Disclaimer: insert standard disclaimer here.

Author's Notes: Thanks everybody for the reviews. And now here's the new chapter. Sorry for the long wait...... it's just that I've been sorta stuck on this story and then there's school. God, I hate school... too much homework!! I'll try to get chapters out as soon as possible, but please understand that I'm really busy with school and I sorta have writer's block.... I mean, I know where I want the story to go.... it's just I can't seem to write down my ideas.... so it's incredibly annoying.

A Missing Heart

Chapter 8

As the light had died down, a soft, melodious laugh was heard. It sounded foreign, but vaguely familiar to the three occupants of the room. As their vision adjusted at having been blinded, they tried desperately to see who had entered the room unexpectedly.

As they tried to blink away the small black dots that danced in their vision, their breaths got caught as they realized who had appeared. Shock clearly shown in their features, a great difference to the looks of pain and sorrow that they had only seconds ago worn.

"Queen Serenity!!!"

Queen Serenity looked at them softly, her eyes holding unspoken mirth at their reaction. She spoke to them in a hushed tone, her voice serene. "Hello Luna, Artemis, Prince Endymion."

In turn the three immediately bowed, but their faces still held surprise and wonderment.

"Now, now... cat got your tongue?" She laughed quietly, surprised at the silence that she received.

A blush was immediately seen surfacing on their cheeks and Luna spoke meekly, already knowing the answer to her question. "Queen Serenity... what are you doing here?"

The Queen seemed to have lost all laughter from her eyes and looked at them solemnly. She spoke quietly once more, pain evident in her voice. "Before I start explaining some matters, we must wait for Minako, Sailor Venus."

With her tone, it left nothing open for discussion, so they held their tongue and waited.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Heero heaved a sigh that made him seem older than his 17 years and absently wiped the single tear that had fallen, as he made it to the nurse's office. Making his way in, he was greeted with the sight of Milliardo pacing up and down in the room. What the hell is he doing here? Milliardo's head immediately snapped up to his direction as he entered the room.

Worried eyes then landed on Usagi, a big difference of the mask that used to be worn by the former pilot of Epyon. Then hard blue eyes glared at him, the promise of Heero's death seen in those dark depths.

"What did you do to her?"

Heero looked up at him sharply and didn't bother to answer, gently laying Usagi's body onto the bed. "Where's the nurse?"

That was Heero's mistake... he pointedly ignored the former Lightning Baron, Zechs Merquise, therefore angering him. Milliardo was absolutely shaking with fury, not knowing what to do at the moment, all he could see was red.

He tried calming himself, and started counting up to ten... he only made it to 3. He stalked over and grabbed Heero by the collar of his shirt. "What the hell did you do to her, Yuy?!?"

Heero immediately got out his gun and pointed it at Milliardo's head, clicking off the safety. "Let go."

"I swear, if you hurt her Yuy..."

Heero looked at Milliardo in open scorn. "Why the hell would I want to hurt her Merquise... or is it Peacecraft now?"

Milliardo tightened his grip on Heero and met his glare. Different shades of blue clashing. A fight was about to ensue between the two rivals... and former enemies.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Well then, since everyone's here. I could begin." She looked at each of them deeply, seemingly looking deep into their souls. Queen Serenity immediately raised her hand to halt all questions. "I will begin with no interruptions. After I am done speaking, that is the time when you can ask your questions."

Luna and Minako's mouths immediately shut, knowing of an order when they heard one.

"Let me begin this, by saying that my daughter is not dead. She may have died in this world, but due to her destiny and her importance, she was not allowed to die." She then paused, and breathed out a sigh of exhaustion and pain. "She was only transported to another dimension... with the permission of the higher gods, she was allowed transfer into the other world... with a price."

"What price?" Minako asked suddenly, then clamped her hand on her mouth, realizing that she had spoken.

Queen Serenity looked at her amused. "Nothing comes without a catch... a price. She was to give up her memories, that was what the gods wanted from her in exchange."

Luna looked at her former Queen, puzzled. "In exchange for what? And the price for giving up her memories, it doesn't seem so unpleasant."

"Yes, but you have forgotten Luna... she holds many fond memories, which she would undoubtedly would not want to be rid off." She chastised. "She was transported to the other world... dimension, the one that her lover was sent and belonged to..."

She was about to be interrupted once more, when she raised her hand and halted all questions once more. "Now no more interruptions. She was transported to that dimension knowing that her beloved was sent there by you, the Sailor Senshi." She looked at Minako pointedly, causing the girl to look away ashamed. "Even though she went there blindly, having no recollection of her past whatsoever, she was willing to take that chance... willing to do anything to try and get him back..."

Queen Serenity paused once more, pain clearly evident in her features, showing just how much the situation had affected her. "A year and a few months has passed by in that dimension... while here, it's only been a few weeks, since her supposed death. There's a great time difference between this world and that one... the time fluctuates... it's unpredictable. A few days could pass by there, while here a few years could go by... this is one factor that shows how different both worlds are." She paused once more and looked at each of them closely. "I've been watching my daughter since the beginning and I'm afraid to say that she now needs your help."

Mamoru who had been quiet ever since the appearance of Queen Serenity, immediately spoke up. "What do you mean? What's wrong with her?" He spoke up, clearly upset.

"Her memories are awakening."

Mamoru instantly calmed down, not seeing anything wrong with that. "Well, what's wrong if her memories awaken?"

Queen Serenity gently shook her head, unshed tears seen in her sad eyes. "Have you forgotten all the events and times that my daughter has had to live through? Her memories are like a time bomb, holding more trauma and pain... and one can only handle so much..." She paused once more, tears now being shed from her dark lavender eyes. "And now, with the other senshi planning to bring her back... I need all of your help to protect her from them."

Luna's heart constricted as she watched the silent sobs rack through her queen's body. "Queen Serenity..."

She looked up at the sound of her name and gave a small smile, through her tear-stained face. "I'm alright, Luna. It's my daughter that needs help."

Artemis watched the whole exchange silently and finally spoke up. "So what do we do?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Silence reigned over the temple. It had been silent ever since Minako had left... no one dared to speak.

Setsuna then cleared her throat and broke everyone from their reveries. She looked at each of them once more, her gaze once again cold and unflinching. "Is there anyone else willing to leave?" Her voice clipped and as harsh as the icy winds.

No one spoke. No one dared to.

"Well then, with that done. We must start our planning."

Ami cleared her throat and spoke out meekly. "What exactly must we do Setsuna-san?"

Setsuna's face finally produced a small smile, easing the tension in the room. "We have to locate her first before we can make any more plans."

"You mean you don't know where she is?"

She looked at Rei, annoyance clearly seen. "No, I don't. There are many other worlds and dimensions out there, that we have to sort out and locate her exact location before we can do anything."

Haruka looked at her strangely. "You mean you can't just ask one of those higher gods... or even Queen Serenity for her location?"

"No, I can't. They're not responsible for the princess any longer, so they wouldn't want to get involved in this... and the Queen specifically told me that she would not be helping us in our search."

Setsuna looked at all of them once more and then immediately cut in before anymore questions could be asked. "It doesn't matter. We don't need their help... we can find the princess without it. Now we just have to start looking."

Michiru looked at Haruka questioningly and then they nodded their heads, reaching an unspoken agreement. "So what do we do?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Let go or omae o korosu."

Milliardo met the glare, not at all affected or afraid of the said statement. "What did you do to her, Yuy?"

The tension in the room was thick. Furious prussian blue eyes met with hard, dark crystal blue eyes. Both not willing to give in to the other's wishes.

A voice suddenly broke through their confrontation, interrupting the glares that they were both sending out to the other. "Why do I have to carry this braided baka?... we should have just left him there. This is injustice."

A sigh was then heard. "Wufei, please. Just set him down on the..."

Quatre then immediately halted his speaking as he took in the sight of Heero being pinned on the wall by Milliardo... and Usagi who was laying on the bed. A small gasp making its way out of his mouth.

Wufei cut short his complaining and silently studied the situation at hand. His eyes going hard at the sight of one of his former enemies pinning his fellow comrade on the wall.

Trowa watched silently. His visible emerald green eye showing nothing.

A throat was then cleared, bringing their attention over to the said person. The principal, Mr. Ping then spoke, a tone that left nothing open for discussion or disagreement. "Mr. Peacecraft, please release Mr. Yuy. I cannot permit this to happen on school grounds."

Milliardo then released Heero, though not too gently and sent out a glare. Heero met the stare and it was then obvious that though the fight was avoided today... it would be soon continued... but next time... only one would make it out alive...

The unspoken rivalry and hatred for one another had been left alone for far too long. It was time that they finally ended it... with one of them rising as victor...

Sorry to end it there.... but I have writer's block. It's really bad. So please review and maybe it might get me out of it and into writing a lot more. *hint hint* Thanx. Questions, comments? E-mail me at pauline_joy7@hotmail.com. PLEASE REVIEW!!!

~Akiko