The morning sun shone directly into Ryoku’s eyes, waking him from his slumber. Apparently, he had forgotten to close the blinds before going to sleep last night. He clenched his eyes shut and rolled onto his side to keep the sun out of his eyes. He didn’t feel much like waking up today.
That was when he realized that the sun was reflecting off his mirror and into his eyes just the same.
He sighed to himself as he sat up and pushed himself out of bed. Even if he closed the blinds and slipped back into bed, he was awake now. Once awake, it was hard to go back to sleep. Stupid sunshine….
Quietly, he walked out into the hallway. The door to Makoto’s room was open and he could see her fast asleep in her bed. For a few moments, he paused by her door and gazed down at his sleeping sister. She had a beautiful, serene look on her face as she slept.
With a fond half-smile directed at his sister, he continued down the hallway, toward the kitchen. He was up first, so it was up to him to make breakfast. He felt like something simple today, so he brought out the carton of eggs from the refrigerator and went to work.
“That smells good,” Makoto murmured with a slight yawn as she came into the kitchen ten minutes later. “Eggs?”
“Yes,” he replied with a nod toward the skillet on the stove next to him. “You don’t mind scrambled, right? I just felt like making something simple today.”
“Well, that’s about as simple as you can get,” she said with a small laugh. “Got tired of my fancy stuff already?”
“No way,” he answered with a laugh of his own. “If I ever get tired of your food, something is definitely wrong with me.”
“I’ll be sure to remember that,” she said with an amused smirk. “Now, should I serve myself or is the chef planning to serve his guest?”
“Serve?” he repeated, feigning a confused look, then pretending to realize something. “Oh! I forgot to make your breakfast!”
“You what?”
The look on her face was priceless. “I’m only kidding,” he replied with a laugh. “I guess you’re still half-asleep, Mako-chan.”
She scowled at him for a moment, then grinned. “I guess so.”
After breakfast, Ryoku went to take a shower as Makoto cleaned the dishes. Another rule of the apartment: when one cooks, the other cleans up. She never seemed to mind cleaning up, but he wasn’t really fond of it. No particular reason; he just didn’t like it.
He walked down the hallway and into the kitchen with the towel around his waist. “All right, I’m done,” he told her. “You can take one when you’re ready.”
As he turned to go back to his room to change, his gaze slid past the phone. His gaze paused at it for a few moments, then slid past as he walked away, sighing quietly to himself. He’d probably put it off again, today.
It was the same as yesterday. Pitiful. He hadn’t told Makoto about his problem yet. She’d probably want to get involved, and she’d probably get Usagi, Rei and Minako in on it, too. Especially Usagi. That girl would stop at nothing to stick her nose into this. That was what he definitely did not need. He’d just try again another time.
That’s what I thought yesterday, too.…
Makoto sighed as she watched Ryoku retreat into his room. He wasn’t going to ask Ami out this time. He never said that he was planning to do that, but she knew him.
If she knew she could get away with it, she would ask Ami out for him, but she knew he would take her interference badly. His love life was something he took as seriously as his duties as a Sailor Scout, even before he met Keiko. Seeing him so nervous and insecure worried her; she hated seeing him like this. Maybe….
She waited until she heard the sounds of a guitar floating out of his room, then walked over to his room and stood in the entrance, watching him concentrate on moving his fingers intricately on the strings of his guitar. It must be a new song; she had never heard him play it before and she had heard practically all of his songs. She listened for a while, drifting on the soft melody of his music.
When he stopped playing he glanced up at her and looked at her straight in the face. His expression was one of frustration – probably with himself, unless she missed her guess – mixed with a hint of self-doubt. There must’ve been something in her expression because he grimaced and sighed to himself.
“You know,” he said quietly. It wasn’t a question. Makoto merely nodded in response. “I hope you’re not going to try and ask her out for me.”
“You know I wouldn’t do that….”
“Unless you could get away with it.” He shook his head. “No. You wouldn’t. I just can’t seem to get myself to do it. I don’t know why. It’s not that I’m afraid… I just can’t seem do it.” He gave a heavy sigh as he put his guitar aside. “Do you think there’s something wrong with me?”
“You mean, aside from the usual things wrong with you?” Makoto joked, then mentally kicked herself. She knew it was the wrong thing to say.
“Yes,” he agreed with a solemn nod as he stared down at the floor.
Her frown took on a hint of sadness as she sat down next to her brother and put a consoling arm around his shoulders. He must be feeling bad; he thought she was being serious when she said that. “Do you think that you’re putting it off because you still feel guilty toward Keiko-chan?”
Ryoku’s head jerked up suddenly as he began to stare at Makoto. “I suppose that could be a reason,” he admitted as he turned his gaze back toward the floor.
“I need help, Mako-chan,” he murmured faintly.
“What?” she asked, completely and utterly dumbfounded at what she thought she heard.
“I’ve tried five times to call Ami-chan to ask her out and it’s much, much harder trying to ask her to her face.” He sighed in slight frustration. “As much as I hate to admit it, I can’t do this alone. You can even bring the others in on it. They would probably take it as an insult if they weren’t allowed in on this.”
“You’re… serious?” she asked incredulously.
“You don’t have to remind me,” he muttered sourly. “I just want you to promise me one thing.”
“Anything,” she said eagerly, a wide grin spreading across her face.
“Promise me that nothing will be done behind my back by either you or anyone else. I don’t want any surprises.”
“Agreed,” Makoto said as she gave her brother a big hug and a small peck on the cheek. “I’m just glad you’ve finally decided to date again. This is so exciting! Oh, you and Ami would make such a cute couple and…. Where are you going?” she asked as Ryoku stood up and started for the door.
“Out,” he muttered as he slipped on his shoes and left.
“Hmm…. Maybe I was a little overenthusiastic about the whole thing…,” she wondered to herself. No matter. She had to call the others. They were gonna love this.
“I’m bored.”
Artemis glanced up from his spot on the floor, soaking in the warm sunshine streaming through Minako’s open window and glanced at her. She was sprawled out sideways on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with a bored look on her face.
“You can go out and look for something to do,” Artemis suggested. “Or you can always go see what your friends are up to. I’m sure at least one of them is up to something.” He said the last part in a dry tone.
“Yeah, I guess so,” she admitted, sitting up on her bed and glancing over toward the phone on her dresser. “Now,” she continued as she pushed herself off her bed and walked toward the phone, “who should I talk to first?”
As soon as her hand touched the phone, it began to ring, startling her enough to make her jump back a half-inch. “I guess that answers my question. Right, Artemis?” she asked in a chagrined voice as she picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Minako-chan!” It was Makoto’s voice.
“Hi, Mako-chan!” she greeted back. “What’s up?”
“Listen, can you come over right now?”
Minako blinked, then grinned. Whatever it was, she sounded excited. “Okay, sure. What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you when you get here, all right?” Makoto replied quickly. “I’m gonna call the others, so just get over here. I’ll see you later. Bye!”
“W-wait!” Minako exclaimed, but Makoto had already hung up. “Hmm…. That was weird. I wonder what that was all about?”
“What was what all about?” Artemis asked in a sleepy voice.
“Nothing much, Artemis. Just take your cat-nap.”
“Oh. All right.” He yawned and slowly drifted to sleep as Minako left.
“Rei-chan! Phone for you!” Grandpa shouted from inside. Rei halted in her usual sweeping of the shrine grounds chore, leaned the broom against a nearby tree, and hurried inside. She found him standing outside the room with the phone, holding the receiver out in his hand.
“Who is it, Grandpa?” she asked as she reached for the phone in his hand.
“One of your friends,” he replied as she took it. “Makoto, I think she said her name was.”
“Oh. Thank you, Grandpa,” she replied and walked into the room. Grandpa made as if he was going to follow her inside, but was stopped when she slid the door closed behind her. He sorted irritably and went on his way, muttering about rude children and the like.
“What? Come over?” she repeated. “Well, sure, but I have to finish my chores. Luckily, I’m just about done.”
“Good. Can you please come over as soon as you’re finished?” Makoto asked. “I’m gonna call the others, so maybe they’ll all be here by the time you get here.”
“What’s going on that’s got you all excited?” Rei asked curiously.
“I’ll tell you as soon as you get here,” she replied quickly. “I’ll see you when you get here. Bye!”
Rei blinked as she heard Makoto hang up. “That was strange. What’s got her all worked up like that…?” She contemplated the reason as she went back to her sweeping chore with a noticeably faster pace.
“Usagi?” Ikuko asked. “No, she’s not here right now. She left a little while ago. Can I take a message for you?”
Makoto frowned slightly. She just had to be gone just when I wanted to talk to her, she thought irritably. “Sure, Tsukino-san. Can you tell her that Makoto called? I want to talk with her as soon as she gets in.”
“Okay, dear, I’ll let her know the moment she gets in,” she assured her.
“Thank you. Goodbye.” Makoto hung up the phone and sat down. All she had to do now was wait. Usagi would have to catch up later; it wouldn’t be fair to Rei and Minako to have to wait on her. Knowing Usagi, it would probably be hours before she came home to get her message.
Ryoku had no idea where he was going, only that he had to go somewhere. Whatever possessed me to let Mako-chan and the others to mess around with my love life? I should be able to handle it myself.… Only, I can’t make myself do it, can I? He sighed mentally. All this would be easier if I could just do it. “Hi, Ami-chan. Do you want to go out sometime?” That’s all I had to say. Why couldn’t I say it?
What’s keeping me from saying it? Am I so nervous? If she says no, she says no. No big deal; she won’t condemn me for asking her out.
He stopped in his tracks the moment he realized where he was. The Crown Video Arcade, and his path was taking him directly inside. Now why…? Of course. Motoki. He needed to talk to a friend who wasn’t likely to try and fix him up with Ami. He had a girlfriend, albeit she was currently in Africa, but he had a girlfriend nonetheless. He’d understand his problem.
He walked into the arcade, glancing around, looking for Motoki. He spotted him wiping down one of the tables at the far end of the arcade. He supposed he could wipe and talk at the same time, so he went to go talk with him.
“Motoki-san,” he called out, getting his attention.
“Hi, Ryoku!” Motoki greeted, waving at him as he stood up and tossed his cloth onto the table he had just finished cleaning. “Perfect timing. I just finished cleaning and I’m now on my break.”
“You don’t say,” he replied with a half-grin. “Good. You don’t mind if we talk for a bit, do you?”
“Not at all,” he answered with a grin as he sat down at the table he was cleaning and stuffed the cloth into a pocket of his apron. “So, what’s on your mind?”
“You mind if I ask you a hypothetical question?” Ryoku asked, his expression serious as he sat down as well.
Motoki’s grin faded as he realized his friend had something on his mind. “Go ahead.”
“Say that the impossible happens and you and Reika-san can no longer be together,” Ryoku began. “You mourn your loss for a very long period of time, refusing to date any other girls. Now, years later, you find another girl who you have a great interest in, but you can’t seem to get yourself to ask her out, no matter how much you force yourself.”
Motoki nodded. “I suppose you’re describing yourself, right?” Ryoku sighed and nodded. “I won’t ask any details about that. It would probably be painful to remember, am I right?” He nodded again. “It doesn’t sound like you’re nervous. You’d know it if you were. Besides, you said you were trying to ask her out.” He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. “Do you suppose that part of you is refusing to let go? I know that’s how I’d feel if the same thing happened to me and Reika.”
“It could be,” he replied uncertainly. “I’ve just recently decided to move on, having mourned for five years. Maybe I need to wait a little longer….”
“Do you truly care for this girl?” Motoki asked suddenly.
That question took him totally unawares. “What…?”
“You must really care about this girl, or you wouldn’t be trying to force yourself to ask her out,” he explained.
“I… suppose so…,” Ryoku said uncertainly.
“If you really want to go through with it,” Motoki continued, “I think you know someone that’ll be more than happy to help you.”
“Who?” he asked, as if he didn’t already know. It was probably the state that his mind was in right now that caused him to ask.
Motoki just wordlessly pointed behind Ryoku. He glanced behind him and sighed mentally. Usagi had just walked into the arcade and was heading in their direction. She probably wanted to say hi to Motoki. He couldn’t understand how she could love Mamoru, yet still try to flirt with Motoki. Maybe he should just count himself lucky that she never flirted with him. Only Rei and Minako had done that… so far.
“Oh, hi, Ryo-kun,” Usagi greeted. “I didn’t know you’d be here, too. You and Motoki-oniisan having a nice chat?”
“I’m glad you’re here, Usagi-chan,” Motoki told her.
“Really?” she asked, her expression brightening. Ryoku rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“Yes. Ryoku is in need of your help,” he explained, despite Ryoku shaking his head in refusal. When Usagi turned to look at him, he quickly stopped himself before she could see.
“Oh,” she replied, slightly disappointed, but she instantly perked up again. “You need my help, Ryo-kun? What do you need my help with?”
“He wants to…,” Motoki began.
“I’ll tell her, Motoki-san,” he cut in quickly.
Motoki shrugged and grinned to himself. “All right, then. I’ll leave you two to discuss it. Let me know how it turns out, won’t you, Ryoku.”
“Sure,” Ryoku replied. “Thanks.”
“Anytime,” he replied and left.
“Usagi-chan, would you mind coming with me?” Ryoku asked as he stood up.
“Okay. Where to?”
“My apartment. Mako-chan would probably want to talk with you about this more than I would anyway.”
“Talk about what?” she asked curiously.
“I’ll tell you on the way,” he replied as they left the arcade. On the way to his apartment, Usagi became very excited about what he had to say.
Minako hated waiting. She had begged and pleaded with Makoto to get her to tell her what she was so excited over, but she said she wasn’t going to say anything until Rei got there. Ryoku had left a little while ago and she was told that Ami wasn’t coming and that Usagi was out and would come when she got the message Makoto had left for her. At least she wouldn’t have to wait for them. Rei said that she would be coming soon, but she wanted to know now!
She was about to try again to beg Makoto to tell her what news she had called her over for when a knock sounded at the door.
“I’ll get it!” Minako exclaimed and all but flung herself at the door, opening it. It was Rei. Finally! “Come in! Come in!” she urged, holding open the door for her.
“So, what’s the excitement all about, Mako-chan?” Rei asked as she came inside and glanced around. “Where’s Usagi-chan and Ami-chan and Ryo-kun?”
“Ryo-kun’s out, Ami-chan’s not coming and Usagi-chan will just have to find out later,” Minako explained in a rush. “Come on, Mako-chan! Rei-chan’s here, so spill it.”
“All right,” Makoto said, leaning forward conspiratorially as the other two sat down. “Here goes. Ryo-chan wants our help to ask Ami-chan out on a date.”
“What?!?” Minako and Rei exclaimed, simultaneously jumping to their feet.
“He told me so himself this morning,” Makoto continued as they sat back down. “He’s been trying to do it himself, but he can’t seem to get himself to actually ask her. He wants us to help him to ask her out.”
“So, he’s finally going to do it?” Rei asked, grinning.
“This’s so exciting!” Minako added. “Definitely better than just sitting in my room watching Artemis cat-nap.”
“Yeah, I feel so happy for Ami-chan!” Usagi exclaimed as the door opened again and she walked in along with Ryoku.
“You knew it already?” Minako asked as she and the others turned toward them.
“Ryo-kun told me everything just a little while ago on the way here,” she explained. “He told me that Mako-chan would’ve called you two already.” Her smiled widened greatly. “Just leave it to us, the four Cupids of Love! We’ll bring Ryo-kun and Ami-chan together!” Her cheer was seconded by the other three girls as all four brandished an enthusiastic fist skyward.
Ryoku sweatdropped. “I can’t believe I agreed to this…,” he groaned in exasperation as he sighed and hung his head in chagrin.
Mamoru sat lounging on one of the park benches in Sankaku Park surrounding a water fountain. He had one leg crossed relaxingly over the other with an open book propped against his leg and his left arm hanging over the side. The quiet soothing atmosphere was perfect for reading.
“Oh, Mamoru-sama!” Natsumi’s voice called out from behind him.
Oh, no, he thought as his gaze lifted from his book. Not her. Whenever she’s around, Usagi always seems to pop up later, which always leads to a fight over me. What did I ever do to deserve this?
“There you are, Mamoru-sama!” Natsumi said as she ran up behind him and peered down at him from over his shoulder.
Mamoru glanced around discreetly. No Usagi yet. I’d better find a way to leave before she starts to hang onto me. That would bring Usagi for sure. It’s almost as if she can sense these things.…
“Oh, I see,” she said as she noticed the book in his lap. “Well, I hope you don’t mind if I keep you company.” She moved around the bench and sat down next to him, then laid her head on his shoulder.
“Excuse me,” he said as he shut his book, gently pushed her off him, and stood up. “I… have to be somewhere right now,” he said, pretending to glance at the watch on his wrist.
“That’s all right,” she replied as she stood up as well. “I’ll go with you. A walk through the park would be romantic, even if it’s just to leave. Don’t you think?” she asked as she snuggled up next to him.
“That’s quite all right,” he told her, moving away again, then ran off, leaving her behind.
“Hey! Don’t run off like that!” Natsumi shouted as she gave chase. “Come on! Mamoru-sama!!!”
“…and that’s how we’re gonna do it,” Minako finished with a wink.
Ryoku blinked and eyed the four girls warily. “You sure that’s going work? It sounds a little stupid to me….” He flinched as they all gave him an icy stare. “Then again, you never know what might work,” he relented as he sweatdropped.
“So, we’re all agreed?” Rei asked. Everyone nodded; Ryoku did so reluctantly. “Okay. Now, we all know our parts, right?” She gave Usagi a pointed look.
“What? I know what I’m gonna do, okay?” she retorted.
“Very well, then,” Ryoku said forcibly, forestalling any argument. “It’s still early in the afternoon, so we might as well do this.”
“Nervous, Ryo-chan?” Makoto asked.
“No. I’m ready. This time, with the help of my friends, I will ask Ami-chan out on a date!” he stated firmly.
“That’s great to hear,” Minako said encouragingly. “We’re behind you all the way!”
“All right,” he said, giving them all a grateful half-smile. “Let’s do this.”
It amazed him at how quickly they had set everything up. Their determination to make sure that everything went well for his asking Ami out was certainly astounding. If only they hadn’t decided on such a stupid plan. Then again, simple plans sometimes had the habit of succeeding where more elaborate ones collapsed on themselves. This plan was so simpleminded that maybe it had to succeed. Not for the first time, Ryoku regretted having allowed the girls to try to help him. They meant well, but couldn’t they have at least come up with something less… asinine?
He sat on one of the park benches surrounding the lake in Sankaku Park, waiting. The others were in their positions. All that was left was for Ami to show up.
“You wanted to talk with me, Ryo-kun?” Ami asked as she walked up to him.
“Yes,” he replied with a nod and gestured for her to take a seat on the bench next to him.
As she sat down on the bench, she glanced over what he was wearing. He wore a light gray shirt with a white undershirt, dark gray slacks and black shoes. “You look very handsome, Ryo-kun,” she commented with a smile.
He half-grinned at the compliment as he looked over what she was wearing. She wore a light sky-blue dress that left her arms bare up to her shoulders and came down to her knees. She also wore slipper-like shoes that matched her dress in color. He had seen her wear that outfit before; it was his favorite. “And you look beautiful, Ami-chan,” he replied.
At a nearby bench in the direction Ryoku was facing in and out of Ami’s line of sight, a blonde-haired girl was busy staring down at the notepad in her hands. He knew it was Minako, though she had her hair bounded in a braid and was wearing a pair of shades. Not a great disguise, but a casual glance wouldn’t show that she was Minako. She and the others were all supposed to be disguised as such, so Ami wouldn’t know of their involvement.
Whether Minako was writing or sketching, he couldn’t tell, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that as soon as he saw her, she raised the back of the notepad in his direction so he could read the words written on the back. He mentally winced when he read them. She wants me to say that?!? That doesn’t sound like me at all! What in the world are you thinking, Minako-chan? He agreed to say whatever they wrote, though. He gave his word on it. He knew he was going to regret this, but he had to do it.
“Ami-chan, your eyes sparkle like the sunlight upon the crystal blue waters of the lake,” he said, wishing his words didn’t have to sound like some nonsense pulled out of a bad romance novel.
Minako grinned. That was one of her favorite lines from a romance novel she had read some time before. It fit perfectly with Ami’s blue eyes. She sighed to herself, wishing that some cute guy would say things like that to her.
Ami blinked as she gave him a peculiar glance. That doesn’t sound like him. “Um… thank you… Ryo-kun.”
Ryoku sighed mentally. I knew she wouldn’t buy it. I hope the others don’t.… Oh, no. There was another written message by another girl sitting somewhere behind Ami. Sitting under a tree, a raven-haired girl was pretending to draw the scenery of the park. Rei wasn’t even disguised; she just held the sketchpad in front of her face so no one could see her. Of course, the sketching was just a ruse, because the backside of the paper she had just flipped over held words for him to recite. At least her words aren’t as bad at Minako’s, but poetry?!? I don’t recite poetry!
“Radiant beauty, enamored I am by you. Your smile gives me life.” He sighed inwardly. Not as bad, but it wasn’t him.
Rei smiled to herself. That had to be one of her best works of poetry, written just for them. It had to work; if a cute guy were to whisper those words to her, she would feel as if she were going to melt.
Ami blinked. Poetry? Now he’s reciting haiku. What is going on with him today? “How… nice,” she said in confounded voice.
Romance novels… haiku.… Do they think that…? Not you, too, Mako-chan…? Walking down one of the parks many paths, a tall brunette was trying her best to look lost. Makoto’s hair was unbound, like Rei’s usually was and she also wore a pair of shades. His, he guessed. She had always liked his sunglasses. She had taken out a map and unfolded it, displaying a third set of words to recite.
“You know, out of all the girls in Tokyo – no, the whole world – you have got to be the most beautiful girl I have ever had the privilege to set eyes on.” He remembered that sentence. Makoto had told him that that was one of the things her senpai used to say to her when they were still dating. It sounded like a load of trite rubbish; recycled lines spouted by guys throughout the ages to attract the interest of girls through flattery, be it sincere or not.
Makoto sighed, once again thinking of her long-lost senpai. He used to say such beautiful things to her. But that stupid, boneheaded jerk had to go and dump her. How could he do such a thing! The sound of crumpling paper broke her out of her reverie. She grimaced in chagrin as she carefully straightened out the crumpled map, refolded it, and put it away.
Once again, Ami gave him a bewildered look. It’s almost like it’s someone else talking instead of him. Why is he doing this? “Uh… thank you… for the… compliment.”
He sighed mentally again. This is so stupid! Why did I agree to this?!? Another blonde-haired girl with odangos and twin ponytails streaming down her back started skipping down the same road Makoto was on, passing her as Makoto went to go join Rei and Minako in watching her brother make his move. The girl stopped, turned to face Ryoku and held up a sign – quite blatantly in his opinion. Usagi didn’t even bother to change her hairdo; didn’t she realize that it was practically a trademark with her? When he saw her words, he swallowed hard. She had all but demanded the coup de grâce, the words that would actually have him asking Ami on their date. Hers would have instructions along with words to recite. He swallowed again as he reread the sign, cringing inwardly. No. I don’t want to do that! Damn it, why did I agree to let her do this? I knew she’d end up doing something like this!
A hopeless romantic, Usagi had pulled something out of her own romantic dreams and wrote it down for him to do. Obviously, she thought it would be perfect for him. Bend down on one knee and take one of her hands in yours. Then, look into her eyes and say, “My dearest Ami, I would be honored beyond words if you would grant me the favor of going out on a date with me.”
Ryoku swallowed a third time and began to stand up. He gave his word and he had to do it. He took a deep breath and bent down on one knee before her.
Usagi had quickly joined the others in watching Ryoku prepare to ask Ami out on a date. The four girls were tense with excitement and could hardly wait to see Ami’s reaction.
He took one of Ami’s hands, glanced up into her eyes, and stopped what he was about to say. That look in her eyes. It was like she was looking at a stranger and wondering what he was doing. She knew he would never say things like that. It was too flowery, too passionate, too overblown. It wasn’t him.
“My-dearest-Ami-I-would-be-honored-beyond-words-if-you-would-grant-me-the-favor-of-going-out-on-a-date-with-me,” he said in such a rush that it sounded like one incredibly long and incomprehensible word. There. It was done. He had kept his word, though probably not in the matter that they had intended. Well, they had never discussed specifics, did they?
Usagi and the others blinked in confusion. That wasn’t part of what they had planned. What was he doing?
“What?” Ami asked, confused by what he said.
“I’ve had enough,” he said quietly to himself as he got up and sat down next to her again. “I know I’ve been acting a little weird right now, but there’s a reason for it. I’ll explain later, but first there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a long time; which was the reason why I’ve asked you out here.” He took a deep breath to calm himself – he was nervous – and plunged right into it. “Ami-chan… would you like go out on a date with me? Today? I know this is sudden, but….” He trailed off as he noticed her expression. She was smiling at him. Smiling was good. He began to feel a little less nervous.
“I suppose that was the reason behind all that nonsense you were reciting, right, Ryo-kun?” she asked with a small laugh. “The others put you up to it, didn’t they?”
He sighed. He knew she would see right through it. “I needed their help. To be honest, I was very nervous about asking you out,” he admitted, glancing toward the lake in front of them. “I’m not completely sure why, but….” He shook his head and turned back toward her. “It doesn’t matter. I just want to know if you’ll go out with me?”
She put a hand over her mouth as she laughed. “Oh, Ryo-kun, I like you much better this way,” she said as she gave him a warm smile. “I would love to.”
His half-smile was beaming as he stood up and held out his hand. “Then, shall we go?” She placed her hand in his as he helped her to her feet and they walked off. Before they left their sight, Ryoku and Ami both suddenly turned and flashed identical “V”-signs toward the other four girls.
Makoto blinked in surprise. “She knew,” was all she said.
“I wonder how long she knew we were here,” Minako added thoughtfully.
“It was because of Usagi-chan,” Rei said accusingly. “If it wasn’t for that ridiculous act that she had Ryo-kun go through….”
“Ridiculous?!?” Usagi retorted heatedly. “What about you?!? All that ‘radiant beauty’ nonsense? You were just as bad, if not worse!”
“That was a brilliant work of poetry, you dullard! You wouldn’t know good poetry if a poetry book conked you on the head!”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right!”
Makoto and Minako sighed as they began yet another tongue duel. “Let’s go, Minako-chan,” Makoto said as they both got up and started to leave.
“Hey, wait!” Usagi shouted. “Where’re you going?”
“Well, we thought that we’d just see how the new couple fairs on their date,” Minako replied with a mischievous wink. “You wanna come or do you two wanna stick your tongues out at each other all day?” With that, all four girls went off to spy on their friends’ date.
Natsumi sighed as she walked into her apartment and closed the door behind her. She lost him. She was all but on his heels, but somehow she lost him. Life was not fair.
“Have a nice walk?” Seijuro asked, standing next to the doorway leading to the chamber that held Makaiju, the Doom Tree. “I expected you back half an hour ago.”
“So I forgot the time,” she replied offhandedly. “No big deal.”
Seijuro shook his head and walked through the doorway, shedding his disguise as he went. Natsumi shed her disguise as well and followed.
Ail glanced up at the Doom Tree and frowned. “So, do you have any plans on getting some fresh human energy?” he asked.
Ann frowned. That was why she was supposed to be back a half hour ago. To discuss gathering energy. She felt a slight tinge of weakness; probably from all that running after Mamoru. Why did he have to run away from her? All she wanted was a nice romantic walk through the park like she saw all the other couples doing then. Those couples seemed full of energy….
“You know,” she began with a slight grin on her face, “it was a beautiful day outside. There were a lot of couples taking a nice romantic walk in the park. Lots of energy in young lovers, wouldn’t you agree?”
Ail grinned and nodded. “Yes, that would be just what Makaiju needs. Well?” he asked as he spread a hand of seven cards in front of her. “Chose your Cardian.” Ann raised her finger, causing the second card from the right to lift out of Ail’s hand and float into the air.
The Cardian’s body seemed to be made entirely out of some light blue crystal with sharp, pronounced ridges instead of curves. Her pure white eyes seemed to lack any sign of emotion, giving her crystalline body an even colder look.
“Come forth, our servant, Krystile!” Ail commanded and began to play his flute. As he played, a cold, white light slowly glowed within the Cardian’s eyes.
It may not have been the most romantic date Ryoku had even been on, but he didn’t care. It was the company that mattered and he had the most beautiful girl in the world on his arm. It was almost enough to make him give a full smile for the first time in over five years.
Ami looked up at Ryoku and smiled shyly to herself. He had come along way from the person whom she had first met months ago. She had liked him even then, but she liked this Ryoku even more. He may not be the romantic type like the others wished for, but he was completely honest. Their date would seem like just another meeting between good friends to other people, but they knew better.
They talked for a long time at the Crown Video Arcade over lunch. Motoki had suggested a booth over in the far corner of the arcade with a wink directed at Ryoku. Ami blushed as he rolled his eyes in exasperation and told him that he’d think about it. They ended up sitting in a booth next to a window.
They talked about anything and everything: school, books, chess – it seemed that he was a pretty decent player; she suggested a game in the future, which he gratefully accepted – music, even their friends. That began when she said that she thought she saw someone with Usagi’s hairdo watching them from the other side of the room. He had told her that it was Usagi and that she and the others had been watching them for most of the time they had been there. He told her that he didn’t mind them watching, as long as they didn’t try to interfere and as long as she didn’t mind. She saw no harm in letting them continue their ‘spying’ since he didn’t seem to care and they left it at that.
Now they were back in the park, taking a leisurely stroll, not caring where they went, as long as they were together.
“You know,” she began with an amused grin, “I’m surprised at them.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“That plan of theirs. The one where they had you recite those things. They had to have known that it wouldn’t work.”
“Eh?”
“They made you say all those ridiculous things just to get you to become so frustrated that you forgot your nervousness and asked me out in your own way,” she continued.
“Oh,” he replied with a grin. “I guess so.” If only she knew that they thought that plan was actually supposed to work.…
They walked for a little while in silence, nervously not looking at each other. “Ami-chan,” he said suddenly, halting in his steps.
“Ryo-kun,” she said at the same time, stopping as well.
“You first,” he told her.
“Okay. Remember that time when I first broke up with Urawa-kun?” she asked, gazing up into his gray eyes.
“Yes,” he said quietly, looking down into her blue eyes.
“We almost kissed, didn’t we?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
“Yes.”
She looked away for a moment, glancing toward the trees over to her right. “I’ve been thinking about it since. About that feeling I was experiencing just before I was going to kiss you. I wasn’t sure what it was or if it was because I was so upset over the news that I wasn’t going to see him again. This’s something I’ve never felt before in my life and it sort of frightens me a little.”
Ryoku nodded. “I know what you mean. That feeling. It’s a strong feeling; an intensity I’ve never felt before in all my life. Not even with Keiko-chan.” A sad frown crossed his face and passed so quickly that she wasn’t entirely sure it had been there. “It’ll take time to try and understand these feelings.”
“Yes,” she agreed as she moved closer to him and took his arm in hers. “But we’re not in any rush, right?”
“Right,” he agreed. “We can take our time.”
A loud pair of screams caught their attention. Simultaneously, they glanced in the direction of the screams, then looked back at each other. They nodded in agreement as they ran toward the screams, each pulling out their own transformation items as they ran.
“Did you see where they went?” Rei asked glancing around one of the park’s entrances.
“No,” Minako replied frowning slightly. “I think we lost them.”
“We wouldn’t have lost them if Usagi-chan hadn’t insisted on finishing her ice cream sundae,” Makoto muttered, giving the blonde girl a scathing glance.
“I said I was sorry, all right?” Usagi said defensively. “It’s not like we aren’t gonna find them again. We know they’re somewhere in the park, right? We can find them, no problem.”
“It’s a big park,” Minako replied. “We’d better start looking. I don’t wanna miss any more than I already have. Come on!” With that, she rushed off into the park, with the others quickly following suit.
Krystile had already left the last couple behind and was now searching for another one. It shouldn’t be that hard to find; there seemed to be quite an ample number here today.
There. Another unsuspecting couple was taking a walk near the park’s lake. She ran toward the couple, making a slight crackling noise as she ran, and leaped over the railing of the park’s second level, landing just behind the unsuspecting couple with a large crashing sound.
“What…?” the man began as he and his girlfriend started to turn around.
“Ah… ah… a monster!!!” the woman shrieked as she and her boyfriend started to run.
Krystile smiled coldly as she extended her right hand and pointed her finger at them. Two shards of light blue crystal hurtled toward them, striking them in the back. Slowly, they began to slow as their bodies turned into the same crystal that had struck them.
“Did you see that?” Ryoku murmured to Ami as they stopped at the railing the Cardian had leaped over.
“Yes,” Ami nodded grimly. “We better watch out for that attack. Ready?” He nodded as she raised her transformation pen and he crossed his swords over his head. “Mercury power, make up!”
“Knight swords power!”
The two crystalline bodies began to glow with a white light as their energy was slowly sucked away from them. Krystile smiled coldly again as she turned and headed off to search for another couple to drain of their love energy.
“Hold it!” two voices shouted in unison. The Cardian gazed upward toward the second level of the park where she had previously jumped off from. Standing there on the edge, just in front of the railing, was Sailor Mercury and Sailor Knight, standing together, back to back and arms crossed as they glared down at her.
“How dare you disturb couples enjoying their time together,” Mercury shouted.
“You steal the energies of people in love and that shall not be tolerated,” Knight added.
“On behalf of the planet Mercury….”
“And on behalf of the planet Earth….”
“…we shall halt your evil plans!” both Scouts shouted at once.
Krystile glared at the two Scouts, then smiled coldly as she realized something. There was love energy between those two as well. They must have an abundance of energy for her to drain from them. Continuing her cold smile, she raised her hand to point at them.
“I don’t think so,” Knight said as he prepared an attack. “Earth thrust!”
The Cardian jumped back as the attack struck the ground were she had stood. If she wasn’t careful, that attack could shatter her.
Mercury and Knight leaped down off the second level and faced the Cardian. “Mercury, can you contact the others while I keep her busy?”
“Right,” she acknowledged as he rushed at Krystile.
A beeping noise quickly caught Usagi’s attention as the four girls continued their search for the missing couple. Since almost everyone was with her, she had no trouble figuring out who was contacting her.
“Everyone, I think Ami-chan and Ryo-kun might be in trouble,” she said as she pulled out her communicator. The others crowded around Usagi, watching the communicator as well. Sailor Mercury’s face appeared on the little screen in the corner.
“Everyone, we need your help,” she began urgently. “Sailor Knight and I are by the lake in Sankaku Park. Please hurry!”
“Right, we’re on our way,” Usagi replied and shut down the communicator.
“Let’s go!” Makoto stated, brandishing her transformation pen. The others nodded agreement.
“Venus power, make up!”
“Jupiter power, make up!”
“Mars power, make up!”
“Moon crystal power, make up!”
Sailor Knight quickly countered each shard the Cardian flung at him with a swing of his Knight Swords. There seemed to be no way of getting past his defenses. She dodged to one side as he stabbed at her midsection and whirled around, slashing at her with his other sword, and began the onslaught anew.
“Shabon spary!” Mercury shouted, her bubbles producing a thick mist to obscure vision.
Of course. If she couldn’t take out Sailor Knight, then…. Krystile leaped straight up into the air. Despite her being made entirely out of crystal, she could leap very high. Once she was clear of the fog, she aimed at Sailor Mercury and fired. The crystal shard struck her in her right arm just as she hit the ground again.
“Ah!” Mercury gasped in shock as her body slowly began to crystallize.
“Mercury?” Knight called out as he heard the gasp. He rushed out of the fog and ran to her side, noticing that she was slowly turning to crystal. “Ami-chan!”
“Look out!” she shouted, pushing him away just as another crystal shard struck the ground where he stood. A pleased smile crossed her face just as her body turned completely into crystal, freezing her expression that way.
“Ami-chan…,” he murmured quietly as he got to his feet. She had saved him. “Don’t worry, Ami-chan. I’ll make sure that she pays for what she did. I’ll save you, just like you saved me.”
The other Sailor Scouts had arrived in time to see Sailor Knight turn from what looked like a crystal statue of Sailor Mercury and point one of his swords angrily at the Cardian.
“You…,” he growled fiercely, a fire burning in his heart… his soul. “You will pay! For what you did to her, I will make you pay!!!” He went through the motions of his attack, but the words he spoke were entirely different. Words fueled with rage.
“Volcanic flare explosion!!!”
Just as before, he flung a stone spike at Krystile, only this time, the spike was glowing with a white-hot light. Just a few feet in front the Cardian, the stone spike suddenly exploded into a vertical circle of fire large enough to completely engulf her, suspended just inches above the ground. Out of this ring of flame, a huge stream of red-hot molten stone slammed into her.
The other Scouts gaped at this new attack of his. They had no idea that he had this kind of power. Apparently, neither did he as he stared blankly at what remained of Krystile: a blackened, smoldering card stuck into the ground.
Ail sighed as yet another of his Cardians was destroyed by the Sailor Warriors. How annoying. “Krystile has failed us,” he muttered irritably.
“At least the energy she has collected will sustain the tree for quite some time,” Ann replied, looking at the revitalized tree.
“Well, we’ll just have to take that time to come up with a better plan for collecting energy,” he replied simply as he turned to leave.
“Where’re you going?” she asked questioningly as he changed into his disguise.
“Out for a walk,” Seijuro replied as the door closed behind him.
Just as Krystile was destroyed, everyone who had turned to crystal quickly reverted back to normal, if slightly weak from being drained. Knight rushed forward and caught Mercury in his arms as she collapsed.
“Ami-chan…,” he whispered softly, half-smiling down at the girl in his arms.
“Ryo-kun…,” she whispered back weakly, smiling up at him.
The other Sailor Scouts exchanged sly grins as they quietly slipped away to leave them alone. And to find a place to watch them, of course….
The sun was slowly beginning to set as Ryoku quietly strummed a few idle chords on his guitar while Ami leaned quietly against his shoulder. They were back in the same bench that they had sat in before, where their date had began. After finding the girls, he had asked Makoto if she would mind bringing him his guitar from his room. He told her that since he was letting them watch their date, she might as well do something for him.
“Mmm…. That was beautiful,” Ami murmured tiredly as he paused in his guitar playing. She stirred slightly as she spoke, glancing up at him. She was still a little weary from being drained of her energy, and he guessed that his playing was slowly putting her to sleep. Not that he would mind it if she fell asleep while leaning against him. It felt good.
“Let me play a song for you that I wrote not too long ago,” he began quietly. “I wrote it just for you.” It was a beautiful song with a delicate melody weaving itself within the soothing accompanying chords. Not too fast, but not too slow.
“How… lovely…,” she murmured with a yawn between the words.
He glanced down at Ami. She was asleep. She looked so beautiful and serene like that. Carefully, he set his guitar aside and put an arm around her shoulders as she slept. He watched the sun continue to set as the park lights flickered on above him. A small contented half-smile spread across his face whenever he glanced down at the sleeping beauty at his side. He wished this could last forever.
Makoto sighed to herself as she watched her brother. Usagi and Minako were discussing the cute guys in their respective schools, with Usagi mentioning that they all couldn’t compare with her Mamoru. That led to her trying to figure out another way to get him to remember her again. Rei was sitting against one of the trees, writing in that notepad she had borrowed from Minako. Probably writing more poetry.
She couldn’t help but smile at the scene laid out before her eyes. She hadn’t seen her brother this happy in years. The old Ryoku she remembered from so long ago was slowly coming back from the dead. It was almost enough to make her cry with joy. As a small tear rolled down her cheek, she realized that she was crying.
Welcome back, Ryo-chan, my dear brother, she thought as she wiped her tears from her face. I’ve missed you so.
To Chapter 48: Venus to the Rescue