12/29 The Beginning of Business (Minako, Usagi)

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"No, he doesn't. And again, I want to find out if we should be sure to keep it that way," Usagi replied, though her eyes narrowed at Minako's response. "None of them know until they actually awaken-- and we haven't decided to tell them about it, at least not yet. Again, we need more information. And, Jadeite's the only one that's awakened, so he's the only one that actually knows he's a Shitennou." If Nathaniel, or what she had heard about him from Rei was any indication of the rest of them, then they definitely did not know-- but perhaps would know that they were not 'whole' in some ways, that they had a past.

"Mamoru only knew about Jadeite, when he awakened. I sent Ami-chan to tell him who we suspect the others are. It's a gesture of good-will, we'll see if he returns it," she remarked. It was difficult to think of Mamoru as some kind of emissary for the Shitennou and this issue, someone she had to court diplomatically and to watch and obtain information on. But, it wasn't as if asking directly had helped at all!

"You know him, though," Usagi proceeded calmly. "I can tell. How, from where?"

[Aino Minako]

Minako felt a small sigh of relief. If he didn't know, then at least his interest in her movie wasn't consciously driven by some driving need to kill her again. Not that Minako was afraid of Kunzite - she and the soldiers had won the second battle between the senshi and the generals and the senshi's powers were far stronger now than they'd been in the past. Even so, if there wasn't a connection, what were the chance that the Shittennou would be suddenly popping up in everyone's lives at the same time. She wondered if Usagi had thought about that.

"I do know him, actually. Well, I met him officially less than a week ago. Zach, my movie co-star, and I were having lunch at Makoto's restaurant and he and the movie producer were double booked for our table. He's funding the movie, and from what I gather, the reason he hinted at was because of the 'talent'. That can only mean he's followed my career for some time. I know that I'm a decently famous idol here, Usagi, but not halfway around the world. Certainly not in the county he must be from. Doesn't that just seem oddly coincidental to you if he doesn't know?"

She paused, her brow furrowing as she concentrated on collecting her thoughts. "And these other two? To both show up in the same week, here at the palace for completely random reasons? To be unconnected to each other and yet suddenly connected to us? Doesn't that seem odd? And yet, Mamoru doesn't know them, except Jaedite? Do you think his stones called them here? Or maybe he did and didn't realize it? Or maybe he did on purpose. This... is an utter mess." Minako rambled on, her mind whirling with possibilities. Could the dark forces be collecting their generals again? She felt some of the color drain from her face at the thought. Here they were setting up a new government with half the world still unstable and they might potentially have to face the dark kingdom for an ungodly third time? "What do you make of all this Usagi?"

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi listened patiently to Minako, nodding here and there at a particularly salient point or detail, but beginning to frown. "Financing the movie? I just awarded his company with a contract for alternatives to petroleum in undeveloped theaters where New Earth troops are currently deployed." Usagi briefly wondered if that was going to be a conflict of interests, but decided that right now the business of the Shitennou was far more pressing.

"It is strange that they're all popping up at once," she agreed. "But, perhaps it isn't as strange as you might think. Nathaniel came to Rei for help with dreams, I think she said-- and Rei is known as powerful priestess, now. Hiroki is obviously from Japan, and we're now Tokyo's biggest employer, so that makes sense. And Khalid-- well, he is a consummate professional. He knows what he's doing, he runs a business-- it's his job to look at things that most people don't see, and find a way to make it profitable. That involves research. He works for an international company, so that means lots of travel and exposure. Furthermore, if he wanted to do business with the government, that means knowing about it-- including you, Minako-chan. Perhaps it's coincidence, perhaps not. We're at the center of the world government, and people are going to start coming to us," she summed up.

"This is why we need to find out more. Again, Mamoru is either going to start cooperating and offering up information, or he won't-- either way, we're going to get closer to these men and find out what we can. We'll need to tread carefully; be open with each other about what we find out."

[Aino Minako]

"There are seven billion people on this planet, Usagi. Not all seven billion are flocking here," Minako pointed out. "I still simply cannot believe that if there were no connection between their innocent souls and us, that they would all find there way here in the same week!"

She felt flustered. She knew Khalid would be at the New Years Eve party. "I will take up the task of finding out more about Khalid. I am bound to see him on the movie set. He's already said he plans to be there. Do we know who the fourth Shittennou is?"

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"Millions are flocking here," Usagi pointed out. "Tokyo had a population of 34 million before I was crowned Queen, it's beginning to reach 36 million. Over ten percent of the population in this city is either working for the government, a contractor that's working for the government, or services that support the civil servants and contractors. It's hard to believe it's a coincidence, true, but stranger things have happened. It could be, it could not, but we could go 'round all day long about the subject. The truth is we just don't know, and we need to find out."

Usagi nodded as Minako said she'd take on the task, but Usagi wasn't entirely too sure. "I'm not divvying up the Shitennou between us, Minako. That would be great if you could do that, but I'll also be keeping an eye on him during contractual procedures. We're in this together as a team, we need as much as we can get so I'm not going to divide up responsibility. It's collectively our responsibility to find out as much as we can, from whomever we can, okay? And no, we don't know who the fourth one is, not yet."

[Aino Minako]

Millions, Billions - Minako let it drop. She could feel her own tensions and Usagi's were coming out in the conversation. "I just," Minako sighed softly, "I was just pointing out I have the opportunity to find things out about him. I don't even yet know the other names you mentioned." She raised a hand to her forehead and grasped her temples for a brief moment. "Would you be upset if I talked to Mamoru too? I just... I just feel there is much we need to be doing about all this."

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"And I'm glad you have that opportunity! I want you to take advantage of it," Usagi replied. "And, I'm not familiar with the others either, but we will all be sharing information on this. That's my point. I don't want anyone 'going it alone,' so to speak."

Usagi leaned back. This was stressful, she knew, but it seemed to affect Minako more than she expected. She wasn't sure why-- the other girls had been shocked-- Makoto had actually fainted! So why was she concerned now?

"Minako, I know this is hard, but let's not assume the worst just yet. We should prepare for the worst, but hope for the best, isn't that how the saying goes?" She smiled, reaching over to rub her friend's arm, though Minako's request to speak with Mamoru didn't sit well with her.

Maybe she was simply being too sensitive, but it struck her like Minako was second-guessing what she said, what her decisions were. And truth be told, Usagi wasn't sure it was such a good idea. "If there's a lot you feel we need to be doing on this, I want to know exactly what t is," she said slowly. She wanted to sign off on any potential developments, considering the sensitive nature of the situation. "Ami-chan is going to be speaking with Mamoru. Let's see what his reaction is, see what she learns from him. Then we can evaluate if it would be a good idea for you to speak to him as well."

[Aino Minako]

Minako reached up and slipped her hand around Usagi's. Perhaps she was assuming the worst, but the feeling in the pit of her stomach didn't sit well with her. Between the strange feelings she'd had around Khalid during the lunch that had sent her reeling to the restroom, to the horrible fight she'd had with Rei questioning every decision she'd made recently, Minako was overcome with a strong desire to take control of this situation and figure out how to resolve it. Even though she denied to herself the impact that Rei's words had had on her, the effects were still evident in her attitude. The last thing Minako wanted to do right now was work with Rei.

"Usagi," Minako began, her voice strained. The she stopped. She hadn't planned on burdening Usagi with her issues. Usagi had enough problems of her own to deal with. She looked up and gave Usagi a small smile. "I've just been gone so much over the past few years. I suppose I just feel a little out of the loop and part of me wants to get caught up first myself. Of course we're a team and we're working together, but that doesn't mean I don't want to discover as much information before hand. I feel like everything I know is second hand information... Does that make sense?"

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi found herself laughing a bit at Minako's remark about only having second hand information, more out of a sense of understanding than anything else. "Minako-chan, how do you think I feel?" she asked with a small grin. "Trust me, I totally get it, and I do need your help in getting information. But as emotional as this all is, we just can't rush headlong into it. We're at a critical point right now, and we need to start thinking several moves ahead. We have to weigh each option critically and evaluate things before we take action. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast." She winked at her friend. "I'm full of witty quotes today," she joked, trying to cheer Minako up a bit.

"Let's just take things one thing at a time, and constantly stay alert. Please, follow up with Khalid at the movie set, and keep me posted if you have other ideas about how to get information. As for Mamoru-- we'll wait to see what happens with Ami-chan, and then we can revisit your request, okay?" She leaned in, putting her arms around her friend.

"We've missed you. There's been a lot that's happened, we've grown apart in some ways-- and we need to fix that. Much of it is my fault," she confessed. "But I have absolute faith in you, Minako, in all of you. You're my leader of the sailor senshi! Chin up! We'll get through this as long as we trust each other and work as a team."

[Aino Minako]

Minako leaned over and gave Usagi a hug. "You always know just what to say to make me feel better Usagi-chan," she replied. "This is a big change for everyone. In some ways, I think it's harder than anything we did as sailor senshi. Adjusting will just take some time."

Minako nodded at Usagi's last comments, "Perhaps after all this New Years Eve craziness dies down, the five of us can find a way to spend some quality time together renewing our relationships..." Perhaps that's really all she needed. They were still a team after all, even if they hadn't been fighting evil by moonlight in years.

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"I would agree with you on that," Usagi nodded, slowly standing up. "And, I think it would be a great idea to spend some time together, all of us. And of course you know I'd love to spend some more time just with you," she grinned.

"Unfortunately, though, today I have a ton to get through." Today, and everyday, she thought to herself. "I've told you just about all that I can with the Shitennou, and now you know about Mamoru. The media reaction is going to be insane," she grimaced. "I'll have some clean-up to do with that today."

Usagi opened the door for her friend, smiling. "Try to stay positive... we're going to be fine! And now you know what's going on. I'll be seeing you," she winked, waving.