Hi everyone!

I know you thought I would never update this again…but I've actually been working on this (short) chapter for the last few months. You know…five minutes here, five minutes there…

It's not much, but it IS an update! I haven't seen PGSM since it ended months ago. I might have to watch it again to remind myself what was going on during the time this story is set! I'm such a bad author! So I'm sorry if something doesn't seem to fit.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it regardless!

Reviews are good good good…

I don't own PGSM or any of the characters, so please don't sue this poor college student! I'm just borrowing them for awhile!

Without further ado…I give you…Chapter 4!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4

What exactly did he have in mind? The plan had formed in Zoicite's mind without him even realizing it, and now that he thought about it, he was sure it would work.

But how to convince Venus? Zoicite had never been much of a persuader. Kunzite had always been much more skilled in that department. But still, he had to try. Much to his surprise, something in her voice told him she would agree to almost anything. She seemed to understand the importance of their mission more than anyone else…

"You're not going to like it, and what's more, I don't know if you're capable of handling it," he said slowly. Her eyes narrowed slightly at this, and she lifted her chin up defiantly.

"Well why don't you tell me what it is so I can decide for myself? I'm more capable than you think, Zoicite," she said, sitting back down on the bed in a huff. What was he playing at? How dare he presume to know what she could and could not do! Sure, she was deathly ill. But that had never previously stood in her way. Never before had Minako felt the weight of her responsibility as senshi leader more strongly than now. The other girls had no idea how much danger the world was in…only Minako could save the planet.

And if she had to pair up with Zoicite to do it, by God she would.

Zoicite actually smiled at the senshi's response. Maybe, just maybe, she would agree…

With a swish of his silver cape Zoicite sat on the far end of the bed, away from Venus.

"Alright then, Venus. Would you ever consider turning spy?"

Minako stared at Zoicite.

"I beg your pardon?"

Zoicite cleared his throat. "You heard me, senshi. I asked you if you would ever consider turning spy. Not seriously, of course. Just enough to convince Beryl you were really sincere…"

"You are out of your mind, Zoicite. Completely off the deep end! What in the world would that achieve, besides landing me in loads of danger?" Minako interrupted harshly. So much for a plan to save the world.

"You're not hearing me. I can't very well release Endymion; I'm watched far too closely by Beryl. You, however, could sneak in under the guise of turning evil, and somehow set him free."

"Like Mercury, you mean." Minako spat, reddening with anger. She would never forget seeing Mercury adorned in black lace and dark eye-shadow, a gleam of death in her eyes.

Zoicite chuckled.

"No, not like Mercury. Your friend didn't have much of a choice now, did she? I'm giving you a choice," he explained. "Besides, unlike your friend Mercury, you would still have your wits about you. But come to think of it…you don't have much of a choice, do you?" he amended with a smile.

Minako scowled. "No, it seems I don't. Is this the only plan you have?"

Zoicite seemed to consider this for a minute. "Unless you can think of a better idea, Venus. I'm afraid we don't have much time to think – only to act."

Minako stood up carefully and crossed over to her oak dresser on the far side of the room. She looked in the mirror above the dresser and regarded Zoicite's reflection. He sat comfortably on her bed, so still he could have been a statue. Her own reflection confirmed that she was indeed ill. Her face was pale and her eyes bloodshot. She hadn't been sleeping lately.

Insane…that's what she thought about his plan. It was absolute madness. Could she really trust Zoicite not to kill her as soon as she stepped into Beryl's domain? And if she could, did she even have a chance when it came to convincing Beryl that she was evil?

But Zoicite was right. There was no time to think. There was only time to act.

With a sigh, she turned around and met Zoicite's icy gaze with her own. Zoicite's heart skipped a beat when her eyes met his, but his face remained the same. Stone.

"Alright, Zoicite. What do I have to do?" she asked softly.

Zoicite grinned and stood up in a single elegant motion, closing the space between them.

"Well my dear, for one, you have to be honest with me about your condition," he said softly. Minako felt dizzy. She couldn't decide if it was because she was sick, or because Zoicite was standing so close.

"I don't have to tell you a damn thing, Zoicite. We have the same goal: save the earth. That's as far as this relationship goes," she hissed, bristling with anger.

Zoicite shrugged. "Perhaps, but I won't be able to help you should you have another spell undercover," he pointed out. Minako stepped back, only to run into her dresser. She couldn't stand his nearness…it made her nervous. And excited, which in turn made her even more nervous.

"My condition, as you so elegantly put it, will not affect my duties as a senshi. Besides, it's as I told you. I've been stressed lately…between my life as a senshi and my personal life as an idol, I have plenty to worry about. That's all," Minako explained, willing him to believe her. "Besides, if something did happen to me during this little mission, I could hardly expect you to help me."

Zoicite regarded the beautiful senshi with surprise. She was right, really. They were enemies. Why would he help her? Hadn't he originally come here to hurt her?

But I don't want to hurt her…I want to protect her…

Zoicite didn't want to know where that thought came from. With a shake of his long silver hair he decided to concentrate on the matter at hand. He would deal with these unwelcome thoughts later.

"You know, I'll be putting my life on the line as well. If you slip up and reveal your true intentions..." Zoicite trailed off.

Minako snorted and pushed past him to the bed, where Artemis sat watching them silently. She absently stroked his white fur in thought.

"Queen Beryl has an uncanny ability to find out everything. She would know we were in cahoots. So you see, Venus, one slip up and it's my neck too," he finished, watching her sit on the bed next to her cat.

"Okay, you have a point I guess," Minako conceded. "But there's nothing to tell…I'll be fine." Minako stood up suddenly and faced Zoicite squarely. "We haven't the time to argue, Zoicite. Are we going to do this or not?"

Zoicite stared silently at the obstinate senshi in front of him, and then slowly nodded. Artemis leaped down off the bed with a grunt and cleared his throat noisily.

"Ahem, Minako! Don't you think we should talk about this first…?" the cat scolded. Minako grunted disdainfully.

"I don't really have a choice in the matter, Artemis. Anything for the mission…remember?" she said. Artemis's hair stood on end in anger.

"And what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Wait around and wonder if you're dead?" he argued. Minako crouched down and pet the stuffed cat lovingly on the head.

"Artemis," she said softly, "you know I'll use my communicator to keep in touch with you. Besides, I can't very well take you with me."

Artemis snorted angrily but didn't answer. Minako stood up and turned back to Zoicite, who was leaning lazily against her dresser with his arms crossed.

"Ready, Venus?" he asked.

Minako took a deep breath, and nodded.

"Yeah. Let's do this."