Author's Note: I really hope you enjoy this chapter. We all need a little love right now.

At the Beginning
A Second Chance
Chapter Four
Minako and Kunzite

Usagi and Mamoru looked through their list a final time. It had all the events that had been focused on by each of the dark generals. They knew that with the changing of one event, everything could be affected. Because of that, and in fear for her family and friends, Usagi had spent most of the evening and half the night compiling a list of similar events, just to be safe. She couldn't remember everything that had happened in all those months, but she tried.

"I worry about what might happen next," Usagi said, keeping her voice low. "Will it still be the fortune teller, or will what we've already done affect even that."

"I don't know," Mamoru answered, looking around to make sure no one was close. They didn't want their friends to know just how worried they really were, but all of them had shown up to his apartment as soon as school let out. Motoki had the day off, and was now pacing back and forth in front of the sliding glass door, looking nervous.

"Well look, we know the Youma that set up shop in the fortune teller did so three days after the OSA-P attack. That means they could be there even as we speak. It's possible we could stop it from happening, even before it starts."

"Should we go there tonight, after they close? It might be safer." Mamoru asked.

"I think it might be for the best. We could capture Jadeite and heal him. Then we can go get Rei, long before the buses go missing. Who knows, if we change capturing Jadeite, they might never be taken." Usagi bit her lip and peeped up from beneath her lashes. "I feel like this is going to cause major changes, but it's possible to do it."

Mamoru frowned. He wasn't sure what the right course of action was. On the one hand, if they kept events similar right up until they met Kunzite and Minako, then they could have made sure Mamoru was never captured. Unfortunately, a lot of people had been hurt their first time through. Neither of them wanted that to happen again. If they changed things, they wouldn't know what would happen next. It might all happen very much the same, or it could spiral outward until they were fighting different generals entirely.

"Remember," Usagi said, "if we catch them, we have to make it look like they died until we are ready to go to the dark kingdom."

"That's something else we need to figure out," Mamoru reminded her. "How are we going to stop Metalia from killing Agate and Beryl? And I'm sure I remember other dark generals being locked in some sort of sleeping chambers. We have to save them all."

"I don't know," Usagi admitted. "It's possible we could create something that would block Metalia from stealing our energy like she did with the generals, but it might be that they actually have to be linked with her."

Mamoru sighed. They had time before that battle, thankfully. "Alright, so we go tonight and get Jadeite, then tomorrow we find Rei."

Usagi nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. She let out a little sigh and snuggled closer. "I really am worried about changing the timeline," she whispered.

"Me too," Mamoru agreed. "But in this case, it is necessary. We have to be at our full strength. That means capturing and healing the dark generals. We need them to be with us. It gives us all strength."

"Beryl will probably wake the ones who are sleeping. She might even send out her brother," Usagi reminded him.

"I know."

Suddenly there was a knock on the sliding glass doors. Both of them turned and stared in shock.

Kunzite landed lightly on the balcony of Mamoru's, apartment. Looking inside, he could see the two cats standing on the table looking at a laptop, a man pacing from side to side, Minako talking to a red-haired girl, and a boy with glasses staring at them wearing a confused expression, and the young couple leaning on one another. He took a deep breath, wondering if this was really the right plan. It could backfire on him. They might attack without letting him speak.

If he wanted to be near Minako, he had to try. He pulled in a deep breath and lifted his hand to knock on the glass. Minako turned first, her jaw dropping. She stood and raced to the sliding glass door and threw it open. "Kunzite?" she asked. "Are you really here?"

"Wait!" the white cat called. "His eyes. They're grey, not silver. He isn't himself yet."

Minako backed away a step, but couldn't seem to move further. Kunzite swallowed heavily and bowed his head. "I came to ask Usagi to heal me," he said softly.

"You know who she is?" the black cat said, hissing as she stood facing him.

"Hai. I've been following Minako. I listened yesterday. Part of me wanted to just take Minako and leave, but I can't do that. And I can't fight her. So my only choices were to take her to the dark kingdom, or ask for healing. I wouldn't want my worst enemy to face the crystal coffins and being turned, so it was an easy decision."

Usagi had been approaching slowly as he spoke, and she reached out and took him by the hand, gently pulling him inside. "I can heal you," she said softly.

"Arigato." Kunzite knelt at Usagi's feet, head bowed in gratitude and respect. That she was so kind amazed him, but he felt in an odd way as though he had already known.

"Luna, the Moon Wand please," Usagi said softly. There was a metallic clink and then he heard her whisper, "Moon Healing Escalation."

Gentle warmth seemed to close over Kunzite. He could feel a slight pressure in his mind as he fought free of the dark memories that had been planted in him. His own life filtered through in flashes. Spending time with his father, who loved American football. His mother teaching him to catch a fish with his bare hands. His baby sister grabbing his nose. Meeting Nephrite, Zoicite, and Jadeite in the orphanage. Seeing Mamoru for the first time in the group home."

Then the heat intensified around his heart. For a moment it felt as though Metalia was trying to claw out his soul, but gentle fingers touched his cheek and he heard Usagi whisper something. The pain instantly vanished and Kunzite took a full breath for the first time since he had climbed out of the crystal coffin. Tears coursed down his cheeks. Gratitude pushed him to kiss the gentle hand that had healed him, before he looked up and met Mamoru's eyes.

"I can never thank you enough," he said, then took Mamoru's offered hand and climbed to his feet. "There are just no words."

Minako was crying, both hands over her mouth, when he turned to look at her. He stepped closer and put a hand under her chin, tilting her head slightly so he could look into her eyes. "I could never make myself hurt you," he whispered. "Not again."

"You remember?" Minako asked, sounding shocked.

"I remember enough," he answered, his heart clenching in memory of his dream from the night before. "My blade took your life. I will not let that happen again. I would gladly die to save you."

"Your death would be mine," Minako answered, moving into his arms. "Live for me, my prince," she whispered, tilting her head back and pulling his down so she could kiss his cheek. "Promise."

"I promise Minako. I will live for you, and protect you, and love you." She held on so tightly and Kunzite felt so whole that he cried into her soft hair. He knew they had a history, and he was sure that he was meant to be hers. Forever.

"Now we have to make sure it looks like you died in battle," Mamoru said. "Very soon."

"Why?"

"Because you are going to be our secret weapon." Mamoru smiled. "But first, go take some time with Minako. I've thought of a way to do it, but I want to talk it through with Usagi."

Minako drew him out of the room and down the hall to a small study that held a desk and a few shelves. A couch was pushed against one wall and she tugged him over to it. They sat, simply staring at one another for a few long minutes, neither speaking or moving.

Finally, Kunzite began to talk. "I don't remember much of our last life," he said. "But I remember you. I remember how strong you always had to be, and that every time I saw you the universe made sense. Can you ever forgive me for your death?"

"Hai," Minako said. "It wasn't you that took my life, but Metalia. Usagi and Mamoru had plans to save all of you. I was prepared to search for you." She giggled. "I thought I would have to catch you."

"You could have," Kunzite admitted. "My mind seems to shut down when I am close to you."

Another giggle sounded. "That's a good thing," she answered. Soon she sobered and put a hand over his. "Kunzite, this is going to be really hard for you. We have to keep you a secret until the last battle against Metalia. She can't know you are alive. So you're going to need to blend in and keep quiet until then."

Kunzite smiled. "It will be hard," he told her, "but if it means giving us all a chance then I'll do it."

"We will need you a few times though," Minako said, grinning. "I think I know exactly what Mamoru and Usagi are thinking."

After Naru and Umino left, Motoki moved to sit in front of Mamoru, who was on the couch with Usagi. "I need to ask you something," he said.

"What is it?" Usagi asked, looking worried.

"Reika will be home for two weeks on Friday. I don't know what, if anything to tell her."

Usagi bit her lip, making Motoki nervous. She let out a small sigh. "We need to tell her the truth," she said softly. "Reika has something inside her that I need to heal. I can make her better, but if the dark kingdom gets to her first, they could really hurt her. Emotionally more than anything else."

"But you can save her?"

"And the others," Mamoru added. "There are seven people in total who have this thing inside them. They are the Crystal Carriers. Don't worry. We plan to take the monster away and heal their souls. Reika will be okay."

Motoki wasn't sure what to think. He'd only been asking if he could share the secret. Knowing there was something wrong with Reika filled him with fear. He needed to know she was safe. "How soon can you heal her?" he asked.

"Artemis is already tracking down the others," Usagi said. "I'm sorry we didn't bring it up sooner, but we wanted to try saving Jadeite first, and then with Kunzite showing up..." she trailed off. "No excuse. We should have told you."

"It's okay, really," Motoki told her. "It's enough that you can save her."

Minako and Kunzite reappeared and Motoki took that as his cue to leave. He had things he needed to do before Reika returned, and he wanted to check on his sister Unazuki, who was working at the fruit parlor that afternoon. He waved and let himself out, thankful that Mamoru now had more friends.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen entered the false fortune teller shop just after ten. Sailor Moon was a little nervous. Things had to go exactly right. There couldn't be a single mistake.

"Do you think it would still be here?" Tuxedo Kamen asked.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I think it will be, but we both know this might not go as planned." They walked down a long hallway and found two doors. They opened the one on the left into a shadowed space.

"Baamu," came a voice from deeper inside.

They came around the corner and saw a large open room where a Youma stood, looking like an ordinary female fortune teller with thick raven-black hair and a light colored robe. Then it turned at the sound of them and let out a harsh yell, it's features changing, becoming sharper as clawed hands were raised.

"Jadeite," it hissed.

Sailor Moon glanced to the side and caught sight of Jadeite from the corner of her eye. Tuxedo Kamen threw a rose at him that blasted a huge ball of fire into the air. Jadeite disappeared in an instant, flecks of ash floating down from where he had been standing.

"My Queen!" the Youma shouted, staring at the remnants of the dark general. She stared at the masked man, her mouth open slightly.

Kunzite came into the room from the opposite side, his dark general's uniform crisp and clean. He took in the situation in a single glance, glaring at the two heroes. "Balm," he said calmly, "perhaps you should attack the intruders."

A second later Sailor Venus appeared behind Sailor Moon and threw her Love Me Chain around him. Tuxedo Kamen shouted and threw a rose at his feet, causing another ball of flame to rise. Nothing remained but ash fluttering to the ground.

"No! My Queen! Save me!" the Youma screamed.

A disembodied voice filled the room. "Destroy them Balm," it ordered, a hint of feminine laughter filtering through.

Sailor Moon pulled the tiara from her forehead. "Moon Tiara Action!" she whispered, and threw it like a discus. The sharp blade missed the Youma, who smiled in triumph, until it's return path took her in and she let out a shocked gasp as she was moon dusted. A pile of ash lay on the floor where she had stood.

Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, and Tuxedo Kamen ran back out the front door and into the night, finding the first shadowy place to release their henshin. Then Kunzite appeared in the dark recesses of the alley and they reached for him.

Usagi blinked as her hand touched Kunzite's. By the time she opened her eyes again she was in Mamoru's apartment. Jadeite lay on the floor, still under the sleeping spell Mamoru had pushed into his rose with Usagi's help. The illusion had worked perfectly. To the eyes of the dark kingdom, both men were dead.

"Don't forget to release the disguise," she heard Minako say to Kunzite. Looking over, she watched as his uniform changed from the somber color and smiled.

Kneeling beside Jadeite, Usagi lay one hand over his forehead and pulled out the moon wand. "Moon Healing Escalation," she whispered and watched as his body stiffened for a long moment before he sank into peaceful sleep. His uniform changed before her eyes, as Kunzite's had that afternoon and again a moment before. The dark grey material became a light, almost silver-grey and the accent color became a bright red to signify the flame he carried within.

"It's done," she said, staggering to her feet.

"Two down, half a dozen to go," Mamoru murmured. "I didn't think we would get there this fast."

"I didn't either," Usagi said softly. "I feel like we still have a long way to go."

"We do," Luna said, nuzzling against Usagi's ankle. "But we've won the first real battle. We know we can do this now. Tomorrow we can go for Rei, then we can get Ami and Makoto. I'm very excited to see what they are like in this life."

"First things first," Kunzite said, looking down at the still sleeping Jadeite. "We should probably wake him up and let him know he's safe. And he is going to be very upset and worried until we save his brother and Nephrite."

"Okay," Usagi whispered. She bent and laid a hand on his forehead, sending energy into him and releasing the spell that had kept him unconscious.