The Guardian, Part 4
Sendings
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.

The next day, Asami went straight to the library after school, determined to make up for the time she had missed the day before. Losing herself in her studies was the only way she could find to forget the grief she would now have to live with for the rest of her life. Nearby, Asami noticed Kensaku was studying as well; his college courses were especially grueling this semester, or so she had heard. Frowning, she turned to her studies and hoped he wouldn't see her. She really didn't feel like talking right now.

The hours passed more quickly than she would have liked. She sighed; seven o' clock already. She should probably get home. As she rose from her table, Kensaku saw her.

"Come on; we can walk home together," he said. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Okay," Asami agreed, gathering her books.

Once outside, Kensaku paused. Asami's mind wandered, her thoughts turning to the day she learned her fiance had died, and times before that when he was still with her. Frustrated, she sighed. Why couldn't she remember his name, or what he had looked like? Guilt filled her, but she shook herself out of her reverie as she realized Kensaku had already started to talk.

"Asami," Kensaku began. "I'm worried about you. If there's some kind of problem you need to talk about..."

Asami shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. Was it that easy to for him to tell? "I'm fine, Kensaku, really. I've just been a little tired lately. Is that all you wanted?"

Kensaku looked doubtful, but accepted her explanation.

Asami started to feel uncomfortable. "So is that all?" she asked brightly, again.

Kensaku kept his eyes fixed on the ground. "There's something else... Asami, we've been friends for a while now... I was wondering if you felt, like I did, that there was something more between us."

Asami stared. This would have to come up now, of all times... He looked so handsome, running his hands through his dark blond hair, and so vulnerable... Why hadn't she noticed before?

"W-What do you mean, Kensaku?" she asked, overwhelmed.

He walked up to her and gently brushed away a strand of hair that had gotten in her eyes. "I want to know if you would go out with me, Asami... You're so beautiful... I know how I feel; do you feel the same way?"

"Kensaku..." she replied warningly, at a loss for words.

"It's alright," he said. "I understand."

"No, you don't," she said, tears forming in her eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall. "You can never understand. I like you, I really do. But I can't... I've got to go!"

Leaving Kensaku standing there, she fled, wanting only to be alone.

Kado peeked out from the shadows, watching Asami run away from Kensaku.

So she's having emotional problems, is she? he thought, laughing to himself. That's funny; she remembers her fiance, but she doesn't remember what I did to her yet? Oh well; soon enough, she will. Perhaps I should remind the other senshi for her? I'm sure they'd just be so pleased with her.

Kado laughed again, louder this time. Tonight, he would send visions, and weaken Asami's heart. Tomorrow, he would attack, with intent to kill.

Slamming the door behind her as she entered her apartment, Asami shuddered. Changing into some more comfortable clothing, she settled down on the couch to watch television in an attempt to lose herself once again. Her eyelids began to droop, and before she could react, she had fallen asleep early for the second night in a row. Tonight, her rest would not be as peaceful as the last.

"Asami..." a voice called in the darkness. "Rhanwyn..."

Asami gasped. On Taerir, Rhanwyn had been her name... How did the voice know that?

Rhanwyn, my love..." the voice called again.

Her fiance? But how? A figure stepped out of the darkness, his face cloaked in darkness. She longed to run to his arms, but she held herself back. For all she knew, it was a trap.

"How could you go one without me?" the voice said accusingly. "How can you live knowing I'm dead?"

"Please," Asami pleaded, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "Please don't do this to me... I have to go on. I have to live, to help save the others."

"You're alone, and you'll always be alone..."

Asami awoke with a start, pulling her knees to her chest to try to stop the trembling. She spent the rest of the night trying to block the vision from her mind so that she could rest once again, but never found the peace she needed.