｢Chapter 16｣

Fighter sat on her tree, hoping that being on the high area will clear her mind. She had just went to the training ground, only to be directed out, being told that she was given the next few days off. 'Why am I given an off day? I would rather not have it. I would rather to have something to do than to sit down and allow my mind to run even further.' Fighter thought as she sighed deeply.

Soon, little water droplets starts to fall from the sky. 'Ah. Ame . . .' Fighter's heart fell even deeper. 'The rain is not making things better. It feels like Kinmoku is grieving for the lost of the Moon Kingdom. It feels like Kinmoku is crying for the lost of Serenity. It feels like the direct mirror image of my heart. It's raining. . .'

"Fighter?" Maker called as she knocked against Fighter's room door. No answer. She opened the door and was greeted by the empty room. 'Where did she go? Didn't she supposed to be resting from last night's exertion?' Maker chanced over the table and saw the note she left on the table untouched. She felt sad. She picked up the note, folded it up and slid it into her pocket. 'Since she had not seen it, she's not going to see it. Not after what Ouhi had suggested.' Maker thought sadly. With that she left Fighter's room and proceed to the next possible location Fighter would be.

Walking under the rain, Maker made her way towards Fighter's favourite tree and saw her sitting at the usual branch with her eyes closed. Her hair was wet and they were stuck on her face. Droplets of rain dripped from the ends of her fringe and down her face Her facial expression brought in pain in Maker.

"Fighter?" Maker called out softly, so softly that she thought Fighter would missed it as the rustling sound of the rain on the leaves was loud.

Fighter opened her eyes and saw Maker standing below the tree. They had their eyes locked with each other. Fighter's tears was mixed together with the rain that Maker could no longer recognised which droplet on her face was her tears, and which belongs to the rain.

"You're looking for me?" Fighter asked quietly after a long moment of silence, breaking the eye contact they shared for that moment by looking away.

"Ouhi wants to see you." Maker replied gently as she tried to put a small smile on, though it pretty much did not work. Her heart and mind are hurting too much to listen to her will.

Fighter nodded her head and jumped down from the tree. She walked past Maker slowly, avoided making any contacts - physical and eye - with Maker. 'I can't find the courage to confront her face to face. She gave so much to get this in return. What a lover am I. Maybe, I'm borne not to love nor be loved.'

"Fighter!" Maker grabbed Fighter by her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "I - change into a clean set of clothing first before going. You're going to get sick if you stayed in the wet clothing for long. The bandage as well. You won't want to get any inflammation from that. I will see you back in Ouhi's" Maker started with hesitation and ended breezily, releasing her hold on Fighter before walking off briskly. 'Is that what you want to her?'

'Is that what you want to say to me? Is there something more inside that you want to say, Maker?' Fighter thought sadly before turning off in the different direction Maker went and back to her room.

Maker knocked the door, and enter Kakkyu's study. "Ouhi"

Kakkyu nodded her head in response to Maker's entry into the room. When she realised it was only Maker alone, she questioned, "You can't find Fighter?"

"No. She's on her way. She needs to change." Maker replied. Maker went over to Kakkyu's side and peeked at the papers Kakkyu was working on. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to come up with the list of manpower I need to shift around." Kakkyu replied. "Do you have any suggestions on who can I promote? We need more yellow guards around." Kakkyu continued asking. 'Especially there's a high possibility that I'm gonna lose the three of you.'

Maker knew about Kakkyu's deep concern. "Yukini is one good choice. She was used to be learning under me before I took up this role. She's really clever and smart."

"Yukini. . . Isn't she under Fighter now?"

"Yah . . . " Maker answered.

"Hmmm." Just as Kakkyu was about to continue asking Maker for suggestions, a knock on the door interrupted it.

"Ouhi, it's me, Fighter." sounded the muffled voice across the door.

"Come in."

"Ouhi." Fighter greeted as she bowed. Maker moved away from Kakkyu's desk and went over back to her own, which was directly opposite Kakkyu. Standing at Kakkyu's desk meant that she was going to face Fighter face to face. She did not want to. Especially with the content that Kakkyu was going to discuss with Fighter.

"How are you Fighter? Are you feeling better a little?" Kakkyu concerned.

Fighter did not answer Kakkyu's question. She just stood there. 'What should I say? How should I reply? I know I am not. But I do know that I can't say it in front of Ouhi. That's not the right answer. And I can't say a lie to Ouhi.'

"I - Yah - Sort of?" Fighter gave an answer of uncertain. 'Great Fighter, what an reply to give.'

Kakkyu decided to let it be, knowing that forcing Fighter to say the real thing will result in her running out of the room, which is the last thing she wanted right now. Kakkyu just nodded her head in
response.

Fighter steal a glance at Maker who was seat behind her, where her back is facing. It seemed to her that Maker was seriously immersed into the paper she was working on that she would not want to be involved in the conversation Fighter was having with Kakkyu.

"So, Ouhi, you're looking me for?" Fighter asked.

"I just want to know how are you . . . " Kakkyu started off before continuing in a soft voice," and how are you handling with the situation, Fighter. I'm worried about you."

"I - " Fighter placed her right hand behind her head, touching her hair (which is still wet), and bowed her head down. "I'm sorry ouhi, to keep you worrying about me."

"Fighter . . . "

'The last thing I will want to hear from you is sorry, Fighter.' Maker thought in her mind when she heard Fighter kept apologising to Kakkyu, when Kakkyu had made clear that it was alright.

"We are a family to each other, aren't we Fighter? So stop saying sorry!" Kakkyu ordered, with gentleness and concern.

'Hai!" Fighter bowed her head. "

"Fighter, I have something for you. Some suggestions."Kakkyu continued.

"About?" Fighter lifted her head up and look straight at Kakkyu,

"About the situation now." Kakkyu replied. Before Kakkyu could carry on with the suggestions, Maker stood up and walked to the side of Fighter.

"Ouhi, shall I leave the room to leave you two to discuss in privacy? May you excuse me." Maker suggested, bowing her head.

"Yes you may. Thank you Maker." Kakkyu dismissed Maker from the room.

Lifting her head up, Maker turned and came face to face with Fighter, making the first eye contact since Fighter entered the room. Maker tried to hide the sadness she had, but Fighter is too fast to notice it. She had saw it even before Maker could concealed her emotions. 'I don't think I will want to stay here and hear about your decision and also to affect your decision due pressure.' Maker thought sadly inside. She then walk towards the door, opening it and left the room.

Fighter turned around, managed to catch her receding backview before the door was shut.

"Fighter." Kakkyu called out to get Fighter's attention back on her. Fighter returned her attention back to Kakkyu when she heard name was called. "Come over here and sit with me." Kakkyu stood up from the position from her desk and walked towards the sofa set in the room. Fighter followed behind.

"What is it that you want to speak to me about, Ouhi?' Fighter asked as she sat beside Kakkyu.

"Have Maker update you anything about the situation?" Kakkyu asked.

"No." Fighter replied quietly. 'Is she suppose to inform me anything? No. I have not talked to her for a whole day. Not a proper conversation at all." Fighter thought as her heart winced.

"Maker told me this morning that the inner senshis had some suggestions, asking you for a visit to earth." Kakkyu started.

"You mean I am allowed to go?" Fighter asked with slight excitement. The excitement came from the thought of being able to see the Moon Princess once again. And the excitement was overcame with confusion when she started thinking about Maker.

"They mentioned that only you are able to cheer Serenity up at the moment. With the state of Serenity right now, Silver Millennium may face destruction." Kakkyu explained.

"Oh my . . . " Fighter was shocked at the possible outcome. 'Anything I will do for the Moon Princess, the one I used to love. Maybe I still love her a little now. Maybe . . . " Before Fighter could give her reply that she would be willing to go to help, since it was because of the Moon Kingdom that their home, Kinmoku, could be reconstructed.

"And for me, I actually had another suggestion." Kakkyu continued. "I'm thinking about sending you three over for good. And possible, your love for the Moon princess could be fulfilled."

"What are you saying Ouhi!" Fighter jumped onto her feet from the sofa. "We can't just leave Kinmoku."

"Yes you can." Kakkyu insisted on her suggestion. "We have analysed about the situation. It's possible Fighter! I don't want you to live your life with regrets. I just want you three starlights to be happy." Kakkyu finished.

'We? So Maker knew about this. Once again, she chose not to tell me anything. And she analysed the situation together with Ouhi without putting us in consideration. Great." Fighter thought bitterly in her as she clenched her fist tightly, wanting to counter the pain that was growing in her. She sat down back on the sofa, with hands still tight.

"You are in the say for this situation." Kakkyu continued.

"I don't know . . ." Fighter answered. Fighter noticed that her visions are getting blurred as time passed longer. "I need some time to think. I will inform you my decision again." Fighter stated as she stood up and ran out of the room when she had finished her sentence.

"Fighter!" Kakkyu called out but Fighter was no longer in sight. 'What's making her to react in this way? I'm expecting her to accept the suggestion right away. What's keeping her away from it?' Kakkyu thought in her mind. She could not understand Fighter's hesitations.