Sailor Moon S 'Rise of the Messiah'

by max333

Weeks after the Wiseman is defeated and the dark crystal destroyed, the lives of all that were there or involved have changed, and not all for the better. With the approach of a new enemy and two potential allies do the senshi have what it takes to come together once more? Why are the senshi now acting disorganized? And will Usa's dad ever accept Mamo? SEQUEL to 'Roses & Diamonds'

13. revelation & Di's transformation

Prascymoon: I can't make promises on Chibi Usa but I can say that this ch/ep is extra LONG for a reason this week.

damonika2009: Mamo and Kenji are overly protective in such different aspects I find it funny. But I love a jealous Mamo I want to showcase that while he trusts Usagi with everything he can't stand nor does he trust Diamond around her. Far away fine but not within her vicinity. Okay maybe funny isn't the word…

kera69love: Kenji will get a wake up call…at some point. We're just not readily for him to accept Mamo just yet.

LoveInTheBattleField: will do.

xSapphirexRosesxFanx: he'll come to terms with it…just not right now.

Bouowmx (Guest): thanks for the constructive critism, though I will note that I hope that this ch/ep will give more insight to Haruka and Michiru. Ikuko will be making an appearance more so its just hard when I'm trying to end certain story lines to still keep the main ones open so just give that time. as for the favorites and follows…I never really saw them as low numbers I just saw it as viewers that enjoyed the fic that I began writing with 'Shaydoe'. Something fun that we created for us to share with the viewers. By the way Amber and Owen are coming back I just want to give them a lull and end this particular bit in some form while making people wonder 'what's gonna happen?'

NeoPrincessRini: Kenji is having a really difficult time with it all. He misses the years she was a child growing up.

Setsuna-Chan22: thank you. For a moment I was seriously thinking of it, even 'Shaydoe' was to but if anything I thought at the end her father would be more dead set against her seeing Mamo instead of accepting her role as a senshi. It just wasn't the right timing. Maybe later on I will.

Only 8 reviews this time around? Well hopefully this extended ch/ep will change that!

Oh btw I had a great reviewer send me this picture she drew, I've never had someone do this before so take a look at her interpretation of Dark Moon!

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As always read and review!

Sailor Moon S 'Rise of Messiah' chi/ep.13

(It had been over a week perhaps two since things had all changed. Since I found out my powers had turned dark, that the white moon had forsaken me. I was still it's senshi but my crystal did not focus on the light now, it could not call on the powers of light. The power that belonged to only me, this foreign power never seemed right.

To me it just felt jagged within my body, almost itchy against my soul. It didn't flow smoothly inside me when I transformed. Instead it filled me with an angst that went against who I was as a person and what I stood for as a senshi. I had to realize that it just wanted to live again and had settled for my body since it was the easiest to take over at the time.

I had finally bitten the bullet and went to the shrine to see Rei. Finding out my young miko friend was quite involved in her new relationship with Yuuchiro. It explained her absence and I was happy for her.

Makoto wasn't showing up for school anymore, to busy with other things she kept telling me, while Ami had moved on to Juuban High. We talked on the phone from time to time but it wasn't as often as I'd like.

I'd been using my dark powers it to destroy daimon's along with Minako when our other three friends finally found out the truth about me as we had gotten wrapped up in a battle just in front of the Queen's Square mall.

That had not gone over well. Rei was furious I kept it from her which was funny to me since I did try to talk with her about it, Minako was understanding, as she was dealing with her own soul being tainted by Chaos. Ami was alarmed yet intrigued. When everyone realized Makoto had known and not told them they had not been happy. Wondering why the senshi of thunder had kept such a secret from them.

Rei had turned her hurt and fury upon her which resulted in a huge fight with me at the center. It was like being in the center of an emotional nuclear meltdown and I was ground zero. Everyone was screaming and bickering in a circle around me, even poor mild mannered Ami was getting in a few choice digs. That only lasted until the Daimon attacked us yet again.

Then they were forced to confront that they weren't senshi anymore, when they couldn't transform. It had been a huge shock to them all. Alarmed gasps were heard all around. It left Mina and I to explain everything that had happened. While avoiding the monster and vanquishing it, mind.)

Worst callisthenic of my life!

(Ami had fallen into a deep contemplation over it. Makoto had gotten very angry and punched her fist through a phone booth, while Rei merely shrugged, kinda non-committal over the whole thing. Hiding her hurt and rage deep down in an act of disinterest. Though I could see the tears in her eyes that she kept contained.

Strangely enough it was like the tables had turned for me. The three girl's powers or no, would show up for battle regardless. Helping in their own ways, but mostly just being a cheering squad for Minako and me.

I did have a bit of fun throwing it in Rei's face a bit, about having to babysit her during battles. I knew she deserved it for all the times she snapped or made a negative comment about my early battle days.

I did get the cold shoulder and silent treatment for several days though. We worked it out, we always do. She admitted that my ribbing was valid but she was really upset about not being Mars anymore. It was like she had lost her purpose. I figured my other friends felt the same way. But in the end I took away their communicator's. I didn't want them involved when they were only human. I couldn't deal with them getting hurt or killed, the stakes were to high. I had to get chaos out of their bodies quick.

Mina was a whole other story, she was faking being unaffected by it all. Putting one this air of being overly happy and bubbly that we could all see through. But she was dealing in the only way she knew how. She wasn't going to give Chaos an in to take over her body. So she was exaggerating all her most positive characteristic's as if hoping if she was so over the top, she could make her body uninhabitable for the negative power. I don't know if it was going to work, I had my own plans of getting my friends back to normal.

Which left me spending a lot of time with Diamond, to which Mamoru was handling as well as he could. Otherwise I was with Luna, to which Mamoru had no issue with at all with. We were looking for any kind of loop hole to get my own power's of healing back. This power didn't belong to me, I had to send it back to Nemesis or cast it out. To heal my crystal, get my scepter back and fix my friends. I was on a new mission.

I had been living with Mamoru for weeks now. We had fallen into a comfortable medium between love making and just being with each other. The inferno of our sex life now tempered by being with each other nearly twenty-four hours a day. It was nice, well more than nice...it was perfect. A sort of taste of what being married to him will be like in the future.

(I laid back on the bed with Mamo – chan, curled up beside me, his head laying on my lap. Our hands inner twinned, with Mamoru's secured over mine. My lower half was trapped but very comfortable, my mind swimming in a lazy fog of security and well-being. We had been moving slowly this morning, lumping in bed. We were lost to our own thoughts, just enjoying being close to one another.

We had been spending hours lately just talking. It was the most words I had ever heard out of him. I didn't mind at all, ever since his drunken episode. He was trying harder to connect with me, to make our bond even stronger. It was peaceful, and the most content I have felt since this whole crisis had happened. I had a thin white tank top on with some white boy shorts that I had slept in the night before, while he opted for just some dark stretch pants, offering me a wonderful view of his sculpted shoulder's and chest.

"We need to get up...I have school in an hour." I remarked caressing his head with my right hand, briefly looking at the digital clock on the night stand. His thick hair weaving through my fingers, in silky waves while his right hand played with some strands of my own. It made my body shiver at his light touch. Our other two hands intertwined upon the sheets, his thumb idling caressing my knuckles. It was a sweet, tranquil moment I never wanted to leave.

But the morning sun invading through the slates of his bedroom window shade was a ticking clock taking this time away from me.

"I know, but I relish in these moments..." he sighed, sounding at peace. But we both knew that wasn't to last. We knew that if we didn't get up soon. I'd be late for school and the administration would think I'm falling back into old habits. Life at school was getting tough, but I kept those worries to myself. Mamoru had enough to deal with right now. I had to tread a fine line, my reputation was in the gutter again thanks to those rumors of cheating.

I was preparing for retesting on top of everything else. I had so many different things taking up my time. I had every hour of the day and night scheduled. I felt like a match burning from both ends, I had to keep everything in balance or I would burn out.

I pushed myself up forcing him to reluctantly adjust himself on my lap. Yet stubbornly, he did not leave my lap. Giving him a mock grimace of disapproval. He gives in with a heavy sigh, getting up and moving to the closet. Rummaging through his suits and starts to get dressed while I roll over, and sit up. Intent on doing the same, I take my shirt off. Feeling his eyes on my revealing form.

Turning around I see his love shining through his the deep pools of his eyes. Taking note of how braless I was, admiring the peaks of my breasts from the side. Having been with him intimately for months now I felt confident enough to walk around topless around him. Standing up I swiftly made my way to our shared dresser, I bent over a bit, to get to the bottom drawer. I felt him come up behind me, so I slowly bent back up but not too slowly. I didn't want to be obvious.

He came up semi hard behind me already, "Are you trying to make us both even more late than we already could be?" he growled in my ear. His hands molding themselves to my hips as he began to subtly grind himself into my bum. "No, are you?" I giggled softly, swatting his hands away as I moved sassily out of his grip. I went to go get dressed, trying to make the tingly feelings leave my body from his touch.

We hadn't made love in couple of days. I was just to busy or to tired to engage. Mamoru had been patient and understanding, but I felt I was ignoring him. A layer of guilt sat heavy in my belly, as he turned away refocusing himself back at the contents of his closet. I wondered if he felt neglected from it.

Once we were ready, we headed down to the parking garage beneath his apartment complex. Got into his cherry red sports car and sped off towards my school when he got a call. The familiar twittering of his cell phone, broke the comfortable lull between us. Grabbing his phone, that was resting between us. In it's holder, set in the central console. I put it on speaker so he could talk and drive without risk of an accident.

"Chiba – san?" A gruff, baritone echoed into the cab. I assumed it was his professor. "Hai?" Mamo - chan replied, nodding absently towards the dash. "Could you come in early today, I have the midterms to go over and I need my TA for some assistance. The class is going to be a bit bigger since Mr. Tanaka is feeling to unwell to teach today. So unfortunately, I'm getting his students." the man near grumbled.)

It was hard enough to try and teach to 30 students, now it would be near 60 in one class room, only hoped having Mamoru's presence there would be enough to quell the students. He knew Mamoru had a commanding presence since day one. Something about him just spoke to the man that he would be the one to be needed to help out more. Not to mention once the man's girlfriend came back into his life everything seemed to go back up for him.

("Hai. Let me just drop off my girlfriend first then I'll be there. Were already on route so it won't take me to long." Mamo - chan answered. I looked about, figuring I was close enough to the school already. The drive as we talked taking already easily seven minutes. "Can you come within 20 minutes?" the man asked over the phone. I could see Mamo - chan trying to calculate timing with the traffic and adding my drop off with it.

"Mamo - chan its fine, I can get off here. School's only six blocks down there." I pointed vaguely down the block of rose brick privacy fence. He looks over back and forth a few times, between me and his phone. Before reluctantly conceding my point, "Let me know when you're on school grounds. I don't want you to have to worry about tardiness." He advised, in a stern somewhat parental tone. As he pulled the car to the curb, parking lightly just in front of a bus shelter. I was thankful Mamo - chan had muted the line so we could talk more freely.

Leaning over I gave him a quick kiss, snatching my satchel from the back seat. Before darting out of the car and across the street. Luckily there weren't too many commuters waiting at the stop, so getting to the cross-walk was relatively easy as pie. I began to dash the rest of the six blocks along the opposite side of the street, as he pulled away back into traffic. I was sprinting past a small green space, when I ran upon Haruka talking with Minako. Each was dressed in their school uniforms but neither were anywhere close to their schools.

I was a bit confused, coming to an abrupt halt a few meter's before them. So I asked, "Don't you both have school to get to?" as I noticed they were both walking towards me.

Minako's school was still a good ten minutes in the opposite direction and Haruka's school was...somewhere else. It was a little confusing, unless there was a meeting with the faculty…or they were simply skipping first period. "Little hell cat!" Haruka greeted her, with a roguish grin. That instantly made me blush. Minako almost looked a little jealous at the pet name, "Why do you call her that?" she asked curiously. Haruka smiled knowingly, as I blushed even more, ducking my head with a nervous smile of my own.

"A private joke." I tell her, trying to kill the personal inquisition to come.

Minako really looked intrigued now, "Well now I'm all curious, tell me!" she begged Haruka now. Once more smiling impishly she leaned down to Minako's ear right when I shouted, "Don't you dare!" but Minako's eyes lit up and a blush graced her cheeks, "Haruka - san!" she then looked to me in surprise, "Gotta go!" She made a hasty retreat, now she looking like she had juicy information to give.

"What did you tell her?" I nearly whined, "Just that from the way that prince of yours looks at you that your private life must be passionate." Haruka chuckled, enjoying putting me on the spot. I sighed, "Hai, it is. But..." she looked to me with raised brows.

"I don't tell the girls a lot about that since they would find a lot of my thoughts and things are very hentai. I don't feel like being judged. And even if they didn't judge me they'd really have nothing to say on the matter since I'm the only one in the group that has had or is having intimate relations." I spoke truthfully with a shrug. "That I know of..." I added on, giving Minako's retreating figure a meaningful look.

"You've got school this morning right?" Haruka asked mildly. As if subtly reminding me.

My mind clicked, "Crap if I don't go top speed now I'll be late." I made to dash off when Haruka catches my arm, "No worries I'll give you a ride." She indicates her blue sports bike sitting by the curb. "Hai." I had no time or want to argue with her. Getting on I, pushed the helmet she offered over my head. I held on tight, as without out a care I was straddling the back of the bike with my school skirt on.

The wind as we rode the short distance making it flap up, and showing off my lace slip underneath, slapping against my legs like a flag in a storm. I could have cared less about the distasteful looks I generated from the adults waiting on the curb for the bus, focused only on the need to get to school on time.

"So why isn't your prince giving you a ride?" Haruka asked, I could practically see that mischievous grin of hers.

Even though her face was hidden beneath her helmet's glass shield I was beginning to understand Haruka Tenoh on a more intimate level. She enjoyed starting trouble, I could just imagine her as a young girl playing pranks on her friends. Just to get a laugh or see what kind of shit she could cause for her own amusement. Much like my own little brother. She wasn't malicious about it she just got such great enjoyment toying with others.

"He got called in by his professor to come in early but otherwise. He was going to take me all the way, that's how I got as far as I did." I replied honestly. There was no games between us, even though she loved to flirt. The helmets we both wore muffling our words a bit making us both speak louder to be heard well. "Sounds like he's a responsible guy." She responded back. I nod against her back as we came up to my school.

The last few students milling about the sidewalk out front, before classes began, "Good I have a near five minute cushion. I won't have to run to class." I remark getting off.

Before letting Haruka go I ask, "Maybe we could hang out after school. I could use an ear on certain things." I noticed how she smiled just so, polite but not trusting...at least not yet.

"Sure thing. Little hell cat." taking the helmet back, I gave her my sweetest most endearing smile. She chuckled, catching onto my little cute act instantly before she took off on her bike. Seeing Naru leaning against a tree inside the school yard. I joined her, soon we were going to class together, "Who was that?" She asked. "He's cutie." she continued looking in Haruka's retreating direction.

I arched an incredulous brow, "I'll only ever have true eyes for Umino but it doesn't hurt to look." Naru finished with a humorous smile. I smiled back and shook my head ruefully.

"As long as you also know you're looking at a woman." I added a moment later for effect. Naru blushed in shock, "Nani?!" She blurted out in astonishment.

I smiled knowingly, "Haruka - san is a woman, she and her girlfriend go to that giant school out in the reclamation area. I wanna say 'Mugen'." I searched for the right name in my memory.

While she continues to nod in astonishment before catching, "Wait girlfriend?" her shy demeanor of such things comes out, in how badly she was blushing. "Hai, and there a very graceful couple too." I admired them for their ability to remain at the top of their abilities and be a good couple. It reminded me a bit of Mamo - chan and myself though a lot of people didn't see it.

"Wow so they have that type of relationship." Naru mussed, her expression pensive. While many young people our age felt same sex relationship might be exciting, because of how taboo they are, most of the older population was totally against it. I personally felt sorry that they had to keep their relationship so secret to avoid ridicule. People should be able to love each other openly and without prejudice.

I nodded mutely at Naru, "We should get to class." I grab her hand as we both race off just in time. As the first bell rings over the front yard, a deafening gong calling us into the off white institute.

Finally in our seats we let out a huff of breath each as Ms. H strolls in, wine red dress suit in order. Looking ready to take on the world, at least the world of Junior high. Moving with an air of authority clear in her clipped stride. "Morning class!" she beams, a happy and fully satisfied with her life. Once again she takes a look in my direction part of her still expecting to find a vacate seat for her round of morning tardy calls.)

One of the few times I've seen this must mean she has a new boyfriend now.

(I keep my thoughts from Mamo - chan knowing he's probably in his class right now aiding the teacher. "Alright students we begin our third semester for the quarter..." she began to go off into her student speech when I briefly wondered still what Haruka was doing outside of school at this time of day. Mugen was on the far side of the city out in the bay, than near Juuban so why was she so far from it?

I decided I would get my answers after school. Thankfully my meeting with Diamond at the temple wouldn't be till around 5 p.m., enough time to meet with Hanuka. Talk for a good half an hour before running to the temple or talking her into giving me a ride. I had to smile as I had been making these timing plans. That I myself used to have a hard time keeping up with.)

Haruka herself was in a mindset all her own. No thoughts of outside forces could impede upon her focus right now. Having ditched out on her first class of the day she ended up running into Minako whose insanely bright spirit made her wonder if the girl was high on something. She rather preferred hanging around the little hell cat, Usagi instead. Her energy more infectious rather than over powering.

Plus she not only understood her flirty jokes but was able to joke back about it. Minako had completely understood as well but she to nervous or overwhelmed by them to respond back. So it kind of killed the effect. She enjoyed her time with Usagi, almost as much as she did with her Michiru. But she preferred her Michiru's more logical thinking nature to the idealistic nature Usagi presented.

She relished in the idea that Usagi could be completely correct in her way of thinking the way she felt Sailor Moon was, but she also had little knowledge of the extent this supposed dark senshi had.

She seemed to be fighting for good but her powers were that of a defining darkness. It didn't bode well for either her or Michiru but knowing that the moon senshi wanted peace and to win without sacrifice was idealistic at best. Of course a strong part of her wanted to save the world without the need to let an innocent suffer and die but if that's what it took then so be it. Kill one, save a thousand, or in this case since there were three talismans, kill three and the world itself could be saved from the forces of evil.

It was a sacrifice she'd be willing to make. It would hurt and she and Michiru would bear the brunt of the guilt for the rest of their lives but to her that was a small sacrifice if billions of people worldwide got to live another few decades in peace, or at least get to live out their lives the way they wanted to. Give the human race a fighting chance for survival.

She wanted to give them that and she knew Moon did as well. Their methods of working though were completely off. If there was a way to save the world without sacrifice she and Michiru's would jump on it in a flash. But there wasn't. Three talisman carriers had to die to save the world from destruction. She grit her teeth at the knowledge, wishing that she could join Moon and her ideals but she was wrong. She and Michiru had been at this much longer, having fought these daimon longer than the senshi had.

They followed the daimon from where they came from, to Tokyo. As they tried to take root in a new place and get away from the senshi. But it did not work, they couldn't hide or escape from them. Under the guise of student's, Haruka and Michiru had infiltrated the Mugen Academy and now had Tomoe's research lab under surveillance.

However they were also where they wanted to be. Having setup a nice condo to call home in a neighboring tower to the Academy. She was pretty sure it these Diamon had something to do with the 'Mugen School' but wasn't 100% positive on.

The teachers acted strange but not as strange as the top students at that school. The students there always seemed intensely focused in the studies, nearly more so then the teachers had taught them. To be fair to them though, if you were to graduate within 'Mugen' it was a high honor. It meant that you were the best of the best. It was much easier to get a job or a career in the real world. Mugen graduates were highly sought after. However it didn't explain the negative presence she or Michiru felt in the school sometimes.

Nor the presence of something sinister in there. Bad thing was she could never delve to deeply within or else cast suspicion onto herself. So she resigned for now to remaining invisible to the school faculty when needed. Michiru was mainly in the spot light due to her violin concerts she performed. It was classed at Mugen, as within the art department whereas her place for being a race car driver wasn't highly sought after. A different world she knew but didn't care on. Racing was something she lived for...other than Michiru.

Dirt biking to, they were fun hobbies for her to enjoy. Plus having her own fan club to support her, with Michiru's and Usagi at the top of the list was a nice addition. She kept driving as she thought more on the mission she had with her beloved. The Shuta Expressway was packed with commuter's and transit buses. Making the drive far more amusing as she weaved through the morning traffic.

The smell of the exhaust and crisp fall air invigorating her senses. Michiru was one of the very few people out in the world that made her feel loved and cherished. She held no feelings of negativity from her parents, no feelings what so ever actually. Granted they died when she was very young, having been raised by nannies and tutors her parents had put in place before their un timely deaths. She was pretty much raised by her father's multi-billion dollar corporation.

She was seen as a pay check to them and nothing more. Treated more like a responsibility then a person, the staff put in their hours doing their respective jobs and nothing else. She pretty much grew up under the radar, she figured out over time that it was a waste of energy to try and talk to them. To try and befriend any of them. She had been left to her own wiles growing up, with no one really paying any paternal attention. Growing up wild and uncaring for anyone but herself. Until she met Michiru...

She had lost her parents as well. But was lucky enough to be handed over to her Uncle and Aunt, who also inherited her father's company. At least until she turned eighteen. She had led a quiet life, in a perfect glass house in which she could do no wrong. Until she met Haruka and began to feel her first hint of real attraction. Feelings she was confused over, desires that were not allowed in the social elite she was born into.

At first she had kept it all to herself, but secrets didn't remain secrets for long especially not in that high class world. Her aunt was embarrassed that her niece was in love with another woman while her Uncle pretended he knew nothing and decided to bury himself in work. The tarnish to the 'Kaioh' name if it ever went public that she was gay was to horrible for either of them to deal with.

It wasn't idealistic at all, far from it. They pretended that her feelings did not exist, believing it was just a fad she was exploring. They wouldn't accept Michiru as she was and she would never give up on her. Michiru finally had a flaw, her glass house had been shattered and now she was on her own here in Tokyo. Banished so to speak, which she didn't mind at all. She felt free, to save the world and love Haruka without scrutiny.

Haruka smiled fondly, at how fearless her girl had been when her family had abandoned her. Stating that all she needed was her, that she was her family. That her life had seemed perfect at least at a glance, but it was far from it. With Haruka, now her life was perfect.

While she had no one to embarrass, because she was already the black mark on the 'Tenoh' name. She was the 'wild untamed heiress' who lived for racing and any kind of thrills. Michiru was burdened by a family name she truly cared about, and parental figures who were constantly guilting her about who she was. Having to constantly fight against them, which only made her tougher in the end.

Her aunt was gone, unable to deal with the stress Michiru caused. All that her uncle would say was that she was traveling. He'd been using that excuse for years now. She wondered when the friends would finally wise up about her whereabouts. Haruka knew she sometimes fantasized about bringing her to their home and showing her off….sometimes that is. Her Uncle, ignored the inquires. At one point over a year ago he'd called her up and told her if she didn't stop this fruitless quest he'd cut her off.

She laughed at his threat feeling it was ridiculous and had remarked 'I'm living a very financially secured life with the woman I love. I hold no cares for your financial threats. So go ahead cut me off. I could care less. Your financial gain would be nothing more than a financial burden to me. But thanks for the offer, dear uncle.'

Her Uncle had hung up the phone in rage. Knowing but not wanting to admit that Haruka's time as a race car driver and a motorist for bikes had gained her such fame that she was set for a nice long career path. Michiru had no use for her own family money, her Uncle could have it if he wished. But unless he could null the will, the company would be hers in less than a year.

But he wasn't a greedy or cruel man, just disappointed in how she turned out.

He had wanted her to get married to a good man of his choosing but that would never come to pass. He had no kids with his wife, Michiru had been their only version of a daughter from a very young age. It was killing him that she wasn't 'normal'.

Haruka smiled, a memory of not meeting her nanny's standard of 'normal' coming to mind. It was at a meeting a couple years back. They needed her signature as sole heir to continue a merger that the company was finalizing. The executives were trying to reconcile, with what to expect, even how to deal with the wild card that was 'Haruka Tenoh'. Not sure how she would act let alone anything else.

The young men standing there had been stunned when she came in with more suitable men's clothing on rather than feminine clothing. She actually looked more dapper and manly then they did, in a black and white pin stripe suit and tie. Complete with black leather dress shoes and briefcase.

When her family company's current president came in he knew exactly how this would all play out. He was an old wolf in the company and had been around since it's founding, had watched Haruka grow up even. Most the men had taken Haruka in stride accepting who she was and even starting to chat like she was one of the guys, but one young man, fresh from college was having issues with it.

He would get nervous, get tense over feeling he was inadequate to a woman who seemed to domineer the whole board room, with her wit and charm in a matter of minutes. Dressed as a man she shouldn't have been taken to seriously, finally he had to excuse himself. From that point on she had proven herself adequate before her family's keepers. To which they gave up trying to turn her into a proper lady. Finally accepting her begrudgingly as she was. Mostly they just stayed out of her way and did as they were told.

For that Haruka was grateful. If they wanted a proper lady she'd happily introduce them to Michiru but feared their snubbing their relationship so rudely in front of them both. No, her and Michiru were good together. Though she'd never admit to it but she enjoyed her little flirtations with Usagi. It was the young idealist views that sometimes made her want to change her perspective to see where Sailor Moon was coming from.

For a moment she pictured the lovable girl as Sailor Moon and found the resemblance striking before banishing the thoughts away. If she was Sailor Moon it would mean their friendship was at an end. She didn't want that. She enjoyed the young girls company, plus her flirtatious spars with the girl made Mamoru look a tad jealous. It made her laugh as Usagi knew that it was harmless as did Michiru.

No if anything what she needed to focus on, was her and Michiru's fight with Kaolinite. That woman was just bad news all around. Her disappearing act lately had her a bit worried. What if the woman was planning something large that the senshi would need Moon's ultimate power to fix? What if only they and Moon could kill the daimon? She had no problems with that if it weren't for the fact that Moon wanted to protect the innocents that could be talisman carriers.

So many opposing thoughts were haunting her when she finally arrived to the Mugen Tower. She breezed through the huge luxurious foyer. With the high glass ceiling and huge stone fountain. Past the faculty milling behind the front mahogany sign in desk, proceeded up the first escalator way past first bell. Upon entering her class she had no clue that half the students were looking at her oddly.

Sitting in her seat she became robotic, only having her thoughts focused on the tasks needed to defeat the rising evil. Once the classes were over she rushed off school grounds like the wind. Jumping on her bike and roaring away into the sharp afternoon light, having better things to do then hang around. There was no fun to be had with Michiru anyway, she was to busy practicing for her latest violin concert.

She walked up to the arcade to meet up with Usagi, a bounce in her step and a glint of anticipation in her eyes. She couldn't get the odd image of Usagi as Sailor Moon out of her head. The soft burst of air tossed her dusty blonde hair as she entered the neon glow and electronic mayhem of Crown. Her mind lost to strange ideas about the Odango-head, when said person flagged her down. She smiled in acknowledgement finding Usagi sitting in a red leather booth against the side windows in the dining area.

Sitting down in the booth across from her she noticed Usagi made sure they were seated further into the Arcade, than the rest of the booths.

"Trying to hide something little hell cat?" she asked with a grin on her face, "I don't want people to hear me." she defended. "It's just I need someone to talk to about things with Mamo - chan but you're the closest that - " Haruka cut her off.

"I got you." her words soothed Usagi worries. As she started to go on a tirade of intimate things, it all spilled out without taking another breath. Such a blunt and brutally honest, confession that made even Haruka blush at certain points. "Finished?" Haruka said mildly, a hint of a blush still staining her cheeks, "Hai." Usagi remarked, head falling down in nervous shame, "Feel better?" Haruka asked her with a low chuckle.

Usagi nodded day dreamy like, "Hai." she laughed,

"Honestly, Koneko you surprise me." Haruka smiled in that disarming ways of hers that could make anyone feel comfortable.

"Your only fifteen right?" She laughed, "It sounds like you have already loved a lifetimes worth with our dear Mamoru-kun."

Usagi laughed along with her, not knowing what else to do. Haruka was very astute at times.

If you only knew...

Haruka then began to offer her advice and understanding support for what she was going through with Mamoru. Haruka was in mid-sentence, when Usagi's eyes flew wide in startled surprise.

"Oi!" she jumped up, "I have to go see Diamond - san at the temple." hearing a strange man's name it made Haruka's eye brows raise up, "Since when do you double dip?" Usagi frowned, not understanding.

"Seeing two men at the same time." she clarified. Usagi's face returned in utter horror, her heart clenched at that thought, "NO! Not like that Diamond - san is a good guy. He's just on a lost path. He's helping me out with some problems." the near revolting look on her face had Haruka wanting to question the young girl even more. Almost as if she could see the girl had personal reasons as to why. She would not want her to fall under a false impression even as a gag.

"Let me join you." Haruka started to walk even though Usagi was trying to come up with a way to avoid it. She didn't want Haruka to come along only to find out exactly what he was helping her with. The only reason why Mamoru wasn't going to be there was due to late classes. It was why Rei - chan would be there. As a chaperone...

She was as protective of Usagi during her alone time with Diamond as Mamoru was.

"You don't have to do that!" she tried to avoid sounding desperate, not wanting the woman to be offended by her not wanting her to come along. She didn't want Haruka to find out things before she was ready to. Besides Usagi still had to figure out how she was going to tell the handsome blonde she knew of her secret identity.

Haruka raised a brow, inquiring wordlessly why this was such a big deal.

"You can walk me to the temple if you'd like but he's not open to strangers. He's a very private man." Usagi amended, hoping it would be enough for Haruka to back off. The woman knew the feeling of needing to be private, so she could understand that.

"Okay." she answered but still walked Usagi to Sendai Hill. The evening sun a brand of blinding fire upon the tower's of Azabu. They dull blue sky soon washed with the burning colors of a vivid dusk. The lamps were coming alive, when Haruka was walking her to the bone white temple steps. Having slung her arm around Usagi's shoulder since Mamoru wasn't there to be protective of his girl.

During the short walk up from the bus stop, several men would look over to find the two but because of Haruka's male looks in her uniform they paid no mind. Usagi herself paid no mind as she took it as a protective gesture to help her avoid dealing with the advances sometimes made on her. It was greeting Diamond at the bottom of the steps that had Usagi starting to get fried nerves all over again.

Haruka felt the tension in the young blondes form next to her and wondered what it was about this man that made the infectious bubbly blonde seem so nervous to be around him. She quickly took the mans measure, finding him wanting in her own eyes. Tall, yet wiry. With more muscle tone then mass. Wearing a white cotton button up shirt he left untucked over his jeans. With shoulder length silver blonde hair, that hung low over his cool blue eyes.

With a strong yet calculating face, that was regal and well formed. Like a hawk scrutinizing it's prey. He looked like a prince...but a cold one.

Feeling protective of her even more now she felt the need to see who this man was and if he had any intentions negatively that would make Usagi want to run from him.

"And you must be Diamond - san." Haruka spoke coolly to him, arm never shifting from around Usagi's shoulders.

"Hai." he replied as coldly. He seemed to be figuring things out though and without warning he stood and stated boldly, "Usa I didn't know you had a way of attracting female's to."

The comment made Haruka smile, in that thin 'don't fuck with me' way, when dealing with a pompous poser who was all talk and no action. "She does, but I am only here to walk her to the temple. She can garner unwanted attention from males too. I know her prince charming would not approve." Her words were smooth, unknowingly striking something within him.

"No, I don't believe Mamoru would." he replied, not happy that he was getting a reminder of the man's placement in her life without him even being there. Whomever this blonde woman was from a distance it would look easily like she was a man. Something that had him confused for a moment as he wondered why Usagi was not bothered by being casually around a man that was not Mamoru. But this explained it.

"Arigato, Haruka - san. We should hang out together again. I would like it very much." Usagi remarked breaking the tension. Haruka nodded in agreement. Knowing she would be Usagi's go to person for such conversations till one of the girls closer to her age ended up in love bits of their own. Haruka felt for the girl but was glad she at least had her to confide in. Somehow it felt like it wasn't the first or last time either.

Then she spoke low next to Usagi's ear, "If he becomes a problem and you can't get ahold of Mamoru - san call me." her tone serious. She didn't know what is was about Diamond but she had an instant distrust of the man. It could have been the way he looked at Usagi, how his eyes took in her every feature when she wasn't looking or it could be his tone and off putting personality. Either way she didn't like him. Unknowingly she was on familiar grounds with the dark haired man.

On that note, she decided to stick around the area. Calling Michiru up on her communicator she noted to her where she would be at for a little while, wanting to protect the young girl. She couldn't figure out why she felt the need to protect her. When Mamoru got there she knew she could leave but till then she would linger in the area. She wouldn't bother or snoop but hang around and if Usagi needed her she'd be close by.

She was unknowingly mimicking her protectiveness of the blonde from a millennia ago when the young princess looked up to her as an older sister.

While she made sure to stay within a mile radius of the girl, Usagi was dealing with issues of her own. Diamond had been trying to teach her how to master her dark powered attacks when she really came there to try to be rid of them. She wanted her body back, for her crystal to return to normal. These powers were not hers to keep, she didn't even want them.

Rei had been there for the transformation, casting Diamond glares of distrust. Wanting to help anyway she could, her connection to the sacred fire had been weakened. It was killing her how her own special talents were out of reach with Chaos living inside of her. What's worse is she was starting to have black outs. Her body was starting to feel weak and fragile as if that dark power was eating her alive. But as quickly as she thought such things, they drifted away into apathy.

Ami and Makoto had stated the same thing to her a couple days prior. Not wanting to alarm Usagi they kept the new development to themselves. They knew she was trying to figure out a way to heal them and herself. But it might just be for not. She should be focusing on vanquishing the enemy not wasting her time on lost causes.

Lost in her morbid thoughts, Rei who was still dressed in her private school uniform of grey jacket and black skirt, was completely oblivious to Diamond's look of clear love and adoration, with a tinge of lust aimed at Usagi as she transformed. Not having let himself give it away in front of Mamoru but feeling the miko not really paying attention he let it go. "Good or evil...she is still and will always be eternally stunning." he murmured. Rei ignored him as she was more interested in how Moon's new attacks would work.

It would be nice if they finally managed to get an edge over their new enemies. So what if they were tainted by darkness. She didn't feel any different, it was unsettling but not painful. She felt at this point she and girls could wait. She knew those troubling thoughts should be a signal. Her ancestor's were crying out to free herself from this dark power, that it was slowly consuming her. The chaos fragment preventing their screams from being heard as anything more than a dull whisper. The miko would pay no heed to whispers.

Usagi finished her transformation with a spinning flourish. Moving straight into an attacking kata, charging a ball of darkness in her left hand. Her movement crisp and focused, she sent an energy ball at a wooden target.

It clipped the wooden disc hanging from a hemp rope high up in a large oak tree. Sending it twirling in a lopsided spin away from the branch. Luna and the girls had built a training yard deep inside the ancient grove of trees behind the shrine. Several wooden targets were hung amid the tree line. That they used for target practice. The grass in the glade scared from long hours of hand to hand and strategy practice with their attacks.

"You have good aim and channeling abilities from using your other powers but for this. It is connected to other emotions, like anger or hate. You'll need to use those to center the attack so that it can be more effective." Diamond observed. Rei shot him a dirty look, those emotions were not normal for Usagi.

"Can't I just find a way to rid myself of this?" Moon almost whined, she didn't want to be a dark senshi. Not now not ever.

"I want my scepter back, I want my old power's back..." She growled staring at her hands in contempt.

Diamond sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. She was like a broken record, he couldn't understand why she just couldn't accept this new post.

"You might have weapons, power far beyond your old Senshi form. But healing is a power of the light." Diamond offered with a shrug. Knowing how it would be received before he caught the dissatisfaction in her face.

(I wished I could just be good again. I don't want this darkness within me or within my senshi. I looked to Rei's eyes and didn't see that bright spirit within her. Chaos had her now. I had to save her, Ami, and Makoto. I had to prevent Minako or Mamoru from falling but to do that I needed to cleanse myself. But how? How do I do that when I...I thought on it a moment longer.

Diamond sighed impatiently. "Power is power...I don't know why you have to feel it's bad just because it doesn't come from the light side." His tone sounded hurt, as if she was shunning a gift from him.)

Rei crossed her arms glowing at him in distain, as Moon glanced down at her lavender gloves shamefully. Needing to organize her thoughts, to make Diamond understand that this power was a poor fit for her. They had been arguing for the last week about it. He felt she could be far more formidable as a Dark Senshi. She had no idea the power she could wield and should be grateful at the chance to explore this side of the Moon's Energy, while she just wanted it gone.

("What if I were to do something to the extreme in reverse of what this Dark Senshi power would want?" I offered.

Diamond looked to me in disbelief, as if I had just grown two heads.

"Would that cleanse me?" I asked him, hopefully.

"I don't know." Diamond scrubbed his face tiredly. "You are the Senshi of Nemesis now. The embodiment of the Dark Side of the Moon itself. It would have to be expelled through a great powerful source." he told me, with a resigned monotone to his voice.

I was beginning to think I should ask my moon mother for guidance on this one. "How does one cleanse...re-polarize...whatever you wanna call it - the silver crystal back to one of light again?" I muttered out loud.

"However you do it. You'll still need a conduit for the Senshi power within you." He shrugged, I shot my eyes to him in surprise.

"The power needs a place to go, needs a host that can handle the energy stored there. It's now an active force, a living spirit that cannot survive without a body. Without it, it will be expelled into the cosmos, lost without a purpose. The loss of it's host could drive it insane, then it would truly become something evil." Diamond explained without hesitation. Refusing to sugar coat any of the brutal consequences I was dealing with.

I didn't like that.

"BUT...It's a Senshi power from a thousand years ago that was for a short period of time. Inside of the most powerful host, I've ever met in my life, a future ruler of the planet...only another person whom has had that type of power within them, could handle it." Diamonds eyes were fierce some, carrying the full weight of what casting this power aside could do. To me, to it and to the universe itself.

I nodded slowly in understanding, "An ancient Senshi Power that is now awake and needs a purpose. If I cast it out of my body and not give it a new host. It would do more harm in the future." I nodded wondering if I'd ever be able to get it out without creating another fight later on in our lives.

"I'll have Luna consult the central control to see about any possible way of exorcism." if I could do that maybe...

"If you could cast it that would be good but you'd still need a conduit that could handle the energy output. Without the right magic's to work it would only piss it off." Diamond interjected. I knew he was trying to help but he didn't view evil the same as I did. Perhaps one day I would see a more clear understanding of his own view points on it. Deciding on another option I de - transformed.

"Rei - chan do you think we could use the sacred fire to see about an alternative solution?" I asked. Rei cast her eyes down, the sacred fire no longer spoke to her. All her Miko power's had faded when Chaos took over her body. It was embarrassing and hurt her deeply to confront the fact that her old life was gone.

Her avoidance of me lately was now getting troublesome. I stared at her meaningfully, watching several emotions pass over her face. Finally Rei turned her head and spoke softly, "I don't see why you have such a need to get rid of this power when it has been helpful to us." her remark had me frozen. That was chaos talking, not Rei.

I sighed, "Rei - chan I know you're in need of cleansing same as Ami - chan and Makoto - chan." Rei frowned bitterly, "No, I'm not."

"Rei- chan when have you ever known yourself to say no to a fire reading when it pertains to anything senshi related?" I pointed out bluntly.

She opened her mouth but would not answer. "Chaos has made you and all the others so apathetic." I tell her.)

Rei knew her words to be true but the chaos refused to let her care or see it as a problem, only as a way to keep it inside. "Bull, you're just afraid of what you could be able to do with that power. You could be way more formidable than we were as a team. You might be able to defeat this new enemy all by yourself. You're just being a scared little brat!" she snapped. Her voice bordering on childish and snobbish.

"Rei - chan we cannot fight with the evil. I couldn't even summon my powers up for the longest time. You can't even turn into Sailor Mars?" Usagi asked her, remaining calm even though she could feel her anger boiling. Rei could be so stubborn and bull headed it drove her nuts.

"I know that! But I could have dark power's now just like you, they could be far superior to what I had before. If I could figure out how to tap into them, then perhaps we could use them to destroy this new enemy in no time." She folded her arms, refusing to give it up.

I rolled my eyes.

"That's not a bad idea." Diamond finally pipped up.

"Nani!" I nearly screamed in his face.

"Settle down...Usa." He raised his hands in a calming gesture.

"No...not going to happen. This power does not belong to me. It was a mistake. I will not let Chaos having anymore control over my friends!" I was near tears now, I could feel how hot my cheeks were. The moisture shimmering on my eyes.

"Look...It's power. Power you can use to fight for what you want." Diamond kept on, as I stood in stunned silence.

"Just because it isn't from the light side doesn't make it bad." He growled. "If you give a person a gun. And they go and kill a bunch of people..." He was staring at me, his eyes holding mine so forcefully. With such belief in his words that I found myself holding my breath. "Do you blame the gun?"

I cast my eyes down, my thoughts spinning.)

"Or do you blame the person wielding the power. Just because it's dark doesn't make it evil. What makes it evil is how that power is used via that person." He finished, swallowing his growing irritation at her.

"I could use the dark side of Mar's powers then, I can't tap into the light side. But perhaps I can find another link..." Rei muttered to herself, desperate to find her purpose again.

Diamond didn't hear her, lost in his own bitterness. Having Usagi shun and deny the power's coming from his own home planet was like having her cast him aside all over again.

"Rei I don't think it works that way. Chaos isn't like a Senshi Power. I'm channeling the planet power of Nemesis." She explained, sympathetic to the frustration she saw in her.

"Right?" She turned to Diamond to confirm her hypothesis.

Diamond merely nodded, casting Rei a sad grimace. The girl was not dealing well with the loss of her powers.

(Rei looked to me before a partial bit of a fearfulness ran through her dark eyes. Fear that I was right that since chaos was within her she wouldn't be able to transform, "Bull!" yelling out she ran from the trees. Holding back her tears, she ran up the stone steps to the veranda on the main building and thundered down the wooden deck towards her room. Phobos and Demos watched their mistress with somber yellow eyes, perched on the Torrii. Their small black shapes cast in silhouette as the sun set behind them into the city tower's.

Slamming her divider open, she flew into her room. Reappearing a few minutes later with her Henshin wand. Face still held tight, unwilling to give into her hurt and fear.

Phobos cawed in mourning, while Demo's fluffed his feather's in agitation. Their mistress was going through a very hard time, unable to grieve for her lost Senshi power's and pure heart crystal of light.

Rampaging out in front of them both, her face set with a stubborn determination to prove them wrong. The fading rays of the sun became a slowly dying backdrop to the inevitable disappointment to come.

"Mars Star Power!" she yelled out, with all her might. Stabbing her red want over her head, as if attacking the universe itself. Her words falling flat as nothing happening. Her hand with the wand slowly came down as Rei looked to it in disbelief. Her shoulder's hunching forward in defeat, blinking rapidly to keep her raging emotions at bay.

Her wand not even feeling her own anymore. A lifeless thing, like some inanimate object. Like she was for a moment trapped in a portion of her body that said 'no'. "When the chaos took over, your senshi spirit left you. Taking not only your pure heart for protection but the ability to transform to." I told her softly, fearing how she was dealing with losing it all. This reaching was a bad sign, she wanted any kind of power light or dark it didn't matter she just wanted to feel whole again with power.

"Mar's Dark Star Power!" She raged, shaking her wand furiously.

"Not possible!" She screamed, truly upset that she couldn't transform now.

"Chaos took that from you and we have to find a way to get rid of it. Before it not only consumes us but prevents us from being able to protect our planet from Kaolinite and whomever she works for with those daimon." Usagi took a cautious step towards her. As Rei was trembling, as if she was made of glass and any sudden movement on her part would shatter the miko completely. With a scream of rage, Rei ran crying threw the trees.

Phobos and Demos watched from their perch, silent spectator's to her agony as she ran to her room not understanding and not wanting to believe her decision had been fool hearty. That she royally screwed up and was paying the price.

(I wanted to run after her, to hold her, comfort her, but Rei would not take that kindly. She hated to show weakness. So much like a lioness who needed to lick her wounds alone. I understood and gave her, her peace. I would check in with her later tonight after she settled down. My heart was aching for my friends. They didn't deserve this kind of struggle.

"I need to save her and the others. If you get anything new information wise let me know." I walked away from Diamond. Leaving him in quiet contemplation back in the darkening glade. My tone had been all business in the end. I needed his help, not his issues right now.

Heading to where Luna would be, at home. I needed her to get in touch with central so I could have a more defining answer. This back and forth was not helping and Diamond seemed more interested in training me to work with my new powers than on how to help me get rid of them.

Night had settled over Minato by the time I reached my old house. I ended up just staring at the house I had called home for so long. Lurking at the Iron Gate, my gut twisting with growing trepidation. A troubled feeling towards the house, I would have never thought possible a year ago. The windows glowed warmly, once inviting and secure to me. Now they filled me with worry and angst over having to deal with my father inside.

It had been weeks since I had been home. Longer than I had initially planned, communicating only with my mother over the phone. Stepping into the softly lit front yard was harder than I had thought. It was like an invisible barrier had been placed around the house. Repelling me, pushing at my body like an invisible force.

In the end I climbed up the tree beside my room like a coward. I couldn't face him again. I just didn't have the energy to deal with his issues either. I felt no appetite as I slipped into my darkened room. To find Luna laying asleep on my bed, "Good your here." she perked her head up, her ears twitching for subtle noises as always. "Yes, well I have been wondering when you'd come home." she stated with a knowing air.

I rolled my eyes, "This is a visit only. Papa could be home in a good 15 minutes, or less. I wanted some answers from you." I tell her, "By all means ask away." she remarked, licking a front paw that seemed to suddenly look dirty to her.

"Is there anything in the ancient books that can dispel chaos from a person? Or re-channel ones Senshi power's to another? Even to switch the polarity of a crystal?" That had Luna stumped. Her mouth dropped a little, I sat down heavily beside her. Filling her in on all the new developments. She listened patiently, nodding and frowning.

"I'd have to check some resources...?" She asked tiredly.

I nodded, "I want it out of me and out of the girls. I need to reclaim my scepter and it seems that this Senshi force hasn't any healing powers. If I can cleanse them it'll be gone from here and we'll be able to focus solely on the daimon from Kaolinite." I reasoned, she merely nodded, "I'll consult central about possible exorcism magic's used during that time. See if I can't find anything." She scratched a claw thoughtfully on the top of her head. I nod then hear my dad's car pulling up, "Gotta bounce." I jumped off the bed.

Going to the window, I wait till he's inside before using my old moon route back down the tree, to get out and clear myself of the house. When he was ready to come to terms we could talk but until then, I needed to avoid arguments. At least about Mamo - chan for the moment. I had more important things to focus on. Like getting this dark Senshi power out of my body and Chaos out of the girls. I had to, we couldn't go on like this. It wasn't who we were.

Finding myself in front of a long grey stone privacy fence. The white washed brick building that was Juuban high school looming just beyond. I passed through the gate walking somberly over the dry grass and sat on one of the benches. It was my communicator that went off pulling me out of my thoughts. "Luna?" I asked, finding my guardian sitting primly on a stool. The flickering glow of a computer screen behind her. It looked like her and Artemis still had a communication room hidden somewhere in the city.

"There might be a chance that there is something in the Lunarian libraries." She reported, a smile pulling on her dark furred lips. Her sharp teeth peeking out she was so excited.

I quirked an eyebrow. "Where's that at?" I asked in mild dread.

"On the moon." She replied crisply.

I slowly closed my eyes, "Luna I can't simply try and find a book in a rumbled library from a thousand years ago…can I?"

"You can if you remembered your studies from the past. Remember you were studying the history of your people during the silver millennium….when you weren't fooling around with Endymion that is." The gruff reply could be heard anywhere. I was shocked. "You expect me to rifle through two lifetimes full of memories and pick out the one that will lead me to this book?" I asked skeptically.

"No, I suppose that is a lot to try and recall…" Luna amended bitterly. I glanced around, needing a break from Luna.

I noticed the bright glow of spot lights, glaring from the far side of the yard. Narrowing my focus I saw at dirt track and a young woman with wild pink hair running. Such a spirited fast runner and suddenly I felt like that was all I wanted to do. Run. Escape and feel free. To try and clear my mind of worry and dread, and just focus on something else for a change.

That was when I suddenly felt a sliver of hopelessness, "I wish my moon mother were here to help me." I heard the waver in my voice and clamped my mouth shut.

Luna caught onto my slightly defeated tone, "Oh Usagi – chan…" her face looked sullen in the little communicator's screen.

"Listen if you pray hard enough to the moon perhaps she'll come and visit you." She encouraged.

"Perhaps…thanks Luna." I ended the link as I shut the communicator off, by flipping the top down. I got up, deciding to try and run this anxiety off of me. Not caring that I was still in my school uniform. I got to the starting line of the track, kicking my tennis shoes against the metal stocks. I glanced around one more time, working on my courage to run.

Knowing with my luck lately, I would most likely have a klutz attack and end up face first in the dirt. I saw that the other girl was already making a second round. She was an exotic looking young woman with the most wonderfully tanned skin. Her body toned and slim, wearing white track shorts and a matching tank top. She was the perfect image of an athlete. With warm blue eyes that held a fierce commitment to succeed.

It was that kind of drive I had been lacking lately. To many other distractions pulling at me, tearing me a part in to many directions. I needed to reclaim my focus on what was truly important.

Taking a deep breath, I crouched and positioned myself then I lunged off the stocks. With the girl already 30 meters ahead of me I began running. Just letting myself go as I dashed faster than I ever really had before. The need to get rid of this suffocating feeling of darkness, its possible reign over me lay heavy in my very soul. I ran harder and suddenly found myself next to her as she ran.

Both of us looked to one another when she pulled ahead. I didn't care just pushed my body harder. I needed to run free even if only for a little while. The roar of my pulse in my ears, my heart slamming against my chest. Urging me to push past my exhaustion to a state of pure determination. Towards a pin point focus upon the track and my opponent who lay just ahead.

I managed to catch up to her and realized I'd run a full lap with her. She noticed that I was actually able keep up with her. Apparently my dashes to school in the morning were useful after all. Finally we made it to the finish line and I had to admit I felt a little better. The cool air stung my hot skin, sweat beading over my body, as I slowed to a brisk walk. The air prickly at a layer of gooseflesh, as I cooled down. My cotton uniform now clinging to my frame awkwardly. But I didn't care about the mild discomfort, grinning with pride.

I braced my hands on my hips and sucked in deep breaths calming my heart and mind. Maybe I just needed to exhaust the anxiety out of me. "You're fast." She remarks. The near pink short blonde high schooler complimented. Her voice strong yet sweet. Coming out in gasps, as she too was cooling down in a short walk. Taking in deep cleansing breaths.

I nod, "Arigato. I used to do dashes to school a lot. I just had this need to run today. Out run the anxiety in my life." I admit. She smiles in understanding, "You're not in high school yet?" She asks intrigued.

I shake my head, "No not yet. Though I am studying for an early graduation. Today I found myself here and seeing you run gave me the need to run." I smiled warmly as we walked to a nearby bench. Set to the side of the track. "I love to run. It's a passion in life." She tells me.

"But there was once a woman who ran as fast as the wind. Tenoh, Haruka. I was never able to beat her." Her eyes had fallen pensive, remembering her rival fondly.

I smile, "Hai, she's a good friend of mine." She looked to me in surprise, "She's faster than every person I've come across. The one I have yet to beat." I smile, "I never got your name." I tell her, "Gray, Elsa." She introduces.

"Tsukino, Usagi." I tell her, "You're a good runner. When you get accepted to High School, I hope you join the team." Elza held out her hand, I took it with a bright smile.

"I don't know how that'll work out. I'm looking for an early graduation so I can move in with my boyfriend. He's in school to become a doctor and I know the best schools he'll be able to get into will be around the world. I want to share in that with him. If anything I might get into a high school overseas..." I comment out loud. Never having thought that far ahead, not sure on how the school year would even end for me.

"Train with me." I look to her in astonishment. "I've been looking for someone to help me advance. I can see with your speed you can be a good person to help me stay fast. While I can help you make it to a track team anywhere." I smiled in astonishment never seeing myself as a runner, "Really?" I blurt out with a giggle.

She nods, with a certainty in her eyes. "I should go now, but I'll look you up so we can start some training. Possibly closer to the season." She professes boldly.

I nod mutely at her words of encouragement.

However as soon as we stand up to part ways I seen Kaolinite. Lurking at the top of the bleacher's. "Ah here we go." I try to shove Elsa out of the way when she attempts to dash off, catching only air in frustration.

"Fast girl I see." Kaolinite muses. Calling her daimon forth, I slip away to behind the equipment shed nearby and transform. The feeling of the energy around me makes me nauseous now. It is so haunting and melancholy, like being bathed in frigid water. I want to be free of it. Done with it, I dashed in front of Elsa in defend her. Only to see my friends running towards me from the Schools courtyard. Not a one of them transformed.

"Please no…" I whisper with a bleak finality.

Something inside of them called them here. Something they couldn't ignore. The chaos shard is not strong enough for that. But the distraction was all Kaolinite needed as she blasted me. The blast hit me full force in the chest, sending me flying head over heels down the track. I could feel the negative energy reflecting off of me. The rage filling me with a need to kill her. Pushing the fury into a tempered, rational place. I wanted Kaolinite dead but it wouldn't be because of the use of darkness.

Getting up slowly, feeling a bit stunned. I saw the next flash of dark energy coming to me. I purposely left myself open to the blast preferring to just let the blast take me. To allow the attack to slam into me full force. It was stubborn and not that rational. But I refused to use my dark Senshi power from now on. I would rather sacrifice myself to save an innocent rather than to let a dark power dictate what I wanted to do.

This was MY mind, my body, not Nemesis's puppet. "Go back to Nemesis...I am not your chosen servant!" I snarled in anger. I could feel it rebelling against my need to void using it. It tried to make me use its power to protect myself. I refused.)

Gomen Mamo – chan…

(I knew this would hurt beyond anything. The blast would not kill me but severely wound me. Standing my ground, with the ball of darkness thundering down upon me. I barely heard his alarmed 'Usako?' when I felt another presence touch me.

Warm...soothing like a summer breeze. It surrounded me, enshrouded me like a comforting blanket. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion. Kaolinite's attack was barreling down the track, then I saw my moon mother appear in a translucent form in front of me. A timeless spirit who only communicated with me at my more dire of confrontations between good and evil.

Dressed in her sleeveless gown of pure white satin. Her delicate bow fluttering behind her, extremely long silver tails snapping. As she regarded me with sad, knowing blue eyes.

"My daughter..." she breathed, her pouting lips pressed thin. She was searching my face sadly. "I fear you have gone astray?"

"Mother..." I breathed, falling to my knees. I saw that I was dressed as a Dark Senshi, I felt suddenly over whelming shame in her presence.

"I've failed you, I ruined the silver crystal...I've lost myself." I began to babble, tears of aguish flowing down my face.

She knelt before me, guiding my face upward to confront her.

"Serenity...I…there is much you need to know." She confessed with a ghost of a smile.

I blinked suddenly feeling like she was about to drop a bomb on me.

Taking a deep breath she reached for my hands.

"Long ago, before you were even born. Our White Moon kingdom had a Sister Moon. The Dark Moon Kingdom, the mirror essence of our Great Empire. Ruled by my younger sister, we were charged to watch over this solar system, to guide the earth towards it's place within the Silver Millennium." Queen Serenity sighed deeply, unable to look her daughter in the eye.

She looked so much like her now in her new transformation, with her own silver hair shining through. It was like looking at her younger self, when she had been so arrogant and stubborn in regards to her little sister.

"We never really got along well, Nehelania and I. " Serenity began, "Two totally different personalities. We disagreed on everything, even the most mundane. I held the power to the Silver Crystal and the responsibility to rule the Silver Millennium. I felt shackled to the throne, while she was allowed her freedom. To be whom she wanted, to be with whomever she wanted. While I had to be forever vigilant of myself."

The admittance shocked Usagi, "That I did not tarnish our kingdom with poor choices, or ill favor by befriending the unworthy. I hated her, envy and jealously reigned in my heart." Serenity took a deep breath, bearing a long held burden on her heart. Her thumb rubbing in worry upon her daughter's knuckles. "We fell in love with the same man...a man from earth." She moaned, in hearts pain.

"She was always trying to best me, to win his affections. I never truly knew if he felt as deeply for her as he did for me. But one night at a royal ball, she seduced him back to her own kingdom. I lost my mind with the betrayal, banished him back to his planet and placed a ban on travel there. That none of the Silver Millennium could set foot on that planet. It was now considered bad luck and taboo to travel to earth.")

Well that sure explains a-lot...

("Then I used the crystal to send my sister and all who belonged to her kingdom, away to rot at the edge of our solar system on her own moon." Queen Serenity finished her tale, her voice nearly a whisper.

"That explains everything now." I squeezed my mother's hands tight. "The planet must have absorbed her spirit...or her final thoughts before Metallia destroyed everything. The Senshi Power of Nemesis is so sad and somber. It's angry and feels betrayed by some long ago forgotten wrong." I realized.

I bit my lower lip, seeing how broken my first mother looked.

"That earth man tore our fragile bond apart, truly it didn't take much we barely had any kind of friendship anyway. But I tried to make amends, upon your birth. She was less then friendly during our last encounter." Serenity sighed, leaving much unsaid over the sister's malevolent visit to meet her only daughter. The spoils of her love affair with the man from earth.

"Was there a Senshi of White or Black moon back then?" I asked tentatively, wondering if I wanted to know.

"No, the power hadn't awoken yet." She responded.

"This power feels so wrong, mother." I moaned, "Was I meant to have it?"

"You are the product of the light, from my kingdom. It should feel wrong, it is the polar opposite of your bloodline." Serenity confirmed, settling her emotions and standing back up.

"I know you want to fight for good. But for you to do that you'll need to expel the Senshi spirit from your body, the negative energy from the crystal." Her face was stone, only her eyes gave away any of her fear.

"It will hurt." She warned.

"Hai. Do it!" I agreed, my voice sounding loud and eager. Wanting it out of me. She touched my face and suddenly I had the flow of words that would guide me through the ancient spell needed to banish it away. It was when I saw Diamond running like mad onto the scene, also called to this meeting by some timeless force. The last heir to the Dark Moon that was when I knew how this would end. I smiled and began a chant in Lunarian. The language I hadn't spoken since I was in my past life…since I was nearly 15 back then.

Bowing my head in supplication, I held my broach close to by breast.

Murmuring the ancient words upon the wind, calling down the primal forces of our universe itself. My voice echoing in the fabric of power that surrounded me. I felt my broach heat up against my palm, burning my flesh as if it had become a small sun. Searing through the skin and bone, gritting my teeth I kept chanting. Pushing the blinding pain aside as the force I was calling upon began to surge into my very soul.

I felt the dark power forced to release it's hold, trying to rip my fragile human body apart. Like a frightened child clinging to its mother. It wailed and pleaded to me not to cast it out. But I blocked out it's calls, focusing on my need to be free of this alien energy. I chanted breathlessly, panting and forcing the growing pain away. Feeling more cleansed with each word whispering past my lips. Though my soul felt as if it was on fire, thrown into a molten core of unyielding pain.

My body was shivering as if bathed in ice, forced to endure this feeling of dying. But I felt better than ever before, as the vibrant warmth of rebirth awoke once more within me. The dark power slipping from my grasp, severed from my heart and soul. Cast back upon the universal wind, it screamed at me in hatred. Flowing away in tendrils of darkness from my body and broach.

It was the final words that expelled the power, its energies, its everything from my body. The violence of it's departure irrupting from my body, dispersed Kaolinites attack. Before it collided bodily into Diamond a few meter's away. He took everything in, catching him in mid run. Slamming him into a frozen stand still, eyes wide and breath knocked free. Diamond merely grunted as the dark force struck, absorbing it into his soul. Falling to his knees as the power seeded itself, finally content to find a welcoming home.

The girls looked on stunned. As I fell to the ground, with my senshi uniform back to its original good state. My hair once more it's glorious golden hue.

I felt the silver crystal rejoicing within me. I smiled against the dirt, never feeling as spent as I did right then. But my respite wasn't to last.

"Now, get the Heart Crystal while Moon is down!" She screamed to her Snatcher.

It was Elza's scream that had me struggling back to my feet. Groaning in mortification to find the Daimon resembled a sneaker of all things. A ghastly toned woman with a running shoe growing out of her torso.

"For Kami's sake, Woman! Can you not come up with something even remotely scary for a Youma? These Diamon's are embarrassing to kill." I shouted back at her. Taunting her with my sarcastic tone.

"Screw the target...get the smart ass!" She shouted at her monster in rage.

The living mutant sneaker turned around in mid sprint and focused on me.

"Sailor Moon!" I heard Rei, Ami and Makoto shout.

Glancing over my shoulder I found Diamond struggling back to consciousness. And a golden glow surrounding Mina who was in mid-transformation.

As I raised my hand over my head, all the familiar gentle warmth of my power's overcame me. In a bright flash of white light my moon scepter appeared in my hand. I felt the pink hilts comforting weight, the sparkle of the jewels along the golden crescent moon that held the ruby red orb. The flash of the small crown that formed the very peek of the scepter.

"Moon Princess Halation!" I screamed to the heavens so very thankful to have my true power's back within me.)

I am back in business!

(The Daimon screamed in pain as my attack hit, but my powers though reclaimed were far weaker then when I laid claim to darkness. It only weakened it. But it was enough for when Uranus and Neptune that arrived to finish it off. They left a bit disgruntled when there was no Pure Heart Crystal to stare at. I sometimes wondered what they actually saw when staring at those things.

Or if they did it just to look cool, I mean if these pure hearts were supposed to turn into a talisman. They would have morphed long before those two decided to have a staring contest at it. All I could ever see was a warm light illuminating from deep within. They were mysterious to me, along with being rather odd at times.

Now my current mission was to save my friends. Taking my broach I asked the silver crystal to cleanse my friends so that they could have their pure hearts and senshi souls returned to them. I stood strong before my four Guardian's. "Ready." I asked, a smile of anticipation spreading on my face. All four girls lined up before me, their faces stern. Ready to undergo whatever trails it took to become their true selves again.

"Moon Healing Activation!" I waved my wand low, in a half circle as I called down my cleansing powers. All four girls screamed in near agonizing pain, their bodies bathed in white light. As the chaos shards were pulled from their bodies. The obsidian shard disintegrating like dust, blowing away into nothingness upon the wind. Once removed from the hosts, their pure hearts and senshi souls appeared in translucent form beside them.

Standing like timeless ghosts before their human reincarnations. Minako stood in wide eyes astonishment to see the ancient souls of her friends.

I stared in awe and tearful gratitude as the senshi guardian spirits began to merge once more with their bodies. Fading inside them, like a rippling mirror image upon water. It was beautiful and poetic how wordlessly the Senshi of the past were absorbed back into my friend's souls. The Senshi spirits looked to Moon with thanks once more, before disappearing within their human counterparts, no longer infected with chaos.

Kaolinite saw that she was once more being out numbered and disappeared. Neptune and Uranus I knew were to far away that even as senshi they wouldn't have recognized the girls. One by one the girls fell to the ground exhaustion and shock encompassing their bodies.

"I did it." I remarked and ran to them. It was Diamond's groan that alerted me to where the Senshi power of Nemesis now resided, but he looked the same.

He even looked to me the same, "Told you you'd need a conduit." He replied with that cocky half smile of his.

I smiled, "You were right."

I ran to the girls as they got up, groggily. Makoto, Rei and Ami barely got to their feet before my arms were wrapped tight around them. Mina joined in the group hug and soon we were laughing and crying together.

After several minutes the girls were back to normal again and recalling everything that had happened. It was seeing Tux's heroic form coming in that had me happier than anything. He was grinning like a fool, seeing me in my true Senshi uniform. Before he could move any closer I pulled the crystal out.)

Trusting her he nodded and let himself be cleansed having felt the energies through their link. He felt Chaos leave, forced out by the light of her power. Gritting his teeth not to cry out, as it felt like she was tearing something wild and unyielding from his soul.

He felt the tainted images of torturing his beloved leave, although he didn't feel his lust for her diminish much. If anything it was more fuelled by love rather than a need to just have her body for his own. He wanted her heart and soul just as importantly. As the agony lifted away, leaving him sweating and catching his breath. He smiled and enveloped her in his arms, "How did you do it?" he asked.

"Mother helped me." I looked up to the sky for an indication.

"Where did it go?" he asked. I looked over to Diamond who was standing lost in his own world, staring down at his hands.

"I don't - " I shushed him, "He's the senshi of Nemesis now. I think this is his true calling…" though I wasn't sure on that one it would be a new way to see how he's developed and grown.

"As long as he stays away from you I won't mind…as much." Her grumbled irritably. I ignored him just happy and grateful that my powers were back, that the silver crystal was back and that my senshi were back to normal again. "Now we can face this enemy with fresh and clear eyes." I smiled at my guardians. All now content, transformed into their Senshi forms. The girls nodded behind me as noticed Diamond now calling down his own powers.

Flashes of lavender starlight bathed his body, as he was consumed by the somber energy wave of Nemesis. As the light show faded away, he stood tall and strong in a dark lavender suit. Similar to the cut and shape of his suit of state back when he was a prince. With sharp black designs embroidered into the closed jacket. A long black cape was draped over his shoulder's, with a silk underlay the color of twilight.

There was a carnival mask of swirling smoke grey designs that reminded me of a phantom, covered his eyes and trailed down his cheeks. Attached to his regally handsome face like a tattoo. He was ignoring all of us, figuring out his new senshi powers. Calling balls of darkness into his palms, with a satisfied smile.

"This is going to be an interesting ride." I stated. Agreements were heard all around.