Disclaimer: Sailormoon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. Not me. If it ever belongs to me, I'll give you permission to use it. I hope that Takeuchi-sama feels the same way. Author's Notes: These originally were much longer; I decided eventually to only put the important ones up here. All of the others are at the end. This is set in the Silver Millenium. Based more on other fanfics that I've absorbed yet don't remember than the manga or the anime, this fic should at least be good for a few minutes of mindless entertainment. I reckon their (the inners) ages at around 17 years. There's no proof they're younger before they get reincarnated, and it's easier to use in this fic. As such, with the addition of this and of the Silver Millenium time period, there are some changes in attitudes and personalities. If you don't like it, well, tough. ;P It's called artistic license. Technically (according to me), there are no 'family names' during the Silver Millenium. However, the given names are retained and added to places or elements, as in their family names. In introductions, formally, they written as in the first way, as in 'Ami of the Water' (or 'Sir Launcelot du Lake' ;P). However, normally, they are done as in the 20th century: Mizuno Ami. Just remember that technically, no, they don't have last names. Hey, Mamo-chan haters! There's no Endymion in this one! Read on assured of your sanity! ... This is not a darkfic. If those things make you sqeamish, though, you may want to read the last paragraph first, to be assured things turn out. Everyone else, don't you dare go reading that first. ;) Started 7/13/98. Worked on the damn thing the whole way through. Finished 7/25/98. Edited (slightly) mostly on format 7/26/98. Shadowdancer By: Dark Ferret Now on IRC as Ferchan! ;P "Love is suicide."--Smashing Pumpkins, bodies "There are only so many things that can be done with only recklessness. Even you know that." "There's enough that can be done with only recklessness that I've decided to use it. It's a potent enough weapon to perhaps get me what I want." The swords clashed again, accompaniment to the world of sweat, fire, passion, and pain that both were living in. There was a certain amount of enjoyment in sparring both verbally and physically, and venting her frustrations physically was much easier for her to do than through the meditation that Queen Serenity had recommended the first times she had had her outbursts. The first outburst had meant the ability to walk straight for some punk, this disability spanning quite an extended amount of time. This would simply mean a jarring of her wrists when she went a bit too out of it. "You sound like I did when I was young and hardheaded." "That was the idea." The other woman grunted. "I doubt it." "Well, I didn't--" She was jolted out of speech with a particularly violent blow from her sparring partner. After a greedy gasp of air, she continued, regardless, as the taller backed off. "I didn't draw attention to the fact that you're still young and hardheaded." With a slight smile, that was rebutted with a fierce attack. Using this particular sword was hell for her, as it was meant to be an overweight training sword, and Haruka knew that. The fact usually kept her at a distance, in sportsmanship, but she knew that once she got the woman particularly irritated, she would close in regardless. Haruka closed in, pushing downward as she was stuck under her sword, and in a flash of almost totally unrelated anger, she pushed up in a show of brute strength. The exhibition of such force itself was enough to drive the blonde away in approval. The taller cocked her head and winked. "Be that as it may," the blonde replied, her look of good humor eventually fading as they went back to exchanging blows, "I wasn't stupid enough to go after something I couldn't achieve." "You only discovered you _could_ achieve it after you had already sought after it!" she protested. She wasn't dull enough to go in on a rival of Haruka's skill, but she angrily struck a blow on the other's blade that sent her back a step. This was probably only because of the overweight weapon, but it gave her some satisfaction nonetheless. "But I would have stopped pursuit had I realized that she _didn't_want_me_." Haruka's eyes glowed with an accusatory light that was rather unnerving. She took a step back, and the blonde continued, "Oh, but you're going to tell me that it was all her parents' fault, that they didn't want a female around, but a male. Well, if that was the case, don't you think she would have told you if she really cared? Do you think she would have let them dictate her life? Of course not! She's not like that." Haruka's eyes narrowed. "And besides, they would have gotten used to the idea by the time she came of age to be a senshi--we senshi have lived in a world where the only companions we have for months at a time are female. In the service we are born to be enlisted in, we _need_ not only compassion, but passion. We need companionship. Frankly, we need love. Because that's what the leader we are born to serve gives us. We're born to need her so that we can take care of her because she needs us as well. We were bred to be dogs. Dogs breed. And in the absence of a dog of the opposite sex..." Furious, she struck a blow that Haruka had to quickly jump back from to avoid. It still ended up cutting a gash in her shirt and an angry red scratch across her stomach, probably only because she had expected a much different reaction. Haruka looked at her in thinly veiled irritation. What insulted her most was that irritation was the only response she could incite. The blonde leaped into close quarters and set loose a blur of blows that she could barely block. Trying to get away, she stumbled and fell, her seat protesting violently with a burst of pain. "Watch yourself, Jupiter," Haruka growled, looking down at her with a look in her eyes that Makoto didn't like. Haruka cocked her head and smiled, suddenly warmth in her sentiment. She offered a hand down to her fallen companion, who looked at her, hurt almost in her eyes. She blinked to recollect herself before taking that hand, and Haruka patted her on the back. "One day I won't be you'll sparring partner, and someone will be really hurt. Vent your anger a bit on something inanimate before you start trying to beat the stuffing out of me." "Did I...hurt you?" Makoto asked, with a blink. Haruka smiled her reply. "Oh, I'll need a swab or two, but both know who can take care of that." She winked, and Makoto had to stop her face from darkening. Haruka suddenly realized what she had said and grimaced. "I'm sorry, Mako-chan. I forgot for a moment." "So did I," Makoto replied morosely. Haruka sighed. "I know you didn't really come to me for advice, just to get your anger out. But I think you should just leave her be. Whatever the reason be, she told you to leave her alone. It would be most valiant to move on." Both were silent for a moment as they walked to the bathhouse. Finally, Makoto asked, "Haruka-san?" "Hai?" "Do you believe all that you said back there?" Haruka sighed again before shrugging. "Some of it." She turned her attention to the lanterns lining the halls, closing her eyes in the memory of pain. "Some of it." "Mako-chan?" The tired senshi opened the door to her chambers lazily, in her sleepless haze not recognizing the voice. When she blinked the sleep out of her eyes and saw who was at her door, she fell to her knee. "Serenity!" She smiled warmly. "Get up and sit down, Mako-chan. You're too tired for this. And besides, I don't want you doing it, anyway." With some effort, she hoisted herself into a standing position before collapsing onto her bed. Serenity smiled at her. "What's wrong?" Makoto blinked. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired, that's all. Even you recognized it." Serenity gave her friend a look. "The reason you're tired is because you wore yourself out exercising. You only exercise too much when something's bothering you." Her lips curled up. "I may not be very smart in Academy, but I _know_ people, Mako-chan. You're not going to fool me just because you don't want to talk about it." Makoto looked at her hands as Serenity sat next to her. "I thought everyone knew." Her voice was slightly bitter. "Well, our private lives are so less than private..." Serenity made a face, spiced with a slight smile. "Any secrets we share with each other we tend to keep secret. We tell each other too much, it ends up getting out." "It ends up getting out, anyway." "Yes." "So I might as well remain silent to keep the secret for as long as I can." "Mako-chan..." She turned her head to the table by her bed and looked into the drawer. Not finding what she was looking for, she closed it. "Haruka-san said something today. That we were bred to need love, so that you'll be the missing puzzle piece in our lives. So that we'll protect you. And in the absence of you, over long periods of time, we'll turn to each other...for a different type of love." Serenity looked at her, her eyes innocent and guileless. "Is that what is bothering you? That that might happen?" Makoto smiled tightly. "That already happened." She drummed on the table absently. Serenity met her eyes. "And that's what's bothering you?" The tall girl laughed shortly. "What's bothering me is that it ended," she replied, turning from the princess' searching eyes. The odango-ed girl paused to ponder all of this before taking her friend's hand. This effectively stopped her from absently venting her discomfort. "You weren't bred, Mako-chan. At least, not like that. Humans need love. It just so happens that there's no one else who cares enough to give it as me, I guess." She shrugged. "But you love more than me and...whoever. What about your parents? They showed you love, too. And you love them, too." "What I saw of them as a child," Makoto agreed critically. "I guess you're right." She smiled at her friend before standing up, taking Serenity with her. She kissed her on the cheek before opening the door. "Go on. You've put my mind to rest, at least about that. I may just end up getting the sleep we both know I need tonight. Good night." "Good night, Mako-chan!" After blinking, bewildered as she usually was after an emotional talk with her friend, she collapsed to the bed. She was asleep in a matter of seconds. "Jupiter!" "N...nani?" The first speaker had been Venus. Makoto knew she was playing senshi leader at the moment, as she had been summoned with her title rather than her name. The relative assurance in her tone denoted the same. She had been jarred out of her late sleep with the opening of the door. Not that it had been particularly loud, but she had learned to be a light sleeper. In a lively and densely habitated palace such as this, that was often a particularly obnoxious trait, but it had saved her more than once, so she didn't go about trying to change the fact. Not that she would have a clue how to go about it if she had wanted to. Venus' voice had been the thing which had fully woken her, but she still was less than pleased. Nonetheless, she sat up and eyed the silhouette at the door. Venus gave her a cheery (and false) smile. "I expect you to be in the practice room in five minutes," she said, her voice sugary, yet cold. The door than closed, and she was gone. Makoto held in any particularly biting comments from experience. While any other time it would only have gotten her a laugh and an amused, false warning, this time it would get her a scowl and an angry, true warning, and she was in the mood for none. She pulled back the covers and went about getting dressed. As Sailorsenshi in these times, they were constantly in senshi form. Their fuku acted only as minimal armor, and after discovering this, they had went about wearing other types of armor. Non-magical items, however, they had soon discovered, limited not only the movement of the senshi, but the effectiveness of their powers, as well. So for now, they wore whatever they wished, so long as they were in the palace and not sent on assignment. In the event of a battle, they would return to using their sailor fuku as garb. Makoto herself preferred the uniform of the guard. It identified her as special to the naive, and was functional, practical, and sharp. It also held the optional scabbard, which she had been needing more and more lately. Like now. After clothing herself, she picked up the saber from next to the bed, debated strapping it on, and decided against it. She did, though, bring it along, as Venus hadn't necessarily said they would be dueling, but she bet they would. Damned if she was going to use that practice blade again. The only other way they would use the practice room was in a physical fight, and Makoto rejected that on principal. While three years ago, Minako had received more training, Makoto had gone about amending that. Now it was no contest, as Makoto still had a respectable deal more strength. It was also no contest in fencing--except for that Minako was going to whoop _her_ ass. She grimaced. Exiting her chambers, she squinted against the overly bright sunlight and made her way down the long, wide corridors. She observed the scabbard for the umpteenth time and noticed again that it did not shine. The metal for the scabbard was quite old. It had been left sitting in a basement somewhere in one of her more impoverished relatives' basements, and had been the only gift they found suiting for their senshi kin's initiation. Now, of course, they were sent money regularly, her father having figured out where they resided just from the origination of the gift. They would much rather have been left be to manage on their own, a trait to be blamed on their insufferable pride, but her parents would not allow that to be. That was just the way her family was, she supposed. Either way, the less than desired conditions had done horrors to the scabbard, which Makoto imagined had looked rather handsome in it's prime. The sword, however, nestled safely inside, was still rather virile-looking, a hilt made of ivory, made for one hand, the blade slightly curving, a niche carved along the dull side, right before the edge. Something unintelligible was engraved in it, but it had been created on Earth, and the way they wrote, it was a wonder even they could read the text. Having arrived at her destination, she sighed. She than entered, and to her surprise, Venus smiled at her. "I see you had the insight to spare yourself the pain this time," she commented, eyeing the blade with a slight smile. Makoto shrugged. "I've been in battle mode for a while now." This sufficiently silenced Venus. Finally, she drew her sword. "Shall we, then?" Jupiter bowed shortly, almost mockingly, before drawing her sword and placing the sheathe by the wall. She walked to the center before slipping into defense position. There would not be much dialogue here--though much would be said without its aid. Makoto hoped she would be able to make a decent depiction of what she wanted to say with her lack of swordsmanship, but seriously doubted it. Didn't Minako realize how pointless this was with such an unfair match? Jupiter knew at least this much--a 'competition' with Venus meant a lot of waiting. She waited until her opponent struck, than hit them while they were open. And she could wait forever. But Jupiter believed that this time she could wait Venus out--no, Makoto believed that she could wait Minako out. This had nothing to do with the two in senshi form. There was silence. There were some things said with looks, but none that Makoto could interpret to anything other than rampant, encrypted thought. They circled briefly. They waited. Minako smirked slightly, apparently commending Makoto for her patience. It was harder trying not to make a face back. They waited. On the floor, their shadows moved slightly. The sun began to shine through the trees guarding the windowsills. Haruka passed by briefly before laughing and leaving, and Minako raised an eyebrow. When Makoto didn't reply, the blonde gathered that the older woman had been told, and colored slightly. Makoto replied with an almost imperceptible smile, and suddenly, Minako pounced in. The sword ripped at her shirt as she jumped back before she escaped, blinking. Without looking down, she noticed that there was about a two centimeter wide tear in the outward jutting fold in her shirt. She cursed softly to herself. But Minako was done waiting, apparently, and returned again before her opponent was ready, attacking in a flurry of blows that Makoto could just barely block, and probably only because she already knew first hand of the precision of that blade. Makoto tried to step back and jump away out of the fray. Eventually, Minako jumped back and winked. Makoto blinked at her. "You shouldn't be the one jumping back. Strength is your skill, Mako-chan. Use it." 'Mako-chan'? 'What the hell is going on?' Eventually, Makoto started the advances this time, reflecting her somewhat confused state, and she _did_ use strength, driving the shorter back before she finally jumped away. Than Minako returned and delivered a series of short blows that the taller was hard pressed to keep from touching her. Instead of jumping back, she struck a power-filled counterstrike that almost jarred the sword out of Minako's hands. The blonde jumped back and raised her eyebrows. This was remarkably cathartic, actually. That was the last thing that Makoto would have anticipated. And while she had no idea what exactly was going on with Minako giving her advice, and wasn't going to puzzle it out while she was sparring, she knew something was going on, and oddly enough, it helped settle her mind. Both jumped back in simultaneously, in a crash of violent blows. Makoto had been following along rather nicely until she realized that Minako was speeding up. This continued for at least a full minute, and both were becoming rather ruffled until Minako finally struck a blow that had her knocked down. The blonde cocked her head and smiled before offering her hand. Makoto blinked up at her. After a moment of slightly uneasy silence, she took the hand, and Minako pulled her up. It was a moment until the blonde let go. Looking the taller in the eyes, in alarmingly close proximity, she said, her voice almost friendly. "Friends," she started, and Makoto nodded. "Just friends," she added. It took all the strength Makoto had not to add, "For now." But Minako sensed it anyway, and paused before nodding, just slightly. "We're not fools enough to think that you would want to visit us, but we really wish you would. I mean, it'll be our twentieth anniversary in just a few days. We know you'll send us something, but we'd be happier if you could just visit. You know." There were wonders that the Moon Kingdom possessed that the rest of the universe did not. These included magical communications devices that would enable two people to speak to each other, no matter what the distance. There were also versions where the two speakers could look at each other, but Makoto did not own one of these. She was allowed and occasionally encouraged, but the only persons with whom she used these things with any frequency were her parents. Since the only free time she had with a mind to ruin her privacy was after doing something particularly strenuous, they usually would make polite yet pointed comments about how much like shit she looked. She, of course, could not tell them the only reason she was conversing with them was because the discomfort had reminded her of them. So she merely told them she could not afford the more advanced prototype. "I can't leave at a time like this. I won't be able to until this whole thing with the Dark Kingdom passes. You may not want to hear this, but spending time with you simply isn't as important as defending the heart of the civilized universe." "That was harsh, Mako-chan." "The truth is harsh," she agreed caustically. She could almost see her father grimace on the other side. He eventually tried a different approach. "Surely you can be spared. Maybe you're most important," he guessed, still affected with fatherly love, "But surely you won't be missed for just a day or two." "I'm no more important than anyone else here. I am no more important than say, Minako-chan." She was already pacing, her parents' picture an innocent victim in her hands, and they had only been talking for a few minutes. This was bad, and would end up being worse. "We heard, you mother and I, about...you and her." It took all of Makoto's resolve not to punch something. "Mako-chan?" It could be interpreted as merely a reply to the silence, as if for her father to assure himself that she was still listening. But she knew him better than that. He was asking more than that. He was asking if it was true. Well, if she hadn't seen anything wrong with it then, she sure as hell wasn't going give in to him now. "Hai." But to be safe, there was a bit of a question in her voice, as if she had only replied to his questioning her presence. "Wanting you to be here for our celebration isn't the only reason we want you to come home." Though the reason could have been entirely auspicious, she tensed. "Mako-chan, we've gotten you've betrothed." The picture frame dropped to the floor, the glass shattering into minions of small glass soldiers. The sound had only barely muffled the sound of surprise torn from her throat. "Mako-chan, what was that? We thought you would be happy." Someone outside the door had apparently passed by and heard, as the door opened quietly, Makoto's back to it. She turned around to see Ami, concern on her face. Desperate for someone other's than her father's 'support', she gestured her in, giving her a sign to be quiet. "Sweeting?" "You know that's not true," she choked out, Ami still looking at her with care, touching her hand. The taller took that hand, gracious for the consolation. "But a year ago--" "A year ago I was younger, and had different ideals." "So these new ideals include a different gender, hmm?" Ami looked at her again, comprehension budding on her face. 'I'm sorry you have to go through this now,' she mouthed. 'It had to happen,' she replied, the pain still on her face. "Mako-chan?" "That was harsh." "The truth is harsh, in your words." "At least when I said it, it had some semblance to relativity in the conversation. Now, _you're_ just being harsh because your pride is hurt." "And you were because you didn't want to see us." "Can you blame me?!" she yelled back. Ami tapped her hand with her index finger. 'Relax, Mako-chan.' "So you admit that you were lying." "I wasn't lying," she replied sharply. "Fine," her father replied, impatiently. "But you're still getting married." Makoto laughed shortly. This was probably only because that had sounded laughably bizarre, but she still had a reply that would match her contempt. "There's no room in our lives for husbands." "Do you honestly expect me to believe that?" "No, but I was _hoping_ you would recognize it as the truth that it is instead of taking only the things that agree with your plans to be the reality." "Watch yourself, young lady." Her eyes flashed. Ami mildly backed away. "You know, Father, maybe I may not be all that you expected, but what I _have_ turned out to be is an entity more powerful than yourself, so don't you _dare_ _ever_ try to pull rank on me again." "As a single person, perhaps you are more powerful. But I am a king. With an army. But none of that is nearly as important as this little fact--I am your father. I will be your father until one of us dies, which may be sooner than later. I--" "Did you just threaten death on me, Father?" she asked, her voice dangerous. His reply was a short laugh. "I was merely commenting about the possibility of our lives becoming nothing more than pawns to the Dark Kingdom." "If you care that much, than leave me be," she snarled. Ami busied herself with cleaning up the shattered glass. "Surely being happy won't disrupt your duties as a Sailorsenshi," her father continued, obliviously. Makoto thought that over for a moment as she stepped over to the device. "It wouldn't if you would just let me experience it," she replied, turning the thing off with a press of the button, the motion styled with finality. She turned to the room and looked at Ami, still sweeping the remains of the frame up. Her own face was a mixture of embarrassment and puzzlement. "Ami-chan, you don't have to do that." Ami shrugged as she stood up and dumped the remains in the trash. "I don't mind." She presented her hand to Makoto--in it was the picture the frame had displayed. "Well?" "You can get rid of that, too," she answered, turning away. From the device again came the last voice, the message option. So long as a message was short enough, it could play it with a command, as long as a person had the code to the particular apparatus. It was her mother's voice. "The only way you can void the wedding is by meeting him. In person." A pause. "If you don't come up to meet him, we'll send him. We'll be seeing you." Makoto had almost punched the wall before Ami called into her world of anger, "Mako-chan! Anger control, remember?" So instead she merely cursed. But it was potent enough to make the blue-haired girl pale. "What was that about?" she asked finally. The taller sighed. "Well. They don't hate me, you see. They think that whoever they've chosen is suave and charming enough to win me over even though the last thing in hell I want is a political relationship right now. Or at all. But the thing is, they don't know me any more." She ran a hand through her hair. "They know the little girl of five years ago, and they can't comprehend change." She closed her eyes. "So now I have to go up." Ami folded up the picture before lobbing it at the trash can. "Alone?" Makoto smiled slightly. "Who would come with me?" Ami smiled. "I'm up for it. You'll need someone to steady that hand." Makoto laughed. "That I will." She paused for a moment. "Do you think Queen Serenity will let us both go at the same time?" Ami shrugged. "We've both earned a vacation. And she knows that if she contacts us, we'll be back within a few hours." "And the Dark Kingdom certainly isn't very subtle about attacking. We'd be back in time if there was danger." "And a husband following you around would certainly ruin your performance in battle, and retrogress any success we've had at your anger control." She laughed. "Yes." "Well, than, her Majesty is a reasonable lady. We should have no problems." "None at all." "Absolutely not!!" "But your Majesty--" "By no means! I will not permit this! And what will happen if you _do_ fall in love with him?" "That isn't possible, your Majesty. I won't allow that to happen." Jupiter looked up at her, her eyes pleading. Queen Serenity's face softened just a bit. "Jupiter, I believe you don't want to, but I can't risk your crushes. I don't want to be harsh, but I can't gamble with the skills you offer." "The Sailorjupiter that you're talking about is the one of twenty-four months ago." She bowed shortly, gesturing to herself. "I think I've grown enough so that I have some control over myself." Serenity sighed, but after some scrutiny, Jupiter realized there was a smile under that exasperation. "Mercury? What do you think?" Mercury smiled slightly, standing next to Jupiter in the throne room, presenting their case. "I'd believe her if I were you, your Majesty. I do." Serenity laughed, her head moving to face Jupiter. "If only to spite your parents, Jupiter, I, too, believe you can do it. But if not..." She gestured. "Be assured things will not remain peaceful for long." She turned to both. "When are you leaving?" "As soon as possible, your Majesty," Jupiter replied. "I have to get there before their anniversary ceremony, because most likely they will announce it then. And I have to make sure it doesn't happen before it gets ugly." "When is the ceremony?" Jupiter paused to reckon the date. "Two days from today." "And they just told you about it?" "No, they have one every year. It's just that _this_ year, they decided to drop a bombshell, hoping I'll come to quench the fire." She did not add the actual reason they had dropped the bombshell, she had gotten away without actually lying, and that was good enough for her right now. There was a particular bombshell of her own that she didn't want to drop on Serenity, ever, because it had passed. While it may come to pass that such a time would come again...she was not going to bet on it. And she was opposed to punishment for things in the past. "Well," Serenity replied, as annoyed as she was amused, "I wish you luck." "What brings you two lovely ladies to a bar at this time of night?" the bartender asked, smiling as he leaned on the bar. "Need for a drink," Makoto replied tiredly. Ami nodded her agreement as the bartender smiled again. "So I take it you're not up for some company tonight," he replied, fixing the drinks they had ordered and sliding them across the smooth wood. "Not that you could offer it," she replied again. "Not that I am," he replied, an innocent look on his face which soon broke out into another smile. Ami wondered absently if this man could go a minute without smiling. "I'm just saying," he continued, flicking his index finger over to a group of young men, "that if you're not, than you'd better avoid those few." "Do you offer this service to every 'lovely lady' that you serve?" Ami asked flatly, tapping her fingers across her glass. "Not women without muscle," he replied, winking. "I don't like fights in my bar, and there'd be one if you took everything they say at face value." "What do they say?" "Oh, for instance, 'Let's you and me get out of here and get horizontal,' or 'You have such lovely legs. How 'bout I get between them?'," he replied, tossing his head to get the bangs out of his eyes and winking. He then moved on to his next customer, just as friendly. "I like him," Makoto commented idly. Ami smiled. "So does everyone else. I heard that's one of the reasons everyone comes here. He's so nice he'll give credit on drinks." She laughed shortly. The taller smiled before topping off her drink. "So we'll go to the palace after this. No matter how tired you actually are, act like you're going to collapse, because if you don't both you and I will be stuck answering millions of questions that pussyfoot around what they're actually thinking. And then when you _are_ ready to drop, and they can tell, even if you're faking consciousness, and that's when they'll ask questions that you _have_ to answer, and eventually they'll get everything out of you, even the stuff you thought you were nowhere near answering." Ami laughed. "Enriched with experience, are you?" Makoto smiled crookedly. "How could I not be?" Happy Man returned, peering at Makoto for a moment. "I figured out where I recognized you from," he commented. "Uh oh," Makoto replied with a smile. "Should you be here?" "In a bar or on this planet?" He laughed. "Well I know you shouldn't be on this planet. Everyone knows what the King and Queen are like--this will doubtless be a painful experience for the both of you." He suddenly blinked. "But they do a good job ruling and all." He grinned. "I heard they got a boy in there for you. The whole deal seems kind of crooked to me. Thought you should know." Makoto grimaced. "Thanks for the warning and all, but I already know." "Doesn't seem like you agree with the idea." "Well, I don't." He turned to look at Ami for a moment. "You her protection?" he asked with a slight smile. She laughed shortly. "Emotionally, perhaps. But you can just see by looking at her, she can handle herself in a fight." He grinned his agreement. "And you're the Princess of Mercury?" She blinked. "How did you know?" He gestured to himself. "There are some things I have to know." He leaned in a bit closer, speaking to both of them. "If you really want to know, I work for your parents," he said, looking at Makoto. He paused. "I'm loyal and all, but I'd've really preferred it if you'd have been Heir rather than a senshi." She shrugged. "It wasn't my choice. And I wouldn't have." He backed away and smiled. "Well. Do you want another drink?" Both girls declined politely, paying and about to leave. He raised his eyebrows. "So do you want you know about him?" Makoto sighed. "Down deep, no. But superficially...and that's how I'm ruled right now." He raised his right eyebrow higher. He just ended up looking extremely comical, and both had to stop themselves from chuckling shortly. Ami raised a finger. "I'm certainly interested." "Well," he started, his brows returning to a normal position, "It just so happens that not only is this boy not royalty, he actually came from a very poor background. However, he _is_ a woman's dream. His face is sculptured as if by a god's hand, his eyes a sparkling blue, longish blonde hair, a model body...he is articulate. He is musical. He is, supposedly, kind. He is artistic." "So what's wrong with him?" Makoto asked desperately. "He's...afraid of dogs?" he offered. "He dislikes children. He gets sick easily. His weight fluctuates. He's not battle trained. He once dressed up as a woman and tried to get his friend to sleep with him as a prank..." Ami couldn't help but laugh, and Makoto gave her a pointed look. She shrugged. "Sorry," she replied weakly. "Well, that does strengthen my resolve a little bit," she confessed. "I am _not_ leaving here married." "Well, good," he replied, "because I have no idea of what to get you." "What's his name?" she asked. "Heishi Ryou." "And do my parents have him under their grasp?" "Eh..." He shrugged. "I'd say not. If you just ask him to leave you be, he probably will. Don't rely on it, but he might." Makoto sighed. "We should probably go..." "What's your name?" Ami asked. "Well..." He grinned. "Chances are you won't see me again. But my code name is Akuma." "...devil?" "To the enemy. But you have your own enemy to face, do you not? Anything you're forgetting? Did you get them a present?" "Pre...damn!" He laughed to himself and produced a decent sized box from under the bar. "It's a music box. Plays some sort of lovey tune. Nice looking." Makoto looked at him. "Look, I owe you. Is there anything you want?" He grinned. "Nothing I can say in polite company, no. Just saving your ass is present enough for me. I'll have a story to tell my children." "I'll bet you have many other stories to tell your children," Ami commented with a slight smile. "Good gambler," he replied with a grin. She didn't even have to introduce herself at the gate before the guards took her bags away, which rubbed her the wrong way. No guards stayed as gate guards for as long as she had been away, which meant that they had been warned of the possibility of her presence. That meant her parents had been expecting her. She hated to be so predictable, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. Better predictable than married. Ami gave her a look. "Famous, are you, Mako-chan?" Makoto grimaced. "Hardly. My parents like to keep a watch on me. To make me feel like I'm a bigger person here. To coax me to stay." The guard tensed upon hearing this as he walked them to the audience room her parents had requested she come to when she first entered the castle. She tapped him on the shoulder idly, in a particularly rotten mood just seeing this place again. "That is correct, is it not?" she asked as he looked back, an expression approaching horror on his face. "Mako-chan, leave him alone," Ami interrupted. "I doubt he's anymore pleased about your visit than you." Makoto laughed shortly. "Sure, Ami-chan." The guard visibly relaxed as he turned back around to face the direction he was leading them. Ami was impressed by some of it. While the palace in which she had been raised was a prime example of the cutting edge technology with which her kingdom had survived, the palace of Jupiter had a rather archaic feel to it, rather like the planet's cities. The capital which surrounded the palace seemed much more like a parked desert caravan than a technological marvel that her own home was like. Nonetheless, it had it's own rugged beauty. Rather like it's princess in that respect. They were still walking down a long, straight hallway, an oil lantern on each side at every two meter interval, along with a massive hanging lantern at every four. There were windows carved into the stone, but at this time of night it stole the light instead of adding to it. Soon after this became tiresome, they emerged into a three-way fork. To the left was a long, wide, high-ceilinged room that held a gargantuan bust of some warrior ancestor of Makoto's, Ami reckoned. If one turned into this room, to their right would be a behemoth dining hall, and next to that a set of stairs. To the right was a set of huge, imposing cherrywood doors that seemed rather utilitarian in outlook. They probably housed nonspecific units of military prepared for protection of the capital from the Dark Kingdom. Ahead was, more or less, a widened extension of the hallway with many doors in each side. This was where they ended up going, and when one got to the end of this, the hallway continued to the left, with a doorway to the right that somehow seemed to be an exit. There were display cases of papers, medals, and trophies along these walls, and shortly after passing through two of these immense cases, they entered a room that was an antechamber to two doors. They were taken through the one on the right into yet another hallway, but this time it housed two doors again. The uniformed man stopped between them. Ami was already lost. The man knocked on the door, not even bothering to call out what for. Makoto held in a sigh, wondering what kind of atrocities awaited her this time. A _very_ perky clone of her mother greeted her. It had to have been a clone--her mother was only this happy on drugs. 'Damn. She gathered I'd bring someone.' Ami was not quite thinking along the same lines. 'She'd better turn that smile off before we all go blind.' "Hello, Mako-chan! Come in! Is this your...friend?" Ami and Makoto exchanged looks as the man disappeared. "No, Mother," Makoto replied finally. "Not even Queen Serenity has those kind of guts. No, this is Ami of the Water, Princess of Mercury, and Sailormercury." The relief was written so plainly on the woman's face it was almost hard to keep from laughing. "So what do you think of our planet, Ami-san?" Ami shrugged gestured around her. "I haven't had much of a chance to see it." She yawned, the action only slightly fabricated. "We got here late." Relief flowed through Makoto at her friend's action. The night would be significantly shortened, which meant she just might be able to salvage some of her sanity. If her mother could take a hint for once, even if it was applied with a sledgehammer. But as if that wasn't enough, her father had to come out of his section of the chambers and add to the fun. "Hello, Mako-chan. Who's this?" "Ami of the Water, Princess of Mercury, and Sailormercury," she repeated, her voice pointedly tired. After a moment, she continued, "Look, I hate to be blunt, but we have a lot of stuff we have to take care of, and I, myself, would like to turn in." Ami nodded her agreement. Her mother sighed. "Well, honey, I guess we could catch up tomorrow. But there's someone we wanted you to meet...he should be here any minute, if you'll wait..." "I think we had better get going," Makoto replied, slightly unnerved at the already unreserved matchmaking. 'I want at least my first night here in peace.' "He could help you with your bags..." "Ami-chan and I got here alone. I think we can take care of it. Thanks, though...I guess..." "Well," her father replied, his good nature already feigned, Ami could tell, "I might as well show you your rooms." "Mako-chan, are you going to bed?" Ami was amused by where their rooms were; directly across the hall from the king's and queen's. To their credit, they _had_ trusted their daughter enough to put her and her friend in the same area. That area, however, was designed rather oddly. It was actually just one very large room. In the center was a thick, red satin curtain that divided the room into two, a queen-size bed on each wall. There were no windows, as the room was buried deep inside the castle, but there was a behemoth hanging lantern on each side of the curtain, which seemed to run on magic rather than oil. There were two cherrywood nightstands in each section, one on each side of a bed, and a floor lamp in the corner of each. Other than that, the room was rather bare. There were no flowers or sculptures as in every other room. It seemed oddly out of place. Makoto looked around, her eyes hiding something. Finally, she sighed. "Yeah." "Mako-chan, don't follow me, okay? I know you think you can, but you don't have the skills, and I don't want to see you hurt." He reached out to touch the twelve-year-old's face and touched her cheek gently. "It isn't your place." "It is!" she protested, looking up at him, her eyes pleading. "Onegai, Nuki-chan, I don't want you going out there either! It might feel like you're burning inside, but you don't know--" "Makoto!" he interrupted, his face clouding over the gentle smile that had been on his face. "I'm not going to get hurt. The only person that will get hurt out there today is Kei." Approaching anger, she decided to go for shocker value. "That's bullshit and you know it," she growled. "Mako-chan," he said, his face gently chiding, "Watch your mouth." And he was gone. --------> ------------ "Ami-chan, get the door." "No, you get it." "Why should I?" "Because you volunteered for the bed closer to the door." There was a pause. "Okay," she replied finally, "But you still have to get the door." Whoever it was knocked on the door again. After a moment, Ami replied, "I'm older than you are." "By what, a month?" "Still." There was a moment of silence. "Age before beauty," she replied at length. "That doesn't count for opening doors, Mako-chan." "How do you know?" Their visitor knocked on the door again. "Hello? Is anyone in there?" "Someone will be there in a minute," Ami called. More quietly, but still loud enough for Makoto to hear she added, "Someone with brown hair and green eyes." "But Ami-chan, why change your entire look just to open the door?" "Mako-chan..." "Who is it?" Makoto called, still not moving. "Heishi Ryou." "I'm not getting the door," Makoto stubbornly added eventually. "Why should I get it? I have no connection to anything that is going on. And besides, you're closer to the door." "He's waited this long already. He can wait until you get the door." "I'm not getting the door, either." "I guess we have a problem then." Silence. This continued until Makoto called, "Heishi-san?" "Hai?" he called into the room. "Come back later." "Oh, for God's sake," Ami muttered, getting out of bed. "I'll get it. Hold on." They had been up for hours, but neither had really wanted to remove themselves from the sanctity of their room. So they laid, fully clothed, over fully made beds, just arguing for the morning. It had ended up being quite entertaining, actually. It also seemed that come morning, there were twin windows cut in the ceiling that revealed themselves. This made for a more natural morning, and both were the happier for it. Though that would have been hard to tell with their level of motivation. Makoto stood up just before Ami got the door and walked to it in much less time than it had taken her friend. The blue-haired girl threw her a dirty look before opening the door. The man immediately bowed. It was obvious just looking at him that he was the one that Akuma had told them about; Makoto tensed looking at his face when he came back up. He wore the crimson uniform of the guard, although with his grandiose cloak and a posture more formal than weathered that he was not of military stock. His voice was a sweet tenor when he spoke. "Heishi Ryou. If I take it correctly--may I be blunt? If I take it correctly, one of you fine ladies I am arranged to marry." He bowed again, a slight smile crossing his face. "You'll forgive me if for lack of introductions I'm unsure about your identities." "Kino Makoto." "Mizuno Ami." The two bowed shortly. He smiled. "Well. I've been, for lack of a more suiting word, instructed, to give you a good time, and I see no reason not to. I _do_ have the day planned out, but if you have any objections...?" He trailed off, gesturing. "No plans are set in stone." Both agreed by nodding, and he led them through the maze-like halls to the door that had seemed like an exit the night before. Opening it, Ami discovered that it _was_ an exit, to a garden. Going through the garden and walking for a good length of time led them to what appeared to be a dock. And a good deal of water. "I wasn't aware there was a sea here," she commented idly. Ryou turned back to smile at her. "There isn't. This is a bay." "Oh? What's it called?" "The Bay of Blood," Makoto interrupted distantly, quietly. There was something on her voice that Ami didn't quite recognize. The man blinked. "Something wrong, Makoto-san?" "Mako-chan?" She blinked before turning back to them. "No. I'm fine." Ami recognized this as a rather weak cover up and resolved to keep an eye on her. Ryou merely dismissed her as moody royalty, which annoyed Ami to some extent. After a moment, an impressive-looking vessel roared up. The tall girl took a step back when it arrived. "I don't want to do this," Makoto declared, her voice soft. "Are you afraid of the water? The boat is safe--" "No, that's not it. I don't want to do it." If Ami hadn't noticed that something very real was bothering her friend, she might have agreed with Ryou. She wanted to be in the water--something about it comforted her. And she felt rather stressed here. Instead she sighed and added, "Ryou-san, leave her be." Makoto looked back at her. That had struck a wrong chord in her for some reason, and suddenly, after a moment of looking closely at her friend, she looked composed again. "We can go if you like." Ryou stepped forward. "Well, actually, I would. I don't usually get a lot of time to do these things, and I enjoy being on the water." "Okay," Makoto replied simply. Something _was_ wrong, it became evident, after the three had taken a look around the boat. It was a magnificent affair, clearly meant for nobility. After the taller girl had calmed down, the thing had started to interest her. "How is this thing run?" she asked idly as the three sat down. She was surprised to see Ryou's face light up. "An orb lies under the deck; as people walk across, it gathers energy. In the back are two jets, and the energy follows a path to the jets, and that is where it shoots out the energy that propels the boat. The operators have to learn what the capacity of the orb is, and eventually the balance becomes perfect. The boat will never run out of energy, and yet it can go as fast as one desires." "Thing is," Makoto added, "out here, it's cheaper to train men than to manufacture machines in their place. Our power is more magic than technology." Ryou raised an eyebrow in approval that Makoto apparently had not wanted or needed. She returned a crooked smile that sufficiently cooled him off. Ami held in a laugh. "Okay then," she drawled, "Why 'The Bay of Blood'?" Ryou cocked his head to Makoto. "I'll have to leave that one to you, Makoto-san. I haven't a clue." Makoto took a deep breath; she was looking ruffled again. "My--A long time ago, a Prince of Jupiter had a fiance. He also had an old 'friend' who blamed him for his lot in life. I never got the full details on that one. Anyway, his friend lived across the bay. He came over by boat while the prince was away visiting his people. His friend, well, forced his fiance, than killed her and took the body. When the prince came back, he found that this had happened, and took a boat to go after his friend. Well, he caught up with him while they were still on the water, and the prince went into the other boat to kill his friend. Well, it ended up being the other way around." She turned to look out the door to the cabin, leaning up against the pillowy walls, her arms spread out behind her. "When his parents, the reigning monarchs, found out, they renamed the water 'the Bay of Blood'. And that's how it was." Ryou laughed. "I guess that has to be something only royalty knows about." She looked down at him after standing up. "Excuse me," she said after a moment, and left the cabin. Ryou leaned back. After sighing, he asked a question. "May I be blunt, Ami-san?" Ami shrugged. "If you like." "I don't know how you put up with her. She seems rather moody and presumptive. The very stereotype of a princess." Ami shrugged again. "If you really want to know, she has no plans to marry you, anyway. She only came here so her parents would call it off." "Than why did they set it up in the first place?" he asked. "She was in a relationship that they didn't want her in. They hoped you could woo her over. You're not doing a very good job." "I didn't know she was going to be like this." "She usually isn't. The whole idea of the marriage has her in a wretched mood anyway, and something about the water is really disturbing her." Ryou blinked, silent for a moment. "Than why did she still come?" Ami looked at him. "She's a Sailorsenshi," she replied simply. "Mako-chan, what's going on?" Ami asked when they returned to their room. The curtain was up; they were changing for the formal dinner. Both would doubtless be happier when it was over. "What do you mean?" Makoto replied, locking the door. "Nothing seems too odd to me." "Something is bothering you," Ami pressed. "There's nothing too odd going on here, yes. But you..." "I don't kn--" "Mako-chan!" Ami interrupted, annoyed. "Either you're going to tell me, or I'm going to ask your parents. And if they _don't_ know the answer, they're going to bother you a lot more than I am. So truthfully, it's a lot easier on all of us if you just answer me now." Makoto sighed, and the room was silent for a moment. Finally, she began, "Remember when Ryou-san commented that the story about the Prince of Jupiter must be a story only royalty knows about?" She sighed. "That's what's bothering me now. And the truth is, it all ties into that." The room was silent again, but Ami knew better than to push her friend now that she had already began. She would continue on her own time. Hopefully that would be before they left for dinner. It was a while before she continued. "That story occurred very recently. Too recently. No one even remembers it happening, and it was only five years ago." Ami gasped softly, realizing the implications that time period formed. "Mako-chan, I'm sorry. I didn't--" "No, no one did. And that's part of what is bothering me now. And the other thing...is just that I'm here. I'm reminded of him, and I've still quite a few ordeals to go through before we go home." "Are you done dressing?" Ami asked, stepping up to the curtain. When Makoto replied affirmative, she opened the curtain. She raised an eyebrow. "You certainly look nice," she complimented. The other smiled. "I could say the same about you." She cocked her head, looking the blue-haired girl over. "What originality." Ami laughed softly. "I could say the same about you." Both girls were wearing their characteristic colors in fancy, single-color one piece dresses. At length, she asked, "Did you two get along well?" Makoto sighed. "Usually. We didn't disagree much, but when we did...it was over the big things." She turned to the door. "That was when I left for the Moon Kingdom." She opened the door and held it open. "Shall we?" It was late. Everyone either was already asleep or was planning to do so in the very immediate future. There were no sounds in the darkness. The silence permeated into Makoto's very soul, and she couldn't keep her eyes closed for more than a few minutes. Eventually, she got out of bed and put on a pair of pants, leaving her friend sleeping quietly across the room as the went across the hall. She knocked softly on the door, and it wasn't too long until her mother opened it, sleep in her eyes. "Honey," she said sleepily, "It's late." "I gathered," Makoto replied dryly. "I want to talk to you. I can't sleep." Her mother shrugged, but opened the door and switched on the light, blinking at the its intrusion into her world of darkness. Her father groaned. "What's going on?" "Mako-chan wants to talk to us, honey." He sat up, groaning, as she walked in, closing the door behind her. She put her hands behind her back and observed the room. It rather resembled three rooms skillessly crafted together, and in the back there was a wall in the last one, a curtain over one side of it. The room had a rather dim light in it, and was obscurely comforting, the colors used to decorate dark and handsome. There were standing plants randomly arranged all over the room, a standing lamp in several corners, none currently turned on, along with a chandelier hanging from each of the three sections of the room. There was a behemoth sized bed with dark blue, extravagant blankets pulled around her father's sitting form. There was a noble-looking chest at the end of the bed. She smiled tightly to herself. "I see nothing's changed," she commented idly, a crooked smile on her face. Her mother shrugged. "You know we like things to stay the same," she replied mildly. Makoto smiled as way of reply. She sat down on the chest and looked at her parents frankly as they gradually turned to face their daughter. "Let me be blunt," she began. "I am here. You know why I am here. I just want to be sure that you acknowledge these things, and let me out of this pseudo-relationship." She than sat back and prepared for the barrage. To her surprise, there was none. However, her mother had a vaguely hurt look on her face. "Did you spend the day with him?" she asked hopefully. Makoto's face darkened. "We spent the day on the bay." Her mother's face turned gray. "I'm sorry, honey..." She shrugged. "Well, I knew the day was going to be bad, anyway..." "Mako-chan," her dad interrupted. "Stop this. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. I know that you don't like what's going on, but that's no reason to be fatalistic." She turned to look at him. "Did you know that no one knows that he existed? No one remembers. Good idea naming the bay after him, it had such lasting effect." "You're blaming _us_ for this?" her father sputtered indignantly, sitting up straighter as his eyes glittered through his long, gray bangs in the dim light. "Don't get defensive, Ei," her mother chastised him. "We all miss him." "But no one else does!" Makoto exploded, sitting up straighter in rather the same way her father had. "Ryou-san himself said that when I told the story, 'it must be something only royalty knows about'. No one remembers he even existed!" "You told the story?" her mother asked, somewhat aghast. "What possessed you to do that?" "I didn't say it was _him_," she protested. "Ami-chan asked about the name. Ryou-san and I were competing about knowledge of the planet." "Mako-chan..." "Don't you dare go changing the subject to how competitive I am," she replied, eyes sparkling in anger as she turned back to her mother. "I want to know what you're going to do about this." "You came, Mako-chan. You're not getting married." "That isn't what I'm worried about anymore!" she replied, slamming her fist down on the chest. "Shh," her mother admonished. "I guess your father and I will talk it over. But it's late, and you're getting loud. You should go back to bed. We'll do something, trust us. We'll talk it over." Makoto wasn't quite satisfied with this answer, but she knew that their word was truer than most things in her experience, so she sighed, and stood up. Turning back for a moment, she paused before bending down and kissing her mother on the cheek. "Thank you." As she left the room, her mother turned to her father, blinking. "I guess she doesn't hate us after all." "Nuki-chan," the little girl of six said, pulling at his sleeve, "Don't leave me behind. I wanna see it, too." "I wouldn't dream of it, Mako-chan," the boy replied, looking back at her. Do you want me to carry you?" She looked up at him, a frown on her small face. "I can go by myself," she replied dubiously. He laughed. His somewhat long brown hair fell over his stunning green eyes, and he brushed it back, looking up at the sky. He towered over the little girl, looking back at her kindly. "Mako-chan, we're going to be late if you don't let me carry you," he cautioned. "We'll get bad seats." "There can't be bad seats for fireworks, silly!" she replied, jumping into his arms. "But if you want, I'll go." He laughed and hugged her before putting her up on his left shoulder. "Arigato, Mako-chan. Now I can get my seat." "With Megumi-san, right?" she replied, grinning. He flushed, just slightly, grinning ruefully. "That's right." She smiled. "That's good. I like Megumi-san. She's nice. She gives me candy." "Everyone gives you candy, Mako-chan," he replied, laughing as she wrapped her little arms around his head. "I know," she replied defensively, "But I like it." "I would imagine you do," he grinned. "Well I do," she replied simply. The sun shone down upon them, the wind blew slightly. The soft scent of flowers was in the air, and the promise and experience of love was in their hearts. All was right with the world. She wiped a tear from her eye as she pulled the covers off of her sweaty person. She choked back more tears as she got dressed for the day, and eventually, she just sat on her bed, sitting cross-legged, thinking things over. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't notice Ami's presence until her hair got tousled from behind. "Wake up, Mako-chan," she said, happily. "We're going home today." "We have a full day ahead of us," she replied, smoothing her hair down, looking at Ami out of the corner of her eyes. "Well," Ami replied, "Be that as it may, at the end of it, we're going home." She smiled. "That we are," she replied finally. "However, now I have to tell Ryou why I'm not going to marry him. That's not the kind of thing one can leave up to their parents." Ami sobered. "Well, I wish you luck. I guess. That didn't quite come out right." "I know what you meant," Makoto replied, a slight smile on her face as she stood up. "But you have your own ordeal to face. You have your whole day to yourself, at least until four. And than we'll meet up again here, and get dressed for the party." She patted Ami on the shoulder. "Ja ne." Shortly after the girl had left, Ami looked up at the clock. Her eyes widened in horror at the time she had left to find things to waste it with. 'Ten o' clock?!' She smoothed out the few wrinkles in her clothing, and attempted to brush her bangs behind her ears with a thin, nervous finger before they fell back to her forehead. Eventually, she just sighed, than knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal the man she sought, a generous smile on his face as he bowed shortly before gesturing her in. "What brings you?" he asked, standing up, his blonde bangs falling back into his kind blue eyes. He really was a beautiful, kind boy, Makoto realized, walking into the room. 'Do I really want to do this?' She was suddenly ashamed. 'Of course I do. I gave her Majesty my word.' The room was somewhat simple. The room being on the end of the building, there were two grand windows carved into the side facing the door, both letting in a joyous light that reflected Ryou's usual state. On the wall to the right of the entrance was a single desk, in the corner, along with a painting of a panther directly in the center of the wall. The wall that the door was shaped in had a bookcase/desk by it, in the middle of the space, loaded with books and rolled manuscripts. To the left was a bed, the blanket crimson, lined with gold lace. To the left of the bed was a nightstand, several books piled on the top. She turned to him as he closed the door and stepped to the center of the room. "Well," she began, swallowing, "I have to talk with you." "I gathered," he replied, with a smile. He rested a hand on hers as she began to pull out the chair from the desk. Her head jerked up in surprise to meet him in the eyes. "Don't sit down," he urged, taking his hand away when he realized how uncomfortable it was making his guest. "I have some things I have to do today, I'm afraid. I have to go into the city to get something. But if you really have to talk with me, why don't you come with me?" She took a step away, the romance in his very presence choking her. She shrugged gracelessly before speaking. "I guess that sounds okay," she replied, not quite meeting his eyes. He smiled his reply. Makoto had forgotten just how much she loved her city. Just the air of it was intoxicating and addictive, busy with the lives and loves of its people. Lordhaven was a much busier and populated capital than that of the moon; there were more voices, more craftsmen, more children running in joy of life, more musicians on the corners, more young couples just discovering love, more of everything that made the city so enchanting. Just to be a part, no matter how small, of so many people's lives, was hopelessly romantic and amazingly magical. Her sadly fatalistic outlook improved just at the promise of being in such a place. Ryou, apparently, had noticed the change in her. "You like your cities, Princess?" he inquired casually as she followed his lead towards wherever he was going. She grimaced. "Please don't call me that, Ryou-san. I don't get that kind of treatment at home--er, on the Moon Kingdom, and I neither want it nor expect it here." "You think of the Moon Kingdom as your home?" "And why not?" Makoto challenged, sensing and responding to the ever-present gentle challenge in his manner. "I may have spent my formative years here, but let's be honest--who actually remembers their formative years?" "Perhaps, Makoto-san," he replied, bowing slightly as they pushed through the crowd, "That our formative years are actually when we make or fail to make the choices that we promised to make as a child." He paused for a moment, as if waiting for that to set in, before continuing. "After all, we can't go around blaming how we ended up on our environments as children. You and I both know that you are very different from your parents. Would that have happened if they were your models in those so called 'formative years'? No, your models for your formative years were your friends and your queen. That's why you turned out the way you did." "The thing is, Ryou-san, that I turned out more like them than I'd like to admit. But there is something you said that I agree with." He turned back to her and raised an eyebrow before turning his attention back to navigating the streets. "That our choices form our formative years...and there's a choice I have to make right now." "Oh?" "The reason I wanted to talk to you." He was silent for a moment until they found their way out of the melee of main street and walked into an adjoining, calmer street. He sighed his relief before turning back to her. "Go on." "My parents--A little while ago, I was with someone my parents didn't quite approve of. Their reply to this was to get me betrothed. They gave me the option, however, of coming up to see them, and you, to void the marriage. They thought that you were, well, so dashing as to win me over. Now, don't get me wrong, I think you're a perfectly charming person--" He held up his hands to interrupt her, laughing ruefully. "I know. You don't want to marry me." He sighed. "I can't say I was really expecting anything, anyway." Makoto paused, looking at him. "You're...okay, aren't you?" He smiled. "Sure I am, thanks for asking. Thing is..." There was silence for a moment, until she finally prompted, "Well?" "Akuma-kun told me you met him." "Akuma? What does he have to do with anything?" "He didn't tell you?" "Tell me what?" Ryou burst out laughing, and it was quite a while until he calmed enough to say anything further. "Tell you..." He began laughing again. Makoto took him by the shoulders and shook him. "Dammit, Ryou-san, what the hell is going on?!" Ryou finally stopped laughing, standing up fully. "Akuma-kun and I have known each other for a while." "Yes, and?" she prompted. "And we're a bit more than friends. In fact, you, being of a certain...faction...couldn't claim the same." "You...so..." Ryou began laughing again. She kicked the side of a passing building, and he bent over laughing. "It's not that funny!" she yelled angrily. This only served to further his amusement, his only reply laughter. "Than why didn't you tell my parents?" she demanded eventually, after he had sobered. He shrugged. "You know how they are. Besides, I got a stipend. Would you deny me that?" She shrugged. "I guess not. But still--could you fake pathos through a marriage that you certainly don't feel it in?" He turned away. "I thought that I could. Besides, I wondered about you." "You wondered about me," she replied flatly. He turned back, met her eyes, and shrugged again. "Well..." She sighed. "Well, why are we down here, anyway?" "I haven't bought a gift for your parents yet." "You..." She choked. "And I thought _I_ had put things off until the last minute!" "At least I'm going to by my own gift," he commented smoothly. "Mako-chan!" Ami exclaimed when the girl entered their room. "Hai...?" she replied warily, closing the door behind her, as Ami, attempting to cross the room, finally just collapsed back onto her bed. It took a moment for Makoto to comprehend what exactly was going on. Than she held in laughter. Ami gave her a dirty look. "If I get to the dining hall without vomiting, it'll be a miracle," Ami groaned. "It's the gravity," Makoto informed her. "I gathered," she replied acidly. Makoto laughed softly. "Well, if you want to get out of here, you have to be able to walk to the station." Ami gave her a face, and Makoto smiled. "It's true," she pushed. "Why're you so happy?" Ami grunted. "I take it things went well between you and Ryou-san?" "Would you believe it that he and Akuma-kun are...together? I'm going to kill that little devil when I see him!" Ami gaped. "Whoa," she put in. "And than we bought a gift for my parents. He made comments about how my knowledge of history other than that of Jupiter is sub par. I told him he was a damn fool. We exchanged codes for communicators. We're friends now." Ami chuckled before her face returned to the floor. "I think...we should go. I can't go to the celebration, and I know you don't want to go alone. In theory, I should feel better once I get off the planet." She paused. "Why didn't you tell me about this?" she demanded. "I forgot," Makoto replied simply, grinning ruefully. Ami threw a pillow at her. The summer night was dangerous and still when they arrived on the moon. Few were on the streets, and those that were hurried about their business so that they could be with their friends and family that much sooner. Makoto and Ami had taken the slower transportation returning, because Ami had violently objected to the idea of traveling fast. Even now she still looked pale. "I've missed it," Makoto commented as they made their way through the relatively empty city. Being so alone in such a place gave her an odd feeling of power. She relished it, being such a change from how she was feeling so often these days. "Which?" Ami asked, looking around her, feeling overwhelmed in the emptiness. She took a moment to analyze what she was truly feeling at the moment. "Both," she replied, as if in wonder. "I actually missed going home." "We all do," Ami remarked. Makoto thought that over for a moment, and a slight feeling of guilt washed over her. "Here I am, thinking about how I loathe visiting my parents, when no one else has gone to their homes in...a year, at least. It's been like that for this long. I'm sorry, Ami-chan." "It's okay," Ami replied agreeably. "The last year has changed things for everyone. We've grown up too fast." "We have," Makoto agreed soberly. Going inside, they were greeted at the door with sedate salutes from the guards, and two hirelings who took their baggage to their respective rooms. The hirelings were a message from Queen Serenity, doubtless. She wanted to see them. Going into her audience room, one could see that an intrigued Princess Serenity had joined her mother in awaiting the two senshi for their return. The princess had a grin on her face, the queen a frown. "I trust you are in good health?" the elder Serenity inquired after they entered. Jupiter grinned ruefully. "Mercury is a bit under the weather, your Highness. I apparently neglected to inform her about the effect the gravity of Jupiter has on one used to the lesser gravity of the moon or Mercury." The expression on Mercury's face confirmed this. Serenity smiled slightly before becoming solemn. "I also trust you returned without a spouse, Jupiter?" she more stated than asked, her voice laden with a noticeable edge. Jupiter nodded gravely. The younger Serenity's grin widened just a bit. The elder Serenity nodded, as if to herself. "Well," she said, a bit of a smile creeping onto her face, "I take it the two of you desire your rest. Dismissed." She turned to her daughter. "And you as well." The younger Serenity grinned as she ran to her friends, and the three left the room, collective moods somewhat lighter. "Mako-chan, what was he like? Was he cute? Was he a prince?" Ami and Makoto laughed, holding out their hands. "Serenity-chan," Makoto said, smiling amiably, "Both of us just came back from a very long trip, and a very tiring experience. We're exhausted." "You mean I have to wait until tomorrow to hear about him?" Serenity complained. "Do I have to? I'll help you unpack! What about Ami-chan?" Ami took a woozy step back. "I suppose we could tell you something," she grinned as the odango-ed princess shone brightly. "Well, go on and tell me!" Serenity urged. Makoto smiled. She was home. "So you didn't marry him, hmm?" The sword was out again. This time it was only a desire to keep her skill up; the trip to her home planet had been a catharsis of sorts, and she had been calm ever since returning the day before the last. She stood face to face with a wooden dummy, lumber arms hanging out at random angles and positions. Her back was turned to her actual adversary, who had just entered. She struck viciously at the dummy. Minako winced, seeing the blow, before continuing. "What was he like?" "Nice," Makoto replied simply before striking the thing viciously. "You're certainly talkative today," the blonde commented sardonically, folding her collar down absently. She shrugged before striking again. Minako sighed. "Mako-chan, I thought we were friends again." "It's not my fault we weren't in the first place." This came with another fierce blow at the dummy. "Oh, is _that_ what this is about?" Minako asked, something Makoto didn't like in her voice as she stepped to be in the taller girl's vision. Makoto couldn't think of a suiting reply. The dummy took the brunt of her frustrations. "Are you mad at me?" "No," was the immediate reply. "Than what's going on?" Makoto paused, striking the poor dummy again, before she answered. "I was at a place where I didn't have to deal with this for a considerable amount of time. I've been relatively composed for the past three days. Wait for me to get back into the swing of this. Then you'll have a conversation." "You think I _want_ a fight?" Minako protested, looking at her eyes. Makoto wouldn't let her meet them. "No," she replied. "Than what?" "What? Can't we just be in each other's presence without bitching about something for a change? We don't always have to talk. Things don't always need to be said." "But in this case, I think we do," Minako objected. "It's easy to tell things aren't right between us." She wasn't quite sure to say, and she struck angrily at the dummy. It cracked. Makoto and Minako's eyes widened as an angry noise fissured into the air, along with the dummy. It didn't quite fall, but it split into an odd position down the middle that had it sitting on itself. Minako ran a finger across her midriff. That was where the crack would have been if the blow had been to her. Makoto, watching, noticed this and turned away abruptly. "Mako-chan..." "What?" she asked bluntly. "Are you going to give me shit about this because you're the leader? Well?" She turned back, her eyes glittering as Minako stood, stunned at her friend's sudden anger. "You know why this never worked? Because you had so many different roles I couldn't rise to meet you." She brusquely sheathed her sword and stalked out before Minako had enough presence of mind to follow her. "So is everyone asking about me?" "Of course," she replied mildly. She imagined his grin. "And what are you telling them?" "What I told you. That you're a damn fool." "Makoto-san, are you really?" he asked dubiously. She laughed shortly. "Of course not," she replied. "Have you studied any history yet?" he asked. "Of course not," she laughed. "What do you think we do here?" "Something's bothering you," he observed suddenly. "How do you know?" she replied, somewhat annoyed. "Come now, Makoto-san, don't be angry at me. You'll feel better if you get it out. Come on." "I just had an argument with a friend." "About what?" "I'd rather not talk about it." "Okay. Well, did you at least look at the books I gave you?" "Ryou-san, I told you, I don't have time. I am a soldier." "And a Sailorsenshi at that," he agreed amiably. "Well, take a look at those books. They're interesting. You might calm down reading. Just an idea." "Talked to Akuma-kun lately?" she asked sharply. "Yes, actually," he replied, a grin flavoring his words. "He said that he'll exchange a few words with you before too long, so you don't have to wait too long before you 'kick his ass', so to speak. But don't be to rough on him, I still want him when you're done." Makoto laughed. "I'll try to remember to go easy on him." "Oh, I doubt it," he replied before chuckling. "But I think I'll still end up collecting on that promise. I'm a little broke right now as it is." "Is that so?" she asked, searching for the books he had so strongly suggested she read. "How much do you reckon anniversary presents cost?" he asked, laughing softly. "You just get ripped off 'cause you're a damn fool," she replied. "I'm not that much of a fool," he replied, becoming slightly annoyed. There came some noises at his end. "Okay, Makoto-san, I have to go. Keep in touch?" "Sure. Oh, and Ryou-san?" "Hai?" "Call me Mako-chan. All my friends do." The books, actually, were marginally interesting. At the very least, it provided her with something to keep her mind on instead of Minako, which was worth a great deal of money, so far as she was concerned. At least, until there came a knock on the door. She warily opened to find exactly who she feared it would be. She had stepped inside the door a bit too far for her to be able to close the door on her without _really_ closing the door on her, which she decided would not be intelligent. Minako looked up at her, her eyes shaky with...something Makoto couldn't place in them. "I'll make this brief," she said, her voice trembling. This kiss was something she never expected. There was no doubt about the intentions thereof; if they were sisters, this was incest. The only thing that could have been even slightly more surprising than this was the visitor's immediate flight thereafter. Again, it took a moment for the one left behind to gather their bearings enough to pursue she who had fled. This time, it was done instantaneously. Makoto looked around at her surroundings. The garden really was a beautiful place; it's only failing was a guest's tendency to lose oneself in the greenery. As a hiding place, it was supreme. There was little chance of anyone's finding the person who had deemed it appropriate to hide. She cursed to herself. She did, however, definitely want to find who she was seeking. She was confused and excited--not a good mixture, but one that would keep her searching for a moderate amount of time. The paths, though beautiful, where increasingly obnoxious. The garden had been created to the whim of a royal, and convention was thrown out of the equation when they had designed it. Because the bloodline had bred true, most royalty on the moon could find their way around in it. Makoto, however, was not a royal of the moon. This was becoming increasingly obvious as she bumbled through the greenery. Minako had either abandoned her flight or was similarly lost (probably a mixture of both), as after much longer than Makoto wanted to admit, she found her, leaning up against a tree. Makoto walked to her slowly. Those blue eyes followed her steps the entire way, until she stopped at her destination. "So," she said inanely, softly. "So," Minako agreed. Looking down into those eyes was a soul swallowing event. There was far more experience in those eyes than anyone would have merited, and some kind of pity creeped into her heart. 'Too much has gone on for this not to happen. In all of us. And I hate it.' Absently, she took the other's hand into her own. Just staring into each others' eyes, all things were resolved. The moment was ingrained into both minds in a surreal moment of tenderness that was so rare in the universe, it could never have been forgotten. "Whatever happened before this," Minako whispered, "Can be forgotten." "We start anew today," Makoto agreed, her voice gentle. "Except," the blonde replied, a soft smile on her face, "for this." She reminded the other what exactly she was talking about, as they joined, mind, soul, and body. "So things turned out alright?" Makoto turned in blind shock at another voice as she reached her room, alone for the moment. "Akuma-kun," she growled, "I am going to kill you." "For now or before? Did I ruin the moment?" She opened the door and gestured him in, glaring at him the entire time. When the door finally closed, he gulped. "What the hell were you thinking, not telling me about Ryou-kun?! Do you know what agony that caused me?! I couldn't sleep at night there thinking about it, and it turns out it was never a choice!!" "Well," Akuma replied, a small grin on his face, "At least now it has meaning." "What the hell are you talking about?!" she exploded, her eyes glittering in anger. He smiled softly. "Makoto-san, don't you realize? The ordeal has meaning now. You're a better person for your experience. If I had just told you, what point would there be in this whole expedition? And would you have bothered getting to know Ryou-kun? Admittedly, you only tried to learn his shortcommings, but that is somewhat beyond the point." She turned abruptly on her heel away from him, still angry, but seeing his point. The room was silent as she met his eyes, and he saw that she understood. The ever-present smile returned. "So how did you know that things turned out alright?" she demanded. "Oh, that," he said genially. "Of course I wouldn't spy on you. I just noticed the vague look of happiness on your face that I had never seen before, and I had a feeling that something good finally came around to you. It all comes around, you know." She sighed. "If I get gray hairs, I'm blaming them on you." "No need to worry," he replied with a grin. "If you get gray hairs, I'll pay for the dye." He suddenly stood up and took something out of his pocket. "Here," he said, handing her a picture. She took a moment to examine it, and realized it was her parents. Happy. Recently. "What is this?" she asked, almost in awe. Akuma grinned. "Your parents said to give this to you since you and Ami-san missed the celebration. Yes, that is them during the celebration." "Whoa," she said simply. "And, you should be pleased to know, they declared the anniversary of your brother's death as a holiday in homage to him. The civilians, of course, were pleased for the holiday, but you should be slightly happier now." A soft glow of something approaching contentment crossed her face. "Yes, I suppose I am," she agreed. "Well," he continued, going towards the door, "It's time for me to go." "You just got here," she remarked in surprise. "Well," he said, "A devils work is never done." "No rest for the wicked," she agreed. "I suppose if you have to go, you have to go." "Just tell me one thing," he requested. "What's he like?" She smiled crookedly, softly. "She." Akuma raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well than, what is _she_ like?" As the look on Makoto's face faded to one of happy musing, Akuma laughed and left the room before she returned to reality enough to reply. The only person left to talk to about Minako was herself. That didn't seem so bad, as leaving the room, she ran into the woman in question. She was going to ask a question as to where exactly they were headed, when they turned inside a seemingly random room, and suddenly she found her mouth occupied. It no longer seemed so important. Not only was everything resolved, she had ended up on top. She had met another crazy to add to her group of friends, she was now, according to Akuma-kun, a better person, her brother would now be remembered by the masses of his planet, and not only had she and Minako become friends again, they were somehow again more than friends. More than that, her companionship was guaranteed for at least an hour or so, and if Minako felt quite the way she did after this whole experience, this last statement would be proved if not within the hour, than at least within the week. Yes, perhaps the Dark Kingdom desired the universe. Perhaps Queen Beryl was eminently powerful. But Beryl had only the power of darkness on her side. Both Serenitys, the Sailorsenshi, and the Kingdom of the Moon had the power of love on their side. And the power of love could do so much more, and guaranteed a happier existence. Yes, no matter what happened to Princess Serenity and her friends, they would turn out victorious. So it was written, and so it shall be. Author's Notes: Why does Makoto have parents for a change? Because she can. And everyone not wanting to disrespect the dead has illustrated her parents as perfect angels--I wanted to reminded everyone that no one's parents are 'good' while they have them. o_O You know you want things to be a bit _too_ perfect when your palms start sweating as you think. o_O Around the romance section, you might notice everything was a bit vague. Everything happened, and I didn't quite explain why everything happened, and as a result it seems kind of weird that a fic that seemed to start out as a romance ended up as some sort of 'family resolution' type thing. Thing is, this was more like the final resolution of Makoto's life before the storm came; everything is perfect, now the Dark Kingdom and the whims of Takeuchi-sama can mess it up. The descriptions were so vague is because _I_ know why everything happened, and it changes in my head. I want you to speculate yourselves: Why exactly is this going on? Why do you think? Makoto doesn't know either. And as for what she thinks, she can speculate later. I'm finished with this fic. ;P If you find my work even remotely interesting, I recommend you e-mail me at . I crave feedback, you see. Besides, it satiates my immense ego, and makes me feel better after a day of dealing with asshole adolescents. ---------- -=-Dark Ferret-=- -- "I'll find my own partner."--Sailoruranus Harukaandmichiru Otaku; ignored fanfic writer; professional cynic.