Chapter 6: The Fall of Love

"I don't know!"

"Come on, Serena." Yami's voice was exasperated. "You're going to have a test today. You need to know this stuff."

"It's just a mini-test…."

"Worth half a test grade, which is still a lot."

"It's not like I'm not trying!"

"I know you're trying, but you're not getting. Now who forged Achilles' armor?"

"Which side was Achilles on again?"

With a sigh, Yami let her forehead drop into her palm. "Achilles was the champion of the Greeks; Hector was the champion of the Trojans. Got that?"

"I think so."

"Good, 'cause if you don't know that, then this is pretty much hopeless."

"Hey!"

"Sorry. Now, who forged the armor?"

"Umm… a blacksmith?"

Another sigh. "Hephaestus." God of Fire, God of Forge… With a gasp, Yami quickly raised a hand to her forehead as a sharp pain shot through her skull to disappear just as quickly.

Yami shook her head. What…? Where did that come from?

"Hey, you okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I… I'm fine. Uh…" She cleared her throat. "He… Hephaestus, the Greek name for the god of fire, particularly the blacksmith's fire." God of Forge…

"All right. Hephaestus… got it."

"All right, moving on…" Yami continued, slowly forgetting the momentary pain and the strange words that had come unbidden and unexpected. The feeling that had so shaken her on the inside slowly faded away, and the memory moved to the back of her mind.

* * * * *

Serena sprinted into the school, disappearing inside seconds before the bell rang. Chuckling, Yami shook her head, turning away from Juuban Middle. Dropping her skateboard to the pavement, she was off down the sidewalk by the time the school bell silenced.

The wheels scraped against the pavement as Yami kickturned around a corner. There was the clack of the kicktail hitting the ground as she ollied onto a rail. The metallic scrape of trucks against railing was oddly satisfying, as was the sound of the board landing back on the pavement at the end. With a 180 Indy grab, Yami was becoming more and more comfortable as she melded with the board, becoming one with the wind tearing at her clothes and hair and spirit. Tucking her foot beneath the board, pressing it firmly against the wood, she was midway through an old-skool kickflip when all concentration shattered.

With a cry of pain, both of Yami's hands shot to her head. The loud clatter of the skateboard against the pavement did not make it through to her mind, and the pain of slamming into the sidewalk, her momentum carrying her a ways farther before she stopped, barely even registered. Panting for breath, the teenager clutched at her short hair, pressing her hands against her temples firmly. She cried out as images flashed through her mind, bringing a spike of pain with each one of them.

By the power of the dark… the epitome of all evil… God of Fire, God of Forge… Against the powers of the moon kingdom and the princess of serenity… A silhouetted form stood above her, fire rising behind him as if she was staring at Satan himself in the bowels of hell. Though she could not see his face, she could sense the evil smile. He reached down toward her, and with a scream, she jumped up and began running.

The pain ceased suddenly, and it was then that Yami realized that the figure had been only in her head, that she had nothing to run from. After a few moments of coming to her senses, she returned to pick up her skateboard and started off, dazed, for the arcade and a familiar face. Perhaps merely the presence of friendship could keep away the evil figure, the voice, the pain… the fear….

* * * * *

"Dammit! What happened to you?" Andrew quickly rushed to Yami's side, concern evident in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Yami nodded. "I'm fine."

"You're bleeding! Here, sit down." After she settled into a booth only feet away, dropping her skateboard at her feet, Andrew rushed off to retrieve a First Aid kit. "What happened?" he asked as he returned and knelt next to her.

"Uh, fumbled on the skateboard."

"You shouldn't be skating barefoot. You'll regret that every time you stand up for a while. Look at this!" He carefully medicated the bottom of her left foot, where the skin had been scraped off the ball of her foot for an area with a good one-and-a-half-inch diameter. Bandaging her foot, he gently set it down before cleaning and applying a Band-Aid to a scrape on her knee. Moving on again, he winced at the sight of a deep gash across her knuckles. "I can't believe this…. What the hell were you doing on that thing, anyway?"

Yami shrugged. "Nothing difficult… I just lost my focus for a second there, I guess."

"Well, I'd appreciate it if you'd work harder to keep it from now on. If I was your parent, I wouldn't let you ride that thing anymore. Damn, they're gonna think we abused you or something."

"Could've been worse," Yami said with a shrug. "I've seen guys snap their arms like toothpicks and others have major concussions."

Andrew did not seem comforted by this statement. He glanced up at her disapprovingly. "And you still do this why?"

The girl smiled softly. "Because I know what it feels like to fly."

Andrew shook his head with a sigh. "Look, your clothes are all torn."

Yami grimaced. "Not even my clothes…"

After applying some antibiotics to a scrape on her cheek, Andrew carefully rolled up her sleeve. For a moment, he had to look away. Blood seeped from a long, ugly gash that stretched from the middle of her forearm to just above her right elbow.

When he was finished bandaging Yami's arm, Andrew gave the girl another looking-over before sighing and cleaning up the First Aid supplies. "Try to be more careful from now on, all right?" Yami nodded. "Promise?"

"I promise." With another sigh, Andrew returned to work, leaving the teenager alone.

Sighing, Yami unconsciously lifted her left hand to rub the bandage over her sore knuckles. Then, running a hand through her short hair, she leaned back in the booth. "Stang…" That place behind her forehead began to throb slightly as a soft hiss echoed in her mind, and she shook her head hard, pushing the feeling away, drowning out the pain with sheer will. "Not that again," she said firmly. "Not that…" The dreams, the pain, the voice… it was all more than she could stand. Ever since the battle…

Suddenly, Yami's eyes shot open. The battle! Could whatever was happening to her have had something to do with the Sailor Scouts' battle with the youma? Standing up, Yami grabbed her skateboard and headed for the door. "Thank you, Andrew!" she called as the door bells jingled, and she was gone before he could respond.

Ignoring the pain in her foot, Yami ran all the way to Serena's home. Bursting into Serena's bedroom, she looked around quickly, smiling with relief as she saw Luna sitting on the bed, staring at her. "In a bit of a rush, aren't we?" the cat inquired, swishing her black tail back and forth.

"Luna, I need your help."

"You look like you could use somebody's help. What happened to you?"

"Uh, skateboard accident. But listen — I need to know if the youma battle from the other day has anything to do with what's happening in my head."

The cat looked thoughtful. "You're referring to the headache you received during the battle?"

Yami shook her head. "Not just that. I've been getting headaches ever since, all concentrated in this place behind my forehead, especially when I'm asleep. But it's getting worse. Do you remember the dreams that I told Serena about the first night I was here?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, I remember."

"Well, they stopped after I met Serena, but ever since the battle, I've been having them again. And they're getting worse too."

"Interesting…" the cat mused.

"Not really. Distressing is more like it."

"Well, that as well, but… there's something odd about the correlation of these dreams and headaches with the events in your life."

"What do you mean?"

"You say you woke up completely alone in the middle of a street the night before you and Serena met?"

Yami nodded. "Yes."

"That was the night all connections to your past disappeared, correct?" Another nod. "And that was the last time you had your childhood dream?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Did you ever have headaches before that night? Outside of sleep, I mean."

Yami shook her head. "No, I didn't."

Luna paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Hmm… You say that these dreams of yours have become worse? Perhaps it would help if you would tell me the contents of some of these dreams."

Yami hesitated. She was unsure if she wanted to confide in Luna that much. She was unsure if she wanted to confide in anyone that much. The dreams were strange to her… and even she could not figure them out. With no ideas about their meaning, she did not know that she wanted to go telling about them just for the hell of it. "I… I don't know… if…"

Luna nodded, saving the teen the trouble of trying to excuse her way out of describing her dreams. "I understand. I can wait until you are ready. Perhaps this will not even be necessary. The dreams and pains may be a normal psychological issue that have nothing to do with enemy powers."

Yami nodded, though she felt still unable to shake the feeling that her dreams and head pains were somehow connected to the youma battle. Her instincts told her this was true, and somehow all these events were too sequenced and organized to be coincidence. She felt as if fate was resting over her head, prepared to fall at the most desperate instant. Something was going on behind the wall of the unknown, something that she would never quite know until it was too late. Too late for what, she did not know, but this state of ignorance did not erase the dread that clutched at her heart. She knew a time of judgment was on its way, and she was left with this knowledge but with no way to prepare for it.

Sighing, the teenager sat down on the bed, burying her face in her hands. "Thank you for your help, Luna, but I'm not sure there are even answers to my questions."

"There is an answer to every question, Yami. Sometimes that answer is simply not clear to us."

"Which is a real problem in a world that bases everything on black and white."

"But when have you ever known things to be black and white?"

"I never have. That's the problem."

"Perhaps it is not the problem at all." Yami looked up at the cat, surprised. "Perhaps you merely need to learn to see through the gray fog."

* * * * *

The grace of God
The fall of love
The wrath of sin
The purpose of
Life inside
This gilded cage
Constantly
Suppressing rage
A sunless light
Will filter down
To sting the skin
Like a thorny crown
Just one hour
Just one day
To see the ocean
And feel its waves
To feel the wind
And smell the air
But why by the stars
Would the gatekeeper care?

There was a jingle at the door, and Yami looked up from her place at the counter to see Serena walk in with Amy, Mina, and Lita following just steps behind. Yami smiled immediately at the sight of her friend, closing her book and setting the pen down. Serena, however, did not smile.

"What happened?" she asked immediately, rushing over. Yami sighed. She'd been getting that a lot lately.

"Somebody was skateboarding without pads or shoes," Andrew said before Yami could answer. He flashed the teen a disapproving look, though she could see the concern mixed in behind it.

"Didn't I say it was dangerous?" All eyes turned to look at Lita, who was shaking her head. Then the brunette paused, a thoughtful look upon her face, which was followed by a grin. "But then again, since when did that faze me?"

Serena shook her head as she turned her attention back to Yami. "This is terrible! How on Earth did you do all this with just a skateboard?"

"It's not bad, really," Yami assured her. "And believe me, I've seen a lot worse as a result of skating. I just had a bit too much momentum built up for myself."

"I'd say." Amy's look was not unlike Andrew's, disapproving and even reprimanding. She looked just like a parent scolding a child. "What were you thinking, skating barefoot and without pads or even a helmet?"

"Uh…"

"Were you even thinking at all?" Two hands were planted firmly on the girl's slim hips, and Yami had to stop herself from laughing.

"I try not to." The other girls burst out laughing. Only Serena and Amy were left silent, staring at Yami, Amy in disapproval, Serena in confusion.

"Try not to what?" the blonde meatball head asked, cocking her head.

"Think." At this, Serena joined into the laughter, which was now directed at her as much as it was Yami's statement.

There was another jingle at the door, and Darien walked in. He smiled warmly at Serena but stopped as he saw the sandy-haired teen next to her. "What happened to you?"

Sigh. "I became well acquainted with the pavement today." Darien raised an eyebrow, glancing at Serena.

"She crashed on her skateboard," she blonde answered him, and realization dawned on his features.

"Dangerous sport," he said shrugging his shoulders slightly.

Yami nodded. "That's why they label it 'extreme.'" She grinned. "It is extreme, too. Let me tell ya, all this was worth it."

"At least someone thinks so," Serena said sourly. "I can't see what would be worth getting hurt like this."

Yami's eyes burned into Serena's. "Can't you? Of all people…" Serena looked surprised, then she averted her eyes.

"What the heck are you talking about?" Yami turned to look at Andrew, who was looking at her like she was crazy. Serena glanced up at him, blushing.

"Nothing at all," Yami replied, shrugging casually. "What would I be talking about?"

"I lost you," Andrew sighed, shaking his head. "Can't you ever make sense for a change?"

The teenager couldn't help but grin. "Now why would I do that?"

"Ah! I give up!" Darien and the girls all laughed at him. "Dare? Don't tell me you understand their gibberish!"

"Girltalk is another language — but I haven't heard any girltalk today, have you?"

"But… you understand her?" With her unkempt sandy hair, a mischievous smirk, and a rather rough-looking scrape over her cheekbone, Yami looked like a perfect rogue. Darien could not help but chuckle.

"She's just about as cryptic as I am — of course I understand her."

Andrew threw up his hands, defeated. "I should've guessed. I'll repeat — I give up." As he moved off to wait on other customers, he was followed by laughter from six separate people. Ignoring them, he gave his attention to taking a young couple's order.

Darien moved to sit down at the counter right next to Yami, pulling Serena, who was still standing next to her friend, into his lap. She giggled, melting back into his embrace, and he kissed the top of her head.

Here will be forged the face of death to the lovely Selene… Yami froze as the hissing voice whispered the words into her mind. After sorting through the words, she was struck with realization. "The moon goddess…"

"What?" Yami looked up at Serena, who was watching her curiously with cheerful blue eyes.

"N… nothing." That even the love of precious Endymion cannot undo… "Endymion?" she whispered to herself.

Serena and Darien exchanged glances. "Yes?" Yami looked up, startled, into the face of a smirking Darien.

"Huh?"

He looked down at the girl in his arms. "I know she figured out about the senshi, but did you explain to her about the Silver Millennium?"

Serena shook her head. "No. I never thought about it."

Yami looked from one to the other. "What's going on?"

Glancing up at Darien one last time, Serena leaned closer to Yami, lowering her voice so that no one outside the three of them could hear. "Darien and I and all the scouts are all reincarnated from a thousand years before. During the Silver Millennium, I was Princess Serenity of the moon kingdom, and Darien was Prince Endymion of the Earth. The other girls are also reincarnated princesses of their own planets. Pretty cool, huh?"

Yami grinned. "The fairy tale." Against the powers of the moon kingdom and the princess of serenity… Her grin quickly faded and was replaced by an expression of horror.

"What is it?" The teenager looked up to concerned blue eyes. Even the love of precious Endymion cannot undo…

"I…" Yami took a trembling breath. "I think something's coming." Serena and Darien exchanged surprised, worried looks. "Serena, it has to do with my dreams… and my headaches. I don't know…" Hephaestus, God of Fire, God of Forge… "Hephaestus! Does the name Hephaestus mean anything to you?"

Serena's face automatically brightened. "He forged Achilles' armor! I got that question right on the test."

"No, no. I mean… aside from in school. Does that name mean anything to you?"

The girl's face clouded with confusion. "No, nothing. Why?"

"I…" Yami could feel her mind clouding with confusion and dread. "I have to g… go…." She quickly scooted off her stool and ran out of the arcade. The fresh air helped to clear her head a little, but her mind was still swimming. Feeling something very akin to dizziness, Yami leaned against the wall, panting for breath.

Within a few seconds, Serena was by her side. "What's wrong? What is it?"

"I… I don't know. It's…" Yami raised a hand to her forehead, rubbing her temple. "I can't explain it, Serena, but…" She drew a slow, shaky breath. "I don't think our meeting was a coincidence. Well, maybe our becoming friends was, but… There's something going on, Serena, something inside of my head. The dreams have come back, only they're much worse now. And for the first time, I'm getting those same pains in my head outside of the dreams. I can't explain what happened at the youma battle, but I think the fight was somehow connected with it, triggered it somehow." She looked up at her friend, her dark eyes lost and scared. "I know something very bad, very dangerous is coming. I don't know what it is, but maybe you should stay away from me. I… I don't want you getting hurt."

"Yami, no way! Remember what I said about being a good friend?"

The sandy-haired teen looked down at her feet. "But I don't want to be a lousy friend to you by getting you killed. There's a darkness in the air… I can feel it getting closer."

"Hey, I thought Raye was the psychic."

"Well, I'm surprised she hasn't sensed it, then."

"I guess I'll have to consult the sacred fire." Yami jumped, looking up quickly to see Raye just a few meters away. "Always so on-edge?"

Yami forced a small grin. "Always."

"People make you nervous, right?"

"Exactly."

Raye shrugged, moving to stand next to the other two girls. "So what is it that I'm supposed to be sensing?"

"'Danger, Will Robinson,'" Yami replied. "Grave danger… soon."

"Well, that's not vague at all, is it? Any more details to this 'grave danger'?"

"Not much — it's connected to the pain in my head, that much is sure. I think it has something to do with Serena's life in the Silver Millennium, and — this is gonna sound weird — I think it has to do with Hephaestus, the blacksmith god."

"Hmm… blacksmith…" Serena looked as if she were in her own world. Yami stared at her for a long moment, trying to analyze her expression.

"Serena?"

"You know, Luna said something to me about a blacksmith the other day — right after the fight. Some psycho that my family exiled during the Silver Millennium who had the power to make something called the Anomaly Stone."

Raye stared at her, completely lost. "The what?"

"It's s'posed to affect the Silver Crystal, taking my powers as Sailor Moon, making me weak."

"Wait a second… weak like at the battle, when you nearly passed out?"

Serena nodded. "Yeah."

Raye sighed, though it sounded almost more like a growl. "Why didn't you tell us about this? So, who was this blacksmith dude, anyway?"

The blonde shrugged. "I dunno. Luna never told me his name."

"Find out," Raye said forcefully. "I'll do what I can. Yami, if you get any more clues from… wherever it is you're finding this out… let me and the other scouts know. We'll need to figure this out together. I don't know what's going on, but I don't like it. We'll hook up later to talk."

With that, Raye disappeared into the arcade. With a heavy sigh, Yami slid down the wall, resting her head in her hands. A few seconds later, the arcade door opened, and Lita came out, looking around before her eyes fell on the pair of friends. "What's going on? Are you guys okay?"

"Theoretically," Serena replied.

"You guys left so fast, and then Raye just came in talking about how you" — she looked down at Yami, who was now gazing up at her wearily — "say there's some kind of threat coming, something to do with an… Anomaly Stone?"

"Of life fading to black," Yami whispered to herself. In her head, she heard her own words echo. And the light will slowly die…

"What?"

"Nothing."

Lita sighed. "I wish you would stop doing that. It gets confusing and… kinda creepy after a while."

"Sorry."

"We'll have to have a scout get-together later," Serena said, "and figure what's going on. Maybe Luna and Artemis will know something."

"Don't they always?" Lita put in.

"Pretty much."

Yami couldn't help a short laugh. "You talk about creepy — now that's creepy."

"I think it might be time for Yami to go stay with you," Serena suggested. "Sooner or later, my parents are going to start wondering when her parents are getting back from their 'business trip,' and I'd prefer to keep questions along that line to a minimum."

"I'll second the questions thing," Yami put in.

"Ok, so after tonight, then?" The brunette looked from Serena to Yami. After exchanging a quick glance, they both nodded. "Snap! That works for me. Just bring your stuff over tomorrow after school."

Yami could not help a laugh. "That won't take long."

"Well," Serena sighed. "I think it might be time for us to head home."

Home, Yami thought to herself. What home?

"I'll let Darien know you're leaving. He might want to say goodbye."

"Speak of the devil," Yami said with a laugh as a dark-haired young man stepped out of the arcade, catching sight of the girls.

"Oh, well, nevermind. See you guys later." Lita disappeared back inside the arcade.

"You're leaving?" Darien's eyes were sad.

Serena nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, I think we've had enough excitement for one day."

"I guess… well… you don't want to go to the park or anything? Walk around awhile?" His eyes were so sad, hopeful. Yami could feel her heart crack, and she absolutely refused to come between any of Darien's time with Serena.

"You know, I think a walk in the park sounds pretty good. Or, you know, I could just hang around the lake if you guys wanna spend some time alone."

Serena looked down at her friend, her eyes unsure. "But I don't want to leave you all alone…. What will you do?"

Yami smirked. "Skateboard?"

"I think not! Not after what happened today. Besides, we'd have to go home to get your skateboard, and there's no way my mom would let you skate again today if she saw you like that."

"Look, does it really matter what I do? I can just take some time to think or maybe write…." She paused. "Hold on a second…"

Clearing his throat, Darien held out a little book with a bunny on the cover. "You forgot this."

With a grateful smile, Yami took the book. "Thank you. Come on, Serena. We're just going to the park — what could possibly happen?"

"Must I justify that with an answer?"

"Okay, good point, but… you get my gist, right?"

"The woman knows what she's talking about," Darien said pointedly, flashing Serena an irresistible grin. After that, the girl had no choice but to give in to his wishes. Yami smiled at her success.

A few minutes later, the trio was at the park, and Yami split off from Serena and Darien, agreeing to meet them at the pier at sunset.

"Don't get into any more accidents until I see you again." The cheerful blonde's words still echoed in Yami's head, and she could not help but chuckle.

The park was peaceful. For once, very little sound invaded Yami's senses — even the voice in her own head seemed to have been silenced. Finding her way to the shore of the lake, she sat down by its edge, dipping her unhurt foot into the cool water. It seemed strange, the beauty and innocence of the world around her. It was like Serena had said — a miracle. Yami wished she could be a part of that miracle. Instead, she felt as if she was in some sort of alternate version of reality, looking at all these things from the outside. Serena and all her friends were on the inside, happy and pure-hearted, still able to touch love. The teenager wondered if she was meant to feel these things. It was as if she were floating down her own isolated river, separated from everyone else in the world. She felt she had a part to play in it all, but somehow she could not be a part of the picture, of the life going on around her. It was strange, she knew, but she could not help it, as much as she longed to.

Sighing, Yami kicked at the water before standing up. She continued walking through the park. It seemed like forever and yet, at the same time, no time at all before the light in the sky began to dim, and she figured it was time to head for the pier. She had just started that way when she heard a familiar voice through the trees to her right. Careful so as not to make a sound, Yami moved closer to the sound of Serena's voice until she could see Serena and Darien through the leaves and branches. They did not see her… or anything else other than each other.

Serena was wrapped tightly in Darien's arms, her small hands resting lightly on his chest as she looked up at him. His head was tilted down so that their faces hovered only inches apart. Their voices were soft but audible, filled with a love Yami had only dreamed of but never imagined feeling.

"If there is danger ahead, I want you to be as careful as possible. I don't want to lose you." Darien reached up to stroke the girl's cheek gently. "You're all I have left."

Serena smiled up at him, their gazes locked so passionately… it was as if even the treachery of time could not tear them apart. "I'll never ever leave you, Darien. I love you too much."

"I love you more than the air I breathe… and I don't want you to get hurt." He inched closer, their warm breaths mingling together as their lips hovered so close….

"Darien…" The whispered word was all that escaped before she was silenced by a passionate kiss. Rising on her tiptoes, Serena's hands slid up his chest to wrap around his neck as they both melted more fully into the kiss. Yami could feel her breath catch in her throat, and she could feel just by watching the two the love they so deeply felt for one another.

Here will be forged the face of death to the lovely Selene that even the love of precious Endymion cannot undo…. Tears welled in Yami's eyes, and she tore her gaze away from Serena and Darien, quickly walking away, leaving the scene behind. As she grew farther away, she could feel the silent tears slide down her cheeks. Fate had brought the two together, and fate now waited behind a dark curtain. If she brought death to this love so pure and perfect, brought tragedy to the lives of those she held most dear, she knew she could never live another second in this world. The lives of these people were too precious for her to comprehend. She was unsure if her life had a purpose or not, and at this point, she was not sure she wanted to know. All she wanted was for her friends to be happy, whatever that meant for her.

The sun once again painted the waters of the lake in a brilliant display. For a moment, Yami wanted to die, to leave those she loved in peace, never to face this impending doom she felt resting over her own head. But her death would fix nothing, she knew. Destiny would not be stopped by an act so rash and foolish. Only love could wash away the tears of the world. Only love.

* * * * *

"Oh, Yami! What happened to you? Are you all right? What happened?"

The teenager sighed inwardly. "I'm just fine, Mrs. Tsukino. I had a skateboarding accident. That's all."

"That's all? Look at you! What will your parents think?"

"Hey, what's going on?" asked a young voice from the foot of the stairs.

"What's going on? Yami had an accident on that skateboard today, Sammy. I don't want you on that thing again."

"Aw, Mom!"

"Not a chance! If I catch you skateboarding, you're grounded for a month. Do you hear?"

"This isn't fair!" The boy stormed up to his room.

"It's really not bad, Mrs. Tsukino. I'll be just fine," Yami said softly. "Besides, Sammy won't be going fast enough to get banged up like this. He can barely even roll down the driveway."

"Not bad, indeed! I'll have a fine time explaining this to your parents."

Yami could feel a jolt of fear at these words. "You don't have to explain anything to them, Mrs. Tsukino, really. I skate all the time — they know it's dangerous. And I'm not even hurt very bad."

"Still, I'd rather have a talk with them. When are they coming home?"

"Well, t… tomorrow, but I'd really prefer it if you wouldn't, please. My parents usually wouldn't make a big deal out of this, but if you call them, they might. Please…"

Mrs. Tsukino sighed. She glanced at Serena, who shrugged. "It's not that big a deal, Mom. She's a little scraped up — could've been worse." Yami flashed her friend a grateful look. She knew that Serena was as concerned as her mother, but she was lying about her opinion and feelings just to help out.

Finally, the woman gave in, and Yami breathed a sigh of relief. She could certainly do without people asking whether she was all right for the next few days.

* * * * *

"Goodnight, Yami," Serena said as she stretched before snuggling under the covers.

Yami finished writing in her little book and set the pen down softly. Closing the book, she flipped off the light before saying, "Goodnight, Serena. Sleep well." Laying her head down on the soft pillow, she could feel sleep creep up to dim her senses until conscious thought ceased and the world of the subconscious drew forth to take control of her mind. It was not long before darkness covered all, and both girls slipped away into their own separate dreamworlds, as different as they were, as far apart in likeness as the desert from the sea.

Oh, hero of the stars
Ai no senshi
The light shines down
Your heart's aglow
The sun will dim
The night will grow
The darkness spreads
To overcome the day
When all else flee
You will stay
To fight the fight
Until the end
Be carried high
By the wind
The mountains will
Bow down to you
The waves cry out
To your heart so true
The clouds will break
And light your face
Pure and innocent
Filled with grace
Oh, hero of the stars
Lone symbol of love
You are what dreams
Are all made of

* * * * *

Serena awoke in the middle of the night. She thought the cries that had woken her were a part of some kind of nightmare, but then she realized that they were coming from right next to her.

"Yami?" She reached out a hand to wake her friend.

"No, Serena. Don't."

"But, Luna, I…"

"It is in Yami's dreams that we will find our answers. We have no other source of knowledge for these coming events, these premonitions of hers. The sooner we know what is coming, the more ready we can be to stop it. I fear that if we are not ready in time, your life could be the cost. You were lucky last time. Next time may not be so lucky."

"But, Luna, listen…"

"Yami's dreams are the source of her pain."

"Exactly!"

"But until she finds the meaning of those dreams, they will continue to plague her. They will not stop until the dream is complete. By waking her, you can save her from pain now, but you will only prolong her suffering."

Serena saw that the cat was right and lowered her eyes in defeat. She shuddered as Yami shrieked in pain, wishing desperately to end it by simply waking her friend, but she could not. Luna was right — there was no getting around it. Pulling the covers tight around herself, she clamped her eyes shut, trying desperately to block out the cries of agony. Then suddenly all went silent. Serena shivered in the dark, hearing nothing but the sound of her own breathing. She wasn't sure if she liked the change or not. For in the silence, a monster seemed to be waiting, waiting for its chance to close its fist around its prey, who were also waiting silently in the dark.