"It'll have to be done slowly." Amy told them, "We need to show Serena that she already has these feelings. She began to acknowledge them during our fight against Galaxia and her Animamates, but she's buried them deep again since then in an attempt to stay with Darien."

"And we all know how that turned out." Mina said dryly.

Amy shushed her.

"I'll never forgive him for dying before the whole thing even started." Mina said stubbornly, folding her arms over her breast and sticking her nose in the air. "That was just pathetic."

Rei shushed her.

"The point," Amy continued, "is that all we need to do is give these emotions the opportunity to come to the surface again. Make her spend more time with him, maybe urge her to go out with him alone without making it seem like a date. But it's going to take a lot of work and more than the four of us to pull it off successfully, and sooner rather than later."

"Kakyuu has already agreed to help." Yaten told them. They were free to use their Princess's true name among the rest of the Inner Senshi. "I think she's been aiming towards this goal for a while now."

"It'll be St Valentine's Day soon, and White Day soon after." Mina added. "We can plan something for then."

"Yaten . . ." Rei trailed off.

He turned lime-green eyes on her curiously. "What?"

The soldier of flame and passion fidgeted. "I was wondering, that day in the café, when we met Feryal and Darien showed up." the Starlight nodded and she continued, a trifle braver now. "You really seemed to dislike him. I wondered why. I mean," she added hastily, "he hasn't done anything to you per say."

"It's fine." Yaten sighed. "It's just that . . ." another sigh, this time frustrated. "You all know that Mina is empathic."

They all nodded and Lita spoke up. "You are too, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I can feel it when a star is born or when a star dies. It's partly why the fight against Galaxia was so painful for me. Hundreds died at once. It's not a nice feeling to experience. It feels like a stab in my heart."

Tenderly, the girls all laid a hand on his arm, hand or shoulder, wherever they could reach, seeing that he was upset even recalling the memory. Taiki watched him carefully, also concerned.

But the shortest Starlight shook it off and gave them all a gentle smile. "I'm fine." he reassured them all. "But i'm empathic too, you're right." he sighed, and his eyes narrowed at the surface of the table as he mulled his next words over. "I don't like the feelings I get from Shields." he admitted.

The girls all looked at him curiously. Taiki sipped his green tea, already knowing about this; Yaten had discussed it with himself and Kakyuu. They hadn't told Seiya yet for fear of what the protective Starlight would do.

"I'm not sure how deep or how dark these feelings run in him." Yaten admitted. "He's very good at shielding himself. He's earned that surname of his. But every so often, like that day at the café, they leak out a little."

"What emotions?" Mina soothed.

"Frustration." Yaten began, speaking slowly, ensuring that he used the right words. "Anxiety, worry, fear, self-recrimination, hatred. And he also feels very . . . possessive of Serena." He paused. "Wariness." he began at last. "He's being very secretive as well." he added thoughtfully.

"I wonder why?" Lita said, equally as thought.

"When I spoke to my mother, she said it sounds very likely that he's hiding something." Amy explained. "Something we're very likely to disapprove of." she added significantly.

Rei's mouth dropped open, Lita gasped, but it was Mina who voiced their thoughts. "You don't suppose he's . . .?"

The bluenette shrugged. "It's always a possibility. This early in the game we can't discount anything. We don't have enough evidence to pick and choose our theories."

"Have you told Serena yet?" when Amy shook her head Lita sighed. "It's just as well. After talking with you guys I don't like the idea of her going to his apartment or something to confront him. We wouldn't be able to get there if something happened."

"I bet Feryal would get there." Mina said absently.

Taiki chose this moment to speak. "Rei, you still communicate with fire, right?"

"Yes." if anything her psychic abilities and her pyrokinesis had only gotten stronger. "Is there something specific you want me to look for?"

He nodded. "Feryal."

"What do you mean?"

"Would you be able to contact her through the fire?"

She thought about that one for a few minutes, chewing it over along with a sandwich. "Possible." she said. "Does she have an affinity with flame?"

"Sailor Celestia is the Senshi of Discovery and of Solar Winds." said a male voice near the door in Rei's living room. They all turned to see two cats, one white one black.

"Artemis!" Mina scooped him up and cuddled him. "Where have you been? You haven't called or anything!" she scolded.

"Hey Artemis, Luna." Rei and Lita chorused.

"Welcome back." Amy said. Taiki gave a hello. Yaten went and picked up Luna to cuddle her, causing her to purr loudly.

"It's nice to see you two back on Earth again." Luna told the Starlights. "Serena told me last night that she had set the two of you up with Mercury and Venus. Congratulations."

"And you had better look after them." Artemis said threateningly, but his glower was diminished by Mina scratching his ears and pulling his tail affectionately.

"You think i'll let anything happen to her?" Yaten raised an eyebrow, but his voice was laced with something a little darker than incredulity.

"Of course not." Luna soothed him. Turning to Artemis she scowled. "I told you to behave yourself."

Ignoring the white feline's mutterings about never being too careful, they returned to their conversation.

"Would that be enough?" Taiki asked the priestess.

She nodded. "It should be."

"How do you know all this?" Lita asked the cats.

"We remember them now." Artemis said simply. "Our memories of them during the Silver Age have unlocked themselves for some reason. Do you know the name of her partner? Civilian or Senshi. Either one will do."

"Lumina." Taiki told him; he'd overheard it.

Luna nodded. "Civilian name. And it's not surprising. They're two of only three members of the Guardian team that are actually from the Siriun System."

"Eh?" Lita blinked.

"The Guardian Senshi team are not like most others." Luna explained. "They are made up from selected senshi from all over the universe. Rumour in the Silver Age said that the team's leader had a sentry in every system!"

"Lumina is the civilian name of Sailor Asrar, the Senshi of Secrets and Shadows. Her civilian name means enlightened, while her senshi title means secretive. The two are the only others besides Sailor Etherea who are from the Siriun Constellation, or the Siriun System. We only know of a few other members of the team for certain."

"Like 'Saviour." added Yaten. They'd met the young woman, over a thousand years old but barely looking older than fourteen, during the coronation of the new Siriun Empress. A young woman with long leaf-green hair and ruby-red eyes. Artemis nodded.

"Who's Saviour?" asked Lita.

"A Starlight from a previous team." Taiki told her. "She's 'Healer's equivalent. They're so alike it's almost frightening, except she's a little more expressive of her softer side."

The thought earned a chuckle, but then Rei piped up a question.

"So you guys weren't your princess's senshi back then?"

The two guys shook their heads. "We don't know who we were or where we were from."

"Bit weird." Lita sniffed. "We were Serenity's senshi. Why are you Kakyuu's now? And why isn't 'Saviour with her princess?"

"Probably because Sailor Starsaviour joined the Guardian Team permanently after her own kingdom was attacked and her princess killed." Luna supplied. " One of the other two was fatally wounded and placed in a crystal stasis case to heal, the other was depressed. It broke up the previous team. As far as I know the other two are in suspension until they are needed again, which is when 'Saviour will probably rejoin them."

"Which might be soon," Artemis added, looking at Taiki and Yaten, "if you three decide to stay here and resign from your guard duties." It was a sobering thought, and both Yaten and Taiki became very quiet.

"What are the names of the others?" asked Mina.

"Well," Yaten stretched. "You've got 'Creator. She was Taiki's equivalent."

"And then there is 'Defender. She was supposed to be a lot like Seiya." finished Taiki.

There was a pause and then both said, in total unison;

"Exactly like Seiya."

This earned chuckles around the room.

"Rei," at the sound of her name the priestess looked at Luna, "I want you to do something for Serena, a task. She'll ask you herself later, but I wanted to make sure."

"Of course, go ahead." Rei was all business. She sounded like Mars, distant and cool, a misleading demeanour for one so fiery and passionate. Everyone now was quiet, sensing that this was a royal request and not just a friendly favour.

"We both want you to scry with your fire." Luna explained. "One of the Outer Senshi is being disloyal to our Princess. She wishes you to discover which it is so that she has an idea of who to trust and can deal with the traitor."

"I don't think it's Amara." blurted Lita. They all looked at her. The brunette squirmed a little and then elaborated. "It doesn't feel right to me." she explained quietly. "It feels too subtle, too sneaky. Amara would be right in Seiya's face."

"I agree." said Yaten unexpectedly. "Uranus dislikes Seiya, mainly because of what happened with her lover in the dressing room that one time, but she'd be more up front about the situation. It's not in her nature to be so dishonest, and I do not think that she would willingly betray her princess without good reason, for she is a creature of honour and loyalty. Besides, we all know how protective of Serena she is."

"And anyway, even Amara would have to admit that the precious Terran Prince is being an ass right now." Lita added.

"I'll still check them all." said Rei. "Better safe than sorry, especially where Serena is concerned. I still remember that episode with Galaxia."

Luna nodded, satisfied.

…...

"We've been contacted by the Lunarian Advisors." Lumina reported almost as soon as Thuraya's form appeared in the reflective mirror.

The Lady General's eyebrows rose. "Luna and Artemis of Mau?"

"The two and the same." Feryal confirmed. "Caught me looking around the White Moon Kingdom, what was left anyway."

"And you told them . . .?"

"That we'd let them know as soon as we realised what it was we'd found exactly." she shrugged; it wasn't a big lie. "They appear content to trust in our presence on Terra."

"They also seem to remember us." Lumina added, tossing violet hair over her shoulder.

This earned a chuckle from their Empress. "Why am I not surprised?"

Both her senshi stared at her. "Thuraya," Feryal began, "you haven't tampered with any memory locks, have you?"

Thuraya shook her head. "Not yet." she paused, seeming thoughtful. "Though I might end up easing Serenity's frustration some time soon."

Even Lumina smiled; the mischievous spark was back in their leader's eyes. It was something they had sorely missed during her absence. "What will you allow her to remember?"

Thuraya sobered again. "The past, certainly, however," she paused delicately, "I admit, i'm frightened about her possible reaction to the knowledge I erased of that year."

Both Feryal and Lumina knew that she only admitted this because of who they were, and also because of how fond she was of the Moon Princess.

"Aside from that," Feryal continued, "You may want to consider a trip to Terra. The cherry blossoms are gorgeous and you might want to hit Endymion yourself considering you couldn't before."

The brown eyes narrowed. "What has he done?"

"Nothing, yet." Lumina told her, "However i'm not sure how long this peace is going to last. Feryal has already had to fend him off twice."

"With a little starlight anything's possible." Feryal added with a wink.

Arching one slim eyebrow, Thuraya regarded her friend and comrade wryly. "Only a little starlight? My my. Endymion has certainly become weak." she shook her head at the joke, but became serious almost immediately. "Your orders remain the same, but keep a closer eye on Endymion and Pluto from here on. And on Serenity and Kakyuu as well. I fear that something will happen to them if we are not vigilant."

Neither Feryal nor Lumina commented on her use of the we; Thuraya felt responsible for her alliance-sisters' well-being.

"Please," the tone the High Empress used now was soft, almost pleading, "don't hesitate to call me if you need help. I know that you are both hesitant about bringing me back into battle but . . . I can't just stand around here looking pretty when I know that the pair of you, and Kakyuu and Serenity, are in danger."

Lumina nodded, eyes oddly misted.

"We will, 'Raya." Feryal said, bowing and smiling. "Don't worry, we know you're not really fragile." she added with a wink.

"But habits ingrained by training and social standings are hard to break." Lumina finished.

"What about habits formed by old friends?" Thuraya asked quietly. "Do they mean less?"

The smiles from her friends told her no. she returned the smiles with one of her own. "Thank you. Both of you."

"Our command is your desire, 'Raya." Feryal winked at her. "Besides, I was always fond of Princess Serenity. I'm even fonder of her now." she paused then added, delicately, "She wants to speak with you, you know."

A slow nod and guarded eyes met her words. "I know, but it is dangerous at the present. Perhaps too dangerous. I have an Ursane delegation demanding entry to our system and i'm trying to locate the whereabouts of some of the Guardian Agents. Also, 'Defender and 'Creator show signs of awakening. 'Saviour is thrilled by the news, but, perhaps predictably she is wary as well. As are we all."

The two women nodded and bowed, hands over hearts a second before the image of their master faded from the mirror. When they stood their own reflections stared back at them.

"So what now?" Feryal looked at Lumina. "This is going to get much harder very quickly, and we can't count on help from home to arrive very fast, not with everything that 'Raya has to contend with right now."

Lumina turned to walk out of the room.

"I am talking to you, Silvana!"

The name made Lumina pause.

"I know you've felt it too!" Feryal was frustrated. "You're the Senshi of Secrets, as I am the Senshi of Discovery. Together we reveal the truth. I know you have felt this as well."

"I have felt what is coming, it's true." Lumina said once Feryal had returned to silent frustration. "But it is not our duty to dwell. It is our duty to act. What good can come of brooding over something?

Feryal lifted her head; her golden-brown eyes met amber orbs that were steady and unyielding.

"Nothing." she murmured.

"Exactly." Lumina tossed violet hair back over her shoulder, a habit borne of frustration. "And so we do our duty. We act, Amorina." she turned to leave and added as she walked through the open door. "Remember that."

Feryal gazed after her a little sadly. The use of her royal name, a counter-attack against the use of Lumina's by Feryal, was not lost on the blonde.

…...

"Rei?"

The group gathered around the table looked at the doorway in surprise. Serena stood there, looking tired but healthy.

"Hi Meatball Head."

"Hey Serena."

"Hello Serena."

"Hi girl!"

"Miss Tsukino."

"I brought cookies for ya Serena."

The group blinked and looked at each other, surprised at how easily they'd fallen into having two of the Starlights among them.

Serena chuckled. "It's nice to see you guys getting along so well." she walked over and scratched Artemis behind an ear. "And it's nice to see you again too, old friend. I was beginning to worry."

The white cat purred his reassurance.

"How did you sleep last night?" asked Mina. The others wondered why she had asked such a bizarre question of the blonde.

Serena met Mina's eyes, saw the glow in them, and sighed. "I didn't think i'd be able to lie to you." she murmured. "Not too well." she continued after a moment. "I had . . . odd dreams."

She explained about the dream she had had to the others.

"Odd indeed." Taiki observed.

Yaten let out a low whistle. "Always knew you were crazy." he grinned. Serena smiled in response to his teasing.

"I knew you were troubled." Mina said quietly. She was staring at the trees outside the window. "I could feel it. But Artemis told me to stay where I was."

"Luna was more than capable of handling it." the white cat stated when everyone, including Luna, looked at him. "Besides, I didn't think you'd want too many people there right at that moment."

Serena nodded. "Why do you guys all know me so well?"

"Because it's our job, both as your advisers and as your friends and guardians." Luna padded across the table and nuzzled Serena's arm. "I told you, Serena, you're not alone in facing this."

"Damn straight!" everyone looked at Lita, who had punched the air to punctuate her sentence. The brunette blushed. "Umm . . ."

"Of course you're not alone." the sternness in Yaten's voice saved Lita from being stared at much longer. "We'll help you to the end. You know this." his hand clenched into a fist, green eyes fierce as they burned a hole in Rei's tabletop.

"Did you think us unable to help you?" Taiki asked.

Serena looked horrified. "N-no. Of course not I . . . I didn't want to burden you with-"

"Serena, when will you learn girl?" Lita shook her head. "You are not a burden to us."

"We're you friends Serena." Amy added, "What kind of friends would we be if we let you struggle on alone?"

"We're always here for you. Whether it's to destroy some nasty monster or Negaverse creep, beat up a guy who's broken your heart or go on a random shopping spree and gorge on ice cream." Mina winked.

"So you're stuck with us." Rei finished. "Whether you like it or not, we share your problems. So stop being stubborn and let us help you."

Tears began to fill Serena's blue eyes.

"Uh-oh guys, she's gonna cry on us!" Lita chuckled.

"Someone fetch the earplugs." Rei laughed too.

The joking brought out a watery smile. "Thanks guys. For everything."

"You're welcome." Rei said simply. "Now then, is there anything my Princess desires that isn't going to wipe out my kitchen cupboards?" she smirked.

Serena nodded, the tears leaving her eyes and her face becoming serious. Both Yaten and Taiki were struck with the image that this was not the care-free Serena Tsukino they knew and loved in this lifetime, but the ethereal Moon Princess of so long ago, the Queen she was to become in the future.

"Rei, I have a task for you."