Title: Foreign Serenade, Version 2.0: The * Normal * One (teehee) Author: Mina, Warrior Princess Rating: I would say PG-13 Feedback: sailor_v@mail.com Disclaimer: Although I claim to be, I am not actually Sailorvenus. (Although I do bear striking resemblence... beautiful.. talented. . te-he-he. . .) Cye, unfortunately, is only an anime guy, not a real one. Please do not sue me. Okay, I'll think up a funnier disclaimer for next time. ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Author's Note: Hola mina-san!! Basically the same author's note goes for THIS version, except for the following... There are TWO versions of this story.... this one is the way I RE-wrote the ending, and it's a lot less messed up than the other one... :) Well, at least it doesn't involve "Mina, Dark Warlord of Jealousy" LOL I'd like to share with you all a little something here about my views on SM/RW crossover romances. I visited this page, I think it was called something like 'Pretty Ronin Sailormoon' or something... but anyway, it was all about the similarities of the two shows.. and it also had a section on people's votes for possible romances between the Ronins and the Senshi. I was very angry to see that out of around 50 responses, only 2 or 3 put Mina and Cye. INSTEAD, MOST EVERYONE PUT CYE AND AMI!! Is it just me, or are they SO WRONG for each other? Just because they have the same colors and elements... BIG FRICKIN' DEAL! No, no, no, I think that Rowen and Ami would be better. Both loners, both on the same intellectual level, both lonely... you get the idea. Going by personality, Mina and Cye are just perfect. I am going to have an entire section on my Cye shrine devoted to their 'love', so please see it when it is put up! :) Well, the reasons why I think they SHOULD have a love... ^_^ (and also there will be my COUNTER reasons as to why Cye and Ami would SO not work!!) ~ Mouri Minako, Mina Warrior Princess, Sailorvenus on Crack ~ (If you forgot or still haven't visited my Cye shrine, here goes again....) P.S. I said I probably would eventually, and I am proud to present after much hard work... My very own Cye Shrine!! Teehee! This is the address for the page. It's not *quite* done yet, but please visit it and tell me what you think so far: Sorry, had to plug! :P P.P.S. How many times do I have to say it?? * W R I T E M E ! ! ! ! * ^_^ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "NOOOO!!!! I REFUSE TO GO, AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!" "MINAKO!!!! CALM YOURSELF!!!" "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I DON'T WANNA GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" "You get the ropes, I'll hold her down." "Check." Minako was furiously squirming in the back seat of Mamoru's car. Her friends were making her go to some sort of stupid party/concert/whatever. Normally she would have been esctatic to go to a party, except for the slight fact that her ex-boyfriend was going to be there. No big deal, eh? Wrong. Her ex-boyfriend was a guy named Kento. When the two of them used to go out, he would call her constantly. CONSTANTLY. As if he was completely obsessed with her. Finally one day she couldn't take it anymore, so she broke up with him. To Mina's huge shock, he actually started crying!! She had never seen Kento cry before, and it made her feel guilty. And especially when he had said to her, "Oh Minako... you were the only... real *friend* I ever had... not just the only girlfriend... I... I'm never going to go out with anyone ever again....." That was just too much for her to take. So she made up an excuse about having to leave for a while... but when she saw him again, she would go out with him again. He was thrilled at that, and Mina felt as if she was home free, because she'd never have to see him again... right?? "MINA-CHAN... You *ARE* going to this with us!!!!" "But... but.... let me explain!!!" "NO BUTS ABOUT IT!! AND THAT'S FINAL!!!" "Humph," Mina groaned, admitting defeat, and crossed her arms stubbornly. 'Why do they boss me around so much?!' she thought angrily, as Makoto tied her into the seat with a few ropes. "Now, Mina-chan. Tell me what the problem is," Ami started, as Mamoru drove out of the driveway. Minako groaned, and proceded to tell her friends the story of Kento, and their 'relationship'. By the time her tale was complete, they had already arrived at their destination, some sort of a night club, or something. "...and * why * do we have to go to this stupid thing ANYWAY?!" She finished. "Because," Makoto started. "There's gonna be some really hot guys there..." Rei cleared her throat loudly. "Oh yeah, and because Rei is doing a kareoke feature.. tehe...." Minako rolled her eyes. "Just avoid this freak guy at all costs if you see him, 'k Mina-chan?" Usagi suggested. "K," Mina sighed. As if that was going to work. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Kento, *why* do I have to be here?!" "Because..." "Because WHAT?!" "BECAUSE... YOU JUST DO!!" Cye rested his head down in his arms on the table. He did *NOT* want to be here at this stupid party, but he wasn't going to say anything to anyone. Well, besides to Kento of course. "Hehe.... I'm going to enter the kareoke contest, one of the prizes is a free Prime Rib!! Whatdya think?" "Great.... wonderful.... absolutely marvelous....." "Aw Cye, come on.... lighten up!!" "I *am* lightened up.... I mean, can't you just see the happiness practically radiating off of me?! For Christ's sake Kento... I'M THRILLED to be here!!! You KNOW how much I just *love* parties!!!" "Give me a break." "I've got an even better idea, Kento. How about you just LEAVE ME ALONE." "Awww.... But Cye....." "LEAVE ME ALONE! OKAY?!" "But.... wait! I've got it!! How about YOU sing... you're way bett-" "NO!!!! ABSOLUTELY * N O T * !!!!! I don't do public appearances!!" "But Cye, you're a good singer, and the girls will go crazy, HEHE-!" "What part of NO don't you understand?!?!" "But CYYYYYYE...." " N O ! ! ! ! ! ! " Cye angrily stomped away towards the restroom. He was *NOT* going to sing, and no one was going to make him. he thought. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cye stepped up onto the stage, trembling. He had a fear of public speaking, let alone THIS. And now, his best friend was making him *sing*. "H-hello..." He whispered shakily into the microphone. The audience just smiled. Cye felt as if their staring eyes were burning him... piercing into his skin...... he was so afraid of failure that he thought if he made one even slightly flat note he was going to pass out... "Evening, everyone... I'm Cye Mouri, and th-this is a song.... it's .... um...... called 'Foreign Serenade'. I hope you.... um..... like it...!!" The audience applauded. "GO CYE!" Cye heard Ryo scream out to him from his and Mia's table. He just gave a sarcastic smile back. "YEA CYE!! KICK SOME MUSICAL BUTT!!!" Kento added. God, how embarrassing. The flute and background music started, and at the exact moment the vocals came in, Cye felt sick to his stomach at hearing himself. he thought, while continuing to sing the difficult words. When the refrain arrived, Cye could see the smiles of several people in the audience, and one or two people even swaying back and forth. he thought, doubting himself. But either way, he didn't care. He enjoyed singing even though he thought he was bad at it, and he was having a good time, and that was all that mattered at the moment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Nani mairu no kanata e to mau kaze ni nose........." Minako entered the building, being dragged by Makoto and Mamoru and being cheered on by Usagi. Instantly, her anger disappeared as she heard the clear words of the voice singing, and she pulled away from Makoto and Mamoru closer to the stage. "What beautiful music...." she said quietly to herself at hearing the tenor, completely ignoring the rest of the world. "Yes, looks like Rei-chan's got herself some competition tonight!" Ami smiled. "Ah, no problem, I can beat a twirp like that....." She grinned. "Yukue shiranu anata e to fuku serenaade........." Minako felt entranced... as if the voice was pulling her towards him....... She carefully took a seat in the front row, and looked up at the man singing. she thought, with sudden amazement. <....he's so gorgeous....> She was already determined that she had to find out who this guy was. She watched, fascinated at each move that he made with his hand, playing with strands of his hair every once in a while, or delicately touching the microphone. She had never heard a voice more beautiful, or more intoxicating. She was already in love with him. "Hisoka ni yasashii yoru e to sasou yo ni......." And then..... the two pairs of blue eyes met...... and he smiled..... Mina silently prayed that he was looking at her.... and only her..... His voice carried on, growing more passionate with each passing word... "Contenna ni dakarenagara yume ni yurarete........" <....He's hypnotizing me with his song....> she thought at the lyrics. A delightful sax entered, which made Mina uncomfortably think about things she knew she shouldn't be....... as she watched the grinning boyish-man, who appeared to be enjoying himself quite immensely. "Amakute sabishii yoru nara sore mo ii sa......" More sax. More wonderful... sweetly seductive...... sax. And then suddenly, the song was over. There was much applause, and Mina put her own hands together in loud appreciation. "Thank you.... thank you all!!" The man seemed thrilled at the response he had recieved, as if he should have gotten less than a standing ovation, and 'gracefully' walked off the stage, bumping into Rei on the way down. "Move it buster," she said, with her usual 'flair'. "Sorry," he gave her a slightly hurt look. Rei was coming up soon, but Mina could care less. It wasn't as if she had never heard her sing before. The only thing that mattered to her at the moment was finding out who this guy was, and how she could meet him. She stood up to go chase after him, when... "HEEEEY!!!! Is that really you, Mina-chan????" "Y-yeah... it's me!" She smiled, as if she was happy to see him. Yeah, right. "WOW!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!!!" He gave her a huge hug, and Mina thought she was going to scream. "Wow.... wow.... I just can't get over this! You have to meet my friends, Minako. Mina, this is Rowen. Rowen, this is Minako." "Hey Minako-san," a blue-haired teenager said. "Hi Rowen." Mina thought with a smile. "This is Ryo. Ryo, this is Minako." "He-llllo Mi-nako-san!" "Hi Ryo." Mina thought again. "This is Sage. Sage, this is Minako." "*Pleased* to meet you, Mina-san." "You too, Sage." Mina grinned. "And then there's... hey, where did Cye go? Don't tell me he freaked out and went to the bathroom AGAIN.... ^_^;; after he did so well up there like I said he would! Well anyway Mina, Cye's my best friend... I made him go up there and sing just now... he didn't believe me that he was a good singer... but I just *know* he's gonna win that kareoke contest tonight!! And win me a Prime Rib....yummmmm......" By this time, Kento's voice drifted in one ear and out her other, as Minako was completely giddy. The guy singing .. Cye... was his BEST FRIEND?! This was too perfect!! What better way to get to know him?!!! "This.... um....Cye...... where is he now?" "I'm not sure. He abandoned me again. But oh well, at least I've got you here to keep me company! Wow, do we have a lot to catch up on...!" "Ummmm...... can I go look for him??" "Awww, why? You wanna meet him that badly??" "Weeeell...... he's your best friend... so I'd like to meet him....." "Oh alright, Mina-chan. Anything for you. I'll go check the bathroom again..." At that Kento left, and Minako went over to Rowen and Sage's table. Apparently, they *were* VERY pleased to meet her. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Cye? Bud? Ya in there??" Cye was completely petrified. He felt as if he had the plague and he had to hide himself from the world. "CYE.... I *KNOW* YOU'RE IN THERE.... and I'm NOT LEAVING until you COME OUT!!!!" "Ugh......." Cye groaned, knowing that his cover was already long gone. "Come on, there's someone out here that wants to meet you..." He thought. "...she's one of my old friends. Her name's Minako......." He thought. "...she's got blond hair, blue eyes, and she's reeeeeeealy preeeeety....." Alas, Kento knew him too well. "Oh, ALRIGHT.........." Cye smiled, and stepped down from the lid he had been standing on. "This had *better* be worth it......!!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So........ what'dya say we ditch this joint?" "Ummmmmm....." Minako felt slightly uncomfortable at the two obviously slightly drunk guys hitting on her, even if they *WERE* hot. "Yea, Sage.... as if she'd go anywhere wit YOU......." "Rowen, YOU keep yur trap shut ya stupid little....." "Ummmm.... yeah... I've gotta be going now, but I'll get back to you guys... like maybe when you're sober......." Mina bolted from that table as fast as she deemed possible, and went in the direction of the ladies room, but on the way.......- "AAAAAAAAAAAHH!!" "OOOOPS!!! SORRY!!! I AM SO SORRY! I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT!!! OH, GOD TODAY IS A NIGHTMARE!! I AM SUCH A JERK!! SORRY, SORRY, SORRY!!!! I'VE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!!!!!" Mina watched as an extremely high-strung boy with auburn hair ran towards the nearest exit after bumping into her. "HEY........... WAIT!!!!!!!!!" She screamed. IT WAS HIM!! IT WAS CYE!!! "I *ALREADY* APOLOGIZED... WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?! OH, GOOOOOD!!! TODAY IS JUST NOT MY DA-" "CALM DOWN!!! IT'S OKAY!!!!" Mina trotted over towards him, and attempted to comfort. "I'm not here to make you APOLOGIZE, I just wanted to compliment you on your singing!! I loved it!" Cye immediately stopped sulking and looked at Mina with innocent eyes. "You...... you really DID??" Minako gave him a warm smile. "Yeah, I really did. REALLY." He returned the look, appreciatively. "Ohh.. so I see you guys already met!" Kento grinned as he finally caught up to Minako and Cye. "Yea.... sorta....." Cye smiled cutely. "Sorta by accident...." The two just continued to stare at each other. "He-LLO??? Mina... Cye.. anybody home in there??" Kento waved a hand in front of their faces. "Hehe.... yeah...." Cye looked down at his feet, trying to cover the fact that he was blushing. "Sorry......" he giggled. "Yeah.... sorry!!" Minako did the same. "Oh boy... I think we might have to separate you two..." Kento groaned out of highly obvious jealousy, and led the starry-eyed Mina and the pink-faced Cye back to his table. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hey, I'm Hino Rei! I'm sure y'all know me...." The audience whistles and cheers. "Thought so! Well, my song for tonight is one that I wrote myself, and it's a real upbeat one called Sho Hi Ai ... FIRE SOUL LOVE!" More audience cheering, this time louder. "Here goes....!" A loud drum beat enters, followed by some synthesizer effects, and electric guitar noises. Cye was concentrating on listening to it, seemingly intrigued by the unusual style. . . *totally* different from the song he sang. . . and the girl, Rei, was an excellent singer, and even a decent dancer . . . . which was more than Cye could say for *himself*. . . but yet, there was something else bothering him that he couldn't quite understand. . . . . "Hey Cye, whatcha doin'?" Cye was pulled back into reality at the mention of his name in Kento's voice. "Oh, um, just listening to the music." "Music?" Minako grinned. "You mean, Rei's Blatant Attempt at Self Glorification??" Kento immediately chuckled and smiled lovingly at Mina. And Cye himself couldn't help but laugh out loud at that one. This Rei did seem to him to be sort of..... well.......... "She thinks she's God's Gift to the world," Minako finished bluntly. Cye thought with a grin. He continued to stare off into space (which the stage just happened to be in the way of), deep in thought, for the remainder of Rei's song. At the end, she walked off stage, tossed back her long black hair, and recieved the applause, 'humbly'. Her song had ended with loud guitar crashes, some sultry vocal work, and a few rather seductive dance moves. Cye wore a devious little smile, glancing at the table next to him. "What's up wit ya, Cye? How come you're grinnin'? And why r'ya so distracted tonight?" Cye thought, amused. "Yeah, was Rei really *that amazing* of a singer??" Mina looked at him, with confused blue eyes. "Oh, no......." Cye flushed when he realized that Mina was looking at him *again*.... not like that was a *BAD* thing........ but he still felt a little guilty at the fact that he was even THINKING for even a second about his best friend's girl and him doing.... that........ "It's not the singing..." "Then what, bud? Is sumpin' wrong?" "I was just..... wondering.." "Do you sing at all, Mina?" Minako cracked up laughing. "ME? SING?!? HA!!!!" Kento grinned sheepishly. "She sure does, dontcha Mina??" He abruptly tugged her closer to him, and her eyes widened, unappreciatively, at the sudden unexpected movement. It disturbed her. "Kento..... what... are you DOING...." Mina mumbled angrily. "Sing a song, Mina-chan! I'll bet you're great! And besides......" he paused. ** "THAT way I'll have 2 CHANCES of winning that Prime Rib!!!" ** Cye nearly tumbled over in laughter. "KENTO!! How terribly like you to do a cruel thing like that to your girlfriend!!" At that moment, Minako felt as if she had just been hit with a bombshell. She thought in despair. She had to explain this, FAST! "But....!! I am NOT-" "Yep, that's me," Kento beamed, interrupting Mina before she could finish her sentence. "Now, GO!!!" He shoved her out of the seat, and before she managed to catch herself, she landed face first on the floor. Her skirt was nearly completely flipped over, which gave Sage and Rowen quite a sight. "HE-llo," Sage commented, eyes wide, grinning. Rowen just sat there in shock. "AAAAAHH!!" Mina screamed, suddenly realizing that she had landed right in front of the two, in a very *revealing* position. "OH MY GOD! This is the ultimate low point of my life!!!" Flustered, she pulled her skirt back into place and stood up, giving Sage the evil eye, then ran towards the bathroom once more. "UGH... NOT HER TOO!!" Kento groaned, getting up to chase after her. Cye grabbed hold of his arm. "Oh will you just leave the poor girl alone?!" Ryo added to that from the next table. "Yeah Kento, give it up! I think you've already put her through enough for one evening!" "Definitely!" Cye continued. "First making her sing, and then pushing her onto the floor, only to give Rowen and Sage a.... um...." He paused, and watching Sage mouth an appreciative 'thanks!' to Kento, and a wink. Rowen was still in too much shock to even speak. Cye rolled his eyes at them. "Perverts," he grumbled under his breath, meanwhile mentally hitting himself hard for not sitting at Rowen and Sage's table. . .!!! "Let ME handle this," Mia stood up abruptly, and went after Mina. Sage just kept snickering and grinning, and Rowen just kept staring into space. "Wow," he finally managed to utter. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Minako-san? Are you okay?" Minako wasn't quite sure who it was, but she didn't care. At this point, she was so embarressed that about the thing that would get her to come out would be a bomb threat or some world-threatening natural disaster... "Who.... who's there?" "You don't know me, but my name's Mia. I was sitting at Ryo's table. Are you sure you're alright after all that happened out there?" "Yeah, I guess..... a little embarresed...." Mia giggled slightly. "I can imagine. Rowen and Sage, SAGE especially, can be SO obnoxious. Well, you might not want to come out right now, and that's fine. But if you do, there's a Prime Rib waiting for you at your table. Cye felt sorry for you...well... and he also got sick of Kento's whining....." Smiling, Mina emerged. "Okay, I'll come out." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So... Mina..." Kento blurted out in between bites. "You still... sure... that... you don't... wanna sing??" At this point, Cye was becoming violent, with a certain sharp three-pointed eating utensil held to his best friends's neck. "DROP IT, Kento!" "Geez... alright...!" he exclaimed, still chewing. "Just put... that thing ... down!!" "If she wants to sing, then she will GO UP AND SING. She doesn't need YOU to tell her what to do. GOT IT?!" "ALRIGHT ALREADY!" "Oh, and just so you KNOW, Kento..." Mina squinted, picking at her meal. "I am NOT your girlfriend." "WHAT??" He dropped his fork onto the floor. "But I thought you said...." "I DID. But that was then, and this is now. Okay? I have no interest in you. I think you're an annoying gluttonous jerk!!" "But.... but...... MINA...." "NO, KENTO! I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I WILL NOT be your girlfriend! And that's final!" Cye just sat there, absorbing all this. In one corner of his mind, he was rejoicing that Mina wasn't Kento's girlfriend. But in the other... Kento was still his best friend... and if he didn't know him better, he would have sworn that he had seen a tear forming in his eye as Minako spoke... "Mina.... I thought you liked me..." "I like you as a FRIEND, but that's it, alright?" Kento stood up, and glared at Mina in fury. "I can't believe you, Mina-chan.. you used me! Why didn't you just TELL me that you didn't like me? Why did you put me through this? Every day that you were gone I thought about you. I used to pray every night that someday you'd come back... and we'd be together like before... but now that you're here, you don't like me anymore. Well, you know what?! FINE!!! I hope you and Cye have a lovely evening together! I never want to talk to either of you AGAIN!!" "Kento, WAIT!!!" Cye screamed, and ran after him, worried out of his mind. He had no idea that Kento loved someone that much! In all the years they had been friends, Kento never once mentioned Minako. And now, it was all beginning to make sense to him... the hidden photo album, the unexplained lapses of depression that came out of nowhere every time that Sage gawked at any blond and blue eyed girl... Minako followed after Cye also, feeling immensely guilty about what she had done. She never wanted to hurt him! She was going to let him down gently, in the easiest way possible, but NO! Her stupid temper had gotten to her again! She had only told him the TRUTH! But why did the truth always have to hurt so much?!? "Kento... please listen to me," Cye began, panting as he finally caught up to him. "Mina didn't want to hurt you. She was trying to let you down the easiest way she knew how. I understand how hard it must have been for her to do that... and how much it must have hurt you.." "Get the hell away from me," Kento spat at him. "None of you people understand me. YOU the least of all." Wiping off his face, Cye stuttered weakly. He was terrible in these situations. "B-but I'm your best friend-" "FUCK YOU, CYE! I *have* no real friends!! I never have, and I never will!!" At that point, Minako reappeared, also panting. "Kento... please..." "I can't even LOOK at you anymore..." he said with disgust. "After all the hell you've put me through all these years...!" "Kento, *I* didn't put you through anything! It was because you loved me.. and that's what happens to a person when they love someone! I, of all people, should know..." Minako's voice started to become more distant. "God knows how many times I've been hurt when I've loved people... and every time I've been shot down! Every time I've dared to share my feelings ... I've only been hurt. And hell, my ELEMENT IS LOVE! I'm supposed to know it all! I'm supposed to HAVE a love life, god damnit! I'm supposed to be the EXPERT at love!! It seems like I've been helping everyone else with their love lives so long that... I've forgotten to make one of my own... and now I have nobody... because I gave him away, that man I would have given my own life for, Kento. I faked my own death. I let him go with her. Because I just wanted him to be happy. Just... to be happy..." Mina could no longer control the tears, and begun to drop to the ground in her overflowing emotion. "MINA-CHAN!" Kento burst out, and caught her just in time. Cye came closer to his friend and the sobbing blond, and smiled slightly at the sight before him. Kento was holding Mina tightly and trying to comfort her, as she had let out things that she had held in for many years. "Shh... it's okay... there there Mina..." Mina wiped off her wet eyes onto Kento's shirt. He didn't seem to mind. "Oh God... I must seem like such an idiot to you guys...Kento...Cye...!!" "No, it's alright," Cye said soothingly. "It's not like we've never cried before." Minako pulled away from the tall and worried boy hugging her, smiling. "I feel so much better now. Thanks, Kento." He blushed very slightly, and unnoticably. "Aw Mina-chan, it was nuthin'." "Friends?" She asked, holding out her hand generously. He paused, then smiled, at ease. "Yea. Friends." "Hey... you know what... this is sort of weird, but I feel like singing another kareoke song!! How about you guys??" "NO WAY, not me!!" Kento jumped in. "I can't sing!! And boy, do you sure pick the WEIRDEST times.....!" "Ummmm..... well.... hey, why not??" Minako grinned, taking a tight grasp onto Cye's arm, and the three friends ran back into the building together. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "sono doa akete... nokori jikan ga... suikomareteku ....." Minako had picked a nice upbeat happy song to sing, one she herself had dubbed 'Route Venus'. Cye was a little lost at first, but eventually he would join in with her at the chorus part. The crowd found it amusing to watch him try to follow along. "sabaku no yoake wo!!!!" Mina let out with her unusually loud, blaring voice, and cracked up in laughter. Cye just giggled at her silliness. "You're got an.. uh.. *interesting* voice..!" He jokingly whispered to her during the short musical break. "HEY!!" She yelled back, grinning. "At least I try!!!" He just smiled and chuckled silently to himself as she resumed singing. The song ended, and just as the audience applauded, Cye shoved Mina playfully in the side. "Alright, NOW I'll show you how it's done." Mina looked at him, confused but interested, as he spoke with the musicians. When he came back to the microphone, a loud drum beat started, and he begun to sing some sort of an extremely fast-paced battle song, half in Japanese and half in English. As he sang, he looked at Mina triumphantly. "EEsh," Mina smiled, and discreetly walked off stage. "How could I ever compete?" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow, what an evening THAT was!! Hehe!" Usagi skipped out of the building, holding hands with Mamoru. "Did you have fun Mamo-chan?" "As long as I'm with you Usako..." He said shakily, somewhat frightened of her when she was in one of these hyper states. "What about you Mako-chan?" "Yeah! Sure did," she responded, moving closer to the smirking Sage. "And you Ami-chan? Hey, where is she?" Usagi, Mamoru, Makoto, Rei, Ryo, Mia, Sage, Kento, and Minako all turned around looking for her. "Ummm.... yeah... where'd she go??" "I think I saw her leave with Rowen about an hour ago," Sage informed. "Ohhhhhhhh!!!!" Makoto and Usagi cooed happily. The groups begun to split up, and Rei and Mamoru were the first to climb into his car. Makoto kissed a very surprised Sage goodbye, and then joined Rei and Mamoru. Kento waved goodbye to Mina, and got into Mia's car. Ryo and Mia followed suit, and soon everyone except Usagi and Minako were ready to leave. "Usagi-chan... can you excuse me for a moment?" "Yeah Mina.. where ya going?" She didn't answer, but ran off to a solitary pine tree where a boy with auburn hair was standing alone. "Hey Cye!" she called out happily. He smiled as she came closer. He ran over to her, waving. "So Minako-san, did you have a good time?" "YEAH! It was great! Why aren't you going with the other guys?" "Well..." he looked down unsurely at the grass he was standing on. "I wanted to see who won the kareoke contest. And maybe sing a few more songs..!" "You silly," she smiled. "Of course *you* did! No one else came close!" "Oh, I don't know..." Minako didn't bother to try and argue with him. She simply propped herself up on tippie-toes, and kissed his cheek. In a sudden motion, he reached for her face and turned it towards his lips. He backed off shyly for a moment, realizing what he had done, and blushed with guilt. There was a short but very awkward pause after. "Oops," he mumbled, and the two burst into laughter. "Let's go in then, shall we?" Minako grinned, taking his hand in hers. "Yeah," he answered cheerfully, and the two carefree teenagers ran off into the wind. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Heehee... what did you think? Well it was better than Version 1.0... a lot less screwy... PLEASE give me feedback... tell me what you liked, didn't, etc. at sailor_v@mail.com! ~ Mina Warrior (Crackhead) Princess ~