And I'm back. With a vengeance. Heh, not really. But I wanted to update I guess. You guys want an update right? That's a silly question! And now for stuff…

Notes: Okay, Kaitou's gonna be in this chapter. Kaitou Ace is a character in Codename wa Sailor V. Now, the story of what happened between him and Minako is going to be explained eventually in this story. But if you want to know before that happens then I suggest going to a website called 'The Manga of Naoko Takeuchi'. It has English translations of Codename wa Sailor V for those of us who can't read French or Japanese. If you have trouble finding the website then please e-mail me and I will send the URL to you. You shouldn't have to but just in case.

Another note: I think Yaten and Hotaru's song for this story is 'Wicked Game' by Chris Isaak. Seriously, I'm listening to it and 'I Ran' by Flock of Seagulls over and over again when I write this story. So get some mood music! Or not.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Warnings: A lot of angst. (As you can imagine.) Here goes!

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Close Your Eyes

Chapter Nineteen

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"What did he do to her?" Makoto looked only moments away from marching to the Dark Kingdom's base, storming in, and beating everyone to a pulp with her bare fists.

"I don't know." Minako answered truthfully. "Kaitou helped me put some sort of spell on Mamoru-san."

"Who is this Kaitou you keep talking about?" Ami asked, the only one of the Senshi who looked calm. Truth be told, she was in as much upset as the others but didn't want to add more chaos to the situation.

"Another time Minako-chan." Rei glided in, her billowing priestess robes adding an aura of mystery and wisdom to the violet-eyed girl. "I know what Mamoru did and…"

"What?" All three echoed.

"He killed her family and then he…then he made them dance." Rei grimaced and all of them felt a wave of sickness hit them. Even Ami's face looked green. "After that it got blurred, I believe he was attempting to…assault her when Minako showed up."

"That sick bastard!" Makoto cursed, punching down on the table with her fist.

"He was brainwashed, he wouldn't do those sorts of things naturally." Rei opened the door to outside, the breeze ruffling her hair. "In my opinion, it should be Usagi who pronounces his punishment."

"Usagi-chan shouldn't have to!" Minako stood up. "She's our princess but I could never stand it if she was in that much pain."

"Usagi is the only one who can." Rei walked out of the room. The door opened and in walked a blonde-haired young man whose eyes lit up as he spotted Minako.

"Aino Minako-sama? Hime?" He spoke questioningly. Minako snapped to attention.

"Kaitou!" Minako ran towards him and he caught her in a tight warm embrace. "I never thought…I was sure…"

"I suppose that this is the Kaitou that Minako kept mentioning?" Ami asked Makoto who shrugged in reply.

"Maybe he has something to do with those aces of hearts that kept popping up." Makoto snapped her fingers as she made the connection.

"Minako…" Kaitou pulled her closed to himself. "Minako…" Minako pulled away though, she seemed to have recalled something.

"Your love will be hopeless for all eternity." Minako told him, his eyes widened with disbelief as she went back to sitting at the table, facing everyone else as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

"Um…" Makoto trailed off. "Minako-chan…"

"So now the question is what happens when Mamoru wakes up." Minako resumed the conversation, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling in the room.

"I say I get a few good hits." Makoto joked weakly. "We'll see when it happens I guess." Makoto didn't seem to know what else to say. "What if he's still…evil?"

"That is," Kaitou cleared his throat, his eyes shadowed. "A possibility. However, the power of Minako-hime combined with my own should have weakened it greatly. It may very well be that only your princess can break it."

"Usagi is waking up." Rei poked her head into the room. She blinked at Kaitou a few times. "I've been wondering when you'd show up."

"You know who he is?" Ami pushed up her glasses.

"In a manner of speaking." Rei looked at Minako who was sending her a brooding look. "Minako, you should be informed that I do not control my visions or who they are about so you can stop looking at me like that."

"We need to see Usagi." Minako flashed Rei a smile to reassure the raven-haired girl that she wasn't mad. They all walked to the bedroom where Usagi was awake and staring off into space.

"Usagi-chan?" Minako began in a soft voice.

"They're dead…" Usagi trailed off.

"We know." Rei took one of Usagi's hands into her own. "Don't try to hold it in, just cry." Usagi began to sob, sitting up and crying into Rei's robe and Rei rocked her carefully.

Rei had been meant to Usagi in the past and would be in the future, if the future where they could look back would come. Deep down, Rei treasured Usagi as the sister she never had. The teasing pushed Usagi forward, helped her to learn to accept criticism. Even though sometimes it seemed as though the two might hate each other, Rei really was one of the best friends that Usagi ever had.

"The roses…they've always protected me…" Usagi got out through hiccupping sobs. "Okaa-san…"

"We're here." Rei whispered to her. She couldn't say it was going to be okay because she honestly didn't know. "We're here."

"I couldn't save her Rei! I couldn't save Shingo or otou-san…" Usagi went on, nowhere near consoled. "I'm not a princess or a solider…I couldn't save them!"

"You baka." Rei's eyes began to tear, she hated to see her friend like this. Without her hope or her unending optimism. "You're our princess. You think that means you can do everything? Only you would blame yourself. Baka…"

"Rei-chan…" Usagi pulled away from Rei. "Arigatou…but I think…I want to be by myself."

"Hime," Minako knelt down on one knee in front of Usagi. "Please don't make us leave." For a moment, Minako looked every bit the leader of the Inner Senshi and the guardian soldier of the planet Venus.

"You…you can stay. But just Minako." Usagi gave a troubled look through her tears at Rei. Rei gave her an understanding smile.

The other Senshi filed out as Minako sat by Usagi's bed. Usagi was surprised by Kaitou bowing to her as well.

"I wish to stay here with Minako-hime." Kaitou requested. Minako felt her anger flair but quickly pushed it down. Usagi nodded dumbly before putting her head back down on the pillow to cry. Kaitou sat on the floor quietly. Minako carefully did not look at him.

How dare he?

He doesn't understand about the princess or…or anything!

Didn't he make that clear?

"It wasn't Mamo-chan…" Usagi whispered. "It couldn't have been. Mamo-chan loved my parents when he met them…he played video games with Shingo. He isn't evil. No, this wasn't the real Mamoru. I know him. I trust him. Is our love doomed always? Mamoru…you called me Usagi-san. I didn't know why I was so happy but I do now. You finally showed your true self. Gomen…how could I doubt you?"

"Sometimes we believe that our love can never come to fruition because we believe we can never be as strong as the one we hold in our hearts. We don't believe that they would ever feel as we do. You must believe in your love." Kaitou's voice was solemn, his eyes locked with Minako's.

I think Kaitou said something wise…but I…I'm too scared to admit it.

Minako couldn't believe that fate would be so cruel. But what could any of them do?

"Mamo-chan…" Usagi stared past both of them, tears softly falling on the pillow. "Mamo-chan…"

There was nothing they could do to comfort her.

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Setsuna was becoming seriously concerned. Hotaru had not come out of her room two days. What could be wrong with her? She had said yesterday every time that Setsuna knocked on her door that she was sick.

It's more then that…

"Hotaru?" Setsuna rapped her knuckles lightly on the door. "Can I come in?"

"I don't feel well." Hotaru's voice told her.

"Hotaru?" Setsuna put her hand on the doorknob. "Hotaru, I'm coming in."

"I don't want to see anyone right now." Hotaru's voice stopped her. Setsuna's eyes widened. What had caused this? "Just please…go away…"

Setsuna faltered a little before drawing away from the door completely, stepping back into the shadows of the hallway and leaning against a wall. She had never really gotten used to have another person around. She had always guarded the Gates alone and she had long since resigned to that fate.

That was until Hotaru had made her promise in her last life to take her as soon as she was born and let her live at the Gates of Time with her. For once, Setsuna did not have to spend her days by herself, trying to think of ways to keep her mind off the fact that she was utterly alone.

At first there was a baby to watch over, a beautiful little baby. Then a little girl with round curious eyes and an inquisitive nature. Before long, she had grown into the teenager she was today. It had all happened so fast…

Hotaru was a daughter to her. Not only a daughter but a sister and a companion. It was hard to think of life without Hotaru now.

It should be easy to accept…if Hotaru needs to be without me…

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"Just GO!"

Hotaru knew she was a mess. She had been lying on her bed for two whole days, trying to understand what had happened between her and Yaten. They had both attacked the weakest parts of the other. Hotaru wished she could go back and time and not have been in the living room when Seiya had come home.

If he saw…didn't he see me pull away?

Didn't he see me leave?

But that wasn't the whole problem, even she knew that. It was so many things all at once. Why had he pushed her away from him? Was he scared to let her get close to him even though he wanted to let her in?

Did he now? Or maybe the reason he had yelled at her to leave was because he simply couldn't stand the idea of her anymore…he had called her ugly. Did he really mean it?

I don't want to have to forget about him…

But how can I let him in?

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Half-curious, half-hoping that she wouldn't catch him; Yaten peeked into the living room. Unfortunately, Kakyuu was looking at the doorway when he did and their eyes locked.

"Yaten?" Kakyuu's head tilted to one side.

"I was just…" Yaten tried to search for an excuse, dropping his eyes. He had wanted to talk to her; he had felt guilty for once. "Looking for something."

"Oh, what is it?" Kakyuu inquired with an eager to please smile.

"Nothing, it's stupid." Yaten shook his head and turned, clearly intending to leave but Kakyuu stopped him.

"Yaten, can I talk to you for a few moments?" Kakyuu asked and Yaten who had half wanted to talk to her felt himself turning and walking into the living room, sitting in an armchair facing Kakyuu. She was dressed in normal Earth clothes, which was still strange to see for him. Even in her stylish clothing and her long braid instead of the usual loops her royal bearing came through. It was easy to see she was a princess with her small hands folded just right in her lap and the way that she sat up straight on the couch, her back not touching the back of the couch.

"What do you want to talk about?" Yaten eyed her suspiciously.

"I know…I know that you're not happy with me." Kakyuu's red eyes looked down. "You were angry the other day…I would have been to."

"Forget it." Yaten didn't want to have to face her.

"I'm happy you were truthful." Kakyuu told him quickly. "I…I didn't expect anyone to be happy to see me. That's why I followed you…"

"I'm not mad at you." Yaten stated and Kakyuu blinked in surprise. "I was angry because of everything that happened before we left. You weren't listening to anyone but those stupid advisors. You didn't see how it was affecting anyone. I thought it was selfish…but what do I know?"

"Yaten…I…"

I don't want to think about you but you won't leave me in peace…

I've never thought about the way someone else was feeling this way…

I only saw others hurting the ones that loved them the most. And the way that I hurt you…

"I want you to tell me those things." Kakyuu told him. "I want you to be able to tell us how you feel Yaten. You're always hiding what you're thinking."

"I don't want you to hold back like you always do!"

"That's because no one wants my thoughts." Yaten murmured and he stood up, leaving the room. Kakyuu could only look after him, wondering why he seemed so occupied. What had happened to Yaten? The others were being strangely closed mouthed about what they had been doing as of late.

It's because I didn't think of any of you when I said I would marry.

All of you are slipping away from me…will we ever be as close as we once were? Or will there always be secrets now?

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Seiya had been out picking out the perfect cakes for Kakyuu to try over tea and had finally gotten home after what felt like hours looking at small cakes. He had a box of them and he was about to go into the living room where Kakyuu had taken to being already.

But just as he was about to go in, he heard two voices.

"This house is very nice." Kakyuu was saying. "I can see why you settled in here."

"I miss my home on Kinmokusei." Taiki's voice made Seiya peer into the living room, trying to stay hidden. Kakyuu and Taiki were both sitting on the couch and they were drinking tea. He felt an instant surge of jealousy at the sight.

They're just talking…

Then Kakyuu was going for her cup after she had set it down and her hand bumped into the cup, not knocking it over but causing hot liquid to splash on her hand. She made a small noise but bit her lip immediately to try and hold it in.

"Kakyuu-hime!" Taiki went forward and his hands took hold of her hurt one. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Kakyuu looked at him gratefully. "It was only a small burn and it doesn't really hurt."

"I should go get a cold washcloth, just to make sure." Taiki said but Seiya noticed that he was just sitting there, holding Kakyuu's hand, staring into Kakyuu's eyes. Seiya's fist clenched.

Always…

There is always someone between us.

Taiki got up and let go of Kakyuu's hand, going to go into the kitchen through the other entrance to the living room. Seiya couldn't stand it and went inside the living room.

"Oh, Seiya!" Kakyuu smiled brightly at him. "What do you have there?"

"I bought cakes to go with tea but…you and Taiki are already having tea." Seiya said in an accusatory tone as he put the box down on the table.

"Well, we looked for you but you weren't here." Kakyuu looked down at her hands. "Gomen nasai, Seiya, we should have waited."

"Hime…" Seiya sat down on the couch next to her. Kakyuu's eyes went up to his own. "I've been wondering. When we do go back to Kinmokusei…are you going to get married?"

"I…can't." Kakyuu confessed, her eyes darting down as she shook her head. Her eyes glanced back up. They searched his face for…something… "I told you that. I can't get married. I thought I could do it. I was supposed to, it was my duty. I knew I would be unhappy…he wasn't who I wanted to marry."

"Who did you want to marry?" Seiya questioned.

"I…" Kakyuu's mouth went dry and her words got stuck in her throat. She looked away. "Taiki told me about Usagi." Seiya couldn't believe it. Taiki had told Kakyuu the whole story?

"That's over with." Seiya said shortly.

"I just thought it was horrible that the girl you loved—!" Kakyuu was cut off as Seiya's hand went up, tilting her chin towards him.

"I thought I was in love with Usagi." Seiya began, his voice firm, and Kakyuu felt like she couldn't possibly look away from his hypnotic blue eyes. "I really did. But it was because I wanted to forget about how much it hurt…when you told us you were going to marry another man." Kakyuu's eyes widened. "That's when I knew that you were never going to love me. You were going to get married and I couldn't stand to watch it happen. I was going to have a girl fall in love with me and I thought it would prove that someone wanted me. But she didn't. It wasn't a real love…maybe she knew that…"

"Seiya…" Kakyuu's eyes were beginning to form tears. "I do love you. That's why I couldn't get married…I couldn't stand the idea of being so far apart from you and even when you returned…everything was wrong." A tear rolled down her cheek.

He pressed his lips against her cheek, kissing the tear away. The salty taste touched his tongue as he pulled away. His face was still inches from her own. She leaned in and closed the space between the two. Taiki came back into the living room and quietly backed out again when he saw the two.

Taiki smiled at the two. Even though he harbored his own feelings for Kakyuu, he knew the two of them were in love. In a way, it made life a little easier not to see the two so obviously unhappy.

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What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way…what a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you…what a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way…what a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you, and I wanna fall in love…Great, song totally stuck in my head now. I really only have myself to blame. Okay, so once again, I know the Kaitou thing is really confusing for people who have not read Codename wa Sailor V, but I swear it does get explained. Also, I forgot to comment on this last chapter but yes, Yaten is kind of an asshole in this story and I completely agree with that. But I don't really control him, he kind of writes himself. I'm like, "Yaten, be nice!" and he just ignores me. Okay, well please review! And next chapter, we'll see if evil Mamoru is still evil or not…