Author's Note: A special thanks to my new Beta Reader, Celestial Serenity. I can't express my gratitude enough for your help moving forward.

Chapter 5: No Sense

*Ami*

She sat next to the beautiful Crystal Lake that was not far from the Palace with a book in her hand and a stack beside her on the ground. Zoicite placed his hand on her knee and caught her attention, "Ami, you have been on that same page for five minutes. That's not like you."

His warm smile comforted her, but Zoicite was right. She had stopped reading and hadn't turned the page as a result. The soldier of Mercury was lost in thought. Ami kept trying to reason her feelings out. But the water Senshi was failing miserably. She looked at Zoicite and nodded, "I'm sorry. I suppose I got a bit distracted."

Zoicite moves his hand to her cheek, "I noticed. Do you want to talk about it?" His emerald eyes enchanting Ami as they always did while a light breeze causes his golden hair to flitter a bit. Ami is still so shocked at how he can affect her so much. She never experienced this kind of emotion with anyone else in all of her life.

Pulling herself out of her enchantment, Ami managed to respond, "I just cannot make sense of this situation. Usagi and Botan are right in choosing not to take everyone with them. If this world is hostile toward outsiders than that kind of show of force, or that is how the people there would likely see it, would be unwise. Taking a small contingent makes more sense."

Nodding, Zoicite looked at her evenly, "Yet, despite all of the logic in their course of action it still bothers you." His hand got warm on her cheek and Ami could feel her feelings of distress shrinking, not disappearing but much smaller and less consuming anyway.

Placing her hand over his as she set her book down, Ami frowned, "You don't have to do that Zoicite. I do not need my emotions purified or healed. I need to understand." It was her way, she needed to understand things and always had.

He let the magic go and his hand cooled. Zoicite replied, "I know Ami. I was only trying to help you. But I do not think the answer will come in simple logic. Have you considered that even though you know it's the smart thing it bothers you because you care?"

Ami let her hand drop and stood up, "Of course I care Zoicite. They are my family and it is my duty to protect them. Nonetheless, I've always been able to put aside my feelings in favor of logic and reason."

Zoicite stood up with his hands in the front of him, "Slow down Ami. I did not mean to upset you." Again she finds those emerald eyes piercing her.

For some reason Ami found her eyes filling with tears and she crashed into Zoicite's chest, mumbling, "It doesn't make sense."

Zoicite pulled her back and kissed her tear stained cheek, "But it does my sweet. Your love for them outweighs your logic. It's natural Ami. No matter how illogical it is, I would risk everything for you and follow you to hell and back. You feel the same way about them, your friend of over a thousand years and her daughters that you've helped care for since birth. That kind of love knows no logic, and that is the way it is supposed to be."

As he pulled her back to his chest Ami cried silently, thankful this time for the warm energy she felt coming from him and enveloping her.

*Usa-chan*

It was time for Hestia to take Endo and Michiko back to Estara. Usa-chan was set to leave with her mother and the others tomorrow morning. Usa-chan stood in front of her best-friend and cousin and tried to put on a brave face. As her eyes started watering, Usa-chan knew how miserably she was failing. Endo came up and touched her hand, speaking to her telepathically… …"What is wrong Usa-chan? You're going on your first adventure as a Senshi. You should be excited. This makes no sense."…

She shook her head, but replied in the same fashion he had spoken to her... …"I wish you were going with us. I am not sure I want to go without you."… As the thoughts flowed from her to Endymion a tear made its way down her cheek.

Endymion's eyes became darker, more serious and he told her… …"There is no way I am letting you stay behind. You know how much I wish I could go. But they're right…. I look too much like him… At least my mother bears some resemblance to grandmother, and her being a girl changes things. You HAVE to go, for both of us!"…

Just then Ruka bounded over and took both of their hands, effectively severing the connection. She looked at them sternly, "No secrets! No telepathy here!" Then her eyes turned to Endo, "Do you not trust me to look after our cousin?"

Michiko walked up behind Endo at that point and responded to Ruka's query in a very matter of fact manner, "He does not trust anyone to look after her and he never will." A knowing expression crossed her face.

Ruka stuck her tongue out at Michiko and then said, "He gets psychic powers and you…. Well you get to manipulate time and you have premonitions obviously. This is sooo not fair!"

Usa-chan laughed and interjected with a smile, "But if they end up in a desert with no water, they're screwed. You can draw water from moisture in the air, could save your life. There's something to be said for that Ruka." She giggled as a proud smile crossed her cousin's face.

They all laughed and then Usa-chan saw her Aunt Kiyoko and Seiya approaching. She never knew what to call Seiya. She knew that her cousins called her papa, but Usa-chan found it odd to call her Uncle. When they reached the group, Kiyoko frowned, "It is time to go Endymion… Michiko… Hestia is ready and Estara awaits."

Usa-chan shared a tearful hug with both of her cousins and then watched as they walked away with their parents. She was left standing there with Ruka, tears streaming now. She felt a hand squeeze her own and when she looked over, Usa-chan saw the proud and fearless Ruka crying silently as well.

*Chiryō-shi*

The good doctor with the dark hair and eyes lay in bed, having been up most of the night. He wasn't on call today, but that would not have made a difference. Chiryō-shi had always had trouble sleeping. He had strange dreams and sometimes bone chilling nightmares.

He often dreamt of a world he'd never known… A world of magic and conflict. Some of it was awe inspiring and some of it was terrifying! He loved the idea of magic, but he hated violence. However, in his dreams one always brought the other. He dreamed of having a family, though he could never remember what they looked like afterwards. After he woke everything was fuzzy and he was only left with vague impressions. When he thought about he wondered if it would be worth the wonderment to live in a world that was so conflicted. Most of the time he found himself answering no.

In spite of himself, Chiryō-shi drifted off to sleep. Sure enough he found himself in the strange dream world, only it was more vibrant than it tended to be.

Chiryō-shi stood in a palace. It had to be a palace with as polished and grand as it was. He could hear voices down the hall. Chiryō-shi followed the sound and came upon two figures. One had white hair, bronze eyes and a tranquil smile; while the other hair the color of spring blossoms and eyes of garnet. He couldn't really make out anything else about them.

The one with white hair bowed to him as a spiritual energy surrounded him and the one with blossom hair giggled and shook her head at the other. Chiryō-shi was not even certain how he knew their genders, so vague were their features. Then she spoke, her voice high and youthful, "You married me, there is no need to bow to him anymore." The white haired one apologized and then they both faded away. The entire scene following after them.

In a matter of seconds, he found himself sitting in a field of flowers, the scent so sweet. Beside him was a small child, a girl presumably, with long raven hair that matched his own perfectly. When he heard her sing it confirmed that she was a girl, a siren perhaps. Her song was so beautiful and enchanting.

Suddenly all of the flowers wilted and a dark being with large wings snatched up the girl and threw him against a tree. As the colors started to run he heard a voice echoing… She died because you weren't there to protect her… You couldn't protect anything fallen prince!

Chiryō-shi sat straight up, drenched in sweat and horse from screaming. This is why he hated sleeping. This was not normal. Normal people did not have dreams like this. What was wrong with him? All he wanted was a simple life helping others, was that too much to ask for?