I've been really happy about the reviews I've been receiving lately on this story! You guys are so nice. Oh, and a shout out to Kohikari who I think went on a fanfiction spree of my works! It was a nice push to remember to update because my mail box was stuffed full of reviews. But thanks so much for the reviews guys!

Notes:

Minako refers to herself as the 'Megami no Ai' which of course is 'Goddess of Love'.

Yes, Minako does have a sword, but only in the manga. It's supposedly made out of the same material as the Ginzuishou.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Warnings: Angst. You know, for once.

Close Your Eyes

Chapter Fifteen

"I never saw sad men who looked

With such a wistful eye

Upon that little tent of blue

We prisoners called the sky,

And at every happy cloud that passed

In such strange freedom by.

-The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Oscar Wilde

"Well, Usagi-chan, where should we go?" Minako asked her. It was after school a few days after they had visited Usagi at home and they had secretly decided that someone should be around Usagi at all times. Minako had happily volunteered for this duty that afternoon.

"I don't care." Usagi gave her a bright smile. Then it faded a little as she got a thoughtful look on her face. "Actually…I thought…we haven't been to the Crown Arcade in awhile."

"Oh." Minako was a little taken aback by this suggestion. The others had agreed they should probably avoid the arcade as it was bound to make Usagi miserable. "Well…sure, I guess."

"It's okay Minako-chan." Usagi told her, surprising Minako. "I know you're all looking out for me but I feel like…just going there. It'll be like the old times…before everything happened."

"I'd like to see Motoki-kun." Minako decided to go with it. "And play Sailor V!"

"It's funny that you like playing that game so much." Usagi commented as they walked along, their briefcases in hand, just walking along the sidewalk. "Is it weird to have a video game named after you?"

"Not really." Minako shrugged. "I always wanted to be famous and I don't mind if Sailor V is popular. Maybe if people like her, they'll really like me when I go out and try to become an idol."

"But if V-chan is popular, then aren't you popular as well?" Usagi blinked in confusion.

"It's different I guess…I'd like people to like me without having to be a super hero." Minako tried to explain. "To just like me for me."

"I'm sure they will if they meet you." Usagi spoke encouragingly. "You have to like Minako-chan for Minako-chan." Minako stared at Usagi for a few moments as they walked along, wondering how it was possible that someone like Usagi could think so highly of herself.

Not everything about me is good…

There are things that no one knows.

"Just where are you two going?" Rei asked from behind them and Minako and Usagi stopped and turned to see the raven-haired girl who was looking at them with raised eyebrows.

"To the arcade." Minako answered. She noticed Rei's eyes narrowing. "It was Usagi's idea!"

"I suppose it's not a bad idea." Rei rubbed her chin and considered it for a moment or two. "I'm game for it." Minako and Usagi fell forward a little.

"I hope that wasn't supposed to be a pun." Minako muttered in a low breath.

"Well come on, you don't want to stand around here all day do you?" Rei was standing in front of them surprisingly. "I bet I can beat you at race cars Minako-chan."

"Ha! I'm the master of that game!" Minako declared, pushing up a sleeve. "Come on Usagi-chan, I'm going to teach Rei how the Megami no Ai does things!"

Usagi followed the two other girls to the Crown Arcade. For a moment, as she was walking in, she thought perhaps he would be there, sitting at the counter, drinking coffee. But no one was sitting at the counter at all. Motoki was there and he waved at them as they came in.

"Hey girls! I'm glad you came, it's been really slow this afternoon." Motoki gestured around the practically deserted arcade. There were a few boys playing video games but had stopped playing to look at the females who had just walked in.

"Order whatever you want, it's on me." Rei told the other two. Two hamburgers and fries, two milkshakes, and a triple fudge sundae later, Rei was regretting her generous offer.

"The Hime-sama needs a lot of food." Minako whispered comfortingly in Rei's ear as they sat down. Rei watched Usagi begin to wolf down her food.

"Is she really a princess?" Rei asked in disbelief. Motoki made his way to their table to talk to them.

"So what brings you guys? Just the usual, video games and food?" Motoki took a seat in a chair next to them.

"Yeah." Minako nodded as she drank from her milkshake.

"I've been wondering if Mamoru's sick." Motoki told them. "I haven't seen him around for a few days and he usually comes in after classes." Usagi stopped eating, the food in her hands lowered until her hands were touching the table. Minako and Rei both winced as soon as the words had left Motoki's mouth. How could they explain to him that he couldn't talk about Mamoru?

Oh please think of something good to say Rei…

"Mamoru…" Minako and Rei both looked up in shock as they realized it was Usagi speaking. "Mamoru's fine." Usagi told Motoki in a soft voice. "You'll see him soon."

"You're right; I'm probably just being weird." Motoki laughed it off. "When you see him again, tell him not forget about his old pal Motoki."

"We—" Rei was about to take over the conversation when there was a scream from somewhere outside. All three Sailor Senshi stood up at once. Motoki stood up as well, looking concerned.

"What was that?" Motoki asked.

"I'm going to go see!" Usagi practically sprinted out the door.

"Wait! We're coming too!" Minako called after her as Minako and Rei both left a slightly confused Motoki in their wake. The three went behind the building into an alley and transformed before rushing back out.

There was Kunzite, floating in midair, dark energy swirling around him. Minako grabbed her communicator and pressed the button.

"Mercury! Jupiter! We need you! We're outside the Crown Arcade!" Minako said into the communicator urgently and closed it just as she heard Ami's voice saying they were on their way.

"Only three of you today?" Kunzite looked at them disdainfully.

"The others will be here soon! And how could you interrupt good food and good friends?!" Sailor Moon asked him, pointing a finger at him accusingly. "A pretty soldier in a sailor-suit, Sailor Moon! And in the name of the moon…"

"We will punish you!" The three of them shouted together.

"You couldn't even touch me last time." Kunzite reminded them. "Unless you've made vast improvements in that short time…"

"Crescent Beam!" Minako let off a blast of light and it bounced off of a shield that crackled upon contact.

"Damn, he's got a barrier." Rei swore. "I guess he wouldn't dare fight us without it! He'd lose in a heartbeat."

"Then I have little reason to not use it." Kunzite didn't even blink as he answered.

"We're here!" Ami and Makoto, transformed, came running up.

"We could use your help!" Minako said thankfully. "He's got a barrier again so we can't attack him."

"Maybe not with magical attacks but why not some good old-fashioned tactics?" Makoto cracked her knuckles and went running at Kunzite, clearly intending to beat him with her bare hands.

"Jupiter! Don't!" Ami had her VR visor on and her computer out. Makoto didn't pay attention to the blue-haired senshi's warning and took a swing at him. Her fist hit the barrier and she went flying back, hitting a building.

"Jupiter!" Usagi cried out in alarm and rushed over to her. "Jupiter, are you okay?" Makoto's eyes cracked open and she smiled weakly.

"I'm fine; I've been hit way harder." Makoto told her as she stood up. "Mercury, how are we supposed to hit this guy?"

"I don't know." Mercury looked frustrated beyond on all belief. "We've got to destroy that barrier."

"I've got a better plan." Kunzite volunteered. "I get rid of you Sailor Senshi and not worry about your interference again."

"That plan would work except that we don't go down without a fight." Makoto told him with a glare.

"Good luck fighting this." Kunzite put his two hands out in front of him. The ground around them began to glow.

"Venus! Mars!" Usagi yelled the names. "What's going on?"

"My visor…its readings…" Ami couldn't process what the visor was telling her and she touched her earring so that it would disappear.

"I'll send you into time where you can drift forever." Kunzite's look was victorious. Perhaps he wouldn't die today. Perhaps he could seal them away and they wouldn't be missed nor be an interference at all.

"Sailor Moon!" Minako tried to move but found she couldn't, the ground was glowing brighter then you.

"Everyone, watch—" Ami tried to warn them but at that moment all five disappeared in a flash. The ground was no longer glowing and Kunzite couldn't believe how easy it had been.

You can send me on a suicide mission Beryl, but I won't be defeated.

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Even though it felt strange, Usagi opened her eyes. She saw a glowing and knew that the Ginzuishou was protecting over her.

"Everyone!" Usagi sat up quickly and saw that the others were all around her. They were waking up as well, looking around at the strange landscape as the Ginzuishou stopped glowing and landed in Usagi's hands.

The place gleamed in a silver white and all around them was darkness.

"It's the Earth!" Minako gasped and pointed at something above her. They all looked in that direction and were shocked to see the Earth looking back at them.

"We're on the moon." Ami explained as she typed something in her computer. "We're at the edge of the Sea of Serenity, where the Moon Kingdom used to stand." Usagi noticed that there were ruins lying around everywhere. Indeed, a great castle did once stand here.

They all got up and brushed themselves off.

"How do we leave?" Rei asked the others. No one knew the answer to that. No one knew if they could leave.

"Serenity…" A ghostly voice called out to them.

"Who is that?" Usagi asked, looking around fearfully.

"It's coming from that direction." Ami pointed. "It's some sort of machine…" The five went forward together cautiously. Behind a fallen part of a castle was a computer with a miniature person standing there on the computer.

"Princess Serenity…it's good to see you again." The figure spoke as they drew closer. "Welcome back daughter."

"Daughter?" Usagi's eyes widened as they gathered around the figure. She had odangoes in her hair as well and had a crescent moon on her forehead. She was wearing a beautiful white dress. "Are you…you're…"

"I'm your mother, Queen Serenity." The miniature queen smiled kindly. "Actually, I'm only a hologram but I am her memory preserved in this computer."

"Queen Serenity!" Minako seemed amazed.

"Yes, the last Queen of this kingdom." Queen Serenity looked sad. "Maybe one day it will be restored to the place it once was."

"We need your help your highness!" Minako told her. "Beryl and Metallia, the enemies who caused the fall of the Moon Kingdom have been revived."

"I knew they would be revived one day." Queen Serenity nodded her head. "When I sealed them…I had seen the death of my beloved daughter and I had only regret and sorrow in my heart. The seal was weak…"

"If we seal them away…we'll have to make a stronger seal." Usagi spoke slowly.

"The heart full of love and does not surrender to sorrow can make the seal strong." Queen Serenity told them.

"What does that mean?" Usagi questioned.

"You will see." Queen Serenity smiled. "You are pure of heart and I have great faith in you. In all of you. Now, Venus, it is time to recover your sword."

"You have…my sword?" Minako seemed surprised. "I thought…it was lost…"

"All things that must be preserved are." Queen Serenity put her hands together and closed her eyes as if in prayer. A light began to appear in front of Minako and slowly began to elongate and form a sword.

The light flashed and a sword was in front of her, hanging in midair. She grabbed hold of the white and shining blade and took a small practice swing.

"You must protect…the Prin…" Queen Serenity's speech was skipping and her image flickered. She held it steady after a few moments. "The computer's power is about to run out, please, listen Serenity…I wish things could have been different for you. Different for you and Endymion both…"

"It wasn't your fault." Usagi was beginning to tear up.

"I'm fading…" Queen Serenity's image flickered. "Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter…please…protect her with all that you can."

"We will your highness." Minako spoke for the others.

"You can't just fade away…" A tear fell down Usagi's cheek. "Please…don't just leave me. Tell me what I'm supposed to do."

"I can't tell you that…it's for you to make your own destiny." Queen Serenity said and then a strange noise went through the computer. "Good-bye…my daughter…"

The image faded.

"Mother…" Usagi stared at the spot. "Mother…I'll try…" The Ginzuishou began to glow again.

"Are we going back?" Makoto asked just as the light of the Ginzuishou flashed and they were suddenly the ground disappeared from beneath their feet and just as suddenly, they could feel it again.

They were standing just where they had disappeared; an astonished looking Kunzite was standing there.

"How is it possible…?" Kunzite looked at the glowing Ginzuishou in Usagi's hands. "Of course, the Ginzuishou…how silly of me to underestimate it."

"You won't be allowed to make that mistake twice." Minako brandished her sword at him.

"And just what do you plan to do with that?" Kunzite asked her haughtily. Minako's face was solemn as she jumped in the air and came down, her sword hitting Kunzite's barrier. There was a loud crackle of energy and it went through the barrier, slicing his shoulder.

"Wow…" Makoto breathed next to the others.

"She broke through the barrier!" Rei exclaimed in amazement.

"Damn you…Sailor Senshi…" Kunzite glared at them. Minako came running at him, her sword pointed straight towards him.

He was about to throw an attack when Minako sped up more then he thought she could and suddenly, Kunzite felt something slicing through his chest. Blood sprayed out his back and Sailor Venus pulled her bloodied sword out of his body.

"Wha…?" Kunzite pitched forward, landing on the ground. As blood flowed out of his body, he laid there, his eyes wide and staring at the golden haired senshi of Venus. He was dying. He was actually dying.

"Kunzite, what's all this worry about when you die?" Endymion laughed as he hit Kunzite's back in a friendly manner. It was a beautiful summer day and it was hard to think about death with the blue sky and fragrant green field before him.

"I don't know…" Kunzite trailed off. "Aren't you worried that you'll die one day?"

"You only live once." Endymion told him with a wink. "So make the best of it."

"Don't be so serious all the time Kunzite! Your hair already went gray!" Jadeite laughed next to him.

"It's not gray!" Kunzite protested.

"He does worry more than any old man I've ever met." Zoicite joked, leaning in so he could look at Kunzite, his green eyes catching the sunlight.

"Come on Kunzite, enjoy today, think about death when it's staring you in the face." Nephrite grinned at him.

He took a couple of deep shuddering breaths and felt himself trying to cling to his unnatural life.

"We're both soldiers." Sailor Venus told him. "We're both loyal. Nothing could ever make us betray the ones we swore to protect…"

"I think I'm beginning to understand you." Kunzite gave her one of his rare smiles.

"Y-you are?" Sailor Venus blushed, looking at her hands with wide blue eyes.

Their faces all flashed before his eyes one by one. Jadeite. Nephrite. Zoicite. Endymion. Sailor Venus. All from the life before this miserable existence.

He closed his eyes once last time as he saw them flashing before his eyes, maybe hoping to drown out these ghosts of the past.

He was suddenly standing in a field again, but more vivid then the field he had at that time with the rest of the Shittenou. The blue was so piercing, he felt like shielding his eyes but found he didn't need to.

"Kunzite!" Zoicite waved at him from across the field where he saw the two others standing there. "You've finally arrived."

"We couldn't do a thing without our leader." Nephrite called as he Kunzite's face filled with wonder.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" Jadeite gestured for him to hurry over.

"This…" Kunzite realized what was bothering him. "This isn't hell."

"No," Zoicite's eyes lit up as he smiled. "It isn't."

----------------------

The Sailor Senshi watched in amazement as Kunzite's body turned into a small glittering stone. What did that mean? Sailor Venus stepped forward, perhaps to pick it up but just as she did, a black rose sank itself into the pavement in front of her.

"What the--?" Minako looked up as did the others. There he was. Standing on a building, wearing his mask and hat.

"Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" Usagi looked happier than they had seen her in days. He dropped down from the building and she ran towards him but he picked up Kunzite's stone and jumped back quickly.

"Consider this a warning Sailor Senshi." He spoke in a voice that sounded like Mamoru's but darker and more threatening. And with that he disappeared.

The others all turned towards each other.

What does this mean…?

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I did it! I finished! I'm working on an update for The Evening of the Moon and I'll probably get it down tomorrow and put it up so never fear. I really liked this chapter and the way it went. Thanks for reading!