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Part Five: China Roses

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As Mamoru’s unease with Zoya Troubetzkoy diminishes, Minako finds that her relationship with Jonathan is heightening. And then there is the reappeared millionaire, Masato Sanjouin…

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Zoya sighed restlessly as she threw herself onto the park bench, allowing her handbag to fall from her slender wrist to sit beside her. She kept a firm hold on her black folder however, and she leaned back, trying to relax somewhat. The day was warm, and she had to wonder how Karl could stand to wear so much black. She herself wore a loose blue dress that came to just below her knees, and her hair was pulled back in a French plait, for her hair was unnecessarily heavy and cumbersome in the heat.

She sighed as her thoughts strolled to Karl – as they always tended to do. She still had to ask him to dinner that night. If all truth be told, she was terrified of being rejected. They may have temporarily shared an apartment, but it had never gone further than that. Except in her own mind.

As she stood again unwillingly, for she was tired and just wanted to sleep, she caught sight of a familiar figure, who stood talking to another blonde figure.

"Jonathan!" called Zoya in delight. She hadn’t seen her brother since Friday, and their phone conversation the previous night had been all too brief.

The well-dressed man looked up in surprise, halting in his conversation with the young girl, who was dressed in a school uniform. His face broke into a wide grin. "Well well well, if it isn’t the tooth fairy!"

"Jonathan you nut, what’s with you today?" she cried, playfully messing up his hair. He swatted her hand away, looking comfortably irritated.

"Hey! Don’t touch the hair!" He then shrugged, a playful glint in his eye.

"Someone gave me coffee, that’s all." Zoya laughed again, and tried to get to his hair again. But he foresaw her purpose and ducked.

"So this is your sister Zoya, I guess," said Minako, looking startled. She had known Zoya would bear a resemblance to the dead king, but it was one thing to hear about it, another thing to SEE it.

Zoya stopped trying to hit Jonathan with her handbag, and looked at her curiously. "What, does he talk about me or something?"

Jonathan slung an arm around Zoya, and gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek. "How could I ever stop talking about you, Zoya my dear sister?"

"Did YOU give him this coffee?" asked Zoya, a smile touching her lips as she regarded Minako, who was beginning to find the resemblance even more disturbing. "If so, I hope you’ve learned your lesson."

She shrugged, and looked at Jonathan. All of a sudden, she had the desire to fly away from here, get away from the craziness of the resurrected dead. "I should really be going…I’ll see you guys tonight, ne?" She turned and ran from the park, her blonde hair trailing like a kite behind her.

"Strange girl," observed Zoya, pushing a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. She looked towards her expensive watch, and let out a shriek that made Jonathan wince. "4:30?! I was supposed to meet Karl five minutes ago! GODDAMN!"

At least she didn’t laugh, he thought cynically. "I guess I’ll see you tonight, too? Eight? Oh, that’s another thing – do you mind if I bring a friend over? He’s someone I got to know in high school, and you do know him."

"Sure," she replied, looking too harassed to question further. "I’ll catch you later."

Jonathan watched his ‘sister’ leave, and smiled. Fun and games, that was what tonight would be. He couldn’t believe that they didn’t remember what it had been like, that they didn’t remember themselves, but he had been warned they wouldn’t. He sighed, over come by a wave of melancholy. He wished sometimes that he could be like that. Able to forget the past, and all the smeg that lay there.

He thought about Minako for a second. Beautiful, brilliant…it was too bad that he had to destroy her. He could see why Kunzite had loved the princess of Venus back in the Silver Millennium.

Being a Dark Kingdom ruler sure as hell isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, thought Jadeite sullenly, and disappeared into the shadows with scarcely a second thought.

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Karl tapped his long fingers impatiently on the bench, eyeing the jars of formaldehyde as he did so. Where was Zoya? Lateness was not generally her forte; she could usually be trusted to turn up on time.

Just then tropical disturbance Zoya Troubetzkoy slammed through the door into the laboratory/classroom, an apologetic look on her panicked features. "I’m so sorry!" she blurted out, her heart in her mouth. She did have to wonder why she feared disappointing Karl so badly. She liked the guy, sure, but this went much deeper…a downward spiral. It could bring no good.

He looked at his student critically through his cool platinum eyes, and shrugged. "It’s your loss being late, Zoya. It doesn’t really effect me." He turned to the complicated mess of apparatus he had set up on the front bench, numerous organic chemicals surrounding him in their assorted bottles. "Shall we begin?"

She nodded mutely, then spoke up. "But first…there’s something I have to ask you."

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Minako straightened her dress one last time, looking expectantly to Makoto for compliment. The tall Senshi, however, was engrossed in her own appearance, as she checked over her outfit once more. Makoto wore a flared green skirt, with pale yellow tights and shirt. Over the silky shirt she wore a green jacket, the exact same shade of forest green as the short skirt. Her heels only added to her height. Minako dressed in an indigo slip dress, patterned with stars and moons, under which she wore a lacy short sleeved baby T. Her hair was unusually worn in a coil of plaits around her head, making her appear much older. She now bore scant resemblance to the child-like schoolgirl Jonathan had seen earlier in the day.

"Dressing to impress, hmm?" asked Makoto, a knowing smile on her face as she rapped on the door of the new apartment. "I’m sure Jonathan will be impressed."

"Don’t start," groaned Minako, a small smile touching her features. "But really, do I look okay?"

Makoto laughed out loud. "Trust me, Mina-chan, you look fine! Any one would think that you wanted to impress one certain guest here tonight…"

"Get over it!" hissed Minako, a red blush tinting her cheeks. She coughed as Zoya opened the door, trying to keep her words in her throat. She had almost blurted out to Makoto that she thought she loved Jonathan.

Zoya looked the picture of sophistication this evening, wearing a long, slinky black dress, with a high neckline and sleeves. It appeared quite severe, but the soft, pretty features of the girl took the edge off the sharp blackness of the dress. Pearls adorned her throat in the form of a choker, and the only hint of colour was from the sparkle of her emerald eyes, and the unusual ring she wore. "Hi," she said brightly, an odd smile on her face. She felt suddenly uncomfortable around the two girls, though she recognised Minako. She tried to speak over her unease, but Makoto’s narrowed eyes weren’t hard to read. "I’m Zoya Troubetzkoy…and you are Minako and..?"

"Kino Makoto," replied the Senshi of Jupiter with an arrogant toss of her head. She instantly took a severe dislike to the King-lookalike, and Zoya coughed. To her immense relief, Mamoru popped up, smile on his face. He looked at Makoto as if she were his saviour. "Mako-chan! I need your help! Kitchen – NOW!" Then he looked apologetic. "I don’t mean to sound like I’m ordering you around…but…"

She laughed, not looking at Zoya purposely. "If I minded, I would have decked you one, but since you’re still on your feet, I think you’re safe."

The pair disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Minako and Zoya alone, Zoya looking almost crestfallen. Minako, despite her mental protests, felt vaguely sorry for the "girl." She reached out a tentative hand, laying it on Zoya’s shoulder. She jumped, and shrunk away from Minako, eyes wide. Then she sighed. "I guess I’ve been expelled from the kitchen, don’t you think?"

"Why do you say that?" Minako slipped inside, closing the door softly behind her. She regarded the strange woman with curious eyes.

"I get the distinct feeling Makoto-chan doesn’t exactly feel thrilled by my illuminating presence." Glumly, the girl shuffled off down the hallway. "I’m going to my room to lie down – my head is killing me. The dining room is through there, and you’ll probably have to let the others in."

There was a distinct, heavy thud, which quite obviously indicated the conversation was closed. Confused, and to her surprise, slightly hurt by Zoya’s brush off, Minako wandered further into the room.

It was large, with an easy atmosphere, bright and airy. The sliding glass doors lead onto a large balcony, with an unusual view. The positioning and height of the balcony meant that the park shielded many of the buildings from view, but the sea was visible, sparkling as lights moved as fairies across the surface. It leant an air of enchantment to the room, which was heightened by the numerous artefacts scattered about, like the dragon statuettes, Greek figures, tapestries, Japanese fans, Chinese bamboo flutes, a Faberge egg, and surrealist paintings…Dali, probably. The famous melting clocks were positioned over the mantelpiece. The unique combination of styles and cultures actually worked with an odd harmony – somehow, every thing balanced out.

She slumped in an armchair, looking at the canvases with interest. The clocks were so…strange, and yet so hauntingly beautiful. It reminded her strongly of her dreams, dreams of yesterday. Her past.

"I hope I didn’t offend you." Minako whipped around in shock as the quiet voice broke the silence. Zoya leaned against the door, appearing a frail china doll. She smiled tiredly. "Migraines. They’re a bitch."

"And so is Mako-chan," Minako chuckled quietly. "She’s not, really, I don’t mean that…she’s just – uh, a little preoccupied."

"I’ll survive…but I need to have a lie down. I’ve taken my medication, and if you need me, I’ll be up the front. It’s the second door on the right, you can’t miss it. Mamo-chan stuck a huge picture of a frog on the door."

Minako burst into laughter, a little surprised at how genuine she was. Unwittingly, she was relaxing in Zoya’s presence. "Why?!"

Rolling her eyes, Zoya disappeared through the door and into the hallway. "His idea of a joke, I guess. I happened to mention I was looking for my "prince," so he gave me a poster of a frog and told me to see if I could get a prince out of that."

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The doorbell rang through her head sharply, snapping Minako out of her regressions. Remembering that Zoya was up the front, lying down, and the duo in the kitchen probably had their hands full, Minako dragged herself upward.

Usagi was at the door, beside her were Luna, Artemis and Naru. Usagi, subtle to a fold, leapt in, shrieking "Where is she?!"

"Damare!" cried Minako, grabbing her by the arm, as the cats rolled their eyes. "Zoya’s having a lie down, up the front – she’s got a migraine. So…don’t, okay?"

"What’s the big deal, anyway Usagi-chan?" Naru smoothed down her blue jeans, picking at a stray piece of lint on her white wool sweater. "She’s only his flatmate, after all."

Luna and Artemis gave the two strikingly similar girls the evils. Enough said.

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"This place is too creepy for me," announced Usagi, wandering into the lounge from the kitchen. Makoto had banished her once Usagi had started in on the dessert before the main course was even ready. "And where are the others, already? I’m starving."

"There’s something new," chuckled Mamoru, poking his dark head in. "So Zoya’s lying down, Mina-chan?"

"Uh huh." The blonde girl tossed her hair, looking slightly worried. "She didn’t look so good – do you want me to check on her?"

Mamoru seemed torn between doing it himself, and upsetting Usagi, or letting Minako do it, and leaving his own curiosity unsated. "Maybe we should just let her be for awhile. She’ll come down when she’s ready."

Withdrawing back into the kitchen, Mamoru felt…strange. The girl had some weird hold over him that couldn’t be explained by mere words.

"How is it creepy?" asked Minako, skilfully drawing the conversation away from the stranger. "What’s wrong with it?"

"It’s all dark and horrible," complained Usagi. "And look at the weird décor – it’s too weird."

"Night time tends to do that to the light," said an oddly familiar voice dryly from the front door. Usagi stifled a shriek when she saw who it was – an exact replica of Kunzite. He regarded her coldly from the door. "I let myself in – not a problem, I presume?"

Minako found she couldn’t move, and it took Mamoru’s arrival to break the odd tension that fell across the room. "Karl – it’s great to see you again."

"Likewise, Mamoru-sama…but I’m afraid I cannot stay. I have other matters to attend to, so this is a polite declination of Zoya’s earlier offer. Do give her my apologies." He turned to leave, long ebony coat swaying around his long legs. Mamoru frowned. "I can get her, if you want to tell her yourself."

"No need. We thank you." Then the strange man, dressed entirely in black, moved effortlessly through the door, and it closed softly behind him, seemingly of its own accord.

"He was a friendly one, hmm?" Minako said lightly, trying to rid herself of the cold that seemed to have penetrated her very soul. "What a conversationalist."

Pensively, Mamoru looked in the direction of Zoya’s bedroom. "Crap." He then vanished into the kitchen once more, leaving the others looking confused.

"He was too strange for me, anyway," said Usagi decisively. "I’m glad he’s not staying."

"I wonder where the others are," mused Minako, and Naru nodded agreement.

"I hope they don’t mind my being here," she said, and Usagi patted her shoulder. Naru was staying temporarily with Usagi, while her mother was in London.

"I wouldn’t worry about it – Mamoru said earlier this afternoon it was okay," Minako answered, casting looks at Luna and Artemis. The cats had not been pleased at the prospect of Naru being around – it put them at a disadvantage, though Minako pointed out that they hadn’t planned on revealing themselves to Karl, Jonathan or Zoya anyway.

A knock sent Minako barrelling to the door, where Rei’s stormy features, and Ami’s obvious displeasure at Rei, greeted her. From the looks of things, they had been arguing the entire way over here, which was unusual. Ami was usually so diplomatic, so reserved yet friendly, and Rei respected the girl greatly. Ami and Rei were usually the last to get into an argument – of any kind.

The red Senshi dumped herself into an armchair beside the couch where Minako had been sitting with Luna and Artemis. Her long, dark hair was loose as usual, and she wore a long, cream-coloured skirt, with a loose red linen shirt hanging off her slender frame. Her eyes were dark, and they roamed the room, obviously searching for one of the three kings supposed to be present tonight. She visibly relaxed when none were found.

Ami and Minako still remained at the door, Ami dressed in blues as per usual, looking dignified and smart, as was normal. But her expression was another matter. "Minako – look. I should warn you, Rei-chan is absolutely livid over this whole scenario. She despises the fact that Zoya is under Mamo-chan’s roof, and that we’re having a ‘civilised’ dinner with the three kings we can get a hold of. She’s…I’m afraid she’s going to try something. On Zoya, in particular."

"Two," Minako corrected, and continued at Ami’s blank look. "Only two are coming – Zoya’s up the front, and Jonathan’s still not here. Karl’s been and gone already, apparently he had other things to do."

Ami seemed slightly relieved. "That’s okay…sort of. What was he like?"

"Who, Karl?" Ami nodded. Minako shuddered at the memory. "He was so cold…like an ice statue."

The two girls moved into the room, and drifted towards seats. There were two couches and three armchairs, one couch capable of supporting two, the other three. Minako, Rei and Ami converged on the larger couch, Naru and Usagi in armchairs opposite them. Luna and Artemis sat on the armrests of Usagi’s chair.

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Mamoru looked at his watch, then at Makoto. The girl seemed quite happy at the stove, and he shot her a smile. She grinned back. "You need some cooking lessons, Mamo-chan. If it wasn’t for me, this place would be a disaster."

"I didn’t know baking powder was really necessary," he protested, and Makoto shrieked with laughter. Then Rei stepped in. "Hey, guys."

"Rei-chan," Mamoru greeted her warmly, looking toward the room. "Do you mind doing me a favour?"

"What?"

"Can you go ask everyone if they want something to drink? Anything you need should be in the fridge. Zoya should have been doing it, but she’s not well. I’m going to go check on her." He tried to ignore the dark look in the girl’s eyes, and slipped out into the hallway via the living room, waving at the assembly.

He knocked on Zoya’s closed door, and was greeted by a moan. "What?"

"It’s me, Zoya. Just checking on you – are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah…you can come in, if you want." He pushed the door open, and found Zoya lying on her bed, a chill wind entering the room via her ajar sliding door, that lead onto the balcony that wrapped around that side of their apartment. The apartment, located at the corner of the building, had six rooms, and a long balcony that went around two sides of the lounge, and one side of their bedrooms and bathroom.

It was dim in her room, her things still not entirely put away from the shift. She looked exceptionally pale in the moonlight, and very pretty. Like an ice goddess…he swept all such thoughts from his brain. After all, he had his moon princess…

He knelt by her bed, taking one of her cold hands. "Are you sure you’re okay?" he asked, wondering at the compassion in his words. What did he care about her, anyway? This could quite easily be the megalomaniacal psychopath who had tried to kill him on numerous occasions.

"I’ll be fine," she said thinly, a small smile on her face. A thought entered his head – and before he could stop himself, he reached into his shirt, and pulled out one of his roses, handing it to the girl. She gazed, shocked, at the blood red petals. "Wha…how did you do that, Mamoru-sama?"

He shrugged, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "A magician never reveals his tricks."

"You are a magician, aren’t you?" She looked at him sadly through her large green eyes, and sighed. "Is Karl here yet?"

He felt a stab of pain – for what he had to tell her. She had been so hopeful…so ready to tell him. "He’s already made his appearance. He came and said he couldn’t stay. I think he was here for a grand total of one minute. Probably less." He ran a hand over her cheek without thinking, sadly. "I’m sorry."

The misery on her face was heartbreaking. "And he didn’t even tell me himself…oh Mamoru-sama," she began to sob. "It’s true, isn’t it? He doesn’t like me in the least…I have no hope of…"

"Oh hey, it’s okay," he said, sitting on the bed beside her, pulling her into his arms, against his own better judgement. But he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the girl, no matter whom she resembled. Unrequited love was the most potent of heartbreakers. "You can always find someone else."

"No one like him," she wept, and Mamoru was stunned at the depth of her emotion. No one ever reacted like this unless they really, honestly felt like this inside.

"I never realised he meant so much to you, Zoya…I didn’t think that you’ve even known him for that long."

"I haven’t," she replied, looking lost. "I mean…only since I met him in Kyoto, with Doctor Bennett…but…I don’t know. It’s like I’ve known him before."

Mamoru shivered, and tried to conceal it from the trembling girl. "Maybe it would be better if you just…tried to find someone new, get over him."

She wrapped her arms around him, and he felt vaguely uncomfortable, holding Zoya on her bed, in darkness, the moon watching them like the condemning eye of the dead queen…Serenity never had liked him, anyway…

She buried her pale face in his shoulder, now weeping openly, and he held her even tighter, like her expected her to vanish at any second. But she wasn’t Zoisite…was she? Some part of him felt repulsed at this intimate embrace, another part of him felt nothing but pure sympathy for this poor creature. Or was there something else, something he was trying desperately to deny…

"I should go back…the others will be getting bored," he said softly, though neither made any move to separate. "Do you think you’ll be okay? I can tell the others that you’re not well enough to come to dinner."

"No…" she sighed heavily, the weight of a thousand years echoing in her words. "I’ll come."

Though their brief conversation appeared over, Mamoru didn’t yet feel ready to release his friend. She seemed like a frail porcelain doll, and he had the irrational fear that is he let go, she would fall to the floor and shatter into a million pieces.

To his absolute amazement, he turned her face up to his with gentle fingers, eyes soft. "Things will work out, Zoya. I promise you."

She sounded almost bitter. "How do you know that, Mamoru-sama?"

"I just do," he murmured, letting his fingers stroke her coppery-blonde hair. "Oh, but you are just beautiful, and perfect…just so damn gorgeous…"

"What?" she asked, sounding like she was waking from a dream. Her own long, gentle fingers had made their way, unbidden, to Mamoru’s face, and raven hair. She ran a finger down his cheek, and he shivered at her touch. This was Zoisite…no. It was Zoya, and Zoya was not Zoisite…

Before he knew what he was doing, he moved closer to her, so that they couldn’t look at anything but each other. His eyes were like two sapphires, hers two emeralds. In both, emotions ran riot, and their hearts couldn’t be denied.

"Mamoru-sama…" she whispered, and he smiled gently.

"I’ll be your one and only," he murmured, and pulled them together. Their lips immediately met, and both were stunned by the electricity that surged through them both, and the magic that danced across the surfaces where their two bodies met. He refused to let go, and she willingly surrendered in his arms, kissing him like she could do nothing else.

And beside them, on Zoya’s bed, lay the rose. A single blood red rose, but one that had been a symbol of everything Mamoru had stood for, and all that was good.

When finally oxygen became a necessity and not a want, the pair drew apart, both looking more than slightly shocked. "Uh…Mamoru…"

He shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "I guess I’d better go back, Zoya."

"I’ll be out in a minute." She moved toward the balcony, casting him a long, meaningful look. He moved quickly toward the relative safety of the kitchen.

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"How is she?" asked Minako, as Mamoru slipped into the kitchen. He looked up, and only Luna saw the look of guilt in his eyes before he masterfully concealed it. "Better – she should be out in a minute. Jonathan’s not here, is he?"

"No – and it’s almost half past eight. Let’s eat." Everyone gave Usagi a look, and she sighed. "What’d I say?"

Before Rei could burst in with a stinging retort, the knock rang out, and everyone’s eyes turned to the door.

Mamoru was the only one standing, with the exception of Makoto, who came to look from inside the kitchen door. Everyone knew that it had to be Jonathan – who else could it be?

The blonde man looked over Mamoru, slight contempt flickering in his eyes. "Chiba Mamoru, hmm?" He was well dressed in a sharp blue suit, which matched the colour of his eyes to the exact shade. He had steeped through the door Mamoru had opened with easy grace, and he looked over the group like he recognised them – all except Naru.

"I brought a friend," he added, indicating a figure who stood just out of sight. "I’m Jonathan Troubetzkoy, and I’m sure you must have heard of Sanjouin Masato."

Rei choked on her glass of coke, Ami’s eyes widened, and Usagi used the opportunity to grab the last muffin. Naru just stared, and wondered in her own mind ‘why is this man so…’

Then in true cliché fashion, Zoya walked in, and stopped dead. Unmistakable maliciousness glinted in her eyes. "What is HE doing here?!"

The group looked at the girl in astonishment, seeing her pale face flushed with sudden anger. "Jonathan, you stupid idiot! Konoyaro, you baka!"

"Sister dear, let’s not go overboard, hmm?" He moved to put an arm around her, somewhat calming her. But hatred still unmistakable glinted in her emerald glare. Masato simply looked at her in confusion.

"Welcome to the circus," snickered Jonathan, and he picked up a glass. "Sherry, anyone?"

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