Chapter Twelve

The shield protecting the shrine was still holding strong as the golden light of late afternoon blazed out over the deserted city.

Gathered with most of the other soldiers, Haruka listened with half an ear to Ami's theory explaining their current predicament. She was suggesting that somehow they had all been pulled into another dimension, that the planes of the magical and the mundane had become separated, leaving the Sailor Soldiers trapped in a warped reality where the magical rules they were used to didn't hold.

She was onto her fourth graph when Rei finally cut in impatiently, "yes, but what can we do to fix this? That shield isn't going to hold forever. We have what? Another day? Two?"

"Two at most," Ami confirmed reluctantly. "I've already increased the shield's power as much as I can."

In an ominous voice, Minako put in, "What I want to know, is how did this happen in the first place? Haruka?"

"Why do you think I know?" said Haruka, shrugging uncooperatively.

"Because I talked to Seiya. Right before everything went wonky, Taiki made some sort of connection with Pluto in one of Michiru's paintings and disappeared."

"That's as much as I know too. But if something is happening with Pluto, then Michiru and I will deal with it."

Two bright spots of anger appeared on Minako's cheeks. "You're going to start with that Outers crap now, Haruka? We're in a situation here! We need everyone working together. Cooperating. I know you like to pretend that word isn't in your vocabulary, but—"

As Minako's diatribe continued, Haruka tried not to look like she wanted to let her eyes fall shut. This meeting hadn't been worth getting out of bed for. She just wanted to go back and join Michiru, who she'd left asleep in their temporary room.

Minako could scold and storm as much as she liked, but they both knew it didn't change anything. If something had really gone wrong at the Doors of Time, the Inner soldiers weren't the ones who'd ever get close enough to Pluto to help her fix it.

Just as a million speeches about cooperation wouldn't change the fact that the Outer Soldiers were always the ones who'd be deployed first, who'd leave last, and that they'd do it regardless of what orders anyone gave them because it was the purpose that was woven right through their being, blood and bone.

"Minako," said Usagi quietly, halting Minako in the middle of an insult about over-sexed ice queens, "if Setsuna is in trouble, she won't accept help from just anyone. Myself and Haruka and Michiru are the ones who have the best chance of getting close to her. Hotaru and Chibiusa if they were here…"

"We have no way of reaching them, Princess," Haruka reminded her.

Usagi clenched her hands in her lap. "I know. And this could be affecting the future as well. Rei, Ami – We need to find out where Setsuna is, and how to get to her. You two probably have the best chance of figuring that out with your abilities."

"Are my abilities to be of no help, then?"

Michiru's voice was playful, musical, and she moved into the room so gracefully no one ever would have guessed she was still hiding claw marks beneath her skirt.

"Michiru!" Usagi gave her an apprehensive glance. "Haruka said you were hurt. You shouldn't be exerting yourself."

"I'm not hurt badly. And of everyone here, I'm the one with the best chance of reaching Setsuna."

There was a wary look in Usagi's eyes as she continued to gaze at Michiru, and Haruka could tell she was wondering if it had been through accident rather than intent that the two of them had kept their promise and made it to the shrine.

Likewise guessing their Princess's thoughts, Michiru said coaxingly, "didn't Haruka and I keep our promise? Didn't we make it here safely? We're fine, Usagi. I can do this."

Usagi finally nodded after a long pause, though Haruka got the feeling she wasn't entirely taken in by Michiru's reassurances. "You should talk to Seiya again about what she saw. In case she's remembered any helpful details. Where is she?"

"Keeping watch," said Haruka, getting to her feet. "Michiru and I will go talk to her now."

Before they could leave, Ami spoke. "But there's something I don't understand. Why would Setsuna let Taiki through the painting? Assuming it was intentional. Or if it wasn't, why would Taiki step through? Were she and Setsuna close?"

The question was mostly directed at Haruka and Michiru, but neither of them answered.

"Maybe we'll find out, when we get them back," said Usagi, while Minako and Rei exchanged a glance that seemed to suggest they guessed the truth.

Well, Haruka had warned Setsuna it would be difficult to keep the relationship secret.

"Haruka?" With a tilt of her head, Michiru indicated her desire to leave.

Strolling out after her, Haruka threw back over her shoulder, "we'll tell you if Seiya has any useful information. As unlikely as that scenario is."

Seiya was sitting perched at the top of the stairs, just within the shield's protection. Michiru's ocean was still surging around the hill, but the waters were slowly starting to subside. Within another day or two they'd probably be gone.

"How was the meeting?" Seiya asked, apparently not surprised to have suddenly acquired an Outer Solider sitting on either side of her.

"Boring," said Haruka. "We have at most two days before our position is overrun. Michiru and Rei and Ami are going to try and find a way to reach Setsuna. That's probably our only hope."

"So you've come to ask me about what I saw when Taiki stepped into Michiru's painting."

Seiya's glance switched quickly between Michiru and Haruka, lingering on Haruka last, and longest. Haruka kept her eyes on the sea of molten gold, frowning slightly. "How is Yaten doing?"

"Better. She's asleep right now. Luna is keeping an eye on her."

Her voice nearly merging with the ocean, Michiru said, "it's hard when you're a long way from home, and your teammates are endangered. It gets very lonely."

A little of the tension Seiya was holding leaked out of her, and for an unguarded moment her eyes became two deep pools of worry before she smoothed her expression over. "Do you think something has gone wrong at the Doors of Time? Is that what's causing all this?"

"We can't think of any other explanation," said Haruka.

"Michiru – Was that painting of Pluto enchanted? Was that why Taiki could step into it?"

"It wasn't enchanted, Seiya. Not as far as I know. I painted that picture a long time ago…Before I met Setsuna. Not long after I met Haruka."

Michiru gave Haruka a brief, curving smile across the space between them.

"I couldn't even remember Sailor Pluto properly. I just had this image in my head of a sad lonely soldier always standing in the mist, watching with a heart full of love she could never express…"

Haruka added, "that was Pluto's life for a very long time. Ours too, I suppose. Back then."

"So what happened?" said Seiya. "What made the painting come to life like that?"

"Maybe Setsuna was doing something from her side – trying to find a way through to us," Michiru offered. "But perhaps that didn't work, and for some reason, what she did opened up a way for Taiki to get to her instead."

Seiya snorted. "I'm surprised Setsuna would care enough to want Taiki wherever she is."

Haruka saw Michiru give Seiya an unusually gentle look. "Setsuna loved Taiki, Seiya."

"Haruka said that too. But she really didn't act like it."

"We don't have time to fight about that now," said Haruka shortly. "We need to know if you saw anything that can help us."

"All that happened," said Seiya, "was that the painting shimmered. Sailor Pluto started to move – like the painting had become a mirror to wherever she was – and when Taiki placed her fingertips against the canvas, they glowed pink and she stepped right through. I tried to follow, but the painting wouldn't let me. And then Yaten turned up to say that all the people were starting to disappear, and we had to get out of the museum."

"It sounds like Taiki was using her powers," said Michiru thoughtfully. "I wonder if that was intentional?"

Running a restless hand through her hair, Seiya expelled a breath. "Years ago – after the end of Taiki's previous relationship – her powers were messed up for quite a while. She couldn't get the energy to flow right. She hasn't said anything, but I'm pretty sure she's suffering the same thing this time around. That's probably why she kept running off. When a creator can't create…It's like the end of the world."

What Seiya said about Taiki echoed almost exactly what Michiru had told Haruka after seeing Taiki on the moon the night before (Was it really only the night before? It seemed an age ago. This had been one hellishly long day). Seiya really was perceptive about her friends. Grudgingly, Haruka had to admit it probably did make her a good leader.

"So what would have made her able to use her powers again?" she asked.

"Maybe Taiki and Setsuna did meet," said Michiru. "In another reality, or another timeline. Maybe that connection was enough to draw Taiki in."

"Is that even possible?" said Seiya.

"Oh, it's possible," Haruka assured her. "I'm just not sure it helps us."

Shaking her head, Michiru disagreed, "but it does help, Haruka. If creative power is the key, I can use that on the painting too. I created it, after all." She hastily got to her feet. "I should go and talk to Rei and Ami about this. They might have some input…"

"Wait!" said Seiya. "Just who is going on this little expedition to find Setsuna?"

"Only Haruka and Usagi and I," Michiru answered.

"I want to go too. Taiki is on my team. I have a right to be there."

"Just you?" said Haruka. "Not Yaten?"

"It will be several days before Yaten fully recovers."

"We don't have several days."

"I know. That's why I'm saying…"

"I'll ask the Princess," Michiru said. "She should be the one to make the final decision. Haruka, I'll see you when you come in. Seiya…" She hesitated. "Thank you for today. What you and Yaten did—"

Seiya airily waved her thanks away. "Don't worry about it. If you and Haruka had died, I'd have no one to fight with, would I? That would make things very dull."

"You seem to enjoy fighting with Yaten well enough," was the last, perceptive observation Michiru made, her eyes sly, before she went back up to the shrine.

Perhaps intentionally, perhaps not, Michiru left behind an awkward silence that Haruka didn't try to fill. An orange sunset was blazing across the sky; the air was sweet and crisp and clear. The silence of the city below them was at once eerie and peaceful, and Haruka reflected that of all the situations she'd never imagined she'd find herself in, watching a sunset with Seiya definitely had to be up there.

"So is Michiru okay?" Seiya asked, putting her arms out behind her and leaning back. "The monsters didn't tear her up too badly?"

"She's okay," said Haruka, keeping her voice neutral and non-combative for once.

"What she did with the ocean today was pretty amazing."

"Of course. Michiru is amazing. What about you, having a healer on your team? You kept that quiet."

"Well – not really. She's called Healer. Kind of obvious when you think about it."

"You know—" Haruka paused. "I meant what I said back there, Seiya. I owe you and Yaten a favour. So if there's ever anything I can do…You can call on me."

She felt Seiya give her a pointed glance. "Then let me go with you to rescue Setsuna and Taiki."

Haruka's lips curled into a slightly scornful smile. "Michiru said she'd ask Usagi because we all know Usagi is going to say yes. That was her way of thanking you. Don't ask me for something you already have. Save it for something worthwhile."

"Well, as much as I appreciate the offer, Yaten's really the one who saved your life, so I'll let you settle negotiations with her when she wakes up. Though I warn you now, it's no fun being indebted to her. She's completely ruthless."

"Noted," said Haruka, with some amusement, "but I wasn't talking about my life. I was talking about Michiru's. She would have died back there trying to save my mortally wounded butt if you two hadn't shown up."

Seiya smiled briefly, but her expression soon grew serious. "You know, you were pretty out of it so you might not remember, but Yaten didn't want to heal you."

"That's understandable, considering how much it took out of her. None of us are exactly on the best of terms."

"It wasn't because of that. It's because she thought that you and Michiru would abandon us if we slowed you down too much. That you'd just leave us to the monsters. She was afraid I'd die trying to protect her the way Michiru would have died protecting you."

"Did we leave you behind?"

Her eyes far away as she stared out over the ocean, Seiya said, "I told her she was wrong."

"What makes you so sure?"

"You were kind to Taiki when she was hurting. You had nothing to gain from that. It would have been easy for you to overlook her feelings, but you didn't. Someone who cares enough to do that, doesn't leave people behind to die."

"I've grown to like Taiki. I hope we get her back. I hope we get both of them back."

"Yeah, me too. Listen…" Seiya turned her head to look at Haruka. "Would you mind not saying anything to the others about Yaten's abilities? It's not that we hide her powers exactly – it is right there in her name – but…Healing does take a lot out of her. We don't like her to use it unless there's no other choice."

"I won't say anything," said Haruka. "I haven't even told the others I got hurt. It's not something they need to know."

Twilight was beginning to steal over the city below, the buildings slowly merging into shadows hiding the darker shades of monsters resurrected from the dead. By all rights, Haruka thought, her body should be down there amongst them, and maybe Michiru's too.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.

"What?" asked Seiya.

"Why did you and Yaten bother to come help us at all? What possessed you?"

"We did it for Taiki of course." Seiya's glance seemed to dare Haruka to disagree with her. "It would have hurt Setsuna if anything happened to you and Michiru, and that would have hurt Taiki too. Not to mention, Michiru is probably the only one who has any chance of opening that painting again, and that's our only way of getting Taiki back."

Playing into the deception, Haruka agreed with a smile. "Right, of course," she said.

The first stars could be seen in the sky as Makoto came out onto the veranda. Spotting Haruka and Seiya sitting on the edge of the hill, she was about to go and speak to them, and then nearly shrieked as Minako's hand shot out from behind a post and dragged her into the shadows.

"Makoto, what are you doing?" Minako whispered aggressively.

"What am I doing? What are you doing, hiding behind a post and capturing innocent bystanders?"

"Shh! You'll disturb them."

"Who? Haruka and Seiya?" Makoto glanced at the two silent figures. "What are they doing? I was going to go tell them that dinner's ready."

"Leave them alone. They're having a warrior bonding moment."

Makoto looked again, eyes confused. "They're just sitting there."

"That's what warrior bonding looks like," said Minkao authoritatively. "They'll come in when they're ready." She began tugging Makoto back inside the shrine. "Now, what's for dinner? I'm starving!"

Ami didn't stay long in the session with Rei and Michiru. Without being able to test the painting, she said, she couldn't be sure of anything. But going on what Michiru had relayed from Seiya, she theorised that Taiki and Setsuna may have somehow created an energy connection that was able to cross the divide between the two realities, allowing movement between them.

There was probably something to her ideas, Michiru thought. Threads pulling across time, across worlds, across all the broken spaces that lay in between. Setsuna herself really should have understood the power of what she was weaving when she started all this.

"And could Michiru create a similar connection?" Rei wanted to know. "One that would allow her and the others to reach Setsuna too?"

"Perhaps," said Ami. "Michiru and Setsuna would have a strong connection. If Michiru could find a way to use the painting to follow Setsuna's essence…"

"It would help if I had some idea of where to go," Michiru admitted. "In all my years, I've never even been to the Doors. I don't know how to get there. Assuming that's where she is."

Ami frowned. "We've only been there using a Time Key. I don't know of any other way, except the entrance in Neo-Queen Serenity's palace in Crystal Tokyo."

"Which we can't access without first travelling to the thirtieth century," Rei said.

"Exactly." Ami sighed and rose. "I really think that's about all the help I can give. And Makoto probably needs a hand with dinner…"

Rei nodded and waved her away. Michiru could tell she was impatient to try and see if the fire could tell her anything, and even though her wounds were starting to ache, Michiru knew she had to try and see into her Mirror too.

Neither of them had much luck. Michiru's Mirror remained blocked; she gave up before Rei did and watched her as she sat with her eyes closed before the fire, perspiration dripping down her brow. With a frustrated sigh, she finally opened her eyes and lowered her hands. "I'm still not getting anything. You?"

Michiru shook her head. "I can't even feel the monsters I know are swarming around the bottom of this hill, let alone Setsuna."

"This is ridiculous! How are we supposed to do anything when we're completely blind? And what has happened to Pluto? Could something be trapping her at the Doors? The same thing that's hurting us?"

"Not even death is strong enough to hold Sailor Pluto forever. I fear the only thing that could trap her…Is herself."

"And that means what?" said Rei, sounding a little irritated by the obliqueness of Michiru's answer.

It wasn't possible for Michiru to explain further. Not because she didn't have the ability to make her meaning clearer, but because there were just things – so many things – Pluto would never want the others to know about her.

"It doesn't matter, Rei. We have enough clues. I doubt there's any way for me to figure exactly what I need to do until I reach the painting."

"That's taking a big chance, Michiru. You won't have much time when you get there."

"I know. But there's no point wasting all the energy I'm going to need for tomorrow."

"Are you doing okay?" said Rei, worry shading her eyes.

"Yes. Believe me." Michiru laughed a little unsteadily. "Haruka and I got off lightly today. We all did."

There was a strange expression on Rei's face as she looked into the fire. "Sometimes I wish it wasn't like this," she admitted. "You and Haruka and Setsuna and Hotaru always putting yourselves on the line for us."

"But you know there'll never be another solution, Rei. I mean, if Haruka and I hadn't been there today, chances are Usagi, Makoto and Minako wouldn't all have made it back alive. At least one of them would have died. Most likely—"

"Mina," said Rei, her voice cracking a little. "I know that, Michiru. God damn it, I know."

Michiru said gently, "all of you do the same for Usagi. You'd die for her. You have died for her, many times over."

"And yet; it never gets any easier. Makoto couldn't even talk when she reached the shrine. Minako hated herself for leaving you and Haruka behind. Usagi just had this quiet, worried look on her face…"

The fire danced in front of them. There were no lights out there in the dark, in the silent city bereft of people. Just this shrine, this little pinpoint of hope, shining bravely on the hill. A few soldiers gathered together who'd all started out strangers to this world. Meeting Rei's eyes with a sad smile, Michiru said, "that's the difficult part, I suppose. We fight because we care. Because we care, it hurts. If it ever stopped hurting…We'd probably have lost everything worth fighting for."

Rei's eyes shone dangerously. "Make sure you bring Setsuna back, okay? We need her here. We've always needed her. When the team's not complete…It doesn't work."

"Oh I know," said Michiru. "I know."

The empty dinner dishes had barely been cleared away before discussions of strategy began again. Between Hikawa Shrine and the Museum of Contemporary Art there was a lot of ground to cover, all of it no doubt filled with hordes of demons eager for senshi flesh.

After bombarding Seiya with questions about the shield she was able to power up around her body and jotting down several pages of inscrutable equations, Ami claimed that if all of the senshi leant some of their power to Sailor Moon's Moon Power Tiare, she'd be able to modify it to create a similar shield large enough to protect the whole party. To prove it, she did a brief experiment just using the powers of the Inner Senshi, and the resulting shield around the Tiare was so powerful that not even Haruka and Seiya could break it together.

"It's difficult to say how long it will last," Ami admitted, "especially with the number of monsters that are bound to be out there, but hopefully it will be long enough."

Usagi brushed a hand over Ami's shoulder. "Thanks, Ami. I'm sure it will work. Haruka, Michiru, Seiya and I will set out…" she grimaced a little, "at dawn tomorrow. We'll prepare the Tiare just before we go."

Minako slapped her hands down on the table. "In that case, everyone should get to bed. Usagi, you're with Mamoru. Haruka and Michiru…Well, that's obvious. Seiya…?"

"I'll share with Yaten," Seiya replied smoothly, keeping her expression unreadable despite the probing look Minako gave her.

Getting nothing from her, Minako gave up and flicked her eyes away. "Right. The rest of us – one stationed on each side of the veranda. We'll take turns sleeping. Those going on the Mission tomorrow; just concentrate on getting some rest."

Gathering up an assortment of blankets and warm clothes and throwing them into Minako's arms, Rei grumbled in a low whisper, "you're such a soft touch, Minako. Letting all the couples get the beds while we have to watch all night in the cold."

"Usagi would just fall asleep anyway. She's completely unreliable. Michiru is still injured; not severely, but she still shouldn't be taking on extra duties when she's going to need all her energy for tomorrow, and if anyone makes Haruka sleep apart from Michiru she's going to be sobbing into her pillow all night and cursing her destiny. Do you want to listen to that? Because I certainly don't."

She didn't remind Rei of the bloody hole in Haruka's uniform that looked suspiciously like it had been accompanied at some stage by a pretty severe wound.

"And Seiya and Yaten?"

Minako paused thoughtfully, privately wondering if there was some connection between Yaten's mysterious lethargy and Haruka's rude good health in spite of her blood soaked uniform. Not to mention the strange sight she'd witnessed before dinner of Haruka and Seiya actually getting along.

"They're a long way from home, Rei, and if things go badly, they might never see each other again after tomorrow."

"Then you think—"

"I was right about Setsuna and Taiki, wasn't I?"

"We don't have confirmation of that!"

"There's no other reason Taiki would have leapt into that painting after her. There's no other reason Setsuna would have let her in."

Rei threw another blanket onto the tottering pile that by now nearly reached up to Minako's nose. "Rei! This isn't the arctic. I think we probably have enough supplies for the night."

"Yes. I suppose so." Slumping tiredly, Rei said, "I couldn't do what Pluto did. I couldn't leave everyone like that. It's not even necessary! All of us protect the future every single day. Does she think she's the only one who can do it?"

"Pluto remembers more than the rest of us. She's older. She still lives by the code of the old world."

Rei's words were bitter. "The code of the old world was what killed our Princess. Forbidden love…"

"I know." Minako shivered. "It's getting cold. Let's go find the others, and get set up for the night."

Since Luna had already spent most of the day with Yaten, she automatically assumed she'd be spending the night with her too. Luna got the sense that her being there had helped Yaten in some indefinable way, that she'd been able to replenish her reserves a little faster because of Luna's presence, even though Luna had done nothing more than curl up beside her.

Luna's paw was strong enough to push back the sliding door to allow her to enter the room Yaten had taken over, but she froze with a blush threatening to erupt on her cheeks as she saw that Seiya was already there, getting into bed with Yaten like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Disconcertingly, both of them were now looking at her, Seiya still propped on her elbow with her other hand holding the covers raised as she slid between the sheets.

"Um," said Luna, already beginning to back out of the room, "I'm sorry. I didn't realise…"

Yaten flopped down onto her pillow. "Don't be silly, Luna. You can stay with us if you want to. It's not a problem."

"Are you sure?"

"It was good having you here this afternoon." It sounded like Yaten struggled a little to admit what she said next. "I think it helped. I'm not feeling as tired as I was."

Luna gave Seiya a quick look to see what she thought, but it didn't seem like she had any objections. And if Luna could help, she did want to stay. Shrugging her shoulders, she pushed the door shut behind her and padded over to the bed.

Seiya slid the rest of the way down under the covers.

"You can turn off the light, Luna," Yaten said.

Meowing her consent, Luna switched off the bedside lamp that was the only light still on in the room, and then jumped onto the bed to curl up comfortably against Yaten's ribs.

Yaten gave her a few gentle strokes and some scrtiches under the chin that soon had Luna purring. Her hand fell away after a little while though, and Luna assumed she'd gone to sleep.

She half opened one eye as she heard the coverlet rustle. Seiya had half put her arm around Yaten's waist, but before she could finish, Yaten shook her off, hissing, "Seiya, stop that! How embarrassing."

Obligingly, Seiya withdrew her arm and settled onto her own pillow, not seeming upset by Yaten's rebuff.

Quiet breathing filled the room.

"Be careful tomorrow, okay?" Yaten said, hunching onto her side a little more. "And make sure you bring Taiki back."

"I will," Seiya replied.

Perhaps another half hour passed. Luna had nearly fallen asleep when the blankets rustled a second time. She curiously blinked her eyes open, and saw that Seiya had put her arm around Yaten again. After a few seconds, Yaten clasped her hand.

"This arrangement," Haruka grumbled, "is not as comfortable as our bed."

"Oh? Would it be better if I held you?"

Haruka let out a huff of near silent laughter. "You need to ask?"

She heard Michiru reply with a low chuckle.

Soon enough, there was the sinuous sound of Michiru's body sliding across the empty space in the middle of the bed, and Haruka gladly rearranged her arms into a more accommodating position as she felt Michiru's head settle on her shoulder, one of her arms stretching over Haruka's chest.

"Are your injuries okay?" Haruka asked her softly.

"They're healing. They shouldn't be much of an issue by tomorrow. What about you? Are you all right? No lingering…effects?"

"A little tiredness. Which is nothing at all, considering."

Michiru snuggled closer, her breath tickling Haruka's collarbone. "Take more care next time," she whispered.

Haruka twined her arms around Michiru, breathing in the scent of Rei's guest shampoo and the hint of a salt wind that always seemed on the verge of stirring her lover's wild mass of curls.

"I'll do my best," she promised.