Minako met Kenjo in the foyer of her residence hall. Though she had been known in the past to make dates linger as long as half an hour, this evening she was already waiting when he arrived. She told herself that it was only fair, given that he'd gotten to their last meeting first. The fact that she'd wiled away an entire day's worth of classes planning her outfit and hair, and that she'd actually been ready to go twenty minutes before he arrived, might have led some to believe that she was just the slightest bit anxious to see him again. Dinner and karaoke called for a more casual outfit than the one she'd worn on their first date. After lengthy consideration, she'd decided on a red silk blouse and a black leather skirt, with appropriate accoutrements. Her hair pulled back off of her face, held in place by a gold clip. A few stray tendrils hung randomly where they had been placed over the course of thirty minutes. If it just so happened that such a hairdo provided easy and convenient access to the nape of her neck, well, surely that was a coincidence. "Right on time, Kenjo-kun," Minako said, rising slowly from the couch where she'd been sitting. She gave him a subtle once-over. Minako knew that men rarely put a tenth as much thought into an outfit as they probably should. Still, he hadn't done bad; his outfit was quite appropriate for a second date: black jeans and a midnight-blue sweater. Funny, though it had only been a couple of days, she hadn't remembered how perfectly his hair cut framed his dark eyes. Kenjo gave her a sly glance. "Well, there's only so many times you can walk around campus." Seeing her confusion, he quickly added, "I was just a little early, maybe an hour or so." Minako laughed and blushed prettily, sliding her arm through his as they headed outside, catching up on the events of the last couple days along the way to the restaurant. "So, have you talked to Mako-chan," Minako asked eventually. "Actually, no," Kenjo admitted. "We don't really talk all that often. It's a quality over quantity thing." Turning to her, he added, "Besides you told me to wait and there's not really any way I could talk to her without going into everything." "Why not?" Minako asked. "Couldn't you just talk about other things?" Kenjo chuckled. "She knows me way too well. One of the reasons we get along so well is that we can't lie to one another, certainly not about anything important anyway." "Could you lie to me?" Minako gave him her best coquettish look. "I doubt it, but fortunately, I don't think I'll ever need to," Kenjo replied, returning her look with a dangerously serious one of his own. Minako smiled subtly and dropped the subject. "So, I assume you've spoken with her," Kenjo said, encouraging Minako to elaborate. "Mmm-hmmm." Minako decided that 'coy' would work well in this situation. "And???" "Oh, well, actually I haven't spoken directly with Mako-chan. Rei is handling that part of it, or at least she was supposed to this afternoon." "Part of it?" Kenjo realized he'd have to change tactics. Adopting a breathy, self-deprecating voice, he went on, "I suppose I understand if you don't trust me." "Oh you!" Minako huffed, sticking her tongue out at him. Kenjo raised an eyebrow suggestively, but so briefly Minako couldn't be sure if he'd really done it or not. "Fine, I suppose I can fill you in," she offered with feigned unwillingness. By the time they got to the restaurant, Minako had brought him completely up to speed on what they'd learned. After settling in and ordering their meals, Kenjo inquired, "So, that jerk ratted Mizuno-san out to her mom, huh? How is her mom likely to react?" Minako shrugged, "No idea. She rarely talks about her mom. I don't think they're particularly close, but it is her mom. She's a doctor and I've heard doctors usually have pretty enlightened attitudes about, well, you know..." Kenjo nodded, "Yeah, if nothing else I think they get in their training that it's something you're born with, not something that you can cure." He sipped his drink. "Of course, everyone's different. Who knows how her mom will react. Still, if Mizuno- san really does love Mako-chan, they should be able to sort all of those things out." "I hope so," Minako agreed. "I know you don't know Ami-chan very well, but she really is sweet and I just know that she and Mako- chan will be very happy together." She sighed happily thinking of her friends. For a moment, they sat, both content to rejoice in the anticipation of their friends' happiness. Soon, the food arrived and their date moved along in typical second-date fashion. Questions and discussions moved from the mundane to the more personal. Tales of past joys and sorrows were shared. Personalities emerged as conversation became increasingly less guarded, more open. Each sought to glimpse the secret, special places inside the other. And so, dinner passed. At the karaoke club, sly comments about the skills, or lack thereof, of the other patrons began to create and enhance the atmosphere of "we" between them. Minako chose songs to sing which would emphasize her fine singing voice, and also set an appropriate mood. Kenjo used his song selection to share parts of his inner self, and also to reveal his growing interest and fondness for her. After the first song or two, when either one performed, they sang only for each other. Whether from the stage to the back of the room, or across their small table, their eyes rarely parted. Conversation was difficult in such a place, but volumes of information were shared through things like the tilt of a head, the light brush of fingers on the tabletop, a shy smile or a knowing gaze. Without words, agreement was reached, bills were paid, and Minako and Kenjo headed back out into the night. The silence that the club had forced upon them lingered as they walked. Minako basked in the comfort of it and soon found herself pressed against Kenjo's side, her head lying gently on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and laced his fingers with hers, wishing she lived miles more away. The dorm loomed in the distance, however, much to both of their regrets. "I'd say I had a lovely time," Kenjo finally said quietly, "but it wouldn't come close to covering it. You're incredible." He looked at her with wonder sparkling in his eyes. Minako smiled, stopping him with a squeeze as she stepped in front of him and took both of his hands in hers. "Come on, there's something I want to show you," she said eagerly, dragging him down a side path. Following her happily, if not a little nervously, Kenjo soon spied their destination. Just a block away from her residence hall, there was a small playground. When she noticed that he'd figured out where she was taking him, Minako giggled and took off ahead of him, forcing him to run to keep up. Stopping in front of the swing set, she sat down as demurely as possible and looked up at him expectantly. Kenjo stood there with a wry grin, waiting. "Well," she demanded, "aren't you going to push me?" Kenjo bowed floridly and moved around behind her. Carefully, he took her by the waist, trying not to think too much about how that felt, and pulled her back. As he released her, she gleefully squealed "Wheeeeee". With light pushes on her shoulders, he propelled her forward over and over again until he actually felt a light sweat beginning to form. Once in awhile, she would turn, usually to insist on going higher. When she did, Kenjo found it hard to breathe. Her entire face glowed and he found himself bathed in the radiance of her energy, her happiness, and her charm. After a few minutes, his pushes became less effective, as he let his hands linger on her back. Minako grew more quiet, though no less happy, until she came to a complete stop. Kenjo stepped in front of her offering her both hands. When she took them, he pulled her to her feet and forward into his arms, which he locked around her waist. Laying her hands on his shoulders, Minako smiled up at him. "I think you're incredible, too," she murmured. As he leaned down slowly, so very slowly, she closed her eyes. His lips touched hers and she felt her heart race. One of Kenjo's hands slid up her back to the base of her neck, fingers slipping into her hair, as he felt her lips part. Her hair smelled like strawberries and cream; she tasted like heaven. After an eternity captured in a moment, they parted, hands and arms still locked about one another. Her expression was serious, hopeful, with just the slightest tinge of worry. Kenjo smiled gently, twirling his fingers behind her ear. "Your hair is so soft," he whispered. The worry vanished and Minako laid her head on his chest, hugging him tightly. Part of her longed to kiss him again, if not throw him onto the ground and ravish him completely. However, the better part of her wanted nothing more at the moment than to stand in his arms, letting him play with her hair, feeling his chest rise and fall beneath her. Kenjo leaned down slightly and laid a soft kiss on the top of her head before resting his cheek there. All too soon, he pulled away, relishing her sigh of disappointment as he did. "I think I'd better get you home. It's getting late," he reluctantly pointed out. "I know," she sighed, letting him lead her back toward the dorm. "When do you have to head back to school?" It was Kenjo's turn to sigh. "My train leaves tomorrow night." Minako nodded. They had reached the entrance and other students bustled around them. "Thank you, Kenjo-chan, I had a wonderful evening." As she had hoped, Kenjo grinned broadly, getting the cutest little shade of pink near his ears. "When will I see you again, Mina-chan?" he asked anxiously. Minako stepped forward and placed a light kiss on his cheek. "Sooner than you think, I'm sure," she whispered. With a mischievous grin, she turned and went inside. Kenjo headed home in a happy daze. He was almost to his front door before he remembered he had an appointment in the morning on the basketball court! ----------------- Urawa Ryu sat in the quaint cafe he'd found across the street from Ami's condo building. Swirling a biscotti in his espresso, he congratulated himself once again on the success of his efforts. Dr. Mizuno had been very receptive to him and had assured him that she would put a stop to the efforts of that tramp Kino to seduce her daughter. While Ryu felt the occasional twinge of guilt at having slightly distorted his account, such regrets were few and far between. Besides, even though he hadn't had the evidence he'd claimed, he had probably still been right. Ami was no lesbo; her own love for him confirmed that. She was just shy and a bit confused. Who even knew what kind of mind control powers "Sailor Jupiter" might have anyway? A pure, trusting soul like Ami's would never guess that one of her comrades-in-arms was plotting to warp her mind for her own sick purposes. Suddenly, things became clear. Maybe this wasn't a sudden event, but something that had been going on for a long time. After all, the mental manipulations of that dyke Kino might have been going on for years. No wonder Ami always backed off when he asked her to date him! 'I'm a hero!' Ryu realized. 'I'm going to save her life just like she saved mine.' "Urawa-san?" A stern female voice sounded from behind him. Urawa couldn't place it at all. Turning, he spilled his coffee. Ami stood there, hands crossed over her chest, looking quite serious. "Ami-chan?" he asked, hastily controlling the spill with napkins. "No!" she lashed out before he could continue, "You have no right to call me that. You may refer to me as Mizuno-san, for as long as you have the right to speak with me at all, that is." Ryu put on his best 'innocence personified' look. "But, what's wrong? Are you angry about something?" Ami noticed the rest of the patrons beginning to focus on them, so she slid quickly into the booth across from him. She'd had all day to prepare for this conversation. Usagi had not only given her the information, but also the perspective and the strength to deal with this person. So many things that she'd ignored over the years, things she'd been unwilling to react to based on some lingering sense of responsibility for one whose life she had saved twice, now made perfect to sense to her. Her friends had been right about him. Much as she hated being wrong, Ami despised being made a fool of even more. "I would be angry," she informed him calmly, "but you are beneath such a strong emotion. For years, I have counted you as one of my good friends, perhaps my best male friend, after Mamoru. I have listened to your problems, helped you deal with your powers, put up with your unwillingness to accept the boundaries I sought to place on our relationship..." "But Ami-chan," Ryu interrupted, "our love knows no bounds. You've been manipulated by your so-called friends. It came to me in a vision. Kino is twisting your mind against me!" Ami put an end to Ryu's ranting with a firm slap on the face. "How dare you say anything about my friends! How dare you even imply such things. I would have happily given you my friendship, but it was never enough for you. Well, now you have lost that. I could have almost understood your betrayal. For awhile I wondered if it was something that was my fault. Now I see you for what you really are, a poor, deluded, sad example of a man. I pity you." Ami shook her head sadly, trying to remember the boy who had been her friend but seeing only the demented man he had warped into. She wondered briefly if this wasn't the result of carrying so much evil inside himself for so long, but recalled that none of the other crystal carriers had turned out to be so reprehensible. Not for the first time that day, she lamented her own failure to see him for what he truly was long before. Ryu held his cheek, still stained red by the force of her hand. "You can't treat me like that, Ami-chan," he sputtered, a wild light forming behind his eyes. "You can't fight your destiny. If you won't accept what they're doing to you, then maybe I'll have to play by their rules." "What does that mean?" Ami asked cautiously. Ryu laughed harshly, "I didn't tell your mother everything I could have, you know." Seeing understanding slowly dawn on Ami's face, he grinned maliciously. "That's right. It would be a shame if she found out, if the whole world found out, about your secret identity... Sailor Mercury." Ami sat and thought for a moment and Ryu celebrated his victory. She would be angry with him, of course, but once they were together, once he possessed her fully, body and spirit, then she would understand. She'd thank him. He felt a stirring in his loins as he gleefully imagined the ways in which he'd make her understand. Again, his revelry was disrupted by a slap across the face. "I saved your life, twice. I can see that means nothing to you now." Ami sighed and pulled out her hand-held computer. "Don't do that again," Ryu declared in a hot voice. "And don't think I won't tell everyone about you!" Ami smiled serenely, all the while punching buttons on the device. With a happy nod, she raised her eyes to his. "No, you won't. I may have been blind about you before, Urawa-san, but never mistake me for an idiot. Do you really think I would have come here not having considered your possible reactions? True, I assessed a probability that you'd stoop this low that, in retrospect, is much too low. Still, the possibility did occur." She held out the screen so he could see what was displayed there. With a sense of foreboding, Ryu leaned forward and examined the screen. There were multiple windows, overlapping, and it was a small display to begin with, but he could very clearly make out what was going on. Ami had compiled a complete dossier on him. Somehow, she'd worked her way into his private files and email and had found multiple instances of him bragging about cheating on tests, money taken in sports or casino bets, women he'd seduced, and other illicit things all done using his psychic powers. Sensing that he'd gotten the gist, she pulled the device back. "You lied to me about the way you used your powers, Urawa-san, but now I'm glad you did. Not only will I release all of those documents to the most interested individuals, I will ensure that all of the darkest corners of your pathetic personality are aired for the world to see. After that, people wouldn't believe you if you told them the sky was blue, let alone whatever fallacies you might dream up about me." Ryu clenched his fists, his world crumbling around him. His first instinct was to smack her around for her audacity. Fortunately for him, he knew that she was a sailor soldier and could undoubtedly wipe the floor with him if he tried. Ami noted his behavior and nodded. "As I expected. Now, this is what is going to happen. I know you have a twisted view of me, but let me make this quite clear. I do not fool around when it comes to my friends and I have fought much more difficult foes than you. You are going to leave this place and you are never going to see me again. You will not call me, write me, follow me, spy on me, or ever seek to contact me again. I can't stop you from thinking about me, but you will not speak of me with anyone. If anyone asks, we had a falling out and don't speak any more. That is, in highly expurgated form, the truth. On my part, I am going to try to forget you, except as a lesson learned about how to see people for what they are, not what you wish they were. If anything unusual comes out about me or any of my friends, I will release everything I've shown you, and also take a variety of actions that I haven't seen the need to reveal to you. You had best hope that someone else doesn't let any secrets out, because if they do, I'm going to assume it was you. Since you are not stupid, I know that you understand and thus, I will not take questions. Goodbye, Urawa-san." Ryu sat in a stupor, unable to think, let alone respond, as Ami deliberately rose and exited the cafe without looking back. For her part, Ami returned home and collapsed on the couch. It had taken just about every ounce of energy she possessed to get through that horrible business and she felt completely drained. She couldn't even imagine going through such an intense conversation with her mother. After all, Urawa was just a pest, but her mother was... well, her mother. Some time later, Ami got up once again and left the building, noting as she did that the cafe was empty. She needed something, and for once, she knew exactly what it was. ------------ Makoto tasted the sauce once more to verify that it was done and moved it to a side burner to simmer. Around her, people bustled back and forth, shouting orders, carrying pots and trays, stirring, mixing, arranging, and doing all those other things required to feed hungry people in style. Normally, she loved Friday nights, as working in the restaurant gave her a true taste of what it would be like when she opened her own place. Tonight, however, she found herself distracted. No matter how she tried to shunt aside thoughts and feelings unrelated to cooking, they kept creeping back in. Worries, hopes, desires, plans, all revolving around one petite young woman with bottomless eyes and a touch as soft and powerful as the ocean tides. "Hey Kino!" A shout from one of the busboys disrupted her distraction. "One of the customers insists on complimenting you on that bearnaise sauce. How much did you pay to have someone come here and do that?" Makoto glared at the guy, "I don't need to pay for compliments, Tetsuo-kun. Which table is he?" She set down her spoon and moved over toward the doors to the dining room. "It's not a 'he', it's a 'she' and she's at table 9, a loner. Hot little thing, too. Maybe she'd like to try some of my 'special sauce'." Tetsuo laughed crudely, dropping off the dirty dishes and heading out to bus some more tables. Looking out, Makoto gasped, though she'd had a hopeful suspicion. Taking off her apron quickly, she tossed it over a peg on the wall and yelled "I'm taking my break now! Back in a bit!" toward the head chef, who waved with disinterest. She darted a furtive glance at her reflection in the hanging cookware, but couldn't see exactly how disheveled she might look. Thinking that was probably for the best, she headed over to table 9. "I understand you enjoyed my bearnaise sauce, thank you for the compliment, ma'am," Makoto announced formally, bowing slightly. As she rose, a chill went down Makoto's spine. Ami truly looked like a dream come true as she sat there in a blue vest over a white frilled tuxedo shirt and blue jeans. 'Even better than the dream,' Makoto realized, feeling suddenly warm. Ami caught a glimpse of the color rising on Makoto's face and smiled shyly, gesturing toward the empty chair at her table. "It was simply exquisite. Will you join me?" Makoto returned the smile and sat down, unconsciously straightening her hair as best she could. "I can only stay for a few minutes; I'm on my break," she informed Ami. Ami nodded, but said nothing. Instead, she contented herself gazing at her friend. Even though it had only been a couple of days, it seemed as though she hadn't seen Makoto in weeks. Makoto submitted to Ami's scrutiny without complaint, though the color rose steadily until it matched her ever-present earrings. "I wish I could watch you work," Ami finally said. "I enjoy watching you cook at home so much. I can only imagine how much more interesting it would be to watch you do it on a larger stage." "Not much to see, unless you like watching people scrambling in a hot kitchen," Makoto laughed. "I like watching you do something you love," Ami explained in an intense tone that added to the goosebumps along Makoto's skin. Again, they sat for a bit just gazing at one another. This time, Makoto broke the silence, "So, I hear you had breakfast with Usagi-chan." "And you had lunch with Rei-chan," Ami countered. "I'd say that I suspect our friends are up to something," Makoto suggested, "but I already know for sure that they are." Ami nodded, now blushing herself. Makoto went on, "Did you handle things with Urawa-san?" She knew there was no need to compare notes or explain. They both understood their friends well, and each other even better. "He's been taken care of," Ami sighed, some of her exhaustion peeking through. Makoto reached out and laid her hand over Ami's protectively. "I can guess what that took out of you. I can't imagine what I would do if Kenjo-chan ever tried such a thing." "I doubt you'll ever have to worry about that," Ami replied, turning her hand over so it could clasp Makoto's. "I don't think he is anything like Urawa-san." Nodding in agreement, Makoto asked, "Are you going to be all right? I might be able to get the rest of the night off." Her expression betrayed the unlikelihood of that, however. Ami shook her head, squeezing Makoto's hand. "I'll be fine, Mako-chan, you don't need to do that. Besides, you need to rest up for your big game tomorrow. I just know you'll win." Makoto frowned, obviously more than ready to dispense with the game entirely if Ami needed her. Ami reassured her again, "I'm fine. You've already helped me more than you know." She looked down at their joined hands, lightly stroking Makoto with her thumb. "You know, it's funny. We haven't even kissed yet, but I feel like we've been dating for weeks, if not years." Makoto dropped her eyes, suddenly shy, but resisted the urge to pull her hand back. Ami reinforced that decision by grasping it with her other hand, now caressing it with both thumbs. "I... I know what you mean, Ami-chan. Part of me thinks we have so much to talk about, but another part wonders why, when we both already know." Cautiously, she raised her gaze back to Ami's. Ami reached out slowly and dusted some flour off of Makoto's shoulder, then brushed a stray lock of hair off of her face, letting her fingers linger on the nape of her neck. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she pulled her hand back to join the other, holding Makoto's captive. "I've still got one thing to take care of, Mako-chan," Ami tentatively told her. This time, Makoto offered a reassuring smile and squeeze. "Your mother. That's not going to be easy, Ami-chan. Are you sure you want to?" "I do. I think I can. I hope I can," Ami sighed. She seemed so suddenly vulnerable that Makoto wanted nothing more than to wrap her in her arms and take her far away from everything. Instead, she did the only thing she could think to do, to offer up the kind of support that she knew her love would need. "Ami-chan, you've been my best friend for so long now that it's like you've become a part of me. My best friend, and so much more. I will always be here for you, no matter what she says or does, no matter what anyone thinks." Her tongue faltered at the last, as her heart leapt from her chest and caught it up. She willed the tears to stop, but didn't expect to succeed. "Hey Kino! Break's over and you're needed back in the kitchen!" Tetsuo informed her, passing by with a full tray of dishes, obviously too preoccupied to notice her situation. Ami grasped Makoto's hand tightly and then reluctantly let go. "You should go, I don't want you to get in trouble. Thank you. I think that's just what I needed." Makoto struggled to get a hold of herself, forcing both tears and heart back to their places. She felt exposed and incomplete, as if she was waiting for something. Rising from the table and slipping her jacket on, Ami crossed over to Makoto and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I love you." Her lips paused briefly to place a surreptitious kiss on Makoto's earlobe before she rose again. More loudly she said, "I'll see you tomorrow!" Makoto stared at Ami in ecstatic disbelief. Just before the young girl left, she managed to catch her eye. "I love you" she mouthed silently. For the rest of her shift, she saw nothing else but the smile with which Ami had responded to her message and heard nothing else but those three words which had changed her life forever.
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