blueeyeddevil06 thank you for going back and editing all of these.

Chapter 18 - Mina's Morning

Tuesday morning, Mina reluctantly headed over to talk to Raye. She knew this conversation would be unpleasant to say the least. She was about to tell her friend she was no longer a scout.

She knocked on Raye's door, and the door opened to a panicked looking Raye.

Raye fretted, "I can't find my transformation brooch! It's gone! Do you think someone managed to sneak in and steal it? Maybe the new enemy saw how powerful I am, tracked me down, and stole it! What am I going to do? I looked everywhere for it!"

Mina sighed and sat down, "Please sit. You didn't lose it at all. I'm here to talk to you about what happened as the leader of the scouts."

"Please don't subject me to more about 'Perfect Princess Serena.'"

"I have no intention of doing that." She grew upset at Raye's tone, and it was making everything easier to say.

"What a relief!"

"I'm here to talk about 'Powerful Princess Serena' who used the Silver Crystal to call your brooch to her and remove your scout powers and your connection to the Great Fire. She did all of this after hearing your unrelenting opinion on her from both Jadeite and me."

"She isn't powerful enough," she huffed.

"She is. I saw it happen. Go to the Great Fire and see for yourself. I will wait here," she offered.

Raye left the room immediately and slammed the door. Mina waited for an hour and a half.

Raye stormed back in, "I'm going to kill her."

"No, you won't, and if you try, I'll stop you. You made your own bed. Now lie in it. I warned you, Jadeite warned you, and you didn't listen."

"I will never forgive Jadeite."

"When will you realize that he doesn't care?" This was getting ridiculous to Mina.

"Get out! I don't want to speak to you!" Raye couldn't comprehend how Mina could tolerate Raye having her powers taken away. She was supposed to be her friend, and she didn't stop Serena from stealing not only her powers, but her connection to the Great Fire too.

"Fine. I'll still be happy to talk to you when you're ready."

"Please hold your breath. It would be entertaining."

"Lashing out isn't helping you. And, keep in mind that Jadeite will be dating again soon. Don't embarrass yourself by making a scene."

Mina left, hoping her conversation would help redeem herself in Serena's eyes. She knew Serena said that she didn't hold her responsible for Raye not coming to notice that she was out of line. She still felt guilty. She also hoped anything she could say to help Jadeite would make a difference to the situation.

Mina made her way to Serena's house, knowing Kunzite promised to update her if Serena was going anywhere. Nephrite answered the door when she knocked and let her know Serena was in the den reading manga.

Mina thanked him and knocked on the doorway to the den alerting Serena to the fact that she was there.

"So, how goes house arrest?" She joked.

"Ha! I'm telling the guys you see it too! I'm getting really bored here, and they grew so desperate to stop my whining they bought me a bunch of manga. So, I win in the end."

"Yes, you do," Mina laughed.

"Can I guess how it went with Raye?"

"Sure, but I won't be impressed if you get it right. It went much like I expected."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with her. You're the leader of the scouts, but their loyalty is supposed to make your job easier." Serena sighed.

"I haven't been serving you well. You were right when you pointed that out."

"I wasn't completely fair then. I was frustrated but mostly scared when I talked to you. Also, I want to be closer to you girls like I used to be."

"I want that too. I know Amy and Lita want that also. What if we three moved in together? Surely Darien could help us find a safe apartment building like his. It will give an enemy less access points if you live in an apartment building."

"I like that idea. Maybe the guys can move into the same apartment building. It would be nice to all be close."

"Your uncle would be disappointed."

"Good point."

"You would prefer to be near the guys, wouldn't you?"

"Honestly, yes. I'm sorry. It does sound fun to live together, but I like my living arrangement."

"I understand."

"I have an idea. Why don't you sleep over in my room tonight after your date with Kunzite?"

"It isn't a date."

"He's cooking dinner, and you two are eating it alone together. It's a date."

"He's cooking?" Mina was excited to hear that. She knew she found him incredibly sexy, and she was fascinated with him.

"He has seen you stepping more into your role as leader of the scouts. That's a good thing."

Mina looked at her questioningly, "You're trying to help us get back together, aren't you?"

"I am. I care for you both. Molly was right, and I was glad she saw it before I had to step in. I hope you don't hold it against her."

"Thank you. And, I could never hold it against her. She was so perceptive and kind with me. I didn't tell her my feelings, nor did I even hint that they should break up. I didn't really act in a way that deserved her thoughtfulness to me, but I am glad she did it anyway."

"It's good to hear you feel that way. Kunzite was not broken-hearted over Molly ending things. I think he just enjoyed her company and her intelligent conversation."

"Lucky he can get that without dating her."

"Ha! Yes, and you don't even know how true that is. When Jadeite approached Kunzite about his own feelings for Molly, Kunzite didn't hesitate to encourage him and give him advice about asking her out."

"Wow. Raye is going to be furious. Hopefully, she listens to what I said about not embarrassing herself in public when he is on a date."

"Thanks for doing that, and he will appreciate any help you can give him on that. Just keep an eye out too, please. They have all taken such good care of me."

"You don't even have to ask."

"Now, back to Raye. My guess is that she had some self-important reason her brooch was missing, she insulted me, you informed her I removed all of her power, she went to the Great Fire to check, and now she is furious."

"Got it in one!"

"That couldn't have been fun."

"I survived."

"Please don't feel you have to avoid her for me. If you two stay close friends, I won't be hurt in the least. I hold no illusions that she will want to talk to me any time soon."

"She doesn't want to talk to me either right now."

"Hopefully, she comes around."

"If she does, will you give her power back? Can she be given them back?"

"Technically, it was never 'her power' to begin with. All the power comes from the Silver Crystal. I think a sister of hers may have been reborn also. I don't think my mother ever fully trusted Raye. I'm thinking of reaching out to her, but I'll wait a bit." Serena felt badly for the way she phrased it, but she needed to shake Raye up and knew Mina would tell her. The girl exists, but she wanted Raye back. Sure, she was mean to her now, but there had been a time when they were close, and Serena missed her.

Serena had learned by this point that it was impossible for her to give up on anyone.

Mina hugged her and left. She had several errands to run and an outfit to purchase. If Serena thought tonight was a date, she needed the perfect outfit. She enjoyed a shopping challenge and finding an outfit that said "serious guardian meeting" and "don't you want to kiss me" was going to test her shopping abilities.