Ft36
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{We begin right where we were last time! We even have some cameos in here by some of my friends}
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It was over in less than a second. She blinked her eyes a couple of times and looked around to find everyone staring at her. "Fuck that hurt," she swore softly.
"We're going straight to Amiee with this, don't try to get up I'll carry you."
"Ari, stop freaking out. My mind is just sore," Katherine informed him getting up.
"I'll speak to telepaths who might be contacting you in the next few weeks," Jake told her. "Start carrying your communicator with you at all times." He turned and walked towards the stairs, without turning he added, "don't scowl, it's for your own good."
"What happened?" Darien asked from just outside the door.
Katherine leaned lightly on Ariono as much for his peace of mind as for support, "the twins needed to tell me something and contacted me telepathically. My mind is still in rough shape so it hurt, especially since they were both there." Katherine giggled a bit, "I'm lucky Karma hasn't been around."
"Karma?"
"One of your many cousins," Reenie smiled.
"Yes, and you'd never guess that someone with such a gentle and tranquil singing voice would have such volume in speech."
"They never report to you," Ariono declared; worry yet again etched on his features.
She pushed him lightly, "they thought you'd like to know that they're on their way to go get Mel. She's planning on staying here until the winner has been decided."
"What happened," his eyes grew wide.
"My guess is that your father found something wrong with Kal's decision to move the base, now that he's back in charge, he's moving it back to your house."
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Just before lunch, Darien had had to go change his clothes due to a run-in with Lucie while she was watering the gardens. As Darien was entering his room Ariono, across the hall, could barely hold in his laughter.
Darien turned around, "what are you doing up here?"
"Waiting for Rhea, Luce got her too."
"Haven't let her alone yet today I guess?"
"It's too dangerous for her to be left alone."
"I can take care of myself," they heard her cry from her room.
Ariono smiled and Darien laughed, as Eclipse walked into the hallway, "Darien change your clothes or you'll get sick."
Ariono snickered again.
"What are you sitting out here fore?" Eclipse asked him.
"Rhea's changing her clothes."
"And she made you stay out here? 'Bout time that girl developed some modesty."
"Actually, I told her I was going to wait out here and she told me to suit myself."
"Don't forget I called you a baby too!"
Darien laughed as he disappeared into his bedroom. He returned a few moments later and Eclipse had gone but Ariono was still sitting outside Katherine's door.
"If I didn't know you two as well as I do I'd worry about her getting sick of you following her around like a puppy."
"I'm just trying to keep her safe."
"I know but Rin's always struck me as the independent type."
"She is and that's why she never realizes when she's in over her head. I just can't see a life without her, not again. She's always been something consistent, like a rock in a storm."
Darien whispered low, "that's because you luv her."
"After last night I don't even want to think about that. Hell, I'm dead scared to talk to her about how that kiss made me feel and I've never been afraid to talk to her about anything. There have been things I've avoided for the sake of her feelings but I've never been afraid to tell her anything."
"Has she talked to anyone about it?"
"Eclipse and probably Jake. But neither of them share information with me."
"Would you feel better if I gave it a go?"
"Yes. You don't have to give me any details, but please, I've got to know how she's really doing."
Darien smiled, "she's my sister, I want to make sure she's okay and I know you've only got her best interests at heart."
"Thanks though, she's got many protectors but you were always the one she felt most comfortable opening up to."
"By the way," Darien mentioned as he rested his hand on the door frame to Katherine's room, "how did the kiss make you feel?"
Ariono looked slightly startled at the question, but his face relaxed into a grin, "right."
All he could do was smile as he knocked on his sister's door.
"What?" Katherine hollered.
"Are you decent?" Darien asked.
"Am I ever?" she teased, "Come in if you want to."
Darien gave Ariono thumbs up and then entered the room, the door creaking shut behind him.
Katherine was lying on her bed as if she'd thrown herself there the second she arrived in the room. Her uniform was still soaked and she just lay there staring at the ceiling.
Darien took a deep breath, "are you doing okay?
"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked still looking intently at the ceiling.
"Maybe because you're drenched and you're just laying there, you're not even looking at me when I talk to you."
"Sorry Dare. I don't know, when I got in here all I was going to do was change my clothes but when I got here I just didn't feel like leaving."
He sat down on her bed next to where she was laying. "Did you just want to be alone? I noticed that Ariono hasn't left your side all day."
"I know. I feel so bad for that. After what I did, he still wants to protect me. All I've done to him all his life is get him into trouble and make him worry."
"He worries because he cares."
"He shouldn't have to worry, sometimes I wish he didn't care so much, people who care only get hurt in the end."
"You'd give your life for him though?"
She finally sat up and looked him in the eye, "in a heartbeat."
"Then why is it so bad that he feels the same way?"
"I'm expendable, he has a future, for Kami's sake Dare, I've met his kids."
Darien gulped, he hated when she talked like that, "you're not expendable," he timidly put his hand on her arm, "please stop thinking like that."
"Sorry Dare, but that's the way things are."
"Not if we fight it. Everyone here is so willing to protect you, even Jake threatened Diamond."
"There's a very good reason for that, I'll have to get Jake to explain to you one of these days."
"Now what about this kissing business?"
Katherine groaned and flopped backwards onto the bed, "I really don't want to discuss it."
"Does that mean you liked it?"
She smacked him in the arm, "we're not having this discussion."
Darien lay on his stomach next to her and whispered conspiratorially, "Jake told us last night that Rhea women never do anything that they don't want to do."
"He would say that."
"Well, just for the sake of my curiosity, how did it make you feel?"
She grumbled something under her breath.
"Come on admit that you liked it."
Katherine rolled to her side and looked at her younger brother, "it was heaven okay? Pure heaven," she whispered causing Darien to choke on the breath he'd been taking.
"What?" she asked defensively.
"No-nothing," Darien stammered back.
She rolled her eyes, "why won't you tell me?"
"It was nothing, really," he sat up and told her, "Get up and get dressed before Ariono gets lonely out there." Darien left the room quickly, leaving Katherine to change and to wonder.
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Much later that evening Darien was moping around in the family room, when Serena found him. "Found you," she said softly, standing at the door.
"Mhmm," he grunted at her.
She went over to him and sat down, she ruffled his bangs, "Rhea's got her feelings in a knot and it bothers you?" Darien only nodded at her. "That's sweet you know. I wish Sammy was like that."
"I just wish I could help her."
Serena climbed up onto his lap so she could look him directly in the eye, "I know you do and that's great but some things just have to be let alone. One of my best friends is the Senshi of Love, she told me once that love was one of those things."
He smiled and threw his arms around here her, pulling her close he whispered, "you know what Serena, you are all I could ever want in a woman," then he kissed her.
They were still there on the couch making out by the time Reenie walked in, followed by Katherine and Ariono, several minutes later.
"Ewwwww," Reenie squealed making Ariono laugh and her future parents blush.
"Just think about it Reenie," Katherine said with a giggle, "your grandparents were worse than that."
"I take it you're feeling better?" Darien questioned.
"As a matter of fact, I am."
Reenie shuddered, "why does everyone in this entire family have to be so public about love?"
"Why? Their not as bad as they were back in the Millennium," Ariono pointed out.
"They get worse!"
Katherine's eyes lit up, 'this should be good.' "How much worse?"
"One of my many aunts once told my cousin that she was conceived on their couch." Everyone began to laugh. "And she said it during a big diplomatic meeting." {I have an aunt who probably'd tell if she was asked, *shudders*}
"What were they discussing at the meeting?" Ariono asked.
"The validity of princes and princesses born or conceived on planets aside from the one they have claim on."
"They STILL bitch about that in your time?" Katherine was very amused.
"Bitch about what?" Des asked entering the room wearing a sweater, long pants and had a multi-colored figure skates slung over her shoulder.
"The fact that you and Rose were conceived on Mars," Ariono informed her.
She nodded.
"I didn't need to know that," Darien announced.
Katherine was the only one who took note of her baby sister's odder than usual attire. "What the hell are you wearing?"
"My skating clothes."
"That better not mean what I think it does."
"Don't be such a stick in the mud."
"I've never head you get called that one before," Serena laughed.
"Where's Rose?"
"Looking for the rest of the equipment."
"You two are not going skating, you both nearly drown last time."
"That was because I was making the ice and didn't make it thick enough in all the places. That won't happen this time because I'll have help."
"Whose? Rosie doesn't freeze things well."
"Well, yours."
"Me? NO."
"Come on Rin, Rose has already gone to get the hockey stuff. We'll get a good game goin. I've already asked everyone to come down to the lake if they want to get into the game."
"You are both brats."
"If you don't come I'll just have to do it myself. Lucie even said that she'd get rid of the mobile life so that we won't screw up their cycles."
"Rhea," Ariono began, "we all need a break. 'Sides if we don't go Des will probably botch the ice job and drown everyone."
"Fine," Katherine mumbled as she let Ariono pull her out of the room.
Less than half an hour later a semi-large group of them were gathered around a frozen pond. Jake and Rose had set up nets and dragged all of the hockey equipment out onto the ice.
Immediately the figure skaters left for the far end of the ice, leaving Mal, Zoi, Jed, Raye, Ariono, Lucie, Des, Rose and Katherine to split into teams.
There being an odd number of players Katherine, a bit tired from making the ice with Des, volunteered to be the first off.
"Those boys aren't going to know what hit them," Jake laughed, taking a seat next to her on the grass.
"I don't know why they agreed to play girls versus guys. I've never seen Raye play but Lucie's a brick wall in the net and Des and Rosie are just dangerous."
"Mal's pretty decent in net as long as he doesn't have skate. If Jed would stop staring at Raye he'd be able to shoot straight."
Katherine laughed, "Awww, Rosie and Des just clothes-lined Ari."
"Zoi should help him more."
"He's afraid of the twins, not that I blame him."
Katherine smiled as she watched Darien attempt to teach Serena and Reenie to do some simple skating moves at the same time, "Only my brother would pick figure skating over hockey. It's not even a real sport!"
"Back when I was young hockey was considered a brutal, bestial, degrading game."
Katherine smiled, "hockey is a real sport."
"He has endless patience for those two."
"Sorta like you with us."
"Trying to be subtle?"
"Maybe."
"It doesn't suit you. Spill it."
"I think you should tell him."
"I don't want to put too much pressure on him. He's already so busy attempting to fight a war, get used to his deceased parents popping in on him all the time and trying to get to know five sisters all at the same time."
"He has a right to know, besides he's already comfortable with you. Darien's not stupid, he probly already knows that something is up."
"He thinks I'm a descendant."
"You told him that?"
"No, I told him that Merc was, and he assumed that I was too."
"Here he comes, tell him," Katherine hissed as she went over to watch the game from behind the girls' backwards net. {*giggles* inside joke}
Darien looked at Katherine's retreat quizzically, "why is she in a hurry."
Jake shrugged, "she's Young Katherine."
"Why do you call her that?"
"Call her what?"
"Young Katherine."
"Because she's 21 and that's too old to be called Sweet Pea."
"But why the young part?"
Jake laughed, "your grandmother, to me she was Katherine and when your sister came along she was Young Katherine."
"I thought she hated being called Katherine?"
"She does."
"I've noticed that of all the people around here you are the one who cuts her the most slack, so why do you call her the name that she hates?"
"She doesn't mind it from me. She knows that I call her it because she is much like your grandmother."
"You knew our grandma Kathy well?"
'It's now or never,' Jake thought. "I was married to her."
"You say that as if you're serious."
"I am."
"Why didn't you say something?"
"You had enough to deal with, I didn't want you to have to deal with the confusing story surrounding me."
"What's so confusing? That does make you our grandfather doesn't it?"
"Of course it does. It is just that my life and how I came to be here is a long and difficult story."
"I wish someone would have told me," the young man said dejectedly.
"It was, I thought, for your own good."
"I can't believe that Rin kept this from me."
"She wanted to tell you, believe me, she constantly bugged me to. Said it wasn't fair to you, keeping you in the dark."
"How many people know?"
"Your generals, Ariono, Eclipse, all of your sisters, pretty much everyone who remembers the millennium. There was a cosmic law put in place after Diamond was banished that I was no longer permitted to be referred to as part of the family. I'm lucky cosmic law hasn't punished me for helping with these battles as much as I have."
"Why?"
"You know what Diamond did to Young Katherine when she was small?" Darien nodded. "After all that I did something very illegal on Earth. I banished him to a rogue moon and put it in an odd orbit so that he should never have been able to return. Because of this my powers were stripped and my claim to the thrown was taken away from me, and passed down to your mother."
"Wait a minute, who's ruling now?"
"Me. A paradox occurred, what went forward then went back. When your mother passed on you and Katherine were too young to take over, it had no one to pass to. The Earth needed a leader and I was the only person alive who could handle the power and responsibility involved."
"So you got your title back?"
"Not the title, just the job and enough power to do it. All of the other, um, restrictions that came with my punishment are still there. The title will be yours in a year."
"So soon?"
"Don't worry I'll teach you what you need to know by then."
"Thanks, I'll need the help."
"I really want you to know that I would have told you if I had thought that it was in your best interests."
"I know, you've looked out for me since I arrived here and I'm grateful, but I don't like the fact that I've known my grandfather for nearly two months without knowing it. I don't know if I'm mad at you for not telling me, Rin for keeping the secret or myself for not recognizing you."
"Darien, it would have been difficult for you to recognize me. I looked different when you knew me last. I can still form minor acts of magic, just nothing large enough to count for much in an actual battle. Part of my sentence was eternal life, until I've paid my debt I cannot die. After the accident I glamoured myself to look like an old man in order to fool the enemy into thinking I am someone else."
"I think I understand, I'm guessing that Ariono just knew?"
"Sometimes I swear Young Katherine gives him full access to whatever's going on in that head of hers."
"Are there any other relatives around that I should be aware of?"
"Not that I know of, but ya never know who's gonna show up around here."
On they talked, neither noticing that Katherine had gotten everyone plus all of the equipment back off the pond, or that everyone else had gone back to the house.
Dusk had arrived by the time either noticed the silence around them.
"How far do Des and Rin's powers range?" Darien asked noticing that pond was still frozen.
Jake laughed and answered, "as far as I know Young Katherine would have to be touching it and without Rose's support Des should probly only have a few metres more."
"But it's still frozen."
"I didn't want to chance anyone drowning so I backed them up. Do you wish to learn how to unfreeze a pond?"
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{"They used to say 'girl come back to reality.' But she'd smile and say 'it's to quiet there for me.'" Sherrie Austin - Dreamin Out Loud. }
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There were sounds of an argument coming from outside the door the next morning as Darien went to answer the constant ding-dong of the bell, which was ticking off everyone who'd made it to the breakfast table already, well except for Des. Des, Katherine, Ariono, Zoicite and Malachite had guessed who it was. {Who else could it be?} The guys refusing to get it because of who it was, Ariono had even begun a ~please let there be an emergency~ chant. Des was watching everyone's reactions and Katherine said, "People with keys should use them."
Out of pure mean-spirited fun they'd decided unanimously {well almost unanimously} to make Darien get the door.
On the front porch stood two very different girls. One was tall, and well fleshed. The other was of medium height, shorter than himself but taller than Des, but then everyone was, even Rose seemed to be by a bit. She was the opposite of the other girl's body structure, skinny as a rail, the type who'd disappear if she turned sideways. Her hair was blonde also, but much darker and cropped short above the shoulder. She had green and brown eyes where the taller girl had blue. It was obvious they couldn't stand to be near each other.
When they noticed him at the door the tall one said, "As nice as it was to bring you all the way down here, I'm needed back at HQ," she nodded towards Darien and headed back towards the old beater they'd arrived in, speeding off in a cloud of dust.
"What was that all about?" Darien asked bewildered.
"Ignore Oracle," the skinny one told him. "My sister knows nothing about teamwork. I'm Karma, your cousin. Don't look so freaked out, between Des, Rose and Mel, I got the whole story, well mostly from Mel."
"And you're here to see them?"
"As well as hustle them out of here, HQ says that we're needed in the States."
"Why?"
"Did you not know that most of your sister's have played the part of the superhero at least once?"
"Come in, Des is eating breakfast, she'll know what's going on."
Karma laughed, "or she'll pretend to."
"I heard that!" Des screamed from the table.
When they entered the kitchen Des, whose mouth was full, broadcast the thought, Wuz up?
Katherine groaned, "I thought you hated that movie."
I do, she swallowed, "but it's Karma's saying."
Karma sat herself down, making herself right at home and announced, "everyone rejoice, I've come to spirit the troublesome little pests away."
Des gulped, "umm there might be a small problem with that."
"What now? We can leave for Arizona after Rose wakes up, Rache is down there assisting already."
"Cool beans but that's not it. You know the Juliet our meathod of getting there? Well the motor is kinda in pieces."
"How long will it take you to put it back together?"
"Rose sorta thought that it would be funny to move some of the parts around on me.
"So what you're telling me is that HQ says we're needed in the States and you can't put Juliet's motor back together?" Karma gasped a slight look of panic on her face. {slight because for some people that is minor trouble *wink wink*}
"You're quick today Kar," Des replied.
"How do you plan to get that THING over there anyway?" Darien asked.
"We planned to get Mel to open a Gate," Des replied.
Karma sighed; sometimes her cousin wasn't very bright. "There are portals placed strategically around this planet and on other planets that allow the users to pass place to place in a manner similar to teleportation."
"Wow, way to memorize Mel's speech kid," Ariono laughed.
"Why didn't you just get a ride to the Gate with Oracle and let them take their sweet time?" Zoicite asked.
"Because even after all the training Mel is still the only one who can dial-up reliably."
Zoicite laughed, "but it's so simple."
Des shot some of her breakfast at him. "Come'mon Kar, lets go see if we can blackmail Zan into helping us fix Juliet."
"They're not staying to help us with the battle?" Darien asked.
"I doubt it. It's real bad news when their Arizona contact can't handle it on her own."
"Arizona contact?"
"They're part of a grand network," Zoicite informed him. "Where Tokyo has the Senshi, other places have their own superheroes. The places that don't have their own have the network. A group of them with lookouts everywhere and then the closest takes care of it."
Darien nodded his understanding.
"It'll keep them out of our hair anyhow," Katherine smiled. "They've helped more than they usually do already." {If I get any good ideas *hint-suggestions* I'll write some tales about them, I've already got one that just needs to be typed, even though it's a few years old.}
The blackmail idea the four came up with must have been damn good because before the day was through the four were gone and it was if they were never there. No one yelled, "Quit it rose," when the smell of smoke entered the room or "you're killin my ears," when a country song got played because Des wasn't there to sing along. Reference was made to them as always, but it was as though they were a half-forgotten legend that holds a foundation in many lives but hasn't impacted them since.
Katherine laughed when Darien asked her about that. "We work on different levels. It is rare that we even work together at all. They're like people you know but never really truly know. Even Pluto has not jurisdiction over them."
Darien nodded, "but wouldn't that make them practically a different species?"
"Different species of soul to be exact. That's about as good of explanation as I can give."
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After the twins left a couple of days passed in utter silence. The Rhea household was never quiet quiet, but it was a silence of activity. NOTHING was going on and everyone was becoming slightly on edge.
Reenie began sleeping down on the Inner floor in Serena's room. The Outer Senshi began making sure that one of them was awake every moment of the day. Jake took to sleeping in the house instead of his private cabin, ~just in case~ and Ariono started checking on Katherine with only the slightest reason. Eclipse began sleeping in the hallway so he was close to as many children as possible.
By the time dusk had settled on the ranch on a day near the end of the week Katherine had had enough, Darien found her in the living room rearranging furniture with a vengeance.
"What are you up to?" he tried to sound casual pretending to miss the look on her face.
She didn't look up from pushing the around a couch that had to weigh more than she did, "I can't take the waiting anymore, I've called a meeting here, tonight, to discuss possible battle plans."
Katherine pulled a complex looking piece of wood out of a closet and began to unfold it. "It's a table," she told him before he even got the chance to ask.
When she got it completely unfolded and set up she pulled out a plastic film from the same place and spread it over the table. With a closer look, Darien realized that stained onto the table was a map of the surrounding area.
"Prepared much?" he teased in an attempt to lighten her mood.
No success, "it's an old one but it will have to do," she sighed, dropping dry-erase markers on top of the table explaining, "they're easier than the tacks that were used before."
"So when's everyone going to show up?"
"'Clipse has gone to get Serena, the Inners, and the guys."
"What about the Outers, Zan and Luce?"
"Zan and Luce don't technically fight and the Outers have already been given their parts."
About five minutes later everyone had filtered in and arranged him or herself around the maptable.
When everyone she was expecting had shown up Katherine got up solemnly and shut the door.
"I don't know if 'Clipse told you why you were all called here," she began and when she saw Reenie, Zoi, Mal, Jed and Raye shake their heads, continued, "this will be a strategic planning session for the final battle."
"We've never really planned for those before," Serena stated.
"Battles are much easier when you do," Malachite put in.
Amiee defended Serena by saying; "we'd need to know a great deal about the enemy's campaign to organize accordingly."
"So we're screwed, "Logan said getting up.
"Defeatist," Katherine muttered. "We do know a great deal about Kalindra's plans."
Raye took that moment to pounce, "and how did you happen to get that information? Ariono's still on their side isn't he?"
"No!"
Serena looked around, "where is he anyway?"
"He doesn't know about this meeting," Katherine told them all. "I don't plan on him participating when we actually go up against Kal and his father."
Reenie stared at her aunt in disbelief; those two never did anything separately.
"Don't trust him enough?" Raye asked, the Earth was at stake in this and she didn't trust either of them.
"No. We won't be fighting just piddly youma in this. We're going up against his sister and his father. I don't want to put him in that position."
Jed and Andrew began to laugh and Katherine shook her head at them, "what now?"
Andrew was the first to get himself under control, "he's sitting outside the door."
"Sulking," Jed added.
"Not sulking," Ariono said from the doorway, "making sure nothing is left out. I know most of you don't trust me very much but I do want to help."
Serena smiled and waved him in, "I trust you and the last time I checked I was in charge."
He nodded, "thank you," and sad down on the couch behind Katherine who was sitting on the floor.
"Rhea, if you'll proceed," Serena said.
"Well, there will be a main attack led by Diamond. I think Serena will have to take him on using the Silver crystal."
Serena nodded.
"Since I've been told that in this time the Senshi can help in its use I'll want Mars, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter to back her up."
They chorused their agreement, that was what they would have done anyway.
She looked around. "I'll want people to protect them from immediate threats and act as energy buffers. Darien, you'll take Serena of course, Jed, Raye, Logan, can you get off your high horse to protect Amiee?" He nodded.
"I've got Lita," Nephlyte announced making her blush.
"If you'll instruct me further I'd like to watch over Mina," Sapphire volunteered.
"Are you sure?" Katherine was marking down some notes on an empty area of the map.
"Why wouldn't I be? I know how to fight."
"But it's who we're fighting…" Katherine began, she gasped, "you don't know."
"I don't know what?"
"Ariono, you didn't tell him?" she looked up at him.
"Tell him what?"
She sighed and let her head fall into the palm of her hand, "why am I always the bringer of news like this?" she asked no one in particular.
"Rhea what is it?" Ariono lightly massaged her shoulders.
"Have you ever wondered what you'd look like with blue-black hair?" she turned and ran her fingers through it glamouring it that colour.
Several gasps came from around the room.
Mina was the first to talk, "you look so much like Sapphire, I never noticed before."
"What's the big deal?" both wanted to know.
"How many people name their children Diamond? How many people can live on a rouge moon? Why am I the only one who picks up on these things?"
Ariono looked at her strangely, "you aren't trying to tell me that Sapphire is one of the sons my father was talking about the other night?"
She nodded slowly, looking between Sapphire and Ariono as Ariono's hair faded back into white-blonde.
"I'm still in, I went against my brother, I can do this," Sapphire declared. "Ariono if I could speak with you after the meeting?
Ariono just nodded.
"What are the Outers going to do?" Mina asked, even the stereotypical blonde of the group knew that ~they~ wouldn't do just any job and the change in topic wasn't a bad idea either.
"Well, the opposition is planning a three headed onslaught. Diamond will be the main one, Kal he secondary and the remainder of the youma will try to pick us off during the battle. Setsuna, Hota, Haruka, Michiru, Mal, Zoi and Andrew will be keeping the youma at bay," Katherine explained.
"Andrew can't fight," Darien exclaimed.
"Why can't I?"
"Because, you're, you're human," Darien answered. "You're a pacifist."
Andrew shrugged, "I'm needed to fight and I've trained as long as you have."
"You'd never even protect yourself from bullies."
"I never had to, when things got to rough you or Lita or one of the guys always stepped in."
"Are you positive you want to do this?" Darien asked.
"Andrew," Katherine spoke up, "if this goes against your beliefs, don't do it. I don't want to force any of you to participate," she looked around the room, carefully avoiding Ariono because she felt slightly guilty about involving him and knowing that she would not have made it so far without his help.
"I think we've all made our choices," Andrew looked deep in her eyes to convey his message. Everyone chorused his or her agreements.
"What do I get to do?" Reenie said, her first words of the meeting.
"Stay at the house with Luce and Zan in the control room," Katherine said promptly.
"But I want to help."
"It's too dangerous."
"Mamma, Daddy," Reenie pleaded.
"If Rhea thinks it's dangerous, it's probably lethal," Serena said passively.
"Rin's right, I don't want you out there," Darien agreed.
"But I can help," protested Reenie.
"She probably could," a feminine voice said from the door.
They all looked up to see two girls Reenie's age, the other one snorted, "sure," sarcastically, "but really, do you have anyone else to head off 'gainst Kalindra?"
They opened the door further so it swung fully open. The girl who didn't seem to have much faith in Reenie's abilities slumped the doorframe and brushed a few stray white-blonde hairs behind her ear, her deep royal blue eyes analyzing everyone in the room. Not dressed to impress, she wore blue jean cut off shorts and a fitted black tank top that had seen better days.
Her partner, they assumed, was identical to Reenie, from pink hair to cinnamon eyes, except that her hair was pulled back into a ponytail with only one 'meatball'. She wore a simple deep blue dress.
"Kathy, Katie, what are you doing her?"
"We came to help-" the identical one began.
"We're here to save your ass as usual," the other interrupted.
"Kath, watch your mouth," the one who, by deduction, was Kate told the blonde.
Kath rolled her eyes.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Logan demanded. He wasn't in a good mood because Serena was letting Katherine run the entire meeting.
"Ummm," Kate, who'd been elected spokesperson before they'd left due to Kath's tendency to use inappropriate language, attempted.
"Why should we tell you, we're here to help, isn't that enough?" Kath countered easily.
"Uncle Logan, everyone, these are my two best friends in the entire world, Kate and Kath," Reenie announced.
"Reenie, honey, one of them looks exactly like you," Serena said in awe. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
Katherine laughed, "There is a long history of twins on both sides of our family."
"You get to explain to Pluto how you got caught," Katherine looked straight at her accomplice.
"My full name is Katherine Serenity Chiba."
"Awe, that's so sweet naming you daughter after your sister," Mina sighed.
"Yes, they just had to pass along that god awful name," Katherine rolled her eyes.
Kath nodded, "That's for damn sure."
"And who exactly are you?" Serena asked her.
"You're not one of our," Darien began.
"Oh no. I only get away with murder if I'm not caught."
"Young lady, that's not a very nice thing to say," Ariono said aghast, he was raised not to talk back to his elders.
"It's probably true though," Katherine liked the girl's spunk. "Serena's the understanding type and Dare's the pushover type."
"You hit the nail bang on," Kath muttered.
"You never answered my question," stated Serena.
"According to the laws of time travel I don't have to."
"Her parents work at the palace on and off. Her father named her Katherine after Aunt Rin while they were on assignment in another place," Reenie supplied, Kath was stubborn and Kate, even though she was the wild twin, couldn't lie to save her life.
"Here I thought that only Darien was crack potted enough to name his kid after me."
"Yeah, well my father was obsessed with you for the greater part of his life."
Jedite laughed, "and I thought that only Ariono had that weird of taste." Ariono shot a throw pillow at him. {and now you know why they are called 'throw' pillows}
"Before we get of topic too far, you were saying that you are here to help. How?" Reenie demanded, as she knew it was the only way to get them to the point.
Kate looked at Kath who glared back at her. Kate sighed, "Fine, well, you know when we researched there were two crystals mentioned in the writing?" Reenie nodded, "Kay, Kath was reading histories and found out that the other crystal we'd assumed was used wasn't discovered until after that particular battle."
"Nice to know and you plan to help by?" Reenie asked, knowing that Kath always had a plan.
"Providing you with another crystal," Kate said as if Reenie were stupid not to know, "You are the smart twin remember?"
"Which crystal?" Reenie was a tad skeptical. {I would be too if my best friends and I were in a similar situation}
"This one," Kath said whipping a small purple cloth bag at her.
Reenie caught it without thinking and her aunt smiled because it was a reaction she herself had learned because of her many siblings.
She looked in the bad and looked at her twin, "how did you get THIS?"
"Chronos," Kate explained.
At everyone's strange looks, Kate said, "Busted."
Kath just rolled her eyes, "a kid at the palace."
"Ain't sibling rivalries grande?" Katherine giggled resting her head on Ariono's knee.
"How did you know that he was our younger-" Kate was cut off by Kath clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Next time I time it, I'm going alone," Kath announced, making a frustrated face at Kate.
Katherine dropped her marker on the floor and sat up straight, though only Kath and Ariono noticed.
"What is it Rhea?" he asked.
"Nothing, doll, just clueing into something," she replied absently. "Chronos is their younger brother," Katherine indicated Reenie and Kate.
"That's what you clued in on?" Jedite teased, "I bet even Logan got that one."
"No I figured out who Kath's Da is."
"Care to share?" Ariono leaned down.
"No," and she giggled as Kath breathed a sigh of relief. "What her father doesn't know won't kill him and what I don't tell you won't kill you either. Back to business, is that the Silver Crystal of your time?"
The three nodded solemnly.
Serena looked about to say something but Katherine cut her off, "don't worry I'll make sure it's returned even before your future self knows it's gone."
Serena frowned, "I'm debating whether or not that's a good thing to know." Darien laughed and hugged her.
"Well, we've got to go before Joseph and Jakob find out that we're not havin a girl chat in Kath's room," Kate stated.
Reenie laughed, "that should have given it away right then."
"Well they're idiots, doesn't that explain why they believe that she was allowed over while I was grounded for the last time you guys came over."
Katherine began to laugh again, "I'm gonna have to loosen your father up a bit, and if you get caught by Jakob and Joseph, tell them I say hello."
"Righto," Kath replied as she practically dragged Kate out the door.
"They're both Senshi?" Serena asked.
"One of them."
"Back to business, again, everyone," Katherine announced. "If I have to be serious so do the lot of you. If we let Reenie take Kal on with the Silver Crystal, she'll need a buffer, who could do that?"
"Wouldn't that be too much for her?" Darien worried.
"I've used the Crystal before," Reenie protested her competence.
"I was planning on taking Kal on hand-to-hand so things could maybe be even easier this way."
Ariono did some quick calculations in his head, "you should buffer her. Out of everyone left you're the one with the most experience helping in the use of the Crystal, and she takes over your planned job anyhow."
"Good point. That works."
"Where are Zan and Luce?" Darien mentioned.
"They can't and don't fight so each have other duties to perform."
"What are they?" Greg asked, "I know I can't fight, is there something I could do here, I could help them?"
"The only one you could help is Zan and she won't go for that," Jed laughed.
"Lucie will be evacuating the area's mobile life and Zan has been and will be spying on the other side. That's how we know so much of their plans already," Katherine told them.
"Ariono didn't want to share the information?" Logan said snidely.
"Due to my friendship with Rhea, I was never given my orders until immediately before battles."
"Don't worry Greg I've got a job for you anyway. You'll be here with Jake and Merc setting up an infirmary as needed and bringing a truck out to pick up those of us who can't make the walk."
"This planning stuff's pretty reassuring," Mina said.
"It's not something that we get to do for every battle but since we know so much about what's going to happen here it helps. I think that's about it until Diamond and Kal mass their forces."
"Do you know when that will be?" Ariono asked.
"I'd say in the next week, maybe two, unless Neph has narrowed it down anymore?"
"Within the next two to five days," he supplied.
"Alright, Darien, Andrew, Serena, Logan, Amiee, Mina, Raye and Lita, as of now you are all on lightened duties," Katherine announced. "Anything else?"
No one had anything else to they wanted to bring up, they all had things that weighed heavily on their minds. The meeting broke up without anyone saying anything else.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The weekend passed without mishap, but by the time Monday morning rolled around everyone was more than a little on edge. They all showed their irritation in a different manner. Malachite was grouchier than normal and even more distant. The other three generals showed theirs through a stony silence as well, the house seemed empty without their constant bickering. The Senshi of Neptune, Uranus and Saturn on the other hand took out their apprehensions through small, stupid arguments with each other. Setsuna was the only person in the house acting like herself, being the Senshi of Time she had had to deal with stresses like these most of her life. Darien, Serena, Mina, Amiee, Raye, Andrew and especially Lita were all about to go stir crazy. Both Zan and Lucie made themselves scarcer than usual. The Lunar Guardians were always busy between, researching, scouting the area and attempts to cheer up their young warriors. Reenie spent most of her time wishing that Kath and Kate could have stayed to help her with this. It was upsetting that her comrades since her forever weren't there for this. Ariono was so worried that even Katherine couldn't make him smile and therefore they were both miserable. Greg and Jake both ran themselves ragged running the ranch and preparing if for the event.
At the biggest screen in the control room, Zan Rhea frowned and whispered, "it begins," and then quoted an old prophesy. "What went forward then goes back. Through the years the battle will stretch, Generations will come together and part again. The lives of all involved will never be the same again."
Her hands shook as she reached for the seldom-used intercom switch. She took a deep breath to steady her voice in the hopes of keeping it from cracking as she announced the oncoming battle.
Her voice boomed clearly through the entire ranch, "it's now or never. Good Luck, everyone."
Those who worked at the ranch and were not involved tactfully ignored the brightly coloured flashes of light that mysteriously popped up all around the compound.
Pluto, Neptune, Uranus and Saturn led the way in trashing youma left and right.
Venus, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter formed a protective circle around Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon.
Bringing up the rear were Earth, Ariono, Andrew and Logan surrounding Reenie.
As the group neared the heart of Diamond's procession the Outers split up into separate directions to fight the stronger youma.
"I don't like splitting up like this," Moon screamed over the loudness of the battle around them.
"Don't worry," Earth screamed back from behind her a ways. "We've all been trained for this more than you have."
"All of your training isn't going to make a difference in the long run harlot," Diamond appeared infront of them.
"Lets get this over with my friends," Moon said powering up into her princess form.
Immediately, Darien was in his Prince armor reacting to her transformation, and Reenie took the hint and joined them as Neo-Princess Serenity.
As Princess Serenity brought out the crystal a ball of energy hit Earth from behind knocking her down face first. Serenity turned to look at her and make sure that she was alright when Diamond grabbed her.
"Bitch," Earth yelled getting up, ignoring the blood dripping from her back she tackled Kal before she could let another energy ball fly at someone else.
Mars and Prince Endymion both lunged for Diamond at the same time.
Serenity was quickly freed as Earth and Kalindra wrestled on the ground.
A few youma had surrounded the group and were being fought back by the remainder of the party.
"It's time to win," Serenity called as she raised the crystal to take on Diamond. He, without delay, began to throw a stream of black energy at her in return.
Endymion latched his arms around her waist to feed her energy; Mercury dropped her computer to join hands with her princess. Mars was the next to notice the onslaught and quickly destroyed the youma she'd been fighting and joined those at the crystal.
Ariono finished off his youma and moved to where Jupiter was fighting, "Go help your princess, I'll take over here."
Sapphire and the four generals finally fought their way through a crowd of youma. Malachite and Zoicite taking over for Venus, the others moving to help their partners right away.
It wasn't long before Logan had freed himself of a pesky youma to stand behind Mercury completing their team.
Earth broke away from Kalindra shouting, "now Reenie."
Not needing to be told twice Reenie slammed silver energy into Kalindra. The look of shock was evident on Kal's ashen face as Earth got up and placed a hand on each of the Neo-Princess' shoulders.
The battle could not have lasted very long. Pluto, Neptune, Uranus and Saturn kept most of the youma from getting near the center of battlefield, Malachite, Zoicite, Andrew and Ariono taking care of those that did.
Kalindra didn't have a chance to begin with; Earth was throwing as much energy at her as Neo-Princess Serenity.
Diamond was the first to drop. Serenity was getting very good in the use of the Silver Crystal, having so much help made the defeat much easier.
Kalindra disappeared shortly after her father did.
Serenity's knees gave out and she fell backwards into Endymion. He slowly lowered her to the ground as they reverted into Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon.
The others who'd helped with the crystal were tired too; all of them joined Mask and Moon on the ground. Sapphire lay on his back, prone and breathing heavily. Venus' head rested on his stomach. Neither had any serious injuries, but knew they'd feel this in the morning.
Logan was on his knees, Mercury's head cradled in his lap. She'd fought the longest of the four Senshi and without help for the most time, exhaustion proved to much for her to stay conscious and Logan watched her as she slept.
Mars was the worst off of all them, the youma had taken their toll on her and she lie there, bleeding in several places, smiling as Jedite freaked out and was attempting to perform first aid. She knew that none of her injuries were serious enough to kill her, but she liked the effort Jedite made to take care of her, even if he was an idiot.
Jupiter was cut and bruised in many places also, but her blind fury at the youma for attacking them was a tad safer than Mars' calmer intuitive fighting style did for her. She and Nephlyte were sprawled over each other in a tangled mess of arms and legs, both were too tired to untangle.
Earth gently picked up Reenie, who was unhurt but so exhausted she could no longer keep her transformation up, she set her down on the soft grass next to Sailor Moon.
"You look like shit, are you gonna be alright?" Tuxedo Mask asked his sister.
She forced a grin, "if I ignore the wound it won't hurt." She slumped down on the grass, now that the adrenalin rush had worn off she was very content just to lie there and wait for Zan to send the trucks out for them.
"Did all of you make it through?" Malachite's worried voice called.
"We're all alive if that's what you want to know," Katherine shouted back propping her chin on her hand so she could see them coming. "You guys?"
"Zoi has a broken ankle, and Ariono's arm is sliced up pretty badly."
"I am the master!" Andrew cried happily, "not even a scratch, and you were all worried that I couldn't handle myself."
If he hadn't been so tired, Mask would have laughed.
"Andrew, if you don't shut up I'm going to injure you," Ariono seethed.
"Oh," Earth made a face, "Ari's only EVER that cranky when he's in pain." She put her hands on the ground and heaved herself up. "They'd better get here with those damn trucks soon," she muttered.
"Rin, with your back so messed up, you probably shouldn't be moving around too much," Mask warned.
"I'm sure it looks worse than it is," she waved at him. "'Sides, Ari sounds like he needs bandaging up."
"That's," Mask said loudly but she ignored him and he continued quieter, "what I was trying to say about you."
As Earth passed Malachite and Zoicite she was careful not to let them see her back, they'd tell Ariono and Andrew right away and Ariono, being overprotective, would flip out. Seeing that Zoicite's ankle was beginning to swell she tore off the bow from the front of her uniform and handed it to Zoicite as Malachite carried him by.
She saw Ariono next; a youma had made a nasty, jagged cut along his left arm. He held the area above it tightly and blood ran down to his hand where it dripped off of his fingertips.
Earth took a deep breath, she hated seeing him like this and she knew that compared to most of them Ariono did not have a very high pain tolerance at all.
She pulled her back bow off, ignoring the fact that it was slightly bloody; she could always tell Ariono that it was his blood.
"Are you okay," were the first words out of his mouth.
"I'll be right as rain after a nap and a bath," she lied, tying the ribbon around his upper arm to help stop the bleeding
"I thought you'd be exhausted after helping with the Crystal," Ariono said in a manner that told her that he knew something wasn't right, but wasn't sure what.
She led him farther into the clearing containing almost everyone else, carefully avoiding turning back towards him.
After forcing him to sit on the grass she knelt in front of him for a moment wondering what she could use for a full bandage, there wasn't much of her Senshi uniform left.
"Holy shit!" Andrew yelled at the top of his lungs, as he came to the check on everyone after making sure there were no remaining youma. "Rhea isn't that a bit painful?"
She, without thinking, turned to him and yelled, "you idiot!"
Earth had turned just enough to give Ariono a good view of how bad her injury really was.
Ariono's stomach was in knots. He knew that she didn't realize the extent of her injuries, she never did.
Most of the back of her uniform was missing, from halfway down her collar-piece to just above her skirt. What was left had been stained read from the blood that was still seeping down her back.
Darien sighed, "I tried to tell you that it was bad."
"Oh shut up you!" she bit back, not wanting them to make a big deal about it.
"Rhea, this is one of the worst injuries I've ever seen on you," Ariono told her softly.
This immediately sobered her up. Sure, Ariono did tend to exaggerate when it came to battle wounds, but he'd never say THAT unless he meant it. "Well there is nothing we can do about it at the moment."
"According to Jake I've healed you before," Ariono sounded hopeful, "maybe I should try now."
"No, it'll take too much of your energy, 'sides you're hurt too."
Everyone else who was in the clearing and still conscious sat back to watch and wonder.
"Katherine, just let me try," Ariono pleaded.
She felt like her heart stopped for a second. It killed her when he gave her that desperate look, even more so when he used her first name. "Do it, but only if you're sure."
"I-I think I have to touch your back in order for this to work," he said, suddenly unsure of himself, wondering if he might hurt her more by making the attempt than by letting her leave it uncared for.
"That's alright, do what you must, remember it doesn't hurt me as much as it would you," she said calmly, giving him all the support he needed to have the confidence to continue.
She set her jaw, knowing that as soon as he got his nerve together he'd, gently as possible, place his hands on her back and it would hurt.
It only took Ariono a few seconds to make himself believe that he'd be helping her more than harming her. That was all it took, he stopped his hands from shaking and tenderly laid them on her back. No sooner had he done that than they were both engulfed in a multi-coloured lightshow. Blue, brown and green standing out most prominently.
In seconds, it was over. Ariono tipped forward, only holding himself up from falling with his good arm. Katherine was lying face down in the grass, her head cradled on her arms.
She got up slowly, still in pain, but less than before. On her knees before Ariono she softly wiped away the small trickle of blood from below his nose that came with using to much of a previously untapped power.
"You did great," she told him, moving into a sitting position beside him and then pulling him down to lean on her shoulder.
"How much did I heal?" he asked breathlessly.
"More than enough."
"No, really."
"Not all of it, that will take weeks, but much of the pain has been relieved and I think the bleeding has stopped."
"That's good," he sighed cradling his bad arm, he slipped off his cape and one-handedly draped it over her shoulders. "You're practically naked," he stated, "you've got to keep warm."
She didn't bother to tell him that she knew the truth, he just didn't like to see her hurt, she had other things on her mind. 'If he can heal me maybe…'
"Ari, let me see what I can do for your arm."
"Don't bother, it can wait until the trucks…" he stopped talking as he caught the hidden meaning behind her words. "No, don-" he began.
"My turn," she stated as she laid her hands on his bleeding arm and the lights once again came over them.
She was losing energy fast, but this wasn't about her, it was about him, he was in pain and if she could stop it she would.
Her vision went black seconds after she saw that the cut had completely healed.
Due to Ariono leaning on her, she fell to the opposite side.
"Rhea!" he shouted not noticing that Andrew was there checking on them both instantly.
"Ariono, calm down and let me help," Andrew commanded, quickly making sure that he was alright before moving onto Katherine, knowing that she'd've ordered him to take care of Ariono first.
She wasn't moving, her breathing was shallow and uneven, but her pulse was steady.
"MOCHI!" they all looked around after hearing the cheerful voice of Gaia, "You've won. I'm so very proud of all of you." She stopped short, catching her first glimpse of her daughter's face. Only her motherly capabilities could tell that Katherine had no color under the deep tan she had from working outside all the time.
"What happened to my baby?" she demanded.
"I think it's just a little exhaustion," Andrew replied, he knew how protective the previous Queen of the Earth could be.
"Just exhaustion?"
"This is Katherine, I was expecting worse," Andrew tried to make her see the positive side of things.
"Her back, what happened to it?" The cape had fallen off slightly in the commotion.
"S-she took and energy ball to the back, I-I tried to heal it," Ariono was shaking.
Gaia was taken aback by the emotion in his trembling voice, he sounded more like a scared little boy than the man he was.
"Don't worry so much, she's my daughter, remember, she's tough."
"I should have known she'd try something like that, but I was so wrapped up in my own pain that-" Gaia pressed a finger on his lips forcing him to stop.
"Andrew," she suggested, "why don't you go check on your sister and the others."
He nodded and walked the few meters to the rest of the group.
The Senshi and their partners had fallen close to where they had stood during the battle forming a semi-circle around Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. Andrew sat down by Jupiter and Nephlyte. "You know Leets, anyone else's brother would have to beat the crap out of Neph for being in a position like that.'
"Andy!"
"But since I know you can take care of anyone, I'll let him be."
"Tell us what's going on over there," Mask said, "I saw my mother."
Andrew smiled, "she came to congratulate us on saving the planet, but she ended up seeing how messed up Rhea's back was."
"How bad did Earth get hurt?" Venus asked quietly, "I saw her take the energy ball to the back and then get back up and fight."
"Ariono did his best to heal her but he could only do so much. She'll most likely be to sore to do much work around here for a couple of weeks."
"Which means exactly what?" Mars demanded.
"It means that Jake and Greg will redo the chore list to put most of the work onto the full-timers," Andrew explained.
"And that whoever isn't hurt too badly here will be busy trying to distract her so she doesn't stupidly hurt herself," Tux added.
"Just like your sister," Logan grumbled and those who had the energy to laughed.
Ariono came over to them next carrying Earth asleep in his arms, Gaia walking beside them. He gently settled down in the grass with the others.
"I'm very proud of all of you," Gaia told them. She walked around to behind her only son, hugged him and kissed his cheek. "You're gonna be just fine. You're all gonna be just fine."
"Does that include us?" Uranus called from the edge of the clearing. The Outers were all standing there proudly.
"Of course Haruka," Gaia called back, waving them over towards the rest of the group.
Uranus leaned heavily on Neptune whose steps were slow but steady. Pluto carried Saturn. Neptune helped Uranus sit down, she was the only person Uranus ever allowed to help her, and then sat beside her. Pluto set Saturn down in Neptune's lap.
"Are you all okay?" Zoicite asked.
"Neptune and I have a few bumps and bruises but that's about it," Pluto informed them. "Uranus got herself slammed into a tree," Uranus grinned proudly. "Saturn is still much to young to be using such strong powers."
"Setsuna, darling, in my opinion," Gaia said softly, getting up, "even you're too young to use such power."
"Come on Auntie, we all have to grow up someday," Pluto laughed.
"You won't like it when you have kids."
"It's good to see you again."
Gaia hugged her, "your Daddy wanted to come, but I told him that I was going to and that was that."
"I can only imagine."
"Your mom said to tell you that she sends her love and so do the little ones." She cocked her head to the side. "Sounds like the trucks are coming."
"You know one of these days one of us will figure out how you do that," Andrew joked.
"With your luck it will be Katherine, I know she won't tell you, just to make you crazy," she finished just as Jake's beat-up truck pulled into the field.
He didn't bother to shut his door on the way over to them, "did everyone make it?" he shouted.
"They'll all survive," Gaia called back.
"I'll take the worst of the injured with me, Greg and Zan can pick up the rest in the vans and V can take the uninjured in his car.
"My brother's helping?" Venus exclaimed.
"He couldn't not help, in his own ~human~ way," Jake told her. "Who's coming with me?"
"Serenity and Katherine for sure. I want them both in bed as soon as possible," Gaia announced.
"With looks like those on their faces, I doubt that neither Darien nor Ariono are going to leave those girls alone for awhile."
"So take them back too," Gaia stressed as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I've only got seating for three in the back at the best of times."
Gaia sighed; talking to Jake always frustrated them both. "Katherine can't lean on anything anyway, Ariono will have to hold her on his lap."
"You're suggesting that?" Jake was amazed, usually she was against those two being together.
"Ariono and I had a little talk, and that's all you need to know."
Jake smiled and unexpectedly hugged her, "never change little girl, never change."
Gaia's down-to-business face softened, "thanks for taking care of my babies Daddy," and she faded away, returning to the time gate.
"You heard her boys, git up and git in the truck. As for the rest of you, the others should be here soon, I parked a lot closer to the battle than I'd let them."
Tuxedo Mask climbed in first, carrying Sailor Moon, he settled her down between him and the wall of the driver's side, holding one arm around her unconscious form tightly. Ariono got in next, letting Jake support Katherine just long enough to get himself in the truck before holding his arms out to take her again. Ariono had her in a comfortable-looking position on his lap before Jake had made it all the way to the driver's seat.
"You don't have to be so silent," Jake muttered as he pulled out of the clearing and slowly onto an old dirt road.
Darien looked up, "I have a tendency to worry silently."
"I know," Jake looked from Darien to Katherine in the rear view. "She said she was gonna work on breaking you of that habit."
This brought a ghost of smile to Darien's face, "she would."
"It was very hard for her to handle," Ariono was very solemn, "everyone else in your family throws tantrums or cries or tells someone what's wrong very loudly. Your silence terrified her."
"As I recall she never let her problems out in the open either."
"But she thought she could handle anything," Ariono looked down at her face with tears in his eyes.
"Ariono, m'boy you look like you just lost your best friend."
"I may have."
"Nah, my granddaughters are all tough cookies."
"I just," Ariono tore his eyes away from the woman asleep in his arms and stared out the window, eyes still watery, "I just wish…"
Darien put his free hand on Ariono's shoulder, "you just wish you'd told her you loved her before the battle."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The rest of the trip home was made mostly in a stony silence, the seriousness of the situation weighing heavy on the minds of all.
Merc had been called just after the warriors had left for battle and those who couldn't fight had turned the dining hall into an infirmary.
The rest of the day and well into the next one went by in a blur for most of the household.
Everyone who was injured were made to stay in the beds at least until Merc had attended them. Everyone who wasn't injured helped the others in any way possible.
It was around noon-ish the day after the battle when Serena awoke. She looked around the room and realized that she must have been one of the worst injured because the room was nearly empty.
Katherine was the only other person still abed. She was in the next bed over and Ariono was in a chair, asleep hunched over the side holding her hand.
Serena smiled, at the foot of her own bed Reenie and Darien were engrossed in a game of checkers. {Because I KNOW how to play that game!}
"Hey guys," she whispered.
"Hey yourself, sleepyhead," Darien returned getting up and sitting beside her.
She laughed, "I know, even Reenie's up before me."
"She's a kid too, remember, she's got more energy than we do."
Reenie ran up and hugged Serena, then ran to the door pausing only long enough to say, "I'm gonna go tell everyone that you're awake," before running out into the hallway.
"So what's the story on everyone else?" Serena whispered.
"You and Rin come out worst, Zoi's ankle was just sprained and Haruka, Lita and Raye just seem like they got into a big brawl. Everyone else's injuries have pretty much been reduced to your everyday bumps and bruises."
"I can feel how bad off I am a week of extra sleep and no youma and I'll be back to normal. How bad off is Rhea?"
"Her back was hit hard by an energy blast," Darien began.
"I was conscious for that part."
"In short she and Ariono can heal each other, he healed her back as best he could with what energy he had, but it'll probly be painful for a while."
"They why is she asleep? I know a little pain's never stopped her before."
"After Ariono healed her, she healed him," Darien looked towards them sadly, "only she didn't have the good sense to stop when she felt her energy get low, she pushed it until he was back to one hundred percent and then she passed out."
"So now he's a wreck worrying over her?"
Darien nodded, "he loves her, you know?" Ariono's words echoing through his head, 'is it so wrong to fall in love with your best friend when she's as amazing as mine?' "He stayed awake until early this morning, I was told and hasn't eaten since breakfast yesterday.
"I think that someone had better get him to eat something as soon as he wakes up or he'll be in worse shape than Rhea is."
"I know, maybe I'll get the uninjured guys to drag him over to the kitchen."
"He'd probly refuse to eat."
"Not if we tell him that we won't let him back in here until he eats a decent amount."
Serena sighed hoping it would work. "Dare, would you just hold me until Ariono wakes up, we haven't had a chance to just hold each other for the longest time."
He crawled closer to her, "of course my luv."
An hour later practically everyone in the house had come in to make sure their princess was really fine. Jedite and Nephlyte were lounging in beds that had been used the day before, waiting for Ariono to wake up.
They were just beginning to get bored when Ariono silently stretched in his chair, "what happened?"
"You fell asleep," Jedite said, turning towards Ariono, but still sprawling out on the bed he was occupying.
Ariono rolled his eyes, "I figured that out. Has there been any change?"
"In Princess Katherine?" Jedite asked just to be stubbornly annoying. Only Nephlyte laughed.
"Of course!"
"Calm down, if there had been one of us would have been decent enough to wake you," Nephlyte told him. "I mean Darien's here."
"Maybe she's hurt worse than Merc thought?" Ariono pondered.
"Just give her time," Serena said. "Other than the hurt back, a great deal of which you fixed, she's in the same boat as me."
"But you're awake and she's not."
"She also went into the battle with less strength than I did. She'd yet to fully recover from any of the things she's gone through in the last month."
"I shouldn't have let her fight," Ariono muttered.
Jed got up off of the bed, "Ariono man, you look like shit."
"You wouldn't have been able to stop her anyway, so don't worry about it," Nephlyte mentioned loftily, following Jed's lead.
The hair on the back of Ariono's neck raised, even in his state of mind he knew a set-up when one was coming. "What are you two up to?"
"Nothing," they replied in unison.
Ariono stood up shakily and backed up until he hit the bed, "this isn't funny guys."
"You haven't eaten since before the battle," Darien began.
Serena continued for him, "and we really think you need to spend some time out of this room. Moaping isn't going to make her better and it might even make you sick."
Nephlyte gabbed Ariono under the arms, curling his own over Ariono's shoulders so Ariono couldn't wiggle free, and Jedite dove for his legs.
"Guys, what if she wakes up?" Ariono struggled feebly to be released.
"Darien and Serena will be here," Jed said, trying to avoid being kicked in the nuts.
"And that is the only reason we're letting you out of the kitchen before you eat a decent meal," Nephlyte informed him.
"Also, I'm sure Rhea'd appreciate it if you stopped off for shower too," Jed teased as they dragged Ariono out of the room.
When the door shut again Serena gave a short laugh, "he took that better than I expected him to."
"I wonder how she'll take him not being in the room?" Darien wondered aloud.
Serena was puzzled, "why would it matter if she's unconscious?"
As if on command Katherine tossed slightly in her sleep.
He laughed, "She can sense that he left the room."
"That's odd, I can only sense things like that with you."
"It must be a soul mate thing."
"Do you really think they could be soul mates?" Serena asked in wonder.
"Well, they're just as intuitive about each other as we are."
"I thought soul mates were rare?"
Darien shook his head, "I think that people knowing that they've found the one and people having a story like ours is rare."
Serena smiled, "when did you become so secure?"
"When my big noisy family walked into my life."
"Knowing them has really had some good effects on you."
"It has, even though I don't have all of my memories back, having a family again, I don't feel so lost anymore. Did you know that the thought of marrying you and later having Reenie used to terrify me?" She shook her head. "I was afraid of not knowing what to do, how I was supposed to behave. I hadn't had any experience with that sort of thing before. Actually being around my family has given me so much more confidence about everything."
She snuggled closer to him, "it shows, it shows."
Katherine, waking up in a cold sweat and sitting straight up, shattered their peaceful moment her breathing heavy.
"Rin, you're finally awake," Darien said in relief.
"Did everyone make it?" she was nearly hyperventilating.
"Yes, everyone's fine," Darien went over to her slowly, afraid to startle her more.
"The last thing I remember was Ari in pain, so so so much pain," she babbled, looking around the room skittishly. "Where is he? Doesn't he know I need him?"
"Sere, maybe I should-"
There was a loud crash as Katherine in her panic fell from the bed.
Ariono was in there a fraction of a second after the noise had reached the kitchen, cradling her as she clutched madly to him.
Jedite walked in a moment later, "he just disappeared on us," he explained.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
No one was happy to see the small bus pull up the driveway three days later as the summer staff sat around in front of the house a short four days after the battle amid their luggage. It was the day that Serena, Darien, Lita, Mina, Amiee, Raye, Luna, Artimis, Greg, Sapphire and Andrew left for Tokyo. Reenie had gone back home with Kath and Kate when they came for the crystal. Michiru, Haruka, Hotaru and Setsuna had left suddenly, not really telling the group where they were going.
Greg smiled knowingly, "don't look so sad everyone. You just prevented the end of the world, I'm sure some other threat will bring us all back together again."
Luna laughed, "It always seems to."
"And our group seems to get bigger all the time," Artimis added.
Eclipse joined in, "and knowing our charges, they'll only give us enough time to almost get used to peaceful times before finding trouble again.
All of their 'charges' laughed.
"I just don't like everyone being split apart," Serena began to cry.
Andrew smiled, "but that's what makes getting together again so much fun. Besides, Setsuna said as soon as she, Haruka and Michiru have tied things up elsewhere they're gonna settle down and raise Hotaru in Tokyo. I still plan to take over the arcade and café when my father retires, so we'll always have some where in the city to get together in."
"There's always my place don't forget," Raye added, "I don't plan on leaving it."
Sapphire spoke up, "I'll be in Tokyo for awhile too. I've got a job doing the voice of Sailor V's new partner in the next animated feature as soon as they find a voice similar to the one Sailor V had in England."
Mina giggled thoughtfully, "I wonder if they'd make special arrangements for the original voice."
As Mina went off into her own little world, Logan hugged his sister, "remember our plan Sere?"
She nodded, "of course."
"What plan," teary-eyed Amiee asked.
"Serena's going to try to talk her parents into getting an exchange student-" his overzealous sister interrupted Logan.
"And he's gonna fix it so its him."
Amiee hugged Logan tightly, "I luv your plan."
Quietly, off to the side Eclipse muttered to Artimis and Luna, "you two are so lucky your charges are still so young."
Artimis laughed, "I'll probly be with Mina till the day I die."
"I'm lucky that Serena will still need me to advise her when she's queen," Luna smiled. "What will you do when the time comes for Katherine to fly without you?"
"I really don't know," Eclipse was sad and happy all at the same time to have Katherine be suddenly so grown up on him. "Maybe by the time she no longer needs my constant guidance she'll have children for me to guardian, so I won't be reassigned somewhere new."
Katherine, who'd been hanging around on the outside of the group for most of the gathering, ruffled his ears, "you'd think after being my guardian you'd want to retire."
Eclipse stood up and shook off his fur, "after being your guardian, watching over anyone else will seem like retirement."
"I'm gonna miss you so much," Lita was hugging Nephlyte.
"It's not so bad," he told her, "we're all working on finding jobs in the city so we can protect the prince."
"That's great news!"
"Yeah, thank great Kami that the Prince and Princess are inseparable."
Darien smiled, "You guys can always stay at my apartment until you get on your feet."
Jedite laughed manically, "We will take you up on that offer."
"Aren't you glad you only have to watch them from afar Greg?" Katherine asked.
"For now, yes," he answered.
Those who were leaving began to put their things in the bus, all except Darien, who stood there looking at Katherine. He didn't want to say good-bye to her.
Zan had left the night they knew Katherine was alright, and had said her good-byes to him then. Lucie had done the same Thursday morning when she and Boris left to give a whale a pep talk. He didn't ask about that.
Jake had pulled him aside earlier that morning and told him to call if he ever needed help, or just to chat. Jake even switched around some chores in order to be the one who came into Tokyo for supplies.
Katherine hugged him, knowing that it would be harder on him than on her, she was used to their family going their separate ways. "It's not like you'll never see me again. I do occasionally go into Tokyo, hell maybe I'll even finish college."
He didn't laugh, "I'm afraid you'll disappear again."
"There's always that possibility, I'm a Senshi after all. But don't worry about that right now. I plan on staying alive for awhile yet."
"Don't do anything stupid."
"With all the people who watch over me? There's not much chance of that."
"So I'll see you soon?"
She smiled back at him and nodded, "see you soon."
Katherine watched sadly as the bus went down the long driveway and kept staring intently in that direction for a long time after it had gone out of sight and the dust had settled.
Ariono came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on the top of her head.
"I might never see him again," she said sadly.
"Of course you will, your paths are sure to cross again, you can always visit when you get your strength back."
She laughed, "It's been so long since I had that option, I'd forgotten that I could."
"That's why you have me around."
"For how long? What are your plans for the future?" she asked softly.
"I'm gonna stay here as long as you need me. I haven't thought much about after that."
"That's good 'cause I plan to take it easy for once in my life, I might need you for a long time yet."
"I like that idea. I could get used to taking care of you."
She giggled as he picked her up and carried her in the direction of the house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
{That's it, that's all, she wrote no more… well not yet, I'm still working on ideas for the epilogue, but don't worry 'cause by the time my editor finishes with this I'll've had PLENTY of time to finish that! Don't mind the slight weirdness I'm very hyper because I'm done 36, the LAST chapter!}
"The rocks might melt and the seas may burn. I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings" Tom Petty- Learning to Fly
Hockey quote:
"If you weren't playing with a metal plate screwed into your ankle, if your nose hadn't been broken, if you weren't playing with a shiner or have sutures in your face, well, dammit, you just weren't trying." -Sports Illustrated 5/19/97