A/N - Hello to all. I'm sure you are ready to choke me. I do apologize that it has taken this long for me to post another chapter. I'm ready glad though that so many of you have taken a liking to my little story. I will do my best not to let you down. Thank you for all my reviews... this story has received more reviews than my completed Labyrinth story... which I find funny. I will try not to wait quite so long to post the next chapter. Luv ya all and enjoy.

Chapter 8

Before the sun could greet the morning Kakyuu quickly made her way to Prince Kage's living quarters. She stood at his door and took a deep breath before knocking. She wanted to make sure he hadn't left before she had one last chance to talk sense into him. She was worried and certainly didn't want to see harm come to any of her people, but she already knew that regardless of what she said to him he would still pursue his self-appointed mission. If there was any way to change his mind she would have found it, but there was nothing. When no answer came she resumed with a second knock with a little more force. This time she heard movement from behind the door. Shortly after the door opened to reveal Kage hair soaked and shirtless. The princess blushed with embarrassment turning her head giving him privacy to put a shirt on.

"I'm sorry Princess. I wasn't expecting you." He gave a shrug as he walked back to his bar and continued making his breakfast.

With her hands on her hips she scowled him. "That is not the behavior of a prince. Who were you expecting?"

He glared at her question. "Obviously someone who isn't coming." He threw the empty cooking pan into the sink. She could tell that he was indeed disappointed, but his attitude changed immediately to annoyance. "What is your business here? I'm kind of busy today." He gave her a menacing smile. " I have a rather long trip to prepare for."

"That's why I'm here." She sat in a chair next to the bar as he stood on the other side eating his eggs, bacon, and toast. "I wanted to tell you good-bye since you will not return from this trip. Just as your previous life, it seems that you are deciding to be destined to die." Her words were grim, but she spoke them with sympathy.

"That may be so Kakyuu, but I will bring Hell to Earth in my final glory and my blade will shed blood in my last breath." Angered once more he grabbed her by the arm escorting her to the door pushing her out into the hallway. With a smirk on his face he taught. "How does it feel?" and he shut the door.

Furious Princess Kakyuu stormed down the hallway heading towards her throne room. "So be it Kage. Enjoy your time… for it is short." Part of her felt defeated. She knew with every inch of herself that she wasn't going to change his mind, but obviously a part of her had hope. Not anymore.

The morning came all too quickly. Seiya woke as the rising sun filled his room. He looked over all of his art in the morning sun watching the colors play off the walls of his own gallery. 'I wish I could take these with me.' He sighed as the memory of last night rushed back to him. 'Was it real, or have I lost my mind in loneliness? Did I really talk to her, touch her, smell her? There is warmth inside of me that has grown stronger. Odango, you are apart of me. I can feel you in me.' He smiled to himself but it did not reach his eyes.

He showered contemplating on what the day will bring. Transforming into Fighter as she stepped onto the cold bare floor. She walked into her room and dressed. She held excitement and anxiety as she glanced over her room for the last time before shutting her door and for the first time ever she didn't bother locking it. She wasn't leaving the soul locked away anymore.

She chose to walk the palace gardens. Memorizing the city for it would perhaps be the final time she'd see it. Sadness filled her heart as reality once again kicked in. 'I may never return. I may never watch the sunrise as it sends light cascading over the city or see the native flowers bloom.' She sighed and felt herself tearing up. 'Or gaze up into the night sky as the three moons shine upon me,' Through the tears a glimpse of a smile crossed her lips. 'But I'll have her moon… her shine is brighter and more hypnotic than a thousand moons.' Fighter sat underneath a large tree in the grass, not unlike the cherry blossoms on Earth. Laying her back against the trunk she inhaled the sweet air deeply enjoying the fragrance of the garden. She suddenly realize how much she was going to miss her home.

A shadow was casted over her eyes when she felt the presence approaching her. She opened her eyes to find Prince Kage Hoshi standing a few feet away from her. A smile that seemed bittersweet graced his face. "I remember when we would walk these gardens for hours talking and laughing. We were so happy then and inseparable. I wish I knew where that girl was. The girl that loved and cherished our time together and wouldn't ever leave my side. What happened to her?"

Fighter sighed at his heartbreaking words. "I truly am sorry Kage. Never would I have wanted to hurt you, but the woman you seek died with you in her arms. I'm not the woman you loved." She pleaded with her eyes for him to understand, but she saw them shut down and hollow.

"And I know why you aren't." He cut her off, his anger starting to show. "Someone has stolen your heart and I will rip it from their hands to reclaim it as my own. I will take you back. You will be mine." He began stepping towards her again.

She stood to her feet aggravated. "You don't understand Kage. It's not quite like that." She sidestepped the tree she was up against and was backing a few steps away from him. She didn't want to fight him. Not here, not now, not ever, but if she had to... so be it.

"Then make me understand." It was more of a challenge than a request.

She walked to the next tree giving more space between them and leaned against it. She stared at the ground grasping for the words. Her voice was filled with sympathy and regret as she met his injured eyes. "I wouldn't even begin to know how, but I'm not that person anymore and I never will be again." She was fighting tears again. "I was reborn into a different life and it is clear that you aren't my destiny. Please let me go. I am destined to another."

To finally hear her say the words infuriated Kage and he once more turned violent. "You can't have a destiny with a dead man." His words sent cold shimmers through her body. "If you are not mine… you are no one's. I will take you." He closed the space between them in a flash and grabbed her by the arm. 'Destiny can be rewritten as we both are experiencing, but this time I will be the writer. Your lover will die by my hand." He pulled her in close to him and kissed her angrily bruising her lips.

Fighter stood paralyzed for a moment before pushing him back and jerking her arm away from him. She felt herself becoming hysterical angered by his intrusion she found herself screaming. "You will die before I allow that to happen! Kage I will see your body breathless laying on the floor at my feet!" Her hands were shaking as tears of fury filled her eyes. "You don't stand a chance." She was surprised at how truly certain she was of those words. "What makes you think you'd even be able to find the one I love?" She snorted at him trying her best not to give away the fact that her destined other was not indeed a man.

His chuckle was cruel as he took a few steps back from her. "Awww… Fighter. It's you that makes that the easy part. I can feel the connection you and he hold. That power source is going to lead me straight to him." The answering expression on her face almost made him laugh.

His words brought fear into her heart and she stood tall. Her voice became dark and bared warning. "This is your one chance Kage. Stand down and accept your defeat or you will surrender your life." Her stare bored into his soul. "I will not be yours and I will not allow you to kill anyone who is dear to me." Her hands were clenched and her nails dug into her palms making them bleed.

His answering words held a challenge as he called out to her. "I guess I will see you on Earth then. " He turned on his heel and made his leave.

Once again in hysteria Fighter began to scream. "I will see your blood Kage! I will see you die by my hand!"

A call over his shoulder was carried by the wind. "That may-be so, but not before I've taken my revenge." He walked a distance away from her. The other Starlights that were watching the ordeal from a far joined Fighter's side. He stood in the courtyard with his final words he dared them. "See you on Earth, ladies. Star Shadow Teleport!" The flash of green sent shock-waves in all directions as they all watched the emerald shooting star make it's way to the sky.

Maker laid a hand on Fighter's shoulder. She looked at the other two Starlights with determination in her eyes. "Are you ready?" The two nodded as all three transformed into their black Sailor suits. "Let's go."

They stood in a circle holding hands. Their voices in unison called out. "Sailor Starlight Teleport!"

From her balcony Kakyuu watched the red, blue, and yellow shooting stars chase the green into the sky. "Good luck Starlights." A tear fell from her eye and a whisper fell from her lips. "Goodbye Fighter." She turned and walked slowly back inside.

Michiru feeling a disturbing aura looked over to Haruka with concern. "Did you feel that?"

"What?" Haruka took her hand with a sly smile ready to continue with seduction.

"We have visitors." Michiru's serious facial expression halted Haruka's teasing.

She sat up with tension in her features. "Is it them?"

"I don't know, but there's many of them and one of them is consumed with fury."

A/N - And they're off. I really do feel bad for Kage. He comes back to find out that the only woman he's ever loved.... the only reason he returned... doesn't love him anymore. I mean who wouldn't react the same way that he has. But it is better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for who you are not. Until Next Time.