He woke up somewhen around early noon when his apartment's bell was rang violently.

Fighting to put a shirt on he rushed for the door and opened it.

Ami was standing there, casually clothed but with a serious face.

"Ami, you do know we're off duty today?" He asked her, surprised to see her.

"May I come in?" She asked.

He opened the door complete and motioned her to come in.

"Make yourself home, I'll be with you in a moment." He said and went to the bathroom.

She sat down on the sofa and three minutes later he was back in the room.

"What's wrong? Why are you here?" He asked her.

"What did you do yesterday night, after you left the reception?" She asked him with a serious voice.

"Uhm, I… I had a date. With a girl. I would appreciate it if you don't tell anyone"

"Of course. You haven't heard about the dead arms dealers in the docks, haven't you?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Dead Arms Dealers? No idea what you're talking about."

"Of course not. What was your date's name by the way?"

"Uhm, her name was H… Hina. Yes, her name was Hina." He explained with a stupid grin.

"Hina. I see. Let me guess, shoulder long black hair and still underage, often sporting a Glaive? That would explain the one guy that got killed by a sharp blade when the rest of the twenty one guys was vaporized by a laser that apparently belonged to a Starfighter." She looked at him angry now.

„Ami…" he tried to calm her down.

"No! What the hell were you two thinking?"

"Listen, I can explain. But you have to promise me that this stays between us."

"SunTzu."

"Promise me."

"Okay I promise."

"I didn't meant to leave but Saturn sent me a am message telling me she was in trouble and couldn't leave that place without noticing this guys. When I got there they immediately started shooting at me and me and AICA just defended ourselves and got Hotaru out."

"Oh my god. Are you superheroes now? Like Batman and Batgirl but with more terminal violence?" She facepalmed and sighed loud.

"She needed help and was onto this guys for a long time she said. Please don't tell anyone."

Ami took a deep breath.

"You know this data that you retrieved for the King yesterday? It was data about this Arms Dealers, they were shipping earth made weapons into space. Recognized that Team 2 was missing yesterday? The data had the know location of this group and they were out to raid the place. Unfortunately nobody was there anymore because they left. And now we know where they went." She let him know the background.

"Nice. Not that I left the ball that was meant for me too I also came late because I spent hours In space to retrieve outdated information."

"Basically that's it. Okay, I don't like it but I'll stay quiet about it. At least when it comes to Hotaru's part."

"Thank you, really tho. By the way, what did I miss yesterday yet?"

"When I left with Makoto around midnight, the Commandos and the pilots just planned the rest of the night. Sounded like they wanted to stay out the whole night. Your missing presence was the subject of many jokes and the one or other toast by the way." She giggled. "Good luck with the echo of this the next few days."

Rei, in her beautiful red dress she wore yesterday, shot into his mind. Yesterday she seemed to be in a great mood. Well, he saved the kid. That counted more. Germans. Always duty before pleasure.

They talked for a few minutes more before Ami left and went home again. When she was gone he got ready too and head out for lunch.

He took his time and walked through the bustling main parts in Shinjuku. Also he went for a stroll at Shinjuku Gyoen Park to catch the Sakuras there in full bloom. It was beautiful.

In the afternoon he had a coffee overlooking the Shibuya crossing before he went home again. He just sat down, when Marvin called him up.

"Hey SunTzu, you good? That was a fast retreat yesterday." He sounded a bit hungover.

"Yeah, I had to take care of something urgent unfortunately. I'm sorry."

"Hey, I'm sure you had your reasons. You missed one hell of a Afterparty tho. And the other pilots will probably give you shit till the rest of your life."

"It's my own fault, guess I earned that then." SunTzu said with a smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow, let's have a cup of coffee or so then."

"Sure, see you at the base then."

"Aight, till tomorrow. I need some more rest till then." Marvin laughed and hung up.

He just was about to put his phone down, when Hotaru called.

"Hey. It's me. How are you?"

"I'll probably be the laugh of the Earth's Starfighter Corps for the rest of the decade because I fled my own reception but other than that I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm good. Thanks to you. Setsuna didn't find out. Thanks for that too. I'll promise I'll won't go solo anymore."

"Good to hear. I'll see you at the base Kiddo, I have a suggestion for you then."

"Okay, see you tomorrow then."

"Bye Hotaru."

The girl sounded very thankful. At least she was warming up to him, not like her adoptive mother. Oh yeah, Setsuna. She looked great too yesterday.

Ah, why I always have to leave when it's so nice, SunTzy scolded himself.

He decided that he needed something to entertain himself at home in his spare free time and head out into the city again. What better to shop for entertainment stuff than Akihabara?

He was actually looking for a video game console in one of the shopping centers when the clerk praised the newest karaoke machine they just got, telling how popular it is with Japanese people.

That thing might be fun to have on the long trips on the Far Side and would fit in the lounge near the rooms. And he just got a bonus. Fuck it.

He bought the Karaoke machine and took an Uber to the base.

Wait, why did he came to Akiba in the first place? Wasn't there something else he wanted to get?

He took a motor pool jeep to the Far Side, that was silently sitting at her landing spot, greeted the soldiers guarding her and began carrying the parts of the machine on board.

He had to go a few times and it actually took it's toll to carry that stuff all the way to the Guardian's Lounge. He was down to wearing a T-Shirt top anymore when he got everything over and he started connecting the various parts.

"Hey TopGun, whatcha doing down there? And why are you even here?" He was laying behind the main screen and hit his head as he sat up.

"Ow… Rei. Hey." He rubbed the paining spot on his head, surprised to meet her here. She was wearing a Miko outfit and damn, was there something this woman didn't look good in. "I bought a Karaoke Machine because I thought I'd be diversion on long travels in here. Not for me tho, I'm a horrible singer."

"Wow, great idea. I love it and the girls will do too. You know how much we Japanese love these things."

"Good, nice to hear. What are you doing here by the way? Especially in that dress?"

"Oh, I was working in the temple today but decided to check in the palace to see what's new. I was on my way to the palace when I saw you hauling boxes into the Far Side and decided to check out what crazy things you were up to now again." She smiled.

"Oh, basically I'm just here to hid from my close environment. I'll get so much shit for leaving so early at my own party yesterday." He said with a smile.

"Oh yeah, I hope you could solve everything. I wasn't that long either. But at least it wasn't my own party and I didn't leave as the first person." She giggled. "Oh TopGun."

He frowned at her and she answered with poking out her tongue. He smiled and leaned back again, continuing with connecting the machine with it's various parts.

"You could solve anything that bothered you yesterday, could you?" She asked again.

"Yeah, it's all good. Thanks, I could solve it."

What was that about now? Why was she caring so much right now?

Some twenty minutes later everything was up and running and cleaned up and SunTzu mentally patted his own shoulder, not thinking about the snarky remarks Rei hit him with, as he connected some stuff wrong at first.

He turned the machine on and handed a microphone to Rei.

"Miss Hino, would you have the honor?"

"What? Now?" She looked at him with a questioning face.

"Someone has to try it out. And you don't want to listen to me singing." He shrugged.

She took the microphone and stepped forward, searching for a song to sing on the machine.

"This is a very famous and old folk song about the Sakura." She said as she opted for a song. "You might wanna sit down and enjoy the show." She smiled and motioned to the nearby sofa. He sat down and she started the song.

She sang beautiful. And didn't even needed the screen for the vocals. Her red and white Miko clothes gave the whole thing an extra touch and for the next four minutes he couldn't take his eyes from her, while she was singing with closed eyes and full of passion.

The song ended and she opened her eyes again. He started clapping his hands.

"Rei, that was awesome. You're a great singer!"

She bowed down, trying to hide that she was blushing.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're far too kind." She was throwing kisses into a imaginative crowd.

SunTzu got up and walked over to her. They shared a long glance at each's other eyes.

"You know, usually I get paid good money for this stuff, but well knowing that you probably do something insane to procure that money I resign from charging you."

"Too bad, I was about to invite you to another space trip as payment." He shrugged slowly and grinned at her. Then he turned the machine off and walked away.

Why not have sweet revenge this one time.

"Come on, let's get out of here." He told her.

"Hey TopGun, that's not fair. I was accommodating right now. Hey, wait!"

She rushed after him.

A fierce discussion later, they settled on a bargain that he would take her for a trip to space again as soon as they could manage.

They left the Star Destroyer through its main ramp again.

"Great, my driver's gone. Looks like you have to drive me to the palace TopGun."

"As you wish Mylady."

But only because she looked kinda cute in that Meiko dress. Really.

They drove the short distance to the palace and parked at one of the side entrances.

"I'm gonna hit up the Crystal palace and then get some dinner. Care to join in?" She asked him.

Okay, why was she so friendly now?

"What's with being so nice with me right now? You have a fever or something?" He asked her skeptical.

"Hey, I'm always nice with you. Tell me a month, week, day, minute or second that I wasn't!" She took a breather and continued with a more quiet voice. "Also Ami told us to give you a break earlier on. She didn't went into detail but told us you did something very important yesterday, that's why you left."

Ah, Ami intervened to give him a chance to have a break today as reward for saving Hotaru. Thanks Sailor Mercury, it was appreciated.

"Oh. How kind of Ami. But like i said everything solved. Thanks for empathy tho."

Without any rush they crossed the courtyard that also contained some blooming cherry trees and head to the tall Crystal Tower. They were walking side by side and Rei explained the meaning of Sakura Blooming for the Japanese Culture.

He listened very carefully to her words. He stopped a moment in front of one the trees. A slight breeze was swirling a couple of cherry blossoms through the hair and lifted Rei's long black hair to the side too. The blossoms flying around her. It looked like straight out of a movie.

A few minutes later the guard opened the Tower's entrance door for them and they stepped in, heading towards the Throne Room.

Rei opened the door and casually strolled in.

"Hey Mamo-Chan, what's up?" She asked a tired looking King, dark rings around his eyes, sitting laid back on his throne. He was completely alone In the room. SunTzu straightened up.

"Protocol, Sailor Mars!" He reprimanded her.

"Oh c'mon. It's just To… the Lieutenant. Where's everybody?" She said.

He sighed and sat up, glancing at SunTzu.

"Chibiusa is over at the Meiou Place and her Royal Wineness went back to bed. Everybody else is off duty and most are curing out their hangover. Things got a bit out of hand yesterday." He shrugged.

"Hear that, you left your ball too early, Cinderella. But at least the prince had fun." She looked over to SunTzu and giggled.

"I'm sure the Lieutenant had it's reasons Rei. Oh, only Ami is active. Heard about the shooting at the docks? She voluntarily took the case." The King told them.

"Whatever. I go and annoy Usagi a bit. I'll be back soon, you boys behave."

She left with a smile and closed the door behind herself.

"Lieutenant… SunTzu. Please at ease. After Sailor Mars's harsh break of the Royal protocol and in my current condition, I think we can forget about formalities. As my wife and daughter already do too. Call me Mamoru. I'm sorry for my tired appearance but the Admiral and your Squadron Leader thought that as Supreme Commander I had to bring out way too many toasts. You really missed out on something." He said and smiled. "Talking about that. Where was your Starfighter yesterday night?"

"Oh, I had to take it to take care of some business." SunTzu explained a bit nervous.

"And that business, was not about vaporizing two dozen arms dealers in the docks right?" The prince asked him with an interrogative tone.

"Ami? Or Hotaru? Who told?"

"Neither. But a pilot leaving the ball with his A-Wing and the absent Sailor Senshi with the Glaive speak words for the wounds on the corpses over there." Mamoru stated.

"Saturn sniffed around there and needed help. Those guys were pretty unhappy with me arriving and I had to take care of them." SunTzu explained the incident.

"I see. Best to keep that in between us. Sailor Pluto would be very upset with the both of you. And to be honest, someone needed to take care of this thing anyway. Team 2 was on the case but the data you retrieved yesterday was outdated."

"I heard that from Ami already. Glad that I did my regular job too then."

"Between us. Good job even. And I make sure Saturn and You will be safe. I heard you've taken enough of Setsuna's wrath lately. And also I know how hard it is to look out for these girls." Both men shared a wry smile.

The door opened again and Sailor Mars came back.

"I couldn't get her up at all. Typical. You guys came along nice?" She said.

"We did. The Lieutenant told me why, he left in such a hurry yesterday."

"Oh really. Why?"

"Boy's stuff." The king told her and shrugged, knowing this answer would make her even more curious.

"Oh, really. Now I wanna know it even more."

Rei tried to get that information for a few more moments and gave up then.

"Okay, keep your secrets then. I'm going to have dinner now anyway."

They said goodbye to the king who closed his eyes and leaned back on his throne again as they left, and walked out the Tower, taking course to the Dinning hall.

"You two seem very familiar with each other. Giving that he's your king." SunTzu stated.

"Well, I'm not gonna give him the Royal treatment in private. For how long we known each other already. Also I'm basically his last ex-girlfriend."

Hold up, WHAT? Rei and Mamoru?

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. But that was ages ago, I still was a teenager back then. Soon afterwards he started dating Usagi, the Queen, and they've more or less been happy ever after."

He didn't suspect this. Probably led to quite some hassle back then.

They entered the dining hall, it was very quiet as most of the personell was off duty and away. They got food and sat down on the regular table the Senshi always used.

"Ah shit. I forgot something to drink." She noticed.

"Stay put, I'll go. What do you want?"

"Green tea, cold please."

"As you wish."

He stood up and went back to the counter.

A few moments later he came back and handed her the beverage, and sat down again.

They looked at each other and Rei crossed her hands.

"Itadakimasu"

"Itadakimasu" SunTzu repeated including the crossing of hands.

They took their first bite when Ami's voice came from behind.

"Awww, nice to see you two together. You two aren't on a date, are you?"

Both blushed and looked away from each other. Rei recovered first.

"A date? With him? Am I suicidal? He probably would take me bungee jumping without a rope or so. No! Me and Cinderella were just looking for her glass shoe she left here after she left the ball in a hurry yesterday."

Look who will get her beverage on her own the next time.

"Don't be so harsh Rei. I heard he got good reasons to leave." Ami said with a grave glance to SunTzu.

"Whatever. Wanna hear the latest Spy Girl? Topper Harley here bought a Karaoke Machine for the Lounge near our rooms on the Far Side."

"How kind, thank you. Great idea. See Rei, SunTzu is actually thinking about other people too." Another grave glance from the dark haired.

"By the way, I just come from the docks. You might have heard about what happened there." She switched the topic.

"Mamoru said something." Rei replied.

"Lunatic stuff. A group of arms dealers was killed at a store house, where they had tons of guns and ammo ready to ship into the Outer Rim. But someone took them all out, without really leaving marks."

"Really? Sounds like something Mina would have done in her Sailor V phase, minus the killing tho."

Ami took another glance at SunTzu and swallowed hard.

"Probably another gang took them out. And probably left when the heard the police coming. They secured everything."

"Really. That's great, no?" SunTzu said with an endorsing face.

"Well, apart from the violence, yes. We were trying to hit these group shipping arms into the Rim for a long time already." Ami said with an rather stringent face.

"Good. So basically a Happy End." SunTzu said in between bites.

Ami just shot him another stern look.

Then she sighed and looked over to the food dispensing counter.

SunTzu was already finished with his food by then.

"I'll get some food too. Shall I take you guys home afterwards?" Rei nodded already, chewing her food.

"Sure, I'll just bring the key for the pool car back." SunTzu said and cleaned his mouth with a napkin

"How can you be already done with your plate? Dude, you eat like an animal."

"Oink, oink Moeru Shōjo." He just commented her shot at him and got up, picking up his tray.

Don't listen SunTzu. She's just teasing you again.

"Also, I googled what you said to me yesterday." She told him.

He just nodded, not really listening.

He put his tray away and walked on to the door.

Wait, which words from Yesterday did she mean?

She yelled after him.

"Hey Topper Harley, if you behave really, really, really well, we might could have bacon and eggs for dinner one day! But you bring the olives!" He looked back, jaw dropping as he understood what she meant and she topped it all with a playful wink. Still staring open jawed at her he crashed head first into the wall next to the door.

She started laughing loudly, while Ami facepalmed again.

That worked even better than intended she thought and laughed some more.

Rubbing his second Rei caused lump of the day he walked over to the vehicle car pool and handed the key of the car he took back to the soldier on duty.

He then walked back to the dining hall and just as he arrived in front the two women stepped out of the building.

As soon as Rei saw the red lump on his right forehead she had another fit of laughter. Ami on the other hand took a close look and it and showed empathy.

They left for the car and Rei really had problems to calm her laughing.

"I can't believe you really ran into that wall." She laughed loud again.

Stay calm, breathe in, breathe out. Think about your Jedi Training with Master Durron. Anger is not the way.

They got into Ami's car, SunTzu was sitting in the back, staying quiet but with a sour expression because Rei still couldn't stop to laugh.

"Rei, would you please open the glove box?"

Rei opened it, got big eyes because the pistol inside and looked at Ami.

"See the plasters, blue packaging? Give me one please."

Very carefully Rei took one out, making sure to not come too near to the Glock inside and handed it to Ami. Then she fastly closed the compartment again.

Ami took it and turned around.

"Bacta Plaster. Setsuna gave me a few, when she heard I was your regular ride to and off the base. Guess she knew why. Take it for your head."

Oh, what would he do without Ami and without Bacta.

They drove back to Juuban, first heading to SunTzu's apartment.

"You worked at the Shrine today Rei?"

"Yes." She sighed. "Grandpa's rheumatism is bad these time of the year and he needed the help." She seemed a bit sad telling about that.

Ami nodded empathetic.

When they arrived he thanked Ami and said a short Bye into the round.

He closed the door as Rei rolled her window down.

"Hey SunTzu. I'm sorry for laughing so much. But it was too damn funny, you have to admit." She took on an apologizing smile.

"Thanks for hanging out tho. I had fun, and not just because you hit your head."

He smiled tired.

"And I won't forget that you owe me another trip to space."

"Don't worry, I'll keep my word. Have a nice evening Rei." He was about to walk on, when she chimed in again.

"Hey, my Birthday is around the corner. I know it's a bit much to ask for with someone like you but at least try to not kill yourself till then. Would make me kind of sad if you weren't around for entertainment, you know?"

"Need a Clown for the Party, I suppose?"

"Yeah, you could do that trick with the lighter again. Also with the spotlight you lately take, your funeral arrangements could overshadow my birthday party. And i'm not so good with sharing." She laughed. "Have a good evening."

"You too. Bye Ami!" He waved at Ami through the window too.

The car left and he got into his apartment.

What was that now from Rei again? Tsundere much?

First thing he did was to put on that plaster.

One way or another Rei gave him a headache.

But also butterflies in his stomach.