A Story to Remember
Chapter 16: Deception

THE DARK VOID

"Let blood and power mix with fire
Surrender to the dark desire
Breathe in deep, the smoking cinders
Billowing clouds, an ashy grave
Inferno of the sweet deception
Fallen to the hands of foes
Victoriously burn the flames
Eternally...
I swallow every drop of fire
Ashen tears; No longer woe
The blaze...it burns away my true face
It leaves me with the face of her..."

"It's ok Mirai, I'm here, and I won't leave you,"

Madison whispered over and over. She reached a pale, shaking hand over her friend's forehead and stroked it lightly, brushing the edges of her hair. Madison let go and sat back in the hard chair. The air smelled sharp and sterile.

'I hate hospitals...'

Mirai was sleeping. Her hands lay at her sides. She was being treated for 2nd and 3rd degree burns. The cause...unknown...

Raye sat alone in the living room. She was sitting in a comfortable chair in front of the fireplace. She stared at the crackling fire and shut her eyes for a moment...remembering...

"We're at Capsule Corp. Yes! My friend needs help..."

"Burned...I don't know how..."

"What happened?"

"2nd and 3rd degree burns."

"I'll go with Mirai."

Raye opened her eyes. What had happened to Mirai last night? How did those symbols relate to the mysterious burns? Suddenly there was a memory tugging at her mind... a certain thought that she couldn't shake off... Raye closed her eyes, concentrating, trying to remember. Fire burned beneath her eyelids, dancing pictures and visions edged with flame.

'The woman... the woman...with the inferno in her eyes...The staff...on top of her staff... there was a star...one side scarlet and the other black...just like the symbols.'

Raye's eyes opened and she stared at the fire, she watched as dancing images flamed and flared. She saw a woman. She swung her staff and fire burned everything. The flames burned away Bulma's house until Raye found her self in some sort of void. All of a sudden Raye felt extremely hot. She had power over fire, Mars was HER planet, but this heat was excruciating. It was like her skin was bubbling and slowly drying out until she thought her very body liquids were being sucked out of her veins.

She saw the woman come closer, fire swirling around her. The staff was clutched in her hand, the very ground melting beneath her. Her eyes flickered with a raging inferno of evil. She finally stepped out of the shadows of the flame and Raye saw her face.

"NO!"

Raye screamed out loud as the woman grabbed her and shook her, her hands burning through her thin clothes until she felt like she was ablaze from the inside out.

"Help me!... Please...someone."

Five nurses rushed into the room. The patient was screaming and writhing on her bed, the sheets had been thrown off and the young woman was kicking and screaming.

"Someone hold her down!"

"I'll get the doctor!"

"Stop her from moving!"

The nurses grabbed her legs and arms, being careful of her bandaged hands.

The woman was screaming over and over, "No! She's coming! Let me go! She's coming! The fire! The fire!"

"Get that other girl!" one of the nurses shouted.

The woman fought against the nurses, kicking and fighting their strong hands. A few moments later, a nurse reentered the room with another woman with dark hair and beautiful, worried eyes. She ran to the bed.

"Mirai! Mirai! Please calm down. Everything's okay. You just have to stop moving."

Mirai's eyes were wild and her hair was mussed and stringy, "Madison! The fire, it's coming!"

"What fire! Please! What are you trying to say?" Madison asked, tears blurring her vision."

"Madison! It's coming for them, for her!"

"Who Mirai?"

"Serena...it's coming for her! Yes! It's evil! The fire! It will deceive them! Warn them!"

Madison stood up straight, 'It's another of Mirai's visions.' A 7th nurse entered the room, holding a small sedative in her hand.

"This will calm her down, just hold her down." The nurses gripped Mirai's arms and legs tighter as the 7th nurse came closer.

"Mirai, hurry. They're going to give you something. Tell me. Can you give me a name of this...evil?"

But the nurse had already started to inject the sedative.

"Mirai!"

"Brim...Brim...I..." Mirai blinked a few times, her vision was blurring. One of the nurses came and took Madison's arm, pulling her out of the room.

"You'll have to leave now, Miss. She needs her rest."

"No, but wait! I have to know!"

"Don't worry, Miss, we'll take good care of her."

The nurse roughly pushed Madison out the door and slammed it closed.

"Raye! Raye!" Ami stood over her friend, shaking her. Raye stirred and finally woke up.

"Wha-what happened? That woman..."

"Huh? What woman? Was someone here? I came in here for a break and I found you passed out in front of the fireplace. You had fallen out of your chair. I was feeling for a concussion when you started screaming for help. Was it a vision?"

"Yes...no...I don't know. It was so real...and that woman...that woman with the fire in her eyes."

Ami was thinking carefully when she noticed something on Raye's arms, "Raye look! Like Mirai!"

Sure enough, on both of Raye's arms were small, light burns, and five on each arm...

"But look...the burns have a certain shape," Ami pointed out, "Like...Fingers?"

Raye's eyes widened. Ami helped Raye to her feet and to the kitchen, where Chi-Chi was eating a late breakfast.

She smiled at them, "What's going on?"

"Just need some water." Raye said. She went to the sink and carefully ran her arms under cold water. Ami sprinkled some salt on each of the small burns.

"Where's everyone, Chi-Chi?" Ami asked.

"Well, the guys ate and left to train hours ago. I know your other Senshi are waiting for you outside. Something about going to see Bulma's school, and Bulma's out there too."

"Ok thanks, Chi-Chi. But what are you going to do?"

"Well, now that I'm cooking for more than just three, I have to spend a lot longer cooking enough. Especially since Lita's leaving. I'll be fine. If anything happens I'll call Bulma on her cell." Chi-Chi replied, smiling.

"Ok! Ja ne Chi-Chi." Ami and Raye headed outside to join the others.

Brimstone was admiring herself in the mirror when she heard an ice hard laugh and felt arctic air.

"Well, you look beautiful...for a face you stole." Darkflake smiled, her cape billowing with an unseen frigid wind.

"Well that's the whole plan, Darkflake. I drank her blood...I performed the spell. I look like an exact copy of the Lady, don't I?"

Darkflake shrugged, "Almost. Your eyes are different from hers."

Brimstone smiled, "These kind of spells don't work perfectly."

Chi-Chi went around the large table in the dining room, setting down dishes of food and plates, forks and knives for dinner. She carefully checked over her work as the Z-senshi filed into the room. Goku quickly took his seat, staring eagerly at the steaming bowls of food.

"Wow...this looks great," he was drooling as he spoke.

Gohan sat next to his father and gently tugged at his father's gi, "Stop drooling dad or in a few minutes we'll all be drowning in saliva."

The others at the table laughed and even Piccolo and Vegeta cracked a SMALL smile.

Goku looked left and right, searching for his wife. She was nowhere in sight. He got a strange sort of evil grin on his face and he slowly reached for one of the bowls of food.

"GOKU! YOU HAD BETTER NOT BE TOUCHING EVEN A TEASPOON OF THAT FOOD OR YOU'LL BE FACE TO FACE WITH MY FRYING PAN!" a voice rang out from the kitchen. The rest of the Z-Senshi snickered as Goku drew his hand back.

"AND THAT GOES FOR THE REST OF YOU TOO!"

Immediately all hands reaching for a little finger full of food were snaked back and positioned on their owner's lap. Not even Vegeta would tempt THAT sort of fate. Chi-Chi came out of the kitchen,

"You'll start eating as soon as the other girls come back." Much to the Z Senshi's surprise, Chi-Chi picked up two plates, loaded them with food and headed for the kitchen.

"Hey! Why do you get to eat?" Yamucha (AN: change of spelling AGAIN! ) asked.

"Well first of all I made the food, second of all, another friend of Serena's is here and third of all she brought two cats," Chi-Chi said matter-of-factly.

"What woman?" Tien asked.

As is on cue, a young woman came out of the kitchen. She had long green hair and wore a long black dress. She also wore a smile that held wisdom, age, and power. Vegeta growled as he recognized the woman to be Pluto.

"I have some food for you, Setsuna-san," Chi-Chi said good-naturedly.

"Oh, food won't be necessary, thank you. I just came to drop these little one's off."

On one shoulder sat a white cat with a crescent moon on its forehead. On the other sat an almost identical cat, except purple-ish. Chi-Chi smiled as the two cats jumped from Setsuna's shoulders. Chi-Chi cooed and set down a plate of food for them and the cats ate eagerly.

Goku's jaw dropped as he watched the cats eating heartily. His eyes filled with tears as Gohan patted his father's back in sympathy.

"Baka," Vegeta mumbled and Piccolo smirked.

Goku's tears started to fall when he watched his wife eat a spoonful of food out of the plate that WAS for Setsuna.

Setsuna smiled, "Well I guess I should be going." A soft garnet light surrounded her and when it dissipated it was gone.

"Serena sure does know some strange people," Chow-Tsu said thoughtfully.

Luna looked up at one of the men, near where the plate was set. "Look Artemis. Isn't that a Namek?" Luna whispered.

"You're right," Artemis responded. "Why do I have the feeling that this isn't going to be a quiet vacation off our planet?"

10 MINUTES LATER

The Sailor Senshi and Bulma walked through the front door and headed to the dining table to eat. They were bombarded by voices.

"GOKU! I'LL LET YOU HAVE ONE SPOONFUL, OK!"

"Dad, you aren't dying."

"But I AM!"

They heard meowing, followed by:

"Get that baka cat away from me!"

"Geez, Vegeta, it's only a cat!"

"I'm getting hungry..."

"What kind of warrior are you, anyway?"

"I'M ONLY GIVING YOU A SPOONFUL!"

"No Dad, we can't see your ribs."

"What's going on here?" Bulma shouted! The Senshi stood behind her, eyes widened.

"YES THEY'RE BACK! NOW I CAN EAT!" Goku heaped his plate up about 5 feet and ran to the living room and started chowing down on the food.

The other Z-Senshi followed Goku's suit, all diving on the food and walking to the living room with heaped up plates. When they finally left, the table was bare. The bowls of food had been scraped clean.

Hotaru blinked, "I wasn't really hungry, anyway..."

"ARTEMIS!" Mina shouted as the cat bounded to meet her.

Likewise Serena caught Luna and hugged her before she jumped onto Ami's shoulder. The other Senshi smiled at the scene. They laughed and talked as Bulma led the way upstairs.

TWO HOURS LATER

The Z-Senshi sat in the living room; stomach's full, talking. Well...Gohan was talking to Piccolo and Vegeta was...well sitting on the couch...scowling, arms crossed. The Sailor Senshi, Bulma, and Chi-Chi were upstairs, taking showers and discussing things. Goku got yet another evil grin. He walked over to Vegeta, sat down and threw his arm across his shoulders.

"Seriously, what's going on with you and Serena?"

All the Z-Senshi turned their attention to Vegeta.

"Yea, you can't be so terrible if a person like Serena's with you," Yamucha said smirking.

Vegeta growled, "Get away from me Kakarot."

"Aww come on! Don't deny it!" Goku grinned widely.

"Well you two did seem a little close when you came to dinner yesterday," Gohan said thoughtfully.

"And Bulma said you saved her and the Senshi when Catseye attacked her school," Tien pointed out.

"Admit it, Vegeta," Goku said.

"Get away from me you baka! I have -NEVER- had or will -EVER- have any feelings for that weak onna! Feelings are stupid! They make you weak and pathetic, so get your arm OFF my shoulders!" Vegeta shouted.

"Is that so?"

The Z-Senshi looked up to the doorway. Piccolo smirked at what he saw.

"Uh oh," Chow-Tsu whispered.

On one side of the doorway stood Amara, anger written across her face. On the other side stood Chi-Chi frowning disapprovingly and the rest of the Senshi stood behind them. But what caught everyone's attention was Serena, Luna sitting on her shoulder, standing in between Chi-Chi and Amara, eyes full of tears.

"Is that how you really feel, Vegeta-san?" Serena whispered, staring at him. Vegeta just looked away.

Tears spilled slowly down Serena's cheeks and she turned and walked away. There was the sound of the front door slamming a few moments later.

"Smooth Vegeta, real smooth," Bulma commented before turning and heading back upstairs. The others followed whispering quietly. Amara sent Vegeta a death glare before being pulled away by Michelle. The Z-Senshi just stared at the empty doorway for a while...

"WELL! That was fun, I'm going to bed!" Yamucha said hurriedly and practically ran out.

Tien and Chow-Tsu forced yawns and mumbled excuses before following him. One by one they each made excuses to avoid the awkward silence that they were sure would come. Even Goku and Gohan weren't sure what to say so they parted. So Vegeta was alone in the dark.

"Are you always so alone?" a small voice said a few moments later.

Vegeta looked up. It was Hotaru, wearing a purple tank top and purple pants. She looked sleepy and even paler in the dark.

"I'm always alone, kid," Vegeta mumbled. 'Why the hell am I talking to her?'

"I heard what you said," Hotaru said. She walked over to the couch and sat down, drawing her knees up to her chest. "She's probably out there all alone. You should go find her and apologize."

Vegeta glared at her.

Hotaru smiled at him, "It's the pride thing, huh? I bet pride was invented by the Saiya-jin," Hotaru giggled.

Vegeta growled, "What the hell do you want, anyway?"

"To talk to you. I know you can't possibly be as bad as you seem. I know you must feel something for the princess."

"And how would -you- know?" Vegeta said getting annoyed.

"Because I know she loves you," Hotaru stated simply.

Vegeta blinked and stared at this girl. This girl whose deep, black eyes seemed so much like his own...and yet so much unlike his own.

Hotaru smiled at Vegeta, "Goodnight." She got up to go upstairs and much to her surprise, Vegeta followed.

THE DARK VOID

Brimstone laughed long and loudly, "This is perfect! Who would have thought that Saiya-jin Prince would have made my plan go so much smoother! Now with the Lady out of the way, I'll be able to go to Capsule Corp. without anyone telling the difference between her and me! I never thought this might happen! Yes Serena! Stay mad, let your anger consume you like fire! I will destroy all those you hold dear and when the flames have consumed your heart I will take you back to the Dark Lord!"

Brimstone laughed and danced, her blonde hair swirling around and around, an almost flawless carbon copy of the Lady.

Fire swirled around Brimstone, exploding in a ball of energy that consumed her body. When it finally disappeared, so had she.

Darkflake stepped out of the shadows, "Well, well, well. Let the show begin."

A large snowflake floated between her raised hands and began to spin. Slowly an image became clear and Darkflake watched intently. Silently praying for Brimstone to fail.

Serena finally stopped running. She was deep in the forest now. 'I'm far from Bulma's house...I must be in the forest near Goku's house." She sat against a tree and wiped at her eyes.

'How can it be that you would do this to me?'

oto no nai mahiru
kaze wa tada akarui
sukoshi nemutasou ni hanabira ga yureta

'Why? After all we've been through in this life and the last?'

nani ge nai kono omoi
nee, hito wa donna kotoba de yondeiru no

'Do I mean so little to you?'

shiroi suna no tsuki toji kometa hanashi wo
hikari furasu you ni kikasete ne sotto
itsuka shiru toki ga kuru no? mune no itami wo
soshite ima yori yasashiku naru no ne

'Why can't you understand how much you mean to me?'

atatakai kono omoi
nee, hito wa donna namae de yondeiru no

'Or is this feeling...just an... illusion?'

shiroi suna no tsuki mabushikute mienai
tooi mirai no koto kikasete ne sotto

Vegeta's eyes snapped opened as he heard the door to his room creak open slowly and a figure slip inside. He sat up in the bed and watched the shadow make its way slowly toward him.

"Serena? What are you doing here woman."

Serena smiled and ran a hand through her hair, "I came to see you, of course. What you said earlier...I forgive you." Vegeta glared.

"I know you couldn't possibly have meant it," Serena said, leaning on Vegeta's bed.

Serena slowly eased her self onto the bed and sat directly on top of Vegeta.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Nothing," Serena smiled and gently ran her hands over Vegeta's stomach and up his chest to his face.

She ran one finger lightly over his lips before leaning close and kissing him gently. Gently she let her tongue flit across his lips. Vegeta gasped and pulled away quickly,

"What the hell!" He ran a hand over his bleeding lips. It felt like he had just been kissed by the devil. His mouth was burning.

"What's wrong, Vegeta? Didn't you enjoy it?" She smiled and her eyes glowed a deep scarlet color.

Vegeta growled and tried to get up. "Who are you?"

"I'm Serena, of course." She smiled and pressed her hands down on his chest.

Vegeta fought the urge to yell out, her hands were burning him, "Who are you!"

"You might want to start thinking about what's going to happen to you, instead of who I am, but if you really must know, I'm Brimstone." The smirk didn't seem right on "Serena's" face, yet the glowing eyes made it so. "Reveal to me, Saiya-jin! Your Dream Mirror!"

Vegeta fought against the fire that seemed to invade his body. It went deep inside of him, intent to draw something out. He felt the flames lick at his soul, reaching, twisting. He struggling under Brimstone's burning hands, all the while staring into the face of the only person he loved. Finally, his struggling stopped; his eyes stared blank, and empty.

Brimstone smiled and let go of Vegeta, smirking at the burns on his body. "Well, well, well, looks like I have a dream mirror for you, Darkflake."

'Now that I've gotten that Saiya-jin prince out of the way, I won't be needing this pretty face anymore!'

"Serena still hasn't come back yet." Hotaru said. "Is she alright, Pluto?"

"Of course."

"How come you can't help us to defeat this evil?"

"I must make sure that time runs smoothly. I know you can do it."

Hotaru nodded and lay back in bed as the figure disappeared. The door creaked open and Hotaru looked to see whom it was.

"Hotaru? What are you doing? Who are you talking to? I heard some noise in your room?" Raye said.

"Vegeta's in trouble," Hotaru whispered.

"What! Let's go see!" Raye ran to her room and got her henshin and came back to see Hotaru already standing in front of Vegeta's door.

"I think we should get the other Senshi, Raye."

"What's wrong?"

"The doorknob is flaming hot...but there's no fire...or smoke." Hotaru said.

"One of the warriors of the Dark Forces?"

"Most likely."

Ok Hotaru, go and wake the others. I'll head outside and see if I can spot anything!"

"Alright."

Serena lay dozing against a tree. Her arms were wrapped lightly around her body and she shivered a bit.

"Princess, what are you doing out here?"

Serena sat up and rubbed at her eyes, "P-Pluto?"

"Your friends are in danger."

"W-what! Oh no! I have to get back!"

"Before you go rushing off, know that it is a very powerful warrior. Her name is Brimstone. She uses fire. Be careful Princess. But she's not evil..."

"Not...Evil? But why...OH! Wait! I don't have my henshin!"

Pluto smiled and leaned down; the henshin was in her hand. "Hotaru took the liberty of getting this for me when we talked."

"H-Hotaru? You talked to Hotaru? When?" Serena asked, confused.

"Go Princess, it is a long way back to Capsule Corporation."

"Right!"

Raye made her way downstairs and ran through the living room, she was almost out the door when the phone rang. Raye stopped and for a moment hesitated on whether or not to answer.

'Now's not really the time...but...'

She ran over and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Raye!"

"Madison?"

"The warrior has taken Vegeta's Dream Mirror? Dream Mirror, Mirai are you sure?"

Raye could hear bits of side conversation. "Wait, what?"

"Mirai, I'm with Mirai. Mirai says that the woman who took it is called Brimstone, her weaknesses are ice, and water. She's stolen Vegeta's dream mirror and she's waiting for you. Mirai says to watch out, when you leave through the front door she'll be waiting for you on your left, so go out a side door."

"Ok! Is there anything else?"

"The Z-Senshi won't be able to help you defeat this warrior. You're on your own, ok? I have to go before the nurse finds me in here. Good luck!"

"Wait, Madison!"

A few moments later, the Sailor Senshi (minus Serena) were transformed and assembled.

"Mirai says she's waiting for us, so we'll go out onto the porch and make our way around and try to catch her by surprise from behind. That will give Mercury time to analyze her and find the best way to destroy her. Our main fighters will be Mercury and Neptune. Saturn, do your best to protect the house. The rest of us will try and draw her out and attack," Mars stated. "Is everyone ready?"

"What about Sailor Moon?"

"I'm hoping we can finish her off without her," Mars said sadly.

"Lets go then!"

The Senshi made their way to the porch and ran around the back of the house until they spotted their enemy. She had fiery red hair that looked almost black in the night. Her eyes were orange-yellow that blazed like a bonfire. She wore loose black pants and a crimson shirt that was cut off at the sleeves. She wore black boots and in her right hand she held large staff. At the top of the staff was a star, scarlet on one-side and black on the other.

Mercury pocketed her supercomputer. First thing we'll need is something to get her attention. She closed her eyes and focused her power.

"SHABON SPRAY!"

Brimstone gasped as the icy fog enveloped her and the surrounding area. She shivered and then growled, her eyes burning.

"FLAMING ERUPTION!" She screamed out, swinging her staff. Fire exploded all around her, melting the fog. She growled and aimed the fire at the Senshi, who dodged to get away.

"Seven against one. Lets even the odds a bit." Brimstone held her staff tightly and the star began to glow.

"TRIPLE FLAME!"

Fire engulfed her body and when it dispersed there were three...each with a staff.

"Whoa...I'm seeing triple.." Venus mumbled.

"Two must not be real," Mars said staring at her.

"Sorry, ladies! We're all real!"

One of the Brimstone's charged at Mars, shooting orbs of fire at her. Another one took on Venus and Jupiter. The last one took on Uranus and Neptune. Mercury stared at the three Brimstones fighting. Mars would doge her flames and then attack...and even Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune were having trouble although they outnumbered the person they were fighting. But there was something that kept catching her eye...something small and elusive...

"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"

"Ha!" Brimstone laughed, knocking away the attack. "Pitiful. Is that all the fire you have? FIVE STAR ATTACK!"

Five blades of fire shot out at Mars. She dodged as best she could but she wasn't expecting Brimstone's next move. She swung her staff and hit Mars directly in the stomach. She screamed loudly as the staff was burning hot. It burned through her fuku, and cut and burned her skin.

"MARS!"

She gasped and fell to the ground. There was an awful smell of charred skin in the air.

"Oh no," Venus whispered.

"Venus! Watch out! The other Brimstone!" Neptune shouted.

"Wha..aahhhh..." Venus screamed as the pain of the blade of fire went through her arm. She fell to her knees, clutching her badly burned arm. Saturn flinched as Venus fell to her knees. But she knew she must protect the house.

"You, little girl. Why don't you join the fun!" One of the Brimstone's called out shooting five orbs of fire at the house.

"SATURN!"

"SILENT WALL!" Saturn deflected the orbs and glared, moving into a fighting stance. The Brimstone that had fired walked towards her, preparing to attack. Mercury watched Saturn and one of the Brimstone's battle, she noticed that when Saturn swung her glaive and nicked Brimstone's arm, the other two flinched as well.

'Could it be?'

She watched Uranus. She shot a blast from her space sword, hitting -that Brimstone head on...the others flinched as well...

"YOU GUYS! AIM YOUR ATTACKS AT THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY! THEY ALL FEEL THE SAME PAIN!"

It took about a second for the other Senshi to react.

"WORLD SHAKING!"

"DEEP SUBMERGE!"

"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"

Saturn gasped, as the three forms arched and twisted in pain. They screamed and shrieked until a bright blood red light surrounded all three. Jupiter shielded her eyes and ran to help Mars and Venus, as did Neptune, Uranus, and Mercury.

When the light subsided, the Senshi ventured to look. Saturn still stood, glaive ready. There was only one now. She lay breathing slow shallow breaths on the ground. Fiery blood gushed from large, gaping wounds and her staff lay at her side.

"I've...failed..." Brimstone whispered, as blood trickling out of her mouth. She swallowed the liquid and held up her hands. A mirror appeared in her bleeding hands, it was rimmed with dark evil, yet beautiful.

"I will...at least...let them suffer...for what they've...done."

"That's Vegeta's dream mirror!" Mercury gasped aloud!

"She's going to destroy it!" Neptune cried, moving to her feet.

"STOP! WAIT! PLEASE!"

Saturn looked up at the familiar voice. The young Senshi ran to where Brimstone lay, "Please don't break it."

"So...you...are the Lady," Brimstone whispered, feeling the blood in her lungs.

"I know you're hurting. I know your anger is burning your heart...but you don't have to let the fire consume you."

Brimstone stared at the young woman above her, her wings...her blue eyes...her face...that she had stolen. She weakly handed the mirror to her.

"Watch out...for...Darkflake...she's cold..."

Eternal Sailor Moon held the mirror in her hands, "It's easy to let the fire hold you...it's a lot harder to get it to let go."

Brimstone nodded, "I cry ashes..."

Sailor Moon smiled and took Brimstone's bleeding hand, "You have a lot you have to stand for...but you have a good soul."

Brimstone's face twisted in pain as fire began to engulf her body, a small tear slipped down her cheek as she died... a tear made of salty water...

Darkflake let go of the snowflake and it shattered on contact with the floor. Her smile seemed terribly perverse on her shockingly pale face.

'They're all gone...but I will not be unsuccessful. I'm perfect as the pastel snow, and soulless as the glacial frost.'

"Be prepared Lady..."

Sailor Moon turned and smiled at her Senshi, she walked over to them and Saturn followed, holding her glaive lightly in her hand.

"Hey you guys."

Uranus held Mars in her arms, while Mercury helped Venus to her feet, holding her battered arm.

"Sailor Moon, we're glad you're back, but what was that all about?" Neptune asked.

"Don't worry, just pulling a lost soul out of the flames."

They gave her odd looks. Sailor moon smiled and turned towards the house,

"Amazing how none of them even woke up during the whole fight..."

"We can worry about that later, we should heal Mars and Venus. Saturn, are you up to it." Jupiter said.

"Of course, but we have to give Vegeta's dream mirror back, too." Saturn pointed out.

At the name Sailor Moon flinched and looked down. Venus smiled and gently threw her good arm around her friends shoulder, "Don't worry about it, Sailor Moon, he couldn't have meant it."

"Right."

A few hours later, Madison had been called and notified that everything was alright. Bulma and the others were informed of the fight they had missed, and Venus and Mars had been healed. The Senshi had detransformed and gone back to bed for much needed rest...that is...except Serena and Hotaru. They stood over Vegeta, laying on his bed, breathing shallowly. Hotaru smiled and Serena and she gently held the mirror over his bruised body until finally the dream mirror returned to its rightful place. The soft blank stare was replaced with Vegeta's cold eyes and he growled and tried to sit up.

"Hey wait!" Serena cried, pushing him gently down. She blushed as her hands came in contact with his warm skin, "Let Hota-chan heal you first."

Vegeta glared up at her as Hotaru placed her hands over the burns on his chest. Serena blushed and kept her gaze at her feet until Hotaru had completed her work, "All finished, I'm going to bed now. Are you coming Serena?"

"Umm...yes...I guess," Serena said softly.

"No...stay..." Vegeta said gruffly.

Hotaru smiled and quickly darted out of the room.

"Vegeta...about what you said...did you...I mean..." Serena sighed, she didn't know what to say.

Vegeta sat up and looked at her, how could this be happening to him? A Saiya-jin prince, devoid of such feelings...and yet she could do this to him... He smirked and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto him.

Serena gasped as Vegeta pressed his lips against hers, kissing her gently. He pulled away and stared at her, " I meant what I said. I despise you, baka onna."

Serena smiled slowly, "I hate you too."

The sound of birds at mid-day...
The wind is free and bright...

A small flower is swaying sleepily
What if this feeling isn't real?

Is it true, that people are only words?
The white sand of the moon speaks to a woman,

It rains a gentle light and sings softly...

Will I ever understand why time comes and goes? My heart aches,
And now it is becoming gentle.

This feeling is so warm...
Is it true that people are just their names?

The white sand of the moon, a radiant display...
A distant future sings softly.

---Hiru no Tsuki

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO KYIA-CHAN! I WOULD DIE WITHOUT YOU!

Chapter 16 of her plan