Chapter 15-Nijuusei a.k.a. Double Star

When the doorbell rang, Shinozaki leapt up with a great smile of delight to answer the door. He was ninety nine point nine percent positive that it would be an eagerly-awaited guest for dinner. Of course, he had been preparing the whole afternoon since three (after Yuuichirou had been forced out, he had grumpily shouted the question about whether or not the brunet had any work to do at all) for the very special dinner, and his fellow dorm mates had wandered in more than once, sniffing the delectable smells in the air. He thought he had always liked Makoto a little more than a best friend and even more as of late, and their very interesting meeting late last night with Sukareru had cinched it.

General Nephrite was definitely out of the picture; he hadn't ever seen him in this life, and Makoto had showed no signs of having feelings for any other guys at the moment, even though she _did_ have the tendency to claim that every other young, eligible man on the street looked like her old boyfriend.

There really was nothing wrong about the pairing of a knight and a senshi in this life, at least. In the past, the King of Jupiter would have frowned deeply, and "The Thunderer," as he was known, would have disapproved about the social disruption. Not that the princess had loved him, he complained bitterly. Lita had always and probably would always hold a candle for Nephrite, but that didn't mean that Shinozaki couldn't get his hopes up...right? "Konnichiwa, Mako-chan!"

"Konnichiwa! Wow, that smells fabulous. Maybe your eating habits _are_ shaping up!" she grinned, green eyes sparkling good-naturedly. "Do I still need to come once a week, dragging myself out of the temple to cook for you guys and then rushing home for homework and chores?"

Blushing at her teasing and for other purposes that were still unknown to her,he retorted, "Maybe last night's tv dinners are influencing your taste buds; I know how much you love microwave meals." When Makoto wrinkled her nose and glared at him, he ushered her in and tried to disperse the rapid pounding of his heart, sure that everyone in Juuban at the moment could hear and feel it, if not all the inhabitants of Japan.
~ * ~ * ~
Try to refrain from sobbing, Rei wondered why senshi practices were held so often when there was no evil and why they were always extremely hazardous. For example, she had gotten a jolt–literally–when learning to combine attacks. Super Supreme Thunder, the latest the green-haired Jupiter had managed, was to join with Burning Mandala. She hadn't exactly succeeded at archery, since not many people practiced it these days–it wasn't exactly a physical education course. Instead of combining with the fiery rings, the attack had given her a slight electric shock, which had scared the heck out of everyone. Sweatdropping as the crows went to their mistress, the senshi of thunder had stood there with her mouth open.

Artemis had a _very_ clear memory of training on the Moon and slapped himself for not remembering that whenever they tried this particular combination, Burning Mandala and Super Supreme Thunder had not mixed well and usually produced exceptional results, if not dangerous ones. He had asked Mercury to fog the room with Double Shabon Spray Freezing, checking the aptitude and amount of heat Crescent Beam Shower provided. The gold light had managed to burn away a circle of mist with a diameter around two centimeters.

All in all, Luna wasn't pleased when she walked in and surveyed the fog, slowly filling up the hole Venus had created, a shocked Mars with hair standing on end, Jupiter standing stock-still, and Mercury, along with Artemis and the rest of the guardians, sweatdropping profusely. Needless to say, she was going to take over such sessions from now on, which gave the unlucky white Lunar cat a very good excuse never, ever to come into the training room, which had already been electrocuted, shocked, blasted, and frozen too many times for its own good. The generals's guardians no longer bothered to congregate, they spent most if not all their time spying, four college students that no longer recalled them or had a place for them in their hearts. Not that they had any left, figuratively-speaking.

Sighing, the raven-haired priestess put the worn broom away in the closet. Observing the straw coming out of the tight weave, she made a mental note to buy a new one before the current appliance fell apart, having swept the porch seven days a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year, and as far as she could recall, the entire fifteen years or so of her life. The present one, that is, for she hoped it hadn't followed her a thousand years from the past. Rei closed the closet door softly, smiled through the window at her grandfather, hale and hearty as ever, training the new acolytes that continued to pour in every year, no matter what rumors there were about temple inhabitants. The devotion of those occupants of Juuban touched her deeply.

When she went to check if Makoto had come home yet from Shinozaki's dorm, she found that her brunette friend hadn't. Brewing a cup of herbal tea, she remembered that this was her only specialty in matters of the kitchen, since domestic tranquility was the reign of the kitchen goddess of Hikawa Shrine. Making her way to her room, she paused at a floor-length mirror and pondered the issue of whether or not her nose was slightly red; she'd had the sniffles recently. Before her musing could continue, the telephone rang, and she answered, "Moshi moshi?"

"Moshi moshi. Is this Rei?"

"Hai, this is she....?" She couldn't place his identity from his voice.

Sounding relieved, the guy said, "Hey, Rei. This is Shinozaki. Is Mako there?"

"I thought she was at your dorm," answered the miko, sounding confused and beginning to feel worried. Usually no one would trifle with the strong brown-haired girl, but there were sick, dangerous people in the world–not to mention evil.

Worried and stuttering out his words, Ken felt abashed and slightly uncomfortable at one of his "deep, dark secrets" coming out. Especially to the object of his affection's best friend. "Uh, see, I um..sort of told her that I like her, and er, she ran out."

"Nani? I mean, she likes you, too, doesn't she?"

Hopefully, he asked, "Really?"

"Um.....as a brother, that is." Purple eyes grew apprehensive as she glanced at the clock, little hand pointing to five, the larger one pointing to eight.

Sweatdropping and running a large hand through untidy chestnut tresses, he sighed. "I knew it. What a complete idiot I've made of myself....."

"Listen, I think Makoto can take care of herself. She probably wants to think alone," she hazarded. At least, she herself would have. "She's a big girl, not that you've forgotten. Maybe the whole thing will blow over?"

Disgruntled, he snapped, "Fat chance! Now our friendship is ruined, because I couldn't keep my big mouth shut."

"Will you stop that?! You're wasting my time, and I need to find Mako. I'll try to look for her and see if she wants to talk. I'll call you if I don't find her soon, though, or when she gets back. Okay?"

"Yeah, thanks," he mumbled, feeling like more of a dolt than ever.

Grabbing a jacket and leaving a note for her grandfather in case he finished early, which he usually didn't, forgetting about dinner until either she or Makoto called him, she left, not noticing when a red, compact-like case slipped out of her pocket and onto the ground.
~ * ~ * ~
Kousei Kyosei wandered absentmindedly around his retreat, taking care not to hurt any of the flowers or people around him, his brain hovering somewhere between Jupiter and the Andromeda Galaxy. Sitting down heavily on a deserted park bench he thought that he liked being alone sometimes, when thoughts were better kept to himself. He was at peace until quiet crying was heard, and when he ventured through the bushes to see what species of life resided there, navy blue opened wide when he found none other than Kino Makoto. "Excuse me, miss."

Her brilliant green eyes, swimming in tears, widened as she scrambled up and glared at him reproachfully. "Who are you? What do you want?"

Holding his hands palm upwards, open to her, he replied, "Nothing much–just to find the little nymph among the flowers who's so distressed."

"I'm no nymph," she said warily.

He shrugged. "I'm Kousei Kyosei, by the way."

"Kino Makoto," came her grudging reply.

He bowed elegantly. "A pleasure to meet you. As I was saying, you sounded quite sad to me. Is something wrong?"

Makoto glared at him, not appreciating the intrusion into her private affairs. "My problems are my problems, and I'll keep them to myself, thanks."

"I've got the time and patience to lend an ear–or a shoulder, you seem to need it."

Eyeing him sharply and releasing the tension, she sighed and knew Rei wouldn't be pleased. She was going to be late going him, and she had a feeling this annoying stranger wouldn't leave until she told him. "Would you believe me if I told you my problem was only the fact that my best friend for almost all my life has just told me that he loves me?"

Kyosei blinked. "Sure, why not? Isn't that what typically happens? I've got another question for you, though. Do you love him?"

Glowering, Makoto replied, "I asked for an answer, not three questions in return. It hasn't happened to me before, not that I know of. I don't _think_ I love him, at least not in the way he says he does. I've always looked up to him as an older brother." Watching him, she was suddenly drawn in by his interesting looks: long, wavy brown hair and deep, navy blue eyes. He was really quite handsome, if he didn't have that aura of darkness that seemed to be waiting to pounce, in her opinion.

"Did you run away?"

His words made her stiffen and feel cowardly. Sniffing, she retorted, "None of your business, Kousei-san."

Easily, the stargazer requested, "Call me Kyosei. So if that's the way you feel, why don't you just run back and tell him? If he's been your best friend for that long, he probably won't hate you for the rest of his life. And if he does, he obviously isn't worth it."

The pretty brunette bit her lip. He did make sense, no matter how reluctant she was to admit it.

When she began to feel better, it showed on her wan features, and Kyosei grinned. "Now that I've done my bit for the day and my help isn't needed any longer, I believe I'll leave now. A pleasure to meet you and aid you in your time of need, Miss Kino. May I run across other women as gifted as you in looks and predicaments in the future."

She blushed brightly. "Oh–stop, please. Thanks for...well, thanks."

"No problem. See you around."
~ * ~ * ~
Aino Minako was happy and at peace for once. The world was sunny...well, the sun was fading, but the sunset was beautiful. She finished her homework, no after school activities for once, and she'd just passed a large building radiating dark energy so thick it permeated her sense, so everything was absolutely fine. Blinking, she doubled back and wincing as her change of clothes for varsity volleyball smacked painfully into her side. An extremely large building with a sinisterly alabaster-white banner covering the giant nameplate that had yet to be revealed stood before her. So far, counting windows that were neatly and uniformly spaced, she figured that around nine floors were to be built, another half was also being worked on by tired workmen. Was everyone a workaholic these days? No, she smiled to herself. Just Aino Minako...but she was pretty sure it was influenced from being a senshi commander and past princess....not that she'd been disorganized in this life, but once Artemis had started talking, she'd gotten an earful about certain things. And changes had occurred. Staring up at the massive and well-designed building, something struck her as nostalgic when a dark shadow appeared in the corner of a window. Shoulder-length hair was blowing in an unseen breeze, and the figure had a tall stature and muscular shoulders. In the fading sunlight, a gleam of silver caught her eyes, and crystal blue narrowed in concentration.

It was so familiar...as if she'd seen it once before....frowning, her headache increased, pounding and hammering relentlessly, as if a hot sun blazed overhead instead of fading blues, reds, pinks, and purples. A palace of white glared before her eyes, its walkway lined with delicate torches, ending with in glowing ball at each end. Two stories were on either side of the main building, one with three floors, and a pair of golden domes resided on the previous two storied-buildings that sandwiched the tripled one in between. That special middle one, she recalled, pain increasing with each moment of joyful remembrance, had a strangely-hued dome, a special one. It flashed....flashed colors, peaceful white, brilliant gold, soft flowing blue, fighter green, and spirited, soulful red. There had been windows: one of diamonds, another of hearts. Her windows, she thought, as the Princess of Venus, had been heart-shaped. He had stood in a heart-shaped window, although another reclined in one of diamonds. Her head spun; was he the King of Hearts, or the King of Diamonds? Were they even males? And was there one person....or two.... She didn't know the answers to her questions, but she did know that she was the Queen of Hearts.
~ * ~ * ~
Kino Makoto walked home whistling cheerily, looking braver than she felt–sure, she knew exactly what she had to do, but she didn't know if she could do without breaking down midstream. Passing a large granite building, she suddenly ran into and enraged priestess and looked down with a gulp. The lighter, less solidly built raven-haired girl had now grumpily taken a seat on the hard pavement, annoyed purple eyes boring into her friend. "Uh oh...um...Rei, what are you doing out here so late?"

"Correction, what are YOU doing here? I came out to look for you."

"Why? I can take care of myself and go back to the temple."

Glowering at her stubborn friend, Rei said skeptically, "Uh huh, which was why you were coming from the opposite direction of Ken-kun's dorm. He called me and told me what he did. Gomen nasai, Mako-chan, but you aren't mad, are you?"

"Not really. It's nice to have someone that cares so much. Oh, Rei, what am I going to do? How am I going to tell him I just want us to stay friends and that I'm not interested in him?"

"You'll be able to tell him, Mako. You can do anything. Now let's go home."
~ * ~ * ~
The ball bounced harder...and harder...and harder, building up momentum while Shinozaki let out his emotions, hands not feeling the extreme pressure it rebounded with each time. It hurt so much to love someone and know that the love wasn't returned. If only Makoto knew how much he loved her, with every part of his soul...maybe she would be able to love him. He scoffed at himself. Every night, before he had told her, he had prayed that she would understand and realize his feelings. Everything about her was wonderful to him, and it was as if she had no faults. Shinozaki watched everything about her, looked for the familiar emerald eyes and shining auburn hair in crowds, as well as her superior height. Her movements, actions, habits, her friends, how she talked, just about anything, whether it seemed significant or insignificant, was observed by him. The pain was cutting into him, although he had never really suspected that she loved him. Was it even love, maybe just an obsession.....but the emotions overcoming him were too strong. Before and after every time he talked to her, he felt nervous, but during that time, the world had righted itself, and he was infinitely happy. Today, he'd finally told her about how he'd felt...and the world had fallen apart. No longer able to vent his feelings peacefully, he raced home, muttering cold and unnatural apologies to anyone he hit. It was freezing and so chilly, as if he couldn't sense anything, feel anything. And on his way home, Shinozaki asked himself, 'Is love agony? Or is agony love?'
~ * ~ * ~
Marching into the meeting room near Mamoru's office, Tabiki Kasen was flaming red and seeing scarlet, to boot. "I can't believe that little schoolgirl got the best of me!!" he exclaimed, furious.

Raising an eyebrow, his brother asked, "And what happened now, may we ask?"

Giving him an evil look as Kyosei looked on in interest, Kasen as interrupted by the entrance of the last silver-haired general.

Kouseinou felt a migraine coming on when three gazes set upon him fixedly. "What're you looking at? So I was late for once. Leave me alone–I'm human, too."

"What really did happen to you today, anyway? Usually you're singing praises of the female race instead of curses," the brunet commented, deciding that their previous focus was much more interesting.

The irate blonde muttered, "Fat chance that I'll tell you."

A cool voice from the door issued forth just then. "However, _I_ can tell you what happened to Kasen."

"You were spying on me? With the crystal?" he demanded, outraged.

Glowering, the black-haired and black-eyed one swiftly moved to a seat and affixed unnaturally jet black eyes on his general. "Kasen, General Jadeite, you are aware of the important role the Golden Crystal plays in the reconstruction of the Golden Kingdom, are you not? Excellent, I'm glad to see that you do." Regaining his good humor and not waiting for an answer, Mamoru continued, "So after he insulted this girl, he saw her again at the movies. He went over to yet again try and woo her when lo and behold, Hino Rei spots a male friend in the crowd that she _is_ attracted to and grabs him, saying he's a ‘friend.' Kumada Yuuichirou–sound familiar?–couldn't be happier, and she tells Kasen off." Smiling at the wide applause directed towards Kasen, who was flushing beet red, he sauntered towards the door and looked back to say, "There was nothing important I had to say today, so you're all dismissed. Oh, and Kasen? I'm not pleased to see that you lost to the Mars Knight."

"Nani?! You're telling me that shaggy-haired dolt was Chad? Of the Martian Army?" None of them bothered to answer as they trickled out.
~ * ~ * ~
"Makoto? Dajibou?"

The brunette turned around to see her two friends and smiled shakily. "Oh, hey guys."

Intuitively, the miko inquired, "Is something bothering you, Mako-chan? Besides Shinozaki, of course."

"Actually...I don't know. I've been having these strange dreams lately, where a man stands in a white uniform with navy blue trim, and he's tall, maybe an inch or two taller than me, at least. His face is misty, still, but I feel strangely giddy and happy, even in my sleep." Sitting on the stone steps of the temple with her chin on her knees, her emerald green eyes drew dreamy as she considered that unknown figure.

Minako sat on her other side, as Rei took a seat to her right, settling her priestess robes. Her eyes alight with a strange, soft emotion, the blonde asked, "Tell me what else you remember."

"I–I don't–"

"What color was his hair?" the raven-haired girl added, purple eyes hazy as she considered a blond-haired, blue-eyed stranger of medium height. Although he seemed to have an aura of darkness around him, his lips were curved in a teasing, slightly wistful smile as his azure-hued eyes bored into her being each night. She sat up straight all of a sudden, nearly missing Makoto's reply, as her mind raced. It–he couldn't be...not him, anyone but _him_.

Unaware of Rei's thoughts, Makoto answered, "I think I remember long brown hair. Maybe it was wavy?"

"It was wavy," Minako stated softly but firmly. She closed her eyes, and both her companions were silent in their own musings until approaching footsteps were heard. She didn't open her eyes until she heard Urawa Ryo clear his throat uncomfortably.

"Konnichiwa, Ryo-san," Makoto said cordially. They were familiar after all the time she'd spent at his dorm, talking with him and Shinozaki. It didn't look like she'd be heading over there for a while, however. Not anymore.

He nodded his head. "Sorry to disturb you...I was wondering if you knew where I could find Ami? I thought she'd be with you...but..." He stopped in mid-stammer, unnerved by Rei's piercing stare.

"Ami's at home," she said quietly. "We can give you her phone number–unless you'd like to talk to her in person."

"I think it's better if I apologize in person," Ryo replied, equally softly.

Eyeing him with a calculating look in her eye, the priestess sighed and gave him her friend's address.
~ * ~ * ~
When the doorbell rang, Ami was too deep in her work to hear it, but the second time it rang, she sighed and pushed herself out of her seat. She wondered, briefly, who could be at the door. One of the girls, maybe–but usually they called before they showed up. Her mother couldn't possibly be coming home yet. She peered through the keyhole, and sapphire met mahogany brown for an uncomfortable moment before she let him in. "Ryo-san," she greeted politely, wondering for all the world why he was there. Her cheeks stained a bright crimson when she recalled their last meeting, how rude she'd been.

"Konnichiwa, Ami-san," he said humbly. "I've come to apologize."
~ * ~ * ~

Paths ofThorns