Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story are the property 
of Naoko Takeuchi and co.

This story, while NOT a lemon and NO real crass words are used, is 
gratuitous. You have been warned.

C & C welcomed.

For Want of Moon

A BSG production

by

Donny Cheng

    Serenity could barely contain her glee as she hopped out of bed. 
Endy-chan grunted and covered his head with a pillow in objection to 
the sunlight as she opened up the curtains to the royal bedchamber.  
"Fine, I'll close them back up.  After all, _you_ have a big day ahead 
of you," she said sweetly, giggling at his groan in response.  It was 
mean of her, but she was feeling particularly impish and today she was 
allowed to act on that impishness.

    Being a queen was a 24/7 responsibility she had found out early on.  
She had nearly gone mad with all the stress in those early days, but 
fortunately, her advisors and senshi intervened and forced her to take 
a break whenever they felt she needed one.  Over the years, that 
'break' translated into one day a month where she could do anything she 
wanted to while the city tried to make do without her.  Which meant 
mostly that her husband ended up signing documents the entire day.  She 
was going to get retribution she was sure when his day of rest came.

    She raced to her closet to find something less regal for the day. 
Everything that stared back at her was white, long, and elegant.  She 
made a face at them.  Crouching down, she rummaged around until she 
found a small catch that sprung a hidden nook within the closet.  
Inside, she found a small chest.  It'd been a month since she last 
opened it and a light coating of dust covered the top.  The maids would 
have a fit at the dirt, she grinned mischievously.

    There wasn't much inside, she grimaced, but she already knew that. 
Thankfully, she managed to get some shopping in the last time and 
rotated the more horrendously out of fashion items out.  Smiling, she 
picked up the topmost item and draped it over her arm.  She had been 
waiting for a month to wear this sundress.  Carrying it to the door, 
she wondered if she would manage to sneak out without any hassle.  No 
sooner did she take one step outside, than Miriam, the head maid, 
appeared in front of her.

    Serenity sighed and suffered under the woman's accusing looks. 
Surprisingly, that was all Miriam did, except mutter something about 
inconsiderate despots that didn't think about their lowly servants, 
before shuffling away.  The old woman's gait was deliberately slow like 
that of an old woman, even though Serenity knew that underneath those 
wrinkles and graying hair was a woman that could outrun some of her 
castle guards. Before her favorite servant would round the corner, she 
gave a delicate cough, "Miriam, perhaps you would like to help me get 
ready for the day?  I know it is my day off...."

    "Seren... I mean, Usagi-chan," Miriam winced, "I would love to."

    Serenity smiled as Miriam remembered to use her earthborn name 
despite objecting to it so vehemently at first.  However, they both 
knew that she had gone against habit by letting the woman serve her 
this morning.  It was a strange give and take relationship between 
master and servant that they had developed over the years, and it was 
these clashes of wills that had made this insufferable woman her 
favorite.

    Joining hands with Miriam, Serenity allowed herself to be led to 
the baths and noticed that the old maid's gait was once again 
sprightly.  The wrinkled hand holding her own reminded her that time 
was much shorter for some people.  Miriam had served her for sixty 
years since she was but a minor servant girl, and would probably do so 
for the next sixty with how long everyone seemed to live these days.  
But eventually....

    Suddenly the weight of years fell down upon Serenity's shoulders. 
Normally, the passage of time was not noticeable to her, but when she 
saw it personified in people she had grown to love, her thoughts 
invariably went to her husband and friends, wondering how they managed 
the long days, and even longer years.  The least she could do was help 
out in the small ways that she could.

    *One of which was letting Miriam fuss over me,* Serenity thought 
wryly as they reached the bathing area.  A sweet aroma of a scented 
bath wafted to her nose.  The old coot had planned this in the 
beginning.  She was helped out of her sheer gown, before she felt the 
splash of cold water.  She glared at Miriam, "You could've warned me."

    "You seemed a little sluggish, and a little cold splash raises the 
spirits," Miriam shrugged.  "Get into the water, now."

    Usagi only pouted for a moment before doing what she was told.  
Stripped of her clothes, and being bathed by another, she felt as if 
she were a little girl again.  Miriam matching her perfectly, took on 
the role of the strict mother and began to scrub hard at her skin until 
it shone pink.  *I asked for this,* she thought ruefully as the maid 
was less gentle now that she was 'Usagi' rather than the Serenity.  
Usagi noticed that she didn't think of herself as Serenity anymore.  
*Maybe I did need that splash.*

    "So what's your schedule today?" Miriam asked as she scrubbed 
harder at imagined dirt.

    "I think I'll visit with Mer... Ami at the hospital first.  Then, 
head over to Makoto's restaurant, Minako's dress shop, and finally 
sleep over at Rei's temple.

    Miriam shook her head disapprovingly, "I don't know how they find 
the time."

    "They might be busy with royal staff stuff, but I don't think 
they'll give up their little side jobs for anything.  I'm jealous of 
them.  The only thing I wanted to be was a housewife," Usagi pouted, 
her tone was pointed and accusing.

    "Fine, fine.  I'll see if I can sneak you into the kitchen.  But 
the last time I did that, the King went to see the doctor for stomach 
pills. Fortunately, he didn't complain about the chef, or being head 
maid would have made me have to fire her."

    "Yeah, isn't he dreamy?" Usagi sighed, before taking Miriam's hint. 
"Okay, I'll stick to what I know then.  Nothing fancy or new.  I'll 
make my world famous curry dish for him.  And stop praying for him, I 
can hear you mumbling."

            * * * * *

    "Ms. Tsukino?" Ami asked briskly as she slid into the private room, 
her head down gazing at the clipboard.  The name was familiar.  "This 
seems to be your first time here.  What seems to be the problem today?" 
she asked without any preamble as she efficiently sped read the records 
in front of her.

    "Ami!"

    Ami dropped her clipboard as a mass of yellow hair in a sundress 
glomped onto her.  "S-Serenity... what are you doing here?"

    Usagi let go of her hug to give Ami an impish smile.  "It's Usagi 
today. I know you told me that you couldn't get a day off today to meet 
with me, so I decided to see you instead."

    "But what about the others?" Ami asked, feeling herself grow warm 
at Usagi's happy face.

    "I don't need to meet up with Makoto until lunch, then I'll meet 
Minako at her boutique.  And I'm sleeping over at Rei's so I had some 
time in the morning if I woke up a little earlier."

    "But you never liked waking up early and you have to do it everyday 
since you're the Queen.  It's why we agreed never to make an 
appointment with you before noon on your day offs."

    "Um, habit," Usagi lied unconvincingly.  "It doesn't matter anyway, 
I'm here now.  I missed seeing you."

    "I see you almost everyday," Ami said, blinking.

    "As the Queen and it's always business.  I missed seeing you as 
Usagi."

    Ami finally understood and the smile that was threatening to break 
out, did.  She impulsively hugged her friend of so many years, "I 
missed seeing you, too.  I really did want to get this day off to spend 
some time with you...."

    "There's always next month," Usagi said reassuringly, baffled at 
how things had turned around, how a moment ago it was her that needed a 
good hug.

    "I still can't believe you woke up early on your day off to do 
this," Ami said, shaking her head, remembering how much Usagi valued 
sleep.

    "Weeelll, I _do_ have some other reason to see you.  I needed a 
checkup. I never have the time and it's giving Luna fits because it's 
been so long since my last one.  You're the doctor I feel the most 
comfortable with."

    Ami's hands began to shake.  To mask it, she bent down to pick up 
her clipboard so that they had something to grip.  "I guess I can do 
that."

    Usagi smiled, hoping Ami would do this for her.  She turned around, 
tilted her head and moved her two long pony tails aside.  "Undo my 
dress for me?"

    "O-Okay," Ami stuttered.  She slowly walked to the edge of the bed 
where Usagi said.  Her years as a surgeon helped to keep her hands 
steady as she reached for the zipper of the yellow sundress and pulled 
it down.  The zipper's course traveled past soft shoulder blades, pure 
white bra straps, an exquisite arch of smooth, unblemished skin, to the 
small of her back where a hint of white, cotton panties could be seen 
peeking out if one looked, which Ami did.

    "I could fake it and tell Luna that you said you checked me out and 
I was fine," Usagi said, misinterpreting Ami's hesitation.

    "That would be wrong," Ami said, trying to regain her senses, 
fighting the urge to quip 'You are more than fine'.

    "I figured you'd say that," Usagi sighed, and shrugged out of the 
straps of her dress until it pooled around her waist, leaving her top 
naked except for her bra.

    "Yes, it's my duty to make sure everything checks out fine," Ami 
said, drawing strength from those words to help her perform her tasks 
as they should be done.  She moved until she stood in front of Usagi, 
and nearly mirrored the blonde's gasp as the cold stethoscope touched 
her friend's bare skin.  The effects of the coldness showed through 
against the material of Usagi's bra.

    "Should I take off my bra?" Usagi asked, when she noticed Ami 
starting the test higher than where her heart was, a little above her 
bra before moving down and getting caught on the strap in the middle.

    "No...," she said belatedly as her friend reached up and unsnapped 
the bra so that it parted like the red sea to the promised land.  Small 
handfuls, pert, creamy, cute, bouncy, pointed, perfect, mouth 
watering....

    "Um, Ami?" Usagi asked worriedly as her friend seemed to be in a 
state of shock and hadn't moved for the last minute.  "Is there 
something wrong with me?"

    Ami broke out of her trance-like state to shake her head jerkily.  
"No, nothing at all.  I just wanted to make sure.  Can never be too 
careful. Breath in, hold for a few seconds and then breath out."

    Usagi did as she was told, her belly flexed in and out.  While not 
fat, she did not exactly have solid abs.

    Ami's opinion of the slightly protruding belly was entirely the 
opposite as she felt goosebumps raise travel along the arm holding the 
stethoscope as she watched that so very cute belly button play peekaboo 
underneath her outstretched arm.  She wet her lips, her tongue wanting 
to lick around a different circle.  "Uh, everything seems to be in 
order."

    "That's a relief.  So what's next?"

    "I'm going to look at your eyes, ears, and mouth next," Ami 
replied, regaining a bit of dignity as years of procedure exerted 
themselves.  She got out her ophthalmoscope and looked at the desk to 
make sure there were more tongue depressors.

    "I'm ready," Usagi smiled again after getting over the initial 
scare.

    Ami felt her hands start to tremble again, and the ophthalmoscope 
almost bent in her grip.  Trusting doe eyes, delicate little ears, and 
a pouting mouth that screamed to be kiss were next to be examined, she 
thought glumly.

    The normally five minute exam took thirty.

            * * * * *

    Usagi waved good bye to Ami, who waved back weakly.  *Poor Ami.  I 
knew I shouldn't have bothered her.  She was busy enough and because 
she was my friend, she spent extra care looking after me.  I should do 
something for her next time.  I wonder what I could do.*

    So caught up was she in her thoughts as she raced out of the 
hospital to make her appointment with Makoto, she didn't notice someone 
standing in front of her on the sidewalk.  She flinched as she bumped 
and waited for the inevitable hard flop to the crystal ground.  It 
never came.  She peeked at who had grabbed her arm.  A rakish grin 
looked back at her.  "Haruka!"

    "Koneko-chan," she replied and easily hefted the lighter woman to 
her feet.

    "I didn't know you were back in town.  You should have told me," 
Usagi mock admonished.  Haruka was one of the few people that 
remembered not to call her Serenity outside of the office.

    "I only dropped by for the day.  I needed some more fuel for the 
car."

    "You're still running it?" Usagi squealed.  "I want to ride in it!"

    Haruka winced, and looked beside her to Michiru who seemed to be 
amused by the whole thing.  "Sure, I guess we can do that.  Where are 
you heading to?"

    "Makoto's.  I said I would meet her for lunch."

    "I guess we can swing by there," her grin faltered at the answering 
look of pure happiness.  It didn't take much to make her happy, Haruka 
noted, and wondered what else she could do.

            * * * * *

    "I'm surprised nobody's complained about you," Usagi said from the 
back seat as she looked out the window.

    Haruka adjusted the rearview mirror.  Nothing.  "Being a hero to 
the people has its perks.  It just isn't the same as those newer models 
that run on water."

    "Where do you get the gas?  I didn't think anybody sold it 
anymore," Usagi said, turning her attention back to Haruka.

    *Maybe if I turn the mirror this way.  Ah, white.* "It's not like 
I'm without means.  I've stockpiled quite a bit away when I heard the 
news."

    "You're right, you know.  It is different.  I don't get the same 
tingly feeling when I'm in the limo.  The way it purrs, the way it 
sounds, and the way it makes this car move, it's just all so much more 
exhilarating." Usagi knew she was rambling but didn't care as she 
lifted her feet up and lay along the back seat, twisting and turning 
against the cool leather, in tune with the twisting and turning of the 
car.  It had been awhile since she rode in a Haruka's car, and it was 
definitely an experience she missed.

    Haruka adjusted the rearview mirror again and was a second away 
from catching Usagi flipping back into a seated position, her dress in 
disarray.  She was sure they were white too, but couldn't tell.  There 
would be a sharper turn coming up.  "That's what I think too.  I think 
there are others, but they're afraid to follow my example."

    "Why?" Usagi asked.  "There's no actual law against this.  At least 
I don't think I passed anything like that."

    "Peer pressure I'd say.  Everyone has some sort of idea of what 
'good clean living' is supposed to be like.  They're afraid of going 
against that idea.  However, if the Queen herself or some of her royal 
subjects...."

    Usagi frowned.  "Can you help other enthusiasts acquire gasoline 
should they need it?"

    "Yes," Haruka replied, removing her hand from the mirror to the 
steering wheel and sat up straighter.  She stopped short of using 'My 
Queen' at the change of Usagi's voice.

    "Good.  I do not want people to stop doing what they like if it is 
not hurting anyone." Then Usagi's easy smile returned.  "There wouldn't 
have been another reason you stopped by would there?" she asked 
suspiciously, but she winked as she said this.

    "Why no, of course not," Haruka winked back, her attitude once 
again matching Usagi's.  "And here's your stop."

    "Thanks, Haruka.  I loved the ride!  You _have_ to take me on a 
spin again next time."

    "Is that any order?"

    "Yes," Usagi giggled and got out of the car.  She waved one last 
time before running to the Makoto's restaurant.

    Michiru, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up, "You can 
stop fiddling with the mirror.  She's gone now.  So did you see 
anything?"

    Knowing it was impossible to keep anything from Michiru, Haruka 
replied, "White."

    "How plain.  Must have been boring for you," Michiru said, knowing 
the opposite to be more the truth.

    Haruka's eyes remained glued to the mirror as she watched Usagi's 
hip sway through it.  She was the same conscientious girl, with the 
exception of that endearing clumsiness replaced with Michiru's grace.

    "So... you want to go back to our hotel room?"

    "..."

    "I could wear my hair in pony tails again."

    Michiru laughed as Haruka broke several traffic laws.  Rather than 
jealousy, she felt an intense gratitude to Usagi at this moment.  
Haruka would be _very_ attentive the rest of the day.

            * * * * *

    Usagi wondered if she wandered into the wrong place by accident.  
It was empty.  Makoto's was never empty.  In fact, the last she heard, 
the waiting list to get a table was a year in advance.

    "Usagi, you're just in time," Makoto said as she waltzed through 
the kitchen doors with a platter of food on each hand.

    "Why isn't anyone here?  Why are all the drapes closed?  You 
didn't... You did!"

    Makoto blushed, "I wanted us to enjoy a meal for once without 
interruption.  I hate having to yell over everyone or get called away 
for a special order when we're in the middle of a conversation."

    "But this is your busiest hour," Usagi said guiltily.

    "Making sure my friend has a good time on her day off is more 
important. And no eating fast or less so that I can open sooner.  I 
already have it set so that I'll reopen in three hours whether you eat 
everything or not."

    "Okay, then I guess I better eat everything to pay you back."

    "I'm sure I made enough this time," Makoto declared.  "You won't 
eat it all."

    "We'll see." Usagi had been starving herself with lesser portions 
for the last couple of days in preparation.  She sat down at the table 
where Makoto set the platters down.  She literally drooled as the 
smells wafted upwards to her.

    Makoto barely sat down at her seat before Usagi's hands blurred and 
food started to disappear.  She quickly ate a few bites of veal, before 
the first moan from Usagi caused her to stop.  She tilted her head to 
catch the woman's eyes roll up.

    "Mmm, Makoto, this is so delicious.  You've outdone yourself again. 
Ah...," Usagi let out as she sat back in her seat, her mouth still 
nibbling on the empty fork.  Her eyes were closed now as she let the 
taste fill her.  The next thing she tried was some curry, seeing how it 
differed from her own.  The answer was light years.

    Makoto succeeded in not choking down her next bite as Usagi's 
breathing came in sort gasps.  Just the right amount of spice for that 
one then.  She watched as Usagi drank down a glass of milk, her pink 
tongue lazily tracing the outline of those teasing lips.

    "Oh... my," Usagi could only whisper out as she slurped down a tofu 
dish so soft it felt like it wasn't even there.  "Mm, thanks Makoto," 
Usagi said when her friend leaned forward to wipe off some of the tofu 
on the side of her mouth.

    Makoto jerked her hand away, not even realizing that she had moved 
forward, as focused as she was she in watching Usagi's glazed look, 
with tofu sliding into her mouth and along the sides.  She clutched her 
hands in her lap to avoid further embarrassment as the woman reached 
for a shishkabob. Usagi had a habit of licking and sucking all of the 
glaze off first before meticulously eating each piece slowly.  Makoto 
put extra glaze on it.

    Usagi moaned as she licked the underside of the kabob, then stuck 
it in her mouth to suck at the juices of the tomatoes, steak, and glaze 
running together.  Again, she could feel the juices slide along the 
side of her mouth.  She quickly wiped it herself, red faced when Makoto 
had to do it for her.  She sometimes forgot about cleanliness when she 
was so absorbed in the food.  With the excess salty juices filling her 
mouth, she bit and plucked off the first piece of the kabob, which was 
a steak.

    Makoto squirmed as Usagi chewed sensuously, her eyes closed, with 
slight whimpering sounds coming from her.  All too soon, the blonde 
finished off her meal.  "You did it."

    Usagi nodded happily, "I didn't doubt I could.  No matter how much 
you make, I can always finish it, because you're the best cook in the 
whole world."

    Makoto glowed red, not because of the words because she had heard 
them uttered hundreds of times, but at the look of adoration Usagi had 
at the moment.  "Flattery will get you everywhere," Makoto joked, "in 
this case, it gets you a triple chocolate layer cake."

    Adoration turned to pure love in that moment.  "Makoto, marry me."

    Makoto's eyes went wide and looked away from Usagi's eyes to the 
floor, afraid what her friend would see reflected in her own eyes.  "W-
What are you saying?  You're married to Mamoru.  Of course, not that I 
wouldn't mind...," she trailed off when she snuck a peak at Usagi and 
noticed the woman in the process of inhaling the entire cake.  "Hey, 
save me some of that." The battle for the cake, while not brutal and 
bloody, was a messy one.

    Usagi woke up from her daze when her fork came up empty when she 
tried to dig another chunk of cake.  The plate the cake was on was 
currently in Makoto's hands as the brunette licked it clean.  "Hey, no 
fair."

    Not many could withstand the power of Usagi's smile and the same 
was true against her hangdog expression.  She looked so pitiful with 
her eyes watering that Makoto put the plate down, but it was too late 
as every bit of crumb was gone.  "Uh, sorry.  I don't know what came 
over me.  I almost never eat anything like this, except when I'm with 
you."

    "It's alright," Usagi said, trying to put up a brave front as she 
sniffled.  "All this food made me forget I was eating _with_ someone 
rather than by myself.  I had most of the cake and I shouldn't be 
complaining."

    "I made the food for you, Usagi.  You're my guest and you have 
every right to eat all that you did.  You'd think I'd have learned how 
to be a good host after all these years.  And you don't look very sorry 
with cake all over your face," Makoto giggled suddenly as the humor of 
the situation got to her.  They were both covered in cake that they had 
been trying to eat in an attempt to get the larger share, so sincerity 
was hard to accept by either person.  "Here, let me help you wipe some 
cake off."

    Usagi giggled, caught by Makoto's infectious humor and at the sight 
of all the cream that was being rubbed off her face.  She reached over 
to do the same for Makoto.  "You're one to talk.  Look at all the cake 
on your face. That chocolate still looks good."

    The touch of dainty fingers against her lips froze Makoto to her 
chair. Her brain turned to mush as Usagi impulsively bent her head to 
suck at Makoto's finger tips.  As if on autodrive, she did the same, 
and enveloped Usagi's fingers with her warm mouth, but with entirely 
different reasons for doing so.

    Usagi reluctantly let go of Makoto's fingers when all of the 
chocolate was gone.  She was glad that the restaurant was empty as she 
wasn't sure what people would think to see their Queen sucking on 
another's fingers just for a little bit more of that chocolate.  Of 
course Makoto was doing the same. *She must've really wanted that cake 
and I ruined it by eating most of it,* Usagi thought guiltily.  *I'll 
pay her back somehow.*

    Makoto found it to be one of the hardest things she had ever done 
in her life when she finally released Usagi.  "Sorry."

    Usagi shook her head sheepishly, "I did the same thing."

    Makoto only wished that Usagi had the same purpose.  She shook her 
head back at Usagi, but let it go as they could be here all day trying 
to accept blame and who was at fault.  She looked over at the clock and 
noticed a couple of hours had passed.  "You should get going.  I have 
about an hour to clean up before the help arrives and I re-open the 
store up."

    "I'm going to help," Usagi said, getting up and started to stack 
dishes up.

    "I can't ask you to help me with chores on your day off even if you 
weren't Queen," Makoto said, appalled at the idea.

    "I'm helping," Usagi repeated and started to head for the kitchen 
with the dishes.

    Makoto sighed and knew there wouldn't be any changing of the 
woman's mind.  Part of her was glad that Usagi stayed though, as it 
meant another hour of being together.  Being more experienced, she 
brought a cart over and cleared the table and had it set in one fell 
swoop.  She wheeled to cart into the kitchen, only to stop in her 
tracks as Usagi seemed drenched head to toe.  The poor woman had 
obviously not washed dishes in a long time as the sink was overfilled 
and sloshing all over the place.  Though what caught her eye as that 
the sundress was see through when wet and that Usagi had been using 
cold water.

    A normally five minute dish washing chore for the experienced 
Makoto, took fifteen.

    "Usagi, I think you need another dress.  You can't go out like 
that."

    Usagi nodded, and without warning she dropped her dress to the 
floor leaving her bare for barely a second before being replaced by her 
Senshi uniform.  "Makoto?" *She's in shock again, I should have said 
something before I did that.  Nobody has seen me in this in years.  I 
never knew Makoto was this prone to shock before.*

    Makoto wondered how much time she had to herself before the workers 
would come back as the brief image of heaven replayed itself in her 
head. "Usagi, you can't go out looking like that.  There are legends 
about you and everything.  It would cause quite a mess I think."

    "No problem," Usagi smiled and undid her pony tails so that her 
hair spilled out, making her resemble Minako somewhat.

    "You have to let me comb your hair sometime," Makoto said, 
admiringly.

    "And I get to do yours.  I hope we can _all_ get together next 
time. Anyway, I better hurry and go meet with Minako."

    Makoto wondered if she should yell out that the uniform was still 
that of a sixteen year old's and that Usagi's body was not.  She 
decided against it as she watched the short skirt barely cover the 
woman's bottom.  Looking at the time, she noticed she had a half hour 
or so left, and made a bee line towards the bathroom and privacy.

            * * * * *     Few things surprised Minako anymore with all 
her experience.  However, those things did not include Usagi, hair down 
and flowing wildly, baring down on her in a sailor fuku that might as 
well have not been there for all it covered.  Words failed her as she 
was almost tackled to floor by the woman's exuberance.  She thanked 
whatever gods made her decide to wear only baby T today as it was 
hardly any protection against the feminine contours of Usagi's body.  
"Usagi, why are you dressed like that?  And running around like an 
early bird's head cut off?"

    "That's chicken and ack," Usagi gasped as she caught sight of 
herself in one of the many mirrors in the boutique.  "I accidentally 
got my sundress dirty and I didn't have any time to go home and change 
because I was already running late so I just transformed into my old 
uniform but I didn't know that it would actually be exactly like my old 
uniform," Usagi rambled, not pausing for breath.

    "An early bird is a chicken... ah, never mind about that, just calm 
down and breathe," Minako said, helping Usagi to her feet.  She somehow 
got the gist of what Usagi was saying.  "Too bad, that sundress was one 
my better selections."

    "I liked it too.  I hope Makoto can help me get the stains out," 
Usagi sighed when she regained her breath.  She looked around at the 
vast store and noticed it empty of patrons for the first time.  "You 
and Makoto think alike.  You didn't need to clear out the store just 
for me."

    "It would look weird for me as the owner to try on clothes from my 
own store and pan the ones I don't like.  Anyway, first thing we have 
to do is get you changed out of those clothes." Though, Minako would 
not have minded if Usagi spent the rest of the day dressed like that if 
anyone cared to ask her.

    "Leave it to me," Usagi said.  This little incident with her senshi 
uniform gave her an idea.  Though she was beyond the point where she 
needed words to transform, she found it helped her focus, "Moon eternal 
make up!"

    This was something Minako had not seen in years.  "There's 
something different about your suit than from what I remember." The 
wings.  They were folded, which meant they had to be much longer, and 
were a lot more 'real' looking.  The broach that was customarily in 
front of her suit was moved to the side like a pin, revealing a lower 
neckline with a hint of cleavage.  On impulse she reached down and 
flipped Usagi's skirt up. White, but with pink hearts.  "You've changed 
the panties too?"

    Usagi blushed, slapping Minako's hand away gently, and then 
smoothing out her skirt.  "I wanted a little change to reflect the more 
'adult' Sailor Moon." She turned to look at one of the mirror, admiring 
her handiwork. She unfolded her wings slowly to avoid hitting anything 
in the store. *Definitely more adult looking than the previous look,* 
she thought.

    *This was not fighting fair,* Minako's brain tried to complain, but 
her eyes wouldn't listen as they glued themselves to the sight of a 
literal angel.  Fortunately, her mouth always ran independently as it 
put on a nonchalant air, "If you can do it, so can I....  Venus eternal 
make up!  I did it, twins." Venus whirled around triumphantly, her 
skirt flaring to show that even the panties matched.

    "Copycat," Usagi joked as the both of them posed together for the 
first time in years.  "For love and justice, I'm the pretty soldier 
Sailor Moon. In place of the moon, I'll punish you!"

    "And I am the soldier of love, I am Sailor Venus!"

    Laughter erupted between them as they collapsed against each other 
gasping for breath.  "I haven't tried to do that in a long time," Usagi 
said, her voice wracked by laughing so hard.

    "Liar.  You matched me perfectly.  You must have been practicing on 
the side."

    "Okay, I posed sometimes when I had some private time," Usagi 
admitted, her laughter stopping, and voice lowering to a mere whisper.  
"It's much better doing it together with my friends." She turned to 
look at Minako, her hands reached for the other woman's right hand, 
holding it as if it were an anchor.

    Minako brought her other hand to clasp Usagi's.  "We missed having 
you with us too." She abruptly got up, pulling Usagi along with her, 
before her mouth could betray her by saying more.  "As nice as these 
uniforms are, they're not exactly for everyday wear."

    Usagi allowed herself to be led through the racks and aisles of 
clothes with Minako acting as a tour guide, pointing to the cuter 
outfits along with the uglier ones.  It didn't take long before her own 
shopping instincts exerted themselves and she picked up various clothes 
before Minako could get at them.  Her instincts were honed by hours at 
the mall and through her friend's selections, Usagi got an idea of what 
the general trends were.  Skin was apparently in with all the items 
Minako were picking up.  The more skin something will show, the better, 
if she interpreted the 'oohing' and the 'ahhing' correctly.

    When they finally got all of the clothes they wanted to try on, 
Minako brought Usagi to a large dressing room where they could both fit 
into.  "I got the video equipment you asked for."

    "Thanks, it was something I picked up from Luna when I was 
rehearsing how to speak in public.  Mirrors don't show me how other 
people see me as well as videos since everything isn't opposite."

    "Good idea.  I should have thought of that myself." Though for 
different reasons.  She would have loved to have gotten footage of that 
yellow little number Usagi had worn the last time before ditching it 
because it was too risqué.

    Usagi picked up the first item, modesty made her hesitant at 
changing in front of another woman.  She scolded herself for being 
foolish when Minako started to strip and pull on a body hugging wool 
sweater.  It was like she hadn't stripped in front of people, since her 
maids dressed her every day, and it was definitely not like Minako was 
some lecher.  She caught up to Minako easily as magical clothes took 
only a mere second to disappear. "This blouse is the newest fad?  I 
don't see anything special about it."

    Minako cursed her luck as she finally got her head through the 
narrow hole, only to see Usagi already buttoning up.  However, she 
remembered that this was being taped, so it wasn't too much of a 
disappointment.  "It's the material.  It just came out on the market 
and it's very popular.  Rather than one color, it simulates the rainbow 
and it'll reflect a different color in different lighting.  You haven't 
seen how these clothes look in the middle of Crystal Tokyo where the 
lighting makes everyone look spectacular.... beautiful."

    "I can imagine how beautiful it would be," Usagi murmured as she 
looked at the mirror, mistaking what or rather who Minako was praising.

    Before Minako could say anything else, a catch in her throat 
stopped her as she stared at the shimmering fabric.  The material she 
had chosen for Usagi was even thinner than she had first thought as it 
became clear when the lighter shades of the rainbow appeared.  It also 
showed her that Usagi wasn't wearing a bra.  *Definitely need to watch 
that tape later,* Minako swore, not believing how she could have missed 
Usagi changing out of her clothes.

    "Uh, maybe I'll give this one a pass," Usagi blushed as she twisted 
and noticed how much she could see when the blouse turned yellow.  
Moving back to the pile, her face became a deeper red when she noticed 
the piles of lingerie.  She had not picked any out so it had to be... 
"Minako!"

    Minako smirked when Usagi lifted up a blue baby doll night shirt.  
"I thought I might spruce up your marriage a bit."

    "My marriage is going quite fine, thank you very much," her eyes 
still wide at the myriad of lingerie.  She really didn't have any 
except for the one she got for her honeymoon.  It was so old, mothballs 
shunned it.

    "Take it from someone who's been in a couple more marriages than 
you.  A little change goes a long way in the bed room."

    Usagi looked toward Minako instantly, as she picked up an 
underlying tone of seriousness.  Even though the other woman was not 
looking at her, she knew something was wrong.  Walking over, Usagi took 
the Minako's head against all protests and brought it down to her 
chest.  "Sorry."

    It was Minako's turn to go red, as Usagi's breasts pillowed her 
head.  The warmness she felt also came from the knowledge of how much 
Usagi cared. "It's not your fault.  I brought it up.  Really, I'm okay.  
They both had healthy lives, if not long ones like we do.  And let's 
stay on topic.  The lingerie?"

    Usagi stroked the woman's long hair once more before letting Minako 
go. "Okay, but you'll have to help me.  I haven't really worn much and 
I'm afraid that I might rip some of them.  One of them looks like it'll 
tear if I touch it."

    *_That_ one was supposed to tear at the slightest touch,* Minako 
thought, knowing the one Usagi was talking about.  One normally didn't 
try it on as it was made from a material that became unstable when it 
was warmed by body temperature.  It was made to rip.  It was also the 
most popular and most expensive item in the store, being ordered after 
a series of intense measurement taking, which Minako got from Usagi the 
last time.  "Okay, only if you help me with mine then."

    "Deal," Usagi grinned and moved back to the pile to take that 
flimsy chemise.

    Minako blinked as she watched Usagi undress until she was only in 
her panties with the pink hearts.  She was still in Eternal form?  
Would Venus be able to selectively alter and choose clothing?  Minako 
tried not to think of what would happen if she tried it in public and 
it went wrong. She recalled an incident in the news that reported a 
streaking woman called Kekko Kamen.  Caught up in her thoughts, she 
forgot to warn Usagi about the lingerie's properties.  She also 
apparently failed to mention about the matching panties.

    Usagi gasped as she looked at the mirror and her white panties 
stood out shockingly underneath the violet mesh chemise.  She was 
further shocked to find that it fit her almost perfectly.  If she 
hadn't stopped off at Makoto's it would have been perfect, like it was 
made specifically for her.  "Minako, you didn't?"

    "Call it a birthday gift for Endymion," Minako grinned.

    "I'm sure he'll thank you if he doesn't get a heart attack after 
seeing this.... Minako!" Usagi yelled as the material started to rip 
away from her skin as she stalked over to the pile of clothes she had 
yet to try on.

    Minako giggled.  "It wouldn't have ripped so fast if it fit you 
better. Did you gain a pound or two since the last time?"

    Usagi refused to dignify that with an answer and called up her 
senshi uniform to cover her assets, and then lowered her arms from over 
her breasts to her hips.  "Your turn."

    "Eep," Minako squeaked, wondering if she had taken her joke a bit 
too far.

    "Stockings, I think," Usagi cackled, decidedly giddy at having a 
real live doll to play dress up with.  "Strip, girl."

    Minako felt a pleasant shiver at Usagi's tone and quickly did as 
she was told.  She was silently glad that her control over her body 
kept her secret safe, with the exception of her damn sensitive nipples.  
Fortunately, she could just attribute their condition to the air 
conditioning.  She sat down at the nearest chair, and extended her 
legs.

    Usagi sat down beside Minako on the floor, and ran a hand along 
Minako's shin.  "I wish my legs were like yours." Years of athletics 
made the woman's legs exquisitely muscled.

    *I like yours better.  After your growth spurt, they became long, 
slender, and not at all heavily muscled like a tomboy like me,* was 
what Minako wanted to say.  Instead, "Of course, I am the senshi of 
love _and_ beauty."

    "Riiight," Usagi joked, sarcastically, but from they way she kept 
stroking Minako's leg, it was hard to believe it was a joke.  She grew 
up idolizing Sailor V and the habit was hard to break when her idol was 
here in person and was every bit as courageous and beautiful as she 
always knew... if a tad bit flightier.

    Minako never did understand how she came by Usagi's worship, as she 
herself was in thrall of the woman.  She sat up closer to the edge of 
the chair as that thrall held her completely at her Queen's touch.  She 
lifted a foot and let Usagi slide the stocking up her leg, her control 
barely holding.  It almost failed her when Usagi's hand came in contact 
with the inside of her thigh.  Luckily, it was only for a moment.

    Usagi smiled as she smoothed the top part of the stocking around 
Minako's thigh.  She knew it would look good on her, since she had 
owned a Sailor V doll at one point.  Blushing, she decided against 
letting Minako know that.

    Lifting her other leg, Minako looked at the selection Usagi had 
with her and contained her groan.  Another stocking to go.  Then the 
garter.  A push-up bra.  Finally a translucent wrap to complete the 
ensemble.

    By the time they had finished trying on everything, two hours had 
passed and Minako had passed her limit in her control.  She waved Usagi 
off and then walked wobbly to her apartment above the boutique with the 
tape of the afternoon in hand.  There was no way she was going to open 
the store for business again.  It would be another couple of hours 
before she finally fell into sleep from sheer exhaustion.  Her last 
thoughts were to hope Rei enjoyed her present.

            * * * * *

    Rei felt the air stir and took a step back, predicting Usagi's 
appearance.

    "Oops, you weren't supposed to see that," Usagi said sheepishly as 
she materialized from her teleport.

    "I won't tell the others," Rei grinned.  “At least nobody saw you.  
Sailor Moon hasn’t been seen for hundreds of years, it’d bound to have 
been the news story of the year.”

    "Thanks," Usagi smiled and went to give Rei a hug, only to trip on 
a brick the protruded out from the pavement.

    Rei caught Usagi easily, which quickly formed into an embrace as 
Usagi had intended to do.  She didn't make any move to let go.  "Oof, 
you stopped at Makoto's first of course.  The extra weight must have 
made you lose whatever little grace you've gained over the years."

    "I didn't eat _that_ much.  And grace comes easy when most of the 
city is flat crystal," Usagi replied wryly.  As close as they had 
become, Usagi was glad that to note the adversarial tone from Rei.  It 
was why she liked the Hikawa temple so much, it's difference from the 
rest of Crystal Tokyo. She pulled away from Rei to look around her.  
Rarities like plant life and brick and dirt roads were all here.  "I'd 
give up all the grace if more of the city could look like this."

    "The temple can protect itself, the city can't," Rei said with a 
hint of pride, touching the wooden gate to the Temple, another rarity.  
"Anyway, we better get a move on.  The sacred fire's been whining all 
day, waiting for you to show up."

    "I miss it too.  Everything for the purification ritual set up?"

    "Yep.  Though truthfully, I think it wants to get purified by you 
rather than vice versa."

    "Don't let it hear you talk like that," Usagi giggled, remembering 
how temperamental the flame could be.

    "It's true.  I can't believe a living being would be purer than 
burning fire," Rei shook her head, never quite believing that, but she 
had seen it with her own eyes.  It wasn't hard to believe in reality 
however.  Her attunement to the spirits had grown since she was a girl, 
and it took all of her will power to stop from kneeling at this woman's 
feet in reverence to the powerful sense of purity in her.

    "I think you're exaggerating," Usagi blushed at the compliment, not 
used to getting it from Rei.

    "Well, maybe," Rei lied.  "There's a set of clothes you can change 
into in my room.  I'll meet you... inside." In hindsight, Rei realized 
she should not have changed yet so that she could have an excuse to 
join Usagi.

    It was only a moment after she sat down next to the fire that she 
heard the knock at the door.  Usagi slid open the door, while on her 
knees and remained on her knees as she entered, and slid the door 
closed again.  She padded to where Rei sat, again on her knees, not 
standing up the entire time.  The old Usagi would have fell three times 
and forgotten about paying respect by kneeling by now, Rei smiled.

    "Reminiscing?" Usagi asked as she saw Rei with a faraway look on 
her face.

    "Yeah.  I was just thinking of the first time we did this.  You 
were worried about all the fighting you did in your past and bad karma.  
Of course Chibi-Usa was just born and you wanted to make sure."

    "I remember.  The sacred fire threatened to spank me if it could 
somehow form hands and a paddle."

    "It thought you wasted its time.  It wouldn't speak to me for a 
week thinking I had some part in making a fool of it.  I think it's 
really, actually happy you came to it, since it got to know you....  
Quiet you," Rei admonished the flame as it roared beside her.

    "I can't help if it didn't see any evil," Usagi said sheepishly, 
turning to bow at the flame, which flickered as if saying apology 
wasn't needed.

    "Oh, suuurrre, you forgive her just like that."

    "Well, I'm ready flame-chan," Usagi giggled as it turned a shade of 
pink in reply.

    "Hey, how come I never get to see that color?" Rei asked, but her 
question went ignored as the room became dark and only the flame and 
Usagi remained visible.  She felt her skin tingle as the spiritual 
power in the room rose to levels she had not witnessed since the last 
purification rites Usagi had done.

    Rei's eyes fixated themselves to an area just above Usagi's head.  
It was only a second before Usagi's astral projection appeared.  Nude.  
Always nude.  Rei's current working theory was that the purer a person 
was, the less clothes he or she wore.  Or, it could be that her 
grandpa’s spirit did occasionally inhabit the flame.

    What happened next could, at the most moderate, be called 
frolicking. Usagi's astral self 'frolicked' in the fire as flames 
danced around her. The flames licked at every part of the astral body, 
causing Usagi to undulate more wildly.

    While it seemed a life time to her in that moment of space, it 
lasted just five seconds in real time.  Light filled the room again as 
the spirit floated back to her body.  Rei took this moment to remove 
her hands from inside her robes and straightened herself out so that 
she was presentable.

    Usagi yawned, her expression deliriously happy.  Smoke rings 
floated above the flame as if it was smoking a cigarette.  Rei wondered 
if this could be considered adultery, but shook her head to clear those 
thoughts.  The last thing she needed was to be purified herself.  The 
flame was not as gentle with other people in these rites.  "You look 
tired.  I set your room up for you so you can get some rest.  You still 
need to wake up early even if you don't have to be in court until 
afternoon."

    "Can't I sleep with you again tonight like last time?" Usagi 
pouted.  "I keep hearing sounds at night."

    "Probably Phobos and Deimos," Rei muttered to herself, but to 
Usagi, she just nodded.  "Okay, you crybaby.  You can stay with me 
tonight."

    "Great!  Let's take a bath and then sleep."

    "You were just purified...," Rei started, but stopped and thought 
of seriously slapping herself for complaining to get in the furo with 
Usagi.

    "My spirit yes.  My body no.  I don't think you want to sleep with 
me so smelly," Usagi grimaced.  "I just thought we could share like we 
did back then.  If you don't want to, I can do it myself, just don't 
complain about me using all the hot water." 

     "We'll go together.  You'll probably just leave me with a bucket 
if you go alone."

    "I wouldn't do that... maybe two buckets," Usagi laughed, racing to 
the bathhouse, where the furo was already prepared.

    "I was going to use it, but since you're here, we can share like 
you said.” Rei started to remove her clothes fast as Usagi turned her 
back to change.  The faster she got in the furo, the less chance Usagi 
would notice something wrong.  After she got out, she could claim it 
was just the water.

    "You could have waited for me," Usagi shivered as she shook off the 
cold water she splashed over herself before hand.

    "Ugh," Rei replied, not noticing that it wasn't exactly a word, but 
then her mind could not be bothered with things like language as it 
checked Usagi out.  She quickly grabbed the washcloth she placed on her 
head, and started to scrub at her body, paying careful and lengthy 
attention to some areas more than others.  She was once again glad to 
be in the water where she could hide some things more easily.

    "This is nice.  Wash my back?" Usagi asked lazily.

    Rei nodded, moving over to Usagi's side, taking her washcloth and 
placing it against Usagi's back, before remembering what she had been 
doing with said washcloth.  She blushed furiously, not sure of what to 
do, her hand holding the cloth over Usagi's shoulder and let it rest 
there.

    "I could barely feel that, Rei," Usagi murmured, "harder."

    She needed to get out of here, or she'd go crazy and do something 
she would regret.  "Do it yourself, I'm all done."

    "Rei!" Usagi yelled after the fleeing woman, who didn't even bother 
to wrap a towel around herself.  She supposed it was safe enough here 
that Rei could so that sort of thing.

    Rei huddled in her bed, berating herself for the past five minutes.  
All of them had complained about not finding the right time, and so 
they held off, but now had been the perfect time and... she blew it.  
She heard the door slide open and Usagi stomping inside.  Her Queen 
sounded angry.  "You done?"

    "Yeah.  You sneak... you left everything for me to clean up with."

    "Hey, it's only fair you do some work around here.  I figure you 
owe me ten years worth of library fees for all the manga you read 
here," Rei retorted, sitting up in her bed to look at Usagi.  Falling 
back on arguing helped to take her mind away from what she had nearly 
done in the furo.

    "Snob!"

    "Dumpling head!"

    "You're always so high and mighty!"

    "Maybe if you didn't fall down so much I wouldn't be!"

    "Bidaah!"

    "Bidaah!" Rei replied in kind, sticking her tongue out, pulling her 
lower eyelid down.  She stopped when Usagi stopped suddenly to smile at 
her. "What?" she asked irritated at the smug expression on the other 
woman as if she knew something that Rei didn't.

    "You've been so tense since I got here.  Even the sacred fire was 
worried about you.  Well, you're not tense now, are you?" Usagi asked 
mischievously.

    "Doesn't anything get you mad anymore?" Rei asked with wonder.  It 
came crashing down at her, how poorly she'd been acting during and 
after sharing the furo.

    "I didn't get to be Queen for centuries and not learn some 
patience.  I figured something was bothering you.  What is it?"

    "I... missed you.  I mean being your subject in public and being 
your friend in private... somewhere along the line, I think the 
distinction blurred.  It feels natural to yell at you and it feels just 
as natural to bow down before you.  I've forgotten how I used to act 
around you, how I'm most comfortable with you.  I just don't know how 
to treat you."

    "Oh, Rei," Usagi whispered, embracing Rei with a hug.  "I missed 
you too. It seems like I've been saying that to everyone today.  I know 
I've changed a lot and sometimes we see each other so little, we don't 
know how to react to those changes.  It took me the longest time to get 
over the fact that I'm no longer with you as part of the senshi."

    "We all feel the same way about you.  I can see it in how the 
others act. Most of the time, it happens out of the blue, where one of 
us will say something and they turn to look at an empty space as if 
they see you there."

    Usagi nodded.  "I would hear Luna tell me to study farming in order 
to understand the trade better and the next thing I know, I would be 
asking Ami for help... only she wouldn't be there."

    Rei was sorry she ever brought the subject up, "We're acting silly.  
You could always call Ami for help any time.  If any of us wanted to 
see you, we just need to stop by the palace."

    "As my subject," Usagi whispered.  "I don't want that.  When I ask 
Ami for help, I don't want it to be because it's an order.  Something 
she has to do."

    "Usagi," Rei said gently, for the first time not flinching from the 
love in her friend's eyes and not caring if her own love was apparent.  
"When you ask for our help, we give it willingly.  Not because we're 
your soldiers, but because we're your friends.  If we ever say no to 
you, it'll be because you ask for something stupid, like all the candy 
in the world."

    "As Neo-Queen Serenity, I order you to give me all the candy in the 
world," Usagi tested, her sadness ebbing.

    "No," Rei smiled back.

    "Thanks, I needed that," Usagi replied gratefully.  "I can't 
believe how much I needed to hear that.  And trust you to be the first 
person to say no to me since I asked for anything as Queen."

    "Come up with more stupid requests and we'll say 'no' more."

    "Bidaah!" Usagi bleahed.  She then grimaced, "I guess fun day is 
over and back to work tomorrow.  We should get some sleep."

    "I've got some extra PJs for you." Rei got up from bed to go to her 
drawer.

    "You don't need to bother, I got some clothes from Minako just 
before this and half of it is... 'sleep wear'." Usagi moved to the side 
of the door where she set her bags down.  "Black isn't my color, but 
Minako insisted that it would look nice.  What do you think?"

    Rei almost tripped head first into her drawer as Usagi pulled a 
skimpy black slip out of her bags.  *Minako, you little devil.* "Ugh."

    "What?  I didn't catch that," Usagi said, as she started to take 
off her shrine robes.

    "Ugh," Rei tried again, before coughing to better help find her 
lost voice, which disappeared again when Usagi's robes fell away to 
reveal a black bra and panties that went with the slip.  She hadn't 
been paying attention at the furo if she missed seeing that on Usagi.  
"S-She's right."

    "You think?" Usagi asked, stepping out of the robes and turned to 
look at Rei.  She made a pirouette.  Rei only stared at her.  *Maybe 
this is a bit daring,* Usagi thought.  As a shrine maiden, the woman 
was almost as conservative as Ami sometimes when it came to matters in 
the marriage bed. She didn't know how she let Minako convince her to 
wear half of the black ensemble to meet with Rei.  But she had to admit 
the woman was right in that it did make her feel more assertive knowing 
that she was wearing something so naughty underneath.  "I usually wear 
white or pink... but black?"

    "I think it's fine," Rei managed to say.  Minako of course knew 
that one of her favorite colors was black.  She bit her lip to keep 
from making a sound when Usagi slid on the slip to complete the 
picture.  It made her look even sexier even though more skin became 
hidden.  Rei had been sorry when black had become a universally shunned 
color in Crystal Tokyo because it reminded people of the bleakness in 
many parts of the world.  She always liked how it complimented her long 
black hair and in Usagi's case, it created a beautiful contrast.  
Tantalizing light skin peaked through, made more noticeable against the 
black.

    Usagi padded over to the bed.  "Hmm, maybe I'll keep this then.  I 
do like how it feels against my skin.  Touch?"

    Rei didn't need to be asked as she slid her hand along Usagi's hip, 
the place she deemed the safest as there was apparently no back to the 
slip, leaving only the front and the woman's tush.  She was surprised 
when her hand slid off.  "Another one of those new materials they've 
come up with?"

    Usagi nodded, a naughty look in her eyes.  "Hardly any friction.  
Just imagine Endymion trying to get this off of me."

    Rei was trying hard not to imagine herself doing it.  "Uh, wouldn't 
you," she started to say when Usagi began to lay down only to slide off 
the edge of the bed, "...slip off the bed without any friction holding 
you in place?"

    "Owie," Usagi whined, and pushed herself off the floor.  "Okay, I 
guess I'll have to take this off."

    Rei's eyes widened as she was given yet another free show of Usagi 
mauling herself trying to get the slippery material off.  *You could 
tell her to just use the shoulder straps like she did in putting it 
on,* her brain told her, which Rei ignored.  After Usagi _finally_ 
figured it out, the woman got back into bed, minus one slip and one 
bra.

    "You're not going to wear your..."

    "You know how much of a pain it gets."

    Rei nodded, not wearing one herself to bed.  "I can give you those 
PJs like I...." *Damn you brain,* she cursed and could feel her 
conscience gloating somewhere inside her, sounding suspiciously like 
the sacred fire.

    "Thanks," Usagi got up yet again to go to the drawer and find a 
nightshirt to pull on.

    Rei wondered if she could come up with more excuses for Usagi to 
get up and down from the bed, her eyeballs still hadn't stopped moving 
up and down in rhythm.  When they settled they noticed that the 
nightshirt Usagi picked didn't quite reach down to the hips, allowing a 
lot of panty to peak through which was some small consolation.

    "Whew, I'm exhausted after all that," Usagi murmured drowsily, 
almost falling asleep immediately.

    Rei had a much harder time at it.  It didn't help matters when the 
woman kicked off their blanket and then rolled on top of her.  Usagi's 
sleeping patterns never seemed to change no matter how graceful she 
became, to which Rei was thankful.

            * * * * *

    Mars yawned as she greeted the other senshi.

    Venus smirked when the raven haired woman joined them.  "Looks like 
someone had fun last night."

    "I'll get you back for that," Mars said evenly.

    "I take it, nothing happened again," Venus pouted.  She was sure 
that lingerie would put Mars over the edge.  Together with the woman's 
spiritual awareness and lack of marital experience having been only 
married once and for just a couple of months at that, Venus always 
figured that Mars would crack first.

    "No," Mars snapped.  Though it had been close, so dangerously 
close.  It was the first time she didn't advert her gaze.  Had it been 
anyone but Usagi, they would probably have seen the unconditional love 
and lust in her eyes.

    "Well, I couldn't do it either," Jupiter said, patting Mars's hand.  
"I don't know what it's so hard, I just couldn't say it.  Three little 
words."

    "Usagi would be doubly hurt if she didn't reciprocate it.  She 
would never ever try to hurt us and would be pained both by the 
knowledge that she _did_ in fact hurt us and the knowledge that we were 
in pain.  Could any of us live with that thought of her going through 
the centuries like that?" Mercury asked, already knowing the answer 
like the others

    Venus nodded.  "If anyone says it, it'll have to be her first."

    "The problem is that she doesn't have a problem in saying it," Mars 
sighed.

    "Yeah... I don't think she would have any problem in saying she 
loved any of us," Jupiter agreed glumly.  "But would it be the love we 
wanted?  I mean, my heart nearly jumped when I thought she was 
proposing to me."

    "Brings us right back to where we started.  We can't be sure unless 
Usagi jumped us.  We can't jump her for fear of hurting her.  All we 
can do is enjoy her company," Mercury said, clearly frustrated.

    "Until we come up with something better at least," Venus declared.  
"So, how did your dates go?"

    "I gave her a physical," Mercury blushed, speaking up first.  "We 
weren't supposed to see each other yesterday since I was busy at work, 
but she surprised me."

    "Lucky," Jupiter whistled.  "She just came over to eat."

    "Oh?  I seem to recall Usagi coming to my store practically naked.  
You have her sundress don't you?"

    "I was going to give it back," Jupiter replied hotly.  Well, 
eventually, after the woman's smell dissipated.  "And she only ditched 
it because of how dirty it got during our cake fight and when we washed 
dishes after."

    "Ooh, water sports," Venus grinned.

    "I got the impression that someone spent the entire afternoon 
trying on lingerie with her," Mars noted.  "I heard something about a 
tape?"

    "Okay, okay, I'll make copies.  I'll tell her that you three wanted 
to buy some but didn't have time to pick and choose.  She won't mind if 
it's you three."

    "Maybe we should make some tapes of us modeling some things to send 
to Usagi?  I mean, uh, she doesn't have time to pick and choose clothes 
either."

    "Mercury!" Venus squealed, scandalized, but clearly liking the 
idea. "I'll set it up."

    "So what are you all doing next month with her?" Jupiter asked to 
draw attention away from the blushing Mercury.  "I was thinking I would 
test her martial arts next time.  Lots of, um, grappling involved."

    "Swimming," Mercury said hesitantly.

    "Volleyball," Venus smiled, "looks like an all sports days."

    "I hate to burst your bubble, but I think Usagi seriously wants us 
all to meet with her at the same time for the whole day next month," 
Mars said, remembering their conversation.

    "No reason we can't do them all.  Hot springs afterwards?" Jupiter 
smirked.

    "Of course," the other three answered back.

            * * * * *

The End. (maybe)