A Second Chance
Chapter 14
Disclaimer: All I own in this fic is Kaori Dayspring. Just playing around in Takeuchi-dono's sandbox.
The Protector floated above the landscape that made up the Yamanouchi Resort, searching for the final Balance. Kunzite was still hiding his energy but he was injured, which meant he would be easy prey. Smirking, the Protector dispelled the disguise of Emperor Endymion and stretched briefly before flexing her restored limb. Things were falling into place nicely, and she no longer needed the King. His fate was sealed because he was too weak to take command of his destiny. She would not make his mistake. She would reclaim what the Prince had kept safe all these years and then he too would be discarded. She would grant him no more mercy. Staring at the dark talons on her hands, and feeling the discord within her soul, she knew that she was still not whole. But soon…Soon she would have the power to shape destiny and claim Time for all of eternity. Reaching out her power the Protector summoned a sudden blizzard. She didn't need to locate the foolish Polar Lord. He was running out of time, and the second he passed out from his wounds she would be able to feel him. Then it would be a small matter to collect him. Smiling with manic glee and revealing a row of sharp teeth, the Protector watched as the storm clouds rolled in and the snowfall began in earnest.
"Now, little coward…where are you?"
Silver blue eyes narrowed as she felt a ripple within time-space. Time was not her element but her bond to her beloved Papillion made it possible for her to feel major disturbances. This power…she felt the warring forces within gnash blood soaked teeth in anger and longing. It couldn't be…she had not ascended yet… Gaia's Tears, she had overplayed her hand…and garnered the notice of one that could destroy everything she'd worked for. She twitched as she felt her hold over one of the pawns break. Letting out a roar of pure rage, the Protector vanished in a flash of verdant light to prepare for her hated foe.
"Don't worry Kunzite, I'll make this quick…"
Kunzite kept his eyes open. If his Master was to be his end then he would face it head on. Endymion raised the doru single handedly preparing to bring it down. "No!" The anguished cry was the only warning any of them received as Nephrite tackled the Emperor of Earth to the snow covered ground. Punching his master in the face once, twice Nephrite quickly pressed his right hand to his Master's right shoulder and summoned his broadsword through flesh and earth. Endymion let out a roar that reverberated with multiple voices, yet if Kunzite had been more coherent he would have noticed how different all the sounds were from his Master's voice.
Unable to buck Nephrite from his form, the Emperor lifted his wounded arm and gouged sharp talons into his back from behind. The auburn haired lord screamed, but he maintained his manifestation of his blade. Kunzite struggled to his knees weakly, wanting to help but as he tried to move forward a shockwave of power buffeted him and threw him back, tossing him to the ground once more. The leader of the shitenno struggled to sit up and the last thing he saw was Nephrite's body glowing and the arm that pierced him becoming stone like. Their power clashed again and Kunzite was slammed back, unconscious.
When the Polar Lord awoke, both Nephrite and Endymion were gone. Nephrite had used his own power to shield Kunzite, and it was likely the only reason he didn't die of hypothermia as he lay unconscious upon cold snow. Banking tears, Kunzite began to wander back to the cave to tend to his own wounds.
He clutched his useless arm, the blinding pain doing little to dull his frustration or to ease his guilt. He had failed once again. First the Master and now his brother in arms had sacrificed himself because he hadn't been strong enough to protect them both. Yet he couldn't indulge in his rage and self-pity; he had to return to warn the others. The Master had gone insane and would need to be put down. Nephrite, if he was still alive would need to be rescued.
However, before any of that could be completed, he needed to heal himself and try to hide from his pursuer. Carefully, the Polar Lord healed himself enough to close his wounds but not to mend the shattered bones. He didn't want to remain in such agony, but he needed to move quickly and he couldn't afford to waste the energy that healing would require. Grateful that he'd worn a scarf to stave off the ski resort's crisp weather, Kunzite fashioned a makeshift sling using his teeth and his good hand. Satisfied that his arm would be suitably immobile, the polar lord stepped out of the small cave he had teleported himself and Nephrite to in his haste to protect him.
The Polar Lord turned his back to the sudden onslaught of snow and wind. Either a blizzard had set in or his pursuer had more influence over the Earth than he realized. Either way, he was running out of time. Setting his face in a grim line the polar lord summoned his flagging strength and took to the skies.
"How could they let this happen to you? How could she have failed you so? I won't leave you like this, trapped within the clutches of that abomination. Thank you, little ones for leading me here."
Twin caws echoed in the air briefly outside before the two crows flew up overhead to watch over their mistress more easily. The sigil of Mars flared to life as warm fingers smoothed back raven bangs. A silver glow filled the room briefly as restoring power cleansed the darkness that trapped the senshi of Mars in endless slumber. That warm, healing touch eased the miko from an injury induced coma into a more restorative sleep. Silver hair blanketed and blended with raven briefly as full lips pressed lingering against the slack ones of the unconscious miko briefly. Standing upright and caressing the burning sigil one last time, silver light flared in response to rising anger.
"I will see justice done. Order shall be brought to this chaos."
With that vow, the shining light faded and the miko was left alone once more.
In another room nearby, a child that wore the face of a prince lay sleeping not knowing that his Master would return for him. Verdant light flashed within the empty room and for a moment the Protector kneeled in agony clutching her head as the remnants of Order licked at her patchwork soul. Snarling and pulling from the rest of her Source, the Protector strode to the boy and thrust her taloned hand into his chest. Snagging his starseed in a bloody grip, the Protector injected it with her power and rose buds began to sprout all along its garish surface. Satisfied, she returned the starseed to its carrier. The boy began to twitch and whimper and thrash as the changes arced through his small frame. She would need him to be strong and fast, fast enough to take back what was hers.
"I do so hate loose ends. Yet, you may be of further use to me, boy." He roared as he took a new form and she smiled with pride as she heard the hospital staff outside beginning to respond. Good, the mortals would bring her Papillion here. "Go. Breed chaos. Bring my Tabula Rasa and the Vessel to me."
A monstrous face nodded in reverence before letting out a roar of pure malice. The last thing the Protector saw before she vanished was the monstrous form of the boy as he tore through wall and began to attack everything in sight.
"Where are you San-san?" Makoto mashed her finger with frustrated worry against the touch screen of her phone. Her most recent attempt to reach Nephrite by phone was once again fruitless. The thunder senshi knew that her lover had gone with his leader to find out what happened to Yuuchiro and the prince, but he'd never gone into a communications black out with her before. She was worried but she trusted his abilities. The shitenno were implants from the remains of the Dark Kingdom rather than reincarnations like the rest of the Lunar Court. They had full access to all of their powers and mastery of several forms of martial arts. Whatever they were up against, their enemy would find a formidable opponent in the Four Devas of Earth.
Shaking with nervous energy, the brunette moved to change into clothing suitable for a run. She couldn't stop worrying about Nephrite and his brothers while sitting at home. And the pressing concerns of a new enemy and Rei's hospitalization only kept her nerves frayed at the ends. Perhaps a jog would clear her head. Grabbing her keys, phone and communicator the lighting senshi set off to take a brisk jog. Makoto ran with single minded dedication which is why she startled slightly when she realized her name was being called.
"…Mako-chan!..."
Pulling up short, the thunder senshi grinned when she noticed her intrepid leader sprinting up to her. "Hey Mina-chan, what are you doing out here?" The senshi of love grinned although Makoto noticed that it didn't meet her eyes. "I could ask you the same thing. You were running like you were trying to run away from something." Makoto shifted slightly, her apprehension bleeding back into her movements now that she was no longer running.
"Uh huh, alright how about I treat you to a milkshake and you tell Auntie Minako all about it?"
Makoto grinned at her leader and draped an arm across her shoulders. "Sure, Auntie. Why not?"
Across town the staccato thumps of a punching bag being pummeled filled the luxurious condo. Yaten abhorred physical activity, but even she acknowledged that sometimes it was just the thing to let the mind drift. She could still feel echoes of Minako and that terrified her. So she punched and kicked and pounded her fear into the unfeeling bag in front of her.
She was worried that her family was falling apart. Seiya she expected to make a fool of herself, but now even level headed Taiki had gone off the deep end for love. Was she the only one that wanted to keep their family together, the only one that realized that involving themselves with the Sol Senshi would only lead to pain and heartache? She had to be strong….had to resist the siren's song that would only lead to her doom, she wouldn't let this world and its guardians destroy everything she loved.
"Woah easy there buddy. You look like you took a hard knock there."
Mamoru tried not to flinch at the press of his best friend's hand against his chest to keep him immobile. His mind raced trying to remember what happened. He was with Yuuchiro, skiing and the two of them had stopped to talk; Yuuchiro had been devastated. Rei had rejected him, this time for good. She stated that she couldn't lead him on when she loved someone else. The miko had put on a solemn face for others, and Yuuchiro had been numb enough to go along with it, telling their friends it was a mutual decision. When Mamoru had come to his friend with his problems with Usagi, the vagabond had offered up a ski trip for both of them to lick their wounds.
They had no idea they'd walked right into a trap. Mamoru frowned as he thought about how easily he'd been subdued…again. A woman he'd never seen before yet seemed so familiar grabbed him while he'd been sleeping. He woke up as she lifted him effortlessly by the throat, talon pinpricks digging into his flesh. He tried to summon the rose that allowed him to transform, but it was as if his power had been…rendered inert. He felt…human. In his terror he'd realized the last time he'd felt this way his power took the form of Moonlight Knight and he couldn't become or remember how to be Tuxedo Kamen. Yet this was worse it was as if he'd had no power at all.
"I will need you safe for now little one. You carry something very dear to me, but for now I'll let you hold on to it."
The last thing he remembered was feeling the touch of King Endymion upon his mind. He'd recognized his future self because of the dreams and the awakening of power within him during the black moon crisis but he'd not felt his presence since. Surely that meant whatever new enemy had surfaced would directly influence the future. Yet he could be the wild card…he had to keep away from the senshi, since his attacker needed him directly. He didn't know what he was carrying that the woman needed "kept safe" but whatever it was, he knew he didn't want her to have it.
Usagi. He wanted to contact her, to tell her that he was safe because he knew his princess; she'd worry about her most hated enemy, so he knew she was worried about him in spite of their fighting. Yet he couldn't, if this new enemy could subdue him so easily he would be nothing more than a target or a hindrance. Yet he thought of the time that Galaxia had killed him…from what he understood, Usagi had been devastated and that was merely because she didn't know where he was, let alone that he'd been casually murdered. He didn't want to abandon her, especially now when every time they spoke it led to an argument.
It frustrated him that they were arguing at all, yet every time he tried to suggest Usagi take her studies more seriously or stop acting like a child and focus on preparing to be queen she looked at him like he'd shot her. Maybe she felt that he did…that he was killing Usagi for Serenity. He wasn't certain what he was supposed to do. He'd thought that helping Usagi grow into her mantel and protecting her was his role; yet he'd merely proven time and time again that when it came down to it, he was a failure at both missions. Perhaps that was the issue. He'd been so consumed with completing his mission and keeping his own fears and weaknesses hidden that he hadn't cultivated a natural love with Usagi. Now he was losing her for his folly. Was that his fate? To always be unable to help those that he loved? He turned and looked into the concerned eyes of his closest friend…yet he'd almost abandoned Motoki in recent years. The thought that this man had helped him and he couldn't remember the last time they hung out, shamed him.
"Thank you Motoki-kun."
The blonde haired man grinned and gave his best friend a thumb up. "No problem, buddy. What happened?" Mamoru paused, knowing that he couldn't involve his best friend and yet honestly he had no real answers to give.
"I…I don't know."
Ami's head snapped towards the door and she stalked towards it, grief and anger making her movements stilted and agitated. With an uncharacteristic snarl she ripped open the door, prepared to rebuff Taiki once again, only to have Zoisite's concerned visage meet her harsh gaze. Thrown off kilter, Ami looked away briefly as she stepped aside to let the polar lord into her home. She suspected he wanted to try to convince her to maintain their relationship but she was determined to reject him as she had Taiki. No one else would suffer for her foolish heart.
Ami moved to close the door behind him and when she turned Zoisite pulled a bouquet of roses from behind his back. Sighing in utter dismay, Ami took the roses because excellent manners required it, yet she would not be swayed. Moving to place the bouquet in a vase, Ami stumbled forward, her vision blurring. The bouquet scattered, forgotten as the water senshi's knees buckled and she tumbled to the floor.
Ami felt as if she was drowning, her natural affinity to her element making the sensation foreign in and of itself. She tried to calm her hammering heartbeat, tried to still her mind, but all she could feel was the waves pounding her further below the surface. She could hear Zoisite's voice, could feel his touch; his concern sickened her…why wouldn't he leave her in peace…how dare he face her now?! She twitched, confused by her anger yet it pounded against her psyche; scalding her soul with boiling, unquenchable rage and regret. Snarling, and too far gone to notice how inhuman the sound was, Ami clenched her fists until her slowly lengthening nails pricked crimson trails into her skin.
"Ami…"
"No!" Ami struggled free of Zosite's grasp. The polar lord moved forward, attempting to subdue her and with a roar Ami caught him by the throat and she hurled him through her apartment window with negligent strength. Irrationally angry, Ami ran towards the ruined window and leapt through it to follow, not once calling forth the power of Mercury.
"Seiya-san, do you need anything? I think I have some painpills…wait can you use our medication?
Seiya held up a hand to halt Usagi's worried tirade. "I'm good. Where is your bathroom?" Usagi smiled and silently pointed the way. The starlight nodded in gratitude and moved down the hall. She located the bathroom easily and then snagged a towel from the nearby closet before entering the ensuite.
Seiya carefully removed her clothing and shook out her hair, grimacing at the wind blown tangles…there was a reason the starlights all kept their hair tied back. Not ready to turn on the water just yet the starlight looked over her nude form in the mirror, grateful to see the worst of her bruising had begun to fade even though her body was littered with cuts and small abrasions.
The idol singer looked at her body: lanky, toned limbs, pert breasts, washboard abs and fuller hips. She concentrated her power and shifted to her male form and she frowned at what she saw. Sighing softly the starlight let the disguise fade once more, returning her to her natural state. The starlights chose to mimic the human male form because of the differences in clothing and nudity taboos for males and females on Earth. They knew that if they conformed to Kinmokuian standards they would be discovered almost immediately. Yaten was a clothes horse so she never cared either way, after all she wouldn't be caught dead without being draped from head to toe in the latest fashion. She abhorred their suits most of all…not because of the design, but because they functioned more as a uniform rather than a unique article of clothing. If the shortest starlight had her way, Three Lights would have looked like fashion models rather than a singing group. Practical Taiki hadn't cared at all; she knew they were wearing a disguise and quite frankly until she started to realize how she felt about Mizuno-san she could have walked around with a paper bag on her head and not cared so long as they found their princess. But Seiya had been different from her siblings; even though she struggled to hide behind arrogance to cover up her annoyance.
She hated wearing a male's form. Hated lying to herself and the world as if she were somehow less for being female. Yet humans don't take their females seriously and for a world that expects males and females to mate she knew that if Three Lights had come to Tokyo as women, they would have never been able to spread their message. Even Usagi wouldn't look at her twice in her true form. Seiya closed her eyes as she remembered the easy rejection the blonde woman had offered when she spoke of her true feelings; or the shock when she realized that Seiya was truly female. So she clung to the mask, hoping that it would earn her at least of little bit of Usagi's regard. Yet she couldn't live like that, nor could she love like that. She had to be herself and build her life with her own two hands.
Still, she admired Usagi for her loyalty to her mate…or had they bonded now? She hadn't thought to ask. Yet there was something…off about the blonde woman. One moment she would be her bubbly yet weary self and the next there was a searing fire in the way she looked at Seiya. A sort of familiarity that confused her even as it drew her closer. Perhaps the blonde wasn't as dismissive as she thought? Maybe she truly did see her as a friend if nothing else.
Seiya sighed softly. How she missed Kakyuu-hime. The princess of Kinmoku always had the right words of comfort or advice. She had mired in depression and had lost some of their closeness over the years, but Kakyuu had always been a constant source of support, even when her sisters were frustrated with her. Besides, the princess knew what it was like to love someone unrequitedly. Kakyuu had been in love with Taiki for years but duty, Taiki's own obliviousness and now Mercury kept them apart. Would she offer sage advice about moving on? Or would she push Seiya to fight for her heart?
Seiya frowned and turned on the water to the shower. She had settled that notion personally. Whatever the dreamscape that had been inflicted upon her was, she had confronted her past. She didn't have memories of the past, no reincarnated soul did, but the Kinmoku planetary system had endured through the end of Silver Millennium. The first thing Queen Kagayaku had done when she brought each of the starlights to Kinmoku was to scan their souls to check them against the cauldron record. Her home planet was gone but the majority of its records were not. Her past self had not married, nor borne a daughter. It had taken several generations before the Sailor Fighter starseed had passed back into a ruling member of the Fautari line. Yet apparently she had been reborn back into the royal family, although the records of her birth had mostly been destroyed.
Shiva Fautari, for whatever reason had died alone. Perhaps that is why she'd tried to petition Seiya. Wanting her to move on so that she would not miss out on love in this lifetime. She wasn't sure if she could do that, and she briefly wondered who it was that Shiva had loved so dearly that she remained alone. The starlights knew they had been reborn but certain aspects of their past lives had been lost to them somehow. In general most don't remember their past lives, but the starlights had been caught up in the same magic that sent Princess Serenity and her court forward in time. Princess Kakyuu and Taiki had once speculated that it was due to losing their planetary resonance, as stars cannot bear life that robbed them of even flashbacks. Still, she wouldn't try to sway Usagi when her heart was so obviously tied to Endymion. Love meant protecting the one you loved, even if it meant keeping her own feelings at bay. Usagi deserved to have her relationship respected…and even supported if that was what she wanted. Sighing softly, the starlight raked her fingers though her hair and stepped into the shower, wishing she could wash away her heartache so easily.
Usagi searched for some pain medication despite the starlight's dismissal. She knew Seiya was lying about her pain and it bothered her that the raven haired alien was so resolute in being strong in her presence. She hated keeping things from her friends and it hurt her that a friend would choose to do the same. Still, she knew the merit of holding in things that would only hurt those she loved. She'd held in her feelings about being Sailor Moon for years after Mars' stern dismissal of her fears so long ago.
She loved that she could keep her friends and family safe; she wouldn't wish the evils of battling Chaos on anyone…but sometimes, sometimes she wished to be herself for her own sake. To make her own choices as Usagi Tsukino. She thought of Princess Serenity and Neo Queen Serenity. Both just as trapped as Usagi Tsukino. She could sometimes feel the cold, constant anguish and anger of the fallen Princess. She often tapped into that aura to give herself strength in battle but she sometimes felt like she moved aside while the Princess within stepped into her body. Serenity had been all the gentleness and grace that Luna remembered, but there was passion, and grief …and regret. Enough regret to bury the Silver Millennium a thousand times over.
She hadn't wanted to look too deeply, for fear of unearthing the shining princess at the cost of her own mind. She knew her retainers would prefer this, to have their graceful, elegant princess to the bumbling crybaby she was now. It wasn't fair; would no one care for just Usagi? She thought of the starlights, alone in a strange new world wearing false forms in order to fit in, to be accepted by those around them. Were they really so different from her? Never being seen for themselves, having to reach for a role that wasn't theirs to play? How she must have hurt Seiya all those years ago. She thought of the charismatic starlight and the day they'd spent together and she fought to contain a blush. She had to admit that Seiya's mask hid so much. As outgoing as the idol singer had been in the past there was something more vibrant, more intense and yet more serene about her true, female form. What had been mistaken once for arrogance had been mischief and kindness within richer hued eyes.
Yet, her body set something within to a smolder…Usagi had long ago learned to be objective about a woman's form. After all each of her retainers were gorgeous in their own way… Michiru and Rei in particular, but she'd never felt a greater love than that of sisterhood and perhaps the love of a master for her loyal retainers for any of them. Her heart gave a twinge briefly at the reminder that Rei had in fact been passionately in love with her for years, and that she lay in a hospital bed after willingly gutting herself for that love. Yet even that new awareness didn't explain the emotions that bombarded her as her brief glimpse of Seiya's nude form flashed behind her eyes. Usagi couldn't contain a small whimper at the memory of her collision with the alien woman, the feel of that lithe, strong body beneath her and the press of curves so different than what she associated with Seiya previously, or the smell of her skin; a soft, floral scent that she couldn't place and trace of a scent close to that of cinnamon.
Usagi grit her teeth knowing it was wrong to think of her friend this way…especially when Seiya had been so kind despite her rejection of her feelings. Another bout of warmth skittered up her spine as the fact that Seiya had been in love with her once brought back memories of that bittersweet confession. Her breath began to hitch and the lunar heir paused as she realized that tear tracks were streaking down her face. She turned towards the closed bathroom door and her gaze hardened with resolve. Banking her tears, she stood easily and moved to the bathroom door…all thoughts of pain medication forgotten.
Seiya let the warm water pound over her battered form, not caring at the burning of the water that entered still healing cuts. 'Stars above, Usagi sprung for the deluxe model showerhead' the starlight thought in pleasure as the pulsating water massaged and soothed even as it scalded and stung. She shook her long hair, her scalp grateful that it was free of the ever constant hairtie and she tilted her head back to let the water massage her scalp, although she was mindful from letting the water pound against the base of her skull. She didn't know how it worked on humans, but that area was an erogenous zone for Fightians and she refused to embarrass herself within the confines of Usagi's shower.
A delicate, trembling hand pressed against the closed door and the sigil of the moon flared in reaction to the modest barrier between her and the Fightian warrior. Her mind easily supplied images of the woman within, bathing, training, sleeping, studying and her nails bit into the wood as her thoughts transitioned images of the raven haired woman awash in pleasure.
"…Shiva…"
Yet before she could go to her she could feel her hold weakening…she struggled briefly but the girl had grown so much over the years. If she weren't trying to deny her that which she needed most, she would feel some semblance of pride. For now she would go…there would be time enough to claim that which was always meant to be hers. Blue eyes blinked in confusion momentarily…how had she come to be here? She was so lost in thought she didn't notice the sounds of the running shower had gone silent or the shower door open. She didn't hear the brief scrubbing of Turkish cotton upon skin and she didn't notice until she was face to face with a very naked Seiya Kou that the door had opened.
"Usagi-san…did you need something?"
Usagi tried to kick start her brain, anything to get herself to move or to answer, but she could do nothing than stare into eyes richer than any sapphire. Her eyes flickered down in one moment of weakness and what was left of her mental processes promptly shut down. She didn't hear the gasp of her name but she did feel the firm grip that brought her pressed flushed against the now startled starlight. Heat suffused her form for a moment before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she passed out within Seiya's secure grip.
"What in the name of all the stars…humans…" Shaking her head in amusement, Seiya easily scooped the unconscious blonde into her arms and walked her to her bed. Laying her down reverently, the starlight moved away to find something to clothe herself with. Being from a star system of all females, Seiya had no true sense of nudity taboos, but she knew enough from her time on Earth that Usagi likely wouldn't appreciate being snuggled by a naked former suitor. Snagging an oversized T-shirt and slipping it over her head, the starlight slipped into the bed behind Usagi and pulled a sheet over them both. She was a protector; that was in her very blood, and so she would watch over the golden princess until she awoke…maybe then she could ask about her reaction.
Taiki sat against the wall, plucking absently at her bass, conducting a mournful melody of her broken heart. Ami had rejected her…after everything they'd shared, and everything Taiki fought for. Yet she couldn't, wouldn't lose hope, she knew that Ami loved her and that it was fear and obligation that separated them now. Ami had waited for her this long, how could she be unwilling to do the same? Yet understanding that didn't make her heart ache any less.
'"Stardamnit."' The tallest starlight sniffled, annoyed that she couldn't bank her tears. Closing her mauve eyes, she let her fingers fly over the fretboard and a dirge of love lost filled the room with haunting, cloying sound. Her soul seized, her mind transporting to a memory just out of reach; the failure to protect and the pain of death. Just as the madness of two lifetimes denied began to claw at her soul she felt a warm touch, like liquid silk upon her brow.
Mauve eyes snapped open in shock and Taiki gasped as she saw Aerin Askari kneeling next to her stroking her cheek and jawline softly. The dragonblood apparition pulled the bass from unresisting fingers and set it aside before smoothly straddling Taiki's lap and continuing her soothing caresses.
"Shush…I am here Sanirem. Calm this storm within your heart, my mate, let me ease your burdens."
Taiki gaped in confusion momentarily even as she felt some of her pain begin to fall away. Her analytical mind struggled to switch gears, but she noted that Aerin wasn't entirely tangible, her touch felt muted somewhat and her body seemed to shimmer at the edges, like fog wafting from the surface of a lake. She was partially ascended, her eyes reptilian and blue scales lining her temple and brow even as the sigil of Mercury glowed mutely; making her an amalgamation of her dragon and customary forms.
"Aerin? How?"
The fallen princess of Mercury kissed slackened lips briefly before pulling back, moving her soothing caress to scratch lightly at the back of Taiki's arms, stroking from shoulder to elbow. The Makan shivered slightly as she realized that Aerin knew her unique physiology well, despite her being the last of her kind. Then again it made sense, Aerin and Brahma had been lovers for several years before their deaths and before that they had been close friends.
"We are tied, beloved one. Your acceptance of my Tear so long ago bound me to you. However my present incarnation needed to awaken further to strengthen our bond enough for me to come to you. Calm your heart my dearest one, I am here."
"Then the dream?"
"I merely returned to you what was yours. My kind are dracokin, descended from Hermes himself. Dragons possess a certain duality to our natures, the seedborn line more than any other. To tame the wildness in our souls, part of our power and personality is grafted into a Tear at birth. When you accepted my petition to court and mate you our souls were tied, and will follow us through any rebirth."
Aerin smiled serenely at Taiki and for a brief moment, the starlight knew peace. She reached out to Aerin to stroke her cheek, yet paused when she saw the smile drop away and anguish twist her features. Aerin began to twitch and shake before she pushed herself away from Taiki, clutching at her breast. "Lady Aerin, are…are you alright?!" Panting heavily the dragonblood princess looked around frantically, blindly searching for something that Taiki couldn't see. The Mercurian let out a roar of pure rage as she turned her hysterical gaze onto her chosen and reached out with trembling hands.
"No! Not again! I will not fail you again! SANIREM!"
Taiki rushed forward to comfort the other woman but as her scream died out she vanished and Taiki passed through the space where she'd stood. Pain lacerated her soul and she cried out as she felt her Dragon's Tear began to react. Taiki dropped to her knees, clutching at the necklace that seemed to burn her skin like scalding water. She could feel so much pain, confusion and anger, and none of it was her own. Panting, she focused her mind on the necklace and for one moment she could see the dragon form of Aerin Askari thrashing in chains of thorny, black roses. The dragon roared and struggled, trying to break free but the roses only constricted even tighter against her resisting form.
"Ami!"
Staggering to her feet, the starlight rushed to elevator within their condo not seeing Yaten who by the sound of it was venting her frustration on a heavy bag, heading to the roof. She couldn't call her siblings for this…it wasn't starlight business and she would have to handle Ami alone. It would take too long to drive or run and Ami needed her now. Barely sparing the breath needed to invoke her henshin, Sailor StarMaker spread the wings of a starlight and took to the heavens to find her beloved.
Ken Anderson, stepped out of the cab and adjusted his trench coat as he stared up at the building where his daughter lived. He was nervous, as he never spent much time with Ami and the thought that he had become essentially a deadbeat dad when he loved his family more than his life gutted him. He tried not to think of all the moments of Ami's and Akane's lives that he'd missed. Seeing Akane so broken had nearly destroyed him, he could only think that perhaps she too would have been closer to Ami and less devastated by her silence had she had a husband that she could count on to share her burdens. The painter frowned, now was not the time to tear himself apart…he would do that once he was safely back in his villa in Paris surrounded by paintings of Akane and Ami.
The painter moved forward to enter the building when he heard a loud crash and a muffled scream. Running to see if he could better see the source of the commotion he watched as a very familiar blue haired young woman emerged from a broken window before leaping to the next roof top with ease. "What in the hell…?!"
He blanched as he saw a winged woman soar into view and bank quickly to land on the roof top where Ami had fled to. He didn't know what was going on, but he wouldn't allow his daughter to come to harm.
Zoisite whimpered as a taloned fist struck his jaw again, Ami's already preternatural strength augmented further by her transformation. She'd resisted his spell but now, she seemed to be trapped within her own mind and she'd decided he was an enemy to be eradicated. The polar lord tried to find some leverage, anything to give him the chance to subdue his beloved, but she pinned both of his arms and the blows she rained down upon his face were devastating. He was afraid she would knock him out soon if he couldn't get away.
"Ami-san!"
Zoisite flinched as Ami was ripped from on top of his prone form and he struggled to sit up even as nausea and dizziness competed for his attention. Blinking swollen eyes blearily, he could see his beloved, partially ascended and grappling with…Sailor StarMaker. Growling at the abomination's interference, Zoisite attempted to rise only to fall back weakly onto the tarmac. He couldn't confront them now, but if he was lucky Ami would murder the foolish starlight in her fury. Calling forth his power, the polar lord vanished in a flurry of sakura petals.
Maker certainly hadn't expected to find Ami beating Zoisite's head in, yet given the damage being wrought upon her soul she wasn't entirely surprised. She was surprised by the vitriol with which Ami resisted and attacked her. Didn't she recognize her, there were bound were they not? The starlight struggled to subdue the raging dragonblood without hurting her, but Ami seemed intent on causing her permanent damage. With a roar of pure rage, Ami backhanded Maker savagely and the starlight went flying only to tumble off the edge of the roof. The attack had dazed her so thoroughly she didn't even think to use her wings to save herself.
Seeing her attacker disappear off the side of the ledge struck something within the raging dragonblood. Anger turned to panic and she lunged forward, easily crossing the distance and reached out to grab her falling foe. She grasped the hand of the one she struck in anger and fear and found herself awash in desire. Her mind supplied images of the beautiful maiden pouring over tomes of mathematics her mind sharp and well ordered. Her humor was dry and self-depreciating, but amusing and refreshing. Her singing voice could move a statue to tears and the velvet melody of it melted her heart and soothed her weary soul. Her body was a warrior's perfection and yet a woman's devastating seduction and she felt her body begin to tremble as she lifted the woman easily and placed her upon her knees on stable ground. A new tsunami of emotion slammed into her, washing away the rage and replacing it with admiration, longing, passion and desire…yet there was a strong undercurrent of possession, dark and primal that clouded her heart. Smiling with sensual cruelty she tilted her head in curiosity as she looked upon her new prey.
"Hello."
Maker panted briefly, grateful to once again be on solid ground and utterly confused by her attacker turned savior. "Ami…Mizuno-kun?"
Ami blinked but there was no recognition within her eyes. Taiki felt her secondary heart quiver in dismay. "Mizuno? You have me mistaken for someone else beautiful one."
Taiki's eyebrows shot into her hairline at the silken dulcet tone that issued from her beloved. She knew it was Ami that stood before her, what had Zoisite done to her? For that matter where was the sniveling leech? Maker looked around for the polar lord and she sighed softly as she realized that he was long gone. She was so frustrated with Zoisite's ceaseless meddling that she didn't hear Ami move.
With negligent ease Mercury toppled Maker to the ground. Growling softly, she lifted the starlight's hands over her head and leaned forward and pressed down with one hand, easily keeping her pinned. Grasping the star yell in between her breasts, the dragonblood injected her power, causing Maker's transformation to unravel. Blue eyes began to glow as they raked over Taiki's prone form. Yes, this was what she wanted… her mate surrendering for her willingly. Taiki tried to struggle, confusion and fear beginning to dawn mauve eyes, but the ascended Mercurian contained her efforts with ease.
Taiki refused to look away even as her vision blurred with tears. The sheer agony and betrayal that marred her face shattered the dragonblood above her. "Not like this…it's not supposed to be like this…why…" Ami threw back her head and let loose a roar of rage and anguish before leaping off Maker and launching herself off the rooftop and into the night. Taiki struggled to her feet, forcing the power of StarMaker back into her frame, although it answered her call sluggishly. Beating her great wings, SailorStarMaker took to the air once more in search of her bewildered mate.
Just as the starlight disappeared from mortal sight, Ken Anderson burst through the access door that led to the roof, panting heavily and dismayed that his daughter was gone. What happened, and how did Ami perform those great feats of strength? The artist flinched as he heard a muted explosion in the distance. Confused he pulled out his cellphone and pulled up the local news, and he nearly dropped his phone as he read the breaking story.
"…Akane…"
Ken spared once last glance to space his daughter had left, he couldn't help her, couldn't save her but he could help Akane. Quickly the artist sprinted down the stairs and exited the building. He knew that calling a taxi would be useless with the chaos that was sure to follow. Steeling himself, the artist took off in a dead run towards Tokyo Memorial.
Her sigil flares briefly as she rouses herself from her slumber. She bites back a groan of delight as she registers the arm slung over her waist or the familiar form at her back. She places a hand upon the slack one, weakly clutching her and pours forth her power, both healing all wounds and easing her guardian into a deeper sleep. Satisfied, she rolls out of bed and walks to the nearby balcony doors. Sparing one last glance to the slumbering starlight, she calls forth her power and vanishes into the night.
"...Sleep well, Shiva..."
She awoke with languid satisfaction, her body unwilling to move from its comfortable haven even as she moved to gather the source of her warmth and comfort closer to her. She froze and pulled up short as her hand encountered cold sheets. Distraught, she took in a shuddering breath and kept her eyes closed to ease the burn of welling tears. She should have known; everything had happened so fast, she'd tried to slow things down but way her lover had touched her, the way she kissed her…
Everything she loves, she loses. Why should this be any different? This was a lesson that life had taught Kaori Dayspring time, and time again. Still she foolishly dares to hope, would she ever truly learn?
She rolls out of bed and heads to the gym down the hall. Walking into the attached walk-in closet to change into some workout gear she begins her warmup before moving to the squat bar. If there is one thing that can take her mind off of heart break it is strenuous exercise. Checking her weights and then ducking under the bar she began her reps…hoping the burning pain to come would drown out some of her heartache.
"Wow, it looks like she did a number on you. I guess I've been underestimating Mizuno-san all these years…" Zoisite turned at the dead pan voice, his face betraying his confusion.
"Surprised I still have my will? I know who my Master is…"
Zoisite frowned and waved away Jadeite's claims. "You serve a usurper and a fool. You reject your true master."
"And why should I serve this deranged freak? What did he promise you Zoisite? You that worried about your competition?"
"I have NO competition… Ami is mine, as she was always meant to be." He tried to affect a haughty air, but all he could think about was how she so easily cast him aside for that monster.
"Oh please, you forget I work at the Jinja; the lunar court tends to ignore me for the most part so I hear most of their meetings unimpeded. I know all about the starlight and how Ami feels.
Snarling, the handsome lord lunged towards his brother and gripped the front of his tunic, heedless of the pain it caused. "She feels NOTHING! I have not been replaced by that… abomination!" Jadeite refused to be intimidated as he rolled his eyes and smirked knowingly at his emotional comrade.
"Is that why your arm is broken?"
Zoisite grit his teeth in annoyance. Jadeite's words stung the polar general and for a moment he remembered a past long ago. A dragonblood out of her mind with grief, rage and rejection were the only answers she gave to Zoisite. Yet that had been different then, he had been consumed by Metaria, unable to offer her kindness. This time would be different. This time he could soothe the beast and win her heart. He had to.
"She does not see you Zoisite. All that you do and you are merely her friend. Her heart beats for the princess of Maker, though she struggles to block out the longings of her heart. She can't fight that…and you can't change it. Walk away, let us return to our Master and be free." Zoisite let out a snarl of pure fury thinking of the resonance echo he felt the moment that Ami gave her love to the wandering star. Her emotions had swelled with joy and longing while desire and caring had drowned out any guilt that should have stayed her hand. Love, stronger than any storm surged within her, never fading, constantly feeding upon itself; an emotion despite their bond that the polar lord had never felt directed towards him. Furious, the polar lord sought to hurt his brother just a little for his poisoned words.
"I'm not the only one deemed inadequate. Tell me, after all this time and still the priestess has not chosen you. Did you think it was merely because of her father's betrayal? Because it had shaken her faith in men? Even the Prince was nothing more than a distraction…or rather an obstacle. Just whom was she trying to avert his eyes from? Do you have any idea what your raven truly wants? Who she truly wants? Did you know that she'd taken a vow in our past? A vow of celibacy, not required by her station and certainly in odds with any declarations of love that you would have made to her. If she could not have her beloved then she would rather remain forever alone than endure your touch. You'd prefer that to what our True Master could offer you?"
Jadeite shook his head softly, thinking of all the times Rei had deflected and demurred away from his feelings. He'd always believed that a wounded, hesitant heart conjured such painful words, yet it was a heart the burned with love unfulfilled that made her grow cold towards him. Still, despite his pain he obviously understood what she felt. After all didn't he too love her unrequitedly? Would he want someone else to take away the pain at any cost? He thought of his gentle, passionate raven and of the love that burned in his chest. No, he could never do that to her and he could never cast aside a love that gave him purpose even if it didn't fulfill him.
"It doesn't matter, Zoisite…I'm not going to force her to love me. Love, honest love comes with understanding and selfless caring. If I am not in her heart then there is nothing I can do to change that. Unlike you I understand that attempting to do so will only cause my destruction."
Still, Zoisite wouldn't be deterred; snarling he gripped the younger man's tunic and pulled him close. "Your destruction? What about HER destruction? Your Raven nearly gutted her own soul because the Princess bade her to!"
Jadeite twitched with memory as the horror of seeing his raven bleeding out and convulsing in his arms…he had been terrified then, but the awakening of his power by his captor had given him knowledge of Rei's attacker. To know that Rei had inflicted her wounds upon herself didn't lessen the guilt of the true culprit. "That was the abomination you serve! Not Lady Serenity. She would never abuse her retainers so…just like the Master-"
"Yet the result is still the same. Mars' weakness was illuminated so that you can help her! Go to her now…free her from her prison of unmerciful, unrequited love!"
Jadeite's face contorted in fury, incredulous at the nonsense he was hearing his brother spout. "Or what? Kill her if she refuses? You took that poison to Ami-san without a second thought, how could you do that to the woman you love on the HOPE that she would return to you? Don't you see? She was never yours!"
"Ami, belongs to me-"
"Shut up! She belongs to herself, and if you were still the Zoisite I remember you'd see this. What the hell did that monster do to you? The Zoisite I know would fall upon his own blade rather than see Ami harmed. Begone. I will not listen to this… filth any longer! I will not help you or your master!"
"The Master will not tolerate this dissent Jadeite."
Jadeite gave Zoisite a firm push, forcing him to let go of his tunic. "Fine. I've been punished by uncaring Masters before. I'd rather die again than turn my back on my friends. Fuck you for forgetting who you are Zoisite." The youngest shitenno turned around, keeping his back to his brother in arms, not caring when he finally felt Zoisite's aura dissipate.
"Setsuna. Why have you come here? Your place is in the mortal world…you endanger us both with your absence."
Super Sailor Pluto let out a disbelieving chuckle as she shook her head in dismay. Of course, all Melinoe of Pluto had ever cared about was duty…or so she thought. Flashes of memory of warm smiles and chess games played, of sparring matches and sweet love made bombarded Setsuna Meioh. The cold mistress of the Door of Time had lied to her all along. There was something more than duty in her heart.
"Who is Helena?"
The Guardian of the Door of Time said nothing, merely deigning to keep her eyes locked upon those of her student. Setsuna sneered in response, fear and frustration driving her to push when before she would have demurred.
"Well, are you going to answer me or is this another secret I am not meant to know? Well how about I guess? Helena Aetolia, she took her mother's family name because she hated her father, King Tinia of Earth. She was the Ageis Senshi, Sailor Earth." The guardian gripped her time key staff tightly in response to her charge's words; the ancient artifact somewhat less impressive without the Garnet Orb within.
"How do you know that name?!"
Setsuna's lip curled in arrogant fury. "Perhaps because I just spent last night making love to her reincarnation!" The words cooled Melinoe's demeanor instantly as she knew that what the child stated was a fantasy.
"You speak nonsense child. That is not possible. Yes, Helena was the last to bear the mantle of Earth but she died long ago and her starseed will never return to the cauldron. I know this for I was there when she destroyed it." Her calm seemed to only enrage Setsuna further, who waved her hands in exasperation.
"Destroyed it or sent it away? Look at her!" Waving her hand, she manipulated the mists of time to show the time she spent within Kaori Dayspring's embrace. Melinoe's cool demeanor shattered as she shook her head in confusion and disbelief.
"What…what is this? She…Helena?"
Setsuna shook her head, darkly amused at her master's confusion. "No. Her name is Kaori Dayspring. If you'd cared anything about my life beyond my service to you, you'd already know who she is."
Melinoe waved her hand dismissively, the ancient argument piquing her annoyance. "Don't start that again. I told you your place, and I have given you more freedom than you deserve." Setsuna's face reddened in her anger and she stepped into the Plutonian's personal space and pressed her face close to hers.
"I am a person with my own emotions…my own ambition-"
"YOU ARE A TOOL! You exist because I needed an heir. A way to maintain my duty and not break the Law that binds me. You exist because of the starseed…MY STARSEED that animates your flesh." Melinoe moved away from her student, fury making her body tremble with the desire to strike out. She closed her eyes and forced her breathing to calm.
"I was born damnit! You may have stolen me from my mother, but I am still a person! And Kaori may be just like me. What happened the day that Helena died?"
Her anger taking control once more, the Guardian of the Door of Time whirled around to face her defiant student. "Do not speak her name! You have no right!"
"When your silence places her in danger? I have every right!" Talking would get them nowhere it seemed. Setsuna no longer had the patience to indulge Melinoe's penchant for mysticism. Roaring in fury, Setsuna rushed her master, Time Key Staff at the ready. The mists of time shifted and solidified before becoming intangible once again, absorbing the temporal paradox of the two staffs striking.
Setsuna swept her staff low and Melinoe leapt over the strike. She had never beaten Melinoe, but images of Kaori: her radiant smile, her enchanting guitar playing, her strength in battle and her passion in lovemaking and the senshi knew that she had no other choice but to win this battle. Kaori's life depended upon it. The two crossed staves, both ignoring the way the mists of time solidified and dissipated around them…not seeing the images of Kaori and Helena as their emotions gave time a focus. Melinoe countered with a three placed jab, the final blow connecting with Setsuna's right shoulder and pushing her back. Setsuna grit her teeth against the pain, knowing the shared power of Pluto mitigated the damage. The Time Key Staff acted as a focus for time; one strike and the body could be aged or regressed where struck, resulting in a useless limb or extreme pain.
Setsuna twirled her staff counterclockwise, slamming it down on top of her mentor's and rushed in to deliver a right hook to her jaw even as her shoulder screamed in pain. She wasn't as accustomed to hand to hand combat as her hand burned in response, but she at least consoled herself in knowing that Melinoe wasn't used to taking punches as she crumpled to one knee. Not giving the Senshi time to recover, Setsuna delivered a booted foot face on to the other woman, toppling her to the ground. Kicking the away her Time Key Staff, Setsuna straddled her mentor and pressed her staff against her clavicle.
"Speak, damn you!"
Melinoe held her student's twin gaze for several moments before she finally sighed and looked away. "When I found her dying…she'd already destroyed her starseed. She'd rather not exist than be reborn to me. So Earth has remained without a guardian. Thus I have remained here, mostly alone. The woman you have loved is merely a coincidence…nothing more."
Setsuna snarled in frustration at her master's intended verbal jab but she refused to release her hold. Melinoe was wrong, she knew she was, and she would do anything to prove it. "And the prince? Why does he have power? It is weak yes, but it is more than any male royal has ever possessed. You know as well as I do that males do not bear senshi starseeds. They are as incapable of it as they are of bearing children. Why is the Prince different, what did she do to him?"
Melinoe opened her mouth to speak, only to quickly snap it shut in confusion. "I don't know."
"Melinoe! The time for secrets has long since past! Lives are at stake-"
"I don't know, damnit! I…I can't remember."
Setsuna moved back and away from her mentor, knowing the physical threat was no longer necessary. Reaching down she offered a hand to the defeated Pluto, which her master took. She stepped away once the older woman righted herself. "Melinoe?"
The former Princess of Pluto held out her hand and called her time key staff to her. Sighing softly, she gripped the eldritch artifact tightly. "The King he came to me…wanting to save his future. I told him it was impossible…the Law…but he…he offered to help me."
"Selene's Light, what did you do Melinoe?"
"Do not look at me that way. I couldn't LEAVE this place. Princess Serenity and her retainers were to be reborn and I couldn't help them. A seedborn of Pluto has only two purposes. To rule Pluto or to protect the Door. Pluto is gone…everyone I know, my father…my friends…all of them are dead! The woman I loved severed all ties to me…and even if she hadn't? I could never see her again…I…I didn't want to end up like my mother. The King seemed to have the power…so I aided him…a favor for a favor."
"And you were so desperate that you didn't wonder WHERE his power came from? You allowed King Endymion the power to traverse time…what did he give you Melinoe? What was the trade that you broke the Law for?"
"I needed an heir."
Setsuna blanched immediately. "Well, this is awkward."
Melinoe looked murderous briefly before she wrangled her features to mere annoyance. "I didn't sleep with him you fool. You are my reincarnation, not my daughter. I am no dream strider…I can't separate my starseed…"
Setsuna threw her hands up in exasperation practically ready to throw her Time Key Staff at her mentor at this point. "He isn't one either! I am WELL aware of what you are Melinoe, only a monster could do what you did to my parents. No matter, we will argue this until the stars die out. How could he have…oh no. That's it isn't it? Why else would a male Earth royal have any power? Helena…she didn't destroy her starseed Melinoe, she shattered it, grafted part of it to him. Likely to give him strength …and to free you."
"Free…?"
"You don't remember? YOU cast her out! She came back for you, and you barred her from the Door. Even though you'd already pledged yourself to her."
"We must stand alone…" Yet her voice was full of pain rather than certainty as she spoke.
"Like Alecto? She was alone because she was a coward. She was raised to rule and she could have courted Queen Serenity properly but she didn't. Queen Serenity married a common knight, if she could marry one so lowborn do you really think she would have rejected her closest friend and confidant?"
"You don't understand!"
"Don't I? Time doesn't make people fall in love if there is no potential Melinoe. Alecto could have had everything she wanted…hell with the power of the guinzuisho she could have satisfied both duty and her heart, but she chose cowardice. That isn't strength, Melinoe, it is foolishness. And you could have done the same…instead you followed behind your mother like a newborn duckling. You saw the woman, what four times your entire life? And you let her destroy everything? You let her warning force you to send Helena away and abandon your heart!?"
"We have a duty-"
"We are not SLAVES Melinoe! You didn't look for another answer and Helena paid the price!"
Helena whistled jauntily as she strode towards the chambers of the princess of Pluto within the Silver Palace. She'd negotiated two days of leave with her father, partially under the pretense of furthering Earth's interests within the Silver Court, but she would spend as much time as she could with her beloved Melinoe. The War of Troy was at enough of a standstill that she could afford to leave command to General Menalaus for a short time. The raven haired princess shook her head, banishing the unwelcome thoughts, and instead focusing on more pleasant ones like her beloved Papillion. Gaia's mercy she thought her love would never notice her, and she had been pretty brash and full of bluster in her bids to impress the Princess of Pluto. Yet she'd never met a woman that made her feel like this. She felt like she could run from Earth to Lunn and back again, fueled by her adoration for her verdant haired goddess. When she was with Melinoe she felt like everything was brighter. In her jubilation, she didn't hear the quiet sounds coming from her beloved's room at first. Yet as she placed her hand upon the door she could hear soft weeping and her senses went into high alert.
"Earth Planet Power. Make up." With a calm she didn't feel, Helena whispered her transformation phrase and within the space of a heartbeat Sailor Earth opened the door and entered, ready to defend Melinoe from any assailant. Looking around and assessing the space, Sailor Earth didn't see any attacker, nor did she feel any other ambient energy other than that of her weeping beloved. Sighing softly, the Aegis Senshi let her powers dissipate even as she rushed and kneeled by Melinoe's side.
"Papillion?"
Helena touched a tentative hand to her beloved's cheek before the younger woman looked up. Melinoe's face crumpled and Helena felt a distinct mix of nausea and anger overcome her at the thought of someone or something hurting her beloved so. Not saying another word, the Earth princess reached out and pulled her love into her embrace, letting her cry as hard as she needed to. Finally after several long minutes a hiccuping Melinoe attempted to speak.
"My mother…she…she was injured."
In part because of her personal reverence for her own mother and because her beloved was hurting so, Helena had to blink back her own tears at the thought of something happening to Lady Alecto. "Oh Melinoe, agape mou I am so sorry. Is she alright? Will she recover?"
The verdant haired woman sniffed and nodded forlornly. "Yes…but she will never walk again. The damage was just too great. If Queen Serenity attempts to heal her it could have an adverse effect on her starseed. So she is seeking traditional treatment."
"We can go visit her, yes? Anything that you need."
"No. She…we aren't like the way you and your mother were. I can't." Melinoe began to tremble and Helena took her into her arms, rocking them both slightly.
"Papillion, this is your mother. No matter your discord you can't abandon her like this…I will be with you, you won't be alone."
The words were meant to comfort but they only incited fury within the grieving princess's heart. Angry, she pushed away from her lover and stood up, backing away from Helena's confused form. "You don't understand! It is forbidden! She must remain at the gate…unless duty calls her…and now…I must take her place."
Helena, stood and reached out to soothe her lover until the full meaning of her words locked her every muscle. "Wait…then that means…"
"We can't be together Helena." The calmness with which Melinoe delivered the words rocked Helena even as there were at odds with her tear-stained face. Furrowing her brow in concern, the Earth princess crossed the distance between them and took her lover into her arms once more, easily containing her struggles.
"Papillion, please…don't make such a rash decision. I am a senshi, surely one senshi can visit another…"
"And then what? The Gates are removed from time…you would put your life on hold for a few stolen moments?"
"Agape mou, you are my life."
"What of Endymion? Did you not swear to protect your little brother?" Melinoe knew what she was doing was underhanded, but Helena wouldn't see reason.
Helena felt helpless rage spark at the question and its implication, but she would not Melinoe pull away. "I can protect you both! Papillion, nothing has to change. Don't do this. Let me love you. It will be alright, I promise you." Pulling back slightly, the slightly taller Earth princess tilted her lover's chin up to force their eyes to meet. "Melinoe, take the oath with me."
"What…here, now?"
"Yes, if we are bound, we will always be together. Not even time can tear us apart. We will find a way…and one day I shall stand by your side as your wife."
"Helena…I..."
Melinoe shook her head, to clear it of the memory that came to her unbidden. As she looked at her student she realized that their proximity and the gates of time allowed them to share the vision. Setsuna's face grew hard and unforgiving. "Endymion isn't a dream strider. The gift is passed down the Earth Senshi line. Yet he has part of Helena's soul…that's how you returned your soul to the cauldron without dying. But it wasn't perfect was it…you can't remember everything…"
Melinoe shook her head, countering Setsuna's theory. "That was what I asked for but…"
Crimson eyes widened and Setsuna began to pace. "You wanted this?! Of course. Of course you wanted this! How else could you manipulate me this way? But while you could feel nothing for yourself and while you can distance yourself from some of your memories, you still feel something do you? It's not the same but it is enough."
Shamed, Melinoe couldn't deny the accusation. "That is why…when she came to me I couldn't refuse her."
Stopping in her pacing, Setsuna turned and rushed to her master and gripped her arms. "Who? Who came to you?"
"Who do you think, child?! Helena."
"Serenity's Light you are both idiots."
"Watch your mouth child."
"No! Think about it. Haven't you been paying attention?! Helena maimed her very soul for you and Endymion, not knowing what would happen. Only now we are dealing with a human version of her living with the majority of her reincarnated soul, while there is another version half mad with memories and power that she no longer can control! AND YOU, all your talk about duty about obeying the Law and you made a fool's bargain. You gave Endymion access to the gates so that you didn't have to hurt anymore…"
"I did it to complete my duty. A Pluto to protect time and a Pluto to continue the line."
"You can tell yourself that all you want. You don't give a damn about what happens to me. Apparently you don't care what happens to the timeline either. King or not, he isn't trained. He knows nothing of what happens when you alter timelines. To make matters worse you have crippled our one way of redeeming any of this! You are the one tied to the door, not I! I exist within the timelines but you don't; only now you don't remember what should have been!"
"I did what I had to."
"You can't barter with time! You know this, because in the end it always collects. Lives have been irreparably changed and I can't even begin to unravel this mess. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW! You were the only one able to tell the difference! SHIT!" Heartsick and annoyed with her master, Setsuna struck out again. Melinoe didn't avoid the blow, but she did remain standing this time, even as she brought a hand to her injured cheek.
"Helena…"
"Helena will have to die…damn you, you've sentenced her to death alone again but I'm the only one capable of FEELING anything. And what of Kaori, huh? A human with a modified starseed…the only reason that she isn't insane is likely because she possesses a senshi starseed. And what happens if they meet…oh goddamnit." Identical hued eyes met abruptly as they began to piece together the truth.
"Helena didn't come to me out of yearning…"
"Oh she did, but she still had an ulterior motive. She needs Kaori. Or at least what is left of her starseed. That is what happened between us…she did something to us…to pull at both of our starseeds. That's why we. Damn. Kaori must think that I used her. I was wondering about that…you exist because your lifeforce is maintained by the gate…but how is she able to survive…it doesn't make sense. We are still missing something…"
"Then you don't care for her."
Setsuna's face darkened to a thunderhead and Melinoe wondered if she would have to defend herself again. "You don't know what you are talking about. We'd already met. I'd admired her determination and brilliance for years. That's why I took the job with her. Whatever Helena did to us it only intensified what was already there. Now that I know what it feels like to know her love…I don't care what happened between you and Helena. I won't let her take Kaori from me."
Melinoe frowned, such talk was dangerous, foolish. "She is an anomaly, a temporal aberration. She must be destroyed!"
"She is a woman! One that I care for very much. You have controlled my entire life. You might have ruined yours but I won't let you destroy this."
"Then you and I are no different after all."
"Perhaps not, but if there is a way to save her and resolve the timeline I will find it."
"And if there is not?"
"Then, I shall continue on as Super Sailor Pluto and Setsuna Meioh, with Kaori by my side."
"She is human. Purely human. If you bring her into your world you will only suffer my fate."
"I know that the best way to protect her is to keep her close. Love isn't meant to push people away Melinoe." Setsuna shook her head gently, knowing her mentor had lost the ability to understand that. Knowing what she had to do she turned to exit the lonely cage Melinoe called home.
"There is no place for love within duty, Setsuna." The words were softly spoken, but they felt like a roared accusation. Squaring her shoulders, Setsuna kept walking, letting the sands of time carry her response.
"And that is why you are alone Melinoe."
Diana sat in a windowsill in her feline form, her tail lazily swishing back and forth. Her mind and heart were in turmoil. As always her thoughts strayed to her Lady. Chibi-Usa-sama had been in a dour mood since losing sight of Hotaru-sama when they went to register for classes. The Mau allowed a brief pang of annoyance at her school uniform's fit once again before returning to the matter at hand. Chibi-Usa-sama had been fighting herself for years. …If not centuries honestly… She adored Hotaru-sama and had since they were children, she had even given up her starseed once because if she had to die she wanted it to be by her beloved friend's hand. Although friend was too simple a term to describe them. Hotaru-sama was everything to Chibi-Usa-sama and her bond to her was a tangled mess of passion, friendship, camaraderie and hero worship. It had been one thing seeing a young adolescent Hotaru, but now that she was on the cusp of young adulthood, Diana knew her Lady was now at war with her heart…and her loins.
Chibi-Usa-sama had no indication that Hotaru-sama felt anything beyond friendship for her and the Mau felt pity for her charge's dull senses. If only she had the nose of a Mau, Chibi-usa-sama could note all of the layers of Hotaru-sama's scent. Primarily there was contentment, often exuded when one is near loved ones, but there was an undercurrent of confusion and a wavering thread of arousal. Usually when a scent wavered so it meant the bearer was not consciously aware of their emotion. At first Diana had been willing to chalk the scent up to teenage hormones, given Chibi-Usa-sama's beauty, but the acrid tang of jealousy that filled the air laced with the cloying musk of possession when Hotaru noticed Diana near told her of a different story. Honestly Hotaru-sama would have to get over it. Diana had spent her entire life by her charge's side, sleeping in her hair, lazing about in her lap…their relationship was one of tactile affection. Although she supposed she would have to stop sleeping in Chibi-Usa-sama's bed if Hotaru-sama ever figured out her own emotions. Yet humans were so terrible at reading intent. Chibi-Usa-sama was her beloved master and in many ways the sister she'd never had (though to admit that would be beyond her station) but she felt nothing beyond familial love, loyal servitude and friendship for her charge. Her heart lay in more complicated matters.
The grey feline suppressed a purr as she thought of the one her heart yearned for. Momoko Momohara-sama. So kind and gentle, her scent was like catnip (not that Diana had ever indulged), making her feel content and on the cusp of heat all at the same time. Of course she was certain she'd done nothing more than embarrass herself utterly and she cursed her lack of experience. She was certain if she was more like say Uranus-sama she would be suave and debonair and capable of wooing her beloved. Instead she was clumsy and cowardly and not at all worth Momoko-sama's time. Groaning softly the Mau buried her head under her paws, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole. The Mau startled as she heard the door to their shared apartment open and she knew her Lady had returned. Perhaps some warm milk and a few cuddles would make her feel less like a lump of fur and despondence.
"Hey Diana-chan."
Diana moved to leap to her customary place, only to let out a strangled gag as she was grabbed midair by Chibi-Usa. "What…My Lady…" Chibi-Usa arched an eyebrow at the gray Mau. "You are not sitting on my head." Diana's feline face crumpled and Chibi-Usa thought she saw tears brimming. "But…but… that's where I usually sit…" Diana struggled briefly and reached out a paw forlornly, eyeing the crown of Chibi-Usa's head with longing. "Yeah. When you were a kitten Diana. You are too big now.
Chibi-Usa hadn't realized that a cat could make a face of wounded pride until that moment. She was certain she saw steam puffing out of Diana's fluffy ears. The fur on the Mau bristled and if it weren't for the fact that Diana was the kindest, most demure being she knew, she'd be worried that she was in for a cat clawing. Cheeks puffing out with annoyance, the Mau crossed her paws in indignation.
"Are you calling me fat?"
Chibi-usa sidestepped that land mine immediately. "Where have you been anyway?"
"I was talking with Momoko-sama."
"Oh Diana…" The Crystal Heir sighed gently, her heart breaking for her retainer and sister.
"What? What's wrong my Lady…she didn't notice that I'm your cat as well." 'She just thinks I'm prone to inane prater.'
"Diana you know very well what's wrong… you spent a lot of time with her as a kitten."
"So!? Am I not allowed a friend?"
Chibi-Usa knew the oh so proper and slightly literal Diana must have been agitated to speak to her that way. Given the reason for the Mau's agitation Chibiusa ignored it. "I'm not saying that… it's just I don't want you to get hurt." That was apparently to wrong thing to say as Diana's fur bristled instantly.
"Momoko-san wouldn't hurt me! Why are you allowed a friend and I am not?!" Diana wiggled until she broke Chibiusas hold upon her and then she leapt to the nearby windowsill and vanished into the night.
"Great. Nice going Rabbit."
Momoko let herself into her apartment, her steps plodding with dismay. Her father sent her home early since she had messed up six orders and broken four plates. Mistakes she hadn't made since she was twelve. Yet she couldn't focus. All she could think about was Diana, her beautiful savior…where was she and why, why did she run away?
"Mew."
As always thanks for coming along for the ride. Please read and review.
R. Niiyama
7/2017