Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or the image used. I do own my OC characters in this story.

Chapter Twenty-One

Haruto handed over the papers he had been given by the young man sitting across from his table. Haruto had become head of his paper, The Wiseman, and now he was looking for reporters. Sitting across from him was a young man called Sato Masaru. His clear violet eyes scanned Haruto as he waited. Masaru had almost shoulder length white hair and wore a plain white shirt and black tight jeans with black boots. He wore black diamond stud earrings. He was a devastatingly good-looking man, that was clear to Haruto by the number of fangirls hanging around his office currently. Sighing, Haruto pinched his nose before giving Masaru a small smile.

"This is good work Masaru, I was thinking having some softer stories will be good for the paper, not everyone is interested in politics I suppose. So, you will do some reviews on the top restaurants and shopping outlets?" Haruto asked.

"Yes, I have always been interested in the retail industry. My brother is more into the science and politics but that is not really my interest. I am sure he would enjoy your newspaper when it comes out officially" Masaru said smoothly. Haruto nodded as he looked at Masaru's earrings.

"Black diamonds, expensive" Haruto said, narrowing his eyes a little. Masaru unconsciously grabbed one of his earlobes and smiled.

"Well, my family call me Prince Diamond all the time, for my love of the gem" Marasu said. Haruto smirked a little before he checked the time.

"Well, I think you being apart of the paper is a done deal. I will expect your first review by Friday so we can get the paper for next Monday, agreed?" Haruto stated as he got up and shook Masaru's hand.

"Deal" Masaru said before the door opened.

As he turned around, he couldn't help but gasp. Standing before him was probably the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her bright blue eyes twinkled at him as she gave him a warm smile. He didn't really question the weird Odango's on her head, they just made her more perfect to him.

"Usagi, I just noticed the time, you ready?" Haruto asked, his voice becoming lighter as he saw his favourite blonde.

"Yes, I can't wait to go to that new ice cream place, they might even sell pancakes, PANCAKES!" Usagi emphasised. Haruto chuckled as he pointed towards Masaru.

"This is one of our new journalists, Sato Masaru" Usagi shook Masaru's hand, feeling a tiny shiver run down her back as his violet eyes bore into her blue ones. Once he let go of her hand, he waited.

"Oh, my name is Tsukino Usagi, I am friends with Haruto-san" Usagi said, blushing at her own rudeness. Haruto chuckled again before leading Masaru away, he didn't really like the way Masaru was looking at Usagi.

"See you Friday" Haruto said before promptly closing the door. After narrowing his eyes, the moment he heard Masaru finally left, he turned around and gave Usagi his brightest smile.

"Well, let's go check out those pancakes then" he said, clapping his hands as he opened the door again and led Usagi out.

XXX

Jun'ichi didn't know how but he found himself standing outside the Hikawa Shrine. Over the last few years away from the girls, he had found himself standing here, just outside the entrance. He could smell the light fragrant incense burning and the mild chanting in the background. Rei was busy showing off a red coloured charm to a few children whilst their mothers stood in front of the structure where they murmured for things they wanted in their lives.

It had been four years since he had last spoken with her. Four painful years. Now he had to figure a way of speaking with her again without her lighting his ass on fire, which he deserved in many ways. He missed her. There was nothing else to it, he simply missed her. The last four years had been a revelation to him, his memories of the past coming back. He remembered most of his adventures on Earth, his family and how he came into his powers. But most of all, he remembered her violet eyes, searching through his, trying to work him out.

A soft breeze made Rei look to the very spot Jun'ichi was standing. She had just sold her charm and now the Shrine was slowly emptying. She studied him for a few moments. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and blue jeans, looking handsome but then again, she had always thought him handsome. But there was a seriousness on his face as he looked at her, contemplative. Suddenly, she felt a rush of anger. What the hell was he doing here? After all these years. Did he not know how much he had hurt her? He was just another man, like her father.

Narrowing her eyes at him, she signaled with her hand for him to come and approach her. She wasn't going to attack, yet. Jun'ichi took a deep breath and started to make his way up the steps. He could all of a sudden feel a heat in the air rather than a chill which would be normally what you would associate with being nervous. Rei took her broom that had been on the side and started sweeping, possibly to calm her temper Jun'ichi assumed.

"What are you doing here?" Rei asked almost immediately.

"I wanted to see you" Jun'ichi answered automatically. Rei stopped sweeping and looked at him, her eyes boring into his just like during the Silver Millennium, she was trying to work him out.

In Rei's mind, she knew Jadeite was the type of person to be open and honest, especially with her so she knew deep down he had told the truth, which is also why his words both startled her and angered her.

"You want to see me, why Jadeite? Why now?" Rei was abrupt with her words, ignoring the fact that she was supposed to be sweeping and keeping calm.

"Because I missed you, I have missed you for the last four years, but we had our orders. I am certain you understand that" Jun'ichi's words were correct, had her Hime asked her to keep away from the Generals, she wouldn't rebel against it, even if her heart ached.

"Yes, you did have your orders, just like you did four years ago…." Rei muttered, feeling the need to still show her anger towards him. He had done nothing wrong and if she were tuly honest, time was a good healer. She had come to realise that true happiness came from within, not from other people. Other people only added to your own inner peace. Yes, she had been furious with him, they all had been angry, especially with how things went down. But still, she understood him even though a part of her wanted to burn him alive. She still rememberd how much hatred had boiled within her that day.

"I know you understand deep down Rei" Jun'ichi answered, thinking back to the last time they saw eachother.

"Doesn't change what happened….I shouldn't even be talking to you" Rei added before looking away and allowing the silence to engulf them.

"So, what are your plans now Jadeite? Did you think you could just walk your way into my heart? Remember what I told you about myself?" Rei's eyes pierced through him. He said nothing, steadily holding her gaze.

"I told you my love is selfish. It is all consuming. I never can have half a person, I must have all. I would not share you with anyone and I expect devotion from both of us. You walked away from that and I have had to heal from it. Why should I trust you?" Rei stated, not being able to hold her true feelings back. Jun'ichi was unsure of how he could answer that. He wasn't even supposed to be here, but the moment Mamoru had admitted how much a fool he had been, he wasted no time, praying she didn't have another man. But Rei was not one to easily let people in and if you broke her trust, it was near impossible to win her back. He had work to do, a lot of work to do.

"Why don't we start again? Can we at least attempt to be friends? Even if I could just have your friendship, I would be happy" Jun'ichi admitted, his blue eyes pleading with her.

"And watch you go with another woman? I don't think I can do that" Rei confessed.

"Mars, there is no other woman out there for me. You seem to forget, I am just as selfish in my affections" Jun'ichi said, his blue eyes now pinning her in place. Rei nodded, not saying anything, not certain where her heart was leading her to.

XXX

How Arata had managed to get into Makoto's apartment he still didn't know. When he had first knocked on her navy colour door, she narrowed her eyes and had slammed the door in his face. It took him some time to convince her to open the door. She let him in, her green eyes flashing at him.

"Might as well sit down over there, I'll make some green tea" she muttered, and then off she was into her small kitchen. Everything was open plan aside from a little room for her bedroom and on-suite bathroom. He sat down on her new plush blue three-seater sofa. The TV was on some soap drama. He then noticed there had been two cups on the coffee table. So, someone had been here then.

"Usagi-chan was here earlier, I wanted to watch this new drama and she instantly came over to hang out" Makoto said with a small smile as she remembered Usagi talking through most of the drama, declaring life was unfair for the main leading lady whose mother-in-law didn't like her.

For some reason, Arata could imagine Usagi like that, tearing up when there was a sad scene and being really happy if there was a jovial scene.

XXX

Makoto came back and took the two cups away. A few minutes later, she placed a teapot in front of him with brewing green tea and two small mugs in front. She then stood still, arms folded and looked down at him. Well, she obviously expected an explanation.

"Makoto, I…it's been four years…." Arata really wanted to slap his forehead when that was the first thing that came out of his mouth. Makoto's furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yes, it has been four years, glad you're keeping time well, maybe this conversation would suit Pluto more" Makoto answered. Arata nodded, his eyes steadily showing the emotion he felt.

"It has been fours years since we've been apart. I had my orders from my Prince…. I couldn't go against them even if I wanted to. Would you go against your Princess?" Arata asked. Makoto's eyes flashed again.

"Of course not, I would never disobey my Princess" Makoto answered passionately.

"Then you see the predicament I was in" Arata said. Makoto let go a deep sigh. She couldn't argue with him on it, but that didn't change the pain she had felt for the last four years. Knowing your soulmate was out there but couldn't be with you. And no matter how many attractive men passed her way, the only man she could think about was him. Mamoru was the one responsible for her hime almost dying, but they were his generals.

"I don't know what you want from me Nephrite" Makoto said in a small, trembling voice. Suddenly, all the pain she had felt since her parents died, going from one school to another and then the betrayal of a friend and rejection of her first crush all suddenly crashed around her. She had never truly gotten what she wanted until she met her fellow Senshi and Hime, then she had a family, but something was still missing. A part of her cried out for someone but at the same time, her desire to protect her princess, her duty overshadowed those feelings. All her Senshi felt this way.

"I want us to start all over again Jupiter. Let's start again".

XXX

Ami had just got off the phone with Minako. She was due to meet them for some drinks and to hang out. Rei and Makoto had pulled out for some reason, so it was just the three of them. Looking around, she looked back towards the library, a place of solace and started to make her way to the mall where she was sure Usagi would be waiting for her. Scrolling down towards Usagi's name, she almost didn't hear her name being called. She froze in place when she heard the voice call out her name again. Turning around slowly, she knew she was still in a residential area, twenty minutes away from the Mall on foot. Standing there dressed in a light blue turtle-necked over-sized jumper and black jeans was Fumio, his green eyes bright and staring at her.

Ami placed a hand on her chest, just to double check her heart was still beating. Logically it was otherwise she would be dead but still, it felt almost instinctual to do it, to make sure this was all real, that he really was standing there.

"Fumio-san, what are you doing here?" Ami asked in a stronger voice than what she felt. Fumio took a few small steps towards her, looking towards the ground.

"I've been looking for you, to be honest the library was the first place I came but it was early so I thought to try again" Fumio's words were gentle, like a calming breeze passing by. Ami nodded, suddenly feeling agitated. Why was he here? Why was he looking for her? He had ignored her for four years, leaving them to pick up the pieces, especially the heartbroken pieces of Usagi's heart. He had no right to talk to her!

But, why was she feeling this way? She remembered a time, during those dark days when Usagi hardly spoke to anyone. She remembered they had held a meeting together. Michiru had suggested they release their inner most deepest feelings to one another about what happened. The Outers had suggested they leave the meeting purely for the Inner Senshi and their Princess. It had been the best idea ever because they were able to release their truly dark feelings on the matter. Rei had been the most passionate. She hated men because they always abandoned you, there was always an excuse with them. Makoto said since the battle all she had wanted to do was get into fights. She just didn't know where to put her pent-up anger. Minako had said she just didn't feel strong anymore and that made her feel like a failure. The only person who hadn't said anything was Usagi. She just kept this blank look on her face, like her mind wasn't truly with them. Even when they tried to speak with her, it was like she couldn't see them.

Through all the angry words and frightening moments, Ami had felt a silent rage towards Zoisite. He had abandoned her, just like her father with very few words. And then her hime, she had died and came back. She remembered that day, the angry words spoken. She didn't want to even hear them again. So, her next move surprised her.

"I suggest we find somewhere to talk Fumio-san, it would seem you have much explaining to do" Ami stated. Fumio nodded in agreement, grateful she didn't freeze him to death.

XXX

"Well, looks like it's just us two" Usagi said as she relayed the text message she got from Ami.

"That is so strange, how can all three of them back out like that?" Minako asked suspiciously. Usagi shrugged her shoulders as she eyed a bar on the 2nd floor. She thought about having a glass of red wine but then again, Minako had suggested buying two glasses of sparkling wine.

"Wished the Outers could come, but we'll have fun either way, right?" Usagi said, smiling brightly. Minako blinked a few times before giving her signature Sailor V sign. They decided to go to another bar and Minako instantly ordered two glasses of sparkling wine.

"I wanna order a mimosa too afterwards" Minako suggested. When the waiter went away Minako looked at Usagi. A look of concentration crept on her face. When the drinks arrived, Minako twirled her drink a little, watching Usagi drink hers. This was only one of the very few times she managed to get her hime alone. Now was her chance.

"Usagi-chan, I have wanted to have this chat with you, I've been waiting five years. I wanted to have this personal talk with you" Usagi looked up at Minako, a look of defeat on her face. She had always known this would come. She never questioned Minako her feelings of having to obey the orders of letting her Princess die. That must have eaten away at her all these years.

"I owe you an explanation, ask away Minako-chan. I am actually glad it is only the two of us, I couldn't say the things I will tell you to the others, not even Pluto knows the full extent and implications of what I went through" and it happened again, before Minako's very eyes her Princess had aged again, looking wiser than her years. Minako had to shake her head a little before she could continue.

"Tell me, everything" these were the only words that Minako could speak. She had thought for many years what she would ask her hime, but in truth, she wanted to know it all. Usagi took a deep breath before closing her eyes.

"I felt as if I was being ripped apart. All my memories came back, but not as they should have been. They had been warped, changed to torment me. And then there was this darkness, it cloaked me and I…I felt so scared. I had never felt so lonely before, all my worst fears before me and the same mocking voice…." Usagi trailed.

"Queen Meteria" Minako guessed but was surprised when Usagi shook her head.

"No, I could hear her but then, something different appeared before me. A deep voice, threatening and yet…" Enticing, that was the word Usagi wanted to say but she just couldn't. How could she describe what she had seen and heard to her dear friend? How could she tell her friend that whilst inside Meteria, there was something else, someone else with long black hair and red eyes, regarding her with anger, rage and hunger?

She had been inside Meteria only for a few moments when the voice appeared, the same voice that had taunted her when Meteria had been trying to rip out her very being. Now she could see the face, or at least the face it chose to show itself in.

"Hmmm, do you know who I am?" he asked. Usagi as Princess Serenity shook her head in cold naked fear as his eyes glowed even brighter, bleeding red.

"Oh, come now, you do know who I am. Or shall I help you to remember? The ending of your beloved Silver Millennium, the death of your pathetic Prince and the final destruction of your dear mother. Shall I continue? The rise of a jealous woman, the creation of an old evil entity from before even your mothers time. I, my dear, am Chaos, the god of Chaos. The destroyer of peace and disrupter of balance, everything you will become, I am your opposite. We attract each other, like a moth to a flame I suppose" Chaos laughed menacingly as he watched Princess Serenity's eyes widen. He was floating, his black boots not touching the ground. He encircled her small frame, appraising her.

"Your mother never attracted me the way you did. She had been a simple reincarnation of the goddess Selene, desirable but also battle hardened, and secretly desired by someone who had been ruler of Selene's time, a god I battled with. But you, you had no father, you had simply been born by the will of that power I sought, the Silver Crystal. All its purity, its will to bring peace and unity, balance to the universe. A universe that despised me and had no need for me. I was buried into the deepest of pits, the cauldron. The power of the crystal had come from there and so did you. My future, my desires to rejoin the universe that rejected me was embodied in you. I seek your light and always will. You are mine and I am yours, we are joined in more ways than you could ever know, your mother knew this" his words, they seeped inside Princess Serenity and no matter how hard she tried to refuse it, something inside her told her he was right.

"I will never be yours! I will always fight you. You bring death with you" Princess Serenity shouted.

"Last time I checked, so did you" Chaos shot back "Besides, I can kill you and your soul will return back to the very place I reside, with the Silver Crystal. Back to me" Chaos said, smirking. Princess Serenity shrinked back in fear. He had such a broad chest and he was easily taller than Prince Endymion. Chaos radiated power that frightened her.

"Like the form I chose, this was my first form when I was before the gods. But I have taken on many forms through the children of chaos, Meteria being one of them and I will have another to challenge you" and with that Chaos disappeared, leaving Princess Serenity alone and fearful. She knew this would not be the end, in fact, it was only the beginning.

How could she tell Minako this? No, she couldn't. This was her secret, her burden to bear. Maybe when the time called for it, she would tell them but for now, they didn't have to worry, chaos had not returned yet. Instead, she told Minako of the perpetual darkness, the fear, the loneliness. Meteria had made her see visions of her friends dying because of her, because of the Silver Crystal. She had images of Prince Endymion with other prettier, bustier women, denying he ever loved her, stating he hated her and wished her dead. All these things Meteria made her see but the worst of all was listening to Chaos, chuckling in the background, reveling in her pain.

Minako sat in silence for a while as the mimosas were brought. She then ordered two shots of whisky.

"After that, we both need a hard drink!" Minako said as she gulped down her mimosa, feeling guilty, sorrowful and saddened by what her hime had experienced. To feel all the hatred and evil slithering its way into her hime's body was horrible to know. If any of the other Senshi knew, they would feel like they had truly failed their princess, the way Minako was feeling now.

"You didn't fail Venus, you did as directed and I am grateful for that. What I went through was no-one's fault. Besides, it is past now, we must look forward to the future, whatever the future holds" Usagi beamed, trying to ease the tension. Minako didn't return the smile. Instead, the corners of her eyes started to fill with tears. Her hime couldn't understand that being the leader of the Sailor Senshi had one pure duty, protecting the Princess of the Moon at all costs. Her role was different to all the others.

The Outer Senshi were the first line of defense. They were the most powerful, the heavy hitters. They were to take out any enemy before they even reached the Moon Kingdom. Yes, that brought loneliness as they had to stay isolated on their planets, ruling their own kingdoms, desiring to someday go to the Moon Palace and see the two people they loved the most, the Queen and Princess of the Moon. The Outer Senshi had massive responsibilities on their shoulders which required them to understand the darkness within and to make the hard decisions. The Inner Senshi were the last line of defense. They were specifically tasked to protect the Princess at all costs. And leader of them all was Sailor Venus. A goddess in her own right, she had been given powers descended from Aphrodite herself to inflict greater damage than the rest of the Inner Senshi. She had trained to be a leader, leading all the armies of the Inner Planetary alliance and to a degree, when it called for it, she led the Outer Senshi's armies.

It had been a responsibility she had gratefully accepted, being a leader holding such great duties become her life and with it came consequences. But she never regretted it. She loved the importance of her role, knowing it had such an impact. She reveled in the knowledge she had gained. Even though now all that knowledge was slowly coming back, she knew how deep rooted her feelings were towards her overall role. Her greatest purpose was to protect the Princess. So it is understandable that this was not something she would get over easy. Her confidence in her own abilities had been called into question by her own self-accusing mind. She was the leader of the Sailor Senshi and under her guard, they had lost their princess for a time. For four years she had condemned herself. Wiping the corners of her eyes, Minako simply smiled at her hime, holding it all in like she always had, it was her duty to be the strong one, she would do anything for her Princess.

Hi :-)

Thank you all for the reviews, I love reading them!

Now, there are no relationships happening here yet, but it will build gradually. For Rei, I thought time would be a good healer. There will be conflict coming up within the Inner Senshi coming up soon due to what has happened here. And the eventual villains will be revealed although hopefully you all have seen some in the making for the future. Editing the next chapter and will try and update as soon as I can.

Take care everyone :-)