Chapter Seven

'Curiouser and curiouser!'
Alice in Wonderland
-Lewis Carroll

With a final stroke of her hand, Jenny completed the flowing tresses of Maximilian Gordon. The drawing was one of her best: purely subjective and completely fantastical, yet somehow more honest than her other two dimensional studies. Previous pages revealed her muse in a variety of poses or engaged in ordinary tasks. There was Max looking over his shoulder with a lazy smile; Max frowning at his PDA, reading glasses on and legs crossed; Max laughing, his eyes alight as he spoke on his cell phone. None of them came close to revealing the vitality and soul of the inner Max as displayed in her most recent image. She had drawn him as a bare-chested angel with wings spanning the page. His hair was loose and flowing, and one hand was lifted as if to reach out from the paper and offer grace to the beholder.

But Max would never glimpse the flattering portrait - Jenny planned to rip it out and stash it away from all eyes but her own. She gazed down at it for a moment, wishing she had a bit of gold leaf to illuminate the charcoal eyes. The distraction had worked magic, but now that the trance was wearing off, she became aware of the two men on the opposite side of the room. Max lectured while Nick listened with a fire in his eyes that showed a strong desire to prove himself. They appeared to have forgotten her presence as completely as she had ignored theirs.

A knock on the door proved a timely interruption. The hour hand on Max's dark wooden antique clock above the fireplace had slid past the eight without their notice. Max's steady voice faltered as Sera poked her head in the room with an apologetic grin. "A phone call for you, sir. From the States."

Max sighed. "That's code for my father. She refuses to use 'that heartless bastard,' so we substitute. I won't be a minute." He leapt to his feet with feline grace and proceeded past Sera into the hallway, giving her a quizzical look as he went. Sera inclined her head in a half-attempt at a bow before shutting the door.

The fire snapped, crackled and popped, painting patterns of light on the walls. Nick was watching her. She felt it as clearly as if his arms had extended from across the room and taken her by the shoulders. She could only study the colors of Max's oriental rug for so long; she had to say something.

"So… how did you get to be Max's intern?"

His expression, when she looked up, was slightly sardonic. "Max, huh? You two are on a first name basis?"

"We are."

She expected a tart reply, but he only shrugged. His eyes fell on the open sketchbook in her lap. "Can I see?"

"No." Jenny closed the book with a snap. After meeting his eyes for several seconds, she burst out with, "Look, I had no idea you were going to be here." It seemed very important to explain this to him.

Nick laughed dryly. "As in, if you did, you wouldn't have come? I get it. I can't blame you for wanting to avoid me. You must think I'm stalking you. If you're lucky, this will be the last time."

Jenny blinked. "Nick, that's not-"

The door handle turned and she fell silent. A flash of resentment crossed Nick's face as Max entered. "Short and to the point, as always," he said with a shake of his head. "But I realize now that I've been keeping you. Mr. Kestrel, I'll have one of my secretaries phone you to schedule our next appointment. Jenny, I'll see you at the usual time."

Nick nodded at the dismissal and began to gather his notes. He looked perfectly composed except for a slight firmness to his lips. Jenny was distracted from her own task of cleaning up, and several times dropped her pencils as she tried to stuff them into their case. Nick zipped his portfolio and stood, smoothing the creases from his slacks. Almost a full ten seconds passed before Jenny realized that Max had moved from the doorway and was standing beside her.

"I've asked Sera to rouse the driver. He'll be ready for you in ten minutes." Since their first session together, Max had had his driver bring her home in one of his army of Rolls Royces, stating the necessary caution after the attacks on her weeks ago. Jenny couldn't argue with the logic. Her life had been quiet since then, perhaps because of his protection. But that night…

"Thanks, but I think I'll walk." Jenny bent to close her backpack. As she straightened, she looked at Nick. He was standing by Max's desk, as if awaiting permission to leave, listening closely.

The announcement was not one that Max wanted to hear. He frowned and looked her over sharply, his golden eyes probing before speaking. "Jenny, it's dark and it's late. You know why I'd rather-"

"I'll be fine. Honestly. It's a nice night and I want to walk."

Nick cleared his throat. "I'll go with her, sir, if that helps. If Jenny doesn't mind." His eyes fell on her inquiringly.

Jenny shook her head.

Max didn't look pleased, but seemed to realize that there was nothing he could do about it. "Very well," he said shortly. "Sera will see you out." Instantly, his expression changed and he was all geniality and class as he strode across the room to shake Nick's hand. As Jenny started towards the door, Max suddenly reached out and clasped a hand on her shoulder. He squeezed for just a second before letting go. In the hallway, Jenny looked back and saw him standing before the fireplace. Red light flickered on his face.

Outside, night had fallen, leaving only the faintest afterglow of twilight. Silver clouds hovered in the sky, lit by the lights of a vibrant city. Nick and Jenny walked down the front path through the beautiful landscaping in silence. The rolling grass and colorful gardens had always reminded her of an English manor's enchanted grounds. The Gordon mansion was truly a world apart from the city outside. They reached the black iron gates surrounding the property, and a guard stepped silently from the shadows to let them out. Jenny heard the soft hiss of Max's fountain of a marble Minerva before the gate clanked shut behind them and locked, closing them out from the surreal world of wealth.

The air was warm for mid-October. Green hedges lined the road and rustled softly in the breeze, providing a feeling of peace. Jenny couldn't help feeling that it would be short-lived. She was more than regretting her decision to go with him as they walked together down the sidewalk. She didn't know what had prompted it … something about his voice maybe. She only hoped Nick would have the sense to keep his mouth shut. She couldn't handle another conversation like the last one they'd had. When she heard his soft intake of breath, she winced, but what he said was surprising.

"I'm sorry."

Jenny turned to him quickly. When it became clear that she was stunned into silence, he continued, "I had no right to speak to you the way I did last time. Whatever I said, if I hurt you… I never meant it."

"Well, you got that off your chest. Feel better?"

"Not particularly." He was frowning when she glanced at him. "I didn't say it for my peace of mind."

Jenny was beginning to feel embarrassed. "Yeah, well, it wasn't only you. Just forget it, okay? It doesn't matter."

"It does, but I won't argue with you." Nick kicked a pebble on the sidewalk and Jenny watched it roll into the gutter. She dug her hands into the front pocket of her sweatshirt and chewed her lower lip. Echoes of their words lay heavily in the air. She had to change the subject.

"How do you like Max? I've been seeing him for a few weeks now."

Nick's lips tightened. "Seeing him how?"

Jenny actually stopped walking to stare at him. "What's up with you?" she asked honestly, wondering at the same time why she cared. Nick faced her slowly, not a bit of humor in his brown eyes.

"I just think-" He seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "-you should be careful around him."

"Around Max?" Jenny would have laughed if he didn't look so serious. "What, do you think he's going to pull a gun on me?"

"Not a gun." Jenny waited patiently for clarification, but when he didn't elaborate, she started walking again.

"I don't know what you think, but he's my friend. I trust him." Her tone implied that the subject was closed. Nick took the hint. He walked beside her a little sullenly, hands resting in his coat pockets, his portfolio in the crook of his arm. Jenny tugged absently on her ponytail. Nick was normally so vivacious and talkative. This dark silence was unnerving.

The continued subject of his irritation became clear with his next statement. "Don't you think there's something strange about him?"

Jenny sighed. "Should you be talking that way about your boss?"

"He's a man, Jenny."

"Yeah. I've noticed."

"I don't think you have. You can't treat him like another of your little art projects and expect him to sit and smile while you mold him and let that be it. He might … just be careful, alright?"

Jenny didn't speak for a moment. Indignation was growing in her chest, but the last thing she wanted was to turn this into another yelling match. She took a deep breath to calm the fire. "It's touching that you're trying to be my father. It really is - but you're wrong. You've seen him. He could have any woman in the world he wanted, even without his wealth. I'm just a kid compared to him."

"'You shall yet be far fairer than you are.'" A passing car roaring down the road lit up Nick's face.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Just a quote. From Antony and Cleopatra."

Jenny stared at him and then smiled despite herself. "I forgot. You were the best Marc Antony our school had ever seen. You remember that? It was ages ago."

Nick drew himself up, seeming cheered. "I could quote the entire thing if you wanted."

"That's okay. To think, I used to believe you couldn't even read a menu."

"I wouldn't be here attending a top university if that was true."

"I know," she agreed, sighing. "But it's much easier to think of you as a moron. It's just self defense. You're better than me at almost everything. Don't take it personally."

He smiled and his brown eyes lingered on her face before turning to examine some trees on the opposite side of the road. This time their silence was bearable. They walked in contentment another few blocks, each mind active with their own thoughts, before Nick started laughing. Jenny looked around for the source of his amusement. After discovering no trace, she turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing," he insisted and quickly sobered. Jenny shrugged and passed it off as an unexplainable Nickism, but before ten seconds had passed, he was laughing again.

"What is it?"

Nick looked at her, and although his laughter dimmed, it didn't stop. "Nothing. I was just thinking about old Mrs. Greensbury." Jenny stared at him incredulously for a moment before relaxing into a smile. Trust the jerk to bring up something like that at a completely unrelated time.

"With her lazy eye and false teeth?" Jenny giggled, the part of her mind that always warned her to never show feeling around Nick slipping into the background. "What brought her up?"

"I have no idea. I was thinking about the time we saw her trimming her prized rose bushes and decided to 'help' by cutting them ourselves. I think we had just seen Edward Scissorhands. Do you remember?"

Jenny nodded, laughter flushing her cheeks. "Yes! I'll never forget the way she screamed. I thought she was going to kill us."

"I bet she wanted to. Remember how she came after us waving her shears? Lucky I was there to help you escape, huh?" He winked.

Jenny stopped laughing. "That's not how I remember it. You tried to grab me and run, but you tripped over her garden hose and sprained your ankle. I ended up pulling you away in that red plastic wagon you used to have."

Nick rolled his eyes. "My hero. Well, it was a stupid thing to do. I never should have listened to you."

"Excuse me, it was your idea. You were always getting me into trouble." Jenny glared at him until he broke the tension with another laugh.

"I don't believe this. We're arguing about something that happened a decade ago."

Jenny grinned. "You brought it up." They smiled at each other until Nick's expression faltered and he looked away.

"Don't you miss it?"

"Um… being chased by Mrs. Greensbury?"

"No, this. Us. Just… talking."

Jenny's face flooded with color. Just when they were getting along… "I wasn't the one who ended it. If you don't like it, it's your own fault."

"Believe me, I know. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry a thousand times, but there's only so many times I can say it. We're both older now. I'm still hoping we can forget what's past and try to be friends."

Jenny stayed silent. She was beginning to feel quite miserable. "I don't know," she said finally. "I don't want to hate you or fight with you, but there's so much-" She broke off, seeing his face and the disappointment he was inept at hiding from her. "We can try," she added weakly. "Between Usagi and Max we're probably going to be seeing a lot of each other. We might as well make it work."

A smile lit Nick's face, clearly visible under the streetlight they passed under. For an instant, Jenny forgot to breathe. "That's all I wanted," he said complacently and extended a hand. After a brief hesitation, she took it, feeling the warmth of his skin against her cold fingers.

"Idiot," she said pleasantly, drawing her hand back to keep the situation from becoming too sentimental. His responding laugh made her smile. Maybe she could learn patience with him.

They walked on, completely at ease with each other's company - and oblivious that while they spoke and laughed about the past they were not alone. Something followed them, matching their steps, watching from the deepest shadows. Dark eyes peered out from between the hedges and alternately burned hatred, jealousy, longing, anger and grief. With a shudder of pain, the creature threw back its head and a beastly howl of fury swept through the night.

Several feet ahead, Jenny stopped walking and shivered violently. Her breathing quickened; she stood tensely, listening, her eyes sweeping from side to side. The night air had suddenly seemed to drop twenty degrees. But it wasn't the temperature that bothered her so much as the feeling of being watched. Her teeth chattered nervously. Perhaps it would have been wiser to take Max's car given her past luck.

Nick looked back with concern. "Jen, are you okay?"

"Ye-es." Jenny wasn't sure. She tried to clear her face of worry, but he wasn't convinced.

"Come on," he said, holding out a hand. "It's getting cold." Jenny didn't need him to repeat himself. She hurried ahead and walked beside him much more closely than she normally would have, but at that moment giving herself away was the least of her concerns. Although she felt better with him beside her, she kept casting nervous glances around for the slightest movement in the dark. Jenny was so focused on her senses that she didn't realize how close she had gotten to Nick until she brushed against him and stepped back in surprise.

"What's wrong?" he asked bluntly, unable to dismiss her strange behavior any longer.

But Jenny couldn't tell, as if speaking her fears would make them true. "Nothing," she said and added an attempt at a smile. "Just cold."

"You should have brought a jacket."

"I wasn't expecting Tundra air to blow through. Just shut up, okay?" She stepped beside him again. His body heat and the verbal sparring were strangely comforting - even more so when Nick put his arm around her shoulders. Her first reaction was to stiffen, but she fought the urge to shove him away and yell at him for assuming too much. Just then she didn't mind if Nick protected her … if only for a little while.

Forgetting all inhibitions, Jenny relaxed against him. Feeling his warmth and strong arm around her, it was easy to dismiss her worries. It should have been like this, she found herself thinking hazily. All along.

Jenny had just rested her head against his chest when a bright flash of light burst into existence. In an instant, Nick was pulled away from her. She cried out in protest but the light disappeared so suddenly that she stood stunned and shivering in the dark. Shakily, she spun in a circle. What had happened?

What she saw made her mouth drop open. Nick was lying on his back in the road. He wasn't alone. An extraordinarily beautiful woman with pink skin and snowy white hair was straddling him. "Woman" was an inadequate description, for a pair of pink cat ears poked up from the top her head and a long white tail swished lazily. She was clad only in a silver bikini.

Jenny got over her shock with a quick flash of jealousy. The cat woman was toying with Nick's hair and upper arms, actually purring in contentment. Not that he seemed to mind. He lay on the asphalt, either too stunned to consider moving or completely entranced by her beauty.

Jenny preferred the former. She took a step toward them. Whatever this feline was, it didn't seem dangerous. "Hey," she started angrily, "what are you doing? Get off him."

The cat woman spun around and hissed with bared fangs before turning back to her prey, snuggling more suggestively against him. Jenny clenched her fists. She wished Nick would say something or try to move. He was probably too busy staring at the double-D breasts that were falling out of her top.

He's dead, Jenny thought, folding her arms across her own inadequate chest. They're both dead.

"That's it, kitty," she said sourly and when she was again ignored, she muttered, "All right, fine," and dropped her backpack on the road before running towards them. With an angry yowl, the cat woman was pulled off Nick and she and Jenny rolled into a heap on the road. The playful, seductive mood didn't last. Jenny's breath was knocked away as the cat woman easily pinned her. With a roar, she morphed into a tigress with golden hair and a striped short dress. The creature growled threateningly, and Jenny's attention was drawn to its paws. She wished she had noticed the thick claws before attacking it.

"Jenny!" Nick cried, but she couldn't tell if the note in his voice was concern for her or anger at her taking the woman away from him. She didn't have long to ponder, for the tigress lifted one enormous paw and positioned it over Jenny's face, ready to swipe.

Jenny screamed.

0 0 0

"Did you hear that?"

Usagi slowly opened her eyes. Mamoru's concerned face was peering anxiously over his shoulder. He had pulled back from their kiss so suddenly that Usagi was left quite breathless. She hadn't heard a sound apart from the music of angels playing harps and voices raised in a joyous chorus in her mind. She and Mamoru had taken advantage of the warm night to take a walk under the starlit sky. Trees sheltered them in their own private world, and up until a moment ago it had been heaven. Usagi glanced at him hopefully, but kissing her seemed to be the last thing on his mind.

"Heard what?" she asked a little impatiently. Dearly as she loved him, Mamoru could be severely unromantic at times.

"A scream. Just a moment ago." Mamoru's head was cocked and he stood so still listening to the night. Usagi reached for his arm and was surprised to feel how tense his muscles were.

"Mamo-chan, I didn't hear anything." Usagi reached up and took his face between her palms to turn him gently towards her. Her touch relaxed him, and he took one of her hands to kiss it.

"Maybe you're right. Now where - no, there it is again."

This time Usagi heard it too. A girl's scream followed by a frustrated howl from something else. Startled, she met Mamoru's eyes and saw her concern mirrored there. Somehow, she knew who that scream belonged to.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "Jenny-san … "

Her eyes locked with Mamoru's and he reached for her hand before they took off down the street together.

0 0 0

Jenny squeezed her eyes shut and screamed again, preparing for the pain. She heard Nick scrambling towards them with a desperate hope. The cat woman's weight against her was solid as a steel beam, but before the claws pierced her skin, the creature rolled off her with a shriek. Jenny opened her eyes moments before Nick reached her. She held out her hands and he pulled her up. Together, they backed away, shielded in each other's arms.

The tigress writhed and howled on the ground. Dark blue crackling electricity shook her body. Slowly, it faded and she sat up, panting and glaring. She began to glow again, and after a flash of light, she stood as a tall beautiful woman with messy red hair and golden cat eyes that glittered hostility.

"What did you do that for?" she demanded in a voice that would have been sweet had it not been laced with malice. Jenny thought she was speaking to them, until another voice answered from the shadows.

"Don't be hasty, Calcite. You know our orders." A man stepped into the light, tall and broad-shouldered with waist-length dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Through her confusion, Jenny felt a shock of panic burst in her chest. Here was an incarnation of evil, cold and merciless. Everything inside her screamed warning. Nick's arms tightened around her. She heard his slight intake of breath.

"Our business is not with her tonight," the man continued, his eyes roving from Jenny to Nick.

"You always deny me my fun," Calcite whined. Quick as a red bolt of lightning, she shot forward and stood beside them. She stroked Nick's cheek. "It is a pity," she said sweetly, her voice almost purring. "He is a handsome one."

Something inside Jenny snapped. It was one thing for these creatures to follow and bother her, but Nick… She stepped forward and pushed the woman away from them with all her strength. Calcite cried out and stumbled back with flailing arms. Instead of getting angry, she laughed and sized her up with delight.

"You've got fire, little girl. I can see now why he might want you."

Nick tried to grab her shoulders and pull her back, but Jenny shook him off. "Don't play," she said quietly. "I know it's me you're after. Let him go and I'll-"

"No," Nick interrupted fiercely. "Jen, don't. They're not taking you."

Calcite shook her head, her harsh laughter echoing in the darkness. "That's just it, precious. Neither of you get it. Do you think that you or anyone could stop my Lord Ahriman from getting exactly what he wants? He could take her at any moment, but she isn't ready. When the time comes, what are going to do about it?"

The man stepped forward impatiently. "Enough. We're not here to play games."

Calcite's smile became nasty. "I know, Azurite. Work your magic." With another quick movement, she seized Jenny's arm and pulled her away from Nick. Nick stepped towards them, but in an instant Azurite stood before him, blocking the way. Calcite flipped Jenny around so they were both facing the men.

"No struggling," she breathed in her ear with a soft laugh. "I have been ordered not to harm you, but I'm can't be held responsible for what happens under extreme aggravation."

"Then what are we doing?" Jenny gasped. Calcite's grip was tight; she could hardly breathe.

"Enjoying the show."

In a moment of horror, Jenny understood. Despite Calcite's warning, she fought to free herself. "No, no!" she screamed. Calcite laughed as Jenny struggled, her arms like iron bands. Azurite was circling Nick like a vulture eyeing a meal. Only a slight tremor betrayed Nick's fear.

"I bring a message from my lord," Azurite told him congenially before delivering a blow to his stomach. Nick bent over, staggering, his papers scattering on the ground. Before he could recover another one came aimed at his head. Jenny screamed. It was horrible to watch, much worse than if it had been happening to her. After every punch and kick, Nick made an attempt to straighten and maintain eye contact with his attacker, but most of his energy was focused on breathing. Occasionally he made an effort to hit back, but Azurite darted around him with inhuman speed, delivering strikes too swift for Nick to deflect.

Jenny's cheeks were wet and cold with tears. Calcite laughed in her ear, the sound like a wild bird. The beating went on so long that Jenny was amazed Nick could stand. His face was bruised and bleeding, his body shaking, and yet through all his pain, every few seconds he looked over at Jenny to make sure she wasn't being harmed. Jenny had long since ceased fighting Calcite's grip. She was trembling so badly that if Calcite hadn't been holding her up, she would have fallen to the ground. Azurite's face was ablaze with passion; his hands and clothes were streaked with Nick's blood.

Finally came the blow that caused Nick to collapse. He hit the cold pavement and didn't move. Energy shot back through Jenny's limbs and she fought so hard that Calcite cried out and had to struggle to hold her back. Azurite's sick laughter shook the air. He lifted his leg and prepared to stomp on Nick's face.

"Stop!" The cry rang out through the night. Azurite hesitated, his foot dangling inches before Nick's head. Silver wings glowed in the distance and a girl hurried forward. Jenny stopped struggling, caught with wonder. She recognized the figure; she had seen her often on the news. A masked man stepped out of the darkness beside her. Jenny thought they looked extraordinarily pale as they looked at Nick.

Azurite stepped back, smirking. "Ah, Eternal Sailormoon and her bodyguard. We were expecting you."

Nick stirred on the ground. Jenny felt powerful relief as he lifted his head. "Took you long enough," he muttered, coughing. A trickle of blood dripped from his lips.

Sailormoon's small face was tight with concern as she glanced from him to Azurite. "I hoped we wouldn't be seeing you again. But let's not waste time with small talk." Jenny marveled at how young she sounded.

"We're not here to fight you, my dear," Azurite informed her. "Not this time. We just came to … prove a point."

"Yes." It was Calcite who spoke this time, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "My lord's power has grown. Your ideals of love and goodness will amount to nothing. You can't save her." She gave Jenny a spiteful pinch.

"Watch me," Sailormoon said heatedly.

"Oh, you can have her. She is no use to us now," Calcite said in a saccharine tone and pushed Jenny away with such force that she tumbled to the sidewalk. Jenny lifted her scraped palms, but paid little attention as she scrambled forward to Nick. He was breathing with quick shallow breaths but opened his eyes when she reached him. He even smiled. The blood dried on his lips was a disturbing sight.

"Bet you've never seen me look so good," he wheezed.

Jenny wasn't amused. "I'm so sorry," she choked out. Her tears dripped onto his face. He looked horrible, his skin a mass of red, white and black.

Nick started to shrug but ended up wincing instead. "Believe it or not, darling, you've caused me worse pain." With that, he closed his eyes, released for a little while. Jenny glued her eyes to his chest, watching desperately for continued movement. His tie and several buttons of his previously immaculate shirt were undone.

"I'm afraid we must part." Azurite gave an elaborate bow and then looked mockingly at Sailormoon and her companion. "But just so you didn't come here for nothing… " He waved his arms and seven demons of varying sizes and colors appeared on the sidewalk, waving their claws and gnashing their teeth as monsters must.

"Until next time," Calcite called out and she and Azurite disappeared with a pop, their laughter echoing long after they had gone. Sailormoon and the man rushed up beside Jenny and Nick and stood as a shield between them and the demons.

"Jenny-san, get out of here!" Sailormoon cried. Jenny looked at her dumbly, wondering vaguely how Sailormoon knew her name.

"I can't," she gasped, gesturing down at Nick. Sailormoon opened her mouth to protest, but had no more time for objections because the demons were upon her. Jenny never knew how long the fight took. Time passed as if in slow motion, punctuated with flashes of light and cries in the darkness. She watched Sailormoon and the masked man take on the monsters until they fell one by one. Curiously, the demons steered clear of her. At one point a squid-like demon made a move towards Nick, but halted when Jenny shielded him with her body. When she looked up again, the demons were gone and the street was quiet.

Sailormoon, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion, knelt beside her. "I told you to leave," she scolded, but with a faint edge of pride in her voice. She bit her lip as she looked at Nick and made a quick movement as if to touch him, but seemed to change her mind. After exchanging a glance with her partner, she leapt to her feet and gave Jenny a forced smile.

"He'll be okay," the man told her earnestly and Sailormoon nodded. "We must go."

"Wait!" Jenny cried, but they ran off into the darkness. Jenny stared after them in stunned silence. Now what was she supposed to do?

Nick gave a little moan and she looked down at him with concern. She gingerly touched his cheek, and was surprised to feel how cool it was. He moved slightly at her touch and his eyelashes fluttered, but his eyes stayed shut. Jenny brushed his hair back from his forehead. Her own ponytail was loose and hair hung in her eyes, but she didn't care.

"Jenny-san!" A voice called her name and she looked up, thinking that Sailormoon and her companion had returned, but the face she saw rushing towards her was the one she saw every night before she went to sleep. Jenny had never been so relieved.

"Usagi!" she cried and reached out a hand to welcome her. Usagi took it and knelt on the ground beside her. "It's Nick," Jenny choked out. "He's …we have to call an ambulance."

"Let me see," a soft voice advised and Mamoru lowered himself on the other side of Nick. After looking at him intently for a moment, he looked up at Jenny and smiled thinly. "He'll be fine," he assured her, and his voice had its usual calming effect on her. "I'll take care of him. Usako, will you take her home?"

"Of course," Usagi replied steadily, and her hand gripped Jenny's comfortingly. She helped Jenny to her feet and placed an arm around her waist before bending down to pick up Jenny's backpack. Jenny was reluctant to leave Nick so pale and motionless on the ground, but such confusion and shock raged through her mind that she found herself allowing Usagi to lead her away.

"What happened?" Usagi asked after they had walked several blocks, and Jenny found herself spilling the story, every horrible detail. Usagi listened with quiet compassion, squeezing her hand and murmuring nonsense at all the right moments. When Jenny described what Azurite had done to Nick, her eyes narrowed and she clenched her teeth, but didn't make a sound.

"I forgot to thank her," Jenny finished as they walked up the path to their house. "Sailormoon, I mean. I never got to tell her how grateful I am."

Usagi smiled. "She knows. Believe me, she does."

The girls entered the house together.

0 0 0

An hour later Jenny and Usagi sat quietly in their room. Usagi had helped a shaky Jenny wash up and change into her night clothes before persuading her to drink a cup of tea. Jenny sat on her bed sipping it, her skinny legs hugged to her chest with her other arm. She looked calmer, but tired and sad as she gazed out the window. Usagi sat beside her. For the first time, she felt that Jenny was truly her sister, although she couldn't have explained why it struck her so powerfully at that moment.

Maybe her misery was the only explanation she needed. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Jenny asked suddenly, turning to her with troubled eyes.

Usagi hesitated. "I guess… because I like you. Despite everything."

Jenny turned back to the window. "I don't deserve it. I've been rotten to you."

"It's been mutual."

"But I started it." Jenny's shoulders tensed suddenly, as if bracing herself to say something. "Because… because of Mamoru."

This was a shock. "Mamo-chan?"

"It was a stupid crush," she said quickly, turning back to face Usagi. "When he saved me at the airport… but it doesn't matter. I'm over it, and I've seen you together. You're right."

Usagi felt as if the last piece of the puzzle had clicked into place. "It's okay. I know there's someone out there for you." She was thinking about Nick in particular. Seeing them together on the road had been a revelation. She had suspected Nick's feelings for Jenny (even though she hadn't understood them), but hadn't thought they were mutual until witnessing Jenny childishly trying to protect him. She had cried over his body and refused to leave him, even knowing the potential danger to herself.

"You care for Nick, don't you?" Usagi asked suddenly, trying not to make her voice incriminating. Jenny lifted her head from her knees. She looked surprised at the suggestion.

"No… yes. It's complicated."

"Why does it have to be?" Jenny made no answer. Her eyes gazed at the glittering stars outside. Finally she turned back to Usagi and carefully set her empty cup on the nightstand.

"It doesn't matter. I can't see him again."

Usagi blinked and sat back with a frown. "Why not?"

"He was attacked because of me. Because he happened to be there. I can't let that happen again. You too," she said suddenly, looking at Usagi. "You shouldn't walk with me to school anymore."

"I can take care of myself," Usagi said firmly. "I'm much more worried about you. And I don't think Nick will appreciate you cutting him out for his own good. I know him. He won't listen."

"He will if he thinks I don't want to see him. Don't say anything to him, Usagi. Please." Usagi frowned, meeting Jenny's serious eyes. She didn't believe lying to protect someone else and avoiding them was a good idea. Mamoru had broken her heart when he'd tried it in the past, and they had both learned from the mistake. Jenny, sensing hesitation, grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Please," she repeated.

Usagi sighed. "Okay, but I think it's unnecessary."

Jenny was satisfied. "Thanks." She dropped Usagi's hand. Outside, a meteor shot across the sky, crashing down to earth. Words had run out, and together they sat, looking out at the night.