Disclaimers: All characters property of Takeuchi-sensei.

A/N: Added omake to chapters 1,2,4 and 5. Will also include in future chapters. Thanks everyone, for the favorites, story alerts and reviews!

Chapter 5: Conversations Under the Stars

It was Friday evening and Makoto stood outside on her balcony. The sun was setting accompanied by spectacular colors-oranges, golds and streaks of red. It was almost like a painting she thought. The air was starting to get cooler especially since the sun was bidding goodnight and she shivered, rubbing her hands along her biceps once before they stilled into that position across her chest. Body language experts would have deemed her defensive with that particular posture. She heard the slide of the door opening and closing behind her followed by soft footsteps.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

She nodded without looking at the speaker, not wanting to miss a thing. They stood in silence until the the stars started to appear, one by one. Mako wished she was sharing this moment with Ami and was surprised to hear her thought spoken out loud.

"You wanted to see this with Ami, didn't you?" Stunned, she turned to Minako.

"How did you know?" She placed her hands on the rails of the balcony and looked back up into the sky.

Heh, I'm not called the Senshi of Love for nothin'. Giggling internally, Mina shrugged before answering out loud, "Just a feeling." Her lips turned up in a smug smile, teasing, "You might have forgotten about us but we're still your friends, y'know."

Mako chuckled. "You're right." Once her amusement abated she cast a serious look at Mina. "Was there...something going on with me and Ami? Before all this happened?"

The blonde smiled elegantly at Mako. "Not really." The brunette deflated at those two words and Minako hurried to explain, "But, you two were so close we expected to see it happen any day."

"Oh...Oh!"

A blush fixed itself onto Makoto's face and Mina smiled again, kindly. Silence stretched between them, absorbing the minutes until Mina broke it.

"How are you holding up?"

"Still confused. But okay I guess. It's so strange. I remember how to do certain things but I don't remember anyone, or my life for that matter. I keep feeling like there's something out there, waiting to consume me." She recalled a vague dream from the night before. "I think if I didn't have friends like you guys I'd be in a terrible place right now."

Mina placed hand on Mako's shoulder, the gesture reassuring in a way words could not provide. "We'll find a way to get you back. I promise. Especially with our little resident genius around."

Makoto blinked through unexpected tears, a smile centered on her lips.

"I think I'm going to go back in." The blonde took one last look at the stars. "Coming?"

"Not yet," replied Mako. "I want to enjoy the night air a little longer."

"Okay." Mina paused at the door, "Oh, Ami will be here soon."

Makoto turned to look at the cheerful girl then. "Thanks. And thanks for keeping me company today too. All of you."

Shaking her head Minako stated, "You would have done the same thing for any one of us." With a swish of blonde hair and a smile she was gone. Mako was left with the stars and noises of the city, the day replaying itself in her head.

-x-x-x-

The others had arrived while she was still in the shower. She felt bad about leaving Ami and running away but she didn't have anywhere else to go and the shower seemed the best excuse at the time. It didn't matter what she was feeling but she had almost kissed her best friend. She trusted Ami to tell the truth. If they were even romantically involved she believed the woman would have mentioned it to her instead of beating around the bush. She sighed as she turned off the water. Hearing more than one voice in the living room she recalled Ami saying something about the others coming back in the morning.

She tried to get dressed quickly but the moment Mako opened the closet a sensation of shopping in a brand new store fell over her. All of the clothes were unfamiliar but she found they were things she would not mind wearing. Going through her underwear drawer she came across a black lacy concoction that was barely there. She dropped it quickly, her cheeks ablaze. I wear something like that? Refusing to think about it she picked a rather sedate pair of undergarments followed by jeans and a pale pink button down shirt.

The others looked pleased to see her when she entered the living room. They wore friendly smiles and introduced themselves. She glanced at Ami who stood nearby awkwardly, the blue haired woman explained she had to head home and to school before returning later at night. Mako felt sad she was going, the sentiment reflected on her face unconsciously.

"Aww don't look like that! You're going to give the rest of us a complex." Minako said, smacking Mako on the back in an affectionate if somewhat painful manner.

The rest of the day was a blur to Mako. At first she felt like she was being babysat but then somehow she was hauled into the cadence of the three women while they took her various places around the city. Taking her to favorite hangouts and familiar places, they hoped to jog the taller girl's memory. It had been Ami's suggestion they do so and they agreed. She had also filled them in on the cover story and they all took pains not to mention anything about the incident unless Mako asked directly. Luckily she did not.

She was introduced to even more people: Mamoru, Usagi's fiance, a tall, good-looking man with dark hair, and three women along with a somber yet sweet young girl named Hotaru. Haruka was tall, blonde, and debonair; the aqua haired woman at her side elegant and effeminate as Haruka was masculine. The one called Setsuna appeared austere but her manners immediately put Makoto at ease. She didn't know she had that many friends and it made her happy. But it had also been a tiring day.

She sighed, her chin resting on top of her hands that lay flat along the balcony rails.

"Exhausted?" A genial voice asked, "Those three will definitely do it." A soft giggle followed as Ami came over to stand next to Makoto.

Mako smiled while straightening up, "Why didn't you warn me?"

"So you could miss out on the experience all over again?" The awkwardness from the morning had evaporated. Right now they were just two people in buoyant spirits, thrilled to be next to each other.

"Here I was thinking you were sweet. Maybe you're a sadist under that cute little facade?" Mako casually brushed her hand through Ami's hair. The smaller woman suddenly felt extremely hot.

-x-x-x-

"My my," Mina drawled as she peeked through the glass onto the balcony, "Those two are getting along very well."

"I want to see!" Usagi squealed as she inadvertently elbowed Mina and Rei aside.

"Dammit, meat-ball head, move your elbow!" Rei tossed out Usagi's old nickname in return of the elbow in her side. She didn't want to admit it but it irked her that she wasn't able to see what was happening outside. They groaned in unison when their communicators beeped.

Luna appeared on screen, "There's a problem. We need all of you here now!"

Omake:

Luna appeared on screen, "There's a problem. We're all out of sardines!"

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