Chapter 360

"At least the morning is clear toady," Setsuna said to herself standing on the roof of her apartment.

Nineteen days. She thought.

"So how are you and Melvin doing?" Serena asked.

"Better, we've worked out a system," Molly said.

"So you two are back together then?"

"Sure," Molly said. "For now."

"Don't say that," Serena said seriously.

"All right," Molly said. "But we'll just have to see, it's a tough relationship you know, but in a way I don't know if there's anyone else I'd rather be with, well maybe Nephlite, but he's too old."

"Yeah well you sure are the master of normal relationships there," Serena said with a smile.

"I guess I am a bit off the wall," Molly said. "Then again, so is everyone I know right now. Your friends have some interesting habits."

Serena grinned.

"Okay..okay..let's go over this weeks point totals," Mina said. "Mike won the scavenger hunt, with added emphasis for creativity."

"All about the grass," Mike said with a smile.

"I don't care," Yaten said.

"But Yaten managed to provide the article of clothing that better represented me," Mina said.

"What really counts," Yaten said.

"We'll see," Mike said.

"Anyway," Mina said. "Time for the next event. The complimenting exercise. This should be a close one."

Yaten sighed.

"Time to get tough," Mike said. "So I can be nice!"

"Yeah that's right get psyched," Mina said.

Mike grinned.

Elsewhere.

"Today I thought I'd take you somewhere special," Seiya said.

"Oh really," Lita said. "That'll be a change of pace."

"What?"

"I'm kidding, now where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," Seiya said.

"I do like surprises."

"Come on," Seiya said.

"Have I been there before?"

"No hints," Seiya flagging down a car.

"We're taking a taxi?" Lita asked.

"It's better than walking," Seiya said.

"Just how far are we going?"

"You'll see," Seiya said. Maybe if we get out of the city I can stop concentrating on that fool Steve.

"A planetarium huh?" Raye asked as the two entered the building.

"Sure," Rick said. "We do a lot of romantic things, but there's more to it then that. It's all about expanding horizons."

"Mike says that about dating too.." Raye said hesitantly.

"Well I know what I'm talking about."

"Okay," Raye said. "So what's so special about this exhibit?"

"If I told you...what would be the point?"

"Surprise isn't always necessary."

"It is right now. If I told you what made it special it wouldn't be special anymore."

"Oh..all right, I'll believe that," Raye said. "Still, it's going to have to be good."

"I wouldn't take you here if it wasn't. Besides, when did you get so averse to this kind of thing? You're into invoking the moon and stars and such in your prayers."

"Well, yes, but...the less I know about them the easier it is to have faith in their mystical powers," Raye said.

"Oh...I never thought of it that way," Rick said. "Still you know the mystical powers work don't you?"

"Yes, but there are so many different levels,"Raye said.

"Ah..you'll have to explain them sometime," Rick said.

"That's hard to do," Raye said. "They're not really something you can talk about."

"All right..I'll just let that go," Rick said.

"Hey you two," came a familiar voice.

The two turned to see Amy arm and arm with Taiki walking up.

"So you've heard about this too?" she asked.

"Oh yes, it's quite amazing," Amy said.

"It's not often we get to see.." Taiki began.

"No don't spoil it," Raye said. "Rick says its important for me to not know what it is."

"Ah..say no more," Taiki said.

And they headed in to the main area of the planetarium.

In the War Room.

"I wonder why they don't like this book," Greg said. "As far as I can tell there's nothing wrong with it."

"That kind of stuff happens," Patterson said. "I wouldn't give up though."

"No I'm not that type, still it's hard to apply logic to this," Greg said.

"I think you'll find that logic is falling more and more out of favor in today's society" Patterson said.

"D.V. can I ask you something?"

"Depends on the question,"Patterson said.

"Well you've got two girls fighting over you literally...."

"So I've noticed," Patterson said.

"Well..who do you like?"

"What do you mean?"

"Both of them want to get involved romantically you know that, so who would you prefer?"

"Greg, how would I know?"

"Oh..but what are you going to do about all this? I mean all they're doing is fighting all the time."

"I know, but I can't stop them, and this is very hard to deal with."

"I could guess that," Greg said. "But you have to do something."

"And risk hurting the other's feelings? Besides I don't want a girlfriend. I wish they could get along so we could be friends."

"Oh, so you're not interested in romance?"

"No. I've never been."

"So if someone else was to be interested in romance with Ayeka, or uh...Hotaru, you'd have no problem with it?"

"Well..that depends on the person, but I wouldn't see it as a romantic affront, if the person was a good person, I wouldn't care, no," D.V. said. "It would make my whole life easier."

"Just curious," Greg said.

"You had someone in mind?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Greg said.

Patterson grinned out of eye sight of his half-brother.

"I just can't understand, this novel is wonderful," Greg said changing the subject.

"Let me see it."

"Oh no I couldn't," Greg said.

"Embarrassed?"

"Yes."

"Come on, if there's anyone who would understand it's..."

"Uh oh," Patterson interrupted staring at a video screen.

"Your death will give me great satisfaction!" Hotaru shouted.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I think it's time to know you off that delusional cloud you live on!" Ayeka shouted back.

"They're at it again," Greg said.

"So they are," D.V. said.

"Ayeka Mizuno, Prepare for your imminent destruction with whatever divinities you worship!" Hotaru shouted.

"My wrath shall not be tamed when it is directed at you Hotaru Tomoe!" Ayeka replied.

And the two charged at each other.

"The universe..." an announcer said in the planetarium. "Is a place filled with millions of phenomena, all different, and all amazing in their existence, some of these are well known...stars for instance and planets."

Graphics appeared of the solar system spinning with stars twinkling in the air.

"These planets are all different with their own special characteristics. It's been said that maybe at one time there was even other life on other planets in the solar system," the announcer said.

"I have trouble believing that," Rick said. Raye grinned.

"But the universe is much more complex than that, it is a place of constant motion, in that stars are constantly exploding, planets rotating, galaxies forming, and swirling..and things like this.."

Color streaked across the sky.

"Now what's that?" Raye asked.

"Just what is that?" the announcer said. "You might wonder..but it is the starlight flying through the atmosphere."

"What?" Raye asked.

"Forget it," Rick said. "Just focus on what you see."

And the room was filled with colors.

"Yes, it might look ordinary, but what happens when the light is filtered or combined," the announcer said. The stars began to coalesce, the planets began to swirl and lose their shape, instead sparkling colors filled the air.

"This is science?" Raye wondered.

"Of course," Amy said. "If there was no innate beauty in science, why would anyone ever study it?"

"What about medicine and such?" Raye asked.

"The beauty is that of life," Taiki said. "The greatest form of beauty there is."

"Exactly," Amy said.

"I see," Raye said. "The creation of mystical auras is amazing."

"You're sensing it too huh," Rick said.

"Well if you are sensing something I should be shouldn't I? I mean I actually delve into the mystical arts on occasion."

"You said it was a complex system," Rick said. "Who knows how it works."

The lights faded into blackness.

"Is it over?" Raye asked.

"No...this is just the beginning," Amy said.

A specter of light appeared above them, slowly growing and spiraling, out surrounding them in light, then the light exploded seeming to shower them with light, but of course not doing so.

"Wow.." Raye said.

"Yep, technology has it's moments," Rick said.

"Everything humanity does is in pursuit of moments such as these," Taiki said.

"And yet it seems like we might as well stop right here," Amy said. "Who needs anymore?"

"Ah, but they'll always be more," Taiki said. "New and different experiences that can touch our minds in way we never thought possible."

"Or in ways we could think possible, but never could experience," Raye said.

"True," Taiki said.

And the four continued to watch the light show.

Mina emerged out of her closet.

"Now....compliment!" she said.

"Your dress is like a lightening rod," Mike said. "I just want to get drawn to you."

Yaten sighed.

"I have always appreciated the way your ribbon defines your hair," Yaten said.

"Your shoes give you the perfect stature," Mike said,

Yaten glared at him.

"Your outfit is perfectly proportioned," Yaten said.

"To what?" Mina asked.

"Nature," Yaten said. "And all that is right about it."

"Oh..okay," Mina said.

"Ah..but he's forgetting that sometimes nature can be dangerous, but yet awe inspiring at the same time, something that I find attractive in your spirit," Mike said.

"Good turn around," Mina said.

"Indeed," Yaten said. "But we all hope that nature can be contained at least from causing damage to others, your choice of dress and style achieves that."

"Are you suggesting that I'm some sort of hurricane?" Mina asked.

"Yes, but all humans are, yet you manage to bring the gale force winds to level of a slight breeze, that is pleasant to the touch," Yaten said.

"I think he's still calling you a hurricane," Mike said. "But very well for I have never seen such a storm of passion, and I always regret passing through that storms eye, for it is depriving me of what I desire."

"Ah..I like that," Mina said.

"We are spending too much time on this analogy," Yaten said.

"I like the analogy," Mina said. "I am Hurricane Mina, the tides of romance rise when I approach, swamping the cities of those deprived of happiness!"

She leapt onto the bed.

"That's right, you are a force of nature powered by the strongest power of all, that of passion which is what makes you such a beautiful elemental of love ," Mike said.

"You're a natural disaster of romance," Yaten said.

The other two stopped and starred at him.

"I give up," he said and walked out.

"Hmm...too bad," Mina said. "You win."

Mike grinned.

"I just know you better that's all," he said.

"Yeah,"Mina said. "Yaten just isn't very fun isn't he, but then again we're almost there."

"Ah..yes...are you sure this is worth the effort? I mean, the real Yaten could just be trouble," Mike said.

"No, I can see it within him Mike, he'd be like you without the insanity," Mina said.

"But Mina, without the insanity, there isn't any me."

"Guess you've got me there,"Mina said.

"But if that's true, why am I helping you get the real him back? Then you'll just date him."

"No I won't," Mina said. "Because by then he'll have realized that he deserves a better girl then me."

"Oh.." Mike said. "I'm glad this is all so well thought out."

"Don't worry Mike, it's all for a good cause," Mina said. "And you still have to prove your worth."

"Haven't I though?"

"More or less, but I need to see even more of that Mike charm."

"Well I usually only dispense it in two gallon containers,"Mike said.

Mina laughed

At an apartment on downtown.

"They're all taking it surprisingly well," Haruka said sipping some coffee.

"You mean the impending arrival of that spaceship?" Michiru asked.

"What else?"

"Don't forget they manage to keep going by compartmentalizing."

"You know Michiru you've been defending them all a lot lately, making up legitimate excuses for their behavior."

"Maybe because I feel sorry for them in a way," Michiru said. "But they're doing all right, one can only expect them to be a little maladjusted."

"I guess so," Haruka said. "They are very caring people who do their best to do what they can. I guess I have a different view of it. Still, that ship is nineteen days away."

"And that's nineteen days they have left to enjoy, after all, it's not like they can plan or anything, we don't know what's coming," Michiru said. "Besides, as it gets closer I'm sure they'll become more serious."

"Yes you're right, I just worry sometimes," Haruka said. "I mean, they're so innocent, even the ones who try not to appear so."

"We were innocent once," Michiru said. "You remember that?"

"Not really," Haruka said.

"Yeah, I know," Michiru said. "It's hard to remember what it was like to be innocent...to see the world that way."

"It's not so different from how you see things now," Haruka said.

"It is," Michiru said. "Believe me it is."

"Hmm..well I guess you'd know better than I would," Haruka said.

"You two look especially dour today," Setsuna said walking up. "Though I can guess why."

"What have you been up to Setsuna?" Haruka asked.

"I've been trying to locate something," Setsuna said.

"Oh..what?" Michiru asked.

"I can't tell you about it here," Setsuna said.

"We're done anyway,"Haruka said chugging down the rest of the coffee.

"You really shouldn't do that Haruka," Michiru said with a slight smile.

"That is the least of my concerns," Haruka said.

"I know,"Michiru said. "Still.."

"Remind me after the next war," Haruka said.

And the three headed out.

Several miles out from Tokyo in a forest.

"And here we are," Seiya said climbing out of the taxi.

"Ah.." Lita said. "Nowhere in particular, always a joy."

"Of course," Seiya said. "Only the cab driver knows where we are, and he'll be back later."

"Ah.." Lita said. "Right.."

The truth was they could always use their scouts powers and leap back the several miles if they had to.

"But why bring me here?" Lita asked.

"Well..I wanted to make sure we wouldn't be disturbed," Seiya said. "I mean, it can be hard sometimes to keep time to ourselves, especially in a large city, with so many friends, enemies, allies, and the like."

"Guess you're right," Lita said.

"You ever been out in the woods alone before?"

"No, I've heard the bears are fierce," She said with a smile.

"There are no bears here," Seiya said.

"You might be surprised."

"Look, then we'll deal with it," Seiya said.

"Well so now that we're alone, what do you plan on doing?"

"I thought we could just talk about things."

"All right," Lita said and sat down on a rock.

"Yeah, that's the way to do it," Seiya said and sat down on another rock.

"So..now what?"

"I was hoping you could start it."

"Oh.uh..well.."

"Yeah.."

"This rock isn't very comfortable, let me try another one."

"Good idea," Seiya said.

"Oh..yes..this is better," Lita said. "Okay..now where were we?"

Seiya sighed. This should be working better. He thought.

At Darrien's apartment.

"Stinking equations," Darrien said. "You know I think you're onto something with your complete antipathy to work."

"I don't know what antipathy is," Serena said. "But I'm betting it isn't good."

"Yes, well...there must be an easier way to calculate this."

"I thought they had computers that could do all of this?"

"The computers only work if they know what is actually going on."

"Oh and your computer doesn't?"

"Nope, we're dealing with some pretty new ideas here," Darrien said.

"Hmm..I hope they pay you well for this."

"Actually, they've kinda soured on the idea of paying me until I've proven myself again," Darrien said.

"Oh..well that won't be like that forever right?"

"Depends," Darrien said.

"On what?"

"Whether I can figure out just what this all means," he said holding up a sheet of equations to her.

"Ooo..scary," She said. "Is the middle equation right though?"

"WHAT?"

"Well...is that the right symbol?" Serena asked. "I thought I heard or read, no wouldn't have been read, something about that.."

"Hmm....you know...you're right," Darrien said he said in amazement. "No wonder.."

"Yeah, and 28 times 37 isn't 1034, it's 1036,"Serena said.

Darrien collapsed.

"Darrien?" Serena asked.

"Wha...I'm fine," Darrien said and stood up again. "How did you know the 28 times 37 was different."

"I'm a math prodigy remember, and for some reason the 28 times anything multiplication tables are stuck in my head. Don't ask me why...I try not to let it get to me."

"You know Serena, you could really be of help to me," Darrien said.

"Oh no you don't, I'm not getting drawn into this," Serena said. "You should be careful of your own mistakes."

"You should talk."

"I don't make mistakes, I just don't know what I'm talking about in the first place, besides, you actually expect me to be any help for more than five minutes?" Serena said.

"Guess you're right," Darrien realized.

"But it's all right because I save the world," Serena said.

"That can only be your excuse so many times," Darrien said.

"You're right, but then again, I saved the world!" Serena said.

"I helped," he said. "You don't see me ducking work."

"You're just not being smart that's all," Serena said wit a smile.

Darrien sighed.

"I don't know about that tree," Lita said. "It looks like it's ready to fall over.

"I think it's well rooted," Seiya said.

"So it is."

"Here let me check," Seiya said.

"What?"