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Sailor Moon is a product of Bandai, Toei, and Naoko Takeuchi

...

Makoto walked down the hallway, painfully slow. Was this it? Had Mamoru confessed? Were these her last moments on this Earth? Would she be chastised, scolded, scorned? Would she be relinquished of her powers? Would Serenity sacrifice her without even a thought? Would she loathe the day they met? What would the other Senshi say? Her mind was reeling with unrelenting thoughts.

She reached the chamber door. Her palms sweaty as she touched the heavy metal frame. She could feel her heart pounding in her head, her breath quickening.

Could she turn around now? Run off. Run away. It would save everyone so much heart break. So much anguish.

Makoto let out a heavy sigh. Tapping ever so slightly, it was barely audible.

"Enter" Serenity said.

She sighed again. Entering the room, her head hanging low. Should she start this conversation?

Mako glanced out of the corner of her eye. Setsuna, Haruka and Michiru were all here. They didn't look disgusted with her, maybe this wasn't about her treachery.

"You wished to see me, your Highness?" Makoto finally asked.

"What do you know about the enemy?" Serenity inquired in an absolute way. She inwardly relaxed, slightly.

"Is there something specifically you would like to know Majesty?"

"Everything you know." She replied. "Who you think it is. More specifically. If you know." Mamoru interjected.

"You both would not like my answer to that King Endymion." Mako stated

"I would like to hear. Makoto." Serenity affirmed. Mako glanced to Setsuna for reassurance. The Guardian of Pluto simply nodded.

"Well, your Eminence. I believe with everything I have that it is General Taizhou that wields the power of Fenrir. He is marked by the beast. I have seen it in his eyes." Makoto said with a nervous tone in her usually firm voice.

Serenity scoffed.

"Just because you disdain the Generals so much, does not mean you will be allowed to weave such tales Makoto!"

"This is not a tale your Highness. He has a tattoo on his wrist that..." Mako was cut off.

"You are basing this ludicrous accusation on a piece of ink artwork?" She actually laughed. "Really Mako, I thought you better than that."

"With all due respect your Majesty. I am right. I know it." She ground her teeth and clenched her jaw as Serenity let out a small chuckle again.

"Is all this a fabrication to prevent you from marrying? Really he seemed like your type."

"Do you think this is a joke?! Have we fought and died for you for nothing? The Ginzuishou has been depleted! An ancient evil deity is knocking on our door, and you think it is nothing but a joke?" Mako said exasperated.

"Watch your tone with me Senshi. The Ginzuishou is perfectly fine. It will shield us, and give us power as it always has. As for you, you are dismissed. I will summon you again if we have any further questions." The Queen demanded.

"You are wrong Serenity." Mako turned towards the back of the room towards the voice.

"What Hotaru?" Serenity asked.

"You are wrong. I have seen this evil. The Ginzuishou has been compromised. I no longer feel it's power pulsating." Hotaru's voice sounding much more mature. "Only death awaits us if we enter battle now. We must.." The Senshi of Saturn finished

"Enough!" The young Queen interjected. And with that Makoto took her leave.

Perhaps she was right before. This was looking more and more like Tartarus.

She heard a small voice exclaim her name. Makoto turned on her heels.

"I, I believe you Makoto-San." Hotaru peeped

"I had a vision. A new one. I saw Taizhou, and the Wolf. I saw us losing this great battle. And then...Silence." She could see tears welling in the young girls eyes.

"You listen to me. I will not allow it. As Jove is my witness, I will not allow you to lower your Glaive, Hotaru. I would die first. Ultimately that is what's to come. If we have any chance at defeating this deity. I will take as many of them with me as possible, so the rest of you have a fighting chance." Makoto stated, with a slight smile

"But why Mako! Why does it have to be this way? Why does no one believe us!"

"I do." A voice called from the shadows.

"Rei?" Mako asked

"Yes. I have consulted the Great Fire. I have seen what Hotaru speaks of. I approached Serenity, but she will not hear me out." Rei said, her voice quivering out of character.

"Can you talk to her again? You of all people might be able to convince her. We are running out of time..." Mako stated nearly pleading.

"I can try."

And with that Makoto nodded and walked away.

...

Makoto huffed. The rhythmic thumping of the punching bag echoing in the empty training room. Sweat was dripping down her face, arms and back. Clad only in a green sports bra and her black karate gi pants. Her hands ached, she could feel the bruises forming on them. But this was the most relaxed that she had felt in ages. Releasing months of pent up frustrations. She did a small flip backwards, followed by a roundhouse kick. The bag swung, knocking itself loose from the chain on the ceiling. She dusted her hands, briefly smiling. She made quick work of the large rock wall across the room. Leaping down, she placed her hands on her knees. She skipped over to the next challenge. Mako leapt up to the bar, rapidly reaching the top of the double salmon ladder. She smirked to herself as she hopped down. She had always wanted to compete on 'Sasuke'. The ever popular "ninja" obstacle course, which became insanely popular in America right before the Great Sleep. Luna had forbade it and regardless, she never felt quite confident enough to try.

"Well. I guess you have been training huh?" Mako spun around towards the voice. Minako stood in the doorway.

"Yes." Was all that the Senshi of Thunder said. Reaching down and grabbing her towel.

"I- I wanted to apologize." The blonde stammered. "I don't, I haven't...I just haven't felt like myself lately. It pains to me know that you've been suffering in silence. So much for being the leader huh?" Makoto saw the tears welling in her eyes. Her long time friend quickly moving towards her, embracing the taller girl. Mako felt herself start to balk. The sensation of human contact feeling almost foreign.

"I'm quite filthy." Makoto laughed trying to better the mood. Minako glancing up with a small smile, tears trickling down her face.

"I would do anything for any of you. You know that. That's why I have been doing what I'm doing."

Minako swallowed hard and shook her head.

"But how do we re-light the Ginzuishou? Is that even possible?"

Makoto simply nodded.

"I'm sure Setsuna will explain in due time. For now, you should help Rei talk to Serenity. Our Queen...doesn't wish to see me." The last few words nearly crushing Makoto.

"You're sure you're alright?" Minako asked. Mako again nodded.

She heard the clicking of heels slowly disappear.

"How long have you been standing there in the shadows?" Makoto smirked.

"Long enough. Too long actually. That bra just barely covers anything when you move, you know." The King laughed.

A few strides across the room and he was kissing her fully on the mouth. His tongue begging for entrance. He pressed them up against the wall. He trailed hot kisses down her jaw and neck.

Mako quickly pried herself away from him.

"I said no more Mamoru..." She said turning away from him.

"I can't not have you. My soul calls to yours. Can you not hear it?" The King of Terra asked.

"Of course I do. Every waking moment of every day. But my...OUR duties come before anything. Our duties include keeping Serenity happy and safe. And currently neither of us are doing either. She is suspicious enough of me already. You of all people should understand Fate, Mamoru. We cannot control it. It cannot be changed."

"If things were different. If we lived in a place without duty. Would you be with me?" He asked her.

"That place does not exist. You can be happy with Serenity. She can give you things that I cannot; happiness, a family. What would I be to take all of that from you." Makoto stammered, turning around to face him. Tears pricking at her eyes.

"But it can exist. Let us leave here! We can make a home anywhere else. Asking me to not love you, is like asking me to stop breathing. I want nothing else, only you. I do not need a Kingdom, a Crown, or even a Queen. What I want is to be with my lover, and my soulmate. The one who makes me most joyous. My soul lives in torture without your touch. I am tired of this facade. I grow weary of all of this." Mamoru embraced the woman before him.

"We...can't. I-I have a duty to uphold. The Ginzuishou. It's my destiny, Mamoru. Without it the whole Universe is in peril. This is bigger than just the two of us. It doesn't make it any easier for me to stop this. Know that I live in torture away from you..." Mako brushed against his hand. Butterflies in her stomach, a giant lump in her throat. She had managed to stammer thru without breaking down.

She turned slowly, walking away. Mamoru started to speak. She stopped, frozen.

"My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears, And true plain hearts do in the faces rest; Where can we find two better hemispheres Without sharp north, without declining west? Whatever dies, was not mix'd equally; If our two loves be one, or thou and I Love so alike that none can slacken, none can die."

She balled her fists. That. That was the last thing he ever wrote to her. They often sent letters back and forth, anonymously. Written in an archaic form of Terran than no one on the Moon would ever be able to decipher. Mako briefly closed her eyes. She remembered the way his letters smelled of Sandalwood with the smallest hint of Vetiver. She recalled opening it, thinking not that this would be the last letter she would ever receive. She remembered the overwhelming feeling of agony to know that her love was now alone and fighting for the life of his Planet. That treacherous red-headed witch, had sold her very soul to a Devil. And now that Devil was destroying everything that she held dear to her heart. She could hear the angst in the words of his letter. The sheer anguish as he wrote about the Shitennou and their betrayal. Tears splattered against the paper as she knew, knew that this was it. Those last lines of the letter, "I will always be with you. We will be together again my love." Makoto recollected Mars and Venus chastising her later in the day while training. That she was just "not with it today". She remembered trying to act shocked and saddened when word got to Serenity that her beloved Endymion was in peril and that the Shitennou had been lost. No, she would put on that facade again. Makoto, Senshi of Jupiter grieved alone that awful night.

She spun around to face him.

"Do you know how hard it is to not love you? Torture. Agony. I cannot even muster up the correct words to describe it to you." Mako sobbed into Mamoru's chest.

"Let me help you. This doesn't need to be your burden alone." He said lifting her chin

"No. It is mine alone. Serenity needs you. The Senshi need you. The chance is too great that you would perish as well. The Golden Crystal is our last line of defense for this planet. It cannot become compromised. I need to know that you will be alive and well. Happy. You can be happy Mamoru. I stand in the way of your happiness." Mako trailed off. Slowly brushing a few strands of hair from his face.

"We will be together." He stated. The worry on his face ever so evident.

"One day, love. In this life..." Makoto walked off

"..Or the next." Mamoru stood alone. A single tear made its way down his face.

...

Woo! One more! I know it's short, but it was a good stopping point. The next one will be much longer. Getting down to the nitty gritty now. Expect some action in the next chapter. Thank you to all that have PM'd and Reviewed! You all are awesome!

-Lady D