Romance and Dreams: Here and Now
By Catrina
Okay so here is chapter three…picks up right where chapter two left off. Chapter Four should be up shortly, and like I said, these are still under revision. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY.
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He heard the battle the screams, but everything that Yaten knew was that he was holding a hurt Minako. After the others had run up the escape she had started to glow and he thought that she was dying like she did for him, against Galaxia, but no her sailor fuku disappeared leaving her looking like any normal girl. She had no broken bones, but she was still unconscious, so he had powered down, hoping not to catch attention, but right now he was standing over her picking up her fragile body. Her blond hair brushed against the skin on his arm and almost made him shiver. He looked up as he saw the others coming down the stairs. Seiya was coming down right after Rei who was in front and then Taiki was in the back helping Ami down step, by step. Minako's head was laying against his shoulder her arms dangling down, her face tucked into his shoulder.
"Is she okay?" Rei asked rushing to him.
"As soon as she wakes up."
"Here, let me please." Ami said as she limped over to him with Taiki's help. She looked over her, noticing that the only real damage was to the back of her head where she hit it. "She'll be fine. She can stay at my apartment tonight. I can watch her."
"Ami-chan, you can't watch her by yourself." Taiki observed. He smiled when he saw the rose blush cover her cheeks.
"I'll stay with her." Yaten told them. Ami nodded saying that they both could stay with her.
"My mom is still gone." The others nodded. "Wait I think that she is waking up."
Minako wanted to close her eyes again. The dark was a lot more comfortable. She pulled her arms up, they were starting to tingle, and put them around whomever was holding her, she wasn't sure yet, but it felt familiar. She tucked in closer and realized that it hurt when she did. A moan escaped her dry lips as the pain tingled through the rest of her body. "Oh my god" she muttered
"Minako?" She looked up to look into Yaten's green eyes. "How do you feel?"
"Like I just hit a building." The others laughed at her statement. "Ami what happened to you?" She asked noticing her friend hanging on to Taiki.
"I fell off the building…Taiki caught me." Minako smiled and winked, causing Ami to blush.
"You can let me down now, Yaten-kun." She told him softly. So he put her feet on the ground and supported her as she got her footing. Minako was grateful that he was in a nice mood; at least he didn't drop her.
"You're staying with me tonight." Ami told her. She nodded.
"Another sleep over?" Ami nodded. Minako smiled again, but it still hurt. Then her eyes fell to that back of the crowd.
"What the hell?" She asked under her breath. Yaten saw her line of vision and helped her walk over to them. They looked different, dressed in normal clothes, well over their 18 years and, they looked different. That was when she felt it. Love…coming off these two. She looked to Rei and Makoto who were staying far away. "They helped?" She asked confused by all the conflicting things in her head. The lights nodded to her, others still confused. The two generals now in normal clothes looked at her confused waiting for whatever would happen next. They knew Sailor Venus; they didn't know this girl who was standing in front of them now. "Rei?" She asked looking over to her raven-haired friend. The petite girl walked up to stand by her side.
"No, I don't feel it." She told her anticipating the question. "But he shielded it from me before."
"Not from me." Minako said remembering the past.
"Okay, lets just talk about us like we are not here standing on front of you. Hello, we are here, ya know." Jed said rolling his eyes heaven ward.
"That's the problem." Rei said her purple eyes flashing to the light-haired man who was studying her.
"I healed them." Yaten said stopping the conversation. "Ya know, Sailor Star Healer." He said accenting the word HEALER.
"No I won't let them back, last time we did they killed us. NO never again." Rei said she turned and ended the conversation by walking away.
"Rei wait." Jed said.
"No let her go." Usagi said. "I'll talk to her." She handed him a key. "Why don't you go and stay in Mamo-chan's apartment, he won't mind."
"Thank you for your generosity, by the way, names Nathan, and this is Jed.." Nathan said looking the group over.
"I know we don't deserve it, your generosity." Jed said, still looking where Rei had disappeared.
"You still have forgiveness to earn." Mako-chan said looking to them and then following to where Rei had went. They nodded and not wanting to push themselves on the scouts they left and headed in the wrong way.
"Hey, the apartment is that way." Usagi yelled laughing. "Two blocks then a left. Tsanmi Apartments number 21." They nodded then went on their way. She looked over to where Ami and Minako still stood. "I'll come by and see you after I talk to Rei-chan, I'm worried about her and Mako-chan." She watched as Seiya went along with them, Taiki and Yaten got sick about ten feet of going so slow, so they picked up the girls and then faded out of site.
"A traitorous love is hard to forgive." Usagi jumped surprised to see Pluto was still there. "They will have to work on their own to get through it Princess, but let them know that they have a friend in you. That will get them through."
"Pluto, the future we saw…"
"Has changed, greatly, but you Princess are still the Queen."
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked.
"No, you are not together, but remember the Future is never set in stone."
"Thanks Pluto." Usagi smiled as she shimmered away and then chased after her friends. When Pluto arrived at the gates of time Mamoru was already there.
"King…Mamoru-san, why are you here?"
"Because I don't think that I belong anywhere else right now." She smiled, it was the first time he had ever seen her smile and it made his heart weak. "May I join you?"
"Of course." Her smile faded as she looked around and he realized right then and there that he would do anything to get her to smile again. I could fall for her he noticed, and hoped that Usagi would understand, because now everything had changed.
00-00-00-00
"Rei, Mako-chan!" Usagi yelled as she walked up to the entrance to the temple.
"Usagi, over here." Mako-chan yelled receiving an evil glare from Rei.
"I don't understand." Usagi started, "but give them a chance, Pluto said we need them, plus Healer healed them, said that…well I was confused, so may be you should ask him for sure." Usagi finished scratching her head.
"You don't understand Usagi-chan, I remember thinking that he loved me before he killed me, then a dagger I gave him was stabbed into my back. You are too kind hearted Usagi, you would forgive anything, me I'm different."
"I think you should talk to him. He is at Mamo-chan's apartment." She told him softly.
"I don't want to hear excuses." Mako-chan said finally expressing her anger, "why are they even alive?" She asked.
"I don't know but…I don't want to see him." Rei told her.
"Are you still in love?" Usagi asked.
"NO…I don't know." Rei told her honestly. Usagi then looked to Makoto.
"I felt so safe when he saved me I felt so loved and warm, but most of all safer than I have ever felt."
"I just don't know." Rei said confused. Usagi walked over to her and took her in her arms then walked over and embraced the taller one.
"I may not understand, guys, but I can still listen." She told her friends.
"Thanks, but I want to be alone tonight." Rei told her. "Usagi, have you forgiven them?" She asked and when Usagi nodded she smiled at them and then walked into the temple.
"Mako-chan?" she asked.
"I need to think, but thanks Usagi." She said smiling at her friend. Then she turned and walked into the night. Not exactly knowing where she was going. Usagi turned decided to let them think over night and check on them tomorrow. She turned and headed towards Ami's apartment.
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"So why do hate them so much?" Yaten asked as they set the girls down on Ami's couch to patch them up.
"They tried to kill us many times." Ami said slowly. "When I was first awakened they were the enemy. We fought many times. Thought I must say that Nephrite was much less evil than Jadeite. He died for a love, Naru."
"Minako-chan you don't seem as upset."
"I was still fighting in England at the time. I came in to save them from Kunzite and Zoisite. They never tried to kill me." She said simply and winced when Yaten put antiseptic on the back of her head where she was slightly bleeding. "Ow that hurt, baka."
"Hey!" Yaten yelled insulted. Ami winced as Taiki cleaned her cuts and put patches over the large ones. She still couldn't make eye contact, something had happened when he had saved her and she wasn't ready to see what it was. Seiya stared out the window confused.
"Tell us about your past?" He asked softly.
"I can tell you, I was awakened first." Usagi said as she walked in closing the door behind her. She looked so serious that it was almost frightening. "I met a cat, you remember, Luna, she's with Artemis and Minako's house, well it started when I found her one day…"
00-00-00-00
Jed was sound asleep on the bed in the other room, but Nathan, no. He had just gotten out of the shower his long hair was still wet and he didn't put his shirt back on. He was waiting to fall asleep, but he was wide-awake surfing the channels, even thought he wasn't even really thinking about the TV. It was her. In his past life all it had ever been was her. Her hair had almost been pink sometime on the moon, but now it was dark brown, with red highlights, that caught on fire, when the moon had shone down on them tonight. It had felt familiar to catch her body against his, the way she looked up at him whispering his name had been right, familiar. It reminded him of dancing with her on the moon. He didn't really remember killing her, it was more like he watched as an evil clone killed the one he loved. Everything was strange, now, he used to have a normal life, but now it wasn't. The knock on the door snapped him out of his stupor, he answered the door, surprised to see Makoto standing there.
"I don't know why I'm here." She said looking at him with green eyes brimming of confusion. He nodded not really knowing what to say. "Why did you kill me?" She asked bluntly. He shrugged his shoulders, trying to come up with something to say.
"Well…I don't know." He told her honestly. He looked around the apartment about to let her in, then remembered Jed. "Do you want to go on a walk?" She nodded confused, she was tired, but she wanted to know. He turned the TV off, got a shirt and slipped it over his chest. Makoto stood at the door waiting, refusing to give any reaction to him, before she could understand, even though she had admired muscular chest when he opened the door. "Let's go," he said grabbing the key and locking the door behind him. The walked silently before he decided to start in on the story, "Well, It was the day before the Masquerade ball and the prince and Kunzite came to us. So we left with them think that we were going to do nothing but train in the forest like we had done before but we rode long than normal and when we stopped there was a woman waiting there for us."
"Beryl." Makoto caught on.
"Yes, well the prince talked to her, with Kunzite and Zoisite, leaving Jadeite and my self out. She and the prince shook hands, and we realized that they had made a deal. That was when we started to get a bad feeling, but we just shook it off, our prince wasn't evil. We were led down a hill where there was a small army, that was when we figured it out, but the others must have guessed our actions, we were handcuffed and forced to follow. Then when it came down to it we were given a choice, to give up our star seeds," he said still not really knowing what it meant, "or have them taken. I gave mine up, because I thought I would have control, but part of me just wanted to stay alive, so I became evil, and my one order was to kill you." He told her finally looking to her. She was staring off into space as thought she too was back in another time.
"You gave up your star seed?" She asked finally looking at him.
"I was a coward, I didn't want to die, but I should have killed myself right then and there."
"Jadeite?" She asked.
"His star seed was stolen, then he was suspended between life and death until he gave in, she would have held him there forever, but I was evil then and thought it was funny." He reached over and pushed back the hair that was flying in her face and tucked behind her ear. He smiled when she let him do the whole action.
"Was it fun killing me?" She asked a solitary tear rolling down her pale cheek.
"I don't know, I don't really remember, it was kinda like I watched as some guy that looked like me do it. Hell! I don't know!" he exclaimed getting frustrated. "I don't know how to explain it." Then the light bulb went off over his head. "The link, do you still feel it?"
"I don't know." He walked to her placed a hand on either side of her face and concentrated. The she could see it, flashes of his thought flowing into her brain, the things he saw, how he felt, it was all showing her everything. He had been slightly telepathic on the moon so he guess that he would have that talent now also. It worked he knew that she could feel it all his pain torment, and even more his love for her, now and then. Tears streamed down her face as the haunting images continued to flash through her head. Everything was so clear, he had given in to Beryl because he didn't want to lose his life and his life was her.
"I'm so sorry." She said as she cried, for him and them.
"No I'm sorry, I should have killed myself, or done something but I just did what I was told I never challenged the power. I'm strong, I could have defeated the evil but I didn't. So I made sure that I could never happen again. I love you still, Makoto, Senshi of Jupiter and I will love you forever, even if you can't love me." He turned slightly.
"Nephrite… Nathan," she corrected, "Let's start by being friends." She told him tilting her head to look at him. He seemed confused.
"Friends?" He asked not sure what he was hearing.
"Yes, friends." She told him nodding in her conviction. He smiled at her a bright smile full of love and happiness. He ran forward and scooped her in a bear hug, picking her body up off the ground and spinning her in a tight circle.
"Nathan!" She yelled in shock, this felt familiar to her.
"I love you Mako-chan." He told her setting her down.
"I…" she looked at him in shock when she realized that she was about to say the same thing back to him. "I…just friends." She whispered, knowing that it wouldn't stay that way long. She stared at him confused, it was like her past self and who she was now were melding into one personality.
"No, we tried friends once." He told her smiling, they both remembered the turn out.
"Never just friends." She said repeating the haunting words from her past, "we can never be just friends." She said again walking to him, lost somewhere between then and now. He looked down at her his slated eyes confused, clear blue met vibrant green and he was lost. Her fairy eyes, was what he used to call them and they were still the same. A strong wind blew across the park, his hair obscured his vision for a slight time, until her gentle hands pushed it back and held it there. "This feels soo right." She told him in a hushed voice. "Today when you saved me I felt so safe and loved."
"I'll always save you Mako-chan." He told her honestly opening everything to her at this moment, all he had to do was hope she would take it.
"I think that I could love you." She whispered.
"Good." He told her then not wanting to wait, simply bent down to brush his lips against hers, she responded by gabbing his shirt and pulling him closer. He brushed his lips across hers again, giving the butterfly caress lovingly as her lips began to tingle. She nibbled on his lips causing him to pause and kiss her deeper and when she let him in she opened to a floodgate of emotion as everything came into focus. The kiss deepened and she pulled him closer wrapping her arm around him as he cradled her head lovingly making her stay put. She gasped when she realized what was happening and how she felt. She loved him and she knew it. He pulled away at her grasp still holding her and making her look into his eyes.
"I love you…but I don't even know you." She said slowly.
"I know what you mean but…I love you too." She shivered as a cold wind brushed past them. "Let me walk you home?" He asked extending his hand. She looked at it then ducked under huddling close to his body. He wrapped his arm around her body and smiled
"Thank you…" she muffled, he looked down to see the blush across her cheeks.
"Anything for a lady."
00-00-00-00
The rest of the weekend was uneventful. After the lights had woken up and received a fairly decent breakfast from Ami they thanked them then headed out on their way, they had a busy day ahead. Then they all kept to themselves, which was very not normal. But right now Usagi was on her way to Haruka and Michiru's house. She knocked on the door and smiled when Michiru opened it.
"Usagi-chan! How nice to see you." She exclaimed wrapping the girl in a hug. She smiled when she felt Usagi relax.
"Michiru, I need to talk to you and Haruka."
"Actually we were going to call a meeting." Michiru said inviting her in.
"Why?" Usagi asked confusion written all over her face.
"Because of me." Usagi turned and her jaw dropped.
"Hotaru?" She asked. The girl now looked almost as old as she did. Her clothes were tight against now ample breast, but her body was slender with gentle curves showing that was now a woman. She was as tall as Michiru and her raven hair was a little longer almost brushing her shoulder. Her purple eyes held the sorrow and knowledge that they always had. She smiled her white teeth gleamed and Usagi stared at the beautiful woman that she was becoming. "This is what it was like on the Moon Kingdom" Usagi whispered.
"Yes, as soon as I dreamt it I started growing again, but I'm not sure why." She said softly.
"Do you remember?"
"Yes, everything. I remember that Serenity used the crystal and then delivered me to this time after using my glaive to destroy the evidence. I was dead, but once again, I am never truly dead." She spoke her voice taking on a haunting tone.
"We need to call a meeting…"Haruka said reminding them of the conversation. Usagi nodded then borrowed the phone. It took about an hour for all them to show up, Usagi hadn't called the lights out of respect for Haruka and Michiru's house, so they weren't there, but the others watched in silence as Ami typed and studied her computer.
"Well, your body is now aged to 17 years old, your mind on the other hand is the same that it was, so you are maybe behind not even one grade." She said finally. Ami's sincere eyes looked over Hotaru's form. "I can hack into my school and get you enrolled as a student, then you can take classes with me and the others and I can tutor you." She offered.
"Well, I don't think that I can go back to my old school." She said softly. Nervous Hotaru looked to the others. "Is it to much to ask?" Usagi answered for them all.
"You are one of us and we love you, Hotaru, we would do anything for you." Usagi told her giving the girl a hug. Hotaru nodded and then hugged her back she loved having friends. She watched as Ami typed on her computer then snapped it shut when she was finished.
"Well you are all ready for school tomorrow. Your locker is right between ours and the lights."
"May I walk with you?" She asked them all. They all nodded. They had forgot that she was thirteen just days ago.
"See you then." They headed out together.
"Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, I love you." She said enveloping them in a hug.
"We love you too, Hotaru." Michiru said.
"My little girls all grown up." Haruka said, getting a laugh from Hotaru and an elbow from Michiru. "What!" she asked smiling.
00-00-00-00
The lights hadn't seen them all weekend and well, it was a depressing weekend to start off their trip to Earth. They saw five girls walking a head of them the recognized four but not the other.
"Hey is that Rei?" Seiya asked.
"The hair is to short, baka."
"She does look familiar." Taiki said. Just at that time, Usagi turned around, seeing them she smiled then tripped as she tried to turn around, landing on her bottom.
"Hey, Odango!" Seiya exclaimed walking to her as she got up and then brushed off.
"That hurt." She whined.
"Then don't fall, Usagi." Minako said winking at her friend.
"How was your weekend?" Taiki asked in general, but looking at Ami.
"Fine," she told them. "You remember, Hotaru, right?" She asked waving her hand to Hotaru. She smiled and whispered a 'hi.'
"Hey I remember you, but you weren't like 10?" Seiya asked scratching his head.
"Yes." She confirmed nodding. Then smiled when Usagi hit him and muttering something about a 'baka.'
"Walk with us?" Mako-chan asked, "I wanna talk to all of you." They all looked at the tall girl with concern. They started walking again this time in a more serious manner.
"Well?" Minako asked brimming with excitement.
"I think that I love Nathan." She spit out after a few long looks at her friends. The inners all stopped in shock causing the lights to run into them.
"So?" Yaten asked straitening his clothes. "You loved each other on the moon."
"Can he be trusted?" She asked as they started to walk again.
"Yaten, did heal him." Taiki bargained logically.
"I felt nothing but love radiating off of him and Jadeite…Jed." Minako corrected.
"Are you sure? Usagi asked as they entered the school lot. Mako-chan nodded.
"I'm sure."
"If you accept him, we all will." Hotaru said slowly, knowing that she was right when the others nodded.
"But what about Rei?" It was a question that went in answered.
00-00-00-00
Rei sat in her desk playing with her raven locks while staring out the window. Everything the teacher said simply went in one ear and out the other. Her thoughts were on her past life, about a man that she never should have loved. And now he was back. She could sense that right now he had no evil intentions, but she had seen him so many times evil. Tonight at the temple they were going to have a study session so Ami could help Hotaru and the others while she was at it, Taiki would probably help. Her and Minako had worked together over the weekend along with the others to work on their redeveloped powers. A very guilty Mako-chan now had control over her deflection, while Rei and Minako had learned how they could block out feeling everything all the time, but Ami was by far the most powerful. Anything sent at her she could imitate and throw it back making it a water or ice attack. Jadeite, what was she supposed to do about him? She guessed that she should at least talk to him, but she wasn't ready. She looked out the window to see a man with blond hair look up to her. She felt a pull on her heart and knew it was him. She saw him look away and keep walking, she then wondered, if she forgave him, would he ever forgive himself?
He had felt a pull to this building, then when looking up to the window he knew why. She was here and where she was, was where he was supposed to be. He heard the bell and knew that school was getting out, so he turned and beat the rush then stopped and watched her as she faded from his view. Then it hit him a sharp pain that grabbed his heart and tore it. He knew that she was in trouble. He followed over to where she last was and then froze at what he saw. The youma had snuck up behind her and grabbed her by her throat and her body was slowly going limp, her violet eyes met his blue one surprised to see him there. He glowed slightly and he was then in his generals uniform pulling his bow back. His aim was true as he shot the creature in its forehead, then it disappeared, but it wasn't destroyed. Jadeite glowed as he ran forward and caught Rei as she was about to hit the ground.
"Jed?" She asked confused, then realizing what was happening she pushed him away and brushed off her uniform. "Stay away from me." She told him.
"But…" He stuttered confused
"Stay away! I don't care if you're healed. You are evil and I don't like evil. So stay just away!"
"Rei…you can't sense the evil on me, it's not there."
"You have tried to kill me and my friends so many times. I will never forgive you and never want to be with you. And I know that Makoto feels the same way." His jaw dropped, she didn't know, for goodness sakes, Nathan was staying at Mako-chan's place, sleeping on the pull out couch, but she didn't know. Maybe if she did, things would change. He looked at her smiled a little then waved his hand and walked away.
"So long Rei, see ya later!"
"No you won't!" She yelled at his retreating form. She then got on her communicator and called an urgent meeting.
Usagi got the message and waited for all the others at the door. The lights and Ami were here but Mako-chan, Minako, and Hotaru were missing.
Hotaru stayed late to talk to her teacher who told her that she would have no problem catching up and that with Ami's help, advanced math wouldn't be a problem. She walked out the door looking both ways and then she started walking down the hall toward her locker. She heard some loud voices so she turned to see what was going on, and then stumbled as she ran into someone. "I'm sorry." She whispered as she tried to move around the person that she had hit, not raising her eyes to look.
"Do I know you?" The deep voice asked. She raised her purple eyes and smiled, she had figured out that that was a 'line' that guys liked to use. She looked at him in shock and knew that she knew him but she couldn't place him. He took his sunglasses off and looked at her with deep green eyes. This was familiar she thought. His height, his look, his eyes, all was familiar to her. Why did she feel a pull to him? His dimples flashed as he smiled at her.
"Um, no I don't think so." She looked down to where his tanned hand held her pale arm, "Will you let go?" His hand dropped but she didn't move.
"Hey, San, lets go!" He looked over his shoulder at his friends and when he turned back, he saw that a tall brunette had joined her.
"Yeah, lets go." He said replacing his sunglasses.
"Com'on Hotaru, Meeting" She said then the girls headed down the hall and Hotaru looked over her shoulder to see that he was still there and watching her.
00-00-00-00
Hotaru? He knew her and he knew it. It felt familiar to look into those sad purple eyes and have his heart constrict. Her smile, it could bright up his darkest day and he knew that, but not sure why. He hadn't seen her smile yet. Why did he know what it was like to dance with her, and kiss her, this was way weird. He thought back to the dreams that he had been tying to piece together and he had a feeling that that was the key. And that she was part of the key. He looked over to his friends. "You guys go ahead, I'll meet up with you later." They nodded and he started walking after her.
00-00-00-00
"That was strange." Hotaru whispered.
"What?" Mako-chan asked as they joined the others.
"I knew him, but not now." She said.
"Was he someone from the moon?" Ami asked looking up from her book.
"But the only one we are missing is…" Mako-chan started.
"Sanlen." Usagi finished. "He died too, right?"
"Yes, he died fighting with the outers." Hotaru said in a whisper. "He was trying to court me."
"But I've seen that kid thousands of times." Mako-chan said.
"But we never knew that Usagi had a brother." Ami reasoned.
"Where is Minako?" Yaten asked, getting tired of waiting.
"Here she comes." Mako-chan said. Minako was surrounded by a flock of girls and she had a bag thrown over her shoulder. She stopped when she saw the others.
"Hey guys!"
"We have to go Minako." Minako knew what Mako-chan had meant, scout meeting. There was a big volleyball game tonight but oh well.
"Sorry," she said turning to the team. "I can't join the game tonight."
"But…"one of the girls yelled, "this is just before finals, if we lose we won't go."
"And Minako we'll lose with out you." Another said.
"Yeah, we need you." The first one again.
"We can't do it with out you." Hotaru whispered quietly standing beside Minako. Minako looked over to her friends.
"Sorry guys but I can't." The team relented and walked away. "So what's up?"
"Meeting at the temple, ASAP." Ami told her.
"Let's go then." They all went on their way walking and chatting.
"You did the right thing." Yaten said coming beside her.
"I know, always a soldier." She said softly. He nodded, surprised by her sorrow. "Well this will be funner anyway." She told him, making herself feel happy. He shook his head at her, he could tell that she was depressed.
"I'm an empath, remember." He told her.
"Really, I didn't know that." She told him with a smile.
"Just remember, I always know how you feel."
"Mako-chan, are Nathan and Jed gonna be there?"
"Yeah, Rei is probably already there and they'll meet us outside the temple."
"Good safety measure." Seiya said.
"Hey, they were evil and tried to kill us for quite a while." Ami said defending Rei's actions
"That was when it was just Rei Ami and me." Usagi told them.
"So you were the first Odango?" Seiya said impressed.
"Not really, it was actually Sailor V!" Ami corrected. Most didn't know anything about Minako's past.
"You mean the idol?" Seiya asked.
"No silly," Usagi giggled at Seiya, "She means Sailor V!" She said pointing to Minako.
"What?" Minako asked snapping to attention.
"You were the first?" Yaten asked.
"Not really, I was more of a diversion for the Negaverse while Usagi trained."
"She was my hero. I loved Sailor V." Usagi said.
"It was different then. It was just me and Artemis."
"But?" Usagi asked, she knew different, with Katrina and Alan.
"One of these days I'll go back to England. It was so nice there."
"A diversion?" Taiki asked confused.
"The Negaverse thought that I was the Princess. Anyway lets drop the past the present is so much more interesting." She smiled at them, then Hotaru walked beside her.
"I wish that I could heal emotional pain." She whispered.
"Thank you Hotaru, but don't worry 'bout me." She said giving her brightest smile and a 'v' sign. Hotaru looked behind her and stopped when she saw him. He was following her. She caught up with her new friends.
"He's following me."
"Who?" Usagi asked breaking out of her conversation with Seiya.
"San." She stopped and looked behind her.
"Hotaru there is no one there." Mako-chan said. She turned around to see that he was gone. "Nathan!" Mako-chan then exclaimed as she ran forward to give him a hug.
"Missed you to, luv." Over the weekend they had talked and all their free time was spent with one another. He said after giving her a kiss. He looked up to the others and knew that instant that he was accepted here.
"Hey Jed," Seiya said walking up and throwing his arm around the other guy. "How's it goin'?"
"Things, suck." He said quite honestly. Seiya nodded.
"I know what you mean, I'm waitin' to make a move." Seiya whispered softly. "I've loved her as long as I can remember, no other woman is ever in my head, I want her to love me, but hell!" Seiya threw up his hands in frustration.
"Seiya-san, are you okay?" Usagi asked, she looked really confused when both started laughing. "Hey, don't laugh at me!" She exclaimed running over to them and standing in front of them her fist resting on her hips. Rei hearing the laughter, came outside, and started down the stairs, but the short blond hair caught her eye.
"What is HE doing here?" She asked.
"Oh, Hi Rei." Usagi said turning around. "Do you have any new Mangas?"
"No, and if I did you couldn't have them anyway."
"Is that anyway to talk to your princess?" Jed asked.
"Yeah!" Usagi asked standing between Jed and Seiya, who looked very embarrassed. Rei gave up and shrugged her shoulders.
"Are they always like this?" Hotaru asked in the back, then sighed when everyone nodded.
"Meeting remember?" Mako-chan asked.
"Yeah…" was muttered back as everyone traipsed up the stairs and huddled in the fire reading room. Where only five would meet there were now eleven.
"We need to find a new place to have our meetings." Minako observed, as they crowded in the room.
"Anyway Rei, why the meeting?" Ami asked.
"I was attacked today, After school, by a youma." She told them.
"Did you destroy it." Usagi asked around eating a cookie.
"Yes." She told them.
"No" Jed said at the same time. Usagi looked at them confused. "It's not dead. I really don't know why it ran. It would have been easier to turn it's wrist all of an inch and snap her neck, it doesn't make sense, the only thing that I can think was that it was on recon." He finished taking a drink of the tea that her grandfather had brought in.
"How does he know?" Mako-chan asked, Rei looked over just now noticing that Mako-chan was sitting by Nathan.
"He saved me." She said lowering her head.
"Being saved is not something to be ashamed of, Rei-chan." Usagi told her. "Everyone needs help every once in a while. Besides being protected makes you stronger. I should know" She finished on a giggle.
"Being saved by the enemy…" She started but was interrupted.
"I am not the enemy, and I don't have to put up with this!" he yelled standing; he looked over to Nathan who nodded and got up to stand beside him.
"Jed! Nathan!" Usagi yelled but they were already gone down the stairs.
"You have no right!" Yaten yelled. "He is as good as you and me and just because you are so stubborn and resentful you send him away. He is smarter and a better fighter than you, and compared to you I would much rather have him fighting by my side. I'm outta here." He said as he turned away.
"I'm sorry Rei, but I must agree and back up his decision. I will see you later Odango." He told her looking directly at her. Taiki followed silently standing up for their friend's defense.
"What'd I do?" She asked looking to the remaining scouts.
"Rei-chan, he isn't evil and you know it."
"Mako-chan, we can't give in, they'll turn against us." She told her friend still unknowing that Nathan had already been forgiven.
"Nathan, is good and kind, and he loves me. He made one mistake so that he could live, for me for our love. He didn't know that he would have no control or that his mind would simply follow orders…"
"You've forgiven him."
"What about me?" Hotaru asked. "I was evil, I killed Chibi-usa, I tried to kill thousands, even my father and you. Do you not trust me? Am I evil?" She asked tears in her eyes.
"No this is different…"
"No, only that I was the killer, not the controlled minion." Ami wrapped her arms around Hotaru giving her a hug. "I was Mistress 9, I am Sailor Saturn, I am destruction, he is a man who had his star seed stolen, and you say that you can forgive me and not him. How fair is that?" She stopped silent. "Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa are waiting, I should go."
"Would you like to come over to my apartment to catch up on Math later?" Ami asked. Hotaru smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, I can call them from your apartment right?" Ami nodded and Hotaru turned her attention to the others, "I will see the rest of you tomorrow."
"We should all be prepared, I have a bad feeling." Usagi said. They all nodded in agreement.
"Well, I'm gonna go and see if I can still get in on the volleyball game. Beep me on the communicators if you need anything." She left.
Now it was just three of them, Rei looked startled and a little confused. "Why did you forgive him."
"Because I heard what he had to say, I knew it was the truth, he is my soul mate and I love him. Please Rei just go apologize and listen to what he has to say, please." Mako-chan asked pleadingly, "I'm so happy now. I want you to be too." Rei then looked to Usagi.
"Look how many times I forgave Mamo-chan, and how many times he tried to kill me when he was evil, he even killed my beloved on the moon, yet I have forgiven him and taken him back when we were together."
"You aren't anymore?" Rei asked.
"Well, we are both really confused. So we are stepping back to look at all the angles, I love him because I thought I had to. Now I'm just confused."
"I'll go and talk to him." She relented.
"Good." They both nodded in agreement.
"Later." She said again.
"Rei!"
00-00-00-00
Later that evening Hotaru was walking home from Ami's place, it was late, she shouldn't have stayed so long, but Math was kinda fun. Her school uniform rustled in the wind as a chill ran down her spine. She turned to find him there.
"Why are you following me?" She asked not scared. His green eyes were so calm as they looked over her. His blond hair cut shorter that it was on the moon, but still the same spun gold that fell into his face, making him look like an obnoxious boy.
"I know you…from another time…another place." He said softly reaching a hand up to touch her face gently running it down her soft skin.
"I know." She said softly mesmerized.
"Hotaru…Sailor Saturn." He whispered.
"Prince Sanlen." She whispered in response.
"I have dreams, they confuse me, but always, you are always in them, haunting me." Her purple eyes looked so sad and so haunted. "Why so sad?"
"Not sad," she told him as she smiled slightly, watching him smile in response. "Serious. I need to go home. Good night." She told him as she turned away and left him there.
"Dream of me!" He yelled followed by a laugh, "I know you will." He listened carefully and wasn't disappointed when he heard her laugh.
00-00-00-00
She sat on a bench watching the shooting stars fall across the sky. They always made her think of Seiya, and how no matter what he made her feel safe. Did she love Mamo-chan? The last time she saw him her heart didn't jump for joy, she didn't even really feel like smiling. She didn't long for his touch, or his kiss. Everything was different now. She had figured out that she loved him because of her past. As soon as she had found out that he had loved her on the moon, she was instantly in love with him again. It was fake. Was she really that shallow?
"Hey, Odango!" The lilt of his voice made her smile.
"Seiya!" She said as she turned around to see him walking behind her.
"It's a school night, you should be in bed."
"You too then." She said accusingly. Glaring at him. "I just wanted some time alone."
"Oh, Sorry, I'll go then." He said turning around.
"No you can stay." She said honestly not wanting him to leave.
"Okay," he said coming to sit beside her, casually throwing his arm around the back of the bench, and around her shoulders.
"I've been thinking a lot. I don't know about my love for Mamo-chan anymore."
"Why not?" Seiya asked, his heart leaping for joy while trying to be the friend he wanted to be.
"I loved him because I thought I had to."
"Has anyone else ever made you feel safe and loved?" He asked.
"Only one other." She said softly thinking of him. "Seiya, do me a favor, kiss me?"
"What!" He asked in amazement his arm dropping around her.
"I need to test something please? I need to see if I can feel what Mamo-chan made me feel without it being Mamo-chan." She pleaded.
"Okay, but remember you asked for it." He told her then she shut her eyes as she saw his face coming towards hers. His other arm came around wrapping one around her neck the other on her shoulder pulling her closer. She found herself lost in it. She felt like she was spinning and that she was falling. She grabbed onto his waist needing an anchor, as he deepened the kiss. Oh yes she had asked for a kiss, but not this whole range of emotions that were flying through her. She responded pulling him closer and letting out a moan she hardly recognized as her own. 'This isn't a Mamo-chan feeling, this is different.' She thought to herself.
"Seiya?" She whispered as he pulled away leaving her panting, but he wasn't finished, yet. He nibbled a trail down past her cheek and down her neck as he pulled another moan from her.
"More?" He asked on a slight laugh, he seemed to be finding this enjoyable. She nodded and he proceeded to again kiss the life out of her. She held on to him tighter feeling that if she let go she would fall, or spin out of control. She finally pulled away and laid her head against his chest and was comforted by his rapidly beating heart that matched hers.
"Thank you." She told him.
"It was my pleasure. Would you like me to walk you home?" She nodded and he simply walked her home then went home himself. That night she dreamt of him and it had nothing to do with the moon, she woke up not knowing how to face him in the morning and even more confused about Mamo-chan.
00-00-00-00
Minako left the locker room, glad that she had gotten to play. She just checked in with Ami, who had confirmed that nothing had happened tonight. She started walking home, the night hair rustling around her. It was cool weather like this that made her think of England. She was walking by the park when something caught her eyes. It was Seiya and Usagi, kissing. The surprise had her letting down her guard and her new empath abilities rushed to the surface. It was the same, the waves of love had been this strong on the moon, and she could just control it better. Wave after wave of the emotion hit her and it was all Seiya, Usagi was too confused, was Minako's only thought. The next wave brought her down to her knees. 'He loves her so much.' He had to the way that she was overwhelmed. She started to erect barriers in her head it was then she felt someone grab her.
00-00-00-00
"Hey I think that Seiya had a good idea. I'm gonna take a walk and clear my head." Taiki nodded to Yaten, and looked down to the book he was reading.
"Okay, bye." He said ignoring the look that Yaten sent him and walked out the door. He walked around town then decided to head to the park, that was where Seiya supposed to be, but the first thing he saw was Minako on her knees. He walked over to her. She didn't look like she was in pain, he reached down and grabbed her shoulder. Her head snapped up instantly than looked relieved to see him.
"Minako-chan, are you okay?"
"Yeah just surprised and overwhelmed." She told him. He followed her line of sight to see that Seiya and Usagi were still kissing.
"Wondered when he'd get to that." He said off the top of his head. "He's been wanting to for quite a while now." Minako looked at him confused.
"Oh, come on. He loved her since he first saw her, what? Three years ago?" He told her helping her up.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked out of the blue.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you carried me to Ami's apartment, you took care of me after I hit the building, and you are helping me now. Why?" She asked looking at him straight in the eyes.
"I just wanna be nice. Something wrong with that?" He asked defensively
"Well only when it's you." She said. Yaten watched as Seiya and Usagi got up and started to walk towards them. He grabbed her arm and dragged her into an alley. "Well this feel familiar." She said sarcastically referring to the idol competition when he had judged.
"Listen. I am being nice because I want to." She looked down to where he was touching her skin and she started to get confused, mixing the past with the present. His touch had been like fire on the moon, it had burned her soul, but more it had made her, his. "Do you remember?" he asked, after seeing her gaze go unfocused. "Do you remember everything?" She knew what he meant, and she remembered knowing that she would hurt when he left and he would leave, just like he would've on the moon. Her unfocused eyes met his.
"Let go." She said as she pulled away. She wouldn't let this happen. She then looked at him grabbed her bag and walked out of the alley, the minute that she was out, she went into a full run.
"Minako!" She heard him yell. "Don't run away." He watched as she disappeared. "It's not like you to run away scared." He whispered knowing she wouldn't hear.
00-00-00-00
There was tension in school the next day. Minako was avoiding Yaten, and Usagi would blush every time Seiya would talk to her, and Hotaru was always caught looking out the window, then would look down to her paper. Mako-chan was writing the name Nathan all over her paper. It would seem that Taiki and Ami were the only normal ones today and they didn't seem to notice that everyone was weird. After school Usagi had detention so everyone was waiting for her.
"We are just gonna be friends with the lights right?" Minako asked at the first available time away from the ones in question.
"Yes." Ami stated agreeing with Minako.
"I feel that Usagi is starting to fall for Seiya." She told them.
"But he will have to leave right?" Hotaru asked. The others nodded.
"I won't leave if she asked me not to." He said, the others jumped when he spoke.
"She didn't ask Mamo-chan to stay, or Chibiusa-chan. She won't ask you, either." Mako-chan informed them.
"Besides, she will always have us." Minako said in agreement.
"Will 'us' be enough." Yaten asked looking at her.
"It will have to be." She said. "All you guys will have to leave after this evil is gone." It was then that Rei came running up the walks.
"Youmas," she panted, "in the park." She told them pointing. "I'll get Usagi." She said as she ran into the building. In about a minute they were all running to the park transformed.
"Oh my god…there's almost a hundred." Ami said her computer visor counting them. She nodded when she noticed Uranus and Neptune join the scene. Jupiter looked behind her when the air wavered behind her.
"Nephrite, how did you know?" she asked, after she turned around to find him there.
"You summoned me." He told her.
"This seems familiar." Mars turned to see Jadeite behind her he spoke when he saw the fire in her eyes. "Hey don't get mad, you're the one that summoned me, when ever you transform, I'll be right behind you. So don't hurt me."
"What do you mean familiar?" Pluto asked and Tuxedo Kamen came into view.
"I bet all these will be weak and then when we think we're done, there will be a strong enemy, the leader." Jed told them.
"It was Kunzite's favorite attack even though you lose so many people."
"Kunzite?" Usagi said, somehow knowing that they were right.
"Oh lets stop the chit-chat. FIRE SOUL!" she yelled taking out about five of them.
"VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!" She yelled taking out more.
"SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"
"WORLD SHAKING!"
"DEEP SUBMERGES!"
"OAK EVOLUTION!"
"DEAD SCREAM!"
"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"
"STAR GENTLE UTERUS!"
"STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO!"
"SILENCE GLAIVE SURPRISE!" The attacks combined taking out almost half of them.
"SILVER MOON CRYSTAL POWER KISS!" Sailor Moon yelled taking out more. Saturn was at the head fighting with her glaive. Uranus with her sword was beside her. While Jadeite was perched in a tree hitting them alternately with arrows from his bow, the one that Pluto had sent him to the past to get, or energy balls shooting from his hand, most protecting an unsuspecting Mars. Nephrite on the other hand was fighting with what looked like a broad sword that he had also gotten from the past. Along side him was Tuxedo Kamen who had joined in the fray. When only a hand-full remained Sailor Moon took them out with her attack. They all looked at each other waiting for more. Then it started. Clap clap clap clap clap clap. Then right in front of them, they appeared. Each wore a dark black uniform with gold trim; each had a cape attached in front their throats with a small skull. The stood back to back, both their hair mixing in the wind.
"Well done." Kunzite told them, looking them over with an evil ice-cold glare.
"How tired are ya?" Zoisite asked lifting his finger to rest on his chin.
"You turned." Jadeite accused. "How could you?"
"How could you not? Look at you not an ounce of evil on you anywhere." Zoisite said accusingly.
"Wow and there are so many. Fifteen all together."
"More than the six the first time." They agreed. Zoisite pointed her finger and the ground in front of them rumbled and shook knocking most of them down. Saturn used her glaive to hold herself up and when the next attack started she yelled "silent wall!" Protecting all of them in her circle.
"How could they have turned?" Nephrite asked.
"They were never healed." Healer yelled over to them.
"Why not?" Jed asked. The wall was still up protecting them as both Kunzite and Zoisite worked to blow through it.
"They didn't want to." Maker told them.
"They are almost five times as powerful as they were the first time around." Mercury announced downloading information into her computer about the new enemies. "There powers are connected to one another, like how their backs are touching."
"So they have to touch each other to have power."
"No…"Venus said to Mars who asked, "but they are stronger together."
"So lets break em apart. MARS FALME SNIPER!" She yelled, Saturn let down the wall for a second and watching as the two generals broke apart. Kunzite landed on the ground in front of the scouts and peddled back slightly before standing up.
"I think not." He told them, his eyes glowing crimson, then a huge wall of earth started to rise between them, pushing some left others right, the wall tore through the park then rising around the empty park trapping them in a prison of Earth. Sailor Moon looked around her to see who was near. There was Fighter, Maker, Healer, Pluto, Mercury, and Mars. That must mean that Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Jadeite, Tuxedo Kamen, Uranus, Neptune, and Nephrite, were on the other side of the wall.
"Boy, the park is a lot smaller when it's like this." She noticed.
"Sailor Moon!" Mars scolded, but noting that she was right. She looked up to see that Zoisite was hovering above them.
"Well how do you like being trapped?" He asked. "I think that this is very nice, I can pick you off one by one.
"You will have to get through all of us first." Fighter yelled. He heard wind blowing and could only guess what they were up against. He heard a high scream and was glad that he could at least see Usagi.
"You think that you will be a problem?" Zoisite laughed. "You are nothing, your measly fight will do nothing." Sailor Moon watched as Mercury was setting analyzing through her visor. She walked over as the Starlights, Pluto and Mars, started attacking him.
"Mercury anything?" She watched, as Maker was thrown back against the mound of dirt only to have Pluto thrown on top of her, both slumping unconscious. Healer was down on her knees holding her head, which had taken a blow to after she had been socked in the gut. Mars and Fighter was the only one left and both were doing pretty well, staying far away to use their attacks.
"Aim for the head. He is directly linked to his master, so if we get him unconscious he should disappear." She said not sure what to do for sure. She then heard him yell out an attack.
"FLOWER HURRICANE!" Mercury watched as the attack came near her. She could do this. She evaded the attack catching come of it on her hand but it really didn't hurt because her body absorbed and processed it. Now it was her turn.
"MERCURY FLOWER HURRICANE!" She yelled and much like his attack, water and ice flew from her fingers coping his moments earlier. In shock the attack hit him square in the chest and knocking him down, he slowly started floating downward. "Sailor Moon?" She asked
"Okay. SILVER MOON CRYSTAL POWER KISS!" Her voice rang over the others as threw him back but he fell over the wall and out of sight. "Did I get him?"
"I don't know." Mercury said. They heard another scream from the other side as the all turned their attention that way, not sure what to do.
00-00-00-00
Saturn cried out as she was thrown against the wall beside and unconscious Jupiter. She had gone down quick, having been his first target. Jadeite and Nephrite where both down and bloody, Jadeite almost unconscious while, Nephrite looked after Jupiter. Tuxedo Kamen along with Uranus, Neptune, and Venus were fighting to get him unconscious, Mercury had talked to Venus over the communicators, but they weren't getting anywhere. Everything that they did was achieving nothing. Kunzite was using wind to keep them all off balance, and it wasn't a gentle breeze, it was more like hurricane force winds.
"Venus!" Neptune yelled looking over to blond who barely had a footing. "Tie him with your…" The rest was blown out that she couldn't even hear herself. The wind blew her back and she heard Venus's attack, "VENUS LOVE ME CHAIN!" and the wind stopped. Her chain bonded Kunzite, it had wrapped itself up his body and Venus was hanging in the air holding on to it, as Tuxedo Kamen grabbed her ankle pulling her down to the ground then helping to pull the fighting Kunzite to the ground. Once on the ground Uranus, Neptune and Tuxedo Kamen were fighting against the bonded enemy. There battle cries echoing in their prison. The man, tried to fight back, but he was held securely with Venus's chain that even as he deflected the blows they still had him overpowered. Kunzite soon slumped starting to fall unconscious and then beginning to fade in and out as his master called him back. As soon as he faded the ground began to rumble falling back into it's original form like nothing had happened. Neptune reached over and grabbed Uranus's hand. She looked over to see that Mercury had the head if an unconscious Maker laying in her lap while Fighter was making sure that Sailor Moon was all right before going to check on Healer. She walked over to Pluto seeing that she was okay.
Jadeite looked around, blood flowed from a wound in his head, and there was a slash across his stomach that he wasn't sure where it came from and he ached everywhere. He had been thrown against the wall three times and he kept coming back for more punishment. He looked over to Nathan to see that Jupiter was slowly starting to wake up. The only ones standing were Tuxedo Kamen, Venus, Uranus and Neptune, everyone else was lying down or hunched over someone. He looked down at the ground focusing on it as his head spun once again, he fell to his knees grabbing his head. Rei looked over in time to see him fall. He didn't look too good. He was pale and green, blood was seeping out of a wound in his head and his clothes were dirty. She watched as he faded a little, then glowed and was back to wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. She got up and walked slowly over to him, then kneeled in front of him. "Are you all right?" She asked. He looked up into her purple eyes, shock written all over his face that she would even ask.
"No." he whispered quietly before lurching forward into her lap as he finally gave in to unconsciousness.
"Jed?" She whispered turning him over, he was breathing, and he was okay. She used her red skirt to dry of the blood, then used it to put pressure on the wound.
"Usako? Are you okay?" He asked. Usagi turned her head at the man.
"Mamo-chan, of course, and you?" She asked looking at him studying the man she had loved for so long.
"I'm fine, Usako." They walked over together to help Saturn who seemed to be slightly weak.
"Help me, I need to heal them." She said softly.
"Shouldn't you heal yourself first?" Sailor Moon asked.
"No, help me." She pleaded. They grabbed her and then walked her over to Pluto who was closest. She had a huge bump on the back of her head and a few cuts and bruises. A purple glow came from her hands as she slowly healed her friend. "She will be fine as soon as she wakes up. Stay and watch her please?" She whispered to Tuxedo Kamen who then became Mamoru. He nodded and picked her up in his arms. He couldn't say how scared he'd been seeing her lying there, not doing anything, not wanting to hurt Usagi, but still concerned about Usagi. He had felt fear when they had been separated. Though he wasn't sure who he was scared to be separated from. He wrapped her arms around his neck, so they didn't dangle and then walked to where the group seemed to be gathering. Saturn started to get some of her strength back she walked with her glaive instead of Sailor Moon's help. She made the rounds slowly healing everyone, then all they had to do was to wake up. Nathan carried the still tired Mako-chan over to where Mercury still sat with Maker.
"Will he be all right?" He asked, this man…woman…could be considered his friend the way that they had stuck up for him and Jed that night at Rei's. He looked over to see that Jed and Rei weren't far away. She was kneeling in front of him but he had fallen into her arms, so she was holding him. Everyone gathered around the group, as all the others powered down. Once again in their normal forms they all looked at each other.
"Is everyone okay?" Usagi asked. Everyone nodded or grunted in response. And Usagi smiled relieved. She looked over to see that Rei was still holding Jed looking confused and that Mamoru was holding Pluto and looked overly concerned. She smiled until she realized that she was supposed to be jealous, nothing. Did it mean that she trusted him, or that she didn't care. She looked over to Seiya who was looking okay and helping Yaten who still must have had a headache, because he had one hand pressed against his head. Hotaru stood by Michiru who was helping Haruka bring and exhausted Minako over. Hotaru looked around and wished that she could also heal exhaustion, everyone looked tired, she had been able to nothing for Minako, Nathan, Haruka, Michiru and Tuxedo Kamen and a few of the others. They were all sitting under the shade of many trees waiting for the unconscious ones to awaken.
"What happened to them?" Usagi asked softly.
"They were directly linked to whomever they call master, so as soon as they became unconscious they were teleported back." Ami answered.
"But now they realize that they can't take us all on at once, they will try to separate us." Rei observed.
"We have to be more careful." Mako-chan said she was leaning against Nathan, who had his arm around her, but she didn't need support, she just wanted to cuddle.
"They're using the tactics from the moon kingdom." Nathan told them.
"Do you know more?" Haruka asked. She was sitting by Michiru, who was holding her hand weaving their fingers together.
"Yeah, but Jadeite knew more. Zoisite was the one who usually came up with them." They all looked over to Jed when he let out a low moan. Rei was cradling his head in her lap much like Ami was with Taiki who still had yet to wake. Pluto had awakened not long after Mamoru had picked her up then she had demanded to be put down. She was now sitting across from him not meeting his eyes.
Jed opened his eyes then shut them again. How long had he been out? He wondered. He brought his hand up to his head to feel for the wound that was now missing. He opened his eyes again this time prepared for the light but it didn't come. Hunched over him was a pair of purple eyes that he could almost call concerned. He sat up slowly then looked around. "Hey." He said acknowledging everyone. "Taiki still down for the count."
"I slammed into her fairly hard." Setsunsa said softly.
"Ah, that would be what hit me." He said keeping his eyes closed. All he knew was that they were outside and that he had a really nice pillow.
"Taiki-san, you're okay." The voice came from above him. He opened his eyes to see his pillow.
"Ami-chan, yes, of course." Some of his hair had come loose across his forehead so she brushed it of lightly.
"How are you feeling? No dizziness, no nausea?"
"No I feel fine." He told her.
"Then why don't you get out of her lap?" The sarcastic voice of Yaten announced. He blushed slightly then rose to sit beside her.
"Thank you." He whispered and she smiled. They continued to talk planning what to do, when they heard something.
"I know you, all of you." the deep voice came from out of nowhere. He knew he had to sound like a lunatic, but he knew it. He had been walking through the park, something had drawn him here. Out of no where a feeling in his heart told him that he had somewhere that he needed to be, so he left home and started walking, only to find these people, and her. They all seemed familiar and not just from school. They were all in that damn dream of his that was how he knew them.
"Prince." one of the said as she rose to bow.
"You know me too?" He asked. He looked into her Ruby eyes. "Pluto?" He said surprised, he had visited her every once in a while, at the gates of time. Usagi got up and looked at him, smiling.
"Hello brother." She said pulling him into a hug. It all came back and into clear focus when she hugged him. "Serenity."
"I go by Usagi now." She told him. "Don't worry, we understand."
"This must all be terribly confusing." Ami said.
"No I think I get it now." He looked over to Hotaru. "She was the only one I could remember." He said his green eyes meeting her purple ones. He smiled at her and all she did was blush.
"He doesn't seem to have and transforming powers, but he was the strategist for the moon military, so maybe if Jed and Nathan can come up with the strategies that Zoisite and Kunzite, will use he can come up with some counters." Ami suggested analyzing the normal boy through her computer. "He will of course, like Mamoru and Usagi, be able to transform into his past state of royalty, I believe. That has to do with the past life." She confirmed before Hotaru could ask.
"Whoa, what the hell…"
"I think that we can explain." Usagi said with a smile. When they were done all sharing what they thought Usagi left out he was in awe. He knew about his past life, Sailor Moon, all the Sailor Senshi and well he knew everything.
"This has been one hell of a day." He said summing it up for everyone. Later that night they all went their separate ways.
00-00-00-00
She couldn't sleep. She knew the minute that he had recognized them and looked at her that same way that he used to on the moon that she was gone. She was so far in love that it wasn't funny. She still remembered the look that Minako had given her. She knew, but she wasn't going to tell. She got up pulling the sheets back and then pulled on some warmer clothes and walked out in the night. She looked up to see the stars hidden by dark, water-filled clouds, so she decided to stay close to her house. The she saw him. He was standing there looking at her house, right where her room would be. He six-foot six frame was standing in the moonlight making him look like an angel. His blond hair looked golden, and when he looked over to see her, she gasped. He looked so lost and confused. She walked toward him, smiling hoping to get that look out of his eyes.
"Sanlen?" She asked stepping closer to him. He cocked his head at her studying her. He seemed confused. "What's wrong?" She asked gently laying a hand on his shoulder.
"I loved you so much…I think that I still do, but you don't, it doesn't feel the same." He said looking through her. His green eyes were empty as they stared. He had just found out earlier today, it was no wonder he was so confused. "You were my anchor, the only reason I existed was for you. But not anymore."
"Sanlen?" She said again trying to break through to him. She stopped in awe when she saw that the symbol of the moon was flickering on and off on his forehead. He was remembering more, on his own. She touched a finger to the symbol and felt the heat coming from it.
"Why don't you love me anymore?" She watched, knowing that she wasn't talking to Sanlen, but the prince.
"We are in a new time…"
"But I know you, you are the same," he said and she knew that he was right. "And I still love you." She smiled as the fog in his eyes started to clear. "I still love you, I just need to get to know all of you…like I did before." She said again, but this time as the 'here' Sanlen. His spiky hair was blown wild by the wind, and she thought that he couldn't have been more handsome, this was how they had met. He had been touring the outer planets and he had been on Saturn in the palace gardens when she had first seen him. Lightning flashed around them followed by the echo of thunder, but it really didn't bother them, they seemed trapped, just looking at each other.
"I still love you." She whispered not even thinking, but as soon as it was out she knew it was true. A smile crossed his face as his cute dimples showed themselves.
"Good!" He said looking at her.
"Good?" She exclaimed, surprised.
"Now your all mine." He said pulling her in a hug and kissing her. Her tiny frame melded to his as he pulled her up, picking her feet up of the ground. She wrapped her arms around his neck, getting dizzy from the kiss, then the spinning started. He whirled her in a circle, never stopping the persuasion of his lips against hers, so she just held on, digging her fingers in his golden hair and never letting go. She kissed him back with everything she ever felt, and the thunder crashed and the clouds above them opened on them pulling them apart and had them running for cover, laughing and dancing in the rain.
00-00-00-00
Jed was asleep totally knocked out, so he didn't hear the knock on the door or the footsteps of the person who had come in because he forgot to lock the door. He turned onto his back sprawling across the bed the black satin sheets tangled at his waist. His shirt was off, not even bothering to put it back on after the shower and his pants lay beside the bed, the only thing that he had bothered to put on were his boxers and they were hidden under the sheets. Purple eyes watched him as he slept. He was breathing deeply when she stepped into the room. It was dark except for the moonlight that shown through the window. She noticed that he had quite a few scars across his chest. She stared at him willing him to wake. She wanted to talk to hear his excuses so she could feel okay about falling for him. He had protected her; she knew it, when they were fighting today and when she was caught yesterday. She was safe with him. She sat beside him one the bed, surprised when this still didn't wake him. A wind blew in through the window stirring her hair and pulling it across his naked chest. This was what finally caused him to wake. His eyes fluttered and his sleepy eyes met hers before they shut again. "Jed?" She whispered. He stirred said something about a dream and turned facing her, throwing an arm over her leg, then it instantly shot back as he sat up and stared at her.
"Damn it, you're really here." He said looking at her.
"Baka, of course I'm here."
"Why?" He asked suspiciously.
"I want to talk." She told him looking at him and trying to intimidate him.
"Now?" He asked amazed. "Why now?" His gaze hit the clock confirming that it was indeed late.
"Please?" She asked pleading with him.
"Okay." He said throwing back the covers. She blushed when she noticed all he was wearing were a pair of blue boxers.
"Have you no modesty?" She asked turning red and looking away. He was so American.
"What everything's covered?" He told her but pulled on a pair of pants, but not bothering to button them. She followed him into the kitchen where he grabbed two glassed and filled them with water. He then sat down at the table and looked at her.
"Well…" He said looking at her.
"What happened?"
"When?"
"On the moon, baka."
"It was the day before the Masquerade ball." He started. "Endymion and Kunzite came to us. So I grabbed my weapons planning on training in the forest just like we did every time that we visited. But we rode to the east instead of the north and when we had ridden for about an hour we stopped in a clearing. There a woman with long red hair was waiting for us. The others went up leaving Nephrite and I behind. They seemed to be having a heated discussion, but then the shook hands. I started to feel uneasy but just shrugged it off. We all then were led down a small hill where there was a small army, well hidden by the way, we figured out then that they had betrayed the moon but our actions were predicted. We were handcuffed and forced to follow. Then when it came down to it we were given a choice, to give up our star seeds, or have them taken. Hell if I knew what a star seed was but if it was mine I wouldn't let them have it. Nephrite gave his up easily. I well, what happened first was someone was standing bedside her. He was covering in a dark cape that covered him completely. I said no, then this light came from it and then in front of me I saw it. It looked like a diamond and I knew what it was, it was my star seed. But then I wasn't dying, I knew that I was supposed to. I hung suspended in air as I balanced between life and death, all I could feel was the pain of having my star seed ripped out. It echoed throughout my whole body over and over. I heard her cackle. "You will stay like that…" she told me, "until you give in." The man stood beside her his cane with the skull glowing the eyes was crimson as I died the glow brighten, but it would bring me back. I was dead, without the relief. I stayed like that for a long time, not giving in, but I couldn't take it. I was starting to go insane. I had control over my body and tried to kill myself with the dagger, or crush my star seed, but it didn't work. I finally gave in knowing that you would kill me. I knew that you could give me the relief that I needed in death. You weren't supposed to believe me, you were supposed to run me through." His eyes had never left hers, she had never interrupted him, and she had listened. "I know that you don't understand." He told her.
"I know what it is like to have my star seed taken. I know the pain." She said, her eyes were misty with tears.
"Anything else?" He asked standing.
"Did you really love me?" Him killing her really didn't seem like an issue anymore.
"More than anything." He told her without hesitation.
"Now?" She asked not sure if she really wanted to know.
"Nothing has changed that. I still love you."
"Why?" She asked, shocking herself.
"Your fire, your passion, your heart." He told her looking at her. "That damn stubborn streak." He said on a smile.
"Thank you." She said standing by him, then rising on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. A loud clap of thunder shook the building a little and she jumped a little surprised. She looked out the window shocked to see the rain pouring down in sheets. "I can't go out in that." She whined.
"Don't worry, I'll take the couch."
"No you take the bed." She could never fall asleep think of him under those same sheet half-naked. He went and found her an old T-shirt and sweats that she could sleep in. She changed then curled up on the couch, it was too noisy for her to sleep so she went in and peaked in the bedroom, he was fast asleep. She stood staring at him and minutes passed as she watched his chest move steadily up and down. Then a sharp light filled the room followed by a clap of thunder loud enough to wake him. He came awake and looked around the room, looking for the clock, but his eyes found hers. He smiled groggily when he saw her standing there. He pulled back the sheets and opened his arms she walked in the room and climbed under the covers with him cuddling against his warm body. "Thank you." She mumbled against his chest and soon she was asleep. She woke up many times in the night startled by the thunder, but she was always safe, wrapped in his arms.
Across town Mako-chan cuddled in Nathan's arms. It was late but neither could sleep. "Do you think that Rei and Jed will get everything figured out."
"I have a feeling that they will." He said with a smile.
00-00-00-00
It rained into the next day and Rei stayed with him until the rained stopped. They talked and caught up and she learned about his new life on earth. He told her that he was preparing to move here and was now looking for an apartment of his own. She also found out that he could cook, really well. She asked his a question about the past and he would answer it with a fond smile and tell her a story that would either have her laughing or crying.
"Look the rain stopped." She observed, but all he looked at was her.
"Are we together?" He asked.
"Yes, baka we are," She said laughing at him.
"Not like that, like this?" He asked holding her hand and pulling her near. She got the meaning when his arms fell on her shoulders.
"Yes." She whispered. "We are together." They were smiling when their lips met the first time. She lost herself a minute in his embrace. Then pulled out. "Walk me to the temple?" She asked.
"Of course, love. I do love you."
"I know," she said with a laugh. "I love you too." He caught her around the waist swinging her into a hug. Her raven locks swung around and he ran his hands through it.
"I always loved you hair." Kissing the stands, "And your eyes." He kissed them too as they fluttered closed.
"Stop procrastinating, my grandpa's not that scary." She said then drug him in the hall laughing.
00-00-00-00
So this chapter seems really long, and not a lot happened but it will get better. Now that some of the conflict is out of the way there is more drama I need to create…
Thanks for reading.
Cat