"Wait… so, you travelled inside your own consciousness, into your memories?" Rei asked, as she rubbed her temples and tried to wrap her head around it.

"Is that even possible?" Makoto asked to no one in particular. "Maybe you were just having a really weird dream…"

Minako glanced over to Adonis who sat by himself at the other end of the room and shrugged. "It definitely felt real to me. I don't want to think it was just a dream."

"I believe you," Usagi spoke up. Everyone else stared at her in shock. "No, really, I do! I know what it's like to travel back through your memories. It happened to me when I regained my memories as Serenity."

Minako breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Usagi."

"So our concern now becomes finding out what happened to this Cupid, and how he still has an influence on Psyche now," Ami said calmly, already typing the data she had into her computer.

"If I may," Adonis stood up and began walking closer to the girls. "From what I understand, the reason for Cupid's actions in the past was the corruption of Queen Metalia, seeking to seep its way into the planets that protected the Moon. If that is the case, then he should no longer be affected by that darkness."

Minako nodded. He's right. That's certainly what my past self believed, anyway. But if it really was the influence of the Dark Kingdom that made him power hungry, why does Psyche still act this way today? Unless…

"For now, in any case, we should work with what we know. We know how he was in the past. Let's assume that Psyche is still thinking of him as he was back then. Maybe she hasn't even seen him since she awakened in this time," Rei suggested. "I've tried using my fire oracles to understand Psyche and Cupid better, but I haven't gotten any readings of Cupid at all."

Minako bit her lip. I think it might be as I feared…

Lost in her thoughts, Minako became completely unaware of what was going on around her. But then she felt someone place their hand on her shoulder; it felt warm and strong. When she turned around, she couldn't help but gasp.

"Adonis?" she was finally able to say. "You're…"

"Yes," he said, smiling. "I'm really here."

"You're here! You're real!" she jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, not caring what the others thought.

Adonis did not let go of her. He hugged her tightly, breathing in her scent, feeling her heartbeat.

"But how did this happen?" Minako spoke at last.

"I'm not sure," he responded, still not letting go. "But when you fainted, I ran to your side and placed my hand over yours, even though I couldn't feel its warmth. I whispered to you, telling you that I was beside you. And as I did, it seemed as if some power resonated through your body and went into me."

"So it wasn't my imagination," Minako mumbled to herself. When I reached out and grabbed Adonis' hand in my memory, that was his present self calling to me.

"Um… Minako?" Rei tapped gently on her shoulder. "Is there something you want to fill us all in on?"

….

I've finally told all of them everything. I should have done it ages ago… they're my best friends, why did I keep this from them?

"Kaitou Ace… that famous idol from years ago who disappeared without a trace so quickly?" Makoto thought out loud. "Now that I think about it, he did disappear around the same time as Sailor V, didn't he?"

"Yes," Minako nodded. "It was his death, unfortunately, that helped me to awaken fully and become Sailor Venus."

"If he was so cruel to you until the end," Rei started, "then why do you seem so close to him now? Can he really be trusted?"

"I understand you concern, Rei," Minako answered. "But think about it. He was being controlled by Queen Metalia, just like the Shitennou. You know that Mamoru goes to them for guidance even now. This isn't any different."

"You're right, Minako, but you didn't really know him before. Mamoru spent his entire past life with the Shitennou," Ami reminded her.

"But guys, we have absolutely no reason not to trust him. He has done nothing but care for Minako," Usagi said, smiling sweetly at Minako. "If Minako trusts him, that's good enough for me."

After hearing Usagi speak, everyone else seems to have calmed down. She may not get good grades, but Usagi is so good at understanding people's hearts. But is my trust good enough to believe in? I trusted in Psyche in the past, too.

"All right, how about we just give it a rest for now?" Makoto said as she stood up and stretched. "We're all tired, it's been a stressful few days. Let's start fresh tomorrow."

….

Minako opened the front door of Makoto's apartment, waving goodbye to everyone else. Right outside, standing in the hallway, Adonis was waiting patiently. I'm not sure what to do with him… I need to go home otherwise my parents will worry. But knowing them, they won't react calmly if I bring a boy home out of the blue.

"Oh! That's right, we need to get you some new clothes," Minako's face lit up at the thought of shopping. "You can't well go around dressed like that, now, can you?"

"I suppose that's true," Adonis giggled, looking down at his shoes. "Dressed as I am… I wonder if anyone would recognize me as Kaitou Ace?"

It's funny, he's dressed in that same costume… the one he wore the very first time I met him. "I've always wondered… why did you appear wearing that outfit, rather than the clothes you wore on Venus?"

"This was the vision of me that you had in mind when you first called to me," he said simply. "You have so little memories of Venus at all, let alone what I looked like then. It was easiest to appear to you in a form that you were comfortable with."

"I guess that makes sense," Minako nodded. "Here we are! We should be able to find you some nice clothes here."

Minako busied herself immediately with picking out different shirts and a pair of jeans for Adonis to try on. Without even asking him, she pushed him into a fitting room.

The first outfit that he stepped out in was a purple collared shirt tucked into black jeans with a simple belt. Minako could feel herself blush.

Adonis stood in front of her uncomfortable for a few seconds. "Is this alright?" he asked. "Do I look strange in it?"

"No, you look just like an idol!" Minako giggled.

"Well, technically, I am an idol," Adonis retorted.

Minako couldn't help but smile foolishly. He's been so serious ever since I first was able to summon him from that card. This is the first time I feel like he's really been able to freely be himself. I don't want this to end. "Next, next!" she laughed as she pushed him back into the fitting room for more.

"Ven—I mean, Minako," she heard him call from inside the room. "Are you sure that it's all right for us to be doing this?"

"Even superheroes need a day off," Minako responded sweetly. None of us have ever had any trouble just enjoying the little things in life. Adonis probably never got to have that luxury… not since he was awakened by the Dark Kingdom, anyway. He deserves to have it, even if it's only for a few hours.

"I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble," he said, still on the other side of the door.

"No, I'm sorry." For so many things. If I had done a better job, had taken my duties as Sailor V more seriously, maybe I could have found a way to save him. And here I am, just dragging him into another mess I made without realizing it.

When the door opened, it took every bit of will power that Minako had not to kiss him right then. The green button down shirt made his bright eyes seem to glow. He smiled, and she beamed back at him.

I wish things could stay like this forever. But I know that this is my last chance to really enjoy myself until we figure out how to deal with Psyche. I always wanted a sister… but not like this. She sighed heavily.

"Is something wrong?" Adonis asked, his green eyes looking so innocent and concerned.

"Oh, nothing," Minako lied, forcing a smile again. "Just thinking about how I'm going to explain you to my parents…"