Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Ace Of Hearts ❯ Chapter 1

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

"ACE OF HEARTS"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
Based on the anime Sailor Moon and stories
From Codename: Sailor V, by Naoko Takeuchi

By Bill K.

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Sailor Moon and all related characters are (c)2003 by Naoko Takeuchi/
Kodansha and Toei Animation and are used without permission, but with
respect. Kaitou Ace and all characters from Codename: Sailor V are also
(c)2003 by Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha and are used without permission, but
with respect. Story is (c)2003 by Bill Kropfhauser.

As always, for those only familiar with the English dub:

Usagi=Serena
Ami=Amy
Rei=Raye
Makoto=Lita
Minako=Mina
Haruka=Amara
Michiru=Michelle
Setsuna=Trista
Mamoru=Darien
Chibi-Usa=Rini
Motoki=Andrew
Kunzite=Malachite
Dark Kingdom=The Negaverse
Silver Millennium=The Moon Kingdom

Finally, Haruka and Michiru are NOT cousins.
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****SPOILER WARNING********
This story reveals the ending to the manga "Codename: Sailor V".
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Usagi, Makoto and Minako walked down the street three abreast.
School was over and they had just dropped Ami off at her second home - -
the library. Ami had invited them to join her, in a futile attempt to
finally lure them away from frivolous activity, but all three had
declined. Now they headed toward Minako's house.

"I still can't believe I got a 60 on my history test!" Usagi
squealed, clutching her satchel to her chest. "Komatsu-sensei is a
miracle worker!"

"That's nothing, kiddo! Look at this!" Minako proclaimed proudly,
holding up her paper. "72! Read it and weep! I can finally show one
of my papers to my mom and not have her freak out all over me!"

"Learning from him is a joy, isn't it," Makoto nodded. "I think
that's the first score over 85 I've ever gotten."

"He makes this stuff so interesting," Usagi said. "Why can't the
other teachers be like him?"

"Well, Usagi, he does have a built-in advantage," Minako told her.

"What's that?"

"It's easy to learn from the absolute dreamiest, most hunkiest man
who ever lived!" sighed Minako.

"Is 'hunkiest' a word?" Makoto asked.

"It became one the moment he was born," Minako maintained.
"That's assuming he wasn't dropped from heaven on a gossamer cloud, a
gift to humanity from the gods."

Makoto and Usagi glanced at each other, then broke into giggles.

"Easy, blondie, we just cured Ami of this sickness. Don't you
start," Makoto warned her.

"Don't worry, I'm not in love with him," Minako smiled. "I know
he's married and I know it'd never work, no matter how charming and
irresistible I am."

They walked a few paces.

"But that doesn't mean you can't have naughty dreams about him
every night, right?" Makoto smirked.

"Damn right!" Minako nodded. "And I bet I've had more than you."

"Bet you haven't," Makoto replied with a sly smile.

"And Rei's so jealous," giggled Usagi. "Her teacher at her
private school this year is a fifty-five year old woman. There's got to
be a way I can take his picture so I can tease her with it."

The trio erupted in laughter. Arriving at Minako's house, they
waved good-bye as Minako entered the gate. She opened the door and
found the usual scene. Her salaryman father parked in front of the
television and her mother in the kitchen preparing dinner.

It was so ordinary.

"Hi, Daddy," Minako said, leaning over and kissing the top of her
father's head. The squat man glanced up at his daughter and smiled.
"Got my test back today. Take a gander."

"72 - - you're getting better," he nodded. Then he wagged a
stubby finger at her. "Didn't I tell you that you could get good grades
if you just applied yourself?"

"You know everything, Daddy," she smirked, rolling her eyes. Just
then her mother entered the room.

"Test?" the still beautiful woman asked warily. She combed a lock
of her light brown hair out of her eyes. "Let's see," and she held out
a hand.

Minako confidently handed the paper over. Her mother took it and
looked it over with a critical eye.

"Better," she said. "But not nearly good enough if you expect to
get into a good college."

"Knew you'd see the bright side," Minako muttered to herself.

"Your father's right. You are capable of better. If you'd just
apply yourself and stop wasting your time dreaming about show-business
and stardom and . . .!"

"Yes, Mother!" Minako heaved dramatically. "Excuse me while I go
to my room and 'apply myself'!"

Minako loudly climbed the stairs to her room.

"I'd like to 'apply myself' to the Foreign Legion," Minako groused
as she entered her room. Her satchel sailed across the floor and
skidded to a stop next to her desk. "Why can't she ever be happy with
who I am?"

"Do you mind?" grumbled Artemis, peaking out from under her bed.
"I WAS sleeping."

"Don't start, Artemis. Hey, I got a 72 on my test today."

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" Artemis asked. Minako stuck her
tongue out at him.

"Don't look, cat," Minako warned as she pulled her school uniform
top off.

"Don't worry," Artemis replied. "Until you walk on all fours and
grow a tail, I'm not interested."

"Geez, what do I have to do to impress somebody around here?"
Minako asked.

"Start scoring over 72 consistently and I'll be impressed,"
Artemis replied, stretching to such a degree that his spine threatened
to part. Then he noticed the fashion top and miniskirt Minako was
wiggling into. "Going somewhere?"

"The Crown," Minako told him. "Maybe I can entice Motoki to ditch
his fiancee and marry me."

"You've been trying that for four years now and it hasn't worked
yet!"

"I'm no quitter!"

"Besides, don't you have studying to do?"

"God I wish I knew a way to impress on you people that STUDYING IS
BORING!"

"And video games aren't?" Artemis asked.

When he got no reply, the cat turned to Minako. She was staring
in shock at the pillow on her bed. Glancing that way as she reached for
it, Artemis saw there was a solitary playing card sitting on the pillow.
As Minako snatched it up and stared numbly at it, he could see it was
the Ace of Hearts. Minako's hand went to her throat.

"Ace," she whispered.
* * * *
"And she's been gone for four hours now!" Artemis told the other
girls and Luna. They were all gathered at Hikawa Shrine listening to
him after Artemis had sent out a general alert. The cat noticed Usagi
yawning. "Am I boring you, Usagi?"

"I'm sorry!" whined Usagi. "But it's after nine and I just spent
four hours studying!"

"Are you afraid Minako's in trouble?" Ami asked.

"Yes. Normally I don't get too concerned when she's out prowling.
Minako can take care of herself better than anyone I know. But you
didn't see the way she looked when she saw that card. And if it's what
I think it is - - although I can't see how - - she could get in over her
head."

"What's the significance of the card, Artemis?" Luna asked.

"You don't suppose it could be Kaitou Ace, do you?" Usagi asked.
This startled Artemis.

"How on Earth do you know about Kaitou Ace?" Luna demanded.

"Usagi and I both followed the news reports about Sailor V, Luna,"
Ami told her. "The battle between her and Kaitou Ace was widely
reported in the papers."

"Yeah, about how she went to China and busted up this movie set he
was using as a blind for his criminal schemes! It was awesome!"
squealed Usagi. "Take that, Ace! HI-YAAA!"

Usagi swung her arm around, mimicking a karate chop, and knocked a
lamp off of the table.

"Oops! Sorry, Rei," Usagi grimaced. Rei glared at her as she
picked up the lamp.

"So this Kaitou Ace is a tough customer, huh?" Makoto asked.

"Was, actually," corrected Ami. "I thought the report said he
died in the battle, didn't it?" Usagi nodded.

"Well, there were a lot of things that weren't in the news
reports," Artemis replied. "Starting with the fact that Kaitou Ace was
secretly Saijou Ace."

"The hunk idol on TV?" gasped Rei.

"Impossible!" cried Ami, stricken. "He was gorgeous!" She
immediately felt eyes turning toward her and flushed. "Um, so I hear."

"It's OK, Ami," grinned Makoto. "I'm pretty sure we all watched
Saijou Ace when it was on."

"And Saijou Ace had a third identity," Artemis announced. "He was
also Danburite, an officer in the army of the Dark Kingdom and the
advance scout for its invasion of Earth."

The room quieted to a hush.

"And Minako thinks that Kaitou Ace may still be alive?" Luna
asked.

"Yeah. The way she tore out of that house," Artemis said, then
shook his head. "I've seen Minako when she's obsessed with something
and she's obsessed with finding Kaitou Ace. And I don't know what
worries me more, that or the prospect of her actually finding him."

"He's that dangerous?" Rei asked.

"He was an officer in the army of the Dark Kingdom. That makes
him dangerous. But what's more dangerous is that . . ." Artemis
hesitated.

"Artemis?" Luna asked.

"Minako's judgment might not be one hundred percent concerning
Ace."

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.

"Well, she may not - - see him for what he is."

The girls all looked at the white cat inquiringly.

"Umm," he offered lamely.

"She's infatuated with him?" Luna asked, aghast.

"She was - - at the time," Artemis admitted.

"Well it's not hard to see why," Usagi offered. "I mean for a
while there, Kaitou Ace was sort of Sailor V's Tuxedo Mask." Luna
looked at her askance. "Well he was always showing up when she was in a
jam, helping her out!"

"Which may have been part of the plan," Artemis warned.
"Remember, she was getting into these jams by fighting the soldiers and
youmas that turned out to be under his command. Was he helping her out
or was he setting her up?"

"Maybe he had a reason," Usagi persisted. "After all, there were
times when we thought we couldn't trust Tuxedo Mask, either."

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't check this out," Makoto said.
"Sure, there are nice guys out there, but there are users, too. And if
this 'Ace' is one of those guys, we've got to help Minako out."

"Precisely," Artemis nodded. "We have to find Minako - - make
sure she's all right."

"Can't you home in on her communicator signal?" Luna inquired.

"Sure," the white cat nodded. "I just didn't want to do it
without back up."

The heads of the three girls turned to Usagi. She nodded and
together the quartet transformed.
* * * *
Minako exited the elevator and walked dejectedly into the lobby of
the high-rise office building. She's just returned from the former
office of Avextrax Productions, the company that produced the "Saijou
Ace" television show. Avextrax was long gone and a web-hosting
consultant operated there now. The guard at the desk nodded to her as
she returned the visitor's pass to him, then appreciatively watched her
form as she walked toward the door.

"Naturally he wouldn't be in any of his old haunts," Minako
thought to herself. "Ace wouldn't be that sloppy. Thing is, I don't
know where else to look!"

She ventured out into the still populated street of the Tokyo
business district at night. People wrapped up in their own concerns
passed her without a glance. Those waiting for a bus or getting into
cars had time to notice her short skirt and midriff-baring top and the
emerging woman's body they concealed.

"And it shouldn't even be Ace," she continued as she walked down
the street. "When Usagi beat Beryl, all the forces of the Dark Kingdom
were consumed. Since he was Danburite, that should include him, too,
shouldn't it?"

Her high heels clicked softly on the pavement as she walked.

"And besides, I saw him fade to mist myself in China. He said
then it was the end for him."

The sound of her shoes on the cement continued.

"But if you did see him 'die', why were you so ready to fly all
the way to England on a moment's notice the minute you heard there was
Dark Kingdom activity there and that he might be involved."

Click, click, click, came leather on pavement. The darkness
shrouded the area with an aura of mystery.

"The evidence was there. Katarina may not have recognized it for
what it was, but I did. Even though I didn't see him, I know Kunzite
was there for at least part of that operation. And I'm pretty sure
Danburite was, too. He may have even been behind that little hand
grenade going away present Katarina and I got at the garage."

The thought of that made her feel sick.

"Why is it so hard to believe he's capable of something like that?
Was he ever straight with you? Did he ever once tell you the truth,
ever?" Minako grew very sober. "'You're fated never to know the
happiness of true love'. Just another one of his lies to throw me off
the track."

Minako stopped. There were two sets of feet clicking on the
pavement. Someone was following her. Instantly she whirled, ready for
anything that other person might throw at her if he chose to attack.

"Hello, Minako," Ace said calmly.

He stood about twenty feet from her. His hands were in the
pockets of his pants. His blue sport jacket was open, revealing a
yellow shirt with no tie, open at the collar and the tail hanging out.
His long light colored hair blew softly in the gentle breeze of the
night. He smiled at her and his soft, boyish, obscenely handsome face
was just as magnificent as ever.

It was him. Minako didn't know how, but it was him. Kaitou Ace,
Saijou Ace, Danburite, Adonis or whatever he called himself now, it was
him. It was impossible, but it was him.

Minako felt her heart skip a beat.

"Why aren't you dead?" she asked, her voice low with disgust and a
trace of glee.

Ace calmly covered the twenty feet in a slow, sure gait. He
stopped only when his proximity to Minako was several inches. Minako
wanted to back up a step, to assume a defensive posture to be ready for
anything he might try. But the anticipation of the possibility that he
might actually touch her after four years kept her still. He was close
enough to smell. He smelled good. He always smelled good.

"Do you wish me dead?" he asked, no trace of hurt or anger in his
soft masculine voice.

"It'd make my life a whole lot simpler," Minako said, struggling
to keep her voice from trembling. "Then I could just wonder what could
have been and move on with my life. Find someone who deserves my love
- - prove you wrong!"

"You remembered," he smiled, touched and yet slightly amused.
"I'm flattered."

Minako struck him savagely across the face.

"Don't pretend to be touched!" she snapped. "Don't pretend you
can actually have an honest, uncalculated emotion! You were never
honest with me, not for a second!"

"You wish honesty?" He took some of her blonde hair in his hand
and let it slide through his fingers. "You're even lovelier than you
were four years ago. You're even slightly more mature."

"Slightly?!!"

"You demanded honesty. Does the mature person demand from another
that which she will not practice herself?"

"This isn't about me!"

"It's always about you. It's always been about you in my mind, in
my desires - - and in yours. What I told you that day remains true and
will remain true. I only lacked the vision to realize just how many
events would conspire to make that prophecy come true."

"You're playing with me again! What do you want, Ace? What's
your game now?"

Ace was about to answer, then turned at something behind him that
only he seemed to hear. Like a flash he was up, leaping to the rooftop
above. Only as he made his superhuman leap did Minako hear the slap of
four sets of shoe leather on pavement. She tore her gaze away from the
now disappeared form of Ace and focused on her fellow senshi running up
to her aid.

"Minako?" Artemis gasped, arriving first. "Did he hurt you?"

Minako didn't answer right away. Sailor Moon was there, clutching
her shoulders, looking at her in that desperate, distressed manner she
had whenever one of her friends were in peril. Jupiter stood to her
right, just as concerned, while Mercury and Mars stood to her left and
peered at her with anxiety. She felt sad, sad that she'd worried them,
Artemis most of all. She felt disappointed that she'd let Ace get so
close to her, that he'd managed to get under her skin and upset her
thinking once again.

And she felt a deep sense of loss because he was no longer there.

"No," she whispered, then forced a smile. "You guys got here
before he could try anything. Thanks."

"What did he want?" Mars asked. Minako noticed that she was
looking at her with that intense manner she had. Her face colored and
she flinched, looking away.

"I don't know," she replied. "Maybe he was just messing with my
head again - - just for old times sake."

"But I thought Kaitou Ace was dead," Sailor Moon cried.

"So did I. I thought he died in China. I thought he died in
England." Minako shrugged. "Maybe it's his ghost and he's haunting
me." She looked up at her friends, appealing to them with eyes that
told them she'd had enough. "Look, can we just go home? You guys
scared him off. He won't be back tonight."

"All right," Mercury said. "If you think it best. You know him
better than we do."

"If you want, you can stay at my place tonight," Jupiter offered.
"If you're - - um, I mean, if you, um, want to throw him off his plans."

"I'll be all right," Minako said, pushing past them so she didn't
have to answer any more questions. "See you all in school tomorrow, OK?
Come on, Artemis."

Artemis nodded to Luna and the senshi, then scampered off after
Minako.
* * * *
Minako turned over from a restless night at the sound of the alarm.
She opened her eyes and found Artemis sitting on the bed, staring at her.

"What's the matter?" Minako groaned. "Didn't Mom feed you?"

"You know what I'm worried about," the cat told her.

"What don't you worry about? Artemis, I'm OK."

"That's why you had such a restful night, right?" Minako pulled
the sheets over her head. "Minako, maybe you can make the others
believe that. I've seen Ace in action. I know what he's capable of.
And I know the way you react to him."

"I was thirteen!" Minako howled. "He was gorgeous! He was nice
to me! I thought he loved me!" She climbed out of bed. "I'm older
now. I can handle it."

"You don't feel anything for him?" Artemis asked suspiciously.

"Well I'm not going to lie," she grinned, shimmying out of her
nightgown. "He's still gorgeous. But I'm not that naïve little girl
running around in the Sailor V suit anymore."

"You were a lot of things back then," Artemis retorted, "but naïve
wasn't one of them. You just don't think straight when it comes to Ace.
Minako, he's from the Dark Kingdom! He was Kunzite's first officer! He
tried to kill you!"

"Did you know he was also in Silver Millennium?" Minako asked.
Artemis stared, astounded. "His name was Adonis. He was in love with
me, but he never told me. He thought that - - that because I was the
Princess of Venus and he was just a soldier that I wouldn't speak to
him." Minako dabbed a tear from her eye. "That's so stupid! You're a
guy, Artemis. Why do guys think that way?"

"Ace was in Silver Millennium?" Artemis asked.

"Minako!" her mother called up from the first floor. "Get ready
for school!"

"I'm on it!" Minako called back and raced for the bathroom.
Artemis sat on the bed, barely noticing her departure.

"Ace was in Silver Millennium?" he murmured. Then he leaped over
to the dresser. "I need to talk to Luna about this."

"Yes, Artemis?" Luna said over the communicator.

"Minako just told me Ace was in Silver Millennium!"

"He was?" gasped Luna.

"Yeah. I think she said his name was Adonis back then."

"Well, I suppose it's possible," Luna replied. "After all, Beryl
recruited her generals from Silver Millennium. Come to think of it, I
do recall someone named Adonis."

"Oh yeah?" Artemis asked.

"He was a soldier - - rather far down in the ranks. Oh, but he
was quite attractive."

"Really?" Artemis asked, his tone vaguely miffed.

"Yes, he had quite a few girls infatuated with him, as I recall.
But he seemed to have eyes for someone else. Rather a pity, really. He
was quite the comely young fellow." Luna hastily added, "Not that I
notice such things."

"Oh, of course not," grumbled Artemis.

"As if you've never had a roving eye, you closet philanderer!"

"Well, the person he had his eye on was Minako apparently,"
Artemis commented. "At least he was being honest with Minako about
that. He still worries me though, Luna."

"Perhaps he should," Luna told him. "I also recall why Adonis was
so low in the ranks. He was quite well thought of by his superiors, but
he kept getting into scrapes with the rules. There were recurring
questions about his honesty."

"Looks like he hasn't changed much," Artemis judged.

"No," Luna replied with a lustful sigh, "I should say not."

"Try not to drool into the communicator. You'll short it out,"
muttered Artemis.

"Well! Of all the nerve! Luna out!"

Racing out the door, Minako glanced at her watch. Late again;
Minako knew she had just about used up the good graces of her teacher,
even a great teacher like Komatsu-sensei. She tried to hurry this
morning, just like every morning, but it was always the same. You
didn't just fall out of bed and look the way she looked - - it took
maintenance. To her surprise, Usagi was waiting by the gate.

"You waiting for me?" Minako asked as she ran up. Usagi nodded.
"Won't that make you late, too?"

Usagi shrugged. "Why should today be any different?" The pair
hurried along. "How are you doing?"

"OK," Minako replied warily. "Why, did Artemis say something?"

"No! I mean, he was talking to Luna when I left, but I don't know
what about." Minako continued to look at her suspiciously. "Well, Rei
did kind of put me up to it. She sensed you were kind of conflicted
last night."

"Rei needs to keep her psychic nose to herself," muttered Minako.

They walked along in silence.

"So," Usagi began awkwardly, "are you in love with Kaitou Ace?"

Minako didn't answer.

"Because I can understand it if you are. I mean, he is really
cute. I know he's done some bad things, but maybe deep down he really
does love you."

"Is that enough?" Minako asked. "Does it matter if he does love
me if he's only going to break my heart - - at the very least?"

"Yeah, that is a lot to worry about. There was a time I wasn't
sure about Mamo-chan - - whether he was our friend or just out for
himself. That was before you came along."

"I know about it," Minako told her. "Artemis was monitoring your
activities while I was recovering from what happened in England. That
was when he was trying to collect the rainbow crystals, right?"

"Uh huh." Usagi paused thoughtfully. "It really hurts when you
love someone, but you don't know if you can trust him."

"Yeah. Did Mamoru ever try to kill you?"

"Only when Beryl had him. Maybe that's the story with Kaitou Ace?
Maybe he's different now that Beryl is gone."

"Maybe. How do I find out?"

She glanced at Usagi and her friend gave her a helpless look in
return.

"I wish I knew what to tell you," Usagi offered. "But you know
I'll be there for you no matter what happens, right?"

"Sure," Minako smiled, "but it's still good to hear." A loud
ringing pierced the air. "Oh crap, there's the bell!" Minako and Usagi
scurried into the building.

Both girls met Mr. Komatsu at the door to their classroom and
anxiously eased past him.

"Sorry we're late again, Komatsu-sensei," whimpered Usagi.

"Well, you're both getting better," the handsome teacher smiled
gently. "At this rate, you'll both just be on time when I give out the
end of term final exam." The class giggled. "You both know how you can
make it up to me, right?"

Usagi grinned, rolled her eyes and handed him her homework.

"Here you go, sensei," Minako smiled, batting her eyes adorably as
she handed over the paper. "Um, sorry about the jelly stains." Komatsu
smirked cynically and nodded her to her seat.

"OK, class," Komatsu announced, "biology books open to chapter
six: Human Reproduction - - and the first one who giggles gets
detention."

Out of the corner of her eye, Minako noticed Ami blushing slightly
while Usagi struggled to keep a straight face. She smiled to herself
and opened the book. Folded in the pages at chapter six was a note.
Curious, Minako opened it. Folded inside the note was a playing card,
the Queen of Diamonds. The note read:

COME JOIN ME, MY QUEEN, FOR LUNCH ON THE ROOF

Minako felt her pulse quicken.

At lunch, Minako excused herself and headed for the roof. There
she found Ace. Two folding chairs were positioned on either side of a
wooden box. A white linen tablecloth covered the box and a vase with a
single rose sat in the center. Upon seeing her, Ace smiled, his eyes
twinkling.

"I'm glad you accepted my invitation," he said, producing a picnic
basket.

"And if I hadn't?" Minako asked warily.

"I would have been sorely disappointed," he said with good humor.

"How did you get that invitation into my biology book?"

Ace smiled in silent amusement. "My reputation as a master thief
would be undeserved if I could not sneak into your bedroom without
waking you."

"YOU WERE IN MY BEDROOM?" Minako gasped. "You saw me in my
nightie?"

"It will be a sight that will give me comfort on many a lonely
night," Ace smiled. Minako was about to shout at him, but stopped and
screwed up her face in confusion.

"Hmm," she said. "I'm not sure whether I should slap you or kiss
you for that one."

"Please join me, my dear," he chuckled. "I swear to you the food
is not poisoned."

"Your word of honor?" Minako asked cynically.

Ace grinned. "Since I have no honor, I would never insult you
that way." Minako continued to hold back. "If I can't appeal to your
sympathy, perhaps I can appeal to your sense of adventure. Take a
chance."

Minako eyed him skeptically. Then her mouth curled into a grin.

"You are so terrible," she said, easing into the chair opposite
him.

"You know me too well."

"I don't know you at all." She looked at the masterfully prepared
food on the table. "So where'd you steal this?"

"From only the best restaurant," he replied with a twinkle. "You
deserve no less."

Minako sampled it, waiting for the drug to overcome her or the
poison to cut her breath short. Instead, flavor overwhelmed her. She
nodded to Ace and took another bite.

"So tell me, Ace," Minako said between bites. "Was that you in
the garage in England - - the one who threw the grenade at me?"

Ace sobered. "It was."

"How could you do that?" she asked softly, her eyes seeking the
food rather than his.

"My lord, Kunzite, demanded it," he replied without hesitation.
"It was his power that caused me to fade before your eyes in China. I
thought I was dying. Instead, he was recalling me for my failure." She
noticed Ace's jaw clench for a moment. "Perhaps it would have been
better if I had died."

Minako studied him the entire time, wanting to believe it but
still fearing in the back of her mind that it was another skillful
performance.

"I make no excuses for England," Ace told her. "I was a different
man. I was a man in the grip of a force I had no hope of opposing. The
only options I had were to embrace death or tread a very twisting and
perilous path that would lead to my freedom by deceit. I took that path
and it allowed me to survive the eventual destruction of Queen Beryl and
the Dark Kingdom. But in order to successfully navigate that path, I
could not fight you with anything less than my best efforts while Lord
Kunzite and his minions exerted their influence over me."

Minako sipped some juice.

"So you were willing to trade my life for your freedom," she
replied, looking at the glass.

"There is an element of risk in everything we do. The wise
gambler only takes risks when the reward is valuable enough and the odds
can be tipped. I was confident in your abilities, but I also took steps
to slant the risk in my favor. Or do you think you survived that
explosion through sheer luck or the righteousness of your mission as
Sailor V?" Ace asked her evenly. Minako looked at him intently. "The
grenade's charge was sabotaged, Minako. It made an impressive noise and
a pretty flash, but was not deadly."

"It blew up the garage!" Minako countered.

"Secret charges set in the foundation of the garage, detonated by
the concussion of the grenade," Ace told her. "The attempt satisfied
Lord Kunzite, though the result did not. It allowed me to continue my
efforts to slip from his grasp while he concentrated on your friends and
his lover in Japan." Ace sipped his drink. "And it let you live, for
the thought of destroying such a beautiful spirit - - is quite offensive
to me."

Minako was staring at him, amazed.

"You must understand that the world's beautiful things must be
cherished and admired, not trodden under one's boot, don't you?" Ace
asked. "I am hardly above stealing beautiful things, but destroy them?
There's no profit in it."

"And how do you intend to profit from me?" Minako asked.

Ace merely looked at her and smiled and the meaning of his smile
made her cheeks flush. She looked away, reached for her juice again
only to misjudge the distance and knock the can over with her hand.
Fumbling for it, she saw the can squirt from her grasp. Minako snatched
at it, but her hand only closed around it securely when she saw Ace's
hand close around hers. Her heart fluttered when she felt his strong
hands securely grip hers. She looked up into his placid eyes.

"What are you really after?" she demanded.

"I seek a very precious jewel," he replied.

"I-I'll stop you."

"Do you really want to do that? I don't have to resort to illicit
methods to obtain what I desire. If given freely, I will gratefully
accept."

Minako struggled to keep her head. This was the man she'd had
both romantic and lustful dreams about since she'd hit puberty and first
had such thoughts. But he was also the man who had toyed with her for
months, leading her around by the nose until she walked right into his
trap. She had to think, rather than rely on her instincts, for her
instincts were not to be trusted at the moment. But her brain was a
swirl of emotions.

"I-I have to go," she choked out, breaking away and heading for
the door.

She hated herself for running, but she had to put some distance
between her and Ace. His proximity was too intoxicating. Artemis was
right - - she didn't think straight around him. He was just too - -
desirable. As her shoes scuffed across the surface of the rooftop, she
tried to think of all the other boys she'd dated and momentarily loved,
from Alan and Asai to the guy she met at the Crown four months ago. But
their memories together couldn't seem to shove the essence of Ace from
her. Minako reached for the door handle and suddenly it wasn't there.
It was blocked by a man's suit. Hands seized her by the upper arms.
Minako felt her chest tighten as she looked up into Ace's intent face.

"Ace," she whispered, her throat constricting.

He had said to her once "You will never know true love". She
refused to believe that was true, but true or not, there was one thing
in the span of time from that oh so young girl to now that she had come
to know: desire.

She stood paralyzed as Ace gazed at her. He bent down. Minako
arched her mouth to his. One of his hands moved from her arm to cup her
in the small of her back, trapping her long blonde hair against her.
Their lips touched. Minako felt herself falling over backwards, carried
as if down a waterfall to churning rapids below. Adrenaline surged
through her body and it arched against Ace.

Suddenly those lips were ripped away from her. Minako, devastated
that they were gone, looked around from her haze. Ace was backed
defensively against the door from the roof, looking at someone. She
followed his line of sight and saw Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mercury and
Sailor Moon. Jupiter had her tiara's lightning rod up and the
expression on her face said she was ready to use it, while Mercury was
scanning him with her visor and computer and Sailor Moon held the Moon
Tier.

"Step away from her, Kaitou Ace," Mercury advised warily.

"As you wish," Ace smiled calmly. He took a sidestep from Minako
and she had to fight the urge to reach for him.

"Mina-chan, are you all right?" Sailor Moon asked urgently.
Minako nodded numbly.

"What do you want here?" Mercury asked him straight out.

"Since you saw what we were doing," Ace smiled with a twinkle in
his eye, "that should be quite obvious." Mercury flushed slightly.

"Yeah, well it looks like the date's over, Romeo," Jupiter
snarled. Her lightning rod began to crackle with energy.

"I don't see the need for violence," Ace said, placidly adjusting
the cuff of his jacket sleeve.

Suddenly Jupiter's head whipped back. She staggered back a couple
of steps before regaining her balance. Mercury and Sailor Moon both
looked to see what was wrong. The lightning rod on her tiara was bent,
while lying at her feet was a playing card.

Neither one saw the other two cards leave Ace's hand, though
Minako did and tried to shout out a warning. Mercury suddenly felt the
computer whipped from her hands. Before she could reach for it though,
there were the twin sounds of metal clattering on the roof and of Sailor
Moon squealing in surprise. She and Jupiter both saw Sailor Moon
shaking her hand in pain and the Moon Tier lying on the roof.

"Oh no you don't!" snapped Minako. She spotted Ace start to head
for the door and lunged for him.

However, Ace pivoted instantly, almost as if he had anticipated
Minako's action. His spin put him in the perfect spot to catch Minako
in his arms. In control of the blonde girl, Ace bent her backwards and
planted his lips firmly on hers. Minako struggled at first, but her
desire overwhelmed her and she surrendered to the kiss. Only the
thundering approach of Jupiter caused him to break the embrace. Ace
spun Minako into Jupiter and slipped effortlessly through the door as
Jupiter caught her.

"Oh, wasn't that romantic!" squealed Sailor Moon.

"SAILOR MOON!" Mercury gasped.

"Sorry."

"You all right, Blondie?" Jupiter asked Minako.

"Uh huh!" Minako sighed happily.

Back downstairs, the three girls huddled protectively around
Minako. For Minako's part, she spent the entire trip down memorizing
the look of her black patent leather shoes.

"Sometimes I wonder about the two of you," Ami clucked. "There
was nothing romantic about that kiss, Usagi. He was clearly exploiting
her infatuation with him to make good his escape. And you, Minako: you
of all people know what Kaitou Ace is capable of and yet we find you
having lunch with him!"

"Yeah?" grumbled Minako. "And would you be able to resist if you
suddenly had a lunch date up on the roof with Komatsu-sensei?" Ami
burned with embarrassment.

"Hey," rumbled Makoto, smacking the back of Minako's head. "That
was a low blow, Blondie."

"I'm just trying to make you people understand! I'm - - wacky
about him."

"I understand, Mina-chan," Usagi said gently.

"Minako, he's a criminal!" pleaded Ami. Minako just folded her
arms over her chest and continued to gaze downward.

"I think that's part of his charm," Makoto offered.

"Oh, PLEASE don't start with that outlaw-bad boy nonsense!" Ami
huffed. "There is nothing charming about someone who intentionally
breaks the rules or defies authority for his own amusement or to look
'cool'!"

"Up here, I agree with you," Makoto replied, pointing to her head.
Then her hand moved over her heart. "But down here - - you got to admit
they can be exciting."

"Romance novel rubbish!" Ami maintained. "There's nothing
exciting about unfocused, illogical rebellion for its own sake. And
there's certainly nothing logical about placing yourself in a
potentially dangerous situation both emotionally and physically.
Minako, he's using you. You have to see that!"

"You're probably right," moped Minako.

"I know what you're probably thinking," Usagi told her, stopping
the quartet in the hall so she could look her friend in the eye. "You
see some good in him, even if it's only a tiny little bit, and you think
if only you can love him enough that you'll make him see that there's
more to life than stealing and hurting people. Maybe you can't, but I
understand that you have to try."

"Usagi!" gasped Ami.

"I know where she's going with this," Makoto grinned. "I mean,
I've practically lived my life by the motto 'every guy deserves a
chance'. And I know what it's like to ache for someone and to feel him
slip away from you. But I know when a guy's bad news, too. You got to
keep your head about this, Blondie. You've got to look at what he does
for what it is, not for what you want it to be. If you need to take a
cold shower until you turn into an ice cube, do it. The next time you
run into Ace, you need to be looking at him with your eyes, not your
hormones. Otherwise you could get hurt."

"But maybe he's sincere," Usagi protested. "People can change if
you give them a chance."

"I want to believe that, too, Usagi, but the evidence just doesn't
point to it," Ami countered. "This course can only lead to heartache."

"It doesn't have to," Makoto argued. "She just has to be
careful."

"Do you want her to be hurt?" Ami gaped.

"Do you want her to be lonely?" Usagi retorted.

As they debated the problem, Minako wandered off down the hall.
As Ace had kissed her that final time - - kissed her so wonderfully that
she still felt the burn of his lips on hers - - she felt something in
the kiss. Call it telepathy or call it wishful thinking, but she felt
sincerity from him for the first time since he'd looked at her that day
in China and told her the fortune she didn't want to hear.

"Maybe he does love me," Minako mused. Her fingers brushed
lightly over her lips, trying to recreate in her mind the sensation of
Ace's mouth on hers.

Over the days that followed, everyone seemed to go out of her way
to stay close to Minako. Rei dropped over unannounced on the flimsy
excuse that they "needed to catch up." Usagi invited her over to try on
clothes, to swap styling tips and keep her company. Makoto dropped by
with some pastry and invited herself along when she found out Minako was
going to enter a talent contest. Study groups were often interrupted
when she noticed Ami studying her like a specimen under a microscope.
And Artemis was always underfoot. He followed her everywhere except the
shower.

But only Usagi seemed to understand what she was going through.
The girl wasn't afraid to bring Ace up, unlike the others, and let
Minako unburden all of her conflicted emotions without judgment. It
made Minako feel closer to her, if that was possible. Her advice didn't
help, because Usagi was an incorrigible optimist and always felt love
would work itself out. But it helped that she was supporting her rather
than protecting her and Minako appreciated it.

That's why she only told Usagi about the gifts. Every day since
the lunch, Minako would find a different present waiting for her. They
appeared never at the same time twice and always in a place Ace couldn't
possibly have access to. The gifts were sentimental trinkets, never
anything of great value except that she knew they were from him.
Enclosed each time was a note with a few words of tender malarkey, words
that could only be smooth lies if they were from Kaitou Ace.

Or were they?

In her room after school, Minako put her satchel down on her
chair, for her desk was far too cluttered to have any room, and opened
it to pull out her English grammar text. At once her eyes widened in
surprise, then nearly closed as she smiled in cynical amusement. As she
pulled the small box from her satchel and undid the ribbon, she swore to
herself that one day she'd figure out how he did it.

Artemis watched her as she fumbled with the box. He saw that the
box contained a miniature gold chain and a note. The cat noted that the
chain momentarily dazzled Minako. He noticed her interest in the note.
He noticed her sober as she read it. The chain was put down, the note
stuffed into a pocket and just like that Minako was off.

"Where are you going?" he asked warily.

"The Crown," Minako tossed over her shoulder.

"I'll go with you," he said, scampering after her.

"What makes you think they'll let cats in there?" Minako groused
at him.

"What makes you think they'll see me?" he replied.

Whether that was her original destination or not, Minako arrived
at the Crown five minutes later with Artemis behind her. She waltzed
right in, just as she had hundreds of times before and parked herself in
the Grand Prix game. Confident he had her under surveillance, Artemis
turned his attention to slipping into the door and under the pinball
machines before Motoki noticed him. While waiting for his moment, he
glanced back at Minako. She was still there, taking the hairpin turns
of Le Mans as if she'd been drinking sake all night.

The chance presented itself and Artemis took it. Darting behind
the ankles of a ten-year-old, the cat slipped into the arcade and under
the pinball machine like the pro he was. Allowing himself a moment of
pride, Artemis turned back to the Grand Prix game.

"She's gone!" he gasped to himself. Darting up to the game, he
leaped onto the seat and looked around. There was no sign of her
anywhere. Amid surprised shouts and amused titters, Artemis checked the
entire arcade without finding any sign of Minako. Finally, with Motoki
on his tail, Artemis darted out the door and down the street to an
alley.

"You don't lose me that easily, Minako Aino!" he muttered to
himself. Executing a backflip, Artemis summoned the tracer he used to
track the Sailor Senshi communicator watches the senshi all wore. The
tracer came to life and instantly pinpointed Minako's comm-signal.

"That's her house," Artemis thought, staring at the screen. "She
must have left it behind." Feeling uneasy, Artemis sat back on his
haunches and stared down the alley out into the city. "I hope you know
what you're doing, Minako."
* * * *
"I have no idea what I'm doing here," Minako thought. She faced
the door to a hotel room.

Ace's note had brought up the memory of her time in England. She
had stayed there initially in the London Hilton Hotel, the stay arranged
as part of her "modeling tryout" cover story that Artemis and the
mysterious entity she knew only as "The Boss" had concocted. At first
she wondered why he'd brought it up, because her time in England chasing
Danburite hadn't been a pleasant memory for either of them. And the
note was oddly phrased, making no sense.

Then she saw it. The note was a veiled invitation, the reference
to England being a clue to his whereabouts. So now she was in the Tokyo
Hilton Hotel, in front of a room with the same number as her suite in
London. Her initial thought was to change to Sailor Venus, in case this
was a trap. But the thought of perfect strangers opening their door and
finding a belligerent Sailor Senshi quickly put a damper on that.

"Go on," she said to herself, knocking on the door. "He can only
kill you once."

The door opened and revealed Ace behind it. He smiled warmly and
gestured for her to enter.

"Come into my parlor?" Minako asked.

"I vow that I am a most benign spider," Ace replied.

"Which makes you all the more dangerous," Minako retorted.

"Which excites you terribly," Ace smiled. Minako felt her cheeks
begin to burn.

"What's with all the cryptic crap in the note?"

"A message only you would understand. I wished to see you - -
without your chaperones."

"Planning on having your way with me?"

"If fortune smiles upon me," Ace smirked.

"That's the first honest response you've ever given me."

"I have given you many honest responses. You choose not to
believe them." He gestured to a table with a handsome dinner on it.
"Dine with me?"

Minako hesitated.

"Do not be afraid of me," Ace appealed.

"This was a mistake," Minako whispered. She turned to go, but a
hand caught hers.

"Please do not run away again," she heard Ace say. Minako turned
back to him, gazing up into his liquid eyes. "You wish honesty from me.
I love you. I burn for you. I have burned for you since Silver
Millennium. Until now, a conspiracy of circumstances has kept us apart,
from the will of others to my own flaws to your weaknesses. One thing
has remained constant - - my passion and desire for you."

Minako stared up into his eyes.

"And yours for me. Do not deny it, Minako, because then you would
be the one lacking in honesty. Do not run from your passions. Do not
fear them."

"No," Minako said, stiffly shaking her head. "Y-You're just using
me."

"For what? To gain one time with you? Can't you see the ardor I
have for you? I don't want one night. I want you! To have and to hold
for all of eternity and beyond! Do not fear me, please!"

She wanted to look away, but couldn't force herself to break the
grip Ace had on her upper arms.

"Or do you fear yourself?" he boldly asked, his face nearing hers
until they were inches apart. "Am I the wild card that just doesn't fit
your perfectly crafted fantasy of how your life will unfold? Does the
idol in waiting have no time for love?"

"I have plenty of time for love!" Minako shot back. "I just won't
love a criminal!"

"It's already too late," he said, his lips nearing hers.

"Don't," she whispered.

"I'm not forcing you to do anything," Ace whispered back. "You
are free to leave at any time."

Minako could feel Ace's hot breath on her mouth.

"As if I could," Minako said.

Their lips touched. Passions sparked and mouths hungrily sought
each other. Minako's arms curled around Ace's torso. Two forms molded
together.

And dinner got cold.
* * * *
"Are you positive you've checked everywhere?" Luna said into the
communicator. A response buzzed in her earpiece. "Don't take that tone
with me, Artemis! I'm just trying to be thorough!" Another response
came. "Yes, I agree, it's quite troublesome. We'd better get them
mobilized. You contact the others. I'll TRY to rouse Usagi. Artemis
- - chin up."

Luna severed the connection and allowed herself a moment's pensive
look. Then determination fixed her features and she leaped over to the
bed. In it, Usagi lay, arms and legs spread-eagle, sheets twisted
around her, mouth open and drool leaking onto the bedding.

"Usagi," Luna said.

When no response came save a loud snort, Luna leaned her front
paws onto Usagi's shoulder and pushed.

"Usagi, wake up!" Failure. "Oh, bother!"

The cat climbed on top of Usagi's head, balanced on her forehead,
and began jumping up and down.

"WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!" the cat bellowed.

"LUUUUUUUNNNNNAAAAAAAA!" roared the sleeping princess. She rolled
over, throwing Luna to the bed, and sullenly raised her head from the
pillow. "What is it?! And it better be good!"

"I just received a call from Artemis," Luna informed her. "Minako
didn't come home last night."

Usagi was up immediately.
* * * *
Ace checked his watch. His plane departed for Sidney at ten. In
the back of his mind he wondered if he'd use both tickets he booked on
the flight or only one. He hoped she'd be there when he returned, but
if she wasn't he wouldn't be surprised. There was a limit to what
people could put up with and sometimes being hopelessly in love with
someone wasn't enough to counteract such things. He was prepared for
that eventuality, but that didn't make it any easier to cope with. His
hand closed around the knob of the door to the hotel room. The door
swung open.

Sailor Venus was framed in the doorway.

"Where have you been?" Venus asked, her eyes narrow and her mouth
a thin line. "And don't lie to me."

There was none of the jaunty assurance normally seen in Kaitou
Ace's handsome face. Solemnly he looked at Sailor Venus.

"There's a jewelry store near this hotel," he said calmly. "One
of their most valuable pieces is gone."

"You set me up!" she said, a trace of the hurt and anger audible
in her voice. "You used my feelings and conned me into believing that I
was the 'jewel' you were after! And all you wanted to do was keep me
occupied! Last night was just a lie!"

"I did not lie," Ace maintained calmly.

"You're doing it right now! You're pathological!"

"The gem I stole is a means to an end," Ace said, casually
approaching her, even though she was close enough to blast him into the
wall with her attack. "It will provide me either with a means to live
and a way to carry out my next venture," and his hand slid into his
jacket. Venus tensed, a heartbeat away from launching her attack at
him. But in his fingers was the jewel mounted on a gold ring, "or it
will grant my happiest wish and be the contract that seals our - -
union."

"Union?" Venus whispered, mesmerized by the glittering stone.
"Us?"

"A partnership, if union is too strong a word. I want you,
Minako. I had never known what a woman was until I met you. I have
desired you since Silver Millennium. These things I steal are just a
means to an end - - or a challenge to a bored rogue. You are the one
thing in this universe that would bring joy to my life, that special
magical joy that only the twinkle of your eyes, the curve of your hip
and the gaiety of your soul can bring me."

"So you stole an engagement ring for me?" Venus asked
incredulously.

"It's what I do," Ace replied, amused. He saw Venus was not
amused.

"And what about me? Am I supposed to compromise everything I
believe in and be - - moll to a master thief?"

"I am what I am. I cannot change that. Whether you can stay with
someone like me is a decision only you can make. But you can't deny the
pleasure I give you. You can't deny the desire that smolders in your
heart as it smolders in mine. You can't deny the magic of last night.
Last night wasn't a lie. Last night was the first time you realized the
truth."

"But you said I would never know true love. Doesn't that include
you?"

His hand caressed her cheek and the skin tingled beneath.

"Perhaps I will never be able to inspire true love in you," Ace
replied, "as you have in me. But I inspire something. That's enough.
I'm willing to hope that more will come, but I'll settle for desire.
Indulge that desire with me, Minako. We can roam the world. We can
live free. We can do as we wish." His finger traced along her lips.
"And we can indulge our mutual desires until we are consumed in an
inferno that our own passions create."

"I want to," she whispered. "The thought of you - - of being in
your arms - - of being joined with you - - it's just so. . ." A tear
trickled down her cheek.

Ace watched her soberly, sensing what was to come.

"But I can't help wondering how long you can settle for something
less than true love? Because your words show me that what you feel
isn't true love. Because you're not willing to change who you are or
stop what you're doing, it isn't true love, Ace. It's true lust."

She saw Ace's jaw clench, but he remained silent.

"Last night was - - so perfect," Venus continued. "But this
morning, when I woke up in an empty bed in an empty room - - that was as
much of a sign as last night was. I want you, but I don't want to want
you!" Her words caught in her throat for a moment, Venus stopped to
collect herself. "There's no future in loving you! You make me feel
- - Gods, you make me feel like heaven! You make me feel like I'm the
only woman in the universe. But that's not enough! Passion is a
beautiful thing, but it won't last. It can't! One day passion becomes
commonplace. And on that day I'll wake up and you'll be gone and I'll
have nothing."

Wordlessly Ace looked at her. He was sympathetic, but silent.

"I can't live my life just on how you make me feel! You're like a
drug, Ace. But I don't want to be addicted! I don't want drugs! I
don't want passion! I want true love. That's why we can never be. I
can't be part of two lovers on the run anymore than you can be Mr.
Minako Aino with his pipe and slippers and newspaper. You sensed it all
along - - you just didn't finish the sentence. I'll never know true
love - - with you."

Ace reached for her, but Venus shrugged away from him. He bowed
his head slightly.

"There is wisdom in what you say. I have always lived for the
present because I have never thought I had a future. I think I can only
gain a future with you. But to love me means risking your future. I
admit that. I don't begrudge you your skepticism."

Without trying again to reach out to her, Ace turned and walked to
the closet. He pulled out a suitcase and turned back to Venus.

"But I'm also a weak man, Minako. I indulge my whims and wants
and I have a petty, jealous side that dislikes losing," he told her.
"Doubt if you will, but I love you and I will see to it that I will
always be your only love. Do not seek happiness in the arms of another.
I won't allow it."

"And what can you do to stop it?" Venus demanded, her anger
rising.

Ace looked at her coldly. "I maneuvered you to England just when
a relationship between you and the boy - - Asai was his name? - - was
beginning to blossom. Then when you threw yourself at Alan in your
endearingly childish manner, I secretly wove a web that drew him closer
to the other woman and drew you into faking your own death."

Venus stared at him in shock.

"And if you ever try to find happiness in the arms of another in
the future," Ace said, a confident smile on his beautiful face, "I will
return and put your latest 'true love' to the test. Perhaps you will
never know true love with me. But I won't allow you to find it with
anyone else. I'm sorry, but I can't."

The fury welled up in Venus. "Venus!" she roared. "Love and
Beauty Shock!"

The shock wave tore through the room. With a diffident air, Ace
somersaulted over it. The arc of his leap sent him, suitcase in hand,
crashing through the window at the far end of the room. Venus raced to
the window and peered out, at once hoping and dreading that Ace was
splattered on the pavement below. But Ace glided down the side of the
hotel secured to a bungee cord leading from the window sill Venus now
looked down from. At the apex of the cord's length, Ace's feet gently
touched pavement and he severed it.

Turning back to her, Ace waved graciously, then hopped into a red
convertible sports car and drove away. Venus watched him until the car
disappeared from sight.

"You don't own me, Ace," Venus said through clenched teeth. She
slammed her fist into the cross frame of the broken window, shattering
it. "YOU DON'T!"

Turning on her heel, Venus stormed out of the room.

"It may take me the rest of my life, but I WILL find true love - -
a love you can't bust up!"

Morning was dawning outside of the hotel. Minako squinted at the
sunlight in the east. The light seemed particularly harsh this morning.
She desperately wanted to wake up, for this had to be a bad dream.
She'd roll over and see Artemis staring at her and know none of this had
happened.

"How could I have been so stupid?" she whispered to herself.
Easy, her mind instantly sneered back - - it was Ace.

Turning, Minako headed for home. She didn't particularly want to
go there. She knew there'd be a million questions from her mother and
father about where she was all night. She knew they couldn't take the
truth and she didn't have any convincing lies made up yet. And then
there would be Artemis. She already knew she couldn't lie to him.

"Maybe I'll get lucky and a meteor will fall on me," Minako
muttered.

"Minako?"

She knew the voice, but turned around and stared in shock just the
same. Usagi stood there, her face in anguish over what Minako was
enduring.

"How'd you find me?" Minako asked.

Usagi shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I knew you were in
trouble, so I was determined to find you. Somehow I did."

If it were anyone else, she'd think they were hiding something.
But Usagi always had that magical way of performing miracles when her
friends were in need. The edges of Minako's mouth curled gratefully and
it encouraged Usagi to come closer.

"Artemis said you didn't come home last night," Usagi ventured
cautiously. "Were you with Ace?"

Minako nodded.

"Was he nice to you?"

"Yeah," and Minako couldn't help but smile at the memory. "It was
beyond everything you ever dream it will be like. I-I just can't
describe it. I think I love him even more now than I did before last
night."

"Where is he?"

"Gone."

Usagi's face fell. Minako wore such a burden of sadness on her
continence that it made Usagi's heart ache.

"I trusted him - - and in the end he burned me, just like everyone
was afraid he would - - just like I was afraid he would. And you know
- - if he showed up right now, in front of me, and caressed my cheek and
told me he loved me, I'd probably do it again." Minako let out a deep
sigh from the depths of her soul. "Maybe it's for the best he's gone."

"Don't give up hope, Minako," Usagi implored. "He does love you.
I know it. I can see it. He just - - loves too many other things and
he can't give them up for you yet. You both love too many other things
besides each other and you can't bring yourselves to give them up. It
doesn't mean that's the way it will always be. Someday you'll both come
to a point in your lives when you'll realize that nothing else is as
important as each other. And if you keep the flame burning in your
heart for each other, it can all come true for you."

"Sure," Minako replied. She didn't believe it because she was far
more cynical than Usagi would ever be. Still, her friend's words, naïve
though they may be, did help some. Minako let out another tired sigh.
"You know what I feel like right now?"

"Like eating five pounds of chocolate in one sitting?" Usagi
grinned.

"I was thinking ten," Minako grinned in return. Seeing Usagi
smile made it easier for her grin to come out.

"I like the way you think," chuckled Usagi.

The two girls nestled their arms around each other. With Minako
leaning on Usagi, the pair headed for home.

END