Chapter Seven: Rekindled Love
Last time on The Return of Chaos: Sailor Earth fights the Elemental Scouts, but Sailor Moon and the Inner Scouts show up to try to stop the fighting. Sailor refused to let them fight for her and told them to leave. On her way home, Katherine ran into a man she seemed to know.
"Can you help me find this place?" asked the fairly tall young man of Katherine. All of a sudden, time seemed to freeze. For both of them, it was as if the whole world didn't exist anymore, as if only they were alive.
His intense blue eyes sparkled in the light from the street lamp, and the breeze tousled his beautiful blond hair. Everything about him was so familiar to her, and her every feature was the exact copy from his memory. They merely looked at each other for a moment, not knowing what to say or do. A breeze ruffled the collar of his tan colored trench coat and the bottom edge of her jacket.
"What can I say to him?" Katherine thought. "It's been so long."
"It's her," thought the young man as he tightly held his hat. "I can't believe it. It's her."
Then, he suddenly took Katherine in his arms and held her close. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she cried. Tears of joy flowed from her eyes as she touched his blond hair. He picked her up a little off the ground and spun around.
"Apollo, I missed you so much," Katherine whispered.
"I know," Apollo replied as he set on her on her feet. Not knowing what to say, Katherine stepped back away from him. A slight gust forced Katherine back into Apollo's arms. It was as if Mother Earth was telling them to be together. She buried her head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. They just stood there silently together in the light of the street lamp.
~§~
The other girls had left Darien's apartment, and Serena and Darien were left to themselves at last. Sitting on the couch together, Serena rested her head on Darien's shoulder and curled up in his arms.
"Do you think Chaos really returned?" asked Serena.
"It was your idea."
"I know, but - I don't know."
"Trust your instincts."
"Then, he has returned. It just doesn't seem right."
"I know the feeling."
"I just don't want to think that Chaos could possibly have returned."
"Okay."
Serena cuddles closer to Darien. He tucks a hand under her chin and kisses her lightly.
"Darien?" asks Serena softly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think Katherine's going to be comfortable with us acting like this all the time?"
"I'm sure she will be," says Darien. "Besides, she pretty mature - unlike others."
"Can we go to a movie or something?" asks Serena.
"Why?"
"Well, if Katherine's coming home soon, well, I think we should go out."
"Okay. Let me get my coat." Darien gets up off the couch and leaves the room. Serena puts on her sweater and looks at the roses that Darien had bought the day before. Looking through them, she notices that only one has bloomed. Darien returns and hugs Serena.
"Why has only one of them bloomed?" asks Serena.
"I'm not exactly sure why, but when she held that one, it bloomed on the spot," replies Darien. "I don't know how, but I think it was something to do with Katherine."
"Then, she must be really your sister."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if she can make flowers bloom, she's got to have powers just like you."
"I guess so. You ready?"
"Yeah."
~§~
"I can't believe she showed up," muttered Rebecca as she polishes her Fire Sword back at the Elemental Scouts' house.
"I know. If we could just get rid of her, we could get that Crystal Sword of Hope for Queen Chaotica," said Kristine.
"True, but -" started Valerie.
"But what?" asked Isabella. "You mean that she was our creator. Shut up, Valerie. That doesn't matter anymore."
"Hey, who said I was going to say that, Isabella!"
"Because you always go back to the past."
"Not always. Take that back!"
"Quiet!" shouted Rebecca over the two. "We can't fight like this. Valerie's right that she was our creator, but then again, we are different than we were before we met Chaotica. We've got to forget that."
"Right," sneered Isabella at Valerie.
"Fine," replied Valerie. "So, now what do we do?"
"Let's go," Rebecca said as she vanishes in a blink of red light. Kristine followed her in green light. Valerie and Isabella looked at each other, shrugged and disappeared in blue and yellow light, respectively.
~§~
"So, you have returned," thought Chaotica as she watches the battle between the Elemental Scouts and Sailor Earth. "I can't believe you show your face in this place after so many years. You won't defeat me, even if you used that sword of yours. I am more powerful than that, and I'm going to find it before you do."
"Your highness," said Rebecca, who has changed into Sailor Fire. Chaotica turned around to face the four Elemental Scouts.
"Yes?" she asked.
"What shall we do now?" questioned Sailor Fire.
"Find those crystals of earth that I had told you about earlier."
"But, how shall we find them?"
"Did I not tell that I do not know?" questioned Chaotica angrily. She calmed down a bit. "They are hidden in human hearts, but I don't know which ones." A small black crystal appeared in her hand. "This can help you find them." She tossed the crystal to them, and Sailor Fire caught it swiftly.
"Thank you, your highness."
"Now, go."
The Elemental Scouts hurried out of the room in a flash of light back to their apartment. They have changed back to their normal forms. Rebecca placed the crystal on a table, and the four girls sat around it.
"Well now what?" asked Isabella.
"I don't know," replied Rebecca.
"I say we save this for tomorrow," said Valerie. "It is getting late, and we should save this for when we have more time."
"You're right," replied Rebecca as she got up and headed back to her room.
"Yeah," said Kristine trying to be like Rebecca. "I guess I'll see you in the morning."
~§~
"Come on," said Apollo softly. "I'll take you home." Katherine smiled a little as she reached for Apollo's hand. Quickly but gently, Apollo took Katherine's hand into his own. Their fingers interlaced with each other's, and Katherine laid her head on Apollo's shoulder. Apollo carefully let go of Katherine's much smaller hand and wrapped his arm around Katherine's shoulders. "Cold?" Katherine shook her head and relaxed a little as he placed his hat on her head. In silence, they reached Katherine's apartment complex.
"Here it is," said Katherine. The two stood facing each other, and Katherine stuffed her hands into the pockets of her long black jacket. She shrugged a little trying to stay warm with the wind picking up. She reached for the hat that he had put on her head and put it back on his head. "I guess I'll see you la—"
Suddenly, Apollo placed a hand on Katherine's cheek and brought his lips to hers. Slowly, they separated and looked at each other again.
"I'm sorry," said Apollo. "I shouldn't have done tha—"
Katherine interrupted Apollo with a kiss of her own. Then Apollo started to kiss back and wrapped his arms around her waist. She ran her hands through his blond hair and stood on her tiptoes.
"Katherine?" asked a familiar male voice. The two stopped and looked at Darien and Serena, and all four looked at each other in shock. "Who's that?"
