Alone No More: Minako's Story
by Jason C. Ulloa


Chapter 11

"You gotta be kidding me...."

"Really, Natsuna-oneesan, do we have to...?"

Natsuna held up a pair of specially made police uniforms for them. They looked like a cross 
between Minako's and Ryoku's usual fukus, and the regular police uniform. Made by a 
professional designer, it might've been fashionable, but since Natsuna made them herself....

"You... don't like them?" she asked hurtfully.

"The embroidered names are a nice touch...," Ryoku said consolingly, "...but, you didn't 
have to go through all this trouble, Natsuna-san."

"Yeah," Minako added quickly. "We have our own uniforms, remember? We don't really need new 
ones."

"But, you're working with the police now, right?" Natsuna replied with a disappointed 
frown. "How will we be able to make that fact known without proper uniforms?" She then 
turned to the white cat sitting on the windowsill in her office. "What about you? Do you 
have any ideas?"

Artemis blinked. He didn't really expect to be part of the conversation. Minako had 
volunteered herself and Ryoku, but there was no mention of himself being part of the 
package, so he just came to make sure that Minako didn't forget her duties as a soldier of 
justice. That, and since it was so high up, the sun was warmer from the window in Natsuna's 
office....

"Badges, maybe?" he yawned as he stretched. 'I wouldn't mind letting Mina and Ryoku work 
for the police if I could just lie here all day....'

Natsuna grinned. She still found the fact that Artemis could talk very fascinating. At 
first he wouldn't talk at all, but he changed his mind once she gave him exception to the 
'No Animals' policy the building had. She knew he was grateful for the windowsill perch.

"Hmm...," she said thoughtfully as she put away the fukus. "Not a bad idea." Both Minako 
and Ryoku sighed in relief. "Okay! Let's go get you two some badges. Follow me."

"Anou...," Ryoku began, "...would you mind if Minako-chan and I transform first? I mean, 
you and Wakagi-san already know of our identities, but everybody else doesn't. How would it 
look if we came out as us, after we came in as Sailor V and Masked Knight?"

"Good point," she replied, nodding.

"Moon Power Transform!"

"Star Sword Power Transform!"

Natsuna sighed in contentment. She'd never get tired of seeing that. It was so exciting! 
Sailor V and Masked Knight, transforming before her eyes! What an honor! "Now, let's go 
find you two some badges."

Artemis watched them leave from the windowsill. "Take your time," he yawned as he stretched 
lazily and settled back down for a short nap.

            **********************************************

"Defeated?" the figure in the darkness bellowed angrily. "What do you mean, defeated?!?"

"Danburite is no more, my Queen," the lowly figure reported in a cowed voice as he bowed 
with his face to the ground. "Only myself and a few others are what is left of the Dark 
Agency, due to Sailor V and Masked Knight."

The figure in darkness growled. The energy collected so far was hardly enough, and they 
were not yet ready to initiate their more grander plans. For now, the now defunct Dark 
Agency was their only link to collecting energy. The Dark Kingdom was not yet ready to make 
their first move.

"Perhaps we need to try to collect energy far away from our main base of operations," the 
figure said quietly. "This way, those two annoyances will not hamper our plans. Somewhere 
on the other side of this planet should be adequate," the figure continued. "This place." A 
projection appeared over the figure.

"Ah, yes," the bowed figure said as he looked up. "I've heard of that place. The humans 
call the place by two names: Great Britain or England. The capital city is called London."

"London," the dark figure repeated thoughtfully. "Yes. That will do. Go to this London and 
continue to gather energy from the humans. Sailor V and Masked Knight should not bother you 
and the others there, Quartzite."

"Yes, Queen Beryl," the bowed figure repeated, then disappeared.

            **********************************************

"Okay, Ryo-kun, I think that'll do it for today," Minako said as she changed back from her 
Sailor V form.

Ryoku followed suit as he changed back from being Masked Knight and followed Minako out of 
police headquarters. "Four weeks," he said quietly.

"Eh?" she asked as she glanced back at him. "What'd you say, Ryo-kun?"

"I said, four weeks," he replied as he hurried up to walk beside her. "It's been four weeks 
since we've started to work for the police and we're no closer to finding our unknown 
allies than before. Are we actually going to start looking sometime soon?"

Minako frowned as she looked back down the street. "It's not like we haven't looked," she 
replied.

"You mean, Artemis looks for our allies from the command center while we play Tokyo's 
finest," he replied dryly, then sighed. "Not that I'm complaining about the part-time job, 
but shouldn't we be trying a little harder to find our allies? Remember what Danburite said 
about the Dark Kingdom?"

Minako flinched at the name. Ryoku absolutely refused to call him by the name Kaitou Ace; 
probably because that was the name he used when he was trying to lure her away from him. 
She was still uncertain if the main reason behind his despising him was concern for her, or 
jealousy over her. Still, the fact that he felt that strongly about her made her feel 
special.

"Okay, Ryo-kun," she relented tiredly. "If you're that concerned about it, we'll stop by 
the command center. Maybe Artemis or Boss has something for us."

Ryoku nodded silently as a thought came to him. "It's strange, though...."

"What's strange?" she asked as she turned to look at him.

"Boss," he replied as they started toward the command center. "She's been quiet lately, 
hasn't she? I don't remember hearing from her since we dealt with Danburite."

"Now that you mention it...," she began in thoughtful agreement, then trailed off. "Why do 
you think she's so quiet lately?"

"I wish I knew, Minako-chan," he replied with a worried frown. "I have a bad feeling about 
it, though... and if we do find out, I think we won't like the reason why...."

            **********************************************

Artemis was busy scanning the city again. Surely one of their allies would've been detected 
by now; Luna would've found some of them by now....

"Actually, Artemis," Boss' voice said from the main monitor, "she has already found one of 
them."

The white cat blinked in surprise. One, he hadn't realized he had spoken his thoughts 
aloud. Two, Boss had been quiet for such a long time that he was starting to wonder if she 
had suddenly decided to let them on their own without so much as a goodbye. And finally....

"What was that, Boss?" he asked in astonishment. "Luna has actually found the first Sailor 
Senshi?"

"Yes," she replied. "Sailor Moon."

"Why haven't you told us about this?!?" he exclaimed. "We've been searching for any one of 
them for a month!"

"There is a reason for this," she replied. "I don't want you to tell Venus or Knight about 
this, Artemis. Those two are currently preparing for something very important."

"Important?"

"Yes. Sailor Moon is currently battling the first wave of the Dark Kingdom," she explained. 
"If Sailor Venus and Sailor Knight were to join her, it would help her tremendously, due to 
their experience. However, there is a more pressing matter at hand.

"On the other side of the world, in London, England, the last remnants of the Dark Agency 
are currently in operation. They are supplying energy to their parent foundation, the Dark 
Kingdom. If left unchecked, they could build up the Dark Kingdom so rapidly that Sailor 
Moon and the rest of the Sailor Senshi would be overwhelmed within weeks, even with the aid 
of Venus and Knight.

"The reason I've been silent lately is because I've been in contact with Luna for the past 
month," Boss explained. "However, my time is growing short and soon, I will no longer be 
able to speak with either of you."

"Nani?!?" Artemis gasped in shock. "You... you won't be able to help us anymore? Why?"

"My power to speak with you across space and time is fading," Boss explained. "I will need 
you to take over for me then. You've had more experience with the Dark Agency, but Luna has 
more experience in training the Sailor Senshi. I want you to help her by handling 
reconnaissance. Keep tabs on the Dark Kingdom until Sailor Venus and Sailor Knight are 
ready to join them. You will know when the time is right."

Artemis nodded. "So, you want Mina, Ryo-kun, and I to go to England and take care of the 
rest of the Dark Agency?"

"No. Just Mina and Ryoku."

"Why not me?" Artemis asked. "They'll need me!"

"Luna will need your help more," she replied. "Time is growing short. You will need to make 
preparations for Mina and Ryoku to travel to London. They may need to stay for a prolonged 
period of time, so you might want to consider making them exchange students."

Artemis nodded quietly. It would be a long time away from his partners and friends, but 
maybe Boss had the right of it. Besides, it would do Mina some good to be on her own. 
Besides, she always had Ryoku to back her up, should she need it. That's what partners were 
for, anyway.

On the monitor, a picture of a silver-haired figure suddenly faded into view. The image was 
considerable fuzzy, but the hairstyle and crown was distinct. It was then that he finally 
recognized the face that went with the familiar voice.

"This will be my last transmission to you, Artemis. Please, do not reveal my identity to 
either Mina or Ryoku. They will find out in due time. On behalf of the Moon, may good 
fortune be with you and the Sailor Senshi. Farewell."

Artemis bowed his head. "It was good to see you one last time, Queen Serenity," he replied 
in a slightly choked voice as he fought back a tear. "Farewell, Your Majesty."

            **********************************************

"Gone?!?" Minako and Ryoku exclaimed simultaneously after Artemis had explained. The whole 
thing to them.

"I'm afraid so," he replied calmly.

"But, at least we know that the Dark Agency isn't completely gone," Ryoku added. "We have 
to finish the job we started."

"We're going to England!" Minako exclaimed in excitement. "We're so lucky, aren't we, 
Ryo-kun? We get to go to distant places, like Hawaii, Greece, China, and England!"

"Anou.... You never went to Hawaii, and only you went to Greece, Minako-chan," he corrected.

"Oh, don't be such a spoilsport, Ryo-kun!" she told him. "The point is that we get to 
travel together again! The three of us are going to London!"

"Actually," Artemis cut in, "only you two are going."

"Nani?" they exclaimed again in unison. "Why just us?"

"I need to stay here and continue to search for our allies," he told them. "As you two 
fight the Dark Agency, they will be fighting the first wave of the Dark Kingdom. Your job 
will be crucial, since they won't be as experienced as you two. Only you two can finish the 
Dark Agency."

"Minako-chan and I will take care of it," Ryoku replied confidently.

"Right!" Minako agreed. "Leave it in our hands! The Dark Agency can't beat us, the soldiers 
of justice! Sailor V!"

"Masked Knight!"

Artemis sweatdropped. 'Well, at least they're mentally prepared....'

"At any rate," the white cat continued, "you two are now officially transferred to one of 
the junior highs in London as exchange students. I have the addresses. I also spoke with 
Natsuna, and she's agreed - reluctantly, though - to transfer you to a police department in 
downtown London, under your secret identities, of course."

"Of course," Ryoku said flatly. 'Oh boy. More policework. Oh, well... at least it'll be a 
change of pace. It'd be nice to work on my English.'

"So, when do we leave?" Minako asked eagerly.

            **********************************************

"Exchange students?" Minako's mother said in surprise. "I don't remember hearing anything 
about you becoming an exchange student." She then glanced over at Ryoku. "And Ryoku-san, 
too?"

"Well, I figured it sounded interesting," Ryoku replied. "Besides, I thought if Minako-chan 
was going to go to a foriegn country, she might want a good friend to go with her so she 
wouldn't be lonely."

"That's so nice of you, Ryoku-san," she said with a smile. "So, where did you two say you 
were going?"

"London, England!" Minako said excitedly.

"Oh!" her mother said in surprise. "Then, you're going to have to study English even 
harder, Mina. After all, that is the country's official language, isn't it?"

Minako gulped audibly. 'Oh... I almost forgot about that....'

"We've been studying extra hard for this," Ryoku stated. "Besides, the person we're staying 
with is also fluent in Japanese, so he'll be able to help us learn the language better."

"That's nice. So, what's the man's name, and do you have the address where you two will be 
staying?"

Minako handed her mother a sheet of paper with the address written on it. "The guy's name 
is Alan Nelson."

Her mother sighed as she went over to hug her daughter. "So, you'll be gone for a few 
months, Mina? Promise that you'll write often and call home when you can."

"I will," she answered, squeezing her mother tightly. Ryoku watched them and sighed 
inwardly. He missed hugging his own mother. He would have to let Mako-chan know about his 
going to England. She'd take it hard, but she'd understand. Maybe it would help he brought 
Minako to meet his sister. After all, she'd only heard about her from him. The last time he 
visited, she had asked him to at least bring a picture when he next visited. He figured 
he'd bring something better.

"Ryoku-san," Minako's mother said as she suddenly hugged him as well, surprising him, "Mina 
has told me before about your parents being dead. I just wanted to tell you that, if you 
want, you can write to us as well, as if we were your parents, too, and that we'd write 
back."

"Arigatou gozaimasu," Ryoku murmured quietly as he slowly hugged her back. He didn't know 
what to say, really. It was almost as if she knew what he was thinking when she suddenly 
hugged him. 'Then again,' he thought as he was released from the hug, 'aren't mothers 
supposed to be able to do that? I know she's not my mother, but still....'

"Minako-chan," Ryoku said later, when he started to leave for his apartment, "can I ask you 
something?"

"If it's about what my mother did, I'm just as surprised as you," she told him. "I told her 
about your parents a long time ago. I wonder why she just now brought it up...."

"No, it's not about that," he replied. "I'm going to see my sister before we leave. Do you 
want to come with me when I go?"

"You mean, you want me to meet your sister?" she asked in delighted surprise. "I'd love to, 
Ryo-kun! When're you going?"

"Tomorrow morning," he replied. "It's on a Saturday, so we don't have school or work to do, 
then. Meet me at the train station at around 8:30am. Don't worry about the train tickets; 
I'll pay for them."

"Hontou ni?" she said, grabbing his shoulders in excitement and shaking them. "All right!"

"All right, already!" he gasped as she shook him a little too hard. "Oi!!!"

"Eh? Ah! Gomen nasai, Ryo-kun!"

"Ite.... Now, I have a headache...."

            **********************************************

"So, your imoutou-chan lives at a boarding school?" Minako asked as the train started. 

"Hai, it was the one where I was transfered from a while back," Ryoku replied as he settled 
back into his seat. Minako sat across from him and settled back as well. Train rides were 
very comfortable - if it wasn't crowded - and she sometimes wondered which was better, 
watching the scenery go by out the train window, or letting the rythym of the train's 
wheels against the rails slowly put her to sleep.

Right now, it was Ryoku who had her full attention.

"She's been trying her hardest to find a way to get transfered here with me, but so far she 
hasn't been having very much luck."

"What do you mean?"

"My sister has a similar, if lesser, reputation for getting into fights at school," he 
explained. "Well, I had the habit of stepping into fights were someone was picking on 
another one smaller and... well, you get the idea. Anyway, what got me kicked out was when 
some guy thought he could take advantage of my sister's tendancies to fall for cute guys 
quickly... not unlike somebody I know."

"Hey!" Minako exclaimed indignantly.

Ryoku smirked at her outburst, then continued. "Anyway, my sister really let the guy have 
it! I only broke the guy's nose, but she broke his right arm and jaw! Of course, being the 
protective older brother, I took full blame for everything. And here I am."

Minako sweatdropped. "She... broke his arm and jaw?"

"Hai!" he said proudly. "She's a very strong girl. In fact, I'd say she's the strongest 
girl at the whole school! Even stronger than some guys!" he added with a laugh.

"Anyway, she's also very nice," he added. "Not to mention, that she's practically a gourmet 
chef. Almost all of my cooking skills were learned from her."

"She sounds like a very interesting person," she said with a slight grin.

"I think you'll like her," he said as he leaned to the side and closed his eyes. "I'm 
getting sleepy. I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me when we get there, would you, Minako-chan?"

"Of course, Ryo-kun," she agreed as she looked out the window. 'I'm finally going to meet 
his sister, the last of his living family,' she thought as she watched the scenery fly 
past, left behind as they traveled. 'But, I wonder if she'll like me....'

            **********************************************

Minako was growing tired of walking. They've been walking for about an hour already and 
Ryoku was now just ignoring her questions of "Are we there, yet?"

"We're almost there now, Minako-chan," he said after he turned down one street and stopped.

"Really?" she asked in a very relieved voice. "I was getting so tired of walking! Where is 
it?"

He pointed down the street toward a large building near the end of the city. Minako gasped 
in awe as she saw it. It was built to look like a school, but it was much bigger. What 
really caught her attention was the fact that while one side faced the city, the other had 
a beautiful view of the green landscapes she was used to seeing on the train.

"Sugoi!" she breathed in awe. "It's like looking out into the countryside, ne?"

He nodded with a soft grin. "Sometimes it can feel that way," he agreed. "It's an 
interesting contrast; rural on one side and urban on the other. The countryside and the 
city. Beautiful greenery by day, and the glittering, luminescent city lights by night."

"It sounds so wonderful," she sighed in admiration. "Almost makes me wish I could go there."

"You are going there," he said with a smirk. "I'm bringing you, remember?"

Minako playfully hit him in his arm. "You know what I mean, Ryo-kun."

Ryoku made a show of favoring his arm where she hit him. "Well, we'd better get going. I 
wouldn't want to keep Mako-chan waiting."

At the entrance of the boarding school, Ryoku walked into the front office and beckoned 
Minako to follow behind him. "Kino-kun," the woman behind the desk closest to the entrance 
said with a formal greeting.

"Watanabe-san," he greeted back with a slight, but respectful bow.

"If you would please wait right here, Kino-kun," Watanabe replied with a slight frown as 
she stood up and walked out of the room.

"What's with her?" Minako asked curiously.

"She doesn't like me," he replied with a slight frown. "I don't blame her, though. Remember 
the guy I told you about; the one with the broken jaw?" She nodded. "She's his mother."

"Oh...," she replied understandingly.

"Attention," Watanabe's voice blared over the public address system. "Kino Makoto, please 
come to the front office. You have visitors. I repeat, Kino Makoto, please come to the 
front office. You have visitors."

"Come with me," Ryoku said as he headed back out the door.

"Where're we going?" Minako asked as she followed him out the door.

"To meet Mako-chan halfway," he replied as he turned to the left and started walking. "Any 
time, now...," he murmured half to himself. "She should be leaving the female quarters by 
now. Down the stairs to the first floor." Minako blinked as she saw Ryoku starting to run. 
His expression was starting to look... expectant.

"Five...," he said in a louder voice as he ran, "...four... three... two... one... now!"

On 'now', a door practically burst open as a tall brunette girl dashed out, whirled in 
their direction, and started running toward them... or rather, directly at Ryoku. Although 
the distance between the two was closing rapidly, neither one was slowing. Just before 
collision was imminent, the girl leaped at Ryoku, who caught her in midair, and was now 
spinning in place while he smiled up at her. The happy tableau continued for a little while 
until he put her down and turned to face Minako with an arm around the girl's shoulder.

"Minako-chan, meet Kino Makoto," Ryoku stated happily. "My imouto-chan. Mako-chan, meet 
Aino Minako."

"Ah, so you're the friend Ryo-chan has told me so much about," Makoto said with a smile, 
her green eyes showing approval.

Minako blinked in surprise. She knew that they were related, but seeing the two of them 
together made it unmistakable. They had similar facial features, similar hair color... they 
were even the same height! "And you're Ryo-kun's younger sister? It's so nice to meet you!"

"I suppose I should be honored by your visit," Makoto said in an amused tone of voice. 
"After all, you have come out of your way just to say hi."

Minako laughed in chagrin as she put her hand behind her head. "Yeah, well, I thought that 
since Ryo-kun and I were going to be in London together...."

"You'd figure that since Ryo-chan's gotten your mother's blessings, then you might as 
well have mine, ne?" she finished knowingly, then laughed as she noticed Minako's 
expression. "Ryo-chan had already told me last night that you'd be coming with him. He also 
told me about what happened at your house with your mother." She then elbowed her brother 
slyly in the side. "Her parents like you! Way to go, Ryo-chan!"

Ryoku rolled his eyes and sighed in chagrin while Minako blushed. "Come on, Mako-chan. 
You're making Minako-chan uncomfortable. Quit teasing."

"Aww," Makoto pouted in feigned disappointment, then grinned as she put an arm around 
Minako. "Come on, then. What are we standing around here for? I wanna give you a tour of 
the place! Ryo-chan, would you mind if we girls got to know each other by ourselves?"

"As long as you don't say anything about me that's too embarrassing," he replied. "I can 
always go talk with my old friends from here. Go on and enjoy yourselves. I'll meet with 
you two later."

            **********************************************

It was easy for Minako to talk with Makoto; especially since she was treating her as if 
they'd been friends for years instead of just minutes. Minako being Minako, and Makoto 
being Makoto, the conversation quickly fell to a topic very dear to both their 
hearts....

Boys. In particular, Ryoku.

"I wish I had a picture to show you, Mako-chan!" Minako gasped as she laughed.

Makoto was also laughing very hard. "I still can't believe that you actually got him to 
do it!" she gasped as she wiped away a tear from her right eye. "I would've never 
figured that Ryo-chan would ever dress like a girl, even for a bet!"

Minako grinned. Sure, Makoto had said that she wouldn't tell her anything too embarrassing 
about her brother, but that didn't stop her from telling his sister any embarrassing 
stories about him. The only thing was, the best stories she had of him were when he was 
either Masked Knight, or when he was disguised with her compact. She was right now telling 
her about the time when she and Ryoku had entered that competition that would later have 
her going to China. She had altered the story so that he had entered only because of a bet. 
Still, that didn't stop her from telling her about all of the embarrassing details... well, 
embarrassing to Ryoku.

"Hai!" she added. "He sure was cute, though. Kawaii Ryoku-chan!" she said laughingly. That 
caused Makoto to start laughing again.

"Ara!" she gasped. "I not only have an oniichan, I have an oneechan, too!" Both girls began 
to crack up in earnest.

            **********************************************

'I hope that Minako remembers not to tell Mako-chan anything about me being Masked Knight,' 
he thought to himself as he glanced over toward the female quarters. From his position in 
the commons area, he could see them... both in fits of hysterical laughter. He sighed to 
himself in chagrin as he realized that he had asked Makoto not to humiliate him, but he had 
neglected to request the same of Minako.

'Minako-chan....' he thought with a mental sigh.

            **********************************************

After the laughter and the jokes at Ryoku's expense ended, Minako began to feel closer to 
Makoto. After all, Ryoku was someone very important to them, and it served as a common link 
between them.

"Mako-chan, there's something I've been meaning to ask you about Ryo-kun," Minako began.

"What is it?" Makoto asked.

"It's about the way Ryo-kun speaks sometimes...."

"You mean how he sometimes talks like a girl?" Makoto prompted.

"Yeah."

"Well... in a way... I suppose it's my fault. Minako-chan, can I ask you something 
important?" she asked, suddenly turning serious.

Minako's grin slowly faded. "What is it, Mako-chan?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, please," she asked warningly. "You like Ryo-chan, ne?"

Minako blinked. "Hai," she answered simply.

"A lot?"

"Hai. A lot." Minako looked at Makoto questioningly. "Why?"

"Do you know how Ryo-chan feels about you?" she asked quietly.

"About me?" she repeated curiously. "I'm his best friend and partner."

Makoto nodded as if she already knew that. "That's true, but there's more to it that."

"Nani yo?" Minako exclaimed. "Do you mean that... he... likes me?"

"I wouldn't go that far, yet," Makoto said uncertainly. "But I do know that you've become 
very important to him. I can tell by the way he talks to me about you and by how he acts 
around you. I've known the guy all my life; I can tell these things.

"There's something I want to tell you about," she continued. "This is something that he 
probably wouldn't tell anyone, but I think you should know this. Just don't tell him that I 
told you, unless he specifically asks you about it, of course."

Minako nodded. "I won't tell him."

"This happened long before he left this school. He used to have a girlfriend while he 
stayed here, but she died a few months after they were together. It not only broke his 
heart, but it broke his spirit as well. He tried his best to save her life, but he 
ultimately failed.

"For the longest time after that, he acted as though he had no will to live. It seemed to 
me that he was accusing himself of letting her die. I've had to keep a constant watch over 
him to keep him from doing something drastic, like killing himself.

Minako gasped at what she was learning about her best friend. "How horrible...."

"For a couple of years it was like that," Makoto continued. "I kept him at my side until he 
finally woke up from his period of self-accusation and guilt. During those years, he had 
been moving almost unconsciously, reacting to things instead of thinking about them. 
However, once he woke up, he was a completely different person. He became the Ryoku you now 
know. The strange thing was that now parts of his speech tended to sound like a girl's. I 
can only guess that it was because of the fact that I had always kept him at my side during 
those years when his mind was temporarily gone or something. His mind must've absorbed some 
of the words and phrases that mostly girls use, I suppose.

"At any rate, after that all that, he refused to try to find another girlfriend. I think 
he's too afraid that history will repeat itself. It's not just that he won't look for 
another girlfriend; he won't even go out with the girls who try to ask him out. I've tried 
to convince him otherwise, but every time I've tried, he keeps remembering everything that 
happened to her and everything I've said gets thrown out the window.

"The reason why I'm telling you all of this is because I know that he trusts you. He trusts 
you a lot. Maybe while you two are in London, you can help him overcome his problem."

Minako nodded solemnly. "Leave it to me, Mako-chan!" she affirmed. "I'll get Ryo-kun to see 
the wonders of love again!"

"I hope so," Makoto said with a grin. "I'd be eternally grateful to you. Now, before we 
became all serious, where were we? I think I've already told you the story of when Ryo-chan 
accidentally referred to himself as 'atashi', didn't I?"

Minako giggled at that. "Oh, yeah! Then, he went around referring to himself as 'ore' for a 
solid week as if to make up for it." She laughed again. "I can just imagine it. Anyway, I 
think you were telling me about this cute guy that just enrolled who looks a lot like your 
long-lost senpai...."

            **********************************************

Disclaimer: All original materials belong to their respective owners. Sailor Moon belongs 
to Naoko Takeuchi and a bunch of big companies. No copyright infringement is intended. This 
story belongs me, so I would appreciate it very much if you would ask for permission before 
posting it anywhere else. Thank you.

The Question and all stories included are:
Copyright © July 6, 2001 Jason C. Ulloa. 
All Rights Reserved.