Here we go! The Outer Senshi appearance! Okay, There be a lot o' Senshi in this fic... The Inner Senshi, Outer Senshi, & (My own creation) The Celestial Senshi. Well, I guess I should say, This one'll hopefully be long enough to include everything... Let's get on with it!
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New Pairings-list: Rei/Serena, Makoto/Shinya, Ami/Chrystya, Naomi/Ryoma, Haruka/Michiru, Setsuna/Minako

Outer Senshi ages: Haruka/21, Michiru/21, Setsuna/???(also, over a 1000), Hotaru/???(her present- and future-selves combined) another idea of mine.
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Part 8: Old Friends...


~Sidewalk, Near Hikawa~

Raika is walking by the steps to the shrine, when she espies 2 very familiar forms, accending the steps. 'Hmmm...' she thinks 'They looked like... Couldn't be! Could it...?' She decides to head up the steps, herself, to find out if she was just seeing things or not.

~Shrine~

A few moments later, Raika reaches the top of the shrine-steps and sees... "Haruka & Michiru!?" she exclaims, puzzled. "Oh, Raika?" Michiru says, "It's been awhile." Raika nods and responds, "Sure has... Why are you guys here?" "What?" Haruka says, "We're not allowed to come back and visit our friends?" "No... That's *your* business..." Raika replies, "I was just curious." "Don't mind her." Michiru says, "She has reason to be upset. But, We can't tell you, yet." "Yeah..." Haruka adds, "We have to talk to Serena, first." "I see. She is the leader of the Senshi." Raika responds, "Well... She should be somewhere, in town, probably on a date..." "A date?" Michiru asks, "With Mamoru, I presume?" "No..." Raika says, "Well, You'll understand, when you see her. Gotta go, Bye." she leaves the *abandoned* shrine, and a confused pair of women. The two decide to just go find Serena, instead of thinking about it.

~Near Crown Game Center~

'hmmn... Rei wasn't at the temple.' Haruka thinks. Then, She and Michiru see Odango-atama walking by the arcade with someone. "There's Serena." Michiru says, "With... Rei." "I wonder where her *date* is?" Haruka wonders, aloud. Just then, Serena and Rei stop walking and share a kiss. Haruka and Michiru's eyes widen and Michiru says, "I guess... That answers that question." "Um, Michi... Did I just see what I..." Haruka asks, "thought I saw?" "Yes, Haruka," Michiru says, "You did." "Shhh." Haruka whispers, "Watch this." she walks, quietly, up toward Serena and Rei, from behind. And, When Serena and Rei break their kiss, Haruka wraps her arms around their necks(one around each) and asks, "So, How long has this been going on?" "Haruka!?" the two ask, in unison, surprized. "Yep! That's me." Haruka replies, "Now, How about an answer?" "A-a few... days." Serena manages a reply. "Oh, Really... hmm." Haruka says. Rei asks, "Where's Michi?" "I'm here." Michiru answers, walking up. Haruka releases the two younger women and Michiru asks Serena, "So, Did something happen between you, and Mam..." "Shhh!" Serena interrupts, "Michi, Don't say that word. I'll explain later." Michiru nods and says, "We need to speak with you, about another matter, in any case."

Suddenly, The ground breaks open and a youma emerges from the opening. "I am Murako!" the youma states, "Lord Hariel has sent me, to destroy you!" he points to Serena and Rei. "Yeah, Right!" Haruka says, "You'll hafta beat us, first!"

"Uranus Crystal Power!"

"Neptune Crystal Power!"

Haruka and Michiru transform into Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. "Ok Neptune!" Uranus says, "Let's teach this thing a lesson!" "Right!" Replies Neptune. Uranus attacks with "Uranus World Shaking!" but, Murako dodges and says, "I am not after you two! I am here for the other two!"

Meanwhile, "You okay, Princess?" Rei asks Serena. Serena nods, "Yes, I'm okay." she says, grabbing her locket, "But, That thing won't be, in a minute!" "Got it!" Rei says, pulling out her transformation pen.

"Moon Cosmic Power!"

"Mars Crystal Power!"

Murako blasts at Neptune but, Uranus gets her outta the way. Murako starts to follow up but is halted by a well-timed "Mars Flame Sniper!" which explodes into his back. Murako turns and sees Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon, "About time!" he says, "Now, You will die!" a vine extends from his left arm and he whips it toward the two-some. Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon dodge but, Murako throws a long (wood)shard at Sailor Mars. The shard pierces Mars' left shoulder and pins her to a wall. "Sailor Mars!" Moon shouts, worried. "I'm... okay, Sailor Moon." Mars responds, "Worry about... yourself." Sailor Moon turns to Murako and says, "I'll get you for hurting her, Murako! Spiral Moon Heart-attack!" However, Murako shatters the heart, "Ha! Pathetic!" he laughs, "Did you really think that would work!" 'Oh, no!' Moon thinks 'I can't believe it!' Murako blasts her, knocking her to the ground. "Neptune Deep Submerge!" "Uranus World Shaking!" Neptune and Uranus intervene before Murako attacks Moon again, and he turns his attention to them.

Mars tries to pull the shard outta her shoulder but, it shocks her, causing her to grunt in disgust, and prevents her from succeeding. "This guy's not a normal youma!" Uranus states, "I don't get it!" "Nor do I, Uranus!" Neptune agrees, "He's stronger than any youma, we've fought before!" "Precisely, Fools!" Murako snarls, "I am one of Hariel's Elite Youma! And, I grow tired of playing with you!" A phantom image of him appears(which is not that much weaker than him) to continue the battle with them, while he goes to finish off Sailor Moon, who's just starting to get up...

"Now, Sailor Moon!" Murako states, "You die!" He draws his hand back to blast her... "No! Sailor Moon!!" Mars screams, trying again to remove the shard. Suddenly, Her head drops and fire-red gauntlets begin to materialize on her arms. She raises her head and her eyes are darker than usual, almost a dark tanzinite. Mars grips the shard and easily jerks it out of her shoulder, just as Murako releases his blast toward Sailor Moon, who has just gotten to her feet. Just as the blast is about to hit, though, a gauntlet-clad right arm is thrust between it and Sailor Moon.

When the blast has disappated, Sailor Moon looks at the person who just saved her... "Rei...?" she asks. Mars turns to her and places her hand under Moon's chin, leans in, and briefly kisses her, "Just leave this one to me, Angel." Mars says, with a half-grin. She turns to Murako, "Let's finish this!" she states, hurling a "Mars Fire Ignite!" toward him. Murako dodges and returns a blast at her, which she blocks by crossing her arms infront of her and creating a fire-shield. "How did you cancel it out!" Murako demands. "You're pathetic, Murako!" Mars states, giving a quick laugh, "Hariel should've known better, than to send *you* to kill me!" she dashes toward him and he swings a punch at her. The punch passes through her, because she turns transparent, teleporting behind him and, she spins him around. Mars grabs Murako's neck with her left hand and lifts him into the air, "I don't care that you want me dead!" she states, "But you tried to harm my Angel! Unforgiveable!!" she punches through his torso with her flaming right fist, and vaporizes him. 'A glimpse of Rei's Demon-power!' Uranus thinks 'We may be too late...' she and Neptune finish off the phantom image of Murako.

~Hariel's Lair~

"Damn!" Hariel curses, as he watches the events in his veiwing-globe. "So..." A voice says, "Your plan failed, as did Murako!" Hariel turns around, "Ah, Prince Endymion..." he says, "Yes, I must apologize... I did not know that she would be able to manifest *any* of her old power... Much less, materialize the *Ifrit* Gauntlets." "I've no use for your apologies!" Endymion responds, walking over to the globe, "I did not release you from your prison, in Infernos, to hear *apologies*! I want *that* woman DEAD!!" he points to Sailor Mars in the globe. "Do not yell at me, Endymion!" Hariel retorts, "You may have released me but, it was because you wanted *power*, which I gave you!" "Enough! This is getting us nowhere." Endymion says, calmer, "We have to eliminate *her*. That's all that matters." he turns and walks off. 'Oh, We'll eliminate *her*, alright... and that girlfriend of her's.' Hariel says, to himself 'And then, I may choose to destroy you!'

~Back at the Battle-site~

Rei detransforms and she drops to her knees. The gauntlets still on her arms, flaming brightly, 'T-they're... hot... burning m-my arms!' she thinks. Rei closes her eyes and concentrates on willing the gauntlets away, they disappear. Serena runs over to her, after detransforming, and kneels down beside her, "Are you alright, Rei?" she asks. "... yeah..." the raven-haired woman replies, "I-I'm fine, Serena." "You should've known better!" the odango-atama scolds, "You know you shouldn't have used that much power, without being 100%!" "Sorry, Princess. You're right." Rei responds, holding her chest, "My ribs... still aren't healed, completely." Serena stands up and helps Rei to her feet, as Haruka and Michiru(detransformed, of course) walk over to them. "Serena." Michiru says, "We need to talk to you... alone." she looks at Rei. "I understand..." Rei says, then looks at Serena, "I'll wait for you, in the restaurant." "Okay..." relies Serena. Rei kisses her and goes to the restaurant. "Now," Serena asks, after Rei is out of site, "What is so important? It has to do with Rei's Demon-power, doesn't it?" "uh... Yes, it does." Haruka replies, a little surprized, "And, Why Hariel is back."

"The thing is..." Michiru says, "Hariel is here, for revenge against you and Rei." "How did he escape from Infernos, where Rei imprisoned him?" Asks the princess. "We don't know..." Haruka says, "Someone may have released him." "Why? Who?" Serena wonders aloud. "The only person I can think who might know the answers is..." Michiru says, "Setsuna." "Because she is the Guardian of Time, right?" Serena says, "So, Why haven't you already asked her?" "We don't know where she is." Haruka replies, "We haven't seen her very much. Ever since Hotaru's future-self and present-self combined..." "Where is Hotaru?" Asks Serena. "She left." Michiru replies, "To guard the Death-Gates." 'The *Death-Gates*?' wonders Serena. The blonde odango-atama asks, "So, What does Rei have to do with all this?" "Her *Demon-power*." Michiru says, "We think it may have something to do with it." "Oh no. You did not just say that you suspect she's responsible for Hariel's escape!" Serena says, flatly, "She would never do that! Besides, It was Hariel who ra... nevermind." "Well, In any case." Haruka says, "I believe the best course of action would be to find Setsuna." "Agreed." Serena responds, "I will inform the Inner Senshi. Well, I have to go." Michiru and Haruka nod, and Serena walks away. "I would assume," Michiru says to Haruka, "The Celestial Senshi already know." "Yes," Haruka replies, "I'm sure Kyoko has informed them."

~Unknown Location~

"Are you sure, Setsuna?" Minako asks the other woman. "Yes, Mina." Setsuna replies, "I cannot tell them what happened... not yet." "What, exactly, did happen?" asks the blonde. "After Hotaru's present- and future-selves combined into one, the timeline has been severed." "What!?" Minako says, stunned, "Severed?" "Yes..." the other woman responds, "The Gates of Time are destroyed. There is no longer a set course-of-events..." Setsuna is on the verge of tears, at this point, but continues, "I... failed. And now, Hariel is free and there is no way of knowing how, or... *if* we can stop him..." "That's enough." Minako says, sternly, placing her hand on the woman's shoulder, "You can't blame yourself, Sets. Besides, I think it will be better, if people can make their own future for themselves." "Thank you, Mina." Setsuna says, "I am glad I could come to you." "Hey, Don't mention it." Minako says, with a smile, "But, Why *did* you come to *me*?" Setsuna looks at the floor, "I-I am not sure..." she replies. "That's not the truth, is it?" Minako asks, placing her other hand on the woman's cheek and turns her head to face her.

Setsuna feels the warm hand on her cheek and tries to remember the last time she had felt a warm touch from someone. Being the Guardian of Time for so many years... It gets so lonely, and cold... 'Why did I come here?' Setsuna asks herself, looking into the blue eyes of Senshi of Love 'What is it about this girl that draws me? Perhaps, It is that she is the complete opposite of myself?' "Mina..." she begins. But, The blonde stops her, "There's no need for anymore words." she says, looking back into Setsuna's garnet eyes and sees the yearning, the longing for... Love. The blonde leans in and places her lips on Setsuna's... No more words *were* needed, as they both knew the truth, and embraced it...
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To Be Continued...

So, What d'ya think? I hope I did okay on the Outers personalities, I really need to do some more research on the characters to make this story good. Well, I hope to get some reveiws on this one. Don't be afraid to tell me, if ya think it's bad. Cause, If ya tell me what's wrong, I can fix it. Til next time.