In the Line of Fire

Terribly sorry for how incredibly late this is, folks. Have been dealing with a number of things getting in my way, and I\'m not the best when it comes to writing the first few chapters of anything. But I must say, the few reviews I got truly helped in getting me going. Otherwise, it\'s likely this thing would\'ve died completely.

Please! More review! This one is a tad short, but I promise the next chapter will be much larger.


Chapter 2:

Rei and Makoto were in the kitchen. They awoke mere minutes ago. Rei was at the table, wearing the same attire as the night before. Makoto was staring out the window, still in her underwear but with a very long white shirt covering most of herself. The sun shown brightly into the kitchen, spilling into the other rooms from that window alone.

Makoto sighed. \"I\'m scared.\"

\"Don\'t be...\" Rei said, ending with a long yawn. she stirred around her cereal, which she was eating rather slowly. \"We were with him all night. He\'s fine. In fact, this might be one of those things that just blow over.\" She took a spoonful of the cereal into her mouth and started to chew,

\"That doesn\'t change anything. I wasn\'t good enough, Rei.\" she turned around and leaned back against the window, her elbows leaning on the sill as she watched her friend eat. \"I just can\'t shed the guilt...\"

\"Don\'t worry about it...\" said Rei through a full mouth.

\"God, you\'re such a pig...\" Makoto smiled genuinely,

Rei swallowed and smiled back. \"It\'s cheering you up, isn\'t it?\"

\"I guess... When do you think we should tell him?\"

\"I don\'t know. Sooner the better I think. It may not be a big deal if he found out who we really were...\" Rei took another bite of cereal.

\"I hope not to go that far. If he remembers what happened, the last thing I want him to know...\" Makoto hung her head and exhaled through her nose. \"The last thing I want him to know is that I\'m Sailor Jupiter...\"


--


Makoto\'s living room was bright from the morning sun. Johnathan still lay on the couch, covered and still asleep. Minako, was still resting in her sleeping bag, when she suddenly stirred and awoke. Mina sat up and rubbed her eyes to adjust them to the light.

\"What time is it?\" she thought to herself, glancing briefly over at John\'s resting body and then over to the clock mounted above Makoto\'s television set.\"Seven in the morning...\" The sounds of Rei and Makoto talking in the kitchen could be heard as Mina stood up out of her sleeping bag.She was in half of her school uniform, her skirt still stuffed inside the bag, and the only thing covering her lower half was a thin white thong. Mina let out a stretch and long yawn before bending over to pick up her skirt...

\"ARRRRGH!!\" a yell engulfed the entire apartment as Johnathan darted straight up from his slumber, clutching his chest with both hands. His body was pale and stiff for a brief moment, his eyes were red and excreting tears. Mina was in stunned surprised, and it wasn\'t long before the other two girls had run into the room. \"I... Oh god...\" John groaned, both hands moving to his head.

Rei and Makoto kept a distance, as though not knowing what to do. But Mina took initiative... Kneeling beside the couch and reaching for John\'s arms.

\"Johnathan. Are you alright? It\'s okay, it was just a dream...\" she said, calmly.

Shaking a little, Johnathan slowly dropped his arms to his sides. He instantly became aware of her hands, and calmed down quickly. Something about her soft touch made him feel safe... Secure, in a sense...

\"Are you alright?\" she asked softly.

\"I\'m... I... Who are you?\" he asked, not recognizing her face.

\"My name\'s Minako Aino. I\'m Makoto\'s friend.\" she said, withdrawing her hands. \"Are you alright?\"

\"I\'m fine. I just...\" he exhaled deeply, suddenly remembering what Makoto told him the night before. Realizing he no longer felt any pains in his body, he angled his body so he was sitting on the couch, with the blankets covering his manhood. \"I uh... Just had a slight nightmare.\"

Makoto and Rei approached him at that point. Crowding around him. Mina stayed kneeling down, not yet aware that the only thing covering her lower half was her thong.

\"How are you feeling?\" asked Makoto, sitting down on the opposing side of the couch. \"Last night you seemed sore all over.\"

\"Actually, I feel a lot better now.\" Johnathan stretched both his arms out in front of him and then rested them on his sides. \"But uh... May I have my clothes back?\"

\"Oh, I\'m sorry!\" Makoto turned to Rei and gestured for her to get them.

Rei just smirked. \"Y\'know, speaking of \'clothes\'. I think the two of you could both use some yourselves...\" With that, she walked off, leaving her two friends blushing and embarassed. seeing how only Rei was wearing any pants. Minako merely blushed and procured her skirt, walking off to another room to put it on. Makoto was less modest, not even bothering to cover herself up.

\"Um... Heh.\" She blushed. \"I\'m sorry about this.\"

Johnathan cracked his neck and groggily looked at Makoto. For the first time he actually looked into her eyes... His paranoia disappeared again, as he looked at her. Her eyes were a shade of green and seemed to give off a powerful sense of compassion. They glistened with the sunlight through the window, an aura of beauty eminated from the white orbs... John practically melted into the couch after looking at them for only a moment.

\"Don\'t be sorry...\" he said. \"You have very pretty eyes...\"

Makoto\'s blush intensified to the point where she had to look away. \"Well, heh... Um... That was pretty direct.\"

With her head turned, it only gave John a much better sight to behold. Her face, her mouth, her hair... It was something straight out of heaven in his eyes. For a moment he couldn\'t care less about the circumstance. \"I mean it... But... I have a few questions to ask.\"

It took a moment, but Makoto was able to clear her throat and muster a serious face. \"Um...\" she turned her head back to him, her hands becoming fidgety on her lap, toying with the bottom of her shirt. \"I know you do. Ask me anything.\"

\"Where did you find me? Why did you bring me here?\" John managed to ignore her features for now. His facial expression was very serious, but showed now sign of firm resolve.

\"Hm...\" Makoto grunted, she had been so preoccupied with guilt, she had not yet come up with a decent story to tell him. \"I... Found you in the woods. You were hurt very bad, so I brought you here to help.\"

\"Why here? Why not a hospital or something?\"

\"Oh... Uh... Well, I happened to see you fighting... Something...\" Makoto began to stutter lightly. Although she hadn\'t triggered Johnathan\'s disbelief yet, she was fighting like hell not to. \"There was a monster... And a Sailor girl was there...\"

\"What?\" his eyes widened and a small smirk forced it\'s way onto his mouth. \"Sailor Moon was there? I... Did she save me from something? What happened exactly?\"

\"Um... Yeah. Sailor Moon, that was her. You see... I didn\'t see everything that happened. It was raining, and really dark. An explosion here and there... And the monster hurt you. When I went to see what happened exactly, she came to me and told me to take care of you until you got better. Since a hospital can\'t treat injuries that a demon causes... You just need a few days of rest... She said all that and dissappeared.\"

Makoto sat there for a few moments, while John simply stared. He couldn\'t get over the fact that he has been in the very presence of a reknown heroine.

\"Why can\'t I remember?\" he asked.

\"It uh... Must be part of whatever the monster did. I\'m sure you will regain your memory in time. Just stay here... I trust she had a reason for asking me to help you, so we shouldn\'t question that too much.\" she smirked lightly, hoping that the smoke she was blowing wasn\'t well ventilated.

\"Just... One more question...\"

\"Alright... What is it?\"

\"Why aren\'t you wearing any pants?\" he said it with a smirk, as though intending humor by it.

\"It\'s early.\" she said with a cheery grin. \"I just got out of the shower ten minutes ago. Heh... Besides... I think it would be hypocritical to undress you like that and then be so bashful around you...\" she blushed again and withdrew her hands from her shirt, not caring that it was riding up her thigh, almost showing her underwear. \"But I will go get dressed if you like...\" her last sentence was said softly, she couldn\'t help but tease him a little, after his comment to her eyes.

\"Hey, I\'m not complaining.\" he said, looking at her legs then forcing himself to look at her face again. Her eyes were much more appealing to him for the moment. \"But... I\'d like to get dressed now... And um, could I use your shower?\"

Makoto made a smile that nearly stopped his heart. \"Of course... It\'s just in the other room there...\" she pointed to a door across the room. \"Just... Be light on the water, not a good water heater, and I\'m sure Mina is going to want a turn after you.\"

\"Thanks, I mean it.\" John went to stand up. He held the sheets up to his waist to preserve his modesty. Makoto watched him and quickly grabbed his arm to help.

\"Hey, take it easy. Last night you could barely move.\" her voice aired clear concern for him. She did not notice how close she had clung onto his arm, as her chest grazed his bicept. John halted, noticing her close proximity immediately.

\"Um... I feel fine actually. In fact, I feel pretty good, physically.\" he said with confidence. He eyed her arms wrapped around his and looked to her eyes again, risking a hypnotic trance. \"I don\'t feel the same pains from last night.\"

She sighed lightly and helped John stand up. \"Regardless, let me help you. Just in case.\"

Makoto walked him to the door of the bathroom. All along, she had her hand on his arm. It gave John an odd feeling, but nothing unpleasant. He couldn\'t quite describe it, but something about her kind mannerisms greatly appealed to him. It was something rare nowadays... A nice girl.

\"Heh\" he chuckled, trying to hide a blush. \"Are you going to help me bathe also?\"

\"Only if you want me to...\" she replied with a grin.

\"Really?\"

\"No.\" Once inside the bathroom, she released his arm. She lightly punched the same arm and smiled again. \"Just kidding. Rei should be here with your clothes in a second. I have to go get dressed myself.\"

\"Thank you...\" John replied, before shutting the door.

Makoto sighed, and her smile quickly turned into a frown. \"I lied...\" she whispered. Minako poked her head out from around the corner and walked back into the living room in full dress, as if Makoto\'s words were her cue.

\"You lied?\" she whispered in equal tone. \"About what?\"

\"Usagi is not even in town...\" Makoto said slightly louder, certain she couldn\'t be heard from behind the bathroom doors. \"I told him it was her... Not me.\" she turned around to her friend... Noticing Mina\'s hair was a little matted and frizzy from the way she slept. \"How long have you been listening?\"

\"Just got my skirt on and made a very quick call... I\'m not going to school until we\'re sure the situation is resolved. Neither is Rei... She\'s making a call now...\" Minako walked in with Johnathan\'s clothes, ignoring Makoto\'s question. \"And neither are you... I made a call for you too.\"

\"Thanks... I think.\" she sighed. \"They way he talks... He\'s a sweet guy after all.\"

\"Yeah, well... All the more reason to keep our heads straight to deal with this.\" Minako snapped her bare fingers in Makoto\'s face to nab her attention. \"Hey, I\'m going back to my place. Maybe Artemis will know what to do here. Am I going to regret leaving you and Rei here to oogle this guy?\"

A quick smirk from Mina indicated she was being jocular. \"Of course.\" Makoto forced a smile. \"Just go, we can handle things here just fine...\"


--


John entered the bathroom. It was rather small, but not inconvenient. He noted it was clean... VERY clean. It was clear this was a woman\'s bathroom from that fact alone... Even disregarding the frilly shower curtain... When he finally felt comfortable about it, John dropped the blanket and walked over to the mirror. Looking into it, he was a little surprised... His hair was all over the place, as was expected after waking up, but there were smaller details that confused him. Besides the hair, his face looked... Perfect. The bags under his eyes were gone, his skin was a very healthy tanned pigment, and his posture never looked better.

\"What the hell happened to me?\" he said aloud.