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{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/11/02
|Location=Earth Court Frat House
|Synopsis=Sayaka asks Mamoru and Kunzite about the whole prince thing. Mamoru answers her questions... and also answers some of the questions she's really asking.
|Cast of Characters=109,38,7
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sayaka's known about the top floor of a particular building for a long time, now. There was a celebration of the American Thanksgiving there, a year ago. A couple of months later, Sayaka came to the place hunting its owner, and found Kyouko confronting the man who'd kidnapped him.<br /><br />These days the owner is back in town, and the kidnapper in question keeps track of the household for him while he and the other full-time occupants are busy with school and the oncoming train of university entrance exams. And it's not ''one'' apartment anymore; it's been opened up and interlinked with the three others that take up the top floor, and at that it's extended itself into the rooftop garden.<br /><br />It's been a weird year.<br /><br />Nonetheless, Sayaka still has a standing invitation to the place. Presumably it still holds.<br /><br />This particular evening, one of the balconies is clearly visible (from the rooftop roads that Puella usually travel) as having people active in the living room off of it. Inside, there's still a lingering smell of something savory and spicy from dinner, and the furniture is only ''somewhat'' rearranged from cleaning up the spills incited by a spat over video games earlier. Possibly that's why Kunzite's settled on the slightly-moved couch, dressed in jeans and a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves. There's a book in English he was presumably trying to read; it's set aside with a finger to hold his place while he listens patiently to the person talking to him.<br /><br />Okay, the person ''complaining'' to him. Close enough. It's not like, after the entire kidnapping business, Kunzite is going to have much ground to protest ''anything'' Mamoru opts to do where he's concerned in the next, oh, decade. Maybe two. Maybe ten.

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>And meanwhile, Mamoru -- with not ''quite'' Doc Brown hair (for one it's black, for two there's rather more of it) -- and spectacles still on, barefoot and wearing most of his school uniform still, has his arms draped over Kunzite's shoulders and his head next to Kunzite's, holding a fifteen-page sheaf of paper in one hand (in front of Kunzite) and gesturing angrily at it with the other hand. "It's a piece of crap," he says, aggravated but not loud. "And so's the teacher! I can write so much better than this, but if I did I'd get marked down because he wants us taking ''shortcuts'' with the things he knows, like, isn't he supposed to be making sure we know the things he knows? I think this is a psychology ''experiment'', not a ''class'': how long does it take to send AP students 'round the bend? That's his research question, it has to be. I mean look at this nonsense! He didn't even specify if we needed to do the parts of the theories relevant to the course or ALL the parts of the theories, even the ones that have nothing to do with cognitive development--!"

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A few hours ago, Sayaka had been on patrol with Kyouko, something that had not happened in quite a while. And while she was left with mixed feelings, she did at least feel quite a bit better than she had been feeling for quite some time now. Still, it left her with a lot of questions.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's still in henshin as she leaps from roof top to roof top on her way home. Heck, it's a lot faster for her in her henshined form, than it is by bus. As luck would have it, this particular short cut to her house ends up intersecting with Mamoru's home, and she pauses on the rooftop, smirking to herself.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, Saya does have another test tomorrow, and judging by her previous tests, she's probably gonna flunk this one anyway. But given so late it is already, she probably wont have energy to stay up all night studying, so what the heck? Might as well call in sick..<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a shrug, Sayaka lightly leaps up onto the second floor balcony, deciding it'll be a lot quicker than going for the main floor door, and lightly raps on the window, quickly de-henshining as she does so. No need to alarm them afterall, right?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Umm, hello? Anyone home?" She calls out.

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kunzite does not say anything resembling 'yes, save me from the aggravated senior hoping for medical school.' Nor does he hail Sayaka as a force of rescue. "You're making the assumption," he says to Mamoru instead, regarding the pages giving offense, "that someone who understands the theories of psychology is actually capable of using them well enough to teach effectively. The two do not necessarily go together. Especially in his case. If he gives you trouble about your grade, I do if necessary know which of the math teachers he can be blackmailed about."<br /><br />Probably not an offer Mamoru's going to take him up on, but -- in any case, there's a knock at the balcony window. "Yes; it's unlocked, come in," he calls back to Sayaka, lifting his voice enough to be audible through the glass. And, for once, not glancing to Mamoru to let him make the decision.

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"We'll see if he gives me a crap grade for it, first, and if he does, and I show it to someone who's actually ''published'' and ''they'' don't think it's inadequate, then I might just take you up on that," Mamoru says darkly, straightening up and tossing the proof aside onto the couch as he turns, one hand unnecessarily trailing across Kunzite's shoulder as he's pulling away. "Saya-chan!" he calls cheerfully, mood flipped like a lightswitch. "Do you want tea or coffee or anything?"

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Unlocked?" she echoes curiously, and finds to her surprise that it is indeed unlocked. Well, of course. They ARE on the 47th floor afterall, and it's not likely that anyone, other than someone who could fly of course, could easily break in. Even so, given the many attacks on Mamoru's life in the past, Sayaka's still a bit surprised at the relaxed security.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods however, carefully locking the door behind her. Just to be safe, before peering around at the room, noticing both Mamoru and Kunzite are here...Studying? Well, gee, now she feels extra guilty about skipping class - and that test - tomorrow!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Umm..Hi! Sorry to interrupt you, didnt realize you were studying..Should I..Go?" glancing around, Sayaka still realizes that she feels like an intruder here. Afterall, she's neither a senshi nor a shittenou. And in spite of both of their attempts at making her feel welcome, she still wonders if it's an odd hour of the night to be visiting..?

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Not interrupting! Well. Interrupting in a good way. I'm angry with my psych teacher and poor Kunzite's bearing my tirades like a saint," laughs the prince-- and then he looks past to where Sayaka's locked the balcony door and waves a hand. "Actually, can you unlock that again? I don't want someone with an emergency to have to break it to get in," he says sheepishly. "Seems unnecessarily obstructive. Seriously, coffee? Tea? Muffins? Naru made muffins, and there's some frozen Mako goodies left I could heat up, too. Also leftover dinner."

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sayaka arches a quizzical brow on both accounts. Wow, he seems so...So relaxed all the time. His...Shittenou, was it? They must do a good job of protecting him, and from what she's heard, he is supposed to be someone very important. But of course, Sayaka doesn't really know the full story of the senshi, and she is achingly curious; Especially now that Kyouko has become so involved with them.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, if you're sure then..Alright." With a smirk, she unlocks the latch, finding it somehow amusing. But he clearly trusts that he is safe here, and so she will trust him too. Hesitantly, she steps further into the room, peering curiously at the papers on the desk, then back at Mamoru. "Well in that case, thanks for letting me in. I suppose, now that you mention it, I could do with a spot of herbal tea. Cammomile if you have any. It's a bit chilly out there, patrolling all night.."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She peers around, and moves towards the nearest cough, sitting down on it and relaxing for the first time this night. "Mamoru-san..Kunzite-san. It's been a while, how have you been? I dont think I saw you at the halloween party, either of you. Or.." she smirks, "Or maybe I just didnt recognize you in costume."

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Chamomile it is," says Mamoru, taking off his glasses and sticking them in the pocket of his shirt, then padding barefoot over to the kitchen doorway-- there's a counter between them and the kitchen in this particular apartment, so he can still take part in the conversation while he fills the kettle and puts it on, then goes about doing things with mugs and a tea ball and looseleaf. Well. Loose blossom. "It's nice to see you too! And you can ask anyone you like, they'll tell you I was home all evening finishing writing that stupid thing I dropped on the couch. Kunzite was probably being spooky. How did Usagi look?"<br /><br />He really ''is'' so relaxed, so cheerful-- and rumor's had it lately that he's been a ball of spiky crankiness. Maybe it really ''was'' midterms doing him in. "Oh and-- I don't think you've been here since the house rules went into place. They're enforced except for number three since a five year old's been coming around and you always let them have player one if they want it; this is neutral ground. Anyone thinking to attack this place is just bloody stupid. Door's open because it's an informal emergency medical clinic."

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>It is completely unsurprising that Kunzite does not admit either to having been at the party in costume, or to having been elsewhere. He gestures to the place where the house rules are posted on the wall -- 'no Witch labyrinths' being spelled out explicitly -- when Mamoru mentions them. It's a brief and casual flick of a hand, something that makes it plain that he doesn't think Sayaka will be a problem where they're concerned. "One of us is nearly always here and awake," he adds, instead. "Nephrite likes spending time talking with the stars; it gives him an excuse to sleep after school. Occasionally, during school."

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thanks!" she replies, a bit more cheerful than she was at the party, settling into the warmth of the armchair she has chosen. "Well, I guess you're more disciplined than I am, that's for sure! I mean, I have a test tomorrow that I havent studied for..However, there was actually something I wanted to ask you."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he goes off to the kitchen to prepare the chamomile tea, she smiles and nods. "Thanks..I guess it can wait." wow, he does seem really relaxed. But that's probably a good thing, right? No doubt all the renovations have been completed by now as well..<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the 'house rules' are mentionned, she instinctively looks at the wall where the rules are posted, and cant help but chuckle softly, "Well, I'll try not to turn into a witch and create a labrynth anytime soon!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saya does arch a curious eyebrow at Kunzite, wondering if he made it to the party. But..He's not a terribly social person himself, so she doubts that ever happened.

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Thankfully, the tea water was still mostly hot; it's not long before it's boiling, and Mamoru comes out with a teaball in a big mug of hot water, with the scent of really strong gathered-fresh-this-fall chamomile trailing behind him. He sets it down on the coffeetable in front of Sayaka, grinning a little crookedly. "Good. No witching out. And eh, not so much disciplined as desperate. I want to sail into medical school with some of the work already done and the professors already impressed ahead of time."<br /><br />He scoops the abandoned papers off the couch and drops them into a bin of recycle-and-scrap paper near the desk in the corner with a laptop on it, then comes back over to drop himself onto the couch next to Kunzite. "And ask away! Two jerks, many questions, no waiting."

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Test she hasn't studied for. Kazuo gives Sayaka the obligatory momentary glance leftover from last fall's stint as a history teacher, but is far enough removed from that by now that he doesn't actually say more about it than, "Let's hope it's one of the ones you didn't ''need'' to study for, then."<br /><br />There's no sign of surprise or worry over Sayaka's comment regarding the rules; Kunzite just echoes Mamoru's 'good' silently with a nod. They both know. They both don't much worry, as a rule. (-- is that bit of white at one side of his forehead a stray lock of hair, or a tiny leftover streak of makeup? It's so hard to tell at a distance, and now Mamoru's in the way...)

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She smiles, murmuring a thanks as she reaches for the warm tea. After running around all night fighting wraiths, it feels warm and comfy and cozy. "Well, at least you do your best. I'm sure you'll make it into Med school in no time. Me..I'm not so sure with my grades lately, but I guess I've just been a bit preoccupied. I'm sure things will be okay from now on though. Heck, Naru-chan even offered to help study with me! She says she knows a super smart girl, Ami Mizuno, I believe?"<br /><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, Saya doesnt yet realize she is a sailor senshi. In fact, she's only ever met Sailormoon and accidently discovered that she was a senshi. Speaking of which, "Oh yeah, I guess Usagi-san was there too..She looked gorgeous in a long silver princess gown that lit up in a miriad of rainbow colors. Just like a real princess. But then, I guess she kind of is, isnt she..?" Just snippets of stuff she'd heard or seen here and there allowed her to put two and two together. She still doesn't understand it in its entirety though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No worries," Saya grins and winks at Kazu, "It's really just a quiz to see what we know so far, not worth much and if I call in sick tomorrow, which I'm tempted to do as I was out all night patrolling and...Talking to Kyouko.." for a moment, she looks away, seeming..Serious, thooughtful, as she mentions the name. Lately, she's been calling her Kyouko. Not Kyou-chan as much lately, for some reason.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But, actually, what I really came here to ask you..Ask you both actually, was about the Shitennou. Since Kyou-chan's become one, I guess I just wanted..I needed to know more about what exactly they are, what they do. All I know is that they are your bodyguards, Mamoru-san. And..Are you really a prince..?" yeah, she had heard that somewhere too though she forgets where, perhaps from Mamoru himself.

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mamoru looks positively gleeful at Sayaka's description of Usagi-- and then he laughs and gives Sayaka a quick nod. "Yeah, she's the Princess of the Moon," he says cheerfully. "And, well-- the Senshi are her guardians. The Shitennou are mine. But I mean-- in this life, the Senshi are her friends, first. None of us remembered who we were in our past lives before last year; she didn't grow up as a princess, and I certainly didn't grow up as a prince. So it all depends on your point of view. It's not like I have a crown or a throne or any kind of government in this world, here and now, is it? I'm a third year in high school who moonlights as a superhero in formalwear."<br /><br />He curls his toes on the bottom rung of the coffee table's supports and folds and unfolds the bottom of his loose school necktie, smiling a little bit, and definitely lopsidedly. "Reincarnation is funny. I remember both lives. Most of us remember something. Some of us don't remember much. But our kingdoms were so, so very long ago-- the continents were different shapes and magic was everywhere, was accepted and known, and what's left of our cultures and our histories survives primarily in scattered and warped fragments of myth. If you know anything about Chinese mythology, or Greek...? Then there's the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, or the story of Selene and Endymion. Stories based on our romance back then..."<br /><br />He waves a hand around, then, dropping his tie. "At any rate, the Shitennou are more than bodyguards. They always have been. That's part of it, but-- advisors, babysitters sometimes, guardians, my team, my friends-- my family."

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"It has to be part of it," Kunzite says, leaned back in his corner of the couch. He glances at the page in his book at last, checking the number, and then finally sets it entirely aside. "You get into too much trouble for us to be able to leave you unsupervised. If we all took the same weekend off, we'd come back and discover that you'd been kidnapped and hypnotized into using your powers to enable a perfume harvesting scheme, the product of which was in the process of turning the entire population of Tokyo into mountain goats wearing top hats."<br /><br />Possibly they are secretly actually bodyguarding Mamoru from his own ego. That, or he's testing the other teenager's reflexes to see how fast he can get swatted.<br /><br />As an aside, he adds, "Sayaka, is there any subject in specific you're having trouble with? Naru is likely to be a good tutor, but between us, we might be able to find you some extra help."

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sayaka hmms and nods slowly, "Ahh, I remember now. I seem to recall that Kunzite-kun had mentionned something to that effect a while ago. But wow, that's huge responsibility. And leading a double life? That's intense." she's probably heard some vague mention of that somewhere before too, but never in much detail. It didnt help that she never quite recovered -all- of her marbles, back when Sailormoon had revived everyone.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, just bodyguards then. But if you are a prince? king? of the earth, you must be pretty important. I guess it'd explain why you're often a target. And Kyouko-chan...So I guess you really have five bodyguards now, huh.." She sighs, trying to let this all register.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Do you ever..Miss that other life, of yours? You went from being king of an entire planet to..A college student who..." she lets that sentence trail off, not wanting to offend him. Let's just say, people dont exactly bow and pay homage to him in this world - apart from the senshi of course.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I mean, I guess I sometimes wonder, will you ever go back to the Moon Kingdom and rule there someday? Or will you one day reclaim your throne and rule over all the earth sometime in the future, perhaps? And what of the senshi and the shitennou? Are they also royalty with claims to the earth? And of course...Kyou-chan. Well, she's not a reincarnated princess but.." But, will she also ascend a throne, leaving Sayaka behind as a...Commoner, a nobody? But Saya doesn't voice that last part, not wanting to seem too..Arrogant. She's rather relieved for a change of subject in fact.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Kazuo asks what subject she's struggling with, she chuckles, "Well..I'm not so great at math. I really like music and history of course, and I'm pretty good at those, but not so great with numbers. Algebra really bites."

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"--no, ''not'' just bodyguards," Mamoru says, sticking on the point even as he kicks Kunzite's ankle. He sits up and rests his elbows on his knees, looking slightly ridiculous with his hair every which way and his uniform disheveled, but nonetheless -- somehow -- regal in his earnest gravity. "My ''family''. My advisors. The people who ''get'' it-- people I can't function right without. Before we got them back, I was trying to do all their jobs at once, which meant I couldn't do any of them properly. And they all need doing. Our jobs-- it doesn't matter if I'm royalty or not. We have the power, and we have the responsibility. It's our vocation: we need to make sure that at the end of the day, when all the battles are fought and the warriors are weary and heartsick, they have a home to come back to and heal in safety. Honestly, we're way better off without me visible like that, stuck on a throne. I was Crown Prince of Earth. It had its good sides and its bad sides. One of the bad sides was that I was forbidden from courting the Moon Princess. Another one was that I couldn't just go do whatever I wanted without there tending to be massive consequences. Another was that I was responsible for keeping the peace between all the smaller kingdoms and territories, and supposed to maintain negotiations with the rest of the Solar system-- or at least, I was prepared to, I was training for it all my life."<br /><br />Then he sits up, and he grins. "In ''this'' life? I've still got my guys, and I have ''more'' friends, and I have Kyouko too, and we get to work ''with'' the Senshi, and I get to be with my Princess, and I get to go to school, and I'm going to be a ''doctor''. Ask me again if I miss it."

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ankle is kicked, with neither attempt to evade nor protest raised. Somehow, despite his face not ''overtly'' shifting, Kunzite manages to look ever so faintly smug.<br /><br />It settles to something a little more serious when he turns his attention back to Sayaka. "Back then," he says, "the times he looked forward to the most were the times when he could sneak away, sanctioned or otherwise, and just be a person for a little while. One or more of us still went with him, of course -- but there was no court, no etiquette, no social boundaries barring him from other people. Now? That's most of his life. Why would he give that up, if he had any choice in the matter?<br /><br />"As for me -- what I was in that life, before being one of his guard, was an orphan and a stray, and a soldier at an age that international law makes a war crime now. I barely had claim to myself." And not so different from Kyouko after all.<br /><br />The classwork might indeed be a useful break; Kunzite adds, "Naru's good with mathematics, if I remember correctly. Algebra's more of a balancing act than numbers. If she can't find a way for you to understand it, I might be able to, and if I can't, Zoisite might. We can see."

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ahh...." Sayaka listens in wide-eyed wonder, realizing for the first time that all that glory and fame that she's always dreamed about for herself might not be such a great thing after all. "Yeah, sorry about that. I guess it came out the wrong way! I mean..Yeah, you have an awesome family here, and maybe that's more important than fame or fortune. And you must be proud of Kyou-chan too..She must be really dedicated to you for you to make her one of your..Shitenou."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The word still seems strange to her, but she understands that it's Kyouko's desire to stand at Mamoru's side..Even if it still makes her feel just a bit jealous that Kyouko is no longer standing at her own side any longer. But, perhaps she is right, and they can still fight together.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You know, I always figured it'd be great to be famous and a member of royalty. Like, you're special or something. But I guess with all that responsibility, you lose a lot of freedom too. And at least, maybe in this reincarnation, you get to live a happy and peaceful life with your princess, right?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She listens to Kunzite's explanation as well, and something finally hits her. "Oh, I think I get it now. That's why you call each other family, why Kyou-chan calls you nii-chan. It's because many of you are lost without the other. Without a real family. I sometimes wonder if that's why Kyouko felt I couldn't understand her as well as you. Afterall, I have a wealthy family and parents who are still alive. Even so.."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sighs, shaking her head, "I still feel lonely. Things aren't the same as when Kyouko and I were a team, fighting together. But I understand that she has other responsibilities. I just hope that I can still continue to be a part of her life. And, I hope that I can help you all out too. I know I'm not a Senshi or a Shittenou, but..I want to be something useful, and it's hard, fighting on your own."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Really, classwork is the last thing on her mind lately, as she tries to figure out where she fits into all of this. But, it's a sad fact of life. Ironically, she'd trade this normal life for a reincarnated princess life - if only for a purpose and destiny, and a team to belong to. But she keeps these thoughts largely to herself, not wanting to seem selfish.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hmm, I guess it is really a balancing act, although sometimes it's hard trying to figure out what belongs where without disrupting the other numbers.." odd, almost sounds like she's talking about herself and how she fits into Kyouko's life and by extension, the Senshi and Shittenou and Mamoru and Usagi's. Or if she even has a place here.

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mamoru glances at Kunzite briefly-- the math conversation is a conversation, sure, but this conversation is one that needs to be dealt with because it's the one eating at Sayaka.<br /><br />The prince leans forward again, elbows on knees once more, hands loosely clasped. "Sayaka," he says slowly, "you know I was close with Kyouko before you two even met, right? I'd essentially already adopted her. And she and Kunzite here adopted each other in the Dark Kingdom-- but it was you who got through to her. I only started to when I brought her to her apartment and showed her your picture. One relationship does not preclude another. There are lots of kinds of love, and lots of kinds of friendship, and lots of kinds of family."<br /><br />Oh right. She's talking to an empath who's taking psychology.<br /><br />"More to the point, though-- it's like I was saying about this place, this apartment. It's not a Shitennou-only place, or a Shitennou-and-Senshi place, it's a place where people can come to feel safe. It's a place where people can come to heal, or to hang out with other people who have some idea of what their life is like, or come to hide for a little while. It's protected. It's friendly, and that friendliness is enforced. If someone feels threatened, it's seen to. If someone tries to bully, it's seen to. It's not closed, it's not a closed door. Even when I'm not home-- and ''you'' saw, even when ''no one'' is home. Didn't you Puella have Thanksgiving here last year when the place was empty?"<br /><br />There's a small smile tugging at one corner of Mamoru's mouth. "What I'm trying to say is-- you already fit in here. You're already welcome. And you're also already welcome to fight alongside us. We all fight to protect this world, don't we? Bigger or smaller parts of it, it doesn't matter. We all want to see a better tomorrow. What makes you think you don't fit?"

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's a returned glance to Mamoru, and it's an even one. Because while Mamoru's comfortable spelling out that Sayaka is welcome -- there's another way of making that clear, too; the casual assumption that Kunzite offered her, that she could come and study there, that the people who lived there would be willing to give her a hand clambering over barriers she encountered in arenas with nothing to do with fighting.<br /><br />Another way of saying 'you already fit in here; you're already welcome.' Another part of the same conversation, putting a little more support in before Mamoru said it out loud.<br /><br />(That's a balancing act, too.)<br /><br />But for ''this'' part of the conversation ... Mamoru's the one Sayaka's focusing on; Mamoru's the one she needs to hear. And Mamoru's said the important things, and asked the important question. Kunzite echoes them with a nod, nothing more.<br /><br />They haven't talked much, he and Sayaka. But maybe often enough for her to know that sometimes it's his silences that matter.

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sayaka arches a brow when he mentions showing Kyouko her picture. She didnt even know kyouko had a picture of her! And when Mamoru puts it so eloquently that way, the puzzle pieces seem to fit together a little better.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, I guess I just didnt experience the things that Kyouko experienced with all of you. A part of your family. Someone who understood your fight against Queen Beryl in a way I couldnt. She even said it wasnt my battle. I guess I was so involved in battling witches that I figured that was my destiny and the only thing I was good at. But when you put it that way.."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ah yes, the thanksgiving dinner. That was a fond memory. And a little strange, holding it here in Mamoru's apartment when he wasnt even home. She smirks at the memory. "I guess..You truly are the Prince of the earth. Even now, even if you dont wear a crown, live in a castle or own land. Afterall, you're good at uniting everybody, bringing everyone together. And isnt that what princes do?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And his words continue to bring warmth to her heart. A place where she can belong. Maybe Sayaka really can make this work between herself and Kyouko, they just need to shift the puzzle pieces a bit until they balance each other out. "Thank you, Mamoru-san. Kunzite-san. It all makes a little more sense now."

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You get to pick your destiny," Mamoru says with a grin, and now he stands up and points to the scrap-paper-recycle-bin by the desk. "Like I'm picking mine. I'm destined to write a bajillionty papers no one will ever, ever want to read, because teachers who don't even want to read them assign them, and then shove off grading them to their TAs, who don't want to read them either but their own grades depend on doing it. Academia is the fifth or eighth circle of Hell, I haven't decided. It changes on a day to day basis." Then he flips a hand. "You're welcome; drink your tea. Also, feel free to talk about me a lot when I leave. I'm going to bury my face in a bucket of ice cream and watch Hellsing DVDs until my eyes bleed."

:'''{{#var:109|Kazuo Takeba| (109)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"And then you can look forward to hundred-and-thirty-hour work weeks during your residency. We should experiment next time you're knocked unconscious, and find out whether being teleported while out cold still makes you sick. It'll be valuable information in your future." No, Kunzite does not wait till Mamoru's moved out of kicking range to say that. A bruised ankle is a small price to pay.<br /><br />After any vengeance is exacted, he straightens up. "We have shared fights, though. Sometimes against our enemies. Sometimes against yours. That's a beginning. Building things -- sharing that is harder. ''Doing'' that is harder. But more worthwhile, in the end."

:'''{{#var:7|Sayaka Miki| (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh right, the tea! Sayaka hastily sips on it, not wanting it to go cold on her too quickly. It really helps relax her, and as always, she is intrigued by Mamoru's words. Even dressed as a college student, she can see the regal princeliness shining through.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, you're gonna be a medical student? Sounds like a lot of work, but if anyone can do it, I know you can." Doesn't sound as glamorous as being a prince, but at least he has his freedom. "Yeah, I'd better let you get to work on your paper and if I'm lucky, I'll still have some time tonight to study for mine." she smirks. Kinda late to start cramming but hey, there are still a few hours left in the night."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, Sayaka yawns and stretches. "Well, I should probably head home myself. My parents will start to worry. But thank you for the tea, and thanks for helping sort things out. I think I understand now, how I fit into this puzzle."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once she's finished sipping the last of her tea, Sayaka yawns and stretches as she rises to her feet, heading for the balcony. "Well, I guess this is the quickest way out. Good Night!"

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba| (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>After kicking Kunzite's ankle again, Mamoru swans off toward the hall, then pauses in it and says blithely over his shoulder, "I'll make sure I eat lots of KFC before getting knocked unconscious next time."<br /><br />And then he's out.
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