Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story but the idea and the title.

A/N: We're nearing the end, folks, and things are going to get worse before they get better. Thanks go to Lokileysmith, who has a great appreciation for the art of subtlety,carcaptoreternity, for all the support, Lysia Croft, if you stick out the darkness I think the end will make you happy you did, and, of course, my girl aiisha for being my sounding board and support. Just a hint: everyone read close in the next few chapters. I have not made pronoun mistakes, the metaphors are meaningful, and Hotaru lets a couple things slip. This chapter is done from the point of view of the Abyss inside Hotaru, so I hope it isn't too confusing. (Wow, that was a long author's note.)

"AH!"

The blue-haired girl wavered on the very edge of the counter, arms pinwheeling wildly. For a moment gravity won, and she began to fall backwards. Small, childish lips turned up in a smile. The floor was hard. Her blue head might crack, and spill all that delicious red across the glaringly white tile.

And I can drink deep…

"Gotcha!"

The tall, powerful thunder warrior lunged across the room, arms out. The smile turned into a sneer as the child of water tumbled painlessly into her friend's arms.

"Ami! Are you alright?"

Fire and passion scurried across the room to hover over the unfortunately uninjured one with sickening concern.

"Hehe! I'm okay! Arigato, Mako-chan!"

Voices from the living room made the child's head turn quickly. The five men were sitting together, talking casually. The bonds between them were growing stronger every time one made the others laugh.

Something would have to be done.

The female lovers were sitting on opposite ends of the room, fragile ocean refusing to look away from the Time Keeper, whom she was talking to The wind soldier kept staring at her with a worried frown. As enjoyable as their torment was, that game would have to be finished before it could be truly savored.

The Time Keeper spoke halfheartedly to her companion, her garnet eyes straying more often than not to her beloved prince. Envy, lust, and disappointment should have made her an easier target. She should have buckled, thrown loyalty to the wind, and rushed to destroy the one who stood in the way of her happiness. Instead, it had taken every ounce of persuasion to convince her it was an act of mercy.

They are a strong willed lot, aren't they?

She came from the other room with a little smile on her face, and she made the child's mouth water. Blue eyes so clear, face so gentle, everything so pure. She was the reason the others were being so damned difficult! She would not give in to envy, hate, fear, despair… All the usual weapons melted on contact with that gentle gaze.

But even stars fell to darkness in the end, and through their death throes, the Abyss could draw everything, screaming, into its ravenous jaws.

Only two things could prevent it from doing so here. These soldiers, and the one that had escaped. But the Abyss could control the escaped through terror, and these thirteen would be powerless without each other. The fools did not even know they had already lost one of their own.

So, all that needed to be done was rend their little family apart, and shred their tender feelings. Unfortunately time was of the essence. If they discovered the deception or, somehow, how to restore order, this delectable treat called Earth might be snatched from the Abyss. The child, now nothing but an extension of the darkness, would have to work fast.

"Hotaru! Will you help us carry the tea into the other room, please?"

Golden passion stood with a friendly smile just behind her. Violet eyes had to be fixed into an innocent expression, and the child's own smile had to become something kind. Kindness was not the Abyss' forte, but it could make a passable attempt if necessary.

"Of course, Minako!"

She followed the taller form back into the kitchen, and relished the stupidity with which these succulent fools gave her an opportunity.

"What are the boys all talking about?" blue water asked, counting the cups on the tray.

Red fire laughed, handing her two more. "We're probably happiest not knowing."

"Is that the way with boys?" the child asked naively.

"Sometimes," green thunder told her, giggling. "Sometimes boys just need to be away from us girls. Its good Mamoru finally has someone to talk to, you know?"

"Everyone seems so happy!" the child noted, forcing a giggle. "Is this what it used to be like?"

"You mean, in the Silver Millennium?" Water paused, gazing blindly at the cup in her hand. "Hai. For a little while."

"It was all so sudden," passion added, smiling with a little sadness. "We all just tumbled into each others' lives, and then…"

"It was all over," thunder finished softly.

"But when we were in love," fire whispered, "it was so very, very sweet."

The child touched passion's hand, looking around at all the others. They were poised in their poignant memories, sorrow and joy rivaling for their hearts. Now, to remind them of what had gone wrong.

"It must have been very hard when they…"

All four paused, smiles fading. The sorrow, the pain, her most potent weapons, came so easily. Emerald green eyes flashed with the despair of abandonment. Flaming purple eyes glowed with the rage of betrayal. Longing flowed into liquid cerulean eyes, quivering with tears. Brilliant blue dimmed with loneliness.

"It hurt, didn't it? How could they? They betrayed you, razed your palace and burned your loved ones to ashes. All the beauty, all the joy, everything you shared, gone in a bath of blood, as though it meant nothing to them."

"It wasn't-"

She cut water off quickly. "They fell so easily to evil's urging. Shouldn't their love have strengthened them? Shouldn't you have been the one to hold their hearts?

"They slipped through your fingers, leaving only a bloodstain and a tattered heart in their wake."

Her stare caught the burning gaze, held it. "Why should you forgive him?"

The lightning eyes tried to pull away, only to be trapped viciously. "Why should you care what happens to him?"

Cerulean eyes soaked up her words. "Why should you trust him?"

Blue eyes wavered. "Why should you believe in him?"

She had them, all of them.

"Why should you lo-"

"Hey, ladies! Everything okay in here?"

Four heads jerked, and the spell was broken.

Rage threatened to rip the tiny body to bits, but she stood perfectly still, reining it back under control. She even managed a smile as she turned to the interfering prince, never letting him guess she wanted to rend him limb from limb.

"Hai, Mamoru-san. Everything is fine."

"Alright. Do you need any help?"

"Anoi…iie," fire managed, shaking her head. "We were just… talking?"

"We're coming," passion said.

The tray was carried out and placed onto the table, and seats were found. The four disposed themselves onto a couch, their ignorant men giving way to their comfort. Passion's icy haired admirer perched on the arm beside her, and fire's smiling devotee placed himself in a similar position beside her. The other two chose spots on the floor at their ladies' feet. The Time Keeper and ocean sat together in one chair, wind glowering as she chose a corner of the table. The princess alighted beside her prince in the other chair, and the two cats leapt up beside the tea things.

She smiled, and sat back to watch the fun.