Third Time's the Charm
By Bashfulglowfly
Chapter Eleven
Makoto was speechless.
She could only stare in horror.
She had never seen anything so horrific in her life…and the SMELL.
She closed the refrigerator door. She rubbed her eyes but she didn't think she could ever erase the memory. All that was in the refrigerator was beer, soda and fast food leftovers. She wasn't totally sure but there may have been something moving in the back.
Neph smiled hesitantly at her. "Um, tell you what. I'll just clean that out right now." He grabbed a large garbage bag and opened the refrigerator door and began shoving in the fast food containers.
Makoto just nodded. She was numb. But she did notice that while he rapidly discarded the containers, he was rather careful about moving the beer. Kazuya was right. No one in this house was really able take care of things.
She'd had a long talk with Kazuya about her housekeeping responsibilities in exchange for room and board. Pretty much whatever she wanted to do was fine. She was in charge. She had been surprised at the amount of money that was going to be available for her to spend but she realized that she was used to only buying mostly for herself. Certainly not for five males that probably ate their weight in food. And Usagi. She'd already seen how that girl could put food away.
Kazuya told everyone that they would have to bring their laundry to the laundry room for Makoto. She wasn't going to play fetch. And everyone was going to have to get his or her own laundry after she was done because she wasn't going to be a delivery service either.
Everyone had such different schedules mealtimes were often grab and run, at least on the part of the guys. She was already formulating how she could make things that were easy to heat but were nutritious. She also planned in insisting that at least once a week that everyone in the house sat down and had a meal together. That way they could stay connected. She tugged lightly on her ponytail. Perhaps we should include Mamoru, Rei, Ami and Minako. Rei needs to see that Jade isn't a bad guy and Minako just flat out needs to be away from that mother of hers. She didn't have the premonition skills of Rei but she was fairly certain that Minako wasn't going to be able to last much longer in her parents' house.
She pulled out a piece of notebook paper and began making a list of the supplies that she'd need. She noticed that she'd need cleaning supplies as well as basic foodstuffs. There was nothing that she could use in the cupboards.
She was glad that she was able to save most of her plants from her old apartment. She was certain that they would like this new house. Plants made things look and smell better.
She decided that she'd also get some sort of board so that if anyone wanted something special, they could write it on the board and she would buy it. If not, tough luck, they could go buy it themselves or do without.
She gasped as she felt lips brush against her cheek. She turned and looked into Neph's chocolate brown eyes. She blushed.
Neph smiled and gently kissed her cheek again. She noticed that he was holding the very full trash bag as far away from them as possible. "What are you thinking about, beautiful?"
Makoto smiled back. "I was thinking about insisting on having a Family Dinner night. And possibly including Mamoru and the other girls."
"Good idea. I think the other guys would like that. And it would provide some normalcy for Usagi and Shingo. Aunt Ikuko insisted that the family have dinner together every night and they're missing that." He sighed. "At the very least the three of you will usually have dinner together. And the rest of us would just have to let you know if we're going to be home. Maybe we can set up something where we can see everyone's schedules and know who's going to be where and when. Of course, there are always emergencies and last minute changes…"
"But it's a start." Said Makoto.
"Yeah." Neph walked across the kitchen, opened the door and walked outside. She could hear him open the trashcan and shove the trash bag inside. He came back in, shutting the door behind him, walked to the sink and washed his hands. While drying them, he eyed Makoto. "I'm going to be blunt. How long is it before Minako ends up here?"
"Artemis talks a lot to you guys, doesn't he." Makoto said dryly.
Neph hung up the towel. "We've actually had to pry Minako's situation out of him. He's pretty loyal to her about her private life. But we do know that it isn't good. While Kazuya is concerned about how it may look in regards to Minako and himself, he's more concerned about her mental health and physical well-being."
Makoto frowned. "I don't think that Minako's mom would hit her. Minako would clean her clock."
Neph pointedly raised an eyebrow. "Which is what Kazuya wants to prevent."
"I know." She looked Neph in the eye. "Kazuya's…interested…in Minako."
Neph smiled and ran a finger down her cheek. "We're all…interested…in each of you. But, Kazuya has the harder time of it because of the 10 year age difference."
"That's not going to be a problem in a thousand years!" Makoto protested.
Neph pulled her into his arms and rejoiced at the feel. He laid his cheek on the top of her head. "I know, honey. But it's a problem now. There's ten years between the two of them and eight years between you and me. You and Minako, not to mention the other girls, are jailbait to all of us. We just can't afford something going wrong." He tilted her head up so that he could look her in the eyes. "We love you. Truly, madly and so deeply no one will ever be able to find the end of it. But as for being lovers…not until you're legal. We want you. Make no mistake about that. But we're not going to touch you until it's legal for us to do so."
Makoto stared back at him. "And it's not going to be fair if Minako or any of us try to push you or 'tease' you. At least not for another year."
Neph hugged her hard and let go. "When you turn sixteen, you can 'tease' me all you like."
Makoto laughed "Pervert!"
"I see what they did! It's bigger on the inside than on the outside." Exclaimed Ami.
Makoto nodded. "That's how everyone is able to have their own room. Even me. Kazuya rearranged things so that Usagi and I wouldn't have to share."
"You better hope that the neighbors don't ask for a tour." Said Rei.
"The neighbors aren't all that nosey for whatever reason. Besides, even if they do come over they won't have any reason to go past the living room. Well, the half-bath at least." Said Usagi.
"I'm guessing that Shingo's room is down here." Said Minako.
Usagi nodded. "Yeah, he's just not up to negotiating the stairs just yet. Fortunately his classroom is on the first floor as well."
"How's he handling you being Sailor Moon?" asked Rei.
"He's okay with it. He's known for a while. I wasn't as careful as I should have been getting back into my room a few times. But he never said anything."
"How does he feel about being the only 'normal' one?" asked Minako.
"He isn't." said Ami.
The other girls looked at her while Usagi nodded. "Ami's right. We think that he may be connected to Saturn. She woke early and he's started showing some powers in the last few days. So because of Saturn's early awakening and…and what we've gone through recently, Shingo's powers are starting to wake up."
"At least he has some idea of what's going on instead of being flung into it like we were." Said Makoto.
Usagi nodded. "True. And the guys are planning on training him as soon as possible. Even if it's only the Magical portion of his powers. The sooner he has control of those the better off he'll be."
"What about the girl who's your daughter from the future? Where is she?"
"She's with the Outer Senshi. For now at least." Usagi sighed, her eyes were sad. "It's safer for her to be with them. They're stronger than we are and are able to hide Small Lady's powers better than we can."
"I thought her name was Chibi-Usa?" said Rei.
Usagi smiled. "It's actually Serenity Usagi Chiba. But her parents call her Small Lady or Chibi-Usa depending on the situation." She laughed, "She even answers to 'Rotten Brat' every now and then!"
The other girls laughed with her. Minako idly twisted a strand of hair around one finger. "And where did you say Kazuya's room was?" she asked casually.
"MINAKO!"
Minako blinked not so innocently then laughed as she held up her hands trying to stop the wrath of her sisters. "Okay, okay! I know. It's none of my business and it's not fair to go around teasing."
The girls moved back into the kitchen where Makoto checked on the progress of dinner. The other girls made sure that the large round table was set. "Why a round table?" asked Rei.
Usagi shrugged. "Kazuya said it would be easier for everyone to talk with each other."
"Pass the rice please." Jade handed the bowl to Ami who passed it to Zoi who added to his plate. Makoto smiled because everyone was more intent on eating than talking for the moment. Minako was quietly talking to Kazuya who nodded and occasionally replied to her comments. Rei was trying to ignore Jade but Makoto could see that Rei's eyes couldn't leave the man. Ami and Zoi were concentrating on their plates but their awareness of each other was obvious. She could see that Usagi and Shingo were a little sad but were trying not to bring the ghosts of their parents to the table. Mamoru talked with Neph about studying for university exams but he also was very aware of Usagi and wrapped one long arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and kissing her temple. Usagi leaned against him briefly then sat back upright, her ghosts gone from her eyes.
"OH!" All eyes turned to Rei. She was staring at Jade; the look on her face showing that she had just realized something. "You said that you grew up next to Kazuya, Usagi and Shingo, correct? Your family…did they make it though the Earthquake and Tsunami okay?"
Jade looked at Usagi and Shingo who were both blinking back tears and leaning against each other. He looked back at Rei. "My parents were in Hawaii when it happened, so they were safe. They got back a few days ago. They lost everything as well but they are staying with family in Nagano until they can get things settled and figure out what they want to do next. My sister is here in Tokyo but she's okay."
Rei nodded. "You have a sister? What's she like?"
Zoi snickered. "She has the hots for Kazuya and has tried just about everything short of tying him up to get into his pants."
Minako's voice was frosty. "Oh really? She's interested in Kazuya?"
Jade eyed her warily. "Yeah, has been for years but he's ignored her."
Neph laughed "She's been persistent for years. And she calls him and asks him out at least once every couple of weeks."
Kazuya gave a wary glance at Minako who was tapping her finger against her glass, her expression growing chillier by the minute. "The secretaries don't put her calls through and don't even bother taking messages when she calls."
Zoi snorted. "Doesn't stop her from leaving messages here." He grinned. "But hey, at least she isn't stuffing her bra with tissue anymore!"
Jade laughed, leaning back in his chair. "No, but she's stuffed her boobs with silicone instead. Mom and Dad are still angry with her about that. They keep telling her that Kazuya isn't interested and to give up and find someone that is interested. But she insists that she'll be able to change his mind."
"She won't." said Kazuya.
The frost deepened around Minako. "Oh, I'm sure she will give up. VERY soon."
Author's note: In this story, the girls didn't forget that they had fought Beryl. Also they didn't start the year over again like they did in the anime so they are 15 now. I've decided for the sheer heck of it that the legal age is 16. Whether or not that is actually true. I don't know. Don't care actually since this is a work of fiction.