Chapter 13: Secrets to Tears

*Rei*

Crystal Tokyo

Something was strange when Rei woke in the morning. She could feel something scratching at the back of her mind as she got ready for the day and read the reports of activity detailing the situation with Kiyoko and Botan. Rei had actually read these reports at least three times. It felt so much like she was missing something. But she hadn't missed anything in the reports. Though she was frustrated to read that Sailor Vesta had been lax and relieved of her guard duty. In addition, she wasn't certain that she concurred with Serenity's decision to put Sailor Pallas on duty instead. Rei wondered if she was hoping to redeem her Senshi. As she read the reports for a fourth time Rei's head started to hurt. The pain felt like it was splitting her mind in two.

When it stopped a few minutes later Rei gasped as memories she was certain hadn't existed prior came slamming into the forefront of her mind. She hurriedly finished what she was doing and headed out of her chambers and toward the queen's. On her way she ran past the surveillance room and stopped. As far she knew Setsuna wouldn't be relieved for another hour and perhaps it would be best to speak to her about this first, she was the guardian of time after all.

Rei entered the room and let the doors close behind her. Setsuna looked over at her and spoke grimly, "So… You are the first to remember. I wondered who would, if anyone would. I shouldn't have doubted that someone would." Her eyes were so plagued with sorrow that it terrified Rei for a moment.

Taking a few steps closer, Rei replied, "How long have you known?" She was angry with Setsuna. Rei wasn't like Serenity, but this was different! It felt like something she should have shared!

Setsuna looked away, watching the monitors and told her, "Not as long as you think, and before you ask… I cannot tell anyone anything and I ask that you not either. My gut tells me that we have to let nature take its course. She will come back."

Not tell anyone? Setsuna couldn't be serious! She responded with a haughty tone, "So that is it then, you only care about the damn timeline!"

Surprisingly, Setsuna's face was covered in tears when she looked at Rei, "Of course not! I care about everyone, about her! But if I can't perform my duties as guardian of time and still be with all of you, then my time here will be over and all of you have come to mean too much to me. She means too much to me to watch from afar again. So I beg you Rei, tell no one that she is in the twentieth century and trust me that she will come home."

Stunned into silence by Setsuna's plea, Rei stood there and the two Senshi stared at one another. She pondered what Setsuna was asking, could she keep silent?

*Kiyoko*

She'd gone back to her room and collapsed on the bed, crying for a long time. When Kiyoko finally stopped crying she realized she was hungry and so she warmed up some of the leftover stew. It was still delicious. While washing her dishes she realized that Usagi would be getting out of school soon. Perhaps she should go and look for her or the others. But she couldn't go back to the high school. It was just too risky. Eventually Kiyoko decided that she would go to the café. Now that she had money, Kiyoko could get herself some tea and a nice piece of cake. That would make her feel better and hopefully give her the opportunity to bump into one of them again.

So Kiyoko headed out, having smoothed out her clothing, brushed her hair, and cleaned up her face. She absolutely couldn't look like a fall apart mess when she saw the others, whomever she saw today. She made her way to the café and ordered her tea and cake, waiting. Kiyoko sipped the tea and nibbled at the cake. At last she sensed them, Usagi and Minako. They really had spent a lot of time together in their youth. She heard them chatting as they entered and then Usagi caught sight of Kiyoko and waved one of her big waves that always radiated the light that shone from inside of her. Kiyoko waved back and the two of them walked over to the table, Usagi greeting Kiyoko happily, "Atsuko-chan! I'm so glad we ran into each other again!" Kiyoko could feel the sincerity in her mother, Usagi's, words.

Minako, however, looked a bit more guarded. It made her wonder if she'd been talking to Haruka, Michiru, or Rei. She smiled meekly though and said, "Hello Atsuko-chan. What are you doing here?"

"Honestly? I was hoping to run into you two again," Kiyoko told her deadpan. It appeared Minako had expected her to be evasive, she seemed caught off guard by it. So Kiyoko continued, this time playing the game, "I haven't had much luck making friends here so far."

Usagi looked down at her with sympathy, "That's terrible. But you're such a nice girl, I'm sure it won't take you long!" She sat down next to Kiyoko and smiled, "Besides, we're your friends, so at least you have some! Right Minako-chan?" She looked up at Minako with those puppy dog eyes that Kiyoko knew Minako couldn't resist, now or in the future.

Giving in, Minako sat down, though she definitely wasn't being as warm as Usagi, and said, "Of course Usagi! We're Atusko-chan's friends." Then she turned and looked at Kiyoko, "Usagi-chan always sees the good in people, always willing to give them a chance."

Kiyoko inclined her head slightly and responded to Minako, "Those with the purest hearts always look for the good in others. They often make the best friends one could ask for."

Minako nodded, "Agreed. And she is one of my best friends." She was clearly letting Kiyoko know that she would protect Usagi. Kiyoko understood, so she nodded in return.

Usagi looked between the two of them and laughed one of her high nervous laughs, "Minako-chan, Atsuko-chan, what's going on?"

Looking away from Minako, Kiyoko turned toward Usagi. She looked at her mother, or the beautiful young woman that would one day be her mother, and another tear escaped her eyes, "I'm sorry Usagi-chan, but I think that I should go. It was nice to see you again." She stood and quickly left the café, running down the street, more tears filling her eyes.

This was so hard, it was strange to be on the outside of the circle that had always protected the daughters of the Silver Millennium. She was used to being on the inside, Kiyoko missed it. She hated having her family treat her like she was the enemy. So she ran and ran…. Kiyoko ran past the spot Haruka had tracked her down on, past the park Michiru had lured her into with the sound of her sweet music… Michiru had called her a siren, but no one was seduced by the sound of her voice here….. Here she was alone and avoiding the love of her life…. Kiyoko kept telling herself it was to preserve the timeline… But was that all there was to it? She thought back to what she knew about this period of time… The things that wicked Botan had said to her…. Deep down Kiyoko knew that the timeline wasn't the only thing keeping her away from Seiya…. Kiyoko was consumed by fear, the fear that she was wrong about their love being destined… That Seiya would be so focused on her mother that she wouldn't even notice Kiyoko… Or see her as more than a pretty face…. What would she do if that were the case? How could she go home and face the life she shared with Seiya if that were the case….?

All of these thoughts spun in her mind as she kept running, more and more tears falling down her face, clouding her vision… So consumed was Kiyoko by all of this that she didn't see the universe at work, forcing her to face her fears. Before she realized it, Kiyoko had slammed into someone and fell backwards. A split second later, Kiyoko heard the voice, not really comprehending the words… No… This couldn't be happening. Looking up she saw Seiya's kind face and her hand reaching out, "Miss, are you alright?" What was Kiyoko going to do now? Damnit!