Pluto stood there at those gates she hated so much watching those that she cared about. She so longed to be with them. They could know none of this, though. Who was that man? "A new enemy, doubtless," she thought. He was so strong that it was insane. He knew he had power over her, adding to her humiliation. If she could not hold off this one intruder, was she fit for her position?

Shaking off the ideas of doubt, the young looking woman began to train herself if and when that man ever came back. Once surprised, second time not the fool. As she swung her huge staff about, she heard that horrid laughter. Turning, she saw the man once more. His head was swollen and he was angry.

"You're going to pay for the headache you've caused me, wench."

"Wench? Hardly... next I know, you'll be calling me a shrubbery," she retorted. *(see a/n at the bottom)

"You're nothing more."

"I ask you again, please leave."

"I will not..." he grew very close to the impassive senshi. "Did you tell your pathetic little friends about me, senshi?"

"What sort of coward do you take me for? Nay, I've told no one."

"And yet, that annoying little bundle of pink-haired annoyance has managed to come and go from here."

The woman's eyes showed a hint of sadness for a moment. "I sent her away. She doesn't know any more of me than my name. You she knows nothing of."

"Know good and well that though you interest me, your friends do not. If any of them come here, I shall surely kill them in the most painful way my very imaginative mind can conjure. My imagination is indeed colorful, senshi."

This drew a small smirk from her. "I do not care to know what is in your twisted mind, Sapphire."

"That is rather rude," he stated while grabbing her arm and twisting it painfully behind her. He was angry that she had found his name without it being given. "Beg for mercy..."

She stood there, a look of pain across her face. "I will not."

He smirked and gave a last push on it before letting go. Judging by the look of her shoulder, it was dislocated. "Well I'll give it to you anyway, just because you amuse me."

"Oh, well I apologize but I do not feel inclined to be grateful."

The man chuckled and pushed her to the ground, sitting on her stomach. "Oh? Is that so?"

Pluto made a fruitless attempt to hide her fear. "Indeed. Why should I thank you for dislocating my shoulder?"

"Because, dear girl, it was your shoulder and not that of your King or Queen. You look afraid..."

"I... I am not."

"Do not lie to me. What are you afraid I'll do? This?" he asked and then forcefully shoved his lips down upon hers. A muffled protest was heard as she tried without success to remove the attractive man that was forcing her to do these things.

Sapphire pulled away from her smirking at the look on her face. "Or did you expect something worse?"

She couldn't respond, simply stare past him.

"You're not answering me. Oh don't worry, Setsuna, I will take you in time. But before I do that, I'm going to have a bit more fun."

A look of realization crossed the woman's features. He was going to take the only bit of innocence that she had left. His smirk broadened as he slapped her. "You're still not speaking, Pluto. What's wrong? Someone cut out your tongue?" He pondered a moment. "That isn't such a bad idea... but then I cannot hear you beg for my mercy."

She squirmed under his grip. "Let me go," she hissed.

He smirked, looking unusually sadistic, then increasingly angry. "I'd love to stay and torment you, but my brother did something stupid again... I'll see you soon, whether you hope to or not." With that said, Sapphire stood, kicked her wounded arm, and disappeared leaving Setsuna to moan over her shoulder.

Sapphire appeared in Demando's room looking incredibly infuriated. "What is it now, brother? I was having fun."

"Your job, Sapphire, is not to fall in love with Sailor Pluto. You are to keep her busy so that the rest of us may use the Gates of Time," the other man said curtly.

"I am not falling in love. I was tormenting her."

"You kissed her for no real reason."

"I was instilling fear in her."

"Sapphire, don't get weak. Remember, do nothing to the Queen. If Pluto tells anyone of what has happened, make certain that she pays dearly," he smirked, "use whatever method you desire to punish her, though."

"Of coarse."

"Watch her closely, make sure that she doesn't do anything that might cost us. But don't do anything so obvious that someone is coming and beating her, use small things."

Sapphire nodded. "Yes, I will. I am no fool."

"Good, now go do whatever it is that you do..."

Sapphire left in a much better mood. He stood over the mirror he had spelled in order to watch the Time Guardess. He watched as she left her post to attend some ball on the moon. Immediately Demando was informed and allies were sent into the past.

Sapphire watched her still. He smirked as he watched her dress for this ball. She really was stunningly beautiful. She wore a black evening gown that was rather on the conservative side. Its straps tied behind her neck, leaving the open back to be covered by her dark tresses and no cleavage to be shown. The fabric could not help but hug her curvy figure. He noted this and smirked. She was a sight, but all of this dancing didn't suite her. She was too solitary. He watched as she danced with a handsome looking man and felt anger rise in himself.

Setsuna blushed as she danced with a man named Aemar. He was pleasant to look at, to say the least. He was tall with broad shoulders. "Like Sapphire," she noted and regretted it. "Don't think about that now," she told herself mentally.

"Are you all right, Princess?" his baritone voice asked.

She shook her head and smiled. "Y- yes, my mind simply wandered. Please forgive me." She felt her blush deepening as she danced. His eyes were a beautiful shade of green, and his strong face was framed by fiery red locks. He smiled down at her, causing her blush to deepen.

"You are forgiven. Shall we go out into the gardens? So many people grow tiresome."

She nodded. "I agree whole-heartedly." Taking her arm in his, Aemar lead he outside into the lovely rose gardens. She smiled. "They're so beautiful. Its been so long since I've seen living roses, that I almost forgot their scent."

"There are no roses on Pluto?"

"No, there are..." she realized that she was very close to giving away a very important secret to someone she hardly knew. She went on with something else. "Just, with my duties, I am hardly ever able to see let alone apprietate them."

He smiled. "I personally think that you are much prettier than any rose."

She blushed as Sapphire appeared in front of them. "Hello again, Princess. Fancy seeing you here..."

She scowled at him. "Go away Sapphire."

"Why would I do that? Maybe I want to dance with you."

"I doubt that."

Aemar eyed the two of them. "Princess, it does appear he just wants a dance."

She sighed and eyed Sapphire as he realized he'd actually have to dance with her. "Yes, Princess, a dance. That is all."

Sighing deeply, Setsuna allowed Sapphire to lead her back inside and into a dark corner of the room where they could dance. "Why are you here, Sapphire?" she spat at him.

"I don't like him."

"You don't like a man that I choose to converse with, so you come here simply to say that?"

"Basically."

"Well, I really do not care who you like and who you do not like."

"He looks too hungry. He wants to use you. You'll get hurt."

"Since when do you care?"

"I don't."

"Then why are you fussing over it like a child?"

"I'm not. I am just giving you fair warning. He doesn't look at your eyes, but places his eyes should not wander."

She blushed. "How would you know this?"

He shrugged and didn't reply.

"Sapphire, please leave after this dance," she requested softly.

He smirked, "You realize that if I do oblige, it will be painful for you later. I was planning to have a bit of fun."

She cast her gaze away from him. "Do what you will. Just leave."

He nodded. "Fine," he hissed as the dance ended and he disappeared, but not before punching her hard in the stomach.

The rest of the night passed quickly for Setsuna. She was beginning to like this Aemar. Sapphire was wrong. He was a perfect gentleman. She felt herself blushing every time he looked at her. But, she could not help but think of Sapphire. Had he been concerned?

~ End for now... what do you all think?

* oh, shrubbery... I had been referring to the term being used as that which a brothel girl is called