Makoto made her way up the stairs, a grim expression on her face. She knew she had to see Rei as soon as possible. She quickly walked under the gateway and made her way over to the shrine buildings. "Rei?" Makoto softly called, knocking as gently as she could. A few minutes later, Rei slid the outer door open. She looked tired, in her T- shirt and shorts, as if she hadn't slept much the previous evening. "Makoto?" Rei asked surprised. She blinked up at Makoto owlishly, her black hair sticking up in all directions. "What are you doing here?" "I wanted to talk to you." Makoto said seriously. "Can I come in?" "Uh..." Rei blinked a few times, trying to wake up. "Sure, come on in." Makoto followed Rei in and sat down. After Makoto watched the sleepy girl stumble around for a bit, she got back up and made her tea to revive her. "Rei, I know you're seeing Ami." she said simply. Rei gaped at her in surprise. "I... how did you know?" Rei asked. 'Makoto hadn't gone with them to the bar,' Rei thought confused. "Minako told me," Makoto said simply. She stopped for a moment, and looked down into her own teacup, suddenly shy. "Ami's been my friend a long time. I consider her family, Rei. And if you hurt her, you'll answer to me. Got it?" Rei looked at Makoto, and smiled suddenly. "Thank you, Makoto. I'll do my best to be good to her," she said, resting her hand on the taller girl's. Makoto smiled back at her, got up, and left without saying another word. Rei watched her walk away silently, then softly said "All clear." A sleepy eyed Ami padded out of the bedroom, Rei's robe loosely wrapped around her. Rei seemed to light up as soon as she saw her and took Ami into her arms. "Sorry, Rei,..." Ami started to say only to be shushed by a kiss. "I'm glad they all care," Rei said with a smile. "Now, where were we?" Rei asked in a teasing tone, and kissed Ami again. ------------------------------------------------------------ Makoto smiled ruefully as she walked down the steps from the shrine gate. She was glad that Ami had finally gotten who she wanted, but still, she wished she and Ami had been able to work out. Not that it hadn't been fun trying, in retrospect. Makoto laughed quietly, remembering their dates: the candlelit dinner, finger foods, and finally making their way to the bedroom. Makoto had leaned over to kiss Ami when... both their communicators went off. And away they went on another adventure. They tried to go to a movie together a few days later, only to have the theater itself get attacked by youma. Then, they went to have a day out together only to have Minako show up and tag along. After that, Ami's mom got the flu and she and Ami were both quarantined for a week. Finally, they made it into bed, their clothes off and ready. Ami was kissing Makoto, and getting ready to move down her body when... both the communicators went off. Again. Makoto got to hear Ami swear for the very first time that day. She did it very fluently, and Makoto was surprised Ami knew some of those words. They answered the calls, then sat down together on the edge of the bed to get dressed. "This just isn't going to work, is it?" Ami sighed, as she pulled on her pants. Makoto nodded mournfully in agreement, as she wiggled into her dress. "Looks like it. The gods, fate or Murphy's law seem to be out to get us." Ami laughs quietly. "Well, you can't say we didn't try. Friends?" she asked, smiling up at Makoto. "Friends," Makoto answered, smiling back. ------------------------------------------------------------ Minako looked around the bar eagerly. 'Too bad it's Bones' night off,' Minako thought. She smiled at the more handsome girls as she watched them pass. 'A few were pretty tempting too,' she thought. Minako smiled as she saw the tall girl walk in, making her way through the crowd. She waved a bit, and Makoto made her way over. "How'd it go?" she asked quietly. Makoto smiled a bit mysteriously. Minako sighed. "You're not going to tell me, are you?" "So is your new heart throb here tonight?" Makoto asked teasingly. Minako actually blushed a bit, answering "No, darn it." Makoto laughed softly. From the corner of her eye, Minako thought she saw someone she knew. She turned to get a better look, and her eyes grew as round as saucers. 'Of all the bars in the world, did she have to be in this one?' Minako thought dazedly. Sakurada Natsuna was standing at the bar talking with a very familiar young woman. With a bit of shock, Minako recognized Ms. Haruna, Usagi's old teacher and Natsuna's sister. Makoto touched Minako lightly on the shoulder. "Are you all right?" Makoto asked Minako quietly. Minako pointed them out. "Remember her?" she said softly. "Natsuna's a police officer, and she chased me back when I was Sailor V." "Wasn't she interested in you?" Makoto asked quietly. Minako just nodded softly. "Do you want me to keep you out of sight?" "No, I can't hide in a corner forever." Minako said smiling. "See you later, Makoto" she finished, as she got up and began to walk over to the bar. Minako made her way nearer, in time to hear Natsuna say "I'm sorry about your breakup, but getting drunk won't help. Let me take you home." Haruna shook off her younger sister's grasp and stalked off into the crowd. Minako stood there a moment until Natsuna turned and saw her. The woman's jaw dropped, then her face lit up with a smile. "Hello, Natsuna," Minako said shyly. "Minako," Natsuna said happily. She moved to hug the younger woman, but stopped herself. "How have you been?" she asked with a smile. "I'm great," Minako answered. She looked at the brown hared, handsome woman and found her smile widening, a slight giggle escaping her lips. "What's so funny?" Natsuna asked. "Sorry," Minako said. "I was just thinking what a fool I was, back in my Sailor V days," she said quietly. "I wish I had let you catch me then," she admitted. "Is it too late to catch you now?" Natsuna asked with a smile. Minako looked at her with surprise. "Do you still want to?" Minako asked shyly. Natsuna smiled. "Yes, please. Unless someone has already caught you?" she asked. 'Sorry, Bones.' Minako thought. "I'm free as a bird." she answered smiling. ------------------------------------------------------------ Makoto danced with a pretty young lady, smoothly moving her across the dance floor. She sweatdropped a bit, noting the crowd of women waiting a turn with her. 'How did I get myself into this?' Makoto wondered. Just then, Haruka cut in and took the young lady, while Michiru gracefully settled into Makoto's arms. "I never knew you could dance this well, Makoto" Michiru commented with a smile. "Sorry about the mob, but once the femmes discover a new butch who can dance, well..." she trailed off and shrugged, smiling. Makoto blushed a bit. "I don't know if I'd call myself butch." Michiru didn't comment, just smiled mysteriously. Makoto sweatdropped again, wondering what that meant. "May I cut in?" a shy voice asked. Makoto stopped, and turned, only to look into Haruna's pleading gaze. She shrugged at Michiru and took the other woman's hand. "Thank you," Haruna said in a relieved whisper. They danced together a while, until Haruna relaxed a bit. Makoto looked at her questioningly, and the slightly drunk Haruna giggled a bit. She pointed with her little finger to a overweight, T-shirt and jeans clad woman who was putting the moves on another girl. "She was trying to pick me up, until I told her I had a date. Then she asked me who, and I looked around and saw you. Sorry," she said again. Makoto laughed softly, "No problem Rescuing damsels in distress is a specialty of mine." Haruna laughed, smiling up at Makoto. They sat together at a table and talked for much of the evening. Haruna was so obviously out of place that it touched something in Makoto. She wanted to protect her, somehow. 'I'm glad she didn't recognize me,' Makoto thought with a smile. Makoto drank sparingly, but Haruna eventually got blotto, which created a new problem: how to get her to her home. Makoto didn't trust leaving Haruna to a cabby's tender mercies, and Haruka and Michiru had already left. Which left one option: Makoto would have to take her home with her. One mercifully short cab ride later, they got to Makoto's building. Up the elevator to the apartment, and Makoto carried Haruna to her bedroom. She flopped the woman on the bed, pulled her shoes off, and covered her with a sheet. Grabbing one herself, Makoto camped out on the couch.
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