My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts. My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the gardens of En Gedi. How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant. Song of Solomon, 1:13-16 ------ A dental implant is a tiny titanium post inserted surgically into the jaw of someone who has lost a tooth. The implant acts as a substitute root for the artificial tooth that is then put into the mouth to replace the original. The procedure costs quite a bit of money, and unfortunately falls under the category of "reconstructive" or "plastic" surgery procedures on most dental and health insurance plans, meaning it isn't covered. And of course there's a waiting list for the procedure, even for someone who had one tooth knocked out by a foot to the face and another by the contents of a jewelry store being thrown at her. Luckily, Saito Kihomi was now friends with a world famous racecar driver and a sought after concert violinist, both of whom insisted on paying for the procedure for her. Also, she was lucky in that she found an orthodontist who was a classical music lover. One autographed Kaioh Michiru violin CD later, she was in for the procedure. For the first six months, she'd be wearing small dentures of the teeth that had been knocked out while the post bonded with her upper jawbone. After that, the permanent replacement teeth would go in. She was rolling the tip of her tongue against the two tiny false teeth, noting how they felt almost like the original, as she got on the elevator. It had been a long day back to school for Kihomi. Between the fight she'd had to break up during study hall, the staff meeting after school and wearing those damned uncomfortable heels all day she was exhausted. Then, of course, there was the incident... ------ She'd seen the Sailor V lunchboxes and pictures growing up, of course. She could remember when the other Senshi began to appear, the newspapers and TV covering their exploits even as her classmates would argue over who was the most powerful or who was the cutest. Today, after her third class, she caught a group of girls gathered in a circle around something, talking. Walking over, she asked to see what was so interesting. There, on the cover of a magazine, was a grainy picture of her that had been taken by a spectator during her fight with Babylon a week and a half ago. She was lurching out of the restaurant, surrounded by plaster dust and broken glass, holding her shield as she looked across the street at the jewelry store. The headline read "New Senshi?" "Wow." Kihomi said, "A new Senshi, huh?" One of the girls spoke up, "Well, they don't know yet actually, Saito-sensei. Apparently the people there at the scene said they saw her fighting a naked girl, but the witnesses couldn't agree on what was happening." Another chimed in, "Some said it was just a naked woman, while others said she was a youma dripping with blood and had a snake's tongue. Then some said she attacked the Senshi, crashing her through a restaurant, while others said the Senshi attacked first, sending her through a jewelry store window." "Couldn't be much of a Sailor Senshi." a third girl spoke up, "I mean, she ended up running away from the thing, didn't she? And look at that picture; she looks all beat up. You never see Sailor Venus or Sailor Jupiter get beat up like that." "Yeah, really." The first one chimed in, "What a wuss." Kihomi's right eye began to twitch as she left the group and went back to her classroom for her next class. ------ Her elevator door opened, and she wearily stepped out. She just wanted to get inside her apartment, take a hot bath, and relax. Then, after a nice long soak, maybe get together with Setsuna, and have a romantic evening. She held onto her briefcase with one hand while turning the key in her lock with the other. Opening the door, she was in for a surprise. The apartment was romantically lit up with aromatic candles. They were everywhere; on the tables, the counters, and the floor. There was a path of rose petals leading to the bedroom. Kihomi began to reach in her jacket for her henshin wand, when she remembered that she'd given Setsuna a key to her apartment. "Sets-chan?" the teacher called out as she took her shoes off. As if in response, romantic music started playing from the stereo in her bedroom. She smiled as she followed the trail of candles to her room, listening to the music and inhaling the sweet smelling aromas around her. There, sitting on a bed covered in rose petals wearing very revealing black lingerie, sat Setsuna. Her body was bathed in the candlelight as she looked up at Kihomi and began to curl some of her long silken hair around her index finger. "Hello." The Time Senshi purred, "Long day at the office?" As Setsuna saw Kihomi unconsciously lick her lips and noted the look in her grey eyes, she made a mental note to thank Michiru for the suggestion of the candles and rose petals, and Haruka for the use of the Barry White CD. "S... Sets-chan?" Kihomi asked as she began to walk over, "What's the occasion?" The woman on her bed smiled invitingly, "Kiho, it's been two weeks today since we first met at the mall, remember?" The teacher smiled back at that. If Setsuna wanted to celebrate a two-week anniversary, she wasn't about to argue. She allowed her eyes to wander over her body, noting the way the garters rested on her bare thighs, how beautiful and smooth her midriff was, and how her violet eyes shone in the candlelight. She came over to the bed and stroked her cheek, inhaling her scent, the scent of the petals, and the candles. Setsuna closed her eyes as she leaned her head in to Kihomi's hand. She felt her beloved sit down on the bed next to her as she was pulled into a long, sensual kiss. Neither was in any hurry, and both were relishing the intimacy of the moment. They both fell back gently onto the bed, and Kihomi could feel her lover working on the buttons of her blouse. Removing her lips momentarily to help her, the teacher could feel her love's breath against her cheek as she finished unbuttoning the top two buttons. Finally getting the article of clothing off, she once again brought her lips to Setsuna's. As the Time Senshi's hand began to travel down her back, Kihomi broke the kiss and brought her lips to her ear. "Sets-chan." she whispered, "I love you." Setsuna hugged her tighter, "I know." she said, rubbing her cheek up against Kihomi's, "I know. I love you too." Some time later, both women fell asleep in each other's arms. ---The Next Evening--- Kihomi scooted over when her love came to sit down next to her on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in the Time Senshi's hands. Raising her left arm up, she let Setsuna snuggle up next to her on the couch, resting her arm back down on her shoulders. "So, what did I miss?" the Time Senshi asked as she lay her head on Kihomi's shoulder. "Don't worry; we're still in episode two. The two you haven't seen yet will be coming up next." "What did you say this show was called?" Michiru asked. She was sitting in the love seat with Haruka to the left of Setsuna and Kihomi, while Hotaru was in the single seat to the right. "It's called ‘Dr. Who.'" Setsuna answered as Kihomi fed her a popped kernel, "Kiho-chan showed it to me." "I like it." Hotaru said, adding, "Especially the way he pretends he's foolish in order to take his enemies off their guard." "Yeah." Haruka chimed in, "And that Romana's kind of cute too. Ouch!" the blond cried out as Michiru pinched her. "That's it; I'm getting up to get a beer. Hey Mick," she said, addressing Kihomi, "You want one too?" The teacher smirked. Ever since the fight she'd had with the demon Babylon, Haruka had given her the nickname Mick after a hardcore wrestler named Mick Foley. Apparently, the man's greatest claim to fame was that he got smashed through tables on a routine basis and lost some of his teeth once in a steel cage match. "Sure, I'll have one." she answered, adding with a smile, "But if you keep calling me Mick, I'm going to take a steel chair to the back of your skull." "Promises, promises." Haruka said as she left the room. The teacher turned her attention back to Setsuna, feeding her another kernel as she kissed her on her cheek. Her love swallowed the kernel, then kissed her lightly on the lips. They both turned their attention back to the show, when the phone rang. They heard Haruka's voice faintly in the other room answering, then the blond came back in the room. "Who was that?" Setsuna asked, pulling her head off Kihomi's shoulder. "Usagi." Haruka answered as she passed Kihomi a cold beer, "She and the others are coming over." "Oh?" Michiru asked, "Is everything okay?" "Everything's fine." The blond answered with a smile, "It seems that Ami and Makoto have something they want to share, and they want everyone present when they do it." Michiru's face lit up, "Good for them." she whispered. Kihomi, not having been around her new friends long enough to have picked up on the worst kept secret among the Senshi, was unaware of why the other women in the room looked so happy all of a sudden. "What?" she asked, "What am I missing?" Haruka smiled as she set her beer bottle down, "Don't worry, Mick; you'll find out." Kihomi laughed as she shook her fist at the blond, "Doh, if I wasn't holding Sets-chan..." she joked. "That's right," the racecar driver answered with a smirk, "Hide behind your girlfriend." "Children, please." Michiru chided, "Some of us are trying to watch this." Hotaru turned from the screen to look at Kihomi, "So, you ready for this weekend?" The teacher fed Setsuna another kernel. This weekend she would begin training with the Outers in order to learn how to properly use her powers. For the history teacher, whose least favorite subject in school was always physical education, the thought of training with Haruka in her weight room was a bit daunting. Of course, the thought of getting beat up again by a future opponent was enough of an incentive to get her over her fears and into the gym. That, and the fact that the War Senshi was not about to be called a "wuss." "Ready as I'm ever going to be." she conceded. "So, how do you like your new history teacher?" she asked. Since she was now dating one of Hotaru's parents, it was decided that it would be best if she leave Kihomi's class in order to avoid the appearance of favoritism. Granted, the only people who knew right now were the principle and a gay male math teacher she confided into, but knowing the way rumors spread in a school it was deemed best to make the move now. "He's alright, I guess." Hotaru answered. "By the way, I've been thinking..." "Really?" Kihomi asked as she took a sip of her beer, "About what?" "Well, how to address you of course." Hotaru answered, "I mean, I already have two mamas and one papa. And since you and Setsuna-mama seem pretty serious about one another, that means you're probably going to be part of the family for quite awhile." she said thoughtfully. Suddenly, her face lit up, "I've got it; Kihomi oba-san (auntie Kihomi)." The teacher blushed at that; oba-san was a term usually reserved for old ladies. Still, she couldn't very well complain. She was actually quite touched that Setsuna's adopted daughter wanted to now adopt her as her aunt. "Oba-san. I like that." she said. Just then the doorbell rang. Michiru stopped the DVD with the remote as Hotaru opened the door to allow Usagi and the other Inners in. "Kiho-chan." Usagi said as Minako gave Hotaru a sisterly hug, "How are you doing?" "Fine. Still getting used to everything, I suppose." she admitted. "Well don't worry." Makoto put in, "We're all here to help." Kihomi smiled warmly at that. Less than a month ago, she was depressed over her lack of friends and a social life. Now, she had a girlfriend, a new extended family of close friends, and was moonlighting as a Sailor Senshi. As Luna and Artemis entered and Rei finished setting her shoes to the side of the door, Ami nervously addressed everyone. "I... um, well, you know me and Makoto have something we want to tell you all." she began, "And we didn't want to say anything until we knew for sure how we both felt, and..." Makoto walked over and took her hand, "What Ami-chan is trying to say is that we're dating." she said. Everyone put on their best surprised act and pretended to be in shock as they began congratulating the two of them. Setsuna got up to hug them, while Haruka held up her beer bottle. "A toast." she declared, "To the happy couple." "To the happy couple." Everyone else cheered. The Senshi of the Winds then turned to Kihomi, a wicked smile on her face. "Anything you wish to add, Mick oba-san?" "That's it!" the teacher shouted as she sprang from the couch. Haruka was to the front door first, sprinting around the lawn into the backyard with the teacher hot on her heels. The other Senshi all ran outside to watch the two laughing women run around the house. "Great. Now there's two of them." Michiru joked. Behind the group watching the spectacle, Minako leaned over to Rei. "That was pretty brave of Makoto and Ami, wasn't it?" she asked. Rei turned to her and smiled, "You're not thinking of finally telling everyone about us, are you?" The Senshi of love took the priestess' hand in hers, "Maybe, but not today. Let them have their day." she answered. Everyone's fun was interrupted by an explosion coming from Tokyo's shopping district. A second soon followed. Haruka and Kihomi were no longer chasing each other as they stared with the others at the billowing black smoke rising into the sky. "You ready?" Haruka asked as she pulled her henshin wand out. Kihomi nodded as she pulled her wand out as well, "Let's go." she said. Moments later the Sailor Senshi, this time joined by Sailor Minerva, raced off to face a new adventure. ---The End--- End Notes: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this little story. I appreciated all your comments, and I'm glad the story was so well received.
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