"Sailor Angel and Sailor Phosphora – The Fight Against Catastrophe"

Chapter Twenty Seven

By Angel Sentier and M'Lila Cronk

From there, relations between the senshi were pretty much back to normal. Except that Celeste kept apologizing to everyone. Except that her and Yuki were all lovey-dovey towards each other. Except that Seiya kept smiling at Zara. Except that Zara kept whacking Seiya each time he did so. Except that Minako couldn't stop giggling as she watched them.

So, all in all... Things weren't completely back to normal... but they were close enough.

After teleporting back to Earth, the senshi gathered at the Temple to regroup. Both cats smiled at the reformed Celeste before getting down to business.

"Luna and I have been debating on the best course of action," said Artemis. "It seems stupid to wait for Catastrophe to come and attack us, letting him pick the time and place."

"But at the same time," continued Luna. "It makes no sense to stage an ambush in his dimension. We've already done it, so he might be expecting it, and therefore would have strengthened or sealed the rifts. Besides, trying to fight on his turf is suicide."

"But they've done it before," argued Artemis. "With Beryl, with the Doom Tree, with Galaxia... With pretty much every villain! And they've always come out on top."

"This villain is a lot stronger!" Luna countered. "And we know less about this dimension than any other."

The senshi sighed as the cats went on. Apparently, this had been going on for some time while they were gone. Everyone looked to Mamoru, who complied with a sharp whistle once again which stopped the bickering.

"May I suggest something?" asked Zara.

"By all means," said Artemis. "This is getting us no where."

"Why don't we challenge him on neutral territory?" she said. "Winner takes all. He wouldn't be able to resist that. Since neither of us would have a distinct advantage, it seems like the best course of action to me."

"There's still a good chance we'd lose," said Luna and the sentiment was echoed by a few other senshi.

"There's a good chance we'd lose if we fought it out here, too," said Zara. "And if we're somewhere else, we wouldn't have to worry about any stray Earth people getting hurt or in the way."

The two cats glanced at each other. "It does sound like the best choice," said Artemis. "But how will we issue the challenge?"

Yuki looked to Ami. "Working with what Artemis already developed and the data I know you collected on Celeste, could you find a way to get a message across?"

Ami did some mental calculations, then nodded. "I believe so."

"And where will we have this epic battle?" asked Luna.

"The Galaxy Cauldron," said Celeste, immediately. "It seems only fitting that this should end where it all began."

The cats nodded. "Tomorrow, then," said Artemis. "Ami and I will get the message across tonight."

The senshi looked at one another. Twenty-four hours to possible oblivion.

"Mamo-chan," whimpered Usagi, tugging at her boyfriend's sleeve.

"What is it, Usako?" he asked, leaning down.

"Please buy me an ice cream!"

He chuckled and wrapped an arm around his little bunny. They walked out into the cloudless night together as the others waved goodnight to them.

"It's so like Usagi-chan to ask for food at a time like this," said Rei.

"You mean, a last meal," said Haruka. "I think it's rather smart of her to ask for what brings her pleasure when it's possible that she won't be able to have it again."

"Speaking of pleasure," said Michiru, who now tugged at Haruka's sleeve. The racer flushed as the two of them waved goodbye to the others and departed in their car.

One by one and in small groups, the senshi dispersed. Celeste and Yuki walked off together, saying they wanted to make the most of the time they had together as too much had been wasted already; Makoto said she had a few phone calls to make to guys she'd been meaning to talk to; Setsuna and Hotaru left for the 30th century for a little while, since the people they wanted to see didn't exist yet; and the Warrior senshi all took off together to see a little of the planet they'd been on so briefly.

Taiki looked around. "Where are Yaten and Seiya?"

"Yaten and Minako are spying on Seiya and Zara," said Rei, who had watched the second two go outside just a few seconds prior.

Taiki sighed.

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"Why'd you bring me out here?" asked Seiya. Blossoms from the sakura trees nearby drifted lazily to the ground as the wind gently blew through the Temple's back courtyard.

Zara turned away from him and clasped her hands behind her back. The wind lightly tossed her hair as she looked up at the trees. "Do you know why sakura blossoms are pink?" she asked.

"That's what you brought me out here for?"

"Just tell me if you know, jerk."

He smiled. "No, I don't, but I have a feeling you're going to tell me."

"It's because of the blood of the people buried beneath them. They say in the afterlife, sakura trees bloom all year round."

"How do you know all that?"

"I read a lot of manga." She looked over her shoulder at him. "Come here." He walked toward her and she turned to him, putting her hands on her hips. "I've been thinking about what you said to me the other night. And I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't at least attracted to you. God knows why, since you're such a self-centered conceited jerk..."

"Please, the flattery will go to my head," he said, dryly.

She rolled her eyes. "The point is... I know you said you wanted a kiss if we survived all this... but I want to kiss you now."

He blinked. "Why the sudden decision? Not that I'm complaining."

She blushed lightly. "Because I don't want our first mutual kiss to be as one of us is dying."

"Sounds good to me."

"Then, kiss me."

He laughed softly, shaking his head as he gathered her in his arms. "Yes, ma'am."

As Seiya's head lowered to Zara's, Minako, watching from a window, glanced at the silver-haired young man next to her.

"She's right," she whispered.

"Huh?" Yaten whispered back.

She grabbed the Starlight by his shoulders and planted a big one right on his stunned lips.

Rei and Taiki, who had been watching them to make sure they didn't do anything stupid, then looked at each other... and sweatdropped.

'I don't think so,' both thought as they glanced away.

To be continued...