Looking up, Minako was surprised at where she had wandered. But maybe it was fate. Still, fate, gods or just dumb luck, on impulse Minako decided that maybe she needed to talk to someone.
        Venturing up the steps of Hikawa Shrine, Minako looked around curiously. Artemis had told her about it, but the first time she'd been here, she was more concerned with other things. This was the first time she'd had a chance to look around. It was a nice place. Minako wasn't that religious, but there was something about the place that made her feel peaceful.
        "Hello, young lady!" came a male voice from behind her. Minako jumped in surprise and crouched into a defensive posture before realizing that it was just a harmless little old man. He wore priest's clothes and a wide, almost child-like grin on his pumpkin face. "You look depressed. I've got just the thing for that!"
        "Um, I'll just bet," Minako said, suddenly nervous as to just what this weird little man meant by that. "Actually, I'm just here to see Rei Hino."
        "Oh, my granddaughter. She's a nice young girl. Taught her everything she knows."
        "Grampa, are you bothering my friends again?" fumed Rei, poking her head out of a door in the temple.
        "Just welcoming her," Grandpa smiled too innocently. "She's cute, Rei. She's even more cute than the one with the two balls of hair on her head."
        "Um, thank you, sir," Minako smiled warily.
        "Don't mind him. He's just got too much time on his hands. He should be doing his chores," Rei said pointedly, aimed not so subtly at her grandfather. Rei escorted Minako away.
        "Stop by any time, my dear," Grandpa called after her. "You're always welcome here. Next time, you'll have to let me show you my charms."
        "Grampa!" gasped Rei.
        "Heh heh heh!" laughed the podgy little priest. He danced off, far more spryly than someone his age should have. Rei looked intensely mortified and Minako had to suppress a giggle.
        Inside the temple, Rei poured them both some tea and sat down across from Minako at a small table. She was dressed in red and white priestess robes and looked bewitchingly glamorous without trying.
        "So what can I do for you?" Rei asked. The girl was cordial, but Minako couldn't help but sense she was sizing the blonde up. This one had a suspicious streak. "Is there Negaverse trouble?"
        Minako sighed. Why was she even here? How much should she say to this girl? They barely knew each other, even though they'd fought side by side several times now. However, she might be able to get an honest assessment of the situation from Rei. She didn't seem to be an ally of Sailor Moon, like Mercury was. She didn't even seem particularly enamored with Sailor Moon, either. But was that because of Sailor Moon or because she was a malcontent? Sorting out these group dynamics gave Minako a headache.
        "You look kind of down," Rei observed. "Anything I can help with?"
        "I don't want to burden you with my problems," Minako demurred.
        "Hey, it comes with the robes," Rei shrugged. "It's one of the things I'm training for here. If I'm ever going to run this place one day, I've got to learn how to give people spiritual guidance." She squeezed Minako's hand. "And I seriously do want to help."
        "Well," Minako hesitated. "Are you that confidant in Usagi? I know she's the Moon Princess, but, well, she's not very together."
        Rei sighed. "She doesn't exactly make a good first impression, does she?" Rei said, fiddling with her sleeve.
        "So why do you guys follow her? Or do you all follow her? I mean, you did slap her."
        Rei grimaced. "Don't remind me. It's not something I'm proud of. Look, I admit Usagi has the unique talent of being able to work my very last nerve. She's lazy and a complete space case at all the wrong times. And you have to practically lead her by the hand sometimes, because she has no confidence in herself at all. But I've seen what she can do when she tries. You saw it, too, when she blew away Zoicite and held off Kunzite. There's something about her. Something you can only see when you've spent some time around her. Something - - magical."
        "Really?" Minako asked sceptically.
        "Uh huh. I know you're used to better than her - - better than us. I mean, you're Sailor V. But if you stick around, you'll see it in her, too. I was sceptical of her for a long time . . ."
        "From what little I've seen, you're still sceptical." Minako saw Rei's cheeks flush.
        "I guess I can be pretty harsh sometimes. But I don't look down on her. Usagi's got what it takes. She just has to believe in herself to be able to function. And that's where we come in. Ami helps her focus. Makoto helps her be strong." Rei grinned impishly. "And I give her a kick in the pants when she needs it."
        "Sounds like you don't need me at all."
        "Are you kidding? You're Sailor V! Do you know what she could learn from you? What we all could learn from you?"
        "She barely knows me. She's not going to listen to me."
        "She's your biggest fan."
        "Yeah?"
        "Figure this: Usagi can barely do high school level math. She barely knows proper Japanese, forget about any foreign languages, and the only thing she knows about current events is what stores are having sales at the mall. But she can recite every fact about Sailor V ever published by heart. She could probably tell you things about yourself that you don't know. And she plays that Sailor V video game until they throw her out of the arcade. You're her hero. Of course you'd be a great role model for her. You could be the only one she'd ever listen to." A dreamy smile overtook Rei's face. "And it's worth it, because you'll never find a better friend."
        Another memory triggered in Minako's mind, one from a short time ago. Minako had helped the scouts expose Zoicite as the impostor Sailor Moon, then introduced herself to the other scouts.
        She hadn't noticed it then, but Sailor Moon was the only one who recognized the Sailor V mask she'd worn with her Sailor Venus uniform. Now that she thought about it, Sailor Moon had been excited about meeting her, far more than the rest. She seemed almost giddy - - just like that little girl looking at the doll. Minako had been too occupied with the adrenaline rush of the situation to make the connection, but Sailor Moon had been in awe of her.
        "I don't know," Minako replied. "She just seems so - - goofy."
        "Don't let first impressions fool you. Usagi's totally devoted to her friends. She even tries to be nice to her enemies. Like I said, there's something special about her."
        "You believe in her that much?" Minako asked.
        "Yeah. I'll be the first one to ream her when she messes up, but she's got such a bottomless heart that you can't hate her no matter what she does. So I help her all I can, because it's my job, but also because it's my way of saying 'thank you for being my friend'."
        Minako looked down. Rei's words registered, but the ones that stuck out were "it's my job".
        "Something else is bothering you besides Usagi, isn't it?" Rei asked.
        "What are you, psychic?" Minako asked, covering her mood with a joke. She saw Rei wince from an inner pain, but the girl moved past it.
        "Tell me to butt out if I'm prying," Rei offered.
        Before Minako knew it, the entire story of "Sailor Decoy" had tumbled from her mouth. There was an awkward silence and for a moment she was afraid Rei would sneer at her fears or ridicule them.
        "Wow," Rei commented, momentarily stunned. "That sucks."
        "Yeah," Minako agreed. "It's thrown me for such a loop. I hate being used like that. It's kind of made me wonder if my only reason for being around was to take one for Usagi." Minako thought a moment. "Do you ever think about it?"
        "Taking one for Usagi? Not a lot. But I would."
        "Why? Because she's your friend?"
        "Yeah. And because she'd do it for me in a second. Well, maybe two seconds in my case. And because she's important - - and not just because she's the Moon Princess, either. I - - sense things. And it might not seem like it, but Usagi's the key to our future. I knew that even before I knew she was the Moon Princess."
        "And we're expendable."
        "No, not expendable. We're necessary. Usagi would be lost without us. She needs us. Even if, worse comes to worse, she needs us to take one for her so she can do what she has to do."
        "That's pretty grim."
        "Or pretty noble. Depends on how you look at it. Grampa always says truth is shaped by the angle it's viewed at. He'd say it was pretty noble, too, if he knew."
        "Your grandfather sounds like a traditionalist."
        "He is in the things that count. I owe him a lot. Look, Minako, you seem to be wondering if you're doing any good being a scout. I don't know if my opinion means a lot, but I think you are. OK, sticking you out on your own to draw fire wasn't cool. But you got a lot of positives from that mission, too, and you made a difference to a lot of people. And that's way cool. And now you've got a chance to pass those positives on and to keep making a difference. Maybe even be a part of changing the world for the better. I'd say that outweighs the negatives."
        "Guess I'm being pretty selfish," Minako mumbled, smiling sheepishly.
        "After everything you've accomplished?" Rei said, her eyes twinkling brightly. "I figure you've got the right. Just don't wallow in it, huh?"
        "Was that my kick in the pants?" Minako asked wryly.
        "We all do what we do best," grinned Rei timidly.
        "Thanks. You're pretty good at this - - both the spiritual guidance thing and the kick in the pants thing. You're going to make a great Priestess some day."
        "You think?" Rei asked, her chest swelling.
        The two teens walked out into the courtyard of the temple.
        "Now you tell me if I'm being too nosy," Minako said. "I remember one of the others saying you were in love with this Tuxedo Mask too?"
        "That's all past," Rei said quickly. She glanced and found Minako still looking at her. "If you love someone, you have to do what's best for them. Even if that means letting them be with the one they love."
        Unbidden, memories of Katarina and Alan surfaced. "I know where you're coming from on that," Minako said quietly. Rei looked at her like she was looking into her soul.
        "You do, don't you," Rei said. A wistful smile grew on her lips.
        "Your grandfather have any sage advice for someone who's loved and lost?"
        "Yeah. 'Don't eat so much ice cream. You'll get fat and then no boy'll want you.'" Minako looked at her, puzzled. "I never said he knew everything."
        The two teens burst into giggles. Out of nowhere, Rei's grandfather appeared.
        "Well, I see my granddaughter did you a world of good, young lady," he grinned happily. "You look even prettier when you smile."
        "Thank you, sir," she bowed, playing along. "But I have to tell you, she also warned me about you."
        "Don't believe half of what you hear," the irascible old man replied playfully. He held up a small carving. "This talisman is for you. Hold it whenever you appear before an audience and it'll ward off stage fright."
        "Why thank you!" gasped Minako, her eyes lighting up. "How did you know?"
        "I didn't get this far in life by being blind," he grinned. "You're going to be a star someday. I can read it in your aura. And I'd be honored if you gave me your first autograph when it happens."
        "You got it," she beamed. Waving to Rei, Minako bounded down the steps to the street.

        As she walked down Tenth Street, Minako felt as if a dark cloud had been lifted from around her. Not because she bought into all of that "honorable death" stuff that Rei talked about - - traditional Japanese Minako was not. But Rei had reminded her that she had a power and Minako had to use that power to make a difference, even at the possible cost of her life. It was simply the right thing to do.
It didn't mean she had to like it.
        What had lifted her burden most was just being able to talk it out with someone her own age, someone that understood. She hadn't had anyone to talk to since returning from England except Artemis. All she really had in England was Katarina. Before that, no one had really been close to her. They were either jealous or intimidated by her looks or her ambitions. This conversation with Rei had been one of the few times she'd connected with a contemporary. It felt good.
        She passed the shop with the Sailor V dolls in the window. Stopping on a whim, Minako peered in the window, looking at the doll with growing appreciation. It was a good likeness. Nodding, she continued on her way. It still bugged her that she didn't make a dime off of that, either, but that didn't seem as important right now.

        "Minako," Artemis said, looking up from his terminal as the girl entered her room. "Where've you been?"
        "I wandered over to Rei's temple," Minako said airily. With bedtime coming, she began pulling off her school uniform.
        "What did you do there?" Artemis asked, puzzled.
        "Girl talk," she shrugged.
        "Minako," Artemis said soberly, leaping to the bed. "I'm sorry for upsetting you earlier. I should have found a way to tell you that softened the blow. It's a terrible thing you had to do for the Crystal Kingdom, but . . ."
        "Hey, knock knock," Minako said, playfully tapping on the cat's head with her knuckles. "Anybody home? I understand. I don't blame you, Artemis. I'm all past it now. I'll cope." She shrugged absently. "I'm Sailor V. Although I guess I'm just Sailor Venus now."
        "Oh yeah," scowled Artemis cynically. "You're back to normal all right."
        "I love you, too, Artemis," smirked Minako, wrinkling her nose. She picked the cat up and hugged him to her breast.
        "Rowr! NOT SO TIGHT!" gasped the white feline, his eyes bugging out.
        Minako dropped him to the bed, giggling. She turned and headed for the bathroom, singing the latest pop hit. Artemis watched her, shaking his head. If he used all nine of his lives, he'd never fully understand her.
        But he was very glad she was back.

        At the temple the next evening, the four scouts gathered along with Artemis and Luna. Only Usagi was missing. Minako noticed Artemis about to say something. Then they noticed the worried look on Luna's face and kept silent.
        "I'm so worried about Usagi," Luna fretted. "She's not herself. She just sits around and mopes about Tuxedo Mask. She's gone to pieces just when we may need her most!"
        "Well that girl's got to pull herself together," Artemis replied. "Events are moving fast and they're not going to wait for her."
        "Lay off of her, Artemis," bristled Rei. "She's worried about the man she loves. She's not a robot!"
        "Yeah," added Makoto. "Haven't you ever been in love before?"
        "Hmph!" snorted the cat.
        "Sounds like she needs a friend right now," Minako spoke up. "We all need to lean on somebody once in a while. How about I go try to cheer her up?"
        "Would you?" Luna asked hopefully. "It might be just the thing to lift her spirits. You know, she's a great fan of Sailor V."
        "So I hear," grinned Minako. "But I think she just needs a shoulder right now, not an idol."
        The others moved off to plan strategy. Rei, though, intercepted Minako as she started to leave.
        "Looks like you're past your crisis," Rei smiled. "Glad to see it."
        "Just needed a shoulder," shrugged Minako. "Besides, I figure my time as 'Sailor Decoy' is done. No sense dwelling on it. It's not like I'm ever going to have to do it again."
        Rei winked at her. Minako flashed a "v" sign in return and headed off for Usagi's.