A/N - Wow. Okay I know it's not the fastest update ever but I wrote most of this in one night. LOTS of love to impersonal for beta'ing for me. Love to Kaze for distracting me ;) Love to Trixx for being my smexxy chica muse. And thankt to absolutely everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I know a lot of you aren't happy because of a lack of HM goodness but trust me and I mean, TRUST ME... there is going to be PLENT of HM goodness... patience is a virtue... anyhow, read and enjoy amigos. - VR

CHAPTER 10 – YOU BETTER THINK TWICE

Tiptoeing around her own apartment, Haruka was ensuring she would not wake the younger girl living in her apartment. The blonde tomboy was about to wake her younger cousin earlier when she saw that Hotaru was in a deep sleep; she looked so peaceful that the blonde could not bear to wake the dark-haired girl from her slumber. Haruka grabbed her car keys and wallet from the coffee table and double checked that she had everything she needed for the day. She was needed in the office from eleven this morning and she had fifteen minutes to get there. Looking back at Hotaru's room, Haruka reached into her wallet and left a few bills on the kitchen counter, before taking her leave and readying herself for the day. She sighed as she opened the door to her apartment – she had unresolved issues from last night to sort out. Mainly, she needed to talk to one woman in particular.

Michiru.

"Sorry for keeping you back class but before the bell goes and you all rush out of here, remember that your essays on the physiology of the central nervous systems are due on Tuesday. Okay, you can all go."

Ami tentatively walked towards the exit of her class but paused at her teacher's desk. The professor was clearing up his notes but he stopped as soon as he realised that there was a student standing beside him. He smiled disarmingly before pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose.

"Mizuno-san, is there a problem?"

The bluenette smiled before nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and looking down at the notes on top of her stack of books. "Hai, sensei, I was just wondering: in our essay, is Stochastic Processes would be worth mentioning?"

The professor raised his eyebrows in awe, "I don't see the harm, although that is some advanced stuff... it's impressive you're reading ahead, Mizuno-san. Keep that up and I can see great things in your future, especially with grades like yours."

Ami smiled shyly before leaving her classroom. She looked down to her watch and saw it was ten past eleven; she sped up her pace, intent on reaching the car park where Makoto would be waiting for her, to take her to work. As Ami was leaving her classroom, she could hear a snickering from the end of the hall – the very hall she needed to leave the building through.

Morioka-san and his friend were there; with grins plastered all over their faces.

Ami sighed inwardly, she kept her head down as she approached the exit, she heard the shuffling of feet and the distinct sound of their giggling; it had been haunting her the past week.

"Oi, Mizuno-san!"

Ami tucked her head down further into her chin. She just needed to get out into the car park. A 45 second walk... nothing could happen as long as she walked quickly and kept her head down.

She should be fine right?

Ami pushed her way through the doors and was greeted with the warm sunshine streaming down onto her body; she lifted her head briefly and her face was warmed instantly by the sun's gentle rays. Ami lifted her head and saw that by the pick-up/drop-off area straight ahead was a tall brunette, dressed in black slacks and a black button down shirt, leaning against a silver Mercedes CLK-Class Cabriolet. Ami couldn't help the smile that erupted across her face as she saw the brunette was holding two coffees in her hand, at the same offering a nervous smile. Ami got a bounce in her step from somewhere unknown; she was only about fifty yards or so from the brunette.

"Hey! Mizuno, I called for you!"

Ami picked her pace up again but Morioka's voice was still within earshot.

"Hey, just thought you should know, hookers are meant to fuck for cash, not grades!"

Morioka instantly cracked up at his own joke. Ami pressed her eyes together as hard as she could, wishing away the tears she knew were lurking in her eyes.

She just wanted them to leave her alone.

"Hey, Ami-san, you ready to get to the restaurant?" Ami's eyes snapped open and she looked at the figure now standing beside her. She was looking down with caring eyes and a warm smile. A coffee was put forward and offered to Ami, and Ami took it without thinking.

"It's the way you like it," Makoto continued as she noticed Ami turned to look at Morioka and saw he was just as confused as her.

He had just called this girl a hooker in front of everyone and this woman has acted as though nothing had been said. Did he need to say it again? He was about to open his mouth when he took in the car's licence plate "K1N0", and he took in the brunette. She was dressed immaculately and she looked familiar – like she was someone he should know. All he wanted to know right now was who this woman was to Mizuno Ami.

"We really should be heading out now, Ami-san."

"..."

Makoto stuck her hand out in front of Ami's face and waved it gently, hoping to snap the younger girl from her trance.

The brunette still had a smile plastered on her face as she lead the way to her car, Ami dumbly following her.

As soon as Ami got inside the sports car, she exhaled heavily and noticed her hands were shaking slightly. She glanced out of her window and saw that Morioka and his friends had began to walk back to campus, but they threw a look over their shoulders, catching Ami looking at them. Ami threw her head down, concentrating her gaze to her trembling hands which were struggling to keep the coffee still in its container.

"Are you okay, Ami-san?"

Ami looked up into sea green eyes and nodded quickly, accompanying it with a nervous smile.

There was silence in the car for a moment before Makoto decided to move her coffee to the cup holder and put her seatbelt on.

"Classmates?"

Ami nodded once more to the question as she followed suit, and put her seatbelt on, but she took a long swig from her coffee. Ami smiled as she savoured the coffee's flavour; "How did you know? People usually add one cream or a sugar..." Ami trailed off feeling lame as hell for bringing up a topic like her coffee.

However, she heard instead a gentle chuckle from beside her.

"I remembered from the time you made me coffee...you said you take coffee black."

Ami's cheeks tinged with a slight shade of maroon. She was somewhat flushed by Makoto remembering a simple detail from over a week ago... but she was also reminded of what happened that same day.

"Oh... well... thanks, anyway Makoto-san."

"Don't mention it. Oh, and just a word of warning?" Ami looked over to Makoto and saw she was grinning sheepishly, "The paperwork has increased since last night... I tried doing it myself but I suck at it. So I apologise in advance."

Ami giggled at Makoto's playful nature, the brunette stiffened her posture, unsure of how to react to the younger girl laughing at her.

Ami saw this and stopped laughing immediately.

"Gomen, Makoto-san... but don't worry, we'll get through the paperwork, one way or another."

Another silence engulfed the two for a moment before Ami cleared her throat.

"Last night was wonderful, Makoto-san, I've never known food like it."

Makoto began smiling proudly, her teeth on full show. "Arigatou, Ami-san... It was always my dream to open up my own restaurant and sell all types of food. Y'know, to cater to all different types of tastes. And I'm glad you thought last night was wonderful, it makes all my hard work seem worth it when I hear a kind word from a patron." Makoto gave a smile and a sideways glance to Ami as she was driving through Tokyo. The brunette cleared her throat, catching Ami's attention.

"So, what about you Ami-san, what are your plans? Your dreams?"

Ami looked out of the window, taking in all of Tokyo's sights. She smiled gently before returning her gaze back to Makoto.

"I wanted to be a neurosurgeon... but I'd be more than content being a diagnostician. Helping people every day, no matter how small their ailment is. It's been my dream and hopefully in 5 years time, I'll have achieved that."

Makoto smiled at the younger girl, instantly feeling how genuine she was.

"Wow... well, there's not greater way to help people than by being a doctor huh? The world could use more if you ask me... shame it's so damned expensive though, surely that kind of costs could turn people off of wanting to be a doctor?"

Ami forced a small smile as she listened to the brunette. "Hai, it can do... but some people are from rich families, get scholarships, or work jobs on the side. Even with my scholarship, I still need to earn a lot of money to pay for the things my grant doesn't cover."

"Oh yeah..."

Makoto could have slammed her head into the steering wheel! Why did she have to bring up costs? Costs lead to money and money lead to talks about jobs... and Ami's previous job.

"So... you cover the costs okay?"

Ami gulped nervously. "H-h-hai, Makoto-san. Haruka-san has been so generous and helpful. I'm getting by just fine."

Makoto chuckled at the mention of Haruka's name. "Yeah, she always was a sucker for a pretty face."

Two sets of eyes widened.

Makoto, blushing, turned to Ami, was just about ready to back-track her entire sentence when she saw Ami was blushing furiously. Thankfully, Makoto could see her restaurant coming up, so she hit the accelerator and speeding towards it as fast as the car would go.

This was going to be a long day.

"Mina! So, what happened after?" Michiru was yearning for the latest details on what she dubbed 'The Rei and Mina Show'.

The blonde opposite her laughed giddily. "Then I told her that she doesn't know everything and she doesn't know me... Hey! Rei's not the only one who can be all cool and mysterious you know!" Michiru shook her head at the blonde's antics but listened as Minako continued; her eyes were glossed over and she was smiling gently, her focus solely on an image in her mind of the one she was talking about, "But... I want her to know about me, you know? I want her to know my favourite colour, my favourite song. I want her to know everything there is to know about me. And I want to know everything about her. You know what I mean Michiru?"

The aqua haired woman smiled wistfully. She closed her eyes and nodded.

"I know what you mean, Mina."

The two shared an almost comically timed sigh before Mina turned to her glass of orange juice and drank half the contents. Minako raised her head to see Michiru raising a filled wine glass by her plate to her lips. Minako instantly cocked an eyebrow and cleared her throat.

"Um, Michiru?" The aqua haired woman swallowed her drink before giving her attention to Minako, "Isn't it a bit early to be drinking?"

Michiru's jaw clenched slightly before she forced out a meek smile. "If it was too early, they wouldn't be selling it at half twelve now, would they?"

Minako stared at her friend in concern before shaking her head. "No, I guess not... so, what's the plan for today? Are you going to work or not, Michiru-chan?"

Michiru placed her glass back down on the table before sitting back and thinking deeply. Was there any point in going in today? It was a Saturday and any work they had they could phone the girls in for... but still, it wasn't like she had anything else to do today. "I don't know... are you?"

Minako shrugged and took another sip of her orange juice, instantly shuddering at the orange juice's somewhat sour taste. "It tasted better before... hmm? Wha? Oh yeah, I am... Rei, you know. We need to talk, I guess."

Michiru crinkled her nose up as she thought about the prospect of work. Sure, she could go waste time and chat with everyone... but Haruka would be there.

Ugh.

But Mina would probably need her when, well if, she spoke to Rei today. She took a deep sigh. "Sure, why not?"

Minako raised an eyebrow and looked at Michiru; taking in the other woman's appearance. Michiru took another liberal sip from her wine glass. Minako brought her hands together and connected them just beneath her chin, relaxing her head atop them.

"I thought you might not have because of Haruka-san."

Suddenly the wine tasted odd to Michiru.

Michiru stopped mid-sip and placed her glass back down, smiling distastefully at the mention of the blonde tomboy. "What makes you think that, Mina?"

The blonde smirked knowingly before leaning forward and lowering her tone, "I may have been in a car with Rei, but I wasn't so distracted as to notice you had stalked off in a huff over that woman last night. So, that's what makes me think you might want to avoid Haruka-san." Michiru crossed her arms and sat back, remaining completely quiet while Minako continued, "Want to talk about it, Michiru?"

"Not really," Michiru replied and she went to grab her wine glass, but it was snatched by the sneakily quick and awfully reflexive Minako. Michiru scowled and pursed her lips at the blonde. "Mina, give me my drink back. Now."

The blonde shook her head. "No, Michiru, if I do, you'll drink it, order another and down that too... I've noticed over the past few weeks that you've..." Minako trailed off, capturing her bottom lip with her teeth and looking away from the older woman.

"You've noticed what, Mina?" Michiru sent a lethal look towards Minako – almost daring the blonde to risk her life.

Minako shook her head before clearing her throat. "I've noticed... that you've been drinking a little heavier Michiru." Minako looked into Michiru's now clouded hues. "We've known each other a while now Michiru, you looked after me when I first started working at After Dark... And now I know I've got to look out for you. So that's what I'm doing. Talk to me Michiru-chan, what's going on?"

More silence.

Minako sighed and kept her eyes fixed onto Michiru's. She noticed the other pair of blue eyes were fixated on the glass of wine in the blonde's hands. Minako laughed bitterly, "Michiru, I say this because I care about you... Don't get in too deep. I know a glass here and there is of no consequence. But if you let it take advantage of you – if you let it win... it can do more harm than you ever thought. Please, don't make this a problem."

Michiru sneered at Minako. "I don't have a problem Minako! Just give me my damned drink!"

Minako fought back the tears in her eyes; this scene seemed so familiar from her youth.

"It doesn't matter, we're broke... my boss is bankrupt... we've got nothing, no settlement package, nothing!" Aino Nobuo sat in his family's living room as he said this in exasperation.

He had his two daughters beside him; Minako and Aika. He swallowed his half full glass of whiskey and coughed painfully afterwards.

"What do you mean, daddy?" Minako sat beside her father, her young ten year old frame leaning against her father's heavier build.

Nobuo pushed Minako away roughly. "What does it sound like Mina? It means we don't have a penny to our name! And your trust fund from your mother isn't accessible till you both hit eighteen. So, as usual, it's just me who's fucked over."

"Otou-san! Language in front of Mina!"

Nobuo ignored his older daughter and looked to the table beside his seat and found the object he was looking for; a small bottle of Jim Beam and he filled the glass to the brim, never taking his eyes off of the tawny coloured liquor.

Aika sighed heavily. "Mina, go to bed, kiddo."

Minako nodded and made her way upstairs.

She left her bedroom door open as she listened to her fifteen year old sister and her father argue for over two hours. Talking about money, their deceased mother, about Minako. Minako listened every night for two months. She listened to her father shouting about the bills he had no money to pay, and he listened to Aika shout back at him.

"If you quit drinking, maybe you could get a job!"

"No-one will hire anyone from my old firm! Nearly everyone was exposed as an embezzler, and I've been tarnished with the same brush! If it's not then it's the fact I'm too old! Why am I justifying myself to you? Get to your room."

"Fine, dad if I go, I'm taking the bottle."

Minako eyes widened as she heard the distinct sound of flesh connecting with flesh and her sister whimpering.

"You have a problem, dad."

A loud scoff could be heard, followed by clumsy footsteps – undoubtedly her father's.

"I don't have a problem, Aika, so why don't you give me my drink and get your ass upstairs."

"Fine, take it. Kill yourself with it for all I care."

Minako quickly hid in her room as her sister flew up the stairs. The young blonde child hid in her room for the rest of the night, praying tomorrow would be better.

There was no such chance.

Minako awoke to a scream coming from her father's room. A scream that belonged to Aika; the young blonde instantly dashed to her father's room.

He was hanging from the beam in his bedroom; he had used a wrung bed-sheet as a noose and his body was a frightening light indigo colour. Darker purple patches were apparent on his face from where capillaries had burst while he had asphyxiated. He was dressed in the clothes from the night before; an off-white work shirt and his pants were around his knees. The bottle of Jim Beam was beside his body; slightly stiff from where rigor mortis had set in overnight.

Minako took in the sight and fell to her knees.

Aika was slightly in front of her, hunched over and vomiting straight into the carpet. She couldn't believe it – that was not something her father would have done, something had changed him. Her eyes fell to the bottle beside her father's limp form.

That bottle changed him.

Mina came to hate that bottle over the years. From that day when the police dragged her to the police station and to the day she was separated from Aika due to Child Services. She hated it when her third foster father drank it and came into her room and took her last piece of innocence. She hated it, until she realised it could be controlled, not everyone was affected by one drop of alcohol.

She swore to herself, she would never get in the state her father would... and neither would anyone she cared or loved about.

"No... Michiru, I can't let you," Minako took the wine glass and poured the contents into her empty soup bowl and looked into Michiru's eyes, her sapphire hues blazing with intensity.

"I'm not kidding, Michiru-chan. Let it go," Michiru pouted in her seat as she sat back,

"You don't have to treat me like a child, Minako-chan."

Minako's cell-phone rang at that instant and she glared at it, until she saw it was the office number. She picked it up but before answering she huffily spoke to Michiru,

"I'm not. I'm treating you like someone I love," Minako opened her cell and placed it to her ear, "Hello? Hi, Haruka-san... Hai, we're coming in, don't worry... because we've got nothing better to do..." Michiru watched as Minako was silent for a moment before smirking and flickering her eyes over the other escort, "Hai, Michiru's with me... yes, she's coming. Why'd you want to know, Tenoh-san? Ha ha ha, okay, okay, we'll be there in fifteen. Ja ne." Minako looked up to Michiru and smirked.

"Mina? What is it? What?!"

Minako said nothing, but shook her head and looked over to the waiter.

"Check, please!"

The waiter nodded and went to his till to get their bill. Minako was still smiling, even humming as she rummaged through her bag for her credit card. Michiru exhaled exasperatedly. Minako looked up at her and giggled, Michiru sighed – she was getting a little annoyed now.

"Mina, what is it?!"

Minako stopped laughing and looked at Michiru endearingly. "You're both so stupid."

Michiru cocked an eyebrow automatically in response. She knew what the blonde was talking about. Her and Haruka – wait, was there even a 'her and Haruka?' Well not at the moment so it would seem. She didn't want to talk about it right now – the events of last night were still fresh in her mind. That slutty Lara all over the tomboy she had become obsessed with... she didn't need to dwell on thoughts involving Tenoh Haruka anymore today. Well, anymore than needed – it was inevitable they'd bump into each other at work. Michiru was brought out of her thoughts by Minako clearing her throat and standing up; "Well, the bill's paid, let's get going... I wonder if Rei's going to be there today?"

Minako put a finger to her chin and adopted a pensive pose.

Michiru stood, chuckling gently and nudged her friend as they both made their way from the restaurant and over to Minako's car, where the blonde instantly had her Smart Roadster on the road seconds after getting in – intent on seeing Rei.

"You are not well Oji-san." Rei's voice made it so no argument could be given.

But being as this was another Hino she was talking to... arguments were expected.

"I'm f-f-f – Oh, Kami-sama!"

The elderly man lying down before her was wheezing heavily. His skin was ashen and he could barely open his eyes without them rolling back into his head. He was heavily sweating and he was running a high fever.

Rei looked over to the man with shaggy brown hair sitting on the other side of her grandfather.

"Yuuichiro... how long as he been like this?"

The man shook his head as he thought hard, after a moment he spoke in a quiet and shaky voice. "Since yesterday morning, he said it was just a stomach flu. But yesterday, I noticed in the bathroom, he er... he..." Yuuchiro seemed embarrassed to talk further but one look from Rei showed that now was not the time to be bashful. Yuuichiro gulped and he spoke once more, "There was blood in the bathroom... after your grandfather had used it."

Rei furrowed her eyebrows.

"What has he had to eat?"

"The usual... although he did have some meat that I thought wasn't cooked enough, but I don't think that would have done it...would it?"

Rei ignored Yuuichiro's question. Her grandfather was running a high fever, he had bloody diarrhoea and he had been clutching at his stomach in agony for the past hour – God knows, how much longer before she had gotten there.

"How long till the ambulance is here, Yuuichiro?"

"They said ten to twenty minutes."

Rei nodded to the information, processing it and looking down at her watch – it was 1:30pm. She grabbed her cell-phone from her pocket and dialled the number for 'After Dark'. "Hello, Haruka-san? Hai, it's me... I'm not going to be coming in today. I, er, have to take my grandfather to the hospital. Hai, everything's fine, I'm sure it's nothing major but you know, I have to be careful. I'm at the shrine for the weekend if you need me... I see, sure. I'll see you Monday. Bye... and Haruka? Thank you."

There was silence after Rei hung up, except for the sound of her grandfather wheezing uncontrollably.

Yuuichiro looked over to Rei, with a confused expression on his face. "Wow, the office you work at must be real understand if they let you out of working your weekend's Rei-chan."

Rei forced a smile – she hated the fact she had lied to her grandfather and his long-time assistant at the shrine about her job. As far as they knew she worked Thursday to Monday's in an office, mainly covering weekend receptionist work at a firm. They had no idea she was an escort but how could she tell the man who brought her up and one of her friend's that?

No freaking way.

"Yeah, they're great-" and thankfully, Rei was saved by the sound of the nearby siren, alerting her to the presence of the ambulance nearby.

Three hours later, Rei was in a hospital waiting room, watching through a glass pane at her grandfather, while a doctor did a preliminary test on the old man. Rei flinched as she saw his frail body being pierced with needles, IV's being inserted and his arm constricted by an instrument to monitor his pulse.

Yuuichiro was in the cafeteria getting Rei a drink when the dark-haired woman was interrupted from pacing by a middle aged woman with dark hair. She was dressed in blue scrubs with a white coat over the top, a stethoscope hanging around her neck. She smiled gently; "Hino-san?"

Rei nodded her head, unable to form a response due to the overwhelming emotion of seeing her only family tied to a hospital bed.

"The good news is that he'll be fine. He has a case of Escherichia Coli... well, E Coli... anything that came in contact with his food could have caused this. But, just to be safe we're going to keep him here under observation. He's a little dehydrated but he'll be fine." The doctor smiled trying to reassure Rei but she kept her face expressionless.

"And the bad news, doctor?"

The doctor's face faltered and her smile was replaced with a more serious expression. She turned to face Rei's grandfather, copying the younger woman's stance. "Nothing is official yet, but I noticed your grandfather looks a little off-colour Hino-san, now that he's stabilised. E Coli can cause or bring out dormant cases of a condition called Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura ... also known as TTP. And if he has E Coli, it could be possible his kidneys are failing him. It could be serious Hino-san. I want to help you. The elderly are covered by our government, as you know, but the waiting list can be anything up to three months... if you pay privately you might be able to get him seen to sooner."

Rei held back her tears and fought the lump in her throat as she took in the information and looked once more to her grandfather. He did look weaker than usual in the past few months; how could she have missed this?

"And how much would that cost, doctor?"

The doctor inhaled, almost bracing herself for a reaction she had come to know well. "Nine million yen."

Rei shook her head and laughed bitterly. Most other people's reaction would be to say 'That's more than I earn in five years!'... but not everyone has a high paying job like Rei's... in her savings, she had two million. She looked over to the doctor, who seemed shocked by Rei's unorthodox reaction.

"In one lump sum?"

The doctor shook her head, relieved that this young woman had not tried to chew her head off. "No... it's a three million yen deposit now. Another three in two months time. And a final deposit two months after that."

Rei turned to the doctor.

"Can you justify nine million yen to me before I agree?"

The doctor nodded and looked back to Rei's grandfather before continuing, "Several urine tests, tests on the kidneys, if he has TTP, then they are most vulnerable, Hino-san. Then a plasma exchange – we swap the enzymes for healthier ones that hopefully rebuild the protein missing in your grandfather. We do this for weeks until improvement is shown, then we remove the cause."

"And if no improvement is shown?" Rei looked into the doctor's eyes, her heated gaze forcing the doctor to not falsify any facts she knew.

"Then we would treat the TTP and whatever else may come. A kidney dialysis would not be the worst thing in the world Hino-san, though your grandfather will be in hospital a long while."

Rei turned away from the doctor and stared at her grandfather. She couldn't let him suffer, but she needed the money and she needed it now. One million yen – she would need one huge job to pay for this as soon as possible. Her Oji-san could not suffer, that was not even an option.

Rei would do anything for that old man.

She turned back to the doctor and nodded her head slowly. Over the doctor's shoulder she could see Yuuichiro returning with two cups of coffee in his hands. "I'll come by in the week to fill out for the forms and to drop off the deposit, doctor."

The doctor nodded and walked away as Yuuichiro joined Rei and asked for the summary on her grandfather's health. As Rei gave the other man the briefing on her Oji-san, all Rei could think was how much she would have to do in order to pay for the deposits. It was going to be one hell of a hard year for year for her.

And the worse part? She knew had to face it alone.

"Usako? Have you seen my briefcase?" Mamoru ran around his home looking frantically for the leather case.

Usagi stepped out from the living room and stretched. "Why do you need it, Mamo-chan? It's Saturday," Usagi sported a confused look.

Mamoru turned around and his blue eyes met hers – she instantly frowned. She knew why in that one look. "Working over-time for Beryl-san, Mamo?"

The dark haired man instantly stood tall, his face looking tired.

"Usako... it's just work, why else would I bother looking for my briefcase? And it's not for her but for the company. Now... have you seen my briefcase?"

Usagi shook her head and watched as Mamoru began searching through their apartment for his briefcase once more. Usagi sighed heavily, catching the attention of her husband. He looked over her and placed one hand on his hip and used the other to rub his temples.

"Usa?"

The blonde odango-ed woman didn't immediately reply, but Mamoru took a step forward towards his wife. Usagi looked up and a smile flashed across her face before it faltered. Her husband cupped her face and brought their faces closer together; noses touching, but his lips were barely brushing against his wife's. Usagi kept her eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of her husband's breath on her lips.

"I love you Usako. Only you. Okay?"

Usagi said nothing but nodded her head, coercing herself to smile, giving an artificial reassurance to her significant other.

He smiled, seemingly pleased with the results of his straightforward declaration of love to his wife. "Okay, so I'm going to find this briefcase and head out to work. I should be back later, okay Usa?" The blonde nodded absent-mindedly, " Where is Chibi-chan? Maybe you two could have a girls day?"

Usagi shook her head and looked out of the window. "She's meeting a boy from school for lunch... maybe we can order pizza later." As Usagi spoke, Mamoru looked under the couch and made a triumphant grunt, seconds later holding up his muddy brown leather briefcase. Mamoru stood up, straightened out his tie and looked to his wife's forlorn face.

"Usako, I won't be doing anymore late nights soon, I promise. But, I really do have to go... Remember, I love you, okay?" He kissed Usagi gently on her forehead before making his way out from the apartment.

The blonde woman walked to the door her husband just closed and rested her forehead and hands against the door, taking a few deep breaths. She turned around and rested her back against the door, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Maybe she had no proof that Mamoru was cheating on her but deep down she knew; the late nights, not explaining that Beryl came back to Tokyo, the general withdrawn nature he had taken on lately.

And most of all, she knew it was because of what Beryl had said.

Beryl washed her hands at the cubicle, keeping her eyes fixed on the blonde before her, standing with two young girls; both of whom were busy talking about the latest horror film.

"Long time, no see Tsukino-san."

Usagi forced a smile and held up her left hand, "It's Chiba-san now."

Beryl cocked an eyebrow and held back a smirk. Usagi looked questioningly at the older woman who simply shrugged.

"Oh... Mamoru didn't mention that he was married to you know... and to think we've spent all those late nights in the office together. I would have thought he'd mention that. Hmm, oh well... congrats, Chiba-san. See you around."

She said no more and simply left the restrooms.

Chibiusa had quietened the second she heard the name Mamoru; she knew the woman had addressed him in far too intimate a manner to be acceptable and the look on her cousin's face expressed her distressed manner. "Usa-chan, are you okay?"

The blonde forced another smile and nodded, "Hai, what makes you say that?"

As she had learned from Haruka since she had started her job at After Dark; you could still sleep with another person and deeply love another. Still, the fact that love was involved didn't detract from the fact that the pain of infidelity would be almost too much for the usually chipper blonde to handle.

She forced another smile – Kami, it seemed she had been doing a lot of that lately.

Bright, sparkling pink eyes took in every single part of what she had now come to know as 'The Crown'. It was a hang-out for nearly every kid that seemed to live in the Juuban district. Here was Chibiusa, drinking a vanilla milkshake with who seemed one of the most popular people in Juuban. Every boy that walked by had waved and spoke to Helios, and every girl seemed to swoon over his very being. Chibiusa couldn't help but feel giddy at the fact she was now in the presence of such a respected young man. She giggled at the idea of calling Helios a man. He was sixteen, so really still a boy... but still...

"Are you having fun Chibiusa-chan?"

Chibiusa glanced over to Helios and nodded. She would have spoken but simply looking at the attractive boy caused her to become speechless every now and again.

Helios smiled warmly, "I'm glad. I was thinking after lunch we could play some pool or bowl... or maybe catch a film later?"

Chibiusa's cheeks went a light pink. She opened her mouth and nodded adamantly. "Yeah! That sounds great, Helios-kun!"

Helios smiled brightly and returned his attention to his own malt shake. He raised his head to speak again, his face fell somewhat, as he looked over to his left side. His jaw clenched and Chibiusa took note, turning slightly and saw that no less than twenty feet from their booth were Jun, Ves, Ceres and Pallas. All four waved excitedly as they saw Helios looking over in their direction. Helios turned his head away, not even acknowledging the girls. Chibiusa took note of his less than friendly actions and frowned. "Helios-kun, are you okay?"

Helios lifted his head and smiled tenderly to the young girl he was having lunch with. He nodded his head. "Hai, I'm fine... it's just those four... they're so – ah, no, forget it."

Chibiusa shook her head, "No, Helios-kun, I've always been told to let my emotions and feelings be known... besides, I'd kind of like to know why it is you hate my friends." She giggled playfully and Helios's head shot up, looking at her with a confused look on his face.

"So, they are your friends... oh... then you probably wouldn't like to hear what I have to say about your friends." Helios began to stir his drink, seemingly torn.

He really liked the girl opposite him, but her friends were... well, for lack of a better phrase, modern day versions of pure evil.

"Just tell me Helios-kun. I'd rather know everything than nothing... even though most people think I know nothing."

Helios laughed at Chibiusa's quip and he spared one more glance over to the four girls who had been watching the two intently since they walked in. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Well... it has to do with their attitude. The way they treat people...like Hotaru."

Hotaru?!

Chibiusa, who was midway through a huge mouthful o milkshake, began spluttering some back into her glass.

How could she have forgotten! Yesterday it all clicked! At school, Chibiusa had figured out that Helios hung around with a girl called Tomoe, whose first name was Hotaru... and she had met her last night! Looking up, Chibiusa grinned sheepishly as she saw Helios smiling amusedly. "Um... sorry, Helios-kun, it's just that... I met Hotaru-chan last night."

Helios raised both his eyebrows, clearly shocked. "Hotaru-chan? You did? Where?"

Chibusa smiled fondly as she recalled last night. "Her cousin's best friend is with the owner of Makoto's – that new restaurant that opened up. My cousin and her cousin had been friends since high school! I met her last night, we get on real well... in fact, tomorrow, we're hanging out together."

Helios's face broke out into a huge grin and he looked at Chibiusa with a new adoration in his eyes. "You are? That's fantastic! So, you two are friends now or what?"

Chibiusa shrugged. "I don't know... I want to be but she seems very... shy."

Helios became serious and nodded once more. "Hai... she is. And she has her reasons to be." Helios glared over to the four girls, whose eyes were still transfixed on him. Chibiusa looked over to him, concern etched over her features.

"Helios-kun, is that why you don't like them? What did they do?"

Helios took in the girl opposite him. She seemed nice, but could she be trusted? He wasn't Hotaru's best friend to be precise but he was her only true one. She trusted Helios with the information she had given him. In fact, in memory served right they were two booths away from the very place were Hotaru 'outed' herself to him. Helios looked at Chibiusa and sighed. "I'm only going to tell you this because if those four haven't then they will... and they'll be horrible as usual. Okay, now don't jump to conclusions, let me go from start to finish, okay?"

Chibiusa nodded and patiently waited, eager to know the drama!

"Well, Hotaru is a year younger than me... but she was skipped ahead a grade in our elementary school before that, I think it was kindergarten...anyway, she is very smart. It's hereditary I suppose, because her dad is a genius too. But those four, they've never liked her. They always taunted her because of her intelligence, and then they taunted her because she just wasn't loud or outspoken, just reserved, not as shy as she is now, mind you. She got worse after..." Helios trailed off looking at Chibiusa, this was the deciding moment.

If he told her now and she reacted badly, he would have to do some serious damage control... here's to hoping she took it well.

"She got worse after they found out she was gay... they made her life hell. They hurt her... emotionally and physically. I try my best to help but there's only so much I can do. They seem to think that just because Hotaru's homosexual she's going to try and molest every girl she sees... God, that couldn't be further from the truth. So, there... I dislike your friends because of the way they bully mine."

Blood suddenly stopped flowing into Chibiusa's head for a split second.

Shock.

Astonishment.

Disbelief.

Any other synonym for the jolt to Chibiusa's system would fit too. She had heard Helios's reasons for disliking the four girls and quite frankly, she agreed, how horrible to treat anyone like that... Still, she was sort of caught up on two words – gay and homosexual.

Hotaru was into girls?

Okay, she was totally fine with that... Sure, she had never really known a gay person before but it didn't matter to her. What did matter to her was why she hid that fact from Chibiusa. "Why didn't she tell me last night, Helios-kun?"

The boy cocked an eyebrow and laughed gently. "Tell you what? That she's gay? Do you go up to people and say hi, I'm Chibiusa, I'm straight? Ha ha, no you don't, so why should she have to disclose that? It's not who she is but it's a part of her. She doesn't need or want to publicise it. Anyway, it shouldn't matter, if you two are really friends, it doesn't matter."

Chibiusa looked at Helios – how did he have such a ready explanation. As if reading her mind he grinned and lowered his tone, "I've had to give that speech about her not telling people so many times, I swear it's almost second nature."

Chibiusa laughed.

A comfortable silence engulfed the two. Helios stretched and looked at his watch, "Not that I don't think the world of her, but let's not talk about Hotaru anymore eh? Let's bowl and catch that film, what do you think?"

Chibiusa nodded, and finished off her milkshake. As the two stood, ready to leave their booth and get on with their activities, Chibiusa looked over at the four girls who sent a wave her way.

She hesitated, and Helios looked over to her, "You can wave back to them, I'm just saying... be wary."

She nodded at her male companion's words before sending a brief wave back to the four girls. Helios put his jacket on and cleared his throat, suddenly looking shy and adorable.

"Come on, let's forget about that... and get to know each other better. Favourite colour?"

The clock ticked loudly.

Well, it wasn't really loud but considering the fact there was no other sound in the room, the ticking was amplified. Soon, fingers drumming on a desk joined in. An annoyed glance was shared from the woman sitting opposite the blonde tomboy behind her desk.

"Why am I in here, Tenoh-san?"

The drumming stopped and soon it was just the clock filling in the sound of the otherwise audibly vacant room.

"Because of that. I thought we had gotten past Tenoh-san. I-I thought we were back to Haruka and Michiru?"

Michiru had to fight the slight smile that was trying to force its way onto her face. Oh, if only there was a Haruka and Michiru. Michiru clenched her jaw in an attempt to keep the smile at bay.

"I think it's best if we keep our professional relationship absolutely professional... Tenoh-san."

Haruka released a sigh and groaned afterwards. "But I don't want to call you Kaioh-san, Michiru! I want to call you Michiru and I want you to call me Haruka, just like everyone else does."

Michiru ignored the lack of honorifics and remained silent.

"I don't get it... a couple of days ago, we were fine. And then last night, you become cold again... wait, was it because of Lara?"

Michiru inwardly huffed – so it seemed she wasn't the only one named without a suffix. Outwardly, Michiru just remained still – her posture rigid and stiff.

"Well, was it? Look, I was thinking when I got home and when you said she was plain... I got to thinking..." Haruka took a deep breath and readied herself to say the next sentence, "that you must have said that to put me off of her," Michiru's eyes widened – where was Haruka going with this?! "But if you like Lara then I'll step back. You know, I'm sorry I stepped in."

Michiru laughed bitterly.

Haruka scrunched her eyebrows up in confusion.

"Sorry? Don't be. I don't like Ellis-san. Not one bit."

What?

Haruka nearly fell off her chair in shock at hearing the statement.

She didn't like her?! At all? Then why was she acting so... rude to her? Why was she trying to put Haruka off of Lara? If it wasn't to get to Lara, then who was it to get to? – oh.

Oh, holy crap.

Haruka could feel her pulse racing, her heart beating against her chest, her entire face becoming flustered at this news.

"Michiru... answer me honestly," green eyes bore into blue, engulfing the whole atmosphere in the room with just that one lock of eyes.

"Do you l – "

The phone's shrill ringing cut Haruka's question short. The blonde closed her eyes and clenched her jaw – instantly pissed off, forming curses at the mouth and ready to kick whoever's ass that was on the other end of the line.

Violently the phone was grabbed off of its receiver."Yes?"

Curt and unprofessional; that was the least of Haruka's concerns right now. She kept her eyes trained on the woman opposite her as she listened to the man on the telephone. After a moment, Haruka flickered her eyes over to her laptop and began clicking and typing. While she was on the phone, Minako walked in, clearly forgetting the art of knocking before entering a room. She noticed immediately how Haruka's eyes were looking over Michiru and how Michiru was avoiding looking at the tomboy.

Minako sat down beside Michiru and caught her attention with a yawn. "What happened?" Minako waited for an answer but all she got was a shrug from Michiru.

Haruka listened to the man on the phone. He clearly had his preference and she recognised the voice as the man who was escorted by Minako the night before. She repeated some of his words, confirming his needs and wants.

"So, you want the girl from last night? Minako? For a hotel visit?" Haruka let her eyes wander over to Minako, who nodded after a moment of thinking, "No problem sir... wait, what? You want another? The dark-haired one? I'll have to check that... you know, for double visits we tend to charge – what? Are you serious? No, no, that's fine. Can I have a contact number? I'll call you back in five minutes with the confirmation."

Haruka hung up the phone and looked incredulously at the instrument. Minako looked confused, "What's up, Haruka-san?"

The tomboy chuckled gently.

"At least someone calls me Haruka... Mina... that was Kunzite-kun, from the other night. He is requesting a double hotel visit. With you and Jadeite-kun's escort."

Minako's eyes widened and she felt her throat become suddenly parched. "R-Rei? He wants Rei and I for a hotel visit?"

Michiru instantly sensed the blonde escort's worry and she turned to her, giving her a look of reassurance. Haruka picked up her work cell-phone and began dialling the number for the dark haired escort.

"Maybe, Rei will say no."

"Yuuichiro, I need a million yen by next week. I already have two, but the deposit is three... grandfather has only a few thousand yen to his name... are there any other things in his name that could help pay for it?"

The shaggy haired man shook his head.

Rei didn't want to have to scour her grandfather or the shrine for money but she couldn't guarantee she could get all the jobs needed to pay for the procedure. Yuuichiro shuffled on his feet and gave an uneasy look to Rei. "I have two hundred thousand yen in my account, Rei-san, and I – "

"No, Yuuichiro, I couldn't and will not take a penny from you. Don't worry about it."

Defeated, the man went back to looking at the elderly priest through the glass pane. Rei turned and sat in the corridor, keeping her eyes on her grandfather who she could still see from her end of the hallway. She felt something in her pocket suddenly start to vibrate and Rei quickly took her cell-phone from her pocket, seeing the caller ID she sighed – 'Work Bakas'.

"Moshi moshi? Haruka-san? What is it? No... I'm not busy," Rei sighed heavily, "No, I'm fine, what is it?... Monday? Yes, I'm free... a hotel visit? No problem."

A pause ensued as she heard the name of the blonde haired escort mentioned. Rei scoffed loudly, "No fucking way, Haruka-san. Get Michiru-chan to do that cause there is no way on Earth I am - ... eight hundred thousand yen?"

Rei took her gaze to Yuuichiro, then to the elderly man gasping for breath in his hospital bed. Sighing dejectedly, Rei brought her eyes to staring at the floor directly in front of her.

Oji-san.

He needed this. And Rei would do anything to help him.

Anything.

"Haruka-san? I'll do it."

A/N 2 - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's this for now. DUN DUN DUN. See you at Chapter 11 kiddies. R&R if you made it this far. -VR