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Ami walked into the living room to see Kunzite on his knees struggling to remove Venus's 'Love Me' chain from his throat so he could breathe. Jupiter held Nephrite several inches off the ground as he scratched at her hand desperately. Jedite was flat on his back the spike of Mars's red heal pressed into his throat.
She saw Serenity and Endymion standing a few feet in front of her remaining still in shock. Setsuna and Zoicite were staring in awe from the couch.
"It wasn't them." Came Ami's quiet voice of reason.
"I felt his sword pierce my heart as his tongue slipped from my mouth." Mars whispered as she pressed her heal harder into Jedite's throat.
"This bastard whispered sweet promises into my ear before running me through!" Jupiter's gripped tightened as Nephrite began to resemble a plum.
Venus gave a tug on her chain, tightening the hold on Kunzite's throat while pulling him a few inches forward. "He kissed me, held me for a brief moment. He said he had my back! The bastard stabbed me from behind!" Tears flowed from her eyes. "I heard you laugh as you pulled the sword from my back you son of a bitch!"
Ami sighed. "We know each of the men in our own right. 10,000 years ago our minds were fogged with thoughts of the battle. Now our minds are fogged with 10,000 years of hatred. But think back. Not for them but for yourself. Rei you kissed Jedite a million times. You used to gossip with us about his sweet touches. Makoto you used to tell us about your secret meetings, stolen kisses, and whispered promises. Minako think about the man you used to spar with. The man who's kisses you knew so well. Were those their touches? Their words? Would men so honorable kill in such a way?"
Minako pulled harder, "What other explanation is there?"
"Ask them."
But-"
"Ask them."
"Why do you not strike your lover? Were you not killed in the same way on our final day?"
"The individual who killed me tenderly kissed me and ran a hand through my hair. As I was stabbed through the heart I reached out and grabbed the lapel of his uniform. I grabbed a woman's breast. My mind was just as befuddled as yours that day. However, I have made love with that man enough times to know he didn't have an breasts. As I lay their dying, I began to understand that who ever had killed me had looked like him, and known what he would have done. But the kiss wasn't as tender, the hand in my hair a little to rough."
Rei looked up from her prisoner on the floor. "And you never thought to mention this before now?"
"None of us ever spoke of how we died that day. And we never ran into our loves until this day, so it didn't seem pertinent to drag up those painful memories. Especially since none of you seemed willing."
The girls were quiet as they thought, their grips loosened.
"Would you like their memories from their last day?"
The four looked to Serenity. Tears of confusion streaked Rei's cheeks. "You can do that?"
Serenity nodded. She closed her eyes, concentrated a moment and the golden crescent began to blaze upon her forehead. After a moment the four girls got a far away look in their eyes and their respective symbol glowed just as brightly.
After a brief moment, Minako yanked her chain and Kunzite came tumbling at her feet landing on all fours. He looked up with confused eyes as she pulled back her right hand and slapped him across the cheek. "Thats for being foolish enough to kiss her and get yourself killed." She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around this neck, "And this is for knowing it wasn't me." She kissed him. After the second of shock, he returned it with as much passion and fervor.
Makoto needed no words. She released Nephrite's throat spilling him on his butt on the floor. She dropped to her knees and passionately tackled him before he had a chance to sit up.
Rei glared as Jedite, pressed her heal a little harder, then turned and stormed off. He sighed as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
Zoicite grinned. "You call her pyro in your last moments?"
Jedite nodded. "Yeah. The clone thing thought it was cute." He stood up and brushed himself off. "Ya know I almost think I prefer it."
"I heard that!"
Jedite sighed, headed off in the general direction of Rei, and proceeded to grovel at the feet of his fiery goddess.
Zoicite looked to Ami as she made her way over to him. "I'm glad you haven't spent the centuries hating me."
Ami raised an eyebrow. "It didn't seem logical with the information at hand."
"If you knew it wasn't me, why did you give up that day?"
"Because it was logical that if this creature had stolen your face, and you hadn't warned me then it had killed you."
"So you only knew because I don't have breasts?"
Ami laughed. "It was a battle! I was distracted. Though now that you mention it, I think I should do a physical examination just to make sure." Zoicite smiled as she pulled him off the couch and into a quiet room a ways down one of the hallways.
Endymion looked to a saddened Serenity. "Whats the matter, Love?"
Serenity sighed. "War is upon us."
Endymion nodded. "They need tonight."
"In this life time the girls are still young, we are all still young. Perhaps we shouldn't let them rush into things."
"You're afraid of them dying in the war to come, and you don't want them to rush things?"
She sighed. "I don't know. I'm just worried its been ten thousand years since they've been with their soul mates."
Endymion smiled. "The punishment is over." She nodded. "It was just as much a punishment for your senshi for having loved them in the first place."
She nodded, "They are stronger than me. I could not have spent these long years without your companionship." He nodded into her shoulder, hugging her from behind. "I suppose after all that time, it would be unfair to try and stop them from picking up where they left off." He nodded once more, using the opportunity to snuggle closer. "However," He raised his head to look at her face, as she cleared her throat. No response from the over zealous couples on her floor. She tried again. Nothing. She put two fingers to her lips and whistled. A disheveled Minako pulled back from the fervent kisses, a rumpled Kunzite tried to pull her back. Across the floor Makoto and Nephrite pulled back as one, using the opportunity to take a much need breathe. Serenity smiled. "I know its been a long time since you've, uhh... Seen each other. And far be it from me to try and keep you apart when I know I'm just as eager to 'see' Endy... However, not on my living room floor! There are plenty of bed rooms between my apartment and Endymion's!" Minako turned a lovely shade of crimson while Kunzite gave a wolfish grin. Nephrite looked a little flustered as Makoto suddenly became shy. Nephrite pulled Makoto back to him and they dissipated into the air as he teleported them to privacy. Kunzite saw this, and followed his example. Serenity rubbed the bridge of her nose with two fingers. Sighing, "For the love of the moon, I hope they had the sense not to land on our bed."
Endymion's chest rumbled as he laughed, and Serenity relaxed in his arms loving the feeling. "So you want to 'see' me?"
Serenity smiled. "It has been what, 10 years?" He grinned and they disappeared from the room.
Luna and Artemis sat on the coffee table a little stunned. They turned to Setsuna on the couch, she shrugged. "They'll discuss matters tomorrow after school. If you would like I can tell you what she's accomplished since her departure from your care."
Luna nodded. "Yes that would be quite wonderful."
Artemis looked thoughtful for a moment. "I remember, before we were required here... We spent the years with the Queen and yourself at your door. Why do you no longer guard it?"
"She told you of the accident?" They nodded simultaneously. "The princess needed me here. I would have returned after everything had been set in order, but the princess worked hard to build up her company so the Queen asked me to watch over it in her absence. The queen also told me to guide the princess upon her return. She's spent so many years mourning its slowly driving her mad. I think the Queen was afraid that if her daughter woke before the others, with no one by her side, the years would have finally taken their toll. Though after what she pulled last night, and her determination to keep the others at bay, I believe they already had. Hopefully with them by her side she can finally heal."
"Will you go back now?"
"I will do whatever my princess asks of me."
"Who will watch the door?"
"The Queens of Old have always kept a silent eye. If something is amiss I will be notified immediately."
The cats nodded. "Alright. Can you tell us why the Senshi have regained the ability to transform?"
Pluto shrugged. "I'm not sure really. I think it may be because they are now technically Endymion's guard. He gave them a choice and with their decision came the return of their powers."
"Ah, I see. I knew you'd have everything in order. So tell us what my charge has been up to? And how did she pull that nasty little trick on our computer main frame?"
Setsuna smiled and began to tell the cats what Serenity had been doing the previous weeks making sure to leave out no detail.