It took hours until SunTzu called Minako back.

As the tip of the spear he had carried the counter attack further into the Deep Core to secure the important trade routes and hyperspace lanes.

The Force-sensitive pilot didn't even wait until the smoke had cleared before he left with a micro-hyperspace jump. He couldn't stand another high ranking officer praising his doings.

Winning battles doesn't give you much when your home is broken…

There was no high after the battle, had been no high in the midst of the battle, just heartache as the woman he loved slowly was slipping out of his hold.

AICA was hanging in the absolute nothing, the essence of the void, hundreds of thousands kilometers away from the smallest object, when SunTzu called Minako.

"Finally! I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't call at all. Where are you?" The blonde picked up her phone, her voice giving away relieve.

"Somewhere in space."

Somewhere that is as void as me.

"That's rather… vague. Anyways, like I already said, you really should go and talk with Rei. And Rei with you. Maybe on neutral ground. Maybe away from all that bothers. Why you guys don't take the time to get away and work things out until we all leave again?"

SunTzu had to admit that idea wasn't the worst.

Thirty seconds after hanging up he was in Hyperspace.


Rei was in her office in the Diplomatic Service part of the Palace's Administrative Building.

She had decided that maybe work could distract her a bit from all this mess that her relationship was right now.

But work didn't help to keep her mind off of things and she had been reminiscing all the time about the beginning of her and SunTzu's relationship.

In midst of the mountain of papers to sign in front of her she suddenly sat up straight and let out a big sigh.

No wonder that Hollywood only ever showed how the couple got together and never how their relationship played out.

Suddenly her mobile phone, which was laying near her right hand, rang. It was Minako and Rei wondered if the blonde whirlwind was calling in her role as Goddess of Love and brought news from SunTzu or if she would call as First of the Senshi and start a discussion about what she had said to the Neo Queen.

"Minako?" Rei took the call, her voice being completely neutral.

"Hey, did he call you yet?"

"No. And I don't know if he will. Or if I should call."

Or if he is still alive and didn't fly headfirst into his demise…

"Well, he called me back. He is on his way apparently. I made a suggestion to him and I guess you'd like it too."

"What suggestion would that be, Minako?"

"Get away, for a day or two. Until the Far Side leaves again. Talk to each other on neutral ground but where you can't just run away from each other either."

Rei nodded approvingly, phone in her hand.

"I know you're nodding in approval now, Senator."

"I have to admit, It's not the worst idea."

"Well, after all I'm the Goddess of Love. And i can't let my showcase couple break up like that, especially because you two love each other to death. Anyways Rei, I told SunTzu that i will see some places that you guys might like. I'll forward the options to you as well."

"Thanks Minako. How… how is he?"

"He seemed to be sad."

"He's a lot more sensitive than people think." Rei said absently and a pause between the two best friends followed.

"Let me know, what you found. I'll be in the office a bit more." Rei then continued, her voice normal again.

"Will do. Rei?"

"Yes Minako."

"I'll do my best to help you fix this."

"I know. Thank you Minako."

"My pleasure. Bye Rei."

"Bye Minako."


Minako had sent her two friends proposals for romantic short trips and both, SunTzu and Rei had to admit that their friend was doing her best to help the couple.

It was after nightfall when SunTzu arrived back at earth and while he descended onto Tokyo he plucked up his courage and made a phone call.

"Hello." Rei, took the call, her voice not completely hiding her surprise that SunTzu finally had called.

"Hi." SunTzu replied and fell silent for a moment.

"You're on your way home?" He then asked, as the sound of her Porsche 911 was quite audible.

"Yeah."

"Long day?"

"Yeah. And yours?"

"I'm at least back in one piece. You found a favorite amongst the places Minako sent us?"

Both their voices showed nervousness and uncertainty, as both didn't know how the other's mood was right now.

"I… I actually wanted to decide with you. If you're up for it."

"S-sure. Shall we meet for breakfast somewhere? Juban or Mita?"

"Sounds great. What about that small confectionery you like so much in the Juban Arcades?"

"I'd really like that."

"Good. So there then. Nine tomorrow?"

"I'll be there."

Both lovers felt awkward, they way they talked was so estranged.

"Where are you right now?" Rei asked carefully, while the red sports car made it's way over the bridge that connected Minato and Azabujuban with Crystal Tokyo.

"You're on the Minato Bridge, right?" SunTzu replied.

"Yes. Almost on the other side."

"Take out some velocity."

Rei knew what this meant and decreased her velocity slightly as she briefly looked up into the sky to find AICA with SunTzu inside.

But SunTzu wasn't up in Tokyo's night sky.

AICA descended over the edge of the bridge and SunTzu pulled her around, so that her cockpit was facing the street now, before he moved her over the German car.

For a blink of an eye their gazes met and both shared the tiniest of smiles before he was gone again.

"You're wearing that yellow Versace Suit you look so posh in." SunTzu said, his voice almost a whisper before he continued with normal volume.

"Sorry, I didn't meant to show off."

This provoked a small smile from Rei inside her car, concentrating back on the almost empty road.

"I'll fly home, see you tomorrow morning."

"TopGun?" She asked gently.

"Rei?"

"I love you. I hope you know that."

"I love you too, Moeru Shōjo. Never forget that."

With that he ended the call and shot away, with AICA accelerating almost to the speed of sound.

Fifteen minutes later, he had flown AICA to his place and the AI than had taken over for the way to her hangar. SunTzu was under the shower in his apartment and tried to wash the day away.

While he had been chasing two I-7 Starfighter earlier at the battle, next to him a corvette had broken apart and the corpse of one of it's crew members had banged into AICA and her shield, right next the cockpit.

SunTzu had seen the young woman's face in front of him passing by like in slow motion, her dark short hair reminding him of Hotaru.

It were pictures like that kept him awake at night when he was alone. It was easier to calm down and relax when Rei was around.

For several minutes he had been standing under the running water now when suddenly the door bell rang.

He turned off the water grabbed a towel and while he put it around his waist he walked towards the door.

He checked if his pistol was on the nightstand near the door before he opened the door to whoever that could have been.

Maybe it had been stupid, maybe it had been the wrong thing to do. Maybe everything they were doing right now was already just stalling the inevitable. Who even knew if he would open the door at all.

But in the moment Rei heard SunTzu say that he was sorry for showing off, she knew that the only place where that stinging pain in her chest would finally stop was in his arms.

His eyes widened in surprise when he saw her standing there, lips pressed together and apparently trying very hard to keep herself together.

Appearing in front of him had the exact same effect on him and for a moment both stood in front of other, trying very hard to find some sly words to greet the other.

But all the two lovers could bring out was nothing.

After a moment both gave in and the considered crafty words were replaced by an tight embrace.

"I'm sorry, I had to see you."

"I'm glad you came."

The two lovers kissed gently.

"Rei, I'm so…"

The raven haired laid a finger on his lips.

"Sush. Let us just enjoy this moment. Just our togetherness." She cupped her hand tenderly around the side of his face, stroking over his beard before she stood up on her tiptoe and kissed him again.


The couple's night spoke of actions not of words, and the next morning Rei woke up on SunTzu's chest, realizing that his heartbeat was still her favorite tune.

SunTzu had his eyes closed but gently ran his fingers through the black of her hair. It had been a while since he found so much rest and peace of mind in a night.

The feeling was mutual between both lovers.

SunTzu had to think that as long as both would stay together they would be okay. Sure, even the two of them together couldn't beat Abeloth but they stood their ground and got out. And the entity was probably the most powerful foe there was. Other than that they were unstoppable, always had been.

After Rei had entered his apartment yesterday, she had asked him for a single favor, up until they would come back, they wouldn't talk a single word about the War. SunTzu agreed, although inside him he felt it was the wrong approach, the War was an elephant in the room for them.

Rei and SunTzu finally got up, very sparse with words, but there was no need. What they lacked in words they declared in touches, in kisses, embraces and caressing.

As gentle, loving and caring the touches were and as good how they felt both had to admit, that the touches hurted in another way. They still loved each other above everything but something was still different. It had been before, at least ever since the last weeks. Ever since the Fall of Rago. The dark cloud, that shadow around their love was not to deny.

The feeling of love and the need for each other's closeness was still there but the easiness, the unforced fun and the lightness of the two just being themselves was mostly gone. Both were even afraid to trade the couple's trademark banter with each other, afraid it would backfire and form into an argument.

They did went out for breakfast, although it was way later than nine, and visited the place the couple used to love so much before. While having breakfast, Rei could actually sense the gratefulness and the love in SunTzu as she stretched out with her psychic powers. But she could also feel his uneasiness and as soon as she felt the negative emotions she cut the mental connection.

Between pastry and coffee the couple decided on which place they wanted to go for their getaway, the most secluded of them all. A tiny island just housing one beautiful bungalow on a small, exclusive resort planet in the colonies.

"Reminds me of a very special island." Rei said and for the first time since ever they had left SunTzu's apartment she showed a genuine, full formed smile.

SunTzu laid his arms around her neck and he looked her deep into the eyes.

"This was such a nice holiday." He stated with a genuinely happy smile.

"Yes it was. And don't forget, that you still owe me a holiday on Bestine after the …War." Rei had problems getting the word out and before she finished both had clinged their foreheads together and their eyes closed with Rei turning her head after finishing the sentence.

A sanguine Minako called them when they had finally started their journey to the resort planet, called Tirabim. It already was somewhen in the afternoon. The joyful blonde's enthusiasm made the couple feel even more happy amd excited about the trip and while Minako jokingly asked if they needed a romantic private concert in their bungalow on their island which she would grant them if they would take her along, SunTzu's hand appeared at the side of Rei's backseat and she took it while she leaned forward and slung an arm around him from behind him.

The two lovers almost were at the height of the moon and Rei expected that they would jump to hyperspace immediately but somehow they stayed in sublight although AICA was flying fast.

SunTzu noticed the questioning look on Rei's face over the rear mirror.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes, but why we don't jump to hyperspace?"

"I was thinking before we head off to Tirabim, while not make a small visit to Phobos and Deimos Castle as well."

"So, you're trying to make it a tradition now? Every time we flee from civilization to a secluded island we make a detour to my palace? I can get behind that."

SunTzu saw that sly grin he had fallen in love with months ago appear on the face of the woman that ever since had possessed his heart and the pilot began automatically to grin as well.

"Off we go then." He said, accelerated even faster and spun AICA into a barrel roll, which made Rei began to giggle in the back.

Soon they arrived at the palace, the ancient seat of power for Princess Mars. They landed in the central hall and SunTzu got out before he reached a hand for Rei to get out.

She took the hand and swung herself out and just as planned and as so often before she landed safely in his arms.

Both shared a deep look into each other's eyes, their faces closed and their lips locked.

What had been the problem all along? It's like it always was, we love each other and that's what counts.

"So, um, what was your plan after we arrived here?" Rei asked after the kiss, arms still slung around his neck while he still held her up in his arms.

"Good question. I guess I wanted to be completely alone with you without having to wait until we arrive at the island."

Rei cupped his face and let out a small laughter.

"TopGun, are we a little insatiable today?"

"No, it's not that. I wanted to tell you so many things, I wanted to fix all this but when I look at you all I can think about how much I love you and how much I need you." He gently put her down on her feet. "And that I cannot take how things are right now because I need you. And I want things back how they were and not this awkward mess we are in. Which let's us slowly drift apart."

His voice had gradually become louder and now he stared at the floor and hoped Rei wouldn't see the tear that glistened in his eye.

Rei embraced him and laid her head on his chest.

"I know what you mean. I wish we could go back to easier times, before this War and the whole Galaxy came in between us. When it just was you, me and teasing each other because we were feeling invincible. Before the fear of loosing you came in."

Her eyes teared up as well and for what could have been everything between a minute and two hours the couple just stayed in it's embrace.

Rei Hino, Senshi of Fire and War, Princess of Mars and Galactic Senator, knew that the War wouldn't just stop like that. Just for them to be what they were again. For that it was too big by now, too many individuals had been affected, too many had died, too many had been injured and too many had been displaced. Things would not get back to what they were before and their feeling of invincibility wouldn't come back.

SunTzu always says that the Force knows what it is doing with the Galaxy.

So Rei wasn't even surprised when AICA broke the silence inside the castle with what would spoil their getaway and the chance to talk everything over.

"Guys, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but SunTzu you might want to have a look at this. Seems there is a storm brewing in the Deep Core."

But SunTzu's answer was something completely different than what Rei expected as he turned back to her.

"What if we just run away from anything? Just you and me? Start over somewhere new?"

And in that moment Rei realized something.

No matter what she would do, no matter what would happen with him or between the two of them, no matter how much she would hate it and how much she would fight about it with him , no matter how much they loved each other, SunTzu wouldn't and he couldn't run from his destiny, even if it would change his being. Even if it would break them apart.

"You know we couldn't, even if we would try. I'm a Galactic Senator and you are needed in this War."

And then she looked up into his eyes and put a hand on his chest, before she took a step back and nodded, motioning him to check what AICA wanted to show him.

He kept his eyes locked at hers for another moment before he turned around and swung himself back into the cockpit.

The time is always in flow and parameters could change, Setsuna always had said to her and Michiru regarding their visions about the Prophecy of the Man that would become Personified War, the One to fight Chaos, but the Prophecy would fulfill itself.

On one hand Rei had found acceptance for SunTzu and his doings, for what he was becoming but on the other side it broke her heart even more as she couldn't live on in constant fear of loosing him or even worse what this War would make him become.

SunTzu checked the incoming Intel, a huge fleet, made up of Republic ships from the Clone Wars was closing in onto the recently re-conquered surroundings of the Koros Trunk Line. If the Reserve Fleet and Local Security Forces on scene wouldn't get help soon they were doomed and the enemy could occupy parts of the hyperlanes.

Rei waited a few moments, tried to gather her thoughts, tried to work up enough strength to go home again and admit that this attempt to save their relationship hadn't work out. She tried to shield herself up as much as she could, she knew he would sense the sorrow and pain inside her.

Rei looked around the Palace one last time, remembering the last time SunTzu had been here with her. It felt so far away, like from an ancient time, a different life and then she took a last long breather.

I really wish Love would be enough to make things work out…

They left Phobos and Deimos Castle again and sped back to Earth, SunTzu would bring Rei back safely before he would leave. Even if she would have insisted otherwise and had wanted to tag along, this battle would be a though one and her safety was and would always be his first concern.

SunTzu turned around to Rei, a few moments after they had left Mars behind them and the Red Planet began to shrink in the rear mirror. Of course SunTzu had sensed Rei's sorrow as she had felt his, both their hearts were aching, bleeding, full of pain.

"I really, really, really wished War wouldn't have catched up with us tonight." He said with a weak voice before he turned around again, concentrating on steering AICA through the void.

Sitting behind him, Rei silently began to cry.

ANs: Sidestories, BTS-Commentaries and Soundtrack-Suggestions on AO3.

Thank you everybody for reading and the feedback, it's deeply appreciated!