010: Awaken, Fight, and Remember

"Ne, Haruka-hime?" Princess Makoto asked the tall brooding blond standing just a few feet before her. The blond tilted her head back slightly to look at the slightly shorter princess and nodded slightly. Makoto walked closer to the blond and stared out at the rose garden before them. Softly, almost afraid of the answer, she asked, "Will the war really come here?"

"It may," Princess Haruka responded, equally soft.

"Will you fight with us, Haruka-hime," Makoto asked. Haruka looked up towards the Earth. The dark aura surrounding the beautifully colored orb seemed to grow slightly darker as they watched. Haruka looked down into the garden and smiled softly as she watched Princess Michiru danced in slow circles with Princess Hotaru and Princess Setsuna. The three laughed with sheer joy as white flower petals flew off the plants around them and swirled around them. Haruka grinned at them and turned back to Makoto.

"We will protect this kingdom. We'll keep Queen Serenity's peace or die trying. This war may come to us… and for the sake of them," Haruka says softly as she points to the dancing girls as Princess Serenity walked into their little circle. "We will all fight with everything we have. Hopefully we are enough, for the people we must protect and honor."

"May peace last for all our days," Makoto whispered softly.

Makoto groaned softly as she woke briefly. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table, it read 3:15. Groaning softly she and pulled herself out of bed. She cursed softly as her feet touched the cold floor. Slowly she walked from her room, and into the open living room. She cursed again as she spotted her brother sleeping on the couch and walked towards the kitchen.

She pulled out a tall glass and filled it with water. Quietly she passed back through the living room and into her room. After she finished her water she crawled back in bed. Her clock glared at her so she turned over and went to sleep.

"The war is here," Rei whispered as she watched the Dark Kingdom's army close in on the palace. Haruka, standing on Makoto's other side nodded grimly. She pulled out a silver sword and walked towards the exit. Makoto unsheathed her own sword and followed the blond princess. Rei grabbed her sword and muttered, "Our last dance… may it be our best."

"Please, don't fight," Serenity cried as she grabbed Ami's arm, her vibrant blue eyes pleading with her dearest friends to stay out of harm's way. Makoto and the other princesses stopped and looked back at the only princess not about to join the soldiers outside. Ami pulled out of her weak grip and walked away. Serenity fell to her knees and said weakly, "Please, don't go. I don't want to lose you, my dearest friends."

"Sorry Princess, stay here with your Mother. She needs to know you're safe, and we must protect our people." Minako said. Serenity cried harder as her friends turned and walked away. Minako's calm voice drifted over the group as she said, "We will fight, and protect your Kingdom, so wait for us Your Majesty."

Together the princesses of the nine planets sworn by blood and love to protect the Moon Kingdom turned and left their weeping friend. They descended the glittering white steps in full battle gear and slowly looked over the waiting troops. The men and women looked afraid, but ready to fight. One man stood out with his glittering white hair and his easy relaxed stance. He grinned over the battle wary troops to the armed and dangerous women approaching him.

"Princesses, I was expecting to see one more with you," Kunzite, ex-general of Earth and the Dark Kingdom, said with a broad grin. When he received no response he frowned and looked up. Makoto followed his gaze to see a tearful Serenity holding a sword. Gracefully the sword was raised high over her head, giving her the look of a ruler addressing her troops.

"Brave citizens of the Moon, I pray you all return home. Let us all do our best and protect what we hold dearest in our hearts." Serenity's clear and calm voice made those below look up at her. Her voice was strong and steady as she turned the sword slightly to reveal a small blue diamond embedded in the sword, her fallen brother's last possession. The sword had traveled the distance to the Moon with her betrothed Prince and his wounded follower, Kunzite. "Fight for your loved ones, protect them, and yourselves. We will meet again, all of us, to celebrate a peace returned. We all fight together, as one, for our Kingdom!"

The blue diamond glowed brightly and the crowd bowed to the young, if naïve, heiress to the throne. Serenity turned then and walked away, her brother's sword in the sheath strapped to her waist. The army turned as one, prepared to fight to their dying breath. Makoto smiled grimly as Rei muttered, "Welcome to the last dance, The Dance of War and Death."

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Makoto rubbed her eyes as she grabbed her ringing alarm clock. Slowly she turned off the alarm and got ready for school as her dreams faded from thought. Once she was ready for school she left her room and wandered into the living room where her brother still slept soundly on the couch. Anger boiled in Makoto as she crossed the room to his room and looked inside, Michiru was sleeping over still.

Makoto growled low in her throat as she closed the door with a resounding thud. She heard the girl in her brother's room bolt awake as she watched her brother fall off the couch with a start. He looked around wildly, until his eyes landed on his growling sister. She stalked towards the front door as Michiru yanked open the bedroom door and asked, "What happened? What's wrong?"

"You! GO HOME!" Makoto shouted as she pointed at the door, anger radiating from her shaking form. Michiru stared at her with wide eyes as lightning seemed to flash through Makoto's eyes. Before she could respond to the wild anger of the brunette Makoto had spun around and stormed from the apartment.

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"So, Pharaoh….let's see what you do in a studio. If I like what I hear, there may be a future for you here at Katsuya Records," Setsuna said as she looked over the small group sitting before her. Cowed by the towering female they meekly nodded before standing and walking into the recording room. Setsuna smiled softly as the group tried not to stumble over their instrument.

Several minutes later Setsuna frowned at the group as they walked from the recording room. Her eyes were shadowed as she looked over the quiet group and waited. Yumeji, the lead singer, stepped forward and bowed dismally. His gentle baritone was hesitant as he said, "Sorry for wasting your time. Thank you for the chance, but…."

"You were slightly off key, but I know a man who can ease you out of that. Mr. Hikari, meet Pharaoh…my new, and first, band." Setsuna said as she looked up and smiled at the white-haired youth standing in the corner. Yaten stepped forward and smirked ruthlessly at the group.

"He doesn't look like that bright of a bulb," Sai remarked as he leaned against the wall. Yaten's green eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked towards the base guitarist.

"Setsuna, if I was in your shoes I'd fire this…group… and hire someone with talent. My girlfriend has more talent in her little finger than this entire band and she's a ditz who walked through busy traffic." Yaten said calmly.

Setsuna nodded slightly and added whimsically, "Agreed, but nevertheless, I'm offering them a chance. I believe they'll blossom under our tutelage."

"Hey who said we need him to improve?" Sai demanded as he pushed off the wall and glared hatred at Yaten.

"You don't want to be a star then? Well it's not my worry if you don't want to be a top band. Lunch Yaten?" Setsuna said as she turned to smile at Yaten. Yaten nodded slightly and started towards the door. Setsuna looked at the band and smirked as she saw them conversing quietly. Her gaze left the group and landed on Yaten, wearing an identical smirk of victory.

"Wait…. We agreed. We want your help Mr. Hikari, Ms. Meioh. Please help us get better," Yumeji said as he bowed. His band mates bowed and waited earnestly as Setsuna pretended to ponder the decision placed before her.

"Glad to have you with us at Katsuya Records, shall we sign that contract? Yaten would you kindly ask my secretary to run out for seven coffees and a large box of donuts?" Setsuna asked. Yaten nodded and walked out as Setsuna walked to her desk for paperwork.

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Usagi smiled as she walked into a small, but cute home on the outskirts of town. Yumemi Yumeno, a startling new talent in the art world, had spotted Usagi just the day before and begged her to model for her. Usagi had agreed, but only because Yumeno seemed so desperate and lonely. She smiled softly as she slowly walked among the portraits with a soft call, "Ms. Yumeno, I'm here."

"Ms. Tsukino! I was afraid you wouldn't come… I was a bit forceful yesterday. I thought maybe your friends had convinced you I'm a serial killer or something…" Yememi said in a rush as she led Usagi to the couch. Smiling softly she rushed into her kitchen.

"Please, just Usagi," Usagi said automatically. Yumemi walked back in the room holding a tray of cookies. The two girls smiled and giggled slightly as Usagi sat on the couch.

"And please, Usagi, call me Yumemi," Yumemi said as she put the cookies down. She smiled and grabbed a sketch pad. The two girls shared a soft giggle as Usagi ate a cookie and Yumemi started to draw.

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Ami and Hotaru looked silently up at the gated house. The younger girl sighed softly, now able to recognize an underlying evil dwelling in her home. She looked to the older girl and watched her face as the silence stretched.

"We should tell Luna, but it's not really the same as Queen Beryl's energy…." Ami whispered. Hotaru nodded slightly and slowly pushed open the gate and led the way inside. Together they slowly walked to the front door and silently debated whether to ring the bell or not. In the end Ami reached out and rang the bell.

"Oh, Ms. Hotaru, why didn't you just come in?" A tall red haired woman asked as she pulled the door open wide enough for both girls to enter. They hesitated briefly, struggling against their urge to flee whatever 'evil' lurked in the old house, before they stepped over the threshold. Both girls shivered and followed the tall elegant woman to the kitchen.

"Hello again Ms. Knight," Hotaru murmured as she settled at the table.

"Please, Ms. Hotaru, call me Kaori," the tall woman said as she placed two cups of tea on the table before her 'guests'. Ami absently picked up the tea cup and swirled the contents without taking a sip. Hotaru absently pushed her cup away and watched Kaori leave. A few minutes later her father entered the kitchen with a wide, pleasant grin that left both girls anxious. The negative energy, despite it being different and slightly diffused, made both girls a little queasy.

"Hotaru! I've missed you," Dr. Tomoe said as he engulfed his daughter in a hug. The small girl repressed a shudder as she felt the evil aura that surrounded the tall man she'd once loved as a father. Dr. Tome released Hotaru and engulfed the shocked Ami in a hug as he said, "And you've been watching out for my little light! I'm so happy and grateful, though I do wish she'd spend more time at home."

Ami held her breath as she felt a surge of negative energy wash over her just before the tall man released her. Dr. Tomoe quickly walked to an empty seat and grinned at the two girls. His smile twisted ever so slightly when he noticed both girls were trying not to fidget. Ami whispered softly, "Um, it's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Tomoe."

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Rei slowly approached the restaurant and tried to hide her distaste. She'd been forced to cancel a scout meeting when her father called to 'bond'. She walked to her father's table a forced smile on her face and sat at his table. He smiled up at her and Rei frowned. Angry Rei asked, "What do you want your token daughter for this time Father?"

Her father placed his tea cup on the table and stared at Rei. His soft voice held an authoritarian tone as he responded, "That's rather rude Rei. What would your loving mother say if she heard you talking to me like that?"

"I wouldn't know. Perhaps she'd be proud of me for disassociating with you after you abandoned me to a temple after she left this existence." Rei responded, her voice laced with icy venom. Her father stared at her for a moment as he thought over what was said.

"There's going to be a debate for the senate race. I would appreciate your presence there." He said calmly before he took a sip of his cooling tea.

"That's why I'm here? For a debate?" Rei asked, anger radiating off her thin frame. A memory of Minako's broken form after their last fight flashed across her eyes and she lowered her head. She slowly rose from her seat and turned her back on the man behind her. Her voice was soft and deadly as she whispered, "If you want to see me again I live at Hikawa Shrine. I won't come next time you summon me, I have no reason to. I have no reason to call you father, and I have no reason to care about your politics, and I have absolutely no reason to be here for your indulgences. My friends, the people I value more than life itself, need me to be there for our future. The only thing that truly matters right now is what I'm fighting for. Goodbye."

Rei closed her eyes and sighed as she walked from away from her father. She heard a soft comment from behind her but couldn't understand it as she continued the painful walk away from her life as it had once been. She held back her tears as she walked into the sunlight and turned towards home.

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Kunzite wearily opened baby blue eyes and looked around the nearly empty arcade. Motoki had left the arcade to Kunzite's care as he and Reika went apartment hunting. He scanned the arcade and lowered his head back to the counter as a raging brunette stormed into the arcade. She bumped into boy near the door playing a claw machine game. She knocked over an overstuffed bag of toys and knelt to pick them up. Kunzite wearily watched them before he closed his eyes altogether. Moments later he heard the door open and close before a female voice asked, "Can I get a coke?"

"Yeah," Kunzite said as he pulled himself off the counter and went to fill the order. He returned to the counter to see exact change sitting on the counter and he grinned. He looked up into raging green eyes and frowned. He could see the rage and passion of a long dead princess as he placed the drink on the counter. The girl grabbed the drink and left the arcade. Kunzite stared down at the money and looked up with a muttered curse.

He raced to the phone and dialed the first number that came to mind. Three rings later and a long stream of muttered curses later and he heard the answering machine pickup. He swore again and waited for the recording to finish so he could leave a message. "Mamoru I need help. I need you to come take over the arcade as soon as you get this! I have a desperate emergency that needs immediate attention. Please come quickly!"

He hung up and frowned at the phone desperately. Angrily he walked back to the counter and watched the doors as he waited less than patiently. 'Damn it all! Jupiter's not awakened fully… what the hell is that useless feline doing, halfway awaking a dangerous power like hers! Hurry the hell up Mamoru! I need to get the hell out of here!'

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Minako grinned at Yaten as he yelled at the lead singer of Pharaoh for the twentieth time in less than an hour. She slowly sidled up next to her boyfriend and sang the first few lines of Pharaoh's song. Yaten grinned at her and backed away from Yumeji. He nodded at Setsuna and stepped outside the small office with Minako as he asked her, "Where shall we go for lunch?"

"Anywhere but here. They're getting better and you're going to lose you voice if you keep yelling at them." Minako responded as she led the way down the hall. They walked into the sunlight and Minako tried not to frown as her thoughts drifted to the other night's fight against Bunbo.

"Mina-chan, what's wrong?" Yaten asked as silent tears started to flow from Minako's eyes. She wiped them away and threw herself into his arms as more tears fell. "Minako? What's the matter? Please talk to me."

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Ami frowned at the cake she was currently carrying as Hotaru mumbled incoherently at her side. The smaller girl was carrying several sacks filled with her clothes and trinkets she wanted to keep. Ami adjusted her grip on the cake and asked softly, "You think it's poisoned?"

"My dentist would say yes, but we could give it to Luna to find out." Hotaru responded softly. The two quietly walked into Ami's apartment building and walked to the stairs. Hotaru looked at the cake in Ami's hand and giggled. "I bet Luna would eat all that in fifteen minutes."

Ami giggled softly as she pictured Luna eating the cake. They stepped off the elevator and walked down the hall still giggling over the image of a fat Luna covered in cake. Happily they entered the apartment and dumped Hotaru's stuff in Ami's room. Hotaru grinned and said, "Let's go to Rei's, she'll love to see the cake. Maybe we can talk to Minako."

"I hope she's alright." Ami muttered as she readjusted her hold on the cake and led the way to the front door. Hotaru sighed softly as they left the apartment once again and prepared to walk to the shrine.

"Ami, is my dad evil?" Hotaru asked softly as the entered the elevator.

"Hotaru?" Ami asked softly. She knew why Hotaru was asking, but she wasn't sure she was ready to speculate on the possibility that they might one day fight her father. Ami shook her head as if to say it was not important and Ami said, "He's not evil. At least, I don't think he is. Perhaps we should keep our thoughts about him between us, and watch him. Make sure before we make any assumptions that could hurt us later."

"Shouldn't we tell the others though? At least Luna," Hotaru asked.

"No, especially not Luna. She's too hot headed. She'll jump to the wrong conclusion quickly and never let go of it. We'll confirm our details first, then tell the others if there's a need." Ami said firmly as the elevator opened to reveal the lobby. The two shared strained smiles before they continued on their way to Hikawa Shrine.

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Michiru slowly trudged up the long steps to Hikawa Shrine hoping to talk with the fiery priestess. Upon reaching the last step she stopped and smiled at the beautiful scene presented with it's wide path and picturesque trees framing the beautiful old shrine. After several silent moments spent in awe at it's timeless beauty she willed herself to move forward. She met Yuichiro who was busy sweeping the fallen leaves and offered a polite greeting, "Hello Yuichiro, is Rei here?"

"No. She left for a moment, but she should be back shortly if you want to wait." Yuichiro answered softly. "Is something the matter?"

"Not particularly, I just want to talk with her," Michiru said.

"Michiru!" Hotaru said as she stopped beside the older girl. Ami grinned at them as she tried not to drop the large cake she had carried over. Yuichiro quickly relieved her of her burden and led the three girls inside. "My father gave us a cake."

"Your father gave you a year's worth of tooth decay," Yuichiro said as he carried the heavy cake inside. Ami thanked the tall youth as she sank to the floor just outside of Rei's room. The two other girls sat with her and smiled at the beauty of the shrine.

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Makoto growled low in her throat as she tossed her empty cup in the trash. She was still angry at her brother for his foolish friend. A series of swear words slipped from her lips as she continued to walk through the park. She glared at the ground and closed her mouth in an attempt to stop swearing in public.

"Bad day?" a soft voice asked behind Makoto. The tall brunette turned, fist prepared to strike the person behind her. Haruka grinned as she caught the fist aimed for her head and said, "It's good to see you again."

"Oh, I'm so sorry… I was just very angry, but not at you, more my brother." Makoto explained.

"Take a walk with me; we'll talk about it if you want." Haruka said as she released Makoto and put a friendly arm over the other girl's shoulder. Makoto shrugged slightly and let the older girl lead her through the park.

"My stupid brother is flirting with a girl he's known forever. I hate her for being there. She's disturbing my life. One minute they flirt, the next they claim to be just friends…it's driving me crazy. The girl disappears randomly, insults my cooking, and plays that damned instrument in the middle of the night. My brother and I haven't had a decent conversation since she moved in. Why the hell isn't she staying with her roommate?" Makoto demanded angrily.

"Life and love gets complicated, I should know." Haruka said. "I have a crush on a dear friend who can never see me as anything but a friend. Maybe this girl truly cares for you brother."

"No, they don't care for each other that way," Makoto whispered.

"You're sure?" Haruka asked.

"Yeah," Makoto said softly. "Are you okay? I mean, if you wanna talk about your relationship…"

"It's alright. She doesn't want me. She needed me for something, and I willing played my part, and I still am I guess." Haruka said softly.

"Oh," Makoto said as she offered the blond a friendly hug in response.

"It's alright, I'm getting used to it." Haruka said softly as the duo exited the park. Haruka grimaced slightly as she admitted softly, "I baked a cake for her birthday, it was a little late because I was sick, but it's been sitting on the counter for three days. She left long before then though. I can't remember what day, I was delirious…"

"And she left?" Makoto asked shocked.

"She didn't realize I was sick," Haruka defended.

"I'm sorry Haruka," Makoto whispered as they started to walk up a long flight of stairs. Haruka shrugged helplessly as Makoto offered her another hug. They entered Hikawa Shrine and wandered towards a small group sitting under the trees talking quietly. Both stiffened slightly as they spotted familiar faces.

"Michiru," both girls whispered as they spotted the smiling girl. Haruka stopped moving as Makoto took a few more steps forward. Michiru turned to look them over and her smile disappeared.

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Mamoru yawned as he walked into the Crown Arcade. He gazed disinterestedly at the few customers and walked over to the counter looking around for a familiar blond. Instead of spotting Motoki cheerily greeting customers he spotted a cross Kunzite stalking towards him.

"Mamoru, watch the arcade." Kunzite said as he pressed a notebook and a key into Mamoru's hand before he raced towards the door. Mamoru stood shocked as Kunzite disappeared from the arcade. He slowly opened the notebook. Inside was a list of what to do while running the Crown Arcade. Swearing profusely under his breath Mamoru let himself behind the counter and placed his school books on the floor at his feet.

A small black-haired boy came up to the counter and sweetly asked, "Can I get a chocoo-late ice cweam, pwease?"

The small boy held out a dollar twenty-five and waited. Mamoru took the sticky change, hid a grimace behind a fake smile, and checked his notebook for instructions. The third page instructions helped, but by then the little boy was close to tears and eager for his sweet treat. Mamoru quickly walked to the ice-cream maker and made a small ice cream cone for the boy just as he'd once seen Motoki. He handed the boy the ice cream and watched horrified as it slipped from his little fingers to the floor. The boy started to wail in despair of his lost treat.

"Hush now Sai. I'll buy you another ice cream." A smiling girl who looked like his older sister said as she attempted to comfort the boy. Mamoru promptly stood to get more ice cream. This time he grabbed a small dish and filled it with ice cream. He stuck a cone on top and handed it to the girl. She grinned and grabbed a nearby chocolate syrup dispenser. She dapped two dots under the cone followed by a shaky smile. "See it smiles!"

Happily the boy grabbed his ice cream and wondered back to his table as the girl paid for the second ice cream. Mamoru grinned in thanks and the girl left to be with her sibling. Moments later Mamoru grimaced as a small group of children all started his direction, each gingerly holding a dollar twenty five.

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Usagi gasped as she examined the beautiful portrait of a maiden, herself, gliding across the ice. A picturesque castle was just visible over the gentle sloping hills that separate this pond from the rest of the world's view. Sitting on the hillside were several couples watching the woman who seemed to have captivated her audience so well that none dared to join her on the ice. Her movements seemed to speak of joy, life, and love, but none of those emotions seemed to be reflected in her soft blue eyes. Within the soft blue, Yumemi had managed to capture all of Usagi's sorrow.

"It's beautiful! Yememi this is amazing." Usagi whispered.

"It's yours. Just promise to model again. It should be ready to take home with you tomorrow morning, if you want to stop by for it. I had so much fun painting you." Yumemi said as she bowed slightly. Usagi grinned widely and hugged the older girl.

"I'd be honored and delighted to come tomorrow! You're the best artist ever!" Usagi said happily. Yumemi grinned and showed Usagi to the door knowing that the other had to get home soon.

"You need this, for the joy she of the past offers to the girl of the future," Yememi whispered as Usagi left. The young artist closed the door and walked back into her studio and pulled out a stack of pictures she'd kept hidden while the young blond was there. Painted with undeniable clarity was a scene of a tall brunette glaring defiance as an anvil hung over her head. Below that was one of a red haired youth holding green crystal, defiant and angry despite the cruelty of the wounds she'd had inflicted on her.

Two more portraits were held in her hands, and she almost refused to look at them, to acknowledge their existence. Slowly she looked at the first one, a portrait of a throne room complete with two vacant thrones. A tall imposing silver haired woman stood before the thrones, blood staining her white dress, as she glared defiance at three women planning to destroy her home. A single tear fell as the battle raged outside the palace walls. A small statement was written across the bottom of the painting: 'We fear not, for we are free. We won long before we fought.'

The last picture was of the blond that she'd just painted. Her blond hair had fallen from its customary buns and flowed freely to her ankles. She stood tall and proud as she held her bloody sword into the air; a silent scream of hope escaping her open mouth. Her dress, once a dazzling white, was dyed a vicious red. A crowd of enemies and allies had turned from their respective fights to see this dangerous figure.

"Princess….had I but known your strength." Yumemi whispered her voice slightly darker than its natural airy tone.

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Haruka lowered herself onto the park bench and tried not to think. Michiru had been staying at Makoto's for weeks. Breathing slowly she willed the tears away as she watched other visitors to the park, they all seemed far too happy but Haruka couldn't seem to find the energy to leave. She stayed silent and still for several minutes listening to the calming sounds of the park.

"…ce we find Haruka I want nothing to do with you," Michiru's voice announced. Haruka looked over her shoulder to see an angry brunette stalking towards her with Michiru scowling at her back as she followed. Haruka stood up and walked towards the two, and then she continued past them intent on being left alone. Makoto and Michiru hurried to her side as her communicator went off.

"Haruka…. Thank gods. Naru dropped by and released another of the Seven! We need help," Yuichiro said once Haruka had answered. Haruka, having a pretty good idea where they were at due to the lake in the background, nodded and dashed into the bushes, Makoto and Michiru hot on her trail. The three girls raced into the fight and stood stunned a moment as they watched Sailor Saturn fight against a metal restraint that seemed to be getting tighter. The small scout screamed in pain and Haruka stepped forward with an angry scowl.

"Uranus Power Make-up!" she screamed and in an instant the depressed blond was replaced with the angry form of Sailor Uranus. Moments later Sailor Neptune stepped forward and the two girls raced into the fray.

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Kunzite glared the long flight of stairs with utter distaste. He sighed dramatically and raced up the stairs hoping that the Jupiter princess had instinctively flocked to those who held a similar power. At the top he raced into the closest building and began a full scale investigation of the building.

Twenty exhausting minutes later and Kunzite was back outside and swearing under his breath. No one was around, not even the grandfather who never seemed to leave. Swearing again Kunzite struck out against the closest living thing, a tall prayer tree. Moments later he was still swearing again as the tree he'd hit had started to transform into a monster. He shook slightly as the monster finished it's transformation from a tree and he realized someone had found a way to create new monsters.

He stumbled backwards a few steps before a sudden root pooped up and wrapped around his ankle causing him to fall. He attempted to soften his blow with his right hand, which screamed in agony at the sudden pressure. He ended up sprawled out on the cement with a bruising ankle; the tree root seemed to be tightening, a sore wrist, and his back screaming at the harsh treatment. The white haired general moaned softly as he tried to push himself up, only to find his wrist wouldn't support his weight at all.

The monster sat on the general's stomach and lovingly grabbed his wrists. Kunzite scowled at the monster and tried to pull his wrists free. Scowling darkly, the monster tightened her grip, eliciting another pained groan from Kunzite, then slammed his wrists into the ground. She grinned darkly as she sank her fingers into the cement and slowly let them turn to stone. The stone transformation spread to the monsters hands and she pulled away, leaving Kunzite trapped. The monster recreated her hands and shifted a fold of fabric revealing a black star. Kunzite growled as he watched light gather to the center of the black star before it turned into a beam of energy aimed towards Kunzite's chest. A scream of pain sounded as the energy slowly pulled a dazzling crystal from the gasping man's chest. He shuddered as the crystal flew into the monster's hand before his world turned black.

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Makoto shook in anger as she watched Sailor Uranus stand in front of an injured Sailor Neptune. The green haired scout had blocked a blow aimed for a black haired boy from the Hikawa Shrine. Makoto rushed forward across the bloodied grass and pulled the dazed boy into her arms. "I'll get him outta here! Fight and destroy that monster already!"

Neptune nodded as she pulled herself to her feet and staggered back into the fight. Makoto spotted the other scouts pulling themselves to their feet as well before she forced herself to turn away and flee. The boy was moderately heavy so Makoto half-dragged him until she judged they were far enough from the battle.

"You're gonna be okay, but we'll need to get you to a doctor," Makoto muttered as she checked over the boy's injuries. Most seemed slight, but he had a few nasty gashes he'd need taken care of and he was losing a lot of blood. The boy grabbed her wrist tightly and slowly opened his eyes.

"You have to help them. Fight at their side…please Jupiter…" the boy whispered as his eyes closed once again. He took a shuddering breath and pulled a small pen from his pocket. He held it out to her and opened his eyes again. His voice was ragged as he whispered, "Take this."

Makoto gently let her fingers rest on his hand, ever so lightly touching the pen. Together the two softly whispered, "Jupiter power makeup."

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Yaten stared at the sleeping blond on his bed and frowned in worry. After her crying fit Yaten had been unable to convince his blond girlfriend to talk to him about her problems, and had been forced to wait until she cried her self to sleep in his arms. It had been disconcerting standing in front of Katsuya Records with a crying blond, but he hadn't cared until she'd fallen asleep.

"This is Setsuna," a soft voice said from the table said. Yaten sighed and walked back into the room with the phone.

"Setsuna, I won't be back today. Something's wrong with Minako," Yaten said.

"Is she hurt? What happened?" Setsuna asked, her voiced laced with worry.

"I… Setsuna, I just don't know. She just started crying and wouldn't stop. Setsuna she wouldn't talk to me, she just cried…. I don't know what to do," Yaten replied, his voice soft.

"Make her talk. She needs to tell someone what's bothering her or it will only get worse. You are the only person she has at the moment, and that's where you belong. I'm counting on you to take care of what's most important, at the moment that's your blond. Take care of her until I can get there. I'm leaving as soon as I can… don't you worry the music isn't going anywhere." Setsuna said gently.

"Thanks 'Suna." Yaten said before he hung up the phone. He had to hit a few more buttons as the phone refused to simply hang up after having been on speaker. A soft spoken swear word passed his lips as he hid his face in his hands. "Alright…."

Yaten frowned softly and walked into the bedroom to wake Minako. He knew he could wait for Setsuna, but he wanted to talk to her for a moment alone. Gently he shook the blond's shoulders waiting to see her blue eyes open. After just a few moments she stirred and looked up into Yaten's concerned green eyes.

"Hey, we need to talk," Yaten said as he sat next to her on the bed. She slowly sat up and looked away from Yaten's intense gaze. "Please talk to me, Mina-chan. I can't help you if you won't talk to me. Please."

"I… Yaten, I just… I'm so afraid…. It's so hard, living and breathing, and just …. just being here. It's so overwhelming, this fear." Minako said. She stopped and closed her eyes as she took a moment to compose her thoughts. "Yaten, it's like a piece of my past, a history I should never remember is imposing itself on this life. It's eating at my now, robbing me of my future, it's claws are so deeply imbedded in my soul that it's encroached on too many of my past lives for me to sleep peacefully at night."

"I look at my friend's and I want to cry. I look into your eyes and I wanna stop time and rewind everything. I see some child's dream come true and the tears I've been holding at bay just won't stop coming. The mirror swallows my hopes and my dreams… I watch them crumble into an endless nightmare." Minako finished as she finally looked at Yaten, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. Yaten pulled her into a gentle hug as she started to cry again.

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Sailor Saturn pulled herself to her feet, pain shooting up her back and racing through her shaky legs. She narrowed her eyes and stepped towards the grinning monster. Saturn looked to the other scouts; Uranus was out cold, her transformation flickering slightly, Neptune was hovering over Ami, who had lost her transformation entirely and was bleeding.

Geisein stalked closer to the shaky, but standing scout, with a dark leer on it's murderous face. It was three feet away when Saturn heard the unmistakable sound of thunder. She looked to the side slightly as an angry yell pierced the area, "SUPREME THUNDER!"

Geisein was knocked into a tree due to an intense shock of electricity. A tall glaring scout stepped into the clearing, lightning slowly dissipating around her. Saturn tried to straighten without using her glaive as a staff. The new brunette scout seemed to disregard her presence altogether as she stepped towards the slowly rising Geisein.

"Who…" Geisein mumbled softly as he finally pushed off the tree to stand on his own.

His question was left unanswered as the scout of Jupiter crossed her arms and lightning from nowhere struck the small antennae on her tiara. Green eyes showed darkness as the scout's scream drowned out the rest of Geisein's question, "SUPREME THUNDER!"

Geisein roared in rage and pain before him sank to his knees, smoking rising off it's shaking figure. Jupiter walked closer, anger radiating off her form as her tiara faded away. Saturn shook harder as she was hit by the intense wave of power flowing from the older girl.

"Stop….please…" a broken whisper. Jupiter didn't seem to hear it as she continued forward. Saturn looked for it's source and found Haruka standing, her arm hanging uselessly at her side as blood pooled at her feet. 'She's hurt worse than I thought… oh no.'

Haruka stumbled forward a few feet before she fell to the ground, unable to support her own weight. Jupiter stopped in front of Geisein, her hair falling from it's high ponytail. Haruka moaned loudly in pain and forced herself to stand. Agony filled the blond's tired face as she forced herself to walk to short distance between her and Jupiter. Saturn followed her example and walked to the raging brunette.

Together Saturn and Haruka placed their hands on Jupiter as the brunette summoned lightning. Haruka's voice, still a broken whisper, filled the near silence as she said, "He's not a monster. He's a human boy, stuck living a nightmare only we can release him from. Please stop, stop fighting to kill, and fight instead to protect…. like a true Sailor Warrior."

Green eyes looked over into Haruka's worried eyes and closed. The tiara reappeared and together the three girls stepped away from Geisein. Feeling safe the monster took his chance and swung at them. Jupiter's eyes snapped open as she caught the arm and used it to lift the monster from his kneeling position to swing him over her hip to smash back into the ground. Geisein groaned as Neptune walked over with the Crescent wand, her own transformation flickering.

"Take this. Use it to heal him by saying 'Moon Healing Escalation', "Neptune murmured. Jupiter took the offered wand and watched Neptune collapse to the floor as Michiru.

"Alright, but after this I want an explanation!" Jupiter growled as she lifted the wand and said, "Moon Healing Escalation."

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Rei trudged up the stairs to Hikawa Shrine with a dark expression. She wasn't happy she'd met her father today, she wasn't happy about being used as a pawn in his political career, and she definitely wasn't happy to see a blond boy falling down the stairs to the shrine. He stopped about halfway, blood obviously trickling down his arm and into his eyes. Rei raced up the stairs as the boy did the same.

Rei stopped at the top of the stairs and peered at the temple grounds. She could see a figure tied to the ground about the location of where the prayer tree should have been. The blond boy was fighting a monster that used concrete and wood to her advantage. The monster seemed to have the trees on her side, but Rei knew the lands, and monsters, better. She slunk down a few feet, looked for any casual observer, then whispered, "Mars power make up."

Mars smirked unpleaseantly and raced up the steps and into the fray.

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Minako looked across the table at Setsuna and tried not to grimace. She knew she looked a mess, having spent far too many hours wrapped up in a misery she couldn't properly explain without first explaining who she really was. Since meeting the other scouts her 'joyride' as a crime fighting superhero had collapsed into a dark, murderous reality. Minako shook her head; Setsuna was nice but she'd never understand.

"Yaten called and said you had a breakdown. I'm not going to ask for details, not mine to hear, but I'm going to talk and you're going to listen." Setsuna said. Minako nodded. "Good. Life isn't a joyride. It's a fight. It's almost never the fight we expect, or want, but it still must be fought. People you've never met expect you to pull through, not for the now, but for the future."

"A dear friend once told me, "I fight a past I cannot love, I fight a monster I cannot see, and I fight a dream that will never be. But these are my fights, not my everything. I won't wrap my everything up in a single moment, it's too grand for that confinement. The reasons for my fights change, the desire to win changes, the outcome changes, but they hold no sway. They are the fights we all fight, consciously, unconsciously, it doesn't matter; they just are. My everything is not defined by the fights, or they're outcomes; it is defined by me… and by me alone; my choices, my hopes, my dreams, my family, my friends, my indescribable everything." A dear friend once left me that to consider, and now I leave it to you. Please think on that," Setsuna said. She stood from the table and walked from the apartment. Minako stood and walked into the bathroom, the strong words imprinted on her soul and truly looked at herself. She stood in the bathroom, looking at her reflect, past the dull blue sorrow, the tear-streaked cheeks, the uncombed hair, and into the soul of her past.

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Mars glared hatred as the monster smirked at the hopeless blond in her hand as her hand tightened into stone around his throat. She watched him struggle around a hold that was robbing him of precious oxygen. His struggles were getting weaker and Mars was running out of ideas as the monster taunted her, "Come now my dear token scoutlet, save you're little friend… if you think you can."

Mars's eyes darkened as she considered the taunt, thought of her dying comrade in arms, and worried over the lifeless form of Kunzite just a few feet away. She summoned her strength and called on her patron as she fed her fire all her anger, her betrayal, her despair, and her hatred. Then she sought a fire older than her own resentment, the temple's flame, and begged for it's assistance in righting a wrong committed on it's sacred ground. The fire readily agreed as two ravens flew screeching into the fight. Deimos and Phobos flew at the monster's eyes distracting it from the fire burning around and through the girl as she summoned it's strength. The monster released the blond and the birds fled just moments before a raging fire raced towards the monster.

The monster's pain filled scream was swallowed in the fire's rage as the attack consumed the monster. Ash floated to the ground and fell on the blond, who was now on fire. Mars blinked, then blinked again, and then she rushed to put the fire out as the blond started to roll around in pain.

"Keeping rolling, it'll help," Mars said as she tried to pat out the fire. Slowly the fire died away and the boy flopped onto his back panting. Mars grinned and sat beside him as she said, "I'm Sailor Mars. Thanks for helping to fight off that monster, I wonder if Kunzite's alright?"

At the mention of Kunzite the boy pushed himself up and race over to the unconscious ex-general. Mars followed as she realized Kunzite, despite being released from his restraints was still unmoving. Gently she brushed aside Kunzite's white hair noticing their new friend was cold as death. The blond spoke softly, "Kunzite, please. It's me Zoisite. Please wake up, you can't die."

Mars watched a small red crystal emitting a strong light flow slowly towards the trio. Mars nudged Zoisite and pointed at the small crystal. Together they watched the crystal float over to Kunzite before it lost its crystalline shape. The duo shielded their eyes as the bright light flared and then slipped into Kunzite's chest.

Kunzite groaned and opened his eyes. He gently raised his injured wrist to examine the dark bruise before two people forced him to a sitting position to hug him tightly. A pain filled moan fell from Kunzite's lips due to the pain shooting through his back. The two figures pulled away, Zoisite staying just close enough to keep Kunzite from crashing back to the ground. Mars bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't consider how injured you were. I'll be back after I call for backup."

Mars ran off into the trees and Zoisite shifted so Kunzite could remain sitting up by leaning against him. A grateful sigh left Kunzite as he relaxed into the new position. Zoisite smiled, then frowned as a priestess came running out to them clutching a cell phone to her ear. When she was a few feet away both boys groaned as they recognized a call for emergency help.

"… at Hikawa Shrine. Yes. Oh thank you," Rei hung up her phone and knelt next to the two boys revealing a small bundle of bandages. She quickly started to bandage Zoisite's many cuts to keep him from bleeding to death. Quickly she started to babble, "Oh my, I'm so glad you're alright… and that Sailor Scout, was she hurt. She should have stayed around, you all need medical attention. I watched the fight from inside the safety of the shrine. Oh and wasn't that scout just amazing, I was so impressed by that last attack! Amazing. You did alright too, but you almost got killed. What was that monster thing anyways? It looked so scary…. I couldn't move from my hiding spot I was so scared…."

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Makoto scanned the bloody and bruised group being slowly taken care of by the gathered medical personnel. A police officer was headed in her direction with a notepad and a frown. She sighed and looked away from the man to watch a pair of paramedics start to carry Haruka away on a stretcher. "Ma'am, I have a few questions about what happened here, if that's alright. Can you tell me what happened?"

"Yeah… I guess… My friends and I were just hanging around the park when there were suddenly screams, and people running. We ran too, but the monster…. It was scary, vicious really. I just, I didn't know what to do, then suddenly the scout were fighting. Somehow they won, but…I don't know…" Makoto said shaking as the events replayed in her head. "I want my brother…."

"We'll call him for you, just wait here. I'll have an officer get his information, don't try and move until the paramedics have had a chance to check you out." The officer said as he walked away towards another group of victims. Makoto sighed and leaned back into a tree.

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Mamoru banged his head on the counter as he got his first break from customers. A red haired girl had come in to take the night shift and Mamoru had never been happier to see the overly cheerful younger Furuhata. He slowly sank to the floor behind the counter and sat next to his ice cream covered bag. A boy earlier in the evening had thrown his ice cream at Mamoru when his sister said they had to go home and his hair was as sticky as his bag.

"You can go home Mr. Chiba, I can manage for the rest of the night. I'm used to it," Unazuki Furahata said with an overly bright smile. Mamoru frowned as he considered stepping out from behind the counter and back into the line of sight of all those children. He shivered at the thought and hunkered down closer to the floor. Unazuki laughed and said, "We've still got three hours left before close, you sure you don't wanna go home?"

"Yes," Mamoru said.