When All The Good Angels Sleep

by Blue Jeans

Life had never been better for the Sailor Senshi team. They had defeated their enemies, are finishing high school and looking forward to a new future. But what awaits them there may be more devistating than anything they have ever imagined. Post SS/AR

2. The Second Sheep Named Envy

A Note to the Readers: All contents in this story is under an
artistic license. Fact and fiction will be clomped together into one
huge blob. In other words, don't bother me about debating whether
some conversations in this fanfic is truly based on fact... as Naoko
Takeuchi has done many times. Truth, after all, is an elusive thing!
^-~. Enjoy!

When All the Good Angels Sleep
******************************
.blue.
blueweber@hotmail.com

"No te engano la primavera "Did spring never deceive you
con besos que no florecieron?" with kisses that didn't blossom?"

--Pablo Neruda
("The Book Of Questions")


"And I looked, and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death."

--Bible: New Testament
(Revelation 6:8)


The Second Sheep Named Envy
---------------------------

"It should be noted that when he seizes a state the new
ruler ought to determine all the injuries that he will
need to inflict. He should inflict them once and for all,
and not have to renew them every day."
--Niccolo Machiavelli
("The Prince")

"I'm jealous of her;
Of him;
Of everything!
Of the great gigantic ocean so calm,
Yet, how powerful and hungry it can rage!
Of the moon that's hanging off the shore
So small and yet so bright against the night!
Of the music in the halls that I can't grasp
Only to absorb so much and then forget too soon
And lose that feeling of peace and passion
Combined in one,
Like a dream lost to the morning hours
At first sight and first thought of a new day."
("Sin: II")

"I have discovered that to make a better future,
you must first create a worthy opponent to make
you fit for such a future. Thus, the harder it
is to get to the end, the more you will grow.
And the more you grow, the more fit you are to
take whatever the reward that awaits you at the
end of your journey. It is because of this that
I had created the obstacles to prepare you and the
Senshi for the future of Crystal Tokyo. For no
matter what the treasure there is always a test.
Why, you may wonder, would I do such a thing as
this? Even you, my ever-forgiving Queen, may
question my motives, and might count this as an
act of treason or of betrayal. Yet, you cannot
deny that without the darkness there is no light,
even if you might think this to be an excuse for
my actions. That is why I do not consult you on
the decisions that I must make. Think of me as
cold, as unfeeling, but I am like any mother,
sending her child to war, knowing the consequences,
but unlike them, I also behold a hope that I have
clung to for longer than you can imagine or perceive.
So judge me if you must, but perhaps, one day, you
will see, that without the enemy there is no hope
and without hope, there is nothing."

--Sailor Senshi Pluto
("Letters to the Queen")


"Are you sure you're feeling better Mako-chan?" Usagi asked
for the second time that day.

"Umm," Makoto nodded impatiently. "Usagi-chan, it was only a
scratch!"

The odango-blonde sighed in relief and settled back into her
chair again. The weekend had been hell, twice Makoto slipped back to
her feverish state only to recover with a sleep so deep that Ami told
them, if her brain waves where any lower Jupiter would have been
diagnosed as being in a coma! Of course, Makoto believed none of
that, though she was a bit worried about it herself. After all, she
had never felt better! Well, not in a long time, anyway.

"It's only the effect of your body having been so weak for so
long." Ami had explained to her earlier when she puzzled over why
everyone still fussed over her so much, but she wouldn't buy 'that'
excuse. One just didn't question how one felt, especially if it was
such an exhilarating surge of energy!

Of course, Ami didn't tell her or any of the others that they
had all been exposed to a new strain of virus never seen before, a
deadly virus that could kill. Ami hoped that their Senshi immune
system would fight this thing to death but she couldn't be sure.
Still, she feared to tell her friends, for Core had warned her of the
consequences when she had asked him the night she discovered it.

'How did she get it?'

'I don't know, it looked like a flesh wound. Might be from an
animal or insect bite.'

'Then it is in Tokyo, isn't it?'

'Yes.'

'I'm sorry.'

'No, don't be. You cannot stop something like this from
crossing borders or even oceans now. We can thank all that to
technology!'

'I'm sorry.'

'Why? I told you--'

'I'm sorry that you will be one of the first to die.'

She had paused in horror, but than slowly her fingers took her
mind to her notes as she reviewed them methodically, trying to rid
herself of the terrifying freeze that had settled into her limbs.
She knew now that Core did not have the answer to her questions
anymore. That, whether she wanted it or not, she had to stop her
communications with him.

A senshi is the host.

The princess has been infected.

There were no more choices to be made.

* * *

"Hello?"

...

"Yes, I wish to speak with Doctor Chiba Mamoru."

...

"Mizuno Ami."

...

"Thank you."

...

"Mamoru-kun?"

...

"I need to see you today, something interesting came up."

...

"No, no, it's not Senshi business. At least, it hasn't come to
that point yet."

...

"No, I haven't told the others."

...

"It's a little more important than an extracurricular activity
Mamoru-kun."

...

"It's alright, you haven't offended me at all... It's just
that a lot has been happening lately."

...

"Please, don't tell Usagi-chan about this."

...

"I just don't want her to worry yet..."

...

"No! It's not something horrible!"

...

"It's just that... I can't tell you this over the phone, I'll
have to show you."

...

"I'm sorry Mamoru-kun, it's just not safe."

...

"Yes, lunch tomorrow would be fine."

...

"Yes, I'll come and meet you there. I won't keep you waiting."

...

"Alright, bai bai."

...

She sighed when she put down the phone and rested her forehead
to her palm. "How will I explain this to Mamoru-kun?" She asked
herself tiredly, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Papers scattered across
her desktop, unusually cluttered for her, especially since she valued
neatness but these days had been hectic, more than she was ready to
admit. She glanced at her watch and winced, she only had six hours
left before her next shift at Makoto's apartment. Straightening, she
walked over to her bed, deciding that at least a few more hours of
sleep will help out her tired brain. But before her eyes closed or
her head even hit her pillow the same question arose, upsetting her
sleepy but worried mind. How could she explain to Mamoru that
something big was happening, something dangerous, and this time the
senshi just might not be able to save Tokyo from the dark times to
come? Yet, she could not keep sleep at bay, and she drifted into a
restless dream before she could even decipher a plan for the next
day.

* * *

"Rei-chan, I didn't expect this!" She heard his voice on the
other line as she leaned against her the wooden door of her shoji.
She had been cradling the phone to her ear when the sadness crept
into her eyes at the voice on the other line.

The others had sent her home knowing that her school was not so
lenient, and she could not complain, though a little angry that she
now had to wait till the end of each day to check on all four of the
others. So, unable to decipher the course of action and having lived
with instinct for most of her life, she called him. Something she
hadn't done since she had met the senshi, since her princess. She
never liked telephones much anyway. They were so awkward, excluding
physical contact with the person on the other line. She couldn't
complain though, for otherwise, she would never have been able to
talk to him. Yet, there was more to this than she was willing to
admit, especially to him. Something in Ami's eyes had changed when
she announced that dinner was ready the night before, something had
changed the situation and made it worse. What, Rei was yet unsure,
but she was determined to find out.

A slight smile hovered on her lips as a soft blush colored her
cheeks even as those very thoughts sped through her mind. Did he
always have this affect on her? At least, as long as she could
remember, "Really Hiketsu-san? I thought your specialty was in
fortune telling." She retorted good naturedly as one hand flipped
back the stray strands that rested on her shoulders, trying to ignore
the slight heartache at the memories long buried now that she thought
of the past.

"Ara, ara Rei-chan! Perhaps, I had a little premonition that
you were going to call today." He answered lightly, though she was
unable to see his reaction to her words. Telephones! She thought
with exasperation.

"Just a little?" She laughed off the question, and he joined
her. A short pause followed this little pleasantry though she knew
she could not delay asking the question that had forced her to call
him after so many years of silence. "Hiketsu-san, I--"

"Please, Rei-chan. I may not have seen you for at least ten
years and we may be strangers now, but we have been through enough
together for you to treat my name with a little less formality." He
answered lightly, though she could almost hear his frown over the
phone. What surprised her was that the Hiketsu she once knew had
changed as well. Just from his tone of voice she could tell that he
was no longer the prideful friend who once had been like an older
brother to her before her mother had died. There was a weariness
that inhabited their light-hearted banter that could not be missed,
and she could not forget with whom she was now speaking to.

"Hiketsu-san...Hiketsu, I'm sorry if I offended you." She
finally said, correcting her earlier error.

"Rei-chan..." she held her breath but what he said surprised
her more if he had scolded her again, "You are not still mad at me
for--"

"No." She quickly cut in, not wanting him to continue. She
could hear him sigh in relief on the other line and another small
smile emerged on her lips and she felt herself honestly meaning the
words that she had spoken. "I understand why you did what you did
better now Hiketsu, even though I did..." she paused before forcing
herself to admit what she had been trying to forget for many years
now, "love him." The truth needed to be said and she knew that it
was time to admit what she had thought she was over long ago. "But
Kaidou-san and I were just not meant to be." She did not cry but in
admitting her loss she felt like Kaidou had left her all over again.
She did not complain for she knew that all the sadness, hurt and
tears would never make things the way she had hoped them to be. It
was not her place to deny what fate had already planned. It was her
duty to protect what she had sworn too, the princess was the center
of her life now and she must at least begin the process of moving on.

"Rei-chan?"

"Yes, Hiketsu?" She asked. Snapping out of her revery just in
time to hear the unspoken question in his voice.

"Why did you decide to call me now?" he asked after a long
pause. Having a strange premonition that he was about to say
something else, yet without any proof, she resigned herself to ponder
over the slight catch in the other's voice later.

"Something came up..." she paused, choosing her words
carefully. "Perhaps, it is best that I meet you in person." She
finally said as she pondered out the situation.

"What's wrong Rei-chan? You sound... shaken up by something."

"I hope we can meet as soon as possible." She replied without
answering his question.

Sighing in defeat, "Fine, I'll be going into Tokyo on the
twentieth for a business trip and I'm sure I'll be able to meet you
sometime then," he said, looking at his schedule as he jotted down
the dates of departure.

"Good, I'll meet you at the airport. When will you be
arriving?" she asked.

Smiling at her tone of voice, he told her to hold on for a
moment as he quickly accessed the Tokyo Airport on his computer,
requesting flight time and adding his name to the list of departures.
"I'll be there around noon next Friday, Rei-chan. It will be nice to
see you again after all these years."

There was something sad in her voice when she answered,
"Everything has changed," she agreed. "I have to go back to my
chores Hiketsu, I'll be there to pick you up."

"Thank you," he replied, showing no sign of discomfort or
surprise at her quick change of subject. Her mouth twitched in
amusement though she was glad that he could not see her smile.

"I should be thanking you Hiketsu," she replied in an equally
calm voice. "I'll see you soon."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye." She pressed the off-button on her phone and leaned
back against the wall, looking up to the ceiling. Sighing, she mused
over what she had done. But she could not find in her heart to say
that she would not have done it otherwise had she been given a second
chance, but still she felt the guilt weighing on her shoulders.
Shaking her head she rose from the floor and walked out into the
hall, placing the phone back on the living room stand. Pausing only
at the scene before her as she went to get her broom. The opened
screen door gave an unobstructed view of the cherry blossom trees
outside as they bloomed in their soft pink innocence. Slowly, she
walked around the grounds and touched her hand onto one old trunk,
watching the ripe petals fall to the flittering wind that sent them
gently to the ground. Her dark hair drifted in the breeze as she
pulled back the strands, her eyes darkening with all the memories
this garden held, before glancing to the sky. "Gomen ne."

The breeze might have whispered a reply but, when the fleeting
petals settled, she was gone. The paper door closed firmly to the
gentle breeze, even if the scent of the cherry blossoms still
lingered and seeped into the rooms.

* * *

They did not notice him at first when the new National Party of
Japan first came into play in the political field. He seemed an
underling. Weak, disfigured, doomed to always be in the shadows of
those more popular and strong. Even those of his party did not
notice him. Did not see him to be the one controlling all of them.
He never complained of this and in a way he would've been content to
play in the background, the one doing all the work, the one with the
real power. In a way, he might even never have become so powerful so
soon and so publicly as he had, but fate had other things in store
for him, other things for him to accomplish than the petty politics
that once were his world.

Fate had wanted him to help build a new era and a new
beginning. So it gave him an army of radicals ready to die at his
bidding, ones who would easily fall to his rhetoric and his powerful
mind. It gave him opponents who were inexperienced and even more
incompetent. It gave him his chance to rise quickly but quietly.
And it gave him the darkness that he found tucked away in the far
reaches of political opponents, tucked away in a book, lying on the
side of his pillow.

He would never know that the person who gave him this would one
day be a part of the army that would rise against him. He would
never know that by becoming the man hated by the future, he would be
the one who made it possible. Even evil has its bad days, and this
was just the beginning of a string of bad days!

Fujimia Doko was walking down the prominent street a few blocks
from the Diet Building when he met her. Dark-green hair and red
eyes, an image hard to forget if you could ever truly remember, but
he would later only recall the conversation they had shared.
Apparently, she was a local follower in the new Nationalist Party
movement. Though, she did not seem like the usual bunch that voted
for his party, for her heritage seemed more liberal and leaning
toward the left than the far right.

Her dress was elegant and spoke business, her stance graceful
and her eyes piercing and intelligent. She invited him to lunch, an
invitation he could not turn down. Not only because it was offered
by one of the most beautiful woman he had ever met but also because
it was to one of the most prominent restaurants he ever heard of!
Pleasing her could help his political career and so he followed her
to the classy restaurant. "Excuse me Miss, I don't think I caught
your name." He said hurriedly as he caught up with her.

Dark eyes met his coolly, yet amused. "My name is irrelevant
Professor Fujimia Doko, but my purpose is important. Do you know why
you are here?" She asked.

"No," he answered, after a moment of hesitation. The look in
her eyes told him that he would get no answers if he asked for her
name again. "Why am I here, Miss?"

She smiled ever so slightly, a smile that warmed his heart with
its beauty. Yet the look in her eyes sent chills down his back.
Those eyes seemed to hold thousands of years. Never had he thought
he would ever get to see eyes so old and so dark and deep, it made
him feel very small and insignificant, a feeling that he never
experienced and was extremely uncomfortable with. "I have a proposal
for you Professor. There will be an epidemic invading this world,
killing all living things, plants, animals, and humans. Most of whom
would be extinct--"

"You can't be serious!" Doko gasped. "If such a thing is out
there, how can we not know?"

She smiled, though a little annoyed at his interruption. "The
government does not wish the people to panic, they themselves cannot
believe it. They cannot shut down the airports just yet because it
would arouse suspicion and it would cause a national panic, all of
which are most unpleasant."

"Then the government is weak! It must be stopped! We must
expel all those that might bring the disease to us, and isolate this
country from those already exposed!" He said determined.

"How can 'you' do that Professor? You have no real powers, and
your party is weak. The platform you conduct upon is just as weak
and everyone knows that Japan can hardly survive a year without
outside trade. The island will starve to death." The woman told
him, eyes getting colder, even if they held a little sadness in them
as she looked at him. Could it be pity that he saw in her eyes? Or
was it something else?

His pride rose with fury at her description of his beliefs, his
skills and the party he had been faithfully serving for so long now.
"I will make it happen! Just you wait and see! I cannot believe you
would dare criticize the party!"

Amused she sipped the coffee brought to them. "We shall see
what you will accomplish, Professor." It was her only reply to his
attacks on her person.

The rest of the luncheon passed in quietude. He enjoyed it
immensely for a new challenge had been set before him. The two
parted with polite goodbyes, and by the time he stepped out of the
restaurant, he had forgotten her unforgettable face, and the question
of a name that she had never told him. All he remembered was the
message that she had for him. All he knew was the mission he must
accomplish for the country that he wished to protect. 'If I can save
the world, what would it matter that a few would have to die and bow
down willingly at the feet of the God he served?' His hands closed
into a fist, startled to feel something in his palms. Looking down
he saw a ring of a broken angel wing. It seemed to once have been
part of something greater, something with more meaning to it.
Startled, he pocketed the gift, not knowing who had given it to him
and left for the Diet Building. There was much to do and so very
little time. He never questioned his urgency, all he knew was that
things must be accomplished before it was too late.

The dark-haired woman watched him leave from the shadows. She
saw him look at the ring in startled wonder and surprise. Her lips
curled into a grim smile, eyes narrowing slightly at the thought of
what was to come. The first phase of the plan had ended, now she
must find the others.

* * *

She knelt before the sacred fire, praying to the gods.

One, two, three.

Flicker.

Like a dance. She had long learned its steps. Her eyes were
closed, hiding her secrets from the fire. For the fire cannot know
the secrets of its mistress, the fire must not know it. A bead of
sweat trailed down her cheeks and trailed down to her chin, joining
those that had already gathered. Drip. Splash. Sizzle. A dance.
Her body reacted to it as if it were a dance as well.

Her eyes opened. Violating the ancient rules, but she did not
care about those rules. They could not see what she saw. The images
came. Darkness eating up the flames. Nameless faces. A strong
feeling of power and hopelessness mixed into one. Eyes of dark-
rouge. Guilt. Pain. Was this betrayal? A promise. A hope. A
journey over a great ocean of troubled waters, and on those shores a
great battle would be fought. The winner shall lose. The fire
flickered and she was confused at its indecision.

There were no answers to the questions raging in her heart.
The fire did not answer this way. It only gave her more images. She
did not mask her surprise, but she did not lose her concentration
either. Not even when she saw the King and Queen of a distant future
appear before her, and disappear, melting into the face of a strange,
and yet, familiar face. Not until his face appeared. Only he was
not himself. The eyes were different. They were bluer but they
seemed so distant, so unlike him. She reached out to the flames to
feel the skin upon his face. So real. So warm. Her thoughts
dispersed. The flames snapped at her for closing her soul to its
warmth. She gasped a scream in pain, pulling her hand away. Her
hand throbbed and the smell of burnt flesh reached her nostrils. She
looked at it with disbelief before denial faded and the pain hit her
with a force that startled her. She screamed.

The world went black.

* * *

Something woke her from her sleep. Finally she complied to the
insistent ringing by banging on her alarm clock -- a thing of habit.
Her eyes widened in surprise when the ringing continued. Groaning
she reached for the phone. Where was Mamo-chan when you needed him?
Her grouchy mind demanded. Luna was apparently missing again,
probably at Central Control with Artemis and doing all that
research... "Moshi, moshi." she trailed off with another groan.

"Usagi-chan, Rei-chan's in the hospital." A soft voice reached
her ears.

"Hospital. Rei-chan. Hey Ami-chan." She mumbled, her mind
not really making sense of what was going on. "Na ni! Rei-chan's in
the hospital?" She screeched. Jumping out of bed with a start as
she finally woke up.

Worry clouded her eyes as she tried to think of a reason why
Rei would be at the hospital, missing the exasperated sigh from the
other end of the phone. "Come quickly Usagi-chan, I'll inform you
what happened once you get here."

"I'll be there as soon as I can!" Usagi agreed, silently
cursing herself for wasting more time. The phone went dead as she
scrambled out of bed and rampaged through the house, thanking
whatever gods there were that her lateness for school had given her
some speed when it came to rushing things. She couldn't find Mamoru
so she wrote him a note and left it on the hallway table, knowing
that he'd see it when he stepped into the apartment. She raced down
the stairs and ran for the bus stop, knowing that the ride to the
hospital would be a long one but she had no other way of getting
there. 'Please, let Rei-chan be alright!' She prayed softly in her
head.

The time sped by slowly as she neared the hospital. Something
bothered her, a feeling of darkness. What was I dreaming of when Ami
woke me this morning? She could not remember and in a way, that
scared her though she did not know why.

She jumped down from the steps of the bus and raced through the
parking lot, racing to the door before slamming through it to the
counter. "I'm here to see Hino Rei." She told the nurse, her voice
shaky as her hands trembled with anticipation. She was gasping but
that was okay, she was used to this.

"Are you a member of her family?" The nurse asked politely.

"Umm...no," Usagi stumbled. "I'm a friend." She told the
woman who looked at her sternly.

"I'm sorry, we only allow families to visit." Usagi frowned at
this.

"Oh, are you sure you can't squeeze on person in? She's a very
close friend!" Usagi insisted. This was wasting time! What if Rei-
chan died when she was out here? What if the other was attacked by a
youma? What if--

"No. Only members of the family.

Squanching her face and preparing to wail at the injustice of
it all, she paused. Suddenly, an idea! She quickly ran out of the
hospital and to the edge of the building. Making sure no one was
looking she pulled out her Luna pen and held it over her head.
"Change me into a nurse!" She commanded and in a flash she was into
the hospital again, passing the annoying nurse at the counter.
"Hey!" She called to a startled doctor. "I'm supposed to be
attending a patient called Hino Rei, but it seems that I forgot her
room number." She spoke with a faint blush of embarrassment, because
she really didn't like to lie, though it was perceived to be for a
different reason. After all, desperate action always helps a person
out! Or was it something else? Minako was confusing her own well
known quotes, Usagi frowned. And as she waited here, what if Rei got
stuck in a coma? What if her bed tried to squish her and turned into
a youma? What if--

"Well, I'll go ask the nurse at the counter." Reluctantly she
followed, though she did try to protest at first before realizing
that it would've looked suspicious. "Nurse Kiko, do you know the
room number of Hino Rei?" The doctor asked politely.

"Room 675, Doctor," he smiled and turned back to her, but Usagi
had already slipped away. "Well, what do you know?" He said to
himself, his eyes wide with surprise.

"What's the matter, Doctor?" He shook his head.

"Nothing at all Kiko-san, must have been the coffee break I
missed. I think lack of sleep is beginning to make me hallucinate!"
The nurse giggled at this artifically and smiled adoringly up at the
doctor.

Usagi was heading up to floor six of the hospital by this time,
pacing back and forth in the small compartment with all of her "What
ifs". Once she stepped off, she found herself in a hallway crammed
with people. "Shimatta!" She whispered as she tried to figure out
which way to go. She looked up to see the numbers pointing to the
left, and headed for that direction. Soon she saw the distraught
blonde sitting next to a weary blue-haired woman, both briefly
obscured by the tall, worried brunette who paced in front of them.
"Min'na!" Usagi called out as she fought her way to them. All three
looked up startled to see her. "Where's Rei-chan? Is she alright?
Who did this to her? Was it a youma?" She demanded.

"Usagi-chan?" Ami asked surprised.

"Usagi-chan, why are you dressed like a nurse?" Minako voiced
the question on everyone's mind. "I hardly recognized you at
first!" The blonde scolded.

"I'm sorry min'na! I couldn't get in at the front desk, they
said families only!" Usagi wept.

"You didn't mention that Ami-chan requested you to be here?"
Makoto asked.

Usagi blinked, "You mean I could've done that to get in?"

Ami sighed at this as the other two women joined her in
exasperation at their odango-haired leader. "I'm amazed she had
brains enough to transform to get into here, but not enough to tell
them that Ami-chan asked her to be here!" Makoto said, throwing her
hands up in the air in defeat.

Minako giggled at this and Usagi stuck her tongue out at the
tall brunette, "You're sounding just like Rei-chan!" Then her face
grew stormy with worry once more. "Really, min'na, is she alright?"

Ami cut in, "She's alive and breathing. Kaa-san checked in on
her for me and said all signs shows that she is healthy. She burned
her hand, but it's only a minor burn and will fade with time." Ami
explained.

"Ne, Ami-chan, do you know when she might awake? Or even what
happened to Rei-chan?" Usagi questioned as Minako tugged at her
hankerchief with her teeth in worry.

"Why she's a coma for no apparent reason puzzles Kaa-san and
the doctors. I'm really not sure, Usagi-chan." Ami sighed tiredly.
"Her ojii-san found her on the floor before the sacred fire
unconscious, with her hand red from being burned. I still haven't
figured out why yet." Ami looked down at the compact computer she
held before her as she tapped away.

"Did you get to see her though, Ami-chan?" Makoto asked
concerned.

"Yes, Kaa-san allowed me to get a look in on her. She's very
pale and still unconscious. I hope we can help her wake somehow now
that we're all here." Ami's computer beeped, surprising everyone
except herself. "Let's go see her now." Ami said, all three nodded
in agreement. "Oh, and Usagi-chan, you might want to change out of
that nurse outfit when we get some privacy." Ami advised.

Blushing, Usagi nodded her head and uttered a soft, "Um!"

The four girls walked into the hospital room, only to be
greeted by the rapid breathing from the corner of the room. "H--
No...don't! Don't--! No!" They rushed to the dark-haired woman
thrashing on the bed, trying to hold her down.

"Shimatta, what's she doing?" Makoto gasped as she wrestled
with a leg.

"She's going wild! We have got to hold her still!" Ami told
them firmly even as she struggled to hold onto the arm of the dark-
haired girl.

"Easier said than done Ami-chan! I don't think I can't hold
her much longer," grunted Minako from the opposite side of Makoto.

"Rei-chan! Rei-chan, wake up!" Usagi cried above all of them
as she reached passed one clawing hand.

Rei stopped moving. "Phew! Usagi-chan, you should've done it
sooner if it was going to be that easy!" Minako sighed in relief,
though her eyes did not stray from the dark-haired girl from concern
for the other.

They shifted back to have a little more breathing space.
"Who'd have known that Rei-chan had so much in her." Makoto whistled
as she pushed back a stray strand of auburn hair.

"Whatever happened to her would seem to have been more serious
than I had previously suspected. Perhaps it has to do with the fire
reading." Ami speculated, a thoughtful look stealing over her blue
eyes.

"I'm just glad she is okay." Usagi sighed in exhaustion, blue
eyes still glancing to her friend in worry as she reached over and
covered one pale, limp hand.

Before any of them could speak more, Rei sat up abruptly.
"Lok'h dm'ra sura." Purple eyes turned to Ami, "Kri d'quluka--"

"Rei-chan!" Usagi gasped, taking one step back in surprise
having removed her hand from the other's. Her mouth was covered in
shock at the other's seemingly blank eyes. Rei did not turn at the
call of her name, instead, she fell back onto her bed and was once
more in a deep, coma-like, sleep.

Ami's eyes widened in surprise, "What did she just say?"
Minako whispered in surprise.

"Daijoubu Ami-chan?" Makoto asked concerned when Ami didn't
answer Minako's question. Usagi hurriedly tended to the sleeping Rei
again, alternating between waving her arm around frantically and
looking at the other's bed to try to make sense what had happened. A
silence settled into the room, though all the worried eyes did turn
toward the blue-haired woman momentarily when the other answered.

"I-I don't know what she said, but there was--" Ami's voice
trembled. She could not erase the burning accusation in those onyx
eyes.

"Ami-chan! What happened?" Usagi clutched at Rei's bedding,
"Can't your computer check on her?" Usagi demanded.

Surprised, all three senshi turned to the odango-blonde.
"That's it!" Minako exclaimed in excitment. "Ami-chan, you're
computer can find out what she said."

"Brilliant Minako-chan," Makoto rolled her eyes sarcastically.
"Whatever gave you 'that' idea?"

The blonde frowned annoyed at the brunette, but Ami was already
typing at her computer. "Usagi-chan, you're right!" Ami nodded in
confirmation as she pushed back a strand of blue-hair. Ami typed
upon the computer quickly, silently thankful that she had been
scanning Rei when this happened. The computer beeped a reply as the
ancient text scrolled down. Ami gasped.

"Na ni? Na ni? What is it Ami-chan?" Minako asked eagerly.
The blonde did not notice the paleness that suddenly invaded the
cheeks of the blue-haired woman.

"The betrayer is here. The core knows--" Ami read as she
looked over the screen carefully. She did not tell them the
secondary translation of the statement given by Rei. Those last
words that had a double meaning, the words that Rei had spoken to her
before the dark-haired woman collapsed. But her computer did not
forget, her screen flashed the words at her. 'You know the core--'

"Core? The core of what?" Minako asked surprised.

"And what about the betrayer, who did she mean by that?" The
whole room fell silent at Makoto's question. None of them knew the
answer to either question.

CORE.

Her mentor and friend for many years on the web of the world,
connecting her to an intelligence she never saw nor could ever put a
face to but she liked it that way, it made her more comfortable. She
had met him somehow in its great vastness, a long time ago. Yet, Rei
somehow knew her secret advisor, her muse in all the questions she
had of the world and one of the few who could answer those she found
in herself to ask. She blinked her eyes slowly. She had never
feared him, never felt anxious when she thought of him, not until
those words he had written to her a few days ago, not since her
silence to him. Now she had been discovered, in such a way. "What
language did she speak in Ami-chan?" Usagi asked. Another surprise
of the day, what a marvel at how Usagi is growing, more and more!
The young blonde was earning their admiration and respect. Mamoru
must be a very good influence... when he was home, that is. Or,
perhaps it's the crystal... She was just glad that Usagi didn't
notice the apprehension in her eyes or the way her hands trembled
slightly at the realization that she had been discovered.

Her fingers moved without her thinking about it. For still her
thoughts lingered, lingered on what this discovery might mean. She
felt ashamed that she so selfishly kept it a secret from her best of
friends, and even now she regretted, more than anything else, that
she might lose the companionship of one like CORE. Click, click.
Another gasp. Was it from her? Her blue eyes narrowed, it can't be.
Let me recheck! It can't be! Her focus shifted once more to her
computer when the results finally popped up, rather quickly too.
"Ami-chan? Daijoubu?" She snapped out of her disbelief and looked
into the emerald eyes of her auburn-haired friend.

"Na ni?" She didn't realize that there was anything wrong
except...

"What's wrong Ami-chan? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Usagi piped in.

"Un!" Minako agreed as she held the hand of the unconscious
dark-haired woman.

She faced those stares, almost wishing she could turn away, but
she forced herself to look on. "The results came up," all their
attention focused on her at that moment. How she hated this
attention, even if from those she would trust with her life. "It's
ancient, very ancient... Only my computer seems to know of it," she
knew she was stalling and she had a feeling that they did too. The
atmosphere thickened with curiosity and anticipation. "It's a
mixture of Martian and Moon Kingdom tongue, I would never have been
able to decipher it even if I could remember the language of the
Silver Millennium." She looked away. It was too hard to stare back
at those shocked faces now looking to her, for what? Guidance? She
had none, just her mind that didn't work the way she wanted it to,
especially without the help of Core and she knew that there would be
no more help from him. "I don't know what to make of this min'na,
but it seems that something ancient is rising, that or a long
forgotten lore maybe. Whatever it is, there are only these lines to
guide us and Rei-chan is down. We're on our own until she awakens
from her sleep and by the looks of things it won't happen until at
least tomorrow." She sighed, suddenly very weary of what was to
come. For a time, she had even fooled herself into believing that
the Dead Moon Circus was the last, even though in the future they had
warned them that something bigger was coming, something that they
never dealt with. Something that would accomplish what even the Dead
Moon Circus couldn't do. It was good for a time, and now those times
of peace were falling away, taking her dreams -- those that she had
established after the nightmarish battles that they had almost lost
-- with it.

Ami sighed deeply. Whatever was going on, she had better come
up with a solution quickly. She knew that Core would not be able to
help her this time; he had his own problems to deal with. Her hand
typed rapidly over the keys, analyzing the data the way that Core had
taught her so many years ago. The only other person, who could
possibly know more than Core, was Setsuna, and she respected both
greatly. Yet, Setsuna could not help her now, it was a problem that
she found herself unwilling to tell her dark-haired friend. Why?
She did not know, but she followed her instincts anyway.

- - - - -
1992
- - - - -

'But if such a genetic deformation could occur, how can
something so twisted come out of genes?' She typed the question
hesitantly. For the first time in her life she had met someone who
could understand her, and whose knowledge exceeded her own. She was
surprised at the very least at this skill and his abilities. "His"
identity was only known to her as CORE, the only name he gave her and
the only one he claimed to have. She did not push his privacy
policy, like he did not push her own, though she did try to look up
some information up on him, all of which turned to empty leads. Of
course, she never truly gave up on it, neither pushed on identity,
though she had been notified that someone had been trying to break
into her mini-computer many times. What Core had in brains, he
lacked in technology, at least her technology. What he didn't know
was that, as much as Ami relied on him, her computer had the
intelligence of her former self and all of her ancient mothers
combined. Information and barriers built over several millenniums
could never be broken without the right key, her touch and her own
thoughts. It fascinated and amazed her at how quickly her computer
responded to her, though she still found it more reassuring to type
down some commands despite the fact that her computer had access to
her every whim. How? She did not know, but it did.

'It is not a question of genes, but a question of permanent
mutation because of a reaction to the environment expressed through a
deformation or modification of the genes itself.' Ami smiled at the
almost instantaneous response. She had been making similar theories,
but hers were based more on magic than natural evolution. Still, it
was impressive to see the speed at which Core worked, even without
the knowledge that she had gained over the months that she had been
studying the Dark Kingdom's youma soldiers.

'That is possible, but what could possibly trigger this type of
reaction?' After studying them for months since she first met Usagi
and Luna gave her the compact computer at the arrival of Sailor
Senshi Mars -- Rei -- Ami had been working. Researching on the
physical and mental structure of a youma, trying to find its
weakness. But she had found nothing, only dead ends leading to even
more questions!

'Anything can. A dramatic change in environment has caused
many changes in the human body and can do so for anything else.
Deadly diseases, genes blending the wrong way... There are many
causes and traumatic experiences could also be factors.' Her blue
eyes became puzzled. Traumatic experiences?

'What do you mean by traumatic experiences and how can it
effect the origins and combinations of our genes?' She demanded,
curiosity stimulated at the answer he would give.

'Rape could be a traumatic experience, after all. There are
only three things that can cause genetic mutation Mercury.' Mercury,
her screen name. Perhaps he already knew her real name, but whatever
it was he never acted as if he did. Always, it was Mercury, the God
of intelligence and wit, her Senshi name. She paused for a moment to
read the statement over again. Whenever he spoke her name it had
always made her pause and reread his entry.

'And those are?' Ami had a hard time admitting that she had
yet to delve into the world of genetics. It had never been an
interest until now and even though she had already started to pile a
few books away to read, she was no expert in the field.

'Physical environmental change, which I had mentioned before,
biological engineering that would actually go and mutate the genes,
or sex -- well, more like reproduction.' CORE replied.

Ami's eyes bulged slightly at her computer as a blush crept
across her face. How could she have missed that? The basis of
genetic mutation of course! 'Oh...I see.' Her hand trembled when
she typed it down. She wondered if he knew her reaction to his
words, but he gave no crude remarks and surprised her by going into
detail on each branch of mutation. He had taught her much during
that conversation, and many conversations after that one, but no
matter how Ami thought about it she could now see that if it had not
been for Core, she would never have become the person that she was
now.

* * *

She sighed as her eyes opened to the white light. Huddling in
the corner of the hospital room had made her body cramped. She
became aware of the lack of blood flowing to her feet and it made her
even more unhappy to be awake. Hospitals, I 'hate' hospitals!

Sure, Artemis visited with Luna sometimes. Sneaking in was
okay whenever they could get them through security with their duffle
bags, which usually meant whenever they could. Yet, this added
stress made it almost impossible for her to even see Artemis anymore,
much less Luna. Those two practically locked themselves into the
arcade, researching. Whenever there weren't patrons there, or they
weren't visiting Rei, the two were off, surveying Tokyo and looking
for signs and omens that might direct them to the darkness. They
needed a lead and Rei being here was not helping any of it.

Stretching, she groaned at the cranks and aches at her sides
and arms and legs and... come to think of it, she ached all over.
She grouchily got up as she headed for the vending machine. "Rei-
chan better thank me for this later," she muttered as she inserted a
single silver coin into the machine slot. Her blue eyes searched the
categorized drinks and pushed the lighted coffee button. The words
came across the machine and she gave another groan of frustration.
'Out of order', the machine flashed. "Damn machine!" She grumbled
as she pushed the return slot.

Nothing happened.

Her eyes burned angrily as she reached out and banged her hand
against the plastic cover, "Give me back my money you stupid thing!"
She screeched, seemingly not noticing the stares she got from
doctors, nurses and patients as they paused to watch her battle with
the vending machine.

"Uh...Miss--?"

Of course she ignored the voice trying to snap her out of her
mad revenge. "You-Stupid-Thing!" She said, kicking it each time a
little harder.

"Miss!" She felt her whole body being held back just as the
machine made a binging noise.

"Hey! What the--?"

The white foam cup dropped and the dark liquid splashed down
into the cup with a slurping noise. She stopped in her struggle to
beam at the machine. "Yeah!" She cried happily as she escaped her
captives slackened hold on her because of her sudden change of mood.

Already forgetting that someone had tried to restrain her
earlier, she scooped up the coffee cup and walked away from the
machine before anyone could say anything. Walking casually back to
the waiting area, she sat down with flourish. "Coffee! Just what I
needed to wake up!" She said happily. As she brought the cup
towards her lips, letting the caffeine aroma waken her sluggish
senses--

"Minako-chan! Did you have to make such a scene?" A chuckling
voice interrupted her just as her lips were about to touch the rim of
the cup. Minako jumped in surprise as she swiftly turned her
indignant gaze to a blond-haired man who had his arms around an aqua
haired woman, accompanied by a tall dark-haired woman with a young
teenage girl.

"Haruka! Michiru! Setsuna! Hotaru!" Minako gasped.

The blond man chuckled in amusement at Minako's astonishment as
several young nurses looked with avid interest his way. "Hai,
Minako-chan, we are all here." He sat down gracefully next to her
and wound an arm around her slender form. "So, how's it been?"

She looked at Haruka with a shocked expression on her face,
"Rei-chan's in the hospital." She dropped the bombshell with a
solemn voice just as Michiru helped Hotaru into a chair. "Didn't you
know?" Haruka still had a way of using those blue eyes that were
unsettling, Minako thought suspiciously.

Aqua eyes shot up in a start as coral lips opened in surprise.
Minako would've enjoyed the surprise on Michiru's face, though this
time the fact that Rei was hurt and that was what caused the other's
expression of distress, killed whatever feeling of triumph she might
have had. After all this time, Minako never truly understood the
special bond between Rei and Michiru, something to do with being able
to see into the future, or at the very least the ability to unravel
present events. Though Minako herself guarded her jealousy like one
would guard a mysterious lover, she still had trouble admitting it to
herself sometimes. After all, Michiru could be very intimidating,
and in many ways, the aqua-haired woman reminded Minako of Rei. They
were both so composed and calm -- whom was Minako kidding? Rei was
never calm, but the dark-haired girl sure was composed, and whenever
Minako looked at Michiru, she couldn't help but be envious of the
success and beauty the aqua-haired woman possessed. So what if
Minako wasn't perfect like that? Did it matter if Minako hadn't yet
become a star when Michiru had already been one most of her life?
Admired and loved, was all that Minako had ever wanted in her life
but never had, and before her was the one person she wanted to be.

Kaiou Michiru.

Perfect.

Beautiful.

Successful.

A star.

Minako sighed silently to herself. Why couldn't she be like
Michiru? And of course, Michiru just had to add to that list of
perfection by having Haruka. Though, silently, she found it amusing
that all the nurses were gawking at the blonde who was really a woman
but acted no different from any man she knew. What difference did it
make? Michiru had it all! The perfect career, the perfect test
scores, the perfect reputation, and the perfect lover. And Minako
being left in the dust. She couldn't help but be jealous once in a
while that Michiru seemed to have a special bond with her Rei-chan,
especially when Minako couldn't compete with such a woman on any
level. Though, Minako would never dare tell Rei of her jealousy, how
could she? Rei-chan would just laugh at her for being silly, just
like that time when she disguised herself as one of the students
attending Rei's school and got the two of them into loads of trouble.
But how could Minako help herself for being a little jealous? It was
her nature after all! For what is Love without Jealousy?

"Is she alright?" All Minako saw was the perfect coral lips
move, though nothing reached her ears as she stared into those aqua
eyes. Whatever she was searching for, she didn't find it because
that was the moment Haruka broke her gaze by setting a firm hand on
her shoulders and breaking the silence in her mind.

"Daijoubu-yo Minako? You look a little pale." Haruka said
with soft concern. Blue met blue as Minako hurriedly dragged her
gaze from Michiru's deep ocean eyes.

"Hmm?" Minako asked as if in a dream, but the look in Harkua's
eyes dragged her out of her thoughts and snapped her into focus.
Trying to cover her earlier distraction, Minako giggled like she
usually did and waved off the worried look of the blonde beside her.
"Daijoubu, daijoubu-yo Haruka!" Minako said with another burst of
giggles.

"Must be the hospital, you're not getting enough sleep."
Haruka stated as she leaned back onto the couch, assured that Minako
was back to her normal self.

Minako thanked silently whatever god gave her the ability to
act while she contemplated what to do with the situation now that it
was settled. "No Haruka-papa, it's the coffee. You know what that
can do to a person." Hotaru made a face that immediately lifted
whatever leftover tension there was. Of course, none of them
mentioned the reasons behind how Hotaru came to know the hospital so
well, and Minako was glad that at least one outer senshi had the same
view about hospitals as herself.

She looked over to Hotaru and only as her eyes traveled toward
the dark-haired girl, did her blue eyes meet those eerie rouge-eyes
of the Guardian of Time, or in civilian form, known as Meiou Setsuna.
That woman, though beautiful, had a way of making herself practically
invisible! A trait that Minako found slightly disturbing and as hard
as she tried, for all Minako's cheerful countenance, she didn't trust
the oldest of the Sailor Senshi.

Those eyes studied her in return, a bittersweet smile spreading
across those rouge lips as if she knew exactly what Minako had
thought. She shivered slightly under that gaze, knowing that Setsuna
might very well have read her mind, for none of them knew Setsuna too
well to say what powers she might have discovered at her age and
experience. After all, she was the only senshi who predated back to
the Silver Millennium, now, that's very old!

Good one Minako, state the obvious why don't you? Her cynical
mind jibbed at her. Not in the mood to quarrel with herself and
still somewhat tired from lack of sleep, she promptly told that part
of her brain to shut up and keep the status-quo until she could think
of something else to say. "Did you know this would happen Setsuna?"

Oh, great one there, Minako! Her mind quipped again, and
Minako blushed when she realized exactly what she said to the older
woman. Setsuna's smile changed to amusement as Minako mentally
clunked herself on the head for being such a loud-mouthed idiot!
Even Usagi had more sense than she did at moments like this! If only
Minako had acquired some social graces then she wouldn't have made
herself such a big baka as Rei would reminded her whenever she did
things like this. "Not really Minako. I don't have a crystal ball
to tell me what the future is like." Setsuna replied back with a
voice that was devoid of all emotions.

At this, Minako blushed harder. Of course she didn't think
that Setsuna had a crystal ball... okay, so maybe at first she did
and once in awhile when she was angry... okay, so she had assumed
that the Time Guardian had somewhat of a clearer view than Rei's fire
or Michiru's mirror would show, but apparently, the time can be just
as vague if not more so. "Gomen." Minako mumbled.

Haruka having sensed the discomfort in the blonde leader beside
her, grinned and tried to lighten the somber mood by changing the
subject to things that could be shifted away from personal conflicts
that she knew neither side was yet ready to face. "So, I'm assuming
Rei-chan's getting better. I'm sure she'll appreciate you waiting up
for her, and we promise to visit!" Haruka said with a soft smile as
she was starting to rise, having caught something near the hallway.
Minako looked up and saw a doctor walking toward them, someone she
had thought looked slightly familiar. Now that she thought about it,
she was sure there was something she felt slightly out of place when
the Outers showed up. "We'll bring flowers for Rei-chan tomorrow
when we visit if she's still here." Haruka called out over her
shoulder as she waited for the others to stand and walk out of the
waiting area.

Minako's eyes widened slightly, as the thought she had been
forgetting finally came back to her. Her lips opened just as Haruka
turned to give her a friendly wave goodbye, but the look in Minako's
eyes stopped the tall sandy-blonde. The two stared each other down
as Minako rose from her seat and the blanket fell away, "Haruka," the
other tensed at her name. Not exactly because of Minako's way of
saying it, but the look Minako gave her. Those blue eyes bored into
the lighter blue, as Minako's long forgotten spirit of leadership
rose around her like a shroud of legitimacy and intimidation. "What
are you doing here if you aren't here to visit Rei-chan?"

The others who were walking out paused and glanced back, at
first to wait for Haruka, and now they turned, eyes all narrowing at
the blonde before them. The only inner senshi that stood in their
way this time. Haruka's blue eyes narrowed, "It's nothing important,
why do you ask?"

Minako did not back down as she returned those hostile glances
turned her way, and for once she knew that she had every right to
know the answer she had yet to discover. 'Minako-chan, you are our
rightful leader and thus we shall follow you as ardently as we shall
follow Serenity when she rises to the throne. After all, it will be
you who leads us to battle, and I know that because your goals will
always have Serenity above all else, that there couldn't be any
objection to your authority.' Rei-chan had told her that the night
after one of the defeats of the Dead Moon Circus, when Minako had
been slightly uncertain of her role once more. It was the day when
Minako had regained her powers as a senshi after losing her previous
skills to transform. When they had all gotten back to the temple,
they celebrated that the Inners had finally completed the
transformation and now could better handle their enemies. Of course,
Minako had stayed a little later with Rei to apologize for her
earlier behavior. Rei forgave her and gave her the reassuring words
that soothed her guilt and made her a little happier now that they
had conciliated after all the fighting.

"Because Haruka," Minako said softly, her warning no less
dangerous. "I need to know how much you trust us."

Haruka smiled, her lips revealing pearly white teeth flashing
just as dangerously under the fluorescent lights. "This matter does
not concern the Inners, nor shall the events following after this
meeting." Haruka replied coolly.

"What events?" Minako asked bewildered.

"Events that do not concern you little one." Setsuna spoke.
Those rouge eyes had an air of confidence and authority that Minako
could never hope to obtain. That really irked the blonde leader at
that moment.

"Why must you always treat us as if we are children?" Minako
demanded, trying desperately to regain her self-control.

Hotaru stepped forward, trying to ward off the words that would
be said that could change perhaps the course of history. But the
hands of Michiru tightened around her shoulders and silenced the
raven-haired girl. "Because you are." Michiru answered.

That was the last straw, but before Minako could retort, they
had already turned and left her behind. Only Hotaru's sad and
melancholic face lingered in her mind for a brief second before the
girl turned and joined her adoptive parents. "Gomen." Hotaru had
whispered, for there was nothing else she could do or say to asuage
the distance between the two groups.

Minako collapsed on the couch. She felt as if all the stress
and worries, combined with a lack of sleep suddenly caught up with
her. She sighed sadly into her hand as she cradled her throbbing
head. "So, we are back to where we started, ne, Haruka?" She
would've cried had it not been that she was too tired to cry, her
heart felt too broken to hurt. Instead a numbness crept over her as
she saw before her the bridge that Usagi, their princess, had worked
so hard to build, burn into nothingness by a few exchanges of words
and careless moments. Did they plan this? How dare they go back on
their words of loyalty to their future Queen?

Yet, suddenly Minako realized that the Outers had no
obligations to her. They had sworn their loyalty to Usagi, not to
Minako. Drawing her knees up in defeat and sorrow, she stared at the
white wall before her, wondering what had really happened in the
course of the time that had passed between her and the Outer Senshi.
A deep feeling of dread slowly crept across her skin as she realized
that unless the Outers learned to work with the Inners, with Minako
as leader, that there would be no union between the two groups. For
what would happen when Usagi became Queen?

Minako couldn't understand how the Outers could pledge their
allegiance to Usagi and not to her as well. Her pride had taken a
beating and she was desperate to talk to Rei, but Rei was sleeping
safely in her little coma. Minako could talk to no one now, and she
felt so alone. She gave out a dry sob, but the sound of it only made
her feel worse. Why? Why Haruka? Michiru? Setsuna? Hotaru? Why
must you always defy us?

Minako felt her heart thump painfully against her chest and
knew with certainty that that alliance between Inner and Outer Senshi
had been broken once more. Her lids fell over the blueness of her
eyes, shutting out the world just like Rei did, feeling a burning
sensation at the back of her eyes. Still no tears came. Still the
pain numbed her. She sat, with her head between her knees on the
bumpy couch of the hospital waiting room, trying to gasp for breath
as she grasped at the idea that Inners and Outers were split down the
middle again. No, that's not all, her mind quipped with a sarcastic
lilt. Usagi is in the middle now. Usagi is the mediator and the
prize. Minako felt like dying for never had she thought that she had
to fight her own comrades in arms to win the favor of their future
Queen.

This was the position that Makoto found Minako in when the
brunette came to take over the duty of watching over Rei. By then,
the blonde had fallen asleep, her hold less tense than it had been
but a few hours before. And when she woke, she did not inform the
brunette of what had happened, except to give the other only a half-
hearted hug before leaving the other puzzled at what had occurred.
Makoto did not push though and decided to wait it out. After all,
Minako would tell when she was ready.

Yet, it was Minako who silently vowed to not tell anyone
anything until Rei had woken at last and could help Minako sort
through the confusion and hurt at what had happened. When Rei-chan
wakes, she'll know what to do! Minako assured herself as she left
the hospital for home, knowing that when she got there Artemis would
demand some information on how Rei had been and maybe even suspect
that Minako might have had a very bad day. The blonde sighed,
agonizing on what to tell Artemis and knowing that she would have to
go back to acting like her usual cheerful and somewhat ditz self.
How would she ever earn some respect by acting like that? But Minako
had a secret to keep and she would keep it as long as she had to, so
without realizing it, Minako had already made a firm decision to her
course of action.

Outside the sun shone brightly over the Juuban district, though
the cheerful blonde did nothing to acknowledge its blinding presence
and warmth that surrounded and wrapped life around the flowers and
trees that blossomed under its care. She was too wrapped up in her
thoughts and feelings to even notice the two people at the cafe she
had passed while glancing out the window of her bus. Nor did Minako
notice them get up to search out a more private place to further
their conversation, for Minako was stuck on exactly how cheerful she
should act to not arouse the suspicions of her cat and her friends.

* * *

Ami shifted uncomfortably in her seat for the fifth time since
she met Mamoru at the cafe. She was even more uncomfortable now that
she scanned to see how many people had gathered around them when she
had something much more private to discuss. Mamoru watched her
discomfort with confused amusement. "Daijoubu Ami-chan?" He asked
as the waiter placed a coffee before Mamoru and water before Ami.

"Hai!" She replied a bit too quickly as she glanced around
warily once more. She longed for the safety that the library would
provide, or the books that would conceal her from all that was
happening around her, but that was only wishful thinking.

"What did you want me here for?" he asked as he took a sip of
his coffee, satisfied that it was just the way he liked it.

She shifted again, "I'm not sure if this is such a great place
to discuss it. Maybe we should take this to your apartment." Mamoru
frowned at this. Ami had never been this uncomfortable with public
places, and he certainly had never seen her this paranoid about
anything, before! Her behavior was starting to slowly unsettle him.
True, the blue-haired genius got nervous quite easily when attention
was focused on her, but she usually was never this jittery around
him.

"Alright," he finally consented as her blue eyes finally
shifted back to him, almost a bit startled that he spoke. "After I
finish my coffee, though."

She finally nodded reluctantly as their little lunch rendezvous
had become unusually silent and tense. Never, in all of Mamoru
visits with Ami, had he felt so uneasy, nor had he ever seen her so
distracted. Yet, still he did not persist to hurry and instead tried
to allow time for him to figure out why she was so absentminded, and
why she seemed so strangely unfocused. Yes, he was worried. Who
wouldn't be worried when Mizuno Ami appeared half haggard before him
during his coffee break and dragged him from the hospital where he
had been doing his intern-shift. It was totally unconventional and
if Usagi ever got a wiff of this he'd have a very demanding and
jealous girlfriend on his hands, something he didn't have time to
deal with. Apparently, the patient numbers in the hospital increased
during this time of year with a strange flu...

Could it be the same problem that had put Rei in the hospital?
The abrupt thought interrupted his earlier ones. But that couldn't
be! The doctors had reassured him that she was fine and even Mamoru
himself had gone in to check on her and he could see that she was not
seriously hurt in anyway except the nasty burn on her hand that would
heal soon enough. Rei could be the source of the strangeness that
fell over Ami, though. She might have said something beforehand to
get the blue-haired genius this riled up...

Yet, that didn't seem right. Ami had assured him that Rei was
doing well in recovery and that she would probably wake up any day
now. Anyway, it would be unlikely that it was Rei that Ami had
communicated with. There was no anxiety when Ami spoke the dark-
haired girl's name, no it was something else all together and the
uncertainty of it made him more uneasy. What could possibly have
caused her to be this nervous and distracted if it had nothing to do
with the dark-haired senshi? He knew that it couldn't be any of the
other senshi since Ami had so conveniently left them out of her loop
of information. Could it be a third party he hadn't considered?
Maybe it was Setsuna, or one or all of the Outers. That could
explain a lot of the things happening now. Ami was pretty close with
Setsuna. But that couldn't be it either, since he hadn't heard her
so much as mention the Outers since they sat down for lunch. Mamoru
went over the events of the past week carefully, but could think of
nothing that would've made her so nervous! Usagi had told him
earlier that a youma attack had occurred at their school, and that
had been disturbing. Yet, Usagi had also mentioned that Sailor
Jupiter had taken it out with one sweep of power. That didn't say
much about this youma except that Usagi had declared that it was the
ugliest and most unnatural looking monster she'd ever seen. When
asked to describe what it looked like, Usagi told him that it was one
blob of an ugly mess. Typical Usagi answer of course, which did not
help his active imagination in the least!

Putting down the check, Mamoru ended both an uncomfortable
lunch and even more uncomfortable silence. "Shall we go?" He
inclined the invitation to Ami with a nod of his head.

Her eyes brightened slightly and her body seemed to release a
little of the earlier tension that she had been containing. Nodding,
with a little too much enthusiasm, they headed for Mamoru's
apartment. On their way to his building, Mamoru again prompted Ami
for the reasons that caused her to contact him so urgently, but she
resisted his efforts firmly. In fact, it was such a bad move on
Mamoru's part that Ami immediately clammed up and wouldn't speak of
it. Her earlier tension returned and he was left again to flounder
in curiosity and dread. His imagination ran riot, trying to come up
with a conclusion to this problem. "It will be a long day." She had
finally said, perhaps an attempt to end the stillness that had
settled between them. Not understanding what she meant and having no
idea how to answer the remark, he could only nod, saying nothing.
The silence once again fell between them as they continued to head
for his apartment building.

Mamoru had never been so relieved and tense at the same time on
arriving to his apartment than that day. His key was inserted into
the lock and finally his door opened, at least to him it was a
relief, especially with Ami shifting impatiently behind him. The
blue-haired girl rushed into his neat home in a flurry, scattering
her shoes at the doorway in an unusually untidy manner, so unlike
Ami's usual calm neatness. "Ami-chan... daijoubu-yo?" He asked
again.

The other gave a nervous laugh in answer to his question that
only set his stomach churning at the possibilities that laugh could
imply. He sighed as he slipped his feet from his shoes and settled
them into the comfortable slippers that were made readily available
at the door. Wondering what Usagi was doing at the moment, the
memory of her enthusiastic smile set his mind to a more sedate pace
as he strolled into the living room where Ami had already settled
herself onto his black sofa and was typing rapidly at her computer.
The mood suddenly shifted to seriousness and the change surprised him
if not relieved him a little of the nervous tension that he had left
at the doorway of his abode. "Now will you tell me what's been going
on?" Ami's hand tightened convulsively around her computer, a small
gesture that didn't really go unnoticed as she forced herself to
relax. Her tensed shoulders that were hunched and her glasses,
already perched on her nose, gave off a menacing glimmer as she
looked up at him.

"Mamoru-san," she said softly. His mouth went dry, when did
Ami started to call him 'Mamoru-san' again? She hadn't used that
formal a tone on him since he helped with her physics papers a few
years back. Since then, he almost felt like Ami's big brother once
in a while, giving him a kind of cozy family feeling whenever he was
with her. After all, they were very alike. They both preferred
books to company -- at least when Usagi wasn't around -- and they
were both quiet people who didn't like to nose around in other
people's business. It made association between them easier in that
they could sit for hours in silence without ever talking to each
other. It was like... family. He thought with certainty that this
comfortable feeling he had with Ami would never change, until now
that is.

Sure, Usagi had been jealous when she heard that Mamoru and Ami
would be spending another study night together, but it wasn't like
the two were in love! After all, it wasn't likely that they would
ever feel more than friendship between them. As Mamoru once tried to
explain to Usagi when she demanded why he was spending so much time
with Ami, 'We're too alike to fall in love, Usako!' Of course,
Usagi, with all her romantic ideals and still childish confidence was
unconvinced. She stopped complaining though, knowing that she
couldn't get far with this, and she felt slightly guilty that she
would suspect Ami to do something so... treacherous! What would he
ever do without his Usako? Mamoru thought as he sat down beside Ami.
What other little bunny in the world had a heart as big as the Earth
and still have so much doubt about herself? So what if it took him
longer than he had suspected to realize exactly how much he loved
her? He was intrigued all along and when he found out about his true
destiny, it had been much more pleasant than he thought could be
possible. It had been hard to put the past behind him, and harder to
look to the future with any more enthusiasm. Not that it meant he
had given up on it, he was too determined for that, it was just
that...

Ami's hands were trembling and not knowing what exactly to do
to settle her down, he reached over and put a hand on her shoulder.
The silence should end here. "Daijoubu-yo Ami-chan?" he asked
softly. He felt somewhat responsible for her being in such a state,
though not exactly sure why he felt that way.

Blue eyes searched his, startling him with the fear he saw
behind them. "Gomen nasai Mamoru-san, I have failed you and Usagi-
chan, both." She looked away and rose abruptly, walking over to the
sliding doors of his balcony, looking out to the city below. He did
not go after her so he could not see her worried eyes wondering over
the magnificence of the Tokyo Tower -- studying the spiraling heights
that towered over the city, watching and guarding, a symbol of honor
and strength. She, in turn, did not return the curious stare of the
dark-haired man behind her, though she acknowledged his presence, her
stillness seemed to say otherwise.

It was a while before she finally spoke and told him the
horrors that she had been studying since Makoto's injury by the
youma. Told him the worst that could happen and explained to him the
small percentage of chance to save them, but always there was a price
that had to be paid. "It wasn't such a bad day, and it wasn't even
too unusual, not really. Mako-chan was late for lunch, but I guess I
had expected that after she explained to me earlier that she was
staying after class to check on her last batch of cookies, which she
made for one of her classes. It would be good, since we all know
that Mako-chan tend to overcook, and I guess we're all so happy to
see Usagi-chan's delight at those little things that Mako-chan does
for her." Ami paused in her tale, remembering the bright sun and her
princess's perpetual questions. "Minako-chan came to join us,
surprisingly on time that day, I guess I should've taken 'that' as an
omen but with Usagi-chan pushing for me to tell her the latest love
of my life -- or lack of it... You know how she is -- and now, with
Minako-chan to back her up, I guess I wasn't really paying
attention." Ami continued to look out the window. "But that's only
an excuse, what had kept my mind occupied was a message from an old
friend of mine. Someone I never told anyone about and who had helped
me over the years with analyzing the enemy."

Mamoru gasped softly at what Ami was revealing to him. Never
had he done so with anyone except Usako, but then again, he should've
expected it. Ami had nothing in common with Usagi, and though she
loved the princess of the moon as much as any of the other senshi,
Ami was never truly comfortable about telling Usagi things that the
other might not understand. Though Mamoru understood why, he thought
that Ami was being a little too insecure about the friendship between
her and his odango-blonde girlfriend. Why couldn't the blue-haired
genius see that Usagi would never think that Ami was trying to make
the other look stupid by telling Usagi what was bothering her? But
he said nothing, grateful at least that Ami trusted him enough to
come and tell him the secret that none of the other senshi know
about. It made him feel that he was being included in the little
circle of friendship that Usagi had created around them and his own
insecurities began to ebb as her tale unfolded.

"He called himself CORE, a gatherer of things, a philosopher, a
scientist, and a researcher. We talked between the connections of my
computer and his wirings. Whatever they were... he spoke so rapidly
to me that it seems that his thoughts just flowed onto the net.
Silly of me to describe it like that, I know, after all, technology
hasn't evolved that way yet. Not that I have any knowledge of. So I
spoke to him with questions about the structure of evolution to
understand what could've been a factor of the youma mutation. I
asked him about power resources to formulate that perhaps we tap into
mana of our own planets, vast and almost inexhaustible once we learn
to control it correctly. He taught me so much even when I had never
directly asked him any of my questions and he had never directly
answered them." Her blue eyes misted at the thought that now, Mizuno
Ami, was truly alone, for CORE was gone. She could no longer
communicate with him, for to him, Ami was as dead as her friends. As
dead as her country and her planet would be if she didn't come up
with an answer any time soon!

"You must be wondering what this has to do with anything, but
it has to do with everything! I'm sure Usagi-chan told you about the
youma fight we had at our school, but I'm sure that she didn't inform
you just how sick Mako-chan got afterwards. I know we asked you a
few questions, but between us, we told no one because I requested
that no one knew. Usagi-chan probably wasn't sure if you were
included in our secret so she hesitated and told you enough to no
longer feel guilty that you knew nothing." Ami didn't see the
stiffening in Mamoru's spine, nor did she detect the tension in the
room. Already, she was far too deep in her own thoughts to care
about just how accurate her remark on what had happened to sense the
dangers of speaking too truthfully. Mamoru still did not speak or
interrupt her, though now his mind was filled with questions of what
made Usagi so secretive to him. "Yes, Mako-chan had received a flesh
wound from the enemy, and yes she did have a fever, but I had taken
the necessary precautions and had ordered her to stay in her senshi
form before she slipped too far for us to reach her. I'm glad of
that decision now for had it not been for that, she might have
died." Mamoru's whole attention shifted from his own personal
turmoil and gasped at what had been said. Died? Makoto? How was
such a thought conceivable? What had happened out there that he had
not known of?

"The youma had been too easy to kill, especially since Mako-
chan could destroy it in one blast! Even the youma we had first
encountered with the Generals were harder to kill than that! But
there is a catch, something that I had not expected," Ami took a deep
breath before saying what she had come to tell Mamoru. "The youma
was carrying a virus, a new type of virus that can kill the body by
infection. It could be direct contact or it could be an airborne
disease that cannot be killed. At least not yet! That is why I cut
off all contact with CORE, because he knew that it existed before I
could tell him much, he had told me bluntly that he would expect me
to die soon." Her body trembled at the emotions and stress that she
had suppressed in the last few days. "I'm sorry Mamoru-kun," she
broke. He was too distraught to realize that she returned to calling
him with familiarity. "By being near us, you might be infected!"

He rose and took a step towards her, perhaps to comfort her, or
perhaps to comfort himself. "What is the catch?" He finally asked,
stopping midway when his brain started to function again.

"I have come up with two choices for all of us." Ami stated
firmly. Her voice no longer quivering, "One, we can do nothing and
hope that this is not the virus that CORE had discovered in Southern
Italy. Perhaps it won't affect us with Senshi powers, perhaps it is
already gone." Ami's voice trailed off as she leaned her head
against the cool glass door. "But there is a price. For, if it
doesn't go away, we would have the blood of Tokyo, and perhaps, even
our country, on our hands for keeping the status quo and not doing
anything to help."

"Or?" Mamoru asked, having a feeling that this is the choice
with the most implications.

"Or, we can change into the Sailor Senshi permanently. The
blood of the Senshi will neutralize the disease we carry now, and we
will become hosts, but at least it will be blood hosts. Only those
who share our blood directly will receive it. I have done the tests
and I know, for I have taken a sample of Mako-chan's blood." She
turned to him at last, the light of the city outlining her form as
she stood there, not really looking at him but at the ceiling as she
leaned against the sliding doors leading to his balcony. "I have
tested all of our blood as well. We have all caught the virus, thus
it must be air borne." Mamoru's breath caught. "I don't know how
many people may already be infected by it, but if it helps just a few
for us to be Senshi..." Ami looked to him now, her eyes pleading and
sad. "I don't want their blood on my hands, and I have no one to
turn to now!" He could see that she was desperate, for something,
not just to share her story, to give him the warning, but also, there
was already guilt in her heart.

"Ami-chan," he whispered and gathered her into his arms. This
little girl had come so far on her own, and Mamoru felt sorry that
although he had felt like her big brother for the last couple of
years, he hadn't acted in any way to try to help her in the problems
she had to face. How lonely you must have been, Ami-chan. But he
knew that she did not want pity, none of the senshi was like that and
Ami was no exception.

"I'm sorry Mamoru-kun, but if we come out, how many people will
be hurt? How many would try to use us for political gain? How many
will only laugh and say we are nothing more than little girls playing
heroines? There would be much hurt and emotional strain if we come
out now! Perhaps none of us are ready! Not yet." She whispered,
but pulling out of his embrace she looked away. "Yet, we're supposed
to be heroes, ne? Sacrifices and all."

"Ami-chan, you realize that this is now senshi business, though
I know you had hoped it wouldn't be. You 'need' to tell the
others!" He stressed, though he could tell that she had already come
to that conclusion long before.

"Yes. I do don't I? I need to, but I also needed to know that
I have a friend when I go and tell the others." She said at last,
laughing a little hysterically. "What am I talking about Mamoru-kun?
They are my friends! They always have been." Her voice softened and
she shied her face away again. "I wonder how Usagi-chan will take to
this brush with death."

"She'd just be glad that none of us has died yet." Ami nodded,
they both knew that it was exactly what Usagi would think. Never
worrying about her own health the way she did for others. Such vigor
and love for strangers and friends alike.

Ami was wrong. She should've trusted them sooner. "Yes.
Thank you Mamoru-kun."

"No, Ami-chan. You have given so much already to us that we
should thank 'you'. We should call a senshi meeting, this decision
is the biggest one we had yet, but we have all known that the day was
coming. After all, we're the rulers in Crystal Tokyo! It's no
surprise it has started now." Mamoru said, trying to cheer Ami up.

She smiled at him, knowing his intent, "Domo arigato Mamoru-
san," she bowed. Ami, never lacking the manners of a humble student,
made Mamoru blush at the honor she had placed upon him. But before
he could protest, she looked up at him with a smile that eased him.
"I thank you for your help." He returned the smile, but did not miss
the uncertainty that still shone in her eyes.

"Ami-chan," he said softly.

"Hai?" Her eyes widening slightly at what she had given away.

"They'll say yes, you know that." She smiled, and this time it
was more relaxed. Always, Mamoru would remember that day, for it was
then he learned that the brilliant Ami had more doubts than anyone,
and though she may know the answers, she needed others to reassure
her that the path she had chosen was correct. Slightly proud with
the knowledge that exactly this trait will make her a concerned and
wonderful doctor, Mamoru headed for the kitchen to prepare for
Usagi's arrival. She would be hungry, as Usagi always was. And with
Minako in tow, it would be two great appetites to satisfy. He was
just glad that at least this time he had enough of a warning to not
have his kitchen sacked like the last time his Usako visited.
Putting the kettle on the stove and reaching for the teacups, he
heard Ami on the communicator, asking others to come to the meeting.
As he reached for the extra cookies that he had bought in case of a
surprise visit from Usagi, he found himself anticipating with a
certain dread the revelation of their secret identity.

Ami was right. This was going to be a long day. There were
still many questions still unanswered. Like, who was this Core? And
how did he know so much about this virus? Yet, Mamoru allowed the
questions to settle, for he had a feeling that Ami was still holding
something back. It will come, he knew, the whole truth will be
revealed sooner or later. So, he waited with patience that he had
acquired after working years as Tuxedo-Kamen, for the day when Ami
would allow them into her heart once more.



.blue.
blueweber@hotmail.com

WARNING: The poem "Sin: II" is mine. Plagerize
and you will regret it. Ask for permission, and
give credit where it's due -- like any good
author -- and permission shall be granted. Thank
you!

.blue.
blueweber@hotmail.com


A tribute to...
A. L. a Campo (my editor)
His Lordship Chaos,
Ken Wolfe, &
Angus MacSpon.

And everyone who had helped & encouraged
me during my trials and my errors ^-^;;

Thank you for every dream and every
inspiration...

Thank you for everything.


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blueweber@hotmail.com