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Raising her head a little, Setsuna saw Mamoru's eyes dart to the window with concern. He checked his watch, tapped his fingers against his knee, and finally stood up.
"I'm going after Usako. You stay here, and see if you can't come up with something better than speaking with that thing."
"Mamoru, wait!"
He looked at her in surprise as she leapt up, grabbing his wrist. "Nani?"
"Well, it's just that… the sun is going down! You shouldn't go out." Setsuna tightened her grip. "It could be dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt."
"But if I don't go, Usako might get hurt!"
"Usagi doesn't like the dark. I'm sure she's already inside," she said, trying to comfort him, and to keep him close.
"But if she was serious about speaking with the Creature-"
"Don't be silly," Setsuna interrupted harshly. "She would be too afraid to do so alone."
"Not if she thought it was the best thing to do," Mamoru argued. "She would walk right into hell if she thought it might help."
"What a fool."
Mamoru frowned at Setsuna. "I beg your pardon?"
"Who in their right mind would trust that foul beast?" Setsuna shook her head with disgust. "If she's killed, it will serve her right. It might even be for the best."
"What are you saying?" Mamoru tried to jerk his arm from her, but she held on tighter.
"Do you ever think about the future, Mamoru?"
"The future?"
"Crystal Tokyo. Small Lady." Setsuna moved closer to him. "When you will be king."
"Hai, I've thought about it. Of course I've thought about it. But, it all seems so distant." He looked away from her again, towards the window. "I don't have time for this, Setsuna! I have to go find Usako!"
"What do you see, when you think of the future?" Setsuna persisted. "Do you see yourself happy with her?"
"With Usako?" Mamoru asked. "Of course I do!"
"How can you?" she demanded, pulling him until they stood face to face, barely an inch apart. "How can you see yourself happy with her? You're so smart, Mamoru, so good and gentle and handsome… Why is it her?"
"I don't understand you," Mamoru said. "You know why I'm going to marry Usako. Because I'm in love with her."
"But why? Why do you love her?" Setsuna raised her other hand to touch his face. "If you had met me first, could you have loved me?"
His expression flashed from confusion to shock. "Setsuna! Are you hearing yourself? What are you saying?"
"I love you."
He reeled back, blue eyes widening in shock. "Nani?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"I love you. I loved you before you ever met her. I have loved you for over a thousand years, and I will love you for a thousand years more." She closed the space between them again, looking hard into his eyes. "I've never said anything because of her. But things have changed so much in the last few days, the time line has been warped almost out of recognition by the Abyss, the Creature, and the Shitennou. So, maybe, things are supposed to change. Maybe this is my chance."
"Your chance?" He shook his head slowly. "Setsuna, many things have changed, but I still love-"
"IIE!"
She pushed him backwards as hard as she could. He fell onto the couch, staring up at her with alarm.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"No, my love," Setsuna swore, "only I am listening to my heart for once. You will not accept the fact that we are more destined for one another than you and she?"
"Of course not!"
"That is… too bad."
"Pluto, what are you thinking?"
She shrugged simply. "You will not think of me while she is there to cloud your thoughts, so I will remove the obstacle."
Mamoru started up in alarm. "What does that mean?"
"Don't trouble yourself," she told him gently. "She will be gone from our lives soon, and then we two will be together, with our daughter. I will step into her place, and rule with wisdom, not just a weak heart."
"Setsuna, what do you think…?" He looked at her, his eyes suddenly wary. "The Abyss."
"Do not worry," Setsuna told him, turning away. "I will take care of her as gently as I can. I really do love her, you know."
"You are not leaving this apartment!" he shouted. "I won't let you, or anyone else, hurt her!"
Setsuna spun back around, smashing the heavy book into the side of his face. Mamoru did not even have a chance to cry out. He slumped, unconscious, to the floor.
She knelt beside him, and whispered in his ear. "Forgive me, Endymion. Please know that everything I do is for you, and for the world. She is too dangerous to be allowed to live. I must do this, for everyone's sake."
"Setsuna! Mamoru! What on Earth happened?"
Luna and Artemis appeared from the bedroom, where they had been indulging in a catnap.
"Nothing to worry about," Setsuna promised, brushing Mamoru's hair from his forehead. "Nothing at all. Stay here and watch over him for me, will you?"
She stood, and started for the door. Luna looked from Mamoru to the heavy book, then to Artemis with a grave expression.
"Setsuna, where are you going?"
"To find the princess."