Shocking Conversation "OK . . . well, I'm not sure about anyone else here, but my head hurts now," Haruka said from her place on the couch, after listening to Makoto describe to her and Michiru how badly things had gone when she had tried to tell Ami how she truly felt and how she had found out who her online girlfriend was. Normally, personal relationships were discussed outside of senshi business. In this case it was an exception. Setsuna had made a call to let everyone in on a small secret about the future. Perhaps the largest disturbance that had happened so far to the time stream since Ami's first encounter with the Sekkou had occurred tonight. Originally, Makoto was supposed to have enough time to tell Ami she was Pielover. Instead, because of Ami's current emotional and psychological problems from her capture, she hadn't given her enough time to explain that and left. On the surface, that would still seem like a personal problem, as said before. However, Ami and Makoto's relationship was somehow connected to the formation of Crystal Tokyo in the future, about which Setsuna was less forthcoming with details. The point was, unless the two lovebirds got together and started, well, loving, everything about the future would be thrown into question. While the evil Sekkou were a looming threat, at the moment they were the distant one. So for the first time ever, the Sailor team was being forced to play a no holds barred, high-stakes game of love connection to solve the fate of the future world. No pressure, right? It was time for suggestions. The Senshi of love and Ami were absent from the current emergency meeting being held at Makoto's apartment following the concert. Ami and Minako had gone back to their apartment where Minako was hopefully living up to her constant comments about being the Senshi of love while the rest decided what to do. Haruka grabbed her head in her hands for a moment, deep in thought. How hard could this be? When no ideas came to her, she said quietly, earning her a thump on the back of the head from Michiru for saying it in Hotaru's presence, "I need a beer. OW!" Hotaru said, "Why not just have Makoto march over there right now and tell her? Wouldn't that be simple enough?" Rei sighed, then said, "Because it's too risky this soon after receiving a wound to the heart like that, and Ami may . . . over analyze it. If Makoto says something now, Ami may think Minako has been messing with her computer while she isn't around and merely supplied Makoto with the name. Plus, destroying her trust in all of us." Rei decided it was best not to mention that both her and Minako had actually been doing just that. "Plus, she's a total emotional basket case at the moment, and Kami knows wha- OW! Will you quit that!?" Haruka had made the honest, yet hurtful comment and received a warning knock from her lover reminding her to mind her manners again. Ignoring the two of them, Setsuna said, "The point is, Hotaru, whatever we do, it has to be done delicately. If we move too fast and crowd Ami while she is hurting, it could make things even harder." Usagi looked like she was about to strain something from thinking so hard. Suddenly, she piped up, "Hey! I've got an idea! How about a romantic dinner, dancing . . . a walk . . . roses . . . You know? The basics! We can all chip in and turn it into a truly romantic night for the two of them." "Oh yeah," said Rei sarcastically. "That's a great idea. But how do we get them together for said date?" Usagi's sheepish reply was, "Well . . . I hadn't thought that far ahead yet . . . " Rei groaned in a fit of irritation, then said, "Well . . . at least it's a good idea for what to do for the date once we get to that part. Any ideas on how to set them up, Setsuna?" Setsuna, who was deep in thought, almost hadn't noticed she was being addressed. Looking up, surprised, she said, "Don't look at me. I haven't been romantically involved with someone since . . . October 27th 1482." That drew a lot of looks from her group of friends. Mamoru covered his eyes with one hand in embarrassment as Usagi asked, "How can you go for five hundred twenty odd years without . . . it? That would drive me crazy!" Setsuna blushed furiously, both in shock for being asked such a private question, and because, coming from Usagi, the question sounded somehow worse than it was since she usually came across as being so innocent. Michiru covered Hotaru's ears. "That's a rather personal question, don't you think, Usagi?" Michiru said in Setsuna's defense. Haruka said, laughing, "Oh no, I'd love to hear the answer to that one!" Michiru looked at Haruka angrily. "You really want to sleep on the couch tonight, don't you?" Haruka's response was to mimic zipping her lips and throwing away a key. Mamoru shrugged. "I could give you a few pointers if you were looking to hook one of you up with a guy, but I haven't got the slightest clue how to keep one woman happy, let alone two." Usagi gushed, "You're so modest, Mamo-chan." Makoto finally decided to remind the rest of them she was a part of this conversation too. Gradually raising her voice with every syllable from a whisper to practically screaming, she said, "Would you guys mind focusing on the problem at hand?!" Luna, who had tagged along to the concert in Usagi's purse, decided to speak her mind. Raising a paw in an effort to get their attention, the small black cat said from atop the TV, looking like a queen speaking from a lofty throne, "I've got an idea." Rei looked at Luna for a moment. "An alien cat is going to give us all knowledge on setting up two lesbian human women. This I gotta hear. Tell us, Luna, does it involve catnip and a scratching post? If so, I can't wait to see the video." "You know, given the choice between listening to all of you go on and on, or hearing what the cat is going to let out of the bag, I choose the cat!" Makoto said, finding it difficult to hide her frustration. "From what I can tell, Luna and I have one thing in common. We're the only two here who don't find this amusing!" While everyone else suddenly found something else other than making eye contact with Makoto a good thing to do, Luna said politely, "Why don't you just have 'Cherry pie lover' stick with the plan? The only difference is that now you will have a bigger budget to work with than you were probably planning, and you have more information than you did before. You know who your date is now, at least." Makoto opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't quite figure out what to say, so she closed her mouth again and just stared at the cat. Hotaru decided to speak for her. "That's just crazy enough to work!" "I vote for waiting for Ami to come to her senses, honestly." said Rei. "I mean, can you see the look on Ami's face when she is expecting to meet this dashing mysterious woman, and in walks the woman who's been slowly breaking her heart into little tiny pieces for a little over half her life?" "That's not very fair, Rei. I was a kid! I was scared! What was I supposed to do?" was Makoto's angry and slightly hurt reply. Rei looked at Makoto, a little irritated, as she said coldly, "I don't know . . . you could have told her . . . maybe?" Haruka sat up and spoke, even though she knew it would earn her at least the current night's sleep on the couch. "No no Makoto, I think Rei is onto something. Just picture it for a sec. There's Ami, sitting there all shyly, prettied up, and looking to finally get over 15 years of suffering and repressed desire from not receiving the affection from someone who she loved by falling for someone else. Then, Makoto sits down next to her and says, 'Hey baby, miss me?'" Then, miming the action Haruka thought Ami would take, she said, "Then, POW! Mako-chan gets slapped upside the face with the world renowned slap-heard-round-the-world." Sitting back, smiling sarcastically, she said, "Yeah, that'll go great. I know you guys hate hearing this, but Ami is a bit of an emotional basket case at the moment." Michiru was just about to pound Haruka again when she realized something. "I think Haruka and Rei have a point. Makoto would be taking an awful risk to approach this right now . . . " Setsuna said quietly, "Love is always a risk. I think that -- " Makoto suddenly interrupted Setsuna, saying, "Did anyone else hear that?" Luna perked her ears up for a moment as everyone strained to listen for a sound, then said, "No. Hear what?" Just as Luna finished, a soft quiet chime was heard coming from the direction of Makoto's bed room. As soon as the chime finished, Makoto turned on her heels and ran toward the computer. Everyone else looked at the empty spot where the woman had been a moment before. Hotaru said, "I think we should leave them alone and let them figure it out for themselves. Wouldn't that be the most responsible thing to do?" Setsuna said quietly, "I think I'm going to go peek in and make sure Makoto doesn't put her foot in her mouth again." As Setsuna turned to walk down the hall, everyone remaining in the room followed like a small army behind her. PBJ1978: Please tell me you're there. PBJ1978: I really could use someone to talk to. You may still be out I suppose. As everyone piled into the room behind Makoto, she said to herself quietly, "What do I say to her?" Everyone started chattering excitedly, voicing their opinions so rapidly and at the same time that Makoto couldn't follow who was speaking. They were everything from, 'tell her I love you', 'tell her the truth', 'tell her you want her', 'disconnect and don't talk to her,' and more. Makoto decided to just play it safe and say something . . . basic. Cherrypielover: Hi! I'm here. How are you? Once Makoto hit send, everyone got so quiet that the only sound heard in the room was the quiet whirring sound from the fan inside Makoto's computer. There was a long dramatic pause as Ami, on the other end, typed her reply. PBJ1978: Terrible. Remember the girl I was telling you about? The only one who would ever give you a run for your money? The straight, unobtainable one? She came up to me after I was through talking to you at the concert and expressed her undying love for me. It only took her fifteen years to do it. Didn't she care how that would make me feel? Didn't she realize that after all this time it was better for her not to hurt me like this and just let me be? I wanted you to know that I chose you over her. In the interest of fairness, you were brave enough to ask me first and I get the feeling you would never hurt me like that. Makoto frowned as everyone leaning over her cringed. Rei said quietly, "Ouch." The only light in Ami's small room was coming from her computer monitor. Beside her in a chair from the kitchen table sat Minako. Minako looked at Ami after she hit send. Unlike Ami, Minako now knew who pielover was. "Ouch . . . Ami, I know you're upset, but don't you think you're being just a little melodramatic about Makoto? I mean, at least she finally -- " Ami held up a finger at Minako and said quietly, "You stay out of this. You're lucky I'm even letting you stay in here while I talk to her. And I would appreciate it if you not finish that sentence." Cherrypielover: That was awfully sweet of you to do . . . but if she has felt that way about you for so long, maybe you should consider giving her a chance instead . . . Haruka began saying, "No no no no! Don't send that!" just a second too late for Makoto to hit the delete button. Dead silence reined supreme in Kino's bedroom once again as everyone held their breath waiting for the next response. PBJ1978: I'd rather be with you now. She had her chance and she blew it. Now you deserve one. You deserve to have me all to yourself without worrying about such things. It's only fair, and it's the right thing to do. Besides . . . I want you. Haruka made a quiet cat whistling sound, getting smacked on the back of the head by both Michiru and Setsuna. Ignoring them both, she said as she grabbed the back of Makoto's chair shaking it a bit, "She wants you, Makoto!" PBJ1978: We should start planning our date for Saturday. Makoto thought to herself how very much like Ami it was for her to get to the point. How on earth hadn't she realized who PBJ was sooner? "OK . . . obviously she's made up her mind what she wants to do . . . so, now or never time, guys . . . Should we give Saturday a try?" After receiving a chorus of yeses, Makoto typed: Cherrypielover: Sure thing. So, what did you have in mind? PBJ1978: I hate to say this, but my roommate is insisting on reading over my shoulder . . . it makes it a little strange to discuss. But she suggests C'zon Ebisu. It's a little expensive. OK, it's extremely expensive, but it's romantic. Dancing, live music, great food . . . I think she may be on to something, even if she is disrespecting my privacy, personal space, and all-around being irritating. Makoto laughed quietly to herself, both because she knew the last part was more directed to Minako than her, and because she knew the feeling at the moment. Looking over her shoulder, she said nervously, "You guys are footing the bill still, right?" Mamoru grumbled under his breath, "I'm going to kill Minako the next time I see her. Yeah, Makoto, we'll buy." Cherrypielover: Sounds good to me! I know we planned on 8:30 PM, but how about we push it back to around 7 to give us more time? Rei said quietly, "Yeah . . . maybe allow you to . . . you know . . . argue a while before you actually get around to enjoying your date . . . if she stays that long . . . " Michiru whispered something into Makoto's ear, then Makoto typed out, Cherrypielover: Hey, you were at the concert tonight, so I know you know who Michiru and Haruka are. They happen to be good friends of mine. How about we double date? Haruka said quietly, pointing at Michiru, "That is so coming out of your share of the spending money." "But honey, it's to make sure everything goes OK. Surely you understand someone should go to make sure everything turns out alright." PBJ1978: Yeah . . . more time to get to know each other would be good. You know them too? Wow, that's a coincidence. I've known those two for years. They got me discount tickets to the concert. I couldn't have afforded the good seats I had otherwise. Yeah, sure it's OK if they come along . . . I guess they'll find out about us eventually anyway, now that my roommate knows. Minako said excitedly and loudly into Ami's ear, "Woo hoo! Hey, how about we all just go? That'd be a blast! We could--" Normally she would have ignored the comment, but instead, Ami said quietly, not mincing any words with her roommate, "Be quiet, Minako." Cherrypielover: How about I have them come by and pick you up and then I can take you home? Ami suddenly swiveled in her chair to look at Minako, her glasses giving the small bluenette an overly serious look. "Minako-chan? I know you're happy for me and all . . . but how about you leave and let me say goodnight to my girlfriend, OK?" "OK, but might I suggest -- " "Get out, Minako." Ami waited until Minako had walked out of the room before typing the rest of what she was thinking. PBJ1978: Sounds good. However, maybe you could stay with me instead of going home? Every jaw in Makoto's room dropped, except for Hotaru's. She didn't quite catch the meaning of Ami's comment. Rei gulped down a breath of air loudly, and said, "Wow . . . she wants to move kinda . . . fast, doesn't she?" Cherrypielover/blushes Sure thing. Feeling that they had at least for the moment solved the problem, Setsuna calmly left the room since the rest of the conversation really didn't pertain to them after that point. PBJ1978: You know what the first thing I want to do when we get there is? "OKAY! Hotaru, time to go!" Haruka said loudly, pushing her adopted daughter out of the room as she protested. Michiru leaned over Makoto's shoulder as Ami sent more messages. Messages that caused Makoto to blush so much, even her ears turned a dark red. Usagi was so shocked by some of the things she had read before Mamoru pulled her away that her eyes were still wide open even after she was guided out to the living room in a daze. Michiru said quietly, "I think I'll stick around just a little more. I don't know from what she is saying whether or not she has actually been with someone, but she sounds like she is trying to release a lot of held-up desire." As another message appeared, she added, "She could be using her extensive knowledge of human anatomy, after all . . . and who knew Ami-chan could be so . . . wow . . . imaginative?" Makoto and 'PBJ' had had a few conversations along these lines before, mostly when one of them was feeling a little . . . needing at the moment, since it was the closest they could come to being intimate. Makoto said out the side of her mouth, quietly, as her eyes opened wide when she read the next message to cross the screen, "You really would be surprised, Michiru." Haruka said from out in the living room, while Hotaru, who hadn't quite caught on to why she had been suddenly removed from what she felt was legitimate Senshi affairs was busy protesting, "Mich! We're leaving!" Michiru grumbled to herself, "Fine, fine! All right! Be right there!" and left Makoto, who finally looked up from the screen to stare at Rei, who hadn't moved an inch yet. "Rei? You mind?!" Makoto said, her face still beet red in embarrassment. Rei, still in shock as yet another message chimed onto the screen, blinked her violet eyes twice then said, "Oh yeah! Um, OK . . . " As she walked off, Makoto heard the Senshi of fire say to herself, "Wonder if Ami is really that flexible?" Then, back to Makoto she said, "Hey, why don't you let us know how that goes, kay?" As Makoto sat in front of her desk with her hands covering her face as Ami typed out another . . . descriptive text, she said quietly to the now-retreating Rei, "Just shut up and close the door on your way out, won't you?" Yes. The girl could be very shocking when she wanted to be.
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