WE DON'T NEED BOYS TO GET ALONG

"Are you having dreams of Jadeite, lately, Rei-chan?"

The broom stopped its regular moving as Rei froze; the miko slowly turned around, her eyes wide open in surprise, and faced Minako's blue-violet eyes.

"I guess your answer is yes". The blonde Senshi sighed, resting her back against a tree in the Shrine's yard, her posture apparently relaxed, but Rei knew pretty well that Minako (and Venus) used that apparent nonchalance to start a serious talk.

Rei had a deep breath, "Yes. It's true. So, you too, Mina-chan?"

Minako nodded, "Me, and Ami-chan and Mako-chan, too. It seems that lately, after our experience in the Galaxy Cauldron, the memories of our past selves are stronger and stronger."

Rei turned around and started sweeping the leaves in the yard, her regular gestures coupled with her controlled voice, "For me, it has started before the Galaxy Cauldron, anyway. I have started dreaming of Jadeite after the battle against Metallia; at the beginning, just some rare dreams, but, after Galaxia's defeat, the dreams have become more and more frequent and more and more vivid. I perfectly know that Jadeite's death is a thorn inside my heart and it always will be," – she could still feel the cold ground of the cave at the North Pole on her knees, and her warm tears on her face - "but, I want to focus on my role as a Senshi."

Minako walked from the tree to Rei, facing her, "I have regained the memories of my past life before you and the others, Rei-chan. So, when we first met, I already knew about my past love, and about your past love too."

Rei nodded, "Yes, that day, when we were fighting against the Shitennou, you revealed it and it awakened my memories. But I had not so many memories as now. I had just some scattered memories of Jadeite, but now it's different. The picture is completing: it's like present and past are fusing. Rei Hino and the past Mars are completely fusing." She preferred not to talk, yet, about the dream of Jadeite in the future Crystal Tokyo.

Minako scratched her nape and watched up at the sky, "Present self and past one fusing. Interesting thought. Maybe it's exactly what's happening. We don't know when Crystal Tokyo will be built, but we know that Usagi will become Neo Queen Serenity and Mamoru will become King Endymion, and we will be the Guardians of Neo Queen Serenity. In Crystal Tokyo, we will be just Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury; do you remember our travel to the 30th Century?"

Rei nodded.

"Well, probably, we are recovering full memories of the Silver Millennium, on the road to Crystal Tokyo: our present reincarnation is fusing with our past, and this is why we are remembering also the Shitennou."

Rei smirked, "It seems you have pondered a lot about what's happening, Mina-chan."

Minako smiled, "Of course." She crossed her arms behind her back and twirled around, "You know, Rei-chan, I am still wondering what could have happened if Metallia hadn't killed the Shitennou. I am still wondering if there was a way to save them. They could have become the future Guardians of King Endymion."

Rei stared at Minako's shoulders and their gentle trembling; she frowned, her voice a soft whispering, "Mina-chan, you shouldn't feel responsible for the Shitennou's death. We tried our best to save them; you tried your best to save Kunzite. We managed to awake their memories, but Metallia was stronger than us… stronger than them."

Minako nodded and turned to Rei, "I know it. Mamoru told me the same thing."

Rei blinked, "Mamoru? Did you talk about it with Mamoru?"

"Yes. Some time ago, I decided to tell him what happened to the Shitennou, how they remembered him and how Metallia killed them. I think it was important for him to know the Shitennou remembered him before to die. He should know the Shitennou's spirits were freed from Metallia's control, at the end, being finally faithful to him."

"How did Mamoru react?"

Minako shook her head in confusion, "He wasn't surprised about the Shitennou remembering their past. Probably, the way the Shitennou managed to talk to us after dying, just few words, their spirits also managed to say goodbye to Mamoru, so, he already knew about their being free from Metallia."

Rei nodded, "Yes. It is pretty possible. I am happy they managed to say goodbye to their Prince, and I am happy Mamoru could see them as they were before Metallia, as his faithful Knights".

Minako turned more and more serious, "But… Mamoru said something about… the importance for the Shitennou's spirits to be freed from Metallia and…" she shook her head, "I don't know, Rei-chan, I have the feeling Mamoru wanted to say something more, explaining me why it was so important to him that we managed to free the Shitennou from Metallia's control, but he somehow avoided any further talk about it. If we suffer for the Shitennou's death, Mamoru is probably suffering even more. They were his faithful Knights. His grief is worse than ours. But… sometimes… I wonder what if Kunzite - "

Rei came closer Minako and placed her forefinger on her mouth, mirroring the gesture of Minako the day she faced the Starlights at Juuban High School, repeating the same words, "We don't need boys to get along. We have already sworn our life to a special person." She smiled, "We have Usagi, and Mamoru can count on us, too. We won't forget the Shitennou, but we have to focus on Crystal Tokyo. No time for grief."

A thundering voice, "Jadeite, you jerk!"

A muscular arm folded around Jadeite's neck, "You should be at the Court, not here getting a tan!"

Jadeite managed to escape from the strong grasp, "And what about you, Kunzite? Why are you here and not at the Court?"

Kunzite snorted, his sarcastic eyes on Jadeite; the younger Knight was wearing just his trousers, rolled up to his knees.

The silver haired Knight smirked as he started undressing his cape, then his jacket, t-shirt and boots, finally mirroring the look of Jadeite. With a sudden move he jumped to Jadeite, he grabbed the leaner and shorter Knight, he lifted him up and threw him into the lake.

The water splashed as Jadeite's body plunged into the lake. Then, Kunzite jumped into the lake, reaching Jadeite, "You, idiot".

Venus' laughing was crystal clear, like the water's lake.

Mars' grunted, "I don't know why you find it so funny."

From the lake, Kunzite splashed water on Venus, transforming the blonde Senshi's laugh into an acute shout.

Mars crossed her arms around her waist and had a deep sigh as Venus undressed her shoes and slowly walked to the lake, Kunzite's amused and challenging smile on her.

"Did you just – "

"Did you just – "

Minako's eyes were open wide in shock as she stared into Rei's eyes, "That vision. Me and you at the lake. And Kunzite and Jadeite, too. So vivid, as if I was there."

Rei nodded, "Yes, the same vision."

Minako placed her hands on her chest and whispered, "I don't need boys to get along, true… But…" her voice cracked, "I miss Kunzite, and it's wrong, totally wrong, because I can't waste my time diving into such memories while Crystal Tokyo, and maybe a new enemy, is coming closer." She turned around and walked away, "I am going to ask Artemis. Maybe he knows what's happening and why we are having these vivid visions and dreams about our past. Maybe it's a new enemy trying to distract us."

Rei stared at Minako walking away, her knuckles turning pale as she clung on to the broom.

"And I miss Jadeite," she whispered.

Why those dreams? And now, also, visions. And what about the dream of Jadeite in Crystal Tokyo? Maybe, premonition? No, she shook her head, she couldn't fall into false hopes. She vowed purity to Princess Serenity, in order to protect her and their World: it was her duty. She must forget Jadeite. But, of course, all those dreams and visions didn't help her.

She looked up at the blue sky. Could it really be the plan of a new enemy?

What a cruel enemy.