A/N: I think I've lost quite a number of loyal readers. That's what happens when you stopped writing for the better part of the year! Silver lining: it gives me the leverage to write at my own pace without feeling as guilty. Still, to those out there who are still reading my stories, I am very grateful. Thank you! :)

catgirl505: *giggles & blushes* ;) shaydoe: Thanks Shay! I've been missing you... Moonprincess998: Thank you! You must be very close to your Mom. That's very sweet! :) For me it was my late Nana that used to brush my hair... Dream01: lol. Thanks! :) AngelEye: lol. I just had to put that in! I'm glad it got that reaction out of you. Thank you for the motivation and greetings! You're very sweet. :)nickybluejess: I saw it in my head too and just had to write it down! I think it's one of the best compliment to a writer when their readers are also able to see the picture in their head. Thanks ever so much! :) mischiefmaker: Wow! Thanks! I'm not sure I deserved it, but thanks! It's nice to know my absence hasn't gone completely unnoticed! ;) LoveInTheBattleField: Thanks for the info! I've actually seen some of the S+D scenes via YouTube but haven't had the time as yet to watch full episodes. Are they better than the original anime?

Thoughts are in Italics.

(Standard disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters. All characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.)

S plus D equals little s squared plus little d squared (S + D = ss + dd)

Guardians

Timeline: takes place right after Chapters 10: Hair Brushing Session

Rating: K/K+

No. Of words: 733 words

"Look at that! He's actually brushing her hair for her and she's letting him!" A few feet away from the open door, Mina quickly took her phone out to capture the moment, gushing as she snapped blackmail worthy images on her phone, "Oh! They look so cute together!"

"Mina," Kevin reprimanded lightly though she knew him and was able to see the amusement in his eyes and the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh come on! You think it's adorable too!"

"Adorable?" he asked, bending to kiss her lightly. "Hmm...I certainly think you are," he said, brushing her jaw tenderly with his thumb and putting a hand behind her back to stir her away from the scene, adding, "Though I don't think Darien will appreciate being called adorable."

"He's there brushing her hair for her!" Mina turned back and motioned to the family sitting on Serena's bed and almost squealed at the sight of Darien playing with Serena's hair, an expression of complete awe on his face as he combed through the golden strands and wound them around his fingers.

"Oh! He's sniffing her hair!" She did squeal now, just a gasp under her breath and gleefully snapped another picture, "definitely adorable and definitely blackmail worthy!"

"If things go according to plan, they'd be remembering the past soon enough. Those pictures would be pointless as blackmail material once they remember how much they love each other."

"Shows what you know! Even if they do remember the past, I doubt Darien would want these images to get out. One word from me and Jason would have them pinned all over the Uni! There goes his 'cool guy' image! Just the threat of that and we'd have him as our slave for life!"

At the mention of Jason, Kevin shook his head, "You and your cousins," he murmured, not without amusement and affection.

Mina raised her eyebrow, "What about me and my cousins?" she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

Kevin bit back his chuckle.

"Nothing," he shrugged and continued, "Adorable, the three of you are."

"Three of us? I take it you don't consider Amara adorable?"

"I imagine she'd have the same horrified expression on her face as Darien would, to be described with such a word. There goes her 'fierce girl' image." The last sentence was said mockingly in the same tone she had used to describe Darien's so called 'cool guy' image.

Mina laughed and continued to watch the couple and their future children.

She sighed dreamily, "I can't believe it. The mighty Prince of Earth, brushing Rena's hair for her!"

"He loves her. He may not realise it yet, or may not be able to admit it to himself yet, but he does."

Her expression turned serious.

"Hmm... you do realise that if he does anything to hurt her, I'm going to have to hurt him. You realise that, right?"

"He won't Mina. At least not on purpose."

"How do you know, Kev? She's innocent. Completely innocent and completely vulnerable."

"He may not be as innocent but he's every bit as vulnerable..." He rubbed her arms comfortingly as he continued, "Loving someone makes you vulnerable. It gives the other person the power to hurt you simply because they matter and you care. She's Rena. No one can resist her, least of all him. He's her soul mate. He loves her. That gives her the power to hurt him. You know this as well as I do."

"That may be. But I will still make his life a living hell if ever he hurt her," she stated vehemently.

Kevin eased her close and pressed his cheek to her hair.

Her arms automatically came up and wrapped tightly around him.

For a moment she closed her eyes, let herself listen to the steady beat of his heart, inhale his familiar scent and enjoy the comfort of his hands stroking gently over her back.

"I'm her guardian, Kev. It is my duty to protect her."

"As is mine."

"You answer to him. Your duty is to him."

"And he belongs to her, bound to her. Any pain she feels, he'll feel. Any pain she feels will hurt him more than his own pain. Protecting him means protecting her."

"She's my cousin. My best friend."

"He's my brother in every way that counts."

"We are their guardians."

"We'll keep them safe."

Posted on fanfiction: 28 August 2014

Non-TOBITF Readers: Jason is Serena's older brother and they are both cousins to Mina and Amara in the TOBITF world.