Chapter Eight: So Close Yet So Far

While Rei/Mars was passed out Sere took action. She couldn't let Rei's grandfather find her like this. With Rei tucked safely in the arms of a worried Jag Sere led them hurriedly to Rei's bedroom. It was as she remembered. Zane had stayed outside thinking it better to survey the land incase the scouts decided to show.

"Lay her on the bed, Jag. Nate and Kaz keep watch. Don't let anyone sneak up on you." With the guys gone and Rini sitting quietly by the door. "Jag if you want to help her go two doors down the hall to the left and get a bowl of water and a cloth, Rini why don't you go with him."

"But…" Jag started to protest.

"Right now Jagger!" She finally snapped and pushed him out the door. Rini went with him while he went to find what her momma had sent him after.

With the guys gone Sere began to pace around the room. She hoped that Jag would stay gone until she woke up, but doubted it. She remembered the time that she and Darien had trying to get them to dance on the Moon.

Jag was back in about five minutes with what she had asked for. He took it over to where she lay and placed the cool cloth on her pale forehead.

"Rini go wait with Uncle Kaz. Tell him if the others show up to send for one of us. Ok?" She smiled at the little girl to let her know that everything would be fine and watched as she nodded and went running off to find Uncle Kaz.

Rini was gone for about five minutes when some one grasped from the bed. 'Well Sere, here goes nothing.' She thought, as she made sure that the door was closed and walked slowly over to where Rei lay.

Rei opened her eyes slowly only to find that she was looking into a pair of the clearest brown eyes. In them she could see a mixture of emotions, concern, love, and fear, just to name a few. 'Ok, girl calm down. You're dreaming that's all.' She said when she closed her eyes. Sere had made it over to he bed about that time. 'There is no way that it is him. It was just a dream.' Rei kept repeating over and over in her mind.

When Rei opened her eyes Jag smiled, one full of relief. 'Jag, you need to move.' Sere spoke to his mind so as not to alarm Rei any more.

'I am not.' Came his sharp reply.

'You either move or you get fired, Jag.' She had had about enough of arguing with everyone today, and the night's lack of sleep hadn't done anything to improve her mood.

'Fine. But I'm staying in the room.'

'I never told you to leave.'

Somehow Rei knew that something was going on. When Jag moved she felt it, not only from the weight on the bed shifting but the sudden lack of warmth.

When Jag had moved back Sere sat down. "Time to wake up Rei." She said plainly.

"I don't know who you are but you will be sorry for whatever you have done." Came Rei's mumbled reply.

"Sailor Mars, you will not do anything so don't make threats. What happened are you okay?" Concern suddenly filled the woman's voice. It was enough for Rei's eyes to pop open. This time when she opened them she was staring into a pair of blue silver eyes. Those eyes, they were so familiar, like the ones in the dream, but with more silver. Filled with the same feelings that the others had been.

"Serena?" It came out in a horse whisper. Rei wasn't sure if she was still dreaming or not. But if Serena was back, then that meant that they had a chance.

Sere wanted to smile and run at the same time. "Are you okay?" She asked again.

"Yeah…yeah fine." Rei finally managed.

As soon as Rei had said that the door to the bedroom was thrown open to revel a heavily breathing Rini, her cheeks were red from running. "Momma…Uncle Kaz said that the Love God…god…that the Lady Love was here." As she was saying it she came running over to Sere, and started to pull on her hand.

"Damn." She whispered the word so that Rini would hopefully not hear it. "Ok, I'm coming. Stay here with Uncle Jag and the Lady Mars." She then turned her attention to Jag. "You stay here, don't let her up." With that she got up and was at the door when she turned around and looked directly at Mars. "Do NOT threaten to fry him." With that she was out the door at a full run. Along the way there was a burst of silver and black light and Sailor Eclipse appeared where she had been standing. Where her uniform had been totally black it now held a tint of red.

It took her a short minute to locate where they four where facing off. Jupiter, Mercury, and Tuxedo Mask had by this time joined Venus. Kaz was sizing up Tux, with a glint of something in his eyes that she had never seen before, while Venus was watching them all warily, Jupiter and Nate where in the middle of hurling insults back and forth.

Sere was glad that they had found the time to transform. It was a good idea. After watching what was going on for a few moments and realizing that none of them was going to take the initiative and get them all quiet she decided to take action.

Walking gracefully and purposefully between the two groups and still getting no reaction from them she had had enough. "I will NOT tolerate this from either of you." Her voice was low but held a dangerous glint to it that caused them all to stop what they where doing. "You are to be working as a team. Is that understood? Stop bickering with Jupiter, Jove. The same goes for you Jupiter. Mercury put the computer away; you will find nothing that you don't already know. Not one word from you, Diomedes." She paused to take a breath before continuing. "Venus I would like to thank you for not taking an active part in this.

"I know why you are here, and I reassure you that R…Sailor Mars is fine." She slipped but hopefully caught herself before anyone noticed. 'Nice one Sere.' 

"Why are you here?" Mercury asked, she had evidently caught her slip, with eyes narrowed.

"That is not of your business." Diomedes answered.

Eclipse turned to look him directly in the eyes. "I told you once that I didn't want to hear anything from you." The sternness in her voice surprised even her, but it did the trick.

As she got down speaking he dropped a low formal bow to Eclipse as well as one to Mercury. He then mumbled, "My apologies."

Sere nodded her head and turned back to the Scouts. "Now that that is settled. Questions?"

"What are you doing here?" Mercury asked again.

"That has already been answered. But as it is you will not relent until you get an answer, I felt something, we came to check it out."

Venus had been studying Eros, like he was a subject in a lab, the whole time that they had been talking. Her eyes had not left him. Something was trying to surface, but as it was, it was stuck, waiting for the right key to click the lock open.

"There is something that you are not telling us." Lita piped in.

"And what might that be?" Eclipse snapped she was really getting tired of having to argue with everyone. Jupiter said nothing in return.

"If Mars is okay then let us see her." Venus spoke for the first time.

Sere was about to say something when another voice spoke. "I'm fine." They all turned to see Mars supported by Deimos.

'I thought that I told you to not let her out?' She shot at him.

'If I hadn't have helped her, she would have crawled.' He shot right back. 'I'm pretty sure that you didn't want that.'

She didn't respond as Mars began to speak again. "I'm fine just weak, if it hadn't been for them, I would be in worse shape." She was lying, and hoped that the other girls didn't pick up on it. 

Eclipse inclined her head, when a thought struck her. Rini, where was she. She didn't give her self that time to voice the question as she took off at a run towards Rei's room. The child was important even if Pluto wouldn't tell her why. And she felt a need to protect her.

Sere slid to a stop in the middle of Rei's room and looked around, her hair flying in different directions with her every movement.

"Deimos! WHERE DID YOU LEAVE HER?" She yelled back through the temple. Not caring if anyone heard her or not.

The guys had followed her, seeing the look on her face. Mars was still with Deimos, and the other scouts followed behind them.

"She was right there." Mars said pointing to the bed, and answering for Deimos. "She was sitting right there."

"What do you mean was? Where is she now?" Before Sere had a chance to say anymore-another one of the portals formed.

"Don't worry she is safe. She called on me and I came." Pluto said stepping forth followed by the little girl, who ran to Sere when she saw her.

"Thank the goddess." Sere knelt down to her level and hugged her. "She was in no danger then?" She asked standing back up, her left hand resting on Rini's shoulder.

"No, she wasn't, just worried. I have to be returning. Until next time." Pluto stepped back into the portal that had started to churn and mix the colors together.

"Bye, Puu." Rini called after her.

The Scouts stood in shock as they watched Pluto talk to the mysterious Eclipse. Slowly things were forming in their mind, coming together and brining light to the subject. Mars seemed to be the only one that didn't look the slightest bit confused among the Scouts.

The Knights on the other hand had become accustomed to this type of thing and shrugged it off, while thinking their own thoughts.

Kaz was off in his own little world again planning who knew what while the other two were intently studying the Scouts of their choice. Darien on the other hand looked like he wanted to run over to where Eclipse and Rini stood. He felt himself being drawn to them, yet there was something there that was keeping him away.

Mars and Deimos on the other hand looked very innocent, which meant that they were probably up to something. Sere turned around once Pluto was gone, and by the looks on the scouts faces questions were about to come. 'Great! And where are Luna and Artemis? That's all we need to make this a party.' She wasn't through with the last part of the thought when two cats appeared in front of the group. 'And speak of the devil.' Sere decided it would be best to play a part; at least it would keep them on guard.

She inclined her head to the cats before speaking. "Luna, Artemis." When she spoke the guys separated from the Scouts and moved to stand by her. Mars and Deimos wound up standing in the middle of the two groups, being as neither was willing to let the other go.

Luna noticed this and nudged Artemis. "This must be the 'Unknown Sailor' I've heard so much about. And the Eclipse Knights, I take it." She paused waiting for a response when she got none she went on. "Who are you? Why have I never heard of you before? What does Pluto have to do with anything?" She fired the questions off rapidly.

"I am Sailor Eclipse." 'For the time being, better known as Sailor Moon.' "As for why you have never heard of me, I couldn't say." 'Because Eclipse was never meant to be.' "And as for what the mysterious guardian of Time has to do with this, you are better off asking her." 'The truth.'

"Where do you come from?"

A smile graced Sere's lips before she spoke. "The dark side of the Moon."

"There is no way for you to come form the dark side of the Moon."

"And why is that?" He voice turned sharp, she might have missed her friends, but one thing she didn't miss was Luna's lectures and endless questions.

"There is not a Scout for the Moon, that is why." Luna snapped in her feline way.

Sere stared the black cat in the eye. "I am from the Dark side of the Moon. If you doubt what I say then I suggest that we take it up on the battlefield, although I do not fight potential allies." She had finally had it with Luna. If she had to transform in Sailor Moon in order for them to believe her then she would. No matter how much she hated that idea at the moment.

Luna's fur raised on her neck to stand on end. Artemis seeing this thought it best if he take over before the situation deteriorated any more. "For now we will agree with you, and say that you are from the Dark Side. But that does not explain why you are here now."

"I am here because I was sent, as the scouts were, to fulfill a mission set before me. In this case it is to defeat the new menace that has arrived to threaten the Earth with the Princess's absence." She had a reign on her temper but there was no way of knowing how long that would last.

"Acceptable. Where did the Knights come from?"

"The Knights are allies from a time long passed. They are here because I am here." 'Not to mention to reunite with the one that they love.' She added silently, while letting the information sink in.

"How do we know that you won't turn against us in our time of need?"

"We have helped twice to beat the youmas. I have led both the Scouts and Knights. We have come when I felt Mars was in danger. We have the trust of Pluto. And yet you ask how do you know if we can be trusted. Is that not enough for you to go on? If nothing else the trust of the Guardian of Time must mean something."

"Artemis, she's telling the truth, she has given us nothing to fault her with. The fire shows nothing evil around her. The Mercurian computer has been able to find nothing to fault her with." Mars spoke up in defense of her. This was probably the last thing anyone expected. But they all knew that she wouldn't stand with someone unless she was sure. When her speech was through everyone was left speechless. 

Eclipse inclined her head to her in thanks. And waited for the next to person to speak. She felt a tug on her pants and looked down into the light pink eyes of Rini. Before either had a chance to say anything Luna spoke again.

"Who is she?"

"She is under my guardianship and it will stay that way. Who she is has nothing to do with anything." Her voice held protectiveness in it. Her answer seemed to do the trick for the time. It was time to pull a trick like Pluto and leave. "We must be going." With that she scooped Rini up and walked out of the room. The guys followed behind her, Jag being the last to leave. On his way out Mars slipped a piece of paper into his hand. He looked at her questionably but he only got a glare in return. With a slight nod, one that was almost unnoticeable, he was out the door and gone in a flash of red.

"What do you know?" Ami asked as soon as they where gone.

"I know nothing except what I told you." Rei answered back letting her transformation go. The others followed suit.

"You aren't saying something. What is it?"

"Nothing that I will break someone's trust for." She answered truthfully, knowing that they would understand soon enough. "I'm sure you guys have somewhere to be, and I need to get back to my chores, before grandpa starts having a fit. So I'll see you guys later." With that Rei ushered them from her room and grabbed a broom on the way.

Once they were out of site down the stairs she threw the broom down and walked into the room that held the sacred fire of Mars. She needed to relax, and this was the best way for her to do so.

Rei was right they had a few places that they needed to be. Lita had a cooking class that was starting in about ten minutes and Ami had to go home to look something up. Mina on the other hand was headed for the mall, and Darien decided to head back to his apartment. Rei's strange behavior was weighing heavily on all of their minds. It was not like her to take the side of someone they had just met.

@~%~ At the apartment ~%~@

They guys slowly made their way in, they were surprised to see that Sere and Rini wasn't there. But it served their purposes. Kaz had told them of his little plan on the way home and now was the perfect time to test it. With any luck it still worked. They had no idea where Darien was so this made it all the better. Somehow they had to find a way to get Darien by himself. All it would take would be a couple of minutes. After thinking up various strategies they finally decided to have another argument, while Sere wasn't there.

"What are we supposed to be fighting about this time?" Nate asked.

"Something that will catch his attention and hold it. With any luck it will bring him to the room." Zane explained.

"That still doesn't explain what it is to be about."

"FINE! How about going about finding the Prince."

"Works for me." The other two agreed with Nate on this and soon they were in the middle of a very interesting argument. It started as planned but turned into a full head on one.

"WE HAVE TO FIND THE PRINCE!" Jag finally yelled.

"No one said that we didn't!" Zane shot back. "We just don't know how to go about it!"

"It can't be that hard! We know where the princess is, we can always follow her!" Nate added in.

"Or we could just try the link." Kaz's voice was higher than it's natural level, just so that he could be heard over the other guys.

"There is no guarantee that any of those ideas will work!" Zane threw back.

"We HAVE to TRY something." Nate threw back.

Darien had by this time gotten back to the building and stepping off the elevator could hear them. They were at it again. He started to go and ask them to quite it again when he caught what one of them was saying.

"IF WE DON'T FIND THE PINCE THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO A THING! YOU KNOW THAT!" Jag yelled back.

'Prince? What do they know?' Darien thought as he stopped in the middle of the hall. He had to find out what they were talking about, or better yet what they knew and who side they were on. He continued cautiously down the hall to their condo, waiting for another remark to come from the room.

"Listen one of them already knows the truth, the others won't be far behind. We need all the allies that we can get. Not to mention how much happier the princess will be." Kaz finally said something.

"We know that. But the thing is how do we go about it?" Zane shot back. By now Kaz was beginning to think that getting them to argue was not the best idea in the world, at least the topic wasn't.

 "We are getting no where, let's just drop it for now. Let's talk to Re, and see what she says, after all it does have to do with her." Kaz had had enough, and it was time to put an end to this before it could go any further.

"Yeah you know what she will say. One of two things, 1) leave her out of it, 2) she's not ready to see him, or for him to know. We don't have much a choice in the matter, he's got to remember."

"I know all I need to know. As for what you are talking about, I think you had better explain your selves." A deep voice said from the door.

"Well, guys it worked. It's now or never." Nate mumbled, just loud enough for the other three to hear.

"Prince Darien." Kaz offered a bow, once he had turned. 'Don't let Sere walk in.' he thought fleetingly.

Darien had been on guard since the first thing that he had heard. Now he was being bowed to and address like he hadn't been since the Silver Millennium, needles to say that it was enough to cause his thoughts to go a little wacky. "Who are you?"

"Who are we?! WHO ARE WE?!" Jag exclaimed.

"Keep him quiet." Kaz told Zane.

"Why I…" Nate was next.

"HIM TOO!"

Needless to say Zane had his hands full with both of them. It looked like Kaz was going to play the part of the diplomat this time around. That might be the best, but for some reason Zane didn't think that it would work out that way.

"You can't expect him to remember everything right off, we didn't, and you know how long it took us, we have got to give it time." Zane said to Nate and Jag as he pushed them farther back into the room. "Let's let Kaz handle…" before he could get anymore out of his mouth there was a commotion from the front of the room.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER LIED TO HER!" Kaz very seldom raised his voice for any reason, but when he did it was time to look for a quick way out of the room.

"On second thought, I had better handle this." Zane mumbled to himself as he took off fro where Kaz was standing. This would be the perfect time for Mina to be here or Sere. "Kaz, man, just back off, calm down." Zane didn't get any response as to whether he had been heard or not. "LITTLE HELP!" Zane was now standing between Kaz and Darien, not a place he wanted to be if Kaz wished to start a fight.

"Lie to WHO?!" Darien had an idea of how this was going. "I haven't lied to any one!"

"You haven't lied to any one yet you lie now." Kaz dropped his voice back to its normal level; this did nothing to remove the tenseness that the air now held.

Nate and Jag had by this time gotten over to where Zane had pushed Kaz and was trying to hold him back. They each took one of his arms and had to literally use every ounce of strength that they had to hold him back.

Darien was also fuming, but for some reason all this seemed to be natural. His hands had balled themselves into tight fists.

"We can handle the lying part later." Zane took a breath before continuing; this was bound to get interesting. 'We are so screwed. Might as well give it to him up front.' With that though Zane kneeled down before Darien, as they had during the Silver Millennium. "Prince Darien we are, as always, at your service. I am General Zoicite of the North, known in this time as Zane. The two that are kind enough to hold him back are General Jadeite of the East, with sandy blonde hair, known as Jagger, or Jag. And General Nephrite of the South, with the dark hair, known as Nathan, of Nate. The one in their…um…custody is our 'collected' leader General Kunzite of the West, also known as Kaz. During the Silver Millennium we served as your guardians…" Zane went on to fill him in on everything that they could remember. And giving Kaz time to calm himself.

The names ran through Darien's mind, bringing scenes to the fore ground that had been locked away.

@~%~Flashback~%~@

A group of five men wandered through one of the many forest that surrounded the Royal Castle of Earth. It was supposed to be a hunting party that ended up with them finding a secluded lake and swimming. Laughter rang through out the forest as the one with the chestnut hair was pulled into the water by a 'disembodied' hand. The young man let out a yelp as he toppled backwards into the water, as soon as he hit the water the owner of the hand broke the surface with a wide grin on his face, sandy blonde hair fell into his face.

"Way to go Jedi." A laughing Zoicite yelled from where he was reclining on the ground, just out of reach of the water.

Before anyone else had a chance to say anything is response Nephrite was out of the water and behind Jed, before the blonde knew what had happened his head had been pushed underneath the surface.

This made another round of laughter break out from the on the bank and lead to an all out water war that lasted for the duration of the afternoon.

@~%~End flashback~%~@

The guys had been having similar visions, laughing, hunting, training, parties almost everything that happened during the Silver Millennium came back to them.