Rei had left for Coruscant earlier. SunTzu just had seen her for a quick moment after he had left the Air Base and before she left.
She had been pretty quiet as if she was brooding over something and after observing her quietly pack for a few moments he had decided to talk to her.
"Listen, if it is because I went out to fight, I told you why I fight."
"No. It's not this, SunTzu."
"Then what is it?"
"It's nothing."
"Rei?"
"I gotta pack, sorry."
She hadn't been in a mood to talk about things right now, as over the hours she had grown more and more angry, that he had gone into battle again.
She had left pretty soon afterwards, giving him only a small kiss before her departure.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Was all she said as she left her quarters, leaving SunTzu behind, wondering why she didn't understood why he fought and how important it was.
It would take another few days until the Far Side and the rest of the Taskforce would be combat-ready again and until then he pretty much was alone as the Outers had taken the time for a trip to the countryside.
Haruka had told him to tag along, as Rei would be busy anyways, but SunTzu had declined. He hadn't felt like going so he had told Haruka on the phone.
"Thank you for the invitation, but I'll be hanging around if Rei has some time to spare."
"Your loss. Why are you not joining her on Coruscant?"
A moment of silence followed.
"SunTzu?" The blonde Senshi asked after a couple of seconds.
"I did ask her to join, especially since what had happened the last time on Coruscant, but she told me it would be better to stay home this time, as she would be so busy."
Another moment of mutual silence followed.
"You guys are having a hard time lately, am I right?"
"I... yeah."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Mate. But she's not seeing that Yuichiro guy, right?"
"No. At least I wouldn't know. I think what happened on Pantolomin left it's traces in her. I'm trying to give her some space to deal with it."
"Rei is my Senshi Sister but I don't think it's fair. After all it was you that got fucked there."
"Yeah, but you still have to understand her. Think about how you would feel when you would see something like that happen to Michiru."
"Mhm, i get it. Damn, I hope you guys can fix all that crap soon."
"Me too, Haruka. Me too. Listen, I'm gonna get some training in now. Say Hi to everybody, you girls enjoy your stay."
"Thanks, we will. If something is up, call me."
"Will do. Bye Haruka."
SunTzu left for physical exercise and training but even working out didn't improve his mood, as he had the strange sensation of feeling useless lingering in his mind and it just wouldn't leave.
He needed to get out, out of the Palace, off the Earth.
Two hours after SunTzu had called Haruka he was sitting in AICA and piloting her towards space.
He had sent a message to Rei to see if she had landed well but her answer had been very short and she had stated that she was busy.
Somehow, without even thinking about it, SunTzu had AICA jumping corewards and like controlled by an invisible hand he found himself in the midst of a space battle in the Galactic Core where the counter offensive of the Galactic Alliance was still ongoing.
As he activated the shields and weapons systems of his starfighter and began to charge towards the enemy lines he felt a strange relieve in his chest, as if combat was the only thing that was right right now.
The commander of the fleet, a local defence force rear admiral thanked SunTzu personally for his engagement and actions in the fight after the battle was over a few hours later.
But SunTzu didn't even listen to the officer, as soon as the fighting had stopped he had gone back to feeling empty inside.
The Pilot decided to head to Coruscant as soon as the Admiral had finished his praise and so he friendly thanked the officer before he excused himself.
Two hours later he had arrived in the Coruscant System, and as soon as he could see the lights of the planet wide city he called up Rei.
"Hey. What is it?"
"Hey Rei, I just arrived back here and thought you might want to have dinner with me."
"I'm still busy, sorry. Where did you come from."
"Is that important."
"SunTzu?"
"Okay. I arrived back from the Deep Core."
The mental image of Rei's facial features hardening in anger shout through SunTzu.
"You were fighting again, weren't you?"
"Yes, but I…"
"Listen, I'm busy. Busy trying to make this Galaxy a better place, a peaceful place. And not busy trying to get myself killed, like you. I'll get back to work now."
The Senator's voice was cold as ice when she said the last sentence.
SunTzu tried to explain but Rei already had hung up.
For a moment AICA hung motionless over Coruscant as SunTzu didn't know what to do next. Now he did not only feel empty but lonely as well.
Why Rei didn't even tried to understand? Or let him explain?
The pilot then was thinking about to make a surprise visit at the Outer Senshi's vacation home but decided against it, as he didn't want to ruin their good time with his mood.
The other Senshi were out of town as well, either with the Royals on a diplomatic trip around Asia or on vacation as well.
Ada would probably be busy as well and after the telephone call with Rei he wasn't in a mood anymore to set a foot on Coruscant.
After a moment he asked AICA. The ship had been silent the whole time after the call. AICA hadn't talked about it with SunTzu but even she had noticed that things between the two lovers were off lately. And the AI hated it.
"Hey AICA, where's the closest battle?"
A moment later the position of a tactical group appeared on one of the displays in the cockpit.
"There's a large group of pirates slugging it out with a smaller RASP Flotilla near Palanhi but are you sure you want to do that? Rei just made it pretty clear what she thinks about you and fighting."
"And what you want to do? Sit around while good people die because they are outnumbered and nobody helps them?"
A quick pause followed before the AI answered.
"Calculating jump then. Hey SunTzu?"
"Yes AICA?" The Pilot sounded tired.
"I'm sorry."
"Thanks. And thanks for keeping me company. I can use it right now."
Eight hours later SunTzu was back at earth. He had arrived at the battle in stealth mode and he took out the Pirate's most elite snub pilots and cleared the way for a heavy Y-Wing S5-Squadron from the RASP Flagship, a Sullustan Liberator-Cruiser, which then took out the Pirate Flagship, a modified Dreadnaught. The RASP-fleet also consisted of a light Balrus-Cruiser and three light CEC Ships.
The Pirates had more than double the strength of the flotilla, with the Dreadnaught being in midst of six frigates and some smaller gunships but the loss of their flagship and their commander on it's bridge broke their backs. The pirates weren't able to proper use tactics after the loss of the Dreadnaught and soon were overwhelmed. The advanced A-Wing which wasn't visible on their sensors struck fear into the pirate's fighter pilots as they were taken out without ever seeing it coming.
After destroying the last snub and using his last pair of missiles to take out the engine on a Pirate Frigate, SunTzu left for hyperspace again.
It was early morning when he arrived back at Earth. AICA needed fuel and was out for any more trips until having been refueled so.
The air base was empty as was most of the whole military base except some guards on duty.
SunTzu walked through the Royal Gardens, trying to clear his mind but it didn't help.
The subway didn't go anymore so he took a cab into the city.
Halfway on the way to his place he told the driver to stop.
Knowing that he couldn't sleep anyways and with the intent to fill the emptiness inside him at least temporary, SunTzu entered a bar.
A day later Rei came back from Coruscant.
She and SunTzu only had sporadic contact since ever he had called her over Coruscant. Yesterday he hadn't answered her nor had he written her and she was pretty sure that he was back at fighting the War somewhere. At one point she had jolted up in the middle of the night because she had been so afraid about him. What if something had happened to him? She almost had called AICA up but then decided otherwise. She would have freaked ou and probably burned her phone if she'd call the starship and they would have been in the middle of a battle. No, they would have told her, Ami, Minako, Usagi. Someone would have told her if something would have happened to him. She had forced herself back to lie down then.
Right now, on her way back, she was mad. Why couldn't he just stop, at least for a while? Why he didn't understand that she didn't want to loose him? The more Rei thought about it, the more the anger made way for sadness.
SunTzu woke up in the afternoon, with probably the worst hangover of his life. He had been drinking from the moment he decided to not go home two mornings ago until dawn today.
Empty bottles were littered through his apartment.
The headache and nausea were bad but they were nothing to the mental hangover he had.
The thought about, the mere possibility of loosing Rei broke both his heart and mind.
Thinking about it again finally pushed him so far that he had to run to the toilet and throw up.
When he finally was done he took a look at himself in the mirror. He looked exactly as horrible as he felt.
No wonder I'm loosing Rei… Look at you, you miserable piece of shit. War Hero , my ass … You're nothing but a wreck , a psychopath , only finding peace of mind in battle because you can't even talk to the woman you love anymore.
He almost broke the mirror, his fist was already clenched, but then something came to his mind.
Maybe for once he shouldn't refer to Force. Just like Rei nowadays told him to stop fighting.
He turned on the faucet and washed his face with cold water, which sobered him up.
It was time to talk with Rei.
When Rei had arrived at the Palace again she immediately went home. Maybe some meditation would help to improve her mood.
When she arrived at the Shrine she immediately headed for her room and changed into her Miko-Clothes.
Her grandfather and the two Koronians were in Juban to run some errands, so she was very surprised to see that the door to the building, which housed the Sacred Fire, wasn't locked. Maybe it was caused by Grandpa's age but it was a strange for the Koronians to miss something like this.
Rei decided to scold them, and grandpa also, for this later while she walked inside and as she turned the corner to the Fire she abruptly stopped. There was someone sitting in front of the flames, wearing the traditional clothes of a Shinto Priest, similar to a Miko but with light blue pants instead of red ones.
It was a man with broad shoulders and long brown hair. Could it be?
"Yuichiro?!" Rei yelled out in surprise, louder than expected.
The man didn't turn or around or moved at first.
"Sorry. Your grandfather invited me for praying and was pretty happy that I'll be around while he and Phobos and Deimos were in Juban."
And then he finally turned around and shot her his widest and brightest smile.
"I didn't expect you to arrive while I still would be here. A very pleasant surprise."
"I…I didn't expect to… to find you here. I…" Rei stammered out, taken by surprise and being reminded by how they used to pray and meditate here together when they were a couple.
"Care to join me? For old times sake?"
I should say no. But on the other side, maybe it will take my mind off of things.
"I don't know if this is a good idea."
"Come on Rei, it's just a bit of meditating. What's more unblamable?"
Rei needed some clearance in her mind and in her thoughts and although she knew it wasn't particularly right to spend time with Yuichiro she sat down, although hesitant.
Yuichiro's eyes had mustered her face until she was sitting on her knees.
And then, after a last smug grin at her, he looked forward and into the Sacred Fire again for a moment before he closed his eyes and concentrated.
When Rei saw that he had his eyes closed she in turn mustered his face.
He stil l is a handsome man .
Realizing what she just thought she blushed.
Calm down Rei. You have a boyfriend and just because it's not going so well right now doesn't mean you can gush about other guys.
She shook her head to clear out these thoughts and took a deep breather to concentrate before she closed her eyes.
After a few moments of quiet meditating Rei noticed that her mind still kept wandering and that she was still excited about her former fiancé sitting next to her. Was he excited as well?
She reached out with her psychic powers towards him. Yuichiro wasn't that shiny point of Force and psychic abilities that SunTzu was. Rei knew she couldn't form a mental connection with Yuichiro like she could with SunTzu. Actually she never had that with someone before and probably would never have again in that way, but her curiosity still got the best of her and she probed into his aura.
She sensed that he was actually really concentrated with his praying but there was something under his calm surface.
Rei concentrated some more and when she found out what that was she ripped her eyes open.
Beneath his calm was a burning fire, a passion, a love that was about to consume him.
After all this years, without telling her one single word where he had gone to or making any contact, she could sense that Yuichiro still loved her with his very essence, maybe even more than ever before.
With an open mouth Rei stared at him. Sure, he had let her know, that he wanted her back but she didn't know or expected how much he still loved her.
Rei began to blush again and tried to calm down so he wouldn't notice.
She needed a few moments to calm halfway down but was still trying hard to concentrate enough to get back into a normal meditation when something unforeseen happened and her eyes widened again and she jumped up.
She had felt him coming even before she heard the sound in the sky.
SunTzu in AICA was directly heading for the shrine.
Yuichiro's eyes opened when she jumped up and he looked up to her, realizing she seemed rather startled.
"What's the matter Rei? A vision?"
"No! I have to go!"
She took off to leave the room and after a moment of looking her go, Yuichiro got up as well and followed her, curious and worried with her.
SunTzu had landed AICA in the middle of the Hikawa Shrine Plaza.
The canopy opened and the German stood up, right before he grabbed a bouquet of red roses from AICA's backseat and jumped to the floor, where he landed safely and upright.
He didn't care if old man Hino would get angry now, he and Rei had to talk. They really had to.
SunTzu walked towards the Shrine's buildings, when the door of the building, in which Rei usually meditated in front of the Flames, opened.
Rei, in her Miko-Clothes, got out and took a step towards him, down the stairs.
SunTzu began to smile, although Rei seemed rather surprised to see him. Or was that even remorse?
And then he saw him. Rei had just stepped off the stairs and onto the stones of the plaza, when that Hippie Kumada stepped out of the door behind him.
SunTzu stopped dead in his tracks and took a look at Yuichiro before his head slowly turned to Rei.
Their gazes met for a second, his turning dark and hers into a apologizing one.
SunTzu shook his head while his hand that held the roses opened and the flowers dropped to the ground.
Within seconds SunTzu was back into AICA's cockpit and immediately lifted off again, while Rei was still frozen in place.
She had felt his heart ache, an icecold sting deep into his center, when he had catched sight of Yuichiro and an immense sense of guilt washed over her.
Behind her Yuichiro said nothing, just stood there and watched how AICA rose up.
The thrust of the A-Wing's engines ripped the roses apart and while AICA shot away, just as she had ascended high enough to not directly crash into the trees surrounding the Shrine, roses petals began to whirl around.
While Rei watched on in silence and guilt how the black A-Wing rocketed away, red petals danced around her in her white and red clothes and her black hair flowing in the wind.
SunTzu didn't even know where to fly to, as he was speeding a jsut few meters above the Pacific, his A-Wing leaving a trail in the water behind her, having left Tokyo Bay a few moments before. He had set AICA to standby, he wanted to be alone for a moment.
Suddenly a call came in, it was Minako. SunTzu didn't want to attend and was happy when she finally ended the call.
Only to close his eyes for a second and sigh as she called again, immediately after.
He pressed a switch.
"Tell her I'm not in a mood to talk! And sending you to talk with me instead on doing it on her own is pathetic!"
"Wha… Whoa?! What the Eff is going on? What are you talking about?" A completely flabbergasted Minako answered.
"I'm talking about that I tried to visit my girlfriend only to find her hanging out at the Shrine with her ex." He spat out.
"She did WHAT?!" Minako yelled out. "Listen SunTzu. I wanted to ask if you guys are up to meet with me but I couldn't reach Rei. I didn't know about this, but believe me, someone is in big trouble now. Where are you?"
"Pacific."
"Can you come back to Crystal Tokyo? And tell me know everything in private? I'll wait for you at the Palace."
SunTzu thought about it for a moment, Minako was Rei's best friend, maybe she knew what was up with Rei lately.
"I'm not really in a mood to talk but I'm on my way."
Around one hour later Rei was laying on her bed in her room in the Shrine.
She had sent Yuichiro away immediately after SunTzu had left, she needed to be alone and by now her head was still buried into the pillow of her bed.
How two people that loved each other so damn much could make things between them so difficult? Where had that easiness that they once had gone to? She wanted to go back to how it had been just a few weeks ago.
Back before everything was about this goddamn War. Back before all he did and was thinking about was fighting.
She knew she really had messed this one up and feeling SunTzu's pain had hurt her deeply as well but what did he expect? Why in all god's names couldn't he see that she was fearing for his life?
And why the Yomi did it make her so excited how much Yuichiro still loved her?
Suddenly her phone rang and she jumped out of bed and grabbed it. SunTzu, it had to be him.
"Yes?" She answered.
"Rei Hino. Seriously, what the actual fuck?"
"Minako?" A audible disappointed Rei replied.
"Yes, Minako. Your best friend and the one woman that helped you to get together with your boyfriend. Your boyfriend that seemed pretty hurt that he just stumbled into you and your ex hanging out at your place. Please tell me you were at least just hanging around and not doing something else, Rei."
"What? Of course we didn't do anything condemnable. We were just meditating together, we weren't even in the living quarters."
"At least. But really Rei, what were you thinking?"
"He had been there already, it was not that I invited him to be here. And at least he doesn't just run away. Or goes missing just to fight a war somewhere in the Galaxy, because he has such a fucking death wish, like a certain someone else!"
"Rei."
"No Minako, SunTzu is not better by one bit! Do you ever saw someone that you love over everything basically die in your arms? Usagi was right, it is unbearable! But everybody else would at least take care after such an experience then, but not Mister War Hero. Let me guess, he already left again. Where this time? Wild Space? Core? Back to the fight, that's all that's matters nowadays."
Minako needed a moment for her answer.
"Corewards."
"See, just like I said. Sometimes I get the feeling he does that on purpose to make me worry about him."
"Rei, you guys really should take some time to talk with each other. If it wasn't for what he had seen, he wouldn't have left."
"I would but he's always gone!"
"Rei, he told me he went to the Shrine to talk with you and clear things up when he saw you with Yuichiro. It's really not the right time to spent it with Yuichiro. Can't you see it drives SunTzu away even more?"
"Can't he see, his behavior is driving me away?! He could at least try to care."
Minako sighed.
"Okay, let me talk to SunTzu as well. I'll set up something so you guys can talk in peace. We're leaving in a few days again, Artemis told me today. That gives you time. I'll get back to you."
Mina hung up, and Rei knew that her best friend was angry with her. She still was angered by the fact that Yuichiro was around again and Rei had to admit that she understood her, the breakup had been hard back then for Minako.
But on the other side why could not even Minako understand that Rei was tired of feeling fear of loosing SunTzu. And how tired she was with the fighting and the madness in this War.
Rei did know that it hurt SunTzu seeing her with Yuichiro. Especially with the problems their relationship was going through lately, it was more than natural and understandable that he was jealous.
Thinking about that, maybe she had to admit that his jealousy wasn't completely unjustified. Seeing and talking, and being around, Yuichiro did have an effect on her. Yes, she had to admit that after sensing his feelings earlier, his deep and grand love for her, she couldn't deny that she still did feel something for him as well. And that wasn't making things any easier.
Damn TopGun, how do we fix all this? Can Minako even get you to talk with me? Do I actually want to fix this still?
Why all of this has to be so hard?
While she waited for any kind of outreach from SunTzu, Rei decided to take things into her own hands as well.
When Minako told her soon after their call that SunTzu was too busy right now, which meant nothing more that he was somewhere on the way into or already in a battle, she got up and got ready to leave.
She arrived at the Crystal Palace when night was already falling.
The Royals just had arrived back from their trip to Asia and on their way Rei already had sent Usagi a message, stating that she wanted to talk with her in private.
The young monarch received her close friend in her quarters, while Chibiusa had left to spent time with Setsuna and Hotaru, and Mamoru was in the Military Headquarters for a briefing with Artemis.
Both were sitting on the sofa next to each other, and Usagi could see and feel that Rei was very tense. Probably because the things that were happening lately. Nobody talked about it, but everybody knew that things between SunTzu and Rei weren't the best right now. And that Yuichiro's sudden reappearance wouldn't make things better. After a few minutes of small talk, confirming Usagi even more about Rei's tension she came to the point.
"So, Rei. You wanted to ask me something. What is it?"
Rei needed a moment, before she answered.
"Usagi, as you know things between me and SunTzu aren't the best right now."
Usagi's eyes widened, she was a bit frightened to hear what was next.
"So yes, I wanted to ask you something indeed. Something that would it make easier for me to get this whole mess fixed."
"What Is it?" At least they apparently hadn't broken up yet and that took off some load from the Neo Queen's heart.
"Listen, i understand in which state the Galaxy is right now and that we need everybody to defend it but please. Give us a break. Release him from Combat Duty."
"Rei…" Usagi answered with a sad look.
Rei held up her hands.
"Usagi, I know he's the One of the Prophecy and I know we cannot loose this War but he's just a human as well. Give us at least some time to fix our relationship. Please." The Senator pleaded and then lowered her gaze.
A moment later the Senshi of Passion felt her blonde friend's hand over hers, gripping it gently, and she looked up again.
Usagi was stoically looking forward.
"I really wish I could but I can't do that, Rei. Do you have any idea how many people and ships he saved with his actions? And is, every day? I know how hard it is for you, I've been at your place, but we simply just can't afford to release him from frontline duty."
"Usagi." Rei pleaded again.
"You know the Prophecy, you know what he is destined to become. What he needs to become. It's the sacrifice he, and you, have to make, for the sake and survival of the Galaxy. And we both know very well about sacrifices for the sake of others." Usagi looked to the floor now before she continued. "Rei, we need him in this War. His example alone makes the troops fight better and his actions save uncountable numbers of his comrades. Think about how many times he saved us. It's not easy and I wish it was different but it is, what it is." Usagi stated further, her words spoken softly but determined.
Rei snorted and got up.
"Fine. But don't think you can write me a godsdamn letter and ask for my forgiveness as well when he finally dies. Just as you did with the other casualties's families."
"Rei." Now Usagi had the pleading tone.
"No, Usagi. If he can't stop fighting I will. From now on I only will be available as Diplomat and Senator for the Kingdom. No more Sailor Mars."
"Rei." Usagi pleaded another time and got up as well but Rei already was storming out.
Neo Queen Serenity II., looked after her friend with sad eyes. Typical Rei, always too passionate about the things she loved. She felt so sorry for the raven haired woman that Usagi had admired from the very moment they had met for the first time. Everything must have been so hard for her lately.