Authors Note: So it's been almost 10 years since I wrote the first two stories in this trilogy. This is the sequel to Unfinished and the final story in this trilogy. I have always wanted to finish it, desperately, but never finalized a couple of the chapters. So here is the beginning. I'm determined to finish telling Makoto's story. On that note, let's see where we left our heroine.

Kurenai

Prologue: Deep Red

He watched her silently, his mind in a constant state of mourning for his closest friend. She had lost more in her lifetime than he could ever imagine and yet she survived to go on, though if she was exactly still alive inside was questionable.

Henge sighed and sat down on the floor next to the bed and regarded his sleeping charge with compassionate gentle eyes. She cringed in her sleep from dreams of the battles that had left her scarred mentally and physically. No doubt they spawned from the brutal memories of the beloved ones she had lost. Henge touched Makoto's forehead softly easing the creased brow and deepening her short breaths. How he wished he could be inside her mind and see what caused her such violent nightmares and pull her away, give her reprieve from the pain. It had been nearly a year since Makoto had returned from the past, standing on death's door. It had been uncertain at first, but she had recovered. Makoto would not tell him what happened while she was in the past, but he knew by the injuries she had received and the absence of her daughter that things had gone horribly wrong. He had barely left her side when she first returned and had been in a coma none of them had thought she'd pull out of. Then one day her eyes did open and Henge saw that everything had changed. After that it had taken almost a month for her body to heal even with her supernatural physiology.

Once well enough Makoto continued on with life, much to her friends' surprise and worry. All of them watched her go through the motions of each day as if unaffected by what had happened. Retaking up her responsibilities as International Security Adviser as soon as Ami would let her, she excelled more than ever. She conversed, and joined in gatherings never giving any indication of what she felt behind the steely green eyes. Henge knew though, she was suffering, and she wanted it that way. She didn't want their looks of sympathy, or their comfort. She never wanted to heal. She made certain that not one of the Senshi or her friends could help her; not even the Queen, who Makoto still dedicated her life and love to, could replenish her soul. She had redefined her life and this time no one was allowed in.

Henge held a secret though, sometimes, usually at night, Makoto couldn't stand it anymore. Living her life without letting anyone help her would finally bring her cascading down into a sorrow that couldn't be hidden and it was then she'd turn to him and only him. His door was always open to her, more than that it had become his purpose in life to be there for her. After days of insomnia and over working, she would show up at his door just needing to sleep and some how his presence allowed her that. Henge would dutifully watch her all night and be there for her if ever she needed anything. Still he felt he needed to do more. Henge needed to help her, to save her.

He had lost family and it had nearly destroyed him, but that had been a tragic accident, not the brutal, evil twist of fate that had taken everything from Makoto. He could barely understand how she dealt with that. He admired her greatly for the strength she maintained as her husband and daughter had been painfully ripped away. He didn't think he would have had the courage to return afterwards, to survive. Makoto wasn't the same anymore and it seemed she never would be. Oh how he wished she were the same as when he'd first met her. Then she had been the one to help him, her love and strength had radiated to all of them when Hideo had been alive. Now he was determined to take care of her, helping her see that she wasn't completely alone that she didn't have to keep everyone out. For Henge it still wasn't enough and he hated his weak human inability to change anything for her. He was never good at taking care of others; in fact it had always been Makoto and Hideo that had kept him sane when his world had crumbled. He felt inadequate, but for her he swore to God he would do anything.

Tears ran down Makoto's cheeks and she mouthed inaudible words in her sleep as she struggled with the monsters in her head. It drew Henge from his thoughts. Another sight no one but him ever saw, tears, and with the back of his hand, Henge gently brushed them away.

"I would give my life and more to make everything right for you, Mako-chan." Henge whispered his own eyes welling with tears. Slowly he lowered his head and kissed her ever so gently on the forehead.

Elsewhere...

All was silent deep in the Time Stream and Pluto sat like a queen in an empire outside of the linear passage of life. She contemplated with great care and a hint of worry a dilemma that tore at her heart. "Almost a year since I brought her back." She thought. Again she checked through the information on her screens that monitored the Time Stream. She had already been through them countless time, but she just couldn't understand what she was seeing. Pluto's main screen was fixed on the present and monitored each person pivotal to the stability of Crystal Tokyo. This of course included all the Senshi. The other panels displayed numerous timelines and possible futures. In each one the Senshi above all else were a constant. Their presence was imperative to the world's existence, but that had changed recently and Pluto was deeply disturbed by what she saw. Leaning back she sighed. "Where are you Makoto?".