telling her anything. Wufei sat on a bench behind her, looking interested.

He was really just waiting to see her do to the flame like she had last time. She had made it flare up to the ceiling. However, whether this was an off day or if it was his presence that was disturbing her, he wasn't sure, because nothing was happening. Rei gave a loud sigh now, standing and turning to look at him.

"I'm done here." She sounded upset.

If Wufei hadn't been there, she wouldn't have just used her Shino practices, but also used the power of her planet to help her get through to her vision.

The two walked out silently, Wufei at a loss for what to say.

'Think,' he told himself, 'you have to romance her. Say something!'

"Where are we headed now," he finally spat out. "Home? The town?" Rei shrugged in a defeated sort of way, causing him to wonder what exactly she had wanted from her fire reading.

"Why are you so down," he asked, and she turned to look at him.

"Nothing," she said sadly, looking straight ahead again.

"It doesn't seem like it," he tried, but she didn't respond and kept walking. He caught her wrist, and she looked at him, shocked.

"What?"

"Let's go to town and get something to eat," he said, hoping he sounded genuine, "on me."

"Really?" Rei said unsurely, "are you sure you wouldn't rather just take me home?"

Wufei frowned. "Yes, I'm sure. Why would you think that?"

"I always just figured you hated me," Rei said flipantly as the two walked.

"Now where would you get that idea," Wufei stated and Rei laughed.

"I'll have a chicken ceasar salad," Minako said and she handed the menu to the waiter.

"I'll have the same," Heero said, handing the menu to the waiter but not taking his eyes off Minako, making her blush. In her mind, she was just thinking, 'Yes! He's totally into me!' Of course, Minako kept that to herself.

Heero could tell he was being very covincing in his act as he and Makoto ate. He kept complete eye contact when she spoke, something that was never difficult for him to do anyways, and nodded in understanding at everything she was saying, whether it was about her college applications or her hair.

He could tell she was completely smitten with him. Perhaps, on their next date, in a more secluded, less public place, he could ask question and get answers. But for now, all he had to do as earn enough trust from her.

Usagi and Mamoru sat down across from each other, Usagi was seated next to Sanyu, and Mamoru next to Quatre.

The group chatted casually before the waitress came for their orders. It was a local pizza place, quiet, with nice areas to sit.

"I'd like a large pizza with ham, bacon, and pepperoni on it," Usagi said, and then sweetly turned to Mamoru and asked, "And what would you like to eat?" Mamoru looked bewildered. He knew Usgai could eat, but...

Usagi laughed to show she was joking, and spoke to the bewildered waitress. "Sorry, I was joking. It'll be an x-large pizza for the table, what do you guys want on it?"

After the pizza came, it grew quiet as the four munched. Quatre smiled at Sanyu, who returned the smile. Usage glared suspiciously at Sanyu from the corner of her eye, not exactly realizing how much she was eating as she glared, taking large monstrous bites from her slices.

Sanyu caught Usagi's eye and frowned, causing Usagi to turn her attention elsewhere, to those sitting across from her. Quatre was staring at his pizza, in his hand, about to take a bit of it, and avoiding looking at Usagi and Mamoru. He looked amused, but wouldn't meet her eye.She looked at Mamoru, who was looking bewildered, and then down at the pizza. They had divided the pizza into two trays, half for Quatre and Sanyu, and half for she and Mamoru. She had eaten the whole half. Not only that, but it seemed that a piece Mamoru had already started on, his first, Usagi had taken from his plate and eaten from without even looking.

"Usako, I didn't even get to have one slice," Mamoru said. Usagi gave a sheepish grin, followed by a giggle, as Quatre and Sanyu placed a couple of pieces of their pizza onto Mamoru's plate.

Usagi dared not ask for desert, as she flashed an apologetic grin to a now laughing Mamoru.

Duo and Ami departed from the house, walking at a leisurely pace.

"I haven't actually visited the boardwalk for fun like this yet," Duo admitted as they walked, "I'm kind of excited."

Ami laughed slightly as they walked, and soon Duo struck up a conversation on his false college dreams, in which he asked Ami a few questions about it, hoping it would lead to other future topics. It didn't.

They passed by an ice cream stand.

"Do you wamt some Duo," Ami asked, pulling out her change purse, "Because I do."

Duo placed a hand on Ami's, stopping her from pulling out her money.

"I'm taking you out, remember? What flavour do you want?"

"Mint chocolate chip," Ami said, as Duo walked towards the stand. He bought himself a cookie dough ice cream cone and brought Ami hers.

The two continued in moderate silence, as they ate their ice cream. Duo kept glacing down at Ami from the corner of his eye, wondering what to do next. He didn't exactly make a plan, and he wanted to win her over so that he could continue with the stupid plan.

"Hey, I have an idea," Duo said as they finished their ice cream. Ami looked up at him. "Are you hungry?" She shook her head. Not after that huge ice cream she had just eaten.

"Me neither, so why don't we take a boat ride?"

"A boat ride?"

Duo pointed at a sign they had passed by, by the dock. They could rent boats, for which Ami saw as a couple's romantic idea of fun. She wanted no romance this afternoon.

"Come on, please," Duo said over her silence.

"Can't we just walk," she asked, and he shook his head.

"Please? I've never been on a ship!"

"Now you're lying," Ami joked, but Duo shook his head, trying to play the guilt card. He was becoming an excellent liar.

"Honestly! Just flying to Japan was a big step for me. I've never been on a ship, just went swimming."

"Duo, these aren't exactly prime examples of ships," Ami said, "They're row boats. We have to row ourselves. It's not a huge motor run ship."

"So," Duo said, "it still sounds like fun! Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Duo-"

"Please!"

Ami sighed loudly.

"Fine. Come on."

They rented the boat, and much to Ami's dissatisfaction, it was getting darker outside, as the sun began to set.

The boat was made of wood, horribly old, much older than the ones they rowed out on the lake by the park in Tokyo.

'Perfect to set the mood,' Duo thought, as they climbed in the boat. It was unhooked from it's chains ans the paddle's were given to them.

Duo took them and paddled first, far from the boardwalk. By the time they were far away enough, it was dark, the sun had set.

"Duo, don't go out too far, it's dark, I can barely see your face now."

"Ooh, that's very suggestive Ami."

"DUO!"

"Sorry, sorry. Hmm...what now," he asked, as he rowed around the area.

"We're too far, it's too dark. Let's head back."

"What? We just got out here," Duo defended.

"I know Duo, but we don't wanttoput ourselves in danger by being out here in the dark."

"Is that all you worry about Ami," Duo said flipintly, "What danger we'll put ourselves in? Relax, take it easy, we're fine."

Ami sighed in relief, realizing Duo had stopped paddling farther, and now the boat was still.

"So, how's the boat," Ami asked, remembeirng he had said he'd never been on one.

"It's awesome," Duo lied, "how's our date?"

"Duo."

"Well, you agreed, that once we were out here, you'de decide if our going out was 'okay' or not. So, how is it?"

"Fun so far," Ami responded, "That is, before you put me on a hundred year old row boat."

"Come on, this is totally fun. It's sets a romantic mood," Duo said.

"Hmmm. I'm really not getting that," Ami teased.

"Why? Aren't you enjoying us talking peacefully out here alone on this lake? Just the sounds of the water in the background." Duo's statement suddenly brought Ami back to reality, as she grabbed the paddles and began paddling backwards,trying unsuccesfully to fight the current and get them to shore.

"What's wrong with you Ami? Why suddenly in a rush," Duo asked, grabbing her hands as she was trying to put her energy into rowing.

"This isn't a lake Duo," Ami said a bit tempermentally, as she tried to row against the water.

"Wha- oh," Duo said, realizing what she meant. He had forgotten. The water by the boardwalk looked so peaceful, it was easy to forget that it was the same ocean as behind their cabins. There was current that could drag them far from shore.

The water was becoming more violent now, as the boat was noticeably being shifted around.

"Here,let me try,' Duo said, taking the paddle's from her and attempting to row back, a struggle, but now they were moving, trying to at least close the gap between where they had stopped and where the current had managed to drag them out to.

"Luckily, you realized before we drifted too far out," Duo said, as he rowed against the current, pausing to take a breather once they were back where he had stopped, about 80 feet from the dock.

"Just hurry up and row back," Ami said, "I'll help and take one of the paddles if you want, I have a bad feeling."

Duo frowned at what Ami said, but had no chance to respondwhen the boat was suddenly shaken violently by the water. Ami and Duo grabbed the sides of the boat to steady themselves, startled, and one of the paddles dropped into the water. Duo and Ami both lept to grab it, but they were too late and it sank.

"Perfect. Now what," Ami said.

"Hey, I still have one paddle. I'll make use of it, while you use your hands to help, you know, like a paddle in the water to even out the other side."

Ami glared, although it was dark and he couldn't really tell. "You sure know how to treat a lady."

She did as she was told though, knowing it was the only way, leaning over the other side of the boat. Again, the boat was tossed around, and Duo caught Ami's arm to stop her from being thrown out of the boat because she was leaned over so far.

"Thanks," she said, and again, the boat was thrown around. A cracking sound reached their ears, and they looked arund, before looking at the bottom of the boat.

"I think we've sprung a hole," Ami said, feeling the bottom for it, before her hands touched water. "It's right here. Water's coming in fast, we have to find something to stop it."

Duo looked at himself and Ami, realizing that Ami was in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and that he was in the same, and besides a bit of money in their pockets, change, they had nothing. The answer seemed obvious to both of them.

He pulled off his t-shirt, and the two stuffed it in the hole, giving relieved sighs as it held. Pausing for a moment to make sure the boat wouldn't be thrown around any more, they gave sighs of relief. Duo used the one paddle to try and move the boat, when suddenly, a sound louder than any before became aware. They both looked down. The bottom of the boat, near where Duo had plugged up the hold, was cracking. And not just a little. In what little they could see, it was going to be a huge hole in the bottom of the boat.

"That's not natural," Ami breathed out as she and Duo each inched away form the middle of the boat, afraid of what was happening. With a loud crack, it seemed to have been torn off, and to their shock, a hand came from the hole. Ami screamed, nearly falling backwards, as they got a better look in the dim light at the red hand.

"It's another monster," Duo said, as another hand came up from the hole, followed by a head. It cackled evily as they screamed again, debating whether to jump out and risk swimming or stay on the barely floating boat.

"Hello," it said, and before either could move, it had grabbed both of their necks from each hand, and began to drain energy, the two struggling violently.

Duo managed to kick the youma in the face, causing it to loosen it's hands, the two of them weakened a lot but not unconsious.

Simultaneously, they both fell backwards with loud screams as the youma let out it's own scream of anger, breaking the rest of the boat in two.

They hit the freezing water harshly, both managing to come to the surface instantly and search for the other.

"Where's the boy, he'll pay," The youma threatened, still in the water with them, as it grabbed Ami. Duo was only about 10 feet away, swimming towards them angrilly.

"Ah yes, there he is, there's the trouble maker that dared to fight me," the youma said, throwing Ami aside and moving towards Duo full speed. Duo froze in his spot and swam in the opposite driection, the youma right on his heels, toying with him.

It caught up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders, Duo taking a deep breath before it dunked him under the water, holding him there.

Ami swam up as fast as she could behind the youma, A piece of the spilintered boat in her hand. With all the force left in her, she stabbed it into the youma's back. The youma screamed and let go of Duo, who came up sputtering. the two began the hundred feet or so swim towards the shoure, the youma's anguished shouts to near by for comfort.

"It was fun tonight," Quare was saying as the group walked home that night. They were still in town.

As they were nearing the boardwalk and dock, they heard screams. Usagi approached a woman running off from the boat rental.

"What's going on?"

"Y-youma! Run!" And the woman took off, the group taking notice of how deserted the boardwalk was quickly becoming.

"Who's in the water," Quatre asked, as the four approached the edge of the dock.

Another round of screams followed, and they heard splashing.

"Hello," Usagi called.

"Who's out there? Should we get hep? Can you swim to shore?"

There was no response, however the light by the dock revealed what they needed.

Ami and Duo tiredly got within 25 feet of the dock, before being caught up to by the youma.

"You pathetic human! You hurt my back," It said angrilly, focusing on Ami as it grabbed her arm.

Mamoru threw off his light jacket and shoes, and Quatre did the same, readying themselves to go in.

The youma swam below, drowning Ami's screams and taking Ami down with it, and Duo gave a shout of fury as he swam down.

"Oh my God, It's Duo and Ami," Usagi said, just as Quatre and Mamoru dived into the water, following where they thought they could see them going.

"Should I follow," Usagi asked, suddenly realizing she was only with Sanyu.

"With how much pizza you just ate, you'll sink strait to the bottom," Sanyu mocked, watching the scene with no emotion on her face.

Rei and Wufei exited the small diner they were eating at, wondering why everyone was suddenly running away. They spotted their friends and came over to them.

"What's going on," Makoto's voice called. She and Trowa had left the woods and hand headed down here for dinner.

"Is that you guys," Minako called as she and Heero waved, coming over. "What's happening?"

While Usagi explained, Wufei and Rei figured what was happening and ran into the shack by the rental wher it controlled the lights. Wufei moved the spot light pointed farther out onto the ocean for boats to the area around where their friends had swam down, hoping it would help.

It did. Suddenly able to see a bit, the two caught up to Duo, who was very tired and needed air. Quatre ushered for him to do so. Duo swam up, breaking the surface and startling everyone, before taking a deep breath and going back down.

Ami fought against the vengeful youma as he tryed to retain air, something that was not working in her weakened state.

She could see a bit more, and considered transforming to destroy the youma, but two things were against her: She was too weak to transform, and she could see Mamoru and Quatre swimming towards her, as well as a refreshed Duo not too far behind. The youma realized it had more followers and stopped in it's spot, ready to attack them.

Ami's only defense was to pound her right fist into where she had stabbed at the youma with the wood, it's only weakened spot.

It growled, tossing her aside and preparing an attack, when suddenly Quatre came up behind it, and using the gun he had stowed with him the entire night, fired into the youma's back, stopping it in it's tracks as he had wounded it, but only temporarilly. Duo and Mamoru swam down deeper to where Ami had been thrown, both searching.

The girls except for Sanyu glanced at each other. They had been down there a long time, or at least it felt like it. What was worse, they couldn't transform with Wufei, Heero, and Trowa around.

Duo spotted Ami drifting down to his right, and swam down and grabbed her. She was consious, but just barely, unable to move.

He felt his body stiffen, realizing he too was very much weakened from the youma attack. Duo ushered to Mamoru with his last bit of strength, and Mamoru got the idea, ushering to Quatre, who swam down as well. Mamoru grabbed Ami from Duo and Quatre helped a quickly weakening Duo swim to shore. They broke the surface all at once, all taking deep breaths. Mamoru swam to the dock first, passing the now limp Ami up to Heero, Wufei, and Trowa, all waiting by the edge to help everyone up while the girls all crowded behind them, wanting to do more than just that but feeling out of place having to hide their powers.

"Oh my gosh," Rei said, as Ami was layed out on the deck. The guys helped Mamoru up, who wobbled over to Usagi but was fine, and grabbed the almost unconsious and completely limp Duo from Quatre, who also need assistance onto the high dock.

Mamoru and Quatre, tired but fine, sat down while everyoen gathered aorund the other two.

"You carry a gun to dinner," Mamoru breathed out tiredly to Quatre.

"The youma's not dead yet," Quatre said, trying to breath.

"Then why hasn't it shown itself," Sanyu asked a bit too calmly for the girl's liking. It suddenly burst out of the water. The one light on the dock turned off, being done so by Makoto, who had crept away to transform.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!" The voice of the senshi ripped through the silence as an attack was hurtled at the hovering youma, whom was disinigrated in it's weakened state on impact. She is and detransformed, creeping back over to her friends.

Heero ran to the shack and switched the lights on.

"Someone turned them off," he said, looking at the girls suspiciously, but they were all exactly where they were when the lights had gone off, and ignored him as they tended to Ami and Duo, conscious but coughing up water and weakened greatly, unable to move very much let alone stand up.

"What heppened you two," Minako asked, taking notice of Duo misisng his shirt and the fact that they were out in the water to begin with.

"Now's not the time Mina," Makoto said, as Duo was trying to stand with Usagi's help. As soon as he was on his feet, he collapsed, and Wufei sighed and picked him up. Tired Quatre and Mamoru did not do any carrying, as Trowa picked up Ami. Minako couldn't help but notice Quatre hovering slightly behind the group as Heero spoke quietly to him.

Sorry for any typos, and PLEASE review. I'm becoming dissapointed by the reviews noticing the hits and alerts my story is on, because no matter how I look at them they don't add up. A review, any review, will mean a lot to me, and encourage me to update sooner than I would when very busy.