Chapter 21

Red. It is a colour that I thought, for many years, would only look perfect on those privileged enough to be born on Mars. I was wrong. Sapphire stands next to me, hands rolled into fists, as I kneel down to the mutilated corpse belonging to Kunzite. His blood is thinner than I remember it being. I guess Nephrite got his wish after all.

"The other two can't be that far away." Sapphire steps forward, past the body, towards the street leading east.

I close my eyes and listen to the wind. "I'm sure you're right, but something is different. Can't you feel it?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

I sigh and look to the clouds. "I don't think they're running from us."

There is this slight pull in the back of my mind. Some of Jadeite's arrows lay spewed across the sidewalk to my left, but there's no sign of him. Sapphire walks forward and studies the direction in which Kunzite had fallen back. I can tell by his body language that he's thinking something similar to what I am. Everything about this scene is leading us east.

I stand. "I think I know where they are."

He nods. "Where you killed the sisters."

I pause. "Were you watching or did Rubeus tell you?"

He steps forward. "I was... waiting for them to come back."

I'm not stupid, nor do I feel guilty. It doesn't take a genius to detect the personal connection between him and either one or all of them. With his last words I understand that I've crossed a line that needs to be redrawn. Neither of us say anything as we continue to walk towards the shrine that I know I will never be welcome at again. Hikawa, I have more than a few good memories in that place. It was the home that I could come to if I wanted to be around my friends. I am not complaining about how things are now, after all I did do it to myself.

Sapphire grabs my arm. "Do you see that?"

A bright light rises from the crystal palace. I quickly turn my attention back to the task at hand. "Yeah."

There's a whisper in the air that I know Sapphire can't hear. The silver crystal is calling for the senshi. I turn from the sight and continue on. Sapphire loosens his hold on my arm. "Should we go back?"

I shake my head. "No. It wouldn't do any good anyway."

If one were to ask me how things got to be this way I would tell them that it started with a Princess who served a Queen. I often think back on how I have become what I am now. The truth is simple it all started when a life ends prematurely. Everyone has a reason for being. Mine is just a little more complicated than others. Whether it was on Jupiter or here, I remember that there are two sides to life. Death is only ever the beginning in anyone's story.

I have always been the oldest of the inner senshi. Jove knows that one year on Jupiter can be several on other planets. I think that is why I always look after them. Queen Serenity didn't even have to ask because I knew of the fragility that Princess Serenity's guardians possess. Even now as I walk these halls there is an echo.

"Princess Makoto!" One of the palace guards runs down the hall.

I sigh. "Mind yourself. It is late and people are sleeping."

He bows. "I apologize, but it is urgent. Queen Serenity summons you."

"At this hour?"

He nods. "She says that it is of the utmost importance."

The Queen has never summoned me this late before. I leave the rest of my patrol to the guard and hurry to the Queen's chambers. My steps echo in the marble halls. When I arrive the door is already open.

"Your majesty?"

Queen Serenity stands on her balcony and I merely watch as the moonlight frames her figure. "Makoto." I walk in. "Please, close the door behind you."

I do as she asks. "Is something wrong? I can get the others."

"No. That won't be necessary." That is when she turns just enough for me to see the sadness in her eyes. It looks as if tears could fall any moment. "Something has happened."

I nod. "Just tell me what it is and I will-"

"It's about your parents."

My eyes widen. "What's wrong?" But deep in my heart I seem to already know. She turns completely and clenches a letter in the palm of her hand. I recognize the seal of Jovian royalty. I slowly roll my hands into fists. "What happened? There shouldn't have been a battle. There was peace amongst the people. I don't understand."

She walks towards me. "Your uncle thinks they were mur-"

I shake my head. "No. That wouldn't have happened. They couldn't have been... no... it's not possible. My parents can take care of themselves."

"Makoto..."

I turn away. "My father is always alert. Him and my mother have fought in wars and survived ambushes. Don't even suggest..." I take a moment and recollect myself. "Your majesty, that was out of place. I just..."

She puts her hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

I feel like I am inches from losing every ounce of self-control. Tears threaten to fall, but I won't let them. At least, not here in front of my Queen. "I... I should go then. Back to Jupiter."

She doesn't follow as I take a step towards the door. "Please, wait a moment."

I straighten my back and turn towards her. "Your highness, I apologize. I will not go without your blessing. Perhaps I can get someone else to-"

In that moment she wraps her arms around me and I am frozen in place. I don't even realize I'm shaking until the first tear falls. To kill planetary royalty is unforgivable, and there is no way that this will go unpunished. I don't want to know what happened, but running away would have been a sign of weakness.

In this life I was young when my parents passed, but it always seemed like I was ready for it. The independence was so natural to me. Perhaps that is why I always truly believed that it was alright to be by myself. It's easier to know your own strengths and weaknesses than concern yourself with the well-being of others. I am a failure when it comes to being indifferent about my subjects; at least, in this life anyway.

I killed Wiseman, the one responsible for so much suffering. I didn't even realize how much he influenced my life until this very moment. I once made a promise to a Princess with great privilege. I said that I would protect her and fulfill the oath that I swore to her kingdom for all eternity. Perhaps if I had been a little more selfish with my life things would have been different.

To this day I haven't forgotten what it means to be a senshi. From the moment I picked up that henshin stick I knew that I would have to leave something behind for me to move forward. I remember two lives with the same purpose. I was a Princess, a Warrior, and a Queen. My destiny has lead me to this life and this moment. I feel the roar of the thunder and the sting of the lightning. Jove is watching over me, and yet is it wrong for me to be ignoring the calls of the Silver Crystal?

Sapphire is a man who understands what it means to be obligated by duty. He has his own people to worry about. I understand that feeling all too well. "My brother used say that the true character of a person is shown by how they are with people."

I smile. "Is that so?"

He nods. "I admire your principles."

"Thank you."

He looks up to the sky. "That man, Nephrite. You speak of him as if he weren't human."

I shake my head. "He has lost the right to be a part of this planet."

"Surely you don't mean that."

I sigh. "I'd rather not talk about this."

He grabs my hand. "Please. Humour me."

"There is nothing to talk about. I have done this all before."

"But you didn't have me here to help you."

I pull my hand away. "With all due respect, Sapphire. You don't know me."

He steps in front of me. "But I will. You know that."

"That is besides the point."

"Is it?" He looks at the ruined city. "Someone who has lived as long as you needs to be just a little selfish sometimes. It is the nature of life. I am guilty of this too. I often forget to live for myself."

I look into his eyes. "What do you want me to say?"

He shrugs. "Let me be the one to kill him for you."

I shake my head. "I don't want to give myself a reason to hate you."

"I would rather you hate me than yourself."

I go to speak, but stop as the wind changes direction. Sapphire feels the shift in energy a mere moment before I do. He looks to the South and kneels to the ground. I watch as he takes a handful of dirt and lets it slide loosely through his fingers.

"Makoto."

I nod. "I know."

He stands and offers his hand. "I'll help you."

I brush past him. "We'll see."

He merely smiles and follows. "Yes, we will."

Jupiter's wars were so much simpler than this one. The enemy never ran from us. We all faced each other on equal ground and I remember the silent code of honour between us, but this is nothing more than a reckless skirmish. Sapphire senses energy just as well as I can and yet the Shitennou are nowhere to be found. They are luring us; playing with our sense of direction as if it were a game. The destination seems to be the same though. Hikawa is still in in front of us.

I can sense the people of this city. They hide and scurry in the darkness like animals, but war and uncertainty is enough to turn even the most civilized into their former instinct-driven selves. Sapphire watches as I summon a gentle rain. The people move like this is their only opportunity.

"Do you ever regret your service to her?"

I shake my head. "No, because then I wouldn't be the same person."

He nods. "But you would have lived a full life and done what you dreamed of."

I turn. "How do you know that I haven't?"

He pauses. "Your eyes give you away."

We both hear the rustling within the buildings, but neither of us bring our guards up. Sapphire sees what I do. The people needed water and I have just given it to them. Pots and bowls appear on balconies. Sapphire summons a fistful of energy and throws it into the clouds. I expect a loud crash of thunder, but that isn't it at all. The rain becomes more focused into streams, and falls harder, filling whatever containers surround us , faster.

He sighs. "We will lift this darkness soon."

I nod. "Let's move on."

He starts walking. "Of course."

Out of the corner of my eye I can see a young child peaking his head out a window towards the street. He is frail and holds the remnants of a chocolate bar wrapper in his hand. There is something about his manner that tells me he is alone in this world; scrounging what he can and living the way he knows. He doesn't look to be older than the physical age of nine.

Sapphire steps forward. "No child should ever grow up without a parent."

I sigh and follow. "It happens all the time."

I don't remember much of my childhood before Crystal Tokyo, and I believe that is because it wasn't a time when I was enjoying life like I should have been. When you are young you are supposed to live a carefree life without burden or worry for the adult world. In this life, my father would tell me that sometimes things happen when we don't want them to. Don't cry about it, just accept that life isn't perfect.

I never consciously accepted this fact when bits and pieces of the adult world forced their way into my childhood one, but now I understand exactly what he meant. Looking back at both lives I see that they mirror each other in so many ways. I am not one to complain on what fate has thrown at me. Sapphire and I, we are the same. Even though he had a brother I know that he understands what it is like to be alone.

"Can you sense that?" Sapphire slows his steps so they match mine.

I look up at the stone staircase and nod. "They're waiting."

We climb these steps without so much as glancing back over our shoulders. The sky is lighter than it was last time I was here. Neither Phobos nor Deimos sit on the archway; that is the first sign that something is wrong. One arrow flies nearly silent from my left. I draw my swords and swat it away. Sapphire readies himself as our opponents emerge.

Jadeite looks like he's been through more than a casual war. His bandages are crude and soaked through with red stains that only blood could leave. His eyes are both calm and empty. I hear the light echo of footsteps to my right. It is a rhythm that I have heard many times.

Nephrite walks forward, sword in hand, and looks up at the sky. "I am offended by how fast you move on and forget about me. Do you think that man will give you happiness like I would? He is weak and I will enjoy ripping his spine from his corpse."

I don't say anything; nothing needs to be said. His threat is an empty one. I wonder if he realizes that. Nonetheless I sense Sapphire's movement as he motions towards Nephrite. I step in front of him. "Don't be a hero. I can take care of him myself."

In this moment our eyes meet and he reluctantly turns to Jadeite. Our opponents are set out in front of us and yet I feel as if there is a moment when the four of us look between each other and consider feeling the silence. I summon the thunder and Sapphire raises the levels of dark energy. Still, the Shitennou don't move.

"Makoto, something doesn't feel right." Sapphire carefully scans the area.

I nod in agreement. "I know."

In that moment the two of us are hit hard by an invisible force. I taste the blood between my teeth long before I hit the stone floor. Sapphire still holds his ground, but he looks just as confused as I do.

"Jupiter, stop." That voice...

I shake my head upon seeing the flow of dark green hair. "Pluto..."

She steps forward. "This is not your fight."

I stand. "You know it is. Don't stand between us."

She turns. "It is not your destiny."

Sapphire's eyes never leave Jadeite. "To hell with this."

"No!" Pluto raises her staff and I feel the temporal shift long before her garnet rod reaches for its full power. Sapphire is frozen in place just like the Shitennou. Her and I stand across from each other like enemies on a battlefield.

"Setsuna..."

Her hands start to shake. "It has always been about duty; everything we have done."

"I know."

She walks towards me. "Then take him and leave."

My eyes widen. "How dare you ask me to do that? This is-"

"Not your place. Leave this, please."

I shake my head. "You know as well as I do that walking away is something that I cannot do."

"Why do you need heed the call of the Silver Crystal? You are turning your back on your duty." Her eyes are solemn once more.

"Don't even think that. You know exactly what I'm doing. How I carry out my duty is up to me. I will go back when I'm done here-"

Pluto senses what I do; a break in her temporal field. Sapphire looks to the two of us. "You may be the senshi of time, but I am no stranger to the science behind your powers."

Pluto looks angry. "How dare you-"

I stand between the two of them. "Setsuna, this is just another war. Leave it to the soldiers that will bring victory."

"You don't understand what I have seen."

I nod. "And that is how it should be. You speak so highly of duty but you look as if you're about to break yours. I can't let a friend do that."

She turns away. "Mako..."

"If you really wanted to stop us then you would have done it long before this moment."

Sapphire and I watch as she fades in front of us. Neither of us speak because we understand that what we came here to do has not yet been finished. With Pluto's absence, the temporal field fully dissipates and Sapphire charges at Jadeite.

Nephrite draws his sword. "Jupiter fell, and now the last Jovian stands before me. I will rip out your heart and drag your body back so your friends can see it."

"Treachery only leads to death. I had told you that once before."

He nods. "I'm sure you have, but regardless this time will be different."

I push my emotions away. "No. Your head will still be mine."

In this moment I remember why the clash of swords used to sound so musical. It is a song that I haven't truly heard in a long time. The power of nature surges through my veins and I know what it calls for; blood and vengeance. Nephrite, how dare he play with me like this? How dare he come back only to let history repeat itself? I should have continued to hate him. That way I wouldn't have this weight piling up in my chest, and the hesitation would be non-existent just like it was all those years ago.