Chapter 12: Missing pieces

*Setsuna*

She looked at the monitors again. It was beginning to feel as if Setsuna lived in this room. Serenity had put her here almost exclusively since Botan had arrived. In a way, Serenity was punishing her because she knew she was withholding information. On the other hand, she knew that Setsuna would be vigilant and report anything she saw here. That would not break the laws of space and time. And Setsuna had always been dedicated to her duty.

At last Setsuna reached the stream connected to Botan's suite. Setsuna was surprised to see Vesta sitting in a chair, obviously talking to Botan. From her understanding Vesta was supposed to be guarding Botan. She watched curiously as Botan went over and filled two tea cups. She brought them back and the two of them kept talking. Just as Setsuna was about to turn on the audio feed, something happened. Video was constant, but audio was manual. She saw Vesta take a sip of the tea and her powers as guardian of time saw a shift…. A frightening one. Damnit! She had to decide what to do.

What was Setsuna supposed to do? As guardian of time she could NOT tamper with the timeline as it shaped and changed. Setsuna didn't see everything all of the time. But most of time she had a generally idea and when major shifts occurred it never escaped her vision. This shift, it was major. It made her think of when Haruka and Michiru came to see her a little while ago, after Haruka had met with the queen. They respected the burden of her duties and were appreciative of the times she'd broken the rules to help them. Unlike Serenity, they understood that she couldn't do it whenever she wished, or there'd be no rules to begin with.

Regardless, they'd come to her privately and asked one more time if there was anything that she could tell them. She'd had to say no even though she'd wanted to tell them everything. However, Haruka had told her what she knew about the nightmares Kiyoko had been having before she left. Haruka trusted Setsuna almost as much as she trusted Michiru. And this shift, it would result in something very tragic indeed. Perhaps the dreams Kiyoko was having were visions.

It was such a difficult thing, being bound by conflicting duties. She hoped for Kiyoko's return to come swiftly. Setsuna stood and went to report what she could, that Vesta appeared very lax in her duties at the moment…. Unable to report anything else.

*Kiyoko*

Michiru and Kiyoko had made it out of the park and continued walking, Kiyoko still holding Michiru's violin case. As they made their way down the street it seemed Michiru had deduced where they were headed. She kept walking and asked, "Atsuko-chan, I suppose I will keep calling you that until I know your real name. What business do you have at the high school?"

"Business? Michiru, I simply observed what you were wearing and came to the conclusion that you must need to get to school," Kiyoko replied, keeping her tone and pitch level and hopefully unsuspicious.

Michiru glanced sideways at her, clearly onto her, but she didn't call her on it when she spoke next, "So, you're not a threat? What do you mean by that?" She kept walking, never losing that picture of refinement that was her hallmark.

It was comforting in a way, to see her like that. It reminded her of the Michiru she knew, the one that had been like a mother to her for a long time. On the other hand it made her feel alone all over again. Kiyoko didn't look at Michiru, couldn't, as she responded, "I mean you no harm. And I mean Usagi-chan no harm. I…." She trailed off, wishing she could tell her that she'd never hurt her family…. And then the image came back to her… The image of Michiru lying on the ground, a lifeless shell….. A tear escaped her eye.

"You seem so lonely now, but when you were with Haruka you seemed like you're… like you're at home. But you tell me not to worry," Michiru said. If one only examined the words they'd think that she was jealous again. But her tone told Kiyoko she was still looking for answers.

Kiyoko nodded, "I feel very comfortable with Haruka-san. She reminds me of my best friend at home." Kiyoko was starting to feel the drain of this half-truth game. She wasn't cut out for it like Botan.

Michiru arched an eyebrow, asking, "Who do I remind you of? Who did you shed that tear for?" They had made it to the front gates of the school.

"Someone else who means a lot to me, someone who's always looked out for me," Kiyoko knew her eyes looked haunted as she saw them reflected in Michiru's eyes.

It appeared that Michiru would say something, but then she saw something behind Kiyoko. Kiyoko felt it or her rather a second later. Footsteps closed the distance and Kiyoko heard Rei yell, "Michiru-san!"

Just like that Michiru had a smile on her face and said, "Hello Rei-chan. What are you doing here?" Kiyoko hadn't turned, but she recalled that Rei had never gone to school with the others.

Kiyoko finally decided to turn and face the only psychic she knew of in their circle of people besides her father. She smiled and bowed, "Hello, my name is Atsuko, but you can call me Atsuko-chan. I love your uniform."

Rei looked at Kiyoko for a moment, narrowing her eyes, and then said, "Nice to meet Atsuko. My name is Rei." Then she turned her attention back to Michiru and tilted her head, "Just trying to get a peek at the Three Lights. It's not fair they go to your school!" Kiyoko giggled, having forgotten that even Rei had been sucked into the Three Lights fandom.

However, the chain in her mind soon led to the same dilemma she'd faced the other day. Kiyoko couldn't see Seiya! She turned back to Michiru and held out her violin case, "I am sorry Michiru-san, but I am afraid I have somewhere to be." She bowed and called over her shoulder, "It was nice to meet you Rei!"

Kiyoko had made it about a block or so when she felt Rei following her. She was about to start running when she heard Rei call out, "Atsuko! Wait!"

She could still run, but that would be more suspicious. And Kiyoko knew that Rei was the last person she wanted to make suspicious of her, besides Setsuna perhaps. And so Kiyoko turned and smiled. When Rei got close she asked, "What is it Rei?"

Rei looked at her very deadpan and said, "Usagi told me about the girl who crushed Sailor V, and now I see you with Michiru-san." Her eyes narrowed again, "Who are you? And what are you running from?"

Thinking about the question, Kiyoko's voice turned grief-stricken as she answered, "I am someone who is running from the missing piece of me and running toward it at the same time." She knew it didn't make sense, but it was the only answer she could give.

Rei blinked and looked at Kiyoko earnestly and said, "Don't run from that piece, everyone deserves to be whole."

Her answer surprised Kiyoko and she couldn't hide it, "It is surprising to hear that from you Rei." Then she looked down and whispered, "I fear the chance at hope. Do you ever feel that way?" She was thinking about when she restored the Shitenou.

Rei looked up to the sky and the wind blew her hair. It made her look very beautiful, very much like the Rei she knew. She whispered, "I do." A moment later Rei looked back, "You really aren't the enemy, are you?"

At times like the Kiyoko appreciated Rei's natural psychic powers. Kiyoko told her honestly, "No. I am not. But keep watch over Usagi. There are great trials ahead. However, I really must go. I hope to see you again Rei, sometime…." Kiyoko meant that, she just didn't know if it would be here or in Crystal Tokyo. With that she crossed the street and made sure that she lost Rei. When Kiyoko was certain she stopped in an alley and started crying, missing Seiya and her children so very much that her heart ached, threatening to shatter at any moment.

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