A/N: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, or Happy whatever you feel like celebrating. I so should not have been able to sit out on the carport last night and been perfectly comfortable. I should have been freezing my ass off. It's December and I want my cold weather, dammit...

Oh, here's another chapter of this story you've prolly already forgotten about 'cause her royal laziness spends her free time playing PC games.

Chapter 6: Shall I Compare Thee?

"I thought you said that you weren't going to ask me any weird questions today."

"That was before you scared a hundred years off of my life when you jumped out of my wardrobe this morning."

"You have no sense of humor."

"Really, Minako, this is not a 'weird' question. It is very simple and I cannot understand why you are giving me trouble about it."

"Oh fine, 'Lord' Artemis–

"Do not be sarcastic now."

"I'll answer the damn question." Minako reclined on the couch, propping herself up on one arm and giving her mentor an aggravated look. "Why is red my favorite color?"

Artemis nodded, his feathery white hair moving elegantly with the simple motion. His lineless face watched Minako attentively, waiting with infinite patience. He was a small man. Short and slim, with a delicate build. His hands, which rested upon a notebook in his lap, bore only the calluses he acquired from a lifetime of writing.

"It's my favorite because..." Minako looked upward, as if the answer were floating somewhere above her head. "Just because."

"I have had better answers from four year olds."

"Then ask them!"

"I just want to know why. Why do you like it? Even if you do not answer me, at least think about it."

"There's some deep meaning to this, isn't there?"

"If, by deep, you mean that I am trying to teach you something that will better you as a person and a guardian, then yes."

There were a few minutes of silence between them. Minako was in no rush to answer and she knew that Artemis would wait all day if she made him.

"I like it because it's warm."

"That is all?"

"No."

"Care to exaggerate?"

"No. But I know I'm not leaving till I do." Minako didn't want to explain. Sure, the question was simple enough, but she didn't have a logical answer. Why did she like the color red? No matter what answer she tried to come up with, the same reason kept popping up in her head. It was a very silly thing too. She had no idea why such a thing would sway her into liking the color so much. The simple fact was that red was the color of that one tunic Rei wore a lot when she practiced. In fact, almost everything Rei wore was some shade of red. She made the color look so good in Minako's opinion. Even her eyes could appear more red than violet sometimes. But was that any reason to make it her favorite color? Just because it reminded her of a friend?

Artemis sighed. "Alright, I will get to the deep meaning now. You see, just by asking a person something so simple as what their favorite color is, one can gather a bit of information about that person. It can tell you a lot about their feelings and what they like or dislike. Maybe it can even tell you something about yourself. Or so it is thought."

"And does my liking red tell you anything?"

"I can only assume. It is not an exact, but on Venus each color can be perceived a certain way. They are symbolic of things. What do you think of when you see the color red?"

Minako shifted on the couch, looking down at the floor. 'It's more of 'who' I think of,' her mind answered.

Artemis, not waiting for her response, continued, "I will tell you what the majority of Venusians think then. The color red is the most emotionally intense of colors. It usually symbolizes things like passion, strength, power, and love. So I would think that these would be the types of things that you are attracted to."

Minako's gaze snapped in Artemis's direction. "Attracted to?" Her voice came out stilted.

"Yes, but this is just an assumption. We have only known each other for a month and I have been unable to observe you anywhere outside this room. Therefore, all that I have to work with is your culture and what little information you have given me about your life up to this point."

Minako nodded, some of her worry easing, though she couldn't imagine why she should be worrying to begin with.

"For all I know, you could be attracted to the more negative aspects of the color. Blood, war, violence, anger. I am hoping that is not the case."

Minako grinned. "Maybe it's both?"

Artemis smiled back, nodding and writing something in his little book.

Minako laid her head on the arm of the couch. "What does violet symbolize?"

"Hm?" Artemis asked, still writing.

"Violet, what does it stand for?"

"Oh. Spirituality, nobility, and mystery, to name a few." He brought his pen to his mouth, thinking.

There was a soft smile on Minako's face. "Appropriate," she said in a low voice.

"Hm?"

"Nothing. So, what's 'your' favorite color?"

-+-+-+-+-+-

"It's hot in here."

"This is the third time you have said that. I already explained why the room temperature is at its current state."

"Why use fire to heat your little concoctions? Just get Rei in here and use her to do it. It'd be faster too."

"Rei informed me that she is meeting Usagi this morning for something, so she will be with her for a while. And I am not going to use one of my friends as I would a stove or a candlestick, Mako."

"She wouldn't mind, Ami."

"I will not take advantage of her kindness." Ami held a vial held between her index finger and thumb, swishing it back and forth in small motions. "Why not just leave if the climate in this room is so unsatisfactory to you?"

Makoto opened her eyes and lifted her head slightly to look over at Ami. "Because the couch is comfy, I'm too tired to go somewhere else now, and I don't feel like putting my boots back on."

Ami paused, sighing before putting the vial into a slotted stand at the end of her work table. Shaking her head, and taking a cylindrical glass from a cabinet below the table, she glanced over at Makoto. The woman was stretched out on the couch across the room with her feet hanging over the edge. Her eyes were closed and she looked absolutely content to stay there for the rest of the day. Makoto was in the half of the room that Ami had set up to relax in, though she didn't find herself doing much of that lately. Ami stood in the half which contained all of the implements she needed for her experiments. It was her laboratory. The walls of the room were lined with bookcases set upon the hard wood floor, surrounding the couch Makoto now occupied, as well as three chairs and a low table. A set of steps neatly separated the two halves of the room, her work area being on the slightly elevated half. The room had been used as a place for training and teaching in the past, and this was probably the space the instructor had made use of. It may have also been a stage of sorts at one time before that.

Ami continued her task, knowing that she would not succeed in trying to get the lazy woman to relocate. She filled the cylinder halfway with a blue-tinted liquid. "Where is Minako?"

"With Lord Artemis."

"Lord Artemis?"

"He's her special instructor, sent from Venus. I don't know much about him, but I hear he's really old. Minako says he's pretty close friends with Luna."

"Oh." Ami retrieved the vial from the slotted holder, pouring its contents into the beaker.

Makoto sat up, leaning against the back of the couch and looking over at Ami. "Jealous?" She asked.

The vial slipped from between Ami's fingers as she was returning it to the stand and she fumbled to grasp it. "Jealous of what?'

"Someone other than you has a special instructor."

She set the vial into the stand carefully, sighing in relief. "That is not such a big deal."

"I guess it wouldn't be to someone who has a special instructor in every subject. You've only been here for two months and already you're bumped up to a higher level."

Ami blushed. "I do not think that Minako has a special instructor for the same reasons that I do, but I will withhold my opinion on that matter. As for myself, I cannot help the fact that I need to be taught at a higher level than others my age. It is only because I remember things with perfect clarity and always have. If it were not for that, I do not think that I would have such above average intelligence. I just have an abundance of information stored up here." She pointed to her head with her free hand while she stirred the mixture in a slow counterclockwise motion with the other, beginning to count lowly.

Makoto shrugged. "So, you have a good memory. Minako does too, but she doesn't apply it to her classes at all."

"10, 11, 12..."

"In fact, she gets worse marks than I do in some subjects. I've tried to get Rei to help her out, but she's always meditating, or in the training room. Been a bit busier than usual these past months."

"23, 24, 25..." Ami nodded. She'd noticed the Fire Guardian's preoccupation with such things too. Her instructors were demanding much more from her now than in the past.

"I bet she could get higher marks if she studied more, like Rei does."

"39, 40, 41..."

"She'd much rather get attention in other areas than academics. She's more flexible than me and Rei, and she can do these impossible flips. Her speed is second to none. You should watch her sometime when she's training on her own." Makoto leaned back onto the couch again. "She's always showing off in the training room."

"57, 58, 59, 60." Ami finished stirring and looked into the cylinder with a critical eye. "Why does that sound so familiar?" Ami asked with sarcasm that was lost on Makoto, who looked back at her in confusion.

Ami suppressed a smile. "Anyway, I do not think that you quite understand what I mean when I say that I remember things with perfect clarity, Mako, so I will give you an example. If, next month, you were to ask me about this conversation we are having now, I would be able to repeat it to you word for word. Not only that, but I would recall facial expressions, tone of voice, and even what you and I are wearing. So, if we were to apply this to books, maps, charts, and...well, you get the idea?"

Makoto nodded. "I think so. Ami, that's really something."

"I suppose it would seem that way. But it is not always so pleasant to remember some events. My mother knew this, and that is one of the reasons I was never permitted to leave the Palace. She feared the emotional and psychological damage I might undergo if I were exposed to certain things at such a young age. Of course, that could not shield me completely. She realized this the day that I found one of our servants, an elderly woman whom I had come to know and love, in one of the halls, dead. I can still remember how cold she felt, and that pained expression on a face that I had always known to be smiling..."

Ami's hands had stilled while she was talking. She blinked, looking at the finished mixture in front of her and then over to Makoto, who's face stared back at her with a blank expression, her own eyes distant. Ami watched her for a moment, knowing that she was recalling something from her own past.

"Mako?"

Makoto jumped at the sound of Ami's soft voice. She sat up slowly, looking around on the floor. Locating her boots, she grabbed them and began pulling them on. When she was done with this distraction she sat in the middle of the couch, her elbows resting on the tops of her thighs, chin propped in her hands.

"Okay, so maybe having a perfect memory wouldn't be great for some of us. I can understand your mother's thinking. But I don't think you'll have any problem here on the Moon. And if by chance you do, well...can't you just recall the good stuff and not the bad? Whenever a bad memory pops up, just smother it with something else. You could think about the nice things more often, like...um," Makoto rubbed the back of her neck in a frustrated gesture, not looking at Ami, "sunrises and sunsets, and rainbows, and big fluffy clouds, and kittens, and those little purple flowers that grow in the field near the lake, and..."

Ami felt the dreary mood lift from the room as Makoto rambled. The things she listed were very random and Ami found herself suppressing giggles.

"...and your first kiss."

Makoto's list ended, and so did Ami's giggles as, suddenly, she recalled the image of Makoto and Minako, engaging in an intimate kiss, illuminated by the soft glow of a single candle. Why would that pop up now of all times? She frowned as the scene began to play out again in her mind; every detail clear, as if it had happened yesterday.

"By the look on your face, it does not seem that you are taking Makoto's advice, Ami." A familiar alto reached her ears.

Ami's eyes shot over to the doorway where Rei now stood.

Makoto got to her feet, turning to Rei. "Rei? How long have you been standing there?"

Rei looked at Makoto with an amused expression, her features looking a bit strained as she did so. Almost as though she was forcing herself, Ami noted.

"Usually, when I hear someone use those words, Makoto, it always makes me wonder what I missed. It is a statement that invokes one's curiosity."

Makoto just stared at her, unmoving.

"Since Ami began explaining her wonderful eidetic memory," Rei finally answered.

"Why do you leave that door open, Ami?" Makoto muttered.

"Extra ventilation. Some of the chemicals I use emit vapors that can be harmful if inhaled for long periods of time. Keeping the air in the room circulating will–"

"Little purple flowers?" Rei teased Makoto, cutting Ami off before she went into one of her already famous tangents.

Makoto's shoulders tensed. "Shut up. You'd do well to forget that."

"And the kittens and the rainbows?"

Makoto didn't reply, opting to head over to where Ami was standing behind her work table.

Rei decided to take a seat in one of the chairs near the couch, facing the other two occupants of the room. She crossed her legs, leaning on the armrest and propping her chin in one hand. Then, she noticed something. "It is awfully hot in here, is it not?"

Makoto laughed at the comment immediately and Rei glared at her. "My thoughts, exactly," Makoto said in Ami's direction.

A motion next to Makoto caught Rei's eye, and she looked over just in time to see Ami raise one hand, snapping her fingers once. Makoto's laughter trailed off and she glanced at Rei, the Fire Guardian shrugging in response. They both looked at Ami with confusion, and then it hit them. And oh did it hit them.

"Damn!" Makoto brought her arms up around her torso. She could feel goose bumps cover her skin, and her breath was suddenly visible in the chill air of the room. "Cold!"

Across the room, Rei was mimicking Makoto's actions. She nodded in agreement to Makoto's outburst, though the words had almost been inaudible over the chattering of her own teeth. This wasn't just cold, it was down right freezing. Rei was impressed. Seemingly without effort, Ami was able to change the climate of the room and regulate it to stay at a certain temperature. She was definitely in tune with her element. To be confident enough to use her element outside of the training area and in a room that contained two of her friends? Yes, her control was incredible. Almost on par with Rei herself. Almost...

Rei relaxed as her body began to return to its normal temperature. She reclined again, leaning on the armrest and letting her body readjust. "Talk about a cold snap," she gloated, looking pointedly at Makoto.

"Can't you just stay quiet as usual?" Makoto, who was still trying to keep herself warm, glared at Rei indignantly.

Ami looked up as well, smiling in Rei's direction. This joke was meant to be on Makoto, and Rei could see that Ami was not surprised that she was no longer affected.

"Are you never satisfied, Mako?" Ami giggled. "Only minutes ago you were complaining about it being too hot. Now, you are too cold?" She shook her head.

"Yes, why not just wear a coat? The rest of us find the temperature in here comfortable enough."

Makoto turned sharply in Rei's direction, heading down the steps and walking over to where she sat, stopping in front of her. She stared down at the Martian, her teeth still chattering.

"I've got a better idea."

She lunged at Rei, grabbing her around the waist and effectively pinning her to the chair she was sitting in. "Ami may have qualms about making use of your element, but I sure as hell don't."

"I am not your personal heater!" Rei snapped at the clinging brunette. She pushed on Makoto's shoulders, trying to dislodge the woman, but it was of no use. Makoto was many times stronger than Rei and was not going to let go. She attempted to pull herself up, using the arms of the chair as leverage, but Makoto clung all the more. Rei succeeded only in moving the chair back an inch or two.

Meanwhile, Ami was finding the show funny indeed. The tall Jovian totally dominated the smaller Martian. Rei's calm visage was completely broken as she shouted curses at Makoto, futilely trying to push the woman away from her. Ami was about to take pity on them and return the temperature to normal when she noticed someone appear in the doorway.

"Wow, I knew you guys were close, but I didn't know you were this close. Honestly, if you're going to have an affair, you shouldn't be so careless." Minako leaned against the doorframe, her head tilted to one side, an indulgent smile upon her face as she mocked them.

Makoto let go of Rei so fast that the chair almost fell backwards, as Rei was still pushing against the taller woman.

"I was just using her to get warm," Makoto blurted.

"Lovely choice of words," Ami's voice floated from the back of the room.

Makoto went on. "If you haven't noticed yet, it's damn cold in here."

"Why not leave the room then?" Minako asked as she stood safely in the doorway, reaching her arm into the room briefly before pulling it back out. "Seems like it's only cold in there."

Makoto gave her a half smile. "And miss the chance to torture Rei?" They both glanced at the Martian, who was attempting to pull herself back together and salvage whatever dignity she had left.

"Point taken," Minako giggled. "Hey, Ami, think you could adjust the temperature to something my delicate Venusian blood can tolerate?"

Ami stoppered the vial she was holding, then paused, looking over at Minako with a small grin on her face. "And miss the chance to torture Mako?" They both looked over at Makoto, who was rubbing her arms vigorously for warmth, teeth still chattering, and now rolling her eyes in response to the jibe.

"Point taken," Minako repeated with humor, walking into the room. As she did, the temperature gradually settled into something not only her Venusian blood would tolerate, but one that any of the races would agree was quite comfortable.

Makoto's teeth stopped chattering, and she chose to sit down in the chair that Rei had just abandoned. Rei now took the couch, which was just big enough for her to stretch out on comfortably.

"I thought you had lessons with Artemis," Rei stated as Minako leaned over the back of the couch, looking down at her.

"It was only an hour."

"Weren't you doing something with Usagi, Rei?" Makoto asked. "Thought it was gonna take a while. What was it about?"

Rei saw Minako looking at her with interest, but did not meet her eyes. "It was nothing serious. She just wanted some help with a few of the subjects that she is not doing too well in."

Minako drew her brows together. "Wouldn't Ami be a better choice then?"

"Ami is...busy most of the time," Rei replied casually. "Are you implying that I am not good enough?"

Minako shook her head. "No, it's just strange that Usagi would ask 'you' to help her with something."

"Well, she needed help in a subject in which I am probably most adept."

"Which one is that?"

Rei gave her a surprised look. "Elemental training, of course."

Minako frowned. "She never told me that she was having trouble." She looked concerned and worried.

"It was nothing serious. Everything is okay now." Rei tried to reassure her.

Minako gave a small nod, but appeared to still be in thought.

Rei stared at her, not realizing she was doing so until Minako came out of her thoughts and met Rei's eyes.

"What?" Minako asked in response to the look Rei was giving her.

Rei managed a shake of her head. "Nothing, you just seem awfully curious today."

Minako smiled down at her, sending a pleasant flutter through her chest. "Maybe I've been hanging around Ami too much then," she said in a conspiratorial tone.

"I heard that," came the voice from the back of the room once more.

Makoto leaned closer to Rei and Minako from the chair she was sitting in. "And you said 'I' have the ears of a dog?"

The other two glanced at her, then smiled, remembering that time two months ago. Rei, remembering a time when she never would have imagined doing what she had done today. Rei had not tutored Usagi in a subject that she was most adept at. In fact, Rei was not sure that she was the one doing the teaching at all. No, the subject was quite the opposite, and probably the one subject that she was least familiar with...

Earlier that day...

"I am glad that you could make time for me, Rei."

Usagi exited her room, coming out onto the balcony and setting a small cup of cider on the glass surface of the table before Rei. Pulling a chair closer to the Martian, she sat down, looking with interest at the book the older woman was poring over. She leaned on the table with one arm, her chin resting in her palm.

Finally, Rei looked up from the text she was reading to find Usagi staring at her attentively. "Oh, sorry," she closed the book. "Just some poetry Luna assigned," she said, knowing Usagi was going to ask.

Usagi nodded as Rei reached for the cup of cider. "Do you like poetry?"

Rei took a sip of the spicy liquid before answering. "I suppose I do."

"Do you like romantic poems?"

Rei swallowed hard. "What? Do you mean poems about Love?"

"Yes, those are the ones." Usagi's face brightened and she went on. "They are my favorite. I have even written a few poems."

"I have not read many Love poems." Rei set the cup down, sliding the book away and sitting back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other. This was more to put some distance between them, as she had noticed that Usagi was sitting quite close to her. Though it was not overly bothersome, she found it uncomfortable for some reason. "You...write?" Rei asked.

Usagi blushed cutely, clasping her hands in her lap. "Not really writing. More like jotting down words and feelings."

"That would be writing, Usagi." Rei folded her arms across her chest.

"I guess so, but I am not very good at it. My grammar is horrible, and I cannot come up with the right words."

"Is this why you asked me here today?"

"No. No, it is not. What I asked you here for is not about words, it is about actions." Usagi looked down at her clasped hands.

Rei retrieved the cup from the table once more, raising it to her lips. "What kind of actions?" She drank deeply from the cup now.

Usagi hesitated, then tentatively began to speak. "Please, Rei, would you," a long pause and then the words came pouring out, "would you please teach me how to kiss?" She almost blurted the sentence, leaning forward in her chair as she did so, a pleading expression on her face.

That one sentence took away Rei's ability to swallow, causing her to end up choking on the cider. She felt as though half of the cup was now in her lungs as she coughed harshly, returning the cup to the table with a loud clang.

"Are you alright?" Usagi was out of her seat, her hands on Rei's shoulders, looking at her with concern.

Rei jumped to her feet, backing away as she did so, the chair behind her sliding across the marble beneath her boots. "Fine! I am just fine!" She managed to get out around a cough. She held one hand out in front of her to keep the distance between them. When her coughs finally subsided, she looked up at Usagi with a bewildered expression. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Now that reaction is totally uncalled for."

"I think that my reaction is perfectly befitting the situation," her voice was as unsteady as Usagi's.

"It is not such a ridiculous request."

"It is 'completely' ridiculous," Rei's voice grew louder.

"Then how am I supposed to learn?"

"How should I know?"

Usagi looked away from Rei, who suddenly realized that the blonde really was serious about this. 'Damn, she will probably cry now,' she thought with regret.

"I am not the type of girl that one finds themself wanting to kiss, am I? Truthfully, I have been thinking that a lot lately."

Rei opened her mouth to answer, but then found that she didn't have one. So, she thought about it. Though her brain was telling her to run from the room that very instant, she made herself calm down and consider the facts. Usagi was her friend and she had known the girl for several years now. The princess of the Moon was certainly pretty. Not a beauty like Minako (whom Rei held as the very definition of the word), but she was very near that. It would be ridiculous to think that no one would want to kiss someone like Usagi.

Rei walked over to the edge of the balcony, leaning against the railing and looking out over the palace gardens below. "Wrong, Usagi," she answered.. "You are very attractive and there are many who would want your attention."

Usagi's eyes filled with new hope, and she quickly made her way over to stand next to Rei. "Then, will you help me?"

Why was she being so persistent? Rei was not one to give answers so quickly. She liked to think things over. When confronted with something like this, what was she supposed to do? She recognized this trait as one Usagi shared with Minako. Their spontaneity could be so frustrating at times that she was at a loss for a reaction. She didn't mean to be so negative; it was just a reflex.

"Why not Minako or Makoto?" Rei asked stubbornly, turning slightly away from Usagi.

"Minako is like a sister and I would be teased relentlessly by Makoto."

"Ami?" Rei tried.

Usagi shook her head. "Ami is just...well..."

"You were afraid she might have handed you a book, right?"

"Partly," Usagi admitted. "She is also younger, and I had the feeling that she would be the least familiar with it."

Rei nodded, but wasn't giving up. "Why do you want to learn anyway? It is not a necessary part of your curriculum, nor is it needed for your station."

Usagi seemed to think for a moment before answering. "The truth is, I think that I am in Love."

Rei's stubborn expression dropped as she turned back to Usagi. "What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. I think that I am in Love."

"With whom?" Rei asked, feeling suddenly protective.

"You do not need to know that."

Rei set her mouth in a tight grimace. "If you do not tell me, then I will not help you."

"That is not fair," Usagi wined.

"As your Guardian, that is about as fair as you will get from me."

Usagi leaned back onto the rail. "Always pulling out your Guardian card..."

Rei stood as she was, wearing a displeased expression.

"Alright then," Usagi said, looking up at Rei. "If I tell you, then does that mean that you will help me?"

"I did not say that."

"Then it will stay my secret."

Rei stepped forward. 'So, this is the secret that Minako was referring to.' Now she understood.

"If you tell me, then I will consider the idea."

Usagi nodded with a slight, hopeful smile. "First, though, you must swear that this will stay a secret between us. You will tell no one of anything that I say to you today. Now, swear."

"I swear."

Usagi looked skeptical. "Swear by your ancestors," Usagi commanded.

"That might offend them," Rei said simply.

Usagi thought for a moment. "Swear by the Stars then."

"Stars sometimes fall, Usagi."

The Princess looked frustrated. "Swear on your mother's grave."

"My mother is not dead."

"Swear on your grandmother's grave?"

Rei cleared her throat. "I did not much care for her."

"Oh, for the gods' sake, swear on something!"

Rei let out an aggravated sigh. "Fine. I swear on my honor as the Princess of Mars that I will not divulge anything that is said between us here today to anyone, ever, until you so deem otherwise."

Usagi seemed pleased with this as she gave Rei a silent nod of approval. "Alright then, I will tell you now. The one that I Love is..." She let the moment draw out in what Rei thought might be an attempt at building suspense, her eyes wandering across the garden below. "Endymion," she ended with a smile playing at her lips.

Rei was surprised. "The prince of Earth?" Then she thought, 'When did that happen?'

Usagi nodded.

"But, Usagi, he is–

"I know. I know that a relationship with him may be impossible."

"He has many admirers and you are just one among them all. It will be dangerous to Love him. You could make a great number of enemies. And relations with Earth are rocky..." Her list was getting long.

Usagi nodded again, and before Rei could continue, she spoke, "I am well aware of all the consequences. I said that I 'think' that I am in Love." She gave Rei a hard look. "You promised not to tell."

Rei bowed her head. "I will not speak of this to anyone. Besides, if I were to tell Makoto, she might hunt him down. I highly doubt that Earth would appreciate losing its Prince."

Usagi giggled, nodding as Rei looked back at her. "Rei, this is not a request from your Princess, this is a request from your friend."

Rei smiled back and nodded.

"Now," Usagi began, "about my other request."

Rei had the sudden urge to jump from the balcony, but restrained herself.

-+-+-+-+-+

"Take a look at this one: 'On Mars, it is illegal to walk, unclothed, through the Royal Palace between sunrise and sunset.' So, does that mean it's legal at night?" Makoto lowered the book she was reading and looked over at Rei, who was still lounging on the couch, her mind now coming back to the present.

"I had never heard of that one. There must be a reason it was written, though." Rei turned onto her side, watching Makoto flip the page before she looked back up.

"Really? You sure you didn't do any late-night streaking back in your days at the Palace?"

Rei grunted in reply, while Minako laughed from her position in the chair next to Makoto's.

"Ami, why do you have a book like that?" Rei grumbled, ignoring the laughter.

"It is a fairly new text. It arrived last week with a few other things from my parents. My father has a rather strange taste in books, and an even stranger sense of humor, I might add." Ami was still in the lab, scribbling notes in a small book that rested in front of her on the worktable. Rei wondered what strange things Ami herself might be up to.

"What's wrong with 'Odd Laws of the Moon Kingdom'? It's an interesting book," Makoto defended. "I like it."

"It's amazing that you're even reading." The blonde beside her swung her legs over the arm of the chair, leaning her head against the other arm, her hair hanging over the edge.

"Here's another good one: 'On Venus, it is against the law to ride a sheep through the market of the Capital on the fourth, seventh, and thirteenth day of the month.' What the hell?" She looked over at Minako. "Can you even ride a sheep? How is that possible?"

Minako's eyes were closed and she gave a little shrug. "Dunno. Somebody must have done it, and those are unlucky days." There was a pause and the sound of pages being turned. "Maybe we should try it some time. On one of the lucky days of course."

"I do not think that we have any sheep big enough," Rei put in.

Minako opened her eyes slightly and scowled at Rei. "Is there something you are trying to imply?"

"What do you think?" Rei gave a half-smile.

"Don't worry, Rei. I won't try it. What idiot would do any of the things listed in that book anyway?"

"Hey, hey, here's another one," Makoto interjected quickly, still riffling through the pages. She looked down and read the first thing her eyes landed on. "Okay, this one is from Mercury: 'It is illegal to engage in sexual activity in the Main Library of Mercury..." Makoto stopped reading aloud as she scanned the page, her eyes moving in slow 'z' patterns.

"I'm starting to understand why those laws were written...and the kind of people they were written for." Minako said, looking sideways at Makoto.

"Well," Makoto said, laughing at Minako's words. "I'm glad I didn't grow up on Mercury."

"I am quite sure that it is not allowed on any planet, Mako," Ami scolded, donning a light blush.

"Come on, Makoto, keep reading. It's getting interesting." Minako sounded amused at Ami's discomfort.

"How about one from Jupiter?" Rei asked, though she was trying not to sound interested.

Makoto's attention went back to the book. She flipped through some more pages, looking for one from her own planet, and read the first one she found aloud. "'On Jupiter, it is forbidden to kiss an opponent in the midst of combat.'" She put a hand to her chin in thought as she stopped reading. "I wonder if they still enforce that..."

"Isn't it good to live on the Moon?" Minako asked lazily.

Makoto nodded, turning another page. "Yep."

Ami looked up from her notebook, observing the two of them. "I am almost certain that there will be a second edition," she said with finality, her face set with a mild frown, the blush still staining her cheeks.

Meanwhile, Rei's mind was sidetracked again. 'Kissing.' Just the topic Rei would like to avoid. 'Seems like that subject has come up a lot today...'

+-+-+-+-+-+

"I said that I would 'consider' it."

"And? What is your answer?" Usagi looked up at her with an expression that made Rei feel extremely guilty, and for no reason at all.

'I do not have to do this. I did not say that I would do this.' She forced herself to look away from Usagi's pleading face. Those bright blue eyes begging her in a way that was quickly melting her resolve. She would not be taken in by that innocent face that was so like another that she knew. 'She is like her in some ways.'

Usagi's hair was unbound today, flowing freely down her back, bright in the midday sun. 'A little like hers, but hers is not so pale. Hers is like gold.'

Rei was slowly giving in to the idea, but at the same time, another thought struck her. One that she was sure would get her out of this situation. "Usagi, there is something that you should know. This may even change your mind." She felt mildly embarrassed. Though Usagi was in the same position as she was, it was still something that she never wanted to admit to anyone, and never imagined that she'd tell her own Princess. This whole situation was totally bizarre to her.

"I have never kissed anyone," Rei admitted lowly trying to keep her embarrassment from showing on her face.

Usagi didn't exactly react the way Rei had expected. Well, Rei really didn't know what kind of reaction to expect to begin with. But, Usagi blushing, smiling, and suddenly looking at the ground was not it.

"Really?" She asked in a delighted voice, clasping her hands under her chin in front of her. "You have really never kissed anyone in your whole life, Rei?" Excitement danced in her eyes as she went on. "I would never have guessed that. You of all people. How can you not have?"

Rei grimaced. "It is not expected of me, and I find that without meaning it is a waste of time. Besides, if I cannot have the one I Love, then I will not settle for second best." She said this firmly, as it was something that she told herself everyday when she tried to answer that nagging question in her mind: Why did she not just find another and learn to Love them?

"There is someone you Love, Rei?" Usagi's voice held a touch of surprise as she became somewhat more composed.

Rei remained silent for a few moments. How could she answer that? "My interests have nothing to do with this. You are the one who wants the help, not me."

"Oh." Usagi's voice sounded strangely dejected.

"I suppose you have realized what an unqualified candidate I am for your tutoring," Rei said, hoping she had managed to change her mind.

Usagi looked at Rei, her eyes filled with determination that the Martian had never seen there before. "No. You are perfect, Rei. I think that if it were anyone else, I would be wasting my time." She quickly took Rei's hand, an action the brunette did not resist, and led her inside from the balcony. "Isn't it funny? I have finally found something that you are not good at."

Rei jerked her head up, a scowl on her face. "How do you know that already? I have not even done anything."

"Then you will help me?"

"I..." Rei struggled to find her words. "If you still wish it, then yes."

"We will really be helping each other then."

"I do not need help." Rei didn't much care whether or not she was good at it. She just wanted to get this over with. The sooner the better.

"Assuming that you are an expert already I see."

"How will either of us know if we are doing this right anyway?" Rei asked as they stood in the middle of Usagi's room, balcony doors now closed. "Neither of us have half a clue as to how it is supposed to work."

"Well, I am not completely ignorant at least. I know about some of the basics. I have seen it done a time or two." She took a step towards Rei, standing very close to her now.

Rei continued looking at her, waiting for further explanation. Her expression spoke volumes; she was not going to make this easy.

"You just put your lips to mine."

"Why do 'I' have to do it?"

"Oh, fine. I suppose that I can do it. Or, maybe, we could go at the same time."

"You make it sound like we will be lunging at each other. I would like to keep all of my teeth, if you do not mind."

"There will be no lunging. You lean. We lean towards each other," Usagi corrected.

Rei made no move. Merely stood in the same place, looking down at the blonde, who was now fidgeting. A minute passed in silence.

"No one is leaning," Rei stated in a bored tone.

"I was waiting for you to start."

"I thought that you supposed you could do it. Now you want 'me' to lean?"

"Judging by our height ratios, yes. I think that you should be the one leaning towards me."

Rei was suspicious. "You made that up. Explain yourself."

"It is perfectly logical. You are taller, and so is Endymion. I expect that Endymion will be the one to make the first move. Therefore, it only makes sense that you should be the one to start kissing me." Usagi smiled in satisfaction at her own cleverness.

Rei still looked unconvinced, but made no move to argue. What evidence did she have to prove the blonde wrong?

"Shall we begin?" Usagi said, looking up at Rei.

The corner of Rei's mouth tightened in a nervous gesture as she prepared herself. 'Fine mess I have gotten myself into here.' She thought. 'I could have backed out. Maybe she would have cried, or worse, but she would have gotten over it eventually. I hope that I will never have to do something so embarrassing for her sake again.'

Rei kept her arms firmly at her sides, hands in a semi-fist. Finally, she began to lean downwards, towards Usagi, who watched her expectantly. As Rei got closer, Usagi closed her eyes.

'Why did she do that? Is she regretting asking me to do this? Is she afraid? Should I close my eyes too? But then I will not be able to see where her lips are...' Rei considered stopping to ask Usagi if something was wrong, but she was so close to her now. Just one more inch and it would all be over. Before Rei could change her mind, she closed the gap between them, touching her lips to Usagi's. She barely registered how soft they were in the two seconds that she felt them against her own, before she pulled away quickly.

She stood rigidly, watching Usagi open her eyes to stare back at her with a flat expression. Rei knitted her brows, waiting for her to say something. When no statement was forthcoming, Rei finally asked, "Well?"

Usagi's expression stayed the same as she answered, "I think that I would have better luck practicing on one of the marble statues in the hall."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

"So, Ami, what is this stuff you're making here?" Minako looked over Ami's shoulder at the small corked bottle that sat on the work table among the few books Ami now had spread about.

"It is something that I have been meaning to try for a while, but other things got in the way," she said distractedly, jotting something new down in her book.

A laugh from across the room made them both look up. The source of the laugh was Makoto, who appeared quite comfortable lounging in her chair, reading a book (It was another one that Ami's father had sent) and totally oblivious to her surroundings.

Ami smiled at the Jovian's immersed state then went back to her work once more. Minako looked from Makoto to Rei, who was apparently sleeping now. Her back was turned outward, toward the room's occupants, which was a shame because Minako wouldn't mind seeing her sleeping face. Maybe then she would feel comfortable looking at that face. Without the danger of those dark eyes turning to look into hers. There had been something new in them lately. For the past two months she felt those eyes on her, and when she looked into them she was intrigued. What was it? Did the others see in Rei's eyes what Minako saw? Did they feel the warmth, the fear and excitement those deep red-violet orbs caused?

She'd thought that things were back to normal between them now, but it still didn't feel like the normal from before. Rei had a lot of work to do nowadays and that was understandable. It wasn't her fault that they didn't get to spend as much time together as they once did. Rei still gave her friendly hugs from time to time. They were very brief, but then again they always had been anyway. Artemis told her about things like this once in one of his past lectures. He'd said that she shouldn't expect to always have her friends to herself. She knew this of course. It wasn't like she thought that Rei would always be close by her.

Lately, though, the thought of losing Rei, of Rei spending all of her time with someone else, made Minako feel...jealous? Envious? Angry? Too many emotions to count would nag at her as she told herself that Rei wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Hoping that was true. It wasn't like she owned Rei, though. She had no right to protest anything Rei chose to do. So what if Rei decided to spend her time with another.

'It doesn't matter,' Minako thought, 'I have Makoto anyway. I won't get lonely.'

Minako looked away from Rei and back to Makoto, who was silently reading, a steady smile on her face. Makoto, who would spend time with her whenever she asked. Who was loyal and kind. A beautiful woman with a perfect body. What was there not to L-like? Minako found herself searching Makoto's eyes now and then. Trying to find something similar maybe. Something like what she found in Rei's eyes? What she found was contentment and peace. There seemed to never be any shadow of doubt in Makoto's eyes. Minako was happy with Makoto and found no real flaw in their relationship. Then why was she still searching?

Minako sighed, causing Ami to look up from her writing.

"Something wrong?" Ami asked, following the direction of Minako's gaze.

Minako looked back down at Ami. "No, not really. Kind of tired from listening to Artemis rant on and on for an hour."

"Is it not interesting? I heard from Mako that he is quite old. He must be very intelligent."

"He has guided a long line of Venusian Princesses. A few great grandmothers of mine."

Ami's eyes were wide. "That is quite old, almost ancient."

"I'll say. He doesn't look old, though. He could probably pass for my older brother."

Ami nodded. "That must be his gift. Immortality of such a degree is only present in a few lines on each planet. Luna shares this trait."

Minako thought for a moment. "How can they stand to be alive for so long?"

Ami answered with ease. "They have something important to live for. It is their passion. It is what keeps them going. Something that they cannot live without. Whether it is their job, or something else, I am not sure. At least, that is the reason my father gave me when I asked."

Minako raised one brow in Ami's direction. "You're exceptionally wise today, Ami."

Ami went back to her notebook. "Not really."

"So, you have to find your passion? Something to keep you busy for years to come? Can't live without it. Right now I can't think of a single thing that I would want to experience for thousands of years," she said with a laugh.

"I can," came a voice from the other side of the room.

Minako looked up to see Rei sitting forward on the couch, one arm hanging over the back. Minako couldn't help but think that the position actually seemed inviting in a way.

Minako blinked, clearing her thoughts. "You could?" She asked Rei in a skeptical tone. "What could you find to do for thousands of years to come?" She came around the front of the worktable, leaning back on it and placing her palms face down on its surface behind her. Rei was watching her with those eyes again.

Minako's thoughts took a strange turn as she received that gaze.'I wonder if you ever chance to think of me the way others do, Rei,' Minako thought, observing her. 'I can't help but wonder how you look when you make Love. How does the calm and silent Guardian behave in such a state?'

"Do?" Rei's bewildered voice caused Minako to smile.

"Yes. What could you possibly find to do for that long?"

An unusual blush washed over Rei's features and her eyes took on an almost shocked look. "I would prefer not to describe it that way."

Minako's expression was a confused one. "What is it then?"

Rei's guard went up. "I do not have to tell you."

"Then why did you answer in the first place?" Minako asked, disappointed.

"You said that you could think of nothing."

"So, you just answered to prove that you could?"

"Yes."

"That is so typical of you."

Rei opened her mouth, probably with a ready comeback, but Makoto interrupted. "Knowing Rei, she'd probably be content sitting in the front of her fire, meditating for a thousand years."

Rei and Minako both looked over at Makoto, who had yet to look up from her book.

"Rei, that is not healthy," Ami said from behind Minako, still writing in her notebook. "You need fresh air, sunlight, and regular exercise to stay in good health."

"I never said that was it!" Rei barked. "I do not live for meditating in front of the Fire."

"Well, you do spend a lot of time doing just that," Minako chided.

Makoto suddenly shut her book with a snap, rising from the chair. "Quit arguing already. It's a stupid argument anyway. Who cares about a thousand years from now? It's hard enough just worrying about tomorrow."

All three heads turned in her direction as she set the book she was reading on the table between the two chairs. "What are you making, Ami?" She ignored their stares, heading straight over to where Ami was sitting. She picked up the stoppered bottle that contained Ami's latest experiment and studied it.

Minako watched Makoto closely. 'You're just as bad as Rei sometimes, Makoto... A subtle break in your character and then right back into the norm. You have secrets too and I'm not sure that I will ever know them.'

"What I have made is, hopefully, an effective method of keeping me awake."

"What?" Minako asked, hearing herself echoed by Rei and Makoto.

Before another word could be uttered Rei appeared at Ami's side. "Could you explain that one?" Rei prodded as both Makoto and Minako were still at a loss.

Ami took her time explaining. "Well, lately I have been finding myself...um, dozing in class at times. I was hoping to create something that will help me stay awake when I need to. This should do exactly that."

"Did you think about sleep, maybe?" Makoto leaned on the table, meeting Ami's eyes just as the shorter woman smiled at her question.

"Yes, I considered it, Mako. But I have so much to do during the day that I hardly get to read during the week and all. So, I usually spend the better part of a night with a book."

"You have been reading a lot at dinner lately, too," Rei added.

Ami looked down at her notes. "They are very good books..."

Rei sighed. "Did you not think to spend days like this one reading instead of concocting things to help you cheat yourself out of getting sleep? This little creation of yours," she motioned towards the bottle in Makoto's hand, "cannot be healthy, and I know you know that."

Ami stayed silent, neither denying nor confirming Rei's statement.

Minako soon spoke up. "It really isn't a bad idea."

She ignored Rei's glare of disapproval, continuing, "There are lots of other things you could use it for. It would come in handy for soldiers on night watch. The palace riders might be able to use it for their couriers on long runs."

Rei's disapproving look was gone, replaced with a stare that Minako had come to label as surprise in these past years.

She put on her usual smirk she reserved just for taunting Rei. "I can think of a lot of good uses for the stuff if it works."

Before she could give Rei enough time to get fired up, something occurred to Minako as she looked at the bottle in Makoto's hands. "Ami, how are you going to know if that works or not? Don't you have to test it? I don't see any animals in here."

"I never use animals," Ami said, sounding a tad offended. "That would be cruel."

'This coming from a girl who practically freezes someone for fun?' Minako thought with irony.

"I usually just test these sorts of things on myself to be honest. The worst that could happen is getting a little sick."

"Absolutely not," came Rei's firm voice.

Makoto's statement immediately followed Rei's. "You can test it on me."

"Do what?" Minako asked, not sure she had heard that correctly.

"How is she going to know if it works unless someone tries it?"

"An animal is good enough," Rei argued.

Makoto shook her head."Our bodies are different from normal animals and humans. The animal might die. Would you hurt Ember?"

"Use rats!" Minako broke in. "The filthy little vermin would be perfect."

"Minako, we don't have to risk hurting anything if I try it. It's not like it can kill me. Ami says the worst is I'll get sick or something, and I trust her judgment."

"I will not let you do that, Mako," Ami finally added.

"Why not? It makes more sense if I do it."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because, no offense or anything, but I'm tougher than you are. I have the capability of healing more rapidly than you do because of my body build and high stamina. Your smaller body would take longer to recover."

Ami looked as surprised as Minako felt. That actually made sense, but was Ami going to agree?

"I will not let you test something that may cause you harm. Besides, you have no reason to get involved with this anyway."

"No reason? We're your friends, Ami, and it doesn't make sense for you to be the one to test it."

"I agree," another surprise, from Rei this time. "Though I do favor the choice of using animals, it seems that neither of you will allow it. If this has to be done, it should be Makoto, or even myself."

Makoto nodded, while Ami shook her head.

"However," Rei continued, "if I find that the results are too strenuous, or any of this interferes with our duties as Guardians, I will have to ask that you cease testing or start using animals."

"Sounds good," Makoto complied.

Minako nodded, thinking that it was the best Ami was going to get from the stubborn and overprotective.

Ami wasn't satisfied. "I did not agree yet."

"I won't let you test this or anything else, Ami." Makoto's tone was humorous.

Minako could tell that Ami was not going to win this argument short of doing something drastic.

"Then," Ami began, her voice taking on a desperate tone, "then I challenge you for the right to test it!" She pointed at Makoto in a way Minako remembered seeing most children do upon apposing an adult's decision that they should go to bed early. There was a certain rigid strength in that pose, so dwarfed by Makoto's tallness, but still proclaiming the message that she could take whatever the Jovian could dish out. She was not going to give up without a fight.

"Sure."

"Really?" Ami asked in disbelief, lowering her hand slowly.

Makoto turned and handed the bottle to Rei, who took it with reluctance. "I'll even let you pick the challenge."

Ami still looked as though she expected more resistance to the idea.

"But, if I win you gotta promise that you'll let me or Rei test this and any other future experiments you come up."

Minako knew by the look on Ami's face that she already had about twenty ideas lined up as to how she was going to make this all work in her favor. It was kind of scary when she thought about it. Ami's mind could be a very useful resource, but she sure didn't want to be on the receiving end of any plans the Mercurian came up with. Makoto was brave in more ways than Minako. But, sometimes she couldn't help but think that maybe it was half ignorance, or she was being just as stubborn as Rei could be.

Ami eventually nodded, not really speaking much for all the thinking that was surely going on upstairs. Minako smiled, thinking on how Ami really was just a regular girl. Sure, she was a genius, and had already surpassed them all as far as their studies went. But she was normal in other ways. There were times when she was a bit too quiet, a tad behind in their conversations. And she must worry about the typical thing that girls her age worry about. Minako liked to see these moments when Ami showed that she had choices to make and things that she cared about. Defending herself was a good sign in Minako's opinion.

"I promise. In the future I will refer to you when I need something tested, but only if you win."

Rei, who was being silent up until now, finally spoke. "Makoto, you do realize that this will make us the equivalent of a rat."

"What? Rats are cute."

Minako mumbled something next to her. "You're thinking of mice, Makoto."

"There's a difference?"

"Well, yes..." Minako looked away and mumbled again, "I think."

Rei tried to keep to her line of questioning."Do we really have to fight over the right to test Ami's... potion?"

"She's making you sound like a witch, Ami."

"What am I supposed to call it?"

"I did not give it a name, and I am not offended. Call it what you want."

"If this stuff really works, I'm gonna get Usagi back for eating my share of the cake her mother made for us last week." Makoto's laugh was low and a bit dark.

"Your share was eaten because of the fact that you were half an hour late for our meeting..." Rei supplied. "You should have known better."

"She'll never touch my share again."

"Possessive much?"

"Like you aren't?"

Rei glared in Makoto's direction.

Minako finally cut in. "Digress much?" They both looked at her. "Come on, Ami. Tell these two what you're going to beat Makoto at."

"Already got your money on Ami?" Makoto asked.

Minako shrugged. 'Ami isn't going to pick something you're good at, Makoto. She'll pulverize you at something academic, is my bet.'

"So, Ami, what's it gonna be?" Makoto prodded.

Ami smiled. Her face showed confidence that Minako found amusing. 'Here it comes!'

"Mako, I challenge you to a fencing match."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

"It was a good idea, Ami, really." Minako had a hand on Ami's shoulder, trying to provide what little comfort she could to the silent girl.

"So, should I eat something before I drink this?" Makoto, wearing a smile that could light an entire coliseum, held up the bottle containing Ami's 'potion' (as Rei had so dubbed it).

Rei sat on the couch, hoping that the girl's pride wasn't too wounded by this defeat, and silently thanked the gods that Makoto had won. She really couldn't imagine letting Ami try to test her little creations. It was better this way. If they had forbid Ami to do it, Rei knew that wouldn't stop her. Being so serious about it, she would test it behind their backs, which was definitely not good. But with Makoto or herself doing the testing, it was at least controlled. If something went wrong, they would all know and be able to help.

"I assumed that you were not good at fencing," Ami's voice was unnaturally pleasant.

Makoto uncorked the bottle as she answered, "What happened to that great memory of yours, Ami? I never said I couldn't fence. I just don't really like it that much. Kinda boring, how neat and clean it is, though I think I've found a new appreciation for it today." She grinned in that triumphant way that was proverbial for annoying anyone who was receiving the expression.

"Yes, you did say something like that." Ami actually smiled, looking away and shrugging her shoulders. "It will not happen again, I promise."

Minako, feeling that she was no longer needed, came over to sit beside Rei, letting Ami stop Makoto from taking the potion.

"You do not drink it!" She said, her tone sharp.

Minako turned from the scene, grinning. "She really is good, isn't she?"

"Makoto has always been excellent at fencing," Rei answered with admiration.

"I meant Ami."

"Oh, Ami shows a huge amount of potential."

"Makoto certainly didn't take it easy on her." Minako said this with a little annoyance.

"Ami has the potential to be much better than Makoto at fencing. In about a year, she will be able to beat Makoto twice over."

"How do you guess that?"

"Ami loves it, and she is very confident. You can tell by the way she fences. But Makoto is more experienced in all areas of combat. She has fought more opponents, all far stronger than Ami."

"She has a chance then?"

"I think Ami is one who keeps her promises. The next time she challenges Makoto, she will make sure she can defeat her."

Minako agreed. "She learns from her mistakes."

"She is lucky in that way."

"Mako! Please try to cooperate."

Rei's attention was drawn to the back of the room where the other two were. They were both sitting on stools next to the worktable.

"Shouldn't I go run around the palace a few times or something. I'm honestly not that tired.." Makoto was saying.

"No, that will not be necessary. You can test it first to tell if there are any negative side effects. Then I can try it when I need to."

"How long is this supposed to last?"

"Probably about four hours."

"How will you know if there are any bad side effects?"

"When you start throwing up and glowing neon green."

Makoto jerked her hand back from Ami's grasp, gaping at her.

Ami smirked. "I am joking."

"Heh." Makoto let Ami take her hand again and watched as she applied three drops of the liquid on her wrist.

"Alright, that should do it."

"It tingles a little."

Ami nodded, grabbing her notebook from the table and beginning to jot things down again.

"Let's go for a walk," said Minako, out of nowhere, bringing Rei's attention back to her.

Startled, Rei's eyes met Minako's, which must have been watching her all this time.

"Where to?" She asked, for lack of any better response to the sudden request.

Minako shrugged, standing. "Doesn't matter."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

"It very well does matter, Rei. Endymion will not be so cold towards me."

"I do not mean to be cold, Usagi. I cannot help the way that I am."

A panicked expression washed over Usagi's features. "I apologize. That is not how I meant it to sound. I–"

Rei laughed. "Be quiet already. You are making me even more uncomfortable."

"Sorry."

"And stop apologizing. We are both at fault here, and neither of us have room to criticize." She gave Usagi a stern look.

Usagi giggled. "I understand. But how are we going to fix this?"

"I do not know. I have never harbored thoughts of kissing you, to be honest."

A nod from Usagi, and then a tilt of her head. Rei watched as Usagi's face went through a few stages of what appeared to be a display of her thoughts. 'This girl should really learn to conceal her emotions a bit more.' Rei was inwardly amused with the blonde. 'Then again, maybe not. Usagi would not be Usagi if she did.'

"Have you ever had thoughts of kissing someone else?"

Rei was caught a bit off guard by that one. And she couldn't bring herself to outright lie to Usagi after the girl had been so honest with her about everything. "I suppose I have."

Usagi tried to dig deeper. "Will you tell me who this person is if I ask?"

"I will not."

"Even though I told you of my own Love?"

"I do not remember making any agreement," Rei argued. "And I never said that I Love her."

"You never said that you did not Love 'her'." Usagi replied quickly, arching one brow.

Upon hearing Usagi stress 'her', Rei cursed mentally for letting that slip. It made no difference, though. She still wasn't telling.

"You do not have to tell me, Rei." Usagi's voice was quiet. She spoke lowly, in an almost sympathetic tone. "That is a part of you that I find very noble. It shows that you value that feeling."

Usagi's words had an effect on Rei. What that effect was, she could not determine at the moment. It was something sad and at the same time it made her feel warm. Feeling a little closer to the girl that she pulled into an embrace. She hugged Usagi. Whether it was to thank her, or just for the comfort of having her there to hold didn't matter. There was something in Usagi that felt similar to her own feelings. Of wanting and not having. Of feeling selfish, maybe guilty, and even a little envious. A kindred soul.

Usagi's arms move upward, one hand coming to rest behind Rei's neck, the other hand on her shoulder. Rei made no move to stop her and found Usagi's blue eyes welcoming, so close in proximity to her own.

"Do you think it will help if you imagine that I am her?" Usagi's whisper drew Rei's attention to her lips.

Rei froze. Could she do that? They were awfully similar, even if it was just in looks. And wasn't she comparing them only minutes before? It might be worth a try. Her mind made up, Rei nodded. It was only a kiss after all.

She hadn't expected Usagi to react so quickly after the nod. In fact, she hadn't expected Usagi to be the one to do anything. But she was. Rei shut her eyes as Usagi pulled her close. She tried to imagine the one she Loved. That it was Minako's golden tresses beneath her touch. In her mind, the soft lips against her own were that of a radiant Venusian with eyes that would put the very stars to shame and skin softer than the morning mist. She let those fantasies that she denied invade her for now. Allowing them to lead her actions. She finally had Minako in her arms.

Usagi's grip tightened on Rei as the brunette pulled her even closer, taking over. She fell deep into the kiss, amazed at what it was doing to her. Fascinated by how another person could taste so wonderful. Taste wasn't something that she had considered when it came to Minako, but she was definitely considering it now. That one could experience another with all of their physical senses; It was an exquisite idea. Holding Minako in her arms without having to feel guilt or worry was such a release. This kissing thing, it was not bad at all.

She tried to hold onto her vision of Minako, but a part of her cried out rebelliously in outrage at her actions. Rei was supposed to be honest and collected, but what she was doing went against her nature, didn't it? To act out her fantasies using another, even if it was condoned, was unacceptable behavior. Rei was not one to lose control, and she would not be doing so now.

She suddenly became unable to continue imagining that the woman in her arms was Minako. Ending the kiss abruptly, Rei opened her eyes, looking down. She held a blue-eyed young blonde in her arms, but not the one that she was in Love with. To top it off, the woman in her arms was crying...

"Was it that bad?" Rei asked, chagrined.

"No." Usagi's voice trembled, as did her frame against Rei's. "Quite the opposite in fact." A small laugh into the cloth of Rei's tunic.

Rei didn't have a response and didn't really think that she would no matter what Usagi said right now.

"Gods, Rei," Usagi started, "does it not hurt, keeping this inside? It would be a sin not to tell her."

Rei rested her chin atop Usagi's head in a forlorn way, letting a frown settle on her face. "It would be an even greater sin if I did..."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

"I did not know that Ami could do things like that."

"Me neither." Minako kicked a stray rock off of the path they were walking through the garden. It was nearing evening and the clouds hung heavy and dark over the Palace grounds. It would probably rain tonight, maybe even storm. "She's very intelligent, and always has so many new things to show us. Makes me feel a little inadequate next to her."

"Rest assured, there is nothing at all inadequate about you, Minako."

Minako grinned at Rei. "What an unexpected compliment."

Rei ignored the grin, turning her head away to look at something across the garden.

Minako decided to change the subject. "I've heard that there was trouble in the city yesterday."

"Yes, a demon appeared in one of the markets. A few people were killed before the guards managed to neutralize it," Rei said, appearing pained by the news she disclosed.

Minako knew the feeling of hearing about these incidents. To her, it was being powerless to do anything that gave her such anguish. "Shouldn't we be out there, Rei? Where there's a real enemy to fight, not just the ones we imagine around every corner in the Palace."

"Be grateful that nothing tries our skills inside these walls. That means our princess is safe. And that is why we remain here."

"Without the experience our skills will be useless when we encounter a real enemy." Minako explained, her voice rising slightly with the passion she felt for the subject.

Rei was more subdued in her replies. "True, but I am confident in the training that I have received. You should not be so eager to encounter a real enemy."

"But I worry about us sometimes. All of us. When the time comes for us to defend others, will we be okay? Will we be enough?"

"I do not have an answer for that, but I think that you should stop worrying so much about something that cannot be helped." Rei stooped to pick a small flower from the edge of their path. It had soft, gently curving petals and was blue, like the sky on a clear day, not the gray bleakness that hung over them now. Minako wondered if its scent was as lovely as its appearance, watching Rei twirl it idly between her fingers.

"What if it turns out that we're not good enough? One of us could even get hurt, or worse, killed. Then it'll all be for nothing. All this learning and training. Hours spent in classrooms and in the training rooms."

"Hours of honest work and studying that our ancestors before us partook in as well," Rei gave Minako a stern glance. "Remember that your predecessors all had the same duty. They must have had the same doubts running through their own minds at your age."

Minako shrugged, thinking of how Rei was talking like an old lady. "You can't tell me that you never have insecurities when it comes to our duty."

"I do not let them worry me. If I fail, then I did not try hard enough and am not deserving of my title. Besides, I doubt that I would ever fail to protect you."

Minako was still watching Rei as they walked. Rei, who was more mesmerized by that flower in her hand than anything else in the garden. 'Me?' Minako wanted to say that word out loud, but found herself unable to comply with her own thoughts.

Rei stopped in the middle of the path. "I can protect all of you. It is our duty to protect each other, as well as everyone else."

"Even if it means giving up your own life?" Minako asked cautiously, aware that Rei was tightening her jaw in a nervous gesture that Minako had grown accustomed to reading. After seeing that Rei was becoming uncomfortable, Minako changed her course, not wanting to run her friend off. "Never mind. That was inconsiderate of me."

Upon her statement, Rei turned to Minako and looked at her for a long moment. Minako couldn't help but feel that Rei was looking at her differently today. Something about the way Rei's eyes kept studying her face. "I do not mind at all. Please, ask me whatever you want. You can talk to me about anything. I did not realize that you worry about these things."

"Well, I do. I've often wondered about what I'd do in that sort of situation. I mean, I can say that I would gladly die for any one of you, but could I really do it? I think that I can, but..."

"Being alive is so much nicer." Rei said, pulling on Minako's arm gently to get her to start walking down the path again.

"Yeah," Minako sighed.

"There is nothing wrong with that way of thinking. It is reasonable that you fear death."

"But we're guardians, we're not supposed to fear death!" Minako kicked another rock off the path.

"Where did you hear that?" Rei asked.

Minako shrugged, not having an answer. They were deeper in the garden now, the smell of rain evident in the air. Minako didn't mind really. Rei usually knew when they should go inside. She was enjoying their conversation, even if it wasn't the most pleasant subject. She liked it when Rei talked to her like this. And the best part was that she'd said that Minako could ask her anything. She thought she might test the limits of Rei's 'anything' right now.

"Are you afraid to die, Rei?"

"Yes," she answered as if it were obvious. "There is a lot that I would miss and whoever told you that it is wrong to fear dying is ignorant."

"No one told me. I assumed that we shouldn't because of who we are. We represent a lot to so many people. They look up to us and I don't want to be seen as a coward. You and Makoto are brave and that's how I want to be seen too."

"We only appear brave on the outside, but there are some things that scare us." Her eyes turned from Minako back to the flower. "Anyway, it is fear that makes us brave. Knowing what you fear and still facing it, that is true bravery."

"You always say very wise things." Minako giggled, watching Rei's face turn red.

"That is common sense." She tried to turn away to hide her blush as they walked.

Minako rushed to stand in front of her, blocking the path. "Hold on, I've got another question."

Rei knitted her brows in annoyance. "You wanted to walk, why do you keep stopping?"

"Rei, is there anyone that you like?" Minako grinned at the shocked, almost panicked expression she received. It was obvious that Rei hadn't figured Minako would ask her anything like this. She seemed to be fishing around for something to say.

"Come on, quit kidding around." Rei tried to shoo her out of the way.

Minako grabbed the hand Rei was shooing her with, still blocking the way. Rei regarded her as if she had gone mad, stepping back from the blonde.

"You said that I could ask you anything. Were you just saying that?" Minako pouted.

"I do not say something if I do not mean it." Rei hastily answered, then shut her mouth tightly, realizing that wasn't going to help her out of this situation.

"Then tell me, please."

"There are plenty of people that I like," Rei pulled her hand from Minako's grasp as her grip weakened slightly. "I like all of my friends and a few of my instructors."

She started to walk around Minako, but the blonde was not giving up. Looping her arm through Rei's, she leaned into her and walked. Rei was forced to fall into step a little clumsily because of the extra weight now added to her right arm. Minako noticed that Rei was wearing her best "you are so annoying" expression, so she shot her a huge smile in response. At about that moment one of Rei's boots must have caught on a large crevice in the pebbles underfoot. She stumbled forward just slightly, but maintained her walk, all the while turning red.

Minako laughed. Rei glared.

"How do you expect me to walk properly with you hanging off of me like that?"

"If you didn't walk so stiffly...relax."

She mumbled something that Minako couldn't quite make out. "Beg your pardon?" Minako pulled on Rei's arm a little to get her attention back.

"Nothing." She looked back down at the flower in her hand.

Minako glared at the little flower for getting more of Rei's attention than she was. She decided to get it back in full again. "Rei?"

"Yes?" Rei said, in an almost timid voice.

"Are you in Love with anyone?"

Minako gripped the Martian's arm just in time to keep her from falling as Rei stumbled again.

-+-+-+-+-+-

She had never held anyone for so long before. Usagi clung to her, arms hugging her neck, head resting gently against Rei's shoulder. It was a comfortable type of closeness. One she was unaccustomed to, but found that she could tolerate from her princess. If she could serve the girl she held in any way, it was her duty to do so.

Remembering how Usagi had come to be in her arms, she tried to think about how she was to continue fulfilling her obligation. Usagi wanted to know how to kiss, but Rei was completely inexperienced. It was going to be a hard task, especially since she now knew that she could not imagine Usagi as Minako anymore. Like any challenge, Rei was going to have to meet this head on. No matter what it took, she was going to make sure that her princess knew how to kiss before this was over. Determination filled her mind, along with several 'battle plans'. Maybe she would go and find some books after all. It couldn't hurt to do some research on the subject. There had to be various techniques and approaches to kissing. She'd have to find the best one for her princess.

Nodding to herself, she decided that they should get started soon. "Usagi?"

"Hm?" Came a drowsy sounding voice near her ear.

"You can let go now."

The arms holding Rei stiffened upon her words, then, slowly, Usagi pulled away from her and took a step back, putting a bit of distance between them.

Rei noticed that her head was turned downward, and wondered if she was still crying. She'd thought the reaction was from the initial shock of the kiss, and that it had meant nothing more than that. Now, she couldn't help but think that something might be wrong.

Just as Rei was about to question her, Usagi looked up. "Yes, I suppose that I can," she said, smiling brightly.

Rei almost sighed in relief. "Well, then would you like to continue now? Or pick up again later? I was thinking about going to the library."

Usagi shook her head quickly, the smile never faltering. "No, Rei, that will not be necessary. I think," she tilted her head, still looking at Rei, "I think that you have taught me what I needed to know."

"I did?" Rei asked, bemused.

Usagi nodded, walking away from Rei. She went over to the balcony doors, throwing them open and letting a cool breeze fill the room. "Yes, and I cannot begin to thank you enough." She turned and bowed.

Rei put up her hands in protest. "There is no need for such gratitude. It is unlike you to be so formal with me." The determined little fire in her eyes had been extinguished, and she was feeling a bit disappointed in not being able to carry out her plan of attack, but she let it slide, allowing Usagi's smile to reassure her. She then crossed her arms over her chest, glancing at the door.

Usagi laughed, drawing Rei's attention back to her.

"What?"

"Nothing," Usagi was at her wardrobe now, opening it. She looked at Rei over her shoulder, "I do not mean to throw you out after all that you have done for me today, but I am having dinner with some guests my mother has invited later. I really must start preparing now. You know how awful I am at getting ready for these things."

"Yes," Rei felt herself relaxing in the presence of Usagi's more natural demeanor. "In fact, you should have started preparing yourself hours ago."

Usagi paused in her searching of the wardrobe long enough to stick her tongue out at Rei, who laughed in response. "Go on," Usagi waved her off toward the door. "Minako and the others are probably wondering where you are."

Rei was already there, but her hand paused on the door nob. A strange thought crossed her mind and she almost let it rise to her lips before she caught herself. Usagi wasn't that perceptive. Rei shrugged. "I will see you tomorrow, Usagi."

"Okay," came Usagi's muffled voice from within the wardrobe.

With that, Rei left Usagi's room. As soon as the door closed behind her she felt all the tension leave her body. Her walk back to Ami's lab started out relaxed and easy. She felt pretty good about herself, knowing that she had accomplished something in helping Usagi. But as she continued, her mind turned back to when she was imagining Minako. Did she do wrong in her actions then? Was that something like a betrayal? If Minako were hers, she knew that it would bother her if someone else did the same thing. So, of course it wasn't right. And Minako certainly wouldn't appreciate the fact that the friend she held no passionate Love for was fantasizing about her.

Rei felt a headache coming on as she neared the open door to Ami's lab. She really needed to lay down.

-+-+-+-+-+-

She was watching her again. Ami could feel those green eyes on her. The ones that made her nervous and warm. It made it nearly impossible to keep her mind on the game at hand. There was no way that she could play a decent game with this woman. A woman who had just learned to play chess in thirty minutes and was already displaying signs that she was quite good at it.

A while ago, Makoto had been rummaging through the latest box from Ami's parents. Ami would usually just look through the box once and never get around to unpacking it. Lately, Makoto had made it her duty to do so. Sometimes she would come across things that interested her, like today's find. When Makoto asked her what the black and white checkered board was for, she had been surprised that Makoto had never heard of it. Then, after a thorough explanation of its use from Ami, Makoto insisted that she teach her how to play the game. It wasn't like there was anything else to do at the moment, so she settled down at the table in the study with Makoto. Ami took one of the chairs, Makoto the couch. It didn't take long at all for her to catch on to what Ami was teaching.

However, no matter how well she was catching on, it was still no excuse for the difficulty Ami was having with the game. She wasn't used to her opponents staring so intently at her instead of the chess board. Whether this was a tactic Makoto was using to rattle her was indeterminable. She doubted that Makoto would be able to defeat her, but she was having such a difficult time concentrating. In times like these there were a few things one could do. Try to ignore Makoto entirely, which had been tried and failed. Ask the offender to stop staring, which she could not imagine doing. Why let Makoto know her tactic was working? And finally, she could simply remove the source of her discomfort. She settled to do just that by getting out of this room for a while.

Rising from the chair, she found Makoto's eyes following her movements, a strange glazed over look about them. She actually seemed to be in deep thought. "Mako?" Ami said, concerned.

Makoto didn't move, but she blinked, clearing the ghosts of thought from her eyes. "Yes?" She asked. Her voice hitched and she gave a little cough to clear it.

"Feeling any different?"

"No." Came the immediate reply from Makoto, who looked away quickly. She picked up one of the chess pieces from the side of the board and began studying it intently.

Ami didn't think she was telling the truth, but decided not to push it. "I am going to head down to the kitchen for a snack since I forgot to eat lunch."

Makoto nodded. There was no scolding from her about Ami's missed lunch or the fact that a snack just wouldn't cut it.

As Ami turned to go, still less than satisfied with Makoto's answer, her leg hit the edge of the low table. She gave a small cry at the pain and cursed silently, pulling up her dress enough to observe the red mark that would shortly form a dark bruise. "That is the third time I have run into this thing," she laughed.

Looking up, she found that Makoto was now gripping the chess piece she held very tightly and her eyes would not leave the board in front of her. There was a forced stillness in her posture as if she were concentrating very hard.

Ami stepped towards her. "Mako, are you really okay?" She laid a hand on her shoulder.

Makoto seemed to spring to life all at once, jerking suddenly away from Ami. She almost fell off the couch in her haste to stand. Ami straightened, the confusion she felt showing on her face as she watched Makoto move around the back of the couch, putting it between them like a barrier.

"Something is wrong." Ami gave up on asking.

Makoto laughed, horribly forced, and gripped the back of the couch. "I wouldn't exactly say anything is wrong really. I'm not in pain or anything if that's what you mean."

"But something is different, right?" Ami tried to get closer to Makoto, but it seemed that they were just making circles around the couch.

"A little," Makoto nodded.

Ami was losing her patience. "What is it then?"

Makoto wouldn't look at her, and she laughed again, this time more naturally. "Sorry, Ami, I don't want to tell you right now."

"Why not?" She demanded.

"Because it would be very difficult to explain." She said evenly.

Ami was starting to really worry. She'd said that she was in no pain, but something was definitely making her uncomfortable.

"I'll tell you what. Let's just stop the game here for today and you can go get lunch. A meal, Ami, not a snack." She looked down at the chess board. "I'm pretty sure you can remember exactly where every piece on the board is anyway, so it'll be all right like this."

"Mako–"

"I'm going to go find Rei, alright? She'll keep an eye on me and make sure I don't start glowing green."

Ami couldn't see the point in what Makoto was saying, since she was right here and could do that just the same. "Then I will go with you."

"No!" Makoto said sharply, causing Ami to freeze in place. She was starting to feel a bit hurt by Makoto's eagerness to be away from her. "I mean, that wouldn't be a good idea right now."

Probably sensing that her words were having a negative affect, she continued, "What I really mean is that I'll explain tomorrow, okay. I'm not in any pain, but your potion is making me uncomfortable right now. Nothing dangerous by any means. So please, trust me on this?"

Ami didn't know what to do. Her good sense told her that she should not let Makoto out of the room, but at the same time Makoto was telling her in so many ways that she could trust her. It wasn't her words that finally penetrated Ami's good sense, but her eyes. When Ami saw the sincerity in them, she decided to go with Makoto's judgement. It was not something that she usually did, and it took a lot of effort to say what she did next. "Alright, Mako, you can go. But, you have to let me know about it tomorrow. I mean it." She gave her a reluctant glare and moved away from the couch, giving Makoto a clear path to the door. "Honestly, you are acting like a cornered animal. Go on." She made a shooing motion.

Makoto walked over to the door, stopping just before she went through it. "I'll let you know tomorrow. I promise." She gave her a half smile. "Don't worry, Ami. Grab a book and relax. We've got classes tomorrow." Then she was out the door, giving Ami no chance for a reply.

Ami's worry did not abate one bit, and she was left standing in a room full of books, without the slightest inclination to read any of them.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

"Why do you want to know something like that?" Rei asked, hearing herself snap at Minako. She should never have been asked such a question by Minako of all people. "What concern is it of yours?"

"You said that I could ask you anything."

Rei struggled for a way out, finding one rather quickly. "Yes, I did say that, and I meant it. However, I did not say that I would answer every question you ask." Childish, yes, but anything to keep her from having to answer that.

Minako moved closer to Rei, invading her personal space as she always did when she was trying to intimidate her. "Why do insist upon acting like a ten year old?"

Rei didn't answer that either.

"I am sure that Usagi is very quick to confide the matters of her heart to you, but I am not so inclined to copy her."

In Rei's opinion, Minako's confusion was well put on. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"The secret between you two; the one that I was not to know about. She finally told me." Rei said with impatience.

Minako's confusion did not ebb. "You mean, about the dance lessons?"

"What?"

"Huh?"

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Rei spoke. "What dance lessons?"

"Luna was making Usagi take dance lessons for months. I found out about them by accident and she made me swear not to tell any of you because she looked like an utter fool when she first started out. She was very self-conscious about it." Minako smiled. "Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue if Makoto had found out?"

Rei nodded, wondering why Usagi hadn't told Minako about who she Loved.

"You thought that Usagi had told me about someone she loved?" Minako asked, then just as quickly, her eyes went wide. "She told 'you' something like that?!"

"No!" Rei countered.

"Oh yes she did!" Minako's voice was so forceful that Rei almost took a step back.

"It is a secret between she and I."

Minako came so close that their noses were almost touching and said lowly. "I'll just have to ask her then."

Rei was more overwhelmed by Minako's proximity than by her words. She was just thinking that they were about the same height now (and when did that happen?) And that it would not be so wrong of her to be the first one to lean forward, but at that very moment she sensed something to their left and turned her head sharply in that direction, away from Minako's blue eyes.

There was someone coming down a smaller adjoining path towards them. Minako had turned to look when Rei had, and they both stood there waiting for the person to come into view. All the while Rei was mentally thanking whoever it was with the greatest sincerity. Which pretty much crumbled upon seeing exactly who it turned out to be.

Minako raised one brow and glanced at Rei, who now donned the most neutral expression that she could manage. "Prince Endymion?" Minako asked, bowing. Rei followed suit beside her.

The man before them bowed as well. He was very handsome, in Rei's opinion at least, and had black hair with dark eyes to match. Tall and broad shouldered, there was strength in his bearing. His face showed his kindness easily as he spoke to them. "I knew that I heard voices," he said, sounding tired and relieved at the same time. "I have been wandering about for the entire afternoon now. This garden is so massive that it swallowed me up. How do you manage to find your way about it?" He paused, giving them an inquiring glance. "You are not lost as well, are you?"

A laugh sounded from Minako before she answered. "No, Prince, we've been here long enough to know our way around. You, however, probably shouldn't be out here by yourself. Where is your guardian?"

The prince looked down the path. "I honestly have no idea what has become of the poor man. I told him to wait by the entrance, but he must have followed me in when I did not return soon enough for his liking."

"Hm...that does present a slight problem for you, but I'm sure we can send a few of our people in to find him."

The prince smiled gratefully. "Thank you, that would be most helpful. Might I ask your names? You know who I am, but I do not seem to remember meeting either of you before."

"That is because we have never met." Minako supplied.

"However did you recognize me?" he asked. "I am not exactly resplendent in my best formal wear today." He gestured at his plain breeches and tunic. A nondescript sword hung at his side.

Minako crossed her arms. "Let's just say that some talented artists managed to capture your likeness very well. Your picture is in the chapter on the Earth in my political science book."

"I appear in a text book?!" The prince asked, surprised. Then he laughed, "Imagine that!"

Rei knew the picture Minako was talking about. It took up an entire page, and it was not at all surprising to find it missing from half of the text books in the class. All of those belonging to girls who seemed to find it necessary to pin it to the wall in their room or some other such nonsense like sticking it to their notebooks. Whether he knew it or not, and Rei opted to think he didn't, Endymion was something of a celebrity on the moon. A walking fantasy that every girl wanted to get her hands on. Now that Rei was able to see him in person, she couldn't help but think that maybe Usagi wasn't so wrong in falling for someone like this. There was something attractive about him. It wasn't his looks, though those were definitely worth noting. It was a feeling Rei got from him. A kind of sure, steady feeling. Power and strength. This man was a good person. That thought stuck with her as she stared hard at his profile. 'But is he worthy of our princess?'

Suddenly, he turned, looking right at her. She heard Minako's voice and realized she was being introduced. "And this is Lady Mars Rei." She inclined her head toward him as he did in return.

"Ah, you are the one that I heard coughing earlier and I had thought you might be choking. I saw you on the balcony with another young lady. You gave me quite a startle and I was glad to see that it was nothing serious."

A flash of panic fluttering around in her stomach, Rei forced herself to smile. "I guess that is what I get for drinking too fast. You saw us from the garden?"

He nodded. "Oh, yes. Much earlier, when I had some idea of where I was."

Rei doubted that he could have overheard their conversation. He didn't seem the type to eavesdrop on others, and she hadn't even seen him earlier. Then again, she wasn't paying much attention to the garden at all then, her mind so distracted by what Usagi had asked her.

She noticed that Minako was giving her a questioning look, but Rei didn't feel much like explaining. "Shall we escort you to the exit? It might cut loose any minute now." She lifted her head a little to the sky.

The prince looked up. "That sounds like a good idea to me. I do not fancy being caught in a storm out here."

"Then let's go," Minako ushered them all down the path. "The sooner we get there, the sooner we can send someone after your guardian. I don't think they'd be too happy about being stuck in it either."

Endymion agreed. "Of course! We should hurry!"

They walked quickly. Retracing their steps back was easy, and Endymion all the while commented on how elaborate and complicated the whole thing was. He sounded fascinated as he talked and admired it.

When they finally came to their destination, Minako fetched some of the guards from the hall, sending them back in search of Endymion's lost guardian. In the mean time, Endymion said that he had other matters to tend to.

"I have a dinner to attend in a few hours, and I really must prepare for it."

Minako smiled in understanding. "Putting on something a bit more princely?"

He laughed, nodding. A boyish grin spread across his face as he bowed. He gave his farewell and hopes that they would meet again before he was to return to Earth.

Rei watched him go with a critical look upon her face. Maybe he was alright. Well, as a person he was alright, but it was his status as prince of Earth that would not suit others as far as Usagi went. His parents would most definitely be dead set against it, and who was to say what Usagi's mother would think...

Still. "I can see why she might love him," she heard herself say.

Minako stepped up beside her. "Endymion? That's who Usagi loves? But they've never even met."

Rei felt as though her entire body would go numb, realizing what she'd just said. She turned sharply on Minako, grabbing her by the shoulders firmly. "You cannot tell her that I let you know that!"

Minako smiled slyly, cutting her eyes at Rei. "Hmm?"

"Come on, Minako. Promise you will not mention anything to her about this. I would lose her trust forever."

"Oh, I don't know if I could do that, Rei. It's awfully hard to keep something like this to myself. Usagi and I talk all the time. It could just slip out in the middle of any conversation."

Rei wouldn't loosen her hold. "Minako..." she said behind clenched teeth.

"Maybe if I had something to remind me not to..." She tilted her head, waiting for Rei to catch on to exactly what she was getting at. It didn't take too long for her to figure it out.

"You–you want some kind of payment for your silence?" Rei looked shocked and angry at the same time. "A bribe?"

"You make it sound so bad."

"It is bad!"

"And it is especially bad to tell other people's secrets, isn't it?" Minako pinched Rei's cheek, making her scowl all the more.

"What do you want?"

"Not sure. I'll have to think about this. It's not everyday one gets a Martian princess under her thumb."

Rei appeared to be trying very hard not to yell as she spoke. "My honor is on the line here. I do not have time to play games."

Minako folded her arms across her chest, her face brightening as an idea came to her. "No, you don't have time for games, do you? That's a problem."

Minako waited, her smile adding to Rei's distress. Rei found that her smile could be as irritating as it was attractive. Only, Rei couldn't really tell if she disliked that or not. Would that make her odd, liking something that irritated her?

"Alright," Minako began, "here are my conditions."

Rei stopped her before she could go on. "I will not do any of your class work."

Minako gave her a scandalized look. "As if I would ever have you do that. I am not a complete moron, you know. I do try to do my work. Sometimes I procrastinate a bit too much, and I may turn it in a tad late at other times. But I do get it done." She pouted, putting on a nice show of looking offended.

"The thought did cross your mind though," Rei threw in.

Minako dodged Rei's statement, looking as if she hadn't heard her at all. "Anyway, these are my conditions."

"Oh, you had a backup plan." Rei kept her smile in check.

"You will be attending the festival this year. I was upset that you didn't go last year, and I heard that you hadn't gone to any of the previous ones."

Rei felt as if she had just escaped execution right at the ax's fall. That was it? Attend the festival? That was nothing at all. Although, Minako was in the dark about whether Rei had attended the other festivals. She actually had, but under different circumstances than what the princesses usually went under, maybe breaking a few rules in the process. Minako would never even guess at what she had done at other festivals.

"Alright, I will go to the festival," Rei agreed, readily.

Probably a bit too readily in Minako's opinion. "You will?"

"Of course. As long as you do not tell Usagi about my failure to keep her secret, then I will go."

Minako was now looking at her suspiciously. "I'll make sure you keep your word."

"I will. I always do." Relief swept over her, knowing that she wouldn't have to worry about Minako telling Usagi. She didn't really think that she would have anyway, but it didn't hurt to have some reassurance. And besides, she'd gladly go the festival if it would make Minako happy.

She looked up suddenly, the feeling of someone's eyes making her alert. There, standing in the entrance to the garden, was a man. A man so fragile in appearance that it seemed even a breeze might knock him over. He was short and slim with feathery white hair and eyes the color of amber. The feeling she got from him was strange because it contrasted his appearance. Not a fragile feeling at all.

Minako noticed the direction of her stare and turned to regard what had caught her interest. Her expression changed to one of recognition. "Artemis!" She greeted, waving him over.

He took his time coming to them, his steps light, making no sound on the cobbled path. "What are you doing out here?" Minako asked as he stopped beside them.

"Enjoying the lovely weather," he answered, smiling down at her.

Rei considered the dark clouds, giving him a bewildered look that he did not see.

"And here I thought you might have been spying on me." Minako continued to smile as did Artemis.

"I would never dream of it."

Rei wondered if they always interacted like this, or if she was only catching a glimpse of the tamer side of their student teacher relationship.

"Have you met Rei?" Minako asked, ending the awkward moment for Rei.

"No, I have not yet had the pleasure," he said. There was no sarcasm in his voice now. That seemed to be reserved only for his pupil. Rei bowed as she was introduced but kept her eyes on him. She felt as though she should be careful of Artemis. If the things she heard about him were true, then this man was very intelligent and perceptive. She would have to take care in her interactions with Minako around him. What might he do if he knew of her secret?

"Rei and I were just talking about the fair." Minako said, after having made introductions. "I can't wait for it to get here."

"That will be several months yet," Artemis replied. Rei noticed that though he was addressing Minako, he still looked at her. She felt a creeping wariness invade her. Was he studying her with those strange eyes? Or was he simply being polite by trying to include her in their conversation? She couldn't tell, and that bothered her. His eyes left her abruptly, looking around at the garden. "Look at all these lovely flowers," he said, "I hope that they will be just as beautiful come fair time. What wonderful colors." He looked pointedly at Minako, who scowled back.

He laughed and Rei jumped at the sound, it was so unexpected.

"Lady Mars," he said, a bit enthusiastic.

"Yes?" Rei had thought she was doing well in not showing how uncomfortable she was around Artemis. Just being near him seemed to make her feel so young and foolish. Like she was a little girl trying to hide a big secret from a grown-up.

"If you do not mind my asking...what is your favorite color?"

Minako let out an exasperated huff, and Rei's bemused expression returned. She looked over at Minako, who shrugged. "Humor the man. He really has too much time on his hands and nothing to do with it."

Well, at least it was an easy question, with an easy enough answer. "My favorite color would have to be...blue, I guess," she said honestly.

Artemis was looking at her in that calculating way again. It bothered her so much that she looked away from him and back to Minako, who was now staring at her strangely.

"What?"

"Blue? Why blue?" Minako asked. "I would have thought...well, anything but blue."

Rei looked into Minako's eyes. 'As if I could ever tell you the reason,' she thought. She broke the contact, remembering Artemis's presence.

"Blue is a soothing color. Cool and calm, it has a tendency to be associated with the element of water." It was almost as if Artemis sensed Rei's discomfort. He was giving her a way to avoid Minako's question. "A brighter blue can be exciting and energetic. A blue like the sky perhaps," he said, looking up. "Well, not today's sky."

Rei looked up as well. "Something unreachable."

Artemis smiled. "Yes, quite."

Minako was growing impatient with the pale man. "Must you harass my friends with your strange questions?"

"Well, seeing as I have only met one of your friends so far, I do not think that it should be such an inconvenience. In fact, I would like to meet your other friends, Minako."

"Let's keep the teaching inside our sessions, Artemis," she said with warning.

"Alright, then you will not be against bringing one of your friends to our next meeting. I would think that they might find it interesting and it will help me to better instruct you."

Minako stared at him, not appearing pleased at all with Artemis's sudden demands. "I'm not going to drag any of my friends with me. And who says they'll even want to come?"

"I do not mind," Rei put in truthfully. She had wanted to know for a while now what Artemis and Minako did in their sessions together.

Minako shot a glare at Rei that clearly said, 'you are not helping.'

"There you have it," Artemis said with a gesture of his hand towards Rei. "Though, I admit that I want to meet all of your close friends, Minako."

Minako looked away from them both, still wearing her displeasure.

"I will make a request through the Queen if I have to," Artemis added.

This comment made them both look at him. Minako was disbelieving while Rei kept her face neutral. Her feelings at that moment, however, mirrored Minako's.

"You would do that? Artemis...," her mouth stayed open, but no words came.

Artemis still wore his gentle smile. "Do not look so serious, Minako. I am going to let you do this in your own time. You should not feel pressured into it, but I wanted to make it clear that I will have to meet them eventually. They are all a vital part of you that I must know."

Minako still looked unsure.

Rei put a hand on Minako's shoulder, causing Minako to look up, a touch of anger for Artemis shown in her eyes. "Stop making such a big deal out of it," Rei said calmly. Her grip tightened on Minako's arm, cutting off whatever the blonde was going to say. "Makoto and Ami will have no problem with it either. Ami has already displayed interest in meeting Lord Artemis." She let her hand drop from Minako's shoulder. "You should not question your teacher when he makes a request anyway."

The anger in Minako's eyes was now turned on Rei. "So you'll just take his side? Thanks a lot, Rei."

Rei was so shocked by the statement that she let the sudden anger she felt at being accused get the best of her. "Take his side?!" She tightened her jaw, and almost succeeded in stopping herself from saying what she did next. "Quit being so childish. Why can you not just see what is best for you?!"

Minako's voice was mocking, "And you would know what is best for me? Rei, the all-knowing."

Rei felt her anger flair, and just went with it. Consequences be damned. "I would know that you never take anything you do seriously. Are you ever serious about anything? About anyone?!"

Minako's face froze in what seemed to be shock.

A cough to her left and Rei was reminded of Artemis's presence. "I apologize. I did not mean to start an argument between the two of you. If it is that bothersome, maybe I will reconsider..." He started to say.

"No!" Minako said forcefully. "Rei has already decided that I should allow it, so it's settled. She's always right after all."

"You know that is not true," Rei made her voice calm, unable to ignore the feeling of Artemis's eyes upon her. She needed to get out of here, quick. Not giving Minako enough time to answer, she turned to the man who was watching her. "I will be leaving now, it was a pleasure to meet you, Lord Artemis." She bowed, then glanced briefly at Minako before walking hurriedly past Artemis and into the hall. She could hear Artemis behind her.

"Well, then Minako, I think that I will continue my walk in the garden. Care to join me?"

Rei could not make out Minako's reply as she put her hand to her forehead, wanting to get as far away from the two as she could. What had gone wrong in the last few minutes? They had been doing just fine, having a nice conversation with the little time they got to spend with each other. Then a stupid fight, just like that. It always popped out of nowhere. 'So, she thinks that I am arrogant? Conceited? If that is what she thinks of me... If that is what it takes to get her to think of me, then fine.' This would solve it all. It had to. 'I will take the thing she dislikes most and build upon it. I have to, if I am to keep my true feelings hidden from even people like Lord Artemis. This must work.' Rei couldn't bear to lose Minako's attention, yet she couldn't let her know how much that attention meant to her. She felt another headache coming on. 'This is almost war.'

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Makoto leaned back against the door, letting out a long sigh of relief and closing her eyes. "That was...strange."

And that was an understatement.

She put a hand to her forehead, making herself remember why she had volunteered to do this. Ah, that was it. Because if she hadn't, Ami would be testing strange mixtures on herself, leaving them clueless as to what she was doing. Anything was preferable to that. But this? It had come out of nowhere, it was so unexpected. She'd have taken the pain, even the glowing neon green. At least that wouldn't have messed with her mind as much as this was.

It was almost comical when she thought that it was Ami, of all people, who had created something like this. It was Ami!

She really did laugh, only to quickly clamp her hand over her mouth, remembering that she was right outside the room Ami still occupied. She pushed away from the door, intent on getting as far away from the room as she could before Ami changed her mind and decided to come after her.

She shook her head. She couldn't let herself be anywhere near the Mercurian right now. She thought about the chess game, and how things had changed so quickly. It really did come out of nowhere. Simply put, one minute she had been watching Ami concentrate on making her move, and in the next she was concentrating on making her own move on Ami. She hadn't exactly realized what she was thinking until Ami had touched her, making the line between fantasy and reality very obvious. Then she had totally lost it. How could she show Ami such a side of herself? She'd panicked and acted like a scared kid. A cornered animal, she had called her.

'I feel like an animal,' she thought, her long strides taking her further away from the room. And Ami wanted to know what was wrong? What was she going to tell her tomorrow? She certainly wasn't going to tell her the truth. Well, not the whole truth. Because the whole truth would be too hard to explain. Small details popped into her mind now. Something about the way Ami looked when she was thinking. Makoto always got this intense feeling, wondering what was going to come of it, what was she going to say? It had always been just a friendly curiosity, but during the chess game it had transformed into something different. She'd watched her with eyes that found her every move enticing.

She suddenly felt so angry with herself. Ami was just a girl. 'This stupid potion is making me ogle Ami.'

Where was Rei? She needed to find her. Maybe she could get her to go practice or something. A good long sparring match would be a great distraction. She could burn off this excess energy she felt coursing through her veins.

Makoto set off, beginning her search. She knew that Rei had gone for a walk, now she only needed to hope that she was near the end of it, because searching the garden was not going to be fun at all.

Coming around a corner, she almost ran over the Martian she'd been searching for. Rei's demeanor seemed less than pleasant as she addressed Makoto.

"Why are you out wandering the halls? I thought that you were supposed to stay with Ami."

Makoto ignored her grouchiness. "I've been looking for you. And Ami...well, actually that's what I need you for. That damn potion has done something to me. I think it might be a side effect. I couldn't tell Ami about it, and I don't feel comfortable telling you either. But still, I need your help for a while until it wears off."

Rei held up a hand to stop Makoto. "Tell me the side effect."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"It's embarrassing and you'll laugh."

"I am not so immature as that."

Makoto shook her head and gave Rei a pleading expression. "Please, just drop it and come with me to the practice yard."

Rei looked as though she would argue, but then shrugged instead. "I suppose it cannot hurt. But only for an hour," she said. Makoto had expected more of a fight out of her, but she wasn't going to complain.

"Why is everyone being so demanding today? First Usagi, then Minako, and now you?" Rei tossed over her shoulder as she turned away from Makoto.

Something in her statement caught Makoto's attention. She stopped in the middle of the hall, a thought striking her. "Minako?" she said, looking off down the hall. She felt a strange little pang of excitement and relief, as she remembered something she ought to have much earlier. "Do you know where she is?" she asked urgently.

Rei pointed back the way she had come. "She may still be in the garden."

Makoto's smile was grateful as she looked to Rei. "I don't think I'll need to bother you after all. It was a bit hasty of me to just ask you to help me out of the blue like this anyway. Sorry to take up your time."

"No, it is alright. Maybe someone else has some use of me. The day is not over quite yet after all. Perhaps the cook needs help with dinner tonight," she said sarcastically.

"Okay, I said I was sorry. It's just that Minako will be able to help me a lot more than you can right now."

Rei looked a tad offended. "Really? And what can she do that I cannot?"

Makoto was twirling a lock of her auburn hair around her finger, looking suddenly nervous. "Well, that is to say...it's not really something you can't do. It's just not something we could do. Because that would just be too weird, and Minako probably wouldn't like that." Her face had turned red as she forced out the sentences. "At least, I hope she wouldn't!"

She looked up at Rei who now had on the most bemused expression she had every seen her wear. "You know what, I'm going to go," Makoto turned and started to walk off.

"The garden," Rei said hesitantly, "is the other way."

Makoto stopped, turned around, and marched past Rei in the other direction.

"Wait," Rei's voice stopped her. She turned back with an impatient jerk to see what it was Rei wanted.

"Here." Rei extended her hand. Makoto walked over to see what she offered. A small blue flower lay in the palm of Rei's hand. Makoto looked up at her with a raised brow.

"For me? You shouldn't have."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Why hadn't she thought of Minako sooner? It was such an obvious answer.

She spotted Minako leaning against one side of the arching entrance to the garden. A storm had come up and she was watching the rain fall outside. Lighting broke the sky every so often and thunder rumbled in the distance. What luck to have a storm roll in now of all times. Things were leaning in her favor now, and she just hoped that Minako was in a better mood than Rei was. There didn't seem to be much tension in her as Makoto snuck up slowly from behind. She hadn't noticed her yet and Makoto was planning on using that to her advantage. She moved stealthily towards her target, ready to give her a real scare.

A sigh from Minako made her stop short. At first she thought she'd been found out, but then she straightened, realizing that she probably could have walked right up behind Minako and not been noticed. There was a note of melancholy in that sigh. One that Makoto never associated with the blond. Her blue eyes were staring up at the sky but didn't appear to see it at all. Neither the lightning nor thunder disrupted her gaze. Such deep thought was a strange sight on Minako's face. It could have been a different person leaning against that wall. The overconfident, lighthearted beauty was cast aside for the moment. Makoto wasn't sure how to approach her now. She felt uncomfortable. A crying Minako she could deal with. An angry Minako was even easier. This seemed more complicated and she knew that Minako wouldn't talk to her about it. They never burdened each other with their problems.

Makoto was reconsidering her idea when Minako pushed away from the wall, turning abruptly around, probably intent on leaving. Their eyes met and Minako jumped in surprise.

"Makoto?" She said in an unsteady voice, "Where did you come from?"

Makoto could have asked what was on Minako's mind, but instead she said, simply, "Jupiter."

Minako rolled her eyes and smiled. "Lame."

Makoto stepped closer. "Yes, but it got that frown off your face."

"I wasn't frowning."

"Well, you certainly weren't smiling."

Minako shrugged. "I thought you were supposed to be with Ami. Did she finish her testing already?"

"About that..." Makoto trailed off, suddenly realizing that she didn't know how to explain this to Minako. They never really talked about this kind of thing. They were certainly familiar with it, but they never actually discussed things like this with each other. She felt her face heat up at the thought of actually saying what she felt like doing at the moment. Sure, sometimes she joked about it, but... 'This is ridiculous!'

"Makoto?"

She could feel herself frowning. "Alright, I'm going to tell you about this, but you have to promise not to laugh."

Minako nodded, and though Makoto didn't believe she would keep her word, she was going to tell her anyway. She looked around the garden past Minako, then back over her shoulder at the hall behind them. Minako looked at her curiously, one brow raised. 'I can't risk someone overhearing this.' So, she bent slightly until her lips were close to Minako's ear and whispered a few short sentences, her face turning red as she did.

Straightening, she studied Minako's face for a reaction. The corner of Minako's mouth was turning up in a smile that she was obviously trying to hold back. "Are you serious?"

Makoto put a hand over her eyes and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah..." She said weakly.

"An aphrodisiac!?" Minako's laughter rang loud throughout the garden and echoed in the hall.

"Quiet!" Makoto hissed, looking around frantically. "Not so loud!"

Minako continued laughing, coming to lean on the wall next to Makoto.

"I can't believe this."

"It was probably an accident."

"Probably?" Minako laughed harder. "Of course it was an accident! Can you imagine Ami making something like that on purpose?"

Makoto let out a small giggle of her own. "Hell no."

"We can't let her know about this. She'd die of embarrassment, or hold up in her room for weeks."

Makoto crossed her arms. "I'll have to think of some excuse, so she'll think her experiment was a failure, which it was."

"Well, I don't know about that. I certainly wouldn't be able to sleep in that condition." Minako snickered.

Makoto nodded, then, remembering why she had sought out Minako to begin with, she moved so that she was in front of Minako, one hand on the wall behind her. "So, I was wondering...if you're not busy the rest of the day..." Her throat tightened as she couldn't quite think of how to word her request. Minako was usually the one who instigated when they...well, when they did this sort of thing.

"Hm? Did you want something?" Minako wasn't helping.

"I want," Makoto couldn't form words as her mind was thinking of exactly what she wanted, hindering her ability to articulate. Her few coherent thoughts, she just couldn't say. 'I want you out of those clothes and into my bed. It should be so easy to say something like that to a woman you've slept with plenty of times already, idiot!'

'She has to be teasing me.' As she looked at Minako, she figured she was right. Minako knew exactly what she wanted, if her sly smile was any indication.

Moving her hand from the wall to the back of Minako's head, she pulled the other woman up to meet her lips. 'This is much easier,' she thought, pushing her into the wall, keeping their lips firmly together. She was expecting her urgency to be met and matched, so she was rather unnerved when it wasn't. Minako kissed her back in an absentminded sort of way. It was so distracting that Makoto pulled away suddenly, brows knit in frustration. "It something wrong?" she asked, genuine worry in her voice.

Minako's eyes focused on Makoto and she blinked, shaking her head. "No," she said softly.

Makoto sighed, feeling disappointment creep over her as she contemplated what to do next. 'Well, it's not like I'll die,' she thought. "You know, if you're not in the mood–"

"No," Minako said firmly, putting her arms around Makoto now, "I said I'm fine." As if trying to prove her point, she pulled Makoto as close as she could. Makoto was left a little breathless and surprised at the sudden change in Minako.

'Much better,' she thought as Minako's lips found her neck. The combination of Ami's potion and Minako's hands slipping under her shirt were enough to make her knees buckle. She leaned against the wall for support. What she really wanted was to lie down. To lie down somewhere with Minako 'We should go to my room,' she thought, remembering where they were. However, her body was not cooperating at all with her mind, and Minako didn't seem to show any signs of slowing in her ministrations, which were becoming increasingly bolder by the minute. Makoto couldn't help but think that maybe Minako had no intention of moving.

'It's not like anyone would be out here anyway...' It was raining after all. Who would go to the garden in the rain? And the thunder would be much louder than the two of them could ever be. And Makoto wasn't exactly opposed to having Minako right there against the wall in a somewhat public place. On the contrary, it actually added to her excitement. A little thrill worked its way down her back as she guided Minako's lips to her own again.

The thunder was perfect. The lightning was perfect. Minako's hands against her back were perfect. Everything was just–

"Are you two usually this intimate in such public places?" A strong voice cut through the pouring rain.

Minako suddenly went rigid in her arms and Makoto practically jumped out of her skin at the sound of the voice. Turning, she snapped harshly at the intruder, a short, skinny man who was walking towards them through the rain.

"That's none of your damn business!" She yelled. A well-timed streak of lighting broke the sky reflecting her anger at being interrupted. "And why the hell are you walking around outside during a storm, you moron?!"

The man's smile widened, making her anger rise.

She felt a hand tighten about her arm, and she looked back to see Minako laughing at her. "What?"

"Please, get your hormones under control," she said, rolling her eyes. "You looked as if you were going to fry Lord Artemis."

Makoto gawked at Minako for a moment before turning her head slowly to look down at the man who now stood several feet from her, still wearing that calm smile. 'Aw, shit...' she thought, deflating. Quickly, she sought to right her wrong by bowing as deeply as she could manage before the small man. "I apologize, my Lord. I didn't know who you were." Hold on, that wasn't right. "Not that it would be okay even if you weren't who you are. I'm just a bit stressed and–"

"Incredibly horny," Minako finished for her.

Makoto shot up, wearing a scandalized expression, her face turning a remarkable shade of red. 'You don't just say things like that in front of an Elder!' she thought in distress.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. You were babbling. And you're not the first one to call him a moron, I guarantee you that." Minako glared over at Artemis. "Well, isn't this your lucky day, meeting two princesses and all."

"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Jupiter."

Makoto bowed again. "It is an honor, my Lord."

"And to answer your question...," he began.

Makoto cringed.

"I happen to like taking walks in such weather. The lightning is a pleasure to observe. So beautiful and unpredictable, and so very dangerous at the same time. The power of the thunder rumbling in the heavens almost shakes my very soul, leaving me feeling very small. To be able to harness a power like that must be marvelous, Lady Jupiter."

Makoto's cheeks reddened at his comments. She did not know whether to feel complimented or insulted. Didn't he know that she wasn't in total control of her element yet? The small man was undoubtedly older and far wiser than she, and yet he didn't hear the gossip, all the complaints from the instructors? Or maybe he didn't really care one way or the other and was just saying what he thought appropriate, given the circumstances. Yeah, that had to be it. He didn't know a damn thing about her and was just making polite chit chat. Well, that's what most people did when confronted with the princess of Jupiter anymore. It was obvious that none of the other royalty were very fond of her, why should he be different? Ever since she'd been brought to the palace, years ago, the nobility had never really accepted her.

"It seems I have said something that displeases you? I apologize if that is so, my lady."

Makoto suddenly became aware that she was frowning, something she rarely allowed herself to do in front of others. Artemis was wearing a slight frown of his own, he almost looked concerned.

"No," she said with a waving motion, "you've said nothing wrong, it's just this weather. The chill is getting to me." She made sure to don the artificial smile she reserved for nobility. "I think that it would be a good idea to head in now," turning to Minako, "don't you think?"

She was finished with Artemis, her eyes meeting Minako's as the other woman nodded. Those worried blue orbs reminded her of something and she stepped over to the blonde, holding out the flower Rei had given her. She twirled it between her index and middle finger, smiling genuinely now. Minako seemed confused and looked back up at Makoto, a brow arched in question.

Makoto tilted her head, staring as she realized something. "Rei was right," she reached up to brush aside Minako's bangs affectionately, "it does match your eyes."

Minako looked back down at the flower, those blue eyes widening for only a few seconds then narrowing and looking off to the side. Makoto followed her gaze, Artemis was gone. Makoto handed Minako the flower, taking her other hand. She was eager to get away from Elder, who's sympathetic amber eyes bothered her to no end. "Come on," she said, looking one last time at the garden before leading Minako away with her, "it's his own fault if he gets sick, he's old enough to know better."

Continued...