The Weaver of Dreams

by Queen

When Usagi lapses into a strange coma, she becomes trapped in an endless nightmare. Determined to help, two of the senshi are forced to travel though a Doorway, in search of the only person who can help her.... (complete)2nd in the KamiDreamweaver series

2. A Thread of Nightmare

The Weaver of Dreams

"For the mind in sleep is clear in its eyesight, though in the daytime the fate of mortals is hidden from their ken...."

-Aeschylus, Eurmenides

Chapter 1- A Thread of Nightmare

As it was in very rare times, Ami found herself cursing tests. They take too long, they distract, they occupy thoughts that need to be elsewhere. Especially when there was only five minutes before the bell, and she knew a ride was waiting for her. She bit the tip of her eraser, trying to focus on the task, but couldn't help but let her eyes flick to where Makoto's ponytail was bobbing up and down, two rows before her. Test. Clock. Test again. Clock again. Ami uncrossed then crossed her legs, fidgeting.

Bell.

Within the instant of the sound, two papers were smacked down onto the sensei's podium, Mako's, then Ami's, and each were flying out the door on winged feet, blue skirts flying as they hurried. Another figure was hurtling down the hallway from the opposite direction, red bow in blond hair, which was streaming out behind her as she ran. They met up in the middle of the hall, and greetings were silent as they looked between themselves.

"Ready?" Minako asked.

"Hai," was the agreement from the other two. They made for the door, breaking out into the sunshine. The Guardian of Time and the Soldier of Fire were standing by a car, Setsuna's, since she had come to pick them up. Rei turned first, Setsuna halting mid-sentence. There were hurried hellos, as Setsuna slipped into the driver's seat, Rei sliding into shotgun, the final three packing into the back, clutching books and bags.

The car ride began.

Mercury had been the first to arrive, as Rei had continued to call the others. Reaching Usagi's house in Juuban had not been difficult, for so late at night, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, and no one was about. Hesitating with a breath, she saw Haruka's car crookedly parked across the street. As Mercury watched, Hotaru ran from the house, looking around frantically. Seeing the Soldier of the Silence not in uniform, Mercury let the waters ripple around her again, replacing her in her nightgown. No one paid attention to her clothing. No one cared. By the time she was to the front door, Mars had arrived, Venus and Jupiter not even a second after, accompanied by the scream of sirens.

There were many senshi in the house, and Mamoru. While Haruka raced her overflowing car, they pieced together what had happened, much mumbled by a strained Chibiusa, her pink hair in disarray, clutching Diana tightly. She remembered waking up, hearing Usagi moving, going for the phone. When her mother had collapsed to the floor, she had leapt up, disrupting Luna and Diana, who were curled at the foot of the bed.

Tuxedo Kamen had quite literally broken into the house, using a rose to break the lock on the front door, detransforming as he pounded up the stairs to see his future daughter cradling the head of his future wife. The sounds of the intruder had alerted the rest of the family, who came running in. From there, the ambulance had been called, the senshi arriving within moments of each other.

No one knew what to do.

An alert Dr. Mizuno had nearly dropped her clipboard when she saw her own daughter, dressed in socks and a nightgown, along with her several similarly attired friends. Having a personal hand in the hospital, Dr. Mizuno set Usagi up with a private room, since it seemed that her vital signs were stable. In fact, it seemed there was no illness at all. Which was very strange, considering the swiftness with which she slipped into a coma.

The senshi walked through the hallways of the hospital, hearing the intercom calling for various doctors. It smelled like a hospital, the sting of medicinal cleanser and bleached tile floors. Very white, with occasional plants in an attempt to look cheery. Up two floors, to the west wing, down past the sights of tubes and beeping machines. Nurses in scrubs walked past, some smiling gently at the girls.

It was room 231 that Usagi had been assigned, marked by the fact that Haruka was leaning up against the door, Michiru sitting on a chair, and Hotaru hovering between them.

Rei asked, "How is she?" Noticing the crack the door was open, Rei tried to peer through, attempting to get a glimpse of within.

Haruka responded, "No change. I got that much out of a nurse. Mamoru, Chibiusa, and the family are in there...we didn't want to barge in."

They shuffled their feet a bit, agreeing with Haruka's decision to let the family be. So they hovered, waiting. Minako wandered a bit down the hallway, looking out the window. Makoto began to observe a plant idly. Rei paced.

Then there was a stir inside.

Everyone mustered back at the doorway as Ikuko and Kenji emerged, Shingo with them, just behind. The harsh fluorescent lights made Ikuko's face look paler than it was, and Kenji was gripping her hand tightly. They noticed their daughter's friends, and Kenji smiled politely. "We're going home for awhile. Get some rest. You'll stay with her, too?"

The answer to the question was obvious, when everyone began to jostle forward.

As Usagi's parents made their way down the hall, Rei grabbed Shingo sharply, nearly spinning him around. "Where do you think you're going? What's going on?"

Shingo gave Rei a dirty look for grabbing him and shrugged her arm off. He glanced after his parents, then sighed with a frown. "They've been running tests. Bloodwork, and she had a MRI this morning. The doctors don't know what's wrong with her. She just won't wake up. The results keep coming back normal." Shingo looked between the gathered girls. "Look, I'm glad you're all here for Usagi. Makes Mom feel better. You call us if anything changes, got it?"

There were nods.

"I've gotta catch up with Mom and Dad. Chibiusa and Mamoru are still in there."

With that, Shingo hurried off, since his parents were already out of sight.

The curtains were open, letting light into the room, which fell in a square onto Usagi's bed. She lay there, very still, especially for Usagi, with her eyes closed, black lashes brushing her cheeks. The sheet was pulled up to her chest, and her long hair was out of the trademark style, spilling over the pillow and over her shoulders. Mamoru sat on a stool at her bedside, one of her cold hands in his, the fringes of his black hair falling into his reddened eyes. Chibiusa was sitting on a small couch in the room, legs tucked up under her. It was strange to see her, since the family had gathered things so quickly to follow the ambulance. Her hair was out of the carrot odango, instead in a ponytail at the base of her neck.

With the appearance of the senshi, and the leaving of the family, the cats emerged from under the couch, warily looking at the door, which Setsuna closed as she was the last one to enter. Each of them took up a different location in the room. Minako and Ami near the window, casting silhouettes of themselves in the square of light. Makoto under the suspended television. Rei opposite Mamoru, Haruka behind, an arm over Michiru's shoulders. Setsuna sat down beside Chibiusa, who was pulled into a hug. Hotaru wedged herself beside Setsuna, sitting on the couch's arm. There was a little silence, which was broken when Mamoru said, "Rei, you still don't sense anything?"

They were somewhat startled that Mamoru spoke first, though maybe that was what made most sense. His voice was rough, and he looked tired as he watched his girlfriend, who lay there so pale.

Rei hesitated, closing her eyes. She cast her senses outward, reaching as far as she could, attempting to find some enemy to fight, some dark force that was striking down their Princess and friend. After a moment, her eyes opened once more, and in a defeated tone said, "No."

Mamoru turned his head to look at her, and he nodded a little. "Arigatou, for trying."

Rei bit her lip, backing away a little.

"Should I try again?" Hotaru asked, referring to her healing abilities. Mamoru turned Usagi's hand in his, looking at the long fingers and white skin, coming to neat little nails.

"Nothing has changed from last night. I don't think it will make a difference."

The senshi cast glances between each other. Mamoru nearly sounded defeated, and that was not encouraging. "Well," Minako piped up hopefully, looking at Chibiusa. "We know it'll all work out. Chibiusa's still here, right?"

Eyes turned to the sleepy girl, then to the older woman who held her. "Everything will be all right, won't it Setsuna?" Makoto asked, nearly glaring at the Guardian of Time. Setsuna did not look up from the top of Chibiusa's head, her eyes low. "Damn it, Setsuna," Makoto began, "this is different! If there's no enemy to fight, then how do we know...."

"Mako-chan," Ami consoled, coming over to put a hand on Makoto's arm. "it's all right...."

"It's not all right! I'm sick of this 'we can't know' shit! If we can't help her, then-"

Into this, Setsuna said softly, "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don't know myself?"

"What is that supposed to mean? You're the Guardian-"

"Both of you!" Michiru snapped, leaving the safety of Haruka's arm. "Fighting amongst ourselves is not going to help her at all. Sick or not, we can't start fighting. You know Usagi wouldn't let us do that."

Makoto frowned, but silenced herself.

"Then Puu," Chibiusa asked, slipping out of Setsuna's arms, "what do we do?"

"We wait. For an option to present itself."

The mirrors were dark where they had once been light. The silver scrolling around their borders glinted, but now the light that struck them struck darkly, menacing rather than welcoming. It was a place of nightmares, with the black mist that curled with familiar ease around the bare feet of the young girl. Everywhere she turned to look, mirrors circled her, her rich blue eyes taking in the surroundings with a fear filled wonder. There were no stars, there was no moon. Only the mirrors that reflected.

Into this, the girl who was Sailor Moon turned, her hair unbound, trailing straight down, past her knees, yet not quite touching her ankles. A long, white nightdress floated around her, and she hugged herself for warmth, even though it was not cold. She had tried calling for her Mamo-chan. For her senshi. She even tried to henshin, lifting her hand to the empty air, yet her words only echoed in the caverns of the shadows. Lonely and alone, Usagi walked in circles, her image passing though the empty mirrors.

"Don't get scared," she murmured to herself. "Mirrors can't hurt you. Nephrenia is dead, remember? Starlight....killed her. Don't be scared...." The words were to cheer herself, but the chant wasn't soothing.

"You're ever so right, not to be scared."

Usagi spun, her heart quickening a moment, first in fear, then in relief that she wasn't alone. Searching, no one stepped out of the darkness to identify themselves.

"Who's there?"

The words echoed.

"Oh, such a shame you don't remember me. Of course, your last thoughts weren't of me, exactly, even though I was standing right there."

Usagi found the source of her strange conversation, reflected in a tall mirror. A girl slightly older than herself stood there, leaning up against the glass from the other side. She wore a dress, black, with an off-white apron across the skirt, her wavy black hair falling to her waist. She turned and smiled, placing her hands on the opposite side of the glass.

"Who...?"

"Am I?" The smile broadened. "I suppose I do look so different in my original body. Odd though. Hm. Well, maybe you'll recognize me this way better," the girl said, stepping away from the mirror, her dress floating up around her as she turned on her toes, the cloth lengthening and growing darker, her eyes brightening to pricks of light as a hood enveloped her face.

Staggering backward, this form she recognized instantly. "Wiseman!"

There was the sound of sandpapery laughter. "Wiseman? Yes, but maybe also...." The laughter grew high pitched, more of a cackle than a laugh, as the black robes became a gown, high collared, black hair returning, but now spilling down past her feet in tight waves, cat slit eyes flickering dangerously down from the height of the dream mirror.

"Neph...Nephrenia...."

Confused, and now very afraid, Usagi instinctively reached for the familiar weight of the Silver Crystal, her hands only clasping the cotton of the gown. Eyes filling with horror at her helplessness, Usagi continued to back away from the mirror, backing up into yet another reflection.

Nephrenia placed a hand against the inside of the glass, pushing forward, the mirror stretching like elastic at her touch. Slowly, her fingers pushed through the border, accompanied by a piercing white light. "But in the end, Rabbit of the Moon...." Her arms pushed though, long, white sleeves forming as they passed through the light. Her body escaped the mirror's trapping, the gown taking a simpler, more familiar form. Black shoes. A knee-length blue skirt. A dark red bow on the front, a pretty, heart shaped brooch pinning it together. And as Nephrenia's face emerged though the light, it also changed, becoming younger, prettier, with wide blue eyes and long blonde hair, bound up twice, on either side of her head, in a style Usagi was very familiar with.

"In the end, Rabbit of the Moon...."

The white nightgown pooled around Usagi as she sunk to the floor, edging closer to the mirror at her back. The new figure approached, towering over her with a smile.

"In the end, I...."

The girl pointed a finger at herself, then at Usagi.

"...am you."

The door opened, and two figures were sketched in from the light beyond.

"Ami-chan?" Came a familiar voice.

"Mom?" Ami turned and came over to the doorway, where Dr. Mizuno and a middle aged, slightly grayed man stood. "Are you here for Usagi-chan?"

Dr. Mizuno nodded, placing her hands in her white lab coat, and taking in the number of people in the room. "Dr. Yurei and I are going to try a new battery of blood tests. We hope something new may turn up." She kept looking around the room, and her placid face frowned a little. "I'm afraid, Ami-chan, you and your friends will have to leave...."

That instantly brought a barrage of protest from the senshi. The cats took this opportunity to leap under the couch, peering up from under its edge, unseen.

Dr. Mizuno was nearly overwhelmed by the faces that had popped up into her view, desperately trying to back away from the Inner senshi. Dr. Yurei pushed into the fray, smiling and doing his best to placate the girls. "All right, two of you may stay, but Dr. Mizuno and myself need the space and quiet."

"I'll stay!" Rei snapped, in unison with Makoto.

"Hold it!" Minako shouted into the oncoming argument. "If two of us get to stay, it's Mamoru and Chibiusa, not us! They are her husband and dau-"

Minako suddenly had Michiru's hand over her mouth, while Haruka leapt in for the rescue, when the two doctors stared at the Soldier of Love. "Hey, you know how Mamoru and Usagi will get married!" She pushed her way though the swarming Inners, thwacking Dr. Yurei on the back, making it a joke. "Hey, where's the cafeteria? We could use some coffee! Right, Michie?"

Minako had finally managed to pull Michiru's hand off her mouth, and began to glare at the aqua haired woman, who was shaking her head in despair. "I don't know about Michiru," Minako huffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "but I could use some. Come on, minna!" Minako gathered her dignity and marched out of the room. Ami reluctantly followed her, hoping that if she went, the others would begin to follow. And Minako did have a good point. If any of them had the right to stay, it was Mamoru and Chibiusa.

It was a big troop that wandered around the hospital, finding its way downstairs, at last stumbling onto the newly washed floors of the cafeteria. It had been decorated in accordance with the rest of the hospital, white, with sea foam green tiles bordering the floor, some plants to decorate it and make it seem less sterile. Hotaru found a quiet area to the back of the place, a wide window revealing the sidewalk and parking lot outside, cars lined up prettily in neat rows.

Setsuna and Haruka, along with Makoto, took orders for food and drink, and came back a minute later, laden with trays of coffee, sugar, cream, chips and a Pepsi for Hotaru. They settled into the long table, passing the drinks and chips around in a circle. The crackling of bags opening was heard, and the smell of coffee floated upward around them.

"So," Haruka began, "now what?"

"We wait for the tests, and hope that they show something," Rei said, not liking it. "I can't feel any presence of evil...she must really be sick...."

"But there is no evidence of it," Ami commented, shaking her head. "Unless these new tests do...but honestly, I don't think they will...."

"Ami-chan!" Rei exclaimed, staring at her from across the table. "Don't give up already on Usagi! She's fought so many things...she won't give up on some stupid virus or whatever!"

Makoto lifted an eyebrow. "That's interesting to hear, coming from you, Rei-chan."

"Yeah, well," Rei folded her arms, settling into her seat, glaring around, "I just wish...well," she shifted around, staring at the table. "I just wish we knew what it was. Then we could fight it with her. For her, if we need to."

There were murmurs of agreement around their circle of eight, an empty seat down on one end of the table.

"Either way," Minako decided, "we'll keep our eyes and ears open. If there is some new enemy, then they'll attack. And we'll know what to fight."

"Hotaru-chan?" Makoto asked the young girl next to her. Dark purple eyes looked up as she set the can down. "Did you sense anything when you tried to heal her last night?"

Hotaru fidgeted, wringing her hands in her lap, the straight cut of her hair slanting downward as she tried to sift though her memories. "Something...dark. But not evil. But still evil. I don't...I don't know. If it's a youma, then it's hiding very well. All I felt was the Princess. There was nothing to fight."

There was a moment of silence, and then, very softly, a light voice was heard to say, "The most dangerous demons are the ones we create for ourselves...."

"Nani? Nan ja?" Several voices asked immediately, startled, but hearing the same words. They searched for the source of the words, and the only one who did not look up was the one who spoke, the Senshi of Water, who sat on the other side of the Senshi of Silence.

Ami's wide, indigo eyes turned upward from her lap, and she placed her hands around the warm coffee cup. "A friend told me that once. Maybe...maybe Usagi is...well..." Ami trailed off. "Gomen ne, I sound so silly."

"Who?" Setsuna asked quietly. "And why do you think Usagi fights herself?"

Eyes shifted from Ami to Setsuna, and back again as she completed her question.

"Herself?" Makoto asked, bewildered. "How can a person fight themself? Ami-chan?"

"It was just a thought...I'm sure I'm imagining things. Never mind it...."

"Like hell!" Makoto pounded a fist on the table. "Ami, if you have an idea-"

"Mako-chan!" Minako broke in, standing and leaning over the table, looking at her friend. "There are other people here," she ended in a low voice, eyes checking people several tables over, who were staring at them. Makoto saw this, and hunched down, lowering her voice as Minako returned to her seat, munching idly on a potato chip.

"Gomen...but Ami-chan, right now, we'll take about anything. What is it?"

Ami looked at her friends and fellow soldiers, graced with the blessings of the planets. She was reluctant to tell them of how she had felt only a little more than three weeks ago. The depression that she was worthless, that she was powerless. She was stronger now, having faced it. Having come to understand it. But such things were deeply private, and she did not wish for even her closest friends to know. Not about the feeling of despair when your dream is torn away. Not of the sensation of water filling her lungs, and river rocks breaking her bones in the storm. She shuddered at the memory of it. No, she couldn't tell them such things. But there was Usagi to think of. And Mako was right.

"Not so long ago," Ami began carefully, "I wasn't feeling so well. You remember?" She looked at Minako, who nodded. She remembered coming to Ami's apartment with Usagi, when Ami had missed school. "I told you that my friend died...Kami? You remember?"

Minako was continuing to nod, urging Ami to continue with her story. The other senshi were watching the blue haired one, and there was the sound of them moving slightly as they did so, breathing and sipping coffee and eating chips. Ami took a breath and continued.

"Kami...well. Kami didn't just die. She...she drowned herself...."

There were murmurs of sadness among the group, and Hotaru put a hand on Ami's arm to comfort her. It seemed wrong that the youngest of them knew the pain of death better than any.

"Kami had her dreams torn from her...it doesn't really fit Usagi-chan, but Kami told me that our greatest demons are ones we create for ourselves. She helped me when I was so down...kept showing me scenes of what made her happy, and it helped me to understand myself better.... Like I said, it's silly...it doesn't apply to Usagi-chan at all...."

"Ami-chan..." Setsuna began, garnet eyes intent on the younger girl. "How did this Kami person show you scenes of her life?"

Ami looked up at Setsuna, becoming uncomfortable in her gaze. "In my dreams. It was very strange...she would come, and act like we had known each other forever. But she knew the whole time...that it was just a dream."

"She created the world of the dream?"

Startled at Setsuna's sudden sharpness, Ami met her eyes. The various girls were all watching this peculiar conversation between the two, Setsuna's intensity, and Ami's uncertainty.

"Yes."

Setsuna's head bowed, and she looked deep into the depths of her coffee, her shoulders bent as she thought.

"Sets?" Haruka asked, seeing her eyes considering beneath the strip of hair that fell over her shoulder. "What is it?"

"Nothing. An impossibility, as Ami said," Setsuna decided with a frown, then drank from her styrofoam cup, as though that was to be the end of the matter.

"Setsuna...." Makoto began warningly, beginning to stand from her seat. Michiru grabbed her skirt and pulled her down.

"Calm yourself, Jupiter."

At the sound of her senshi name, Makoto subsided, folding her arms. "I just don't see why we have to pry things out of her every time we need some information," Makoto managed, looking pleadingly at the others for help, finally settling on Minako. "Minako-chan, help me out here."

Minako looked around, running a finger in idle circles on the dark, fake wood table as she thought. "Makoto is right. Setsuna, even if it is impossible, I think we all want to hear it anyway."

There were nods, slowly, but one by one they agreed. They wanted the story.

Setsuna sighed heavily. "If this Kami person is dead, then there is likely nothing that can be done."

"Oh, for the love of god, Setsuna," Haruka groaned. "Out with it!"

"Very well," Setsuna agreed at last. "It is the past, and I do not see how it would harm the future." She settled herself, and the others got ready to hear whatever tale Setsuna was crafting in her head. "Once upon a time, in the Old Silver Millennium, the royalty of a planet were to have a child. This child was to have the power of death, for all things must eventually end."

Setsuna looked up to the ceiling, and Hotaru felt a strange feeling begin to form in her stomach. Not quite sickness, but as though thinking of something terribly sad.

"But it was not to be. She would have been the oldest of us, my elder by some few months. In those times, the people of the Moon were still new to the system of Sol, and the worlds were still in the delicate terraforming processes. Those of us outside the asteroid belt had a more difficult time of it, our planets being unstable. Only Jupiter remained in close contact with the Moon and its Kingdom. The rest drifted, allied but far, our own worlds to worry us. So it was with the ice rings of Saturn. The child that the queen expected was stillborn.

"It was known in those days, that Sleep and Death were as siblings, and they are remembered even today as brothers in legend. The eldest was to be Death, the younger, Sleep. When at last the queen produced a child, the realm of the dead was passed to her, and the power of the Silence Glaive. Before a new daughter was born, the Silver Millennium fell. The power Ami described, and the ability to slip between minds is very like what I have heard to be the power over dreams. It was how the lemures of the Dead Moon Circus invaded our thoughts, though darkly."

When Setsuna remained silent for a moment, they realized the story was complete. Hotaru looked at Setsuna from across the table. "I had a sister?"

Setsuna smiled sadly at her adopted daughter, pitying her. Having someone would have helped her so much though her life. "You would have, Hotaru-chan. You would have."

Hotaru lowered her head to think, not sure what this meant.

"Wait a minute," Minako said as she rubbed her forehead, trying to take this in. "If there was supposed to be a senshi of dreams...dreams, right?"

Setsuna shrugged. "That was the idea."

"Okay. Then if there was supposed to be a senshi of dreams, why wasn't she reincarnated with the rest of us?"

It was Hotaru who answered, her reason simple. "She wasn't alive when Queen Serenity sent our souls to the future. She was either already reincarnated, or was still in the afterworld."

There were blinks from around the table.

"Then we get her!" Rei exclaimed suddenly. "We get Kami! If she can get into people's dreams...their minds...all of it...then she can wake Usagi up, or help her fight off whatever it is that's got her in that coma!"

The only ones who did not jump up in excitement were Ami, Hotaru and Setsuna, who seemed to actually understand the situation.

"Minna," Ami began, only to be drowned out by the chatter of the senshi. "Minna?"

More talking.

Ami glanced at Setsuna and Hotaru, who shrugged, shaking their heads, leaving it up to her. Ami sighed, placed her fingers in her mouth and whistled long and sharp. The others were so surprised at the loud sound coming from the usually quiet girl, they blinked in surprise, then settled in to listen. "Other people, remember?" Ami gestured at the rest of the cafeteria. A few more people had begun to wander in, since it was approaching dinnertime. "Quiet, ne?"

Quick nods.

"Minna," Ami began as she settled herself into her chair, "Kami is dead. She has been for nearly nine hundred years. Dead, remember? She can't help us."

"You can't contact her somehow?" Michiru asked, leaning over the table, her hair waving down like a curtain behind her. She folded her arms over her uniform as she shook her head. "There has to be some way."

"Kami came to me, not me to her. I don't know how. We don't even know if she really is a senshi. We can't jump to conclusions."

"But if there's a chance...." Rei argued, placing her fists on the table. "If there's a chance, we have to try it. We'd be failing if we didn't even try."

"So you're talking about what?" Makoto asked, polishing off her coffee with a gulp. She picked a fuzzy off her uniform. "Going to the underworld?"

Dead silence.

Makoto began to absorb the consequences of her words, and paled. They had died before, but to actually make a trip deliberately? They weren't Sailor Moon. They didn't have the Imperium Crystal. They had no way to revive themselves if something went wrong. None of them ever had kept their memories of the afterworld. Who knew what existed there?

"I'll go," a little voice said into the silence. Eyes turned to Hotaru, who met their gazes. She straightened herself in her chair, placing her arms on the table and looking defiant. "I am the Soldier of Death and Destruction. And she may have been my sister. It is my realm. If any of us can survive it, then let me try."

"You most certainly will not!" Michiru responded instantly, every motherly sense she had towards Hotaru rebelling against such an action. "That is completely out of the question!"

"Michiru-mama...."

"No! Like Setsuna and Ami said, there isn't even a way to reach her."

It was Ami who thought of an idea just then, and she offered it. "Unless one of Pluto's timekeys can open a portal into the underworld."

More silence.

"Setsuna? Will it?"

Setsuna crushed the empty styrofoam cup in her hands, a bitter look on her features.

"Then I'm going too," Ami announced, Setsuna's thoughts on the idea clear. "I've seen Kami. She will know me. She will," Ami repeated firmly, to chase away the doubts of the others, and the doubts of herself.

"Ami, you can't be serious-" Rei began, but was cut off when Ami locked gazes with the opposing element.

"Rei-chan, I hope you're not suggesting that I'm incompetent."

Rei paled, and amended hastily, "No, no of course not....but let me come too then. I'm a priestess, I know about-"

"No!" Setsuna snapped, banging her fist against the table. "No! Hotaru and Ami. That is all. I will not risk any more senshi's lives in what is very likely a futile attempt! Absolutely no more than these two, for the reasons they have stated! Space is my realm, and I will not allow it!" The quiet fury in Setsuna's voice negated any further argument. "Absolutely not," she repeated, looking each in the eyes. "Such a thing has never been attempted outside of myth. I do not know if it will even work. Nothing may happen. Or they may die. I do not know. I will not risk the lives of any more senshi. That is final."

And so it was decided. To the Underworld, only two would go.

So, how's the fic so far? Don't forget to sign a review! It's always great to know someone appreciates your story. ^_~

-Queen