Chapter 13: Peace and Recovery
Fuyumi stomped around, thoroughly frustrated at her foiled attempt to kill Taiki.

Why couldn't I get Taiki!? she screamed.

It wasn't your fault. If you need to blame anyone, blame Seiya and Yaten for having seen you hanging around the hospital, Akimi said blandly.

Don't worry. We'll find a way to trap the Senshi once again. Then we can have our final fight. First, however, let's set up our initial trap, Natsumi suggested, though she did take a leader-like tone.

And what would that be? We'd better not appear in the Senshi's world again, each time we do that we get beaten, Fuyumi snapped.

No, you misunderstand. We'll bring them here and torture their minds. Their perceptions of not only reality, but of who they are inside, will be demolished once they are forced to face the truth that to some people, nay, MANY people, they are merely drawings on a TV cartoon and manga, Harumi said calmly, holding one of her Sailor Moon DVDs and tapping it against her laptop.

Taiki stared at Chibi-Usa as she dabbed his feverish forehead with a washcloth. She was such a foolish, innocent girl, yet there was a certain adult lonliness about her. Something that he knew well in himself. As he missed his planet, she probably missed the place she was from. Not only that, but that maybe the place she was from was a lonely place for her as well. Yes, he liked this girl, as odd as it seemed, since they had rather different personalities. Sure she could be a bit whiny and clingy, but then again, Chibi-Usa probably also found a few of Taiki's traits a bit annoying at times too.

Why are you looking at me like that? Did I hurt you accidentally? Chibi-Usa asked, worried.

No, you're doing rather well at nursing for your age, Taiki said. Chibi-Usa grinned; she was getting better at being a lady, then! She recalled the time when she had tried to help Minako take care of Usagi and they had made a mess of everything. But that was a while ago, and she had matured since then, having also learned some grace anyway in her experience as a Sailor Senshi in training.

Rest well, Taiki, and thank you for the compliment, she said, ducking out of the room. Before she went to go tell Ikuko of her patient's status, she thought of how it was almost ironic that a girl as extroverted and friendly as herself always seemed to make friends with the quietest people. First Setsuna, then Hotaru, next Pegasus, and finally Taiki. Maybe the saying about opposites attracting also applied to friendships, she thought.

You had no idea that Taiki was in love with Kakyuu all this time?! That still seems strange to me, Makoto said, shaking her head at the situation. She and Yaten were in their little apartment, finally getting a break from worrying about Taiki's condition.

Well, no, I didn't. It's not that strange, though, since Taiki isn't one for showing emotions much, Yaten answered. Makoto nodded; then again, she had just made the mistake of comparing Taiki to herself, which wasn't quite fair to either of them. Her mind then turned to that one strange man who had attacked a long time ago. He had told Kakyuu that geniuses were supposed to be aloof bookworms, and told herself, Makoto, that she wasn't supposed to hang out with a shorter boy as if they were a romantic couple. She groaned inwardly as she remembered herself, always looking for taller boys. How could she have been so stupid? This Yaten was the one for her, and she might've overlooked him because of something as idiotic as his height!

You know, a little while ago, I would never have thought of living with a short boy, Makoto commented, then blushed, realizing what she had actually said.

Really? What changed that? asked Yaten slyly.

Well...I guess...you did, Makoto whispered, her green eyes contrasting well with her red face.

Yaten thought back to when he, Seiya, and Taiki were looking at a book on Earth culture, soon before coming here. The Queen of Kinmoku had told them if they needed to escape from the planet for any reason, they should come to this place. Of course, at that time, they were girls most of the time. Seiya had joked that Yaten, as a short girl, would get a husband easier than Taiki, a tall girl. Little did Seiya know they would later decide to turn to their male forms on Earth and reverse the situation, he thought wryly. Then again, Taiki didn't have any real lover here, since the Princess fell for that Mizuno girl.

Ami and Kakyuu were also in their home.

Really? So on your planet, the fact that water turns me into a boy wouldn't be considered to be odd? Ami asked.

Actually, it still would, since we can do that on our own, without using water, Kakyuu explained.

How am I ever going to go swimming again? Ami worried.

It's okay. Why would people hate you for something that isn't your fault? Sure they'd see you change gender, but I think men did used to wear swimsuits that covered more of their bodies, so I've heard. So why would it be a problem? Kakyuu asked, confused.

Because your planet is probably more laid-back than ours. If an Earth person saw someone change gender when he or she jumped in the swimming pool, he or she would be ostracized for life, Ami explained.

That's cruel! It's not like it's your fault! If people hate you for it, I'll protect you! I'll transform into Sailor Kinmoku and... Kakyuu trailed off, noticing Ami's stern expression.

You must NOT transform in public unless you absolutely have to. Didn't you hear what happened to Taiki when Usagi's family found out he was not only a Sailor Senshi, but an alien? It took a lot of pleading from the others to convince her parents to keep him there, Ami scolded.

But your mom KNOWS about the Senshi stuff, she saw that meanie Fuyumi attempt to murder Taiki, right? Kakyuu argued.

How is she supposed to connect that to Sailor Senshi? None of us transformed there, so the most she could conclude is that Fuyumi is a regular old criminal, Ami countered.

Still, if anyone was cruel to you because of it, I would protect you. Even if it meant transforming and being hated myself. The other Sailor Senshi wouldn't hate me for it! Kakyuu cried, hugging Ami effusively. Ami started to shrink back from this sudden display of emotion, but she stopped, feeling herself fill with affection and love for the naive, sweet alien princess. Kakyuu reminded her much of Usagi, but she also had an intelligence that rivaled her own. Red eyes met blue, and they kissed, sweetly.

Rei peeked into her livingroom. Awww, how sweet. There were Seiya and Hotaru, looking as cuddly as ever. She slipped away, not wanting to intrude on the happy couple.

Seiya, what are you, Yaten, and Taiki the Senshi of? I know your princess is the Sailor Senshi for your dead planet, like how Mamoru protects the Earth as Tuxedo Mask. But what are you supposed to be? asked Hotaru.

That's an interesting question, and one I can't answer. We were never told what our Senshi powers were supposed to represent, just that we had them. Sometimes I'm glad to have a few guardian cats here; I often wished to have a pet like that when I was on Kinmoku. What did you think we represented? responded Seiya, a bit surprised to hear a question like that.

I thought you might either represent the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Or maybe a trinity of Destruction, Creation, and Preserving. You know, if the second one is true, then our powers are similar, Hotaru mused, fingering her Sailor Saturn wand.

What do you think this weird enemy will do next? How come they know who I am, too? asked Seiya, changing the subject as he didn't really like to think of himself as a destroyer. That sounded like a morbid duty befitting Taiki or Yaten.

I don't know. They mentioned an anime show, too. The only one of us who has appeared on TV is Minako, since the Sailor V manga and movie were based off of her adventures, but the rest of us aren't anime characters in any way, Hotaru said.

Things will be revealed sometime. We can't be left in the dark about this forever, Seiya added, sounding determined.

Right. We'll find out sooner or later why they claim that we're not only anime characters, but why they know so much about us, especially about you and your group, Hotaru said.