It didn't feel right to betray her love. To take everything he valued in the world from him. To shatter his heart into thousands of dry crimson shards but here she was walking down the road, her long violet hair dragging across the concrete sidewalk behind her as she made her way up the stairs of the Shinto Temple, Rei's home and the safe haven of the senshi.
Hotaru placed her hand on the sliding door, ready to enter the temple, or was she? For all she knew she'd be killed immediately by her comrades for treason. She'd attacked Uranus, been partly responsible for the death of Neptune and was linked in every incident that had occurred in the past month and with Leo and Usagi both resurrected what would happen?
Would Leo show her mercy, the same mercy that Setsuna had expected from him?
Usagi would. She always had a huge heart and knew there was some good in everything. But Usagi had died, had that experience changed her into a more cold and distrustful woman or was she still the same cheerful girl that daydreamed about food, Mamoru and video games?
As these thoughts wrestled with Hotaru, small silver flakes began to fall from the sky and sharp acute winds began to tear through the city. Hotaru hissed as the sudden chilly weather arrived with authority, chilling her to the bone. The snowflakes began to fall heavily on Shibuya, pouring mats of frost onto the district.
Mesno, Hotaru thought, thinking of the night she'd just nearly spent with him. She couldn't love him. It was impossible, he was the enemy, the bad guy, everything she was supposed to be against, wasn't he?
Hotaru shook her head, the war of her duties as a senshi and her needs as a woman and human begin going at it in a heated battle. She deserved to be loved, everyone did? The world deserved to live on, didn't it? Despite the constant wars of man, the greed of politicians and the sacrifices of the soldiers that were used as mere pawns, poverty and the forgotten children of the world that were starving while the rich blindly turned their heads to the issue, forsaking them and letting them drown in their own hunger and thirst, did the world truly deserve to remain?
But which one deserved more, billions of people that were carrying on their lives, or her, the senshi of destruction that would destroy everything she touched and bring nothing but death to all?
In the palm of her hand she held it, the sphere that shined and glowed, beckoning all to look at it, watch what is to become of their lives and the world they live in. Hotaru gazed down at the orb, wondering what to do? Surely the senshi would be happy to have the sphere, maybe they'd even forgive Hotaru after she told them everything she'd learned from Mesno.
Hotaru sighed and pulled the door open.
The moment the door slid open all eyes were on Hotaru, all of the senshi were gathered around the small table. Neither of them had transformed and even so they'd be no match for Hotaru, except possibly Leo, who stood in the corner in the back of the room, his head turned merely to see who was entering the temple before he snorted and turned on heel and left the room.
Hotaru watched him leave, wondering exactly what he meant by that? Was he angry, did he believe himself to be superior to her, better than her? Was he a snob? Why wasn't he sitting with the senshi, was he too good for them?
"You?" Haruka grunted, getting to her feet, hands curled into fists ready to fight, when suddenly she stopped dead, noticing the longer hair and brighter eyes, "What hap-you've changed?"
"Papa?" Hotaru said innocently, "I've come back."
"To shoot me in the back again." Haruka responded, not buying Hotaru's explanation for a second. "You didn't have a good enough shot last time?"
Hotaru hesitated, not knowing what to say next.
"If you were expecting a warm welcome, you were sadly mistaken." Makoto said, her arms crossed restraining the hot-headed senshi of Jupiter from attacking.
"I'm here to come back-so we can be a team again."
"When were we ever a team?" Minako asked, rolling her eyes.
Hotaru gazed around for help. Rei stood behind them all indifferently, at a loss for words. Sure she and Hotaru were close but at the moment Hotaru's loyalties were very questionable. Would she want to be the one to vouch for the person that could later betray them?
"Let her in," Usagi said firmly, indicating there'd be no argument on the matter. Usagi lay on the floor, her arms crossed behind her now silver hair and her eyes shut.
All of the senshi spun around, wondering if Usagi had lost her mind.
"In case you've forgotten," Haruka groaned, stepping up, "This girl betrayed us…she killed Michiru…attacked me…and who knows what else she's done." Haruka snarled, pointing at Hotaru.
"What's done is done Haruka," Usagi said sitting up and facing Hotaru, "She's changed now…"
"Did being dead fuck up the oxygen to your brain…this girl has been giving us hell for weeks and you're just going to-"
"This girl," Usagi said with authority, "Is also one of us…she's also governed and faced with the destiny that planet power has given her….let her in."
Haruka gritted her teeth, refusing to let go of her grudge.
"That's an order," Usagi said, knowing what button to press.
Haruka shook her head, but nonetheless obeyed.
Hotaru smiled, it seemed Usagi had changed a little but was still the same on the inside. "Everyone…," Hotaru said, not sure where to begin, "I'm sorry."
"Hotaru."
Hotaru spun around, her eyes wide at the sound of the voice. Entering the room from the door Leo had exited through was Michiru, skin pale from her period of death but her heart now beating in her chest.
"Mother." Hotaru gasped.
Michiru made her way for Hotaru, ready to hug her daughter, the one that had killed her when suddenly, Haruka leapt in the way.
"Stay away from her!"
Michiru stopped dead, glaring at Haruka.
Haruka glared at Hotaru, "I may let you in here….but there's no way. And I mean no way, that I'm gonna let you ever hurt Michiru again."
Usagi said nothing in this exchange. It was a losing battle; Haruka was set on doing what she felt she had to do and no order would change Haruka's viewpoint.
Hotaru sighed and backed away, hoping that Michiru would muster the courage to push Haruka aside and hug her, but Michiru stood rooted in place, merely staring at the daughter she'd helped raise.
Hotaru sighed, still looking at Michiru, "I'm sorry."
"What's that?" Makoto asked, alarmed at the sight of the glowing sphere.
"Another one," Mamoru gawked beside Usagi at the sight of the sphere.
"Huh?" Everyone groaned, turning to Mamoru.
"What?"
Mamoru quickly turned away. "Nothing…I was…it's nothing."
Hotaru stared at Mamoru; she knew he had to have a sphere. He had given a prophecy after all, she was unsure of how he or Mesno had obtained their spheres but nonetheless it was one sphere less to look for.
Hotaru bit her tongue, not aiding the senshi's search for answers no was Mamoru. "I have information…on what's going on…what Mesno's after."
The senshi listened, hearing Hotaru out. Learning of the three shards of the Anima Sol Prophecy, the summoning of the Necro-Army that would soon be under the command of Mesno and of the thousands of safeguards Mesno had put in place to ensure his death as well as the destruction of all existence.
"Is this guy insane?" Makoto asked.
"He wants to die?" Rei gawked, her arms crossed, "That's a new one on me…no world domination or destroying the whole universe for no reason."
"Why doesn't he just shoot himself?" Minako suggested.
"He's already tried that…or…I have," Came another voice that sounded strangely familiar.
Artemis marched into the temple, in the body of a human being, long silver hair falling over his shoulders and wearing slacks and a long sleeved silver shirt and crescent moon earrings.
"Artemis," Minako gasped, "Where have you been?"
"Looking for Luna…she's run off somewhere?"
"Why, did you do something to her?" Rei asked.
"Kinda," Artemis shrugged.
"Artemis what did you do?" Usagi asked.
"Mesno can't be killed," Artemis said quickly, changing the subject, "His soul is cursed to never move to another plane of existence…so no matter how much you stop his heart, dismember him or whatever, his soul is bound to that body…and because of the curse the vessel heals itself."
"So even if we hurt him it'll just heal on its own?" Minako groaned. "There's no way to beat something you can't kill or hurt."
"Unless he gives up," Rei added.
"He's been trying to do this for hundreds of years…I don't think he's gonna stop now." Artemis scoffed.
"How do you know all this?"
"That's a long story…that we don't have time for?"
"Well if you're supposed to be out looking for Luna…what are you doing back here?" Usagi asked.
"Mesno's summoned the army…Your," Artemis said, pointing to Leo, "old army."
Leo said nothing but stared at Artemis, the subject didn't seem to bother him at all.
"I saw the moon…the stairway…he's summoned them."
"How did you know about the summoning of the army…you weren't there when he-" Hotaru began.
"We've tried, Luna and I, lots of times to but the only way to do it is to build up enough energy to do it…blood magic…or the silver crystal."
"So that's why he killed those people...THAT MONSTER!" Minako shouted.
Hotaru downcast her eyes, unsure of how to react. That monster was the need to save her friends, not a savage beast without a conscious.
"So what are we going to do now?" Ami asked. She'd been sitting on the floor, watching everything unravel and now all she wanted were that there be no more complaining without a solution.
"I don't know." Artemis admitted.
"I know what you're going to do." Usagi said, marching up to Artemis. "You're going to keep searching for Luna. Don't come back until you find her."
"Usagi…look, you guys need me, Luna's a big girl she can take care of herself…and if she doesn't want to be found then the hell with her," Artemis said scathingly.
All of the senshi gasped, staring wide-eyed at Artemis.
"What if Mesno has her?" Mamoru said, trying to cave Artemis in.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Artemis mumbled under his breath.
"Huh?" Usagi continued, "What kind of man are you?" Usagi croaked her voice full of disgust and resentment. "All this time you've been training us and teaching us to protect the planet and the things we love and you won't even do it…you coward."
"Shut up," Artemis growled.
"No…you need to grow a pair and man up to whatever you've done to her. Running away isn't going to help anyone Artemis," Usagi continued.
"Whatever," Artemis groaned, turning around and sitting on the floor, "I'm staying."
All of the senshi glared at Artemis, Minako especially, here he was her mentor, her friend, her teacher, turning his back on everything he'd taught her.
Minako watched, knowing that a second later he'd change his mind and go after Luna, but he continued to sit in place, his lips quivering and his eyes watering but no tears falling just yet.
"ARTEMIS!" Minako barked, unable to stand it any longer, "What's wrong with you?"
Artemis didn't respond.
"How can you turn your back on her?" Minako asked.
"Oh believe me…that feeling is mutual between us. Especially me and you." Artemis hissed, turning to Minako and staring at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what it means?" Artemis sighed.
Minako fell silent, she couldn't press the issue any further when Artemis was holding something so wrong over her head. She sighed, gritted her teeth and left the temple unable to stand any more of it. She had to keep it a secret from everyone...everyone.
"Artemis," Usagi groaned, trying again. "What exactly did you do to Luna?"
Artemis turned his head, refusing to answer.
"Answer me," Usagi shot with a stern look on her face.
"He got her pregnant." Leo interrupted.
All of the senshi gasped and turned to Artemis, eyes wide and smiled creeping on their faces. Happy for their friends and also to have a little more to gossip about.
"But…it might not be his." Leo continued before anyone could interrupt.
"Stay out of my mind Leo." Artemis warned, realizing what Leo's source was.
"…Or what?" Leo asked smugly. "You're going to make me?" Leo smiled, not intimidated at the least by Artemis, "You're spineless…you're going to let a woman that could be carrying your child roam the world after your enemy has massacred a hundred people. What makes you think she wasn't one of them?"
A single tear began to fall from Artemis' eye, but more soon followed. "What do you know?"
"I don't believe this," Leo groaned, shaking his head. "This is a man that I admired and respected…a man that taught me how to be a warrior and face his issues…well you sit there like a warrior would," Leo said sarcastically as he stared into Artemis' eyes. "You sit there while your unborn child could be drawing its last breath…you sit there and be the bitch that you are." Leo said scathingly.
Immediately, Artemis leapt to his feet, his face contorted into an angry scowl as he rolled his hands into fists. Leo had cut him deeper than any blade ever could. The truth hurt more than any bullet. He clenched his hand into a fist and with all his might swung, punching a nearby wall. "Aaah!" Artemis screamed. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Be there," Leo filled in, "Be there for her…but more importantly for your child."
Without another word, Artemis left the temple.
All of the senshi watched as Artemis trekked about of with haste to find the woman he loved. Hotaru then turned to Leo, unsure of how he'd done it. How he'd been able to manipulate Artemis into doing something that no else could? Well, he had to be capable of leading someone and motivating people, he was the general of an army after all. Usagi turned to Leo, giving him a smile. She couldn't help but admire him right now.
Leo did nothing but yawn and turned his head, as if bored by Usagi's adulation with him.
"Now that that's taken care of," Mamoru yawned, trying to move the task at hand forward, "What happens now?"
"Well…we gather the three pieces of this prophecy," Rei then turned to Usagi, "Right?"
"Yeah," Usagi nodded sullenly. "I'm sorry…I just-I need some air right now." She said, pulling on a jacket and leaving.
"Usagi," Ami began, "You shouldn't go alone…in case-"
"I'll be fine," Usagi smiled, "Don't worry." She said with a smile before leaving.
Mamoru stood in the corner, biting his lower lip, wondering what was wrong. "I'm gonna go after her." He said, heading out of the door.
The senshi nodded, happy he'd volunteered. He was after all her boyfriend.
Hotaru stood still, her eyes had made their way back to Michiru and the obstacle before her, Haruka.
"Ma," Hotaru began when suddenly, she felt a rush of sorrow fire through her heart, a moment later the sorrow blossomed into disappointment and then anger.
Hotaru's eyes became ruby red slits and oil black tears fell from her eyes as she let out a guttural cry. "URATOH!"
The ground began to tremble as a rough tremor shook the temple in syncopation with Hotaru's cry. Moments later, Hotaru snapped out of the trance, her eyes returning to normal and the quake slowing to a stop.
"What was that?" Michiru asked.
"Hotaru?" Haruka grunted, glaring at her daughter and clutching her own transformation pen, ready to transform at a moments notice.
Hotaru opened her eyes, everything she saw was in a crimson haze. Was she bleeding? Dying? She had no idea but suicidal thoughts plagued her mind, though she knew they were hopeless. (Am I not good enough? Did I do something wrong? I want you? Don't you want me?) Whose thoughts were these? Hotaru knew who they belonged to. They were the thoughts of her lover as he awoke to an empty bed, wondering where the woman he'd loved had gone in the night.
"Hotaru?" Rei called, showing concern for the first time that night.
Hotaru was on her feet, walking like a drunk hunchback. Her eyes heavy and a trail of drool dangling from her lips.
"Hotaru?!" Rei called again.
Suddenly, Hotaru collapsed onto the ground, her eyes rolled in the back of her head and her heart slowing to a stop.

Usagi made her way through the nearby park, unsure of where she was going. Her arms were wrapped around her in an attempt to shield her from the icy wind. She couldn't take it anymore. Being a fraud, phony, false. She couldn't carry on as if nothing was wrong.
(Why?) She wondered. (Why me?) She asked, pitying herself.
Usagi had died, made a trip in a realm beyond comprehension . Just the touch of another was beyond orgasmic for her, no bombs or gunfire just peace, tranquility, solitude and love reined that realm. That blissful place had been stripped from her. She'd been yanked from that nirvana to return to a cesspool of murder, crime, jealousy and love.
Tears began to fall from Usagi's eyes. Was she wrong for feeling this way? For once everything she thought of was for her rather than for others, and it felt good. It felt good to pamper herself for once rather than worrying about others.
"Why me?" Usagi asked.
"Usako."
Usagi spun around to find Mamoru brashly running through the snow towards her.
"Mamo-chan," She spoke, "Why did you follow me?"
"I'm worried about you. You don't seem to be quite yourself these days."
"Have I?" She asked, not knowing what he was talking about. "I've been me."
"Yeah, you have," Mamoru agreed, "But not the you that you were before."
"Well dying tends to change the way one things about the way life is." Usagi said, rolling her eyes.
Mamoru fell silent, trying to quickly plan his next defense. He wanted to stay there with her. Just to be with her. He hadn't slept in a long time; he'd also been teetering on the edge, wondering if he should actually take the easy way out and meet Usagi in the after life.
"I've changed," Usagi scoffed in disbelief. "No, I haven't changed. I've…evolved. I've become something better than what I used to be." Usagi said, placing her hand on her sternum, over her heart. "And I'm sorry if you can't accept that Mamo-chan."
"I can," Mamoru said quickly, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I love you Usagi, You're all I want in this world. I just wanna spend every moment of my life next to you."
Usagi smiled weakly, his words were working their magic on her, spellbinding her. She couldn't help but feel special when he talked this way.
Mamoru stared into her cerulean eyes and sensing this as the opportune moment, he-leaned in to kiss Usagi.
Usagi slipped her lips onto his, reconnecting their bond once more.
Mamoru held her tightly, never wanting to lose her again.
"I love you so much." Mamoru said breathlessly as he pulled her closer to him with dire need.
Usagi continued kissing him, she felt as if she'd retuned to nirvana once again. Everything seemed so perfect right now...
Mamoru hungered for her, but also more. He'd waited for it and yet he'd never received it. There'd been many nights where he'd stopper his crave with the aid of a bottle of lotion ad porn but with Usagi back now, he couldn't lose another chance. He'd never pushed for it or even brought the subject up, but now he had to. He wanted to make the most of whatever time they'd have together. He slipped his hand inside Usagi's jacket, his hand running over her perky breasts.
Mamoru smiled; happy she hadn't rejected his advances. He's have to take her home if he'd be able to make to the next Basel he slowly trailed his fingers beneath her belly about to slide them down her skirt.
Suddenly, Usagi pulled away, backing away from Mamoru and glaring at him.
"I'm sorry," Mamoru said immediately.
"You should be!" Usagi snapped, her eyes lit with fury. She glared at Mamoru, her hands over her breasts, as if hiding them from view despite that they were beneath her shirt and a jacket.
"Usako-"
"What am I to you Mamo-chan?" Usagi growled.
"You're-"
"A slut," Usagi snapped, "A slut enough to let you have sex with me in the middle of a park."
"No, it's not like that Usako-"
"Stay away from me Mamoru." Usagi hissed before storming off deeper in the park.
Mamoru watched her go, part of him wanting to follower her but he'd screwed beyond all else. He'd have to give her time to cool down before going after her this time. He sighed heavily and began to make his way back to the temple.

Lost. Which way to turn.
A bullet in the back awaited Hotaru in every direction she took. She'd betrayed the man who loved her for honor, but she'd murdered and killed for love and salvation. All she wanted was a guide, a compass, anything that would show her the way. And now, she was back at square one all over again.
Hotaru slowly opened her eyes, immediately vertigo overtook her. Her vision swayed and she felt lightheaded.
"Ma," She whispered, remembering every spoonful of Tylenol, every time she'd been tucked in. Black skies, the world around crumbling and rotting and lightning around her. A voice, a kiss on the forehead, warm blanket and warm medicine on her tongue. "Ma."
Hotaru summoned all the strength within her and rolled off of her futon and began to crawl across the tatami floor.
"I've had enough of this." Haruka's voice penetrated the door.
Hotaru stopped dead.

"It's midnight now," Makoto reported checking her watch and glancing up at Haruka. "You wanna do this?"
Haruka nodded, "...Princess may never forgive me...and maybe Michiru will hate me for all eternity," Haruka sighed, staring at the blade of the butcher knife she held.
Makoto placed a hand on Haruka's shoulder, "...You don't have to this, Ruka. If its too much. I'll...I'll take the blame for it. I'll be your fall guy."
Haruka stared into Makoto's eyes, "Why would you do that?"
"...I have my reasons...as do you." Carefully reaching for the hilt.
"No," Haruka snapped, holding the knife out of her reach. "I have to do this...," getting to her feet and staring at the guest room.
"Self defense." Makoto nodded, reminding Haruka of their defense when questioned by the others. "You said Leo won't care anyway. He wants the same thing."
Haruka nodded, marching forward.
A soldier's decision was clear. A civilian's answer was a forked-road. A traitor, a threat, a spy for the enemy. Kill them. A friend, a daughter, a comrade that'd made a mistake.
Haruka, above all the other senshi was a soldier. Willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the mission.
It seemed fate had wanted this. The midnight hour, her enemies bodyguards sleeping soundly. A blade in her hand and the enemy unarmed.
"Forgive me," Haruka sighed, placing her hand on the sliding door. She clutched the blade, choking the hilt, ready to strike.

Snowflakes carelessly fell from the sky, diving from the heavens to a blissful suicide.
"You understand...how it feels," She said, clasping her hands across her chest. "Life...living...its suffocating me." Usagi confessed, tears blooming in her eyes. "When I died...I was at peace, I felt no pain, everything was..."
"Spare me," Leo said coldly.
Usagi's eyes widened. "Leo, I needed to talk to you because...no one else understands what it was like. You and me, we died and...,"
Leo crossed his arms and turned his head, "Look Usagi," Leo sighed, "If you came here expecting me to tell you my feelings or to say I understand, you should be very disappointed. I'm here to do a job, protect you, that's all. We're not friends and if you want someone to understand you, get some therapy."
The tears broke from Usagi's eyes, "How could you-how could you be so-heartless?!"
Leo stared at the snow. Saying nothing.
How else could he be? He'd murdered the love of his life. What other man could willingly sacrifice such a thing? Only one as cold as the snow that fell could do it without driving himself himself to madness. How could he be so cold? It's what kept him alive.
Usagi was at the end of the road and had lost all sense of control of herself and her thoughts. She'd made her way to nirvana after years of selfless sacrifice and recieved her just reward and had it stripped away from her. No one understood her.
Usagi wiped her eyes. "Leo!" She said sternly. "When I was there...I saw her...I saw mother."
Leo glanced up, now interested.
"She gave me a message...I didn't know at the time but...she knew this would happen. She knew I'd come back...so she told me to tell you this."
Leo stared into Usagi's cerulean eyes.
"She said, Tri-State...Above and Beyond...Alone Tonight...Twelve...Four."
Leo took off running.
"Wait!" Usagi called, chasing after him. "What does that mean? Leo?!"

This was it. This was the end. Hotaru thought to herself.
What had she fought for anyway? Something that was never worth dying for.
The pain was all she had to show for everything. Pain. Hands stained with the blood. A mere pawn in this game of death. A novice, playing the game without knowing a single rule.
She deserved this, the death of a coward, the death of a traitor.
Hotaru closed her eyes, inhaled and waited when suddenly a cool breeze blew.

Tri-State...Above and Beyond...Alone Tonight...Twelve...Four.
Tri-State, Above and Beyond/Senshi...Saturn
Alone Tonight.../Can be trusted...
Twelve.../Intruder...
Four/Save...
Code. Leo didn't have to think twice of what Queen Serenity's orders were. Save Hotaru.

Haruka through the door open, only to find Leo standing in her path.
Haruka backed away. What was going on? Had Leo had a change of heart. No doubt he'd read her mind earlier that day. He knew what she and Makoto had been planning.
"Where is she?" Leo asked.
Haruka glanced over Leo's shoulder.
The guest room was empty.

The cool breeze licked her skin as she raised her glaive in the air and focused.
"For once," Sailor Saturn/Hotaru sighed, "We are one."
Violet energy pulsed from the glaive as she spun it. Pretty nooses, a butcher's hook, twenty gun's firing, drownning as the water choked the wind from the lungs. It was all over.
"Saturn...Death," violet energy gathered in the glaive, "...Reborn..." She turned the scythe upside-down, "...Revolution!" Plunging the glaive into the Earth.