Chapter 356

"I wonder sometimes why they do it," Serena said.

Darrien sipped on a cup of coffee and said little.

"You know what I mean? Why do all those forces attack, just what do they want?"

"Power, control...territory," Darrien said.

"I guess," Serena said. "Well..yet another enemy force had to learn the hard way."

Darrien nodded.

"And now there's some sort of ship coming, going to attack us...that will be just wonderful won't it?" she muttered.

"We've got some time," Darrien said.

"I know," Serena said. "I guess I don't like knowing about this stuff in advance. I used to think I would, but now having it loom over me..it's..."

"I know," Darrien said.

"Well..might as well enjoy ourselves. You busy later?"

"Not today, I've convinced my supervisors that if I don't get some time off I'll probably break down, they understand finally.." Darrien said.

"Good, I need some time away from all this," Serena said.

"I understand," Darrien said. "I think I know some places we can go."

Serena nodded.

"Then after that we can hit the "all you can eat" buffet at Sushitown!"

"Uh..right," Darrien said unprepared for Serena's sudden mood swing.

In the U.N. meeting chamber.

"So you're telling us you've completely changed your mind?" the Chairman of the UN said.

"Of course," Ambassador Churchill said. "I was under the control of the enemy. They're trying to divide us you see."

"Divide us for what reason?" the Chinese diplomat asked.

"Because a divided enemy is easier to conquer," Churchill said. "But now that we've beaten them we don't need to worry about that anymore. Besides look, we need to handle this differently anyway, yes the scouts possess great power, but they use it to defend the planet. It just so happens that they've fought most of their battles in Japan, but they'd go wherever they were needed I guess."

"You can count on it," Sailor Pluto said standing by the Japanese delegation.

"We're not the enemy. I don't know if you can believe us or not. But you must understand why our identities cannot be just given out," she said.

"Indeed," Churchill said. "Look at what has happened, I was controlled, several others among us were too. These scouts may be the only hope we have."

"I don't agree," The Chinese diplomat said. "What about the attacks on our installation?"

"You mean your prison camp?" Churchill asked.

The crowd roared again.

"I'll have you stop referring it to that way! They were spies."

"Look!" The Chairman shouted. "That is unfortunate, but we must put it behind us. Maybe if the scouts apologized."

"They won't," Sailor Pluto said. "And I remind you all, the scouts are not a servant of any nationality. We serve the world, and we act in the world's best interest."

"That cannot continue," The Chinese diplomat said. "How long till you're toppling governments in the best interest of mankind? Or whatever else, interfering in wars..."

"Why, you worried about something else?" Pluto asked.

"No, that's not what I mean."

"It's a valid concern," Sailor Pluto said. "But that's also why, we as scouts restrain ourselves and do only what we need to. The attack on your country was made for special reasons."

"Oh...that's your excuse."

"Maybe if you thought about better prison camps, then you wouldn't have to worry about us breaking people out of them," Pluto said. "But if I have to, I will vow that the scouts will not involve themselves in your domestic matters again, without a justifiable cause and UN approval."

"Hmm..that sounds reasonable," the Chairman said.

"We demand reparations," the Chinese diplomat said.

The crowd all sighed.

"Look..can we handle that specific issue later?" Churchill asked. "Look what I'm saying is that we all have to learn to work with the scouts, not against them."

"I agree," Sailor Pluto said. "We are willing to cooperate with everyone. We are not the enemy."

"Ehh..I don't know about this," the Chinese said.

"I'm still suspicious too," France said.

"Looks like we're going to need to debate this some more," the Japanese diplomat said.

"Seems that way," Sailor Pluto said.

"All right look then let's discuss this, but let's not take any action until we've heard all the facts. Let's not let our emotions get the better of us," Churchill said.

"We'll probably be arguing over this for several more months," the Japanese diplomat whispered.

"Well that's relief," Sailor Pluto said.

"For you maybe," The Japanese ambassador said and sighed.

At the apartment the former rogue scouts had acquired for themselves.

"It's just like you to go and get hurt like that," Sai said.

"Hey, he was tough," Akiro said.

"Yeah, yeah, you just haven't kept up on your skills," Sai said.

"It had nothing to do with that," Akiro said. "He was a very formidable opponent."

"Sure, sure, whatever you say," Sai said not bothering to hide his sarcasm. "I believe you."

"You don't, and I thought you were above teasing people."

"Well I do it on occasion," Sai said. "When someone gets himself stabbed in the gut."

"I could still take you."

"Oh...a challenge?"

"Not today though."

"Sure, that's what I thought," Sai said.

"But tomorrow maybe," Akiro said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, can't wait."

"Oh..you'll pay for your underestimation of my skill."

"I doubt it."

In the yard of the A.P.T. house.

"Come on, I'm waiting!" Ayeka Mizuno shouted. Patterson lunged at her with his sword. She dived out of the way and spun trying to catch him of guard. He blocked it and the two swords cracked together. The two slid back and faced each other again.

"Aren't you the least bit tired?" Ayeka asked.

"No more than you are," Patterson said.

"Apparently so," Ayeka said and leapt forward easily avoiding one of D.V.'s attacks and throwing a kick, Patterson knocked it away and charged forward. Ayeka slid under the attack and went for his chest. Patterson spun under it and knocked her sword away simultaneously back flipping and following that up with another thrust. Ayeka dived to the ground unable to think of any other solution. She rolled forward and swung her sword. Patterson dived jumped out of the way and faced her again, waiting for her to stand.

"You've gotten better," she said.

"I have time to practice you know," Patterson said.

"True, what else would you do."

"Makes me quite dangerous."

"So it does," Ayeka said. "But now I'm warmed up."

"Doesn't change a thing," Patterson said.

"Do they enjoy this or are they growing to hate each other?" Greg wondered aloud.

"I believe this is how they show affection for each other," Hotaru said.

"Oh..."

"I didn't think it was possible to love someone by hitting them with a sword though. It's strange I thought I understood him."

"Well I think it's more complex than that," Greg said.

"Hmm....yes, this does require more study," Hotaru said.

The two leapt at each other and cracked swords in mid air turning to face the other on the ground.

"That kind of move never gets anything accomplished," Ayeka said.

"Let's try something else then," Patterson said.

And the two shot at each other.

"They seem to be enjoying themselves," Amy said setting a cup of tea down on the table. Taiki sipped some of his own.

"What a perfect match," he said. "Though I guess even the insane deserve romance."

"Neither of them are insane, anymore at least," Amy said.

Taiki grinned slightly.

"What a wild bunch we all are."

"You mean in general I hope," Amy said.

"Well..I mean we're the relative moderates in this sea of absurdity."

"Yes, I've heard that term used before," Amy said.

"History will look strangely on all of us."

"You think so?"

"I guarantee you they won't get it right."

"What?" Amy asked.

"The truth, I'm sure we will look so much more inhuman then we actually are. No mention will be made of Mina's two timing, or Patterson's insanity, Hotaru's death threats, or Serena's...well everything."

"Probably," Amy said. "But what do you think history will say about us?"

"Us? Hmm..hopefully that we lived a long happy life together."

Amy blushed slightly.

"You fool! You left yourself open!" Ayeka shouted.

"Not long enough for you to do anything about!" Patterson shouted back.

Swords cracked again.

"What a stupid example of love," Hotaru muttered walking by the two.

Taiki and Amy glanced at each other.

Greg walked in.

"I think Hotaru's jealous," he said.

Taiki and Amy nodded.

"Of course I am," Hotaru said reappearing beside him.

"But I have all the reasons to be. Ayeka Mizuno knows no more about romance then I do, and she has somehow won his heart by fighting him with somewhat equal skill. That is unfair for those who are not skilled in seventy one martial arts."

"I don't think it's that many," Greg said.

"That is unimportant," Hotaru snapped. "What is, is that love makes no sense, and I resent that is an integral part of human existence. Besides, I'm a better kisser than Ayeka. She knows that and I know that, so she should stop deluding herself."

Taiki, Amy, and Greg shared glances.

"Would you like me to demonstrate?" Hotaru said.

The three dashed out of the room.

In Mina's room.

"Now we got a little side tracked," Mina said. "But we still have to find out just which one of you is the better man for me."

Yaten and Mike glared at each other.

"So I've set up a schedule for how we're going to see who's the best man."

"This is so absurd," Yaten said.

"Giving up?" Mike asked.

"Hardly," Yaten said. "Mina I don't understand why we have to do this."

"Because Yaten, it's how you play the game of love."

"Love is not a game," Yaten said.

"It is when I'm the player!" Mina said. "That's a point off for you."

Yaten sighed. Mike grinned.

"So..we'll begin with the poetry writing competition. You have until Saturday to write me a great love poem," Mina said.

"I don't like to write when it's a competition," Yaten said.

"And I don't like to write when I have no idea what I'm doing," Mike said.

Mina glared at them.

"You two just aren't getting it are you?" She said.

"Perhaps for some very good reasons," Yaten said.

"Where's the love Yaten?" Mina asked. "Huh?"

Yaten sighed. Why am I doing this? He thought.

"So may the best man win," Mina said. "I deduct points for complaining."

The two sighed.

"I say we settle this now," Seiya said.

"What now?" Steve asked.

"You know what. You want Lita, I want Lita. We have a fight right here. The winner gets her. The loser gives her up forever."

"Seiya, that's not the way to get a girl."

"Well I'll fight you anyway."

"Why?"

"Because how am I supposed to keep a relationship going with you breathing down our backs?" Seiya said.

"I'm keeping my distance, but she is a friend, one I value very much," Steve said.

"And I value her too, and you're not being fair like this, just sort of hovering waiting for me to blow it."

"I made myself clear to you, because that was the right thing to do."

"I'm not so sure of that," Seiya said.

"Well I've done my best."

"Just what makes you think you're better for her. You already dated her once. You know those things don't work."

"Seiya, I know I have my reasons and she's not right for you."

"What?"

"I didn't want to say it, but now I have. Seiya, I'm sure you're a nice guy, I've seen it, but you're not right for her. You don't understand her perfectly."

"I think I do," Seiya said. "We share a lot in common."

"Yes you do," Steve said. "I do, Ken does, everyone guy Lita's friends with shares a lot in common with her."

"Yeah, so what's your point."

"I'm saying there's more to it then that."

"And just what makes you think you've got it?"

"I know it."

"You've got no idea what you're talking about," Seiya said. "Just stay out of this."

"I've been trying to," Steve said.

"And a good job you've done," Seiya said and stormed off.

He'll figure it out eventually. Steve said.

Just what is he talking about? Seiya thought to himself.

"So you feeling better?" Maxfield Stanton asked.

"No," Sylia Coral said resting her head on her desk. "How many evil forces are going to take me over anyway?"

"Hopefully no more," Stanton said.

"Yes, well, I'm getting sick of it you know."

"I don't doubt it," Stanton said.

"And here everyone thought I had gone nuts..well I've been pretty close," Coral said.

"Well this has all been very stressful for everyone involved," Stanton said.

"That is an understatement," Coral said and sighed. "What have they got against me anyway?"

"You're flamboyant."

"So I am, plenty of people are."

"You were the Prime Minister."

"I'm not anymore."

"Well..you still have some prestige."

"So I do," Coral said. "Someone else can have it. I don't need it."

Stanton smiled.

"You know what the worst thing is?" Serena said.

"What?"

"I start school in two days."

"Sorry to hear it," Darrien said.

"Yeah, well..life goes on," Serena said. "Even the stupid parts of it."

"I suggest you try and make the best of it."

"It such a thing were possible."

"You'll get through it. Think about it, one more year and then you're out."

"And then what? College? More work? When will they stop asking me to do stuff?"

"Well..that's a part of life."

"Yeah, well they should give me a break, without me there wouldn't be any world."

"You should try explaining that to them sometime."

"I really should. They owe me a lot."

"Just don't let it go to your head," Darrien said.

"What that I'm the world's greatest hero and that everyone owes me their life?"

"Yeah, something like that," Darrien said.

Serena grinned.

"The city looks nice from here. I always say that, but I think I can appreciate it when I'm not there."

"It's nice to get away."

"Let's keep going."

"What?" Darrien asked.

"Yeah, let's road trip."

"Serena, that's not a wise thing."

"Oh come on, let's just go somewhere else for a day or something."

"Yes, but.." Darrien said.

"Just one day away from everything? Please?"

"All right. But where should we go?"

"I don't know..let's go find out..after dinner."

"After dinner right," Darrien said with a grin.

"Well I have to eat before my brain works."

"Yes, that's a scientific fact there," Darrien said.

"Oh don't tease me, I'm your beautiful girlfriend brought to you by the forces of destiny, you should have great respect for my destinious virtues."

Darrien began to laugh.

"I'm serious!"

"I know," Darrien said. "Really I do. It's just you're so wonderful."

"Oh..well I guess that's an appropriate response, now let's get going, every second that passes I get hungry and hungrier."

"All right let's go, but you know Serena, sometimes I wonder if everything you do is motivated entirely by a need to eat."

"Well Darrien, it is a basic instinct to want to eat and indeed our human nature has evolved from a much simpler latin named creature who's few pursuits included just that, so really we're just more complex versions of the same entities, and so even the most trivial actions may be actually indirectly oriented towards food collection," Serena said with a smile.

"You've been ready for that question haven't you?" Darrien asked.

"I knew you had to ask someday," Serena said. "Amy told me what books to read, but I read it myself, no summaries needed for me!"

"I'm proud of you there," Darrien said.

At a fancy restaurant.

"This was such a surprise, how did you get reservations on such short notice?" Raye asked.

"Well..I actually figured that with the war and all there'd be some cancellations," Rick said. "Besides, I know the owner."

"Hmm...you're right about cancellations, there's hardly anyone here," Raye said.

"I figured as much, this type of crowd is usually afraid to go out after battles, besides I staged a mock battle out front this afternoon," Rick said.

"You did?" Raye asked.

"Sure, me and Steve chased Mike down the street. He was all cloaked and stuff, but it did the job," Rick said.

"Now Rick I appreciate it, but that was a little down and dirty."

"Yeah, well, most of the people will be here tomorrow, or the next night anyway,"Rick said.

"It is a nice place. How are you paying for it?"

"Uh..well...I have my ways,"Rick said.

Raye grinned.

"You didn't do anything illegal did you?"

"Nothing they can prove," Rick said.

Raye smiled.

"I'm just glad we don't have any fighting to do for while," she said.

"What makes you think the evil chromosome or some other nutcase won't show up tomorrow looking for a piece of the action?" Rick asked.

"Well maybe they will, but I can at least hope they won't."

"Guess so."

"You did well yesterday, I have to admit that when I first saw you fighting I thought you wouldn't be able to pull it off, but now..well..here we are."

"You really didn't think I could do it? Gee...I had no idea you though so little of me."

"That was a while ago though," Raye said. "You've proven yourself to be a man with no equal. Except maybe Darrien, but that's just because he's taller."

"Thanks for the comparison," Rick muttered. Raye smiled.

"Hmm..love is like a summer's day..." Mike said.

"No that's been done," Steve said.

"I know that," Mike said.

"How about, Love is lovely."

Steve laughed.

"You're no help," Mike muttered.

"Now you're in my world!" Steve said and began to cackle.

Hotaru stood on the roof of her house again.

"I will just have to prove myself," she said to herself. "All opponents to my love shall be swept aside in a tsunami of dejection as I Hotaru Tomoe will find romance!"

"Hotaru get down from there!" her father shouted. "You could fall!"

"I'm having an epiphany!" Hotaru shouted back.

"Oh then it's all right then," her father said and headed back inside the house before hurrying back out.

"No it's not come down from there!"

"You're ruining the moment!" Hotaru shouted.

"I don't care."

Hotaru sighed and climbed down.

"You're stunting my growth," she said.

"By keeping you from falling off the roof?"

"Yes," Hotaru muttered and walked off.

"You know Luna...I never thought we'd get this far," Artemas said.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked.

"All these scouts, all these immature girls and boys, expected to fight off some of the greatest evils in the universe, and yet here we are still alive."

"It boggles the mind doesn't it?" Luna asked.

"I still can't figure it out, how have they done so well?"

"I guess they believe in themselves and everyone else."

"Yeah, but still.."

"I know," Luna said. "Maybe some higher deity will let us know someday."

"Yeah, guess we should be proud of them instead of surprised."

"We can be both," Luna said

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