A/N: Wow, hasn't it been SUCH long time? XD I'm very very sorry to keep you waiting for this chapter, but you know, things come up. (Exams, homework, writers block, general shit…) Well, here's chapter 6. Nothing really interesting happens here, but the banquet is definitely going to fill up the next chapter, so more stuff will happen very soon. This chapter is mostly discussion and revealing very little of the main plot, but more on the minor details. Hope you enjoy :)


Love Through Centuries
Chapter 6: Decisions and Preparations


~*~*~*~

Hotaru sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced around at the perplexed faces around her – and stifled a giggle. Serenity tilted her head to one side in confusion; long pink hair sprawled over her shoulders and down her back. Celis and Palus blinked, and suddenly looked thoughtful.

"That is possible…I mean, a sudden disturbance between three balanced worlds. Maybe something shifted between barriers…" Serenity mused out loud, drumming her fingers on the soft coverlet of the bed.

Celis turned to her princess. "But how is that possible? It was barely in the beginning of the Silver Millennium, Metallia was nowhere to be detected, so it couldn't have been her, right? The fact that Queen Serenity (in the power of the moon) was still alive and maintained absolute control over Ningenkai at the time…Plus Queen Saturn (in the destruction of Saturn) whom just created both Reikai and Meikai…I don't see how Hotaru-san could've 'shifted dimensions' through such a stable time in history".

Hotaru couldn't help but notice Celis' use of the olden formalities, but dismissed it as a thought, that perhaps they had taken to using it on a regular bases for Senshi of the Silver Alliance in the future.

"But does it really matter now?" Palus looked uncharacteristically serious, and all eyes turned to her. Her eyes danced merrily, albeit her face was an expression of sombreness. "It was almost four millennia ago. Yes, Hotaru-san met Youko Kurama-san in the past, and they…had quite a history together, but it's over and done with. What's important is the now, and the now is trying to prevent all out war between all the rulers slash Lords of Makai".

Hotaru smiled and nodded at Palus with approval. The blue haired woman beamed with silent pleasure. "Palus is right. We should probably concentrate on one thing first, before another. Now, we know that the three Makai Lords are Youko Kurama, Fire Demon Hiei, and the demon Yusuke".

"And the seven territorial rulers are extremely violent and will stop at no ends to get what they want", Celis finished.

"We need to come up with an agreement that will satisfy all parties of the Sovereign Summit. The land will have to be divided equally amongst the rulers, all will have equal power, and we'd definitely need someone trustworthy to enforce the rules once the meeting is over", Serenity said, ticking off each requirement with a slender finger.

"I see that you are quite knowledgeable in such areas, Chibi-Usa. Getting used to your future ruling of all of Ningenkai?" Hotaru said teasingly, smiling to show that she was merely joking.

Serenity smirked obnoxiously, breaking into a tiny laugh. "Why of course, my dear Hotaru, I must be informed of all this before I step up to take my throne".

"I say we suggest this during the first meeting. Tonight's the banquet though, I hardly think it appropriate that we bring this up".

"This meeting is tomorrow morning after teatime, at 1 a.m H.T. So we'll have to wake up bright and early!" Palus squealed, giggling insanely as she fell backwards onto the bed; it being large enough to hold her small body. Celis smiled at her sister's antics.

"We have teatime?"

Serenity couldn't help but muffle a smile behind her hand. "Actually, Hotaru-chan, yes we do. Demons that attend this meeting are quite civilized, and some have adapted to human ways since the Makai Lords took over. Did you know that Yusuke-san and Youko Kurama-san were previously human, many years ago?"

"Many many years ago?" Palus added with a large grin.

Hotaru shook her head, and sat back, stunned. How in the world was that possible? To be human once and converted to one with demon blood…It was different from the humans who had been converted into youma during their past senshi battles (and how long ago it had been), but their entire being was changed. She could feel it; there wasn't an ounce of human in them any longer. To be once human, and now demon…

"How?" she asked in a weak voice, frowning fiercely.

Celis suddenly looked concerned at her rather emotional reaction. "We're not sure. The Makai Lords keep their past concealed. No one knows what happened to them previously; except perhaps those that knew them during their human years. It's more of a rumor, really, that they were both human. No one really knows for sure, but the fact has been told since their earliest years of rule over Makai".

Hotaru nodded thoughtfully, and managed to control herself. "So…how would any of you know this?"

"Oh, history lessons! All four of us attend schooling just as Serenity-sama does. We're taught the history of all the worlds! It's fascinating, Hotaru-san! You simply can't imagine how much there is to learn of Makai; wars and feuding that rocked the very layer of the world and nearly destroyed it's entire existence on this plane. It's simply unbelievable!" Palus said in absolute delight, grinning so widely that all three of her companions were afraid her face would break.

Hotaru turned incredulous eyes towards her childhood friends. "History lessons; schooling! How unfair is that? We were never given such privileges…"

"Well, by the time I was ten the relationship between the worlds were much better then it used to be. This also allowed us to decide that all senshi should have a through education of the universe, so my mother and Puu took up the task of organizing a curriculum for us".

Hotaru pouted and sighed. "Lucky".

The three grinned at each other. Although they all respected Hotaru/Sailor Saturn immensely and she was practically their role model, it was nice to have her act jealous of something their time had and her time didn't. It meant that she was merely human as well, and was capable of submitting to human tendencies at times.

Tokei took this moment of silence between them to spontaneously appear in the centre of the room, without bothering to use the door. They all jumped when they heard her speak. "I am here merely to remind you that the time of the banquet and opening ceremony is near. If all of you will kindly dress into your appropriate outfits, I will be waiting outside to take you to the banquet hall".

"Ah…thank you, Tokei-san. We'll be right out", Hotaru said sheepishly, and Tokei smiled, and promptly disappeared as quickly as she had appeared, in a shower of green sparkling lights.

"Oooh, pretty!"

"Palus, calm down! We should probably go now – "

"Here", Serenity strode to the closet of the room and threw it open. There hung four neatly pressed dresses. Grabbing them, she threw them onto the bed in a haste to get dressed quickly and head down to the banquet. She was extremely eager to see what a 'grown-up party' would be like. (She had grown used to her mother's ball dances and those hardly applied as 'grown-up parties' anymore then her birthday parties did, though every year it would be a differently themed party bash)

Hotaru widened her eyes and leapt backwards from the bed, seeing her fellow senshi do the same. Her kimono hardly hindered her movement, she absently observed, surprised.

The dresses had not landed onto the bed as the law of gravity had permitted, but rather they disappeared in a swirl of colourless sparkles and followed them to the other end of the room. With wide eyes, Hotaru followed the sparkles' movement around her body, and felt them surround her. Before she could barely blink her eye, there were tiny flashes of light and she was dressed and done up fancily from head to toe.

Serenity blinked, and grinned widely in surprise. "Now isn't this rather convenient!"

She was dressed in a long pearly white flowing gown, a gold studded collar high around her neck and totally sleeveless. Gold bangles adorned her wrist and thin gold bands on her fingers. Her hair was not in her usual style, but piled on top of her head, with tendrils falling prettily beside her face. She had the smallest of make-up, her natural blush showing through with a tinge of frosty pink on her lips and light pale blue over her eyelids to accent her eyes.

Celis held back a gasp of shock. She was immediately dressed in a dress of pale yellow. It was low cut and ended two inches below her collarbone. The sleeves were long and flowing, covering nearly the tips of her fingers. It was tight around her hips, and flared out into a skirt that was covered with white lace and ended an inch above her knee. A handkerchief was tied around her neck so that her upper body didn't seem to be lacking. Her hair was gathered into two large French braids and clipped to the back of her head so it formed two hoops. A flower of the same colour as her dress was slipped behind her ear, finishing the rather 'natural' look.

The blue haired woman next to her was not as surprised. With a giggle of childish delight, Palus twirled around on the spot, laughing as her shimmering grey skirt swirled out around her. Her dress was a collarless top, going around her shoulders and dipping below her collarbone. Although, her 'dress' was more of a top then anything; she had shorts underneath the layers of sash tied intricately around her waist and falling lightly to her knees. She wore large metallic anklets and bracelets, giving her a childish but definitely reckless image. Blue hair fell freely to her waist, with tiny braids weaved amongst the strands.

Hotaru grimaced and frowned darkly, glaring down at the outfit the people of the Sovereign Summit had decided to sic her in. It was a long dress that clung to her body, long slits running up her legs to her knees. Thin black straps held up the top, and black fishnet covered her upper chest. Her hair was pinned back into a small bun at the back of her head, several silver hair ornaments clipped to the side of her head and a long stick adorned with crystals settled into her bun.

"You know, how come the three of you don't have your own sorceresses or guards following you?" Hotaru asked absentmindedly, heading into the bathroom to look at her reflection.

"They're not too sure of us", Serenity began, already in the bathroom and standing in front of the mirror, tugging at the strands of hair hanging beside her face. "Or at least, they're not too sure of what to make of us. We're from Ningenkai after all, and since almost everyone knows Yusuke-san and Youko Kurama-san were humans…well, look how powerful they are now. You could say that demons are…suspicious of us. And it's well known that my mother is currently ruling Ningenkai, and that I am still six years old at the time. I'm just posing as her representative right now; you can imagine how shocked everyone here is. It's rumoured though, I think, that I'm her sister. It should've been known by everyone, don't you think, that the all powerful Neo Queen Serenity had a sister?"

"And that's why the guards were sent to follow us in secret. I suppose we'd have to depend on Tokei-san to lead us around. I don't think the guards will appear anytime soon", Celis added.

"So…they are unsure of your full abilities".

"And we are being watched constantly. We can't even get around here without at least two guards at our heels. You have a much better chance of moving around, Hotaru-chan, because everyone thinks you're just an unimportant ferrygirl".

"And what a relief that is".

Hotaru blinked, and suddenly looked down at her neck thoughtfully. Her broach hung on its silver chain around her neck. Biting her lip, she waved her hand in the air for a second and a necklace appeared. It dropped onto her hand and she caught it; quickly replacing her broach with the necklace and sending her broach into her space pocket instead.

The door automatically opened and Tokei stepped in, gesturing them to head out. They followed and the door shut with a silent click. It was nighttime; the ceiling was crystal and displayed the night sky since they were on the tallest floor.

They were silent as they walked down the hall, glancing between themselves in curiosity as to what to do next. This was an important night before the meetings started the next day.

Tokei suddenly stopped, causing Celis to halt in her step and Palus to bump rather dumbly into the back of her older sister.

"Ow, Celis!"

The brown haired woman ignored the exclamation, instead opted to turn around and explain before they went further. She could tell that these four were terribly uninformed of the situation here at the Sovereign Summit. She regarded each of them with critical eyes. They were young; Hotaru was only 16, with the rest 14, and she was still unsure of the youngest blue haired girl. She couldn't possibly imagine how the four would manage in a place like this.

"Before we head to the banquet hall, I do hope the four of you know what you're doing", she said, carefully choosing her words.

Serenity stared blankly at her in confusion. Celis and Palus looked at each other perplexedly, and Hotaru eventually stepped up.

She smiled politely and nodded. "I was extremely well informed by my superiors. We know that the Sovereign Summit is a dangerous place, but relatively the safest place in all of Makai. But as you should know, Tokei-san, we are not here to give comment. We are merely here to observe".

"And it's unlikely that we'd cause much trouble, if that's what you're worried about", Celis piped up, eyes glowing with experience. "We're not those that can be manipulated easily; others will certainly keep out of our way seeing as who we're representing".

At that, Tokei nodded in acknowledgement. Neo Queen Serenity was rumoured to be one of the most powerful in all three worlds. It was said that her power rivalled those of Enma Daioh the First, the first king of Reikai whose power had been unimaginable.

Of course, her senshi knew better. Neo Queen Serenity's power far exceeded the ancient king; for wasn't it one of her very own senshi's mother who had created Reikai in its very beginnings?

"What we're trying to say is, Tokei-chan, is that you don't have to worry about us! We'll be really really good while we're guests here", Palus chirped, but her eyes turned dead serious and her smile dropped from her face. "Unless one threatens us to break the rules first".

Tokei blinked in surprise. Suddenly, she saw these girls in an entirely new light. They were much more mature then they seemed; older then they looked. She felt that her knowledge of their current identity was far from what they actually were.

She felt that they; three of Ningenkai and one of Reikai, exceeded beyond her very expectations.

She smiled, all doubts wiped from her mind. "Well then, you four have successfully reassured me. Now, please stand in a circle around me and lock your hands together".

They did as they were told and Hotaru grinned at Serenity, who did the same. They were reminded of all the times the senshi had had to do the exact same thing while combining their powers to give their princess now Queen power to defeat their enemy.

Tokei closed her eyes and held her hands together in a praying like position in front of her. A green glow surrounded them, and she muttered something quietly under her breath. Soon, they were gone.


~*~*~*~


"Jen! Jen, wait!"

Botan sighed as the cat demon once again escaped her tight grasp on his shoulder. He bolted off, leaving her standing in the middle of the nearly empty banquet hall. It wasn't that she didn't share his excitement for tonight's events; she had attended the same banquet every five years. It was a lot of fun and half the guests would end up so stoned by alcohol (and any type of alcoholic beverage served in the Makai were as alcoholic as one could get it to be) that it was an ideal time to worm information out of them.

She merely felt undeniably anxious, that was all. Perhaps it was a sixth sense of some kind. She didn't feel right; something was going to happen tonight, and she probably wouldn't enjoy the surprise of it.

She finally caught up with Jenaka, panting heavily and having difficulty keeping a glare in her eyes directed at the enthusiastically grinning face. She sighed again and straightened up, noticing that her dress (dark navy with a low cut collar and a long skirt to her ankles that swished whenever she walked; adorned with beautiful and probably insanely expensive sapphires) barely had a wrinkle on it. Nevertheless, she brushed the non-existent dust from the bodice and frowned down at Jen.

"I told you to stay put, you young rascal", she said, beginning a long lecture that she knew would be cut short. She really did have a soft spot for the cat demon.

He pouted, and an emerald eye flicked shut. He stuck a tongue out at her. "Mother says I'm allowed to travel freely around the place as long as I don't cause trouble".

She placed clenched fists on her hips and stared down at his innocently grinning face. "And I suppose running around and causing trouble for the guards while they're decorating the banquet hall isn't 'causing trouble'?"

"Nope".

Botan blinked, and had to cover her mouth to stop a giggle from escaping, lest it encouraged him. "You know that wasn't what Namir meant, Jen. Anyhow, you should be old enough to think for your self. You are nearly six hundred years old".

Jen pouted. "Don't remind me of my age, Botan-chan. It brings back bad memories".

She held back a gasp in surprise and suddenly looked extremely apologetic. "I'm sorry Jen", she said, looking sad all of a sudden.

Jen nodded and looked away, turning his back to her as he observed the going ons in the room. Suddenly, he was the epitome of seriousness. Perhaps he was weary; he knew age would never affect him for many many ages to come. More of a curse then a blessing, however.

As he watched the guards milling around the place, casting their magic over the decorations and lighting up the candles on the chandeliers that rose hundreds of feet above them, he felt his mind wander back to the one that had captured his attention so completely.

Hotaru, the new ferrygirl that had arrived with Koenma and Botan to the Sovereign Summit. She was a figure shrouded in mystery; for he knew almost everyone that resided in the Reikai and in all his years that he had known the two, he had never heard of someone named Tomoe Hotaru.

She was beautiful of course; because he had seen enough beauty in his life to recognize it from far off. She was beautiful outside and within; black hair as dark as the night skies and skin so pale and violet orbs filled with secrets piled upon one after another. She was also of the darkness; he could tell she was really one with them. It piqued his curiosity of course; someone new and unusual had come into play and strange as it seemed, he couldn't wait to play with her.

He wondered how long it would take to break someone like her; someone who seemed to have an undeniable strength; determination shining quite clearly in those eyes and a firm will set deep within her.

But there was also something about her that he didn't know. She was different; or at least, wasn't what she truly was. He disliked not knowing everything about one single person; and because of that, she was dangerous. She was unpredictable; of she proved to be a threat…He could very gladly kill her.

No one would stand in his way once everything had been set in place, no matter how entertaining she would prove to be.

"Jen?"

He whirled around and plastered a large smile on his face. "Yes, Botan-chan? Sorry, I drifted off a bit there".

She smiled, deep pink eyes softening as she knelt down until she was eye level to him. "You do know that it's over, Jen? No one will hurt you again; he's gone and I won't let him come back. You know they won't either. I'll protect you no matter what", she said, earnest.

He nodded and dropped his smile. He didn't need to pretend in front of her. Because Botan was someone who understood.


~*~*~*~

TBC