Kazu entered his office to find Hayate sitting in the high-backed chair by the door, reading a rather large book.

"Stingzen, huh?" he asked sitting behind his desk. "What, did you decided to skip light reading altogether and go for some of the densest, most technical things I have?"

"What's wrong with me trying to broaden my horizons and expand my knowledge?"

"Nothing," Kazu said, pulling out some paper, a quill, and ink. "But when are you ever going to need to know anything about frontline medical operations and triage strategies?"

"You never know," he said, closing the book.

"If the moon is ever at war and you're put in charge of whatever medical command we create," Kazu started, pointing the feathered end of the quill at his brother. "Then we have a lot more problems than you having to decide where to put field hospitals."

"Oh, don't worry," Hayate responded, leaning forward. "I'll have them saw off both your legs no matter where you end up, just to make sure."

The two brothers stared at each other for a few seconds before they both burst out laughing. After they had picked themselves up off the floor, Kazu was the first to speak.

"What can I do for you, Hayate?"

"I know espionage is your responsibility and I just look over the asteroids but there's been a couple things I've been mulling over. I don't know if there's any substance to them or else I'd have brought them up in the Inner Council–"

"You want to go investigate to see if whatever hunch you have has promise?" Kazu asked, interrupting him.

"Well… yeah," Hayate said.

"I like where your head is," Kazu said, leaning back in the chair. "Do you have any objections to the two of us looking into it as opposed to doing this by yourself?"

"No, not at all," Hayate said. "In fact–"

But before Hayate could finish, a knock sounded at the door.

Kazu walked over to the door. Opening it he was met by a familiar face and stepped backward.

"Kunzite," he said, still moving backward.

"Kazu," the other man said, walking into the office.

"What are you doing here?"

"Endymion wants to see you."

"Wait," said Hayate, standing. "Does he want to see him or does he need to seehim?"

"Either way, you're coming with me," Kunzite said. "Right now."

"All right, all right," Kazu said. "No need to make this into a thing." He turned to Hayate. "Go. Follow your head. Trust no one."

# # #

"Serenity, you've been awfully quiet."

Princess Serenity snapped her head out of the daze she was in, turning her head from the open window to the four others with her in Princess Mercury's room.

"Sorry, guys," she said. "I've just been thinking about something that Kazu said to me the other evening."

"Why were you and Kazu together?" asked Princess Mercury.

"He walked in on me–" started Serenity.

"He did what!?" Princess Mars asked, cutting her off.

"While I was alone in the throne room, and anxiously thinking about when I take the throne," she finished, giving Mars a sideways look.

"Oh," she laughed.

"I haven't told any of you guys, but I've been really worried about when I become queen. Scared that I'll let mother down. He reassured me. Gave me some really good advice."

"I keep telling you, he always knows just what to say," said Princess Jupiter, smiling and laying back on Mercury's bed.

"I need the four of you to promise me something," Serenity said. "Please don't ever let my head get too big."

"A little too late for that!" said Princess Venus with a wide smile. "I'm surprised you can fit through the doors around here sometimes."

"I'm serious," Serenity said. "I need to know that I can count on you to be there when I make bad decisions and keep me from making more. Set me straight when I need to."

"Oh, Serenity, you don't ever have to worry that we won't be there for you," Jupiter said, sitting up and hugging her. The other three quickly joined.

"Also, thanks for assuming that Kazu was anything less than honorable toward Serenity, or me, Mars," Jupiter said sarcastically.

"You know he'd never do anything to upset his precious little lightning bug," Venus said, grinning.

"Hey now," Jupiter said, gently smacking the top of Venus' head while the group hug descended into laughter.

# # #

Beryl slowly walked down the stone steps away from Metalia and met a hooded figure standing at the base. As she passed, the figure walked behind her.

"Metalia continues to be pleased about our progress. Before we know it, we'll have the people of this planet itching to rebel against Endymion."

The other figure remained silent.

"But…," Beryl continued. "The one hitch I keep coming to are those damned bodyguards of his. They're strong, they're cohesive, they're faithful. No matter how well we do in making the people want to rise up, if the Shitennou aren't on our side, we will fail."

"Bewitchment?" the other responded in a voice that belonged to a woman.

"That would require exceptionally strong magic," Beryl said. "What Metalia has given me is powerful, but not enough."

"Practice. Take what she has given you and surpass her. Become the most powerful sorceress the world has ever seen."

Beryl paused and turned to look at her accomplice. She smiled and started giggling a laugh that soon broke out into an evil cackle and quickly turned maniacal.

# # #

After what felt like hours, the door to Endymion's study opened and the Prince of the Earth walked through.

"I've got this same book," Kazu said, pointing to one of the books in Endymion's library. "Cover's different though."

"That one is a first edition," Endymion said, motioning to one of the chairs in the study. He sat in the one opposite. "They started changing the cover after the third printing."

"Hmm," responded Kazu. He walked over to the chair and sat. "Let's not waste time," he continued, folding his hands. "Why am I here?"

"Two of my Shitennou have brought your network to my attention," Endymion said, crossing his legs.

Kazu cleared his throat. "What network?"

"You don't have to hide it from me, Kazu. You're the Moon's spymaster, it only makes sense that you'd be getting information in some way."

"I can neither confirm nor deny whether or not there are active and operational spies working on behalf of the Moon," Kazu said flatly, leaning forward. "Nor would I be able to confirm or deny whether or not there were any on the planet Earth even if they did exist."

"You're going to sit there and tell me that the person the Moon has in charge of espionage doesn't employ people to find things out?"

"No comment."

"Kazu, I'm not stupid," Endymion said.

"Neither am I."

The two men stared at each other as time slowed to a crawl.

"Kazu," Endymion said, breaking the silence, uncrossing his legs, and leaning in closer to the man opposite him. "I didn't bring you here in any official capacity. I sent Kunzite to get you, not some random messenger with an official summons. I'm talking to you prince to prince. Man to man. And if I'm going to marry the princess one of these days and join our realms together, you're going to have to bring me in on some things."

"So maybe I do have Mice scattered everywhere sniffing things out for me," Kazu said dryly. "They've never been the cause of tension between the Moon and Earth in the past, but they have helped stop things from turning hot."

"Just so you know," Endymion said, sitting back again. "I've known about your little syndicate for quite some time. I just needed you to admit it so we could have this conversation on equal footing."

"Fair enough," Kazu said, leaning back. "Let's talk."

"One of your subordinates has gotten a little too close to home."

"Ah," Kazu sighed in annoyance. "Duke." Kazu stood and started walking around the room. "I must admit, he's not quite as subtle as I'd like him to be sometimes. But he gets results."

"It's not just his subtlety," Endymion said also standing and watching Kazu as he wandered. "I'm told he's made some comments about Serenity."

Kazu froze before slowly turning toward Endymion.

"The princess or the queen?"

"Does it matter?"

"I suppose it doesn't."

"But in any case, Princess Serenity," Endymion said, making his way toward Kazu. "Kunzite tells he me called her 'that brat' of mine."

"Oh, Duke," Kazu said, facepalming.

"I have your word he'll be dealt with?"

"More than my word," Kazu said.

"And your assurance that whatever your spies find out that you'll share with me?"

"I always do," Kazu said, crossing his arms. "I've just never told you where the information comes from before. But you know what? Before Kunzite dragged me here, I was just about to write you a letter."