The Guardian, Part 3
Memories
By Taerir

All Sailor Moon references are the property of their respective owners. Any concepts, characters, world names, plotlines, and so on not found in the Sailormoon television series or manga are the sole property of the author, Taerir, copyright 1999. No duplication is permitted without written permission from the author.

"I was born as a princess of a world called Taerir," Asami began haltingly. "It's a place accessible only through a set of portals called the Gates. Eventually, I went to your moon to learn how to fight and prepare myself for... certain duties I was to have later in life. On the moon, I became a senshi-Sailor Taerir. Although my ties were still to my home world, along with my vow to protect my Gate, I took the vows with the other senshi to protect you as well as the Gates, Usagi, or should I say Princess Serenity?"

Asami sighed. "There were others from the worlds accessible through the Gates. My job was to lead the rest of them. But I was the first to die, and I've got a feeling all of us died before you. I failed my team."

"Aside from that guilt, there's more. I-I had a fiance, who stayed on Taerir to protect our world. He died even before I did. Our world was saved, but he sacrificed his life for that freedom."

"I came back because I was on the moon, and because Queen Selenity sent all of the senshi to the future. But how could she have brought my fiance back? He wasn't even there. I am alone, now. There is no one else for me."

Giving Usagi a serious look, she couldn't stop a tear from rolling down her cheek. "You found your prince again, but mine is gone forever." Feeling her way back into her seat on the couch, Asami buried her face in her hands and cried.

Usagi moved over and placed a hand on Asami's shoulder. "I-I..." Usagi tried, and then started again. "I'm sorry, Asami. It must be so hard for you." In a rare solemn moment, Usagi remembered when she found out Mamoru had died at the hands of Galaxia. She couldn't imagine knowing, as Asami did, that there would be no way to bring a loved one back, no matter what.

"At least you had some time with him," Usagi said quietly. "So you still have the memories."

"Oh yes, the memories, but not HIM," Asami replied, rising and going to look out the window. "I'm eighteen years old, and I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life." She shivered. Never would she have the comfort of his presence, or even the knowledge that she was loved...

"Asami..." Usagi began, and then closed her mouth. She didn't know what to say.

"Asami-san, you loved him once," Minako cut in. "And he'd want you to go on. At least you got the chance to know what love was like."

Asami looked over at the group of girls, clenching her fist. "You're right, he would." Determination filled her voice. "I will fight for the sake of his memory."

The three girls smiled encouragingly. Asami glanced at her watch once again. Now would be a good time to leave.

"And now, I really do have to go," Asami said, attempting to smile brightly. "Homework and all, you know!" She scribbled something down on a piece of paper. "There's my phone number, just in case."

The last thing Asami saw as she hurried out the door was Usagi's grimace. Chuckling slightly despite her mood, Asami headed for her apartment. By the time she got there, there was no trace of a smile on her face whatsoever, and there were shadows under her eyes.

Wearily trudging up the stairs to her floor, she finally managed to make it to her apartment. Her next-door neighbor, Iwamoto Kensaku, with whom she was good friends, glanced at her with worry in his eyes.

"You don't look very good, Asami," he said, watching her carefully. "I think you should forget your cramming for the evening and get to bed early."

Asami shivered and waved him away. "I will. Don't worry, Kensaku."

She slipped into her apartment, shut the door behind her, and cried bitterly over a cup of hot chocolate.