A/N: Sorry this took longer than usual to get up. Thanks for your patience. It's the holidays and I will probably be a bit slower at updating because I get lazy. Thanks to all my reviewers, and once again, ideas / suggestions are definitely welcome (I need them badly so please tell me if you have one!!)On with the next chapter!

Chapter 14

(Minako's POV)

Usagi grabbed Minako's arm and dragged her into the arcade. As she fumbled in her purse for spare change, she was oblivious to the demure expression on Minako's face. While Usagi was playing Sailor V, Minako was busy reflecting on the events of yesterday. She knew she'd lost some of Setsuna's trust and figured that she deserved it, but at the same time she was positive that she'd done the right thing in asking Ami to tell Saeko Mizuno about the situation.

She didn't know what she would be able to do if Setsuna decided to shut her out. With the time guardian such a closed and defensive person, if Minako was shut out, it would be hard to break back in. It's not that she thought Setsuna didn't have the right to keep her emotions private, but if she wasn't able to get close, then how would she be able to help her through her depression?

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Usagi wailed as she lost the game. "It's so unfair, I was doing so well! Okay, I don't want to play Sailor V anymore. Minako-chan, I heard there was a new game, let's go check it out!"

Minako found herself being escorted to the new game and the two of them stood around since it was already occupied by other people.

"Hurry up, I wanna play," Usagi moaned. "I heard this game was really good. What do you think, Minako-chan?"

"Yeah, I guess…"

She would have usually been excited about this kind of thing, but today her mind couldn't focus on trivial things like arcade games. Why did it matter if there was a new game when all her best efforts to help the person who meant the world to her seemed to be hitting dead ends? In real life, you can't simply slot in another coin once you've reached "Game over". You have to win the first time round, and Minako didn't feel like she was winning.

What if I lose? she thought, and the thought sent terror rushing through her. There was no way, simply no way. I can't lose this one! I absolutely have to succeed!

"Minako-chan, you have to try this game!" In Minako's lost thoughts, at some point the people before them had finished playing and now Usagi playing the game. Minako watched, not really interested. "Minako-chan, you're no fun today!" Usagi groaned. "Come on, you were so excited about it!"

"That's great…"

"Minako-chan?"

Usagi finally snapped out of her oblivion at Minako's lack of enthusiasm. She looked at her friend concernedly. Minako shook her head.

"Sorry, I guess I'm not in the mood today."

"Oh…"

Someone came up behind them and started ranting about people hogging the machines, so Usagi and Minako quickly disappeared and went outside.

"Minako-chan, what's wrong? I don't like it when my friends are sad," Usagi said, her enthusiasm for the new game having quickly evaporated. Minako almost wished she hadn't asked, since she didn't really feel like talking about it, but knew Usgai was only concerned and that it would be out of character for her not to be.

"Usagi-chan…what would you do if someone trusted you but you had to break that trust to help them, otherwise something bad would happen?"

"Well, that depends on what kind of bad," Usagi replied. "I mean, let's just say I broke someone's trust and all the cookies in the world disappeared…that would be bad!" she giggled.

"But what if the bad thing was that the person might…" She struggled to say the last word "…die?"

"Eh?! Who's dying?!" Usagi looked around wildly. Minako sighed. She should have known Usagi would be no good in this kind of situation.

"Never mind."

---

(Setsuna's POV)

Only Setsuna and Hotaru were in the house. This had been deliberately planned by the three adults, so that Setsuna would have the opportunity to talk to Hotaru alone. Haruka and Michiru were out for dinner at some romantic place or other, and Chibiusa had been kept out of the way by being told she couldn't come over today because of a private 'family thing'.

Hotaru was watching a TV program and Setsuna was stalling for time. Now she had the perfect opportunity to talk to Hotaru and yet she didn't want to take it. Especially after she'd realized the capability of humans to betray even when they swore you could trust them, she hated the idea that she was being pretty much forced to open up to yet another person. Yet she knew it was the right and fair thing to do. Hotaru was her daughter and had the right to know.

She joined Hotaru in something of an awkward fashion, perching herself on the edge of the sofa and eyeing what was on the TV. It appeared to be some kind of medical drama - Well it's better than those silly soaps young people watch these days, she thought. Hotaru glanced at her surprised. Seeing Setsuna in front of a TV was an unusual occurrence since she always claimed she had more important things to do than stare at a box.

"It's nothing like this in real life," Setsuna said in reference to the TV drama.

"Yeah I know. They always survive on TV."

Indeed, real life is not as kind, Setsuna thought. It was one thing to watch a person go through hell and back on TV because they were only acting: they weren't really suffering. They probably knew nothing of the pain and anguish they would feel if the situation was real. But Setsuna knew, and for one moment wished like hell that her life was nothing more than a TV program. At least that way she'd be able to say that everything was going to be alright. In real life, you didn't have that guarantee.

"They know nothing. Nothing."

Hotaru turned to face Setsuna when she heard the statement. The tone of the time senshi's voice was bitter and vehement. The look on her face was angry and resentful as she watched some actor on the TV screen pretending to writhe around like he was having a seizure.

"Setsuna-mama…I can tell things have been weird lately but please don't keep me in the dark. I'm not stupid, or naïve."

Here was a moment where Hotaru sounded about fifty years older than she actually was. Setsuna remembered what Michiru had said, that Hotaru had had to endure being the senshi of death and destruction and was, as a consequence, far more mature than someone of her age should be. And speaking of her age, it had fluctuated so many times that her biological age and her actual age were probably severely mismatched.

"I know you're not, hime-chan. It's not you. It's me being my usual, stoic self." She emphasized the word 'stoic' because she knew it was what people called her when they thought she wasn't listening. She watched as Hotaru went red and looked slightly guilty. "Don't worry, I don't mind that people say that. It's true anyway. I am stoic. Stoic and emotionless."

"No," said Hotaru.

"What?"

"Not emotionless. No one's emotionless. So what is it that your stoic self was struggling to tell me?"

"You're right," Setsuna conceded. "Not emotionless. That's what my stoic self is telling you. That there are lots of emotions hidden away so that no one can see them, or couldn't until this week. In fact so many that they nearly tore me to pieces and destroyed me. I only come across as stoic because that's the image I present of myself, but deep down…" She trailed off.

"Deep down there's a you that no one know about. A you that isn't just the mysterious time guardian."

Setsuna nodded. The woman that everyone knew to be aloof and mysterious was only Sailor Pluto, the time guardian. Meiou Setsuna, on the other hand, was just a hurt soul trying to find direction.

"Can I ask," said Hotaru, "You said your emotions nearly destroyed you?"

Setsuna's stomach clenched as she remembered that dreadful night. The pain and confusion quickly came rushing back to her, the memory so vivid that she could almost feel physical pain. "Yes." It was barely whispered. "But I was saved."

"By who?"

"My saviour."