｢Chapter 19｣

"Leader, are we really leaving? Aren't we going to look for Maker?" Healer asked as she and Fighter stood at cliff side of the palace, in their sailor fuku. Kakkyu, who was carrying Himeko, and Ryuuji were standing behind them.

"Healer, she's not coming back." Fighter said sadly as she concealed the tears that was about to form.

"But - " Before Healer could oppressed the idea, Fighter continued speaking.

"Healer face it. She's not going to come back anymore. She left her star brooch behind. She left her star brooch beside Himeko. That meant that she gave up her identity of a starlight. She gave up her duties. She's not coming with us anymore." Fighter gripped Healer's shoulder tightly as she hissed out the facts, with her will broken, unable to hide her tears anymore. 'Maker, that's so unfair. You left without listening to my choice. You left me with just a note. Nothing else. You never let me promise you anything. You never.'

Healer grew quiet, no long have the will to argue with Fighter anymore. She knew Fighter was right. Healer looked down on the ground, closed her eyes and thought, 'Maker, why did you left? Why didn't you say anything last night? Why didn't you discuss anything with us? We are a family, aren't we? Why have you made that decision all alone.'

"Ouhi, we shall make our move already." Fighter turned around and face Kakkyu.

"I will miss you two very much." Kakkyu spoke as she hugged Fighter and Healer. Fighter and Healer could see tears in Kakkyu's eyes as well.

"Ouhi, please take care you yourself. If Ameno is not doing a good job, tell me, I will come back and kick her butt." Fighter declared, causing the other 3 to start laughing.

"Take care of yourself as well. It's going to be just you and Healer. Stop bullying the poor girl with your antics." Kakkyu replied jokingly, causing Fighter to glance at Healer.

"I'll think about that." Fighter replied and got a death glare from Healer.

"You're so dead, Fighter." Healer insulted.

And that helped to lift up the depressing atmosphere.

"Sayonara, Ouhi!" Fighter and Healer cried out before turning in two shooting stars, and began their journey across galaxy.

'Maker. . . Will I still be able to see you one more time?'

Landing on the familiar ground, the two of them realise that the surrounding was so much different as compared to the last time they were here. They had un-transformed, appearing back to their Kinmoku traditional garment.

"Things . . . changed so fast over here." Healer shuttered as she glazed around her surroundings.

"All the things are covered with crystal, Shiny from the light of the moon."

"Fighter, Healer." Someone called them from behind. They turned around and saw Mercury walking towards them.

"I'm so grateful that you have decided to come." Mercury said to Fighter. Then Mercury realised someone was missing. "Where's Maker?"

Fighter looked away from Mercury. She did not want to answer her. Her heart was not ready to let her go. Even though she seemed normal on the outside, deep down inside, she had been constantly reminded that she was the cause for Maker to give up her identity as a starlight.

Healer noticed the sudden change in Fighter's mood. "Maker, she chose not to come." Healer lied. No Healer actually told the truth. It was only that that was a partial truth. 'Maker chose not to come by choosing to give up her powers. She's a real idiot.'

"I don't thinks that was only what it was, Healer-san." Mercury rebuked politely.

"Mercury, she gave up her powers. She's no longer Star Maker. Star Maker is no longer existent." Fighter interrupted the possible interrogation Healer may face from Mercury, knowing that Mercury is one lady who never leave things as it was until she gets the answer she wants.

Mercury look questionably at Fighter. But Fighter broke the contact. "Maker - Taiki contacted me last evening about the suggestion Kakkyu Ouhi sama had made." Mercury continued. "Are you . . ."

"We are staying." Fighter replied rudely, not wanting the situation to be spoken out so clearly. That was because everytime the situation was brought up, she would break down. 'Maker, if that was what you want, I will do it. But staying here does not mean that I will not remember what had happened in this past year.'

"Fighter!" Healer tugged Fighter."Calm down."

Fighter just nodded her head. "Shall we proceed into the palace? I think that was the main purpose what we are here, Mercury." Fighter continued, trying to change the topic they were going to

discuss.

"Serenity is inside." Mercury informed Fighter as they stopped in front of a very tall door. "Please. I think you are the only one who can help her out of this."

Fighter nodded her head. Mercury turned to Healer. "Shall I bring you to your room, Healer san?"

"Well, I feel like walking around the palace, would it be possible?" Healer enquired.

"Sure, I will bring you around." Mercury said to Healer before turning to Fighter. "I'm leaving here to you. We all missed the old Serenity. Only you can bring her back, Fighter." Mercury emphasised again.

After walking around the palace for half an hour, Healer observed something weird. "Mercury, What happened to all of the roses? I thought roses are the flowers of the Earth. It's usual to not to have them in your palace." Healer asked.

"That was because - because Jupiter had them all hidden in one area." Mercury answered.

"But why?" Healer could not understand why was there the need to hide the roses.

"Because they remind Serenity of Endymion. " Mercury replied subduedly.

Fighter decided that it was not a good choice to knock the door before entering the room. 'Since Mercury said that Odango refused to see anyone, even if I knock the door, she would not let me in. I might as well just enter her room without knocking.' Fighter pushed opened the door gently, tried to make it as inaudible as possible. When she was in the room, she closed the door.

"I say I do not want to see anyone! I don't need any food nor drink! I only want Mamo-chan! So get out!" Serenity shouted ungracefully, with her back facing the door and face down.

Fighter stayed at where she was, obviously ignoring Serenity's command for her to get out. 'No, Odango, don't be like that. It breaks my heart to see you in this state.'

"Didn't you hear me? I said GET OUT!" Serenity screamed once again, this time with her head lifted up.

'No Odango. . . There's no way that I will leave you alone in this state. Damn it! Why did the accident happen?" Fighter thought. 'Is this what Maker felt when I pushed her out of my life two days ago?'

Fighter paced closer to the where Serenity was seated. She stopped behind Serenity. "Odango. . . It's me"

Serenity was shocked. She turned herself around and saw Fighter standing in front of her, with gentleness, compassion and tinge of sadness filling in her eyes. "SEIYA!" Serenity exclaimed, pounding forward and squeezed Fighter. "Seiya … Seiya . . . "Serenity called out, crying uncontrollably. "Seiya. . . He's gone . . . He left me forever. Seiya. . ." Serenity cried out.

Fighter just stood there and allowed Serenity to pour out all those emotions over her.

"I don't want any present. . . I only want him to be back alive." Serenity continued bawling out.

Fighter stroked Serenity's head softly, to comfort her. 'Odango . . . I know how it feels. Because this is how my heart felt when Maker left . . . She left me without any explanation. I don't even know her exact location, where is she now? what is she doing. . . '

"It's all my fault. . . It's all my fault. . . If it wasn't my birthday, Endymion would not even leave me to go to the kuiper belt. It's all my fault." And there, Serenity had fallen into a state of self denial, blaming herself all the things that had happened.

"Odando . . ." Fighter pulled Serenity to her chest, leaning her chin on Serenity's head. Fighter whispered softly to Serenity. "It's not your fault, Odango. It's because that he loves you that he chose to do this. He will be really upset he knew that you are not taking this well, self-abusing yourself. He will start blaming himself as well. You won't want him to be unhappy, don't you? You want him to rest in peace, don't you?"

"Ha-i" Serenity sniffled, wanting to stop her sobbings and regain back her normal breathing patterns. "You're right. . . "

"Good girl . . ." Fighter patted Serenity's head gently. "I miss you, Odango. I miss the old you. Tears is never for you. They don't go well with you."

Serenity nodded her. But another wave of tears just filled her once again, pouring down her flawless face. "But my heart just can take the fact that he's gone forever. I can no longer see him, I can no longer hear his voice. Usagi is going to grow up without a father. This is not the future that we knew. . ."

"The future had changed. No one now knew what's going to happen in the future. You will build your own future now, Odango. You have to be strong. Everyone else is counting on you. Your people needs you." Fighter explained.

"But - "

"No worries, Odango. I'll stay here with you. I'll be with you." Fighter said with tears in her eyes, pain consuming her heart. 'Maker, I wished you have stayed. then probably that would be the words I will say to you instead.'

"Seiya . . ." Serenity look into Fighter's eyes. 'Why is it that I felt sadness from you, Seiya. Did something happened to you as well? Or was that sadness I felt is due to me?'