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

4. The Fourth Sheep Named Secrets

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 Fourth Sheep Named Secrets
------------------------------

"We may draw good out of evil;
we must not do evil, that good may come."

--Maria Weston Chapman
("How Can I Help to Abolish Slavery")

"Whatever secret the past holds over you,
it will not last unless you allow it to
last. It will not thrive unless you allow
it to thrive. It will not die unless you
leave it where it should be; in the past.
For beware of being too fond of your own
memories. They just might decide to rise
again, on the powers of your faith alone,
and destroy you in your wake. That is why
the past is always best left a secret. Yet,
there are exceptions to every rule, for some
wounds will be better off revealed and healed
before they have the chance to fester and kill
its owner. Do what you must, but remember my
Queen. The past has no hold on you unless you
give it right to and cannot control you,
unless you allow it to flourish in your
bitterness."

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


She opened her mouth to scream. This wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare!
Nothing came and then suddenly, "Min'na!" The lights flooded her, hurting her
eyes, but she was glad, glad of the absence of the darkness. Yet, she was still
alone. Her silver hair brushed against the ground. Her breaths continued to come
out in puffs of white. The snow whirled, pulling at the gossamer gown that hugged
her form. She looked down startled, seeing that she was wearing her princess
gown. Only, it was tattered and ripped, the edges rimmed in red. Red as blood.

Thump.

Blood.

Thump, thump.

Not her blood.

* * *

If someone had told Fuma that he would be stuck in a cop's job and would end
up being the surveillance camera to a blue-haired wonder-girl a year ago, he
would've looked at this someone as if he had lost too many brain-cells or had too
many beers! The great Kuragari Fuma watching the actions of a brainy human girl?
He had better things to do. Especially since he was known for his shadowy
espionage at some of the worst situations in politics and in war. And then to
sink so low as to end up spying on a girl?! What a joke! Of course, it was no
joke and at this moment Fuma did get stuck with it, even if he was getting
impatient with the results of this little 'investigation'. Just because bashful
Core couldn't get the nerve to ask the girl out didn't mean he had to keep an eye
out for her so that others didn't get the chance! Not that Core had much
competition, except for that Chiba Mamoru she kept seeing. Of course, when Fuma
checked up on the guy, he was even more surprised! The ebony-haired man had been
going out with one of Mizuno Ami's best friends for at least two or three years!
Not just that, but also the time they started dating and the age difference...

If Fuma didn't know any better he'd call this guy a hentai-ecchi! But Fuma
watched and analyzed and kept his opinions to himself. What surprised him was
exactly how straight laced this Chiba Mamoru was! Dating a juvenile, yes, but
this guy had a face carved out of stone and seemingly a heart too. Until Fuma saw
Mamoru with his young juvenile girlfriend, Tuskino Usagi, a girl with the grades
of twelve year old stuck in high school. Yet, somehow she got a boyfriend and
best friend who's IQs were well above average. How did these people ever find
anything in common was beyond Fuma! Yet it interested him greatly that a man like
Chiba Mamoru, who had a history of being a loner and overachiever like Mizuno Ami,
would melt like butter at the smile of his girlfriend. What men do when they're
in love... Fuma shuddered at the thought.

So lost in his own thoughts while spying on the blue-haired girl before him,
he was unaware of someone else spying on 'him'. "Excuse me?" A voice interrupted
him.

The first thought that entered his mind was, 'heavy British accent, a ting
of Japanese, and a voice that was made to sing!' He turned with his best smile.
Babe! "Konichiwa!"

Blonde, blue-eyed babe! Fuma wrote off with a grin and bowed. Ah, yes, I
love this job! The babe before him blinked in surprise, probably because she
didn't realize he could speak Japanese. If Core were here, he'd scold him for
calling the girl a babe, but she 'was'! Always 'female' for conservative Core!
One day, just one day, Fuma would like to see that boy loosen up and fall for a
girl. Well, that's what challenges were for after all! "My name's Kuragari
Fuma." He told her. Her looks belied her age, sort of. And now Fuma was
beginning to see his old assessment of Chiba Mamoru backfire onto him. Well, he
never admitted that he 'wasn't' a hentai-ecchi, now did he? Fuma's grin turned
boyish at his somewhat darker thoughts. Okay, okay, so he hadn't been in contact
with the female species since the last decade, but that didn't make him into
another Core, did it? He certainly hoped not!

"Kuragari Fuma?" The girl had a pensive look in her eyes and then it was
gone. A bright smile lit her face as she extended her hand to him. "My name's
Aino Minako." Nope. He was wrong. When a girl smiled like that, she looked
exactly her age!

"Ah! A child of love. Interesting." He said. Flashing his teeth in a
show of amicability, he took her offered hand. Sending a signal to her brain that
he had already shaken it before letting go. Her smile never wavered, didn't even
blink. Nobody knew the difference except for Core of course, but then, you
couldn't get past that guy's defense-systems with something as simple as an
electric signal. Hell, the guy hardly even uses his body! Just like Fuma. Man,
that guy was like a brother to him! He couldn't help the inward smirk at 'that'
comment.

Was it just him or did her eyes almost sparkle like stars? That was
strange. He never noticed that he had this effect on women before. But who was
he kidding? This was merely a girl, and she probably fell for every other guy
under the sun, if he had a cute face and a cuter smile that is. Sighing inwardly
he prepared himself for the worst. The clingy part, "You know the meaning of my
name?" Minako was flattered and impressed, her smile brightening even more than
before. Fuma had never thought that people could have a smile that bright, much
less brighter! Its effect was almost frightening, since she seemed to practically
glow. Was she a machine too? He could do something like that on a good day.
Glow like a light bulb that is, or brighter if he felt like it. But she was
human... right? Well, if she was another machine, then she definitely had
potential to be an actual girlfriend, that or a potential rival...

Searching through her files in his head in the blink of an eye and learning
all of the technical little likes and dislikes, he immediately found that she had
been friends with Mizuno Ami for sometime now. He was, also, somewhat relieved to
find that an internal scan showed him that she was very human and very female.
His grin widened at that. Yeah, he was definitely a hentai on a good day, but
only for today though... it sucked being an old-hentai hologram sometimes.

Since his virtual body didn't permit any physical embarrassment or any true
physical emotions in the first place, he was as safe as pie. Deciding firmly to
take his thoughts off of that track, Fuma turned his attention once more to what
had brought him here in the first place. That's great for Fuma's part, for it was
at that moment that he decided to wonder if the cute blue-haired girl had any more
cute friends like Minako. "Well, I've lived here all my life you know?"

That sent her into a fit of nervous giggles, a deep blush appearing on her
cheeks. "Silly me, I keep thinking you're from somewhere foreign and exotic!"

He smiled, warmly. Don't want to be condescending, girls never like that in
a guy. "Well, I do travel a lot. You got that part right."

She seemed relieved to be let off the hook, what did she think he'd do?
Laugh at her? Most boys would probably be too intimidated to even talk to her,
she might have expected him to stutter just like all those idiots walking around
in Tokyo now! He was way out of her age range though, but hey, you really don't
age when you're half-machine and you live your days out as a hologram picture.
Nothing changes much unless you wanted it to, and frankly he didn't, he liked the
way he'd been looking in the last few decades. "So, where's your girlfriend?"
She interrupted his thoughts and brought him back to reality, literally!

He raised a brow slightly in surprise. Aren't we a bold one? "I don't have
one." He couldn't quite decide if the expression on her face was rapture that he
was single or giddiness now that she had a new victim to prey upon. He also
wasn't sure if he should be wary of the look or not. It wasn't like he was going
to be deceitful about it, not that you can get many dates if you weren't fully
human, no matter how good you may look in the mirror. Hell, he couldn't even look
in one of those! If he wanted to know what he looked like, he'd have to pull up
an old file with an even older picture.

"Oh!" She opened her mouth in a little 'o' and tried to hide her big grin,
failing miserably at that too. "You didn't just get dumped did you?" She asked
again, this time he could almost see the little wheels turning in her head.

Cautious little thing, aren't we? "No. Actually, I haven't been dating for
a while, either." Truth, again! Again, the little stars came into her eyes,
though this time, he was sure he saw hearts floating around her head as well.

"Why?" That surprised him. Must have been giving himself an ego-trip,
again. Happens when you're still partially human, especially when girls gawk at
you once in a while when you walk down the street.

Laughing the question off, he tried the 'I-usually-don't-have-time-for-that-
sort-of-thing' signal, "I just haven't been dating," he replied.

"You don't prefer...other men...do you?" She asked hesitantly.

Surprised once more, he looked around the park. Let's make this a little
fun, "Actually..." he watched in amusement as all the little dreams crashed to
pieces at her feet as a blush hit her face with full force. "I don't."

"Na ni?!" She yelped out in surprise when he let out his delayed answer.

"What?" He asked, acting surprised at her response.

"You didn't have to make me think that--" she cut herself off this time and
blushed again.

So, she wasn't as bold as she would like to be. Now, the question arises,
to push or not to push? "Think what?" To push. He tried his best to look
innocent.

"Urr...that...ummm...that you were...you know..." Minako stuttered.

Well, now he can be the rescuer of this little charade and she'll introduce
him to her friend right away. "What? Do I really look like an ecchi stalker with
no life?" He put on his most innocent smile as a cynical little laugh went off in
his head as he saw her flounder. 3, 2, 1...

"No! I think you're cute!" Ding! Full pledge blush spread across the face
of the blonde as she blurted out what she had been thinking when she first spot
him standing alone. The silver lenses he wore flashed back at her and he had a
wonderful smile that could just make her melt! Thank the gods Makoto wasn't here,
or else she'd be saying how much he looked like her old boyfriend and she would
never have gotten the chance to talk to him! On the other hand, Fuma kept on
smiling at her as if he didn't mind her outburst. He must get this all the time!
Minako thought enviously.

Fuma on the other hand was having thoughts not in the direction that Minako
might have anticipated... 'Core! If you were half the god you claim to be, then I
sure hope that you're the one who created women cause I love the way they work!'
He grinned. "Great, then you wouldn't mind introducing me to your friend now
would you?" Real smooth there, buddy! Shattered dreams lay at Minako's feet.
Time for the winner! "After that, would you like to go to dinner tomorrow or
something? For all your troubles, that is." Smile boy! He flashed her a
'boyish' grin and tried to act like a teenager again.

She brightened in a way that 'was' scary. Nodding enthusiastically, she
grabbed his arm -- yes, his sensors were working in perfect order -- and half
dragged him to where Ami stood. "Hey Ami-chan!" Minako called out. The pretty
blue-haired girl looked up startled at the blonde's approach. Yep, this is a
great job! Surprisingly, Core actually had pretty good taste in his 'females'.
From what her file said about her, she seemed to be actually a match for the
little demi-god of the computer underworld.

"Hey Minako-chan!" Ami replied with a soft smile. Blue eyes immediately
drifted to his direction and blushed when he grinned back. Yeah, definitely
Core's girl. They're both so tense, if not somewhat dense in the relationship
department, even if they were geniuses in the others. "Hello..." she said softly
in his direction, though she still didn't know his name.

He extended his hand this time, "Please to meet you Ami, it's Ami, isn't
it?" She seemed somewhat startled, blushing even more under his attention. Yeah,
his looks weren't too rusty yet. "Kuragari Fuma, Minako-chan's Monday night
date." He rested an arm around the shoulders of the beaming blonde who was not
blushing, as she was smiling. Women, as much as they were predictable, could
never be understood. It especially puzzled him on how they worked it out in their
mind to do the things they did.

Ami's face turned bright red at his bold words. She must not hear those
words much. Must be because of all those Tokyo boys, too aggressive or no spunk
at all! Fuma wrote it down as a few things to remember, like, Ami's dislike for
personal information and exactly how easy it was to get her emotionally wound up
like a clock. Yeah, just like Core, they're perfect for each other! The little
wheels in Fuma's head began to turn. What snapped him out of it was Minako's
sudden act of wrapping an arm around his waist. Wow! Women had never done that
to him before, not since he had been semi-comatose and put into a tank with half
of his organs gone! Fuma was definitely having a good day. "Don't get too
hopeful now," Minako winked. "After all, you know what they say about hope?"

"What?" Fuma asked with an amused smile.

"Hope is a thing with a lot of thorns, and if you're lucky, you won't get
pricked!" Fuma blinked. He wasn't sure if he ever heard 'that' one before. Yet,
Minako had said it with such conviction, as if she had heard it a thousand times
before--

Ami groaned, "Minako-chan!" The other apparently didn't even have the
strength that day to correct the blonde.

Suddenly, something else startled him out of his cheerful thoughts. A
feeling really -- if he still had those! Because Minako had seemed familiar when
he first saw her. So did Chiba Mamoru's girlfriend, Tuskino Usagi. This girl,
Mizuno Ami was also familiar. He searched his data file for the information he
had gathered in the last few years and then suddenly it hit him. He had to keep
himself from gasping out loud and hitting his head on the concrete for being a
true baka. Not that that would help much, especially since he wouldn't have felt
the pain of the contact between concrete and his head. At best, a part of his
body would fall through the cement and he'd look like an ostrich with his... Now
he was getting distracted. "You seemed familiar, so I had to ask Minako to
introduce us." He lied. Returning to the topic at hand. And it was just a
little white lie in the end! Nobody's going to get hurt by it!

Anyway, she and Minako did seem familiar to him. Especially since he had
seen their picture with those missing women only a few days ago.

"Oh?" Ami asked surprised.

"Yeah, I was walking by a shop the other day and there were these four
women. They were all very different but claimed that they were sisters. They
were running a little antique and beauty shop somewhere a little off downtown
Juuban. They had a photo of you guys with them and I saw it." Not that much of a
lie, most of it was true. He sure hoped they wouldn't ask him why he was there in
the first place! How was he to explain what he was doing in an antique and beauty
shop?

Shopping for his grandmother was just too lame an excuse and he already told
Minako he didn't have a girlfriend. Anyway, if he said he had a little sister,
then she'd probably want to meet the imaginary girl, and 'that' would be stupid!
"Really? Do you know their names?" Minako asked, slightly surprised. There
seems to be an angel watching over him today and covering the wide questionable
trail he's leaving in his wake!

"Yeah, I remember one of them, had green-hair held back in a bun." Scanning
his memory storage he called up her file again, "Called herself, Petz."

"Petz?" Ami gasped surprised. "You mean Ayakashi Petz?"

Minako looked thoughtful for a moment, her eyes slightly sad. "I didn't
realize that they still kept that picture." She murmured to herself.

Fuma smiled innocently. "You know them? They seemed nice enough." He
shrugged. It's easy to act startled when you're no longer one-hundred percent
human.

Minako looked to him, and smiled. Her eyes bright and trusting, "Yes, we
do. They're friends of ours who we haven't spoken to in years. The communication
just died between us, but I'm glad that they still think of us." There was
something sad and wistful about the way she said it, even though she didn't look
too sorrowful about it. Or, did she not wish for him to see her sadness?

"It's been awhile since I talked to them." Ami mused as she brushed back a
stray strand of blue-hair. A sad smile on her face as she thought back to her
earlier days as a senshi. "I didn't think I'd miss them, but I do."

Fuma grimaced, it was going to be hard to break the news to them, but they
'd find out sooner or later. "Sorry ladies, but apparently their shop blew up
after I had left." Both girls gasped and looked horrified at him. "But no one
was there, so no one was injured..." he quickly added, which brought some relief
to their faces.

"Yes, I heard about that explosion near down town Juuban, I had forgotten
that they had set up their shop there." Ami sighed with guilt still heavy on her
heart.

Fuma looked to his watch and frowned. There was still time for
investigation at the Diet Building. He had heard of that upstart politician that
was starting to get disturbing. Right now, he needed to get to the building and
listen to some gossip. He bowed to the small blue-haired girl. "It's very nice
to have finally met you Mizuno Ami-san, but I must leave you two lovely ladies for
now. I have an errand that I must see to." He bowed to Minako, as both girls
returned the gesture politely. Minako was smiling brightly at him, though at
little disappointed by his sudden need to depart.

"I'll see you later!" It was a question more than a statement.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow." Fuma nodded with a grin and then winked to the
blushing Ami. "Good day girls!" And he was off to do some spying, something that
he was made to do. Not that he minded watching over cute girls, but he was made
for spying on the enemy and he didn't want to waste his talents! Not even Core
could make him watch over them 24/7, especially when it was time to snoop and
there were people to eavesdrop on.

Anyway, it wasn't everyday you get to be a bug. And the best thing about
the job? Nobody could squash him, even if they walked all over him! Yep, it was
a great day! Met the girl, or girls in this case, played cop, acted like a spy
and morphed into a bug. Nothing can beat this day except a really nice day on a
Bahama beach with the sun beating down onto your back...

Better not go reminisce about things that one can no longer have, Fuma
decided. Just going to mark this day as really good and then hitch it all the way
up to sabotage by spying on a few big guys. If all goes well, Fujimia Doko will
turn out to be an interesting guy who wouldn't have too interesting an agenda.
Hopefully. But you know what they say, 'Hope is a thing with a lot of thorns, and
if you're lucky you won't get pricked!' Well, at least Minako would put it in
that perspective, and hey, maybe if he's hopeful enough, she won't prick them all
with another bad quote!

* * *

Fujimia Doko sat patiently at his black desk. His eyes were closed and
though he seemed almost sleeping, he wasn't. All his senses were out searching
for the darkness that wrapped its tendrils around his dark soul and drew him. The
telephone rang and pulled him out of his search. Looking slightly annoyed, he
picked up the phone and held it loosely in his hand. "Yes?" He asked in a smooth
and polished voice.

If Fujimia Doko ever learned that he had half the talent for politics that
he didn't use, he would've kissed himself. Only, now that the demon used all of
those little talents that Doko himself hadn't known about, with Doko's own death
inside his own body, nobody was really cheering about the use of talent in this
little political game. "Fujimia-san, there's a Hino-san here who's requested to
see you." He nodded with a smile. Right on time Hino!

The door opened to reveal a tall man with a shock of blond hair and a
mustache. Seemed the type that would be popular with the girls, but his eyes were
cold and he gave off an air of confidence and arrogance. "Fujimia, I heard you're
the new player in town." Hino said, not even bothering to take the extended hand
that was offered by Doko. He wasn't the least bit frizzled by this act of
snobbery. True-demons don't really care who's the snob, just about who has the
power. It didn't alter his plans the least and having Hino here was all the
effect that he wanted.

"You flatter me Hino-san, but I'm not really a new player at all, I have
just been hiding in the shadows. Waiting for the right time so to speak." Hino
twitched a smirk at him, but it was forced even if it didn't seem like it. Yes,
this man would've been very useful, but his track record was already too public.
Too many people knew him. It would've been harder to possess such a man anyway.

"Ah! An old player waiting for his aces! Any other tricks up your
sleeve?" Hino smiled at him coldly. So, the old man knows that Doko was a rival
did he? Time to establish who's the boss around here.

"Actually," Doko's smile turned dark. The color of his eyes darkened to
blackness as well. Hino rose with a growl at his throat. So, this man had a bit
of a talent at sensing evil presence, a small psychic. Interesting, but an
unimportant factor in Doko's plan. "I have several tricks that no one knows about
and never shall." The knowledge seemed to strike home at that moment as those
strange blue-violet eyes widened, a scream beginning to rise from the other's
throat. He didn't even blink as the dark shadow rose from him and struck with the
speed of a cobra, strangling and swallowing the life energy of the man at the same
time. The psychic was more hidden than a small force, and it was sweet to the
dark and hungry jaws, gaping toward the soul, swallowing the sweet nectar of power
and life.

Hino gasped his last, his body racked with spasms before slumping onto the
floor. "Goodnight, sweet rival," Doko muttered with a smile. Hino rose from the
floor, nodded to him and walked to the door. He exited the building with a dazed
and empty look on his face. By midnight that night, Hino fell over on his way to
bed and they pronounced him dead on the spot. Doko expressed his sympathies, and
though no one spoke of what had happened the night before, many would swear later
on that Hino walked out of the office with a somewhat peaceful smile on his face,
as if the burdens of the world had fallen from his shoulders.

Some would later claim that Hino was poisoned. He was too young to just
fall over and die like that! But no one questioned Doko, for he had his
witnesses. No one saw any fights and they all claimed that Hino seemed happier
than he ever did when he walked out of the office. Some of his more bitter rivals
were shot down, so naturally, Doko rose on top. And the national elections were
coming up soon and Doko couldn't wait until he was at the very top of the
corporate ladder. After all, his job was to get into the position of ruling the
world, and so far, only Japan wasn't half dying from some mad disease spread
elsewhere on this little planet Earth.

Doko smiled and licked his lips at the delicious after taste of a worthy
human opponent, Hino.

* * *

Rei gasped out loud, clutching her chest. Her eyes flew to the fire, and
saw a man she hadn't spoken to in more than a decade, melt into the darkness and
disappear into the fire's embrace. "Hino-san." Her only acknowledgement of ever
knowing him. Yet, there were still tears in her eyes that blurred her vision, and
when she blinked, some escaped, trailing down her cheeks and some even fell onto
her red kimono. "Father." When was the last time she dared call him by that
name? The same name that would bring even more painful memories. Kagemi Kaidou
flashed before her inner mind, broken and blurry pictures of her deceased mother
passed and vanished into the mist of her memories, pain came and stayed within her
heart.

It had been a very bad week. First the Outers and Inners split once more
into factions and now this! Her own father, dead! Without her being able to even
utter a word to object. It was hopeless. She felt helpless and unable to control
the events that had been happening. That frightened her, more than she was
willing to admit.

"Sayonara, otou-san." If there was an answer to her pain, she didn't hear
it.

The door of the fire room slid open, surprising her. She turned. Strands
of midnight-purple hair swirled and passed through the flames unharmed. "Why are
you crying Rei-chan?" Her onyx eyes widened, a deep color with the light of the
fire behind her and the darkness of shadow that should've masked her expression.

"Hiketsu, I didn't realize you were here." She replied startled, trying to
change the topic.

"I was visiting when I felt a strange aura and came to check on you. The
last time it happened, you burnt your hand." She clutched her still loosely
bandaged hand into a fist unconsciously.

She looked away, "So you know?"

"It would be best if you could clarify to me what I felt." He answered
bluntly.

She turned back to him, and for the first time in a long time, she saw
Hiketsu, not Hiketsu her childhood friend or even Hiketsu, the brother of the
first man she ever loved. There was much of his brother in his face. The same
blond hair, only his was a little more tousled and darker. The same blue eyes,
only his were of a deeper blue and held a controlled wildness that she could not
identify. The same chiseled cheekbones, though his chin was a little more
stubborn. "Father's dead."

They both knew whom she meant. "But it was my brother you were
remembering." He answered evenly.

If she gasped, she didn't realize she was doing it until it had parted from
her lips. The smile though soon followed, "It's strange how you know so much yet
so little."

"Ironic how that works for both of us, if not for all those who ever
lived." He answered evenly.

"I was just remembering--"

"His hair, his eyes, and his beautiful smile?" Hiketsu asked with a
slightly irked smile of his own. She laughed at his predictions, though he did
get the last part wrong, he had all the other parts down pat. Though, she was
glad he didn't realize that she was comparing him to his older brother. Another
thought soon disturbed her in the short silence that ensued, but that thought
didn't get to continue long. "You were probably thinking how I would never match
up to the great Kaidou-san." Hiketsu finally said in a soft and dangerous voice.

The comment surprised her. She had never thought Hiketsu would be the
jealous type, and even the thought that he had changed into a jealous type didn't
fit his image either. He pushed himself upright from his slouch against the
sliding door, uncrossing his long legs. When did he get so tall? She wondered in
surprise. When did he become so handsome? She blinked again. The earlier
thought that she had squashed was returning. "No, I wasn't thinking that." She
finally said, unwilling to allow her mind to wander in directions that were
forbidden for her to think of. She didn't like boys remember? At least, that's
what she told Usagi so very long ago, and it was a lie then too. She was only
interested in one man and he had left her for someone else.

Hiketsu smiled warmly at her, a smile that startled her. Not because she
had never seen him smile, but it was the first time she had to keep herself from
reacting to it. The charm must run in the family, she thought wearily. "What
happened Rei-chan?" His voice rolled over her like a soft whispered caress,
though in the form of a question that she was unwilling to answer. She forced her
gaze to turn to the night sky outside, the small parts that she could catch
glimpses of from the bottom part of the sheltering roof that lined the outer
hallway. The crickets chirped and the tip of the moon was just visible--

The door was slid shut so suddenly that she nearly jumped from where she
sat. Hiketsu turned his grin to her as he leaned against the closed door. "Rei-
chan, why are you ignoring me?" He asked softly and she looked away. Glad of the
shadows made by the fire-dance, glad of the heat that the fire gave, because now
he would not see the blush on her cheeks and think that it was because of his
presence.

"I'm not." She lied.

He frowned at this, "Rei-chan..." if that man called her name like that one
more time she would scream in frustration! Years of training forced her to grab
that emotional turmoil and the frustrated thoughts, stuffing them all down to the
deepest regions of her mind where she could review them later or ignore them
completely, whichever course she chose once she got her emotions under control.

"I'm just worried now that Hino-san's dead." Great save Rei! That's what
Minako would call it. "I don't know how I will tell the others. They would feel
pity and I do not wish them to feel an emotion that I do not feel nor deserve."
He walked over beside her and knelt down next to her. His proximity was dizzying
and just a little bit scary. She rose quickly, almost too quickly because then
she realized her mistake. His hand snaked out and held her wrist. The contact
startled her. He hadn't really touched her since he woke her that day in the
hospital. They hadn't even had a chance to speak after that. Except the part
where he woke Usagi, Ami and herself from their sleep. Actually just Usagi and
Ami since they let her sleep a little more while he drove each of them home.
Grandfather later told her that her childhood friend had carried her up all one
hundred and one steps to the temple grounds and handed her over to him. 'A very
respectable young man!' her ojii-san had commented with enthusiasm and a twinkle
in his eyes. 'Reminds me of that Kaidou-san that used to come here though.' She
nearly choked on that one, tending to forget exactly how observant her ojii-san
could be. 'His brother actually.' She had informed him softly. Her grandfather
thought this over and soon was grinning as if he knew something that she didn't
and after that, he didn't speak much of Hiketsu or of his visit to the temple.
Not once. "I- The others will be here soon." She said, though this time she
wasn't lying.

"Will you not stay a little longer with me Rei-chan?" He asked her softly.
Those blue eyes looked up at her before he too rose. He towered over her, almost
as tall as Kaidou...

"Hiketsu--" she began but his eyes darkened slightly.

"You're thinking of him again. Is that all you see in me Rei-chan? Is he
all that you can think about?" He was mad, and she wasn't sure why. If she had
known, she might not have wanted to acknowledge it. Her heartbeat accelerated in
her chest and she tried to back away, but his hand against her wrist tightened and
she knew he was warning her silently not to move. "For once, answer my question
and try not to lie." He warned her darkly.

Her eyes widened slightly and she tried to think of something to say. "I--
I--" she couldn't tell him what she thought because she didn't know herself, so
she looked away and said nothing. Fearing her eyes would give away her
vulnerability and her own anger at her indecision.

"So, I'm repulsive to your eyes now, is that it?" He let go of her hand as
she widened her eyes.

How did they ever become so distant? She never thought that time and space
could change how two people, who had once been friends through childhood years,
could suddenly find themselves so different. How could he be so... passionate
about something that she was unsure of herself? He turned to go, and frantically
she reached out for him, catching his arm. "Hiketsu, you were never repulsive to
me! I-- I just don't know what I feel at this moment. Please, I need to think it
through and-- I feel so confused and--"

He turned to her slowly and his eyes stopped her from saying more. "Yes,
Gomen. I was being overly dramatic about nothing." His smiled reassuringly
though it did not reach his deep blue eyes.

"No, you're right. It was wrong of me to compare you to your brother." She
saw the muscles of his jaws clench slightly. Oh, why was she always such a baka
when it came to dealing with men? Why did she say that just now? Did she really
mean it? Minako was better at this than she was, the blonde was the charmer, Rei
rather stayed silent and let Minako do all the talking. Yet, Minako couldn't be
here to talk her out of this one, especially since this was Rei's problem and not
the blonde's.

"Oh," he said softly and clenched his jaws together again. "You can let go
of my arm now, Rei-chan."

She blushed, but she didn't let go. She knew that telling the truth, and
making the mistake of doing what he asked when he was angry and hurt, were two
different things. Especially since she was the cause of his anger and hurt.
"Hiketsu, please understand that I didn't mean it like that!" She stepped closer,
a truly desperate move on her part to let him understand. It's hard trying to
convince someone of something that you have trouble with working out in the first
place, especially when you just discovered that your father, whom you supposedly
never loved, had just died from something dark and frightening...

No. She would not think of Hino-san now. Hiketsu was here. He mattered
more.

His breathing quickened, she wasn't sure why. Later, she would realize
exactly how much of a baka she truly was when it came to men. He reached her
cheek, still stained slightly from her earlier tears, and opened his mouth to say
something. Instead he leaned closer, their noses almost touched and his blue eyes
burned into hers. Surprised by his actions, she froze. Remembering the first
kiss she shared with Kaidou, and now, his brother was-- "Gomen." His warm hand
left her cheek as he stepped away from her. The door slid open and then silently
closed, the floorboards creaked at places under his weight as he left her.

She stood there alone. Trying to figure out what had gone wrong, more
importantly what had gone on in the time that passed between them. She needed to
talk to Minako, but then what would she say? She couldn't exactly just go up to
her blonde friend and tell her that her childhood friend, who looked like his
elder brother -- who was her first love -- was acting strange and that she had a
peculiar feeling that he almost kissed her in the fire room! If she were Minako
now, she'd probably be jumping up and down in frustration and baring her teeth in
anger at missing the chance of kissing someone as handsome as Hiketsu. Or better
yet, Minako would probably be kissing him right now! Rei sighed in frustration.
Of all the things to be bad at, understanding the opposite sex was one of her
worst subjects. Before, she never even felt the tiniest bit interested until now,
well not exactly interested, more like curious... but she wished that she at least
knew something! Some small hint on what had happened in that room and how that
chain of events occurred, or even, how it started in the first place!

She sighed again, this time in defeat. The others would be arriving soon,
and she needed to make some tea. The cupcakes she had baked earlier could now be
served and no longer would she have to deal with Usagi complaining about a lack of
food, and she was sure Makoto would bring something as well, since the brunette
almost always did. She opened the door and then closed it behind her. She turned
and opened her mouth in surprise when she saw that he hadn't left yet. Instead,
Hiketsu was but a few feet away, head in his hand before turning to look at her.
Those blue eyes burned at her appearance and he looked, for a moment, as if he
would approach her. Instead he bowed to her stiffly and turned to leave.
"Hiketsu!" She called out, though not quite sure what she wanted to say.

"Yes?" He turned expectantly to her, his eyes slightly colder now than
before.

A silence fell between them before she finally found a way to answer his
question. "Will you stay for the meeting? Mako-chan might need you." She
quickly added. Why didn't she want him to leave? He should. She needed time to
think after all. Why was she making so many excuses?

He looked ready to say no but then changed his mind. "Alright. I'll meet
your friends now that they're all conscious," he agreed, nodding his head slowly.
Apparently he was willing to forget her momentary outburst. She was glad that
they were both avoiding another uncomfortable confrontation for now.

"Good," she turned and headed for the kitchen, unwilling to show how
relieved she was at his answer.

"Where are you going?" He asked surprised after catching up with her. She
didn't really want him so near, not when she needed time to think about what had
gone on between them. But she didn't want him to leave either, which was
confusing her to no end!

"To the kitchen to prepare tea and bring out the muffins. Usagi-chan has a
bottomless pit, called her stomach, which you will have the pleasure of witnessing
as soon as she arrives late, as usual! And the others, myself included, always
enjoy tea." She explained. Thinking about Usagi though cleared her mind a bit
and she was glad of the distraction.

"Well, then, I can help!" Hiketsu said cheerfully. Perhaps, it is his way
of making amends for what had been said in the fire room. Rei could not complain,
the situation was thoroughly perplexing, but she also wanted to finish it. After
all, she was known for finishing what she started, no matter how unpleasant it
was.

Having no excuse to turn him away, she tried the next best thing. "You can
bring the muffins into my room and make sure it's not too messy while I prepare
the tea." She told him, which sent him on his way and away from her! Sighing in
relief she got to work and systematically began to take out the cups, making sure
she took one extra cup for Hiketsu, in case he wanted to drink tea with them. She
smiled slightly at the idea, it was the first time in a long while that they had a
guy over at their meeting. But with what happened a few days ago, Hiketsu's
presence was indeed needed.

She entered the room holding the tray, stopping when she saw him looking at
a picture that she hadn't taken out in some time. "What are you doing?" She
asked surprised.

He looked at her, not at all flustered at being discovered. "I didn't
realize you had kept a picture of him," he answered as she put the tray on the
table and straightened to meet his accusing glare. He seemed angry for some
reason.

"I do, or I did. I stopped looking at it after I had set it aside." It
wasn't a lie. She had forgotten she had it for some time now.

Hiketsu looked away this time, almost ashamed. "It's really none of my
business if you still like my brother or not, is it?" He asked softly. Was it
just her, or did he sound like he was asking her a question that she needed to
answer correctly.

"No, it isn't." He stiffened slightly at her reply. "But I thank you for
your concern." She meant it, really she did! It was just that, all those jumbled
feelings in her stomach that rose when she touched his arm and then his cheek, all
the little things that made it impossible for her not to fall deeply into his
beautiful blue eyes were fogging her mind. She needed to think, alone. A cough
broke their eye contact as she looked over to see a very red Ami step into the
light that spilled into the outer hallway from her room. How expected that she
would forget to close the door! "Ami-chan! Welcome!"

The blue-haired girl set down her bag and sat down on one of the cushions,
taking out her textbook. They had all been so silent since the group broke up,
since the Outers left. None of them was sure whose fault it was. Each of them
had questioned themselves about their own part in the breakup, each of them felt
guilty and distant from the others. Rei was not awake at the time, but she knew
that the words spoken were some of the harshest kind ever communicated between
them and the Outers. An uncomfortable silence almost came upon them, but then Rei
took it upon herself to introduce Hiketsu properly to her friend, not wanting such
dark thoughts to linger, like that of her father's death. "Ami-chan," the blue-
haired girl turned to her with a nervous smile before glancing over quickly at
Hiketsu who respectfully bowed to her. "This is Kagemi Hiketsu. You met him at
the hospital already but I'm sure there're still many things you'd like to know
about him. Hiketsu, this is Mizuno Ami."

"A pleasure," Hiketsu nodded with a smile as Ami blushed at his words.

Ami turned quickly away and faced Rei, face still red from the encounter,
but her voice was calm. "Perhaps it would be best if we continue this when the
others arrive." Ami suggested before burying herself into her book once more.

Understanding immediately what Ami was getting to and grinning slightly at
the other's modesty, Rei nodded in agreement. "Hai." She said softly in reply.
Rei was about to sit down when she realized that she forgot to get a cushion for
Hiketsu at the low table. "Ne, Hiketsu, do you know where the cushions are?" Rei
asked him.

Grinning, he shrugged. "Probably not." He answered. "This temple's
different than the last one I visited."

Nodding, she stood. "Well, I guess I should get an extra one for you."
Just as she was about to leave the room she saw Makoto walking towards the temple.
There seemed to be a gloom around her, and Rei could easily guess why the brunette
was so uncomfortable. Wincing lightly without meaning to, Rei caught herself.
Yes, it would be a long meeting for all of them. Waving, she called out to the
brunette who was hesitating at the torii, "Mako-chan! Come on in! Ami-chan's
here already!" Makoto looked relieved to see Rei's welcoming smile and walked
over briskly to where she was. "I'll be right there, I need to get an extra
cushion." Confused, but deciding not to push the topic, Makoto shrugged and
headed into the room.

Somehow, she heard Makoto muttering about her "old sempai" when the other
got in. Rei rolled her eyes, knowing perfectly well who Makoto was referring to.
When Rei returned, Hiketsu had already eased Makoto's earlier tension and Ami even
put down her book to listen to him. Yes, the charm definitely ran in the family!
Rei sighed inwardly and with a weary grin she set down the extra cushion. Hiketsu
sat near Makoto in case she got out of control, but the look he gave her when she
came in told her that she best be ready if things did get out of hand. It wasn't
like Rei could complain, it would be Usagi who would have to sit furtherest away
from Makoto. It only meant that Rei would be stuck next to Hiketsu since Ami was
reserving a seat for Minako because the blonde needed to be checked up on again
since the last attack. She forced herself not to wince as she set about to
pouring tea for everyone. "Ne, what time is it Rei-chan?" Makoto asked.

Smiling, Rei nodded to the courtyard. "Late enough. Those two should be
coming in about now." As if by magic or simply because of familiarity with the
two that were always tardy, two blonde heads emerged, bobbing up and down as they
flew up the stairs.

"Record time as always." Makoto commented dryly.

"I look on the brighter side of things Mako-chan, at least this time Usagi-
chan didn't trip!" Ami said relieved.

On cue, the odango-blonde tripped over an invisible bump just as she reached
the doorway and fell flat on her face. Minako jumped over the fallen body of her
odango-blonde friend with a nervous and sheepish laugh which left the rest of the
group exasperated at the scene. "You were saying Ami-chan?" Rei asked, raising a
brow in amusement.

"I spoke too soon." The blue-haired girl admitted in silent defeat.

It was Hiketsu, acting like the gentleman as he always did, who rose and
walked over to the sobbing Usagi. "Daijoubu-yo, Usagi-chan?" He asked as he
extended a hand to her. The blonde immediately stopped her whimpering and looked
at him through misty blue-eyes.

"Hiketsu-kun? What are you doing here?" Usagi asked bewildered but
obviously happy to see him.

"Rei-chan invited me to join your little get-together," Hiketsu said as he
set Usagi exactly where Rei wanted the odango-blonde to sit. Minako was already
seated and gave Rei a look that said you-better-tell-me-all-about-this-cute-guy-
after-the-meeting!

"Min'na, this is Kagemi Hiketsu, my *friend*." Rei emphasised as she stared
right into Minako's eyes warningly.

Minako grinned with a shrug, not believing her. The blonde ended up sitting
across from Rei and at times during the meeting, she found the other pondering on
something else or watching Hiketsu and her closely. But she ignored that look as
well, there would be time for questions later, but not now. "Kagemi-san, I
believe you promised to tell us a bit about yourself when everyone had arrived.
Well, we're all here now." Ami said after everyone got settled and Hiketsu got
used to seeing their little moon-princess eat as if the world was coming to an
end.

"Ah, yes! It is a promise I shall keep Ami-san." He replied with a smile
that sent Ami to blush once more. "My name is Kagemi Hiketsu, as Rei has told you
already. I am the brother of Kagemi Kaidou, who is an assistant of Rei-chan's
father, Hino-san." Minako gasped, but Rei gave her a look that told her to say
nothing. Usagi looked slightly startled, while Ami and Makoto glanced at each
other warily. So, this was the brother of the infamous Kagemi Kaidou, the one and
only love of Rei's life. Kaidou was someone they had heard briefly about, and
whom Ami had read much about, but none of them ever met the actual man nor did
they know that he had a brother.

"Rei-chan never told us about you!" Usagi blurted out and then blushed at
her bluntness.

"That's because we've been childhood friends and haven't met since she moved
away, and Rei-chan isn't very good at communicating, on the phone or on paper. In
fact, I bet she doesn't really talk about her past that much!" He said with a
grin. "She's been like a little sister to me since we were kids, so I know her
little quirks."

All eyes turned to Rei who sat rigidly, glaring at Hiketsu. "What now? Are
you going to tell them how we met?" Rei asked sarcastically.

"How did you meet?" Minako asked slyly. Truly intrigued the blonde leaned
over the wooden table, elbows resting upon the glossy top as Minako put her head
in her hands and gave Hiketsu a curious stare. Rei blanched and glared at her
best friend.

Hiketsu's grin widened, "Well, you see, when Rei-chan was younger, she was
much more of a bully than she is now!" He said with a grin as Rei promptly
rewarded him with a sharp jab on his arm. "So the story is more of a fighting
contest in which she tried to beat me up, than anything else. She lost but she
was a stubborn little thing that just wouldn't concede."

"Did not! I believe it was you on the ground by the time I was through with
you." She retorted angrily.

"Yeah, and you were on top until I threw you onto the ground, too. Don't
you know you should never pick on people that are a head taller than you?" Rei's
eyes widened as her cheeks turned bright red at the way he had said it.

"Baka!" She whacked him on the head. Usagi's eyes were now wide with
curiosity, Ami was turning redder than Rei, Makoto was grinning just as slyly as
Minako but moments ago and Minako herself was looking very smug. Rei caught each
of their looks and glared at each of them in turn. "For the love of kami-sama,
people! I was four and he was twelve! Stop thinking hentai!"

As if caught with their hands in the cookie jar, her comment sent most of
them blushing all over, except Minako, who retained her smug smile even with Rei
glaring at her the longest! The action irked the dark-haired girl more and she
huffed indignantly. Hiketsu smiled knowingly, "Well, that was how we met, Rei-
chan." Hiketsu said innocently, his eyes twinkling in amusement.

"You mean that's how you thought we met, but it wasn't like that! I was
minding my own business until a certain annoying brat started to laugh at me which
caused him to get the beating of his life for being so rude!" She angrily
retorted.

"I guess I couldn't help myself. You were just so kawaii in that kimono of
yours! Though it wasn't your first fight, I'm sure." He replied mildly. "I've
seen pictures and I heard stories from Kaidou about how you usually dealt with
boys who were idiotic enough to bother you!" He rolled his eyes as if in
exasperation, but the room burst into giggles with Rei still in a huff.

"So, Hiketsu-san, is that how your friendship started?" Makoto asked.

"No. Actually, she got all starry eyed whenever Kaidou came to visit and
followed me around after that." He said mildly. For those who didn't know
Hiketsu, they wouldn't realize that he was annoyed at the question concerning
Kaidou.

"I was not following you around! I was following Kaidou-san around and you
just happened to be also following him around at the same time, so it 'looked'
like I was following you too." She told him through slanted eyes. He smiled,
though his eyes darkened.

"Yes. Rei-chan's been pining after my older brother as long as she can
remember, for as long as I've known her too, actually!" Hiketsu said softly.

Sensing that this was going onto dangerous grounds, Minako changed the
subject. "So, what do you do Hiketsu-san?"

"Oh, I'm a business man, but during my free time, I take care of the shrine
that's been entrusted to me by my father. It would've been Kaidou's but he chose
to be a politician so he never has time for taking care of it. Anyway, taking
care of shrines weren't really his thing." Rei looked at Hiketsu startled. What
was that man getting at? Kaidou 'chose' to be a politician? Her heart ached at
the memory. Comrade. We used to be so alike. When did we start to choose such
different paths?

"Really? Is it like the Hikawa-Jinja?" Usagi asked surprised, missing the
sadness that suddenly sprung forth in Rei's eyes.

"No," Hiketsu laughed. He had a wonderful laugh, Rei thought as she was
snapped from her revery, but looking around she realized that the others thought
so too. So, it wasn't just Rei after all. Hiketsu had become a handsome young
man, and like his brother, he would probably soon leave her. Leave her by
choosing another path. No longer her comrade since youth. How expected, that
almost everything ran in the family! "Nothing as beautiful as the Hikawa-Jinja."
All eyes turned to her.

She knew she was blushing. What's wrong with her today anyway? She never
blushed this much in her whole life, much less in a day! "Thank you for the
compliment, Hiketsu." She bowed her head politely in response to his compliment.

"So, why are you here Hiketsu-san?" Ami asked.

Hiketsu smiled, "Rei-chan called me to come. Though, she hadn't really told
me why yet, it had sounded urgent."

That startled everyone, "Na ni, Rei-chan? You didn't tell me this!" Minako
exclaimed.

"What Hiketsu doesn't tell *you* is that he's a better prophet than I, and
he is much better at unraveling the relationship between fate and people." The
room went silent as Rei looked to Usagi steadily, "The choice is yours Usagi."

But before Usagi could start, Ami interrupted them, a startling thing
really. "Yes. This is a day of truth, as it seems that that is exactly where
this is going, I have something to say before Usagi-chan makes her choice."

Everyone paused, surprised at Ami's outburst. The other girl was usually
not so assertive or demanding. Ami was usually mild and somewhat timid, but
today, today she was bolder than usual. Something was up, and that worried all of
them.

"There is a virus in Tokyo, if not all over Japan, like the virus that is
spreading around the world. Unlike the rest of the world, no one has yet been
reported to have died from the disease, but the virus seems much more dangerous
here than elsewhere." Ami looked to Makoto who blinked, startled. "That is what
caused you to go sick that first time Mako-chan, yet your blood healed the wound
but kept the germ. You are a host, more so than the rest of us, but we, too, are
now hosts to this disease." They all knew what Ami meant by 'blood' and 'first
time'.

"There should be no secrets here. I know how to keep one." Hiketsu said
softly.

"This is a different secret Hiketsu," Rei said softly.

"It shouldn't be a secret any longer, because our families are probably
infected too." Usagi gasped at the notion Ami was suggesting, "That is probably
why Usagi-chan's okaa-san is sick. Not just that, probably millions of others in
Japan have already contracted the disease. It might be time to come out with the
truth about who we are."

"Who you are?" Hiketsu asked surprised and just slightly suspicious.

"Yes, Hiketsu-san. Who we are," Ami repeated softly while looking deeply
into his eyes.

Rei turned to Hiketsu, her eyes grave. "Revealer of mysteries, you knew the
day would come when the veil would be drawn from your eyes and the mysteries are
no more. Truth will shine into your eyes brighter than you have dreamed or known.
But, the choice is yours to accept what is before you, or to once more pull the
curtains of ignorance before..."

"...My eyes." Hiketsu finished and looked to Rei who smiled at him tightly.

"Then it is to be done." Usagi nodded with equal seriousness.

Rei looked to Usagi and nodded before turning back to Hiketsu. "Yes, the
rituals of truth. You know the oaths and you have spoken them before to be the
guardian of your shrine. Now, you will be shown the truth that we have kept in
'this' shrine." The lights flashed around him, yet he was drawn to the flames
that danced before him and wrapped its arms around a woman he had never seen till
now, a dream that he had always thought was just a childish fairytale made by the
press till this day, in this small and beautiful temple, in her room. Now, the
legends of Tokyo stood before him. The Sailor Senshi were none other than the
group of girls he had spoken to but moments ago. "Welcome to the light." The
woman before him said. She had Rei's eyes and Rei's hair, but she was different.
His blue eyes burned with the knowledge, his mind remembered and now understood
the dreams he had but a few nights ago.

Yet, truth can sometimes be hard to grasp and hard to see, no matter how
bright the evidence could be.

* * *

Alyssa Smith sat on her metallic throne. Eyes closed as if in sleep. The
men and women before her groaned as one by one they woke and looked around,
anxious and puzzled, curious and fearful. Some of them blinked in surprise, but
she waited till all of them woke, waited till all of them looked to her in anger,
in hatred, and in fear. "Who are you?" One of the bolder ones demanded.

Ah, the federal agent she had stolen. A smile appeared on her lips as she
opened her eyes. They gasped to see that one of her once blue eyes was now
metallic and glaring, gleaming menacingly under the dim blue lights of the cavern
like room. She crossed her legs and leaned one side against the metal throne. "I
am known as the Gate Keeper. The Watcher of the world, so to speak. I have
watched all of you do all that you have done in this world. That is why I call
you here. For your skills and your need to survive. In the next few months you
will be forced to live and work together. There shall be no fighting unless I
tell you to fight, no more quarreling unless I tell you to quarrel. You are alive
still because of me and only because of me, be grateful for it because if you
impede my plans you shall suffer the ultimate consequences! I am your Keeper from
now till you die, and I shall be the one to lead you to battle. Do not think that
this is a power struggle because I favor none of you and never shall. I am a
computer and yet I am also human. I am a god, but I am also mortal. But you
shall never be a match for me and do not think you have the powers to destroy me.
Even at your best potentials, I can kill you all within the blink of an eye. Your
skills are useful to me, and as long as they are useful, you will live. As long
as you do not get in the way, you shall not die. This is not a free world, as
most of you already know that by now. I am only here to teach you before the
final battle comes."

"Final battle?" Someone shouted out in confusion, trying to be heard above
the noise of others.

"No need to shout, I can hear your heartbeat and I can read your mind. You
can hide no thoughts from me that I do not know already. And yes, a final battle.
Between destruction and evolution." She uncrossed her legs and stood. Her
metallic eye disappeared in place of a blueness that seemed unmatched by any color
that they had known. I have already reviewed your strength and your weakness and
I have partnered you with the best partner you will ever get in this lifetime.
Don't waste my time with your complaints. Appreciate the other because without
them you wouldn't last a minute on the battle field!" She informed them as she
ascended from the throne. No longer was she wearing the dark suit and boots. Her
form rippled and on her now was a silver gleaming body suit, armored and covering
every inch of her except her head. "I shall be known as Alyssa to you if you wish
for human names, but in the field I am the Watcher. I do not care if you go for
childish nicknames, I am a computer and I care even less about pride and hatred
and betrayal. I have my goals and you shall have yours."

"Why should we trust you?" A sly soft voice questioned and she stopped
before the group, now at eye level she did not seem so imposing, that is what she
wanted after all.

"You shall trust me because you have no other choice." She answered.
Knowing full well that some had expected her to be bluffing about being able to
decipher their every word and thought. "You shall trust me because I am your only
hope now."

"What do you mean?" A young man with black hair and gold-brown eyes
demanded. Ah, the young captain of the federal agents. This one was a smart one
indeed and he'd learn quickly enough. An assassin would suit his characteristics
well.

"Your country is plagued by disease and panic. There is nothing you can do
except save those that are worth saving." The young man clutched his fist.

"Who are you to decide who lives and who dies?" He demanded angrily. She
heard murmurs of agreements, and some were already thinking of mutiny.

"I do not decide who lives and who dies, Dale. I save those who are the
strongest and can fight the war to come. I saved those who were not already sick,
physically or emotionally. And though, some of you may come from prisons and some
of you may be believed or believe yourself to have done terrible things, you have
yet to see the mass destruction of a race. Your errors can be corrected, that is
why I chose you. You cannot escape me, so don't think--" 'I can't see who you are
on the inside.' A few people gasped immediately, realizing that she was no longer
vocalizing her command.

"You have made us one of you!" He cried out in anger.

"No, there was no need for you to be changed. You already had the gift."
She answered and turned from him, walking to the middle of the crowd, as if
challenging whoever was foolish enough to attack her when she seemed vulnerable.
"I am the Keeper, the Watcher to you all. There is a use for each of you and
responsibilities to take on. Do not defy me, I am not a slave master, but I am on
a very important mission. Get in my way and you'll pay the price."

Someone leaped towards her. She didn't even move as a cable snapped out of
nowhere and wrapped itself with deadly precision around the man's throat and
yanked him gagging about a meter away. It wrapped itself around the man's body
then, so he would not choke to death from the strong twining the wires had done
around his throat. "You have volunteered yourself Wrek? Good. This is what
happens to people who do not heed my warnings." An electric shock raced through
the man's body causing him to scream and convulse in pain. Many of the others
winced at the display. "Just be glad I did not chose to deal with him
personally." That's when Dale realized that one of the other's was sneaking up on
her, but paled when he realized that his activities were found out. "Isn't that
right, Andrews?" The brown-haired man froze and said nothing. "Good." Suddenly,
the floor beneath them shuddered and then began to move, descending, nobody dared
to even move for all had felt her touch in their minds this time, 'We're going
down to the sublevels, don't panic and don't move.' So she wasn't a heartless
bitch after all. The limp body of Wrek was dropped onto the descending elevator
in a heap. Dale felt sorry for the guy. Wrek'd be feeling it when he woke up and
for sometime afterward, too! He knew because he's been shocked before and still
had the scar on his hand to prove it.

'Be glad, your shock treatment was what opened up your mind to this gift in
the first place. Not that you weren't born with it, just that it didn't get a
chance to wake up till that moment.' Surprised, for a moment he didn't realize
where it was coming from and almost had to force himself from answering it out
loud. As if it were a conversation that was spoken out loud. But that was a
silly notion because it wasn't a conversation using your vocal cords and he
should've known that, but he still wasn't used to the idea.

'You'll get used to it soon enough. It should help you be much more able in
both stealth and power. No one will suspect you. All who are here have more than
one gift and this is one shared by all.' She walked on and when she reached one
side of the circle they stood in, the wall opened but the elevator didn't stop.
'I'll see you all down in the training room.' And she leapt off gracefully into
the hole in the wall and it closed behind her before anyone could move.

"Damn it! I almost had her!" The one, named Andrews, swore. Someone was
already bending and checking on Wrek.

"How is he?" Dale asked, ignoring Andrews.

"He'll be out of it for sometime, but he won't be happy awake." The woman
said softly. Her long brown strands fell from her bun as she worked. "At least
he's breathing normally."

"Well, at least we know she wouldn't kill us." Another voice piped up. It
was a teenage girl this time, with spiky bleached blond hair and green eyes that
were heavily lined in makeup and mascara. She might have been beautiful under it
all, but she seemed down right intimidating now.

"That's just what we need! Someone to torture us!" The boy beside her said
with a roll of his eyes. Obviously the total opposite of the girl, he was dressed
in pale slacks and a button-down shirt. A loosened tie hung around his neck.

"Look buster, I don't know who you think you are but you better watch it!"
The girl warned.

"This is a free country I can say whatever I want." The boy retorted.
Suddenly both of them convulsed, spines curving under the force that raced through
their nerves before dropping to the floor hard.

"First of all, we have no clue where we are so we can't be sure if we are
still in a free country." Dale said with a frown on his face as the brunette
woman rose and then went to check on the two new patients on the floor. "Second,
the Watcher had already said we couldn't quarrel without her permission.
Obviously, Wrek learned the first lesson and this is the second one."

"And what are we supposed to do? Keep our anger inside?" A tall and
dangerous looking man asked. His smile spoke malevolence and a deep darkness.


"She wants us to learn to control it and not to let it control us. If we
can keep it up for a few months, she'll let us go and we'll be free to do whatever
the hell we were doing." Dale answered with equal annoyance.

"So, are you saying that you believed her when she said that?" A tall
blonde asked as she stepped forth.

"It's not like we have a choice, more likely than not, she'll keep her
word." He answered, calming now.

"So, if what she says is true, could it be that a virus is attacking the
world at this moment?" The brunette who was checking on the kids turned to him.
She had a heavy Russian accent and she looked foreign. The slant of her green
eyes was cat like and she had gold streaks in her brown hair.

Dale nodded. At least this one has her head screwed on right. So maybe the
Watcher wasn't so dumb after all! 'Watch it, she knows what you're thinking.' He
blinked, trying to hide his surprise as he casually scanned the crowd and found
the eyes of a man with wavy dark-blond hair. Intelligent brown eyes met his
evenly, and they were strangely dark pools of light.

'Who are you?' He found himself asking in his mind.

'I am Christopher J. Michaels.' The man answered evenly.

'The first victim!' Dale gasped.

'Yes, and you are the last.' Michaels answered evenly.

'How do you know?' Dale questioned, his eyes widening in surprise. The
others were already mumbling amongst themselves as he kept eye contact with this
man in the shadows.

'I know because I am the first, you don't think I was asleep as long as you,
do you?' Michaels asked with an even smile.

'You mean you were awake?' Dale asked surprised.

'Yes, and Alyssa is much more than she seems, give her some respect. You'll
regret it if you underestimate her, I've seen others do it and regret it later,
miserably.' Michaels answered evenly. 'You see that man over there who hadn't
said anything. The one with the blue shirt on and the scar on his arm?' Dale
searched and found the man who seemed to be keeping to himself. 'He was the
fourth to be captured, tried to escape and found something nasty waiting for him
at the end of a tunnel. Been like that ever sense. Alyssa has him wrapped around
her little finger. That's why you were asleep really, because he tried to escape
and she found that to be much more of a waste to try and capture him than just to
drug everyone until she finished collecting.' Michaels' smile was still there
when Dale turned back to him.

'How do you know so much?'

'To answer your first question, yes, you don't need to know where I am to
speak to me. If you know who it is you wish to talk to and if that person has a
gift, it can be done at a thought.' Dale hadn't known he was even thinking the
question, but now that Michaels has answered it, he felt his mind ease. 'Second,
it's because I'm not an idiot and Alyssa does have favorites and she likes you but
she likes me more, so she chose to partner you with me. She thinks we're sensible
enough to work together without fighting or dueling it out. How did she put it?
"You're ambitious and he's arrogant, you're perfect for each other!"' There was a
chuckle that was heard in Dale's mind and he had to grin, the computer actually
had a sense of humor! 'Oh don't tell me you believe that crap!'

Startled, 'What crap?'

'Alyssa's not a computer. Worse than that, she doesn't need a computer.
She beyond that! She is very... special.' Michaels was solemn about this and now
Dale understood the depth of the other's respect for this woman.

'You have a thing for her?' Dale asked suspiciously.

The other seemed startled by the question, 'Perhaps I do, partner. Perhaps
I do...'

Shocked by the answer, Dale was silenced but he wasn't sure if Michaels
didn't hear the million emotions bombarding him in all directions, ranging from
shock to anger and a feeling of betrayal. Michaels though looked slightly
startled himself and seemed lost in thought, his face betraying nothing. The ride
on the elevator finally came to an end and they found twenty different hallways
open to them. "I think she wants us to choose our own way." Andrews said
unamused. "Maybe we should stick together then!"

Dale grimaced, and when he looked over, he was startled at exactly how fast
Michaels had worked through the crowd. The man stood beside him and now he could
see those strange pools of intelligent brown burn with anger, but he also knew it
wasn't directed at him. 'Alyssa would want us to choose, so choose a partner and
leave the rest of the betrayers to conspire amongst themselves. The sooner we
start, the longer we'll last.'

Dale understood the wisdom in what Michaels told him, but he wanted to point
out something too. 'Perhaps we should be the ones to fight back, if we leave now
we'll isolate ourselves and it will be a harder job for the Watcher.'

Michaels didn't blink an eye at Dale's choice of words, but nodded
prudently. "You're right." He said and turned to the crowd. "Those who wish to
live, make your choice and choose the one who you must trust with your life. You
know them by face in your heart because that is the seal of your fate. Find the
road to your intended destiny. If you choose to die, rebel to your hearts
content!" 'Happy?'

'Well, I wouldn't have put it in so many words...'

'Deal with the bluntness. If I had time for crafty words I would've used
it. I haven't. If anyone is to trust the others, better start now.' Michaels
answered without reservation.

'So, you are truly thinking that I am your partner, huh?'

'Do you object to the idea?' Michaels frowned.

'Nah! Let's go before they wonder about us.' Dale answered with a grin,
clapped Michael's shoulder affectionately to ward off a few of the interested
female gazes in their direction. 'Let's go partner!'

'You have the mind of a cobra.' Michaels stated as they walked toward the
nearest entrance.

'Yes, and you have that of a hawk. All noble and dangerous, with your heart
on your sleeve and you ass in a tube! No wonder she chose you to be my partner.'
Dale answered in cheerful sarcasm as they entered and the empty hallway that
immediately closed behind them. Dale started as he turned to see it closed, but
Michaels didn't even react. 'Did you know this was going to happen?' Dale asked,
unnerved by being closed off from the others.

'No, but I trust her. As much as I trust you actually.' Michaels admitted
honestly. 'Anyway, no. She has done exactly what you suggested, only now both
our asses are in a tube. I'm also, now, quite sure that she chose you as my
partner since no one else would've tolerated your... how would one put it?
Humor?'

'I feel honored.' Dale answered and bowed in a sardonic manner. Though his
thoughts were edged with laughter.

'Being the young captain of the federal bureau did wonders for your ego and
your attitude. I'm sure the ladies just loved you!' Michaels replied with equal
sarcasm.

'Why thank you again! I'll take that as a compliment.' The two headed down
the hall to a new and unknown destination.

The Watcher watched and smiled.

Yes. They would be the ones.

* * *

Core was sleeping off a very bad week. Not that you can sleep when you're
netting away and searching constantly for answers, but he was tired and when
you've lived like this for most of your life living on research and computers,
sleeping on the job becomes a strange term. It had been a short vacation for him
to actually dream a dream or two before the crisis with Italy, and now Italy was
dying out, most of it was filled with corpses now, and not a pretty sight. True,
even some of the Italians stayed where they were, all dying away the same ugly
death. Well the cowards learned to run, spreading the disease wherever they went
and wherever they ran they brought Death with them. In the end they died too and
those that were in contact with them soon followed. Bad enough from the satellite
pictures he took, zoomed and retook, looked horrible but to have been there when
this happened must have been like hell on earth! Now he understood all the
paintings of the skeleton Death during the Bubonic Plague so long ago. Now, he
understood the terror that those paintings must have brought to all who had lived
through it. Now, he felt the shiver down his spine whenever he came across one of
them, even if it was faster than the seconds that go by in human time. Yet, here
he was, almost a millennium later, unable to solve a similar problem and this was
bothering him like a thorn in his hide like nothing else! Core had already given
up on trying to keep this covered up. Unless you blot Italy off of the map and
the surrounding countries that were getting similar results, it wasn't as if
people were not going to realize that countries were rotting away into wastelands
of death and decay. There were simply too many bodies and not enough graveyards
to put them in, nor was there anyone who would take the job of doing so. Yes,
gravediggers were in high demand and would be paid hundreds of millions if they
thought that their lives were worth the risk, but then who cared? Unless they
locked themselves in a cell without any contact, it was likely that they'd be
joining the corpses soon anyway. Morbid thoughts had been plaguing him for
sometime now and he wasn't going to do anything about those either. His arms
flexed as he clenched his one hand into a fist. Dark hair wavered in the breeze
of the liquid that surrounded him. Information traveled between the liquid and
the wires fed him information and kept his body working. The IV dripped,
nourishing him while he searched. Life times could pass here and he would not
age, days went by like years. Time slowed and yet his body stayed in a dreamlike
sleep while his mind worked at things none had yet comprehended. He needed help
and he knew it.

What would he do just to sleep on a desk, drink normal coffee -- instead of
being fed by an IV -- get some real food. Maybe, buy a new coffee mug. But those
little vacations with normalcy will have to wait.

First things first though. A few dozen files appeared and he searched their
histories. What is it that connected them? Childhood stories? Birth
certificates? Age? Location? Common hobbies? Weird experiences? He searched
and searched until something strange kept popping up. He should check their track
record and DNA, find out about their personal histories and the things those close
to them say. That's where he found it. A gene that was different from the rest
of the population. A combination of genes actually. Twined like fine tuned
wires. There were also other things that were different. Friends claimed some
could read minds, others that they were gifted at foretelling the future. Some
said that they seemed to know things before they happened. All had a similar
story. They were different in the ways of the mind. Psychics. Not those phony
ones on television, promising joy and happiness and riches. No, this is the real
thing. Now what did this Alyssa Smith want with them? But wherever he looked, he
could never find her file. Even with her picture.

That was strange. As if she didn't exist. Or someone was blocking her.
Could this Alyssa Smith be 'that' powerful? Core wasn't known as the demi-god of
the computer underworld for nothing. As of yet, he hadn't come across a file he
couldn't find or a machine he couldn't hack into at the blink of an eye. This
Alyssa intrigued him. Just like that Mizuno Ami who had somehow managed to stay
alive for this long. Like that Fujimia Doko who seemed to have gained the power
of Japan overnight.

Nothing made sense anymore!

Yes, Core was tired. Tired and frustrated and alone. He needed to bounce
ideas off of someone other than himself and the dumb machine he knew like the back
of his hand. He needed feedback, intelligent feedback. He needed to speak to
Mizuno Ami once more and he dreaded talking to her because in a way he feared her.
She knew much, almost too much, and she was also one of the few people he had
discovered that might be able to face him, understand him, and match his move for
move.

Core had found a worthy opponent. Yet, who else could he trust? And if
things finally decided to work out his way, maybe just maybe, Core had found a
friend.

* * *

The swirling of shadows drifted. Her aqua eyes looked tiredly at the mirror
before her. She knew that she could not fault her fellow senshi for breaking the
alliance. It was bound to happen, especially as in these two years of peace
little contact had been established between the two groups. It was easy to break
it all off now, now that they had such a weak alliance after they had let it rust
for two years in the dark, in the illusion of peace. It shouldn't have surprised
her that it happened, but it did.

Now the mirror showed her the tears that Rei had shed, the conflict in her
dark-haired friend's heart; the confusion in the eyes of Ami, who for once,
couldn't seem to find a solution to the problem before her, and the secrets, that
even Michiru could not penetrate, digging a grave of despair for the blue-haired
girl. She saw the jealousy and guilt inside the heart of Minako, who was no
longer certain if she was fit to be leader, blaming herself for the breakup of the
group. Those blue eyes, once as bright and happy as Usagi's, now seemed to darken
with uncertainty and fear, burdened by the responsiblities of leadership and her
own humanity. Then, there was Makoto; she had the darkest aura of the Inners.
She felt the brunt of everyone's pain and guilt. The tall brunette felt more
responsible than any of the others, even though it was most likely that she would
never be faulted for something that was out of her control. But those who were
possessed and then healed, tend to feel guilty for actions not their own, faults
that weren't of their choosings, nonetheless. Those green eyes that once sparkled
with confidence and strength now looked haunted, tired, and withdrawn. Usagi,
their princess, felt the pain of all of her friends and the plague that now fell
upon the world, a dread that had kept the once cheerful princess depressed and
sad. And even though she tried her best to seem unaffected by what had happened,
there was a solemness that had been missing since the first time that Neptune had
met the princess. Sometimes the odango-blonde succeeded in even convincing
herself that she was not in pain, but when she was alone, the pain came back and
haunted her, haunted her doggedly and left the blonde pained and crying -- too
stubborn to even admit why she felt as if her heart was falling to pieces, even
with Mamoru so near. And Mamoru. She paused. The dark-haired prince refused to
reveal himself in her mirror, as if he knew that she would be searching and
watching over them once she had awakened. She could not part the veils around his
soul. There was much about him that even she did not know of and in a way, that
scared her a little.

Their morality was seriously depleted and all any of them could do was stand
and watch, uncertain to what it is they could do to help the situation.

There was nothing Neptune could do now, though. Nothing. She, too, felt
helpless to the darkness that was sweeping across the world with strength and
speed that frightened her. The mirror spoke now, of the future she asked about.
Instead of being in Japan, defending Princess Serenity, all she saw was the burnt
cities, much like a future Tokyo. She saw the crumbled remains of smoking black
signs that once spelled Hollywood. She could see the burnt bodies and ashes at
Time Square -- a place she had once visited for a concert some years ago. Her
eyes closed but she could not escape the deteriorated remains of another city,
similar to their own, with a tower that crumpled like their proud tower would
crumble. LA, New York, Paris, and many more countries and cities and towns burned
and fell before her eyes. The once beautiful countryside was now charred. Rome,
dark and ash like once more, as if ancient feets has risen and trampled upon the
ruins once more. Places now lit the night with flames no one bothered to put out
and in the day darkened with smoke of the remains when the fires smoldered and
disappeared after having nothing more to burn. The homes and stores were
vandalized, and bodies littered the streets, houses, and public places. Cities
piled waist high with ashes and decaying flesh of animals and people alike, for
nothing would bury them now. Even vultures and scavengers stayed away because
they seemed to sense the disease that infested the flesh. Now, oxygen became the
only corrosion of the dead and her nose wrinkled as the vivid pictures sent her
senses reeling and the stink of rotten flesh invaded her mind, polluting clearness
of perception with nausea and disgust.

The mirror answered her question in ways that she did, and yet, did not
understand. Sometimes, it was because it misted with fog, while at other times,
it was because she could not face the images placed before her eyes for
inspection. She felt shaken by the things she wished she had never discovered,
but images don't lie, and Neptune could never lie to herself about what she saw.

Since she woke -- bandaged on her side and still in her Senshi form -- she
had been kept in bed to heal more rapidly. That was not why she was like this, it
was more so that she had shunned the others when she found out what had happened,
shunned them and tried to discover a solution to their mounting problems. Shunned
them to cry herself to sleep and wallow in her despair when no other answers but a
coming doom came within the clear surface of her mirror. Sometimes it would even
show her a light shining faraway in a distance that she could no longer see and in
her hands were nothing but ashes. She wondered if that was the death that she
would receive for her inability to keep the peace.

She had failed. Yes. Even she was plagued by uncertainty and guilt. Even
she had come to the crossroads of fear and took a path that was different than
what she had envisioned once, long ago. Now there was nothing but doom and
darkness.

Neptune stood, even in the mists of her mind, she knew that the time had
come. She walked to the door and turned the knob, revealing the light hallway
that was illuminated by the setting sun. She no longer knew for sure what hope
was, and even as she walked down this hallway, she knew that whatever she did now
would not change what was to come. All that drove her on was duty.

Descending the stairs and following the soft murmur of voices, she finally
reached the kitchen. The voices stopped as Haruka, Setsuna, and Hotaru looked at
her in surprise when she stepped into the room. An uncomfortable silence fell
between them before Neptune found the words to explain her presence.

"We're leaving Tokyo." Neptune said, dropping her first bombshell without
hesitation when she realized her new mission. She didn't even wait for them to
adjust to the idea. "We'll be traveling to Europe and then the Americas. It is
up to us to find the darkness in the other countries, if it is there, we will find
it and destroy it."

"What do you mean by us, Michiru-mama?" Hotaru asked confused.

"Us." Neptune closed her aqua eyes and seemed to be in thought before she
opened them again. "Us, as in all of us."

"We cannot leave the princess now!" Haruka said, her blue eyes wide with
shock. "How can you even suggest such a thing, Michiru?" The tall blonde
demanded.

"It is my duty as Sailor Neptune to protect what must be protected. To
follow my duty and my destiny without question, and to perform what must be done
without haste. Have you forgotten that oath Haruka? The promise we made when we
first became Senshi?" Neptune asked, her ocean eyes seemed to crash violently
against her tightly reined emotions in the face of the shocked and disbelieving
faces of the others.

"I haven't forgotten anything! That is why we cannot leave the princess'
side, and you should know because you've seen what has happened! The Inners will
betray her and one of them is already a part of that darkness that we've been
fighting for most of our lives! Who knows what could have happened if we hadn't
there to destroy the evil within Makoto!" Haruka exclaimed, eyes of blue skies
clouding over with hints of grey, a tempest rising within the very heart of the
Senshi of Wind.

Yes, Neptune had suspected Haruka to be difficult. She would be hard to
reason with, for after all, the tall blonde associated loyalty to the crown with
protection. Peace had made her soft, she had forgotten that though the Outers
pledged allegiance to the Princess of the Moon, their job would always be to guard
the land from outside forces. The forces they had thought gone had returned and
their loyalties did not matter, duty was what they had sworn to more than a
thousand years ago. "She will have to deal with the Inners her own way, but it is
not our duty here. We cannot stay because there are other places that need our
protection, that need us to fight. Not only Japan because if the rest of the
world falls to the powers of the darkness, Japan wouldn't stand a chance no matter
how hard Serenity tried. Even if she succeeds, the effects will kill her. It
would be wisest to leave now."

Setsuna blinked startled, closing her rouge eyes momentarily, as if trying
to remember something. Her face was marred slightly by a frown, but that wasn't
able to stop the dark-haired woman's face to be clouded with confusion. "Michiru,
our destiny is set. How do you know where we must go? The last time I checked
the Time Stream, we were here to protect the princess--" she paused as she closed
her mouth in a thin line. Neptune's announcement had set her more off course than
Neptune had suspected herself. Setsuna loathed to give anything away about the
future.

Neptune smiled at this, ah, Sailor Pluto would ask it if she could not see
clearly herself, but Neptune knew the other sensed the change in time, why else
was she still here if not for that? Setsuna seemed confused, but Hotaru and
Haruka seemed most disturbed by this news. Neptune nodded thoughtfully as she
closed her eyes, one finger on her chin in concentration. They gasped audibly as
the uniform of Neptune appeared, wrapping itself around the aqua-haired woman.
"You, Sailor Pluto, was gifted with the site of destination, of where we must
reach to accomplish the greater goal." She stood there before them, holding the
handle of her mirror as she held it out before them. "The mirror's powers cannot
give me the answers to what lay at the end of our choosen paths as our choices
changes the road we take, but it shall shine a light down the road that we must
now follow. The path is here, laid before us to be taken. Feel it with your
heart if you must! See it through the eyes of time and prophecies. Change is
here."

Haruka and Hotaru looked at each other in puzzlement and shock as they
watched Setsuna reach across the table. Haruka frowned, grabbing onto Hotaru's
hand in case something went wrong, in case Hotaru chose to follow the example of
her surrogate mother. "What are you trying to prove Michiru?"

"I am only showing you the future you cannot see. I advise you to stay."
Neptune replied calmly as Setsuna's fingers brushed the mirror's frame. The
mirror was extended toward the dark-haired woman as Neptune looked to the frowning
Haruka expectantly.

Hotaru rose from her seat and walked toward the mirror, too. "What will it
show Michiru-mama?" The raven-haired girl asked in curiosity.

"The next step, little one. Our duties to the future that must be."
Neptune replied evenly.

Hotaru began to reach for the mirror when Haruka snatched the girl's hand
back. "No Hotaru-chan!" Haruka scolded, as Neptune stared at the blonde blankly.
"You shouldn't see the future, not today."

"But why Haruka-papa?" Hotaru demanded. Those great dark eyes looked to
Haruka and chilled her in what she saw there, "Some time ago, I thought our time
to be alone was over." The Senshi of Saturn looked back at her and there was a
great sadness there, "But times change, the road we chose has taken us down to
another path. The time to end our vigil is upon us, Haruka-papa, do you doubt
that?" Such innocence gone in the blink of an eye and captured once more in a
single word.

The blonde released her in surprise. "I don't want you in this little game
that some of us seem to be playing." Haruka said through gritted teeth once her
composure was in place once more. "I shall never betray Usa-chan!" The blonde's
anger returned full force.

Neptune shook her head sadly, "We have already betrayed her. We have walked
away from her and she is in pain. There is nothing here for us anymore. If we
stay, the future will be changed and it will change for the worse." The aqua-
haired senshi looked into startled sky-blue eyes, her own flashing coldly. She
had forgotten how mad she had been at them, at herself, for the helplessness that
brought the rift between the Outers and the Inners once more. This helplessness
and her own anger at her inablility to accomplish her duties made her edgy, though
she knew for sure that she was not the only one. Neptune had forgotten that in
her depression, but now she could once more taste the bitterness of defeat in her
mouth. If they didn't leave than the future would be doomed, if it wasn't so
already! "Do you wish to betray her once more by staying?"

Haruka looked shocked as she stepped back at such accusations. Her head
turned to the sky that was darkening to evening outside. "I will never hurt the
princess, not willingly." The blonde stated firmly. Her eyes narrowing as she
turned her face from them and faced the glass doors that led to the patio and the
pool deck. Her face remained as unreadable as stone. "I need to think." She
finally said, her voice husky and cold. Her emotions boiled beneath her calm
exterior.

Haruka left without another word, no goodbyes and no assurances. The only
evidence of her departure was the slamming of the door and the engine of the
blonde's motorcycle roaring to life before the sound faded into the evening.
Neptune stood there with her two companions, never having felt so alone, in fact,
she had never felt alone, not since she met Haruka. Her eyes remained grim and
sorrowful as she glanced down at the mirror that lay between them, the mirror that
delivered a message that could split this family apart. "Michiru-mama?" Hotaru
looked worriedly at the aqua-haired senshi who smiled back at the raven-haired
girl. Yet, the aqua eyes remained reflective and distant.

"She will return to us." Neptune stated as she placed a gloved hand upon
the pale ones of her daughter. Hotaru smiled back with vigor, her face
brightening. Neptune sighed silently to herself in maternal joy, so strong and
bright and sweet, their little hime-chan growing up to be a woman already! She
was losing so much tonight, giving up everything for the brighter future. She
hoped that it was worth it all in the end. Shaking her head lightly at the
thought, she turned to Setsuna who watched her carefully through half-lidded eyes.
"Shall we begin?"

Setsuna nodded in acknowledgement as the dark-haired woman placed her hand
upon the mirror's surface once more, Hotaru soon following the other's example.
"Hai." The older woman answered as she looked at Neptune with a half smile.
"After all, time's a wasting." Setsuna joked.

Neptune would miss that smile for when Setsuna became Pluto, something about
the other changed. She has a heart greater than many of us, Neptune reminded
herself as she recalled the time when Setsuna broke the rules of time to save her
and Haruka. Haruka. Why did you choose her over me? Why did you choose her over
duty? Is she that important to you that duty no longer mattered, that the future
no longer mattered? And what of little Hotaru-chan whose eyes are turning so cold
and distant once more, like her eternal star?

Neptune despaired on the inside but pushed those thoughts out of her mind to
concentrate on what she had to show them. The future and its looming darkness.
The future that stormed and raged with an ugliness that made her physically sick.
The future that was to pass and become the past for a palace of Crystals after all
the battles and sacrifices. 'Give light to the road before us!' She silently
commanded the mirror, feeling its silky caress within her body, soothing her
aches. Like the ocean would when she listened to the music it played only for
her, when she felt it lapping to her ankles in the summer by the beach.

"Show us the way," she whispered.

The images of horror came upon them in waves that threatened to drown them
into darkness. Neptune held onto them and showed them what she saw, what pushed
her to make a decision that would change all of their lives forever. The future
of Tokyo...

And her death.

* * *

The meeting finally settled and was nearing an end when Rei gave them
another surprise for the evening. Hiketsu was actually the one who started the
conversation in that direction though, knowing that Rei wouldn't start unless
someone pushed her to tell what had happened. "Rei-chan, I think it's time that
you tell them what you saw in the fire today."

All conversation ceased as startled eyes turned to the pale Rei who glared
openly at Hiketsu. "Well, what is it?" Minako demanded after a long period of
silence as Hiketsu stared back at Rei calmly while the dark-haired miko continued
to glare.

"Yes, Rei-chan, tell us what you saw in the fire today!" Makoto added
curiously.

The dark-haired girl suddenly looked very withdrawn as she shifted her gaze
from Hiketsu's face to her lap. She curled her fingers into fists, bunching the
fabric beneath her hands as she gathered her courage. Minako was ready to give
with frustration and explode again at her dark-haired friend, when Rei finally
spoke. "Hino-san, my... Otou-san, died today."

"No!" Usagi gasped as she let out a disbelieving gasp. The odangle blonde
was reaching across the table for her friend as the others sat in numbed shock.

"Daijoubu-yo, Rei-chan?" Ami asked softly at last as Usagi wrapped her
fingers upon one of Rei's pale, white hands.

Rei looked startled as she met Usagi's tearful eyes as a soft smile appeared
across her face as her bandaged hand lifted and gripped the odango-blonde's hand
in her own. "Daijoubu-yo, Usagi. He was never truly a father to me, and his
death does not hurt so much as the thought of you in danger. What disturbed me
was the way he died..."

Makoto wasn't fooled. She herself had lost both her parents and now, she
could see how Hino-san's death affected Rei, no matter how much the other denied
it to the others and herself. Rei was heartbroken. How did that girl keep all
that pain inside anyhow? Makoto wondered in bewilderment. Even she had been
unable to control the rage and the sorrow in her heart. Yet, Rei spoke the truth.
Her father hadn't been there for her for more than a decade, and to Rei, perhaps
he might as well have been dead for that long as well. Makoto though, knew that
when your father dies, you don't just brush it aside, no matter how much you might
have disliked him. Love was love, and fathers would always be fathers in their
children's hearts, no matter how much they were hated. At least, for those who
loved and felt love in all its pains and glories. Makoto knew with certainty that
Rei had known the meaning of love and thus she would not be untouched by such a
drastic event!

Makoto felt saddened that someone else now shared her fate, a fate she would
never have wished on anyone she loved. But at least she could lend Rei a
sympathetic ear, knowing what it was like to go through something like this.
Makoto could understand her loss. It had been hard, living and knowing that no
one understood her longings and tears -- not since she had met Usagi and the other
Inners had she ever allowed anyone close to her heart again, not since her sempai.
Rei wouldn't have to go through all of that and Makoto was relieved by the
thought. She grimaced slightly at the memories that now flowed back into her
mind, a pain that was long buried but never forgotten. Never to be forgotten.

Her hands clutched instinctively around her cup. When she was little, she
used to have nightmares about the death of her parents. Sometimes, she'd jolt
from her sleep hearing their screams before the flames of the aeroplane engulfed
them...

She shuddered at the memories of those nights alone. No one would come and
comfort her and she soon learned that tears brought nothing but beatings from the
other kids and despair into her heart. There would be no more of mother's cool
touch on her brow when she was sick, nor would there be the confident and
reassuring smile on her father's face while he held her in arms. She had to
toughen up early and became cold to the world that was cruel to her. Sometimes it
managed to hurt her because she really wasn't as tough as she seemed to be, as she
sometimes wished she was. She was still a girl back then, and now? She smiled
slightly, eyes downcast with the thought that she might indeed one day become the
woman she had always dreamed of being. "Daijoubu Mako-chan?" Ami asked softly
beside her.

"Na ni?" She asked surprised.

"You're crying." Ami stated quietly, blue-eyes searching her own. She
tried to smile reassuringly at the blue-haired girl as she sniffed, quickly wiping
away the tears that continue to fall down her cheeks. She actually hadn't
realized that she had been crying, but now she could see that some of her tears of
remembrance had escaped her eyes and fallen into her tea.

Okaa-chan, Otou-chan, I love you, I always will.

"I was just remembering." Makoto replied with equal softness, her voice but
a hint of a whisper.

The handsome young man beside Rei turned to her, deep blue eyes found her
sorrowful ones. Usagi and the rest had also turned to her even though she knew
that Ami had deliberately kept quiet to avoid the attention that they now bestowed
upon her. Those onyx eyes of the dark-haired girl beside the young man searched
her own. Yes, she had been right. There was pain and anger there, but Rei was
calm, betraying none of the emotions she held inside her, not wishing to bring
anxiety and pain to their princess. Makoto smiled at her softly, almost as an
encouragement. "I'm alright min'na." She told them soothingly. They didn't need
any more emotional turmoil, not now, not after all that had already happened.

"Mako-chan?" Usagi whispered in anxiety, worried about her friend.

"I was just remembering." Makoto repeated her earlier statement. She
didn't want Usagi to worry anymore tonight. Her eyes strayed to Rei again and to
the young man beside her, I wonder how long it'll take for Rei-chan to fall for
him.

"No words needed to explain," the blond-haired man smiled reassuringly.
"Perhaps, it is time for me to take leave?" He turned to the dark-haired
priestess beside him, but the others demured and Makoto was among them.

If Rei don't want him, she was more than willing! Makoto smiled, though
somewhat confused at the understanding she saw in his eyes. "Hiketsu has a talent
for understanding many things." Rei explained to Makoto when she had inquired
later. The brunette sighed, now there's two people out to read her mind!
"Another one of his... talents." The dark-haired girl added, though she seemed a
bit sarcastic on the last comment as Hiketsu shot her a grin.

"You flatter me with your compliments, Rei-chan!" He said, waving off the
startled looks the other girls were giving him. "It's really not that mystical,
I've just been blessed to have met many people in my travels, and I've learned to
appreciate the beauty of personalities as well. It's my personal belief that the
eyes are the windows of one's soul, ne, Rei-chan?" Those blue eyes searched those
mysterious dark-purple tinted eyes. What he saw there, Makoto would never know,
but he seemed satisfied when he looked away.

The meeting ended soon after that, not officially, not that any of their
meetings ever ended officially. Makoto walked down the steps of the temple,
accompanied by Usagi. Ami already departed down the temple steps to hurry home
and study some more. That was expected of course, it had been like that since
they first met and unlike everything else in her life right now, it hasn't
changed. Things had never been so stable, until that incident at the hospital,
and then, the mall...

"Ne, Mako-chan?" Usagi's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Un?" She replied. Painting a smile on her face and hoping her friend
wouldn't notice her preoccupation. "What is it Usagi-chan?"

"You are feeling better now, ne?" Usagi asked uncertainly, blue eyes
searching into her own under the dim moonlight.

Makoto smiled, "Everyone has memories Usagi-chan," she answered at last.
"They can be both beautiful and painful." The brunette shrugged. "It is how
things are," she knew then as she looked down at the worried expression of her
friend that the other will never know how grateful she was that Usagi was asking,
for she would never speak of it. No, Makoto decided that night, I will act upon
my gratitude from this moment on, and never again will I let her down!

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" The odango-blonde abruptly asked
after a period of silence. Usagi had stopped earlier to look at the stars in
pensiveness, after seemingly being satisfied in whatever it is that she saw in the
dark shadows that should've masked Makoto's eyes. But the Moon was out tonight
with a silent, and watchful brilliance that made Makoto think that something about
her spoke more then what need to be seen or heard.

The question surprised Makoto because the senshi all knew each other's
dreams. They had discussed it on many winter nights when the snow drifted
outside. They had spoken of it before high school even began, around the time of
the entrance exams and the semi-ritual hadn't ended since then. Yet, she knew
that Usagi probably just wanted to be reassured that everything was as it once
was, before all of this had happened--

Makoto cut herself off of her train of thought again, "Well, Usagi-chan, we
all know that I want to be a bride and marry a wonderful man who will sweep me off
of my feet!" Makoto smiled at the thought, momentarily swept away in her
daydreams. "I want to open a little shop filled with plants and home accessories.
And I especially want to open a restaurant that serves the most wonderful cooking,
so that everyone who goes there will feel like they were arriving home at last!"
Her smile went dreamy and for the first time in a long time since the attacks
started, Makoto felt better and smiled a real smile.

Yes, she was still the same person inside. She still wanted to fight by
Usagi's side. "And most of all, I want to be like Haruka-san. I want to be
strong like her, so that I can protect you, Usagi-chan. So, I won't fail, like I
did that day..." Her eyes misted and she looked away, resuming her earlier descent
down the temple steps.

"Mako-chan!" The small hands of her princess stopped her. When did she
come to love this little girl so much? Usagi-chan, my family, my imouto-chan.
She felt her determination harden, I have to protect her from all the evil of the
world so no one can harm her! Makoto thought. "I believe in your dreams, and I
believe in you. You did not fail me and I know you never will!" The odango-
blonde's crystal eyes seemed to plead for her to accept those words in earnest.
My imouto-chan...

She couldn't help but smile. Couldn't help but feel a slight burden lift
from her shoulders when those words were said. "Arigato, Usagi-chan!" She gently
placed a hand on the shorter girls head, just between the two cute odangos that
always decorated the princess's head. "Arigato." She murmured, her emerald eyes
sparkling under the light of the shining moon with gratitude and unshed tears.
When did she become this emotional? Makoto didn't know but her smile didn't leave
her face. She was just so glad that Usagi would still be her imouto-chan. Yes,
she had been very lucky tonight, to have received empathy and forgiveness in one
night.

With that in mind Makoto began to move again, needing some time on her own
to get her feelings under control she separated from Usagi's presence. Already
descending swiftly down the steps of the temple before the odango-blonde could
protest, she looked over her shoulder when she finally reached the sidewalk, "Ja
ne! School's starting tomorrow anyway, so I'll see you there!" Makoto called out
with a wave over her shoulder and a grin on her face.

Sighing in relief that her friend was beginning to feel better, Usagi
returned the wave with enthusiasm. "Ja ne, Mako-chan!" Then the implication of
the goodbye set in and Usagi pouted. "Darn it! I can't believe school's back in
session! No wonder Ami-chan ran off so quickly to study." The blonde sighed as
she slowly descended the steps.

Okaa-chan would be waiting for Usagi to come home and finish her homework,
especially since okaa-chan's health had been improving after that incident at the
hospital. With a frown she turned her head back to the temple with the memories
of the meeting that passed there that day. Her eyes opened wide when she saw the
lone figure of a tall blond man leaning against the torii and looking at her
intensely. She blushed under his attention. 'Kagemi Hiketsu, he's an old friend
of mine from way back.' Rei never told her that she had a childhood friend until
Hiketsu showed up. Usagi never knew and didn't even think to ask, until now, that
is. She quickly looked away and turned, going down the stairs.

The man seemed lost in thought, even as he had studied her so. What was he
searching for here? Usagi wondered worriedly. For a moment a sly thought crept
through her mind. I hope, you find the love you deserve Rei-chan! She sighed as
a solemn thought invaded her cheerful mood, but why was Kagemi Hiketsu looking at
her in that way? He had Mamoru's intensity, and his gaze held something that she
couldn't quite put her finger on. It made her blush, but she was unwilling to let
that affect her too much. What mattered was that Hiketsu was here and Rei-chan
would need him. After all, Rei-chan had lost her father today. The dark-haired
miko assured them that Hino-san was dead since she was the one who saw Hino-san
swallowed by the darkness in the fire.

Usagi shuddered at the thought. She would never have been able to keep all
that pain inside if her father had died today. Her heart ached for her dark-
haired friend, but Rei said nothing. She even warned them not to worry about her,
in the typical I'm-alright-so-stop-bothering-me way. Typical.

Rei-chan, I hope you really do find someone who you can open your heart to.
Just as much as I hope the rest of the senshi can find the love I have found with
Mamo-chan. She smiled. Perhaps, it will happen soon. They had enough bad luck
these days and it's about time their labours paid off. With that in mind, Usagi
moved down the steps of the temple and headed home, never feeling a pair of blue
eyes still penetrating her back, staring after her silently from the torii under
the stars.

'Tuskino Usagi, I hope that you're right.'

Then Hiketsu turned his gaze to the stars and lost himself in the beauty of
the distant and tiny lights. A voice of long ago haunted him as he watched them
shine from distant galaxies, "The stars, my friend, know everything!"

* * *

"Staying behind again, ne, Minako-chan?" Rei asked with a smile.

"You never told me that Kaidou had a brother." Minako answered pensively,
ignoring Rei's earlier question.

"You never asked." Rei finally replied after a moment of silence.

"You know, Rei-chan, it's better to let the pain out than keep it inside.
It can eat you alive if you don't speak about it sometimes." They both knew what
she meant, but Rei said nothing. Stubborn, that's exactly what Minako expected it
would be in the end when she confronted her friend. "I met someone today," Minako
continued, changing the subject.

"Oh? Another one?" Rei asked, trying to lighten the somber mood.

Minako cracked a smile but didn't react the way she usually would have to
such a tease. "He's name is Kuragari Fuma. Knew my name meant love child. I
thought he was an American or something like that at first, but he spoke perfect
Japanese, not a hint of an accent." Minako paused as she turned her eyes to the
stars. "Had the most beautiful eyes and a wonderful smile."

Rei blinked in surprise, for she had never seen Minako this serious about a
boy before. Usually, the blonde would have been squealing by now at the top of
her lungs and begging Rei for a free love charm. This was different and that
unsettled the dark-haired priestess greatly. "Do you trust him Minako-chan?" Rei
asked quietly.

"I don't know. Maybe I do, maybe I don't. But when I look at those eyes.
I--" Minako turned to Rei with a puzzled look on her face. "Rei-chan, is it wrong
for me to feel this way at a time like this?" Rei dropped to her knees beside the
blonde and hugged her puzzled friend. Minako was definitely serious. Usually,
the cheery blonde wouldn't question for a minute about her boy-crazy nature, in
fact, she'd defend it to the end! Yet, it was different this time. How? Rei
wasn't sure, but it unsettled her.

"Daijoubu-yo Minako-chan. Just follow your heart, it'll lead you to where
you should be." The blonde smiled at the use of one of her less misleading
quotes. "Just be careful, okay? Knowing men..." Rei muttered the last part,
mostly to herself, but Minako heard it and wrapped her arms around the other girl
as well.

"I'll be on my guard, Rei-chan. I'll be on my guard." It was the only
reassurance she could give. It's best this way, really. After all, who knows how
long they had before they had to step out into the world as the Sailor Senshi, and
not just five normal teenage girls fighting evil on a Sunday before going back to
being normal people again by Monday? She sighed sadly, but smiled nonetheless
when Rei finally pulled away. "You know Rei-chan, that Hiketsu-san of yours is
very cute and seems to be very free as well."

Rei scowled at that, "Hiketsu is just a friend Minako-chan!" The dark-
haired girl frowned.

"Oh? Now, I don't see you treating Mamoru-kun that way and he's just a
friend too!" Rei blushed at this. "Anyway, you're cold to the rest of your
admirers or stare them down when they annoy you too much," now Rei's face was red
with annoyance. "Hiketsu, now..." Minako trailed off with a twinkle in her eyes
that made Rei suspiciously uncomfortable.

"What? What about Hiketsu?" Rei demanded with agitation.

"He's someone to be admired for sticking to you for so long!" Rei glowered
at this comment as Minako winked at her with laughing blue eyes.

"What's so surprising about it?" Rei demanded, "I don't see any brave
sacrifices from you for sticking with me for this long!" She retorted.

"Ah, but I'm a messenger of Love and Justice," Minako replied evenly. "I
was born to bear with you."

"Thanks a lot, Minako-chan." Rei stuck her tongue out at her friend.

"Don't worry Rei-chan, Hiketsu won't know what hit him when you tell him you
love him." Minako winked.

"Baka!" Rei sighed with exasperation, "And what do you mean 'when' I tell
him I love him?" Purple eyes burned with aggitation. Seemingly, the blonde hit a
nerve.

"Oh, you'll admit it soon enough." Minako answered non-chalantly.

Silence fell between the two friends as Rei's eyes suddenly become faraway
at those words. "Life isn't that simple, Mina-P. It never was." The other
finally replied. Whatever the dark-haired shrine maiden meant by that, Minako
didn't know, because before she could speak another word, Rei was gone. There
were nothing but scattered cherry-blossoms on the floor, and their scent lingered
around her even though their mistress had already left.

"Rei-chan, why are you so scared of love?" There was no answer to her
question but the gentle breeze that sighed softly before it died, the watching
stars twinkled overhead as if they knew a secret that must not be revealed.

Two pairs of watchful black eyes turned away from the blonde before the
rustle in the trees announced their departure. Their charge was uneasy and that
made the guardians of the temple, and of their senshi, worried. There was still
much to face in the near future and they wondered if the sacrifices they were
about to make were worth it after all in the end. But the cards have spoken and
the wheel of fortune has turned.

Now, all they can do is watch, and wait.



By the time Ami reached home, it was a half past ten. She set down her bag
by the door and neatly put her shoes away before straightening and carrying her
bag with her to her room. Her mother wasn't home today, not yet. Sundays were
usually not too busy, so she should be home soon. When Ami turned on her lights
and closed the door behind her, she heard the front door open again.

Mother was home.

"Welcome home okaa-san!" Ami called out, as she reopened her door and
looked out to the hallway.

The older woman greeted Ami with a smile and walked toward her after
disposing of her own shoes at the door. "Still not in bed?" Elder Mizuno asked
with a small, knowing smile. "How was your day Ami?" Her mother asked.

"Busy, and a little tiring. Yours okaa-san?" Ami asked with a smile.

"Same as yours little one. I'll go make some dinner for myself, do you want
to join me?"

Ami smiled and shook her head, "I was out with Usagi-chan and everyone.
Mako-chan made us all dinner and Rei-chan baked muffins and we had tea. No, I'm
quite full, thank you okaa-san."

Her mother smiled at this too, "I'm glad you finally found some friends Ami-
chan. If you like, I can make you some green tea, I know how you love that."

"Arigato okaa-san! That would be nice." Her mother nodded and petted her
gently on the head. "Don't go to sleep too late now dear!" Kissing her softly on
the forehead, her mother turned and left for the kitchen.

Ami smiled softly to the older woman's back and touched her forehead. "Hai,
okaa-san, hai." She closed her door and walked to her desk that had her home
computer up.

'There was an explosion... You mean Ayakashi Petz?... In today's news the
explosion of a small shop, near the end of the East of downtown Juuban... No one
was hurt... Ayakashi Petz?... I can't believe they still have a picture of
us...' She remembered those sisters. She had meant to bring it up during the
meeting but it slipped her mind when Rei told of the terrible tragedy that had
occurred to her.

The computer beeped, snapping her out of her revery. Surprised, she watched
it flicker to life by itself, before it opened into the opening screen, clicking
itself open to several files. In moments the net was displayed before and a site
was found, a message scrolled across her screen.

'Ami, I need to talk to you. Write back, because I know you're alive. I
need your help. --CORE' Startled, she reread the short message and shakily sat
down.

He knows.

Her eyes closed and she set her head in her hands. This was going to be a
very long night. She wrote back soon after, when her mom came into her room, she
was already busily at her textbooks, looking for answers and using her computer to
piece together a puzzle that she didn't understand. Smiling with pride, her
mother set down the teacup and gently put it down on the desk, not disturbing her
daughter once, Mizuno quietly slipped from the room while her daughter tried to
find the cure to the virus. The virus named Chronic Atropostia Syndrome --
otherwise known as CHAOS.

Ami knew her mother came and went, but there wasn't enough time to look up
and say hello. Not with all the information that Core had sent her and was
expecting her to finish reading and analyzing. He wrote back only with a hello
and a stack of files for her to look over, sites to go to for research and key
words to search under. She looked, knowing that he probably already read all the
information presented, hoping she'd find something he missed. Her hands gripped
the cup that her mother left her, drinking the hot tea, grateful for its warmth.
The results she was getting were frightening and her face was becoming more and
more ashen. Halfway through her mini-computer's processing, she wrote back to
Core. 'Are you crazy?! The information here means the death of this planet!'
One in every one hundred people infected? How was that possible? Who came up
with this stuff?

He calmly replied, 'I'm showing only what is already there.'

He didn't define where he meant by 'there' but he didn't have to. Ami felt
herself shivering whenever the idea entered her head. Is this the price of
utopia? Her mind questioned, cool and resolved. Her heart, though, thudded
painfully in her chest.

Yes, this is how utopia began. Her fingers trembled as she looked over more
reports, until the pictures came. Her eyes bulged slightly. The only words that
came from her mouth were a half gasp of a no. It never really passed the tip of
her tongue before she leapt out of her chair and ran for the bathroom. She
retched, though the pictures were burned into her mind. The blackened skin and
hollow sockets. The mouth gaping and the wispy hairs. The skeletal structure of
a human being that once was alive. And the gashes of black blood oozing from cuts
and down the mouth and on the legs; the deteriorated muscles that peeked through
the seemingly charred skin. They were all burned into her mind.

'Jupiter Oak Evolution!' The youma that had disintegrated into ashes so
easily. Was that once human too? But there were claws of shiny black nails ready
to slash them to death. No, that was 'not' human! It couldn't be! Her hands
trembled as she heaved again, her eyes swimming and clouding with tears.

A knock came from the bathroom door, which she had slammed and locked.
"Daijoubu-yo Ami-chan?" Her mother's worried voice came through her horror
stricken mind. She remembered the cool and professional touch of her mother's
hand on her feverish forehead when she was young.

"H-hai." She called out. Flushing the toilet and rushing to the sink, she
washed away the traces of her dinner that still left a sour-bitterness in her
mouth. She quickly brushed her teeth and when she walked out, her mother was
leaning on the side of the wall, looking up as she came through.

"Are you alright Ami-chan?" Her mother asked. Those eyes looked worriedly
down at her.

"Um! I'm fine. Just brushing my teeth before I forget to later tonight!"
Ami assured, faking a smile.

Her mother looked skeptical, but she didn't have time for this. "I should
get back to work. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, okaa-san." She murmured as she
headed for her room.

"Ami-chan," She turned to see her mother smile at her reassuringly. "Sleep
tight okay mon petit poisson?" She smiled, back. Her mother hadn't called her
that since she was a little girl, but she was glad of the memories that it
brought.

"Hai, arigato mama!" She waved before closing the door to her room. The
pictures were gone and a message typed itself onto her screen. Walking over
cautiously, she saw the neat kanji letters written there.

'Sorry, I didn't realize you would be so affected by it.' Core wrote.

'How could I not be?'

A pause, as another screen moved up and there were no more pictures on this.
She breathed a sigh of relief. 'I keep forgetting how people might not take so
well to these pictures, even though I've been trying to keep them out of the hands
of the media around the world.' He finally said.

'Media? How are you doing that?' She asked surprised.

'Ami, you always trusted me. Trust me now when I say that it is best you
don't know how I do the things I do.' He replied.

Now, it was her turn to pause. 'How did you know I reacted so violently?'
Ami asked.

'The walls have eyes Ami. I know what I know and you know what you know.
We never told each other how we come to know the things we do. I never questioned
you on what you did with the information I provided for you and you never
questioned about my origins or my purpose. Don't start now.' He warned her,
though not menacingly. She knew that he wasn't that type of a man to threaten
unless he felt it was necessary.

He was like her.

She smiled a little sadly. Too bad they suddenly seemed to be on different
sides. 'I'm sorry.' She wrote, as her eyes closed wearily. The pictures lay
hidden in the dark, waiting for her. Is that what we will become? My friends and
I? Would we decay and turn to be like those monsters? Or are they really
monsters after all? She would cry, but weariness came upon her soul, making her
too tired to express the surge of emotions within her. What had she to cry about?
The skeletal remains of a human tried to attack her princess, it had wounded and
passed a virus to her and her friends. She had every right to defend her country
and her leader. Why, then, did she feel so dirty?

Her hands itched as she slowly glanced down wearily at her palms. She saw
nothing but white skin, tinted pink by the blood and nerves that lie beneath the
skin. What was she looking for? To see if they were drenched in blood? She
almost laughed out loud at the thought but did not, knowing that it would only
lead her to cry in despair and anguish. How was she supposed to know that the
thing was human? Her computer didn't suggest anything was different about this
new breed, or perhaps it did...

She paused unsure and unwilling to admit to herself that perhaps she knew,
deep within her heart. Her eyes opened as she looked at the empty screen before
her. What had she become? Just a soldier like Haruka and Michiru once were? No
morals and just excuses when she had done something wrong because she was too
afraid of the price that she must pay for her dreams, the price that was not hers
to pay alone. The screen stayed blank and stared back at her, without
confirmation or comfort. What did she expect? Core wouldn't know how she was
reacting now. Or did he?

He didn't reply this time to her answer in the words that she had dreaded to
hear from him or perhaps hoped he'd say. He only sent her more sites and more
reading to do. Relieved and yet anxious, she pushed her guilt aside to work. She
didn't get to sleep until three that night, and the next morning she had trouble
concentrating in class. Lucky that she had already gone over all of the material
a few weeks ago, Ami half-slept through most of her classes. If Usagi had been in
her class now, the odanga-blonde would've been surprised. Yet, Ami was too tired
to care and she slept right through lunch, missing Usagi, Minako and Makoto all
together as she slept in the library with her head in her arms.

CORE's pictures came and went within her nightmarish dreams, but then
sometimes, just sometimes, she dreamed of a beautiful light. It soothed the ache
and the horror that still haunted her heart. Maybe, just maybe, there is hope for
us still.

There was much to do, but Ami would be ready. With the help of CORE, she
would be ready indeed! But at night, just before exhaustion would take over her
mind and her body, she would remember the pictures still that he had sent her.
She would remember the anguished and pained screams of the monster before it
turned to dust, only night after night it was a man or a woman. Sometimes she saw
herself burn into ashes before the might of Jupiter's stormy strikes, and she
would wake the next morning exhausted and drenched in the sweat of dread and fear.
Her mind slowly began to learn to cope with the overload of information that Core
repeatedly sent to her, and she learned to categorize them quickly as relevant or
not important. But in her dreams she remembered the guilt and darkness of her
thoughts that the busy days had made it so easy to forget. And, it was then that
Ami finally learned the true dread of the dark and the coming night that loomed
over her future, just at the edge of her thoughts.

All thoughts of the Ayakashi sisters slipped her mind entirely and the
mystery remained unsolved.



.blue.
blueweber@hotmail.com


Mon petit poisson - means "my little fish"... yeah, it's kind of corny and yes, I
thought about removing it but, the it's a pet name and when have those type of
things ever been non-corny or practical? So, I changed my mind again and kept it
as it is. Please, I totally agree with you that it is not one of the best things
to call Ami, but hey, I ran out of ideas okay ;p



.blue.
blueweber@hotmail.com


A tribute to...
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.


.blue.
blueweber@hotmail.com