Chapter Five: New Story
Katsuko slowly gathered her things at the end of the school day. It was time to meet with the moon princess and her prince, tell them everything they wished to know. She stopped in the middle of picking up a notebook, thinking. Could she tell them everything? They would want to know about the Leaders, the Temple, about the Sailors Elite, her people, her planet, her family.her friends. Could she tell them everything?

"Suko wa?"

Katsuko turned. Yaten stood leaning in the classroom doorway, his eyes wide with concern. "Suko wa." He was beside her in three strides. "Doshite no desu ka?" What's the matter?

"Oh, gin ke wa," murmured Katsuko, leaning against him, her voice low and sad. "I need you now. I need your strength. Please."

Yaten was surprised a little, then crushed her to him. "Of course. You never need to ask. You know that."

She smiled then. "Arigato, Yaten kou." She sighed, then grabbed her bag. She took Yaten's hand. "I have to tell them everything but with you here with me, I can tell them everything."

The meeting was being held at Haruka and Michiru's. Yaten and Katsuko were the last to arrive, but no one complained. All were simply anxious to hear what Katsuko's background was, where it was she came from.

"Katsuko-chan!," called out Usagi gaily, patting the seat next to her and Mamoru. "Come sit here. Sit next to us."

"Thank you, milady. Milord," Katsuko greeted the prince, bowing before sitting down properly, crossing her legs at the ankles. She sighed before smiling. "I wish I knew where to start."

Ami patted her hand from where she sat next to the cinnamon colored girl. "How about we ask and you just answer? We have so many question to ask."

"Yeah, like, um.where are you from?," asked Makoto.

"Ah, an easy one," Katsuko smiled. "I am a Monarchian, princess Jupiter. My home planet is Planet Monarch, far away from this solar system, even from Kinmoku's system. My mother, Queen Cho, ruled for many years. She was a beautiful woman, milady."

Usagi smiled. "She was?"

"Oh, yes. She loved my father and all of us children very much."

"Oh, you have siblings?," asked Rei.

"I do. The new queen is my young sister, Uki. My youngest sister is Hiko and I have twin brothers, Kin and Suberu. I have not seen them in some years now, but I have heard that they are doing well. Uki is also the protector of Monarch now." Katsuko smiled to herself. "My little sister."

"You must be proud." Makoto smiled with her.

"Very," Katsuko assured her. "I was Monarch's protector before coming under the leadership of the Leaders Elite, more specifically under the Wind Leader's ruling."

"The leaders Elite?" Ami's eyes became bright, eager to learn more. "How many are there?"

"There are four, princess Mercury. They are all goddesses of the elements, Wind, Water, Fire and Earth."

"Not many outside the Elite know about the Leaders," put in Haruka. "I've known Katsuko-chan for years and I haven't laid eyes on them or even the Temple."

"Neither have we," added Seiya.

Minako breathed a sigh of relief, then wondered if she was too loud, but no one seemed to notice. She smiled. If Yaten didn't know Katsuko's Leader, there was a chance he didn't know everything about her.

"Not many are privileged to have an audience with one of the Leaders, this is true," said Katsuko. Her dark eyes glanced over at Yaten and she chuckled. "Of course if the rules were flexible and things were different, my Leader would have met my friends, all of my friends, quite some centuries ago."

Minako's relief was gone. Yaten was lounging in a nearby window seat, eyes closed as the sun basked him in its light, but his ears were turned into every word. Minako could see the quiet grin as he heard Katusko speak.

"Uh..so how many, uh, how many are there? Sailor Elite, I mean," she stammered, trying to distract herself.

"Eleven."

Michiru turned, a confused expression on her lovely features. "Eleven? But, Katsuko-chan, there are twelve Elite senshi, not eleven." She suddenly stopped and stared, a hand over her heart. "What.what are you saying? Katsuko-chan?"

Usagi looked over at the now silent warrior, wondering what was going on. Katsuko's head was bowed. Haruka was becoming concerned herself. "It's nothing, Michiru, it's nothing." She patted her partner's hand trying to reassure the young girl. "Someone..someone just gave up their right to be an Elite member, that's all. Right? Right, Katsuko-chan?"

Usagi was still watching Katsuko and saw her gripping her skirt in tight clenched fists. Yaten had also noticed the change and was sitting up. Katsuko's head of midnight black came up and everyone was shocked to see tears in those dark gentle eyes.

"If only it were as simple as just leaving," she whispered, adamant on keeping the tears at bay. "But it isn't. Sailor Lynx is gone. Galaxia.Galaxia killed her."

Michiru's breath caught and Haruka's eyes slowly filled. All three StarLights' mouths dropped in disbelief at the revelation. The tears in Katsuko's bright eyes finally spilled over and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. Minako started to rise from her chair, ready to comfort the crying girl, but Yaten was already there, holding her, whispering in her ear. Minako sunk back down into her seat. Michiru was weeping openly.

"Oh, Mane!," she cried.

"Mane?" The Inner Senshi were lost.

"Katsuko's best friend," Yaten explained shortly, stroking the grieving senshi's hair.

"Oh." Makoto sadly watched Katsuko sob. "Oh, Katsuko-chan.I am so sorry."

Yaten flashed her a dirty look, but said nothing. Usagi sat in horror. To lose a friend, a best friend, was awful. She remembered the day Galaxia took her friends away from her, taking their Star Seeds and turning their bodies to dust. However once Galaxia's sanity returned and Chaos was defeated, the senshi of the Moon Kingdom were restored. Usagi gasped as she grabbed Mamoru's hand, remembering.

"Matte! Wait!," she exclaimed. "Wait, Katsuko-chan!" She smiled hugely at her new friend who looked up startled at the exclamation. "Don't cry. Please don't cry. You can have your friend back, I'm sure of it. Galaxia tried to kill us, but didn't. Everyone was brought back once she was freed from Chaos. If Galaxia did the same, Lynx, I mean, Mane should have been restored."

Usagi's smile faded as Katsuko shook her head. "I thank you for such kindness, milady, but.please try to understand. Galaxia took your Seeds in order to gain power. That was all you meant to her. We Elite.at least at that time, we were the ones who could stop her. She saw us as a threat and wanted to destroy us. She..she just didn't take Mane's Seed. She crushed it, crumbled it to dust as she laughed." Fresh tears sprang into her eyes and Yaten gripped his beloved tighter. "She can't be restored."

Usagi was suddenly gripped with a desire to do something for the sweet well- mannered senshi.. but what? None of them had the power to give Katsuko her friend back to her. "I am so sorry, Katsuko. I'm sorry you lost your friend, but.I'll be your friend if you let me." Katsuko's eyes widened as Usagi plunged on. "I don't know what or how much Mane meant to you, but my friends, everyone sitting here, they mean everything to me. That includes you. If you want," she added quickly.

Katsuko laughed through her tears, startling Yaten. "Oh, milady! I thank you!"

There was a sudden sob as Minako rushed forward. Her arms opened wide to receive Katsuko warmly and graciously. Katsuko too held on tightly to her new friend and soon all her new friends as the Inners came towards her with tenderness and love. The newly come senshi warrior was part of the family.

The Wind Leader sat watching the tender heart-wrenching scene unfold before her in the viewing globe, Sailors Hawk and Falcon on each side of her dais.

"See, my Guardians?," sighed the goddess. "Monarch is well, her wounds are healing."

Taka smiled, leaning on her winged spear. "Yes, my Leader. Our sister's heart is glad. So is mine."

"And mine," joined in Tori. She watched as Katsuko had her tears lovingly wiped away by the silver haired Light. Be happy, my Guardian sister. Finally.be happy.