Chapter 18: Betrayal Surrounds

*Michiru*

The day had started out as a beautiful one. Haruka had wanted to take a walk, doing a perimeter check as they went. It sounded delightful to Michiru, and she hoped it would take Haruka's mind off of Kiyoko's retreat. At this point, even she couldn't help but worry. It was unlike Kiyoko to leave, especially for this long and not make contact at all. Michiru still looked at Kiyoko as a precious daughter, though she had to acknowledge her as a woman as well. She'd been through so much and grown so much from it, yet still she suffered. It was painful for her to see, but even more painful was watching Haruka suffer alongside her.

Michiru understood the complexity of the relationship between her lover and Kiyoko. She'd made peace with it long before either of them realized how complicated it was. Michiru looked over at Haruka as they walked hand in hand, combing for anything unusual. She saw that suffering in her eyes, that suffering Haruka would never discuss with anyone besides herself and Kiyoko. Michiru spoke gently, "Haruka, she is going to be okay. Kiyoko is taking care of herself. You have to stop punishing yourself for this."

Haruka knew she couldn't hide anything from Michiru. They'd been together for so long now. But in a way she loved that Michiru could see right through her hard exterior. She nodded, "I know Michi. But the bond…" She couldn't feel anything. Haruka knew something wasn't right. She'd been able to feel something even before they landed on Estara for the wedding.

"Perhaps she's shutting… well, both of you out. Maybe she just needs space," Michiru wanted to believe it, but she didn't. Just then they saw a strange figure in the sky, no there were multiple of them. The one in grey didn't say anything, but sent a blast of down toward the Crystal Palace. It deflected and struck the ground instead, causing everything to shake.

They'd both been knocked down, but got back to their feet quickly. Haruka squinted and realized one of the figures up there was Botan. She knew that creature was trouble! She looked at Michiru, "Ready?" Michiru nodded and they both prepared for a counter attack.

But suddenly the sky went dark and a multitude of black faceless phages appeared in front of them. Michiru exchanged a glance with her partner and went for her communication device, shouting into it, "We're under attack! All Senshi report to the south side of the Crystal Palace! Now!" Then the floating figures moved in closer and Michiru was filled with anger and disappointment. She didn't bother asking the young Asteroid Senshi what was going on, instead she launched her Deep Submerge attack at Ceres. She was their leader and therefore Michiru would hold her responsible.

*Kiyoko*

It hadn't taken much convincing to get Setsuna to agree to assist Kiyoko with her plan. Now Kiyoko had to convince herself to go through with it. She'd packed everything up in her room. After she was gone, Setsuna was going to come and take care of it all. She told her that she could do whatever she wanted with all of it, but it probably shouldn't be abandoned. Now she sat at the diminutive table sipping a cup of tea and thinking about what she had to do. It was late afternoon and it would be dark before Kiyoko knew it. And she was absolutely positive that Seiya would show up. Kiyoko went over and over what she had in mind again and again. Each time it broke her heart to even think it. It felt like a betrayal…. But she knew it was the right thing. Knowing it though only proved to make her cry.

As the tears silently streamed down her cheeks Kiyoko heard a knock at the door to her room. This was unexpected and inconvenient. It was Haruka, Kiyoko could sense it. What in the world did she want now? Setsuna had declared Kiyoko as not being a threat, what more was there to be said? She trudged over to the door, attempting to wipe the tears from her eyes and opened it, "May I help you Haruka?" She was already too drained to take another lecture and the true pain hadn't begun.

Kiyoko stepped to the side and motioned Haruka inside. As soon as she closed the door, Haruka asked her, "What's going on?"

Hanging her head a little, still fighting the tears, Kiyoko whispered, "I don't know what you mean."

"Setsuna says you're fine, and you're leaving. But the two of you are hiding something," Haruka huffed, crossing her arms.

This was not what Kiyoko needed when she was facing what lay ahead of her already. She snapped back, "You trust Setsuna, why can't you just let this go?"

"Just tell me what you're hiding," Haruka demanded. In her eyes was a storm. Kiyoko understood that storm. Haruka was at war with herself, but she was doing her duty. The fact that she didn't know something was bothering her. And hostility had always been her first line of defense against the unknown.

However, Kiyoko didn't know what to say that would comfort her. Nothing she could say would comfort, not even the truth… She sighed, "I'm afraid I cannot give you what you want Haruka. You should leave." Even with those words Kiyoko didn't open the door, she simply walked past Haruka and sat back down at the table, staring into her tea cup, unable to keep the tears away any longer.

Haruka stood there, looking at Kiyoko, unsure of what to do. She wanted to comfort her, which made no sense at all. Haruka didn't know this girl and she knew she was hiding something. But somehow she still wanted to comfort her. Finally she walked over to the door, "I'm sorry, but it's my duty to protect her. I hope the next time I see you, you aren't crying. Later, Atsuko-chan." Kiyoko didn't say anything as Haruka left. She did understand, but the words wouldn't form.

Sometime later Kiyoko realized that the sun was setting and so she washed her tea cup and packed it away with everything else. It wasn't long before she sensed Seiya on her way up. Without thinking Kiyoko opened the door before Seiya had a chance to knock. But Seiya was so happy to see Kiyoko she didn't notice. She immediately took hold of Kiyoko and kissed her with a fierce passion. Allowing herself one last moment of simple pleasure Kiyoko sank into the kiss until Seiya broke away. She looked at Kiyoko's puffy eyes and asked, "What's wrong Atsuko-chan? You look like you were crying."

Forcing a weak smile, Kiyoko replied, "I missed you." She looked momentarily toward the balcony and then back, "The night is so beautiful; shall we take a walk?"

Hoping to cheer her up, Seiya reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver ring. It was beautiful! It had the shape of a star and a moon cut out of it. Seiya obviously knew there was more to Kiyoko's pain, however she simply slipped the ring onto her finger and held out her arm out anyway, "If that's what you want." Kiyoko linked her arm with her beloved's noticing how nicely she was dressed. She thought to herself that Seiya must have come straight from her last appearance of the day. Somehow the ring and her need to see Kiyoko made this more difficult, still she couldn't bring herself to reject the gift or the gesture of her future wife.

The two of them walked down the sidewalk, Kiyoko leading the way toward a park that was known to be deserted after dark, her fingers fiddling with the ring she now wore. She looked at Seiya out of the corner of her eye, "You look very beautiful this evening."

Seiya laughed a little, "Thanks. Most people here call me handsome, but then they don't see what's below the surface."

"That is a shame. What is below the surface is what is most important about a person," Kiyoko replied softly.

Leaning into Kiyoko, Seiya whispered in her ear, "I want to know everything about you. I don't want secrets between us."

Oh how Kiyoko wished it could be that way between them, even now. But there was simply no way. One tear escaped her watch and she said, "I want that too."

Seiya looked at her as the two of them entered the park, "Then why are you crying?" She wore a confused expression.

Kiyoko shook her head and tugged on Seiya's arm, pulling her forward. They made it to the fountain that Setsuna was supposed to meet them at. She sensed her nearby and wondered why she hadn't revealed herself. Kiyoko met Seiya's eyes and she began, "Seiya Kou, I love you with every fiber of my being." She could tell Seiya was about to speak and so Kiyoko put her index finger to Seiya's lips and continued, "But I am afraid this is not our time. You have things you must do and things you must focus on. And I have things I have to attend to at home."

Taking that as her cue, Setsuna finally stepped out of the shadows, transformed and holding her garnet rod. Seiya looked alarmed and took up a defensive stance in front of Kiyoko. She shouted, "Who are you and want do you want?" Kiyoko realized Seiya must not know Sailor Pluto yet.

With a searing pain in her heart, Kiyoko stepped around Seiya and bowed to Setsuna, "Thank you for coming." She put her hands up to her forehead and removed the beads that covered her crescent mark.

Thoroughly confused, Seiya shouted, "Atsuko, what's going on here!" Kiyoko was still facing away from Seiya. She took a moment to remember what she was going back to, her Seiya, their children, the family that knew her, and a world that depended on her.

Those thoughts helped ground her as she turned, hearing Pluto step forward to her. The look on Seiya's face when she saw the crescent on Kiyoko's forehead spoke legions. Knowing she had to act quickly she put one hand on Seiya's cheek and took hold of Setsuna's hand behind her, feeling the power she was lending her flow. Kiyoko spoke to Seiya firmly as the crescent began to glow, "I love you Seiya Kou, but I am a ghost. You must forget me. Forget that we ever met. Forget the time we've spent together and focus on your mission and on protecting Sailor Moon that is where your heart should be."

Seiya was falling under the spell, but still managed to say, "I can't forget my feelings." However, she was clearly frozen.

More tears wet Kiyoko's cheeks, but she went on regardless, "Take those feelings and lock them away. Forget me. Forget me." She squeezed Setsuna's hand and her crescent glowed very brightly for a moment. That is when Seiya passed out, everything locked away neatly in the furthest reaches of her mind. Kiyoko caught her as she collapsed and Setsuna helped move her to a nearby bench.

Setsuna looked at Kiyoko, seeing her pain, "You did the right thing princess. Now we must go." She took Kiyoko's hand and they found themselves at the time door.

Kiyoko smiled at Setsuna, "Thank you for your help Setsuna. It's comforting to know that some things never change."

Just before Setsuna could agree with her a glimpse into what was waiting on the other side of that door slammed into her and she gasped. Her face stark when she spoke, "You must go princess! But be careful, there's an attack underway!"

Kiyoko thought of the nightmares she'd had before being sent back, they must be coming to life. She was certain she'd find Botan and that creature, Bugendai, on the attack. She thanked Setsuna again and set off through the doors. Damnit! She wondered if Endymion had found the golden crystal! Damnit!