The next morning, when Naru left for school, Nephrite was waiting outside on his motorcycle. He waved at her as she ran over to him, smiling. "Want a ride?" He held the helmet out to her.

"Sure." Naru took the helmet, then hesitated. "But you shouldn't be riding without a helmet."

"I'll get another one this afternoon. I promise."

"Okay." Naru smiled again as she put the helmet on and climbed onto the bike behind Nephrite. "I usually walk with Usagi-chan, but I don't think she'll mind if I ride with you."

When they passed Usagi, she waved and smiled at them. Naru waved back, wondering what Usagi really thought about her and Nephrite. She wondered if Usagi still saw him as evil, or if she was willing to give him a chance.

That day at school, Naru and "Akeno" were still the hot topic. Naru heard the whispers, "quick recovery," "fast worker," "rebound," but she didn't care. The people who were gossiping didn't know what the real story was, and she wasn't going to let them ruin her happiness.

She had brought a bag of cookies to pay her detention trading debt, and that afternoon, she waited after school while Nephrite gave the motorcycle rides he had promised. Naru felt a stab of jealousy when she saw Nephrite give his helmet to one of three pretty senior girls who were waiting in front of the school. The girl climbed on behind Nephrite and wrapped her arms tightly around him. Naru told herself there was no reason to be jealous. He was just paying off his debt; he hadn't minded her giving another boy a dozen cookies.

But he was the one who had arranged the trades. Naru had never imagined actually feeling annoyed with Nephrite, but by the time he had given the second and third girls their rides, she couldn't bite her tongue any longer. She marched over to where Nephrite sat on the motorcycle, waiting for her. He held out the helmet for her, but she didn't take it. "You said three people, not three girls."

He caught her eyes with his deep blue gaze, veiled behind the glasses. "Girls are people, aren't they?"

"Why didn't you tell me you'd promised rides to three girls?"

"Hmm." He looked up at her, thoughtfully, then grabbed her arm, pulled her down across the bike in front of him, and kissed her. She struggled briefly, wondering if you could get detention for making out on a motorcycle in front of the school, but he held her firmly. Finally her free arm, the one that wasn't holding her school satchel, went around his neck, and she clung to him as firmly as he was holding her.

After a few minutes Nephrite set her back on her feet. Naru realized that there was a crowd watching them, and blushed. "Come on," Nephrite said. "I'll show you why there's no need for you to be jealous."

"Oh, all right." She took the helmet and climbed on behind him.

They drove to an apartment building a few kilometers away from the school, and Nephrite parked the motorcycle in the garage beneath the building. "This is where I live," he said, sounding a little shy. "Come on up, I want to show you something."

Naru followed him to the elevator, not sure she was doing the right thing. She had never been allowed to be alone with Umino in her apartment or his, and Nephrite was much more... dangerous than Umino. But he was so gentle and polite, she was sure he didn't mean to try anything.

They got off the elevator on the fourth floor, and Nephrite unlocked the door of one of the apartments. Still looking rather shy, he led her inside. "This is my place. Setsuna set it up for me."

Naru looked around. It was a one-room apartment with a galley kitchen along the left-hand wall. A futon that converted from a sofa to a bed, a small lamp table, and a wardrobe and dresser stood against the wall opposite the door. The fourth wall was lined with shelves, which held a handful of books, a TV, and a stereo system with a dozen or so CDs stacked up beside it. There was a table with two chairs in the center of the room, and a small bathroom was built into the back corner next to the kitchen. The room was surprisingly tidy, considering that it belonged to an eighteen-year-old boy living on his own. This was probably due to his discipline as a Guardian of a Prince, Naru thought. "It's nice," she said, looking around.

He shrugged. "It isn't the Palace, but I like it." He set down his school satchel, and took off his jacket and tie and hung them up in the wardrobe. Then he opened the top drawer of the dresser and took something out. "Here," he said, walking back over to Naru. "I think this is yours." He took her hand and pressed a stiff scrap of cloth into it.

Naru stared at the stained orange cloth. "Where did you get this?"

"Princess Setsuna gave it to me. It helped guide me through the Gates of Time. If I kept my attention focused on it, it kept me from getting distracted and losing my way."

"This is the bandage I tore from my pajamas, that I tied around the cut on your arm. The night you--you--" She couldn't go on.

"I guessed that, from what you told me. You can have it back, if you want. Naru-chan, you don't need to be jealous. We share something very important. Even though it hasn't happened to me yet. I know it's going to. You're bound to me in a way that no one else can ever be. No one can take your place in my life, Naru-chan, and if I have to die I want it to be in your arms."

Naru folded her fingers gently around the bandage. She couldn't speak; it felt like something thick was stuck in her throat, and tears stung at her eyes.

"Besides," Nephrite said, a small smile making the corner of his mouth bend up, "I think you're the prettiest girl in school."

Words echoed in her mind. I think you're the cutest girl at Juuban Junior High. Naru made a sound that was both a laugh and a sob, and went into his arms. He held her for a moment, then pulled back a little. "We should go. It isn't proper for you to be here with me alone. Didn't you say I promised you something that night? Some sort of treat?"

Naru wiped away tears and smiled up at him. "You said we could have a chocolate parfait at my favorite cafe."

"All right, then. I believe in keeping my promises, so let's go." Their arms around each other, they left the apartment and hurried to the elevator.

* * * * * * * *

By the end of the week, Naru and "Akeno" were one of those couples who were referred to by a single name, Naruandakeno. They were together every possible second, and it was becomingly increasingly difficult for their classmates, or anyone else, to talk about one without mentioning the other.

Naru had never imagined being so happy. She had often envied girls whose boyfriends were at school with them, but now she had Nephrite to walk hand in hand with her through the halls and to kiss her goodbye before they separated to go to class. He picked her up on his motorcycle every morning, and took her for ice cream every day after school--she was getting her promised chocolate parfait with plenty of interest--and gave her a ride home. They were a couple now, Naruandakeno, and she didn't feel lonely any more.

Sometimes she was aware, in the back of her mind, of the days going by, eating away at the month she had with Nephrite before he had to go back to his own time. When this happened, she would find something to keep herself busy with, ignoring the nagging awareness of time, until it faded away again. She would deal with his departure when she had to; until then, she wouldn't let anything ruin her happiness.

* * * * * * * *

The second Saturday night, there was a party at Mamoru's apartment. He and Usagi were celebrating some sort of anniversary in their relationship. Friday during school, Usagi cornered Naru in the girls' room after lunch and whispered, "You and Nephrite are coming tomorrow night, right?"

"Of course we're coming, Usagi-chan."

"Good. I told Mamo-chan about Nephrite being here, but still it might be better if you guys get to the party before everyone else does, so if they have to, like, get anything out of the way, they won't have to do it in front of everyone." Usagi bit her lip, then continued. "Umino's coming too, Naru-chan. I didn't want to un-invite him, and he's still a friend, even if he dumped you. He's bringing a date."

"It's ok. I knew he was going with someone else."

"Oh, good." Usagi sounded relieved. "It's tricky, having exes come to a party."

"Usagi, you know me. I wouldn't make a scene. And I don't think Umino would either. So tell me who else is coming."

Usagi filled her in as they finished combing their hair before going to class.

* * * * * * * *

That afternoon, at the ice cream parlor, Naru told Nephrite about the party. "Usagi's boyfriend Mamoru is having it for their anniversary or something."

Nephrite's spoon of ice cream stopped halfway to his mouth. "Mamoru. Not--not Prince Endymion? Mamoru is--was--the Prince's childhood name."

"You guessed it." Naru smiled; she liked taking him by surprise.

"Well," he said after a moment. "Well, then, of course we must go." He was silent a bit longer, while the ice cream dripped off of his spoon back into the bowl. "What would one wear to a party like this?" he asked, rather shyly.

Naru smiled widely. "Take me to the mall tomorrow, and I'll help you find something."

* * * * * * * *

The next evening, when Nephrite arrived at Naru's apartment to pick her up for the party, Mrs. Osaka greeted him warmly--they had met a few times when he brought Naru home from school--and said, "Naru's just about ready. She's putting on her earrings. Her room is right down hall. Naru!" she called. "Akeno's here!"

"Hi, Akeno! Come on in, I'm almost ready."

Nephrite stood still a moment, not sure they really meant for him to go to Naru's room. But Mrs. Osaka smiled at him as she turned back to the kitchen. "Let me know when you leave."

He walked down the hall, found Naru's bedroom, and stood in the doorway, leaning against the door frame, filling his gaze with Naru. She was wearing the pale yellow dress she had bought at the mall earlier that day. It didn't have sleeves, just narrow straps holding it up, and the skirt was quite short, not even reaching to her knees. She hadn't let him see it on her when she bought it, and now he wasn't quite sure what he thought of it. Necklines were lower, in the time he had come from, but skirts definitely weren't that short.

Naru saw him and smiled as she fastened an earring into her ear. "Hi! You look great."

He was wearing the jeans and the dusty-green button-front shirt she had picked out for him. He privately wondered if this wasn't too casual for a Prince's party. But Endymion wasn't a Prince in this time, he reminded himself, he was just an ordinary University student.

Naru walked over to him, and he bent over to kiss her. "You look great," she repeated. "Let's just..." He had buttoned the shirt all the way up to the top button; somewhat to his alarm, Naru undid the top three buttons. "There," she said. "That's better."

"Isn't this a little too, well, undone?" he asked.

"No. It's perfect. You look very sexy." She patted his chest, then turned in a circle in front of him, showing off her new dress. "Do I look okay?"

It wasn't what he was used to seeing on young ladies, but he decided there wasn't anything to complain about. "You look wonderful. But are you sure you haven't forgotten part of your dress?"

"No, this is all of it." Naru winked at him. "It's kind of cold tonight, though." She went to her closet and took out a fuzzy black sweater, and Nephrite helped her pull it on. The wool of the sweater felt silky and warm to his touch. Finally, Naru pulled on a pair of black sandals and said, "Let's go."

They left, calling out their goodbyes to Mrs. Osaka, who called back, "Have her home by midnight!"

They were early to the party, as Usagi had suggested, and were the first to arrive except for Usagi. At first, Nephrite didn't recognize the tall, black-haired young man who opened the door of the apartment. Then the shape of the face and the midnight-blue eyes confirmed that this was indeed the Prince he was sworn to serve. Nephrite fought the urge to bow, and settled for a handshake instead. "Prince Endymion."

"It's just Mamoru now," the Prince said. "It's good to see you, Nephrite. As a friend, instead of an enemy. What's with the glasses?"

Nephrite shrugged. "You'd have to ask Setsuna. They were supposed to disguise me, but Usagi and Naru recognized me easily enough."

"That's no surprise," Endymion said. "But most people probably won't associate you with Sanjouin Masato, which is probably Setsuna's intent. Anyway, I'd know you anywhere."

Nephrite smiled a little. "I almost didn't recognize you, Prince--I mean Endymion. Mamoru. The last time I saw you, you were ten years old."

"He's older than you, now." Usagi smiled broadly. "He's twenty-one."

The other Senshi, who had also been warned of Nephrite's presence, began arriving. Princess Ami and Princess Rei, who apparently had fought against him before, were suspicious of him, but the others, Minako, Makoto, Haruka, and Michiru, were curious and polite. Nephrite barely recognized most of them; he remembered them as small children. The Princesses of Uranus and Neptune were closer to his age in his own time, but as they were from Outer planets, they rarely visited Earth. He had met them perhaps once or twice. They were accompanied by Hotaru of Saturn, who was considerably younger than the other Senshi. Setsuna, to Nephrite's relief, didn't come to the party.

Soon, the other guests began to arrive, and Nephrite was introduced to them as Miyake Akeno. The lights were dimmed and loud music with a heavy beat began to emanate from the sound equipment along one wall. There was plenty of beer, wine, soda, pizza, sushi, cookies, and all kinds of other snacks. Dancing couples began to crowd the empty area in the middle of the room. Nephrite could feel Naru bouncing gently along with the beat and knew she wanted to dance, but he held back a while, observing the dancing. Finally he felt ready, and led Naru by the hand to the dance floor.

They danced most of the evening, pausing only a few times to rest their feet and have something to eat. Nephrite decided there was definitely something to be said for this sort of party. Balls and banquets at the Court of Earth were interminable, stuffy, highly formal affairs, designed with protocol and politics in mind rather than the enjoyment of the guests.

At one point later in the evening, Nephrite left Naru sitting on a sofa while he went to get her a glass of punch. At the table, a young man with unruly dark brown hair and thick glasses, whom Naru had pointed out as her former boyfriend Umino, put a hand on Nephrite's arm. "Miyake Akeno?"

Nephrite looked at him. "Yes?"

"Hi." Umino stuck out his hand and Nephrite shook it. "I'm Umino Gurio." He steered Nephrite over to a corner near the table.

"Naru's mentioned you to me," Nephrite said.

"Yeah, well, we used to go together. Until a couple of weeks ago, actually."

"That's what she told me," Nephrite said, wondering what this was about.

"Yeah. Anyway, I heard she's going with you now. And I thought I ought to tell you why we broke up. You know, warn you, as one man to another."

"Warn me about what?" Nephrite glanced at Naru. She was sitting alone, slightly hunched up, watching the dancing couples. She looked at him, giving him a small smile that faltered when she saw that Umino was standing with him. "I heard that you found a new girlfriend," Nephrite said.

"Well, yeah, but there's a lot more to it than that," Umino said. "Naru's a sweet girl and all, and I really liked her a lot--I still do. But she's... It's like she's got this idea of what her ideal guy is like, and no real person is ever going to measure up to it. Things will start out okay, but pretty soon it'll be obvious that you'll never be good enough for her, unless you're doing something really stupid and dangerous and crazy to make her think you're some kind of hero. Most of the time, it's like she isn't even there. Her mind is off somewhere else, and you might as well not even exist, except for when you're trying to be a hero or showing what a loser you are."

Nephrite looked down into the glass of punch he had poured for Naru, swirling it around a bit. The other young man sounded bitter but sincere. "Why are you telling me this?"

Umino was also silent for a moment. "I don't know. I guess I just felt like I should warn you. So that when it starts to go bad, it won't be as hard on you as it was on me."

"Did you ever ask her if something was wrong? Find out why she acted like that?"

"No... I'd ask her sometimes if something was bothering her, and it was like she barely heard me. Then she'd say, 'Nothing,' like she just wanted me to mind my own business."

Nephrite sipped at his own glass of wine. Cheap stuff, but quite serviceable for a party like this. "Then you don't know that someone she was in love with died a couple of years ago."

"What?" Umino looked at him, his eyes wide behind the thick lenses of his glasses. "I remember, she got really depressed a few years ago, but she seemed to snap out of it when we started going together. That was around the same time that guy, what was his name, that rich guy disappeared, and I remember Usagi saying something about being worried because Naru had a crush on him, but I never figured... She was in love with that guy, Sanjouin Masato. She never said anything. How did you know?"

Nephrite kept his gaze fixed on the glass he was drinking from. "I kept asking."

Umino seemed to contemplate this for a moment. "So she's in love with a tall, handsome, rich ghost. No wonder none of us regular guys will ever measure up. Though you look a bit like him--tall, with that kind of reddish hair, so maybe you'll do better than I did." A pretty, brown-haired girl came over to Umino and wrapped her hands around his arm. Umino turned to her and kissed her cheek. "Anyway, I've got Mariko now. We're both going to major in entomology when we go to university. That's the study of insects, you know."

Nephrite smiled into his glass. "That's good, that you've got that in common."

"Yeah. Anyway, good luck, and tell Naru I wish her well, okay?"

"Sure. Thanks." Nephrite nodded to Umino and Mariko, then walked back to where Naru was sitting. Her arms were resting on her knees, her head buried in them. Nephrite sat beside her. "Here, I've got your drink."

She looked up. There were tears on her face. "Umino was telling you all about me, wasn't he? How I'm crazy, and I've got this idea of the perfect guy that no one can ever possibly live up to, and I'll ignore you except to bitch about what a loser you are... I know. We had that argument a couple of times." She took several swallows of punch. Nephrite, not sure what to say, sipped at his wine. "He's right, you know," Naru went on. "I treated him really badly, because he wasn't you. No other guy will ever be you, and I'll always be mean to them."

"Come on." Nephrite took her glass from her and set it on a table, then led her by the hand to the dance floor.

A slow song was playing. Nephrite wrapped his arms around Naru, and she rested her hands on his shoulders. "Umino wanted me to wish you well," he said. "That's all."

She nodded against his chest, not looking up at him.

As they moved slowly together, Nephrite remembered his words to Naru, the first day he met her, "Don't get too attached to me." She had replied that his warning was too late. She had grown too attached to him before, and now it seemed that no one else would be able to take his place in her life. He wondered if maybe Setsuna had arranged for the two of them to be reunited so that Naru could find some resolution for her feelings and move on. This thought bothered him. He wanted her to be able to find happiness after he was gone. He didn't want her to spend her whole life mourning him. But he also didn't want her to get over him. He didn't want to be replaced. He pulled her closer, and their dance became less of a dance and more of a deep, living embrace. She was so warm, so soft against him, and he didn't want to ever let go. He had failed to heed his own warning, he realized, and was definitely getting too attached to her.