Makoto held one of Ami's hands in hers, thumb caressing the shorter woman's smooth skin. Ami was blushing slightly, eyes flicking to their linked hands every so often. She covered Makoto's hand with hers as their conversation lulled, and deep sapphire eyes met sparkling emerald. "Mako, why . . . why would you choose me?" In that simple question were all of the others that Ami could not yet ask, but Makoto understood. She had always been able to hear what Mercury did not say. "I was wondering the same thing, Ami. I'm not the most feminine of women, and I'm so tall—" "That no one wanted to dance with you," Ami laughed kindly. "I didn't ever care what anyone else thought, Mako-chan. I liked you for who you were and I danced with my best friend because she was lonely. You may not be all that feminine in the way you act, but you are a very gorgeous woman and I know anyone would be honored to have your respect, your friendship, your love. You may be tall, but so is Haruka-san, and she's never had a problem in the love and friendship department. If you'll remember, she and Michiru-san are getting married." Makoto smiled as she pulled Ami's hand up and kissed the sensitive inside of her wrist. "I think that's what I love the most about you, Ami. You never judge anyone. You even like Shingo-kun, and that's a miracle!" Ami giggled again. "Mako, do you think we were . . . lovers back in the Silver Millennium, even if we were princesses of our planets and senshi in the service of the Moon Princess?" "Setsuna-san says so." Both women looked up almost guiltily at Rei, and Makoto held Ami's hand, preventing her from pulling it away. They had no reason to hide, especially from their friends. "Rei-chan!" "Hello, Mako-chan, Ami-chan. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Actually, as happy as you two looked when I walked by a minute ago, I really hope I am." Makoto grinned, gesturing for Rei to sit as she scooted closer to Ami in the booth the senshi always used. "You know that you are, but we don't mind. We were going to tell you guys sooner or later, and I imagine you are the first person to find out. Setsuna-san told you that we were lovers? She never tells anyone anything." Rei grinned. "You're right. She didn't exactly tell me about you guys; I kind of forced it out of her. I think she's the one that's been keeping us from remembering our past lives. When I asked her about it, asked if she would do this to Queen Serenity's daughter, she kind of exploded. I think she and Queen Serenity had a relationship in the Silver Millennium, and she seems to have some kind of link to Usagi-chan that I can't figure out. She did say that we all had lovers but she wouldn't tell me who." Ami smiled at Makoto, eyes sparkling. "I know who mine was." "I wish I knew," Rei whispered. "Maybe I don't want to. You two fell in love without knowing your past, but what if I discover whom I loved and only fall in love with them again because of our past? Would that be true love or more like duty?" She sighed. "I think I understand why Setsuna-san is blocking our memories. Maybe we even asked her to, in the Silver Millennium, because our loves didn't work out. After all, if it first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence proving that you tried so that you won't make the same mistakes again." Makoto took the miko's hand with her free one and smiled. "I think if we loved someone back then and we fall in love with them again now then it's not because of duty but because we are bound by the red string of fate and will always meet and fall in love. I can't imagine not wanting to remember Ami or the wonders of the Silver Millennium. All I remember about your lover is that your brother most definitely did not approve." A moment of silence reigned before the three women realized what Makoto said. Mercury and Mars turned to Jupiter, all three with wide eyes. "What did you say? Mako-chan, I'm an only child, like you two, Mamoru-san, Michiru-san, Haruka-san, Hotaru-chan, and Minako-chan. I don't have a brother." "You did," Ami whispered, eyes clouding as she desperately tried to get past the block in her mind. Images hung just at the edge of comprehension, teasing her. "We all had siblings." "I had three brothers—two younger, one older," Makoto continued. "What about you, Ami?" "I can't . . . remember. It's right there, but I can't quite reach it. I think, twins, younger, a boy and a girl. Rei-chan? "I don't remember anything, not even this brother you speak of. We have to get Setsuna-san to release our memories! I want to know about my life back then. And my lover. I want to know who I loved . . ." She whispered the last part, but there was no hiding from her friends. Makoto laid her hand on Rei's shoulder, sympathy in her eyes and an urge to end the miko's pain. The three women looked up at a familiar giggle as Usagi, Mamoru, and Minako entered the diner together. Minako's eyes met Rei's, and the blonde looked away. She turned to leave, but Usagi pulled her to the table, eager to have all of her friends together again. That was so rare after they graduated High School, even rarer since Galaxia left. Makoto and Ami moved further over in the booth, Rei beside Makoto, and Minako was pushed in before Usagi and Mamoru slid in. Minako sat with her hands in her lap, and Rei cleared her throat. "I only meant to stop for a moment," she murmured, her friends straining to hear her. "I really should get back to the shrine." "You can't go, Rei-chan! We're going over the Haruka-tachi's house so we can be fitted for our bridesmaids' dresses. They asked us to find you and bring you along." "Usagi, I need to get back." Usagi pouted, her blue eyes filling with tears, secretly wondering if Rei would let herself fall for the old trick or if she would explode as she had so long ago. They hadn't fought in a very long time, so chances were she would give in. Rei sighed, and the princess knew that she had won. She looked at Ami and Makoto, and her eyes locked on their linked hands. "Mako-chan? Ami-chan?" The senshi of water blushed, her thunder god partner laughed. "We would have told you sooner or later, Usagi-chan. Ami and I finally realized why we always wanted to spend so much time together. We've fallen in love." Ami blushed at her girlfriend's blunt choice of words, but she really couldn't have said it better herself. Usagi's eyes widened to an almost magical size, and she squealed as she leaned over and took her friends' hands. "I'm so happy for you," she whispered, almost glowing in the light. She never noticed Rei clench her fists under the table, nor did she see Minako look away, tears in her light blue eyes. Not all of her senshi were happy.
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