Raye looked at the sight around her with wonder. The traditional Japanese park that she was in was filled with cherry blossoms, which were always a beautiful sight to behold, especially in the spring. She came down to that particular park for a little bit of relaxation.
She had spent the entire weekend with Chad, just talking and hanging out, and now she needed some alone time where she could think. But, at that moment, looking at all the cherry blossoms, basking it its beauty all by herself seemed to be a waste; there should be someone there with her to share it with. It was a shame to have all this wonder in front of her and to have no one see it with.
As she held out her hand, a couple of cherry blossom petals floated into her hand, as if obeying her beckoning. She smiled as she held the delicate petals in her hand; she realized who she wanted to be with her at that moment. Sage should be here; he would love it here, Raye thought. The moment that the thought entered Raye's mind, her smile faded and a look of confusion and slight hurt appeared on her face. I wonder what's wrong with Sage? Raye thought.
She had tried calling Sage to ask him if he wanted to get together with her after Chad left, but all she got was Ryo saying that he didn't want to come to the phone at the moment. Maybe I should go over there and talk to him; he might talk to me if confronted by me in person, Raye thought. She really wanted to help Sage with whatever was wrong with him and not knowing was killing her slowly. She loved him too much to let him suffer by himself.
Raye was so deep in love with Sage that she was too scared to tell him so. I mean, I know he told me that he loves me at the Winter Ball, but he didn't know it was me he was talking to. I should have no reason to be scared of telling him that I love him, but something is holding me back and I don't know what it is.
"Yes you do," a small voice inside her head told her.
Then what is it?
"It's the memory of your lover from the Silver Millennium that's holding you back. You're waiting for him to show up. He's the one you really love."
But, I really love Sage as well. Can it be possible that I am in love with two people at once?
"Well," the voice said, "You're going to have to choose between the two of them; make sure that when you do choose, the person who you don't will be the person who would be hurt the least by your rejection."
Raye sighed; her conscience was right. She had to choose between Sage and her lover from the Silver Millennium; that was the thing that was holding her back. Sighing, she began walking down the path that would lead her out of the park; she felt an insatiable need to take a long, bubble bath.
As she came into a large clearing, she spotted the one person that she wanted to see more than anything. With his back to her, Sage was admiring the cherry blossoms, just as Raye was doing. Raye smiled and went to go to him but when she noticed his posture, she froze. The way his shoulders hung portrayed a feeling of defeat and sorrow. Raye's face took on a look of worry; she had never seen Sage so downtrodden before and now she really needed to know what was wrong.
Walking up behind him, she said tentatively and quietly, "Hi Sage." Sage jumped slightly in surprise and turned around to see Raye standing there. His face hardened into a look of contempt in order to cover up his heartache. Raye took a few steps back at the look in his eyes: pain and sadness covered up by harshness.
"What do you want?" Sage hissed, his voice low. Raye flinched at his tone of voice. She could tell that he was covering up hurt with hostility. She walked forward until she was standing right in front of him.
Laying her hand on his arm lightly, she asked, "Sage, what's wrong? Is it something I did?"
"Why do you care?" Sage asked, yanking his arm away from her touch, turning his back to her once more.
"Why do I care?" Raye repeated, "I think that answer would be obvious; you're one of my best friends and I care when you're not feeling right."
"Well, it's nothing that would concern you," Sage said softly; Raye could hear the despair in his voice; he sounded lost.
"Of course it concerns me. Tell me what it is so I can help you." Raye was practically in tears from frustration. Couldn't he see that she was practically begging him to tell her?
"Don't you want to go and help your boyfriend out instead?" Sage asked. Raye looked physically taken aback.
"Boyfriend?" she said, trying the word out on her tongue, "What are you talking about, Sage?" Sage turned to face her again and advanced on her.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me. I know all about your new boyfriend. I saw you with him on Friday afternoon."
"Ah, I see now," Raye said, chuckling a little. She saw the misunderstanding. Sage eyed Raye speculatively.
"What's so funny?" he asked in response to her giggle.
"Sage," Raye said, sighing in exasperation, "That guy you saw me with on Friday was Chad. You remember, my best guy friend?"
Sage's eyes widened in shock and his mouth opened and closed a few times, muttering inapprehensible sounds.
"Was this the thing that had you so worked up, Sage?" Raye said and smiled as Sage looked away from her and blushed slightly. He nodded slightly.
"And why do you care? What difference would it make to you if I had a boyfriend or not? You have to have a reason for getting so worked up, Sage. You have a specific and thought out reason for everything; I know you all too well, Sage." Sage gulped as he looked at Raye.
Was he even ready to tell her how he felt about her? His eyes met hers and in them, he saw the genuine concern that she held for him. Something inside of him was now telling him to go for it.
"Well, I..." Sage started out, but was silenced as another female voice piped up.
"Aw, aren't the two of you cute."
Raye and Sage's heads snapped to look at the source of the words. Sage had a look of confusion on his face as he looked at the creature in front of him, although he knew it could only mean trouble, and Raye's face transformed into a look of fear. The last time she faced the female creature in front of her, she had been seriously hurt, emotionally and physically.
Her breathing becoming ragged, Raye said, "Come on, Sage, we have to get out of here." Raye started to run, pushing Sage along with her, but the monster only laughed.
"Now, why would you want to run from the great Rubellite? I promise you, your death will be quick. Consider yourself lucky. With the amount of time it took to track you down, girl, you ought to have a slow and painful death." Sage stopped and turned to Raye.
"Why is she looking for you, Raye?" The fuchsia-colored monster laughed and looked at Sage.
"You mean you don't know?" Rubellite asked. Sage's brow furrowed.
"Know what?"
"About your little girlfriend's other identity." Raye drew in a sharp breath.
"No, don't tell him."
"Why, aren't you going to tell him? He deserves to know." Rubellite smiled slyly, and idea forming in her head.
"Hey, instead of telling him, why not show him?"
In order to get Raye to transform, Rubellite shot an energy beam at Raye, but Raye was too shaken up to do anything.
Seeing that Raye was about to be hit, Sage called out, "Armor of Halo!" and dove in front of Raye in his sub-armor, shielding her from the energy beam. It barely hurt him and only moved him back a few steps.
"Don't hurt her," Sage growled, his eyes narrowing.
"Oh, I'm so scared now," Rubellite, pretending to be scared, "A little boy and his little armor are going to hurt me."
"Shut up!" Sage yelled before calling out his transformation line.
"Armor of Halo, DAO CHI!" Once he was fully armored, he turned around to look at Raye.
"Are you all right?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
"Sage..." she said, trailing off; she didn't know what to say. Sage took her lack of words as awe and disbelief.
"Don't worry, I'll explain everything afterwards." He turned back to face Rubellite, assuming a fighting position.
"So, it seems you want to fight. Well, I'll give you a fight, boy and I'll guarantee it's one you won't win." Sage raised his sword, gripping it with both hands, as he charged Rubellite. The two of them fought, Sage giving it his all while Rubellite looked for the world like she was totally unaffected.
Raye watched in silence and horror as Rubellite continued to block every one of Sage's moves, throwing back moves that were infinitely stronger than anything Sage had to deliver. Rubellite drew her hand into a fist and punched Sage, throwing her power into the punch. It sent Sage flying through the air and he landed on the ground, sliding back several feet.
"Sage!" Raye yelled as she sprung into action. Kneeling besides him, she removed his helmet and looked down at him.
"Are you ok, Sage?" Sage nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired and my pride's a little wounded." Raye felt the anger boiling up inside of her.
"Don't worry, Sage. I'll get her for you. She won't hurt anybody close to me ever again." Sage intended to ask Raye how she was going to fight, but never had the chance to before Raye stood up and faced Rubellite, fixing on the monster her most fiery gaze.
"Rubellite, you won't live to see another day."
"Oh really. And are you going to fight me now?"
"Yes, I am. But this time, I'm much stronger. You don't stand a chance."
"No, that's were you have it all wrong, dear," Rubellite said, "You're the one who doesn't stand a chance."
"We'll see about that," Raye said, taking out her transformation pen and holding up above her head. "MARS STAR POWER!"
Sage gasped as he saw Raye standing there as Sailor Mars. Sage couldn't have been more surprised if he had been announced king of the Universe. Raye is Sailor Mars? Well, if she's Sailor Mars, then her friends are the Sailor Scouts. Sage's eyes lit up with understanding and knowledge. My god, why didn't I see it before? Sage thought. He watched, still in complete shock, as Raye attacked Rubellite.
"MARS CELETIAL FIRE SURROUND!"
Rings of fire, backed up by Raye's pure power, hurled their way for Rubellite, who attacked back with such ferocity that Sage thought Raye would buckle under the force of Rubellite's attack. To Sage's surprise, Raye held her own and even increased the amount of power that was being sent at Rubellite. But, Sage knew from experience that high power levels couldn't be maintained for a long period of time.
Sage, who was enraged at the monster standing before Raye, got up to help Raye in her fight. Just before Sage was going to stand by Raye's side, however, a bright ball of reddish light engulfed Raye. It disappeared in an instant and Sage's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Raye again and he was blessed with a vision.
Raye was standing there, wearing her Princess dress, a dress that Sage quickly recognized as the dress the girl he met at the Winter Ball was wearing. Raye, Sailor Mars, and that girl are all the same person? What an idiot I was not to notice the resemblance, Sage thought. Shaking his head to clear all thoughts of Raye's multiple identities, he once again moved to stand beside her and lend her his support and power in this fight.
Raye sensed more than saw Sage standing by her side and smiled gratefully as Sage called out his attack.
"THUNDERBOLT CUT!" Streams of lightning plus Sage's own power mixed together and blended with Raye's power, creating a magnificent display and an overwhelming force that made Rubellite doubt her ability to survive. No, I will win out over these two. They will not defeat me! Rubellite thought as she upped the power level of her own attack.
Raye and Sage also poured more power into their own attacks, trying to best Rubellite and destroy her. This was a battle to the finish and only one side would walk away alive. Raye had reached her limit; she couldn't possibly give up any more power without destroying herself in the process. She felt Sage beside her and knew that he had more to give, which he didn't without being told to.
Raye's other sense felt something very weird happening beside her and when she turned to see what it was, she found that Sage was glowing a light green color, which got brighter and brighter as his power level went up. Finally, with a brief, bright flash of light, Sage's Ronin armor disappeared, leaving him in a completely different outfit, an outfit that made Raye freeze in recognition.
His outfit was one that deeply resembled Prince Darien's from the Silver Millennium. In fact, it was exactly the same in every aspect except for its color. Instead of black, the main color was a deep, deep green color with the lining of his cape a shade of green that, while still dark, was several shades lighter than that of his chest armor. Raye realized, with happiness, that he was her lover from the Silver Millennium.
At the moment, Sage looked all for the world like he was wrapped up in his own little world and when he snapped out of it a few moments after his new transformation, he looked over at Raye and smiled. He knew everything; he remembered his past during the Silver Millennium. His eyes met Raye's and a million thoughts were communicated with just one glance. Both of them turning back to Rubellite, they prepared to deliver the final blow.
Rubellite suddenly found herself on the losing side. She tried to hold herself up against the power the two experienced warriors were throwing at her, but she found that she just couldn't find enough power to match. With a scream, Rubellite dissolved. Raye and Sage cut off their power and tried to calm down. Raye closed her eyes and tried to calm down the rampaging emotions inside of her. Sage and her lover from the Silver Millennium were the same person; she didn't have to choose between the two of them.
Raye felt a shiver go up her spine as she felt Sage's arms encircle her waist from behind and his lips brush up against her neck. She smiled lightly as Sage created a trail of kisses that started at the crook of her neck, along her jawbone, and, eventually, to right next to her lips. Raye, unable to take it any longer, turned in Sage's arms, looking up at him.
Their eyes met for a moment before he lowered his lips to hers, capturing them in a passionate kiss. Had anyone happened upon them, the first thought that would enter into his or her head would be that the kissing couple were very much in love with each other and they couldn't be closer to the truth.
Sage pulled away from lips and worked his way to her ear, where he whispered, "I love you," before nibbling on her earlobe.
"I love you too," Raye whispered back, her soul jumping for joy, before she kissed Sage again. The two lovers had been reunited after 1000 years and, to them, nothing mattered more than each other.
She had spent the entire weekend with Chad, just talking and hanging out, and now she needed some alone time where she could think. But, at that moment, looking at all the cherry blossoms, basking it its beauty all by herself seemed to be a waste; there should be someone there with her to share it with. It was a shame to have all this wonder in front of her and to have no one see it with.
As she held out her hand, a couple of cherry blossom petals floated into her hand, as if obeying her beckoning. She smiled as she held the delicate petals in her hand; she realized who she wanted to be with her at that moment. Sage should be here; he would love it here, Raye thought. The moment that the thought entered Raye's mind, her smile faded and a look of confusion and slight hurt appeared on her face. I wonder what's wrong with Sage? Raye thought.
She had tried calling Sage to ask him if he wanted to get together with her after Chad left, but all she got was Ryo saying that he didn't want to come to the phone at the moment. Maybe I should go over there and talk to him; he might talk to me if confronted by me in person, Raye thought. She really wanted to help Sage with whatever was wrong with him and not knowing was killing her slowly. She loved him too much to let him suffer by himself.
Raye was so deep in love with Sage that she was too scared to tell him so. I mean, I know he told me that he loves me at the Winter Ball, but he didn't know it was me he was talking to. I should have no reason to be scared of telling him that I love him, but something is holding me back and I don't know what it is.
"Yes you do," a small voice inside her head told her.
Then what is it?
"It's the memory of your lover from the Silver Millennium that's holding you back. You're waiting for him to show up. He's the one you really love."
But, I really love Sage as well. Can it be possible that I am in love with two people at once?
"Well," the voice said, "You're going to have to choose between the two of them; make sure that when you do choose, the person who you don't will be the person who would be hurt the least by your rejection."
Raye sighed; her conscience was right. She had to choose between Sage and her lover from the Silver Millennium; that was the thing that was holding her back. Sighing, she began walking down the path that would lead her out of the park; she felt an insatiable need to take a long, bubble bath.
As she came into a large clearing, she spotted the one person that she wanted to see more than anything. With his back to her, Sage was admiring the cherry blossoms, just as Raye was doing. Raye smiled and went to go to him but when she noticed his posture, she froze. The way his shoulders hung portrayed a feeling of defeat and sorrow. Raye's face took on a look of worry; she had never seen Sage so downtrodden before and now she really needed to know what was wrong.
Walking up behind him, she said tentatively and quietly, "Hi Sage." Sage jumped slightly in surprise and turned around to see Raye standing there. His face hardened into a look of contempt in order to cover up his heartache. Raye took a few steps back at the look in his eyes: pain and sadness covered up by harshness.
"What do you want?" Sage hissed, his voice low. Raye flinched at his tone of voice. She could tell that he was covering up hurt with hostility. She walked forward until she was standing right in front of him.
Laying her hand on his arm lightly, she asked, "Sage, what's wrong? Is it something I did?"
"Why do you care?" Sage asked, yanking his arm away from her touch, turning his back to her once more.
"Why do I care?" Raye repeated, "I think that answer would be obvious; you're one of my best friends and I care when you're not feeling right."
"Well, it's nothing that would concern you," Sage said softly; Raye could hear the despair in his voice; he sounded lost.
"Of course it concerns me. Tell me what it is so I can help you." Raye was practically in tears from frustration. Couldn't he see that she was practically begging him to tell her?
"Don't you want to go and help your boyfriend out instead?" Sage asked. Raye looked physically taken aback.
"Boyfriend?" she said, trying the word out on her tongue, "What are you talking about, Sage?" Sage turned to face her again and advanced on her.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me. I know all about your new boyfriend. I saw you with him on Friday afternoon."
"Ah, I see now," Raye said, chuckling a little. She saw the misunderstanding. Sage eyed Raye speculatively.
"What's so funny?" he asked in response to her giggle.
"Sage," Raye said, sighing in exasperation, "That guy you saw me with on Friday was Chad. You remember, my best guy friend?"
Sage's eyes widened in shock and his mouth opened and closed a few times, muttering inapprehensible sounds.
"Was this the thing that had you so worked up, Sage?" Raye said and smiled as Sage looked away from her and blushed slightly. He nodded slightly.
"And why do you care? What difference would it make to you if I had a boyfriend or not? You have to have a reason for getting so worked up, Sage. You have a specific and thought out reason for everything; I know you all too well, Sage." Sage gulped as he looked at Raye.
Was he even ready to tell her how he felt about her? His eyes met hers and in them, he saw the genuine concern that she held for him. Something inside of him was now telling him to go for it.
"Well, I..." Sage started out, but was silenced as another female voice piped up.
"Aw, aren't the two of you cute."
Raye and Sage's heads snapped to look at the source of the words. Sage had a look of confusion on his face as he looked at the creature in front of him, although he knew it could only mean trouble, and Raye's face transformed into a look of fear. The last time she faced the female creature in front of her, she had been seriously hurt, emotionally and physically.
Her breathing becoming ragged, Raye said, "Come on, Sage, we have to get out of here." Raye started to run, pushing Sage along with her, but the monster only laughed.
"Now, why would you want to run from the great Rubellite? I promise you, your death will be quick. Consider yourself lucky. With the amount of time it took to track you down, girl, you ought to have a slow and painful death." Sage stopped and turned to Raye.
"Why is she looking for you, Raye?" The fuchsia-colored monster laughed and looked at Sage.
"You mean you don't know?" Rubellite asked. Sage's brow furrowed.
"Know what?"
"About your little girlfriend's other identity." Raye drew in a sharp breath.
"No, don't tell him."
"Why, aren't you going to tell him? He deserves to know." Rubellite smiled slyly, and idea forming in her head.
"Hey, instead of telling him, why not show him?"
In order to get Raye to transform, Rubellite shot an energy beam at Raye, but Raye was too shaken up to do anything.
Seeing that Raye was about to be hit, Sage called out, "Armor of Halo!" and dove in front of Raye in his sub-armor, shielding her from the energy beam. It barely hurt him and only moved him back a few steps.
"Don't hurt her," Sage growled, his eyes narrowing.
"Oh, I'm so scared now," Rubellite, pretending to be scared, "A little boy and his little armor are going to hurt me."
"Shut up!" Sage yelled before calling out his transformation line.
"Armor of Halo, DAO CHI!" Once he was fully armored, he turned around to look at Raye.
"Are you all right?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
"Sage..." she said, trailing off; she didn't know what to say. Sage took her lack of words as awe and disbelief.
"Don't worry, I'll explain everything afterwards." He turned back to face Rubellite, assuming a fighting position.
"So, it seems you want to fight. Well, I'll give you a fight, boy and I'll guarantee it's one you won't win." Sage raised his sword, gripping it with both hands, as he charged Rubellite. The two of them fought, Sage giving it his all while Rubellite looked for the world like she was totally unaffected.
Raye watched in silence and horror as Rubellite continued to block every one of Sage's moves, throwing back moves that were infinitely stronger than anything Sage had to deliver. Rubellite drew her hand into a fist and punched Sage, throwing her power into the punch. It sent Sage flying through the air and he landed on the ground, sliding back several feet.
"Sage!" Raye yelled as she sprung into action. Kneeling besides him, she removed his helmet and looked down at him.
"Are you ok, Sage?" Sage nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired and my pride's a little wounded." Raye felt the anger boiling up inside of her.
"Don't worry, Sage. I'll get her for you. She won't hurt anybody close to me ever again." Sage intended to ask Raye how she was going to fight, but never had the chance to before Raye stood up and faced Rubellite, fixing on the monster her most fiery gaze.
"Rubellite, you won't live to see another day."
"Oh really. And are you going to fight me now?"
"Yes, I am. But this time, I'm much stronger. You don't stand a chance."
"No, that's were you have it all wrong, dear," Rubellite said, "You're the one who doesn't stand a chance."
"We'll see about that," Raye said, taking out her transformation pen and holding up above her head. "MARS STAR POWER!"
Sage gasped as he saw Raye standing there as Sailor Mars. Sage couldn't have been more surprised if he had been announced king of the Universe. Raye is Sailor Mars? Well, if she's Sailor Mars, then her friends are the Sailor Scouts. Sage's eyes lit up with understanding and knowledge. My god, why didn't I see it before? Sage thought. He watched, still in complete shock, as Raye attacked Rubellite.
"MARS CELETIAL FIRE SURROUND!"
Rings of fire, backed up by Raye's pure power, hurled their way for Rubellite, who attacked back with such ferocity that Sage thought Raye would buckle under the force of Rubellite's attack. To Sage's surprise, Raye held her own and even increased the amount of power that was being sent at Rubellite. But, Sage knew from experience that high power levels couldn't be maintained for a long period of time.
Sage, who was enraged at the monster standing before Raye, got up to help Raye in her fight. Just before Sage was going to stand by Raye's side, however, a bright ball of reddish light engulfed Raye. It disappeared in an instant and Sage's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Raye again and he was blessed with a vision.
Raye was standing there, wearing her Princess dress, a dress that Sage quickly recognized as the dress the girl he met at the Winter Ball was wearing. Raye, Sailor Mars, and that girl are all the same person? What an idiot I was not to notice the resemblance, Sage thought. Shaking his head to clear all thoughts of Raye's multiple identities, he once again moved to stand beside her and lend her his support and power in this fight.
Raye sensed more than saw Sage standing by her side and smiled gratefully as Sage called out his attack.
"THUNDERBOLT CUT!" Streams of lightning plus Sage's own power mixed together and blended with Raye's power, creating a magnificent display and an overwhelming force that made Rubellite doubt her ability to survive. No, I will win out over these two. They will not defeat me! Rubellite thought as she upped the power level of her own attack.
Raye and Sage also poured more power into their own attacks, trying to best Rubellite and destroy her. This was a battle to the finish and only one side would walk away alive. Raye had reached her limit; she couldn't possibly give up any more power without destroying herself in the process. She felt Sage beside her and knew that he had more to give, which he didn't without being told to.
Raye's other sense felt something very weird happening beside her and when she turned to see what it was, she found that Sage was glowing a light green color, which got brighter and brighter as his power level went up. Finally, with a brief, bright flash of light, Sage's Ronin armor disappeared, leaving him in a completely different outfit, an outfit that made Raye freeze in recognition.
His outfit was one that deeply resembled Prince Darien's from the Silver Millennium. In fact, it was exactly the same in every aspect except for its color. Instead of black, the main color was a deep, deep green color with the lining of his cape a shade of green that, while still dark, was several shades lighter than that of his chest armor. Raye realized, with happiness, that he was her lover from the Silver Millennium.
At the moment, Sage looked all for the world like he was wrapped up in his own little world and when he snapped out of it a few moments after his new transformation, he looked over at Raye and smiled. He knew everything; he remembered his past during the Silver Millennium. His eyes met Raye's and a million thoughts were communicated with just one glance. Both of them turning back to Rubellite, they prepared to deliver the final blow.
Rubellite suddenly found herself on the losing side. She tried to hold herself up against the power the two experienced warriors were throwing at her, but she found that she just couldn't find enough power to match. With a scream, Rubellite dissolved. Raye and Sage cut off their power and tried to calm down. Raye closed her eyes and tried to calm down the rampaging emotions inside of her. Sage and her lover from the Silver Millennium were the same person; she didn't have to choose between the two of them.
Raye felt a shiver go up her spine as she felt Sage's arms encircle her waist from behind and his lips brush up against her neck. She smiled lightly as Sage created a trail of kisses that started at the crook of her neck, along her jawbone, and, eventually, to right next to her lips. Raye, unable to take it any longer, turned in Sage's arms, looking up at him.
Their eyes met for a moment before he lowered his lips to hers, capturing them in a passionate kiss. Had anyone happened upon them, the first thought that would enter into his or her head would be that the kissing couple were very much in love with each other and they couldn't be closer to the truth.
Sage pulled away from lips and worked his way to her ear, where he whispered, "I love you," before nibbling on her earlobe.
"I love you too," Raye whispered back, her soul jumping for joy, before she kissed Sage again. The two lovers had been reunited after 1000 years and, to them, nothing mattered more than each other.
