blueeyeddevil06, all of my stories are better because of you. Thank you! I appreciate you being my beta.

I also wanted to thank princesserena27, Astraearose-silvermoon, and 87WW for being such constant encouragements to me. You reviews always make a huge difference to me. Thank you!


Chapter 47 - Sapphire

Darien smiled at Serena as he watched her from the doorway. He had gone looking for her since they were set to leave soon, and he found her in the guest room closest to Sammy. She was currently putting new sheets on the bed. Of course, he should have expected this. She turned and jumped.

She scolded him, "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that!" She then grabbed a pile of various sized fresh towels to put in the bathroom.

"So, Sapphire will be coming to live with us?" he asked.

She stepped out of the bathroom, looking startled. "Wait, did I imagine that we discussed this?"

He nodded, "Yes, you did. Luckily, I agree with you that he should live here. We have plenty of room, and the only woman who lives here doesn't sleep alone." He smirked at her.

She walked into his arms and wrapped hers around him. "Very true." She smirked up at him. "Maybe I will have to stop sleeping naked?"

He growled, "Absolutely not! There is no reason for him to need to come into our room at night. I am against all clothing when we are alone together."

"Oh, really. What about the lingerie?"

"I will amend that statement. I am against all clothing that isn't worn for just me." He lifted her chin and kissed her.

She chuckled, "Great, now I am getting turned on before a fight."

He whispered in her ear, "I will make sure to make it up to you tonight."

"I will hold you to that." she promised. "Now, I guess we need to head out. His room is all made up for him. I even grabbed some of your old pajamas and a robe for him."

He looked startled, "You're giving him my clothes?"

She gave him a coy look, "It isn't like you wear clothes to bed either."

"Touche." He pulled back a bit and said, "Serena, you really do have an amazing heart for people. I didn't even think about where he would be staying once he was healed." He kissed her on the top of her head. "Let's go, and try to save this guy."

She nodded and followed him out of the penthouse.

Molly and Rui had just arrived at the park. Everyone had agreed that Rui should wear a hat and sunglasses. Sapphire might not attack if he saw her there. Mina secretly hoped that it was true. It would mean she was right about them being soulmates.

Molly spread the blanket with shaking hands while Rui handled the picnic basket.

Rui whispered, "Molly, they will keep us both safe. It's going to be okay."

Molly smiled at her and said, "I am worried about Sapphire. I want him to be healed, but I know that he is the enemy. I really want you to have true love. It's amazing."

Rui hugged her, and they sat to eat. They knew that everyone was lying in wait already transformed. It was strange to have a picnic knowing that they were being watched so carefully.

Ten minutes after they had started eating, the first youma showed up. Sapphire stepped out from a portal and said, "Beryl is getting really angry about the fact that you are still alive."

Molly stood up and said, "Well, I guess she would like to know who killed Bazzite then."

"It won't get me to spare you." he replied.

"Then I guess she will never know." she said and nodded to Rui. She figured she had sufficiently distracted him from attacking so that she could reveal herself.

Rui stood and took off her glasses and hat. "Masato Sanjoin?" she asked. "What is going on?" She tried to feign ignorance.

From Sapphire's perspective, she succeeded. He asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I am having a picnic with one of my best friends. What are you doing here?" She looked at the youma who was apparently waiting for the signal to attack. It stood still, staring at Sapphire.

"Molly is your friend?" he asked, taking a step back.

"We have been close ever since we were little kids." she replied. "What is going on?" She pressed again.

He looked torn, "Why won't you return my calls? I've missed you."

"I sensed you were hiding something from me. Is this what it is? Are you the one attacking the city?" she didn't have to fake the tears falling down.

"I wanted to keep this from you. I wanted to protect you from this." he said.

She let her heartbreak show, "You lied to me. What's your real name?"

"Sapphire," he admitted to her.

The youma lost patience with waiting and took a step towards Molly, preparing to launch an attack. Just then, three more showed up too, ready to join in.

Rui jumped in front of Molly as the youma advanced. She would not let her friend be injured in this.

Sapphire saw her stand in defense of her friend, and he gave out a guttural scream. He could not stand by as the love of his life was injured. Especially, not by a youma he released.

He watched in horror as the youma nearest them began to launch it's attack. Before it got off it's attack on them, he turned and destroyed it himself. He then rushed to Rui's side.

He yelled, "Run to safety! I can't watch you get hurt or killed."

"No! Look at me!" she demanded. "I will save you."

"I am beyond saving. I have been for a long time. Run!" he yelled.

"Why?!" she needed to know.

"Because I love you! Dammit, Run! I can't watch you die." he was desperately begging her with his eyes to follow his orders.

What he hadn't realized, in all of his worry for Rui, was that the three remaining youma had been confused and didn't put up much of a fight. They were now all destroyed. All that stood in the park were the Sailor Scouts, Tuxedo Mask, the Generals, and the three of them.

Rui stepped towards him, placed her hand on his face, and said, "I love you too." Then she kissed him.

When she released him from the kiss, she looked at Sailor Moon and nodded. Rui wrapped her arms around Sapphire and said, "Trust me, and let her do this."

He looked into her eyes and nodded, held her, and closed his eyes.

Sailor Moon called forward her Silver Crystal, and as it hovered in front of her, she smiled.

Mina said, "Kunzite was right, by the way. He is her soulmate."

Darien smiled and said, "All of that preparation for battle against Sapphire, and it was Rui that kept him out of the battle." He looked at her. "You were right. His love for you did keep you safe. It also kept all of us safer. I am glad for you."

"I am so happy," was Serena's reply. She closed her eyes and focused on the love that bound Sapphire to Rui. The crystal pulsed and when she opened her eyes, the purple haze was gone from around him.

The first thing he did, when he was free from the darkness within, was kiss Rui.

Lita looked at Nephrite and asked, "Now, am I allowed to think the kiss is hot?" He just nodded.

When Sapphire released Rui, he walked over in front of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask and got down on his knees, holding out his hands. "I am your prisoner now. Thank you, Sailor Moon, for removing the evil energy that was controlling me. I hadn't even begun to hope that it was possible."

Sailor Moon shook her head, "That isn't how this works. Are you going to go back to Beryl and attack us again?"

"No!" Sapphire yelled, horrified by the idea.

"Then you are free. If you hurt Rui, you will have all of us to answer to." she informed him

He looked confused, "Wait, you know Rui?"

"She is friends with each one of us. She was also at my wedding to Tuxedo Mask."

He looked horrified, "I attacked all of her friends?"

"And, you are forgiven. She knows what it was like to be under Beryl's power. Bazzite infected her with evil energy not long before she was defeated." she informed him.

He stood quickly and went to Rui, "Wait, Bazzite attacked you? She drained your energy?!"

Rui nodded, "Yes, she did. I know what it feels like to be under her power."

Sapphire demanded, "Who killed Bazzite? Please, tell me. I need to know who to thank."

Andrew waived and said, "I didn't do it for you. Sorry, I did it to keep her from killing Molly. The one I love."

Sapphire looked him in the eye, "I am sorry. I was under the control of my brother and then Beryl. I… I can't express how sorry I am."

Andrew shook his head, "Serena was right. I don't think you get how this group works." He looked at Darien, "Where should we meet up?"

"The penthouse. He will stay with us. Rui, you can come along with us." Darien said.

Sapphire let himself be led by Rui in a daze. He really wasn't sure what was happening. He pulled her aside at one point and asked, "Why are they helping me?"

"They are helping me, actually. You're my soulmate." Rui replied.

He frowned down at her, "That's too good to be true. With all I have done, I don't deserve to be happy. I definitely don't deserve you."

She rolled her eyes, "That isn't how this works. I love you. It's not about what you deserve. It's about what we are to each other. And if it was about what we deserve, don't I deserve to be loved by my soulmate?"

That made him think. Of course she deserved the love of a soulmate. She was perfect in his eyes. "But, how can that be me?"

She shrugged, "Are you going to deny our love and run from me, breaking my heart?"

He shook his head and said, "No."

"Then shut up and get over it." she gave him a saucy smile.

He kissed her lips and said, "I will never stop showing you how grateful I am to have you in my life."

"Good."