AN: Forgive the lack of editing. Promise to do better next time should you care to follow up.

AFTER ALL

"This had better be good, Usagi. Why in the world did you have

to call a meeting for?"

Usagi moved a bit from where she is sitting but refrained from

saying anything to the fuming priestess. Rei is just being her usual

self, she excused the miko to herself. She refuse to think that it has

to do with the fact that just a week ago, the moon princess they have

been searching for was revealed. Usagi need not be told that the scouts

were disappointed--well, except for Venus.

Usagi shut her eyes, painfully tight...maybe she is the only

one thinking that they were disappointed.

"Hey, odango, I do not have all day!" Rei was back.

"Rei-chan!" Makoto chided.

"It's okay," Usagi said without looking at Mako. That girl

would risk a limb for her. She'd better make this fast before Mako

remembers her slapping spree and give Rei a free sample. Usagi

shuddered at the thought. It was only now that she realized how Rei was

hurting and how hurt the priestess must have been when Makoto hit her.

"I don't think we'll have any problems with the days to come.

Metalla has finally given it a rest," Ami commented. Trust Ami to break

the ice with her ever cool demeanor and astuteness.

"That's right. I'm planning to spend a week in England if it's

okay with the princess," Minako cheerfully beamed at Usagi and the

latter smiled back.

"It's Usagi-chan, V-babe and yes, a vacation will do you a

world of good after that near death stunt we went through last week,"

she has told Mina not to call her princess but the latter justifies her

"lapses" by saying that she still finds it a little assuming to call

her by first name as they have hardly been a month together.

"Oh, thank you!" Mina hugged Makoto in her enthusiasm.

"I'm planning to use the crystal--"

"Whatever for, Usagi-chan?" Ami cut in. Using the crystal for

the past time had been synonymous with endangering the princess' life.

"I was thinking of using it to erase Mamoru's--" she has

practiced these words too well for a slip on her endearment for Mamoru.

"NO!" It was an adamant rejoinder from Minako who looked

horrified contrary to her bright disposition earlier.

Usagi continued as if she didn't hear Minako and the mumbles

from her all throughout her two-minute spiel.

"It's for the best," Usagi managed to sound convincing even to

herself. "I don't like the idea of us being together just because we

were lovers in the past," the atmosphere is too intense to even bother

blushing. "I-I want to give myself a chance." There! She have lied.

Successfully so.

"Hah! You think yourself too good for Mamoru-san, is that it?"

Rei's eyes were flashing daggers.

"Stop it, Rei-chan," Luna chided, gently though. She never

believed Usagi when the latter said that Rei is still carrying a torch

for the college sophomore who also happens to be the prince. But now

she looks at Usagi with a different eye. Her princess, her charge, will

never be blind to feelings like that. She knows that Usagi is doing

this to save her friendship with Rei, however much the odango wants

everyone to believe that it is selfishness that is making her act this

way.

"Rei-chan doesn't even bother teasing me like she used to,

Luna," Usagi told her the third night from the time her other identity

was revealed. "Do you think it has to do with her former relationship

with Mamo-chan?"

'What relationship?' Luna was tempted to ask. Mamoru is too

distant to anybody. There are only two people Luna sees him bother with

: Motoki and Usagi.

Usagi has told her to bear with Rei, saying she doesn't know

how she would have reacted if she were in Rei's shoes.

"I understand her bitterness. It could have been me in her

place and I might be more bitter than she is now,you know," Usagi had

lamented, leaning on her windowsill, stroking Luna's fur.

"No you wouldn't," Luna countered. She knows that the girl has

been attracted to Mamoru long before, though she tries to hide it by

being annoying to him rather than concentrate on having the guy fall in

love with her.

"I might have been, you know."

"You could have been sad, pitiful, and difficult but you could

never be bitter. You would have been ecstatic for Rei-chan or for

Saori-san even if it cost your life to appear happy in front of them.

You'll never have it in you to resent them."

"How do you know, Luna? You are not me," the blonde bombshell

argued but the lack of strength in her voice gave her away.

"I just know," Luna tried to beam at her if such a feature on

her was possible. Usagi picked up the cat and placed her on her lap.

"How about helping me lie about it, Luna?" was what Usagi said.

"It may sound like that to you Rei-chan. Or even to Mamoru-san

but Usagi is doing this for both of them, and for other parties

involved," Luna cannot help adding the last bit. She'd be lucky if

Usagi doesn't skin her alive for that comment.

"That is nice to know," Mina sarcastically commented, looking

meaningfully at Rei, which Rei returned equally. Mina shifted her gaze

to Usagi who was again speaking.

"Please? I was hoping you'd understand..."

Luna figured this is the right time to make it up by butting

in, to say her part in the crime.

"Usagi-chan met one of Mamoru-san's college mates, SAORI-san in

particular and..." without looking at Usagi, Luna knows that the

odangoed blonde is dying for her to go on. "...and Usagi

felt...inadequate--"

"That is not true. Usagi-chan--"

"It's okey,Ami-chan. I know you don't mean patronising me--yes

Mako-chan," Usagi sensed that the raging beauty is about to say her

piece. "I know you all think the world of me and that you always make

me feel like I deserve it too. Demo, I owe this to Mamoru-san, to

Saori-san...to myself. I don't want to forever contemplate..." will she

ever finish explaining herself, Usagi felt like betraying her future

with love and happy ending. Thank goodness, Mina did not prolong her

torture.

"As the leader of the scouts in the moon, I am giving my

consent, though you know full well that you can act without it,

princess," Minako declared calmly, looking at no one in particular

with a blank expression on her face.

Ami was immobile. Something is wrong here, something she cannot

place. She has always worked well with numbers, even variables and

complex matrices and equations but here before her is a very tangent

scene and she does not know how to strike a balance.

Makoto wonders where the bubbly Usagi has gone to. Eversince

that night, the girl whom she saved from a near road accident and from

idiotic bullies--the only girl who had the courage to befriend her

despite her reputation--the first to approach her in the cold grounds

of Juuban--Usagi,has been walking on eggshells. She's never laughed

spontaneously for what seemed like forever. Neither has she whined her

trademark wail that's never taken seriously but by Mamoru-san.

"If the senshi of love agrees, who am I to argue?" Jupiter

said, standing up to emphasize her point.

For Usagi, two scouts are enough to support her stand. Her

decision stands as the third in accord. Three to two. Ami won't defy

her. Rei would if she knew she's part if not the sole reason Usagi is

doing this but never will Usagi tell. And she made Luna promise that

she would not breathe a word either.

Usagi stood up and picked her organizer, the only accessory she

brought save from her brooch and communicator. She purposely left the

locket. She headed down the temple steps after she had silently excused

herself. With Luna by her side, they exited the temple grounds.

Certain that Usagi can't hear them, Ami found her voice.

"You didn't even talk Usagi-chan out of it, Mina-chan," Ami

started.

"I was the first one who cried no, remember?"

Mako remained standing, unable to second Ami for she had

already vouched her vote for Minako.

"It may be for the best," Rei quietly said.

'Best for whom, for you!' Minako would like to yell but bit

back her tongue instead. The senshi of fire, the princess of Mars,will

never understand. Not now. And Minako admires Usagi's clairvoyance in

knowing this.

"I expected more from Mamoru-san, though. He isn't blind not to

know how Usagi-chan might feel being around his sophisticated college

"friend" who is hopelessly devoted to him," Makoto stressed the word

friend and deliberately removed the s.

"Don't blame Mamoru-san!" Rei tried to control herself--and

failed. But it was lost on Ami and Mako who never seriously believed it

when Rei tells them all that Mamoru is her boyfriend. Nevertheless, her

outburst had an impact to the princess of love, Venus, though the

blonde beauty decided to appear as oblivious as the two.

"No one is blaming anybody, Rei-chan," Minako nearly

sweatdropped. Ami's coolness would make a luscious cucumber appear dry.

"I think you should make her change her mind, Venus," Ami turned to her

abruptly that Minako was taken aback.

"I may be a decoy princess but I stand by the real one's

decision. As far as I'm concerned, this meeting is over. We don't have

all day, right Mars?" Venus thought she heard Rei's strangled breath

when Ami suggested she, Minako, should make Usagi change her mind. But

the love senshi is beyond feeling anything now.

"PRIN-----Usagi-chan!" Minako squealed, glad to have caught

up with the pale beauty. Usagi, she thought, is walking far too slowly

for her own good, and to Minako's benefit.

"I know why you did it, you know. Saori-san is no competition

and Mamoru-san is totally gone on you," Minako said, side by side with

Usagi.

"I did it for myself."

"You did it for friendship's sake."

"V-babe--"

"You know, this is my favorite spot here in Tokyo. Or I should

say, in Japan. The bridge over the river, the cherry blossoms in

sight," Minako walked toward the railings and looked down on the

greenish-blue water.

"Thanks, V-chan, for understanding. I should have known that I

cannot hide something like this from you, ne?"

"No," Minako prolonged her answer and pretended an insulted

glance in Usagi's direction who was now beside her. The two of them

surveyed the violet and white lilies afloat below.

"The prince is your fate, Usagi-chan. He will always find a way

to be with--"

"Please don't speak of fate. I am so tired of destiny. Destiny

is what we make it, I'd like to believe, or so they say."

"I can see that doing this is killing you. You love him so

much," Minako waited for a denial but it never came. "And you love some

people way too much too," she tried to get a reaction.

"They deserve it," Usagi vaguely identified whom.

"Perhaps."

"Hey! You are the senshi of love. Can't you at least be sure?"

Minako merely rolled her eyeballs and the two of them shared a

small girlish laugh.

"You do not have to do this, princess" Minako's eyes were

compassionate as they looked at her. Usagi moved away from the bamboo

railings and walked ahead. Minako followed her.

"You do not believe me, do you? In time Rei-chan will recover

from her infatuation and she'll discover how foolish she have acted and

how futile it was all," Minako reasoned.

"Yes, and she'll feel guilty by how she treated me and she'll

grow farther from me than she is now, I would lose her friendship

either way. And what if it's not infatuation as you--"

"And you think by making her think that Saori-san is the reason

you are doing this--"

Usagi shook her head.

"I did not make anybody believe that. It's Luna's fault. She's

worse at lying than I am. Nobody needs to know, V-chan. I prefer it

that way."

"And what about Mamoru-san? You think this is fair to him?"

"All is fair in love and war."

"So this is love, ne?"

"You are hopeless!" Usagi cried in mock surrender.

"Don't worry about me, Minako-chan. I command you to enjoy your

vacation and not return until you do. I assure you I'll be fine.

Somehow I feel guilty that all of you feel responsible for me, out of

duty, and it's just--"

"Don't say a word!" Minako warned, closing her eyes and signing

stop with her left hand. "You know--"

"Thank you Minako-chan. I cannot repay you in any way."

"You do owe me your friendship." A princess who would die for

her, Minako thought, never doubting for a minute that Usagi will do

almost everything for those she loves.

Minako looked at Usagi's disappearing form. She had mentioned

that she and Luna parted ways at the last temple step. Minako slowly

walked to the big cherry tree by the river side.

Usagi is very wrong if she thinks Mamoru will choose anyone

over her. Eyes on the horizon, Minako recalled her first encounter with

the destined sweethearts. That one time when she was as clueless as the

two about their secret identities.

It was one of those days when, being a new student and feeling

almost a foreigner in your own land got on one's nerves. Minako gave

in to the temptation to enter the crown and shook herself out of her

depression, if only to see what's in store. For the moment, she

contented herself by sitting on a stool and sipping a soda.

The person on the counter—she came to know later as Furuhata

Motoki, was serving her all right, but she's certain that his attention

was on something else.

Venus followed Motoki's gaze and found a raven-haired guy

approaching one of the video boxes. He stopped and on sight

was a gorgeous blonde who was unaware of being watched, much less of being

approached. Only the blonde was playing then and that made the place a lot

quieter than when a bunch of graders were shoving one another for their

turn.

"Hey, odango atama!" Minako winced at the wrong title that

seemed so fitting. "Did you manage to get Sailor V murdered today?"

"Go away, baka," she said without looking. "I should have known

you're going to be here by now and left already."

Minako's eyes shifted to four senior high girls (she could tell

from the pins on their uniform) on one of the not so distant tables.

They were obviously aghast and lost as to how the petite blonde would

speak vile words to the drop dead gorgeous hunk who was obviously the

object of their being here.

These girls, like most of the female population in the arcade

would love the attention of the attractive man, even if only to tease

them. Mercilessly, they would prefer.

"You know, for such an avid fan of Sailor V, you are doing her

an injustice by playing her game." The guy has now leaned closer, his

dark head over the girl's pale one, one of his hands on the game

machine's edge.

Minako lifted an eyebrow at the comment. So she loves Sailor V.

"You know, if I know Sailor V, I'll make her punish you."

Minako now has two arched eyebrows. So this girl planned to make a

trasher out of her!

Game over, the blonde was now facing

the man. Their heads were only inches apart. The guy wouldn't move and

the blonde would never admit defeat by backing off.

"If I have a building, I'll make certain you fall from it."

From where Minako was sitting, it was clear that the exotic

blonde was the building and the dark guy had already fallen.

"Maybe you should study more so you'd at least have the chance

to own a building," Minako heard him say. Tsk. Tsk. Never bug anybody

about his/her studies. Minako thought the guy had more sense. Her

attention was suddenly taken by two teenagers who were two stools away

from her.

"Don't bother," the other one said, holding the brown-haired

guy's shoulder. "They breathe for it. And she can manage," it dawned on

Minako that they were speaking about the arguing couple. Mr. Knight in

Shining Armor here wanted to rescue the damsel in distress but another

guy said 'That's not your princess, buddy.'

"Trust me, I've been there. I've seen this before," Minako

should have known. The girl in question was far too pretty to be

missed by the guys who frequent this place. But by the looks of it,

someone had taken prior claim and all entities here know to whom the

blonde belongs to, if only she wouldn't be so stubborn. Or if only he

would change his strategy. Or some of the guys could try, and have

their share of venomous glare from the dashing rake.

The brown-haired guy eased on his seat and turned to his soda,

drinking in large gulps. Minako thought he was kawaii, but not a match

for the fiery blonde.

This fight scene must be a routine, then. And everyone here

must be anticipating the sparring between the two. Well, the play today

must be one of the mild cases.

"Why don't you find somebody else to pester?" Minako heard her

mutter under her breath. Would the blonde really like that? "Rei-chan

would love it." Who is Rei-chan? Minako thought.

"Perhaps."

"Don't talk to me until you're sure," she stood up. "Let me

pass." He deliberately blocked her way.

"And make you klutz out? No way," A couple of girls laughed a

bit too loud for the blonde's taste and she glared at the man in front

of her whose only answer was a handsome smile. The girls around would

kill to have him smile at them like that.

"Jerk!"

"Spoiled brat!"

"Get out of my way, baka!"

'They are both hopeless,' Minako thought.

The blonde was able to escape her torturer. Maybe, he let her

escape.

Minako's eyes followed the girl's fast pace. The charming

clutter of the wind chime pronounced the fuming blonde's exit.

The audience seemed to be disappointed. The show was less

exciting today. Their favorite blonde had left without giving much of a

fight.

When Minako turned for her soda, she tasted it carbonate-free.

And it was 'cold'. About to order another, she noticed that the

dark-haired college guy was now talking with the friendly face by the

counter.

"Why do you tease her so, Mamoru-san? Usagi-chan is trying her

best to get out of your way, you know."

'Duh! Most people would not know why some people do things they

don't usually bother with even if it's big enough to eat them,' Minako

cried to herself.

"Odango atama is fun to tease." Yeah, right. Convince yourself, Buddy. What a lousy excuse.

"She hates that name, ne?"

"She hates me, Motoki," the guy named Mamoru said, implying

that nothing he'd do would make a difference.

"She does not. Usagi-chan could never hate anybody," Motoki

replied.

"Ja ne, Motoki-san," Mamoru left without a single glance to the

girls fawning at him.

The guy left shortly after the girl. It figures.

The wind blew hard enough to make cherry blossoms fall before

Minako's eyes. She glanced at her watch. Time she woke up from her

reverie. Somehow, she was thankful to the princess for giving her

something to ponder about. It took her mind off Alain and her best

friend Ann. It is in this light that she tried to understand Rei,

however different the miko was from her. Gratefully, she

and Usagi shared almost the same view on the matter. What would have

happened if Usagi was the type to rub it in Rei's face that Mamoru-san

would never consider anyone but his princess? Luckily, Usagi cared for

other people's feelings more than her own so the question was irrelevant.

Her feelings for Alain—maybe it would be different when she

saw him this time, with Ann as his wife already instead of fiancée.

Maybe, this was how she knew that Rei's feelings were

superficial, pale and shady compared to Usagi's love. Love is never

bitter, Minako would argue.

But everybody has a right to their feelings, Usagi would say. The sad part was that only a few people knew where right ended and responsibility

began. Minako believed Usagi was waiving her right, which, in her

opinion, was not highly commendable.

Minako lifted her eyes to the azure skies, their mirror. There

was nothing to worry. Mamoru-san would find his way to Usagi-chan, if it

took him a lifetime. The world was so small. Usagi loved him

selflessly. And he was drawn to her like the earth to the moon. Or was it

the other way around? Minako shook her head. Science was certainly not

one of her favorite subjects. Maybe because it can't explain love (it's

only her excuse why so as not to do well in it, she knows).

She picked up a sakura petal and walked the path leading to the

bus station. They would be fine.