To be honest, Makoto is not looking forward to this conversation. At all.
Oh, it's possible it won't go as awkwardly as she's been imagining. Makoto still doesn't know how she feels about Mamoru Chiba, let alone how Usagi feels about the guy. But given how upset she was by the idea that he could be Nephrite... no, Mako's not looking forward to sharing the latest of what she and Rei have determined.
Which is why Mako asked (begged) Rei to be there.
Just at present, she's waiting near the entrance of Game Center Crown, the likeliest spot at which to head Usagi off. Makoto figured to expect a long wait, but it's not doing anything to make her feel better. "I already feel like a jerk and we don't even know how she's going to react yet," she complains to Rei, unhappily.
Rei's not looking forward to this conversation either. Yet, she did agree to be here with Makoto. Besides, she wouldn't let her friends stand alone, either Makoto or Usagi.
Yet life isn't always that simple. Readings were made, complications arose, and at the end of the day she still doesn't know what to think of Mamoru Chiba. Well, at least she's fairly sure that he isn't a bad guy.
A bad guy wouldn't stick his neck out as he has. Besides, she /hopes/ he can at least be trusted to keep his mouth shut about certain issues.
Rei is standing next to Makoto, at the entrance to the Game Crown. She's putting on a brave smile. It's the best thing she can do in these circumstances. "I don't know either, but it's something she needs to know. It would make me feel worse if we /didn't/ tell her."
Rei isn't really happy about it either, and her friends can probably pick up on that, but she still tries to keep spirits up, "I think we're doing the right thing."
It's a good day to be a Moon Bunny! There's been no recent tests for her to endure the Wrath of Mom (tm) from, she has a few extra dollars for doing the chores on time and decently, and the Game Center Crown is having a two-for-one milkshake sale. Thus, in rushes Usagi Tsukino, dressed in a blue blouse and green skirt, towards the mainstay of arcade gamers and milkshake enthusiasts in Mitakihara. There might even be a gigantic dust cloud she leaves in her wake.
But even those things pale in comparison to her love for her friends, and so she skids to a stop before her friends as she spies both Rei and Makoto, trips, tumbles, and lands in a dizzy heap at their mutual feet. while they commisserate over the Mamoru Situation.
"Mako-chan, Rei-chan! There's a two-for-one sale today are you here tooooo....waaaaaaaah!!!" Trip, tumble, roll, thunk! Her eyes are spirals as she lays there, dazed, tears already threatening to spill down her cheeks.
Someone should help her up before she has a tantrum.
"I know we are," Makoto says, acknowledging Rei's smile with her own best lopsided effort. "It's just that doing the right thing kind of sucks sometimes--"
And there's Usagi, arriving so fast that even though Mako has been waiting here *specifically for her,* she's still caught off-guard. "Usagi-chan!" She hurries to her friend's side, bending to make sure she's not injured and help her back onto her feet. "Are you okay? that looked like it hurt!"
Rei would agree with Makoto, if she had time to before Usagi shows up. She's her usual enthusiastic self, Rei notes. A sale on milkshakes? Well maybe the three of them could get some milkshakes, then.
A single sweatdrop falls from Rei's head as Usagi trips. Is this for real? This is the girl they're going to tell bad news to? She grimaces as she thinks about it. So much for her brave smile.
"Ugh. Usagi-chan!" She is clearly annoyed. Rei goes to Usagi's side, looking down at her fallen comrade. "Be more careful!"
Rei wonders if her chiding will even be listened to, as she tries to help Usagi up and try to guide her inside.
Thankfully, Makoto's there to pick up her fallen friend! Just before the waterworks begin to erupt, up she goes with the pair of Rei's and Mako's help, and she's on her feet! Thankfully, she somehow managed to not injure herself.
That doesn't preclude a few sniffles however. She wipes her eyes with a sleeve.
"I'm okay Mako-chan, thank you!" Cue one big hug, and a few tears on the girl's shoulder! Squeeeeeeze!
Then she's frowning, pouting at Rei!
"That's mean Rei-chan! I was careful! The sidewalk's too trippy!" The sidewalk, is in fact, well maintained and flat. Usagi pouts more for a moment, and then they're inside. No sign of Motoki. Maybe he's in the back? Usagi's frown grows at not seeing her favorite crush that isn't Tuxedo Kamen. She still orders milkshakes though, and some for both Rei and Mako!
She's all smiles when she has her two shakes, eagerly sucking one down.
"Are you okay, Mako-chan? Rei-chan?" Suddenly comes Usagi mid-sip, noting the looks on her friends faces. She's good with emotions, despite her shortcomings, and the look of concern on her face is real.
Makoto can't help but smile at Usagi; that's just the kind of effect the blonde girl has on people. "Yeah," she says, trying to sound reassuring. "Everything's fine. There's just some stuff that Rei-chan and I found out about that you should hear too."
Milkshakes are a good distraction, and it's not like Mako's going to say no to ice cream. She picks hers up, glances toward Rei. "Let's get a corner booth, okay?" they should be able to have a conversation there without worrying about being overheard.
Rei sticks out her tongue at Usagi. She opens her mouth to say something, but she decides against it. Now is not the time to get into a fight with Usagi. They're already going to hurt her enough.
Once the three of them are back inside, Rei also gets a milkshake. Chocolate. May as well. Milkshakes are tasty, and it might soften the blow. Well, as much as anything can.
When Rei is asked what's wrong, she glances to Makoto, and then to Usagi. "Yeah, it's fine. Just... we need to talk about some things."
Makoto suggests going to a corner booth, and Rei says, "Yeah, let's go."
Rei heads over to the corner booth, looking back to make sure her friends are with her. Once they're all seated, she stirs her milkshake for a moment and begins.
"So... Recently I did a reading. Makoto showed me a picture that Chiba-san drew. It was a picture of the Moon Princess, or at least we're pretty sure it is. I did a reading on it and we found out some things."
That concern doesn't quite fade, but she does smile a little more.
"Alright! Let's go!" Then she's grabbing milkshake, and then she's over to a corner booth! In the back, nice and private.
Looking at Rei, some part of her grows nervous. This doesn't sound like /good/ things to talk about. It similarly shows on her face, Usagi as guileless as ever.
"Wait...why does Chiba-kun know about the Moon Princess?" Comes Usagi, almost immediately confused. She blinks several times, but remains lost. Even her milkshake is untouched.
Then she perks up.
"What did you see, Rei-chan? Did you see her? The moon princess? Is she pretty!? She must be so graceful and beautiful! Oh, I'm jealous, do you think she can teach us to be Princesses!?" Comes Usagi, her full force of warmth and cheer almost reflexively aimed at the two.
She calms down soon after, however, her concern returning.
Makoto gets quiet as Rei starts to explain, sipping at her milkshake and somewhat gratefully letting the miko take the lead. And then, of course, Usagi asks the sixty-four-million-yen question: why does Mamoru know about the Moon Princess?
"We don't really know," Makoto replies. "I don't think he does, either. I talked to him about it a little, after I saw the drawing. He's looking for her like we are... that's why it seemed like a good idea for Rei-chan to do a reading, to try and find out a little more."
Just what Rei saw in her vision, Makoto leaves it to Rei to explain. She herself only knows as much as Rei's told her, secondhand information at best.
"I um... actually had a talk with him about that," says Rei. She hasn't actually told the other two about her mess-up. She's not sure how to express that. Maybe now isn't the best time.
"Apparently he's been having dreams about her for the past 11 years. She's asking for his help or something. At least, that's his story." It's actually a big deal, now that she thinks about it, though she was way too tired to really process it back then.
"... but that's not even the most important part."
Rei takes a sip from her milkshake before continuing. She easily takes the lead here. Some might call her a 'take-charge' kind of girl. Others might just call her bossy. (She's kindof both.)
"The reading I had... I'm pretty sure it was about the Silver Millennium. There was a prince and a princess, probably our princess. The prince was wounded and the princess was crying over the prince. Considering that this reading was about Chiba-san... it's possible that he was the prince from back then."
Rei pauses for a moment. "... which might very well mean he's the Moon Princess's love."
Makoto only seems to brighten up Usagi!
"Then if he's looking for the Princess, then he's a friend!" She states outright, oddly seeming excited.
But then Rei speaks, and suddenly she's looking at once sad, and...
Is Usagi blushing!? Jealousy reigns in her face for a moment, before being stuffed away, and both hands go on the table. Thunk! Her milkshake wobbles!
"Mamo-kun is a big, fat jerk! A meanie!" She protests at first, looking away, and blushing harder. /Jerk-kun/!
She looks back. That blush remains, but she's no longer pouting as she sorts out the feelings in her heart that even she won't admit. What /does/ she feel about Mamoru!?
Hands clasp, and despite wanting to cry (and her eyes slightly watery!), she leans towards her friends.
"...Then if he really was that Prince, and he's our princess' love, then let's find her. Let's definitely find her! Because Mamo-kun and the Princess deserve to be happy." She implores, a little sad, but more serious than perhaps either of the two have ever seen her outside of henshin.
"We don't know for sure that's who he is," Makoto puts in, feeling a terrible twinge of guilt as she sees that watery look in Usagi's eyes. "He said himself he doesn't know. But... it does seem like the most likely explanation, from what Rei-chan saw."
And then she can't help it; reaching across the table, Makoto places a hand gently on Usagi's arm in a supportive gesture. "Usagi-chan..." She trails off there, a bit at a loss. She wants to ask if Usagi is all right; she wants to comfort her friend somehow, if only she could figure out how. "...you're right, we definitely need to find her. For Mamoru-san's sake, too. But, Usagi-chan, there's also something else."
She pauses momentarily, just for the space of a breath. "It seems as though the Dark Kingdom is targeting Mamoru-san. Nephrite came after him, saying that he and his energy belonged to the Dark Kingdom. He backed off when I showed up, but we need to keep an eye out in case he or one of those other jerks tries something again."
Usagi's initial reaction causes Rei to wince. Here come the tears, the pouting, and... and... what did she just say?
Usagi surprises Rei. Sure, Rei has seen her fight, in henshin when her life is on the line. Rei's seen her be heroic. Yet, she was always clumsy and emotional. Yet, to hear her speak the words she's just said... Usagi's a bit more mature than Rei gives her credit for.
Not that it means Rei will tease her any less in the future.
"Y-yeah, Usagi-chan. Let's find her. If we do, then maybe the two of them..."
Rei nods to Makoto, saying, "Yeah, that's right! it wasn't a very clear reading. Even for me, getting readings about the Silver Millennium is hard. Still... it's very likely."
Makoto also says her piece, which Rei says, "On the other hand, I guess the good news here is that Nephrite isn't Mamoru. Still, we should watch out for his sake."
"I um... Mamoru has Sailor Mars's number. Just for magical business. In case of emergencies." Rei mentions this, looking at the other two. "If the Dark Kingdom comes after him again, he'll be able to call us for help."
Usagi grips Makoto's hand, tight and trembling just a bit. She's blushing a little, wearing her heart on her sleeve even as she (fails) to tamp down those slowly growing feelings for both Tuxedo Kamen and Mamoru Chiba.
She crosses her arms, turns away, and hmph's.
"Maybe I should just ask Tuxedo Kamen! He's so much more dashing than that jerk!" She finally pouts to the pair, all that maturity blowing away in an instant. Even then, she does find himself smiling quickly after.
Which quickly fades into abject terror at the mention of the Dark Kingdom. "Wh...why would they want his energy!? He might be a jerk, but he's never done anything /wrong/! We need to keep him safe!" Comes Usagi earnestly, and she's reaching for both of her fellow senshi's hands.
"Let's make a promise. We're Sailor Senshi, and we'll protect Chiba-kun, and anyone else that the Dark Kingdom's after, no matter what!" Her eyes, tearing up again, bravery warring with fear, and her hands squeeze the two. She might not always be the bravest, but she can get by with the help of her friends.