Reika looked around at everyone else in the room, staring at her in confusion. "I'm guessing I am missing something about why that's a bad thing," she responded calmly. Kunzite, Motoki, Usagi, Mamoru, and Ami all looked stunned.

Motoki collected himself, gave her a wry smile, and said, "You're brilliant. You'll learn quickly."

She rolled her eyes lovingly at him. "And you're sweet to say that. Now tell me why the idea of you biting Minako got that reaction."

He was glad he couldn't blush anymore because he knew he would be beet red. The suggestion had made him uncomfortable even though he understood that she was trying to help. Reika knew he was an empath but that he didn't have training in his ability yet. She also understood that his drinking blood could help him read someone. She just didn't understand why that wasn't a socially acceptable idea.

Ami, realizing that Kinzite was upset but not angry, answered Reika, "When it's from a living Vampire, it's considered intimate. It's not sexual on its own, but it's sharing a large part of yourself with someone else."

Reika did blush and tucked her head. "And I asked my boyfriend to do that with another vampire… Sorry Kunzite."

Kunzite shrugged and gruffly said, "I'm not mad. You didn't mean anything by it. In fact, you were trying to help. I am worried about how she's doing." He sighed and shook his head, "I think she's trying to track down Beryl."

Usagi frowned and looked up at Mamoru. "I'm thinking of ordering her to quit being a policewoman. It just seems like it gives her more opportunities to go off alone."

He pulled her to his side and kissed the top of her head. "Let's call that plan B."

Reika leaned over and whispered to Motoki, "We drank living vampire blood before. Does that mean we… Was that wrong?"

Motoki knew everyone in the room could hear her perfectly, so he responded in a normal tone of voice. "We weren't vampires at the time. A vampire drinking another vampire's blood takes their powers and abilities into themselves. When they are dead, you can get the same result, but it's not as personal."

"It's different? How?"

"You're sharing a big part of what makes you, you. You become fully equal to them in power."

"And willingly giving that up is only done among partners?" she asked.

Usagi shook her head, "No, but prostitutes sell sex too, even though it's not a perfect analog. Vampires do sell their own blood. The really powerful ones never do, though. We understand how valuable our blood is and only share it with our partners. Dracula let Lucy drink his blood immediately, and she never experienced being a low-powered Vampire."

"I didn't either," Mamoru commented, smiling. "And I bet I'm already stronger than Lucy."

"You are," Ami said matter-of-factly. "He's older, but from all accounts, Usagi has more power."

Reika searched her memory, trying to remember if she knew that Usagi easily rivaled the famous Dracula. She couldn't remember hearing that, but there was a hell of a lot to learn, and she was overwhelmed with it all the time.

Mamoru let his eyes become black. He had been working on controlling his change and how quickly he could enact the various parts of it. "I do disagree, though. I think drinking your blood is very sexual."

Ami said, "Correlation and causation are getting all mixed up in your head."

He chuckled and shrugged, "Pavlov proved that conditioning works."

Reika didn't say anything, but she got Usagi and Mamoru's point they were each getting at. For Usagi, preserving your power and keeping it unique gives you strength. Mamoru's point was that their whole group had blood and sex very tied together. Others might treat it more casually, but not them.

The problem was that they still didn't have a way to help Kunzite keep Minako from doing something reckless —again.

Kunzite focused his gaze on Usagi and asked, "What are my orders? Please just give me something. I'm worried."

She frowned, walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked over the city below. "Tell her that I order her to guard Mamoru. That will keep her away from Beryl."

Even Reika understood the subtext to that and why Usagi looked upset. She was basically saying she couldn't protect her bonded mate on her own. It would be hard for her to say that, even if it were to safeguard a friend.

Reika spoke up and said, "What if we're missing something obvious? What if I tell her how worried everyone is about her? Coming from me, a human, it won't seem like I'm saying she's weak."

Kunzite grumbled, "I said-"

She cut him off and said, "You mean the man who loves her and who probably came off as overprotective told her to be careful?! Shockingly, she didn't listen," Reika added sarcastically. "I've lived a fraction as long as her, and still, I'm wired to prove anyone wrong who says that I can't do something. She's a strong, obstinate woman. I know because I like that a lot about her. I also get the impression that she has a savior complex, and she's really good at backing it up with action."

Mamoru nodded. He observed Motoki, and he realized it was time to break up the meeting. "It can't hurt."

"Gee," she fussed. "Thanks for the confidence."

He pointed at Motoki, "I think it's a good idea, but I didn't want to discuss its merits. He can't take it. I've seen that look he has in the mirror before."

"What's wrong?" Reika asked, concerned. She focused on Motoki and was surprised by what she saw. He looked like he was struggling against some inner battle, but she didn't understand why.

Motoki pulled her roughly against his body and licked her neck. "I need you, Reika. Say goodbye to our friends."

"Goodbye," she squeaked out just before he rushed her out of the penthouse and to their place.

Kunzite raked his fingers through his hair, messing up his ponytail. "I'll keep an eye on Minako until she can talk to her —tomorrow."

Everyone in the room understood the struggle the newly transformed vampire went through. They were just glad he was dealing with sexual lust and not blood lust.