"Hi! My name is Sailor Venus! You can also call me Minako Aino! That's my real name by the way"
Allan G. Fairweather, a transfer student from the UK with shoulder length blonde hair and a single scarred and dead eye, looked over at her. His mannerisms were relaxed and reflective if not touched a bit by class. He wore a white formal shirt with the collar button undone and wore otherwise casual attire. This little meet and greet had been arranged by Minako after her last battle with a monster as there was a knight there calling himself Apollo who seemed all too familiar with who she was behind her Sailor Scout persona. A knight she was convinced was Allan.
Upon hearing her introduction, Allan sighed and grumbled, "I wouldn't be so quick to announce yourself to the world, Aino-chan. It strikes me as something you might want to protect." He wasn't doing a very good job of hiding that he already knew what she had said, further convincing her that this was the same person as the knight Apollo. He spoke softer, "Still, your secret is safe with me, regardless of your reason for telling me."
Minako crossed her arms. This guy was definitely the same knight.
"So I was right. You're that knight..."
He jolted in surprise, his usual cool vanishing for a moment beneath a wave of total embarrassment. He tried to hide it again and stammered out, "I-I don't know what you mean? What knight? There is a knight? Here in Japan?" his face was red as he tried to maintain his composure
Minako rolled her eyes with a smile. The stuttering and attempts to hide his identity were more than enough.
"Don't even try pretending you have no idea what I'm talking about, Allan."
He leaned forward, his face growing more and more red. "Tell no one. Please. It is hard enough to keep a low profile as a transfer student, let alone as someone with only one working eye."
Minako looked at him and giggled
"Okay, okay. I won't tell anyone."
He seemed to settle down some and sighed, "So, where does that put us? Are you going to tell me not to protect you from monsters now?" He took on a distant look of genuine concern, "Because that's not happening. I can't stop you from throwing yourself into danger, but I'll make sure that you do not do so without a shield, even if it has to be be my own body."
Minako smirked a bit. His attitude, and the fact that he wants to protect her so badly. She found it just a bit endearing.
"You're that insistent on protecting me, huh?"
He didn't look at her, almost like he couldn't bring himself to. Eventually he nodded. "Let's just say I've failed to protect the people I've cared about enough in my life. I'm not adding you to that list. No matter how crazy some of these monsters are."
Minako's expression softened slightly as she listened to his words. She noticed the distant look in his eye when he spoke about failing to protect people and she could sense the weight of those memories.
She decided to say something in a more softer tone this time. "...Fine. You're allowed to protect me on one condition."
He closed his eyes as he sighed, "Oh dear. Don't force me to make promises I can't keep, Minako. My word is the only thing of value I have to offer." Why was she like this? And why was it so endearing to him. A cheerful and optimistic demeanor with an undercurrent of confidence and control. So many could dismiss her as a ditz, but it was the kindness and principles under the forgetful surface that drew him in.
Minako rolled her eyes at his worry. She placed a hand on one hip and gave him a slight smile.
"Stop worrying, it's not a difficult condition. I just want you to promise me you'll let me protect you as well. If you get hurt protecting me, I'll be there to watch your back too, okay?"
He opened his eyes just barely, scrutinizing her condition, "Praytell, how can someone be your shield if you are putting yourself in the direct way of the harm they are trying to keep you out of?" He leaned forward, pointing at her forcefully, "For example, if the monster shoots lightning at you and I jump in the way, what good would it do you to jump in front of that lightning to protect me?"
She folded her arms in front of her, her expression a mix of determination and playfulness.
"You're focusing too much on the physical aspect of protection. It doesn't have to be a matter of placing yourself in front of danger. Protecting isn't just about being a shield or a barrier. It's about being there for someone, standing by their side, and helping them when they need it."
Allan laughed slightly, unsure of how to reply. "Look, Minako. I didn't tell you who I was so that we wouldn't have to worry about that." He pointed to his scarred dead right eye. "You are talking to a man who lost an eye while saving an old lady from a mugger before I even got the power to become Apollo." He began to wax poetic, "The sailor scouts are the guiding star for all of Japan. I'm just a guy who doesn't mind a few scars while protecting that."
Yeah, that's what he needed to say. It would be easier on her to accept that. His crush on her could take second place to the fate of Japan. Everyone would believe protecting hope over some sappy melodrama about unrequited love. Easier than the chance that she found him out and shot him down.
Minako's expression softened even more as Allan spoke, and her eyes scanned his face, focusing on the dead eye. She listened intently to his words, and at his declaration about sacrificing himself to save Japan, her resolve grew.
Minako took a step closer to him, her gaze unwavering. "You call yourself 'just a guy with scars', but I see something much more. I see someone willing to lay his life on the line for others. It's not just about being a shield. It's about being..." She paused, searching for the right words.
He responded with a soft smile, "Its about being your knight. So if you don't mind me taking the hits for you in the field, I need you to know that being there to see you in action is encouragement enough for me. You and your friends are so brave to do that..." his expression changed into one of anxiety as he rambled out, "Despite one being a total book nerd, a cook who could feed me my teeth, a priestess with a temper, and honestly how in the hell is Usagi even capable of holding it together without just telling everyone..." he continued to ramble about the various odd aspects of her friend group, revealing that he somehow knew who all of them were.
It was in this moment where something stirred in Minako. She usually never remembered things from the Moon Kingdom of her previous life. But something about his knowledge and mannerisms seemed familiar to her.
Minako's eyes widened as Allan rambled about her friend group. The mention of Usagi and the others, by name, and the way he seemed to know their quirks, made her heart skip a beat. It took all her effort to maintain her composure.
As the cogs in her mind started turning, a faint memory began to surface. She tried to shake it off, but the familiarity of his mannerisms and the way he seemed to know the Sailor Guardians made her wonder...
He eventually tried to return to his more composed self. Eventually, he slowly looked at Minako, his concern and care for her escaping his face for a moment. After a few seconds, Artemis jumped onto the table, causing Allan to look away, his face gaining some color again.
Minako's white cat companion turned to her and meowed curiously, as if asking if this was the person they were after. While he could talk, the last thing they wanted was someone finding out who wasn't already a part of their struggle.
Minako nodded slightly at Artemis' mews, confirming his question. She gave Allan a sidelong glance, noticing the shade of red on his face. She couldn't help but wonder what had caused his lapse in composure. Was it the unexpected appearance of Artemis, or was it something else entirely?
Clearing her throat, she turned back to Allan and spoke softly.
"Um, Allan... I have a little... question."
Allan leaned over and pet the cat, a sense of faint recognition in his one good eye. "Hey, buddy. I take it you are Minako's..." Artemis seemed briefly distracted by this until Allan picked him up and placed him on his lap, petting him. Artemis grew annoyed and clawed Allan's face before hopping back onto the table. Allan seemed to take a second to register he had been clawed, but didn't seem to react too powerfully. "Okay, good to know. Your cat doesn't like to be held."
He waited to hear her question, his mind half resting on how he can get Artemis to like him more.
Minako couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the exchange between Allan and Artemis. She placed a hand over her mouth to suppress her giggles, amused by the cat's reaction to Allan's attempt to hold him.
Once her laughter subsided, Minako looked at Allan seriously. She took a moment to clear her mind before finally asking the question that had been on her mind.
"I was wondering, Allan... How do you know about my friends? I mean, you seem to know Usagi and the others quite well."
Allan winced at the question, his gaze seeming to be a million miles away. He asked a question in return, "Minako, do you believe there is truth in fairy tales? That sometimes they are less fiction and more forgotten fact?"
Minako raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question. She tilted her head, considering his words.
"Truth in fairy tales... well, I suppose it's possible that there's some truth in them. Why do you ask?"
He sighed, clearly worried he would look crazy to her.
"One of my favorites as a kid was about a kingdom on the moon. It isn't a happy tale, however. There was once a princess with golden hair and beauty like the moon marrying a prince from the planet below. The ceremony was to be a blessing for the realm. And then an evil witch came on the eve of the wedding. Her and her forces overran the peaceful kingdom and that was when their Millennium of peace came to an end."
He explained, "That's the broad strokes, but it always felt familiar to me. Like a riddle I just couldn't put my finger on. So I decided to look a little deeper..." he trailed off, trying to measure her opinion of taking such an outlandish tale seriously. He could swear even her cat was invested in his telling of this fairy tale, but that had to be his imagination.
Minako listened intently to his retelling of the fairy tale. Her eyes widened as he mentioned the princess with golden hair and the peaceful kingdom on the moon. As Allan continued, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity. The story he was recounting... it struck a chord within her, like a faint memory buried deep in her mind, begging to be remembered.
Artemis, too, seemed captivated by the tale, his ears perked up and his gaze locked on Allan as if he recognized the story as well.
Feeling a little more comfortable, he pushed ahead in his retelling. "One of the tales orbiting that legend was of a lowly guard captain. One who valued his queen and the peace of his kingdom, but more than anything he swore himself to service of his general, a woman as beautiful as she was powerful. To him, protecting her was his most vital role, because if she should fall to harm, so too would the kingdom. Over time, his opinion of the general went beyond simply knight and commander, but he knew his role. Still, that fire renewed his purpose. Strengthened his resolve to keep training." His voice drifted some, as if falling into old memories from long ago.
"The tale goes that on the night of the wedding, he was lured out into the Sea of Tranquility, far from those he was charged to protect. He had been told his general had been captured by an enemy. Without thinking, he left his post. When he arrived, he found out that the information was false. His general was not here. His once allies turned betrayers had an army and he was but one man. The tale ends with the knight dying alone in the Sea of Tranquility, wishing to see the face of the general he cherished so dearly once more..." A tear left his eye as he finished the story, but there was still a distance in his eyes, as though he wasn't fully here. As though a part of him was there with that knight, staring into the stars for what he desired most.
Minako listened to Allan's retelling, her heart filled with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow. As the knight's tragic tale came to an end, a tear escaped her own eye. The story resonated within her, stirring memories long forgotten.
Artemis, still listening intently, let out a soft meow, as if feeling the weight of the knight's sacrifice. Minako looked to Allan, her voice soft and laced with a hint of melancholy. "...It's an, um, beautiful but tragic tale. It really... touched me."
Allan nodded, seeming to come back to himself, "The tales of the Moon Kingdom are probably just that, but when I saw you and the scouts I felt something familiar in it. I had already been fighting in secret as Apollo before I transferred so I thought..." He trailed off again, coming back to himself again, he stated, "If there is truth in fairy tales, Minako, then you may view me as that knight. But I won't repeat his mistakes. I won't abandon my post or my general." Realizing the passion and conviction he said that with... and to who, he got red in the face again, stammering out, "But that must sound crazy."
Artemis shook his head and spoke to the boy, "No. It isn't. I knew I recognized your armor back there, but after hearing this, I'm certain."
Allan stared in growing confusion and worry for his sanity at the now talking cat.
Artemis continued, "I don't know how it happened, but you are Guard Captain Apollo. You served under Sailor Venus during the Moon Kingdom." He turned to Minako and stated, "I had always wondered if he had betrayed us that day, but... I guess this explains it. But who would have given you false information like that."
Allan was too stunned by the cat talking to respond
Minako's eyes widened, and a shiver ran down her spine. Artemis's words rang with a sense of truth and familiarity that settled heavily in her heart.
She looked at Artemis, her voice soft but resolute. "Artemis, could it truly be him...?" She looked back at Allan, her gaze assessing his face once again. A wave of emotions washed over her as she studied him, her memory tugged at the edges of recognition, begging her to confirm what her heart seemed to know was true.
Allan collected himself, choosing to ignore Artemis' question for now, trying to clarify that what he was seeing was actually happening. "So, Mina... did... was he..." he cleared his throat, trying not to sound more crazy than he was sure he already did. "Your cat just spoke... am I mistaken and do cats do that sometimes in Japan? I need to know."
Minako let out a small chuckle, finding his attempt at clarification endearing. She shook her head, a soft smile on her lips.
"No, you're not mistaken. Artemis can talk. He's not an ordinary cat. He's my companion and advisor, and he has a special ability to speak."
Artemis moved his paw to his chin and nodded a few times, "I need to go inform Luna of this. If he is here too, then maybe the rest of them came back too."
When he heard the words, 'The rest of them', Allan grew worried. "Wait, so you mean... are you telling me my gut was right? That those stories were true?"
Minako looked at Allan, her expression serious as she nodded.
"Yes, Allan, your gut was right, and those stories..."
She took a deep breath and continued, her voice soft but firm. "...they were all true. You are really the Guard Captain Apollo, and we... we are the Sailor Guardians."
He nearly lost himself in her blue eyes again before feeling his responsibility eating at the back of his mind again. If these were more than fairy tales... if his powers were more than just emulating the tale...
His eyes grew more intense and his tone more focused, reflecting the demeanor she had seen in the knight Apollo, "Alright, then we need to dig further. As long as you don't ask me any questions about... how this came to pass... I have a whole library of books about the various myths and folklore involving the Moon Kingdom. We can go there now and dig for clues."
Minako looked a little taken aback by the change in Allan's demeanor. He looked... different now, more serious and focused. It was as if a switch had flipped in him, and the boyish charm she'd been interacting with had been replaced by someone far more intense and determined. She shook off her surprise and quickly composed herself, nodding in agreement.
"Okay, let's go to your library. We need to find all the clues we can."
He nodded, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her to her feet from her chair. As sudden as it was, there was a sense of care to it. Precision and compassion. While he wasn't looking at her anymore as he lead her out of their little hangout. His pace was decisive, and before she knew it they had arrived at his student abode. He released her hand to unlock the door and then stepped into the dark home.
Upon entering, it was very sparsely decorated, and the only signs of life seem to have been left there by Allan himself. He began to light candles which quickly filled the living space with a warm gentle light. He had a bookshelf rather prominently presented against one of the walls, most of the spines having some image of the moon or mentioning it in their title. On the nightstand was a Sailor V comic left open a few pages in. Allan seemed to focused on their new goal and lighting the candles to hide the comic.
Minako looked around the apartment, slightly taken aback by its sparse interior. But the warm glow from the candles immediately gave the place a cozy, intimate atmosphere. As Allan's gaze remained fixed on their mission at hand, she couldn't help but notice the Sailor V comic left open on the nightstand. She suppressed a soft chuckle at the sight, a fond smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It was no secret that he was a fan of her alter-ego, Sailor V. But now was not the time for teasing, they had work to do.
He pulled out one of the larger books and explained, "I found a few different places that cited it, but this is a recreation of the original manuscript." The title of the book read 'The Four Fangs'
He opened the page to the one that told the same story he had before but he pointed to a paragraph he had left out. "See, right here. The knight had been convinced to join a pact. A group of warriors that wished to protect the Guardian scouts in secret. If Artemis is talking to Luna about me and 'others' then these have to be what he is looking into." He skimmed the table of contents for the names of the stories before returning to his shelf. He left the book open on the story of the knight, his omitting one paragraph raising questions as to what else he hadn't told her. Then again, who could put full weight on ancient myths getting every little detail correct?
Minako's eyes scanned the page, taking in the paragraph that Allan gestured toward. The mention of a group of warriors dedicated to protecting the Guardians in secret piqued her interest. It aligned with what Artemis had said and added a new layer of intrigue to their already strange predicament.
As Allan continued searching through the bookshelf, Minako let her gaze drift back to the page. A growing sense of curiosity and suspicion welled up within her. Why would he have deliberately left out a whole paragraph? What was he not telling her?
As she flipped through the story, it became clear that the knight didn't simply admire his general and follow her from duty. He had fallen in love with her early in his service, but had not gathered the courage to tell her. When the wedding of the Moon Princess came to pass, he had heard a rumor that his beloved general had already been promised in marriage to one of the Moon Prince's generals in an effort to secure the alliance. Believing that the weight of his feelings would ruin what should be a happy day for the entire kingdom, he kept his feelings to himself. Swearing to take them to the grave so that she need not shed a tear of pity because of his own selfishness... and that the myths say his final wish as he lay dying on the moon was to see her smile at him even one more time.
The part he had certainly left out, whether it was the tragedy of it or just his own nature to move on from it, the one who lead the army that ambushed the Knight was the very man to whom his love had been betrothed.
He began flipping through mutliple smaller books from his collection, the intensity of a loyal soldier clear on his face. A genuine concern for those who had once been his allies who may be scattered in this era. Those he can hardly remember, but his heart drives him to look out for.
He eventually sighed, "I've been watching your friends but I don't see the parallels. With me, it was Sailor V's actions in the UK that drove me to find answers and my abilities, and eventually you came here to help Sailor Moon. I resolved to protect you in the fight on evil. Thus I guess I can see the knight. That leaves the last three. But maybe they are less literal..." he trailed off in thought.
Minako's heart ached as she read through the story, the knight's unspoken love and loyalty leaving a bittersweet taste in her mouth. The revelation that his final wish was to see the general smile, even for a moment, hit her harder than she'd expected. She could practically feel the weight of the knight's emotions, even across time and space.
As Allan began flipping through smaller books, the intensity of his determination was palpable. She could sense his deep care and concern for their lost allies, even though he couldn't remember them in this life.
Minako's heart ached as she read through the story, the knight's unspoken love and loyalty leaving a bittersweet taste in her mouth. The revelation that his final wish was to see the general smile, even for a moment, hit her harder than she'd expected. She could practically feel the weight of the knight's emotions, even across time and space.
As Allan began flipping through smaller books, the intensity of his determination was palpable. She could sense his deep care and concern for their lost allies, even though he couldn't remember them in this life.
He tapped his head with a pen a few times and he looked up, ready to ask her something when he saw that sad look on her face. He was confused at first, wondering what could have made her feel this way. Then he noticed she had turned it back to the story of the knight and his cool and professional demeanor melted instantly. He grabbed the book from her and closed it, holding it out of her reach. He laughed awkwardly, "That's enough digging into the knight for now, okay? I'm probably not even the same kind of guy so maybe we don't worry about it."
Minako looked up, surprised at Allan's sudden shift in demeanor. She watched as he closed the book and held it out of her reach, a slight pout on her lips.
"Hey, I was reading that. What gives? I want to know what the other parallels are."
She tried to reach for the book, but Allan deftly kept it just out of her grasp, a small smirk playing on his lips.
His face was beet red as he stated, "Well, I can't just rip out the part about the knight, can I?" He cleared his throat and looked away, muttering, "If you promise to focus on finding the others instead of prying into my life... I'll give it back."
Minako couldn't help but chuckle at Allan's embarrassed reaction. She enjoyed teasing him, seeing him flustered was an amusing change from his usual cool demeanor.
"Fine, fine. I promise to focus on finding the others. No more prying into your knightly history."
She held out her hand expectantly, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
He narrowed his eyes, not trusting the twinkle one bit, but he was a man of his word. He explained, "The other fangs were Mercury's brother, Jupiter's friend, and Mar's mentor. We haven't seen them manifest yet, so I'm guessing they haven't awoken yet. Pick one, read it, and we can work on it together." He handed her the book, not fully convinced she wasn't going to come up with some loop hole to keep looking up more details about his supposed past life.
Minako, still looking slightly devious, took the book from Allen.
"Hmm, let's start with Mercury's brother, shall we?"
She flipped through the pages, quickly scanning the contents until she found the right story. Glancing up at Allen, she noticed his wary expression and chuckled softly to herself.
"Alright, let's see what this story has in store for us..."
The tale called The Shadow of Mercury proceeded to tell the story of a twin brother that the guardian had apparently had. Though the myth seems uncertain if he was as smart as she was or smarter, there was one thing certain. He was rather cunning and would often pose as an entertainer and illusionist for the court of the Moon Kingdom and any realm that would have his company. He traveled far and spoke little of where he came from, his belief seeming to be that his sister was the one who truly deserved the praise and attention. His antics accomplished exactly that, according to the tale, and all without her being the wiser of it. She would often chastise his relaxed demeanor and he seemed to do little more than acknowledge her worries. Over time, his role as an entertainer lead to him forming many connections and eventually having spies throughout the realm. It was his idea to found the Four Fangs as a secondary protection. His belief is that while the guardians could stop any threat aimed for the princess, there were none who protected her guards.
Knowing his sister would not have him risking himself for no reason, he swore the four to secrecy and did all he could to keep them informed. The tale goes on to tell a belief that he too had been lured away by the evil generals, drawn into a game of chance. One that he drew the short straw on. The story isn't clear if he was executed or captured during this event.
Minako listened intently as the tale of Mercury's brother unfolded. The brother's cunning and ability to fool others with his illusions intrigued her, but the part about his connection to the Four Fangs caught her attention the most.
She looked up at Allan, a gleam of recognition in her eyes. "This is interesting. Mercury's brother seemed very intelligent and well connected. He was also heavily involved in the creation of the Four Fangs. That's quite a significant detail, don't you think?"
The tale called The Shadow of Mercury proceeded to tell the story of a twin brother that the guardian had apparently had. Though the myth seems uncertain if he was as smart as she was or smarter, there was one thing certain. He was rather cunning and would often pose as an entertainer and illusionist for the court of the Moon Kingdom and any realm that would have his company. He traveled far and spoke little of where he came from, his belief seeming to be that his sister was the one who truly deserved the praise and attention. His antics accomplished exactly that, according to the tale, and all without her being the wiser of it. She would often chastise his relaxed demeanor and he seemed to do little more than acknowledge her worries. Over time, his role as an entertainer lead to him forming many connections and eventually having spies throughout the realm. It was his idea to found the Four Fangs as a secondary protection. His belief is that while the guardians could stop any threat aimed for the princess, there were none who protected her guards.
Knowing his sister would not have him risking himself for no reason, he swore the four to secrecy and did all he could to keep them informed. The tale goes on to tell a belief that he too had been lured away by the evil generals, drawn into a game of chance. One that he drew the short straw on. The story isn't clear if he was executed or captured during this event.
Minako took the story in, her mind working to connect the dots.
"Hmm... so Mercury's brother was a cunning, well-connected entertainer who formed the Four Fangs. He seemed very protective of his sister too. But he was lured away by the evil generals, possibly killed or taken prisoner..."
She looked up at Allan, a contemplative look on her face. "This tale... it's almost eerily similar to what's happening now. The guardians, the Four Fangs, the evil generals..."
Allan sat down and thought about it. "I mean, isn't that the curse of history? If you keep all the pieces in play, the game just picks up right where it left off..." He let his mind wander for a moment before he got flustered again and buried his face in the book, wondering if he gave too much of his feelings away
Minako noticed Allan's flustered state and couldn't help but chuckle softly. She found his reactions endearing.
"Allan, are you okay? You look like you're trying to hide in that book."
She walked over and sat down next to him, poking his shoulder with a slight smirk on her face.
He stammered quietly and nervously, "I-it.. It's a very... very good book"
Minako chuckled again, leaning a bit closer to him, still grinning.
"Oh, is it now? You seem awfully fixated on that book, you sure it's not just a front for..."
She trailed off, a hint of mischief in her voice, clearly enjoying teasing him.
He began to nervously stammer out, "Oh, no. Certainly not! I just happen to be alone with the girl I've been fighting to protect for awhile now and she figured out who I am so I can't just pretend I've got somewhere else to go or..." He continued to ramble, completely flustered by her teasing, but refusing to admit anything outright himself.
Minako's grin widened, thoroughly enjoying Allan's nervous rambling. She didn't think she'd ever seen him so flustered before, and it was rather amusing.
"Oh, so you've been fighting to protect me, have you? That's very brave and noble of you, knight."
She paused for effect, the hint of a sly smile playing at her lips.
He seemed to clam up at this point, quiet for a moment at her teasing before he sighed, "What do you want from me, Aino-chan? You found a way to just waltz into the most important parts of my life and I wouldn't ask you to leave even if you should." He stared at the floor, he changed his question before she could answer, "If you were that knight, when would you have told your idol how you felt? In her position, when wouldn't it have been selfish to do? Was it even more selfish of him to take it to the grave?"
Minako raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sincerity in Allan's tone.
"Wow, you're really getting philosophical on me now, huh?" She teased lightly, trying to balance out the heavy topic.
She thought about his question, mulling it over before responding. "Well, if I were that knight, I probably would have been too shy to say anything. I'd be afraid of ruining the relationship we already had and making things awkward." She shrugged, looking down at her hands. "But, who knows... maybe it would have worked out."
He looked over at her, trying to size her up before he let out a quiet and genuine laugh. "Maybe she felt the same about him? Maybe they were a pair of fools too busy waiting for the other one to break the awkward silence."
He let the comment rest in the air before he stood up, "You can tease me all you want and I'll... keep being me. I don't know what to say but I want to say more than the knight did. So, here I go." He took a deep breath, still hesitating a little, "If you ever worry you are alone in the world or that you don't know who you can trust, trust in me. No matter what happens. Because I know everything I do is to make sure I never have to see you cry." He gathered the books up and started for the door, "Let's go ask Ami if she has a brother we haven't met."
Minako was left speechless for a moment. Allan's words had touched her deeply. She hadn't expected such an open admission of trust and care from him. And the genuine passion in his voice was something she rarely saw.
She stood up, the earlier teasing forgotten, and followed Allan towards the door. "Okay, we'll go see Ami. But this conversation isn't over, you know."
