by Haruka

Setsuna came out of her classroom, well aware that she'd missed a good fifteen minutes of her lunch hour. There hadn't been any option, she'd needed to confer with her professor and that was the only time she could get her alone. At least she still had time to eat, if she could find the cafeteria.
"Hello again."
Setsuna wasn't completely surprised to find Malachite waiting for her, since he'd already been in one of her morning classes and had made a point of escorting her to the other two. "Hi Malachite." She smiled. "You really didn't have to wait, you're missing your lunch hour."
"So are you," he pointed out.
"Yes, but I had a reason."
"So did I." He smiled. "I wanted to take you to the coffee shop down the street. They serve much better fare than we can get in the cafeteria."
"All right, why not?" Setsuna shouldered her bag. "I'm hungry enough to try anything."
He gently took the bag from her. "Allow me."
"Oh, you don't have to--"
He silenced her with a finger over her lips. "Setsuna, you needn't tell me what I don't have to do. I only do what I want to do. And if you want to make me happy, you'll let me carry your bag and take you to lunch."
She sighed. "I have to be honest with you. There's so much going on in my life right now that I'm not sure I have time to devote to a relationship. I just don't want to lead you on."
"Believe me, you're not," he assured her. "But everyone has time for friendship, especially if that friend is busy himself, and understands what it's like to be pressed for time."
Setsuna smiled in relief. "Lunch with a friend sounds great."
"Good." He returned her smile. "Then let's go."

Mina slipped a portion of her tuna sandwich into her bookbag; appreciative slurping followed from within. "Do you know anything else about Zoisite, Michi?" she asked curiously.
"Just that she comes from a wealthy family, although she claims her stepbrother is the only one with money," Michiru said. "It's just the two of them now. Oh, and one other thing. She's seventeen."
Haruka looked startled. "What's she doing in our grade at her age? Is she a slow learner or something?"
"She's one of the best students in Modern Japanese, dearheart," Michi reminded her.
"So would I be, if I were taking it for the third time," Haruka remarked.
"She didn't fail those years, she missed them entirely," Michi said. "I don't know why. That's all I should say, anyway. It's not nice to gossip."
"She looks totally cool." Serena sighed wistfully. "I hope I have it all together like that when I'm seventeen."
"I'm going over there," Mina said decisively, jumping to her feet.
"Why?" Serena asked in suspicion.
"To introduce myself, of course," Mina said, then winked. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"
"No way!" Serena cried and leaped up. "I saw her first!"
"Both of you sit down," Raye told them impatiently. "If you go over there now, you'll just get lost in her crowd of admirers and Serena will totally embarrass herself."
"Me?! What about Mina? It was her idea to go over!"
"Mina knows enough not to grovel."
"I hate to say it, but Raye is right," Amy said. "Not about you, Serena, but about going over there being a bad idea. Six people have offered Raye parts of their lunch in the past ten minutes, and I doubt she remembers one of their names. I'm sure it's no different with Zoisite and her followers."
"But I'm not just a follower!" Serena whined. "I'm seriously, totally in love with her!"
"She's too old for you, Serena," Mina told her.
"Hey, I'm older than you are!"
"Maybe, but when it comes to maturity ...."
"Mina!"
"Hey, shut up a minute!" Haruka broke in. "Has anyone seen where Lita went?"
Everyone looked at Lita's empty chair, then as one their heads turned toward Zoisite's table.

Lita stood a few feet away from where Zoisite was eating--or trying to. It seemed that every time she went to take a bite, one of her admirers would say something or ask a question, interrupting her.
No wonder she's so trim, Lita mused. She probably spends every lunch hour like this.
Something else also became clear as Lita continued to study the situation before her; Zoisite found the majority of her fan club boring. She would pretend to listen with a preoccupied smile on her pretty face, but her heavy-lidded eyes were begging for someone to rescue her.
Lita wanted to be that person.
It was a cinch she'd have to use a different approach than the nameless rabble that continued to harass her. No way would she accept a bored yawn from Zoisite--nothing less than her full attention, and at the very least some curiosity, would do. Lita had never been afraid to go after what she wanted, and that's exactly what she would do, even if it meant breaking her own resolution.
After all, there were some things only an experienced bully could accomplish.

Zoisite nibbled daintily at her sandwich, wishing lunch would end quickly. She had just spotted Michiru and Haruka, sitting at a table with a bunch of pretty girls. It looked suspiciously like one of them was receiving a lot of attention from people that would normally be at her own table. Obviously she'd have to find out what the deal was there, and nip it in the bud, if necessary. There would be no usurpers to her throne.
"Hey, you! Outta here!"
Zoisite looked up in time to see the boy in the chair beside her practically fly from his seat, his eyes wide with fear. He was immediately replaced by a tall girl with reddish-brown hair. It was tied in a ponytail high on the back of her head and left two long tendrils framing her grinning face.
"Hi Zoisite," she greeted in a voice that certainly didn't lack force or volume. "My name's Lita, I'm new in school. Sorry to barge in on you like this, but I've always been partial to the direct approach."
"Oh really?" Zoisite replied neutrally. "And why would you be approaching me at all?"
"Well, not for the same reason these others are hanging off you, that's for sure," Lita said. "I don't want to do your laundry or fetch your tray for you. I want to get to know you, and give you the chance to know me." She winked. "I promise not to bore you."
There it was, the barest hint of a smile. "You seem pretty sure of yourself, Lita."
"Look who's talking!" Lita laughed. "I'm not the one with a bunch of servants trailing after me."
"You could be, but they'd probably do so out of fear for their lives."
"How about you?" Lita leaned forward. "Are you afraid of me?"
"Intrigued, yes. Afraid, no." Zoisite rested a delicate hand under her own chin and regarded Lita with a knowing smile. "Perhaps we should get to know each other. How does tonight sound?"
Lita shook her head reluctantly. "I wish I could, but I've got a pile of work to do so I can catch up in my classes. Tomorrow would be better."
Zoisite held her gaze without answering right away, and Lita felt suddenly afraid that she'd blown her one chance. Then the older girl slowly nodded. "Tomorrow will be fine. You can drive, of course?"
"Sure I can," Lita answered promptly.
Zoisite pulled a piece of pink stationary from inside her purse and wrote on it, then folded it and handed it to Lita. "My address and phone number," she said. "The number is private, so keep it to yourself."
"I will." Lita tucked the paper carefully into her pocket, oblivious to the looks of envy and annoyance she received from Zoisite's followers.
The bell rang and Zoisite gathered her books. She cast her green- eyed gaze toward Lita and this time her smile was warm. "I'm glad you came over, Lita. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sure thing," Lita answered, and watched her head out of the cafeteria, her footsteps dogged by several others. Lita slipped her hand into her pocket and felt the reassuring reality of the note Zoisite had given her. It had taken all her courage and a lot of luck, but she actually had a date with the girl of her dreams.
Now all she had to do was learn to drive.

"So, how was your first day?" Malachite asked Setsuna as they walked out the main doors into the sunlight.
"Wonderful," she answered with a smile. "My classes are great, my professors actually know what they're doing, and I made a new friend. It can't get better than this."
He returned her smile ruefully. "I wish I could offer you a ride home, but first I have to retrieve my car."
"That's all right, I have mine," Setsuna said. "But I'm not leaving right away. I'm going to the school across the street to pick up the girls."
During lunch at the coffee shop, she had told Malachite about her friends, explaining that she was acting as a sort of den mother to them in lieu of their parents. She tactfully left out the fact that the girls' parents didn't remember them. Although she hadn't complained at all, Malachite nevertheless sympathized, stating that his stepsister Zoisite was enough of a trial. The idea of six more of her chilled him. From his description of some of her exploits, Setsuna could understand why.
"It would appear we're going the same way," Malachite told her. "Zoisite will be at track practice, and I intend to get my keys back before it's over."
"Track?" Setsuna's eyebrows lifted. "I guess she and Haruka will be teammates then."
"You're certain she'll make the team? The coach is very particular."
"She'll not only make it, she'll be the star of the team before long."
Malachite laughed heartily. "I hope you're right. The reigning star could use a dent in her ego."
The two of them walked around the school to the track. The practice was in full swing. Setsuna spotted Haruka instantly. "The one with the short gold hair talking to that man is Haruka," she told Malachite. "Which one is Zoisite?"
He shielded his eyes and scanned the track. "Over there." He nodded. "Jumping the hurdles."
Setsuna followed his gaze to the tall, pretty girl with the long thick ponytail. She thought Malachite had understated her ability-- Zoisite wasn't so much jumping the hurdles as she was flying over them, and with plenty of space to spare. She didn't jump like the others did by stretching one leg awkwardly out to the side. Rather she sprang off one foot, drew the knee straight up, and landed on the opposite foot. The effect was a look of grace and ease of effort.
"She's incredible," Setsuna said frankly. "I've never seen anyone jump like that."
"She does long and high jumping, too. She's into gymnastics as well. Tumbling, etcetera." Malachite's tone was matter-of-fact. There was no trace of pride for his stepsister's skill, which surprised Setsuna.
"Hey, over here!"
She and Malachite turned to see Michiru and Lita in the stands, waving at them.
"Come on," Setsuna said to Malachite and led the way over. Lita grinned as they reached them, while Michi's attention was divided between they and the track.
"Has Haruka run yet?" Setsuna asked as she sat down with Malachite.
"No, but she's about to," Michiru replied.
"This is Malachite," Setsuna said. "And this is Lita and Michiru."
"A pleasure to meet you both," he said, nodding his head politely.
"Same here," Lita answered. "You go to school with Setsuna?"
"Yes, I do," he said. "And you must be two of the young ladies she's living with."
"Uh-huh," Lita confirmed. "There's one more on the field, plus three others watching a fifth try out for volleyball."
"See that girl jumping hurdles, Setsuna?" Michiru pointed. "She's in some of my classes. She befriended me right away and made me feel comfortable."
"She's Malachite's stepsister," Setsuna said.
"Oh yeah?" Lita said brightly, turning to him. "That's cool! I hope you don't mind, but I asked Zoisite out for tomorrow night. She said okay."
"As long as she gets her homework done, it's all right," Malachite answered, studying Lita curiously. "She must have found something unique in you, Lita. Zoisite is often asked out, but rarely accepts."
Lita beamed. "I hope you're right. She seems like a really interesting person. I'm looking forward to getting to know her."
Malachite looked as if he wanted to say more, but smiled patiently instead and turned his attention to the track. "I believe Haruka is about to run."

Haruka had listened to every word the coach said to her, but at the same time, she hadn't been able to take her eyes off Zoisite as she bounded around the track. She'd jumped hurdles herself, of course, but never like that. She felt a grudging admiration for Zoisite's talent, and could understand why the team held her in such high esteem. But that didn't mean there was no room for someone of her own skills, which she meant to prove right now.
"Okay Haruka, I'll time you in a fifty-yard dash," the coach said. "Get over to the starting line."
"Yes sir." Haruka jogged over to the track, hearing Lita and Michiru's cheers from the stands. She glanced up and saw not only the two of them, but Setsuna with a beautiful blonde guy seated beside her. She smiled to herself and looked forward to teasing Setsuna about her 'boyfriend'.
"Ready!" the coach called out. "Get set! Go!"
Haruka flew from the starting line.

Zoisite had completed the last set of hurdles a third time when she saw Haruka start to run. She came to an abrupt stop herself at seeing the pretty tomboy leave a vapour trail in her wake. Never in her life had she seen anyone run so fast. Even before Haruka reached the finish line, Zoisite knew the team had a new member. She just wasn't sure whether or not to be happy about it.
A burst of cheering from the stands that followed Haruka's run drew her attention. She wasn't surprised to see Michiru, but Lita was there as well, and a lovely older girl with dark green hair who was talking to Malachite.
Malachite?!
"Oh no," Zoisite muttered. She didn't know why he was sitting with that group, but she knew darn well why he'd come. He wanted his car keys back, and wouldn't hesitate to embarrass her publicly to get them. In fact, he'd probably consider that a bonus. Deciding to head him off before he could start anything, she began striding toward the stands.
"Zoisite!" the coach barked. "Get back here!"
"In a minute!" she called over her shoulder. She could tell that Malachite had noticed her approach, but didn't make a move to meet her half-way. It was just like she expected; he wanted their exchange to take place in front of others.
"Hi Zoisite!" Lita said brightly.
She managed a weak smile for her before glaring at Malachite. "You couldn't just have called for the limo? You had to come here and humiliate me?"
He blinked at her innocently. "Zoisite, you humiliate yourself with this display. I came for my keys, yes, but you're the one interrupting your practice to argue with me. And it might interest you to know that your coach looks rather perturbed."
Zoisite glanced anxiously toward the coach, who looked as if smoke might come out of his ears at any moment. She turned back to Malachite. "You're willing to wait until after practice?" she asked skeptically.
"Of course," he replied. "I couldn't very well go home and leave you stranded, could I?"
Since when, Zoisite wondered dryly. She suspected this show of fraternal patience was for the benefit of her stepbrother's green-haired friend, but wasn't about to debate the fact. So long as he didn't berate her in front of Lita, Michiru, and the entire track team, she didn't care what his reasons were. Without another word, she headed back to the track.
"About time," the coach said to her. "This is Tenou Haruka. I want to see you two race around the track once so I can get an idea of her speed with distance."
The two girls eyed each other coolly while exchanging tight smiles. "Sure, Coach," Zoisite said. "This should be interesting."
"Go to the starting line," he instructed.
They walked over. Haruka gave Zoisite a sidelong look. "Hope you don't mind eating dust," she said casually.
"Hope you won't mind eating your words," the older girl retorted.
They got into position and awaited the signal. When it came, both sped away. Zoisite was horrified when Haruka took an immediate lead, and was further demoralized when the newcomer held that lead until they crossed the finish line.
"Excellent!" the coach exclaimed, clapping Haruka on the back. "Just look at your time!" He waved the stopwatch in her face. "Zoisite was the fastest runner we had before you came, but her specialty is really the hurdles and jumps. Now she can focus on that while you take over the running!" He hugged both girls at once, not noticing either Zoisite's scowl or Haruka's smirk.

"Wasn't Haruka wonderful?" Michiru said happily as they watched track practice wrap up for the day.
"We knew she would be, but I was really impressed with Zoisite, too," Lita remarked. "She stayed right on Haruka's tail the whole way. Gave her some competition for a change."
"Hi guys!" Mina greeted as she ran over with Raye, Amy, and Serena. "Did Haruka make it?"
"Silly question, of course she did," Setsuna said lightly. "How about you?"
"Yep!" Mina answered proudly.
Serena threw an arm around Mina's shoulders. "She was awesome!"
"So was the way Serena got beaned with a wayward volleyball without even getting up from her chair," Raye commented.
"That wasn't my faaaauuuuult!" Serena cried, then noticed Malachite and blinked curiously.
Raye was more direct. "Who's this?"
"Oh, this is Malachite," Setsuna said. "He goes to school with me."
"He's Zoisite's brother," Lita mentioned significantly.
"Stepbrother," Malachite corrected.
Mina smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Mina, and this is Raye, Serena, and Amy."
"The pleasure is all mine, ladies." Malachite gave a bow. "I do wish I could stay and get to know you better, but I must intercept my stepsister before she drives home without me."
"If she does, you could ride home with us," Serena suggested slyly. "I could sit in your lap."
"You'll be too busy sitting in mine, and I can't support both of you," Lita told her, then began steering her toward the exit. "Bye, Malachite. Tell Zoisite I'll see her tomorrow night."
"Rub it in, why don't you?" Serena grumbled.
"Goodbye, girls." Malachite smiled warmly at Setsuna and kissed her hand. "Until tomorrow, lovely lost maiden."
The younger girls sighed in unison as he walked away.
"He's as dreamy as his stepsister," Mina commented.
"Only with a better personality," Raye added.
"Hey!" Lita turned on her angrily. "Don't start knocking Zoisite, Raye. You haven't even spoken to her."
"Maybe not, but I've heard enough about her," Raye said firmly. "She thinks she's better than everyone else."
"Why shouldn't she, the way people fall all over her?" Lita demanded. "And keep in mind that you've got your own fan club starting up. Would you like people saying stuff like that about you?"
"I don't care what people say!" Raye yelled. "Just don't fool yourself into thinking Zoisite is some kind of exalted saint! She's been in trouble a bunch of times for cutting classes and being rude to her teachers. It's even rumoured that she cheats!"
"You should know better than to believe rumours, Raye," Setsuna chided gently. "It is true that she's been in trouble at school, Malachite told me as much, but cheating wasn't part of it."
"Thank you, Setsuna," Lita said gratefully. "She can't be that bad, you know, or nobody would like her at all. Even Michi made friends with her."
"I wish I could say the same for Haruka." Michiru sighed. "But she and Zoisite didn't hit it off at all. I'd like to think that working on the same team will bring them together."
"Hey, Setsuna, what's the low-down on you and the pretty boy stepbrother?" Mina asked.
"We're just friends," Setsuna replied. "He showed me around and we had lunch together."
The girls grinned knowingly. "He looked as though he'd like to be more than friends," Amy pointed out.
"I told him I didn't have time for a relationship."
"Which isn't true," Serena said. "You've got loads of time now that there's no sailor business to worry about."
"But now I've got classes and running a household to worry about," Setsuna insisted.
"So does he, and it doesn't seem to bother him," Lita said.
"Keep your options open, Setsuna," Michi said with a warm smile. "You deserve to have fun, too."
"Okay, okay, I promise I'll make time for fun," Setsuna told them. "Now let's go get Haruka and go home. I want to hear all about your first day."

Zoisite finished changing after her shower and frowned in Haruka's direction. Not that the other girl noticed; she was too busy being complimented by the other girls on the team. As if it wasn't enough that Haruka ran like the wind, she'd just caught a glimpse of her changing and realized she was nowhere near shaped like the boy she pretended to be. For Zoisite, who secretly felt her one physical imperfection was her small chest, it was irritating to see the boyish Haruka with a better figure than her own. She slammed her locker shut in anger and stalked toward the door.
"Aren't you going to welcome me to the team, Zoisite?" Haruka called after her. There was laughter in her voice, which only infuriated Zoisite further.
Then when things couldn't get any worse, she found Malachite waiting by his car in the parking lot. "Keys," he said, holding out his hand. She fished them out and slapped them into his palm, then walked around to the passenger door. He let her in, and they headed home.
"That Haruka is quite a runner," Malachite commented. "She'll be a valuable asset to the team."
Since she knew he was only doing this to aggravate her, Zoisite clamped her jaw shut.
"I met your date for tomorrow night," Malachite said, changing the subject. "A charming young lady, very spirited. Perhaps she can tame you."
"I don't need taming," Zoisite snapped.
"Well, you need something, my girl. Car theft is a felony."
"I _borrowed_ your car!" she argued. "And if you don't like it, get me my own! I can drive just fine, I've got my license, and we can afford fleets of cars! All I want is one!"
"Out of the question," Malachite replied. "You're too irresponsible to own a car. You can take the limo to school."
"Yeah, right." Zoisite snorted. Ever since Malachite had fired all their parents' servants and replaced them with his own spies, she'd refused to use the limo and have her every move reported on by the chauffeur.
"Then take the school bus, for all I care," he declared in exasperation. "And don't ever touch my car keys again!"
Fine, she thought. Next time I'll just hot-wire it.
As they pulled into the driveway, Zoisite had to admit she'd gotten off lightly. Warnings were usually not enough for Malachite. She put it down to preoccupation with his first day at college. Or maybe with that green-haired beauty at the track. Either way, she was relieved to be off the hook.
The two of them were met at the door as usual by the butler, who took Malachite's briefcase from him, ignoring Zoisite's book bag. "How was your day, Sir?"
"Fine, thank you, Graham," Malachite answered. "Would you please inform the cook that Miss Zoisite will not be joining me for dinner this evening?"
Zoisite's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"And she is not permitted access to the kitchen until breakfast tomorrow morning," Malachite concluded as if she hadn't spoken.
"That's not fair!" Zoisite protested. "I haven't eaten anything since lunch! And I always work up an appetite at track, you know that!"
"How foolish of you to have stolen my keys on a practice day then." Malachite walked away, as did the butler, to give his instructions to the cook.
Zoisite's stomach gave a noisy growl, but she knew it would go unsatisfied. Malachite's servants only obeyed her if he had not given them contradicting orders. She couldn't even order pizza; the butler would turn it away at the door and tell Malachite of her attempt. It was going to be a long, hungry night.
"I'm going to start stocking my room with non-perishables," she muttered as she trudged toward the stairs.

"From the sounds of it, everyone had a successful first day," Setsuna remarked at dinner that night.
"Some of us were more successful than others," Serena mumbled, giving Lita a dark look.
"Come on, Serena, you're not going to be mad at Lita forever, are you?" Mina asked. "I wanted to date Zoisite, too, but Lita got there first. Be a graceful loser."
"Maybe you're right, Mina." Serena perked up a little. "Besides, they haven't even gone out yet. Zoisite may not like her at all!"
"Thanks a bunch," Lita said dryly, then turned to Setsuna. "Speaking of my date, I was wondering if you could do me a huge favour."
"Sure, honey, what is it?"
"Teach me to drive."
Setsuna looked puzzled. "Well, I guess I could, but what does your learning to drive have to do with your date?"
Lita shifted uncomfortably. "I, uh, sort of let Zoisite think I'd be picking her up."
"What?!" everyone exclaimed.
"You mean you want me to teach you to drive before tomorrow night?!" Setsuna said in disbelief. "Lita, even if that were possible it wouldn't be smart! And exactly whose car did you think you'd be taking, anyway?"
"Um, yours?" Lita said in a tentative voice.
Setsuna laughed. "Think again!"
"Haruka?" Lita began.
"Uh uh." Haruka shook her head firmly. "No way, no chance, never in a million years."
Lita slumped in her chair. "You guys are no help at all. What am I supposed to do?"
"Call Zoisite and cancel the date," Serena suggested.
"Ha! You wish!"
"You _will_ have to tell her you're not picking her up, Lita," Setsuna said.
"I can't do that! She might not go at all!"
"I don't see that you have much choice."
Lita looked desperately toward Haruka. "Please?!"
"I said no, Lita," Haruka told her. "Setsuna's right. You can't learn to drive in one evening. Not well enough so that you'd be safe on the roads, anyway. And I'm not giving my car to someone who's bound to wreck it and kill herself and her date in the process."
"Well said, Haruka," Luna approved.
"It's a conspiracy," Lita complained. "You're all against me."
"We're against your committing suicide," Raye remarked. "And the world won't come to an end if you don't go out with Zoisite."
"It'll be the end of my chances with her." Lita speared a piece of broccoli fiercely. "Why should she bother with me when she can take her pick of dates who can drive?"
"Why don't you just ask her to do the driving?" Artemis asked, looking up from his dish. "She obviously knows how."
"But if she had a car of her own, why would she have taken her stepbrother's keys?" Amy said.
"It doesn't matter, she expects me to pick her up," Lita moaned.
"Maybe you should rent a limo," Mina suggested. "It would be super romantic."
"No good, I told her I could drive," Lita said. "I'd still have explaining to do, and I don't want to lie to her."
"You already did!" everyone exclaimed.
"Oh yeah," Lita said quietly, then fell silent for the rest of the meal.

End of Chapter 3.

Story contents (C) 1997 Tenou Haruka

Sailor Moon characters (C) Naoko Takeuchi