The Guardian, Part 8
The Unexpected
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.

Asami sat back thoughtfully, turning her gaze to the mall corridors outside the restaurant. Nearby, she noticed Kensaku rummaging through the shelves at the music store. She sighed, reminded once again of all that had happened. When she was with him, everything felt right, somehow, even though it shouldn't. The thought made her uncomfortable.

Looking further, Asami noticed a blonde woman just standing against a wall inside the mall. Asami blinked; why did the woman look so familiar? With a sharp intake of breath, she recognized the woman they had fought the day before.

Asami gave the others a meaningful look. "I'm going to go on ahead... you can come if you want." Without waiting for the others to protest, she headed into a back room in the restaurant and transformed. She left the restaurant and walked toward Midori.

"I know you," she told the woman angrily. "You're with Kado. So what do you want with us?"

Nearby, she saw Kensaku emerge from the store and start in her direction. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him, telling him to stay away. He ignored her and continued to approach.

"Oh, it's very simple," Midori replied. "He wants you dead... especially you, Sailor Taerir. And it's my job to make sure that happens." With a laugh, she gathered energy to her fingertips and sent a ball of lightning hurtling toward Sailor Taerir.

Sailor Taerir quickly jumped out of the way.

"Taerir Psychic-" Too late, she noticed that Midori was already preparing another attack, stronger this time.

Kensaku watched with horror as the blonde woman's attack headed straight for Sailor Taerir. Suddenly, memories came racing back to him.

Kensaku, Keelan ap Maddyc in the past life, stood facing a young woman who looked exactly like Asami. There was pain in her eyes, but when she spoke, her voice was steady.

"I have to go, Keelan..." Rhanwyn said quietly. "The other senshi need me. I love you..."

He kissed her gently. "I love you too."

The two turned in opposite directions. Rhanwyn's destination was the Moon Kingdom, his the battleground to keep Taerir free from darkness. Keelan was struck by the feeling that he would never see his fiance again...

Suddenly, Kensaku knew what he had to do. He ran to Midori and Sailor Taerir, pushing Taerir out of the way. He would die if necessary to save her.

Taerir was knocked to the ground by the attack. She scrambled to her feet, just in time to see Midori's attack hit Kensaku. She stared as he was thrown against a wall, and suddenly a memory overtook her.

Sailor Taerir stood with the rest of the senshi, who were readying themselves for battle. A messenger joined the group.

"Sailor Taerir, I regret to inform you that Keelan ap Maddyc has just died in the war to save your home," the man announced, leaving quickly.

"Taerir, I'm sorry," someone said to her. "If you don't want to go, we'll understand."

Sailor Taerir paled. She felt like her heart had been ripped out, but she shook her head.

"I have to go. I could never live with myself if I didn't. He...He would have wanted me to."

The others nodded in understanding.

With a gasp, she rushed back into action, but saw that the other senshi had already arrived. Letting the others do their work, she moved to protect Kensaku.

"Mercury aqua rhapsody!"

"Venus love and beauty shock!"

"Mars flame sniper!"

"Jupiter oak revolution!"

"Silver moon crystal power kiss!"

Unable to withstand five successive attacks, Midori fell to her knees. She raised her bowed head to glare at the senshi. "You haven't defeated me yet!" With that, she disappeared.

Sailor Taerir looked around and detransformed as she noticed most of the mall patrons had left the building on the onset of the attack. She knelt by Kensaku's side.

"Kensaku," Asami said gently. "Are you alright? We may need to get you some help..."

Kensaku groaned and lifted himself to his elbows. "No; I'll be fine." He looked up at Asami, who was still crouched over him. So this was why she had been rejecting him.

"Wyna," he said, his head still spinning from Midori's attack. "I finally remember. It's me, Keelan."

Asami looked at him in shock for a moment before she took on a look of denial. Her face paled, and she shook her head.

"No," she said, standing and beginning to back away. "Keelan, you're dead...you didn't come back..."

Kensaku, who was beginning to regain his senses, sat up. "Wyna, why can't you just realize that it's me?"

In Asami's mind, she knew that Kensaku was telling the truth, but she felt scared and alone, and her heart wouldn't accept it. Suddenly, she was angry.

The meeting can wait... I don't care. Asami thought bitterly. Unable to react the way people wanted her to, Asami ran out of the mall and toward her apartment, tears filling her eyes.

She managed to get the door unlocked with her shaking hands and slammed it shut behind her. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes in pain and slid to the ground, bringing her knees to her chest and trembling.