SailorStar9: This is Chapter 8 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra.

Chapter 8: Interlude: To the Future, Part One

"Yo, Marik, Bakura!" Jonouchi called, the group entering the eatery. The 'Millennium Inn' was a popular amongst the locals and they spent most of their lunches and dinners in the cosy diner.

"Hey, Jonouchi." Bakura greeted behind the bar.

"You eating? Ames just made some curry and some rice balls." Marik asked from the cashier.

"Curry sounds great, and some rolls if she's got them." Honda nodded as he took his seat.

"She does." Both men barked a laugh.

"Your wife's the best cook, man." Jonouchi said.

"Ain't that the truth." Marik smirked. "How's the baby looking?" he asked.

"Mai's looking after him." Jonouchi shrugged.

"But I can't believe she actually married you both." Honda snorted.

"Given who she is," Bakura smiled. "According to the Silver Millennium laws, she has to practice polygamy, whether she likes it or not."

"So, still no sons?" Honda teased, causing Bakura to blush.

"Honda, that's private." The silver-haired man squeaked.

"Bah, enough of this." Marik snorted. "Eat and drink. And you only get one bottle tonight Jonouchi. Your wife will tell mine and I'll get yelled at if you go home drunk again."

"You just don't want to be on the couch tonight." Bakura teased his co-husband.

Many of the men laughed and Jonouchi smiled as the cursing Marik entered the kitchen to get his food.

"I'm home!" Ami called, returning to the diner after another trip to the suppliers the next morning. "Marik?" she called, her voice echoing through the empty hall. "Ryou?" still no answer. That's funny. She frowned, entering the kitchen; they should be up by now. She froze, seeing her mild-mannered husband sitting tied up in a chair, a gag in his mouth.

"Hello, Ami." A familiar voice said, the blue-haired former Senshi's clenched as she turned towards the shadowed corner where a flash of orange indicated her former comrade was looking at her. "It's been a long time." Venus noted.

Ami looked at her husband, his wide brown eyes warned her and she sidestepped the blow that would had connected to her head.

Marik intervened and kicked hard, knocking the figure back out into the eatery, the blond cursing at not being armed.

Damn, we got complacent. Ami hissed, seeing Jupiter had not moved.

"Enough." The Venus Senshi said and the figure in the diner groaned. "Mars, stand down."

Marik slipped next to his co-husband and pulled the gag out. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yes." Bakura nodded. "They got me from behind and threatened to hurt the girls if I didn't co-operate."

Ami narrowed her eyes as she glared at Venus, "Where are they, Venus? Where are my daughters?"

"Upstairs with Jupiter." Venus said taking a seat on a stool and grabbing a roll off the counter. "And they won't be harmed." She said sniffing it before putting it down.

"Stuff the pleasantries Venus. We know you've come to kill us. Leave the villagers here alone." Ami said.

"Kill you?" Venus was confused.

"Yeah, like the endless wave of assassins who tried to kill us." Marik said as he untied Bakura, Venus made no move to stop him. The blonde noticed the person he kicked was back in the doorway.

"Why else come and threaten harm to twin infant girls and attack I and my husbands like you have?" Ami snorted.

Bakura was free and rubbing his wrists, his eyes blazed as he looked at Mars.

"We're not here to kill you Ami. We're here to take you back home."

The trio snorted. "This is our home Venus. The Palace is a place that tried to kill us for refusing to bend to the Queen's wishes."

Ami saw Venus wince, "And I recall the oh so kind words of those bitches who I thought were friends. The words they said to my husbands." Blue eyes were hardening. And don't think I know what will happen when I get back to the Palace. The cats will have me executed for that bullshit all those years ago, and for daring to defy the Queen."

"And we'll be killed for helping her." Marik added.

"Correct." Mars said.

"No, they are not." Venus said as she pulled a scroll and put it on the table between them. She rolled it to them.

"What's that?" Ami asked, not making a move to touch it.

"A pardon."

"For Ryou and Marik." Ami said.

"For the three of you. King Endymion has been busting heads since that stunt nine years ago…"

"Whatever Venus. We aren't going back. I'm no longer a Senshi, and the Palace has nothing for us but pain."

"Venus, our orders were to bring them back." Mars reminded from the doorway.

"Regardless of the life we have now?" Marik raised a brow.

"I strongly suggest you leave and forget we were here, Venus." Ami said, turning her gaze back to her former friend. "We want no trouble with the White Moon."

"Too late for that traitor." Mars sneered. "You have nothing but trouble from the Queen."

Ami, meanwhile, had grabbed a pair of butcher knives and dove at Venus.

"Don't do this Ami. Just come along peacefully and I promise it will be alright." Venus pacified.

"Like hell it will. I did everything to make sure Zouc Necrophades is gone forever and what were the thanks I got?"

Venus winced.

"I got a death sentence for refusing to disclose the whereabouts of the Millennium Items. Not going back to the gallows, Venus, you're going to have to kill me here."

Venus ducked and weaved avoiding the kitchen knives. Ami's gotten better away from the Palace… how is this possible? "I swear it's not to the gallows…" she began but a near miss drove her back.

"Right, then the executioner's blade, or poison. News flash, Venus, the Safiastra made my system immune."

Venus backed off; shocked that Ami would speak so openly about the Planetary Crystals.

"Surprised Venus? I have no secrets from my husbands, and news flash, everyone here knows about it and they don't give a damn."

Mats twitched and she was shackled by a chain of darkness.

"Pharaoh." Marik greeted.

"You have someone under my protection, Sailor Venus." The former Pharaoh growled, his voice cold and unforgiving, the 'Eye of Anubis' burning brightly on his forehead.

Day just got worse. Venus mused as Mars was cocooned in darkness. And the Pharaoh never thinks clearly when Ami is involved.

"Go back to the Palace." Atemu ordered. "Tell them I will bring the personification of Ma'at and her family to visit, but they are under my protection."

"I…"

"Non-negotiable Venus." Atemu warned, Ra's infamous fury threatened to break loose. "And be aware I will be sharing this with the Goddess of the Sky, Nut and the Pantheon Council."

Venus backed up. "Jupiter, let's go. Pharaoh Atemu, if you would release…"

"No, the Martian stays, she's wanted for murder of Golden Kingdom citizens from her previous ventures."

"How do you know…"

"The scotch marks left on the victims. Her energy signature matches those from the energy residue."

Venus looked at Mars whose face was sticking out of the black cocoon. "What have you done?"

"What is best for Serenity." Mars defended without emotion. "She deserves such power."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.