Moon: Tsukino Usagi
Venus: Aino Minako
Mars: Hino Rei
Jupiter: Kino Makoto
Mercury: Mizuno Ami
Endymion: Chiba Mamoru
Kunzite: Seishou Kouseinou
Jadeite: Tabiki Kasen
Nephrite: Kousei Kyosei
Zoicite: Kouseki Yosouya

Chapter 7-For The Last Time (April)
"Come on, Rei-chan. It'll be fine. Stop fussing."

Twisting to look at herself in the mirror again, Rei frowned at her reflection. It was always a white, one-piece dress...and a giant bouquet of Casablanca lilies. This time, however, the dress was a brilliant red, the material soft and silky, the cut accenting her curves, and there was only a single flower. Would she always be alone? She figured that this would be the last time she saw Kaidou, since he was getting married this once. Heartless of him to choose her birthday. Taking a deep breath, she told Makoto, "I'm ready for this. Arigato for all your help, Mako-chan. Oh, look, the car's here...I think." Indeed, a large, snazzy white limousine had pulled up. The car had never been white before, but it was spring–a time of many changes. "Ja, Mako-chan. Have a nice time on your date with Kyo-kun!"

Smiling as she walked out the door, the brunette called, "Ganbatte ne!"

‘Arigato. I'll need it.'
~ * ~ * ~
After dinner in the elegant restaurant, Senator Hino had returned to his own home, giving specific instructions for Kaidou to escort Rei home and then report to him. Rei rolled her eyes as he climbed into the car. At least it was all over. He hadn't even remembered how old she was, what grade she was in. And he had had the gall to ask her, too! Any father should know how old...as the angry tears dripped down her cheeks, a strong hand lifted her chin up. Looking into his eyes, Rei thought to herself, shocked, ‘He looks so much like Kasen-kun...but different. His face is–is more closed, less warm. When did he start reminding me of Kasen-kun? Before, it was the other way around...'

"Dajibou, Rei-chan?" His tone was businesslike and brisk but still held a hint of concern. He treated her like a little girl, as always.

"D-dajibou. I'm fine. So...you're getting married this month, aren't you?"

"Hai," he replied curtly, as they began the long walk back to the temple. Checking his watch, he wondered how long it would take to bring her back.

Seeing his impatience, Rei began to lose her nerve, then steeled herself. She was Hino Rei: unafraid of anything, especially defeat. "Do you love her?" she asked, "or are you just marrying her because otou-san told you to?"

Mouth curving up into a wry smile, he replied, "No one in politics marries for love anymore, Rei-chan. Those funny little ideals you had when you were younger, they influenced me. But now I know you can't be successful thinking like that."

"How can you say something like that!" she cried, tears streaming down her porcelain skin. She didn't care and wiped them away hastily. "You told me once you would never let your children suffer like I did. And you kissed me once, two years ago. Don't you remember, Kaidou-san? Don't you remember anything?!"

Surprised, he asked, "Is that what's bothering you? Come on, Rei-chan. Surely you knew that I just felt like an older brother with you. It was a grown-up kiss for you–your first kiss, ne?"

"No!" she retorted fiercely. "I would never want to have an brother like you. You're just like otou-san. You'll be as heartless as he is, watching people die with no qualms." ‘And you didn't give me my first kiss. I lied. It was Kasen-kun. I lied about everything. How could I have been so stupid?!!' "I can find my way back to the temple myself, arigato. Maybe now you won't be late for your meeting with the all-important senator. Onegai, tell otou-san he can forget about my birthday next year–he probably will anyway. Sayonara, Kaidou-san."

He watched her go without saying a word, and she finally let the tears go when she had turned down another road. Disregarding the fine crimson dress, she sat down on the edge of the sidewalk and sobbed. He was right to have thought she was a child–that was all she had been. A foolish, spoiled child. Suddenly, another lily appeared before her eyes, surrounded by red roses.

Sheepishly, Kasen asked, "I guess it didn't go too well? Mako-chan told me you only got one Casablanca this year, so I thought you might want–Rei-chan? What's wrong??"

Holding the bouquet to her chest, she covered her face with the other and sobbed. Why did he have to be this way, so nice, and so caring when she had been so mean to him? He swooped her up into his arms suddenly and carried her delicately, as if she were a baby, something precious to be coddled. Reaching up to clutch his shoulder, she asked, "How did you know?"

"Here, put your arms around my neck. We don't want you to fall with that pretty dress on. You look good in red, Rei-chan."

"Matte...how did you know things would turn out like this?"

Grunting with the exertion of balancing her and opening the door to the temple, he was surprised to find it deserted. "I guess your ojii-san is sleeping. Good. He's too old to be up so late. How did I know? I had a feeling," he smiled.

As he turned to leave, having set her down on her bed, she whispered, "Matte, Kasen-kun. It's the second full moon in April, and five years ago, you had a dream about your soulmate. Tell me who she is."

Kasen's tall form stiffened, but after a moment, he relaxed. Laughing softly to himself, he answered, "She's someone that I love so much, someone who's had her heart broken too many times. Do you really want to know who she is?"

"Hai," she whispered.

Turning azure blue eyes on her, he said, "She's you, Rei-chan. Oyasumi nasai, and ja ne. I hope you feel better."

She sat up, and for the fourth time that night, she said, "Matte. Onegai." As he faced her yet again, she breathed shyly, "Aishiteru, Kasen-kun. Gomen nasai. I should have realized it so much earlier, and–" Her agitated apology was cut off when his lips suddenly descended upon hers, warm and comforting.

As she reached upwards to twine her arms around his neck again, he put his own arms around her waist and pulled her to him gently. "Aishiteru, Rei-chan. I've been waiting for you for five years...and I would have waited an eternity for this moment."
~ * ~ * ~
Alone in her empty dormitory, unbidden images began flashing before her eyes, accompanied by a multitude of words she had never forgotten. No matter how old the person was, whatever emotion was in his eyes...it was always the same person, with those same beautiful green eyes that saw into her soul.

[Hey. I'm Kouseki Yosouya.]

[You're a friend of water. Something about your spirit reminds me of water, so fluid and gentle.]

[Will you let me teach you?]

[Never be afraid to express yourself. Don't close the world off. Let the world see that beautiful soul of yours.]

[Don't give up your dreams. I told you once you were soul-bonded to water...]

[Ami-chan.]

[Until we meet again.]

[Dajibou?]

[It's nice to see you again, Ami-chan.]

[Kouseki Yosouya, at your service.]

[It's been a while.]

[You know you could be one of the top female swimmers in the entire world...why are you quitting so suddenly? Why are you giving it up?]

[You've never disappointed me, Ami-chan.]

[Congratulations, Mizuno-san.]

‘Aishiteru. Wait for me, Souya-kun. I'm going back home–forever. To be with you. Onegai, wait for me. Even if you don't love me back...I have to tell you how I feel. Call me Ami-chan, onegai. Whatever you do, call me Ami-chan.'
~ * ~ * ~
Smiling happily at all her friends, her hand securely in Kouseinou's, Minako said, "We're all together, minna: Mamoru-kun and Usa-chan, Kyo-kun and Mako-chan, Kasen-kun and Rei-chan, and–oh no..." Yosouya's shoulders had begun to slump slightly when she began talking, and now they were very heavy indeed. "Gomen nasai, Souya-kun. Mina no baka...gomen nasai!!"

"It's okay," he responded dully, "I know you didn't mean it."

Placing a hand upon his shoulder, bright blue eyes concerned, Kasen asked, "Are you going to be okay?"

Giving him and Rei a weak smile, he replied, "I guess. You know, spring break was back in March. I guess she isn't coming back after all."

Usagi slipped out of Mamoru's embrace now and came up to him. "Don't forget, Souya-kun. You promised you wouldn't give up until the end of April. Her spring break isn't the same as ours. It's next week."

Green eyes sad, he exhaled deeply and looked away. "She hasn't written any of us, Usagi-chan. Not even you, Kyo-kun. And there's only one week left: seven days. It's not a long time."

"Compared to fifty-two weeks it is."

He laughed dryly. "Thirteen years multiplied by fifty two equals..."

Helpfully, Kyosei supplied, "Six hundred seventy six." When Makoto elbowed him hard, he looked at her in surprise, then sweatdropped.

Ignoring this exchange, the blonde summed up, "Then, six hundred seventy six plus these fifteen weeks equals six hundred and ninety one weeks. In total."

"She's been busy," Usagi interrupted, fed up by his dismal words and her friends' shocked silences.

"With what?"

"Figuring out how she feels. Don't you dare give up, Kouseki Yosouya. You made a promise, and I don't let people break their promises to me."
~ * ~ * ~
Walking around the campus alone, as the four couples had left him (for which he was extremely grateful), Yosouya's sharp ears pricked to the gossip going around him, and luckily so.

"Nani? A student from Germany has transferred to Juuban University?"

"She's originally Japanese, but her otou-san was American. Rumor says that she was from the best medical school there, but she told the university that she came back for someone! Imagine who that could be!"

Trying to give up the horrible hope blossoming in his heart, it only leapt further.

"It's Mizuno Ami, the Champion Swimmer of Japan!!"

"Really?! How exciting!"

"She's looking for a guy, that must be why she came back. Isn't that romantic?"

"Twelve to one says it's that guy who taught her to swim. She released that to the press, did you hear? Kouseki Yosouya."

Dashing off immediately, not caring that he had jostled quite a few people, Yosouya finally gave in to his undeniable hope. She was back and looking for him.. He was going to the place where she would least expect him to be and wait for her there...then he would take the chance. He had lost so many chances before when he should have told her how he felt. Not this time. It was the last time, and he was going to dare life to throw its worst at him–he was ready. She had come back, and he loved her. He only hoped that she could find him.
~ * ~ * ~
Ami was ready to cry from frustration: he wasn't in his dorm, he wasn't at the Arcade, he wasn't at class, none of the others knew where he was (although they had given her plenty of hugs, good advice, and winks), wasn't home...he wasn't _anywhere_. She had spent the whole day looking for him, and it was nearly seven o'clock at night. She gave him credit for his skill at vanishing off the face of the Earth when she least wanted him to. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and smirked in a rather twisted manner. Why, that insufferable, crafty, sly, manipulative...it would be just like him to pull something on this like her. And she loved every part of him, including his bad timing for sneaky last-minute plans. A sad part of her knew that he was testing her, because he was afraid. Of her. The thought was unbearable–shy little Ami that would never hurt a fly.

Nevertheless, she still felt indecisive. What if he had purposely hidden himself somewhere she would never find him because he couldn't bear to see her? She decided to go home first and get her bathing suit–at least, if he wasn't there, she could think things over in the pool and wonder exactly what she had done wrong. Biting her lip, she pushed open the door to the large room filled with electric light, starlight shining through the large sky-lights. Sighing when she realized that the room was empty, she stripped down to her pale blue suit and waded in. Treading water, she flipped onto her back and back-stroked two full-lengths of the pool until she floated and just floated, serenely, tranquilly. The tears flowed freely from her eyes and melded with the sea water. Had it not been for her pale white skin, she would have been a part of water...

"You know, Kasen-kun told me once, when he first saw you, that you were just as I described you. Demo, having seen the picture I have of you in the water, just as you were crossing the finish line, he said that you looked slightly different out of the water." Diving into the water just as she went under again, he said, "We seem to have this problem every time we meet."

Glaring at him, she coughed and retorted, "It's your fault."

"True," he nodded simply. Looking at her, he asked, "Did you like Germany?"

"Hai. It was very..innovative. A change. I loved the architecture, and the food was interesting. I attempted to try new things."

"You don't seem to have gained much weight–in fact, you look as if you've lost some."

"That's a pretty good thing, all things considered."

He observed casually, "I had no idea you were like other girls–so concerned about your weight."

"Sorry to disappoint you."

"You've never disappointed me, Ami-chan."

Flushing slightly, she shot back, "I see you've grown your hair again."

Smiling, he replied, "Yes. I like it better this way."

"So do I."

"That's why I did it," he told her, fingering the nearly shoulder-length curls tied back in the same messy-neat fashion that she remembered. Looking away, she ran a hand through her wet hair, then prepared to get out of the pool. "Matte...you look so natural in the water. Stay. I don't bite," he said humorlessly.

Ami sighed deeply but did as he asked. "We have communication problems."

"That we do."

Meeting his eyes and cherishing the familiar, swept-away feeling they gave her, she murmured, "I was going to tell you something before I left, but I didn't see you again after the time in the Crown Arcade."

Remembering that abysmal run-in, Yosouya sweatdropped and said, "Gomen nasai. I was going to meet you, but I decided against it."

"Why?"

"I was too afraid that I wouldn't be able to let you go. I wanted to let you go, so you could pursue your dreams."

Deep blue eye sparkling, she asked, "Did I ever tell you my third dream?"

"No. Just the first two."

"My third dream...is to get married to a wonderful person and have equally wonderful children. I'm sorry I didn't write from Germany. I was falling in love."

Startled, the blond-haired one asked, "With who?"

Smiling mischievously, she replied, "With the wonderful person, of course. He's _very_ handsome, smart, funny... He cares for his brother and his friends a lot, admires a swimmer who gave up professional swimming, and even though we don't always get along perfectly, we understand each other. Or at least, he understands everyone."

Yosouya grinned then, his face lighting up. As Ami looked at him, her heart turned over. "Really? You don't say... I don't know, but it sounds as if this person had a lot of trouble understanding a certain person in the beginning. How did you fall in love with him in Germany?"

"Oh, it took a while for me to see that I loved him, but when I was all alone, studying away, I was kept company by an old photograph. You never knew I had it, did you?" Swimming over to the edge of the pool, she retrieved it with shaky fingers. Handing it to him, she said, "We look a little different now, don't we?"

"Some things never change," he remarked, placing it back by the pool's edge, "like deep feelings, for one."

"True love," Ami agreed softly. "If I told you that I love you and have always loved you...what would you say, Souya-kun?"

Smiling, he put his arms around her gently, and she savored the warmth of the embrace, closing her eyes. Bending over slightly so his mouth was directly by her ear, he whispered, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me and find out?"

Opening her eyes, she asked sweetly, "Have I ever told you that I love your eyes?"

Sighing, he released her and dunked her into the water before she knew what was happening. Coming to surface, she glared at him as he smirked in satisfaction. "No, but I'd like to hear it. It boosts my bruised ego, shattered not too long ago by a certain friend of water."

"And lover of crystal gazers? You have interesting meaning behind your name."

As she slid her arms around him, he rolled his eyes and muttered, "We definitely have communication problems."

Laughing, Ami stood on tiptoe and kissed him deeply. Releasing him and giggling at his dazed look, she articulated very carefully, "Aishiteru, Souya-kun."

"You are impossible," he mumbled, smiling nonetheless. Claiming her lips with another kiss, he pulled back and said, "Aishiteru, Ami-ko."

"Oh...isn't that sweet?!!" (Usagi)

"They're so kawaii together..." (Minako)

"Kakkoii!!" (Makoto)

"We've got our perfect five pairs now." (Rei)

"So I guess Ami-chan's staying in Juuban, huh?" (Mamoru)

"So when's the wedding, otouto-chan?" (Kasen)

"Glad to see you two have finally decided to stop being so idiotic about each other." (Kouseinou)

"You two deserve each other; ganbatte ne." (Kyosei)

"We have impossible, annoying friends with horribly bad timing," Yosouya complained sourly, glowering at them. "Are you going to leave us alone or what?"

Opening her eyes very wide, Minako asked innocently, "Now why would we want to do that? We'd miss the fireworks then, and we wouldn't want to do that, ne, Kousei-kun? What do you think, Ami-chan? Or should I say 'Ami-ko?'"

"I think we're stuck with them," Ami laughed. Before anything else could be said, she winked at them and then pulled him down to her again, kissing him passionately, to the wolf whistles and cheers of their friends. It was the way things should be.
~ * ~ * ~

Jikai: The Next Meeting
The Present
Infinite Ice