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Diamohns are Forever	By : SailorSol Category: Sailor Moon > General Views: 22490 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
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- 10
BINARY SUN

The same evening.

The stillness of dread was broken by the chiming of three communication bracelets. The three Outer Senshi flipped theirs open without much thought.

�This is Mars,� Rei�s voice was broken by tired panting. �I have a problem.� In the background was an inhuman roar, and then another voice that Aster recognized all too well.

�You can�t get away, Sailor Mars,� Takara�s voice was somewhat distorted, but not enough to make it unrecognizable. �You might as well give up.�

�I�ll kill the bastard!� Haruka declared. She pulled out her henshin wand and headed out the door, through the nearest shoji wall.

�Saturn, you stay here,� Aster said. �The girls are no match for him, and I don�t want either Moon coming to this party. Come on, Neptune. You wanted a piece of my stepfather.�

Michiru kissed Hotaru on the forehead and got to her feet, pulling her henshin wand out as she did so. She followed Aster outside, where Sailor Uranus was already waiting for them.

�I already told Moon face to stay put,� she said. �I told her we could handle this.�

�I�ll distract him,� Aster said, pulling out her own wand. �You two get the youma and Rei. Make sure her grandfather is safe, as well as that assistant of his.�

�Yuuchiro,� Michiru supplied. She smiled at Aster, and then raised her henshin wand.

�Neptune Star Power Makeup!�

Aster watched Michiru�s transformation with awe, and then raised her own wand.

�Solar Cosmic Power Transform!�

As soon as the pain faded, Sailor Sol nodded to her Outer General and started the enhanced leaping that took her to the temple in very little time.

The same youma that had killed Ami�s and Minako�s parents was attempting to catch Grandpa Hino and Yuuchiro, who were distracting it from each other. Sol could hear Takara crashing through the brush, looking for Rei.

�Uranus, find Mars!� Sol ordered. �Neptune, that youma needs a bath!�

�Right!� the other two said in unison, and then they jumped in different directions, to follow Sol�s orders.

Sol jumped down to the ground near a rock garden.

�Takara!� she called out. �We all know your fight isn�t with that girl you�re chasing! Your argument is with me! Come on out and fight with someone who can fight back, you coward!�

The bushes near her rustled and Rei came out, scratched and dirty and with leaves and twigs in her hair.

�You�re here!� she said. �I�ve been avoiding him!�

�Run!� Sol ordered. �Find Sailor Uranus!�

�Too late,� the voice of Takara filled Sol with both fear and loathing. He came out of the underbrush behind Rei and grabbed a fistful of her long hair.

Rei screamed in pain and pulled against it instinctively. Takara wound the hair around his fist and pulled her close enough to him that he could grab her shoulder and pull her up against him.

�This one�s mine,� he said. His hand crept around and captured Rei�s chin.

�You can�t rescue this one,� he said. �I wonder if she�s going to be as spirited as you. I doubt it, but she seems to have plenty of fight in her.�

To Takara�s surprise, Sol didn�t offer to trade herself for the girl, and she didn�t try to attack him. She straightened up, and a small smirk appeared on her lovely face.

�I don�t think so,� she said. �I think you�re going to let her go and take your punishment like a good boy.�

�You�re delusional,� Takara said. Rei�s eyes had widened, but not in fear.

�No,� a cold voice said from behind him as Jadeite�s hand descended on Takara�s shoulder. A deceptively gentle squeeze made Takara cry out, and the hand holding Rei�s hair released its grip. Rei broke away from him and moved away, turning so that she could see Jadeite herself.

�My thanks, Jadeito,� Sol said. �I was trying to figure out how to free her without harming her. Him, I�m not worried about.�

She would have said more, but Uranus came bursting through the underbrush, and looked at the gathering in confusion.

�Take her away, Uranus,� Sol said. �Are the others well?�

�The young man is,� Uranus said. �The older man sustained some serious injuries. An emergency medical team is on the way.�

�Take her to her grandfather,� Sol said. �I will handle matters here.�

�Hai, Shogun,� Uranus took Rei by the shoulders and led her away, protesting.

�Is there anything I can do, Jadeito?� Sol asked. �I owe you, now.�

�You owe us nothing,� he said. �We were ordered to catch Takara. Nephrite and I have to repay him for escaping us.�

�I will leave him to you, then,� Sol said. She turned to go, and turned back when she heard Jadeite cry out and felt a surge of Dark Energy.

Jadeite was holding his hand, which had a wicked slice across the palm. Green blood flowed freely.

�Get that taken care of,� Sol told him. �I know where he�s gone.�

�Where?� Jadeite asked. �Nephrite can meet you there.�

�He�s gone after the only Senshi that�s unprotected,� Sol said, reaching towards the shadows nearby. �Tell Nephrite to look for me, if he doesn�t remember who Sailor Moon is.�

She stepped towards a moving shadow as she lifted the wrist communicator that all of them seemed to automatically have. Jadeite teleported away, not needing to see anything else.

�This is Sol,� she said into it. �Sailor Moon is under attack.�

�You�re not kidding!� Usagi�s voice came over the communicator. �I swear, it looks like there�s a hundred of them! We�re trapped in ChibiUsa�s room! I heard my parents screaming! We need help!�

�Coming, Princess,� Sol said. She turned to the two red eyes that had materialized in the shadow.

�Let�s go, Charon.�

~*~*~*~*~

At the Tsukino house, Usagi and ChibiUsa had transformed together, and then tried to figure a way out of their predicament. Finally, they decided to climb out onto the roof. Mini Moon made it out of the small window without any trouble, but Sailor Moon got stuck at the hips.

She kept struggling, trying to get out, while the sounds of the creatures in the house grew louder, when two pair of hands suddenly grabbed her by the arms and bodily yanked her through the window, scraping her upper thighs in the process.

Sailor Moon looked up into the concerned faces of Uranus and Neptune.

�Thanks, guys,� she said. �I guess I�d better go on a diet.�

�Not at all,� Neptune said. �You�ve changed in the last year, and you�re just wider in some places. You�re supposed to be.�

Sailor Moon looked around and saw Saturn, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter on the roof with her. Down on the ground, she saw Sailor Sol step out of a shadow, to be followed by Kishi Charon.

�No Rei, huh?� she said. �How is she?�

�Her grandfather�s hurt,� Uranus said. �He�ll live, but he�ll be convalescing for a long time. She stayed there. She�ll call Aster later.�

Down on the ground, Takara stood watching the actions of his youma. He had the killer with him. He was surprised when the creature was wrapped up in a shadow and taken away, and a hand landed on his shoulder and spun him around.

He started to smile at Sailor Sol, but the smile vanished when she slugged him in the face, driving him to the ground. She followed him, pummeling him viciously and not giving him a chance to gather his concentration to escape her.

Abruptly, she was pulled off of him, and he was lifted off of the ground by Nephrite.

�Dammit, Nephrito, no!� Sol raged. �I finally had a chance to pay him back a little, and you had to ruin it!�

�If you kill him,� Nephrite said. �We will never find out where Akari is. Trust me on this, Hoshiko. Jadeite and I will certainly get the information from him. We will also make certain he pays for the torment he put you children through.�

�Put me down!� she demanded. He complied, a smile on his face.

�You certainly have grown up,� he said.

�Stop leering and get rid of those youma!� Sol demanded. Nephrite bowed mockingly, still holding Takara firmly.

�Your order is my command, my lady,� he said. Kunzite appeared next to Nephrite, and took custody of Takara. Nephrite steepled his hands in front of his solar plexus, and then thrust his arms quickly out to the side.

Every youma abruptly disappeared.

Sol looked up at the group on the roof, and then she jumped up next to them.

�Okay, this is what we�re going to do,� she said. �Sailor Moon, you and Mini Moon detransform and stay up here; panicked, hysterical girls who believe that their entire family has been destroyed by monsters. The rest of us will leave, and when you can be persuaded to calm down, you will remember to call me.�

�Got it,� Sailor Moon said. She and Mini Moon went to the back of the house to detransform, and Sol waved off the others to head back to her house.

A cry of horror stopped her cold. The others hesitated, and then all of them went to the back of the roof to see Usagi and ChibiUsa staring in shock at the yard behind the house.

In the yard were the broken bodies of Usagi�s parents and brother. There was no doubt in any of their minds that Shingo and Mr. Tsukino were dead. There was simply too much damage and blood.

Approaching sirens told them that help was on its way. Sol hugged ChibiUsa and then Usagi, reminding her to call as soon as she calmed down. Usagi nodded numbly. Sol worried that she was going into shock.

Before the police and emergency vehicles arrived, Sailor Sol wrapped her arms around Venus and Mercury, and Charon transported all of them back to the House of the Sun.

~*~*~*~*~

Barely an hour after their return to the house, there was the cry of the gate opening, and then a knock on the door.

All of the Senshi had arranged themselves to make it look like they had fallen asleep watching a movie. Aster answered the door, looking half asleep and grouchy.

�Yes, officer?� she said. �Is there something I can do for you?�

�A thousand pardons, Fushida-san,� the man said, bowing deeply. �I am here on behalf of Hino Rei, from Hikawa temple. Her grandfather and his apprentice were attacked by a youma this evening. Hino-san is very badly injured, and both he and his granddaughter have requested your presence at the hospital.�

�Give me a moment,� Aster said. �I need to wash my face, and I have guests that I have to explain things to. Please come in.�

�Gomen nasai, Fushida-san,� the officer said, bowing to her again. �I will remain right here.�

�Very well, officer,� Aster said. �I will be as quick as possible.� She left the door ajar and went back to the living room. She explained the situation in a normal tone of voice, so that the officer would not be aware of her subterfuge.

�Go ahead, Aster,� Haruka said. �Michiru and I will keep an eye on the girls for you. We�ll wait here until you get back.�

�Thanks, Haruka,� Aster said. �Make yourselves at home. Let me show you something. I might have some spare clothes for you.�

She led Haruka, and a puzzled Michiru, to the back of the house where her own bedroom was. The two rooms next to hers were closed, the shojis tied shut. Aster untied the first one and led Haruka into a room decorated in midnight blue with touches of gold.

�I think you can find something to fit you in here,� she said shyly.

Haruka looked around, marveling at the complexity and taste of the decorations.

�Sun face,� she said in a hushed tone. �Whose room is this?�

�Yours,� Aster replied simply. She took Michiru by the hand and took her to the next room, which was decorated in aqua, deep blue, and dark green.

Michiru did not ask the painfully obvious question, but simply took Aster�s face in her hands and kissed her friend lightly.

�You better go,� she said. �We�ll talk about this later.�

�If you want,� Aster said. �No strings attached. The room is for you.�

Aster went back to the living room to find that the girls had all headed for their rooms for their morning routines, leaving Hotaru alone.

�Come on, Hotaru-chan,� Aster said, taking the younger girl by the hand. �I have something to show you.�

She escorted Hotaru down the hall on the opposite side of the house, and unted another set of shojis, to reveal a room decorated in dark purple, midnight blue, and black.

�This is your room, Hotaru-chan,� Aster said. �I hope you like it.�

�It�s wonderful,� Hotaru said, looking around her. �Where did you find so many purple plushies?�

�Oh, here and there,� Aster said. �I have to go. I�ll see you later.�

She kissed the top of Hotaru�s head and went to her own room to change.

~*~*~*~*~

When Aster followed the police officer into the emergency room at the hospital, she was prepared to see Rei in the waiting area. She wasn�t prepared to see Usagi and ChibiUsa on either side of Rei, the three girls holding on to one another.

�What happened?� Aster asked, nearly running up to the three girls. They let go of one another, and all three threw their arms around one another. Aster looked at the Children�s Services agent with questions plain to see in her eyes.

�I was called here, Fushida-san� he said. �Because Hino-san wanted someone official to take his wishes regarding his granddaughter down in writing, and implement them.�

�Grandpa Hino�s conscious?� Aster asked. The agent shook his head.

�I don�t know how he stayed conscious,� he said. �The doctors say he�s lost a lot of blood, and he may or may not recover. I really don�t know. All I do know is that until he DOES recover, you are his granddaughter�s guardian. His apprentice is supposed to keep the temple running, and a friend of his has already been called to help, but he said it was important for her to be with you.�

�I will of course take her home with me,� Aster said. �I must admit that I am surprised, and more than humbled by his trust in me.�

�I don�t have any instructions regarding the other two girls,� he said. �I was just told about them when I got here. Tsukino Kenji and Tsukino Shingo were both pronounced dead at the scene of the youma attack. Tsukino Ikuko is still alive, although the doctors are not optimistic about her chances.�

�I�m taking Usagi and ChibiUsa with me,� Aster declared. �They don�t have any other family, now.�

�I�ll come by later with the papers,� he said. �I can check on the other girls at the same time.�

�Check all you want,� Aster said. �I assume that I can send my bodyguard over to get their belongings, after I have the papers.�

�Of course, Fushida-san,� the man said. �Are you certain that you want this much responsibility?�

�They are my friends,� Aster said. �I don�t want them taken to an orphanage. One hears terrible things about orphanages.�

�Of course, Fushida-san,� he said. �I will see you in the morning. Is ten o�clock a good time?�

�Make it twelve, so that I can offer you lunch,� Aster said. �I am a decent cook, and Usagi is approaching good. Her friend Makoto is spectacular.�

�Makoto?� he said. �That�s not one of the girls you�re taking care of, is it?�

�No,� Aster said. �Makoto is an emancipated minor. I begged her to move in with me and help me take care of the girls, and she graciously took pity on me.�

�I see,� he said. �Well, I won�t keep you, Fushida-san. I will see you at twelve o�clock.�

***** *****

When the Social Services agent arrived at the House of the Sun, he was accompanied by his supervisor. Unfortunately for his supervisor, Aster had called her uncle from Kyoto, and he had flown up that morning by helicopter to hear what she had to say and meet the new members of the family.

When they knocked on the door, first they were met by Washino, who did not go off duty until 2PM. He beckoned them in, waited until they had changed their outdoor shoes for indoor slippers, and then brought them into the dining area, next to the kitchen where Aster was coordinating lunch.

�Fushida-san,� the agent said, uncomfortable. �This is my supervisor. She has some questions for you.�

�Very well,� Aster said. She wiped her hands on a towel and came to the table to sit down.

�We are, of course, grateful, Fushida-san,� the woman started. �I don�t know what would happen to these girls if you hadn�t taken them in. That being said, however, I must question your motives for such a thing.�

�They are my friends,� Aster said, angered at even the implication that she had nefarious reasons for her actions. �I first met Minako and Usagi at the local arcade. They introduced me to the other girls. The way I was raised, when a friend needs help, if you can, you give them what they need.�

�Yes, but why?� the woman asked. �What do you get out of it?�

�Company in a nearly empty house,� Aster admitted. �A sense of accomplishment, that I have helped somewhat thwart the designs of some sorcerer. I mean, every one of them has been the victim of a youma attack. My uncle tried to talk me out of moving to Tokyo, but we were assured that it was safe. We were told that all of the odd things were over.�

�Well,� the woman said. �I think we had all hoped that they were. I will tell you, there has been a rash of mysterious murders. The police thought we were dealing with a serial killer. I think some of them are perversely relieved that it is a youma.�

�You mean, that it�s not because people have decided to lose their minds, and that it�s nothing the police did wrong?� Aster asked.archly. �I agree, to a point. Now, exactly what do you think I�m doing wrong?�

�Nothing,� the woman said. �It�s just unusual for someone your age to be granted custody of so many children, and all so close to your own age.�

�Perhaps you would feel better if I were their legal guardian,� the voice of Aster�s uncle intruded into the conversation.

The woman paled a bit. The Fushidas were not the powerful samurai that they had been in the past, but they all seemed to be brilliant investors, and the family was extremely wealthy. The fact that Aster owned four houses in Tokyo itself spoke volumes about the money the family controlled.

�Fushida-san,� she said, bowing in her seat. �I was just pointing out that it was unusual.�

�You have spent too much time studying Western ways,� Fushida Hosyu said, sitting down next to his niece. �My niece was raised in the tradition that great power means great responsibility. Great wealth, in this day and age, is equal to great power.�

�Why didn�t you say so,� the woman asked Aster. Aster thought about it for a moment, and then she shrugged.

�If I said I did it out of a sense of duty,� Aster said. �You wouldn�t have believed that, either, since most people don�t believe in anything but themselves these days.�

�At least you are more responsible than your cousin,� the woman said. �Fushida Takagi is a disgrace to your name.�

�He�s a man,� Aster said, shrugging again. �He has his wild oats to sow. He�ll settle down someday, perhaps someday soon. Who knows, maybe I�ll marry him.�

Her statement was met with a chuckle from her uncle, and a disbelieving smile from the woman.

�At any rate,� Hosyu said. �Despite her delusions, my niece is a responsible woman, and more than capable of providing for these girls, both materially and psychologically. I have every confidence in her.�

�Very well, Fushida-san,� the woman said, making notes in her file folders. �I have indicated, here, that you have expressed willingness to take care of the girls if your niece should prove incapable or unfit.�

�Yes,� he said. �From now on, these girls are family, and they will remain so.�

�The offer of lunch is still open,� Aster said. �The girls and I do very well, together, and I believe you would benefit from seeing us working together. Usagi, Rei, and ChibiUsa are all still asleep.�

�It�s the middle of the day,� the woman objected. �Why are they still asleep?�

�I gave them sedatives,� Aster said calmly. �On the advice of a physician, I administered valium to all three of them, in doses appropriate for their weight. I will gauge their mental state when they wake up, and after some food, I may sedate them again. The physician said that they could take as much as a week to recover, and they should be sedated until they are no longer hysterical.�

�I see a bottle of liquor on the table,� the woman said, looking into the living room area. �What is that for?�

�Me,� Aster admitted. �Just thinking about what happened gave me the shakes, but I can�t sedate myself: I have girls to take care of. So, I took a bit of another kind of sedative, in moderation. Just enough to steady my nerves.�

�Well,� the woman said. �I think I understand your position. You won�t give any to the little one?�

�ChibiUsa won�t touch the stuff,� Aster responded. �I believe that her parents gave her tastes of their drinks, and now she doesn�t want anything to do with alcohol in any form.�

�That can be a good thing,� the woman said. She sat, fidgeting, while Aster went into the kitchen and prepared lunch, with the help of Makoto and Minako. They put together a beef stirfry and egg drop soup. The meal was mostly silent. The girls were uncomfortable with the two people from Children�s Services there, and it showed.

After lunch, Hosyu escorted the two agents out of the house, and Aster followed to the porch. She, and the girls, all heard what he said to them.

�The next time you want to be suspicious of my niece,� he said, drawing a card out of his pocket. �Contact my attorney. I won�t have you bothering girls that have been through enough in their lives, already.�

�Of course, Fushida-san,� the woman agreed. �I only wanted to see the home for myself. I am completely satisfied that she is not only completely willing to take care of them, but thoroughly capable. There will be no further inquries.�

�Good,� Hosyu said. �My niece has other matters to occupy her time.�

He came back, smiling reassuringly.

�Now,� he said. �I know you�ve taken Ami-chan shopping, so I know she has everything she needs. What about Minako and the other girls? And what about Makoto?�

�I really can�t think of anything I�d need,� Makoto said. �I mean, it�s not as if my parents didn�t leave me provided for.�

�That�s not the point,� Hosyu said. �You are family, now. Indirectly, Aster has now produced more children for the Fushidas than any other single generation in some time. My parents had three children. Without giving birth herself, Aster has managed to produce six.�

�Very funny, Ojisan,� Aster said. �If there�s anything any of the girls needs, I am more than capable of getting it for them. You�re fretting unnecessarily.�

�Not at all,� Hosyu said. �I never got the chance to treat you as a Fushida should be treated, Aster. You should have had silk sheets from birth, and everything that the family wealth could provide. I am not going to make that mistake with your girls. They�re going to have everything they want.�

�Okay,� Aster said. �We�ll start with me capitulating on the maids and gardeners, for now. I�m going to be renting out the big house diagonal from this one. Some friends are moving here from the States, and I thought I could handle neighbors now.�

�Friends?� Hosyu asked. �What friends? I thought you bought all four properties so you wouldn�t have any neighbors.�

�It�s not as much fun as I thought,� Aster admitted. �Having four huge houses all my own is all very fine and well, but I didn�t have anyone to share it with. My friends are all honorable, responsible individuals, even though they�re gaijin.�

�Gaijin?� Hosyu questioned. �Where did you meet these friends?�

�Through a cousin,� Aster said. �Look, uncle, it�s not like they�re going to take advantage of my money. One of them is a self-made billionaire.�

�Who are they?� he asked, folding his arms. �Which cousin introduced you to them?�

�Takagi introduced me to them, if you must know,� Aster said, lifting her chin stubbornly. �I�ve been seeing Takagi for about six weeks, now. He introduced me to Sean O�Connell.�

�The name is familiar,� Hosyu said. �Something to do with energy, I think.�

�You have a mind like a steel trap,� Aster complimented him. �Sean O�Connell is the founder of Planetary Energy. I�ve rather heavily invested in them, and so have you. He and some friends are renting the other house.�

�Which one is that?� Hosyu asked.

�The footgate sounds like Gamera,� Aster said. �The car gate sounds like Gojira with laryngitis.�

�Oh,� Hosyu said. He did know which house it was, now, and he decided that he was going to call Takagi at the next opportunity and determine what his intentions were. Casual flings with gaijin was one thing, but Aster was his fourth cousin, three times removed, and she deserved something more. If Takagi wasn�t going to do the honorable thing, then perhaps Hosyu could force the issue.

�Very well,� Hosyu said. �I won�t try to run your life, Aster. I just want to make sure you understand what being a Fushida is all about.�

�I do understand,� Aster insisted. �I just have to finish getting used to it, that�s all. Now, I have to check on the market. I�m sure that Usagi and ChibiUsa will still be sleeping off their drugs. In any case, Makoto can look after them for the short time I�m likely to be gone.�

~*~*~*~*~

Aster had just finished completely going over her portfolio when her phone rang. She picked up the extension in the office.

�Moshi, moshi.�

�Hi there, hunny,� Vincent�s voice came over the phone, in English. �The pilot done tol� us that we�s gonna be landin� in a hour.�

�Oh, gods,� Aster said. �I completely forgot. I�ll be there, though. I�ll leave now. If I�m not there when you arrive, then just wait at the private terminal.�

�Will do, hunny,� he said. �It�s me, Robert, an� Thomas. I hopes ya got room fer all of us.�

�There�s the whole other house,� Aster said. �There�s no food in the house, and it needs airing. The last time it was cleaned was for New Years.�

�Well, that ain�t bad,� he said. �Robert�s lookin� forward to what he calls a �real bath,� so the house is a good idear.�

�I�ll be there,� she said. She put the phone down and looked at Hosyu.

�That was some of my friends,� she said. �They�re coming in two waves, I think. The first wave is landing in an hour. I promised to be at the airport to meet them.�

�What about the girls?�

�These things have a way of working themselves out,� Aster said. �I bet someone I can trust is already on the way.�

�That would be a miracle,� Hosyu said.

�Not really,� Aster said. �After I called you, I called some friends that the girls know so that they could be moral support.�

�You little imp!� Hosyu exclaimed. �You already knew they were coming!�

�They should be here any time,� Aster said. �We�ll leave after that.�

�Who is coming?�

�Tenoh Haruka,� Aster replied. �Her koibito Kaioh Michiru, and their adopted daughter Tomoe Hotaru. I also called the Tochis.�

�Your contractors?� Hosyu asked. �Are you doing some renovations?�

�No,� Aster said. �They are good friends, too, uncle. I can trust them with anything.�

�Whatever you say, Aster,� Hosyu said. �I�m glad you have friends you can depend on. Is there anyone else you would like to contact?�

Aster thought for a moment, and then she nodded.

�I have to see if he�s busy,� she said. �I may need to make him an offer.�

She went over to the phone, looked up a number in the book next to it, and then dialed.

�Kurai-san, sensei,� Aster said. �I have a bit of a problem. You will soon have three more students. In the meantime, I need them looked after. I am not expecting you to do it alone. I have some other friends coming over that the girls know. I know that Ami, Minako, and Makoto will feel more safe with you here. I have to meet some friends. I won�t be gone long.�

She paused a moment, listening.

�Thank you, sensei,� she said. �I�ll wait here until you get here.� She turned to Hosyu and smiled.

�Are you ready to go to the airport, uncle,� she asked him. �Or do you want to stay here with the children?�

�I think I�ll go with you,� Hosyu said. �I am already very fond of Ami and the other two girls. I don�t think I could take three more added to the mix, no matter how cute they are.�

�Let me check on them first,� she said. �Do you want to have Kenji drive us?�

�How many of your friends are coming?� Hosyu asked. Aster paused and thought for a moment.

�Three, right now,� she said. �There�s another five coming later,�

�You�re going to be sharing a yard with eight male gaijin?� Hosyu asked. He looked at her as if he couldn�t believe it.

�Yes,� Aster said. �I suppose that I could ask Haruka and Michiru to move in, but then someone would make something of that. This is Japan, ojisan, not America. These are civilized men, despite their origins. They are not animals. They will not dishonor me or the girls. If I thought for a moment that they would, I would not allow them to live here.�

�I�ll have Kenji start up the limo,� Hosyu said. He left her alone to wait for Haruka and Michiru, and to look in on Usagi, ChibiUsa, and Rei.

Usagi and ChibiUsa were still and quiet, so deeply asleep that they could sleep through a war. Rei came running out of her room just before Aster got there, and she headed straight to the closest bathroom. Aster followed her in, and wetted a washcloth with very warm water while Rei emptied her stomach.

When the younger girl was finished, Aster helped her sit back against the wall, and wiped her face with the damp cloth. She filled a glass with water while she rinsed out the cloth, this time with cool water, and brought them both to Rei.

�There�s kayu and cut fruit in the kitchen,� Aster said. �I have to pick up some friends at the airport. The Outers are all on their way. I won�t leave before they get here.�

�Kayu,� Rei said. �It�s what ojiisan has when he drinks too much.�

�Done,� Aster said. �There�s tea, as well.�

Rei followed Aster to the dining area where Makoto handed her a bowl of kayu, and another bowl of tea. Rei took them to the table and started slowly eating.

�Any signs of life from the other two?� Makoto asked. Aster shook her head.

�I don�t expect either of them to stir any time soon,� Aster said. �Neither one of them has ever had sedatives, and I gave them the dosage that the doctor recommended. I would be surprised if they move before morning. If they do come out before I get back, feed them and get them into a bath. The hot water will help keep them from tensing up again.�

�Will do,� Makoto said.

�I don�t want to sedate them again,� Aster said. �I�m not going to. If they�re still having trouble coping, we�re doing it my way.�

�You mean you�re going to get them drunk,� Makoto said. �It sounds good. It seems to have done wonders for Rei.�

They both heard the foot gate squeal.

�That�s either Hana and Toshiro or Haruka and Michiru,� Aster said. �I have to go, Mako-chan. I�m depending on you to keep things settled here.�

�You sent for the others to help me,� Makoto said. �Thanks, Aster. You always know what to do.�

�I try,� Aster said. She turned towards the door as it opened, to reveal Hana and Toshiro coming in, already in slippers.

�Knock, knock, Sunshine,� Hana said. �I know you�re coping, Aster, but you look terrible.�

�He almost got Rei,� Aster said. �If Jadeite hadn�t shown up, I�m not sure how I would have gotten her away from him.�

�Interesting that he showed up,� Hana said, her eyes moving to where Rei was gingerly sipping her hot tea. �Do you think � �

�That the old guard bonds are still there?� Aster finished for her. �It�s possible. He never died, even when they attacked this time around. Jadeite was just put into a living crystal.�

�That must be � difficult,� Toshiro said. He brought a couple of bags that he was carrying into the kitchen and put them on the counter.

�Hana and I decided that you ladies weren�t up to cooking,� he said. �We brought food for dinner, and breakfast. We�re staying the night.�

�How interesting,� Michiru�s voice came from the doorway. They all turned to see her with her partner and daughter, all of them bearing grocery bags.

�We had the same idea,� Haruka admitted. �I guess between the two trips, we�ve brought enough for everyone.�

�Everyone includes my uncle and his manservant,� Aster pointed out. �I called my sensei from the Wind and Rain Dojo. I know he makes Ami and Minako feel safe. If I know Chimei, he�ll bring something with him. He grows vegetables in the yard of his dojo, and he has a couple of fruit trees.�

�What about the guys you�re picking up?� Makoto asked. �Are they doing their own cooking?�

�Not tonight,� Aster said. �So we need to plan for three more. I�m sure that after tomorrow, though, we�re going to have to fight to do our own cooking.�

�Why,� Hana asked. �Is one of them a cook, or something?�

�Or something,� Aster said. �One of them owns a string of five-star restaurants, and he is putting his last one in Tokyo.�

�Wait a minute,� Makoto said. �A string of five-star restaurants? Last one in Tokyo? You can�t be talking about Vincent Knight.�

�Why not?� Aster asked. �He married my adopted sister. Yes, I�m talking about Vincent Knight. If you�re a good girl, I may wheedle him into giving you a tryout as an apprentice at Le Parc du Soleil.�

�That settles it,� Makoto said. �I�m cooking dinner.�

�Cook dessert,� Aster said. �It will be something he can give his complete attention to. Make something simple, but hard to get right.�

�Got it,� Makoto said. �How about a chocolate mousse?�

�That�s good,� Aster said. �Do you have everything you need?�

�I think so,� was the doubtful reply. �What do I do to give it a little something extra?�

�I�ll show you,� Aster said. She took Makoto to the bar in the living room and pulled a brown bottle from the back of the bottom shelf.

�I got this from a specialty shop,� she explained. �I was going to spring it on Mamoru when he came back, since Usagi couldn�t stop talking about how much he loved chocolate. I can get more.�

Triumphantly, she handed her friend a bottle of Godiva Milk Chocolate Liquer.

�Perfect!� Makoto crowed. �This will be the best chocolate mousse ever!�

The footgate squealed again, and before Aster could get to the door, Ami had opened it, and was waiting while Chimei slipped off his tabi sandals and came into the house, stocking-footed. As Aster had predicted, he had a basket with him that was full of fresh produce.

�There is nothing better for young people than plenty of fresh vegetables,� he said. �Do not worry about the girls, Aster-chan. I will stay as long as you need me.�

�Many thanks, Sensei,� she said. �I do need to speak with you at length, when I get back.�

�I am always here for you,� he promised. There was a wealth of meaning to his words, which Aster was grateful for.

�We have to go now,� Aster said. �Everybody be good, and don�t do anything I wouldn�t do!�

�That doesn�t leave out much, Sunshine,� Hana said.

Aster blew her a raspberry as she left the house to meet her uncle and Kenji at the idling limousine.

***** *****

It turned out that it took Aster and her uncle nearly ninety minutes to get to the airport. A traffic accident a block ahead of them kept them in one place until enough traffic had been diverted so the limousine could turn around. Serendipitously, the plane had run into a squall off the coast, which ended up delaying it by over an hour. Aster was waiting under the cloudy skies when her Concord landed and taxied to where the passengers could disembark.

She greeted Thomas with a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. She greeted Robert with a longer hug and a quick kiss on the lips. She threw her arms around Vincent and held him for several long moments, but she did not kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her as if she were his long-lost sister. Only Hosyu thought it was a coincidence that a hole in the clouds opened, sufficient to bathe the pair of them in the last rays of the setting sun.

TBC
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Diamohns are Forever