Planet Bound: Venus
     by Marj

Notes:
	daijoubu/daijoubu yo - are you okay? / I'm fine
	ittai - ouch
	konban wa - good evening
	sempai - senior

Please e-mail your comments and constructive criticisms at 
.  Thanks!

Disclaimers: The characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon were created 
by Naoko Takeuchi-san, its copyright owned by Toei Animation, Kodansha, 
Nakayoshi, Sterling Animation Inc., and many other companies scattered 
throughout the world.  Meaning, I cannot claim the characters as my 
own, and am mearly borrowing them.  The character Ayukawa Himeru is
mine.  So please don't sue, as I don't earn anything from this other 
than the satisfaction of making a story.



Chapter Two:  Ayukawa Himeru

Minako had to stay late at a classmate's house that day for a school 
project needed to complete the requirements for the last semester.  She 
was upset that she has to cancel an important appointment, but her 
grades were more important to her at the moment.  

For once, though, her reason for staying wasn't because she wanted to 
meet a certain boy named Ayukawa Himeru.

He had arrived at Juuban High School a week earlier, and had been given 
the vacant seat beside her.  He instantly became a popular figure among 
the girls in school.  Himeru had blue eyes and blond hair that is 
almost the same shade as Minako's.

Normally, she would make a pass at him - he was incredibly handsome, 
after all.  Through a small twist of fate, Minako and Himeru met in 
Juuban High while he was getting the results of his entrance exam.  But 
it had been Makoto who had first met him a few weeks earlier before he 
entered school, being Himeru's neighbor and first friend in Tokyo.  As 
a matter of fact, Makoto had been telling Minako all about him through 
the phone before she and Himeru even saw each other.  Minako knew that 
Makoto had already fallen head over heels in love with him, who, of 
course, just happened to look like her sempai.  If she flirted with 
Himeru, Makoto might think that she had betrayed her.

 Minako thought, her memories returning back to the time when she had 
been in London.  Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes.

"Ne, daijoubu, Minako-chan?" she heard.  Minako looked up.  It was 
Himeru, his face full of concern.

She quickly brushed her tears away with the sleeve of her uniform.  
"Dai . . . daijoubu yo.  Something just got into my eye, that's all."

Himeru nodded.  "Well, everything is done here, so what say I take you 
home?"

She stared at him.  "Take me home?"

"Sure.  It's already late, and I don't think girls are allowed to go 
out on their own.  Or do you have someone picking you up?"

< He sure is one of the few people in the world who tries to keep 
chivalry alive, > Minako thought as she looked at her wristwatch.  He 
was right - it was already 7:30 in the evening.  "I still have to pick 
up my cat at my friend's house.  I have to go now."  She got up from 
the floor and bid her classmates good-bye.

"Thanks for your help, Minako-chan, Himeru-san," their group members 
said. Minako could see at least two or three girls showing signs of 
jealousy.  She could feel herself blush slightly.

"See you all tomorrow!" Himeru said, waving good-bye.

*****

"Oh, hi, Mako-chan!!!  You're just in time!  I just finished preparing 
the kitchen for you!" Usagi exclaimed.  "Come on in!"

"Thanks, Usagi-chan," Makoto said cheerfully, entering the Tsukino 
residence.

Usagi's parents had left to attend a party, and Usagi's brother, 
Shingo, was out on a date.  Since Mamoru was very busy trying to catch 
up with the subjects he had missed due to Galaxia, he couldn’t take 
Usagi out that night, so she was left all alone inside the house with 
Luna to keep her company.  She had called Makoto and told her that 
she'd be coming over to her apartment.  Luna mentioned that all Usagi 
really wanted was to eat Makoto's delicious food.

Makoto had informed her that her apartment was still in the middle of 
cleaning and remodeling for the summer, so she had said that she'd just 
cook at Usagi's house.  Usagi had agreed and had gotten every 
ingredient she could find in the pantry.

"So what are we going to have today?" Usagi asked, watching Mako-chan 
remove her shoes and slip on a pair of slippers.

Makoto laughed.  "Well, maybe I should see what you have first, before 
I start cooking."

"Oh, yeah.  Sorry," Usagi apologized sheepishly.  She berated herself 
for not thinking clearly on the matter.

Mako-chan and Usagi-chan entered the kitchen.  Makoto stared at the 
stacks of ingredients piled up on the kitchen table.  "Er . . . are you 
sure this dinner is only for the two of us?"

Usagi blinked.  "Well, there's me, and you, and Luna, and Artemis . . 
." she counted off with her fingers.

"Don't mind me, Minako will come and pick me up soon," Artemis said.  


"Oh, I forgot all about Minako-chan!  We could always invite her to eat 
along with us," Usagi beamed.

Makoto rolled up her sleeves.  "Yoshi!  An amazing gourmet meal for 
five, coming right up!"

Artemis sighed.  He didn't really think that Minako would stay, but who 
could stop Makoto when she was already on her way to preparing the most 
delicious food anyone could ever make?

Minutes passed, and everything was silent.  Makoto had been showing 
Usagi how to slice vegetables when the doorbell rang.  "Oh, dear!  
Minako-chan's here . . ." Usagi said, rushing for the door.  She slid 
on the kitchen floor and rammed into the table . . . "ITTAI!!!"

"Usagi!  Daijoubu?" Luna exclaimed, running to her.  Usagi didn't seem 
to notice.  She stood up and continued to run to answer the door.

She slammed it open, and stared at a very surprised Minako, whose hand 
was set on ringing the doorbell again.  "Minako-chan!" Usagi said, 
gulping down huge amounts of air.

"Usagi!  What happened?" Minako asked, concerned.

"Nothing!  I just slid on the kitchen floor, that's all . . ."

Makoto looked out of the kitchen door and laid her eyes on Minako.  
"Hi!  You're just in time for a gourmet cooking!  Right Artemis?"

But Artemis let out a single "meow."

That's when Makoto and Usagi noticed that Minako wasn't alone.  Behind 
her was a tall guy with blond hair . . . "Konban wa!" Himeru greeted.

"Hi . . . Himeru-san!" Makoto said, blushing profusely.  "We . . . we 
haven't been expecting you . . .!"

Himeru ran his hand through his blond locks.  "I wasn't expecting you 
here, either.  I thought Minako told me that this is Usagi's house . . 
."

"It is!  Come in!  Come in!" Usagi said cheerfully, practically pulling 
Minako and Himeru inside.  "My family isn't home right now, so let's 
eat and enjoy!"

"But . . . but I only came for Artemis!" Minako reasoned.

Usagi kept on grinning.  "Aw, come on!  You wouldn't want to miss Mako-
chan's delicious food, now do you?"

Minako took on an apologizing look.  "I'm really sorry, but I'm 
expected at home early, and it's already late."

"Call them, then!  You know where the phone is!"  Usagi turned to 
Himeru.  "Hi!  You're just in time for dinner, too!"

He smiled.  "Actually, I was going to take Minako-chan home . . ."
 
Usagi, Makoto, Luna and Artemis turned and stared at Minako, who was 
blushing bright red.   She coughed before speaking again.  "Umm . . . 
what's for dinner?"

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/field/4723/stories