"I look ridiculous!" Unazuki exclaimed, dropping her hands and looking over at Rei in frustration. "All it did was make a small wisp of smoke."

Materializing and making it evident that he'd been watching for quite a while, Mars said, "You pulled that water from the air twenty minutes ago."

"That was such a pathetic amount! I'm horrible at this," she whined.

Rick stood back next to Jadeite as they both watched the magic lesson. It was Jadeite who whispered, "She's better than she thinks."

"I agree," Rick whispered back. "But my opinion on this doesn't mean anything. She needs to hear it from Rei and Mars."

Mars heard them from across the way since his hearing was exceptional as a god, and he gave Rick a slight approving nod. Shrugging and making an exaggerated show of it, he questioned, "Have you ever played the cello?"

"Gosh, no!" Unazuki said, confused as to what point he was making.

"The best cello player in the world is Yo-Yo Ma, and I can get to him. Would you like to take lessons from him?" Mars asked, smirking over at Rick, who saw what was happening and appreciated Mars' question.

Unazuki shook her head in definite denial and asked, "Why would I do that?! I'd look ridiculous next to him. There is no way I could keep up with him no matter how much I practice."

Mars gently took Rei's arm, pulled her closer to Unazuki, and said, "Meet the most powerful witch that ever existed. You have a better chance at keeping up with Yo-Yo Ma than you have of keeping up with her."

Rei rolled her eyes at Mars and said, "His point is a bit belabored, but he's still right. You can't compare yourself to me. I have a natural talent that I didn't earn. Don't judge yourself against me. Most witches can't do what you can."

Jadeite then added, "I have some books you should read. I think it will put this all in perspective for you."

Unazuki sighed and looked over at Rick with sadness in her eyes. "I wanted to help."

Rick shrugged. "It looks like you're relegated to the human team – just like I am."

"No, not 'like you,'" she huffed. "You're the head of the Order of Usagi!"

He laughed in response, walked over to her, and pulled her into his arms. He looked her in the eyes and said, "And you're part of that. You're right there with me."

Rolling her eyes, she said, "I'm 'the boss's girl' then?"

With a smirk, he said, "I have no complaints with that title. It sounds sexy."

"I do!" she lamented. Still, she couldn't help but crack a small smile. "I mean, not completely. I don't want to be just your arm candy."

"But you're delicious," he said, whispering into her ear and nibbling her earlobe. "If you want, we can go, and I can lick all over your body."

Shivering with desire, Unazuki still managed to shake her head and say, "No. I want to practice. I need to be useful."

"Why?" he asked as he gently cupped her cheek.

Unazuki said, "I love you, Rick. I want to be helpful to you. Also, my brother is part of this, and so is Mamoru, and he's been like a brother to me for years. This is about family to me."

Rick did not mention that her parents wanted her to marry her 'brother,' Mamoru. Instead, he said, "You'll be in the coming fight in any way you can. Practice your magic for the future. We're going to become immortal together. You have time to hone your skills."

"But what can I do now?" she asked, frustrated. "I need to help."

Rei held out her hand and ignited a fireball in her palm, drawing everyone to turn and look at her. "Flashy, huh?"

"It is," Unazuki agreed enthusiastically.

Snuffing out the fireball, Rei said, "This is what works for me. Let's find out how to use your skills best."

"How? How are my little skills useful?!" Unazuki asked sadly.

Mars said, "A lot of locks use electricity now. Can you condense water inside the electrical stuff," he said, not having fully kept up with the times, "and short out the electricity? You wouldn't want to be flashy if you were breaking and entering."

Nephrite sipped his coffee and sat at the arcade counter next to Mamoru. Motoki was off getting the newest customers' orders, and the silence felt heavy for him. "I'm sorry."

Mamoru scoffed as he turned to face his friend. "You need to stop thinking that you've offended her."

"Did I offend you, though?" Nephrite pressed.

"I'll be honest and admit that you probably would have offended me had she reacted less… enthusiastically. She was thrilled over your loyalty to me and how you came and reported to us despite your strong feelings on the matter." Mamoru fiddled a bit with his coffee cup and then added, "She's right….." he said, shifting nervously.

"You're uncomfortable?" Nephrite asked, confused.

"This goes beyond casual trust here. She was pointing out how you've all proven…" Mamoru sighed and deflated a bit. "Trust is hard for me and this…." He closed his eyes, unable to look at anyone, and said, "It's overwhelming to go from trusting one person to now trusting so many. When I think about it, I'm uneasy."

"Then don't think about it," Nephrite quipped, amused as Mamoru looked at him in shock. "Usagi will remind you if you forget. Focus on what we must do next, and you'll assimilate into the idea that you can trust us. You do, and that's what's important."

"That's avoidance, and I'm not into taking the easy way out."

Nephrite laughed and said, "We're reincarnated and vampires. Please don't lie to me and tell me that you've come to terms with that. I haven't. We all avoid thinking about things."

Three minutes later, Motoki came over after hanging up the phone and, proud of his sister, explained that Rei discovered that Unazuki was a witch.

Mars smirked as Unazuki fidgeted. "I don't bite."

She frowned and scuffed her foot on the gravel pathway. "We already have an incredibly powerful witch. I'm less than redundant."

After her first impromptu magic lesson, Unazuki asked Mars to speak privately with her. She was confused by why he seemed amused by the request.

"It's impossible, even for Rei, to be in two places simultaneously. You can't possibly tell me there won't be times when two witches are needed," he replied.

"My power is lame!" she fussed.

Mars rolled his eyes at her and said, "Stop acting like a child. So what if you're not like Rei? Do you want to help Rick? Show his human family that you can do magic. They'll be astounded."

"But they shouldn't be impressed!" Unazuki said sadly.

"What does Rei have that you covet?" he asked abruptly. "Beyond being jealous of the amount of magic she has."

"Nothing!" she replied in shock. "I don't covet what she has. I have a great life."

"Then take what you have and be grateful for it. You don't need Rei's life. Live yours."

Unazuki sighed long and said, "It's going to be embarrassing to show Usagi and the others my powers."

"Usagi is the least of your worries. She knows more about witches and their abilities than I do." Mars tried to level with her. "You'd be considered a powerful witch in any group, but this one. Go to any other coven in Japan, and you'll be stronger than their leader. The disparity in what Rei can do says more about her and her power than it does about yours."

Objecting, she said, "But Beryl is-"

"Dead and not your problem," Mars said, cutting her off. "Beryl is as good as dead. She doesn't know it yet. The prophecy said that Mamoru and Usagi would reign as king and queen. Beryl has to die, and the Order of Van Helsing has to fall for that to be fully realized. Rick is right. Your place is to help take down the Order. Use your magic against humans, and you will absolutely have the advantage."

"I thought this would mean I'd help against Beryl," she replied.

"Did you consider that that would mean you weren't working with Rick and his family? You aren't arm candy. You're a functioning member of the Order of Usagi. An order that you're going to marry into. Those people will be your family too."

"You're saying that I have more than enough magic to fulfill my role," Unazuki replied, catching on.

Mars gave her a big smile, and she realized why he had been amused. He knew she would eventually see that she was powerful enough for what she needed to do.

Once Unazuki left, Mars returned to the main shrine to wait for Sapphire, Naru, and Bastet. The two ladies were going back in time, and he had promised to stay with Sapphire and keep the guy from going insane with worry. He chuckled as the thought that he had a more complicated job filtered through his mind.