A/N: Okay, so Makoto DIDN'T state her plan in the next chapter before. ^^; Maybe I shouldn't have pointed that out, now you're wondering. .. Hope you're enjoying this, I'll reveal Makoto's plan now! ((And get around to watching the actual episodes of Coffee Prince, since I think I've only gotten to ep. teen -something a couple years back. ^^;))

DISCLAIMER: Scald me with burning water, but I'll state now Sailor Moon and Coffee Prince characters aren't ((and plot)) mine. ^^

Appearances Donned

Makoto glanced over at the prone figure on the bed.

After the shopping incident, all the senshi had demanded to know why and how was there another senshi who had let herself go into this bad of a state. She had just shrugged and moved to pick Ami up, walking over to the counter and laying a couple of bills on the cracked surface.

They'd spent two hours shopping for these clothes, and she wasn't going to waste all the time and effort spent in picking out the expensive material.

They ran out of the building and into Haruka's car, screeching away on two burning wheels when they heard the police cars' sirens.

"Why is she like this?"

Usagi's usually-bubbly voice had soothed into a concerned whisper, and all the senshi looked at their princess. Makoto shifted, tugging the unconscious girl to her in a loose hold. Haruka's foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, manuevering the car expertly around slower vehicles and heading to the millionaire's home.

"Our guess, Koneko-chan, is she has something really bad going on in her life. You Inner Senshi haven't gotten this, since most of your troubles have been eased away by each other's friendship. Only Michiru and Setsuna have really been through anything like this. We, girls, were lucky someone was there when we turned. Koneko-chan was also lucky in that aspect, since Luna was there."

Makoto looked over at the violinist, and she remembered earlier how Sailor Neptune had been tense and slightly pained.

Moving over to place an arm on the painter's shoulder, Makoto looked into those deep blue eyes, so much like Ami's yet ultimately more vast and deep, like the sea and ocean she commanded.

"Tell me, how did you cure your problem?"

Those blue eyes blinked, and the light in them intensified.

"I found Haruka."

A chuckle from the blond, and everyone couldn't help but grin and sigh as the two women drew close to each other and nuzzled into a warm embrace.

"Yup. I'm her rockstar from the past. She loves me."

The statement was said so endearingly that everyone laughed at the smug racer.

Makoto looked down at the girl in her lap and knew Ami's problem ran deeper than a simple attraction to mate. If only she could help. Well, maybe she would be able to. She may not know Ami's horrid aunt, but she was confident in her skills to win people over when she wanted to.

She hadn't just punched and kicked her way through all her old school.

She'd be able to cope with another enraged guardian.

Makoto grinned to herself.

It was a promise she'd never back down from.

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"Mm. So, listen to this. Ami here has a POSSIBLY-abusive aunt that just wants her to own up to her over-stressive future and become head brain of the sleazeball kajam- and this is where WE come in."

Makoto felt the incredulous stares of her friends, and she smiled nervously even as she held her index finger up to enhance her point.

Minako was openly looking at Ami with an interest, and Makoto saw the blonde's eyes glimmer in something akin to cat-like curiousity. They all were standing on the ledge outside of Ami's bedroom window, huddled underneath the sill.

"What do you mean, this is where WE come in? Mako-chan, she hired YOU."

"*sigh* As much as I hate to say this, Thunder, to recruit this new senshi, the only one who has access to her is YOU."

"Rei-chan, Usagi-chan might say this, given her usual way, but I'm hungry. Why are we standing on a ledge that's about my pinky's length when we could be at Andrew's getting free drinks and snacks?"

Makoto waved away the apprehension and nodded to Minako as her own stomach. Glancing over her shoulder, Makoto contemplated the thought of staying until the smaller girl woke, but quickly smushed it down.

Michiru had said earlier that whenever she had fallen into something of a hole like this, it had taken her a full day to wake up. 'Or at least ten hours,' the smiling woman had joked. 'And that was a first, since I woke to Haruka's kiss. I never went back into that hole again.'

Scaling the tall mansion wall with ease, Makoto jumped to the ground and helped her friends down, even when they protested slightly. Usagi and Minako jumped laughingly into her arms, but Rei grit her teeth as Makoto threatened to pull her down.

"I've got it, Thunder. Now, about this plan of yours. .?"

Walking, Makoto explained what she had in mind.

"See, I thought if I introduced you to Ami, and you guys tell her you're senshi, then she'll be part of us, right? Well, according to Michiru and Haruka, we need to get to the root of Ami's problems: her aunt. I'll act out her 'butch girfriend', except I'm supposed to be a guy-"

"WAITAMINUTE! Makoto? You never TOLD us THAT was your job!"

Makoto paused, her face warming as they stood in the doorway to Andrew's shop. The door was held open, and many more eyes were drawn to the four, including the ones that would normally at the door's opening.

Grabbing Minako's arm, she hustled them into the bathroom and slammed the door, locking it shut and shushing them frantically. Andrew smiled at them curiously but kept on tending the counter. The rush wasn't here yet, so Makoto could take a break.

"Quiet DOWN, will you, Minako-chan? I didn't MEAN it like that! She hired me because she wants her aunt to disown her of her position so she can become a. . I think she said a doctor. After her mom, yeah, that's it."

Nodding at the three, Makoto stared into their eyes.

Usagi broke in, curious.

"What about you, eh, Mako-chan? We can't really fight without Sailor Jupiter as well, and I'm going to really miss your cooking if you gotta go and stay with Ami-chan all the time!"

Trust her Princess to ensnare her in that wide-eyed blue of hungry desperation.

Makoto laughed and twirled her hand about her head in a lock-swirling motion.

"You won't have to go without me. Good thing I cut my ponytail, eh?"

Minako and Usagi's eyes widened, and they broke out into smiles. They caught on pretty fast when cooking and appearances were at stake. Plopping down out of the bathroom, they hopped onto the rotating bar stools situated at the counter and ordered drinks.

Rei came up behind Makoto and frowned.

"Hey, what about her inheritance? I mean, she DOES have a legitimate blood right to the money and business, and from what I'd gleaned from the house, she's well off, even if she IS being abused."

Makoto nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I asked her the same thing when we first met. She said her aunt wouldn't stop at anything to making her sign it over, by force, if necessary. It seems Ami doesn't really want it, either, even if it is her inheritance. I never asked about her dad before, maybe some other problems come from there."

She turned in surprise when Rei's hand pressed into her forehead. Dark eyes drilled into hers, and Makoto had the distinct impression the fire-wielder was looking into her soul. Shaking her off gently, Makoto grabbed the glass Usagi held out and pressed it to her cheek.

"Thunder, when I first came and met you guys, Mina-chan and Usa-chan was really bright when they transformed. I guess you could say Usa-chan was brighter, and Mina-chan was close behind, but when you transformed, I saw something flicker, right behind your crystal heart. Did you have problems, Thunder?"

Makoto shivered.

Yes.

Yes, she did, but right now, she didn't want to think about it. Nodding, the tall girl moved onto a stool and patted the seat beside her. When Rei took the hint, she called them in for a group hug, then stood.

"I'll tell you what I had bugging me before you guys came into my life. We can even have a reminiscing night, for all it matters. But what we need to do now is find out what's wrong with Ami and try to fix it."

Usagi and Minako nodded, and Rei did, too.

"Good. Settled, then?"

Smiling at the determined looks she'd come to recognize over the past few years they'd been together, Makoto moved away, tossing the extra few bills to pay for their drinks.

"Thanks, Mako-chan! You should do this more often! This way, you'll get more practice at being 'dominant' or whatever, and Ami-chan won't wonder if you're only after her money!"

Makoto cringed, about blushing.

"I-It's the only thing I AM allowed after, Usagi-chan!"

"No, no, Makoto, you can win her heart, too! But I don't think you want to jump in too fast! Where are you going, anyway?"

Makoto headed towards the door.

Trust Minako to make things more than they would be.

"I may have finished teaching my early monsters their lessons in karate this morning, but I need to find me a wig, remember?"

The cheers that followed her were deafening.

The hand that clasped her retreating shoulder was firm, kind.

"Wait up, Thunder, I'm going with you to make sure you get one in the right color. You know how those sales-ladies are, so quick on jumping the gun to get you to part from your wallet. Besides, then you can tell me about. . Ami-chan."

Makoto was surprised, but grinned.

"Okay, Rei-chan. Let's go. There's also another part to this I don't want to tell the other two about. It's kind of secretive, but it won't hurt anybody when we're done. I'll clear it up with everyone later, too, including Ami."

Rei rolled her eyes, following her taller friend out the door.

"So says the rope holding the tiny snowball on top of a hill above a camp of cannibals."

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"Too short."

"B-But it was EXACTLY like this before, when I got it cut!"

"Too bad, I'm curious, and I know for a fact Usa-chan and Mina-chan have wondered what you'd look like with longer hair."

"Hmph. Fine, what about this?"

"Too dark."

"I dyed my hair, it's SUPPOSED to look dark!"

"No, Thunder, it's supposed to be darker than your actual head of hair!"

"I look like a skunk!"

"They have a white streak, you don't."

"Yeah, well let's see YOU try on a wig!"

"Fine, I WILL!"

"!"

". . ."

"Wow. That looks really goo-"

"Shut it, Kino."

"*snicker* Got no complaint from me."

"Geez, you two. Here, let me pick something for you. Mako-chan, here's for you, and. . Rei-chan, here's one for. . you. Just if you're ever interested in wearing one."

"Ara, Haruka, you always know the perfect accessories to seduce someone, eh?"

"H-Haru-chan! Michiru-chan! W-We're not. .! We were only-!"

"Getting it for Ami-chan, we know. Just teasing, Makoto-chan. Don't worry, Rei-chan, that suits you just fine."

"Hmph. I don't need a wig. I need a barber."

"Space Swords are meant for more mundane things like chopping hair-"

"Nope, thank you, Haruka-chan, I'm GOOD."

Makoto turned and looked at her reflection in the three-way mirror. It hadn't even been a day and she'd be in front of two of these already. She was becoming a glutton, looking at her own reflection like that.

Turning her head, Makoto studied the clip-on ponytail Haruka had chosen.

It suited her just right, she realized.

Hanging pertly like it would usually do, the dark strands coiled and tucked into each other to wave about the back in a splayed manner, but still controlled. Longer than what hers had been, it hit her right above where her elbows would connect to her sides.

Well, it felt awkward enough, but with a slight adjustment to it, she would be able to get it.

"You know, Mako-chan, you can just have Koneko-chan look at you and just add the ponytail during your Sailor Jupiter transformation. It'd be so much easier than lugging that around with you. Here, let's take a picture to show her so you won't have to buy it."

Makoto laughed.

"Why didn't I think of that?"

Haruka grinned, her eyes lowering in the usual teasing manner.

"Because you bring the LIGHTNING, darlin'."

Makoto grinned back.

"And you bring the hot air, cutie buns."

Michiru and Rei laughed behind them and they turned to each other in the mirror, dare sparkling in their eyes.

Oh, it was good to have such fun friends.

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A/N: Well, plan's out. Simple and plain, or so it seems. . . ^^