"Aino-san, what a pleasant surprise."
Konnor Sterling looked up from his paper work to see the outline of a curving silhouette against the entering daylight. He watched as Minako sauntered in, giving him her best smile. His eyes and his heart melted just a little bit - but as his face was perfectly composed, he was the only one who noticed. Minako, he reflected, was remarkably beautiful, just like all of the Senshi, but there was something about her in particular that he found especially alluring, even from the first moment he'd seen her as Sailor Venus. He'd known then, as if he'd always been waiting for that particular shade of gold, or that particular shape of the eye - that something in him had finally taken an interest. Like finding the perfect pair of running shoes, or the best flavor of chewing gum - for him, Venus was it. It was a pity they were antagonistic at the moment.
"Excuse me, Sterling-san," his secretary poked her head around the door frame apologetically.
"No, that's alright, Sukimoto-san, I was expecting Aino-san. Thank you."
The secretary gave Mina a goggling look before disappearing behind the office door.
"You were expecting me?"
"Well," he said, rising to invite her to sit.
"I did think that you'd seek me out sooner or later."
There was something in his tone that liked Minako decidedly not. And something in his eyes that made her give a little shiver as his arm touched hers when she sat.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Mina smoothed her shorter than necessary skirt and got down to business - Venusian style.
"I just came to have a heart to heart chat," she replied, smiling sweetly.
"Is that so? How delightful. And here I thought you'd come to spy on me."
She nearly lost it, but recovered quickly.
"What gave you that idea? If Mamoru-kun trusts you then I trust you, of course."
"Of course."
They smiled at one another, or Konnor gave what passed for a smile.
"So you did come to spy on me..."
"Spy is such an unpleasant word. I prefer to call it becoming acquainted."
"So do I."
What the heck did he mean by that? - she wondered. For a moment she had the sneaking suspicion that she'd been double played. But she soon rallied.
"So, since we're becoming acquainted, perhaps formal introductions would be the thing to start us off. "
She sat up straighter, flicking a strand of golden hair off of her shoulder. Konnor found himself wondering, idly, if it was a soft as it looked - the hair, of course, not the shoulder.
"I am Aino Minako, also known as Sailor Venus, the commander of the Senshi and protector of ...you-know-who..." even in privacy she disliked risking her princess's identity, "And Princess of Venus - in my past life. Avatar of the Goddess of Love."
Her proud statement ended with a confident smile.
"That's quite a resume."
"Thank you."
She sniffed - the man was incredibly arrogant, but he wasn't mean about it so it was impossible for her to simply call him on it. How frustrating! She sensed his eyes on her, sparkling at her annoyance.
"I am Konnor Sterling, assistant to the American Consul, also known as Kunzite, Heavenly King and commander of the Shitennou and protector of Endymion," evidently he felt more at ease than she did, "And in my former life, I was exactly the same."
"No doubt about that one," she snorted.
She thought she noticed his lips twitch. 'So he does have a sense of humor behind those chiseled features.'
"So, let's have a heart to heart, Aino-san - or would you prefer Princess, or perhaps Venus?"
She just kept herself from scowling.
"Aino-san will be perfect."
"Leader to leader - what is it that you want from my men and me?"
His no-nonsense tone indicated that the opening games were over. Her eyes became as serious as his.
"Honestly?"
He gave the barest hint of a nod.
"Well, you asked for it," she sighed, "Would you consider disappearing?"
"Sorry, no can do, I'm afraid."
"Moving to another country?"
"No, again, sorry."
"Getting amnesia and forgetting this whole Shitennou business?"
Miraculously her half-earnest bantering was making a glimmer of what might have been a real smile on his face. She decided to keep going - just how far could she charm him?
"No."
"Hm...then maybe you could agree to wear shock collars? Just so that we could feel more in control."
"Tempting, but no."
'Likes the collars? So Kunzite's a little kinky,' she reflected. That thought wasn't headed anywhere good - she reigned herself in sharply.
"Well, then I guess we'll have to settle for continued distrust."
"Yes, it does seem so."
They gazed at one another for a moment, matching weary expressions on their faces.
"It gets old, this business of always being suspicious, doesn't it?" she asked, almost rhetorically.
To her surprise she saw the shadow of a companionship and sympathy in his silver gaze.
"That is what it's like," he murmured, "Being the leader."
"Well, you get used to it."
"No doubt."
Enough messing around, she reminded herself - get back to business.
"So, no Mrs. Sterling?" she asked, gazing around the bare and Spartan office.
"No, I'm afraid not," he answered, sitting up straighter, "I haven't had much time for social interaction."
"Tell me about it," she quipped, sighing dramatically. His lips twitched again.
"You know, it's alright to smile," she told him, "I do it all the time and people don't seem to be offended by it."
"No one could be offended by your smile, Aino-san," he replied, simply.
Mina felt herself blush - and at such a lame line!
"Hah."
"But what about you? I assume this means no..." he trailed off.
"No, I don't have a boyfriend," she said, looking peeved. If he makes one joke about the Goddess of Love...
"Surprising," was all he had to say. Privately he was quite pleased - not that it mattered, of course.
"Not really," she retorted, standing up so that she could pace around the room. It gave her an outlet for her excess energy and an excuse to avoid his warm, entirely too mesmerizing eyes.
"I mean, you can't have a real relationship without trust," she explained, examining the plaques on the walls, "And I can't reveal my identity to anyone outside of the Senshi."
"True. That does limit your choices considerably."
Mina spared him a glance - she couldn't tell if he was serious or making fun of her - or both.
"It must be hard..."
"Having a bundle of curiosity for a princess..." floated through her mind...
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked, blinking.
"I said it must be hard being a Senshi."
"Oh, yes. No more difficult than being a Shitennou, I'd assume."
"Perhaps, but seeing your greatest enemies come back to life before your eyes can't be easy."
She stared at him.
"How do you know so much? I thought you didn't -"
"Mamoru-kun explained things to us. Though I remember Beryl quite well from the past. I was not aware, at the time, however, of just how much you and the others had suffered at her hands - and at the hands of those who dared to use our names and faces. And for my hasty words, I apologize."
The way his eyes seemed to glitter with suppressed hatred, or maybe even disgust as he said the name 'Beryl' almost convinced Mina on the spot. But she was an actress first and foremost and knew how easy it was to fool people.
"Well, I'll admit that I have a bias when it comes to you four. Unfortunately it isn't in your favor. But I'm a fair-minded person, Mr. Sterling, and if you continue to give me reasons to trust you, then I won't be unfair should the time arrive in which we'll have to work together."
"Thank you, Aino-san. Please, call me Konnor."
"Well, then,... I guess you can call me Minako." she said, somewhat grudgingly.
"Minako," he pronounced, noting how the name rolled off his tongue with ease. Mina caught herself brighten when he said it.
"Well, Minako, I hate to cut our heart to heart short," he stood once more, "But I'm afraid I have a meeting in fifteen minutes, and I need to get ready for it. By the way, you must be in school - correct?"
Mina nodded as she allowed him to accompany her toward the door.
"I'm at Meji University. I'm a pre-law major."
"Ah," he said, opening the door for her, "I think that suits you well."
"You must go to the gym every day," she commented without thinking, having gotten another up close look at his biceps showing through the thin material of his dress shirt as he held the door open.
He actually blinked and Mina gave herself a mental high-five for having broken that composure. Was he slightly embarrassed?
"I do go to the gym often," he admitted.
"I like to jog in the mornings..." she wasn't quite sure what she was trying to do, but before she could get to a cohesive idea, he said:
"Would you care to jog with me sometime, then?"
"Sure."
'Why not?' she thought, willing her heart to stop it's erratic behavior. 'It's not like I want to date him - I just want to keep an eye on him!'
"Excellent, let's plan for tomorrow morning."
"Alright."
She looked down at the hand outstretched toward her and tentatively slid her own into it. To her surprised he lifted her hand to his lips in one quick and very smooth gesture, not shaking her hand as she'd expected. The touch gave her a little shiver. But his eyes, looking down at her, did much more. More than she was willing to think about at the moment.
"Gooday, Minako."
"See you around, Konnor-san," she returned, a bit awkwardly. The familiarity with anyone besides her father, Mamoru or Artemis was a bit strange.
As the door closed and she got her bearings again, she suddenly realized what had just happened.
"Eros' balls! Aino Minako, you have just been played by a pro!"
She was so frustrated that she immediately kicked a dent the size of a small ball in the side of the inside fountain. Her hand still tingled from it's contact with Kon's lips, as light and respectful as that had been.
"You'd think he was the only man in the world, " she muttered angrily to her rebellious body and heart.
Inside his office, Konnor gave a relieved sigh and watched Minako exit onto the street. He noted the way her hair shimmered behind her like an aureole. He recalled her flushed face and bright eyes, and rubbed the back of his neck. That woman definitely did things to him which he didn't in the least understand. It had definitely been more of a struggle than he'd ever anticipated - which meant that she was dangerous.
"Venusians," he murmured. The smell of her perfume hung in his head from when he'd kissed her hand - light, warm and faintly honey tinted with an odd metallic sharpness that wasn't the least bit unpleasant. It was also terribly, hauntingly familiar.
"Venusian perfume..." His eyes narrowed. Just what exactly did it all mean? And why couldn't he get her scent out of his head?
"Sir?" his secretary's voice called.
"I'm coming."
'And I'm not thinking about Venusian blonds!' he added, for his sole benefit.
Nolan had been staring across the room at Makoto for the past hour. Oh, sure, his mouth was moving, he was carrying on a lively conversation with Hino-san about religious practices in India, but that was something he could do in his sleep. The true center of his attention was Makoto and her drop dead gorgeous eyes that were freaking him out.
Where had he seen them? Where on Earth (or not on Earth) had he seen them before? It was driving him mad.
He babbled on about Hindu gods and goddesses and continued to pummel his brain for a scrap of evidence - anything that would help him remember where he'd seen eyes just like hers. Had it been in a rain storm? Somewhere dark and wet and chaotic...
She caught him staring at her and quirked an eyebrow as if to ask him just what he thought he was doing - but the little blush on her cheeks wasn't lost on him.
He felt his heart speed up again for the fourth time that night.
"This is excellent food," he heard himself say, "Did you prepare it, Hino-san?"
"Yes," Rei answered, her dark eyes stealing glimpeses at Makoto and Jade.
"Although, Makoto did the bulk of the cooking. She's going to the top culinary school in the country."
Makoto's cheeks had a real blush now as both Jade and Nolan offered their accolades and admiration.
"And, have you ever been to America - we have some good cuisine..." Nolan knew this was a shot in the dark, but...
"No, I've never been that far," she answered, becoming a bit pale at the idea of just how long such a flight would be.
'That's not it...' he thought, 'But where?'
"Your family must be very close," he said, smiling, "I'm sure you'd hate to leave them."
Rei froze and Nolan realized he'd said something wrong. But Makoto didn't seem affected by his words.
"I don't have any family besides the girls," she replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "My parents died when I was very young."
Jade threw him a look as if to say 'Good one, idiot.'
'How was I supposed to know that?' Nolan retorted, mentally.
"I'm so sorry," he began. Makoto cut him off with a wave of her hand.
"It's alright, don't be embarrassed. I'm lucky to have such a great family, so saying I minded would be a lie."
Jade knew, from his experience, just how much of that was a lie and how much wasn't - he had been able to tell from their brief conversation, that there were some unsual things about this boisterous, open-hearted, yet in some ways defensive young woman. He'd guessed something else, but the fact that she was an orphan made a great deal of sense with his previous analysis. The things she had in common with Mamoru also clicked in his head.
Nolan still felt like a heel - unlike Jade he lacked the ability to get over hurting other people quickly - even if it was unintentional - and even when they said they didn't mind.
"Well, I'm glad that you feel so close with the others," he said, smiling, "I think we all feel that way too, with Mamoru, I mean."
"Do you?"
He and Jade didn't miss the secretive look between the two women.
'It's almost as if they're taking notes,' Jade mused to himself. He was about to point this out when someone entered the room.
"Hello! No one told me there was a party!"
Nolan and Jade whipped around at the sound of the voice, speaking now in dulcet tones, but which had so recently been threatening their lives.
Mina stood in the doorway, looking tired but cheerful, and dressed in her running clothes again.
"I thought you ran in the mornings." Rei observed.
"Hello to you too, and yes, my day was wonderful. And thank you for introducing me to your guests."
"You already know who they are."
"But it's still polite!"
"Whatever," Rei muttered, standing, "Do you want some food? Or did you just come to mooch?"
Minako considered the energy it would take to reprimand Rei for her poor manners, but decided she'd rather eat.
She plopped down and held out her hands expectantly.
"What do I look like, your mother?" Rei asked, crossing her arms.
"Give it a few years."
"Why you little -!" Rei picked up the bowl of rice.
"No! Not the Rice!" Makoto shouted, launching herself at the two women.
"You are not getting away with that - you freeloader!"
"Rei, please - it took me hours to get it to that consistency!"
"If you had some proper manners!"
"Look who's talking!"
"REI!"
Jade coughed and the three women instantly stopped, freezing in a pose reminiscent of a Greek battle, and turned embarrassed gazes on their captive audience.
"Uh, I'll just...go warm this up for you, Mina-chan," Rei finished sweetly.
Makoto gave a huge sigh of relief.
"So, what are you guys doing here?" Mina turned brightly to the men, as if nothing had happened.
Nolan blinked.
"We decided to drop by, just to say hello - since we'll all be working together..."
"Oh, how nice." Mina sent a questioning look at Makoto who shrugged.
"Hm...so, how is it being a Shitennou and all?"
Jade and Nolan glanced at each other.
"It's weird, frankly," Jade answered.
"You're an honest one."
"That's what they say." He smiled - or rather smirked - but Jade's smile was a smirk, so there wasn't a lot of choice.
"That's what they say about me too," Makoto laughed, good naturedly.
"They never say if it's a good thing or not."
"I think it's a good thing," Nolan interjected quickly, "Honesty is a wonderful quality."
"You never say that to me -" Jade began, staring at his friend. He got a surreptitious elbow in the ribs for his trouble.
"Mina, here's your dinner."
Mina's eyes sparkled with happiness as Rei handed her the bowl of steaming rice and vegetables. As their hands came in contact Rei gasped and nearly dropped the bowl.
Instantly everyone was alert.
"What is it?" Jade asked, sharply, "Did you burn yourself?"
"Not bloody likely," Rei muttered, but she hadn't yet recovered her usual color.
"It's nothing," she said more loudly, "Nothing, I just remembered that I left the fire burning...and I have to go put it out...right now."
She was winking at Makoto and Minako in an almost comical fashion.
"Oh!"
Makoto jumped up, unfolding her long legs at an impossible speed.
"Yes, I will go and help you, Rei-chan," she said, her tone sounding wonderfully artificial. Jade muffled a laugh.
"Minako, don't you want to come?"
"No, I want to finish my food."
"But you've often said how much you love tending the fire, remember?"
Makoto and Rei were both winking at her for all they were worth. Their attempts sailed right over the shining head.
"No I haven't, " Mina pointed out, "I hate -"
"MINAKO!" Rei struggled to control this outburst.
"Minako," her tone was much softer, "There's something I'd like to show you about the fire - and then you can go back to stuffing your face."
Jade was really starting to lose it now. Nolan frowned at him to be quiet but Jade couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"Fine, fine. Be right back, gents."
"I won't let Jade eat your food."
"Thanks."
When they were gone Nolan spared a disapproving look in his friend's direction.
"Oh, come on," Jade scoffed, "You can't tell me that wasn't funny."
"Well..." Nolan recalled the panicked way in which Makoto had tried to cover for Minako's blatant obtuseness.
He started to chuckle.
"What is it?" Mina demanded, once they were all safely sequestered in the fire room.
Rei took a few breaths to steady herself.
"It's the Thread, I saw it."
"So - you've been seeing it all week when I'm with you."
"No, you don't understand - I saw it on...on...on them."
"Them who?
"Minako - who else is there!" Rei demanded.
Two pairs of eyes grew wider than tea saucers.
"No way!" Makoto let out a hoarse breath.
Mina frowned.
"So they have threads," she pondered, "So what? A lot of people do."
"But..." Rei closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, "There's a problem."
"And that would be?"
"The thread on Nolan's finger...it's also connected to..."
Slowly she turned to look at Makoto.
It took them a minute to comprehend what she was saying. When she finally got it, Minako gasped, not sure whether to crow with delight or scream with horror.
Makoto's response was much less complicated - she promptly fainted.