Whew...Sooooo close. SOOOOO close. We are very nearly almost at the end! Exciting, huh? Keep reading!
"It's...it's over?" Shun asked, looking at the smoke where to sorceress had splintered into dust. Shiryu nodded in a relieved sort of way.
"They did it. The souls of Seiya, Hyoga, Makoto and Minako were able to destroy her."
"It has a nice sort of irony to it, hmm?" Hotaru mused thoughtfully. Shun sighed, and tugged on a strand of hair.
"I'm just glad it's over! Hey...I betcha Tatsumi locked Saori in a closet!" Ikki smirked.
"I bet you Tatsumi locked himself in the closet with Saori." Before Shun could voice how disturbing he found this comment, a weak voice drifted over.
"Okay...why am I wearing a nightdress?" Everyone looked over as Minako looked around her in a contemplative sort of way. I'd also like to know how I got out here, too."
"Minako!" Usagi shrieked, throwing herself into the blonde's arms.
"Usagi!" she exclaimed just as happily. "Have I been away or something?"
"Something like it!" replied Usagi. Sailor Uranus sighed, and rubbed her forehead.
"Birds of a feather," she muttered. The three Soul Eaters approached. They were all grimacing, and the tall silver man had to support the smaller woman.
"Thank you," whispered Gyakusetsu, her hand pressed to her heart. "Now we have a chance to have a soul. And you destroyed her..." Shun looked at the apparently young woman slumped against the man's side.
"Is she...is she going to be okay?" he inquired. The man nodded wearily.
"She just can't handle the soul. As a matter of fact, they're all ready to go home." He smiled ruefully. "Thanks again. And sorry about this whole mess."
"We understand," Shiryu conceded.
"Wait!" Minako looked at them desperately. "What will happen to you? Circe is gone!" Gyakusetsu smiled tenderly and patted Minako's shoulder.
"We'll be destroyed of course," she replied. "But, we'll have another chance at life. We won't be tethered permanently to Circe."
They all stepped back, and exchanged glances, for they knew that they might never see each other again.
"Good luck," whispered Minako. And the three souls appeared, the Soul Eaters falling to the ground simultaneously. The souls hovered for a moment, before hurtling off into the sky, and streaking over their heads.
The Soul Eaters lay on the ground, and slowly, they crumbled.
"Blood and ashes," murmured Sailor Uranus, and three piles of ash were created as three creatures were destroyed.
"I wish we could've done more," Hotaru said mournfully.
"We did all that we could," Shiryu replied. Shun felt a small twinge in the energy around Haruka, and a soft, cool breeze sifted about them, carrying the ashes away with it.
"You know what?" Mars asked after a heavy silent. "I think they did die after all."