Author's note: Mako has always denied she and her best friend Shinozaki are more than friends.  
But are they really just that?  Mako, so plain in the Anime, shows another part of her 
personality.  She always tells the guys she likes that she likes them, but what if she hasn't 
noticed?

* See down for words with this symbol.
Note: If you are little confused about WHO is talking: The Line switches Neo-Queen Serenity an 
the narrator (me), the < > things are when Mako thinks or remembers something.

Writing: 08/11/98 to 11/11/98
Type finished: 30/07/99.
Last Review: 14/08/03
Author: Nati-chan / Andromisnati
E-mail: andromisnati@walla.com
Lovefics Main Page: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Spa/1336/nfanfics/lovefics.html
Love-Senshi Series N° 5

		     		    A Sweet Friend
				    --------------

	"Have more, Shinozaki...!" <My name is Makoto Kino. I'm 32 years old (I'm Old!) and I'm 
one of the guardians of Crystal Tokyo.  Right now I'm having a brunch with a friend of mine: 
Shinozaki.  He is my very best friend.>  "Really, I have to go, Mako..."  "Come on, I have plenty 
of cake..."  "I'm already late, she'll be pissed..."  He blushed.  "Whom?"  "Well, I'll better tell 
you.  I'm dating a girl; her name is Natsumi."  "Good going, Shino...  Then, take her some cake." 
 "Thanks. Mako, you are the best..." He kissed her and left.

***************************************************************************************
	"What are your feelings towards Shinozaki?" "He is my best friend..." That was what she 
told us once.  Now peace has returned to our Kingdom.  Since the Sailor Wars II ended, the Lost, 
Inner and Outer Sailor Senshi have been helping each other.  Sailor Andromeda, Mercury, Venus 
and Pandora have already married.  Rei is going to marry tomorrow.  The Outer are replacing my 
Inner now.  All my Senshi are happy, but I'm worried about Mako.  She was always dreaming about 
becoming a wife, but she doesn't seem to have a boyfriend.  Her friend Shinozaki visits her 
frequently, but Mako repeats as always: "He is just my best friend..."

**************************************************************************************
	Shinozaki was in a park waiting.  Makoto was spying.  <I should not be here...but I want 
to see Shino's girlfriend...!> A blonde, with a pigtail, ran and kissed him.  <She's beautiful... 
but I'm more...> Suddenly, Mako blushed. <What I'm saying?  I'm jealous of Natsumi?>

****************************************************************************************
	Rei walked at the side of Yuuichirou.  It felt great.  She deserved the happiness I already had. 
Mamo-chan took my hand, as he does when one of our friends marries.  "You were even more beautiful
in our wedding..."  I blushed.  As always, Mamoru says things that make me blush.

****************************************************************************************
	Ami peaked Mako's shoulder.  "The last Inner who is single...  When are you going to give 
the big step?" "When the right person comes..." Minako, who had just arrived from her honeymoon 
took her hand, and left her where the other singles were standing.  "Get the bouquet..." 
"But..." Rei threw the bouquet, and, hey, it fell in Mako's hands. "Great going Mako!" shouted 
Ami, but immediately blushed, at Ryo Urawa's side.  Rei smiled to Mako.  <Me? With a bouquet?  
And whom on Earth I'll marry?>

	Meanwhile, a figure was looking herself in a mirror.  "If the heart of a young man accepts you 
as his sacred wife, his energy will be ours, and so would be the world."  The mirror showed a red-eyed 
figure, surrounded by some others...

	Mako walked with the bouquet in a park, near the Shrine.  She saw Shinozaki. "Hi there, 
Shino!"  "Mako... Sorry I'm late for your friend's wedding... I have to tell you something very 
important..." <I blushed. "Really?" He gave me an invitation. "I'll marry Natsumi..." I felt 
unconscious.>

*****************************************************************************************
	When Shinozaki reached the palace with Mako in his arms, I was really worried.  Ami told 
us that her blood pressure had lowered.  "Oh, my head!" "Are you Ok?" Mako blushed. "Yes... 
Sorry. I'll love to go to your wedding..." Somehow, I noticed that in her eyes was a different glow, 
but shaded by a sight of sorrow.

****************************************************************************************
	When everyone left, Mako started to cry.  "He is just my best friend..." she remembered. 
 "No, he isn't..." <I felt great sorrow.> As the night started falling, she remembered how many 
times he had influenced her life.  Since little, they cared for each other.  He had helped her 
when her senpai left her.  He protected her when a Cardian attacked her.  They were worth to die 
for each other...  Suddenly, she looked at the invitation.  "A week? So soon?" 

	Shinozaki looked into Natsumi's eyes.  "Soon we'll be married..."  "Very soon..."  Her 
eyes glowed red, and Shinozaki's darkened.

**************************************************************************************
	The following days, Mako was different.  She spoke less, and looked at everyone with 
sorrow.  Rei talked to me, "Usa--I mean, My Queen, can I and Yuuichirou go to Swiss Ice Country 
for our honeymoon?"  "Sure, Rei," I answered.  Makoto went out of the room crying.  "What 
happened?" asked Venus.

*************************************************************************************
	<Tomorrow is Shino's wedding... I feel really weak...  His smile...  When the 
Crystallisation took place; I didn't know where he was.  When we awoke, he appeared in the 
palace once.  He was worried about me, because he couldn't find me.  He hoped the palace files 
knew where I was.  He hadn't asked yet, when he heard Minako calling me "Mako" in my Sailor 
suit. He walked towards me, and asked if I was his friend Mako Kino, because I seemed too alike 
and was called as her.  I didn't deny it; it wasn't worth anymore.  Since then, I had become 
Sailor Jupiter and Makoto Kino played a secondary role.>

**************************************************************************************
	Something in the air told me Mako was in troubles.  I could feel it.  "Go to sleep, Usa."  
I turned.  "Mako's light is still turn on, Mamo-chan." "She's a grown up person, Usako..." He was 
right.  I smiled, and went to bed.

**************************************************************************************
	Mako stared the night's sky, by her window.  All the lights of the rooms were off.  "It's 
my opportunity..." She went out slightly.  Haruka was awake, and saw her.  Michiru appeared in 
her back.  "What's up, Haruka?"  "Mako has left the palace..."  "Leave her, she knows how to take 
care of herself," she answered sleepy.  "Go to sleep..."  "Ok."

	<I didn't know what to do...  I just walked without thinking.  Senpai, my first love. 
Misha, the skater guy. Motoki, the Crown Centre boy.  Joe, the daimon.  Ail, the alien.  All of 
them I had liked...  But from them, I only loved my senpai.  But he broke my heart.  And there 
was Shino to give me his shoulder to weep...

	Mako entered a crystal garden, and found Shinozaki in a seat.  "Shino..." He turned, and 
saw her.  "Mako..."  "It's a surprise to find you here... a real surprise..."  "Surprise is 
mine...  What are you doing here?"  "I just felt like walking...  Tomorrow is the big day, isn't 
it?"  "Yeah...  Natsumi will be my wife."  Mako felt a little pain in her heart.  "You really love 
her, don't you?"  He stared at her eyes.  "As it seems I can't have the best wife, I'll have a good 
one instead."  

	<I blushed.  Somehow, his words...  No, his wedding is tomorrow...>  "We both need to 
rest; tomorrow will be a tiring day... Bye!"  She left running.  He followed her with his eyes.

***************************************************************************************
10:00 AM
	I went to Mako's room.  She was reading.  "What's up, Mako?"  "I'm reading some files...  
Did you know 9 men have disappeared after their weddings to girls they only knew from a month 
before they married?  They must be the same person, but changed her name, face and hairstyle:
Harumi, Tomi, Nekomi, Nyanmi...  All with an ending MI = beautiful..."  "Isn't today your best 
friend's wedding?"  "Yes, but at 3 o'clock."  "Oh."  "Are the others coming?"  "Just me, Endymion 
and Small Lady."  "I'll be protecting you, then..."  "Just think of the wedding."  I gave her a 
meaningful look.  She seemed to understand I knew about her secret love.  "I must finish this.  
Could you come later, Serenity?"  "Sure..." I left, but now I was sure my theory of Mako's love 
to Shinozaki was right.

**************************************************************************************
	<She knows... That's what I thought.> Mako looked by the window.  <Since today, I'll 
love him forever; never telling him I have discovered I love him...  Why didn't I noticed 
before? Love ... I had always sought for it.  He was the one I needed...  But I was a fool for not 
looking into his eyes.  Till I lost him.  Hopeless love, as Minako was told once...  No hope...  
No faith... No love...>

12:00 PM
	Natsumi was with her wedding dress.  Nine shadows surrounded her.  "You are the last, 
you must marry..."  "I'll do, my sisters; I'm the youngest of the Mi-miko sisters*..."  Her eyes 
glowed red.

*************************************************************************************
1:00 PM
	I walked in the garden, and found Haruka.  "Hi, Uranus..." "What's wrong with Jupiter?" 
"Why do you ask?"  "Last night I saw her leaving the palace..."  "I'm worried too.  She's the only
Inner who hasn't got a known love.  But I think she loves someone secretly."  "She must be in a 
lot of pain, then."  I smiled.  "How do you know, Haruka? You have never been secretly in love; 
your love has always loved you..."  She coughed, and left saying.  "She needs help..." I left, 
but I noticed Setsuna had been close to us...  Maybe she had heard.

**************************************************************************************
1:30 PM
	Setsuna entered Mako's room.  She was crying.  "Jupiter?" She turned, and wiped her 
tears. "What's up, Mako?" She turned. "Nothing."  Setsuna closed the door, and sat next to her. 
"I have heard you have a secret love..."  She turned surprised.  "Have you?"  "Maybe..."  "Mako, I 
want you to hear me now.  You know I have been lonely for a long time.  I have protected the 
time gate for centuries.  But now I'm free...and I have someone." Mako looked at her 
unbelieving.  "And I have understood love is the most important thing in life.  So, Mako, if you 
are in love with someone, you can't hide it inside yourself...  you must tell him! Now!  Before 
you lost him... forever." Mako blushed.  Then, she smiled and nodded. "Go then!" Setsuna ordered. 
So Mako left the room. Setsuna smiled.

**************************************************************************************
2:00 PM
	<I ran to the church.  Shino had to be there by now.  It was one hour before the ceremony.  
Nine women were at the door.  I didn't know them. "Hello..." The eldest came to me. "Yes?" "I'm 
a friend of Shino--zaki.  Where is he?" The other eight stared at me with scorn.  "You are 
pretty, indeed..." said one.  "Shinozaki's friend?  We are Natsumi's sisters..." I blushed.  
"Oh..."  "They have already married, because the priest had an emergency and had to be somewhere 
else.  Sorry," said one of the youngest ones.  I felt as I had been thrown from a cliff.  Tears 
started to fall from my eyes.  I forced a smile.  "He didn't call me to tell me..."  "We could 
only call family and closest friends," said the girl. "I see...  Thanks..." I run away crying.>

	"Why did you tell her that lie?"  "She loves him, indeed.  She may stop the wedding..." 
"Well done, Nekomi..."  "Thanks, Harumi."  Shinozaki went out.  "I heard Mako's voice..."  He saw 
how her figure was lost in the distance.  "What happened?"  "She said she couldn't come to the
ceremony.  She was sorry," said one. "I can't believe it..."  He saw one of her rose earrings in
the floor.  It had fallen.  "I'll reach her."  He ran after her.  "No!" cried Nekomi.  

2:30 PM.
	<I was in the balcony, seeing the crystal sea.  Alone...  Always alone.  I had lost him. 
He was married to some blonde Natsumi now.  I was a fool for not seeing he was my true love. I 
had always denied it.  I tried to convince myself that he wasn't for me.  But I couldn't.  We 
hadn't been meant to be when we were younger, but the experiences we had lived had made us grow 
to be the one for each other.  We had matured; otherwise we wouldn't have been meant to be,
as we were now.  "Stop doing this to yourself, Mako.  You can't be happy with him even now you 
are ready...!" I said desperate.  Suddenly, I heard his voice and his hand touched my shoulder. 
"Mako...">

	"Shinozaki..." "It dropped in the church..." He handed Mako her earring. She hadn't 
noticed she had lost it.  She put it on, and turned.  "What are you doing here?"  "Giving you 
back--"  "You should be with your wife..."  "What? I'm not married yet."  Mako's eyes widened of 
surprise. "But Natsumi's sisters..." Shinozaki laughed.  "They are weird...  Surely, they lied 
to you."  Mako's eyes shone for a second, but then...  "The ceremony is about to start, you'll 
better be going..."  "Won't you go?"  "I can't... it's too hard."  She cried widely.

	<Shinozaki touched my face and I blushed surprised.  He took it, and pressed his lips to
mine.  For a couple of minutes, I couldn't move.  But then, I pushed him softly. "What are you
doing, Shino?"  He stared to the sea.  "Long ago, I fell in love with a beautiful girl, but she
loved someone else.  I was with her all the time she was with him, and gave her my shoulder to 
cry when he broke her heart.  Later on, I discovered she had kept a secret to me for a long 
time... That convinced me that she didn't care about me, so I started to see another girl. 
I thought I could marry the other, but I discovered I can't forget her..."> Mako looked in his 
eyes smiling.  "Who is she?"  "You, of course..."  Mako blushed.  "Shinozaki...  I love you 
too..." She hugged him.  Suddenly, Natsumi's voice was heard.

	"Traitors..." They turned, and saw her in her wedding dress.  Her 9 sisters surrounded 
her with green dresses.  She floated in the air.  "You were the last one... Ten men's energy, 
and Earth would be ours! The 10 Mi-miko sisters!"  "Nekomi!"  "Tomi!"  "Harumi!"  "Nyanmi!"  "Kami!" 
"Mimi!"  "Ayami."  "Aoimi"  "Asami!"  "Natsumi..."  "You are the ones who kidnapped those men." "Of
course!  And his energy will be ours!"  "No! Jupiter Crystal Power, Make-up!"  She turned to 
Super Sailor Jupiter.  "Jupiter Oak Revolution!"  The ten jumped away. Natsumi's dress turned as
her sisters'.  "Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" A splash caught Asami. Jupiter turned to see from where 
the attack had come from.

**************************************************************************************
	As I read Jupiter's research files, it seemed obvious that Natsumi was one of the 
kidnappers of men.  (I can't understand how she missed that fact!)  I gathered the team, and 
sent them to the ceremony, with my daughter.  It had to be stopped, and Shinozaki had to be 
protected.  We didn't know Mako will stop the wedding before we reached it.

**************************************************************************************
	"Girls!" cried Mako.  Setsuna smiled to her.  Mako blushed, as she noticed she knew what
had happened.  Each sister touched one Senshi, and disappeared. Mako appeared in front of 
Natsumi in a strange dimension.  "You took my man from me..." "He didn't love you... I knew him 
from before..."  "I don't care!"  Nekomi appeared, followed by Harumi.  "They all have died... 
Those Senshi are so strong..."  Harumi made dimension bubbles, where a Senshi was fighting a 
sister.  "But they are still fighting!" Harumi smiled.  "Their self-control has died... My 
energy is controlling them as puppets...  I'll not let the Senshi win."  Mako looked at her.  
"If I destroy you, the others will also be destroyed...  Jupiter Oak Revolution!"  Natsumi 
stopped the attack with her hand. It reflected, so Mako fell in the ground.

	Shinozaki appeared in Natsumi's arms.  His eyes were very dark.  "I'll drain all his 
energy by a kiss..."  As she kissed him, energy from him travelled to her body.  Nekomi smiled.  
"You can't defeat us all... We have crossed galaxy seeking for a planet to conquer, no one has 
stopped us, and neither would you!"

	<I stared to Natsumi, kissing Shinozaki and draining his energy.  Jupiter, the biggest 
planet of the solar system... Jupiter, the king of Mythological Roman gods.... I must have that
power...  I was once Jupiter's princess...>  She touched her transformation stick, and took out
the crystal of Jupiter.  "Give me power, Jupiter's Crystal...!"  A green light glowed from her 
hands, and as she got up, a green princess' dress appeared over her.

	"I'm Princess Jupiter!" Natsumi stopped kissing Shinozaki.  "Her energy..." Mako looked 
at Harumi's flashing necklace.  "Jupiter Wood Storm! Crystal Attack!" She stared at the sisters.
Natsumi and Nekomi ran to Harumi.   A green storm caught Harumi's necklace, and she screamed.  
The dimension bubbles showed how the rest of sisters disappeared. So did Nekomi and Natsumi. 
Harumi looked at her hatefully.  "I created them with my power, which was sealed in this 
necklace...  I don't know how you knew it.  I'll hate you forever!" She melted as the 
dimension disappeared.

	The Senshi opened their eyes, and saw nine men lying fainted in the ground.  "Those are
the missing men..." said Small Lady.  "Mako?" asked Ami.  Setsuna pointed her.  She, in her 
sailor suit, was hugging Shinozaki's head.  "Shino? Shino, answer me..."  She was crying.  He 
opened his eyes. "Mako... you saved me as always..." They smiled, and kissed each other.

***************************************************************************************
	A week has passed since then.  We are now in another wedding.  Mako looks so beautiful 
in her bridal dress.  Shinozaki seems so happy.  Endymion's hand is so warm.  Venus ran to 
Pluto, who was at Haruka's and Michiru's side (and mine).  "Hey, come to catch the bouquet, 
Setsuna."  "No, Venus..."  As they were discussing, the bouquet was thrown.  Someone's hand tried 
to grab it, but changed its way.  So it fell in Setsuna's hands.  "My God..." Mako smiled.  
Venus looked mischievously at Setsuna. "You knew you'll catch it from here, don't you?  Who's 
the lucky one?"  Setsuna blushed.

*************************************************************************************
	<I stared at Shinozaki.  "I'm really happy." He looked at me. "I'm too, my princess 
Jupiter..."  "You were my prince all this time..."  He pulled me to himself. I felt so warm at his 
side.  He was meant for me.>

					The End
					  ^_^ 


* Mi-miko sisters: Beautiful Priestess Sisters.


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